war,
and also a commanding-officer among the honest party; and had the honour
not only to witness and protest against the sinful compliance of that
corrupt Erastian party, that then foisted themselves in amongst them,
but was also one of those three who were then appointed to draw up the
causes of the Lord's wrath against the land, and the Hamilton
declaration was to be one of the last causes thereof, with a new
declaration which they intended to have published at that time; and
although both of these were undertaken, yet the Lord did not honour them
to publish the same, as some of them with great regret, unto their dying
day, did acknowledge.[192]

After the overthrow and dissipation of the covenanters at Bothwel
(wherein the Erastian party among them had no little hand), it appears
that Mr. Smith went over, for some time to Holland, but did not stay
long; for we meet with him again with Mr. Cargil at Torwood, in Sept.
1680, after which he was very helpful to him in his conversation and
advice in difficult cases, and praying in families (when he was fatigued
with sore travel, being an old man, and going then often on foot), and
many times in public preaching days precenting for him.

He had a longing desire to preach Christ, and him crucified unto the
world, and the word of salvation thro' his name. Mr. Cargil had the same
desire, and for that end, it is said, had written to two ministers to
meet him at Cummerhead in Lismehago in Clydesdale, but ere that day
came, that door was closed (for they were in the enemies hands). However
Mr. Smith followed the example of our blessed Lord and Saviour, in going
about doing good, in many places and to many persons, in spiritual,
edifying conversation, and was a singular example of true piety and
zeal, which had more influence upon many than most part of the ministers
of that day.

A little before his death he drew up twenty-two rules for fellowship or
society meetings, which at that time greatly increased, from the river
Tay to Newcastle, in which he was very instrumental, which afterwards
settled unto a general and quarterly correspondence four times yearly,
that so they might speak one with another, when they wanted the public
preaching of the gospel; and to appoint general fasting days through the
whole community, wherein their own sins, and the prevailing sins and
defections of the times, were the principal causes thereof; and that
each society was to meet and spend some t