Page:Life of the martyr, John Brown, of Priesthill, in the parish of Muirkirk, Ayrshire (3).pdf/17

17 by the hand, she went out to meet her foes; praying in secret as she went. The leisurely way of examining persons by law, in which there was some semblance of justice, was now departed from. Claverhouse simply asked John Brown, Why be did not attend the curate and if he wonld pray for king James. It was remarkable that, though a stammerer in speech to strangers, this morning be anstrered Claverhouse distinctly. He said he acknowledged only Christ as supreme head of the Church, and could not attend the curates, because they were placed there contrary to his law, and were mere creatures of the bishops, and the bishops were creatures of the king : and he being a Papist, and himself a Protestant Presbyterian, who, along with all ranks in the nation, had sworn and covenanted to God, that no Papist should hear rule over these lands; so that he neither could nor would pray for him. But if he repented, and turned from his wicked way, he would acknowledge, obey; and pray for him.- Upon learing which Claverhouse said, Go to your prayers, for you shall immediatety die; which he did in such a manner as filled the troops with amazement. On his family, it had a different effect. His wife, who was great with child, with another in her arms, and Janet at her side, stood while he prayed, " that every coresanted blessing might be poured upon her and her children, born and unborn, as one refreshed by the influence of the Holy Spirit, when he comes down like rain upon the mown grass, as showers upon the earth." There is a light in the christian's life that discovers the spots of the wicked, and torments them before the time. When Claverhouse could bar his prayers no longer, and had succeeded, after interrupting him twice, with the most blasphemors language, to raise him from his knees, John Brown said to his wife--Isabell, this is the day I told you