390 MEMOIRS OP PERIOD x2. own word falling to be read in the family-ordinary, Prov. xii. 10. " A righteous man regardeth the life of his beaft," &c. On Tuefday, Dec. 1. I fpent fgme time in prayer, with fatt- ing, chiefly for two caufes : 1. The work on the Hebrew text ; and therein I found a pinching fenfe of need carrying me to that exercife, my hope of fuccefs being in the Lord alone ; 2. For Myyoungerfon, who thedaybefore hadgone towards Edinburgh, to attend the fchool of divinity only. 1 reviewed my whole life, made confefiion, and renewed my acceptance of the covenant, as that time twelve months before : and then I made my fup- plications on there accounts and fome other, particularly the affair at London as to the MSS. concerning which there was ftill adeep filence :, and came away with hope, rolling them on the Lord. On the morrow I catechifed at Calcrabank. I had a fingular fàtisfa&tiou in that little journey, while I obferved how Providence taught me, trying me and delivering me. It being a very hard froft, it was dangerous riding; and my horfes being both away to Edinburgh with my fon, I was mounted on a beaft that would hardly fir under me. At the fecond ford above Hopehoufe, I was quite flopped, the ford being frozen, and the bode not able to maké the brae where the water was open. Alighting therefore to take the hill-fide, the bridle flipped off, ,end my horfe got away homeward, and I purfued. But kind Providence had a well-inclined lad coming down on the other fide of the water, who coming through to my help, catched my horfe, led him on, and I walked on foot once and again. Corn- ing home, I was caft under night ; but the lad (laid, and came along with me, and led my horfe again, while I walked with force uneafinefs, by means of my boots, and otherwife. Mean while it was forne moon-light and I had a pleafure in that trial, beholding how my God took notice of me, even in my little matters, and how he balanced them for me! " Lord, what is man that thou takeft knowledge of him ! or the fon of man, that thou makeft account of him!" After all, having only got two falls, perfebtly harmlefs, while walking, I came home fate; and found not the leaft ill effeét of this adventure, fave force wearinefs in my legs on the morrow after. And I got what I could fpend of the next day, on the beloved ftudy : but Rill Providence kept me on trial, as to time for it.. But now the Lord remembered me, as to the affair at Lon- don, which for ray trial had been fo long buried in abfolute filence as to me, even for the fpace of five months and upwards. And on the following day, Dec. 4. came to my hand a letter from Mr G. to Mr Hogg, of the date Nov. 20. 1730, London, bearing, That my letter was delivered to Sir Richard Ellys That he received the letter obligingly could not then give anfwer, being immediately;going out of town ; had been little in town that feafon, partly by his being building a houle on a new purchafe he has made, partly being abroad with bis lady
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