giving him occasion with David to complain, _They speak vanity, their
heart gathereth iniquity_, &c; _yea mine own familiar friend in whom I
trusted, hath lift up his heel against me._

Notwithstanding of all former obloquies he sustained from all sorts of
opposers, he had one faithful and fervent wrestler on his side, Mr.
Alexander Peden; and yet a little before his death, these reproachers so
far prevailed with him as to instigate him to a declared opposition
against Mr. Renwick, which not only contributed to grieve him much, but
was also an occasion of stumbling to many[233] others of the well
affected, and to the confirmation of his opposers. Yet nevertheless he
proceeded in his progress through the country, preaching, catechizing
and baptizing; travelling through Galloway, where he was encountered
with a most insolent protestation given in against him by the professors
between Dee and Cree, subscribed by one Hutchison, which paper he read
over at a public meeting in that bounds (after a lecture upon Psalm xv.
and a sermon from Song ii. 2.), giving the people to know what was done
in their name, with several animadversions thereon, as that which
overturned several pieces of our valuable reformation; exhorting them,
if there were any there who concurred therein, that they would speedily
retract their hand from such an iniquity, &c.[234]

Shortly after this, while his work was increasing daily on his hand, and
his difficulties multiplying, the Lord made his burthen lighter by the
help of Mr. David Houston from Ireland, and Mr. Alexander Shields, who
joined with him, all in one accord, witnessing against the sins of the
time; which as it was very refreshing to him, and satisfied his longing,
desires and endeavours, so it furnished him withal to answer those who
said, That he neither desired to join with another minister, not so much
as to meet with any other for joining. The first being already
confuted, and as for the other, it is well known how far he travelled
both in Scotland and England to meet with ministers for a coalescence,
who superciliously refused. He once sent a friend on that purpose to a
minister of great note in Glendale in Northumberland, but he
peremptorily refused. At another time, in the same country, before that
he happened to be in a much respected gentlewoman's house, where
providentially Dr. Rule came to visit, whom Mr. James, in another room,
overheard discharging her by many arguments to ent