450 MEMOI ' S Oi MR BOSTON. demonftrated beyond contradiólion. As for the difcourfes on the covenant of grace, f have long ago ended that fubje&t ; but I am fo engaged otherwife, that I cannot take it in hand for forne time, to be counted by years, for ought I yet fee ; and my years now appear to me in a manner more than formerly uncertain ; and I would faindo, as the Lord is pleafed toenable, what I conceive might be of greatett ufefulnefs, as long as life is continued with ftrength. I am, Dr Sir, &c. April 25. 1726. (7.) D. Sir, I understood by yours, that your wife continues in her ordi- nary tender condition : may it be faneltfied by grace to her and to you. The different ftates of perfons, in refpeót of health and infirmity, is a piece offovereign difpofal, which the afflibled are to reverence and adore. Our Lord himfelf was a man of forrows, and acquainted with griefs ; and if we fufler with him, we thall afro reign with him. The heavieft burden of aflli6tion is but light in refpeét of the weight of glory we have in hope; and the aftliaion that is of fuch continuance as the party has for- got profperity, is but for a moment, being compared with the eternity of that weight which faith has the view of. My wife has now kept her bed thefe five weeks ; and, toge- ther with her ordinary diftrefs, the has had a fever, with a great inflammation, which began in her face, and went up over her head : but he who delivered in fix troubles, has delivered in that feventh alío, and it is gone off; but the is very weak. My youngett daughter was frequently ill this winter, but fince the return of the fpring, and warmer weather, fhe is better. The reft are as ordinary. From about the time of the equinox, when the weather became warmer, the blood and fpirits defect- ing my fingers, has not been fo uneatÿ and frequent as before. I have now for forne time ftirred about on my work in the pari(h, which I could not managein the winter as formerly ; and ftill, as 1 have time, I am furnithed with fo much ftrength as to go about my clofet-work. But my weaknefs is neverthelefs fo felt as occafions thoughts of heart. This is an account of our hofpital ; but fometimes the voice of melody, ofjoy, and praife, is heard among us. We are caft down, but not deftroyed ; perplexed but not in defpair ; and are aiming at refignation. This morning the latter part of the 7 Eft pfalm was very fweet to me. I was abroad in our neighbour parith on the fouthhand, at ten miles diftance from this, preaching yefterday. I have not been fo far abroad fince I was at Selkirk in the winter ; and I had not gone to that place neither at this time, had it not been to thewgood-will to the flrengthening of the hands of the minifter
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