hell; yet-glory to his name!—that guiltiness was blotted out, and all my sins pardoned through Jesus Christ. But, thereby was I called to remember my folly, and to look back and examine my ways since my infancy; I having that day got again, as it were, a new take of my life for this end,-to hold it upon a new account,-of the Lord, and for him. And more particularly was I then called to re-examine my way and miscarriages in the matter of that negotiation, and to be more humbled for them before the Lord;-I being preserved from the fury of those who first encountered me in the field, I may say, very wonderfully. Having gotten three of the wounds afore mentioned, while the fourth stroke was coming to have made an end of me, the hand that drew it was diverted, before he could bring his sword from his shoulder, which he was drawing with great passion, to my throat, who was then lying on the ground, not recovered since my horse fell with me, he being lying on my left leg;-I say, before his stroke could come at me, in that very nick of time, his hand was diverted, and carried to give that stroke to one . . . . . Loundre, an officer in our army, who, at that very instant of time, being hardly pursued, run close by him who was drawing the stroke at me;-and yet, for all his haste, he was heard to call, desiring to spare me. Thereafter, I, having gotten quarter, and rendered my arms, was wounded by a thrust in the back, which made me to be in more danger than ever; being thereby unable to walk, I was like to have fallen among the common soldiers. But the Lord provided a gentleman, who took care of me, and having mounted me on horseback, carried me to Major General Lambert, and by his order to Broxmouth, where my

wounds were very carefully [stanched.] And being, through the loss of much blood and weakness of body, brought to faint, I was very kindly refreshed with what the place could afford, and thereafter by my Lord General [Cromwell] brought to Dunbar; where I was most civilly and courteously used, beyond what was due to one of my capacity or rank. Here I lost my dear brother Thomas, who undoubtedly was killed, though we could never get word when or how; for once I saw him taken prisoner, when I fell: as also my servant James Beza was here killed.

I continued five or six months prisoner, but was used most courteously all the time; at last, I with other two, ministers, whereof that excellent, precious man, Mr. John Carstairs, was one, were exchanged with the Captain Skeiper and company of an English ship, who, being taken on the Irish seas, were then prisoners at St. Johnstone [now Perth.] So, in the end of February or March, 1651, I came to Aberdeen. [SEE APPENDIX, N.

During the time of my being a prisoner, I had good opportunity of frequent conference with the Lord General [Cromwell,] L. Gen. [Lieutenant General Fleetwood,] and Doctor Owen; by occasion of whose company, I had first made out unto me, not only some more clear evidences of the [Lord's] controversy with the family and person of our King,— but more particularly, the sinful mistake of the good men of this nation, about the knowledge and mind of God as to the exercise of the magistrate's power in matters of religion-what the due bounds and limits of it are. The mistake and ignorance of the mind of God in this matter,-what evils hath it occasioned !

fearful scandals and blasphemies on the one hand, and cruel persecution and bitterness among brethren on the other! [SEE APPENDIX, O.] The consideration of this, with some other points relating to the Covenant, and League and Covenant,-our mistakes of the mind and will of God, (with the selfish ends of the most, in contriving and carrying on these Covenants,) being at that time very clearly made out to me,-I was forced, for reducing my confused thoughts in order, to set them down in writing; which, at first, were drawn forth the length of near twenty sheets of paper, but after reduced to ten or twelve. I think I have matter to acknowledge the goodness of God unto me, who, so timely and [sweetly] began to give me light in these things, though accompanied with much deadness and unanswerable walking on my part.

I was sometimes, after so much opposition as I found in these things from good and holy men in this land, put to it, to examine over again, from what spirit I had been led forth, to think and conclude so differently of these things from what formerly I did. Especially as I perceived, that the reach of my thoughts would tend to no less, than the overturning of what we had concluded to have been the work of reformation; for the maintenance of which, we were so solemnly engaged, both ourselves and our posterity, in the Covenant and League and Covenant. The thoughts of these things, did for some months very much perplex me; and, being overswayed sometimes with too many prudential considerations, I was brought very near to have fully waved and laid aside all thoughts of that kind, and to have suppressed them; because I saw reproach to

come thereby, not only upon myself but on the nation, and also so great appearance of suffering and hazard that way, if the king's party, who were then in good hopes, should then, or any time thereafter, prevail. But, for all this, it could not be; the clear discovery of the thing being so made out to me, that I could not contain; but went to some few at Aberdeen, as Mr. Andrew Cant, Mr. John Menzies, Mr. John Rowe, [Principal of the College,] and Mr. William Moire [Moor.] To all of them I not only spoke my thoughts freely, but gave them my notes. before mentioned to read,-which they did; except Mr. Andrew Cant, who refused to read them. Thereafter, having written to some good men in the south, and finding no satisfaction, I came south to them; and, by Providence, found about fifty or sixty of them, ministers and professors together, about the very thing I was desirous of inquiring; and every one speaking publicly, what they thought might be the causes of the Lord's controversy with the land. [SEE APPENDIX, P.] This inquiry having been my work for some months before, I was ready to have communicated my thoughts to them; but knowing how of fensive it would be, and also fearing, lest through any temptation or mistake I had been wrong, I was content, rather at first to speak in private with the Lord Warristoun, Mr. James Guthrie, and Mr. John Levinstone [Livingstone.] But finding no satisfaction, nor any reason why I should forbear, except it were loathness to offend men, I did in their public meeting-place in Edinburgh, upon the.... day of .. 1651, speak some few words, and thereafter gave in, under my hand, a paper containing my thoughts of the causes of the Lord's controversy with

the land. I do not here insert it, but leave it to be found, together with the aforesaid papers of my thoughts at large, bound together; from which, at this day. (there being near six years past since,) I find no reason to alter in the least; though many things more might be added, if that were now my present business. After. the reading of this paper, there were some much offended; yet, by the mediation of Mr. Levinstone [Livingstone,] Mr. Rutherford, and Mr. John Carstairs, (with whom Mr. James Guthrie, being moderator at that time, concurred,) they appointed a time, and so many of their number, for conference with me. All this time, since our being in Edinburgh, Mr. John Menzies, Mr. William Moire [Moor,] and Mr. Alexander Skene, (these, having been sent for by the meeting,) went along with me. But, before my giving in that paper, they withdrew; (though they were put in the place, yet would they not concur with me in it;) and after the meeting was dissolved, they returned home to Aberdeen. But I staid to attend their conference with me, according to their appointment. And, having kept divers meetings, for the space of three or four days, I found no satisfaction in any thing I doubted of, nor cause to change my mind in any thing I had positively asserted; but, on the [other hand,] was rather confirmed, when I heard they could say so little to the contrary, and some division among themselves. Whereupon, we parted; and I returned home to Aberdeen. [SEE APPENDIX, Q.]

I am not here to forget the occasion of my search, and inquiry in the matters of church government; I having been always, before this time, (according to my measure, weakly, as I could,) zealous for Presbytery.