ready to sail, he embarked at the Brill; but waiting some
days upon a wind, he was so discouraged by some profane passengers
pressing the king's health, &c. that he was forced to leave that
vessel, and take another bound for Ireland. A sea storm compelled them
to put in to Rye harbour in England, about the time when there was so
much noise of the Rye-house plot, which created him no small danger;
but, after many perils at sea, he arrived safe at Dublin, where he had
many conflicts with the ministers there, anent their defections and
indifference; and yet in such a gaining and gospel-way, that he left
convictions on their spirits of his being a pious and zealous youth,
which procured him a speedy passage to Scotland. In which passage he had
considerable dangers and a prospect of more, as not knowing how or where
he should come to land, all ports being then so strictly observed, and
the skipper refusing to let him go till his name be given up. But yet at
last he was prevailed on to give him a cast to the shore, where he began
his weary and uncertain wanderings (which continued with him till he was
apprehended) thro an unknown wilderness, amongst unknown people, it
being some time before he could meet with any of the societies.

In Sept. 1683, he commenced his ministerial work in Scotland, taking up
the testimony of the standard of Christ, where it was fixed, and had
fallen at the removal of the former witnesses Messrs. Cameron and
Cargil, which in the strength of his Master he undertook to prosecute
and maintain against opposition from all hands, which seemed
insupportable to sense and reason.

In the midst of which difficulties, he was received by a poor persecuted
people, who had lost all that worldly enjoyment they had, for the sake
of the gospel. His first public meeting was in a moss at Darmead, where
for their information and his own vindication, he thought it expedient
not only to let them know how he was called to the ministry, and what he
adhered to, but besides to unbosom himself about the then puzzling
questions of the time, particularly concerning ministers, defections,
&c.--shewing, whom he could not join with, and his reasons for so
doing; and in the end told them, on what grounds he stood, and resolved
to stand upon; which he resolved (the Lord assisting him) to seal with
his blood.

After this the father of lies began to spue out a flood of reproaches to
swallow up and bury his name and work in contempt