quick sands, the more I pressed to be relieved, the more deep I sunk, and was the more ensnared. This was my case near five days. At last the temptation came to an height, and I resolved to go to bed and speak no more in this world to men, nor pray to the Lord any more, so told my wife I was not well, and would ly alone; so accordingly went to my chamber, fully determined as above. I was scarcely entered the room alone, when I heard one whispering to me,-"pray once more to the Lord before you go to bed and speak no more." I listened and heard distinctly; yet my foolish unbelieving heart did reply, it was in vain if I should, having so often prayed for help without success, as I desired; yet the issue was, I would pray once, be as it will.

O wonderfull goodness of the Lord, no sooner was I on my knees, then an inexpressible power came on my soul with light, life, and sweetness, with

pertinent scriptures answering all the temptations one after another, so that they were all effectually removed, as if they had never been in my heart, and instead of them, many scriptures came with power on my soul, whereby it was wonderfully refreshed, enlarged, eased, strengthened, and comforted, and also my verry body was strangely at ease, as one made whole by the Lord, before whom I was humble, joyful, and thankfull, as one who was dead and made alive, bound in fetters and loosed. Let none who seek the Lord give way to despair, whatever be their distress; for the Lord can soon help, and is a present help in time of need, and when his people are lowest, his help is nearest, Isaiah xli. 17. "When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them." O what is man before a

temptation, and how sympathizing and condescending is the Lord to his own. in distresse! none is like him; O fear the Lord; O bless the Lord; O trust in the Lord, all ye his saints.

June 28th 1696, having preached at Girthon, the day before the administration of the Lord's supper, being Saturday, after my return home, and going alone, it pleased the Lord graciously to discover himself and his will in his gospel covenant, and his divine love for me, and powerfully to draw out my soul toward him into a most melting frame, and to open my heart, not only to embrace the Lord Jesus Christ as offered in the gospel, but also to acknowledge God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost to be my God, and everlasting portion in time and eternity, and to enable me to dedicate and devote myself, soul and body, to him and his service for ever, and that with as much soul enlargement and spiritual sense of his goodness, mercy, grace, and

love to me, as I could desire on earth; then I had no hesitation anent an interest in God in Christ and his special love to me, of his being my reconciled God in Christ, of my being pardoned, and of my enjoying real gracious fellowship with him in gospel duties and ordinances O what soul-strength had I then, what comforts, what sweet repose. of soul in a nearness to a gracious God. in Christ far exceeding, far above all. expression. This frame lasted through. that night, next Lord's day and most part of Monday, but alas it went off. that evening for most part; the Lord is sovereign to give or withdraw his influences as he pleaseth, but surely it is good to draw near to God in his ordinances according to his word; all who. speak or think against the reality and soul-satisfaction real believers enjoy in fellowship with God, as delusions of crazie brains, will surely in the end find they have been speaking against his

gracious operations, which they were wholly ignorant of in experience, and will find in the end their going about duties exercising only their natural faculties, to be unacceptable unto God and unprofitable to their souls; and that their contenting themselves with serving God in an outward formal way and slighting the internal spiritual part, hath been the spring of their eternal ruin when perhaps too late,

July 8th, 1706, being the Monday after the celebration of the Lord's Supper, in Borg, Ebenezer then my only son took ill; when I rose I saw he was dying. I went into a chamber, leaving his mother and others with him. I cannot express how it pleased a gracious Lord to show himself to my soul, there, with light, life, strength, and consolation, clearing up to my soul, that he was my God in Christ, and the God of my seed for ever, with such power that I could not desire more on earth; and