AN ANECDOTE OF GEORGE WISHART.

 GEORGE WISHART, one of the first Scottish martyrs at the time of the Reformation, being desired to preach on the Lord’s Day in the church of Mauchline, went thither with that design, but the Sheriff of Ayrshire had in the night-time put a garrison of soldiers into the church to keep him out. Hugh Campbell, of Kinzeancleugh, and others in the parish, were exceedingly offended at this impiety, and would have entered the church by force, but Wishart would not suffer it, saying, “Brethren, it is the word of peace which I preach unto you; the blood of no man shall be shed for it this day. Jesus Christ is as mighty in the fields as in the church, and He Himself, while He lived in the flesh, preached oftener in the desert and on the sea-side than in the Temple of Jerusalem.” Upon this the people were appeased, and went with him to the edge of a moor on the south-west of Mauchline, where, having placed himself upon a mound of earth, he preached to a great multitude. He continued speaking for more than three hours, God working wondrously by him, insomuch that Laurence Ranken, the Laird of Shield, a very profane person, was converted by his discourse. The tears ran from his eyes, to the astonishment of all present, and the whole of his after life witnessed that his profession was without hypocrisy.

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