MËMOttt8 or PERIOD X. Moderator, The parifh of Clofeburn is fo confiderable, numerous, and divided, that it is a burden quite too heavy for me, and requires a minifter endued with qualifications I cannot pretend to, and withal of another fpirit than I am ; being very unfit, on many accounts, to appear in the world in any fuch poft, even though it were an unanimous parifh. But as it is a pariah notablydivided, I am frill themore unfit for it. I have had too much acquaintance with myfelf, in the management of the parifh , of Etterick, to think I am fit to undertake the charge of the pariah of Clofeburn, wherein (I am perfuaded) the work of the gofpel would egregioufiy fuffer in my hands. II know, that little firers is fometimes put upon profeffions of this nature ; but I do ingeniouflydeclare, that in my aloft retired thoughts of this tranfportation, the dìfadvantages I find I labour under frommy. felf, in managing my work in the congregation I ani fet over, do fo flare me in the face, that I cannot encourage this defign, with- out a witnefs againft me in my own bofom, teftifying I fhould be injurious to the parifh of Clofeburn, in accepting their call, which I plainly perceive has proceeded on a miftake concerning me. For though it has pleated the Lord fometimes to make my preaèhing-gift acceptable to his people ; yet it is well known to thofe of my acquaintance, I labour under forne uncommon difàd& vantages, which render me unfit for fucha poft. Betides, Moderator, I have ferioufly confidered the matter of this tranfportation again and again, and I can have no other apprehenfion of it, but that it will be a renting of me from a congregation whofe hearts are pierced with the thoughts of my removal from them, and a throwing me undefired into another. I am convinced, that upon whatever views that ` pariah made Choice_of me to be their minifter, when they figned their call to me, matters are now fo far altered, that had forne things, with relation. to the parifh of Etterick and to myfelf, which in the progrefs of this affair have manifeftlÿ appeared, to theconviaion Of all unbiaffed perfons, been believed before this procefs was commenced, they had not proceeded therein. And whatever reafon the purfuers may have to go on, finte they have begun, I hope our Very Reverend Judges will find'themfèlves obliged to determine as the prefent frate ofaffairs requires. Several per. fons, commiffioners from the parifh 'of Clofeburn, at' different times, have had the trouble of feveral longjournies in this af- fair, which I am heartily fbrry for. And I freely own, that Sir Thomas'Kí.rkpatrick, and another of that parifh, have all along appeared cordial and ferions in that matter : but I mutt have been unaccountably blinded, if, by repeated evidences otherwife, I had not perceived the pariah of Clofeburn not inclined to be hard on the pariah of Etterick in this affair. And however this might perhaps be deemed to be of finall importance in the cafe of one inclinable to embrace their call ; yet it cannot but have weight with our Reverend and compaffionate judges, in the cafe
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