Wod. History.
[251] It was no doubt such faithful freedom that made that defamatory scribbler say, in his Presbyterian Eloquence, that he said in a sermon at Galashields, that cess paying to Charles II. was as bad as sacrificing to devils, see page 15.
[252] Mr. Dickson being one who maintained and defended the lawfulness of defensive arms, either about this time or at the restoration before he was ejected, he kept the sacrament of the Lord's supper (probably at Rutherglen), while the people kept guard by centries under arms the whole time of the dispensation thereof. Which truly sets forth the danger and hazard of these times, and the aggravations of our sins in misimproving these mercies and privileged which they could not peaceably enjoy.
[253] If these were Mr. Dickson's sentiments then of the revolution settlement, so much now gloried in and boasted of by many, they must be either ignorantly blind or under an infatuation, who see not that things are a great deal worse (though the same as to the constitution) than in his day. For how many are the clogs and impositions, that are annually (I may say daily) wreathed about the neck of the church, in these degenerate isles of sea, Britain and Ireland. And could any thing be believed by an apostate generation, we should think that his words should be of some weight, who was no opponent, but a member of the established church, yea and more, a seer in our Israel, and, we may say, one among a thousand, for as the man is, so is his strength, &c.
[254] Calderwood's history, page 776.
[255] Wilson's impartial relation of Bothwel bridge, where the reader will find a full account of the most material transactions done there at that time.
[256] In the hands of some friends, are yet to be seen two of these commissions in Latin, wrote on parchment, one of which is a very beautiful copy on copper-plate.
[257] See a more full account of his negotiations in the Netherlands for the suffering remnant, in a large letter of his now published in Faithful Contendings, page 186,——{illegible}.
[258] Memorandum of occurrences in manuscript, page 1st and 2d.
[259] See the above-mentioned declarations, protestations and declinatures with some of his many religious letters, lately published in a pamphlet intitled, the Christian Conduct, &c.