Page:Some remarkable passages in the life of Mr. John Livingston.pdf/23

 such a misgiving of spirit upon me, considering my unworthiness and weakness, to speak before so many aged and worthy ministers, and so many eminent and experienced Christians, that I was consulting with myself to have stolen away, and was actually gone away to some distance; but when just about to lose sight of the Kirk of Shots, these words, Was I ever a barren wilderness, or a land of darkness? were wrought into my heart with such an overcoming power, as constrained me to think it my duty to return and comply with the call to preach; which I accordingly did, with good assistance, for about an hour and half on the points I had meditated from that text. Ezek xxxvi. 25, 26. "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean. From all your filthiness, and from all your idols will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh" As I was about to close, a heavy shower coming suddenly on, made the people hastily take to their clokes and mantles, I began speak to the following purpose "a few drops of rain from the cloud so discomposes you, how discomposed would you be, how fell of horror