Page:Brief historical relation of the life of Mr. John Livingston Minister of the Gospel.pdf/24

( 24 ) from Killinchie, becauſe there was ſo little appearance. I might continue in my miniſtry there. For in November 1635, I was again depoſed By Mr. Henry Leſly, called biſhop of Down, and ſome while after excommunicated by his order, by one Mr. John Melvin miniſter at Down and for any thing I know, that ſentence ſtands in ſuch force as it can have to this day: but I Bleſs the Lord, the curſe cauſeleſs hath not lighted on me; and I have found since the Lord’s bleſsing on ſoul and body, on family, name and goods, yea, when after the rebellion I was ſent to Ireland in the year 1642, that Mr. Melvin was the frist that welcomed me aſhore and profeſſed his grief, that he had had a hand in ſuch a wicked act. Notwithſtanding the cenſure of the biſhops, I continued preaching every Sabbath in my mother’s houſe, whither ſeverals reſorted, where Mr. Blair alſo preached, for he and his wife came alſo and remained in my mother’s houſe.

This Winter perceiving no appearance of liberty, either to preachers of profeſſors, from the bondage of the prelates: A miniſter of the north of Ireland, and ſome few out of Scotland reſolved to tranſport ourſelves to New-England, others of our friends being minded thereafter to follow us. We had got letters from the governour and council, full of kind invitations and large promiſes of good accommodation: We, built a ship near Belfaſt, called the Eagle-Wing, of about 115 tuns, and were minded to have ſet opt in the Spring 1636. But through the difficulties that uſe to ariſe in ſuch undertakings, in preparing the ſhip and our other accommodations, it was the September following, before we ſet sail; we were all to go passengers at that time about 140 perſons, of whom the chief were, Mr. Blair, John Stuart provoſt of Air, Mr. Robert Hamilton, afterward miniſter at Kirkudbright, Charles Campbel, John Sumervel, Hugh Brown, and ſeveral other families and ſingle perſons; among whom was one Andrew Brown of the pariſh of Lern; born deaf and dumb, who had been a very vicious looſe man; but when it pleaſed the Lord to work a change on ſeveral of that pariſh, a very ſennſible change was obſerved in him, not only in forſaking his former looſe courſes and company,