long-suffering of God, be devoted to his honour, and spent in his service. Father of mercies, I am thine! Thou hast redeemed my life from sickness, and my soul from sin. Thou art lengthening out the love of relationship, the kindness of friendship, and all the joys which the ministry of thy Son bestows on my heart. Quicken my diligence in thy service; make me faithful to the souls of thy people, who are the purchase of thy Son's blood, and the care of thy Providence ; bless them all with increasing measures of personal and family religion; unite our hearts and hands in every good and pious work. May my dear wife and children continue to enjoy health and peace; let thy fear be implanted in their tender minds; preserve them from sin and bad company; preserve them from the dangers to which they are exposed, in the diseases that lie thick in the early stages of life; form them for thyself, that they may shew forth thy praise. Abundantly bless us all through this year; make us to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen."

The formation of the second congregation in London connected with the Burgher division of the Secession church, arose from the circumstance of a considerable number of the members of Wells Street chapel living at the east end of the town. It was judged highly proper on that account, as well as for the extension of the interests of the Secession body, that these should form themselves into a separate congregation. The moderator and session of Wells Street, to accomplish an object

so desirable, engaged, in June 1790, a chapel in Redcross Street. Providence so favoured this enterprise, that by supplies of acceptable ministers being sent to them from the Synod, the people soon found themselves in such a prosperous state, that they petitioned the Presbytery to constitute them into a distinct congregation. The Rev. Alexander Easton was subsequently chosen to be their pastor, and was ordained on the 27th September, 1792, a short time prior to their removal to Miles' Lane. The sermon before the ordination was preached by the minister of Wells Street, from Galatians, iv. 19,-" My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you." The diary refers to this subject in the following terms:

"January 14, 1793. Published, at the request of the elders, the sermon preached upon Mr. Easton's ordination. - Blessed God! may my own heart feel the ministerial concern which I endeavour to describe, and those Scriptural motives by which I would encourage it. If I do not exemplify, in my public ministrations, what I recommend to others, I shall stand condemned by my own lips, and my sermon will furnish articles of accusation against me. Blessed Jesus! may I feel thy love, and be inspired with cheerfulness and ardour in thy cause. May this discourse be read by the ministers of religion, with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. May it be made by God, however weak in itself, an effectual instrument of arousing the slothful, and confirming them that waver between the authority of God

and the love of the world. May it please thee to secure from contempt and opposition thine own truths contained in it, and to pardon the exceptionable manner in which, through my ignorance, vanity, or weakness, they may be represented. Eminently bless my dear brother in Christ, at whose separation to thy work they were delivered; may he also be enabled to travail in birth till Christ be formed in the minds of his people; may a spirit of mutual and profitable godly affection be poured out on us both, and we be helped to labour diligently in the vineyard, and see the plants of the Lord thrive and become fruitful under our care."

A copy of the sermon on Mr. Easton's ordination having been forwarded, among other friends, to the Rev. John Newton, was acknowledged by him in the following terms; evincing the fervent cordiality with which these servants of the Captain of salvation, though there was some difference in their regimentals," as Newton expresses it, united their hearts in promoting the cause of the high calling to which they were pledged:

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"REV. AND DEAR SIR,

I heartily thank you for your acceptable present of your Ordination Sermon, which I have read with pleasure. May the Lord make a deeper impression of the great truths and motives you propose upon my heart; and may his blessing rest upon you and upon your friend, and upon your respective congregations!

"I trust that you and I, though there is some difference in our regimentals, belong to one army, under the

one Captain of salvation. Our weapons, our resources, our aims, and our enemies, are the same. And while the good soldier is concerned to maintain his own particular post, he feels an equal concern with the rest for the success of the whole. On whatever side the foe is pushed, and advantages gained to the common cause, he will rejoice, whether it be effected by those who do, or who do not, wear exactly his own uniform. My heart and hand, dear Sir, are with you, and with all who love the Lord Jesus Christ, and go forth under his banner.

"When the campaign is happily terminated, the ministers and people of the word will be found more than conquerors, and shall assemble to join in the songs of triumph. Then all our present petty distinctions shall cease, and we shall be perfectly and for ever united in one heart and one mind. The more this spirit of union prevails at present, the more the church militant will resemble the church triumphant. In the mean time, the same Lord of all is rich in mercy to all that call upon him.

"Your obliged and affectionate friend and brother,
"JOHN NEWTON.

"Coleman Street Buildings, Jan. 24, 1793."

While referring to Mr. Newton, we may notice, that Mr. Waugh used frequently to introduce to him such of his Scottish brethren as happened to visit London, and who were naturally anxious to see that distinguished writer and excellent man. On one of those occasions, Mr. Waugh said,— "Well, Sir, I have brought another of my Northern friends to see you." "Ah, my brother," said the venerable Newton, "I was once a wild lion on the coast of Africa; there God took me and tamed me, and brought me to London; and now you come to see me as they do the lions in the Tower!"

Besides his intercourse with Mr. Newton and

other pious ministers of different denominations, Mr. Waugh was at this period, and had been for several years, on most affectionate terms of Christian brotherhood with the Scotch Presbyterian ministers in London; viz. the Rev. Dr. Hunter, Rev. John Love, Rev. James Steven, and Rev. George Jerment, who will be afterwards more particularly noticed, as associated with him in the institution of the London Missionary Society. In the establishment also of the Evangelical Magazine, which tended so much to promote the objects of that society, he took at this time a very active share. But to this subject we shall revert in the next chapter. We now proceed with the diary. "Feb. 12, 1793. Reflections preparatory to the public service of to-morrow, the day of fasting before the holy communion.

"Blessed and holy Father! pour out on my darkened and obdurate mind the enlightening and softening aids of thy good Spirit, that I may look on my heart with impartiality, and sincerely mourn over its corruptions. The more I look on my nature, the more reason have I to be displeased with its prevailing inclinations. There dwells in my heart naturally no good thing; but there dwell in it hordes of carnal, selfish, and proud dispositions, notwithstanding all the care which my venerable parents took of my education, and all the privileges I have long enjoyed. How turbulent have been the risings of corruption within me, and to what imminent danger have my character, my peace of mind as connected with it, the credit of that holy religion of which I make pro