Religion & morality > Cloud of witnesses, for the royal prerogatives of Jesus Christ, or, The last speeches and testimonies of those who suffered for the truth in Scotland, in the years 1681-1688, with an appendix, containing the Queensferry paper, Torwood excommunications, &c

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APPENDIX,
exact and full history thereof, let it suffice at present to set down the fol¬
lowing accounts, collected by Sir Robert Hamilton, of Preston :—
Mr. Cargil was of a most holy, strict, tender, and composed practice and
conversation, and also affectionate, affable, and tender-hearted to all he
judged had any thing of the image of God in them; sober and temperate in
his diet—saying commonly, ‘ It was well won that was won of the flesh
generous, liberal, and most charitable to the poor, a great hater of covetous¬
ness, a frequent visiter of the sick, much alone, loving retirement, except
when about his Master’s public work ; laying hold of every opportunity to
edify ; in converse, still dropping what might minister grace to the hearers ;
his very countenance was edifying to beholders ; often sighing with deep
groans ; preaching in season and out of season, upon all hazards ; ever the
same in judgment and practice.
There were several things remarkable in the manner of his calling to the
ministry. After he had completed his philosophy course, at the University
of St. Andrews, his father, a godly and religious gentleman, pressed much
upon him to study divinity, in order to fit him for the ministry ; but he,
through his great tenderness of spirit, constantly refused, telling his father,
‘ that the work of the ministry was too great a weight for his weak shoul¬
ders and requesting him to command him to any other employment he
pleased, But his father still urging, he resolved to seek the mind of the
Lord therein, and for that end, set apart a day for private fasting, and, after
long and earnest wrestling with the Lord by prayer, the third chapter of
Ezekiel’s prophecy, and chiefly these words in the last verse, “ Son of man,
eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel,” made a strong impres¬
sion upon his mind, so that he durst never after refuse his father’s desire, to
betake himself to that study, and dedicate himself wholly to that office.
And having got a call to the Barony Parish of Glasgow, divine providence
ordered it so, that the first text upon which the Presbytery ordered him to
preach, was in these very words of the third of Ezekiel, from which he had
got clearness before ; whence he was the more confirmed, that he had God’s
call to that parish. The parish had been long vacant, by reason that two
ministers of the public resolution party, viz. Mr. George Young and Mr.
Hugh Blair, had still opposed the settiement of such godly men as had been
called by the people, and had practiced secretly with the Council of Glas¬
gow, not to suffer any to be settled there that might be against the public
resolutions. B.u in reference to Mr. Cargil’s call, they were, by God’s good
providence, much v>nnd up from their wonted opposition. Mr. Cargil per¬
ceiving the lightness or *()e peop)e, and their uneoncernedness under the
word, was much discourage* an(i resolved to return home and not to accept
the call; and when urged by ttn. godly ministers not to do it, and his reason
asked, he answered, *• they are a reo.njous people.” The ministers solicit¬
ed him much to stay, but could not prev^i, ]ast when his horse was
drawn, and he just about to take journey, o^ng jn Mr. James Durham’s
house, when he had saluted several of the Christio., friends that came to see
him take horse, as he was bidding farewell to a cena,, g0div woman, she
said to him, ‘ Sir, you have promised to preach on Thurso*;,/ and have you
appointed a meal to poor starving people, and will ye go away, ,nd not give
it! If you do, the curse of God will go with you.’ This so c«,nmoved
him, that he durst not go away as he intended ; but sitting down, <u<,ired
her and others to pray for him. So he remained, and was settled in ttfe*
parish, where he continued to exercise his ministry with great success, to
the unspeakable satisfaction of his own parish, and of all the godly who
heard and knew him, till after the introduction of Prelacy, when he was first