e7g MEMOIRS" OF PERIOD xr. As to the ftorm; the Lord feems to refufe to be entreated therein by congregational fatting with.prayer : for it was in nay mind to have had it done Taft week ; but on the Lord's day, when it might have been appointed, there was a fair thaw ; and when the occalion of appointing.it for that week was over, the thaw mifgave. I deigned it again on Tuefday the 7th, and offered . to have kept it on the 6th : but I was told the people could not be prefent, being to flee with their fheep that day and the next. In February, having been for forne time diverted from my beloved fludy, and, whereas I was then to enter on the minors, being in much confit ion, not knowing where to begin my work, I, did on the 13th 'Pend torne time in prayer, for light, both as to matter and method which laft I was obliged very particu- k rly to fèekof the Father of lights. And having eífàyed it the fame day, I found myfelf in a hopeful way as toboth and that the confidence I had, through grace, had in the Lord, was not in vain. At that time I was lecturing on Genets ; and being allured by what I met with in the original, fludymg my leátures, I be- gan that week to tranflate as I went on. Afterwards I wrote notes too on the tranflation. This performance, begun at Gen, xxxvii. is carried on to Exod. xxxv: and to be found among my papers. But this way of doing retarded me in my main iludy : wherefore finding I had not time for it and other things too, I broke off ; .ànd, to the belt of my remembrance, left off leôluring. on the Old Teftament. Márch 25. The inteijeétions and interrogations being then before me, I fpent force time, in prayer for the divine aflì.ftance in my ftudies, and force diftrefs relating to force in my family : and the Lord was found of me, and quickly gave me help and relief, in all the cafes that then lay upon me. A part of my flipend coming in' 'about that time, I did on the 30th lay by fifty merks thereoffor pious ufes : and all along fines that time, I have kept a private box, making up into it yearly the faid furs of 50 merks ; laying, it in moftly by parcels, and giving out of it, as occafion requires : and, I always keep of it in my left-fide pocket. The dealing to poor at the houfe for their food, continues as formerly, without refpe6t to this,: only what wool is given them in the fùmtrier, fince T have none of my own, is bought out of this fund ; out of which alto our Sabbath's contributions are taken. This courfe I have found to be profi- table to the poor, and affording much eafe to myfelf ; for I have thereby been in cafe, to give confiderably on fpecial occa- fions ; and that with more eafe to myfelf, than otherwife I could have had ; always looking on that. part of my yearly income as -riot my own,. but the Lord's. After (hutting up the doétrine of repentance, in my ordinary, I did, on Oét. 27. 1717, return to the catechifm ; beginning at the doétrine of the application of the redemption purchafed by
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