1¡6 MEMOIRS OF PERIOD VIII._ freedom for it ; but hoped God would clear my way in that, and this did it ; and fo I went not. April 28. One came from Edrom, while I was ftudying my fermons for my own pajifh, and told nie I was appointed by the prefbytery to preach there Lord's day next. I was very averfe to it, and humoroufly refufed it. I went to God with it, but got no light. At length I laid by humour, and laid myfelfat the Lord's feet, refolving to go over the belly of my inclinations, if God lhould appear to call me ; and thus went to God again with it: And thereupon I found an unclearnefs to leave my own congregation : which was fomething extraordinary ; for though I did not ufe lightly to leave our own congregation, yet the dif- proportion of it to all others in the bounds, when I had other- wife a fair, call, ufed to determine me to leave it. Riling from prayer with this unclearnefs on my fpirit, Mr B. came and told me, that one was juft arrived fromChurnfìde, and faid, that Mr Wilton was to preach there, fo that Mr M. might preach at Edrom. But this man had nocertainty for it. However, I fent the man to Mr M. Immediately there came another, and con- firmed what the other had laid ; and the man from Edrom was within a cry : fó he was called back, and confirmed in this. Mr I. preached at Edrom, and I at home ; and our kirk was very throng. This was wonderful in my eyes, and came feafonably as a pledge of further mercies. On the firft day of May I was admitted minifter of Etterick : A day remarkable to after ages, as the day in which the Union of Scotland and England commenced, according to the articles thereof agreed upon by the two parliaments. And on that very account I had frequent occafìon to remember it ; the fpirits of the people of that place being embittered on that event againft the minifters of the church ; which was an occafion' of much \. heavinef's to me, though I never was for the Union, but always againft it from the beginning unto this day. When the ediót was returned, Whitflead, and another heritor, with John Cald- well, andWilliam Nicol, gave in a protetta±ion to the prefbytery againft my call. So the Lord guided me well, keeping me at home that day. When I came to Crofslee, it was told me, there was one in Thirleftane from Sir Francis Scot, to proteft againft my admiffion. I was thereupon the' rather inclined to go for- ward to Thirleftane ; where I found him, one that had been in the clafs with me at the college. When I went to my chamber, T'clr Paterfon told rue his errand :. and I was very penfive. When J was going to bed, I overheard him fay to Mr Paterfon, ' Have you told him, that he will neither get meat nor lodging here? . will get up early, and clofe the church-doors.' Though I was uneafy before, yet then, even by that, I grew eafy ; from thence concluding, that the bufinefs would be (topped at leaft for that day. On the morrow morning I dealt fo with two of the bre- thaea that came thither before the reit, that I had almoft gained
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