1707. MR THOMAS BOSTON. 179 As I behoved to have fome Hebrew for my trials, both former and latter, lo in Simprin I madeSome progreís in the Study there- óf. Having always an inclination towards it, I believe I did fe- veral times, while there, attempt it ; but with little flamers, hav- ing only an old Pfalter and Pagnin's Lexicon, that had been gifted to me by AndrewElliot, my comrade at the college, till in the year 170 -1 I got Buxtorf's Epitome oramanat, and his Lex- icon. After which time, I reckon, I did with much difficulty make my way through the Halter. And, by forne notes I have oil the Pfiilms, I find I began it again, having Bethner's Lyra in loan. But ftìlt my ftudy of it was confined to the Pfalter. Upon whatever occafion ,1 underftood there was any motion for, or eye to, the removing me out of that place to another, I was helped of God to be fcrupuloufly wary, that I might do no- thing towards the advancing' of the fàine ; being always perfuad- ed, that my fafety, welfare, and comfort, depended on my being found in the way, which the Lord himfelfShould call nee togo. The Stipend was indeed finall; and toward the latter end, the viétual was cheap to a degree : but then my houle- rents, in Dunfe, and the emoluments of the fynod-clerk's office, were confiderable to- wards the maintenance of the family. And in thefe days feveral came about us, and particularly force ftudents continued with us at times ; lb that we ate not our morfel alone. But whatever was our manner, when we were alone, or only with thofe we counted not ftrangers, I obferved, that when occafionally we had company otherwife, things honeft in the fight of men were readi- ly, by the kind difpofal of Providence, laid to hand. And during the time of my continuance in that place, I knew little of anxiety for the provifion of my family after me. And I am very fure, it was not a more liberal maintenance, but a fenfe of the divine call, that moved me to leave Simprin, and come toEtterick. Thus_paffed the firft and molt comlbrtable years of my miniftry in Simprin, as in a field which the Lord had bleffed. Removing from thence with my family, as I have relatedabove, on Tuefday June, 17. we came, onThurfday the 19th, unto Etterick ; where, through the mercy of God, I have continued unto this day. On the firtt Lord's day after the tranfportation, of my family, being June 22. I preached on A&sx. 33. ""Nowt-are we all here pre- " rent before God, to hear all things that are commanded.thee of God '4." PERIOD IX. From my removal to Etterick, to the oath of abjuration refufed. BtÈING fettled here, I foon found I was come from home, and that I was but beginning to be a minifter of a parifh. As for the people, the natives, generally fpeaking, were naturally This fermon is inferted in the author's Body of Divinity, vol. 3. publifhed in 1773.
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