to pass.

_The Life of Mr. JOSIAS WELCH._

Mr. Josias Welch was a younger son to the famous Mr. John Welch sometime
minister of the gospel at Ayr, and Elizabeth Knox daughter to the great
Mr. John Knox, who was minister at Edinburgh, from whom he received a
most liberal and religious education. But what enhanced his reputation
more, was, that he was, heir to his father's graces and virtues. And
although he had received all the branches of useful learning in order
for the ministry, yet, prelacy being then prevalent in Scotland, he was
detained for some time from that function, seeing he was not clear in
his own mind to enter into that office by the door of episcopacy. But
some time after, it so fell out, that meeting with worthy Mr. Blair,
(who was then settled a minister at Bangor in Ireland) he finding how
zealous a spirit Mr. Welch was of, exhorted and solicited him much to
hasten over there, where he would find work enough, and he hoped success
likewise, which accordingly came to pass, for upon his going thither he
was highly honoured and provided of the Lord to bring the covenant of
grace to the people at the six-mile water, (on whom Mr. Glendining
formerly minister there had wrought some legal convictions) and having
preached sometime at Oldstone, he was settled at Temple-Patrick, where
he with great vigilance and diligence exercised his office, which by the
blessing of God upon his labours, gained him many seals of his ministry.

But the devil envying the success of the gospel in that quarter, stirred
up the prelatical clergy, whereupon the bishop of Down, in May 1632,
caused cite him, Messrs. Blair, Livingston and Dumbar before him, and
urged them to conform and give their subscription to that effect, but
they answered with great boldness, That there was no law nor canon in
that kingdom requiring this; yet notwithstanding they were all four
deposed by him from the office of the holy ministry.

After this, Mr. Welch continued for some time preaching in his own
house, where he had a large auditory, and such was his desire to gain
souls to Christ, that he commonly stood in a door looking towards a
garden, that so he might be heard without as well as within, by means of
which, being of a weakly constitution, he contracted such a cold as
occasioned his death in a short time thereafter.

He continued in this way, until May 1634, when by the intercession of
Lord Castle-Stuart with the king in their behalf, t