17034 MR THOMAS BÓS;ONì 1$7 to fign it ; but drewa bond with my own hand, with the which' Drurnmelzier was fatisfied. This I tigned accordingly ; and' relieved; by paying the money, on May 14. thereafter. Having upon that affair had occafions of converting with Drummelzier, who was a fbber'(enfible man, I afterward found, he had upon occafions íhewn himfelf friendly difpofed, in his own way, to- wards me : particularly, that it being told him, (peaking of plant- ing me in Duufé, then vacant, that I was too hot ; he thereupon et mentioned another place for me, one as hot as I, viz. Etterick. So early Providence was at work for bringing about my fettle ment in that place, where I wag to fpend themoft of my ftrength and days. Invited by Mr Gabriel Semple retainingofhis former dirpofition towards'túe; I preached at Jedburgh Feb. 27. forenoon and after-. noon. The congregation being convened again, about a quarter ofan hour after, he from the reader's defk, made a (port difcourfe on the fifth command, particularly the duties of husbands and wives. The things he infifted on were indeed common and ordi- nary ; but they were delivered in finch a manner, 'and fùch power accompanied them; that I was in a manner amazed ; and they went out through me, and in through me, fo that I faid in my heart, ' Happy are thofe that hear thy wifdom.' Mr Gabriel Wilfon being then his affiftant, but preaching that day at-Oxnam, there began at that time an acquaintance betwixt him and me, which by (bare interviews afterward, and particularly by a meet- ing at Sirnprin, advanced toa particular friend(hip. And after I was fettled in Etterick, and he in Maxtor), the faille grew up ;into a noted and Uncommon ftri&nefs, continuing; through the mercy of God, inviolate unto this day. On .;!March 21. about two o'clock in the morning, niy fon RobertWas born ; and he was baptized on the 26th, by Mr Johr Lithgow minister at Swinton. This year was remarkable to me, with refpe& to my ordinary, in preaching, and my ftudies; of both which I íhall here give an account. As to my ordinary in preaching, occafionally mixed with other fubje&s ; havingbegun, as Paid is, the fecond Sabbath in Simprin after my ordination, I continued preaching man's natural {late, 4.intil Aug. 10. 1700. At which time I entered on preaching (Thrift the remedy for man's mifery., From which I proceeded Oc. 19. 1701, to the doétrine of the application of the remedy : in the which, entering Feb. 18. 1702, on, the particulars of tho ordinary method of the Spirit with finners in converfion ; being fentible of the delicacyof the fubje&, and de(îringto fay nothing thereon but what I had digefted before-hand, I began writing my fermons at large, and to venture very little on extemporary ex- pr Ilion. And this was the occafion of my falling into a habit, of writing my fermons at large, which I have íince for ordinary continued, as I had accefs, and could reach it : a yoke which
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