14 MEMOIRS 0F` PERIOD II. pany witha dumb man, I was urged by fome to afk him a queftion about my brother William. He anfwered me in writing, as it is Deut. xxix. ult. " Secret things belong unto the Lord our God," &c. ; and, moreover, that there is no fuch thing corn municated to the dumb, but that through importunity he himfelf" had fornetimes fpoke what he knew not. Thus was I reproved. And I defire that all who may read. this or filch like my failings, may beware offplitting on the fame rocks, fo' heavy to me. About December CO. I gladly went to Edinburgh again for the lait year, thinking that courfe of difficulties near an end. I was therefore more chearful, and in point of diet managed more liberally. 1694. About the latter end of February, I came home with John Cockburn, a comrade, fon to John Cockburn in Preflon. I could not get him out of the town till a good part of the day was fpent ; and when we were come out, he expended a little money he had left, without afking queftions till it was done. Then finding there was no money with us but what I had, which could fèarcely procure us both a night's lodging, we refolved to hold on our way, though ourjourneywas in all twenty-eight miles long. Night drawing on, we were twelve miles from home, and got nothing in the inn but bread and water ; there being no ale in it, it feems. Then under night we went on our way, in the moon-light: but on the hills we began to fail, travelling afoot, and having had but forry refrefhment at the inn. Mean while, as we lay on the highway to reft our weary limbs a little, a far- , mer came up to us, who offered to lodge us with him near by ; which was gladly embraced. That youth and I had been fchool-fellows at Dunfe, and fo much refembled oneanother in faceand Rature, as if we had been twins; the which being noticed by our fellows, made a molt en- tire friendship between us at fchool. It lafted for a while ; but was at length, upon force childifh controverfy, quite blown up, and was never recovered. For at the college, being more libe- rally furnifhed, he overlooked me, andgave himfelf to diverfions ; fo that there was no communication, but what was general, be- twixt him and me, as I remember, till the lait of the threeyears. At what time, being once in company with him, I was like to havea plea to rid betwixt him and another; and, to the beft of 'my knowledge, left them at length. And Then again I came home with him as aforefaid. He and I both were defigned for the ftudy of divinity ; but in a little time he gave up with it, went to London, applied himfelf to book-keeping, and went a- broad, I fuppofe, and died. Wherefore, when I was honoured ofGod to preach the gofpel of Chrift, I was oftena moving fight to his forrowful father. Whence I muft needs conclude, that " it is good for a man to bear theyoke in his youth :" and furely it was good and neceffary för me. Being allowed only L. Id Scots by my father for the laurea
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