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66 the power of the grace of God can have that effi. cacy, to enable me to do fo: and having found it fo fteadable a friend, I could not but commend it to you. 'Tis a day of power that only will engage you' effectually, and will prevail with you to engage in "earneft. A providence like this may rouse some "present affections, that will go off in an empty " flash again; but it must be a renewing work of 68 grace that will fix an abiding anchor. The Lord "in mercy engage your heart to him, that you may "find how good he is to the foul that feeks him, as "I do this day to my joy, and hope to do more fully "in a little. I could not but commend the Lord to you, having found fo much of his goodness; 1 ne"ver found fo much when I was in health and pro

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fperity, as I find now in fickness and languishing; "I find he makes all things to be his peoples for "good, fickness or health, or difeafes, or whatever "they be, all is good; and I find all for good. I am "longing to be away, and I must break off. If God "be pleased to blefs this advice from a dying friend, "we will meet, and meet comfortably in the higher "house; I mean, if ye comply with the defign of "the advice. I fear the influence of the place you "live in, want of lively ordinances, and the con "verfe of lively chriftians may endanger you. Con"verfe much with the word of God, be much in fe

cret prayer. God can give a good appetite, and a "ftrong ftomach, that out of a very fapelefs piece "of nourishment, can fetch fomething that will give "ftrength, and make coarfer food fubfift and nourish

too. However, affoon as you can, feek after lively "ordinances; endeavour by all means to draw up "acquaintance with the Saints, the excellent ones in "the earth, that fear God.

Dear

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Dear Nephew,

Remember kindly your wife, and I advise you 66 in that place, where you can fcarce have access "to any ordinances, and cannot but be exposed un"to many difadvantages and dangers in point of "religion; I advise you to take the firft opportunity "of coming out of Babylon, and fettling your bufi"nefs where ye may be under lively means of grace." "I know you are a child of many prayers, and you "were prayed back from the gates of death; and "now I with that you may give evidence, that "you have been prayed back indeed for mercy to "yourself, I fhall be glad that this advice from a "dying man come to be any wife ufeful to you, "The Lord be with your fpirit. You cannot expect "from any one of my condition a digefted, polish'd "letter; but I fpeak the words of fobernels, and "full compofure of mind, bleffed be God. Let your "kindness to the dead appear in your kindness to "my dear widow, whom I leave behind, and my "fix children; fhew your concern with both."

Tho. Halyburton.

To fome prefent he faid, O firs, I dread mightily, that a rational fort of religion is coming in among us; I mean by it, a religion that confifts in a bare attendance on outward duties and ordinances, without the power of godliness; and thence people fhall fall into a way of ferving God, which is mere deifm, having no relation to Chrift Jefus, and the fpirit of God. To his collegue he faid, dear brother, let not modefty hinder you from laying out your talent that way; God has given you abilities. Well brother, to encourage you, I must tell you, I must fay it, your

con

converfation has been a bleffing to me; our mutual communication about the concerns of the Lord was reviving. It was after a fweet night's communication of this fort, that God took the burden of my fon George off me; and brought me to fweet fubmiffion in the profpect of his approaching death. O if we could be concern'd about God's intereft, he would look well to ours.

Then he faid, if I had all our brethren prefent now, I would tell them how much 'tis upon my heart, that they may maintain brotherly love, and beware of divifion. One faid, I have obferv'd that that has been many times the greatest trial of the church of Scotland. Alas! the fatal lengths that divifion came in time of perfecution, and not without the influence of fome by their preaching, has brought us to that pafs, that we are not like to recover. He faid, O what a care has God of me, that's hiding me from the evil to come? I was willing to ftand my post with you, to ftand and fall with the church of Scotland; but my mafter is calling me off. O, I pity, I pity them that stay behind. I am no prophet, I do not pretend to prophecy; but I'm perfuaded a ftorm is coming on this church. One faid, I hope, brother, the Lord will not quit his room in Scotland. He anfwered, indeed I hope no; but I much doubt if this generation will be honour'd to do God great fervice and fee good days, I do not much wonder that be has laid me by: But however, they that keep the faith and fight the good fight, fhall have abundant peace. Well, well, firs the day muft break, I hope, I hope. the Lord will arife, and the church will be made a wonder, he'll fay, Lo! this people have I form'd for myself, he can make a nation to be born at once.

Often he faid, this day O how compos'd am I! what a wonder to be fo, while I fee the evident fymptoms of my diffolution! and cried often, as in the fang when fhall the day break and the fhadows flie a

way?

way? Turn my beloved and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether. I'm longing to be diffolved and to be with Chrift that's far better.

*This he faid because

that young

man was recommended to his care.

When a minifter's fon came in, he faid, John you're going to get another leffon from a dying man. you got one from a dying father, and now another from a fecond father; Then telling how kind the Lord was to that minister when dying he said, I have found much of God's goodness too I did not think to come near too, but I was defiring and panting after a share of his happiness; and now God has given it me. And now, John, I charge you, trace your father's fteps, as ye'll be anfwerable at the great day. O ferve the Lord, and for your encouragement I tell you, man, he's the best of masters; be encouraged to feek God, beware of the vanities of youth; and take heed to your ways, according to the word of God. The Lord bless you, and bless your fifters, and make them in their younger years to feek God, and it will be well with you. The reverend old man your grandfather, your father look'd on him as an orphan; be you as a father to him, be dropping ay the word of life to him, and have a tender care of him; 'tis the way to obtain a bleffing. Pray for me for patience to the end, that I may win to praise him. I many times had a miftun'd voice, but, which is worfe, I had a miftun'd heart; but I'll get all right tun'd above.

To a minifter that came from Edinburgh to visit him, he faid, come and fee your friend in the best cafe that ever you saw him in, longing for a deliverance, and hastning to the coming of the day of God, waiting for the falvation of God, on a bed of rofes, tho' nature and skin fay not fo, a bed perfum'd. And man, I fent for you, I long'd to fee you, that I might give you encouragement in an ill world to preach

the

the gospel, and stand by Chrift, that has been so good to me. This is the best pulpit that ever I was in, I'm now laid on this bed for this end, that I may commend my Lord. He answered, its a great bleffing that he commends himself to you, and I defire to blefs him on that account. To which he reply'd, yea, he commended himself first.

September 20th, In the morning when a minifter afked how he was, he faid, I am compos'd waiting for him. To which he reply'd, you fee how kindly he deals with you, he's both antidating in your foul heavenly exercife, and heavenly enjoyments. On which he faid, he is preparing and making me meet for the inheritance of the faints in light. The minifter faid, he deals fo tenderly with you, that he gives you little ado but to praife. He answered, I have reafon to defire the help of all to praise him; Blefs the Lord O my Joul, and all that's within me magnify his holy name.

A little after that, one faid, have you no pain with the purging? He answered, yea, yea, indeed have I; but I have no complaint. And faid he, I'll be prefented without pot; and !'ll get a clean bed, white and fair. O he's good to me!

To fome entring the room he faid, indeed you're all very welcome, firs, I am taking a little wine for refreshment, and in a little I'll get my wine fresh and now in his kingdom of glory; I dare fcarce allow my thoughts to run directly upon it; I must look afide, leaft I fhould be overwhelm'd. But I rather speak than fpare of him who has done wonderful things for me, and has kept me this day in a perfect calm, One faid, you have got, I trust what your heart can defire to make you meet for going thro' the valley of the fhadow of death, fince Wednesday that you had your own trial. He anfwer'd, Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning. 'Tis but a little and I fhall get that reft, I'm

get.

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