1730. MR THOMAS BOSTON. 373 meetings were clofed with a warm exhortation to practical re- ligion ; the which I fbmetime ufed alío in the diets of cate- chifing the parifh. Thus this acceffory work fell in the time when ordinarily I was weakeft ; and of late years, that my frail-. ty notably *reared, I wanted not inclination foinetirnes to give it over. But that I might the better comport with it, l did fóme years ago caufe make a portable iron grate in whichI had a fire in the kirk to fit at, on thefe occafions. This year, after I had once and again found myfelf fail mightily in diets for the parifh, through bodily inability, the time of beginning this cotirfe was returning ; and the Lord pitied and helped again in another diet for the parifh. So I was encouraged, and began that courfe again at the ordinary time, not daring as yet to give it over and, through the mercy of God, it was yet carried on as anal. This winter I did more at night than of a long time before, having ordinarily written fomething, for a while, after fix o'clock at night. And on the 17th day of March, I had com- pleted the catechifitìg of the parifh for the fecond time. This was a kind difpofal of Providence : for about the fame time be- gana breach ofmy health, which made me the heavieft fpring I had ever felt. And preaching on Ecclef. vii: 1. with the event forefaid tryfted myenteringon the.latter partof that text, The day of death is better than the day of one's birth." This was a comfortable ftibjebt; but whereas it could hardly mifs to im- prefs me with thoughts, that this might be my Taft text; yet the experience I had formerly had in the like cafes, left but little weight in them. On the Lord's day, the 22d, after the public worfhip was over, I betook myfelf to my bed ; and at night, going about family-worfhip, which was a great pinch to me, we fell to fing ,Pfàl. lxviii. 13. and downwards, " Though ye have lain among the pots." &c. with which I was much com- forted, as I had been on a former occafion, noted p. 413. My ailments were many that feafon. I was pained in my breaft- bone, in the fore and hind fhoulder, and under the arm-pit on the left.. fde ; and was under a very uneafy cough. Withal I had filch a continued oppreffion and 'owners of fpirits,with dif- ficulty of breathing, as never before ; a continual ftitlnefs and weaknefs in my knees, and wearinefs all over; it) that 'with great difficulty I got up and down the flairs, mounted the pul- pit, got the Sabbath's work managed, yeà turned myfelf on toy bed, where I had fome touches of exquifite pain in the 'calf of my,legs. And, by a particular difpenfation of Providence, the finings of my comfort ran bitternefs to me in my low, condition : all created refuge failed, and I was folitary, and in great afflic- tion. Withal my wife's fever returned on the 3d of April ; but hot fo violent as formerly ; and that montha pain of the mother kept her many days, which was quite new ; and a cholic feveral days; befides her other ailments. However, in this my low condition, I was 'determined and
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