rayed and wept and sobbed
and sat in sadness and silence, in the presence of God confessing their
sins! Then, with uplifted hands, they "made promise before the Majesty
of heaven to amend their ways." A great reviving followed, and many
hearts were made glad. Two years later Mr. Davidson met the king, and,
refusing to submit conscience to his tyrannic will, was cast into
prison.

John Welch, too, is found in the front ranks of the Church's noblest
defenders. His wife, Elizabeth, daughter of John Knox, was his equal in
courage and steadfastness. His life caught high inspiration from her
faith, and her heart gloried in his heroic spirit; the two mountains
were alike high.

King James had determined to crush the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church. That Assembly stood in his way as he strode toward
despotic power. He must remove the hindrance, or fail in his ambition.
He commanded the Assembly to hold no more meetings, except by his
permission. Against his royal decree, a few bold-hearted men met on the
first Tuesday of July, 1605. This was the last free General Assembly for
a whole generation. In 1618 this court of God's house disappeared
altogether under the king's despotic rule, till 1638, when Scotland
arose once more in the power of the Lord, and renewed her Covenant.

John Welch was one of the few ministers who braved the king's wrath, and
approved of the forbidden meeting. Within a month he was in jail. The
place of his detention was called "Blackness." In his little cell, damp,
dark, foul, and lonely, he had time to reflect. He remembered his happy
home, faithful wife, loving children, garden walks, sweet sunshine, soft
breezes, pleasant Sabbaths, inspiring pulpit, glowing audience--he could
now think of all, and see the cost of fidelity to Jesus. Did it pay? He
could lay his aching head on its hard pillow, and dream of the happiness
that was gone, and awaken to ask if it had been worth while. Did it pay
to be true to Christ? Listen; he speaks from his prison: "We have ever
been waiting with joyfulness to give the last testimony of our blood to
Christ's crown, scepter, and kingdom."

Welch found his great strength in prayer. Prayer to him was conversation
with God. His soul was familiar with Jesus. He often arose from his bed
to talk with God. He kept a shawl at hand, when at home, to cast over
his shoulders during these rapturous hours. In the summer nights he
spent much time under the trees in communi