169g. MR THOMAS BOSTON. Et cerning queftion to me, How it came to pafs, that T could not get above the world, notwithftauding all my endeavours, by meditating, praying, and preaching for that efleót, being earneft to have my preaching efleotual on my own heart ? I thought with myfelf, how, in the timeof fuel' holy exercifes, I was fbmewhat hoifed up above it ; but afterward, when the trial comes on, I am again juft where 1 was. And I feared it was too much by myfelf that I wreftled againft the world ; that I was too legal in my endeavours, and knew not the way of making ufe of Chrift for that great purpofe : but I found I was content to learn. Toward the end of that week, I had a fecret.check for forget.. ting my charge, and was defirous to be with them fixedly, pray- ing the Lord would find out means for that end. I found afro fly heart much quieted, as to the divine difpofal'of the affair of my marriage ; fettling it in my mind not to proceed before a pro. per time. And with refpebt to my work in my charge, I was determined to begin with preaching to them the doctrine ofman's natural ftate ; judging the fight and fenfe thereof to be the foun- dation of all real religion. And minding to take it in parcels, for the more clear difcovery thereof, both in the finfulnefs and mifery of it, I began my ftudy of it, for that Sabbath, on the guilt of Adam's firfi fin, or original fin imputed. On the Satur- day, the precentor profeffing his forrow for his offence, wás re-ad, mitted feflronally. On the Sabbath, being Obt. S. entering ac- cordingly on the fubjedt aforefaid, 1 found things palpably laid to my hand ; and together with the exercife on another queftion of the catechifnr, I required of force an account of what they had heard, in which I had but little fátisfacîion. On the morrow, having vifited the -tick, and defired force to meet in my chamber on Tuefday's night for prayer and Chriíìian conference, I went to Kerfefield, the houle of the Lady Morifton, within a mile of Simprin, whither at that time I fometimes re- forted. There my foul was ruade to biefs God ; fòr that when I refle&ed on the frame and difpofition ofmy foul as to my marriage, I found myfelf freed of many things which before difturbed rie, and my mind refting in the Lord. This, was the doing of the Lord, and an anfwer of prayer. On Tuefday's night, returning to Simprin, the meeting aforefaid was held accordingly : inwhich, after tinging of a pfàlm, I ihewed them from the word the war- rantablenefs of fuch exercife, and withal the feafonablenefs of it, for the time; prayed with them ; and thea two of them prayed. And the Lord giving tome meafure of his countenance, I was encouraged. The day following I went home. Oel. 13. I was much difficulted as to the getting ofa text. I prayed, and thought again and again, but could get none, and fo on a long time. In the mean time I was much difcouraged, íáw and conleffed my diftance fromGod, the caufe of it, and pleaded sin the tenor of my conlmillion. At laí1, thinking ou my own
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