February 3. 1691, 2.
Having for a Long Time, been Lame, and much Afflicted in Body and Spirit, I am by Meditation brought to Look back, and see Gods former and present Dealings with me; and my own Behaviour under them; which, if I know my own Heart, I set down for my own Warning, and the promotion of Repentance in me; and, An Example to OTHERS, who may view it after ⟨p. 86⟩me, that they by me, may warn themselves not to fall from their First Love.
Happy are the Children of the Servants of God; who meet with a Blessing from every Good Man they meet! For my Fathers Sake, I have had many a Blessing; and many Instructions and Directions, from men of Great Worth. But that which most especially took place with me, was the Counsel of Mr. — Who asking my Age, I told him, It was Twelve Years; and he thereupon said, The Example of Josiah, would intimate, that it was High Time, and that God Expected it at Least Four Years ago, that I should set my self to Pray unto Him, and Engage my self, by the Vows of my Soul to Seek and Serve Him. He brought many Examples to quicken me, and Scriptures to Encourage me, and Laid the matter before me in a solemn manner. I now began to consider with my self what a miserable Wretch I was, who had never Prayed but Three or Four Times in my Life: and now I did not know how to go about it. But being also every Sabbath Day at Night, after Repetition, pressed unto the same Duty by my Cousin Avery, with whom I dwelt: for it was his Custom, at those times, to warn all his Family, with Renewed Arguments, unto their Duties, pleading that if we hearkened not, his ⟨p. 87⟩Warning would be a Witness against us,; and he told us, that if we knew not how to Pray, we should Go to God, and He would help us; all this wrought upon me, so that I resolved to beg the Help of God: which doing, I quickly found my self able, not only to Express my Desires unto Him, but to Maintain such a pleasant Communion with Him, that nothing could prevent my Morning and Evening Prayers; and in time, my Delight in it was such, that I Excited Others unto the Like; and I persuaded one other to Join with me, and taste the sweetness of it; and seeing, he was so easily drawn from his Play to that Duty, I was yet the more Encouraged to continue, and plead with God, His Promise of answering, Two or Three, that Gathered together in his Name.
February 3. 1691, 2.
Having for a Long Time, been Lame, and much Afflicted in Body and Spirit, I am by Meditation brought to Look back, and see Gods former and present Dealings with me; and my own Behaviour under them; which, if I know my own Heart, I set down for my own Warning, and the promotion of Repentance in me; and, An Example to OTHERS, who may view it after ⟨p. 86⟩me, that they by me, may warn themselves not to fall from their First Love.
Happy are the Children of the Servants of God; who meet with a Blessing from every Good Man they meet! For my Fathers Sake, I have had many a Blessing; and many Instructions and Directions, from men of Great Worth. But that which most especially took place with me, was the Counsel of Mr. — Who asking my Age, I told him, It was Twelve Years; and he thereupon said, The Example of Josiah, would intimate, that it was High Time, and that God Expected it at Least Four Years ago, that I should set my self to Pray unto Him, and Engage my self, by the Vowes of my Soul to Seek and Serve Him. He brought many Examples to quicken me, and Scriptures to Encourage me, and Laid the matter before me in a solemn manner. I now began to consider with my self what a miserable Wretch I was, who had never Pray'd but Three or Four Times in my Life: and now I did not know how to go about it. But being also every Sabbath Day at Night, after Repetition, pressed unto the same Duty by my Cousin Avery, with whom I dwelt: for it was his Custome, at those times, to warn all his Family, with Renewed Arguments, unto their Duties, pleading that if we hearkened not, his ⟨p. 87⟩Warning would be a Witness against us,; and he told us, that if we knew not how to Pray, we should Go to God, and He would help us; all this wrought upon me, so that I resolved to beg the Help of God: which doing, I quickly found my self able, not only to Express my Desires unto Him, but to Maintain such a pleasant Communion with Him, that nothing could prevent my Morning and Evening Prayers; and in time, my Delight in it was such, that I Excited Others unto the Like; and I perswaded one other to Joyn with me, and tast the sweetness of it; and seeing, he was so easily drawn from his Play to that Duty, I was yet the more Encouraged to continue, and plead with God, His Promise of answering, Two or Three, that Gathered together in his Name.
