1697. MR THOMAS BOSTON. 25 and betides, it Was the more convenient for me in my then cir- cumftances, having my father's houfe to remain in. Accordingly, on the 23d of March 1697, I being, juft the week before, twenty-one years ofage complete, Mr Colden went to the prefbytery, fitting at Churnfide ; and having propofed their taking me on trials, they appointed me a piece of trial on James i. 5. " If any of you lack wifdom, let him afk of God, 4' that giveth to all men liberally," &c. and that to be delivered at their next meeting in Dunfe. The which being reported to me by Mr Colden, I addreffed myfelf to that: work, kind Provi- dence having, on the Friday after, prepared me a private cham- ber in my father's houfe, which had been occupied by another when I came home. On the ed of April I Tpent fome time in farting and prayer, for the divine affiftance in'what I was called to, and was going about ; and in the time I found myfelf helped, in prayer, to par- ticular truft and confidence, that God would aótually grant what I fought. The presbytery meeting at Dunfe on the 6th, I deli- vered before them a homily on the forefaid text, and was helped of God therein accordingly ; and to this day I have a fenfe of the divine indulgence, determining them to prefcribe me that text which was fo much fuited for my fupport in the difpofition I was in. They appointed me then a common head, De viribus liberi arbitrii circa bonumfpirituale. I' delivered an exegefis on that head, after prayer made, both in Latin, May 11. at Churnfide. Much time being (pent ere they called for that piece of trial, I went out a little to revife it : but by the time I had come the length of what I reckoned myfelf leaft mafter of, I was called to deliver it ; but withal, by the kind conduct of Providence, when I was coming on to that part of it, they ftopped me. I diftributed my thetas on that head, and was appointed to exercife and add next prefbytery-day on Jude 15. On the 1ft of June they met at Dunfe. Theday before it was the great fair in that place : but I was earneft with God for his affiftance in the work before me ;, and was helped of him to feek his help. In the morning beforeI went to the kirk, I renewed covenant with God in my chamber ; and 1 had much encourage- ment from the help of the prayers of mygodly friends in Clack., mannan, who, I trufted, were concerned for me. By a peculiar kind difpofal of Providence, when I went to the pulpit, the pre- centor, who ufed to keep an ordinary, was not come : lb accord- ing to myown delire, I pitched on Pfal. xviii. 25.-29. and pre- cented myfelf; and was greatly ftrengthened by the finging thereof. I delivered the exercife and addition on the forefaid text, being well helped of the Lord therein. I have Bill a pecu- liar remembrance of that part of that pfalm, as occafionally it comes in my way. I admire the indulgence of Providence in that matter; for the precentor (Wald have been finging when l~
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=