131 MEMOIRS OP' PERIOD VIII. forted, after the heavy trial in the cafe of his filter ;` finding, that our God would " not chide continually, nor keep his anger for " ever." 'And as he was always a proper child, fo he is thisday a very ftately and pretty man ; the which I deem juft to remark% to the praife of our merciful and compaffionate God, who former- ly had afllióted us. Being invited, I affifted at the communion in Morbattle, in the month ofJune this year And here began a particular friendthip between the worthy Mr John Simfon minuter there and me ; which lafted till he was removed by death in or about the year 1722. He was a ferious good man ; a moft pathetic, zealous, and popular preacher, and withal fubftantial in his fermons; having a molt ready gift ; always concerned to gain fouls to Jefus Chrift; bleffed with a great meafureof his Matter's countenance; and moft acceptable to the people. Ae had a fingular eafinefs and fweet:nefs of temper, which continued with him to the lift. He was, in the end of his days, confined for a long time to his bed ; in which time, vif ting him, in- company with my two friends Meff. Wilfbn and Davidfon, we found him ftill lovely and pleatánt as before. The firft time-I adminiftered the facrament of the Lord's fup- per in Simprin, was on the 2d of A.ugutt that year ; and it was done yearly thereafter, while I continued in that place. At that time it was adminiftered in the kirk, there being fermon a11ó with- out : but I think that was the only time, except in the winter, that it was not celebrated without doors. The Lord was very gracious to me in that work : and I have a favoury remembrance of my deliveringof that my firft aótion-fermon on Pfal. xl. 7. Then faid I, Lo I come." Going out in time of ferving the tables, and finding the meeting without wanting a minifter, the impreffions of the Lord's goodnefs then upon me, flepped into the tent, and preached a while to them extempore, on Dent. xxxiii. 29. " Happy art thou, O Ifrael : who is like " unto thee, O. people faved by the Lord, the thieldof thyhelp, " and who is the fword of thy excellency !" &c. Mr Simfon aforefaid was one of my affìftants at that time -: and we continued our mutual aífiftance thereafter for ordinary ; only it was once in- terrupted a little, after the year 1709, as will be noticed in the proper place. And many a good day of that nature we had to- gether, efpeciallyat Morbattle. This was the firft year of the reign of Queen Anne, the oath of allegiance to whom I took; but did thereafter often defiderate a due impretllon thereof on my fpirit. I endeavoured, while the lived, to keep thefenfe of it on my heart : but unto this day I never took another, whether of a public or private nature. Hitherto we lived in the houfe where I fettled when I cane to the place : and while there, though I remember not the par- ticular time, I began the eyenin,g-leóture in my family, on the =chapter read in our ordinary, nightly,- Aid that cuítona I have
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