though with little hopes of success-I read on without receiving any benefit, to the last chapter at the 20th verse, "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly;" these words seemed to be accompanied with some degree of power on my heart, and produced in me a longing desire for the accomplishment of them, and a little revived my drooping spirits, but was soon gone. I at length began to think, the time of deliverance I had been so long expecting, would never come, and when I told some people the change I saw necessary to my present peace and everlasting happiness, they would give me to understand they thought I was looking for what I should never meet with.

I tried every way in which I had heard others were converted, vainly thinking the Lord would meet with me in the same manner, but to no purpose. And indeed my wicked heart has often been ready to charge God with dealing hardly with me, though at other times I saw myself justly doomed to everlasting destruction. But now the Lord's own time was come. He knows what is necessary to bring down the pride of our hearts and make us submit to the righteousness of Christ. As I had been a communicant for some years, I found new difficulties arise in my mind on the approach of the sacrament, for I was afraid to keep back from the ordinance, lest I should be deficient in my duty and give occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully, and on the other hand I was conscious of not being suitably qualified to be a worthy partaker, and therefore afraid I should only seal my own con demnation. I concluded however it would be safest to keep back, and accordingly resolved that unless the Lord was pleased to prepare me by his grace, I would not attempt to join in communion at that season. The Friday preceding the sacrament was appointed to be kept as a day of fasting and prayer,

preparatory to the approaching solemnity.-The day came, but to me it was a stormy day-a day of darkness as darkness itself. I attempted to pray, but found my heart entirely shut up, so that I could find no relish for, nor comfort in any duty. The sources from whence I had formerly derived encouragement, seemed to be entirely shut up, and I seemed to be left without help and without hope. Thus I continued that day and night:-on Saturday morning I took up Mr. Flavel's works, and in reading one of his sermons I found my mind uncommonly engaged, so that I was constrained to lay down the book and retire to my room,-I felt my heart sensibly touched, insomuch that I shed tears in abundance. I thought it was something extraordinary, but suspected it was from Satan, (as I had formerly been deceived by the flowing of the affections,) for I thought he knew I wanted rest for my poor weary soul, and was now going to pass his counterfeits upon me by causing me to rest on something short of Christ; I therefore earnestly besought the Lord that he would not suffer me to be deluded by Satan -that I was willing to wait his own time in my unhappy condition, rather than take comfort in any thing short of an union with Jesus. During this time my heart panted after Christ “ as the hart panteth for the water-brooks." At length I felt my soul escaped as a bird out of the hand of the fowler -I had a new song put in my mouth, even praise to our God;"-then was "the prey taken from the mighty, and the lawful captive delivered,"-I saw Jesus every way suited to my wants, and found in him that rest to my weary soul which I had so long sought in vain elsewhere. His name was then to me as ointment poured forth, and I longed to see some of God's dear children that we might join to praise him. The relief I felt was as sensible as though I had been confined in a dungeon, under a ponderous

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load for five months, (for the same day five months that the fountain of the great deep was broken up, the Lord was pleased to open my eyes and shew me the bow in the cloud as a token for good,) and immediately ushered into light and liberty, for that was the comparison I had then in my mind.—I had nothing uncommon presented to my imagination, neither had I any assurance that my sins were forgiven me, but I felt a sweet calmness of mind, and sensible thirsting of soul after Christ, to which I had ever before been a stranger.

Since that time I have enjoyed much peace of mind, and a considerable deliverance from my sins and temptations; and although I have but seldom doubted of the Lord's work being begun in my soul, I know not that this has ever had the remotest tendency to make me remiss in the duties of his appointment. I believe whoever has tasted that the Lord is gracious, would not remit his diligence was he ever so sure of getting to heaven at last-no, my dear sir, communion with God is heaven to the believing soul, and nothing short of the light of his countenance will satisfy his desires-"not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect," no, my dear friend, I am as poor, as helpless, as needy as ever; but I trust, in the Lord Jehovah I have righteousness and strength. He is all my salvation and all my desire. But, O my ingratitude to this very hour! How often do I detect my wicked heart doing that abominable thing which the Lord hates; and, although I believe much has been forgiven me, yet alas! how little do I love! But the Lord who is gracious and merciful, knoweth our frame, He remembereth that we are dust, and since he spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, let us trust his gracious promise that he will with him also freely give us all things. To his name be glory for ever..

Thus, my dear sir, I have given you my little history with that freedom and confidence which your friendship deserves. Have just to request as a continuance of your favours, that you would remember your poor unworthy friend when it is well with you, and believe me to be sincerely

And affectionately, Yours,

WM. HASLETT." After having found peace and joy in believing, it is not known that he was ever afterwards much perplexed with distressing doubts respecting his justification. His religious exercises, however, were subject in other respects, to as great vicissitudes as most others. He was accustomed to exercise uncommon vigilance over his own heart, and had a deep insight into the corrupt fountain from which all evil proceeds. His knowledge of experimental religion was uncommon: the distinguishing evidences of genuine piety he had diligently studied. Much of his reading was of authors whose writings were of the most spiritual and searching kind. The pious Flavel was, perhaps, his favourite; and deservedly so, for he owed to him more than any other person, living or dead. This subject also, was with him a frequent theme of conversation with his pious friends. It seems to have been an object with him, all his life, to search out. exercised souls, who had a rich experience of the various dealings of God, both in his providence and in his grace.

The following extract from one of his letters will shew that even in the early part of his christian ex-. perience he knew how to value and avail himself of the fellowship of saints.

"Cranberry, 14th Sept. 1792.

"Joseph Nourse, Esqr.

Dear Sir, I hope you are enjoying the comforts of religion in your own soul,

whilst I am labouring under the power of a hard heart, struggling against sin and unbelief; and all the powers of the prince of darkness! I still remain in the same dark and uncomfortable state of mind, as when I had the pleasure of seeing you.-Would have written you much sooner, but have been for the most part much discouraged, sometimes almost reduced to a state of despondency.

Your obt. humble servt.

WM. HASLETT.” This letter Mr. Nourse sent to the late pious Joseph Magoffin Esquire, who returned it with the following note:

"Dear Sir, I observe you are to answer the above. I hope your pen will be that of a ready writer. Thus saith the Lord to him that walketh in darkness and hath no light; let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. But he may say to you, in the bitterness of his soul, I know not the way--I cannot so much as see men like trees walking: He maketh me dwell in darkness as those who have been long dead. But, thus saith the Lord, At even-time it shall be light. And when the day begins to dawn, it is no difficult matter to see the dead bones come together, and flesh and sinews come over them; and light is worth waiting for: we must be taught that it is so. Mary came to the sepulchre while it was yet dark; and it was well worth her pains to come to that sepulchre which had contained the Sun of Righteousness. Clouds are his covering, and he dwelleth in thick darkness. But it is the darkness of too much light -too much for our enfeebled eyes. The blessed Jesus must touch the eyes a second time, and then we will see, every man clearly. Elijah's servant was full of terror and fear without any cause; for, as soon as his eyes were opened, he saw the whole mountain full of chariots and horses of fire.