of my people, who were wonderful lifted up because their minister
had a man-child born unto him.



CHAPTER IX YEAR 1768



It's a surprising thing how time flieth away, carrying off our youth
and strength, and leaving us nothing but wrinkles and the ails of
old age. Gilbert, my son, that is now a corpulent man, and a
Glasgow merchant, when I take up my pen to record the memorables of
this Ann. Dom., seems to me yet but a suckling in swaddling clothes,
mewing and peevish in the arms of his mother, that has been long
laid in the cold kirkyard, beside her predecessor, in Abraham's
bosom. It is not, however, my design to speak much anent my own
affairs, which would be a very improper and uncomely thing, but only
of what happened in the parish, this book being for a witness and
testimony of my ministry. Therefore, setting out of view both me
and mine, I will now resuscitate the concerns of Mrs Malcolm and her
children; for, as I think, never was there such a visible
preordination seen in the lives of any persons, as was seen in that
of this worthy decent woman, and her well-doing off-spring. Her
morning was raw, and a sore blight fell upon her fortunes; but the
sun looked out on her midday, and her evening closed loun and warm;
and the stars of the firmament, that are the eyes of heaven, beamed
as it were with gladness, when she lay down to sleep the sleep of
rest.