h this protested dissent from, and testimony
against all the above mentioned corruptions, defections, and offensive
courses, which obliged us to stand at a distance in times of
deformation; that our present joining in these circumstances, when these
are removed, may not infer, or be interpreted an approving of what we
formerly condemned: and be free from all partaking in these defections,
by consent, connivance, compliance, or communion therein. For which we
humbly supplicate, that these our humble proposals may be recorded in
the books of assembly.

ALEXANDER SHIELDS, _Esq._

[247] See this Act V. Sess. 9. Ass. 1999. wherein the lesser paper is
inserted.

[248] Pat. Walker says, That Mr. Shields much lamented his silence
before the assembly, and of his coming so far short of his former
resolutions, and if ever he saw such an occasion, he would not be so
slack. Messrs. Lining and Boyd had too much influence upon him, being in
haste for stipends and wives. Rem. of the lives of Messrs. Semple, &c.
first edit, page 78.

[249] See a more full account of Mr. Shields both while in Caledonia and
Jamaica, in the history of Darien, lately republished, from page 42 to
49.

[250] This family that pursued him is long ago extinct, and their house
(as Mr. Dickson very publicly foretold in the hearing of many), after it
had been an habitation for owls, the foundation stones were digged up.
The inhabitants there could not but observe, that those who were
informers, accusers and witnesses against Mr Dickson (some of them
magistrates then in the town) were brought so low, that they were
sustained by the charity of the parish. So hard a thing it is to meddle
with the servants of Jesus Christ.

WOD. HISTORY.

[251] It was no doubt such faithful freedom that made that defamatory
scribbler say, in his Presbyterian Eloquence, that he said in a sermon
at Galashields, that cess paying to Charles II. was as bad as
sacrificing to devils, see page 15.

[252] Mr. Dickson being one who maintained and defended the lawfulness
of defensive arms, either about this time or at the restoration before
he was ejected, he kept the sacrament of the Lord's supper (probably at
Rutherglen), while the people kept guard by centries under arms the
whole time of the dispensation thereof. Which truly sets forth the
danger and hazard of these times, and the aggravations of our sins in
misimproving these mercies and privileged which they could not peaceably