Page:Life of the martyr, John Brown, of Priesthill, in the parish of Muirkirk, Ayrshire (3).pdf/13

13 morning worship, one cried out, “There is the enemy coming.' He arone with the Bible under his arm, and, without knowing what he was about, went into the byre, and laid himself down in an empty cow-stall, putting the Bible on his breast. His wife, equally unconscious, turned over him a heap of bedding, just as the soldiers entered the place. They stabbed the straw where he lay, but the Bible received the point of the sword, and they left the house without finding their victim. William Steel's house was near at hand, and was also searched. His wife had locked him in her clothes-press. After they searched every place without success, and had left the house, a soldier returned, and said to the gudewife, 'Mitress, next time you hide, hide better : part of your husband coat is locked without your press ;' and with these words, he left her, to join his company. After he was gone, to her amazement, she found it as the soldier had said, It was to avoid such harassing scenes, that they had all fled to the ravine; and they found, to their sweet experience, this dreary waste a Bethel : and in their harassings and hidings, as it was with Moses on the mount, nearest God when farthest from creature comforts. All day, they read God's word and prayed by turns: and during the dark and silent watches of the night, by turns they prayed and praised. William Steel, who escaped death from the persecutors, and lived many years after the Revolution, said often, if ever there was a time in his life that he would wish to enjoy over again, it was that in which he suffered persecution ; especially that day and night be spent in the moss hag. thought it would be their last meeting on earth- He was the first that ascended from the ravine, to look if the enemy were in view; and it being a clear morning, and no person in sight, they all followed, and were standing to consult on the