s < » . N o^**n£> / t^ *^f\uvfl+li /^^/a^^V £cS ^\^L%^ COLLECTION O F LETTERS, Confiiling of Ninety-three. Sixty-one of which wrote by the Rev. Mr. yames Renwick; the remainder, by the Rev. Mefcs.John Living/Ion, John Brown , John King, ^Donald Cargil, Richard Ca- meron y *Alex. Pedan y and *Alex. Shit Ids. Alfo a few by Mr. Michael Shields, at the dire&i* on of the General CorrefpoDdence. From the years 1663 to 1689 inclufive. Containing many remarkable Occurrences hither- to unknown in that Period. Wherein is difcovered the true State of the Caufe and Teftiniony at that Time. [The molt of which never before printe4^<*>"^* E DINBURGK? Printed by David Paterson, And fold by him at hr Piinr^ng; lioufe, Lawc : market, M DCCLXIV. f Price Eighteen Pence boucdj PREFACE. Cbriflian Reader % THOU haft here prefented to thy view, fome of the valuable letters of the worthy and bow glorified Mr. James Renivick, whofe memory will be dear while reformation-principles are re- garded in Scotland; together with fome others, all relative to the fins and duties of that day, and BOt at all impertinent in our day, wherein fuch duties are much flighted, and the fame or like defcdlion, as keenly and effectually carried on and corroborated, not only by profeffed ene- mies to the covenanted intereit of Chrift, but by profefled friends thereunto. It is certain that Zion'sKmg, did in afign^l manner,' difplay his banner in the Ides of the fea, and engaged them to himfclf by folemn facred oaths and covenants: he animated the fpirits of his followers with zeal, refolution and faithfulnefs in their appearances and contendings for him and his truths, and e- fpecially for ihe dignity of his kingly office; he defeated the defigns of enemies, and advanced to himfelf.a rooft glorious building, of a molt beautiful church, founded upon the prophets and npcjlles, Jefus Chrift himfelf being the chief ccrr.er jione ; fo that this church and nation was blefled with a more glorious and perftft leformation "than any of her neighbour churches : 7 he doc- tune, worlhip, diiclpline and government, in all points agreeable to the word of truth, was eita- blilbed by ecclefiaftic and civil laws, fworn and fubicribed to by the king's majefty, and all ranks and degrees in the land: but it is no Ids certain, that this church and nation, which was once (o a 2 great iv PREFACE. great a praife in the earth, is deeply corrupted, and hath turned afide quickly out of the way, into the moft fhameful defection, and heaven* provoking apoftacy, from the purity of a cove* ranted reformation ; fo that the Lord's contro- verfy againft Britain and Ireland, but efpecially harlot Scotland, is, as exprefled, Jer. ii. 21. I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right feed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a flrange vine P Yet, as an evidence that our Ifracl hath not been forfaken, nor Judah cf his God, of the Lord ofhojls; though their land was filled with fin again]} the holy One of Ifrael ; it hath pleafed the covenanted God of the Iires, for his own glory, and for keeping up the me- mory of his work in thefe lands, everfince the national overthrow of reformation, and almoft univerfal defe&ion of all ranks, to preferve a remnant, to witnefs and teftify for his kingly authority, caufe and covenants, many of which were animated with divine courage to triumph over the greateft difficulties and dangers, and feal their teftimony to his caufe with their blood, in the open fields, on fcaffolds and gibbets, to the confuting of enemies, and the ftrengthening and confirming of the faithful ; and ft ill the Lord has left a very fmall remnant, whom he hath de- termined to declare and teftify againfl: the de- fections, evils and abominations of the times ; endeavouring to follow the voice of the great Shepherd, and to go forth by the footjleps of the flock, and example of the faithful cloud of wit- nefles, feeding by the ihepherds tents, and to keep clofe by bis ftanda'rd who is the chiefeft a- mong ten thoufand, and to follow him, upon all hazards, through good report and bad report. As- PREFACE. v As thefe Letters need not human commen- dation, fo neither will the detraction of any who are fo difpofed blaft their reputation ; they a^e above the one, and defpife the other. They will recommend themfelves to all who have their fenfes exercifed to difcern good and evil, and can favour the things that are of God ; who- ever have any acquaintance with the fweet breathings of the Spirit of God, and have-placed their fatisfaflion fo intirely in the light of his countenance lifted up upon their fouls, that they cannot enjoy themfelves when they do not enjoy a God in Chrift, will here find exemplified in an eminent manner, what a heaven the faints fotne- times have, or may have, on this fide of glory. Perhaps fome inaccuracies maybe met with ia the following Letters, which would not have been found in them, had the honoured writers- either defigned or corre&ed them for the prefs ; but, if any fuch are, it is hoped the candid reader will throw the mantle of love over them ; as thefe Letters were never intended for the reflec- tions of critics, but the inftrudtion of Chriftians. As a fine ftile or florid language is no great re-' commendation initfelf; fo the embellilhmems of oratory could not be expe&ed to be ra^t with in fuch an age,* when men were continually harrafTed, and in danger every moment of falling a prey to ueir enemies : but they are full of the language of heaven, which is many degrees more forcible than all artificial rhetoric. We indeed live ia an age when men are generally more taken with the manner of adejrefs than with the matter fpoken, at lead, as to the concerns of God's glory, their own falvation, or what God hath done for as in thefe lands. Jfrael of old com- a 3 Diemoraied vi PREFACE. memorated the wonders God had wrought for them with an outftretched arm; faying, I -will fing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed glori- oiijly ; his right hand and his holy arm hath gotten him the vifiory, and calls all to remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his ivonders, and the judgments ef his mouth. Such was the exercife of the church and people of God of old, while we, in this age, are fo far from faying, What hath God wrought ? that the moft part de- iire not the knowledge thereof: We are at eafe 5n Zion, although Chrift's crown is profaned, his prerogatives royal trampled on, his ordinances contemned, his church and people epprefled; yet we, like Gallio, care for none of thefe things; yea, our backflidings are juftificd, and what im- mediately brought on the national overthrow of the Lord's work, viz. the admitting oi malig- nants into places of power and truft, contrary lo the nations vows unto God; when now it is done, is defended and pled for, as lawful and right ; and the memory of our renowned martyrs* whofe dying teftimonies witnefs their explicit re- je fling the pretended authority of the impious brothers, who then tyrannized, is belied by pro- ftffed witnefs-bearers for reformation truths. The Reader, by the perufal of thefe letters, away fee by what a different fpirit thefe worthies were a&ed, what value they put upon truth, what a lively fenfe they bad of their vows and obligations to Chrift, perfonal and national, there- fore they durfl: not deny his name, nor break his bonds and caft away his cords, as the wicked doj what hardihips they underwent, rather than part with a good coclciecce, or comply with e- cemies PREFACE. vii nemies in the leaft; and indeed, the fmallefl compliance would have been a yielding fo far to the ruin of the work and people of God, which was undoubtedly the principal defign of their opprefTors, and what, even in their favours, as they called tfiem, they intended; thereby veri- fying that fcripture, The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel They had fuch large difcove- ries of the love ofChrift, efpecially under the crofs, that their hardeft trials were accounted light: But how unlike are we to them. They were zealous for the honour of Chrift, and burnt in love to him, his truths, ordinances and people, but we are cold ^nj lukewarm, have little concern for the caufe of Chrift ; what they accounted their ornament and glory, we are afliamed of, and look upon it as a difgrace. By thefe letters alfo the Reader may evident- ly difcover what a falfe and invidious calumny it is to alledge, that an owning of the lawfulnefs of an Eraftian authority is agreeable to the prin- ciples and practice of our Reformers, and of our Martyrs, in the bloody reigns of Charles 1L and James VII. fuch an ignorant and lying afperfion is abundantly confuted from the contents of thefe valuable letters. As the manufcripts, from which thefe letters are carefully printed, are (till in the hands of the publilhers, any who ilia II queflion their authenti- city may eafily be fatisScd. Thus much, ChrilVian Reader, by the impor- tunity of thefe concerned in the publication, I have been conflrained to fay. That the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, who enabled Lis people to witncfs a good confefSon, for his truths via PREFACE. truths and caufe, may make thefe Letters ufefu! to unite all the lovers of truth in the way of duty, and animate them with the like refolutioD, in ftriving together for the valuable intercft or our reformed religion ; and that they may be bled for awakening a fecure fleepy generation, to attend to the concerns of God ? s glory, the interefts of religion in -themfelves, and in the world ; and to create in them a love to refor- mation principles, is the earned defire of Thine, to ferve thee, n the go/pel of Chi JO. M'MILLA] Pentland, ? hi the go/pel of Chrifl, June2i.i764 5 The The CONTENTS. Sixtyone Letters from Mr. James Ren-wick, to different perfons, from page i. to 22 r Letter Page h To the Honourab'e Mr. Robert Hamilton, Edinburgh, July 8. 1682. * II. To ditto. Edin. Sept. A 5 HI. To ditto. Edin, Oft. 3. 9 IV. To Mr. Henry Jenkinfon, &c. at New- cajile, Edin. Oft. 3. . 13 V. To the Rev. Mr. Willia?n Bracket minirter in Holland, Edin. Oft. 5. 16 VI. To the Laird of Earljlon, at Levjarde?}? Rotterdam, Nov. 20. 20 VII. To Mr. Robert Hamilton, Rott. Jan. 18. 1683. 22 VIII. To ditto. Rott. Jan. 22 24 IX. To ditto. Groningen, Feb. 6. 25 X- To Mrs J. H. at Le'warden in Friefiand, Gron. Feb. 13. 27 XI. To Mr. R. Hamilton, Gron Feb. 22. 20 XII. To ditto. Ore?: March 6. 32 Kill. To ditto. Amjlerdam, March 30; 35 XIV. To Mrs. J. H. at Leivarden, Gron. March 31. 36 XV. To Mr. R Hamilton, Gron. Apr. 23. 37 XVI. To .Mrs. J.Hamilton, Gron. Apr. 25. 38 XVII. To Lady Earljlon younger, Gron. May 5. 40 XVIII. To Mr. Robert Hamilton, Amjl. Mav 30. 43 XIX. To ditto. Amjl. May 31 44 XX. To ditto. /?*//. J™, 18. 46 XXI. To ditto. Rott. June 23. 5; XXII. To ditto. Dublin, Augujl 24. 52 XXUL x The CONTENTS. Letter Page XXIII. To Mr. R. Hamilton, Sept. 26. 1683. 54 XXIV. To the honouiable fociety of ftrangers at Lenvarden in Friejland, Nov. 13. 1683. 59 XXV. ToiMr. R Hamilton, Edin. AW. 14. 63 XXVI. To the Ladies Van Heerm. at Letvar- den in Friejland 1 683. 66 XXVII. To Mr k. Hamilton, Jan. 1684. 69 XXVIII. To ditto. March 29. 70 XXIX. To Mrs. Jean Ha?nilton at Leivarden, in Friejland, June 20 k 73 XXX. To Mr. R. Hamilton* July 9. 75 XXXI. To ditto. Augujl 23. 85 XXXII. To ditto. 89 XXXIII. To- Feb. 28. 1685. 93 XXXI V. 1 o Mrs. 7. Hamilton, Mar. 2. 98 XXXV. To Mr. Robert Hamilton, Edin. May 13. 100 XXXVI. To ditto. July 9. 101 XXXVII. To Robert Speir at Edinburgh, Oflober 23. 104 XXXVIII. To Mrs. J.Hamilton, Nov. 18. 106 XXXIX. To the honourable fociety of ftrangers at Lenuarden in Friejland, Feb. 18. 1686. XL. To Mr. Robert Hamilton, May 3. XLI. To the Ladies Van Heerm. May 8. XLII. To the hon. Lady E. B. May 13, XLI II. To Mr. Robert Hamilton, May 22. XLIV. To ditto. Jug, 13. XLV. To ditto. Oil. 23. XLVI. To January 10. XLVII. To Mr. R. Ha?nilton, Jan. 1 1 . XLVJILTotheLairdof^r//?^, Jan. 27. 162 XLIX. To Mr. Jacob Koelmaa minifter of the gofpel in Holland, April 4. 165 L. To April 170 LI. To Mr. Robert Hamilton, July 15. 171 LII. To ditto. 180 L1II. To the honourable Ladies — Aug. 13. 185 LIV. The CONTENTS. X i 1 Letter Page LIV. To Mr. Robert Hamilton, Nov. 5. 1687. 194 LV. To ditto. Dec. 2. 197 LVJ. To forae perfons under fenience of banimment, 2CO LVII. To Mr Alex. Shields, Jan. 12. 1688. 203 LVIIL To the prifoners in theCannong. tolbooth, 206 LIX. To the prifoners in the tolbooths of Edin- burgh, Cla/gcrjj, and elf e where in Scotland, 207 XX. To Feb. 6. 1688. 216 LXL To Mr. Robert Hamilton, Feb. 17, 219 LXII. Mr. John Livingjions letter to his parifh of Ancrum, being his farewell before his banilhment, upon his refuting the oath of Supremacy, Leitb, April 13. 1663. 221 •LXIII. From Mr. John Brown, to Mrs. Jean Ker, daughter to the Laird of Kerjland, prifoner in Dumbarton Cajlle, Utrecht, Sept. 24. 1670. 227 LXlV.From ditto, to ditto. Aug. 9 1677. 2 3° LXV. From Mr. John King, to the prifoners in the Gray friars church- yard, 1679. 2 3 2 LXVI. From Mr.' Dcnald Cargil, to the Lady Earl/ion younger, Feb* 22. 1680 240 LXVII. From ditto, to Alexander Gordon of . Earljlon, Sec. Gilkie, April 14. 1680. 242 LXVIII. From Mr. Richard Cameron, to Mr. A. Gordon of Earljlon, Mar. 22. 1 680. 244 LXIX. From ditto to ditto. May 22. 246 LXX. From ditto, to the Lady Earljlon younger, 247 LXXI. From Mr. Alex. Pedan, to fome friends. 249 LXXIi. From Meffrs. James Renivick, William Boyd and John Flinty to their friends in Scotland, Groningen, Feb. 24 1683 253 LXXIII. From Mr William Bracket minifter in Holland^ to the ftrict perfecuted party of the Prtfbyteriansin Scotland 1682. 2c% LXXIV, From ditto to ditto, Feb, 9.1683. 263 LXXV. xii The CONTENTS. Letter Page LXXV. From Mr. Alex. Shields, to the pri- foners for Chrift in Dunnottar Caflle, Edinburgh y June 1685. 267 LXJCVI. From ditto, to the Ladies Van Beer. Oclober 1687. 306 LXXV1I. From Mr. Robert Hamilton, to fome friends in Scotland, Le*warden, May 24. 1683. 3 1 5 The following letters were wrote by Mr. Mi- chael Shields, moftly at the dire&ion of the General meeting. LXXVIII. To Tome friends, July $.1683. 341 LXXIX. To Augufi 1 347 LXXX. To friends at Dublin, Ocl. 3. 350 LXXXI. To fiiends in Friejland, Oil. 28. 358 LXXX 1 1. To the claffis of Groningen, November 28. 362 LXXXIII. To the Proteftant churches, November 28. 364 LXXXIV. To the reformed churdi at Embden, July 31. 1684. 368 LXXXV. To Mr. Robert Hamilton, 372 LXXX VI. To the reformed church at Gronin- gen, 375 LXXXVII. To fome friends in Nenvcajlle, Jan. 8. 1685. 380 LXXXVIH. To the Laird of Earljlon, 382 LXXXIX To Mr. David Houjlon, Sept. 23. 1686 386 XC To friends in Ireland, March 2. 1 687. 388 XCL To Mr. Robert Hamilton, July 6. 416 XCII. To friends in Ireland, Sanquhar, Jan. 24 1689. 421 XCIII. To the hon. Mr Robert Hamilton, Craivf99rd-John > Feb. 14. 1689. 426 A COLLECTION O F LETTERS. L E T T E R I. Mr. James Rcnwick, to the Ho:: . Mr. Robert Hamilton. Aired Sir, Edinburgh, Jalj H 1-682, E do not queftion your concerned. tod our caufe at the prefent; lc: do we doubt of your defire to k 1 and what the rit ere are doing;, in refen 1 to that which God is calling there to in this Upon that confidcration, and out of obedience to your defire, intimate to me in a letter f friend And. Rend* I have prefumed, though, unac- :y great lofs, to w line (though confuted) unto you. And z r , | ters before your brother S. his departure from ds f , whom wecxincl you I ;tly, God we remit you to his iriforiDirioo, as be ing more feen and perceiving than we ; and as to our procedure in matters (ince, [ (hall labour to •ou a brief, yet true account. We do not on but ye know already, how that, by the A 2 LETTERS. Lord's fpecial providence, there is a general cor- refpondence, which, for awhile by-paft, hath been kept up among the focieties of this land, who profefs to own the way of God, and not to fay a confederacy with this untoward generation; for which end there have commifiioners from their re- fpe&ive focieties met togetner, at lead once a quarter, that they might treat and confer anent what is required in this day. And as to what was done the laft meeting, the fir ft thing after prayer, which was fallen about, was this: The commiffi- oners names, together with the names of the ftiires from which they came, were written down ; and out of thefe, fifteen were fele&ed, beca-uie the whole would breed confullon, and thefe being thus feledted went by themlelves: then it was afked at £very one of thenvmaa by man, if they knew the ;\mid of thofe with whom they were embarked in uciety ; and how they and their focicty carried as I o the owning of our public declarations, and if the % y any ways contributed brick to Babel, by ac- tive ly ftrengtheniog the hands of the enemies of our i r ^ord; and if they joined with thefe once mi- DilTer.s, who had now left their Mafter, and ftep- ped a^ide from the way of the Lord. All profefTed that t*Hey and their iocieties were clear for our de- clarations; but there were fome found, who join- ed with Jhofe whopayed cefs and locality, which we may ofcferve in thofe who fay they own our declarations, io be a confefling God with the inouth, but denying him in works; and though they were not 4 guilty -of thofe things themfelves, yet being cloatned with the authority of thefe who were guilty, they were for that time caften, and defired, if the perfons in their focieties would not forbear thefe fmful courfes, to feparate from them ; and LETTERS. 3 and though there were pone to be found in that corner where they lived, who would forbear [hem, by keeping, at a diftance from them while lb, they fhould be received in the convention as particular perfons. There were alio fornc there, who were found to have accepted the lacrament of baptiim and ordinance of marriage, admimrtred by Mr. Pedan, who were for the time fufpended from fit- ting, but this was after a long and ftiff debate; for fome laid, how could they upon Mr Pedarfs account be. lufpended, before trial was made and he was found unfaithful ? Then it was replied, that he had been many times tried, and pra&ice had proved him unfaithful in this time bypjft ; fo the mod honeft thought it only bed, not to truft implicitly, but after trial, to truft according as he was found to be. Then their empty places being filled with commiifioners ielcfted,. who- were noi found to be guilty of thefe things; it was pro- ceeded (as ordinary) Firft, to ratify and approve what had been done by the foregoing convention; from which fome receded, becaufe it had been e^l a<5ed, that your brother Ihouldgo abroad, and *ive true information of our cafe, and the heads of our fuffc rings, to any godly Chriftian defirous to know, and unwilling to believe mifinformaiions and faife calumnies, which enemies of all forts are very vi- gilant to caft upon us. And fome (tboogb few) who were for his going abroad at firlt, and would approve of fending, were not for his continuing any longer. But as ro the illegal and dilorderly manner of their diflentment, having at firft agreed with the thing, we remit you to our friends, your brother, or A. H. Whereupon I confulion, and nothing could be done till, the dil- fenters drawing afide, there was a new election of A ? thofe 4 LETTERS. thofe who were both for his going a broad and con- tinuance for a while And the day being fperit all that was gotten done was only a ratification of .what had been done by the foregoing convention; ano- ther day when to meet appointed, and ibme fall dav nominated. No.v Sir, you have here a biief account of our late conftiiiofjs; but I think we ought to look up- on them as the Lord's breaking us by thefe things, ay and while we break fully qfPfrom our dotal ■counts direft or indirect: But this is very obferv- abie, that thofe who deferred from that duty of fending our friend, your brother abroad, .ire the only pleaders for trufting Mr. Pedan before trial, and juflify their joining with the abominaioi s of the time, though they do not juftify the abominations, which in them is a direct finning, and an indirect: following of their duty But ! Sir, wreftle much for the poor remnant, that they may be united ia truth and hoiinefs, which cantiot be without iepa- ratiog from both the abominations and abomina- tors of this time: for as the Lord hsth faid, "There is * no peace to the v/tcked, contcquentljf there will "be no peace to thefe who are at p£ace with the wicked as fuch. No more to trouble you at the . but leaving you on him who hath kept you hitherto, iliac he may keep you to the end. I an:, SIR, Your entire mid obedient f errant in the Lord, JAMES RENVv r ICK. LET. # L E T T E Pv S. 5 LETTER IT. Tr. James Reowick, to Mr. R. Hamilton. Much honoured Sir, Edin. Sept. 6. 1682. THE confcioufnefs of my duty makes me pre- write unto you; and alio your ho- nouring me wii;i a pi.ticuUr line from your | (being unwo.'thy & far as to be countenanced by eradds a ti( no. We re- ceived there foui-refrclhing letters of yours to our . friend •, which to them are vcr encourag the Lo d he hath done, and to cry that he would carry on what he hath lb nobly begun, and to be co-wreCt- lers with all thai i the ac- count of her defoUtion. And according to your defire, all friends, having; occafion to come to phce, fee what ye wiote; and I alio take f copies thereof and fend them" to feveral come; the country: But indeed I canr:r hear thereof are refrelhed and overjoyed, B:it, O! S r, pray j may not be abufer mercies, and that we may get the Lord put lis room ; and beeaufe of thefe things, that earts may only rejoice in the Lord. 1 cannpc iixked admire enough bow fome behaved to you while here; but we may hr.ve peace, bee.. it wras upop the accoiapt of duty, liat this 1 i ■.ervable in fuch cafe*, that lie Lord then .mielf to refreih the foulf of his people-; and it is ordinary with him when there is leafi outward encouragements to r^ive mod inward er.cou:^ rient from bimfelf; He flays bis rough u// day of his infi-wind . O! doth 001 this $aag . 6 LETTERS. wifdom and gracioufnefs? who killetb, and yet maketh alive : and does it not tell us that he is unwilling to affiifi? and fho'jld it not teach us on- ly to look to himfelf for encouragement, with whom there is no fhadow of change? And as to your call abroad, and especially your (laying where you are, furely the Lord's hand hath been only in it, which his difpenfations fince hath confirmed. But, O! labour to be thankful to the Lord, who hath made you any ways ufeful where he calls your lot: And, if my heart deceive me not, my foul ihall be thankful to him upon your account; and whatever he does, or whoever he makes ufe of to do any thing for him, let us only attribute the praife thereof to his free grace and mercy that ho- nours any fo far. When thefe refrefhing news came to our hands, my fpirit was overjoyed with the hearing of them; but immediately this thought (truck into my mind, that wftat if the Lord be now going to leave Scot- land, feeing he is making his candle ihine fo clear in another place; but this thought got no abode, for it was greatly refented in the time; and the "thought of the many noble teftimonies that he hath honoured a remnant here to give for him, and the precious blood that he had taken in fields and oh fcaffoJds, to feal his caufe and quarrel. I fay, the cries of thefe, I thought, (though there were no more) ^vould not let him give up altogether with this land, efpeciaHy feeing it was married unto him, *nd his keeping a remnant in it even to this very day, fpeaking good unto us. Then again, I was made to think that this rather might be the thing which the Lord would do, becauie we have been generally fo treacherous a people, that he might poffibly honour any of us to have any hand in LETTERS. 7 in the delivery ; yet he would deliver, and could command deliverance from afar. However I de- fire to believe, that he who hath preferved a rem- nant here to contend for him, will do fo Hill : But 0! he is a fovereign God; well would it become us to put a blank in his hand, and to leave the fill- ing up thereof to himfelf, and not to limit the Ho- ly One of Ifrael, but rather believe in his word, who hath condefcended fo far as to tell us, that all pall work together for good to them that love and fear him; he is wife and mighty, his end (which is his owo glory, and the good of his peo- ple) cannot be fruftrate, and he can well make means woik together for that end, when the con- trary is intended by them. And what you wrote, Sir, among many things, I think, to me it fpeaks this, the making out of his word, that he fnallfee the travel of his foul, and that he is able, if it were, out of fiones to raife up children to Abraham, and that he will not want a teftimony; yea, that if thefe were filent the fiones -would cry out: So this (hould learn us to credit him with the caufe who is the maintainer thereof, and will fhew himfelf to be the avenger thereof alfo. Be pleafed to {how Mr. Brackel that fome friends here, and I, have our fervices prefented to him ; and that, when fiiends meet, I think, they will write to him in particular, from them in general, and ihow him that the lad day of the laft month was nominate by fome friends, having met in this place, a day of thankfgivin^, for the noble tefti- niony the Lord had helped him to give, and for his enabling him fo fignally to (land out, and nor to qui: any of his Miftei's rights. The relation of the whole bufioefs (which ye wrote) being in the entry of the day read in ihcir hearing, that it might p;o\e 8 LETTERS. prove a mean to fratyie r.cm for that duty, and lh< w that t emitters of what be defines of them, it greatly their duty, and rejoice in thi his account, And that you, a*;d frier you, and friends here, may 1). one in'the :nd one in all our duties, I gitot If toidmiate here, that (as we reckon) the lift \lwrfday of this infta&r* and the fecond Tburfday ciCJhLcr are denominated days of public fafting !v : here, an c next ge- nera I ; of owr friends is to be on the fecond day of November. And as to what was done the lalt meeting, we refer you to the confufed account - thereof in your brother's letter, 'You (hall receive from the bearer all our r/ tyrs teihtHODies that are imprinted, but there are wrkten*in toitb the , two particular teftimonies, or rather letter:, oi James Skeen, which he never intended to publifh as teft'imonies; Jo, if you think it fit (it being congruous with rcafons) they need not be printed, or at lead, {act as fuch ; the. one tvhpreof i?*direded to all profefTors* in the ihire of Aberdeen ; the other, to all and fundry profef- fors in the South! Receive alio fome fennons of Mr.IVelujGod's in a little book; but let the ler- mons, and alfo the teflimonies, be well noticed ;. . for not having con eel copies, though I write them, . I cannot anfwejr for the correclnefs of them. — We have fent you alfo a letter, with a paper written by "Mr. Donald's own hand, in anfwer thereunto: hex it is unperfecled, he being taken away before he got time to finiiht it. But as for that book . which is in Gla/goiv, it is not as yet come to our hand ; but when corrected, it is promifed, and when gotten it lhall be fenr, with all the ((a called) ads of parliament. So, leaving you and ail LETTERS. 9 all his people upon the Lord, for counfel and dU re&ion, I am, SIR, Yours y to my full power to ferje you in the Lord, J \MES RENWICK. LETTER III. From Mr. James Renwick, to the much honoured R. Hamilton at Lewarden. Much honoured Sir, Edln. Oftoher 3. 1682. TT, E received yours, which was very refreihful \ V unto us, and alio very feafonable, becaufe of the many wholiome adv ces therein unto us, whereof we greatly ftand in need, efpecially in this juncture of time. Bat O chat we could gel the Lord acknowledged in all our ways, then he Id dired our paths ; for they are only well led and guided whom the L rd leads and guides O Dobie guide! O fufficient guide! O true guide! and O tonftant guide! he is nearer than a bro- : though fa:her and mother (hould both for- fakr. brill not ; ' us, nor ke us. Tho' c: I e fo unperccivin^ , I : to fay, that ) ;;;a cy /a . . alls and by the I lo LETTERS. .Pfal. Ixxiii. 22, 23 is not fuck a guide well wotth the following, with all joy and alacrity ? Is not fuch a matter well worth, the ferving, with all the ibul, heart, mind, and ftrength? He is Dot like other matters; for- there is an infinite difproportion betwixt his work and his reward; and he gives no work, but he gives alfo a heart for the fame, and all furniture fuitable and requi- site for the doing thereof, which is the thing that other makers cannot do. And, the more he gives, the more we may expeit ^ for the more he gives, there is not the iefs behind ; becaufe that which .is infinite. cannot be exhaufted, yea, not diminiih- ed; O this is not after the manner of man! that the more he give?, the more we may expert. And doth he not many times lay abundantly what- ever we need unto our hand, when we dare not fay, that either we were right in feeking thereof, or exercifing faith and dependence upon him for the fame ? O! does not this hold forth the free- dom, freedom, of his irtt y free grace? And lhouid not this (lop our mouths, and caufe us be lilent before him? andihould not this ftiame us out of our mifbelief, and caufe us credit him fully and freely with all his matters, and our matters? for bis foundation fiandeth Jure, he knows who are hisj znivjbom he loves y he loves unto the end. There is no ihadow of change with hirm O let us follow him ! O let us ferve him ! O noble Ma- tter! O noble fervice ! In ferving of hirif, therein we (hall get ail our ambition fatisfied. O let us follow him, and ferve him in his own way: he cannot be found otrt of his own way ; in his light we ihaii fee light; in the light of his paths, and there ojaly, we (hall ice tiie comfortable light of his ccunienar.c^: O light! comfortable light ! there LETTER S. n There le many that fay , who will/hew us any good? but let us fay, Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. He can, yea, doth gladden our hearts more than the enemies hearts in the rime when their corn and wine were increaied. O let us leave the world and follow him : Is he not faying, Come with me from Lebanon, myfpoufe, 'with me from Lebanon, O if his company will not allure us, furely nothing *.vill ; and both to ravifti us therewith, and make us lure thereof, he fays, With me from Lebanon, voith viefrcm Lebanon. O worthy Sir, the Lord hath been kind unto you, and made you an inilrnment of much good; O ye are the more obliged to his free grace ! Therefore, O be humble, and O be thankful ; and my foul (hall defire to be thankful to him upon your account: and the more he does for you, and by you, be ye the more engaged to be for him, ai;d for him only. We have no news to write unto you; but this is very obferveable now, and clearly to be ieen, That the fear and terror of the Lord is legibly written upon the conferences of malrgnants and backflidden profeiTors : there is not lo much heart and hand to be leen amongft any, as amongft: the poor remnant. And how can it be otherways with thefe backflidden and backfliding profeiTors? for they are fufFering and finning, finning and fuffering; and in their fullering they want the world's peace; and by their finning, they want the fweer, fweet enjoyment of a peaceable con- fcience, and breaks and mars their peace with God. They are really deadened, their hearts are ftneken with fainting, and their knees with feeble- nefs : and any life or heart that is to be feen, is among the poor remnant, whom the Lord helps, ia LETTERS. in any meafure, to make Mofcs and Jofiud>s choicr, O ! what means all this terror/' Is it not the fore- runner of fudden and lore judgments? He is on his way, he is on his way ; bit lied are they, who, when he corres, ihall be fouud in his way, and prepared to meet him. Worthy Mr. Bracket's let- ter was very refreihful to all who have heard it; and there are copies thereof en.diiiied, asd lent to feveral corners of the country. He may -exixft a line from the remnant when they meet, which, God willing, will be on the eleventh of this inftant, it being called iooner than expectation, for choof- ing out of thefe joung men But go who v the work they are to go for is mod weighty; and tbfir going in facta a manner is alfo molt weigh- ty : but there is all furniture with him, wl the life and the light of men. O that none may go but thefe whom the Lord fends, and along with ; and whom he heips, and will he»p to look to himfelf, and to himfelt only, for all ft s and furniture fuitabie. But we marvel greatly what you mean in your letters, by ipeaking of ordination aguiniT: the Spring; for your worthy brother knows afluredly, that we have none of whom that, or any thing like unto it, can be ex- pedite!. The afls cf the pretended parliament (according to your defire) and the book ye wro f e for, ihall come with the next occafion, God willing. Let us know if you received thefe papers, and that bock, which we Cent with your coufins. We know it is the defire of the people, and we expect it will be done at the meeting, that you ihould be conjunct with your brother in his commifiion. We hope we need not defire you, and friends with LETTERS. 13 with you, to mind us. So, leaving you on him who is wife, mighry, and gracious, with my endeared love to yourleit* and worthy Mr. Brackel, and all our godly and concerned friends in our Lo d Jefus. I am, .$r Much honoured Sir, Yours, to my full power toferveyou in the Lord, JAMES RENWICK. LETTER IV. From Mr* James Renw'ck. to Mr Henry Jenkin- ton, frc* at Newcadle. Endeared Friends, Edin. October 3 1682. E wrote to you, and gave you notice of our appointed public ft ft days, bu never heard if it came to your hands; and our ftill waiting to hear from you in ?.:rfwer to ours, was th~ caufe of oar (o long delay now : B-it, however, at this time our concernednefs > you, and rhe great if ve wc have unto you in the Lord, puts cs to it, that we can no longer forbear; and that became we have heai one Mr. John Hepburn, a preacher, v/:s atrfpi yon; and we kz it affirvdly to be our duty to defire you to beware of Lim; for he is one of tndks the wdfd of God deceitfully: and though he be not ahdg ;' l|1 ' r y °* pub.! :on, and of compliance, a B vet M LETTERS. yet he condemns t! i e practices of the g/>dly party, who were hcl| jiy for troth, and a^ainfl the ene and he is incorporated with the reft id , reproaching and condemning theie, in any meafure, were kept faithful tor their Lord and Mifter Jefus Chrift; and his incorporation with them therein is enough to us, tho be other variances amongfi: themfclves. Let us not own the way of God by halves, but wholly, fully, and in ail things. And particularly, he our noble and faithful declaration ihed at Sanquhar , whereby that wre tyrant Charles Stewart, and all his accomplt- ..ere caft off by us. as we ou^ht ; which, alas! was too long a doing: and b) this he j the blood, and condemns the faithful tef- timonies of fo many worthies who have died upon that head, and therein have been emi- nently owned and aflifted of the Lord. In- deed, herein he will run this fubterfuge, and fay, He acknowledges he ought to be rejected, and depoled ; yea, poffibly grant, that he de- ferveth death, both by the laws of Go juft laws of man ; yet he cannot lee how that can be done without another nwgiftrate or jnagiftratcs : But we would anfwer, It* he lees no otherways than fo, he is but blind, and that is a deceitful and double deahng ; for ma- giftratcs have no power but what is deriva- tive from the people; and irugihVates hav - i actually,, but what the people have vir- ; yea, and more than visually, for they cay ftuilly confer it upon whom they think m. ft tit, for the power of govern natural ud radical to them, being unitely in the v auJ LETTERS. 15 aivd Angularly in every one : fo whatever magi- {hates may do, the people may do the !:mc, either wanting magillrates, or the mag'ftrates failing or refuting to do their duty. Wc need iniift no further upon the lawfulnefs of the thing ; for is not this mod confonant to the law of God, and the law of nature? and is fufficieiitly cleared by all our moft found divines, particu- larly worthy Mr. Knox, who herein had the approbation of Calvin, and other learned di- vines of his time, under their hand writings : and alfo is clear enough by the laudable pr dice of our refolute and worthy Reformers. But as to the neceflity of the thing, to wit, of the reject- Charles Stewart, as he is inftalled this day ; hath he any p*Wer to govern, but what is efta- ! >ed upon the ruins of the land's engagements* and hath not tlie excrdie thereof been ftill ac- cording thereunto? What then can we own in him, if neither the eflabliftiment nor the exercife of aiuhcrrity ? And d< es he not ad: in all things by virtue of bia blafphemous (upremacj ? And the owning of him in leis or in more, is the owning thereof, beeaufeuhe fupremacy is made the eflential of the crown ; and it is but one fu- premacy that he arrogantly hath both in mat- ters civil and ecclefuilical, which is clear from the Explanatory AS. of the Supremacy : fo that it is clfcotial to the crown, is the fame with 1 crown, and that which is one cannot be di- vided. Now, dear friends, what ye have done in , to wit, in your joining with Mr Htpbu Jo not impute it to y ur wilful (kpping alidc, but to the iniinuation, or realbnlcfs recommen- dation oi Mr. .5 hugely 1 U 2 the] i6 LETTERS. therein, and which is both a grief and an offeree [o the remnant. But, O! ftaud ftill, go ;iOC ye to them, but let them come to you: join with none out of the way of God, but labour to "bring all into it that ye can, yet go not out of it yourfelves to fetch ihera thither ; and give no- ear to the in ft Midi on that caufcth to err. We hope we need uot bid you beware ot Mr. 'James Welch, for he will loon kyth in his ovvn colours. Labour to walk according to that pa- per lent by vou unro us, and walk with none but thefe who will walk according thereunto. . And we are lure if you would pole M . Hepburn upon thefe things in your paper, you ihould not find him to fatisfy you. And if you will defend or continue in your joining, with him, or any o- ther who (lands where he is, or where he was while he was here, we mud deny correfpoa- dence with you: But, hoping for better thingi of you, an^ dcfiring an anivver hereof we leave you on the Lord for light and life. I am, Yow friend and fervaxt in the Lad, JAMES RENWICIC LETTER V. From Mr. J. Renwick, to the Rev. Mr. William Braekel tninifier of the go/pel in Hoiland. Mojl Rev. Sir, Edhi. CCiobcr 5. 16&2. f- Lthough our friends when met, are intend. 1 1 ed, wail one coofent, to write unto you, it* LETTERS. 17 in token of thankfalnefs unto the Lord, for what he hath helped and honoured you to do^ for himfelf; and in token of their foul concern- cdnefs with, and real affection for all thofe whom the Lord helps and honours to follow himfelf in his own way, in owning oi, adhering to, and contending for the faith once delivered to the faints: Eut efpecially, I fay, in token of their foul concernednefs with you whom the Lord hath fo fignaliy helped to advance in his v,*y, and content! for all his rights and pri- vileges, being carried above, the fear of frail mortal man. whofe breath is in his noftrils, and only fearing him who is Lord of lords, and King ef '■ kings, the terrible M'.jcfty of heaven and earth/ the high andlofy One who inhabUeth eler- Yet my foul is {o unite unto you upon that account, andbecaufe of your real concern* ednefs and fouUfympathy with all of us in Scot- land who defire to be helped of the Lord, to efpoufe his quarrei :o be oaly ours, and his con- cernment:- to be only ours; I fay, -fo unite (tho* little or nothing I Qf I ought) that I can- not keepfilenr. Bir:, 0! What (hill I fay? Is not the Lord God of hods worthy and only worthy of all fer- . May not that in- finite zti'A tranfcentl - (in the profound the admiration whereof angels are d h he bore unto man before the .foundations of the world" were laid, and fill our fouls, as that we might fay, Him 2 ferve who loved us ; nothing prefent or to come (hall be able to feparate us from- the love of Gcd that is in Chrift ? ! is net his yok± . I his burden 1 8 LETTERS. ° his croCs is no crofs, for he bears it hinr- felf, and alfo thore who tike it up. His will p holy, juft, good and fpirirual in all that he does. O! what is more driirablc than to live and die with htm, and for him? for our which is but for a moment, worh eth for us afar , of glory ; while we look not at the thinp whi feen, hit at the things which mc \ Let lis not weary in well-doing, for in due feaf Jhall reap if ive faint not. It is ajaitbfutf if ive be dead with him, ive /hall alfo live with him; if ive fuffer, we [hall alfo reign with him; if we deny him, he will alfo deny uk O! is not Mofes's choice very defirable? A*e not all his ways pleafantnefs, and his paths peace ? Where is peace to be found ? is it not in his way? and 'when he gives peace, who can create trouble? He gives, and dun give joy whith no man can take from as. Now, Mofl Reverend Sir, my foul defire?, while I Iive r to rraife the Lord, for wbat*great things he bath helped you to do, in fo nobly, fait ]? and freely witneffing for bis noble caufe, ami J'.vect Scotland's caufe : and my fonl dcfires to ho- nour you, becaufe he hath fo honoured you; and to love you, becaufe he loves you, atod fi canfed you to love and own his caufe, and re- ceive ; is truths in love; and aHcr.ro be aftliflcd in all it*e affl:dt:ons of his people, and to be fuch a fympathizer, and a burden-bearer with his poor remnant in this land, as that we may fay of you, zs Paul of the Hebrews, Ye have had i on us in our bonds. O Sir, go on in his way, a ncc valiantly; be zealous for him . . c fhs 1! animate you : Cajl not away your con- Jidenee, LETTERS. r 9 fidence, which hath great recompense of reward; for ye have need of patience that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the protnife : for yet a Little , and he that flail come, will ccn.e, and -will not tarry: Now the jujl flail live by faith ; but if any man draw back my foul flail have no pleafare in him, faith the Lord. ! who is he that will harm yau if ye be followers of that which is good. Therefore, ceafe from man ivhofe breath is in his nojhils for wherein is he to be accounted of P Now, the Lord let you feed up- on his all-fufficiency, and give all fuitable frame and furniture unio you for his work in your hands ; and give you his Spirit whereby you may goon in his way, with all magnanimity, Chrifti- an boldnefs, and free fpeakiug for him unco the fons of men. O Sir! do not impute any thing faid to you in tjiis (hort and confufed line to arrogance in me; for \vb.at may, if miftaken, give occafion thereof, flows only from my concernednefs and foul-uni- on with you. So, at the time I ihali trouble you no further. But this I mud tell you, and I think it is to be remarked, and may be cl< ariy feen all this time, that the terrors of the Lcrd is greatly engraven and legibly written upon the " conferences of all the compliers with the abominations of this land. They are re deadened, and it is no wonder, for they have forfaken the Lord, and he hath forfaken them: He cannot be found out of his own way. A guilty confeience b bad company, and what l ill this terror of fudden and fqi " merits from the Lord? and there is not fo much fpirit, courage, and voidnefs of fiavilh fear a- ■ mong any, whether avowed malignants or com- plies ao LETTERS. pliers with them, as amongft the poor remnant, vtho arc defiring to be helped of the Lord, in all things to make a i ght choice. O ! pray for the Lord's return to poor Scotland, and for his ap- pearance unto the rejoicing of his people, and confufion of his adveiiaries. And pray for iim, who is, Mojl reverend Sir, Yquu, to bis full power to fervc you in the Lord, JAMES RENWICK. L ETTER VL -From Mr James- Renwick, to the honourable the Laud of Earlfton, at Lcwarden. Much honour ed Sir, Rotterdam, Nov. ao. 1 6fcz~ IT is not a little trouhlefome to me, that 1 fhbuld. he in this place, fo long; but I have oecafion togo away whenever the wind offers: an J I hope, yobr Honour will be careful to get con- veyed. unto Scotland, wit!) all expedition, an ac- count of what you thick fit to be contained in lhat letter which is to be written; for out of Scotland I cannot come, if once it pleafed the Lord that I were there, nntill that I get that let- ter with me. And it will be alfo very neceffary " that fome fliould be pitched upon for catechizing* and this muft be recommended to the carefulnefsof foaie who will'fee it done at the general meeting. And LETTERS. it And if J. V. be gotten reclaimed (for your ho- Bouf knows, that he walked contrary to his own duty, and our appointments, in joming witii Mr. Htptum while out of the way of God ; I fay, if he be gotten reclaimed, amongfl: others, he may be one, as I think. Ii is reported in the Scottifb news, that the actually indulged (f* cajltd) minifters are required, either immediate- ly to uke their teft, otherwise to lay down their charges at the feet of ihofe men of whom they took them up; and if it be fo, let the .world think what they will. I dare not be forry there- at, but on the coutrary rejoice, becaufe that in- dulgence hath been, and is yet a ftumbling- block unto the people of God; and is not the removing of {tumbling blocks a token of fudden food to his people, how low foever they be rought! It is alfo reported, that Charles Stew- art hath ordained his council in Scotland to pro- ceed againft Haltoun in making him accountable for the mint: Hamarfs rejoicing is (hort. O S r, I cannot get the thoughts of the weighted cafe I left you in, when we parted, out of my mind:. But this I think, the Lord is taking feveral ways, ■with your honour, in discommending ail other thing« unto you, that lb he may con mend him- felf unto }our foul, and that ye may be kept fora rejoicing in any thing but himlelf alone ; and wljea he is the matter of our joy, that is the joy that no man can take from us. O! 'tis huideif that is the portion of his people, and the world cannot i rive them thereof, and this is our comfvr, ember me to your worthy brother, your her filter: and as I have been partly an more an ^ar wine s umo lome of the tiouUes yt have been put 10 upon our bh-lleJ LoitTs LETTERS. to he a witnefs t<» th( ng inconceivable joy yc Hull be ten thefe who overcome (hall be liu ng in a >, upon thrones, with crowns upon their heads judging the world. O arc ye n t high up n').v ! are yc not far ben in the k D ye arc fitting upon thrones giving your amen to the fentence. which he will pals upon the world Walk worthy of the name by which ye are called. S> leaving you on him Wie is the Rock of ages, whofe work is peifcJ for every drop of ink that falls from my pen, a tear falling from my eye: There is more than caufe enough for it, yea, I cannot fay bur I am iL3detofee the fame ; for, in fome meafure, I fee and know the poor affiidjted, tof- fiug and paoderiog remnanr, in fuch a cafe ae the waters haw overflowed their heads, the Lord having cov / ;d himfelf with a cloud. But for all this (woes me) my eye doth not nghtly and thoroughly affe, to lpean us from all things ; yea, even to make 11 s denied to one another? He will have us to take himfelf for all 32 LETTERS. all out-content ment and fatisfaftion : O noble contentment ! O fwect fatisfa&ion ! Oiber airths may fail qs, but the Lord will never fail any that put their trull in hi in : and whatever the Lord hath to do with you in any place, as he calls you forth, fo he will alfo, in his own blefied time, lead you whither you ftiouldgo; Heb. xi. 8. By faith Abraham, when he was i to go out unto a place. which hefliould after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. O Sir, pray for -Twee t Scotland ; pray that zeal and tendernefs may be kept there : and pray for him who is, . Much honoured Sir, Your foiiVs-fympathizer, and feroant in the Lord, JAMES RENWICK. LETT E.R.XII. . From Mr. James Renwick, to Mr. Robert Ha* niilton, at Lewarden. Much honoured Sir, Gron. March 6. 1683. I Received your letter wirh worthy Mr. Brac- ket's, which were very fnrprifing to„me, in refpeft of the circuraftance of the time ; and the fenle x>f the work, together with my own unfit- Dels, came fo upon my lpirir, that I began to give place to this reiblution, that I would defire fome more time ; but therein I could find 110 peace, the LETTERS. 33 the mind being tortured and racked. And up- on the other hand, when I confidered the afflict- ed and affedting cafe of the remnant, both in refpeft of the open adverfaries, and of treache- rous fitterrat eafe, who fland in the crofs-w*y; I fay, when I confidered how the glorious^uths of God were wronged, by cruelty again-* them, on the one hantf, and perfidious tic^hery and double-dealing on the other; I tho* ht »* +od$ be a honourable thing, the Lod calling me thereto, and fitting me thereto^* jf u were but to give one public tefJimoiK a g^ in ft i' ne feme : Yet many objections aroir^ t j e heart, flowing all from the fenfe of myjefitnefs; but the Lord, (0 praife be to his lyy came!) anfwered them all with your letter; a " d with that word, Pjal. Ixxxix. 10. / h ve b*d Mp u P on one &* ls mighty. And &* * &c«g&> that it was la like the way of U* dealing with his chinch, ard 'aw io much (/g' or i° us wifdom and infinite love to- ward n)/in it, (for 'if I had any dung in me, I woiA*be ready to forget him, and not to report \o that inexhauftible and precious treaiurc : but now I was put to n?" to bimfelf, havii do other airih to betake me to) that I cou find no place for my objections more. But O ! a weighty work indeed j I iec that we can never run to him to get the weight of any thing taken o:Your fpirrts and laid on himfelf, till he let us once find iomewhat of the weightioefs thereof ar,d get it, as it w 7 ere, laid heavy upon us. O! I fay, a weighty work indeed ! who is fit for iing up themyfteries of lalvation? Who is declai fwcet Lord Jelus Chrift, "ell and king in Zioti, without any LOfj and for opening up the fame: Wl II 34 LETTERS. is fit for difpenfing thefe glorious benefits of the covenant of redemption? O! whols fufficient for thefe things? And why is he calling poor| •an worthy nothing me out to fuch a great and glorious work? I think that he is faying, that the excellency of the power may be of hirnfelf, *nd m of me. So, having the mouth of all objciftioni (topped, I offer myielf in all trem- bling, feared humility; vet having great rea- fon to believe | n him for all things, though I be altogether unfit. dear Sir, wreftle, wreftle, and defire all troei ovcryo f Zion to wrcftlc with the Lord, that ye aw we may t> e direded in this great affair: O fet t^ e apart, and feek the ramd of the Lord there n . ye w jjj meet w ^j, difficulties in it; but I hope t h e Lord will have a care of his own work. ana^ lre< c^ y OU wifely* For my own part I defire gothh r b ut what may b? for the advantage of the cault. and I hope ihe Lord hath fo framed my affedjons, that whatever is feen not to be advantagioin > 1 {hall not defire. \Y* defire humbly to thank you for yt^r books, the Lord he will repay you: and as for your letter from Scotland, which ye fent to me, it was very refrefhful : I am fure the Lord moved you to fend it;' for I was made therein to fee a great proof of the Lord's condefcendency to poor me. That which it contains of Andrew Yoling, being the thing which I was expecting, for he was ftill brought before me, and represented as a man full of bitter paflion ; yea, he was fo brought frill in my way, that the day, or two days be- fore I received -the letter, I faid fevcral times to neighbours, that I was fure I would hear fomething of him. O ! that I had the tongue of the LETTERS. 35 ithe learned, to fee forth the praife of that fo glorious and excellent, yet fo condefcending a Cod. O! there is none that knows him but they will love him. The many proofs of his kindnefs and cocdefcendency, make me many times to cry out, What is man that he is mindful tfhbn> or the fan of man that he flmildjl vifit )nm? But he loves, becaufe he loves; and there can be no other reafon given for it. I (hall trouble you no further at the time, but prefeut my love and fervicc to your worthy brother; I hope he is not unconcerned at this time : and as for his going to Scotland, the Lord will direft him what to do: and I ihall labour, through the L jrd's ftrength, to obey your anfwer hereof. O Sir! wreftle, wreftle, and defire all to wreftle with the Lord, that he would carry on his own •work, and get glory to himielf in fitting inftru- ments, and in making his people a zealous peo- ple, a holy people, a felt-denied people. I am, Much honoured Sir, Your fympathijing friend, and fervant in the Lord, JAMES RENYVTCK. LETTER XIII. From Mr. James Ren wick, to the much honour* ed Mr. Robert Hamilton. Much hou. Sir t Amflerdam, R la rch 30.1 683 . AFTER I Ind fent away your French mail, and a letter with it, I received yours, but the 36 LETTERS. the poll being jufl now going away, I have n© time to write. But I what would I, or could I fay, but only defirc to be fubnvflive to the Lord's will, who hath made a neceflary feparanon fretwixt us, that I cannot have the comfort and advantage of your company : But, though you be abfent from me as to bodily prefence, you are not long out of my mind ; I wifh I may get you kept in your own place, and be kept from mur- muring and difcontent at my want. I refolve to pafs for a while under the name of James Bruce. I have no time now to write to theie worthy la- dies; but before I go to Scotland I (hall fee to get it done, yet if once I were there, I think, I would know better how to write of matters. The Lord himfelf be with you. I am, Much honoured Sir, Yours tojerve you in the Lord, while I have a being in time, JAMES RENWICK. LETTER XIV. To Mrs. J. H. at Lewarden in Friefland. Worthy Madam,. Groningen, March 31. 1683. I have no time to write any thing to you, but I hope you will not think me to be fo far out of my duty as to be unmindful of your cafe; for I am very fenfible of the circumftances where- in you ftand: However, though your trials bc^ many. LETTERS. 37 many, and your fcrs not few, yet I think not your cafe ftrange, the like hath happened to the Xord's people. O take all well out of the Lord's hand; look to his purpofes in his di'penfations, 2nd then you will be made to read love to )ou in the faddefl: of them. Away with fcnmpit kvXc, which conftruSs ay God'j heart to be as his face is : Faith is a noble thing, it foars high, and can read love in God's heart when his face frowns : Have you not reafon to conftrudt well ot him? Bode good upon his hand: your evening of forrow fnall be turned unto an everlafting morning ot joy- Let the faith of this fweeten your prefent cafe unto you. The Lord be with you all. Mind him who is, Worthy Madam, Your friend and fervant in the Lord, and afympathizer with you in your trials 9 JAMES RENWICK. LETTER XV. &*. James Renwick, to the much ed Mr. Robert Hamilton. Much honoured Sir, Grotu April 23. 160 j. I Received the inclofed yeflerday, but I no time to write an> thing for the occaficn is now going; only I have written this day to Mr. Br at Lee aid !\ ■'■ e 1. d's graciom >ndei<:enacii^ ; i good J) (1: 3 8 LETTERS. frame all the while: Oi that Icopld praife him for his free, free love. He lets me fee much fin, and yet lets me fee alfo, that he does doc contend for the fame, which cannot hat be great matter of wonder. O ! no fight.- I think, is fo fweet as that fight, for it is backed with admiration of his free love, and alfo with felf- loathing. Hoping that ye will be mindful of poor unworthy me, as with my whole heart! defire to^ be of you. I am, Much honoured Sir, Yours at command, toferve you in the Lord, JAMES REN WICK, i. E T T E R XVL From Mr. James Ren wick, to Mrs. Jean Ha- milton at Lewarden. Worthy Madam, Gron. jfyril 25. 1683. I Thought it my duty to acquaint you with what great things the Lord hath done in this place, for his own noble caufe, an*d for us poor, weak, empty nothings : For when upon Thwfday !aft, being the \<)th. of this' inflant, Mr. /. F. and I went in before the Synod, which was then fitting, and fought ordination from them ; they, for the mod part not knowing us, after we had removed for a little fpace, began to aft. among tfiemlclves what we were, and what LETTERS. 39 what we were feeking, having heard fomething thereof from* oorfelves. Whereupon, „firft Dom. Pbilirtgius, then Dom. ALbringba rofe up and de- clared unio them fomewhat of the cafe of our church ; at which, fome of them fell out with tears, and-faid, Though the kings of the earth ihould be againft them, they would go on in our affairs. Whereupon, we were called in again unto them, and three men were appointed for Cur trials; and the tenth of the next month, for the day; the minifters of this town having un- dertaken for the expence which we ought to have been at. So, having -many things to do, I (hall detain your Ladyfhip no further. Bat O! is not this great matter of praife, that the Lord fhould let his own hand-be {irmuch teen, in pro- curing fuch teflimonies to his noble caufe ; yea, before he want a teftimony, the very /tones would be made to cry out: Therefore, come and let us worfcip him, come and let us exalt his name together^ he reigns, and therefore let his followers be glad. Recommendiug you to his fatherly care; hoping, that ye will not be un- mindful of poor unworthy me, upon whom the Lord hath laid fo many obligations to be for him, and whom he is now calling forth to his vine- yard in fuch a weak condition : But my fuffici- ency is of him, and to be found faithful is all ray defire. My love and fervice to your won filter, the Lady and her children. Worthy Madam, Yours , to my full power , to feroe you in the LvJ, JAMES RENWICK. D 2 LET- 40 LETTERS. LETTER XVIL To the Lady Earlfton Younger. Worthy Madam, Groningen, May 5. 1683. I Received your Ladyfaip's letter- but I am forry I had not the time to write fooner back ro you : However, I hope you will excufe me, confidering the circumftances I ftand in at this time. Your letter reprefents to me a troubled cafe; bat, I think, not a bad cafe, becaule ye have the fenfe of it upon your fpirit. You fay, a hiding God, who can bear it ? O that I could fee thefe pleafant days, to hear many crying that cry, to hear many fignifjing their defire after himfelf, by crying out, they could not want liim, that they could not be content without him; yea, and that they could not be content with a- ny thing elfe, being wilful in the matter. It is frue indeed, they who know what his fenfible prefence is, they will not get born up in his con- ceived abfence; and if I could, I would defire to mourn. over their unperceiving temper, who can equally bear up in both : Bur, when the foul, not being filled with fenfe, pants after him as the hart pants after the water-brooks , and getting up, and running through the whole fields, crying out, Saiu' ye him whom my Jon I loveth; I cannot but think, that the Lord is eminently prefent with that foul, though not to its own apprehen- sion ; yea, and though there be no changes in the Lord, nor in his love; yet of all times, as to the cutletting thereof, he is at fuch a time, mod fafht to keep it in. And who knows not, mat LETTERS. 4 £ that love, the more it is covered, the more it burns ; as fire, the more it be covered, the more it 'mokes, unlefs it be extinguilhed ; for, ~ivhom he loves, he laves unto the end. O let us not mif- confrru Yours to fine you in the Lord, JAMES RENWICK. 44 LETTERS. LETTER XIX. From Mr. J. Renwick, to the much honoured Mr. Robert Hamilton. Mitch honoured Sir, Amfl. May 31. 1683. HAving met with E. D. who is coming to be your fitter's fervant, I thought it rny duty to acquaint you, that your worthy brother Earl- fton is a long while ago come from Scotland; having met. with friends there, and, as I hear, there are three papers drawn up ; one including fome reafons why we have reje&ed the tyrant 5 another, fome reafons of our feparating from thefe (fo called) minifters; and the third, fhe fays, is a call to, and a proteftation againfl: them : I wiih it may be a bringing us out of the mire (and not a cafting us into it over again) as - I hope it will. But the reafon of your brother's not cbming hither ere this time, is his com- ing by London : I hope he knows his errand and call thereunto, tho' I cannot fee it. E. A, is- alio coming alongfl: with him ; but I hope ye will not meddle with J. N. the Lord counfel him and L-ad him, for that land is a valley of fnares, efpecially at this time. Of the feven who were apprehended, four have taken the Teft ; whereof one is Alexander Millar, a young man. O ! all flejl? is grafs ; for I thought once, if there was a zealous man in Scotland, he was one: yet the Lord hath nor left us (0$ for he hath accepted a bloody facrifice ofFour hands two men being execute, viz. John IVilfon in Ldtterk, a young gentleman, and David MMilLm in Galloway , LETTERS. 45 Galloway, of whom I hear nothing but what is matter of praife, and caufe of encouragement. O! let us go on and run our race rejoicing, and Will) patience: The cup cf the Amorites is faft filling, and their day is near at hand, when they (hall get their own blood to drink, for they are worthy. . Robert Law/to is fayirg lie will cot die at this time, but I like not fuch prophe- cies as our cafe ftands. John Gib and his com- panions are freed both from death and baniih- ment, and have their liberty to go through all the prifon, and large expence daily allowed un- to them, by him whom they call the Chancel- lor. If the enemies had dor:e otherwa\s, thy would not aft like themielves. Courage, dear Sir, they will drop ripe very fcddenly. I have fent you with the laid E D. the expo- sition of the text which you deiired, and (nail take care to get a true copy of your letter fecurcd unto you. I fhall add no further at the time, but praying that the Lord may be unu> you a prefent help in all times of need ; for I ihink difficulties and difcouragements are many, bot ye know where your fhength lies, and what mull comfort you. O! hitherto be hath n wanting, neither will lie be wanting, for he a faithful God, who kecpeth covenant; and he knows this, that if he had not now put another work in mine hand, and were calling ine to an- other place, it would be my hearts defire to ferve you (as indeed is my duty many wtfys) and to take part with yoa in ail your troubles ;but what 1 cannot do by bbdily prclcr.ee, I h aid II help me to do it by hcai 46 LETTERS. willingnefs. Leaving you on your Matter's hand, I am, Much honoured Sir, Your J ; toferveyou in the Lord, while I have a bring in time, JAiMES KENWICK. L E T TER XX, From Mr. James Renwick, to the honourable- Mr. Robert Hamilton. Honourable Sir, Rotterdam, June 1 8. i 683 . I Have received both your former and later letters : but you may fee an emblem of the eafe I was in when I wrote lafl: unto you, by my not anfwering fome particulars in your former letter, which I ought to have done. However, I have heard that our friend G. hath written to you, wherein, I hope, he hath given you a fair account of his paflage at Utrecht; and alfo o9 fome ftrange difapointments that have happened : unto us fince, which made me often remember a word of yours to myfelf, That ye thought I . fliould meet with fome ftrange things in my go- ing home. I have met with fome ftrange things indeed, and have nothing to boaft of, but only of the Lord; who is to be admired in all his doings; for they ?^e works of wonder: and O that he would help me to fubmit to his holy^ acd wi r c will, in keeping me fo long here ; yet I think the work is the liker his work LETTERS. 47 hat there fo many difficulties in the way of it. But as for Mr. A Cameron I did not fee him, but [hear that he is come unto you. The Lord, I bcpe, will let you know your duty, and will *Jear that bell unto you, by converfmg with himfelfc O! add not druokennefs to third; but, if the Lord call, fee that you beftir your- felf in it all that you can : he that hath had his hand Angularly with you in many pieces of great fervice, will not leave you in this. And as for J. H. and A. H. they know indeed of my ordination ; and the way they came to know re was, by their peremptor queftions, to which I could not negatively anfwer ; and then finding them gather the affirmative, I told them it was fo, but injoined filence upon them : but as tor other particulars of our affairs they know none by me, fave that James Rujftl and we, whea we met, could not agree. You wrote anent Mr. Fiint aad Mr. Boyd, their beftowing three hours each day upon James Ruffel and his comrade, in teaching of them ; but as matters itand, I cannot approve of it, upon many coi.fiderations; for it is both encouraging and h-ardening to them: I fa-y, encouraging to them to hold on their courfes, for I lee very liitle hope of what they pretend unto. I fear that there be rather in it a faftion feeking to make a party. And as for Mr. Binny's being employed to teach our expedants, the Lord, I icpe, will give me to know my duty in it, ah* drafting from all perlons whatsoever As for what you wrote of fairs and mercats on days, I agree heartily with it; it was my own thought before, but confufedly. However, I defire to blefs the Lord, who hath made you a meat A S LETTERS. mean in that (as in fome other things) to make me more diftind: therein. O! I cannot exprefs what I owe unto you; I fay, I cannot exprefs what I owe unto the Lord, whom I defire to b!efs while I live, that ever I faw your face. The Lord hath alib made you to back what I was refolved on before, byyour wholefome ad- vice, in counfeiling me to take up an inventory of the Lord's way ok dealing with friends and enemies in their pcrfons and families, particu- larly and generally. And be affured, much ho- noured and dear Sir, that I fhall, as I ought, keep nothing back from you ; for, un V der the Lord himfeif. I have none- that I can expeft fuch counfel from as from you : therefore you mud rt III be giving me your advice, and Jay it out before the Lord ere you give it to me ; for, indeed, I will lay much weight upon it: how- ever, I deiire to weigh it in the balance of the fan&uary. As for your going further away, I deiire indeed to believe, that the Lord harli fpme work ado further abroad; but, I think, the change of difpenfations. calls you to flay ftiil a while with our friends that are with you ; for afiuredly they will be much affe&ed with the news of our dear friend Earlfton, your dear bro- ther's being taken : and alfo, I think, you can- not move until you hear what comes of him, (the Lord, I think, hath a great kindnefs for him, and will honour him) and till you receive letters from Scotland, both to yourfelf, to the prefbytery of Groningcn, and other friends. I am not a little lorrowful at the very heart, that I am not in Scotland, to obey all your com- mands anent your dear brother. The Lord bimfelf knows, that nothing that ever I was try (ted LETTERS. 49 tryfted with, was fuch an exercife to me, as my being detained now out of it is. My longings and earned defires to he in that land, and with that pleafant remnant, are very great. I cannot tell what may be in it, but I hope the Lord fclber lorae work to woik, or e!fe is minded preicntly to call for a teftimony at my hard ; and if he give frame and furniture, 1 defire to welcome either of them. O ! dear Sir, mini me, become of me what will. I have much ado, many obligations lying upon me ; and the Lord hat!) laid on not a few of theft by your hands; and therefore you are ti\c more engaged to be ; and, I may fay it, your God left . iodful of you ; and I am of the mind, that fometimea he is very kind unto you, res of joy and rejoicing in him- . into your cup of for row. en I am writing this line, I received from erf letters, di reded for your fi ;e Lady I .ling that there .tters ioi therein, I prelum- up the packet, but did not read he ter; a I three for rnyfelf, but none from fome that I moil: cxpefted a line from, M. E. ^ear I any word of news, for are not e<9 it is long fiuce were written. However, I hear that all the forces of S the rendezvous c\ a*foot, became there is o; ; one of our focieiies, and a godly youth, whom I taking him from co be executed, of their E p 3 19 : : fiorr. 5 o LETTERS guard being (lain. The Lord be thanked, that he is ftirring up any to vex the Midianites, and to account their brother's cafe to be their own. I muft alio tell you this, that I hear in one of my letters, that the Lord is making the increafing of the periecution to blow up iomc's zeal to a greater height than it was before. O good -news! dear Sir, it minds me of PauW words, Phil. i. 28. And in nothing terrified by your ad* zwfmiesy &c. It is not long till the cup of the Amorite and Edonrite (hall be brim-full. Cou- rage yet, for all that is come and gone ; the lois of men is not the lofs of the cauie: what is the matter tho' we (bould all fall, 1 affure all men that the caufe (ball not fall. I thought fit alfo to fend you the Martyrs Teftimonies (not having gotten one of them read) altho' that my letters fpeak nothing of them, yet I know none elfe that they are or- dained for, or that (hould have them but you. And as for the taking away of that every way abufed oath, if it be not already taken away, through the Lord's ftrength, I (hall fee unto it. But do not think, much honoured and dear Sir, • - that Mr. Boyd will get any thing done, as he vents himfelf ; for no preibytery will ordain him, unlets he be called by the remnant of the church -et Scotland; and it they lhall now write to the contrary, he will have no ground to plead upon from their fending of him hither, and giving him a commiffion ; For, Pofterior ulu everterc .friorem. I iliall fay no more, but my love and .fervice to Mx.- Bracket, and theie ladies V. H. whom, I hope, the Lord will help to.fympathtzc '•tvith you in your preient condition. The bleff- foe LETTERS. 51 ing of the God of Jacob be with you, and the earned good wifties of him, who is, Hon. and dear Sir, Yours, to ferve you in the Lord \ 'while he hath a being in time, JAMES RENWICK. LETTER XXI. From the Rev. Mr. James Renwick, to M>\ Robert Hamilton. Hon. and dear Sir, Rott. June 23 . 1683, . I Thought it. fit (fuppofing that poffibly you may not fee it nor hear of it) to write tor you, that I hate feen in the Evgii/h News Pa- pers, that there was a company of granadlers appointed to meet Meldrutn's troop, that they might receive fiom them our worthy friend Earljlon, in order to the bringing him to (din* burgh: but it is alio inferted, that fome fay he is efcaped. O! if it hath pleafed the Lord fo to order it, both his taking and his efcape may have many languages unto us : But what I think I fee is in the one, and will be in the or her; if it be true (as I would gladly hope it will, becaufe they never ufe to iaferl fuch things but when they are true) I forbear to mention until mect- ipg, which, if the Lord will, (hall be on Mori- . night, or Tuefday morning? O dear and honourable Sir, we have many enemies, let E 2 5 2 LETTERS. ly near our ftrength : wicked men and backflid- crs will do more and more wickedly. I ihall fay no more, having many things to tell you when met ; but think it fit that notice hereof be fent to your worthy filler Mrs. Jean, if fo be that ye think (lie will not otherwiie hear. Leav- ing you on our Mafter. I am, Honourable and dear Sir, Your j ioferve you in the Lord, while I am JAMES RENWICK. LETTER XXII. V From the Rev. Mr. James Ren wick, to the ho* ' nourabie Mr. Robert Hamilton. Honourable Sir, Dublin, Aug. 24. 1683. Am adored that ye will think it fbange that ere this time I fiifculd not have written unto* you, but many hinderances hath been ca ft in my , by reafoh of the .3 and dangers of rime; all thir lands being, in a manper, in an Mr$ by reaion of challenging zna fbfpefling jrfons, and the tranfmittirig of aity letters. However, I can no r to write, though it fhould never come to yc^r hand ; hav- Hig many ibirgs to "fay to the eoBAmehdatfou of .'s wildorn and power in out witting ai d ng men. But O I tliiiik, the Lord hath had a fpedal hand in tnj coitiing to this lor LETTERS. fqr he hath not fuffered me to be idle ; and hlef- fcd be his name, he hath kindled a fire which, I hope, Satan Pnall net foon qoeoch : For all the people of this place were following men who did not follow the Lord, and thought ihefe were right enough; yet now, foine of them are fay- ing, we have been mi fled ; we never knew be- fore tills, that we were flanding between the Lords camp and the adverfary's. O ! what (hall I fay i bit (Ted be the name of the Lord, who lets me fee that be ivill fee the travel of his foul and befatisfied; and gives me many confirmations of his calling me to this work, wherein my defire is only to be faithful. O rejoice in him who hath called me forth to fight againfl: thefe oppofe themfelves, notwuhftandiug of all their malice at me; and pretended friends their meet- ing to confult upon my apprehending. I (hall fay no more, he hath found fbme who have en- gaged to do for me, in taking me home to Scot* Bat I have the more patience here, be-. paufe of the Lord's doing g^at things. The Lord be with yon, and all his ///. Honourable Sir, Yours, to fcrve yon hi the Lord, lie I am JAMES .RENV/IC E 3 54 LETTERS. LETTER XXIIL From the B.ev. Zlfr.. James Rciiwick, to the Honourable Mr. Robert Hamilton. Hon. and dear Sir, Edhu Sept. 26. 1683. I Have been thinking much long for an oppor- tunity of writing untoyou. but I hope, your goodnefs will not draw any wrong conftru&ions from my necefiitate delay - for, bleft be the on- ly holy and wife Lord, I am made to rrioice in him thereanent, and have been kept, by bis grace, from murmuring and quarrelling againfl him, becaufe I faw much of himfclf, and his ho- ly and wife purpofes, yea, even toward me,* in the circumftances I ftand in, in every ftep, fince my departure from your Honour. For, being kept fome days at the Texel, where I was, in fume meafurr, exercifed to know what might be the language thereof, which I could not know till afterwards ; we launched forth into the fea, where we were toffed for fome days with a vio lent contrary wind, and driven within uptaking of the coaft of France, before that we could gee the EngliJI) coaft taken up; and all with very great hazard, for the veffel was but little, and not at all firm, which occafioned our fetting into an harbour in England called Rye ; where we went afhore and were much noticed by the ty- rant's waiters, it being upon the back of the dif- covery. of their plot ; yer, the Lord fo retrained them that we were not challenged ; however, we thought it not fit (fearing fnares) to fhy alhore, and therefore went aboard again. B it after foms day?, the faid y/airers in their puffing by, came abroad LETTERS. c 5 aboard of us, and afced very redely of tbi per, where we were; who replied, that we were aboard ; and then alking what men we were, was anfwered^ by the fbpper, that he knew not; which I overhearing, thought that his anfwer would make the (aid waiters more incpifitivc : However the Lord fo reftrained them, that whea they came unto us, they had no power to chal- lenge us. Now all this time, we ItiJl concluded that we were already apprehended, feeing no probability of ibunning it: But, bleffed be the Lord, that was no wa"y terrifying to me ; tar notwithftanding of his other fpecial affiftance, I faw fo much of his hand in it (we being driven feven leagues back unto that place) that I could cot quarrel, but was much refrefhed with that word. It is the Lord, let him do what feemetb him good. Then, after this, the ikipper did what he could to enfnare us on the fabbath-day, but the Lord fo ftruck him with his own hand, that he was not able to go forth to give any informa- tion of us; and in the A? iday morning the Lord fent a fair wind, which was embraced, and fo brought us fafe away, far beyond our ex- pectation. 01 all this lhould learn us to cre- dit him with his own caule, and with our cafe; and may let us (te, that enemies, farther than 19 permitted, ihall not prevail. Then after this, winning forward unto Dublin; from whence there was no way of departing without a pa.s; but defiring to wait the Lord's time, and to commit our cafe unto him, he wonderfully pro- vided an occafioTi for ou: friend G. Hilly but in flo ways they would condescend to take me with them, which was a p'ece of exercife unto me to know what might be the language of it; yet in the f 56 LETTER S. the time, I could not fee it fully; but afterwards was made to fee, that the Lord had fome piece of work to do there. O ! blcfl be his narhe, for he harh let fome upon a fearch of their ways, and to know that they had not been right;. Who* were fo affiled with my departure from them, (when the Lord had wondei fully provided an occafion, whereby I was caft out in the night-time at a hill-fide, fome few miles below Greenock,) that they entreated me with tears to ftay ; fay- ing, that their neceffiry was greater than Scot- land\% and would not part with me, until, that upon fome fuppofitions, I promifed to return a- gain. But, as the Lord ftirred up fome people to all this, their (to called) minifters increafed their malice, especially one Mr. Jack, the ring-leader of the reft, who fought to fpeak with me: which I would not, nor could, with- out (tumbling of the people, refufe; who, .when met, we reafoned upon feveral heads, parti- cularly this, Whether or not a perfon attacked for duty might choi'e a puniihment? whereof I held the negative. But, in a fecond conference, he having fome cf his companions tryfted with him. fell on more brifkly, and afked, How came I to draw away his congicgation ? To which I replied, That I denied him to have a congrega- tion, and did only labour and defire to draw the people from fin unto their duty; and for accept- ing his call to preach, that* I ought not, nor would not, becaufe I could not own him as z faithful minifter of Jefus Chrift; for he had be* tiayed the caufe of the Lord. And for fatisfy* ing him anent my ordination, I told, when I met with faithful minifters of Chrift, 1 (hould fubjeft myfelf to them, but hhn 1 declined as coin- -LETTERS. 57 competent to require that of me; and alfo, that I behoved firft to be fatisfied anent his entry to that congregation ; the exercife of his miniftry daring 'his continuance therein ; and now his yielding u up at the enemies command; all which was to be reconciled with the word of God, our engagements, and the duty of a mini- Iter; which when he heard, he grew mightily pafiionate, falling out in bitter rcfle&ions ; and I perceiving the d ihonour done to God the: told him, that I would Ipeak no more to Inch men in fuch a frame, and fo departed. I had alfo ibme battles upon your account ; but the .Lord affiled in that, as in all other thugs; for I nw it was not you, but the caufe and party which they reviled. O! honourable and dear Sir y What lhail I fay to all thole things? It is good keeping the Lord's way; for he will not leave Dor forfake. . Now, fmce I came to my own land and peo- ple, I have feen feveral things which art couraging and promifing; as the Lord's kt fome, of whom little was expected, to Ihew bom zeal and fledfaftnefs in his caufe: And otner ! which Ipeak out wrath to be ar the doors, as the neutrality and lukewannneis, yea declin- ing cf many, who have been he Iped to be hi to valiant. 01 blclTed be tl who will not give his gloiy to another, and blafls e our eyes aTe upon. As (or news, the Lord is wonderfully to be fctB,in every thing, and alfifts in what he calls unto. For in c e countr . ie me to : that if the Loi d , it is O! !.« have 5 8 L E T T E R S. have a day of his power to be feen in this land. I fay, he is ro be -fee n in hiding, preferviog and providing for his people-in fuch-a dav of the ene- mies cruelty, and feems to have fome ftrange thing upon the wheels, efpecially in your Ho- nour's dear brother's cafe, which we defire to wait upon and behold; for enemies cruelty and threatirngs againfthim are great, and their fnares and fubtilties no lefs ; however, tfyey are won- derfully reft-ained, and he ftrangely reproached, but very caufelefly. And as for Robert Lawfon, (lb fad and P.veet in feveral refpe&s) he is fuffer- cd to cafl: al! his former doings, to the harden- ing of backfliders, and the grieving of the godly. But Edward Aitken is efcaped, and intends to come to you and follow his books: but his car- riage in the public matters hath been very hurt- ful to the cauie, and in private, very lrochrifti- an, opening mouths to reproach and blalpheme ; therefore, I hope ye will not move in it, with- eur the general meeting's advice. Alfo, I ex- p 8. that Thomaj Limnng will be fent to you, and hope, ye will be fdtisfied with him, for he hath been very fatisfying, refrefhing and en- coungiug to me fince I came home. We are in fome confufion now through the want of time, and upon other accounts. Howe- ver, as occalion offers, I will labour to get a full information of every thing lent unto you; for I am fenfible of the advantage that it will be unto the Lord's cauie. Now, the Lord be with your honour, making yoi a brazen wall and irun pillar againft v all enemies and forfakers of his truth as hitherto, by his grace, be hath done ; and point out unto you your duty in every cafe, helping you to fol- low LETTERS. 59 low it. Write to friends, for your letter was very refreihing, rejoicing, and (lengthening unto them, and to him who looks upon you as his father and brother ; and remains Your Honour's ajjured friend, fympatbizer, and fervant in the Lord, JAMES RENWICK. LETTER XXIV. From the Rev- Mr. James Renwick, to the ho- nourable Society of Jlrangers at Lewarden in Eriefiand. Nov. 13. 1683. Honourable and dear Ft tends in our Lord, I Have not only heard, but alfo, in the little Ipace I was amongft you, faw, many tokens and evidences of your love to our lovely Lord, and tender lympaihy with his affli&ed lufferers; ch was no l'mall refrelhing and encourage- ment to me, and alfo a great engaging and endearing ot my heart unto you ; lo that I know rot how to unfold my thoughts, nor unboiom mv ardent aff.&ions. But as my heart is much with you, lo, I may fay, you are frequently with mc, and that in the times which you mod re- quire, when I dtfire to proftrate myielf at the fuoiftool of the throne of grace. However, I could not forbear, neither thought I it my doty to omit writing unto you But, what ihall £ Jay, but that which you yourielves know? the LorJ 60 LETTERS. Lord, being the only objefl whereupon all our defires can famfyingly terminate, is worthy of all honour, fear, love, and fervicc; yea, and at the mentioning of this, we may ftand aftonith- ed, and wonder, that he in himfelfr, fupenran- fcendently and infinitely glorious, uncmpable of receiving any additional glory from his crea- tures, fliould call fuch unworthy worm*, felf-de- ftroyed creatures, to ferve him; which, though he had not freely and gracioufly promifed any reward after time, would be a reward unto its felf. But, O! what can be his end in calling and drawing out fuch deftroyed and unworthy creatures, as any of the loft poftcnty of Adam, to love and ferve him ? It is not that he may get good (of which he is uncapabie) but that he may give good. O ! praifed be his free grace, he hath provided and laid open a way whereby \ve may have both accefs and right unto him/ by the mediation of his Son, our Lord Jefus Chrilt: Therefore let us anfwer Lis call, 3nd come unto him, where alJ, and only our happi- nefs lies, with hearts fo enlarged, and concep- tions ib framed and Unpen out, as that nothing leis than himfdf may fatisfy ; for more canroc be delired : Le: us come unto him, follow him fully; take up bis crof?, and our engagements againft the world, the devil, and the fleih; for he is a noble and glorious Captain whole banner we have to fight under, who not only bears his foldiers charges (ufficiently here, all their ftock being only in his own hand, but alio makes them fure of the vi<3o:y, and of the kingdom and crown in the end of their battle ; they being to walk with him in glorious white robes, throughout all eternity. Let us dpoufe his quarrel for our own, LETTERS. 6-i ottn, and not be difcouraged for what oppoines » ; for, in all their intended actings againft :hey are but pulling down themfelves, and ; up his kingdom ; and neither be annoyed vicb the d fficukies m time, but look above and beyond thefe, unto the rich recompence of reward ; for the day is near at hand, when chefc tabernacles of clay fliall fall down about out- ears, and we (hall be fet at liberty; made un- capable of grieving his Spirit, or ibrrowing any more, and fitted for the bleft, full and eternal enjoyment ot Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft. O what a da\ will that be, when the faints fliall get their till of him, incirchng him with both their arms; or rather being incircled by him? Let us wait and look out for it, longing for the day when that fhall be heard in heaven; O! how fweetly will it be fung ! Arife, arife, arife, my love, my dove, my fair one, and come away ; for heboid your -winter is poll, and your ever- lafting funnier is come. O let the thoughts of that fammer, and tailing of the firft-fruits thereof, fwceten this our winter unto us; mak- ing us chearfuliy to travel through the fame, i with fongs of our Beloved in our mouths, and patiently to endure what travel or tribulations, either for our chaftifement or irJlru&ion, he who doth all things well may be pleafcd to let out upon us. And as ye have been helped thro* grace to become companions with us in our Tribulation; lb I would have you look out for tl;e fame upon yourfelves, for the Lord will come and (hake terribly the earth and punifn the inhabitants thereof for their iniquity, lay waftc cities, and defolate laud.- : for ail na- tions are overfpread with a lupine and loath- F foac 6z LETTERS. fome formality ; yea, avowed profanity, and dreadful blafphemy againft the heavens. I Jay not this, my honourable and dear friends, to difcourage you, but rather for the continuance and encreafe of your holy zeal, which ye mani- feft towards the Lord's caufe and intereft. O! go on in it, for therein (hall be your peace as io duly, and he himielf is your exceeding rich reward. Now, for your great kindnefs, love unto, and fympathy with our bleeding and wounded mo- ther-church, which Haw amongft you; and par- ticularly for your heart love and tender refpe&s toward myfelf, though altogether undeferved, I cannot exprefs how I am engaged to the Lord, and obliged unto you; yea, itpafleth my appre- henfion. But I am Angularly obliged indeed ; fo I rauft beg further matter (though already enough be had) by the continuance of your mi ndfulnefs of our diftrefied and wounded church ; and of that exceeding great and weighty work, -which ye know the Lord hath laid upon me. But why fhould I fear ? the work is his own ; and he fends none a warfare on their own char- ges : and, ever blefled be his holy name, 1 may fay this from iwcet experience ; for I have found him a prelent help in all my neccffities, and many ways beyond my expe&ation, confirm- ing my call, and countenancing his work both at home, and elfewhere were he was pkafed to cafl and detain me. Now, the Lord be with you. -Again mind me, asldefire to do you. Remaining, Honourable and dear Friends, Your hearty ivellwijher, ajjiif ed and obliged friend and fervent, to my pill oowet in the Lord, JAMES REN WICK. LETTERS. 63 LETTER XXV: From the Rev. Mr. James R<:nwick, to the ho- nourable Mr. Robert Hamilton, Honourable and dear Sir, Edin. Nov. 14. 1683. T Hough I have many things that I would and could fay, yet I am fo bulled, which I think ye may know, that I cannot be fo large in writing to you as I would : However, I tee ma* ny encouragements and difcouragements ; en- couragements from the Lord's omnipotency, condefcendency, and faithfulnefs ; yea, rheg!o-» ry that is to be feen in his noble way of manag. ing his own caufe: and discouragements from fevcral airths which I expected 'not ; for fincel came home, I have found fome, o\ whom I ex- pected better things, cleave to crooked and perverfe ways ; yea, and turn very imbittered a- gainlt us: and at the prelent (oh (ad! but too true) we are peftered wkfo a company of prejudiced evil perfons, who join bands and ilLe with backfliders, and make known every thi unto them ; wherein I only defire and labour, t! at the particular perfons may be found out, rhaf fo we may proceed againfl them according to the word of God, and our duty; My coming home hath had luch effects as I expected indeed, for enemies are more cruel and eager in periccution than ever, and back- ers more imbittered with malice than here- fore ; but fome of whom I expc&ed to be c h, I have not found it fo ; neither ihoulJ i that they are upon : and this Imli F 2 been 64 LETTERS. been chiefly occafioned by my teftimony ; whicl as it hath, by the Lord's goodnefs, been refrefh- ing, encouraging and ftrengthening to fome, fc it hath made others vent more what they were. And hereia I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice (there being not an article in it, but what I ami more and more confirmed of) becaufe it hath a tendency to the fiding of us, either for or a- gainft the Lord. But among all friends none (o helpful and ftrengthening unto me, as our friend George Hill. However, I muft fay, that I find the Lord countenancing and bleffrng his work, yea, and giving teftimonies for his caufe : O! ever bleffed be his holy name therefore. As for informations in other things, there is little to give your Honour ; only at our laft meet- ing, all that we did was the pending of the tefti- mony, fome papers for coming to you, and; fubferibing them ; laying afide the abufed oath of fecrecy ; and ordaining T. L. to teach our fcholats. At this meeting prefently enfuing, I know of nothing to be done, but fome other papers to be fublcribed ; our fcholars, fome of whom we are jealous of, examined ; and fome fought out to be fent unto your Honour, with our letrers and papers ; and (that which will be our continual work) a way thought upon for finding out of thefe, whofe tongues and hands are (o againft the Lord. And as for myfelf, ] in other things, fince I came home, I have \ been more pained and indifpofed of body, than I ihefe feveral years before : however it was made, fweet unro me, for I faw two things in it ; firft, I when before I was calling up, and counting all pieces of colt, I thought I faw my All in the Lord's hand, but only bodily ftrcngth, thinking that LETTERS. 6$ that there was enough of that in mine own ; and he takes that way with me, which, O! is glo- rious, that I may have the ftrength as well as other furniture from his own hand, in more than an ordinary manner, that fo his name may get the more praife therefore. Secondly, I faw this in it, that though I have been in fome places of the country, yet I have 'out win through little of it: and where I have not been, I fear more an anxiety after the ordinances, than a thirfting after the Lord; fo that, I think, the Lord is feeking to get his people both to prize, and yet to be denied to the means. O! dear Sir, the thoughts of our long ab- fence is frequently troublefome unto me; but lhall we not have a joyful, a joyful meeting in heaveD; and who knows, but we may meet in time? In the mean time, only be mindful of me, and the work which you know the Lord hath laid upon me, as lam, and defire to be of you, both in public and private. The Lord be with you. I am, Your Hwour's hearty wellvjijlw, realfympathlzer, greatly endeared frit and mojl obliged fcrvant in ibe Lofd, JAMES REN\THCK. LET* LETTERS- LETTER XXVI. From the Rev. Mr. James Renwick, to the La, dies Van, Heennaen, at Lewarden in FrieC- land, 1683. Worthy Ladles, beloved in the Lord, T Hough it haih- pleafed the holy God, in bis wife providence, to carve out my lot un^ to me, fmce my departure from you, that I had no time and occafion of writing; yet the Searcher of hearts knows (as I hope your good*- Defs will conftrudt it) that I have not been for- getful of you, nor of your heart concernednefs with Ziotih cafe, and fympatby with heraiHifled. children* particularly us ia Scotland; whereof I have fees great tokens and evidences. Ogo ©n ip holy terdernefs: |o on in zeal, for there- in lhilj ly your peace, as to dutjv Follow the Captain of Solvation folly, for he makes all his followers to enjoy the pnze; his foldiers he- 'makes them overcomers, and his fe wants kings, ' to reign with him for ever more, in his inherit taace, wJiereuoto he> their elder Brother, hath entered, to take pofleffion in their names* What ilia 1 1 we fay of thefe unfpeak&ble privileges af his people? Shall we not tiand' ftill (truck with wonder and admiration, having our mouths-, filled with the prai'fe of hrm, who left the glory of heaven, and the bofom of the Father, to come down, and to take upon him our nature,, that therein he might imerpofe himfelf betwixt die Father's wrath and ds, both by bis futfering,. and fulfilling of |hc law for us, that we might not LETTERS. 67 pot only be frted from fin and the ccnfeqjenrs thereof, but be made partakers of fuch ineorN eeiveable privileges, ard be reftored to a more happy and fure eftate than what we fell from* It is angels work to dcfire to look into this, and it will be our work thionghout all eternity ; and ftould we not fludy to be more in it now, viz, in praifing of him for his covenant of free g;ace, and for bis works of vjonders done w:to the fons of men; who delighteth to manikft his mercy, his power, and his holy wifdom, and to let poor things find fomething of himfelf in all his at- tributes, in their own experience; fo that they are made to fay, He is good, and do^s good. And for mine own part I may fay, that tho', when I had the occafion to fee your Lady [hips, he had done great things for poor unworthy me ; fo that I had great reafon to fct forth his praife, if I could have done it ; yet now he hath doDe much more, whk:h may furni fn new matter of prarfe : for, fince my departure from you, the Lord hath been pieafed to tryll me with feveral difficulties that he might have occafion of ma- BifelVing himfelf, in bringing me through the lame. In fire or water I dare not fay he hath left me or forlaken roe; and though penis by fea, and perils by land, and the fnares or enemies to the caufeand crofsof Chrift, have been mauy, yet he hath wonderfully brought me hitherto through the fame, and fruflratc the expeditions of the wicked; and nor only hath be. n at great colt and pains to lay obligations on me to be for hrm ; but alfo hath taken many ways to train Die up for this work he has laid upon me, and the circumfhnces of the time wherein my lot is fallen. Eat the greateft of all, I think, is, the maBy 68 LETTERS. many confirmations he hath £iven me of his owo caufe; and alfo, of his call to fuch a weighty bo- finefs; and his letting me fee what hath been a great part of his end in detaining mc fo long from my own land and people; which was, to cad mc and keep me a little fpace in Ireland, where he hath kindled a fire, which I hope, he will not fuffer to die out ; and hath put feme peo- \ :e upon a fearcbing of their ways, wherein they had turned from him. O! blefled be his name, •who will fee of the travel of bis fold, and be fatis- fied ; and who is that good lhepherd, out of whofe hand none fliall pluck his iheep; for the gates of hell fnall not prevail Agavijl his church \ and no wonder, for k is a rock, and built upon a rock. O ! come, let us lift ourfelves under his banner, and take his part againft: a lukewarm ge- neration, and refolve upon trials; for, I think, he loves none whom he lets want them : But confider for whom it is, it is for his name's fake, who is the chief among ten thonfand, who is alto- gether lovely. Now, the Lord, who is not unrighteous to forget your labour of love, be all things unco you, and reward you for your fympathy and concernedneis with the Lord's people in this land, who are very fenfible of your becoming companions with them in their tribulations, and that ye have had com- panion upon them in their bonds, and defire the help of your prayers for the defolations of the Lord's holy mountain. So, no more at the time, being allured of your concernednefs with our .much honoured friend Robert Hamilton, of whofe .courage, constancy, and zeal for the Lord's caufe ye have proof; lor, what is done to him is, as it were doue to us all. Mind poor me, anl LETTERS. 69 and the great work the Lord hath laid upon me* The Lord be with you. MADA M S, Your Lady/hips affefiionate fervant t and fympathizer in the Lord. JAMES RENWICK. LETTER XXVH. From the Reverend Mr. James Ren wick, to the honourable Mr Robert Hamilton. Hon. and dear Sir, Jan. 1684. BEing by the Lord's providence with the La- dy Earljion, when fending away her totter*} I behoved to falute you with this line, ihewirg you, that (blefled be the Lord) I -am well every way, though my cafe be Angular, and my trials no lefs foch; yet I may turn my complaints into triumphant fongs ; tor I have i'^eh the Lord's wonders in the land of the living, and he is ftill recreating the number of his followers: for, tho' I (hould go over and over again to any country. iide, at every time there tome others ay out who did not come out before. But enemies are intending lad things againft us; for they are now leading ol; to* the Weft, threatning to lay it defolate; laying, Thai ! never be curbed till the;. that country a hont field. But, let them prat, a higher hand all : and I am perfoaded, thai til thereby be 7 o LETTERS. be more affrighted than fkaithed; though our- fears be not great, whatever be the fears of th apoftate party. Know alio, that Mr. Shields i brought to Scotland: I know that he and M». Ak drew Cameron and Mr Flint were joined toge tf\er in ieeking after ordination, that they nrgh cone home to Scotland: But when I heard it, I was not fatisfied thai you was not owned in ilf However, this hath a ftrange language : the Lon * hath cruihcd it; for their papers anent the fame and many books were caft away at lea. O'! th« majefty of your God and my God, that (bines ii his management of affair?: Let you and me (lam ftill aud admire this. So, leaving you to hi aH-Iufficiency ; with my love to all my friend with you. 1 am, As formerly, JAMES RENWICKl LETTER XXVIiL From the Rev. Mr. James Renwick, to the ho< able Mr. Robert Hamilton. Hon. and dear Sir % March 29. 1684, I Have very much to fay, but I have no time to exprefs m.ytelf : However, though I had ten thoufand" times ten thouland years, yea, the faculty of angels, I could, in no ways, lay out mine obligations to free grace ; but behoved, when I had babied my fill, to fcal op all with this, Christ is matchless: O he is the wonder of the higher houfet and will he not be LETT-ERS, , 7 .t jur wonder and my wonder throughout the ;es of lafting eternity ! Come away then, Jet us hour to keep up that work now, wherein eter- Xy will not weary us: We cannot now think ghtly of him, but we fhall get eternity to the ork : His beauty and excellency is (o raviihing, iat a poor weak, doilt-fond foul will be made > turn itsdazled eyes away from him, when yec ie heart will be melting in love's hand. CM at we be narrow veflels that can receive no- ling; but hereafter we fliall fee him as he is. ' what is he! Angels cannot define him, and e muft be filent; yet this I mull fay, he is Ht chiefs: all perfections meet in him ; he is rorious, and he is the only bed of choices; O! p is glorious in himfelf, and manifefts that in li his actings; his doings are like himfelf, and lirry large characters of ail his attributes engraven |)on them. Why are fuch confufions upon his lurch, but that he may get occafion to make s wifdom conipicuous in bringing order out ereof? O! he will do it, and his carrying on jftrange work of diicovery is a pledge of it: his [ithfulncfs is engaged to do it. Let us not fear, ough enemies cruelty, and fteppersafuL^s ma- ;e, be more than formerly, yet his word fliall ind lure: And poor mad fools, what are they t>ipg, but crulhing themfelvcs, and letting up is rhrone? Now, iRiglu honourable and dear Sir, there are ma- p paiticulars which I would write, but I cannot ft it done; howbeit I llnll wait to catch fome Importunity for it. Our fiend George having jven you at the time, a brief touch of feme lings; the Lord helps him to give many evi- i es ofJiacerity and ftedfaftjicli to the caufe, aud 72 LETTERS. and affe&ion to fuch in all places who are mofc< forely ihut at upon the caufe's account. I thought to have written fomething unto you anelu T L. but George having fpoken my mind, 1 (hall for- bear. Yet there is one thing which is your duty, and which is alio my duty to mention unto you, and that is, that you would take pains upon J.F. . to wear out that bad imprefiion which James Kuffel hath given him of us : O deal tenderly; with him, for he is but young, yet I hope, of; zealous intentions. Be concerned with him in that ftrange place, for he is a child of many prayers ; his relations bear a great affeftion ttm the caufe, and to all who own the fame; amhi your name is very favoury unto them. It is weighty; to me, that James BjiJJel hath infiiniate himleliB fo much upon him; for, his beinj; lent abroadi was, in fome meafure, upon expectation that bin and I fliould be together. Now, Right honourable and dear Sir, let not diffi-; culties damp you; there is nothing that falls out' but what is in kindnefs both to the remnant and : to you: Regard cot the reproaches of toDgues;V are not theie the badges of your honour? oar- lot muft not be thought ftrange, for the Lord's, people heretofore have met with the like. Re* member ye have need of patience: we have e- nemies now upon all hands; and I muft fay, that man James Ruff el hath been a coftly James.. Kiiffel to the poor church of Scotland. I ihall fay no more; but as malice of oppofites to the caufe increafeth, let our love thereunto and to one another increafe. You?' affured friend and fervant in the Lord, and your unworthy brother in afflitfions and reproaches for his name's fake, JAMES RENWICK. LETTERS. 73 LETTER XXIX. From the Rev. Mr. James Renwick, to Mrs. Jean Hamilton, at Lcwarden in Friefland. Worthy Madam, June 20. 1634* I Received your letter, which unbofomed to me a troubled cale, which in no (mail mea- ure does affieS my fpirit ; but as I am affet^ed .vith the.trouble of fpirit which ye exprefs; io, I un refreihed with my obferving that you are not Wenfible of your cafe, your great complaint be- ng of the want of light and life : But I am per- uaJed, that a creature altogether wanting the >i)e and the other, cannot be troubled anent :heir apprehended want of either; for none mifs hit which doth not belong unto them : a horfe path no fonfe of his want of the wings of an- *agle, becaufe thefe are not proper to him ; but /ant of his feet, he prefentiy mifleth the a me, when he is put to gc: Thefe who never knew any thing of light and life cannot mil? the I grant indeed, many unregeneratc have ing of common influences, which flalhes are far from that heart-fealing that the believer is acquainted with. However I conceive, that as poinmon influences are not permanent, and tend nothing to the changing of the heait; fo, the joor creature gets leave to red: in them, feeking .10 further; and when miffing them, is troubled :hiefly, if not only, -becaufe external duty then s neither fo eafy nor ire depths •>ere that I da: iin.e will not allow me to bring my (elf out a] gain. 74 LETTERS. gain. But, O Madam! what fhall I fay unto you ? Let no lcfs than Chrift himfelf fatisfy you m K ftudy to dwell under the impreflion of his prcciouf- nefs, for the contemplation thereof fills the heart with love to him ; and love, you know, is a moll eclive and lively thing: and judge not yourfftate by what you find your cafe, as to your fenfe, ibinetimes to be; for a very fruitful tree will bear neither fruit nor leaves in the winter feaibo, while as much fap will be in the root: Spend not time in debating, but in the fincere and fe- rious ufe of thefe means that ye have of union and communion with -Chrift, and this is both the fureft and the Ihorteft way to win to fixed- nefs ; neither feek fenfe's fatisfa&ion for the pre- fent, but a well grounded aflurance for the fu- ture: Look to the infinite power, and infinite love of Chrift ; there is a two-edged fword to cut aflbn- der all your Gordian knots. Infinite power, what can it not do? and infinite love, what will it not do! Never feek any thing in yourfelf to com- mend you to Chrift, for that will keep you ftill daggering; fo to his grace who is able to per- fect what concerneth you, do I recommend you. But as to your troubled cafe, in not knowing well whether you be called to ftay where you, are, or to come home; I confefs, when I pon- der all circumftances I find it very pulling, and I may fay, it hath given me fome errands to God, and am* in no fmall meafure concerned therewith: ''. But I would defire \ou, without anxiety, to wait on a little; for the Lord by his providential dif- penfations, or in a more extraordinary manner, will determine you: fome concerned friends are alio fpok: n to anent it, that they wouid ponder the c 82 LETTERS. out of our own land, that they may be a teftip mony for the Lord in another place. Howbeit the enemies Jiands are wonderfully bound u] now from (hedding of blood. I do not knot what may be done, through the Lord's per mil f fion, by thefe new created powers, the Earf of Perth being called chancellor ; but York\± faftioo is difcourted, there being a variance, a f lead pretended, betwixt his brother and hinr.f but if real, I think, it maybe a mean to fliortcrT feme of their days. And as for what we did ii ou) lalt general meeting, after we had conde fcended to anlwer your ch fires, we laid it upor ¥. Linning to write his refhmony, and (hew it tc the next meeting, which he engaged to do? and if the meeting be pleafed therewith, I think ! he will go abroad unto you And, for my owa 1 part, if his teftimony be fatisfying, I can fay nothing againlt it ; for I think he is the moll 1 hopeful lad, by appearance, that we have ;, and hath kythed much wiilingnefs to ferve the rem-* 1 riant any way. But at our lafl: meeting we got not Mr. William Boyd fpoicen to, nor heard; neverthelefs I am fadly afraid that he breed us work yet: but I pray the Lord may difappoiat my fears. Now, right honourable and dearly beloved ih our fweet and precious Lord, what fhall 1 fay unto yo.u? or how fhall I exprefs myfelf? The incomparablenefs of times trials and fufferings, frith the lovelineis of Chrift, and the glory that fhall be revealed thereafter, makes me forae- times I fee neither trouble nor danger, mine eyes being (hut thereat, and carried to behold a froall glim pie of that which is beyond tribula- tion's reach ; but in fuch a cafe fiient wonder- ing LETTERS. S 3 ig is mofl: my exercife. O! what a life will it e, when we ihall neither fin ror forrow ! when e (hall lay down our arms, and take up the aim of victory and triumph in our hands, and >llow the Lamb with fongs of praife in our louths! everlaiting love and joy will be all the rork that is there. O ! what manner of work that? The ardency of love, without abat- 1g or internvflions ariling. from the contU pal beholding of crowned Chrift's fupertranf- endent lovelinefs and excellency, and the ^lnefs of joy, without intermiflions and allay- jients, arifing from the enjoyment of that fo ,)ve!y and beloved objefl ; What manner of ?o\k is that? They that get a fighr of that, will je made to cry out, We will jpend no more la- our for that -which Jatisfyetb not. Of the full iid iufficient fatisfaft on that is in the matchleis iearl, Ciirift : he is all things defirable. Let us jeftow all our love, our whole *aff< dions upou itn : and when we have done, let us wonder iat he fiiould feek it, and take it off our hands. Vhile in thefe lids of juftling, let us put all ,ur weapons in love's hand : love is a rcfolutc pldier, love is an undaunted champion; love's fo much taken up with contemplating le Beloved, that it cannot lee dingers in the ay, but runs blindly upon them ; and yet not Jlindly, but knoweth for, whom, and for vvhat ; io ventureth. Love will never turn the wea- ols againlt the Beloved; yea, will never turn lie back upon the Beloved's quarrel. O! what champion is love ? I confefs good company, ► nd abiding company, is much to be defired, nd love is that. Faith at length willevanifti sto light, and hope into pofleiliou ; but love is the 8 4 LETTERS. the Chriftian's continual companion, £nd a brave companion it is; for it is no burden to love, when there is the lading enjoyment of the Be- loved, and the full and continual allurance of immenfurable love again, as it is when love u igade perfect. . Ah! if time woald (lay, I would not wtary to: write unto your Honour ; for, I do not know^ when, if ever, I may have the occafion again. But while I am, I defire to be concerned with you. O! go on, and fear not. The Lord, Ij hope, will ihew you a token for good, that they who hate you may lee it and be aihamed. Diead muling in your intended journey, the Lord v/ill be with you; and I pray again and again that fo it may be, and that he may blefs your labours, and make them contribute to the pro-- curing an uniformity amongft churches, that fo* he may be one, and his name one amongfl: us., I hope I need not deiire you to mind me a-i poor thing, who have much to do, and nothing in myfelf to do with, and who remains, Honourable and dear Sir, Your real, conftant fympathijlng friend andfervant in the Lord, JAMES RENWICK.I LET- LETTERS. * 5 LETTER XXXI. Fro'.n the Rev. Mr. James Renwick, to Mr. Robert Hamilton. Honourable and dear Sir, Augufl 23. 1684. I Thought once that your expectation of our letters (hould have been more quickly an* wered than cow it could be ; but the holy md wife God, who doth all things well, fo or- dered it that it is fallen out otherwife : for upon :he 3'jch day of July, when L was going, m company with other three, to the general meet- ing, we efpied two dragoons meeting uz. not expelling any more to be following, we >vent foreward, not dreading them; but when eve came with in word and ihot, we faw a party of about twent) more very near upon i>s: where- feeing there was no probability of refili- ng Afcm, we turned up to a hill called Dun- But my three neighbours being; on foot md I on horfe- back, they rompafied about the "not of the hill, but I took up to the height, being hotly purfued by many of that party; bme whereof were at my right-hand to keep me from the modes, and others behind, as they came within ihot, difcharged up- on me : fo being near unto the top of the hill, and finding myfelf belet round abou:. r no vifiblt* door to efcape, I thought fit to tkc horfe which I had, and to wait till I / what God did in it. But after I hadlighted m the horfe, \ faw befoe n-e a piece of good Enable gioand, whereopoa 1 cil'i/cd to mount II LETTERS, sgain upon the horfe, but the bead would noz (land unto me; whereupon I rdolved to kill the horfe, left the enemy fhould be thereby ftrengchned ; howbeit, having bin one fnot, I thought fit to keep it for a greater extremity ; finding the bead iuch as would not ftaud (till, I reached it with a {babble which I had, con- jecturing, that poffibly (the place being unin- habited) the beaft might fave my wallet and the papers, together with Mr. B's waller. Thus I went up to the top of the hill upon foot, and feeing myfelf fo encompalfed that I could not run from them, and that I was in no ways able to fight with them, I judged it my beft to clap/ upon the ground: fo \ went unto a cairn, which by fituation was about fix or feven pace of ground out of all their eyes, thinking to ly down upon it ; all the hill being green,, and bare in that place, knowing that God could carry their fight over it; fo coming to the top of it, ■ efpied in it a pit, which when I faw, it entered into my mind, that it was ordained of God for hiding of me: Thus I lay down into it, winning by God's goodnefs, to a chcarful fubmiffion to death, torture, or whatsoever his will might be* But I was, in no fmall meafure confident, tha£ no evil at that time could happen unto me, the* Lord giving me that fcripture, Pfal. vi. 8. De- part from me, all ye workers of iniquity ; — which was fc powerful, that I was made, I think, a hundred times to repeat it over, ere I could get* myfelf (layed ; together with that other Pfalniy xci. ii. For he ftall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways : which was. fuch unto me, that I lifted up' my head to fee *hele angels ; but, confidering my folly in that LETTERS. 87 that particular, I was made to laugh at my own wicieliheis. So I lay ftiii until the fun fet, iome- times praying and fometimes praifing God, tho* Oh ! I can do neither to purpofe. But joy that the Lord's works of wonder for me afford, were (wallowed up in forrow, becaufe what befel my dear brethren, who (all that were with me) fell into the enemies hands, one m receiving ele\en wounds. Then, after all, nl thought upon drawing oft' the hill, n ving the way to one friend's houle iu the whole country; 1 betought the Lord, that as he had hid me, fo he would lead and guide me.. Thus I let my face toward Clyde, and after I I towelled about four miles, 1 met with Wind-hill, wuii wliom I if ayed two days, and kept a meei, upon the fecond Dfght, even while the militia :ching that fide of the country; and tv, that night I rowly elcaped, as it had been even out of lb paws. O! time would faii me to relate the Lord's works of wonder . poor unworthy me: for even iince, I have in one day cleaned three or four fignal hazards. O ! what ihall I fay of the Lord's way v.iih me? He will either have ir.e 1 will have me appear to be indociole. O for grace anlwcr his pains taken upon me. And as for the prefect - .and, it was never fuch ; enemies ha.- orth a proclamation, calling ail -north Tay to be in readinefs agai of this month with fifteen daysprovi- . .1 it is thought, to fpread over the v. land ; but the Lord koows what th< pole* are. However, v ; proclaim. U all m:n i wherever * 1 .e to be dull .::d kept : : 8S LETTERS. known what they are. Now, the adverfary is inoft cruel, and apprehends not only all men, but even the women whom they can get their hands nporr, and ufe them moll barbarouily. O what ineaneth this hot^furnace ! furely it is not to con- fume, it is to purge and refine. O for grace, for grace to endure unto the end. I think Scotland. is now like a woman in hard labour, who mufti] either get a fpeedy help and delivery, elfe fhe.: will be in peril of dying in travel. But courage! yet, her (harpeft (bower is at the minute of her delivery. Die, die (he will not, for the Lord is!} but hafting through her travel. The more fore \ the pains be, the more joyful her delivery will be $1 yea, the Lord will make brave mirth at it; forr he will have a feaft of many a man's carcafe atv it. As for more particular news, JV. K. will give>, you an account; I have not feeii his teftimonyj but I think, he is a good honeft lad. R. G. hatlig carried always very ftedfaftly, and is .now fen-*; tenced with banilliment; a wonderful reftraint i upon enemies indeed. I law your honour's letters which you wroie home anentMr. Flint's bufmefs; and I cannot pafsjj this, that 1 obferved in, the drain of them much trouble, if not difcouragement to be held forth.. fy upon you, where is all your undaunted bold-'& > and true magnanimity now ? what fear you ? | what can he and his party do? they are incapable 1 of doing barm here; they are but rendering themfelves fuch, as Yhat their memories ill a 1 1 be written over with contempt and ignominy to all after generations. Now, the Lord be with you, and teach you * to ufe your weapons rightly for him in this dav of LETTERS.' 89 of rencounter. ceafe not to pray for poor Scotland, now in travel, and for him who is, Yours, as forme; [ ■, JAMES RENWTCK. P. S. If time ?rould permit, ilk day furniihes me both with fad and refrefhful tidings to repre- sent unto your honour; refreihful, for our pri- fon houfes are filled with Tongs of joy and praife, yea, they were never more refreihful, for they 'are palaces indeed. But our fad cafe other-.vifc iliil inc;c2leth ; for many are apprehended; yea, : women incarcerate* and fome of them baniflicd, and men execute upon the very diy when they receive the lenience of death, . JAMES RENWIC LET T.E R XXXIL From Mr. James Ren wick, to the bono:: Mr. Robert Hamilton. Hon. and dear Sir, 1 684* I Received yours, and vns refrePned to fee z line from your hand again ; yet I am not a little troubled that our converfc by tetters Ribald not be more frequent; bo: continual hurrying and toffiricr flops it on my part, together with foch a multitude of bufinefs, that fometimes [ would put a greater price upon an hour of than upon much riches. Si ; knew my H 3 re fweet and pleafant to be fwiming in the fwellings- of Jordan for Chrift and with Chrift, than to Uvat- ter in the pleafures of fin, and delights of the flefh; y£a, though Chriftians had not a heaven hereafter, I cannot but judge their cafe, even; here, happy beyond all others; as the Pfalmift Uyeth, That haft put gladuefs in my heart, more than in the time when their com and their ivine in- aeafed, Pfal. iv. 7. And when the world frowns jnoiT:, I know, it is the time wherein the Lord fmiles mod upon his own : O rherefore, let none of them fear a Offering lot: enemies think them- selves famfied that we are put to wander in daric florray nights thro* mofles and mountains ; but if they knew how we were feafted, when others are Seeping, they would gnafti their teeth for anger. Q) I cannot exprefs, how fweet times I have bad when the curtains of heaven have been drawn, when the quietnefs of all things in the- filent watches of the night, has brought to my. mind the.diny of admiring the deep, filent and uncxpreflible ocean of joy and wonder, wherein the whole family of the higher houfe are ever- tellingly drowned; each ftar leading me out to, wondet LETTERS. ci omler whdt he muft be, who is the ftar of Jj. 'Jj y the bright and morning ftar, who maketh 11 his own to (hine as ftars in the firmament. In- eed (if! may term it fo) I am much obliged to Demies, for, though they purpofe my mifery,. et they are inftrumental of covering many a fac able to me ; and while they are pining away in ufk envy and pale fear, I am feeding in peace nd joy. O poor fools! what can they do? the reateft wrong they can do, is, to be inftrument- i in bringing a chariot to carry us to that high- r houfe, and ihould we not think this the great- ft favour. Let enemies never think that tiiey an make the people of God's cafe mifersble, hile he lives and reigns; and I wot well, he ath that to give, and will give that which will sveeten all the fears of his followers. And I lay fay this to his praife, thai I have found fo auch of his kindnefs and fupply. in fetting a- out his work in fuch hard circumftances, that irough the prevailing of a body of death fom-e- mes, and defire to be with himfelf, makes me |)ng for a diffolution; yet, I think, I could be ontent to dwell if it were a thoufand years io lis iniirm and weakened body of clay, with ontinual roil and hazard, to carry his name to is people*. Now, Right honourable, as to news here, now, that the Lord is (till increafing his peo- le in nunvber and fpiritnal ftrength ; and many facrifice he is taking off their hands; for there re not many days wherein his truths are not feal- d with blood, and that in all places, fo tbftl m*k, within a little, there iliall not be a mofs r mountain in the Weft of Scotland which thall •t be flowered with martyrs. Enemies have brc. %1 LETTERS. brought down the Highlanders upon us, and the with the forces do run through the countr (Lord give direction and ftrength) and kill ai whom they meet with, if they do not fay whatfo ever they bid rhem. We are fearing mafTacres here is a maflacre indeed. Ob that my bead wen waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that . might weep without intermiffion, for the flain c the daughter of my people. Alfo, they have givex out, by aft of parliament and open proclamation that all mipifters and hearers ^vho are to be foum in the fields, are to be killed prefently; and i found in houfes, the minifter is to be killed, anc the people fined. The devil now is come dow in great wrath, becaufe he knoweth his time tc be but fliort. Mr. Alexander Shields is yet alive. and feems ay to be more and more right ; tc* indeed hath made a foul fall, but I think, he \i duly fenfible. All the reft of the prifoners are very well encouraged. I have of late made a hafty journey into England the length of A r ew* caftle, and (blefled be the Lord) with much more nor expected encouiagement and fuccefs.l I car not at this inftant grant your defire, but I ilia II keep your memorandum till I get it done, for I have been thefe eight days fo harried andchafid Vith continual alarms, that Icould not get felted to write any; andjhe Lord, to manifeft his power, gave me a moft remarkable delivery. Now, dear Sir, begging it of you and all friends, that you will be bufy and inftant with God, thai 1 he tniy be with us in the day of our extremity: I and commending you all to the grace of God, ; with my love and fervice to yourlelf, and them of whole concernednefs with the Lord's caufe, we j are all fenfible, and that they are moft ftrength* ening LETTERS. 93 : cning to you againfl all your antsgonirts, parti- ! cularly to the En. V. H. to whom I purpofe, . God willing, to write. I am ever, As formerly, JAMES RENWICK. LETTER XXXIil. 'From the Rev. Mr. James Renwick, to — Hon. and dear Sir, Feb. 28. 1685. H Received your letter, which was many ways refreshing unto me ; as alio, the way of its coming to my hand, for when I was upon my travels, about the letting forth of my mailer's ware, there arofe fuch a ftorm of weather, which forced me to turn off my journey a little, to tLe Dearefl: great inn?, and there I £ot your letter, and alio my wares better received off my hand :han ever before in that place: Hence I am made :o(ee, that divine provide nee is a myfterious thing, nd thai I never lofs a whit more of 3 ftorm. Alfo, 'here is one thing in your letter which made me not a little to admire, to wit, your apprehenfiou :hat I was forely fit] there was a great Icaith among traders, and that my fie K mean of my preservation; a leel guefs ndeed. In reference hereunto, I II you 1 pretty paffage. Upon a c< he dilmilTion of a market, there went about for- y of our merchants foreward a littl re me, jpgn the way that I wa« go i fig, with whom I tryfted 94 LETTERS. tryfted to meet the night following: Bat after a little deep, ficknefs fo pofleft me that I was not able to keep my *ryft; whereupon I lent awaj fome merchants that were with me to go fore- ward with the reft about their bufinels; whe upon the day following, were aflaulted with a great multitude of our antagonifts, who were fix for one, (o that our merchants were not able to ftand ; whereupon they took the jetrcat, and cutftripped their antagonifts with out any fkaith, fave the lofs of one : Now : before this came to pafs I dreaded it. But what think you of my ficknefs and your, guefs? for if I had been with the reft I had been taken frcm all trading; for my body is fo weakened with much travel, ■ that though I travel more than any, yet I cannot com.e.fo good ipeed as a thers, when need required") : Alio within two days my ficknefs left me. Now, I leave all this to your thoughts, for it would be tedious for me to write mine; and I think, you may guefs at them, as you did a: rich was more dark. But to come to the fubftance of your letter, you have opened up the myfteiy of our trade abroad, which I dreaded, yet 1 undcrftood it not; but I agree with your advice, as to thefe men's fub- fcribing of our principal accounts. But my mafter is ta.kieg the wifeft way ia it; for now he hath ;.ed Gffcur antagonift's chief factor; fo that I think, all merchants will now ihortty fide them- , and when at the pu(h they declare them- s willingly whole trade they are for, it will k forth the more ingenuity, and we will . better what to think of them; (o we not be rain in our proposals, till we fee how thefe mcij fettle, for now ihey muft fettle fome way LETTERS. c; way or other. This is my poor advice at the time, but I have not as yet met with any num- ber of our merchants to confult with anent it. However, the lame myftery from abroad is 2lfo at home with us, but I find all our merchants pretty ftedfaft; for ail forts are mod earneft the: we fhould tread with them, and they with us But tl judge, they refpe'et not the advantage of our trcde therein, but of their own: Xeverthelefs, what think you, makes them fo earned to trade with us? Our wares go well off our hand* at borne; this is part of the reafon of it : Our mer- chants daily iocreafe, this is another part: But I judge, the chief re a,' on be this, They look up- on us as venturous merchants, that dow not a- bide pinging with naughty commodities, but let out ay for wholefale ; and that we are refolute, ft that no florin will keep us back from our in- tended voyage: Whereupon they think, if we would trade with them, they would get us fet up- on all defperate traffic, and if we did won, it would be to their hand ; and if we loft, we would 3Ut lofe ourielves, which the moil: part of them would not regard much. Here, I think, lies the knack. But, worthy Sir, for your further fatisfaflion and information anent our trade at home, thefe few things, I think fit to tell you that I obferve, (i.) That the greatefl part of the country give their approbation to our trade, and the way there- of, though they have not hea«s to give their gold and, money for our wares. (2.) That very many think our wares lo worthy, that they (pare not to be flow either gold or money upon them. (3.) That very many, who, I thought, would aot have looked us in the face, refort to our irkeu $6 LETTERS. markets in all places, (4.) Very many are feek- ing to be in our incorporations, who, I think, are downright for our trade ; but I fear fome of them are feeking rather, that we fhonld have a great (lock, and that they thould (hare with us, than, that my mafter fhould get credit; whereas he refpe&s his credit more than he doth all the gold ajid money in the world. . (5.) None are received in amongft us, who eitherjeave us, or rue their trading with us. (6.) Our merchants ere all fearlefs, as if they could not lose any thing. (7.) They are refolute, they will not flip a market for a foul day, or ly ia the harbour be- caufe of a ftorm. (8.) The waiters are fo angry at our goods, that ordinarily they do not bring them, when they catch them, to public roupings, or to be burnt by the hands of the common hangman, but deftrojuhem where they may find them: This is occafioned partly by the refolut* nets of ojr merchants, who will not let the waiters carry away any of our goods, fo they come to be deftroyed when the waiters are the ftrong- eft party ; and partly by the malicioufnefs of the waiters, who, unlefs our merchants renounce their trade, they prefently deftroy their goods. I may fay, my mafter hath gotten us fome braved refolute merchants, whom an hafty propofal ne-: ver furprifeth. (9) The waiters have gotten many of the bell: of our goods deftroyed ; yea, ; they have caped more from us within thefe two years, than I thought then we had ; ' and the more they take, we have the iQore bcM hind ; but this is only through the wit of my' mafter; yea, he is fo wife, that ere he want wares he will make (tones give Giver. (10.) There is fome difference amongft our merchants anen: LETTERS, 97 6 aaent the manner of feeking in our debts of the t i all: accounts, which we gave in againfl: our an- ' ragonifts; but I do not fear that my mafter will i| fuffer a breach among us upon that head, for wc i all agree in, the matter. Now, to come to what is your defire in your memorandum fent unto me. i. As to that information anent Mr. Lap. I got it from young Mr. Fi/fjer, who had it from his brother at London. As alfo, I know, that his brother hath left trading with the leading merchants at London, fave with Mr. Fife, with whom I hear not that he trades much. 2. As to correfpondence with Groetnvezyb, (by whom I underftand Mr. Br.) there hath been more fmce his flitting ; and as for any letters be- twixt him and Mr. Fifier Elder, is a thing un- known to me ; neither have I any diftinft notion of his feeking to-trade with us, fave by the ap- prentice you lent over. 3. As to our late accounts, we (hall fee to get them unto you; as alfo how that money may be received off your hand. Now, R'ght honourable Sir, at the time, I (hall trouble you no further, not knowing v. how to get this conveyed to your hand; buf leave you to my matter's direftion and counfel, who, I know, can make known unto yot 1 the fe- crets. of our trade, and the engines of our op- pofers. My love to all friends who wnh us a ^ood market, and (how them I forget them not, Yours 9 toftrve you to my power in my majier's em} J. RENWIC 9 % L E T T E R S, LETTER XXXIV. From Mr. James Renwick, to Mrs. Jean Ha milton at Lewarden in Frieiland. Worthy Madam, March 2. 1685. YOur letter was long in coming to my hand, and it hath been long in anfwering; but I had never the expe&ation of an occafion before this ; as alio your cafe was troubleforae to me, and [ knew not well what to fay anent it; and the moil that I can fay yet, is, that I defire ear- neftly to fympathize with you, and to mind you before the Lord, for I know your burdens. How- ever I dare not advife yon to it ; 1. Becaufe of the many corruptions, which, I fear, are not fo burdenlome to them now, as once I apprehended they were to fome of them. 2. Becaufe of your own unclearnefs anent it: I fay this, not that I make our clearnefs a fuffici- ent warrant either to do or not do; for then the fcriptures would not be the rule ; yet to him that efteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean : As alfo, I think, your unclearnefs is not groundless. But here arifeth the difficulties. (1.) How {hall this be reconciled with your wor- . thy brother's praftice ? yet I do not fee them juftle together ; for though, he heareth, yet I know, he withdraweth from what is corrupt, which you would not get fo handfomely done. (2.) How ihallthis be reconciled with the ordi- nation ? yet neither is there any contradiction fyere.; for in the ordination they came to us, and ac:ed according to Scotland's reformation, and if thcfe LETTERS. 99 thefe whom you were to bear, would do fo in all points of worfiiip, you need not have any ibruple. But as for your coming here with the children, I fee not how you can refolve upon it as yet, for though your cafe be fad there, as to many things, it would be more fad here. Therefore my poor advice is, that you would contentedly ftay a little, till you fee what the Lord doth, and wreftle through your difficulties the beft way you can ; for we are expe&ing ftrange things fuddenly at home : Yet if you law a general calamity coming upon that place, better to come home and ihare in Scotland's calamity, in whofe fin we have all a {hare, than to lhare in the calamities of ano- ther place. Now, Dear Madam, my dear and worthy friend, look to the Lord himfelf for your direc- tion, upholding, encouragement, comfort, and upmaking; for come what will it will be well with the righteous, and all lliall end in public teftimony of divine favour to thefe who wait up- on the Lord; though he fhould (hake heaven and earth yet he will be the hope of his people, and the rigth of the children of Ifrael, Joel iii. li iw, to the word of his grace I commend you^. Worthy Madam, YoiwLadyflntfs 'indonbted fympath'fing friend in the Lord, JAMES RENWICK. I 2 LET- loo LETTERS. LETTER XXXV. From the Rev. Mr. James Renwick, to the ho nourable Mr* Robert Hamilton. Hon. and dear Sir, Edin. May 13. 1685 I Have been with your friend Robert, and got fome account of affairs, whrch made me to wonder not a little; but Andrew Cameron's in- formation hath made me to wonder much more ; for I could not believe that policy could mafic 0- ver temporal defigns with fo fair colours and pretences. ^Whereupon, we have great need of the wifdom of the ferpent, as well as the harm- leffhefs of the dove. I find, Andrew Cameron's drift is to get in with Argyle; but to me his ar- guments are more diiluafive than perfuafive. But I dread W. B. greatly, having feen a paper from his own hand, where he yields to all their defire ; I fear the hand ofjoab hath been in it; and he, forfooth, woukl have it publiihed in cor .e; bu*, through grace, I will oppofe it v. my whole vitals. I am likewise afraid of jpipe others anidngfl: us, but of none lave of fuch as I had former jjiloufies, but codd not bottom fuf- fnt reafons againfl: them. I have feen . your animadveriions- upon the aflbciation, wl I agree with; for as a Crot t and Butbwclian cocnpou. d: But as for your s averdons on our declarat on, 1 think, the co- ..taries of politics have made you look upon it after another fort tl ould have done; lor we defig > be taken joii ale; i our other tefti monies and LETTERS. iot and fo the door is not wider than it was : neither can any ftiow ar>y thing in that declaration but what I think may be eaiily reconciled with our other tefti monies and actings; To, I think it a thing below you or me to trouble ourfelves with the various expofuions that perfons, for their bwn ends, put upon it: for fome represent it as the ftricteft thing that ever came from our hands, thereby to make us odious; lbroe again, as the laxeft that ever came from our hands, that there- upon they may get a door to enter; but there is none opened, and our wall is fo well cerfenrcd, that, through our camp-raafter, they will not break thorough : If fome ihall jump over it, and fo out from us, yet our wall fhall iland inviola- le. Wherefore trouble not yourfelf, . O right honourable, about Logomachies, for our practice will comment upon j Hoping ts meet with friends (hortly, I will be in a capacity \c inform yon fully. And praying' ihtf the Lo;'u°may give light and life. Ian, Right honoured, \ Yours as former J \ t TAMES RENWICK. LETTER XXXVL horn the Rev. Mr, James Ren wick, to the . now able Mr. Robert Hamilton. i Honour die Sir> July 9. 1685 F I durft have ventured this with the pef- could have had another pcuiloD, I I 3 io2 LETTERS. have written to you ere this time; for, I know you will be anxious to hear how it is with u$ But it would take a great volume, and require ailr accurate obferving capacity to write our cafe Howbcit this is no (mail comfort and encourage ment, that the Lord fo vifibly takes our matter:] in his own guiding; for, before Argyle brake] many of our friends were greatly puzzled, whe-1 ther the Lord was calling them to follow thei former methods, or to draw altogether by them felves, and to emit a declaration of their own; whereupon, there was a meeting appointed to coniiderthe matter, and alfo a day for prayer; but the Lord difappointed our meetings, one after another, until Argyle was apprehended and his party fcattered ; to this was put out of our heads : yet our fnares fince have been greater than here- tofore ; for Mr. Barclay and Mr. Langlandj pafs up and down the country, and have got them- felves too much infmuate upon fr £ ^i*al of our wanderers, pretending no difference Trora us, but a willingnefs to join. Howheit, I met with Mr, Langlands, and lound him no otherways ' than when I was in Holland: He owned his writing that letter to Mr. Bracket, but would grant with no wrong therein; fo the main thing that they drive at, is, to have us lay afide our challenges, and they would be filent. But it is clear to me, that the Lord doth not fend them ; for, if he did, they would not cover their iniquity; alfo their need, and not our need hath moved them ; but if they lhall, infuch a drain, ftep to the fields with public preaching, I think, they will not keep them long, for he hath taken pofleffion of our high places until he return to our temple again. Hjwbeic, if it were the Lord's will you were a> mongfl LETTERS. 103 njongft us, I think (through the Lord's grace and affiftance) that mighr be inftrumental of very 3i much good; but for my foul, I dare not advife you to come, confidering what hazards you may run in your coming ; yet you may lay it out be- fore the Lord, and if he do not open a door for your journey, do not venture upon it ; for, I hope, he is referving you for fome greater work. O be not anxious, for the Lord will. make a ftroke clear our controverfies. As for our news, Argyle 7 s party is wholly dif- fipate; for they difagreed amongfl: themfelves, not upon the dating of their quarrel, but upo'n the way of profccuting it. No conditions to them were keeped, and this rendered rhem very diflatisfied A* gyle is beheaded; Rombold exe- cute, after the manner of worthy Rathillet ; Sir J. C. apprehended, and his fon, with feveral o- thers. Bat Monmouth is yet bulled in England, whereby the Scots forces are marched right to- wards the border, which animates JVillunn Cle- land, &c. to make a new flir, and fo our difficul- ties are as formerly. As for your brother Sir JVilliam, he was lieutenant to Rombold ; he i.s yet alive, with fome of his friends. I refolve to ipeer him out, and inform him I have feen J. N. who faith, he is with us in all things, and that he came with Argyle on\y for paffage, being under no engagements, and taking no place from thcHn. Andrew Cameron is a great agent for them, and not fimple in their buiinefs; here* fofeth joining with no miniiters wiio were not a&ually indeed, or defenders of fuch. G. H.; R. Sfiiitb, and David Steel; are well; but R. Smith cannot find an open door to come unto you. io 4 LETTERS. you. M. B. is like to die in pfifcn. Mr. Alex- ander Shields feem not to be of a right ftamp *. Now, I hope your Honour will pardon ray con- fufion, occafioned by my hafty pen. I cannct exprefs my thoughts to you ; but I fay again, the Lord will take our matters in his own hand : O! let us be bufy with himfelf, and commit all unto him, who hath the government upon his ihoul- ders. Scotland's day is coming; happy thofe who are in their chambers. My love and fervice to all friends with you, foreigners and others. The blefling of him who is in the burning bulk be with you. I am, Honourable Sir, . Your fervant as formerly, . JAMES RENWICK;, LETTER XXXVIL From the &rv* Mr. James Ren wick, to Robert Speir at Edinburgh. Dear Friend, Oiicber 23. 1685^ WHut paft at our lafl: meeting time will not al'ow me to inform you off, neither need I be careful about the fame ; for I know that ;he bearer can do it as diftinctly as I: however, I thought fit to write unto you, lhewing that the meeting is no ways difcontenc with your purpofe of * He took the Abjuration Oath the 6th of Auguji after this, as H^drcw isitifies, vol, ii. LETTERS. 105 cf going abroad at this time. And as to what I have writtten to my honourable and dear friend; which I did let you fee, though I judged it not fit to communicate the fame to other friends; as I was telling yoa by word, fo I defire that you would fignify to him, that he mud take it only as my thoughts at that time, which, in a great raeafurc, were undigefled, and through the multitude of bufmefs and contendings, and various weight! upon my fpirir, not a little con- fufed: alfo, as I was telling you my mind more fully auent ihefe things than I have written it, fo I defire that you would fpeak with him con- cerning the fame, (hewing my thoughts more confpicuoufly than my letter doth. Moreover, if I have written any thing which is unfeafon- able, or not right and equal, I am content to be informed and inflructed by him : but it is my deiire, if he will agree therewith, that after his reading and confidering the fame it may be deftroycd; for I think it not any advantage to the caufe, to keep any letter (vo:n friends, but what is written as their fixed and deliberate thoughts about matters. Now, for your coining home, I think ;. u have feen many depths of mercy and judgment mani- fested to tiie poor church of Scotland ; you have feen the afflicted remnant brougl C unto, and through many difficulties ; you have feen much matter of joy and forrow ; (o f I hope, your tra- vels hither have not been without fruit, i praying that the Lord may appear at his own work, ant in his own way, in the ing d ;, and to io6 LETTERS. re&ion, afliftance, prote&ion, and provifion, am, Dear Sir r Your ajpured friend, and fervant in the Lord, J 9 JAMES RENWICKp LETTER XXXVIII. From the Rev- Mr. James Renwick, to Mrs. J Hamilton, at Lewarden in Friefland. Worthy Madam, Nov. 18. 1685, YOU doubtlefs think it ftrange of my long filence, and it is far contrary to my own refolution ; but the abounding of inward care, and the continuing of outward toffing, blocketh me up from doing many things which I would :. and it is no great wonder that a man under fuch 1 variety of providences as I am, cannot be matter of his own purpofes. Howbeit, I may fay, your cafe, and the cafe of the family, lieth in fuch a meafure upon my heart, that I cannot get the fame forgotten ; and though this bean infignifi- cant thing, and of little purpofe to your Lady.' Ihip, yet I own it is my duty. I never look up- on N your cafe but^I think it is in k>me things lingular. Your lot is caft in a ftrange land, fc- pa rated from ycur friends and acquaintances, but communion and fellowlhip with God will make your lot ftvee: and pleafant unto ycu, and furoifli you with abundance of joy in every outward LETTERS. 107 ©utward condition ; and this, I hope, you are fometimes fenfibly tailing: alio, I doubt not but the company of your worthy brother, and fome dear foreigners, is not a little refrefhful unto you. Moreover, when I confider your circum— fiances, Ruth's cleaving to Naomi is (till brought before me; and without the lead of flattery I fay it, I think what you have done for your dear filter's family (coming from (incerity, of which, charity which is not blind, will not let me doubt) is as acceptable before God, and as much to be praifed amongfl men. But knowing that this is a fubjed, which, though I could not pafs, yet Jyou, Madam, defire it not to be treated upon; (therefore I (hall forbear it, and (hall {hew you fome of my thoughts (undiftind and infignificant as they are) anent our poor Scotland. 1. I think we are not yet entered our Jordan; for though we have come through a miry and thorny wildernefs, yet our Jordan is before us, md it will be very deep, but it will not be very toad : when the ark of God enters it, it (hall be :e to drown, but it (hall fuddenly and and mirably win to the other fide. 2. I think fafety lhall only be to thofe who jhave their hands neareft the ark. Oh then ! .many a woe to the minivers and prokflbrs whofe bands have been drawn back from the work, md thefe whofe malice is againft the burden- bearers ; it (hall be as is (aid. If a. xxvi. II. Lord, when thy band is lifted up, they will not r ee : but they fi) all fee, and be a famed for their ntvy at the people ; yea, the fire of thine enemies T?all devour them. 3. I think that Scotland (hall be made a wafle and, ere God's controverfy againft it be ended; he io8 LETTERS. he will fell the heritages of earls, lords, and others, yea, and their carcafTes good cheap. 4. I think the Lord (until he raife his work a- gain) wilh guide and manage it more by provi- dences than by inftruments ; and this is, that his hand maybe alone feen in it, and that he may, get the glory; and what is mod glorifying to him, fhould it not be mofl pleafant and rejoicing; ( to us. 5. I think that when the Lord returns to us again, it will be with fuch a meafare and out- pouring of his Spirit, that the remnant that ihall be left ihall have a very heaven upon earth, and' our land fhail be made the joy of all lands. Bat as to thefe, or fuch like, I (hall fay no; more, knowing you are both really and diftindt- ]y exercifed anent our cafe : And what is for us this day, bin that we make Chrifl fure for our- felves, and fpcnd our days here below in admir- ing the lovelinefs and condcfcendency of our Beloved, and our own happinefs in enjoying fuch a portion. But this is a great work, time is not equal for it, therefore we (hall get eterni- ty for it. O let us ftudy the increaie of the beauty of holinef?, for happinefs is inferior unto it. It is by holinefs we a*c made like unto God, and is not this true nobility ? O ! what is like unto it! If we knew more of this ftudy and attainment, defertion would be lefs of our exer- cife, and we fhould enjoy more of the fmilings ofhisfweet countenance, and breathings of his Spirit. Alfo, while in this our pilgrimage, let his will be ours in all things; whatever he may carve out for us, or any that we are concerned in, let us fay amen to it; for if he will it, it is enough for us: Yea, let us lay our account with the LETTERS. io 9 j the word of it, that whatever come we may not be furprized. Now, not to trouble your Ladyfhip further, ■ praying that the all fufficiency which is in Chrifl i may be forthcoming for you, that lb you may fnilh your courfe with his honour, and your own i true joy, with the teflimony of a confeience kept void of offence towards God, and towards all men; and that, you may fuck of the breads r of his confolations here, until you come to drink abundantly of the rivers of pleafure at his right band. I am, Worthy Madam, Your obliged and ajfured friend, and fympathizing fervant in our fweet Lord, JAMES RENWICK. LETTER XXXIX. From the Rev, Mr. James Renwick, to the honourable Societies of Strangers at Lewarden in Friefland. Feb. 1 8. 1686. lion, and dearly beloved in our fweet Lord, I Have had ofren bluthes with myfelf, when * thought upon my omitting to write unto you ; but I may fay, it was neither voluntary nor wil- ful, but neceffity : for a man under fuch various exigences of providence a<: I am, cannot be ma- tter of his own purpofes. And befides that, I -am daily looking cut, either to be ureieutly kill- K ed. no LETTERS. cd, where I may be found, or elfe dragged into a prifon or fcaffold ; various weighty and per- plexing occurrences, day by day, come inevita- bly into my way, which take up my thoughts, filling my fpirit with care, and my hands with bufinefs. But if I had proven as forgetful of you, as I have been blocked up from fainting* you with a line from my hand, I had been far out of my duty before the Lord, and grofly ungrateful toward you. Howbeit, right honour- able and dearly beloved, I need not infift in a- pologizing for myfelf with you, for I know you have fuch a feeling of our burdens, that ye commiferate our cafe, and pity our perplexities: therefore I'll break off this, and go on in what the Lord giveth me to fay. There is no rational creature which doth not fet fome one thing or other before its eyes, as its main end, and chief good ; and according to the various predominants, in fenfual and mad- men, are their various main ends. Hence it is, that there did refult-fo many different opinions among Heathen philofophers about man's chief good. But here is the great miftake with foolifli vain men, that whatever they leek after, it is but few who bend toward the true chief good, which is God. There are indeed gods many arid lords many; for whatever any fketh his defires upon, andaimeth in all hisadtions at the obtain^ ing and enjoying thereof, is hisJord and his god, whether it be honour or riches, or fome objedt or other of vile concupifcence ; yet there is but one God who is truly and only defire-worthy, love-worthy, and honour-worthy. This one hath not a tnatch, or a parallel ; for what can C^ual hinj? yea, what in any worth can come the LETTERS. in the length of the latchet of his (hoes? He is that inestimable jewel, invaluable treafure, and in- comparable pearl of price, that only worthy defire of all nations. O ! take a look of him as he is the Being of beings, having being cf himfelf independent of all other beings ; and upon whom all other things depend in their being and operations: /;/ him ive? live, in him we move, and of him we have our being. Doth not all the pieces of the creation, heaven, earth, and fea, fun, moon, and ftars, the commoneft and unworthieft creature that moveth upon the earth, bear large chara&ers of his wifdom, power, andgoodnefs? Doth not his myfterious. common providence, making the (harpeft fight- cd of his creatures hide their faces, and be- come filent before him, declare him to be God, and that he is of cue mind, and v:lo lan turn him? Do not the various inPiru- ments that execute his will, fignified by four chariots, Zccb. vi. I. bringing about various ^ifpeufations, fignified by the different co- Jours of the horles; whether calamities cf iignified by the red; or other doleful mifei fignified by the black; mixed difpenfations, I and white, fo to fpeak, of mercy and ',. fignified by the grizled and bay; or diipenfa- tions of mercy, fignified by the white? 1 does not all theie come forth from between the two mountains of brafs ? The one mount figniiith his unalterable decree, and the other his clicftual providence, which watcheth and waituh that inftruments bring nothing to the birth but what has been conceived in the womb of his eternal purpoie . O take a look ot : . ; he is K 2 li:.. n2 LETTERS. nits, without beginning and ending: he is one and the lame in his nature, in his counfels, : d in his love; he perfe&ly knoweth himfelf, t and all things that are pofTible; he can do ill ingsthat donot imply a contradiction, and argue imperfe&ion : he is good and doeth good ; he is righteous in himfelf, and equal in all his ways' of dealing with his creatures ; he is true with- out any diffiinulation ; he is holy and del ettj in his own holinefs, and in every refemblance of it, in his angels, and in his faints. Bjt O! nho can think of him, and who can fpeak of him? He is infinite in all his attributes; and e- very perfection hath a perfect meeting in him: aibeit (ome of his attrioutes be in iome degree communicable to his creatures, yet they are in him in an altogether incommunicable manner 2nd mea'ure : and there is nothing in God, but it is God ; for this is his name, I am that I . And again I fay, Who can think of him, i a who can fpeak of him ? who can compre- .1 him, or compals him about? Who u:i(' ng can fearch out God? Humble 2nd !):. trance is better than curious and pry !edge : for all .that weean know .row that we cannot know him. :)e a little nearer, and take a >• is ojr Saviour, in his • er. fakhfulnefs, an tho* and lofty One . t h fo low as : >:e of man, and ai! '::}dii; he became fie ft and ' of our bo t c lowly condition tit* the creature's affect. a LETTERS. 1T3 a? if it were of feme worth, and feeks men ; icn to match with him. O how loving is h< Ic is a ftrong love that he beareth to that :icA of Abraham* Doth not this fuine in all that he bath done ? He emptied himfelf that they might become fall ; he made himfelf poor, though ker and polTeffbr of heaven and earth, that they ;ht become rich; he fulfilled the law for them, c he might purcbafe to them life -and happi- nefs; he made himfelf a facrifice unto the death, that he might fatisfy offended juflice, and make reconciliation for them. O fuch a death ! fu cur;ed! io ihameful ! fo painful! and fo lingei- : shove all, he had the full weight of the wrath of God to bear, which ail the ftrength angels and men could not have endured : but he log Cod, he could not fall under it. O what ,ner of love is this! In effeft he did not care what he fullered ; let juftice charge home upon hi^ with all its rigour and feverity, ft rng he was to gain his point, and purchafe part ot-maokkid from Satan to himfelf, from fiu to holiuefs, from roifery to happinefs: fo that roan, however unworthy, bale, finful, and mi- lerabie, yet is the centre of his lover O ! how ill is he? He is mighty to fave, ahle to lave to the Utter mod; all the ftrong-holds of the foul cannot hold out a^ainft him ; his p is irreiiftibie, by this he cju do w!nt he and by his. love he will do what : and kithfut, that what he .octh ; he will not rctrad one promife that is goi;. of his mouth; neither will he fail in fulfil all his threateoioj Much might be faid of thefe things; but not h part of the \ i be toid \ K 3 ii 4 LETTERS. when we win to his houfe ab6ve, and fee him as he is, we will be alhamed of all our babblings about him. They that have been molt ravifhed with his love, and moil eloquent to fpeak fonh the praife of his comelinefs and properties, will fee that they have been but, at bed, babes learn- ing to fpeak. O what (hall I fay 1 he is the won! derful, matchlefs, and glorious ineftimable jewel, and incomparable pearl of price: O who would not choice him ! who would not give away them- selves to him ! Let man look thro' heaven and earth, and feek a portion where he will, he ihail Dot find the like of Chrifl. O then ! let us be alto- gether his, and nothing our own; our time let it be his, onr underflandlnglet it be his, our will let it be his, our affe&ions let them be his, the travel of our fouls let it be his, our flrergth let it be his, cur names, lives and enjoyments let them all be hk; let us be fully furrendered and entirely confecratcd unto him. This is a comprehenfive matter indeed. But what elfe Ihould we be taken up with, but with the improvement of this refignation, always J travelling through his properties, viewing the in as our riches, delighting to improve our intereft in him, by receiving from his hand what we \ need; and that he improve his intereft in us, by j doing with us, and taking from us, what he pleaf-, eth. Let us fee him, and obferve, and fay, What \ have we to do any wore with our idols. Oh ! that vanity ihould get fo much as one look fiom me. I think, he never took more pains upon any that I they might be emptied of all things befide him- ■ felf, and not have a will of their own, nor affec- tion to any other thing; and yet, ah! the bad entertainment he gets off my hand. I can nei- ther efteem him jnyfelf, nor commend him to ethers; , LETTER S. 115 ofeers; though my work be to trumpet aloud his praife, and be an under fuiter to gain the bride's confent to the lovely bridegroom, I can do nothing in it, and little can angeis do in it to any purpofe : Yet, I can tell this unto all, that my Mafter infinitely paffeth my commenda- tions; he is fo excellent, that it would but be an obicuring his excellency, for me to babble a- bouc it. O right honourable and dear friends, are ye not longing for the full enjoyment of him, looking- out for the breaking of the day, and the flying away of the fnadows, that ye may no more fee him darkly as through a glafs, but may behold him as he is, and enjoy him perfectly and con- ftantly? This, O this.' what a happinefs is this? and what fhall I fay more? for ye know n;ore of him than I can rell you; and all that I can {ay is bur, as it were, to bring you to remembrance, I think God on your behalf, that your zeal is heard of in many places: ye have become com- panions with us in our afflictions ; your fympathy with this perfecuted party is evident to us all, and we hear that we have a great room in your prayers. Man cannot repay your kindnefs 10 us, but I know ye look not to man in it, but do it out of love to the Lord, for ye have no outward encouragement to it. that the Lord who harh joined together, a few in Lnvarden, and a party in Scotland, in fuch onenefs of mind and affedion, may, when he returns to us again, join Scotland and Friejland in covenant together, to ferve the Lord their God. And ye, O beloved, grow in grace, and endure to the end. I doubt not but yc have laid your all at Ch rift's feet. take nothing back again: lie refolute in his cauie, and ji6 LETTERS. and valiant in his matters; when bis kingdom is fo low, let him want none of your help that is competent for you, and lie fhall help you; own him, and he will own you; (land with hira, and he will ftandXvith you, and make you victorious; whoever fhall fight againft you, ye ihall over- come: It is good lighting in Chrift's camp, for all his foldiers lhall certainly prevail. O look to your captain and his encouragements that ye faint not; I apprehend that ye meet with fore blows and bickerings; yea, I think, ye fcarcely want any conflict that we have, fave only that ye are rot as yet in fuch hazard of your lives: But, as nothing. more than this doth endear you unto us ; fo, no external condition will more draw oat God's heart towards you. Bur, this I will fay, be well refolved againft: whatever man can do unto you. I think, no Chriftian ought now to be fe- cure, the man of fia is plotting and (lengthen- ing his fosce.what he can, and he will not be content with part of Ch rift's kingdom, his aim is at all; he ftirs himfelf now (o faft in his faddle, that, I think, it is not long to his fall : Howe- ver, many lands may look for ftrange plagues ; though Britain and Ireland lhall be made the . center of his judgments) yet his indignation ihall not be contained within their limits: O judg- ments! fudden and fore wafteing judgments are coming on Britain and Ireland; Chrift mounted j on the red horfe of feverity will ride through the breadth and length of thir lands. The appear- ance of fome parties did fo fill me with temporal cxpedations, but they did not make iome change their thoughts. As they knew little of God's way, who looked for fuch good from fuch hands; fo I thought them fools who conje&ured, that a* lie- LETTERS. 117 1 delivery (liould come before a defolation. I fay : - again, be well refolved againft what man can do 1 unto you; for, there are no moe Christians than 1 there are martyrs in refolution and affeclion : The kingdom of heaven tnuft be taken by violence •, mid the violent take it by force ; and the moe and greater d.fficulties be in the way, a right fight of the kingdom makes the way the more plea- feat. O fear not difficulties ; for, many trials, that, when looked upon at a diftance, feem big, and mounting, yet when they and you meet, ye ftiall find them nothing. If I could commend a- ny thing befide Chrift, it would be the crofs of Chrift: Thefe things which make carnal onlook- ers think my condition hard and miserable, make me think it iweet and pleifant; I have found hazards, reproaches, contempt, wearinefs, cold, toight-wanderirigs, ftormy tempefls, and defarts fo defirable, that it is a greater difficulty to me, not to be ambitious of thefe things, than to tub- mit unto them. O rejoice in the crofs, for it is all paved. with love; the fewer that will bear ir, it is your greater honour to be friends to it. Follow Chrift with the crofs upon your backs, and let none elfe before you as your leader, for man is a poor fallible changeable creature; let it he your care not to fall upon the ftumbiing- •blccks cafl: in your way.' Wo to the world be- fciule ot oiTences: Though ye have your own (hare of the reviling* of this time, yet be not reproached with reproachers ; though the neis of others grieve you, yet let it not i and let zeal be accompanu befs, that ye may be uce from p judiec; and let metknefs be backed Willi that yc may be fret of lukewurmefs and n8 LETTERS. ferency ; let meeknefs be extended toward all perfons, and zeal againft al! fins; and if ye would not lofe your ground, be pofitive againft fin in the firft propofal and motion thereof; ye will not get it ilYifted by, and yourftrlves kept free of it by huting yourfelves, and not appearing freely again!!: it, though there may an unwillingneis ; unto it. I conceive, Aaron had no will to make the golden calf, and he thought to have put it out of the Ifraeiites minds, by biding them break off their golden ear-rings, and bring them unto him; but this fimple ihift would not do it, the faint of God is pitifully enfnared; and if he was fimple in oppofing that abomination, he got as filly an excufe for himfelf; it would not have been thought that a t:hild would have faid, there came out this calf. Now, commit your caufe unto the Lord, for judgment and righteoufnefs fhall yet meet toge- ther again upon the earth: He is interefted in his own work, and therefore he can neither for- get it nor forfske it; and fuch as wait for him mall never be put to fliamc. But, O long ami cry for his appearance, that he may right wrongs, and rule for himfelf and claim his own right of poffeffion ; that the promifed day may come, that this ih all be voiced along the heavens, The Kingdoms of the earth are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Chrift .• He is bufy in order to this; he is carrying on a diicovery of all forts of folk, enemies and others. I thought his dif- covery had been near through in Scotland before this, but he lets "me fee myfelf a fool for fo judg- ing; he fees many.things to be difcovered that jnan fees not : but happy are th?y who are fin- cere LETTERS. 119 cere and intire ; they need not fear, for ivben they are tried, they /hall come forth as gold. Now, as to our preient cafe, I wot not wcU what to fay anent it, there are fo many mercies and judgments in it to be fpoken of. God harh taken this laft year many from us, by baniihment, I aod by death on fcaffolds, efpeciallv on the fields, where none (for the moft part) were to fee them die, but the executioners ; and yet God fills up their rooms again : neither are thefe things per- mitred to damp fuch as are left. Some have, which is more fad, fallen off from us; and yet God is filling up their places alio, and making o- thers more fledfift ; and notwithstanding both of pcrfecutions and reproaches, the Lord hath opened doors for me in feveral places of Scotland, where there ufed to be no fuch accefs before, and hath multiplied my work fo upon my hand?, (I fpeak it to his praife) that I have obferved my work, I fay, to be now in fome lhires threefold, and, in fome, fourfold more than it was. O that God would fend forth labourers, there feems to be much ado in Scotland with them : Alfo, ic is almoft incredible, to tell what zeal, what ten- dernefs, what painfulnefs in duty, what circum- fpe&nefs of walk, in many young ones of ten, eleven, twelve and fourteen years of age, in many places of Scotland; which I look upon as one of the vifible and greateft tokens for good that we have. But, right honourable and dearly beloved, not to detain you further, I acknowledge myfelf your debtor while I live, for your many prayers put up for this poor diftrelfed church, whereof I kno.v I have had a lhare; for your fympathy and kiodnefs otherways maaifefted to us; for i2o LETTERS. your care of thai? family with you, wherein we are all concerned ; and particularly for your en- couraging, ftrengthning of, and kindncfs to my dear and worthy friend, our right honourable delegate. I blefs the Lord who hath given you zeal for himfelf, and hath helped you to {land with a poor defpifed party in making ftours for his intereft. 1 commend you to him, that he may make his rich grace abound in you ; that he may perfect what concerns you, and make you perfevere unto the end, and himfelf be your exceeding rich reward. I hope I need not de- fire you to pray for me. I am, Honourable and dearly beloved, Your obliged friend, and obedient fervant in the Lord, JAMES RENWICKJ LETTER XL. From the Rev. Mr. James Ren wick, to the^ honourable Mr. Robert Hamilton. . Honourable mid dear Sir, May 3 . 1 686. I Have feen your letter to your dear and wor-, thy fifters: as it fpeaks forth your forel bickerings and hot rencounters, it maketh mel fad; but again I rejoice that your lot is fquared* out fo like the cafe of rhe Lord's work this day. O though your travels be through many deep*, and the floods feem to be waxing upon you, yet whet, LETTERS. i2i ^when your feet (hall be eftablilhed upon Canaan's banks, you (hall forget die fame ; though now you be {landing in the fwellings of Jordan, yet thefe lhall away from you, and you ihall be lift- ed up, and be let before the throne of the Lamb of God cloathed With the robes of righteoufnefj, crowned with the crown of glory ; with the palm of vi&ory and triumph in your hand; with the fong of Mofes and of the Lamb in your mouth, finging hallelujahs for ever and ever. O what will you think of yourfeif then? what will you think of that pofture? Let your eyes be flill up- on thefe, and glory in your prefent tribulation; rejoice in your light affliction which is but for a nioment; count your antagonifts your greateft friends, for what are they doing by all the dorms they raife againft you, but contributing to the inafs of your glory? O fear them not, but keep your Captain-general upon your right hand, and then cry to them to (hoot their fill. I had writ- ten to your Honour far fooner, but as my work keepeth me bufy, fo much of it lies in the re- note corners of the land, as Gal!ovj/iy } Nitbf- dale, Anandale, &c. I have not been near £- dmbwgb fiuce the 16th of Oftober, 1685, and I have travelled fince through Clyde/dale, E/kdale, fome of the Forrefl, Annandale, fome of Gallaivay, Kyle and Cunningham ; and all thefe ways I exa- mined the focieties as I pafled through, fcveral other perfons coming to hear, and I found my work greater this lart journey than ever before; alfo in lower Cunningha»i, where there had ne- ver been any field-preachings, I got kindly ac- ceptance, and great multitudes came to hear; and I have had feveral cajls fioce from x\\it coun- trj.fide; fuch like have I found thro'g' Ren- L frrx* i2i LETTERS. frew. Moreover, the Lord hath wrought a great change upon the barony of Sanquhar, the pariih of Kirkconnel, and thefe dark corners; generally they come to hear the gofpel, and are quitting many of the defeclions of the time; yea, I may Jay (to the Lord's praifc) that our meetings were never fo numerous, and the work did never thrive more than fince man oppofed it Co much. As for Mr. Langlands and my agreeing, there is little appearance of it ; for I am where I was, and he is rather further off than nearer hand. As for difowning the Lanerk Declaration, I think, you look upon it as fo falfe, that I need fay nothing; and as for the minifters, they wot not what to do anent us, for, fo far as I can know, they can- not two of them agree (for the mod part) intent upon one thing. I heard of none of them com- ing forth to the country yet, but Mr. Lang- lands and Mr. Alcorn, and they travelled through fome of Kyle, through Carrick, and fome of the Shire of Gallovjay, and fome of Clyde/dale, and their preachings were kept, in a great meafure, ohfeure. And as for fuch as are gone off from us, they are the moft bitter againft us. Alexander Gordon went into the Bafs and Blacknefs with an information againft us, containing many charges, wherewith, I hear, the minifters of Edinburgh are difpleafed, he having done it without their advice : Howbeit, we have written about fix fheets of paper in anfwer to it, and we are to meet within two days about the concluding upon it; however we will do nothing in it ralhly, for every word in fuch a matter ought to be well weighed and confidered. But there are none gone off from us, but thefe who at that party's appearance in Summer, Vent off : alfo, we have bad LETTERS. i2 S had fome conference with foir.e of thefe, an ac- count whereof 1 (hall fend you with foine other papers. I have written a letter to the fweet fo- cieties at Lewarden, and will fend it with the reft of the papers, and fome other letters that I am to write: Moreover, I thought fit to acquaint you, that M. S. hath a purpofe to go over a- gain to Groningen ; I defire you may be concern- ed with it, and lay it out before the Lord. O dear Sir, cry, cry for labourers to God's vine- yard in Scotland, for I cannot exprefs how much need there is of them, great is the work that is here for them. If an honeft way of fending forth T. could be had, I would gladly have ic embraced, for I do not dread the young man, he is not of a dangerous fpirit; O lay it out before the Lord. Now, go on refolutely in the ftrength of our God, and regard not your oppofers. Hold faft what is right; but be not reviling unto a rcviler, Dor feeffing unto a fcoffer; let zeal and meeknefs be your companions, the one in your one hand, and the other in your other hand, and wait on the Lord, and he (hall give teflimony for you. Now, my love to the honourable fweet Ibcie- ty, your dear filler, and all the fweet family. I am, Honour die and dear Sir, Yours, as formerly, JAMES RENWICK. L 2 LET- :24 LETTERS. LETTER XLI. From the Rev. Air. James Renwkk, to the bo> nourabU Ladies Vac Hecrm. at Lewarden. May 8. 1686. Right hon. Ladier, dearly beloved in the Lord. Multiplied confufions, and not forgetfulnefs j of you, have fo long hindered my writing unto, you ; but being confident of your conftrud- ing favourably of me as to this, I ihall add no more for my own apology, and what elfe can I lay which ye know not? Ye have learned both from the Bible and experience, that the Chriiti- an's travel to the kingdom, is through much tri- bulation ; and I hope, ye have laid your account, for all that can come in your way: Our natures, would have the way fo fquared as we might travel without a rub, but it lieth thro'inany a rencounter* we would have it through a valley of rofes, but it lieth through a valley of tears; we would have it fo as to be travelled deeping, but it muft: be travelled waking, and watching, and fighting; we would have it to be travelled with laughing, Sue it muft be travelled with weeping. But what- ever folks do think, when great neceffity for, -nd advantage by every difficulty is feen, the e that they meet with, the way is the more aiant to the believers; and a fight of the re- ,: pence of reward maketh bold and refolute :o pafs through every oppofition: If they were pofiible, ten thoufand deaths, tea thoufand hells, would feem nothing to a foul, who gets a fight of thrift at the other fide of all theie. Chrift is LETTERS. 125 is precious, Chrift is your up-making. O what think ye of that noble exchange, to embrace Chrift entirely, and quit felf entirely? is not ! that receiving new wares for old? is not that a receiving of gold, yea, of gold more precious than the gold of Sbeba, and a quitting of dull more vile than the duft of the earth? O lovely foul that hath embraced lovely Chrift, rich and happy that hath embraced precious Chrift! but wo unto them that would divide him, and not take him in all his offices; for they have not yet learned him : Wo unto them that think that they have no need of Chrift ; for they know not themfelves : Wo to them that think they caa dole with him when they pleafe ; for they are ignorant of grace: Wo :o them that would have Chrift and their own fomething befide ; for they have neither loved nor conceived rightly of him : Wo to them that make excufe for their not fol- lowing of him; for they koQW not their foliy : Wo to tbem that will no: dofe with all the c. aud'the inconveniences that they may meet with I rift ; for they are rebellious fools that look only to the ccft, and not- to the advantages of religion; they fear at it, and give this anfwer to ChnfVs call, Hi? fayings are hard, and who bear them? but none do account fo of I/is yoke. but they who have not taken it on ; for it is eafv, and his burden is Light. And thefc who will not , believe his word for it, nor the cxperieiu many faints and martyrs, let tf^m take a trial of it themfelves, and if they get leave to weary-, lee them cait it off again: But, I am fu .was never one that fully engaged with him.Aat ever could find a heart to quit him again. O! that folks would not itacd at fuch a diftancc, ^ 3 i26 LETTER S. come near and take a view of him, and they would fee that which would inevitably win their hearts. There are two things at which I cannot wonder enough ; and thefe are, the invaluablenefs of Chrift, and the low value which the children of men put upon him ; Judas fold him for thirty pieces of illver, but many now a-days fell him for lefs; and though they could get ten thoufand worlds for him, they but make a mad and foolifh bargain, who would quit him for thefe! Yea, fuppofe that it were poffible that one perfon could pofTefs ten thoufand worlds, and that ever- iaftingly, they could not have, in the ufe thereof, fo much contentment by far, as the fmalleft part of Chrift can give; yea, one half hour's enjoy, ment of him would far furpafs all the fatisfadion in the fuppofed cafe. O then! what mud the eternal and full enjoyment of him be.* Now, dearly beloved, ye who have made choice cf Chrift, what think ye of your choice ? O ! ad- mire his excellency, and wonder at your own happinefs ; and bend all your love towards him, who hath made yon fo happy: feek to fhed a- broad the favour of his fweet ointments, by a holy and fpiritual walk ; and improve difpenfa- tions to his glory, and your own good ; and lean upon hira in your travel through the wildemefs; and though there be fiery ferpents and drought in it, yet folace yourfelves with his company,, who hath faid, that be will never leave you, mr forfake you. Regard not loffes, regard not re- proaches, for he is your exceeding rich reward. J doubt not but you meet with your own mea- fure of reproaches and contempt at the hands •f this generation, for the great kicduefs you have frown to z mounded and wrerged wreftfiug i* rt a LETTERS. 127 ) party in the furnace of affli&ion. But as this • doth endear our affeftions unto you lb much the more; fo, I hope, you are better fixed than i that fhould prove a ftumbling-block unto you. The parties that we have to contend with, dis- cover fo much of a fpirit of lying and prejudice, for the mod part of them, that none of tender- Defs, who know them, will be in great hazard to be taken away with them. I am confident God will (lain their pride, and faience their boaft. ing, and that in a fudden : I may fay, I am for- ry for what I lee coming upon them. But, Q worthy Ladies, kcep-yc near Gcd, and go on in your zeal, and perfift in your ftedfaftnefs, and in the clofe of the day ye (hall be made to re- joice. Now, I cannot exprefs how much we are o- bliged unto you, for your tender care of our fa- mily that is with you, and the great encourage- ment that ye are to our dear and honourable delegate : the Lord be your reward, and keep not back his hand from helping you in the time of your need. No more at the time, bat, taking my leave of you in the words of the Apoftle. 1 Cor. xvL 23, 24. The grace of our Lord Jefiu Chrift It with you. My love be with yon all in Chtijt Je ■ fits. I am, Right honourable Ladies, Ycur ajfurcd and obliged friend audfervant in our fwcct Lord, . JAMES REN WICK. ii8 LETTER S. LETTER XL1I. Trom the Rev. Mr. James Renwick, to the\ right honourable lady E. B. Right honourable Lady, May 13. 1686I D Early beloved in the Lord, my inefficiency being in part known ro me, doth make, me (land in awe ro write to you ; but if I had the tongue of the learned, and the pen of a ready writer, I would imploy them both in fpeaking well of the name of Chrift, and com- mending his way. O! his name is as ointment poured forth ; and wbofo gets a fmell thereof cannot but love him ; and his way is fo lovely,; thai a poor foul that once gets his foot upon it, and the eye looking forward, cannot but chufe to trade in thefe paths, though rubs and crofles from enemies, both from within and without, fhould be never fo multiplied : and no wonder, for when the children of God begin by grace to turn their backs upon their old lovers, and to- fhake off rheir weights, they get in hand the hundred-fold, ten thcufand times told, and are made to fay, as PfuL iv. 7. Thou haft put glad- nefs in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their ivine increafed. Many a time I think they can have no pleafant life who have not the Chriftian's life ; whatever the world think ; yet the believer gets that in time, which may fufficiently engage him to go through, if it x*ere poffible, a thoufand deaths in obedience to the Lord. O then! fince the imperfect and in- constant enjoyment of Chrift is fuch a thing, whaE LETTERS. 129 ?bat mud the fall and eternal enjoyment of him >e! Of this it may be faid, Eye hath not feen, tor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart f man to conceive, the things which God hath * prepared for them that love him. The believer annot but have a happy life, when they have our things which the fcripture calls precious, )iz. The precious redemption of the foul, a >recious faith, a precious Chrift, and precious iromifes ; and the redemption of the foul which s precious, is by a precious faith, laying hold )n a precious Chrift, held forth in precious pro- nifes. But when their happinefs ihall be com- peted, than faith fliall evaniihrn to fight, by the :ntire fulfilling of the promifes, and the foul be Irowned in the bottomlefs ocean of the love of >recious Chrift, and burfting up with love, con- iaually flaming toward him again. O what a ife mud a life of love be? and what inconceiv- ible joy will it yield? Chrift will rejoice over lis own fpoufe when he hath taken her home to lis own houfe, made with his own hand, and :lothes her with robes of his own making, and rntertains her with a banquet of his own dref- fing ; and the invitation-word of the giver of :hat banquet will be this, Song v. j. Eat, O r riends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, beloveds and that table will never be drawn, and the dain- ties will never wear taftclefs; for, as our Lord faith, Matth. xxvi. 29. the wine there is new y and it never groweih old ; end his fpouie's fto- mach will never fuffocate, nor her appetite be fatisfied ; fo, in heaven there is a continual eat- ing and drinking, and a continual hungering and thirfting; a continual rifting, end yet a never refting : Then ihall the fpoufe rejoice in her hufband : i 3 » LETTERS. huiband: all ber love (hall be bended towanl him, and her joy (hall arife from her enjoyirj him; her love (hall be full and conftant, not a<| mitring of intermiflions or variablenefs ; her jc full and perpetual, not admitting of defeft < changeablenefs: and that which is a great pa f of the Chriftian's exercife here, to wit, thc| doubting of Chrift's love, and their complainicj of coldrifenels of love to him again, fhall the! be wholly removed ; and inftead of grief, at leal mixtures of forrow with their joy, they (lull tbcl have inconceivable joy : And is not Chrift fulll enjoyed, a match to love, and a prize to rejoicl in? Now, long for this, and feek after the a| biding affurance of Chrift's love, and more awl more love-communications thereof in your heart! until you arrive at this; and feparate yourfell more and more from every unclean thing, thai cannot enter the gates of the city, where all thitl is to be enjoyed : and feeing fuch rich upmakingl is to be had in Chrift, efpecially feeing he is (3 worthy, regard not what you may be called to undergo in your owning of him. I hope ye have ftudied to let yourfelf, your name, your enjoy- ments, and your all, ly at Chrift's feet ; fo as] ye can fay of thefe, they are not your own ; andj the more ye do prove that they are his, by hbi calling for them, and making ufc of them, the more of his love be evidenceth towards yoo, 4 and the more honour he putteth upon you ; and^ I think, men and women are for no ufe, but W far as they are for Chrift : and whatever errands he calls you to run, fear not fkaith nor hazard, for it is he that rideth thefe ways upon you, and fo ye iliail not ftumble : for he hath promifed, PJaL exxi. 3. lie pall not fitffer' thy foQt to be tmued LETTERS. 131 gloved. Let the low ftate of the church of .cotland, and the dangerous cafe of the church .1 other lands, ly near your heart; for ah! we ,iay fay at this day, The hmife of David is taxing weaker and weaker, and the houfe of x aul waxing flronger and flronger. I fear a fad ;nd general ftroke before it be better with the hurches, for few are valiant for the truth upon Ihc earth; and nothing brings a church more pw, and a readier deftruftion upon a land, than LegardlefTnefs of Cbrift's matters, and filly and aameful flipping from them; and this is that 7hich hath occafioned our breaches, and bred Jl our divifions in this church : and becaufe fome four worthies in our day, who have gone be- ore us, have been honoured and helped to hold /hat our worthy fathers did conquer with their ■lood, and bind over upon us by holy covenants, nd we are endeavouring to do the fame, they nd we have been reproached as followers of lew ways; but wifdom ff?all be juftified of her bildren: and feeing our way-marks in the fcrip- ures, and our never to be forgotten reformation, ,nd the cloud of witneffes walking in the fame !>aths, we are not to regard much what mea ay ; but it were good for our reproachers to be bber, for a little time will filence their boati- ng, and make them change their thoughts, ?hen they lhall not get fpace to amend them* Now, dear and worthy Lady, I cannot ex- )refs my fenfe that I even have of the many obligations which we all ftand under unto you, or your bowels have not been (hut up, nor your lands fhortened towards us; for your benefice* :owards us in this land, and thefe of us who are uaongfhyou, have been large indeed;, but we are i 3 2 LETTERS. are nor (o refrefhed with what we enjoy thereby as that thefe things are demonftrations of youl Jove to God, and refped to his work. Ancf what further ihall I fay, but go on in the waj and ftrengthof the Lord; be watchful, diligent, and fpiritual ; grow in grace, and perfeverc therein to the end. The God of all peace be with you. I am. Right honourable Lady, Your affured friend, and obliged fervant in the Lord, JAMES RENWICK. :.: LETTER XLIII. : Fnm the Rev. Mr. James Renwick, to the ho- nourable Mr. Robert Hamilton. l\ Hon. and dear Sir, May 12. 1686. I Have written to you a brief account of our af- fairs in another letter, but I know not if it be away yet; howbeit, I hope, it ihall come to ; your hand; therefore, I (hall now be the more 1 ihort in what I have to fay. As for news, thej^ are not many amongft us: Only York hath writ- j ten to his parliament for a liberty to the Papifh, ( commending them, in his own way, very highly,.* as thefe who h*ve been faithful to the crown fcpon all hazards; fo the parliamentarians arc' confultipg about refcinding the penal ftatutes a- gtinfl Papifts, but are not like tntirely to agree i ►'. aboat LETTERS. i 33 \ ibout the fame ; however, they liave written * Dack, that they will yield fo far to his defire in ^f that, as their ccnfciences will allow; and have Difered a bond themfelves to oppofe all who may rife againft him upon any pretext whatfomever. But a great many folk are gaping for a diffention between the Popifn and Prelatic parties; which if it be, there will be an uncouth hotch-potch, for the moft part of old traders (to-wit Argyl^s par- ty) will ftrike in with the latter. Kerjland and Mr. Boyd Avere both of fome purpofe to go to Holland when I laft parted with them, but as to the time I am uncertain. In my other letter I (poke offending you fome papers; but now, the ftortnefs of time will not allow me to get them tranferibed, but I purpofe to do it afterwards. Alfo there is a rude draugh: of a vindication fix fneets long or thereabouts, drawn up chiefty by Mr. B. in anfwer to what charges are caft upon us; in which are many things very ufeful. However, as it is not likely to have pailage for the Llnnwg> I durft not pro- pofe it to friends that they ihould fend for it without being ftampt (f. e. Mr Linnhig's ordina- tion) but this is my humble advice unto you, •that if you can get it {lamped, and think d it will do good fervice, to tfTay it; snd if you have any except L the lumping of it, our merchants will no: prefs for it; but if you have no exceptions, hue only fears, which may fay fomething to yourfelf, but would not bear weight before men, then I would have thefe no more fpoken of than neceffitj calls for, and not • made mention of in the Lhmngi not being ftamped. Alfo, it will be fitter that you propofe to our merchatrts the fendiug for the - M *34 LETTERS, than I, hecaufe I am rather for wreftling under xl^ heavy burden, thrw to have an ill neighbour :f Some apprehend that I am for no help at all,! but it would be moft fit that the Linriwg (liould fpeak, and fignify to our merchants the cafe, and ib you and I both fhould come under the lefs iufpicion, for we have a flrange generation to deal with. And as for K. his carriage here, fo far as we can learn, he feems not to defign the introducing of other parties, for he neither fpeaks nor a&s in their favours; as for your Ho- nour, I can hear of nothing that he fpeaks againft. you, relative to Lhe public caufe ; but to fome he hath faid, that ye have not carried right towards their family : and as for Mr. Flint he is married by Tbo. Rujfel to one Mrs. Moor, who had been one with J. Gib. Now, to be free with you about your letter, it hath indeed gained the end of it, in clearing you of what ye were- charged with, and fatisfied friends as to that ; but many take it very ill; fome faying, that it hath too much bitternefs towards the antagonifts, and*adduceth perfoiial failings. And fome, tljac it infinuates too much of a commendatiop of yourfelf, hold- ing forth that you are almoft alone in all your afiions; and fome,' that it leemed to Hatter this party by too much commending of then}; but, for mine own part, I could take it all in good part, and not mifconftruft your intentions; but what you write to the whole, I would have you fo to write as to men, fome of whom may be your greatcft reproachers the next day, and fo • may bv feeking all imaginable advantages againft you. But let the world fay what they will, I mud fay this, and I fay it without vanity or flat- tcry, that a little of Robert Hamilton's -fpirit in fuch LETTERS. i 35 fnch a day as this, is very much worth. Alfo, I think fit to intimate unto you my purppfe cf re- ferring my teftimony; not that lam refilir from any article thereof, but that I would have the fame wiielier, and yet as plainly and free cxprefled, and more confirmed and corroborat- ed ; and alfo my mind anent fome other exi- gences and connoverfies inferted : Moreover, I know not a man uncter whole name and patrcci- ny I would commend it to following generati- ons, but to defpifed, and yet much honoured Robert Hamilton. Now, I ill a 1 1 fay no more; Only, take fuch a wife way with foreigners, as truth may get no lots, and they kept as much upon your fide as can be; for they come under another confideration than tjbefe that are under the fame bond of a covenant with ourfelves, and have the fame word of tefti- mony, and whofe profeffion imports not an oppo- fite parry, fuch as Independents, Anabaptifts, &r. So, Wortliy and dear Sir, go on in the name and ftrength of your God, and quit not your con- iidence, though probability be againft you, for it is a changeable rule; and thefe who win not to judge by another rule, I never look for ftedfafl- ueis at their hand; and wait upon the Lord, who will guide all matters aright, and brings tort!: advantage to his work out of every oppofitioDj and that, as univerfal as the oppofition hath been i } ray for him, who is, anifervarti in the Loj JAMES R CK. M 2 i 3 <) LETTER S. LETTER XLIV. From the Rev. Mr. James Renwick, to the ho iiourable Mr. Robert Hamilton. Hon. and dear Sir, Aug. 13. 1686. I Have not many news to write to you at this time ; yej . I .thought it. my duty to acquaint you with fom6?£ffing3. Our condition is in fome ineafure changed in this refpeft; the enemies for this year now have not been fo hotly purg- ing after us as they were ; whatever it may flow from upon the enemies part, whether from the Popiih party being fo bufied in their contrivance, and other grand perfecutors difcourred, or from fome other thing ; yet, we are to fee the Lord's refiraining hand in it, and that he flays his rough iv'md in the day of his eajl wind: We being fo taken up with other things, that, I think, it (hall be a plague to the generation in making them carnal and fecure. I have been for a feafon in England, where, by the good hand of the Lord, we kept oar Sabbath meeting-, all except one day, in the fields, without any diftnrbance, but upon our days of the week they were kept in the rngbt time. And in that land, I got lome dif- \zs of the Sectaries ; for at one preaching, where there were many Anabaptifts hearing be- ra^fe that I afierted the divhe right of infant- baptifm from Scripture, clearing the fame from the teftimony of fome ancient authors; they who hetore had feemed to have much love arjd affccli- oi?, would not afterwards carry civil ; and told ns that they had been always willing to do, and had LETTERS, 137 for Sottifli fufTerers, and that oilier 5 aiiniflers had not fallen upon fach heads. aq upcaft was a little troublefome unto me; y it I perceived, as alto I cxpreft, that their i\\ty to Scoitifo minifters and fufTerers had both done the minifters and themfelves ill, for it itopp'd the minifters mouths from declaring the counfel of God, and made tbemfetves lay weight upon fuch deeds, and look upon Scotti/h mini a? fo much obliged to them, that they behoved to ■re them: Butthislfay, that they that deal freely with them, will not get long their couniz- Dance. Howbeit, at ray coming away, one of them told me, that they were relolved to collet for me, but they were informed that I would no: accept thereof; whereupon I told, that were my friends that informed fo rightly, for 1 went not thither for neceffity, neither to theirs, but them: alfo, at the deiire of friends in Sci'tUfidy fome of us went* to converfe wit Prefoytenan minifter, whom we heard to be well d coward this party, and found him, a* *e a very humble tender man, 1 exercifed with that church's cafe, and afta formation, did agree with cw in the word of o*jr teftirnoiiy, only he was not fo itreight as to fome matters cf England as we would del : it is not to be thought ftrange of, cor.;' Lath none, either to go before in thefc things. I now fince we came to Scotland, I of thefe rail.. in different places it not tell of i : Cut fome of th< - i 3 3 BETTERS, through wiih as grofs flanders- as can be invent- ed ; for one thing they are faying, thru they can prove that I was with the Chancellor at Edinburgh; and they mod partly profefs, that irv their travels they are in a continual fear of us, that we deliver them up to the enemy. Now, What ihall I fay? Our cafe is fmgular; it is matter of great concernednefs, the Lord hath feen that our furnace by that inquifition and tor- ture of the common enemies, hath not been fearching enough, therefore he muft carve ano- ther kind of furnace to try us better: B!efTed are they who ihall come forth as gold. God mil a rife, and difpell thefe prefent mills and confj- fions, and let it be feen what great need there bath been of all that comes to pafs. O faith is- a brave interpreter of difpenfations, and never carries bad tidings. O dear Sir, you are called forth to fail thro* a raging and rough-fea, but truft to your pilot, and he will bring you to your harbour. O fear not, he will not let the waves overwhelm you, and the rougher the fea be, the fweeter will your harbour be. Think not (trange of that tumbling difpenfation fallen out with you, for God hath a mind to let a generation (tumble, whom he thinks worthy cf no other thing; it f peaks out anger towards us, but more anger to them that (tumble at it : God is taking pains to purify, refine, and purge us; and he fays he •will have a pure people in Scotland, elfe he Ihall have none at all : that difpenfation feems to be 4b immediately from Go '*i hand, that we ihculd fay, It is the Lord, let him do ivhatfeemetb him good .- and our fludy {hould be to make a right u(e of it. As LETTERS. 139 As for the papers you received frc; fern you them, ani left the&i uncWfed, that n his paflage he might let fome friends fee hem, efpecially that thefe at Newcaftle might .ee them. And I defire to know your thoughts of the reply to Mr. Robert Langlands's letter, which I wrote, moftly for the behoof of fome that feem to be godly and exercifed, whole affe&ions are towards us, but through variou3 informations are perplexed about fome of our matters: fo I laboured to take that way in it which I thought might be mod convincing, and for their advantage, without truths prejudice. And as to the vindication we are about, it is doc yet perfected ; neither in it will we do any thing raihlv; and friends have concluded, that you and I (hall fee it before it go forth. And concerning Mr. Boyd's bufinefs, friends (ex- cept a very few) were againft the giving him a rellificate for ordination, but yet did give it ; and the occafion of a faft >n his account, was to prevent difagreemen: that was like to be amongft friends anent his bufinefo And as for that affair concerning you and J. H. I blefs the Lord that he hath helped you to lay it afide. I ihiifk it is according to his will ; ar.d I hope you will have much peace in it. She was with us few day?, and was pretty free with us anent ieveral things, particularly the trials of their family, and tlu'ir being puzzled whether or not to come home to Scotland, if fo be their brother "would not ftay abroad; but I would not advife 1 to one thing nor another in that. As to your own coming home or (laying abroad, I apprehend that friends would eafiJy confent to your ftaying, cr yet call you home, but I can. not 140 LETTERS. not well advife ihem to citljer of ihefe, till ]| know upon what grounds to do it from yourfelfB 'Tis like that you and the family both will neceffitate through fhattenedneis id living inl th2t land to come home; but if it come to that,! I would have you acquainting me, that youl might be called, which may be a mean to ftopl the infuiting of many; or if it were better tol flay there, and if a little fupply from our haodl could keep you there, we would be content to give it. But man's malice is fo-much againft you, that I am afraid of you in flaying, and I am afraid of you in your voyage hither, and I am afraid of you in your being here: but if the Lord bring you home, I think you and I mufl not part, till the Lord by death, or fome fignal way, do it. Now, dear Sir, what fhall I fay t The Lord hath carved out your lot after a ftrange fort : O fludy to get good by all his difpenfations toward you, that you may bring forth the more fruir, for every branch that iearzth fruit, he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fniit. Let your burdens all ly upon the Lord, his back is ftrong enough. is not his alUfjfficiency your portion ? Are you not then rich enough ? and what can ycu want? O rejoice in reproaches, rejoice in ignominy, rejoice in wants, in perils, and in fuffeiings, for his name ; the more of that you are called to endure, .the more true honour is put upon you; and feek you the more to honour and glo- rify him: Figbt not 9{Taio(t the world with the world's weapon? of the flefli, war.- Pride, pai-ion, prejudice, lies, and contempt ; but let yours be the weapons of the^Tpirit, viz. Zeal, meeknefs, patience, and prayer to God, that he would ei- ther LETTERS. 141 ther pity them and heal thera, elfe draw them . out of the way. And whatever you write unto friends, write as unto men, who are for you to- day, and may be againfl: you to-morrow. Now, I pray that the Lord may be with you, and that poor and fweet family; that he may give ycu enlargement in your diltrefles; and when your forrows abound, he may make your confolation to fuperabound. My love to your dear and worthy fifter, the fweet children J. and R. the worthy ladies V. Heer. and any other of your flrengtheners in the Lord. I am, Honourable oil! dear Sir, Even as formerly, JAMES RENWICK. LETTER XLV. From the Rev. Mr. James Renwick, to the honourable Mr. Robert Hamilton. 1 Hon. and dear Sir, October 23. 1686. I Received your letters, they were very re- frelhing unto me. Your rencounters are fierce, and you {fond in the (lour; but I you look upon your condition rather to be en- vied than pitied O can you not fay, that the fat feaft of a peaceable conference', and the en- joyment of the light of the Lord's countenance, is the hundred fold, athoufnnd tin is forum 1 1. read tha; pfalm^ i 4 2 LETTERS. pfalm, and meditate upon it; and when you mind it, remember me, for it is a golden Scrip- tare unto me. What would you and 1 have more than that, The Lord reigneth, let us rejoice: Righteoufnefs and judgment are the habitation of his throne. But O who can take him up? who can behold his glory? Therefore htcz&tih clouds round about him .* let lis he glad becaiife of his Judgments. A fire goeih before him y to burn up his enemies. As to what you write about my teftimony, I am refrefhed ; yet' when I look back upon the frame that I was then in, I have much peace in my ingenuity, and though weakly, yet I think, it hath the right (late of the caufe in if, and I hope never to refile from it: Alfo, it, having your name, doth the more commend it ujvto me; and when I ill a 1 1 write (which I have been hitherto diverted from) it will be but an en- largement upon, and confirmation of the fore laid teftimony, with reafons, together \^th fome additions as to what hath fallen out fince; and for my changing my method in dealing with nts of children to be baptized, I declare ihem to be milin formers who have fo faid unto you ; for, thefe perfons that have complied with one thing or other, I do not admit them topre- fent their children, unlefs they have evidenced a right fenfe and pra&ical reformation, by (land- ing out the temptation unto thefe things they h#ive been chargeable with, and their engage- ment to give due fatisfa&ion when lawfully call- >r ; or elfe the atteltaticn of fome acquaint- their cafe, that in the judgment of charity, tjiey appear to be convinced of, and humbled for their fin, and their engagement to forbear their LETTERS. 143 their fin, and give fatisfa&ion in manner fore- faid. But when compilers and perfons guilty of defe&ion come, who have not as yet defifted from their orfenfive courfes, I do not let thera prefen: tf.eir children ; neither will or do I let other perfons pre'ent their children, left the pa- rents iiiouid be hardened in their fin thereby, unlefs they engage to forbear, and give fatisfac- tion as faid is ; and fome prove true and fome prove faJfe : Further, when the parents are guilty of very grofs compliance, even though they have given evidences of a right fenfe there of, I do not admit them, but another to prefeuc their children, for fear of reproach, albeit I might do it lawfully. iiut, dear Sir, my difficulty upon this head is cfien times very great, the different cafes of per- fons puts me fometimes to a nonplus. And this I think ftrange of, that now when the minifters are paifmg through the country, many perfons e- ven involved in the courfes of defection fcruple to tike their children unto them. But in anfwer to what you write concerning KeiJL I know him to be nothing the better of the company of fome, and I refolve that he (hall be dealt with, loth freely and tenderly at the next general meeting. And as for Mr. Boyd, I ufed freedom with him, in a line, before he went away; but the reports that I have heard of him fi-nce I faw him, have been both troublefome and difpleaiing unto me : 1 know not upon what grounds he cau exprefs his hope of union; for 1 fee no way as yet how it flu 11 be obuined in the Lord : yea, as matters now (land, I hold myfelf obliged to re- fent that information of his, for it puts fuch as • g forewar'd to (land dill ; and for mine owa i 4 4 LETTERS. own part, though I ftiould be left alone, and \ branded with Angularity, while they continue as I they are, I relolve not to unite, dum fpiritus bos t regit artus ; and there is little hope of their grow- 1 ing better : Neither will Mr. Boyd find that par- I ty amongft us, who are inclined to hear thefe, &c. I to ftrong as he expe&s ; but after pains for in- 1 formation and admonition, we fhall then lhow how we will carry towards them. And let mc be miftaken as men pleafe, this is my ftudy not to partake in other men's fins, neither to cover them ; but confidering the confufions of| this time, and the weaknefs of poor people, I hold it my duty to be a help and a prop, as I can, to thefe that are ftaggering, and to carry fo toward fuch as will go off, as their {tumbling neither in law, nor in my own confeience may be charged upon me : And this is like unto my Matter, who hath promifed tofave them that halt, and gather them tliat are driven out. As for the vindication which Mr. B. did let you fee, I need not fpeak any thing, for we have altered it, and fent untQ you a tranfeript of the prefent draught, which is not yet condescended upon, until you and our lbcieties fee it. So let it not trouble you, nei- ther the tettificate that was granted unto him; for though the moft part were diflatisfied with fome things in him, and had their jeaioufies a- cent him; yet confidering what he left behind him written with his own hand, and that he was not fully difcovered, they thought that they could not deny fuch a tettificate unto him; hut if he (hould make a bad ufe of it againft us, he will be a man moft ungrate, and will contra- dift what he hath left under his own hand a- Biongft us; and if fo, I wiih, it had never been granted LETTERS. 145 granted unto him. Your coufm Mrs. 7. £ with us Come days, and we were pretty free with her ; but you know, Hie is ordinarily referr- ed. As for what you wrote about the laying a- fide of that bufinefs, I blefs the Lord that he hath helped you unto it ; for many confiderations called for it. Now, Right honourable and comfortable Sir, I remit you to the bearer for news ainongft us; he can give you an account of my progrefs in England; and alfo of Colin's going to Ireland: But I think fit to fhew you, that at the laft cor- refpondence, friends judged it conveuient to fend one to Mr. Thomas Douglas to converfe with him, and know where he (lands; (which this bearer is rcfolved, according to their conclufion, to fet a- bout) When they afked my concurrence and con- fent, I anfwered that I could not aftively concur therewith; becaufe I knew not what to expert "by it ; yet I {hould not oppofe their (ending any of their number to confer with him ; for I thought the thing in itfelf could no* well be de- nied to them: And alfo, I am (with many) un- der the fufpicion, that I defire no help, though the perfons were never fo right; whereas, the Lord is my witnefs, it would be my greatefl: re- joicing this day, to have fome minifters to con- cur with me; for it would be a great advantage to the work, and a great eafe to me ; for, not- withftanding of all breakings, my buiinefs muN tiplies dill upon my hand, and people are more earneft now than ever I knew them after t!rc gofpel: O that the Lord would feud forth labour- ers. As for this/bcarcr, I am glad that' be hath come unto you, for he hath his own diffatirfadi- on he and I have had fome bicker- i 4 6 LETTERS. bickerings; but I do not know him to vent him-l felf to your prejudice : Alfo he is very honeft to- ward the caufe, and fingulafly ufeful ; therefore you may be free with, and tender of him, fori expcdt he will be free with you. Now, Dear and honourable Sir, being in hafte, cud alfo difturbed ycfternight from writing, by an alarm of the enemy, I (hall add no further; but defires to know your mind anent a particular, which is like to break u$ more than any thing that the minifters can do; and it is, the joining of children, fervants and others in the family- exercife of their parents, mafters and others who are compilers. Thus committing you, yoor fitter and the fweet family unto the Lord. I am, Honourable and dear Sir, Ever as formerly, JAMES RENWICK. LETTER XLVL From the Rev. Mr. James Renwick, to - Hon. and dear Sir, Jan. 10. 1687. I Received yours, and am greatly refrefhed with it, both in refpeft of its coming from you, and in refpedt of the drain of it; for I perceive in it a zeal for the right carrying of the ark of God through- this howling wildernefs: it would be matter of my joy to obferve this fpirit in any who beareth the ark, and in all who profefs to follow it; forLam perfuaded, that the wrong way of LETTERS. 147 of bearing and handling the ark, will keep ir le- er in the wildernefs, but will never carry it thr £ verity thereof ; who afre: and free communing with the faid Mr. David a- nent all the heads of our prefent teftimony, ceived great fatisfaclion ; who al fignified 10 them his resolution of coming unto us. * before we lent any ur.ro him again, we did CC vocate all our friends who had been livifig al time in Ireland, and now come over to us, thac we might inform ourfelvet: anent what they knew of the faid Mr. David, who could not relate any difference in his principles from us, but gave in fome accufation againft him which they had ! by report, and were all perfonalia : ac- Cufationa were drawn up and delivered to 'James Boyle, who was lent to Ireland to > icy or faifehood of every one of thele things in- ftrudted, and finding them to be" but calumnfea^ to conduft the forefaid Mr. DavM to ord- g :o his own rcibhuion. So the faid James lay- ing out fcarch for information anent thefe re- . s, tonfciring with fome of Mr. . i 5 o .LETTERS. cufers, bringing him and feme of them face to J face ; likewife conferring with fome of his neigh- 7 *jurs and ordinary hearers, and finding noj ground for the forefaid accufations, did conduAj Mr. David unto us, that we might fatisfy our-l felves anent him in a free communing with I Limfelf. Wherefore, Mr. David came to our laft gene- ral meeting, which was upon December 22. 1686. being accompanied with one James Kinlocb, who was particularly fent by fome focieties in Ireland to our correfpondence, and who alfo teftified be- fore us all for Mr. David's honefly and inno- cency of the forefaid allcdgances, after which,. ■we did read over in Mr. D'avid'h hearing, the in- troduction to our vindication, wherein are fum-« raarily comprehended fome fignal fteps of our churches defe&ion, and a brief declaration of our prefent teftimony, both as to what we own and difown, together with the fifth head of the fame vindication, containing (among other things) *en grounds, every one of which, we judge fof- iicient for withdrawing from minifters of this co- venanted and reformed church, la whom they are applicable in this broken and declining x4ate:. and then we afted Mr. David's judgment of what he had heard, and whether or no he was of one mind with us as to every part of our prefent tefti- mony. To which he replied, that as to fome matters of faft he was ignorant, but he agiv Vuh our judgment and principles in all that he had heard, adding, that it was foretold by La~ ther, That before Chrift's glorious appearance for his church in the laft days, the controverfy ihonld be flared and rid about miniftry and ma- giitracy. So Mr. David being defircd tc remove, v;e LETTERS, i 5 f we gave in our minds about his anfwer, and it was lbftainjrd as iatisfying in that point. After this, we confulted among ourfclves what was fur- ther neceffary to deiire for our further fatisfafti- ©n anent him ; and having heard from himieif, that he had fome papers with him which could tend to our information and clearing, concerning his carriage for many years ; we called him to us again, and defired to bear thefe papers. Sd, there was read in our hearing, firft his licence, then his ordination, which was to the parifh of Straftrie, a lirtle before the Reftoration. Next (.as I remember) a paper which he had drawn up himieif, and given to the minifters in Ireland, containing his reafons wherefore he would net be fubordinate unto, nor concur with them, where- of their eppefition to the fufferirig party in Scot- land was one. Afterward were read fome leftiiir cates, from the people in the refpe&ive places in Ireland, where he ha i exercifed his miniftry^ fome whereof being cf a very late daie, and one of them bearing, that they had been greatly re- medied and edified with his preaching the gofpel amongft them ;, but that he had denied them o-« ther privileges for reafons fatisfying to himieif % by which he declared, they "understood his refuf- ing to baptize their children, becaufe of their paying exactions to the enemy, and this we look- ed upon as the greater tefcimony. Further, we enquired how long he had kept a meeiing-houfe in Ireland, and upon what terms; and dccU:xd the terms of his holding were not finful ; for he was fettled by the minifters upon the call of the people; and whenfoever he knew of any tranf- aftion of the faid minillers with the lb called inagiftrate, that he foriook hi? nk<. uufc, and i 5 2 LETTERS and refuted fubordination to tbefe mifiiftersi tohtch was a little zher Bothwel. Mfneover, he declared, and jfa*;.^/ Kinloch wftnefled the fame, that at the incoming of the aiTociators, Anno 1685, he gave a plain and public teftimony againft that ho; b confederacy. Now, Mr. David be- ing deiired to remove again, we communed to- gether anent what we had heard from his papers and frpm his own mouth, and found a great meafure of fatlsfadion therefrom. Howbeit, to remove fcruples yet further, we called him again to us, and dealt freely with him in telling him what was reported, byfome, of him, defiring to hear what he would fay to thefe things himlelf. All which alledgances he heard very patiently, and anfwered to them one by one, as they were given in, very pleafantly, and gave very demon- ftrating evidences of his innocency. Now, from all the forefaids, we being in fuch a meafure fatisfied in c^r consciences, concern- ing the faid Mr* David; our focieiies do both call htm, and hear him preach for further trial, whereunto I gave my confent, feeing no reafon •wherefore I could deny it. But he is not as yet fettled amongft ifs as our minifter by a formal and a folenin call for that effeft. Howbeit, for the tittie, I know not of any ground that will be for excepting againft it ; for I hear that he preaches very zealoufly and faithfully whither he goes, and carries ftriftly in adminiftering the facrament of baptifm. And for mine own pait, from his expreffing himfelf at our correfpondence ; I thought he feemed to have the right ftste of the caufe, to have a right imprcflion of the csfe of the church, to be tender-hearted and zealous in the frame of His fpirit, particularly for the loyalties LETTERS. 153 royalties of Chrifc, and againft the idol cf the Lord's jealoufy, the eccleiiaftic fupremacy and civil tyranny. As for our carriage towards the forefaid Mr. Alexander Shields, lie having by the providence of God made hisefcape outof prifon, after a lit- tle fpace of time (without feeking after any party of minifters againft whom we have exceptions) came to the country, unto this contending and fuffering party. And at length, upon the 5th of December 1686, came to a meeting which we had in Galloway, in the Wcod of Earlflon, for preaching; and (o going alongfl with me from thence, upon the day following, I told him, al- beit I had fome fatisfa&ion concerning him from what I had feen under his own hand, and albeit I expected more by further converfe with him; yet I thought it mod rational in itfelf, mod con- ducing to the prefervation of union amongft us, and alfo according to the conclufion of our gene- ral meeting, viz. that nothing which concerns the whole Ihould be done without acquainting them therewith ; that the forefaid Mr. Alex- ander fhould not be employed in the public work until he came to the general correfpond- ence, that all might be faiisfied a dent bid 1 which he did take very well, and defired us to take that method with him which we would do with any backflidden minifler, if God fhould touch his heart and bring him out from his defections 1 to the public work. Howbeir, wc though: 6t to employ him fometimes to go about family cxrr- , not feeing any reafon why this ihould be born, for thereby we might attain to more nt him. And indeed, in a certain e fame neighbours (a? is ordinary) i 34 LETTERS. were gathered unto the worfhip, I was greatly refreQied with what he (pake from Rom. xii. 12. efpecially with what he had in prayer, with a heavy lamentation to this purpoie; " I cannot u longer contain, but I muft confefs unto the €i Lord before this people, I am aihamed to of- " fer my body a living facrifice to thee, yet I " muft do it; for I a prifoner and a preacher, •' might have been a martyr, and in glory with " thee and thy glorified martyrs above ; but 41 I iinfully and ihamefully faved my life with " difovvning thy friends and owning thy e- u nemies; and it wiil be a wonder if ever thou " put fuch a honourable opportunity in my hand " again." And very feldom did be go about ex- ercife, but either in prayer, or in fpeaking from the fcripture, he brake forth into heavy lamen- tations, confeffing particularly his defections. So, the time of our general meeting coming, which 1 was December 22. as faid is, the forefaid Mr. Alexander came to the lame ; and we did read o- ver in his hearing (he being prefent with Mr. David) the introduction to our vindication, wherein are comprehended fome fpecial fteps of j our church's defection, and a brief declaration of our prefent teftimony, both as to what we own and difown ; together with the fifth head of the fame vindication, containing, among other things, ten grounds, every one of which we judge fuffi- cient for withdrawing from minifters of this co- venanted and reformed church to whom they are applicable, in this broken and declining ftate. And then we afced Mr. Alexander's judgment- concerning what he had heard, and whether or i/o he was ofbne mind with us as to every part of our prefent teftimony. To which he replied, that LETTERS. 155 that he agreed cordially with us in all that he had heard, and particularly in the forefaid ten grounds, judging every one of them to bear a iolidity and fufficiency in point of withdrawing. But, faid he, there are fome things there tefti- fied againft, whereof I am guilty ; and I will take 2 little time to unbofom m.yfelf unto you anenc the fame. So he began his confeffion with fome pre-occupying cautions; defiring that none might think he was moved to what he wa3 now about to do, from the affe&ation of applaufe from any man, or, that he might be in with a party (for he knew he would not want alluring imployments it he had freedom to embrace it) but only that he might give God the glory, vindicate the caufe, exonour his own confcicnce, and iatisfy orfended brethren: Intimating alfo, that he look ed not upon the focieties as competent for handling ecclefiaftic matters, and that he knew, they did not aflume the fame unto themfelves, though they were falfely branded therewith : Yet he held himfelf bound in duty, to declare with forrow before them, wherein he had denied any part of the teftimony which they did own. Then he proceeded to the particulars of his confeflion, and acknowledged > J. That he had involved himfelf in the guilt of owning the (fo called) authority of James VII. lhewing an exceeding finfulnefb in it, and taking lharae unto himfelf. 2. He acknowledged himfelf guilty of taking the oath of Abjuration, and of relapfing into the fame iniquity; the finfulnefs whereof he held out at a great length, making it appear, that by that oath many orthodox principles which con- cern us greatly to contend for, are objured. He de- j 5 6 LETTERS, declared the occafion of his being inveigled in thefe tranfgreflions, was, the entering into an accommodation with the enemy ; for he could propofe nothing unto them but they ftill addsd and yielded to it, until they got him a filly fifh catched in their angle. Howbeit, hereby (as he faid) he did not extenuate or excufe his fin, for, albeit he had as much to lay for hirafelf as any man could have, who had declared in fuch a meafure, yet he would neither ftifiie his own con- fcience, nor blind the eyes of others; where- fore, he ihewed both the fin and danger of en- tering upon any accommodation whatfoever with the enemy. Now, he fpoke largely to all thefe particulars, difcovering fuch hainous and manifold fin there- in, that, 1 think, none could have done it, un- lets they had known the terrors of the Lord : Shewing alfo the aggravations thereof, defiring every one talook upon their fin with the aggra- vating circumflances they can fee in it*: And he exprefled fo much fenfe and ingenuity, that none, I think, could require more of him, and I . know not who would not have been fatisfied as to the forefaids, who had heard him exprels hitn- iclf fo fully, fo plainly, fo freely, and with (o much fenfe, grief, and felf-con'demning; and I thought it both lingular and promiling, to fee a clergy-man come forth with fuch a confeflion of his own defe&ions, when fo few of that fet are feen in our age to be honoured with the like. So Mr. Alexander being defired to remove, . we communed together about what we heard, and alldeelared, they found themfelves fatisfied *s to the forefaids. After this, it was confulted amongft us, what was neccflary to deiire for our , further LETTERS. t S7 further fatisfa&ion anent him ; and we judged it expedient to enquire how and by whom he was licenfed to preach ; whereupon, I having confer- red with him before thereanent, gave a brief ac- count thereof; and fignified that a confiderable | while ago, I faw it under his own hand, that if i the bnfinefs of his licence were to be done yet, he would neither take it from fuch perfons, nei- ther would they give it him ; and that of late he had faid unto myfelf, that he knew not one ef thefe who had granted it, that now he could concur with. However, we thought it conveni- ent to call himfelf, that he might give an ac- count thereof before us all ; which he did, Plow- ing that he went to London with an intention to -be an amacuenfis to Owen, or fome of their great 'do&ors, who were writing books for the prefs, and had a letter of recommendation to one Mr. Blaekie, a Scottifo minifter, who tryfted him to fpeak with him a certain feafon, and had fevcral minifters convened, unknown to Mr. Alexander, and did prefs and enjoin him to take licence; fo,. he being carried unto it in that fudden and fur- pi ifing way, he accepted it from the hands of iiunifters then at London, but without any impofiribns or finful refcri&ions. However, a little after, the oath of allegiance becoming the trial of that place, the forefaid Mr. Alexander (ludied, as he had occafion in preaching, plainly and fatisfyingly to difcovcr the fin of it ; which was fo ill taken by the minifters by whom he was licenced, that they threatened and fought to (lop his mouth, but he refufed to fubmit unto inem. Now, £o this very purpofe was tie relation that Mr. Alexander himfelf gave. So, confider- lug what is before related, the (ocieties for O rhcoi- j 5 8* LETTERS. themfelves, and I, with the concurrence of {brae elders then prefent, did call him to officiate in preaching the word to the fuffering remnant of this, church. Wherefore, upon the Sabbath fol- lowing he aod I did preach together, he having his text 2 Cor. v. m; in thefe words in the for- mer part of the verfe, viz. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we perfnade men. In • which preaching, I may fay, he particularly af- fcrted every part of our prefent teftimony, btftfai as to non-compliance with enemies, non-concur- renee with defective parties, and difowning the pretended authority of James VII. ; and alio doc- trinally confefled his own particular defections; and cryed out, that knowing the terror of the Lord in thefe things, he perfuaded men. And having appointed a fad upon the Tlntrfday fol- lowing, I briefly drew up about the number of. forty four caufes of humiliation, omitting no. piece of defe&ion of old or of late, tbat-I knew . or could remember, which caufes he cordially agreed with, and exprefled the fame publicly in* his preaching before the congregation, declaring every one of them to be a great caufe of humilia- tion ; and confefled again hisowndefe&ions, hold- ing forth the fin thereof to be very hainous, witk much forrow and regrete. So I find Mr. Alexander to be one with us in our prefent teftimony. ; I look wpon him as having the zeal of God in his fpirit, and the poor remnant have much of his heart;, and I think, the Lord is with him, and he can- Bot be challenged as deficient in the application of his do&rine ; and, for mine own part* I have been refrelhed with hearing of him, and have teen animated to zeal by his preaching and difc «ourfe, . ; . ■ t But; LETTERS. 159 • But there was a certain offence given by fome, wherein Mr, Alexander was a partaker, and wherewith I was dhTatisfied, and that was their deferring of the teftimony which fome eminent worthies at Utrecht keep- up againft>Ir. jF/w«wg minifter to the Scottifh congregation at Rotter- dam, in withdrawing from him for his manifeft fcandal; which teftimony I cordially (as hereto- fore) agree with, and look upon it (according as I know) as the firft clear Rating of our teftimo- ny in our latter times, againft the daubers and plaifterers of defc&icn. Wherefore I did fpeak with Mr. Alexander anent the fame, who knows my mind well enough in that affair, and exprefled my d ; Tatisfa6tion, and apprehended him to be fcnfible of the evils of that breach : And as we were occafionally fpeaking of it at another time, Ye called their withdrawing, their teftimony a- gainft Mr. Fleming. Kowbeit, confide ring I Alexander's partaking in the forefaid offence be- 1 )Dg very little here known in Scotland, and (o, 1 they not being the perfons offended, cODfideriog his giving a practical teftimony in that affair, by discountenancing the forefaid congregation, fuch time lince that he hath been in Holland-, confi- dering his prefent ftri&nefs, and cordial agree- ment with us in all our prefent controvert and not knowing how to manage that affair to the edification of the focieties ; 1 fay, upon thefe and foch confiderations it was not brought before the general correfpondence. Now, Right honourable and dear Sir, I given you a true and full account of our car; ward Mr.AUx \ and if you v. with him now, J exu would fay as much for him as I have iYid, for he doth uot clan O 2 mids- i6o LETTERS. mids-man betwixt us and other parties, or on< who endeavours to obfeure and caft dirt upon on: contendings, to juftle us off our feet and perveT us from the right ways of the Lord, but hath tak en the defence of every part of our prefent tefti- inony. And when I was telling him in difcourfc that the famous Mr. Cameron had faid in a fermon, that the Sanquhar declaration would fhake the throne of Britain', Mr. Alexander replied, Yea, and the thrones of the kingdoms through the world : And he hath a high efteem of the Shieenu ferry Papers, and exprefled his diflatisfatfhon that they were not more valued* All which fpoke forth his zeal and cordial agreement with the ho- ueft ftate of the caufe; and in hearing whereof I was not a little refrelhed. I think, the Lord hath (uffered him to fall into the hands of ene- mies and fall before them, for laying him low ia humility, and raifing him up in zeal; fo, what- ever come to pafs afterward, in the mean time> I am made to look upon both Mr. David and his coming forth in fuch a manner, as a mercy to the poor church of Scotland, and it hath been * mean to wipe away fome of our reproach from among men, and to put fome dafti upon the con- fidence of our oppofers, who, for ought I can. hear, do look upon them both, as upon thefe whom they judge mofl obftinate among us. How. beit, (mi -pater) I fliall be glad to have your thoughts anent what I have written, for I do re- verence you and your judgment as much as ever* Right honourable and comfortable Sir, I kno^r your bickerings are hot, and your rencounters fierce, and thefe multiplied upon you: You are hated and defpil'ed of men for your faithfulcefs and jealoufy for your God. Yea, I am in great fear LETTER S. i6x fear of your being in continual hazard of your life from Scotti/h men, or thro' their iniiigation ; the confederation of all which fills my heart with for- w, when it comes before me, and fometimes •vs water from mine eyes. But again, v*\. fl remember what a fat feaft- you have of peace of conscience and joy in the Lord, together with ' what ye have -in hope, I am made to rejoice in : the miJfc of my forrow, and to account you a bleffird man. O go on in the ftrength of the Lord; fear not the amichriftian enemie?, nor 10 are fallen in among the limbs of the Grace is fumcient for you, victory is certain, and the prize waits for you. . Now, I leave the work upon him, upon wfcofc fhouldcrs the government is laid. I ara ap~ bcnfive that the dark hour is now near hand, which will come upon the church before Chrift'? glorious appearance .in the latt dzyz ; but he w]Il r;fc and make, a difcufiion of his enemies, and r/ho endureth to the end ihali be faved. I im 9 Right honourable, . Yoiirs as formerly, JAMES RENWIL P. S: I am fometimcs very much e&rcifc cd in my thoughts about your coming to S land, but, conlidering what ftrange things i come out of it, ai>d what hazard you will r I dare not be peremptorin defiring you, kihl fee a weighty and" urgent call unco ;t; but if matters be i'o with you, as to determine pofitive- me know, and a handful will call y O 3 # wh£» 102 L L 1 1 £ R 5. who will be your brethren and fervacts in tribe! ^ lation for ChrifL JAMES RENWICICl LETTER XLVI1L From the Rei\ Mr. James Ren wick, to tfx ho- nourable the Laird of Earlfton. Hon. and dear Sir > Jan. 27. 1687. I Have not been forgetful of you, though I have long delayed to write, and the real oc- cafion of my fo long delay was, the throng of bufinefs, (for having fo much to do, I being in continual travel) together with a defigned for- bearance, until I had this courfe finiihed in Gal* ioway, that I might give yon an account of the prefect cafe of this coentry. I had great accefs in it to preach the gofpel, the Lord wonderfully reftraiaing enemies, and drawing out very many to hear, and moving them to give great outward encouragemenr. We kept thirteen field-meet- ings, whereof four were in the day-light; and I ftudicd pubHckly to declare and affert in its own place, every part of our prefent teftimony. W5c Ivad alfo nine meetings foV examinatiou ol the lo- cieties, calling the mod adjacent together into one meeting tor that efft&: And I hope, tfarqugb the Lord's blefiing, that that fmall piece of ia- bour Ihall not want its frait. But upon the other hand, I meet with no fm*U oppolition \uGallo* ivay, I went to that (hire, and preached there; a great many were vexed, and did their ourmoii LETTERS. -163 to oppofe it : and when I came to Kirkmabreak, there came two men and gave me a paper, fub- fcribed by one in Carrick, in name of all therein between Cree and Dee, and alfo in name of the whole ; which paper overturns many noble pieces of our reformation, calling hearing of curares, paying of cefs, and fwearing the abjuration oath debateable principles, and above their capacity to determine, and bears a viperous protefhtion a- gainft my preaching, befidcs many other abfur- ditics in it: Which when I read, I gave my ani- madverfions upon it before the two men : And "upon the Thnrfday following, we keeping a pub- lie day meeting in the fields, between Cree and Dee, I thought tit after lecture, which was upon the 'xv.Pfalm, andfermon, which was upon5o;(g-ii.2. 10 read over the paper before the multitude, that I might let them know what was done in their names, giving my own animadverfions upon the fame, and exhorting them, if any fuch w£re there, who had given their countenance and concurrence to it, that they would fpeedily with forrow draw back their hand from Juch an iniqui- ty ; and thefe who were free to' take their pro- leftation before the Lord that they vrere in- K Docent, and did refent the doing of fuch a deed in their name: and withal warning them of the dangeroufnefs of that courfe, and fpirit of that party* Likewiie, v. hen I came to Irongray, Cornice came unto me,- and before fome ie.v, Xvho were meeting for examination, and fome others who accompui/ied me in my travels, took inftruments agaiuft: me, and againfl my entering into Irongray ; whereupon 1 gave fome weighty reafons, wherefore I could not look upon his as the deed of a faithful elder in that parilh, and i6 4 LETTERS. and cleared fome controverted points of our teftt- mony. But he was Co drunk either with wine*, op with the fury of the Lord, or with both, that he could hear nothing, and anfwer with nothing, but with clamour and crying,(the depths of Satan !)that I had deflroyed the church, and that the minifters had a lible drawn up againft me ; whereupon I, declaring that none of thefe things did terrify me, and that this was the work of the Lord, and that I was refolved, in his ftrength, to go on in it, while my breath governed my joints, and en- joined filence upon him. But, I think,by (uch an attempt that he hath done no fkaith either ta the work or to the owners of it. Now, Right honourable Sir, you fee fome of tny conflicts. I blefs the Lord, none of thefe things terrify me : I think, they are very pufiU laniinous, who would not find iuch hot bicker- ings a mean, to ding a fpirit in them. O, that we might be fuch as we might fay,. Ifa. viii. p. 10. Ajfociate your [elves, ye people, and ye /hall be broken in pieces: — gird your felves, and ye flail he broken in pieces. Take counfel together, and is flail come to nought ; [peak the ivord, and it flail not jland ; for God is with ui. But further, as to the focieties in Gallovjay ; there are fome of them fimple, whom we have much ado to keep right, do what we can: But there are. fome o- thers, both in Glenkers and other places, whom I look upon as bows of fteel in the Lord's hand ; and who, I hope, through his grace ihall abide in ftrength. Now, Right noble and dear Sir, I hope not to forger you, but to mind your cafe in my weak,* addrefles to the Lord ; I may fay, you are very olkn brought before me; and next to my owm> cafe LETTERS. 165 cafe, and the church's cafe, the cafe of you and your family, they abroad, and they at home, do ly upon my heart. Ly near the Lord and wait opon him ; who knoweth what the Lord may do with you, and for you ; he may be humbling and polifhing you for fome great piece of work. As to our way at our lad meeting with Mr. David Houfton and Mr. Alexander Shields, you will fee it in the letter directed to your worthy brother, to whom I defire you may fend this, and the o- ther directed for yourfelf, for his information, at leaft fo much extracted out of this, as you think fit, becaufe I cannot have*time to write anent the fame things unto him. I commend you to your God, and am, Your Honour's obliged friend, *nd ferwnt in the Lord, JAMES RENWrCK. LETTER XLIX. Train the Rev. Mr. James Renwitk, to the t Reverend Mr. Jacob Rgolinan, ndti tf the gofpel in Holland. April 4. 1637. Right Reverend and beloved bother , I Received your letter in Latin, but knowing that you are well verfed in the Engli/b t I Deed not write back to you in that lame lan- I beg your excufe, for !b long delay of an :.i66 L E T T E R . S. ap anfwer ; for, as : it was a confiderable fpace ot time after the date of your letter, ere it came te Eiy hapd; fo, fince I received it, I have beea in fuch a roeafure. bulled with weighty work and exceflive travel, that fcarcely could I borrow one hour from the one or from the other^ I thankfully accept of your miaifterial, friends ly and brotherly advice unto uniom So far as i can fee into my heart (but a man cannot fee fai into a milflone) I am. as much for a right quali- £ed union as any, and looks upon that as good and pleafant, as PfaL exxxiii. i.: But, the union which is had without truth and holinefs, lean call no other thing but a confpiracy ; fuch as was found among the men of Judah, Jer. xi. 9. and the bets oiJenifalem y Ezek. xxii. 25. I cannot unite, where I muft therfehy harden the hearts and ftrengthen the hands of fuch as are engaged in, and carrying on a courfe of defection and backfliding from the Lord; and fo partake of their &ns, and render myfelf obnoxious to their plagues. I. cannot unite, where I cannot exped the propagating the words of Chrifl's patience, depofited to trs at this time to contend and.fuffef for. In reference to both cafes, in regulating my carriage toward minifters of this organic! church in this her broken and declining (late, I defire to mind what is given in command to J?4 remiah, Chap. xv. 1 9. Let them reiurn unto tbee,i but return not thou unto them, Jmuft not divide 1 from the Head,, to unite with any profef&d memi bers. Eat minifters, even of this church, who 1 are clothed with Chrift's cotnrniilion, who are: free or cenfurable perfonal fcandal, who do owoj and maintain this church's te.ftimony, and who j cither h: v ve kept free of the pal d glorious in boiinefs, fearful in praifes, doing ders i We are rebels and out-laws, we are loft and undone for ever; but he hath made a cove- nant with us, and given himfelf a ranfom: this covenant is everlafting, ivell ordered in nil things aidfure: It hath all fulnefs in it, for the mat- ter ; all wifdoro, for the manner; all conde- scendence, in the terms: it is moft engaging in its end, being made to bring about the peace and falvation of tinners ; and it is moft necefTafy, for there is no journeying to heaven without ir, This then is the chariot that will carry us into th'e joy and reft of our Lord ; this is the charioc wherein his glory, and oar good, ride triumph- atuly together; for it is made for himfelf and the daughters of Jerufalem* this is the chario: ihat h&tfl the pillars of Jiher y the bottom of gold , \ering of purple , and the midfi of i: paved vj'uh iovc. O what a pavement is there I w&at lining and fluffing is there ! O happy are ih'ey who are tiken up into this chariot ! They Upon love, they fit upon love, they ly upon love, and if they fall, they fall foft, for they hll upon love. Tliefe who are without, may fee fome- what of its glifteringand beauty, yet no'\ know the heart and the bowels of ir, am love rhat is there, but thefe that are wirhin. CJ' £>:r ; can you not 174 LETTERS. King into this glorious piece of lis workman- ihip? Then why fliould you fear? though Satan and his inftrucnents compafs you about, and flioot at you upon all hands, yet you are welt guarded; you are not only riding with the King in his chariot, bat lying with him in his bed, which hath about threefcore valiant men, of the va- liant of Ifrael, (landing well appointed, and in a ready pofture, for your defence ; the angels and the attributes of God are a good and fure defence : and however you are furrounded with tne world's malice and hatred, his love is ftil! about you, and always next unto you. O ad- vance with that princely difpofuion and carriage lhat becometh one of fo royal a defcent, being a fon of the great King, the Almighty Lord God, by your adoption and regeneration. O fear not what the worms of the earth can do unto you, they are his poor, chained, weak treaties ; let thembecouoted as alhes under the foles of your feet ; your caufe is glorious, your leader gracious, your viflory certain, your re- ward fure, and you» triumph everlafting. O let all your care be to chufe and do. in every thing,, what may pleafe him; and encourage yourfelf in him, for he will not fail you nor farfake you;, and you know not what great things he may da for you, and by you, ere you pafs your fojourn- 5ng and pilgrimage in this earth. The more dark and ftorrny that our night be, the nearer is our morning. Tiie hour of our great tabula- tion and temptation is coming, it is fad ap-. proaching, and it will hafte to its end, and hleffd ihall every one be who keep the word of Chrifl's patience. I can it form you of little, a* to the cafe of this LETTERS. 175 this land, but what you knov. The enemies* are reftrained from the execution of their rage in the foimcr tneafure, hut they are confuting and plotting the utter ruin andraz-ngof the intcrefts and followers of Chrift ; for tluy neither follow their nature nor defigns, whatever method they follow: if this were believed, people would not fo readily be hoodwinked witii their pretences of favour ; but after fo much fad experience, none, who will not wilfully blindfold rhemlelves, need to be beguiled. There is a liberty now iflbed forth from the arrogated, abfolute, and encontroulable power of the intruder and ufjrper, upon the prerogative of the great God, bounded with the redriftion that his government may not • be fpoken againfl, and nothing faid that may I alienate the hearts of people from him ; pre- \ fcribing the place of preaching to be only in houfes, inhibiting the worfhip of God in the fields, commanding the feverc execution of ail the iniquitous laws again ft ailiucb meetings; and reqjiring ministers to give up their names to fome one or ether of their civil powers; which reftri&ed and ftrangely.q.ialified liberties to Prci- byterians, is conveyed through the calling and disenabling all our penal laws and fhtutes enact- ed againfl Papifts, and toleration of all herefies and fe£b. The generality of thisgencration efleemp^rc a9 their great good; and they cove: and deli- derate it upoa» any terms; but the Lord fail , Vbey flhiU not have pi ace : ti left the way of peace, and he will citable them. The cloud is fall, fart gathering, which will fall down as the irruption and ix: - \ and ever- i 7 6 LETTERS. overflow the land: happy are they who are fiedfa into their city of refuge. Before the -publication of this Indulgence,!, » who after* wards were fent to Edinburgh, and, as I am in«v formed are all liberate, lave one man, who- would not call Botbwell bridge rebellion. But now the minifters are .all generally preaching, J and lb me who had been hearing the Curates . are falling to again; but I hear of little freedoms amongft them anent the fins of the time : foria^ of them who had profeffed clearnefs againft the paying "the cefs, begin now to tolerate it ; fay- ing) that tbe narrative of the a^51 falls, feeing : the term is expired, though the cefs be continu- ed, and fo it is not finful : others fay, there i$; * no 'fcandal in paying it, becaufe they alleoge k to be an epidemical fault, if tfcey make it a fault, (O fuch horrid juggling with. God.) IA know none of them but who preach in houfes;-: and I fee not but they inuft be interpreted to oflichte under the cover and eolonr of this chur- liih 'rserty; for, befide what compliance is with it, 1 hear not of a confcionable and practical leiliiiicny given againft it. Tbcy do generally {hew LETTERS. i 7 f Jbcw thcicfelves more than formerly to be of the contrary part, and fet againft this pogr-wk- lieffing and (offering handful; jfofufifil not to I cry out againft us, they<;i^ange us with falfe and grofs tranigreflions; they prefs people every way ^to difcourage and difcoantenance us ; they carry as if their great defign were to crufh and ruin us; they fpare no pains in preaching, converie, and writing, to effe&uate this : and hereby they make many violent upon their way, but fome arc gueftioning, and likely to come freely off from them ; the courfe they take is ready to let none halt between them and us: and none more brilk frnd headftrong than Mr. Gab* Semple, Mr. fV. jL>jkine % Mr. Robert LanglanJs, particularly }Ar. Samuel Af not, who fey iundry means difco- vers no fmall byaflcdcefs, credulity, and imper- i tinence, to fay no vvorfe. I fear ere all be done, that it come to the putting forth of the hand with feme of the ; but if it were once at this, I hope our trial would not be much prolonged, whatever might be our extremity and perplexity for a time- Since I knew any thing of the corruptnefs of their way, I thbu they were men of a ftraDge fpirit; but now L think more ftrange than ever. O to live near .God that we may endure the ftcrm. Mr. Flint and Mr. RuJfcL are pitted ; the rumher of theft rs is not increasing. I have been often >rmed of Mr. Rofs's ng one time v* a curate. But my great discouragement is from ou.rlelvcs ; though there be one part that is light and ftedtaft in the matters of (J there is another part that d to, lax: i ly : they will not leave us, and e nut as yet fufficient enough grouud to re- fute 17* LETTERS. fufe their concurrence ; but they are as weights 1 upon our hands, and are always to be drawn, becaufe ihey will not follow. I think fome will -1 yet fcour off, for, alas ! we are not all right in j bean with God. As for Mi'. David Houfton he carries very I flraight: I think him both learned and zealous ; I he feems to have much of the fpirit of our I worthy profdTors ; for he much oppofes the I pafling from any part of our leftimony, yea, and flicks clofs to every form and order where- unto wc have attained ; aflerting, pertinently, tnat if we follow not even the method where- in God hath countenanced us, and keep not by every orderly form, we cannot but be juftled out of the matter. He hath authority with him* which fome way dallies thefe who oppofe them- fe-lves ; he difcovers the myftery of the work* ing of the fpirit of Antichrift more fully and : clearly than ever I have heard it. As for Mr. Kerfland, I know nothing of his pirriage here, but that it is both humble and ftraight. I am informed, by fome very zealous, . that in conference both with minifters and pro- fl'fibrs of the contrary part, he hath fpoken pemnently ; yea, I have been witnefs to fome- what of it: I have heard him condemn the bu- fioefs of the afTociation wherein we condemn it, but he much deuies his being embodied with them: he takes upon him very much toil and travel to fcrve the fcfcieties in the corner where he Wanders, and to further and attend the work •if ihc gofpel amongft them: And to fpeak freely, according to my conceptions, I am afraid cf him in nothing io much as iirdic bufineis of Mr. Fojti. There LETTERS. 179 There are fundry focieties in Ireland come out from the defections of the time, wi o are keeping correfpondence with us ; I am defired to vifit them, and I purpofe, God willing, to do it. When Mr. David Houjton was there in the end of the fpring, he was very free, and confiderable numbers attended his preaching. I fuppofe ere this time he hath admitted Tome elders in Galloway or Nithifdale, and I am to fet about it the week following. But a part of my bufinefs this while hath been, to travel thro* fome places of the country where I had not been heretofore, and I hope not without fome fruit. When I was laft at Edinburgh, a cons- iderable number of choice friends were baniflied i to Barbadoes. Mrs. Binning is gone to Ireland. I am glad of your travels through other S churches; your difficulties have been many, yet [the Lord hath been with you. I am affrighted and aftoniftied with the abounding of iniquity amongftthem: The Lord hath a controverfy with all flelh, and he will plead it. Let us look through the whole world, they are but very few whom we can lee or fay, that they are for him. As to the letters of information that are to be fent abroad, I (hall endeavour that it be done, and to fend you fome fermons ; but I have fo much upon my hand, that I cannot get all done. I will be for fome weeks that I will icaicely get one night's reft, or be two days in one place ; and where I am, there I am fo taken up,' either with preaching, examination, or conference, I that I alraoft can get no other thing done. I )j would gladly hear if you have feen the Vindica- tion, and what are your thoughts of it ; and if J -you and Mr. Alexander Shields have met, and how fto . LETTERS. how you have accorded : I am hopeful, if you did not miftake one anothdr, there would be little or no difTention between you. As to your coming to Scotland, I can fay no other thing no w r than I faid in my former. Now, the Lord be with you; I forget yon not, J (eldom go to God but you go with me; and I have fome confidence that Ineed not de- fire you to remember him, who is, Honourable and dear Sir, Yours, as formerly, JAMES RENWIC1C LETTER LIL From the Rev. Mr. James Renwick, to the honourable Mr. Robert Hamilton. Honourable Sir, Since my lad I have travelled through many damps and deeps, and feen many discove- ries of many things : the Lord by all difpenfa* tions,' faying, that he will have rhalice and mis- takes, right and wrong, righteoufnefs and un» righ'teoulnefs, brought to light. O nbblc con- trivarice! Onobteway! What lhall the upftiot of all the lofles, fufferings, and contenciings, and difficulties of the remnant be, but the clear- ing the caufe to all beholders, fo that be whd runs mfcy read the righteoufnefs of it? Shall not! truth be made thereby more precious 'an3 know? The Lord will have a people to reap the LETTERS. i8r the fweet fruit of that we are put to this day. Let us then be content to lay name, credit, en* joyments, life, and all, under his feet, that he may Hand thereupon, to advance the glory of his own name, and to bring about the advance- ment of his kingdom. As to what friends have written to you, I hope, you will not be troubled thereat, but take it in good part, for it hath flowed in real refpeft to the caufc, and love and tendernefs towards you in the mod part; whatever you were pre- vailed to cede unto, through your own confufi- on, fimplicity, and inadvertency, by the over- powering of a furious byafled party, at Botlrwel; I would advife your honour to this anent it; to write to the remnant the way, and any reality thereof, exprefling your own fenfe thereof; to- gether with your willingnefs to make acknow- ledgment thereof, according to the degree of ihe offence, in the true church of Scotland. This, I think, would be mod for the glory of God, the vindication of his caufe, your own honour, and Che endearing of the remnant unto you. Alfa you mufl write your innocency of what other things are laid to your charge, with what proba- tion there can be had, with this bearer; and if we had thefe, we couid flop the mouths of (ten- derers. Likewife, you mud not be offended that Robert is not fent unto you, for the meeting did it not out of any diffatisfa&ion with him, or with your defiring him, hut as a mean to wipe away that malice-like afperfion, that we are all lead by you; and that by the mouth of nore witnefTet words may be more confirmed. Alio, I hope, you will find the young man both didiuft and honed anent matters; and I doubt nothing, but you will Ct be i82 L E T T E R S. be well pleafed with him. Moreover, friends are- moft delirous to know how it is with Thomas ; and if he be found, in fome meafure, qualified, as to zeal, piety and parts, they would gladly have all means ufed for the honefteft ordination ; and I muft joiifmy deflre with theirs; for there is as much work to be had in Scotland-, notwith- flanding of all the perfecution, as would hold ten miniders bufy: (O blefled be the name of the Lord) And if I had fome with me, to help to plenifh the country, and to a£t more judicially and autboritativejy, through the Lord's afliftance, the cruelty of the enemy and the malice and underminings of other parties, woqld not be able :o mar the work in our hands. And as to foreign churches, I would offer your honour my humble advice, that, confidering the bad information that they have got from thefe that have pafl: as fuf- ferers, you would with patience wait on them, for a little time will give them a clearer infight of our matters : I think no wonder, though the various confufions of Scotland jumble them, anent the uptaking of Scotland's caufe : and give not over to deal with fuch as are not pofleft with prejudice and malice ; and for ordination for Thomas, if no other thing ftood in the way of it, I could be clear, that ye fought it from the pureft amongft the reformed; though they can- . not win the length of approving all the circum- ftauces of our caufe, providing they be faithful againft the fins of their own place, and not, with prejudice at us, fided with the backfliders in the church of Scotland: For there is a great differ- ence between joining with minillers o*f foreign churches, and minifters of our own church ; lor ^the former, (as I have often told to thefe that Oil- LETTERS. 183 objected againft my ordination) cones under a general confideration as ProtefUnts, but the hi- rer, under a far more fpecial consideration, may be clear from the fuppofed example ; The reformed minifters abroad, who keep up a tefti- mocy againft the fins of their own place, and -fide not themfeives again ft us, I could lawfully join with them, though they cry not out againft the fteps of our defection, became that is not t'rie matter ef 'their prefent teftimony; yet if any of them were coming to Scotland, and offering them- feives miiiffters to us of one organical church, .we could not accept of them, unlefs they would keep up our prefent teftimony againft all the fins of our place. As for what r^ft betwixt thefe minifters and us, I can inform your honour no more fully tl our friend's letter doth. And as to the prefect date of the country, Clyde/dale continueth f as it is one man upon their 1 mer grcur.d, together witft Attatutale ; fomcJu but many continue; many in Ginkk are j . ne, for the timv, are quit < ontinue; the few that are in Li tnd C.ii*r are put all in a reel, Lord kooweth how fhey will fculc. Since our thefe minifters, I made a proj I found nc an open door for preaching thegofpel, the peo- ple comil out than they did before; and we got ei^ht field-meetings kept there with. out any dift&rbance, and fix in NitbfdaUj many con, 2\{i places (1 a i84 LETTERS. trovcrfies againfl tbefe minifters; Robert Goodwin hath made his-cfcape likewife, and continues al- fo clear in our matters. George Hill's family hath all been fick: And Mrs. B. hath been long fick in frifon; bin this. is but the ordinary cala- mity of >he country ; for I never heard of fuch a general ficknefs in Scotland. As for choofing of elders, according to ybnr deiire, we have fomc hbneft old men, members of our focieties, who were elders in our fettled ftate ; and we are refolying to fet about the chuf- 'ingofmoe, with fome deacons: But our various confufions and debates have much retarded this and other things hitherto. In what I have here written, I intreat your honour that I may not be miflaken ; for the Lord know, eth, lam the fame both anent the caufe and to- ward you that ever I was; all that byafled folk can fay, doth neither leflen my confidence in, nor eftimation of you: and what I have faid of Thomas, understand me fo, that I would mod gladly have him for a help, but I would either want him ere he ihould be a hinderance; .but becaufe I judge him not to be of a dangerous fpirit, I fufpect him lefs than many other&j alfo I think it is more iimplicity of nature nBBn want of honefty that is with him. Alio, you would fpeak with this bear- er anent fetting foreward to the work, for he hath pad: bis courfe at the college, and I think, tuth the caufe honeftly dated in his heart, tho* he hath but fmall means for enduing him with gifts; yet he wants not a fpirit for contending for the honeft fide. And as for ordination a- broad, I would have all means elfayed before we took another courfe;, for we cannot defend our doing any thing of that nature, before all o- tlicr LETTERS. i§ 5 her lawful ways eflayed do fail us, while we are, n fucb a cafe. 1 thought St alfo to inform roa, that there is a general defire among friends hat you (hould come home a vifit, and return igain, through the appreheafion that they have i your doing a great good at this time; but fi nee «r debates were brought to fome clofe, I cannot" >e fo anxious for it as I was. Now, dear Sir, take heed ro yourfclf, there re iruny looking out for your hairing, many lets are fpread againft you, both at home and a- >road ; but exercife yourfelf in this, to keep a onfeience void of offence both toward God and nan, and the Lord iball bring forth your righre- >ufnefs as the noon-tide of the day. Remember ne kindly to your worthy dear filter, to Tbo;. cd all the family. Pray for him who is, Ever as formerly, JAM£S RENWICK. LETTER LIII. tyom the Rev. Mr. James Renwick, t: IwiQtirable Ladies Much honoured Ladies , Aug. 13. 1687. THE zeal which I defire^o have- for the ad- vancement of Chad's kingdom, the love riich I bear to your fouls, and my fenfc cions which I ftaod under unto you in par- r, have moved me to take upon roc to fa- ute jou with this line. ThcrQ is not a rational Q. 3 cteai 1 86 LETTERS. creature, that doth not propone unto itfelf for chief good, the obtaining and enjoying wherejHI is the great intent and end of all its a&ions. Whqill will fliew us any good? But, the woful evil a-^li mong men is, their fettingup to themfelves fomeni naughty, vain, and petty nothing, and defpiiing I :hat wherein their real and chief happinefs dotlrl only ly, reje fling the counfel of God agalnfl tbenu}\ felves: this miflake is deplorable, for man is an infinite lofer by it; it is defperate, for he refuf-M eth to be inftrutfted. Hence is fo many different^! prevailing natural inclinations and predomini ing lulls as there are among the children of - dam; fo many different chief goods; There t gods many> and lords many* I am fad, to think*! upon the folly and madnefs of the poor creature, * that thus doth forfake its own mercy ; but leC'J the world choofe and follow what they pleafe/i to us there is but one Lord. I am hopeful, much honoured Ladies, thatl ye are turning your backs upon created and car*] Dal delights, and fetting your faces toward Chrift,* feeking after union and communion with him. It/' is my fouPs earned defire, that it iliould be fo;d and if the comfortlefs and diftra&ing vanities of a prefent perifhing world lhall wheedle and be* witch you, that ye ftudy not the wildom of God, it dull bring great grief and forrow of heart un- to me. I fay, I am carried betwixt hope and fear; I hope, the Lord will work a good work in you ; I hope it v.Ul be, for I would have it to "be, and there are lb me appearances of it: And I fear that the pkaiant and eafy yoke of Chrift be looked upon as irkfome and wearifome by you, when I confider your temptations, and the {feemingly) promifing beginnings, and fair hjof- lbnis LETTERS. 187 fonts that I have feen in many, which have fal- len away without bringing forth mature fruit. I>o not take my freedom in ill part, neither be offended with it, for it cometh fromafk&ion, and my ardent defire that ye fhould not negledl the great falvation. Religion is a great myflery, and a far other thing than even the profefling world taketh it to be. There are many hinderances in the way of flying to Chrift, and clofing with him. The natural biindnefs that is in man, whereby he neither fees his fin and danger, nor his Saviour, is a great hinderance, Rev. iii. 17, 18. His natu- ral unwillingnefs and flat averilon to the way of falvation laid down in the covenant, and held forth in the gofpel, John v. 40. His hard heart- ed milbelief, whereby he giveth no aflent to rhe' righteonfncis of Scripture precept and doctrine, andjuftice of fcripture threatening; nor confent lo fcripture promifes, making fiducial application of them, John v. 38. Hcb. xi. 6. His whorith addictednefs to his Infts, idols, and carnal en- tanglements, Whereby he doth not quit his pro-" fanity, nor leave rhe honour, applaufe, profit' and pleafure of this world, PfaL xlv. 10, 11. Song iii. 11. Chap. iv. 8. His miftaking the g omentof Cbrift, counting it hard, mehncho. lie and unpleafant, Mattb. xi. 28, 29, 30. His judging religion but a fancy, and a politic in-' vention to amaze and amufe the minds of men, 1 Mattb. xxii. 5. His conceiving a. facility in re- .], thinking there needeth not be lb much ado about it, and that he can do all that is need- ful, when he pleafeth, Mattb. viii. 19. John vi. s poftponing the bulinefs of life eternal iroia time to time, leaving that lafl in doing,' winch 188 LETTERS. which oogbt to be firfl done, refolving to a* mend ere he end; whereby his vain heart de- ceives him, and Satan juitles him out of all rime, Luke ix. 61. His peevilh and fooliili impatience, whereby he doth not forfake a. prefent imaginary good, for a future real hap-, pinefs. A man may think it a good thing to en- joy everlafling life; fc^t becaufe that is an here- after happinefs, and lieth now only in promife, J he cannot wait for it and take it as his portion, but grafps at what is prefent, though it be nei- ther contenting nor conftant, Pfal. iv. 6; 2 Tin:, iv. 10. I fay, all thefcare great hinder- ances; fee that ye get oyerthefe, and all other ©bftrucftions, and lay hold upon Clirift. that I could bewail the lamentable condition of man, . who is held in fo many chains, from, this work of great concern and eternal moment! O, much honoured Ladies, confider the indif- penfible and abfolute need ye have of a Saviour; confider the awful commands, full promifes, free offers, hearty invitations, and ferious requefts given forth in the word, all crying aloud with one voice unto you, to match with the Lord o£. glory : Confider the aflurance that his own tei'ti- niony hath given you, of dwelling with him throughout eternity, in his heavenly manfions, where ye lhall fee him as he is, have a full fenfe of his love, and a pei fed love to him again, and ever drink of the rivers of pleafure that flow st his right hand, if ye ilnll embrace him upon his own terms. Confider the peremptory certificati- on of everlafting dcilru&ion, of dwelling with continual burnings,. and lying under the burdeii of his wrath; a curfe running always out upon }ou in the overflowing flood, if ye lhall negleft to LETTERS. 289 to make your peace with him, and rejeft his fal- vation. I fay, confider thofe things, and give all diligence to make your calling and eletiion fare ; and fee well that ye be not deceived, for there are many miftakes, and a great myftery in that bufmefs. Many think themfelves to be fome- thing when they are nothing, and fo deceive themfelves, and come (hort of the grace of God : inftead of founding upon the immoveable rock of ages, they build upon th'e fand of their own attainments. JJpr folk may go a great length, and yet be void of true faving grace; they may have a great fpeculative knowledge of the mat- ters of God and myftery of falvation, and ftror.g gifts, 1 Cor. xiii. 2. They may abftain from many pollutions, and the grofs evils that others are given unto, Luke xviii. ; t, 12, 13, 14. Ti cy may externally perform many dimes, as r; ing, prayer, and be very mu^ii >n thefe, Luke xviii. 11, 12, 13, 14. T iiave a very great forrow for fin, not becaufe of the di (ho- nour done to God, but the hurt to l pmfel* not becaufe they arc polluted, but becaufe they are deflroycd by it, Mattb. x:;vii. 3. Hei. xii. 17. They may have a deiire af:tr ^tace, which yet is not for grace's fake, but for heaven's fake, Mattb. xxv. 8. They may have an historical frith, and give an afient of the mind to al! that is revealed in the word, yea, to the fpirirual Cleaning of the law, Mark xii. 32, 33, 34. They e big hopes, and that in the mercy of God, which neverthelei prefomption ; for they forget that i t, and neglcft to lay hold upon Chrift for fatisfaftion of hisjoftig icas, he is merciful to viii. 13, 14. The . common ope- i 9 o LETTERS. operations of the Spirit, and a tafte of the hea- venly gift, and the powers of the world to xoinwb'. : Heb. vi. 4, 5, 6. They may be convinced thaff^ it is good to clofe with Chrift, and comfbrff*', themfelves as if they had .done it ; whereas theyr. arc It ill in r' ,r ' T r natural ftate, Hof viii. 2, li They may fnlfer many things materially for thcL caufe of God, 2 id toil much in following ordi- r.ances, undergoing the fame out of refpeft for their own credit, 1 Cor. xiii. 3. I fay, people] may, and many do arrive at ill thefc and fucW like attan ,ients, and notwithstanding remain id] the gall • i bktfefnefs and bond of iniquity. In may make us all tremble to think what a leng " ' folk may go, and yet never have gone out of the felves," and pafled through the fteps of effefti calling. Many \. Il fay to him in that c}ay, i have eaten and drunhm in thy pre fence, and thb\ hall taught in our jlreets ; have we not prophefid in thy name ? and in thy name caft out devils, an< in thy name done many vjonder fid vjorks ? who: he will chafe away from his -prefence, with tha awful fentenee, DEPART YE; profiling un to them thit he never knew them. Let this alarm you 10 make fure work in this} great concern, and -not deceive yourfelves with ill counterfeit, infkad of a reality, with a flalh in4 {lead of conversion, and a delufion inftcad bfV Chrift. But get ye a fight of your fitiful and ; i- ftfahle ftate, a fenfe and feeling thereof, putting you in a perplexity, and difcouraging yeu from . Ling in it ; a conviction of your inability to help yourfelves, and of your unworthinefs that. Ged Ihotild he'p you out of it; and iook unto - rift, as your alone Saviour, receiving him whe his threefold, office, of King, Pric and LETTER S. 191 ad-Prophet, welcoming him, and taking up his r o!s, 2gainft the world, the devil, ard the fleih, id reding upon him alone for falvation; and ien the bufinefs will be done, and all will be we; and then you may defy devils and men, >r plucking you out of his hand. . And if ye have thus clofed the bargain with him, ien yc will find in you a war declared and main- d againft all fin, Rotn. vii. 15. -Ezek. xviii. 21. John iii. 9. A rei'pedt to all the command- ments of the Lord, Ezek. xviii- 21. A liking of ie way of happicefs, as well as happinefs itlelf, ohn iii. 14, 15. An high efteem of justification ad fan&ification, Pfal. xxxii. 2. A prizing of ihrift, and a longing to be with him, Phil. i. 3. And an admirable change wrought in you; new judgment, new will, new conscience, new emory, new afft &ions : In a word, all the fa- ilties of the foul will be new, in regard of their salifications; and all the members of the body, 1 regard of their ufe, 2 Cor. v. 17. Now, if 1 have attained to a faving intereft in Chrift, ye ay find thefe, and the likff marks and evi- :nces of it. lult not in this great matter, reft not in un- :rtainty, and farisfy not yourfelves with a may- i: But examine yourfelves, whether ye be in the lib; prove your own /elves; know ye not your n [elves , how that Je (Us. Ch?ijt is in you, ex- t ye be reprobates ? In letting your faces to- rd Zion, ye may exptd that Satan will raife 1 his (lorms againft you ; but fear him nor, for e grace of God is Sufficient for you. Give rlelves wholly to the Lord, to fervc him, and love his name, to choole and follow the things at pleafe him ; your greateft honour lieth in this, i 9 * LETTERS. this, your greateft duty, your greateft profit, and your greateft pleafure. Count the colt of religion ; God is a liberal dealer, deal not nig- gardly with him, prig not with hrm about your eftates; Who is in heaven Jike. unto him? and who in the earth is to be defired like him ? Lay down to him your names, your enjoyments, your lives, and your all at his feet ; for he is only worthy to have the difpofal of them; and the furTerings of this prefent time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that (hall be reveal- ed. Think not much to quit* the vain and car- x\il delights of the world ; they cannot fttisfy ^o r ur fenfes, and much lefs your fouls : The earth; is round, and the heart of man three- nookedjf therefore this cannot be filled by that:' And though ye could find content in thenv yet how vain were it, becaufe unconftant? and how un- folid, becaufe uncertain? Regard not mens reproach, for fo reproached they our Lord arid the prophets; yea, there can be no contetegt or calumny caft upon you, for the gofpel's fake, but what hath been calt tipon the faithful in all ages : Remember Mo* fes, who efleemed the reproach of Cbrift, great* er riches than the treafures of Egypt : aod go ye forth without the camp bearing his reproach. drift's new name will more than enough com- penfe the world's nick-name. Advance refo- lutely in the way of godlinefs; your guide is faithful, your vi&ory certain, your reward fure, and your triumph everlafting: Stumble not, be- caufe religion is mocked at ; for it is not the worfe that man thinketh fo little of it : count it not a fancy, becaufe men defcrt it; but tafte qnd fee that God is good. Follow no man further than LETTERS. i 93 tftan lie follows Chrifl: ; divide not from the bead, to unite with any prof.flld members: walk not with them who renounce their depen- dence vpon Chrifl:; or who are carrying on a courfe of defection, preffing a reliDquilhing of the prefent testimony, and cafting reproaches upon the way of God. Keep yourfelves from the pollutions of this time, and partake not witk other men in their fins ; but ftudy to have a good coofcience, and a good confcience will be a peaceable confcience, and a peaceable con- fcience will be a fat feaft. Shun as much as ye can the company of carnal and vain perfons : ye will not get this wholly evited, but ye may avoid unneceflary converfe, frequency and fami- liarity with them : We are obliged to carry our- felves with courtefy, humanity and pity towards all, but not with friendlinefs and familiarity: ye know, evil company and communication cor- rupteth good manners. O! what (hall I fay > Watch always, be much in fecret prayer, felf- cxamination, fpiritual meditation : Read the written word of God ; feck to have your minds understanding it, your hearts affe&ing it, and your confciences and a&ions guided by it : Get his Spirit to dwell in you, by dire&ing you in- to all truth, reproving you for fin, and bringing every thought in obedience to drift, and lead- ing you into fupplication. Lay afidc every Weight, and run the race that is fet before you with cheerfulnefs and alacrity; defpife every oppofition and obftruftion in the way, and keep your eyes ftill upon the prize, having a refpeft to the recompence of reward. Now, The very God of pea wfjoL ly f and, I pray God, your whole fpiti K mi i 9 4 " LETTERS. and body, be preferved blamelefs, unto the coniin, of our Lord Jefus Chrift. I am, f 1 Much honoured Ladies, Your ajfured and obliged friend andfervant in the Lord, JAMES RENWICK LETTER LIV. From the Kev. Mr. James Ren wick, to the honourable Mr. Robert Hamilton. , Hon. and dear Sir, Nov. 5. 1687. OUR troubles are growing, and enemies arc ftretching forth their hands violently to perfecute ; and they want not infligations from our falfe brethren ; fo we are made the contempt of the proud, and the fcorn of them that are at cafe. Our fufferings were always rightly dated, but never fo cleanly as now ; and why ftiould we not endure thefe trials? for they fhall work for truth's victory, and Chrifl/s glory. O let all the fuffeiing remnant keep clean hand?, for therein (hall be their ftrength ; and wait with patience, for he will not tarry,* who cometh to plead his own caufe, to lay claim to his own in- tereft, thai is bafely and deceitfully abandoned, and betrayed into the hands of man, to give a fair decifion. Thefe whofe fouls are vexed with the now abounding abominations, (hall have a , Zoar to fly unto, when the fire of God lliall fall down LETTERS. 195 2down upon our Sodom : I an* certain the Lord will have a fan&uary for his people. We mutt once be brought to that extremity, wherein there can be fto longer fubfiftence without prefent help; but God will not leave his people there. tl : s liberty hath let Satan loofe, and brought the trjihs of God, and the faithful, into great bondage : but God will loofe his judgments, and pour them out upon this woeful generation, tha* will not fee, till they be made to feel. There is now ftrange thirfling after my -blood, but that moves me not ; though they had it, they would not be fatisfied, for nothing will quench, them till they get their own blood to drink. As to Mr. Boyd, he came to our laft general correfpondence, and defired, that feeing he knew there was fomething wherefore we were diffatisfied with him, as alfo he was with us, we might commune freely with him upon the fame. So, firft, we fhewed our diflatisfa&ion with his taking licence without our knowledge, which was contrary to his own engagement, at lead declared purpofe and rcfolution. Next, we took his paper, which he left in our hands when he went abroad, wherein, amongit other things, he afcrtcd, his withdrawing out of the land, was no way to feparate or disjoin from us, and fignitied his diflike of countenancing thefe mini- >, a^aiiift whom we had valid exceptions. When wc alked, How could his declaring, that he neither v.-us joined, nor would join with us, Dor any other party, confift with the former; and from the latter, wc defircd to know, if he ting of that liberty, as they call it, a id of difc< :ing mi- nuter*? H:s anl'.ver to the f::.- , .1 no R 2 way jg6 LETTERS. way help him, Sor fatibfy us. Hrs anfsver t the lafl was, If the queftion was concerning fuc mipifters as might fie in aflemblies with th addrcfTers, and go out to places of the countr; at their direction and preacli, he would not for bid people to hear them, whatever he would dc himfelf. So, after fome debating againft hi: mind in this, I lhewed the meeting, that I nei ther could uor would determine matters of fuch extent and importance without my brethren, v;ho by providence were not prefent ; yet, in the mean time, I would keep at a diflance, and not concur with him in the public work. And they concluded that they would not call him, nor hear him elicitely ; yet they would not difcourage and difcountenance him fo far as not to hear him, in cafe of neceffity, as if they (hould be providentially caft with him in- to one family, and he going about exercife, or the like. Moreover, he himfelf was not defir- ous to incorporate with us, what he may do af- ter, I know no:, There were alfo other parti- culars wherewith we were dilTatisfied, bur the fbrcfaid were the mod material, and alfo in- cluded fundry of the other, and much time was ipe;it in reaibning about them. I have feen the account which you gave to fifter Mrs. J. of E. B. H. her affair, you i not be too much prdled with it; the Lord is taking all pains to wean you more and i frem the world, and win you more and more to himfelf: Remember Jofetb in thedun- ; God hath vindicated, and will yet more :ate you. Friends arc very well, and de- firous to hate you at home; and I ihall endea- to maoage that bulineis fufficiectiy, and as may LETTERS. 197 may be rnoft for the advantage of the c Now, the Lord be your guide, and heap the bleffings of the everlafting covenant upon your head. Pray that the Lord may fpare his people, that he may purge his houfe, and pray for him, who is, Honourable mid dear Sir, Yours as formerly, JAMES RENWICK. L E TTE R LV. From the Rev. Mr. James Renwick, to i honourable and well deferving gentlemau Mr, Robert Hamilton. . Hon. and dear Sir, . Dec. 29. 1687% THo' I know not how this (hall be tranfmit- ted to your hands, yet I judge it my duty to write a brief account of fome things at pre- fect amongft us- Mr. Boyd cimc to our lafl ge- neral correspondence, profclfing his agreement with our teftrmorjy, and bis willingnels to join with, us: and when wfe came to fpeak about the duty of teaching people the neceitity of abftradl- ing themfelves from the accepters of the prefent toleration, he granted that it is lawful to teach ir, but the expediency of it he did not G however he had endeavoured to di.'cover . fin of the toleration's being accepted : thus flood at this time. Aud when we were rca ( ing with him, he faid, ere he were the infl ment of a b/each amongfl us, that he woold R 3 19* LETTERS. leave Scotland. But it was no fmall perplexity j to us, to know bow to carry anent him ; it waa \ thought that the refilling either to call or heai | him would caufe a very great animofity anc preach, and the ground of it was not valid ej cough. So, they came at length to conclude^ (with fome averfenefs in the mod part) that un- til the time of our next meeting, thefe who hac not clearnefs to call and hear him ftiould not be offended with thefe that might do it ; and theft, again, that might do it (hould not be offended with thefe who had no clearnefs for it: Howbeis,i they were not for entirely incorporating who him, and giving him a joint folemn call. And as I declined to preach with him ; fo I denied my confent to the forefaid conclufion, and wasj put in a perplexity, not knowing what to do, feeing many fad inconveniences to follow, if [I had oppofed their determination; fo with a fulli heart I forebore : but afterwards I opened my heart to Mr. Boyd himfelf. I heard that K, was of my judgment in this matter. As for Mr. David Houjlon, he went long ago Snto Ireland, and is not yet returned, whereby we have fuffered no fmall lofs. i am certain, fome ftrange thing hath happened him : the re- port is, that he hath been fore fick: and I hear there are many in Ireland turning Diifenter?. Kerfldnd hath taken from his fa&ors about fixteen hundred merks of his own rents. For what was communed anent yourfelf and Mr. Thomas Dou- glas, your letter from the meeting will inform you. We have written a teftimony of about five er fix fheets of paper, witneffing aga'mft this to- leration, the accepting of it, addreiling for it, and hearing of the acceptors: Testifying alfo for LETTERS. 199 l »pr the obligation of our covenants ; and Ihcuing e neceffary duty of field-preaching, in the pie- ^nt ci re urn fiances of this church. I have been at Peebles this week, and thro' : Lord's providence wonderfully efcaped ; our ended meeting near to the town, about nine the clock at night, in the time of ourgatber- :, being by a ftrar-ge providence difcovered: is a place I had not been in before, and we Ld no armed men ; there are four taken and rrifoned. Sir, I hear, Siansfield is murdered Liy his own family, his eldell ion had a chief :i ;:. Now, honourable and comfortable Sir, I have -no more at the time to inform you of, but I I : much to write if time would allow me. My fears were never greater anent the intereft of Chrift in thir lands, there is fuch an inclinable- nefs in people to defection. But I believe, he will not want fome to own his controverted truths. The next time I write to you, I purpofe to write alio to Lew ar den friends. The Lord be with you. I am, Right honourable and dear S/V, Your fympatbifing friend and fervant in the Lord, JAMES RENWICR. LETTER 2co LETTER S. L ETTER LVI. From the Rev. Mr. James Renwick, to fom\ pcrfons under fenience of baniflmient. Beloved Friends, 1 68 7. 1 1 IT is both my duty and defife to fympathizJ with all who are {uttering for the preciouJ name of Chrift, efpecially wkh you who are callT led to partake fo deeply of the affi&ions of the children of Zion. Ye are now ro be banilhed out of your native land, but your enemies could not have appointed that for you, unlefs the Lord had from all eternity ordained it, His infinite love and wifdom hath confulted and meafbred out your lot ; and as this fhould make you defpife the in- ftruments of your afflictions, fo it may help yoa to (loop, and chearfully fubmit unto the provi- dence 01 God, who is of one mind, andv^ho can turn himi Yea, confidering the precibufnefs of the caufe for which ye are perfected, ye may rejoice that you are are counted worthy to fuffer fuch things: for it is no lefs than the gofpel of Ciirift, and liis great prerogatives, as he is King of his own church, which he nath purchased with his own blood; and as he is fupreme Governor and Sovereign of the whole world. O is not this a precious caufe? are not thefe great heads of fuf-> fering? If every one of you had a thoufand worlds cf enjoyments, and a thoufand lives* they would be all too little to Signify your love to Chiift, and your refpe