THERE was one Patrick Mackelwoth in the west part of Scotland, who had his heart touched in a most remarkable way by the Lord. After his conversion (as he told many of his Christian friends) he was so affected with the new world into which he had entered together with the discoveries of God, and of a life to come, that for some months together he could scarce ever sleep, but was continually taken up in admiration.
His life was very remarkable for tenderness, and near converse with God in his daily walk. One day, after a sharp trial (having his only son suddenly taken away by death), he retired into private for several hours. When he came forth he looked so cheerful, that many asked him the reason of it, wondering at it in such a time.
He told them he had got that in his retirement with the Lord, that to have it again renewed, he would be content to lose a son every day.
It had been long his burden that he had such a bad memory, that he could retain almost nothing of what he heard; and bitterly complaining thereof to a worthy minister (Mr. James English) of Dally, he advised him that, when he heard any truth that he desired to remember he should commend it to the Lord and entreat Him to keep it for him, and to give it to him back again when he should stand in most need of it.
Accordingly this holy man did put the same in practice most seriously; and when he came to lie on his death-bed, unto his ministers, and divers other Christians who were present, he did solemnly declare how wonderfully the Lord did answer his prayers; for whereas want of memory had been his great burden, now the Lord had given him back all those truths that he had put into his keeping; so that what he had heard many years before, was now most clearly brought into his remembrance which he showed by repeating many particular truths, and notes of sermons, which at such and such times he had heard.
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