ing to cases of conscience, and not catechising the people, nor informing them in the duty of the day; but did let them pay curates' stipends, and other revenues of that nature. But I think they were engaged to God, under the pain of losing soul and body, in the day of God's fearful judgment, to tell the people to chase them out of the land. Seeing Prelacy was abjured and cast out like an abominable branch, as it was, were they not worthy to die the death, that would, against so much light, defile God's land with that abjured abomination? but forsooth, to this day they must be fed like birds in a cage, upon the fattest of the land, and the spoils of Christ's crown! "7. I bear my testimony against that course carried on by the ministers; their conniving at, countenancing of, and complying with these indulged that have quit Christ, and taken on with another master. Oh, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously! yea, they were open persecutors of the really godly thereafter for their faithfulness, and were about to stop their mouth, and to make that Indulgence the door by which all the ministers were to enter to their ministry.

"8. I bear my testimony against their treachery at Bothwell Bridge, in stopping the drawing up of the Causes of God's Wrath, and keeping a fast day, and changing their declaration; and in hindering the purging of the army; and to mend all, they raised the ugliest clamour and report upon them that minded and spoke honestly and truly, that could be.

"9. I bear my testimony against their treachery at Edinburgh, when a proclamation came out to the view of the world, blaspheming God's true religion, and declaring that all that belonged to God was due to Charles Stuart, which is the plain sense of the Act; and they sat in an assembly, and voted for a liberty coming from him to preach by; though that same very day that this was proclaimed, two of their more worthy and faithful brethren [Messrs John King and John Kid] were murdered. [The Indemnity after Bothwell, published August 14, 1679.] I think this people are grown like brute beasts.

"Oh, how much pomp and joviality was that day in rejoicing over the ruins of the work of God and His people, yea, over Himself. There was first a scaffold made on the east side of the Cross, and a green table set down on it, and two green forms; and then the Cross was covered, and, about twelve hours of the day, the Pursuivants, and Heralds, and Lyon King at Arms, and eight trumpeters, went up to the Cross, and fourteen men on the foresaid scaffold, and seven of

them with red gowns of velvet, and seven with black, and then that Act was read, and at night the bells were ringing, and bonfires burning. Oh! I think it was a wonder, that God made not all the town, where such wickedness was acted against and in despite of Him, to sink to the lowest hell.

"10. I leave my testimony against them for running away and leaving God's flock after Bothwell Bridge, when they had drawn them to the fields. The Lord be judge this day between them and His flock, and let their sentence come out from before His presence, and let His eyes behold those things that are equal. Oh, their skirts are full of the blood of souls! They say, the people hath left them, but it is more evident than that it can be gainsaid, that they have left the people. Does not the Scripture say, that they who are in the watchmen's place should warn the people when they see the sword come; and have not the ministers of Scotland had the first hand in all these courses of backslidings? Should they be pure with unclean hands, and the unjust balance (so to say), and the bag of deceitful weights? Well, their sins are known to be no more sins of weakness, but sins of wickedness.

"11. I bear my testimony against them, because they did not join with their brethren, in the work of the day, in preaching to the people in the fields, with Mr Richard Cameron and Mr Donald Cargill. And will ye tell me, although there were never one to open their mouth in that thing, does not the work of the one confound them to silence, and the work of the other justify and plead for them? But there is one thing I have learned from the practice of all this people, and God's dealings with them; they have sought their own and one another's credit, more than God's, and He hath discovered their wickedness in their ugliness.

"12. I bear my testimony against their obstinacy, in refusing to return and amend their manners. They hold fast wickedness, and refuse to let it go, and that is against the light of God's word, their own consciences, their vows and engagements to God, the cries of bloodshed, the cries of wrong done to God and His work, and against these their former preachings and practices; that they will not come out and rid the ground, so to speak, and seek out the causes of God's wrath, and set days of humiliation apart, and see that they be kept, and renew their engagements, and carry themselves like ministers of Jesus Christ afterward. Is this erroneous? Is not this according to Presbyterian principles? Does not the Confession

of our Faith say, These who offend the Church, and their brethren, should make their repentance as public as their offences have been? Is not this the plain meaning of that article, yea, the very words. almost of the Confession of Faith, chap. xv. sect. 6? Without which thing be done, if any would take my counsel, who am looking to receive the sentence of death every hour, I would say, meddle not with them, for they have not only sinned against the Church of God, and their brethren, and their own souls; but against God. And have they not been light and treacherous? whereof many instances may be given. Have they not polluted the sanctuary? Have they not done violence to the law? Have they not been unfaithful ? Are they not walking very openly amongst God's stated enemies, while the people of God dare not be seen? I fear, if they make not haste to come off these courses, that God's wrath shall overtake them ere it be long.

"And lastly, I bear my testimony against them, for their untenderness to weak consciences, and making use of their gifts and parts to wrest the word of God, to put out that light, which God has given poor things; of which I, among others, have a proof; for one of them came into the prison, and told me, that he had been dealing with him, who had been pursuing us to death, (the king's Advocate) that he would not take innocent blood upon him, and out of love and tenderness to our souls, he came to pay us a visit; and said, he was neither a curate nor an Indulged man, but a minister of the Gospel. So he said, that we would be well advised what we were doing, for the Advocate had said we were shortly to be before the criminal court. And I asked, what he advised us to do? and began to tell him the ground whereupon we were accused, which was this; that Charles Stuart, having broken and burnt God's Covenant, and compelled all that he could by his forces to do the like, and slain many upon that account; upon this head I declined his authority; and being hard questioned, confessed that I thought it lawful to kill him, but I did not say by whose hands. And he said, all that would not free me from being his subject, and instanced Zedekiah's case to prove it. But I was not in case to speak to him (being confused with a distracted man who was in with us). Only I told him there was as great a difference betwixt that of Zedekiah, and this in hand, as east was from the west. And he called us Jannes and Jambres, who withstood the truth, when we would not hear him; and said, there was no such thing as any condition holden out in the form and order of the

coronation, that did free us from allegiance to Charles Stuart upon that account.

"But what do they think, that every one can reason and debate with them; or else that they are not Christians, but gainstanders of the truth? Hath not God given to every man his measure of light and grace both? If they know not this, and walk not accordingly, they were never worthy to be ministers of the Gospel. He said, that he could send me any of the ministers, whom I pleased to call for. I said, that I heard tell Mr Donald Cargill was taken; would he send him to me, and I would take it as a great kindness off his hand? But he said, that he had taken a way by himself. But what shall I say; my heart is like to sink, when I think on them, and the case of the land. Oh! I think, it is a desperate-like case! only I know God can, and I hope He will cure it.

"Next, I bear my testimony against all that pay cess and locality to uphold Christ's enemies, the bloody soldiers, or any of that cursed crew; yea, against all that give them meat or drink when they come to their houses, it being so expressly against Christ and the Covenant; and against all that pay customs or duties, belonging to the crown of Scotland, unto Charles Stuart, his officers, collectors, or tacksmen, seeing all that is employed against Christ; and against all that shall do it, till they wit [i.e., know] well that it be otherwise employed; and against all bonders with them, or to him, or any in his name, or delegated by him, or clothed with his authority; seeing they are persons worthy of no credit; whereof I have a proof in my taking. Ye would do well to believe the wise man Solomon, who says, 'When he speaks fair, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.'

"Next, I leave my testimony against all that side with, or strengthen the hands of the adversaries of the Lord, in less or more, against clear conviction from the word of God, or sound reason; and particularly against this duke [of York], that bold and truculent Papist, who hath defiled the Lord's land with his altars and images. And I protest against this ensuing Parliament, for putting power in his hand, to do what he pleaseth; for by the word of God, and the laws of the land, he should die the death. And also, I bear testimony against these who have sided with, or strengthened the foresaid enemy, and will not come off again. Oh! if they will not help the people of God, that they would let them alone, and not help their adversaries.

"Next, I leave my testimony against the gentry and commonality, for letting so much innocent blood be shed; some of which ranks, I think, God hath a turn [i.e., piece of work] to put in their hands yet, if they would espouse His quarrel, and turn to Him with all their hearts, and not suffer the work to go as it does. But indeed they must keep company with God's stated enemies, and learn the Court fashion. I will tell you one thing; ye have lost the manners of the Court of Heaven, by learning the manners of the Courts of men. Oh! what think ye to do, or how think ye to be accountable to God? Will ye but speak your minds, who ye think hath the best end of the controversy? Will ye let the fear of men and the devil prevail with you, more than the fear of God? Or what think ye this duke would do to you, when he sees his opportunity; will ye trust bloody Papists? It may be ye be put to suffer on worse accounts yet, if ye will not own God and His people.

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But there are but very few of you now who are aught but mockers. Will ye turn to the Lord with all your hearts? Is it any shame to you to take shame to yourselves in glorifying God by confessing your sins and turning from them? But will ye tell me now; who, think ye, can be at one with you while ye are standing out against God? Will ye read but the first chapter of Isaiah, and consider it and the first two chapters of Jeremiah, the second of Joel, the prophecy of Haggai, Isaiah xxii., Ezek. vii. Oh! consider, and if Read and consider

not, the Lord and you take it between you. Psalm 1. 5.

"Now, what shall I say to you who own and adhere to God's cause against all the enemies? Oh! that I could let you see the inside of my heart! Will ye learn Christianity? Seek the Lord and get Him on your side. I think it is a good token of a sanctified heart that longs more to be in God's company nor [i.e., than] other folk's that sees that the worst of evil lies in committing sin. Beware of heart-risings, and grudgings one against another. Know that there is a great difference between sins of weakness and sins of wickedness. Ye may not mark every failing; for if ye do, ye shall not have two to stay together in Scotland.

"Oh! but there be much need of the Gospel; and these ministers will not come out and contend for Christ; without which, though I were at liberty, God knows, I durst not meddle with them, and I would rather keep back from them nor [i.e., than] other folk. For I think there are many of them either unconcerned, or then