169. MR THOMAS BOSTON. 93 fummer and winter in that point, did put me upon the quarrelled method, and kept me at it while I continued in that place. Re- turning home, I read a while ; and at that time I was reading Witfai O Econorraia,foederum, which I had borrowed. To that ex- cellent book I was feafonably led by kind Providence at that time. Having left off reading, and made a review of the day's pro- grefs, I faw an end of all perfeétion, no fatisfa&ion in the crea- ture, all treafured up in Chtift alone. I found the hardfhip of having almoft none in the country to tell my mind to, but Mr Colden, who was then about to leave it, going to Oxnam, where he continues to this day. I had a very heavy heart that night on the account forefaid. I would fain have writ to Mr Mair, but his fpeaking of my tranfportation barred that. But my foul bleffed the Lord, that I had Chrift to run to : it was the very fupport ofmy foul, that God governed the world, and that I might pour out my complaint in his bofom. Accordingly I lay down a-bed with that word, John .v. 22. " The Father hath commit- ted all judgment to the Son ;" which many a time had been fweet to me. Saturday the 23d, the day was far fpent ere I fell on a text; which having got at length, being Rom. vii. 9. " I was alive without the law," I went uponwith fomehelpfrom the Lord. At even I was ruffled with forme houfehold-furniture procured for, and brought to me, but not agreeable to my mind. Withal I received information, by a letter, of a piece of the bluftering ftudent above mentioned his management with refpe& to rue, which touched me in the quick. I went and unbofomed myfelf to' the Lord ; but my difcouragement remained, by means of that galling trial. I obferved the Lord's kindnefs in that, in our Ordinary, that firft met me, John xiv. 1. " Let not our heart " be troubled : ye believe in God, believe alfo in me ;' and the latter part of the 13th pfalm in tinging. After the unbofoining af'orefaid, I found myfelffaint, not having dined at my ordinary time therefore I immediately fupped ; and my body being ftrengthened, but my mind ftill troubled, I went to family-wor ¡hip, -and thereafter to my ftudies, endeavouring to ftrengthen myfelf in the Lord. On the morrow, being the Lord's day, af- ter prayer in the morning I had given way to forne worldly thoughts, which were indeed occafioned by fomething that con- cerned my confcience; yet my heart foon went without bounds fo that though a defire to be near Chrift remained in me, yet I found an averfenefs to duty even in the very time of duty. En tering on the public work, my prayer wasaccording to my frame, complaining of a body of death, and an ugly heart, and admir- ing heaven as a place of reft from fin. , I preached that day man's ignorance of his wretched ftate by nature; and was Purethat God called me to preach it, by thevoice of the people's neceffity two of whom had told me exprefsly that week, they had believed all their days. That night I altered the evening-exert fe,,from No. 2. M
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