Page:Life and prophecies of Mr. Alexander Peden (1).pdf/27

 earth, and devils beneath the earth! the devil has been here ſince you went away; I have ſent him off in haſte, we will be no more troubled with him this night."

31. A little time after this, he being yet in Galloway, John Muirhead, and ſome others being with him, John ſaid to him, This is a very melancholy weary time; it being killing time. He replied, There are more dark weary days to come, when your pulpits will be full of Presbyterian ministers, and it will turn that dark upon you, that many ſhall not know what to do, whether to hear or forbear; and they ſhall then be reckoned happy that wan well through at Pentland, Bothwel, and Airdmoſs, and wan fairly off the ſtage, and got martyrdom for Chriſt: for the miniſters will cut off many of the moſt ſerious and zealous godly at the web's end; but I will be hid in a grave. They enquired what would become of the teſtimony of the Church of Scotland? Then he plucked the bonnet off his head, and threw it from him, ſaying, See ye how my bonnet lies? The ſworn to, and ſealed teſtimony of the Church of Scotland will fall from among the hands of all parties, and will lie as cloſe upon the ground as ye ſee my bonnet lies How lamentably is this accomplished, to the observation of all who ſee with half an eye!

32. At this time it was ſeldom that Mr. Peden could be prevailed with to preach, frequently anſwering and advising people to pray meikle, ſaying, It was praying folk that would win through the ſtorm: and that they would get preaching both meikle and good, but not meikle good of it, until judgments be poured out, to make the land deſolate. And at other tines, We needed not to look for a great or good day of the goſpel, until the ſword of the Frenches were amongſt us, to make a dreadful ſlaughter; and after that, braw good days. He, and Mr. Donald Cargill ſaw as it had been with one eye, and ſpake with one breath; and, frequently, when they preſſed him to preach, he had the ſame expreſſions in his anſwers.