and word of God, from which you
and others have apostatized."

Here the curate interrupting him, said, The Lord had a work before that
covenant had a being, and that he judged them apostates that adhered to
that covenant, and he wished that the Lord would not only forgive him
(meaning Mr. Guthrie) but if it were lawful to pray for the dead (at
which expression the soldiers laughed) that the Lord might forgive the
sin of this church these hundred years by-past. It is true, answered Mr.
Guthrie, the Lord had a work before that covenant had a being, but it is
as true, that it hath been more glorious since that covenant; and it is
a small thing for us to be judged of you, in adhering to this covenant,
who have so deeply corrupted your ways; and seem to reflect on the whole
work of reformation from popery these hundred years bygone, by
intimating that the church had need of pardon for the same.----As for
you, gentlemen (added he, to the soldiers), I wish the Lord may pardon
your countenancing this man in his business. One of them scoffingly
replied, I wish we never do a greater fault. Well, said Mr. Guthrie, a
little sin may damn a man's soul.

After all this and more had passed, Mr. Guthrie called for a glass of
ale, and, craving a blessing himself, drank to the commander of the
soldiers. After they were by him civilly entertained, they left the
house. At parting with the curate, Mr. Guthrie signified so much to him,
that he apprehended some evident mark of the Lord's displeasure was
abiding him, for what he was a-doing; and seriously warned him to
prepare for some stroke coming upon him, and that very soon.

When the curate left the manse, he went to the church with the soldiers
his guard (now his hearers) and preached to them not a quarter of an
hour, and intimated to them from the pulpit the bishop's sentence
against Mr. Guthrie. Nobody came to hear him but his party, and a few
children, who created him some disturbance, till they were chased away
by the soldiers[139]. Indeed his people were ready to have sacrificed
their all, and resisted even unto blood, in his defence and the gospel,
had they been permitted by him.

As for the curate, (says Mr. Wodrow) I am well assured he never preached
any more after he left Fenwick; he reached Glasgow, but it is not
certain if he reached Calder (though but four miles from Glasgow):
However, in a few days he died, in great torment of an iliac passion,
and his wife and children d