Q80 MEMOIRS OP PERIOD xI. was furprifing. I thought, that, fhould the Lord profper the work of the accentuation now in hand, that book might profper after the acceptance thereof. But Mr Wilfon reprefenting this, as carving out by one's own wifdom, when we were near to part, impreffed me more, than any thing that had been Paid. For the way of carnal wifdom, for many years, has been always frightful to me : and that difpofition of fpirit, which I was con- fcious to in myfelf, afforded me a comfortable refle&ion with refpe& to my ftate. On Monday the 7th of July I had taken a vomit, on the morrow after, phyfic, and likewife on the Thurfday again : and that Thurfday's night I was fent for to fee Thomas Linton, fuppofed to be a-dying ; which at firft view was ftunning and confounding, in refpe& of my bodily hazard. I had thankfully obferved, and offered my praifes, for that during the time I was under that courfe, I had got liberty to keep the houfe : but this trial came ere all was done. On the Monday afternoon one came to me, defining me to go and baptize his child, fuppofed to be a dying : I, never having adminiftered baptifm in a pri- vate houfe without previous intimation to the congregation, re- fufed ; and the parent feemed to be much affe&ed with the re- fufal. This fet meto beg the life of that child. Going to God toSeek dire&ion upon the exprefs from Chapelhop, I found I durft not fit the call. So I went away that fame night, owning my all to be at the Mafter's difpofal, in profecuting the minittry I had received from him ; and withal, with a certain fatisfa&ion in the Lord's laying trials to my hand. I returned on the mor- row, without the leaft difcerni"hle harm to myfelf ; and the pa- rent, came again, 'íhewing the child to be better, and to be bap- tized orderly next,Lord's day in the church. And here I muff remark, that, through the whole courfe of my miniftry, then eighteen years, never a child died without baptifm throughmy (ticking to that principle. Gloryto a good God for it. On Monday, July 14. the faddeft trial of all came. I was awakened that morning, to hear the doleful account of a wo- man's Having murdered herfelf in Etterick-houfé ; and while I was making ready to go thither, word came,that I behoved to go quickly over to Chapelhop, to fee Thomas Linton a-dying ; and on the Sabbath I had been defired to come down on the Monday to fee the good wife of 'Andlelhop, who alfo feemed to be going off. So I went off extremely confounded with the dif- penfttion ; beheld the woman lying dead,by her own hands, fb far as is known ; then I went to Chapelhop, and came about by A.ndlefhop. On the Tuefday after, I attempted to fpend fome time in prayer: but through conflation and heavinefs;, that work was marred. On Tuefday the 22d, I fpent fore time in that ex- ercife; embraced the covenant anew, and addreffed the throne of grace, with an eye to the facrament at Maxton, w,rat to
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