I699. MR THOMAS BOSTON. $9 in ftudying and preaching : and it makes my foul fay, as Job xxiii. 3. O that I knew where I might find him!" for, not withftanding all God's goodnefs to me, I cannot attain to fuch lively exercife . of faith, love, and heavenly-mindednefs, as fome time before. On the morrow I went ' to Dunfe, to a monthlymeeting for prayer, from feveral parifhes ; the which had been fet up by the worthy Mr Colden. Here a heavinets and indifpofition of body and l'pirit fell on me, fo that I both wandered and wearied in the time of it. Sometimes I faintly got above h, but fell into it a- gain. I thought in the time that I would get on the finger-ends for this ; and fo it fell out very quickly : for coming from that exercife, I met with a piece of trouble that perplexed and con- fufed me, fo that what to do or fay I knew not ; only I refolved to lay it down before the Lord, being ready to complywith what the Lord would Phew to be duty. This was occafioned by a let- ter from my friend, and I was troubled about putting an end to my marriage with her. It was my unbelief that occafioned my perplexity. In it, my eldeft brother was ufeful to me, eñcouragg ing me to truft in God, before whom I laid the cafe. While l was imparting my unéafinefs to him, that word came to me checking me, " When I tent you out, lacked ye any thing?'.' And on the morrow I was much enlarged in prayer, for light to know, my duty ,therein ; and was hopeful that the Lord, who had given light in other things, relative thereto, would give light in that point too. Thereafter I went towards Hutton to hear Mr Wattbn's difcourfe, which affair had made me oftner than once, to implore the divine conduót. Coming near the place, I wait:. informed, that the bufinefs was done by others on the day be- fore that the difcourfe was much ofa piecewith his former, and they had given him a new text. Coming home, I was in per plexity about my own affair aforefaid, went to God with it, thought on it, but could not bring the matter toa point : but, by the good hand of God, one of the members of the meeting for prayer, began the exercifethat night with finging Pfal. ixi. from the beginning, " OGodWhat time my heart is overwhelmed, " and in perplexity," &c. Afterwards converfing with my fa- ther on my bufinefs, I was fomewhat eafed, perceiving it might be accomplifhed about Auguft following. And afterward having occafion to write about it, I went to God for guidance and direc- tion therein, and things Teemed to be cleared to me. Dec. 12. I he had a delire to fet up week-day fermons this long time. And lince the fynod (at which time I had great ap- prehenfions of evil days, which prefl'ed me to be bufy in my time) I refolved to trywhat, encouragement I might meet with in pro- fecuting it. This night I propofed.it to two of the members of the meeting for Chrittian fellowship; who received the ¡notion with all gladnefs ; and I was defired to begin it next Thurfday's flight. Uponwhich immediately I found a great averfenefs in
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