17
19. After this, in the year 1682, he went to ⟨Ireland⟩ again, and came to the house of William ⟨Steel⟩, in Glenwharry, in the county of Antrim; ⟨he⟩ enquired at Mrs Steel if she wanted a servant ⟨for⟩ threshing victual? She said they did, and ⟨enquired⟩ what his wages were a-day, or a-week. ⟨He⟩ said, the common rate was a common rule; ⟨to⟩ which she assented.-At night he was put to ⟨bed⟩, in the barn, with the servant-lad; and that ⟨night⟩ he spent in prayer and groaning, up and ⟨down⟩ the barn. On the morrow he threshed ⟨victual⟩ with the lad, and the next night he spent ⟨the⟩ same way. The second day, in the morning, the lad said to his mistress, This man sleeps ⟨none⟩, but groans and prays all night; I get no ⟨sleep⟩ for him: he threshes very well, and is not ⟨sparing⟩ of himself, tho' I think he has not been ⟨used⟩ with it, for he can do nothing to the boteling and ordering of the barn; and when I ⟨put⟩ the barn in order, he goes to such a place, ⟨and⟩ there he prays for the afflicted Church of ⟨Scotland⟩, and names so many in the furnace.-He wrought the second day, and his mistress watched and overheard him praying, as the lad ⟨had⟩ said.-At night she desired her husband to ⟨inquire⟩ if he was a minister, which he did, and ⟨desired⟩ him to be free with him, and he should ⟨not⟩ only be no enemy to him, but a friend. Mr Peden said, he was not ashamed of his office;
