MEMOIRS OF PERIOD VII. June 28. I obferved, that for fome days I had more freedom íìi11 iu fecret than in family prayer. Sometimes I have obferved the quite contrary. July 7. I preached at Edrom. I had fomething of God in íìudying there fermons. I was much helped in the firft prayer; but in other parts of the forenoon's exercife, though I got what tò fay, yet I had not fuch clear uptakings of things, nor that weight on my fpirit that -I would have had. This made me to cry be- twixt fermons ; and in time of tinging my heart was much afl'e&ted, and cried for God, the 'livingGod, and was helped to pray : but in the preaching I had much ftruggling for the power of God on my own fpirit; yet much darknefs and confufon re- mined, till I came to the application, at which I found myfelf raifed above myfelf, my foul affeáted and concerned, and as it were wrapt up in preaching, as it was alfo in prayer. July 13. I have been now for force days habitually kept right ; and while it has been fo, I have ftill had a deal of fatisfäótion in reading and finging in our ordinary for familyduties. So I thall once more fa my teal to it, that a heavenly frame' is the beft commentator on lcripture : and being to preach at Kelfo to-mor- row, I had great light into my leóture, on which I had no corn- rnentary. My foul has been made frequently, this and the láíì week, to biefs the Lord for fomething of good that feems to fol- low my miniftry; in that I. fee force are, at leaft outwardly, bettered, and all the families, for any thing the elders or Ì can fee, have. God's worfhip in them, and I would fain hope force of them are in the way to Chrift. On Wednefday the 17th of July, I, goingon twenty-five years of my age, married Katharine Brown, formerly mentioned, going on twenty-feven, as born Feb. 3. 1674, and baptized the 22d providence having feen it meet for me to order the odds to be,on her fide. I (hall here relatefome things concerning thatbufinefs. The fìrft time I faw my wife was on March 3. 1697, that very day that. I left that country. . Whenever I faw- her, a thought ftruck through my heart, about her being my wife and that time, both the and I were in great diftrefs. We had no converfe about any thing ; only,Laflced her how her fitter was : and that was all. May 23. 1698 the had occafion to come to 'a place where I was. Whenever I heard the was come, I had a great defire to fee her ; which I curbed for a while, aidafterwards went and faw her and this was the fecond time ; and at'this time our acquaintance was made. Aug. 24. that year, after the matter had been laid' before the Lord, and often confidered, 1 propofed it. Iler piety difcerned by myfelf, and attefted amply by others, herparts, humour, &c. engaged me to her. After which pro- pofàl, refleeting, I found myfelf as folid and compoiëd, my mind as calm and fereneas ever, and looked on it as a token for good. On the morrow, I propofed what troubleI might look tin as a preacher of the gofpel ; what the might lay her account there.
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