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March ’84
13. This day my youngest daughter is a year old. Thank be the Lord for
preserving her life, and increasing her statute. May she and all our children be
taught from on High to know and serve our God in Jesus Christ, and we be
graciously spared, and enabled to devote our offspring to the service of the Lord.
God of our salvation, I desire to wait on His grace and mercies in time and
eternity, and would fain do something for the honor and glory of the Lord. Last
Wednesday I preached at Schenectady in the evening from Psalm 95.7b-8a, 128 and
the next morning Dominee Vroman did agree with his consistory to call another
minister. May the Father of mercies pity my brother, mitigate pains, restore his
strength, and also provide for his congregation such a pastor as He Himself will be
pleased to bless. Lord, pardon and have mercy also upon me, and strengthen and
sanctify Thy unworthy one for the service of Thy Sanctuary, and the glory shall be
Thine through O.L.J.C. Amen.
27. Blessed be the Lord, the Great Ruler of the Universe, for all His mercies and
deliverances conferred upon us. The water did increase amazingly high by a
sudden thaw of the snow, at 13 instant, and our city and country was in great
danger of being hurt and almost destroyed thereby, but we have seen and admired
the gracious interposition of the Lord. Though the water in town was higher than
ever before the ice used to go off yet, now the waters are flown away and the ice
still abides, and weakens and melts by degree, and by all appearance the danger is
past. May this fresh instance of Divine goodness be remembered, and impress our
souls with a becoming sense of gratitude and fear of the Lord. And I have also
settled my account with the executors 129 to mutual satisfaction. May the Lord
perfect everything concerning me and my family. I desire to wait on his mercies,
and commit myself and my all to Him, and the Word of His grace. Father, pity,
pardon, sanctify, strengthen, comfort, and prepare us for all Thy will and bless
Thy people and ordinances for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
April ’84
8. Last Thursday (6 th ) I returned with two of my elders from Schenectady, where
we assisted the consistory in calling Dominee Dirck Romein agreeable to their and
Dominee Vroman’s desire. May the Lord bless this work and labor of love for
His name, and visit both ministers and people with His mercy and grace. But I am
again indisposed of a cold, and anxious about the instant services tomorrow and
next Lord’s Day, when the Sacrament was to be administered. I desire to be
humbled under all my afflictions on account of my many provocations, but also to
renew my humble trust and confidence in the Lord, my faithful Creator, unto
whom I commit my body and soul, to be kept until the Day of Jesus Christ. My
sins, defects, and imperfections are innumerable and great before the Lord.
Ingratitude, discontent, worldly-mindedness and such like are my daily burden,
and but too much indolence and insensibility with respect to the salvation of
others entrusted to my care. I am also distressed for the sins of my house and
congregation, and the Lord may most righteously either disable me or even
128
O, that today you would listen to his voice! Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah.
129
Probably still concerning his father-in-law Philip Livingston’s will.
65