ee sons[50].

As the duty wherein Mr. Welch abounded and excelled most in his prayer,
so his greatest attainments fell that way. He used to say, He wondered
how a Christian could ly in bed all night, and not rise to pray, and
many times he rose, and many times he watched. One night he rose from
his wife, and went into the next room, where he staid so long at secret
prayer, that his wife, fearing he might catch cold, was constrained to
rise and follow him, and, as she hearkened, she heard him speak as by
interrupted sentences, Lord, wilt thou not grant me Scotland, and after
a pause, Enough, Lord, enough; and so she returned to her bed, and he
following her, not knowing she had heard him, but when he was by her,
she asked him, What he meant by saying, Enough, Lord, enough? he shewed
himself dissatisfied with her curiosity, but told her, He had been
wrestling with the Lord for Scotland, and found there was a sad time at
hand, but that the Lord would be gracious to a remnant. This was about
the time when bishops first overspread the land, and corrupted the
church. This is more wonderful still, An honest minister, who was a
parishioner of Mr. Welch many a day, said, "That one night as he watched
in his garden very late, and some friends waiting upon him in his house,
and wearying because of his long stay, one of them chanced to open a
window toward the place where he walked, and saw clearly a strange light
surround him, and heard him speak strange words about his spiritual
joy." But though Mr. Welch had upon the account of his holiness,
abilities and success, acquired among his subdued people, a very great
respect, yet was he never in such admiration, as after the great plague
which raged in Scotland in his time.

And one cause was this: The magistrates of Ayr, forasmuch as this town
alone was free, and the country about infected, thought fit to guard the
ports with centinels and watchmen; and one day two travelling merchants,
each with a pack of cloth upon a horse, came to the town desiring
entrance that they might sell their goods, producing a pass from the
magistrates of the town from whence they came, which was at that time
sound and free; yet notwithstanding all this, the centinels stopt them
till the magistrates were called, and when they came they would do
nothing without their minister's advice; so Mr. Welch was called, and
his opinion asked: He demurred, and putting off his hat, with his eyes
towards heaven for a