I have been at this preaching,
(for they were now come to Edinburgh) say unto them, that I will avow
it, and will not only maintain the doctrine which I have heard, but also
the person of the teacher to the uttermost of my power;" which open and
candid declaration was very grateful to the whole congregation. During
the time of this sermon, Mr. Wishart perceived two grey friars standing
in the entry of the church, and whispering to every person that entered
the door; he called out to the people to make room for them, because,
said he, "perhaps they come to learn;" and then addressed them,
"requesting them to come forward, and hear the word of truth;" but they
still continued to trouble the people, upon which he reproved them in
the following manner: "O ye servants of Satan, and deceivers of souls
of men, will ye neither hear God's truth, nor suffer others to hear it?
depart and take this for your portion, God shall shortly confound and
disclose your hypocrisy within this realm; ye shall be abominable unto
men, and your places and habitations shall be desolate."

The two sabbaths following he preached at Tranent, and in all his
sermons after leaving Montrose, he more or less hinted that his ministry
was near an end. The next place he preached at was Haddington, where his
congregation was at first very throng, but the following day very few
attended him, which was thought to be owing to the influence of the earl
of Bothwel, who, at the instigation of the cardinal, had inhibited the
people from attending him, for his authority was very considerable in
that part of the country. At this time he received a letter from the
gentlemen of the west, declaring, That they could not keep the diet
appointed at Edinburgh; this, with the reflection that so few attended
his ministrations at Haddington, grieved him exceedingly. He called upon
Mr. Knox, who then attended him, and told him, That he was weary of the
world, since he perceived that men were become weary of
God.--Notwithstanding the anxiety and discouragement which he laboured
under, he went immediately to the pulpit, and sharply rebuking the
people of that town for their neglect of the gospel, he told them, "That
sore and fearful should be the plagues that should ensue; that fire and
sword should waste them; that strangers should possess their houses, and
chase them from their habitations." This prediction was soon after
verified, when the English took and possessed that town, w