innimaimanzas- 170. MR TITOMAS BOSTON. 365 text, to mark the texts of the Pentateuch therein occafionally expounded, if it fo be that I be allowed to return to that Rudy And this day, Dec. 1. completed the filling up of the paffages of my life to that date. Mean while, though I have ended my difcourfe on the text of the world to come, I am entered on another text relative to the fame fubject, viz. Peal. xxvi: 9. " Gather not my foul with (inners," intended for the ufe of the former docîrine. Dec. 5. Friday. On Tuefday the 2d inftant I kept a fecret faft, in order to my preparation for death. The night before, apprehending I would not be able to go through that work all at once, I refolved to purfue it, though on different days. Arid having begged of God, that he would raife me up in the morn- ing timely, even about fix o'clock, I did accordingly rife long before day. And after my ordinary devotions, addrefling my- felf to that work, in order to a review of my fins, I read force fcriptures, two writtencoufeflions, one drawn thirty-threeyears ago, another thirty, bothwhich I have kept in (Mort-hand charac tens, as alfo the larger catechifm on what is required and for- bidden in the 'Fen Commands ; then thou ht on my ways in the feveral periods of my life, and in the ordkr ofthe Ten Corn- tmands ; by all which means I got a humbling fight of myfelf. Then bowing my knees before the Lord, I did fluently read over the two confeffions before him : whichdone, I prayed, and made confeffion of my fins as fully and particularly as I could ; and there I got a view of my whole life as one heap of vanity, fin, and foolifhnefs. It appeared a loathfome life in my eyes, fo that my very heart faid, ' I loath it ; I would not live al- ways ;' and I loathed myfelf on the account of it. It cut tó the heart to think of it,'and cut off clef re of returning to it, if that had been poffible. But fuch as I was, I behovd to look again towards his temple. After confeffion made, minding to renew my acceptance of God's covenant ofgrace, to write it alfo, and fubfcribe it with my hand, I viewed two former ones, the one dated Auguft 14. 1699, the other March 25. 1700,. and drew up' a new one. The former were drawn according to the more dark views I then had of the covenant of grace ; and the fub- fiance and intent thereofI believe God did accept, and I adhere to, though I do not delire the form of them to be imitated. The acceptance being written, I went through the whole of it, examining myfelf upon every point thereof; .and finding a parti- cular difficulty in the point of fubniitting my Iot, I had the teftimony of my confcience, afterwards to be mentioned, which coming clear before my eyes, ea-fed. me. Thefe things, inter- mixed with prayer, being done, I wentand kneeling at my bed- fide, did, in prayer, then and there, folemnly, and in exprefs words, according to what I had written with my hand, take hold of God's covenant of grace, for. life and falvation to me, with my whole heart, without known guile; and riling upfrom
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