storation, the faithful presbyterian ministers being turned out,
curates were put in their place, and with them came ignorance, profanity
and persecution.--Some time after this, Mr. Law preached at his own
house in Monteith, and one Mr. Hutchison sometimes at Kippen. Being one
Saturday's evening gone out to his grandmother's house in the country,
and having an uncle who frequented these meetings, he went along with
him unto a place called Shield-brae.--And next Sabbath he went with him
through much difficulty (being then but young) through frost and snow,
and heard Mr. Law at Montieth; which sermon through a divine blessing,
wrought much upon his mind.--Thus he continued for some considerable
time to go out in the end of the week for an opportunity of hearing the
gospel, and to return in the beginning of next week to Stirling, but did
not let his parents know anything of the matter.

But one time, hearing a proclamation read at the cross exhibiting, that
all who did not hear or receive privileges from the curates were to be
severely punished; which much troubled his mind, making him hesitate
whether to go to a field preaching that he heard was to be next Sabbath,
or not. But at last he came to this resolution. Says he, "the Lord
inclined my heart to go and put that word to me, go for once, go for
all, if they take thee, for that which is to come. So I went there, and
the Lord did me good: for I got at that sermon that which, although they
had rent me into a thousand pieces, I would not have said what I had
said before. So the Lord made me follow the gospel for a long time; and
tho' I knew little then what I meant, yet he put it in my heart still to
keep by the honest side, and not to comply or join with enemies of one
kind or another, yea not to watch, ward or strengthen their hands any
manner of way. When I was asked, why I would not keep watch (or stand
centry) on the town; it was a commanded duty; I told them, I would not
lift arms against the work of God. If ever I carried arms, it should be
for the defence of the gospel."

Now, he became a persecuted man, and was obliged to leave the town. His
father being a black-smith, he had learned the same trade, and so he
went some time to Glasgow, and followed his occupation. From Glasgow he
returned home; and from thence went again to Borrowstouness, where he
had great debate, as himself expresses it,--"about that woeful
indulgence: I did not know the dreadful hazard of hea