Page:Life of James Renwick.pdf/6

6 churches, as if they had fallen from the principles of the church of Scotland, thought it expedient to send the laird of Earlstoun to the United Provinces to vindicate themselves from these reproaches, and to eravecrave [sic] that sympathy which they could not obtain from their own countrymen. WhiehWhich [sic] at length, through mercy, proved so encouraging to them, that a door was opened to provide for a suceessionsuccession [sic] of faithful ministers, by sending some to be fitted for the work of the ministry there. AecordinglyAccordingly [sic] Mr Renwick, with some others, went thither. His comrades were ready, and sailed before, which made him impatiently haste to follow. Yet, at his departure, to a comrade, he affirmed, “Though they were gone before him, as they did not depart together, so he saw something should fall out, which should obstruct their coming home together also.” This was verified by the falling off of Mr Flint (however forward at that time) to a contrary course of defection.

When he went over, he was settled at the university of Groningen, where he plied his studies so hard, and with such proficiency, from the necessities of his friends in Scotland, who were longing for his labours, and his own ardent desire to be at the work, that in a short time he was ready for ordination. To hasten this, his dear friend Mr Robert Hamilton, who merited so much of those who reaped the benefit of Mr Renwick’s labours afterwards, applied to one Mr Brakel, a godly Dutch minister, who was much delighted at first with the motion, and advised that it should be done at Embden, but this could not be obtained, because the principal man there who was to have the management of the affair, was in his judgment, Cocceian. Whereupon Mr Hamilton so the classis of Groningen to undertake it, which they willingly promised to do; and calling for the testimonials of Mr Renwick, and the rest who went over at that time, Mr Renwick's was produced, (being providentially in readiness when the others were