uled in providence, that Mr. Moncrief being much
respected, and his hardships almost universally regreted, upon account
of his eminent piety, integrity and uprightness, severals of all ranks,
and different persuasions, and unknown to him, began to make
application, and interpose for him, so that the spirit of some of his
most violent persecutors began to abate, his process lingred, till,
after a tedious imprisonment, he fell sick and obtained the favour of
confinement in Edinburgh.----The parliament passed this sentence upon
him, "That he, the said Mr. Alexander Moncrief, be for ever incapable of
exercising any public trust, civil or ecclesiastic, within the kingdom,
until, in the next session of parliament, further orders be taken
concerning him, and discharge him in the mean time to go to his parish."
And all this for owning before them his accession to the remonstrance
and causes of God's wrath.

After this sentence, when living peaceably some eight or nine miles from
his own parish, people began to resort to him, and hear him preach,
whereupon, under a most severe storm in the middle of winter, by virtue
of an act made against him, he was charged to remove twenty miles from
his house and charge, and seven or eight from a bishop's seat or royal
burgh; and was with his family forced from his house, and obliged to
wander in that great storm; and yet when he had removed to a place at a
competent distance, even then he got a second charge to remove further,
till he was obliged to go to a remote place in the Highlands, where his
God who had all along countenanced and supported him wonderfully in his
troubles, honoured him to be instrumental in the conversion of many.

The persecution somewhat abating, he brought his family to Perth, for
the education of his children, where he continued preaching the gospel.
A few at first, but afterwards a great many, attended his ministry.
Being again informed against, a party of the horse-guards were sent to
apprehend him, but he escaped, though his house was narrowly searched.
This forced him from his family, and he was obliged to lurk a good while
after this.

At length he came with his family to Edinburgh, where he preached the
gospel many years under a series of persecution. He was intercommuned in
the year 1675, and his house, and many other places in and about the
city, were narrowly searched for him, yet he was always marvelously hid,
of which many instances might be given. Whe