1720. MR THOMAS BOSTON. 289 new orders carne down for profecuting the nonjurors. And Mr John Flint, and Mr William Miller, two of the'minifters oNhe town, formerly nonjurors, but now 'takers of the oath, having vifited us in our diftrefs, told me at parting, that they were jolt going to the Prefident of the court of Seffion, to endeavour to divert the ftorm ready to break out: Mrs Bladerftone, to whole prayers I recommend my Rudy of the accentuation, with the reft of my cafe, was a daughter of Mr "Henry Erfkine's, formerly mentioned, whom I account my father in Chrift, and a perfori eminent for piety, Chriftian 'ex- perience, and communion with God. Jan. 9. 1720. My fon Thomas, going in (even; having dif- covered fomething of his cafe to his mother, I did, at her motion, converfe with him thereon, and found him fenfible of the ftirring of corruption in his heart. He told me, he was troubled with ill thoughts ; that he would not tell them, for that he could not do it, but with a grieved heart ; that he re- filled them, by laying over queftions of the catechifin, and rea- ding, (adding, Sometimes I read whether I will or no ; meaning, his going over the belly, of his avertüefs to it), and fometimesby laying to them, Go away.. He told me further, that God did not hear his prayers ; and that for that fometimes he forgot his prayers at night : that he wondered why God made the devil, for he tempted men,; but that he thought it was todeftroy liars : thathe found his heart fain on fome things, when hè got them firft ; but he prayed to God to take away that fainnefs. I inforrned, inftruéted and directed him, in the whole cafe, the bell I could. Jan. 20. On the 9th, I received. letters, fhew.ing, that orders for profecuting the nonjurors, were again come from court. This was the third time lince June preceeding. The firft orders for that effeót came in harveft ; the fecond, that week I went last to Edinburgh ; and now the news of this WI came with the ac- count of my daughter's recovery. They were now put in the hands of fjreriffs, magiftrates of burghs, S c. and I waited the iffue. And for that caufe I fpent tome time in prayer this day, ,(with other particulars, and particularly the accentuation) ;, and embracing the covenant anew, laid myfelf for time and eternity on God in Chrift, with an eye to the trials before me ; and, with the fame view, laid over my wife, children, and fervants, that may be with me in my trial, on the fame God : and alto the poor parifll. And now let the Lord do what .feemeth hi.ra good. this form, which fo often appeared on the point f breaking forth, has been; through the mercy of God, averted unto this day. What time I had in January and the firft week of February, I fpent in writing on the accents'. And that firft week of Fe- bruary, I had á very particular accomplilhment of the above re- corded Jer. xxxiii. 3: in. feveral inftances, but elpeciaily in the light I got into the true fenle Of Mal. ií. 15." And did not he N.' n.
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