1716. MR. TNOMÁS BOSTON. 269 my fpirit to be guided of the Lord in it ; even of himwho leads the blind in the way they know not, and to whom all his works are known from the beginning ; feeingmyfelf in hazard offalling into foam piece of mifmanagement that afterwardsmay prove a fnare. And for this in particular I put myfelf in the Lord's hand. On Thurfday Aug. 15. the affair of Clofeburn came before the commiffion for final decition. Much dealing there was with the members, by both parties. The fpeat ran high for the tranfportation, when we came to town ; but by dealing with members it was fomewhat abated. Advocates were employed on both fides : but after reading of papers, and hearing of parties and their counfel on both fides, when we were to be removed I did with great affe&ion, being in deep concern, deliver before them, from a paper I had prepared, betides my anfwers to the reafons of tranfportations, a fpeech the tenor whereof, as fetting my cafe and circumftances in due light, here follows. Moderator, It is with the utmoft concern I fee myfelf fitted before the Rev. Commiffion of the General Atrembly, in a procefs for tranfportiug me to the parith of Clofeburn ; having fometimes hoped, that fuch an obfeure perfon as I might have finned his courfe and miniftry, without being heard in fuch a judicatory, at leaft on inch an occafion. But fince, by an excefs of charity to- wards me, in the Honourable perfbns and Rev. minifters con- cerned in the call of Clofeburn, whofe undeferved refpect I (hall always be fenfible of, this appearance is forced upon me ; my hearty concern for the good of the parith of Etterick, which is verydear to me, for the true intereft of the parith of Clofeburn, and for my own welfare, obliges me, freely to fpeak, before you, the thoughts of my heart, in this affair ; refolving rather to run the rifk of beingaccounted imprudent, than to mince the matter fo as the canfe may fuffer, wherein I judge the interett of the gofpel, and my comfort, lie fo much at slake. And if any thing (hall, in my difcourle, be fet in the light which otherwife fhould have beenveiled with filence, I humbly beg the Rev. Commit'- Pion, thofe of mine own parith, and the purfuers, will only im- pute it, as it ought to be, to the extreme neceffity I am reduced to, for my own defence, in which I am not indifferent, but in cornett. Moderator, When I confider how hard my work has been in the parith of Etterick, 5y reafon. of the divifive temper which has prevailed in that place, it fills me with confufion and terror, to think I am in hazard of being thrown into afar hotter flame. I own God is juft in it ; but I hope for compa(ïìon from, him, to whom the quarrel is open and manifeft ; and I expe'Et it,alfo from his fervants, to whom the caute of this is 'not certainly known. I enjoyed the ;fruits of peace, for fore years, elfe-
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