Page:Brief historical relation of the life of Mr. John Livingston Minister of the Gospel.pdf/57

( 57 ) the North of Ireland, ſo that in all they were above 60, and Killinchie was well provided by Mr. Michael Bruce. As I returned I ſtaid ſome few days to ſee friends in Galloway, amongſt whom I had dwelt before. I was at a communion at Stranrawer, and another at Air, before I came home. During my abode in Ireland, being occaſionally at Dublin, the council there urged me to accept a charge in Dublin, and offered me 200 Lib.ſter. a year, but that was to me no temptation, ſeeing I was not looſed from Ancrum, and if I had been, I was reſolved rather to ſettle at Killinchie, among the Scots in the North, than any where elſe.

When in Summer 1660. the word came of the king’s being called home, I clearly foreſaw there would enſue an overturning of the whole work of reformation, and a trial to all who would adhere thereunto. In the year 1662. after the parliament and council had by proclamations, ordered all miniſters who had come in ſince the year 1649. and had not kept the 29th of May as a holiday, either to acknowledge the prelates or remove, I might well foreſee a ſtorm was coming. At the laſt communion we had at Ancrum on the 12 of October, and which was more frequent than any before; after ſermon on the Monday it pleaſed the Lord, I got my mouth opened in a reaſonable large diſcourſe, about the grounds and encouragements to ſuffering, for the preſent controverſy of the kingdom of Chriſt, in the appointing of the government of his houſe and in a manner took my leave, altho’ I knew nothing of what was then in hand, and followed ſhortly after; but on the 20 of November, I got letters from ſome friends in Edinburgh, that upon the 18 of that month, the council had ordained 12 or 16 miniſters to be brought before them, whereof I was one; I went preſently to Edinburgh, and kept myſelf cloſe for ſome days, till I ſhould in a private way ſearch and get ſome notice what they were minded I to do for if they ſhould only proceed to baniſhment, as they had the year before done to Mr. Macward and Mr. Rh