⟨upon⟩ his diligence, he was able to preach in ⟨French⟩, and accordingly was speedily called to ⟨the⟩ ministry, first in one village, then in another; ⟨one⟩ of them was Nerac, and thereafter settled in ⟨saint⟩ Jean d'Angely, a considerable walled town ⟨and⟩ there he continued the rest of the time he sojourned in France, which was about sixteen years. ⟨When⟩ he began to preach, it was observed by some ⟨of⟩ his hearers, that while he continued in the ⟨doctrinal⟩ part of his sermon, he spoke very correct ⟨French⟩, but when he came to his application and ⟨when⟩ his affections kindled, his fervour made him ⟨sometimes⟩ neglect the accuracy of the French ⟨construction⟩: but there were godly young men who ⟨admonished⟩ him of this, which he took in very good ⟨part⟩, so for preventing mistakes of that kind, he ⟨desired⟩ the young gentlemen, when they perceived ⟨him⟩ beginning to decline, to give him a sign, and ⟨the⟩ sign was, that they were both to stand up upon ⟨their⟩ feet, and thereafter he was more exact in his ⟨expression⟩ through his whole sermon; so desirous ⟨was⟩ he, not only to deliver good matter, but to commend it in the neat expression.
There were many times persons of great quality ⟨in⟩ his auditory, before whom he was just as bold ⟨as⟩ ever he had been in a Scots village; which ⟨moved⟩ Mr. Boyd of Trochrig once to ask him, ⟨(after⟩ he had preached before the university of ⟨Samure⟩ with such boldness and authority, as if ⟨he⟩ had been before the meanest congregation) how he ⟨could⟩ be so confident among strangers, and persons of such quality! to which he answered, That he ⟨was⟩ so filled with the dread of God, he had no ⟨apprehension⟩ from man at all; and this answer ⟨said⟩ Mr. Boyd, did not remove my admiration, but ⟨rather⟩ increased it