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 in 
 
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 ^C_S4!0Q? 
 
 

 
Advertisement, 
 
 A S the following Papers were publifhed at 
 *** Glafgow, about I 2 Years ago, very uncorrecl:- 
 ly, on a bad paper and a bad type, and as they are 
 now prefented to the publick in a better drefs, and 
 contain many excellent advices from a parent to his 
 children, it is hoped there will be no offence taken 
 at their being again reprinted.— They appear to be of 
 general ufe, and writ in fuch a way as cannot fail of 
 edifying thole who will read them with care and 
 attention. 
 
 The Character of the Worthy Gentleman, 
 who left thefe papers as his laft will to his children, 
 is well known to many, efpecially in the South of 
 Scotland, where his eftate lies : — He is to this day 
 remembred with honour and efteem, as among the 
 cloud of witnefTes in the years, 1662, 1663, &c. 
 who fuffered even to the fpoiling of his goods, 
 knowing that he had in heaven a better and an en- 
 during Jubilance. — He is now in that happy world, 
 enjoying an eternal reft, and the accomplifliment 
 of the promife, If we shall suffer with 
 
 HIM, WE SHALL ALSO REIGN WITH HIM, 
 
MEMOIRS 
 
 O F 
 
 WALTER PRINGLE 
 GREEN KNOW. 
 
 Written by Himself. 
 The SECOND EDITION. 
 
 EDINBURGH: 
 
 Printed for William Hamilton Bookfcilcr. 
 MDGGLI. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive ' 
 
 in 2011 with funding from 
 
 Princeton Theological Seminary Library 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/memoirsofwalterpOOprin 
 
MEMOIRS, &c. 
 
 Some few of the free Mercies of God 
 to me, who am mod unworthy, and 
 my Will to my Children j left to them 
 under mine own Hand. 
 
 At Greenknow, on Saturday August 2d, 
 1662, being a private Fail-day to me. 
 
 SECT. I. 
 
 S1 1 N C E my God gave me children, it hath been 
 ) much upon my mind to record, for their 
 ufe, the wonderful Goodnefs of God to me; 
 which I have delayed to do for fome Years : So that 
 now, unlefs preventing Mercy help, I mail not get 
 it fo performed, as once I might, when the word- 
 ings of God were frefher upon my fpirit than at this 
 prefent time. Yet I will not limit my Holy One, 
 who can, and, in due time, will fend the Comforter 
 to bring to my remembrance what is needful ; then 
 fhall I declare the riches of his free Grace to me, 
 the chief of finners. However I will labour as the 
 Lord (without whom I can do no good) (hall give 
 it me, to ftir up and exhort my children, to flee 
 from the wrath which is coming upon a loft world, 
 and to lay hold on the offered falvation j but know- 
 ing mine own weaknefs, I would not offer to do 
 any thing of this kind, were it not to my children: 
 A who 
 
2 Memoirs of 
 
 who I hope will bear with mine infirmities, and, if 
 any thing efcape me, will do as Shem and Japheth 
 did to their father. But, if there be any mockers 
 among my children, I truft this fhall not come into 
 their hands ; that is a curfed child indeed, who dare 
 mock, at the words of a fnher, tho' but minting at 
 truth, efpecially, when he is dead. For I do not 
 inteed, that this fnall come unto any of you, until 
 I be gone out of this 4ife : So Miope mywordemay 
 then have fome weight with you. Oh ! to have 
 you all to enter in, with your mother and me, to 
 thefe rnanfions, which our blefTed Lord hath pre- 
 pared for all them that love him. Will any of you 
 be {o mad, as to feparate yourfelves from that joy- 
 ful and glorious company ? I believe that thole of 
 you who die in your childhood fliall be faved, through 
 the riches of the free Grace of God in Jesus 
 Christ. But if any of you perifli, being .come 
 to age, your deftruclicm will be of yourfelves : For 
 you muft look to receive according to your faith, 
 and works ; by faith we are faved ; and where 
 faith is, there will be works alfo : If any man love 
 our Lord, he will keep his commandments. O 
 how all the truths of God are linked together ! It 
 is not in the power of enemies to break that chain, 
 though it hath been their endeavour fmce the be- 
 ginning, and -will "be unto the end. " Yet heaven 
 4< and earth mall pjfs away, but one jot, or one 
 a title of the word of God fliall in no ways fall 
 c< to the ground*" My children, read the Scrip- 
 tures diligently, and pray for die Spirit of Truth, 
 that you may underhand them : for altho' they are 
 plain arid eaiy unto fuch as are taught of God, 
 iho' the* were but babes, yet are they hid from the 
 . r.r.J prudent of this world. Oh ! they are 
 
 not 
 
Walter Pri-nglf, 3' 
 
 not happy, whom the world doth efteem to be Co : 
 For what is the honour, and what are the riches and 
 pleafures of this world, but as a bulked hook, which 
 many times doth draw the poor foul to dreadful de~ 
 ftruclion? This is the broad way, wherein many 
 are "walking; but drive ye to walk in the ftarrow 
 way, which leadeth unto life : Then (hall it be better 
 with you than the tongues of angels and men can 
 exprefs. This truth my foul doth believe: and 
 I leave it unto you lubfcribed with the hand of youc 
 father. 
 
 Sic fubferibitur, WAL. PRINGLK, 
 
 BlefTed be my God, who hath helped me to begin 
 tliis work, and who I truit will perfect it. 
 
 SECT. II. August- 27, 1662, 
 
 SOme have wifdom, and others have learning^ 
 which doth help them to bring forth that which 
 may be efteemed of, either for the matter, or ior 
 the language : but as for me, I can neither fpeak 
 nor write lenfe, if God help me not ; alfb I am of 
 a lazy difpofition, and cannot pray, nor meditate, 
 nor write, except my Holy One ftir me up to it ; 
 I have therefore caufe to blefs him, whenever lam 
 helped to any religious exercife. I will now offer to 
 mention fomewhat of the Lord's way with me. 
 
 In my childhood, tho' I was much indulged by 
 my parents, and greatly given to playing, yet now 
 and then I had fome far off looks towards God, 
 beginning to pray unto him : once efpecially, I re- 
 member at the north eaft-end of Stitchhill-hall (be- 
 fore there were any new building or a garden there) 
 A 3 my 
 
l\iemcirs of 
 
 my heart was, for a fhort time, very much drawn 
 forth toward God, funding fellowship with him Tweet- 
 er then all things elfe, which could not be attained 
 without the pardon of (in ; fo I was led to defire 
 that, and did alio beg grace to watch over my heart, 
 that fuch a frame might not depart from me ; and 
 for iome time I did watch as carefully over my 
 thoughts and wjards as ever I did fince. 
 
 Perhaps I could not, at that time, exprefs thefe 
 things fo diftinelly, but fure I am I felt them more 
 lively, and fully, than now I can declare; BlefTed 
 for ever be he who looked upon me in my low Jtate. 
 I was often led alfo to acknowledge God, in my 
 childiih concernments, fuch as, the getting of my 
 ieflbn, or being freed from reproofs; frequently 
 praying to efcnpe correction, when I expected it. 
 It is now my wonder, that I mould then have fo 
 acknowledged a power above man's, . ruling the 
 iinalleft of his actions, and far more the greater!:. 
 "When now I believe this, what mould trouble or 
 move me ? It is my wife and mighty God, my 
 gracious and loving Father in Christ, thatruleth 
 heaven and earth, and all the children of men, and 
 without him a hair of mine head, or of the heads of 
 any of his people, cannot fall to the ground ; that 
 which is or mall be, both is, and mall be accord- 
 ing to his will : This is my reft, and herewith am 
 i fatisfied. Let me, and all his chofen ones, ever 
 be fo. What will become of all you, who have 
 no intereft in this alone Governour ? If you have 
 a fliadow of profperity, it will but laft for a mo- 
 ment, and not fo much, if it be compared with 
 eternity; for a moment, \\h?n it is fo compared, is 
 not a moment ; and then, when your not a moment 
 is pair, what will you do ? Oh ! they have got a 
 
 great 
 
Walter Pringle, 5 
 
 great length, who believe there is fuch a thing as 
 heaven, and hell, and do fit down to ponder thefe 
 truths ferioufly : many fay, and imagine, that they 
 believe them, but do it not ; for if they did, they 
 would either be under ' the terror of the one, or 
 joy of the other ; yea, the full perfuafion there- 
 of would diitracl: thofe who are under wrath, and 
 ravifh the heirs of glory. My children, ponder 
 thefe things, foiy however I utter them, verily of 
 ihenifelves ■ they are moil weighty, 
 
 SECT. III. September 6th. 1662. 
 
 fm JT Hu s was I kept under convictions, from (a y 
 -*■ I remember) the time I was feven or eight 
 years of age, until I was I 2, or I 3, the love and 
 fear of God ruling my heart in fonie meafure ; 
 about the end of which time, when I was about 
 II years of age, my precious brother went wife 
 me to Stirling, where I was a year or two taught 
 by that eminent and pious miniiter Mr. James Lockie, 
 who at that time could get no entrance into i< 
 church, becaufe he would not conform to thebifnops. 
 He was removed by death about the time of the 
 covenant. As long as I was his fcholar, I diii 
 proht very well in learning, for it was pleafant unto 
 me, he had fuch a good method of teaching ; as 
 alfo he had very much of my heart ; but mod of 
 all it was his work to inflruct us in the ways of God, 
 keeping a good order in his family, in which I Wfcf, 
 with 13, or 14, others. . He ufed to caufe us get 
 many of the pfalms by heart, defiring us to repeat 
 them to ourfelves, after we went to bed. I remem- 
 ber my reft was never fo fweet to jne ; as when I 
 A3 
 
6 Memoirs of 
 
 had repeated them, and ufed fome other devotion ; 
 1 have many times then refted, as under the fhadow 
 of the loving-kindnefs of God j blefTed be he for 
 ever, who fo fhin'd upon me. 
 
 SECT. IV. November ift. 1662. 
 
 Was not a little fenfible of- the death of that 
 worthy man whom the Lord took up to mount 
 Pifgah, as it were, to fee the land, (viz. the work 
 of reformation) afar off; after the firft news whereof,* 
 he was taken into his reft. After that I made no 
 progrefs in learning, neither was I fo kept in the 
 v-:ivs of God ; tho' fometimes good thoughts were 
 horn in upon rne, and I was kept in the love of 
 powerful preaching. Often I have been rcfrefhed, 
 by hearing Mr. Thomas Wilkie minifter of Liflie, 
 \yhofe feholar I was in the year 1638, who did 
 frequently fhed tears, while he was preaching ; at 
 that time 9 or I o of us did formally bind ourfelves 
 together, in a bond of brother-hood and love ; in 
 which, we alio engaged ourfelves to the national 
 covenant. I mention thefe things, becaufe I love 
 not to forget, or to break thefe ties which we came 
 tm^ier, even when we were but children, fince the 
 thing in itfelf was lawful, altho' may be, it was 
 raftily gone about by us at that time. In the year 
 1 639, I was at Leith fchool : then did youthful 
 tufts and corruptions begin to prevail over me, be- 
 ing fironger in me than the grace of God. I will 
 not mention my particular abominations ; for what 
 Gem hath hid and covered, I will not reveal : only 
 to mine own (name, and to his praife, -who fpared 
 and had mercy upon me, J confefs that for ten 
 
 years 
 
"Walter Prixgle. y 
 
 rears together, I was the chief of finners ; yet was 
 I never without conviction, knowing that I was not 
 then in the way of peace, and life, and that if I 
 fhould have died in fuch a cafe, at that time, dam- 
 nation would have been ray lot. Often in this per- 
 fuafion have I gone on in hazards, in the wars and 
 otherwife, and thus have I ftept about the brink of 
 the bottomlefs % pit, out of which there is no return- 
 ing for them who once fall into it : but bleiTed for 
 ever be my Goq, who had then a merciful eye upon 
 me, and thoughts of love unto me. Thefe years 
 of darknefs, deadnefs, and finfulnefs, one of them 
 was fpent, or rather loft, in Leith, two at Edin- 
 burgh college, five at home and in the wars (being a. 
 volunteer) and two in France. Seldom all this time^ 
 had I the confidence to pray unto God, or to wor^ 
 (hip him ? alas ! that I fhould have lived fo long 
 without him in the world ! O ! that I may now be 
 fo much the more diligent, in redeeming my time*. 
 
 SECT. V. November 19th. 1662. 
 
 A Ll this time of my fearful going aftray, I had 
 •*•-*■ a love to the godly, and a high efteem of my 
 worthy brother, whofe memory is fweet tome. He 
 joften fpoke edifyingly to me, and fometimes I had 
 freedom to open my cafe to him : I cannot forget 
 his loving parting with me, when I went to France ; 
 where I had not ftayed a year, until I was ftrickert 
 with the news of his deceafe, which made me go 
 alone in the fields a whole day, having none to fhare 
 with me in my grief (altho' I had much love of the 
 French, and there were none there but French) 
 for none knew the great lofs which I fuilained. I 
 
 thm 
 
& Memrirs of 
 
 then thought, that the death of no friend would 
 ever afterwards move me;, and in fome meafure I 
 have found it fo ; for when any of my friends are 
 removed, ordinarly my nrft thoughts are, my dear 
 brother is gone :- but why mould this trouble me? 
 for I fhall foon go to him, and (which is mod of 
 all) to his God, and my God ; I am fure it is not 
 the worfe for me, that he is gone before me, altho' 
 I cannot fay, it is to prepare a place for me, blefTed.- 
 for ever be my Lord, who hath taken upon him- 
 felf that work. O how much doth his love fur- 
 pafs all created love ! my God, lift upL my foul 
 above all creatures unto thyfelf, that I may love thee,, 
 and adore thee ; I know this mall be my pleafanb 
 work for evermore. Oh ! my children tafte and fee 
 how pleafant a thing it is to know, and enjoy Gor> 
 in Jesus Christ. I am as one got into a good 
 habitation, and would foin have you with me. Oh !. 
 how fweet is the life o{ a Chriftian, even while in 
 this world ! while I am now in the body, I earneftly 
 defire to perfuade you of thefe truths, for 1 fhall not 
 come back out of heaven, that I may declare unto 
 you the joys which are there for ever: Gcd hath 
 not appointed that way, but hath given unto you 
 the words of Mofes and the prophets, and the words 
 which our Lord fpake when he was in the fiefh, 
 and the words of his apofHes ; and if you will not 
 believe thefe, " Verily neither will ye believe 
 " though one mould rife from the dead." You can- 
 not glorify God more, than by believing, and what 
 if I fay, that they glorify him mod, who upon leait 
 f round (to exprefs it fo) truft him : " Bleiled are 
 " they that have not feen, and yet have believed". 
 For which of thefe think ye honoureth a king mod? 
 hie. that truiteth his iimple word, or he that will have 
 
 his 
 
"Walter Pringle. 9 
 
 his word, oa\h and writ for it : the thoufand part 
 of a word, from the Holy One, who cannot lie, is 
 more fure, than all thofe from man. But, Wetted 
 be God, who doth fo condefcend to our weaknefs, 
 as not only to give us his word, but his oath alfo, 
 " That by two immutable things, in which it was 
 11 impoflible for him to lie, we might have ftrong 
 " confolation, who have fled for refuge, to lay hold 
 " upon the hope fet before us ?" O ! dear children, 
 haften, yea haften to fly from wrath into that hope ; 
 left the other oath pafs forth, viz. " Left he fwear 
 u in his wrath, that ye fhall not enter into his reft." 
 O depart not from the living God ! this I exhort 
 you unto, while it is called to day. 
 
 SECT. VL November 24th. 1 662, 
 
 T N June I 648 I came home from France, and 
 -*- was much prefTed by my loving father to marry ; 
 feverals were fpoken of to me, but I could not in- 
 cline fo much as to go and fee any, until the good 
 providence of my God led me to fee my wife, at 
 her brother in-law Whitebank, his houfe of Black- 
 haugh, where I went ta ftay a night with my old 
 and intimate acquaintance, without the Ieaft pur- 
 pofe of feeing her, or any other \ and, altho' I 
 had been often in her brother's houfe, yet had not 
 feen her: neither did I think that he had a daughter 
 for marriage, tho' I loved the family ; but I found 
 it otherways, and from this time my afFedtion was 
 to her. But that this was only from the Lord, 
 may appear by the accidentalnefs of my going there : 
 For I had been in Edinburgh with my father, who, 
 hearing of his brother ftewhall's ficknefs, fent me 
 
 out 
 
lo- memoir's of 
 
 out to fee him, and Whitebank came to Newhall to 
 me, and took me home with him that night. Blef- 
 fed be my God, who thus guided me in this, which 
 Is of moil concernment of any thing within time;, 
 yea it may be faid, it is of eternal concernment to 
 you our children : for me not only is inftant in in- 
 truding you in the fear, knowledge, ! and love of 
 God, when you are come to be in any meafureca- 
 pable, (as yourfelves are witneifes) but alfo fhe putteth 
 up many prayers for you, yea often before you came 
 forth of her belly. Likewife by her holy walking, 
 before you, fhe fheweth forth in her own conver- 
 iation, that whereunto (he doth-fc-much exhort you. 
 "What will become of you, if ye flight all this ? 
 feeing your mother is fpeaking to you the words of 
 the kingdom, while fhe is yet alive with you. And- 
 I (after I am gone) by this, flill pre/ling you to 
 come out from a world, and from your natural ftate, 
 and to enter into, and come thro ? - the new-birth ; 
 without which you cannot enter into the kingdom 
 of God. It is true God worketh in us both to will 
 and to do ; but it is your part to wait at wifdom's 
 gates, and to lay hold on his ftrength, that you 
 may make peace with him, and to go unto him that 
 you may have life. Bleifed be he who willeth not 
 the death of a finner, but faith unto you, " why 
 will ye die!" hear his voice, and obey it, then 
 mall you live for ever ; fo be it; 
 
 SECT. VII. December lit. 1 662. 
 
 f I ' His mine afTe^ion I kept fecret within mine 
 
 A own breaft, fearing that my father, becaufe- 
 
 of the ihialnefs of the portion^ would not give his 
 
 con feat. 
 
Walter Princle.' h 
 
 confent, without which I was refolved never to marry : 
 But atlaft my father, finding me averfe from any he 
 mentioned to me, began to fufpect, that my mind 
 was that way ; and when he pofed me upon it, I 
 confefTed it unto him : and fo great was his tender- 
 nefs unto me, that he confented and gave me way 
 to propofe it, which I did to herfelf and her friends, 
 having never fpoken of it to them before, and ap- 
 pointed a meeting with them at Edinburgh for that 
 effedr, for which and other bufinefs my father went 
 in ; but the next day, before he had met with any 
 of her friends, he was feized upon by ficknefs ; and, 
 within 14 days in the beginning of May 1649, he 
 was very peaceably removed from a troublefome 
 world, I trail into life eternal. Thus I was left, 
 being 24 years of age, and having little experience 
 in the affairs of the world, with the overiight of 
 eight of my dear brother's children, and a fitter's 
 fon : my care was to difcharge a faithful duty to them, 
 tho' the lad of thefe hath other thoughts at this 
 time, and is prejudg'd againft me: I beg forgivenefs 
 to him, from God, who is my witnefs that 1 never 
 wronged him in a farthing, to my knowledge; 
 yea, I had rather quite all that I have in the world, 
 then bear fuch a fting in my conference, and defile 
 my foul with that which is evil. BlelTed be my 
 God, I'm free from any fuch thing : Some there 
 are, who know the truth of my innocency, and that 
 a juft accompt was given of his eftate. The pro- 
 feiTion I have walked in thefe 14 years obligsth me 
 to fay this much, as alfo the delire I have, that 
 you my children fhculd live righteoufly in this pre- 
 fent world, maketh me clear up to you, what may 
 (cera to be other wife in xnyfeif j yea, my ftudy is, 
 
 10 
 
12 Memoirs of 
 
 to have always a " confcience void of offence to- 
 4i ward God, and toward men." And dear chil- 
 dren, what will it profit any of you, tho' you could 
 *' gain the whole world, if you lofe your own fouls V- 
 O ! but a holy and upright walk with God and men, 
 will bring you unexpreflible peace of mind, which 
 will be unto you a continual feafl. This is that 
 which maketh a man bold as a lion ; for when the x 
 world doth challenge, and condemn, God doth 
 abfolve. And what if our righteoufnefs mould not, 
 as it will in a great meafure, be cleared up, until 
 the great day of judgment come ? may we not reft 
 fatisfied till then ? Oh, my children fo live, as with 
 joy of heart, you may wait for, and expect that 
 day-; and never judge it well with you, until you 
 win to fuch a frame ; for every good and faith- 
 ful fervant joyfully waiteth for his mailer's coming. 
 Ponder thefe things. 
 
 SECT. VIII. December 2d. 1662. 
 
 f" Must mention here, that immediately after I had 
 **■ written what is above faid, in our family exer- 
 cife, yeflerday morning, the firft word read by my 
 worthy friend, the meflenger of the Lord, Mr. Luke 
 Ogle, who is here for the time, was Ifa. xxvi. 7. 
 " The way of the juft is uprightnefs: Thou moft 
 u upright, doft weigh the path of the jufl;" And 
 is not this mofl fuitable to that, which I have 
 been faying, by way of vindication ? Five months 
 pad, after my father's deceafe, e're I proceeded in my 
 marriage ; in which time, I had good days at a com- 
 munion in Lauder, which was the Iaft which that 
 precious fervant of God Mr. James Guthrie, whom 
 
 I 
 
Walter Pringle. 13 
 
 I may call my father in the gofpel, if any man may 
 be fo called, had in that place. And altlio my 
 wife now was there at that time, yet I remember, 
 I had fcarce one thought of her all thefe three days, 
 tho' I had very much of that which is called love. 
 After that time I was led into a more clofe way of 
 ■walking with my God than formerly. Sometime 
 feeing Mr. Guthrie, to whom I made known my 
 purpofe of marriage, afking his advice, he defired 
 to understand if I knew any thing of a work of 
 grace in her heart, which he faid was mod: neceflan-, 
 and that her having a good woman to her mother 
 was not enough to me : But I was engaged before 
 this, and have nothing to afcribe to mine own pru- 
 dence or forefight, but very much, yea more than 
 can be expreffed, to the goodnefs of my God, who 
 not only gave me a good wife, but alfo made it ap- 
 pear to me that me was fo before our marriage ; 
 for, after we were contracted, by a wonderful 
 paffage of his providence, carting her unto flcknefs, 
 which lire herfelf, and we alfo thought might have 
 proved deadly, Ihe then fpake freely of her foul's 
 concernments; whereby the Lord's working upon 
 her fpirit did fully appear to me, and my fcrupb 
 I had was then removed. When I remember this, 
 I mult glorify the name of my God; praife be to 
 him for evermore. My children, I advife you, 
 when you read what I write in this book, to read 
 no more than one days writing at one time, which 
 you fee is but very little : For I defire to be very 
 ferious in this that I do, and intreat, that you 
 may be fo in reading. I commit all unto God, 
 who can work upon you by means, and without 
 me.ms. 
 
 33 EGT, 
 
14 Memoirs of 
 
 SECT. IX. December 22d. 1662. 
 
 T N November 1649 we were married at Stow, by 
 •*■ that renowned Mr. James Guthrie. My wife 
 •remained in Torwood'ie about fix months, and 
 -thereafter came home to Stitchill, where we flayed 
 five years with my mother; and with us, there 
 were five of my brother's children (for Elizabeth 
 itay'd always with her mother, and- the two youngeft 
 ions were removed by death) my fitter's fon, and 
 my dear friend Mr. James Aird. During this time, 
 we had a very loving, fweet, and peaceable fociety : 
 My wife did grow in grace, and in the knowledge 
 -of God, of which fhe is more able to give an ac- 
 count than I am. If before that time (he was laft, 
 yet I'm Hire fmce me is firft, and far more able to 
 declare the wonderful riches of the goodnefs of God 
 than. 1 am : yet it is not my part to be lilent in this 
 matter ; for blefled be he, who is ever willing and 
 ready to let forth abundantly -unto me : But oh ! my 
 narrownefs and fiacknefs in receiving from him. Yet 
 I fhall glory in mine infirmities, if he be exalted, 
 who was, is, and fliall be for ever glorious in him- 
 felf, and nothing elfe is fo ; for all the creatures are 
 more or lefs glorious, according as they enjoy of, 
 ?,nd give glory unto him. The angels and faints in 
 glory delight in nothing more, than in declaring that 
 all they have is from him : His infinite wifdom, 
 power and goodnefs brought them and u-s, who are 
 here below, out of nothing, that we may for ever 
 be happy in him. O for an enlarged heart to praife 
 4iim ! Should 1 not blefs mine own lips, when they 
 are opened to mew forth his praifes, and the hand 
 lihjch doth write them down ? Q that I may never 
 
 love 
 
Walter Pr ingle, ij 
 
 love myfelf, but that he may be exalted in me, ami 
 by me, that is to love him only ! -O fweet raviihment, 
 to be ravifhed with his love ! My children, I allure 
 you, that other lovers will not, neither can fatisfy 
 you ; for they are vain and finite s But begin ye fin- 
 cerely to love God, and upon my lire [this great word 
 Iexprefs, to hold forth the certainty of. this truth] 
 the more you love him, the more you (hall deiire 
 to love and enjoy him : Then Ihall you fet to your 
 feal, that God is true, and that his word is fo alio : 
 Then fhall you fay, " Now we believe, not becaufe 
 u of thy faying : for we have heard him ourfelves, 
 " and know that this is Christ the Saviour of 
 " the world." 
 
 SECT. X. December 25th. 1662, 
 
 TNtil the Englifh army came into Scotland, I 
 ^-^ was much taken up with fuits of lav/ for my 
 pupils, being always a defender ; but now and then 
 I had fweet moments, even while I was attending 
 at great mens doors. It was no (mall affliction to 
 me, that I got fo feldom Hayed at home, where I had 
 fo much ground of outward contentment, and in- 
 ward advantage to my own fpirit, but this I endea- 
 voured to bear as my crofs. When the Engl if h 
 came in, I went to our army, and had my mother, 
 my wife, and the children in Edinburgh, until we 
 were defeat at Dunbar, after which I brought them 
 home to Stitchill; and my wife being big with 
 child, I flayed with her until fhe was delivered of 
 our daughter Katharine, upon the loth day of No- 
 vember 1 650. The next day a party of the En- 
 glifh came in, and took up all this country ; where- 
 B 2 upon 
 
1 6 Memoirs of 
 
 upon I vent and flayed eight clays in and about 
 Torwoodlie; then being accompanied with my bro- 
 ther Torwoodlie, I came in the night time to fee 
 my wife ; and as we were returning back, it was 
 my lot to rencounter one of the Englifli upon horfe- 
 back, whom I killed, knowing that I could not get 
 a prifoner carried to our army, for we had difficul- 
 ty to get to it ourfclves. And that which cleared 
 me the more in this was, that he never afked quar- 
 ters : But what of raflmefs was herein, I believe 
 aiFuredly, that the Lord my God hath pardoned it ; 
 and that it is done away in and thro' Jesus 
 C&rirt my Saviour, who hath faved me from 
 many grievous tranfgrefllons and fins, which can- 
 not be numbred, to whom I defire daily to run, 
 as unto a ipring of living waters, " A fountain 
 *■' opened for fn and for uncleannefs," and one who 
 hath " the words of eternal life:" In him I defire 
 always " to be found, not having mine own righte- 
 ** oufnefs, but that which is by faith in him:" 
 This is that new ancf living way. " BlefTed for 
 **' ever be the Father of my Lord Jesus Christ," 
 who drew me into him, and will now a guide me 
 u by his counfel, and afterwards receive me into 
 * ; glory." The building of the temple was denyed 
 to David, becaufe he had been a man of war, and 
 hr.d flied blood ; it is good to be tender of the 
 lives of the lhialleft living creatures, but much more 
 of man's life, not thrufiing out the immortal foul, 
 vhicjj rcturneth not again within time; for the befl 
 of men may fay, " Spare me a little, that I may 
 44 recover itrength, before I go hence, and be no 
 14 more.*' Thefe and other confiderations move 
 mr to advife you, my fons, to embrace any other 
 lawful employment, rather than to be foldiers : But 
 
 I 
 
Walter Priscle, 37 
 
 I will not wholly lay this bond upon yon, fince I 
 don't efteem it to be unlawful ; for if it had been 
 fo, our blefled Lord's forerunner, John the Bap- 
 tift, would have faid more to thefe foldiers, who 
 enquired at him what they mould do, than com- 
 mand them to be content with their wages, &c, 
 In our time we have feen pious men in that em- 
 ployment ; and I believe, that there is a time com- 
 ing, wherein " Hoiinefs mall be written upon the 
 " horfes bridles ;* and far more (hall it be written 
 upon the riders. Only, my fons, if ever, in any 
 part of the world, you engage in this employment, 
 be fure you have on your fide, the LORD GOD 
 of HOSTS, that whether you live or die, it may 
 be unto him. 
 
 SECT. XI. December 31ft 1662,- 
 
 'TTHis preceeding account is one of the mod con-- 
 -** fiderable pafiages of my life, and upon it de~ 
 pendeth much of my Chriftian walk, as may after- 
 wards appear ; and therefore I have mentioned it. 
 After this, I fpake with my worthy friend Col. Gil- 
 bert Ker, at Glafgow, to whom I prcpofed to re- 
 turn, when once I had been at St, Johnfton. At 
 Stirling I advifed with my dear friend Mr. James 
 Guthrie, anent mine own and my brother's children 
 (to whom that faithful man had ever a mod tender, 
 refpect) their concernment?, then I went to St* 
 Johnfton, where I had not flayed eight days, until 
 the news came of the total defeat of Colonel Kcr's 
 forces at Hamilton. I remained at St. Johnfton 
 till the caftle of Edinburgh was to be rendered to 
 B. 3 the 
 
l8 Memoirs of 
 
 the Englifti ; and my own and my pupils writs 
 being there, I took occafion to come over to 
 Edinburgh, upon our chancellor's pafs, and from 
 thence 1 came home to Stitchili, where I was not 
 many days, till the Englim got knowledge of me, 
 and of that which I had done ; whereof, and of 
 their purpofe to apprehend me, I was advertifed, 
 tho' I had not the lead inclination to go from 
 home, yet being prefTed by my friends, I went to 
 Northumberland, and flayed fome few days in my 
 coufin Major Pringle's houfe; after which, I retur- 
 ned home, and expected every day to have been 
 taken, if notworfe; for I was informed that the 
 man who was killed had friends, who made many 
 *. ows to be avenged : but nothing could move me 
 in the frame of fpirit wherein I was, yea, many 
 -si time I then thought, that I could as willingly 
 have opened the buttons of my" bread, to receive 
 death's flroke, as ever I did to go to bed. At 
 length a party of horfe came and took me, 
 and kept me prifoner that night at Dornick ; 
 where ( v. ill never forget) it wa my ordinary 
 to read the ioo pfalm, which I did with very 
 much joy and peace, altho', as to the outward, it 
 was the darken hour of trouble I have had in my 
 life : I was alone with them all that night, for 
 thele of the hoiife I knew not. The next morn- 
 ing my mother in law came to fee me: and that 
 day I was carried to Selkirk, and examined by Ma- 
 jor Robcrtfon, of whole regiment the man had 
 been : I denied nothing, but pleaded, that 1 was 
 i fbldjer (landing upon defence of my country from 
 ?he invalion. afterwards I was let go, upon my 
 in law and Whitebank their bond of 2000 
 L Sterling penalty that I fhould compear again. 
 
 All 
 
AValte-r Pringle. ic* 
 
 All this time, my true friend, Mr. James Aird, was 
 molt diligent and careful, in foliciting the chief 
 officers at Edinburgh for me, and rode many miles 
 for that bufinefs ; which love of his I and mine 
 fhould ever remember, and therefore I thus mention 
 it ; he did what was done, yet little aflurance could 
 be had from men, of my life ; for when I went fe- 
 cretly to Edinburgh and laid the bufinefs, as it ftood^ 
 -before my worthy Lord YVarilton, he advifed me 
 not to compear, and fo did others ; but I could 
 never agree to that, but gave up my felf into the 
 hands of my God, without whom I knew a hair 
 of my head could not fall, and who ruled over 
 them who fought my life. The reft ef this I mult 
 leave till the next occafion, which may be to-mor- 
 row, if Gon give it, and fpare me; unto his holy 
 will I ever defire to {libmit* 
 
 SECT. XII. January lit 1665. 
 
 A T laft, the chief officers were content to refer 
 ■*• the matter to the captain of whofe troop 
 
 the man had been, to whom my mother very 
 fpeedily pay'd 150 1. fterling, for the life of the 
 man's friends, as they pretended. In all this, I was 
 wholly paffive ; for all was done by Mr. Aird ; 
 only my mother pay'd the money at Torwoodlie^ 
 where the captain had his quarters. I had never 
 a fweeter time in my life than this was, being fully 
 aifured, that whatever way it went, it Tnould be 
 well, for I fought nothing, but to have God to 
 be my God : And bleifed for ever be he, who gave 
 himfelf to me, and gave me full fubmiflion to his 
 will : yet I was not without fome fubmiffive deflres, 
 
 that 
 
20 Memoirs of 
 
 that he would free me out of that' trouble ; for' t 
 thought if I mould come to lofe my life, it would 
 not be a clear fuffering for the name of Jesus 
 Christ, efpecially feeing fome made it then their 
 trade, to kill them for their purfes \ but that \va3 
 not my cafe, for I would touch nothing of his 
 but his- arms, O! what a happinefs I thought it 
 was for one to lay down their life for Christ. 
 Thefe confiderations mov'd me to think, that if 
 God would deliver me and lengthen my days, I 
 mould be wholly his, and at his difpofal : Many 
 a time have I vowed lb to be, both then and fmce> 
 and here I do renew my vows, fetting it*down 
 under my hand, That God (without whom I can 
 perform nothing) ibrengthning me, I {hall forlake 
 houfest, lands, po Heltons, country, friends, wife, 
 children, life, and all for him, to whom oftner 
 than once or twice I have given all that feemeth to 
 be mine, which now I profefs I enjoy as lent by 
 him to me, whofe voice I hear fay to me, " occupy 
 "'till 1 come." Lord and Matter help me fo to 
 do. And now not only thefe outward things do\I 
 give unto thee my God, bur, which is far more 
 than all thefe, even the eternal life of my foul, as 
 a token of my love to thee, and I truft in thee, 
 who will make all to work together for my good, 
 both here and hereafter. So that, in this my re- 
 ligning up of my life unto thee, I (hall be no lofer ; 
 for it is to one that will keep it better than I can ; 
 but I will not fpend my care upon that only : I 
 pray, Father, keep me from firming againft thee, 
 and keep me in thy love always ; and when I 
 think that I Hand, help me to take heed left I fall, 
 and help me always to mind the good of thy peo- 
 ple; praying for the peace of thy Jerufalerrs My 
 
 children, 
 
Walter Fringle. 21 
 
 children, whom for a while I've forgotten, oh I 
 ftrive to enter within the walls of this Jerufalem ; 
 for peace lhall only be there, and profperity within 
 her palaces. 
 
 SECT. XIII. January 31ft. 1663. 
 
 TN the year 165 1 I became a conftant hearer of 
 "*• that lively man Mr. John Livingftone, going' 
 every fabbath-day from Stitchill to Ancrum. By 
 the way I have had many a fweet hour, and I ever 
 heard him with great delight and profit to my iou\ t 
 always efteeming the word fpoken by him not to be 
 his, but God's. Beyond any that ever I knew, he 
 hath brought his wifdom, learning and parts (whereof 
 he hath a very large (hare) molt in fubjeclion to God ; 
 So that not by thefe, but by the movings of the fpi- 
 rit of truth, did he fpeak out of the abundance 
 that was in his heart ; therefore, thro' the goodnefs 
 
 Ol GOD, JliS wCiuS wlu i'vaCii iiitG tile licaitS Or 0" 
 
 thers ; but, in a word, he hath feen the glory of 
 God, and doth fpeak what he hath feen and heard. 
 I am a debitor more than I can exprefs to this 
 worthy man ; for, befide the hearing of him preach, 
 I have had fweet fellowship with him, ever delight- 
 ing in his company : and once when I was lying 
 in one bed with him at Eglingham, about the middle 
 of the Night, I awaked with mofl fweet breathings 
 upon my fpirit, which caufed me to flied tears with 
 much joy, upon my pillow : this I revealed not to 
 him, and here I mention it without any obferva- 
 tion, left I mould feem to be pofitive in that which 
 is not yet underftood. Now this precious man is 
 banilhed out of thefe lands by the lords of council ; 
 
 as 
 
2Z M embus of 
 
 as a child from a father did I part with him at* 
 JLeith, upon -die 14th day of this prefent month : 
 Yet nothing cf this doth trouble me, but the fear 
 I have of what the Lord God may be minding, by 
 banifhing fuch mining lights out of the land : If it 
 be his will to remove his glory out of this, and 
 our neighbouring lands, that he may plant it among 
 fome others of the nations of the earth, I willingly 
 fubmit to his Sovereignty; only I pray, that my 
 poor children, and the children of the faithful in 
 thir lands, whom I'm bound to remember, may be 
 taken away to refide in the place where the name 
 of our God mail be. And if it be his holy will, 
 that our carcafes mould fall in the wildernefs, we 
 not feeing any more of thefe good days which we 
 have feen, nor of the glorious days which are com- 
 ing, fo be it. Yet, oh ! Lord God caufe the po- 
 fterity enter in, and let them not be rebellious as 
 we have been.- Yet do I not know how foon his 
 wonderful mercies may prevent us : Oh to believe ! 
 we mould then fee all things to be poiuble, O ! for 
 a fpirit of prayer to be poured out upon his peo- 
 ple in thefe lands, that we may take hold of him ; 
 Kot letting him depart, for there is room enough 
 (lb to fpeak) m our Father's houfe, for thefe and' 
 other nations of the earth alfo. • 
 
 SECT. XIV. February 28th. 1663. 
 
 T Ca-me from Stkchill, to remain at Grecnknow, 
 "** in March 1 655. After which I was no more 
 a conftant hearer of Mr. ■ John Livingftone, being 
 taken up with worldly bufinefs througli the week, 
 my ddire was to reft on the fabbatb, that is, to 
 
 bring 
 
I 
 
 Walter Prixgle. 23 
 
 bring in my mind from off all things elfe, to think 
 on my God, fo driving to be ftill, " that I might 
 " know that he alone is God/' Pfal. xlvi. 10. 
 which once was a rich place to me, and whereupon 
 I have often fed; for thefe feveral years paft, I had 
 never any doubt, which did not prefently evanifh, 
 when cnce I believed that truth of all truths, that 
 God is; then did I believe the whole truths that 
 are contained in the Scriptures, and then was I 
 •quickned and (Irengthned for every duty ; but often 
 in one day would this truth be with me, and from 
 me : not that ever I fell into that height of atheifm, 
 as fully to deny God, but often have 1 wanted the 
 prefent full perfuafion of his Being, whereof I have 
 been more fully allured, than of mine own, and 
 that not becaufe I have been brought up with the 
 hearing others fay {o y but, blefled for ever be he, 
 who hath often made every pyle of grafs, and every 
 moving creature, yea, whatever I did fee with my 
 eye, or touch with my hand, to preach forth unto 
 ■me his infinite Power, Wifdom, Goodnefs and 
 Glory. My foul rejoiceth in the faith, and full af- 
 furance of this, that He is and that he is a " re- 
 il warder of all them that diligently feek him.'* 
 Oh ! ray dear children, drive to be of that happy 
 and bleiTed number, whofe reward is not yet known ; 
 4i for now are we the fons of God, but it doth not 
 "*' yet appear what we mail be." Take God for 
 your guide, and he will lead you fafely into his 
 giory. Others may point at the way ; but who can 
 carry a foul through the many difficulties of this life, 
 and far lefs through the valley and fhadow of death, 
 but God alone ; who can clear up every doubt, turn- 
 ing darknefs into light, weaknefs into ftrength, and 
 death unto life, giving a being unto things wh'ch. 
 
 are 
 
£4 Memoirs of 
 
 are not ? My children, know him, adore him, and 
 believe in him, that ye may have it to fay, " Now 
 " we' believe," not becaufe of . our father, and 
 others their fay ings, but having " heard him, our- 
 felves," we know indeed that he is the " Saviour 
 " of the world." Need you not this falvation ? 
 If you can fay, that you are happy without God, 
 then do not feek after him : but Oh ! none can have 
 fuch a fearful thought in their heart, and the con- 
 fcience, which is God's witnefs, not accuiing them 
 of their 'abominable lying. And now, feeing there 
 is no happinefs, true joy, nor peace, but in God, 
 arife and feek it in him thro' Jesus Christ, forfak- 
 ing all other lords, and mailers, for you cannot 
 ferve two. 
 
 SECT. XV. March 1 6th. 1663. 
 
 "O Lessed be my God, who upon Tuefday lafl 
 gave unto me another child, to whom I may 
 leave fome words in record ; feeing I know not if 
 I fhall live till he come to underftanding, altho' I 
 may fay, that prayers were put up for thee, before 
 thou cam'ft into this world, yet I will mention what 
 was done at the time of thy coming into it. I was 
 in the inner garden, praying to my God, in the 
 time of my wife's travelling, when the news of 
 thy birth came unto me, and before I came up to 
 fee my wife, or had feen thy face, I bow'd down 
 upon my knees to worfliip, and give thanks unto 
 God, to whom I gave thee fully up in a folemn 
 manner, praying that thou mightft be wholly his, 
 and that he might care for thee ; for, what is my 
 care, or the care of the wifeit, or greateft of men, 
 
 with- 
 
"Walter. Prin-cle. 25 
 
 V/Wtout God"s bleffing ? This I did at the plumb 
 tree, on the north fide of the garden door ; 1 men- 
 tion the place, that, if thou come to years, it may 
 put thee in mind, after I am gone, of that which 
 was done for thee in the firft moment of thy coming 
 into the world. It will be a terrible thing for thee, 
 when thou com'ft to have knowledge of good and 
 evil, to deny or to neglect to give thyfelf unto God, 
 contradicting, by thy words or deeds, what I have 
 done, and fo ftriving to recal my word, which thou 
 can 'it not recal : For if thou receive not the truth, 
 h iii.ill be a witnefs againft thee in the day of judg- 
 ment, and mall add 'to thy condemnation; yea, 
 and mine eye fliall not pity thee, tho' now thorn 
 art near my heart, as alfo are all the reft of my 
 children. But I hope for better things of thee, arid 
 that, if thou come to age, thou wilt heartily confers 
 to that "which thy father hath promifed, and will feal 
 it with thy holy life ; and then may'ft thou lay hold 
 On this for thine encouragement, when thou doflr 
 ferve the God of thy father. O ! a rich reward 
 mail be given unto thee, and more than heaven and 
 earth mall be thy portion. With ail thy might and 
 (peed leek for life eternal : for fo foori as thou didft 
 enter into this life, thou cried 'ft, mortality. AnA 
 yefterday, being the day whereon thou waft received 
 into the vifible church, and baptized, orir faithful 
 minifter, Mr. John Hardie preached upon thefe words. 
 'P'fal. cii. 23. " He fhortned my days;" which was 
 very pertinent doctrine for a young pilgrim * for 
 thy name Waiter, is high Dutch, and doth fignify, 
 pilgrim or wood-man : Oh ! that thou and 1 may- 
 live as pilgrims in this earth, abftaining from fiefti- 
 ly lufts and pleafures, and travelling towards a city 
 which hath foundations. Since I hnderftood the 
 C meaning 
 
2(5 . Memoirs of 
 
 meaning of my own name, it hath been of fonie 
 ufe to me > I pray that it may be fo alfo to thee. 
 
 SECT. XVI. May 29th. 1663. 
 
 t T comes to my remembrance, to mention a paf~ 
 -*■ fage, concerning my eldeft fon Robert, how 
 that upon Saturday the 23d of April, I 653, be- 
 ing the day whereon I came home to Stitchill from 
 London, I heard at Wooller, that he was dange- 
 roufly lick, and, as was thought, could not be liv- 
 ing till I got home. And when I came, I found 
 him at the very point of death ; upon which I went 
 alone to pray for thee my fon, who was then about 
 fixteen months -old, and got very much affurance, 
 that it mould be well with thy foul if thou mould 'ft 
 fee removed, and did fully fubmit to the will of my 
 God, giving thee freely up unto him, yea defiring, 
 that my gracious God would rather be pleafed to take 
 thee, then in thy innocent days, unto himfelf, than 
 to continue thee to live in the world a ftranger and 
 enemy to him. Thefe thoughts were then more upon 
 my fpirit, than now I can exprefs them. Only, my 
 dear fon, with thy whole might feek grace from 
 God, that thoumay'il fulfil the defires of thy father, 
 in living unto God ; in fo doing alone thou (halt 
 be happy. I know not if I can leave thee what I 
 prefently poffefs of the things of this world, altho' 
 I think I mall rather add to them, than take from 
 them ; yet I know not but God, who gave them 
 unto me, may take them from me, or call me to for- 
 fake them for Ins truth's fake, as fome in thefe days 
 are call'd, and honoured to do. Wilt thou be 
 offended at me, if I quite the things of this life, 
 
 which 
 
Walter Pringle. £7 
 
 -ftrfclch lafteth but for a moment, for that life in glory 
 wli.c'i (hall have no end. Oh ! my fon, be thou 
 fo fai from condemning me, if I receive grace to 
 make this wife choice, as to make it thyfelf : then 
 fhalt thou be a wife merchant, when, with the fale 
 of all, thou buyeft that ineftimable jewel, the favour 
 and peace of God; ihen fhalt thou find that there, 
 is, " a hundred fold even in this life (with per- 
 fecution) and life eternal:" O! who knowcth the 
 worth, or glory of that life ? have any come back 
 to tell us what thefe manflons are ? or if they had, 
 would we hear or underfland their relation i it is 
 our bed to believe, that " now we are the fons of 
 4i God ; and that it doth not yet appear what we 
 " fhall be." 
 
 Dear fon, think on thefe things, until thy heart 
 be ravifhed with tove to God, who fent his Son 
 Jesus Christ to purchafe this Great Salvati- 
 on. What I fay to one, I fay to all of you, " Love 
 ** God, keep his commandments," which are not 
 grievous. Thus have I fpent this morning, and 
 (God affifling me) fhall not fpend the afternoon in 
 conforming to the world, in ranting, and rioting, 
 and drunkennefs. God pardon this perverfe gene- 
 ration, and warn them to flee from the wrath to come. 
 
 SECT. XVII. August nth. 1663. 
 
 V[/ t Hen firft I came to dwell here, it was much 
 * * upon my fpirit, to intreat my God, who 
 doth appoint the bounds of every one's habitation, 
 as Acts xvii. 26. gracioufly to mine upon us in 
 this houfe, and (as then I was led to mention in a 
 letter to my worthy brother Whitebank) that as the 
 C 2 name 
 
q£ Memoirs of 
 
 name of tins place is Green, fo he might pray the 
 Lord to make it green and flourifliing. Many a 
 prayer was put up to God in this houfe, before I 
 taffle here ; and O ! that the name of God may be 
 made mention of in truth here when I'm gone, yea, 
 ong as fun and moon endureth : This is a great 
 requclt for me to alk, but it is a finail tiling for my 
 God to give, for he is a Gejat King. 
 
 When 1 came hither, I did more than before, I 
 look upon this as mine own family, having from God 
 received the charge of it, with my wife, who, in the 
 iervice of God, is truly a helper unto me ; for the 
 family worfhip hath been often better performed by 
 her in my abfence, than by me when prefent ; only 
 it was much upon my heart, that we mould ail 
 together in the love and fear of God, flrength- 
 aing and helping to build up one another. 
 
 I could then have wii'hed never to change one 
 fervant : but when I found that could not be, I was 
 ltd to think and hope there might be a good pro- 
 vidence in often changing (l being paiilve) feeing, 
 that thereby many might hear, and fome of thefe 
 might get a word caft in ; which, though it fhould 
 ly long hid, as feed under the ground, yet, thro* 
 the Cccdncfs of God, might fpring up before the 
 hour of their death. However his word never re- 
 turneth empty, for it is either the favour of life or 
 death, in both which God is glorified; and feeing 
 it is fo, his under-labourers fhould reft abundantly 
 fafisfied, when in fincerity they have done his work : 
 "But, Oh ! heartily do I defire to find in heaven 
 monuments, thro' the riches of God's free grace, 
 and infinite power, of my poor weak endeavours 
 in the family, or in this, which I leave to you my 
 children. I fhould thiilk myfelf far, yea far more 
 
 happy, 
 
Walter Pringle, 29 
 
 kappy, i£. I can be an inftrument of gaining one 
 poor foul unto God, than if I mould conquer th< 
 whole earth ; for a man's happinefs doth not con- 
 fift in thefe things, which do laft but for a time, ar.i 
 do often wear out before time be at an end : for 
 where are thefe monuments, (tatties, and pillars of 
 brafs, and marble, which great men of old rear'd 
 up for a memory of their names ? And tho' thefe 
 were all (landing, and their memories, which they 
 fo much efteemed, were yet frefli in this world, 
 what could all that profit thefe famous mighty 
 men, if their fouls be not in heaven ? there are Jail- 
 ing and during things, which time cannot wear 
 away, yea time cometh not there. My dear chil- 
 dren, O that you and I may fo obey God, while 
 we are here in time, as that he may, of his free 
 mercy, receive us into that blefTed habitation with 
 fcdmfelf for ever! 
 
 SECT. XVIII. August 24th. 1663. 
 
 "DEcause of that which is faid in the 9th and 
 icth pages, I will here mention, that upon 
 Wcdneiday laft my lifter's fon Graden, came hither, 
 and acknowledged, that he had been in the wrong to 
 me, in alledging my mifmanagement o£ his affairs, 
 and in obedience to my Lord's command, I was 
 ready very^ freely and heartily to forgive him, which 
 J (hall teftify, when ever I can be ferviceable to him. 
 Bleifed be my God, who hath cleared up mine in- 
 nocency, in this which I *fet down here, only to 
 vindicate the profeffion of religion I am under ; if 
 again he mould change, it will have no weight, but 
 will be imputed to his inconftancy. The men of 
 G 3 this- 
 
3-0 Memoirs of 
 
 this world efteem their good name very dear to 
 them ; but how much more fliould ChrifKans, whole 
 dialled miibehaviours get the name of God blaf- 
 phemed ? but by whofe good works the name of 
 their heavenly Father, is glorified ? Some princes 
 fervants will hazard their lives, and all that, they 
 have, for the credit of their worm-mafter : Oh 1 
 how much more mould we, the fervants of the Al- 
 mighty, and infinitely glorious God i which if we 
 lufflciently knew, we would cry out, Who is fuf- 
 ficient for thefe things ; and would certainty take 
 good heed to our goings always, driving " to keep 
 *' our conferences void* of offence toward God, 
 " and toward man." For if one poor foul minting 
 after God (hall leave off its duty, falling upon the 
 Humbling block of a Chriftian's offence, it had 
 been better for that Chrillian to have been caflen 
 into the depth of the fea. As he is happy who. is 
 tnilrumental in converting .a foul unto God, how 
 miferable is he, who turneth away a foul ? my God,. 
 pardon v. herein ever I have offended any of the 
 generation of the juft, or have given juft caufe to 
 others to fpeak againfl the way of truth, and help 
 rue in time to come, to watch and be fohep. And 
 O Lof.d wipe away the offences of thy people, 
 which have too much abounded, in thefe days, thro 5 
 their covetous and felfiih ends, and want of love 
 one to another; and for thy name's fake, bring 
 Them out of the furnace (for tiiey are now in it) 
 as gold purified ; and fit and prepare a people for 
 ehy feif in- the earth, that thy will -may be done here, 
 as in heaven, and that it may appear unto the chil* 
 shea of men, that thou haft not forfaken the earth, but 
 haft yet many gracious promifes to accomplish, and 
 ;;:.,rc Glorious appearances to Hiew forth, than we 
 
 or 
 
\TaLTER PpvIrfGLE, ji 
 
 or mxr fathers have yet feen. O that I and my 
 children may be of the number of thofe who wait 
 for thy falvation, and, thro' thy mercy and power, 
 may be able to difcern thy coming, and may dravz 
 in to thee our blelTed Lord, as the eagles are by 
 natural inftinet led from far to their food ! for 
 many, who think that they are friends to thy truths, 
 will be found refifters of that power wherein thou 
 wilt come, and thy glorious appearance (hall fo dazle 
 the light of many, that their fhew of light mail be 
 turned into darknefs. There was- never a people 
 more called to watchfulnefs, than in thefe latter days 
 are : " The Spirit and tile Bride have been faying 
 u come," Oh! to have oil in our lamps; for our 
 staffed Lord will now foon come. " Let him that 
 u heareth, and him that is athirlt fay, come ;" and 
 let my foul always fay, " Even lb come. Lord 
 " Jesus." 
 
 SECT. XIX. September 3d. 1663, 
 
 T am very defirous to haften thro' what is part ; 
 "*- therefore I only incline to mention fhortly mine 
 imprisonment in the caftle of Edinburgh, upon the 
 26th of September 1 660, with Sir Andrew Ker of 
 Green-head, with whom I had very fweet fellow- 
 (hip for 15 days, which was the time we were in 
 prifon, and one of the fweeteft times I have yet had ; 
 for both of us were led forth to rejoice in the crois 
 of our Lord Jesus Christ, and were mod: wil* 
 ling, through his grace and ftrength, to forfake all 
 for him ; the Lord our God keep us ever in the 
 fame mind. Sii.~e that time of our coming out of 
 prifon, I have had very much outward peace and 
 
 cmietneiS. 
 
32 Memoirs of 
 
 quietnefs, having no trouble upon me, or my fafciiy, 
 except only the afflictions of the people of God, 
 With whom I ever defire to fympathize, forrowing 
 with thofe of them that forrow, and being in bonds 
 with them which are bound. My plenty is often a 
 burden to me, when I remember their wants ; and 
 now I know not what this peace and plenty may 
 mean, unlefs that I mould be laying up in ftore grace 
 to help me in the time of my need, when my trial 
 cometh, and- when the waters mail rife and rwell 
 agarnft me : O that then I may ftand faft in the Lord, 
 and may evermore, even to the end ! for the crown 
 is only to fuch ; and they are not worth}*, to be his 
 difciples, who will not endure all, deny all for him, 
 >~ow, I know not what is before me, nor what this 
 or any one day may bring forth ; neither dein-e I 
 to know, but to truft all to the infinite Wifdom, 
 and Goodnefs of my God, who hitherto hath help- 
 ed me, and who, I hope, will never leave me to my 
 foolifh wifdom, and weak ftrength. O to know 
 mine infuinciency, that I may the more know the 
 Ail-faniciency of my God ! BlefTed be my God, 
 whofe promife I have, that he will guide me,by his 
 counfel, whrle I am here ' f if this were not, I would 
 cry out, O carry me not hence» ? but feeing thou ar* 
 with me, tho' I be but a worm, yet I will not fear, 
 but will go on confidently, though I know not whither. 
 O what a dangerous journey are the wifeft of the 
 children of men going, who have not God for their 
 £uide ! they may tremble every moment, and if they 
 fully knew their own condition, they would be as 
 in the torments of hell, until they, had an 4nterel't 
 in God. O how is this blind worlcf rufhing onto 
 tkeir own ruin ! My dear children, haften, haften, 
 hJten to leave them ; and their way, which leadcth 
 
 to 
 
"Walter Pr>xgle. g3 
 
 to death, and look not behind you ; " Remember 
 " Lot's wife : ; ' yea, look not to the beft of men 
 in all' their actions, for thefe are not perfect patterns, 
 but have God always before you, driving to do 
 that which is right in his fight, and putting your 
 trull: in him only : and then when he calleth, you 
 may walk on the waters, and not be afraid, and 
 you may go into a den of lions, or to a burning 
 furnace ; yea, you may go thro' death and judg- 
 ment, and not be affrighted. If thefe things were 
 believed, what would we not do, or fuffer, in our 
 journey I and if we. knew him, who is the Lord of 
 Glory, what would we not undergo, for his blefled 
 Name's fake ? Gh ! my children, feek a difcovery 
 of him in mercy, and follow on to know him : 
 then (hall ye be happy, and mail with delight confefs, 
 that fuch a knowledge of him is too wonderful for you, 
 and that you cannot fully attain unto it, for he is 
 Infinite* O that you may all be his redeemed 
 one3 ! On the laft Sabbath at Weftruther, it was 
 joy to my foul to fee one of you, I mean my daughter 
 Katharine, fit down at the table of the Lord de- 
 Crous to eat, and to drink in remembrance of him % 
 The Lord God bring thefe deflres in thee on to 
 a perfect flame of love to him ; and grant, that as 
 thou art entered into the communion of faints here, 
 fo thou may 'ft be with them in heaven for ever 
 and ever ! 
 
 SECT. XX. October 5th 1663-. 
 
 \A Y children, fince the laft day I wrote herr, 
 
 you have an aunt gone to heaven, the Lady 
 
 Haining,. who paft from this world, on the 28 th 
 
34 Memoirs cf 
 
 of September iaft. Many of your kindred, (l truft) 
 are walking in the way which leadeth to glory ; 
 I know none cf your uncles or aunts of your 
 mother's fide and mine, who have corae to age, 
 and have not broken off the way of the world, 
 which leaded] t pea ion: yea, all of them are or 
 have been proleflbrs of truth and holinefs ; 1 fay 
 have been, for fbnie oft] hn, v.Lo ftiihed in their 
 genercuien, are now in perfection mining before 
 their and our Cgj. O that we may run after them, 
 tha; are gone into glory before us, with all our 
 might ! for the wrath which we flee from is terrible,, 
 and the prize which is fet before us, is great and 
 glorious, and lafteth for ever. BleiTed for ever be 
 my God, who of his rich free Grace, hath fo 
 Jhin'd upon the families of Torwoodlie and StitchilL 
 V that you who come after may tafte of the fame 
 goodnefs : u You are compaffed about with a great 
 
 * cloud of witnelTes," as thefe which are mentioned, 
 Heb. xi. and throughout the Scriptures, and all 
 thefe martyrs and faints which have lived fince. 
 M O let us lay afide every weight and fin, and run 
 
 * with patience the race which is fet before us ; 
 " looking" (which is the beft look) " unto Jesus, 
 "'the author and finifher of our faith." We may- 
 exceed in our thoughts of angels, or faints, as the 
 man did, who offer'd to worfhip the angel ; but 
 we can never think enough of God; for who can 
 reach the end of infinite glory ? O I when we have 
 wearied ourfelves with adoring him, then let us be- 
 gin to adore; and worfhip him : and when flrength 
 faileth us, let us pray, that he may renew our 
 ftrength. O happy are they who conftantly move 
 in this circle ? My children, when you have once 
 sailed and known the fweetnefs of tjiis way, you will 
 
 never 
 
Walter Prikole\ 35 
 
 never deCre to move one ftep out of it, unlefs igno- 
 rance come in the place of your knowledge ; there- 
 fore " work out your own falvation with fear and 
 " trembling; and let the joy of the Lord be your 
 u ftrength." This circle is not a prifon, but per- 
 fect liberty, all who move not in this way of fer- 
 ving God, and adoring him, are and mall be fhut 
 up in utter darknefs 1 but they that walk in this 
 circle, tho' they were fhut up, and bound with 
 chains, and their feet faft in (locks, yet are they in 
 a large place. The mind and foul enemies cannot 
 fhut up in prifon. My children, I may lay out 
 many motives before you to perfwade you to walk 
 in the way of life ; but you will find all thele to be 
 but fmall, when once you get a broad look of God 
 himfelf. It is not angels, or faints, or created 
 glory, that is our heaven ; but God alone is our 
 Heaven, our Happiness, and our All. When, 
 at any time, our fouls are raifed up to think on what's 
 above, where Blessed He is; let us again .come 
 down with delight, to do his will here in the world, 
 patiently waiting for his good pleafure, without 
 which nothing can befal us. O then ! why mould 
 we be moved, to fear what can come ? O to be freed 
 from fin I I have now no more time to write. 
 
 SECT. XXL December 3d 1663. 
 
 T TPon Saturday gone eight days, my children, a- 
 ^' nother of your aunts palled away from this 
 life; viz. my lifter Craigie ; fhe exprelTed unt© 
 me her alTurance of mercy and falvation, thro' Je- 
 sus Christ; fo that we have one friend more in 
 heaven. I am not troubled at the death of my 
 
 relations 
 
%$ Memoirs cf 
 
 relations that die in the Lord; yea, I efteem it 
 more worthy to me, to have them in heaven, than 
 hi this world; for that is the place, where we mould 
 u lay up treafures for our felves, where moth and 
 u ruft do not enter:" But when we think of our 
 treafures in heaven, we mould again think, " whom 
 u have we there, but God ; or whom mould we 
 i( delire on earth befide him ?" He that faid this, 
 found no need of faints in heaven to interceed for 
 him. '" We have an advocate with the Father, 
 ** Jesus Christ the Righteous," who telle th be- 
 hevers that the Father himfelf loveth them, from 
 whom we may aik in his name ; and to allure us 
 the more, he faith, " And I fay unto yen, that I 
 " will pray the Father for you." They know 
 not the Father's k>ve and jeaioufy, who make" 
 wfe of the intercefflon of angels, or faints. My 
 children, feek God in earneft, and you fhall knev/ 
 ibis, and all needful truths. G how neceilary is 
 this knowledge in thefe days i when many are fay- 
 ing, Lo here is Christ, and l-o there: be the 
 more diligent, and fear, becaufe " ftrait is the way 
 il which leadeth unto life, and few there be that 
 u find it." Yet "fuch a way it is, as that the 
 wayfaring ones, tho' fools, err not in it : for fure 
 is the covenant, which is made with believers; that 
 they have the word and oath of him, who is 
 truth, itfelf. Reft not until you get this to lean 
 unto. Oh ! I cannot be fo ufeful unto you, my 
 dear children, as to prefs you to this, and when my 
 God doth lieln me ib to do, either by this mean, 
 or by praying for you, then have I a good meafure 
 of peace in mine own mind. This maketh me 
 think alFuredly, that God doth allow me in this 
 fmall work, of leaving this under mine "hand 
 
 unto 
 
Waiter Prixgle. 37 
 
 unto yoti ; for when I have done any part of it, 
 tho' never fo weakly, yet I have joy and reft in 
 my heart ; which is the more heightned, when I 
 win to hope, that all or fbme of you, may come to 
 profit by it. Another encouragement to this way 
 is, when I think how many precious ones, upon 
 their death-beds, get few or no words fpoken to 
 their children, or to thofe about them, for pain 
 said other hindrances. So that it is good to work, 
 u while it is to-day, for the night cometb, wherein 
 " none can work;'' Yea, that night may come 
 before we go out of this world, fometimes by di- 
 ftempers upon our bodies, or fpirits. Thus defire 
 I to make ready, for what the will, the good wil! 
 of mv God (hall be towards me; that when the 
 hour of death cometh, I may have nothing to do 
 but die. I defire to lay very little ftrefs upon that 
 laft moment : how ignorant was that man, who de- 
 fired to die the death of the righteous ? my chil- 
 dren, live this holy life, and you fhall afluredly be 
 led thro' the valley and ihadow of death. 
 
 SECT. XXII. December 25th 1663. 
 
 CInce what I laft faii, I met with another en- 
 **■* couragement to this duty of writing to 'you, 
 my children, viz. An honeil friend (hewed me a 
 very chriftian letter written by her hufband, now 
 deceas'd, to her, which me doth intend to keep for 
 their fon, and only child, who is not as yet three 
 months old, thinking that he may lay to heart the 
 father's words, whom he did never fee in the face : 
 and how much more, my children, mould you mind 
 what I fay, feeing it is exjprefiy to you, that I am 
 D led 
 
33 • /Memoirs of 
 
 led, I trull by the Spirit of my Gor>, to Write, 
 tho' in great weaknefs upon my part. But blefled 
 be my God, who perfecteth ftrength in weaknefs ; 
 fo that, in a manner, it is ail one, whether a man 
 be weak or ftrong in himfelf, feeing God can, and 
 often doth make the weak words of a weak man, 
 to be more powerful than thofe of the wife and 
 prudent, tho' honed as well as the other; for 
 cJod, who freely giveth, doth beftow the blefTing 
 •.ecording to the meafure of faith. That is our 
 Lord's commendation, l( O woman, great is thy 
 *' faith ;" and the anfwer is, " Be it unto thee 
 " even as thou wilt." But ftrong Peter, when he 
 began to doubt, began to fink. The promife is, 
 ** That whatfoever we a(k believing, we mall receive 
 " it." And now, O that my faith were increafed 
 not only for my feif and for the work and people 
 of God (which is now low in mens account) but 
 alfo for you my children ! that I were oftner pray- 
 ing, and believing for you ! It is true, you mufl 
 fay for yourfelves, I believe in God ; that is, every 
 one of you mud be fayed by your own faith : Yet 
 it is my duty to be laying up a ftock of prayers 
 for you, and when I afk, it ought to be in faith, 
 *'■ not wavering," and fo much the more earneft 
 fhould I be in your behalf, as I know not to what 
 darknefs of ignorance I may leave you : for oh ! 
 where will this backfliding generation flop, who are 
 now returning to thefe abominations which they 
 formerly vomited up ? as witnefs, their keeping (or 
 rather prophaning) of this Chriftmas-day, againft 
 which obfervation of holy days, as they call them, 
 much is written and faid by able and pious men, 
 and I haye enough to fatisfy myfelf : but (hall fay 
 nothing here but this, that any who will obferve 
 
 (hall 
 
Walter Pringle. 39 
 
 fhall find, that they who are mod earned in obfer- 
 ving thefe things, for which they have no exprefs 
 command from God, are leaft careful in keeping 
 what is commanded. My children, the darker the 
 time be wherein you live, the more diligently feek 
 in unto him, " who is the light of the world ; 
 *' he is the life and light of men." If you come 
 unto him, he will in noways put you away, butwiM 
 love and receive you more tenderly than I, or 
 all the fathers and mothers in this world, can do : 
 The greateft pleafure you can do him, is to go unto 
 him, and to put all your wants over upon him, 
 yea even fin alfo. Happy is he cr me, who lay 
 their fins upon Christ Jesus, and take his crois 
 tipon them ! They fhall foon come up *{ from the 
 '" wildernefs leaning upon their beloved." He bare 
 his crofs alone, but fo cannot we, for he knoweth 
 our weaknefs, and is ever with us, yea even when 
 he feemeth to hide his face. O ! who can exprefs 
 the love of Christ ? We may tafte of it, and 
 the more we tafte, the more fweetnefs fhall we find : 
 and know, that angels and men cannot exprefs the 
 riches of that love, which fhall be admired to ail 
 eternity, oh ! what is the world doing ? or rather, 
 what are they whom Gob calleth out of the world 
 doing ? and what am I, who am writing this, do- 
 ing ? that I am not with all my might feeking to 
 have my heart fUPd with this love. Now Goo r 
 who hath given to you my children, and tome, 
 hearts as fo many vefTels, firft empty them of all 
 vanities, and then fill them with his love. 
 
 D 2 SECT, 
 
40 Memoirs of 
 
 SECT. XXIII. January 30th 1664. 
 
 \T/Hen ever I begin, I'm in pain what to fay, 
 until I commit my mind and pen unto God, the 
 Father of fpirits, who giveth fubtilty to the 
 fimple, and to the young man knowledge and 
 " difcretion :" but as ftraitned in the beginning, I 
 am fometimes fo enlarged before I end, that I know 
 not how to end ; and how can it be otherwife, 
 fince it is my work to fpeak of God, of whom 
 the more I think (and thoughts ore far vafter than 
 words) the more matter find I of thinking? my 
 children, foon may you come to the end of all 
 treated things, if you fit down and think : your 
 thoughts may eaiily pafs thro' the habited and 
 anhabited parts of the earth, and thro' the feas, 
 and up thro' the firmament, and whole created 
 heavens ; alfo you may think on all that move with- 
 in thefe, but at lail the vail mind mull flop when 
 it thinketh on him who is infinite. When in 
 our thoughts we come to the wttermoft circle of 
 the creation, can we then put out the finger, or 
 can tell what is without ? O ! it becometh the 
 inofl learned, and the wiieft of men to profefs their 
 ignorance, and, with Mofes, make hafte to worfhip. 
 As alfo we may trace up time to the beginning, 
 and we may think that before that, there were 
 neither angels nor men, nor a created world ; but 
 only that bieffed Being, which gave being to all 
 things, who only is without beginning ; in that con- 
 ilderation, can our thoughts reach unto him ? They 
 who have any ftamp of the infinite God upon 
 their minds will find no need of images to help 
 them to worfliip him, who hath form'd our minds 
 
 te 
 
I 
 
 "Walter Pringle, 41 
 
 to have an other kind of idea of him, than the 
 ivorks of men's hands can reprefent : Our minds 
 can go farther, than either tongue, or hands, or 
 any of the reft of" our members. The way to 
 worfhip him, " is to worlnip him in fpirit and 
 truth," as he hath commanded ! What folly is it 
 to go beyond his command ? my children, beware 
 of any fuch things ; do what is commanded, and 
 you (hall find no need of more ; fpend much of 
 your time in thinking on God : the more you do 
 fo, the more fhall you d'efire fo to do ; and that 
 which at firft will be a little painful, (hall at length 
 become more pleafant unto you than ccm be expref- 
 fed. I afTure you this is true, blefied be my God, 
 I have felt it many a time ; ^nd yet fo foolifli am J, 
 as often to wander from my reft and happinefs. My 
 children, will you not be certain of thefe truths, 
 when you come to poffefs them ? O f tafte and 
 know that God is good : There is no other way 
 for me to advife you to be happy, and oh, hov/ 
 fain would I have you happy i Let your valt 
 thoughts run thro' all, and you mall never find 
 true joy and peace until you come to God, in 
 and thro' Jesus Christ: prefs thro ? the many 
 hindrances, which are in your way, and delay 
 not a moment's time ; for when once you have got 
 near God, if then you can lament, it fhall be foe 
 the moments you have fpent without him. O ! 
 what (hall I render to ray God, for mewing me 
 thefe things in any meafure ? I will even praife 
 his name for ever and ever, and cite all cf you fo 
 to do, and all that is in heaven above, and in this 
 earth below, and in the feas, to fing forth his 
 praifes for evermore, for that he is only truly 
 D 3 goods 
 
4- Memoirs of 
 
 good, I leave it to you, my children, fubfcribei 
 by your father. 
 
 Sic fubfcrib. Walter Pringle, 
 
 SEC T. XXIV. March 19th 1664. 
 
 " JPon Monday gone eight days, at three in the 
 7"^ afternoon, at this place, my truly worthy 
 filler of Eccles pafTed from her earthly dwelling to 
 her place, which our bleffed Lord went long fince 
 to prepare in heaven. She took her ilcknefs upon 
 die 1 5th day of March I 663, (the day my fon 
 Walter was baptized) and was very near a year 
 under ficknefs and extreme pain ; which, to tire 
 admiration of allabout her, lhe endured molt patient- 
 ly, often, in the time of her molt violent pain, 
 praying her God and Father net to take off her 
 the leaft grain-weight of what was his will to lay 
 on. More chrjilian exprefiions I never heard from 
 any, than from her : In the whole time of her ilck- 
 nefs, all which time, except fome exercife upon her 
 mind for one day or two in the beginning, /he had 
 never the lealt doubt of her intereft in God ; but 
 exprelTed her full alfurance of his mercy and love 
 ro her, through Jesus Christ. 1 hefe feveral 
 years pad, fhe hath hVd a flranger in this earth, 
 feparated from this world/ and the things in it. 
 S' e had a great love to her ion Alexander ; the only 
 reafon, I know, was the ailiirance which (lie had 
 of his dying in the Lord. In her iicknefs me took 
 l>er fon John's engagement, to feck to become the 
 Lord's; telling him, that unlefs, he were His, he 
 {houid be none of her 's. I know none, who had 
 idle true love to the people of God than lhe had : 
 
"Walter Prijtgle.' 4J 
 
 and now faith and hope are ceafed, but that re» 
 maineth perfected. O ! that excellent grace of love 
 to God ; where it- is, it mud defcend to thofe whom 
 he begetteth ; verily this is all we have to feek, for 
 all other graces follow it as fo many wheels moving 
 fwiftly and pleafantly. " They that love him will 
 u keep his commandments ;" and they will not 
 find them grievous, but as their meat and their drinks 
 Hath not this love made many of his ling irLthc 
 fires, and in the greateft torments, which cruel 
 enemies could Invent \ Oh ! it is not in the power 
 of devils or men, to make that foul, which hath 
 this precious treafure, unhappy but for one moment 
 of time. We ma)', by fuffering it to ly as dead 
 under alhes, be ilrangers to our own h'appinefs : 
 but when God is pleafed to med it abroad in the 
 heart, O how pleafant is that flame I There Is 
 wearying in all things elfe ; but the foul that find- 
 eth itfelf filled with, and within the Love of God, 
 will afTuredly defire to abide there for ever and ever, 
 knowing that therein alone is their happinefs". My 
 dear children, what way mail I prove to you the 
 truth of this ? but I intreat you to, enquire of thefe 
 who in themfelves have felt it ; and if any o{ you 
 be fo blinded, as to think, that they fpeak from in- 
 tereft, then go to dying men and women, When they 
 are flepping, into eternity, and enquire of them, 
 if they think any happy, but thefe who are with- 
 in the loving kindnefs of God. Every one that hath 
 lived at a diflance from God, doth change his thoughts 
 when he fees death near him. But, Oh I my children, 
 put not off till that time come upon you, left 
 you fuffer for your folly for ever and ever.. But if 
 thefe two witneffes prove not this excellent truth 
 ro you ; can there be a furer way ; than for you to try- 
 
44' Memoirs of 
 
 it yourfelv^ ; as when a private man hath news 
 brought him, that a people hath chofen him to be their 
 king, is he not certain of the truth thereof, when 
 he goeth, and fltteth down upon his throne by the 
 hearty confent of all the people ? more certain mall 
 you be, when in yourfelves you prove this truths 
 
 SECT. XXV. October 3d 1664.. 
 
 T Was fummon'd to compear before the high com- 
 -*- miflion court, the 19 th day of July laft, for 
 declaring that I could not own Mr. James Stratoa 
 for my minifter, nor could join in prayers read by 
 the reader, nor in finging the conclufion, which is 
 now brought in : My reafons, I need not here in- 
 fert. I made my compearance before that court 
 upon the 2 1 ft, of July laft, and got their fentence, 
 as I have it under the clerk's hand, cf the fame 
 date. I went unto the bifnop of Edinburgh, upon 
 the 8th of September laft, but could not take the 
 oath, as he tender'd it, viz. without any expla- 
 nation, but the words as they ftand : This much he 
 exprefTed to me, that flipremacy and allegiance 
 ihouid always go together. And when I alledged 
 the parliament their explanation of that oath, he 
 anfwered, that there was no fuch thing in record, 
 and that the biihops were not then fitting in parlia- 
 ment. Alfo at the high commi/fion, it was (aid to 
 me, by the primate, who did prefide, that it was 
 true, that Christ is head of the church, but it 
 could not be expecled, that he mould exercife that 
 office here in the world ; and to whom did it (o 
 properly belong to do it, as to the king ? this oath 
 is to be found in ill and 1 1 th acts of the firft par- 
 liament 
 
Walter Pringle. 45 
 
 liament of King Charles the II. Here I am 
 interrupted. 
 
 SECT. XXVI. October 4th 1664. 
 
 A Fter I got my fummons, and before com-. 
 •^ pearance (having left the company I was with > 
 upon the windleftraw law) for a quarter of an hour, 
 I was earned with God in prayer, that he would 
 fo guide me, a worm in the bufinefs, as that his 
 Name might be glorified, his people edified, and 
 mine own foul better 'd. After prayer I refolved to 
 take the verfe in my Bible, which by providence 
 caft firft up to me, which is a way I rarely ufe to 
 take, and bleifed be my God, who fo favoured me, 
 as to fend me that word, I John v. I 5. " And if 
 " we know, that he hear us, whatfoever we ajk, 
 u we know that we have the petitions, that we de- 
 ? fired of him :" by this I was much ftrengthned 
 to put my truft in him, who never leaveth his in. 
 the time of need, and who I know, will encreafe my 
 ftrength, if troubles (hall be increafed ; fo that it is 
 all one whether the waters be ebb or deep, feeing 
 the head is ever born up. O ! everlafting arms are 
 underneath all thofe that fuffer for him : He never 
 fendeth any a way-faring upon their own charges, 
 of which number I am now bold to reckon myfelf, 
 tho' mo ft unworthy. I fhall not here infert the rea- 
 fons againft that oath, fince the moft part of the 
 Lord's people, in this land, are fo clear againft it ; 
 yea, many have already grounded their fufFerings 
 upon the refufing of it, who yet are moft free to 
 give allegiance to the king : but the oath as it ftands, 
 I know fhall appear every day more and more on* 
 
 juffj 
 
4-6 Memoirs of 
 
 juft, and againfl: the prerogatives of our Lord and" 
 King, whole fkirt of his robe, I blefs God, 1 have 
 not put forth my hand to cut off, now when any 
 who pleafeth may do it : but it will not always be 
 fo, for he will come forth conquering, and to con- 
 quer, O how fhall his enemies be then afhamed, 
 when in their hands (hall be found (with reverence 
 may i fay it) pieces of Christ's Glory ! O that 
 patience may have its perfect work in all the faints \ 
 3S T ow for myfelf, altho' I am a fufferer, and may be 
 a lofer for the time, for the laft high commiinon 
 day, I was order'd^ to be fummon'd upon I 5 days, 
 to pay the fine, yet I know all the Arithmeticians 
 in the world fhall not be able to number my gains t. 
 the fk.il! reacheth but the finite things ; the wifdom 
 of this world, judgeth that m this, I am not fo 
 careful of you, my children, as I mould ; God is 
 my witnefs, how dearly I love you, and how care- 
 ful I have been to provide for you, even the things 
 of this world, far lefs v foolifhly to put away what 
 jny father left unto me, which is now by God's 
 bielnng better'd : I need not here infert how much, 
 fince I judge it belt to quite it, when|my Lord ca.\kth 
 for it, untold; in thefe cafes, the left hand mould 
 not know what the right doth. I can't reckon 
 how oft I have held up my hand before God, and 
 promifed to be always ready to forfake all for him : 
 fomewhat of this you may find pages 1 5th and 20th. 
 When you know w r hat a worthy one he is, which 
 cannot be known, then fhall you find this to be true 
 wifdom, and that lofing of the life for him is gain- 
 ing of it. My children, fufpend your thoughts of 
 me in this bufmefs, until you be enlightned from 
 above, or elfe till death come ; then I know, I fhall 
 be approven of you. 
 
 Men's 
 
Walter Prikgle^ 47 
 
 Men's approbation is tome a very fmall bufinefe, 
 only I fain would have you confenting to every 
 parcel of truth, the leaft of which is worth a 
 thoufand worlds, which pafs away ; but truth re- 
 jnaineth for ever. BlefTed are they who fell their 
 all to buy it : many times it hath been my prayer, 
 that whenever I fnould fuffer, for now I have been 
 long without a crofs, it might be for righteoufnefs 
 fake ; BlefTed be my God, who hath heard me ; for 
 tho' as yet I can fcarce give my confinement, or 
 what is yet upon me, the name of fuffering ; yet I 
 know that in his account, it is a filling up of whet 
 is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flefh : 
 O ! I rejoice that I have flefh to do this. And 
 now, O blc/Ted God ; who makeft thy ftrength p^- 
 fe& in weaknefs, and who hitherto ha^i helped me, 
 carry me through even to tbf* ®"d ; ar *d as the fur- 
 nace groweth hotter, ftrengthen me to endure it ; 
 and never leave me, nor forfake me in it, nor yet 
 in profperity. I look to be left of my deareft friends, 
 yea even, it may be, of thy people, and of the wife 
 in my bofom. In all this I heartily fubmit unto thee, 
 holy Father ; but blefTed be thou who called me, 
 not to fubmit to be left of thee : I look not always 
 to have the fenfe and feeling of thy prefence with 
 me, come and go as pleafeth thee ; only caufe me 
 to believe, when I fee not, and when my finger is 
 not in the print of the nails, nor my hand in thy 
 blefTed fide ; by my unbelief, I cannot glorify thee, 
 but by faith I can. O I blefs and praife thy in- 
 finite wifdom, and goodnefs, for thus ordering it. 
 
 SEC T, 
 
4$ Memoirs cf 
 
 SECT. XXVII. December 5th 1664. 
 
 TPon Thurfday, the 24th of "November lafl, 
 ^•^ I was taken from this place, by three of the 
 life-guard, the fourth had fallen fick at Whitburn, 
 and a meffenger of arms, that night to G ingle-Kirk, 
 and upon the morrow into the Tolbooth of Edin- 
 burgh, where I thought to have ftay'd fome time, 
 and to have written to you, my children, while 
 there a prifoner of Jesus Christ; but 1 had no 
 opportunity of doing this, the little time I was there, 
 being fo throng'd with vifits* Upon the Tuefday 
 -thereafter, this fecond high commiffion (without 
 any application from me to them, or appearance be- 
 fore them) pall fcntence upon me to find bond to 
 enter to the magiftrates of Elgin in Murray upon or 
 before the firft of January next, and to abide with- 
 in the burgh, and bounds of the faid town, during the 
 Icing's pieafure ; and if the fine impos'd by the firft 
 high commiffion be not paid at Candlemafs next, I am 
 then to enter within the tolbooth of the faid burgh. 
 I "know not if this new commiffion could, without 
 new citation, meddle with the affairs of the laft, 
 whole commiffion is worn out. I had more friends 
 this time then before ; but the bifhops carry all in 
 that court, as they pleafe ; yet my heavenly Father 
 giveth me the cup, therefore defire I mod chearfully 
 to drink It 3 bieffed for evermore be my Lord 
 Jesus, who d-ank another fort of a cup for me : 
 nr r greateft deiire in this world is, that he may be 
 glorified by my bonds and fufFerings, and that his 
 people may be ftrengthned, and that fome here, 
 and in the place I go to, who are vet far off, may 
 
 be 
 
Waiter Pringle7 49 
 
 "be brought near to God. BlefTed be he, who can 
 make any mean effectual : I am confident, thro' 
 the goodnefs of my God, that not only myfelf, 
 but others alfo, lhall be much better'd by my fuf- 
 ferlngs ; thus fhall the defign of enemies be fru- 
 strate. O ! he is wife, who ruleth heaven and 
 earth, and maketh all things to work for his own 
 glory, and the good of his people : Praife, prai/e 
 be to him, who hath twitted thefe two together, 
 lb as devils and men cannot feparate them. Enemies 
 (in a manner) would come better fpeed if they Cat 
 idle, than by working. I lhall only mention a re- 
 markable pafTage, which God in his providence try- 
 fted me with, during my confinement here at home : 
 upon Saturday the 2 2d of October laft, I was in the 
 fields from 3 in the afternoon till 6, but got little, 
 until coming home in the quiet of the evening, 
 thinking what might become of my wife and chil- 
 dren } 1 was led to this comparifon of a king fend- 
 ing one of his fervants into a hazardous piece of 
 fervice ; and if the king mould fay to that fervant, 
 be not troubled for your wife and children, for I will 
 take thefe into my care, then that fervant needed not 
 be anxious for them ; and far lefs mould I, the 
 fervant of the King of kings, the God of truth, 
 who can and will perform his word. Upon this I 
 was made to give up my wife and children unto 
 God, with full affurance that he would care for them. 
 It had been my duty never to have doubted of this p 
 tho' no other confirmation had been given me : but 
 blefled be he, who knowing my very great weaknefs, 
 fent his fervant Mr. Edward Jamiefon upon the 
 Tuefday thereafter, who in his exhortation to the 
 family, had the very fame comparifon to the full ; 
 although I had not then made it known to any in 
 £ this 
 
5» Memoirs tf 
 
 this world. And now what need I fear the lofs or 
 my two fines, or of all I have in this world, fince 
 <the great and Mighty One hath taken you off my 
 hands 1 ? Oh that you, my children, when you come 
 to age, may give away yourfelves to Him ; you are 
 loft for ever if you do it not. When you come to 
 any- knowledge, " Uie all diligence to make your 
 * c calling and -election fure."' It is great matter of 
 joy to me, that in letters from my -daughter, I 
 have under her hand breathings after God, who 
 -will not quench her fm6aking flax, nor break 
 ■her bruifed reed. God give her grace to hold on 
 •her way : and fo wax ftronger and ftronger. O to 
 have you all in the way that leadeth to glory and 
 ■reft! Praise, praise ee to him, who can bring 
 .you into it ; and lead you in it t 
 
 SECT. XXVIII. January 7th 1665. 
 
 TPon the 2 2d day of the laft month, I went 
 frr from this with a purpofe to go to Elgin ; but 
 before I reach'd Edinburgh, my brother Torwood- 
 jie gave in a petition in my name to the lords of 
 council, who granted me to the. laft of this month, 
 recommending to the high commiflion to grant me 
 /a longer time. Altho' I feem to be at man's difpofal, 
 yet bleifed-be he, in whole hands I am, to whom 
 this morning I have renewed my vow, upon the. read- 
 ing of the I2tb verfe of the v. of the Revelation, 
 with this thought, that I need never fear to follow, 
 .thro' the thickeft testations, troubles, and enemies, 
 Xuch a General, who's is power and riches, and 
 wifdom and ftrength, and honour and glor) r , and 
 bleiEng. Soldier? will couragioufly go on, and fcorn 
 
 dangers, 
 
Walter Prisgle, 5} 
 
 dangers, when they have a wife and valiant captain- 
 before them. But knowing mine own infirmities 
 and weaknefs, my engagements is only in thefe terms, 
 and blefTed be he, who knoweth my frame, and al- 
 lowed* it fo, that he, without whom I can do no- 
 thing, giving me light, ftrength, and grace, then 
 mall I walk in the way of his obedience, and never 
 fly from his banner. My ordinary this morning, was, 
 from the 9th verfe of this vth Chapter to the end, 
 I think it is a ftrange.wav of reckoning or. r blelled 
 Lord Worthy, who was fo from ail Eternity, for 
 that he was flam, and hath redeemed us. O J blef- 
 fed be thou, O God and Father, who out of the 
 wonderful riches of thy infinite free Love, account- 
 edft the redemption of finners fuch a great work. 
 Now I defire to wear that crown, which thou wilt 
 give unto me, (the leaft of thine, and chief of 
 finners) for that end, that I may throw it down at 
 thy foot-ftool, and afcribe unto thee, who " fitteth 
 " upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, blessings, 
 
 " HONOUR, GLORY, and POWER, FOREVER AND 
 U EVER, AMEN. 
 
 SECT. XXIX. Elgin toibooth, March 22. 1665, 
 
 TPon the roth day of January, I attended upon 
 ^"^ the fitting of the high commhTion, who did 
 not then fit, but adjourn'd unto the 24th of January; 
 at which time 1 came again to Edinburgh, with an 
 intention to come on my journey ; but the high corn- 
 million gave a continuation of my entry to this 
 place, to the 10th of this month. Thefe delays 
 were obtained upon the account of my wife's being 
 big with child, who, thro' the goodnefs of God, 
 E Z was 
 
53 Memoirs of 
 
 was fafely delivered January 30th of a daughter^ 
 to whom we gave the name of Anne before bap- 
 tiim, which I delayed, in regard I could not, get it 
 done, in fuch a cleanly way as was defired. My 
 child, fo foon as thou art come into this world,, 
 thcu art a fufferer, not as an evil doer, blelTed be 
 God : O that he may give thee inward grace, even 
 tho' the outward feal mould not be obtained, praife 
 te to him, who doth not keep out, nor caft out, when 
 men do : he is againft the fhepherds, who feed not 
 the flock ; he himfelf will feek out his flock, and 
 fave them, Ezek. xxxiv. My God haften to do fa, 
 for thy glory's fake. February 23d, our ordinary 
 reading in the family, in the morning, was Pfal. 
 Iv. I thought to have done no more in the family 
 myfelf, for I expected Mr. Edward Jamiefon, who 
 was detained until the time of our exercife was paft ; 
 fo it did ly upon me, fome chriftian friends being 
 with us, to Cng Pfal. vii. from the pth verfeto the 
 €nd, and to read the I ith Chapter of Ezekiel. This 
 I mention, that I may hold on our ordinary, if ever 
 the Lord mail bring me back to them again; as 
 aifo that it may appear, how well our ordinary was 
 iryfted with our prefent condition ; for I believe, 
 that if the bed of men had known our (late, and 
 fet themfelves to write fuitably to it, they could not 
 have fent us words fo pertinent, as are efpecially 
 the 16, 17, &c. verfes of Ezek. 1 1 t-h Chapter. 
 Lord, open the eyes of thofe, who would equal 
 what they now write unto the fcriptures of truth, 
 upon which my foul defireth to feed, as upon green 
 paftures, finding myfelf in them, for the letter pro* 
 fiteih not. Upon the 24th of February, I came 
 from Greenknow, and left my aged mother, my 
 dear wife and children, friends and family, and all 
 
 for 
 
Walter PrikglfI 53 
 
 for his fake, for whom it is nothing to be kllPd all 
 the day long, when he enlightneth and ftrengthnctb 
 the poor foul. For His sake, came often in my 
 mind, when the ftormy weather was fharp on my 
 lace ; for I had fore weather betwixt Aberdeen ani" 
 this, fuch as ufeth not to be in March. But Oh ! 
 what is all this when compared -with what i 3 record- 
 ed of the faints in former times ? I mud cut fliorr, 
 for in this prifon, I have net a place alone, except ar> 
 upper room, which I may retire to, br.t cannot 
 write. I entered inhere upon the loth day cf 
 this month, my prayers is, that I may not go out, 
 until my God carry me out without fin. O thsr 
 he may keep me faithful unto death : and, as my 
 ordinary is this morning, Gen. xvii. to the 9th 
 verfe, '* May be my God and the God of my feed- 
 " after me;" even fo be it. 
 
 SECT. XXX. Elgin, July 5th 1665," 
 
 T^Lessed be my God, whom I defire to ferva 
 "*^ with my outward and inner man, who,, in a 
 cleanly way, brought me out of the toibooth. 
 fooner than I expected ; and that in the very nick 
 of a little piece of extremity ; for, upon the 6th 
 of April a prifonerwas put in Befide me, whom the 
 magiftrates refolve to keep very ftriclly^ therefore 
 we were clofed within the room, where we did fy 
 all that night : although I knew not how long I 
 might be in that condition ; yet I blefs God, 1 
 had never more peace in my mind ; for even in the 
 night time, when I could not lleep, b'ecaufe af noi— 
 fome fmell, I was refrefhed in my fpirit, with re- 
 mem brance ? that it was for His kame's- sake, 
 E 3 Vjpoa-. 
 
54 Memoirs if 
 
 Upon the morrow the town council met, and with* 
 out any defire from me, paft an acl, that I fhould be 
 removed to a chamber of the houfe, out of which 
 I had my diet ; and accordingly the provoft and 
 bailies came and brought me alongft. Thus did 
 my Lord give me favour in the eyes of thofe among 
 ■whom I am caft in the tolbooth, I could not ' 
 worfhip, except in the Spirit only, which I know 
 is moll acceptable to God, when further liberty is 
 denied ; but in my new prifon I might be alone^ 
 when I pleafed ; my only difadvantage was, that 
 it was not fo well air'd, as the former ; which I 
 think, occafioned very fore eyes to me, fo that I 
 was wholly disabled from reading and writing, and 
 had fometimes thoughts that I might come wholly 
 to lofe my bodily light, which had been but little 
 to lofe in his fervice, who is my Lord and Matter 
 the King of kings. I made it my prayer, with 
 fubmhTion to his holy will, that he would continue 
 to me that rich temporal mercy of fight : after 
 which time (blefTed be God, the hearer of prayers) 
 mine eyes became daily better, only yet they grew 
 worfe when . I read or writ much, which is the 
 <eaufe why I have here written fo little to you my 
 children j yet nothing I have faid, or can fay, will 
 prevail with you, to lay hold on eternal, life, with' 
 out God's blefling, the confiderartion whereof may 
 Hit me up to pray more for you, tho' remould 
 -write lefs • but I defire both may go together. 
 Upon the loth of May I was liberate from cloft- 
 prifon, by an order of the lords of fecret council,, 
 ■which was brought to me by my ..nephew Walter^ 
 giving me the bounds of a mile about this town, 
 4uring their pleafure. This was obtained by Stitc- 
 hill and the laird q£ Haining, far beyond their own 
 
 and 
 
Walter Pringls, 55 
 
 and others expe&ation. By the will of God I have 
 got this half freedom ; and when ever it fhall be 
 his good will to take it from me again, I defire to be 
 fully content. O ! Most high, I am at thy dif- 
 pofal, to do with me, and make of me, whatfoever 
 thou wilt, let me never repine. My dear children, 
 thefe are words but for myfHf ; but fo foon as you 
 fhall receive the Spirit of Truth, then fhall you, 
 from time to time, be taught right words. O that 
 you may receive the Lord Jesus, then fhall you 
 with him freely get all things. The Infinite 
 God is mere than all things, and he is the portion 
 of his people. O how is the world blinded, in* 
 efteeming them an opprefTed, fighing, poor and needy 
 people ! whereas their wont things are much better 
 than the world's bed, : and even that which maketh* 
 the ignorant count them miferable, is their greatefr, 
 happinefs within time, viz. the crofs of Jesus 
 Christ; for what is more defireable, and pro- 
 fitable, than to be made conformable, unto him, in 
 his fufferings and death ? O that I may become 
 more and more familiar to his fweet fweet crofs ! 
 blefTed be he who hath allured me in, under it, 
 even when I was- fhunning it» Now I may ac- 
 knowledge, that it is light, eafy, and pleafant ; altho' 
 my feparation from my dear wife, and you my chil- 
 dren, is as cutting off the head from the body ; 
 yet fuch killing is delightfome to me for His sake, 
 who giveth me now and then many a ftveet mo- 
 ment. This mny v/ell ferve, while Eternity come, 
 and I enter in where moments cannot be counted. 
 My dear children, with ail your might and fpeed 
 halten to ferve my blefTed Lord : In ail the world, 
 you mail not find fo good a matter, nor yet fuch 
 rich Rewards,, as he -giveth to His ; whom he is 
 
 pleafed 
 
$S Memoirs cf 
 
 pleafed to call " Friends, and not fervants," yea, 
 hereafter they (hall be fomewhat more than friend^, 
 I John iiL 2. 
 
 SECT. XXXI. July 20th 1665. 
 
 \\7 Hen I think upon the commanded duty, Deur, 
 ** vi. 7. and elfevvhere thro' the word, and 
 that now I am denied the liberty of converfing with 
 you, my children, I am the more earneft to exhort 
 you by writing, to chufe God for your Portion. 
 iS'one but he alone can help you, in the time of your 
 greateft: need ; neither, can any other lead you fafely 
 thro 1 this dangerous wildernefs of a world. The 
 many thoufands of ifrael would have perilhed in the 
 defert, if they had not had his cloud before them 
 u in the day time, and pillar of fire in the night.'** 
 If the joint might and wifdom of all thefe could 
 rot fave them, how much lefs can any fingle per- 
 fon be fafe ? efpccially in thir latter days, wherein 
 the devil is raging, knowing that his time is but 
 fhort. " Verily, now it is, that the righteous 
 " fcarcely are laved." In part I was witnefs to 
 the truth of this, upon the 29 th of July lalt, in 
 the death of an eminent profeflbr, which I will 
 not particularly mention. O! my dear children > 
 give diligence to make your calling and election fure. 
 If you afk me what you mould do, " that you may 
 ** inherit eternal life." I defire you to go to the 
 Lord Jesus Christ; but oh! come not from 
 him forrowful, when he telleth you to quite your 
 vain flnful pFeamres, and momentary delights.; 
 3f you be his, you mull crucify thefe. O f forfake 
 :Ji for him, and then go on with hlm y in your 
 
 com-- 
 
Walter Pringlb. $f 
 
 company rejoicing, as the Ethiopian, Acts viii. 39,. 
 I your father, and to ufe the apoftle's words, 
 " prifoner of the Lord," befeech you to lay hold 
 on' what is freely offered to you in the gofpel ; no- 
 thing lefs than Jesus Christ, and with him all 
 things. This would be my defire to you, if thefe 
 were my laft words, as I know not but they may, 
 Truly I find mod peace in my mind, when I an* 
 fully content, if fo the will of God be to lay down 
 my body in the grave here, tho* feparate from all 
 my relations." Whom had Mofes with him when 
 his life went from his body . ? yet I had never more 
 freedom than now, to defire with fubmimon, a 
 while's lengthning of my days ; for 1 know, that 
 mail be for my good, the longer Ibear the crofs 
 of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 
 For me now to feek to enter into my reft, when 
 the Lord Jesus is in the camp, with his little 
 troop, againfi: his many enemies, is, as if afoldier" 
 mould feek a pafs to go to his own peaceable ha- 
 bitation, and leave his king and general in the fields, 
 in the heat of war. When at night I iy down" 
 in my folitary bed, it is refrefhing to me to think, 
 I am in my Lord's league e. But I dare not 
 boaft, for I have not yet put off mine armour ; and 
 tho' I mould endure,, as a. good foldier, even to the 
 end, yet I mould have no caufe of glorying, ex- 
 cept in the Lord, by whofe ftrength only I fhall 
 be abl j to find, and overcome to the end. If I 
 were not allured of his prefence with me,. 1 would' 
 even give over, and fay, O let me not go one 
 ftep hence, unlefs thou go with me :. my weak- 
 nefs is fuch, and the difficulties in the way fo many, 
 that angels are not fufEcient guides for me ; the 
 holy Spirit of truth,, w Inch leadeth unto all truth, 
 
 i* 
 
5 S Memoirs of 
 
 is the guide I defire to walk with and follow. O 
 that you, my children,- may be led by this bleflfed 
 Spirit ! then mall we arrive at one and the fame- 
 glorious habitation. 
 
 SECT. XXXII. July 31ft 1605. 
 
 TV/f Y children, it would be one of the greateft 
 pleafures temporary, for me to enjoy your 
 company; to live with you and your mother, tho* 
 it were in the meaneft condition, it would certainly 
 be my choice. If I had not given away my will un- 
 to God, denrous never to make any choice for my- 
 felf, knowing that it is raoft unfafe fo to do ; for. 
 the wifeft of men, thinking to eftablifli themfelves, 
 have made choice of that which hath proven their 
 ruin; and -on the contrary, the poor and fimple, 
 who have been careful for nothing, , but have made 
 their neceffities known unto God by prayer,: with 
 thankfgiving, O ! how well thofe have been helped, 
 againft all their enemies, and fccurely led thro' all 
 the difficulties of a world ? they have the word of 
 a King, even of the Go d of truth who cannot lie, 
 engaging his In fin TE WISDOM, power, and 
 goodnefs to be with them and for them : " bleflfed is 
 ** the people, and the perfon, whofe God is the 
 " Loud." O ! it is better to be even in the hotted: 
 furnace of affliction, when he is prefent, than to be 
 fitting upon the moft flourishing throne in this earth, 
 when he is abfent. BlefTed be my God, who often 
 raifeth me up to that true knowledge of things, as 
 that I would not change my crofs with a crown ; 
 no not the prefent fweetnefs of the crofs, with the 
 prefent delights of a crown, which hath not fo much 
 
 as 
 
Walter Pringle. 5$ 
 
 as a true being ; for none of the fenfes are fully 
 fatisfied by it; and, tho' they were, yet were it but 
 for a moment, but this crofs is a feed which bring- 
 eth forth an exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 
 My dear children, fow not to the flefh, but to the 
 Spirit, that Gf the Spirit you may reap life ever- 
 laftmg. Be not fo madiy foolifh, as to think you 
 may pais away your youth-hood, in following the 
 vain lufts and pleafures of the flefh, and thereafter 
 turn unto God. It is true he hath been pleafed 
 to accept of fome after the wanderings of their 
 youth, and I may acknowledge myfelf to be one 
 of thefe, to the praife of his rich free grace : but 
 for any, becanfe of this, to be encouraged to go 
 on in their wicked ways, is, as if one would com- 
 mit thefe crimes which deferve death, and fo be 
 brought to the place of execution, not fearing, be- 
 caufe fome being caft over, have broken the cord, 
 and then have gotten the king's mercy. But no 
 comparifon can hold forth the lofs, and hazard of 
 thefe, who lofe theif immortal fouls ; this may be 
 better thought on, than can be exprefs'd. My chil- 
 dren, the confideration of your own hazard may be a. 
 mean to make you fly into a Saviour : but OJ 
 when you come to know him, who is the chief of 
 all the thoufands in heaven and earth, fhen yon 
 would not quite his fervice, even tho' there were 
 not a reward for the righteous. To (land as a" 
 fervant before him in this lower world, and to go 
 through the hardeft pieces of fervice for '.him, is in it- 
 felf, a very rich reward. This teftimony of him 
 and of his ways, I defire to leave in record to vou, 
 my children ; with this confefTion, that I cannot ex- 
 prefs the thoufand part of that worth, which is in 
 him,/" who is altogether lovely." how gladiy 
 
 would 
 
$o Memoirs of 
 
 -would I have yon all happy in him ! I know aflur- 
 cdlyj that you can be fo no where elfe : this your 
 felves may know, if you will be at leafure to 
 fearch it out. O ! "be ftill and know that he' is 
 Mi God" and the only fountain of all good : go 
 nnto him, and abide with Him; I allure you, he 
 will never put you away. You know not what 
 evils may be in your time, O J make fure your 
 intereft in Him ; then (hall you fafely ride cut the 
 greateft ftorm that can arife, then your anchor is 
 within the vaH. This is the only thing I prefs 
 you with, fince nothing befide this is neceflary, 
 JSTow, I will go pray for you, and for the work and 
 people of my God, for which I defire to fpend this 
 <iay : O that, according to my ordinary this morn- 
 ing, Deut. xxvi. 17, 18,1 9, you, my children, " may 
 " avouch the Lord to be your God;" and that 
 he may avouch you to be of the number of his pe- 
 culiar people i 
 
 SECT. XXXIII. August 31ft 1665, 
 
 "P Or" the lpace of fome weeks paft, I have been 
 ■*• entertained with the expectation of liberty to 
 go home ; which, tho' it would be matter of very 
 much joy to me, yet it hath been my conftant de- 
 fire, that it might not fucceed, unlefs it were the 
 good will of my God ; for O how unfafe it is for 
 xne, to have, or to follow, a will of mine own ! I 
 have ground to believe, that he hath heard me in 
 this ; and that it is for my beft, altho' a little grievous 
 to my carnal mind, the continuation of my bonds, 
 feparation from wife, children, and others, not 
 knowing for how Jong, But Welled be he, who 
 
 hatit 
 
Walter Pringle. 6i 
 
 hath my times in his hand : O that I may never 
 limit him, and may never give over milling is 
 Hi m 1 then fhal! not my exportation fail for ever. 
 Six days together I was afTured by feveral, that my 
 liberty was granted ; but upon Saturday la(t, I 
 got letters from my friends, (hewing the contrary, 
 to their great difappointraent. In the time where- 
 in I had thoughts of going home, fome of thefe 
 days, my ordinary was Judges vii. and my prayer 
 was, that my going might not be as the going of 
 thofe mentioned in the 3d verfe, or in the end of 
 the 7 th verfe ; how much afnamed would thefe bey 
 when Gideon and the 300 returned with great 
 Victory ? certainly they had but little pleafure in 
 their homes. O how much greater mall my victory 
 and prize be, if I be kept faithful, and endure to 
 the end, even unto death ! Then (hill it not repent 
 me, that I have been here a Granger, with many 
 a fad and heavy heart. "When I fee others, in the 
 evenings, return from their labours to their own 
 homes, and I to my folitary chamber ; and when 
 I hear the children of others weep, and think that 
 mine may not only be weeping, but groaning i;i 
 (icknefs, yea, it may be, breathing out itiik Bit, 
 and I not feeing them ; as alfo, when I think that 
 my aged mother may be puffing hence, end I, her 
 only child now remaining, not with her to perforin 
 my laft duty to her ; it hath been my piwyer to 
 God, with fubmifhon to his holy will, that he may 
 be pleafed to allow me this privilege. However he 
 difpofe, I have good ground to believe, that he wiif 
 aiThredly make all work for my good, aitho' I 
 fhould not any more fee my dear wife and children 
 in this life, yet 1 am perfuaded that he whom 1 
 ferve can eafily make up that great lofs to me ; yea, 
 P I 
 
6z Memoirs of 
 
 I know that the enjoyment of them, with all other 
 earthly blefftngs, might be far worfe to me, than 
 the lofs of them is. Howfoon may all thefe gourds 
 wither, and anger come in the place of exceeding 
 gladnefs, as it was with Jonah ? There may be fome 
 pleafure, for the time, in building upon fand ; but 
 grief and forrow cometh, when the winds and 
 fiorms arife, and the building falleth : O that in 
 this ftormy hour of trial, it may appear, that I 
 have not been building upon fand, but upon the rock 
 of ages ! When I look to myfelf, and confider the 
 failings of others, which alas with much forrow I 
 Ijear of, then have I great ground to fear; but 
 when I lift up mine eyes to my God, and think on 
 litis excellent icvifig kindnefs, and wonderful good- 
 jiefs, who hitherto hath helped me, then have I 
 no caufe to doubt for the time to come. Bleifed be 
 j]C, who can eafily fubdue all -the enemies which are 
 in my way to heaven, when the waters are like to 
 go over mine head, then will He give me wings, 
 with which I may mount up. I have nothing to 
 fear, but fin, and unbelief, the greateft of fins. 
 
 jthat henceforth I may " live that life, which is 
 €< .by fakh in the Son of God." My dear chil- 
 dren, prefs, with all your might, to live this life 
 of faith, that your end may be eternal glory. O 
 how ciicadliiiy would I endure this little fepar- 
 ation from you, if I had aflurance to have you all 
 v/ith me for ever in heaven ! Oh I cannot think, 
 without great grief, of wanting one of you there. 
 Many prayers are put up for you, and I hope 
 
 1 have ground to believe they are heard, thro' the 
 /iches of God's free grace. O fet to, " and work 
 *•'■ put your own falyation," in the ftrength of the 
 
 Lord, 
 
Walter Pringle. 6$ 
 
 Lord. I defire to fpend the reft of this day id 
 prayer, as many others, I hope, are doing. 
 
 SECT. XXXIV. September 16th. 1665* 
 
 *T* He expectation of gain maketh the labouring 
 -*• man rife timely in the morning, that he 
 may go about his toilfome work. This thought 
 made me rife out of my bed this morning, deiir- 
 ing to employ my little pains in thefe things which 
 perifti not. And O what profit and advantage were 
 it, if by any thing I infert here, I could do any 
 good to the immortal fouls of you my dear chil- 
 dren ! You are often in my thoughts, and the mat- 
 ter of my prayers; for the more I am feparate 
 from you here, the more preffing- and fervent my 
 defires are, to have you with me for ever, 1 n m y 
 Father's kingdom, into which, when once I am 
 entred, I cannot come back to inform you of thefe 
 everlafting joys and pleafures. God alloweth of 
 no fuch mean ; therefore, while yet in this world, 
 defire I to live this as my last will to you; O 
 flee from the wrath and condemnation of the great 
 and dreadful God, with more fpeed and dili- 
 gence, than if thoufands- of mod: cruel enemies 
 were purfuing you with drawn fwords at your heels. 
 There is a poflibility of efcaping from men, and 
 their ftrokes are but of fhort endurance ; but you 
 may fee, in the 139th pfalra,. That there is no hid- 
 ing or efcaping from the Almighty, neither is 
 there any delivery for thofe who are once (hut down 
 into that bottomlefs pit of utter darknefs : but thefe 
 wretches mud: there endure unfpeakable torment, in 
 cverlailing flames, burning without the lead comfort 
 F2 of 
 
64 Memoirs of 
 
 of light. " who can dwell with devouring fire," 
 in that place, where all forrows, ficknefs, filthinefs, 
 and pains will be confined ; among all thefe thou- 
 sands of devils, and damned fouls, there will nor 
 be the leaft grain weight of pity one toward another. 
 Serious thoughts of hell is certainly a ftrong motive- 
 to move a foul to come into Jesus Chrirt; 
 "But I verily believe, that a view of God's excel«jjj 
 lent, wonderful, and free loving-kindnefs, is a far 
 more prevailing motive. O how flrong are ihefe. 
 cords of love ! None but they that feel them 
 know, and what they know is only this, that they 
 who are once tied in them, and drawn with them, 
 ran never break, or come out of them. O fweet 
 and pleafant chains ! It is only true liberty to be 
 in them, it is true health to be lick of love to this 
 lovely One. What a delightful thing is it, to] 
 fit, or ft and under his banner of love ! it is our 
 heaven here, and it is the heaven of angels, and 
 taints above ; who have no other, will never defire 
 any other food, but this his love, which had 
 no beginning, and never will have any end. The 
 foul which once getteth a true tafte of it will ever i, 
 defire more of it. We cannot fend up fo ufeful a 
 petition, as to pray that this love may be med a- 
 broad in our hearts ; and it were our wifdom often,- 
 every hour, to repeat this defire in our thoughts, 
 when we may not conveniently utter it with our 
 lips. This Jewel is (fo to fpeak) the firft mover I 
 of all other graces ; and it will mine in heaven, | 
 when they mail ceafe. This maketh the fojourning 
 faints endure, and chearfully furfer all things, find- 
 inp the fharpeft afflictions, and heavieft croffes eafy | 
 and light. My children, God who only knoweth 
 the heart, kuoweth how earneft I am, to have you 
 
 live I 
 
Walter Pringle, 6% 
 
 tfve this excellent life of faith in Jesus CtfRisiy 
 which worketh by love. It is as a fire in my bo- 
 fom, the defire I have, to have you folly perfwa- 
 ded of thefe truths, which I both know and feel, 
 There is none in the world, whofe happinefs I de~ 
 fire more than yours, who are to me dear as mine 
 own foul. I (hall not give over to pray for you, 
 fo long as I ara in this life* 
 
 SECT. XXXV. September 28th 1665, 
 
 VOlumes cannot contain what may be faid of 
 the love OF God. Tho' the whole world 
 were full of reams of clean paper, and ail that live 
 in it had every one the pens of ready writers - r yet aif 
 could not fully exprefs his excellencies, who is 
 love, I John iv. 8. All are faying, " 'Who will 
 iC {hew us any good ?" But alas ! few leek it where 
 alone it is to be had, even in HIM, TO ■ love 
 him with all the ibul, heart and mind. O what 
 joy and peace it bringeth ! They who knew nd 
 better did place their happinefs, in having a friend, 
 whom tney might truft, and love as themfeives, to 
 whom they might impart all their joys and griefs, 
 knowing well that by a true fympathy, which is a 
 pieafant harmony, they would take and bear their 
 friend's preflures as their own : Such have met as 
 veilels full, ready to burft for want of a vent ; 
 but when they have unbofomed themfeives to others, 
 have felt a prefent eafe; or as one travelling under 
 a heavy burden, meeting with another, who taketh 
 the half from him, he tfieu doth walk eafiiy under 
 the remainder. Many rules are given, how to make 
 choice of fuch a friend, all which may readily fail * 
 ? 3 & 
 
66 Memoirs of 
 
 for even in former times, and far more may this be 
 now, when love and truth are fo exceedingly decay- 
 ed, that an oath is not fo much as half a promife 
 was before: David was deceived by his familiar 
 friend, in whom he trufted, and yet he had wifdom 
 to choofe. My children, " I will fliew you a more 
 *f excellent way," than to place your confidence in 
 man, " even in God the rock of ages." O 
 trult in him evermore, and affuredly he will never 
 fail you. This advice I dcfire to give you, that 
 when any of you is furprifed with joy, forrow, an- 
 ger, or any of thefe paflions of the mind, you 
 may then abftain from {peaking to any creature, un- 
 til tirft in fecret, you pour out your heart to God, 
 and vent your mind unto him. How many in 
 ;hefe paflionate fits, have fpokcn and done that of 
 '.vhich they have repented all their time ? We have 
 need to watch over or.rfelves, even while in our 
 bed wits ; but how much more, when we are out 
 •o£ ourfelves, being tranfported with any of thefe 
 pa/lions ? As there is great hazard at thefe times to 
 vent to creatures, fo, on the contrary, there is fafe- 
 ty, and it is the fitted time for one to go in fe- 
 cret to Cod/, for then is the foul mod awakened, 
 and the heart eafiiy poured out, lying as wax melted 
 md foft before his feal : And O how fafe is it not 
 to come away, until he hath (bt upon the foal his 
 firm ftamp and impreflion ! This bringeth peace to 
 the mind, maketh the countenance to mine, and 
 the Ghriftian's whole walk comely. I may, to his 
 praife declare, that at fetch times as I got near accefs 
 to God, I find my voice and words more pleafanc, 
 and looks more beautiful, thai: at other times ; and 
 fnce this is in the outward, O it is much more 
 In the inward of the mind and foul which hath 
 
 com- 
 
Walter PringlEc 67 
 
 communion with God ! As alfo there is true fafety 
 in going to hira at thefe times, for we are but 
 weak and foolifh, and cannot bear thefe preifures^ 
 and know not how to walk under them : But when 
 the Almighty's everlafting arms are underneath us, 
 we need not care how heavy our burdens be, and 
 infinite Wisdom giveth that wifdom and 
 fpirit to his own, which the men of this world are 
 not able to reiift, as Acts vL 10. O that all his 
 people were more leaning to his wifdom and- 
 flrength, and were wholly leaving off to u walk 
 " in the light of the fparks of their own kindling 1 
 u Then ihouid he be unto them a cloud by d^y, 
 " and a pillar of fire to guide them in the night, a 
 " ltreng tower and hiding place in 4 the evil day ;" 
 yea a ftrong tower and rock higher than enemies 
 can reach unto. " The righteous flee unto him, 
 1 and are fafe, for none can pluck them ?ut of his 
 hand." O, my children, "let this God be 
 your refuge." The laft letter, e I had from your 
 dear mother, preheth me to pray for you, that 
 God may mew mercy to you : I (hall continue fo 
 to do, while in this life, God ftrengthning me, 
 
 SECT. XXXVI. October 10 th 1665. 
 
 \T7Hen in the laft days writing I mention the 
 * * pleafantnefs of countenance, and words of 
 thefe who have near accefs to God, I do not mean 
 any alteration of the natural voice, which God- 
 hath given us to pray unto, and glorify him with, 
 "as. well as to make ufe of in our converfation with 
 men ; neither do I think, that there fhould be any 
 aiFetfation in countenance or geilures, which is un- 
 comely 
 
 i< 
 
6ff Memoirs cf 
 
 comely in the fight of men, and unpleafant toGor^ 
 who doth look to the inward frame and temper 
 of the heart, and is only well fatisfied with what 
 cometh from that fountain, flowing from thence 
 out, into the natural conduits, wherewith Gory 
 hath endued' us to praife him, and converfe witli 
 our neighbours to edification. This way our na- 
 ture is fanctified, but not taken away : \\ hat is 
 finfui ; we mould defire to be wholly removed, but 
 nothing more , there is nothing of fin, in' fpeaking. 
 with a mriller hollow voice ; but I love not to hear 
 any fpeak to God with a weeping voice, when 
 they are not weeping. Many of far more worth 
 than I am, have fallen into a cuflom of this way 
 of fpeaking in prayer ; therefore far be it from me 
 to judge them, or fpeak evil of them, efpecially in 
 this day, wherein many of the Lord's people are 
 offended one at another, for things of no weight. 
 O to fee f and feel that love among them, whicH 
 thinketh no evil, but judgeth well of all things, 
 except of what is ilnful ; and yet we may hate the 
 fin, and truly love the perron. The eye doth not 
 hate the hand, becaufe there is a fpot upon it ; 
 Children have their fpots : O what would become 
 ©f us, if the fpotlefs majefty-ef- God had no more 
 love to us, than we have to one another ! but this 
 is- our happinefs, and the matter of our joy, that 
 " His -thoughts are not as our thoughts : In love 
 li he covereth and doth away our iniquities ;" but 
 often we cannot pafs by the failings of each other, 
 and live in love here with thefe,. with whom we 
 ihali live eternally in heaven, in a full and perfect, 
 harmony, every one rejoicing in the happinefs of 
 another, and £o 9 as it were, making it their own. 
 
 We 
 
"Walter Pringle. 6$ 
 
 We fhouid be as members of one body in this lower 
 life, but we (hall be fomewhat nearer, and more 
 wnite, in that glorious life above. Whenever the 
 mind is lifted up to behold thefe things of that eter- 
 nal and incorruptible kingdom, then it wondreth, 
 that ever the thoughts mould wander, or take plea- 
 fure any where elfe. Now my children, often when 
 I am minding thefe lafting things, my next thoughts 
 are, O to have you affured of that life ! O that 
 Christ were yours, and everyone of' you were 
 his ! When you find that you can be happy no 
 where elfe, which you may eafily do after fearch, 
 then run to him for life and salvation; give 
 him your whole heart, for he will have no partner. 
 They who know him, hate fo much as a thought of 
 fetting up of a fellow befide him i They who are 
 truly his temples, will not defire a Dagon befide 
 him : His glory, which filleth heaven and earth, 
 and yet is not contained within thefe, may foon fill 
 our little narrow temples. Try your love to him, 
 by your love to the brethren who are begotten of 
 him. I never think myfelf right, until I find, not 
 only this love to all the people of my God, but 
 alfo even to all the common world a tendernefs in 
 my heart toward them ; fo that when I am in a 
 right frame of fpirit, and have the fpirit of truth 
 moving in me, then, if I hear any poor children 
 weeping, tho' I know them not, yet my heart is 
 moved toward them, as if they were mine own : 
 and not only fo, but I then alfo love mine enemies, 
 and perfecutors, and all the creatures of God; fb 
 that I cannot take the life from the leaft creeping 
 thing, or a midge that doth flee. My children, thus 
 do I make myfelf known to you, that you may be 
 in fo far the followers of me, as I am of my Lord 
 
 md 
 
7<a Memoirs of 
 
 and Mafter Jesus Christ. O let him be your 
 perfect pattern, efpecially now, when " many are 
 " faying, Lo here is Christ, and lo there !" O 
 fearch out, with all diligence, where'he is, and a- 
 bide with him, where he maketh his flocks to reft. 
 
 SECT. XXXVII. October 25th 1665. 
 
 'THE Lord revealed his purpofe to Abraham, 
 Gen. xviii chap, becaufe he knew, " that 
 u Abraham would command his children after him 
 u to keep the way of the Lord," when he was 
 gone, and gathered to his people. Certainly, who- 
 mever truly feel the fweetnefs of this way, do 
 defire to hold forth the excellency thereof, not only 
 to their children and deareft relations, but alfo 
 would gladly have the framed world to be a fharer 
 with them in the fame falvatiom There is envy 
 among the courtiers of the kings of the earth, and 
 they defire none to be fharers with them in their 
 prince's favour; but there is no luch thing among 
 the favourites of the King of heaven : for when 
 they cannot get him glorified as they would, nor 
 others ftirred up fo to do, then they cry out to the 
 heavens, earth, depths, and to all that is within 
 thefe, TO PRAISE him, who is goodnefs itfelf : 
 and this is one evidence of his goodnefs, that he 
 not only aHoweth me to be happy, but alfo doth let 
 me know that it is mod: accceptable to him,, that I 
 fhould, after Abraham's example, ftir up my chil- 
 dren, when I have laid down this tabernacle o€ 
 clay, to be partakers of happinefs with me, and 
 with all thefe who are heirs of Abraham's faith. 
 And now, in obedience to my God, X leare what 
 
 is 
 
Walter PringleT y\ 
 
 Is faid In this book to you, my children, for whom 
 I have many wreftlings and raoft earned deflres, 
 that not one of you may be loft. O give all dili- 
 gence to make fure your intereft: in God, and fo 
 fulfil your father's joy. I know (as much as may 
 he known of you, fo far as you are come in this 
 world, moil: of you being yet very young) you 
 love me, and I hope you will yet love me more 
 when gone ; fhew forth this your love, in obeying 
 of me in the Lord, which alfuredly (hall re- 
 dound to your everlalting good. The children of 
 Jonadab the fon of Rechab were greatly commended 
 for performing the words of their father, and were 
 held as patterns to the men of Judah and Jerufalem^ 
 who refufed to obey the commandments of God 
 himfelf, which he fent to them by the prophets. 
 Thus mall you be approven of the LORD God 
 when you obey my delires, tbo' given forth to you 
 by me in great weaknefs, and yet may be made 
 mod: effectual for your good, by the free grace and 
 goodnefs of the Almighty, who ufually wcrk- 
 eth by weak means, and doth " call things that 
 et are not, as if they were." The consideration 
 of what he may do, doth encourage me to go a- 
 bout this my duty, which is as meat and drink to 
 me, tho' a day of failing for you, and the Lo R D 's 
 interefl and people : With all my heart I wifli you 
 come not (hort in doing your part, but may fpeedily 
 break off from the way of corrupt nature, 
 sin, and misery, and receive the word and 
 fpiri-t of truth, which will lead you into all truth ; 
 until Christ be in you-, you are but as repro- 
 bates. He is no other way in his own in the 
 world, but by his holy spirit. O! lodge 
 nothing in your hearts ; that may hinder the entry 
 
 of, 
 
* 2 Memoirs vf 
 
 of, or grieve this Blessed SpibtT wnra enter- 
 ed; To fhall you perform your part, and ili.il then 
 aiTuredly find, that God will perform his part, in 
 giving you more than the defire of your hearts, 
 even grace and glory, and every good thing. O 
 who would not love fuch a Lord ! who would 
 not give all away for him! O fweet is the crofs, 
 and~ pleafant are the fufferings which lead to fellow- 
 ship with him ! I find that this is not the place of 
 the Chriftians reft, whofe beft work is to defire more 
 and more of Ch r i st's love, but cannot bear it, when 
 attained. 1fe* I muft confefs, that there is TRUE 
 
 REST IN A SICK BED OF CHRIST'S LOVE ; 
 
 F raise to him who is not angry, but well 
 pkafed, when I afk much of this his love, and is 
 more ready to give, than I am to afk. O to be a- 
 lone with him in a wildernefs ! as I may be, and 
 fometimes am in this my banifhment : O to defire 
 never to converfe with any in the world, unlefs it 
 be to his glory, and for their good ! but I may 
 indeed acknowledge, that my bodily prefence is 
 weak, and that the way whereby I may profit others, 
 you my children, and myfelf alfo, molt, is by pray- 
 ei ; it fhould be my burden, that I am fo feldom 
 in this holy exercife. 
 
 SECT. XXXVIII. November 30th 166?. 
 
 T TPon Saturday laft there parted from me a pious 
 ^■^ minifter, depofed for not conforming, who 
 had come from Rofs, to fee other friends and me ; 
 and the fecond fpeaker here, faid, die laft Sabbath, 
 that thefe who had met with fo much lenity, as to 
 be confiVd, whea a harder foatence might have been 
 
 inflicted 
 
Walter Pringle. 
 
 inflicted, Would not abufe that lenity, by frequent- 
 ing the companies of feditious perfons, and meddling 
 with thefe who are given to changes. Thus am I 
 4i the fcorn of thofe who ate at eafe, and' the con- 
 €i tempt of the proud," who count it lenity- to be a 
 prifoner 124 miles from my family, the neareft 
 way is fo much ; but as for me, I defire to wait 
 on the Lord, '*' v/ho cometh to judge the earth, 
 " and will judge the world with righteoufnefs, and 
 u the people with his truth ; in whofe hand there 
 li is a cup full of mixture, which the wicked of 
 u the earth muft take, and wring out the dregs 
 u thereof, and drink them." But it may feem 
 ftrange, how they can call hoheft minifters, who 
 are the fame now that they were before, men given 
 to changes ; whereas that is rnoft applicable to them, 
 who not long fince were for prefbytery and the co- 
 venant, but now are crying down that way which 
 once they cried up. So that k is evident, they 
 are the men who are given to changes, whofe 
 doctrine is turned about with every wind ; happy 
 (hall they be v/ho meddle no? with them. The& 
 men think to find falvation in the fcriptures, and 
 yet they cannot cite one verle in ail the bible, 
 which maketh not againft them, and their way. O 
 what a fearful condition is this ! " There is no 
 ." peace, faith my God, to the wicked." Upon 
 the. other hand, the godly meet with nothing in the 
 world, that doth bring them more peace than trou- 
 bles, afflictions and croffes ; thefe are the feed of true 
 joy, and the fafe harbour of the Chrifdan, who ufualiy 
 is never fo well, as when fitting under the fhadow 
 of his Lord's crofs, which often is his banner of 
 love over them. O ! I would not change my pre- 
 sent life (let be the life of glory, which is coming) 
 G with 
 
74 Memoirs of 
 
 with thefe who have their portion in this life : 6 
 poor empty, and dreadful portion, hnce even their 
 profperity, which is their belt, is their ruin ! their 
 bittereft ufages, and moft cruel mockings do not 
 hinder me to pity them, and now and then hear- 
 tily to pray for them :' but fometimes I muit pray 
 againft them, as the enemies of God ; but for them, 
 as they are mine. This I did when I came from 
 bearing this difcourfe, on Sabbath laft. 
 
 It is worth ray remembring, that the firft word 
 which fell to be my ordinary to read, was 2 Kings 
 19th chap. What is fpoken in fcripture to a na- 
 tion, may be taken and apply ed to a perfon. O ! 
 his word is always feafonable to me, when I get 
 grace to -pply it, but moft of all when I find my 
 need greatelL O ! happy is the foul, which hath 
 for it's- gui DE f his word and spirit. Sometimes, 
 " when I fit in darknefs, he is light round about 
 me," and joy to me in the midfl of forrow. That 
 I may clofe up this, and go to fome other part of 
 his fervice, even to call .upon him for his work and 
 people, I advife you, my children, to cboofe him, 
 for your Lord and Master whom I find to be the 
 only Chief of all the thoufands in heaven and earth : 
 and therefore, O how gladly would I have you to 
 make this wife choice, and fo be eternally happy, 
 living here in the fame faith and hope, wkh your 
 jnother and me, which is the faith, that ail thefe 
 mentioned, Heb. 1 1 . Lived in, that, with us, you 
 may be fharers of that happinefs for ever in that 
 life of glory 1 Dear children, your love to me now 
 would make you think it hard, if you and I were 
 in one place, after fo long abfcnce, and yet you might 
 not be fuffered to come near me. O ! think how much 
 more dreadful it will be ; if any of you fliall be fo refe- 
 rable, 
 
Walter Pringle." 75 
 
 rable as to fland on Christ's left hand, on that 
 great day, and fee us your parents on .our Lord's 
 right hand, and you not dare to come near us, 
 nor fo much as once touch with your unclean hands, 
 the lowed hem of our shining robes, which 
 fhall be given us, being dipp'd in the blood of 
 the Lamb, if in time you call upon him in fin- 
 eerity, you mail find that his grace is free to you, 
 even as it is to us. God grant that you may do 
 fo, for it is your life. 
 
 SECT. XXXIX. December 8th 1665. 
 
 A Ltho' I meet with little lenity in my fentence 
 ^ from men, yet I maft confefs, that I cannot 
 but admire, when I confider how gentle in all this 
 God's dealing hath been with me : for as a young 
 fcholar, or green foldier, he hath trained me up 
 from one flep to another ; for at firfr, I was fcarce 
 able to endure a few days imprifonment in the caille 
 of Edinburgh, being near my friends, and having 
 precious Sir Andrew Ker for my fellow -prifoner, 
 with whom I was of one mind. The next flep 
 was, my being for fome more time prifoner within 
 the pnrifh of Gordon, having leafure, to be prepar- 
 ing to endure and undergo further cenfure. My 
 next prifon was the tolbooth of Edinburgh, 
 and thereafter that of this town. BleiTed be my 
 God, who hath fo taught me, as that I can en- 
 dure a prifon, at fuch a diflance from my dear 
 relations, and without fuch a companion as Sir An- 
 drew was, tho' I have no caufe to complain of 
 my prefent fellow furferer ; for both of us I truft 
 have, and (hall have caufe to blefs God, for calling 
 G 2 our 
 
« 5 Memoirs of 
 
 our lot together, which is, and may yet more be ta 
 our advantage, both in our inward condition, and 
 in the freeing us from fnares and temptations. O ! 
 the v/iidom of God, in ordering his concernments 
 in the world, and in bringing the plots and de- 
 vices of enemies to nought ; yea, even turning 
 thefe to their ruin, and to the ruin of their oaufe, 
 and making them work together for his own glo- 
 ry, the good and fafety of his people, and the 
 eftablUhment of his glorious work, to which, what- 
 ever doubtmgS and fears his chofen ones are now 
 under, and to all that he hath done, they fhall be 
 forced in the end to cry, grace, grace. Then it 
 Jhall appear that none of his people's imprifon- 
 merits, confinements, lines, banimmems and other 
 preimres might have been wanting, and even now, 
 when ever our eyes are opened to fee our King in 
 his beauty, and the land afar off, Hrhich he 
 hath promifed to the overcomers ; O then we 
 wotild endure ten thoufand times more for him. 
 What will not the enlightned ChrifKan undergo, 
 that God may be glorified ? It is their happinefs, 
 that he alloweth them any way, by which they 
 may give him glory. This fame morning I was 
 in fome fort of trouble, when I confidered, that 
 angels and faints have nothing to give unto him, 
 Who was infinitely glorious in himfelf, before thefe 
 or any thing elfe were created ; but this was mine 
 ignorance, folly and pride ; for mould not we be 
 content to be nothing, and rejoice to have nothing, 
 that he may be all, and that we may receive all 
 from him, who doth efteem himfelf the richer the 
 more we take from him? Here I am interrupted 
 with the vifit of friends. 
 
 SECT, 
 
Walter Pringle* 77 
 
 SECT. XL. December 9-th 1665. 
 
 *V7*Esterday I was ftopp'd in a large field, and 
 ~*~ yet I know not what he, by whofe fpirit I 
 defire only to be led, will give me to fay of him 
 this morning ; for it is not my way to think of 
 what I am to write here before hand, neither was 
 it my cuftom, when I had a family to fpeak to, to 
 premeditate what I was to fay, or to look on the 
 place of fcripture which I was to read, until I read 
 it. Far be it from me to condemn thofe that do 
 otherways ; or to tie you my children, to follow 
 this my practice, which I only fet down, that you 
 may the better underftand my way, and may not 
 wonder, when you fee that this day, I follow 
 not forth the purpofe I left yefterday. All have 
 not one and the fame gift, and I defire only to 
 ufe the talent, which my God hath given me, 
 which is fo weak, yet blended be he, for what he 
 hath given me, that fome may think it ftrange, 
 that I mould adventure to leave any thing in write, 
 tho' it be only to my children, in this wife T age,. 
 wherein very much wifdom, learning, and piet^ is 
 to be found in books ; fome of thefe being alfo 
 written by fathers to their children, full of many 
 ufeful inftruclions, and prudent rules for them, to 
 order their life by, in their greateft concernments ; 
 to wit, in their religion, (tudies, marriage, choice 
 of friends, and fuch like : So that tho' I were able, 
 yet it were needlefs for me to add any thing of 
 that kind, fince you, my dear children, may read 
 the befl of thefe : But for your chrillian walk, 
 take none other rule but the word of God,. 
 and pray for his holy spirit^ " which will 
 G 3 " teach 
 
7% Memoirs cf 
 
 " teach you all things, until you be endued with 
 ii power from on high." Account yourfelves but 
 ignorant, altho' you had all the philofophy in the 
 •world : as for thefe perfections, you may fee the 
 end of them ; for if you could attain to Solomon's 
 vifdom, and enjoyments, which you may fpeculate, 
 you mould then the more knowingly cry out, 
 *< All is but vanity and vexation of ipirit:" and 
 yet verily there is a reft for the foul, where it 
 may enter in, and fwim, but never win to the 
 fartheft end of that ocean of pleasures; and 
 yet be fatisfied, defiring no more than it hath, 
 being able tcr hold no more joy, and being filled 
 v.ith all the fulnefs of God. Glory to him for 
 evermore, who hath made man twice happy ; for, 
 when ho had loft his firft happinefs, of his infi- 
 nite love he fent his Son the Lord Jesus to 
 bring poor man from under that fearful damnation, 
 wherein he was lying, and to raife him up to a 
 more fure and Welled eftate than the firft was. Such 
 a thing may be fuppoted, as that if the devil had 
 known, that man's fall fhould thus have redoun- 
 ded- to his everhfting welfare, arid to the glory of 
 Goi§ be would riot have tempted Adam and Eve, 
 but- v.oiild rather have fuiFered them and their po- 
 l'terity to continue as they were. Many time the 
 iubtile enemy and his wicked inrtruments are de- 
 ceived, and enlnared in their own devices. But, 
 to return, I am lure it will be a great part of 
 angels and faints their SONG in heaven, the 
 Lord Jesus his great salvation. O! with 
 what height of love, do the faints there fry, for 
 thou hast redeemed us? We Should 
 think on what is above, that we may tune our 
 low fpngs the higher, Blefled be he, who efteem- 
 
 cth 
 
"Walter Pringle. f$ 
 
 eth Gur offering of praife a glorifying of hirti. 
 Often when I think on this lad verfe of the 
 50 th pfalm, and when I can do no more, I repeat 
 very frequently that word, PRAISE, PRAISE, 
 PRAISE. 
 
 SECT. XLI. December 13th 1 665, 
 
 r Esteem that to be a well (pent breath, which 
 -*" is fpent in praifing the God of all our mercies ; 
 happy are they that fpend their ftrength this way, 
 or in any other piece of his fervice, even in this 
 life they fhall renew it from time to time. And 
 how comfortable will it be to them at the hour of 
 death, when their confciences bear them witnefs, 
 that it hath been their endeavour to fpend their time 
 and ftrength in his fervice; and when the Lord 
 by his Spirit fhall be faying to their fouls, u Come 
 " good and faithful fervants." O the lick-bed (hall 
 then be as the very gates of heavbn. It is one 
 of the moft beautiful fpe&acles here below, to fee 
 a lively Chriftian lay down their old worm taber- 
 nacle of clay : being allured not to be found naked, 
 ii but cloathed upon, that mortality may be fwallow- 
 i( ed up of life." And laying down their bodies 
 in the duft, as feed caft in the ground, that it may 
 y be raifed up a glorious body." It rauft die be- 
 fore it be quickned : It is true, Elias paued not 
 thro' the natural and ufual way, for God can, in 
 the twinkling of an eye, make this tranilation and 
 change ; fo fhall it be with thefe of his own, who 
 fhall be living at the laft day, even the great day of 
 our Lord. BlefTed be he, who gives me to expect 
 that day,, with any meaiure of faith, hope and 
 
 jo* 
 
fo Memoirs *f 
 
 joy, 0! I am even beft, when, in my mind, lam 
 hafting to this day, and joining with all thefe who 
 fay; " Even fo come Lord Jesus. " O! he is 
 coming, and with him a glorious train of angels 
 and saints, who efteem the more of their glory, 
 that it is all given io them, by Him. O ! how glad 
 are they to be clothed with their King's livery ? 
 but when our King (hall fit down upon his ftately 
 Throve of Judgment, what a dreadful light will 
 that be to all that wretched number of prifoners, 
 who will be brought trembling before him, to re- 
 ceive from him their fentence of everlafting con- 
 demnation, which (hall fo feize upon them, that 
 they mall inftantly receive the full perfwafion that 
 they (hall never be happy, nor ever enjoy the lead 
 moment's eafe or relaxation from their unexprefftble 
 torment. My children, " knowing in fome meafure 
 " the terror of the Lord," I defire to perfwade 
 you to flee from this terrible wrath, and to be re- 
 conciled unto God. A better advice cannot b>e 
 given you ; and this is even my laft will, which I 
 leave to you, which is the one half of this book's 
 tittle. O ! know that it is no burdenfome nor 
 grievous command, but it is your life, my dear 
 children. O ! follow and obey the will of the 
 dead : For fo this will be, e're it come to your hands. 
 I have fuch earneftnefs of heart, and benfil of foul 
 for you, in this your fo great concernment, that 
 you need not think it (Irange, if I make repetitions ; 
 and fo much the rather this may be, that I very 
 feldom read what I have formerly written. The 
 firfl part of the tittle, is God's free mercies 
 to me, which I know mall be recorded in heaven 
 amongit the everlafting monuments of his goodnefs. 
 Eut I defire to fet down here under mine own hand, 
 
"Walter Prtngle. Zi 
 
 to you my children, fome few of thefe his mercies, 
 ■which I cannor number : that you nmy praife him, 
 on my behalf on earth, when I fhall be praifing 
 him above after a more full manner, than now I 
 can : As alfo, that you may be encouraged to ferve 
 the God of your father. To every one of you 
 that endeavoureth to do; this, I heartily leave 
 you my blessing. /But, if any of you fhall be 
 fo mad, as not to feek after God, to fuch I have 
 no ble/Iing at all to leave ; for how can I blefs 
 thefe, whom God doth not blefs ? For tho' you 
 fhould have the fatnefs of this earth, yet I count 
 that no bleffing, unlefs the favour of God be with 
 it ; which doth make poverty, afflictions, crofTes,. 
 and even all things Wettings. BlefTed be He, who 
 is the fountain of all mercies, for ever. 
 
 SECT. XLII. January 6th 1666, 
 
 T TPon Tuefday lad, betwixt II and 1 2 of the 
 ^■^ night, when I was lying down, but not 
 fallen afleep, I was fuddenly raifed with a cry of 
 fire, which in a very fhort time burnt a houfe over 
 againft this, where now I am, and have been fince, 
 the 22d. of September laft. A little before the 
 lire, the wind arofe very ftrong, and continued (6 
 all the time, and blowing ftraight upon the houfe, 
 did endanger it more than any other, efpecially 
 my chamber, upon which the fire did fometimes fo 
 take, that it was a fort of wonder it was preferved ; 
 which token of the goodnefs of my God, I de- 
 fire to keep recorded in my heart, and to infert 
 here. This family, by taking in my fellow prifoner 
 and me, did get the ill will of fome ; by which, 
 
 flu£; 
 
81 Memoirs cf 
 
 fince my entry in to it, I did think myfelf the 
 more concerned to pray that their labour of love 
 might be rewarded ; and not only fo, but I alfo 
 judge it to be my duty, to feek the good and well- 
 fare of this city, and country, the land of my 
 captivity, both while I am detain'd amongft them, 
 "which 1 know not how long it may be, as alfo if 
 I were removed from them. It were my part to 
 wifh them well, who have mown fo much love to 
 me a banifh'd ftranger ; tho' I count it the goodnefs 
 of God, that giveth me favour in the fight of thofe, 
 among whom I am call: : This hath been his ufual 
 way, and I fet to my witnefs and feal to this truth, 
 that he changeth not. He hath been, is now, and 
 to the end of time will be, with all his, in the fur- 
 nace of affiiclion. If any enquire, when is God 
 nearefl: to his people, or to any one of them in 
 particular? It may be anfwered, even then, when 
 they are molt in trouble ; when waves and billows 
 are going over them, he will not let them link ; 
 he can preferve alive under the waters. If the 
 mod intelligent of men had {&en Jonah call over- 
 board, into the midft of the tempelluous feas, with- 
 in lefs than an hour thereafter, they could not but 
 have concluded him dead. O ! it is fafe and true 
 wifdom, not only to let much time pafs over, but 
 even the end of time come, before we have any harm 
 thoughts of his dealings ; for in the clofe of his 
 perfect work, we fhall acknowledge that all his ways 
 " have been mercy and truth, to them that love 
 u and fear him ;" and that nothing of all that hath 
 been done, might have been wanted, for he doth 
 nothing in vain, and " without him a hair can- 
 u not fall from the heads of any of his fervants." 
 This is aot above our faith : for when ever we 
 
 know 
 
Walter Prinsle. 63 
 
 know his infinite power, and goodnefs, we "will 
 then acknowledge, that his gracious providence doth 
 r : to the fmalleft of our concernments; and if 
 to the [inalfefr', then certainly to the greateft ; 
 t tore fhouid we " be careful for nothing, but 
 i% in every thing make o^r nee Ti ties known to him 
 "by prayer, wkh ihariklgiving," O that I and 
 you, my children, may fo do ! I muft return to 
 what 1 would further fay of our delivery from the 
 fire, upon Tuefday's night laft ; This houfe was 
 gone in the efleem of all the beholders ; and tho' 
 I did fee no outward appearance of its fafety, yet 
 
 1 had all the time, fcarce any fear, but did truft 
 in God, that he would be gracioufly pleafed to de- 
 liver it ; for which I did fend up fhort and hafty 
 prayers to him, like thefe who cried to the Lord, 
 
 2 Chron. xiii. 14. which have been fent up in hafte, 
 and, as 'tis like, with fome confuilon. This was 
 the firft fcripture, which I providentially read, af- 
 ter the fire. As the Lord heard them ; fo he 
 did poor unworthy me, and granted the broken, 
 confufed, and hafty fuits, which I did put up to 
 him ; for all the time I was bufy in ufing the means ; 
 yet it was not thefe, but his free grace and mercy 
 that preferved this houfe, which I efteem more of,' 
 than ten times the worth of the houfe, for many 
 refpects, which I will not here infert : there 
 was alfo fome thing obfervable in the houfe that 
 was burnt, which is not fit for me to fet down in 
 writing, only I infert this much, becaufe I am ready, 
 oh too ready ! to forget his mercies, and likewife 
 to mow that ■ he is the hearer of prayers, and doth 
 u love them that love him ;" and not only fo, but 
 alfo doth good to thefe who fhew any favour to his 
 people, when they are low in the efteem of the 
 
 worlds 
 
$4 Memoirs of 
 
 world ; he will not let " a cup of cold water, given t& 
 " a difciple in the name of a difciple, pafs unreward* 
 il ed." O ! how many encouragements are there for 
 to ferve him ? Glory, glory to him for ever more. 
 O \ let all the angels, and the faints above, and 
 in this lower world fay, Amen, 
 
 SECT. XLIIL January 31ft 1666. 
 
 I Find that a confcientious remembring of one 
 mercy maketh way fcr the receiving of another ; 
 for, fince my laft writing here, I received a letter 
 from my dearly beloved wife, mewing that (he 
 trufteth there is a good work begun in our foil 
 Robert. This is amongft the gladeft news that 
 could have come to me. In comparifon of this, 
 what a fmall thing is it to be raifed up to rule 
 over a nation, or kingdom in the earth ? Where 
 are they who did once ftile themfelves kings of 
 kings ? could their duft be now known, from the 
 duft of the pooreft that lived in the world with 
 them ? Some of them would be efteemed gods when 
 they were gone, and for this end did caufe hide their 
 bodies, when dead, that the people might think 
 they were gone up into heaven : they had good 
 caufe fo to do ; for, if their dead corps had been 
 feen, it would have well appeared, what filthy idols 
 they were. Vanity of vanities, is written 
 upon all momentary things : But a work of grace 
 in the heart, a grain of the feed of life caft in by 
 the hand of God, this is of ineftimable worth, a 
 glorious work begun, that (hail never have an end. 
 I believe, that it is thus with my fon ; and, I truft 
 thtt he who haih begun that good work will per- 
 
"Walter Pringle. 85 
 
 fe£l it. The little that I hear, I am bound to take 
 as the anfwer of the many prayers, which I have 
 put up : many times do I, when alone, name all 
 your feven names before God, begging the fal- 
 vation of your fouls, and that your days upon the 
 earth may not be fpent in following vanities, but 
 in ferving the Lord ; tho' I mould not within time 
 get the anfwer of my delires, yet I think it my duty 
 to go down to my grave in the hope of this, that 
 -God, of his rich free grace, will do you, my 
 children, good. BlefTed be he, who, knowing my 
 weaknefs, doth think fit to give me in part the 
 anfwer of my prayers, to encourage me to aflc more,- 
 and that in faith, when I find him giving : and 
 likewife to comfort me now, when under the crofs, 
 he beftoweth on me the hundredth fold, which is 
 promifed with perfecution, and with the forfaking 
 of any thing for him. O ! how abundantly will 
 my fhort feparation from you, my fon, be made 
 up, if I get you to be with me in everlafting joys; 
 into which we mall enter, if we endure to the 
 end, within a few years at mofl. I dare not now, 
 when fufFering for my Lord and Mailer, think my 
 time long, left I mould weary of his crofs. I 
 verily believe, that if I were taken up to fee the 
 King in his beauty, and the happy e/late of the 
 faints above, if then it were allied at me, Whether 
 wilt thou prefently enter into thefe pleafures, or 
 go down to the earth, and do thy Lord fervice, 
 in filling up what is remaining of his afflictions 
 in thy fiefh yea, I am perfwaded, that I would 
 deny myfelf, and anf,ver, I will go and bear his 
 crofs, tho' it were for a thoufand years ; for O ! 
 what will they not endure, u who fee him that is 
 " inviUble ?" But Oh my leaimefs ; and barrennefs ! 
 H efpecially 
 
$6 Memoirs of 
 
 efpecially my fhort-comings in praifing him, and 
 edifying others by my walk and difcourfe, as oo 
 cafion ferves, and in reproving evil doers for their 
 unfruitful works of darknefs ! when I think on the(e 
 my many and great failings, I mall then fay, O to- 
 be gone to that place, where no fin is i I have 
 nothing to uphold me under the fenfe of mine in- 
 firmities, but the thoughts of this, that the free 
 grace of my God mail mine fo much the more 
 thro' all eternity. O ! I defire to be well content 
 to be nothing, that he may be all. My fon, I 
 have thus inferted God's goodnefs to you, and to 
 ine,, that you may be encouraged to hold on your 
 way, which is the way of life : and if at any time 
 you fall (lack, or thro' weaknefs, and the power of 
 temptations be turned afide, O then remember your 
 firft love, and haft-en to do your firft work. This 
 1 fay to you, and to all the reft of my children, 
 " Love God, and keep his commandments, which 
 " are not grievous ;" fo mall you fulfil my joy. 
 O that fo it may be. 
 
 SECT. XLIV. February 5th 1666. 
 
 /""^ OD hath been glorified by the fufFerings of fome 
 ^-^ of his, who have been fhut up in prifons, 
 and cut off as martyrs, they not being known to 
 be fo, by any in the world, as that any one foul 
 hath been better'd by them, or by their fufFerings ; 
 vet mail thefe mine with them of the firft rank in 
 glory. And certainly Paul would have chearfully 
 endured all the afflictions which he fufTered for the 
 truth, altho' he mould not have fcen the furthe- 
 rance of the gofpel, and any brethren ftrengthed 
 
 by 
 
Walter Prikgle. $7 
 
 by his bonds, as is mentioned Philip, ift chap. 
 God, of his goodnefs, doth give his fufFering fer- 
 vants to fee fome of the fruit of their labour, to 
 encourage them the more under the crofs ; as alio 
 he maketh t. c perfecuting of his people tend to the 
 furthering of his work, for to difappoint his enemies, 
 whom he doth take in their own fnares, and con- 
 founding their wifdom, bringeth the contrary good 
 out of their wicked devices, fo that all their plotting?, 
 and actings, tend to the glory of his great name, 
 the advantage of his work, and to the good^of his 
 people, efpecially to the joy and comfort of thefe 
 whom he honoureth, and upon whom he .doth bc- 
 flow the gift, " to fuffer for his fake." If the Spirit 
 of truth had not told us, that our King is graciou.fr 
 4y pieafed to allow our poor empty fuiTering to be 
 for his fake, we could never have believed it to 
 be fo. I find it is feeming humility, but true pride, 
 not to take ail his allowances freely : he is the 
 Lord of all, and great gifts do very well become 
 his Greatness to give, and our emptinefs to re- 
 ceive. I defire hereafter never to refufe what he 
 freely ofFereth, yea I can no way glorify him fo 
 much, as in taking from him, and believing his 
 word, and receiving his promifes, tho' conveyed by 
 never fo weak an inftrument ; as, upon Friday 
 laft, one whom I was labouring to ftrengthen in 
 the faith, was made inftrumental to ftrengthen me 
 under my furTerings, by telling me, that when they 
 were earneftly minding my condition before the 
 Lord, it was given them, as the anfwer, be not 
 troubled for him, for he is one of thefe, of v. horn 
 it mall be faid, " Thefe are they, which came out 
 " of great tribulation, and have warned their 
 u robes, and made them white in the Blood of the* 
 H 2 '* Lame." 
 
8& Memoirs of 
 
 " Lamb." The tempter is ready to obje<fr, that 
 my tribulations are not great, and therefore this is 
 not applicable to me; but fince God is pleafed to 
 count them great, who doth account of things that 
 are not, as tho' they were, I believe his word, and 
 will give glory to his free grace, and give Satan the 
 lie. Thus fhall his temptations be fruftrate, and I 
 Shall become itronger, thro' him who ftrengthneth 
 me. This ftrengthning word was brought to me 
 fcy one, who faith, they have got good by poor 
 <-mpty me, fmce I came hither : which I infert not. 
 to boaft of (God is my witnefs) but that he may 
 get praife ; for why mould I conceal his goodnefs ? 
 "When at firft I got my fentence to come hither, it 
 w.is much upon my hea*rt, and hath ever fince 
 been fo, that the Lord would make me inftrumental 
 for the good of others, and that he would be pleaf- 
 ed to bring fome good out of my fmall fufferings r 
 which I thought, I was bound to believe, mould 
 afiuredly be, though I mould not fee it within 
 time. But glory to him, who is gracioufly pleafed 
 to let me fee that my coming here is not in vain, 
 but for the advantage of fome here, and elfewherc 
 This is his hundred fold, which he giveth me, with 
 perfecution in this life. He knoweth my weaknefs 
 is fuch, as that I need fuch encouragements to help 
 me under the crofs, on in my way : but O that I 
 may ever lean to himfelf alone, and not to any of 
 thefe props, which, when lean'd to, will but prove 
 broken reeds, the fplinters whereof will 'hurt the 
 hands i My children, thus do I mention the good- 
 nefs of my God to me, that you may be encourag- 
 ed to feek and ferve the God of your father, who 
 can provide food for you, even in a wildernefs, and 
 make you to rejoice under the fharpeft fufferings 
 
 for 
 
Walter Pringle, 89 
 
 for righteoufnefs. I will leave at this my tn:e 
 witnefs, that I cannot enough commend the crcis 
 of Jesus Christ, even the joy and peace which 
 it bringeth in this life, to them who willingly walk 
 under it. 
 
 SECT. XLV. Greenknow, March I cth 1 666. 
 
 T TPok the 6th day of February, my friends, 
 ^"^ by their affectionate pains, without my know- 
 ledge, did procure from the high commifTion the 
 change of my confinement from Elgin to mine own 
 houfe, and three miles about, for the payment of 
 200 L. Sterling, and bond by Stitchill and Terfons, 
 for my peaceable and inoffenfive behaviour. This 
 word, inoffensive did (tumble me; but if I 
 offend not my God, I need not value die groundlefs 
 offences which men take againft me. The order 
 came to my hand upon the 20th day of February ; 
 and I came from Elgin on the 23d, and to this 
 place on Tuefday laft, the 6th of March. I had 
 no caufe of wearying of my laft condition, for a- 
 bundantly did I find my Lord and Matter's pro- 
 mife, Ezek. xi. 16. fulfilled to me. Many times I 
 have thought, that afterwards i mould remember 
 on that time, which I had at Elgin, as one of the 
 fweeteft times which I have had in my lifetime ; yea 
 it may be, the thoughts of God's goodnefs to me 
 there fhall be food to my foul the remainder of my 
 days. Often have I walked, in the clofs walk of 
 the chancellor's garden, two hours, or more ; all the 
 time being wholly taken up, and fpent in praying, 
 meditating, worshipping, and praiiing. The laft 
 winter my ufual walk was down the water fide 
 H 3 # 
 
§0 Memoirs tf 
 
 of Louie, below the town, which was Co folltary, 
 that I was never twice interrupted by rencounter- 
 ing of any. Thus the recreating of my body wa» 
 no difturbance to my fpirit. I had never better 
 health, and fo few fears and anxious cares, as tht 
 year paft, and fo full a feeling of the fufferings of 
 the people of Gan, and of his born down in- 
 terefts ; as alfo I had more favour in the eyes of theie 
 among whom I was caft, than ever I could have 
 expected. And not only did the unexpremble good- 
 jaefs of my God abound toward me in my banifh- 
 rnent ; but the fame goodnefs did alfo attend my 
 family at home all that time ; for all which I have 
 caufe for ever to praife the name of my God. And' 
 now I have nothing, but hope in his free grace, 
 who changeth not, to uphold me under the fears I 
 have, that it may not go fo well with me, when I 
 am in the midft of my family and friends. My 
 (hares and troubles are like to be more, and temp- 
 tations ftronger ; neither am I fo fully within the 
 prayers of the Lord's people, not being fo great 
 a fufFerer, as when, baniibed ; as alfo the foul feldom 
 ©r never thriveth Co under profperity,. as it doth in 
 time of adverfity, efpecially when fuiFerings are for 
 righteoufnefs fake. The Lord is ever near to hijs 
 in time of trouble, as a prefent helper to them:, 
 and any poor weak creature, fuch as I am, can 
 walk chearfully under the heavieft crofs, when he 
 helpeth them, who never leaveth his own in the 
 furnace : but the ftrongefl of the faints cannot well 
 bear a prosperous Mate ; Co that, for this and many 
 other refpects, I have now much caufe to fpend 
 more time in prayer, and to be more watchful than 
 formerly. And yet, O ! it is like, I fhall have 
 )dfs time to fpend in thefe holy exerclfes, becaufe 
 
 tliafc 
 
AValter Pringle, 91 
 
 that my worldly employments are now increafed ; O 
 for grace to ferve my God in thefe ! and O that I 
 may now more than ever mind the afflictions of 
 his people, and may ever with fear poTefs mine en- 
 joyments, when I remember thefe (far more worthy 
 than I) who have not the like liberty. O that 
 their inward confolations may always abound to 
 them, from the God of their falvation \ and O 
 that I may ever have more of a fellow-feeling of 
 their fufferings, than barely to fay, be ye comfort- 
 ed, be ye clothed, be ye fed ! Of myfelf 1 can do 
 nothing that is good ; O that he, who hath brought 
 me from the womb hitherto, may help me to do 
 every good work, to the praife of his rich free 
 grace •► My God, leave me not when I am old, and 
 gray hair'd. O that the remainder of my days in 
 the earth may be a fruitful and flouriming time 
 to me ; and that in my generation, I may be for 
 the good of the fouls of others 1 Bleffed be my 
 God, who helped me, fo to be, in the North : and 
 now the number of thefe to whom I may daily 
 fpeak in this houfe is increafed ; O for a large meafure 
 of his holy quickning Spirit, and that I may make 
 mention of his mofl excellent name, asbecomethj 
 and that we of this family, and all thefe whom I 
 have left in the North, whom I defire always to 
 remember, and his fervants every where, I fay, O 
 that we may all worfhip God in the fpirit, and re- 
 joice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence 
 in the flefh ! According to my yedernight's ordinary., 
 Philip, iii. 3, I have often thought, I would labour 
 to inftruct and exhort my children and family more 
 carefully than formerly, if 1 mould be reftored to 
 them (as now I am.) But all my good refolutions 
 will prove but as the mifcarrying womb, and feed. 
 •which never taketh life, unjefs Gqd ; who quickneth 
 
 th? 
 
§1 Memoirs cf 
 
 the dead, give life, and bring to perfection : therefore 
 are mine eyes toward him, waiting for his fuppJying 
 of all my wants, who will never difappoint thofe 
 that put their truft in him. My children, believe 
 in him evermore. 
 
 A Letter written to the Houfe of 
 Greenknow, by the Author of 
 the foregoing Memoirs. 
 
 My Friends, 
 
 A Ltho' by violence I am put from you, yet a 
 •*■•*■ neceflity of caring. for you is upon me. I fee 
 thefe cares, that are only for the things of this life, 
 are but of very fmall concernment : therefore my 
 very earned dcfire for all of you is, that you may 
 diligently feek after the knowledge of God thro* 
 Jesus Christ, whom to know is life eternal; 
 that fo you may have your treafure in heaven, 
 where moth and rufl entereth not, and where thief 
 and robber cannot come. Oh ! what a poor life is 
 it, for one to take pleafure in nothing, but that 
 which is continually in the power of devils and 
 men ! Thus it is with all thefe who have not 
 their life hid with Christ in God. Make your 
 peace with him, while yet you are upon your way, 
 and get him upon your Cde, then you need not 
 care for all that can be agamft you : Your enemies 
 are many, and thefe are the rnoft dangerous which 
 ftrive to keep you fecure in that deep fleep, the 
 end of which will be everlafting torment, if in time 
 you awake not. Thefe of you who never had a 
 true change wrought upon your hearts, alas ! you 
 fee not the danger you are in, nor the terrible 
 
 wrath that is hanging over your heads, that may 
 
 P fall 
 
Walter Prin-gle, 93 
 
 fall upon you, and deftroy you for ever, fome 
 night when you ly down, before your eyes open in 
 the morning. I fee the hazard fuch are in, and 
 the longings I have after your good do prefs me 
 to warn you, to come out of your falfe peace, that 
 you may partake of that peace which paifeth aU^ 
 natural underitanding, which the Lord Jesus gi- 
 veth to every one that afketh from him. O that 
 you may be .built upon him, who is the rock of 
 ages, that your building may not be fhaken, when, , 
 the winds blow, and the ftorms arife, which will 
 ruin every one, that is not founded upon the chief 
 corner (tone, which is difallowed by the foolilh 
 builders of this world, but is precious to them 
 that believe i You fhall never fully know his worth 
 and excellency : When once you receive him, your 
 greateft grief will be, that you fhould have lived 
 fo long time without him ; then will you love him 
 more for himfelf, than for the falvation which he 
 will give \ou. So long as you flay at a diftance 
 from him, you will think in your minds, that 
 thefe things are but fables ; but receive the truth 
 into your hearts, and then you mail acknowledge, 
 that the thoufandth part hath not, yea cannot be 
 told you ; and then you fhall not only be content to 
 be happy yourfelves alone, but fhall prefs others 
 alfo, to take a fhare with you, telling them what 
 the Lord hath done for your fouls. O that Chri- 
 ftians were thus pointing out the way one to ano- 
 ther now, when the faithful guides are removed in- 
 to corners, and the blind are left to lead the blind I 
 I pray that the great fhepherd of fouls may lead 
 you, and feed you, and keep you from being dri- 
 ven away from himfelf in this ftormy day. I truil 
 that my abfence from you fhall not be to your lofs, 
 but for your foul's advantage ; if my fuflerings be, 
 
 thro' 
 
94 Memoirs ef 
 
 thro' God's goodncfs, made a mean of doing good 
 to one of the leaft amongft you, I ftiall count 
 myfelf a very great gainer. The fearcher of hearts 
 knoweth that the welfare of your fouls is dearer to 
 me than all mine enjoyments in this world are; 
 tho' I cannot as yet fay, with the apoftle, that I 
 would be content to be feparate from the Lord Je- 
 sus for you; and yet truly I am content to remain 
 banifhed- from you, and from my wife and children, 
 if I may profit you by thefe my bonds, even tho' 
 they mould continue upon me the few days I have 
 to live^in this world. Your fpiritual advantage 
 was that motive inclining me to undergo this fen- 
 tence, even next to God's glory, and the faivation 
 of mine own foul ; for I knew, that if once I mould 
 fwear faifly, then my words mould fcaree ever have 
 place with you p yea, 1 mould have been as a tree 
 blown up by the roots and withered, cumbering 
 the ground, and fit for nothing but burning. Blef- 
 fed be my God, who hath preferved me from being 
 a {tumbling block to any of you, and hath kept 
 me from contradicting, by my practice, thefe truths 
 which I endeavoured, tho' in great weaknefs, to 
 hold forth to you ; the fum of which is this, that 
 they, and they only are fit to be Christ's difci- 
 ples, who are willing to part with every fin, and 
 when called to it, as now X am, with every enjoy- 
 ment for him. O ! He is well worth ten thoufand 
 times more than all we can do and fufFer for him ; who 
 hath no need of us, or of our fervice ; only, he is 
 gracioufly pleafed to allow us to be happy, in ferving 
 and enjoying him, who is the prince of the kings 
 of the earth, and chief of all the thoufands in 
 heaven and earth : He is altogether lovely ; he is 
 the heaven of his faints, and it will be their life, 
 and unexpreflible joy, to behold his glorious excel- 
 lency 
 
Walter. Prtngle." 95 
 
 Jency in eternity. TheJfe whofe hearts and tongues 
 have been mod enlarged to meditate upon, and to 
 exprefs his infinite worth, will wonder, when they 
 fhall fee him as he is, that they mould have had , 
 fuch (lender thoughts of him ; the fouls that are 
 enlightned with the knowledge of him will be fo far 
 from being afraid of men, that they will be ready 
 to fav to enemies, Devife ye the forefl of torment?, 
 and we will chearfully go thro' them for his Name'* 
 fake. If any of you fay in your hearts, can tlielc 
 things be ? the beft anfwer that I can give you is, 
 Come and fee. I know that in any other thing you 
 would truft my word : O ! believe me in this, and 
 you mail find that 'tis good to draw near unto God, 
 and that whatever the ignorant world fay, there is 
 a reward for the righteous, even an exceeding and 
 eternal weight of glory. And what are their pre- 
 fent afflictions and crolfes ? but as a little fhower of 
 rain, which will make them find their fair palace 
 and manfion the more heartfome when they enter 
 into it. Neither is all delay 'd until we come there, 
 for I may bear witnefs unto this truth, that fome, 
 even in their fharpeft trials, find more fweetnefs in 
 the blinks of his gracious loving countenance, than. 
 in all the pleafures which this world can afford. 
 And now, fince the leaft allowance our Lord giveth 
 to his own, is far beyond the beft things which the 
 worldlings have a moment's enjoyment of; therefore, 
 O my dear friends, embrace him for your Lord and 
 Mailer. And you who have hitherto lived without 
 him, deky no longer, but fet to with all your 
 might, to enquire after him, who is not far from 
 every one of you. And now, when there are few 
 watchmen left, but fuch as will fmite and wound 
 you, a(k the "daughters of Jeru r slem, your 
 neighbours j who in fome meafure know him, and 
 
 enjoy 
 
96 Memoirs of &c. 
 
 enjoy him, where their beloved is. BlefTed be 
 God, there are Tome in the family, who may direct 
 the reft in the way that leadeth to him; and 
 it is his allowance to you all, that you mould afk 
 at himfelf, where he feedeth, and maketh his flocks 
 to reft at noon ? Live as ftrangers and pilgrims 
 on this earth, and To declare plainly, that you 
 feek a country, and look for a city which hath 
 foundations, whole builder and maker is God. 
 If you be prevailed with to follow on to know 
 the Lord, and be able to fay in truth, that you 
 have none in heaven but him, and that there is none 
 
 •upon the earth that you defire befides him, then 
 have I the anfwer of this, and of my prayers foi 
 you ; and you mail refrefh me in my chains, ana 
 I mail joyfully praife God on your behalf. When 
 there is little of God to be feen or felt in moft oi 
 
 • the congregations, efteem the more of your afTem- 
 bling to worfnip him in the family. Think not the 
 Jefs of that exercife, that it is performed by a woman t 
 1 have often thought that you would have no lofs 
 by my abfenee, fo long as you have her to worfhip 
 God in the family with you. The apoftles them- 
 felves gladly received from women the news of our 
 Lord's refurreclion from the dead, as you may find 
 Matth xxviii. Luke xxiv. John xx. " The God 
 <c of peace, that brought again from the dead 
 u our Lord Jesus, make you perfect in every 
 " good work, to do his will, working in you 
 " that which is well pleafing in his fight." My 
 love be with all in Christ Jesus : be of good 
 comfort; you who hope for our Lord's coming 
 rejoice, and again rejoice, for he will come, and 
 will not tarry : live in this faith. Farewell. 
 
 Elgin, Novem. sic fubfcrib. Wal. P&ingle. 
 
 iift 1(5(5;. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 
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