“ The stranger was young in years, of a little stature, and fine fair countenance, but he was palo with fatigue and sickness. His shoes were worn out; a shepherd's plaid hung round him, seemingly for disguise, for by his dress and speech he seemed of a superior rank. While the servants gazed on him, the gudewife did not know whether she should welcome him as a sufferer, or consider him as a spy; so she left Janet to perform the kind offices which the stranger required, while she lulled her boy to sleep, by singing a verse of an old song. ”

“ There is something in the human heart that puts the evil day far away. She could not think it possible that one so blameless as her husband could be considered an enemy to any. However, the kind warning had this good effect on them both, that none of the trifles that make such havoc upon domestic peace were regarded by them.
John Brown had, by a former wife, a little girl about five years of age, who, on the morning after his marriage, lifted the latch of the spence-door, and finding Isabell alone, said, while she covered her face shyly with her arm, "They say ye are my mother." ”

“ John Brown's good education was not lost; besides being a source of enjoyment to himself, it was a benefit to the youth for miles around him, who were then much neglected. No faithful minister was left to instruct them. The fathers who used to tell the children what great things the Lord had done for Scotland, were either banished or had suffered death. To counteract the bad example of the wicked, who now walked on every side, since vile men were high in place, every Monday night he met with these young persons, and instructed them from the Bible and the Confession of Faith. ”

“ After standing for some time looking at one another, some of them thought they had left other worshippers in the moss-hag; others thought that the sound echoed from a greater distance. "Whoever or wherever the words come from, we have little concern," said John Brown; "one thing we may take comfort from; they are God's words to his Church in affliction; and that is our situation. Who lie among the pots? We scullions, black in the opinions of our enemies. ”

“ Every one was sensible that the presence of God had been with them. It was in this spirit that these poor haunted saints spent the time till morning dawned; and the lark arose above their heads, joining his notes with theirs in praise to God for the light of another day.
William Steel, who escaped death from the persecutors, and lived many years after the Revolution, said often, if ever there was a time in his lifo that he would wish to enjoy over again, it was that in which he suffered persecution, especially that day and night he spent in the moss-hag. ”

“ As was said of the proto-martyr Stephen, devout men carried him to his burial: in like manner was John Brown, for literally God's hidden ones carried him forth, and laid him in his grave, on the very spot where he fell.
Renwick writes, on one occasion, to Sir R. Hamilton, after a field-reaching, "that if ever God could be tied to any place, I think it is to the muirs and mountains of Scotland." Rutherford many a time declares, "Sweet, sweet is the cross; and no wonder, when Christ bears both us and it." ”

“ Oh! let none fear a suffering lot. Enemies think themselves satisfied that we are put to wander in mosses, and upon mountains; but even amidst the storms of these last two nights, I cannot express what sweet times I have had, when I had no eovering but the dark curtains of night. Yet, in the silent watch, my mind was led out to admire the deep and inexpressible oeean of joy, wherein the whole family of heaven swim. ”

“ It was from these banished ministers that John Brown received his superior education. He was intended for the Church, had not an uncommon difficulty of expressing his sentiments to strangers prevented him from prosecuting his studies. But what was strange, in prayer he was gifted in an extraordinary measure. In such scriptural language did he pour forth his soul, and at the same time with such variety, fluency, and affection, that he appeared like one superhuman. Many have a gift of prayer, whose lives bespeak them far from the kingdom of heaven. Such was not Priesthill. ”

“ The whole of it was sung about midnight; and while the wind carried the sound to the dale land below, faith carried the matter up to heaven. It entered the ear of the God of sabaoth, through the highly exalted Intercessor for His suffering Church. And though the Lord waited to be gracious, as the cup of wickedness that the Stuart race was to fill had not come to the brim, they were to fill it: but he sent the Comforter to uphold them with peace and joy, in believing that it was Jesus' cause they were suffering for. ”

“ The consequence was, that the churches were deserted; and the ministers, still bound by God's laws to their people, taught them from house to house. This the bishops could not bear, and fell to their former practice of making laws against them. The laws against non-conformity, says Defoe, were so extraordinary, and savoured so much of a spirit of persecution, were in them-selves so unjust, and in some things so unnatural, that none can wonder though they sometimes drove the poor people to desperation. ”

“ John Brown was not alone in this good work; David and William Steel were helpmates.
It was about the year 1680, that Priesthill got acquainted with Isabell Weir, in the parish of Sorn. She was a very superior woman, though her disposition was the very reverse of his: she was lively and humorous, and could cheer up his grave countenance till he was as animated as herself; at other times she would sit and listen to the good sense of his conversation with the simplicity of a child. She saw him often, for he had frequently business to transact with her father, when he passed to and from Ayr. ”

“ What a dreadful state was Scotland in then, when God’s people were counted her enemies!
About two months after this, Priesthill was married by Mr Peden, who happened to be in in Kyle baptizing ehildren. The marriage took place in a glen near the house. When Isabell and her eompany arrived at the spot, they were surprised at the assembly gathered. Mr Peden weleomed her, and said, these are to be witnesses of your vows; they are all friends, and have come at the risk of their lives to hear God's Word, and to eountenance his ordinanee of marriage. ”

“ Thus, mischief haunts the violent man, and the "bloody and deceitful man shall not live half his days." This was eminently exemplified in the lives and death of the persecutors of that age; and in none more than in Graham of Claverhouse.
His maxim, of terror being true mercy, if it prevented or put an end to war, like every other attempt to do evil that good may come out of it, proved fallacious; and acting up to it was the means of bringing on the Revolution of 1688, and of "banishing James VII. from the throne and hearts of the people of Scotland." ”

“ As iron sharpeneth iron, so doth the face of man his friend. Renwick and Priesthill talked of the sufferings of the Church. her testimony, her covenanted cause, and her ultimate triumph. Yes, they had more comfort in the faith that Christ would one day be head over all things, King of kings, and Lord of lords, than the wicked have, when corn and wine do most abound.
Soon after Mr Renwick left Priesthill, his followers and he published their Apologetic Declaration. Mr Renwick was at first averse to the measure, but at last agreed. ”

“ They suffered extremities that cannot be described, and which the heart can hardly conceive of, from hunger, nakedness, and the severity of the weather; where it is known how unsufferable the cold is, lying in damp caves, without covering, fire, or food. ”

“ His actions with men were just and judicious; so much so, that he was intrusted, when a very young man, with the produce of the neighbouring shepherds, to carry to market and dispose of, and bring back what they required in return. ”

“ They stabbcd the straw where he lay, but the Bible received tho point of the sword, and they left the house without finding their victim. William Steel's house was near at hand, and was also searched. His wife had locked him in her clothes-press. After they searched every place without success, and had left the house, a soldier returned, and said to the gudewife, "Mistress, next timo you hide, hide better; part of your husband's coat is locked without your press;" and with these words, he left her, to join his company. After he was gone, to her amazement, she found it as the soldier had said. ”

“ After this, the indulged ministers had gone so far in the course of defection, that the more eonscientious sufferers had none they eould hear after the death of Cameron and Cargil. They resolved to form themselves into societies, to meet quarterly, of members delegated from their weekly prayer-meetings. The second of these quarterly meetings took place at Priesthill, February 1682, where they made a contribution to send a young man to Holland, to be licensed as preacher to them. The fruits of this brought forward Mr Renwick, of glorious memory. ”