ng to frustrate His merciful designs! Very various
has been my state--so dead and earthly, sometimes,
that I may indeed feel that in me "dwelleth no
good thing," but now and then so filled with desires
after God, that I feel assured that they come from
Himself.

_9th Mo. 26th_. This afternoon, in a lonely walk,
my sorrow was stirred, and I hope I prayed for
mercy; but it has been hard to keep any hold of
the anchor. But what! shall I leave my only Helper
because of my evil case--my only Physician because
of my desperate disease? I can take comfort in the
thought that He knows the worst, and that He has
sworn eternal enmity to sin. Then, if He loves me,
a sinner, He must be willing and able to save me;
and Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and
man, that He may be the perfect divider between
the sinner and his sin. Oh, what a work is this--which
none but Omnipotent grace can do! Oh, be
it done for me.

_11th Mo. 20th_. Letter to M.B. [Alluding to
her prospect of marriage.]

* * * How does such an occasion teach one the
weakness of human nature, and our utter dependence
on our heavenly Father's preserving care, who "knows
our frame and remembers that we are but dust." And
if we can in truth say, "If Thy presence go not with
me, carry me not up hence," and endeavor to decide in
His fear. I hope we may trust, that if it be not of Him,
something will be provided for our rescue, and that if
it be, He will remember His ancient promise, "My presence
shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest."

_1st Mo. 4th_, 1851. So very much has happened
since I made my record here, that I scarcely know
where to begin. Never did a year end thus with
me. I had almost called it the most important of
my life; and certainly it is so as regards time, and
also a very important one as regards eternity. Now
I find my hopes, my interests, my anticipations, my
every feeling and affection, have a strong reference to
another than myself--one whom I believe the
Providence of a merciful, heavenly Father has led
me to regard with esteem and love, as a sharer in the
future portion of the path, of life.

Surely it has been a serious thing, much as I have
fallen short in the duties of my present favored and
sheltered lot, to consent to undertake responsibilities
so weighty and untried; and yet I have cause to
hope in the mercy of Him who ha