Upon the 23d of the same month, he presented a petition to the Council, to prorogue the time of his removal from the kingdom, in regard he was not able to provide himself with necessaries, and the weather was so unseasonable that he could not have the opportunity of a ship; which being read and considered, they granted him two months longer after the 11th of December;-in the mean time requiring him to be peaceable, acting nothing in the prejudice of the present government, &c. Next year, at the time appointed, he went over to Holland, then the asylum of the banished Covenanters of Scotland, where he lived many years, but never, that we have heard of, saw his native country more.

Here he resided partly at Utrecht and partly at Rotterdam; and in both places was usefully employed in preaching to the refugees, and to others who resorted to him for instruction. It was during his exile also, that his many elaborate pieces, practical, argumentative, and historical, were written, and these sufficiently witness that he was not idle. In particular, those concerning the indulgence, cess paying, &c. were of signal use, being sent for the support and strengthening of his persecuted brethren in Scotland, unto whom he and Mr. M'Ward contributed all in their power, that they might be kept straight while labouring in the furnace of affliction, under sore oppression and bloody tyranny. But hither did the malice of their enemies yet pursue them. For the King, by the instigation of Archbishop Sharp, in 1676, wrote to the States General, requiring them to remove them from the provinces. And although the states, at first, neither did nor could reasonably grant this demand, yet, seeing they were in danger of a rupture with the British government by persisting in a refusal, it appears they at length complied with it.

A few years before his death, he was admitted minister of the Scots congregation at Rotterdam; where, with great prudence and diligence, he exercised his clerical functions, it being always his study, by every means in his power, to gain souls to Christ. As he was faithful in declaring the whole counsel of God to his people, in warning them against the evils of the time, so was he likewise close in handling any text he discoursed upon, and in his application, he was most warm and searching, showing himself a most skilful workman, rightly dividing the word of truth. His sermons were not so plain but the learned might admire them; nor so learned, but the plain understood them. His fellow-soldier and companion in tribulation, M'Ward, gives him this testimony, "That the whole of his sermons, without the intermixture of any other matter, had a speciality of pure gospel texture, breathing nothing but faith in Christ, and communion with him."

The ordination of the faithful Mr. Richard Cameron seems to have been the last of his public employments; and his last discourse, before his exit from this world, was from Jer. ii. 35. Behold I will plead with thee, because thou sayest I have not sinned, &c. Having finished his course with joy, he died soon after in the close of the year 1679, carrying along with him the affectionate

regrets of thousands both in Scotland and abroad, who revered his character and had profited by his labours. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord; they rest from their labours, and their works do follow them.

Mr. Brown was a man famous in his day, both for learning and faithfulness, warm zeal and true piety. He was a distinguished writer, a choice and able preacher; in controversy he was acute, masculine, and strong; in history plain and comprehensive; in divinity, substantial and correct; the first he discovers in his work printed in Latin against the Socinians, and his treatise de Causa Dei contra Anti-Sabbatarios, which the learned world know better than I can describe. There is also a large manuscript history, entitled, Apologia pro Ecclesia, &c. anno Domini 1660, consisting of 1600 pages in 4to, which he gave to Charles Gordon, sometime minister at Dalmeny, to be by him presented to the first free General Assembly of the church of Scotland, and which, accordingly, was presented to the General Assembly of 1692. Of this history, the Apologetical Relation seems to be an abridgment. His letters and other papers, particularly the History of the Indulgence, written and sent home to his native country, manifest his great and fervent zeal for the cause of Christ. And his other practical pieces, such as that on Justification, on the Romans; Quakerism the Way to Paganism; the Hope of Glory; and Christ the Way, the Truth, and the Life; the first and second parts of his Life of Faith, and Enoch's Testament opened up, &c.;-all evidence his solid piety, and real acquaintance with God and godliness.

"In estimating his character, we shall avail ourselves of the testimony of two most impartial witnesses. The first is that of a distinguished Dutch divine, Dr. Melchior Leydecker, Divinity Professor, at Utrecht, who thus expresses himself:- Glory be to God in the highest, who hath reserved by his grace, many Protestant and learned Divines, against prevalent errors. And hence we have the learned labours of the worthy J. Burgess, J. Owen, A. Pitcairn, and other eminent Divines, worthy to be remembered in all ages. And to those great Doctors, we may very warrantably add MR. JOHN BROWN, whose praise lives deservedly in the Churches, and whose light did for a considerable space, shine here in our Low Countries, when through the iniquity of the times, he was, because of his zeal, piety, faithfulness, and good conscience, obliged to leave his native land. Yet, was he not idle; for while he was here, he wrote with a great deal of wisdom against the philosophers of this time, who would subject the Scriptures to philosophy, setting up human reason for a rule of Scripture interpretations. Moreover, he was known in our churches by his books on the perpetual morality of the sabbath, written with a great efficacy of arguments, and approved by Frederick Spanheim, that worthy and most famous Divine, besides what other treatises he wrote in English.'*

• Preface to Mr. Brown's work on Justification, p. 6, 7.

"The other testimony is that of the candid and impartial Mr. Robert Wodrow, who possessed the best opportunities of knowing his character. I need not,' says he, enter on the character of this great man. His abilities were so well known to the Prelates that he must not be suffered any longer. He was a man of very great learning, warm zeal, and remarkable piety. The first he discovers in works printed in Latin, both against Socinians and Cocceians, which the learned world know better than to need any account of them from me. I have seen likewise a large Latin MS. History of his of the Church of Scotland; wherein he gives an account of the Acts of the Assemblies, and the state of matters from the Reformation to the Restoration; to which is subjoined a very large vin. dication of the grounds whereupon Presbyterians suffered. The letters he wrote home to Scotland, and the pamphlets and books he wrote, especially upon the indulgence, manifest his fervency and zeal; and the practical pieces he wrote and printed, discover his solid piety, and acquaintance with the power of godliness. Such a man could not easily now escape."

"Mr. Brown's style is nervous, clear, and wonderfully correct considering the times, and the disadvantages under which he laboured. In these respects, he is decidedly superior to most of the Scottish writers of his day, and even to Owen and others of the English authors, his cotemporaries. He has, no doubt, the common fault of that period, in being rather prolix at times, and in multiplying subdivisions. One prominent feature in all his writings, particularly his practical works, is, his wonderful command of scripture quotation, reference, and allusion. In all his works there are observable the traces of a vigorous mind; a sound judgment; and a correct theological taste. Seldom common-place, frequently original; and always interesting, he cannot fail to instruct and to edify the reader who knows how to value the essential excellencies of moral truth, unadorned by the tinsel of meretricious ornament."†

HENRY HALL OF HAUGH-HEAD.

MR. HALL of Haugh-head, (in the parish of Eckford in Teviotdale) being blessed with a religious education, began very early to lead a life of holiness, in all manner of godly conversation. In his younger years he was most zealous in opposing the public resolutions that took place in 1651; insomuch, that when the minister of the parish complied with these, he refused to hear him, and often went

History, vol. i. p. 141.

The above extracts are made from a well written account of Mr. Brown's life, prefixed to a lately published edition of his work on Prayer.

to Ancrum to hear Mr. Livingstone. After the restoration, being oppressed with the malicious persecutions of curates and malignants, for his non-conformity, he was obliged to leave his native country, and went to England in 1665, where he was of singular use in propagating the gospel, instructing the ignorant, and procuring godly ministers to preach among people, who, before his coming, were rude and barbarous, though now many of them became famous for piety. In 1666, he was taken prisoner whilst coming to Pentland, to assist his covenanted brethren, and was confined with some others in Cessford castle. But he soon after escaped from thence, through the favour of his relative the Earl of Roxburgh, unto whom the castle belonged. He retired again to Northumberland, where he remained from this time till 1679, being much beloved by all that knew him, for his care in propagating the gospel of Christ; about the year 1678; the heat of the persecution in Scotland obliging many to wander into Northumberland, and Col. Struthers violently pursuing them there. Haugh-head was in the scuffle which took place near Crookham, and in which one of his dearest intimates, the gallant and pious Thomas Kerr of Hayhop, fell.-Upon this, therefore, he was obliged to return to Scotland, where he wandered up and down in the hottest time of the persecution, chiefly with Messrs. Cargill and Cameron. During this period, besides his many other Christian virtues, he signalized himself by a fervent zeal, in defence of the persecuted gospel. He was one of the four elders of the church of Scotland, who, at the council of war at Shawhead-muir, June 18, 1679, were chosen, with Messrs. Cargill, Douglas, King, and Barclay, to draw up the causes of a fast on the day following. He had, indeed, an active hand in most part of the transactions on the part of the covenanters in that period, as being one of the commanding officers in their army, from the skirmish at Drumclog, to the defeat at Bothwell-bridge.

After this, being forfeited, and diligently pursued after, he, in order to eschew the violent hands of his indefatigable persecutors, was forced to go to Holland. But he had not been there long, when his zeal for the persecuted interest of Christ, and his tender, sympathy for his covenanted brethren, then wandering in Scotland, induced him to come home again, choosing rather to undergo the utmost efforts of persecuting fury, than to live at ease during Joseph's affliction; and making Moses' generous choice, rather to undergo sufferings with the people of God, than to enjoy what momentary pleasures the world could afford. Nor was he much concerned about the riches of the world: for he hesitated not to give his ground for field preachings,* when few or none else would do it.

The Rev. Mr. George Barclay, who was a very public character at this time, and had his hand at many a useful measure, and was a blessed instrument towards the edification of many souls, used to say, The best days that ever he had in preaching the gospel were in the bounds belonging to the Laird of Haugh-head, worthy Henry Hall.

About three months after his return from Holland, he was mostly with Mr. Cargill, lurking privily about Borrowstouness, and other places on this and the other side of the Forth. At last they were taken notice of by the curates of Borrowstouness and Carriden, who presently sent information respecting them to Middleton, Governor of Blackness castle and a Papist. After consultation he immediately went after them, ordering his soldiers to follow him at a distance, by twos and threes, so as to avoid suspicion. Thus he and his man rode after them at some distance, till they came to Queensferry; where, perceiving the house at which they alighted, he sent his servant in haste for his men, putting up his horse in another house, and coming to them as a stranger, he pretended a great deal of kindness for them, desiring that they might have a glass of wine together. When each had taken a glass, and were in some friendly conversation, the Governor wearying that his men came not up, threw off the mask, and laid hands on them, saying, they were his prisoners, and commanding the people of the house in the King's name, to assist. All refused except one Thomas George, a waiter; by whose assistance he got the gate shut. In the mean while, Haugh-head being a bold and brisk man struggled hard with the Governor, until Cargill got off; and after the scuffle, as he was going off himself, having got clear of the Governor, Thomas George struck him on the head with a carbine, and wounded him mortally. However, he got out; and by this time the women in the neighbourhood, who were assembled at the gate to rescue the prisoners, convoyed him out of town.-He walked on for some time, but was unable to speak much. At last he fainted, and was carried to a country house near Echlin; but although surgeons were speedily brought, he never recovered the use of his speech. Dalziel living near by, was advertised of the matter, and came and seized him with a party of the guards, and although every one saw that the gentleman was just a-dying, yet such was his inhumanity, that he must carry him immediately to Edinburgh. He died, however, in their hands, on the way thither; and made an end of this his earthly pilgrimage to receive his heavenly crown. His corpse was carried to the Canongate tolbooth, where it lay three days without burial. His friends at length convened to do their last office to him, but that could not be granted. At last they caused him to be buried clandestinely during night; for such was the fury of these servants of Antichrist, that after having slain the witnesses, they would not suffer them to be decently interred; another lasting evidence of their insatiable cruelty.

Thus this worthy gentleman, after, in an eminent manner, having served his day and generation, fell a victim to Prelatic fury. Upon him was found, when he was taken, a rude draught of an unsubscribed paper, afterwards called the Queensferry Paper; which the reader will find inserted at large in Wodrow's History,* and the substance of it in Crookshank's History, and the Cloud of Wit

nesses.

Vol. II. App. No. 56.