1707. MR THOMAS BOSTON. 169 then was to have, and now have had, in that place; under the which, nothing could have borne me up, but the clearnefs of my call, from the Lord himfelf, unto it ; and that flood offears hath fince made that clearnefs, like a wall of adamant, in the face of many a florm and tempeft I have met With in that place. The fynod having met, and the affair come before them, I was, on the,6th of March, by their fentence, tranfported from Sirnprin to Etterick. On the 4th 1 went to Kelfo to the fynod and was fcarcely well fet down in the church, when Mr H. C. a member of the prefbytery of Selkirk, told me, that Sir Francis Scot did not take it well, that the prefbyterywould needs ufe theirjus devolutum ; but that hewould content to the calling of me, if they would fall from their call. He afked me what I thought of it. I told him, that, for my part, they might do in that bufinefs as they pleafed. The way I received it at firft was, that I found myfelf content to flay Rill in Sirhgrin : but after- wards it was not fo eafy to -me, while it feemed to pluck down all I had been building, as above related. 'Thus was I by this difpenfation fore brangled. The firft eafe I got wat`on Wednef- day morning; when, after fome time (pent in prayer, the Lord opened my eyes, and let me fee how he had in his providence been pointing out to me my way to Etterick and I found Idurit not shift duty for the difficulty in the way. After dinner that day, having procured tomyfelf a little time atone, I fet myfeif to prayer ; the rather that I thought my bufinefs might come in that afternoon ; and being yet fomewhat uneafy and troubled as before, after prayer I refolved to read the fcripture ; but that I might not make a fortune-book of the Bible, I exprefsly refolved I would read in my ordinary ; and though my cafe fhould not be touched there, I would wait on God. It fell- to be 1 Peter i. where I met with that paffage, ver. 6, 7. " Tho' now for a fea- fon (if need be) ye are in heavinefs through manifold temptations, . that the trial of your faith being," &c. This was feafonable and refrethful to my poor foul. But I was called away (by reafon of my ordinary office, being fynod-clerk) before I got the whole chapter read. It pleafed the Lord to bear it off for that diet only I was almoft no fowler fet down at the table in the church, but Mr A. D. told me, he had Sir Francis Scot's letter, that he would make no noife about my fettlement in Etterick. On the morrow, by which time I was fully cleared to hold by my former refolution, laid down Monday was eight days, having in fecret laid my all down at Chrift's feet, I went away, and was tranf- ported. It was a melancholy time, while parties were removed, and fomeof the honeft men of Simprin were weeping near byme, being hopelefs, which was a heavy fight to me, who dearly loved, them. Immediately after the fentence, ' Tranfport,' I. wascon- founded,- and troubled with many fears ; and the eal'e I got, was by reflecting on thofe fears that I was oppreffed with laft Lord's day at night, and confideringwhat a dreadful cafe my foul would X
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