r 1685, any thing better. For it became now the
enemy's greatest ambition and emulation, who could destroy most of these
poor wandering mountain men (as they were called); and when they had
spent all their balls, they were nothing nearer their purpose than when
they began; for the more they were afflicted, the more they grew. _The
bush did burn but was not consumed, because the Lord was in the bush._

Charles II. being dead, and the duke of York, a professed papist
proclaimed in Feb. 1685. Mr. Renwick could not let go this opportunity
of witnessing against that usurpation of a papist upon the government of
the nation, and his design of overturning the covenanted work of
reformation, and introducing popery. Accordingly he and about 200 men
went to Sanquhar May 28. 1685. and published that declaration, afterward
called the Sanquhar declaration.

In the mean time the earl of Argyle's expedition taking place, Mr.
Renwick was much solicited to join with them. He expressed the esteem he
had of his honest and laudable intention, and spoke very favourably of
him, declaring his willingness to concur if the quarrel and declaration
were rightly stated, but because it was not concerted according to the
ancient plea of our Scottish covenants, &c. he could not agree with
them; which created unto him a new series of trouble and reproach, and
that from all hands, and from none more than the indulged.

In the year 1686. Mr. Renwick was constrained to be more public and
explicit in his testimony against the designs and defections of the
time; wherein he met with more contradictions and opposition from all
hands and more discouraging and distracting treatment, even from some
who once followed him; and was much troubled with letters of accusation
against him from many hands. One of the ministers that came over with
Argyle, wrote a very vindictive letter[232] against him, which letter he
answered at large. He also was traduced both at home and abroad by one
Alexander Gordon, who sometimes joined with that suffering party. But by
none more than one Robert Cathcart in Carrick, who wrote a most
scurrilous libel against him; from which Mr. Renwick vindicated himself
in the plainest terms. But this not satisfying the said Robert Cathcart,
he did, in the name of his friends in Carrick and the shire of Wigton
(though without the knowledge of the half of them), take a protest
against Mr. Renwick's preaching or conversing within their jurisdiction;