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had neither power nor influence to protect them; it vented itself with equal violence on those who occupied a higher and more commanding station in society-like the desolating storm which descends indiscriminately on the lofty mountains and on the lowly valleys. The attachment of the house of Craigdarroch, in Glencairn, to the principles of the Covenanters is well known; and many an outcast in the days of our forefathers, took refuge under its sheltering wings. The master of Craigdarroch was therefore a marked man, and his enemies were determined to show him no favour. It happened on a fine summer morning when, after a heavy rain which fell during the preceding night, the rivers and burns were greatly swollen, that the laird, as he was termed, was under the necessity of travelling a short distance from home. Orders had been issued to a party of dragoons to watch his movements, and to embrace the first opportunity of seizing his person. As he was ambling slowly along on a fine spirited horse, he was all at once confronted with a company of troopers. The place where they met was at the opening of a stone dyke, through which the road passed. The commander of the party, who seemed to know the laird, cried: "Guard the gap." "I'll guard the gap," replied the laird, who, at the same time turning the head of his swift and powerful steed, galloped off at his utmost speed. The horsemen pursued, and Craigdarroch, seeing that there was but little hope of escape, directed bis course to the River Cairn, which at the time was in full flood, and dashed into its foaming torrent, choosing rather to risk his life in the tumultuous waters than be captured by a savage soldiery. He reached the opposite bank, upon which the noble animal landed him with a bound. By the sudden spring two of the nine girths by which his saddle is said to have been secured, were ruptured. The dragoons having noticed the circumstance, bawled out that now he was their prisoner. "Not yet," vociferated our hero, now on the safe side of the stream; "for though two of the bands be broken, there yet remain seven stout and firm; and now I dare you to the pursuit. Throw yourselves into that roaring tide and follow me." This, however, was a challenge which none of them were inclined to accept; for the conviction that they are engaged in a bad cause generally makes men cowards. In this way this worthy man, under the conduct of a gracious Providence, was rescued from the ruthless hands of those who would have shown him no mercy. It is reported that the identical saddle on which the honoured ancestor of the house of

Craigdarroch sat on this occasion is still preserved by the family.

It was in Craigdarroch House where John Stevenson, the Ayrshire Covenanter, lodged in secrecy in some of the hottest days of persecution. His wife, who was nurse to Craigdarroch's child, was greatly esteemed by the lady of the mansion, and for her sake the husband was admitted under hiding, into a private apartment of the house. His abode there was known to none, not even to the laird himself; but the household was blessed for his sake, for his prayers were heard for them in the day of their distress. The Lord never allows any to be losers for his people's sake; even "a cup of cold water given to a disciple, in the name of a disciple, shall not lose its reward." And it is worthy of remark, that those who, in the time of the Church's tribulation, aided the suffering followers of Christ in any way, and especially those who did so at the risk of losing their worldly property or their life, were afterwards prosperous in temporal things; for our Lord takes a special notice of every act of kindness done to his people for his sake: "Inasmuch as ye did it unto the least of these my brethren, ye did it unto me."

The brief history of John Stevenson, written by himself, is well worthy of a perusal. It breathes throughout a spirit of genuine piety and zeal, and confidence in God. It records his religious experiences, the remarkable providences that befell him, the particular passages of Scripture that afforded him the subject of sweet meditation and comfort, and his last and best advice to his children. In the veritable history of such a man we have a practical commentary on the promises and providence of God, calculated to put Infidelity to the blush, and to reprove the unbelief of the Lord's own people.

CHAPTER III.

Sanquhar Declaration-Conventicle in Blagannoch Moss-
Galloway Flail.

THE Sanquhar Declaration was published by the followers of Cameron, on the 22d June 1680, exactly one year after the Battle of Bothwell, and a month prior to his own death at Airs Moss. This Declaration deserves notice, both on account of the prominence given to it at the time by the persecuted remnant, and also because it was assumed, on the part of the Malignants, as a ground of criminal prosecution against those who acknowledged its propriety. "Do you own the Sanquhar Declaration?" was a query to which an answer in the affirmative subjected the individual to whatever punishment the caprice of the judges in the council, or the military in the field, might see proper to inflict. It was regarded as a manifesto of a highly treasonable nature; for it in plain terms disowned Charles as the lawful king of these realms; and thus coming so soon after the affair of Bothwell Bridge, it was the means of stimulating, to a very high pitch, the persecuting fury of the times. The attention of the ruling faction was now more especially directed to that part of the country where this Declaration was made public; and a hireling soldiery was found the ready instrument of a merciless execution. As this Declaration, on account of which so many worthy people of the land were brought into trouble, is now probably little known, we shall here give a reprint of it; it is brief, and will not detain the reader long:

"The Declaration and Testimony of the True Presbyterian, Anti-prelatic, Anti-erastian, persecuted party in Scotland. Published at Sanquhar, June 22, 1680:

"It is not amongst the smallest of the Lord's mercies to this poor land, that there have been always some who have given their testimony against every cause of defection that

many are guilty of; which is a token for good, that he doth not, as yet, intend to cast us off altogether, but that he will leave a remnant in whom he will be glorious, if they, through his grace, keep themselves clean still, and walk in his way and method as it has been walked in, and owned by him in our predecessors of truly worthy memory; in their carrying on of our noble work of reformation, in the several steps thereof, from Popery, Prelacy, and likewise Erastian supremacy-so much usurped by him who, it is true, so far as we know, is descended from the race of our kings; yet he hath so far debased from what he ought to have been, by his perjury and usurpation in Church matters, and tyranny in Inatters civil, as is known by the whole land, that we have just reason to account it one of the Lord's great controversies against us, that we have not disowned him, and the men of his practices, whether inferior magistrates or any other, as enemies to our Lord and his crown, and the true Protestant and Presbyterian interest in this land-our Lord's espoused bride and Church. Therefore, although we be for government and governors, such as the Word of God and our covenant allows; yet we, for ourselves, and all that will adhere to us as the representative of the true Presbyterian Kirk and covenanted nation of Scotland, considering the great hazard of lying under such a sin any longer, do, by these presents, disown Charles Stuart, that has been reigning, or rather tyrannizing, as we may say, on the throne of Britain these years bygone, as having any right, title to, or interest in, the said crown of Scotland for government, as forfeited, several years since, by his perjury and breach of covenant both to God and his Kirk, and usurpation of his crown and royal prerogatives therein, and many other breaches in matters ecclesiastic, and by his tyranny and breach of the very leges regnandi in matters civil. For which reason we declare, that several years since he should have been denuded of being king, ruler, or magistrate, or of having any power to act or to be obeyed as such. As also we, being under the standard of our Lord Jesus Christ, Captain of Salvation, do declare a war with such a tyrant and usurper, and all the men of his practices, as enemies to our Lord Jesus Christ, and his cause and covenants; and against all such as have strengthened him, sided with, or anywise acknowledged him in his tyranny, civil or ecclesiastic; yea, against all such as shall strengthen, side with, or anywise acknowledge any other in like usurpation and tyranny-far more against such as would betray or deliver up our free reformed mother Kirk unto the bondage

of Antichrist, the Pope of Rome. And, by this, we homologate that testimony given at Rutherglen, the 29th of May 1679, and all the faithful testimonies of those who have gone before, as also of those who have suffered of late: and we do disclaim that Declaration published at Hamilton, June 1679, chiefly because it takes in the king's interest, which we are several years since loosed from, because of the aforesaid reasons, and others which may, after this, if the Lord will, be published. As also, we disown and by this resent the reception of the Duke of York, that professed Papist, as repugnant to our principles and vows to the Most High God, and as that which is the great, though not alone, just reproach of our Kirk and nation. We also, by this, protest against his succeeding to the crown, and whatever has been done, or any are essaying to do in this land, given to the Lord, in prejudice to our work of reformation. And to conclude, we hope, after this, none will blame us for, or offend at, our rewarding those that are against us as they have done to us, as the Lord gives opportunity. This is not to exclude any that have declined, if they be willing to give satisfaction according to the degree of their offence."

Such, then, is the famous Declaration which made so much noise at the time of its publication, and to which so much importance was attached by its adherents. This, however, is not the only Declaration which was published at the cross of Sanquhar. There were five besides this: one by Mr Renwick about three years before the Revolution, and four after it, by the parties who were not satisfied with the existing state of things. Of the four Declarations which were published at Sanquhar after the Revolution, the first was August 10, 1692; the second, November 6, 1695; the third, May 21, 1703; and the fourth, 1707. This ancient burgh seems to have been fruitful in Declarations. It is the central point of a wide district, which, at that time, was the favourite resort of many of the sufferers, and a place which was of easy access from every quarter.

The following anecdotes, however, are connected, not with the first of these Declarations, but with the second, published by Renwick after the death of Charles II., and the proclamation of the Duke of York, as king, in 1685. "Mr Renwick," says one of his biographers, "could not let go this opportunity of witnessing against the usurpation by a Papist of the government of the nation, and his design of overthrowing the covenanted work of reformation, and introducing Popery. Accordingly, he and about two hundred men went to San

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