1731. MR THOMAS BOSTON. 403 out, that they had not prevented my trouble of this new vifit. But I rejoiced, and gave thanks : and when "I came home, I faw that God had hindered them ; to check me for my fo foon giving over hopes of his, hearing of prayer, I took the rebuke kindly ; and it was ufeful to me in anolherfAfe. For whereas I had put up petitions, for the prof l ermg'`of the affairs of the - people, who. on the late occahon, had honoured him with their fubftauce ; but underitood that lince that time force of then,hadgot but a forry market ; I hereby fawmore into the method of Providence, and believed that God would not- withftanding make out his word, and they thould not lofe their reward. The firft four days of that week, lame as I vas, I was obliged to be on horfeback, thankful to God that I was able, and was not laid by from that piece of fervice. But fupping ordinarily at that time on a glafs of mum, and a piece of wheat- bread, it was humbling to me ; and a point of fubmiffion to the will of God, who made it neceffary for me to be at fuch pains about the body, and that I could not put it off with as little choice as fometimes before. On the Monday morning after, having had tome comfortable account and view of the fruits of the Lord's work in my hand ; and being withal led into force admiration of the glorious myftery of the incarnation of the Son of God ; I had a comfortable while in my beds while I could not fleep : and it came to my remembrance, that before I came to Etterick, one concerned for me had that view of it, that if I went, it lhould be for the good of a young generation : now the then young generation is the old now, infeveral of whom I have comfort. About the 7th ofJuly, my knee becameworfe than ever, the pain having in the night gone to an extremity with the which tryfted a letter, inviting me to the communion at Galafhiels, to be on the tft of Auguft. In the morning I took the letter, and fpread it before the Lord, crying for pity. And thereafter my knee returned to its ordinary, the great pain having abated by degrees. About that time I was let into a ftrengthening view of the fulnefs of a God in Chrift, whereby I .perceived, that whatever were the communications of divine love, to others more than to me, there was ftill the fame room for me as if there were not another obje& of it in all the world. And this continued to be of great use to me. The work at Galafhiels lying wholly on my twoftinds. and me, and Mr Craig probationer, I was led for my fubjea to 2 Cor. xii. 9. " For my ftrength is made perfe& in weaknefs e." I made my way thither on the Friday, but with much difficulty ; not from pain or ficknefs, but mere weaknefs to fit the horfe. Howbeit I had abundant ftrength given me for my work there, preached Saturday and Sabbath afternoon, and ferved five The fermons on this fùbje& werepublifhed in 1753, alongwith others.
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