“In Judah’s land God is well known,
     His name’s in Israel great;
    In Salem is His tabernacle,
     In Zion is His seat.”

The troops galloped forward and fired.  Their fire drew a vigorous response.  The Covenanters aimed with deadly precision; the fighting was desperate; hand-to-hand encounters were frequent.  The troops broke and fled, leaving 20 dead on the field.  The Covenanters had 1 killed and 5 mortally wounded.  Hamilton, Hackston, Paton, Balfour, Cleeland, and Hall were the noble captains that won the day in the name of the Lord of hosts.

These fighting Covenanters, who could fight as well as pray, have won for their posterity the privilege of worshiping God in peace.  There is nothing now to hurt or annoy in God’s mountain.  How punctual, diligent, and appreciative ought we to be in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ!

* * * * *

Points for the class.

1.  What was the double effect of the Indulgence?

2.  What new effort to suppress the Conventicles?

3.  Give the character of the Highland host.

4.  How did the Covenanters prepare for self-defense?

5.  Describe the Conventicle at the Lomond-hills; Lillies-leaf moor; Drumclog.

6.  Who were the Covenanted captains at Drumclog?

7.  How should we appreciate peaceful worship?

XXXIII.

A massacre.—­A.D. 1679.

The victory at Drumclog was followed up by the Covenanters with vigor.  Claverhouse, with his broken ranks, was hotly pursued.  He fled from the field on a wounded horse; nor did he halt till he reached Glasgow, 25 miles away.  The pursuers followed him half the distance.  He began that Sabbath with the beat of drums, and ended it with defeat and shame.

Next morning these Covenanters had doubled their number; 500 men stood harnessed for war, determined to overtake the foe, renew the fight, and win other victories.  That forenoon, with Hamilton in command, they boldly dashed into Glasgow to strike the broken forces of Claverhouse; but they were repulsed.  They retired to an encampment much dispirited.  As was usual with the Covenanters, they began to enquire into the moral cause of this reverse.  They felt that God for some reason was displeased.  The investigation revealed the fact, that Thomas Weir, who had joined them with 140 horsemen, had been a dragoon in Dalziel’s ranks at Rullion Green, where the Covenanters were defeated.