358 MEMOIRS 01" PERIOD XI. which I was moft _earnefì for. And for that caufe, at his defire, he got the MS. along with him to Aberdeen, to be returned in the following November : he got alló the effay on the text of Genefis along with him at the fame time. I came home from Edinburgh on Wednefday, May21. ; and found my family, by the mercy of God, no worfe than when I left them. I found a cough, and a pain in my back, which had fallen to nee in the fpring, both of them worfe ; and I was under great ìndifpoiition for about ten days after. By that pain in my back, it was with great difficulty that I could change my fitting potture intoan ere&one. It had been carried to that height, by means of the extreme long feats we had got at the affembly in Profeffor Sini on's affair. This was a new weight hung at me, under the aforementioced kind appearances of Providence for nee. I remember I had fómething of that nature, after I came home from Edinburgh at the ending of the affair of Clofeburn. But having, as foon as I could, applied myfelf to bufinefs, I ended the work on the covenant of grace, confifting of 485 pages in 4tó, upon the 14th day of June. Going to prayer, I gave thanks, as I was able, for life and ftrength allowed me for it ; oflel.ed it to God through Jefus Chrift ; begged it might be accepted of him, brought forth, arid employed for the fervice of my God : preferved and blef ed while I live, and when I 'am dead and gone ; withal wondering at the divine condefcenfion, in calling we to preach the gofpel, and write*. This fumrnerthe eafter gable of the manfe aforefaid was taken down fo far as was judged neceffary, and rebuilt, And by this means the courfe of adminiftering the facrament in the parifh was interrupted this -year : the people being withal ftraitened for viétual to maintain their families, that I could not find in my heart to burden there with the ftrangers refórti.ng to them on fuch occafions in .great numbers. When it' was confidered in the feffion, before the furunrer came on, it was declared, that it would, be hard to get as much hay or f-iraw in the - parifh as to make beds for ftrangers ; which touched me to the heart, on their account. Having, on June 15. ended -my fermons on this world lying in wickednefs, I was inclined to proceed to treat of the other world : but finding the people cruthed in their túbftance,,I was defirous alto to handle fbmething with relation to filch circuin fiances. And, by the good hand of God, I was led to Markx. O. '' He thall receivean hundred fold now in this time, houfes, &c. and in the world to come eternal life." This, antivering both my intentions, I entered upon, June 22. and for three or four Sabbaths inffted on the first part of the text, -with a view to their worldly folks. This treatife was originally publithed at Edinburgh in 1734, two years after the author's death. Both his original notes, and the manufcript prepared for the prefs, are preferved.
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