S62 MEMOIRS or PERIOD j. of a comrniffion was alto the firft ftep in the bufinefs of the tranfportation to Etterick. 7. The comuiiflìoners being in our houfe on the Wednefday's night before the prefbytery, the ordinary lung in the family was Pfd. xviii. 41.-45. After we had done with the farnily-worfhip, Mr Murray, bid mé to take notice of verb. 43. if I right remember. I took little notice of it on that ; but on Monday night immediatelybefore the prefbytery, we flung at their family-worfhip the fame part of the 18th pfalm, and then I could not but notice it. 8. While in our houfe thofe of that place (poke of the benefice there, I cared no more for it, nor was moved by it than by dirt. I biefs the Lord, my weak fide lies not there but the Lord let me fee that I was not to he fecure on that quarter ; for hearing, what I yet apprehend may be a lying ftory, but of that kind, my heart was catched; which I quickly perceived to my f lame and forrow ; but through grace I got over it. 9. On the morrow after the prefbytery, riding with the men cornrniffioners from Clofeburn, fome women came forth, and wept; which much moved me, as an emblem of what would.likely follow in the event of a tranfportation. So I gave over talking with Mr Murray, with whom I could prevail nothing ; and fpoke with the other two men, till we parted in a hurry, and they appearing more hopelefs than ever. This I purfued, and this I had fátisfrClion in, that I had difcharged my confcience; and if they do return, it is on all grounds of hope from me (which I never defignedly gave them) razed by me; fo that if there be any further procedure in the matter, there.is clear ground for holy providence to work on. = That word, Pfál.. lvi. ult. " Thou haft delivered my foul from death ; wilt thou " not deliver, my feet from falling.?" has been big in nay eyes, and often in my mouth, on this occafion. And that word this day. was flaying to my heart in fome meafure, Prov. iv. 12. " When thou goeft, thy Reps (hall not be fraitened ; and when thou runneft, thou (halt not fumble." Feb. 27. On Monday laft came Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick, with two minifters of the prefbytery, and W. G. from the parifh, in their way to Selkirk, to prolécute their call. Their corning was funning : they laid about three quarters of an hour. When they were gone, I went and poured Out my foul to the Lord, and was very remarkably carried out, to be very particular, that God would fruftrate the errand they were going on. Their cornmiffron was again rejedted, and they appealed to the fynod. This day returning with the two minifters and W. G. their ma- nagement and converfe was filch, that my heart was extremely fet againft that place. On the 27th of March, a congregational fat was kept, at'the defire of the feffion, on the account of the threatened defolating of the parifh, by the tranfportation forefaid. Three brethren of the prefbytery, being invited, preached : and that day, an heritor of the parifh, who all along to that time had deferted niy
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