1699. MRTHOMAS BOSTON. $ß the deliverance carne. After the above happy outgate, I fpent fome time in thinking of the Lord's -kindnefs to me, and doted the night, far fpent, with finging Pfal, xxxiv. 1. --t1. and read- ing the fóriptures ; obferving, meanwhile, that wanting written commentaries, a heavenly frameof fpirit, and foul- exercife, whe- ther about temporal or fpiritual things, were two excellent commentators : and then praying to my God, who doth all things for me, went to bed. On the Monday my heart was borne up with the word which the night before had fet me to my feet again. And for fbme days, till I fell by my iniquity, that word was fweet and refreíh- ing to me ; and to this day I look on it as having a particular in- tereit therein. Having gone to Dunfe ón bufinefs, I had much fatisfaótion in convene with Mr Colden : my heart being heaven- ly, fpiritual difcourfe was pleafant ; and on Tuefday morning that fcripture-text, Jer. xvii. 6, 7, 8. was fweet to me. Mr Colden was then preffing co get away out of Dunfe, as a charge too heavy for him; and I was in a particular concern for his continu- ance. At night I went to Langton, wheré, while Mrs Dawfon and I were talking, the child in her arms fuddenly was feized with a violent convulfon-fit, wherewithwe were both (truck with fur- prife, and thinking the child like to expire, we went to prayer fometimes as occalion ferved ; for it continued long. I obferved in my heart, how vain the world was, and the troubles attending the married ftate ; but little knew I then, that the fame woman was to be employed to ftrike me with a heavy furprife in my own cafe in that ftate ; which carne to pats after. The child's fits continuing, I was obliged to tarry all the next day : and there being a projeót for a catechift in Dunfe, for Mr Colden's eafe, I went to Dunfe on the Thursday to forward it. After converting with him in the fïrft place, I addreffed myfelf without his know ledge to the main agents for the parith, whom, with Tome difficulty, I got to condefceed to an overture for effectuating that projeét. Thereafter I difcourfed Mr Colden on the main thing, and thought that by what pat ed our hearts were more glued together. Thereafter coming home, I thought on my fermon by the way, ft and foon udied' it, after I was come home : but being feized with a wearinefs, 1 left off my proper bufinefs, though the time was approaching ; and even when the people began to convene, I was fitting difcourfing with my father about worldly bufinefs. Thus, through the just difpleafure of a holy jealous God, I fell into a heavy cafe, wherein for feveral days I lay. I was that night deprived of his countenance in his work : on the morrow I was averfe to duty ; religion was to me as a ftrange thing and my mind was darkened as to my ú.ptàkings of Chritt.. I dragged myfelf to my ftudies on Prov. viii. it. for Kelfo, then vacant. I ftudied, but with great deadnefs and darknefs,being aloft unfit M4
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