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and edifying, when he and I are both mouldering in the dust. For himself, he willingly would, & sometime a-day could; but now, being 74 years of age, and seven years in imprisonment, and often-times in irons and many other troubles thro’ his life, his memory and judgment were much broke, therefore he could make me little help. Only he remembered he was once sent from the Societies in Galloway to Garrick, to call on Mr. Peden to preach: When he told him for what end he was come, Mr. Peden went for some time alone; when he returned he said, I am sorry. Earlstoun, you are come so far in vain, for I cannot obey your desire, I ean get nothing to say to your people. ⟨Nothing⟩ will convince this generation but judgments, and a surprising lump of them on 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 a 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 a barn, 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 together comparing notes; seeing with one eye, thinking with one mind, and speaking with one breath of all things, past, present, and also what was to befal this church and nation.
30. In his last sermon, which, as I said before, was in the Colm-wood, he said, That in a few years after his death, there would be a wonderful alteration of affairs in Britain and Ireland, and the persecution
