Page:Life of the martyr, John Brown, of Priesthill, in the parish of Muirkirk, Ayrshire (3).pdf/16

16 fited to drive fell Ruin's ploughshire through every thing that couid meke life desirable. " The measure of lixing garrisons of soldiers through the South and West counties, as if Scotland had been invaded by a foreign enemy, was the beginning of many cold-blooded murders in the field. One of these garrisons was fixed at Lesmahago. Claverhouse came unexpectedly there, late on the last night of April, 1685, and having heard of John Brown's piety and non-conformity, by six o'clock next morning he was at Priesthill. A proof how he thirsted after the blood of such men John Brown, as usual, had arisen with the dawn, and offered up the morning sacrifice. His wile often told he remarkably the Psalm sung that morning, tended to gird up the loins of their minds. It was Psalm xxvii. 1-4. The chapter read was John xvii, equally suitable ; and his prayers were live those of one lost to the world, and entered into the holy of holies, through the rent vail of the Redeemer's death. How good it is, when the Lord comes, to be found watching in the way of doing our duty, was experienced in no small measure by the family at Priesthill. After worship, the gudeman went to the hill to prepare some peat ground: the servants were also out, but at some distance, when Claverhouse surrounded the helpless man with three troops of dragoons, and brought him down to his own house. He left his implements of industry with great composure, and walked down before them more like a leader than a captive. Meanwhile Janet had alarmed her mother by telling her that a great many horsemen were coming down the hill with her father. "The thing that I feared is come upon me: O give me grace for this hour," said her mother'. hastily taking up her boy, and wrapping him in her plaid, as taking Janet