Page:Life of James Renwick.pdf/12

12 but was so closely pursued (they being so near that they fired at him all the time), that he was forced to leave the horse, losing thereby his cloak-bag with many papers, seeing no other refuge, he was fain to run, in their sight, towards a heap of stones where, for a little moment, getting out of their sight, he found a hollow place into which he crept and committing himself by earnest ejaculation to God, in submission to live or die ; and also believing, that he should be reserved for greater work that part of scripture often coming into his mind Psal. vi. 8, Depart from me all ye workers of iniquity together with these words, Psalm xci. 11, For he shall give his angels charge, &c. In the mean the enemy searched up and down the hill, yet restrained from looking into that place where was. Many such sore and desperate chaces he and those with him met with; some continuing nights and days without intermission, in the places of the country, for many miles together without so much as a possibility of escaping sight of those who pursued them.

This year, on the 4th September, letters of intercommuning were issued against him, commanding all to give him no reset or supply, nor him with meat, drink, house, harbour, or any useful to him; and requiring all sheriffs, &c., to apprehend and commit to prison his person, they could find him; by virtue of which, the sufferers were reduced to ineredibleincredible [sic] straits, not in being murdered, but also from hunger, cold, harrassings, &c.; in which perplexity, having a possibility to flee, nor ability to fight, they forced to publish an apologetical representation the approven principles and practieespractices [sic], and covenant engagements of our reformers, &c., restrict redueereduce [sic] to practice, that privilege of executing of judgment, on the murdering beasts prey who professed and prosecuted a daily trade