296 MEMOIRS OF PERIOD XI. that fynod, Mr Wilton moved, that a letter Mould be written to Mr James Hog above mentioned ; fhewing what had'paffed in that judicatory, on the affair.forefaid, and our readinefs to concur with others, to feek redrefs therein, of the affembly itfelf immediately. And at their defire, I afterwards wrote a letter accordingly. Mean while I underftood that the book would be publifhed the week after the fynod's meeting, if not before. And con fidering, that I have made feveral fteps in the ftudy of the accentuation of the Hebrew text ; and that my health was much impaired laft fpring,'and I know not what may be the iffue ; I have refolved to begin to write an effay on that fubje&, though my materials are not fo fully gathered as wereneceffary ; becaufe the former part of mycolle&ion of materials is fuch as no body but myfelf can re&ify, range into order, and fill up to my mind, being whttfirft occurred when I entered that thicket; though the latter part, and ftill the nearer to the end, is more diftinót and perfe t. For which caufes I fpent fome time in prayer, O&. 26. viz. for the Lord's bleffing togo out with the Fourfold State, and for his pretence with me, and bleffing in the effay now to he made. The Lord helped to cry to him in both thefe and for fore time I fpread the Hebrew Bible, and my written materials, before the Lord in prayer, crying to the Father of lights, my Father, over them, for light, life, ftrength, time, and condu&, into all truth the which pra&ice I found ufeful to my upftirring. And upon that word,- Matth. xxi. 22. " And all things whatfoever ye (hall afk in prayer, believing, ye (hall receive ;" I was helped to confidence of being heard in both thefe things. At night I attempted to begin to write, wrote the title of chap. 1. but could do no more. On the more row's night I effayed it again, wrote the firft paragraph, but was diverted. It has pleated the Lord to recover my wife from that extremity the was brought to.. She was taken violently ill of her headach four days, which being fupperadded to her other troubles, Teem_. ed to threaten death : but from thence was, and began her re covery, and no other way that I could perceive. Thus in the evening-time it was light ; and not by might, nor by power, &c. But I would fain hopethefe have yet a further look. Nov. 3. This was the firft free day I had to beftow on the effay upon the accentuation : and there was a third beginning of it, the former being laid afide. But whether it was precifely on that day, or not it was begun, has already efcaped me. However, I may reckon it ío, the firft chapter being entirely new. So hard was it for me, once to get entered on it : withal other temptations were hanging°about me in that ime. And a bound copy of theFourfold State having on the 6th come to my hand, I did, on the morrow after, fpread it before the Lord in prayer, for his bleffing to go out with it, and to be entailed on
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