Page:Some remarkable passages in the life of Mr. John Livingston.pdf/21

 desire to be forgiven." After a pause, for he was not able to speak much at a tiime, he said, "I would not have people to forecast the worst, but there is a dark cloud above the reformed churches which prognosticates a storm coming." His life, fearing what shortly followed, desired him to take leave of his friends: "I dare not," replied he, with an affectionate tenderness, "but it is like our parting will only be for a short time." And then he slept in the Lord.

Although it is usual with the most of men, when writing their own memoirs, through modesty, to conceal their parts, qualifications, and other abilities, yet here these things cannot be had; for it is pretty evident, that since our Reformation commenced in Scotland, there has been none whose labours in the gospel have been more remarkably blessed with the down-pouring of the Spirit in conversion-work, than Mr. Livingston's were; yea, it is a question; if any one, since the primitive times, can produce so many convincing and confirming seals of their ministry; as witness the Kirk of Shots, and Holywood in Ireland, at which two places, it is said, that about 1500 souls were either confirmed or converted and brought to Christ.