be a traveller, but one got home from your travels; you would not be in, or by the way, but come to the end of it. It is the glory of the man who is the Father's fellow, to be " an hi ding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempeft," If. xxxii. 2. to be a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the ftorm, when the blast of the terrible ones is a ftorm against the wall. When fhould that glory of his be, if these tempefts and storms did not rife, if the terrible ones did not get leave to blow fometimes furiously, like a storm against the wall? If then our Lord Jefus, whofe ftrength is made perfect in weakness, fees meet to take away your eafe for a time, to make of it a stepping stone to his own glory, where you hear the Lord hath need of it, you will straightway send it. I verily think, that when a poor believer is engaged in a combat with the powers of darkness, our Lord Jefus has an occasion of fignalizing his victory over the bruifed ferpent next to that which he had on the cross. It is true, that staggering, even on that place, is to be lamented as a finful weakness; but, I think, all the travellers and combatants will be found to have been ftaggerers through ftrefs, though that gives them not their denomination from their believing. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, yet we hear very much of his impatience too. Peter remained with an unfailing faith when he was fifted, yet he was fhamefully foundered. Even Abraham, though in that inftance, Rom. iv. he staggered not; yet in another cafe he did, Gen. xii. 11. and downwards and in that fame inftance Sarah, who was a type of the church, as Abraham was of Christ, staggered; and fell foully, but recovered, Gen. xviii. In this last faith had but one fingle word, "My lord," and unbelief had all the rest of the fpeech; and yet the Spirit of God makes honourable mention of that one word in the New Teftament, 1 Peter iii. 6.; drawing a vail over the reft. I own that temptations within, and troubles from without, trying together, make a very heavy cafe; yet it is fcriptural too, that without be fightings, and within be fears. You have been particularly honoured of God to contend for the faith; and it is no wonder Satan's malice prompt him to difpute it with you immediately and the wifdom of the God of truth appears in permitting it to be fo, to teach dependence on himfeit in managing the contending otherwife. The ftrong champion of truth, Luther, found himself hardly beftead in the feveral conflicts within his own breast. I defire to maintain a cordial fympathy with you in all your trials; being yours very affec sionately. : No 18. A letter from an eminent Diffenting Minifter in Effex, to the Author's grandson. [As this letter contains a minute and circumftantial narrative of Mr Bofton's appearance before the General Affembly in Prof. Simfon's process, and records fome circumstances omitted in the Memoirs, it juftly deferves a place here.] March 26. 1776. My very dear Sir, SINCE the receipt of your laft, I have been thinking of what I hinted to you relating to the appearance your worthy grandfather made at the Affembly 1729, when Profeffor Simfon's affair was concluded. I could have wifhed, indeed, that the account I wrote of it to Mr Davidson had been preserved: for I wrote it immediately after it happened, when it was fresh in my memory, and had made great impreffion on me; for it was the moft folemn and affecting fcene I ever was witness to before any judicatory. It is not to be supposed, that now, at the diftance of near forty-feven years, Ican remember every particular; but, to the best of my remembrance, when the act was read, and the Moderator afked, if the Affembly acquiefced in it; there was profound filence all over the house for the space of a minute or fo; and then your grandfather rose, and spoke to this effect: Moderator, I find myself laid under a neceflity of declaring my diffent from this decifion of the Affembly, as I think ⚫ the cenfure inflicted by it on Profeffor Simfon, is not adequate to the offence he has given, as to the points of doctrine that ⚫ have been proved he taught the ftudents under his care, and have been found relevant to infer cenfure. I cannot help thinking, Sir, that the caufe of Jefus Chrift, as to the great and ef• fential point of his fupreme Deity, has been at the bar of this Affembly requiring juftice; and, as I am shortly to answer at his bar for all I do or fay, I dare not give my aflent to the decifion of this act on the contrary, I find myself obliged on this 'occafion to offer a proteft against it; and therefore, in my own name, and in the name of all that fhall adhere to me, and if none here will, (and when he pronounced these words, he ⚫ looked round the house with an air of majesty and importance ⚫ that I fhall never forget), for myself alone, I crave leave to en'ter my protest against the decifion of this act.' The Moderator, who was himself a very folemn grave man, feemed to be much moved, and addressed him thus: Brother, I hope, in this matter, where you fee fuch an appearance of ⚫ unanimity, you will not do any thing that may have a tendency to rent and divide this church, and tear out the bowels of your mother?' Answer: Rather, Sir, than what I am now now offering fhould have that effect, I would wish that I and my protest should be buried under a mountain. There are many in this affembly whom I never faw in the face before, nor know; but fuch of them as I know, and differ from me in this matter, I not only have the utmost charity for them ⚫ notwithstanding, but I could willingly fit at their feet and learn Christ. However, I cannot fee there (hould be any danger of a breach in this church on this occafion to permit one member who is grieved and gravelled by this decifion, to enter his protest against it.' Reply: Second thoughts, Sir, are always best: May not Mr Bofton, before he infifts on this, lay the matter before the throne of grace, and confult praying minifters and Chriftians, and attend to their counfel and advice, before you come to a pofitive determination as to this your proteft?'-- Had the Moderator thought ever fo long on fomething that would weigh with Mr Boston in fuch a cafe, he could not have fallen on any thing that would fooner have done it than this: for he immediately, in a fubmiffive manner, faid, he would take it under further confideration, providing the matter was left open to him to enter his proteft at any fubfequent meeting of the affembly and fo the matter ended at that federunt.I was present that fame evening, where there were several ministers and elders, members of the affembly, who met with Mr Boston; who all advifed his not infifting of his proteft at that time, providing it was left open for him to do it at any future occafion, if this decifion of the affembly was attended with fuch confequences as he was afraid of. And when the minutes of the affembly were read next federunt, this was declared, and acquiefced in; and fo the matter ended. This I can well remember was reckoned at that time one of the strongest bars in the way of Mr Simfon's ever being reftored to the privilege of teaching and preaching any more: and even his warmelt friends never attempted it; because he was hereby fecured in his falary, which the fentence of depofition would have deprived him of. Thus what was then called mercy to the man, mixed perhaps with a little worldly policy, put an end to the most important point, in refpect of doctrine and difcipline, that ever came before any judicatory of the church of Scotland, or I hope ever will come again. I am, my very dear Sir, your affectionate friend, and brother in the work and bonds of the gospel, &c. FINI S. |