arcus Antoninus, _In
omni vita sui similis, nec ulla unquam in re mutatus fuit. Itaque vere
fuit vir bonus, nec fictum aut simulatum quicquam habuit._

_An ACROSTIC on his Name._

Sin wrought our death, death strikes and none doth spare;
It levels sceptres with the plowing-share;
Raging among poor mortals every where.

Religion's lovers death must also own,
Or this brave soul his life had not laid down.
But weep not: Why? death challenges but dross,
Eternal gain compensates temporal loss;
Rest from his labour, sickness, grief and pain:
This makes him happy, and our mourning vain.

Had he not reason rather to be glad
At death's approach, that life he never had
Must meet him there? He enters now that land,
In view of which, believing, he did stand,
Longing for ling'ring death; still crying, Come;
Take me, Lord, hence, unto my father's home.
O faithless age! of glory take a sight;
Nor death nor grave shall then so much affright.

_The Life of Mr. WILLIAM VETCH._[261]

Mr. William Vetch was born in the shire of Clydesdale, at Roberton seven
miles from Lanerk, _an._ 1640. He was the youngest son of Mr. John
Vetch, who was minister of that place for about the space of 45 years.
His brethren were, Mr. John Vetch, who was minister of Westruthers in
the shire of Berwick 54 years; another brother, Mr. James Vetch was
ordained minister in Mauchlin in the shire of Ayr, 1656; a third, Mr.
David Vetch, the most eminent of them all, was sometime minister at
Govan near Glasgow, co-temporary and co-presbyter with the famous Mr.
Durham, to whom Mr. Rutherford gave this testimony at his trials, "That
the like of Mr. David Vetch in his age, for learning and piety, he had
never known."

Mr. William, being laureat at Glasgow _anno_ 1650, was resolved to
follow the study and practice of physick, as having so many brethren in
the function of the ministry, and episcopacy being appearingly to be
settled in the kingdom. And being then in the family of Sir Andrew Ker
of Greenhead, great Mr. Livingston minister of Ancrum frequenting that
house (as did other godly ministers) by many arguments dissuaded him
from his intended design, and exhorted him to follow the footsteps of
his brethren, who were then much esteemed in the church.

About the beginning of 1663, he went to Murray land, where he was
sometime chaplain to Sir Hugh Campbel of Calder's family; but at t