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of you that are my hearers this day, that shall live to see these things accomplished: And after these desolations are over, ye shall see the noblemen and gentlemen's houses so ruined that the nettles shall be growing out of their bed chambers, or ye die; and their memory and poſterity shall perish from the earth."
44. The following are some notes of Mr. Peden's last Sermon in the Colom-wood at the Water of Ayr, a little before his death. My Master is the rider, and I am the horse: I never love to ride, but when I find the spurs. I know not what I have to do amongst you this night; I wish it may be for your good, for it will be the last. It is long since it was our desire to God, to have you taken off our hand, and now he is granting us our desire. There are four or five things I have to tell you this night. First, A bloody sword, a bloody sword for thee, O Scotland, that shall tear the hearts of many. Secondly Many miles shall you travel, and shall see nothing but desolations and ruinous wastes in thee, O Scotland! Thirdly, The fertilest places in Scotland shall be as waste and desolate as the mountains. Fourthly, The women with child, shall be ript up, and dashed to pieces. Fifthly, Many a conventicle has God had in thee, O Scotland! but, ere long, God will have a conventicle that will make Scotland to tremble. Many a preaching has God wared upon thee, but ere long God's judgments shall be as frequent as these precious meetings were, wherein he sent forth his faithful servants, to give faithful warning of the bazard of thy apostacy from God, in breaking, burning and burying his Covenant; persecuting, slighting and contemning the gospel; shedding the precious blood of his saints and servants! God sent forth a Welwood, a Kid, and a King, a Cameron, and a Cargil, and others, to preach to thee; but, ere long, God shall preach to thee by fire and a bloody sword! God will let none of these men's words fall to the ground, that he sent forth with a commission to preach these things in his name:
