(17)
22. Upon the day of February 1685 he preached at a woodside near the said Mr. Vernor's house; he read the whole of the xlix psalm; after reading he charged his hearers, that none of them open their mouths to sing, but those that could it knowingly and believingly; for some few lines few opened their mouths: but as John Muirhead and John Waddel, who were present, (two solid Christians and great sufferers, who lived and died in the parishes of Cambusnathen and shots,) said to me, they and some others, could not contain and forbear singing, but spoke out with their whole hearts and whole strength, so that they were never witness to such loud singing, through the whole psalm. After the singing, in prefacing, he cried out, “Pack and let us go to Scotland, let us flee from one devouring sword and go to another; the poor honest lads in Scotland, are running upon the hills, and have little of either meat or drink but cold and hunger; and the bloody enemy are pursuing & murdering them, wherever they find them, their blood is running like water upon scaffolds and fields; rise, go and take part with them, for we fear they bar us out of heaven. Oh! secure Ireland, a dreadful day is coming upon thee within a few years, that they shall ride many miles and shall not see a reeking house in thee: Oh! hunger, Derry, many a pale face shall be in thee; and fire, fire upon a town, whose name I have forgot, which was all burnt to ashes. This had an exact accomplishment four years ⟨thereafter⟩. And for the profanity of England, the formality and security of Ireland, for the loathing and contempt of the gospel, covenant-breaking and innocent bloodshed in Scotland, none of these lands shall escape, ere all be done. But notwithstanding of all this, I'll tell you good news, keep in mind this year, month and day, and remember that I told you that the enemies have got a shot beneath their right wing, and they may rise and fly like a bird shot, but ere this day seven years the strongest of them all shall fall,” Then upon the sixth,
B3
