( 57 )
before he went off the stage; knowing that my day is far spent, being long since I was his fellow-prisoner, and taught him from my own experience, how to manage the great weight of irons that was upon his legs; and wishing that all the Lord's people, who have any zeal for the sworn-to and sealed testimony, and savoury remembrance of the names of Christ's slain witnesses for the same, and of the Lord's signal manifestations of his faithfulness and all-sufficiency to them, in their life and death, would give me all encouragement in such a piece of good and great generation work, which may be useful and edifying, when he and I would be mouldering in the dust, For himself, he willing would, and sometime a-day could, but now being 74 years of age, and 7 years in imprisonment, and often-times in irons, and many other troubles thro' his life, his memory and judgment were much broke, and therefore he could make me little help. Only he remembered, he was once sent from the Societies in Galloway to Carrick, to call Mr. Peden to preach: When he told him for what end he was come, Mr. Peden went for some time alone; and when he came back, he said, I am sorry, Earlstoun, you are come so far in vain, for I cannot answer your desire; I can get nothing to say to your people: Nothing will convince this generation but judgments, and a surprising lump of them upon the West of Scotland. Earlstoun said, Sir, you was once legally ordained and authorised to preach the goſpel, and the Lord's people's call is sufficient; I think you are under temptation of enthuſiaſm. Mr Peden ſaid, he ſometimes feared that; but ſince he was driven from his people at Glenluce, his Master, in mercy and goodneſs, gave him more encouragement; and gave one inſtance, That one time he was called, and reſolved, and prepared to go, as he thought; but, when his horſe was drawn, he went into the barn once more, where he was ſtript bare of all his thoughts, and a darkening, damping cloud overwhelmed him, which ſtopt him. And he afterwards ſaw a remarkable providence in it, and need be for it. And, further, he ſaid, The laſt time he ſaw Mr. Peden, it was with Mr Cargil, where they continued a long time comparing notes; ſeeing with one eye, thinking with one mind and ſpeaking with one breath of all things paſt, preſent, and what was to befal this church and nation.
