1730. MR THOMAS BOSTON. 389 the Spirit fbine on it, unto me, give light into, and difcover his mind in, the word ; that he would give me life, health, ftrength, time, and inclination, to the ftudy ; and a blefling thereon ; that he would teach me how to manage that work, and would pity me as to fleep, having been fomewhat bereaved of tleep fince I was determined to that work. And that week I made an entrance upon it, meeting in the threfhold with a particular difficulty like to break down my hopes of proceeding; and fall- ing under indifpofition, by means of a mifty night, in coming over the hills fromChapelhop ; and being hamperedas to time. But I was encouraged again; furmountiug thedifficulty, and the indifpofition going off. Nov. 16. Monday. I underftand, that two fick perlons I had been concerned for before the Lord, were relieved from their diftrefs ; and was thankful, and concerned for grace to them to improve the deliverance. And I had a view of the merciful nature of God, from his requiring a merciful difpofition in men one towards another, Pfal. xli. ; encouraging to be concerned for others in fuch cafes. I am now going to vifit other two, for whom I have hope of pity. [Nota, It pleafed the Lord to pity them accordingly.] On the morrow I went from Upper Dalgleifh, where I was catecbifîng, to Efkdalemoor, and vifìted the minifter there, out. ofconfcience towards God, to cherifh the difpofitionhe appeared to be in, as above recorded ; and that out of regard to the wel- fare of the intereft of the gofpel in the country. And this journey, as I was helped to depend on the Lord with refpe& to it, fo it was made a comfortable journey to me., going thither and returning; and that by a viciffitude offinites cfProvidence, and trials. At this time I plainly faw the neceffity and defign of the above-mentioned condu&of Providence, in my entering on that work on the Hebrew text ; for exciting me to a continued dependence on the Lord, for life, Itrength, light, and time for it : and I thankfully took the leffon. Mean while, as to the remaining part of that month, 1 had thereof but what I could fpend of three days for the faid work ; my hope in the matter being only in God, who is the fame as before t. though I am ffo altered, that I am not able to apply as in thofe days. On the ,?9th I entered on Prov. xvi. 19. " Better it is to be ofan humble fpirit with the lowly, than to divide the fpoil with the proud." Nov. 30. Monday. On Wednefday Taft I fpent force time with John Currie, above mentioned, at his deliire, in giving thanks for his recovery of the long ilinefs under the ague. And the Lord's hearing of prayer for him, and others, latt fummer, was Tweet in reflect ing thereon. Hitherto I have been Itreng- thened inThe diets of catechifing. That weeka member of the family having unmercifully treated a beaft, to the difturbing of the, whole family, was feaíiinabty rebuked for it, by the. Lord's
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