s 40a MEMOIRS O.E PERIOD X13. two parts a1 fympathy, namely, weeping with them that weep, and rejoicing with them that rejoice, human nature is far more ready to go into the former than into the latter, from a certain undue care for one's felf, and a jealoufyofothers, which in the former there is not fo much place or occafion for. Mean while all had enough to keep my head above the water, having had no account of thefe MISS. fince the time above noted ; but having taken God for my friend, prayed he would, and trufted he will do the.part of a friend to me in the matter, I endeavoured not to be uneafy, as under the former difappointment. Having for a confiderable time in the fpring taken thought a- bout adminiftering the facrament, finding myfélf ftraitened with Mr Davidfon's growing indifpofition, whereby he was laid afide from preaching, I often laid the matter before the Lord. And, after many thoughts, I was fo far refolved to call Mr Macgartoch to my âfl'ifance on that occafion, that on April 13. being cate- chifing at Etterick houfe I told my refolution to one there. Thé reafon moving roe thereto, was indeed to confult the good of the country, after I fhould be gone, if fo be that man might be pliable. But coming home, juft as I alighted, one of hi6 parifh, who had been at my houfe, was drawjng his houfe to go away. Him I afked concerning that brother: and he told me he was juft the day before gone for Ireland. Herewith I was ftruck, perceiving the divine hand fo eminent in my encounter with the man, which a minute or two's delay would have prevented. This made me call about again in my thoughts : and on the morrow I gave myfélf to prayer, on that head particularly ; andat length foon refolved tohold on'as before; without moving another, way, judging Providbnce to point me thereto ; and leaving it to the Lord to provide for the country in his own way after my removal, So I wrote to Mr Wilfon and Mr DavidfOn on the 14th, and to Mr Craig on the 17th. By the 15th of April I had tranfcribed the verfians and rotes on Gen. a xi. and thereafter, as I had opportunity, went on in that beloved ftudy. But there fill continuing a deep filence. from London about my MSS. the cafe of which was fill laid be- fore the Lord, I was on May 19. brought to glat, that the Lord would glorifyhimfelf, either by the buryin of them, or the publifhing of them. And having now the adminiftration of the facrament in view, there. was an addition to the infirbnities banging about my crazy body, by a newmain in my right knee, which feized me in the night of the 24th . but throughgrace it was welcome. The timeof the facrament being fixed to the fecond Sabbath of June, from the third day of that month I laid . afide my behoved ftudy for the time ; and on the 4th tame to my hand a letter from Sir Richard'Ellys, of the date April 13. 1731, infifting, that I fhould 'fend MS. on the covenant of grace to the prefs, affuring, that nothing fhouldbe wanting ou . his part to let it forward.
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