84 BSEIVIOIRS or PERIOII VII. wind and rain in the time ; withal hinting, that he and others defired my preaching there, on a defign to endeavour a call for The to be his colleague, if they could efleétuate it. I declared mytelf, as I always thought, unfit for filch a poft ; but it was not likely that he would get a colleagueof his own chufìng, who force years after left the place himfeif, and died minifter of Tulliallan. When thus' detained contrary to my inclination, I retired to my chamber, and fpent tòme time in prayer, and meditation on my ferrnon ; but was feized with a fevere fainting-tit, and had alnioft fainted away, but that I was eafed by vomiting, as ufual. On the `morrow, Nov. 5. he preached in the forenoon, and I was helped to hear, but fornewhat indifpofed ; which indifpofition it pleated the Lord timely to remove. Howbeit, my legs trembled underneath me as I went to into the pulpit in the afternoon ; but when I went to prayer, the trembling went off, and I had much freedom offpirit in preaching the word. Molt of the remaining time that night I fpent alone, and with Mr Mair, of whole con- verfátion I ever reaped advantage. On the Monday, force time was fpent in his family in prayer, with fatting ; of which I had no notice, till about nine or ten o'clock, when I was thinking of returning to Barhill. Being de- fired, I staid, and joined with him in that exercife. The family being gathered together, he began the work, {hewing the caufes of it ; which were, 1. The afflicting hand of God on his family, particularly on a child of his at Edinburgh ; 2. To prepare for a congregational fall at Carnock; 3. To pray God in behalf ofhis parifh. Then I prayed : after which, he, having fpoke a little again, prayed alfo. Thefe prayers continued long ; but we had ended about half an hour after twelve o'clock. After which, re- tiring to our feveral apartments, we dined about two, having had no breakfaít. This was the firft example of a family-fact I had ever feen, neither do I remember to have been witneg to another without my own family. But I blet's God, I faw that, which was the happy occafion of bringing in that part of family-devo- tion into my family afterward at times. Some time after this a. bluftering ftudent informing me, that :Mr Mair taught, that all members of the vifible church have a general right to Chrift, and, the benefits of the covenant ; and that baptilin feats abfolutely, that is, as I afterwards underftood, that baptifm feats that right to them all. Both thefe things were at that time, as ftrange to nie as they were to my informer. But now I believe, that {inners of mankind indefinitely, within or without the vifible church, havea real right to Chrift, and the be- nefits of the covenant, fo as they may warrantably take poffefiion thereof by faith ; the which right is contained in the holy fcrip- tures as, the original charter, and is legally intimated to all that bear the gofpel ; all which I have elfewhere more fully declared. But as to what concerns baptifm, having converfed Mr Mair on the head, I could not be of his opinion, which L remember he
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