414 MEMOIRS OF PERIOD ?III. his Lord. His public fervices in the church of Chrift,' were not much interrupted by his indifpofition : and when he was fo debilitated by it as to be unable to go out to the church, he preached from a window in the maple, the auditory flanding without. His fortitude in the immediate profpe& of diffolu- tion never forfook him. His patience under tie chaftifement of a father's hand was uninterrupted. Inured to aflliétions, as well perfonal as domeftic, he bore them with that quiet fúbmif- lion, and unrelnétant refignation, which a filial fpirit can only infpire. Viewing them as originating from his heavenly Father, the habitual language of his heart was, Shall I receive all good at the hand of God, and than I not receive evil.' It will.be obvious to the intelligent reader, that the radical principle upon which the narrative in thefe Memoirs is foùnded, is, ' ThanGod bath foreordained whattóever comes to pafs.' This principle the' author believed with his whole heart : it was often an anchor to his foul ; and every minifter of the church of Scotland is bound, by his fubfèription, and ordination-vows, to maintain it. This, kept in view, will account for the author's afcribing to an over- ruling Providence many incidents, which fome may think might be refolved into.natural caufes. During his laft illnefs, he received the following affeétionate and confólatory letter from his endeared friend Mr Gabriel Wilfon. Rev. Deareft Brother, It has been a moft real pain to me, after I was fully purpofed to be with you fometitne this day, to think of fending any. But the ordering feerns to be of the Lord. I deign to eday it again without delay, acccording as I hear from you. I hear the trial is become ftill more fiery ; but hope you will be kept from thinking it ftrange, as though forne ftrange thing had happened you. O it is difficult ; but you are allow- ed, and even called to rejoice, in as much as you are thus made. a partaker of Chrift's fuflèrings. The Lord has in great favour led you forth in to his truth, and is now in his fatherly wildom giving you ufe for it all ; calling you to thew the fupporting and comforting power of it. Our feafon (if need be) of being in heavinefs throughmanifold temp- tation, is made up of hours and minutes, and will loon run out, Cor. iv. 17. 18. The Son of God your Lord and Matter, is with you in the furnace though not always vifible, 'and will never leave you nor forfakeyou. May the God of hope, of patience, and confolation, the God and Father of our LORD JasUS CrlictsT, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, comfort you in all your tri-. bulation with comforts of his covenant, and with the fame com- forts he has enabled you to comfort others in any trouble. You mind Pfal. xxxi. ult. that it is in the way of our labouring to
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