ble moment, though it was the
brat clecked by that supremacy, which not only hath wounded our solemn
vows to death, but bound the freedom and faithfulness of the church
seers, as to the public interest of Christ in their graves, &c.

"The other stupenduous providence is the obliterating the rich blessing
of the gospel in our late suffering times, when blessings not only
accompanied these solemn field-meetings, but extraordinary influences,
in gifts of freedom and faithfulness, were poured down upon these
ministers, who went out with their lives in their hands, setting their
faces as flints against the heaven-daring violence done to the mediator.
I call to mind a passage with perpetuated remembrance, that in one shire
of this kingdom there were about thirty ministers who cheerfully offered
up their service to Christ, all by turns out of Edinburgh. Each of
these, when they returned back to Edinburgh again, being questioned what
pleasure, what delight, and what liberty they had in managing that
hazardous task? they answered, That so soon as they set foot in these
bounds, another spirit came upon them; and no other reason could they
give for it, but that God wrought so mightily, that they looked upon it
as _genius loci_, that God sensibly at that time was in that county
working wonders; but the most part of all these are in their places,
resting on their beds, and their works follow them.

"Thus in answer to yours I have given you some of my confused thoughts
of the present times, wishing you God's blessing in sucking honey out of
the eater."

JOHN DICKSON.

* * * * *

Thus lived and died worthy Mr. John Dickson, in a good old age _anno_
1700, after he had, by his longevity, seen somewhat of the glory both of
the first and second temple, and emerged forth of all his troubles,
having got a most perspicuous view of our national apostacy, our breach
of covenant and other defections past, present and to come, with the
Lord's goodness and mercy toward his own remnant: And all this from the
top of mount Pisgah, when he was just about to enter upon the confines
of Emmanuel's land in glory.

Of his works we have only seen his synod sermon, and the foresaid
letters, in print. If there be any other, it is more than is known at
present, except the foresaid warning to the indulged in the shire of
Fife, which was some time ago also published: All which shew him to have
been a most pathetical writer,