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There was a bed made for him and John Gib; be lay down a little, but rose in haste, and went to the muir all night. I well remember, it was a cold easterly wet fog. Many waiting on to have his thoughts about them, he refused upon the Sabbath evening to give his thoughts, until he spake with them. They found him in the morning wet and cold, and very melancholy, wanting rest all night, and great grief upon his spirit. They said Now, Sir, you have spoke with them, and have had your thoughts about them, be free with us. He said, My thoughts are both bad and sad: This man, John Gibb, is an incarnate devil, and there are many devils in him: Wo to him, his name will stink while the world stands. I bless God, who preserved me; he might have cut my throat this night, but I got warning of my danger. As for David Jamie, there is a good scholar lost, and a minister spilt; I have no hope of him. I am afraid that Walter Kerr and John Young and others will go a greater length, but I hope the Lord will reclaim many of them. And now go all home, and pray that this snare may be broke; for this is one of the most dreadful and dangerous snares that hath been in my time; but they ran so fast they will soon discover themselves: but I greatly fear these wild tares of delusions and divisions will spring and grow, and never be rooted out in this land; which has sadly come to pass.
And thus, in preaching and conference, he was most sententious and plain in discovering and giving warning of the snare, sin and danger of these wild extremes.— Nevertheless, the indulged, silent and unfaithful, lukewarm, complying ministers and professors made no distinction betwixt him and Gibb, but made it their work, by tongue and pen, to bury him and his faithfulness in the ashes of these vile extremes; and as for any of us that travelled forty or fifty miles, far or near, to hear him preach, (and no danger or enemy could stop or discourage us), they spread that we were away with the Gibbites, although I never saw John Gibb, nor was acquaint with any of his followers at that time: for which I bless the Lord, that so mercifully and remarkably prevented it, by heating and following of blest Cargill.
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