t discoveries of the nature of
these temptations and suggestions of Satan, which were like to prevail
with him before; and upon Monday, giving a reason unto the said Sir
William and his lady why he went not to church with them, he took
occasion to be plain and express in testifying against the indulgence,
in the original rise, spring, and complex nature thereof. After which,
finding his service would be no longer acceptable to them, he went to
the south, where he met with the reverend Mr. John Welch. He stayed some
time in his company, who, finding him a man every way qualified for the
ministry, pressed him to accept a licence to preach; which he for
sometime refused, chiefly upon the account that having such clear
discoveries of the sinfulness of the indulgence, he could not but
testify against it explicitly, so soon as he should have opportunity to
preach the gospel in public, &c.----But the force of his objections
being answered by Mr. Welch's serious solicitations, he was prevailed on
to accept of a licence from the outed ministers, who were then preaching
in the fields, and had not then complied with the indulgence.
Accordingly he was licenced by Mr. Welch and Mr. Semple at Haugh-head in
Teviotdale, at the house of Henry Hall. Here he told them, He would be a
bone of contention among them; for if he preached against a national sin
among them it should be against the indulgences, and for separation from
the indulged.

After he was licenced, they sent him at first to preach in Annandale. He
said, How could he go there.----He knew not what sort of people they
were. But Mr. Welch said, Go your way, Richie, and set the fire of hell
to their tail. He went, and, the first day, he preached upon that text,
_How shall I put thee among the children_, &c. In the application he
said, Put you amongst the children! the offspring of robbers and
thieves. Many have heard of Annandale thieves. Some of them got a
merciful cast that day, and told it afterwards, That it was the first
field-meeting that ever they attended; and that they went out of
curiosity, to see how a minister could preach in a tent, and people sit
on the ground. After this, he preached several times with Mr. Welch, Mr.
Semple and others, until 1679, that he and Mr. Welwood were called
before that Erastian meeting at Edinburgh, in order to be deposed for
their freedom and faithfulness in preaching against the sinful
compliance of that time.

After this he preached