Marriage
Livingstone returned to Ireland in 1634 and remained there for a further 18 months after the deposement was lifted, resuming his ministry at Killinchy. His friends Blair and Dunbar did likewise but for some reason or another, found themselves deposed once more within six months.
During this time he returned to Scotland where he got married in Edinburgh on 23rd June 1635 to Janet Fleming, in St Cuthberts Church. His meeting with Janet and subsequent courtship is described in his own words:
"In June 1635 the Lord was graciously pleased to bless me with a wife, who, how well accomplished every way, and how faithfull an yoke-fellow, desire to leave to the memory of others."
For sometime he had seen her several times in Scotland and, although he was to explain he had been attracted to her, he could never bring himself to approach her.
He had heard much about her from friends.
Janet Fleming was the eldest daughter of Bartholomew Fleming, an Edinburgh merchant, and her mother was Marion Hamilton. Although brought up in Edinburgh, Janet moved to Malone in Ireland in 1633 when her mother remarried on the death of Bartholomew. Her new husband was a John Stevenson.
Livingstone was obviously in love with her although as he put it, she knew nothing of his feelings towards her. He would often pray for guidance on what he should do. At this time he was aged 31 and probably thought it about time he was married. In his own words:
"It is like I might have been longer in that darkness, except the Lord had presented me an occasion of our conferring together: for, in November, 1634 when I was going to the Friday meeting at Antrim, I foregathered with her and some others going thither, and propounded to them, by the way, to confer upon a text whereon I was to preach the day after at Antrim.
"I immediately found her conference so just and spiritual, that I took that for some answer to my prayer to have my mind cleared. I could only blame myself for not taking the opportunity of so speaking with her before.
Four or five days after, I proponed the matter, and desired her to think upon it; and after a week or two I went to her mother`s house, and, being alone with her (Janet), desired her answer.
I went to prayer and desired her to pray, which at last she did; and in that time I got abundant clearness that it was the Lord`s mind that I should marry her, and then propounded the matter more fully to her mother; and, albeit I was then fully cleared, I may truly say it was about a month after I got marriage affection to her, although she was, for personal endowments, beyond many of her equals, and I got it not till I obtained it by prayer; but thereafter I had great difficulty to moderate it."
The wedding was attended by the Earl of Wigton and his son, Lord Fleming alongwith a number of other notably pious guests.
The ceremony was not received favourably by Archbishop Spottieswood, Chancellor of Scotland, as some days before it he had issued orders for the apprehension of the groom. The seizure did not materialise for the couple remained free before returning to Ireland a few months later.
Alas, on their return, a shortwhile later, he was once more deposed and even it seems, was excommunicated. This did not, however, prevent his holding private meetings within his own house. His despair at having to minister in this furtive manner drove him to attempt once more to set forth for the Americas, this time accompanied by his wife, now expecting their first child.
