and an
invitation to go to France, yet, the next day after his leaving Glasgow,
he had an invitation to go and be minister of Bangor in the county of
Down in Ireland, which call he, for some time, rejected, until he was
several times rebuked of the Lord, which made him bound in spirit to set
his face towards a voyage to that country; and although he met with a
contrary wind, and turned sea-sick, yet he had such recourse to God,
that upon the very first sight of that land, he was made to exult for
joy; and whilst he came near Bangor, he had a strong impression borne in
upon him, that the dean thereof was sick; which impression he found to
be true when he came thither, for Mr. Gibson, the incumbent, being sick,
invited him to preach there (which he did for three sabbaths, to the
good liking of the people of that parish); and, though he was formerly
but a very naughty man, yet he told Mr. Blair, he was to succeed him in
that place, and exhorted him, in the name of Christ, not to leave that
good way wherein he had begun to walk, professing a great deal of sorrow
that he had been a dean; he condemned episcopacy more strongly than ever
Mr. Blair durst, and drawing his head toward his bosom, with both his
arms he blessed him; which conduct being so unlike himself, and speaking
in a strain so different from his usual, made a gentlewoman standing by
say, An angel is speaking out of the dean's bed to Mr. Blair; thinking
it could not be such a man. Within a few days he died, and Mr. Blair was
settled minister there, whose ordination was on this manner--He went to
bishop Knox, and told him his opinions, and withal said, That his sole
ordination did contradict his principles.--But the bishop, being
informed before-hand of his great parts and piety, answered him both
wittily and submissively, saying, "Whatever you account of episcopacy,
yet, I know, you account presbytery to have a divine warrant--Will ye
not receive ordination from Mr. Cunningham and the adjacent brethren,
and let me come in among them in no other relation than a presbyter;"
for on no lower terms could he be answerable to law. This Mr. Blair
could not refuse; he was accordingly ordained about the year 1623.

Being thus settled, his charge was very great, having above 1200 persons
come to age, besides children, who stood greatly in need of instruction;
and in this case, he preached twice a week, besides the Lord's day; on
all which occasions, he found little difficul