The Wrestlings of the Church of Scotland, Testimonials

The Wrestlings of the Church of Scotland · Testimonials

p. 193The laſt SPEECHES AND TESTIMONIES Of ſome who have Suffered for the TRUTH IN SCOTLAND, Since the Year 1660.

The laſt Speech of the MARQUES of ARGILE, At his Death in Edinburgh, May 27. 1661.

MANY will expect that I ſpeak many things, and according to their ſeveral opinions and diſpoſitions, ſo will their expectations be from me, and conſtructions of me; But I reſolve to diſappoint many, for I come not hither to juſtify my ſelf, p. 194but the Lord, VVho is Holy in all His wayes and Righteous in all His VVorks, Holy and bleſſed is His Name; Neither come I to condemn others: I know many. will expect that I will ſpeak againſt the hardneſs of the Sentence, pronounced againſt me; But I will ſay nothing to it. I bleſs the Lord, I pardon all men, as I deſire to be pardoned of the Lord my ſelf: Let the will of the Lord be done; That is all that I deſire.

I hope that ye will have more charity to me now, then yee would have had at an other time, ſeing I ſpeak before the Lord, to whom I muſt give an account very shortly. I know very well that my words have had but very litle weight with many: And that many have miſtaken my Words & Actings both: Many have thought me to be a great Enemy to theſe great works, that have of late, been brought to paſs. But do not miſtake me, good People: I ſpeak it in the preſence of the Lord, I entered not upon the Work of Reformation, with any deſign of advantage to my ſelf, or prejudice to the King and his Government; As my later Will which was written 1655. and thereafter delivered to a Friend (in whoſe hands it ſtill remaineth) can show. As for theſe Calumnies that have gone abroad of me, I bleſſe God, I know them to be no more: And as I go to make a reckoning to My God, I am free as to any of theſe, concerning the King's Perſon or Government. I was Real and Cordial in my deſires to bring the King home, and in my Endeavours for Him when he was at home, and I had no correſpondence with the Adverſaries Army, nor any of them, in the time when his Majeſty was in Scotland; Nor had I any acceſſion to his late Majeſties p. 195horrid and execrable Murther, by Councel or Knowledge of it, or any other manner of way. This is a Truth, as I shall anſwer to my Judge. And all the time his Majeſty was in Scotland, I was ſtill endeavouring His advantage; my Conſcience beareth me witneſs in it. So much to that Particular. And (turning about he ſaid) I hope, Gentlemen, you will all remember theſe.

I confeſs, many look on my Condition as a Suffering condition: But I bleſs the Lord, that He that hath gone before me, hath trod the Wine-preſs of the Father's wrath; by whoſe Sufferings, I hope that my Sufferings shall not be Eternal. I bleſs Him that hath taken away the ſting of my Sufferings: I may ſay that my Charter was Sealed to day; for the Lord hath ſaid to me, SON, BE OF GOOD CHEER, THY SINS ARE FREELY FORGIVEN THEE: And ſo I hope my Sufferings shall be very eaſy. And ye know the Scripture ſaith, the Captain of our Salvation was made perfect by Sufferings.

I shall not ſpeak much to theſe things for which I am condemned, leſt I ſeem to condemn others: It's well known, it's only for Compliance, which was the Epidemicall fault of the Nation. I wish the Lord to Pardon them: I ſay no more.

There was an expreſſion in theſe Papers preſented by me to the Parliament, of the Contagion of theſe times; Which may by ſome be miſconſtructed, as if I intended to lay an Imputation upon the Work of Reformation: But I declare that I intended no ſuch thing; But only related to the corruptions and failings of men, occaſioned by the Prevailing of the Uſurping Powers. At this he turned and took them all witneſſes.

p. 196Now, Gentlemen, concerning the Nation, I think there are three ſorts of People that take up much of the World and of this Nation. There is 1. the openly Prophane: And truely I may ſay, though I have been a priſoner, I have not had mine ears shut; I hear aſſuredly, that Drinking, Swearing, Whoring were never more Common, never more Countenanced then now they are. Truly if Magiſtrats were here, I would ſay to them, if they lay forth their power for glorifying of God, by reſtraining this, they should fare the better; if they continue in not reſtraining, they shall fare the worſe. I ſay no more, but either let People shun Prophanity and Magiſtrats reſtrain it, or aſſuredly the wrath of God shall follow on it. 2. Others are not openly Prophane (everyone will not allow that) but yet they are Gallio's in the matter: If matters go well as to their Private Intereſt, they care not whether the Church of God ſink or ſwim. But whatever they think, God hath laid Engagements upon Scotland: We are tyed by Covenants to Religion and Reformation: Theſe that were then Unborn are yet engaged; and in our Baptiſme we are engaged to it. And it paſſeth the power of all the Magiſtrats under heaven to abſolve them from the Oath or God: They deceave themſelves, and it may be would deceave others that think otherwiſe. But I would caveat this, People will be ready to think this a kind of inſtigation to Rebellion in me; But they are very far wrong that think Religion and Loyalty are not well conſiſtent. Whoever they be that ſeparate them, Religion is not to be blamed, but They. It's true, it's the duty of every Chriſtian to be Loyall; yet I think the Orders of things are to be obſerved as well as their Natures; the Order of Religion as well as the Nature p. 197of it. Religion muſt not be the Cock-boat, it muſt be the Ship. God muſt have what is His, as well as Caeſar what is His: And Theſe are the beſt Subjects that are the beſt Chriſtians. And that I am looked on as a Friend to Reformation, is my Glory.

3. There is another ſort that are truly Godly: And to them I muſt ſay what I fear, & every one hath reaſon to fear (it's good to fear evil) It's true the Lord may prevent it; but if He do not (and truly I cannot forſee any probability of it) Times are like either to be very Sinning or very Suffering Times: And let Chriſtians make their choice: There is a ſad Dilemma in the buſineſs SIN or SUFFER; and ſurely, he that would choiſe the Better part will choiſe to Suffer. Others that will choiſe to Sin, shall not eſcape Suffering; They shall Suffer, but it may be, not as I do (turning about and, pointing to the Maiden) but worſe: Mine is but Temporal, theirs shall be Eternal; when I shall be Singing, they shall be Howling. Beware therefore of Sin whatever yow are aware of, eſpecially in ſuch times.

Yet I cannot ſay of my own Condition, but that the Lord in his Providence hath mind of Mercy to me even in this World: For if I had been more favourably dealt with, I fear I might have been overcome with Temptations, as many others are, and many more I fear will be; And ſo should have gone out of the World, with a more polluted Conſcience, then through the mercy of God now I have. And hence my Condition is ſuch now, as when I am gone, will be ſeen not to have been ſuch as many imagined. It's fit God take me away, before I fall into theſe Temptations that I ſee others are falling into▪ and many p. 198others I fear will fall: I wish the Lord may Prevent it. Yet bleſſed be His Name, that I am keeped both from preſent evils & evils to come. Here he turned about a litle & ſpoke ſome words to Mr Hutchiſon, when turning again to the People, he ſpoke as followeth. Some may expect I will regrete my own condition: but truly I neither grudge nor repine; nor deſire any revenge. And I declare I do not repent my laſt going up to London; for I had alwayes rather have Suffered any thing, then ly under Reproaches as I did. I deſire not that the Lord should judge any man; nor do I judge any but my Self: I wish, as the Lord hath pardoned me, ſo He may pardon them for this and other things; and what they have done to me, may never meet them in their accounts. I have no more to ſay, but to beg the Lord, that when I go away, he would Bleſs every one that ſtayeth behind.

His last Words, immediatly before he laid his Head on the Block after his doublet was off, were theſe. I deſire you, Gentlemen, all that hear me this day to take notice (and I wish that all who ſee me might hear me) that now when I am entering into Eternity, and am to appear before my Judge; & as I deſire Salvation and do expect eternall Salvation and happineſs from Him, from my Birth to my Scaffold, I am free from any acceſſion by my Knowledge, concerning Counſel or any other way to his late Ma. death; And I pray the Lord preſerve his preſent Maj. and to pour his beſt bleſſings on his Perſon and Government; and the Lord give him good and faithful councellors. Turn-about to his Friends, he ſaid, Many Chriſtians may ſtumble at this, and my Friends may be diſcontented; But when things are rightly conſidered, my freinds p. 199have no Diſcredit of Me, nor Chriſtians no Stumbling block, but rather an Encouragement.

The laſt Speech and Teſtimony of M^R JAMES GUTHRIE, Miniſter of the Goſpel at Sterlin, at his Death at Edinburgh, Jun. 1. 1661. which a day or two before his Death he wrot, and left with ſome of his Friends ſealed and atteſted under his own hand.

MEn and Brethren, I fear many of yow become hither to gaze, rather then to be edified by the carriage and laſt words of a dying man: But if any have an hear to hear, as I hope ſome of this great confluence have, I deſire your audience to a few words. I am come hither to lay down this earthly Tabernacle and mortal flesh of mine; and I bleſs God, through His Grace I do it willingly and not by conſtraint. I ſay, I ſuffer willingly: If I had been ſo minded, I might have made a diverſion, and not been a Priſoner; But being conſcious to my Self of nothing worthy of Death or of Bonds, I would not ſtain my Innocency with the ſuſpicion of guiltineſs by my withdrawing: neither have I wanted opportunities and advantages to eſcape ſince I was Priſoner, not by the fault of my keepers (God knoweth) but otherwiſe; But neither for this had I Light or Liberty; left I should reflect upon the Lord's Name, and offend the Generation of p. 200the Righteous: And if ſome men have not been miſtaken, or dealt deceatfully in telling me ſo, I might have avoided not only the ſeverity of the Sentence, but alſo had much favor and countenance, by complying with the courſes of the time: But I durſt not redeem my Life with the loſs of my Integrity; God knoweth I durſt not; and that ſince I was Priſoner, He hath ſo holden me by the hand, that he never ſuffered me to bring it in debate in my inward thoughts, much leſs to propone or hearken to any overture of that kind. I did judge it better to Suffer then to Sin; And therefore I am come hither to lay down my life this day. And I bleſs God, I die not as a Fool; Not that I have any thing wherein to glory in my ſelf: I acknowledge that I am a Sinner, yea one of the greateſt and vileſt that hes owned a profeſſion of Religion, and one of the moſt unworthy that hes Preached the Goſpel; my corruptions have been ſtrong and many, and have made me a ſinner in all things, yea even in following my duty: And therefore Righteouſneſs have I none of mine own, all is vile; But I do beleeve that Jeſus Chriſt came into the World to ſave ſinners whereof I am Chief: Through Faith in his Righteouſneſs and Blood have I obtained Mercy; and through Him and Him alone, have I the hope of a bleſſed conqueſt and Victory over Sin, and Sathan, and Hell, and Death, and that I shall attain unto the Reſurrection of the Juſt; and be made Partaker of Eternal Life. I know in whom I have beleeved, and that He is able to keep than which I have committed unto Him againſt that day. I have Preached Salvation through His Name, and as I have preached ſo do I Beleeve, and do commend the Riches of His Free-grace p. 201and Faith in His Name unto yow all, as the only way whereby ye can be ſaved.

And as I bleſs the Lord that I die not as a fool; ſo alſo that I die not for Evil-doing. Not a few of yow may happily judge, that I ſuffer as a Thief, or as a Murtherer, or as an evil Doer, or as an Buſſy body in other mens matters. It was the lot of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt Himſelf, and hath been of many of His Precious Servants and People to ſuffer by the World as evil Doers: & as my ſoul ſcareth not at it, but deſireth to rejoice in being brought into Conformity with my Bleſſed Head, and ſo bleſſed a Company in this thing; ſo do I deſire and Pray that I may be to none of yow to day, upon this account a ſtone of ſtumbling and a rock of offence: Bleſſed is he that shall not be offended at Jeſus Chriſt and his poor ſervants and members, becauſe of their being condemned as evil doers by the World. God is my record, that in theſe things, for which Sentence of Death hath paſſed againſt me, I have a good Conſcience: I bleſs God, they are not matters of Complyance with Sectaries, or Deſignes or Practices againſt His Majeſt. Perſon or Government, or the Perſon or Government of His Royal Father: My heart (I bleſs God) is conſcious unto no Diſloalty; Nay, Loyal I have been, and I commend it unto you to be Loyal and obedient in the Lord. True Piety is the foundation of True Loyalty: A wicked man may be a flatterer and a Time-ſerver, but he will never be a Loyal Subject. But to return to my purpoſe, the matters for which I am condemned, are matters belonging to my Calling and Function as a Miniſter of the Goſpel, ſuch as the Diſcovery and Reproving of Sin; The preſſing the holding faſt of the Oath of God in the Covenant, and preſerving and carrying on the p. 202Work of Religion and Reformation according thereto; And Denying to acknowledge the Civil Magiſtrat as the Proper Competent Iudge in cauſes Eccleſiaſtical: That in all theſe things which (God ſo ordering by His gracious Providence) are the grounds of my Inditement and Death, I have a good Conſcience, as having walked therein according to the Light and Rule of God's Word, and as did become a Miniſter of the Goſpel.

I do alſo bleſs the Lord, that I do not die as one not deſired. I know that by not a few I neither have been nor am deſired. It hath been my lot to have been a man of Contention and Sorrow: But it is my comfort, that for my own things I have not contended, but for the things of Jeſus Chriſt, for what relateth to His Intereſt and Work, and the well being of His People. In order to the preſerving and promoting of theſe, I did Proteſt againſt, and ſtood in Oppoſition unto theſe late Aſſemblies at St Andrewes, Dundee and Edinburgh; and the Publick Reſolutions for bringing the Malignant Party into the Judicatories and Armies of this Kingdom, conceaving the ſame contrary to the Word of God, and to our Solemn Covenants and Engagements; and to be an inlet to Defection, and to the Ruine and deſtruction of the Work of God. And it is now manifeſt to many conſciences, that I have not been therein miſtaken; nor was not fighting againſt a man of ſtraw. I was alſo deſirous and did uſe ſome poor Endeavours to have the Church of God purged of Inſufficient and Scandalous and Corrupt Miniſters and Elders; for theſe things I have been miſtaken by ſome, and hated by others: But I bleſs the Lord, as I had the teſtimony of my own Conſcience; ſo I was and am therein approven, in the conſciences of many p. 203of the Lord's precious Servants and People; and how little ſoever I may die Deſired by ſome, yet by theſe I know I do die Deſired, and their approbation, and prayers, and affection is of more value with me, then the Contradiction, or Reproach, or Hatred of many others; the love of the one I cannot Recompence, and the miſtake, or hatred, or reproach of the other; I do with all my heart Forgive; and wherein I have offended any of them, do beg their mercy and forgiveneſs. I do from my ſoul wish that my death may be profitable unto both, that the one may be confirmed and eſtablished in the ſtraight wayes of the Lord, and that the other (if the Lord ſo will) may be convinced, & ceaſe from theſe things that are not good, & do not Edify but Deſtroy.

One thing I would warn yow all of, that God is wroth, yea very wroth with Scotland, and threatneth to depart and remove His candleſtick: The cauſes of his wrath are many, and would to God it were not One great cauſe, that Cauſes of Wrath are deſpiſed and rejected of men. Conſider the caſe that is recorded Ier. 36. and the conſequence of it, and tremble and fear. I cannot but alſo ſay, that there is a great addition and increaſe of wrath. 1. By that deludge of Prophanity that overfloweth all the Land, and hath reins looſed unto it every where, in ſo far that many have loſt not only all uſe and exerciſe of Religion, but even of Morality, and that common Civility that is to be found amongſt the Heathen. 2. By that horrible Treachery and Perjury that is in the matter of the Covenant, and Cauſe of God, and Work of Reformation: Be aſtonished, O ye Heavens at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very deſolate, ſaith the Lord; for my People have committed two evils, they have p. 204forſaken me the fountain of living waters, & hewed them out ciſterns, broken ciſterns that can hold no water: Shall be break the Covenant, and proſper? Shal the throne of iniquity have fellowship with God, which frameth miſchief by a Law? I fear the Lord be about to bring a Sword on theſe Lands, which shall avenge the quarrell of His Covenant. 3. Horrible Ingratitude: The Lord after 10 years oppreſſion & bondage hath broken the yoke of Strangers from off our necks; but what do we render unto Him for this goodneſs? Moſt of the fruit of our delivery is to work wickedneſs, and to ſtrengthen our Selves to do evill. 4. A moſt dreadful Idolatry, and ſacrificing to the Creature: We have changed the glory of the Incorruptible God, into the image of a corruptible Man, in whom many have placed almoſt all their Salvation and deſire, and have turned that which might have been a Bleſſing unto us (being kept in a due line of Subordination under God) into an Idol of Jealouſy, by preferring it before him. God is alſo wroth with a generation of Carnal, Corrupt, Time-ſerving Miniſters: I know and bear teſtimony that in the Church of Scotland, there is a True and Faithful Miniſtry: Bleſſed be God, we have yet many who ſtudy their duty, and deſire to be found faithful to their Lord and Maſter; And I pray you to Honor, and Reverence, and Eſteem much of theſe for their Works ſake: And I pray them to be encouraged in their Lord and Maſter, who is with them to make them as iron-pillars, and brazen walls, and as a ſtrong defenced city in the faithful following of their duty: But oh! that there were not too many who mind Earthly things, and are enemies to the croſs of Jeſus Chriſt, who push with the ſide and shoulder, who ſtrengthen the hands of evill p. 205doers, who make themſelves tranſgreſſors, by ſtuſtudying to build again what they did formerly warrantably deſtroy, I mean PRELACY, and the CEREMONIES, and the SERVICE-BOOK, a Myſtery of iniquity that works amongſt us, whoſe ſteps lead unto the houſe of the great Whore, BABYLON, the Mother of fornications: Or whoſoever elſe he be that buildeth this Jericho again, let him take heed of the curſe of Hiel the Bethelite, and of that flying roll thereatened Zech. 5. And let all Miniſters take heed that they Watch, and be Stedfaſt in the Faith, and quit themſelves like men, and be ſtrong; and give faithful and ſeaſonable Warning concerning Sin and Duty. Many of the Lords People do ſadly complain of the fainting and ſilence of many Watchmen; And it concerneth them to conſider what God calleth for at their hands in ſuch a day: Silence now in a Watchman, when he is ſo much called to ſpeak, and give his Teſtimony upon the Peril of his life, is doubtleſs a great Sin. The Lord open the mouths of His Servants to ſpeak his word with all boldneſs, that Covenant-breaking may be diſcovered and reproved, and that the Kingdom of Jeſus Chriſt may not be ſupplanted, nor the ſouls of His People deſtroyed without a witneſs. I have but a few words moe to adde: All that are Profane amongſt you, I exhort them to Repentance, for the day of the Lord's vengeance haſteneth and is near: But there is yet a door of mercy open for you, if ye will not deſpiſe the day of ſalvation. All that are Maligners, and Reproachers, and Perſecuters of Godlineſs, and of ſuch as live godly, take heed what ye do, it will be hard for you to kick againſt the Pricks; You make your ſelves the Butt of the Lord's fury, and his flaming indignation, if ye do not p. 206ceaſe from and repent of all your ungodly deeds. All that are Neutral, and Indifferent, and Lukewarm Profeſſors, be zealous and repent; leſt the Lord ſpew you out of His mouth. You that lament after the Lord, and mourn for all the abominations that are done in this City, and in the Land, and take pleaſure in the ſtones and duſt of Zi…n, caſt not away your confidence, but be comforted and encouraged in the Lord. He will yet appear to your joy, God hath not caſt away his People nor work in Brittain and Ireland: I hope it shall once more Revive by the Power of His Spirit, and take root downward and bear fruit upward. There is yet a Holy Seed and precious Remnant, whom God will preſerve and bring forth: but how Long or Dark, our Night may be, I do not know; the Lord shorten it for the ſake of his Choſen. In the mean while, be ye patient & ſtedfaſt, immoveable, alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord, & in love one to another: Beware of Snares which are ſtrawed thick: Cleave to the Covenant & Work of Reformation: Do not decline the Croſs of Jeſus Chriſt; chooſe rather to ſuffer Affliction with the People of God, then to enjoy the pleaſurs of ſin for a ſeaſon; and account the Reproach of Chriſt greater riches then all the Treaſure of the World. Let my Death grieve none of you, it will be more profitable and advantageous both for me, and for you, and for the Church of God, and for Chriſts intereſt and honor, then my life could have been. I forgive all men the guilt of it, and I deſire you to do ſo alſo: Pray for them that perſecute you, and bleſs them that curſe you, bleſs I ſay, and curſe not. I die in the Faith of the Apoſtles and Primitive Chriſtians, & Proteſtant Reformed Churches, particularly of the Church of Scotland, whereof p. 207I am a member and Miniſter. I bear my witneſs and Teſtimony to the Doctrine, Worship, Diſcipline and Government of the Church of Scotland, by Kirk-Seſſions, Presbyteries, Synods and Generall Aſſemblies. Popery and Prelacy, and all the trumpery of Service and Ceremonies that wait upon them, I do abhor. I do bear my witneſs unto the National Covanant of Scotland, and Solemn League and Covenant betwixt the three Kingdoms of Scotland, England and Ireland: Theſe Sacred, Solemn, Publick Oaths of God, I believe can be looſed nor diſpenſed with, by no Perſon, or Party, or Power upon earth: but are ſtill binding upon theſe Kingdoms, and will be for ever hereafter; and are ratifyed and ſealed by the converſion of many thouſand ſouls, ſince our entering thereinto. I bear my witneſs to the Proteſtation againſt the controverted Aſſemblies and the Publick Reſolutions; to the Teſtimonies given againſt the Sectaries; againſt the courſe of Backſliding and Defection that is now on foot in the Land, and all the branches and parts thereof, under whatſoever name or notion, or acted by whatſoever party or perſon. And in the laſt place, I bear my witneſs to the croſs of Jeſus Chriſt; and that I never had cauſe nor have cauſe this day, to repent becauſe of any thing I have ſuffered, or can now ſuffer for His Name: I take God to record upon my ſoul, I would not exchange this ſcaffold, with the Palace or Mitre of the greateſt prelate in Brittain. Bleſſed be God, who hath shewed mercy to ſuch a wretch, and hath revealed His Son in me, and made me a Miniſter of the Everlaſting Goſpel, and that He hath daigned in the midſt of much contradiction from Sathan and the World, to ſeal my Miniſtry upon the hearts of not a few of His People, and eſpecially p. 208in the ſtation wherein I was laſt, I mean the Congregation, and Presbytery of Sterlin. God forgive the poor empty Man, that did there intrude upon my labors, and hath made a prey of many poor ſouls, and expoſed others to reproach, and oppreſſion, and a famine of the Word of the Lord. God forgive the miſleaders of that part of the poor people, who tempted them to reject their own Paſtor, and to admit of Intruders; and the Father of mercies, pity that poor Miſled people: And the Lord viſit the Congregation and Presbytery of Sterlin once more with faithful Paſtors; and grant that the Work and People of God may be revived thorow all Britain, and over all the World. Jeſus Chriſt is my Light, and my Life, my Righteouſneſs, my Strength and my Salvation: He is all my Salvation, and all my Deſire. Him, O Him I do with all the ſtrength of my ſoul commend unto you. Bleſſed are they that are not offended in Him: Bleſſed are they that Truſt in Him. Bleſs Him, O my ſoul, from henceforth even for ever. Rejoyce, rejoice all ye that love Him; be patient and rejoice in tribulation: Bleſſed are you, and bleſſed shall you be for ever and ever. Everlaſting Righteouſneſs and Eternal Salvation is yours: All are yours, and ye are Chriſts, and Chriſt is Gods. Remember me O Lord with the favour thow beareſt to thy People; O viſit me with thy Salvation, that I may ſee the good of thy choſen, that I may rejoice in the gladneſs of thy Nation, that I may glory with thy Inheritance. Now let thy ſervant depart in peace ſince mine eyes have ſeen thy ſalvation.

JA. GUTRHIE.

p. 209The laſt Speech and Teſtimony of the LORD WARIST0N, At his Death in Edinburgh, July 22. 1663.

Right Honourable, much honoured, and beloved Auditors and Spectators.

THat which I intended and prepared to have ſpoken at this time & in this condition, immediatly before my death (if it should be ſo ordered that it should be my lot) is not at preſent in my power, having been taken from me: But I hope the Lord shall preſerve it to bear my Teſtimony more fully and clearly, then now I can in this condition, having my Memory much deſtroyed, through much ſore and long Sickneſs, Melancholy, and exceſſive drawing of my Blood. Though I bleſs the Lord my God, that notwithſtanding of the forementioned diſtempers, I am in ſome capacity to leave this short and weak Teſtimony.

I deſire in the first place to confeſs my Sins, ſo far as is proper to this Place and Caſe, and to acknowledge Gods Mercies; and to expreſs my Repentance of the one, and my Faith of the other, through the merits of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt our gracious Redeemer and Mediator: I confeſs that my Natural Temper (or rather diſtemper) hath been Haſty and Paſſionat; and that in my Manner of going about and proſecuting of the beſt pieces of work and ſervice to the Lord and to my Generation, I have been ſubject to my exceſſes of Heat, and thereby to ſome Precipitations; which hath no doubt offended ſtanders by and lookers on, and p. 210hath expoſed both Me and the Work to their miſtakes, whereby the beauty of that Work hath been obſcured: Neither have I in following of the Lord's work, His Good Work, been without my own Self-ſeeking; which hath ſeverall wayes vented is ſelf to the offence of both God and Man, and to the grief thereafter of my own Conſcience, and which hath often made me groan, and cry out with the Apoſtle, O miſerable man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death? And to ly low in the duſt mourning and lamenting over the ſame, deprecating God's wrath, and begging His tender Mercies to Pardon, and His powerful Grace to cure all theſe evils. I muſt withal confeſs, that it doth not a litle trouble me, and ly heavy upon my ſpirit, and will bring me down with ſorrow to the grave (though I was not alone in this Offence, but had the body of the Nation going before me, and the Example of perſons of all Ranks to inſnare me) That I ſuffered my ſelf through the power of temptations, and the too much fear anent the ſtraits that my numerous Family might be brought into, to be carried unto ſo great a length of Complyance in England with the late Uſurpers, which did much grieve the hearts of the Godly, and made theſe that ſought God ashamed and confounded for my ſake, and did give no ſmall occaſion to the Adverſary to reproach and blaſpheme, and did withall not a litle obſcure and darken the beauty of ſeverall former Actings about His bleſſed and glorious Work of Reformation, happily begun and far advanced in theſe Lands, wherein He was graciouſly pleaſed to Employ, and by Employing to Honour me to be an Inſtrument (though the leaſt and unworthieſt of many) whereof I am not ashamed this day, but account it my Glory, how ever that Work p. 211be now cried down, oppoſed, laid in the duſt and trod upon: And my turning aſide to comply with theſe men, was the more aggravated in my perſon, that I had ſo frequently and ſeriouſly made profeſſion of my Averſneſs from and Abhorrence of that way, and had shown much Diſſatisfaction with theſe that had not gone ſo great a length; for which as I ſeek God's mercy in Chriſt Jeſus, ſo I deſire that all the Lord's People, from my example may be more ſtirred up to watch and pray, that they enter not into temptation.

2. I do not deny on the other hand, but muſt: Teſtify in the ſecond place, to the Glory of His Free-grace, that the Lord my God hath often shewed and engraven upon my Conſcience, the Teſtimony of His Reconciling and Reconciled Mercy through the Merits of Jeſus Chriſt, pardoning all my iniquities, and aſſuring me that He would deliver me alſo by the graces of His Holy Spirit, from the ſpait, tyranny and dominion thereof; And hath often drawn out my ſpirit to the exerciſe of Repentance and Faith, and after engraven upon my heart in legible characters His merciful pardon, and gracious begun cure thereof to be perfected thereafter, to the Glory of His Name, the Salvation of my Soul, and Edification of His Church.

3. I am preſſed in conſcience to leave here at my death, my true & honeſt Teſtimony in the ſight of God and Man, to and for the Nationall Covenant: the Solemn League & Covenant; the Solemn Acknowledgement of our Sins, & Engagement to our duties; to all the grounds & Cauſes of Faſts and humiliations, & of the Lords diſpleaſure & contending with the Land; And to the ſeveral Teſtimonies given to His Intereſts, by Generall Aſſemblies, Commiſſioners of the Kirk, p. 212Presbyteries, and by other honeſt and faithful Miniſters and Profeſſors.

4. I am preſſed alſo to encourage His Doing, Suffering; Witneſſing People, and Sympathizing ones with theſe that ſuffer, that they would continue in the duties of Mourning, Praying, Witneſſing and Symparthizing with theſe that ſuffer; and humbly to aſſure them in the Name of the Lord our God, the God of His own Word and Work, of His own Cauſe, Covenant and People, that He will be Seen, Found and Felt (in His own gracious Way and Time, by His own Means & Inſtruments, for His own Glory & Honor) to return to His own Truths and Intereſts and Servants, and revive His Name, His Covenant, His Word, His Work, His Sanctuary and His Saints in theſe Nations, even in the three Covenanted Nations, which were by ſo Solemn Bonds, Covenants, Subscriptions and Oaths, given away and devoted unto Himſelf.

5. I exhort all theſe that have been, or are Enemies or unfreinds to the Lord's Name, Covenant or Cauſe, Word, Work or People, in Britain and Ireland, to Repent and Amend, before theſe ſad judgements that are poſting faſt come upon them, for their ſinning ſo highly againſt the Lord, becauſe of any temptation of the Time on the right or left hand, by Baits or Straits whatſoever, and that after ſo many Profeſſions and Engagements to the contrary.

6. I dare not conceal from yow that are Friendly to all the Lord's Intereſts, that the Lord (to the commendation of His Grace, be it humbly ſpoken) hath ſeverall times, in the exerciſe of my Repentance and Faith during my trouble, and after groans and tears upon theſe three notable chapters, to wit, the 9 of p. 213Ezra, the 9 of Nehemiah, and the 9 of Daniel, with other ſuch ſutable Scriptures, and in the very nick of fervent and humble Supplication to Him, for the Reviving again of His Name, Cauſe, Covenant, Word, and Work of Reformation in theſe Covenanted Nations, and particularly in poor Scotland, which firſt ſolemnly engaged to Him, to the good Example and Encouragement of His People in the other two Nations to do the ſame alſo, That the Lord, I ſay, hath ſeveral times given to me good ground of hope and lively expectations of His Mercifull, Gracious, Powerful and Wonderful Renewing and Reviving again of His fore-mentioned great Intereſts in theſe Covenanted Nations: And that in ſuch a Way, by ſuch Means and Inſtruments, with ſuch Antecedents, Concurrents, Conſequents, and Effects, as shall wonderfully rejoyce His Mourning Friends, and aſtonish His Contradicting and counter-acting Enemies.

7. I do earneſtly recommend my poor Wife and Children and … poſterity, to the choiceſt Bleſsings of God, an… …o the Prayers and Favour of all the Lord's Children an… Servants, in their earneſt dealing with God and Men …n their behalf, That they may not be ruined for …y Cauſe, but for the Lord my God's ſake, they … be favoured, aſſiſted, ſupplyed and comforted, … ſo may be fitted by the Lord for His Fellowship and Service; whom God Himſelf hath moved me often, in their own Preſence, and. with their own Conſent, to dedicate, devote and reſign alike and as well, as I devote and reſign my own Soul and Body to Him for all Time and Eternity.

p. 2148. I beg the Lord to open the eyes of all the Inſtruments of my Trouble, that are not deadly Irreconcileable Enemies to Himſelf and His People, that they may ſee the wrong done by them to His Intereſts and People, and to Me and Mine, and may repent thereof and return to the Lord, and may more cordially own and adhere to all His Intereſts in time coming: The good Lord give unto them Repentance, Remiſſion and Amendement; and that is the worſt wiſh I wiſh them, and the beſt wiſh I can wish unto them.

9. I do earneſtly beg the fervent prayers of all His Praying People, Servants and Inſtruments, whether abſent or preſent wherever they be, in behalf of His Name, Cauſe and Covenant, Work and People; and in behalf of my Wife, Children and their Poſterity: And that the Lord would glorify Himſelf, edify His Church, encourage His Saints, further His Work, accomplish His good Word, by all His Doings and Dealings, in Subſtance and Circumſtance toward all His own.

10. Whereas I have heard that ſome of my unfreinds have ſlandered and defamed my Name, as if I had been acceſſary to his late Majeſtie's death, and to the making of the Change of the Government thereupon; the great God of Heaven be witneſs and Judge between Me and my Accuſers in this; for I am free (as I shall now anſwer before his Tribunal) from any Acceſſion by Counſel or Contrivance, or any other way to his late Majeſtie's death, or to their making that change of Government: And I pray the Lord to preſerve our preſent King his Majeſty, and to pour out His beſt bleſſings upon his royall Poſterity, and to give unto them good and faithfull Counſellors, holy and wiſe p. 215Counſels and proſperous ſucceſſes, to God's Glory and to the good and intereſt of His people, and to Their own Honour and Happineſs.

11. I do here now ſubmit and commit my Soul and Body, Wife and Children and Childrens Children from generation to generation for ever, with all others his Friends and Followers, all His Doing and Suffering, Witneſſing and Sympathizing ones, in the preſent and ſubſequent Generations, unto the Lord's choice Mercies, Graces, Favours, Services, Employments, Impowerments, Enjoyments, Improvements and Inheritments, on Earth and in Heaven, in Time and Eternity. All which ſuits with all others, which He hath at any time by His Spirit moved and aſſiſted me to make and put up, according to His will, I leave before and upon the Father's Mercifull Bowels, and the Son's Mediating Merits, and the Holy Spirit's Compaſſionate Groans, for now and evermore. Amen.

The Joint Teſtimony of theſe who died together in Edinburgh, Dec, 7. 1666. ſubſcribed by them in priſon, the ſame day of their death.

Men and Brethren.

THis is a great and important work, both for us who are now to render up our ſpirits to Him that gave them; And for yow who are not a litle concerned in the Cauſe, and in our blood by juſtifying or condemning our ſentence: And therefore, as we ſpeak p. 216to yow as Dying men, who dare not diſſemble with God or man, nor flatter our ſelves; So ye should not be idle, curious, or unconcerned Spectators.

We are condemned by men, and eſteemed by many as Rebels againſt the King (whoſe Authority we acknowledge) But this is our rejoycing, the teſtimony of our conſcience, that we ſuffer not as Evill doers, but for Righteouſneſs, for the Word of God, and Teſtimony of Jeſus Chriſt; And particularly for our renewing the Covenant, and in purſuance thereof, for Preſerving and Defending of our ſelves by Armes, againſt the Uſurpation and inſupportable Tyranny of the Prelats; And againſt the moſt unchriſtian and inhumane Oppreſſion and Perſecution, that ever was enjoyned and practiſed by juſt Rulers, upon Free, Innocent and Peaceable Subjects.

The Covenant and Cauſe being ſo juſt in themſelves, and the duties of Self-preſervation and mutual Defence in maintenance thereof, being to Judicious and unbyaſſed men ſo clear, we need to ſay the leſs for vindication of our Practice: Only, the Lawes eſtablishing Prelacy, and the Acts, Orders and Proclamations made for Complyance therewith, being executed againſt us by Military Force and Violence; And we with others, for our ſimple Forbearance, being Fined, Confined, Impriſoned, Exiled, Scourged, Stigmatized, Beaten, Bound as beaſts, and Driven unto the mountains for our lives; And thereby hundreds of Families being beggared, ſeveral Parishes and ſome whole Country-ſides exceedingly impoverished; And all this, either Arbitrarily and without any Law, or reſpect had to guilt or innocency; Or Unjuſtly contrary to all Conſcience, Juſtice and Reaſon, though under the Pretence of iniquous Laws; p. 217and without regard had to the penalty ſpecifyed in the Law: And all Remonſtrating of Grievances (were they never ſo juſt and many) and Petitions for Redreſs, being reſtrained by Laws condemning all former Remonſtrances and Petitions in the like caſes; There was no other remedy left to us, but that laſt of neceſſary Self-preſervation and Defence. And this being one of the greateſt Principles of Nature, warranted by the Law or God, Scriptural Inſtances, and the conſent and Practices of all Reformed Churches and Chriſtian States abroad, and of our own famous Predeceſſors at home, It cannot in reaſon or Juſtice, be reputed a Crime, nor condemned as Rebellion by any humane Authority.

Though we be not the firſt that have ſuffered for the Cauſe or God within the Land, yet we are among the firſt that have been Legally condemned and put to Death Expreſly for taking the Covenant: And we are ſo far from being ashamed thereof, that we account it our honour to be reckoned worthy to ſuffer for ſuch a Cauſe; And cannot but bleſs the Lord, that we have ſuch a cloud of Witneſſes, in this and other Reformed Churches, going before us in the ſame duty for Subſtance, and in Suffering therefore.

We cannot but regret (if we could with tears o… blood) the Nationall and Authorized Backſliding of the Land, by Perjury and breach of Covenant; The overturning of the Work of Reformation; The great Deſolation of the Houſe of the Lord, by ſmiting of the Shepherds and ſcattering of the Flocks; The Intruſion of ſo many mercenary Hirelings into the Miniſtry, who becauſe of Apoſtacy, Perjury, Ignorance and Profanneſs, can neither be acknowledged as God's mouth to the People in Preaching, nor employed as their mouth to Him in Prayer; The abounding of p. 218Popery, Superſtition, and Profanneſs by unheard-of Oaths, Blaſphemies, Uncleanneſſs and Drinking, even in ſome whoſe Office and Place requireth them to be more Examplary; And the shedding of the Blood of the Saints by the rage of Perſecution: And therefore we cannot but diſown all theſe abominable Laws, Courſes & Practices, & declare our abhorrence of the ſame, & diſſent therefrom; Proteſting before Angels and Men, that we be not interpreted as conſenters thereto, and beſeeching the Hearer of prayer, that we be not involved in the guilt thereof, nor partake of the plagues which follow thereupon.

As this Land was happy above all Nations, for the purity and plenty of the Goſpel, and for a Form of Church Government more conform to the Patern in the Scriptures, then in others of the Reformed Churches; So we acknowledge His great goodneſs to us in ſpeciall, that gave us our lines in ſuch pleaſant places: For we have ſuch full perſwaſion of the Truth of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland, And have felt ſo much of the Power and Sweetneſs thereof, that we do here declare our firm belief and perſwaſion of, and adherence to the ſame, in Doctrine, Worship, Diſcipline and Government, according to the Nationall Covenant, the Solemn League and Covenant, the Confeſsion of Faith, Catechiſms, Directory of worship, and Propoſitions for Government; Accounting it our honor and happineſs to have been born in it, to have lived in Communion with it, and now to die (through Grace) Members, Witneſſes and Aſſerters thereof.

And further as Chriſtians and as Members of the ſame Church and Common-wealth; in the Fear and p. 219zeal of our God, in Love to our Brethren, in deſire of the Perſervation of Church and Kingdom, and for our own Exoneration, now when we take our leave of the World, We do ſeriouſly and in the bowels of Chriſt, Supplicate, Warn, Exhort and Obteſt yow all the Inhabitants of the Kingdom, from the King to, the meaneſt of the Subjects, according to your old Principles, Profeſſions, Promiſes, Declarations, Oaths and Covenants, faithfully to Own, Maintain, preſerve and Defend the ſaid Religion; And after the example of our Noble and Renowned Anceſtors to quit your ſelves like Men & Chriſtians, in endeavouring by all juſt Means, according to your Places and Powers, to shake off this heavy yoke of PRELACY, which neither we nor our fathers were able to bear, & which is Deſtructive to all our true Intereſts, Religious and Civill; As ye would not involve your ſelves in the guilt and plagues of Perjury and Breach of Covenant; And as you tender the good of your own Names, Perſons, Eſtates, Families and Liberties, as well as of your immortal Souls; And as ye would partake of the good of God's choſen, and of our joyes, when ye come ſo near Eternity as we are.

We shall ſay no more, but as we were not afraid to take our lives in our hands, ſo we are not afraid to lay them down in this Cauſe; And as we are not ashamed of Chriſt becauſe of His croſs, ſo we would not have you offended in Chriſt nor diſcouraged becauſe of us: For we bear you record, that we would not exchange lots with our Adverſaries; nor redeem our Lives, Liberties and Fortunes, at the price of Perjury and breach of Covenant.

And further we are aſſured, though this be the da… of Iacob's trouble, that yet the Lord, when He hath p. 220accomplished the Triall of His own, and filled up the cup of His Adverſaries, He will awake for judgement, plead His own Cauſe, avenge the quarrel of His Covenant, make inquiry for blood, vindicate His People, break the arm of the wicked, and eſtablish the juſt; For to Him belongeth judgement and vengeance: And though our eyes shall not ſee it, yet we believe that the Sun of Righteouſneſs shall ariſe with healing under His wings; & that He will revive His Work, repair the breaches, build the old waſtes, and raiſe up the deſolations; Yea the Lord will judge His people, & repent Himſelf for His ſervants, when their power is gone, and there is none shut up or left: And therefore, Rejoyce, O ye Nations, with His People: For He will avenge the blood of His ſervants, and will render vengeance to His adverſaries, and He will be merciful to His Land and People. So let thy Enemies perish O Lord; but let them that love Him, be as the Sun when He goeth forth in His might.

Sic ſubſcribitur.

Iohn MeCulloch of Barholm.

And. Arnot.

Iohn Gordon of Knockbrex.

Robert Gordon his Brother.

Iohn Roſs.

Iohn Schields

Iames Hamilton.

Iohn Parker in Bosby.

Chriſtopher Strang.

Gawin Hamilton.

p. 221Another Teſtimony which was▪ alſo left by ſuch of the Former ten Perſons, as were in the ſame Chamber with Thomas Paterſon Merchant in Glaſgow; who, being in like manner Indited but dying of his Wounds before Sentence, did communicate the ſame to his friends, with his Aſſent thereunto.

MEn and Brethren, being condemned by our Rulers as Traitors, leſt we should ſeem to many to ſuffer as evill doers, In the firſt place, we bleſs and praiſe the Lord our God, who hath made us (the unworthieſt of all men) Worthy to be faithfull to Him, who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and in ſimplicity and godly Sincerity, ſingly to mind his glory; and who alſo maketh the croſs of Chriſt (though by men ſuperſcribed with Treaſon) our ſweet conſolation, and his own joy our ſtrength.

2. We declare in the preſence of the ſame God, before whom we are now ready to appear, that we did not intend to Rebell againſt the King and his juſt Authority, Whom as we acknowledg for our Lawful Soveraign; ſo we do earneſtly pray in his behalf, that God would open his eyes and Convert his heart, that he may remember his Vowes made unto God, relieve this oppreſſed Kirk, and long reign and flourish in righteouſneſs.

3. We declare, that perceaving the Holy Covenants of our God broken, the Work of the Lord overturned, the Goſpel and Kingdome of Jeſus Chriſt p. 222deſpiſed and trampled upon, his pure Ordinances corrupted, his faithful and our ſoul-refreshing Miniſters caſt out, and the Land filled with Perjury and Profanity, and like to be hurried back to that gulf of Ignorance, Superſtition and Confuſion, whence the Lord did ſo gloriouſly deliver us; And finding our ſelves not only Spoiled of our moſt precious bleſſings, and moſt dear enjoyments, but urged and compelled by cruel Violence and Barbarous Perſecution to wicked Apoſtacy from our Holy Covenants, and to Rebellion againſt our God; And all this done by no other hand then the wicked and perjured Prelats; And for no other ends (whatever they may pretend) then the ſatisfying of their own vile luſts, and eſtablishing their ſo often abjured Antichriſtian Tyranny, over both Souls and Bodies of Men; And laſtly finding former Petitions condemned as Seditious, and our private complaints (when but muttered) inſolently rejected, We did in the fear and Zeal of our God, and by the warrant of his Holy Word, according to the firſt and moſt Innocent inſtinct of pure Nature, and the Practice of all People and Perſons in the like caſe; And after the Example of all the oppreſſed Kirks of Jeſus Chriſt, and of our Noble Anceſtors, take the Sword of Neceſſary Self-defence, from the rage and fury of theſe wicked & violent Men▪ until we might make our heavy Grievances known to his Majeſty, and obtain from his Juſtice a ſatisfying remedy.

We will not now mention our particular Sufferings, nor the ſighes and groans of poor waſted Galloway, which though very heavy from the hand of man, are all to light for Jeſus Chriſt; Nor are we willing to reflect upon theſe grievous and bitter Lawes and Edicts, by which they ſeem to be warranted: Only p. 223we know that God is Righteous, whoſe Lawes and judgments are Superior and above all the Lawes and Actions of men. And to him who will judge righteously, We intirly Commit our Cauſe, which is none other, then the Reviving of the Work of God and Renewing of his Covenant: Which though it pleaſed the Holy and Wiſe God, not to favour with Succeſs in the field, and though by men it be made our Condemnation, yet it is our Righteouſneſs) Innocency and Confidence in his ſight. And all praiſe and thanks be unto our God, who not only kept us ſtedfaſt in his Covenant, and made us Willing and Ready to adventure our Lives for His Name; but hath alſo accepted and dignifyed our Offer, with this publick Appearance: Where, in his own glorious preſence before whom we shall inſtantly appear, and before our often Sworn and once Zealous and tender Brethren in the ſame Cauſe, and in midſt of Thee O Edinburgh, once famous for the Glory and Zeal of God and of this Covenant, we may give and Seal this our Teſtimony with our blood.

We therefore the unworthieſt of all the Faithful, do in the Spirit of God and Glory, Teſtify and Seal with our Blood and Lives, that both the National Covenant and Solemne League and Covenant are in Themſelves Holy, Juſt, and True, and perpetually Binding, containing no other thing, then our Indiſpenſable Obligations to all Duties of Religion and Righteouſneſs, according to the revealed Will of God, which no Authority nor Power of Man, is or ever shall be able to diſannul; And that our bleſſed Reformations both from Popery and Prelacy, and all that was done or enſued, in the ſincere and upright proſecution thereof, was and is the Work of God, which though Men p. 224fight againſt, yet shall they never be able to prevail: And as this is our Faith, ſo it is our Hope to all that wait for the Salvation of God, that Our God will ſurely appear for his own Glory, and vindicate his Cauſe and perſecuted People, and render vengeance to his Adverſaries even the vengeance of his Holy Temple and broken Covenent. O be not then moved with our Sufferings with are but Light and Momentany, for they Work for us a far more, execeding and Eternal weight of Glory, and for you alſo a ſtrong Confirmation and abounding Conſolation, againſt the like trial that poſſibly may befal you. O then ſave your ſelves from this Wicked and Apoſtat Generation, and be ye ſtedfaſt, unmoveable, alwayes abounding in the Work and Cauſe of the Lord; Waiting for the appearance of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, which in his Times he shall shew, who only hath Immortality, dwelling in the Light which no man can approach, whom no man hath ſeen, or can ſee, to whom be honour and Power everlaſting. AMEN.

The Teſtimony of CAPT. ANDREW ARNOT, one of the former ten who died. Decem. 7.

DEar Friends and Spectators, I am brought by the good providence of God to this publick place of execution (which is no dishonour) for points of Treaſon, as is alleadged; but God knoweth (who p. 225knoweth the ſecrets of hearts) whether in Rebellion or not, I cam forth: He is my witneſs & wil be my Judge. And whoever they be that any way have been inſtrumentall or incenſed againſt me to procure this Sentence againſt me, God forgive them, & I forgive them. I am not now purpoſed to diſput the matter of my being in company with theſe worthy Chriſtians who are now defeat and broken, their blood shed, and they deſpitfully mocked by many: I acknowledge and declare that I was with them. As to the cauſe of my being with them, whither in Rebellion or not God knoweth, and all Israel shall know. And for me, I ſay the Cauſe is the Lords, who made the Heaven and the Earth, though now it be hated. And I deſire to bear witneſs (with the reſt of the worthy witneſſes, who are gone before and are now ſtaged) to that glorious Work of Reformation in Britain and Ireland, and to Goſpel-Ordinances in their Purity, as they have been taught and adminiſtrated theſe 30 Years laſt by paſt, And I adhere to the Presbyterial way of Doctrin, Worship, Diſcipline, and Government, by General Aſſemblies, Synods, Presbyteries, and Seſſions, according to the Patern of the holy Scriptures (Jeſus Chriſt himſelf being the head Corner-ſtone) the Confeſſion of faith, Cathechiſmes Shorter and Larger, Directory for Worship, National Covenant, Solemne League & Covenant, & every Paper tending to the good of the true Religion. And this I think fit to Teſtify & Declare under my hand (not knowing if I shall have any Liberty to ſpeak,) & intend, God willing, to Seal with my Blood shortly. I confeſs that unexpectedly I am come to this place, (though ſome times I have had ſome ſmall thoughts of it) And I do account my ſelf highly honoured to be reckoned amongſt the witneſſes p. 226of Jeſus Chriſt, to ſuffer for his Name, Truth and Cauſe; and this day I eſteem it my Glory, Garland, Crown & royall dignity to fill up a part of His ſufferings. And now I take my leave of you all my dear and worthy Friends and acquaintances. The Bleſſings of the Eternall God be multiplied upon yow and your ſeed, and upon all the ſuffering Friends of Chriſt this day; upon my dear and loving Wife, who hath been a faithful ſympathizer with me, and upon my dear Children. The work of God is now at under, but Chriſt shall carry the Day: Bleſſed is he that believeth and ſeeth not, for there shall be a performance. Now the Eternall God, who brought again the Lord Jeſus Chriſt from the dead, the great sheepherd of the flock, ſtrengthen and eſtablish you and all the Lord's people. So pray ye and ſo prayeth your Friend.

ANDREW ARNOT.

The Teſtimony of JOHN SHIELDS, Yeoman one of the former ten who died at Edinburgh the 7 day of Decemb. 1666.

I Am a man unlearned and not accuſtomed to ſpeak in publick, yet being now called to witneſs and ſuffer for the Lord in publick, I cannot be altogether ſilent of that which Religion and Reaſon hath taught me anent the cauſe of my ſuffering.

I bleſs the Lord, I ſuffer not as an evil doer, eſpecially not for any Rebellion againſt his Majeſties p. 227lawful Authority; I atteſt him who is the ſearcher of hearts, that was never my intention in the leaſt, and it is as litle the nature and intention of what I have done; But for renewing of the Covenant with the Lord, and following the ends thereof, as to the ſuppreſſing of abjured Prelats, and Intruders upon the Lords flock, and the reſtoring of the Government of the Houſe of God by Presbyteries as He himſelf hath appointed in his Word, with a faithful, Godly, Called, and Sent Miniſtery; And together with pure Ordinances, the Power of Godlineſs. For this I am condemned and to ſuffer this day. This I acknowledged freely before our Judges; This I ſtill acknowledg, and am perſuaded that herein I witneſs a faithful Confeſſion. This Cauſe and Covenant I commend to all the Lord's People. It is not free for you to forſake if; You are inviolably ingaged in it; It is not ſafe to deſert it, becauſe of the Curſe of the perjurer and falſe ſwearer. There is unſpeakable bleſſedneſs in the purſuance of it, whereof I can bear witneſs to the Lord by my rich Experience, ſince we began to Do and Suffer at this time for him: Whereupon I cheerfully lay doun my Life for this his Cauſe; He it is who Juſtifieth it, what man or Authority under heaven can condemn it? Ariſe O Lord, let not man prevaill againſt Thee; plead and Iudg this Cauſe which is thine own, for thine own names ſake.

p. 228The Teſtimony of another of the former ten Perſons left ſubſcribed with a Friend.

I deſigned no Rebellion againſt lawful Authority, but the ſuppreſſing of Prelacy and of Profanity; and advancing of Holineſs in Gods World: In a Word, I adhere to all the Articles of the good Covenant, and did intend the reſtoring of our good and Soul-refreshing Miniſters, and the caſting out of the dumb greedy Dogs that cannot bark. In this Cauſe I was a free Voluntier preſſed by none, thinking it my duty to appear for helping the Lord againſt the Mighty. This I teſtify under my hand from the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, the 6 of December, 1666.

The Teſtimony of M^R ALEXANDER ROBERTSON, Preacher of the Goſpel, and Probationer for the Miniſtry, who died at Edinburgh, Decemb. 14. 1666.

FEaring that after the example of others, I should not be permitted to ſpeak openly to the People, I thought fit (beſide my adherence to what my brethren, who have gone before me, left behind them concerning our common Cauſe) to leave a word in writ for ſatisfaction of them who ſurvive me.

That, for preſervation & defence of the true Religion of this Church, and for the relief of my poor brethren afflicted & perſecuted therefore, I joyned with others in Armes, & that I renewed the Covenant, that all men p. 229might the better know my Cauſe and Principles, I am ſo far from denying or being ashamed of, that I both acknowledge and avow it as my duty; But let no man that will not condemn himſelf upon the ſame common obligations to do what I did, account me a Rebell therefore, becauſe with the ſame breath that I did ſwear, and with that ſame hand that I did ſubſcribe to preſerve and defend Religion, I did alſo ſwear to defend the King and his Authority.

Our Church was not more glorious in her ſelf & terrible to her Adverſaries, while we enjoyed pure Ordinances of Word and Sacraments, and her beautiful Aſſemblies for Government and Diſcipline, of the Lords own Inſtitution, then she became of late deformed by the Uſurpation and Tyranny of Prelacy; And I do ſolemnly declare as a dying man, who dare not diſſemble, that as I thought and ſtill averre that the erecting of this abjured Prelacy is the cauſe of much of the Sin in the Land, and of all the ſufferings of the Lords People therein: ſo I had no worſe deſign, then the reſtoring of the Work of Reformation according to the Covenant, and more particularly the extirpation of Prelacy, to which his Ma: and all the Subjects are as, much obliged as I. And let that be removed and the Work of Reformation reſtored, and I dar… die in ſaying, that his Ma: shall not have in all his Dominions, more loving, loyall, peaceable and faithfull Subjects, then theſe who for their non-complyance are loaded with the reproaches of Phanaticiſme and Rebellion.

The ſufferings and inſupportable oppreſſion of theſe that could not becauſe of the Command and Oath of God, acknowledge & comply with Prelacy, may ſeem light to ſome in whom the ſpirit of the old enmity p. 230that is betwixt the ſeed of the woman and the ſeed of the ſerpent remaineth, and to others (perhaps their Friends) who look thereupon at adiſtance; but as there is juſt reaſon to think that if theſe rigid oppreſſions had been made known to his Ma: his juſtice and clemency would have provided a remedy, and as the half thereof would have made the Prelats, their patrons and adherents impatiently mad, for as loyal as they pretend to be; So in the like caſes of irreſiſtible neceſſity, when there is little open door for repreſenting of grievances and deſires, and leſs hope of relief thereby, I ſuppoſe it will not be found condemned by the Confeſſions of Reformed Churches, or doctrine of ſound Divines, but that it is authorized by the light and law of Nature, by uncondemned examples in the Holy Scripture, and by the practice of all Chriſtian States, by Armes to preſerve and defend men Lives, their Religion, Liberties and Fortunes; And eſpecially, where they are not ſeeking to acquire a new Religion or new Liberties, but only to preſerve their old or recover them, when they are violently & unjuſtly ſpoiled of the ſame, as in our caſe; Otherwiſe we should ſin againſt the generation of the juſt, and condemn, as rebellious, the moſt of the through Reformations of the Reformed Churches abroad, and of our own at home.

If this courſe was lawfull, and if it was our duty to joyn therein, as I believe and lay down my life in the perſwaſion that it was; and if all the Kingdom was (as they are) bound by Covenant to aſſiſt and defend one another in the …ommon Cauſe of Religion and Liberty, whatever may be ſaid of theſe that came not forth to help the Lord againſt the mighty, it cannot but be their dreadful ſin, who joyned themſelves in Armes, p. 231or took Oaths to oppoſe, ſuppreſs and break it, ſeing they have ſided themſelves againſt the Lord and his Work, and their carriage is a much higher degree of Acceſſion to the blood that is shed, then Paul's keeping of the clothes of them that ſtoned Stephen to death; And I wish that they may lay the matter to heart and repent of it, that God may forgive them, as I forgive all men, and particularly Mor…on who did apprehend me.

I know that there is a holy ſeed in the Land, who shall be the ſubſtance thereof, and I pray that the Lord may make them more zealous and valiant for the truth upon earth; I know alſo that there are many, whoſe bowells of compaſſion have been drawn forth toward theſe who took their lives in their hands, by Prayers to God for them and Charity to them, and eſpecially in Edinburgh toward the poor Priſoners (of whom I may not only ſay, that what they have done deſerveth to be told for a Memorial wherever the Goſpel is preached, but am aſſuredly confident, that beſides the bleſſings of the poor and perſecuted, the Lord is not unrighteous to forget their work and labor of love, which they have shewed towards his Name, in that they have miniſtred to the Saints & do miniſter) And yet I muſt needs regret, that ſo many in this City once famous and honoured for harmonious owning of the Cauſe and Covenant of God, and bleſſed above many other Cities with ſolemn Aſſemblies for Worship and Government, should have been enſnared into an Oath ſo contradictory to the Oath of the Covenant; & which was deviſed, contrived and impoſed in lieu of the Declaration againſt the ſame. and for a Graveſtone to ſuppreſs the revival of the Work of God within this Land.

p. 332The Apoſtacy of this Land is very great by Perjury and breach of Covenant, and ſo much the worſe and more aggreageble, that it is Authorized and very univerſal: And as I cannot but regret that ſo many are inſnared therein, ſo I muſt needs warne all to abhorre and beware of all Declarations and Oaths contradictory to the Covenant and renunciatory thereof, as they would not involve themſelves in the guilt and plagues denounced againſt, and ordinarily inflicted upon Perjury and breach of Covenant; and ſo much the rather, becauſe this is like to be the Shibboleth and triall of the times.

As for my ſelf, I have ſeen and do find ſo much worth in Truth, which is to be bought at any rate but ſold at none, And ſo much tranſcendent excellency and amiableneſs in Chriſt, that not only with cheerfulneſs & confidence I lay down my life for Him and His Truth, committing my ſoul to Him to be kept in hope of a joyfull Reſurrection of the body; but alſo bleſs Him that gave me a life to loſe, and a body to lay down for Him; And although the Merket and price of Truth may appear to many very high, yet I reckon it low, and all that I have or can do, little and too little for Him who gave Himſelf for me and to me; for I account all things but loſs and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt MY LORD, for whom I now ſuffer the loſs of all things, that I may win Him, and be found in Him, and that I may not only know the fellowship of His ſufferings, but the power of His reſurrection, and attain unto the reſurrection of the dead.

And as for yow, my dear Friends, as I pray p. 233for you, that the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternall glory by Chriſt Jeſus, after ye have ſuffered a while, may make yow perfect, ſtablish, ſtrengthen and ſettle yow; ſo I recommend to you the ſame truth, that you be not ſoon shaken in mind, but that ye hold faſt the profeſſion of your faith without wavering; And as you have receaved the Lord, ſo walk in Him; Warning and obteſting you by all manner of obligations, and by the hope and joy of that crown which I wait for, that ye keep your ſelves unſpotted with the abominable courſes and practices of theſe times, whereunto ye may be tempted by the extremity of ſuffering; and particularly that ye beware of unlawfull Oaths and Declarations againſt the Cauſe and Covenant of God, that ye have no complyance with, nor give conſent unto this Prelacy, which ye have abjured; And that you be afraid and aware of Popery, which by Connivance doth ſo viſibly abound and dayly increaſe; But by fighting the good fight and keeping of the faith, you may finish your courſe, as I do, in the aſſurance of the crown of Righteouſneſs, which the Lord the righteous Judge, hath laid up and shall give unto me, and not to me only, but to all them that love His appearance.

ALEXANDER ROBERTSON.

p. 234The Teſtimony of JOHN NILSON, of Corſack who died at Edinburgh. Dec. 14. 1666.

BEing made a ſpectacle to the World, to Angels, and to Men, I found it neceſſary, for vindication of the Truth & of my ſelf, for undeceaving of ſome, & encouraging of others, to leave this line behind me, which with my innocent blood may ſpeak when I am gone.

I am condemned (I shall not ſay how unjuſtly) as a Rebell againſt Man, but the Lord God of Gods He knoweth, & all Iſrael shall know that it is not for Rebellion againſt God, but for endeavouring to recover the bleſſed work of Reformation, and particularly for endeavouring to extirpate Prelacy, which hath been the cauſe of ſo much ſin and ſuffering within this Land, and for renewing of the Covenant, from the obligation whereof (ſeing I made my Vow and Promiſe to the Lord) neither I my ſelf, nor any humane Authority can abſolve me. And if any account this Rebellion, I do plainly confeſs, that after the way which they call Hereſy, I worship the God of my fathers.

Although the inſupportable oppreſſion, under which I and many others did groan, were enough to juſtify our Preſerving and Defending of our ſelves by Armes, yet know that the Cauſe was not Ours but the Lord's; for we ſuffered all our grievous Oppreſſions not for evill-doing, but becauſe we could not in conſcience acknowledge, comply with and obey Prelacy, and ſubmit unto the Miniſtery of Ignorant, p. 235Light and Profane men, who were irregularly and violently thurſt upon us; Neither did we only or mainly deſigne our civil Liberties, but the Liberty of the Goſpel, the Extirpation of Prelacy, the Reſtauration of our faithful Paſtors, the Suppreſſion of Profanity, Promoving of Piety, the ſaving of ourſelves from unjuſt violence, untill we had preſented our Grievances and Deſires; And in a word, the Recovering of the once glorious, but now ruined Work of Reformation, in Doctrine, Worship, Diſcipline and Government, according to the Nationall Covenant and Solemn League and Covenant, to which I declare my adherence, and through grace shall ſeal the ſame with my blood.

My Advocate drew up a Supplication for me, wherein was acknowledged that I had been with the Rebels; but let none offend thereat: for … do hereby declare, that I was ſo far from accounting that courſe Rebellion, that I judged and ſtill do judge it was my duty to joyn therein, and my honor to ſuffer therefore; Otherwiſe, I should have counted my ſelf acceſſary to the blood of the Lord's People which is shed? And cannot but regret that others of the Lord's People, when they heard of us, did not come forth with ſpeed to help the Lord againſt the Mighty; much more let all mourn, that not only many have appeared as Enemies, but alſo conjured themſelves againſt the Lord, & the ſame Covenant which they ſo ſolemnly ſware; And as for the Petition it ſelf, I knew not that expreſſion was in it.

Being conſcious to my ſelf of ſo much weakneſs, & ſo many hainous ſins which predomine in me, & of unfruitfulneſs under the Goſpel and unſutable walking thereto, I confeſs my ſelf the vileſt of ſinners, and deſire p. 236to mourn for the ſame, and pray that the Lord for Chriſt's ſake may freely forgive me, as I have forgiven them that have wronged me, and hope through the righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt to obtain the ſame; And I do exhort all and every one of my friends to more holineſs, Prayer and ſtedfaſtneſs, alwayes abounding in the Work of the Lord; And above all things, to deteſt & shun that wicked Declaration againſt the Covenant, the apparant temptation of the time, and the very mark of Antichriſtian Prelacy.

All that I have is but little, but if I had many Worlds, I would lay them all down, as now I do my life for Chriſt and His Cauſe, nothing doubting but the Lord will abundantly provide for my Wife and my ſix Children, whom I commit to the Lord's care, and recommend to the Kindneſs and Prayers of the faithful; And do lay an expreſs charge on my Wife that she shew all my Children, that I have bound them all to the Covenant, for which now I lay down my life, and that She lay it upon them as my laſt command, that they adhere to every Article thereof.

The Work and People of God are brought very low: It may be, becauſe they were not ripe for a deliverance; And for the greater triall, and filling up of the cup of the Adverſaries; Or, becauſe there was litle, or leſs prayer then should have been amongſt theſe who appeared at this time, that the Lord hath made this late breach. But, dear Friends, be not therefore tempted to call in queſtion the Work of Reformation; or to think the worſe of Chriſt and His Cauſe, becauſe of ſufferings; Nor be discouraged becauſe theſe few who took their lives in their hands, fell before the Adverſary; For as ſufferings are often ſweetned by the Spirit of God and Glory that reſteth p. 237upon the ſufferers, and afterward bring forth the peaceable fruits of righteouſneſs unto them that are exerciſed thereby; So the Lord will ariſe in due time, and have mercy upon Zion, and plead the cauſe which is his own: And this Teſtimony, as I am this day to ſeal with my blood, ſo I ſubſcribe with my hand.

JOHN NILSON OF CORSACK.

The Teſtimony of GEORGE CRAWFORD, Yeoman who died at Edinburgh, Decemb. 14. 1666

SEing I am to die after this manner, I lay before yow this Teſtimony, which I avow before God, and leave behind me to the World.

That which moved me to come along with theſe men, was their perſuaſion, and my deſire to help them (which with a ſafe conſcience I could not well refuſe) who, being tyrannically oppreſt by the Prelats and their dependants and upholders, and ſeing no other way was left to be taken, took up Armes for their own defence; And if this be Rebellion, I leave it to the great God the ſupream Judge to decern: For in my weak judgement, I found it warrantable from the Word of God, and without prejudice of the King's Authority (whom I pray God to direct and guide in the right wayes of the Lord, and to make him proſper therein, ſo that he may be ſurely ſet in his Kingdom, having Him whom no enemy can reſiſt to defend him) p. 238ſeeing there was nothing intended by us, againſt his or any others juſt and lawful Authority.

But that which was my principall and chief deſign, was giving my poor aſſiſtance to the rooting out of Prelats & Prelacy, and all ſuch as are come into God's vine-yard without the Maſter's commiſſion, theſe Hirelings who came not in at the true door, Ieſus Christ, but have climbed up ſome other way as thieves and robbers, whoſe voice the sheep know not (All which is too ſadly confirmed by the dreadfull and horrid ſins that are riſen in the Land, and the curſes and plagues that have followed thereupon) that ſo by taking away theſe, the abuſes which proceed from them, and the ſad conſequences which follow their ſtanding falling with them, the Covenant of God might be re-eſtablished, and true Paſtors that were ſilenced might be ſet at liberty, their mouths opened, and they themſelves put to the keeping of their flocks, and all other ſuch perſons, who were banished, or any other vvay under ſuffering, relieved.

And I do adhere to the vvay of Church-Government ſvvorn to in the Covenant, vvhichwhich I think and aſſert to be conform to God's Word; vvhichwhich, vvith His Spirit directing, is the only Patern and judge in all controverſies: and hovvever our endeavours at this time have not been ſucceſsful, it is of the Lord, vvho vvill come in his own time, for He can do as well with few as vvith many; but it is like the cup of the Adverſaries is not full: And who knoweth, but the Lord God of hoſts vvill hiſs for the bee of Egypt and the fly of Aſſyria, vvho vvill be more cruel and blood-thirſty then vve vvere, to avenge the quarrel of His ovvn People, and to make vvay for the eſtablishing of His ovvn Cauſe. I ſay no more, but as I vvas p. 239vvilling to hazard my life for this Cauſe, ſo I am ready to lay it down at my Maſter's feet, ſeing He calls for it: And I pray the Almighty, to ſend His Spirit of Conſolation promiſed by His Son to His ovvn people, to ſtrengthen them and bear them through, till the appointed time of the Lord's coming with Deliverance; for He will come for His own Cauſe, and for His peoples ſake, and will not tarry.

The laſt Speech and Teſtimony of M^R HEW M^C KAILE. Preacher of the Goſpel and Probationer for the Miniſtry, at his death in Edinburgh, Decemb. 22. 1666.

BEing by a great ſurpriſal of Providence, thus ſtaged before the World, in a matter of ſo univerſall concernment to all that fear God and deſire to be ſtedfaſt in his Covenant, I could not forbear to leave behind me this ſtanding Teſtimony, concerning the Occaſion and Uſes thereof, for the Glory of God, for the Vindication of my Profeſſion from the aſperſions caſt thereon by Men, and the Edification of theſe by my death, to whom I had devoted my Life in the work of the Miniſtery.

I have eſteemed the Government of this Church by Presbytery, to be among the chief of the Ordinances of Jeſus Chriſt, which by his blood he hes purchaſed, and aſcended up on high to beſtovv as a gift upon it; as being the very Goſpell-Miniſtery in it's Simplicity and Purity from the Inventions of Men, and ſo the Mean p. 240by which other Ordinances are adminiſtred, and the moſt fundamental Truths made effectual in the hearts of his People, and therefore that it ought with that ſame carefulneſs to be contended for. Experience both of the having and wanting of it, hath given it this Epiſtle of Commendation, ſo as it may be both known and read of all men: Which is alſo true of the ſolemne Engagements of the Nation thereto, by the Nationall Covenant, and Solemn League and Covenant, which I have eſteemed in their Riſe & Renewing, pregnant performances of that promiſe, Iſaiah. 44.5. where it is evident, that where Church Reformations come to any maturity, they arrive at this degree of ſaying I am the Lords & ſubſcribing with the hand unto the Lord. So was it in the dayes of the Reforming Kings of Iudah, and after the Reſtauration from the Captivity in the dayes of Nehemiah: This ſame promiſe did the Lord Jeſus make Yea & Amen to us, when he redeemed us from ſpirituall Babilon, which is ſo much the greater evidence, that theſe were the very Motions of Gods Spirit in our firſt Reformers, that they were expreſſly deſigned againſt the greateſt motions of the Spirit of Darkneſs in Antichriſt and his ſuppoſts, and againſt the greateſt confirmations that ever theſe Abominations attained by the decrees of the Council of Trent, and that bloody Bond called, the Holy League. And therefore whatever indignity is done unto theſe Covenants, I do eſteeme to be no leſs then doing deſpite unto the ſpirit of Grace in his moſt eminent Exerting of himſelf; but eſpecially Declaring againſt the ſame as flowing from a Spirit of Sedition and Rebellion, to be a Sin of the ſame nature with theirs, who aſcribed Chriſt his caſting out of Devils to Beelzebub; and that with this aggravation, that theſe Scribes and Phariſees came never p. 241the length of prefeſſing Chriſt, and ſubmiting themſelves to Him and his wayes.

Bu… we are condemned to death upon the account of this Covenant, for adhereing to the dueties therein ſworn to, by ſuch as once did as much themſelves as we have done, and ſome of them more then ſome of us: Which conſiderations have moved me to great feares of Gods wrath againſt the Land, according to the curſe that we are bound under, if we should break that Covenant, & in the fear of it many times to pour out my ſoul before the Lord; & as ſoon as I heard of a Party up in Armes in behalf of the Covenant; (all other door being shut, whereby the redreſs of the manifeſt violations of it might be obtained, and theſe by manifeſt & unheard of violence obtruded upon others) to go along with them, being bound by that Covenant againſt deteſtable Indifferency and Neutrality in this matter, & to eſteem every injury done to any ingaged in this Covenant upon account of it, as done to my ſelf: Very Conſcience of duty urged me to this againſt ſome reluctancy of fear of what might follow. Upon the ſame reaſons at Lanrik, with the reſt I declared my adherence to the Covenant, by my lifting up of my hand, after the Articles thereof were read.

And here I cannot but with greef of heart acknowledg my fainting in a day of trial, that being ingaged with them upon ſuch accounts, I many times in fear deſigned to withdraw, and at length did, which as it was the occaſion of my falling into the hands of the Enemy, ſo I think among other things it was the cauſe why God delivered me into their hands. Upon the ſame fear, in all my Examinations I have denied my ingagement with them, and endeavoured to Vindicate my ſelf by aſſerting the real deſignes I had to part from p. 242them, and have utterly caſt away the glory of a teſtimony, which my very being in their company as a favourer of the ends of the Covenant, and as one willing to contribute my beſt endeavours for the promoving of them, but eſpecially my declaring for the Covenant, did bear unto the Truth and Ordinances of Jeſus Chriſt againſt this untoward Generation: This I confeſſe to be no leſs then a denying of Jeſus Chriſt, and a being ashamed of his Words before men; but I hope the Lord who remembreth that we are but frail duſt, shall not lay it to my charg, but according to his faithfulneſs and Grace will forgive me, who by this Publick Confeſſion, take to my ſelf shame and confuſion of face, and fly to the propitiation offered to all ſinners in Jeſus Chriſt. And theſe things as they have procured this death unto me, as an act of Gods Juſtice; ſo they mind me of other evils in mine own heart, that have been the ſource of this my unwillingneſs to take on Chriſt's Croſs: My heart hath not ſtudied to maintaine that Spirituality in walking with God and Edifying Exemplarineſs with others, that became one that had receaved the firſt fruits of the Spirit and aimed at the Miniſtery of the Goſpel, living in times of ſo much calamity for the Church of God, and particular afflictions as to my ſelf. If I had ſpent my dayes in groaning after my houſe from Heaven, would I have shifted ſo fair an occaſion of being cloathed with it? Alas that I have loved my Lord and Maſter Jeſus Chriſt ſo litle! Alas that I have done ſo litle ſervice to him, that I have ſo litle labour to follow Me to my Everlaſting reſt. This I ſpeak to theſe eſpecially, with whom I have familiarly converſed in my Pilgrimage, that ſeing the Lord will not grant me Life to teſtify my real Reformation of theſe p. 243things, my aknowledgement at Death may have influence upon them, to ſtudy not only Godlineſs but the Power of it.

As I acknowledg that I have not been free and ingenuous in theſe particulars formentioned, ſo in other things, wherein I interponed that Holy name of God, as to the not being upon the Contrivance of this riſeing in Armes, nor privy to any reſolution thereanent, nor conſcious of any Intelligence at home or abroad concerning it, I was moſt ingenuous: And they have wronged me much, who ſaid that I denied upon Oath, that which they were able to make out againſt me, or knew to be truth; But non alleage Perjury againſt me, but ſuch as are ſo manifeſtly guilty of it before the World, that their tougnes in ſuch alleagances are no ſlander.

Although I be Judged and condemned as a Rebell amongſt Men, Yet I hope even in order to this Action to be accepted as Loyal before God. Nay there can be no greater act of Loyalty to the King, as the times now go, then for every man to do his utmoſt for the Exſtirpation of that abominable plant of Prelacy, which is the bane of the Throne and of the Countrey: which if it be not done, the Throne shall never be eſtablished in Righteouſneſs, until theſe wicked be removed from before it. Sure I ame theſe who are now comdemned as Rebels againſt Him by them, are ſuch as have ſpent much time in prayer for Him, and do more ſincerely wish his ſtanding, and have endeavoured it more by this late action ſo much condemned, then the Prelates by condemning them to death.

This Diſaſter hath heightened greatly the Afflictions of our Chuch, and ought to teach all of you to drink the Wine of Aſtonishment: Ye have not known tribulation till now: Now we Judg them happy that p. 244are fallen aſleep and removed far away, and know that God hath been taking away his Servants from the Evils that were to come. Know that God's deſigne is to make many hearts contrite, that have been formerly too whole, and have not lamented ſufficiently the removeall of his Ordinances and Miniſtery, and the reproach rubed upon the Work of Reformation. Beware that your ſorrow be not a momentany motion of commoun Compaſſion, that evanisheth when it may be there is ſome intermiſſion in this violent courſe of sheding innocent blood: Labour to have a conſtant impreſſion that may ſacrifice the heart, nay ye vvould live much in apprehenſion of approaching Judgment. Certainly the Withdrawing of many from us, and not contributing their help to the great work, they were ingaged to, as well as we, the generall Riſeing againſt us in many places of the Countrey, but above all this open sheding of the blood of the Saints, which involveth the land in the guiltineſs of all the righteous blood shed from the foundation of the World, have made Scotland fit fuell for the fire of Gods Wrath. I can ſay nothing concerning times to come, but this, All things shall work together for good to them that Love God, and ſo this preſent diſpenſation; And they shall have moſt comfort in this promiſe, who are moſt willing that ſuch afflictions as we are brought to, be the way that God choiſeth to work their good.

Commit wholly the management of all maters to God, and make it your intire ſtudy night and day to keep your very garments clean: It is hard in times of ſo generall Corruptions not to be defiled one way or other; be free of the Sin as you would be of the Judgments, which will certainly be ſuch as will make all p. 245the Churches Know, that God is the ſearcher of the hearts and trier of the reins, Revel. 2.23. and ſo will not be mocked by theſe pretences whereby, men colour their going along in an evill courſe, from the real Love that they have to a preſent world. If naked Preſence amongſt them who are eſteemed Rebels by men, be ſufficient to engage them in the Crime and Punishment (for that is all the ground of my Condemnation) shall not God be much more Zealous of his own glory, againſt all who ſo much as ſeem to go along with this courſe of backſliding.

As a good Mean and encouragement, to all the duties of our time, labour to be rooted and grounded in the Love of Jeſus Chriſt; This will be tender of any thing that may have the leaſt reflexion upon him, His Words or Works, and will prompt the ſoul to Zealous appearing for Him at the greateſt hazard, and to as much willingneſs to die for Him, as to Live that they may Glorify Him. And for the encouragement of yow all in this matter▪ I do declare, that ever ſince the day of my coming into priſon, God hath keeped my ſoul free from all Amazement or fear of death; that ſince my inditement and ſentence, God hath ſo manifeſted Himſelf at ſeveral times, that he hath lifted up my ſoul above Prelats, Principalities, & PowerS, Death & Hell, to rejoice & be glad in His Salvation; and from my ſoul to account him Worthy, for whom in this his Cauſe I should undergo the greateſt shame or Paine; And to aſſured hopes of Eternal Communion with Him in Heaven: And that nothing hath more brangled my peace, then shifting, an open and free teſtimony before my Examinators, to the work that I was ingaged in.

p. 246I do freely pardon all that have acceſſion to my blood, and wish that it be not laid to the charg of this ſinful Land, but that God would grant Repentance to our Rulers, that they may obtaine the ſame reconciliation with Him, whereof I myſelf do partake. Truely I beleeve many of them if not inſtigated by the cruel Prelats (at whoſe door our blood doth principally lie) would have uſed more mitigation: But that reluctancy of mind to shed blood, will be ſo far from Vindicating of them, that upon the contrary, it will be a witneſs againſt them in the Day of the Lord.

I heartily ſubmit my ſelf to Death, as that which God hath appointed to all men becauſe of Sin, and to this particular way of it, as deſerved by my particular Sins. I praiſe God for this Fatherly chaſtiſement, whereby he hath made me in part and will make me perfectly partaker of his Holineſs. I glorify Him that called me forth to ſuffer for His Name and Ordinances, and the ſolemne engagements of the Land to Him, and that he hath taken this way to take me away from the evill to come. The Lord bleſs all His Poor Afflicted groaning People that are behind.

Hereafter I will not talk with flesh and blood, nor think on the Worlds conſolations: Farewel all my Friends whoſe company hath been refreshful to me in my Pilgrimage; I have done with the Light of the Sun and Moon, Welcome Eternal Life, Everlaſting Love, Everlaſting Praiſe, Everlaſting Glory. Praiſe to Him that ſits upon the Throne, and to the Lamb for ever. Though I have not been ſo with Thee as I ought to have been in the Houſe of my Pilgrimage, yet thow haſt made with me an Everlaſting Covenant, p. 247Ordered in all things and Sure. And this is all my Salvation, and all my deſire. Bleſs the Lord O my Soul! that hath pardoned all my Iniquities in the Blood of His Son, and healed all my Deſeaſes. Bleſs Him O all ye his Angels that excel in ſtrength, ye Miniſters that do his pleaſure. Bleſs the Lord O my Soul! Halelujah.

Edinburgh Tolbooth, December 22. 1666. Sic ſubſcribitur HEW M^c KAIL.

I have heard that ſome of the Priſoners are willing to ſave their lives by taking the Declaration, That is, by abjuring that Work and Cauſe for which they adventured their Lives: Which if they do, our blood shall bear witneſs againſt them in the great Day of God. And God shall ſo punish ſome of them in this Life, that they shall curſe the day that ever they shifted to dy on a ſcaffold.

HEW M^c KAIL.

The Teſtimony of JOHN WODROW, Merchant in Glaſgow, who died in Edinburgh, Decemb. 22. 1666.

Dear Friends.

I Am condemned to die I shall ſay little concerning men who have judged and condemned me, they are to anſwer to God for it; But I bleſs the Lord, who p. 248hath counted me worthy to die for ſo good and honourable a cauſe. And that I be not miſtaken after I am gone hence, I have thought fit to teſtify that in ſingleneſs and ſincerity of heart, I came into the ſervice, not conſtrained but from conſcience of my being engaged by Covenant to God, and with a full purpoſe to perform my vows made in that Covenant unto the Lord, in the ſtrength of Jeſus Chriſt; And that I might endeavour to reſtore again the precious Ordinances to their former purity & power, and to recover the fair Church in this Land (which our bleſſed Lord hath purchaſed to Himſelf, and bought at ſo dear a rate) to her former Beauty, which is now defaced: And particularly to bring down that Antichriſtian Prelacy, and that perjured crue of Prelats, who have ſo perfidiouſly wronged the Intereſts of our bleſſed Lord and Maſter, Jeſus Chriſt. This is the only Cauſe for which I undertook this ſervice, and joyned with others my dear and Covenanted brethren; And that I had no intention to wrong the King's perſon or Authority, but to ſeek his real good, according to my duty in the Word of God, and alſo as I ſware in the ſame Covenant wherein I did ſwear againſt Prelacy. And notwithſtanding I be condemned of men as a Rebel, yet I am juſtifyed of God, my God and Father, in and through my Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, who giveth me ſweet peace of conſcience and joy of heart; I grant it is not enough to juſtify me before Him, that I had a juſt Cauſe, unleſs likewiſe I had therewith the acceptation of my perſon through Faith in the Merits of Jeſus Chriſt, who ſtandeth in our nature in heaven, which I dare declare this day as a dying man, that I have obtained; for I am confident that through His righteouſneſs made over unto me, He p. 249hath made me free, in which I shall ſtand for ever; and that within a few hours I shall ſee Him in peace, as I am ſeen of Him; and behold and wonder, and wonder and behold for evermore that moſt glorious excellency of His. And this yeeldeth to me great conſolation in all my extremities, were they never ſo great; This I ſay is my peace and conſolation this day, even Chriſt my Righteouſneſs, who hath both accepted my Perſon and Cauſe: Therefore I count it a ſmall thing to be judged and condemned of men, for my Teſtimony is on high, and my record in heaven.

And now, my Friends, I am condemned to die for adhering to my Covenant made with God, for Reformation of Religion and Converſation, to which all ranks of the Land are as well bound as I, though many (alas! too many) shaking off all fear of God have deſpiſed the Oath, not only by breaking the Covenant, but by profeſſing and declaring avowedly the bond thereof null, and not binding either to their own or other mens conſciences: And this miſchief is framed by a Law, which doth greatly highten the Sin; O! tell it not in Oath, and publish it not in Askelon. Oh! that this should be heard of amongſt Papiſts and Pagans, that profeſſed Reformed Proteſtants should ſtand in ſo litle aw of a ſolemn Oath, and Name of the great and living God.

But I exhort and obteſt you all, that ſo much the more as others have made void His Covenant, you would eſteem it the more precious, and cloſely follow the Reformation vowed, in every Article thereof, upon all occaſions given you of the Lord; And that you abhor, deteſt and refuſe any engagement whatſoever, that may wrong your Oath in the Covenant directly or indirectly, as ye would eſcape the p. 250wrath of God that is coming on ſuch breaking of Covenant, but rather choiſe the greateſt extremity of affliction, then the leaſt ſin of this ſort; as Moſes did, who refuſed to be called the Son of Pharaoh's Daughter, but chuſed rather to ſuffer reproach for Chriſt; And be not afraid of ſuffering for Chriſt, as though it were an evill thing, neither ſcar ye at His croſs, for the Lord Himſelf ſaith, My yoke is eaſy and My burthen light; Yea it is lighter to us then to many that ſtand by: Believe; Faith maketh all burthens light to the believing Sufferer.

And now I beſeech you believers in Chriſt, abide in Him and bring forth fruit unto Holineſs, and ſtudy tenderneſs in all manner of converſation, and holineſs without which no man shall ſee the Lord; And let not this profane and mocking Generation have any thing to reproach you with, but that whereof you would not be ashamed, that when you ſuffer ye may not ſuffer as evill doers, that whereas they ſpeak evill of you, they may be ashamed that falſly accuſe your good converſation in Chriſt. It is not knowledge nor a bare Profeſſion that glorifieth God, but Tenderneſs, Holineſs and Righteouſneſs, that do commend Religion and His Cauſe to all men, and shall convince your Adverſaries of their Wickedneſs in wronging you, and make them the more inexcuſable in that day when they shall be judged: Yea, what know ye, but ye may win others by your tender and good converſation?

I recommend to you, that ye would be much and fervent in the uſe of that precious duty of Prayer, wherein moſt near Communion with God upon earth is to be found: Be much in prayer, with and for others- Forſake not the aſſembling of your ſelves p. 251together as the manner of ſome is (I wish they may ſee the evill of it who neglect it) but exhort one another, and ſo much the more, as ye ſee the day approaching: Earneſtneſs and diligence will haſten the Lord's coming with relief unto you, and to the Lords born-down Work; and your ſlackneſs in this, may make the wheels of His chariot to move the more ſlowly. For the effectuall fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much with God; It will do more then Armies of men and weapons of War for your defence and deliverance.

I beſeech you alſo, my dear Friends, that you acquaint yourſelves with the Word of God in the Holy Scripture, that ye may have acquaintance with Jeſus Chriſt who is clearly ſet forth therein; that ye may know Him in His excellency and come to love and believe in Him whom ye know; that ye may be acquainted with His revealed will therein, and may know what is truth, and cleave faſt thereto, from a ſure perſuaſion that it hath the warrant of His Word; and may be guarded againſt every error of the wicked, and that ye may fully know what is good and what is evill; And that ye may ſuffer with confidence, when ye are brought forth thereto as I am.

Finally, my dear Friends, be ye perfect, be of good comfort, be of one minde, live in peace- and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

JOHN WODROW.

p. 252The Copy of JOHN WODROW His Letter to His Wife, dated Decemb. 22. 1666. which was the Day on which He ſuffered.

My Heart,

REverence the good Providence of the Lord our God, who can do nothing wrong; For whatſoever He doth is well-done, and my Soul faith, Amen. I had not a will of my own (my Heart) ſince that day wherein Yow and I parted, My Lord and my God captivated it, & brought it to a ſubmiſſion unto His will: I bleſs Him for evermore for it, that I was never left to my own will: Praiſe, O praiſe Him all ye living! And O thou my ſoul praiſe the Lord for it. I bleſs the Lord for evermore that ever He viſited my Fathers Family, that ever He condeſcended to come unto my Fathers Family, and to give a viſit to the like of me: He viſited me there, and ſet his Love upon me, and hath choſen me for this very end, to be a witneſs for his covenanted Reformation. For this my Soul is glad, and my Glory rejoyceth for this Honour wherewith He hath honoured me; And that, though I be condemned to die by men on earth, yet am I juſtifyed of God through the blood of my Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, who ſtandeth in our nature in Heaven, and hath made me free through his imputed Righteouſneſs made over unto me, in which I ſtand for ever; And within a few hours I shall ſee Him in peace, as I am ſeen of Him, and behold and p. 253wonder, and wonder & behold for evermore, even that moſt glorious excellency which is in Him. All that which is ſpoken of Him is but litle: O my Heart, my dear Love, come and ſee I beſeech yow! I thought I had known ſomething of my deareſt Lord before, that I had ſome love from and to Him before, But never was it ſo with me, as it hath been with me ſince I came within the doors of this Priſon; many a precious viſit hath his gracious Majeſty given unto me. He is without all compariſon; O love, love Him! 0 come to Him, O taſte and ſee, and that shall reſolve the queſtion beſt. The thing I ſuffer for is the Covenanted Reformation. I bleſs God, and all that is within me doth bleſs and magnify His Holy Name for this, tnat Scotland did ever enter into a Covenant with the Lord, into a ſworn Covenant, with the hand lifted up to the Lord: And I have now ſworn and renued this Covenant again for my ſelf & you, and my four Children in all the parts and points thereof; And I pray, God help you to abide in the Covenant for ever.

And now I give you and my four Children unto the Lord, and commit you ro Him as your Covenanted God and Husband, & my Childrens Covenanted Father. I ſay no more, but either ſtudy to be indeed a ſincere Chriſtian, & a ſeeker of His face in ſincerity, or elſe you will be nothing at all. I recommend you and your young-ones to Him, who is God All-ſufficient, and aboundeth in Mercy and Love to them that Love Him and keep his Covenant. The bleſſing of the Covenant be upon you, ſo fare you well. So ſaith

Your loving and dying Husband JOHN WODROW.

p. 254The Teſtimony of RALPH SHIELDS, An English-man who died in Edinburgh, Decemb. 22. 1666.

My Friends.

I Am come here to die, and I thank God, it is not for evill doing that I now ſuffer: although I be charged with Rebellion againſt the Kings Authority, yet 1 declare before God and you all, that in all this matter I never intended to wrong his Majeſtie's juſt Power and greatneſs, but for conſcience ſake did reſpect Authority as the Ordinance of God appointed for the punishment of evill doers, and that I wish his Ma: all welfare both in this life, and the world to come, and that it may be his happineſs to conſider his Obligations to God and Perform the ſame, that ſo it may be well with him and his Poſterity to many generations; and I pray God make him a friend to His Cauſe and the truly Godly who own the ſame, though falſly called Phanaticks or turbulent perſons.

I declare I have ſuch perſuaſion of the Intereſt of Religion Reformed, and ſworn unto in the Covenant that I dare venture not only to lay down my own life, but if every hair of my head were a man, they should all be put to venture for this cauſe: I would not have the world to ſtumble at the Cauſe, becauſe of my death after this manner; for I rejoyce greatly in it, and I deſire every good Chriſtian as they tender their own ſouls that they would grip faſt, lay hold on, and cleave to Jeſus Chriſt and His way.

p. 255My coming out at this time (I ſay) was not againſt his Majeſty, but for the Covenant which is now troden under foot; my intention was for the Cauſe of Chriſt; I take God to witneſs, it was nothing elſe I came out for, and for that I am free to lay down my life.

I bleſs God I am much encouraged in this, and not at all afraid to die for ſo good and clear a Cauſe; and I hope He will bring me thorow all my difficulties in this dark shadow of death: I hope I have the peace of a good conſcience, and have had ſome glimpſes from Jeſus Chriſt of His countenance and reconciled Face, ſince I came into this priſon, for which I deſire to bleſs His Name with all my ſoul, heart and ſpirit. And I rejoyce that He hes made uſe of me to ſuffer for His Cauſe; And I think it too litle, not only to lay down my body, but (if it were poſſible) even my very ſoul at the ſtake for that Cauſe and for Jeſus Chriſt my good and kind Maſter, who hath loved me and given Himſelf for me. I give the Lord thanks that I had ſome of His Preſence ſince I came into this condition: and again I ſay, I am much encouraged and not afraid to die, and bleſs Him that I die not as a murtherer, or evill door, or Rebel to Authority, but for ſuch a cauſe as this.

O that it were the happineſs of my Nation of England, once to ſubiect themſelves unto the ſweet yoke of Chriſts Reformed Government, under which this Nation of Scotland hath enjoyed ſo much of the Power and life of the Goſpel, by a faithful Miniſtry according to the Covenant ſworn by them both.

And now, my dear Friends in Chriſt, and fellow-Covenanters, though I be a ſtranger in this Land, being an English-man, but trifted by providence in the proſecution p. 256of my calling, to have my reſidence for a time here in Scotland, which I look upon, as a ſingulare evidence of God's ſpecial love to me, though I be a ſtranger, I ſay, to many of you, yet I muſt be bold as a dying friend, to beſeech you by the mercy of God, and by your appearance before Jeſus Chriſt, when we shall have to do with none but Him as our Judge, that ye be faithfull and ſtedfaſt in the Cauſe of God, and Covenant which ye have ſworn with hands lifted up to the moſt high God, which no Power on earth can looſe you from, and that ye keep you from ſnares unto the contrary, and not ſuffer your ſelves to fall into a deteſtable Neutrality and Indifferency in that Cauſe of God; And eſpecially that ye keep your ſelves free of any Engagements by word or write, that may wrong your Oath of the Covenant. I commit my Wife and Children to His care, who careth for them that put their truſt in Him before the Sons of men, not doubting but they shall be eyed with goodwil and favor by the Godly, after I am gone. And now I render up my Spirit to Him who gave it me, and for whoſe ſake I now lay down my life. To this God, my Covenanted God, be glory, bleſſing and praiſe for now and ever, Amen.

That this is my mind and Teſtimony, which I leave behind me, I witneſs by my ordinary ſubſcription,

R. SHIELDS.

p. 257The Teſtimony of HUMPREY COLHOUNE, At his Death in Edinburgh, Decemb. 22. 1666.

Dear Friends and Spectators,

I am come here this Day to this Place to die this Death, for crimes for which (I thank God) my Conſcience doth not condemn me. My crime, as is alleaged, is for Diſloyalty againſt the King's Majeſty; Yet I thank God, that my appearing lately with the Lord's People was from my ſenſe of my obligation in the Covenant, and the ſenſe of the wrongs done in the Land, and the crying oppreſſions committed therein. This was the end of my appearing for the Lord againſt His enemies, to bear witneſs againſt the ſame: The which obligation of the Oath of God, I judge that none on earth can looſe the Conſcience from. I bleſs the Lord again and again, I die for this Oath and Covenant; And I thank God alſo, that I have by the great mercy of the Almighty God in Chriſt Jeſus, obtained mercy and forgiveneſs for all my tranſgreſſions both againſt the firſt and ſecond Table of the Law: And that through that Ocean of grace which is in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, I believe that I am juſtified and ſanctified, and believe now to be glorified with Him, by that bleſſed blood of His, which hath purchaſed this Salvation to me, through faith in the ſame, made application of, according to the good Covenant of grace. He hath performed this, out of his vvonderfull and incomparable free-grace▪ And p. 258this is my joy and exceeding great rejoycing and conſolation, and all my ſalvation, for vvhichwhich I am Grace's debtor throughout all Eternity. I die vvith this my Teſtimony, my adherence to the National Covenant, to the Solemn League and Covenant, to the Work of Reformation a great length carried on, and now overthrown moſt ſinfully by ungodly Men, vvho have eſtablished their Apoſtacy by Law, which no juſt Power on earth could ever do. Alſo I adhere to the Presbyterial Government, the Confeſſion of Faith, Cathechiſms Larger and Shorter, And to the Solemn Acknovvledgement of the Church of Scotland, And Publick Teſtimonies thereof againſt the ſins of the time. This day I rejoyce that He hath counted me vvorthy to lay dovvn my life for Him, as one that beareth vvitneſs againſt the breach of all the Sacred Oaths and Ties that were eſtablished in this Land, yea by the juſt Laws both of God and Man, which never could have been repealed lawfully, as this wicked Generation hath done.

Dear Friends, I hope ye will ſtand faſt in this Obligation, and in the Solemn Oaths and Ties ye are under, and all the body of the Land alſo will be ſtedfaſt in the ſame, upon the greateſt hazard ye can meet with; And that ye will ſtudy perfect holineſs and nearneſs with God, which will help to keep you ſtraight in this day of Perſecution and sharp Triall that is now raging in this Land: I bleſs the Lord, I die not a fool, though ſome men have thought ſo of me by their ſpeeches to me, ſince my impriſonment: neither durſt I ever be the man to buy my liberty at ſuch a dear rate as Perjury, and to shake off theſe bleſſed bonds I did vvillingly come under; And I thank God, I never yet to this moment rued or repented it; And ſure I am p. 259it is better for me to ſuffer the vvorſt of deaths, then to preſerve my life by breaking the Oaths of God. I alſo give my Teſtimony againſt Prelacy and that vvicked Hierarchy novv eſtablished in this Land, as that vvhichwhich the Church of Chriſt could never bear until this day, it being ſuch a grand Enemy to the purity of the Goſpel, and povver of Godlineſs, yea a yoke vvhichwhich the Church of God groaneth under. I have no more to ſay, but commends all you the lovers of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt to God Himſelf, and to the good vvord of His grace, vvhichwhich is able to build you up untill the day of His appearance, and to give you all an inheritance with them that are ſanctified through faith in our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. And ſubſcribes my ſelf an expectant and apparent heir of the grace of Chriſt.

HUMPREY COLHOUN.

The Teſtimony of JOHN WILSON, Who ſuffered at Edinburgh, Decemb. 22. 1666.

Good People and Spectators.

I Am here condemned to die upon alleaged Rebellion againſt the King and his Authority, which God knoweth, I never intended. For in my judgement, a man's endeavouring to extirpate perjured Prelates and abjured Prelacy, according as he is bound by Oath in a ſworn Covenant, may very well ſtand with a man's Loyalty to King and Countrey; for I am ſure, the p. 260King and his Subjects may be happy, yea more happy in the extirpation of Prelates and Prelacy, then in their ſtanding; Yea the Throne shall never be eſtablished in peace, until that wicked plant be plucked up by the roots, which hath ſo much waſted and made deſolate the Lord's Vineyard: For my part, I pray that the Lord may bleſs our King with bleſſings from Heaven, and make him a friend to the Intereſts of Chriſt, as the beſt way for the ſtanding of his Throne to many generations; And I pray for all that are in Authority under his Majeſty, that the Lord may not lay to their charge the innocent blood of His Saints, which they have shed. But the ground of my ſentence is truly, the renewing of the Covenant with my God, and labouring to defend the ſame, according to my Oath: And this I profeſs is and was my duty, and by the grace of God will not quite it; And in token hereof, I am here before you all to lay down my life in defence of the ſame, and require you all to be witneſſes to this my Teſtimony; I do declare, I am not ashamed, but count it my glory. I do likewiſe declare this before you all in the ſight of God, the Judge of all hearts, that ſince the day I did firſt ſwear and ſubſcribe this Covenant for Reformation, it hath been ſweet unto me, for I am perſuaded in my Conſcience of the warrantableneſs thereof. I did ſwear the Covenant four times, and the laſt time at Lanerk, which was the ſweeteſt time to me of them all; For with my whole ſoul I renewed it, and gave up both my ſoul and body to Him, to be at His diſpoſal, which, I truſt in God, I shall never rue. Hearty praiſe and thanks be to the bleſſed God, that ever it pleaſed Him to give unto this poor Church that mercy to enter in Covenant with Himſelf, that He might be unto us a Covenanted p. 261God, the richeſt mercy that can be beſtowed on men. I have lived a Presbyterian in my judgement, according as I have ſworn, and judge it to be the only way that God hath appointed in His word, for the Government of His Church on earth; for under that Government the power and practice of Religion hath greatly flourished, and many a ſoul hes been converted to the Lord, and found ſweet fellowship with Him in His Ordinances, by the Miniſtry of His honeſt and and lawfully called Servants. And bleſſed be the day that ever I heard a faithfull ſent Miniſter preach the Goſpell. I do declare before heaven and earth that my whole deſigne in this Riſing in Armes, was only againſt abjured Prelacy and Prelaetes, the great Oppreſſors of God's Intereſts, and cruell perſecuters of His People, both in their conſciences and bodies; and I judge their Government and why not to be conforme to the Word of God in the Holy Scriptures. I might cite many Scriptures to this purpoſe, but I shall only name two Luke 22.26. but ye ſhall not be ſo; but he that is greateſt among you, let him be as the yonger; and be that is chief, as he that doth ſerve. And 1 Pet. 5.3. neither as being Lords over God's heritage, &c. Yea it may be ſeen from ſad experience, that under their Government, the power of Godlineſs hath decayed, and avowed profanity and Popery it ſelf hath increaſed, both to the dishonor of the holy Lord, and the great grief of the hearts of the Godly. I am ſo perſuaded of tne truth of the Covenant, and of the error of their way, and that Jeſus Chriſt is the only King and Lord over His own Houſe, and beſides Him there is none elſe, for He will not give His glory to another, I am ſo perſuaded of theſe things, that I p. 262dare ſeal the truth thereof with my blood, and am come hither for the ſame end, without any fear or amazement; yea if every hair of mine head were a man, I would have ventured all according to the Covenant which I made with my God; And although I be a poor polluted ſinner, and my houſe not ſo with God, as it became; yet hath He made with me an everlaſting Covenant, well ordered in all things and ſure, and this is all my Salvation and all my deſire; And I hope the Lord will ſoon tread down all His enemies with shame, and the enemies of His Covenant alſo. Therefore, let all that love the Lord Jeſus Chriſt and His Truth and Covenant, take comfort and courage, notwithſtanding of all that which is come to paſs, And let them not be ashamed to adhere thereunto, whatſoever ſufferings they meet with therein, for He will make up that loſs in Himſelf, and avenge the wrongs done to Himſelf & them in His own due time: I aſſure you, Chriſt is a good Maſter to ſerve: if ye knew Him rightly & His croſs, it is ſweet & eaſy to the believer; for He maketh death to be life, and bringeth light out of darkneſs. I deſire to follow the bleſſed Captain of my ſalvation through well and wo. I beſeech you, my dear Friends, whom now I am to part with, that ye ſtand to the defence of all the truths of God and of His Word; & that ye receive the Lord Chriſt, as He hath offered Himſelf therein, ye who have not cloſed with Him; And that he who hath cloſed with Him, abide in Him by a lively faith and love, bringing forth fruits, that you may put credit on your profeſſion, and keep off every thing that may shame your glorious and bleſſed Maſter before this evill and adulterous generation. And I give you all warning and de…ort you heartily as ye love your own ſouls, and as ye p. 263will anſwer to Him, who shall judge the quick and dead, that ye ſtand faſt in all the duties ye are ſworn unto in the National and in the Solemn League and Covenant, both towards God, your King and one another: And that ye beware of ſnares in taking of any Oaths or Declarations contrary in the leaſt, to the Oath of God in theſe Covenants. I leave my wife and little children upon Jeſus Chriſt my Lord, who are now to be made a widow and fatherleſs for His ſake, truſting, He will care for them; And I recommend them to the counſell and kindneſs of His people under Him. I can forgive the wrong done to me in taking away my life for this Cauſe, and wish God to be merciful to theſe that have condemned me, or have had any hand in my death: But bleſſed be God, that brought and hath kept me on His ſide of this Cauſe, and honoured me to be a publick witneſs for Him and His bleſſed Truth; and Cauſe; for which I shall praiſe Him in the World to come, whether I now go: yea I will praiſe Him on the borders of Death & Eternity. To His bleſſed Name, Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt be praiſe for now and ever. So ſaith your dying friend for Chriſt.

JOHN WILSON.