1707. M}t THOMAS BOSTON. 183 from God towards the creature and I had not vilted my pillar lb often and ferioufly as I ought to have done. Nov. I have been much refrefhed and encouraged "sander my difcouragemeuts, underftanding by force, what others of the parith have told them, of my fermons ripping up their cafe, and discovering the fecrets of their hearts, though, alas! with little vifìble fruit. Nov. 12. I ftw M. D. a diffenter, whom I could never fee be- fore. I was in the test village, and the was coming thither; but,feeing tuy horfe at the door, the went horse again. I went to her houfe, and the carne to the dóor, having, as appeared, no will that I fhould come in. I afked her what were,her fcruples. She did not readily anfwer, but atlength abruptly laid, "Theoath fealed with his blood.' Queft. What mean you by that,, the covenant, the folemn league and covenant? Anf. They fay there was ti.ich a thing. Q. And was the covenant fealed with Chrift's blood ? A. Yes. I Chewed her her miftake. Q. How many covenants has God made with man ? A. Three ; thegovenant ofgrace,. and the covenant of works. Q. Whichof the two cove- nants was .frtt made ? A. The covenant of grace. Q. Who were the parties in the covenant of_ works? A. The Lord. Q. But with whom dick the Lord make it? A. With the body and blood of Chrift. Q. How many gods are there? A. Three. Q. How many perfons are there in the Godhead ? A. Three ; the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft. Q. Which of thefe was our Redeemer? A. The Father. Q. What or who is Chrift? No anfwer. Q. What (late are you inby nature? No anfwer. Q. Ho v think you to be fäved ! A. By ferving God as ' ell.as we can. I dealt withher as with a petted bairn ; but bynomeans could I obtain fo much of her as'to be willir to admit converfe with her for her inftruótion. In January t 708, the fire in the congregation, was blown up into a violent flame, upon occafion of my obferving a fart, on the 14th of that month, appointed by the civil,magiftrate. Upon, this many. of my hearers broke off, and left me teveral'of whom; never returned. There was fuch a headinefs among the people; and the day_was fo bad, that few came to it. I had no fcruple as to the obferving of it though I thought it a grievance and dif4dvantage that we were come under by the, union, and the taking away of the privy council; whereby there was no corref- pondence betwixt the church and flute as to falls. But conlider- ing the temper of the people, I thought, ;ifl (honk! haveyielded to them in this, I would teach them to di&ate ever- after unto me. Therecame two of a fellowthip-meeting unto me the night before ; I (hewed then. the proclamation. They profeffed they bad nothing to fly against it, but that it carne from an ill,airth. They were not difpofe.d to receive light, but molt unreafonably, amengft reafons of their diffatisfaé:tion; intuited, that (as they laid) the minifters were going to get the abjuration-oath, I was ©.4,' Z
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