Table of Contents - VU-DARE Home

property, which probably was the first the Dutch here took possession of, by
building a fort 350 which still raises the ground and makes it more valuable. But I
also bless the Lord that the income of our Church is increased by the actual sales
of the other lots, to persons well disposed and able to pay the rents. May this
labor have been not in vain, and it please the Lord to smile upon His unworthy
servant whilst endeavoring to establish the maintenance of the gospel ministry,
and oh, may my poor bowels be pitied and healed and we rejoice in a return of
health and happiness to our family. The Lord pity and pardon, for Christ’s sake.
Amen.
7. Last evening I finished the reading of The Memoirs of Boston’s Life, which has
given me much information of his character and conduct, and also instruction and
comfort with respect to many trials whereunto we ministers are called. [In margin:
“ N.B. Boston recommends the ordinary reading of the Bible as a means to know
the will of God in particular conduct.”] He was much afflicted, in his younger
years, with fainting and vomiting, in his first ministry at Ettrick with opposition,
and at the latter period with bodily indispositions, rheumatism, gravel and a sore
knee, dying, almost 55 years, of a scorbutic disorder, a man, who was made great
by means of the three which Luther mentions, Oratio, Meditatio, Tentatio, 351 and I
do indeed thank the Lord for the opportunity, time, and health to improve so much
by that life, which he wrote himself principally for the instruction of his own
family, which has almost induced myself to revise my notes and transcribe the
better part of them, that my posterity at least may be edified, if not any other
minister, by reviewing the manifold temptations and outgates during my
pilgrimage in this land, but I desire to leave this purpose with the Lord, to whom
are known all my ways, whilst I humbly pray to defend me against all insults of
overbearing men, and to prosper my poor endeavors for the preservation and
establishment of that Church Communion which is peculiarly dear to me, without
injuring any other Christian community, whose real advantage I desire to promote
by every means consistent with candor, decency, and the dignity of our own. May
the Lord heal all the breaches of Zion, and restrain the anger of such who have no
savor of true Catholic religion, but are activated by a party spirit of proselytizing
bigotry. The Lord bless and prosper all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in
sincerity. May we become obedient to that remarkable command, James 4.1-5:
The Spirit that dwelleth in us listeneth to envy, and James 5.9, Do not grow
grudges against one another [crossed out “Levy” for “Do”].
8. Yesterday, after having dined at the Mills, I took a ride in the chair with my
son to the end of the land, the wind northerly and cold, and after tea I felt very
chilly in the room, afraid of having caught a cold, which to my sorrow I find this
morning to be the case, and makes me again very much afraid of being hindered
from the Sanctuary service tomorrow, but what shall I say. I am anxious on
account of my conduct the week past, but the Lord be pleased to forgive my
imprudences, and give another spirit of mind to mortify every member of sin, and
to quench every spark of wild fire. I would also pray for others who do provoke
350
Fort Orange, built in 1624.
351
In his preface to the German-language Wittenberg Edition (1539), Martin Luther (1483-1546) says
“Oratio, Meditatio, Tentatio Faciunt Theologum” [Prayer, Meditation, and Affliction make the
theologian”], which is a reference to Psalm 119, also known as Meditation on God’s law.
141