PAGE 140
Lady Raith, the Lady Innerteel, and many others, all whose
memory is very precious and refreshing.
I got not much read nor any settled study folloAved all this time;
only some touches here and there both of sundry modern and
ancient1
divines. Those whereby I profited most were the preachings of four men, Mr Eobert Eollock, Mr John Welsh, Mr Robert
Bruce, and Mr David Dickson, whom I thought of all that I had
read breathed most of the Spirit of God,
least2
affected, most clear
and plain, and most powerfull. Severall of Mr Robert Rollock's
preachings3
are in print; I got in loan from John Stewart of Air
a large book of sermons of Mr Welshes, all which are almost
nothing but unfolding of the inward exercise of an Christian. Mr
Robert Bruce I severall times heard, and in my opinion never man
spake with greater power since the apostles' dayes. There are
some five or six of his sermons printed, but the chief
that4
I saw was5
some write sermons of his which I got from my father. And
Mr David Dickson I often heard, and borrowed from Corshill
severall6
of his wryt sermons. Several motions were made to me
of calls to churches in this tyme, as to Lithgow, to North Leith,
to Kirkaldie, in which places, upon invitation, I preached in reference to ane call, but all were obstructed by the bishops.
Period III.
The third period of my life was from the time I entered the
ministrie in Killinshie, in Ireland, till7
I was settled minister at Stranrawer, in Galloway, anno Christi 1638.
In the summer 1630, being in Irvine, Mr Robert Cunninghame,
minister at Holywood, and somewhile before that Mr George
Dumbar, minister at Lairn, in Ireland, proponed to me, seeing
there was no appearance I could enter into the ministrie in Scotland
**************
1
"Sundry both ancient and modern."
2
Least in both MSS. In Stevenson's copy it is best.
3
"Sermons."
4
"Chief of what."
5
"Were."
6
"Some."
7
"The time."
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PAGE 141
whether or not I would be content to goe to Ireland? I
answered them both, that if I got an clear call and ane free entry
I would not refuse. About August 1630, I got letters from the
Viscount of Clannybuie to come to Ireland in reference to ane call
to the paroch of Killinshie, whether I went, and got an very
unanimous call from the paroch; and because it was needfull that
I should be ordained to the ministrie, and the Bishop of Doun,
in whose bounds Killinshie was, was an corrupt and timorous
man, and would require some engagement,1
therefore my Lord
Clannybuie sent some with me, and wrote to Mr Andrew Knox,
Bishop of Rapho, who when I came and gave him2
the letter from my Lord Clannybuie, and from the Earle of Wigtoun, and some
others, that I had for that purpose3
brought out of4
Scotland; he told me that he knew my errand that I had to him, because I had
scruple against Episcopacie and ceremonies, according as Mr Josias
Welsh and some others had done before, and that he thought his
old age was prolonged for Httle other purpose but5
to doe such offices, that if I scrupled to call him my Lord he cared not much
for it; all he would desyre of, because they got there but few sermons, [was,] that I would preach there at Ramallen the next
Sabbath, and he would send for Mr William Cunninghame, and
some two or three other neighbouring ministers, to be present, who
after sermon should give me imposition of hands; but although
they performed the work, he behoved to be present, for otherwise
he durst6
not answer it to the State. He gave me the book of
ordination, and desyred that any thing I scrupled at I should draw
an lyne over it in the margine, and Mr William Cunninghame
should not read it ; but I found it had been soe marked by some
others before that I needed not mark any thing. So the Lord
was pleased to carry that business far beyond any thing that I had
thought or almost ever desyred.
That winter following I was often in great heaviness; for although
the people were very tractable, yet they were generally
**************
1
"Of me."
2
"Had delivered him."
3
"End."
4
"From."
5
"Little other thing then."
6
"Could."
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