patient, long-suffering, full of charity, believing all things, hoping
all things. Receiving the promise of better treatment, they drew off as
quickly as they had come. They refused to leave Edinburgh when
threatened; they consented to leave Stirling when requested. Behold the
spirit of these Covenanted Presbyterians!

But no confidence could be placed in the king or his representatives.
The land was greatly troubled by the wickedness of its rulers. One wave
of commotion followed another; there was no peace, no safety, no
security. Many weary hearts were crying out, "How long, O Lord?"

The Covenanters saw that the king was determined to crush their Church.
The General Assembly had not met for twenty years; that court of God's
House had been stamped out beneath the iron heel of despotism; the
lesser courts had been corrupted; the king had resolved on the
subversion of all. Will not ministers and elders soon be worn out by the
incessant and desperate attacks? The sea is roaring, the waves are
raging, will Presbyterianism be engulfed? will the supremacy of Jesus
Christ go to the bottom? Strong hearts are trembling; much prayer is
arising to heaven; from faithful pulpits fervent appeals are ascending
to God. What shall be the end of these things? Is there no remedy to be
found? "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?" Must
these spirited men bow to the will of the tyrant and see their Church
brought into bondage? There were great searchings of heart.

"The Covenants! the Covenants!" This has been repeatedly the watch-cry
of Scotland in the throes of distress. The Covenants have been the glory
and strength of the Church in the past; will they not be safety and
stability to the Church in the present? Such was the thought that
throbbed in many hearts at this critical moment. The Holy Spirit was now