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EXAMINATIONS OF PERSONS UNDER SPIRITUAL CONCERN II
249
by a Minr (13)13 going to preach. Lord what is man that thou art mindful of
him, or the Son of Man that thou shouldst visit him,141 found coming with
great power & sweetness to my heart. And so also all along the time of his
Sermon. In the Evening of that day, coming into the Manse, & speaking with
that Minr, I could not forbear crying out in the midst of all the Company
then about him, That Christ was king in my heart. On Tuesday next I fell
under doubts, and having fallen asleep, I awaked in a great fright, finding
nothing like the signs of a Change of heart I usd to have; but a Woman (70)15
coming & reading a Chapter to me (Is. 54) I got some comfort from hearing
it read. I was however displeased with my self, for crying out so publickly in
the Manse Sabbath before, That Christ was King in my heart, fearing some
present might think I had been saying what was not true. On Friday next
hearing a Sermon (26) on that Text, awake thou that sleepest, [563/7] arise
from the dead & Christ shall give thee light.161 found it made sweet to my
Soul: & all the promises in it applied to me as particularly as if there had not
been another but my self to hear.
I continued in this sweet frame: and had so much delight in hearing of
Sermons from day to day, and was allowed so much sweet Communion
with God in them, That I could gladly have said with Joshua, if it had been
warrantable, Sun stand thou still:17 Let me have yet more & more of this
time of Communion with God in his Ordinances, & get more & more power
over my heart Corruptions.
One week day fearing I would not get access to attend the Sermons, as I
greatly desired, because I had some Family affairs to look after, & I knew I
must work some, else how would I and mine be provided for? When I was
going to the Well with such thoughts, these words, For thou art gracious, O
Lord, & ready to forgive, & rich in mercy all that call upon thee to relieve;18
came to my heart, & banished my fears of being reduc’d to Sermons straits
by attending Sermons, and made me cast all my care upon God []19 & to
trust in the riches of his mercy for relieving me in all my wants, & I car’d for
no more of the World than what might answer present necessities from day
to day. And from that time to this, I have it to remark, That I have been so
mercifully provided for, with any that depend upon me, that I have never
been in want, or oblig’d to stay away from Gospel Ordinances, thro’ worldly
Incumbrances.
13 John Willison (1680-1750) - minister, South Church, Dundee.
14 Ps8:4.
15 According to McCulloch’s index, ‘(70)’ is identified as Mr Sinclair. The woman here may
be ‘Janat White’ (originally coded as ‘(69)’, but then replaced with ‘George Wishart’).
16 Eph 5:14.
17 Jos 10:12.
18 Ps 86:5, Scottish Psalter (metrical).
*’ Insertion [‘and go to Sermon’]: McCulloch.

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