o) he answered with a dejected countenance,
"I wish you had been in your beds, which had been more for your ease,
for I was scarce well occupied." But they praying him to satisfy their
minds further, and to communicate some comfort unto them, he said, "I
will tell you, that I assuredly know my travail is nigh an end,
therefore pray to God for me, that I may not shrink when the battle
waxeth most hot."--Hearing these words, they burst out into tears,
saying, That was but small comfort to them. To this he replied, "God
will send you comfort after me; this realm shall be illuminated with the
light of Christ's gospel, as clearly as any realm ever was since the
days of the apostles; the house of God shall be built in it; yea, it
shall not lack (whatsoever the enemies shall devise to the contrary) the
very cope stone; neither shall this be long in doing, for there shall
not many suffer after me. The glory of God shall appear, and truth shall
once triumph in despite of the devil, but, alas, if the people become
unthankful, the plagues and punishments which shall follow will be
fearful and terrible." After this prediction, which was accomplished in
such a remarkable a manner afterwards, he proceeded on his journey, and
arrived at Leith about the 10th of December, where being disappointed of
a meeting with the west-country gentlemen, he kept himself retired for
some days, and then became very uneasy and discouraged, and being asked
the reason, he replied, "I have laboured to bring people out of
darkness, but now I lurk as a man ashamed to shew himself before men:"
by this they understood that he desired to preach, and told him that
they would gladly hear him; but the danger into which he would throw
himself thereby, prevented them from advising him to it, he answered,
"If you and others will hear me next Sabbath, I will preach in Leith,
let God provide for me as best pleaseth him;" which he did upon the
parable of the sower, Matth. xiii. After sermon, his friends advised him
to leave Leith, because the regent and cardinal were soon to be in
Edinburgh, and that his situation would be dangerous on that account; he
complied with this advice, and resided with the lairds of Brunston,
Longniddry and Ormiston, by turns; the following sabbath he preached at
Inneresk both fore and after noon, to a crowded audience, among whom was
Sir George Douglas, who after the sermon publicly said, "I know that the
governor and cardinal shall hear that