Part IV. gone through the ufual Trials. 13. As the LORD did, by the formerly mentioned Conduct of Providence about me, remove my Scruples, and clear my Mind; fo his Countenancing me in my firft Appearances,not only by fupplying me for the Work, but making it fuccefsful towards the awakening of fome, and comforting of others, did not a little confirm and encourage me.

CHA P. II.

Of his entring on the Miniftery at Ceres.

Bing thus ficcnfed June 22, 1699, at Kirkaldie, I con

tinued preaching, as appointed or defired every LORD's Day, for moft Part, bleffed be God, not without fome Countenance and Succefs. November 23, the Call of South-leith came to me, where I had preach'd fome Time before Mr. Wilbart the Minifter, with feveral Elders, came with it: And November 29, a Call from the Eli, where I alfo had preached, was put in my Hand; and much about the fame Time the Call of the Parish of Ceres was put in my Hand. I took them to Confideration, and gave no Manner of Hopes to any; I found my felf in a great Strait betwixt Leith and Ceres, and it was much the greater that both Pofts lay not within one Province; and fo there was no Judicature equally concerned in both, to whom I might fubmit; fo that I was neceffitated to make a Choice my felf. After fome Endeavours with my own Heart, to bring it to a Willingness to close with either, as God fhould clear up Duty, I did fet my felf to confider and ponder Reasons on the one Hand and the other; and for Leith the following Reafons had Weight.

1. The Importance of the Poft, and Confiderableness of the Charge.

2ly, The Unanimity of their Call, after they had been long otherwife.

3ly,The Collegue was most defirable, and one from whom I might learn much, both as to "Preaching and Difcipline. 4ly, There was a confiderable Number of Godly in the Place. sly, I fhould have the Advantage of living in the Presbytery of Edinburgh,

Edinburgh, where there is unquestionably the fairest Occafion for Improvement.

bly, The Commiffion's Interpofition on Behalf of Leith by their Letter of the Dete

On the other Hand, for Ceres it was of Weight,

1. That the Parith was confiderable, had been intirely without one of a long Time, had been divided, and were now harmonious, whereas Leith was well fupplied of one.

2ly, That whereas Leith lying near Edinburgh, where they had the Choice of young Men, and had Men of Weight and Activity, and Intereft to obtain whom they had a Mind to; it was otherwise with Ceres.

3ly, Where Collegues are moft defirable, a Collegiate Life is not without fuch Difficulties as fhould incline one not to run into them without an evident Call.

4ly, I had not enjoy'd Time for reading, and could not ina Town, and that so near Edinburgh, where the Charge was fo great, have any Time for Improvement, which I ⚫ might hope for in the Country, at leaft in the Winter Seafon.

sly, The Charge was lefs than the half of Leith, and my Body was but weak.

6ly, I found my Temper foft and unmeet for managing the Humours of Town's People. And,.

7ly, I found my beft Friends, whom I had Reafon to refpect, as defigning nothing but my Good, firm of the Opinion, That Ceres was the more fuitable Charge.

Having weighed all, and laid the Matter before the LORD, as I could, I at length came to a Refolution, to reject the Call of Leith, and did January 2, 1700, give it up, and clofe with that of Ceres, to the great Diffatisfaction of the Minifter and People of Leith, who had been at more Pains with me than I deferved.

2

Being thus in fome Measure clear'd to accept of Ceres's Call, that of the Eli making no Competition, I did enter

Trials, and delivered my common Head de Communicatione Idiomatum, February 13. at Coupar, and my Exercise and Addition on Galatians 39. March 19, and April 16, I delivered my popular Sermon on Revelation 1.6. and underwent the other Parts of my private Trials; and at laft, on May 1, 1700, was ordain'd at Ceres, Mr, Alexander Pit

cairn Minifter at Kilmeny preached on Hebrews 13. 17. and Sabbath next I began my Miniftry on 4ts 10. 29. May 5, 1700.

CHAP. III,

Of his Management in the Work of the Miniftery.

FTER he was licensed to preach, and before he was

A ordained to the Ministry, on fome folemn Occafions,

he dedicated himself to the Service of the LORD with earneft Prayer for the fuitable Endowments, whereby he might be fitted for the Discharge of that high Truft, if it fhould please God to call him to it. This occurs frequently in his Diary, whereof take an Inftance or two in his own Words.

April 18, 1700, being the Faft in Order to Lelly's Sacrament, Irofe early in the Morning; and after fome Review of my former Ways and ferious Thoughtfulness of the Defign of the prefent Duty, I did in Prayer pour out my Soul to God, confeffing Sins; and I dare not fay, but it was with fome tender Senfe of the Dishonour done to God, and of the wretch'd Unkindness that's in them to God. Original Sin imputed and inherent were both heavy, and my particular Evils. I did folemnly renew my Engagements to the LORD, accepting of Chrift according to the Gofpel-offer and Terms, and did endeavour particularly to act Faith on him, with Refpect to the Ministerial Endowments, and did devote my felf to him in that Service.

May 1, 1700, being the Day of his Ordination. This Morning I renewed my Engagements to God, and accepted of Chrift upon the Gofpel-terms, cafting my felf over upon him, not only for what belongs to me as a private Chriftian, but as a Minifter, eyeing his Strength for Throw-bearance in the Whole of the Work, particularly pleading for his Prefence this Day; I cannot deny his Prefence in fecret. Mr. Alexander Pitcairn Minifter of Kilmeny preached the Ordination-fermon on Hebrews 13. 17. where he infifted upon the Watchman's Duty: I cannot deny, but my Heart was much weighted with the Sense

of

of the Greatness of the Work; and after I had answered the Questions put to me concerning my Soundness in the Faith, and the Sincerity of my Purposes in undertaking the Office and Work of the holy Miniftry, I was ordain'd. LORD,thou knows what my Heart's Defire to thee was in the Time. O LORD help, and thro' Grace I fhall lay out my felf far gaining Sinners to thee.

Being thus entred into the Miniftry, he ftudied and prepared his Sermons with much ferious fecret Prayer for Divine Affiftance and Direction in his Work, and for a fuccefsful Blefling upon the Word, both to himself and his Hearers.

His Practice allo was to review and remark his Behaviour, and acquitting himfelf in publick Duties, as to what Affiftance and Enlargement he obtained, as to the Gravity, Serioufnefs, Tenderness in his own Frame, as to his Concern for the Souls of Hearers, as to the warming of his Affections with the Comforts and ravishing Sweetness of Divine Truths. And when he was remarkably helped, it iffued in Thanksgiving to God, and watching againft vain Pride and Self, that that might not rob the LORD of the Glory of his free Grace. When otherwise, it was Matter of Humiliation to him.

Knowing that he was called to watch for Souls, as one that must give an Account, he had the Weight of the Minifterial Charge much upon his Spirit: He was therefore at Pains to acquaint himfelf with the fpiritual State of the Souls of his Flock, that he might be the more capable of dealing with them for their Edification, according to their particular Cafes. In Order thereunto, fo far as Health and Strength did allow, he was diligent in vifiting all the Families within his Parish, in inftructing his People by the familiar Way of Catechizing, and in marking their Proficiency in the Knowledge of the Truths of the Gofpel. At fome Seafons allo, especially when he was about to adminifter the Sacrament of the LORD's Supper, he conversed severally with fuch who were to be admitted unto that holy Ordinance; not to bring them unto auriçular Confeffions, but to try what Senfe they had of ferious Religion and practical Godlinefs, what Efficacy and. Influence the Word of GOD had upon them, and what Fruits of the preached Gofpel were to be found

in

in them, that accordingly he might deal with their Confciences, and rightly divide unto them the Word of Truth. Take one Inftance of this in his own Words, as they are found written, July 8, 1703, when he had laboured about three Years in the Miniftry at Ceres.

I've, faith he, fpent now about a Month in Converfe with my People, and I obferve the few following Things,

1f, That of three or four hundred Perfons, there were not above fourty, who had not at one Time or other been in more or lefs awakned by the Word, tho' with far the greater Part it came no Length; whence notwithstanding it follows, t. That where there is a faithful Miniftry, it is not like, but moft Part are at one Time or other in fo far touch'd, as will be fure to iffue in a dreadful Aggravation of their Guilt in quenching the Spirit, and putting out Light: For if fo many were touch'd, fo that they could remember of it, how many moe may have been fo, who have not notic'd this? 2. The LORD leaves not himself without a Witness, ev'n in the Bofom of his Enemies, whereby he makes them feign Submiffion; he gives the Word fuch Power, as makes them feel that it is his, which tends to enhanse their Guilt.

zly, All who were thus convinc'd, did declare, That any Awaknings ever they had, were either under the Preachers in the Fields, or fince the Revolution. This, whatever may become of the Minifters, is a Teftimony to their Way, and fays, That they are called of God.

3ly, The moft judicious, and ingrain'd Malignants, did moft frankly declare to me, That till the Revolution, they were never touch'd with the Word, there was never one that faid he was touch'd by the Curats; but on the contrair, all declared otherwise, and the moft zealous that Way were moft frank in making undefired Confeffions by the plain Evidence of Truth.

4y, There has not been one Prefbyterian Minifter in the Parish fince the Revolution, whom the LORD has not honoured to awaken many; befides their being helped to beget fome through the Gospel, to a new and lively Hope. I conversed with fome, of whom I have Reason to hope good Things, even Things that accompany Salvation, that feem to have been brought in by all the Prefby