him, with respect to the ministerial endowments, and did devote myfelf to him in that fervice.

May 1, 1700, being the day of his ordination. This morning I renewed my engagements to God, and ac cepted of Chrift upon the gofpel-terms, cafting myself over upon him, not only for what belongs to me aš a private Chriftian, but as a minister, eyeing his ftrength for throw bearance in the whole of the work particularly pleading, for his prefence this day; I cannot deny his presence in fecret, Mr. Alexander Pitcairn minister in Kilmeny preached the ordination-fermon on Hebrews xiii. 17. Where he infifted upon the watchmen's duty; I cannot deny, but my heart was much weighted with the fenfe of the greatness of the work; and after I had anfwered the queftions put to me concerning my foundness in the faith, and the fincerity of my purposes in undertaking the office and work of the holy miniftry, I was ordain'd. Lord thou knowet what my heart's defire to thee was in the time. O Lord help, and thro' grace I fball lay out myself for gaining finners to thee.

Being thus entered into the miniftry,he studied and prepared his fermons with much ferious fecret prayer for divine affiftance and direction in his work, and for a fuccefsfull bleffing upon the word, both to himfelf and his hearers.

His practife alfo was to review and remark his be haviour, and acquitting himself in public duties, as to what affistance and enlargement he obtained, as to the gravity, seriousness, tenderness in his own frame, as to his concern for the fouls 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 toGod, and watching against vain pride and felf, that that might not rob the Lord of the glory of his free grace. When otherwife, it was matter of humiliation to him. Knowing that he was called to watch for fouls,

as one that must give an account,' he had the weight of the ministerial charge much upon his fpirit: He was therefor at pains to acquaint himself with the fpiritual state of the fouls 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 ftrength did allow, he was diligent in vifiting all the families within his parish, in inftructing his people by the familiar way of catechifing, and in marking their proficiency in the knowlege of the truths of the gospel. At some seasons allo, efpecially when he was about to adminifter the facrament of the Lord's fupper,he converfed feverally with fuch who were to be admitted unto that holy ordinance; not to bring them unto auricular con, feffions, but to try what fenfe 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 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 la boured about three years in the ministry at Ceres.

I've, faith he, fpent now about a month in converfe with my people, and I obferve the few following things.

1. That of three or four hundred perfons there were not above forty, who had not at one time or other been in more or less awakened by the word tho' with far the greater part it came no length; whence notwithstanding it follows, 1. That where there is a faithful miniftry, it is not like, but most 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

not noticed this? 2. The Lord leaves not himself without a witnefs, ev'n in the bofom of his enemies, whereby he makes them feign fubmiffion; he gives the word fuch power as makes them feel that it is his, which tends to enhanse their guilt.

2. All who were thus convinc'd, did declare, that any awakenings ever they had, were either under the preachers in the field, 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.

3. The most 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 curates but on the contrary, all declared otherwife, and the moft zealous that way, were most frank in making undefired confeffions by the plain evidence of truth.

4. 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 converfed with fome of whom I have reafon to hope good things, even things that accompany falvation, that feem to have been brought in by all the prefbyterian ministers, who were there thele fifty years bygone.

5. I obferve, for which I blefs the Lord, that befides not a few, whom the Lord has awakened under my ministry, fome there are who seem to promise more than flowers even fruit. And further a general acknowlegement from moit, that the word comes near them daily. Which 1. Makes me afham'd of my own negligence 2. Adore God's goodness that bleffes my weak labours notwithstanding. 3. Encourages me to think that whatever may be amifs, yet I have not run unjent.

6. I observe, that it is very hard to judge of the competency of knowlege, in order to admiffion. And,

7. That knowing people,eftrang'd from the power of religion, are in the most deplorable condition imaginable; for I found it almoft impoffible to get fuch brought to any fenfe of their cafe.

His minifterial concern was not confined to his parith of Ceres, but did extend itself to the whole church: And the confideration of abounding errors and profanenefs of the time, did fill his heart with heavy and perplexing thoughts; as may be observed from the following hints.

Queft. What is the duty that's in a special manner called for from this church in this day?

Anfw. 1. Mourning; 'tis a day of abominations. 2. A ferious endeavour to be rooted, and established in the truths of religion; for there is an aim to detroy the foundations; and temptations to final and total apoftacy abound.

3. A fhining gofpel-walk as a teftimony against the horrid profanity of the time.

Herein O! that I might get my foul continually exercifed. Bleffed shall he be at this day who, when the Lord comes, fhall be found fo employed. A fad neglect of thofe, gives ground to fear terrible things.

One reafon, why the gofpel is fo unsuccessful at this day is, because the fimplicity of preaching is neglected, a due application of feripture is best preaching, for confirming which it is remarkable, that though God may make ufe of the words of man in letting into the meaning of it, yet 'tis the very scripture word, whereby he ordinarly conveys the comfort or advantage of whatever fort, 'tis this tool of God's own framing that works the effect.

At another time he faith, having confidered the growth of error, my heart is affected and filled with

many

many heavy and perplexing thoughts: I faw, and daily fee more and more the growth of Arminian, Pelagian and Socinian errors; this with the growth of Profanity that's vifible, gives me a fad profpect of what may be a coming. This obfervation that' follows was ftrangely fix'd upon my thought.

1. The gospel truth when first published, was pure without the mixture of errors. Yet,

2. When it spread a little, errors quickly were vented to difcredit it.

3. Errors in process of time grew; and the further off from the first times of the gofpel, the further off from the fimplicity and purity.

4. When chriftianity obtain'd external establishment in the world, then there was a remarkable increafe of error.

5. Superftition and error at length overspread, and the Lord muft both punish and purge.

6. The way he took to do both, was to give up in the 6th century to a general apoftacy, under Mahomet in the east, and the Pope in the weft: Thus all these errors, as it were, run into one, or run together: That thus the churches were fufficiently punished by these two dreadful plagues; and that there was a purgation by them is plain, in that after the reformation, truth broke out with a beaming luftre and much purity: Since that time error has had a fecond growth; whether the Lord may not take the fame method of purging us again by cafting all into the furnace, we cannot tell; we must leave it to himself.

Some of the followers of Mrs Bourignion having come into his parish, and endeavouring to propogate their opinions under the plaufible pretext of fingular piety and devotion; he thought fit to guard his people against that infection; a fhort account whereof he gives in the following words.

April 2014, 1707, This day the Lord directed to

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