to
perish for ever, and never be recovered, so long as the days of heaven
shall last, and the years of eternity shall endure. Why should ye
distress your own brethren, sons and servants of the Lord Jesus; this is
not the doing of the shepherds of the flock of Christ: if ye will not
regard your souls nor consciences, look I beseech you, to your fame, why
will ye be miserable both in this life and in the life to come."

When the bishop of St. Andrews had read some few lines of this
admonition, he cast it from him, the bishop of Dumblane took it up, and
reading it, said he, calls them Esau's, Balaams and Judases "Not so,
said Mr. Duncan, read again, beware that ye be not like them." In the
space of a month after, he was deposed for non-conformity.

In the month of July 1621, he presented a large supplication, in name of
himself, and some of his faithful brethren, who had been excluded the
general assembly, to Sir George Hay clerk register, on which account he
was in a few days after, apprehended by the captain of the guards, and
brought before the council, who accused him for breaking ward, after he
was suspended and confined to Dundee, because he had preached the week
before at Crail. Mr. Duncan denied that he had been put to the horn; and
as for breaking ward, he said, That, for the sake of obedience, he staid
at Dundee, separated from a wife and six children for a half a year, and
the winter approaching forced him to go home. In the end, he requested
them not to imprison him on his own charges, but the sentence had been
resolved on before he compeared. He was conveyed to Dumbarton castle
next day (some say to Blackness castle); here he remained until the
month of October thereafter, when he was again brought before the
council, and by them was confined to Kilrinnie, upon his own charges;
This was a parish neighbouring to his own.

Upon another occasion, of the same nature with this just now narrated,
this worthy man was banished out of the kingdom, and went to settle at
Berwick, but having several children, and his wife big with another,
they were reduced to great hardships, being obliged to part with their
servant, they had scarcely subsistence sufficient for themselves. One
night in particular, the children asking for bread, and there being none
to give them, they cried very sore; the mother was likewise much
depressed in spirit, for Mr. Duncan had resource sometimes to prayer,
and in the intervals endeavoured to c