712. MR THOMAS BOSTON. 221 for that minifter ; for it was too much to the difhonour of God, who has often been good to me, that fome bofom-friends fàwme in that cafe ; but the other could not but be a difàdvantage to the caufé ofGod, in the weighty point of the oath, in which that perfon and I quickly appeared of different judgments. This day I fet myfelf to pray and think about the oath ; and it remains to be-to me a heavy trial. The {tate of public affairs makes me afraid, that the bufinefs of the fermons be marred ; which puts me now to beg of God, that he would carry on that work over the belly of the difficulties. This day alfo one who came to my. houfe laft fummer in deep diftrefs and melancholy, having by the blefïìng of God recovered, went away, but fonrewhat dit. fatisfied. Since her recovery, the has been fomewhat uneafy to us, and feemed very unconcerned in the diftrefs of our family. Another certain perfon did not carry right. I had a very forry account of a third. All the three were much efleemed by me for their piety. Thefe things together made me think that I had feet) an end of all perfeátion. And though I think they were all gracious per{öns, and .dare not think, far lets fpeak, harfhly as to the {late of any of them, confidering my corrupt Pelf; yet I think I will never admire womens religion fo very much as I have done. I do judge their paffions are apt to make their religion look greater than indeed it is, being mull-ally eafy to be fin pre%d. May 27. When I came home from the fyrtod, my fon Thomas was (till lick ; on the laft of April he died ; was buried May I. ; and on the morrow I went to Edinburgh to the general affembly. Never was the death ofa child fo ufelefs to me, beingput out of order by a temptation. The profpect of evil times alleviated the cafe of his death ; but the diforder of my own {'pirit wofially marred the kindly good effe& it might have had. Satan watches to prevent the good of of létions; much need. is there to watch againft him. In the affembly, the lawfulnef- of the oath of abjuration was debated pro and con, in a committee of the whole houfe, betwixt the fcruplers and theclear brethren. All I had thereby was, that the principles on which the ánfwers to theobjeétions were found- ed, feemed to me of fuch latitude, that by them almoft any oath might pafs. The parties were (at that time, as I think) at the very point of splitting; till Mr William Carftairs, principal of the college of Edinburgh, and clear for the oath, interpofed and prevented the rupture : for the which caufe I did always there- after honour him in my heart. For all that I heard advanced, to clear the difficulties about it, I ftill continued a fcrupler; and therefore, a little before I came away home, the act 'impoling the oath being printed, and offered to rue at the door of the affembly- houfe, I bought it, on .purpofe toknow exactly the penalty I was like to underlie. Being come home, I did this day .fpend force time in prayer
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=