1715. MR THOMAS BOSTON. d49 toward the weft, I was advifed to pet watches in time of fermon. Accordingly one was pet on E. hill, another on R. hill. The Lord gave a calm within, and there was no difturbance from without. Sabbath, Nov. 6. an order from the general, inviting men to the King's fervice, was read. I fat till it was done ; but knowing it would be in vain as to us, as it was, I Paid nothing. The Wile of it was, that I found I had the con- cern ofreligion in the war to teach again; which gave occafion to thefe notes in theSermons, p. Z2. App. No. 2. Sabbath, Nov. 13. The which day the battle of Dpm.blane was fought ; and that day alto they fought at Prefton, beginning on the Saturday. ; but it was the Monday at noon ere all was over. The (bid day an order was read for our parish to pet out four militia-men. The letter about it carne not to me, till I was in the pulpit : but the fermons were fo patto theemergent, that not having the defired effeót, they proved irritating ; which fhortly after I felt. Now they could fhift no longer ; fo they went about it, not owning me in the leaft in it, nor I them. Only notes of the fermon were invidioufly ufed againft me.. The four men they hired all out of the parish, except one, who had been a while in it. Mafters and fervants, and old men, all paid' alike 5 s. 6 d. Sterling, which occafioned great clamour. And being fingular in this, beyond all their neighbours, the managers were afhamed of it. My fervant being called among the reit I found means to phew them, that I thought he was not obliged to pay. But about the 22d or 23d of November, a con- fiable, with three militia-men, came to my houfe, and, by orders, they fàidfrom a principle heritor -of the parish, demanded the militia-money for my fervant, and my fon, (not fourteen years of age) ; and, failing him, for myfelf. And they (hewed me the roll, wherein I faw my fon and fervant's name. I told them, that I regarded no fuch orders. Thus my (hewing them their duty, was refented with futfîcie.nt contempt. The fervant paid. That day I left them at Selkirk, I made an overture to the prelbytery, that minifters fhould contribute to the, railing of men for the fupport of the government ; which being fallen in with by them, was ordered to be laid before the fynod; and I fpoke to a man with that view. But the fynod, at that time, faw it not needful to go into it. That morning I went off to the fynod, I. did fecretly advife Tufhilaw to call. the heads of the parish, (feeing I was fo unacceptable to them in thefe matters), and counfel them to look to themfelves, and offer fome,men to the government voluntarily. But this advice was rejebted by him. So I would heartily have given of mymoney in a fuitable way ; but to be compelled thereto, and that by them, was what I could not comply with. Being wreftled out of breath with the parish, in this time it began to fit down on my fpirit -very much, beyond what it had done formerly, that I was very unfit for' them, and that they Hhz
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