1699. MR THOMAS BOSTON. 61 afternoon, I got up to Mr Stark's garret betwixt fermons, and at the fouth-eaft corner of it, I converfed with Chritt, and it was a Bethel to me. Long- looked for came at laft. If ever poor I had communion With .God, it was in that place. The remem- brance,of it melts my heart at the writing hereof. And accord- ingly my public work was fweet ; for God was with me, and, as I learned afterwards, it wanted not force fuccefs. God's voice , was difcerned in it. I fhall only remark further, that at the communion-table I mainly fought, not comfort, but grace and .ftrength againft corruptions. I got both in .force meafure. I had determined to go from Stenton to Clackmannanfhire ,and coming home on the Monday, I received a letter fromthence, advifing, that the elders of Dollar had applied once and again to the prefbytery ; but nothing could prevail with them, till the parifh fhould ,get a new confentfrom Argyle. This confirmed ,me in mypurpofe, as (hewing the prefbytery not to be fond of ;nìy fettling there, nay, nor in earneft for it. I went toGod for ,help, to carry right in my difficulties ; and was encouraged. After which, providentially falling on Flavel's myftery of pro- vidence, I got my own cafe feafonably diféuffed therein, p. col. And by the means of refignation there propofed, I endeavoured to bring my heart toThat difpofition ; and fo went to prayer with confidence in the Lord. I found alto fpiritual advantage in this café, by reflecting on former experiences; fo that I came to be content to follow the Lord implicitly, as " Abraham went, not knowing whither he went." That afternoon, being at Langton, Mr Balfour told me, that the Laird had not taken the method laid down by Mr Colden and him ; whereby the call of Simprin might have been before the prefbytery that day fortnight ; and thereby I faw, that I would not know before I went to .Lothian, whether that affair would iffue in a call or not. . Coming along the way with Mr N-11 , then sninifter of Prefton, a man of great parts, but not pro- portionable tendernefs, and now féveral years ago depofed I was much fatisfied with his converfe ; fo that the night was far filent ere we parted. And as we were about to part, he -told me of a .defign force had for another to Simprin ; with which I wàs fur- prifed and amazed : but in the progrefs of our difcoúrfe, I found that defign to be, only in cafe I would not accept. Whereupon,. he advifed me to accept, and agaipft going to Galloway. After I carne home, refleóting on thefè two things, I took both of them to be intended by Providence, letting me fee what were my thoughts under both, to clear me towards accepting of the call of :Simprin, if offered. That night I lay down, meditatingon that word, Abraham went but, not knowing whither he went." On the morrow after, conferring withMr Balfour, we judged the affair of Simprin could now hardly be expeded before Mi- chaelmas. . And finding the hardfhip of my being in a fixed No. 0. II
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