Page:Life and prophecies of that faithful minister of God's word, Mr. Donald Cargill.pdf/15

Rh the cautionary-band witneſſed againſt in the Banders diſbanded. They ſo far complied with the enemy's deſign and deſire to have their Rendezvous of Rebellion, the field conventicles (as then call'd) the devil's grand eye-ſore, and great vexation to all his friends, the foes of reformation, that they would preach none without houſes, even thoſe who formerly were moſt zealous and forward that way, whoſe names might be mentioned, and who would not ſet their faces to doors when there were any people without. Theſe lamentable things, together with the cruel tyranny, ſhedding ſo much innocent precious dear blood, made them ſplit with zeal, not only to caſt off all that do not agree with them in every thing, but alſo to utter ſtrange anti-goſpel imprecations, diſdaining and reproaching all others as backſliders, ſtating their teſtimony against all crown dues, exciſe and cuſtoms: And for that end would make no uſe of ale nor tobacco, and other foul things. Theſe people at firſt were commonly called Sweet Singers, from their frequently meeting together, and ſinging theſe tearful Pſalms over the mournful caſe of the church, Pſalm 74, 79, 80, 83, 137. Thus they continued from the beginning of the year until April; then all with one conſent, that they might be free from all theſe foreſaid things, left their houſes, warm ſoft beds, cover'd tables; ſome of them their huſbands and children weeping upon them to ſtay with them; ſome women taking the fucking children in their arms to deſert places to be free of all ſnares and ſins, and communion with all others, and mourn for their own ſins, the land's tyranny and defections, and there to be ſafe from the land's utter ruin and deſolations by judgements; ſome of them going to Pentland hills, with a reſolution to ſit there to ſee the ſmoke and utter ruin of the ſinful bloody city of Edinburgh: But, if they had fulfiller their reſolution, they would have been ſadly beaten theſe forty-eight years, being lately gone to their graves, laying more weight and ſtreſs upon theſe du-