404 MEMOIRS OP PERIOD"XII. tables: and the Lord was with me in my public, and private work in my chamber ; and at the table helped me to believe in him as my Gcd: On the Saturday, there was, I think, fome thunder before we went out : but between two and three o'clock, when I had begun my fermon, it returned, and went to a great pitch. Upon the back of the fecond or third clap, I laid to the people, ' The God of glory thundereth ; he will give his people ftrength, and blefs them withpeace.' So I went on undifturbed, the fire every now and then flafhing in my eyes. The people fat gravely and decently, without any difturbance difcerued by me, perceiving nothing of that nature among them, more than the drawing of their cloaths about them, as in the cafe of rain. In time of the prayer after fermon, the thunder went to a pro- digious height, that I could not mifs the imagination of being (truck down in a moment ; but, through grace was keptttndif- turbed in my work. In time of finging the pfalms, while I looked for Mr Davidfon to come up, to fpeak to the people, as ufual, I was told he could not come : fo I addreffed myfelf to officiate for him. But whereas there had been but little rain be- fore, there came filch" a mighty pouring out of rain, that I was obliged to dif>atch quickly. Then we diftributed the tokens, the papers mean while being damnified with the rain, while they were produced and read. Having done the work without, when I came into the houle, Mr Davidtbn was lying groveling and groaningon his chamber floor, under a molt exquifïte fit of the gravel : and after fitting forne time with hirn, who in his extremity declared himfelf under a Father's hand, I left him as I found him. The pain going oft', he was fick through the night, and rofe not foon. So I had laid my account toofficiate for him before the addtion ; but fáid nothing, waiting to fee how Providence would move. But, after all, he went out betwixt nine and ten, preached a fweet fermon, and did his other work withoút the leaft veftigeof his "liners about him, in it; fpeaking with as much vigour as ever, I think, I heard him at any time when at his heft : fo that the multitude feemed in no uneafinefs at all to hear. This was a wonderful ftroke of Providence, carrying matters to filch an extremity, and then bringing to filch a comfortable iffue. But that was the full-Pea mark as to him, fence which time to the day of the writing hereof, more than a quarter ofa Year after, fò far as I know, he has not had a return of his ufual pains, but a turn to the better, and feems to be in a way of recovery. On the Sabbath morning we heard of two perfóns, in the neighbouring parifh of Stow, flair by the thunder ; and afterwards of a third : the which made it the more fignal mercy; that there was no breach made on the multitude, either in the place, or going to their "places ofabode. Long was'the roll of the lick and diftreffed which was read. In prayer I found fenfible help of the Lord, to go through the
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