e
multitude, and the abundant satisfaction of the godly there present, who
had been grieved therewith.

At and after the revolution he was of much service to the army, and
greatly esteemed by King William. And after his return home he, with the
foresaid Messrs. Linning and Boyd, presented a large paper of proposals
to the first general assembly after the revolution[246]; both craving a
redress of their grievances, and likewise shewing on what terms they
and their people could and would join with them, &c. But this paper
being judged by the committee of this assembly to contain "peremptory
and gross mistakes, unreasonable and impracticable proposals, and
uncharitable and injurious reflections, tending rather to kindle
contentions than compose divisions[247]," it never once got a hearing,
but was thrown over the bar of that assembly. And yet notwithstanding
all this, the three foresaid brethren being resolved to unite with them
at any rate, gave in another called the shorter paper, importing their
submission, casting down all their former proposals and desires at the
assembly's feet, "to be disposed of as their wisdom should think fit."
Which paper he, through their insinuation, was brought to subscribe, and
of which, it is said[248], he sadly repented afterwards. For having
dropt his former testimony at their feet, who trampled on it, and though
they did not rent him, yet they soon found out a way to get rid of him.
For,

Soon after the revolution, he was settled minister at St. Andrews, where
he continued in the discharge of his office until the year 1699, that
he, with Messrs. Borland, Stobo and Dalgliesh, were pitched upon to go
over with his countrymen to the national settlement at Darien in
America, where he, by letters under his own hand, gave particular
account of matters there; wherein it is evident that his spirit was
quite sunk with the divisions, impiety and unrighteousness of too many
of that handful, and at last was sadly crushed with the fatal
disappointment of that undertaking, by the conduct of the then
government; which he shewed, had it been faithfully and well managed,
might have been of great advantage to this nation, as well as to the
Christian religion; and yet for want of a proper reinforcement, they
were either cut off or dissipated. While in Caledonia he preached
mostly on Acts xvii. 26, 27. _God hath determined the times before
appointed, and the bounds of our habitation_. One time, as he and