1690. MR THOMAS BOSTON. lI and the Prefbyterian government fettled, June 7. 1690, and the curate of Dunfe having died about that time, the Prefbyterians took poffeffron of the`skirk, by the worthy Hr Henry Lrfkine's preaching in it on a Wednefday, being the weekly market-day ; the foldiers being alive in carrying on the projeet, and proteóling againft the Jacobite party. The purity of the gof'pel being new to many, it had much fuccefs in there days, comparatively speak- ing; and in the harveft that year, my mother fell under exercife about her foul's cafe, and much lamented her mil=fpeüt time; and there was a remarkable change then made upon her. My father, as well as myfelf, inclined that I fhould proceed in learning;, but apprehending the expence.iltequal to his worldly circumftances, was unwilling to bear the charges of my education at the college : whereupon he tried feveal means for etfeCtuating_, thedelign otherwife, particularly in the year 1690 ; but prevailed not. Hereby I was difcouraged, and had force thoughts of be- taking myfelf to a trade ; the which being intimated to him, he flighted, as being refolvedwrit lb to givè it over : and I entertained them not, butas the circumftances feemed to force them on me. In the end of that year he took me to Edinburgh, and effàyed to put me into the fervice of Dr Rule; principal of the college, not without hopeof accomplifhing it ; but One who had promifed to recommend me to the Door, having forgot his promife, that effay was made in vain ; and I returned home, having got that notable difappointment on the back of leveral others. Mean while the difficulties I had to grapple with, in the way of my purpofe, put me tocry to the Lord in prayer on that head, that he himfeif would find means to bring it about. And I well remember the place where I was wont to addrefs the throne of grace for it, having feveral times thereafter had occafion to mind it, in giving thanks for that he had heard. the prayers there put up for that effeót. About, or before this time, was the melancholy event of Mr J. B 's falling into adultery, He was born in Dunfe, and fo an acquaintance of my father's;- andhe was minitter of the meet- ing-houfe at Merfington, and not young. This dreadful ftumb- ling- block, laid efpeciallyat fucka criticalj in lure as the Revolu- tion, filled the mouths of the ungodly with reproach againft the way of religion, and faddened the hearts of the godly to a pitch. I well know, that many a heavy heart it made to me, and ,remember the place where I was wont heavily to lament it before the Lord in ferret prayer. On the 111 day of February 1691, it pleafed the Lord td remove my mother by death, not having lain long lick. To the bell of my knowledge, fhe was not above fifty-fix years of age, my fa- ther and (he having lived together, in the Rate of marriage, from their youth, about thirty years. While the died in one room, my father was lying in another fick, as wäs fuppofed, unto death ; and heavily received the tidings of her departure. `returning
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