NtiS em m mBB m ra ■ * 'ihfWM X Cloud of Witnesses, or the last Speeches and Testimonies of those who suffered for the truth of Scotland since 1680, calf, Glasgow, 1769 ! CLOUD of WITNESSL FOR THE Royal Prerogatives F JESUS CHRIST- OR, THE LAST Speeches and Testimonies Of thofe who have Suffered for the TRUTH in SCOTLAND, Since the Year 1 68o* Together with- An APPENDIX, containing the Quesnsfet ry Paper; Torivood Excommunication ; a Relation concerning Mr. Richard Cameron, Mr. Donald Cargil, and Henry Hall ; and an Account of thofe were killed without Procefs of Law, and baniihed to foreign Lands : With a fhort View of feme of the oppreffive Exactions. Rev. vii. 14. Thtfc are they -which came cut 9/ great ttibulatfor?, and hava -wafted their roces, and made them -white in tk; blood :f the Lamb. ■ ' 1 > ■ ■ ■ ■ 1 ■■■> ■ 1 The Ninth Edition, corrected, and enlarged with the Tei'inior.i. John unger, John Nistet of Hardbill, Robert flitter, T Hark,:ef$ y &c. A Letter of John SempU % s t and ot ."art's. The Paper found upon Mr t Cameron at Airfmofi. 1 Acrofticfc upon his Name. The TefHmony of John The Epitaphs upon the Grave Stones of Mr. Jnhn fp'tl-wood y and the nolle Patriots wiio fell at Fei GLASGOW: Printed by William Bell and Company. J. Gilmour and Sov, J. Tait, Glafg J, Re. in Lanark. MDCCLX ( 3 ) THE PREFACE TO THE R.E A D E R- Chrljilan "Reader^ H E glorious frame and contrivance of religion, re- :« veaied by the ever bleffed JEHOVAH, in the nr face or perfon of Jefus Chrift, for the recovery of loft mankind into a ftate of favour and reconcilement with himfelf, is fo excellently ordered in the councils of infinite wifdom, and exactly adjufted to the real delight, contentment and happineis of the rational world ; that it might juftly be wondered, why fo many men in all a- ges, otherwife of good intellectuals, have not only had a fecret difguft thereat themfelves, but laboured to rob o- thers of the comfort and benefit of it, and make r kt a chaos of confufion by perfecutions raifed againft it ; had not the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures laid open the hidden fprings of this malice and enmity, which exerts itfelf in fo many of the children of men. We are told in thefe divinely infpired writings, that the firft fource this oppofition that the true religion meets with vorld, Mows originally from Satan, that u my of God's glory, and man's happineis ; who himfelf left his original ftate of obedience to, and enj ment of God his I no other alk c of his inevitable miferies, but to draw the race of rr into the like ruin, which is the i licious fpirit is capable of. This reftu ceiving, that thro* the grace and love of God cri- ed in Chrifl, a great number of thefe whom he thouj he had fecured to his flawy, are i :d, and cal the gofpel out of that, intolerable rious liberty, and fecurfed 1 y faith to ialvatkm -, la- . • *A 2 4 The Preface to the Reader. bours by two great engines of open force, and fccret fraud, to keep them in, or regain them to his obedience : hence the facred Scriptures defcribe him, both as a dra- gon for cruelty, and a ferpent for fubtilty. But becaufe he either cannot, or thinks not fit to do this vifibly in perfon ; therr/bre he does it more invifibly, and fo more iuccefsfully by his agents, in whom he works : who, be- caulje'of their unreasonable unbelief, are called, children of imperfuafion. Thefe he acts and animates, as it were fo many machines, to endeavour by crafty feduction, or violent perfecution, to draw, or drive the followers of the Lamb, from their fubjection, obedience and loyalty to the Captain of their fahation, that he may drown them, in perdition and destruction. This>is the latent origin of all perfecution ; the mint where all the other more vifi- ble caufes of the bloody violence the people of God meet withaj, -are ftruck and framed. This is the grand defign to which they tend, to root out the obedience of faith cut of the world, and deprive the Son of God of his right- ful dominion over his fubjects, whom he hath chofen, re- deemed and fancHfied for himfelf, As this holds true of all the perfecutions raifed againft the church and truths of God, whether in the perfons of Jews or Chriftians, by whatever hands, Pagan or Antichri- flian, fo 'tis eminently verified of the perfecutions of the. Church of Scotland, profecuted.by a profane wicked ge- neration of malignant prelatifts, during the reigns of the late King Charles II. and James VII. For as the other perfecutions were all levelled againft forne point of truth or other, wherein the obedience of faith was concerned, refpecting either the exiftence and worfhip of the true God, or the perfon, natures or offices of Jefus Chrift, &c. fo this perfecution was directly bended againft that office and authority of Jefus Chrift, whereupon his formal claim to the obedience of his church is founded, viz. his head/hip ever his church. This was the peculiar depofitum con- crediced to the church of Chrift in Scotland, and her dif- tinguifhing dignity to have the royal fupremacy of the ling of Zion to defend againft the kings of the earth/ who r.ot content with the princely authority of ruling the perfons of their fubjects, according to the laws of God and the realm, v* ould needs ufurp a blafphemous facrile- gious prerogative of ruling the church and confidences of men in room of the mediatory by what laws and fta- The Preface to the Reader. 5 tutes they pleafed, and found moll fubfervient to their lulls, for advancement of Popery and arbitrary govern- ment. Jefus Chrift, the only begotten of the Father, having received the church of Scotland, as one of the utmoil hies of the earth for his poffeflion, by folemn grant from Jehovah, was pleafed, as to call her from the deplorable flate of Pagan, and reform her from the ruinous conditi- on of Antichriilian darknefs ; fo to dignify her in a pecu- liar manner, to contend and fuffer for that truth, That he is king and lawgiver to his church, having power to inftitute her form of government, to give her laws, of- ficers and cenfures, whereby fhe lhould be governed, and hath not left it ambulatory and uncertain, what govern^ ment he will have in force for the ordering of his houfe, but hath exprefly determined in his word every neceifary part thereof, and hath not put any power into the hands of any mortal, whether Pope, Prelate, Prince or Poten- tate, as a vicarious head in his perfonal abfence, whereby they may alter the form of government at their pleafure, and make what kind of officers, canons and cenfures they pleafe; but all the power that this king hath left in his church, concerning her government, is purely and pro- perly minifterial, under the di recti m and regulation of his fovereign pleafure, revealed in his written word. This, this is the moil radiant pearl in the church of Scotland's garland ; that fhe hath been honoured valiant- ly to (land up for the headlhip and royal prerogative of her king and hufband, Jefus Chrift, in all the periods of her reformation. For no fooner had ihe thrown off the yoke of the Pope's pretended jurifdiction and authority, but prefently, while fhe was labouring by means of thefe cenfures, that Chrifl had inftitute, to root out the dam- nable herefies which that enemy had fown, all on a fud- den king James VI. naturally ambitious, and iniligate by interefled and projecting counfellors, attempts a rape u- pon her charity and loyalty to her hufband and Lord ; and by his royal order flops her freedom of fitting, voting and acting in her fupreme courts, imprifons fome of her moll zealous and faithful minillers, calls them before his council, indicts them of treafon and leefe ma icily, I their making ufe of the freedom Chrift hath given them ; and attcr their declining his and his council's ttfurj authority in fpiritual matters, and fo witncfling a. good ^3 ^ 6 lhe •rreface to the Header. confeflion for the royal dignity of their Matter, banif]» them their native country *, Upon the fame bottom of pretended royal jurifdiction over the church, he at- tempted, and in a great meafure effected, the eftablifh- ment of Popifh hierarchy, and Romiih ceremonies, by : jetting up prelates, and bringing in. the Perth Articles, flattering fome, and over-awing others of the minifters into a compliance therewith; perfecuting the zealous and faithful contenders for Chi id's headfhip, and th^ government of his divine inftitution, with vexatious pro- secutions before high-commhTion courts, fufpenfions from their office, wardings, confinements, &c. And in like manner Charles I. following his father's example and in- itruclions, endeavoured, upon pretence of the fame pre- rogative, to improve upon what his father had begun, and complete the church's flavery by obtruding upon her a liturgy and canons, formed a la ?node d' Angleterfe, collected out of the Romifh Mafs-book, and canon law; which put the faithful fons of the church of Scotland to. much wreftling and contending, partly by humble and iubmiilive, yet zealous and faithful addreffes, fupplicati- ons, remonilrances and reprefentations ; partly by more bold and daring proteftations and alfociations for mutuaL defence, even till they were forced to take arms for de- fence of religion, and the liberties of their country Which contendings for Chrift's royal authority, and his church's liberties, at length, by the Wetting of God, it fued in a glorious work of reformation, thro' Britain and Ireland, wherein the churches of Chrifl in thefe lands, not only received their former beautiful order, fhining pu- rity, and precious liberty, but alio had feveral degrees of new attainments, in purity and uniformity in religion, added thereunto. But the church's fun of profperity is foon at the tro- pick : fcarce was that fpring-time well begun to bloffom and bud, when behold a world of malignant vapours, a- riiing cut of the earth, clouded all her fky again, and turned her fpring to a deplorable winter. Various he- refies in England, growing Popery in Ireland, public refolutions for advancing malignants to places of power and trufl in Scotland, like fo many inundations breaking in upon the church of Chrifl, laid all her pleafant things wafte. And no fooner was Charles II. advanced to the * Zqc CuhhnvoccPs Ilift. from p. 491, to p. 536, and downward. The Preface to the Reader. 7 exercife of the royal authority, but, drowning the fenfe ©Fall facred obligations with a glut of fenfual pleafures, he authorized a malignant crew of ftatefemen to perfe- cute and deftroy the people of God, for their adherence^ to the covenants, which himfelf had entered into as the fundamental ftipulation of government, and to that re- formation which he had (worn to maintain anri praclife : and for their bearing witneis againil the grand principle, and foundation upon which he built his power of over- throwing religion, and letting up a new fframe there in Britain, namely the blafphemous headlhip of ecclefiaf- tical fupremacy. Hence it is evident to a demonftratbn, that the grand- flate of the quarrel, upon which the martyrs laid down their lives during the late tyrannical reigns, was really one and the fame with that for which the zealous and- faithful minifters fuffered fuch hardfhips in the time of King James VI. and afterwards. This being the precifc foundation upon which all the other jfU and oaths were built, which the enemies made a handle of, to involve ho- ned people into the crime of treafon and rebellion againft the ftate, as it was then determined by their iniquitous laws. For as it was ftill the principal quefticu put to them, Own ye the King's authority ?■ and the chief article of their indictment, if they either anfwered in the negative or kept filence ; fo it is evident, that by this queftion they really meant, not his civil authority only, but alfo his pretended claim to fupreme headlhip over the church. For no fooner had he authorized a parliament to meet at Edinburgh, under the infpection of that malignant wretch, John Earl of Middleton, anno 1661, but that generation of enemies to the work of God, intending the utter ruin thereof, fet up this Dagon of the royal prero- gative, not only with refpect to things civil, as in the choice of his officers of ltate, councellors and judges, feco?id ; in the calling and difTolving of parliaments, and making laws, Aft third ; in the militia, and making peace and war, Aft fifth, which were great invafions upon the national liberties of the fubjects ; but alfo in things facred, in the making of leagues, and the conventions of the fub- fe, jftfi.ih; wherein all the former work of reforma- tion is condemned, and the Covenants made (or fence are declared tn t ions a- gainft the royal prer< : And in c ere- & The Preface to the Reader. of, it is declared, A ft /event b, "That the League and Covenant is not obligatory upon this kingdom, nor doth infer any obligation on the fubjecls thereof, to meddle or interpofe in any thing concerning the religion and govern- ment of the churches of England and Ireland ; and all the fubjects are difcharged to renew the fame, as they will anfwer at their higheft peril." And in the oath of al- legiance and acknowlegement of his majeity's royal pre- rogative, ftatute by the eleventh act of laid parliament, all perfons of whatfoever truft, poft, office or employ- ment, are obliged to fwear, '• That they acknowledge the king only fupreme governor of this kingdom, over all perfons, and in all caufes. And that they do with all humble duty acknowledge his majeity's royal prero- gative, in all the particulars, and in the manner afore- mentioned. And to make the matter clearer, what they meant by the king's authority, in the preamble of the firft act of the fee end feffion oi* the fame fir ft: parliament, they af- fert, " That the ordering and difpofal of the external government and policy of his church, doth properly be- long unto his majefty, as an inherent right of the crown, by virtue of his royal prerogative and fupremacy in cau- fes ecclefiafucal." And upon this bottom, he, with ad- vice and confent of the eftates of parliament, fets up the Epifcopal form of church-government, the jurifdiction of bi mops' and archbidiops over the inferior clergy, with their concomitant of patronages ; and " Refcinds, caffes and annuls all acts of parliament, by which the fole and only power and jurifdiction w r ithin this church, doth itand in the church, and in the general, provincial and pref- byterial afTemblies, and kirk feffions ; and all acts of par- liament or council, which may be interpreted to have gi- ven any church power, jurifdiction or government to the office bearers of the church, their refpeclive meetings, other than that which acknowlegeth a dependance upon, and fubordination to, the fovereign power of the king as fupreme. " And in pnrfuance hereof, in the fecond a# of the forefaid fecond feffion, intituled, Act for prefer- vation of his majeity's perfon, authority and government, he doth, with advice of his eltates of parliament, declare, ** That the arTembly kept at Glafgow in the year 1638, was in itfelf (after the fame was by his majefty difcharg- ed under the pain of treafon) an unlawful and feditious The Preface to the Reader. 9* meeting: And that all thefe gatherings, convocations, petitions, proteftations, and erecting and keeping coun- cil tables, that were ufed in the beginning, and for car- rying on the late troubles, (thus they call the work of re- formation) were unlawful and feditious; and that thefe oaths, whereof the one was commonly called The Nati- onal Covenant, and the other A Solemn League and Co- venant, were and are In themfelves unlawful oaths ; and therefore declares their obligation void and nulJ, and re- funds all acts or conftitutions, ecclefiaftical or civii, ap- proving them." Nor does it fuffice them to refcind thefe Covenants, and other proceedings for carrying on the work of reformation, as contrary to his royal preroga- tive of ecclefiaftic fupremacy ; and to inhibit all perfons to fpeak, write or act any thing in de-fence ci the fame, and againft the fame prerogative ; but likewife in the fifth act of the forefaid feffion, all perfons in any place, office or truft, are obliged to fwear all the particulars contain- ed in the forefaid acts, in that moft impious oath, com- monly called, The Declaration. And again in the fourth act of the third feffion of the forefaid parliament, intitul- ed, Act- for eftablifhment and conftitution of a national fynod, it is declared, " That the ordering and difpofal of the external government of the church, and the no- mination of the perfons, by whofe advice matters relat- ing to the fame are to be fettled, doth belong to his ma- jefty, as an inherent right of the crown, by virtue of his prerogative royal, and fupreme authority in caufes ec- clefiaftical." And in the firft act of the fecond parlia- ment, holden by that apoftate, John earl of Lauderdale, intituled, Act afferting his majefty's fupremacy over all perfons, and in all caufes ecclefiaftical, commonly cal- led, The Act Explanatory, it is expreiiy declared, " That his majefty hath the fupreme authority and fu- premacy over all perfons, and in all caufes ecclefiaftical within this kingdom ; and that by virtue thereof, the ordering and difpofal of the external government and policy of the church, doth properly belong to hh majefty and his fucceftbrs, as an Inherent Right to the crown : and that his majefty and his fucce.Tors may fet- tle, enact and emit fuch conftitutions, acts and orders, con- cerning the adminiftration of the externa! government of the church, and the perfons employed in the lav <»nd concerning all ecclefiaitic meetings, and matters to 10 The Preface to the Reader. be propofed and determined therein, as they in their roy- al wifdorn fhall think fit." From all which acts it plainly appears, that the true UrSe of that authority, which they would have their prr- j thoughts about was really, as the martyrs under- ftood it, his ecclefiaftic fupremacy, and that no leis than a recognition hereof would ferve their turn : and tho' fome of the martyrs offered a diftinction between the two, profetling to own his civil authority abftracl: from the ec- clefiaftical, (as, for inflance, Mr. John Dick) yet they were not abfolved, becaufe they would not own his au- thority in grofs. ^nd befides, their including the fu- premacy over church matters, into the formal notion of the king's, authority, they could be pleafed with no leis from any that they called before them, than an own- ing the whole acts and laws, and entire exercife and ad- miniftration of things in church and (late, which was ail iicite condemning of all the preceeding reformation, and confenting to the perfecution and murder of the faints, who flood up for its defence. It is true indeed, thefe things were fo impious and a- bominable, that had they been propofed without maik, they would prefently begot an horror in the mind of any, v»ho was not entirely loft to all conference and goodnefs; and therefore thefe children of the old ferpent had fo much of their father, that they made it their work to hide thefe horrid hooks with fome fpecious baits, that they might the more eafily entice fimple people into that fnare they had laid for them : and hence, knowing how much it is the effect of true religion to make men loyal, and that the Preibyterians Were of ail others the readied to yield all lawful fubje&ion to their rightful princes, they ftill made uie of the fpecious title of authority as a blind to hide the ecclefiaftical fupremacy, and bloody exercife of their government, from thefe they laboured to enfnare. They faw the fupremacy they intended to fix in the king, was fuch a monftrum borrendum, hiforms, ingenS) Heccate aique Erebo ortum, that without fome vail of this nature, no man would be fo mad as to embrace it. But when this would not do 9 but that fliil its iil-fa- voured face appears thro' the vizard ; and all good men. faw, that that authority which fought no other way to maintain itfelf, but by blood and rapine, was really de- generated into tyranny, then they pretended to come The Preface to the Reader. 1 1 fome fteps lower, and laid. That they required no more at the hands of the people in order to difmifs them, but that they would at their dcfire pray for the king, in their prefcribed form of words, viz. God fave the king; or that they would drink the king's good health. Theic were by them reprefented to be fo minute and eafy things, and by a great many profeffors looked upon as fo trivial and indifferent, that they were in the fair way either to enfnare, or with more opportunity to expofe fuch asre- fufed to the contempt of indifferent fpe&ators, as being fuch fcrupulous fools, and brain-fick perfons, as were tranfported with an extravagant wild zeal without know- ledge, who h:id rather have a hand in their own death, than do fo final I and indifferent a thing in order to pre- vent it. And hence not the perfecutors only, but even a great many who profeffed prefbyterian principles, ftood •not to call them murderers, inftead of martyrs. But all this notwithstanding, it is certain they had no- thing elfe before them, but to bring people to a tame fubmiflion and flavifli compliance with the whole courfe of their Chrift-dethroning, and land-enflaving constitu- tions and adminiftrations ; for they intended the fame thing by urging people to fay, God fave the king, as by the Oath of Allegiance, Declaration, orTeft; namely, an acknowledgment of their authority, wherewith they had vefted him in the forementioned articles, and others of like nature, Lefs than this could never ferve their deiign, which was (till the fame, whatever alterations might appear to be in their way of profecuting it : for either thefe things were fo infignificant and indifferent as they gave them out to be, and as others conceived cf them, or they were not; if we fay the former, then what monllers of mankind were thefe perfecutors, who pjir ed poor innocent people to death, and inflicted fuch cruel •tortures upon them for trifles and things of indifferency. This is what themfelves (I fuppofe) would ne nit, to be reckoned a degree further loft to humanity than a Nero or Caligula, fo as to torment and deftroy men for fport : nay, they ftill pretended, that all thefe perfecu- tions were made upon weighty and juit caufes. If then we fay the latter, namely, That they were not fo very incprdiderable things as fome conceived, wherein could the moment and weight cf them confilt, but in this, That they were in owning of the authority, as it Wab contain- 12 The Preface to the Reader. -ed in the laws ? And what elfe was the fcope of the moft openly impious oaths, tefts, and bonds, but this ? And befides, when any yielded this much, they were ftill urg- ed further, till they had debauched them out of all con- science and integrity, as much as themfelves. The reft of the queftions put to them, and made caufes of their indictment, were all bnt fo many branches from this root, and rivulets from this fpring. The chief was that about defenfive arms, which their laws had declar- ed rebellion; which all the martyrs, without the leaft jar or difcord, did ftedfaftly maintain, as being a thing fo very confonant, not only to the pofitive commands of God in his word, but alio to the very law of nature (lamped on the heart, and to the laws and practices of all kingdoms; and undertaken upon fo neceffary grounds, as the defence of the gofpel, and the Lives of the inno- cent, in confequence of their covenant -engagements.; which, however thefe wicked perfecutors had declared void and null, and the adhering to them capital, yet all fuch as had any love to God, and zeal for his caufe, be- lieved to be perpetually obligatory upon them and the nation, and therefore adhered to them with a ftedfaft- nefs, and courage invincible, againft the moft bloody oppofition. And it is ohferveable, that whatever any of the martyrs had not fo much light in as others, or differ- ed from others anent, *or was filent when interrogate up- on it, yet they all agreed perfectly, and were clear a- bundantly in owning, and bold, harmonious, and cou- ragious in afferting the lawfulnefs, and avouching the o- bligatoryforce of the Covenants. National covenants were the means that God had conftantly from the beginning of the reformation made ufe of, and bleffed, to cement and ftrengthen his people in Scotland, in their adherence to the truth; of thefe his church was as a ftrong city and incorporation, profecuting all the fame common caufe of religion and liberty, fo by that common bond, the injv.ry offered to any one of her members, was taken as done to all. And befide the exprefs commands of the word, this was a &leffed rye and engagement, to every one in their place and ftation, to ftand up for the puri- ty of the doctrine, Simplicity of the worfhip, beauty and order of the government and difcipline of Chrift's houfe, and his royal Supremacy over the fame. And hence ma- lignant and JifaiFected perfons perceiving that there was The Preface to the Reader. 1 5 nothing fo conducive to the advancement and preferva- tion of national reformation, as thefe mutual bonds and facred covenants, fet themfelves chiefly to deftroy thefe ; and in an ignominious manner burnt them ; declared them treafonable and feditious, made the owning of them criminal, and perfecuted fuch as adhered to them: And on the other hand, God was pleafed mightily to animate his fufFering faints, both with light and zeal, in the de- fence of them, againft all the efforts of hellifli violence. Wherefore, when this alone was not like to effectuate their defigns, thefe perfecutors betook themfelves to ano- ther ftratagem, and fell upon more mild, but more fnc- cefsful meafures, of giving out indemnities and indi- gencies, fo reftricled and limited, as the accepters mould be gained to a peaceable compliance with, and fubmiiTI- on to their impious laws ; aud taken off from their zeal in maintaining the work of reformation, and divided from their covenanted brethren : By this means they weakened the remnant that had not complied with Pre- lacy, fet them at variance one againft another, allured the one to fit quietly {till, till they had made an end of their brethren ; and, in fhort, rent and almoft quite ruined the poor Prefbyterian church of Scotland. And hence, as the fuifering remnant, which was by far the fmaller part, were much oppofed and reproached by thefe minifters and profeffors, who accepted of thefe pre- tended favours, fo it became a ncceilary head of teftimo- ny, to witnefs againft the Indulgence and acceptance thereof, or fmful connivance thereat. The particular difquifition of this affair is not confiftent with the narrow limits of a preface. Wherefore the reader may fee, for his fatisfaction therein, The HiJIory of the Indulgence, In- fnnatory Vindication, Hind let loofe* Sec. Afterwards when the perfecution became fore and vio- lent againft the remnant that refufed thefe deceitful baits, and ftood to their covenanted religion and liberty, and that both by the open violence of the enemies, and falie flanders and calumnies of pretended friends, they were obliged to emit feveral declarations of their principles, and to defend themfelves from thefe unjuft {landers and calumnies : which declarations, fo foon as the perfecutors got into their hands, thinking they had got a good han- dle therein, for taking away the lives of all fuch a* ihould B 14 The Preface to the Reader. adhere to them, in regard that therein they had more explicitely and fully call off the authority of the tyrant CharJes II. and fpecified the reaibns why they could not own his authority, they never failed on all occafions, to make that a part of their examinations, Own ye the Sanquhar declaration, the papers found at the Queens- ferry ? &c. and many were indicted upon their adherence to thefe declarations, and other papers. I conceive it is not neceiFary to fwell this preface with a particular de- fence of thefe declarations, that being fo well done by themfelves in the Informal ory Vindication, which the reader may have recourfe to : And as to the paper found upon Mr. Hall of Haugh-head, when he was murdered at Queensferry, the reader mail fee it, with a fhort re- lation concerning that worthy gentleman's death, in the appendix to this book. Another queftion commonly put to fufFerers was, Whe- ther they owned the excommunication at the Tor wood ? Which they did with much freedom, as a neceiiary duty and lawfully performed, fo far as that broken ftate of the church would permit, and upon moll weighty and fufficient grounds. The' form and order of which ex- communication is alio added by way of appendix to this book. But their fined topick, wherein they infulted and glo- ried mod, was the death of James Sharp archbifhop of St. Andrews, which they reckoned a cruel murder, and therefore hoped, that if the fufFerers ihould approve of the fame, they would have a colour to deftroy them, as men of ailaftinating and bloody principles, deferving to be exterminate out of any well governed common-wealth ; i therefore it was Hill one of their queftions, Was the biihop's death murder : To which queftion fome anfwer- ed directly, That it was a juft and lawful execution of God's law upon him, for his perjurious treachery, and bloody cruelty ; others were iilent, or refufed to anfwer any thing directly to the point, as conceiving that it be- ing no deed of theirs, they were not obliged by any law divine or human, to give their judgment thereupon, e- fpecially when they could not exactly know the circum- fiances of the matter of fact, and faw that the queftion was propofed with a defign to enfnare them, or take a- way their life : yet was their very filence or refufal to give their opinion, made a caufe of their indictment, and The Preface to the Reader. j 5 ground of their fentence, and ibme were put to torture to make them give their Sentiments anent it. If any would be further Satisfied on this head, let him fee Hind let loofe, head VI. p. 633. But however thefe murderers of the fervants and peo- ple of God, made ufe of Such queitions as thefe to en- tangle them, yet itill the grand Hate of the quarrel was, «' Whether Chriit. alone, or king Charles, mould he owned as head and lawgiver to the church ? And, Whe- ther the divine form of government and discipline, which Chriit had inftitute, mould continue in her, or if an u- furper ihould have leave to mould it as he pleafed, and conform it to the pompous drefs of the Rpmiih whore :'' And hence it is alfo evident that the (late of the Suffer- ings before the engagement at Bothwel, was really one and the fame with that which was after it, as to the main, though things came to be clearer after it, con- cerning the civil authority, when by that and many o- ther inttances, it was made evident, that the pretended rulers were fetting themfelves direclly to ruin the whole interefts of the Subjects, as well civil as facred ; and that it was in vain to be any longer in fufpenfe, waiting for a Satisfactory redrefs of grievances, or opportunity to re- prefent the fame. So that the charge of rebellion laid, againft them, not only by our epifcopal pallive-obedience men, but alfo by the indulged, and Such as tread their fteps, is a moll groundlels imputation ; for king Charles had violate all the conditions of government, and ma- nifestly degenerate into a tyrant, long before they rejec- ted his authority, and had refilled all claim to the Sub- jects allegiance, upon account of the contra ft which he entered into at his coronation, and had no pretence to authority but hereditary right and bloody force, with the conSent of Such profligate noblemen and gentlemen as Sat in thefe packed and pretended parliaments, which could never, in law or reafon, oblige the hone it and faithful Subjects oS the kingdom to comply with thefe tj - rannical courSes, and Submit to him, who had as really forSeited his right to be king of Britain, as did his bro- ther afterwards by his abdication. But it is no new thing for the followers of Chriit to meet with this charge of rebellion, if ebel wants a Naboth's vineyard, and he ltands up for his proper {he will not want Sons of Belial to bear witaefs, 'I h 2 1 6 The Preface to the Reader. blafphemed God and the king. Do the adverfaries of Judah and Benjamin intend to flop the building of Jeru- salem, they'll not want a Rehum the chancellor, and Shimfhai the fcribe, to write, u That this city is a re- bellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved fedition within the fame of old time.*' Would Haman have all the Jews deftroyed, becaufe Mordecai will not honour him, this is the charge he lays againft them, as moft likely to effectuate his purpofe, '■ That their laws are diverfe from all peo- ple, neither keep they the king's laws." Have the pre- sidents a purpofe to be rid of Daniel, this is the engine, *< That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah," regardeth not thee, O King ! nor the decree that thou hail figned." Is a Tertullus to employ his e- | lence againft Paul, here's the artifice, < c We have fourid this man a peftilent fellow, and a mover of fediti- on among the Jews." Were the Romans defirous to have the Chriftians exterminated out of the empire, what fhift took they ! why, truly, this was it, " The Chriftians are rebellious and feditious ; they wont fwear by the life of Cvefar, nor adore his image ; and therefore Chrijiianos ad leones" If we look through the whole ecclefiaftic hi- ftory, we mail fcarce find a perfecution raifed, but this is an article of the charge. But it is no paradox, u The fervant is not greater than his Lord ;" even Chrift him- feif was accufed and condemned as an enemy to Caefar, and a mover of fedition. But I fhall not enter into this argument ; the fufferers for Chrift in Scotland have been frequently vindicated from the charge of rebellion, by more learned pens, and yet (till we have a generation of abfurd men, who will not fail to renew it ; nor can the ftrength of argument filence them, while they have brow enough to return railing in the room of reafon. The reader having thus briefly feen the caufes, upon which they laid down their lives ; it were neceffary to proceed to a fhort delineation, both of the cruelty of the perfecutors inflicting, and-of the courage, patience and chearfulnefs of the martyrs, fuffering thefe feverities ; but as for the former, what tongue can exprefs, what pen can defcribe the barbarous cruelty, and hellifh rage of the fons of wickednefs ? One might write a volume upon their cruelties, and after all fall far fhort of drawing them to 'the life, or giving any juft idea of them, they were fo The Preface to tie Reader. r 7 extremely inhumane and brutifh. At firft. they began with noblemen, gentlemen and miniiters, who had been eminent for the caufe of God ; beheading fome, ai;d placing their heads upon the ports of Edinburgh, in to- ken of the higheft contempt, baniihing others, ejecting all from their charges, but iuch as would fubjecl to Pre- lacy, and the blafphemous fupremacy ; and vitiating all the fprings and feminaries of learning : Next, they fell to compel the common people to hear curates, by vaft and exorbitant lines, extorted by troops of foldiers, plun- dering, quartering, beating, wounding, binding men like beafts, chafing them away from their houfes, com- pelling them, though fick, to go to church, confuming and wafting their provifion with dogs, and promifcuouf- ly abufing, as well thofe that conformed, as them that refufed : and if any teftined their refentment at thefe ver- min of ignorant and fcandalous curates, or refufed to give them their titles, they were imprifoned, fcourged, ftigmatized, and banilhed to Barbadoes, or other foreign parts. Any that were hearing their own miniiters in pri- vate houfes, were feized, dragged to prifons, and clofe kept there in great hardfhip, and that of every age and fex. Thefe were their tender mercies, and but the begin- nings of forrow: for after the defeat at Pentland-hills, befide what were killed upon the fpot, fuch as furrender- ed upon quarter and folemn parole to have their life, were, contrary to the law of nature and nations, treach- eroufly and bloodily murdered, to the number of forty ; one of them, a much reverenced young miniiler, had his leg fqueezed to pieces in the boots, and was afterwards hanged, tho' he was not in the right, but had only a fword about him. Soldiers were ordered to take free quarters in the country, to examine men by tortures, to compel women and children to difcover their hufbands and fathers, by threatening dea^h, wounding, dripping, torturing by fire matches, &c. crouding into prifons fo thick, that they could fcarce (tand together, in cold, hunger, and naked- nefs; and all this, beeaufe they would not, or could not difcorer who were at that expedition.- Likewife many enfnaring bonds, oaths and tells were framed, and im- pofed with rigour and horrid feverity; people obliged to have pailcs declaring they had taken them, or to fwear * 3 1 8 The Preface to the Reader. before common folJiers, under pain of being prefently (hot dead. Severe laws were made againft mini Iters, that came to Edinburgh for ihelter, they and their wives were fearch- ed for, by public fearch, crouded into prifons, lent to fo- reign plantations to be fold as flaves. Dragoons were fent to purfue people that attended field preachings, to fearch them out in moffes, moors, mountains and dens of the earth. Savage holts of Highlanders were fent down to depopulate the wefcern fliires, to the number of ten or eleven thoufand, who acted moil outrageous barbarities, tven almoft to the laying fome countries defolate. After the overthrow of the Lord's people at Bothwel, they doubled thefe feverities, ifTued out more foldiers, impofed eels, localities, and other new exactions ; forced people to fwear fuperinquirendis, and delate upon oath all that went to held preachings, fet up extraordinary circuit courts, enlarged ' their Porteous rolls, preffed bonds of compearance to keep the peace, to attend the church, refrain from field meetings, &c. examining coun- try people upon feveral queftions which they had no oc- casion to underftand, as concerning the death of King Charles I. and the archbifhop of St. Andrews, and con- demning them to death for not anfwering ; quartering fome alive, cropping their ears, cutting off the hands of fome, and then hanging them, cutting their bodies in pieces after they were dead, and fixing them upon poles in chains, and upon fteeples and ports of cities, beating drums at their executions, that they might not be heard fpeak, detaining others long in prifon, loaden with chains and fetters of iron, and expofed to greater tortures than death itfclf, and after all fent to be fold as flaves, to empty the prifons, exercifmg all thefe bloody deaths and cruelties upon poor country people, which had no influ- ence to do hurt to their government, though they had been willing; yea, upon women of tender age, whom they hanged and drowned, for refufing their oaths and bonds, and refetting the Lord's fuffering people. It would be endlefs to enumerate all their barbarities, exercifed upon particular perfons, only for a fwatch, take thefe inflicted on that excellent gentleman David Hackfton of Rathillet. He was taken out from the place of judgment to his execution, and his body, which was already wounded, was tortured while he was alive, by the cutting off both his hands, which was done upon a The Preface to the Reader. 19 high fcaffold prepared for the purpofe ; thereafter being drawn up by a pulley to the top of the high gallows, by the rope which was about his neck, and fuffered to fall down a very confiderable way upon the lower fcaiFold three times, with his whole weight; then he was fixed at the top of the gallows, and the executioner with a big knife cutting open his breaft, pulled out his heart, while he was yet alive, as appeared both by the body's contract- ing itfelf, when it was pulled out, and by the violent motion of the heart when it dropt upon the fcaffold, which the executioner taking up upon the knife, fhewed it to the people upon the feveral corners of the ftage, crying, Here is the heart of a traitor •, and then threw it in a fire prepared for the purpofe upon the ftage, toge- ther alfo with his other inwards and noble parts ; and having quartered his body, fixed his head and hands on a port at Edinburgh, and the other quarters at Leith, Coupar of Fife, and other places : Such was the fize and proportion of their perfecutions, while yet they pretend- ed to bring them to the knowledge of affizes and colour of law. But being now weary with thefe perfecutions, accord- ing to the tenor of their own laws ; The counfellors to rid themfelves of this trouble, gave out an edict for kil- ling them, wherever they might be found, immediately -upon the fpot, unlefs they would take the oaths, and fhew their pafs, which they behoved to fwear, that it was not forged ; and if they found any arms or ammu- nition upon them of any fort : By means of which edict, many were fuddenly furprized and fhot dead, by the brutifh and mercilefs foldiers, who were either peaceably living at home, following their lawful employments, or wandering in mountains, to hide themfelves from their bloody enemies, not being allowed time to recommend their fouls to God ; and the country was engaged by oath to raife the hue and cry againft them, in order to deliver them up to the hands of thefe burriors. The chief con- trivers and framers of this horrid murdering edict, were the earl of Perth chancellor, duke of Queenfberry, mar- quis of Athol, and particularly the vifcount of Tarbet, now earl of Cromarty, who invented this murdering de- vice, wherein yet he carried fo cunningly, that he pro- cured the act of the difpatch to the king with fuch fud- dennefs, that he found a way to fhift his own fubfcrib- 20 The Preface to the Reader. ing it ; and though he wants power now to practife fuch bloody mifchief, yet it is evident, he has not repented thereof, but is, as yet a contriver of the prefent encroach- ments made upon the eftablilhed church, by the late mif- chievous acls of parliament. But I mult not launch any further into the relation of thefe cruelties, the true hiitory of which would com- mence into a volume. I own indeed, that a fuller nar- ration of thefe things, with pertinent obfervations there- upon, would have been proper enough for the intended work ; but hoping, that the Lord may yet raife up fome of better abilities for fuch an undertaking, to fet thefe fufferings in a true light, and give an impartial recital thereof; this fliort hint, together with fome account of thefe cold blood murderers, in the appendix, may fuffice at prefent. Let us next view a little, with fome attention and con- cern, with what undaunted courage, holy refolution, and greatnefs of mind ; with what unfhaken ftedfaimefs and conftancy thofe worthy fufferers underwent all thefe bloody feverities. Thofe difciples of Jefus had been fo trained up in his fchool, and learned the great Chrifli- an doctrines of bearing the crofs, mortifying the flefh, and contemning the world ; they had been fo throughly inftructed by the great Matter of aflemblies, who teaches to profit, and leads the blind in a nvay they know not, to difcern the precioufnefs of truth, and excellency of the knowledge of Chrift, that they were made willing, yea, chearfully willing to forego riches, honours, plea- sures, liberty, and life itfelf, when they came in compe- tition with a fteady adherence to the truth, and honour of their lovely Lord. Love to Jefus Chrift was the great fpring which fet all the wheels of their affections in mo- tion, to do and fuffer for him, whatever he called them to. Every one of them could fay to their perfecutors, what Chryfoftom faid to the emprefs Eudoxia, who fent him a threatning mefTage, Nil ?iiji peccatum timeo, I fear nothing but fin. They law fo much of the evil of fin, and beauty of holinefs, that they would rather undergo the fevereft of fuffering than ftain their consciences with the leatl fm, or lofe the fmallell filing of this fine gold of truth. Many of the things for which they fuffered, were reckoned fmall by the indifferent world, but to them they appeared in their juit magnitude. Tcrtullian in his book, The Preface to the Reader. 1 1 ie corona militis, tells us, That when a certain Chriftian foldier, in the emperor's army, refufed to wear a crown of bays upon his head, as all the reft of the foldiers did, upon a day facred to one of the heathen idols, he was not only mocked at by the infidels for his nicety, but e- ven by many of the Chriftians, conceiving it a folly that this one man, for fuch a fmall and indifferent thing, ihould endanger both himfelf and other Chri- ftians ; but Tertullian defends him, and fays, " This foldier was more God's foldier, and more conftant than the reft of his brethren, who prefumed they might ferve two lords, and for avoiding perfecution, comply with the Heathens in their fuperititious rites." And when fome Chriftians, who, like our indulged peo- ple, would rather comply, than endure the hazard, ob- jected, " Where is it written in all the word of God, that we fliould not wear bays upon our heads?" Tertullian anfwers, " Where is it w r ritten that we may do it ? We muft look into the fcriptures, to fee what we may do ; and not think it enough, that the fcripture doth not for* bid directly this, or that very particular. " They knew, with the fame Tertullian, in the forecited book, " That the ftate of Chriftianity doth not admit the excufe of ne- ceffity ; There is no neceflity of finning to them, to whom it is only neceffary not to fin." And hence they would not fo much as feem to call in queftion any of the truths of Chrift : when the enemies would have given them time to deliberate and advife anent them, they were fo con- firmed in the prefent truth, that they anfwered their ad- verfaries, as Cyprian once did his, In ?nattria tarn juft anon eft deliberandum, in fo juft a caufe there needs no delibe- ration. When they were urged with the example of other Prefbyterians, minifters and profeffors, who had complied and were far wifer and better than they ; this did not (hake them, but rather heighten their zeal. As Chryfoftom tells us, thefe two holy martyrs, Juventius and Maximus, when they were urged by their perfecut- ors with this argument, Do not ye fee others of your rank do this ? anfwered, For this very reafon we will manfully ftand and offer ourfelves as a facrifice for the breach that they have made. So the fact defections of their brethren made them the more emulous to witnefs for Chrift, when fo many Demas like had forfaken him, having loved this prefent world. 2 2 The Preface to the Reader. Thefe martyrs had fuch large difcoveries of Chrift's love, efpecially under the crofs, that their hardeft trials were accounted light, ^s Stephen the proto-martyr got the fu Heft views of Chrift, while before the council, fo thefe had moft lively fights of him under the fharpeft fufferings ; and hence they could not find in their heart to deny fo kind a mafter. As Polycarp that holy mini- fier of Chrift, at Smyrna, anfwered the proconful, bid- ding him defy Chrift, and he would be difcharged, «< Fourfcore and fix years, fays he, have I been his fervant, yet all this time he hath not fo much as once beat me, how then may I fpeak evil of my king and fovereign, who hath thus preferved me?" They were under a lively fenfe of their vows and obligations :o Chrift, perfonal and national, and therefore durft not, could not deny his name, nor break his bonds, and call away his cords, as the wicked hath done ; they were of the refolute difpo- fition of Victorianus, who being folicited by the empe- ror to turn Arian, told him, " You may try all extremi- ties, torture me, expofe me to wild beatts, burn me to afhes, I had rather fuffer any thing, than falfify my promife made to Chrift my Saviour in baptifm." And as Chrift had been very kind to them, fo they trufted much to him, and depended on him for ftrengthning in^ fluence, being very fenfible of their own weaknefs ; and they durft promife much on Chrift's head ; they could fay as Vincentius to the tyrant Darius, " Rage and do the utmoft, that the fpirit of malignity can let you on work to do : You fhall fee God's Spirit ftrengthen the tormented more than the devil can do the tormentors. M And as Zuinglius to the Bifhop of Conftance, " Truth is a thing invincible, and cannot be refilled." As they were well inftructed in the neceflity, fo in the nfefulnefs and benefit of the crofs ; they knew, that as the church and nation had deferved to be chaftened and puniflied of God, fo it was far more eligible to be chaft- ened by fore adverfities, inflicted by a loving father, than by fevere impunities of an incenfed and juft judge. They knew that the grief they fufFered, was medicinal, not pe- nal ; the correction of a father, not the indignation of an enemy : and that they needed fuch merciful files and fur- naces of adverfity, to fcour off the ruft they had contrac- ted in profperity. Nay, they were not only content to undergo theie fatherly corrections, but accounted it a The Preface to the Reader. 2 3 lingular kindnefs and condefcenfion, that what they de- ferved fhould be their punifhment, was made their glory, crown and honour ; that they who had merited to be fcattered into corners, and have their remembrance made to ceafe from among men, for their lightly priz- ing the precious and glorious gloipel, fhould be gathered intofucha cloud of witneffes ; andhavetheirremembrar.ee made everlafting, as honoured martyrs for (Thrift, and the defence of the gofpel ; that when they had provoked God, by their finful lufting after a malignant to be their king, they mould be dignified, to contend for the kingly prerogatives of fucha glorious and good fovereign, as the King of kings. And as they had a good understanding in the doctrine of the crofs, fo likewiie in the promife of the crown, that is upon the back of the crois ; they had their eyes at the recompence of reward, and there- fore endured, becaufe by faith they faw him who is iayi- iible. It was their looking unto Jefus, who em : ;ch contradiction of fmners againft himfelf, thatinade tli bear all thefe reproaches, (landers, feoffs and jeers, from enemies and profeffed friends, with fuch invincible pati- ence. Thou haft here, Chriftian Reader, the dying i .'jeefcs of fome of thefe noble heroes ; and as the fpeeches of & ing men are remarkable, the fpeeches of dying Chr : ans more remarkable, how remarkable mud th< of dying witneffes for Chrift be ? It is reafonably expec- ted, that dying men, much more dying Chriftians, and mod of all, dying martyrs, mould fpeak beft at laft. They are immediately to give in their laft account, they are difinterefted from all the worldly views, that ufe to darken our understandings, and byafs our affections, while living in health and profperity ; they are upon the borders of eternity ; and as the motions of nature are the ftronger the nearer they are to the center, fo faints are moft lively and heavenly, when neareft heaven : mar- tyrs haveafpecial promife, " That it (ball be given them in that hour what they (hall fpeak, " The laft fpeech- es of Chrift's dying witneffes have extorted, even from Heathens, acknowledgments to the honour of God ; fV- re magnus eji Dens Chi ijlianorum, Truly great is the Chriftians God : They have been made the means of con- verfion to many thoufands of fmners : as Juftin Martyr 24 The Preface to the Reader. teftffies of himfelf, that the dying words of Chriftians, made him fall in love with the life of Chriftianity. I own, they are not bedecked with the embellilhments of oratory and fine language ; who can expect that from people of fo mean education ? But they are full of the language of heaven, which is many degrees more forci- ble than all our artificial rhetoric. One will find feveral miftakes in grammar, no doubt in them ; but they were never intended for the reflections of critics, but for the inftrudlion of Chriftians ; and their plain rude difcourfes may, thro' God's bleftings, do more good to the latter, than the moil elaborate compofures can do to the for- mer. They may ferve both as a comfort and encourage- ment to fufferers, and as an inftruction and example to faints. Herein, as in a glafs, we may both fee our ble- mifhes, wherein we come fhort of them, and learn to drefs ourfelves with the like chriftian ornaments of zeal, holinefs, ftedfaftnef*, meeknefs, patience, humility and other graces. But alas ! How can the beft of us read thefe teftimo- nies, without blufhing, for our low attainments and fmall proficiency in the fchool of Chrift ? How unlike are we to them, how zealous were they for the honour of Chrift ? How lukewarm are we, of whatever profeffi« on or denomination ? How burning was their love to him, his truths, ordinances and people ? How cold is ours ? How felf denied and crucified to the world were they ? How felfifh and worldly are we ? How willing were they to part with all for Chrift ; and what an ho- nour did they efteem it to fuifer for him, to be chained, whipped, haltered, ftaked, imprifoned, banifhed, wound- ed, killed for him ? How unwilling are we to part with a very little for him ; much lefs to endure fuch hard- fhips, and account them our glory ? Alas ! are we not afhamed of what they accounted their ornament, and accounting that our glory, which they looked upon as a difgrace ? How eafy was it for them to chufe the great- eft fufferings rather than the leaft fin ? How hard is it for us not to chufe the greateft fin, before the leaft fuf- fering? Oh that their chriftian virtues could upbraid us out of our lethargy of fupine fecurity ? That their hu- mility, meeknefs and patience could fhame us out of our pride, haughtinefs and impatience : They were fympa- thizing Chriftians, active for the glory of God and good The Preface to the Reader. 25 of fouls, diligent to have their evidences for heaven clear, and having obtained afTurance of God's love to their perfons, and approbation of their caufe, they went chearfuily on in their way, fearlefs of men, who can ly kill the body, and ready to die the mod violent death at God's call : But oh ! how little fellow-feeling is there now among Christians ? But inftead thereof, bitterneii, emulation, wrath, envy, contentions and divifions. How little concern for the work and caufe of Chriil ? How- dark are the moft part, both as to their fpiritual ftate, and their proper and pertinent duty ? And how much is the fear of man prevailing above zeal for the glory of God ? I know, it is objected by fome, that they much wanted that virtue which is the greateft ornament of Chriftians, and trueft character of martyrs, namely a forgiving dif- pofition ; becaufe they lay their blood at the door of the principal contrivers and executors of their death, which the objectors fuppofe not to have been done by any of the former fufferers for Chrift. But to this I oppone. 1/?, Granting for argument's fake, that they had expreft themfelves with fome more fervency on that head, than others formerly had done, and that this was a piece of their infirmity ; it will not follow that we (hould prefent- ly admit the invidious inference, that therefore they were no martyrs for Chrift : For as neither the many grofs failings of the Old Teftament faints, nor the miftakes of primitive Chriftians, about the truths for which they fufFered, could deprive either of the honour of the faint- fhip or martyrdom, fo neither ought any infirmity of theirs to be improven againft them for that end. Solo- mon tells us, that opprejfion makes a wife man mad ; and they met with it in the higheft degree, and that not from the hands of Pagans, Turks or Papifts, but of thofe who had been their covenanted brethren by profeflion ; and when a holy felf-refigned David had much ado to bear reproaches from the hand of one, that had been his equal, guide and acquaintance, with whom he had formerly fweet fellowfhip ; it was not to be wondred, if they were put upon fome vehemency of expreffion by their fevere iufferings from fuch hands ; and fliould rather be favour- ably conftracted of — Si quid Intumuit pietaS) fi quid fiagrantius atlum fji. C julil \iui) r , iviuic uuccu) , i iim doiu to ueny uie cnarge ; for they every where diftinguifh betwixt the injuries done to them, confidered fimply in themfelves, and the injuries done to Chrift, and to his image in them : The former they declare they forgive, as they defire forgivenefs of God themfelves : the latter they leave to God's fovereign difpofal, withal wifhing, that God might give them re- pentance, nor is the thing unprecedented ; for befide the cample of Jeremiah, who laid his innocent blood at the door of the princes, if they mould take his life, there ight be feveral more recent parallels adduced ; it ihall fuffice to inftance one of our own nation, imprifoned for bearing witnefs to the fame truth, namely Mr. John Welfh, who in his letter to the Lady Fleeming, hath thefe exprefs words, " The guilt of our blood mall ly upon bifhops, councellors and commiflioners, who have ftirred up our prince againft us ; and fo upon the reft of our brethren, who either by filence approve, or by cry- ing peace, peace, ftrengthen the arm of the wicked, that ■y cannot return ; and in the mean time make the heart of the righteous fad. Next, upon all them that fat in council, and did not bear plain teftimony of Jefus Chrift and his truth, for which we fuffer : And next, upon ixofe that lliould have come and made open teftimony of L,nrift faithfully, although it had been to the hazard of their lives. Finally, all thefe that counfel, command, confent and allow, are guilty in the fight of God." Sure I am, this is as full as any thing they have on this head, and proves, that what they did, was confiftent with a chriftian and forgiving temper of fpirit. And as they went off the ftage, both with magnani- mity and meeknefs, fo it has been obferved concerning many of their perfecutors, that they departed this world with vifible fymptoms of God's wrath and judgments, ^ecially with hell in their fouls, I mean, the horror of r p awakened confcience, under the fenfe of God's indig- ion; than which there can be no greater torment in . ib life. Shuli non iiivenere tyranni Tormentum ma jus ii, thefe martyrs are now in heaven, in Abraham's ofom, enjoying the crown laid up for them, con- ned in an unchangeable ftate of reft and bleffednefs ; -'e arc yet in the ftage of aclion and place of probation, The Preface to the Reader. 1 7 we have our trials before us, let us imitate the cloud of ivitneffes, and co?itend for the faith once delivered t? the faints. We know not what florms are abiding us. The Canaanite and the Perizzite are yet in the land. A reft- lefs Popifh and Jacobite party, projecting a new revolu- tion of affairs ; as fanguinary and cruel yet as ever, and retaining as much of the old malignity and enmity again!! the covenanted work of reformation as ever, only wait- ing an opportunity to exert it, and many things in the prefent afpect of affairs portending, that they may be our fcourge in the hand of our difpleafed Lord, for our mif- improving mercies and deliverances, fatisfying ourfelve r with our own things, not minding the things of Chrift ; chiefly for our undervaluing the offers of the bleffed Scr of God in the gofpel, and vifible breach of national obli- gations to be for him and his caufe. Seeing then fuch clouds are gathering, and threatning a difmal tempeft, let us arm ourfelves with the fame mind, to ftand up for the truth upon all hazards, whether we be called of God to do, or to fuffer, for the joint intereft of true religion and national liberty, for thefe, like Hippocrates's twins, weep or laugh, live or die together. Right eoufnefs ex- alteth a nation, faith the wife Solomon ; and Theodofius the emperor owned, That the eftablifhment of a chriftian ftate depends chiefly upon piety towards God. On the other hand, civil liberty is an excellent bulwark to reli- gion, without which its purity cannot long be preferved : for, as the fame emperor faid, Mult a inter ecclfiam ct revipublicam ccgnatio inttrccdere folet ; ex fe imvicem pen- dent, ct utraque profperis alterius fuccejfibus increuu: fumit. There is a great fibnefs betwixt the church and common-wealth: they depend the one upon the other, and either is advanced by the proiperity and fuccefs o. the other. 'Tis to be feared, this time of eafe and outward peace has fo effeminated and foftned our fpirits, that wc will find it hard to face a ftorm ; we may complain with Ku- febius, Res nof/w ?iimia libertate in m-Aliticjn et fegv.itiem degenerarunt* Too much liberty has made us foft and fluggilh. The vigorous exercile of Chriilian discipline, has been much intermitted, and therefore wc have ground to expect fevere correction from the hand of God. Cy- prian obferves, that this was the procuring caufe of God's ;orre£ting the church in his time ; <%pia trddiiam i 2o ±ue rrejuce iq lut i\eaaer. divlnitus difciplinam pax longa corruperat, jacentem fdem, ct pene dixeri?n dcr?niente??i, cenfura coeleflis erexit. Be- cause long peace had corrupted the divinely inftituted difcipline, therefore there needed heavenly chaftifement to awaken the faith of the church, which was lying low, and almoft faft afleep. All thefe dying witnefTes, affure us of judgments abiding this church and nation, and our prefent condition fecms to fay, that we are the people that are to meet with them; how much need then had we of the chriftian armour, the divine Panoplia, which made thefe Chriftians proof againfl the fiery darts of Sa- tan and the wicked : and of the holy fubmiffion which made them bear the indignation of the Lord patiently, becaufe they had finned againft him. Having thus briefly ufnered thee in to the following Iheets, chriftian and candid reader, I fhall detain thee no longer from perufmg them, fave only by the way to take notice of thefe few advertifements. i. It is not pretended, that here are all the fpeeches and teftimonies of thofe that fuffered in Scotland fince the year 1680. For many of them, which no doubt are extant, have not come into the hands of the publifhers cf this collection, and fome of them that were in their hands, did fo far coincide with other, in matter and phrafe, that they left them unpubliftied, with fome re- mark upon them, to keep up the memory of thefe ho- nourable fulFerers ; being defirous that the book fliould rot fwell to fuch a bulk, as might make it lefs ufeful to country people, who have not much money to buy, or leifure to read bulky volumes. And if encouragement be found in this attempt, there may more of them come to be publiihed afterwards. Only, this the collectors of thefe teftimonies can fay, that they have left out none, which were in their hands, that they conceived might be for the benefit of the public, upon any finifter view or account: And if any lhall find any alteration in any of them from their own manufcripts (except it be in the grammar, wherein they took fome little freedom, where iiecetnty required it) they are to impute it to variety of copies, whereof they had feveral, and chofe that which they conceived the moil genuine. 2. As for the teftimonies of the banifhed, they being much the fame, as to all material points, with thefe of The Preface to the Reader. £9 the dying witnefTes, they are omitted, and a lilt of their names added in the appendix. 3. The lait fpeeches of thofe, who fuffered on account of the Earl of Argyle's attempt, in the year 1685, are advifedly pretermitted, both becaufe fome of them are already publifhed in a book intituled, The Weftern M*r« tyrology, and likewife becaufe it is the opinion of the encouragers of this work, that their teftimony was not fo directly concert, according to the true ftate of the quarrel, for the covenanted intereft of the church of Chrifl in Scotland, as it ought to have been ; tho' they intend not hereby to rob them of the glory of martyr- dom for the proteflant religion. Nor can this be any prejudice to others, who may incline more fully to pu- blifh the tranfaclions of the times. May the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chriit, who enabled his people to witnefs fo good a confeffion for his truth and caufe, make thefe dying fpeeches ufe- ful to animate all the lovers of the reformed religion, with the like chriftian magnanimity and refolution, to> ftand up for its defence, againft a Popffh, Prelatic, and Jacobitifh faction, endeavouring its overthrow. May he unite us in the way of truth and duty, to ftrive together for the valuable interefts of our religion and liberi A difvial account of the form of burning the SoIemnLeague and National Covenant with Cod and one another, at Linlithgow, May 29th, 166 1, being the birth-day of King Charles the Second. Divine fervice being ended, the ftreets were fo filled with bonfires on every fide, that it was not with- out hazard to go along them : the magiftrates about four o'clock in the afternoon went to the Earl of Linlithgow's lodging, inviting his Lordfhip to honour them with his prefence at the folemnity of the day ; fo he came with the magiftrates, accompanied with many gentlemen to the market-place, where a table was covered with confections; then the curate met them and prayed, and fang a pfalm, and fo eating fome of the confections, they threw the reft among the people. The fountain all the time running French and Spanlm wine of divers colours, and continu- ed running three or four hours. TheEarl, the magiftrates and gentlemen, did drink the king and queen's good health, and all royal healths, not forgetting his majefty's commiffioner's health, Lord Middleton, and breaking feveral bafkets full of glafTes. At the market-place, was erected an arch (landing upon four pillars, on the other fide whereof was placed a ftatue in form of an old Hag, having the Covenant in her hands, with this fuperfcription, A glorious Reformation: on the o- ther fide was placed a ftatue in a Whigmuir's habit,having the Remonftrance in his hand, with this fuperfcription, JY^aJociation with Malignant s; within the arch on the right hand was drawn a committee of eftates, with this infcrip- tion, An acl for delivering up the King. Upon the left hand was drawn the commifilon of the kirk, with this fuper- fcription, A commijfion of the Kirk and committee ofeftates* and Acl of the Weft-kirk of Edinburgh* and upon the top of the arch ftood the Devil as an angel of light, with this fuperfcription, Stand to the caufe ; and on the top of the arch hung a table with this litany, From Covenanters with uplifted hands, From Remonftrators with aflbciate bands, From fuch committees as govern 'd this nation, From kirk commjffions, and their proteftation, Good Lord deliver us. I 3 l ) On the pillar of the arch beneath the covenant were drawn kirk-ftools, rocks, and reels ; upon the pillar be- neath the Remonftrance were drawn brechams, cogs and Ipoons ; on the back of the arch was drawn the picture of Rebellion in a religious habit, with turned up eyes, and with a fanatic geilure, and in its right hand holding Lex Rex, that infamous (rather famous) book, main- taining defenfive arms, and in the left hand holding that pitiful pamphlet, (rather excellent paper) The caufes of God's Wrath, and about its wafte w T ere all the acts of par- liament, committees of eftates, and acts of general a/Tem- blies and commiffion of the kirk, their proteftations and declarations during thefe twenty- two years rebellion, (fo they called the time of Reformation), and above was this fuperfcription. Rebellion is as the fin of witchcraft. Then at the drinking of the king's health, fire was put to the frame, which gave many fine reports, and foon burnt all to afhes : which being confumed, there fuddenly appear- ed a table fupported by two angels, carrying this fuper- fcription, Great Britain's monarch on this day was born, And to his kingdoms happily reftor'd : The queen's arriv'd, the mitre now is worn, Let us rejoice, this day is from the Lord. Fly hence, all traitors who did mar our peace, Fly hence, fchifmatics who our church did rent, Fly, covenanting, remonftrating race ; Let us rejoice that God this day hath fent. Then the magiftrates accompanied the noble Earl to his palace, where the faid Earl had a bonfire very mag- nificent. Then the Earl and magiftrates, and all the reft, did drink the king and queen, and all royal healths. Then the magiftrates made proceffion, thro' the burgh, and faluted every man of account, and fo they fpent the day rejoicing in their labour. ( 3* ) A N ENCOMIUM On the following MARTYRS- LO ! here of faithful witnefTes a cloud, For Chrift their King refifting unto blood, Lo J here upon their Pifgah top they ftand ; Juft on the confines of Emmanuel's land : Leaving th' ungrateful world, longing to be Poffefs'd of bleifed immortality. Lo ! here they ftand, accofting cruel death With Chriftian bravenefs, to their lateft breath : The views they have of heav'n's eternal joys, So far eclipfe all fublunary toys, Their fouls are only charm'd with things above, Exulting in their fweet Redeemer's love. Lo ! here they ftand, and will not quit the field, They'll die upon the fpot before they yi-eld. Lo ! with what courage and brave refolution They bear the fhock of bloody perfecution. Hell's rage, Rome's fury, nor the fcorn of thofe Pretending friendfhip, tho' the worft of foes, Could never fhake their fteady loyalty To Zion's king, for whofe fupremacy Over his church, thus boldly they contend, And by his grace endure unto the end; Refufing e'er to make a bafe furrender Of Chrift's regalia to a vile pretender ;, Who fwoln with more than Luciferian pride- Could not in his own princely place abide ; But would ufurp the fp 'ritual pow'r and throne By God JEHOVAH gLv'n to Chrift alone. And having thus 'gainft heav'n difplay'd a banner, The Covenant he iwore in folemn manner, He broke and burnt ; divine and human laws, Trod under foot ; and to advance his caufe,. K 55 J Made bloody violence the only claim, Whereby he wore the royal diadem. Being ferv'd with beafts devoid of human fenfe ; Much more of honour and of confcience ; Who flew God's dearefl faints in field and city, 'Gainft Jaw and reafon, without fenfe and pity : Whofe fharpeft fufferings could not affwage, Nor death itfelf allay their hellifh rage. As if their bodies dead felt fenfe of pains, Cut all in parts, they hung them up in chains ; Heads, legs, and arms, they pJac'd on ev'ry port Of burghs, or other places of refort, As (landing trophies of their victory, O'er divine truth, and human liberty. Well, have they kill'd, and ta'en poffeffion too ? Is this the utmoft that their rage cou'd do ? Only to fend ChriiVs loving fubje and was afhamed of this of Mr. Donald Cargil. 4 1 teftimony, and in fo doing, gave the firft vote to your condemnation; and proclaimed a lawfulness to the reft of the aflizers and murderers, to follow in their condem* nations; God fhall require this with his other doings at his hands ; and I am fomewhat afraid, if he be not fud- denly made the fubject of ferious repentance, he fhall be made the fubject of great vengeance. But forgive and for- get all thefe private injuries, and labour to go to eterni- ty and death, with a heart deititute of private revenges, and filled with zeal to God's glory, and affign to him the quarrel againft his enemies, to be followed out by himfelf in his own way, againft the indignities done to God, and againft the mocking perfidioufnefs, impieties and Iukewarmnefs of this generation. And for yourielf, whatever there has been either of fin or duty, remember the one, and forget the other: and betake yourfelf whol- ly to the mercy of God, and the merits of Chrift ; ye know in whom ye have believed, and the acceptablenefs of your believing, and the more fully you henceforth be- lieve, the greater fhall be his glory, and the greater your peace and fafety. Farewel, deareft friend, never to fee one another any more, till at the right-hand of Chrift. Fear not, and the God of mercies grant a full gale and a fair entry into his kingdom, that may carry fweetly and fwift- ly over the bar, that you find not the rub of death. Grace, mercy, and peace be with you. Tours in ChriJ} % D . CARGIL. A Letter to feome Friends before he ivent akrodd. Dear Friends, I Cannot but be grieved to go from my native land, and efpecially from that part of it, for whom and with whom I defired only to live: Yet the dreadful apprehen- iions I have of what is coming upon this land, may help to make me fubmiffive to this providence, though more bitter: You will have fnares for a little, and then a de- luge of judgments. I do not fpeak this to affright any, much lefs to rejoice over them; as if I were taken, and they left; or were ltudying, by thefe thoughts, to alleviate my own lot of baniihment ; though I am afraid that none fhall blefs themfelves long upon the account that they are left behind. Rut my deiign is, to have you making for fnares 2nd judgments, that ye may have bcth the greafeft D 3 4* The lajl Speech and Teftimony readinefs and the greateft fhelters, for both ihall be id one. Clear accounts, and put off the old, for it is like that what is to come will be both fudden and furprizing, that it irill not give you time for this. Beware of taking on new debt. I am afraid that thefe things that many- are looking on as favours, are but come to bind men to- gether in bundles for a fire. I am fure if thefe things be embraced, there ihall not be long time given for ufing of them ; and this laft of their favours and fnares is fent to men, to mow that they are that which otherwife they will not confefs themfelves to be. Tell all, that thefhel- ter and benefit of this mall neither be great nor long ; but the fnare of it (hall be great and prejudicial. And for myfelf, I think, for the prefent he is calling me to a- nother land. But how long Ihall be my abode, or what employment he has for me there I know not; for I can- not think he is taking me there to live and lurk only. I reft, DONALD CARGIL. A Letter to JOHN MALCOLM and ARCHI- BALD ALISON, Prifoners. Dear Friends, DEATH in Chrift, and for Chrift is never much to be bemoaned, and lefs at this time than any other ; when thefe that furvive have nothing to live among but miferies, perfecution, fnares, forrows and finning; and where the only defirable fight, viz, Chrift reigning in a free and flouriihing church, is wanting, and the greatly grieving and offenfive object to devout fouls, viz, devils, and the worft of the wicked, reigning and raging, is ftill before our eyes ; and though we had greater things to leave, and better times to live in, yet eternity does fo far exceed and excel thefe things in their greateft perfection, that they who fee and are fure (and we fee indeed, being made fure) will never let a tear fall, or a figh go at the farewel, but would rather make a flip to get death, nor fo (hun it, if both were not equally deteftable to them upon the account of God's commandments, whom they neither dare, nor are willing to offend, even to obtain heaven itfelf. And there are none who are his, but they unuft iee themfelves infinitely advantaged in the exchange ; and accordingly haftsn, if fin, the flefh, and want of at; of Mr\ Donald CargU. 43 furance did not withftand ; and there is no doubt, but thefe muft be weak and poor fpirits, that are bewitched or enchanted, either with the fruitions or hopes of the world. And as earth has nothing to hold a refolute and reconciled foul, fo heaven wants nothing to draw it; and to fome to live here has been always wearifome, fmce their peace was made, ChriiVs fweetnefs known, and their own weaknefs and unufefulnefs experienced ; but now it is become hatefully loathfome, fince devils and the word of men are become the head, and dreadful by their ftu- pendious permiflions, loofings and lengthnings in their reigning, and friends are become uncomfortable, becaufe they will neither chriftianly bear and bide, nor rightly go forward to effectuate their own delivery. But for you r there is nothing at this time (if you yourfelves be fure with God, which, I hope, either you are, or will be) which can make me bewail your death, though the caufe of it doth both increafe my affection to you, and indignation againft thefe enemies. Yet for you, notwith- (landing of the unjuflnefs of the fentence, go not to e- ternity with indignation againft them, upon your own account. Neither let the goodnefs of the caufe ye fuffer for, found your confidence in God, and your hope of well-being; for were the action never fo good, and per- formed without the leaft failing, which is not incident to human infirmity, it could never be a caufe of obtaining mercy, nor yet commend us to that grace from which we are to obtain it. There is nothing now which is yours, when you are pleading and petitioning for mercy, that mult be remembered but your fins, for in effect, there is nothing elfe ours. Let your (ins then be on your heart, as your forrow, which we muft bewail, before we be parted with them, as the captive her father, not becaufe fhe was to leave him, but becaufe (he had been fo long with him. And let thefe mercies of God, and merits of Chrift, be before your eyes as your hopes, and your winning to thefe as the only rock upon which we can be faved; if there be any thing feen or looked to in ourfelves but fin, we cannot expect remifiion and falvation allenarJy thro' free grace, in which expectation only it can be obtained; neither can we earneftly beg, till we fee ourfelves defti- tute of all that procures favour, and full of all that me- rits and haftens vengeance and wrath. And befidcs, it heightens the price of that precious blood, by which 44 The hfl Speech and Teflhnony only we can have redemption from fin and wrath : it be ; ng the only iufficient in itfelf, and only acceptable to the Father, and fo it mull be, being the blefTed and gracious device and refult of infinite wifdom, which makes the eternal God to be admired in his gracioufnefs and holincfs, having found out the way of his own pay- ment, without our hurt, and which makes all return to their own defires, and there to reft in an eternal com- placency; for this way returns to God his glory, to juitice its fatisfailion, to difquieted confciences of men, frighted and awakened with the fight of fin and wrath, eafe, peace and ailurance, and to the fouls of men fel- lowfhip with God and hope of eternal falvation. Now, the righteoufnefs of Chrift being made fure to us, fe- cures all this for us, and this both is believed and appre- henden by faith, it being the hand by which we grip this rock, and if it be true, it cannot but be ftrong, and we faved. Look well then to your faith, that it be a faith growing out of regeneration, and the new crea- ture, and have Chrift for its righteoufnefs, hope and re- joicing, and be fealed by the fpirit of God : and what this fealing is, when it comes it will abundantly fhow itfelf ; and there can be no other full fatisfaclion to a foul than this. But feek till ye find, and whatever ye find for the prefent, let your laft act be to lay and leave yourfelves on the righteoufnefs of his Son, expecting life thro' his name, according to the promife of the Father. Dear friends, your work is great, and time fhort ; but this is a comfort, and the only comfort in your prefent condi- tion, that you have a God infinite in mercy to deal with, who is ready at all times to forgive, but efpecially per- fons in your cafe, who have been jeoparding your lives upon the account of the gofpel, whatever failings or infirmites in you, that action hath been accompanied with ; for it is the action itfelf which is the duty of this whole covenanted kingdom, and not the failing, for which you are brought to fuffering. Seek not then the favours of men, by making your duty your fin; but confefs your failings to God, and look for his mercy thro' Jefus Chrift, who has faid, Wkofoever lofeth his life for my fake, foall keep it unto eternal life. And tho' it will profit a reprobate nothing to die after this manner, for nothing can be profitable without love, which only is, or can be, in a believer, yet it fhould be no disadvantage, of Mr. Donald Cargil. 45 but, in a manner, the bed way of dying; for it would take fome from his days that he might have lived, and fo prevent many fins that he would have committed, and fo the fin is leifened that is the caufe of eternal fuf- ferings. And let not this difcourage you, or lay you by, that the work is great, and the time fhort, tho' this indeed fhould mind you of your iinful neglect, that were not better provided for fuch a fhort and peremptory fum- mons, which you mould always have expected. It alio fhews the greatnefs of the fin of thefe enemies, that not only take away unjuflly your bodily life, but alfo fhorten your time of preparation, and fo do their utmoft to de- prive you of eternal life. Yet, I fay, let not this either difcourage, or lay you by, for God can perfect great works in a fhort time, and one of the greateft things that befal men, (hall be effectuate in the twinkling of an eye, which is one of the fhorteir. I afTure you, he put the thief on the crofs thro* all his defires, convictions, con- verfion, juftification, fanctification, fee. in a fhort time, and left nothing to bemoan, but that there did not re- main time enough to glorify him on earth that had done all thefe things for him. Go on then, and let your in- tent be ferioufnefs ; the greatnefs of your forrow, and the height of love, in a manner, make a compenfatioa for the fhortnefs of time, and go on though ye yourfelves have gone fhort way ; for where thefe things are, one hour will perform more than thoufands where there were not, either fuch enforcements or power; and be perfuaded in this, you have him as much and more haftening than yourfelves ; for you may know his motion by your own, they being both fet forward by him. And dear friends, be not terrified at the manner of your death, which to me feems the eafiefi: of all, where you come to it without pain, and in perfect judgment, and go thro' fo fpeedily; before the pain be felt the glory is come : but pray for a greater meafure of his prefence, which only can make a pafs through the hardeft things cheerful and pleafant. I bid you farewel, expecting, tho' our parting be fad, our gathering fhall be joyful again. Only your great ad- vantage in the cafe you are in, is to credit him much, for that is his glory, and engages him to perform what- ever ye have credited him with. No more, but avow 4 6 The loft Speech and Tejlbnony boldly to give a full teftimony for his truths, as you de- fire to be avowed of him. Grace, mercy and peace be with you. DONALD CARGIL. To the Prifoners in the Correttion-houfe of Edinburgh. Bear Friends, 1 Think, ye cannot'but know that I am both concern- ed and afflicted with your condition ; and I would have written fooner, and more, if I had not feared that you might have been jealous (under your diftempers) that I had been feducing you to follow me, and not God and truth. It has been my earneft and frequent prayer to God, (as he himfelf knows) to be led in all truths; and I judge, I have been in this gracioufly anfwered ; but I deiire none, if they themfelves judge it not to be truth, to adhere to any thing that I have either preach- ed, written, or done, to any hazard, much more to the lofs of life. But I have been afflicted with your conditi- on, and could not but be more, if God's great graciouf- nefs in this begun difcovery, and your fincerity and fin- glenefs gave me not hope, that God's purpofe is to turn mis to the great mercy of his poor church, and yours, if ye marr it not; and yet the great fin and pillar of Sa- tan that is in this fnare, makes me tremble. It was God's mercy to you that gave fuch convictions, that made you, at leaft, fome of you, once to part with thefe men; and it was undoubtedly your fin that you continued not fo, but after convictions, did caft yourfelves into new temptations ; for convictions ought to be tenderly guid- ed, left the Spirit be grieved from whom they come; but this fecond difcovery tho' it be with a fharper rebuke, as it makes God's mercy wonderful, fo it mall render your perfeverance in that courfe, finful and utterly in- excufable ; for God has broken the fnare, and it will be your great fin, if you go not out with great hafte, joy and thankfulnefs, when God's wonderful difcovery has made fuch a way for your delivery ; for God having now (hown you, the ring-leaders and authors of thefe opini- ons to be perfons of fuch abominations, calls you not on- ly to deny credit to them, but alfo to make a ferious fearch of their tenets, which will, I know, by his grace, bring you undoubtedly to fee that thefe things are coa- of Mr. Donald Cargil. 47 trary both to God's glory and truth, that they fo much pretend to. And now, dear friends, as I cannot be tender enough of you, who in your zeal and finglenefs have been mil- led ; for tho' this did bewray a great fimplicity and un- watchfulnefs, yet it did alfo betoken fome zeal and ten- dernefs, that being beguiled, it was in things that were veiled and bufked with fome pretences to God's glory, and public reformation. And on the other hand, I can- not have great enough abhorrence of thefe perfons, who knowing themfelves to be of fuch abominations, did give out themfelves to be of fuch familiarity with God, and of fo clear illumination, to make their delufions more patting with devout fouls. Let nothing make you think this is malignity, or natural enmity againft the power of god- linefs, or progrefs in reformation, that is venting itfelf in me; for, tho' I cannot win forward as I ought, yet I have rejoiced to fee others go forward. And I am lure, there lies in this bed within you, a viper and a child. Satan transforming himfelf into an angel of light, has put thefe two together, to make it pafling with fome, and to be fpared of others, who are of tendernefs. But my foul's defire is, to kill the ferpent, and keep the child alive; and God is calling you loudly to fevere the good from the bad, that the wit of Satan's fubtilty has mixed together, and to deliver yourfelves fpeedily, as a roe from the hand of the hunter ; and not only return, but bitterly mourn for your high provoking of God, in of- fering fuch foul facrifices to his glory, and fewing your old clouts upon that new garment; in your making the enemy more to defpife that caufe and company, who are enough defpifed already, and difcouraging thole who were following, and going forward with joy in that which was right, fo that now, neither have they heart nor hand for the work, nor can they look out, till God recover them a^ain. There is much in the whole of thofe, that may, and does weight and overwhelm fome fpirits ; but there is nothing in all their cogitations about it, that they found comfortable, unlefs it be, that he is cleared in articling us, and continuing to afilidr us, becaufe there were fuch per ions among us. I fpeak this but of fome of you, and beloved by us, tho' ignorantly; and we wilh that this be the laft and great (top that was to be rcmov- 48 The I aft Speech and Teftimony ed before his coming to revenge himfelf and reign. I would not fay, but by this alio he fhewed his tendernefs, ofpreferving integrity of doctrine, and found reforma- tion, and his purpofe not to fuffer errors and herefies to profpcr. This I told you, when I met with you, that there were fome things ye were owning which were highly approved of God; fuch as an inward heart-love and zeal to God's glory, which I perceived to be in fomc of you, fo far as it can be perceived, and fetting up of that before you, as your end, in purfuing it always as your work, and a forgetting of all other things in regard of it, excepting only thefe things without which we can- not glorify him, (as a work- man that intends his work, muft mind his tools) even our own falvation, and the fal- vation of all others, as if they were not things wherein he is greatly glorified, for his glory is in righteoufnefs and mercy, and in and by thefe is the falvation of man infallibly advanced, and to thefe it is infeparably con- nefted. Next I would advife you, to fet apart more, yea, much more of your time, for humiliation, fading and prayer, in fuch an exigence, when the judgments of God appear to be fo near, and fo great, fo that it be done without fin, for God cannot be glorified by fin ; For if viy lie hath wore abounded to his glory* ivhy am 1 judged as a /inner? I was againft fuch who deny nature, and others, their right dues ; for he that allows dues to others, allows them to be paid alio : and we muft be like prifoners, who are of great debt, and honeft hearts, who know they cannot pay every one their full fums, yet are refolved to give every one fome, and to the greateft moft, and to the reft accordingly. And as there cannot be a total abftinence from meat, without felf murder, fo there cannot be a total denying others their dues, fuch as the benevolence of hufband to wife, and a total abstaining from work, without a tranfgreflion of God's commandments and laws, which can never be a glorifying of him, which the more impartially they are keeped, the more he is glorified. Next, ways are allow- ed of him, that ye may make yourfelves free, fo much as in you lies, of all the public defections : Whatever may involve you in thefe, or contribute to their uphold- ing, without either an overpowering force, or an indif- penfible neceftlty : JTor 1 may buy meat and drink, in of Mr. Donald Cargll 49 neceffity, whatever ufe the feller may make of that mo- ney I give for my meat and drink. Next, he allows thcfe particulars of reformation, fuch as change of the names of days, of weeks, of terms of the year, and fucli like, warranted by the word, and example of the Chrif- tians in fcripture, that have been neglected before in our reformation ; fo that there be not too much religion placed in thefe things, and other things more weighty (which undoubtedly have more moral righteouihefs in them) made little in regard cf them : but in thefe good things Satan will quickly, if it be not already, over-drive you in your progrefs, and leave you only to hug a fpurious birth. But there are other things that ye maintained when I fpoke with you (and the viper has more fince ap- peared) as truths, and part of God's glory, that are ut- terly contrary to, and inconfiftent with the glory of Gocf. As, firjiy Laying afide of public preaching ; fome of them faying no lefs, nor they had no miffing of it: fo that ye thought, ye had reigned as kings without us, and would to God ye had reigned. Your flourifhing mould have delighted, tho' we had not been the inftruments and means thereof. But alas ! this your liberty, that you fo much bragged of, would have lafted but a little while, and was among your other beguiles ; and was nothing elfe but Satan ftirring you about to giddinefs, and raif- ing of fantaftic fumes to the tickling of the imagination ; but leaving you altogether without renovation of heart, or progrefs in fan&ification : fo that I cannot compare this your liberty to any thing elfe, but to an enchanted fabric, where the poor guefts, only placed in imaginati- on, imagine themfelves to be in a pleafant place, and at a royal entertainment ; but when God comes, and delu- fion vanifheth, they will find themfelves cad in fome re- mote wildernefs, and they left full of ationiihment and fears. I told you, while I was with you, that the devil was fowing tares among your thin wheat ; but I was not long from you, exercifed in thoughts about you, but I faw clearly, there was forcery in the bufinefs : and now I tell you, I fear forcerers alfo. I know I have fpoken this a- gainft mine own life, if they get the power they defire* but I am in a defiance of them, and 1 know alfo in a de- fence by him who hath preferved, and I know will pre- ferve rae, till my work be finifhed. But if your liberty E 50 The lajl Speech and Tejllmony that you talked of had been true, it would at leafl have flayed till it had "brought you to other thoughts, other works, and other comforts ; and it might have been ea- fily difcerned not a true liberty, but a temptation that led you from public preaching, the great ordinance of God's glory, and mens good; as the apoftle has that word, Forbidding us to pi each to the Gentiles, But efpe- cially to leave public ordinances at this time, when they are the only flandards (landing, which fhows Satan's victory againft Chrift's kingdom in Scotland not to be complete. Yet, dear friends, when you hear this, let not Satan call you as far to the other fide, (for it is rare tc fee the mod devout fouls altogether out from under his delufi- ons and temptations) as to make you believe that it is im- poflible to attain unto any thing of certitude of truth, liberty, manifeftations and communion with God, if that which feemed to be fo firm, be delufions ; but fhall Satan have fuch power to make men believe lies, and fhall not God go infinitely beyond him, in making men to fee and believe truth ? There were many that thought themfelves at the height of afTurance, when under the greateft temptations, as Pfal. lxxiii. 13. Verily I have cleanfed my hands in vain. And yet they have a great- er certainty when they come to fee, that there is no fuch unquietnefs of fpirit under this, as they found in the for- mer. And feeing it is fo, reft not till ye attain that af- furance of your own intereft, and of his main truths, which is both above doubt and defect, that ye may be able to fay, AW ive believe, and are fur e. But in the next place, you will join with none in pub- lic worfhip, but thefe who have infallible figns of rege- neration. This feems fair, but it is both falfe and foul; falfe becaufe of its falfe foundation, viz. That the cer- tainty of ones intereft in Chrift may be known by ano- ther ; whereas the fcripture fays, That none knows it, but he that has it : Foul alfo, for this diidain has pride in it, and pride is always foul ; and tho' there be a difference amongft men, and that we fliould have regard of repent- ance and brokennefs of heart, yet thefe who have well fought and feen their own filthinefs, will judge them- felves the perfons, of any, that fhould be thruft out of the aftemblies of God's people ; and that not only in re- gard of what they have been, but alfo in regard of what of Mr. Donald CargiL 5 1 they daily are. Next, ye would have all to be prayed to eternal wrath, who have departed and made defection in this time : alas ! we need not blow them away, the great part is going faft enough that way ; but this, I am fure, is not to give God his glory, but to take from him, and limit him in his freedom and choice, in the greatnefs of his pardon. It is remarkable, that the angels in their glory to God, joined alfo with it, good will to viert. Next, ye have rejected the Pfalms, with many other things, by a paper come from fome of you ; and I cannot fee upon what account, except it be, becaufe it is man's work, in turning the Pfalms out of profe into metre. Then you muft reject ail the other Scriptures, becaufe the transla- tion of them is of man's work ; ye have not yet learned the original languages, ye muft betake yourfelves alto- gether to the fpirit, and what a fpirit will that be, that is not to be tried by the Scriptures ! I told fome of you, when I laft faw you, that ye were tco little led by the Scriptures, and too much by your own thoughts and fuggeftions, which indeed opens a wide door to delufion, and, alas ! lays yourfelves open to Satan's temptations. As for the reft, of your denying all your former co- venants and declarations; this cannot be from God, they containing nothing but lawful and neceffary duties ; and fuppofe they did not contain and include a com- plete reformation, yet they did not exclude it; fo that ftill holding them, we might have pafled on to more perfection, and they might be inviolable obligations with us. And next, Your cutting off all that were not of your mind, and delivering them up to devils, was not juftice and religion, it being done neither in judg- ment nor righteoufnefs, upon convi-tion of their crimes, but unbridled rage and fury. But thefe things I cannot fully fpeak to now : yet there is fomewhat that I cannot pafs; but muft tell you, that I fear there fhall remain fome of the leaven within, that fhall not only fpoil an orthodox Proteftant, but alio a true, tender, and hum- ble Chriftian, and give us nothing infread of it, but a blown bladder: For I am perfuaded, if Satan ihould have the tutory but a while, he (hould bring it to thi«- ; for it has been his way with feme, firft to make them faint-like, and afterwards to fettle them at atheifm ; like a cunning fifner, running a fi'h upon an angle, who at laft cafts it on dry ground. God is my witnefs, my E 2 52 The loft Speech and Teftimcny my foul ioves to fee holinefs, tendernefs, and zeal, in iiich a generation, where there is nothing but untender- iiefs, unconcernednefs, and lukewarmnefs ; and by his grace, I (hall ever cherifh it. I defire you then, in the bowels of Chrift, to retain your zeal; but fee well to this, th2t it be for his glory. Indeed, the more that you are zealous, and the further ye go forward, fo that the word of God direct your courfe, ye are the more pleafing to God, and mail be the dearer to us. And perfuade yourfelves, that tho' I cannot equal or go be- fore ; yet it is the fmcere defire of my heart to follow fuch. And my foul wifhes you well, tho' it may be I cannot here point, nor lead you the way to well-being ; yet this i mult fay, that if I could lead you the way that he has led me, I ihould let you fee eternal life, without thefe things that I am defiring you torelinquifh. Hold truth, glorify God, be zealous to have him glorified ; but think not to defire the condemnation of any man, fimply on that account, that they dare not come and continue where you are ; or to put a bar by prayer between them and a return, is a glorifying of God : we glorify him in this kind, when, as he himfelf defires, we acquiefce in his fentence, when it is paft, tho' we wreftle againft it, before it be known to us. I cannot bid you go forward in all, but I defire you to go forward in that which is furer and better. And dear friends, let not the world have that to fay, that when ye are become right, ye are become the lefs zea- lous; only take the right object, and let your zeal grow. O let not your fufferings be ftained with fuch wildnefs, and think it not ftrange that ye have not fuch liberty in your return as ye feemed to have before ; if ye take the right way, and hold on, ye (hall find it, in his time, greater and better, and furer. I fhall only add, that there mud be an exprefs owning of his truths, whereof y e have been perfuaded before now, which now are either denied or doubted, otherwife you will come to nothing of religion, or worfe; this will either ftate your fufFerings right, or be a mean to obtain a cleanly liberty from God in his due time. Grace, mercy and peace be with you. Amen* DONALD CARGIL. of Mr. Walter Smith. 53 The dying Teftimony and lajl Words of Mr. WALTER SMITH Student of Theology, but by what of truth I have in experience feen, I am bold to believe what I have not feen : his teflimony is a ground fufficient, and there can be no deceit under it. And now I am to die a martyr ; and I am as fully per- fuaded of my intereft in Chrift, and that he hath counte- nanced me in that, for which I am to lay down my life, as I am of my being. And let the world and byafTed profeffbrs fay their pleafures, I am here in no delufion ; I have the free and full exercife of reafon and judgment; 1 am free of paflion and prejudice, and, excepting that I am yet in the body, I am free of Satan's fire and fury : of Mr. Walter Smith. 55 I have uo bitternefs nor malice at any living; fo that what I am owning and dying for, I am folidly and firm- ly perfuaded to be truth and duty, according to my mean capacity. And this is the main point this day in controverfy, upon which I was peremptorily queftioned, and defired positively to anfwer, yea, or nay, under thr. threatening of the boots, viz. Whether I owned the king's authority as prefently eftablifhed and exercifed ? which I did pofittvcly difown, and denied allegiance to him, as he is inverted with that fupremacy proper to Je- fus Chrift only. And who knoweth not that at firft he was conftitute and crowned a covenanted king, and the fubjecls fworn in allegiance to him, as fuch, by the So- lemn League and Covenant ? This was the authority wherewith he was cloathed, and the exercife of it was to be for God, religion, and the good of the fubje&s; and is not all this, as to God and his people, overturned and perverted ! But, idly> The whole of this pleaded for au- thority at prefent, is eftablifhed on the ruin of the land's engagements to God, and to one another. But I fay no more as to this. Confider things ferioufly, and ponder them deeply; zeal for God is much gone: Look to it, and labour to recover it ; your peace mall be in it, as to duty; tho' ChriiVs righteoufnefs, I fee, is the only fure foundation. I leave my teftimony againft malignancy, ungodlinefs and profanity, and whatsoever is contrary to found doc- trine, profefTed and owned by the reformed anti-eraftian Prefbyterian party in Scotland, whereof I die a member and profefTor, being fully fatisfied and content with my Jot. And as to my apprehending, we were iingularly delivered by providence into the adverfaries hand, and, for what I could learn, were betrayed by none; nor were any acceflbry to our taking, more than we were ourfelves : And particularly let none blame the Lady St. Johnfkirk in this. I have no time to give you an ac- count of the Lord's kindnefs and tendernefs to us, in reftraining the adverfaries fury; for they began very brifk, by making us ly all night bound, and exprefly re- fufed to fuffer us t© worfhip God, or pray with one ano- ther, until we came to Linlithgow. But the Lord ha- ft eneth to come ; beware of going back, wait for him, be not anxious about what fhail become of you, or the remnant- he is concerned, his intcrceffion is fufficient: 5 6 The lafi Speech and Tejlhnony Get him fet up, and kept up in his own room m your fouls, and other things will be the more eafily kept in theirs. Be tender of all who have the root of the mat- ter; but beware of compliance with any, whether mini- fters, or proieifors or adversaries. As to my judgment, infignificant as it is, I am neceftkate to refer you to the draught of a paper, which 1 drew, at the defire of fome focieties in Clydidale, intituled, Some Steps of Defection, &c. Beware of a i'pirit of bitternefs, peremptorinefs, and ignorant zeal, which hath been the ruin of fome, and will be the ruin of more, if mercy prevent not. I was withdrawn from by fome, as having given offence ta them by my protefting againft their way in particular, wherein, I am fure, as to the manner, they were wrong; and tho* they had been right, it was not a ground to have made fuch a feparation from me, much lefs from thofe who joined with me : And if any divifion be longer kept up upon that account, they will find it a great ini- quity, if rightly confidered. I can get no more written, nor fee I great need for it ; for the teftimonies of martyrs- are not your rule. Farewel. Sic fubfcribitur, FromthetolbootkofEdin-1 WALTER S fflITH. burgh, July 27, 168 1. J BEing come to the fcaffold, he accofted the multitude, to this purpofe : All ye beholders, who are come here upon various defigns, I intreat you, be not miftak- en anent the caufe of my fuffering this day; for howe- ver ye may be mifinformed, yet it is of verity, that we are brought here upon the matters of our God ; becaufe we teftified againft the fupremacy, and would not con- fent to the fetting of Chrift's crown upon the head of him who had by ufurpation afpired thereto, contrary to his former engagements. Upon this they caufed beat the drums, which obliged him a little to filence; but beckoning with his hand, he faid I fhall only fay fome- thing to three particulars; And/r/?, anent that which fome are apt to believe, that we are againft authority; but we deteft that, and fay, That we own all the lawful exercife of authority ; and we hope there are none that are Chriftians will allow us to own the unlawful exercife, or rather tyranny of authority. At this the drums were again beat; and fo he fung a part of the ciii. Pfalm from the beginning, and prayed; which done, he turned his of Mr. Walter Smith. 57 face to the crofs, and faid, I blefs the Lord, I am not iurprifed, neither terrified with this death or the man- ner of it. I confefs the thoughts of death have been fometimes very terrible to me, when I have teen reced- ing upon my mif-fpending of precious time; yea, fome- times the ftrength of temptation, and my own weaknefs, have made me herein to raze the very foundation of my intereft; but my God builds fader than he permits the. devil and my falfe heart to caft down. I have had fome clouds even fince I came to prifon, but blefied be God, thefe are all removed : for my God hath faid to my foul, Be of good cheer, thy fins are forgiven thee. And the faith of this makes me not to fear grim death ; tho' it be call- ed the king of terrors, yet it is not fo to me : for this that you think a cruel and fudden death, is but an inlet to life, which fhali be eternal. Let none be offended at Chrift and his way becaufe of fuffering, for lean perfuade you, there is more of Chrift's help, and fupporting grace and ftrength in a fuffering lot, than all that ever I heard of by the hearing of the ear : But now I am made to find it in my own experience, and I can fay, He is altogether lovely. But a fecond thing that I promifed to fpeak to, is, That I deteft and abhor all Popery, Prelacy, Eraftian- ifm, and all other fteps of defection from the truths of God, and turning afide to the right and left hand. Alfo I teftify againft all errors, as Quakerifm, Arminianifm, &c. and all that is contrary to found doctrine, who walk not according to the Scriptures, and make not the word and Spirit or God their rule to walk by. I have lived, and now am ready to die, a Chriftian, a Proteftant, and a Prefbyterian in my judgment ; therefore let none here- after fay, that we walk not by the Scriptures ; for once Britain and Ireland, and efpecialJy Scotland, were deep- ly fworn to maintain what now they difown ; therefore beware of (landing in the way of others, feeing ye will not go in yourfelves. Thirdly, I exhort all you that are the poor remnant, to be ferious in getting your intereft cleared ; you that are in the dark with your cafe, take not flafhes for conversion : Study a holy converfation : be at more pains to know the Scriptures, and believe them ; be ferious in prayer; flight not time; take Chrill in his own terms, and refol^e to meet with trials, and that Ihortly; flight not known duties; commit not known 58 The lajl Speech and Tejihnony Sms, whatever fufFering ye may meet with for your cleav- ing to duty. Lippen to God, and you will not be dis- appointed. 'Conih'Uvft well of him under all diSpenSati- ons ; weary not of Suffering; ly not at eafe in a day of Jacob's trouble. I have one word more to fpeak to all that are going on in perfecuting the way and friends of Chriit, and that is the very words of our Lord, Remem- ber, whatever you do to one of thefe little ones, you do it un- to me. I pray the Lord, that he may open the eyes of all the eleit, who are yet ftrangers to regeneration ; and alio convince fuch of them as are fallen from their firft love. Now, my friends, I have this to fay in my own vindication, that, however I have been branded by fome, and miSconftructed by others, yet I can fay in the fight of the Lord, before whom I am now to appear, that I am free of any public Scandal ; I fay, I am free of drun- kennefs, I am free of whoredoms, thefts, or murder; therefore let none fay, that we are murderers, or would kill any, but in Self-defence, and in defence of the go- Spel. I truly forgive all men the wrongs they have done to me, as I defire to be forgiven of the Lord ; but as for the wrongs done to a holy God, I leave thefe to him who is the avenger of blood ; let him do to them as he may- be glorified. Now I fay no more, but pray that all who are in his way, may be kept from finning under Suffer- ing ; and that every one may prepare for a dorm, which I do verily believe is not far off. Then (looping down, he faluted Some friends, and Said, Farewel all relations and acquaintances; farewel all ye that are lovers of Chrift and his righteous caufe. And beckoning to the multitude, he faid farewel alfo. And So he went up the ladder with the greateft discove- ries of alacrity, and magnanimity; and feating himfelf upon it, he faid, Now this death of mine I fear not, for my fins are freely pardoned ; yea, and I will Sin no more, Sor I am made thro' my God, to look hell, wrath, devils, and Sin eternally out of countenance. Therefore farewel all created enjoyments, pleaiures and delights ; farewel Sinning and Suffering; farewel praying and believing; and welcome heaven and Singing; welcome joy in the Holy Ghoft; welcome Father, Son, and Holy Ghoit, into thy hands I commit my Spirit. When the executi- oner was about to unty his cravat, he thurft him away, and untied it him;.elf$ and, calling for his brother, threw of Mr. fames Boig. 59 it down, faying, This is the lad token you will get from me. After the napkin was drawn over Ms face, he un- covered it again, and faid, I have one word more to fay, and that is to all that have any love to God and his righ- teous caufe, that they will fet time apart, and fing a fong of praife to the Lord, for what he has done to my foul ; and my foul fays, To him he praife. Then letting dowa the napkin, he prayed a little within himfelf, and the ex- ecutioner doing his office, threw him over. Thelajl Teflimony of Mr. JAMES BOIG Student of Theology , who fuffered at the Crofs of Edinburgh, July 2f. 168 1. written in a Letter to his Brother. Dear Brother, I Have not now time to write that which I would, but to fatisfy your defire, and the defire of others who are concerned in the caufe and work of God, that is now, at this time, trampled upon : I have given out mine in- dictment to a friend of yours, and now I fhall give you an account of the enemies profecution thereof againft us. Mine indictment did run upon three heads; 1/?, That I had difowned the king's authority, idly. That I faid, the rifing in arms at Bothwel-bridge was lawful, and upon the defence of truth. $dly, That I owned the Sanquhar Declaration in the whole heads and articles thereof. And having again owned this before the justiciary and affizers, I held my peace, and fpake no more; becaufe I faw what was fpoken by others was not regarded, either by our unjufl: judges or mocking auditors ; all that our fpeaking did, was the expofing of us to the mockery of all preient. But the reafons that were given in thus, for our defence in the firft head were, That we could not own the autho- rity, as now prefently eftabliihed, unlefs we ihould alio own the fupremacy, which the king hath ufurped over the church. By our doing of this we iliould rob Chrift of that which is his right, and give that to a man which is due to no mortal; the reaibn is, becaufe the fupre- macy is declared, in their acts of parliament, to be ef- fential to the crown; and that < il to any thing is the fame with the tiling itielf ; fo that in owning their authority, we arc to jnftify Ithem in their ufurpation alio. J re is another ar- gument, which to me is valid, though I fpake it not 60 The lajl Speech and Teftimony before them ; and it does not a little trouble me that I fhould have paffed it. The advocate in his difcourfe to the aflizers, among other things, faid, that we were o- verturning thefe acts and laws, which they (the aflizers) had contented to, and were owning, Now, I fuppofe their confent to the prefent acts and laws was never for- mally required of them, but that which is taken for their confent, is their Ample filence, when thefe acts were made and publifhed, and owning thefe parliaments as their reprefentatives ; fo that I may clearly argue from this, that, even in their own fenfe, my owning of the prefent authority now eftablifhed as lawful, and the prefent magiftrates as my magiftrates, is a giving my confent to the prefent acts and laws, and fo confequent- ly to the robbing of Chrift of that which is his right. . As to the fecond, it being but one particular fact, de- duced from that principle of the lawfumefs of felf-de- fence, and this principle being as pofitively aflerted by all of us, I look upon the principle to be as exprefly feal- ed with our blood as that particular fact of rifmg in arms at Bothwel-bridge is. As to the third, it being a deed confequential from the firft, I looked upon them both to ftand and fall together, and he that owneth the firft mult, of neceflity, own the laft alfo. And as to that of declaring of war, I did always look upon it to be one and the fame, tho' differently expreffed, with that con- tained in the paper found at the Ferry, and that the main defign of it was, to vindicate us before the world, in our repelling unjuft violence, and clearing us of thefe afper- ilons that were call upon us, viz. The holding as a prin- ciple the lawfumefs of private aflaflinations, (which we difown) and murdering of all thofe who are not of the fame judgment with us. Thefe are the truths which we are to feal with cur blood, to morrow in the after- noon, at the Crofs of Edinburgh. As to other particu- lar actions, we declined to anfwer pofitively to them, as that of the bifhop's death ; we told them, we could not be judges of other mens actions: As to the excommuni- cation, becauie we declined them, as not competent judg- es to cognofce upon an ecclefiaftic matter, they did not proceed upon it. And now, dear brother, you may fee our quarrel clearly dated to be the f^me that Mr. James Guthrie laid down his head for j befide whofe, mine and my other of David Hackjhun of Rat hi J 6 1 two friends heads are to be fet. There were many other things pad in private betwixt me and Mr. William Pa- terfon, fometime my regent, now council-clerk, wich fbme others who ftrongly aiTaulted me with their mares ; but now, I hope, I may fay, that tny foul bath efcaped like a bird out of the fnxre of the fowler. And as to your fecond defire, of knowing how it went with my foul ; many and ftrong have been the affaults of Satan fmce I came to prifon ; but glory to God, who hath not been wanting to me in giving me aifiiiance, yea, many times unfought ; and is yet continuing, and I hope, (hall do to the end, to carry me above the fear of death, fo that I am in as fweet a calm as if I were going to be married to one dearly beloved. Alas ! my cold heart is not able to anfwer his burning love ; but what is wanting in me, is, and fhall be made up in a Saviour complete and well furnifhed in all things, appointed of the Father for this end, to bring his ftraying children to their own home, whereof (I think I may venture to fay it) I am one, tho' fecklefs. Now, I have no time to enlarge, elfe I would give you a more particular account of God's goodnefs and dealing with me ; but let this fuffice, that I am once fair- ly on the way, and within the view of Immanuel's land, and in hopes to be received an inhabitant there within the fpace of twenty-fix hours at moft. Farewel all earthly comforts, farewel all worldly vanities, farewel all carnal defires. Welcome crofs, welcome gallows, welcome Chrift, welcome heaven and everlafting happinefs, Sec. I have no more fpare time. Grace, mercy and peace be with you. Amen. From Edinhurgh tolbocth,! Sir fu^fcribitttr, July 26. 1681. 5 JAMES BOIG. TheTeflimony of that valiant and worthy Gentleman, DA- VID HACKS TO UN of Rat billet, whofufferedat the Crofs of Edinburgh, July 30. 1680. His Interrogations and Anfvoers before the Privy Council, Saturday, July 24. 1680. I. \I7HETHER or not had you any hand in the V V murdering of the late Biihop of St. Andrews ? Anfwered, He was not obliged to anfwer that queilion, nor be his own accufer. 2. What he would declare as to the king's authority ? Anfwcred, That authority that J? 6 2 The laft Speech and Te/timony difowns the intereft of God, and dates itfelf in oppofition to Jefus Chrift, is no more to be owned ; but fo it is, the king's authority is now fuch, therefore it ought not to be owned. 3. Whether the killing of the archbifhop of St. Andrews was murder, yea, or not ? Anfwered, That he thought it no fin to difpatch a bloody monfter. 4. If he owned the new covenant taken at the Queensferry, from Mr. Cargil one of their preachers ? x^nfwered, That he did own it in every particular thereof, and would fain fee the man that in confcience and reafon would debate the contrary. 5. If he were at liberty, and had the pow- er to kill any of the king's council, and murder them as he did the bilhop of St. Andrews, whether he would do it, yea, or not ? Anfwered, That he had no fpare time to anfwer fuch frivolous and childifh queftions. The chancellor told him, that if he were not more in- genuous in his anfwers, he would prefently be tortured. He anfwered, That is but a little addition to your for- mer cruelties, and I have that comfort, that tho' you torture my wounded body, yet ye cannot reach my foul. The chancellor urged him with feveral other queftions, which he refufed to anfwer. But, faid he, I would gladly fpeak a little if I could have liberty, which was allowed him. Then he faid, Ye know that youth is a folly, and I acknowledge that in my younger years I was too much carried down with the fpait of it ; but that inexhauftible fountain of the goodnefs and grace of God, which is free and great, hath reclaimed me, and as a fire-brand hath plucked me out of the claws of Satan; and now I ftand here before you as a prifoner of Jefus Chrift, for adhering to his caufe and intereft, which hath been fealed with the blood of many worthies, who have fuifered in thefe lands, and have witnefted to the truths of Chrift thefe few years bygone ; and I do own all the teftimonies given by them, and defire to put in my mite among theirs, and am not only willing to feal it with my blood, but alfo with the fharpeft tortures that you can imagine. Then being interrogate by the bifhop of Edinburgh, what he would anfwer to that article of the Confeflion of Faith, That difference cf religion doth not 7?iake void the magijlrate's right and authority ? He an- fwered, He would not anfwer any perjured prelate : The bifhop replied, He was in the wrong to him, becaufe he never took the covenant, therefore he was not perjured, of David Haciftoun of Rat billet. . 63 and To deferved not that name. But fome of them afked him, how he would anfwer that queftion ? He anfwered, That queftion was anfwered Jong ago by the Solemn League and Covenant, which binds us only to maintain and defend the king in the defence of the true religion ; but now the king having dated himfelf an enemy to re- ligion, and all that will live religioufly, therefore it is high time to fhake off all obligation of allegiance to his authority. Thefe interrogations were all read to him in the face of the council, and he owned all. The next day that he was arraigned before the council, they afked if he had any more to fay? He anfwered, That which he had to fay was faid already in every particular thereof; and, faid he, I will not only feal it with my blood, but with all the tortures ye can imagine. Follows the Extract of the proceedings of the Privy Coun- cil, Edinburgh, July 29. 16S0. IN prefence of the Lord's Jufticiary, Clerk and Com- miffioners of Jufticiary, compeared David Hackftcun of Rathillet, and declines the King's Majefty's authority of the commiflioners of judiciary as his judges, and ab- solutely refufes to fign this declaration, as being before perfons who are not his judges. He refufes to anfv concerning the murder of the hue bifhop of St Andrews, and fays, the caufes of his declinement are, Becaufe they ■: ufurped the fuprejnacy over the church, bt to J ejus Chrifi, and have eflablifjed idolatry , perjury, and r iniquities ; and in pr of editing their dfign, in confirm- ing themf elves in this ufurped right, k. much innocent blood. Therefore the faid David, adhering to Chrift, his rights and kingly office over the church, declines them that are his open enemies and competitors for his crown and power, as competent judges ; refufes, as formerly, to fign this his declaration, dated from his own mouth ; whereupon his majefty's advocate takes inftruments, and requires the commiflioners of judiciary to fign the fame in his prefence, as for him; and his majefty's tte takes inftruments, that the faid David has declined his majefty's authority, and the authority of his coramiflion- ers, and refufed to deny the murder of the late bifhop of St. Andrews, and requires Meifrs. Yas, Jan Balfour, and the men of the court witness to the for raid declaration. Sic fubfcribltur % Sir Rob. I z 6*4 The laft Speech and Tejllmony James Foulis, David Balfour, David Falconer, P.odger Hodge. Upon Friday, July 30 being again brought before the council, it was afked of him if he had any other thing to fay ? He anfwered, That which I have faid I will leal it. Then they told him, they had fomething to fay to him; and commanded him to fit down and receive his fentence ; which willingly he did, but told them they were all bloody murderers, for all the power they had was deriv- ed from tyranny ; and that thefe years bygone they have not only tyrannized over the church of God, but have alfo grinded the faces of the poor, fo that oppreflions, blood- fhed, perjury, and many murders were to be found in their fkirts. Upon which he was incontinent carried a- way to the fcaffold, at the market Crofs of Edinburgh, where he died with great torture inflicted upon his body, not being permitted to leave any teftimony to the world, except what is comprehended in thefe miffives directed to fome of his chriftian acquaintances, from his prifon ia the tolbooth of Edinburgh; which are as follows. The copy of a Letter written by DAVID HACK- S T O U N of Rat billet, to bis Chriflian Friend N. Dated from the tolbootb of Edinburgh , July 26. 1680. Dear Acquaintance, I Know, this late difpenfation of providence will occa- fion much fadnefs to you, and other lovers of the Lord's truth, now in this day, when fo few, by their practice, prove themfelves to be zealous for God, or lo- vers of his truth; but inftead of that growth in the gra- ces of God's Spirit, and ftedfaftnefs which fhould be in Chriftians, have made defection from the truth, and are fallen from their fir ft love, to the ftrengthening the hands of ufurpers of the crown of Chrift, in their unlawful en- croachments on the privileges of the Son of God. Where- fore I intreat you, and all others, as you would not of- fend God, and provoke him to more anger, do not mur- mur, but blefs and praife him, and fubmit to him in all humility ; for if this be one of the fteps of Zion's deliver- ance, and God's glory, why fhould not we praife him for every thing ? If we had the manner of our delivery at our carving, we would fpill it. He is the wifdom of the Father, who fits at the helm and orders all affairs. of David Hackfloun of Rat huh t. 6$ The faith of this would filence all fuggeftions from Satan, our own hearts, and mifbelief. 1 defire you would charge all that have love or afteclion to me, not to be fad on my account, but rather to rejoice on my behalf, that God hath fo honoured me in all I, have been tryfted with : For as he took me, when I was a Have to Satan and fin, and call his love upon me, and plucked me as a brand out of the fire, and brought me into covenant with him, to pro- mote and carry forward his work, without fear of what man can do unto me; and as he helped me to make the bargain with him upon good terms, which was a renounc- ing of my own ftrength, and a resolution to do all in his ftrength ; fo now he hath been faithful in all things to me, and hath furnifhed me fufnciently for what he hath called me to, and hath paifed by my many grofs failings and breaches of my conditions to him, and hath done to me above what I could afk of him. O that 1 could com- mend him to all, and ftir up all to fear, admire, and praife him, and believe on him ! But the lukewarmnefs and want of love to God, and indifferency in Chrift's mas- ters, (which in his condefcendency to his church he hath referved as his declarative glory) and neutrality in thefe things are come to fo great a height ai^ong profefll that, I think, God is laying a (tumbling-block before them, one after another, that when they are fallen (whom he will have to fall) he may be glorified in his juftice, by bringing that ftroke of vengeance that feems to be hanging over thefe lands, becaufe of their fearful idola- try, perjury, bloodfhed, blafphemy, and other abomi- nations, the whole land is, this day, guilty of. Think not (Irange that I fay, all are guilty ; there are none free, nor (hall be reputed free in the fight of God, but mour- ners in Zion. Lord grant repentance, and a fpirit of mourning; brokennels and contrition of ipiric is the only (kcrifice well-pleafing unto God; and I prove all guilty* Firft our representatives, (and fo we in them) eftabliftied thefe fins, in our national decrees, which we have homo- logate in owning them ever after; and much more have we homologate there fins, in contributing, one way or other, to the ilrengthning of their hands again Q God,, as alas, but few be free of this, this day! O that preach- ers would preach repentance, and piv: would ex- hort one another to mourn, in ilcret, and together, be- caufe of fin) and with their mourning would belie> *' 3 66 Thelafl Speech and Teftimony for thefe are very confident together. I find flefli and blood great enemies to faith, and friends, yea, fofterers of fiaful fears. It is above nature to believe, efpecially when difpe illations feem to contradict our faith : but if any had faith towards God concerning me, let not this brangle their faith, but rather ftrengthen ; there is no- thing can contradict what God hath determined; buc over the belly of all oppofition he, will perfect his work in and by me, either to a remarkable delivery, or through- bearing, as he fees moft for his own glory. "Wherefore let us fubmit to his will, and ly before the throne in behalf of Zion and her children ; and O ! that you yourfeif would, and defire others that are faithful, to hold up my cafe to Zion's God, that he would glorify himfelf in me, and let your prayers be in faith; To him that betlcvcthy all things are poffible. There are many kiefs, miibelieving prayers, that prevail not with God becaufe of unbelief. I know, thefe fufferings will be a great Humbling to many, otherwife gracious, but let it not be to you: I blefs the Lord, it is not (as yet) fo to roe, but rather the power, yea, the love of God to me; for it was not altogether unexpected unto me : For (not to reflect upon any that have fealed that truth and caufe, as we (tated it, with their bloop 1 ) I cannot deny, but it was over the belly of confcience, that I joined with fome of our party ; for fome of them had not their garments clean of the late defections, and there was too much pride amongft us : Neither dare I allow that taking of fatisfac- tion for practices which are the homologating of the pub- lic fins, which we did about half an hour before our break ; which checked me exceedingly in the time. I think, real forrow would make men like the prodigal, to think themfelves not worthy to be employed in that work ; real evidences of reconciliation with God fhould be feen be- fore admifllon to fuch an employment. O that all would take warning, by my reproof, not to venture to follow any man over confcience ! There were choice godly men among us, but one Achan will make Ifrael to fall. I fear the want of faith among us, firft and laft, and ail alongfl our late bufmefs : I know, many mouths will be opened againft me becaufe of what I did before this bufi- nefs, but 1 dare not but fpeak it, this is a Rumbling block laid to drive them to more fin ; and alas ! that I did not more to purge us of every fin, efpecially known iin among of David Hadftoun of Rat billet. 6j us. Thefe that abode within, and came not out with us let them remember Mcroz's curie; I am afraid, G think them not free of our blood, for not joining to our heip. And now, knowing ye will be anxious to know how it was then, and how it hath been fmce with me. Firft, We getting notice of a party out leeking us, fent two on Wednefday ni^ht late to know their motion, and lay on a muir-fide all night ; and Thurfday about ten hours, we went to take fome meat, and fent out other two, and de- iired them to confult with the firil two, who had not come to us, but were lying down to fleep, who all four returned and told us, it was unnecefiary to fend any for intelligence, they having fecured it. Whereupon, after we had gotten fome meat, we came to a piece cf grafs, and lay down, and preiently we were all alarmed that they were upon us ; and fo making ready, we faw them coming faft on ; and that about three or four hours in the afternoon ; and each one refoiving to fight, I rode off to feek a flrength for our advantage, and being defir- ed by a country-man to go into fuch a place for the bed ftrength, I went, and they followed ; but coming to it, I I found we could go no further ; and fo turning and ! drawing up quickly eight horfe on the right hand with ' R. D. and fifteen on the left with me, being no more ; the foot not being forty, and many of them ill a£*med, in the midft. I aiked all, if they were willing to fi^ht ? who a ] I faid, Yes; efpecially 1. G. The enemy advanced faft, whom I took to be above- one hundred and twelve, well armed and horfed ; who fending firit about twenty dra- goons on foot to take the wind of us, which we feeing, fent a party on foot to meet them, and the reft of us ad- vanced fait on the enemy, being a ftrong body of horfe coming hard upon us, whereupon when we were joined, our horfe fired firft, and wounded and killed fome of them, both horfe and foot : our horfe advanced to their faces, and we fired on each other ; 1 being forcmoft, after re- ceiving their fire, and finding the horfe behind me bro- ken, 1 then rode in amongft them, and went out at a & without any wrong or wound ; I was puiiued by feverals, with whom I fought a good (pace, fometimes they fol- lowed me, and fometimes I followed them, at length my horfe bogged, and the foremoft of theirs, which was David Ramfav one of my acquaintance : wc both being 68 The laft Speech and Teflimony on foot, fought it with fmall f words, without advantage to one another; but at length cloiing, I was ftricken down with three on horfe-back behind me; and receiving three fore wounds on the head, and fo falling, he faved my life, which I fubmitted to. They fearched me, and carried me to their rear, and laid me down, where I bled much ; where were brought feverals of their men fore wounded. They gave us all teflimony of brave refolute men. What more of our men were killed, I did not fee, nor know; but as they told me after, the field was theirs. I was brought toward Douglas. They ufed me civilly, and brought me drink out of a houfe by the way. At Douglas, Janet Cleland was kind to me, and brought a Surgeon to me, who did but little to my wounds, only ftanched the blood. Next morning I was brought to Lanerk, and brought before Dalziel, Lord Rofs, and fome others ; who afked many queftions at me, but I not fatisfying them with an- fwers, Dalziel did threaten to roaft me ; and carrying me to the tol booth, caufed me to be bound mo ft barbar- ouily, and caft me down, where I lay till Saturday mor* ning, without any, except foldiers, admitted to fpeak to me, or look my wounds, or give me any eafe what- fomever. And next morning they brought me and John Pollock, and other two of us, near two miles on foot, I being without fhoes, where that party which had broken us at firlt, received us. They were commanded by Earl- fhall. We were horfed, civilly ufed by them on the way, and brought to Edinburgh about four in the afternoon, and carried about the north-iide of the town to the foot of the Cannongate, where the town magistrates were, who received us; and fetting me on a horie with my face backward, and the other three bound on a goad of iron, and Mr. Cameron's head carried on a halbert before me, and another head in a fack, which I knew not, on a lad's back ; and fo we- were carried up the Itreet to the parli- ament-clofs, where I was taken down, and the reft loof- ed : All was done by the hangman. 1 was carried up to die council, and firft put into a room alone, where the chancellor came, and afked if I knew him \ I anfwered, Yes : He (after fome proteiiations of love, to which I an- ftvered nothing) went his way; and then I was brought in before the council, where the chancellor read a ditty agaiiut me. Firit anent the biihop's murder \ to which. X of David Hackjloun of Rat billet. 69 anfwered, I was obliged by no law, either of God or man, to anfwer to it ; and neither to accufe myfelf, nor reveal others by vindicating myfelf, or any other way. The advocate allied, Where I was the third day of May was a year ? To whom I anfwered, I am not bound to keep a memorial where I am, or what I do every day. The chancellor afked, If I thought it murder ? To which I anfwered, tho' I was not bound to anfwer fuch iqueitions, yet I would not call it fo, but rather fay, It was no murder. The advocate faid, Sir, you mull be a great liar, to fay you remember not where you was that day, it being fo remarkable a day. I replied, Sir, you muft be a far greater liar, to fay, I anfwered fuch a thing. Whereupon the chancellor replied, My lord ad- vocate, he faid only, he was not bound to keep in me- mory every day's work. The chancellor afked, If I adhered to Mr. Cargil's papers, which they called the New Covenant taken at ! the Ferry ? I anfwered, I would know what any would fay againft them. He afked, if I owned the king's au- thority ? I told, tho' I was not bound to anfwer fuch ! queftions, yet being permitted to fpeak, I would fay fomewhat to that. And firft, that there could be no lawful authority but what was of God ; and that no au- thority, ftated in a direct oppofition to God, could be of God ; and that I knew of no authority nor judicatory this day in thefe nations, but what were in a direct op- pofition to God, and fo could neither be of God, nor lawful, and that their fruits were kything it, in that they were letting bougerers, murderers, forcerers, and fuch others at liberty from juftice, and employing them in their fervice, and made it their whole work to op- prefs, kill, and deftroy the Lord's people. The chan- cellor and all raged, and defired me to inftance one of fuch fo fet at liberty and employed. I anfwered to that, Tho' it were enough to inftance any fuch when I faw a judicatory to execute juftice, yet I would inftance one ; and I inftanced a bougerer, liberated at the fherilf court of Fife, and afterwards employed in their fervice. which the chancellor raged, and (kid, 1 behoved to be a liar: But I offered to prove it. Bifhop Paterfon afked, if ever Pilate and that judi< itory, who were direct ene- mies to (Thrift, were diiowned by him as judges ? I an- fwered, that I would anfwer no perjured prelate in the jo The lafl Speech and Teflhnony nation. He anfwered, that he could not be called per- jured, becaufe he never took that facrilegious covenant. I anfwered, that God would own that covenant when none of them were to oppofe it. They cried all, I was prophefying : I anfwered, I was not prophefying, but that I durft not doubt, but God who had fuch fmgular love to thefe lands, as to bring them into covenant in fo peculiar a manner with him, would let it be feen that his faithfulnefs was engaged to carry it thro' in oppofition to his enemies. Some afked, what I anfwered to that ar- ticle of the Confeffion of Faith concerning the king ? I anfwered, It was cleared in thefe two covenants. The advocate afked, What I faid of that article of the cove- nant, wherein we are bound to maintain and defend the king ? I defired him to tell out the reft of it, which was, in defence of religion, but not in the deitrudtion of reli- gion. The chancellor threatned me with boots, and o- ther terrible things ; and faid, I mould not have the be- nefit of a fudden death. To which I anfwered, it would be but an addition to their cruelties ufed againft God's people before, and that I was there a prifoner of Chriit, owning his truths againft his open enemies, and referred it to their own acts of parliament and council, to let their cruelty and oppofition to God and his people be feen. After this, they called for a furgeon, and removed me to another room ; where he dreifed my wounds. In which time, the chancellor came, and kindly afked, If ever I faid to a fhepherd on the Mounthill, that if I thought they would not put me to an ignominious death, I would refer myfelf to the chancellor ? I faid, No. He faid, A fhepherd came to him and faid fo. I faid, that he, or any other who faid fo to him were liars. I was afked by fome, concerning our ftrength. To which I told, how few we were, and how furprized by fuch a ftrong party, and that knowing with what cruel orders they came againft us, we were forced to fight. After dref- fing of my wounds, I was brought back to them, and thefe things being written, were read over to me ; to which I adhered: and being afked, If I would' fign them, I faid, Not. The chancellor faid, He would do it for me. Some one of them afked, at the firft time, concerning my being at fome other bufinefs : To whom I anfwered, That tho' I was not obliged to anfwer fuch cjueliions, yet I adhered to all that had been done in be- of David Hackfloun of Rathillet. 7 1 half of that caufe againft its enemies. After which, I was fent to the tolbooth, and have met fince with all manner of kindnefs, and want for nothing. My wounds are duly drefled, which, I fear, may prove deadly, they being all in the head, the reft of my body is fafe. In all thefe trials (I blefs the Lord) I was itayed, un- moved, no alteration of countenance in the leaft, nor impatience appeared. Some of them have come tome, and regreted that fuch a man as I mould have been led away with Cameron. I anfwered, He was a faithful miniiter of Jefus Chrift, and as for me, I defired to be I one of thefe defpicable ones whom Chrift choofed. They faid, It was a Quaker- like anfwer. I told it was the words of Chrift and his apoftles. Bifhop Paterfon's bro- ther, unknown to me, had a long reafoning with me, but, I think, not to truth's difadvantage. He told me, that the whole council obferved, that I gave them not their due titles : At which I fmiled, and made no reply. He faid, I was ill to the bifhop. I told, that I afTerted the truth. He faid, that he never took the covenant, and fo could not be perjured I anfwered, Prelacy itfelf was abjured by the whole nation. He told me, That the whole council found, I was a man of great parts, and alfo of good birth. I replied, For my birth, I was re- lated to the beft in the kingdom, which 1 thought little of; and for my parts they were fmall ; yet I trufted fo much to the goodnefs of that caufe for which I was a prifoner, that if they would give God that juftice as to let his caufe be difputed, I doubted not to plead it a- gainft all that could fpeak againft it. It was caft up to me both at the council and here, that there were not two hundred in the nation to own our caufe. I anfwered at both times, That the caufe of Chrift had been often own- ed by fewer, [was prefled to take advice : I anfwered, I would advife with God and my own confcience, and would not depend on men, and refufed to debate any more, fince it was to no purpofe, being troublefome to me, and not advantageous to the caufe. At the coun- cil, fome faid, I was poifeiFed with a devil ; fome one thing, fome another. The chancellor faid, I was a vi- rions man : I anfwered, While I was fo, I had been ac- ceptable to him ; but row, when otherw.t} s, it was not fo. He afked me, If I would yet own that caufe witii my blood, if at liberty i I anfwered, Both our lathers 72 The lajl Speech and Tefllmony had owned it with the hazard of their blood before me. i Then was I called by all, a murderer. I anfwered, God ' fhould decide it betwixt us ; to whom I refer it, who 1 were mod murderers in his fight, they or I. Ye have an account, as near as I can give, of what pafled among us. Be ye, and defire all others to be, 3 earned with God in my behalf; for I am weak, and can- I not ftand without conftant fupplies of the graces of his Spirit, O ! I am afraid left I deny him : I have rich j promifes, but I want faith. Pray and wreftle in my be- half, and in behalf of the reft. And mew this to my friends in that caufe with me, efpecially D. K. Let all ly before the Lord, that he would ftiew us the caufe of his anger againft us : and let me know with the firft oc- cafion who of us were flain. Commend me to all friends :. and let none ftumble at the caufe, becaufe of this. Itfj was often in my mouth to almoft all, That if we purged not oarfelves of the public and particular fins among us f Cod. would break us, and bring a delivery out of our ajbes. Let none murmur at what we mould think our glory. And let minifters and 'others be afraid to be more tender of men than God's glory. And however it be a (tum- bling to fome, let it be a token of the love of God, to his church, to you, and all that love his truth. Pray for the out-lettings of all the graces of God's Spirit to me, and all the reft. I have need of patience, fubmifli- on, humility, love to, and zeal for God; hope and faith above all, without which I am but a frail worm, and will fall before thefe enemies of mine, inward and out- ward. And thus recommending you to his grace, who hath bought us with his precious blood, and remember- ing my love to all friends, I am, Tours in our fweet Lord, and Sympathizer in our affliclionSy Sicfubfcribitur, DAVID HACKSTOUN. P. S. You may let others fee this, but have a care of keep- ing it ; becaufe I have nQ double, and it may be all my teftimony. Send nothing to me, for I am fully feen to, and have met with kindnefs from all forts, only friends have not liberty to fee me. My love to you and all friends. I faid to Clerk Paterfon, That I fhould have feen Mr. Cargil's Papers, before I had anfwered anent them. of David Hackftoun of Rat billet. 73 The copy of another Letter written ^DAVIDHAC K- STOUN of Rat hill et y to a gentlewoman of his ac- quaintance. Dated from the tolbooth of Edinburgh , Ju* ly 28. 1680. Madam, THE bearer fhows me, your Ladyfhip defires to know what I mean by the Achan I mentioned in iny other ; which I fhall explain : and alas ! that I have fuch a wide field to walk in, when I name fuch a thing; for I know not how to find out the man that is free of the accurfed thing among us, for which God is contending againfl the land ; especially againft fuch as would be inoft free of the public fins, and mod: downright for God. Only I delire both to reverence, and admire the holy wif- dom and loving kindnefs of God, that is, by thefe dark- like difpenfations, purging his people, that he may bring forth a chafte fpoufe to himfelf in Scotland. Thefe are tokens of his fatherly love : and I fear a delivery, while we ftand guilty of fuch things, as' are fo open whoredoms againft our married Hufband, might rather be looked upon as a bill of divorce, than joining again in a marri- ed relation. And firft, I mull: explain the national lins, according to the light God hath bellowed upon me, out of his free grace, who is not tied to any, but choofeth ^nd revealeth himfelf to whom he will ; and often glo- rifies his free grace, in making ufe even of the greateft finners, as I confefs I have been one : which national fios are contained in our national decrees. And fr/f, the whole land is become guilty of idolatry, as it is eftablifhed by the Acts of Supremacy, efpecially in the Act Explanatory ; wherein all the declarative glo- ry and prerogatives of Jefus Chrift are given to the king, which is fearful idolatry, in afcribing that which he hath purchafed with his precious blood, and received from his Father, as his gift, and hath referved as his peculiar glory ; giving this, I fay, unto a creature, whom, by this blafphemous decree, we have fet up in the room of Jefus Chrift, as governor and abfolute head and judge in all ecclefiaftic affairs : And by the fame decree, all acls and laws contrary to it are refcinded, and the whole •word of God, contained in the fcriptures of both the Old and New Teftaments, arc a law contrary to it, and G 74 The lajl Speech and Tejlimony fo by this are refcinded. Now, befides this fin of Idola- try ; by the Ac"l reciffory, all other acts, oaths, covenants and engagements, that the lands are lying under, fworn, to God, and in his name, are refcinded, and declared null : and in contempt of God, to whom, and in whofe name they were fo folemnly fworn, and fo often renew- ed, are burnt by the hands of the hangman, thro' feve- ral places of thefe covenanted kingdoms. This is a le- gal perjury and breach of covenant, unparallelable in iacred or profane hiftory. Befides, in contempt of the prefence of God, feen at the meetings of his people con- veened in his name, they have declared them rendez- voufes of rebellion : and by another act, have account- ed it prefumption for a minifter to preach without doors. Thus contemning the call of Chrift ; whereby they fet themfelves above God. I could inftance many horrid things acted and done by them, in their profecuting their defign of having that idol of theirs fixed in the usurpati- on of the prerogatives of Jefus Chrift ; yet not doubting but. your Ladyfhip knows many of them, I fhall for bre- vity's fake omit: only the land is filled, from the one end to the other, with innocent blood, fhed on that ac- count ; and with other terrible abominations deteftable among Turks and Heathens : I think in God's righteous judgment, thefe men are given up thereto, for the up- fiiling of the meafure of their iniquity, that he may be glorified in the ftroke of his juftice upon all ranks, which is fad haftening, and that inevitably. But next, to mention who are guilty hereof; I know not how to do it ; only I may fay, I know none can be caU led free, and a freeing of any, or ourfelves thereof, is but a hardning ourfelves againft God, and a defending fin a- gainfl him, who is afivift nvitnefs, and will not be mocked, but will bring forth the hidden things of difloonefty to light* And therefore, not to mention the idol of the Lord's jea- loufy, or thefe that are profecuting his wicked commands under him, nor Prelates and their adherents, I judge, and I fear, God will efteem all guilty of thefe foremen- tioned fins, that have any way owned any of thefe, after their wickednefs was difcovered, and much more fuch as have by their perfonal deeds homologate thefe wicked decrees, and that either by paying ceffes for ftrengthen- ing them in their down-bearing of the meetings of God's people for his worfliip,. met in oppofition to thefe wicked cf David Hadfloun of Rathilkt. 75 decrees, which is their confent to, and contribution for, the ftrengthening them in all their wickednefs againft God : or yet by fubfcribing any manner of bonds to them, which is, an acknowledging them in that relation wherein they ftand, and are defigning to fix themfelves ; when they are purfuing, taking, imprifoning, and letting them out on thefe bonds again : for their end in all their profecutions of this nature, is to confirm themfelves in this ufurpation of the crown of Chrift, as head of the church : And a fubfcribing any manner of bond prescrib- ed by them, is and will be, in the fight of God, an ac- knowledging them as head of the church, in the feveral ftations wherein they have ftated themfelves ; the king as head, and they as factors under him, profecuting his will, and putting in execution his commands; and an acknowledging any other head, any manner of way, over the church, is directly a denying of Chrift before men, in his kingly office, which is a plain denying of him, and hath fore threatenings annexed thereunto. I could mention many other circumftances, wherein this generation has touched the accurfed thing, and has bowed the knee to that Baal-like idol cf the Lord's in- dignation and anger; but I ihall only mention befides e two, a thirds of feme who have appeared in arm-: againfl God, for, and in comjfciny with his enemies. Now that way of giving and taking iatisfairion for thefe fins, which fome are for, I cannot confent to : Forjirjt, Theie fmful practices being practices immediately againft God, and the firft table of the law, no fuisfaclion to mart can be fufficient. I dole not that door that God hath opened in mercy to the really penitent, bur, I fay, r evidences that God has forgiven, mould be : a joining with fuch in fociety. 1 know the uld be preached to all, that they may re] that being the means God hath appointed for converfion, who:: men have finned: but O ! when men after light fall in things, and others counfel and advife them to inch things, fearful fhall their doom be, if God prevent th . not in his mercy ! Now, Madam, there were fome fuch among us; and, as I have obferved, God has ftill puni- fhed that party that has been appearing for him, when they have taken in, and joined with, the men of thefe abominations; and has, as it were, kid by fuch as have complied with the times apoftacy, I doubt net, referring G 2 7 5 The I aft Speech and Tejltmorty them to the general ftroke he is threatning the whols lands with. O that one and all were making their fouls intereft fure with God ! Madam, I fhall not mention the feveral fteps of apofta- cy and defection from God in thefe lands, in complying one way or other with the dated enemies of the living God, to the ftrengthening them in their nfurpations of Chrid's crown and privileges, and hardening them in their fin, in fiiedding, fo many ways, fo much innocent blood, and their other wicked courfes : Neither fhail I mention that idolizing of men that is among us, to the provoking of God, to let, yea, caufe them fall: neither that felfiflmefs that is among us in our appearances for God, which cannot away with a holy, fpotlefs and jea- lous God, who will not give his glory to another. Oh! that one and all. were mourning for, and acknowledging our own and the land's guiltinefs in thefe things, and were feeking brokennefsof fpirit, which is a facrifice well pleafing to God, that God might be reconciled to us, and fet up by his Spirit, his dandard, and gather in his own people thereto; and might let out his Spirit to one and all that are called by his name. I doubt not but God will lave a remnant, but it will be of fuch in whom his free grace will be glorified, and not of the great ones,. tliat have not renderecLto the Lord, according to the ta- lents he bellowed on them. Remember me to my fellow prisoners, efpecially fuch as are keeping their garments clean of theie pollutions ; and be earned wnth God in my behalf, that he would keep me danding, by, his free grace, in this trial, in patience, humility, and godly fear. And I am, M AD A M, Tour Ladyjkip's, in all humility > in Jefus Cbrift, DAVID HACKSTOUN. A copy of a third Letter written by DAVID H A C K- STOUN, during his imprisonment \: To his Chrijiian friend N. Dated July 28. 1680. Dear and Chrijiian dequaintance* MY love being remembred to you and all friends in Jefus Chrift ; thefe are to fhew you and all others that I know and love the truth, as it is this day owned by the fmaUeft bandful that pretend thereto,; that I was* of David Hackflonn of Rat billet. 77 yefterday before the Jords of judiciary ; they charged mer with feveral things. I declined the king's authority as 1 an ufurper of the prerogatives of the Son of God, where- by he hath involved the lands in idolatry, perjury, and other wickedneifes : and I declined them as excrcifmg under him the iupreme power over the- church, ufurped from Jefus Chrift; who, in carrying on their defigns of confirming themfelves in their usurpations of the crown, of Chrift, had (lied fo much innocent blood 'throughout: 1 the land: and that therefore I, as an owner of Chrift's ! right, and his kingly office, which they by their wicked decrees had taken from him, durft not, with my own content, fuftain them as competent judges; but declined them as open and ftated enemies to the living God, and competitors for his throne and power, belonging alone^ to him ; whereupon I was diimiiTed, and at night my in- dictment to compear to-morrow before an aflize was inti- ; mated. Therefore I entreat you will, for I know you , have moving with God, and caufe other faithful friends fet time apart, and enquire the Lord's mind concerning Rie ; and be earneft with him in my behalf, that he will \ glorify himfelf in me. You may fend your letter to with a fure hand, who will give it to me. Where- ever i Mr. D. C. is, acquaint him with my cafe, or fend him i this line; for I know the mind of God is with him ; and defire him to write to me. I think, I dare not miibelieve r but when fears aflaultme, I think there is a voice faying to me, Fear not. Let none (tumble at our caufe, becauie ! of the late difpenfation; it is God's caufe, which was ■ and is in our hands, tho' he has punifhed us with his fa- | therly chaftifements, becauie of fin amongft us. Every tree that bringetb forth fruit , he purgeth ?t y that it may bring \forth wore Jruit . But that which decay eth and goeth \ backward, is laid by as ufelefs. John Pollock haj been in ! the boots, but I am informed, he is not difcouraged t but is likely to be well again. My wounds are very lore, but, bleiled be God, he keeps me in a good temper, both of body and mind. I am kindly enough tiled, wanting- nothing. I recommend you, and all the faithful, to the protection of him, who is the almighty God, and e\er~ lading Father. No more, but refts, Touts in our fiect Lord Jefus Chrift, DAVlDli.iCKSTOUN 7 8 The loft Speech and Tejllmony A Letter to his< Sifter. Loving Sifter, I Received- yours, and' the other with it, both temp- contentment and fatisfaction : It makes me afraid, that the eyes of many fliould be on me. Let all look toe God ; I am frail, but Chrift is ftrong : I have his promife of through-bearing, and affurance that he fliould honour me in his caufe, before this. Ly low before the Lord, and let others that are yet faithful be earneft on my be- half : and doit in faith : The prayers of the faithful avail rnucb. Have you nothing, and tell all friends to have nothing to do with fueh, as have ado with thefe that are fitting in that feat, and exercifmg that power, which be- longs alone to Chrift. The ftroke of the Lord's anger \& ready to be poured forth; and thefe that have received- greateft talents from God, and have made that ufe of them, to ftrengthen enemies hands by bonds, or other- wife owning them, fhall be moft remarkable in the ftroke; and fhall not be honoured to teftify for Chrift,- defpifed Chrift, robbed Chrrft, contemned Chrift, by this; generation. Remember me to all relations and friends;- and give warning to all to cleave to Chrift's truths and^ mtereft. If the free grace of God be glorified in me 3 . ought not all to praife him ? Chrift came not to call the- righteous, but finners. Many of this generation think; they have fo much grace that they cannot fin; but I: muft tell them, grace doth not warrant from fin, andi they may fo think of it. Sic fubferibitur, . DAVID HACKSTOUN.. The Dying Teftimonf of A R C HI BALD AL IS O N, \ . nvho lived in the parif? of Evandale in Cly deflate, and. fujjered at the Grafs-market of Edinburgh, Auguft 13.. 1680. THERE have been many, fuch fights feen in this, place of execution, fince the year 1660, for this, intereft and caufe,. for which I have received the fen- tencs of death ; and here I am in your prefence to lay down my life this day; for which. I charge thee, O my foul, and all that is within me, to blefs and magnify the name of. the Lord,, who can perfect his praife, and bring; of Archibald Ali/on. Jf S teftimony out of the mouths of babes or fucklings ; yea,, before he want fome to feal his teftimony, even if it were from the beafts of the field, he will not want, as in Ba- laam's days, the dumb afs fpeaking with man's voice, gave a teftimony againft the madnefs of the prophet.. Wherefore, unworthy as I am, I am come here, and begs your ear and attention ; ye who are fpeclators- and auditors, if the Lord (hall permit me to fpeak a few words, and I mail be but brief. There are many come here this day to hear and fee me lay down this tabernacle of mine, that hath various- ends, but our Lord knows you all and your ends both : it is true, God is my witnefs, that I judge myfelf the unworthieft perfon of any that have loft their blood for this honourable caufe. He has been pleafed to take a> teftimony from noblemen, gentlemen, minifters, and poor plowman lads, and tradeimen of feveral forts, which is a token for good, that he has yet a kindnefs for thefe covenanted lands. And I blefs the Lord with all my heart, that ever he called me with his heavenly calling : I blefs the Lord, that I have a life to lay down for his fake ; glory to the Lord, that I (hall have blood and wounds in his caufe. But to come more particularly to the purpofe in hand,, the articles of my indictment were thefe. FirJJ, They, charged me with rebellion, for joining with thefe they call rebels, and declared enemies to the king, and ene- mies to all good government : for my own part I never called them fo. I declare here where I ftand before him who will be my judge within a little, my defign in coming forth with arms, was to hear the gofpel preach- ed truly and faithfully, and I know it was the defign of' that poor handful to defend the gofpel, and to keep up a witnefs and teftimony againft the abounding corrupti- ons that this land is filled with from end to end, and to plead with the Lord that he would not make a total- removal therefrom. Yea, I heard Mr. Richard Came- ron fay, < l My friends, we are not to compare ourfelves- " with Gideon's three hundred men, no not at all ; our * adhere, and give my teftimony to the declaration at Sanquhar, June 22. 1680. together with the paper gotten at the Ferry upon Henry Hall, June 3. 1680. dthly, I give my teftimony and fet to- rn) feal to all the former teftimonies fe.iled by the blood of them who have been murdered on fcaffolds, in the fields, and in the fea, from the year 1^60, to this d and by all the imprifonments, and baniihment oi 82 The /aft Speech and Tejllmony and wandering ones, and by all the fpoilings and rob- bings, oppreflion, ftigmatizing, fcourging, and booting, and other horrid cruelties, which have been committed by the enemies of our Lord Jefus Chrift. On the other hand, i/?, I enter my proteftation before the Judge of all, both living and dead, before whom I am to appear within a little time, againft all the en- croachments made upon the prerogatives of our Lord Jefus Chrift, particularly againft Popery, Quakerifm, and Prelacy, and all their underlings and the joiners with them ; and againft all fupremacy that is contrary to the w r ord of God ; and againft all Eraftianifm ; and againft both the indulgences flrft and laft, and all the joiners with, connivers at, and fupporters of it ; and againft the filence in watchmen at this day, in not giving faithful warning, according to that in Ifa. Iviii. i. Cry aloud \ and /pare not, lift up thy voles like a trumpet , JJ?em> Jfrael their fins ', and the houfe of Jacob their tranfgrejjions. And againft her ambiguous and d^rk applications, lo that the fin of the times is not touched, left they irritate the ma- giftrates, and bring themfelves in hazard of our Lord's crofs ; which was an evil creeping in long ago, which the affembly condemned in the minifters; and ordered- them to be fufpended, if they did net amend ; and feeing no humiliation for fuch a great fin, they were to be de- pofed. idly, I enter my proteftation againft all thofe who have declared themfelves oppofite to our Lord Jefus Chrift, and have difplayed a banner for Satan ; not only, tolerating, but acting and committing all manner of a- bominations, and horrid cruehies in things civil and ec- cJefiallical. 3^/y> I enter my proteftation againft all de« clarations, proclamatrons, bonds, cefs and militia-money, for keeping (landing forces with a difplayed banner a- gainft our Lord; and againft all profanity, loofenefs and lukewarmnefs, and all the backflidings of the Church of Scotland, fince our entering into covenant with God to* this day. Now Sirs, I have given you but a fliort hint of my faith and principles ; and alfo of the motives which mov- ed me to join with the ferious feekers of God ; and alfo the grounds of my indictment, and fentence of death : alfo- fome little glance at the corruptions of the times. I have here joined my teftimony to the fufferings of the people of God, and I have entered my proteftation againft fome of Archibald Alifon. 83 ©pen fins, which are obvious to all who have not willing- ly yielded themfelves to work wickednefs. O it is but little that I can fay ! it would take a long fummer day to rank them up, and not win at them all : For my part, I am but ignorant, my capacity can but reach little thing. It may be, ye will take but little notice of what the like^f.me lays, but I cannot help it. Now, as a dy- ing man, I leave all thefe things to your confideration, if this prelatic and indulged party be the party io be meddled with and owned, pleaded for and defended ; what think ye of them that have gone before us ? What think ye of Argyie and Mr. Guthrie that were men of underftanding ? What think ye of Mr. Kid and Mr. King, and that gentleman that fuffered laft at the crofs ? Nay, what think ye of religion and the cod of it ? What think ye of heaven and glory that is at the back of the crofs ? The hope of this makes me look upon pale death as a lovely meflenger to me. I blefs the Lord for my lot this day. I fhall come fhortly to a clofe, only I beg leave to fpeak a word to two or three forts of folks ; and I think, all may be comprehended under thefe three. I intreat you take heed ; I wilh I may not be a ftumbling-block to any, that is looking on me this day. Bleffed is he, fays Chrift, that floall not be offended in 7ne, and my followers. The firfl fort is the feekers of God ; I have a word to you : Ye have kirk and ftate upon your top; ye get leave to weep a long night, and have none to comfort you : and if you cry, Watchman, what of the night ? the watchmen are drunk and fallen afleep, they cannot tell. Can thefe dry bones live ? Lord, thou knonuejt. Ye are feeing the godly cut off, one way and another ; ye are hearing them that have the root of the matter in them crying up a ful- fill union; and minifters will not tell you what is your duty or danger. O my dear friends, call not away your confidence ? ye muft come thro' many tribulations ; but there is a begun heaven for you at night. Seek ye the Lord, ye meek of the earth : ye fly all be hid in the day of the Lord's anger. There is no perfecution in heaven, where our Lord's enemies fhall never come : I ihail not take u- pon me to fay, who of them will not come to heaven; but this I may fay, if they come, it will be more than or- dinary humiliation they muft have : As it is (aid of Ma- ftaffeh j That be humbled himfelf greatly before the Lord 84 The Infi Speech and Tefthnony God of his fathers* Friends, give our Lord credit ; he is \ always good ; but O he is good in a day of trial, and he< will be fweet company thro' the ages of eternity. There is none like the God of ' Jeflourun, that rides upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the Jky. And underneath are the everlafting arms, and he will fave his people. And fecondly, I have a word to fay to you that are godly ; but alas, you'have wronged the caufe ; for which, I fear, ye have loft the countenance of God, and will not get it a- gain in hafte ; ye have ivaxed fat and kicked; ye have flung at God, (fo to fpeak) ye have faid a confederacy with enemies for a falfe peace ; ye have been crying peace and union with the indulged, becaufe they are godly men. I fay before the Lord, that ye, and thefe godly men, have molt bafely betrayed the kirk of Scotland; ye {hall go to heaven in a fiery chariot, ye fhall hardly get leave to fuffer but go away in a ftink, for your comply- ing and fhunning the crofs. Thirdly y A word to the un- godly. O ye atheifts and ungodly magiftrates, full of perjury and bloodfhed, ye have nourifhed your hearts as j in a day of ilaughter. The blood of the Lord's martyrs, that has been fhed thefe eighteen or nineteen years with- in this city, will be charged home upon you, as well as upon the adizers. Ye councillors, your w T ork will be re- warded. Ye criminal lords, remember, the faints floall judge the earth, and fhall fhortly be in equal terms with you; and they fhall (land upon mount Zion with the- Lamb, and give their confents againft you ; and fhall fhortly cry Hallelujah, hallelujah, to your condemnation. And therefore I obteft you, in the bowels of our Lord Jefus Chrift, that ye will defift from your wicked cour- ies, and ly in the duft, and mourn for all your abomina- tions ; Except ye repent, ye fhall all likewife perish. Ye ignorant and profane drunkards, fwearers, and fabbath- breakers, repent, or elfe ye fhall likewife perifh. And now I take my farewel of all the ferious feekers of God for a fhort time : and you that are calm, prudent pro- feffors, I leave you under procefs till you repent, for caft- ing off Chrift and his crofs, and for bringing up an evil report on the good land, and for your wronging of the caufe. And ye rulers, farewel for ever more, without repentance and deep humiliation, for wronging of Chrift and his people. Return my foul unto thy quiet reft. Farewel all created comforts in time 7 and welcome Fa- of John MakoM. 85 ther, Son, and Holy Ghoft, into thy hands I commit my fpirit. Sic fubfcribitur, ARCHIBALD ALISON. The dying TeJIimony 5/JOHN MALCOL M, 'weaver in the par iff j of Dairy, in the ffieriffdom of Gallc-iray, *wbo fuffered martyrdom at the G raff-market of Edin- burgh , Augnji 13. 16S0. IDefire the audience of you, who are here fpectators and auditors, to hear fome words of a dying man, ready to offer up this tabernacle in your fight, who would have it among my laft withes, that you would confider your ways and your doings, that are not good; and not harden your hearts as in the provocation ; for ye have to do with an holy God, who is quickly about to come in flaming fire, to take vengeance on all the ungod- ly profane perfons, who are living at eafe in Zion, and rejoicing in the afflictions of the people of God. I would obteft you, in the bowels of our Lord Jefus Cirri ft, that you would break off your pernicious ways, and make peace with God while he would make peace with you, left ye be deftroyed in the overflowing flood of his wrath. There has been flockings and gatherings to fee others, who are gone before me, that have been wonderfully countenanced and owned with the evident prefence of God, convincingly helping fome to go thro' the jaws of death, rejoicing and looking profane on-lookers out of countenance ; and have given their teftimonies again;] the abominations committed in the land. And I am come hither, who am the unworthieft of any that have gone before me. Now, before I come further, I would, aft: you, What you think of religion ? What think you can it be, that makes men go to death with fo great peace and fweetnefs ? Ye have heard what malefactors have had to fay. Think ye not ftrange, that a rational man can enter in upon eternity, leaving fuch a tcftimony as ye have heard ? And I hope the Lord will help me in lefs or more to be faithful and free in leaving my leftimo- ny in the fight and prefence of him, who is the fovereiga Judge of all the earth, before whom I mud (land in a ihort time. Th£ caufe cf my coming here this day is; becatxfe I H 86 The lajl Speech and Tejlimony was found with that poor perfecuted handful, which is the people that was fmgly adhering to the honour and glory of God ; now when he is threatning to bring in his fore plagues upon this apoftate church, that has play- ed, the harlot with many lovers, for which he will bring on indignation, wrath and pain upon many. But this is ground of encouragement to the feekers of God, (i.) That he is keeping up a party in the land, that fee it their duty to contend for his caufe and intereft, and mall overcome thro* the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their tejlimony , who are not loving their lives unto the death ; to contend for his caufe and intereft. For he hath faid, Ezek. yit. 16. But they that efcape of them fhall efcape, and be like the doves upon the mountains, mourning every one of them for his iniquities. Now, I feeing and confidering upon the one hand, what treacherous dealings are hatch- ed up among minifters and profefTors in this poor church, and on the other hand confidering what the Lord had done formerly, I thought, I was convinced in confid- ence, and from refpecl to the honour of God, which I had before mine eyes, and the good of my own foul ; I was conftrained by an influence of the Spirit, bearing in that word upon my heart, which we have, i Kings xviii. 2 1. And Elijah came unto all the people, and faid, Horn) long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, then follow him ; but if Baal be Cod, then follow him. The Lord determined me to join myfelf with that party, and I do not repent it this day. I count it my duty, and no fin nor rebellion. I think it my credit to ierve fuch a noble mailer : And indeed I wonder at his condefcendency, that ever he fought fervice from fuch a wretched fmner as I have been, who lived a flranger to him all my days; but O wonderful love ! O wonder at the mat chiefs acls of the Lord's condefcendency, and incomprehenfible ways with me ! that he has made choice of fuch a poor, weak, frail, pickle ofduft as I am; and has led me out and in, and has brought me to this .place of execution, to give my teftimony to his work, caufe and intereft ; and has pafled by the eminent, wife and prudent in the land, and l>as made choice of fuch a fecklefs nothing as I am ; but bleifed be his glorious name, that will have his word made out, that out of the mouth cf babes and fucklings, he can perfect his praife. (2.) And this likewife is ground of hope to you that are weak, and cannot ven* cf John Malcolm. 87 ture on fuffering, being fenfible of your own weaknefs ; To the iveak he encreafeth ftrength. ^nd this is another ground of hope, that he takes the blood and wounds of poor weak things to feal his truths. It cannot be expected that I fhall be very formal in what I fay, I being no fcholar, nor yet old in experience. And befides, after I had received my fentence, I was taken out of a private room, and put in the irons among bad company, except two days before this. The ground of my indictment was, ijl, That I am againft the king's forces, and fired upon them, under the command of EarJfhaJl. I declare, I intended not to refill, but being put to it, in defence of the gofpel, and my own defence, I did refill them to my power. 2dly, That I had been with that party in the months of xA^pril, May, and June. I was but two days with them, intending no other thing, but to hear the gofpel, and for this I fuffer ; I blefs the Lord, not as an evil doer, but for my duty : for ye know we are all bound in covenant both kirk and ftate, accord- ing to the coronation oath, the Covenants were owned and fworn, both by the fupreme magiflrate, the nobles, gentry, and commons of all forts. The Lord did won- derfully fhine upon this land, fo that it became the glo- ry of the whole world ; the fame of it went abroad, and was renowned thro' the nations. I have heard, that if a ftrangcr of another kingdom had come into a church of this land, there was fuch a frame of fpirit among the peo- ple, that the flranger would have thought that they had been all faints. The church then was fair as the moon, clear as the fun 9 and terrible as an army ivith banners, Put we have not been content with thefe days : Then the fwcarer was bound up from oaths, and the drunkard's throat ran dry, iniquity /topped her month. The Lord was with his people in thofe days: the gofpel was fuc- cefsful : And yet I can fay, there have been as great days of the gofpel in the Weft of Scotland, in the fore- laid months, in the fields, as were in Scotland, fince it was Scotland. I am fure, the gofpel preached by Mr, Richard Cameron efpecially, was backed with the power and prefepce of Chrift; as much of Chrift and heaven were found, as finite creatures on earth were able to hold, yea, and more than they could hold: the dreams ot the living waters ran through among his people at thefe meetings like a flood upon the fouls of many, wha H 1 88 The lajl Speech and Teftimony can witnefs, if they were called to it, that they would" not have been afraid of ten thoufands : The Jl?out of a King nvas heard among them* the fruits of it, I am hopeful, fhall appear after this. All the troopers and dragoons in the three kingdoms will never get that fire of love that is kindled in the breads of fome in that country quenched ; it will never be quenched : it will not rot. The fathers will be telling the children of it, when they are old men, who are not taken away from the wrath that is coming on, to avenge the quar- rel of a broken covenant; they will be telling, « That * in the year 1680, there were as great days as there ' are now, (when there were Prelates through thefe 6 lands) upon the mountains up and down this Weft: it ' was then that I got on the zeal of God upon my foul/ And they fhall fay, « Who were they that preached in « mofTes and mountains, and not in the kirks nor houfes ? * Did not all the godly minifters, when the apoflate Pre- * lates were in the land, go out and witnefs and teftify a- * gainft them, with their lives in their hands?' And the fathers will fay, « Know, my children, they had run well * for a feafon, but they wearied, and yielded, up the 1 church y s liberties to a tyrant king, of the name of * Charles ; and he fet up the Prelates, and they made 1 the land full of curates under them ; and after that, * fome that ftayed off a while, then turned council-cu- * rates, and thefe council-curates beguiled the reft of 1 them, and Eraftianifm was univerial ; but the mode- * rate indulged in judgment, would have filenced Mr. ' Richard Cameron from preaching, but the Lord had * faid to him, Co, and I will go with thee ; and fo he 4 was wonderfully helped. Indeed the Lord countenan- « ced him after that, and deferted them, and he died a * martyr, and had his head fet up upon a port, befide 1 other three of his brethren ; and many that wrote a- 1 gainft him, and had him in derifion, went away with * a Mink.' They will have this to fay, and tell to the young ones yet unborn ; The righteous man Jliall he had in everlafing remembrance. Indeed, my friends, if any fuch be hearing me, I may fay, truly a great man in our lfrael fell at Airfmofs the 22d of July, 1680. *And now, if I were fet at liberty, with a provision that I were not found with Mr. Donald Cargil, whom I pray theTord miy keep from finning, I would yet again join with that of %ohn Malcdm. 8aths impofed upon the Lord's people. Likeways a- fjalnft the paying of cefs and militia money ; and againft 'iieir imprifonments, ftigmatizing, booting, and burn- ing with fire-matches, fining and confining, robbing and spoiling, banifhment, oppreftion, rigour of mafters of toi- hooths. And becaufe of that miftake, that they fay in mf indictment, that Prefbyterians, and I amongft the reft, had caft off all fear of God, and are againft all good order and civil law; I declare I adhere to kingly govern- ment, but not to perjury and. tyranny, turning upfide down church and ftate, contrary to the word of God, our Covenants, and the laws of the nation ; and contrary to the declaration at Dunfermline, the coronation-oath, and the afts of general aftembly, and acts of parlia- ment, ratifying prefbytery, and abjuring this prelatic hie- rarchy, which is now eftablifhed,. and prefbytery refcin- ded. And I bear my teftimony againft thofe that have been, and yet are pleading for the favour (as they call it) cf the Act of Indemnity, after the murdering of Mr. King and Mr. Kid, who were execute that day the proclama- tion 'was read over the Crofs, the 14th day of Auguft, 1679; and againft their jufticiary courts,, to infnare and pannel the poor people of God in the Weft of Scotland >. I ihall draw to a clofe fhortly ; but I might (if I had time) enlarge further upon thefe. I will fay only this to you, who are looking upon me this day, That my lot is hard, but I blefs the Lord for it ; The captain of tny [alvation *was made perfeel thro* fufferbig. No man has wronged me by counfel or advice ; fo I am perfuaded. tthat the-caufe is the Lord Jefus Chrift's caufe,. and lie of %obn Malcolm. exi will own it. And whofoever touches any of his people •, touch- es the apple of his eye. For he fends none a warfare up- on their own charges , and in his own time he will ?nake inquifition for the blood of^X\ his faints, becaufe it /'/ right precious in his fight. And when he makes inquifition after their blood, and fearches them out that troubled his peo- ple, I would not be the king of Britian,. nor a counsellor, prelate, or malignant, for a world; and whatever I be, yet I am perfuaded, they have the blood of his dear faints in their fkirts, which are this day under the altar, cry- ing, How long, Lord, holy and jufl, wilt thou not avenge cur blood on them that dwell on the earth! You got Mr. King's advice on the fcafFold, to be more {paring of ihedding more blood ; for within a fhort time, he told you, he would be on equal terms with you that judged him guilty of death : but that doth not warn the rul- ers of this kingdom. Do not think that I am quarrelling for the taking of my blood ; No, it is love to your fouls that obliges me to fpeak thus. O what can be expected, but that the Lord has his fword furbifhed for blood, and he will have a day of nobles blood ! The Lord has been fmiting and wounding his church and people, and blood has touched blood. Pentland-hills hath touched Mr. Guthrie's blood ; and Bothwcl touched Pentland ; and the drowned in the fea touched Rothwel ; and Airfmofs the drowned in the fea ; and our blocd toucheth that which was fpilt the 2 2d of July laft : O that at laft ye would be perfuaded to defift, and fpill no more blood ; O that the Lord himfelf would ftop the effufion of more innocent blood,, if it may ftand with his honour. Buc if any more be for his honour and fervice; Lord, keep thy people when they are called to it, to fay with DavTd, Here am I, let him do to ine as jeemeth him good, I am alfo apprchenfive, that the Lord hath a great fa- crifice of the bodies of multitudes, and that he will give the flefh and blood of many to the fowls of the air; and he minds to give the fowls and birds a feaft of flefh and blood. O Scotland ! wilt thou never be wife, until thou be betrayed into the hands of thine enemies? Truly, I think it is incredible, that this land will get leave to pais long, and not be fweepedwith the bef-m of juftice : The Lord is really angry with this land ; for I know no per- fcn, no not one, but he has juft ground of controverfy ■with. It is aitonilhing to me, to think on the QVgriog; 92 The laft Speech and Tefilmony mercies of God towards thefe lands. For my part, I am glad that he calls me away after this manner, for which I dclire with my foul to blefs him, for his kindneis to me, in taking this method and way with fuch a wretched iianer as I am, who deferves nothing but wrath, and only wrath ; but glory to the riches of his grace, who ca?ne into the world to fave Jinners, of whom I am the chief \ He is a noble high-prieft indeed. I muft draw to a dole ; I intreat your patience a little, and I fhall fay but thefe three or four things fhortly. \Jl, I would intreat you that are ftrangers to God, Make hafte and flee in unto God for your life ; from this confideration, that all who had union and communion with God are now landed in glory, have died in the faith of it, that there are glori- ous days coming, and that the Lord will reckon with his enemies, and pay them liberally, for all the wrongs done to his caufe and people. And it JJjall come to pafs in that day, that the Lord Jh all puniflo the hojl of the high ones that are on the earth, and the kings of the earth, upon the earth ; they f?all be gathered together as prifoners are gathered into the pit, and foall he flout up in the prifon, and after ??iany days they f ba 11 be vijited ; then the moon-fball be confounded, and the fun afliamed, when the Lord foall reign over mount Zion and Jerufilem, and before his an- cients glorioufy. You may read it at your leifure, in the 24th chap, of Ifaiah from the 21ft verfe to the end- There is another word in the xxxvi. of Job 18. verfe ; It is a word of advice, given by Elihu to Job ; Becaufe there is wrath, beware lejl he take you away with a flroke ; then a great ranfom cannot deliver you, idly, It is my comfort this day, that my enemies are God's enemies. It is the allowance he beftows on poor things, in the following of their duty ; tho' they have not much knowledge in reli- gion, nor great experience, yet if they be faithful in the little, he helps them to be faithful in much. Ye know he lays, Becaufe thou hafl been faithful in what I commit- ted to thee, have thou rule over five cities. I know, that it is commonly reported, That they have not much grace that adhere to this perfecuted way; as I take in myfelf among them, who never had great gifts, nor parts, nor heart experience ; yet he has told me, fince I received the fentence of death by men who are the Lord's fword, 4i That faithfuinefs in this juncture of time, in not de- ** iiying his name, fhall be an excufe for many inflm;:* of %ohn Malcolm. 95 " tics." Among all the ftrong contenders, none get the prize but the fmcere man, the refblute man, and they who are determined, as Efther was, to go, tho' it ihould coft them their life. And this is the time that the peo- ple of God ihould be at holding and drawing, rugging and riving, or ever the enemies of our Lord poffeis his crown, and bruik it with peace. And this I muft add to thefe that are byafied, I ihall be a dying witneis a- gainft minifters and profeiTbrs that made it their work to brand and cloath that faithful minifttr and martyr of Je- fus Chrift with odicus names and notorious iies, in cal- ling him a Jefuite, and faying that he received the pope's gold, and that he was a great favourite of the duke of York, a declared Papifl ; which I know, and many emi- nent Chriftians know, that he hated him as a limb of Satan ; and y.lfo they faid, that the troopers had com- miffion to pafs him by, rather than any man, even after the declaration came out, to give 5000 merks for him dead or alive. Go and ly in the duft for what you have faid of him ; and what you have faid of Mr. Kid : I blefs the Lord that ever I faw his face, and that ever I heard him preach. $d/y, Give me leave to fay this much; 1 am afraid the apoftacy of Scotland, the neutrality ar.i formality that is among both minifters and profefibrs,. have fhapen out this church and land of Britian in length and breadth, with the church of Laodicea, whom the Lord threatens to fptie out of his mouth, as a loathfome thing, and then he will have pleafure in his Zion. Yet ye fee, he is fnedding down a Guthrie, a Welwood, a King, a Kid, a Brown, and a Cameron, and the like of a Henry Hall and a Robert Dick, that w r ere contending for the truth, and for reftoring the privileges of tho church : and thefe were counted difturbers of your finful union with the enemies of the Lord. Lay it to heart ; now their blood is Hied for the caufe, and ye are not free of it; but ye can wipe your mouth, and fay, ye are in- nocent? Remember that in the 1. Pfalm, and 18. verfe. When thou faiveft a thief, thou joinedft ivith him ; a fid t the Lord hath feen, and kept Jilcnce : Remember and mourn for it, left he tear you in pieces , when there is none to deli- ver. The court favour is too fhort a covering, it will not hide you : therefore as a dying man, I warn you as from the Lord, Confidcr yeur *wa)S and your doings, that have ntf been good, and caft yourfelves out of the court 94 The la/I Speech and Tefiimony favour, otherways I declare ye fnall not get the favour of God. 4thly> If ye will fet about fome days of humili- ation before the Lord, and take with you your fins, and the fin of crying up this clatty liberty, which is the price ot blood. If ye will return to the Lord, then return with all your heart ; for he is merciful and gracious, and repents him of the evil that he threatens , neither will he give way to his anger. He did fo to me ; I no fooner began to look to him, but he made me welcome, and put me to work, tho' I be but young, and know nothing: He was tender of me, he took me to Eothwel-bridge, to own his caufe ; and I had many temptations to flay ; what from my mo- ther, and from one hand and another ; but I durft not for my foul ftay behind; I thought it my duty to join myfelf with that party againfl the Lord's enemies, and the Lord was good to me there many ways ; he covered ray head in the day of battle, and fuffered not one hair of my head to fall to the ground, and he fuffered many better than me a thoufand times, to fall on all hands of me j fo I thought then I held my life of him; and the Lord brought me to the Gray- friars church-yard, tho' I came almoit naked, yet he mounted me better than ever I was before with cloaths, and wonderfully provided for me, beyond many others. I blefs the Lord, my mother's licknefs did not keep me from Bo thwel -bridge ; and when I was in the Gray-friars church-yard, I was threatened with death by the juftice-general, who fwore a great oath, That I fhould die if I would not take the bond. I told him, as it was true, That many better, than I had been hanged ; but I was brought out of his hand; and the Lord took me to the fea, and did deliver me from the ragings thereof, when he fuffered many better to lofe their lives. And when he laid his hand upon me by ficknefs, he made me to be favoured by all my enemies ; he healed me, and brought me home ; and then he called me out to hear the gofpel ; for which I defire to blefs him, and within a little while, I fhall praife him for it. The Lord was fo feen amongfl his perfecuted hand- ful there, that he did engage me to join with them, who were hazarding their lives upon the fields for him. I was at that late engagement, and the Lord took fome work off my hand there; and has brought me to this place, this day, to lay down my life for his fake; and of John Malcolm. 95 this is the laft combat I fhall have ; I fhall work no more : I mult take my leave of you all, and fo reft in his love. I go where all tears fl:all be 'wiped aivay ; where the fervant is made free from his mafter. To the land where the inhabitants Jliall not fay, they are Jick. Now, be not difcouraged at the ways of God's provi- dence to me ; for I can afTure you, the caufe is his own, and he will own it. For lo t thine enemies Jhall pcrifli. I would have every one of you feeking the favour of God : for ye will have ado with it at death and judg- ment : the greatefl perfecutor or malignant will have fore miffing of his favour in that day. O feek him in time ! and the Lord help his poor young wreftling peo- ple well thro' their trials; the Lord help them to be faithful, and to endure to the end; for they have the promife of being favcd. Join with his people, and cad in your lot with them, and do not (land on the other lide ; let his caufe be your caufe in well or wo. O noble caufe ! O noble work! O noble heaven! O noble Chriit, that makes it to be heaven ! and he is the owner of the work : O noble Mediator of the new covenant ! O noble Re- deemer, who is powerful to help in time of need, and will help fuch as truft in him. There was never one that trufted in him that came to lofs, he made them al- ways up, fometimes with an hundred-fold in this life, and heaven after. I lay down my life, not as an evil doer, but as a fuf- ferer for Chrift. I fhall fay no more, but a word or two. One is anent that which fome would be informed in, Whether I took the bond that was tendered to the priibners ? I acknowledge, there was a fupplication drawn up, containing two articles : One was, craving the benefit of the acl of indemnity: The fecond was, That I fhould not lift arms againft the king, or any in lawful authority : but becaufe it was not authority only, but lawful authority, it was not granted. And, at that time, there were pains taken by fome perfons of note, that perfuaded me to take the bond as it was tendered by the bloody council. Indeed it hath been a thing hea- r than the land to me, and hath made me groan. I think for that, and for many other private failings, the Lord did not give me his countenance ; the Lord pardon that, as I hope he will, that I iliould have put my hand a p$n, and bla paper in that fupplication : But 95 The lafl Speech and Teflimcny for the bond, I blefs the Lord, I did not fubferibe it. The fecond thing I am reputed guilty of, is, That I fupplicated for a delay fome fhort time, and that I cal- led it rebellion that I was Airfmofs. Indeed I fubferi-b- ed no fuch things; but it was only this, That it might pleafe them to grant us fome more time, for we Were in confufion, becaufe of the (hortnefs of the time; we defired fome more time, that we might get our fouls cafe laid to heart, and our peace made with God thro* Jefus Chrift. I fhall fay no more, but wiih that ye would all feek repentance in time, before it be hid from your eyes. I recommend my foul and fpirit to him, that is able to fave to the utter i?wjl all that co7?ie to him thro 1 Chrljl ; and defire to take my leave of all created com- forts. Farewel all relations, farewel world, farewel fin. Welcome Chriit, welcome heaven and glory for evermore. Sic fubferibitur, JOHN MALCOLM. The lafi Tefimony of 'Mr. JAMES SKEEN, brother to the laird of Skeen, nute fujfercd at Edinburgh, Decern' her ift, 1680. His Interrogations and An fixers before the Privy Council) related hy himfelf in a letter to his brother. Dear Billy, TO fattsfy your defire, I fend you this line, to let you know, that when I came before the council, (York and Rothes being there, two bifhops, viz. Burnet and Paterfon, the advocate, Clerk Paterfon, Linlith- gow, and many more, fitters and ftanders, Dalziel the general, being porter, walking proudly up and down, not as a fervant) none was admitted to come in with me. I faluted them all civilly, and keeped off my hat, be- caufe they keeped off, that they might not fay that I was a Quaker. Rothes afked me, Was I at Bothwel or Airfmofs ? I anfwered, I was at home in the North both thefe times. They afked, If I did own Sanquhar Declaration, and the teftimony at Rutherglen \ I told them, I did own them both. He afked, IJjd I own the king's authority, I faid, in fo far as it was againil the Covenant and intered of Chrift, I difown it. He afked me, Thought I it not a fmful murder the killing of ths tf Mr. fames Skeen. 97 Arch-prelate ? I faid, I thought it was their duty to kill him, when God gave them opportunity ; for he had been the author of much blood-ihed. They afked me, Why I carried arms ? I told them it was for felf-defence, and the defence of the gofpel. They aiked me, Why I poifoned my ball ? I told them, I wifhed none of them to recover whom I mot. He afked me, Why I carried a durk ? I told them, they might afk Mr. Geor e M'Kenzie, if it was not our country-fafhion ; and he prefently told the chancellor that it was fo. They aik- ed, if I knew Cargil ? I faid, it was my comfort I knew him. Then they reproached him, and me for converf. ing with him. I faid, I bleffed God, he gave me fveet peace in it. They afked, Would I kill the foldiers,' be- ing the king's ? I faid, it was my duty if I could, when they perfecuted God's people. They afked, if I would kill any of them ? I faid they were all Rated enemies of our Lord Jefus Chrift, and by the Declaration at San- quhar I counted them my enemies. They afked, If I would think it my duty to kill the king ? I faid, He had ftated himfelf an enemy to God's intereft, and there was war declared againft him. I faid, the covenant made with God was the glory of Scotland, tho' they had un- thankfully counted it their fhame. And in direct terms, I faid to the chancellor, I have a parchment at home, wherein your father's name is, and you are bound by that, as well as I. They afked, Why I called the chan- cellor, Sir ! I faid, Sir, was a title for a king, and it might ferve him. The chancellor afked, if I knew his Royal Highnefs ? I never faw fuch a perfon. York looks out by (for he fat in the fliadow of Kifliop Burnet) and faid, Why did 1 wilh the king fo ill? 1 told, I wift no ill to any; but as they were in oppofition to God I wifh- ed them brought down : and he fpoke no more. The chancellor laid, Would I not adhere to the aces of par- liament of this kingdom? I laid, I would not own any of them which were in oppofition to God and Ins Cove- nant. Mr. M'Kenzie faid, If the king wc in coach, would you think it no (in to kill him? I faid, by the Sanquhar Declaration there was war declar- ed againfl him, and fo he needed not put that in queflion. So Mr. M-Kenzie came out by to the bar, and faid, I know your relations and mine are fib; be ingenuous in all that is demanded of you, and 1 will fave you ffc I 9 8 The I aft Speech and Teftimony torture. I faid, Sir, j I. know you, and ye know me and my relations ; I have been as free and ingenuous as I could imagine, becaufe I reckon it my credit, and my glory, to give a full and free confejTion for my blefled Lord's inte- reft, that is reproached and born down. They alked me where I faw Cargil laft? I faid, I met him laft in the Weft-bow, to my comfort. They afked me, Who were owners of the houfe ? I faid, I really could not tell them, I knew them not. They faid, Would I know the houfe ? i faid, Yes. They faid, Would I fhow it to fome whom they would fend with, me ? I told them, I was free in what concerned myfelf, but to hurt any elfe^ I could not mar my peace with God; but if they were advertifed to go out of the houfe, I fhould fhow it them. Then they defired me to go my ways. The general opened the door, and rounded in my ear, Ye muft go down with fome fol- diers, and {how them that houfe. I faid, I will not do it to hurt any ; thefe indwellers mull be advertifed to flee the houfe fir ft. Then I was ordered to the guard, which was of Linlith- gow's foldiers, which took me, and walked (after Archi- bald Stewart and John Sproul, who were examined) to the Tron, aad back to the "council houfe of the town : I being alone, and only fix foldiers with me. I took me to prayer, and was comforted ; and then fent money for meat and drink ; and then worshipped in public with the foldiers. At night, a perfon from J — — kindly wakned me, and brought me bread and ale, and fugar, and fome confecled carvel. After that I was carried to a commit- tee, where were prefent the Chancellor, Hatton, Pa- terfon, Juftice-Clerk, Wigtoun and, Linlithgow : And they ihewed me two letters of mine to Mrs Simp fon, Wherein I owned the Declaration at'Sanquhar, and told I would do much to perfuade many that it was juft, from 'Mr. M' Ward's advice that was 'given to the prifo- ners. I owned the letters, and told. -them,. I did what I could to diifuade profeftbrs from paying them cefs, which they ordered for bearing down the. gofpel : at which they laughed. The chancellor faid,, Why did I not call him Lord? I told him, were he for Chrift's intereft I would honour him. Then he, laid, he cared not for my honour ; but, he would fyave me to know he was chan- cellor. I faid, 1 knew that. He faid, 1 was not a Scots- man but a Scots-head. At which Wigtoun gloomed at of Mr. fames Skeen. 99' him, and he laughed. He then rounded to me, that he' would be my friend, would I be ingenuous. I told him, I wifhed him no ill. They afked me, What Mr. William Alexander was it that I wrote of? I faid Mr. Pater fen the biihop, and Mr. Rofs at Glafgow knew him, and perfecuted him unjuftly : I then related to them how it was. Paterfon faid, I told that which I knew not to be truth ; he pitied me. He faid to the chancellor, Certain- ly I forgot to write. I was before the justiciary court, where my confeffion w r as read, and after I read it again, and told them, I thought it my honour to fubferibe to it. I aifented to all that was recorded by the clerk ; 1 owned it, and counted it my honour fo to do. The juftice-clerk, Hatton's fon being there, faid, He pitied me, I being a gentleman ; he knew my friends. I laid, were I an earl's fon, I would efteem it my honour. I dellred them to can- vafs well that they did, for they would be panneled before God for it. He faid, I might prepare for another world. I faid, I hoped the Lord would prepare me. Now, dear Billy, I have have given you an account of the truth, as I confufedly remember; but I entreat you take all the praife you give me, and put it upon my Lord, for I am but a poor, fimple, fmful worm : It is from him I had this courage. Wigtoun and the juftice-clerk, de- fired me to fhew them that houfe, faying, That I was free enough in all except that; and if I were obftinate, I might belike get the boots. I faid, let them do with me what they pleafed, in what concerned myfelf I was free, but to do hurt to others I would not, to bring them under their wrath ; I would not mar my peace with God fo far. The general faid, he would parole to me, that the indwellers of the houfe mould be advertifed. I faid, I would not have his parole. The chancellor boalled me for denying his parole. I faid to the chancellor, I was a gentleman that had blood relations to his relations, the earl of Mar's mother and I being lifter-bairns. He faid, he was forry I was fo related. I faid, the caufe I was there owning honoured me; and 1 would it befel my friends. So this, I hope, you will not too critically re- flect on my confufed writing, fince I am in hafte : \e know, it may be, I may be cited before thefe bloody nun this forenoon. I will not order for my funerals till I know my fentence : I may pollibly not be allowed a bu- rial. My Lord comforts me, and i leave all on him to I 2 roo The I aft Speech and Tefiimony hear me thro' this ftorm, thro' the valley and fhadow of death. Dear Billy, bid all ye fee of our ferious friends help me with their prayers that I may be helped of the Lord to be faiihful unto the death: and that he will give me the farth of aiTurance, that I fhall enjoy my Lord's love thro' all eternity : the want of this clouds me amch, I am fo unworthy a wretch. I am, Dear Billy, ycur unworthy friend, and loving brother ', JAMES SKEEN. From My Lord Jefus his houfe, which he has made a fweet palace, wherein he ft hews me his wonderful free love, the clofe prifon above the iron-houfe, in the high tolbooth of Edinburgh, Nov. 1680. P. S. I told the chancellor, the caufe was jtift, for which the king and others were excommunicate ; tho' I was not there, yet I adhered to it. Another Letter from Mr. JAMES SKEEN, to alt profeffors in the jhire of Aberdeen, efpecially, Mr. JVil- >i Alexander , Mr. WiUidm Mitchel, and Mr, John IVatfcn, my dear acquaintances. Being the lajl tejlimony for the inter eft of thrift from Mr. Ja7nes Skeen, now in- clofe prifon for Ch rift's inter eft, in the tolbooth of Edin- burgh. Dear Friends, THE Lord having dealt fo gracioufly with me, m wonderful free love, as to bring me to the love of himfelf, his truths, and defpifed intereft, as that he en- gaged me in a particular covenant with himfelf, wbich, by his honouring me to make me a prifoner to evil men, for his defpifed intereft, he has evidently confirmed to me, that he accepted of my bargain with himfelf, when mod unworthy and wretched ; tho' many times, by rea- son of a prevailing body of fin and death, I provoked him to call the bargain ; yet ftill by new obligations he- engaged me to renew it. My mercy has been great, that providence ordered fome time my coming South, where mod fuifering has been for our Lord ; and for that rea- fon, mod light h;is been given to profeffors here, that they might fee what was clear duty in thefe trying, tempting and backfliding times. And whenever the Lord helped me to fee our covenant-obligations, which arc the of Mr. fames Skeen. I o I glory cf Scotland, I was ferious and zealous, ye know, to impart to all of you, whom I was acquaint with! The Lord always making my love to him to abound, I thought no travel ill-wared, or any hazard too great on any occafion, whereby I might propagate his defpifed in,- tereft among you. You know how much I have contend- ed with you for paying of that curfed cefs, ordered by the convention of eftates, for bearing down the gofpel ; as I was honoured to witnefs againft it at a committee on Saturday lad at night : you are not aware how you bring the blood of faints on your heads, by this obedience to the ftated enemies of our Lord Jefus Chrilt, your oppos- ing of that which was, and is the judgment of the moflb tender profeffbrs, in withdrawing from indulged n: fters ; and from thefe minifters that favoured them, and fo did not, nor would not declare againft the indulge - as a fin, that moft hainoufly and rebellion!"!}' diihonours our blejled Lord as head of the church, and fet up a ty- rannous ufurper in his place, was a particular I much contended with many of you ; in my hearing you plead- ing for a fmful union with thefe who have confpired to dethrone our blelfed Lord ; fome of you oppofed that which was an honourable" teftimony for our Lord at Rutherglen, and that declaration at Sanquhar; and the teftimony or covenant that was taken at the Queensferry, calling thefe rafh and inconfiderate, whom the Lord cal- led out to be valiant contenders. for his truth and inter reft, which is now contemned by a wicked apoitate gene- ration, and to feal all of them with blood : Py all thefe the Lord has been calling his people to come from among Babel's brood; its curled brood, who by many iubtile fatannical ways; what by Prelacy, Quakerifm, Armlni- anifm, Latitudinarians, and Indulged Minifters, and mi- nifters and profeflbrs, that love fo their quiet that they will not declare againft, and decline that ufurping trai- tor on the throne,. Charles Stuart, and all the curfed crew of pretended magiftrates in Scotland, having for- feited their right of government, as appears by their wic- ked and unparalleled apoftacy from that Solemn League and Covenant, upon that foul pretext, that we are not in a probable capacity to extirpate them, or put them < of office. When in our place and ftation, we give our witnefs againft thefe ufurpations, we fo far contend for God, and witnefs for his troJen-down and defpifed intc- I 3 102 The I aft Speech and Teftlmony reft, and teftify our unwiilingnefs, that our Lord mould totally give up with this poor land. O ! this hath been many times a fad heart to me, ye have looked more to the credit of men than the glory of our great Lord God. I fear this teitimony be unacceptable and hazardous to- you to man tain ; becaufe of that they call treafon in it ; but ah ! there is fo much done to advance a mortal crea- ture, a ftated enemy to'Chrift, a furious hafty cruel mur- derer of God's faints, that there is fear of difowning of God, and a palpable denying of him before men, when you own tyrannous opprefTors. Your eftates you cannot part with ; your credit and pleafures, and your quiet in the world you will not part with : You will rather ima- gine arguments to cheat yourfelves in defending your practices that are clear breaches of covenant : if your too great carnal love to the world did not blind you, and your unwiilingnefs to quit your life for Chrift, which ibon will come to an end, however with lefs comfort, than you would certainly have when you adventure all for our bleffed Lord. As for you, Mr. Alexander, I may fay, I have found you willing on good information, to be for tender cleav- ing to your dear Matter, and bad information, making it a queftion, if it was duty to dethrone the pretended king ? which Mr. T. H. and Mr. R. M. oppofmg, byafled you vom that principal duty ; by which we are Angularly .known to be true covenanters, and leave thefe that are blind, and follow your dear Mailer in the duties he calls his people to, and he will own them, and I am perfuad- ed he has owned them who have owned him in this duty* You did quarrel at field-meetings, enemies ordering a- gainft them, and confentmg that houfe- meetings be en- joyed ; but here is your teftimony, when you keep the nelds you declare that our Lord's church has liberty to .keep her meetings and ordinances where flie pleafes, and ought not to be at the arbitriment of men. To Mr. Mitchel I fay, I have had a great efteem of vou as a true lover of piety; and I doubt not, the Lord has fealed your miniftry fometimes, and fome witne/Tes of it I have known : But O Sir, what a fearful fnare are you in, by complying with curates in hearing them, and taking both facraments off their hands ! Oh ! if ye quit mot all carnal love to the world, to credit, and friends,, that will oppofe your coming off, the hazard is great:, of Mr. fames Skeen. 16$ the Lord may rank you with them that have oppofed the riling of his kingdom : however, I am fure, he will make you mourn for it, and I doubt (if ye fhortly come not oft from that accurfed crew) that the Lord will fend you a forer trial, than fufferers for him meet with. To Mr. Watfon, I write this as my J aft teftimony ; O how unfaithful is his miniftry \ he dare not, for fear of loofmg his miniftry, declare againft the hainous breach of covenant by all the pretended magiftrates in the land. I grant your clearnefs as to other things was much one with my awn. O Sir, quite men as they quite Chrift's way and intereft, elfe you will never be clear in truths, as the Lord lets out light, and increafeth it. And this is mod dreadfnl, to be fo enfnared to walk in darknefs, and fo be in oppofition to our bleited Lord ! O let love to the Lord Jelus Chrift afluredly overcome you, and then admiring of men, and cleaving to them who are out of Chrift's way, will be no fmall matter, but a hai- nous fin. Oh! will you adventifre your falvation on it, to cleave to them who are reproaching our Lord, his people and interefl:, by mixing in with the curfed curates ? that perfon ye cleave to, draws on him the guilt of all the faints blood that is (hed in maintaining his intereft: and covenant, whofe judgment ye cannot decline, he be* ing Judge of all the world. Ye may fay much more, every one of you that know me : I was many times ne- gligent of a tender walking, by feeking of iettlement, and if that had been my lot ye had not heard of this tef- timony. You know every one of you, this teftimony I gave you formerly; even when with you, I many times wifhed from my heart the Lord would not order a fettle- ment to me among you. My heart was broken with your lukewarmnefs and indifferency. And this I teftified to feveral of you, and I rather choofed, I faid often, to be a fheep-keeper in the fouth, where I might be encoura- ged in godlinefs, than to live in pomp and eafe at home, with an ill-confcience ; and when I came away laft, I was forry at my purpofe of leaving Scotland, when I heard all were agreeing to apoftacy, in my judgment then, from our bed covenanted God, and I was deter- mined for Ireland then, being ill informed of every one of the kingdoms, there not being a people tenderly own- ing the covenant in Ireland, but all fome way owning I the uiurper Charles Stuart ; but in poor Scotland, here 104 The laft Speech and Teftimony in the fouth, I found a poor handful, .and about one faithful minifter, whom the Lord called out, . viz. Mr. Donald Cargii, to be his meffenger .to his people, and give witnefs againft the apoitacy of miniiters and profef- fors; even thole who were great lights in the land are n_ow in obfcurity, and avowedly reproaching our Lord's jRtereftand people, whom yet the Lord will cloath with iliame and make their peace they boaft of, and quiet fieep> to their great confounding. As for the call J have to iufFer, I found it my only peace to quit thoughts of Ire- land, that I might not be involved in their guilt of de- nying to have our Lord Jeius Chrift to be king over them. O that poor party I find only for maintaining his prero- gative royal, to which I am joined. Mr. Donald Cargii being the only faithful ambaffador our Lord has in Scot- land, I following the ordinances on Friday laft, being as well armeo for defending the gofpel and myfelf as I could ; beyond expectation, a party of Linlithgow's fol- diers is fent out to my.lodgingj and not dreading dan- ger in the day time, I thought our perfecutors had never heard of my name ; I was apprehended, and now at laft brought hither to clofe prifon, the Lord having honour- ed me to give an ample teftimony before the council and lords of judiciary for my wronged Lord Jefus, and fup- pofing I muft feal i.t with my blood, I leave this teftimo^ ny to you, my friends and acquaintances in Aberdeen- ihire, and fubfcribe it, November 17. 1680. JAMES SKEEN. From my delegable prifon, in which my Lord has allowed vte his peace and prefence, and comforted me with that, 1 do all reign with him eternally > for I am his, and bought • with his precious blood. To his friend and fellowprifoner N. Much honoured friend in Chrift y I Give it under my hand, I have no caufe to rue my fweet bargain. His crofs is eafy and light yet ; and that which is mod terrifying, I hope he will make com- fortable. O lovely Lord 1 what could make him to chufe me. to fuffer for him ! what is all the world to me if his honour be at the (lake ? If his honour be advanced by* of Mr. fames Skeen. . 105 my death, O happy me ! I have oftentimes wifhed a fuf- fering lot. I heard and faw fo much of God's goodnefs, that I thought the crofs and comforts of Chrift could not be feparated : And I have no reafon to complain ; the Lord is oft the joy of my heart, that I am forced to wonder at it ; leaving further troubling you, hoping you will be as good as your word. Be much in prayer, for thefe two or three days. It is likely on Thurfday next I will need no help of prayers, being come to the immedi- ate vifion of my Lord, to fee him as he is : I will be ftu- pified, as it were, and amazed at it. If his merits were not of infinite value, I might queflion, What would I do ? But he has promifed, Tbut I foal I reign ^ith /:. JAMES SKEEN. To his friend and fellow- prifoner N. dear friend in Chrifl> 1 Received yours, encouraging me to hold on in my bleifed Lord r s way, which he hath pathed to me, I am not unmindful of you, as I can ; and I defire you to pray, that none may offend at the Lord's interefl for me, there being willingnefs on my part to furfer, tho* juftly they cannot condemn me ; for they oifer me a de- livery, if I would fubmit to the duke's and council's mercy ; but it is often evidently feen, that the tender mercies of the kicked are cruelty, I find no liberty to de- ny my Lord for fear of death : I hope he will make up my lofs inhimfelf. All I can defire of you is, to pray much for me, that the Lord will own me, for his own came, before the adverfaries, and in my dirTolution. I wifh the 'Lord to comfort his people, and tenderly own his defpifed inter eL Mr. Carftairs raid, " He was a- * c fhamed of that pri * ire maintained ; and that Ave " were not found Preftyterians ; and wiihed the Lord " might preierve him from the like." I am no whit troubled at this, I blefs my Lord. They would have me conferring with him : I laid, I would not notice him ?f he came near me. Tell my friend, I would have writ- ten, but had no time. I wrote yefternight to him. I need both your helps, by fupplications, and urong cries to the Lord, to carry me thro' the valley and liiadow death. I mud leave here ; wifhing the Lord to bear \ up under all trials. I thought you fliould have beer io6 The la ft Speech and Tejlimony eternity before me ; but now I think, I fhall leave you in the vallies, when I (hall arrive at the bleffed harbour. I arn, Dear friend, your t well- t ivijher i and Chrijl \s pri finer, JAMES SKEEN. P. S. A double of my confeffions you may have from a friend whom I fhall defire to fend it to you. I got my fummonds for eternity with found of trumpet yef- ternight, and my indictment with Rvq fhouts of the trumpet, and purfevants in their coats, at feven of the clock, was a grave fight ; but my Lord helped me not to be afi;aid at it, iince all was from him. The lafl Speech and Tejlimony of Mr. JAMESSKEEN, brother to the Laird of Sheen; 'which he intended t* have delivered on the fcajf old t December ljl> 1680. De-ar people, I Am come here this day, to lay down my life for own- ing* Jefus Chrift's defpifed intereft, and for afferting that he is a King, and for averring that he is head of his own church, and has not delegated or deputed any, either pope, king, or council, to be his vicegerents on earth. Since my bleffed Lord Jefus Chrift has in his love en- gaged me by a particular covenant, in his own terms, to renounce and refign myfelf to him, in foul and bo- dy, affuring me by his word, and teftifying his accept- ance of my refignation by his holy and bleffed Spirit, promifing to redeem me from all fins, giving me affur- ance of a faving intereft in himfelf ; and now having called me in his providence, contriving this my fuffering, by permitting his ungodly enemies to apprehend and take me prifoner, having wickedly plotted my taking, in my going on the way to attend what the Lord had to work on my foul by his preached gofpel, to give a tei- timony for his covenant, intereft and people that are re- proached and born down by a perjured, God-contemn- ing generation : and to- feal my fufferings and teftimony with my blood, I moft willingly lay down my life for his intereft. I leave my teftimony to the National Co- venant, and the Solemn League and Covenant, which are founded on the Scriptures, the word of God, which are written by the prophets and apoftles in the Old and of Mr. James Sheen. 107 New Teftament, which has Jefus Chrift, thebleiTed ob- jeit of our faith, for the chief corner-ftone of the build- ing. I alfo leave my teftimony to Mr. Donald Cargii's paper taken at the Queensferry, called a new covenant, according as.they agree to the true original copy. I adhere to Prefbyterian government, and the whole work of reformation of the church of Scotland, the Con- feffion of Faith, the. Larger and Shorter Catechifms, confulted well, and written by the AfTembly of Divines, except that article about magiftracy, when ill expound- ed, in the 23d chapter *, becaufe our magiftracy is but ; pure tyranny, exercifed by the luftful rage of men, yea, rather devils in fhape of men, whom God has pertiratted in his holy and fpotlefs wifdom, for a trial to his people, and a fnare to feme others, to opprefs, tyrannize, and blafphemouily tread under foot his truth, intereft and people; yea, that article is expounded in the National Covenant, where we have vowed to the almighty God, not to maintain the king's intereft, when he difowns the -Covenant, and well fettled church-government by pref- bvteries, fynod.s, and general aflemblies of the church of Scotland. I adhere to the teftimony for the intereft of Chrift at Rutherglen-; at which time the wicked acts of parliament, and the blafphernous declarations, by which they have fworn to be enemies to the intereft of Chrift, were folemnly burnt. , I adhere to the Sano^har Declaration, whereby we that were true Prefbyterians did depofe that tyrant Charles Stuart; who is head of malignants and malignancy, from his exercife of go- vernment as to us : and we do no otherways than the people of Libnah, 2 Chron. xxi.- 10. The fame time alfo did the people of Libnah revolt from under the king of Ju- dah, becaufe he-had firfaL Lord God of his fathers. ►And this practice is not to grofs that I own, in declar- ing againil that monftrous tyrant cm the throne of Bri- I 11, us many conjecture, if ferioufiy folk would confider the unjuftice pra&iied in civil matters, by bimfelf, and all his adherent inferior magiftrates (yea inferior tyrants, et none milt;-ke this fc: vorthy £entlc 7 iple of t! • in- " & the magiftrates juil II and le^al authority ;"■ tor it is plain, he n v the Talk M'as then put upon it, to make . :ncc Ot tyranny and wrbitrtry. power*. xo8 The lajl Speech and Teflimony for he is the head and fupreme tyrant) that no poor man that has a juft caufe, if he be not as profligate and wicked as themfelves, can have juftice ; and his ufurpa- tion in ecclefiaftic matters ; which is too great a tafk for any on earth, fince they mud take upon them to de- throne our blefTed Lord Jefus Chrift, ivho is given to be bead over all things to the church, Eph. i. 22. Pfal. ii. 8. You would canvafs the juftice of difowning his au- thority, which to do, you are engaged by oath to God, he overturning the whole work of reformation, which was the great ground of his inthronement in Scotland,' to maintain the covenant and work of reformation. His wicked burning of the Covenant, and Caufes of God's Wrath, is caufe enough to me to difown his authority, which is fo maintained by perjury; Ezek. xvii. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. Shall he break the covenant, and pro/per P Confider like ways his oppreflion, in ordering military forces to opprefs God's people, to obftrucT:, impede and hinder the worfhip of God, the ordinances in houfes or fields, and compel them to join with a curfed crew of prelates, curates, and feme indulged minifters. Yea, his tyranny is fo great, that he ordered an hoft of armed men in the year 1678, to invade a peaceable country in the Weft ; who robbed, ftole from, and oppreffed poor people, for no other realbn, but becaufe they would not pollute their confeiences, and be fubject to Prelacy ; which Eraftian government he has contended for thefe feveral years, and keeped up in this land. If there were - no other caufe of his rejection, they might fuffice to juf- tify any, who were engaged by God, having time and place to cut him off : for, by the law of God, murder, adultery, and oppreffion, are punifhable by death, and kings are not exempted, far lefs tyrants, that are lawful- J lv excommunicate. But to thefe horrid impieties is added, the fhedding of the blood of poor innocents, which ag- gravated his guilt ; fo that tho' the Lord mould make him penitent, he deferves death by the law, according to which, blood cannot be expiated, but by the blood of him nvhofoed it. For confirmation of what I have faid, fe Ezek. xxi. 25. 26. 27. read alio Ezek. xliii. 9. Put a*iva^ the car cafes of your kings far frcvi me, and I ivill dwell in the inidjl of you for ever. Confider how our fathers con- tended for truth, and muft we lofe what they have gain- ed \ Ah ! this atheiftical generation of perjured, adul- ; n cf Mr. %ames Skeen. i©9 terous, and bloody powers, are ripe for God's vengeance ! I give my teftimony againft the curfed perfecuting fol- diers; the blood of God's faints is on their heads, and mine is laid on them, efpecially Serjeant Warrock who apprehended me; my blood is on the jufticiaryf, who fubfcribed to my fentence, and on the fifteen aflizers, James Glen ftationer being clerk; and on the chancellor, and on Mr. George M'Kenzie who pleaded for my con- demnation ; and Thomas Dalziel who ordered my tak- ing ; and upon Andrew Cunningham who condemned me ; and upon all the reft who are accellbry in the leail thereto : yea, the privy council are to be accountable for my blood ; and my blood is on the head of Mr. J — C — who condemned my teftimony againft thefe bloody tyrants, afferting me to be a Jefuite. I leave my tefti- mony againft receiving that accurfed traitor James Duke of York, and all Papifts, Quakers, Prelates, Curates, Latitudinarians, indulged minifters, and their favour- ers ; the Hamilton Declaration, and other papers and actings, directly or indirectly againft the truth. I leave my teftimony againft the luke-warm profeffors, who write and fpeak grievous things to reproach the truly godly, and who keep filence when God calls them to give a free and full teftimony for his defpifed covenant, and whole work of reformation, againft a treacherous, back- fliding, and adulterous generation. And as in this place, or any other of my papers, I could not have de- signed God's enemies any otherways than by their pre- tended offices ; thus far, dear people, I crave your liber- ty, and let none think, that thereby I own them in the leaft point. Likewiie, whereas my fufFerings were delayed, the Lord, in whofe prefence I muft appear ere long, knows what a foul grief it is to me to remember it. When the day I was fentenced to die for my dear Lord's interell came, I vainly expecting that my relations that were K x Thefe and the like fentences, which may poflibly be met with in fome other tertimonies, ought not to be miftaken, as the effects of a re- vengeful ungofpei fpirit, but rather as afimpl i m ot their being guilty of blood in condemning them, to ferve as a warning to the perle- cutors, not to proceed further in thefe wicked courfes, and to trakftn them to repentance, if po(Tible, for what they had already done; a: much paralleled in its nature with that of Jeremuh, in his apok ihe princes, chap. v. 15. 1 1 o The laft Speech and Tejlimony great in court, who had feen me, fhould have procured a reprival for me ; but being difappointed, a fear of death iiirprifed me, hearing that all were prefently making ready for my execution, and then my carnal relations al- moft weeping on me, engaged me, by their iniinuations, to fupplicate that bloody crew for it myfelf. A carnal well-wifher-drew it up in thefe terms : James Sheen pri- /oner, earnejlly defires your lordflnps to grant him a reprival fjr fame days, till he ca?ivafs thefe things he ixas fentenced for ivifh learned and godly meii ; and your lordjhips a?ifwer. After I fubferibed it, a great confufion and horror of fpirit fell on me ; I went to prayer, wifhing in my heart it were not granted ; but fuch was my trouble, I could not fay any thing but nonfenfe. My heart was afflicted fore with this ftraitning, and the more when the reprival was granted. I thought, I having fhifted the crofs, my Lord might deny me that credit again, and put a worfe on me in requital of my flighting him. I judge the Lord 'left me thus to flip, to humble me ; and that he hid his face to make me examplarily punifhed for untender car- rying under his crofs, which he had chofen for me, to warn others under the crofs that they would be circum- fpect and zealous for keeping from being polluted with -*Lny compliance with the defections of the times, that they may have a cleanly fuffering. From this backflid- ing I recovered not for two days after, but found it fad for my foul, the Lord hid his face from me : but*now my God has had companion on me, and this time of the eight days reprival, he has preferved me from fuch a backfliding, when the devil by his emiifaries has had much artifice to turn me afide from the way of the Lord. Yet I will fay this far, all I have done was not in order to own that wicked council as lawful rulers ; but my life being in their tyrannous hands, I thought then I might f Jefus I , becauie of their faithfulnefs : and I hope, none will condemn mc I ing, that I have not had clear;:-. I u with them, lile the] unconce tufe of p :o the way of fal her - Son be ' 120 The I aft Speech and Teftimony the Son we fhould be made perfect, which I hope to ob- tain, before this body of mine be cold, and in his per- fection I fliall be made perfect, and thro* his fuffering I fhall be conformed to him, thirjl after right eoufnefs ; for they frail be filed. Blejfed are the pure in heart ; for they frail fee God. Blefed are the peace-makers ; for they frail be called the children of Cod, Blejfed are they that are reproached for right ecufr.efs fake ; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blejed are ye when men shall revile you, and perfecute you, and shall fay all manner ofevilofyoufalfelyfor rnyfake. O friends, it is only you that have ground to rejoice ; if ye by him be helped to keep the word of his patience, he will keep you in the hour c I temptation, which mall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the face of the earth- O dear friends and followers of Chrilr, hold en your way, weary not, faint not, and you fhall receive the crown of life. It is thofe that overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their teitimony, thac flj ftand, being clothed in white robes, before the throne, for thefe are they that came out of great tribulation. Remember, that there is a book of remembrance written, and the names of thefe are written in it, that fpeak often ene to another. O my friends, let it be your ftudy to keep up private fellowfhip-meetings, wherein fo much of the power and life of religion is to be found. Remember, that here I, as a dying fufierer for Chrift, leave '. J- 3 l%6 The la ft Speech and Teftlmoiiy charge to every one of you, that have any love to Chri Set about this and other duties with more fervent lo and zeal than heretofore hath been done; and be much in private prayer ; wreftle with God upon the account of Jacob's trouble. I will fay this, that the more ye feek ror Zion, the more ye will get for yourfelves. Let not the reproaches cait upon the way of God (tumble you. And fee that when ye are reviled, ye revile not again ; but rather with meeknefs and love, in the fear of the Lord, ftudy ye to gain others ; but if they will not hear- ken when this is done, then be free and faithful in t edi- fying againft them for fo doing; but efpecially let your converfation teftify your diflike of thefe finful courfes. And now, my dear friends in Chrift, I leave you to him,, who has promifed to be with you in the fire and water,, and bear the weight of all your reproaches, and is af~ fueled in all your affliclions. As for you that are lying in black nature, I exhort you to repent of your fins, and come out of that woful eftate, wherein ye are now lying, and clofe with a flain i diator upon his own terms. O fall in love with the way of falvation. O can ye think of the w r ay of redemp- tion, and not ftand and wonder at the condefcendency of free grace ? I tell you, Except you repent > ye fhall all perifh- I have a word to fpeak to you that are cruel and open enemies to Chrift and his caufe. Remember, The faints /hall judge the 'world; and then we fhall not get leave to ftand on equal terms with you ; but we fhall be fet on thrones, with crowns on our head and harp's in our hands, to fmg praife to the Lamb : And then w r e fhall pais our fentence, with the great Judge, upon all the enemies of God, and you fhall be turned into hell, w-ittv all the nations that forget God, if ye repent not. I pray that the Lord would open your eyes that you may fee your fins, and turn from them and live. I forgive all- men the wrongs they have done, or can do to me ; but for the wrongs done to Chrift, in robbing him of his right over his church and people, I know vengeance belongs to God, and he will repay them ; therefore I leave them under procefs, ay and while they repent. And now I begin to enjoy him who is invifible ; for it is but little w T e can fee of him now; but this I am fure of, that I ihall.be made conform to him thro' his fufFerings. There- fore I take my leave of all the world, and the enjoy- of John Potter. 12 7 aients thereof. I leave my wife and child to my cove- nanted God, who gave them to me, and willingly quit and give them up to him, hoping, that he will be a huj- band to th^e ividoav, and a father to the father lefs, accord- ing to his promife. I hope that the friends of the Lord will remember the living for the dead's fake. Farewel wife and child, parents and relations, and all friends and acquaintances. Welcome heaven, angels and faints; welcome God and Father ; welcome lovely Jems Chrift ; welcome Holy Spirit of grace, into thy hands I commend Hiy ibul and fpirit. Sic fubferibitur, JOHN POTTER. The Ufl Speech and Teftimony ^/ISABEL ALISON, nvho lived at Perth, and fuffered at Edinhurgh, January 26. 1681. The Interrogations c/ISABEL ALISON before the* privy council. WHen I was brought before the council, they afked me, Where did ye live, at St. Johnftoun ? . fiver, Yes. What was your occupation ! To which I did not anfwer. The bifhop afked, If I converfed with Mr. Donald Cargil ? I anfwered, Sir, you feem to be a man whom I have no clearnefs to fpeak to. He defired ano- ther to afk the fame queftion : I anfwered, I have fccil him, and I wifh that I had feen him oftner. They alked, If I owned what he had done againft the civil magiftrate ; I anfwered, I did own it. They alked, If I could read the Bible ? I anfwered, Yes. They afked, If I knew the duty we owe to the civil magiftrate ? I anfwered, When the magiilrate carrieth the fword for God, according to what the Scripture .calls for, we owe him all due reve- rence ; but when they overturn the work of God, and fet themfelves in oppofition to him, it is the duty of his fervants to execute his laws and ordinances on them. They afked, If I owned the Sanquhar Declaration ? I anfwered, I do own it. They afked, If I owned the pa- pers taken at the Quecnsferry on Henry Hall ? I ai cd, You need not queftion that. They afced, If I knew Mr. Skecn ? I anfwered, I never f : iw him. They afked, If I converfed with rebels r I anfwered, 1 never converfed with rebels. They asked, If I did convcr.e with David Hackiloua? I anfwered, I did coaverfc with him, asd 1 128 The lajl Speech and Tejlimony blefs the Lord that ever I faw him, for I never faw ought in him but a godly pious youth. They asked, If the killing of the biihop of St. Andrews was a pious act ? I anfwered, I never heard him fay, that he killed him ; but if God moved any, and put it upon them to execute his righteous judgments upon him, I have nothing to lay to that. They asked me, When faw ye John Balfour that pious youth ? I anfwered, I have feen him. They asked, When ? I anfwered, Thofe are frivolous ques- tions, I am not bound to anfwer them. They faid, I thought not that a teftimony. They asked, What think ye of that in the Confeffion of Faith, That magiftrates fhould be owned tho' they were heathens ? I anfwered,' It was another matter, than when thefe who feemed to* own the truth, have now overturned it, and made them- felves avowed enemies to it. They asked, Who fhould be judge of thefe things ? I anfwered, the Scriptures o£ truth, and the Spirit of God, and not men that have overturned the work themfelves. They asked, If. I knew the two Henderfons that murdered the lord St. An- drews ? I anfwered, I never knew any lord St. Andrews. They faid, Mr. James Sharp, if ye call him fo. I faid, I never thought it murder; but if God moved and ftir- red thsm up to execute his righteous judgment upon him, I have nothing to fay to that. They asked, whether or not I would own all that I had faid ? for, faid they, you will be put to own it in the Grafs-market: And they bemoaned me, in putting my Yi(q in hazard in fuch a quarrel. I anfwered, I think my life little enough in ; the quarrel of owning my Lord and Matter's fweet truths ; for he hath freed me from everlafting wrath, and redeemed me ; and as for my body, it is at his difpofal. They faid, I did not follow the Lord's practice, in that anent Pilate. I anfwered, Chrill owned his kingly office, when he was queftioned on it, and he told them, He nvas a King) and for that end he ivas born. And it is for that, that we are called in queftion this day, the own- ing of his kingly government. The bifhop faid, We own it. I anfwered, We have found the fad confequence of the contrary. The biihop faid, He pitied me for the lofs of my life. I told him, He had done me much more hurt than the lofs of my life, or all the lives they- had taken ; for it had much more affected me, that many fouls w T ere killed by their doctrine. The bifhop faid* of ffabel Alt fori. 129 Wherein is our doctrine erroneous ? I faid. That was better debated already than a poor lafs could debate it. They faid, Your miniiters do not approve of thefe things; and ye have faid more than fome of your minifters ; for your minifters have brought you on to thefe opinions, and left you there. 1 faid, They had caft in baits among the minifters, and haried them afide; and akho' minii- ters fay one thing to day, and another to morrow, we are not obliged to follow them in that. Then they faid, They pitied me; for (faid they) we find reafon and a quick wit in you : And they dcfired me to take it to ad- vrfement. I told them, I had been advifmg on it thefe feven years, and I hoped not to change now. They en- quired mockingly, If I lectured any? 1 anfwered, Quak- ers ufe to do fo. They asked, If I did own prefbyterian principles? I anfwered, That I did. They asked, If I was diftempercd ? I told them, I was always folid in the wit that God had given me. Lailly, they asked my name. 1 told them, If they had ftaged me, they might remember my name, for I had told them already, and would not always be telling them. One of them faid, May ye not tell us your name ? Then another of them- felves told it. The Interrogations ^/ISABEL ALISON before tht criminal lord:. BEing called before the criminal lords, they afkeci me, If I would abide by what I faid the laft day ? I anfwered, I am not about to deny any thing of it. They faid, Ye confelfed that ye harboured the killers of the bifliop, tho' ye would not call it murder. 1 laid, I confeffed no fuch thing. The advocate faid, I did. I anfwered, I did not ; and I told them, I would take with no untruths. He faid, Did ye not converfe with them? 1 faid, I did converfe with David Hackftoun, and 1 blefs the Lord for it. They faid, When faw you him laft ? I anfwered, Never fmce you murdered him. They dc- fired me to fay over what I faid die laft day. 1 faid, Would they have me to be my own accufer ? They faid, The advocate was my accufer ? I faid, Let him fay on then. Then they went over the thii t pall betwixt the council and me the other day ; and put me to . yea, or nay. I faid, .Ye have trot*bled me too much wi anfwering queftion% feeing ye are a judicature which I 130 The la ft Speech and Tejllmony have no clearnefs to anfwer. They faid, Do ye difown us, and the king's authority in us ? 1 faid, I difown you all, becaufe you carry the {word againft God, and not for him, and have thefe nineteen or twenty years made it your work to dethrone him, by fwearing year after year againft him and his work, and afTuming that pow- er to a human creature, which is due to him alone, and have rent the members from their head Chrift, and one another. Then they aiked, Who taught you thefe principles ? I faid, I was beholden to God that taught me thefe principles. They faid, Are you a Quaker ? I laid, Did you hear me fay, I was led by a fpirit within me : I blefs the Lord, I profited much by the perfecuted gofpel ; and your acts of indemnity after Bothwel. clear- ed me more than any thing I met with fmce. They faid, How could that be ? I faid, By your meddling w T ith Chrift's interefts, and parting them as ye pleafed. They faid, They did not ufurp Chrift's prerogatives. I faid, What then mean your indulgences, and your fetting up of Prelacy ? for there has none preached publicly thefe twenty years without perfecution, but thefe that have had their orders irom you. Then they caufed bring Sanquhar Declaration, and the f Paper found on Mr. Richard Cameron, and the Papers taken at the Queenf- ferry, and afked, If I would adhere to them ? I faid, I would, as they were according to the Scriptures, and I faw not wherein they did contradict them. They aiked, if ever Mr. Welch or Mr. Riddel taught me thefe prin- ciples ? I anfwered, I would be far in the wrong to fpeak any thing that might wrong them. Then they bade me take heed what I was faying, for it was upon life and death ( that I was queftioned. I afked them, If they would have me to lie? I would not quit one truth, tho' it would purchafe my life a thoufand years, which ye cannot purchafe, nor promife me an hour. They faid, When faw ye the two Henderfpns and John Bal- four ? Seeing ye love ingenuity, will ye be ingenuous, d tell us, if ye faw them fmce the death of the biiliop ? I faid, they appeared publicly within the land fince. They aiked, if I converfed with them within thefe twelve f This Paper being taken from him, at his death, by the enemies who flew him, no copy thereof, for ought 1 know, has ever been pro- cured, and hence it cannot be certainly known what was the nature it. of Ifabel Ail/en. I 3 1 months ? At which I kept filence. They urged me to fay either yea, or nay. I anfvvered, Yes. Then they faid, Your blood be upon your own head, we (hall be free of it. I anfwered, fo faid Pilate ; but it was a queftion if it was fo ; and ye have nothing to fay againft me, but for owning of Chrift's truths, and his perfecu- ted members. To which they anfvvered nothing. Then they defired me to fubfcribe what I owned : I refufed, and they did it lor me. Account of what ISABEL ALISON faid before the Ajjizers. Dear Friends, THESE are to fhew you what pad betwixt the black crew and me. They read my indictment, and ark- ed, if I had ought to fay againft it ? I faid, Nothing, They read the papers as they did formerly, and aiked, if I owned them ? I faid, I did own them. Then they called the affizers and fwore them. Then I told them, All authority is of God, Rom. xiii. 1. and when they ap- peared againft him, 1 was clear to difown them ; and if they were not againft him, I would not have been there : I take every one of you witnefs againft another, at your appearance before God, that your proceeding againft me is only for owning of (Thrift, his gofpel, and mem- bers ; which I could not difown, left I fhould.come un- der the hazard of denying Chrift, and fo be denied of him. And when the affize came, they afked. if I had ought to fay againft them ? I laid, They were all alike, for there would no honeft man take the trade in has They faid to the affize, It was againft their will to take our lives : I faid, If that had been true, they would not have brought me fo far oil, purfuing me for my life. This is the fubftance of what paft, as I remember. Account of Mr. Archibald PJddelV examination of Ifabel Aliibn and Marion Harvie. A Bout feven of the clock at night the goodman the tolbooth caufed call us down, againft our will, to be examined by Mr. Riddel, at the council's order. ^So we came down, and were brought to the weft fide of the houfe, to an empty room, where they brought him into us : The goodrnan of the tolbooth being preHeat, and the keepers, and fome gentlemen wi 132 The lajl Speech and Teftlmony they caufed us fit down. The goodman of the tolbootli faid, Mr. Riddel, the council caufed me bring you to confer with thefe women; to fee if ye can biing them to repentance. Then we protelled, and faid, As for re- pentance, we know not what fauk we have done : Then faid they, You cannot be the worfe to have one oF your minifters to confer with. We told them, Thefe mini- fters being their fervants we looked no more upon them as minifters of Jefus Chrift ; and therefore he is no mini- fter to Us. Mr. Riddel afked, If the council would fend Mr. Cargil to us, would we not confer with him ? We faid, He was not at their command; but if Mr. Cargil would do as ye and the reft of you have done, we would do the like with him. So he offered to pray ; We faid, We were not clear to join with him in prayer. He faid, Wherefore ? We faid, We know the ftrain of your pray- ers will be like your difcourfe. He faid, I mall not men- tion any of your principles in my prayer, but only de- fire the Lord to let you fee the evil of your doings. We told him, We deflred none of his prayers at all. They faid, Would we not be content to hear him ? We faid, Forced prayers had no virtue. Then we faid, What means he to pray with us more than he did with our brethren that have gone before us ? Mr. Riddel faid, Mr. Skeen converfed with Mr. Robert Rofs. We faid, He did not fend for him, but he intruded himfelf upon him. The goodman of the tolbooth faid, He converfed with Mr. Meldrum, and we fmiled at that, and faid, He might talk to him of his perjury, but for no other thing. So they urged prayer again. We faid, It would be a mock- ing of God. They faid, Why fo ? We faid, Becaufe we cannot join in it. So Mr. Riddel began to debate with us, and faid, We would not find it in all the Scrip- ture, nor any hiftory, to difown the civil magiftrate. We anfwered, There were never fuch magiftrates k^n as we have. He inftanced ManafTeh, who made the Jireets of Jerufalem to run ivitb the blood of the prophets. We faid, It was a queftion if he came the length in per- jury. He inftanced Joafh : We anfwered, He was but a child when that covenant was fworn, and it was not fo with thefe he now pleaded for. He then inftanced Nero, how he fet the city on fire, and robbed the churches ; and yet notwithstanding the Apoftle exhort- eth fubmiffion to the magiftrates then in being. We an* of Ifabel Alt/on. 133 fwered, It was in the Lord, and as they were a terror to evil doers. He faid, Altho' they were wicked, yet they fhould not be altogether cart off. We faid, Before their excommunication we would not have been fo clear to caft them off. He faid, There were but only feven in the excommunication, then why do ye caft at all the reft ? We anfwered, Thefe {qvqii carried the great fway, and the reft came in under them. He faid, How can one man take upon him to draw out the fword of excommunication, for the like was never heard tell of in no generation ? We anfwered, Why not one man, fmce there were no moe faithful, and the church hath power to caft out fcandalous perfons, be they high, be they low. He faid, Who is the church ? We faid, If there was a true church in the world, that little handful was one, tho' never fo infigniheant, of which handful we own ourfelves a part : and tho' our blood go in the quarrel, yet we hope, it will be the foundation of a new building, and of a lively church. He faid, Thought we all the minifters wrong? We anfwered, We defire to forbear, and not to add ; for we defire not to fpeak of minifters faults. And we deiired him to forbear, and let us be gone ; but he urged his dif- courfe, and fell on upon the papers that were taken at the Queensferry, chiefly on that part of them ; " When ** God gives them power, it is ajuft law to execute ju- 11 ftice upon all perfons that are guilty." And he came to us, and laid by his coat, and faid, Would ye ftab me with a knife in my bread, even now? And we fmiled, and faid, We never murdered any : But, faid he, they fwore to do fo. We faid, Why did he not debate th. things with men, and not with laffes ? For we told him, We never ltudied debates. He faid again, Thought we all the minifters wrong ? We anfwered, they were wrong, and forbade him to put us to it, to fpeak of minifters faults; for if he knew what we had to fay of them, he' would not urge us. So we defired to be gone. And be d, if ye come to calm blood, defire me or any c the minifters to fpeak to you, and ye may tell the keep and ye may have them : And there was a furgeon ara< them, and the goodman of the tolbooth laid, He might draw blood of us, for we were mad. We faid, Sav. any mad ae c tio:i in us ? This is all ^t. M 134 The lafl Speech and Teflimony The dying Teftimony and lajl Words 0/ ISABEL ALI- SON. I Being fentenced to die in the Grafs-market of Edin- burgh, January, 1681. thought fit to fet down un- der my hand, the caufes wherefore I fufFer. I being ap- prehended at Perth, in my own chamber, by an order from the council, and brought to Edinburgh with a ftrong guard, and there put in prifon, and then being examin- ed firft by a committee, and then by the criminal court ; the manner of my examination was, i^?, If I converfed with David Hackftoun and others of our friends ? Which I owned upon good grounds. 2d/y, If I owned the ex- communication at the Torwood, and the papers found at the Queensferry, and Sanquhar Declaration, and a paper found on Mr. Cameron at Airfmofs ? All which I owned. Likewife I declined their authority, and told them, that they had declared war againft Chrift, and had ufurped and taken his prerogatives, and fo carried the fword againft him, and not for him: So, I think, none can own them, unlefs they difown Chrift Jefus. There- fore let enemies and pretended friends fay what they will, I could have my life on no eafier terms than the denying of Chrift's kingly office. So I lay down my life for own- ing and adhering to Jefus Chrift, his being a free king in his own houfe, for which I blefs the Lord, that ever he called me to that. Now in the firft place, I adhere to the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Teftament. And likewife I adhere to the Confeflion of Faith, becaufe according to the Scrip- tures, the Larger and Shorter Catechifms ; and our fo- lemn Covenants, both National and Solemn League, as they were lawfully fworn in this land ; and I adhere to the Acknowledgment of Sins, and Engagement to Du- ties ; I adhere likewife to thefe fore-mentioned papers, and to the excommunication atTorwood, they all being according to the Scriptures of truth, and fo both lawful and neceffary. Likewife I adhere to the Rutherglen Tef- timony, and to all the teftimonies of our worthies, who have fufFered in Edinburgh, and elfewhere. In the next place, I enter my proteftation againft all the violation done to the work of God thefe twenty years bygone. Firft, The burning of the Covenant made with God, and the Caufes of God's Wrath, and thethurfting of Ifabel Alifon. 135 in of prelates into the Lord's houfe, contrary to the word of God, and our fworn Covenants. I leave my teftimo- ny againft Popery, which is fo much countenanced at this day, againft the receiving that limb of antichriit the duke of York. Likewife I leave my teftimony againft all the blood fhed both on fcaffolds and in the fields and feas ; and againft all the cruelty ufed againft all the people of the Lord. And I leave my teftimony againft the paying of that wicked cefs, for maintaining thefe profane wretch- es, to bear down the work of God. I leave my teftimo- ny againft all unlawful bonds. And likewife againft the fhifting of a teftimony, when clearly called by the Lord to give it. I leave my teftimony againft profanity of all forts, and likewife againft lukewarmnefs and indiiTerency in the Lord's matters. I leave my teftimony againft the unfaithfulnefs of minifters, firft and laft, their filence at the firft, when their Mafter's work was broken down, for the moft part they flipped from their Mafter's back, without fo much as giving one word of a teftimony a« gainft the wrongs done to him; and now are become a ihare to the poor people in going to hear the curates, and poor things following their example are enfnared ; my finding the fad experience of it, brings it the more into my memory. Yet notwithftanding of their being con- vinced of their error in this, many of them carry now, as if they rued that ever they came forth to the fields to proclaim their Mailer a free King in his own houfe: And now they are fallen in under the fhadow of the fworn enemies, and alas they are become profound to lay fnares; yea, they are a trap upon Mifpeh, and a net fpread upon Tabor! Oh, for the fad defection both of minifters and profeifors in Scotland! It is like our carnage may make many of our carcafes to ly in the wildernefs. I leave my teftimony againft the indulgences, firft and laft, and a- gainft all that comply therewith, or connive thereat. I leave my teftimony againft the cenfuring of worthy Mr. Cameron, or any other whom God railed up to de- clare the whole counfel of God, and to witnefs againft the evils of this generation. I fear when God makes in- quiiition for blood, minifters hands will not be found free thereof. As for charging my blood on any particular pcrfon, I cannot, for I have never gotten the certainty of what hath brought me to the ftage ; but if any have done M 2 1 3 6 The laft Speech and'Teftimony willingly, I leave it to God, and their own confcience. But I may warrantably charge it upon all the declared enemies of God within the land. And i/?, I leave it upon the bloody council, that fent an order to take me, for they are guilty of it. idly, The iheriff clerk of Perth, and thefe that were with him when he took me, are guilty of it: the fherifF-clerk of Kinrofs, and the men that guarded me, are alllikewife guilty of my blood : And I leave my blood on Sir George Mackenzie, and the relt of that bloody court ; and I take the Lord to witnefs againft them, whether or not it. was on eafy terms, that they offered me my life ; they.faid only, they would not trouble me with their bifbops; but I faid, that Su- premacy was as evil as Prelacy. And they faid that I behoved to fay, that the king was not an ufurper, and pais from all my former confeffion, and that it was my duty to obey authority. I told them, that they were fworn mies to God, fo that it was impolnble to obey God, and them both ; fo I told them, I would not retract an hair-breadth. They faid, Thought I ever that he was our lawful king? I faid, Yes; for he entered into cove- nant with God, and with the land : but he hath broken and caft off that tye, and hath exercifed fo much, both tyranny and cruelty, that I had juft ground to decline him, and them both : Then they bade my blood beVpon my own head ; but I told them, they would find it on their heads, for it was for my owning of Chrift's kingly orEce, that they put me to fuffer, fay the contrary who will. Now, I blefs the Lord I am free from jefuiticai principles. The Scripture is my rule, and when obedi- ence to men is contrary to obedience to God, I am clear to difown them. I leave my teftimofcy againil: Mr. Riddel, for his o- Veying thefe wicked men to enfnare us, and to hold out to us, before thefe accurfed enemies of Chrift, that were feeking our lives for our adhering to the truth, that it w r as all delufion that we held. I many times rued that I bare fo well with him; and now I hear, that he denies that which we wrote. But if ye will believe me, who am in a little to appear before God, there was nothing added, but rather wanting: I wifii the Lord may for- give him. I blefs the Lord, what ftrikes againft myfelf only, I can very heartily forgive ; but what ftrikes a- of Ifabel Alifon. 137 gainfl God and his truths, I leave that to God, who is the Judge of all. Now, I would only fay this to you, who are feeking to keep your garments clean, Be fiber* be vigilant ■, for your adverfary the devil gees about like a roaring lion, feek- ing 'whom he may devour. And as I would have you be zealous for the truth, and not to quit one hoof; fo I would have you labour againft a fpirit of bitternefs ; be- ware of felf; and be more ready to mourn for the flips of others, than to make them the fubject of your dif- courfe ; and labour to make earned of religion, for I find there is need of more than a good caufe, when rt comes to the pufh. O the everlafting covenant is fweet to me now ! And I would alfo fay, they that would follow Chrift, need not fear at the crofs, for I can fet to my feal to it, His yoke it eafy, and his burden is light. Yea, many times he hath made me go very eafy thro' things that I have thought I would never have win thro'. He is the only defirable matter ; but he mud be followed fully. Rejoice in him, all ye that love him, Wherefore lift up your heads > and be exceeding glad, for the day of your redemption draw eth nigh. Let not your hearts faint, nor your hands grow feeble. Go on in the ftrength of the Lord, my dear friends, for, I hope, he will yet have a remnant both of fons and daughters, that will cleave to him, tho' they will be very few; even as the berries on the top of the out- mofi branches. As for fuch as are grown weary of the crofs of Chrift, and have drawn to a Jee-fhore that God never allowed, it may be ere all be done it will turn like a tottering fence, and a bowing wall to them, and they fhall have little profit of it, and as little credits But what fhall I fay to the commendation of Chrift and his crofs ! I blefs the Lord, praife to his holy name, that hath made my prifon a palace to me ; and what am I that he fhould have dealt thus with me ? I have looked greedy- like to fuch a lot as this, but ftill thought it was too high for me, when I faw how vile I was ; but now the Lord hath made that fcripture fweet to me, Ifa. vi. 6. 7. Them flenv one of the feraphims unto me, having a live coal in his h*nd, — And he laid it upon my mouth, and faid, Lo, this bath touched thy lips, and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy fin purged. O how great is his love to me ! that hath brought me forth to teftify againft the abominations •f the times, and keeped me from fainting hitherto, Mj 138 The I aft Speech and Teftitnony and hath made me to rejoice in him. Now I hlefs the Lord that ever he gave me a life to lay down for him. Now, farewelall creature comforts; farewel fweet Bible; farewel ye real friends in Chrift ; farewel faith and hope ; farewel prayers and all duties; farewel fun and moon: Within a little I fhall be free from fin, and all the for- rows that follow thereon. Welcome everlafting enjoy- ment of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, everlafting love, everlafting joy, everlafting light. Edinburgh Tolbottb, 7 . r , r .,. Jan. 26.1681. $ Ste fubfcnbitur. ISABEL ALISON. BEing come to the fcaffold, after ringing the lxxxiv. Pfalm, and reading the xvi. of Mark, fhe cried over the fcaffold, and faid, Rejoice in the Lord, ye righ- teous ; and again I fay, rejoice. Then fhe defired to pray at that place, and the major came, and would not \tt her, but took her away to the ladder foot, and there ihe prayed. When Ihe went up the ladder, (he cried but, O be zealous, Sirs, be zealous, be zealous ! love the Lord all ye his fervants ; O love him, Sirs ! for in his favour there is life. And fhe faid, O ye his enemies, what will ye do, whither will ye fly in that day ? For now there is a dreadful day coming on all the enemies of Jefus Chrift. Come out from among them, all ye that are the Lord's own people. Then Ihe faid, Farewel all created comforts ; farewel fweet Bible, in which I de- lighted moft, and which has been fweet to me fince I came to prifon ; farewel chriftian acquaintances. Now, Into thy hands I commit my fpirit, Father, Son a?id Holy Ghofl. Whereupon the hangman threw her over. The lafl Speech and Teftimony */M A R I O N H A R V I E, I adhere to the Confeffion of Faith, becaufe agreeable to the Scriptures* 3 onr profetiors fay, it I adhere to the n ; I deny it, and I take God to Biy witnefs, that I hate all opinions that are contrary to the found truths of God. iind Gnce ever God ca' 144 The la/I Speech and Teflhnony me to follow his perfecuted gofpel, it was ftill my defire to ftick clofe by him, and the rule he has fet down for poor hnners to walk by. And it was always my rejoic- ing to ferve him, and to act and do for his truth, and to vindicate it. And many a fore heart 1 have had with them, in vindicating his truths, when they have been denying them, and cafting dirt in the faces of faithful witneffes of Jefus Chrift ; and I defire all thefe that are endeavouring to contend for Chrift and his truths, that] they would be faithful in their witneffing for him, and e> fchew the lead appearance of fin. For I a dying witnefs or Chrift, obteft you, as you will anfwer, when ye ftand before him in the day of your appearance, that ye be faithful in owning him, in all his truths, and not yield a hoof to thefe ungodly, perjured, bloody and excom- municate traitors, and tyrants ; for there is much ad- vantage to be had in faithfulnefs for Chrift ; and that I may fet to my feal to the truth of. And I think Chrift is taking a narrow view of his followers at this time ; for there are few that yield a hair-breadth of the truths of God, that readily win to their feet again ; but go from one degree of defection to another. And again, I defire to blefs and magnify the Lord, for my lot, and may fay, He hath brought me to the ivil- dernefs to allure me there* and /peak comfortably to ?ny fouL It was but little of him I knew when I came to prifon; but now he has faid to me, Becaufe he lives, I Jhall live alfo : And he has told me, I am he, that hath blotted out , thine iniquity, for my own name V fake. Kind has he been to me, fmce he brought me out to witnefs for him. I have never fought any thing from him, that was for his glory, fmce I came to prifon, but he granted me my defire. For the moil part, I have found him in*every thing, that hath come in my way, ordering it himfelf, for his own glory. And now I blefs him, that thoughts of death are not terrible to me. He hath made me as willing to lay down my life for him, as ever I was will- ing to live in the world. And now, ye that are his witnefTes, be not afraid to venture on the crofs of Chrift. For his yoke is eafy, and his burden light. For many times, I have been made to think ftrange, what makes folk caft at the crofs of Chrift, that hath been fo light to me, that I found no burden of it at all, he bore me and it both. Now, let not the frowns of men, and their of Marion Harvic. 145 flatteries put you from your duty. Keep up your focie- ties, and the affembling of yourSelves together ; for there is much profit to be found in it. Many times hath it been found comfortable to me, to hear of the few in Scotland, in which Chrift was delighting ; and that there was much love to God's glory, and zeal for his honour amongft them. Now, be humbled, and ly in the duft, and never give over crying in behalf of the church, which is fo fmall, that it can fcarcely be difcerned, and never give over till he appear; for I think he is near at hand. O watch, and double your diligence, and koldfajl till be C5?ne, and let noiie take your crown, for be is good to t be foul that feeks him. If I were to live again, I would let that perjured crew fee, that I ihould be more guilty of that which they call rebellion, in ferving my lovely King, and in acting and doing for him and his glory, if he called me to it : And it is my grief, that I have not been more faithful for my mafter Chrift. All his dealings with Mohave been in love and in mercy. His corrections hav^Pfeen all in love and free grace. O free love ! O ! I am eft made to wonder, what it was that made him take a blafphemer to witnefs for him and his truths. I may fay, I am a brand plucked out of the fire : I am a limb of the devil plucked out from his fire-fide. O ! I am made to wonder and admire at his condescend- ing love ? Now, I leave my teftimony againft Jean For- reit, for faying, that I am going to the grave with a lie in my right hand, and charging my blood on my own head. O my friends, co?ne out from among them, c touch not the unclean thing. It will never be well, I there be a Separation from fin. I blefs the Lord that ever I heard Mr. Cargil, that faithful Servant of Jelus Chrift; 1 blefs the Lord that ever I heard Mr. Richard Cameron, my foul has been refreihed with the hearing oi him, particularly at a communion in Carrick, on the words in Pfal. lx.wv. 8. — The Lord will f peak peace unto his people, and to his -faints ; hut let them net tur?: to folly. Now I leave my teftimony againft all the b*< Aiding minifters, who, when I began to hear the gof- pel, preached the fame truths, which 1 am to lay dowft my life for at this time; but now they are joined in a combination againft God. And for the molt part, a all at the enemies will ; for when I got my Sentence, the blcc-dy trdtcrs pre to bring any ( to N ° 146 The lafl Speech and Tejitmony us, when before them ; and fo this gives me ground to fay, they are become their fervants. Now the Lord knows, I have a fore heart to mention thefe things ; but when I faw fome of them there, and they offering us any of the reft, it gives me ground to fet it down with a fore heart. Now what mall I fay ? I have finned againft him, and I am guilty of the defections, for which my carcafe muft ly in the wildernefs, and not fee the King come home to his habitation. But O ! I am content, and heartily content, that he gives me my foul for a prey ; and well is me for it, I think myfelf not be- hind. O my love ! O my love ! O my love ! My alto- gether lovely Chrift. The common report thro* the country is ; That I might have had my life on very eafy terms; but I could have it on no eafier terms, than the denying of my Lord and Mailer Chrift. Firft, They afked, If I would retract my former confeflion, and particular- ifed all the papers I had owned before, and if I would .not call Charles Stuart an ufurper an^the devil's vice- gerent : I told them, I would not gc^pek in any thing, for ye have nothing, faid I, to lay to me but for the a- -voWing Chrift to be King in Zion, and head of his own church. And they faid, they did not ufurp Chrift's crown : But I faid, They were blinded and did not fee. They faid, There was but a few of us for thefe princi- ples. I faid, They had all the wyte of it, and it was moft bitter to us, that our minifters had fpoken againft thefe truths. And indeed I think they had not been fo cruel to me, were it not for thefe minifters. And fo I think, our minifters are not free of our blood ; for when they fpake againft us and the way, it hardened thefe ^bloody traitors, and emboldened them to take our lives. I leave my teftimony againft them, for they have cauf- ed many poor things to err from the way of God, and many have made minifters their rule, and fo the blind rhave led the blind, and both have fallen into the ditch together. And fome think and fay, " O can we quit fo many godly minifters £" We daw not quit them ; but I .allure you, ye fhall get a fhare of the wrath and ftroke, .which God hath prepared for thefe backfliders and betray- ers of their traft. O I wonder what is the reafon that men count it their wifdom to deny God, who has been fo kind to them, and who have n^any a day delighted to commend his love to me, with the hazard of their lives ; (f Marion Harvie. 1 47 for which I will be a witnefs againft them. Now I have no more to fay ; be faithful unto the death ; or elfe, Wo, wo, wo to you that are owning him at this day, if ye do not own him in all his offices, as King, Prieft, and Prophet : O my dear love J well is me that ever he let me know that his love was better than life. Wo to that creature, that will not" love my lovely Lord Jeius Chrift. Now, farewel lovely and fweet Scriptures, which were ay my comfort in the midft of all my difficulties : Farewel faith, farewel hope, farewel wanderers, who have been comfortable to my foul, in the hearing of them commend Chriil's love. Farewel brethren, farewel fillers, fare- wel Chriftian acquaintances, farewel fun, moon, and ftars. And now welcome my lovely and heartfome Chrift Jefus, into whofe hands I commit my fpirit throughout all eternity. I may fay, Few and evil have the days cf the years of wy pilgrimage been, I being about twenty years of age. From the tolbooth cf Edinburgh, the Woman-houfe on the Eaffdeoftkefrifon, Jan. nth 168 1. MARION HARVIE. THIS Martyr, tho* both young in years, and of* the weaker fex, (which heightens the difcovery, how brutally furious and mad thefe perfecutors were) v/as fo fingularly affifted of the Lord in his caufe, and had fuch difcoveries of his fpecial love to her foul, that fhe was nothing terrified by her adverfaries : When Ihe was brought from the tolbooth to the council-houfe, to be carried to her execution ; as fhe came out of the tol- booth-door feveral friends attending her, (he was obferved to fay with a furprifing chearfulnefs and air of heavenly raviihment, Behold I hear my beloved faying unto me, Arife my love, my fair one, and come awiy. And being brought to the council, Bifhop Paterfon being lefolvcd, feeing he could not deftroy her foul, yet to grieve and vex it, faid, Marion, you faid, you would never hear a curate, now ye fhall be forced to hear one, upon which he ordered one of his fuffragans, whom he had prepared for the purpofe, to pray; fo loon as he began, fhe faid to her fellow-prifoner Ifabel Alifon, Come Ifabel let us fing the xxiii. Pfalm, which accordingly they did; Marion repeated the Pfalm line bv line without book, N 2 T 48 The laft Speech and Teftlmony which drowned the voice of the curate, and extremely confounded the perfecutors. Being come to the fcaffold, after finging the Ixxxiv. Pfalm, and reading the iii. of Malachy, ihe faid, I am come here to day for avowing Chriil to be head of his church, and King in Zion. O feek him, Sirs, feek him, and ye fhall find him ; I fought him and found him, I held him, and would not let him go. Then (he briefly narrated the manner how ihe was taken, and recapitulated in fhort the heads of her written teflimony, faying to this effecl; U I going out of Edin- burgh to hear thepefecuted gofpel in the fields, was taken by the way with foldiers, and brought in to the guard, afterwards I was brought to the council, and they quef- tioned me if I knew Mr. Donald Cargil ? or if I heard him preach ? I anfwered, I blefs the Lord I heard him, and my foul was refrefhed with hearing him, for he is a faithful minifter of Jefus Chriil. They afked if I adhered to the papers gotten at the Ferry ? I faid, I did own them, and all the red of (Thrift's truths. If I would have denied any of them, my life was in my offer ; but I durfl not doit; No, not for my foul. Ere I wanted an hour of his prefence, 1 had rather die ten deaths. I durfl not fpeak againil him, left 1 fhould have fumed againil God. I adhere to the Bible, and Confeffion of Faith, Catechifms and Covenants, which are according to this Bible, (whereupon fhe clapped her hand upon the Bible) I alfo adhere to the teftimonies given by the faithful witneffes of Chrifl, that have gone before us, on fcafFolds, and in the fields. I leave my teflimony againfl all Quakers, Je- fuites, Indulgences, and all profane and ungodly per- fons. and mainly all covenant-breakers, and perfecutors, of his way and truths, which I am come here to feal with my blood ; againtl all payers of cefs, and bonders, and againil all oppreilion or murdering. They fay, I would murder, but. I declare, I am free of all matters of facl ; I could never take the life of a chicken, but my heart ihrinked. But it is only for my judgment of things that I am brought here. I leave my blood on the coun- cil, and the Duke of York." At this the foldiers in- terrupted her, and would not allow her to fpeak any: But fhe cried out, " I leave my blood on all ungodly and profane wretches." The moil of her difcourfe was of God's love to her, and the commendation of free grace; snd the declared fhe had much of the Lord's prefence cf William Gouger, &c. v 149 with her in prifon, and faid, " I blefs the Lord, the (hare is broken, and we are efcaped ;" and when fhe came to the ladder-foot, fhe prayed. And going up the ladder, fhe laid, " O my fair one, my lovely one, come away ;" and fitting down upon the ladder, fhe faid, " I am not come here for murder, for they have no matter -of fact to ; charge me with, but only my judgment. I am about twenty years of age ; at fourteen or fifteen I was a hear- er of the curates and indulged, and while I was a hear- er of thefe, I was a blafphemer and fabbath -breaker, and a chapter of the Bible was a burden to me ; but fmce I heard this perfecuted gofpel, I durft not blafpheme, nor break the fabbath, and the Bible became my de- light. " With this the major called to the hangman to - caft her over, and the murderer prefentiy chcaked her. The joint Tefiimony c/WILLIAM GOUGER, CHRISTOPHER MILLER, and ROBERT SANGSTER, who lived in thejhire of Stirling, and fuffered at the Grafs-market cf Edinburgh, March nth 168 1. Directed to the fbire of Stirling, TH E Lord in his holy providence having fingled us out of that fliire to feal his controverted truths with our blood ; we could not but leave a line be- hind us, (we being Stirling-mire men) to let you know wherefore we are come here this day, to this place of ex- ecution ; that it is for adhering to that which minifter: and profefTors are difowning ; and the Lord feeing it fit to honour us beyond others, now in this day of defection and backdrawing from the truth. We tell you, that it is truth we are to fufFer for ; altho' ye condemn us in it, and fay that we have a hand in our own death ; yet we durft not, foT our foals, do otherwife, or elfe we would have been fure of the broad curfe of God on us, and our life both. You may think that it is a novelty of our head that we arc brought hither for; but if any of you had that love to the Lord, that you feenied to have once a day, you would count it your duty, as well as ours, to contend for the fweet truths of God, when you fie him fo wronged, and his rights fo ufurped and taken from him, who was both fweet and kind to poor, things at hill-fides, and efpecially among you of that (hire. O firs ! you may take lhame to you, for all that you have done againft the honour of God, that have feen his go- N3. 150 The Lift Speech and Tejlhnony ;s fo (lately among the meetings of his people; that will not contend for lovely (Thrift. O ! do ye not think that a fad day will come on you, for joining with God's enemies, who have broken covenant with him, and fhed the blood of the faints, and trampled on the honour of God, and ye will not fear to join with them for all the blood they have ihed, you will ftill go on with them ; and tho' you profefs that you have love to the Son of God, and that your zeal for the Lord God of hods is not abat- ed ; yet you will go on with them ; and bond and com- ply in paying of cefs and militia-money to maintain a party againft God and his work, which once in a day you were foreward to maintain, and would have ventur- ed your life in the maintaining of it againft all the Lord's enemies. You may juftly take fhame to yourfelves, for your preferring the things of time to the fweet crofs of lovely Chrift. O Sirs! what think you will your doom be, that have done fo much againft the honour of a holy God? indeed you may look out for wrath, and that of the faddeft fort. Now, as dying men, we tell you, that there are fad days abiding you, for what you have done againft the honour and glory of God, if ye get not fpeedy repent- ance. Therefore as you would anfwer in the great day, make confcience of what ye do. Remember that you will count and reckon for all that you have done, and will be "reckoned as guilty of the blood of the faints, as the worft enemies amongft them all. Therefore as dying men we charge you to take with guilt, or elfe it will be v;orfe for yeu. O Sirs ! fear the Lord's wrath, and fall to and mourn for what yon have done. O cry mightily for repentance, or elfe you will get Judas's reward. For you are the perfons that have betrayed the Son of God, and expelled him cut of your coafts. You were thinking that he was like to prove a coftly Chrift, and therefore you of that fhire would confent to banifli him away from among you. You would not hear tell of a field-preaching for fear of hazard. O Sirs ! take it to confideration, and lay it to heart what a hand you have in banifhing Chrift and the gofpel out of Scotland, and we are fure, it was not your parts to have done fo. No, no, it was not your part to have given lovely Chrift fuch an affront; the fweet days that you have had long fince might have made you give royal jefus better quarters, of William Gouger, Sec. 1 5 1 l ho' you fliould go to the gibbet for it, and lofe your gear. For your doing as you have done is a denying of him before men. Take it as ye will, we mud tell you, as in the fight of a living God, before whom we are now to appear, and get our fentence for all that we have done; You are the only (hire that has denied lovely Chriit quarters, for he fent an offer to you to the Tor- wood, and ye would not hear it. Well, it is likely there are many of you that will never get another ; there are fome. of you that would not go to hear, but forbade o- thers to go, and thought it was duty not to go ; and fome of you were at that preaching and made a bad ufe of it. O remember, Sirs, you have rejected Chrift. We tell you it, as dying men, you will count for it ere it be long, for our Lord did not fend the gofpel to the Tor- wood for nought, but it will accomplifh that for which it was fent. O Sirs, be afraid and tremble, for judg- ment is at the door, and indeed your fentence will be fore to abide, it will be more tolerable for open enemies in the day of judgment than for you. We are afraid, when we think, what judgments will be on you fhortly, for confidering what pains has been taken on you of that fhire, and how tender the Lord has been of you, in train- ing you up for fuffering, and has given you trials, and you have endured them, and he has taken them off a- gain, and given you forer trials, and he has delivered you out of thefe. It had been better for you that you had been at that preaching tho' you mould have gotten the gallows the very next day, than to have done what ye did, and that you will find ere it be long. O what of his kindnefs have you met with at fuch places ! You dare not fay, That he hath been a barren It was his own particular quarrel ; be- caufe he was to reign in his fcead. So we fay, That Charles Stuart is not the Lord's anointed, neither is it our particular quarrel, but in defence of the gofpel * r and in fo far as he is an enemy to God and the way of falvation, which is fufficient ground to caft out any per- fon out of the church, and wirneis againft him in defence of the gofpel, unto the lofmg of life, liberty and all o- ther things. And believe us as ye will, we do not think them Chriftians, that will not contend for lovely Chrift and his fweet truths, in witncifmg againft this bloody excommunicate traitor, and not owning them as rulers, feeing they have difowned the Juji a fid Holy One, and are trampling on his fweet truths, and would never have them to rife again ; but would have the ftone fealed, that there might be no more mention made of the honour of God. And you have a deep hand in this, becaufe ye are not faithful and free in witnefiing for his defpifed glory : and if ye will not do it, Delivery to the church /hall come fro?n another airth, and you (hail be deftroyed ; for he will be up again in fpite of all your hearts, and he will make your fears and theirs both come on you ; for he will make. inquifition for all his truths; and when he comes, indeed we would not abide the reproof that you the profeffors of^Stirling-fhire will get, for aJL the gold in Europe ; cf William Gouger, Sec. i 5$ there will be no excufe heard then; your wife and chil- dren, or lands, will be no excufe ; for he hath told in exprefs terms, That luhofosver 'will not forfake ally and follo You fay, It is not a Prefoyterian principle to own that party that is jeoparding their lives for the ho- nour of God, and witn effing for his deipifed truths, that this day is fo abufed and nick-named by you and others : But we fay, it is, and maintain it to be a Prefbyterian principle, to own that defpifed party, for they are the party that are only defigning the glory and honour of God, and have no other view before them but his fweet truths, which are dear to them ; and they will quite with life and liberty, before they quite with an hoof of truth ; which has been made out by their valiant fufferings. O but truth has been fweet and dear to them ! They have not counted their lives dear unto them on the account of it. They have chearfully gone to the fcafTold for truth, and have been honourably carried thro', and the Lord's prefence feen in their through-bearing ; as we hope, fhall be made out on us, ere it be long : Alfo they fludy to fpend their time and ftrength for God. When all other means have failed them, they ftudy to keep up that mean of reading, linging and praying, as the Lord will affill and help them; altho' the indulged and their conforts have a great envy at them, and do what they can to get them off the earth ; for they are the main ac- tors in taking of that poor party ; and all is, becaufe their practices condemn theirs; altho' they take the Scriptures for their rule, and fludv to walk lb, as they ay get God\ approbation in the day of account , You fay, It is not a Prefbyterian principle, to 156 The laft Speech and Teftimony own thefe papers, that our worthies have fet out, or the work that they have done, which many of them have fealed with their blood : But we fay, that it is a Preiby- terian principle ; becaufe all that they did was agreeable to the word of God, and our covenants. For confider thefe papers when you pleafe, you will find them confo- nant to the Scriptures, and juft and lawful for Prefbyte- rians to own ; and fay the contrary who will, we do not think them Prefbyterians, nor yet covenanters, that will not own them ; for there is nothing in them, but what we will with all our hearts feal with our blood as Prefby- terians, and as having thefe principles. ^thly, You fay, It is not a Prefbyterian principle, to confefs all thefe things : But we fay, it is a Prefbyterian principle, to confefs and avouch him and his truths, be- fore this adulterous generation : Now when the quarrel is thus dated, we Ihould not put them to prove what is truth. Stephen made a free confeiTion of his faith, and fo have all our worthies. And now feeing we own thefe things, and they being the controverted truths of the day, and the Lord calling us to own and maintain them ; we never thought it our part to fmother and hide them, but with courage to avouch them, to the lofing of our lives in the quarrel. We feeing our deareft Lord's truths trampled on, and a pack of you that feemed to be fair before the wind, for owning of truth, and witnefling for him, never fo much as putting to your hand to help ; but turning your back on^truth, and the way of God. Indeed we fear, that ye fhall never be honoured to wit- nefs for God any more ; it is like, you care not for that honour ; but we tell you, that you will rue it, when you will not get it mended : And remember we tell you it here, as dying witneffes for truth, you will meet with as fad a judgment, as ever a fhire met with, if you repent not, your judgment will be unparallelable for your de- nying him before men. We are come here this day to witnefs freely and faith- fully againft you, and all others, for their complying with the enemies againft the work of God. And we fay, as in the fight of a living God, you will count for it ere it be long. O ! but we think it a fweet thing to be ho- noured this day to contend for truth, and to be over com- ers by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of our teftimo- ny. Indeed we recalled to it, to contend for the faith l of William Gouger, 8cc. 157 tnce delivered to the faints. And we think, if we had not been free and faithful, before thefe bloody wretches, we would have held our life no more of God ; if we did not fpeak for his truths before them, when he bade us fpeak; for he fought a proof of our love to him, and his nick- named defpifed w ? ay, and to poor Zicn, whom no man is feeking after. And think you that we duril hold our tongue and not fpeak, when he bade us ? Indeed our jife was not dear to us, when his truth came in queftion. We might have gone away with our life, and the broad curfe of God upon it, to go with us ; if we had denied him at this time, w r e would have held our lives no more of him, of whom we held it all our days ; and now we might chearfully lay it down at his command and bidding: For this we knew that devils or men could not ftir a hair of our head, without our Lord's determination ; and therefore we are the lefs afraid of what they could do. And now as dying men, we charge you not to fpeak of that poor party, that this day is ib reproached and fpoken againll by a party of them that are called minifters and profeflbrs. O take fliame to you altogether; and as you will be anfwerable, in the day of accounts, we tell you, not to have a wrong thought of them, for all the reproaches that can be fald againft them ; for they are a godly people, and have much of his mind. And if you go on with enemies, and others that have turned their backs on the way of God, go your ways ; but // were bet- ter that a miljlone were hanged about your neck, and ye cajl into the mtdji ofthefea, than that ye mould fpeak at fuch a rate as ye do. For let you and others, reproach as you will, they defign nothing but the honour of God, and have the Scriptures to be their rule, and walk as be- comes the gofpel, and they ftudy a holy carriage : altho' there be many among them that have an unfuitable car- riage, by reafon of whom the way of God if evil fpoken of; yet the way of God is not a hair the worie to be liked. It may be there is a Judas among the twelve ; and what of that ? We fay, the reft are not be caft at for all that, feeing they keep the truth. We know there are man; you that fay, that we do not keep by the Scriptures; but we declare the contrary; for with all our heart, fet to our feal and testimony to the holy Scriptures, have been fweet to us ; and our teftimony to tht and Solemn League and Corenant, and to the C O Ij8 The lafl Speech and Teflimony on of Faith, as agreeable to the word of God, and to the Catechifms Larger and Shorter, and to all that our worthies have done in the defence of the gofpel : we join our hearty teftimony to all their appearances in the fields, both firft and laft. And we proteft againfl all the actings of the enemies againft the Lord's people in all their proceedings, both firft and laft, and every thing that they have done againft our worthies, when they were in defence of the gofpel; and we abhor and teftify againft Popery, Prelacy, Qua- kerifm, Eraftianifm, Indulgency, and all the connivers with them, be who they will ; and againft jefuitifh prin- ciples, which you fay we hold, which feci we moft bafely abhor, and give our teftimony againft all fuch erroneous fects and principles : we give our teftimony againft all you that fay we have fuch principles, and that we have got new principles, and new light ; but we do fay the contrary, and declare, that we hold by thefe principles, which mini- fiers did teach both you and us to ftand to in the defence of, until we had loft our lives and all in that quarrel. Now, you that fay fuch things of us, we exhort you to repent, or elfe you will meet with a fore day of wrath, for it is not a light thing to fpeak of fufferers, as you do : Therefore we obteft you, in the bowels of Jefus Chrift, to be fober in your fpeeches againft that party, and make a right choice, and fairly fide yourfelves, and come out from among the tents of the wicked, and be feparated from among them, and join yourfelves to the poor fuffer- ing remnant, and be not at eafe now in the day of Zion's trouble. Do not think that you will enjoy your ceiled houfes, and your warm fire-fides in fuch a day as this. If you be fmgle for God, he will have you out from all thefe things, and denied to them all, for I be the feck lefleft and unworthieft of all that fociety, I here in your prefence, with all my heart, fet to my feal to it with my blood, as was promifcd at the end of the paper. And if all ths~ O 3 1 61 The laft Speech and Tejlimony hairs of my head were men, having lives, 1 would think them all little enough, to fcal the cauie of my deareft and fweeteft Lord Jefus, who has been fweet and kind to me, in carrying me thro' every ftep of the work, which he put in my hand. O love him, Sirs! O but he is worth the loving ! O but he has been kind to me fince I was apprehended ! For he told me then that Satan would caft fome in priibn, that they might be tried; and he bade me be faithful to the death, and he promifed me a crown of life ; and he hath helped me "fince to fulfil the conditions, and hath alfo given me a right to the pro- mife. And this was all my defire, That the trial of my faith might be found precious, to the praife of his fweet name : that his caufe might not be wronged, nor his ark get a wrong touch by me. And herein he hath heard my defire, according to that fcripture, He will hear the defires of the humble, and the expeclation of the poor fall not be lof. For he keeps covenant with tkoufands of them that love him, and keep his commandments : And his com- mandments are not grievous, but his yoke is eafy, and his lurden light. And he has faid, He that forfaketh wife, cr children, houfes or lands, for my name's fake and the gofpels, fall receive in this life an hundred fold, and in the world to come, life everlafting. And he that loveth fa- ther or viother more than me, is not worthy of me. Therefore, dear friends, give not over to contend for his born down truths, that this day are in debate be- twixt him and his enemies in covenanted Scotland, ac- cording to that fcripture, Contend earneftly for the faith once, delivered to the faints. O contend, contend, and' give not over ; for he will arife for the cpprejfion of the poor, and for the fighings of the needy ; for he will have an opportunity to be about with all his enemies, and he is weary with forbearing. Therefore truft in the Lord, trujt in him at all times ; for they that truft in him ftiall not be fijhamedj fr they fh all ft and in the gate unafamed to fpeak unto their foes. O Sirs ! give him much credit ; for he hath difappointed me of my fears, in that wherein I feared appearing before men, and helped me to ftand before them ; fo that I had no terror, cr amazement, mere than they had been the meaneft of creatures ; al- tho' I cannot fay, that I have fought the good fight, as that eminent apoftle faid; yet I can fay (praifed be God) He hath given me the viClory thro" Jefus thrift ??iy Lord, of Laurence Hay. 1 6 3 ever principalities; and hath confirmed me, that nei- ther death nor life, nor any creature ', fall f par ate me from the love of my fweet Lord Jefus Chriji ; who is Jove-wor- thy, praife-worthy, worthy to be feared and honoured ; who in his abfolute fovereignty, fet apart poor me, to give a teftimony for his glorious and honourable work of reformation, who am left tban the ieaji of all faints , but he is an abfolute Lord, and fews mercy to whom he will ' shew mercy ', and whom he will he hardeneth ; And he keeps the fouls of the faithful, and plentifully rewards the proud doer. Therefore, being called to fuller this day, in this place, for the following of my duty, and for that in particular,- in giving a teftimony againft the dreadful defections of thefe times, by the means of thefe backfliding minifters, who have left our fweet Lord Jefus, with his back at the wall, and his poor flock fcattered upon the mountains, as sheep having no shepherd. But dear friends, comfort your- felves in this, that in his own time, he will fearch his fteep, i find them out ; altho', alas! I fear left they fhall be forer fcattered than yet they are: But wait on him; ' for he that fhail come, will come, and will not tarry. ' And his reward is with him, and his work is before « him. And the Lord whom ye feek, wall fuddenly come * to his temple, even the meifenger of the covenant.' But, O dear friends, labour to be * iledfaft and unmove- 1 able, always abounding in the work of the Lord. And * give all diligence to make your calling and election fure ; ' and if you do thefe things, you fhall never fall. And ' commit the keeping of your fouls to him in well doing, * as unto a faithful Creator: for he is able to keep that « which is committed to him, againft that day, and pre- * fent it fpotlefs before the Father.' Altho', alas ! I was loth to adventure, or to credit in his hand ; but now he hath discovered to me, that he is the belt hand that I can venture on; and has gained my confent, and has become the furcty for me of a better covenant, well ordered in all things and fure. Therefore, confidering my engagements to him, I leave my teftimony to the holy Scriptures of the Old and N Teftament, and the verfion of the Pfalms in metre, and to the work of reformation, Covenants National and So- lemn League, the Solemn Acknowledgment of Sins and Engagement to Duties, the Caui'es 1 64 The laft Speech and Teftimony Confeffion of Faith, as being conform to the Scriptures,- and the Catechifms Larger and Shorter; I give my ad- herence to all the faithful teftimonies given by the wor- thies, to the maintenance of the work of reformation, from the year 1660, until this day, either by their ap- pearances in the fields, or on fcaffolds, or in the feas ; I adhere to the Sanquhar Declaration, the Torwood Excommunication, and the Papers found at the Ferry, and to that joint Teftimony given in the fhire of Fife, by that fociety, whereof I was a member, tho' a worthlefs- one, and I adhere to all things contained therein, be- caufe they are according to the Scriptures. And I give my teftimony to the faithful preaching in the fields, and to the keeping up cf focieties, and chriftian fellowfhips commanded in the word of God, Not for/a king the ajfem* bling of your f elves together ', as the manner of fome is, and fo- much the more as you fee the day approaching ; efpecially now when his glory is at the ftake, which is of more worth than our fouls ; and when men are feeking to get- his work razed, and the name of Ifrael blotted out, that it may be no more in remembrance. Likewife I leave my teftimony againft all thefe, who have joined with the declared enemies of the Lord Jefus Chrift, both minifters and profeflbrs ; and againft all thefe, who maintain any principle contrary to the word of God, efpecially thefe who deny the authority of the- Scriptures, and all the work of reformation, and have razed the fundamentals of true Chriftianity ; fome of them the Lord has given up to ftrong delufrons, to believe lies, and to deny Jefus Chrift to be the Son of God, and maintain new lights, in meddling with the decrees of God, which his word never approved, and- againft every one of their principles. Likewife, I leave ray teftimony againft all who brand us with an implicite faith ; which one declared to myfelf in my hearing in the room below where I was a prifoner ; which I queftioned, if he durft m conference fay, That I lived by an impli- cite faith, or the example of others:* So he laid, That there were fome in the room with me that had been 1 murderers of others who had fufFered. And I told him, that the xv. Pfalm reached him a very fad reproof, for freaking evil againft his neighbour : and alfo I faid, IVe- fpeak what nve do knoxv, and teftify what nve have heard. And I declared that I had leen no fuch thing of any that of Laurence Hay. 1 65 was in the room with me; but yoa have wronged (faid I) God and his caufe, by fhifcing his crofs, and therefore you will not itand to wrong your neighbour. And as for our being branded, that we hold our prin- ciples of men, and are dying to pleafe men, I altogether abhor iuch afpernons, for I hold my principles of none but of God and his word; and that which carries the fway with me is, the controverted truths of Jefus Chrift, that are at this day in debate betwixt him and his ene- mies; efpecially his kingly office, on which I dare ven- ture life and liberty, and my faivation alio, becaufe the Father hath declared him to be Ki?ig on his holy hill of Xion by an unalterable decree ; and there to reign till all his enemies be brought under his feet . Therefore, as I have left my teftimony againft all who call fuch afperfions on me, or any other who have fuffered in this manner ; I leave my blood alfo to witnefs againft them, who will adventure to do it, whether enemies or pretended friends. Likewife I leave my teftimony againft the encroachments made upon the rights of our Lord Jefus Chrift and the privileges of his church, by that ufurper Charles Stuart, and all the bloody crew under him. Likewife I leave my teftimony againft that excommunicate traitor the duke of Monmouth, for his appearance againft the work of God and his people, joined for the defence of the gofpel and intereft of Jefus Chrift, and all that joined with him. Likewife I leave my teftimony againft that avowed Papiil York. Alfo I leave my teftimony againft that defigned par- liament to put power in his hand. Alfo I leave my tefti- mony againft thefe abominable wretches that fat in thefe affociations and falfly accuied and fentenced me to death, and againft thefe fifteen aftlzers who gave me my fentence, and againft that wretch called the clerk, and Andrew Cunningham who gave me my doom. Likewife I leave my teftimony againft all who have joined with the de- clared enemies, whether minifters or profeilors, efpeci- ally in the fhire of Fife, who have delivered up the tef- timony to thefe abominable wretches, particularly Bal- grumma and Vederftar. Likewife I leave my teftimony againft Popery, Prelacy, and that woful Kraftian i'u- premacy and indulgences firft and lail, which hath b. the dagger, the haft - 'hath gone in after the blade, and hath wounded the church in the innenroft part of tile belly, and the dart that has ftricken her thro' the 1 66 The la ft Speech and Teflhnony liver. O! how (harp are the wounds of a friend? They go down to the inner moft part of the belly. If it had bee?i an enemy, I would have born it. And it is evidently {^en that our mother-church hath been, and is this day wounded in the houfe of her friends ; for which the Lord will fadly reckon with all fuch as have done fo, if they do not repent and mourn for it. Likewife I leave my teftimony againft all them, that are any way inftru- mental of bearing down our poor mother-church, either by appearance in arms, or furnifhing of others for that effect, by paying of cefs or militia-money, or any other way, homologating the acts, or ftrengthening the hands of her declared and avowed enemies. Now dear friends, being firaitned for want of time, I am forced to draw to a clofe ; only defiring you to be earned: in contending for the broken down work of re- formation, that this day is brought very low : but be not difcouraged, altho' his ark be toffed this day upon the waters, like the poor fhip in the midft of the fea, and the poor difciples afraid left they mould fink, and the Mafter afleep (as it were) upon a pillow ; yet go to him and cry, Mafter, Mafter, fave us, elfe we perift? ; for he is eafy to be intreated r and he likes well to- have his poor' people coming to him in the time of their diftrefs ; for he- rs a prsfent help in the ti?ne of need, a God rich in mercy, and near to all that call upon him in truth. But, O dear friends, beware of backdrawing, for he hath faid, If any man draw back, my foul fh all have no pie a fur e in him; and he that pntteth his hand to the plough and looketh back, is not ft t for the kingdom of heaven ; but he that endureth to the end, the fame ft? all be faved. Be not afhamed of him, For if any man be afhamed of him, or his words, of him alfo will he be afhamed before the Father and the holy angels. O dear friends, the more that ye fee a perverfe generation crying him down, be ye the more at the work of crying him up ; for he is well worth the commendation of all that can commend him. O dear friends, in all things let him have the pre-eminence, and count all things lofs and dung that ye may win Chrift ; and prefs towards the 7?iark for the prize of the high calling of God in Chrift Jefus ; Look- ing unto Jefus who is the author and finifher of our faith ;- who for the joy that was fet before him, endured the crofs, defpifing thefha?ne 9 and is fet down at the right hand of the throne of God. Strive to enter in attheftraitgate ; for many Of Andrew PittlHoch. 167 foall feek to enter in, and shall not be able. Now friends, beware of Tinning, and beware of fnares ; for they are at this day very thick and many ; but our God has promifed that he will not fuffer his poor people to be tempted above what they are able, but will with the temptation make a way that they may efcape. So I bid you all farewel ; defiring you to be kind to my wife and children when I am gone ; Farewel fweet Bible by his bleffing ; farewel fun, mooa and ftars ; farewel meat and drink ; farewel all created comforts and enjoyments, wherewith I have been abun- dantly fupplied ; farewel my dear wife and children, the Lord be better to you than ten hufbands, when I am gone ; farewel mother, brethren and lifters ; farewel fweet foci- cties, and preached gofpel, whereby I have been begot- ten by the feed of the word ; farewel fweet prifon and reproaches for fweet Chrift and his caufe. And welcome Father, Son and holy Ghoft ; welcome, everlafting life, and the fpirits of juft men made perfect. Lord, into thy hands I commit my fpirit. At the Iron houfe, July 13. 168 1. LAURENCE HAY, The Tefli?nony ^/ANDREW PITTILLOCH Land- labourer in the pari jh of Largo in Fife, who fuffer ed at the Graf '-market of Edinburgh, July 13. 168 1. Men and brethren, WHerefore are you come here this day ? will you tell me, if that be your intention, to be edified by the words of a poor thing, witnefling for my lovely Lord Je- fus Chrift ? And if that be your intention in your coming hither, it is well : Now when I am going off time, to bid farewel to you all, O that I could commend my lovely Lord Jefus and his fweet crofs to you. O Sirs, will you come tafle and fee that God is good. You will never do letter, nor come and fee; for fmce the Lord honoured me to be his prifoner, he has letten me know nothing bat love; he has made my prifon no prifon. O Sirs, All his ways are ways of pltafantnefs, ami his paths peace. And his crofs is fweet and eafy ; altho' worthlefs I can- not commend it to you. But O firs, fear not at the fweet crofs of royal and fweet Jefus ; but contend for him and his noble caufe, for I can allure you, I had never fucU a fweet life us 1 have had liuce he brought me to 1 68 The lafl Speech and Tejllmony the like of thir trials. O fweet indictment ! O fweet feri- tence for my lovely Lord ! O fweet ficaffold, for contend- ing for the caufe, covenant and work of reformation ! O Sirs, quit all for holy Jefus, for I can promife you that you will never die better, than for contending for King Chrift. Indeed Sirs, minifters and profeffors, as they call them, fay, That we are dying as fools, and giddy headed profeffors ; but glory to his holy and fweet name, that has made it out to my foul that it is other- wife : And now, that my confidence doth not condemn me, how dare any mortal creature condemn me ? friends ! what is the reafon that you will not take him, who is the chief among ten thoufands, that is altoge- ther lovely, and without compare ? There is no fpot in him, O prefer him to your chief joy ! There are many of you who have preferred other things to him. O fear and tremble for wrath will be upon you very fuddenly ! O be afraid, for our Lord has faid, '« If ye will not quit < all for him, you cannot be his difciple. ' And fo you have neither part nor lot in our fweet Lord ; you may read the x. of Matt, from the 16th ver. to the end. O Sirs, go not with the Indulged, nor yet fide with them, cleave to the Lord with all your heart, and be not put off with any but himfelf. O he is fweet to be with ; O his way is fweet to keep, but I cannot commend him to you, his fweetnefs is without compare. O take him, and be reft- lefs till ye get him to your mother's houfe, and to the cham- ber of her* that bare you. Pray much for your mother- church, that minifters and others have wronged : I wit- nefs and teftify againft them, for their unrighteoufnefs, both firit and laft. Firfty For leaving of their kirks, without a public te- fti'iiony againft enemies*- at the incoming of Prelacy. zdly, For their conniving at one anothers"fins. $dly For their leaving the fields when there was fo much need of preaching to poor things, when wrath and judgment were coming on the land, they did not fet the trumpet to their mouth, and give the people a faithful warning. They fay, we have cad them off, but they are miitaken, for they have caft themfelves off, by changing their head ; nnd the Scriptures have caft them off, and I cannot join vrkh them. I would with all my heart have a miniftry ; but I would have it according to the word of God. Men that will preach in feafon> and oat offeafon, whether peo- of Andrew PittWoch. 1 69 pie will hear, or whether they will forbear ; that will be faithful in preaching againft fin of all forts, and will hi nothing of the mind of the Lord ; but they that do play faft and loofe in the matters of a holy God, and will not witnefs againft enemies ; I own none of thefe, but I leave my teftimony againft them for their unfaithfulness. They will preach to poor thtngi to (land for God and his truths, and not yield a hair, for the faving of their lives ; and yet they yield and comply themfelves ; and when they come before enemies, never a word of a tefttmc before them, but pais the fworn covenant and work of reformation in filence, and for fear of their lives will not hit them on the fore. Indeed they will wale their words fo, as they may not give their enemies offence. You con- demn us, becaufe we do that, that once a day you would have accounted it your honour to do ; and fay, That we are all diftracted, and have diftracled notions in cur heads. And fay you fo ? Wilt thou tell me man, if thou think- eft that a diftracted notion, to confefs the covenant and work of reformation ? Rut you will fay, It is not for that that I lay down my life, but for the fubfcribmg of that paper ; And I do think it well worth the fealing with my blood ; and will you tell me what could we do lefs ? You ran away and left the work, and the enemies were car- rying all before them ; and we durft not but leave a te- ftimony againft them. My heart was like to bleed, when I faw enemies carry the day, and robbing the Lord of his rights, his crown and kingdom, and not fo much as one to move their tongue againft them, and fiy, that is ill done that they have done. I leave it to God and your own confcience, whether or not it be duty to contend for truth this day when it was fo much neglecled. I leave my teftimony againft you and your hearers, and the joi: with you, ay and while they repent. I bid you repent i come off, and witnefs for the Lord, and if you will not do it, as fure as God is in heaven, he will be h you ; efcape who will, ye will not efcape ; for i: like he will begin at the fanchiary. Take warning in time, I leave it on you when [ am going into eternity; for I am perfuaded, this the way to the kingdom of heai >r the Lord h confirmed it to my foul, and hath made my life a i\\ lile to me. O read Ifaiah xli. for it was as taken, and that 1 had as many I r 170 The laft Speech and Teflimony down for him as there are hairs on my head, I would think them all too little ! O what is my life ? Nothing in companion of his glory. O wo to you, idle fhepherds, for ye deceive poor things ! If it were poffible, I think, ye would deceive the very el eel ; you take God to be your witnefs, that ye are in his way yet, and have not quit one hoof; but your practice condemns you. You may read Malachy ii. i. 2. 3. ' And now, O ye priefts, this * commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and * if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name, * I will even fend a curfe upon you, and I will curfe your * bleffings : yea, I have curfed them already, becaufe ye * do not lay it to heart/ Therefore f behold, I will cor- f rupt your feed, and fpread dung upon your faces, even * the dung of your folemn feafts, and one fhall take you c away with it.' Matt. vii. 15, 16. c Beware of falfe 1 prophets, which come to you in fheeps cloathing, but 6 inwardly they are ravening wolves : Ye fhall know them * by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or c figs of thirties ?' And that xxxiv. of Ezek. 2 ver. * Son e of man, prophefy agairfl the fhepherds of Ifrael, and * fay unto them, Thus faith the Lord God unto. the (hep- 1 herds of Ifrael, that do feed themfelves ; fhould not < the fhepherds feed the flocks.' I leave my teflimony a- gainft them that fay, We hold our principles of men, and that we die for pleafing men ; but- it is not fo, for I never thought that little of my life as to lay it down for the pleafing of any ; for it is a mod bafe afperfion of fome, call on us, becaufe oar practice condemns theirs, and they can get no other thing to brand us with but that. And glory to the Lord, the contrary is feen both by our practices, and our throughbearing : and it is made out, that Ave hold our principles of none, but of God and his word. I leave my teflimony againfl the four men in the Can* r.ongate rolbooth, or any other that join with them, for wronging of the holy and fweet Scriptures. Some brand me with that, that I am of their judgment, which thing I exceedingly abhor and deteft, as the mire in the ftreets; and I count them guilty of death, for wronging of the Scriptures, if we had judges in the land, that were for G d, they fhould not live. I leave my teflimony againft th t tyrant on the throne, and all his underlings ; and, J fay, it will never be right with our land, ' till Hatxraa of Andrew Pittitlocb. T 7 1 « and his ten fons be hung up before the fun.' I leave my testimony againft them that rule as judges ; and I leave my blood on the aftizers, doomfter, foldiers, and all of them, and all that acknowledge or aid them as ma- gistrates, ay and while they repent. I leave my tefti- mony againft all enemies of all forts ; and againfl all forts of compliance in lefs or more, and againft all that has been dene againft the work of God thefe twenty years bygone; againft the teft, and compliance with, or compearing before God's enemies in lefs or more. I leave my teftimony againft the minifters and profeflbrs in Fife, for the wrongs they have done to my lovely Lord and his fweet caufe ; and my head mall be a (land- ing witnefs againft them, and preach to them from Cu- par toibooth, ay and while they repent. As for any thing that they have done to me, I freely forgive them, and pray that the Lord may forgive them. I leave my teftimony againft all them that will not hear Mr. Donald Cargil, and own him as a faithful minuter of the gofpel, and none but he is faithful this day. I leave my teftimony to the holy and fweet fcriptures, which many a day I have been refrefhed with, I blefs the Lord, that ever I could read a line of them. Now, I adhere to the faith- ful preached gofpel, and to all that our worthies have done, which I need not particularly mention here. And you that are the people of the Lord, O be ye bufy and improve your time, and make ufe of your Bi- bles, while you have them, for it is like there may be a bonfire made of them yet, as well as of the Covenant. And covenant with him and contend for him to the ut- moft of your power ; for I have found more of his fweet love, in contending for him, than ever I got in prayer, or hearing the word. O his fweet work, let it not ilip thro* your fingers. It is like ye will have fad days of it, when I am gone. Popery is begun, and it is like to overfpread the whole land, and there is none to move their tongue againft it, although the land be fworn in folemn oath againft it. O Sirs ! * lift up your voice for * the remnant that is left.' Fail and pray, cry and weep, let not the apple of your eye ceafc, the wrath is like to be great, that will overtake us. O cry, that the days may be fhortened, for the elecVs fake, left no rleih mould be laved. O look out for fad days, dear friends; it may be you will get the faddeft ftroke that ever a poor land P z 172 The la ft Speech and Teftimony was tryfted with: ye may read thro' the Scriptures, and ye will find what judgments followed fuch fins, pefti- lence, fword, and famine, which ye may look for. I leave it. on you, that ye be not flack-handed, for it may- come to that, that < the tender and delicate women may € eat their own children for ftraitnefs in the fiege.' It is to be feared, that the plagues that are coming on Scot- land, for a broken and burnt covenant, will make their ears to tingle that hear of them ; but I will not be to fee it. The Lord is taking me away from the evil to come, which was often my defire ; for the fad hearts that mi- nillers and profeflbrs have made me, with their comply- ing and wronging his glory, made me oft wifh to be a- way ; and now it does not trouble me to lay down my life in your prefence this day. O it is fweet to be a fuf- ferer for truth ! I wonder what doth ail the generation to fear at him or his fweet crofs ; for there is no caufe of ruing or wearying, for all that is come. There is a beauty in holinefs. O ! commend him, Sirs ! O blefs and praife him that ever he honoured fuch a wretch as I am, to be a martyr for his fweet truth ! O fweet ho- nour he puts on poor things ! O Sirs, caft in your lot with the fuffering remnant that this day is in the furnace. Sink and fwim with his church, O prefer Jerufalem to your chief joy ! But O be perfuaded to come and tafte of his goodnefs : This is the way, altho' the w T hole world Ihould condemn it. It will not be the learned clergy, or great heads of wit, that he will honour with carrying on of his work, for they have all denied him. There are none of the mini Iters that will witnefs for him, nor yet any that the Lord has beflowed great parts on ; their wit leads them by the crofs, and beyond fuffering. They will not fuffer if petitioning will do it, or hiring of advo- cates, or learned fpeakers ; they can put in petitions, and fay, They never intended the death of any man, but in the defence of their life ; but never a word of the defence of the gofpel, the work of reformation, or the fworn cove- nant. Nay, if they had done that their life would go. But they were bound by covenant to own and maintain religion againd Popery and Prelacy, Quakerifm, Indul- gence, and whatfoever elfe is contrary to found doctrine, with their lives in their hands ; and to quit with all 1 for the faith once delivered to the faints:' And tho* they never mention a word of all this, yet they will fay, of Andrew Pittilloch. 175 they came clearly off. Eut I fay, now when I am going into eternity, that God's wrath will be on fuch a liber- ty, and God will count with them for what they have done againft his honour ; for there can none come clear- ly out from among their hands, that is once before them, without wronging his glory. O fear and trem- ble, Sirs ! you that get the favour of God's enemies, and yield your confcience to the lufts of men. I leave' it on all perfons, now when I am to appear before my Judge, that they do nothing but what is according to the holy and fweet Scriptures ; take them to be your rule, and go no farther than they allow you. They do not bid you petition enemies for your liberty, nor yet hire advocates. Now, my advice to you that are taken prifoiiers is, that you feek no favour of God's enemies; black not paper with them, in good, cheap nor dear-, (land for your fweet Lord with your life in your hand ; own and avouch him to be King and Head of his own church : Count not your life dear unto you, when it comes in competition with truth. And now, as for you that are the poor feekers of the Lord, O act faith on him, give him much credit. Live as brethren, dwell in unity ; let peace and truth be among you : but good Lord, let never peace be without truth. Keep up fellcwfhip and fociety meetings ; for my foul hath been often refrefhed- in the fellowfhip of the faints. O (land for your defpif- ed Lord, and his wronged glory. Now I being ftraitned for want of time, it being fhorr r I forbear, and bid you be Jlrong in the Lord, and the power of his might. Now, farewel my dear friends ; farewel holy and fweet Scriptures ; farewel fun, moon, and ftars ; farewel fweet reproaches and croffes for my fweet Lord Jefus ; farewel all things in time, reading, praying, and all duties; farewel relations; farewel ray dear wife, the Lord be to you better than ten hufbands. Glory be to his great name, that made me fo fweetly fubmit to his will, whatever he try Red me with. Fare- wel mother and fitters, and all relations; farewel my chriftian acquaintances for a while; farewel fweet fociety in Fife, the Lord's bleffiag be on you all. And now welcome Father, Son, and Holy G licit ; welcome fweet company of angels, and the ibirits ot ir.ft men - v 3 T 74 The lafl Speech and Tejlimony rrade perfect ; welcome everlafting fongs of praife. Now, into thy hands, holy Father, I commit my fpirit. Sic Jubfcribit u r , ANDREW PITTILLOCH, Th Tefumony */~ WILLI AM THOMSON, *wt>* lived in the jhire of Fife, and fujfered at Edinburgh > July 27. 1681. Men and Brethren, I Being a prifoner for Chrift's fake, and for my adher- ing to truth, being taken at Alloa, coming out of Fife from hearing of the gofpel preached by Mr. Donald Cargil, the lad fabbath of June, this prefent year ; and not knowing when I may be taken and murdered by the itated enemies of our Lord (for they neither walk after the equity 01 their own law, nor God's law) I have for fear of inconveniencies, laid hold of this opportunity to fct down, under my hand, or from my mouth, an ac- count of my life and converfation, and my teftimony to the truth of Chrift, and againft all the abominations of the times. I was, before the year 1679, running away with the reft of this generation, to God-provoking courfes ; and about that time, when I faw the people of God going to draw together, to adventure their lives in the Lord's •quarrel, the Lord took a dealing with me at that time, fo that I could neither get night's reft, nor day's reft, till I refolved to go with them. And on the other hand, was afraid left I ihould have been the Achan in the Lord's camp ; but again I remembered the Lord's promife, that is held out in the word, — Return unto me, and I will re- turn unto you, faith the Lord of hofls , Mai. iii. 7. Now, I do with ail my heart blefs the Lord, for his wonderful -workings with me, fmce hehegan with me. I think when I look on his dealings fmce that time till now, I muft fay, That I am a brand plucked out of the fire. O that my heart and foul could praife him, for all that he Hath done for me ! And now I am content to die a dyvour to free grace, and in Chrift's debt. I was charged with being guilty of rebellion againft their prince: I anfwered, I was not {o, for I was there a prifoner of Jefus Chrift, and for his fake : And told them, I adhered to his cove- nant, and all things in it. I am not convicted from the of William Thomfon. 175 word of God of any crime, as to him whom they call king; nor any thing worthy of death committed againft aDy man, either in thought, word, or deed : So my blood fhall cry, with the reft of the innocent blood fried in t land, for vengeance from heaven, on the inhabitants of the earth, great or fmall, who are in the leait acceifory thereto, ay and while they repent. It is not my doing, but their own that hath procured it; and God is juft to feek after them for the fame : neither is it in any man's power to forgive that, as being a breach of God's holy law, without repentance, nor then neither ; for the fur- theft they can come is, but to declare unto them from God's word, That that and their other fins fhall never be charged upon them, if they have truly received Chrift upon his own terms, and walked worthy of the Lord, unto all well-pleajing. But now the thing is clear, the ground whereon they intend to take away my life is, the difown- ing Charles Stuart for my king, becaufe, he will have no homage upon the account of the covenant from me, or any other, and God only requires the performing of vows, and keeping and fulfilling the covenants, Pfal. J. So in this cafe, I cannot ferve two mafters, and I refolve to obey God rather than man. Now, I here as a dying man, ready to ftep into eternity, having health and ftrength, and being in my right mind, declare, I adhere to the Proteftant religion, as that which is God's true religion, and the Chriftian religion. I ad- here to the holy rule o{ the word of God, the Scriptures of the Old and New Teftament, containing the will of God to man, and anent man; and that the Scriptures are a full rule of faith and manners to us. I adhere to the work of reformation in Scotland, to the Covenants National and Solemn League, the folemn Acknowledg- ment of Sins and engagement to Duties, the Cgnfeffion of Faith, in regard it agrees with the forefaid writings; the Larger and Shorter Catechifms, as mod feafonable, found, and according to the Scriptures, and well worth the reading, confidering and praclifing what is therein i • forth. 1 fay, 1 adhere to the Rutherglen Teftimony, to the paper commonly called Mr. Donald CargiPs Co- venant, of the date of June, 1680 : I adhere to the ori- ginal copies of thefe papers, as they were corrected and rjviicd by the authors. And 1; ?ry found paper, tending to the good of religion; as, the zj6 The lajl Speech and Teftimony Directory for Worfhip and catechifing ; and I adhere on- to the doctrine, difcipline, worfhip, and government of the church of Scotland. I bear my tefiimony unto all the lawful wreftlings of the people of God for truth, and in the defence and prefervation of their civil, natural and divine rights and privileges, contained and held forth in the forefaid papers againft all encroachers thereupon and betrayers thereof; efpecially by the fword, as a mean moft lawful and commanded of God, to be made ufe of in that quarrel ; which is to be carried to preachings, and other aflemblies of the Lord's people, and fo much the more, as the enemy difcharges it, as the cafe now ftands, In the laft place, I give my teftimony and proteftati- on againft all wrongs and injuries done to God and his people throughout the w T hole world this day : And more particularly, againft all that hath been done in Scot- land, fmce the beginning of the work of reformation, un- to this day, in prejudice of God's glory, his work and people : and efpecially thefe crying fins : if, The cor- ruption of the worfhip of God, profanation of his holy things, mocking, mifbelieving, and belying of God, and carrying as if there were no God ; yea, w r hich is worfe, faying he approves of all that they do. O this heaven-contemning generation ! idly, Againft the de^ frauding, mocking, murdering and oppreffing the peo- ple'of God. in their bodies, confciences and eftates, and punifning them as evil doers ; yea, as the vileft monfters ©f cruelty, and that only for following their duty; and making them to ftink, as it were, above the ground; and making their names to rot by calumnies and reproach- es, and doing all they can to drive them to fin ; and then blaming them as the main inftruments of all the mifchie- vous viilanies and abufes in the land ; fo that it is come to that with it, The man that departs from iniquity ', makes kimfelf a prey. And fcarcely can thefe who defign hone- fty get a night's quarters in any houfe in the land ; fo that the people of God are become a J corn to their foes* and a fear to their friends ', and efpecially reproached of thoft ivho are their nearejl neighbours , as the Pfalmift complains. ydfy. I leave my teftimony againft all that make peace with the ftated enemies of God, thefe Chrift-defpifers, thefe heaven-contemners, and non-fuch fighters againft God; whether by bonds, oaths or promifes ; they being perlbns worthy of no credit nor truit,, who will not kee*a of William Thorn/on. 177 faith nor truft upon any account, but where it may con- tribute for fulfilling their luds, and profecuting their ked defigns and hell-hatched enterpriies. If they were brought to draits, pofUbly they might feign them- felves ; but he is unwife that will give them lo much trufl as a dog : as Solomon fays, When he /peaks fair, believe : net, for there are feven abominations in his heart ; which I have a proof of in my taking, by a poor wretch who hath fold foul and confeience to the luft and arbi- triment of a faithlefs apodate wretch like himfeif. And if ye will not be perfuaded to leave oif feeking their pea^e, and covenanting with them by bonds, oaths, and pro- mifes; well, fee what David the king of Ifrael fays, by the fpirrt of God, when he is making his tedament, 2 Sam. xxiii. 6. 7. ' But the fons of Belial mail be all of ■ them as thorns thurd away, becaufe they cannot be ta- 4 ken with hands: but the man that fhall touch thern 1 mud be fenced with iron, and the ftafFof a fpear; and * they fhall be utterly burnt with Ere.' But ye that are much more feeking peace with enemies than with God, think with yourfelves to which of them are ye mod beholden, and which of them have done you moil good ; which of them have mod power over you ; which of the two hath the bed quarrel by the end ; which of the two is the mod precious and lovely; and which of the two will be your judge at the lad day. Well, if you have done well in feeking the peace of enemies, with the lofs of the peace of God ; then rejoice ye in them and with them, and let them do fo with you : And if other- ways, the Lord, no doubt, will reward you, as the caaie requires, for what ye have done to God's work, caufe, covenant and people. 4/^/y, I leave my tedimony a- gaind all that contribute of their means, for the down- bearing of God's works and people, and upholding his and their enemies, feeing it is fo exprefly againd the Co- venant, and in that cafe they being called to fufFer, and not to fin, to which practice is annexed a gracious pro- mife ; * He that lofeth life, lands, goods, or relatu * for Chriit's fake, and the gofpel's, fhall receive an hua- 1 dred fold in this life, and in the world to come life ever- c lading.' And againd all that otherways wade and a* bufe them to God's diihonour, but only ufing this wo; as not abuiing it: for all within the nation being dedi- cate and given away by covenant to God, and this bein^j 178 The lajl Speech and Teftimony often renewed, calls all men to be tender of the oath of God, and fee how they adminifter their ftewardfhip, for to him they muft be accountable. But, alas! for that ac- count which many of them have to make. I leave my teftimony againft the rendering up the power of the kirk and flate into the hands of malignants. I do really think they have been all dreaming, or wilfully or wickedly fin- ning againft the light of their own confciences. Well, God hath discovered them fmce, in an ugly manner; and now they fin more and more : they hold fall deceit, they refufe to let it go, and will not return. It is the old profeffbrs and miniflers, I mean, in a fpecial manner ; but more particularly the miniflers : for when the time was to fpeak they held their peace, and flipped from their Matter's back, without fo much as teftifying againft the horrid fins then committed ; and did never to this day make up the hedge, and build that which they brake down : And, as I am informed, a great part have been dreadful complyers with, and conformers to the fmful courfes of this apoftatizing generation ; yea open perfe- cutors of their more godly and faithful brethren, mini- flers and profeffors ; and now they are the greateft oppof- ers of the work, and perfecutors of the godly, both un- der hand, and to their faces ; and inftead of edifying and binding up the weak, flrive to break ail they can, efpe- cially when they are among the enemies hands. In the laft place, I bear my teftimony to the crofs of Chrift, as the only defirable upmaking and rich lot of the people of God this day in Scotland. O it is the portion of poor things, who defire to feek God, and defign honefty in the land ! I think they want a good bargain of it that want it; and I think they want nothing that have it, and get leave to carry it heartfomely, and his prefence un- der it. I would advife you all to take it on ; I dare fay thus much for your encouragement, that it is eafy and fweet. There is no better way to carry the crofs right than to call all our care upon Chrift, and truft him for all things, and ufe our fingle endeavours in the matter, and fpeak what he bids us, and obey his voice in all things. Now, I declare I hate all ungodlinefs. Now farewel all things, wherein I have been troubled with a wicked world, and evil heart of mift>elief, afubtil, powerful, and malicious devil, and tempted with a company of men* of William Cut hit. 179 «who have fhaken off the fear of God. Now, welcome Lord Jefus, into thy hand I commit my fpirit. Sicfubfcribitur, WILLIAM THOMSON. [This following Teflimony having a large preamble, wherein he gives his private opinion concerning fome things then in debate, which do not relate to the caufes of his fufFering, and which are of no ufe now, thefe vain janglings and unprofitable flrifes of words Jbeing ceafed, and his opinion about them not being a teflimony for the truth, nor efpoufed by any of the godly as a head of fuf- fering or contending for; the encouragers of this work have thought fit that the preamble be pafl by, and the teflimony itfelf only publifhed.] The lajl Teflimony */ WILLIAM CUTHIL, feaman in Borroiv/iounnefs, in ajking them a king, whereas the Lordnvas their king. qthfyy I bear my teflimony againft that unparalleled practice of minifters, in quitting their charges ; and that, which doth more aggravate their guilt, at his command, who had no power to act, nor right to be obeyed, nei- ther in that, nor yet in civil things; for then he had unkinged himfelf; and their going away without almoft ever a teftimony who mould have been the main men that mould have told the people w T hat to do. Oh and alas, for that practice ! Yet they were put away without being convicted of any crime done againft him; but is it not againft Prefbyterian principles, that a king mould de- pofe minifters of the gofpel, tho' he had a juft right, all that time, to rule the civil ftate ? For it was without controverfy that he had imprifoned fome of Chrift's mi- nifters, without being ever fummoned, or treated by any legal procedure, as Naphtali records, and ufurped the ecciefiaftic officers feat to depofe the reft of them. $thly, I hold it as one of the caufes of God's wrath a- gainft the land, and one of the caufes of God's breaking' and Scattering that poor handful of men at Pentland, that renewed the covenant at Lanerk, and did not keep of William Cuthtl. 1 8 r out his intereft out of it; for it only binds us to its rnain- tainers. not to its deftroyers. 6th!y 9 I bear teftimony againft the procedure of the minifters, when they came to the fields again after Pent- land, becaufe they did not rirft begin with public and private fafts, and make up the hedge and gap for the church of God in Scotland : And then only preaching to cafes of confcience, and not catechifing the people, nor in- forming them in the duty of the day ; but did let them pay curates ftipends, and other revenues of that nature. But I think they were engaged to God under the pain of Iof- ing foul and body, in the day of God's fearful judgment, to tell the people to chafe them out of the land. Seeing Prelacy was abjured and call out like an abominable branch, as it was, were they not worthy to die the death, that would, againft fo much light/ defile God's land with that abjured abomination? but forfooth, to this day, they muft be fed like birds in a cage upon the fat- teft in the land, and the fpoils of Chrift's crown. Jltfy s I bear my teftimony againft that courfe carried on by the minifters ; their conniving at, countenancing of, and complying with thefe indulged, that have quit Chrift, and taken on with another mailer. O the treach- erous dealers have dealt very treacheroufly ! Yea, they were open perfecutors of the really godly, thereafter for their faithfalnefs, and were about to flop their mouth, and to make that indulgence the door by which all the minifters were to enter to their miniftry. $th!y, I bear my teftimony againft their treachery at Both wel -bridge, in flopping the drawing up of the cauf- es of God's wrath, and keeping a faft day, and chang- ing their declaration ; and in hindering the purging of the army : And to mend all, they raifed the uglieft da- rn our and report among them that minded and fpoke ho- ly and truly, that could be. o//f/y, I bear my teftimony againft their treachery Edinburgh, when a proclamation came out to the view of the world, blafpheming God's true religion, and de- claring that all that belonged to God was due to Charles Stuart, which is the plain fenfe of the act; and they fit in an affembly, and voted for a liberty coming from him to preach by ; tho' the very fame day that that was pro- claimed, two of their more worthy and faithful brethren were murdered: I think this people are grown like brute 1 8 2 The lafl Speech and Teflhnony beads. O how much pomp and jovialty was that day in rejoicing over the ruins of the work of God and his peo- ple, yea, over himfelf ! There was firft a fcaffold made on the eaft fide of the crofs, and a green table fet down on it, and two green forms ; and then the crofs was co- vered ; and about twelve hours of the day, the purfe- vants, and lyon- heralds, and lyon king at arms, and eight trumpeters went up to the crofs, and fourteen men on theforefaid fcaifold, andfeven of them with red gowns of velvet, and {qvqti with black, and then that act was read, and at night the bells were ringing, and bonfires burning. O I think it was a wonder, that God made not all the town where fuch wickednefs was acted againft and in defpite of him, to fink to the loweft hell. lotbly, I leave my teftimony againft them, for running away and leaving God's flock after Bothwel-bridge, when they had drawn them to the fields : the Lord be judge this day between them and his flock, and let their Sentence come out from before his prefence, and let his eyes behold thofe things that are equal. O their fkirts are full of the blood of fouls ! they fay, the people hath left them, but it is more evident than that it can be gainfaid, that they have left the people. Does not the Scripture fay, That they who are in the watchmens place, mould warn the people when they fee the fword come ; and have not the minifters of Scotland had the firft hand in all thefe courfes of backfiidings ? mould they be pure with unclean hands, and the unjuft ballance (fo to fay) and the bag of deceitful weights. Well, their fins are known to be no more fins of weaknefs, but fins of wickednefs. iztkly, I bear my teftimony againft them, becaufe they did not join with their brethren in the work of the day, in preaching to the people in the fields, with Mr. Richard Cameron and Mr. Donald Cargil. And will ye tell me, altho' there were never one to open their mouth in that thing, does not the work of the one con- found them to filence, and the work of the other juftify and plead for them ? But there is one thing, I have learned from the practice of all this people, and God's dealing with them. They have fought their own, and one anothers credit, more than God's, and he hath dis- covered their v ickednefs in their uglinefs. nthly, I bear my teftimony againft their obftinacy, in refilling to return and amend their manners. They of William Cut hi I. 183 hold faft wickednefs, and refufe to let it go, and that againft the light of God's word, their own confciences*, :ir vows and engagements to God, the cries of blood- fhed, the cries of wrong done to God and his work, and againft thefe their former preachings and practices ; that they will not come out and rid the ground, ib to fpeak, and feek out the caufes of God's wrath, and fet days of humiliation apart, and fee that they be kept, and re- new their engagements, and carry themfelves like mini- flers of Jefus Chrift afterward. Is this erroneous : Is not this according to Prefoyterian principles ? Does not the confeffion of our faith, fay, thefe who offend the church, and their brethren fhall make their repentance as puplic as their offences have been ? Is not this the plain meaning of that article, yea the very words almoft, of the Confeffion of Faith, chap xv. art. laft ? without which thing be done, (if any would take my counfel, who am looking to receive the fentence of death every hour) I would fay, meddle not with them, for they have not: only finned againft the church of God and their bre- thren, and their own fouls, but againft God : And have they not been light and treacherous ? whereof many in- ftances may be given. Have they not polluted the fanc- tuary ? Have they not done violence to the law : Have they not been unfaithful ? Are they not walking very o- penly amcngft God's ftated enemies, while the people of J dare not be feen ? I fear, If they make not hafte to come off thefe couries, that God's wrath (hall overtake them, ere it be long. And la/ify, I bear my teftimc inft them, for their untendernefs to weak consciences, I making vSc of their gifts and parts to wreft the word of God, to put out that light which God has given poor things; of which I, among others, have a proof; for one of them came into the prifoa, and told me, That he had been dealing with him, who had been purfui: Us to death, (the king's advocate) that he would not e innocent blood upon him ; and out of love and ten- dernefs to our fouls, he came to pay us a vifit ; and laid, he was neither a curate nor an indulged man, but a mi- niftcr of the gofpcl : So he faid, That we would be w( ifed what we were doing, for the advocate had faid, were ihortly to be before the criminal court. And I alked, What he advifed us to do began to tell him tke ground whereupon we were accufed, v. Inch was this, 184 The lajl Speech and Tejlhnony That Charles Stuart, having broken and burnt God's covenant, and compelled all that he could by his forces to do the like, and flain many upon that account ; upon this head, I declined his authority ; and being hard queftioned. confefTed, that I thought it lawful to kill him, but I did not fay by whofe hands : and he faid, All that would not free me from being his fubjecl, and inflanced Zedekiah's cafe to prove it: But I was not in cafe to fpeak to him, (being confufed with a diffracted man who was in with us) only I told him, there was as great a difference betwixt that of Zedekiah, and this in hand, as eaft was from the weft, And he called us Jannes and Jambres who withftocd the truth, when we would not hear him ? and faid, There was no fuch thing as any condition holden out in the form and order of the coronation, that did free us from allegiance to Charles Stuart upon that account. But what ? do they think, that every one can reafon and debate with them, or elfe that they :v:z not Chriftians, but gainftandcrs of the truth? Hath not God given to every man his meafure of light and grace both ? If they know not this, and walk not accordingly, they were never worthy to be mi- flifters of the goipci. He faid, that he would fend me any of the mini iters whom I pleafed to call for: I faid, That I heard tell Mr. Ponald Cargil was taken, would he fend him to me, and I would take it as a great kind- nefs off his hand ; but he faid, that he had taken a way by himfelf. But what {hall I fay, my heart is like to fmk, when I think on them, and the cafe of the land. O I think, it is a defperate like cafe! only I know God can, and I hope he will cure it. Next, I bear my teftimony againft all that pay cefs and locality to uphold ChrirVs enemies, the bloody fol- diers, or any of that curfed crew; yea, againft all that give them meat or drink, when they come to their hou- ses, it being fo exprefly againft Chriit and the covenant ; and againft all that pay cuftoms or duties, belonging to the crown of Scotland, unto Charles Stuart, his offi- cers, collectors, or tackfmen ; feeing all that is employ- ed againft Chrift, and againft all that fhall do it, till they wit well that it be otherwife employed ; and againft all bonders with them, or to him, or any in his name, or delegated by him, or cloathed with his authority; feeing they are perfons worthy of no credit ; whereof I of William Guthil, 185 have a proof in my taking. Ye would do well to believe the wife man Solomon, who fays, When he /peaks fair, lelie-je him not y for there are /even abominations in his heart. Next, I leave my teftimony againft all that fide with, or ftrengthen the hands of the adverfaries of the Lord, in iefs or more, againft clear conviction from the word of God, 'or found reafon; and particularly againft this duke, that bold and truculent Papift, who hath defiled the Lord's land with his altars and images. And I pro- teft againft this enfuing parliament, for putting power in his hand to do what he pleafeth ; for by the word of God, and the laws of the land, he ihould die the death. And alfo, I bear teftimony againft thefe who have fided wiih, or ftrengthened the forefaid enemy, and will not come off again. O, if they will not help the people of God, that they would let them alone, and not help their adverfaries. Next, I leave my teftimony againft the gentry and commonalty, for letting fo much innocent blood be fhed, fome of which ranks, I think God hath a turn to put in their hands yet, if they would efpoufe his quarrel, and turn to him with all their hearts, and not fuffer the work to go as it does; but indeed they muft keep com- pany with God's ftated enemies, and learn the court fa- fhion. I will tell you one thing. Ye have loft the man- ners of the court of heaven, by learning the manners of the courts of men. O what think ye to do ? Or how think ye to be countable to God ? Will ye but fpeak your minds; who, think ye, hath the beft end of the contro- verfy ? Will ye let the fear o£ men and the devil prevail p with you more than the fear of God ? Or what think ye ^ this duke would do to you, when he fees his opportuni- ty : Will ye truft bloody Papifts ? It may be, ye may be put to fuffer on worfe accounts yet, if ye will not own God and his people ; but there are but very few of you now, who are ought but mockres. Will ye turn to the Lord with all your hearts. Is it any fhame to you to take fliamc to yourfelves, in glorifying God by confeff- ing your fins, and turning from them ? But will you tell me now, who think ye can be at one with you, while ye are (landing out againft God ? Will ye read but the firft chapter of Ifaiah, and confidcr it, and the firft two chapters of Jeremiah, the fecond of Joel, the pro- i8<5 The Lift Speech and Teftbnony phecy ofHaggai, Ifa. xxii. Ezek. vii. O confider, ancf if not, the Lord and you take it between you. Read and confider Pfal. 1. 5. Now, what fhall I fay to you, who own and adhere to God's caufe, again ft all the enemies ? O that I could let you fee the infide of my heart ! Will ye learn Chrifti- anity ; feek the Lord and get him on your fide. I think, it is a good token of a fanclified heart, that longs more to be in God's company, nor other folks, that fees the word of evil lies in committing fin. Beware of heart-rif- ings and grudgings one againll another ; know, that there is a great difference between fins of weaknefs, and fins of wickednefs ; ye may not mark every failing, for if ye do, ye fhall not have two to May together in Scot- land. O but there be much need of the gofpel, and thefe rninifters will not come out and contend for Chrift ! with- out which, tho' I were at liberty, God knows, I-durft not meddle with them, and I would rather keep a-back from them nor other folk ; for I think, there are many of them either unconcerned, or then dreadfully mifted, for how can it be otherwife, not bearing with tender confeiences, for they will rather drive to break folk than build them up ; but how can any that has love to Chrift; look on them with good-will : I do verily think, if ever they turn again, the world mall hear tell of it. It is beyond all controverfy, that they have quit their firfl works, and their firft love. O will ye learn to be fober and grave. Cleave to your covenants and engagements: I fay, mind your engagements; lofjk what becomes of covenant-breakers. I would fay unto you, Take no tourfes by the end, till God give you clearnefs ; but in- tleed, I know, that God will reprove many in this gene- ration, becaufe they put away light from them. Now ye are deprived of all cleanly preaching ; but will ye ob- ferve Chrift's anfwer to the fpoufe in the Song, when fhe fays, ( Where makeft thou thy flocks to reft at noon :' He fays, ■ If thou know not, O thou faireft among wo- 4 men, go thy way forth by the footfteps of the flock, * and feed thy kids befide the fhepherds tents:' Beware cf ■ turning afide after the flocks of his companions.' Beware of thefe rninifters of Charles Stuart, thefe indul- ged and thefe Prelatic, thefe mockers of God, and con- temners of the godly, thefe Chrift-deferters, thefe under- values of heaven, thefe fcandalous and inngnificant time- of William Cuthlh 1 87 fervers, whom God hath blafted, to the conviction of all the generation that fee any thing ; theie monfters of men, the difgrace of the miniitry, the juft contempt of the ge- neration. God hath fometimeshad a church without a miniitry, but he never had a miniitry without a church. Doth not the Scripture fay, That for many days Jfracl Jhall be without a prief, without a teraphhn, &c. Do we not fee in the Revelation, The two witnejfes fain, and ly three days and an half: But O cry to God, That he would fend forth labourers to his vineyard; for verily the harvefl is great, but the labourers are few. If there be a calling at the gofpel on the people's fide, then I think they fhail be in extreme hazard of lofing their foul, if God's mercy prevent it not ; for then they refufe to be guided by God ; But if when the hireling fees the wolf come, he run away 9 and leave the f?eep, becaufe he is an hireling, then I think the mercy of God is engaged for the fheep, becaufe they have nofiepherd. It is not the fir ft time that Ifrael has been fcattered as fheep having no shepherd; But it is as fure as the fun mines, none can keep himfelf, nor guide him- fclf : // is not in him that walketh, to direcl his fleps. And God hath ' fown a joyful light to the upright;' And he lias faid, < Him that fitteth in darknefs, and hath no * light, let him truft in the Lord, and ftay himfelf upon his God.' But could the fpoufe reft in Jerufalem, and her hufband not to be found : It is beyond debate, that (lie made all the fields ado before fhe wanted him. Can the fpoufe fee another wear her hufband's cloaths, and be well Satisfied ? yea, one that has robbed, fpoiled, and (hut him to the doors, with difgrace, contempt and fhame, and as one unworthy to manage the aftaiis of his own houfe ; and has defyed him to take any thing back again, and has lit up ler^s and arms, heads and hands, and quarters of the children, as trophies of victory over the Goodman of the houfe, and has triumphed with fpite and contempt, and is only feeking it of the poor widow, the wife and the bairns to be quiet, and accept of him for a hufband and father : So I fay, Shall the wife and chil- dren of fuch a Hufband and Father be peaceable to fee this? I trow, there are few earthly folk would do f o : But O ! who can fiiew the difference here, as to fearch- ing out it cannot be. The Lord keep you from dwelling" at eafe, under one roof, with fuch an one. Beware ox making any treaty of peace with fuch a robber and mur- 1 88 The lajl Speech and Tejllmony derer as this ; beware of feeding thefe his foldiers, or giving them q*iar!ers, when they come to your houfes. but the kings of Aifyria knew well enough, that the kings of Ifrael ivere merciful kings ! If ye will not ufe the fword at God's bidding, God will put it (as he hath) into the hands of his and your enemies, to ufe it againft you. Indeed I think, « till Saul's fons be hanged up before the * Lord, the plague of famine (hall not be flayed from If- 4 rael.' Now, in the next place, I witnefs by this my teftimo- ny, my adherence to the Scriptures of truth, the holy Bible, the Old and New Teftament, which has been made fweet to me. The fault is not in them that we un- derhand them not, but in us, and this we have as our old father Adam's heirfhip. I witnefs my adherence to the Covenants National and Solemn League ; Confeffion of Faith ; only there is in it fomething concerning the ma- giftrate's calling a fynod of miniiters,, by virtue of his ma- giftratical power, which ought to be cautioufly underftood, according to the general affembly's explication. I ad- here to the Catechifms Larger and Shorter, Pfalms in metre, Directory for worfhip, Form of Church-go- vernment; the doctrine of the church of Scotland, as it is held cut in the word of God, and laid down in the fcrefaid papers. I adhere to all the faithful teftimonies for truth in Scotland, of one fort and another, and par- ticularly thefe three, the papers found at the Queensfer- ry of the date of the 3d of June, the Sanquhar Declara- tion, the Rutherglen Teftimony, and every other paper tending to the good of religion, particularly the Caufes of Wrath ; and I requeft all to read and confider them. 1 leave my teftimony againft them that fay, That I am a felf- murderer, becaufe I fpake that which God gave me to fpeak, before his adverfaries : and I think that it is my great mercy, that he hath helped me to be free be- fore them in matters of truth, relating to the difowning of them, and Handing to our God's, and our own rights. This paper I leave as my teftimony, and formed and de- liberate thoughts ; and requeft all to bear with faults of weaknefs, efpecially when the fword of the adverfary Is above a man's head. Now, farewel worLd, and all things in it. Welcome Lord Jefus Chrift, into thy hands I re- coannend my fpirit. Sic futfribitur, WILLIAM C U T H I L.. of Robert Gamed. \ 89 The dying Tejl'mony ^/ROBERT GARNOCK ham- vierman in Stirling, who fufered at the Gallanulee be- twixt Leith and Edinburgh , Qftr,ber 10. 168 r. Me?i and Brethren, I Having received a fentence of death from men for ad- hering to the truth, againft Popery, Prelacy, Liaf- tianifm and Indulgences fir ft and laft, and all that was contrary to found doc~trine ; am now to leave a line he- hind me, as the Lord will help me to write, and to tell you, That however this generation may condemn me, as having a hand in my own death, I declare that it is not fo ; for I die a Prefbyterian in my judgment. For I con- fidering, how folemnly Scotland was bound to defend truth againft all encroachments made thereon, with their lives and liberties, and hew they of this nation had fo caiily broken their vows and engagements ; and then fee- ing thro' the Scriptures, how deep covenant-breaking draws, and what a great and heinous fin this is in the fight of God ; could do no lefs than give in my protec- tion againft all their proceedings, in their hell-hatched acts that were fo contrary to the word of God, and our fworn covenants; and it is for that, that I am come in your prefence this day, to lay down this life of mine ; for which I blefs the Lord that ever he honoured the like of me with a gibbet and a bloody winding-fheet, for his noble, honourable and fweet caufe. O will ye love him, Sirs ! O he is well worth the loving, and quitting all for ! O for many lives to feal the fweet caufe with ! If I had as many lives as there are hairs in my head, I would think them all too little to be martyrs for truth. I blefs the Lord, I do not fuffer unwillingly, nor by conftraint, but heartily and chearfully. O but the Lord hath taken great pains on me to train me up for this great work. I blefs his holy name, that ever he counted me worthy of fuch honour ; his love hath been to me beyond many. I have been a long time a prifoner, and have been alter- ed of my prifon ; I was among, and in the company of the molt part who fulfered fince Bothwel ; and was in Company with many enfnaring perfons, tho' 1 do : queftion but they were godly folk ; and ) d keep- ed me from hearkning to their counfel. C to his holy and fweet name. O but it is many a I 19° The lafl Speech and Teftimony Prouder, how I have done fuch and fuch things ! but it is he that hath done it : He hath done all things well, both in me and for me; holy is his name. O if I could get my royal King Jefus cried up, and all -the world Co\\*n ! O will you fall in love with Chrift ! friends, what ails you at him, and his fweet caufe ? I can ailure you, he is no hard mafter to ferve. O he is lovely ! He is white and ruddy; the chief among ten thoufands. I de- {irc. none of you to think, I fuffer as an evil doer, or as a bujy body in other mens matters ; or that it is out of blind zeal, that I am come here this day : No, for it was af- ter ferious confideration that I did it, and after great Weights and prefltires. It was great grief of foul to me, to fee my Matter's truth fo wronged, trampled on and abufed by a God-daring generation, and none to fpeak for him. And now my Lord is highly honouring me for that ; glory to his great name for it. For he hath honoured me, and my neighbours with irons, and the thieves hole, which were fweet and refrefliful to us, and then honoured us wonderfully to go in before thefe bloody men, and get our fentences. Our interrogations are known, I have not time to write them. But I difowned them, for difowning of the Co- venant, and adhered to my proteftation given in againfl them : and now am come to the Gallowlee, to lay down my life, and to have my head cut off, and put upon a port. It is known, how barbaroufly I have been ufed by them, and how honourably fuch a filly wretch as I am, hath been carried thro' : Glory be to his fweet name for it. Indeed it was the bargain betwixt Chrift and my foul long fmce, that thro' his flrength I fhould be for him, and at his bidding, whatever piece of work he put in my hand ; and he promifed, that his grace f?ould be fufficient for me ; and that his flrength jhould bs feen in my weaknefs ; and that go whither I would, he would go with me, thro' fire and water ', the flames would not fcorch me, nor the waters overfiow me. O take him, Sirs ! for he is faithful who hath promifed, and he will perform." Now, as a dying martyr for Chrift, I would leave it on all of you to make hafte, and prepare for ftrokes, for they are at hand ; and do not think, that they will not come, becaufe they are delayed. No, he will come, and that as a thief in the night, and will furprife many of you, if not all ; Watch and pray, that ye enter not into tewj>ta- ef Robert Garnock. 1 91 /;;>/. I would not have you fecure, but take warning in time, before his wrath break forth. He hath waited long on Scotland's repentance; it is like, he will not I much longer. Do not fleep, as do others, but rife, make hatfe, get on the whole armour of God, that ye maj be able 2 and. It is dangerous now to be out of God's gate ; it is not good iiding with God's enemies : It will be dan- gerous to be found in their camp. I would not be in their (lead for all the gold of Ophir, who have faved' their lives with prejudice to the work and people of Cod, I would have them take warning. They fay, They ve done nothing, but what was lawful and right ; but they commit traufgreflion, and (with the whore) Oc- tober 10. 168 1. Dear Friends, I Being in prifon for Chrift, and his perfecuted caufe, tho' fome may fay otherways, and that upon the ac- count of my taking; but I do not care what tL#y fay, for I have had, and yet have great peace in my iuffer- ings. But fome will be ready to fay, That it was an imprudent and an unfure action, and fo might have been forborn : And fuppofe it be fo, it is not the head of my fuffering, for it was not that upon which I was ftagec, for I was prefently ftaged for the truth, the next day af- ter I was taken, being brought before a committee ; tho* indeed I was not fo free as I mould have been. There- is a paffage, Acts xxi. of Paul's going up to Jerufalem, which, fome fay, he might have forborn, but more ef- pecially his going up to the temple, and doing thefe things which are according to the law ; he might* 1 (i have forborn this, and walked eonfonant to his former practice, doctrine and writings : But tho' his going to the temple was the occafion of his taking, yet not the head of his fuffering ; fo, I fay, tho' that which 1 did in relieving my brother, was the occafion, yet my fuffering was Rated on another head. But I cannot fee, how it is as ye fay ; for I feeing it my duty, and finding oppor- tunity, had a clear call for all that I did. And befides all that, we being bound in covenant to defend and main- tain one another, we are bound as well to relieve one a- nother out of prifon, when there is a probability feen. But I need not (land much in making this out, it being the way that the Lord took to bring me to my fuffering;, and I am heartily content with my lot, and defire with pay foal to blefs him for it. Tho' I was dreadfully af- • bond of liberation \ i to us, 2 1 o The hi ft Speech and Teflimony have thoughts of taking it in peace ; and I blefs the Lord who kept my hand from it : it was neither (Irength nor fharp-fightednefs in me, that withheld me from yielding to the temptation ; but the Lord hath {hewed himfelf gracioufly favourable and kind unto me, now when I am fet up like a beacon upon the top of an hill, and the eyes of many being upon me, and all are wondering at me, and calling me detracted, and faying, I am a fool, but (the Lord be thanked) 1 have all the fenfes that ever I had, tho' diftrefled, yet I defpair not. Neither am I fuf- fering as a fool ; for I know affuredly, this is the way to obtain the promife. There is nothing in it meritorious, I confefs ; for all my fuffering he may put me into hell ; but I fay, the fuffering of reproaches and the fcourge of tongues, is a fymptom or mark of his way, when it is for his fake, Matth. v. u. Blejfed are yenuhen men foall revile you, and /peak all ?nanner of evil againjl you, and f erf e cute you for my name's fake. It is for his name's fake that I am fuffering, and this confirms me of it, Matth. x. 22. Ye fhall be hated of all men for my name's fake ; but he that endureth unto the end, fliall be faved. Now, it is for Chrift's kingly office that I am fuffer- ing ; and this being the main head on which my fuffer- ing is flared, even that great truth, viz. Jefus Chrift is King and Head of Zion, I defire and charge you to be- ware of mi icon ft ru (fling my fufferings, and faying, that 1 was iuffering for difowning of authority, and declining of judges ; for it is not fo, I being a Preibyterian in my judgment, and owning both magiftracy and miniftry, according to the word of God, and as he hath ordained them : but if Charles Stuart's authority be according to the word of God, I am miftaken. If he be exerciiing his power, to the terrifying of evil doers, and the encou- raging them that do well, I die in an error. I fay, be- ware of your judging, for I am a Prefbyterian in my judgment, and a member of the church of Scotland;, and am to feal it with my blood. I adhere to that bleffed tranfaclion between the Fa* ther and the Son, that holy device devifed from all eter- nity, the Father to fend his Son, and the Son to come cind fatisfy divine juftice, and fo redeem loft man. I ad- here to all the Scriptures of the Old and New Tefta- ments, which are all ftanding in force until this day, and obligatory upon us ; e;:cept the ceremonial law, with of fames Stewart. 2 1 1 a part of the judicial, which is now abrogate and abo- lifhed by our Lord's coming. h~ being the end of the law. I adhere to our glorious work of reformation, Confeffioa of Faith, Larger and Gorier Cateehifms, Acknowledgment of Sins, and Engagement to Duties, tho' they be abufed and mifcedtructed by many. And I adhere to the Sum of Saving Knowledge, wherein is held forth the life and marrow of religion. I adhere to all the teflimonies that have been given. Mr. Guthrie, Argyle, and Wariftoun, they gave in their teflimony ac- cording tp the light that the Lord gave them ; and I do not condemn their testimony, as fome fay, for at fome times the Lord gives more light than at other times ; fo it cannot be faid, that we contradict or difown their tefti- mony, tho' it hath pleafed the Lord, thro' continuance of time, to give more light of the abounding abominati- ons that are flill growing and abounding in this genera- tion ; and fo whatever they omitted through want of that light, which it hath pleafed the Lord to Jet us fee, makes no contradiction. I adhere to the Rutherjrlea and Sanquhar Declarations. I adhere to the paper found upon Mr. Richard Cameron at Airfmofs, July 22. 1680. I adhere to the papers that were found at the Queensferry upon Henry Hall. I adhere to any writings that are according to the word of God, for truth is truth, come by whom it will. Now, as a dying man, I adhere to all thefe things. I have received an unjuft fentence from men, for owning and adhering to the fame, and for protefting againft the inbringing of Popery, to defile the land. And likewife upon thefe accounts, I difown Charles Stuart to be my king and fovereign. Firft, becaufe of that helliih Act of Supremacy, and that Act Refcilfory, whereby they have overturned and wreft- ed all the laws, acts and conilitutions of the land : for in the foreiaid act, he aimmeth that unto himfelf which belongs properly to our Lord and Mailer, and i\r That he rules over all things both fpiritual and tempo- ral ; and then, when he hath made himfelf fupreme over all things, he refcinds the laws that are of God, and fets up other laws, to fatisfy his own lulls, in mur^i ing, killing and deflroying the Lor, is the reafon why I difown him: andlikev dread* fnl perjury and blafpheray in his covenant brc I .-line them as judges, for the opening a djor there to 2 12 The I aft Speech and Teftimony Popery, which they have done, by receiving that popifh duke in among them, which 1 proteft and leave my tef- timony againft; it being contrary to our engagements to fuffer Papifts to dwell amongft us, and to have a pro- f^ft Papift to ufurp over us, it being repugnant to our principles. I leave my teftimony againft Prelacy, it be- ing a limb of that antichriftian whore of Rome. I leave my teftimony againft all the abominations of this generati- on as blafpheming of the holy name of the Lord, drunken- nefs, ftealing, whoring, Sodomy, and all manner of un- cleannefs. I leave my teftimony againft all indifFerency and lukewarm neutrality in our Lord's matters. I leave my teftimony againft the indulgences firft and laft, as having a greater hand in breaking of the church of Scotland, nor all the enemies living in it could have done ; for they fold their Mailer's truths, and give away their pleafant things with their own hands, and fo came in under Charles Stuart, and took him for their head, and have caft off their rightful head Jefus Chrift ; Eph. i. 22. And hath put ail things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church. Wo will be unto them for what they have done to the poor kirk cf Scotland. I leave my teftimony againft filent and unwatchful minifters. Remember, there are many taken aw r ay, and it is to be feared, in their iniquity ; and da ye think that ye are free of their blood ? Ye may look what warning ye have given, and if it be faithful ; then ye may fay, that ye are not guilty. But there is not a minifter this day, who dares fay, he is at his duty. They refufe to give counfel when aiked at, as I myfelf can witnefs ; for when that liberation was granted, I fent to one of them, and charged him, as I judged him faithful, to tell me his mind, which he refufed ; and faid, filence might ferve for an anfwer, I was not fuffering. for truth. But I heartily forgive him, and all men, what they have done to me, as for my own particular ; but how they have reproached Chrift and his way, k b not mine to forgive them. O the minifters of Scotland are become light and treacherous perfons, as well asrevolters; they are be- come ravening wolves ; fo I cannot fee, how they have not unminiftered themftives. If Abiathar was turned cut of the pri eft's office for leaving David, and following Adonijah^ how much mere ougjtf the minifters of Sect- of fames Stewart. 2 1 3 land, for leaving of him, who is the true Head of the church, and chilling Charles Stuart for their head ? It is not long fince they were preaching that to be fin, which they are now praclifing. I have no doubt, but ere long there ihall come out fire from Abimelech, and deftroy the men of Shechem, and fire from them, and devour him. And ere long Mr. Donald Cargil, and Mr. Rich- ard Cameron their names that now ftink among minifters and profeffors (hall have a fweet fmell ; and thefe that calumniate and afperfe them, their names fhall go away h a ftink, and fly away with a fmoke; but I am fure, that that now glorified martyr Mr. Donald Cargil, his name (hall laft from generation to generation ; and he fhall have cauie to rejoice in his King, Head and Mailer, who is Jefus Chrift ; when thofe who condemned him, (hall not know where to flee for fhelter, and mall be weary of their head, king and matter, who is Charles Stuart; and what brethren (difaffecled as they were) did caft up- on him as a fhame, was his glory and decorement. He was of a high heroic fpirit, and was free of a bafe and Si- monain carriage. He was a man hated of his brethren ; but the great Elijah in his time was fo. Time and tongue would fail me to fpeak to his commendation. He was the man who carried the ftandard, without the help of any vifible : but he had the help and affiitance of his Mailer, at whofe command he was ay wandering here hout refidence, yet knew of one above, and had fall aflurance of his dwelling-place. 1 leave my teftimony againft uplifting, or caufing up* lift cefs or excife, or any thing, for the maintaining that tyrant, or any of his emiflaries ; it being for nothing, but maintaining thefe ruffian troopers and foldiers, who are kept for nothing, but to fupprefs and bear down the gofpel, and banifh it out of the land. I leave my teftimony againft all declaration-takers and bonders, efpecially the taking that bond of liberation as they call it, of the date of Auguft f. 1680. as far as they were convinced it was fin, as fome of themfelvcs faid it was. I leave my tefti- mony againft that teft, and all the reft of their proceedings, and acls of parliament. I leave my teftimony againft jai- fee paying; it being an acknowledgment of their ty- ranny to be lawful, which how unjuft it is, 1 have a proof among others; for that night I was before York, aad the reft, being Oclober iji, j68i. I being examined 214 The lafl Speech and Tefiimony by Sir George M'Kenzie, York and Mr. William Pater- fon coming unto me, when I was filent, and would not aniwer to feme things they afked at me, he threatened to take out my tongue with a pair of pincers, if I would not : And he held him as a witnefs againfl me. And tho* I told him, that he was a judge the other night, and would ye hold him as a witnefs againil us before your judiciary ? yet they did it; which was neither according to law nor reafon. If there were no more but that one pafiage, it proves them to be unjuft judges, as there are many worfe than that is. I leave my tefiimony againft the mounting of militia, and uplifting of money for his fervice. I leave my teftimony againft every thing that may ftrengthen his hands ; or weaken the hands of the peo- ple of the Lord. Now, I defire you, as a dying man, who am within forty-eight hours, or little more, of eternity, to difown Charles Stuart to be your king and fovereign. I charge you to to do, as you would have peace with God; for I never knew what true peace was till I did it, and took Jefus Chrift for my king and lawgiver. This is not that I difown kings or kingly government, for I own both ; but when their actions are fuch as his are, and a cove- nanted king as he ~was, we cannot in confeience yield to him ; for he hath murdered the Lord's people our breth- ren : and when we acknowledge even his civil authority, I cannot fee what way we are clean of their blood, it be- ing by a fhadow of law and authority that he takes away their lives, and fo we cannot own him in that; and to own him in ecclefiaftic matters, I think there will be none fo abfurd, as to fay, we fhould do that, he having no- thing to do in church matters : he only received the fceptrein his hand, to be a hedge about, and to defend her againft all oppofition ; and now ye may fee how he hath deflroyed her, inftead of defending her. I give you it in fhort, and defire you to ponder and confider it, and ye will not find me fo mad, as many of you fay I am; for I am not prodigal of my life, neither have I a hand in my own death ; for I love my life as well as my neigh- bours, and it 16 as dear to me as any of yours is to you : but when it comes in competition with my Lord's truths, I dare not feek to fave my life with prejudice thereunto. Neither am I wearied of my life, tho* it. is true indeed, tliAjre is nothing here to be coveted, that is not enough of James Stewart. 2 1 5 to weary one, neither am I wearied of it ; therefore I charge you, that ye do not brand me with afperfious when I am gone. 1 leave my blood on all the afTizers, who after we had given in our proteftation againil: ail their proceedings, both in their council and judiciary, and told them, That it was for no action that we were fuffering, but only on the matters of conscience and judgment that we were panneled ; yet notwithilanding of our charging them with our blood, they moft unjuft- ly took away our lives. Do not think this flows from a fpirit of malice, fpite, bitternefs or revenge; for I defire to blefs the Lord, I am free of the fpirit of bitternefs or revenge : but they take away my life without and ag; any juft law ; I cannot get it pafTed. Do not think that . I am an enthufiaftic, and take on me a bare impulfe of the Spirit for a call to fuffer on, or the word as it li- terally, for a call ; for it is not lb ; I having defired and ufed fome endeavours, tho' it has been in great weaknefs I confefs ; yet I dare fay, in fome refpect, my defire to the Lord about it hath been fmcere, that he would help me to get his word and my own confcience confulted, . and try the word by the fpirit, and the fpirit by the word ; for it is but a dead letter without the fpirit. And Jikewife my blood is lying, and will be heavy on that popiih duke. And I will not fay but the Lord will y mit him to ufurp the crown of Scotland, but the blood that he hath got to welcome him home to it, and to ia- tisfy his own lull, will weigh him down from the throne; but indeed, I fear, that he get his defign drawn to a great length, and get the ark carried away, even to your ap- prehenfion, out of Scotland ; but remember the PhiJi- itines carrying away the ark, and the men of Kethlhe- mefh looking into it, how the Lord fmote them : and in I think, when they have got the kirk baniihed and de- ftroyed, and the witnefics all killed, when they will look on the church as carried clean away, and thereupon fliall turn fecure, will not the Lord be avenged on tlv. and charge them with all the blood they have fo hei- noufly fhed ? But indeed we have deferved no lefs than the Lord's leaving of this land, and to give them i the hands of our enemies : but as long as there is no ap- pearance of a better church in the whole world, ve need not fear that the Lord will enhance Scotland's ;ht of a church i the children 2 1 6 The lafl Speech and Teflhnony of Ifrael many a time to fall into, and \y under the hand of their enemies ; but he never foribok them altogether until there came a better in their place. Like wife m) blood is on all thefe parliamenters andcouncellors, thef< of the jufticiary, as they call it. Now, dear friends, I am going to eternity, ere it b< long, from whence I cannot return ; and as a dying man I give you warning, and bid you take heed what you an doing. Be tender of the glory of God, and take no un lawful gate to (hun fuffering, nor fmful fhifts to com< by the crofs. But when there is a crofs lying in th< way, fee that ye feek not to go about it ; and ventun upon fuffering before finning ; for he never fent any i warfare upon their own charges. If any knew the fweet- nefs of a prifon, they would not be fo afraid to enter up en fuifering ; ye would not join with the Lord's enemie: as ye are doing. O dear friends, take warning now for it is a queftion if ever ye get any more warnings o this kind : for it is a fad juncture that your lot and min< is fallen into ; but now I am going away home* O the Lord is kind to me, who hath honoured me fo high ly, and is alfo taking me away from the evil that is t( come : For, indeed I think, there are fad days abiding poor Scotland. O Sirs! be bufy, and venture all upor him, and put all in his hand ; and whatever you hav< been, let not that fear you ; if you have been a grea finner, I fay, let not that hinder you from coming t< him, and clofmg with him; for the greater finner yoi be, the more free grace is magnified in reclaiming you I may fpeak this from my own experience ; for I was as ; brand plucked out" of the fire : and he hath brought m> thro' many difficulties, temptations and fnares, and mad« my foul efcape as a bird out of the cunning fowler's net and brought me to a prifon at length, to fuifer bond for him. He made all things fweet to me, the compan; fweet to me, even bad company; he made reproache fweet. I have been made to wonder at his kindnefs anc love to me-ward ; and now he hath brought me thi length, without being feared what enemies can do to me and that is a great confirmation to me of true love, tha perfect love calls out fear. Now, he is faithful int< whofe hands I commit my fpirit and foul, and he wil k^tp it againft that day. Now when I am going, farewel all friends and chrifti* of Robert Gray. 2 1 7 an acquaintances ; farewel fweet and holy- Scriptures, wherewith my foul hath been refrefhed ; farewel read- ing, finging and praying ; farewel tweet meditation ; farewel fun, moon and liars ; farewel ail created com- forts. Welcome death; welcome fweet gallows, for my fweet and lovely Lord ; welcome angeis ; welcome fpirits of juft men made perfect ; welcome eternity ; wel- come praifes ; welcome immediate vificn of the Sun of righteoufnefs. Sicfubfcribitur, JAMES STEWART. THere fuffered alio at the fame time and place, one Alexander Ruflel, whofe teftimony differing nothing in fubilance from the rett, and being in fome tilings not very conveniently exprefTed, it is not thought necelfary to be publiihed at large ; only thefe heads in it are re- markable. Firfi, He declares, That for the fpace of fourteen years, while he heard the curates, he was a perfon given to all manner of licentioufnefs keeping com- pany with the profane ; drinking, fwearing, fabbath- breaking, and reproaching the people of God. 2^7)', That the firft field-preaching ever he heard, to which he went merely out of curioiity, it pleafed the Lord to convert him. $dfy, That the means of his being called out to the help of the Lord's people at Bothwel, was the death of three of his children within ten days fpace, which ex- traordinary providence impreifed his heart fo, that he durft not fit God's call to that work. 4///)', He confefT- ed his having taken the bond for living orderly (as it was called) and with great remorfe acknowledges his failings, in chat he took not opportunity to confers that fin pub- licly. All the other heads do coincide with the teftimo- nies of the other four who fuffered with him. The lajl tefiimony ^/ROBERT GRAY in X art hum- berland, ivko fuffered for the truth , in the Grafs-market of Edinburgh, May \y. 1682. His Interrogations by a committee of the Council^ .!//> 13. ROBERT GRAY being called before the chan- cellor, and a committee of council, appointed for public affairs, and interrogate, Ifhck. hn Ander- fon prifoner at Dumfries ? He declared, he did not know him, but had writ a letter to him ; and that letter being T i 1 8 The laft Speech and Tejlimony produced to him, he owned the fame, as he teftified un- der his hand write and fubfcription, at the end thereof. And being afeed, If he thought of the king and govern- ment, as is exprefled in that letter ? He faid, he did, and he owned that in his judgment. And being afked, If he thought the king a tyrant ? He faid, He had written fo, and owned it, and that he wrote this letter to John An- derfon, as his duty to his brother. Follows tke fore faid letter, which . 12. Would ye not feek a bleffing if at meat? A. If ye were prefent ye would fee. One of them faid, Thefe principles will condemn you. I an- fwered, If I be abfolved of God, it is the lefs matter though men condemn me. Thelaft Tejlimony 5 /JAMES ROBERTSON. Dear friends, true lovers of ' Z ion's righteous caufe y IF I could fpeak or write any thing to the commenda- tion of the covenanted God of the church and king- dom of Scotland ; I have furely many things to do it 1/?, That he tryfted my lot to be in a nation where hath fet up his pure worfhip, whereas he might have letten my lot be among the Pagans and heathen nations that know nothing of the true God. Or, idly, He might have ordered it to be among thefe that are wor- fhiping Antichrift, that whore of Rome, that mon^rou- beaft, that ■ fitteth upon many waters;' whofe fente may be read, Rev. xiv. 9. < And the third angel follow- ■ ed them, faying with a loud voice, If any man wor- ' fliip the beaft and his image, and receive his mark in ' his forehead, or in his hand/ ver. 10. ■ The fame ihall " drink of the wine of the wrath of God. which is pour- • ed out without mixture, into the cur indignati- 4 on ; and he ihall be tormented with i: • i:i the prefence of his holy angels, and in the prefence 1 of the Lamb; ver. 11. ■ And the fmoke of their tor- « ment afcendeth up for ever and ever: and they have 4 no reft day nor night, who worfhip i hi- 1 image, and whomever receive th the mai • name.' Sec. So that it is as i God is Cod, and the holy fcriptu.vs are hi ) which all men that have heard or feen it, ihall be judged, havi the fentencc of abfolution o mnattoi rd- ing thereto.. Rom. ii. 12. ■ For as many a • without law, fhall alfo pel ithout law; a J many as have finned in t" be jud 230 The laft Speech and Tejllmony e the law.' So that it is clear, that the firft will furely perifh, viz. All infidels, Atheifts, and Pagans, that know not the true God, nor his law. And as ?nany as have Jimied in the /aw, Jl?all be judged by the /aiv, &c. So that whatever vain hopes Papifts may have of being fav- ed, living and dying Papifts, or whatever charity loofe Proteftants have upon that account to give them, they are as far from being faved in that unconverted conditi- on, as devils which are eternally cafl: out of his prefence. $d/y, I have him to blefs for this, that, my lot is not in and among the corrupt Proteftant churches abroad, Lutheranifm, and other corruptions and abounding er- rors, both in doctrine, worfhip, difcipline, and govern- ment, fectarian, epifcopal, or eraftian ; but in the re- formed church of Scotland, where all thefe things have been caft over the hedge, as not plants of his planting; and where Chrift hath been owned in all his three offi- ces, King, Prieft, and Prophet ; tho* alas ! he may fay of us, in a great meafure, as to the church of Ifrael of old, ' I have planted her a noble vine, but how is fhe ■ become a degenerate plant of a Orange vine unto me !* In that day of planting, we could have fung that fong, Ifa. xxvi. 1. — ■ We have a ftrong city, falvation will * God appoint her for walls and bulwarks/ &c. Lam. iv. 11. * The Lord hath accomplished his fury, he hath c poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in ! Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.' vci\ 12. * The kings of the earth, and all the inhabi- ' tants of the world, would not have believed that the f adverfary and the enemy fhould have entered into the c gates of Jerufalem.' ver. 13. * For the fins of her ' prophets, and the iniquities of her priefts, that have c fhed the blood of the juft in the midft of her :' ver. 14. * They have wandered like blind men in the ftreets, they € have polluted themfelves with blood, fo that men € could not touch their garments,' &c. This may be our regrete before God, as it is in the feventh verfe here in tins chapter, ■ Her Nazarites were purer than fnow, * they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in 1 body than rubies, their polifhing was of fapphire.' ver. 8. * Their vifage is blacker than a. coal, they * are not known in the ftreets ; their fkin cleaveth to ■ their bones; it is withered, it is become like a flick ;' &c. And O ! how unnatural like were it for the mo- of panics Robert/on. 231 thef to let her child, the fon of her womb, perlfh for lack of the breails ; were fhe free of the child's blood, it perilhing for want of its natural food i And O ! hew many are this day perifhing for want of the lively preach- ed gofpel ; ver. 3. ' Even the fea monflers draw out the * breails, they give fuck to the young ones; the daugh- * ters of my people are become cruel like the oftriches in « the wildernefs.' qthly, I have him to blefs for this, that I am not this day fighting againil him in an open war ; and fo bearing arms againil him, his work and people, for there is no more in me as of myfelf, than thefe that are deeplieft imbruing their hands in the blood of the faints. $thly, I have him to blefs for this, that ever he hath opened my eyes to fee the myftery of iniquity that abounds and hath its feat in the heart, and alio in fome meafure hath given me a fight of the remedy in the blood of Jefus Chriit, with his Spirit engaging me to himfelf, letting me fee himfelf to be altogether precious, making me fee that it is better to be a door-keeper in the houfe of Cody than to dwell in the tabernacles of Jin : Pfal. lxxiii. 24. Thou /halt guide me with thy counfel 9 and afterward receive me to glory, Ver, 25. Whom have 1 in heaven hut thee ? and there is none upon earth tl>at I defire befides thee. 6thly, I have his holy name to blefs, that ever he made me to know any thing, how fmall foever, of his contro- verted truth, viz. The privileges of his crown and king- dom, now when by their acta and laws they have taken his crown and fceptre, and royal robe, and fettled the whole government of his houfe upon a man that is but a worm : But this I believe, his decree will Hand, oppofe it who will; Pfal. ii. 6. Vet haze I fet ??iy king upon ??:y holy hill of Zion, &C. Ifa. xlii. 8. I am the Lord, that is my name, my glory will I not give to another , nor my praife to graven images, &c. Now, is not that his declarative glory, which that ufurper hath taken to himfelf? yea, he that leadeth captivity captive, according to his royal word, will reclaim his own glory ; he it is alone that hath given Chrifl to be the Aire foundation whereon all the building is fitly framed : * That (lone which the ' builders rejected is made the head of the corner.' Ifa. xxviii. 16. ■ Thus faith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in 1 Zion for a foundation, a (lone, a tried (tone, a precious 4 corner (lone, a lure foundation : he that believeth, (hall * not make hafte.' Ver. 17. « Judg.ncnt alfo will 1 lay to U 2 232 The lajl Speech and Tejlimony * the line, and righteoufnefs to the plummet, and the hail * ihall fvveep away the refuge of lies, and the waters fhall * overflow the hiding place. ■ fthly, I blefs and magnify the holy name of my God, that hath called me to be a fnfferer for his work and intereft, counting it not my fhame, but a high privilege and dignifying of me, when many famous in this generation have been denied of it,, though indeed moil of this generation have brought up an ill report upon the crofs, endeavouring by their prac- tice to render it of none effect ; but I have this fcripture for my encouragement, 1 pet. iii. 13. 14. 15.16. 17. jlnd who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good ? &c. Sthly, I have this great and glorious 3 : rince to praiie for thb ; and O ! let all the true chil- dren of Zion laud and praiie this only praife- worthy God, that hath not only called me to bear witnefs to the truth, but hath helped me not to deny his name, titles and at- tributes ; for that is the thing that the enemies and u- iurpers of my lovely Lord's crown are feeking, to deny allegiance to him, who is giver; of the Father ta> be a leader and commander to the people, even he, on whofe fhculders the government is laid, committing the ordering of his houfe to faithful ftewards, to order his affairs according to his own appointment in his holy word, and hath not left it to the prudence of men, how learned foever. Ga- maliel that learned Pharifee and doctor of the law, err- ed in the expofiuon of the law, not knowing Chrift to be the end of the law for right eoufnefs to every one that helieveth. And feeing thefe great learned rabbies erred every one in that which was the great and main end of the law, viz. Chrift, to whom Mofct and all the prophets bear witnefsy new much more fhall they err where it is left to their own wifdom, having no plat-form to walk by, as the maintainers of the prelatic hierarchy would be at. So- lomon was as wife as any, yea the wifeft man that ever was, or ever ihall be, and he erred, having the rule of the law to walk by : Were not all the laws and forms of the houfe given by God to Mcfes, as well for manner of worfhip, as the matter thereof? And further, as to that which is fo much pleaded for l>y this generation, his authority in civil matters, which as matters now ftand, cannot be given, neither will they have it without the other : for by their acts of parliament they have made them equally efiential to the crown: of fames Robert/on 2%f Likewife there cannot be an authority without a founda- tion. If any fhall fay, He hath it from that which he received at his admiffion to the government, as he enter- ed upon the terms of the coronation oath. To this I anfwer, He hath refcinded that, in and by that ad re- fcifTory in his firft parliament; for when he annulled and refcinded that, from which he had his power and autho- rity, he thereby refcinded his own authority alio : So that from this he hath no juft power, having oftener than once burnt the covenants, which were his coronation oath, without which he could not enter the government. If it fhall be faid 3 That the foundation of his power is built upon the teft, wherein he i3 made abfolute fupreme judge, over all matters and perfons, as well ecclefiafti- cal as civil : That is fo far from giving him a right, that it maketh him a complete monfter, having one head and two bodies ; and if that authority fhould be owned- by me, being a free-born member of the church of Scot- land, which is (Thrift's myftica.1 body, and in my bap- tifmal oath given away to him, and having given my oath of allegiance to him as King and head of his own houfe ; fhall I own that authority, without being guilty of leefe-majefty a gain ft the King of Zion ; and fo of the higheft degree of facrilege ? 2dly* I fhall thereby deny my allegiance to God Creator, under whom the magi- ftrate fhould rule in a direcl line ; he ruling by his own arbitriment, which is contrary to our obligations in co- venant, we being bound in covenant to defend the civil rights and liberties of the crown and kingdom, as we are born fubjecls thereof. 3 J/y, That which they have done in condemning the true fons of the church, and fubjedbs of the kingdom, to death, which is open mur- der under the colour of law: Now that it is fuch, thefe whom they have proceeded againft, being adherers to the word of God, which is the only rule of faith and manners, owning God as God, (Thrift as Redeemer, the Holy Ghoft as Sanctifier; and they having nothing to charge them with, but their adherence to the true L'hn- flian principles, and they fentenced upon the fanae heads; this muft be the deepell of murder. ^tbly^Tht g own- ers of the true reformed religion, and all the fundamen- tal laws of the church and kingdom; and they refilling to judge and fentence according to the word of God, cording to which all fentences of life b ought U 3 2.34 The la ft Speech and Tejlbnony pals, as alfo refufmg to judge according to the laws, a? they received them at their admiffion to the government ; which was, not to rule the la,w, but it to rule them, and they to rule the people according to that law, and the peo- ple remaining in fubjection to the law of God, and the ancient and fundamental laws of the land, and the per- sons of lawful governors, being made treafon ; this mud certainly not only be a murdering of men, yea, true Chri- Irian men, but alfo a murdering of juftice. And thus the land is defiled with blood. Read the fentence of fuch, Num. xxxv. gg. So ye JJiall not pollute the land nvherein ye are ; for blood it defiletb the land ; and the land cannot be cleanfed of the blood that is JJ?ed therein, .but by the blood of him tkatfloed it. Such as are owning and pleading, for this prefent power, let the end of magiilracy be con- fidered, Rom. xiii. 3. c For rulers are not a terror to- * good works, but to the evil ; wilt thou not then be afraid c of the power ? do that which is good, and thou lhalt * have praife of the fame.' ver. 6. ' For this caufe pay you: ' tribute alfo ; for they are God's miniders, attending. * continually upon this very thing.' 1 Pet. ii. 14. < Or un- * to governors, as unto them that are fent by him, for the * punilhment of evil doers, and for the praife of them « that do well.' Now, it is undeniably evident from what is aforefaid, that piety is fuppreffed, and iniquity nourifhed, and the fword in their hand ufed againft thefe that do moft en- tirely cleave to the Scripture rule, and the fworn prin- ciples of the church of Scotland, and the ancient funda- mental laws thereof. Prov. xx. 8. A king that Jit teth on the. throne of judgment, fcattereth anuay all iniquity ivith his eyes, &c. Now I dare herein appeal to the fentence ofallfingle, unbyaffed, and. judicious perfons, whether or not the prefent exercife of their power be not both in- juftice and' tyranny, for there is no public power in the land, but what is founded on perjury, facrilege and ty- ranny, and exercifed according thereto. And feeing it is fo, ye that, are owners of fuch a power, ye muft needs be upon the matter, owners of all thefe ; compearing be- fore their courts, and paying them tribute, placing ad- vocates, and pleading your caufe before fuch unjuft ]\\d- ges : and more efpecially fuch as are prifoncrs for the truths of the gofpel, and fo ought to witnefs a good con- &{Hon for his trampled-upon truths, who was not afham^ cf parties Robertfon, 235* ed to witnefs a good confefllon before Pontius Pilate, to v. it, that he was a King ; John xviii. 37. Pilate therefore fald unto him, Art thou a king then? Jefus anjhvered, Thou fay eft that I am a king. To this end was I born , &c. Now, ye who are charging me this day, and other* of my brethren r fuiferers for truth, to be guilty of felf- rnurder, and f o a breach of the fixth commaadment^ which is very falfe, for felf- prefer vation muft (loop to truth's preservation. Did our bleffed Lord eftabliih an advocate to plead for him ? Did that valiant champion Stephen do it ? But was free and pofitive in averting his teftimony. Or did Paul do it ? Or fhew me any fuch precept or practice from Scripture? Yea, confider the na- ture of witneflmg, it proveth the contrary. But I prove fuch as do this to be actually guilty of the breach of the fecond commandment, which is, that Thouft?alt not make unto thy felf any graven image, Exod. xx. 4. For as I have proved before, he is fet up in Chrift's room, and exercif- cth authority in and by that abominable arrogate fu- premacy, and having intermixed things civil and eccle- fiaftic, by their acts of parliament, making them both alike inherent to the crown ; and fo cannot be owned in neither without facrilegious idolatry, and fo a breach of this commandment ; as alio cf the fifth commandment, which concerneth natural and civil parents, which are to be owned and obeyed only in the Lord, which cannot in the lead allow of any man's being abfolutely fupreme, even in civil matters, it being the ordinance of God, and a lawful magiftrate the minifter of God, bound to dif- penfe his ordinance, according to the rule in the word, and according to the ancienr laws of the kingdom : For in the obeying of lawful power, it is obedience to this commandment : fo upon the contrary, the owning and obeying an unlawful power, (fuch as theirs) certainly muft be a breach of it. And can any deny that to be an owning of them, to eftablifh one of the members of their court, to plead for no other effect, but to hale men out of the true principles and practices of the true reformed church of Scotland , when the pannel is called by his lot, to witnefs for them and give a confefllon thereof, before fuch an evil and adulterous generation, theft being Chrift's truths queftioned ; and truth is himielf, I am the way, the truth, and the life, &C. If any (houJd object, aad lay, they are imall things. To this I aniwer, No 2 3 6 The lafl Speech and Tejlimony truth is fmall. Luke. xvi. io. He that is faithful in that nvhich is leaf, is faithful /z/fo in much ; and he that is unjuft in the leaf, is unjuft alfo in much, &c. And fuch as are fupp Heating the enemies, are guilty here ; for a fuppli- cation ought not, nor can be given in, but to a lawful power, and for a lawful thing, ^dly. Such are guilty,, who are coming out of prifon upon bond and caution, binding themfelves to compear before their judicatories, at fuch a particular time, or at demand ; for we ought not to bind to compear or anfwer before a judicatory, but a lawful one, fuch as theirs is not ; io that fuch are actually guilty, but efpecially fuch who formerly joined in declining them. This generation feems to be a generation in a great meafure, given up to work all manner of wickednefs with greedinefs, confidering what profanity and robbing of God, mocking him and religion, inftability, and the giving away his and the church's due: Mai. iii. 7. * Even from the days of your fathers, ye are gone away 1 from mine ordinances, and have not kept them : return * unto me, and I will return unto you, faith the Lord 1 of hofts : But ye faid, Wherein fhall we return?' ver. * 8. Will a man rob God ? Yet ye have robbed me : But * ye fay, Wherein have we robbed thee ? In tithes and * offerings.' ver. 9. * Ye are curled with a curfe; for ye * have robbed me, even this whole nation,' &c. 1 am not to take upon me to fpeak any thing for future times, but this generation feems to have the marks and evidences of a generation of his wrath ; fitted for judgment and deftruction. Take thefe Scriptures as an evidence, Micah vi. 16. For theftatutes ofOmri are kept. Ifa. xxiv. 1.2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Behold the Lord jnaketh the earth empty, &c. Now read Ifrael's fins here, and compare them with Scot- land's fms, and fee if they be not parallel : And feeing it is fo, what can be expected, but the punifhments and. plagues fhall be parallel alio. I cannot make the thoughts of this oif my fpirit, but that there is a fourfold ven- geance to be poured out upon this land. Fir/?, The vengeance of God, for the intrulions on, and ufurpations ©f his fword, crown, fceptre and robe royal, idly, A temple-vengeance, which is not a fmall one, for the lay- ing his fancluary deibiate. $dly, A gofpel-vengeance, \'u. for the flighting of the great and rich offer of Chrift and falvation offered in fuch purity and plenty. %thlx. A of %ames Bobertjl- 237 covenant-vengeance, for the great perjury and apoftacy in the breach of, and falling from the proiecuting the ends of theie covenants; which the Lord highly honour- ed this land with, to bring it into covenant with himfelf, and make it Hephzibah and Beulah unto him, Ifa. xx-xiv. 5.6. 7. ' For my fword lhall be bathed in feea- • ven, it lhall come down upon Idumea, and upon the 1 people cf my curfe to judgment,' &c. Jer. xxii. 6. 7. 8. 9. ' For thus faith the Lord unto the king's houfe of * Judah, Thou art Gilead unto me, and the head of Le- 4 banon ; yet furely I will make thee a wildernefs, and 4 cities which are not inhabited,' &c. This land hath Dot only departed from God, in and by their own Cms, in refufing the rich offer of the gofpel ; and breach of covenant; but have homologate that broken and defp:.'- ed idol's fin, that hath overturned the work of re- formation, by their owning of him now, when he hath taken the whole privileges cf Chrift's crown and king- dom to himfelf. And this I am perfwaded of, that if there be a family in the Chriftian world, that comes un- der Amalek's curie, viz. With whom he will have war for ever ; it is that family, called the Royal Family ; whom, I think, God is about to fweep off the throne, fo th.u no root thereof (hall be left to exercife in the government, lfa. xl. 23. 24. That hringeth the princes to nothing; h? tnaketh the judges of the earth as vanity, &c. Now, as to the articles of my indictment, whereon my fentence of death is founded, is, FirJ} 9 The owning and maintaining, that it was lawful to rile in arms at Pentland and Bothwel-bridge : Which I did with great chearfulnefs and boldnefs, they being in their own de- fence, and in the defence of the gofpel ; and took that article for proof in the ConfefTion of Faith, that they have given out to be the confeflion of their own faith, profefling to build that abominable and ridiculous teft upon ; which fhews, that they are ill builders, the building being fo far off the foundation. But 1 refer you to the draught of a paper, which I drew as my tef- timony againft that teft ; which with the confent and advice of others, was affixed on the pari th kirk door of Stonehoufe : And I am of the mind, that this proof, as it did enrage them, being like a wild bull caught in their e%vn net ; fo it did give them no fmall damp. A fecond was, fpeaking treafon (as they call it) and 238 The laft Speech and Teft fawny declining their authority, which confifteth in this Firft, when afked, If their king, or rather their idol. were a tyrant ? I referred it to his obligations in his co- ronation oath, to be confidered with his prefent actings and practices, with his uiurpations upon the privileges cf the church, and prerogatives royal of Jefus Chrift, •who is the anointed of the Father : and the refufing to fay, (God fave the king) which we find was the order that was ufed in and among the children of Ifrael, at ths king's anointing to that office ; and ufed in our own na- tion at the coronation. Now, this being only due to a lawful king, ought not to-be given but to a lawful king, and fo not to him, being a degenerate tyrant : For if I fhould, I thereby had faid Amen to all that he hath done againft the church and liberties thereof, and to all his oppreftion by unlawful exactions, and railing of ar- mies, for no other effect, but to deprive us of the hear- ing of the gofpel, and troubling or molefting the fubjects, both in their confciences and external liberties, and alfo their blood-lhed and murders made upon the people oi God, and free fubjects of the kingdom ; and fo hid him Cod /peed, contrary to that in the Second Epiftle of John, 10 verfe. And feeing it cannot be given to any that have thus ufed their power to a wrong end, in fuch a meafure and manner ; fo much lefs, when they have fet him up as an idol, in the room of God Incarnate. And fhlll I pray, To blefs that man in his perfon and go- vernment, which God hath curfed ? For it cannot be ex- pected, but that he (hall be curfed, that thus venturoth upon the thick boffes of the buckler of God Almighty. Now, I fhall here give in fhort, an account of my principles, which I- fhall do, as in the fight of an all- fee- ing God. viz I am a true Chrift ian, truly anti-popifh, anti-prelatic, anti-fectarian, anti-fchifmatic, anti-eradi- an, a true Prefbyterian, owning the true proteftant re- ligion, now owned and profeffed by the poor wreftling and fuffering remnant in Scotland : And whatever men have faid, or may fay of me, I have lived, and now I die thus. Wherefore in the firft place, I give teftimony to the truth, fulrtefs and authority of the Scriptures ; and to all the truths contained therein, and warrantable there- from. 2dly y I bear my teitimony to the way of falvation thro' Jefus Chrift ; and that by his fatisfaction the moral of jfames Robert/on. 239 law was not abrogated, but fulfilled : And that the moral law is as binding on the Chriftian truly interefted in him, this day, as it was that day that it was given to the children of Urael ; only the condemnatory fentence thereof loofed to all fuch as are believers indeed, $d!y y I bear my teftimony to the work of reformation, as it was reformed from Popery, Prelacy, Eraftianifm, and other errors; as it is contained in the Confeffion of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechifms, Covenants National and Solemn League, Solemn Acknowledgment of Sins and Engagement to Duties, the Sum of Saving Knowledge, Directory for Worthip, the Caufes of God's Wrath, drawn up by the general aiTembly of this church, after the evil in. meddling with that rotten hearted malignant Charles Stuart was feen. qtbly, I bear my tefiimony to the faithful actings of the remonftrators againft malig- nants and the malignant interefts, which are the Tery things this day contended for, by the true Prefbyter of the Church of Scotland. $thly, I bear my teftimoriy (not to go further back, feeing it homologates the reft) to that noble teftimony given at Lanerk, againft that tyrant, and the teft enacted by the late parliament; which I could not but look upon, in the time of the car- rying on of it, and yet doth, that the remnant was there- in owned of the Lord. 6t/?/y, I bear my tefiimony to all the faithful teftimonies of the martyrs that have gore before us, on fcaffolds, in the fields, or in the leas. Jthly, I bear my teftimony to all the appearances in arms, for the defence of the gofpel. 8//>/v, I bear my teftimo- ay to the faithful manner of the delivery of the gofpel, that hath been in the open fields, by the faithful and Pent fervants of Jefus Chrift, exercifing according to his Dwn commiftion ; preaching days, communion days, and fafts ; particularly one holden at Auchingilloch by three ■Snifters, two of them now glorified, viz, Mr. Donald Cargil and Mr. Richard Cameron; where the land's guilt was freely and faithfully diicovered. c//7y, and ■qfi/y, I bear my teftimony to the fellowfhip-meetings of the Lord's people particular and general, and my I hath many a time been refreshed in them. Like wife 011 the other hand, I leave my teftimony a- [^ainft the public resolutions for taking in that malignant intercft; for which this poor church is this day in: an jnd feeling the weight of that tyrant's hand, for fi *>4° The lafl Speech and Teftimony eager hiding after a king. 2d!y, I leave my teftimony againft Hamilton declaration, which is one and the fame thing with the refolutions. ( i.) For taking in the fore- faid intereft, contrary to the land's engagements in cove- nant. (2,) For corrupting the army. But my mind more fully of this, with feveral other things, fuch as the excommunication, tyrant's intereft, cefs and locality, is more fully expreffed in a paper, intituled, Some few grievance;, fet donnn by way of query ; which was occaiion- ed by a minifter being preaching near the place of my refidence, and fome faifely accufing me for cafting at minifters, and fo at miniftry : and to mew that my not hearing was not from any fchifmatical defign, but of con- science of duty, judging him deficient and faulty, in not being faithful. I therefore drew my grievances to be prefented; and referreth to this and the forementioned paper, as a part of my teftimony againft the wrongs don* to a holy God in this backfliding age. JdJJpj I leave my teftimony againft ail unfaithfulness in minifters. (1.) For their dark and ambiguous manner of preaching, in not giving free, full and faithful warning of the duty and dangers of our day. (?,.) They either altogether leaving off preaching, as if feeming and apparent hazard loofed them from that command, which is td preach in feafon and out of feafon, &c. Or turning the edge of their doclrine againft the moft faithful in the land, and taking the faults and failings of the faints il Scripture, to defend them in their finful, defective, con* niving and complying courfes ; which is a wrefting oi the Scripture, for thefe are fet down for our admoniti- on, not to fplit upon fuch rocks. And O ! how many profeffors are guilty alfo in this matter, they cannot de- ny it to be a fault, viz. fuch and fuch things ; yet they cannot ftate their fuiTerings on them. Now undeniably, this is a prefumptuous finning, venturing upon it, becauft God is merciful; this is a daring of him to his face. Surely David was not of this mind of it, Pfal. xix. 12, • Who can underftand his errors, cleanfe thou me from 4 fecret faults.' ver. 13. * Keep back thy fervant alfo • from prefumptuous fins, let them not have dominion 0- ' ver me/ fee. Numb. xv. 30. * But the foul that doth • ought prefumptuoufly, whether he be born in the land, ' or a ftranger, the fame reproacheth the Lord, and 4 that foul fhall be cut off from his people.' qtbly, I of fames Robert/on. 241 give my teftimony againft that eraftian indulgence, and inch as join with them, becaufe they entered not by the right door, but by the order of the ufurper, whereas Chrift is the only door, Johnx. 1. But this I will fay, that thofe who will not, nor dare not take that ufurper 's portion, left they be defiled thereby, their count eliarux fnall outjhine the ether, and be fatter and fairer in the day when they are to he proved before the king, Dan. i. i 5. qthly, I give my teftimony againft all the hearers of thefe abominable tefted curates throughout the land ; fc in particular againft the corner of that land, viz. Kilmar- nock and the country thereabout, where I was appre- hended, which I was then perfwaded of, and yet am, that it was fo ordered, that 1 might in particular wit* nefs againft them for their compearing at courts, fub- fcribing bonds, paying fines, which includeth in it an acknowledgment of a fault, building that which former- ly they did deftroy, and deftroying that which formerly they builded, and that according to God's word; and .thefe who formerly were leaders in the way of truth, elders and old profeffbrs, are now as active by example and advice in the prcfent courfe, and fo are a (tumbling block to others. Offences mujl come, hut wo to them Ly 'whom they come ; better it were, that a milflone were hanged a* bout their necks, and they were caft into the midfl of the / O that ye who have formerly known the way of truth, would ftudy more (lability, and let not your liberty be- come a (tumbling block to others. 6thly } I bear my tcf- timony againft all profanity and profane perfons, againft all Atheifm, and Athiefts practical and profefied ; not only fuch as deny the true God by profeiiion, but even fuch as do it by practice, belying their profeflion : A- gainft all enthuiiafm and enthufiafts, altho' thefe black- mouthed Eraftian writers, are pleafed to call the way ! that is now followed by the poor remnant, fuch ; yet my , endeavours have always been to be both cleared in mat- , ters of truth and practice, according to the word and r Spirit. But this I think, that the 1 ord is about tc let this generation ftumble, fall, and break their necks up- on their own carnal wifdom, and each of them upon a- QOther: But mind this, That the world by wifdom knew not God; for itfeems, it is the nothings of this age, that he will make ufe of: Out of the mouths of babes and f ink- lings he will per f eft his praife. X 242 The laft Speech and Te/limony Now, I would fpeak in fhort to three forts : 1/?, You that are flrangers and enemies to this lovely Lord, let your eftrangement be done away ; break off your fins by repentance ; confider the hazard you are in, even of eter- nal wrath and fcorching hell fire for ever. O this con- descending love of God, that is laid out in this manner ! O ye that are enemies to his intereft and people, mind that juftice, even wrathful juftice, is ready to be poured out upon you ! O therefore come off! repent and turn in unto this fo favourable and merciful a God : leave off your perfecution, come unto him, there is mercy 'with him that he may he feared ; and if ye will not return, then his wrath will be upon you to all eternity. 2dly, Ye that have fometimes known what it was to be in God's favour, and had much love and tendernefs for him, his work and intereft, caufe and covenant, as it was reformed in this land, and now are fallen from your firft love, O endea-^ vour to have in mind the love of your efpoufals, when ye and Chrift were hand-fafted : O confider aright what a great difference there is between your love, faith, zeal, tendernefs now, in regard of what it was. Therefore take a right look of matters, and weigh them aright in the balance of the fancluary, both as to your own parti- cular cafe, and the cafe of his church; and turn to him with fpeed-y and unfeigned repentance; for he that turns afide to crooked ways, Jhall be led forth 'with the workers of iniquity. O therefore turn in time, left 'repentance be\ hid from your eyes. O ! as ye love the glory of God, the* good of your own fouls, and the advantage of the church, if fuch an one as I may be fo bold as to invite^ you, now going out of time into eternity ; as ye would not be partakers of the plagues that are to come upon fuch a generation, come off with fpeed. 3 dly 9 You that, are in good terms with God, and helped to keep by his way, break not your peace by turning afide to crooked' ways, entertain love, keep and hold fait your integrity, in this day, when many have broken the bargain with him, now when the language of many is this, Thefe are- hard flyings, who can hear them ? And now, that this is his language to you, Will ye alfo leave me? O ! let this be the language of every ingenuous foul, To whom Jhall :■ P for thou haf the words of eternal life. Make lure falvation to yourfelves, thereby ye mail be the more fit jto follow him in this day, when he is calling forth hi» of parties Robert/on. 243 red flag, and marching. Many follow him when the white flag of peace is flourifliing ; but they are ill wor- thy of the fweet, who will not take part with him in &c bittereil and fliarpeit. fufFerings ; for what is the grease r of fufFerings that can come from man, coming upon his account, in regard of what he fuiFered for us, even the heavy wrath of God, which would have preft us down to the pit through all eternity : and may not the con deration of this oblige you ? I can fpeak it to his com- mendation, that he can make the crofs light and eafy, for he will bear it and you both. And feeing everlafting arms are underneath, have you not ground to expect that he will not let his own arm be crufhed. He can draw the crofs all with rofes. I dare not fay that ever I met with a crofs ; for when the (trait hath been greateft, then he kythed his kindnefs moft. O the rich manifeftations that he giveth to the foul under the crofs J Yea, it is all paved with love. Who would not go thro' a fea of bloody fuf- ferings with him and for him ? He is the rofe of Sharon, and the lily of the v allies ; he is fair and ruddy, the chief a?nong ten thoufand of thoufands : O ! who can defcribe him ? He is the only precious object, altogether lovely. If he were feen and known, who would not love him ? he is both lovely and loving. The foul may folace itfelf in him, under the greateft of ftraits. Now, ye that have received him, walk worthy of him. ! who knows what is in love ? 1 John iv. 17. Herein is our love ??iade perfeel, that and I fear is, a fpiritual pride, as well as a na- tural. Carry fuitably to thefe who are without, and to them that are within. Endeavour to have an union in the Lord obtained, and entertained. Mix not the fire of true zeal with the wild fparks of carnal paflion ; but let meeknefs of fpirit, with a chriftian, godly and faith- ful converfation, adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour* The breakings of the remnant, I may warrantably fay*, have lyen heavier upon my fpirit, ,than all that I have, met with from the enemy. And if ye will not get to-J gether, wrath will be upon you. O ! for that day, when they fhall be made ■ one (lick in his hand,/ when it (halo be as in Ifa. xi. 13. i The envy of Ephraim alfo (hall de- * part, and the adverfaries of Judah fhall be cut off: * Ephraim fhall not envy Judah, and Judah (hall not vex « Ephraim.' Ver. 1 4. ■ But they (hall flee upon the fhoul- < ders of the Philiftines towards the weft, and they (hall * fpoil them of the eaft together/ &c. And that fcrip- ture, ' Suffer not fin. upon thy brother's foul, but in any 1 wife reprove him.' Seek to reclaim them that are fal- len : ' Ye that are fpiritual, reftore fuch an one in the * fpirit of meeknefs.' Follow a gofpel method, beware of felf-feeking, < And let him that thinketh he ftandeth, ' take heed lefthe fall,' &c. I am not here fpeaking to thefe that are going on in homologating thefe God-pro* of James Robert/on. 2 Decem- ber 15. 1682. Men and brethren, S Hewing you that I am condemned unjuftly by a ge- i neraiion of bloody men,, who is thirfting after the- of %ohn Finlay. 247 Wood of the faints of God, and upon no other account,. but for my being found in the way of my duty in the light of God ; glory to his holy name for it, tho' gone about with many failings, much imperfections, for ad» hering to Chrift and ail his offices, as Prophet, Prieft, and King ; and for my following him in all his perfe- cuted gofpel truths. The articles of my indictment, were for, 1/?, My keeping company with the perfecuted people of God, minifters and others, for which, with my whole foul, I blefs him that ever he honoured me with fuch company ; and in token of his countenance he hath kept me in that company, idly, For my being in company and converfe with Mr. Donald Cargil ; (for which, with my whole foul, I deiire to blefs and mag- nify the riches of his grace, that ever he conferred fuch company upon fuch a finful wretch) and Mr. King, Mr. Richard Cameron, Mr. Kid, in particular. $d/y 9 My refufing to call the bifhop's death murder, which I durft not do, it being God's righteous judgment upon him. +th!y, My not calling Bothvel- bridge, rebellion; it be- ing in defence of themfelves and of the gofpel, which is lawful in God's light; and therefore I durft not call it rebellion. *>thly y My giving meat, drink, and comfort to the perfecuted people of God ; which I did willingly; and with my whole heart ; and herein I have fweet peace this day; as in Matt. x. 43. c And whofoever fhall give * to drink unto one of thefe little ones, a cup of cold wa- * ter only, in the name of sr difciple, verily I fay unto * you, he (hall in no wife lofe his reward :' Which he hath made out to me abundantly to the full, bthly, For my being commanded to lay, Codfave the ki??g, which I durft not do for my very foul ; their bidding us to do it in the teft of our loyalty, to fave him in his perfon and government, and authority, which is a perfect owning of him in all that he hath done, in his ufurpation upon Chrift's prerogatives and privileges, they having made him fupreme head in all matters and caufes, civil and ec- clefiaftic ; which if I had done, it had been a flat deny- ing of Chrift, and a joining with him and them, I mean Charles Stuart, in all that they Uave done in overturn- ing of the glorious work of reformation in thefe lands, and all the wrongs done to the gofpel and people of God in this day, which would have made me odious in the fight of God, and before the world; for which I blefs 248 The loft Speech and Teftimony him, he hath kept me from : as the fcripture faith, He that is not faithful in little, will not be faithful in that nvhich is much, ythly, Being afked, if I would not pray for the king? I faid, Yes. Do it then. I faid accord- ing to the fcripture. They faid, he wiJl pray for him as he is a man, but not as he is king, which is high trea- fon and rebellion. Now, my friends, I being conscien- tious to myfelf, that my owning him as my king, was a cafting off Chrifl Jefus who is head and King of Zion, and taking on with him, and fo would have incurred the wrath of God, and homologate all the blood-fhed, and all the horrid bloody abominations they have com- mitted in the land, with avowed defying of the great God. O who dare join with fuch avowed enemies of our God, and fo caft off the fociety of the faints, and give the hand of fellowfhi.p to fuch bloody and man- iworn wretches, that is making it their whole work to root out godlinefs out of this covenanted land, that the name of Ifrael fhall no more be made mention of: but they will be all beguiled, for Chriil will reign till all his enemies be made his footftool. \Jt> I give my teftimony to the fure word of God,. which is the Scriptures of truth. 2dly, I give my tefti- mony to the way of falvation thro* Jefus Chrift, and that by his fatisfaction. ^dly y I bear my teftimony to the work of reformation, as it was reformed from Popery,, Prelacy, Eraftianifm, and other errors, as it is contained in the Confeihon of Faith, Larger and Shorter Gate- chifms. qthly, I give my teftimony to the Covenants National and Solemn League, and folemn Acknowledg- ment of Sins, and Engagement to Duties, Sum of Sav- ing Knowledge, Directory for Worihip ; and to the, Caufes of God's Wrath, drawn up by the general aflem- bly of the church, after their meeting with the rotten-] hearted malignant Charles Stuart. $thly, I bear my teftimony to the faithful actings of the remonftrators a- gainft the malignant intereft, that is the very thing con- tended for by the true Prefbyterians of the church of Scotland. 6thly t I give my teftimony, not to go farther back, feeing it homologates the reft, to that notable tef- timony given at Lanerk againft that tyrant, and the toft, intimated by that late parliament, which I could not but look upon it in the time of carrying on of it, and yet di)ih, that the remnant was owned of the Lord, phlf* of John Finlay. 249 I bear my teftimony to all the faithful teftimonies of the martyrs, that have gone before us, whether on fcaffolds, or on the fields, or in the feas. 8/^/y, I bear my tefti- mony to all appearances in arms, for defence of the gof- pel. 9/^/y, I bear my teftimony to the faithful preach- ing of the gofpel that hath been in the fields by the faith- ful and fent mefTengers of Jefus ChrilT, according to his own million, preaching days, communion days, and fall: days, by MefTrs. Cargil, King, Kid, Cameron and Douglas, icthly and lajily, I bear my teftimony to the fellowihip-meetings of the Lord's people, particular and general : my foul hath been many a time refrelhed with, his prefence in company with them. Likewife I bear my teftimony, 17?, Againft the pub- lic refolutioners for taking in the malignant intereft, for which this poor church is fmarting for this day, and feeling the weight of the tyrant's hand, for fuch eager lulling after the king. zdly y I bear my teftimony againft Hamilton Declaration, which is one and the fame with the refolutioners, for taking in the forefaid intereft, con- trary to the land's engagements in covenant. ^d/y, For corrupting the army, and other things, fuch as the ex- communicate tyrant's intereft, cefs, and all other impoft- tions of that nature, for the down-bearing of Chrift's intereft, doing it againft a holy God. qthly, 1 bear my teftimony againft indulged minifters, for their not com- ing in by the door, but by the miflion of men, John x. I. He that entereth not by the door into the Jloeep fold* but climbeth up fome other way, the fame is a thiej and a robber. They being entered by the tyrant and not by the door, they are become men-fervants, and not fervants to Jefus Chrift, and fo is become an eraftian party, which hath wronged our Lord and King more than the bloody prela- tic party hath done thefe twenty years by-gone, by their renting the churches bowels, and for dividing many a bofom-friend, to the great hurt of the gofpel. $th/y f I leave my teftimony againft all corrupt minifters, ihelter- ing themfelves under their wings, ftrengthening the flakes of that plantation, and for their dark and ambi- guous preaching in not declaring the whole counfel of God. 6th/y t I leave my teftimony againft all the enemies. and wrongers of my Lord's glorious privileges and pre- rogatives, all in general. I leave my teftimony againft that bloody murderer John Reid, who murdered a wo- 250 The I aft Speech and Tejlimony man in the town of New-milns, and now is carrying arms againft Chrift and his followers ; who took me, and confeft to me that he had not an order for it. And againft that party that carried me to Edinburgh ; and efpecially Alexander Gemmil, my neighbour, for he vexed me more than all that party, for he faid I married* foik and baptized children, and mocked me moil dread- fully. A line of advice to two or three forts of folk. To you that are old profeflbrs and covenanters in the weft of Scotland, and efpecially in Kilmarnock parifh, what are ye doing ? Where are ye now be when ye fwore the Co- venant, and fwore againft Popery, Prelacy, and all that faction, fide and party ? jiow are ye profecuting the ends of that Covenant, now in the fight of God, and the oath of God, that ye fwore with hands lifted up to the mo ft High, and before heaven and earth, fun and moon ? O my foul trembles to think what bad example ye are to the young generation, ye who mould have been as the he-goats before the flock, to train them up in the way of God, and the way of holmefs and righteoufnefs> and now ye are leading them jail the contrary. Should ye not have been more tender of the blood of the fouls of the young generation, as to turn your back upon your profeilion, and turn in with the men of thefe abomina- tions in all things ? O fear the wrath of that God who has faid, Shall any break the covenant and be delivered? Now therefore, I defire, as ye tender your own fouls, that ye would turn again to your firft hufband, for it was better with you than it is now. Next, you that are the young generation, men and women, what are ye do- ing ? Are ye following the footfteps of your fathers in their courfes of defection, joining in hearing thefe perjur- ed curates, anfwering at their courts, joining in their worihip with them, in their abominable and foul-de- ftroying courfes, contrary to the word of God, our fo- lemn Covenants, and Confeftion of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechifms, the order of the church of Scotland, in difcipline, worihip, and government; as they, ye, and I, are fworn, with hands lifted up to the moft high God, which no power on earth is able to loofe, nor undo, nor free from, no man, nor woman, baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft. O there- fore take heed how ye think to anfwer before the great of John Finlay. 251 fi'n-revengmg God, before whom I am to appear within a little fpace, and before whom I and all the world will ftand and be judged with righteous judgment. And likewife feeing that I dare not but fhew r you my mind anent fome perfons and their carriage in this day of Jacob's trouble, w-hen Zion is laying wafte and plow- ing like a field. Firft t I give my teftimony againft thefe men called elders in my own parifh, becaufe of their complying with every courfe of defection and abominati- on that comes alongft through the country, ijt, They being thought to be faithful elders in the time of the prefbyterian government, and then turned elders to the curate Carnagie, and then turned eiders to Mr. Wad- derburn, that indulged minifter, and now are feffioners to this curate. And feeing this is true, that they have fhew r ed themfelves to be men of no principles, and the Spirit of God faying exprefly, Meddle not with the?n that are given to change ; who can blame me to difown them. I give my teftimony againft John Boyd, called bailie of Kilmarnock,- for his bloody courfes in many things, and efpecially in his uplifting of the cefs and bloody fines, and in opprefTing the poor in their confciences, and lay- ing on of dragoons upon them moft cruelly, which he did upon me four times; I wifh God may forgive him for what he has done in that matter. Now, according to my ble/Ted Lord's command, I am not polfe (Ted with malice, or a fpirit of revenge, but blefTes when cur fed. As for thefe men that are unjuftly taking away my life, not only contrary to the law of God, and the ancient laws of the land, but even contrary to their own law; now for what they are doing to me, as I am in myfelf, I can freely forgive them, and all others; but as they do it againft the image of God in me, and upon ruth's account, and fo againft himfelf, that is not mine to forgive, but leaves it to him, to whom vengeance belongs, that he may deal with them as he may moft [glorify himfelf. O if I could fpeak or write any thing to the commendation of the covenanted God of the church pf Scotland, I have furely many things to fay, for that he tryfted my lot to be in a nation he hath fet up his pure worfhip ; whereas he might juftly have k my lot be amongfl P.! tthen nations, that blew nothing oi the true God. Or, 2d/y, he might have brdered it to be among thefe that are wor{hip;ung Ami- 252 The lajl Speech and Teftlmony chrift, that whore, that rnonftrous beaft, that fits upon many waters ; whofe fentence may be read in Rev. xiv. 9. c And the third angel followed them, faying with a * loud voice, If any man worfhip the beaft and his image, * and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,' ver. 10. * The fame ihall drink of the wine of the wrath ' of God, which is poured out without mixture, into the * cup of his indignation ; and he (hall be tormented with c fire and brimftone, in the prefence of the holy angels, < and in the prefence of the Lamb :' ver. 11. < And the c fmoke of their torment afcendeth up for ever and ever : « and they have no reft day nor night, who worfhip the * beaft and his image, and whofoever receiveth the mark * of his name.' And fo, as fure as God is God, and the holy Scriptures are his word, according to which all men that have heard or feen it, (hall be judged, having the fentence of abfolution or condemnation paft according thereto, Rom. ii. 12. ■ For as many as have finned without « Jaw, ihall alfo perifh without law.* So it is clear, that the firft will furely perifh, viz, all Infidels, and Atheifts,^ and Heathens, and Pagans, that know not the true God nor his law : * And as many as have finned in the law, 4 ihall be judged by the law.' And fo whatever vain hopes the Papifts may have of being faved, living and dying Papifts, or whatever charity loofe profefTors have on that head to give them, they are as far from being, faved as devils, which are eternally caft out of his pre- fence. $dfy, I have him to blefs for this, that my lot is not among corrupt proteftant churches abroad, Lutherans^ and other corruptions and abounding errors, both in doc* trine, difcipline, worfhip and government, Sectarian, Epifcopal, or Eraftian ; but in the reformed church of Scotland, where all thefe things have been caft over the hedge, as not plants of his planting, where he hath been owned in all his offices, Prophet, Prieft, and King, tho' he may fay of us, in a great meafure, as to the church of Ifrael of old, * I have planted thee a noble vine, but 1 thou art become a degenerate plant of a ftrauge \ine ■ unto me,' Sec. In that day of planting we could have fung that fong, Ifa. xxvi. 1. — ' We nave a ftrong city, « falvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.' Lam. iv. it. « The Lord hath accomplifhed his fury, < he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled of fobn Finlay. 253 * a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations * thereof.' ver. 12. ' The kings of the earth, and all tie * inhabitants of the world would not have believed, that ' the adverfary and the enemy fhould have entered the * gates of Jerufalem. Ver. 13. For the fms of her pro- * phets, and the iniquities of her pri efts, they have fhed 1 the blood of the juft in the midil of her. Ver. 14. They * have wandred as blind men in the fireets, they have 1 polluted themfelves with blood, fo that men could not * touch their garments.' This may be our regret before God, as in ver. 7. « Her Nazarites were purer than fnow, * they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in * body than rubbies, their polifhing was of fapphire : * Ver. 8. Their vifage is blacker than a coal : they are « not known in the fireets : their fkin cleaveth to their * bones, it is withered, it is become like a ftick, &c.' O how unnatural-like were it for the mother to let the child, the fruit of her womb, perifh for lack of the breafts; were fhe free of the child's blood, it periihing for want of its natural food ? And O ! how many are this day pe- rifhing for want of the lively preached gofpel : c Even * Xhe fea monfters draw out the breafts, they give fuck ' to their young ones ; the daughters of my people are 1 become cruel like the oftriches in the wildernefs,' ver. 3. And, ^thly, I have him to blefs for this, that I am not this day fighting againft him in an open ftated war, and fo bearing arms againft him and his people, for there is no more in me, as to myfelf, than thefe that are imbrewing ir hands deeply in the blood of the faints. $thly, I have him to blefs for this, that ever he opened mine eyes to fee the myftery of iniquity that abounds, and hath its feat in the heart : as alfo, in fome meafure, a fight of the remedy in the blood of Jefus, with his Spi- rit engaging me to himfelf, letting me fee himfelf alto- gether precious, making me to fee that it is letter to be a ^•keeper in the houfe of God, than to dwell in the pleafures rfftn for a feafon: Pfal. lxxiii. 24. Tbou fhali we with thy counfel, and afterward receive me td glory t Ver. 25. Ii r ho?n have I in heaven but thee ? and there is m n earth that I defir . / thee, fy f I have his holy name to blefs that ever he noured me to know any thing, how imall foe^ his fecuted truths, viz. his crown, kingdom and pj V 254 The lafl Speech and Teftlmony ges, now when many by their acts and laws have taken his crown and fceptre and royal robe from him, and fettled the whole government of his houfe upon a man that is bue a worm ; but I believe his decree will (land, oppofe it who will ; Pfal. ii. 6. Tet have I fct my King upon my holy hill of Zion. Ifa. xlii. 8. I am the Lord, that is my name, and my glory my blood. Afterwards being ilrangled a little, his head was cut off, and it, with the hands, placed upon the Nether-bow-port of Edinburgh ; and his intrails bc ; taken out, his body was conveyed to Magus-moor, and re hung up in chains, on a high pole. 2&i The lafl Speech and Tejlimony The lafl Teflimnny a/ J O H N COCHRAN, nulfo live in the par if? of Lefmakego, and fuffered at the crofs o t Edinburgh, upon the Tfith of November > 1683. BEING brought before the lords of judiciary, they afked, Where I went in to the rebels ? I aniwered, I went in to the people of God, whom ye call fo, at Drumclog. They afked, if I had arms ? I told them, '. hud a fork. They afked, if I thought it rebellion ? '. feid, No-. And they laid, What was it then ? I toL them, it was in defence of the gofpel. They afked, i I did own the authority ? I told them, as far as it dh agree with the word of God. Then they afked, if ; would pray for the king? I told them, that prayer fhould be gone about in decency and order. Then they afked, if I would fay, God five the king ? And I refus- ed. Then they faid, was I not bound to pray for him ? I told them, that I was bound to pray for all that wen within the bounds of election. Then they faid, Was th< bifhop's death murder ? I told, I was no judge. Then they afked, if I was at Bothwel ? I told, I was. They faid, Was it rebellion ? I faid, No. Then I was takei back to prifon again, and the irons laid on me~: but bleffed be the Lord, that was no difcourageir nt to me> for when the ftorm blew hardefl the fmiles of my Lord were at the fweeteft. It is matter of rejoicing unto me* to think how my Lord hath patted by many a tall cedar, and hath laid his love upon a poor bramble-bufh, the like of me. And O ! that I could blefs the Lord for itJJ and fay, * Come all ye that fear the Lord, and I will * tell you what he hath done for my foul.' And now I am made to fay, < That the Lord doth all things well, * and holy is his name.' And as for my part, I have good cauie to blefs the Lord, that ever I was a hearer of the perfecuted gofpel; and however the world think of us, that our lot is hsrd in a world, yet remember, that he faith in his holy word, that * whofoever will * live godly, muft fuflfer perfecution ; and whofoever 4 will not take up his crofs, and follow me, is not wor- 4 thy ofme.' And « fear not him that can kill the body,' but he hath faid, * I will forewarn you whom ye fhall * fear, fear him that can kill both foul and body, and * call both into hell.' And < if judgment begin at the of John Cochran. 263 < houfe of God, where fhall the wickecTand ungodly ap- c pear in that day, when he fhall uffce vengeance on them * that fear him net, and obey not the gofpel ? ' And now, alas ! I am afraid, that even much of the gofpel amongft us, will be a witnefs againft us ; for it was the judgment of Capernaum, that fo many mighty works were done in it, and yet they believed not : and yet for all that came upon it, it was faid to be exalted up to hea- ven ; and then we hear of its being thruft down to heli : even fo I fear the having fo much light be the plague of our land ; for it was once a praife to al) the earth ; but now a mocking, even among the heathens. And now as a dying man, I do heartily declare my ad- herence unto all the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Teftaments ; and preaching of that bleifed gofpel, by a faithful, fent, Prefbyterian, gofpel miniflry. As alio, I do, with al? my foul and heart, agree with, and afTent unto the Confemon of Faith, Larger and Shorter Cate- chifms the Sum of Saving Knowledge; the National and Solemn League and Covenants, Directory for Wor- fhip, the Solemn Acknowledgment of public Sins and Breaches of the Covenant, and Engagement to all Du- ties, together with all and whatsoever is contained with- in the forefaid book. And likewife I do hereby heartily witnefs and teftify againft Popery, Prelacy, Eraltianifir, fcerefy, and other errors, efpecially Quaker ifm, andwhat- foever is difconform and difagreeable to the holy Scrip- tures, and theie other found writings above mentioned. And fick-like I witnefs and teftify my abhorrence and de- legation of that abominable and blafphemcus telt, which is now fo violently prefTed upon the people, tending to the deftruction of their fouls. Moreover, I leave my wife and fix fmall children to the care and protection of al- hty Go. hath promiied /0 t £* a father to the fa- tberlefsyatid an hufband to the ividoiv ; and my foul to God who gave it, for whofe caufe I now willingly lay dov my life : And now 1 bid farewel to all earthly ^nd carnal comforts. Farewel all CI And we come Fathe and Holy (J holt, ii ofe hands I 1 commit my fpirit. JOJ OCII. At the f red upon the fame truth, and 264 The lafl Speech and Tejlimony ous martyrs, John Whitelaw and Arthur Bruce, wh< were interrogate upon the fame things before the counci or lords of jufticiary, and do agree with the foregoing martyr in every refpecl, and exprefs in their teftimonies the like fatisfaclion with their lot, and cheerfulnefs un- der the crofs, and their adhefence to the fame principles and abhorrence of the fame errors. A Letter firm JOHN WHARRY, who fufered at tht market -crofs of Glafgow, June wtb. 1683. IVritte) during his imprifonmer.t , to his mother and other rela* tions. Dear mother, Irother andftflers, IBefeech you, in the name of my fweet and altogether lovely, incomprehenfible, matchlefs, precious, beau- tiful and glorious Redeemer, captain and conqueror over all his enemies, be not difcouraged ; for thro' his fret love caft on me in black nature, who was born an heir of fin and wrath, I am now, by his blefled purchafe, made free, by the laying down of his fweet life for pool finners, of which I was one of the chiefeft in the world that I might get life eternal, which is his own gift be- flowed on me: And now, thro' his bleffed hand of pro- vidence, has made choice of poor unworthy me to be hi* prifoner ; who ordereth all things well to thefe whoi he fets his love on ; and thefe whom he loves, he loves unit the end. I do not queftion his all-fufnciency : Dear mo- ther, do not ye queftion it, but that he is fufficient t< make rrue conqueror over my inward -and outward ene- mies. O mother, blefs the Lord that ever he gave yoi a fon, and flefh and bones, to be honoured to be a fuf- ferer for his precious name, truths and intereft, caufe, covenant, and concerns, according to his own rule h his bleffed word, which is contained in the Old and New Teftaments, agreeable to all truths contained therein. O mother, will ye be intreated for his love's fake, to give me back again to him in a free-will offering? O am perfwaded, that it would pleafe my matchlefs Lord, and then it would fare better with me, and you both. O if ye knew what of the kiffes of love and kindnefs I got, fince I was brought to carts, ftocks and irons ! O unworthy I, that lhould be honoured with this ! O mo- ther, I befeech you for his love's fake, that ye do not of %obn Wbarry. 5 65 repine, and thereby provoke the Lord to anger. O blefs him, for making all things pleafant and delightfome, refrefhful and comfortable to my foul, and my brother's. I cannot exprefs what of love I have met with, fmce they apprehended me, and my brother. O blefs him for deal- ing fo with me. I befeech yon, mother, be ferious with the Lord, that what he hath began, he may a. perfect in ns to his own glory, and for his own work in the fouls of all that are within the compafs of the decree of election of free grace. I cannot deicribe him, he is incomprehenfible, and he is without compare. O he is beautiful and glorious, ftrong and almighty, powerful to break through difficulties, and to bring through hi* own elect : All which is necelTary, and nothing lefs, that his own being call in the furnace for the trial of their faith and patience, may be helped to endure ; for he knows well enough to purge away the drofs and the fcum of his own elect. O ! but fome fouls he plunges over and over; to others he limits and permits their winnowing by Satan. Ol but true faith, believing and calling all the weight upon the promifes, will bring you to the accomplishment, if ye endure with patience, he is the fame always to poor fmners, to make them to con- quer over all their inward and outward enemies, to thefe that have received him in the precious offers of the gof- pel, hoi Jen out to poor finners freely, and to poor me: and he hath engaged my heart to fall in love with him, and to follow the blefftd perfecuted gofpel, thro' good report and ill report, upon all hazards whatfoever through his ftrength. O ! blefs him, all that is within me, that ever he made me to act faith on his great an J precious promifes, and alfo to truft to the faithful out- making of them to his own in particular ftraits, and al- fo to the church in general, in his due feafon, againft all oppoiitions that can come from a tempting devil, and B wicked, confpiring and defperate heart, and the wick- ed, flattering, deceiving and bewitching world. O ! bat thefe be three ftrong, arch, cunning and fubttlc ene- mies ! I fear, if this queftion were afked at profeiTors in the land, If they knew thefe ? They would anfwer, They k::ew them very well ; tho' I fear the coi; and it appears much in our day and generation. Wo is us ! where is this married land gone to, judge ye \ I blefs him that he has made mc his priibner, tho' I be Z 266 The laft Speech and Tejllmony unworthy ; he has (looped low, and with his delicates has come to me in my irons and cords, in that chamber in GJafgow, with his own wine, apples and flagons. O ! if ye knew what a life we have here ; if ye knew the want of him, ye would have longed for him, and would not have thought a prifon, cords, (locks, irons, hard to bear for his comely prefence, and refreftiing of our fouls. O ! glory to his bleffed and everlafting name, whofe lov- ing kindnefs lafts for ay. O friends ! give all the praife to precious and lovely Chrift. O friends ! wreftle and hold on ; ufe importunity with him for your bleeding mother-church ; for it is not time to be flack. O pray for us, that we may get more and more of his fupport, that we may be ftrong in our almighty God, who has done great things for his church, and is beginning to do great things for us in our prifon. O ! praife him all ye people ; it may be nearer ta the breaking of the day of our king royal, than ye are aware. God has long been filent, and confcience dumb amongft people. O be ye aware, that ye have not thefe two, when he arifes to make war for all the wrongs he has fuftained. We be- feech you, in his own name, try whofe ye are, what ye are, and in whofe lift ye are : Know ye not, that true faith is the fubflance of things not feen y but hoped for in him, and will be made forthcoming to the fenfible feel- ing of his own elect. JOHN WHARRY. A Letter written by JAMES SMITH, 1683, to his father and mother. Dear father and mother, IBefeech you to forgive me all the offences I have done to you, for ye know it is natural to children to of- fend and grieve their parents. Now this I feek in his name, and for his fake, and I heartily forgive any pro- vocations that my father has given me, as I am of my- felf, and defire the Lord may take a dealing with your heart, O my father. Now, my dear father, feek the Lord that your foul may live ; and make religion your main work, and let it not be a by-bufinefs to you, but drive and wreftle to get time fpent rightly in the fear of the Lord, minding always and at all times, that the eye of of parties Smith 267 a holy and juft God is upon you ; andbeferious with God, and deal in earned with him, that he would help you to felf-denial, to be denied to all things beneath the clouds; and ftudy to win at mortification, and let your affecti- ons follow nothing further than ye can be mortified to it; and be fubmiffive to his holy will. Now the Lord himfelf perfuade you to fall in love with lovely Chrift : And I defire the Lord may give you unfeigned repent- ance, and faith in Jefus Chrift, and ftrength to (land out and refill thefe infnar'mg courfes, viz. locality pay- ing, and the compearing at courts, and hearing of cu- rates, and the like. Dear father, mother, brethren and fitters, quit with me, and give me up to the Lord, who gave me to you. Give me up freely without any han- kering and repining; for he loveth a cheerful giver. I dare not fay but he has been kind to me ; O matchlefs love ! O praife, praife him that ever he honoured the like of me with cords on my arms, and ftocks on my legs; irons have been fweet and eafy to me, and no trouble. Now hold up my cafe to the Lord, and doubt not of his faithfulnefs and all-fufficiency, for "he is both able and willing, and he has faid, In all your affliclions I am afflicl- ed ; and he carries his and their crofs both, and hefnd/ none a warfare on their own charges. John. xii. 24. Ve- rily verily I fay unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into tie ground and die, it abideth alone ; but if it die, it bringetb forth much fruit. And ver. 25. He that loveth his life, fliall loje it ; and he that hateth his life in this world, fiall keep it unto life eternal. And I can fay upon good grounds, I am well helped of my lovely Matter in all that I have been try (led with. I defire with all my heart and foul to blefs and praife the holy name of my God for his love, and that ever he looked on the like of me, a poor finful thing. O praife him, and rejoice with me, that it is fo well with me. Now the manner of my taking, was not furprifmg to me : I was not afraid, for I dare not quef- tion but it was the place, and alfo the time was come : glory to his name in fo ordering of it. No more at pre- fent, but have my love remembered to you, and defires you all to take up yourfelves with your duty. Now I quit you all to him who is able to fave to the utmojl. Re much taken up in the church's condition, and be not at cafe in the time of Zion's trouble. My brethren, my ad- vice to you is, to join yourfelves in a fociery or fellow- Z 2 2 68 The I aft Speech and Teftlmcny fliip meeting, in the ftrength of the Lord . Now my lovely Lord, give thy bJernng to all thine, and pardon the Cjds of all the eleft. Sic Subfcribitur, JAMES SMITH. Thefe two zealous martyrs were precluded from hav- ing any formal teftimony, by the rage and cruelty of the perfecutors, who having fuborned witneffes againit them, to depone that they faw them kill a foldier at Inchbeliy- bridge, in relieving a prifoner there, did prefently take them forth to the crofs of Glafgow, and with the greateft of inhuman rage, hanging them on a gibbet till they were half dead, caufed cut them down, and laying them in that condition upon a cart, carried them to the faid Inch- belly-bridge, to be there hung up in chains. And it is worth the recording to the praife of his grace, for whofe royal dignities they witnefled, that they endured all theie hardihips inflicted upon them, with a great deal of Chri- stian magnanimity and alacrity, even to the convi&ioa of enemies. The Interrogations propofed /0JOHN NISBE T younger, ysko lived in the parijh of Loudon ', and fuffered at Kit* mar nock, April 4th > 1683. Sent by him in a Letter to fome friends. Dear friends, THE manner of my examination (as I remember) was this : Firfi j£. When faw ye John Nifbet ? A. I did not fee him this good while. J^. But when did you-, fee him, and where did you fee him ? A. Altho' I could*' I would not anfwer, to difcover my neighbours. The ma- jor faid, Ke would make me tell, or he would make me fit three hours in hell. I anfwered, That was not in his power. J^. Are ye under an oath that ye will not tell of the reft of you ? A. I am under no oath but what the Covenant binds us to. J|\ Took ye ever the communion ? A. No. J^\ Did ye ever preach, or expound the Scriptures ? A, I could never read the Rudiments. Yet (faid they) there were men who did preach, that were not learned. I told them 1 knew none but the Quakers, whofe principles I difown. Then faid they, fay, Cod five the king. I anfwered, It was not in my power to fave, or condemn him. J^. Would you net fay, Gcd fave your beajl, if it were fallefc of John Nisbet 2 69 into a hole ? A. No ; becaufe it is a taking of his name in vain. js£. Was you at Bothwel at the rebellion ? A % Seeing you count it rebellion, it is criminal, witnefs of it. £K Is the bifhop's death murder ? A. I am not a judge to cognofce upon it. And being afked again my opinion of it, I anfwered, I had faid all that I could lay of it already. i£. Was Bothwel rebellion? I anfwered, It was felf-defence, which was lawful. J^. How prove ye that ? A. By that Confeflion which ye build your Teft upon. Then they faid jeeringly, I was a gramma- rian. gK Own ye a law? A. Yes. J^. Own ye the law as it is now eftablifhed ? A. Since ye make your queftions matters of life and death, ye ought to give time to confider upon them. j£. Own ye the king in all matters civil and ecclefiaftic, and to be head of the church ? A. I will ac- knowledge none to be head of the church but Chriit . J^. Who is lawgiver ? A. Chrift. j^\ Is the king the king, or not ? A. He was once a covenanted king. j§>. Is he the king now ? A. I refer it to his obligations in his coronation oath, to be confidered. j§\ Is he your king, or not? I told them, I would not anfwer any more fuch queftions at this time. This is all that paft, for the mod part, except a number of fenfelefs queftions. No more at prefent, but has my love remembred to all friends in Chrift. I am very well borne thro', bleifed be the Lord for it. Sic Subfcribitur, JOHN NISBET. The lafi Tejiimony of J O H N NISBET. Dear friends^ and true lovers of 2. ions righteous caufe, IF I could fpeak or write any thing to the commenda- tion of the covenanted God of the church and king- dom of Scotland, furely I have many things to do it for. 17?, That he hath tryfted my lot to be in a nation where he hath fet up his pure worfhip, difcipline and govern- ment ; whereas he might juftly have ordered it to have been among thofe that are worfiiipping Anti chrift, that whore of Rome, that monftrous beaft that iitteth upon, many waters, whofe fentence may be read, Rev. xiv. 1 * And the third angel founded, faying with a loud 1 voice, If any man worfhip the beaft and his image, 4 and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand/ ver, 10. ■ The fame fhall drink of the wine of the wrath z 3 270 The lafl Speech and Tejllmony 1 of God, that is poured out without mixture, into the 4 cup of his indignation ; and he (hall be tormented with 1 fire and brjmftone, in the prefence of his holy angels, ■ and in the prefence of the Lamb :' ver. n. « And the * fmoke of their torment afcendeth up for ever and ever r ' and they have no reft day nor night, who worfhip the * beaft and his image, and whofoever receiveth the mark 8 of his name.' 2dfy, He might have ordered it to have been among the corrupt proteftant churches abroad, Lu- therans, and other corruptions, and abounding errors, but in the reformed church of Scotland^ which was fair as the 7noon> clear as the fun, and terrible as an army 'with banners. The day was, when we could have fung that fong, Ifa, xxvi. i. We have a Jlrong city, falvation will the Lord ap pox bit for walls and bulwarks . $dly, I blefs the holy name of my God, that I am not this day carrying arms againft him, his work and intereft ; for there is no more in me, as of myfelf, than in thefe that are deeply im- bruing their hands in the blood of the faints, qtbly, I- blefs and magnify his holy name, that ever he brought me out of the ftate cf nature, and brought me into an e- flate of grace and falvation, through the virtue of the: blood of Chrift ; and exalted be his holy name, that he hath given me a fight of my own weaknefs, and alfo a fight of the deceitfulnefs of my own evil heart, and the myftery of iniquity abounding there; and alfo a fight of the remedy of the blood of Chrift, with his Spirit enga- ging me to himfelf, and letting me fee himfelf altogether lovely and precious ; fo that I may fafely fay, That there is none in heaven or in earth that I deft re beftdes him, Pfal. Ixxiii. 25. And $th!y, I blefs and magnify the holy name of my God, who hath given me a fight of his controverted' truths, now when it is come in queftion, whether Chrift be head of his own houfe or not, whereas there is no- truth clearer in all the Scripture ; yet it muft not be fpo- Icen of, if ye refolve not to fuffer for rt. 6tbly, I blefs his name, that ever he counted me worthy to fuffer fof him, counting it not my fhame, but an high privilege, and dignifying of me, when many famous in their gene- ration have been denied of it, and are endeavouring by their practice to render the crofs of Chrift of no effect. *jtb/y, I blefs and magnify his holy name, that he hath beeped me from denying of his name, in his titles and attributes ; for that is the thing which the enemy and u- ef %ohn NLbet. 271 furpers of my lovely Lord's crown are feeking to have ine to deny allegiance to him, who is given of the Father o be a leader and commander of his people ; Iia. xxviii. 6. - Thus faith the Lord, Behoid I lay in Zion for a foundation, a ftone, a tried ftone, a precious corner- ftone, a fure foundation, he that believeth (hall not make hade.' Ver. 17. * Judgment will I lay to the line, and righteoufnefs to the plummet, and the hail fhall fweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters fhall overflow the hiding-place ' But this may be our com- plaint, Lam. nr« 4. ■ The tongue of the fucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirft, the young children afk bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.' /er. 3. — ■ The daughter of my people is become cruel as the oftriches in the wildernefs. > Mai. ii. 8. ■ But ye are departed out of the way, ye have caufed many to (tumble at the law : ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, faith the Lord of hofts.' Ver. 9. * Therefore have I alfo made you contemptible and bafe before all the people, according as ye have not keeped my ways, and have been partial in the law.' For now it is wi:*l he land as it is in Ezek. xxiv, 7. * For her blood is in. the midfl of her, (he fet it upon the top of a rock, fhe poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with duft.' Ver. 8. * That it might caufe fury to come up, to take vengeance : I have fet her blood upon the top of a rock, that it fhould not be covered. Ver. 9, * Therefore thus faith the Lord, Wo to the bloody city, I will even make the pile for fire great.' For the iniquities of a land, many are the judgments thereof; therefore we had need to mourn, for we will all be found guilty of the fins of the land, in lefs or more. It makes me to tremble, to think of Scotland's unfaithfulnefs in all ranks, for as it is with the people, fo with the priefts, for all have wan- dered out of the way, and followed their idols, efpecially the fins of the corrupt rulers ; Micah vi. 16. * For the fta- * tutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the houfe c of Ahab, and ye walk in their counfels, that I fhould 1 go far from my fanctuary ; therefore ye fnall bear the * reproach of my people.' Lam. iv. II. ■ The Lord * hath accomplifned his fury, he hath poured out his * fierce anger, he hath kindled a fire in Zion, it hath de- ] voured the foundations thereof/ Ver. 14. « They have * polluted tkemfelves with, blood, fo that men could not 272 The lajl Speech andTeftimony 1 touch their garments.* Now his glory is trampled un- cler-foot ; but he hath faid, Ifa. xlii. 8. ' I am the Lord, * that is my name, and my glory will I not give to ano- * ther, neither my praife to graven images.' Now, is it not his declarative glory, which that ufur- per hath taken to himfelf I Yea, but he that leadeth cap- tivity captive, and giveth gifts unto men, will reclaim his own glory, for the government is laid upon hisflooulders^ Ifa. ix. 6. Eph. i. 22. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head of all things to his church. Now, I being a free-born member of the church and kingdom of Scotland, and joining with all the funda- mental laws thereof, and they refufe to judge and fen- tence me according to that law, that mull without" doubt be murder: and further, they refufe to judge ac- cording to the Scriptures, which is an higher wicked- nefs. O what will come upon Scotland, for the high a- bominations committed therein ? Surely it cannot but meet with odious judgments. Ifa. xxxiv. 5. Formyfword Jhall be bathed in heaven : beheld it/hall come doivn upon I* dumea, and upon the people of my curfe to judgment. For I fee nothing appearing in this land, but defection from- the way of truth ; for there is no public power now in the land, but what is founded upon perjury, facrilege, and tyranny; Ezek. xxii. 6. Behold, the princes of Ifraef, every one were in thee, to their power to Jhed blood. And compare Scotland's fins with Ifrael's fms, in that of E- zekiel, and fee if they be not parallel. And feeing they are fo, what can be expected, but that their punifhments and plagues fhall be parallel alfo ? For there are few mourning for all the abominations done in the land. Now, thefe that are charging me with felf- murder, which is a breach of the fixth command, w T hich is very falfe ; for felf prefervation mud (loop to truth's prefer- vation. And further, I have that much of humanity, that I love my life, but cannot redeem it with the lofs of my integrity; but I prove fuch as do thefe things, which they would have me to do, are actually guilty of the breach of the fecond commandment, which is, Thou floalt not make unto thy felf any graven image. For I can- not fay, but it is a worfhipping of images, to yield to them in thefe things, now when they have feated them- felves in Chrift's room : therefore I exhort you all, to beware of joining with ^them in their fins, left ye par- of John Nlsbet. 273 take with them in their plagues, now when they have made it manifeft, that they will have no king but Charles Stuart ; wherefore I think it is our duty to cleave to Chrfli : Vv^e muft either quit Chriit or Charles. Indeed there is fome folk pretend to keep both ; but I defy any, if they be called to a public teftimony, but they mull either quit Chriit or Charles ; for they will not have the civil law without the ecclefiaftic ; fo I cannot fee how they can be owned in either : for by their acts of parli- ament they have made them alike inherent to the crown : And mall that authority be fo owned by me, being a free-born member of the church of Scotland, which is Chrift's myftical body,* without being guilty of high re- ■bellion againft: God ? And further, he having broken a-I obligations, which was the tenor by which he entered into the government, and without which he could not have en- tered into the government, the covenant being the coro- nation-oath ; which he hath not only broken, but made it death to all that fpeaks of them. And further, having feated himfelf in the Mediator's chair of ftate, which is enough to denude him of authority, even in civil matters. If it fhall be faid, The land has given him that fupre- macy, and fo cannot take it from him again : To which I anfwer, Every individual perfon in the land hath not given him that; and therefore is free to reject him upon that head, when they are called to it. But O ! the fins of Scotland is great in departing away from God ; for Scot- land hath fhdden back like a backfliding hiefer, for they declare their fin like Sodom, they hide it not ; the fhew of their countenance do witnefs againfl them. But, however, it will be well with thefe that keep their gar- ments clean; for ye will find enough ado when it com- eth, altho' ye fhould live Chriflians twenty years; there- fore flight not time when ye have it ; for if death come upon you, it will not be eafy : but well is that foul that can fay upon good grounds, That Chrift is all in all to them ; but the worldly-mindednefs, and flaviih fear of this generation, makes their practice declare to the world, that Chrift is not worthy the fuffering for, otherwife they durft not adventure to forfake him, who is alto- gether lovely ; for he vill bid none go his errands upon their own charges. Now, as to the articles of my indictment, upon which my fentence of death is paffed, is chiefly thefe. \Jl> My 274 The lajl Speech and Tejlimony owning it as lawful, my rinng in arms at Bothwel- bridge, which I did with great cheerfulnefs and bold- neis, it being feif-defence, and in defence of the gofpel ; for my own part, the only end I had before me there was, the glory of God, if I was not deceived ; therefore I could not think it rebellion, or unlawful againfl: God, altho' the laws of men be againfl it, who have fet them- (lives in oppofition to all the commands of God. 2dly % It was my difowningthe curates to be faithful miniflers, which I did very boldly; and they faid, if I diibwned the curates, I difowned all authority, which may tefti- fy, that they have fet themfelves in ChriftVs (lead. idly, My owning Mr. Donald Cargil, Mr. John Kid, and Mr. Richard Cameron, to be faithful miniflers of Jefus Chriit, which I did, and I blefs the Lord that ever I heard them, and I fet to my feal to the faithfulnefs of thefe mens doctrine. 4/^/r, My not praying for the king in his perfon and authority, which I durft not do, it be- ing a perfect owning of him in all that he hath done. Some may object, and fay, that I am againfl: the Scrip- tures in this, becaufe in feveral places in the Old Tefta- ment, we find, th.it the kings of Ifrael were anointed to that office by the Lord, and obedience to them there- upon enjoined. But this was only done to lawful kings, and fo could net be to ours, he having fet up him- felf in the room of God incarnate. And we may juftly fay, as the children of Ifrael faid, 1 Sam. xii. 19. For nve have added unto all our fins this evil, to afk us a king\ becaufe we follow him in things contrary to the com- mand of God. And ihould I pray for that man, topre- ferve him in his perfon and government, who hath thus ventured upon the thick boffes of the buckler of God Al- mighty. If one ihould object, and fay, Thefe are imall things : To which 1 anfwer, No truth is fmall ; Luke xvi. 10. 'He that is faithful in that which is leait, is 1 faithful alfo in much ; and he that is unjuft in the 1 leait, is unjuft alfo in much.* Now, I (hall give an account of my principles, and I (hall do it as in the fight of God. I am a true Chrifti- an, truly anti-popifh, anti-prelatic, anti-fchifmatic, anti-fectarian, anti-eraftian, a true Prefbyterian : And whatever many have faid of me, or may fay, thus I have lived, and fo now I die. Now, 1/?, I clofe with Chrift in that way of redemption, which he hath purchafed, of $ohn Nisbet. 275 for the redemption of finners ; 1 Tim. 1. 15. * This is * a faithful faying, and worthy of all acceptation, that * Chrift Jefus came into the world to fave finners, of ■ whom I am chief/ Ver. 16. ' Howbeit, for this caufe « I obtained mercy.' idly, I give my teftimony to the •followers of the holy Scriptures, for they are the rule that men are to walk by, and they declare the revealed will of God to men, anent man's falvation. ^dly, I give my teftimony to the work of reformation in the church of Scotland ; and I blefs the Lord that I was born a member of that church, but chiefly againft Popery, Pre- lacy, and Quakeriim, and Independency; and finally, from under all the errors of the church. qthly, I give my teftimony to the Confeflion of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechifms, Sum of Saving Knowledge, Di- rectory for Worfhip, the order of the church of Scot- land, $thly 9 I give my teftimony to the divine worfhip, discipline and government of the church of Scotland, both by kirk-fctlions, prefbyteries, fynods, and general afiemblies. 6thly, I give my teftimony to the Covenants, National and Solemn League and Covenant. */thly, I give my teftimony to the faithful actings of the proteft- ers, called remonftrances, againft malignants and malig- nant interefts, which is the very thing this poor church is contending for this day. Stfily, I give my teftimony to all the faithful teftimonies of the people of God, that have been given for that noble work, whether on fcaf- folds, or in the fields, or on the feas. gtkly, I give my teftimony to the faithful actings, of the laft martyr; al- tho' this generation is calling lin a duty, and duty a fin, becaufe of hazard ; for if this generation get leave to go on in their pernicious ways, tl^ey will not believe that there is a God in heaven to punilh fuch finners and fms as are commuted in the land. Mai. iii. 9. ■ Ye are curfed « with a curfe ; for ye have robbed me, even this whole * nation.' Now, iy?, I witnefs my teftimony againft the public refolutioners, for bringing in the malignant party to places of power and truft, for which this poor land is Smarting, and bearing the weight of their hands to this day. 2d/y, I leave my teftimony againft that Act of Su- premacy, and the Act Refciftbry, by which two th have overturned the whole work of reformation, both in kirk and (late. $dfy, I leave my teftimony againft the % 7 6 The laft Speech and Teftimony unfaithfulnefs of minifters, both indulged, and others, who are iheltering themfelves under the wings of thofe who have declared themfelves enemies to all godlinefs : and I wonder how they can fay, they are even-down for God, yet never one of them is troubled, be troubled who will ; for before my face, one of thefe mir ! ' ers faid (viz. Mr. Anthony Shaw by name) he prayed, God fave him from the man, that would not pray for the king in his perfon and government : To whom I faid, magistrate* ought to punifh evil-doers : Indeed fo he doth, faid he. qth/y, 1 leave my teftimony againft the wrongers of my lovely Lord's crown, all in general. $th/y, I leave my teftimony againft the hearers of thefe perjured cu- rates, throughout the land ; but efpecially in that cor- ner of the land, to wit, Kilmarnock, for their going to kirks, fubfcribing of bonds, paying of fines, which in- cludeth in -it the acknowledgment of a fault, which I deny we have done, but they have done it to us, and yet never a watchman to teftify againft it. 6thly, I leave my teftimony againft paying of the cefs, or any other thing that may ftrengthen the hands of evil-doers : Ifa. Ixv. 1 1. For ye are they that prepare a 4 able for that troop $ and that fur uijh a drink-offering unto thai number. Now, I will fpeak a word to three forts of folk : ift^ To you that are ftrangers, enemies to my lovely Lord, let your eftrangednefs be done away, fly to him, ere he break out in fury againft you. O confider how neanf you are to the deftroyer, if ye fly not unto him; and if you fly in unto him he will abundantly pardon. Therefore I entreat, that ye would turn from your evil ways, and leave off your perfecution, and flee to him, for there is mercy with him that he may be feared ; and if ye will not turn, wrath will be upon yr.i to all eternity. A fecond fort, are thefe that for- merly have known God, and now are fallen from their firft love : O confider your former ways, and turn again to your firft hufband, left there be no fpace to repent; for all the ways that ye have taken to win by trouble will not hide you from him who is the great fin-revenging God; and he will bring all your fins, and your compli- ance, to ft:4nd witnefs againft you ; therefore delay not repentance, for ye will find death have enough ado with itfelf. A third fort, are thefe who defire to walk in his way, and to keep themfelves from the crying wicked- of %ohn Nis&t. 277 nefs of thefe times. O ftand fait in the faith; for th is no other burden laid upon you, but hold /aft till he come. O for that day when ye lhall be made one (tick in his hand, and have fervent charity among yourfeives, and let bim that ftandetb, take heed left befall, for ye will find enough ado with it when death comes; therefore let the main thing be your Rudy, and get cnce that made Aire that cannot be taken from you ; for ye have many enemies to fight with, if ye win through, for the way to heaven is very ftrait : for it is no wonder Satan feek to tempt poor Chriftians, when he eifayed to tempt our bleifed Lord and Mailer. Let none of you think it ftrange, concerning what hath befallen me, for it is in his holy wifdom he hath carved out my lot fuch ; and I have been made to blefs him for my lot. O ! ftudy to wreftle againft your own corruptions, which are very heavy to me ibmetimes, but his love hath been great in bringing me out of the ftate of nature, and hath brought me to fee my own weaknefs, and alfo hath given me a fight of the remedy, for which my foul mail be made to praife him throughout all eternity. Now, my dear friends in Chrift, ftudy to walk blame- lefs in all manner of converfation, as becometh the gof- pel ; let your light fo fhine before the world, that they may be afliamed that (hall accufe your good converfati- on in Chrift : for now ye need not think if ye keep the way of God, but ye will have many enemies, both with- in and without, therefore feek ftrength from him who i* able to give it : ye need not think that all the ftock of grace that a man hath, will be fufncient when the trial comes, if there be not ffefh fupply given in the time of need. O ! wreftle with him, that ye may be hid in the day of his wrath, that feems to be poured out on this generation, for their great treachery and departure from God, the breach of his laws, and fubjecling to the law.-: of men; but my eyes lhall be ciofeJ, that I fhall nor it; and I am well content, feeing I get my foul for a prey, then I lhall have no lofs. Now, as for his way with his church, it is myfter to me; but this I think is a token for good, that he taking fome to wit nefs for his defpifed and tramp 1 upon truths, and he will keep fome witn effing ltili, un- til he return again : but indeed I think it feems it is : ▼ery few that will fee him return again in this gencrati- A a 278 The laft Speech and Teftimony on. Now, death is called the king of terrors, but I think it is not fo with me ; i Cor. xv. 55. death, where is thy fling ? grave, where is thy viclory ? 2 Cor. v. 1. For we know if this earthly tabernacle were dijfolved, we have a building of God, an houfe not i?iade with hands, eternal in the heavens : For which we long earnefily, to be abfent from the body, to be prefent with the Lord, which is far letter. Now, I declare I am free of the blood of all men ; and altho' men have no public fcandal to charge me with, yet by original and actual tranfgreffion, I am the chief of linners ; but his love hath been great, the mani- festations of his prefence hath been great alfo ; for Satan hath not been wanting to affault, but yet glory to his name, who hath refitted him, and hath not permitted him to get his will. Now, as my laft words, I recom- mend it to all, to be tender one of another^ without finning ; and be in earned with God, for ye will find death will have enough ado with itfelf ; therefore delay not repentance, left he come when ye are not aware. Now, as for thefe men that are unjuftly taking away my life, only for adhering to the truth, and for no other end ; now for what they do to me, as I am of myfelf, I free- ly forgive them and all others, and efpecially thefe blind- ed foldiers, that do what they do ignorantly fome of them; but as they do it to the image of God in me, that is not mine to forgive : but I leave to him, to whom vengeance doth belong, that he may do with them what may mod glorify himfelf. Now, my work is finifhed, I have fought the good fight ; I have finifhed my courfe ; henceforth is laid up . for me a crown of righteoufnefs : but let fuch as will condemn me read that icripture, Rom. viii. 33. Who fhall lay any thing to the charge of God's elecl ? it is God that jnfiifieth, who is he that condemneth ? For my lot is fallen to me in pleafant places ; I have a goodly heritage ; for I would not change my lot for the greateft man's upon earth. Men and angels praife him for this; all the creation praife him ; O ! my foul fhall praife him, thro' all the ages of eternity. Now, farewel all true friends in Chrift ; farewel Chriftian relations ; farewel fweet and holy fcriptures; farewel prayer and meditation ; farewel finning and fui- fering. Welcome heaven, welcome innumerable compa- of yohn Wilfon. 279 ny of angels, and the church of the firft-born, and the fpirits of juft men made perfect; welcome Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft; welcome praifes for evermore. Now, dear Father, receive my Spirit, for it is thine, even fo come Lord Jefus. Sic Subfcribitur, JOHN NIS BET. The Tejlimony of J O H N WILSON, witer in Lanerk, who fuffered at the Grafs-market cf Edinburgh May 16. j68 3 . His anfjjers before fev en or eight of the council April l~th. THE chancellor faid, We having called James Lau- rie, produced to him a letter wrote by you to him, wherein you reprove him for calling Bothwel rebellion : He owned, That it had convinced his conference, and faid, That he was forry for what he fpoke, and we produ- ced him a letter fuppofed to be writ in anfwer to yours, which he denied. Tell us, who wrote that letter ? John Wilfon anfwered, I will not tell by whom, only it was not wrote by James Laurie. J§\ Who is the lady men- tioned in the end of the letter ? A. I da*e not burden my confeience to tell. 4>. Do you own authority ? A. What authority ? J^\ What think you of Bothwel ? Was it net unlawful to rife in arms ? A. 1 dare not lay that it is 1 lawful; for the confefHon contained in your ted fays, Article 15. That it is a good work to defend the life of the harmlefs ; and however God hath difpofed of thofe peo- ple, yet I fuppofe the Lord will own thefe, that hearing their neighbours had been worfhipping God, (for defend- ing themielves againft thofe that fought their life) were in jeopardy of their lives, thought it their duty to rife for their relief. ^\ Was Pentland rebellion? A. The oppreflion of thefe poor people was fuch, that the then rulers condemned Sir James Turner for his cruelty. Upon this, one anfwered, That he knew Sir James went not the length of his commifllon. ^K Was the bifhop's death murder? Have me excufed gentlemen, I will not anfwer to that. Being urged farther, he (aid, It being nothing concerning n ation, I do not pry into it. Upon this they faid, Did Bothwel concern your 1 on ? To which he replied, There arc none th themfelves in fervice to God, but it beh hem to at his call, and it being for laving the life of the A a z 2 So The lajl Speech and Teflimony lefs, I durfl not fit God's bidding, jf\ Are you a mini- it er ? A* No. They here alledged fome of his letters importing fo much : and being defired to read the place, they read fcmewhat about a call to fome miniftry, no- thing relating thereto. J^\ Will ye not condemn the bi- fhop's death as murder ? A. I dare not, for fear God hav- ing juftified fome of thefe actors, they mould rife in judg- ment and condemn me. iP. Is there no other way but to rife in arms againft the king ? A, I fuppofe you have read Biihop Honnyman's anfwer to Naphtali, wherein lie fays, A king may be rejifled, in cafe be foould alienate the kingdom to fir anger s : And that being granted, religion being taken away, was as dear to us as any outward in- terest. One replied, The biihop got little thanks for that. J§>. Think you it lawful to rife againft a ftate that are not of your opinion ? Will ye go to Bothwel again ? Thefe queftions they gave him not leave to anfwer, but crdered him to be taken away, aiking, if he wa* a captain, at Bothwel i Which he aifented to. His Anfv:ers before the council ', April 17. OMitting what he anfwer ed at his former appearance, which needs not be repeated (their queftions being always the fame) they afked, is Bothwel rebellion or not ? A* No, It being for the defence of the harmlefs, who for hearing a preaching, and defending themfelves; and the confeffion of faith contained in your teft, iays It h a good work to defend the life of the harmlefs. £K Thea you approve of the teft ; Will you take it ? A. I am not freaking of the teft, but of the confeffion of faith there- in contained. J§\ Think you it lawful to rife againft ma- gi ftracy ? A. Will you condemn the reformation from Popery carried on by John Knox ? We are not come here (laid they) to anfwer queftions, but to afk : But (replied he) the anfwering of that to me would be a full anfwer by me to your queition. Then faid the biihop, The re- formation was good, but the way of carrying it on was ill. A. That is a marvellous thing, to think God would approve the aclors in fuch actions, and yet the method be ill ; and they to have a mod folic! peace in thefe actions, and to have fuch a mouth to defend it, as all the wits in their days could not be able to withftand, as will be clear to any that read the hillory of the reformation. O, faid they, he has read the hiiiory of the reformation : Ay, of $fohn Wilfon. 2 8 1 but you will not find it in the Scripture, faid they, that the people may refift the prince, fcr then they take the magiftrates part on them, and therein declare them- felves to be above their prince. A. The people refitted Saul, and would not let him kill Jonathan, (1 Sam. xiv. 45.) The bifhop faid, The people were in the wrong. A. The Scripture never condemns the deed. eople profelTing God, the idolater fhould die the death; br then it would feem to juftle with Queen Mary's de- )oikionin our ancient Reformation : Defigning offence to lone hereby, but the fatisfying of my own conicience. \lfo I adhere to the work of reformation, former and ater : and I think our catechifms well worded, for e- rading of errors. As alfo the Solemn Acknowledgment )f Sins, in anno 1648, and Engagement to Duties; Co- renants, National and iblemn League ; and particularly the government of the church by a parity of minifters, tnd fubordination of prefbyteries, fynods, and general tflemblies, according to the Prefbyterian way ; as being he moll exactly according to the word of God, and as ending mod to the furtherance of purity and godlinefs ; md I profefs myfelf a member thereof, as being reform- id from prelacy and Eraitianifm, &c. I leave my teftimony againft the Indulgence, as mak- ng a breach of the fweet unity, that ihould have been a- nong Prefbyterians, and as depending on the magiftrate is to the exercife of their office ; and for their over-ween- ng love of eafe ; and for being bound up as to the fhew- ng of public duties, and reproving of public fins; and or refuling the exercife of their office, to thefe without heir pariih, of marrying and baptifing, denying them- elves thereby to be minifters of the church catholic, and teclaring plainly thereby, they will follow the injuncci- ins laid on them by men. Yet I advife all the godly to save off hatred towards them, and to cherilh any thing hat may look like good in them. I leave my teftimony gainft the paying cefs, the payment whereof is a per- ecl teft of the payer's adhering to the rooting out of con- enticles, as the rendezvoufes of rebellion, andacknow- edging the king's grandeur over church and ftate, as it > prefently eftablifhed by the laws of this realm ; this be- ig the very narrative and foundation of that acl ; and I ave found the indulged averfe to condemn it, the narr- ative of their licence being fomewhat fibb thereto. But s to the other public burdens, fuch as the common ro enue of the crown, or locality (tho' I fpeak not this to jftify myfelf, thefe not being my tentations) I defire a ^ndcrnefs to be ufed to all fuch as have not clearness bercii:, in rcfpe^fl the apoftle feems to difference them, 288 The lajl Speech and Teftimony I Cor. x. 28. * But if any roan lay unto you, This is of * fered in facrifice unto idols, eat not. I leave my teftimony againil hearing of curates, e fpecially by profeft Prefbyterians ; as being contradicto ry to the Covenants, binding us to the uttermoft of ou power for the extirpating Prelacy. Our active powel| being Itopped, our next fhould be to leave a teftimonyj by fuffering, and as being contrary to the rule of faith t For what Prefbyterian can pray for a bleffing to that or4 dinance, where the chief difpenfer is a blafphemer, bf fwearing the Teft ; wherein the headfhip of the church* Chrift's prerogative, is fworn by them to pertain to a man : and as being exprefly contrary to that fcripturei John x. 5. ' My fheep hear my voice, but a ftranger they 1 will not follow, but flee from him.' And here I think it not amifs to add the words of Philpot, that learned and godly martyr, of the joiners of the paphtical churchi feeing the reafon he gives holds good here. " We can " do no greater injury to the true church of ChriftJ 4C (whereof he is the only head) nor to fee=m to have forJ ** faken her, by cleaving to her adverfary; and thai " God's jealoufy in the day of vengeance will cry foa Ci vengeance againft fuch, unlefs they cleave infeparablyj " to the gofpel of Chrift; and that there mud be nd " counterfeit illufion with them in this; and there mu ft bd * c no prefence of the body there, we being commanded td I And moreover, 4 Which lay to the iers, fee not; and to the prophets, prophely not unto *w> right things, fueak unto u^ finooth things, prophef; 2$ 6 The I aft Speech and Tefti'mcny 4 deceits. Get ye out of the way, turn afide out of the * path, caufe the holy one of Ifrael ceafe from before us/ Ifa. xxx. 10. ii. And I cannot, nor dare not pray for hirn fo fuperflitioufly. i/?, Becaufe it imports a fet form of prayer, which is moil; fuperilitious, and that which is their dreadful defign. idly, It imports idolatry, like un- to the cry of the people made mention of Acls xix. £4. who had a cry for the fpace of two hours, of that idol, 4 Great is Diana of the Ephefians,' which was reject- ed by fome of their own fort, with fome kind of reaibn y tho' Heathens, and much more ought it here, 3 ', A- nother reafon why I cannot pray after fuch a manner, is, I find when prayer is rightly difcharged, and ferioufly gone about, in the manner, time and place, as is war- ranted b)%the word of God; God is thereby worfhipped' and honoured : and if irreverently gone about, he is dif- honoured, and his name profaned, and taken in vain, which is abomination to him, and which he faith, his ene- mies do, and for which he will not hold them guiltlefs, 4/^/y, I dare not pray fo fuperftitioufly for him, becaufe I' find Jeremiah three times exprefly forbidden to pray for a people, not guilty of all the things that he is guilty of r though he be guilty of all their fins, and many others- alfo. See for this Jer. vii. 16. where it is faid, ' Pray * not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer 4 for them, neither make interceffion to me ; for I will* 4 not hear thee.' Jer. xi. 14. ■ Therefore pray not thouj 4 for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them ; jj 4 for I will not hear them in the time that they cry untoj c me for their trouble.' And Jer. xiv. 11,12.' Then faidj * the Lord unto me, Pray not for this people for theirj * good : When they faft, I will not hear their prayer. I Pfal. xliv. 20, 21. ' If we have forgotten the name of ouri 4 God, or ftretched out our hands to a ftrange god ; mall' 4 not God fearch this out? for he knoweth the fecrets* 4 of the heart.' 1 John. v. 16. 4 If any man fee his bro-1 * ther fin a fin which is not unto death, he fhall afk, and* 4 he fhall give him life for them that fin not unto death. 4 There is a fin unto death ; I do not fay, that he fhall -i 4 pray for it.' I fear fome fins in this land have too near bordering with that fin. Innumerable fcriptures are toil this purpofe, but thefe may fuffice at prefent. Another > thing makes me fcruple, becaufe they command no moe prayers to be prayed, ' fave unto thee, king,' Dan, y. of George Mar fin. 297 7. Av.&laflly, I dare not pray it, becaufe all the pre ^ate perfons have it always in their mouth, cfj illy when they are drunk ; and if I do what tht ear 1 go where they go: but bleffed be the Lord, who las yet prevented me from the paths of thefe deftroy- :rs. Much of this was fpoken when I was before th md fo I fhall forbear to fpeak any more as to this qu Dn. The next queftion is, in order to the prelate's death, Whether it was murder or not? Murder not call t, more than Eglon's, Sifera's, and Balaam's deaths, 3Ut the juit judgment of God for his fcarfu! apo'ftacy and aackfliding, together with the horrid murders com icd by him upon the faints and fervants of God. The ;hird is, That of the d. the Jate king; whether it tras murder or not I I am not much to meddle Dut the many thoufands that were ilain in England, the borrid murder committed, by the Iriih, in Irela . me dreadful Slaughter of the Proteftants in Scotland, caufes great thoughts of heart, that it was a fatal ftroke. A fourth thing, Whether Bothwel-bridge was rebellion? which whether it was fo or not, may appear, if ye con- Rder our former engagements to that effect. And z. Anent owning and adhering to the covenants ? We an- fwered publickly before the court, That in all the Scrip- ture it was warrantable, both to make covenants, alio to keep them, and that there was never a covenant fo broken, but that which was puaiilied by fignal judg- ments and plagues by the Lord. Thefe were the ftoers to the indiftment, whereupon the ientence of d< palled, or for not anfwering to fome of thefe quehaons ; for which I mull lay down my 1:: i if this be not murder, let chriitian nations bear witnefs, if ever the like done in any chrillian kingdom heretofore. But now being ilraitened for w time and other Inconveniences, I cannot fay much more to you. ( e it with you i i a ft advice, That you would endeavour to kc of the Lord fmeerely, and not to meddle with them that are given to inch chan which alas ! too many plead for, and are given to this d and that yc would not be fo formal in many things, con- cerning godlinefs, and the work and worihip 1 Formality, may be feared, will give man ;uile, 1 it cannot be mei: 1 , b* ; 298 The lajl Speech and Teftimcny more obfervant in keeping the Lord's day, in rifing be times in the morning, and in fpending the whole tim in worfhipping of God fmcerely : Take heed to your, thoughts, words and anions. And when ye fet a day! apart, I mean of humiliation, give God the whole day* and notice what fuccefs ye have had, and how ye hav found the work thrive and profper among you : And ufe leis difputings even in things feemingly necefTary : An be more in examination and edification both of youi felves and others : x^nd believe it, a well-fpent fabbat will be helpful to fpend the week well. And alfo la- bouring to have your converfation aright thro' the week, will be a noble prefage to begin the fabbath. And what ye fpare of your ordinary diet, beftow it upon the poo and needy. There is this among many, who profefs t be religious, which is odious, That they take well wit it to be called religious, and yet they have little or n fcruple to do wrong, and fpeak wrong of others, an towards them. I befeech you fin not, tho' there wer no eye to fee you but God, either by doing or fufFering You will never perform religious duties aright, till ye b at this, that ye dare do wrong in no kind to any. ' Do ' juilly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God Alas I it is fad to fee and hear judgments and plagu multiplied, and fin fo much increafmg. O for mor tendernefs one towards another ! and of a fpirit of meek- nefs and zeal for God, give yourfelves to be ever in prayer one with another, and one for another : Wreftlei with him in behalf of his church, and ruined work noAvj born down, and that he may return to the land, and pity his people ; and be importunate with him in this,] left the ruin thereof be found to be under your hand.] I fear you may expect judgments to come fuddenly upon this finful land ; fo that ye will think, happy were they that wan away before they came : Therefore fo many of you as would in any meaiure efcape the deluge of wrath, that is coming on this finful generation, keep clean hands,- and be free of the finful abominations committed there-' in ; and for witneiling againil them, we are to lay down our lives this day. And now as a dying man, and a dying Chriftian, I join with, and approve of all the Holy Scriptures, both of the Old and New Teftament. both of threatenings and promifes therein. As alfo I agree with, and alio 1 * of George Martin. 299 if that excellent book, called the Confeffion of Faith, nth the Larger and Shorter Catechifms, Sum of Sav- ig Knowledge, Directory for Worfhip ; and particu- arly, I adhere to, and allow of the two Covenants, both National and Solemn League and Covenant, Acknowl- edgment of Sins and Engagement to Duties, with all thers contained in the forenamed book. As alio I do pitnefs and teftify my dillike of the breaches and burn- ogs of thefe covenants, and of all other horrid abomina- ions of that nature. And likewife I abhor and dete.l ill compliance or joining with the enemies of our Lord [efus Chriit ; and more particularly of bonding, bargain- ng, and informing, or putting them to do hurt, any nanner of way, to any of the Lord's poor afflicted, born lown, wandering and diitreffed people. And in like nanner, I hate and deteft all communing with, fpeak- ng favourably of, or eating or drinking with any inch, :xcept in cafe of neceffity. And in like manner, I tefti- y my diflike of that dreadful, blafphemous, and abomi- lable unparalleled reft, and of all pretended magiitrates md miniiters, which have taken the fame, and of all liat meddle or join with them ; or of payers of f 'or hearing the gofpel, or transacting or colieaguing with my fuch, any manner of way, upon the forefaid account. \nd laftly, I hate too much covetouinefs in pcifoners >vho are in any capacity to maintain themfelves, and fet are burdenfome to other poor, mean (tho' charitable) people. And I join heartily with the tellimonies of our bar luffering brethren, who fuffered either formerly or m late. And likewife I join my teftimony to a faithful hed gofpel, by faithful Prefbycerian, lawfully cal- ed and authorized miniiters, and lawful magi it 1 d and impowered, as is agreeable and warranted by the word of God, and none other. And notwithstanding [ be branded with not admitting of magiftracy and king- y authority, I do hereby declare and make it known to .he world, That I do allow of lawful authority, agree* ible and conformable to the will and command of God, :he only lawgiver, as much as any man in my Ration in Scotland, and accounts a land happy and Licit, in hav- ing and enjoying of fuch. id now, being honoured to die for auherin ■ruth, and to die this fame day, being the 22d, oi .. 1 do hereby forgive all wrongs goo The lajl Speech and Teftimony done tome, and wifh them forgivenefs, as I defire to \% forgiven of God. And now I leave all my friends an^ chriftian relations to the good guiding of Almighty GoJ and bid you ail farewel in the Lord : Farewel all world< ly enjoyments, and created comforts. And welcome Fa< ther, Son, and Holy Ghoft, into whofe hands I commil mv (pint. GEORGE MARTINS Together with this martyr fuffered John Gilry wrighj in the parifh of Haunam in Teviotdale, whofe indictment was founded upon the fame heads, and his teftimony ij much of a piece with his. He dies admiring and praifj ing free grace, adhering to the truths of Jefus, and firm* ly trufting in him for faivation. The laft Teftimony of] H N MAI N, nvho lived in til parijh oflVeftMonkland, and Jujfercd at the crofs o/Glaf* goiv, March 19. 1684. IT cannot be expected, every thing confidered, thai ye fhall have fuch a teftimony under my hand, as yj have had from the hands of many that have gone befon me : but feeing God in his rh finite wifdom hath feen it fit to bring me upon the ftage for truth, I thought myj feif bound and obliged in his light, to teftify before thd world, my clofs adherence to his written word, and whai is conform thereto. And fir ft, I teftify my adherence td the Bible, the Old and New Teftament, as the only ani alone rule of faith and obedience. I know, it ftands nol in need of my approbation ; but to let the world kno\J I die not as a fool, I think it my duty to afTert my acl herence unto it, declaring, that I take it for my onlj rule, rejecting the traditions of men as not canonical. 2I I teftify my adherence to the Confeffion of Faith (fayinl nothing to that 4th article of the 23d chapter, but onlj that it is mifconftructed, and made ufe of for another enJ than ever the honeft and faithful minifters of Jefus Chril had before them, when they gave their approbation of the fame) and Catechifms Larger and Shorter, our Col venants National and Solemn League, Acknowledgmein of Sins and Engagement to Duties, the Sum and Pracd txcal Ufe of Saving Knowledge. 3. To the work of rca formation, as it was reformed from Popery, PrelacyJ of jfohn Main. 301 and malignancy; even to that work, as it is a direfi: op- pofition to every fin, and motive to every duty ; and par- ticularly to the remonilrances, proteftatiens and t monies againft the malignant party and malignant ons, they being found out to be inconfiftent with, and contrary to the written word of God, and the fworn principles of the church of Scotland, and being found to be hurtful to chriilian fociety, not only by the effects of them, but as to the nature and quality of them, even fimply confidered in themfelves, befides the bad effects aggravating them in the fight of the truly godly, and rightly zealous minifters and profeffors of this church . 4. To the faithful preaching of the gofpel, upon muir-s. and mountains, and high places of the fields, and par' i cularly the preaching down the fins of the time, and up duty. 5. I leave my teilimony to the lifting arms, for perfonal defence, and for defence of the gofpel : For fee- ng that other means were failed, and an occafion offer- ng for that, the law both of God and nature does var- iant and allow the fame. I need not go tc quote Scrip- pflre for the probation of it, fmce the whole fcope of it -uns in this ftrain ; and aifo ye may read feveral places tf Scripture, particularly and exprefly allowing, yea, :ommanding, the fame, and many imitable Scripture samples, where the people of God lifted arms againft cings, as the people's refifting of Saul. I teftify to the awfulnefs of that hoftile defence at Pentland and Both- cvel-bridge, and feveral field meetings, where they were ?ut to it by the violent and bloody aiTaults of their ere- nies. 6. In a word (for I ftudy brevity, being necefii- ate) to all the faithful teftimonies of the godly, given :>n fcaffolds, and fome other teftimonies given in hoftilc lianntr, viz. The teftimony given at Rutherglen, F 29. 1679. anc * l ^ e declarations publifhed at Lanerk, in :he years 1680. and 1682. I difown and teftify againft :he declaration publifhed at Hamilton, in the year 1 67Q. particularly, becaufe it takes in the intereft of Charle> Stuart ; for tho' Ix was once a king, he is >y his cutting the neck of the noble government efta- jlifhed in this tand, and overturning the main an J iamental conditions, whereupon he was conftitute-; and ft is notour to all in this kingdom, and I 1 to part )f our neighbour nations alfo, that he carries on :ontrary to the word of God, and light C c jo 2 The laft Speech and Teftimony deftrucHve to all chriftian and human fociety; yea, courie that very Heathens would abhor, even the thing; itfelf, abftradt from its aggravations. I come now, in fhort, (defiring ye may pardon eTcapes) to let you know what I teftify againft. And i . (not to go further back) I leave my teftimony againft many mi- nivers, for their leaving their Mailer's work, at the fim« pie command of ufurpers, as if they had been only the fervants of men; and I declare my difapprobation, ye3, my teftimony againft the finful filence of minifters, after they had left the vineyard where their Mafter had pla- ced them to labour, and their not acknowledging public* iy their unfairhfulnefs ; for which (together with their other grievous failings) the Lord is this day contending with them. I know not what plagues are fo fad as to be plagued by the hand of God, by being laid afide from his work ; I fay, their unfaithfulnefs, in not (landing in the way of the people, when they were fo generally drawn away to hear curates. Miftake me not, thinking that I look upon the people as innocent, when I fpeak of the fins of the minifters ; for I fee it my duty to teftify againft both, and there will not one of them excufe another I But remember that the minifters muft count for the peo- ple who perHh thro' their default. 2. Againft minifters their tampering with that woful and hell-hatched indul- gence, and more particularly, their accepting thereof. I teftify againft the aflual accepters of it, and againft woful connivance in the non-accepters of the fame ; and' whereas there ought to have been an open teftify ing and; protefting againft it. I mall ftudy to fay but litle ; but I die in the faith of it, That God (hall fend a clear dif- covery of matters, and thefe that have betrayed their: truft, and have not been as they fhould and ought to^ have been, fhall fee and be afhamed ; but Lord grant that many may fee the evil of their doings in time, and"' may mourn for the fame, or otherwife it will be fad for them ; but every one fhalr fee flrft or laft : But remem- ber Efau, who found no place for repentance, tho' he fought it carefully with tears. 3. Againft the minifters, their woful yielding unto and joining with the malignant party and intereft at Bothwel-bridge, and their woful yielding unto the usurpation made upon the preroga- tives royal of our wronged Lord and prince Jefus Chrift, by their acceptance of liberty granted after BothvveN of %ohn Main. bridge, and taking occafion to preach in houfes accord- ing unto the liberty granted, refuting to preach without doors, notwithstanding of the great neceflity fometimes re- quiring the fame, and many of them refufmg to preach when any of the people flood without doors ; this was notour- ]y known in the time, and I think it be not yet forgot, and however it may be forgot by us, yet I allure you, it is net forgot by a holy God. I teftify againft th^ir fm- ful liience, and not jeoparding their lives for their wrong- ed Lord and provoked Mafler, efpecially at the time when Mr. R. C. and Mr. D. C. went to the fields. I teftify againft their condemning of thefe two worthies in dif- courfe and preaching, and alfo in their practice. la fhort againft every thing in minifters and profeflors con- trary unto, or inconfiftent with the Prefbyterian princi- ples of the church of Scotland. 4. I leave my teftimcr.y againft Ropery, Prelacy and Eraftianifm, and every thing contrary to the word of God, and particularly againft Quakerifm, Anabaptifm, Independency, and all Sectari- ans, and whatfoever is not warranted by the holy Scrip- tures. 5. Againft the impofmg of that curfed cefs ; not that I call cefs-lifting in itfelf unlawful ; but I call that cefs unlawful, which was impofed by a corrupt conven- tion of eftates who met at Edinburgh, in the year 1673. For fome things that are in themfelves lawful, are fome- times {o circumftantiated, as that they become unlawful ; as fometimes the end of an action makes the action unlaw- ful : I may give the cefs for an inftance of this : for the end of impofmg it (as themfelves declare) was mainly to bear down field m. . and other innocent aflbciations of the people of God, difdainfully and wickedly called by them rendezvoufes of rebellion ; which meetings all Scot- land w md to maintain; but they ought to been in the places conftitute for worlhip, and would have been there, had bonds and engagements been confcientioully minded by all that were under them. O let not this per- fidious generation think that they are loofed from the ties of thefe covenants ; for as fure as God is in the hea- vens he will make them know another thing, even that it was not in their power to refcind thefe covenants, a by goim; about fo to do, they have brought much wrath upon themfelves and their pod, them, if they repent not. But oh ! do they not look like a generation of iiis wrath? and, not to pais the bounds of charity, 1 C c 2 304 The laft Speech and Teflimony fear they will be the objects of his wrath; and it will be- a dreadful day, fee it who will, when the wicked (hall be as Rubble ;*nd tow, and the wrath and vengeance of God fnall feize upon them as fire, and burn them up, for they will not efcape. And 6. Againft the payers of the cefs ; for h was a fad thing in a people, that fhould have eppofed all courfesof that kind, inilead of oppofing, to contribute tc the carrying on of that very courie, that they ought tc have oppofed. O ! that they would confider, and lay it to heart, and fet themfelves to redeem time, 'pent and abufed time ! 7. And againft locality and. lines paying, feeing that it contributes to the ftrengthen- ing of the adverfanes hands ; as for the locality, we may eafily fee k to be finful, fince they (the enemies) have impofed it for the maintenance of a party raifed and keep- < ■ed up for no other ufe (as their daily practice declares) ■ but to harrafs, rob and fpoil the poor people of Cod, for their clofs (O that ic were cloiTer) adhering to their fv/orn principles, and to kill them for not denying of thefe principles, And as for the paying of fines, it would be confidered, that thefe fines are impofed upon people for their duty ; and fines impofed by right and juftice, ought always to be for tranfgreifion ; neither can a fine be impofed by right, but for a tranfgreflion : So that by paying «f thefe fines fo impofed, we rauft be faid either to yield aclive obedience to an unjuft courie, which we . ought always to oppofe, or we may be laid to make our- J feives tranfgreflbrs, and thefe duties (in which we ought to venture life and fortune) to be tranfgreffions. I fay, 1 one of thefe will confequently follow, if not both : But] alas 1 thofe things that are grievoufly finful many ways, are become fo habitual, that they are never noticed nor j thought any thing of, nor will be, till God come in his power and great glory, to difclofe the fecrets of all hearts. 8. I leave my teftimony againft the people their hearing of curates, bafely leaving the way of truth, and' I following a courfe difhonouring to God, and deftruc- < tive to themfelves. AJfo* againft the joining with the in- . culged and unfaithful minifters, vindicating themfelves thus, That it is good to hear the 'word ; not considering, that thefe minifters have fo far gone out of the way of God, in their accepting of that indulgence, as that they ought to be teftified againft, and when they go on obftinately in that crooked way, ought to be withdrawn from. It.* of %ohn Main. 305 Way be fome will fay, That this is ignorantly reafoned ; but I fear, if they would fearch things narrowly by the Spirit of God, they would find, that God k not counte- nancing them in it. And alfo, that they ought to have given far other fort of teftimony againft that courfe, than to have joined and gone alongft with it, as far as their ftation would have required; but now the obftinacy of this generation is fo great (and we have ma*iy fad evi- dences of this) that I fear, there will nothing convince them but the judgments of God, which has mace me the ilefs careful to write anything altho'I could, that might, being from the hand of a dying man, be any way con- vincing to them. But as it becomes one laying down his life for hfs royal and princely Matter Jefus Chrift, I leave my tei mony againft joining with them ; yea, againft that which they call firnple hearing, and this I have dene to exoncr my confeience in the fight of a holy and jealous God ; and do declare, that if mercy in Chrift prevent b (which will not be found but in mercy's gate, which fa believing and repentance) they (hall fmart under the heavy wrath of God for their complying with fuch crook- ed and God provoking courfes. And I as a man, lay :- down my life for the inter eft of my fweet Lord, do warn all and every one of them, who have joined with thefe evil courfes, to fly from the wrath to come, which will be on this generation inevitable ; yea, I obteit you to fee from it, as ye tender the glory of God, and the rood of your own fouls. O flee from it by fpeedy repentance, and lay hold upon the blood and righteoufhefs of Jei Chrift for that effect, and ftudy to have ycur names fcraped out of the black catalogue of thefe few ing defpifers of that precious blood and righteoufnefs, purchaied for that end, to take away the fms of s!l that will come, and by faith lay hold upon it, and to re- concile them to a provoked God. God's wrath is burn- ing againft the children of difobedience, and he has faid, * That fuch as turn afide to crooked ways, he will lead I them forth with the workers of iniquity ;' and in another place he fays, « If any man draw back, my foul mall 1 have no pleafure in him.' 9. I leave my teftimony a- gainft the taking of that curfed teff, and the iheie- jC> and I declare it to be a horrid wickednefs, a Gc diibvvaing, and a God daring courfe. 10. Againft com- Cc 3 ^06 The lafl Spitcb and Teflimc I courts, and 1 declare it to be a thin; incontinent with a faithful teftimony for truth at thij lime; it being (i.) An owning of that authority, found* \ uiurped fupremacy over the prerogative four Lord, which tiling ought to be fo far tefti-J 1 agaioft, as not to own or anfwer to any court hn» ' name of Charles Stuart, becaufe he hath quite forfdtr. ( ^ht to rule as king. (2.) It is a clear con- demning of fuch as have fuflered the lofs of means upon that account, and thefe who have laid down their lives againft the owning of that authority ; and let none think me fooliih in adjoining my teftimony to the teftimonies ■ of thefe, nor in my difowning of that authority. 11. Againft the lifting of militia, and the paying of militia- money. 12. I teftify againft the proceedings of that a- ] bominabie wretch John Gib, and thefe teftimonies wrote by him in the name of others, as being a thing prejudi- cial to the interefts of our Lord. And now as to the articles of my indictment, they are all of them fuch things as cannot be made criminal. As to the firft, viz. IVly making my efcape out of the tol— - booth, I was doing it moft innocently, doing hurt to no- perfon, neither did I ever hear that it was criminal. As to the fecond, viz. That I had confeffed that I was at Bothwel bridge, I cannot fee how that can be made cri- minal. If I got but the lafh of their own law, (if it be not abufe of language to call it law) and no further;,, for all that were on -lookers that day, could not be faid to be in the adtion. As to the third, viz. My converf- ing with * Gavin Wotherfpoon'fince Bothwel, whom they call a notorious rebel, but cannot prove him fo ; neither can they fhew me that law founded on the word of God> that makes converging with him criminal : and iince they cannot upon fufficient grounds call him a re- bel, what they fay and do without ground, I do not fee myfelf obliged to anfwer it ; for that rebellion that the law ftrikes againft, is that which can be proven rebellion againft powers acting for God, and fo confequently re- bellion againft God. And fure I am while a man fol- veth his duty (for it is merely for following his duty • This was a very eminent and zealoui fufferer, who being forfeit- ed of his land and poflefTion, for adherence to the truth, fuifered many i of perfecutkon : but \va; brought thro' without compliance, be- ing iKxiraft in the way of the Lord till his death, which wa* about t*u. ^ciri £ncc. cf john Main. 307 that they call him a rebel) he can never be faid to be in ebellion againft God. As to the fourth article, That I refufed to call Bothwel-bridge rebellion, I would ite the aw that makes a man's filence, wh-n interrogated, cri- aainal. And alfo, as to the tiling elf, who knows not, hat it was mere defence ? And who can make it out to- je rebellion againft powers acting for God ? For as is [before laid, this, and no othei rebellion that the law of God, and the 1 ; kes againft. jAnd the fifth, viz. That I laid, r. cf the Co- venants were lawful. mows not that thefe ewe* aants were once approveti of as lawful, a -id CoU fworn by the whole nation, and the Confeffion of Faith taken, and iworn unto as fundamentals of our religion ? And I deny (altho' by an act of a pretended parliament, :hey may pretend to refcind the fame) that it was in their power to refcind or overturn fuch a conftitution, until chey had made the unfoundnefs of it appear; and made "t appear wherein another was better, and till they had been in cafe to fet up a better in the room thereof. So :hat their fo doing, was not a walking according to the will of God, but according co their own wills contrary to the will of God, for the fatisfaclion of their own bafe lulls, and no ways (hewing themfelves to be ftudying either the glory of God, or the good o£ his people : fo that thefe covenants remain binding to this day, and, I hope, (hall be when they are gone, who fo wickedly fet them- felves againft them. As to the fixth article, That I rould not anfwer if it was lawful, yea or not, to obey Charles Stuart ? it is only filence, which no law nor reafon can make criminal. And as to my difcwning his authority, as they fay, they had only my filence alfo, which can never in law take away a man's life. As to my not afferting that the death of the late king was murder, I find they would have every one faying and attefting what they fay and afiert, whether they know it to be fo or not. I leave my teftimony, as a dying man, againft all fuch implicate walking ; and efpecially I tefti- fy againft any laying ftold implicitely upon the bare af- fertions or dictates of the enemies of God. And as to the prelate's death, I declare, as a dying man, that I think none can certainly judge that aclion, if it was aiurder, or not murder. And who fees not what thefe enemies to God, aud his Son Jefus Chrift are driving at, 308 The laft Speech and Tejlimony when they would compel men to afiert things only for their pleafures, that no human underftanding ean judge of, themfelves who were the actors only excepted. And now it is notour to all perfons of any capacity, and who will but ufe the light of nature, that there is no manner of juft fentence pail againft, or put in execution upon us; but that we were murdered only for the fatisfaction of men, who are worfe than Heathens. And now this my teftimony I feal with my blood, dy- ing in the faith of the proteftant religion, adhering to the Prefbyterian government of the church of Scotland, and witneffing againft every thing that tends to the hurt thereof; exhorting every one who defires to be found of God in love, to fettle and fix here. And let none fear to venture upon the crofs of Chrift. for I can fay from experience, (glory be to him for it) that he has borne the crofs and me both, or otherwise I could never have undergone it with fo fmall difficulty. And the grett reafon of many their fainting under the crofs, is their lay- ing fo little weight on Jefus Chrift, and fo much upoi* themfelves, and upon any bit of attainment they think themfelves to have. O let every one ftudy that holy art of independency upon all things befides him, and depend only upon himfelf. And now I bid farewel to- the poor remnant of the church of Scotland, and I leave them to; God, and his good hand; I bid farewel to friends and acquaintances ; I bid farewel to my mother, and com- mit her to God, who only can provide for her, things neceflary both for foul and body ; I bid farewel to my two fifters, and commit them to God, who can be in- ftead of all things to them, and can foon make up the want of a brother to them, which want I think may be eafily born as the time now goes; farewel praying and believing, reading and meditating; I bid farewel to all temporal things, mercies and croffes. Welcome gallows for the intereft of my fweet Lord ; welcome heaven and everlafting glory ; welcome fpirits of juft men made per- fect ; welcome angels ; welcome Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, into whofe hands I commit my fpiric. JOHN MAIN. With this martyr fuife red other four, viz. John Rich- mond, Archibald Stewart, who lived in the parifh of Lefmahego, James Winning taylor in Glafgow, and James Johnfton in North Calder, all yexy zealous and: of %ohn Main 309 udicious Chriilians. The heads of their indiclments are ill the fame with thefe of this martyr, and their aniwers before their examinators have been very much to the ame effect ; all of them freely and fully owning the Co- venant, avouching it before their perfecutcrs, and like- wvife the lawfulnefs of defensive arms, for m&mtafaigg faithfully preached gofpel, and abiblutely denying tttfe king's ecclefiaftic fupremacy. Declining all of them to ■anfwer the impertinent queilicns concerning the bifhop's death, and that of King Charles I. in regard they knew not the circumftances of thefe fads, nor could make a judgment upon them, and found' themfelves obliged in no law, divine or human, to give their opinion about them ; and yet upon this their prudent liience, was their fentence founded, and execute with rage ; having fcarce forty-eight hours allowed them before their execution. As for the heads of truth to which they leave their teili- mony, and of defection and corruption, againft which they ieave it, they are ib near the fame with thefe con- tained in the foregoing Speech, that it would be but fu- perfluous to repeat them word for word as they (land; only fome few expreffions (hall be here infert out of them, to fhe w how cheerfully they underwent their fufferings ; to which purpofe thefe words of John Richmond are very remark- able ; ' Scar not at the crofs of Chrift ; for, O ! if ye knew what I have met with fince I came to prifon, (what love ! what matchlefs love from my fweet and lovely Lord ;) ye would long to be with him, and would count it nought to go thro* a fea of blood for him/ To the fame effeft, fee with what heavenly de- ght and complacency that ftripling Archibald Stewart, a youth of nineteen years accofts a violent de.nh, while he faith, * Now, this is the fweeteft and joyfuleft day that ever I had lince I was born. My foul bleiTeth the Lord, that ever he made choice of me to fuffer for his no caufe and intereft ; that ever he fet his love upon the like of me, to give a faithful teftimony for his contro- verted truths, who was born an heir of hell and wrath : but now he hath redeemed my foul thro* his precious blood and fuffering, from the power of fin and Satan, and hath made me overcome by the blood of the imma- culate Lamb of God.' And thereafter ; ■ I die not by conftraint; I am more willing to die for my lovely Lord Chrift, and his truths, than ever I waa to five : 3 I o The lajl Speech and Teftimcny c and my foul bleffeth the Lord, that ever he did accep ' of a teftimony from the like of me. Scar not at th< c way of Chrift, becaufe of fufFerings. Ifyeknewwhai * of his love I have got fmce I was honoured with impri * ionment for him, and what fweet ingredients he had: * put into my cup, ye would not be afraid of fuffering. ' He hath paved the crofs all over with love , and hath f made all fweet and comfortable to me, and hath made 1 all my troubles fly away, like the morning fhadows. O! 1 * I cannot exprefs his matchlefs love to me, neither can 1 s make mention of his goodnefs ! O ! it is but little I can 4 fpeak to the commendation of my lovely Lord and his « crofs/ &c. At the fame rate James Winning, having bewailed his being fo long a hearer of curates, fubjoins with a fweet and ravifiiing turn, < I blefs the Lord, be« * caufe of his goodnefs to me, who notwithftanding ol * all my compliance with enemies, hath not left me ii 1 that woful cafe, but hath brought me hither to witnefi * for his oppofed, burdened and ruined caufe and glory, « O ! I defire to blefs him for it, and call in all the ere- 1 ation to help me. O the wonderful power, riches anc 1 goodnefs of the Lord ; Glory to his rich and excellent 1 name, who hath difcovered to me the need of a Re « deemer, who will wafh me from my fins, and make m< * pure and fpotlefs before his throne in heaven.' Jamei Johnfton, among other heavenly expreflions, hath thefi concerning his lot of fuffering ; ? For this I blefs th< * Lord, for I could never have ventured upon the crofs 1 efpecially upon death itfelf, unlefs that he had he!pe< < me to it.' They died all with a forgiving fpirit, imi taiing their Lord and Mafter , and his holy apofiles, » praying for forgivenefs to their perfecutors ; tho' witha affuring them, that their blood would be required at thet hands if they did not repent, for what they had done a gainfl: the image of God in them. . The copy of a Letter written by the fore mentioned A R C H 1 BALD STEWART, erifhed in a night. Now you and I mud part, and take goodnight, you of me, and I of you, as willingly, and vith as great fatisfaction, contentment, and fub million o the will of our God, as if we were going to our fweet md comfortable fellowfhip-meetings, where our fouls nany times have been refrefhed, with the frefh gales of Jie Spirit of our God, which indeed was the life of our meetings ; for had it not been the love that we bare to Grod and his ways, he would never have made our meet- ings fo fweet to us •, fo that the longer that we continu- ed, and the oftener that we met, the Lord made more of himfelf known to us, in giving us new confirmations bf his love, and tokens of his kindnefs. Now, my lov- ing friends, I am going to my Father's houfe, to reap •:he fruit of all thefe waking nights that you and I had to- gether, when none knew of it but ourfelves and our hea- enly Father ; and I die in the hope of it, we fnall come to your Father and my Father, to your God and my God/ John xx. 1 7. to your Redeemer and my Redeem- er, to reap the fruit of all thefe meetings we had toge- ther ; O ! but that will be a joyful harveft time : I am ^oing to reap the fruit of all my reading, praving, tinging, converfing and meditating, and the fruits of all my trouble, toil and labour. Inftead of bitternefs I will enjoy Iwectnefs, inftead of trouble, reft, inftead of forrow and grief, joy and gladnefs; For fighing and firroiv JJ?ail Hy a*way. I am going to reap the fruit of my wounds, and all the reproches that they have caft upon me : I am going to reap the fruit of all my fighs and groans, efpe- cially thelc fince I came to prifon, where I have had very many of them. I am going to reap the fruit of my fet- ters, irons and imprisonment for my lovely Lord and Ma- tter Jefus Chrift ; and I am going to reap the fruit of my unjuft indictment and unjuft fentence. O ! but the fruits of thefe forementioned things will be a v > n of glory within a little time upon my head, up at my Fa- ther's throne, * when I (hall go no more out, and come no »~e in, having the name of my God written upon my 1 forehead, and the long of Mofes and th tb put in - mouth,' to f. -es of eternity? 312 The laft Speech and Teflhnony Now, dear friends, I cannot get him praifed, for th riches of his free grace, freely beflowed on me. O ! cannot get him praifed for bringing my foul out of th pit of deftruction, and for reclaiming my foul from th gates of hell. O my foul and heart, and all that is withh me, praife the Lord for his wonderful love to me ! an< alfo, my foul invites all the works of creation to praifi him for what we hath done to my foul ; for now I cai fay with David, from my own experience, « Come an< 'hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what h< 1 hath done for my foul/ And likewife I can fay wit] David, Pfal. xvi. 6. < The lines are fallen unto me ii « pleafant places ; yea, I have a goodly heritage.' An< more than all, that he hath faid to my foul, that he wil quarrel no more with me for fin, for my God hath fau to me, Ifa. xliii. 1,2. c But now, thus faith the Lon 4 that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee ' O Ifrael, fear not; for I have redeemed thee, I hav< * called thee by thy name, thou art mine. Whei * thou paffeft thro' the waters, I will be with thee ; anc c thro 5 the rivers, they fhall not overflow thee ; whei < thou walked thro' the fire, thou fhalt not be burnt; ( neither fhall the flame kindle upon thee.* And Matth ix. 2. ' Son be of good cheer, thy fins be forgiven thee. Now all is fure and well with me, I am brought neai unto God, thro' the blood of his Son Jefus Chrift; anc I have no more to do, but to lay down this life of mine that he hath given me, and take up houfe and habitatr- on with my lovely Lord and Mafter Jefus Chrift, whc purchafed life and lalvation to me by the price of hi! own blood and fufferings : O I but I have got an eafy caft of it ; O ! but I am come well and eafy to my pur« pofe, of redemption, peace and happinefs. But O ! J cannot get him glorified; and I will never get him e- nough glorified, as long as my foul liveth, and I fhall live as long as he liveth, and that is life without end. Now, my dear and loving friends, it is but little ad- vice that I can leave to you, how to order your life and converfation ; yet I fhall leave you my laft advice, as the Lord fhall help me. As God hath once made you to accept of him, upon his own terms and way, hold faft by him, and claim a right to him, from his own promifes and former loving kindnefs, wherein he hath manifested himfelf to you. And although you be made of Archibald Steivart. g 1 5 many times to think, that ire hath left you, when y are caden down, and under defertion, yet claim a right to him ; though you have dedroyed yourfelf, threep kindnefs upon him; and' refolve with job, That though be Jloould /lay you, yet will ye iruj} in himi I or you mu t not want your down-cad;ngs and defertions ; for all thefe things are given you for the trial of your faith. And you may know fomething of this from experience, that we cannot guide our Lord's prefence, when we eet tr, we are fo lifted up, that he mull cad us down again ; for our eld bottles cannot bear with the new wine of heaven, none of us can be free of defertion ; for as long as we life in this earth, we are often under an Egyptian cloud of darknefs. Spend much of your time in prayer and medi- tation, for I think, that in thefe is the life of religion ; and fpend time in Chridian converfe with any of your own judgment, and private prayer, as you and I did when we were together : and if you can get none, do your own part, and the Lord will make up all your lofs, for he hath engaged to make up all your wants. Now, double your diligence, and make ready for the trial, for you will not get it fhifted, if ye continue faithful to the end. I am not faying that the trial will take away your life; but I am perfuaded, you will come thro' difficul- ties, if the Lord fee fit to fpare you, to fee the glorious days that (hall be feen in Scotland again, and to reap of the fruit of it. This will be a high honour, for they will be a happy people, that will be the remnant of the church. Now, dear friends, hold fad, and let no man take your crown ; for it is ready at the end of your race ; run and never halt nor look back, till you obtain the prize. I have gotten the firfl dart of you a little ; but, I hope, you will follow me, before it be long, and we (hall meet again, and O ! what a joyful meeting fhall it be ? Study deniednefs to your life, and die daily, that death may not furprize you. But I mud forbear, my time is fo fliorr I cannot get all faid here, that I have to fay ; but what is want- ing, himfelf make it up to you. Now 1 take my leave ot you for a little time, hoping to meet again up above in our Father', houfe. 1 pray, that God iy red U] I wifh vou - Dd 314 The laft Speech and Teftimony Farewel in the Lord. Your dear and loving ' Ciiriftiarf friend, brother and foul's welhvifher, Ginjgow tolbocthy "> March 15, 1684.3 ARCHIBALD STEWART. The lafl Teftimony of Captain JOHN PAT ON, wfo lived in the Parijh of Finiuick, and fujfered at the Grafs- Market of Edinburgh > May 9th. 1684. Dear jriends and fpeclators> YOU are come here to look upon me a dying man,* and you need not expect that I (hall fay much, for I was never a great orator or eloquent of tongue, tho' I 1 may fay as much to the commendation of God in Chrift' Jefus, as ever any poor fmner had to fay. I have been as great a fmner as ever lived ; ftrong corruptions, ftrong lufts, ftrong paftions, a ftrong body of death have pre-" vailed againft me; yea, I have been chief of finners. T may fay on every back- look of my way, tho' the world 7 cannot charge me with any grofs tranfgreflion this da)\- for which I blefs the Lord, O ! what omiffions and com-? millions, what formality and hypocrify, that even my du- w ties have been my grief and fear, left thou a holy God had made them my ditties, and mayeft do : My mifim- proven time may be heavy upon my head, and caufe of defertion; and efpecially my fupplicating the council/ who has, I think, laid their fnares the clofer to take a-$ way my life, tho' contrary to their own profeffed law. I defire to mourn for my giving ear to the counfels of flefti and blood, when I fhould have been confulting heaven,.' and to reflect upon myfelf, tho' it lays my blood the clof- er to their door, and I think, the blood of my wife and bairns. I think, their fupreme magiftrate is not igno- rant cf many of their actings, but thefe "Prelates will not be found free when our God makes an inquifition for blood. And now I am come here, defired of fome indeed, who third for my life, tho' by others not defired. I blefs the Lord, I am not come here as a thief or a murderer, and I am free of the. blood of all men, but hate blood-(hed directly or indirectly. And now I am a poor finner, and could never merit any thing but wrath, and have no righteoufnefs of my own, all is Jefus (Thrift's and his a- lone, and I have laid claim to his righteoufnefs and his I trings by faith in Jefus Chrift, thro* imputation they of Captain %obn Palo?:. 3 1 5 ar_ mine, for I have accepted of his offer on his own terms, and fworn away myfelf to him to be at his difpof- al, both privately and publicly many times; and now I have put it upon him to ratify in heaven all that I have effsiycd to do on earth, and to do away all my imperfec- tions and failings, and to ftay my heart on him. I feek mercy for all my fins, and believe to get all my challen- ges and fins funk in the blood and fafferings of Jefrs and his n'ghteoufnefs, and that he ihali fee of the travail of his foul on me, and the Father's pleaiure fhall prof per in his hand. I blefs the Lord, that ever he \cd me out to behold any part of his power in the gofpel, in kirks, or fields, or any of his actings for his people in their ftraits. « The Lord is with his people while they be with him :' We may fet to our feal to this, and while they be unite : And O for a day of his power in cementing of this diftempered age. It is fad to fee his people falling out of the way, and of fuch a fiery fpirit, that look to be at one lodging at night, efpecially thefe who profefs to keep by our glorious work of reformation and folemn engage- ments to God, and to hold off the fins of thefe times. O hold off extremities on both hands, and follow the exam- ple of our bleffed Lcrd and the cloud of witneffes in the nth of the Hebrews. And let your way be the good old path, the word of God and bed times of the church, for if i: be not according to h ; s word, it is becauie there is no truth in it. Now, as to my interrogations, I was no: clear to deny Pentland or Bothwel. They afked me, How long I was at them I I faid, Eight days : and the aflize had no more to fentence upon, for the advocate faid, he would not pnrfue for PentlanJ, by reafonofan indemnity, before the privy council. The council afked me, if I acknowledged authority ? I faid, All authority according to the word of God. They charged me with many things, as if 1 had been a rebel fince the year i 640, and at Montroie's taking at Mauchlin muir. Lord for- give them, they know not what they do. 1 adhere to the fweet Scriptures of truth of the Old and New Teftament, and preached gofpel by a faithful lent miniftry, whereby he many times communicated himfelf to the fouls of his people, and tf) me in particu- lar, both in the kirks, and fince on the fields an J in tl private meetings of his people fn- prayer and fupplicati- *o him, I to our folemn Cc vl D d 2 3 1 6 The laft Speech and Tefttmony and Solemn League, Acknowledgment of Sins and En- gagement to Duties, which became national. I adhere to our Confeilion of Faith, Larger and Shorter Cate- chifms, Caufes of Wrath, and to all the teftimonies gi- ven by his people formerly, and of late, either on fields or icaffolds, thefe years bygone, in fo far as they are agree- able to his word, and the practice of our worthy reform- ers, and holy true zeal, according to his rule. I adhere to all our glorious work of reformation. Now, I leave my teiiimony as a dying man againft the horrid ufurpatr- on of our Lord's prerogative and crown right, I mean that fupremacy, eftabliihed by law in thefe lands, which is a manifeft uiurpation of his crown, for he is given by the Father to be head of the church, Col. i. 18. 19. * And he is the head of the body, the church : who is ' the beginning, the hrft-born from the dead ; that ia * all things he might have the preheminence. For it 1 pleafed the Father, that in him all fulnefs mould dwell.' And againft all Popery, Prelacy, and Eraftianifm, and ail that depends upon that hierarchy, which is a yoke that neither we nor our fathers were able to bear, which the poor remnant is groaning under this day, by that riornd cruelty renting their confeiences by tefls and bonds ; taking away their fubftance and livelihoods by j and illegal exactions, plunderings and quarterings* and compelling them to fin, by hearing, joining and tcmplying with thefe malicious curates. Matth. xxiii. 13. * Wo unto you Scribes and Pharifees, hypocrites; * for ye Taut up the kingdom of heaven againft men ; for * ye neither go in yourfelves, neither fuller ye them that * are entering to go in.' I leave my teftimony againft the indulgence fir ft and laft, for I ever looked on it as a fnare, and fo I never looked upon them as a part of the hopeful remnant of the church, and now it is fad to fee how fome of them have joined by their deeds in the per- fection of the poor remnant, and almoil all in tongue perfecution. Now, I « ^ould fpeak a fliort word or two to three forts of folk, but I think, if one would rife from the dead, he would not be heard by this generation, who are mad up- on idols and this world. Firjt, Thefe who have joined deliberately with the perfecutors, in all their robberies and haling innocent fouls to prifon, death and baniftiment. The Lord will not held ihem guiltlefs; they may 'read of Captain ffobn Paton. 3 1 7 ■what the Spirit of God hath recorded of them in Jude filth ver. and downward, and Obadiah's prophecy. A fort is, thefe who feem to be more fober and know- ing, vet thro' a timo#oufnefs and fear, have joined with them in all their corrupt courfes for eaie and their own things : do not think that thefe fig-leaves will cover in the cool of the day ; it is a hazard to be mingled with the heathen, left we learn of them their way. O Sirs, be zealous and repent ; feek repentance from Chrilr, he purchafed it with his blood ; and do your firtl works, if ever there was any faving works on your fouls ; for he will come quickly, « and who may abide the day of his c coming.' O Sirs, the noble grace of repentance grows not in every field ; many could not get it, tho' they fought it carefully with tears. O work while it is to day, the night draweth on, and it may be very dark. The third fort is, thofe who have been moft tender ; and O who of us can fay, that we have out of love to his glory iingly followed him ; upon examination we fear we find it not fo, but that we have come far fhort. We fear we find not him fuch as we would, ncr he us fuch as he would. O we may fay, ■ From the crown of the head • to the fole of the foot there is no place clean.' Nore can call a ftone at another ; we are all wounds, bruife*, and defilements. We muft put this work upon him who is the fountain to wafh foul fouls, who * breaks net the * bruifed reed, nor quenches the fmoking flax.' Give him much ado, for we have much ado for him. O that e were no reft in our bones becaufe of our fin. It is the Father's pleafure that he fhould fee his {c^d, and th j ijfure of the Lord profper in his hand. O that he *'culd make every one of us underftand our errors, and Peek after the good old path, followed in the molt pure limes of our church, and get in to our Lord Jefus (Thrift, jy faith in his righteoufnefs, by imputation and virtue )f his fufFerings forfmners, and keep by him. There is 10 fafety but at his back; and I befeech you, improve ime, it is precious when right improven ; * For ye know not when the Matter calleth, at midnight, cr at cock crowing. Dear friends, the work of the day is grc ind calls for more nor ordinary. O be oft at the throne, ,nd give him no reft to make fure your foul's in pardon freely, and then he will come with peace ; cek all tiie graces of his Spirit, the grace of love, I D d 3 3 1 8 The lafl Speech and Teftimony grace of holy fear and humility. O ! but there is much need of this and the promifed Spirit. Now, I defire to falute you, dear friends in the Lord Jefus Chrift, both priibned, baniihed, widow and father- lefs, or wandering and cad out^for Chrift's fake and the gofpel's, even the bleffing of Chrift's fufferings be with you all, ftrengthen, eftablifh, fupport and fettle you, and the bleffing of him who was in the bulli, which while it burnt, was not confumed, and my poor bleffing be- with you all. Now, as to my perfecutors, I forgive ail of them; inftigators, reproachers, foldiers, privy council, judiciaries, apprehenders, in what they have done to me; but what they have done in defpite againft the image of God's name in me, who am a poor thing without that, it is not mine to forgive them ; but I wifti they would ieek fcrgivenefs of him who hath it to give, and would do no more wickednefs. Now I leave my poor fympathifing wife and fix fmall children upon the Almighty Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, who hath promifed to be c a Father to the father J - * iefs, and a Hufband to the widow, and the orphan's * flay ;' be thou all in all unto them, O Lord. Now, the bleffing of God, and my poor bleffing be with them. And my fuit to thee is, that thou wouldft give them thy ialvation. And now farewel wife and children ; fare- wel all friends and relations ; farewel all worldly enjoy- ments ; farewel fweet Scriptures, preaching, praying, reading, ringing and all other duties. And welcome Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I defire to commit my foul to thee in well-doing. Lord receive my fpirit. Sic fubfcribitur, JOHN PATON. The UJi Tefthnony of J A M E S N I S B E T, letten me fee a fight of my fins, and a fight of the reme- dy that he has purchafed by his blood, and thro' his death to me, who was born an heir of hell and wrath by nature; but glory be to his great name, who has made me free from my fin, and made me as if I had never fin- ned. O glory and praife be to himfelf. But what fhall I fay ? for heart cannot conceive, hand cannot write, tongue cannot exprefs! for furely, if I could fay any thing to the praife and commendation of my lovely Lord Jefus Chrift, I have many things for which to do it. ljj, For that, That he has not letten me deny his truths and caufe, and his perfecutcd work; for there is nothing in me, as I am of myfelf, but I might have been amongil thefe that have difplayed a banner againft God, and have made the blood of his people to run in the fire. and have dyed their garments with their blood. And idly, That he has carved out. my lot to be in a land 320 The /a/I Speech and Teftimony where he hath fet up his pure ordinances, both in doc- trine, worfhip, difcipline and government; for indeed he might have tryfted it to have been among thefe that are worfhipping Antichrift, that whore of Rome, whofe fentence may be read Rev. xix. 12. And if Charles Stu- art has not overturned his work, and corrupted the whole land, by overturning the whole fundamental laws, both civil and ecclefiaftic, I leave it to any judicious perfon, that is not byatfed and drawn away, by that woful Era- ftUn fupremacy, which is like to overfpread the whole land, ^dly, That he ftath given his word for a rule to walk by, which word is truth, and the true word of God. He has made me to walk by it, and it to be my rule; and by his word and Spirit bearing witnefs with my fpirit, making me fpotlefs and clean, and I mall be clothed with thefe robes of his righteoufnefs, which are fpotlefs and clean. Now, 1 fliall only give a fhort account of my princw ; pies, as the Lord fhall aflift; and the Lord help me to get it done in truth and fincerity; for there are many eyes looking on me; they eyes of an all-feeing God, < wha * is of purer eyes than that he can behold iniquity/ and the eyes of men who are thirfting for my blood. 1/?, I- adhere and fweetly fet to my teftimony to the covenant of redemption, betwixt the Father and the Son, made be- fore the foundation of the world, for the redemption of poor loft mankind, Imean of thofe who are elecled, cal-;' led, juftified and fanc"tified ; for which my foul fliall blefs the Lord that ever I heard tell of the fame, and that e- ver I heard tell, c that he came into the world to fave* finners, of whom I am chief.' 2dly, To the facred Scrip- tures, that they are the true word of God ; and that, there is life everlafting to be had in them, if ye will ap«*i£ ply your hearts to fearch diligently, and purfue after; them with a fincere and diligent feeking, with all the foul and heart; and without fincere endeavouring to** make it your rule, there is no life; for fays our bleifsd Lord, * I came not to deftroy the law, but to fulfil it.' 3^/)', To the work of reformation as it was reformed in? all the feveral fteps thereof, from under Popery, Prela- cy, and Eraftianifm, and all other errors whatfomever,. not agreeabie to the Scriptures, the written word of Go( \My i To the Conferfion of Faith, the Sum of Sa ing Knowledge, Directory for Worfhip and Difciplim of $ arms Nlsbet. 321 ;d to our Catechiims Larger and Shorter. yhly> To le Covenants National and Solemn League, whereby efe lands were engaged unto the Lord; and Scotland ay blefs the Lord, that ever he engaged them in a co- cnant with himfelf. I fay to you that defire to own the me, make it your ground to plead with the Lord, till 2 come back again to thefe lands. 6tkly> To the preach- fg of the gofpel of our Lord Jefus Chrift, as it was faith- r.ily preached by faithful mi nifters, called and commif- cnated, and font by himfelf; and alio my tefumony to ne Acknowledgment of Sins and Engagement to Duties, hd the Caufes of the Lord's Wrath again ft this land pis day : but alas ! it may be laid, many have gone backward, and not forward ; the mod part of this ge- neration have refuted to walk any more with him, ever tnce Bothwel, only thefe two, viz. Mr. Donald Cargil Ind Mr. Richard Cameron, which I deiire to fet to my [eal to the faithfulnefs of thefe two mens doctrines, for ny foul has been refrefhed by them. And I fet to my eal to all their proceedings and actings in the work they vere called to, and my foul blefleth the Lord, that ever • heard them preach, pb/y, To all the appearings in inns in defence of the gofpel, and feif- defence, both be- fore Bothwel and fmce. St/Wy, To the excommunication it the Torwood, by Mr. Donald Cargil, as it is juftand .awful, and will fland in force and record, ay till repen- :ance make it null, of which there is little appearance. )thly y To the teftimony given at Rutherglen, May 29. [679. the declaration given at Lanerk, June 11. 1682. 3y a party, whom the Lord raifed and ftirred up by his Spirit, and owned them in that work, to give a public te- limony againft that foul-deftroying, and land-ruining thing called the teft, altho' many in this generation be pleading for the lawfulnefs of it, and difowning the co- venant which we are all bound to. O my heart trembles to think, what will come on this generation, for their dreadful apoftacy and departing from the way of the Lord, icthly, To all the fellowlhip meetings of the Lord's people, for reading, praying, and finging of pfalms, and all the other duties proper for, and incumbent upon them. I mean thefe that defire to wreftle and hold up the c a life of his ruined work, and his poor differing remnant. \ithly y To the eight articles, called the New Covenan t t taken at the Queensferry off worthy Henry Hall. 322 The laft Speech and Teftimony Now, as I have left my teftimony in fhort to the truth of God ; fo I defire to leave my teftimony againft the de fedtions of the time, as the Lord (hall help and aflifl Therefore I, as a dying witnefs, leave my teftimony ifl' Againft Popery and Prelacy, which is fo much counte nanced and fet up in Scotland this day, efpecially b; thofe who feemed to be moft eminent, as it is in Gal. ? 6. ■ I marvel that ye are fo foon removed from him tha * called you into the grace of Chrift, unto another gof * pel,' &c. 2dly, Againft Quakerifm, Independency and all other errors, which are not according to tht word of God, and our folemn Covenants and Confeffion of Faith. 3^/>'> Againft the tyrant upon the throne ol Britain and Ireland, for his tyranny, opprefiion and bloodihed, and for overturning the laws, both civil and ecclefi.iftic, and not making the law his rule to be ruled by, but he ruling the law, and not the law him; whicl is not according to the word of God, as it is in 2 Sam. xxiii. 3. t He that ruleth over men mult be juft, ruling * in the fear of God,' Sec. Even againft that tyrant, and all the upholders, aiders, aftifters and maintainers oi liim. O what will become of this generation for their apoftacy and departing away from God ? Atkly, Againft the oath of fupremacy, for the fetting up of perfons as fupreme, and following and making them their rule, and not taking the word of God to be their rule. 5/^/v, A- gainft that bond taken in the Gray-friars kirk-yard, al-J tho' there be many that denied it, until that the Lord in his own due time made it appear, when the trial came to a greater length ; for he has laid in his word, that * there is nothing done in fecret, but he will have it ma* * nifefted in the light.' 6thly, Againft the bond called the bond of regulation, for their binding to walk according to the will of men, and not according to the will of God; Surely it is not according to the practice of the apoftlesj Acts iv. 19. 'But Peter and John anfwered and faicfc * unto them, Whether it be right in the fight of God, 1 to hearken unto you more than unto God, jadge ye.* *]thly 9 Againft the bond preifed by the Highland hoft iiX the weft country. O what may be faid of this generati- on ? It may be faid, Ye have gone away backward from my ordinances, and ye have forfaken me the living God, and have hewed you out broken cifterns that can hold no water. Zthly, Againft that land-ruining and foul-de^ of fames Nhbet. 323 roying thing called the ted. gtklf* Againft all cora- r ig out of prifon upon bond and caution ; whatever men lay fay of it, it is a complying with the avowed ene- lies, and a binding themfelves to be the prifoners of ien, and not the prifoners of Jefus Chrift. io//7v, A- ,;ainft all compearing at courts and paying of fines ; for 1 implies, that we have done a fault againft them, and Jfo it approves of thefe as juft judges, that are impofmg hefe things ; but ye may lee what they are, for there is 10 fobcr man will get leave to plead an action there. \nd can thefe be called judges, and owned as judges, vho are graffators and land -judgments ? 1 \thh % Againft .11 cefs and locality, which is impofed for t«he down bear- Qg of the gofpel, and for maintaining bloody and avcw- d enemies to banifh Chrift and his gofpei out of the land, nd to hunt, plunder, rob, fpoil and perfecute the poor >eople of God; for in the very narrative of the act, it 5 fet down for that end, and declared to the world; fee vhat is faid againfl it. Ifa. lxv. 1 1. c But ye are they* that for fake the Lord, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnifh the drink-offering unto that number. Therefore I will number you to the fword,* &c. I2t&fy, Againft hear- Qg of curates, becaufe they are wolves and boars thurft [i upon the Lord's people to kill and deftroy; and a- ;ainft the indulgence firft and laft ; and againft the hear- ag of them, and joining with them, or pleading for hem ; becaufe they are not entered in by the right door, nd teach for doctrines the commandments of men ; herefore they are in fo far not the minifters of Jefus Ihrift, but the minifters of men, as it is faid, John x. . * Verily verily I fay unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the (heepfold, but climbeth up fome other way, the fame is a thief and a robber.' And a- ainft all minifters and profeftbrs, who are now lying at afe, when Zion is in trouble, and are fhifting their du- f for fear of hazard, and are iheltering themfelves un- er the fhadow of thefe avowed enemies, pleading in heir favours, and have broken the poor people of God, nd rent the bowels of the church; and especially thefe *ho appeared once in the fields, to hold up a banner for ur lovely Lord and Mafter Jefus Chrift, 1 (lull be a fitnefs againft them if repentance prevent it not. -Now, ye that are the poor wreftling remnant, weary 324 The la/I Speech and Teftiriiony not of the crofs of Chrift, for he is a good Matter, an he fends none a warfare on their own charges, for \\ will own them in ail that he carves out for them. ( double your diligence, and give him no reft till he com back again, As in Ifa. lxii. 7. ' And give him no re * till he eftablifh, and till he make Jerufalem a praife i « the earth.* O what will come of poor Scotland for tl horrid iniquities and abominations, perjury and blooc fhed, and covenant-breaking ? O Scotland's punifhmer will be fad; but my eyes fhall-be clofed, and I fhall n( fee it, and I am well content, feeing I get my foul for prey. Now I am afraid God wili not know many ( this generation that have gone fuch a dreadful length i defection and backfliding. But O what (hall I fay ! leave it to himfelf to do as he may molt glorify himfel in preferving a feed and remnant to ferve him. Now die in the faith of it, that he has a feed whom he. wi have preferved when he fends forth inftruments wit {laughter weapons, that he has a party that he will f< a mark on, as it is faid, Ezek. ix. 4. c And the Lor ' faid unto him, Go thro' the midft of the city thr< c the midft of Jerufalem, and fet a mark on tne fore iv * of the men that figh and cry for all the abominatioi 1 that be done in the midft thereof.* Now, I fay, We; ry not of the crofs of Chrift, altho' ye mould fuffer pel fecution, for he has faid, ■ In the world, ye fhall ha^ < tribulation, but in me ye fhall have peace.' And O bi he taketh exact notice what is done to his people. Oba< ver. 13. ■ Thou fhouldft not have entered into tl * e;ate of my people in the day of their calamity; ye< c thou fhouldft not have looked on their affliction in tl ' day of their calamity ; nor have laid hands on the « fubftance in the day of their calamity.' O but that t a fweet word, 2 Tim. ii. 1 1, 12. ' It is a faithful fayinj ' for if we be dead with him, we fhall alfo live wit < him : If we iuffer, we fhall alfo reign with him : If v * deny him, he will alfo deny us.' O Sirs ! lofe n( heaven for mammon, and your own fouls for what ) can ftiffer here. It is true, none can merit heaven b their fufFerings, but it is as true that he has faid, ' H 4 that will not forfake all, and take up his crofs and fo * low me, he cannot be my difciple.' Now T I know thei will many brand me with felf-murder, becaufe I hav got many an offer to go to Carolina upon fuch eaf of fames A 325 terms. But as to that I anfwer, felf-prefervation muft ftocp to truth's prefervaticn. There are indeed man 31 of this generation who pretend to keep their prefent cafe, and to be followers of Chrilt ; but I defy any, if the wiled to a public teftimony, but they [lull either lefe their prefent pofTehion, or elfe that which is cf m worth, even their immortal fouls and everlafting falva- tion. Now as to the heads of my indictment wherecr. they have fentenced me to die, they are mainly thefe. i/.\ My approving of Drumclog and Eothwel, and being ac Glafgow, to be lawful and in defence of the gofpel, and in felf-defence, which both the law cf God and nature allow. And td!y y For adhering to the National and So- lemn League and Covenant; and they declared before my face, that both their king and council had difowned the Covenant, and had taken that away by their acts of parliament; and faid, that they were both unjuft and unlawful : and (hall fuch be owned and adhered to, who have declared themfelves againfl King Chrift, and have broken his laws, and have ieated themfelves in the room of Jefus Chrift., which belongs to no mortal man upon earth, and much lefs to him who is an ufurper and a ty- rant, I mean Charles Stuart r And here I, as a dyin^ witnefs, leave my teftimony againll that monflrcus beafr, for our Saviour calls Herod a fox, and fays, * Go !* that fox, I work to-day and to-morrow, and the third \ € day I ili-all be perfected. 3«//v, and mainly, My fen- tence was, That I difowned their authority: For fine e l they had rejected the covenant, I was the more clear to difown them to be my judges or governors over the land ; and they afTcrted it treafonable, becaufe I faid, none of 'the people of God would fay other wife. And in plain 'terms and direct words, I deny them to have any >power to rule either in civil or ecclefiaftic matters. Al- To thefe avowed enemies who are thirfling for my blood, : charged me with going up and down the country plun- dering and murdering, and fo by their law made liable to punifhment, even to the lofs of my life; but; 1 declare,' who am within a little to appear before the righteous Judge, that I never intended to wrong any man. And fo it i evident they take away my 1 . . the account of I to truth, and 1 blefs the Lord that ever he gave for him, and that ever he 326 The lafi Speech and Tejlimcny me worthy to lay down my life for his perfecuted truth. nmclxlefs free grace that is making choice of the like of me, and poor weak things to confound the ftrong, and the poor foolifh things to confound the wife. Now, there are three forts of folk that I would fpeak a word to, The firft is, thefe that have begun in the way of the Lord, and feemingly have gone a good length,- and when the ftorm of perfecution arofe, for fear of the. rough fea of trouble, have drawn back. O mind that word in Heb. x. 38. ''But if any man draw back, my : « foul fhall have no pleafure in him.* And Rom. viii. 35. * Who (hall feparate us from the love of Chrift? « fhall tribulation, or diftrefs, or perfecution, or famine,; * or nakednefs, or peril, or fword,' &c. And many moe places of Scripture. A fecond fort are thefe who are. going on in rebellion againft God openly and avowedly-;-: as ye may fee in Pfal. ii. '*- Why do the Heathen rage/ 1 and the people imagine a vain thing ? he that fitteth- 1 in heaven mail laugh, the Lord {hall have them in de*- * rifion, then ihall he fpeak to them in his wrath and i vex them in his fore difpleafure.' O poor Scotland, that was once married away to the Lord, and now has^ provoked him to depart and leave it, and give a bill of divorcement, as it were ! O Scotland has tinned dread- fully, what by covenant- breaking, bloodihed, lying and' f wearing. Now a third fort are thefe who delire to keep: their garments clean, and undefiled, with the abounding- fins of this generation. Go on in the way of the Lord,' and fear not what man can do, for he has faid, * Fear.* 1 not them that kill the body, and after that can do ' no more ; but fear him who after he hath killed the 4 body, hath power to cad into hell/ Sec. I can fet to: my feal to it, that Chrift is a good mafter, and well wor- thy the fufFering for. And now I can freely and hearti- tily forgive all men what they have done to me, as I de-* fire to be forgiven of my father who is in heaven ; but what they have done againft a holy God, and his image in me, that is not mine to forgive them, but I leave that to him to clifpofe on as he fees fit, and as he may moft glo- rify himfelf. Now I am to take my leave of all created comforts here ; and I bid farewel to the fweet Scrip- tures ; farewel reading and praying : farewel finning vrad fuffering ; farewel lighing and forr owing, mourn- ing and weeping; and farewel all Chriftian friends, and of Arthur Taket. 327 relations ; farewel brethren and fitters, and all things in time. And welcome Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft; wel- come heaven and everlafting joy and praife, and innume- rable company of angels and fpirits of juft men made perfect. Now into thy hands I commit my fpirit, for ic is thine. Sic fulfcribitur, JAMES N1SBET. This Martyr was fo inhumanly treated, and conftant- ly watched, that it was with much difficulty he got any thing written, and that only now a line and then a line, and hence fome few repetitions which were in the manu- fcript were left out, which is hoped will be liable to no mifmterpretation , The -lajl Tefitmony of ARTHU R T AK ET, fay lot in Hamilton, whofufTered in the Grafs -market of Edinburgh, Aug. 1. 1684. BEing appointed to die in the Grafs-market I thou^Ut it was a duty lying upon my conference before the Lord, to leave this fhort word of teftimony behind me, in teitification of my clofs adherence to all thefe contro- verted truths, as they are all agreeable and conform to the written word of God. And now I defire to blefs his name with my whole heart and foul for this, that ever he made choice of the like of me, fuch a poor, weak*, fecklefs, infignificant thing as I am, in counting me wor- thy to fuffer for his noble caufe and controverted truths, his name, interelt and covenant, now controverted and brought in debate by this God-daring, Chriit-dethroning, and God-contemning, adulterous and bloody generati- on, wherein my lot is fallen. And this I can fay, that thro' his grace, I am well fatisfied and heartily content with my lot, that God in his infinite wifdom has feen fit to carve out unto me ; and thro' his grace I am well help- ed to great quietnefs, calmnefs and ferenity of mind be- fore the Lord, and a holy fubmiilion to what is his wiJl towards me in this; that if every hair in my head, and every, drop of my blood were a life, I would willingly lay them down for my lovely Lord and Mafter Jefns thrift. Some will pofllbly fay, that this is an untruth, and lb cannot be believed by them, notwithftanding of all this. But whether it be believed or not, it :s true : for I am not L e 2 32 S The lajl Speech and Tefiimony dying by conftraint and unwillingnefs ; for this I dari fay in his fight (my confcience bearing me witnefs) thai I am a thousand times more willing to die this day tor m) lovely Lord and Matter's noble caufe, and controvertec truths, than ever I was to live : and the truths of Goc that are fo much controverted, are become more preci- ous and clearer unto me at death, than ever they wen heretofore in my life ; as David fays, Pfal. xxiii. 4. * Tho f v 4 walk thro' the valley and fhadow of death, 1 will feai >no evil; for thou art with me, thy rod and thy ftal * they comfort me.' This I have been made really fen fiblc of by my experience in all that I have met with that the crofs of Chritt has been all paved over with love that it has been made to become like unto a bed of rofe unto me; and all that ever I have met with, firtt anc 1 itt, has been made fweet and eafy unto me, and no trou ble in the leaft ; and that he has been a loving and a kin< Lord unto me, and he has been as good as his word This I can lay to his commendation, and to the commen dation of the crofs of Chritt, that he has borne alway the heavy cni of the crofs himfeif, that to me it was n< trouble in the leaft. O praife, praiie to the riches of hi free grace, for his matchlefs and unexpreflible love tha I fcutve met with lince I was brought to prifon, and whei 1 was foreft put at, and threatned with torture by thefi cruel and bloody tyrants, the more of his love and kind neXs I did meet with. This I have been made really fen fiblc of, when I was hardett dealt with, as David fays Pfal. xxviii. 6. c BleiTed be the Lord, becaufe he hat] ■ heard the voice of my Amplications.' Ver. 7. \ Th 1 Lord is my ttrength and my fhield ; my heart trufted i: * him, and I am helped ; therefore my heart greatly re 4 joiceth ;' for I have been well helped and owned of th Lord, and that in a very lingular manner, that his pre fence has made my foul to ling and rejoice, thro* th greateft of difficulties and trials that ever I was trytte* w^ith ; and this is a fweet promife and noble encourage ment for me, in Ifa. xli. 10. ' Fear thou not, for I an 4 with thee ; be not difmayed, for I am thy God : I wil 1 ftrengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphoL r thee with the right hand of my righteoufnefs.' Vei 1 1. * Behold, all they that are incenfed againtt thee, fha ■ be aiharoed, and confounded : they (hall be as nothing * and they that ttrive with thee fhall perifh.' Ver. 1$ cf Arthur Taket. 329 W Thou fhalt feck them, and fhalt not find them, even. « them that contend with thee : and they that war againil •« thee (hall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought,' iVer. 15. * For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right: !• hand, faying unto thee, Fear not, I will help thee/ Which has been well made cut unto me in all things that il have met with. For flnce I was brought to priibn I 'have been well helped of the Lord, that the fear of hell 'death and the grave, and the fear of all things is taken away fully from me, that I am not afraid to venture up- on a gibbet for my lovely Lord and Mailer's noble cauie, and for his controverted truths ; and this I am really per- fuaded of, that the truths of God were never \o much controverted as now. But I am fure of it, that the truths of God, when they are mod controverted, ought to be moft zealoufly owned by his people. I may well acquiefce and aflent unto Pfal. lxxiii. 23. 24. 25. • Ne- .' verthelefs I am continually with thee: thou hail hoi- * den me by my right hand. Thou fhalt guide me with * thy counfel, and afterward receive me to glo- ' ry. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and' there is * none upon earth that I defire befides thee.' This I dare fay, as in his fight,, (my confeience bearing mc wit- nefs) that there is nothing in heaven or in earth fo defir- able unto my foul as precious Chrift : for I am confi- dent and perfuaded, that this is his language to mi, 1 Arife and depart, for this is not your reft, . becaufe rt 1 is polluted :' As Paul fays* 2 Cor. v. 1. * For we know, c that if our earthly houfe of this tabernacle were dif- 1 folved, we have a building of God, an houfe not made c with hands,' &c And as Paul fays, 1 Cor. xv. 50. c Now this I fay, brethren, that flefh and blood cannot 1 inherit the kingdom of God ; neither doth corruption * inherit incorruption.' I can clearly fay by experience, that thro' Jefus Chriit, whom I defire to take for my King, Prieft, and Prophet, and my only Lord and law- giver, I have been made more than a conqueror over death, hell and the grave, and all things in this lifa. ' Now, to come to ihew you the only head that my fcrr- tence of death is founded upon by men, it is mainly for my being- in arms at Bothwel; which was merely in de- fence of ourfelves, and in defence cf the gofpel preached, and (landing to the defence of the covenant of God, tfhich the whole of die land was folemnly fwora aad tib E a 3 3P The lajl Speech and Teftlmcny gaged .to, with hands lifted up to the moft high God, and fo bound to ftand to the defence thereof: for which I ani unjuftly fentenced to death by men, of which fen- • tence I am not alhamed this day, but counts it my only glory, honour and dignity, whiltt he paffed by fuch taN cedars, which is a matter of wonder and admiration to .me. But as he has faid in his word, « In nothing be ye * terrified by your adverfaries, which is to them an evp- . ' dent token of perdition; but to you of falvation, and 1 that of God : for it is not only given you to believe, ' but alfo to fuffer for his fake :* fo fuffering is a gift not : given to every one ; and I defire to blefs his name, with .my whole heart and foul, that he has counted fuch a poor thing as I am worthy of the gift of fuifering. Now, this is to let you all know, worthy and deai Chriflian friends, that are defiring to keep the way of the Lord, that there was not one word, of all they interro- gate me upon, in the fentence of death that thefe bloo- dy tyrants pad againft me, but only for being in arm* at Eothwel-bridge. And let none think that I am fen- tenced to death upon that head, that I was fo cruellj threatned with torture by thefe bloody tyrants for, whicfi was, for being at the Black-loch, and becaufe I would not declare who was the miniiler, and what perfons 1 knew. And tho' men have, by a permifilve and limited power, palled a fentence of death againft me, to take a< w ay my natural life, this I know, and am perfuaded of that there is a Judge above, who has paffed a fentence o: life in heaven unto my foul this day, which lhall nevei be recalled or reverfed again, which is my only encou xagement .: and this he has promifed to as many as believ< in him, to « give them everlafting life : Thefe that fuffei ' with him, lhall reign with him; and thefe that b< * dead with him, fhall live with him alfo:' As Paul fays in P^om. x. 9. « If thou fhalt confefs with thy motrtl 4 the Lord Jefus, and (halt believe in thine heart, tha ■ God hath raifed him from the dead, thou malt be fav * ed.' Ver. 10. * For with the heart man believeth un ' to righ:eoufrtefs, and with the mouth confeffion is mad< f unto falvation.' For the Scripture faith, ' Whofo * ever believeth in him fhall not be afhamed;' which i my only comfort, and a noble fweet encouragement foi me. And this he hath promifed in his word, That ' h< -» (hail feed his flock like a fhepherd, he lhall gather tb cf Arthur Taket. *£i! lambs in his arms, and carry them in his boiom, and diail gently lead thefe that arc with young.' I have bimd by my experience, that the Lord my God has lly and gently led me thro' the greateft difficulties that I have been tryited with iince he made choice of jne to fuffer for his noble caufe. O if ye knew what of nis love I have met with, and what fweet ingredients of :he Lord's matchlefs love has been intermixed and put m my cup; ye would not be afraid to venture upon the fweet crois of Chriit, which has been made fweet and eafy unto me. [Becaufe the heads of truth this martyr gives his tes- timony to, and the defections he witnefted againft, are much the fame w r ith the preceeding testimonies ; there- fore to avoid all impertinent repetition they are omitted. He is both full and accurate, paffing by nothing of the heads of fin and duty, which at that time were contra* verted: Particularly (which hath not been met with in any of the former) he gives his hearty teftimcny to that faithful and called minifter of Jefus Chri(t, Mr. James Renwick, for his holding up the fallen down banner of ourXord, and jeoparding his life in the open fields ; al- tho' fome are pleafed to fay, that he is not lawfully cal- led and ordained to the rninftry, but that he was admits ted by the eraftian miniders of Holland ; fuch as Coccei- ans and Labadeans : but it is faithfully witneffed, that he was admitted without them, and by the pureftof the minklers of the church of Holland, according to the church of Scotland's difcipline and government, Cove- nants and Confeffion of Faith. .And he dies with a fpt- rit of meeknefs, declaring that he forgives his enemies all the wrongs they had done him, personally consider- ed ; tho' witneflmg again ft the indignities which they had done to Chriit, and him as a member of that body whereof Chrift is the head. And whereas he was brand- ed with difowning magiltrates, he declares before God and the world, that he owns and allows of all magif- trates, fuperior or inferior, as they are conform to the written word of God, and our folemn covenants, and as thev are < a terror to evil doers, and a praiie to them Jiat do well. 'J 332 Tke lajl Speech and Teftimonp . The laji Speech and Teftimony of THOMAS R BERTSON, who lived at Nenucafile, and nvas put in prifon there, for refitjtng the oath of allegiance, and hav- ing made his efcape thence to Edinburgh^ ivas taken at a public fearch there, Nov. 29. 1684, and fuffered ai the Gallcwlee, the gth day of Dec. thereafter. NOW, dear friends, time feems to me to be but (hort; O now welcome long eternity. It is, and has been the butt of my defire this confiderable time, to eye God's glory ; and I preferred it to my own foul's falvation : yet when I heard my indictment, it had a Urange effect upon me ; and altho' death hath fometimes been my defire for the caufe of Chrift, yet it feemed not a little terrible unto me, and that for the fpace of fix or feven hours ; fo that fome times it had fuch a prevalen- cy, that I was afraid I fhould have turned back ; and I was fo put to it, that I had nothing to hold by but for- mer purpofes and determinations : and from the consi- deration of Chrift's faithfulnefs, I grappled like a man more- than half drowned. At laft I got hold, a fmall hold of him, whom I could not fee ; and that fmall grip which I got, thro' his mercy, I kept till I got more : fo that now he has discovered himfelf unto me, and he was pleafed to ftay, and make with me a new contract; fo that now thro' his grace, I am refolvcd not to let him go, let the cod be what it will. Now, my friends, I lay not this for the difcouragement of any that is begin- ning to follow Chrift, or any that is already begun; on- ly 1 do it as a warning. I would fain have poorthings^ to make fure work, and to get fure hold of him : for al- tho' he feems to cover himfelf, and that when poor things think they ftarid in mod need, yet he will return unt© them in his own appointed time, and that for the great- er advantage of them that are thus try (led. O for hearts to love him ! It hath been my great trouble, that I could never love him much, nor fall upon the right way of worfhipping him. O to have my foul foundly knit to him ! O for ilrcngth ! O for flrength to be carried ftraight and cleanly thro', fo that I may loofe neither hair ncF hoof of the truths of Chrift ! In fo far as I am able to under ftand, it hath been my great care always to know- what! was iin, and what was duty; 1 thiak I have- aofc of Thomas Robert/on. 3^3 been out of my duty in fo doing: £nd 1 think it is the duty of a!l perfons to be concerned in that matter; for how can perfons know, how to avoid the one, and cleave to the other- , except they diftinguiih betwixt the two. Now, I {hall fay no more to that, but only, O that folk would make ir a great part of their work, to diftmguifh betwixt the two. Now, \J} y I adhere to the covenant of redemption be- twixt the Father and the Son, before the foundation of the world, for redemption of poor things, that he has chofen out of the world. O for love to him ! O for love to him ! O now to be with him ! that I may experience the benefit of that covenant which coft him his precious blood ! And now feeing he is calling me to give a tefti- rnony, I think, if every hair of my head were a man, it is all too little to lay down for hirn. O for love to this non-fuch Jefus Chrift. tdly % I adhere and leave my te- stimony to the word of God, the Scriptures of the Old and NewTeftaments, by which I mud be judged ; for if we take any other way, we will he fure to go wrong : for the Spirit of God witneiTeth with our fpirits, that the word of God is the only rule, by which we ought to walk, ^dly, I leave my teftirnony to the work of refor- mation once glorious in our land : altho' alas ! new de- faced, and the hedge and government of Chrift's houfe broken down, and the kingly office of Chrift ufurped, by a cruel and bloody- thirfty man, to whom I could wilh repentance, if it were the will of God ; and to all that affociate and join with him: but alas ! I think it is hid from their eyes. Now, I leave my teftirnony to the Na- tional and Solemn League and Covenant, Confeliion of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechifms, Sum of Saving Knowledge ; and the feveral parts of reformation to r day of my death. Alio, I leave my teftirnony to all the faithful ambafladors, and fent fervants of Jefus Chrift, and to the preached gofpel itfelf ; to Mr. Donald Car- gi!, that worthy fervant of Jefus Chrift, who kept up the itandard and banner of Jefus Chrift, when the reft rled from him and the Lord's Itandard. Alfo, I leave my te- ftirnony to Mr. James Renwick, as a faithful and law- fully erdained and called fervant of Jefus Chrift. And I leave my teftirnony to all the testimonies of the faith- ful martyrs and witneftes of Jefus Chrift, that have laid • down their lives fcr the caufc of Chrift, and are baaift 334 The la/I Speech and Tejiimony to foreign lands for the name of Chrift, and his nobli caufe, and alfo, Idifown, difclaim and witnefs againfi all this evil and adulterous generation, a generation o; revolters, backilrtlers and evil doers, that will meet witi fevere punifhment, great wrath and judgments, and e ternal death befides, except they repent. And now in i fpecial manner, being convinced of my fin and folly ir adhering to Prelacy, and fpending the mod part of 'my time in hearing of curates, and thereby approving o\ them and their corruptions, and corrupt doctrines, not withstanding that I came always away from hearing them, wi ih more hardnefs of heart, than when I went to hear them : but at laft I began to confider that mat* ters were not right with me in this cafe, and hearing that there was a people in the place that were hearers 01 Preibyterian minifters, but not being acquainted with, them, I knew not what to do to be acquainted : how- ever, I perfumed to tell my cafe to one of them, whc took me to the place where I heard a Preibyterian mini fter preach ; which left a conviction upon my rnnfrienci of my former Courfcs, and that I was out of the way o the Lord for falvation and eternal life : after which tim< I went no more back to follow them, that are in dire£ oppofition to the way of the Lord, our covenants anc work of reformation ; and by degrees came to fee clear ly, that the minifters that were mod even-down for God and againft the defections and abominations of the time and this adulterous generation, were only they that th< Lord honoured with the revealing of his fecrets to, an( his mind concerning the duties of the day: as Mr. Do nald Cargil, and thefe that were faithful to the death and fealed the caufe with their blood. And O ! how du I love and long to be a witnefs for him, both againil m; own former ways, and the ways of that abominable Pre lacy, which now I hate; and to get leave to lay down my life for Chrift and his precious truths ! And now h has granted me my heart's defire, and I feal this with m; blood, that this is the way of God, and his truth, whicl I now lay down my life for. Not having time, I fhal fay no more, but leaves my wife to the good guiding o the Lord, and commends him and his way for her to fol low, and my love to her, and all my dear friends h Newcaftle. Farewel, farewel in our bleffed Lord Jefus And welcome Lord Jefus, for whom I fuffer, and whof of fames NicoL 335 ove I long to have in pofTeflion ; welcome heaven and loly angels, and. the fpirits of juft men made perfecl, Jiro' the blood of the Lamb ; welcome Father, Son and loly Ghoft, into whofe hands I commit my fpirit. Sic fulfcribitur, THOMAS ROBERTSON. The Teftimony e/JAMES NICOL merchant, burgefi of Peebles y ivko fuffered at the Grafs --market of Edinburgh, Aug. 27. 1684. His interrogations before the privy council \ Auguji 18. FIRST, I was interrogate by two in a room private- ly thus. j§>. Was you at Bothwel- bridge ? A. I am not bound to be my own accufer. I am not (faid one rf them) to defire you, but only fay, upon your honefl word, that you were not there. A. I am not bound to fatisfy you, but prove what you have to fay againft me, and efpecially you, till I come before my accufers. Well, faid he, I am one of them. Then I anfwered, I was there. £K How came you to rife in arms againfi: the king ? A. Becaufe he has broken the covenant of the Lord my God. P. Was the prelate's death murder ? A. No, it was not murder. j^_. Was Hackitoun's death murder ? A. That it was indeed. <£. How dare ye own the Covenant, feeing the king gave orders to burn it by the hand of the hangman? A. Yes, I dare own it; for altho' ye mould efcape the hand of men for fo doing, yet ye (hall all pay for it ere all be done, and that to pur- pofe : as for me I would not do ir for the whole earth. Then I was interrogate by other two, who aft: ions queftions, which I baffled to (Hence. Then I was brought in before the bloody crew. What now, Sir, laid they, do ye own the king's authority ? A. I own all things ihat the precious word of God o\\f\s in lef> or more, and all faithful magistrates, ^ But do you not own king Charles alfo ? A, I dare not for a world, 1; it is perjury, for he lias unkinged him- felf in a high degree, and that in doing all things con- ■>: God, and ConfeiTion of Faith, Cate lorter. J§>. Know yc to whom ore men. But one of th elior and mem- bcrs id!, Sir. Bet faid I; 1 have told yc 1 336 The laft Speech and Teftimony ready that he has unkinged himfelf, and fo have ye de- graded yourielves from being princes. iP. If the king were here, what would you fay, Sir ? A. I know how I ought to fpeak to the king, if he were king; Sir, is or- dinarily faid to him: and fo to let you know that I am no Quaker, or erroneous in any thing, but a pure Pref- byterian, and of a gofpei apoftolic fpirit, I call ycu, Sirs, becaufe ye are noblemen by birth, but not becaufe ye are my judges. 4L ^*H >* e not fay, Cod clefs the king's majejly ? A. I dare not blefs them whom God hath rejected: < If any man bring another doctrine than ye 1 have received, bid him not God fpeed, nor receive him 1 into your houfe,' 2 John 10. and Pfal. xvi. near the beginning,, fays David, ' Their drink-offerings will t • not offer, nor take up their names in my lips,' via them that hafbn after other gods, and therefore I dare not pray for him. Q Ana will ye not pray for him ? A. If he belong to th? election of grace, he hath a part of my prayers : And alfo if he were a king thai had keeped covenant with Gcd I would give him a double lhare, and make mention of his name, but he is an apoftate. (So, my friends, they looked ftill one to another at every queftion and anfwer ) i9. How old are you, Sir ? A. I am fifty one years. . §K How dare ye own the Covenants, feeing we have burnc iliem by the hand of the hangman ? A, Sir, I dare own them upon all periis whatfoever, to the utmoft of my power, all the days of my life. And with that they fmiled, and laughed one to another, and to me, and faid, my days were near an end. I faid, I am now in your power, but if ye take my blood, ye fhall take innocent blood upon yourielves ; as in Jer. xxvi. 14. 15. « As for me, behold, I am in your hand; do with « me as feemeth good and meet unto you. But know c ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye fhall fure- « jy bring innocent blood upon yourielves, and upon 1 this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof.' And as for me, if ye take my blood, it is as innocent blood as ever ye did take ; for I did never wrong any man to this day. Q. Do ye go to the church ? A. I went ay to the church, where I could get any faithful minifier to go to : but for your prelate's kirks, and Baal's prieils, I never heard any of them, nor never intends to do, if I were to live an hundred years. But, faid they, ye fhall not live long new, Sir. ^\ How do ye prove by the cf fames NicoL 3 3 •Scripture what ye fay agatnfl the prelates ? A, By Scriptures; ' The kings of the GentiJes exercife lordii 1 over them, and they that exercife authority upon them, ' are called benefactors ; but it fnall not be fo among * you; but he that is greateft among you, fhall be the ' fervant of all :' not like your glutton, Epicurean, b •Jy-god prelates, who are riding in coaches, in great pomp. But they would not fuffer me to fpeak more, nor cite moe places, but allied feveral queftions, which I have not good memory of: only this word I faid, con- cerning the tyrant, He was brought home by Mr. Liv- ingfton and others, and put in a nobler eftate than any •king in the whole world, crowned a covenanted king with the eternal God, to be for him, and to carry oa feis work and caufe, he and all his people; which if he •had continued in, he would have been the greateft lew in ail lands and nations in the world, and would have ■been a terror to all the kings in Europe ; but now he hath made himfelf bafe, and a reproach to all the nati- ons, fo have all of you. And another reafon why I dare not own him, or you either, is, becaufe he and you have -robbed Chriit cf his crown, altho' it be not in your power to do it. They bade take me away to the iron- houfe, and put on the irons on me, which they did on both my hands, that I could write none that day, till I got a mean to put them off the one hand. Then on Tuefiay they called me before them again, being the 19th day of this inftant. ip. What fay ye the day, do ye adhere to all you faid yefterday ? A-* I adhere to all and hail upon all perils whatfomever. Pj Do you approve cf Bothwet-bridge ? A. Yes, I do. J^. Do you go to the kirk at Peebles ? A. No, nor never in- .Js to go there, nor no place elfe which pertains to the perjured Prelates. ^\ Do you own the cove- nants ? A. I adhere to every point of them, becaufe they are in fhort, an obligation to the whole fum oi the Scripture; and as the fum of the law is, « to * love the Lord our God with all our foul, and c heart, and mind, and with our whole ftrcngth, 1 our neighbour as ourfelves :' So it is the whole daty, which the Lord requires of me and all men. j£\ And how do you reject the king, feeing the ScriptUT mands you to obey him ? A, Be the coronation f mon ; and thx on itfelf, does oj Ff 338 The lajl Speech and Teftimony that the people makes a king, and not the king a people, and that he was received home, and crowned for no o- ther thing or end, but to maintain that intereft to the utmoft of his power ; and no longer to be owned as king, than he did own that wherefore he was crowned ; fe that we were freely loofed from him, as foon as he plaid his bafe pranks, in taking the malignants by the hand, and murdering a prince and a prophet, vis. Argyle, who let the crown upon his head, and Mr. Guthrie, who was a .godly reformer in pur land. Next I faid, What thought ye of Mr. Douglas, who preached and gave him all his injunctions at Scoon ? They faid to me, He fhould have been hanged for his pains : But I faid, God would be about with them all for rejecting the word of the Lord in thefe directions . jf\ How do ye difown him, feeing the moil part, both of minillers and profef- ibrs do pray for him? A. Becaufe the general atfembly at the Well-kirk difowned him altogether, till he made a declaration of humiliation for his own fins, and his fa- ther's : And the parliament being then fitting at Edin- burgh, did ratify the afTembly's act, and difowned him till he fhould do that, which accordingly he did, and fo we are loofed freely, jfj. Do ye own Airfmofs, San- quhar, Rutherglen, and Lanerk declarations ? A, Yes, 1 do, becaufe they are agreable to the covenants, and work of reformation. And many moe queftions they aiked, which I cannot now particularly remember. But I told them in general, That I was againft Popery, Pre^ lacy, malignancy and profanity, and all that is againft found doctrine, difcipline, worfbip and government ; and all errors whatfomever, which are contrary to found Prefbyterian doctrine, be what they will ; for there is none other right, but erroneous, how fair a face foever they have, which fh ill be found not agreeable to the apoftle's doclrine. And then they read fomething of what I had faid, and queflioned, if I would fubferibe what I had faid. I anfwered, No. §K Can ye write? A. Yes, I can write. Then do it, faid they. But I faid, I would not do it at all. Now, my friends, I fay, thefe are a part of my interrogations. Again, I was brought before the jufticiary (as they call themfelves) on the 19th of this inftant, and interro- gate thus : J^. What now, Sir, what think yoiuof your- iclf the day ? A* I praife my God J am the fame 1 was. of James Nicol. 339 j£. What think you of what you faid yefterday before the chancellor and the council ? I hold all and decline no- thing ; no, not one ace. ij\ Were you at Bothwel-bridge ? A. Yes, that I was. 4L- Had ye arms ? Yes, that I had. One of them faid, God help you : And I faid, I wot not , if ye can pray for yourfelf. But, faid he, I wiih you better nor you do yourfelf. But I faid, No ; for ye would have me difown my great Lord, the King of Zi- on, and obey men, yea, bale men, « whofe breath is in 1 their noitrils,' who give out laws and commandments' contrary to his. £\ How dare ye rife in arms again!]: the kin?? A. It is better to obev God than man, and he is an enemy to God. j^. Would you rife yet in arms for the covenants againft the king's laws, if ye had the occafion ? A. Yes, that I would, fay the contrary who will, upon all peril. J^. What think you of yourfelf in fpoiling the country of horfe and arms, Sir r A. Sir, I had not the worth of a fpur whang of any man's but was mounted with horfe and arms of my own. J9. Where tave you been all this time? A. Sometimes here and there, in England and Scotland, J^. Whom have ye converted with ? A. I was about my bufmefs, being a merchant. They faid, yc have been about another bu~ finefs ; for ye are found to be a fugitive and a vagabc: A. I have been a merchant from my youth, iS>. But where had you your chamber in this torm ? A. I had none thefe feveral years. ^. Where quarter you inthi", town? A. I have not been much in it thcte feven of eight ye&r-s. Q. But where was you the night and the- Ia.it night before the execution ? A. I was not in town, I came but in at the port juft when tfee firft was calt ever. Then they looked one to another, and whifpered toge- ther : But they would fain have had me wronging my landlords in all the parts of the country, and in all hurghs ; but glory to my Lord, I have wronged none yet, nor yet hopes to do ; for it was ay my care, ahct prayer to God earneftly, that I might wrong no man, and that I had rather fuffer before any were wronged hy me, which he has keeped me from to this day. Then they* read what I had faid. J§>. Will you fubferibe what you have faid ? A. No, no. j?. Can you write, Sir ? A. 1 that I can. Well, faid they, write down, that he Cftl but will not. They told me five or fix times, that my time mould not be long; and faid to me, Will you bail F f 2 340 The laft Speech and Teftimony a mmifter ? A. I will have none of your Baal's priefts*; it I could have gotten leave, I fhould have made them abominable to them, and alfo at every queftion, I would; have made them aihamed. After relating the occafion of his being apprehended, which was thus ; He having feen three of his dear Chrif- tian brethren, condemned before the judiciary, at ten in the forenoon, and going to the Weil-port to take horfe, was obliged to ftay till his faddle was mended ; when he was ready to mount his horfe, he hears that the three- men were brought to the place of execution, at two af- ternoon he went thither, and feeing that barbarity of the enemies in murdering his dear brethren, moved with a ilrong zeal againft thefe murderers, cried out, in the fiile ot the Prophet Amos, * A cow of Bafhan has pufh- * ed three men. to death at one puili, contrary to their ! ;-wn bafe laws, in an inhuman way.' He fubjoins, ■refore ceafe to kill me with your reproaches, when ] am dead, as ye did while I was living; for ye labour- ed to kill and murder my name this 'man v a year, which "give you with all my heart, and pray the Lord may forgive you. (And having related, how that upon the 2?d day ofxlugufl, one brought him his indictment with- al telling him, that upon the 27th he would be fenten- ced, and go immediately from the bench to the fcafFold : Uc adds,) Now, my dear friends, I think all that I have v. ritten is confufed, becaufe I could hardly get leave to write two lines, but was either put from it by the keep- ers, or called from it by one confufion or other, there- fore ye muft excufe me; but although it be not accurate- Iv Written, yet there is no error in it: It is what I lay down my life for, and adhere to as the teftimony of a dying man, who muft very fhortly appear before my Lord, and give an account of all that I have done and written. However, my friends, miitake me not, althq' it be confufed, and ye find fome things twice over, foi there is no mere fear on me now, than the quieteft time that ever I had,, as to what man can do to me; akho' 1 be fad as to matters betwixt God and me, betwixt nrj < lorious Lord and me, as good caufe I have, who knew it as. I do; but I hope, I fhall get a glorious outgate, (when his time comes, which I have always waited upor and not mine) for which I blefs him this day. What further this martyr wrote in prifon, cannot b( of fames NiccL 341 1 publifhed as it (lands, in regard that he being perpetu- ally interrupted by the keepers, and having the irons on his hands, (as himfelf teftines) could not get it written with that compofure which he would. Wherefore ta&e Tome of the more remarkable heads of it, moftly in his own words, as follows : if, He declares his cheerfulncfs to Jay down his life for the caufe of Chrift, and faith once delivered to the faints. Admiring the riches of the free grace of God, in Chrift's laying down his life for poor fin- ners, and blefling them with iuch a noble, precious and excellent blelling, as to be called the fons of God, which the angels cannot take up, altho' they have been a long time prying into it; and invites others to the fame ex- ercife of admiring and praifmg God's love, in making, thro' the blood of Chriit, rebels and enemies, friends and fervants. idly, He rejoices in his lot of fuffering thus : O but it be an excellent thing to be called of the Lord, to lay down my life for him and his glorious intereft 1 te* me it is more than all the world : I cannot prize iu It has been my defire thefe twenty four years, to die a mar- tyr for my Lord, and to witnefs for him, if it be his wiil, and not elfe ; I blefs my Lord for it. I have fubfcribed a blank, and put it in his hand, to do with me, whatfo- ever is the determinate couniel of his wiil and decree, and not to callmyfelf. ^d-Jy. He blenes God, that the* he would have got his life for doing what other?, whom? he calls better than himfelf, have done ; yet the L< had made it his glory, honour and crown, to hold ffe- till the Lord come, which he hoped would be quickly to himfelf, and alfo to the land, ^ihly, He te(tif>es his r ftirance of God's love to him, and his children, whero he heartily and cheerfully gives away to God, as he h oft devoted them to him in covenant; he exhorts tb< in the words cf a dying father, To be for God, in thi-ir generation, to live in love and unity, leaving them to tike protection and provilion of his God, charging ihein not to be moved for his fuilerings, which he -pre tells he would not exchange for the whoie world, ffifyt He iharges them all to, beware of wrongi-ng thernfclvei hy reproaching him an cut the manner of his being appre- hended, ihtwingwhat a hand of divine providence th^ was in it, and blefilng ,pod for it, and for the lv/eet peace he had in fuffering. He own* himfelf to have beer* the greateft finner upon the earth, aud he:. F ( 3 jjuft The Lift Speech and Teflimony es occafion to i y the redeeming love cf Chrift, calling him effectually, and keeping him in the right v.'ay, and from the national fins and corruptions of the age, ' 7//;/^ He refers to a lift cf papers written by him, declarative of his judgment concerning the duty of the day, as a reafon among others, why he wrote no formal teftimony in the prifon, fave only that he teftifies, FirJ}, (Generally, agaiiift all things contrary to any point of truth in the Old and New Teftament, or contradictory to the covenants and work of reformation; and more: particularly, againft the linful fdence of minifters in Bri-j vain and Ireland, at the command of a bloody, vile, a- dulterous, perjured tyrant, and his underlings ; againft- the indulgences and § indemnities ; againft compounding- and conforming either with a perjured tyrannical crew of jiatefmen. or with bale, vile, filthy Prelatifts, their Hind guides, and Baal's priefls ; againft backflidden mi-- iiriters and profeflbrs, (who condemned a poor young generation for adhering to truth) for flaying Chrift in his members, for pleafmg men, and difpleafing a never- enough exalted and glorious Lord. And finally, difowns- all that is contrary to a gofpel and apoftolic fpirit. 8/^/jv He proceeds to warn and exhort all forts of perfons, and more efpecially the young generation to repentance and I ?ndment cf life, enforcing his exhortation with the confideration of judgments, and ftrokes to come upon the land, upon which head he is exceeding large, found- ing his affertiens upon the threatenings pronounced m the word againft thefe fins, whereof he demonftrates, Scotland, England, and Ireland to have been eminent? ]y guilty. Interpoling withal fweet and ravifhing con- siderations of God's love to him, and his other fuffering vitneffes, which after large and pathetic ejaculations of pralfes to God, for his redeeming love, protefting, that/ he exged* falvation not by any merit, but of free grace, faying, " I have been beginning to pray and praife thefe thirty fix years, weakly as I could ; but yet I am juft to- begin this night, both to praife. and pray : For I lay no- more ftrefs upon all that I have faid and done, believed and fuiFered, not' on a ftraw, God is my witneis ; fo that- 1 muft have falvation upon u'ednefday at three or four clock,, as freely as the thief on the croft." Her winds up, in. imitation of David, with thefe words,- •'vlud what can poor fdly James Nicol fay more - :i re- of %ames NicoL 343 faming again the consideration of God's wrath againft the land, to ftir up all ranks to repentance. After he had concluded hi&fpecch with the ufual for- mality of bidding farewel to His fuffering brethren, and all fublunary things, embracing and welcoming the heavenly joys, and eternal enjoyment of God, the Fa- ther, Son, and -Holy Ghoft, into whole hands he com- mits his fpirit : He adds by way of poftfcript : " Now dear friends, my teftimony being finifhed, and I being near the borders of eternity, having forgot that which I fee a great neceflity to leave my teftimony a- gainft ; I think it a mod concerning and neceffary duty to leave my teftimony againft James RufTel and Mr. John- Flint, becaufe James Ruffel, and thefe in fellowfhip with him, have feparated themfelves from the perfecuted fuf- fering remnant of the church of Scotland, and Mr. John Flint has taken upon him, with their confent, to officiate the work of a minifter, contrary to the word of God ; he has run, altho' not fent of God, nor called, nor ordained of lawful church members : And now he* and they have rifen up in oppofition to God, his caufe and perfecuted remnant in the church of Scotland, cal- ling them all perjured, that are fuffering unto death', imprifonment and banifament for precious Chrift. And therefore, I as a dying witnefs for him, even my Lord Jefus, my only Saviour, who converted me thirty-ib: years fince, and has thefe twenty-four years helped me to pray to him, to enable me to witnefs againft all error and defection, and has keeped me right and ftraight to this day of my longed for defire, do leave my witnefs and teftimony againft Mr. John Flint and James Ruffle], and. all that adhere to them." UPon the 5th of March 1684, fuffered that worthy gentleman, Mr. John Dick, ftudent of Theolo- gy ; whofe elaborate and judicious Teftimony bad been here infert, but that it has been lately publiihed in print by itfelf, and fo is in a great many peoples hands alrea- dy, and the reader may have recourfe to the faid print for it ; which, upon perufal, he will find fecotu) to none, for a fteady zeal and adherence to the reformation, an CFderly method, pithy and \ ices againft the cavils of the adversaries, and proper and necellary ad- vice? to feilov l and SAMUEL M'EUEN, M Giencairn par iff? ; who ivere fentenced, and fuffered at Edinburgh , Augujl 15. 16^4. Dear friends and relations e declaration at Hamilton, becaufe of the tak- ing in of that tyrant's intereft. Likewife againil Charles Stuart, becaufe he hath feated h im felf in ChriiVs room, and has taken to himfelf the prerogative of our Lord, to be head of the church, which belongs to no mortal man on earth, but Chrift only. Likewife we leave our teftimony againft that hell-hatched Teft, and againft that €ath, called the oath of allegiance; againft compearing at courts, coming out of prifon upon bond and caution. Ye will find the unlawfulnefs ot it in John viii. 34. « Ve- * rily, verily I fay unto you, whofoever committeth fin, is c the fervant of fin.' And in Rom. vi. 20. ' For when ye ( were the fervants cf fin, ye were free from righteouf- ! nefs. What fruit had ye in thefe things, whereof ye * are now aihamed ? for the end of thefe things is death/ And 2 Pet. ii. 19. * While they promife you liberty, 1 themfelves are the fervants of corruption : for of whom ' a man i& overcome, of the fame is he brought in bon- ' dage.' And againft the cefs and locality, or any pay- ing of militia money, or any other thing, which may ftrengthen the hands of thofe open and avowed enemies of Jefus Chrift. Likewife we leave our teftimony againft thefe wicked men called judges, which ought not to be called judges, but rather tyrants, becaufe they are thirft- ing for blood ; for they charge us in one of the articles • of our indictment, with murder, and making off all the fear of God : but we blefs the Lord we are free of all Ifuch crimes as murder. Now, deir friends, we exhort you to cleave clofe to Chriii, keep his way, and do not fear at it becaufe of fuf- fering : for we can affure you, that the crofs has not been troubleforue to us, but eafy ; for he paves the crofs all over with rofes, and never lays a gram weight of af- fliction more upon his people, than he pives fufheient ftrength to bear: and this we caivfrv by ace, He no7ic a warfare upon their own charges , but he j flill fufheient ftrength to carry ro\ Therefore it is our earneft deiire and rcqueft, I il follow on to know the Lord, for if ye he has promifed, that ye Jhall defire you to follow his w a I fear not man, whofc .3.48 The lajl Speech and Teflimony breath is in" his noftrils, but fear God and keep his ways Keep at a diftance from the leaft of fin ; for the leaft E delerveth death : but his love hath been great and con descending to us, for he hatli taken us, who were th vileft of fmners, for we have deftroyed ourfelves by ori ginal fin, and corrupt nature ; but now he hath redeem ed us, and plucked us out like fire-brands out of th midft of the burning. Now we may fay, he hath lettei out fuch a gale of his condefcending love, that he hat] gained our fecklefe love; fo that we dare fay, that i every hair of our head were a man, and every drop our blood a life, we would willingly lay them all dowi for Chrift and his caufe, if he called for them at ou hand; c for he is altogether lovely, the chief among te: ' thoufands;' he is without compare, he is incomprc ienfible, glorious and mighty: Therefore it is our de fire to all friends, that ye '••*• aid ware your love on him and credit bim ; and labour to get the inheritance mad fare, that Jeius Gkrift hath purchafed. Now clea\ clofe to him, and cloie with him, and then lofe whs ye will in this world, ye ihall be noble gainers, and n lofers. Nov/, we heartily forgive all men any wrong they ha\ done us, or can do to us, as we dclire to be forgiven < the Lord ; but what llicy have done again ft God and h caufe, we tear? that to himfelf, to do in it as may mc glorify himfelf. Now, we bid farewel to all earth: comforts and enjoyments ; farewel all Chriftian frient and acquaintances in the Lord ; farewel fweet focietie and Chriftian feliowfliip-meetings ; farewel h-earing < the precious gofpel ; farewel reading, fmging, prayin and believing ; farewel fweet prifon and irons for 01 lovely Lord ; farewel holy Scriptures ; farewel fun, moc and ftars, and all created comforts in time. Welcon heaven ; welcome fmging of praifes ; welcome fpirits juft men made perfect; welcome Father, Son, and Ho -Ghoft, into whofe hands we commit our fpirits. Sic fubfcribitur, JA. LAWSON, A. WOOI bf George %ackfon. 349 The Interrogations ^/GEORGE JACKSON, tenant to Pollock, njjho ^vas apprehended at Glafgow t andfuffer- ed at the Gal/oivlee, December gth, 1654. AT Glafgow after he was tak?n, and had been afked fome few queftions by them who apprehended him, he was brought before the bilhcp of Glafgow, who interrogate him thus. Queft. What now, Mr. Jackfon I Anf. I was never a fcholar. ^. Can you read the Bible I A. Yes. 4>. Was you at Bothwel-bridge ? A. Yes. <\ What arms had ye ? A. A halbert-ftair . <$>_. Was you an officer I A. No, I was but nxteen years of age. J^« Who was your captain ? A. A young man. J§\ How called they him ? A. I am not bound to give an account to you. Q. Was you at Bothwel rebellion, or not? A. I allow myfelf in no rebellion againft God. j§\ Whether was it rebellion againft the king, or not ? A. I have an- fwered that queftion already. J^_. W 7 ould you go to it again? A. The queftion is like yourfelf; I know not. J^. Will ye fay, God fave the king ? A. It is not in my power to fave or condemn. £>. Will you pray for him ? A. I will pray for all within the election of free g^ace, J^. Whether is the king within the election or not ? A* If you were the man you profefs to be, yon would not afk fuch a queftion at me : it belongs only to Cod. Q Do you own the authority as it is now eftablifhed : A. ^ but I own all authority, fo far as it is according to the written word of God. £K Do you own the ^nd Inferior magiftrates ? A. In fo far as they are a let ror to evil doers, and a praife to them that do well. ^ Are thiy not that ? A. When the Lord Jefus Chrift fhai: fit judge, they and you, and the like of you, will count for it whe- ther ye be or not. j§\ Is the bifhop's death murder, or not ? A. If your queftions be upon thefe matters that I am not concerned with, I will keep filence. Then the bifhop afked him concerning fome papers that were found in the room where he was apprehended ; he refufed to anfwer any further anent them, having anfwered the fame queftion in the guard to thefe who took him. Where- at the bifhop enraged faid. Sir, the boots will make \ free. To which the faid George replied, If my [ think me worthy of them, I will get them; and if not, : is in his power to prefer ve me. £\ Will ve fub- Gg 25° The I aft Speech and Tejlimony fcribe what ye have faid ? A. No. J^. Wherefore wil ye not ? A. Becaufe it is an acknowledgment of youi unjuft laws. After this he was tranfported from Glaf gow to Evandale on the Lord's day. He relates in hi letters, what fweet joy and confolation he had by th< way. After his having gone about the worfhip of God in prefence of the foldiers, who at firft kept on their hats but afterwards ere he had done, difcovered. In cami one Bonfay their commander, and faid, Prepare you foi a bare horfe back to morrow, and your head and fee fliall be bound hard and faft together. George anfwer ed, It is not in your power to do it. Bonfay faid, I wil let you know, it fhall be in my power, and offered hin the king's health : he refufed, faying, I am not dry t( drink healths, efpecially on the Lord's night. To mor row when they were fet on horfe back, Bonfay caufec found a trumpet, holding it to George's ear, and faid Sound him to hell : at which the martyr fmiled. S( they came to Edinburgh upon the 13th of May, 1684 Being called before a committee of the council, he cami with his Bible in his hand. The advocate jeeringly faid There's him and his Bible : come away, let us fee when the text is. .George anfwered, I was never a feeker out o texts; that is the proper work of a minifter. Then th< advocate faid, Put up your Bible, for we are not foi preaching at this time. He anfwered, I am not come t( preach, for I never could; but, Sir, this is the word o God, whereby I am come here to be judged, and I chargi you, and not only you, but all of you, that as ye fhal anfwer in one day before our Lord Jefus Chrift, whei he lhall fit and judge betwixt the juft and unjuft, thatyi judge me by what is written in this holy Rible; other ways remember ye, and the reft of you, fhall mak< account for it in that day, when our Lord fliall fit a Judge, and ye fhall ftand naked and bare before him and if ye do it not, I fnall be a witnefs againft you. T< this they returned, That he was come to be judged, not t< judge: And after a while's filence, when he demandet who were his accufers, the advocate replied, I am you] accufer ; and interrogate him thus : & Was you a Bothwel ? A. I have anfwered that in my firft cxamina tion. js£. But, faid the advocate, you muft anfwer i now. A. It being criminal by your law, you muft prov< it. j^. Do you hold thefe that were there as rebels of George fackfon. 351 A. I allow myfelf to be among no rebels ; but whom call you rebels ? The advocate faid, Thefe that were re- bels to the king. George anfwered, If they be not rebels to God, the matter is the lefs. J®. Do you approve of them ? A. Yes, in as far as they were for Chrilt and his caufe. §K Do you allow yourfelf to rife in arms againft the king ? A. No. Qj Wherefore then did ye rife in arms : A* I have warrant in the word of God to rife in arms in defence of the gofpel and work of reformation, according to our folemn engagements, wherein we are fworn to uphold and defend to the utmoft of our power the work of reformation, i^. What, are ye engaged to be againft your king ? A. You heard not me fay that, but I faid, I am for the king and all authority, as far as ihey are for the work of God, but no further, j^. Do you own the prefent authority ? A, I own no unlawf 1 authority. J®. Will you take the bond of regulation, and you fhall win your way. A, I will have nothing to' do with you, or your bonds either. Being defired to fubfcribe what they had wrote down as his confeffion, he refund. At his fecond compearance before the council, after they had read to him and feveral other prifoners, the declaration emitted at Sanquhar, they afked, if he ap- proved of that paper, which cafts oft the king, and all his authority and laws, and declares open war againft him, and approves to murder his foldiers, militia, gentlemen or intelligencers, wherever they can have the occafion ? He anfwered, I difown all murder. i£. But do you ap- prove of that paper ? A. As far as it owns truth. ^L Knew ye of it before ? he concludes Lis dying teftimony : in the whole he gives e- vidences of one near and dear to Chrift, and fupported and itrengtnened by him*- Together with the forefaid martyr, William Keagow in Kiikeagow received his indi&ment, fpecifying the fame caufes, viz. Being at Bothwel, under the command of Robert Hamilton, brother to the laird of Prefton, if- iuing out treafonable proclamations, and declarations, which he owned as his duty in defence of the gofpel and covenanted work of reformation, and refufing to call the death of the arch-bifhop of St. Andrews murder, and not being free to pay cefs to the king, &d But whether he left any teftimony or not, it has not come to the hands of the publifhers. Upon the 14: day of November, 1684. fufFered John Watt in the parifti of Kilbride, and John Semple in the pari&of Glaflart; Whofe teftimonies (if they be extant) came not to the hands of the publifhers of this colle^ion ; only it is certain from their indictments that they died fo* of John Semple. 353. their adherence to the fame truths, at the Gallov/Iee* which was in the twilight of the evening. While they ► were finging the n. fection of the cxix. Pfalm, particu- larly thefe words in the 84. ver. * How many are thy « fervant's days? when wilt thou execute juft judgment * on thefe wicked men that do me perfecute ? The fol- diers made fuch a helhfh rroife, and turned back ib upon the people that were fpectators of the action, that the people verily conceived they ihould have been trodden down and maffacred in the fpot, which occafioned all to flee, fo that none of their chriftian friends durit (lay to do the lafl duty to them, in dreffing their dead bodies,, but they were left to the infolent foldiers difpofal. A copy cf a Letter, written by JOHN SEMPLE in Craigthorn, while in prifon. Directed to bis -■ mother and Jifter, who were then in prifon-. V Loving Mother and Sifter, THIS is to let you know, That that day which I was brought to the toibooth of the Cannongate, and we were put into the irons, and the (hackles put upon our arms, and to morrow about eleverf"o'clock, I was brought before the council, and they (hewed me the paper which was found upon the croifes and kirk- doors, and they a(ked, If I knew it? I anfvvered, What know I what is iuthat paper ? The duke having it in his hand, and the reft of the council bade him read it to me ; he read fome lines of it, and then faid to the reft, It would take a long time to read. They offered to give it to me to read, and promifed me time to conllder it, if I would give my judgment of it. A. I will not have it, neither will I be judge of papers, j^. Own ye the king's autho- rity, as it is now eftablilhed ? A. I own all authority, as is agreeable to the word of God. SK Will ye own this paper or not ? A. What know 1 what is in that pa- per. Then they faid, to be (hort with you, Own ye the covenants and Prefoyterian principles? A. I own the co- venants and Prefbyterian principles with my whole heart. Then faid they, So, that is a frank and free fellow. Then they caufed to take me away for a while ; and I was brought before them again; and then they faid. Come and declare the truth, and give your oath, wfc you know concerning the contrivers and publiihers G e 9 354 Thelajl Speech and Tejlimony thefe papers. A, I am not bound to wrong my neigh- bours, neither wiH I give an oath. After ibme questi- ons and anfwers, the chancellor faid, He (hould make me do it; for he faid, he would make me as fmall as fhuff. I anfwered, Sometimes the perfecutors have cauf- ed the faints to blafpheme. The bi (hop's brother faid, I was a liar, for the Scripture fays no fuch thing. I faid, That it fays the fame thing, and I told him where it was. Then they caufed take me away; and then a Itttle after they brought me before them again the third time, and preiTed upon me again to declare : I utterly refufed. Then they caufed the executioner to take mt a little back, and made me fit down with my back to the bar, and threw on the thumbkins upon my thumbs, un- til I fell into a fwoon ; and when I overcame again, they were (landing about, looking upon me, and bidding me rife ; and then I rofe. Then fome of them faid, What will ye fay now to the chancellor ? I faid, I will fay no- thing to him. Then they took me to the town toibooth, to the iron-houfe. Now, I defire that I could blefs the Lord for this. That he keeped me, for in the time of the torture I fpak* not a word good or bad, but got it borne, until I fell in- to a fwoon. All their countenances dafhed me nothing ; for I did not fear their faces, nor the faces of hundred! who were gazing upon me, from about eleven o'clock till feven o'clock in the afternoon. And I thought, thai that was a fign of God's prefence : but the fhining of hii countenance was not with my fpirit. But I was heTpec to believe and hold fad : For I fcnew not but that day 01 to-morrow might have been my laft day. The next morning I was brought before one of then into a chamber: He faid, How are ye advifed to-day ! I faid, As I was. ^. What is the reafon that ye wil not tell the truth to the chancellor ? for it is a fin not t< do it. A. Doeg told the truth, when he told SauLtha he faw David come to Ahimelech, and that Ahimelecl gave him bread, and did enquire of God for him ; am yet the Scripture calls it lying, Pfal. Hi. 3. And there fore there is a finful pernicious fpeaking of the truth which is a great &n> and accounted as a lie. I faid t< }>tm atfo, That I, knowing the terror of the Lord, i thought that the terror of men was the lighter to tx borne, and that I would fay no more than I had faid of Raines Graham. 355 tho' they fhould torture all the fingers and toes that I had, till they fhould be cut off; but as the Lord fhould give me ftrength, I would ftand. After this, he never opened his mouth more, but bumbred and rofe up, and went his way, and the keep- er brought me back to the iron-houfe* where 1 remain. One thing is come to my mind, which he faidmore; That it was for rebellion againft the king chat they were purfuing for. I anfwered, fo did the perfecutors of the Son of God fay, That it was for rebellion \ for they cal- led him an enemy to Caefar. Moreover they threa me with the boots. Now what the Lord will permit them to do, I know not ; but there are hard things de- termined againft me ; and I am very weak, for flefh and blood is but weak; therefore forget not my cafe. I am well contented with my lot, bleffed be the Lord* only I am afraid of my own weakneffes, left I wrong the truth. No more at prefent, but wifheth that the Lord's pre- fence may be with you, my dear mother and fifter. Give my love to my dear brother and fifters. I am in good health, bleffed be God; my thumbs, they are not very fore, only they are fomething feellefs ; I and others thought, they fhould fcarcely have ever ferved me, at leaft for a long time. JOHN SEMPLE. The Lajl Tejiimony of JAMES GRAHAM, Taylor in Corf?nichaeI, in the Steivarty of Galloway, ivho fuffered at the Gallowlee, betwixt Leith and Edinburgh, Decern* ber 9. 1684. Men and brethren, I Am come here this day to lay down my life for the caufe of Chrift, and I blefs the Lord, that ever he gave me a life to lay down for fuch a noble caufe ; and now I wifh this day that every hair of my head, and e- very drop of my blood were a life, I would willingly lay them down for him, for it is all too little I can do for him. O it is a wonder, that ever he fhould have choien me, or the like of me, to witnefs or die for him in fuch a caufe ! for he hath no need of me, or any of the loft fons of Adam, but he hath teftified ia his word, that he will make the poor things of the earth, to confound the prudent. And now I blefs the Lord, that 356 The la/I Speech and Tefiimony I die not as a murderer or a thief, or as an evil doer, or as a bufy body in other men's matters. The heads where- upon I am indicted, are, Becaufe I refufed to difown that paper, which is mod agreeable to the word of God, and to our fworn covenants and work of reformation ; and becaufe I would not fwear to that which I durft not for my foul do. Now, I giving a fhort account of what I am indicted for, I fhall likewife give an hint of what I adhere to. Fir/}, I adhere to the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Teftament, Confeflion of Faith, Ca- techifms Larger and Shorter, and to the whole work of reformation, as it was once eftablifhed in our land, aK tho' now, alas ! defaced, and denied by the moft part of this generation. 2dly, To the Covenants National and Solemn League, to which we are fworn with hands uplifted to the moil high God, and bound to maintain it. $d!y, To the Sum of Saving Knowledge, the Ac- knowledgment of Sins and Engagement to Duties, tfhly, To the preached gofpel, as it was faithfully preached in our land, by the fent mefTengers of Jefus Chrift ; e- fpecially by Meffrs. John Kid, John King, Donald Car- gil, and Richard Cameron, who took their lives in their hands, and went forth upon all hazards, when the reft of their brethren turned their back upon the caufe. $thlf, To Mr. James Renwick, as a faithful fent fervant of Je- fus Chrift, who has lifted up the ftandard where Meflrs. Donald Cargil and Richard Cameron left it, who feal*- ed the caufe with their blood. 6thly, To all the appear- ances in arms in defence of the gofpel, and our fworn covenants, and the whole work of reformation. *]thly 9 To the excommunication at the Torwood by Mr. Donald Cargil. §tkly, To the Sanquhar declaration, as a thing moft agreeable to the word. ythly, To the declaration at Rutherglen. icthly. To the paper that was taken off worthy Henry Hall, at the Queensferry. 1 1 thly, To the burning of that hell -hatched thing, called the Teft, at Lanerk. i It My, To the fellowfhips of the Lord's peo- ple, for reading, ringing and praying ; according to the Scripture in Mai. iii. 16. and Heb. x. 25. and feveral o- ther Scriptures which warrant this, \yhly. To all the teftimonies of the faithful witnefTes of Jefus Chrift, from:- the appearance in arms at Pentland-hills to this day. iqtbly, To that paper upon which I was indicted, in fo^ of fames Graham. 357 far as it is agreeable to the word of God, and our fworn covenants, and work of reformation. " And now, on the other hand, I {hall defire to let you fee what I (hall witnefs and teftify againft, fo far as I am enabled by his holy Spirit, \Ji y I leave my teftimony a- gainft all breach of covenant, which is a fin that hath overfpread the whole land. zdh> Againft the accepters of the indulgence, flrft and lad, becaufe they have fled from their firft engagements, which engagement was to be faithful minifters to the church of Chrift, which they have broken and rent. 3 *//>", Againft the hearers of cu- rates, becaufe they have broken our fworn covenants and work of reformation. 4/^/y, Againft Popery, Prelacy, Quakerifm, and ali herefy, and whatfoever is contrary to the word of God. 'jtofy* Againft paying of the eel's and locality, and againft paying of fines, becaufe it is a bearing up of thefe foul-murderers, and an acknowledg- ment that we have done a fault in following our duty. 6t/>/y, Againft Charles Stuart, in regard he hath broken tlie covenant that he was once fworn to, and put forth his hand againft the people of God. ithly, Againft that per- juring and S^C!li" ,Iiafi k thing called the Teft, and the oath of allegiance, which is an oath againii our cove- nant, Sthly, Againft Gib, and all his followers, and all their pernicious ways. c;/Z>/y, Againft the overthrowing of our work of reformation, which we had for our Lord and Mailer, and his faithful fervants, to be comforts to our fouls. Now, the time being ihort, I ihall fay no more, but farewel mother, brethren, and fifters ; farewel all Christian friends and acquaintances in the Lord ; farewel holy Scriptures which have been my comfort many a day; farewel meat and drink, fun, moon, and ftars. Welcome eternity; welcome heaven; welcome holy angels ; welcome God in Chrift, into thy hands I commit my fpirit. Sic fubferibitur, JAMES GRAHAM. 358 The lajl Speech and Tejlhnony The lajl Speed and TeJlimo7iy 0/ROBERTPOLLOCK cor diner in Kilbride ', ivho wast taken at Glafgoiv, anc4 fufered at the Galloivlee, January 23. 1685. betwixt eight and nine of the clock in the morning. [The body of this teftimony being much of a piece with feveral of the foregoing, as declaring his adherence to the fame truths, and abhorrence of the fame errors and abominations ; the reader will find here only the preamble and poftfcript, as follows .J Dear friends ', I Being fentenced to die by men, thought it fit to leave this fhort word of teftimony behind me. Now, if 1 could fay any thing to the commendation of Chrift, ] have as much to fay to his commendation, as any pool finner ever had to fay. For he has done more for me than heart can think, or tongue can fpeak, cr hand cap write, for he has made good his promife to me, Ifa. xxiii, 2. < When thou pafTeft thro' the waters, 1 will be with 4 thee, and thro' the rivers they fhall not overflow thee, c When thou walkeft thro' the fire thou fhalt not be burn- * ed, neither fhall the flames kindle upon thee.' Thu promife I can fay upon good ground has been made out to me. And I can fay with the fpoufe in Song ii. 6. ' Hv. e left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth I embrace me. A bundle of myrrh is my beloved untc * me/ Song i. 13. And now I cannot ftudy to fave m) life without prejudice to his glory, and vindicating oi evil doers. For I defire to fear and ferve him, and alfc to confefs him, that hath faid in his word, Matth. x. 23 4 Whofoever therefore fhall confefs me before men, hiir ■ will I confefs alfo before my Father which is in heaven. Ver. 33. ' But whofoever fhall deny me before men, hin \will I alfo deny before niy Father which is in heaven. And he has faid in Luke ix. 62. ' No man having pui ' his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for th< c kingdom of God. ' And alfo he hath faid Heb. x. 38 « If any man draw back, my foul fhall have no pleafun * in him. But he that fhall endure unto the end, the < fame fhall be faved,' Matth. xxiv. 13. Now, I fay ; death and life, heaven and hell, even Chrift being or the one hand, and the world on the other hand, anc of Robert Pollock. 359 Chrift holding forth an offer of himfelf to me, and mak- ing me welcome to come to him, I defire rather to fuf- fer any thing he is pleafed, than to run after the multi- tude: and now truth being fo much controverted, [ think I cannot refuie to be at his difpofing in fuffering for it. And now, I being fome what confufed in the time of my writing, and therefore could not keep order ; wherefore I take leave to leave my teftimony to feveral things thad forgot before. And now as a dying man I leave my te- ftimony to the Sanquhar declaration, and to the late de- claration, November, 1684. And now I have two parti- culars to leave my teftimony againft, viz. The duke of York, and the duke of Monmouth. Againft the duke of York for marrying a ftrange woman, and as he is a Pa- pift himfelf. And againft the duke of Monmouth for coming down to Scotland, to help the enemies of God to kill the Lord's people, for hazarding their lives in de- fence of the gofpel. And now I am come here this day to lay down my life for the hope of Ifrael, of the which hope I am not afhamed this day ; for I defire to blefs his holy name, that thefe twelve years and more, my foul has loved him ; and many times my foul has been refrefh- ed when I thought upon fuffering for him. Now, I do not fay I am free of fin, but I am at peace with God thro' a flain Mediator, and he fhall make my foul as clean of fin, as I had never finned. And now I am to ftep out of time into eternity, where I lhall be as full of him as my foul deiires to be. And now again, I take my farc- wel of all created comforts in time ; and let none fay that thefe are not my words, for they are even my laft words. And now, I being never loofed out of the (hackles on my :ids I cannot write myfelf, but I do fubfcribe myfelf ; and whether any think it right or not, I have peace in doing of it. But it may be fome will fay, that I have not been right principled, and have been in error: and it may be fome will fay, that they would not have ventur- ed their life on fuch grounds. But I can fay, the leaft of § the controverted truths is fufficient ground to lay down my life for. And the main thing is authority, that now is cried up, and Charles Stuart to be fupreme : if any join with that, and approve of his deeds, it will never be afked whether they fear God or not; altho' they were the greateft blafphemers that ever lived, if they will ap- 3 60 The Laft Speech and Tejlimony prove of the acts and laws made by thefe that are no* rulers, tho' they rule wrong, there is no more fought b: them : they never afk whether they fear God or not, anc that fays that they fear him not themfelves, and thai they fludy no further than to pleafe Charles Stuart which will be their ruin in the end. And now I hav* this to fay to the commendation of Chrift, that he i? without parallel or comparifon ; he is altogether lovely, and m the greatefl of ftraits he is mod comely : his coun- ice is refrefhful to me, and has been in the greatefi of ttraits and difficulties, his countenance has refrefhec me, and it is delightfome to a weary foul. Nor is there any comfort like unto him, * His yoke is eafy, and hu ■ burden light.' Yea, he has been fo kind to me, thai I have not gone one hairs-breadth on my own charges. He fpares not expences ; he gives enough to all their that are about his work ; for ay when I was put foreft tc it, I go: enough from my lovely Matter to bear my char- ges with. Now, my advice is to all them that delire tc be upright 'for Chrift, Walk on, and do not draw back, for ye will not want enough to do your turn ; for h( does notftand to ware any thing upon his fervants. And now, I as a dying man, in treat you all not tc fear imprifonment : fear nothing ; for if ye. can truft ir him, there is no fear you mall be left to do the w r orl your fe If. I can fay no more to make you love him; but only this I can fay, That he has ay made me victorious fmce I was his prifoner. And now 1 can fay, I am noi afraid to venture upon a gibbet for him, and for the vin dication of his caufe. And now let none fay, it is a fon matter that my life mould be taken away for fuch s caufe; for I fay unto you, that I would never have got ten fuch an offer to quit my life for; and let none b< forry, that I am taken away out of the gate of God': wrath ; for there are many in Scotland that will not knov where to fly from his wrath purfuing them : yea, ever many that are not much concerned with thefe thing: now. And therefore, 1 fay, fly unto Chriil:, all tha would ftudy not to be trampled down in his fury, an( thefe thai would not have the wrath of the Lord pourec out upon them; my advice is, to make your peace witl the Prince of peace : For fad will the calamities be jtha are coming on this land. O! prepare for judgment, fo: he will come and make inquifitibn for the blood that hat! cf Robert Millar. 3^1 been fhed in Scotland, before the controverfy end, and ihe calamity overpafs. It looks very like that the fov. of the air will eat the bodies of the dead men and wo- men not being buried. I fhall fay no more, but (hidy to fly out of the way of God's wrath ; only fly unto him, and forfake your evil ways, x^nd now it is nut, I de- clare, upon the account of fuffering, that I expect to be faved ; nor any righteoufnefs of mine own, but only thro' the imputed righteoufnefs of jefus Chrift, thro' his merits and interceffion ; for I have no righteoufnefs of my own, neither can I merit any thing by my fuffer- ing : But it is as fure that he has laid, ■ He that denies < me before men, him will I deny before my Father who * is in heaven, and before the holy angels.' And now I am brought here this day, to lay down my life for the caufe and intereft of Jefus Chrift, and for no other thing : And I defire to blefs the Lord, that 1 am not fuffering as an evil-doer, and that I die not as a fool. And I de- fire to blefs the Lord that ever he honoured me with fuf- fering for him, for many times my foul has been refrefh- ed, when I faw any thing like that, that I would be a fufferer for him. Now, I defire to take my farewel of all things in time : Farewel fweet Scriptures, reading, finging, praying, and believing ; farewel fun, moon, and liars, and all created comforts in time. Welcome heaven and happinefs ; welcome innumerable company of angels ; welcome fpirits of juft men made perfect ; welcome praifing without ccafing, or wearying in the lead ; welcome Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, into thy hands I commit my fpirit ROBERT POLLOCK. The laji Teftimony */ ROBERT MILLAR, ma/on, nxjho lived in the parijh ofRutherglen, and fuffered for the truth at the Gallowlee of Edinburgh, upon the 2td of January , betwixt fix and f even in the mornings 1685. Loving and dear friends, t I Being fentenced to die by men, have thought it fit to leave behind me this mite of a teftimony ; and to let you know upon what ground I fuffer : and it is only becaufe I would not acknowledge the prefent authority, which is in a direct oppofition to the word of God ; and alfo becaufe I would not take that oath againlt the Apo- Hh %6i The I aft Speech and Tefthnony logetical declaration, and fwear myfelfan enemy to the covenant and work of reformation ; which I durit not do, no not for my foul. Now, I confefs, I have been a great (inner againfl God, but I never acted any thing againft man, worthy of death, bonds, or imprifonment. Now, glory to him, for he hath not been wanting to me; I have (een, in fome meafure, his hand of providence, ay in lefs or more, from my very infancy, guiding me to this day. But now it is about fifteen years fince he engaged me won- derfully to him, altho' I have many times turned my back on him, and alfo though I followed my duty, with many failings, yet he never fuffered me to go, but ft ill kept me with a long refpect to him, and his perfecuted truths ; and ay when I was like to be fnared with ftrong temptations from Satan, the world, and my own wick- ed heart, then ' he broke the fnare, and I efcaped as a * bird out of the hand of the fowler.' And, according to that word, he hath, in a wonderful meafure, * made * all things work together for my good.' O how many times have I turned back, and provoked him to hide his face, and to defert me : and to plague me with hardnefs of heart ! but ay when I was ready to fink, then he ma- nifefted his power, and brought nfe up out of the great depth; and alio made out that word, Pfal. xxvii, 10. * When my father and my mother forfake me, then the 4 Lord will take me up.' Now, I fay, Glory, glory to him, who hath plucked me as a brand out of the burn- ing, and hath made a prifon, and irons, fweet and eafy to me. O ! what an honour is it, to tread the fame fteps £hat my loving Lord hath gone before me ! O ! now he is become ' altogether lovely, and the chief among ten * thoufands.' I can now fay from my experience, 'That ' my beloved is mine, and I am his/ Firft, Now, I heartily adhere, and leave my teftimony to that covenant of free grace, agreed upon between the Father and the Son, that noble work of redemption ; and defire to take him in all his offices, as King, Prieft, and Prophet, idly^ I heartily adhere to the holy and facred word of God, with which my foul many a time hath been refrefhed. ^dfy, And alio to the Confeffion of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechifms. qthly, And alfo to the National and Solemn League and Covenant. $thty 9 And alio to that glorious work of reformation, as of Robert Millar. $63 it was reformed from Popery and Prelacy, and all other errors. 6tAfy, And likewife I leave my teftimony to ^11 the fellowfnip-meetings of the Lord's people, for keep- ing up of the fallen down ftandard of our Lord. 1fily\ And likewifel leave my teftimony to thefe worthy mens doctrine, viz. Mr. Donald Cargil, and the reft who jeoparded their lives upon the high places of the earth, for the bearing up of the fallen down ftandard of o ur Lord, when the reft mod fhamefully left it at the com- mand of men. %tbl? 9 And likewife I heartily adhere, and leave my teftimony to that worthy man's doctrine, called Mr. James Renwick, who is now carrying on that great work, when there is fo few to own it; and I defire to.bleis the Lord, that ever I heard him preach. ytkiy, And likewife I leave my testimony to the excommunicaticn at the Torwood, pafTed by Mr. Donald Cargil, againft thefe enemies of God. lothly, And likewife I leave my teftimony to all proteftations and declarations given by the Lord's people, againft his enemies. 1 iibfy t And al- fo, to the making ufe of defensive arms. i2tbly, And likewife I defire to tell you what I difown, and leave my teftimony againft. And in the firji place, I leave my teftimony againft Fopery, and Prelacy, and Eraftianifra, and all other errors no: agreeable to the word of God, and againft all thefe that adhere to, and own thefe abominable practices, and principles. 2.7/v, I leave my teftimony againft that Lt is now upon the throne, viz. Charles Stu- art, who hath not only broken the covenant, but burned it, and overturned the whole work of reformation, which he was fworn and engaged unto; and is yet going on with uplifted hands, in his perjury, and making to do the like, according to that of Jeroboam who made Ifra- el to fm; and alio for his fupremacy over the preroga- tives of our Lord. 3^/y, And alio, I leave my teftimo- ny againft thole called the council of Scotland, who at Jeep not, except they have done mifchicf, and they are now taking away my life, not having any mat- ter of fact againft me, either worthy of death or bonds, but only becaTiie 1 would not perjure myfclf, and irate niyfelf an open enemy to God, and his truth, which I durft not do, no not for my foul. $tkly y And ttkewi I lea teftimony againft that wicked thing called the Teft, invented by Satan. ahly> And alio "againft Hh 2 364 The lajl Speech and Tejlimony bonds and declarations fent forth by thefe who are cal- led the council of Scotland. 6tkly, And likewife I leave my teftimony againft cefs and locality paying, which is for no other ufe ; but to bear down the gofpel of our Lord Jefus. *]thly, And alfo againft militia money, which is for that fame ufe. 8tb/y, And alfo againft all intelli- gencers and apprehenders of the Lord's people, Obad. ver. 10. qthly y And likewife againft all compearing at courts, or coming out of prifon upon bond or caution, or paying of jaylor's fees ; for it fays, that we have done them wrong, whereas we have done them none ; and al- tho' they be forced to it, yet that will not excufe them,, for there is not a liberty in all the word of God, ; to fay a confederacy with his open and avowed enemies, lothly, And alfo I leave my teftimony againft the hearing of thefe tefted curates, who are thefe that are mentioned in God's word, viz. Wolves and bears, which would de- vour the Lord's flock. 1 itkiy, And againft all the blood- ihed, before and fmce Pentland, in the fields, and on fcaf- folds, and alfo in the feas. \2thly> And againft all the in- dulgences firft and laft, who lay down the fervice of the Lord at the command of men, and have engaged them- fel'ves in that wo, that is pronounced againft fuch as are at cafe, when Zion is in trouble : For fince I had any know- ledge I never had any clearnefs for minifters, who acknow- ledged any to be the head of the church, but Jefus Chrift. lphty> And againft all fort of compliance, becaufe I fee there is few that ever complies with them, that ever gets Jeave to look behind them, till they be the full length. And now, I muft tejl you, I have not been free of the thoughts of it this many a day, That the church of Britain and Ire- land fhall be upon the borders of Babylon, before they get a delivery. Now, dear friends, ftudy to be diligent in your duty, and alfo make good ufe of your Bibles, for I have not gotten the thoughts of it off my fpirits this many a day, that ere long it fhall come to that, That it fhall be death to the perfon with whom a Bible is found : and alfo I muft tell you, That there was nothing more confirming to me, that they were enemies to truth, than to fee their carriage when I was before them. Now, I am not taking upon me to prophefy, but they are blind, who fee not there are fad days abiding thefe poor lands. Now, I fay, O ftudv holinefs and labour to follow your duty -, in fad ear- cf Robert Millar. 3 65 ne/t, for there is a black cloud of judgment ready to break upon thefe lands. And now I dare not doubt, but Chrift iS upon his way to return again to thefe lands, and O be earnefl with hi:n, that he would fpare a remnant, and that he would not pafs that fad fentence mentioned in Ezek. ix. 6. Where he hath given a commiffion to ' flay * utterly old and young;' and alfo ver. 10. Where he hath faid, * His eye fhall not fpare, neither will he have ' pity/ Now, I faylikewife, be earned with him, that ye may be marked by the man with the writer's inkhcrn by his fide, that ye may be keeped in the hollow of his hand, in the day of Scotland's fad calamity. Now, for fake not the affembling of yourfelves toge- ther, and employ your ftrength, in the holding up of the fallen-down (landard of our Lord, and if ye be found re- al in this duty, ye {hall either be members of the church militant, and fee that glory ofthefecond temple, which fhall be a glorious fight, or elfe ye fhall be tranfportcd, and be members of the church triumphant; fo ye fhall be no lofers, but noble gainers either of the ways, for I dare not doubt, but that Chrift is upon his way, and that he will keep a remnant even of holy feed, which fhall yet be the fubftance of poor covenanted Scotland. Now I de- fire to die a Prefbyterian, altho' one of the meanefl and poorett fmful things" that ever followed him and his way. But O praife i praife and glory to him, who hath taken this way of dealing with me, as to honour me with fuf- fcring for him, and his controverted truths, and royal prerogatives, kingdom and fceptre. And now, in a vrord, I am fully perfuaded that it is his truth I am • uttering ior, and in this cafe, have both his word and Spirit < a my fide, and fo I fhall not be difappointed of my expect- ation. Now, I defire heartily to forgive all men, what they have done to me, as I am of myfelf ; but what they have done againft the image of God in me, that is not mine to forgive, but I mud leave it before the great - to b* decided, in his own time, when he fliall arife ai lion's quarrel. Altho' men have buried his work, and fworn it fhall not rife again, yet the commiiLV. go forth, < Arife and fing, ye that dwell in the d/.i. Kut I mull leave it, becaule my time is but iiior: I have one word more to fay to the poor remnant, eo venture upon the crofs of Chrift, for alth-- ixt H h 3 % 66 The lafl Speech and Teflimony the black fide of it at the beginning, yet when ye come to a trial upon his truth's account, then he will appear, and be a prefent help in time of trouble, according to his word ; and the more (harp your trial be, the more he will be feen perfecting ilrength in your weajcnefs, accord- ing to that, Ifa. xl. 29. * He giveth power to the faint;. * and to them that have no might he increafeth (Irength. Ver. 31. ' But they that wait upon the Lord lhall renew « their firength,' &c. Now, I fay, fear not to contend for the truth, but la- bour to be as free of ielf in it as ye can ; for I can tell you, Chrill and your idols wilt not lodge in one houfe to* gather, but if ye can fay upon good ground, that it is pure love and zeal to his glory upon which ye are fuf- ing, then I fay, Come away, for ye fhall not want ex- perience to the full. Many Scriptures I might inftance for your encouragement in this, but I can fay from ex- perience, that he is a Prince of his word. O ! they are not to mean who are in the furnace, if the Son of God be with them. For I may now fay with godly Mr. Ru- therford, " He hath paid me many hundred fold, and fci one to the hundred." O ! who w-ould not praife him, who hath carried thro* a poor dwarf mounted upon the wings of omnipotency. Now, ray time is but fhort, but I give glory to the great name cf my God, for my interefi is now made fure,. and I have had much of his fweet prefence, fince I was prifoner for him, and his perfecuted truths ; and many times before: And now, I blefs his great name, he hath perfected his work in me, and I fhall have the full enjoy* ment of him thro' all eternity; for I have freely given away myfelf to be at his difpofal, and have taken him to be my King, Prieft, and Prophet ; and now I think, I may fay with Job, Job xix. 25. 'I know that my Re- * deemer liveth, and that he fhall ftand at the ratter day ■ upon the earth.' Ver. 26. ■ And tho' after my fkin, * worms deftroy this body, yet in my fiefh fhall I fee 4 God:' Ver. 27. ' Whom I fhall fee for myfelf, and ■ mine eyes ihall behold, and not another; tho' my reins * be confumed within me,' Now, my dear friends, I mud bid farewel to you, and kave you- to him who hath promifed to be a little fane- tiuary to his own, to be kept by his mighty power untc fklvatioit,, and a,lfo I bid farewel to fun,,mooaand ftar&; of Robert Millar. 367 And I mud bid farewel to all the fweet focieties of the Lords people; farewel reading and finging, and pray- ing; farewel holy and fweet Scriptures, with which ma- ny a time my foul hath been refrefhed ; and to conclude, farewel all created comforts in time. And welcome the fweet fellowfhip of angels, and the fouls of juft men now made perfect, and the fweet feilowfhip of the firft-born; welcome Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, into whofe hands I commit my fpirit, for it is thine. Sic fubferibitur . ROBERT MILLAR. UPON the nth of May 1684, Margaret LauchTane in the parifh of Kirkkinner. and Margaret Wilfon in Glenvernock, in the (hire of Galloway, being fenten- ced to death for their noncompliance with Prelacy, and refu/ing to fwear the oath of abjuration, by the laird of Lagg, Captain Strachan, Colonel David Graham, and Provoft Cultron, who commanded them to receive their fentence upon their knees, which they refufmg, were prefled down by force, till they received it : And fo were by their order tied to a (lake within the fea mark, in the water of Blednoch, nearWigton; where, after they had made them wreftle long with the waves; which flowing fwelled on them by degrees ; and had fometimes thurft them under water, and then pulled them out again, to fee if they would recant; they enduring death with un- daunted courage, yielded up their fpirits to God. The former was a widow woman of about fixty three years, of a mod chriftian and blamelefs converfation, a pattern of piety and virtue, who having conftantly refufed to hear the curates, was much purfued and vexed, and at length taken by the foldiers, while (he was devoutly wor- (hipping God in her family ; and being indicted of being at Bothwel-bridge, Airfmofs, and twenty field conven- ticles, and as many houfe conventicles, after fere and long imprifonment, without necefTaryrefrefhments of fire, bed or diet, at length fufrered this cruel death. The o- ther (Margaret Wilfon) a young woman of fcarce twenty- three years of age, after fhe with her brother, who was about nineteen, and her fifter fifteen years old, had been long driven from their father's houfe, and expofed ti> ly in dens and caverns of the Rirth, wandering thro' the mofles and mountains ofCarrick, Nilhfdale, and Gal- loway; going to Wigton fecretly to vifit the foxeiuid %6S The lafl Speech and Tefiimeny Margaret Lauchlane, was I : of one Pa- trick Smart, who under colour of friendfhip; having in- vited he?- and her fitter to drink with him, or ;em the king's health, and upon their refufal of it, a> not warranted in God's ward, and contrary to chriil ; moderation, went prefently out and informed againfl them ; her filler was diimiifed, as being but fifteen years of age, upon her father's paying iool. Sterling for her rantom ; ilie being detained and examined, whether fhe owned the king as head of the church ? and would take the abjuration oath ? Not anfwering to their pleafure, but adhering to the truths of (Thrift, was in like manner con- demned ; and after great feverities of imprifonment, fuf- fered the forefaid death. Being put oft into the water, and when half dead, taken up again, to fee if (he would take the oath, which (he refined to her laft breath ; while her fellow-fufrerer was wreftling with the waves, as being put fir ft in to difcourage her ; the persecutors allied her, What fhe thought of that fight ? She aniwered, What do I feebutChrift (myftical) wreftling there? One of the times that fhe was taken out of the water they laid, Say, God fave the king. She returning with chrif:: a meeknefs, I wifh the falvation of all men, but the dam- nation of none. Upon which one of her friends, al hedg- ing ihe had faid what they demanded, defired them to let her go; but they would not, feeing.fhe refufed to take the oath. During her imprifonment, ihe wrote a large letter to her friends, wherein, beudes the lively and feel- ing expreflion of her ienfe of God's love, fhe* doth, with a judgment not ufual for her age and education, difclofe the unlawful nature of the abjuration oath, hearing of curates, owning the king's Supremacy, which was the thing the perfecutors meant I uthority ; and proves the neceility of her fuffering upon thefe heads. The lajl Teflimony o/T H O M A S 9 T O D D A R T, i J'uffered at the Grafs -market of Edinburgh , Siuguft 12* l6S 5 . Mem, brethren and fathers , hearken, It)etng to take my fare we 1 of the world, I leave t my dying Teftimony, according to the form of the Chriftians of old. I having like the fame ground for it, that he had, who ufed that word, that was Stephen* of Thomas Stoddart. g 69 who was condemned, becaufe he fpoke blafphemous words againft the law and the temple. So becaufe I will not adhere to, or approve of their laws, which now have power in their hands, they condemned me to die, tho* they could not witnefs fo much againft me for fpeakmg againft them, and they never elfayed to prove the fen- tence upon me : which now I fhall ftudy in a word to give you an account of. And flrft, I received my len- ience of baniihment, and then notwithstanding of that, I was committed to thejuftices to abide the afiize, and they paft upon me the fentence of death, for no other caufe, as I can give, but becaufe I could not give fuch an anfwer to their queftions about the government and the king's authority (as they called it) as could fatisfy their lufts, and that I durftnot difown the Apologetic Decla- ration ; and fo I humbly conceive it will come to this as the ground of my fufferlng, that I could not own ChrifVs enemies, nor the power that they have taken to them- felves againft him, nor difown Chrift's friends and their actings, as they required, and therefore I am fentenced, albeit I owned as much of the authority as any Chriftian Can be obliged to, that is to fay, lawful authority ac- cording to word of God; but I defire to be fubmiflive to his will, who hath called me to this, and to have high thoughts of him. I cannot get words to fet him out, but I find fomething to fay to the commendation of Chrift, as it is faid in Cant. ii. 1. « He is the rofe of Sha- ron, and the lily of the valleys;' the fweeteft rofe that ever I fmelled, and never fweeter than when under the crois, and fuffering upon his account. Now, I fhall not be long, I have told you upon what account I fuffer, it is out of love to Chrift, and by faith in his mercy, that I venture upon it. I fhall end it with a word, I thought it my duty to adhere to the word of God, and to every thing agreeable thereto: And I would fuffer for every- thing as a ground, which I think is right, and taken out of the word of God, having encouragement from his bleffed promifes Ifa. xliii. 1. * But now, tiros faith the i Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that form- * ed thee, O Ifrael, Fear not ; for I have redeemed thee ' I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine. When < thou paffeft thro' the waters, I will be with thee.' And I have this to fay alfo, that in all my imprifonroents he was wonderfully feen in owning me, and carrying me 3 7 ° T#* /#/? Speech and Teftimony through all the temptations that I was try Red with ; If] would tell you them all, they would take up much pa. per and time; and time being very fnort, I cannot get it done; but I think I mult (peak fomething to the commen- dation of free grace, that hath made me to fuffei chearfully. I have read in the Apoftle, 2Tim. ii. n. ( It ' is a faithful faying, For if we be dead with him, we * fhall alio live with him: If we fuffer, we (hall alfc * reign with him'.' It is good at all times, but efpecin ally now. O but the people of this generation be greatly involved in fin by reafon they are fo greatly and deeply involved in the breach of covenant ; which tho' it mult not be owned by the laws of the land, yet I dare not but own it. I would fain fay as it is faid, i Kings xviii. jrj. ' And Elifha faid, as the Lord of hods liveth, before « whom I (rand, I will furely fhew myfelf to him to day.' I own it before all, and I own myfelf to have joined, and do allow it heartily, in joining with that poor per- fected party fo much difowned ; the thing that I did in that cafe, I thought it my duty, I leave my teftimony to my owning of it ; and that I have joined myfelf to that which was mod agreeable to the word of God. I leave my teftimony in behalf of thefe that I joined with, that little handful in their focieties and fellowlhips, which have been very refrefhful to my foul, and I have been much delighted in thefe ; for I thought it was the church of God. And therefore, I leave my teftimony againft all fuper- ilition and error, contrary to that way I received of the Lord there ; and every thing contrary to the word of God. I leave my teftimony againft all unlawful deeds, and all murdering acts and actings whatfoever they be. I leave my teftimony againft Popery and Prelacy, and whatsoever plant is not of my heavenly Father's planting, and every thing contrary to found doctrine, and the pow- er of godlinefs. I leave my teftimony alfo againit thefe that hear the curates, and againft all them that have faid in effect, The word is a lie ; that is, becaufe they will not take it to be their rule; for that is the only thing we mould take to be our rule, in all the Heps of our fojourning here. Now, I think I mud take my farewel of all created comforts, and .all the things of the world; which have been fo great a mean to make many of this generation of Thomas Stcddart. 371 fear at the xrofs of Chrift, which is much mi flak en by the world. He was fo condefceniing, that he p. the way for poor Tinners him fell, and made it ftraight and eafy and wonderful it is to think upon. The way that leads to heaven is very ilraight, and very eaiy alfo to thefe that believe. He is that univcrfal king that lives and reigns for ever; and all who fubject themfelves and obey him, and confent to his terms, mall even know peace, and ihall enjoy his prefence, which is the chief of all things. It is peace with God, that is the matter of the believers rejoicing, and makes them all to flighter with joy in following him, who is « the way, tkc truth, f and the life;' and « whom to know is life everlafting;' that doth and may give great courage to thefe who love this way of his, that is fo greatly reproached by the peo- ple of this generation. I think ye may conceive what I mean by the faying of this. And now, my dear (tit and fellow fufterers. and brethren in the Lord, O but the counfel of the Lord be wife in bringing me hitherto ! And I ihall fay no more, but touch at one thing, and that is, That here I join my hearty teftimony that ever the people of God did in his way, L : s caufe in his gofpel terms ; to aJl the blood that has been Ihed for the gofpel, in all fields and fcaffolds whatfo- ever. So I take my farewel of all things under heaven. Farewel to the world, the fleih, and fin ; and alfo to all friends and relations, and kinfmen and brethren ; and ajfo I take my farewel of mother and brethren, and fil- ters ; and alfo 1 bid farewel to all my wonted privileges and enjoyments ; as alfo, I take my farewel of all the fweet that have been fo refrelhful to my foul feveral times ; farewel friends in Chrift ; farewel fun, moon, and ftars. Welcome heaven; welcome my God, and an- gels, and glorified fpirits ; and fo come Lord fefus. THOMAS STODDART. Together with the foregoing martyr, two others re- ceived the fentence of death, viz. B ice and* James Wilkie, who fuffered at Edinburgh, July j The former whereof declared in That they were interrogate only on thefe two quefn'ons. ike the oath of allegiance : To which I anfw . 2. V. authority ? They aniwered, we will own all authority 372 The lafl Speech and Teftimony according to the word of God. Upon which they were immediately all three fentenced to be hanged. Whence the faid martyr very juftly infers, That they had no- thing elfe to charge upon him as the caufe of his death, but that he fpoke of the word of God. His teftimony, as to all the material heads, is confonant with that o£ Thomas Stoddart's. The /aft Teftimony of EDWARD MARSHAL oj Kaemuir y in the parijli of Morvenjtde, December 4. 1685. FIRST, I leave my teftimony againft all that have joined with the malignant party, either in riflng in arms, or in paying of cefs, or any manner of waj contrary to our covenants, and work of reformation, once famous, and maintained by the whole miniftry, no* blemen, gentlemen, and commons of all forts, but now oppofed and borne down by the generality of this king* dom. And particularly againft fuch as once owned the covenant, and avowed the caufe of Chrift, and are now employing their ftrength for the overturning the fame ; as it is in Pfalm lxxiv. 6. Now, the things upon whicl I was accufed and fentenced w r ere, My joining in arm: with that party at Bothwel, and owning of the trutl and covenants, and for adhering thereunto : For the] queftioned me, If I would call it rebellion ? But I woulc not, but accounted it my duty. Then they afked me If I would own James VII. as king of Britain ? And told them, I owned him as far as he owned God, hi caufe and people. Then fome of them faid, That wa not all. Then they afked, If I would pray for the kinj of Britain ? I anfwered, This is not a place appointe* for prayer, Then they laughed, and faid, Remov you. Now, dear friends, be not difcouraged altho' the; threaten you with imprifonment, or death for the cauf of Chrift ; for he that calls you to iuffering, is able t< iupport and bear you up under it ; for I found more his prefence (ince I came to prifon than I did heretofore For Chrift fuffered imprifonment and death for us, am ought not we to fuffer for him ? As concerning this, tha my enemies and carnal friends, reproach me with felf murder, I am confeious to myfelf, that it is not; fo, bu of Edzvard hldrfl:al 3*:; Out of lov.e to Chrift and his covenanted work. Now, I recommend my wife and leven children to the good guid- ing of my Cod, who hath hitherto protected. me; for he has promifed, to be c a hufoand to the widow, and a * father to the fatherlefs,' providing they will ■ walk in < his ways, and keep his commandments.' Now, I re- commend my foul to God, who hath preferved me hith- erto, and who unexpectedly has Angled me out to fuffer for him, who am the unworthieft of all iihners ; and I never thought that he fhould have fo highly privileged me, as to account me worthy to give a teftimony for him ; tho' fornetimes it entered into my thoughts, O if I would be called to it. Now, farewel dear wife and fweet children; farewel all friends and relations, efpe- 'cially fuch of you as have given up your names to Chrifi; farewel fun, moon, and all worldly enjoyments. Wel- come Father, Son, and holy Ghoft, into cwhofe hands I commit my fpirit. Sic fttbfcribifttr, EDWARD MARSHAL. ON the 4th.of December, 168c, fuffer ed John Nifbet of Hardhill, in the parifh of Loudon, whofe tef- timony, altho' omitted in fome of the former editions of this book, is now inferted immediately after this fhort relation concerning him, wrote by one of his near rela- tions, who had full knowledge of the whole matter. About the year 1664, he having received the facra- ment of baptifm to his child, from one of the outed mi- nifters, came to be troubled by the enemies on that ac- count ; and the curate declared out of the pulpit, his purpofe to excommunicate him the next Lord's day, but was prevented by fudden death. When that handful the Lord's people renewed the covenant at Lancrk, and appeared in arms at Pentland-hills, he engaged in the covenant with them, and was fore wounded in the fi-^ht, inforr ich that he was left for dead : but by God's goou- nefs he recovered. And all alongft teftified againft the abominations of Prelacy, fupremacy, arbitrary govei ment, and indulgence, till the rifing in arms at Bothwd, "where he did good fervice, being not only a zealous Chr.ftian, but a-couragrous foldier. After this the ene- mies fcized all his goods, expelled his wife and four fmall children from houfe and hold; offered a larrx i I i 574 Tbe laft Speech and Teftimony money for himfelf, but the Lord prcferved him, while he had work for him. He was a clofs follower of the gofpel, faithfully preach- ed in the fields, was kept ftedfail in the truth from ex^ tremes on right or left hand; and was afliftant in pub- lifting the declarations for truth, emitted during that time. At length, in November, 1685. being in a poor man's houfe in the parifli of Finnick, with other three, after being fore wounded, he was taken by Lieutenant Nifoet's party, the other three being fhot dead on the fpot. The Lieutenant, having caufed tye him, afked, What he thought of himfelf now ? He anfwered, I think as much of Chrift and his caufe, for which I fuffer, as ever ; but ,1 judge myfelf at a lofs, being in time, and my dear brethren in eternity, whom you have unjuftly mur- dered. The bloody wretch fwore, That he had referv- ed him for farther judgment. He anfwered, If the Lord itand by me, and help me to be faithful to the death, I care not what piece of fuffering I be put to endure. He ^vas carried firft to Kilmarnock, from thence to Air next morning; and being brought back to Kilmarnock again, was thence trail f ported to Edinburgh; where, being brought before the council by the foregoing Lieutenant Nifbet, who demanded his money for him. They in- terrogate him to this effecl:. i£. Was you at that con- venticle? (naming time and place.) A. Yes. j§\ How many men and arms were there ? A. I went there to hear the gofpel preached, and not to take an account of what men and arms were there. J^. Which way went ye when the preaching was done ? A. Which way we could bed think of to efcape your cruelty. gK Where keep you your general meetings ? and what do ye at diem ? While he was about to anfwer, one of the coun- sellors' interrupted him telling, in his faOiion, what was done at fuch general meetings, and that there was one of them kept at Edinburgh; and afked the prifoner, If he was there ? Who anfwered, No. Then they faid to htm, We hope you are fo much of a Chriftian, as to pray for the king. He anfwered, Prayer being an holy ordi- nance of God, we ought to pray for kings, as well as others ; but not when every profligate bids us. J^. Dc vou own the king as fole fovereign ? A. He being Po- piih, and that from his youth, and I a Proteftant, o/tta JPrefbyterian covenanted perfuafion, I neither can nor will of %ohn Nisbct of Hardhill. 375 own him, while he remains fuch. Whereupon inconti- nent, without further procefs they palled fentence upon, him ; which he received, not only with Chrifttan i'ub- mifGon, but with much thankfulnefs ; bl effing and praif- kig God, who had counted him worthy to iuffer for his name. And during the time of his imprifonment he was wonderfully aflifted, and gra-cioufly fupported of the Lord under his crofs ; having both affurance of the par- don of all his fins, and his peace with God, and alio a firm perfuafion of the juftnefs of the caufe and work to which he adhered, and for which he was put to fuch •fufferin^s. Befides the feven wounds which he received when he was apprehended, he had a mercilefs weight of irons upon him during the whole time of his imprifon- ment. The loft and dying Tefimony of J O H N N I S B E T, of Hardhill, which he delivered to a friend in the It on- houfe, when he was taken out to the J caff old in the Grafs- market tf Edinburgh, where he died, Friday, Decern' her 4. 1685. I Have always thought, that to live for Chrirr, and die for Chrift, i-s a ftrffieient teitiinony for truth; yet now when I am within a few hours of eternity, to pre- vent miftakes, to fatisfy my dear friends, and let them know how it is with me, and to let the world know what I die witneffing for, and teftifying againft, 1 judge it pro* per to leave a few lines behind me. As for myfclf, it hath pleafed the Lord Jehovah, of his fuper-abunuant goodnefs, and infinite mercy, power- fully to determine my heart to clofe with, and embrace the Lord jeiusChrflr, as he ismadeofFer of in the ever! ; gofpel, for my King, Prieft and Prophet. And that conquell captivating of me to his obedience, who was aa heir of wrath, and a mafs of fin and linful corruption, is the fruit of electing love, according as it is manifeftcd in the covenant of free, free, free grace, will evidently appear from thefe Scriptures following • which he, by the power and concurrence of his holy Spirit, hath made effectual to the convincing, converting, ftrengthening and enabling of me to be his, and to be for him thro' well, and thro' woe, thro* good report, and thro' bad report; T : 3?6 The Laft Speech and Tejlimony and they are fo many fweet cordials to my foul, whczt ftepping out of time into eternity. Pfal. ex, 3. ' Thy people mall be willing in the day * of thy power.' Rom. ix. 1 1. « For the children be- 1 ing not yet born ; neither having done any good or ' evil, that the purpofe of God according to election * might ftand, not of works, but of him that calleth.' Ver. 19. « For he faith to Mofas, (SeeExod. xxxiii, 19,) * 1 will have mercy on whom I will have mercy; and I ■ will have companion on whom I will have companion/ Ver. 1 6. * So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of hira * that runneth, but of God that fheweth mercy.' 2 Their. ?i. 1 3 . — ' God hath from the beginning chofen you to fal- *■ vation, through fanclification of the Spirit, and belief of ■ the truth.' Prov. viii. 30. ' Then was I by him, as one? 4 brought up with him : and I was daily his delight, re- < joicing always before him.' Ver. 31. « Rejoicing in * the habitable part of his earth, and my delights were ' with the fons of men.' Yer. 32. ' Now therefore,' &c. to vtrlQ 36. Rom. viii. 29. * For whom he did fore- « know, he alio did predeftinate to be conformed to the ' image of his Son, that he might be the firft-born a- * m on g many brethren.' Ver. go. < Moreover whom he < did predeftinate, them he alfo called ; and whom he * called, them he alfo justified; and whom he juftified, * them he alfo glorified.' Vers 35. ' Who {hall feparate « us from the love of Chrift ? mall tribulation, or dif- * treis, or perfecution, or famine, or nakednefs, or per- « if, or fword ?' Ver. 37. « Nay, in all thefe things we * are more than conquerors, through him that loved us.' Eph. i. 13. < In whom ye alfo trufted, after that ye ■ heard the word of truth, the gofpel of your falvation : 1 in whom alfo after that ye believed, ye were fealed * with that, holy fpirit of promife,' Ver. 14. ■ Which is * the earned of our inheritance, until the redemption of f the purchafed poffeffion, unto the praife of his glory.* 2 Tim. i. 9. ■ Who hath faved us, and called us with « an holy calling: not according to our works, but ac- fr cording to his own purpofes and grace, which was 1 given us in Chrift Jefus, before the world began.' Titus iii. 5. ' Not by works of righteoufnefs which we have * done, but according to his mercy he faved us, by the 4 warning of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy < GholV Ver. 6. < Which he fhed on us abundantly 1 * come after me, let him deny himfelf, and take up ' crofs, and follow me.' (See Mark viii. 34.) Mark viii. 35. * For whofoever will lave his life, lhall lofe it; but * whofoever (hall lofe his life, for my fake and the gof- •• pel's, the fame (hall fave it.' (See Matth. x. 49. alio chap. xvi. 25.) Matth. xvi. 26. ( For what is a man pro- 4 fited if he (hall gain the whole world, and lofe his 1 own foul ? or what lhall a man give in exchange for his 1 foul r ' (See Mark viii. 36, 37.) Mark viii. 38. < Who- « foever therefore (hall be aftiamed of me and my wcrd^ * of him alfo (hall the Son of man bealhamed, when he * cometh in the glory of his Father, with the holy angels.' Ifa. viii. 11. ■ For the Lord (pake thus to me with a 1 ftrong hand, and inftrufted mc, that I fhould not wa * in the way of this people, faying,' Ver. 12. * Say ye * not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people 4 (hall fay, A confederacy; neither fear ye their 4 nor be afraid.' Ver. 13. * Sanelify the Lrrd of holts 4 himfelf, and let him be your fear, and let him be your 4 dread.* Ver. 14. ■ And he (hall be for a fancluary : k but for a (lone of (tumbling, and for a rock of offence K k J 8 6 The laft Speech and Tejlimmy * to both the houfes of Ifrael, and for a fnare to the in- ' habitants of Jerufalem.' Ver. ic. ' And many among c them fhall ftirmble and fall, and be broken, and be fnar- c ed, and be taken,' (as it is expreffed ver. 9, 10.) Prov. i. 10. « My fon, if finners entice thee, confent thou not.' Ver. n. e If they fay, Come with us, let us lay wait * for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without ■ caufe.' Ver. 12. ' Let us fwallow them up alive as the * grave, and whole as thofe that go down into the pit/ Ver. 13. * We fhall find all precious fubftance, we (hall c fill our houfes with fpoil.' Ver. 14. ' Caft in thy lot * among us, let us all have one purfe.' Ver. 15. « My fon, < walk not thou in the way with them, refrain thy foot * from their path.' Ver. 16. * For their feet run to e* * vil, and make hade to fhed blood/ Ifa. v. 20. ' Wo * unto them that call evil good, and good evil ; that put 1 darknefs for light, and light for darknefs ; that put * bitter for fweet, and fweet for bitter.' Ver. 21. c Wo * unto them that are wife in their own eyes, and pru? 1 dent in their own fight.' Ver. 23. * Which juftify the * wicked for reward, and take away the righteoufhefs of 1 the righteous from him.' Ver. 24. 'Therefore as the * fire devoureth the ftubble, and the flame confumeth the « chaff; fo their root fhall be rottennefs, and their blof- 1 fom fhall go up as du-ft, be caufe they i have caft away 5 the law of the Lord of hofts, arid defpifed the word of c the holy One of Ifrael.' Prov. xvii. 15. < He that ' juflifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the juft, 1 even they both are abomination to the Lord.' Amos v. 10. 'They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and 1 they abhor him that fpeaketh uprightly.' GaL ii.> 18. * For if I build again the things which I deftroyed,, 1 I make myfelf a tranfgreflbr,' Pfal, J. 16. ' But ui>' 1 to the wicked, God faith, What haft thou to do to 1 declare my ftatutes, or that thou fhouldft take my co^ | 1 venant in thy mouth?' Ver. 17. c Seeing thou hatcft * inftrnction, and cafteft my words behind thee.' Ver; 18. • When thou fa weft a thief, then thou confentedft ■ with him, and haft been partaker with adulterers/ Ver. 19. ' Thou giveft thy mouth to evil, and thy * tongue frameth deceit.' Ver. 20. * Thou, fitted and * fpeakeft againft thy brother, thou flandereft thy own * mother's fon.' Ver. 21. * Thefe things haft thou done, 1 * and I kept filence; thou thoughteft that I was alto ge^' of John Nisbet of Hardhill. 387 * ther fueh an one as thyfelf ; but 1 will reprove thee, * and fet them in order before thine eyes.' The pro- phecy of Obadiah throughout, the firft and laft chapters of Ifaiah to the end, with many more. Now, it is my lall requeft and foul's defire that all who have made Mofes's choice, * to fufier affliction with the peo- * pie of God, rather than enjoy the pleafures of fin for a * feafon •/ and are true lovers of Zion's righteous caufe ;' that you fet much time apart, and mourn, and afflict your fouls, for your original fin, heart-plagues, fins of perfons and families, fins of kings and kingdoms; and for all the dreadful apoftafies, hateful compliances, and fmful fidings of minifters and people, with the enemies of God and godlinefs, and mourn that there is not more faith- fiilnefs and zeal for the caufe of God amongft his peo- ple. ReadPfalml. Ezra ix. Neh. ix. Jer. ix. Lam. iii. and Ezek. ix. to the end. My dear friends, forbear your contentions and cenfur- ing one of another; fympathize with and love one ano- ther, for this is his commandment ; keep up your fweet fellowfhip meetings, and defirable general meetings, with which my foul has been often refrefhed ; and what is agitate -in them, for carrying on -of a teftimony for truth, and againft defections, let it be managed with fcripture light for direction, and with zeal temperate \frith knowledge, and with the /pint .of meeknefs accom- panied with patience and humility. Be always ready to give a reafon of your faith, and be much denied to the -world, to yourfelves, and to your natural life; and when •God in his providence calls you to lay it down for him, do it cheerfully, and embrace the crofs of your fweet Lord Jefus with open arms ; for he will not fend any a warfare on their own charges. Take for your rule and encouragement thefe Scrip- tures, with others, that I leave to your own fearcli. Gal. v. 19. r Now the works of the fkfti are manifeit, ' which are thefe, adultery, fornication, uncleannefs, « lafcivioumefs.' Ver. 20. ' Idolatry, witchcraft, ha- 1 tred, variance, emulation, wrath, flrife, feditions, 1 herefies,' Ver. 21. 'Envying, murders, drunkenneis, ■ rcveliings, and fuch like, of the which I tell you be- * fore, as 1 have alfo told you in time pa(t, that they •• which do fuch things lhall not inherit the kingdom of ' .God/ Ver. 22. ' but the fruit of the Spirit is love,, Kk 2 388 The I aft Speech and Teftimeny 1 joy, peace, long-fuffering, gentlenefs, goodnefs, faith,* Ver. 23. ' Meeknefs, temperance; againft fuch there is 4 no Jaw.' VeF. 24. c And they that are Chrift's have * crucified the flefh, with the affaftions and lufts.' Ver„ &f. ' If we Jive in the Spirit, let us alfo walk in the Spi- ' rit.' Ver. 2d. ■ Let us not be deiirous of vain glory, ' provoking one another, envying one another/ Chap, vi. ver. 7. * Be not deceived, God is not mocked: for 1 whatsoever a man foweth, that fhall he alfo reap.' Ver. 8. 'For he that foweth to his flefh, fhall of the 1 flefh -reap -corruption; but he that foweth to the Spi- 1 rit, fhall of the Spirit reap life everlafting.' Ver. 9. 1 And 1 let us not be weary in well doing; for in due fea- * fon we fhall reap, if we faint not.' Ver. 10. « As we 1 have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all ' men, efpecially unfo them that are of the houfehold of * faith.' Mai. iii. 16. ' Then they that feared the Lord,. * fpake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened * and heard it, and a book of rernembf ance was written 1 before him, for them that feared the Lord, and that 4 thought upon his name.' Ver. 17. c And they fhall * be mine, faith the Lord of hofts, in that day when I «' make up my jewels, and I will fpare them as a man * fpareth his own fon that ferveth him. Ver. 18. ' Then < fhall ye return and difcern between the righteous and * the wicked, between him that ferveth. God, and him 4 that ferveth him not.' Ifa. iii. ic. ' Say ye to the * : righteous, that it fhall be well with him ; for they fhall «' eat the fruit of their doings.' Ver. 1 1. * Wo unto the * wicked, it fhall be ill with him; for the reward of his * hands fhall be given him.' Ver. 9. ' The fhew of their r countenance doth witnefs againft them, and they de- < clare their fin as Sodom* they hide it not : Wo unto* * their fouf, for they have rewarded evil unto themfelves.* And chap, viii ver. 26. c To the law and to the tefti- : * mony, if they fpeak not according to this word, it is" 1 * becaufe there is no truth in them.' Mai. iv. 2. ' But € unto you that fear my name, fhall the Son of righte-; * oufnefs arife with healing in his wings ; and ye fhall ' go forth and grow up as calves of the ft all.' Ifa viii. 17. ■ And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his * face from the houfe of Jacob, and I will look for him.' Phil. i. 27. * Only let your converfation be as-it becom- 1 eth the gofpel of Chrift, that whether I come and fee) 'of John Nisbet of Trlardhltl 3^9 * you, or elfe be abfent, I may hear of your affairs, 1 that ye (land faft in one fpirit, with.one mind, flriviiij; ■ for the faith of the gofpel.' Ver. 28. ' And in nothing 1 terrified by your adverfaries ; which is to them an e- •' vident token of perdition, but to you of falvation, and 4 that of God/ Ver. 29. ' For unto you it is given in >' the behalf of Chrirt, not only to believe on him, but c alfo to fufferfor his fake.' Rev. x. 11. ' And he faid c unto me, Thou muft prophefy again before many peo- * pies, and nations, and tongues, and kings.' Heb. x. from the ir. verfe to the end; and chap. xii. 11. ' Now ' no chaftening for the prefent feemeth to be joyous, but * grievous: neverthelefs afterward it yieldeth the peace - * able fruit of righteoufnefs unto them which are exercii- ' ed thereby./ Ver. 12, 4 Wherefore lift up the hands •' which hang down, and the feeble knees.' Ver. 13. * And make ftraight paths for your feet, left that which A .is lame be turned out of the way, but let it rather be c healed.' Ver, 14. ' Follow peace with all men, and * holinefs, without which no man mail fee the Lord.' Ver. 15. 'Looking diligently, left any man fail of the * grace of God; left any root of bitternefs fpringing up, * trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. ' Rev. xiv. 1. * And I looked, and lo, a Lamb flood on the mount * Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thou- • fand, having his Father's name written in their for e- \ heads.' Ver. 2. ■ And I heard a voice from heaven, ' as the .voice of many waters, and as the voice of great " tliunder ; and I heard the voice of harpers harping with J their harps.' Ver. 3. < And they fung as it were a « new fong before the throne, and before the four hearts, ' and the eiders, and no man could learn that fong, but • the hundred and forty and four thoufand, which, were t redeemed from the earth.' Ver. 4. * Thefe were they • which were not defiled with women, for they are vir- ' gins ; thefe are they which follow the Lamb whither* • foevcr he goeth, thefe were redeemed from among men, 4 being the firft fruits unto God, and to the Lamb/ Ver. 5. « And in their mouth was found no guile; ;for • they are without fault before the throne of God.' Jude ver. 3. * Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write un- « to you of the common falvation; it was needful for ■ me to write unto you, and exhort you, that ye fhould ■ eurneftly contend for the faith which was once dfclj 590 The lafi Speech and Teftimany 1 vered to the faints. J < Eph. vi. 10. * Finally, my breth- 1 ren, be ftrong in the Lord, and in the power of his 1 might.' Ver. II.' Put on the whole armour of God, ( that ye may be able to (land againft the wiles of the { devil. ' Ver. 12. ' For we wreftle not againft flelh and ■ blood, but againft principalities, againft powers, a- k gainft the rulers of the darknefs of this world, againft i ipiritual wickednefs in high places.' Ver. 13. ' Where- * tore take unto yon, the whole armour of God, that ye" 1 may be able to withftand in the evil day, and having * done all to ftand.' Ver. 14. « Stand therefore, having * your loins girt about with truth, and having on the * breaft-plate of righteoufnefs.' Ver. 15. i And your < feet (hod w T ith the preparation of the gofpel of peace* Ver. 16. ' Above all, taking the fhield of faith, where- 4 with ye {hall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the ^wicked.' Ver. 17. ■ And take the helmet of falvatt-' « on, and the fword of the Spirit, which is the word of * God.' And fear not at his fweet, lovely and defirable crofs •' for altho' I have not been able, becaufe of my wounds* (that I received at my taking) to lift up or lay down my head, but as I was helped, yet I was never in better cafe all my life ; he has not given me one challenge fmce I came to prifon, for any thing lefs or more; but on the contrary, he has fo wonderfully fhined on me with the Jfenfe of his redeeming, ftrengthening, aflifting, fupport- ing, through-bearing, pardoning and reconciling love, grace and mercy, that my foul doth long to be freed of bodily infirmities and earthly organs, that fo I may flee to his royal palace, even the heavenly habitation of my God, where I am fureof a crown put on my head, and a palm put in my hand, and a new fong put in my mouth> even the fong of Moles and the Lamb, that ib I may biefs, praife, magnify and extol him for what he hath done to me, and for me. Wherefore I bid farewel ta all my dear fellow-fufFerers for the teftimony of Jefus, who are wandering in dens and eaves. Farewel my chil- dren, ftudy Iiolinefs in ill your ways, and praife the Lord for what he hath done for me, and tell all my chri'lian friends to praife him on that account. Farewel fweet Bible, and wanderings and contendings for truth. Welcome death ; welcome the city of my God, where I ihall fee him, and be enabled to ferve him eternally with, of Mr. fames Renwick. 391 full freedom; welcome blefTed company, and angels, and fpirits of jail men made perfect. But above all, Wel- come, welcome, welcome our glorious and alone God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, into thy hands I commit my ipirit, for thou art worthy. Amen. JOHN NISBET, The lafl Speech and Tefimony of the Rev. Mr. JAMES RENWICK, Minifer of ike gofpel, 'who fuffered in the Grafs-market of Edinburgh, February ijth 1688. Emitted from his own hand, the day before his fuffering. My dear friends inChrifi, IT hath pleafed the Lord to deliver me into the hands of men ; and I think fit to fend you this falutation, which I expect will be the laft. When I pofe my heart upon it, before God, I dare not defire to have efcaped this lot ; for no lefs could have been for his glory and the vindication of his caufe on my behalf: And as I am free before htm of the profanity, which fome, either naugh- ty, wicked, or ftrangers to me, have reported, that I have been fometimes guilty of; fo he hath kept me from the womb, free of the ordinary pollutions of children, as thefe that have been acquainted with me thro' the tract of my life, do know. And now my blcod fhall either more filence reproaches, or more ripen them for judg- ment : But I hope, it fhall make fome more fparing to fpeak of thofe who Paall come after me ; and fo I am the more willing to pay this coft for their inftruclion, and my fucceeders eaie. Since I came to prifon, the Lord has been wonderfully kind to me, he hath made his word to give me light, life, joy, courage and ftrength ; yea, it hath dropped with fweet fmelling myrrh unto me, par- ticularly thefe pafTages and promifes, Gtn. xxii. 12. lat- ter part of the verfe, ' For now I know that thou feareit * God, feeing thou haft not witheld thy fon, thine only 1 fon.' Neh. viii. 10. latter part of the verfe, * Neither 1 be you forry, for the joy of the Lord is your ftrength.' Job. iii. 17. ■ There the wicked ceafe from troubling, < and there the weary be at reft.' Ver. 18. ■ There the * prifoncrs reft together, they hear not the voice of the * oppreiror. > Job. xxiii. 10. ' But he knoweth the way * that I take : when he hath tried me, I fhall come forth « as gold/ Ver. 1 1. * My foot hath held his ftep§j his 39*2 The iaft Speech and Teftimony * way have I kept, and not declined/ Ver. 12. c Nei- 1 ther have I gone back from the commandment of his * iips, I have efteemed the words of his mouth, more « than my neceffary food.' Ver. 13. « But he is in one 1 mind, and who can turn him? and what his foul de- °< fireth, even that he doth.' Ver. 14. ' For he per- ■ formeth the thing that is appointed for me : and many ■ fuch things are with. him/ Pfal. cv. to.--' The word 'of the Lord tried him.' Luke xxi. 12. ' But before ' all thefe they fhall lay their hands on you, and perfe- * cute you, delivering you up to the fynagogues, and ' into prifons, being brought before kings for my 4 name's fake. 1 Ver. 13. « And it fli all turn to you for ( a teftimony.' Ven 19. ' In your patience poflefs ye < your fouls.' Heb. xii. 23. ' To the general afTembly ' and church of the firft born, which are written in 1 heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the fpirits 1 of juft men made perfect.' James, i. 12. x BlefTed is * the man that endureth temptation : for when he is tri- ' ed, he mall receive the crown of life, which the Lord *. hath promifed to them that love him.' 1 Pet. v. 7. 4 Cutting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.' Ver. 8. ■* Be fober, be vigilant; becaufe your adverfary * the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about feeking 1 whom he may devour.' Rev. iii. 8. 'Lknow thy works.; 1 behold I have fet before thee an open door, and no ' man can fhut it; for thou haft a little ftrength, and ' haft kept my word, and haft ;not denied my name.' Ver. 10. ' Becaufe thou haft kept the word of my pati- * ence, I alio will keep thee from the hour of temptati- ' on, which fhall come upon all the world, to try them 4 that dwell uponthe earth.' Ver. 11. * Behold, I come ■ quickly: hold that fa ft which thou haft, that no man * take thy crown.' Ver. 12. 'Him that overcometh, * will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he * fhall go no more out; and I will write upon him the « name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, * which is new Jerufalem, which cometh down out of hea- ■ ven from my God; and I will write upon him.my new 1 name.' Rev. xk. -20. ■ And the beaft was taken, and r with him the falfe prophet that wrought miracles be- 1 fore him, with which.he deceived them that received 1 the mark of the beaft, and them that worfhipped his i- ! mage.. Xnefe both were caft. alive into a lake of .fixe of Mr. fames Renwick. 393 • burning with briraRone.' Ver. 21. ' And the rem- 1 naut were flam with the fword of him that fat upon the • horfe, which fword proceedeth out of his mouth: and ■ all the fowls were filled with their ftelh/ And many other fcriptures. what can I fay to the Lord's praife ! It was but lit- tle that I knew of him before I came to prifon ; I have found fenfibly much of his divine flrength, much of the joy of his Spirit, and much afTurance from his word and Spirit concerning my falvation ; my fufferings are itated upon the matters of my doctrine, tor there was found h me- the fum of my laft two fermons at Braid's-craig?, which I wrote after I preached them : the former where- of was upon Pfal. Ixv!. 10. * Be ftill and know that i 1 am God ; I will be exalted among the heathen, 1 will € be exalted in the earth.' And the latter upon Heb. r. 38. ■ Now the juit (hall live by faith: but if any man 4 draw back, my fpul (hall have no pleafure in him/ And fo I was examined upon the application made there- in unto the fms of the time; all which I owned once and again, as it is to be feen in my indictment : and I being tried, and an alfize fet, I adhered to my former confeffi- on explicitely ; fo my fentence of death was drawn forth, upon thefe heads . Fir/?, Becaufe I could not own James VII. to be my lawful fovereign. Secondly , Becaufe I taught the unlawfulnefs of paying the cefs, exprefiy exacted for the fuppreffing the faithful and free preaching of the gofpel. Thirdly, Becaufe that I taught that it was the peoples duty to carry arms at the preaching of the gofpel, now when it is perfecuted, for defending themfelves, and re- fitting of unjuft violence. 1 think fuch a teftimony is worth many lives, and I praife the Lord, for his enabling me to be plain and po- sitive in all my confefllons : for therein I found peace, joy, ftrength, and boldnefs. I have met with many af- faults in prifon, fome from fome of the indulged party, and others from fome of the prelatic ; but by the ftrength of God, I was enabled to ftand, that they could neither bow me, nor break me. I was alfo a/faulted by fome of the popilh party, (I fappofe they were fome of the eccle- fiaftic creatures) but they found none of their own (faff in me. I told them, after fundry debatings, That I had 394 Tbe lajl Speech and Teftimony lived, and fhould die an enemy to their way. However fome that knew me not, reproached me with Jefuitifm. I was prefled by fundry to feek a reprieve, and my anfwer was always, That I adhered to my former confeffion, and if they pleafed to let that appointed time of my death (land, let it (land ; and if ihey pleafed to protract it, let them protract it ; for I was ready and willing both to live and die; howbeit there came a reprieve for eight days, but I had no hand in it. They ftill urged, would I but fay, that I defired time for conference with fome perfons anent my principles : I anfwered, That my time was in the Lord's hand, and I was in no hefitation, or doubt about my principles myfelf ; I would net be fo rude as to decline conference with any, fo far as it might not be in- convenient for me in my prefent circumftances, but I will feek it with none. I have no more to fay on this head, but my heart doth not fmite me for any thing in the matters of my God, fince I came to prifon. And I can further fay to his praife, with confeioufnefs of inte- grity, that I have walked in his way, and kept his charge tho' with much weaknefs, and many infirmities, where- of ye have been witneffes. Now, my dear friends in precious Chrilt, I think I need not tell you, that as I have lived, fo I die in the fame perfuafion with the true reformed and covenanted, Prefbyterian church of Scotland ; that I adhere to the teftimony of the day, as it is held forth in our Informa- tory Vindication, and in the Teftimony againft the pre- fent toleration ; and that I own, and feal with my blood ail the precious truths, even the controverted truths, that I have taught. So I would exhort every one of you, to make fure your perfonal reconciliation with God in Chrift : for I fear many of you have that yet to do ; and when ye -come where I am, to look pale death in the face, ye will not be a little fhaken and terrified, if ye have not laid hold on eternal life. I would exhort you to much diligence in the ufe of means, to be careful in keep- ing up your focieties, to be frequent and fervent in fe- cret prayer, to read much the wricten word of God, and to examine yourfelves by it. Do not weary to main- tain, in your places and ftations, the prefent teftimony; for when Chrift goes forth to defeat Antichrift, with that name written on his thigh and on his vefture, King qf kings, and Lord of lords, he will make it glo* of Mr. fames RenwicL 39-5 rioos in the earth : And if ye can but tranfmit k to the pofterity, ye may count it a great generation- work. But beware of the roinifters, that have accepted of this to- leration, and all others that bend that way; and follow them not, for the fun hath gone down upon them. Do Hot fear, that the Lord will call oft Scotland ; for he will certainly return again, and fhewhimfelf glorious in cur land. But watch and pray, for he is bringing on a fad overthrowing itroke, which (hall make many iky, That they have eafily got thro', that have got a fcaffold for Chrift ; and do not regard the prefent iufferings of this world, for ( they are not worthy to be compared te * the glory that mall be revealed.* I may fay to his praife, that I have found his crofs fweet and lovely unto me, for I have had many joyful hours, and not a fearful thought iince I came to prifon; he hath ftrengthened me to outbrave man, and outface death, and I am now longing for the joyful hour of my diflblution ; and there is nothing in the world that I am forry to leave but you : but I go to better company, and fo I muft take my leave of you all. Farewel beloved fuf- ferers, and followers of the Lamb; farewel chriltian in- timates : farewel chriftian and comfortable mother and lifters ; farewd fweet focieties ; farewel defirable gene- ral meetings ; farewel night-wanderings in cold and wea- rinefs for Chrift ; farewel fweet Bible, and preaching of the gofpel ; farewel fun, moon, and ftars, and all fubluna- ry thing: \ ; cis with a body of fin and death. Welcome : precious Chrift; welcome heaven- ly Jerufalem ; imerable company of angels; welcome gener* and church of the firft-born ; welcome crown o white robes, and fongs of Mo- fcs and the Lamb ; and above all, welcome, O thou blef- fed Trinity, and on od ! O eternal One] I commit: my foul into thy etern:: reft. JAMES RENWICL yf Letter to his Chriftian friends > writ in the time of his re- / rival. My dear friends in Chrift , I See now what hath been the language of my reprieve, it hath been, that I might be further templed and ti i- ed ; and I praife the Lord, he hath afiifted me to gh« 3 niihed his courfe, ferved his generation, and witneffed a good confeftion for his Lord and Mafter, before many witneffes, by the will of God, he yielded up his fpirit into the hands of God who gave it. He wis the laft that fealed the Teftimony of this fuffer* ing period in a public way upon a fcaffold. An A P P E N D I X; 1 Compiling fomc particulars relating to the foregoing Tefliinonies, and other fufferings of that time. A Jhcrt relation concerning the Reverend Mr. RICHARD CAMERON, Minijlerofthegofpel, *vho t, came in queft of him, and not finding the mark they aimed at, fell upon the people, apprehending and imprifoning many of them. Another remarkable efcape was, at a fearch purpofely made for taking him in the city, they came to his cham- ber, an^ found him not, for he was providentially in a- nother houfe that night. The fearch was fo ftrict:, that feveral other miniiters were taken, but they were not permitted to come near the houfe where he was. But the following is yet more remarkable. One day while he was preaching privately in one Mr. Calender's houfe, they came and befet the houfe; the people within put him and a friend with him out at a window, clofing the window up with books ; and they two flood at the out- fide of the window all the while of the fearch, which was fo ftric"r that they fearched the very ceiling of the houfe, till one of them fell thro' to the lower loft. Had the fearchers removed but one of the books, they had infal- libly apprehended him, but the Lord fo ordered It, that they did it not ; for when one of the foldiers was about • to take up one of them, a maid cried to the commander, that he was going to take her mailer's books ; fo he was ordered to let them alone. Thus narrowly he eicaped this danger. Another not im parallel was, that one day hotly purfued upon the ftreet, being obliged to flee into the firft houfe he could come at, which happened to be a foldier's houfe; vet the foldierVs wife was io far from difcovering him, that (he kept him fafe till the fearch ■ over. A little before the fight at Bothwel, he was purfued 40 8 Appendix. from his own chamber out of the town, being forced to go thro* feveral thorn-hedges ; and no fooner is he out, but he fees a troop of dragoons in rank, right oppofite to him : Back he could not go, foldiers being every wher,e ported to catch him ; wherefore he went forward near bj the troop, who looked to him, and he to them, till lie was gone by them ; but coming to the place of the water /where he intended to go over, he faw another troop .(landing upon the oppofite bank of the water, who called to him ; he made them no anfwer : but going a mile far- ther up the water, efcaped to Langfide, and preached there next Sabbath, without interruption. At another time, being in a houfe befet with foldiers; he efcaped thro' the throng of them, they taking him to have been the good-man of the houfe. So much anent his remark- able deliveries. After Bothwel, he fell into deep exercife anent his call to the miniftry, but by God's grace he happily emerged out of that, and had alfo much light anent the duty of the day, being a faithful contender againft the enemies ufurped power in granting, and minifters and profefTors lukewarmnefs, and finful compliance in accepting indul- gences and indemnities, v^aths and bonds, and other cor- ruptions and abominations of the time, till at length he fuffered for his teftimony. Among other parts of his contendings againft: the enemies of truth and godlinefs, that w r hich exafperate the enemies moft was the Torwood Excommunication ; wherein he, moved with zeal againft the indignities done to the Son of God, by overturning his work, and de- stroying his people, delivered up to Satan fome of the moft fcandalous, and principal promoters and abettors of this confpiracy againft Chrift, as formally as he could, in his circumftances ; who having earneftly fought the concurrence of his brethren, could not obtain it ; and therefore was left to do the work alone, or leave it un- done, which he could by no means think of; confider- ing that all other forts of weapons had been ufed againft them, fave that of ecclefiaftic cenfure, and the neglect of it might bring upon this church that fevere reproof given to Pergamus, Rev. ii. 14. 15. for having in her communion the Nicolaitans, and them that held the doc- trine of Balaam : And that fore animadverfion made up .on the church of Thyatira, for fuffering that woman Je Appendix. 409 zebel, &c. And left the Lord might come and fight a- gainft his church with the iword cf his mouth, on ac- count that fuch were not exprefly cad out of her commu- nion. Wherefore in September 1680, after fermon up- on Ezek. xxi. 25. 26. 27. And tkou profane wicked prince of Ifrael, *u:hofs day is co?ne, &c. Having made a fhort and pertinent difcourfe on the nature, fubject, caufes, and ends of excommunication, and declared his motives leading him to it, not to be any private fpirit of pailion, but confeience of duty and zeal to God, he pronounced the fentence as follows. We have fpoken of excommunication , of the canfes, fub- ject and ends thereof, we (hall now proceed to the acti- on, being conflrained by the confeience of our duty and zeal for God, to excommunicate feme of thefe who have been the committers of fo great crimes, and authors of the great mifchiefs of Britain and Ireland, but efpecially thefe of Scotland: and in doing of this, we (hall keep the names by which they are ordinarily called, that they may be the better known. I being a minifter of Jefus Chrift, and having autho- rity and power from him, do in his name, and by his Spirit, excommunicate Charles II. king, &c. — and that upon the account of thefe wickednefles. 1/?, For his high mocking of God, in that after he had acknow- ledged his own fins, his father's fins, his mother's idola- try, and had folemnly engaged againft them, in a decla- ration at Dunfermline the 16th of Auguft 1650, he hath, notwithstanding of all this, gone on more avowedly iit thefe fins, than all that went before him. idly, For his great perjury, after he had twice, at leair, folemnly fub- fcribed that covenant, did fo prefumptuoufly renounce, difown, and command it to be burned by the hand of the hangman. $dly, Becaufe he hath refcinded all laws for eftablifhing of that religion and reformation engaged to in that covenant, and enacted laws for eftabliihing its contrary : and is ftill working for the introducing of Po- pery into thir lands. ^tkly t For commanding of armies to deftroy the Lord's people, who were (landing in their own juft defence, and for their privileges and rights, a- gainft tyrannies, opprefTions, and injuries of men ; and for the blood he hath fhed, in fields, on fcaffolds, and in the feas, of the people of God, upon account of re- ligion and righteoufnefs, (they being mod willing in Mm 4*o - Appendix. all other things to render him obedience, if he had reigrt- ed and ruled them according to his covenant and oath) more than all the kings that have been before him in- Scotland. ^thly t That he hath been ftill an enemy to, a perfecutor of the true Proteftants, a favourer and help- er of the Papifts, both at home and abroad, and hath 4 hindered, to the utmoft of his power, the due execution of juft laws againft them, tthly, For his relaxing of the kingdom, by his frequent grant of remifnons and pardons for murderers, (which is in the power of no king to do, being exprefly contrary to the law of God) which was the ready way to. embolden men in committing of mur- ders, to the defiling of the land with blood. LaJIly, To pafs by ail other things, his great and dreadful unclean- nefs of adultery and inceft, his drunkennefs, his difiem- bling with God and man ; and performing his promifes where his engagements were fmful, &c. Next, JBy the fame authority, and in the fame name, I excommunicate, caft out of the true church, and deliver up to Satan, James duke of York, &c. and that for his idolatry, (for 1 (hall not fpeakof any other fins but what have been perpetrated by him in Scotland) and for fe fe- ting up idolatry in Scotland, to defile the Lord's land; •and his enticing and encouraging others to do fo, &c. Next, In the fame name, and by the fame authority, X excommunicate, and call out of the true church, and deliver up to Satan, James duke of Monmouth, &c. for coming into Scotland, upon his father's unjuft command, and leading armies againft the Lord's people, who were conftrained to .rile, being killed in, and for the right v.orlliipping of the true God; and for his refufing that itoorning at BothweJ -bridge a cefiation of arms, for hear- ing and redreffing their injuries, wrongs and opprefll- ons, Sec. Next, I do, by virtue of the fame authority, and in the fame name, excommunicate, caft out of the true church, and deliver up to Satan, John duke of Lauderdale, Sec. for his dreadful blafphemy, efpecially that word to the Prelate of St. Andrews", Sit thou at vty right handy until 1 ' make thine enemies thy foctjlool. His atheiftical drolling en the Scriptures of God, fcoffing at religion, and re- ligious perfons. His apoftacy from the covenant and work of reformation ; and his perfecuting thereof, after he had been a profeiibr, pleader and prefler thereof: Fcrt Appendix. 4 T I his perjury in the bufmefs of Mr. James Mitchel, who being in council, gave public faith, that he fhould be indemnified, and that to life and limb, if he (liould con- fefs his attempt upon the prelate; and notwithstanding rof this, before the judiciary court, did give oath that there was no fuch act in council : For his adulteries ar.d nncleannefs : For his counfelling and affifting the kitig in ail his tyrannies, overturning and plotting againfl the true religion : For his gaming-on the Lord's day. And .Laftly, for his ufual and ordinary curfmg. Next, I do, by virtue of the fame authority, and in the fame name, can: out of the true church, and deliver ii]) to Satan, John duke of Rothes, Sec, for his perju- ry in the matter of Mr. James Mitchel ; and for his a- dulteries and uncleannefs; for alloting the Lord's day for his drunkennefs : For his profeffing and avowing his readinefs and willingnefs to fet up Popery in this land at the king's command : And for the heathenifh, .barbarous, and unheard of cruelty, (whereof he was the chief au- thor, contriver and commander, notwithstanding that he had otherwife engaged lately) to that worthy gen- tleman David Hackftoun of Rathillet. And laftly, for his ordinary curfing, fwearing, and drunkennefs. Next, I do, by virtue of the fame authority, and in the fame name, excommunicate, caitout of the true church, and deliver up to Satan, Sir Gjeorge M'K::i7 : c. I king's advocate, for his . rnirg into a prc- atenefs of converfation, after he had begun a pro- ion of holinefs : Fori: mt pleading aguinft* and perfecuting to death the people of God, and alledging and laying to their charge things which in his conscience he knew to be againft the word of God, truth, real and the ancient laws of this kingdom : liner r r for lorcerers, murderers, and other crinv. fore God, and by the laws of the land, ought to d For his ungodly, erroneous, fcntaftic and blafphem -tenets, printed to the world, in his pamphlets and pal- quills. And laftly, I do, by virtue of the f: in the fame name, excommunu ut of the true church, and deliver up to , Thomas Dalziel ot Bins, &c. For his lead the killing, robbing, pillaging -cuing rd's people, and free fubje&s of this kingdom : An J M m z 4^2 Appendix. for executing of lawlefs tyrannies, and luftful laws : For his commanding to ihoot at a poft one Finlay at New- milns, without any form of law, civil or military, he not being guilty of any thing that they themfelves count- ed a crime : For his lewd and impious life, led in adul- tery and uncleanncfs from his youth, with a contempt of marriage, which is the ordinance of God : For all his o- ther atheiftical and irreligious converfation. And laftly, For his unjuil ufurping and retaining of the eftate of that worthy gentleman William Muir of Caldwel ; and his ether injurious deeds in the exercife of his power. I think, none that acknowledge the word, can judge thir fentences to be unjufi; yet fome, it maybe, to flat- ter the powers, will call them unorderly and unformal, there not being warning given, nor probation led. But for anfwer, There has been warning given, if not of all thefe things, at lead of a great part of them : And for probation, there needs none, the deeds being notour and public, and the moil of them fuch as they themfelves do \v and boaft of. And as the caufes are juft, fo being done by a minifter of the gofpel, and in fuch a way as the preient persecution would admit of, the fentence is jult s And there are no kings nor minifters on earth, with- out repentance of the perfons, can reverfe thefe fenten- ces upon any (fuch) accounts : God who is the author of that ordinance is the more engaged to the ratifying of them ; and all that acknowledge the Scriptures ought to acknowledge them. Yet fome, perchance, will think, that tho' they be not unjuft, yet that they are foolifhly rigorous. We fhall anfwer nothing to this, but that word which we may fpeak with much more reafon than they did who ufed it, « Should he deal with our fitter 1 as with an harlot ;' Should they deal with our God as with an idol ? Should they deal with his people as murderers and malefactors, and we not draw out his fword againft them. A brief relation of the perfections and death of that worthy gentleman HENRY HALL of Haughhead, ivhofuf fered ?7iartyrdo??i at Queensferry> June $d, 1 680. HENRY HALL of Haughhead, having had relN gious education, began early to mind a life of ha- linefs ; and was of a pious converfation from his youth i Appendix -j : :• Ik? wa| a zealous oppofer of the public refutations, info* much that when the miniiler of the pariih where he ed compiled with that courfe, he : to hear him, i went to Ancrum, to Mr. ]' ing oppreiTed with the malitious profecutions of rates and other malign the profane courfes of abomination that commenced ac the unhappy reftoration of that moft ~ Charles the fecond, was obliged totlepart his native coi , and go over the border into England in the y a 1665, where he was fo much renowned for h's Cu zeal in propagating the gofpel among that people, v before his coming among them were very rud barous; but many of them became famous f( ter. In the year 1666, he was taken inhis way to P< land, coming to the aihftance of his covenant/ J brethren and was imprifoned with fome others in S ! cattle, but by the divine goodnefs he foon efc . the favour of the earl of Roxburgh, to pertained, the faid earl being his friend a; from which time, till about the year O79, he lived peaceably in England, much beloved of all him, for his concern in pn legating the I Chrift in that country; infomuch tli r g chriflian con eftcem from his very enenjr'es. But about the year 1 heat of the. perfecup on in Scot! nder up and down thro' North- and ot! places ; one colonel Struthers intent! my Sc 1 n he cculd fir.d in thole parts ; and meeting with s Ker. of liayhope, odc of\' Hall's : t encor. .e faid TIi . who was h account, he w. land, and wandered up aj g the h rfecution, mofl arid Mr. Donald Cargil, Indian r a real aeal in defence of the pc fcveral f being fo lently purl- his iri- defatigablt \[. 3 4 i 4 Appendix. lattd ; where he had not flayed long, when his zeal for the perfecuted intereft of Chrift, and his tender fympathy with the arRidted remnant of his covenanted brethren in Scotland, then wandering thro' the defolate caverns and dens of the earth, drew him home, chafing rather to un- dergo the utmoil efforts of perfecuting fury, than to live iU eafe when Jofeph was in affliction, making Mofcs's £ onerous choice, rather to fuifer affliction with the people of God, that lie might be a partaker of the fellowfhip of Chi iiVs fufferings, than to enjoy that momentary plea- furs the eafe of the world could afford ; nor was he much concerned with the riches of the world, for he flood not to give, his ground to hold the prohibited field-preachings upon, when none elie would do it : He was a lover and follower of the faithfully preached gofpel, and was al- ways agamft the indulgence ; he was with Mr. Richard Cameron at thefe meetings where he was cenfured. About a quarter of a year after his return from Hol- land, being in company with the Rev. Mr. Donald Car- gil, they were taken notice of by two blood-hounds the curates of Borrow ftounnefs and Carridden, who went to Middleton governor of Blacknefs-caftle, and informed him of them; who having confulted with thefe blood- thirfty ruffians, ordered his foldiers to follow him at a diftance by two or three together, with convenient inter- vals for avoiding fufpicion ; and he (the faid Middleton) and his man riding up, obferved where they alighted and {tabled their horfes; and coming to them, pretended a great deal of kindnefs and civilites to Mr. Donald Car- gil and him, defiring that they might have a glafs of wine together. When they were fet, and had taken each a glafs, Middleton laid hands on them, and told them they were his prifoners, commanding in the king's name all the people of the houfe to afUft, which they all refufed fave a certain waiter, thro' whofe means the go- vernor got the gates fhut till the foldiers came up ; and when the women of the town, rifing to the refcue of the prifoners, had broke up the outer gate, Henry Hall after fome fctiffle with the governor in the houfe, making his efcape by the gate, received his mortal blow upon his head with a carabine by Thomas George waiter, and be- iag conveyed out of the town by the affiftance of the wo- men, walked fome pretty fpace of way upon his foot,, but unable to fpeak much, fave only that he made fome Appendix. 4 1 5 {hort reflection upon a woman that interpofed between him and the governor, hindered him to kill the governor, and fo to make his efcape timeoufly. So foon as he faint- ed, the woman carried him to a houfe in the country, and nctwithftanding the care of fargeons, he never re- covered the power of ipeaking more. General Dalziei being advertiied, came with a party of the guards, and carried him to Edinburgh; he died by the way: His corps they carried to the Cannongate tolbooth, and kept them there three days without burial, tho' a number of friends conveened for that effect, and thereafter they cauf- ed bury him clandeftinely in the night. Such was the fury of thefe limbs of antichrift, that having killed the witne/Tes, they would not fuffer their dead bodies to be decently put in graves. There was found upon him the rude draught of a pa- per, containing a mutual engagement to (land to the ne- ceffary duty of the day, againft its dated enemies; which was called by the perfecutors, Mr. Cargil's Covenant, and frequently in the foregoing teftimonies, The Queens - ferry paper, becaufe there it was feized by the enemies. This paper divine providence feems to have made as it were the dying words and teftimony of that worthy gen- tleman ; and the enemies made it one of the captious and enfnaring queftions they conftantly put to the fufferers, and therefore it will not be impertinent here to infert the heads of it, as they are compendized by the learned au- thor of the Hind let Loofe, Page 133. For it was dill owned by Mr. Donald Cargil, that the draught was not digefted and polifhed, as it was intended, and therefore it will be fo far from being a wrong to recite the Ik of it only, that it is really a piece of juftice done him, who never intended it iliould fee the world as it 1 when the enemies found it. I ihall not pretend to jufti- fy every expreffion in it, but rather fubmit it intirely better jndgments, nor did the fufferers for mod part ad- here to it, without the limitation (fo far as it was ftgr able to the word of God, and our national covenants) and in fo far as it feems to import a purpofe of aUim to themfelves a magiftratical authority, their practice declares all along, that they did not underftaud it in I fenfe. The tenor of it was an engagement. 1. To avouch the only true and imng CJod to be tl a T B • Appendix. God, and to clofe with his way of redemption by his Son Jv'fas Cbrtft, whofe righteoufnefs is ■ relied up- on for justification : and to take the Scriptures of the Old and New Te ft anient to be the bject of fait] rule of conversation in all things. 2. To eftablifh in the land righteoufnefs and religion, in the truth of its doc- trine, purity and power of its worlhip, discipline and government; and to free the- church of God of the cor- ruption of Prelacy on the one hand, and the thraldom of Eraftianifm on the other. 3. To perfevere in the doctrine of the reformed churches, efpecially that of Scotland, and in the worlhip prefcribed in the Scriptures, without the inventions, adornings and corruptions of men ; and in e preibyterian government, exercifed in feffions, pref- byteries, fynods, and general aifemblies, as a diftinct go- vernment from the civil, and diftinctly to be exercifed, not after a carnal manner, by plurality of votes, or au- thority of a (ingle perfon, but according to. the word of God. making and carrying the fentence. 4. To endea- vour the overthrow of the kingdom of darknefs, and whatfoever is contrary to the kingdom of Chrift, efpeci- ally idolatry and Popery in all its articles, and the over- throw of that power that hath eftablilhed and upheld it And to execute righteoufnefs and judgment impar- tially, according to the word of God, and degree of of- fences, upon the committers of thefe things efpecially, tc wit, blafphemy, idolatry, atheifm, buggary, forcery, perjury, uncleannefs, profanation of the Lord's day, op- preiiion and malignancy. 5. Seriouily confidering, —there is no more fpeedy way of relaxation from the wrath of God, that hath ever lyen upon the lands fince it engaged with thefe rulers, but of rejecting them, who hath fo manifeftly rejected God, — disclaiming his cove- nant — governing contrary to all right Jaws, divine and human — and contrary to all the ends of government, by enacting and commanding impietics,.injuries and robberies • to the denying, of God his due, and the fubjects theirs ; ( io that inftead of government, god line fs and peace, there is nothing but rapine, tumult and blood, which cannot be ' called a government, but a luftful rage and they cannot be called governors, but public gralfators and L\nd judgments, which all ought to let themftlves againft, as they would do againft peitilence, fwerd, and famine, ing ampngft them Seeing they have Hopped .the. Appendix. 4 1 7 courfe of the law and juftiee againft blafphemers, idola- ters, atheifts, buggerers, murderers, inceituous and n- dulterous perfons — and have made butcheries on the Lord's people, fold them as flaves, imprifoned, forfeited, &c. and that upon no other account, but their maintain- ing ChriIVs right of ruling over their consciences, againft the ufurpations of men. Therefore, eAfily folving the objections: 1. Of our anceiiors obliging the nation to this race and line ; that they did not buy their liberty with our thraldom, nor could they bind their children to any thing fo much to their prejudice, and againft na- tural liberty, (being a benefit next to life, if not in fome regard above it) which is not an engagement to moral things : they could only bind to that government, which they efteemed the beft for common good ; which reafon ceafing, we are free to choofe another, if we find it more conducible for that end. 2. Of the covenant binding to defend the king ; that that obligation is only in his main- tenance of the true covenanted reformation, — which ho- mage they cannot now require upon the account of the covenant which they have renounced and difclaimed; and upon no other ground we are bound to them, — the crown not being an inheritance, that paffeth from father to fon, without the confent of tenants. — 3. Of the hope of their returning from thefe courfes, whereof there is none ; feeing they have fo often declared their purpofes of perfevering in them. And fuppofe they lhould diifem- ble a repentance, — fuppofing alio they might be pardon- ed for that which is done — from whofeguiltinefs the land cannot be cleanfed, but by executing God's righteous judgments upon them, — yet they cannot now be believ- ed after they have violated all that human wifdom could devife to bind them. Upon thefe accounts they reject that k'ing, and thofe aflbciate with him in the government, — and declare them henceforth no lawful rulers, as they had declared them to be no lawful fubjecls, — they having deftroyed the efta- blifhed religion, overturned the fundamental Jaws of the kingdom, taken away Chrift's church- government, and changed the civil into tyranny, where none are aiTociate in partaking of the government, but only thofe who will be fbundby juftice guilty as criminal .1 declare they ihall, God giving thorn power, fet up government and governors according to the word of God, and the quali- 4't 8 Appendix. fixations required, Exodus xviii. 20 And (hall not com- mit the government to any fmgle perfon or lineal fuccei- iion, being not tyed as the Jews were to one fmgle fa- mily, — and that kind being liable tomoft ineonveniencies, and apteil to degenerate into tyranny. — And moreover, that thefe men fet over them, fhall be engaged to govern, principally by that civil and judicial law, (not that which is any way typical) given by God to his -people Ifrael — as the beft, fo far as it goes, being given by God — efpe- cially in matters of life and death, and other things fe far as they reach, and are confident with chriilian liber- ty — exempting divorces and polygamy, Sec. — 6. Seeing the greatest part of miniuers not only were defective in preaching againft the riders for overthrowing religion— but hindred others alio who were willing, and cenfured fome that did it — an-d have voted for acceptation of that liberty, founded upon., and given by virtue of that blaf- phemoufly arrogate and ufurped power — and appeared before their courts to accept of it, and to be enacted and authorized their mini fie rs — whereby they have become miniilers of men, and bound to be anfwerable to them as they will. — And have preached for the lawfulnefs of pay- ing that tribute, declared to be impofed for the bearing down of the true worfhip of God. — And advifed poor prifoners to fubferibe that bond. — which if it were uni- verfally fubferibed, — they mould clofe that door, which the Lord hath made life of in all the.churches of Europe, for calling o£F the yoke of the whore, — and Hop all re- grefs of men, when once brought under tyranny, tore- cover their liberty again. They declare they neither can nor will hear them, &c. nor any who encouraged and ftrengthned their hands, and pleaded for them, and trafficked for union with them. 7. That they are for a {landing gofpel miniftry, rightJychofen, and rightly or- dained, — and that none ihall take upon thern the preach- ing of the word, &c. unlefs called and ordained there- unto. And whereas feparation might be imputed to them, they refel both the malice, and the ignorance of that ca- lumny. — For if there be a feparation, it mud be where the change is; and that was not to be found in theuv who were not iq>arating from the communion of the true church ; nor letting up a new miniflry, but cleav- ing to the fame miniilers and ordinances that former!/ Appendix. 419 they followed, when others have fled to new ways, and a new authority, which is like the old piece in the new garment. 8. That they fhall defend themfelves in their civil, natural and divine rights and liberties. --And if any a;Tault them, they fhall look on it as ? declaring a war, and take all advantages that one enemy does of another - — But trouble and injure none, but thofe that injure them. A Lift of the Banifhed. TO fpeak nothing of thofe whom the cruelty of the perfecutors forced to a voluntary exile, of whom there can be no particular account had, befides the fix or feven roinifters that were banifhed and went to Hol- land, and feven or eight country people to France, fe- veral others to Barbadoes, before the year 1666; after the year 1678, there were banifhed to be fold for flaves* for the fame caufe for which others fuffered death at home, of men and women about 1700, viz. anno 1678, to Virginia 60, whereof three or four were mini Iters, who were all by the mercy of God delivered at London. Item, anno 1679, of the prifoners taken at Bothwel, were banifhed to America 2 jo; who- were taken away by Paterfon merchant atLeith, who tranfacted for them with Provoft Milns, laird of Barnton, the man that firit burnt the covenant ; whereof 200 were drowned by fhipwreck at a place called the Mule-head cf Darnels near. Orkney, being fhut up by the laid Paterfon's order beneath the hatchets, 50 efcaped ; whereof the names, fo many of them as could be had, follow; thefe who e- fcaped are printed in Italic characters, for diftinction's fake. Out of the (hire of Clydefdale and city of Glafgow, Francis Wodrow, Walter M'Kechnie, Alexander Pirie, William Miller. Out of the parifli of Govan, Andrew Snadgrafs. Out of the parilh of Kilbride, Robert Auld, John Struthers, James Clark, John Clark, William Rodger. Out of the pariih of Shots, Peter Lcrmont, Robert Ruflel, John Aitkin, Robert Chalmers, John Tbomfon % John Killcn, Alexander Walker, Out of the pariih of Cambufnethen, William Scalar. Out of the: Monklands, William Waddcl* William Grin law, Thomas .'illi.un Miller, John \ . James WadJel, aas Barton. Oul 5 pariih 4^0 Appendix. Bothwel, More, William Breakcnrig. Out of the parifli of Evandale, John CairndufF, John Cochran, Robert Alifon, Andrew Torrence, Thomas Brownlee, John Watfon, William Alifon, Andrew Aiton. Out of the parifh of Calder, William Fram. Out of the parifh of Glasfoord, John Miller, John Craig. Out of the parifh of Carnwath, Thomas Crichton, James Couper. Out of the parifh of Quathquan, James Penman, James Thomfon, Thomas Wilfon. Out of the parifh of Car- ftairs, Thomas Swan. Out of the parifii of Biggar, John Rankin. Out of the parifii of Lefmahego, George Wier, Robert Wier, George Drajin. Out of the flui e of Air and parifh of Finnick, James Gray, Andrew Buckle, David Currie, David Bitchet, Robert Tod, John White, Robert Wallace, John Wylie, William Bitchet. Out of the parifh of Loudon, Thomas Wylie. Out of the pa- rifh of Damellington, Hugh Simp fon, Walter Humper, Walter Hu77iper younger, Hugh Cameron, $>uintin Mac- Adam. Out of the parifh of Cumluck, John Gemil, James Mirrie. Out of the parifii of Ochiltree, Andrew Welih. Out of the parifh of Auchinleck, Andrew Rich- mend. Out of Dindonald, Andrew Thomfon. Out of Mauchlin, William Reid, William Drips. Out of the parifh of Moorkirk, John Campbel, Alexander Paterfon. Out of the parifh of Digen, James Boufton. Out of the parifh of Gaufton, James Young, George Campbel. Out of the parifh of Kilmarnock, Thomas Finlay, John Cuth- bertfon, William Brown, Patrick Watt. Robert Ander- fon, James Anderfon. Out of the parifh of Stewarton, Thomas Wylie, Andrew Wylie, Robert Wylie. Out of the parifh of Bar, Alexander Burden. Out of the pa- rifh of Colmonel, Thomas M'Lurg, John M'Cronock, John M'Clellen. Out of the parifh of Girvan, William Caldwel. Out of the parifii of Dairy, David M'Cubin, William M'Culloch. Out of the parifh of Maybole, William Rodger, Mungo Eccles, John M'Whirter, Thomas Horn, Robert M'Garron, John M'Harie. Out of the parifh of Craigie, George Dunbar. Out of the parifh of Straiton, James M'Murrie, Alexander Lamb, George Hutchefon. Out of the parifh of Kirkmichael, John Brice, Robert Ramfay, John Douglafs, John M'Tire, James M'Ccnnell. Out of the parifh of Kirk- ofel, John White, Thomas Germont. Out of the fhire of Fife and parifh of Newburn, James Beal. Out of the Appendi::. 4 2 I parifh of Largo and Kiiconquhar, Andrew Prie, James Kirk. Out of the parifh of Ceres, John Kirk, Thomas / /er. Out of the parifh of Stramiglo, Robert Bog. Out of the town of Kinrofs, James Lilburn. Out of '.he parilh ofOrwel, Robert Kirk, Robert Sands. Out of the fhire of Perth and parifh ofKilmadock, John Chriir i ion. Cut of the parilh of Kincardine, Patrick Keir, John Donald- fon. Out of the parifh of Glendovan, John Murie, An- drew Murie. Out of the fhire of Renfrew, and parith ofEaftwood, James Cunningham. Out of the parifh of Neilfton, JohnGovan. Out of Pauley, "William Buch- an, Wi-iliam Auchinclofe. Out of the fliire of Len: and parifh of New-Kilpatrick, James Finlayfon. Out of the fliire of Stirling and parifh of Drummond, Daniel Cunningham. Out of the parilh of Kippen, James Gal- braith. Out of Gargunnock, Thomas Miller, Patrick Gilchrilt, James Sands, Thomas Brown, James Bucha- nan. Out of the parifh of St. Ninians, Thomas Thomfon, Andrew Thorn [on, John Neilfon, John M'Nure. Out of the parifh of Denny, Jam^s M'Kie. Out of the parilh ofAirth, Andrew Young, John Morifon, Robert Hen- drie. Out of the parifh of Falkirk, Hugh Monlgomerii. Out of Morrenfide, Thomas Phalp. Out of the fliire of Weft-Lothian, in the parifh of Torphican, John Allan, John Thomfon, John Pender, James Eafton, Eaf- ton, Andrew Eallon, John Addie, Alexander Biihop. Out of Dalmannie, John Thomfon. Out of Livingftoun, Thomas Ingles, Patrick Hamilton, John Bell, Patrick Wilfon, William Younger, William Hendeffcn, John Steven Out of the parifh of Kirkliftoun, John Govan. Out of Bathgate, David Ralton. Out of the parifh 6f Abercorn, John Gib, James Gib. Out of the parilh of Linlithgow, Thomas Barthwick, Out of the of Kinneill, Andrew Murdoch. Out of the (hire of %fid- Lothian and parifh of Calder, James Steel, 1 Gilchrift, James Graze, John Ruffe!. Out of Mid ( der, John Brown, Alexander Mutray. Fall Calder, David Samuel, Alexander Biffit. Out of the parifh of Stow, Thomas Pringle. Out of the parifh of Temple, James Tinto. Out of the parilh of 1 *r> Al'Kcnz::. Out of the parifh of Crichtonn, Fork. Out of the pariia of Cranlloun, il- liamfon. Out of the town of Muflclburgh, Willi Reid. ! Q 422 Appendix. Out of the fhire of Eaft-Lothian, and parifli of Dun- bar, James Tod. Out of the (hire of Nithfdale, and parifh of Glencairn, David Mackervail, John Fergufon, Robert Milligan, John Milligan, John Murdoch, John Smith, William Fergufon, James Colvil, Thomas Roiper. Out of the pariih of Clofeburn, Thomas Milligan, John Kennedy. Out of the fhire of Galloway, and pariih of Kirkcudbright, James Corfan, Andrew Macquhan, John Macbratney, John Macgie. Out cf the parifh of Bai- " maghie, Robert Caldonv, James Houfloun. Out of the parifh of Kelton, James Donaldfon. Out of the parifh of Kilmackbrick, Robert Brown, Samuel Beck, Samuel Hannay. Out of the pariih of Penningham, John Mac- tagart, Alexander Murray, Out of the pariih of Borgue, Andrew Sprot, Robert Bryce, John Richard/on, John Martin ', John Bryce, William Thomfon. Out of the parifh ofGirthon, Andrew Donaldfon. Out of the pa- rifh of Dairy, John Smith, John Malcolm. Out of Ircn- gray, Andrew Wallet. Out cf Balmaclellen, John Ed- gat. Out of Lochrutan, Andrew Clark. Out of Etrick or Forreft, John Scot. Out of the pariih of Gallafhiells, Robert' Macgill, Robert Young. Out cf the fhires of Merfe and Teviotdale, and parifh of Nethen, Samuel Nifhet, John Deans, James Atchifon. Out of the pa- riih of Cavers, James Leidon, John Glafgonv, William Glafgonv, John Greenihields, Richard Young, Samuel Douglas, James Young, James Hobkirk. Out of the town of Kelfo, William Pfardie. Out of the town of Jedburgh, John Mather. Out of the parifh of Ancrum, George Rutherford. Out of the parifn of Sproufton, Walter Waddel, and Thomas Cairns. Out of the pa- rifh of Melrofs, John Young and Andrew Cook. Out of the pariih of Caflletoun, William Scot, John Prin- gle, Alexander Waddel, and John Unnes. Out of the parifh of Afkirk, William Herd. Out of the parifh of Bandon, Andrew Newbigging. Out of the parifh of Sudon, James Couftqn, Ji V'tlliam Swan/Ion, John Elliot. Out of the pariih of Hobkirk, John Oliver. Thefe feven following were fentenced and banifhed to Weft Flanders, who departed the kingdom, March 4th, 1684. Thomas Jackfcn, George Jackfon, James For- reft elder, James Forreft younger, John Coline, James Gourlay, Gillies. Afterwards were banifhed ro Carolina thirty, who Appendix. 4 2 3 were tranfported in James Gibfon's fhip, called fometime Bailie Giblbn in Glafgow, of whom it is obfcrvable, that in God's righteous judgment he was cad away in Caro- lina bay, when he commanded in the Riling Sun. They received their fentence, June 17. 1684. The name-. fuch as fubferibed the joint teftimony, are thefe, Matthew Machan, James M'Clintock, John Gibfon, Gavin Black John Paton, William Ingles, John Young, John Gah, John Edwards, Thomas Marfhal, George Smith, Willi- am Smith, Robert Urie, John Buchanan, Thomas Bryce John Symon, Hugh Symon, William Symon, Archibald Cunningham, John Alexander, John Marfhal, Thereafter in July 19. 1684. John Mathifon, John Crichton, James M'Gachen, John M'Chefhie, James Baird, were baniihed to New Jerfey [n America. There- after were taken away in baniihment by one Robert M loch, fourteen men, whole names are not recorded. An- no 1 68 5. hi the time of Queenfberry's parliament, of men and women were fent to Jamaica two hundred. And the fame year, one Pitlochie tranfported to New Jerfey one hundred, whereof twenty-four were women. And. in the fame year, thirteen more were fent to Barbadoes : Their names are not in the hands of the publiihers, if they be at all recorded. Anno 1687. one and twenty men and women were fent to Barbadoes, whofe names that fubfc: ed the joint teftimony, are as follows, John Ford, Waiter MacMin, AdamHooJ, John MacGl !,Tho- 1 Jackfon, Char I. gal, James Grifton, John Harvie, James Forfyth, I Johnfton, John Steven, Robert Young, John Gilfil! . John Kincaid, Robert Main, Jan: lir, John Heiiderfon, Anaple Jackfon, Anaple Cordon, j :Tat. Anno ^687, March 3 to Bar- badoes, John Stewart, Ja tuglas, John Rufl Jai: nilton, Williai ;e White, Gil- bert M'Culloch, Thoma . John Br< Wil- liam Hay, John V, John Richar Bailie, Mariop Weir, i l-J Caftils, Agnes Keir. 424 Appendix* AJhort account of thofe ) Anno 168$, at Cumnock in Kyle. Captain Dc. Mowat a taylor, merely becaufe he had t :ces of N n 3 4 2 & Appenai x. tead belonging to his trade, took him, and without any further trial fhot him dead, between Fleet and Dee in Galloway. Ium } The faid captain Douglas and his men, finding one Achenleck, a deaf man, for not making aniwer, thro' defecl: of his hearing, inltantly ihot Kim dead off horieback, near Cariin-work, Anno 1685. Sir Robert Dalziel and lieutenant Straton, having appre- hended Daniel M'Michael, not able to flee, by realbn of his being fick, and detained him twenty four hours. prifoner, took hirn out and lhot him at Dalveen, in the pariih of Durifdeer in Nithfdale, January, 1685. Item, The faid captain Dalziel, and lieutenant Straton, with their men, found William Adam hiding in a bulh, and inftantly killed him, at the Walwood in Kyle, February, 1685, Captain Bruce, captain of dragoons, apprehend- ed James Kirko, at the intelligence of one James Wright, carried him to Dumfries, detained him prifoner one Bight, next day brought him forth to the water fands, and without any proceis ihot him dead. The dying man defired a little time to make his peace with God: The captain anfwered, oftener than once or twice, Devil a peace ye get more made up* Some gentlewomen coming to beg his life, were hindred by one John Craig of Stew - arton : The fore laid DaiziePs fecond fon was one of them that faot him, tho' without command, June 1685. Item* The faid captain Bruce furprifed at Lochenkithil, in the pariih of Kirkpatrick in Galloway, fix men, and inltantly killed dead four of them, viz. John Gordon, Wil- liam Stewart, William Heron, and John Wallace; and carried the other two Edward Gordon and Alexander MacUbine, prifoners, and the next day he and mon- ftrous Lagg, without any trial caufed hang upon a growing tree, near the Kirk of Irongray, and left them there. hanging, February 1685. Item, The faid captain Bruce and his men took out of his bed William Macfiaf- , fick of a fever, arid ihot him inftantly, in the parifh of Straton in Carrick, January, 1685. Af*i James- Douglas coronet of dragoons,, commanded to moot John Semple, enaying to efcape out of a window, in the pa- riih of Dellie r Anno 1685. Kilkerron mot him. Item, The faid coronet Douglas apprehended Edward Mackeen and by fearch, finding a flint {tone upon him, prefcntly ihot him without any further trial, February 1685. Lieutenant general Druniaxond commanded., without: a- Appendix. 427 ny procefs of trial, John Murchie and Donald Milde- wrock to be inftantly mot after they were uiken, in I parifh of Colmonel in Carrick, Anno i6' y £. At the fame time his ibldiers did fhoot dead Alexander Lin. Cap- tain Ingles and his dragcfons purfued and killed James Smith at the burn of Ann in Kyle, 1684. Peter Ingles his ion, killed one John Smith in Cunningham, i68j. Item* The faid Peter, or Patrick Ingles, killed one jai White, ftruck off his head with an ax, brought it to Newmilns, and plaid at the foot- ball with it, he killed him at Little -blackwood, the foreiaid year 1685. Ite?x 9 The faid Peter Ingles mot John Burrie, with his pafs in his hand, in Evandale, April 1685. Major Balfour, together with captain Maitland and their party, appre- hended at their work, Robert Tom, John LVie and Thomas Cook, and initantly fhot them, at Pomadee, near Glafgow, May 1685. Colonel Buchan, with the laird of Lee and their men, fhot John Smith in the pa- rim of Lefmahego, February, 1685. Lieutenant Lau- der ihot to death William Shillilaw, at the Woodhead on the water of Air, Anno 1685. Lieutenant Niibet and his party, fhot to death John Fergufon, George \V hiteburn and Patrick Gemmil in the pariih of Finnick, in the faid year. Lieutenant Murray and his party ihot one John Brown after quarters given at Blackwood in Clydfdale, March 1685. Lieutenant Crichton did mod barbarouily after quarter, fhcot David Steel, in the pariih ofLefmahego, December 16 The laird of Stenhcufe, Sir Robert Laurie of Max- welton, and John Craig of Stewartoun, did inltigate and urge Cornet Bailie's party of dragoons toihoot William Smith in Hill, after he had been priibner one night, (it was the day of Maxwelton's daughter's marriage) who alio refilled to let him be buried in the church-yard. This Douglas of Stenhoufe, being a laird of mean eftate, was advanced for fuch fervices as this, and his exceilive harafiing, fpoiling and fining of the people of God, and becaufe he pift, to the honour of being fecreta- ry for Scotland to James VII. But the wicked's honour is ihort lived; his name is extinct, having neither root nor branch, male or female, nor any remembrance left unto him. The faid La eward re- ported, that a cup of wine delivered that day into his hand, turned into congealed blood : But be that ;l> it 428 Appendix. will, himfelfdied by & fall from his horfe, fome years after. Sir James Johnfton of We Iter hill, caufed appre- hend Andre wHy flop in the parlfti of Hutton in Ariandale, and delivered him up to Claverhoufe, and never reited un- til he got him fhot by Claverhoufe's trox>ps : Claverhoufe would have delayed it, but Wefterhall was fo urgent, that Claverhoufe was heard fay, This mans blood Jball be upon IVeJierhall. At length, upon his urgency, Cla- verhoufe ordered a Highland captain, who was there, to do it, but he refufed ; and drawing off his Highlanders to a convenient diftance, fwore, That her nain-feli 'would fight Claverhoufe and all his dragoons fir ft. Whereupon he caufed three of his own dragoons do it, May 1685. It is obferveable of this Wefterhall, that he was once a great profeffor, and one who had fworn the Covenant ; and when the Teft was framed, he bragged, that he was an actual covenanter, and fcorned the Teft ; but when he had the trial, he embraced it, and became a bitter ene- my to the work and people of God : and this man hav- ing been taken in his ground, he would have him fnot, to give proof of his loyalty. He died about the revolu- tion, in great torture of body by the gravel, and horror and anguifh of confcience, infomuch that his cries were heard at a great diftance from the houfe, as a warning to all iuch apoftates. Sir PvObert Grierfon of Lagg, hav- ing the command of a part of Claverhoufe's troop, and Strachan's dragoons, furprifed John Bell of Whitefide, David- Halliday portioner of May field, Andrew M'Cra- bit, James Clement, and Robert Lenox of Irlintoun, and barbaroufly killed them after charter, without time al- lowed to pray. When John Bell of Whitelide begged a little time to pray, Lagg anfwered, What devil have ye leen doi?ig? Have ye ?wt prayed enough thefe many years in the hills ? and fo fhot him prefently in the parifh of Tong- j.md in Galloway, February 1685. Item, The faid laird of Lagg, with the earl of Anandale, having command cf fome troops of heritors, purfued another David Hal- liday, and George Short, and apprehended and fhot them, under cloud of night, in the parifh of Twynhame in Galloway, anno 1680. The laird of Lagg, who was fo wicked an oppreflbr and deftroyer of the people cf God in Galloway and NithfdaJe, is now a juftice of the peace, notwithstanding his being excommunicate for his adulte- ry and impenitent obftinacy. Appendix. j\i<) The laird of Colzean, for that time captain of a troop of militia and heritors, killed William M'Kergue at Klairquhan mi :o 168 c. Item> The laird of Col- zean, with the laird of Ballochmiln, (hot Gilbert Mac- itn in the parilh of Kirkmichai, July 1685. A party of Highlanders kiileS-Jofeph Wililrn, David Dun, Simeon Faterfon, and other two, near the water of Kyle, in a mofs in Kyle, anno 1 6S5 . The laird of Ardenkeple com-/ manding a party of fiighlandmen, killed Robert Lock- art and Gabriel Thomibn, about that time alio. Like- wife William Paterfon was Ihot at Strevan, uncertain by whom, i68f. Alio John M'Ciorgan was killed at Drum* mellian's hoirfe : night time, not known by whom. John Reid, belonging fometimes to Craigie's troop, did, under cloud of night, kill by a ihot, one George Wood, about fixteen years old, without aiking one queftion at 1, in Tinkhorn-hill, in Kyle, June 1688. In funi, their number amounts to ieventy eight. Befides theie cold blood -murders, there were many- killed at feverai ikirmilh:s at Pentland, Bothwel, Airl- mofs, Sec. while lighting in their own defence, and dxs :t\ce of the field meetings, the number whereof a- mounts to about 400, and fome odds. A foort ttCBUMi of the opprejjive exactions . Expecting that others, who have the particular infor- mations of matters of fact by them, will be con- cerned to publiih a more full account of theie illegal fines and robberies, it fhall fuflice at prefent to tranferibe on- ly the general account of fome of them, out of the fore- mentioned Manorial of Grievances. Which run thus : For fines, and other exorbitant and illegal exactions of money, the particular fums cannot be here enumerat- ed ; but their vaftnefs, when together calculate, may be eafily collected by the fcraps already gathered off fome poor families of farmers, cottars, fervants, &c. and ma- ny of theie omitted, or not known (which would w confiderably augment the fum) in fome few flu res, 1 Clydfdale, Renfrew, Air, Galloway, Nithfd.de and Anandale, only but for a few years, viz. iince Bothwel- bridge infurreOtion, amounting to a ! ;-)oool. Scots. Bolides the many honed families, which have been cafteu out of their houfes, harraiied and fpoiled of their All; fome oi their houfes being thrown down, fome burnt, 43° Appendix. fome ihut up, their goods and moveables feized upon, their crop and cattle alio difpoied of, at the will of their perfecutors, in the forementioned ihires, amounting to above 200. The immediate authors, colors and inftruments of thefe oppreffions, were principally the curates, mitigat- ing the privy council, which impowercd the forces, and noblemen and gentlemen of the country to prey upon the poor people. All cannot be here expreifed, but fome of the mod noted in the weftern (hires (hall be named, who were the greatet perfecutors and oppreifors, by fining and other exactions. Of officers of the forces, Colonel Douglas, brother to the duke of Queenfberry, exacted above 2000 1. Scots money, in Galloway, Nithf- dale, (hire of Air, and other places. Lieutenant Gene- ral Drummond, befldes the forfaultures of gentlemen, did alio exact monies of the poor in the fhire of Air. The earl of Linlithgow, and his lbldiers fpoiled much in Galloway. The earl of Airly and his troop, in the lame ihire. The Lord Bakarras, a great oppreilbr in Galloway, befides all the robberies he committed in Fife. Graham of Claverhoufe, afterwards vifcount of Dundee, with his brother, and fubaltern officers in Gal- loway, Nithfdale, and Anandale, exacted by fines and other ways, above 13500I. Scots money. Colonel Bu- chan a molt violent persecutor in Galloway and fhire of Air, by robberies took from the people upwards of 4000 1. Scots. Major Ccckburn a great oppreilbr in Galloway, Major White in Clydfdale, and ihire of Air, exacted, by fines and otherways, above 2508). Scots. Major Balfour a great ppprefTpr and perfecutor in Clydf- dale, Captain Strachan in Galloway, Ingiis in Gallo- way, Air and Clydfdale; Douglas in Galloway, Dalzi- ei in Anandale, and Bruce in Nithfdale, oppreiTed and fpoiled the people much. Meldrum in Clydfdale, took from poor families upwards of 2800 1. and vail iums in Merfe and Teviotdale, with the earl of Hume, and Ker of Grandoun, with the laird of Hayning and Blindle, and in Tweedale, with the Laird of Poila. Lieutenant Winram and Barns, w T ere very vigilant per- fecutors in Galloway, and took muchfpoil. Lieutenant Lauder in Air, Bon/haw a highwayman, and Duncan Grant, a cripple with a tree leg in Clydfdale, oppretfed thepeople exceffively ; this laft exacted in Clydfdale, 150c!. Appendix. 431 The chief of the oppreflbrs among noblemen and gen- tlemen, were in Clydfdale, Sutnmervail of Spittel, who exacted from the poor people above 1200I. Halyards more than 5800I. Bonytoun and Symrae were alfo great and violent exactors. In the city of Glafgcw, Proyoft Johnfioun and Harns ; Bailies Anderfon, Zuil, Graham, and Stirling, exacted above 20,000 1. In Renfrew, the earl of G!encairn exacted above 2400 1. Likewiie Sem- ple a Papift, Alexander Hume in Egleihome, and Ezeki- el Montgomery, were all great exactors. In the {hire oi Air, the Earl of Dumfries exacted above icool. Likewiie the Lord Craigie, William Crichton ihe- riff-depute, Crawford of Ardmiilan, Montgomery of Bozland, the laird of Broyche, and clerk Oglivie, were all great and wicked perfecutors. In Galloway, Grierfon of Lagg, who exacted there, and in Nithfdale, above 12C0I. Liddefdale, Ifie and Canon of Merda- ;re, were alfo great eppreffbrs. In Nithfdale, Queenf- berry and his fons, and John Alifon his chamberlain, to when dying faid, He had damned his foul fir the duke his ?naj}er ; and George Charter, another of his tors, who vaunted,; He had made t May nth 9 1685. THE bloody murderers of thefe men Were Major Balfour and captain Maitland. And with them others were not free, Caus'd them to fearch in Pomadie. As foon as they had them out found, They murder d them with (hot of gun, Scarce time to them did they allow Before their Maker their knees to bow. Many like in this land have been, Whofe blood for vengeance cries to heav'n. This horrid wickednefs you fee Was done in lane of Pomadie ; Which may a (landing witnefs be *Twi;;t Prefbytry and Prelacy. Oo 43* EPITAPHS. Infer Iptkn en a ft one in the church-yard of EgJefham, upon the bodies of Gabriel Thornfon and Robert Lockhart, fljot by a party of Higklandmen and dragoons, under the com* - viand of Ardcncaple, May \fi, 1685. THESE men did fearch through moor and mofs To fend out all that had nopafs. Thefe faithful witnefTes were found, And murdered upon the ground. Their bodies in this grave do Jy, Their blood for vengeance yet doth cry : This may a (landing witnefs be For Presbytry 'gainit Prelacy. Infer ipt ion on the monument at Airf?nofs r lying upon the bo- dies of them that fell there, July 20. 1680. Namely the reverend and faithful 7\Ir. Richard Cameron mhtijler cf the go f pel, ISlichael Cameron, John Ham il ten, John Gem* Dili, James Gray, Robert Dick, John Fuller , Rob*rfPa~ terfin, Thomas Watfin y &C XT ALT, curious paffenger, come here and read ; li Our fouls triumph with Chrift our glorious head. In ielf-defence, we murder'd here do ly, To witnefs 'gainft this nation's perjury, Infer ipt ion on a grave fione in the church yard of St revan, on the corpfe of William Pater fin, nvho lived in the par iff? of Cambufnethan, and John Barrie in Evan dale, anno, 1685. HERE ly two martyrs ♦, feverally who fell By Captain Inglis, and by bloody Bell. Pofterity ihall know they're (hot to death. As facrifices unto Popifh wrath. Tnfcription on the fione lying at Blackwood in the parifb of Lefmahego, upon the corpfe of John Brown, who was Jhot ly Murray, without fentenee fof laiv, anno 16&5, and buried there in the open fields, MURRAY might murder fuch a godly Brown, But could not rob him of that glorious crown Tie now enjoys. His credit, not his crime, Was r^n-cumplumcc vitl) a wicked time. EPITAPHS. 457 Infcription upon a J} one lying en the corps $f John Br* *who lived in the parijh of Moor kirk , who was Jhot by Graham of Claverhoufe, at his own door, May if}, 1685. and lies buried there in the open fields. I N death's cold bed the dufty part here lies O f one who did the earth as duft defpife, H ere in this place from earth he took departure; N ow he has got the garland of the martyr. B utcher'd by Clavers and his bloody band, R aging mod rav'noufly o'er all the land. O nly for owning Chriit's fupremacy, W ickedly wrong'd by encroaching tyranny. N othing, how near foever, he too good Efteem'd, nor dear for any truth his blood. Upon the grave Jl one of David Steel, in the church yard of Lefmahego, is this motto. DAVID, a fhepherd firft,.and then Advanced to be king of men, Had of his graces in this quarter, This heir a wand'rer, now a martyr. Who for his conftancy and zeal, Still to the back did prove good Steel. Who for Chrift's royal truths and laws, And for the covenanted caufe Of Scotland's famous reformation; Declining tyrants ufurpation; By cruel Crichton murder'd lies, Whofe blood to heav'n for vengeance cries. Upon the grave Jione of Andrew Hi flop, lying in Craickhaugh in Efkdale moor, being the place where [he was JL Claverhoufe and Sir James Johnfloun ofiVefierhalL HALT, paflenger, a word with thee or two, Why I ly here wouldfl thou truly know? Ky wicked hands, hands cruel and unjuft, Without all law, my life from me they thruft, And being dead they left me on the fpot, For burial this fame place I got : Truth's friends in Efkdale, now rejoice their lot, To wit, The faithful, for truth my feal thus got. 3 4j8 EPITAPHS. In the church-yard cf Dumfries^ upon the grave ftcne of Jokr. Grfcrjbn t who livci in the parijh of lrongray , and /offer- ed January 2d, 1667. is i his infer iption. UNuerneath this ftone doth ly Daft, facrific'd to tyranny: ^ et precious in Emmanuel's fight, Since martyrd for his kingly right. When he condemns thefe helliih drudges, By fufF'rage, faints fhall he their judges. Up:n the grave ft one of William Welch* hi the fame church- yard, who lived in the fame parifh, and f offered at ths fame time with the former* there is this epitaph. HALT pafTenger, read, here interr'd doth ly A witnefs 'gainft poor Scotland's perjury, Whofe head. once fixt, upon the Bridge pore ftood, proclaiming vengeance for his guiltleis blood. In the fame church-yard, on the grave flone of James Kirko* rvho lived in the par if 7 of llier, and was fhot dead on the fands of Dumfries, by Captain Bruce t Jmis 1685. is this motto, BY bloody Bruce and wretched Wright, I loll my life in great defpight ;, Shot dead without due time to try, And fit me for eternity ; A witnefs of Prelatic rage, As ever was in any age. On the grave f one lying on Edward Cordon and Alexander JM'Vbine, execute at the church of lrongray* at the co?n* viand of the laird of Lagg and captain Bruce. AS Lagg and bloody Bruce command, We were hung up by hellifh hand ; And thus their furious rage to flay, We died at Kirk of lrongray: Here now in peace fweet reft we take, Once murder'd for religion's fake. EPITAPHS. 439 Upon a Jl one lying in a muir tiear Lochcnkithil, on the grav* of John Gordon, William Stewart, /i Villi am Heron and John Wallace, Jhot by captain Bruce. BEHOLD herein this wildcrnefs we ly, Four witnefles of hellifh cruelty. Our lives and blood could not their ire afiwage r But when we're dead, they did againft us rage; That match the like, we think,' ye icarcely can, Except the Turk's, or duke de Alva's men. Upon three fever al grave J} ones, lying on John Gibfon, James Bennoch, Robert Edgar and Robert Mitchel, ivho ivere f:ot at Izglifloun in the parifh of Glencairn, by colonel Douglas and lieutenant Livingjioun, stnno 1685, are inefc verfes . 1. On John Gibfon. MY foul's 111 heaven, here's my duft, By wicked fen ten ce and unjuft Shot dead, convicled of no crime, But non-compliance with the time, When Babel's baftards had command, And monflrous tyrants rul'd ihe land. 2. On James Bennoch. HERE lies a monument of Popilh wrath ; Becaufe I'm not perjur'd, I'm mot to death By cruel hands ; men godlefs and unjuft Did facrifice my blood to Babel's lull. 3. On Robert Edgar and Robert Mitchel, both under am fione. HALT paffenger, tell if thou ever faw Men diet to death without procefs of law. We two, of four who in this church yard ly, Thus felt the rage of Popifh tyranny. Upon a flone in Tynron church yard, lying on Williajn Smith, ivbo being a youth of eighteen years of age, nvas fl)ot at the bridge end of JMinni-ive, by the command cf Sir Ro- bert Laivrie laird of Max s a.. BEHOLDf Wfcoh : one here's fore'd to c rf, under me thai l€€ a v\li were by tfi< *:1 Claterh \. Ko ; I be done this horrid thing, But's fore'd to fn; ;e, his rage purfu'd ev'n fuch when dc~. And in the tombs of their anceftors laid; Caufing their corps be rais'd out of the PUchargiag in Church-yard to bury them. All this they did, becaufe they would not abjure,. Our cover. J rcfor: Becaufe like t.tithf ul martyrs for to They rathe, d than tremeberoofly com \\ itb n'j. bane, :r chin in. Perjur'd intclli I s were to rife. to take their 1 n a gt kcudbrigbt, anno 108a. ; Dsugl ej THIS r.irnumcnl (hall ihow poftert' vo hea^' /d; 442 EPITAPHS. By unjuft law were fentenced to die, Them fir ft they han*g'd, then headed cruelly. Captain Douglas, Bruce, Graham of Claverhoufe, Were thefe that caufetl them be handled thus: And when they were unto the gibbet come, To flop their fpeech, they did beat up the drum, And all becauie that they would not comply With indulgence and bloody Prelacy. In face of cruel Bruce, Douglas and Graham, They did maintain, Thai Chrijl nuas Lord fupr erne ; And boldly owned both the covenants: At Kirkcudbright thus ended thefe two faints. Upon zflone in the church yard of Balmaclellan, on the be dy of Robert Grierfon, rjuho f was flain by comm 'and of co- lonel James Douglas at Inglijloan in the parifh of Glen- cairn, 1685. THIS monument to pafTengers fhall cry, That godly Grierfon under it doth ly, Betray'd by knaviih Watfon to his foes, Which made this martyr's days by murder clofe. If ye would know the nature of his crime, Then read the ftory of that killing time, When Babel's brats with helliih plot conceal'd, Deugn'd to make our 9 fouth their hunting-field. Here one of five at once were laid in duft, To gratify Rome's execrable luft. If carabins with molten bullets could Have reach'd their fouls, thefe mighty Nimrods would Them have cut off; for there could no requeft Three minutes get, to pray for future reft. BESIDES thefe mottos in verfe, there are in the ftewarty of Kirkcudbright in Galloway, feveral o- ther monuments both in church yards and open fields, the mottos 1 whereof are in profe, intimating, That they died for their adherence to the covenants and work of re- formation. Namely, in the churchyard of Kircudbright, upon the corps of John Hallum, who was wounded in taking, and fentenced by Captain Douglas to be hanged, in the year 1685. In the church-yard of Borgue, upon the body of Robert Macquhae (hot to death in that parifh by the faid captain Douglas Anno 1685. In the church- EPITAPHS. 443 ird of Glrthon, upon the body of Robert Lenox fome- time in Irlintoun, (hot by the laird of Lagg, Anno i68$ . In the fame parifh, in the muir of Auchencloy, upon the body of Robert Fergufon, (hot by Graham of Claverhoufe in that place, Anno 1684. In the parifh of Tongland in Kirkonnel hill, upon the body of James Clement, (hot to death there by the laird of Lagg, Anno 1685. In the church-yard of Balmaghie, upon the body of George Short, fhot by the fame laird of Lagg, Anno 1685. * n the church-yard of Kells, upon the corps of AdamMac- Quham, who being fick of a fever, was brought from his own houfe to Newtoun of Galloway, and next day fhot dead by comand of lieutenant general Douglas, brother to the duke of Queenfberry, i63$. Item, upon the corps of William Graham, who was fhot while making his efcape from his mother's houfe, by a party of Claver- houfe's troop, Anno 1682. Upon a J} one in the church-yard of Air , lying on the bodies of James Smith, Alexander MacMillan, James Mac Mil- iaria George MacCartney, John Short, John Graham and John Muirhead, r Juho fujrfered martyrdom at Air, December 27. 1666. HERE lyfeven martyrs for our covenants, A facred number of triumphant faints. Pontius Mac Adam th' unjuil fentence pall; ; What is his own the world fhall know at laft. And Herod Drummond caus'd their heads affix; Heav'n keeps a record of the forty- fix. Boots, thumbkins, gibbet£, were in fafnion then ; Lord, let us never fee fuch days again. Upon c. Jlone lying hefide the gallows of Air, upon the body cf Andrew Mac Gil/, wto n Jjas apprehended by the I: tion of Andrew Tom, and fuffered then :mber 16^4. NEAR this abhorred tree a fnfTerer lies, Who chus\I to fall, that falling truth might ri His (ration could advance no coflly deed, Save giving of a life the Lord did need. When Chriit fhall vindicate his way, he'll cad The doom which v ne'd in ilieh a hafle, And in corruption ilia!. ice, Defign'd by the interment place. 444 EPITAPH S. Upon 1 be ft one at Machline, lying on the bodies o/Petsr Gillies, John Bryce, Thomas lounge IVilliam Fiddifon, and John Bruning, who were apprehended and hanged up there without trial \ Anno 1685. BLOODY Dumbarton, Douglas and Dundee, Mov'd by the devil and the laird of Lee, Dragg'd tliefe live men to death with gun and fword, Not fniiering them to pray, nor read God's word. Owning th^ work of God was all their crime, The eighty five was a faint killing time. Upon the tomb ft one at Irvine, lying en the lodies of James Blackwood and John JSVCoul, who faflered there Decem- ber 31. 1666. THESE honeft countrymen, whofe bones here ly, A victim fell to Prelates cruelty ; Condemn'd by bloody and unrighteous laws, They died martyrs for the good old caufe, Which Balaam's wicked race in vain affail ; For no inch'-mtinents 'gain ft Ifrael prevail. Life and this evil world they did contemn, And dy'd for Chrift, who died firft for them. Upon a ft one at Kilmarnock, lying on the heads of John Rofs and John Shields, who fuffered at Edinburgh, the 27M of Dece??iber, 1066, and had their heads fet up at Kilmarnock. OU R perfecutors mad with wrath and ire; In Edinburgh members fome do ly, fome here; Yet inftantly united they fhall be, And witnefs 'gainft this nation's perjury. Upon another /lone at Kilmarnock, lying upon the^ corps of John Nishet, who fuffered there the \/\th ofjpril, 1683, COME, reader, fee, here pleafant Niflbet lies, His blood doth pierce the high and lofty ikies; Kilmarnock did his latter hour perceive, And Chrifl his foul to heaven did receive. Yet bloody Torrence did his body raile," And buried it into another place ; Saying, Shall rebels ly in graves with v:e ? TVe'll bury him where evil-doers be. EPITAPHS. 445 Upon a grave J} one at Tinnick, lying on the daft of John Fergus hill and George Woodburn, nvbo were foot to death by Nisbet and his party, Anno 1685. WHEN bloody Prelates, once this nation's peft, Contriv'd that curs'd felf-contradicling teft; Thefe men for Chrift did fuffer martyrdom, And here their blood lies waiting till he come. Upon another grave Jlone there, lying on the corps of Peter Genwiel, who was shot to death by the fame Nisbet and his party, Anno 1685. THIS man, like holy Anchorites of old, For confeience fake, was thurft from houfe and hold, Blood- thirfly red coats cut his prayers fhort, And ev'n his dying groans were made their fport. Ah Scotland! breach of folemn vows repent; Or bloody crimes will bring thy punifhment. Upon a third fl one, lying on the body of James White, fjjot by P eter Ingles and his party , 1685. TH I S martyr was by Peter Ingles fhot, By birth a tyger rather than a Scot; Who, that his monftrous extract might be feen, Cut off his head, and kick'd it o'er the green. Thus was that head, which was to wear a crown, A foot ball made by a profane dragoon. Upon a Jlone in the church-yard ofWigtoun, on the body of Margaret JVilfon, who was drowned in the water of Blednoch, upon the nth of May 1684, by ike laird of LET earth and ftone ftill witnefs bear, There lies a virgin martyr here, Murder'd for owning Chrift fupreme, Head of his church, and no more crime, But her not owning Prelacy, And not abjuring Prefbytery. Within the fea, ty'd to a ftake, She fuffered for Chrift Jefus' fake, The actors of this cruel crime WasLagg, Winram, Strachan and Graham, 44* EPITAPHS. Neither young years, nor yet old age, Could quench the fury of their rage. Upon a Ji one in the church-yard ofColmonel, on the body of Matthew Meiklewrath, who was killed in that pariJJ? hy Claverhoufe* IN this parifh of Colmonel, By bloody Claverhoufe I fell, Who did command that I fhould die, For owning covenanted Prefbytery. My blood a witnefs ftill doth fland, 'Gainft all defections in this land, Upon a Jlone in the church-yard of Stratoun, on the body of Thomas fll'HaJfie, 'who was taken out of his bed, being Jick of a fever, andfbot by Captain Bruce in that parifh* 1685. THOUGH I was fick and like to die, Yet bloody Bruce did murder me ; Becaufe I adhered in my ftation To our covenanted reformation. My blood for vengeance yet doth call, Upon Zion's haters all. Upon a Jlone in the church-yard of Tweed? s-muir, lying on the body of John Hunter, who was Jhot at Core head, by Colonel Jajnes Douglas, 1675. WHEN Zion's King was robbed of his right, His witnefles in Scotland put to flight, When Papifts, Prelates, and indulgency, Combin'd 'gainft Chrift to ruin Prefbytry, All who would not unto thefe idols bow, They fought them out, and whom they found they flew. For owning of Chrift's caufe I then did die, My blood for vengeance on his enemies doth cry. Upon the grave Jlone of Thomas Burn, James Wood, An- drew Sword, John Waddel, and John Cfyd, who fuffer- ed ?nartyrdom at Magus -muir, November 2$th, 1 689, and ly buried in a com field near Magus*muir % is this in- fer ipt ion. 9/^ A U S E we at Bothwel did appear, V^ Perjurious oaths refus'd to fwear; EPITAPHS. 447 'Caufe we Chrift's caufe would not condemn. We were fentenc'd to death by men, Who rag'd againfl us in fuch fury, Our dead bodies they did not bury ; But up on poles, didhing us high, Triumphs of Babel's victory. Our lives we fear'd not to the death, E'ut conftant prov'd to the laft breath. When the grave-ftone was fet up in October 1728, the chains were taken out of their graves, and fome of their bones and cloaths were found unconfumed, now 47 years after their death. Upon the grave Jlone cf Andrew Gulline t who fu$cred at the Gallowlee of Edinburgh > July 20, 1 683, and after- wards was hung upon a pole in Magus-?nuir 9 and lieth buried in the Long-croft of Clermont) near Magui-Muir f is this infer ipt ion. A Faithful martyr here doth ly, A Witnefs againfl perjury ; Who cruelly was put to death, To gratify proud Prelates wrath ; They cut his hands ere he was dead, And after that (truck off his head. To Magus-muir then did him bring, His body on a pole did hing. His blood under the altar cries, For vengeance on ChrihVs enemies. Monumental Infcription on a graze f one at Rullicn Greer. ', Pentland-hills. Here, and near to this place, lies the reverend Mr. JohnCrooklhanks, and Mr. Andrew M^Cormotic, mini- ; of the gofpel, and about fifty other true covenant- ed Prefbytcnans, who were killed in this place, in their own innocent fclf-defence, and defence of the covenant- ed work of reformation, by Thomas Dalzicl ot Bin upon the 28th of November 1666. IUv. xii. 11. | td September zV, 1738. Pp 2 448 EPITAPHS. On the cppofite fide ofthejlcne is the following verfi m . AC L O U D of witneffes ly here, "Who for Chrift's interefl did appear, For to reftore true liberty, Overturned then by tyranny * And by proud Prelates, who did rage Againft the Lord's own heritage ; They lacrihVd were for the laws Of Chrift their King, his noble caufe. Thefe heroes fought with great renown. By falling got the martyrs crown* Upon the grave fane of John Murchie, and Daniel Mei- klcwathy near the Crofs-nvater of Dash, in Colmond par if: . HE R E in this place two martyrs ly 9 Whofe blood to heav'n hath a loud Cry) Murdered contrary to divine laws, For owning of King Jefus* caufe, By bloody Drummond they were fhot, Without any trial, near this fpot. Upon the gravefone of James Smith, in Muir*kirk church* yard. WHEN proud apoftates did abjure, Scotland's reformation pure, And fill'd this land with perjury, And all forts of iniquity. Such as would not with them comply, They perfecute with hue and cry. I in the chafe was overta'en, And for the truth by them was (lain. Upon the grave 'fane of John Law, inakail-yafiaofNeWr viilr.s. 4/^fAUSE I (Thrift's prifoners reliev'd, V^/ I of my life was foon bereav'd, By cruel enemies with rage, In that rencounter did engage, The martyr's honour and his crown 5 Beftow'd on me, O high renown ! EPITAPHS. w That I fhould not only believe, But for Chrift's caufe my life ihould give. Upon the grave-Jlone of William Dingival, in the chm yard of St raven. TH I S hero brave who here doth Jy Was perfecute by tyranny, Yet to the truth he firmly ftood y 'Gainft foes, refilling unto blood. Himfelf and th' gofpel did defend, Till for Chrift's caufe his life did end. Upon the grave-Jlone of James Thomfon, in S: church-yard. THIS hero brave who doth ly here, In truth's defence he did appear, And to Chrift's caufe he firmly flood, Until he feal'd it with his blood. With fword in hand upon the field, He loft his life, yet did not yield. His days did end in great renown, And he obtain'd the martyr's crown. The famous Mr. Samuel Rutherford, who was cited" before that parliament, who reieinded the covenanted work of reformation, to appear before them, when he was in a dying condition; being foon after that called to anfwer at that tribunal, where his Judge was his friend : tho' he did not actually fuffer martyrdom, being called home to the joy of his Lord, before his perfecutors got their wicked devices put in execution againft him ; j fince he was a martyr both in his enemies defign and his ewn refolution, the epitaph upon his grave-ftone, done above 74 years after he died, by a true lover of hb memory, and owner of the honourable covenanted caufe, which he faithfully contended and fuflered for, dei'crvetl* room here among martyrs epitaphs. p P 3 4S° EPITAPHS. upon the grave.- ft one cf tic reverend, godly and learned Mr. Samuel Rutherford, minifler of the gofpel 9 aniprofsjfor of divinity in St. Andrews., r ;o. j 66 i. and lies buried in the church-yard of St. .Jrc-VJS. WH AT tongue, what pen, or fkill of men, Can famous Rutherford commend ? learning juftly rais'd his fame; True godlinefs adorn'd his name. He did converfe with things above, Acquainted with Emmanuel's love. Molt orthodox he was and found, And many errors did confound. For Zion'sKing and Zion's caufe,. And Scotland's covenanted laws ; Moft eonftantly he did contend, Until his time was at an end, That he wan to the full fruition Of that which he had feen in vifion. Qdoberyth, 1735. By W. W, 1 epitaph upon the grave Jlone of the reverend and pious Mr. John IVelivood, 246 The teftimony of William Cochran 255 The teftimony of Andrew Guiline 259 The teftimony of John Cochran 262 A relation concerning Arthur Bruce and John Whitelaw 263 A letter from John Wharry 264 A letter from James Smith 266 Interrogations of John Nifoet younger 268 The teftimony of John Nifbet younger 269 Anfwers by John Wilfon writer in Lanerk, before feven or eight of the council, with his anfwers before the council 269 Reafons of his anfwers, and reflections thereupon 282 His reafons againft fupplicating the council for a reprieve 285 His teftimony 286 The teftimony of George Martin 295 The teftimony of John Main 300 A relation concerning John Gilry ib-, A relation concerning John Richmond, Archbald Stewart, James Winning and James Johaftoun 308 A letter of Archibald Stewart's 3 10 The teftimony of Captain John Patoun 3 14 The teftimony of James Nifbet 3 1 8 The teftimony of Arthur Taket 327 The teftimony of Thomas Robertfon 332 Interrogations of James Nicol 335 A relation concerning Mr. John Dick 343 The joint teftimony of Thoma3 Harknefs, Andrew Clark, Samuel M'Euen 344 The joint teftimony of James Lawfon and Alexan- der Wood 346 The interrogations of George Jackfon 349 INDEX. Pa s« A relation concerning William Keagow, John Semple and John Wat 352 A letter of John Semple's 353 The teftimony of James Graham 355 The teftimony of Robert Pollock The teftimony of Robert Millar 36 A relation concerning Margaret Lauchlane and Margaret Wilfon 367 The teftimony of Thomas Stoddart 36S A relation concerning Matthew Briceand James Wilkie 371 The teftimony of Edward Marfhall 372 A relation concerning John Nifbet of Hardhill 373 His teftimony 375 The laft teftimony and dying words of Mr. James Renwick 391 A fnort relation concerning Mr. Richard Cameron 39 3 The paper at Airfmofs 40 1 A relation of fome remarkable paffages in the life of Mr. Donald Cargil 40a Form of the excommunication at Torwood 409 A relation of the perfecution and death of Henry Hall « 412 An abftract of the Queens-ferry Paper 415 A lift of the banifhed 419 Account of thofe who were murdered without pro- cefs of law 424 A {hort hint of the opprefiive fines and exactions 429 The epitaphs upon the tomb- (tones of the martyrs 432 A Crossbill gentleman point? out in the press that a martyr'* stone in built in the crable of what was once a dwelling-house in a Fane at the back of Burn? Tavern, Newmilns. Ir bears the following inscription: — " Here lies John Law. who was shot at New Minis at iieic jic ClirisV* prisoners, who were ta!cen tiie relienng -; f8r ^ r L ;n itl . le P Blackwood, in the parish atameeung for pwag *J » 5 bv Capt. Inglis and his l^SSS iSKSpS toW word of God and Soot- E$l Covenant Work of Reformation.' The following lines also appear on the stone : — m Because I Christ's prisoners relieved, A of my life was soon berated, By Cruel enemies with rage. In th*fc rencounter did engage. The Martyr's Honour rs his Crown, Bestowed on me a high renown, Tbat I should no% only benere, Bat for Christ's cause My life should give." The writer is afraid the monument may be lost, as the wall is being demolished at pre- sent 1 Hhbhb Hi