ation, plucked the ripe fruit of its orchards. A
glance at its sacred pages, now and then through the day, supplied
strength, wisdom, comfort, and courage so much needed. But this pious
habit imperiled life. Arthur Inglis one day, while resting his team at
the plow, sat down on the furrow, with his open Bible. He was suddenly
sighted by the wary dragoons, who were scouting the country. They
spurred their steeds, and were quickly drawn up around their victim. The
fact that he was reading the Bible was sufficient to convince them that
he was worthy to die. Neither judge nor jury was necessary for
conviction. He received the deadly volley and fell, expiring in the
furrow where he sat.

The Bible, how we should prize it! Our fathers, when they opened the
Book of God, knew not but ere they closed it their blood would stain the
page upon which the eyes were feasting; yet they relished it more than
their necessary food. How will our delight in the Word of God compare
with theirs?

POINTS FOR THE CLASS.

1. How did the Covenanters esteem the Bible?

2. What kind of inspiration did they ascribe to the Bible?

3. What second inspiration needed to understand it?

4. What was the Bible to these sufferers?

5. Describe their devotion to the Word of God; the experience of McRoy;
Andrew Hislop; Arthur Inglis.

6. How ought we to esteem the Bible?

XLIV.

THE SCOTTISH SEER.--A.D. 1685.

Alexander Peden was a burning and a shining light in the dark night of
Scotland's persecution. His career in the ministry of the Gospel glowed
with mysterious splendor. His natural powers flashed with supernatural
glints, or rather, with excessive spiritual light, by the indwelling
Holy Spirit. God, through persecution, made many mighty men.

Peden was born in 1626, when King Charles was trying hard to stamp out
Presbyterianism. He was twelve years old, when the Covenant renewed at
Greyfriars' Church thrilled the kingdom. He was twenty-four when Charles
II. took the throne, and wrought havoc with the Reformation. When
thirty-six, he was driven from his church at Glenluce by the wrath of
the king. When forty-eight, he was banished to the Bass Rock, where he
rested, like an eagle on its aerie, his soul betimes soaring above all
clouds, and calmly viewing the ransomed in presence of the eternal
Throne. At sixty, he gave death a royal welcome, uttering predictions,
bestowing blessings, and giving signs, like one of the prophets of o