Wishart’s reputation having preceded him, a multitude of hearers gathered about him at Dundee. He expounded in a connected series of discourses the doctrine of salvation, according to the Epistle to the Romans, and his knowledge and eloquence excited general admiration. But the priests declared everywhere that if he were allowed to go on, the Roman system must inevitably fall to the ground. They therefore sought the assistance of an influential layman, Robert Mill, who had once professed the truth, but had since forsaken it. One day, just as Wishart was finishing his discourse, Mill rose in the church and forbade him in the queen’s name and the regent’s to trouble them any more. Wishart was silent for awhile, with his eyes turned heavenward, and then looking sorrowfully on the assembly he said--‘God is witness that I never minded [intended] your trouble, but your comfort. But I am assured that to refuse God’s Word and to chase from you his messenger shall not preserve you from trouble, but shall bring you into it. I have offered unto you the word of salvation, and with the hazard of my life I have remained among you. But and [if] trouble unlooked for apprehend you, turn to God, for He is merciful. But if ye turn not at the first he will visit you with fire and sword.’ When he had thus spoken, he came down from the pulpit and went away at once into the western part of Scotland.[328] [Sidenote: HIS PREACHING.] Having arrived at Ayr, he preached there to large numbers of people who gladly received his words. Dunbar, bishop of Glasgow, as soon as he was informed of it, hastened to the town with a body of men and took possession of the church in order to prevent Wishart from preaching. The reformer’s friends were indignant at this step. The earl of Glencairn, the laird of Loch Norris,[329] and several gentlemen of Kyle went to Wishart and offered to get possession of the church and to place him in the pulpit. ‘No,’ said the evangelist, wisely, ‘the bishop’s sermon will not much hurt: let us go to the market-cross.’ They did so, and he there preached with so much energy and animation that some of his hearers, who were enemies of the truth till that day, received it gladly. Meanwhile the bishop was in the church with a very small audience. There was hardly anyone to hear him but some vestry attendants and some poor dependents. They were expecting a sermon, but he had forgotten to put one in his pocket. He made them the best excuse he could. ‘Hold us still for your bishop,’ he said, ‘and we shall provide better the next time.’ He then with haste departed from the town, not a little ashamed of his enterprise.[330]