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ingratitude, and return in mercy to me and my dear colleague. We have forfeited
Thy favors, Lord, and provoked Thy wrath, but remember mercy, and restore
health and strength out of weakness, in and for the service of Thy Sanctuary, and
spare Thy unworthy servants. Be our physician in mercy, and deal tenderly with
us according to Thy great and glorious name. Blessed Jesus, we are Thine. O,
spare us, and let Thy promise of yesterday from Malachi 3.17 445 be performed
unto us in Thy own time and way. Preserve me from further distress, and avert a
relapse of my former soreness and pain. Into Thy merciful hands I desire to
commit myself and family, and to trust in Thee, o my God and Savior, in every
time of need. Amen.
21. This morning, reading Russel’s Treatise on the Lord’s Supper, 446 I observed
what he (p.29) relates of Slipismend’s advice to Theodosey the Emperor; perform
unto God, when thou art well, what thou promised on a sick bed. 447 I remember in
my last sickness, I was led to promise to endeavor to publish an analysis on the
catechism, as my brother Dr. Livingston has requested of me. I have, in a letter,
promised to begin with this important work, and now I would pray the Father of
mercies, if this purpose be of the Lord, to restore and strengthen me and my
brother jointly, to finish this business for the edification of His Church. O, Lord,
remember all Thy servants, and especially the sick and weak among them, and
prepare us for all Thy will and work, also to sit on with Thee at Thy Table. Pity,
pardon, and accept of us and our poor services, in Jesus Christ. Amen.
23. This day my daughter Catharine is 11 years old. Blessed be the Father of
mercies, who has spared her and brought her to that age, wherein she may be
wrought upon to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. I desire to give her to our God
and Father in Christ. May she be accepted and acceptable to Him. Father of
mercies, grant her Thy early graces, and make her Thine in a covenant of life and
salvation through Christ. Spare us together, and may all my family become more
Holy and devoted to Thy service, prepared to meet at the Throne, to be forever
with the Lord. Pardon and pity poor, sinful me, and my dear colleague. Restore
and strengthen and cause us to live before Thee. Amen.
25. Blessed be the Father of mercies for His assistance yesterday in the work of
the ministry! Though indisposed in the morning and weak of a looseness, I was
strengthened in preaching from Psalm 29.10-11. 448 May my poor endeavors to
impress my people and myself with a sense of sin, duty, and gratitude on account
445
They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, my special possession on the day when I act, and I will
spare them as parents spare their children who serve them.
446
Robert Russel’s A Treatise of the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper: with Persuasions and
Encouragements to the Receiving Thereof; and Directions how to do it Worthily. To which is Added,
Meditations, Prayers, and Ejaculations, Proper to be Used before, at, and after the Receiving Thereof:
with Prayers for Every Day in the Week, for the Help of Young Communicants. London: A.
Bettesworth and C. Hitch; R. Ware; J. Clarke; and J. Hodges. 1736. 9
175
th Edition.
447
In the 9th edition it is on p.26. The quotation can be found as follows: “It is storied of Theodosius
the Emperor, that having ask’d of Slipismend, Archbishop of Cologn, which was the surest way to
happiness, he answer’d: perform unto God when thou art well what thou promised on a sick-bed: [And
if at such time any of you have made promises of renew’d obedience, it is your great concernment to
perform them in your health].
448
The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. May the Lord give
strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace! [double entendre is likely intended,
with the Lord reigning since the flood, and forever.]