66 MEMOIRS OF PERIOD T.G. There were, 1. The rarity of the godly there, and in the coun- try ; 2. The very fmallnefs of their number ; 3. The fmallnefs of the stipend ; moreover, 4. The temper and way of the frater- nity, though good men, and feveral of them learned men too, not agreeable to mine ; the which fully opened itfelf in the dif- ferent way that that prefbytery and I took in the year 171e, and ever fine ; and, 5. which was the main thing that then finch with me, The little opportunity to be ferviceable there. It in- deed bred me forne fcrupling in the matter, that I was not far from thinking I was more ufeful in my unfettled condition, than I would be if minister of Simprin. But 1 thought with myfelf, if the Lord will Phut me up there, why not ? and I feared that in this there might be fomething of the pride of my heart, and of ignorance of the weight of the minifterial work ; and therefore defined to fay', " The will of the Lordbe done." At night hav ing gone to my eldeft brother's, and joined with him in his fami. ly- worfhip, to my great fatisfa6tion, he came along with me to my chamber, and by our convene T was led to Pfal. cxix. 96 « I have feen an end ofall perfeet,ion," for my text, being to preach in Dunfe the following Lord's day. On the 12thI fudied my fermons on it ; and in prayer in the time thereof I got force fight of the world's vanity, and in prayer after my ftudies, the Lord did blow on me, and I was much con- cerned for a lafting impreffionof the vanity of the world, and of the weight of the work of the minifiry ; the which two things I reckoned would much conduce to the eating, quieting, and clear- ing ofmy mind, with refpe& to the affair ofSimprin. I thought then I had never Peen fo great difficulty toget my heart weaned from the world ; but it was my foul's define the Lord himfelf would wean me, being content to part with a carnal worldly mind, if he would rent it fromme, and convinced, that it would abide a pull of his hand. After force time fpent in neceflàry bu- finefs, I betook myfelf to meditate on my fermons that I had fiu- died ; and while, in my meditations, I was upon that head of them, the vanity of riches, jufi then one knocked at my cham- ber-door, whom opening to, I found to be a man from Simprin, who delivered me a letter with their call. This did fomewhat damp me. . The letter was from a committee of the prefbytery, ignifying that the call, being prefented to them, and fuftained legal, they exhorted and invited me toaccept thereof; and had appointed me a common head, together with exercife and addi- tion, to be delivered at Churnfde on the 22d. I read alto the call, and returned it to the bearer, (hewing him, that I would confider of it attend the prefbytery, and alfo' preach at Simprin on the morrow eight days for my own clearing in the matter; charginghim to tell the elders, to be ferious with God for light and dire&ion to me therein. After his departure, I went and poured out my foul before the Lord, for the difcovery of his mind concerning it. Afterwards I thought thereon, and found my un
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