1699. MR THOMAS BOSTOX 59 day before, ere I entered on the ftudy of my text,. I had a temp- tation, not to enter on that great text in fucha -mean place as Simprin, but to referve it for fame other place ; but repelled it as a temptation indeed. I was obliged to enter on the study of it, without feeing any commentary upon it afterward I fáw two ; but both were unfatisfying, and mainly feared toconfirmme in the great purpofe thereof. The Lord was gracious to me in the addrefs I made to him, with refpecî to my study and I had advantage to my own foul, by getting a view of the emptnefs of all things befides Chrift, and thereby feeing him more precious. On the Sabbath morning I had a defire after Chrift, and his pre- fene in ordinances; but was fomewhat difcouraged with the profpect of a final! congregation. In the forenoon'I was fblidly in earneft in my difcourfe, but without fuch moving of affe&it ns as at other times: but the unbefeeming carriage of the people, few as they were, partly by fleeping, partly by going out, was very difcouraging. I had never preached there before ; and af- ter the forenoon-fermon, I thought I could not like to preach to fo few : but in the afternoon, the Spirit blowing fomewhat on me, I had forgot almoft whether they were many or few. At night the two elders propofed my fettling with them, and cleared.- my confent ; which I told them I could give to none before a call. And that night I found my heart {ornewhat incline to em- brace that charge ; but they feemed not to be very preffing. I note the circumstancesof this affair fo very minutely, becaufe the. event (hewed, that much depended thereon, and that that wasthe place determined of Godfor the bounds of my habitation: and m this progrefs towards that event, there was an emblem anad pledge of what I afterward met with during the time I was nifter there. On the Wednefday morning after, Mr Golden coming to my chamber, feemed to approve of my going to Galloway ; but did not once afk me, what I thought of Simprin,.or how I ftood affected to it? This beat down any hope I had conceived of it; but being but little moved towards it, that could not much affe&. me. A little after, one of the parifh came and told me, that be had fpoke with Langton, who (hewed a forwardnefs for my fettle- ment there ; and in the evening, Mr Golden and Mr Balfour carne and told me, that Langtonand the parifh of Simprin mind- ed to give me a call, but feared they would not get me ; to wh.ida I anfwered, with an air of .indifference, Well, let them be -doing. But, according to my manner of-too great thoughtfulnefson mat- ters of weight once fet before me, I could fleep none at all that night, though I was to preach the week-day's fermon on the mor- row. On Saturday morning, Mr Colden toldme plainly, that it was not his defire I fhould fettle in Simprin, becaufe I would have fo little opportunity to do fervice there ; yet concluded the neceffity of walking by the determination of Providence: In the afternoon I went to Eccles.
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