the General Assembly held a special meeting in 1596, to observe a fast
and renew the Covenant of 1581. The meeting was held on the 30th of
March of that year. The showers of spring were falling, the mountain
streams were flowing, the fields were putting on their soft verdure, the
flowers were appearing in their beauty--all nature seemed to be breaking
forth into holy laughter through her tears. How impressive this emblem
of the memorable meeting, where earnest men prayed and wept and sobbed
and sat in sadness and silence, in the presence of God confessing their
sins! Then, with uplifted hands, they "made promise before the Majesty
of heaven to amend their ways." A great reviving followed, and many
hearts were made glad. Two years later Mr. Davidson met the king, and,
refusing to submit conscience to his tyrannic will, was cast into
prison.

John Welch, too, is found in the front ranks of the Church's noblest
defenders. His wife, Elizabeth, daughter of John Knox, was his equal in
courage and steadfastness. His life caught high inspiration from her
faith, and her heart gloried in his heroic spirit; the two mountains
were alike high.

King James had determined to crush the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church. That Assembly stood in his way as he strode toward
despotic power. He must remove the hindrance, or fail in his ambition.
He commanded the Assembly to hold no more meetings, except by his
permission. Against his royal decree, a few bold-hearted men met on the
first Tuesday of July, 1605. This was the last free General Assembly for
a whole generation. In 1618 this court of God's house disappeared
altogether under the king's despotic rule, till 1638, when Scotland
arose once more in the power of the Lord, and renewed her Covenant.