Since then, I have much cause to praise him. He has considerably deepened my experience, and greatly extended my prospects, though yet I ain very far short of the Christian standard. At times I am so let into Jehovah; permitted so to sink into Deity, as I can by no words express. My enjoyment is exquisite; but always guarded by a sacred awe. It is, indeed, a heaven of pure love, that lays the creature low, while yet every power of the soul seems expanded, and the whole heart enlarged, with keen desire, to grasp the INFINITE.

Lately, I have been unusually indulged with clear, impressive views of the whole GodheadFather, Son, and Holy Ghost. My perception of a Trinity of Persons, in the unity of essence, is so unclouded, as mortal language would in vain attempt to express. This great mystery, I have often thought, is not a proper subject for disputation. The line of human reason is by far too short to sound its depth. How infinitely indebted, then, are we to a gracious God, who gives his people such a clear view, and firm and cordial belief of the actual existence, of these THREE SACRED PERSONS, in the one undivided GODHEAD. Though we cannot define the mode of this existence, yet we are sweetly and deeply couscious of the different characters and offices which they sustain in the salvation of man. “They sweetly all agree to save a world of sinners lost." This we know, and also experience.

To my apprehension, my fellowship is some<times with the Father alone; at others, with the

Son, and not seldom, with Father, Son, and Spirit. How great the mystery of godliness! 0 that I may be enabled fully to improve to the utmost this wonderful intercourse with Deity; aware that it is no further useful, than as it proves of an assimilating nature.

It will give me real satisfaction to hear, that Mr. M. is gaining ground of his complaints, either by his own or a borrowed pen. With Christian wishes for his recovery, and farther usefulness in the church of Christ, I remain his sincere well-wisher in the Lord Jesus Christ, D. MAXWELL.

LETTER XCI.

TO MISS RITCHIE.

July 3, 1800.

I am sorry, to see by Miss Ritchie's kind letter, that I neglected to give any directions about the papers in her hands. Mr. Henshaw, who proposes going to Conference, is the bearer of this, and is so good as to say, he will bring them to Scotland when he returns. I am pleased to see, that that arm which is full of power, has raised you above the painful pressure caused by your brother's removal. Surely our God delighteth-inthe happiness of his children. "God is love.” How deeply have I proved this, since my last to Miss R. My soul hath been fed as with marrow and fatness. Brought sensibly nearer to Jehovah

I have had more of his fulness poured into my soul; such deep intimate fellowship with him, as no language can express: yet no rapturous joy. My experience never runs in this channel. It is all (though exquisite enjoyment) a solemn sacred awe, that, as it were, arrests all the powers of the mind, and keeps them as still as the grave before Jehovah; it fills the soul with a holy, religious recollection, self-possession, strong inward attraction, and silence. The personality of the Sacred Three continues clear, to my mind, as the noon-day: views of the whole God-head become more frequent, and more impressive;→ Jesus condescends to talk with me; telling me, that "whatever I ask in his Name, it shall be done for me." He gives many powerful renewals of the life, and power, and comfort, that attended these precious words when he first spake them to my wondering soul. Many weeks after that memorable occasion, when I had no immediate expectation of hearing the voice of my heavenly Shepherd, though at the time I was earnestly requesting a promise respecting an affair I had much at heart, he broke in with sweet surprise, and said, "If I have said, ask what you will, and it shall be donc, what need of a promise?" Much prayer, since then, has ascended for the church of Christ, and many, yea numberless individuals; and I must conclude, that whatever has been asked agreeably to his will shall be granted. All this goodness of the Lord has not prevented, but rather provoked the malice of the adverse powers, who

have done all they were permitted, to harass me; but the Name of the Lord is, I prove, a strong tower, to which I fly, and they dare not enter.

I am pleased to hear, that there has been a little revival of the work at Otley. We go on well here, upon the whole. The presence of the Lord prevails sensibly in the prayer-meetings, which are numerous; and he bears testimony to his word preached, and also to the dispensation of the sacrament of the supper; but still more remarkably does he appear in our little class here, and in the select band. I am, at present, obliged, after repeated interruptions, to conclude. With good wishes for still greater prosperity to your soul, and success in all your labours of love; that the Name of our God may be glorified from the rising to the setting sun, is the prayer of, dear Miss Ritchie's fellow-traveller to Zion,

D. MAXWELL.

1801-3.

Lady M-'s experience attains a greater uniformity— Diary continued.

We now enter upon the last ten years of Lady Maxwell's life. She continued, nearly to the

end, to write in her Diary as frequently, and as largely, as before; nor, till within a few weeks of her discontinuing to write, does there appear any failure, either in her diction, or in the eligibility of her hand. But, these years present such a pleasing uniformity of experience, as to render it unnecessary to multiply extracts. In the few which have been selected, the editor has endeavoured, as much as possible, to seize every variation of feeling, of exercise, or enjoyment, as recorded by her Ladyship. It will be seen, that she had eminently attained establishment in grace-that she was rooted, grounded, and settled in love; and happily found the work of righteousness to be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever. In the course of these ten years, she frequently suffered from bodily indisposition; but "patience had its perfect work," and as her "outward man decayed, her inward man was renewed day by day." The nearer she approached the heavenly world, she endeavoured to become more and more "meet, for the inheritance among the saints in light," and was ever found waiting and watching for the coming of her Lord. Her love to God; her zeal for his cause; her compassion for souls; her efforts to serve the best interests of society; remained not only unabated, but, under the solemn impressions of a coming eternity, appear to have gradually acquired new energies, until her dismission was signed, and she called to take possession of an eternal reward. To the end of her pilgrimage she acknowledged herself an un