"flock in the wilderness," during his brief but singularly efficient
ministry. Need we wonder, after reading this narrative, at the spiritual
effects of his preaching to thousands in his day, and at the precious
fruits that resulted from his labours long afterwards, and the sweet
savour of his name throughout subsequent times? "The latter end of this
year, I heard that great man of God, Mr. James Renwick, preach on Song
iii. 9, 10, when he treated greatly on the covenant of redemption agreed
on between God the Father and God the Son, in favour of the elect; as
also on the covenant of grace established with believers in Christ. Oh,
this was a great and sweet day of the gospel! for he handled and pressed
the privileges of the covenant of grace with seraphic enlargement, to
the great edification of the hearers. Sweet and charming were the offers
which he made of Christ to all sorts of sinners. There was one thing
that day that was very remarkable to me; for though it was rain from
morning to night, and so wet as if we had been drenched in water, yet
not one of us fell sick. And though there was a tent fixed for him, he
would not go into it, but stood without in the rain and preached; which
example had a great influence on the people to patience, when they saw
his sympathy with them. And though he was the only minister that kept
closest to his text, and had the best method for the judgment and
memory, of any that ever I heard; yet now, when he preached, the people
crowded close together, because of the rain, he digressed a little, and
said, with a pleasant, melting voice, 'My dear friends, be not disturbed
because of the rain. For to have a covenant-interest in Christ, the true
Solomon, and in the benefits of his blessed purchase, is well worth the
enduring of all temporal, elementary storms that can fall on us. And
this Solomon, who is here pointed at, endured a far other kind of storm
for his people--even a storm of unmixed wrath. And oh, what would poor
damned reprobates in hell give for this day's offer of sweet and lovely
Christ. And oh, how welcome would our suffering friends in prison and