of his writings,
particularly that in answer to Mr. Fleming.

He remained at Rotterdam until some time about the 1681 or 1682, that he
died. It is said, that when, in his last sickness, he desired Mr.
Shields and some other friends to carry him out to see a comet or
blazing-star (that then appeared), and when he saw it, he blest the Lord
that now was about to close his eyes, and was not to see the woful days
that were coming on Britain and Ireland, but especially upon sinful
Scotland. After which he died, and entered into his Master's joy, after
he had been for twenty years absent from his native country.

It were altogether superfluous here to insist upon the character of this
faithful minister and witness of Jesus Christ, seeing that his own
writings do fully evidence him to have been a man of admirable eloquence
(not to speak of his learning) and singular zeal and faithfulness. While
remaining in Holland, he wrote several pieces[202] which are said to be
these;--The poor man's cup of cold water ministred to the saints and
sufferers for Christ in Scotland, published about 1679; earnest
contendings, &_c._ published in 1723; banders disbanded; with several
prefatory epistles to some of Mr. Brown's works. He wrote also many
other papers and letters, but especially a history of the defections of
the church of Scotland, which has never hitherto been published.

_The Life of Captain JOHN PATON._

John Paton was born at Meadow-head, in the parish of Fenwick and shire
of Ayr. He was brought up in the art and occupation of husbandry till
near the state of manhood.--But of the way and manner in which he went
at first to a military life, there are various accounts.--Some say, that
he inlisted at first a volunteer, and went abroad to the wars in
Germany, where, for some heroic atchievement, at the taking of a certain
city (probably by Gustavus Adolphus king of Sweden), he was advanced to
a captain's post; and that when he returned home, he was so far changed
that his parents scarcely knew him. Other accounts bear, that he was
with the Scots army (or militia) who went to England in January 1643-4,
and was at the battle of Marston-muir, at which place, it is said that
by some bad drink, an asthmatical disorder was contracted in his breast,
which continued ever after.

But whatever of the ways, or if both ways were certain, he behoved to
return very suddenly home; for it is said, That _anno_ 1645, when the
several minis