A very different Sabbath from the last. Though _Robin's_ Constitution hath received a Shock it may never recover, his comparative Amendment fills us with Thankfulnesse; and our chastened Suspense hath a sweet Solemnitie and Trustfullenesse in it, which pass Understanding.
Mr. _Agnew_ conducted our Devotions. This Morning, I found him praying with _Robin_--I question if it were for the first Time. _Robin_ looking on him with eyes of such sedate Affection!
_Robin_ still progressing. Dear _Rose_ and Mr. _Agnew_ leave us to-morrow, but they will soon come agayn. Oh faithful Friends!
Can Aniething equall the desperate Ingratitude of the human Heart? Testifie of it, Journall, agaynst me. Here did I, throughout the incessant Cares and Anxieties of _Robin's_ Sicknesse, find, or make Time, for almoste dailie Record of my Trouble; since which, whole Months have passed without soe much as a scrawled Ejaculation of Thankfullenesse that the Sick hath beene made whole.
Yet, not that that Thankfullenesse hath beene unfelt, nor, though unwritten, unexprest. Nay, O _Lord_, deeplie, deeplie have I thanked thee for thy tender Mercies. And he healed soe slowlie, that Suspense, as 'twere, wore itself out, and gave Place to a dull, mournful Persuasion that an Hydropsia would waste him away, though more slowlie, yet noe less surelie than the Fever.
Soe Weeks lengthened into Months, I mighte well say Years, they seemed soe long! and stille he seemed to neede more Care and Tendernesse; till, just as he and I had learnt to say, "Thy Will, O _Lord_, be done," he began to gain Flesh, his craving Appetite moderated, yet his Food nourished him, and by _God's_ Blessing he recovered!
During that heavie Season of Probation, our Hearts were unlocked, and we spake oft to one another of Things in Heaven and Things in Earth. Afterwards, our mutuall Reserves returned, and _Robin_, methinks, became shyer than before, but there can never cease to be a dearer Bond between us. Now we are apart, I aim to keep him mindfulle of the high and holie Resolutions he formed in his Sicknesse; and though he never answers these Portions of my Letters, I am avised to think he finds them not displeasing.
Now that _Oxford_ is like to be besieged, my Life is more confined than ever; yet I cannot, and will not leave _Father_ and _Mother_, even for the _Agnews_, while they are soe much harassed. This Morning, my Father hath received a Letter from Sir _Thomas Glemham_, requiring a larger Quantitie of winnowed Wheat, than, with alle his Loyaltie, he likes to send.