PERIOD' XI. 310 MÈMOIRS OF to fuch an iffue. Howbeit, by my going,in toEdinburgh to the affemblyon that account, my proceeding in the effay on the ac- centuation was again interrupted. On Tune 9. I adminiftered the facrament of the 'fupper. I was much hurried by means of my neceffary abfence from the parith, in May, on account of Mr Wilfon's affair. My wife was in great diftrefs, and I had no help on the fait-day : but kind Providence made my work eafy ; fo that I goalie fall-day's fermons on the Monday, and the aélion-fermon on Ihurfday and Friday. On the Friday's night, by reafon of the (curvy ftruck out on me, I fiept little ; on the Saturday's night none at all ; which made me very' heavy on Sabbath morning. But. I xemember my great :concern was for the efficacy of the word. God mercifully helped me ; fo that I minded not my want of fleep during my work, till it was over. Thus my troubles and trials increafed ; but the hand that laid them ón, helped. My, wife with much difficulty got out to the table. It was at and after that communion the fermons were preached, which fince that time have been publifhed, under the title of The myfery of Chrift in the form of afervant. The notion of Chrift's fiate of fervitude, there advancedand improved, I had been led unto by my ftudy on the covenant of grace. On the 30th, I entered on the fubjeót of the good fight of faith ; being led thereto .by my wife's cafe, and indeed much for her caufe. And this was not ended till Oótober Q0*. July 14. MrHenry Davidfon and I were,at the facrament in Penpont. It was the fecond time to him, and but the third to nie, though often defired. -It was very much againft my in- clination togo thither, ever fince the finit time in the year 17Ó9 ; but I could not evite it, though I left my wife in great diftrefs. The conduct of holy Providence hath been very ftrange and myfterious, with refpeót to my going to that place all along. All the three times the Lord, was with me remarkably in my work there, efpecially on the Saturday thefirft time, and on the Sabbath afternoon the two lait times. Old notes have till been mot bleffed, in my cafe, in that place. The fnit time I had but one fermon fludied for it, and it was not delivered at all there. The fecond time I had two fermons fiudled, but one of them was new ftudied out of old riches ; and that was it the Lord made mot fweet both to them and me. This lait time we had_kept a prefbyterial fait on the Wednefdaÿ before we went thither, on account of adrought altogether extraordinary : and the 'rain came on that Sabbathwe wereat Penpont. Several other prefbyteries kept it that-fame week, and the Lord heard prayer. Forefeeing; what I thus had to do, having two free days the week before, I attempted to prepare for Penpont; but by no means could get any thing for it. Next week had no ' The excellent fermons on this fubje,were printed, in 1756, in a volume with otherfermons.
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