Crime & punishment > Times of Claverhouse, or, Sketches of the persecution

THE TIMES OF CLAVERHOUSE. 167
cation was the commencement of that disruption
which afterwards assumed a more decided shape,
and carried off from the main body of the Pres¬
byterians a goodly number of the more staunch
Covenanters.
After the death of Cameron and Cargill, their
followers, who were previously formed into a body,
kept by themselves and refused to amalgamate with
the rest of their brethren, who, they considered,
had resiled in some degree from their original prin¬
ciples, or who were not sufficiently conscientious in
bearing testimony against the prevailing defections
of the times. After the decease of these two hon¬
oured witnesses, who had lost their lives, the one
on the field, and the other on the scaffold, their
followers formed themselves into various associa¬
tions in all parts of the country, and on this account
they received the denomination of “ Society Peo¬
ple.” These associations were instituted for the
purpose of keeping the party together, and for
mutual intercourse and social prayer. They had
no minister at first, and they endeavoured to supply
the lack of public ordinances by meeting together in
Christian fellowship, and engaging in devotional
exercises. And in this they were not deserted; for
He who said, “ where two or three are met together
j in my name, there am I in the midst of them,”
came unto them and blessed them. These prayer
meetings were like wells in the weary desert, at
which many drank and were refreshed. They were
green spots in the wilderness, on which the flocks
of Christ’s fold congregated as on rich pastures,
and were fed and strengthened in their pilgrimage.
By this means they became a blessing to many, and