20 MEMOIRS OF PERIOD III. lift for the removal : but the entering on trials i wasnot clear for, and fo cöuld not promife to go to the prefbytery. Howbeit, be- ing afterward perfuaded to go to their meeting, I was minded to do it ; but was providentially fiopt. But on the 23d I waited on themat Stirling, leaving`my tefli- monials at home, of fet purpofe. Notwithftanding they appoint- ed me to give in my thoughtson Phil. ii. 12. the following prefby tery-day, producing niy tettimonials. This I could not under- take, having no freedom to enter on trials as yet ; and, I think, I faw them no more till I was going out of the country. But there things obliged me to lay that matter to heart, for light from the Lord therein, to know what I was called of him unto. I had in the fummer reprefented to the lady the carelefs and ungodly lives, curling and fwearing, of the fteward and another fervant, perftted in after many admonitions; and hinted to her, that it was her duty to reform them and if they would not be. reformed, todifinifs them from her fervice. The anfwer was fa- vourable : but the term drawing near, fhe gave over the only twocommon fervants who had any thew of religion, keeping the refl. This was very grievous to me ; I told her the evil, and at large testified my diflike of that manner of management; and it was received civilly, but prevailed nothing. Mean while I was ftili acceptable to Kennet; who, when again I had an occafion of entering into Colonel Erfkine's family, frill refufed to part with me. But by reafon of his polt in the military he was not much at home. I held on, as newoccafions offered, to difcharge my confcience, until I left the family. And though it prevailed not according to my delire ; yet, by the good hand of God fencing me, my ítruggle had an awe with it, and was not openly treated with contempt: though their words of nie were like tharp fwords, yet to me theywere fmooth as butter. I remember, that one Satur- day's night 'they had let on a fire in the hall for drying their cloaths they had been wafhing, not to be removed till the Sab- bath was over. Grieved with this as a profanation of the Lord's day, I fpoke-to the gentlewoman ; who infinuating, that the had not done without orders what the had done, refuted to remove tilena : whereupon I fpoké to the lady, who loon caufed remove the cloaths, and difpofe of them otherwife. In like manner, on a Lord's day, word being fent me that my pupil was not going to church that day, I went and inquired into the matter, and hewas caufed to rife out of his bed ; and both the mother and fon went to church that day. On the 6th ofJune, there was a facrament at Culrofs, which I had no mind to go to, upon the account of a carnal reafon. On the Saturday night, God reached me a reproof by one of the fer- vant-women ; which filled me with confufion, let me to prayer, and to re-examine my reafons, which I found to be but confult- ing with fleill and blood. I went away therefore on the Lord's
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=