utherglen, where he again exercised his
ministerial function, and that upon all hazards.[252] In the year 1698.
Oct. 4th, at the sitting down of the synod at Air, he preached a very
free and faithful sermon, upon the duty and qualifications of a faithful
watchman from these words, Ha. lxii. 6. _I have fit watchmen upon thy
walls, O Jerusalem_, &c.

And although Mr. Dickson still acceded to the revolution church, yet he
was much grieved when he beheld how far inferior the glory of the second
temple was to the first, which does most evidently appear from his own
words in a letter to one a little before his death (which was in the
year 1700.) and which may stand here for his dying testimony, the
contents whereof are as follows.

"The conception you have of the dispensation of the Lord towards this
poor plagued church, and the temper of the spirits of professors under
this dispensation, are not different from what many of the Lord's people
are groaning under. There is palpably a sensible difference betwixt what
the church now is, and what it was many years ago; yea, what it hath
been within these few years. The church hath lost much ground, and is
still upon the losing hand, and it seems will continue so until it
pleases the Lord to pour down his Spirit from on high, or else by some
sharp awakening dispensation rouse up drowzy souls out of the lethargy
wherein they are fallen, &c. It is many years since the sun fell low
upon Scotland, many a dismal day hath it seen since 1649. At that time
our reformation mounted towards its highest horizon, and since we left
our building on that excellent foundation laid by our honoured
forefathers, we have still moved from ill to worse, and is like still
more (unless our gracious God prevent it) until we slide ourselves out
of sight and sense of a reformation. We have been lately trysted with a
wonderful deliverance from the slavery of heaven-daring enemy, but not
one line of reformation is pencilled upon our deliverance[253]. We have
the shell of ordinances and church-government, but want the kernel, the
great things of Christ's law; as to contend for his interest is wrapt
under a cloud. It is a long time since our covenant and solemn
engagements looked pale. They have lost colour and verdure since the
rescinding our vows to God. These covenants are turned skeletons,
fearsome and affrighting, and former respect to them is like gradually
to dwine away under a consumption. There are some