Q5' MRMQIRS OP PERIOD x, Only I know the Lord has before this ferved his own holywife ends, by my folly, cowardice, and baftard-modefty; in his caufl+.. I have formely related how the defign was (topped when I went into Edinburgh, toget it put to the pref' . It was indeed an ungrateful advice given to me in the time ; but the thingbeing fo fèafrble, I thought I could not in modefty refift it. The kind reception the printed fermon got, recovered my courage and refolution for the book ; though Ibmé profeffors of this parith, any conítant hearers, thought it not enough to fight that fermon when printed, but not obfcurely (hewed their grudge and indignation againft it, on no other reafon I can divine, but that they grudge any thing tending to my reputation. In the tranf- cribing, feveral things are left out, with a defìgn to shorten it. fome few things put in, fciripture-texts filled up that were only cited before, a great many expreffions altered, and the copy divided into chapters or fedtions, or what elfe may be thought meet to call them. And for thefe caufes I undertook the tranf cribing of it. It was a remark of Mr Flint's ort the ftate of grace, that the texts cited were Often not filled up. And an obferve of Mr Halyburton's, in the Memoirs ofhis life, namely, That when he found the word had done good, it was ufually God'sown word in the fcriptüre, brought in in his fermons, carried that remark home on myconfcience which 'Mr Flint had made. And by this means I fuppofe it will be found little fhorter, if any thing at all, than formerly. I heard no more of the fermons at Morbattle, the rebellion breaking out foon after. In the fìrft week of January 1716, I was, by thegood hand of God upon me; moved yet again, to attempt inquiring into what Mr Crofs calls the Taghmical Art, viz. the facred ftigmatology, or accentuation of the Hebrew Bible. And having by prayer addreffed the Father of lights exprefsly on that particular, he was gracioufly pleafed to help me afterwards therein, to mygreat fatisfa&ion. And I came to be perfuaded of its being of fo great ufe for underftanding the holy fcriptures, that, it being a time of great confufions, I was. fatisfied I might have full peace within rnyfelf, to be found by public troubles in the Rudy thereof. And here began the moft bufy time of my life, which conti- continued while my ftrength lafted. Jan. 16. Being on my way to Edinburgh,_ on the account of a proje6t on foot for clearing the nonjuro,rs to the government, day-light failed us between the Craig and Blackhoufe, there was a drift in our face, and we were in fear of wandering ; yet came al`'afe to Blackhoufe, aimolt fenfelefs with the ftrefs. While I thi .ent up that burn, walking, not daring to ride, that word, nev.Lord, thou preferveft man and beaft, how precious is thy wou.::race! Therefore in thadow," &c. wasfweetand encouraging. even :re was no proceeding, in the journey for the ftortn : fo corn - ,ack again on the morrow, I wondered how we had got..
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