A Testimony to the Doctrine and Government of the Church of Scotland, Part 3
The last Words and Carriage of Mr. John Dick, who Suffered in the Graſs Market of Edinburgh, upon the Fifth of March 1684.
WHen he went upon the Scaffold, he Beckned to the Multitude, beginning at North ſide thereof, and ſo turning himſelf Round with a Smiling Counten…nce, and no leſs Couragious then pleaſant Demonſtrations, without the leaſt of Terrour, or being Troubled, either with Death near approaching, or the manner of he Death he was to Die, this in a Princely like Poſture, he preſented himſelf in the …ight of all there preſent; And then with his hands Falded together, and his Eyes …fted up to Heaven for a little, looking not only, ſtedfaſtly but Eagerly, and ſo treaching furth his hands, he began thus.
The great Confluence that are gathered together here, manifeſtly declares to me, that many if not the great part of this Multitude expects and looks for ſome thing more than Ordinary, but ye may be diſappointed, I nothing doubt but all of this Multitude, at leaſt the moſt part knows and have heard that I have had near ſix Months Reſpite more than was allowed me by Men, which time was granted me in the Goodneſs and Mercy of GOD through my Eſcape, which Mercy I mean this time that I have had ſince my eſcape, I look upon it to have been given me for theſe two, and in both theſe that GOD may be Glorified. And Firſt, That having ſo much more time, I might have the Liberty and Priviledge more fully to exhibite and give in my Judgment; At which Bailie Chancellor called to Bear, but he ſtops him ſaying, Beat not, and ſo he proceeded ſaying, Secondly, That having ſo much more time I might the better make ready, and prepare my ſelf for that great Work I have now in hand, I mean Death and Eternity, neither of which is terrifying nor dumping to me, for the which and all other of his Favours and Mercies which he in the abundance of his Goodneſs, and Riches of his free Grace beſtowed on me, even one me who while in a Natural State was as evil and abominable in Gods ſight as any here at this time: I deſire to bleſs, Adore, Admire, Exalt, and praiſe the Lord, while in time, for I know I ſhall ſhortly praiſe him without Interruption or Intermiſſion; I ſay it again, I bleſs him for all his Mercies and Favours conferred upon me, and not only this among the reſt, but above all next to that great one, that he made me his own by his Purchaſe and ſo became mine, and altho' I have not keeped all right as to him, yet he has keeped all right as to me and betwixt him and me all is right, his other Mercies and Favours that he has condeſcended ſo much to Dignifie and Honour me, as to Crown all in me with Martyrdom.
At which the Bailie called again Beat, but he ſtoped him ſaying, ye need not Beat, for ye ſhall have no Cauſe of Beating, ſo he Cryed out ſaying: Now my Dear Freinds in Chriſt, it is your Aſſiſtance I Crave in this Exerciſe of Praiſing, let me Beſeech you to join with me in Singing to the Praiſe of this, even my GOD and the GOD of my Conſolation and Salvation, I ſay to the Father Son and Holy Ghost, let us Sing Praiſe from the beginning of the 2d. Pſalm: So having Sung that Pſalm through which we Sang with great Chearfulneſs, and ſometimes Pointing with his Hands to one Art and ſometimes to another, but Eſpecially when he Sang the 6th 7th and 8th. Verſes, his Countenance ſo Shined, that it might eaſily appeared, to Judicious and Pious Spectators, that he was in an Excelent Frame, and in a Special way to be Helped, to Sing Praiſe to the LORD, and having done with Singing he ſaid with a Pleaſent Countenance, I nothing doubt but amongſt this great Confluence of People, there are many that are nearer and Dearer to our Exalted and Glorified Lord Jeſus Chriſt, therefore I ſhall Addreſs my ſelf to two Sorts, and ſhall Speak a ſhort Word to each of theſe as Providence and time ſhall allow me, firſt I ſhall Speak to Friends, Secondly to Enemies, at which the Bailie called to Beat, but he ſtopped him ſaying, forbear Beat not, for ye have had no Cauſe to Beat as yet, neither ſhall ye have any Cauſe hereafter, and ſo he Proceeded ſaying, as to you that are Freinds, I mean all ſuch as are Reſolved to follow our Bleſſed LORD fully through Good Report and Bad Report Coſt what it will, I ſay according to the Rule that he hath given in his Word.
I ſay I have three words of good News to tell you, and as the Words of a Dying Man. And Firſt it ſhall be well with the Righteous, yea verily it ſhall be well with the Righteous. Now in ſpeaking to this, I would ſay two things, but do not miſtake me; For I am neither a Miniſter nor a Preacher, for I am not going to preach, but only to give my laſt Advice to theſe here, which I ſhall do in a few words; For neither do I deſire to weary you, nor to ſpeak, much more the Body being ſhortly to be caught up above the Clouds, pointing with his hand up to Heaven, I mean my Soul, which ſhall be immediatly there. And Firſt, That you my Friends may underſtand me, that the Righteouſneſs of none can make you Righteous but Chriſt, and he Imputed to you for Righteouſneſs: So I ſay, ye moſt have a Borrowed Righteouſneſs, even the Righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt imputed to you, and this is the way that ye moſt be Righteous, I ſay it ſhall be well with the Righteous, the Spirit of GOD, hath ſaid it in his word, and that is better than an Angel had ſpoken it from Heaven, for we have a more ſure word of Propheſie, 2 Peter 1 Chap. and 16 Verſe, at which the Bailie ſaid, what Sir are ye going to Preach to whom he Anſwered, yet Smiling, I am not Preaching, but leaving my laſt Advice to theſe here, as not only I am, but as others are Engaged to GOD, that I ſhould Admoniſh my Chriſtian Friends and Acquaintances in Chriſt, while I am in the Body; And now this being my laſt Appearance for GOD, I am bound thereto; Therefore I intreat you, Yea I Charge, that ye would nor Interrupt me, and ye ſhall have no cauſe to Beat Drums, and ſo he proceeded ſaying. But Secondly to be Righteous, is not to ſit down, nor reſt Satisfied, with what ye have attained, but to preſs foreward to the Prize, and ſo walking Anſwerable to what ye have Received, and to what ye profeſs, not being Satisfied with what ye are or may appear, to be in the Eyes of Men, but ſtudy a holy and inward way, and walking in the ſight of GOD, and all Men, that ye are the perſons that have this imputed Righteouſneſs imputed to you, and ſo labour to have your Light ſo to ſhine before Men, that ye may Glorifie your Heavenly Father, and ſuch as are theſe Righteous, I ſay it ſhall be well with them.
Then a Second word of good News I have to tell you my Friends is this, that Jeſus Chriſt is ſitting at the Helm of Affairs, and whatever he will he doth it, and there is none that is able to ſtop him when he worketh, and whatſoever his pleaſure is, cometh to paſs, this man thinketh he is working one peice of Work, and a Second Man thinketh he is working an other peice of Work, and a Third Man thinketh he is working his peice of Work, and it may be all are working contrar one to another as they think, and yet for all that they are all working and carrying on his work even when they think they are doing that which at leaſt ſome of them would have done the quite contrary; ſo I ſay in all theſe, they are all working and carrying on Chriſt's work. Now my Friends, I exhort all of you, yea, I obteſt you for Chriſt's ſake weary not of GOD, but wait on him and keep his way, I mean, the way appointed in. His Word, and muſt him with his own work, for all that has been done, or ſhall ever be done by the Actions of Men to the contrar, yet his work is ſtill c…rried on thereby; ſo lippen to GOD and ye ſhall not be diſappointed. But a Third word of Good News, that I have to tell you is this, that notwithſtanding of all the dark Clouds that has been and now are, yet I can aſſure you, that there are Glorious Days coming to thir Covenanted Lands, and I aſſure you, yea, I dare aver it, that they are nearer than ye, at leaſt a great part even of the Godly that are does believe, I ſay it again, Sirs, there are Glorious Days coming to thir Lands, & even to poor and filthy Scotl…nd, and I am certain ſhe is both poor and filthy enough, ye and ſhe are very …ear to one another, therefore I entreat you beware of Misbelief and Impatience; and as ye would not keep back theſe Days, beware of Sin that may procure the ſame: Now my Friends, I have theſe few Advices to leave with you, and firſt, I requeſt you, labour to make your foundation ſure and Right, I ſay before ye ingage in a Profeſſion.
I entreat you as a Dying Man, and take it amongſt my Laſt Words; Lay a Foundation ſure, for without this ye will never be able to do or ſuffer aright for Chriſt, when it comes to this with it, either Sin or Suffer: I ſay, ye will never be able to ſuffer acceptably, if ye have not the Foundation laid ſure. Will ye know why it is and from whence it flows, that ſo many have made ſhipwreck of GOD, CHRIST, and a good Conſcience, in a Day of Tryal; and why ſo many have broken down that which once they builded, or at leaſt ſeemed to be Builders of, and are denying that which …nce they profeſſed, and fighting againſt that which once they ſought with and for, and ſo are fled from their Ground: Here is the Reaſon, becauſe they ſtood and Bu…t upon a Sandy Foundation; therefore lay the Foundation ſure and right, if ye …ill ſtand it out in a Day of Tryal: And that this may be thereby conſidered, remember Sirs, ye may meet with harder Tryals than this is, that I am meeting with, I mean in your Eyes, for it is not ſharp to me; yea the Thoughts and fearfull Apprehenſions of what Tryals others may meet with that I have, makes me ſo much the more to be ſatisfied, and to rejoice in my Lot. But I ſay it again, Sirs, Lay the Foundation right, and ye that will not lay it, nor make it your Study to have it laid right; I ſay to you, wait with your perfection, and profeſs nothing but what you practiſe.
My Second Adviſe to you is this, that having laid the Foundation Sure and Right, ye would be ſtill Building and Carrying, on Chriſts Work, untill if be Perfited, I mean till your Converſation in all things be Suitable to the Goſpel, and Anſwerable to that Fundation Built up and Rooted in your moſt Holy Faith, & in all your Building, let Faith Patience and all other of the Graces be lively in Exerciſe, that ſo your Building may go Right on.
My Third Adviſe to you my Freinds is this, Labour to Love one another, I ſay to all the People of GOD, here and elſe where, Love one another, yea, Labour to Love one another more and more, and to bear with one another, and Beware of needleſs and Groundleſs Sinfull Breaking and Diviſions, I do not ſay that ye will joyn with any in Sin and Combine againſt GOD and his Chriſt in Sinfull ways and Courſes, but Labour to bear with one another and Strengthen, Edify, Exhort, Confirm and Comfort one another, and this is the way to gain one another, and I am Perſwaded that the needleſs, Groundleſs and Sinful Diviſion, and Breakings that have been in the Land, have more wronged the Cauſe, Intereſt, Work and Peolpe of GOD, then all the Devils and Men could have done, and has not the Devil had a Speciall Hand in the Breakings and Diviſions of the LORD's People, that thereby he might Rout the ſame, therefore in Conſideration and Commemoration of theſe things, ſtudy unity and Honeſty in the LORD, at which the Bailie called to be Beat Drums, but one of the Multitude ſaid it is Orthodox Language he is Speaking, ſo the Bailie ſaid to the Drumers forbear.
My Fourth Advice is this, Labour to be rightly exerciſed and affected with, and in the conſideration of what has procured the depriving of what ſometimes ye poſſeſt, eſpecially becauſe thereby GOD was Offended, Chriſt Wounded and the Spirit grieved, and GOD the Father in Chriſt Affronted by you in not receiving his Sons offers in the Goſpel, and not walking Anſwerable to the Mercies received, and that you enjoy, and notwithſtanding I would have you think little of what you have, but … …nd ſo much the more, that ye did ſo ill improve it when ye had it improve what ye now poſſeſs, I ſay it again, improve what Mercies and Priviledges ye hav… and labour to improve every opportunity, either of doing or getting good, remember that time is precious, and ye muſt give an account how ye ſpend and improve all other Mercies that ye enjoy.
My firſt Advice to you is, labour to be of a Sympathizeing Spirit, and be more concerned with the Glory of GOD, and with a Suffering Chriſt in his Members, and do not think you Sympathize with him and yet be unconcerned in them, I mean Chriſts Members; for a Sympathizeing with them ſhall be looked upon with and by him as a Concernedneſs with and in him, and what ye do for, or give to one of them it ſhall be Rewarded by him, as if ye had done it to or for him, if ye be in him and ſo walk in this and all other Duties ſutable to your being in him. Now my Friends my laſt Advice to you is this, Labour, O labour to be at the height of Sincerity in all theſe and other Duties, and ſo ye ſhall have Peace in your Latter end, and now my Friends that ye and all the People of GOD may be helped, to this (let us Pray to GOD, even my GOD) yea I ſay it without Vanity, he is my GOD, and ſo to him let us Pray. Not being Permitted to Speak to the Second Sort, to wit, the Enemies, and after he Prayed, he Read the Ninth Chapter of Ezekiel, as he Read now and then looking up to the Windows on both ſides, but Eſpecially on the North ſide, where he Eſpyed many eft-Faces that he knew, making Demonſtrations with his Hands and Eyes, as he Read, to the Perſons to whom theſe Scriptures ſeemed moſt to be applyed, and then he Sang a part of the Thirty Seventh Pſalm, from the Twenty Ninth Verſe: So having Prayed, there was one Paſſage much Remembred beyond the Reſt, which was this (O LORD ſince thou haſt Honoured me to come here, to lay down my Life for thy Cauſe and Intereſt, I Pray even be pleaſed to go up this Ladder with me, and to Lead me through the Dark Valley of the Shadow of Death, that is Unknown to all Naturely, and I know that thou will keep my Soul in the down coming thereof, after that he call's for a Drink of Water, which was Immediatly brought unto him, and he taking it in his Hand, with a more Pleaſent Countenance then he ſeemed to have before, ſays make way that I may winn foreward, Pointing with his Hand to the Ladder, then turning himſelf to Captain Graham, he ſaid to him Sir do me the Favour to call in by that Gentleman, and ſaid Suffer him to come up to me upon the Scaffold, which was Granted him, ſo Deſireing ſuch as were not Concerned might be put down off the Scaffold, then he with a Smilling Countenance turns to the People, and gives them all a Cowngie as he did when he went firſt up the Scaffold, and turns to his Father who was alſo upon the Scaffold with him, and Embracing him very Chearfully, he gave ſeveral Kiſſes, and Rounded ſome of his laſt Adviſes to him, and ſo parted with him ſaying, (LORD be with you my Dear Father.)
And then turned to his Brother, who was alſo by him upon the Scaffold, and after the ſame manner Embracing him & Kiſſing, & ſo parted with him with Words to the ſame purpoſe that he had to his Father, with an Exhortation, that he ſhould amend his Life, and forbear his Idle Company; But eſpecially his ways with ſeveral others of that Nature, telling him the Hazard thereof, and encouraging him if he would follow his laſt Advices; Then he turns to two Gentlemen which were alſo with him, and after the ſame manner Embraced, Saluted and parted with them, and then he gave another Bow to the whole Multitude, and ſo went up the Ladder, and turning his Face to the North Eaſt, he Cryed out, ſaying, I am come here to … ſurpriſed nor terrified with Death or the manner of it! And here I do declare would not Exchange my Lot with what the greateſt King, Prince, or Emperor Enjoyments could afford me, and what I Speak once I ſay it again, I lay dow… my Life willingly and Chearfully for Chriſt and his truth, Bleſſing him that ev… I had a Life to lay it down for him, yea I am now no more Troubled with or for Death then if I were to ly down in the Fineſt Bed that the Earth could afford, with th… moſt Dear and Intimate Friend that the World could allow me, and here I do Declare, that I do Heartily and freely forgive all Men, whatſoever they have done t… or againſt me, and Prayes that the LORD would forgive them, I forgive them that ſentenced me to die here, firſt and laſt; and I forgive all that apprehended m… firſt and laſt, or was any way acceſſory thereto; and I forgive all that has bro…gh… me here, and are guarding me here; and I forgive this Poor Man, pointing with hi… hand behind him to the Hangman, who is to be my Executioner. Now I deſire you all, eſpecially you who pretend to be righteous, Study to be Sincere in the Way o… GOD, and in working out of your Salvation; for there are many who pretends to be Godly, th…t know little of the Life and Power thereof: therefore I entreat you… labour to know what is the Power and Life of Godlineſs; for there are many, if no… the moſt part, who pretends to be righteous, that knows leaſt of it. I ſay, be no… ſatisfied with the Shell, but labour for the Kernel and Marrow of Religion. Now, my Friends, Remember I tell you here upon the Ladder, and as a Dying Man ſteping out of Time to Eternity, that notwithſtanding all the Dark Clouds that has been, and now are, yet there are a thicker and darker coming, and it is not far off, yea it is at hand. But I ſay, Truſt in GOD, Truſt in GOD and he will not diſappoint you, I ſay Truſt in GOD whatever Afflictions befall you, yet Truſt in GOD and give him Credite. At the hearing of theſe Words the Bailie calls to Beat the Drums, and ſo they were Beat a little, at which he looked down to the Bailie and ſaid, what Sir do ye Beat Drums, becauſe I deſire the People to truſt in GOD? and the Drums were ſilenced, Then he Cryed out again truſt in GOD, and ye ſhall be born through, if once ye get in him and keep in him. Then he ſaid I will Sing a part of the twenty fifth Pſalm from the ſixteen Verſe to the cloſe, for it has been many a time very ſweet to me, and ſo I will ſing it as my laſt Song in Time, I ſhall be immediatly where my Heart ſhall be ſo Tuned, pointing with his Hand to his Breaſt, that I ſhall never be able to ſtop the Melody and Harmony thereof, then having Sung theſe Verſes he Prayed, in which among other things he had this Expreſſion, Lord take a Courſe with thine Enemies, and theſe of them whom thou has a Purpoſe of Love to, Lord bring them in and let them ſee the evil of their ways, and theſe that are thine incorrigible Enemies make the Wheels of thy Chariots go over their Backs: And now Lord leave me not, and leave not thine to the evil of the Enemies, haſten and return to thine Heritage that's now in reproach, turn to thy Church and People for thy Glorious Names ſake, thou knoweſt I dare ſay before thee and in thy ſight, that I preferred thy Work and Intereſt to my very Life, which I as I am a Rational Creature is as ſweet to me as another Mans is; Yet I durſt not purchaſe at any Rate, to the prejudice of thy Truth, and ſo I lay it down freely and willingly. So having called his Father to him, a word with you Sir, and ſo having ſpoken what he had to ſay to him, he again took his Leave of him, delivering him a Book to be given to another, ſo parted with him: And he perceiving his Brother, (who was on the Ladder with him trembling) he ſaid to him Smyling, and Clapping him on the Cheek what Sir are you Trembiing? for what Sir are you afraid? do you perceive any thing like fear in me. And ſo his Brother puts his N…pkin on his … and it being Tyed, and his Brother offering to pull it over his Face he (putting away his Hand with his) ſaid let alone, I will draw it down my ſelf, ſo he put his H…nds into his Pocket, and takes out the Cover of his Bible, and putting the ſame therein he gave it to his Brother, Charging him ſtraitly to give it to his Siſter. Then he looked round about him, ſaying farewell all my Friends in CHRIST pointing with his Hand to ſome that he knew, both in Windows and on the Street to one (fixing his Eyes upon him) he ſaid my Dear Billie the Lord be with you, the Lord be with you, and having fixed himſelf upon a Step of the Ladder ſaid.
I Remember a Paſſage of Abraham, who was Commanded to Sacrifice his Son Iſacc, he having in Obedience to the Command brought his Son to offer him up a Sacrifice; Reared up an Altar, and Iſaac ſays to him here is the Altar and there is the Wood, but where is the Sacrifice and then he ſaid (Pointing to the Gibbet) here is the Altar, and then Pointing to the Ladder on which he Sat, ſaid here is the Wood and then he ſaid (laying his Hands on his Breaſt) and Bleſſed be GOD here is a free will offering, and I will give it willingly and Chearfuly, yea I can ſay it here even upon the Brink of Eternity, that theſe ſeveral Years I have Preferred the Glory of GOD, the wellfare and Proſperity of the Work …nd Intereſt of Chriſt and his People, to my own Private and Particular Intereſt, and I might have Shuned ſuch a Death as this, but GOD knows I durſt not do it.
And now, I know, yea I am firmly perſwaded, That my Dear Lord even my Exalted and Glorified Lord Jeſus Chriſt, will carry me ſafely throw this Dark Valley and Saddow of Death, and will receive my Soul immedatly after I go off this Ladder unto Glory, where I ſhall ever be with him. Then he ſaid again (crying with a Loud Voice) now when I can Hardly get Speaking for the Rope about my Neck Farewell all Freinds and followers of Chriſt, & again I ſay Farewell, and Adiew all Earthly Enjoyments, and ſo (having given the Hangman a Sign when he would be ready) he Prayed alitle within himſelf, and when he had done, he gave the Sign and at the giving thereof he drew the Napkin over his Face, and Cryed out, Farewell all Friends in Chriſt, & into thy Hands O Lord do I Commit my Soul. So he was Turned over. And ſo ends the Life of this Faithful and now Glorified Martyr for Chriſt, And to GOD the Father Son and Beſſed Spirit, be Eternal Praiſe and Glory for ever and ever Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Dick, A Testimony to the Doctrine and Government of the Church of Scotland (1684)