A New Martyrology, Introduction 2 · Speech 2
A brief Account of the last Speech of Mr. John Kidd, at the place of Execution at Edinburgh, on the 14th. day of August, 1679.
Right Worthy and well beloved Spectators and Auditors.
COnsidering what bodily Distempers I have been exercised with, since I came out of the Torture, viz. Scarce two hours out of my naked bed in one day, it cannot be expected, that I should be in a Case to say any thing to purpose at this Juncture, especially seeing I am not as yet free of it; however I cannot but Reverence the good hand of God upon me, and desire with all my Soul to bless him for this my present Lot.
It may be there are a great many here that judge my Lot very sad and deplorable. I must confess Death it self is very …e…rible to Flesh and Blood, but as it is an out-let to sin, and an in-let to Righteousness, it is the Christians great and inexpressible Priviledge, and give me leave to say this, that there is something in a Christian Condition, that can never put him without the reach of insufferableness, even shame, death, and the Cross b…ing included.
And then if there be peace betwixt God and the Soul, nothing can damp peace with Go… through our Lord Jesus Christ, this is a most supporting ingredient in the bitterest Cup, and under the sharpest, and firiest Tryal he can be exposed unto, thi… is my mercy, that I have something of this to lay Claim unto, viz. The intimations of Pardon, and Peace betwixt God and my Soul.
And as concerning that, for which I am condemned, I Magnifie his grace, that I never had the least challenge for it, but on the contrary, I Judge it my Honour, that ever I was counted worthy to come upon the Stage upon such a consideration; another thing that renders the most despicable Lot of the Christian, and mine sufferable, is a felt and sensible presence from the Lord, strengthening the Soul when most put to it, and if I could have this for my Allowance this day, I could be bold to say; O death where is thy sting! and could not but cry out Welcome to it, and all that follows upon it: I grant the Lord from an act of Soveraignty may come, and go as he pleases, but yet he will never forsake his people, and this is a Cordial to me in the Case I am now exposed unto.
Thirdly, The exercising and putting forth his glorious Power, is able to Transport the Soul of the Believer, and mine, above the reach of all sublunary Difficulties, and therefore seeing I have hope to be kept up by this power, I would not have you to look upon my Lot, or any other that is or may be in my C…se, in the least deplorable, seeing we have ground to believe, that in more or less he will perfect his Power and Strength in Weakness.
Fourthly, That I may come a little nearer to the purpose in hand, I declare before you all, in the sight of God, Angels and Men, and in the sight of that Son and all that he has Created, that I am a most miserable Sinner, in regard of my Original and Actual Transgressions. I must confess they are more in number than the Hairs of my Head. They are gone up above my Head, and are past numbring; I cannot but say as Jacob said, I am less than the least of all God's Mercies, yet I must declare to the exalting of his Free Grace, That to me who am the least of all Saints is this Grace made known, and that by a strong hand, and I dare not but say, he has loved me, and washed me in his own Blood from all Iniquities, and well is it for me this day, That ever I heard or read that faithful saying; that Jesus Christ came into the World to save Sinners, of whom I am chief.
Fifthly, I must also declare in his sight, I am the most unworthiest that ever opened his mouth to preach the unsearchable Riches of Christ in the Gospel. Yea, the sense of this made me altogether unwilling to fall about so great a Work, until by the importunity of some, whose Names are precious and savoury to me and many others, I was prevailed with to fall about it, and yet I am hopeful, not altogether without s…me fruit; and if I durst say it without Vanity, I never found so much of the presence of God upon my Spirit, as I have found in Exercises of that Nature, though I must still confess attended with inexpressible Weakness, and this is the main thing for which I must lay down my Tabernacle this day, viz. That I did preach Christ and the Gospel in several places of this Nation; for which I bless him (as I can) That ever such a poor obscure person as I am, have been thus priviledged by him, for making mention of his Grace as I was able.
In the next place, though to many I die desired, yet I know, to not a few my Death is not desired, and it is the rejoycing of my heart, that I die in the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has loved me, and given himself for me, and in the Faith of the Prophets and Apostles, and in this Faith of there's not a Name under Heaven by which Men can be saved, but the Name of Jesus, and in the Faith of the Doctrine and Worship of the Kirk of Scotland, as it is now established according to the Word of God, Confession of Faith, Catechisms larger and shorter, and likewise I joyn my Testimony against Popery, Perjury, Profanity, Heresie, and everything contrary to found Doctrine.
In the Close, as a dying Person, and as one who has obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful, I would humbly leave it upon godly Ministers to be faithful for their Lord and Master, and not to hold their peace in such a day, when so many way… are taken for injuring of him, his N…me, Way, Sanctuary, Ordinances, Crown and Kingdom, I hope there will be found a party in this Land, that will continue for him, and his Matters, in all Hazzards, and as faithfulnes… …s called for in Ministers, so Professors would concern themselves that they Countenance not, nor abet any thing inconsistent with former Principles and Practices. Let the Land consider how Neutral and Indifferent we are grown in the Matters of God, even like Ephrai… long ago, a Cake not turned.
As concerning that which is the ground of my Death, viz. Preaching here and there in some Corners; I bless my God. I have not the leas… Challenge for it; and tho' those that condemned me are pleased to call such Preachings Rendezvouses of Rebellion, yet I must say this of them, they were so far from being reputed such in my Eyes, that if ever Christ had a People, or Party, wherein his Soul took pleasure, I am bold to say, these Meetings were a great part of them; the Shining and Glory of God was eminently seen amongst these Meetings, the convincing Power and Authority of our Lord went out with his Servants in those blasphemously nick-nam'd Conventicles: This, I say, without Reflection upon any; I have a word to say farther, that God is calling Persons to Repentance, and to do their first Work: O that Scotland were a mourning Land, and that Reformation were our Practice, according as we are sworn in the Covenant.
Again, that Christians of Grace and Experience would study more streightness and stability in this day, when so many are turning to the right hand, and many to the left; he that endureth to the end shall be saved; he has appointed the Kingdom for such as continue with him in his Temptations.
Next, if ever you expect to h…ve the Form of the House shewed you in all the Laws thereof, goings out thereof, and comings in thereof; then think it no shame to take shame to you for all that has been done, sitting down on this side Jordan, is like to be our Bane. Oh! when shall we get up and run after him, till he bring us into the promised Land, let us up and after him with all our heart, and never rest till he return.
I recommend my Wife and young one to the care and faithfulness of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the God that has fed me to this day, and who is the God of my Salvation, their God and my God, their Father and my Father, I am also hopeful, that Christians, Friends and Relations, will not be unmindful of them when I am gone.
Lastly, I do further bear my Testimony to the Cross of Christ, and bless him that ever he counted me worthy to appear for him in such a lot as this: Glory to him that ever I heard tell of him, and that ever he fell upon such a method of dealing with me as this; and therefore let none that loves Christ and his Righteous Cause be offended in me.
And as I have lived in the Faith of thi…, that the three Kingdoms are married Lands, so I die in the Faith of it, that there will be a Resurrection of his Name, Word, Cause, and of all his Interest therein, tho' I dare not determine the time when, nor the manner how, but leave all these things to the infinitely wise God, who has done, and will do all things well. Oh that he would return to this Land again, to repair our Breaches, and take away our Back-sliding, and appear for his Work: Oh that he were pacified towards us: Oh that he would pass by Scotland once again, and make our time a time of Love, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly. Himself hasten it in his own time and way. The Lord is my light and life, my joy, my song, and my salvation; the God of his chosen be my Mercy this day, and the inriching comforts of the holy Ghost keep up and carry me fair through, to the Glory of his Grace, the, Edification of his People, and my own eternal Advantage. Amen.
Sic Subscrib. JOHN KID. August 14th. 1679. Tolbooth, Ante horam Septimam.
☞ Thus Reader, having given thee a faithful Account of the Behaviour and Dying Speeches of the most Eminent Persons who suffered in Scotland, I shall return again for London, where the last Person of Quality that suffered, was the Duke of Monmouth, whose Expedition and sufferings, &c. you have in the following Pages.