she hath gotten
too many tokens already; she is a witch;----which, though none suspected
her then, she herself confessed to be true, and was deservedly put to
death for the same. At another time, a minister in the shire of
Galloway, sending one of his elders to Mr. Semple, with a letter,
earnestly desiring his help at the sacrament, which was to be in three
weeks after; he read the letter, and went to his closet, and coming
back, he said to the elder, I am sorry you have come so far on a
needless errand; go home and tell your minister, he hath had all the
communions that ever he will have; for he is guilty of fornication, and
God will bring it to light ere that time.--This likewise came to pass.
He often said to a person of quality (my lord Kenmuir) that he was a
rough wicked man, for which God would shake him over hell before he
died; and yet God would give him his soul for a prey: which had its
accomplishment at last, to the no small comfort and satisfaction of all
his near and dear relations.

When some Scots regiments, in the year 1648, in their march through
Carsphairn for Preston in England to the duke's engagement (as it was
commonly called) and hearing that the sacrament was to be dispensed
there next Lord's day, some of the soldiers put up their horses in the
kirk, and went to the manse, and destroyed the communion elements in a
most profane manner, Mr. Semple being then from home. The next day he
complained to the commanding officer, in such a pathetical manner
representing the horrible vileness of such an action, that the officer
not only regretted the action, but also gave money for furnishing them
again:--he moreover told them, He was sorry for the errand they were
going upon, for it would not prosper, and the profanity of that army
would ruin them. About or after this, he went up to a hill and prayed;
and being interrogated by some acquaintances, What answer he got? He
replied, That he had fought with neither small nor great, but with the
duke himself, whom he never left until he was beheaded:--which was too
sadly verified[151].

His painful endeavours were blest with no small success, especially at
sacramental occasions, and this the devil envied very much; and
particularly one time, among many, which he designed to administer the
Lord's supper, before which he assured the people of a great communion,
by a gracious and remarkable down-pouring of the Spirit, but that the
devil would be envious about thi