10$ MEMOIRS of PERIODVII of light, ïhe.having imparted it to, me in writing. And I rejoiced to be thus employed by ftrangers in work of which kind I had little at home. At parting with a ftudent that night, I recom- mended to him the ftudy of the knowledge of Chrift, the gofpel, and power of godlinefs ; as I had done more generally in our con- verte. Upon which occafion I had the following refleétion, viz. O what pity is itto fee men quick and curious in the intrigues of nature, yet ignorant of Chrift! Upon occafion of enlargement in fecret prayer that night, I faw the unreafhnablenefs of theconceit of merit, as ifa beggar fhould think he fhould therefore have an alms, becaufe he can cry for it, or hath a hand to put forth to re. ceive it. I have obferved this day, and yefterday efpecially, that I was more remifs in family- duties than in fecret ; and I think it is occafioned by remiílhefs in preparation for them. It was a fweet refleétion to confider, that I am not now lb much under the moleftations of a particular corruption as fometimes before. I think, that my being taken up more with the proper work of my calling has been helpful in this. But quickly after Satan fell to his old trade, and fnarled like a dog at my heels, and it did me good. I was grieved to fee myfelf fall to far (port of likenefs to the purity of the divine image, which my foul loved. So that afterward my foul went out in love-flames to the Advocate with the Father. Feb. 17. Having been for Tome time feeking light from the Lord as to preaching on different fubjects in one day, I was clear- ed this day; and my ordinary being man's natural Rate, it was for the other fubjeét (till in my eye to exalt Chrift, and preach his love, and delire ofcommunion with his people, and that from that text, Cant. vii. 11. " Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field," &c. But after I had ftudied with eafe my forenoon-fermon on my ordinary, being to enter on the other, when I read the text, and faw the conneétion, I found I had miftaken the fpoufe's words to Chrift for his to her. This gave me a fore da(h, fearing that my light that I fometimes get be but delufion ; yet my heart remained fixed on the fubjeét but Rill I had great hankering after thefe words, though I durft not willingly wreft the Lord's word. In the mean time was that word, " Arite, my love," &c. Cant. ii. 10. brought to me; but the hankering after the other remained. I went to God with it, laying myfelf open to his beck, and thereafter was cleared to that, " Rife up, my love," &c. and my heart weaned from the other. I wanted not objeétions within myfelf againft it, Pay- ing, To whom (hall I preach it? whom have I that undertiands it? I had thefe anfwers : L l knew not but there might be fome others that would ; 1. May-be hearing thefe things might melt Tome heart; S. Underftand it or not who will, it is rry duty to exalt Chrift, and the-riches of his grace. The paffage recorded, Feb. 5. 1690, above, p. M. was ufeful here. That which more cleared me to that word was, that, after prayer, I found a deal
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