Dr. William Blackadder was born in 1647. He was sent to the University of Edinburgh in 1665 and went over to Holland to graduate at Leyden in 1680. In Holland, he appears to have formed an acquaintance with some of the illustrious refugees and other diplomatic characters, and to have been much in their confidence. He came over with the Earl of Argyle in his unfortunate expedition in 1685, and was taken prisoner in Orkney.
There is one thing I have to observe, from the Lord’s way with me in my journey heavenward; it is up the brae and down the brae. . .Alas! my predominant sin was like my shadow, it never left me. O the confusion that in a short time it brought me under! till at last, I concluded my spots were not the spots of God’s children; for I thought I was one of the most abominable creatures that ever was born.
Much honoured and very dear Sir, I do by this line salute much in the Lord yourself and your worthy yokefellow and companion in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, whom he is graciously pleased to keep yet together when he hath made many sad separations and divorces between other husbands and wives, partly by violent, partly by natural deaths, which I know mightily alarms and provokes you to more than ordinary and more than ever diligent, careful, and conscionable improvement of one another’s fellowship, to the best spiritual advantage.
