184 MEMOIRS OF PERIOD xI. led to that fcripture for my text, 1 Sam. iv. 13. " Eli's heart trembled for the ark of God :" which came fuitably to my cir- curnftauces; as I liad been led another time, on a weekday in ugutt, to that; " Thou haft been weary of me, O Ifraei,' when the unexpecîed practice of the people undervaluing the opportunity, was a confirmation of the doctrine. The/Lord's day was eight days thereafter, preaching on If. lxiv. 7. the re- prooffor this -practice natively fell in :. But the Lord's day im- mediately thereafter, it was lb ftormy, that I had only a few to preach to, in the 4,oufe. Then I found myfelf like a bird fhaken out of its nett, and was as an owl in the defert. Inftead of the converfe I, fometime a-day, had with exercif:d Chriftians about their own fpiritual cafe, l was engaged in difputes about the public, and about feparation, and how to defend the lawfulnefs and duty ofhearing me preach the gofpel : and for the molt part to no eflèc. So that many a time it was a terror to me to go out among them ; and coming to particular places, I often looked very blunt, finding; myfe;lf befet with contemners of me and my rniniftry , who often kept not within the bounds of common civility. . This humour of deferting my miniftry, and breakingoff from u-nder,it, continued from time to time, without any notable ftop, till the affair of Clofeburn brought it about nine years after. Since that time therehas been a remarkable fettling among them, in that point : howbeit, even fince that time 1 have had as much pf that treatment as will not fiifler me to,forget where I am. This deferting of my miniftry was the more heavy to me, that ordinarily I knew nothing about it from any hand, till after a while, that the parties were gone off, and confirmed- in their way ; and that few', had any confideration of me, in hiringfilch into their fervice. This laft continues in tome meafure to this day ; though the occafion is not fo much now, as before: inlo- much that among the firft fervants my own elder fon had, and that by advice or approbation of an elder or, elders, was one who would have gone out of the houfe if I had,come into it to vifit the family. Meanwhile Satan, raged in flirting up to the fin of uncleannefs; 4, The reproof here referred to is as follows. " If Chrift depart from us, then the blame lies at our own doors; for he may holden í2i11. The cafe of this land is very dangerous, yet it is not hopelefs. Our Lord is yet within a cry, within the reach of prayers ;; and if he go for want of ferious invita- tion from us to flay flit], we are inexcufable. Alas, that there are fo few Ilirring up themfelves to take hold.of him ! I muff needs fay, that the empty room in this church 9n the fall-day, is no good fign either for the land or for the parifh. If fitting at hone, or going about your work that day, was a way to hold Chrift CCill in the land, I am much miftaken. Sure the people of Judah did not fodefpife the fait proclaimed by King Jeholhaphat,'2 Chron. xx. 3. But if thefe people did, with Either, chap. iv. 16. keep private fails at home, when others were gathered together for that work in the congregation, it will fay much to clear them of contempt of theeccleliaftical and civil authority calling them to fail and pray that day, and fay, that they were indeed : on- cerned to hold Chrift frill amonglt us. to And lure there was never more. need fait than at this day," &c.
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