by him, he tendered the
covenants, which were read; to every article of which, with their hands
lifted up to heaven, they engaged[136] with great solemnity and
devotion. After their defeat at Pentland, he, no doubt, had his share of
the violence and cruelty that then reigned, till _anno_ 1668, he was
removed to a better world.

Mr. William soon gave proofs of his capacity and genius, by very
considerable progress made in the Latin and Greek languages. Then he was
sent to the university of St. Andrews, where he studied philosophy under
the memorable Mr. James Guthrie his cousin, who was afterwards minister
at Stirling, "and who (says Mr. Trail) I saw die in, and for the Lord,
at Edinburgh, June 1, 1661."

As the master and scholar were near relations, Mr. Guthrie was his
peculiar care, and lodged, when at the college, in the same chamber with
him, and therefore had the principles of learning infused into him with
more accuracy than his class-fellows.

Having taken the degree of master of arts, he applied himself, for some
years, to the study of divinity, under the direction of Mr. Samuel
Rutherford. Mr. Trail says, "Then and there it pleased the Lord, who
separated him from his mother's womb, to call him, by his grace, by the
ministry of excellent Mr. Samuel Rutherford, and this young gentleman
became one of the first fruits of his ministry at St. Andrews. His
conversion was begun with great terror of God in his soul, and completed
with that joy and peace in believing that accompanied him through his
life. After this blessed change wrought upon him, he resolved to obey
the call of God to serve him in the ministry of his gospel, which was
given him by the Lord's calling him effectually to grace and glory. He
did for this end so dispose of his outward estate, (to which he was born
heir) as not to be intangled with the affairs of this life." He gave his
estate to the only brother of the five who was not engaged in the sacred
office, that thereby he might be perfectly disintangled from the affairs
of this life, and entirely employed in these of the eternal world.

Soon after he was licensed to preach, he left St. Andrews, with high
esteem and approbation from the professors of that university, which
they gave proof of, by their ample recommendations. After this he became
tutor to lord Mauchlin, eldest son to the earl of Loudon; in which
situation he continued for some time, till he entered upon a parochial
charge.

The