his that were then before the court of session, as he had got a patent
insured for his being one of these lords. But God's thoughts being not
as mens thoughts, and having other designs with him, he began then to
work mightily upon his conscience, that he could get no rest till he was
suffered to attend Mr. Andrew Melvil at St. Andrews to study divinity
under him; but to this his mother was averse, for she would not
condescend until he first gave up some lands and casualities wherein he
was infest: This he most willingly did, and shaking off all impediments
he fully resolved upon an employment more fitted to the serious turn of
his mind.

He went to St. Andrews sometime before Mr. Andrew Melvil left the
country, and continued there until his return. Here he wanted not some
sharp conflicts on this head, insomuch that upon a certain time, walking
in the fields with that holy and religious man Mr. James Melvil, he said
to him, "Before I throw myself again into such torment of conscience
which I have had in resisting the call to the ministry, I would rather
choose to walk through a fire of brimstone, even tho' it were half a
mile in length." After he was accomplished for the ministry, Mr. Andrew
Melvil perceiving how the Lord wrought with him, brought him over to the
general assembly in 1587, and moved the church of Edinburgh to call him
to a charge there.

And although he was moved by some brethren to accept the charge of the
ministry in place of Mr. James Lawson, yet he could not be prevailed
upon to take the charge _simpliciter_ (although he was willing to bestow
his labour thereon for a time), until by the joint advice of the
ministry of the city, and this stratagem, he was as it were trapped into
it: thus, on a time, when the sacrament was to be dispensed at
Edinburgh, one of the ministers desired Mr. Bruce, who was to preach in
the afternoon, to sit by him, and after he had served two or three
tables, he went out of the church, as if he had been to return in a
little, but instead of that he sent notice to Mr. Bruce, that unless he
served the rest of the tables the work behoved to stop; Mr. Bruce not
knowing but the minister had been seized on a sudden with some kind of
sickness, and, the eyes of all the people being fixed on him, many
intreating him to supply the minister's place, he proceeded to the
administration of the remainder, and that with such assistance to
himself and emotion amongst the people, that the lik