1728. MR THOMAS nOSTOrt. 343 light doth chiefly open For, (1.) There fermons, molt of them at leaf, were indeed fiudied with a defign of more public ufeful- nefs. (2.) It Teems fitter than new Rudy, in refpeót of my bodily weaknefs. (3.) Great difficulty having appeared as to the modelling of the firft part of thefe notes, force light for get- ting through the fame begins to break, which does in a manner hecetlìtate me to effay this work, ere that go out of my head. I have tinarted, as dual in time of my being unfixed to force particular bufinefs. April 8. Yefterday I endedmy fermons on the hearingof pray. er; but there is noappearance ofmy wife's deliverance. As to the frame of my fpirit on that trying occafion, it was and is a retolutenefs; to wait on the Lord, with a contentment and pleafednefs too, with what way he (hall be pleated to take in it, as that which will be the belt. Laft week, as I hadopportunity, I attempted the fettling of my affairs ; and I did reach the way of difpofing of the Latin effay on the accentuation, and the par- cel of my books to be left for profecuting my beloved Rudy : but as to my other affairs I quite Ruck, and could by no means reach the,fettling of them. Wherefore Ï cried to the Lord, that he would pleafe either to teach me how to do it, or elfe carry me off from it that it might not`ftand in the way of my proceed- ing to bufinefs. After which, the entanglement ftill remaining as to thefe other affairs, it came into my mind to fettle the two things cleared ; and as to the other, to let things ltand much as formerly. And this I did on Saturday. When Iconfider how a year ago I was refolved to make a new fettlement, my fubftance being increafed, but was obliged to delay it ; and being in November left juR on the point of doing it; my affairs were fluldenly perplexed ; in February lati being refolved on it, I was put then under a providential reftraint ; and now again was not able to reach it : I am fatisfied not to proceed further, but let that of the date Jan. 1. 1725 Rand ; and that the defign of this conduét of Providence will at length appear. So having fpent forne time in prayer, and thinking on my bußnefs of ano- ther nature, this day, I am determined to effay writing on the covenant of grace. What determined 'me was, that proceed- Mg on the catechifm feemed to me, as it were, an invading the province of others ; and I can have no rational view of an end of my Rudy on the Hebrew text, but what death Will make : that this is a very neceffary piece of work, for clearing that grand fubjeet much darkened ; and I found 1 had been felicitous, that, in the event'of my being prevented by depth, Mr Wilfon might put thefe notes in order for the prefs. So, notwithliand- Mg of the weaknefs ofthe performanceas it Rands, and inability to Rudy, which are heavy to me, I am convinced I ought, and dare not flight this opportunity to effay it. April 15, Having on Tuefda_y fpent fame time in -prayer for the Lord's prefence with me in that work, fpreading my notes "No.,8. Uu'
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