divinity, then taught by the great Mr. George Campbell. There was
for youthful diversions; whereof I soon saw the vanity, and wherein I drove but heavily, the family being altogether carnal. But while I was there, I kept up the worship of God in the family; nevertheless I found that manner of life ensnaring.
1695. About January 20, 1695, I went to Edinburgh to the school of divinity, then taught by the great Mr. George Campbell. There was then a great storm of snow on the ground. By the way, being extremely cold, I alighted off my horse, (I think it was betwixt Ridpath-edge and Redstone-ridge), and walked. Having walked a mile, a swoon began to seize me, and I could walk no more. I took horse, but was scarcely able to sit on it. My brother, who by good providence was with me, put a bit of bread in my mouth; and I had scarcely as much strength left as to lift my jaws and chew it. It would have been desirable to me to have been near the meanest cottage. And I recovered. At that time I took a chamber, and dieted myself again, about the space of a month; but weary of that way, Mr. Ridpath aforesaid, and I tabled ourselves as most convenient. He being a smart youth, and disposed to profit in philosophy, I did good to myself, by being serviceable to him in the matter of philosophy, which was his only study at that time. Having some taste of music before, we went to a school one month, and made good proficiency; pressing forward our teacher, and pursuing it in our chamber; so that by that means we had the tenors, trebles, and basses, of the common tunes, with some other tunes, and several prick-songs. My voice was good, and I had a delight in music.
A few of us, newly entered to the school of divinity, were taught for a time Rüssenius' compend, in the professor's chamber. Publicly in the hall he taught Essenius' compend. For exercises that session, I had a paraphrase on Isa. 38:1–9; a lecture on Prov. 1 and an exegesis de certitudine subjectiva electionis; and in a private society, another de jure divino presbyteratus. I was also for a while, at that time, I suppose, with Mr. Alexander Rule, professor of Hebrew; but remember no remarkable advantage I had thereby.
About the latter end of April, I returned home, clothed with testimonials from Professor Campbell, bearing, that I had diligently attended the profession, dexterously acquitted myself in several essays prescribed to me, behaved inoffensively, gravely, and piously. He was a man of great learning, but excessively modest, undervaluing himself, and much valuing the tolerable performances of his students.
Mr. James Murray, minister of Penpont, whose schoolfellow I had been at Dunse a little while, having engaged me to embrace the grammar school of Penpont, came to the Merse about the harvest, and invited me to go with him, shewing considerable encouragement. I could not then go along; but afterwards I made ready for it, and exhausted what remained of my burse, which was in all, £80 Scots, in fitting out myself. Upon this view, shewing a minister of the presbytery, a wise man, that I minded not to desire the burse again, he bade me fasten one foot before I loosed the other; an advice which I had frequent occasion of minding thereafter.
In September, Mr. Murray having sent his horse for me, but withal in a letter signified his fears of the miscarrying of that project, but that in that case I might have another school; I, not a little troubled at the sudden change, did notwithstanding go to Penpont, in company with the worthy Mr. Henry Erskine aforementioned.
There I continued with Mr. Murray about a quarter of a year, in suspense with reference to that project; in which time, Mr. G. B., minister of Glencairn, desired me to take the school of that parish; which I was unwilling to accept. All hope of the school of Penpont being at length cut off, and I ashamed to return home, Mr. B—— was wrote to, for what was before refused; and he made return, that he could not be positive as to the matter. Under this trial, which I was brought into by precipitant conduct, I was helped in some measure to trust God.