his grateful and thankful sense of the
Lord's goodness to him, henceforth to devote himself to the service of
God in the holy ministry, if the Lord should see meet to qualify him for
the same.

Accordingly, in pursuance of this resolution, he quickly went to
Glasgow, and studied divinity under Mr. David Dickson then professor
there, and made such proficiency therein, that in a short time (being
called thereto) he humbly offered himself to trials _anno_ 1646, and so
was licensed by the presbytery of Irvine to preach the gospel, and next
year, upon Mr. Dickson's recommendation, the session of Glasgow
appointed Mr. Ramsay one of their ministers, to intreat Mr. Durham so
come and preach in Glasgow. Accordingly he came and preached two sabbath
days and one week day. The session being fully satisfied with his
doctrine and the gifts bestowed on him by the Lord for serving him in
the holy ministry, did unanimously call him to the ministry of the
Black-friar church then vacant, in consequence of which he was ordained
minister there in November 1647.

He applied himself to the work of the ministry with great diligence, so
that his profiting did quickly appear to all; but considering that no
man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, he
obtained leave of his people to return to his own country for a little
time to settle his worldly affairs there; yet he was not idle here, but
preached every sabbath. He first preached at Dundee, before a great
multitude, from Rom. i. 16. _I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ_,
and shewed that it was no disparagement for the greatest to be a
gospel-minister; and a second time he preached at Ferling (in his own
country) upon 2 Cor. v. 18. _He hath given to us the ministry of
reconciliation_, &c.; and a third time at Monuseith, at the desire of
the minister there, he preached from 2 Cor. v. 20. _We then are
ambassadors for Christ_, &c. In both places he indeed acted like an
ambassador for Christ, and managed the gospel-treaty of peace to good
purpose. The next sabbath he designed to have preached at Murrose, but
receiving an express to return to Glasgow in haste, his wife being
dangerously sick, he came away, leaving his affairs to the care of his
friends, and returned to Glasgow, where, in a few days, his wife, who
had been the desire of his eyes, died. His Christian submission under
this afflicting dispensation was most remarkable. After a short silence,
he said to so