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ministry to the conviction and edification of many poor souls. In this non such, melancholy, Egyptian darkness, Mr. King, Mr. Kid, and Mr. Cameron, being publicly murdered; Mr. Blackadder, and Mr Dickson, in the enemies’ hands; Messrs. Cargill, Douglas and Hepburn gone off the kingdom; the rest of the thirty Ministers who preached in the fields before Bothwell bridge, being fallen in deep silence and compliance with the enemy; in this time, while men slept, the enemy sowed his tares.
In the beginning of the year 1681, the devil began a new project at Borrowstounness: John Gibb, a sailor, and a great professor, (but many were jealous of him) drew away after him about twenty-six women and three men, the greater part of whom were serious, exercised, tender, zealous, and very gracious souls; who stumbled upon that stumbling block laid in their way, of ministers' compliance, silence and unfaithfulness, who before the break of Bothwell-bridge, for about eleven years, had publicly preached the indispensible duty of all the Lord’s people to follow the gospel und defend the same. But a little thereafter the enemy gave an indemnity or third indulgence to all ministers who formerly preached in the fields, to preach in houses with the Cautionary Band, witnessed against in The Banders Disbanded. They so far complied with the enemy's design and desire to have their Rendezvous of Rebellion, the field conventicles (as then called) the devil's grand eye-sore, and great vexation to all his friends the foes of reformation, that they would preach none without houses, even those who formerly were most zealous and forward that way, whose names might be mentioned, and who would not set their faces to doors, when there were any people without. These lamentable things, together with the cruel tyranny, sheding so much innocent, precious, dear blood, made them split with zeal, not only to cast off all that did not agree with them in every thing; but also to utter strange antigospel imprecations, disdaining and reproaching all others as backsliders, stating their testimony against all crowndues, excise and customs; and for that end would make no use of ale nor tobacco and other foolish things. These people at first, were commonly called Sweet Singers, from
B
their
