Two hundred Covenanted ministers quietly accepted the penalty.  On the last Sabbath of October, 1662, they preached their farewell sermons.  The churches were crowded; the grief of the people was indescribable, heart-groans broke into loud lamentations.  “There was never such a sad day in Scotland as when the poor persecuted ministers took their leave of their people.”  Two hundred more stood their ground and fought the battle a little longer.  These were forcibly ejected.  Thus that desolating blast smote four hundred congregations of Covenanters.

The minister with his wife and children departed in deep sorrow from the pleasant manse and the loving people.  Tender ties were sundered and holy endearments sacrificed; the comforts of life were abandoned, and safety, shelter, and supplies left behind.  The minister could have retained all had not his conscience been so tender.  But the servant of the Lord may not be bribed.  Offer the true minister of Jesus Christ money, comfort, pleasure, honor, houses, lands—­all that the world can give to corrupt his conscience in his calling, and you will get a laugh of scorn that will freeze the blood.

[Illustration:  John Welch, ejected from his church

John Welch, of Irongrey, was a grandson of the famous John Welch, of the First Reformation.  He was one of the 400 Covenanted ministers who were driven from their pulpits by the kings edict in 1662.  His congregation, overwhelmed with sorrow, followed him till they came to a brook where they kneeled down and prayed.  Mounting his horse he rode away while they rent the air with their bitter wails.]

The winter storms were descending upon the man of God and his unprotected family, as they walked across the glebe to return no more.  They went out, not knowing where they were going.  Night may fall upon them in a dreary place; to-morrow may come to them without a roof, or a table, or a fire.  Winter may drive them into a cold cave, where possibly some good-hearted shepherdess may find them, and share with them her pail of milk and oaten cakes.  Withal no complaints.  They have taken joyfully the spoiling of their goods for the sake of Christ.  By them the reproach of Christ was accounted better than the riches of Egypt.

Alexander Peden was one of the fighting ministers.  He preached till forced to leave his pulpit.  On the day of his farewell service the congregation was convulsed with grief.  Peden had to restrain the wails of the people again and again.  Coming down from the pulpit after service, he shut the pulpit door and struck it three times with his Bible, saying with great emphasis, “I charge thee, in my Master’s name, that no man ever enter thee, but such as come in by the door as I have done.”  The pulpit kept the solemn charge; no one entered there till after the persecution; it remained empty twenty-six years.

Prelatic ministers were sent to fill the 400 vacant pulpits, but the people refused to hear them.  The time of field-preaching had now come; the Conventicles in the mountains and moors became the order of the day.