a2g`. 1IEMOIRS or PERIOD XI, was I on Saturday's night, what time I was wont to mandate my feru:on), that I was able to do nothing. So the firft time I could again fet myfelf, to go over it again in my mind, was between feven and eight on Sabbath morning, which I did cur- fbrily. And thus was I but juft whereI ufed to he formerly at that time. Mean while, being put offmy ordinary time of go- ing to bed, fleep departed from me in great meafùre, both Fri- day arid Saturday nights. In this cafe was I, when to enter on the folemn work of the Sabbath, weaker than ever, toiled and exhaufted more than ever. But behold, flrength was perfeéted in weaknefs ; and I was in exercife, four hours together in the tent, and at the table. Only I retied a while in the midft of my fermon, the congregation tinging ; and then I prayed a few words, and entered on again : I never did it before, but I biefs the Lord who gave me that counfel. The Wednefilay was very rainy, the Thurfday the fàft-day was fair. The Friday was rainy, fo that feveral were kept back that would have come from other places : but the whole three days, there was not a drop let fall on us. The Lord's own day was a grim louring day : no fun appeared, if it was not towards night. I flood in that tent the fweeteft eafieft flation that ever I had on the like oc-: cation ; it was jolt to my with : my Matter managed me in: that' Matter, as ever a mother would have done a weak child : [and the remembrance of it, at the writing. it here, produce tears of joy add admiration of his goodnefs]. And it was the fweeter, when it made me reflex on a word I had Paid in fecret prayer that morning, in view of my weaknefs, which in the time I thought was none of the heft worded, viz. ` Caft a cloud over nie, with a little gale of wind.' The one was, becaufeI thought I was not able to abide the fin ; and the other, that I was not able to bear a dead calm. The Lord was with me in the deliver- ing his word, with grave folid concern, as treating with finners in the name of God. When I entered on the ftudy of that-fer- mon, I was very peremptory that I íhould be nothing in it but a- vgice : and I doubt if ever I was more fo for fo Iong a time to- ether. And I did think, and do think ftill, I am very certain,' it was the Lord's own meflàge for that time : and can hardly think but he had fomething to do with it. I have learned anew tö prize my two friends, who preached the gofpel with the Mafter's own countenance. What is the chaff" to the corn! Powerful were the prayers that they poured out for my afflicted wifè ; in whofe cafe I turning quite hopelefs fórne time ago, did myfelf much harm, and was almoft funk. At the table of the Lord, whitheríbever I. looked, I could fee almolt nothing but fóvereignty ofa gracious God ; when I looked to Chrift, and when I looked to myfelf and relations, particularly to my wife's cafe. , Sovereignty appeared in the perfon of Chrift, the human nature being in him united tothe divine nature; fovereignty ap- peared in the way of the Father's dealing with him, in his
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