_-------¡ 1725. MR THOMAS BOSTON. 319 head," Gen. iii. 15. On the Monday I ftudied my fermons for the fart on the Wednefday, and that day preached twice in the forenoon; but I had help in the afternoon, though not much to my comfort. I began my !Indies of the aétion fermon on Thurfday afternoon, but they went not well with me. I began therefore over again on Friday ; but being out of order, through want of fleep, I was forced to give it over, after I had done about the one half. So on Saturday morn- ing I had the other half to Rudy : and, for ought I remem- ber, this was new being always, one way or other, more time- oufly provided. I had refolved to preach but about an hour ; but the watch for the time proved ufelefs to me ;` fo I preached about an hour and a half in much weaknefs, and was at length exhaufted. I quite forgot to pray after fermon ; and never had the leaft thought of it till returning into the tent after the fire table, I refleóted on it : and this did much confound me. The molt fenfible breathings of the Spirit that I had that day, were in the prayer of confecration, and the giving of thanks after the a&tion : in both which addreffes to the throne, the Lord was fo with my fpirit, that bodily Rrength was afforded me too. My wife wascárried throughand preferved, but fill in great diftrefs. The weather was louring, yet we, had very little difturbance by it. But on Monday, at the difmiffing of the congregation, rain came on ; and in a little after, there was a violent florin of wind and rain, falling on the Lord's people going to their own homes ; of whom many having come from afar, behoved to lodge all nightfomewhere by the way. It continued that after- noon, and molt of the Tuefday. Mr Winn fuggefted to me, that the bruifed ferpent was raging, and we were in concern for the prefervation of the Lord's people by the way. I faw it then, onhis fuggefing it ; and was thereby prefently determine in my own mind to continue on that text ; which accordingly did infift on till Sept., 12. I know the ferpent had moreends»to ferve by that difturbance in the air, than that one of molefting the Lord's people in their way home : it railed the affhétion alfo of a particular perlon to a height. 0n the Friday after, I was comforted by a letter I received, (hewing, that from feveral it . was underftood to have been a time of the Lord's pretence in a remarkable manner ; . that it was no wonder the bruifed ferpent raged ; particularly as to one, that it was one of the bet days they had ever feen on earth. I have got a leffon to beware of fretting at long prayers by others ; it was for that I was checked, by my .forgetting to pray at all : and thereby alfo I have feen the, need of dependence on the Lord, in the molt ordinary things wherein one would thinkone can hardly miftake. The bufinets of the journey to Penpont, and this ftormy weather aforefaid, with other incidents, incline me to think, that I have but too little noticed Satan's aétivity in fuch matters. But glory to No. 7. , r
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