274 MEMOIRS OF PERIOD X. than the parilh here púrfuing, are fuch inftaiìces of the lenity of this Very Reverendjudicatory, that it' will be thought exceeding ftrange, it it Thai} be my lot only to he violented. Moderator, I have been twice fettled already ; and I filets the Lord, who was pleated, in both; convincingly to Phew me his own call coming along with the call of his church. And I have felt fo much need of the forme', its accompanying the latter, that I would be molt inexcufable to venture on removing to another parìlli without it. I was perfuaded in.my confcience of the Lord's calling me to Etterick ; and my clearnefs as to my call to that place, was never overclouded, no not in my darkeft hours ; and, had I not had that to fupport me there, I -had 'funk under my burden. Now I have endeavoured, according to the meafure of the grace bellowed òn me, to fet afide my own inclinations, and the c_onfideration of the eafe and fatisfaction of my own heart, and today this matter before the Lord, for light, to difcover his mind about it, ;labouring to wait upon hini in the way of his word and works. But I fir:cerely declare, ater all, I have no clearnels to accept the call of Clofeburn, nor a foun- dation formy confcience, in this tranfportation, which ought not to reft on human authority. I have all deference for the authority á' this church, and my miniftry is very dear to me : fo I caft n3yfelf down at your feet, begging that you will not grant this tranfportation, which hasbeen refuted by the prefbykery, and fynod whereof! amrna member ; and who are beftacquainted with the ftate of the parilh of'Etterick ,and what concerns me whereas both that parilh and I are known but to very few of our now Reverend Judges. But ifit Malt pleafe the holy wile God; to fuller me now, for my trial and corre&tion; to fall under your fentence, tranfporting me from the parilh of Etterick to the parilh of Clofeburn ; time it is a charge I have no clearnefs to undertake, I refolve, through grace,'rather to fufle, 'than to enter ;upon it blindfolded. Though, in the meantime, I cannot help thinking, it will be hard meafure to punifh me, becaufe I cannot fee with other mens eyes : efpecially confidering that the prefbytery of Selkirk, and the Reverend Synod of Merfe and' Teviotdale, have, by their refpeótive fentences continued me in Etterick, upon very weighty grounds, contained in the fentence of the latter in, this affair.' The deep concern I was in, naturally formed the delivery of the fpeech. Parties being removed, I went into a feat in the church alone, and gave rnylelf to prayer, it being in the night- feafbn : I call myfeif over on the Lord, to follow frill as he fhóuld go before, but no otherwife ; and in cafe of the fentence going againft me, was refolved to ,proteft for liberty to complain to the affembly, and never to undertake that charge, unlefs light bróke up to me, which had not yet appeared. But by a volt majority, the feritence palled in our favour : and others, as well.
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