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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life of James Renwick, by Thomas Houston
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Life of James Renwick
+       A Historical Sketch Of His Life, Labours And Martyrdom And A
+       Vindication Of His Character And Testimony
+       
+
+Author: Thomas Houston
+
+Release Date: October 18, 2004 [EBook #13781]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF JAMES RENWICK ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Jordan Dohms and the PG Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The Life of
+
+JAMES RENWICK
+
+A historical sketch of his life,
+labours and martyrdom and a
+vindication of his character
+and testimony.
+
+_by Thomas Houston, D.D._
+
+Originally this life was written as an introduction to "The Letters of
+Renwick" Published by Alex. Gardner, Paisley, 1865.
+
+Cover Picture: Execution of James Renwick, Edinburgh, 1688.
+
+
+
+
+HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION.
+
+
+The prophet's message to Eli, "Wherefore the Lord God of Israel said
+* * * THEM THAT HONOUR ME, I WILL HONOUR," (1 Sam. ii. 30,) declares a
+fundamental law of the divine government, which the history alike of
+individuals and of communities has illustrated in all by-past ages. The
+works of many men of eminent talent and remarkable energy--admired in
+their own day,--have speedily passed into oblivion, or have been
+productive of few permanently salutary results. Despising God, "they
+have been lightly esteemed." Those, on the other hand, who honoured God,
+and were devoted to His service--however humble their talents or
+position in society,--however contemned and persecuted by the
+world--have been honoured of God. Their labours have been accepted to
+advance His glory in the earth--their memories have continued long
+fragrant, and their principles and character have furnished the most
+valuable instruction and the brightest examples to future generations.
+
+Of this we have a striking instance in JAMES RENWICK,--the last, and in
+various respects the most illustrious of the Scottish martyrs of the
+seventeenth century. Hated and persecuted in his own day, by the men in
+authority in Church and State--caluminated and reproached by ministers
+and others, who professed evangelical sentiments and affected piety--and
+his principles generally misrepresented and condemned even to our own
+day,--there is yet abundant evidence to show that the Master whom he
+faithfully served, and for whose cause he willingly surrendered his
+life, singularly owned and honoured him. His faithful contendings and
+arduous labours contributed not a little to subvert the throne of a
+bigot and tyrant, and to achieve the nation's liberties. They served
+also to secure the purity and independence of the Church, and to
+transmit a legacy of imperishable principles to future times, when "the
+handful of corn" upon the top of the mountains, "shall shake with fruit
+like Lebanon." Scant and fragmentary as are the memorials of
+Renwick--clothed in the most homely garb, and written with no artistic
+skill, they have yet been the means of nurturing vital piety in many a
+humble breast and household, in these and other countries, from the
+martyr era, to our own day; and not a few of the most devoted ministers,
+who have earnestly contended for precious truth, and been wise to win
+souls to Christ, have received from the record of the labours and
+sufferings and testimony of Renwick, some of their first solemn
+impressions for good, and propelling motives to holy diligence and
+self-devotion. As the story of Joseph in the Old Testament has been
+remarkably blessed, above other parts of the divine word, for promoting
+the conversion and early piety of the young, so the unadorned narrative
+of the life, labours, and death of the youthful Scottish martyr, has led
+not a few to prefer the cause and reproach of Christ to the world's
+favour--to imbibe his spirit, and to imitate him, in seeking ends the
+most important and glorious.
+
+Renwick's work in the Church is not yet fully accomplished, nor is the
+influence of his name losing its attractive power. On the contrary,
+there is evidence, increasing as it is cheering, that while the one is
+drawing to it more earnest regard and willing workers, the other is
+constantly becoming more powerful and widespread. Let any person compare
+the manner in which the later Scottish martyrs--Renwick and the Society
+people,--were spoken of in the histories, civil and ecclesiastical,
+emitted in these countries, forty or fifty years ago, with the altered
+tone of historians of a recent date, and he will see that posterity is
+beginning to do tardy justice to the memories of men of whom "the world
+was not worthy,"--- who were the noblest, most disinterested patriots of
+which their country could ever boast, and whose services to the cause of
+pure and undefined religion were invaluable. Occasionally, we yet find,
+in the works of some popular writers, Renwick and his fellow-sufferers,
+designated enthusiasts and fanatics, their principles misrepresented,
+and some of their most heroic deeds held up to ridicule and scorn. Even
+the brilliant Macaulay, while exposing to deserved condemnation their
+cruel and heartless persecutors, and while depicting with graphic power
+some of the incidents of the deaths of the Scottish martyrs, yet shews
+his strong aversion to evangelical principle and godly practice, by
+applying to the honest confessors the same opprobrious epithets. The age
+in which the martyrs and their principles were kept entombed, by heaping
+on them reproach and slander, is past, however, not to return again.
+Their names are destined not to perish. God designs in his providence to
+honour them more and more, by bringing more clearly to light the great
+principles for which they contended unto blood, striving against sin.
+The era long predicted and desired is approaching, when the saints shall
+rise to reign with Christ on the earth, when the spirit which
+distinguished them shall be extensively revived, and the great
+principles of their testimony shall be triumphant.
+
+Meanwhile, the resurrection of the _names_ of the confessors and martyrs
+of a former age, is a sure indication of the resurrection of their
+principles too. Through the evidence furnished by the faithful
+contendings and devoted lives of men of sanctified wisdom and high-toned
+piety, and the light reflected from the story of their sufferings and
+triumphant deaths, we cannot doubt that numbers will be led to earnest
+inquiry concerning the principles for which they testified in life, and
+in confirmation of which they willingly laid down their lives, that they
+might transmit the precious heritage to future generations. The result
+will be a wider appreciation of the value and excellency of a
+martyr-testimony; and in the period of promised light and enlargement,
+the lifting up of a standard in many places, and by strong hands, in
+behalf of the same great principles.
+
+As prefatory to the memorials of the piety, wisdom, and devotedness of
+the martyr Renwick, it appears desirable to present a brief sketch of
+his personal history--to notice the particular time in which he
+laboured, and the principles for which he contended,--his martyrdom,
+character, and the distinct and honourable position assigned him in the
+great work of maintaining and advancing the Redeemer's cause in the
+earth.
+
+
+
+
+RENWICK'S LIFE
+
+
+James Renwick was the child of godly parents in humble life. His father,
+Andrew Renwick, was a weaver, and his mother, Elizabeth Corson, is
+especially mentioned, like the mother and grandmother of Timothy, or
+like Monica, the mother of Augustine, as a woman of strong faith, and
+eminently prayerful. As several of her children had died in infancy, she
+earnestly sought that the Lord would give her a child, who would not
+only be an heir of glory, but who might live to serve God in his
+generation. Her prayer was heard and graciously answered. The son of her
+vows was born at Moniaive, in the parish of Glencairn, Gallowayshire, on
+the 15th of February, 1662. His father died before he reached the age of
+fourteen, but not before he felt assured--probably from observing in the
+boy remarkable indications of early piety--that, though his course on
+earth would be short, the Lord would make singular use of him in his
+service. The early training of this distinguished martyr was, in a great
+measure, through the instrumentality of a devoted mother, who could
+boast of no worldly affluence or accomplishments, but whose heart was
+richly pervaded by the grace of the Spirit, and intensely concerned for
+the Saviour's glory; and who, in times of great difficulty and great
+trial, maintained unwavering confidence in the faithful word of promise.
+
+If James Renwick was not "sanctified from the womb," there was clear
+evidence afforded, that, in early childhood, he was the subject of
+gracious motions of the Spirit. At two years of age, he was observed to
+be aiming at secret prayer; and as his childhood advanced, he evinced
+love to the ways of God, by reading and pondering the Scriptures,
+delight in secret prayer, and by reverential regard to the authority of
+his parents. Like Luther, and other eminent servants of God, Renwick was
+trained for his life-work in the school of _temptation_; he experienced
+painful mental conflicts, and the assaults of the tempter, at a very
+early period. It is recorded that, at six years of age, he was conscious
+of distressing doubts, in relation to the Divine existence and
+perfections. These exercised and agitated his mind for a period of two
+years. In answer to prayer, and by meditation on the power and goodness
+of God, as seen in creation, he overcame the temptation, and attained to
+internal composure and tranquillity. At a time of life considerably
+subsequent, when he had reached mature youth, and had acquired extensive
+acquaintance with Scriptural truth, a like temptation again assailed
+him. He himself relates that he fell into deeper perplexity and distress
+about these fundamental truths. Like the excellent Robert Bruce of the
+First Reformation, he was strongly tempted to atheism. So powerful at
+one time was the assault, that, being in the fields and looking to the
+distant mountains, he exclaimed, "Were all these devouring furnaces of
+burning brimstone, he would be content to go through them, if he could
+thereby be assured of the existence of God." There was at length made
+for him a way of escape from this severe temptation, and not only did he
+attain to a full and joyful persuasion of God's existence, but to the
+assurance of his personal interest in God as his covenant portion.
+
+James Renwick was endowed with a vigorous reflective mind, and from his
+childhood he was devoted to reading and study. Amidst considerable
+difficulties, he commenced and prosecuted with ardour studies for the
+ministry. There is ample evidence from his writings that his attainments
+in learning were by no means superficial. Through the kindness of
+friends raised up in providence, he was enabled to pursue classical
+studies in Edinburgh, and while attending the University there, he
+maintained himself till he had finished the undergraduate course, partly
+by teaching and aiding others in their studies. When his scholarship
+entitled him to a University degree, he refused to receive this honour,
+because it was required at the time that students, on graduating, should
+swear the oath of allegiance, which expressly owned the royal supremacy.
+In company with two fellow-students, he sometime after received his
+degree privately.
+
+Continuing in Edinburgh to prosecute his studies, he was brought to
+attend the private fellowship-meetings of the persecuted covenanters. He
+met with the "outed" ministers, and was led to study, by the light of
+the Divine word and the teaching of the Spirit, the exciting and deeply
+important questions of the day. Thus did he become convinced of the
+numerous defections from the principles and ends of the Covenanted
+Reformation, of the majority of the ministers and Presbyterian people of
+Scotland; and he was persuaded that the stricter Covenanters,--the
+followers of Cargill and Cameron, and those associated in Societies, and
+who frequented conventicles,--alone consistently carried out the grand
+principles and aims of the national vows. At length, after much
+searching of heart, and according to his words, testifying to his deep
+conscientiousness, "with great grief, reluctance, and trembling of
+soul," he became identified with the persecuted remnant. Soon after,
+while yet only _nineteen years of age_, Renwick witnessed the martyrdom
+of the venerable servant of Christ, Donald Cargill. He stood near the
+scaffold, beheld his courageous and triumphant departure to glory, and
+heard the clear and powerful last words, in which he nobly testified for
+the crown-rights of the Redeemer, and against Erastian usurpation. "As
+to the causes of my suffering," said the dying martyr, "the chief
+is--not acknowledging the present Authority, as it is established in the
+Supremacy and Explanatory Act. This is the magistracy I have resisted,
+that which is invested with Christ's power. Seeing that power taken from
+Christ, which is His glory, and made the essential of an earthly crown,
+it seemed to me as if one were wearing my husband's garments, after he
+had killed him. There is no distinction we can make, that can free the
+acknowledger from being a partaker of this sacrilegious robbing of God.
+And it is but to cheat our consciences to acknowledge the _civil power_
+alone, that it is of the essence of the crown; and seeing they are so
+express, we ought to be plain; for otherwise, we deny our testimony and
+consent that Christ be robbed of His glory."
+
+These mighty utterances, so solemnly confirmed by the martyr's blood,
+could not fail to make a deep impression on the heart of the youthful
+Renwick. His purpose was fixed, and his resolution taken, to maintain
+the same great principles; and reproach and persecution and death could
+not turn him aside. His Christian decision had its reward. He declared
+that he did not fully know what the gracious presence of God with His
+people meant, till he joined the fellowship of the persecuted remnant. A
+large measure of the spirit of the "faithful Cargill" rested on his
+youthful successor; and when, some two years after, he entered on the
+work of the ministry, it was justly said--"he took up the Covenanted
+Banner as it fell from the hands of Cargill."
+
+At the time that Renwick united with the Society People, they were
+destitute of a public ministry. Cargill and Cameron had sealed their
+testimony with their blood. The Churches were either filled with
+Episcopal curates, or by time-serving Presbyterian ministers, who had
+accepted the indulgence flowing from the royal supremacy. By an act of
+Parliament passed in 1672 against "unlawful ordinations," the way to the
+ministry was barred against all who could not accept Prelatical
+ordination. The Societies, having organized a general correspondence,
+earnestly desired a stated ministry, while they manifested the strictest
+regard to scriptural order. Animated by a noble public spirit, they
+selected James Renwick and two other young men, and sent them to
+complete their studies for the ministry in Holland, then renowned for
+its theological Seminaries, where deep sympathy was manifested for the
+suffering Church of Scotland. He studied at the university of Groningen,
+where some of the most distinguished theologians in Europe occupied
+professorial Chairs. Studying in the spirit of entire devotedness, and
+actuated by an earnest desire to return to Scotland, where there was
+pressing need for faithful ministerial services, he made such
+proficiency, that in a short time, he was fully qualified to receive
+ordination. According to the usage of the Dutch Church, he was ordained
+at Groningen, by a Classis or Presbytery of learned and godly ministers,
+who evinced their catholic spirit by yielding to his request to allow
+him to subscribe the standards of the Church of Scotland, instead of
+their own formula. There was remarkable evidence of God's gracious
+presence being enjoyed in the solemn service.--It has been appropriately
+said, that as the conflicts of the German reformation were acted over by
+Luther in his cloister, before he was called to his public work, so the
+struggles of the covenanted cause in Scotland, were first engaged in by
+Renwick in his retirement and solitary chamber in Groningen. There he
+clearly foresaw the conflicts and trials that awaited him; and in near
+communion with God, he yielded himself up as an entire self-sacrifice,
+anticipating the blessed recompense of the reward. In the early Pagan
+persecutions, the church was sometimes symbolically represented by an ox
+with a plough on the one side, and an altar on the other, with the
+inscription, "Ready for either"--prepared for work or slaughter. Such
+was the spirit of Renwick, as he looked forward to the work that lay
+before him in his native land. In a letter written from Holland at this
+time, he says, "My longings and earnest desire to be in that land, and
+with the pleasant remnant, are very great. I cannot tell what may be in
+it, but I hope the Lord hath either some work to work, or else is minded
+presently to call for a testimony at my hand. If He give me frame and
+furniture, I desire to welcome either of them."
+
+Renwick returned from Holland in the autumn of 1683. Escaping some
+dangers at sea, he visited Dublin, where he bore a faithful testimony
+against the silence of ministers in the public cause, and left behind
+him a favourable impression on the minds of some of his Christian zeal
+and devotedness. In September, 1683, he landed in Scotland, and on the
+3d of November, he entered on his arduous work of preaching the Gospel
+in the fields, and lifting up the standard of a covenanted testimony. He
+preached on that day at Darmead in the parish of Cambusnethan. From that
+time, till he closed his glorious career and won the martyr's crown, he
+preached with eminent fidelity and great power the glorious gospel of
+the grace of God. His public labours were continued for a period of
+nearly five years, and extended to many districts in the east, south,
+and west of Scotland. In remote glens, unfrequented moorlands, often in
+the night season, and amid storm and tempest, when the men of blood
+could not venture out of their lairs, to pursue the work of destruction,
+he displayed a standard for truth, and eagerly laboured to win souls to
+Christ. His last sermon was preached at _Borrowstoness_, from Isaiah
+liii. 1, on January 29th, 1688.
+
+Though he ever testified boldly against the defections of the times,
+especially the Indulgence, and insisted on disowning the papist James,
+as not being a constitutional monarch, and on maintaining fully
+Presbyterian order and discipline, and all the covenanted attainments,
+his discourses were eminently evangelical. His darling themes were
+salvation through Christ, and the great matters of practical godliness.
+With wonderful enlargement and attractive sweetness, he unfolded the
+covenant of grace--the matchless person and love of Christ--the finished
+atonement, and its sufficiency for advancing the glory of the Godhead,
+and for the complete salvation of elect sinners. Considering Renwick's
+youth, being but _nineteen_ years of age when he entered on his great
+work, he was endowed with singular qualifications as a preacher of the
+gospel. These remarkably fitted him for the great work to which he was
+called--promoting the Redeemer's glory, in awakening and converting
+sinners, and in edifying and comforting the Church in a season of
+suffering and trial. He was, moreover, gifted with personal talents,
+natural and acquired, that rendered him an attractive and powerful
+preacher of the gospel. His aspect was solemn and engaging. His personal
+appearance, even when harassed by incessant labours and privations,
+night wanderings and hair-breadth escapes from enemies, was sweet and
+prepossessing. His manner in preaching was lucid and affecting. His
+whole heart was thrown into his discourses. He often rose to the height
+of the most moving eloquence; and with the constant reality of God's
+presence and love, and the dread realities of persecution, and violent
+death, and eternity, before him, he poured out his soul in such strains
+of heavenly enlargement, that his hearers were melted, subdued, and
+raised above the fear of death, and the terror of enemies.
+
+The following account of Renwick's manner of preaching, and of the
+impressions made on his hearers is taken from an unpublished MS. of
+Ebenezer Nesbit, son of Captain Nesbit of Hardhill, and may be regarded
+as descriptive of the way in which he proclaimed the gospel to the
+"flock in the wilderness," during his brief but singularly efficient
+ministry. Need we wonder, after reading this narrative, at the spiritual
+effects of his preaching to thousands in his day, and at the precious
+fruits that resulted from his labours long afterwards, and the sweet
+savour of his name throughout subsequent times? "The latter end of this
+year, I heard that great man of God, Mr. James Renwick, preach on Song
+iii. 9, 10, when he treated greatly on the covenant of redemption agreed
+on between God the Father and God the Son, in favour of the elect; as
+also on the covenant of grace established with believers in Christ. Oh,
+this was a great and sweet day of the gospel! for he handled and pressed
+the privileges of the covenant of grace with seraphic enlargement, to
+the great edification of the hearers. Sweet and charming were the offers
+which he made of Christ to all sorts of sinners. There was one thing
+that day that was very remarkable to me; for though it was rain from
+morning to night, and so wet as if we had been drenched in water, yet
+not one of us fell sick. And though there was a tent fixed for him, he
+would not go into it, but stood without in the rain and preached; which
+example had a great influence on the people to patience, when they saw
+his sympathy with them. And though he was the only minister that kept
+closest to his text, and had the best method for the judgment and
+memory, of any that ever I heard; yet now, when he preached, the people
+crowded close together, because of the rain, he digressed a little, and
+said, with a pleasant, melting voice, 'My dear friends, be not disturbed
+because of the rain. For to have a covenant-interest in Christ, the true
+Solomon, and in the benefits of his blessed purchase, is well worth the
+enduring of all temporal, elementary storms that can fall on us. And
+this Solomon, who is here pointed at, endured a far other kind of storm
+for his people--even a storm of unmixed wrath. And oh, what would poor
+damned reprobates in hell give for this day's offer of sweet and lovely
+Christ. And oh, how welcome would our suffering friends in prison and
+banishment make this day's offer of Christ.' 'And, for my own part,'
+said he, 'as the Lord will keep me, I shall bear my equal share in this
+rain, in sympathy with you.' And he returned to his sweet Subject again,
+and offered us grace and reconciliation with God, through Christ, by his
+Spirit.
+
+"Words would fail me to express my own frame, and the frame of many
+others; only this I may say, we would have been glad to have endured any
+kind of death, to have been home at the uninterrupted enjoyment of that
+glorious Redeemer who was so livelily and clearly offered to us that
+day.
+
+"He was the only man that I ever knew that had an unstained integrity.
+He was a lively and faithful minister of Christ and a worthy Christian,
+such as none who were acquaint with him could say any other but this,
+that he was a beloved Jedidiah of the Lord. I never knew a man more
+richly endowed with grace, more equal in his temper, more equal in his
+spiritual frame, and more equal in walk and conversation. When I speak
+of him as a man--none more lovely in features, none more prudent, none
+more brave and heroic in spirit; and yet none more meek, none more
+humane and condescending. He was every way so rational, as well as
+religious, that there was reason to think that the powers of his reason
+were as much strengthened and sanctified as any man's I ever heard of.
+When I speak of him as a Christian--none more meek, and yet none more
+prudently bold against those who were bold to sin--none more frequent
+and fervent in religions duties, such as prayer, converse, meditation,
+self-examination, preaching, prefacing, lecturing, baptizing, and
+catechising; none more methodical in teaching and instructing,
+accompanied with a sweet, charming eloquence, in holding forth Christ,
+as the only remedy for lost sinners; none more hated of the world, and
+yet none more strengthened and upheld by the everlasting arms of
+Jehovah, to be steadfast, and abound in the way of the Lord, to the
+death; wherefore he might be justly called "Antipas," Christ's faithful
+martyr. And as I lived then to know him to be so of a truth, so, by the
+good hand of God, I yet live, thirty-six years after him, to testify
+that no man upon just grounds had any thing to lay to his charge. When
+all the critical and straitening circumstances of that period are well
+considered, save that he was liable to natural and sinful infirmities,
+as all men are when in this life, and yet he was as little guilty in
+this way as any I ever knew or heard of, he was the liveliest and most
+engaging preacher to close with Christ, of any I ever heard. His
+converse was pious, prudent, and meek; his reasoning and debating was
+the same, carrying almost with it full evidence of the truth of what he
+asserted. And for steadfastness in the way of the Lord, few came his
+length. He learned the truth and counted the cost, and so sealed it with
+his blood. Of all men that ever I knew, I would be in the least danger
+of committing a hyperbole when speaking in his commendation. And yet I
+speak not this to praise men, but for the glory and honour of God in
+Christ, who makes men to differ so much from others, and in some periods
+of the Church more than others."
+
+The "LECTURES AND SERMONS" of James Renwick that remain were published
+from the notes taken, at the time of their delivery, by some of his
+attached hearers and followers. They were not prepared with any view to
+future publication; and the trying circumstances in which their devoted
+author was placed, wholly prevented any correction or revisal. Yet they
+contain not only remarkably clear expositions of the word, and a full
+exhibition of the scheme of salvation, but also many passages which, for
+searching application to the conscience, and moving eloquence, are
+unsurpassed in the discourses of eminent preachers either in ancient or
+modern times. As specimens of the matter of Renwick's discourses
+delivered in the _Conventicles_, in the fields, amidst all dangers and
+incidents of weather, and by night as well as day, the following are
+selected from the published reports of his hearers:--
+
+In a discourse on Song i. 7,--"Tell me, O Thou whom my soul loveth,
+where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon,"--he thus earnestly pleads,
+"Love Him, and you shall not come short of the enjoyment of Him
+hereafter. It is true, faith is that which, as an instrument, apprehends
+Christ and engrafts us in Him; yet it worketh by love, and love
+accompanieth faith, as the sunbeams do the sun. Oh what shall I say?
+Love him! love him! Ye cannot bestow your love so well. Turn others to
+the door, and take in this Beloved. Here I make offer of Him unto you,
+here I present Him unto you! Lift up your heads, O ye doors, that the
+king of glory may come in. I present a glorious Conqueror _this night_,
+to be your guest. O cast ye open the two foldings of the door of your
+hearts, to wit, that ye may receive Him; cast ye open the hearty consent
+of faith and love, that He may take up His abode with you. Oh, what say
+ye to it? Friends, will ye close with Christ? I obtest you by his own
+excellency, I obtest you by the joys of heaven, and the torments of
+hell, that you close with Him. _All of you come, whatever you have been
+or are; none of you_ shall be cast _out_. Whosoever will, let him take
+of the water of life freely."
+
+"Seeing it is the duty of people to set their love upon Christ, I exhort
+you to give some testimonies of love. Think ye that ye love him? Will ye
+then show that? I would expostulate for some testimonies of your love.
+When Peter confessed that he loved Christ, our Lord desires him to show
+that by feeding His lambs and sheep. It is true, you cannot show your
+love that way, for ye are not called to that office; but ye ought to
+show it in the way that is competent to you in your stations. So as I
+was saying before, I expostulate with you for some testimonies of your
+love. "Make a free and full resignation of yourselves and your all to
+Christ, that ye may say with the spouse, I am my Beloved's! Oh, ye
+should not prig (higgle) with Him about anything. Some prig with Him
+about their hearts, and will have a part thereof in their darling idols,
+which they cannot think to quit. Some prig with Him about their time,
+and will make religion but their by-work. If their worldly employments
+be throng, they will neglect the worship in their families, and prayer
+in secret. Others, if they keep any family worship, it is in the
+evening: ordinarily they are impatient, and haste to an end in it: and
+neglect it in the morning altogether. Oh, what a sad prigging is this.
+Some prig with him about their relations. They will not quit these when
+He calls them to suffer for His sake; but will tempt them, or will
+insinuate upon them to comply, and deny His cause. Some prig with Him
+about their possessions, and yielding to this or that iniquity, will
+keep their houses and lands, they will not quit them. And some will prig
+with Him about their lives; and if the swearing of a sinful oath, the
+subscribing to an iniquitous bond, or denying of His cause, will save
+their lives, they will not lose them. Oh, what sad prigging is this! Oh,
+be ashamed of it. Will ye lay all at his feet, and count it your honour
+and joy that He dispose of the same as He pleaseth? Give this testimony
+of your love to Christ, rejoice in Him when present, and keep His room
+empty when absent. I say rejoice in him when present. I need not press
+you much to do this, for in his presence there is great joy: though the
+enjoyment of Him here be imperfect, yet it brings exceeding gladness
+with it. Therefore saith the Psalmist,--'Thou hast put gladness in my
+heart, more than when corn and wine are increased.' But when He is
+absent, see that ye keep His room empty for Him. When He sees it meet at
+any time for your correction, trial, and instruction, to withdraw
+Himself, or hide His face, then idols or other lovers will readily
+present themselves, and seek to possess His room. But, be chaste and
+true to your Beloved, as the spouse who, in His absence, could not be
+contented, but used all means and diligence until she found Him."
+
+In a sermon on Song v. 16,--"His mouth is most sweet, yea, He is
+altogether lovely. This is my Beloved, and this is my friend, O ye
+daughters of Jerusalem,"--the following affecting views are presented:
+"The second property of Christ's love is, that it is a _strong_ love,
+which appears from what He hath done for sinners. He has done great
+things for sinners. He took upon Himself all the sinless infirmities of
+human nature--not sinful nature. Yea, He endured a shameful and
+lingering death, besides a flood of wrath that he waded through, such a
+flood of wrath as would have drowned all the sons and daughters of Adam
+to all eternity. Thus 'He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we
+might be made the righteousness of God in Him.' Greater love hath no man
+than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Oh, my friends,
+if ye will follow Christ through all the steps of his humiliation, ye
+may see that the love of Christ is strong love, which makes him endure
+such things for sinners. He gives great things to sinners, whereby He
+shows the strength of his love to them; for He gives grace and glory,
+and no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly; for He
+saith, 'Father, I will that they also whom Thou hast given me, be with
+me where I am, that they may behold my glory which Thou hast given me.'
+Christ gives the believer union with himself and communion in glory with
+the Father, even a share of that glory which the Father giveth Him, He
+giveth them. He gives them a crown of righteousness which shall never
+fade away; and He gives them to drink of the rivers of his pleasures,
+that are at his right hand for evermore. Oh, my friends, Christ doth not
+prig with His spouse: He will keep nothing back from them, that He sees
+to be for her profit.--Oh, but His love is _strong_. He requires no more
+for all that He has done, and all that He hath given, but that He see
+the travail of His soul. He will think but little of all that He hath
+done, if we will but accept of His love, and lay our love upon Him. Yea,
+so may be said of Him, as was said of Jacob,--the seven years that he
+served for Rachel seemed but a few days, for the love that He bare unto
+her. His love is so strong, that although thou shouldest run away from
+Him never so fast, yet His love will overtake thee, and bring thee back
+again. Paul ran very fast in opposition to His love, when he was going
+to Damascus to persecute the Church. But Christ's love overtook him
+suddenly. Manasseh ran very fast from Christ, when he made the streets
+of Jerusalem to run with innocent blood, and set up an abomination in
+the house of God, and used witchcraft; and yet Christ's love overtook
+him, and brought him back again from the pit. If thou art one of those
+that the Father hath given to the Son, though thou shouldest run to the
+brink of hell, He will bring thee back again from thence.
+
+"Christ's love is _pure_ and _sincere_ love. 'Herein is love, not that
+we loved Him, but that He loved us;" not for any advantage that He can
+have by us, for He is infinite in all perfections without us; therefore
+we can neither enrich Him, nor add any more glory to Him. We may well
+magnify His power; that is all we can do, and all the advantage is our
+own. Christ's love is not a base love; He loves us not for His good or
+advantage, but for our real good and advantage. It is pure and sincere
+love, for all the advantage is ours.
+
+"Christ's love is an _enriching_ love, for those upon whom His love is
+bestowed are no more poor. How can they be poor who have Christ for
+their riches? for, saith the Apostle, 'All things are yours, and ye are
+Christ's, and Christ is God's.' If ye have this love bestowed on you,
+then all other things are made to serve for your good--ye shall lack
+nothing.
+
+"Christ's love is a _free_ love. He gives His love freely, without any
+reward, and so it is free love; the offer is _alike to all_. If ye will
+but take it off his hand, He makes open proclamation of it to you all,
+saying, 'Ho every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.' Oh, my
+friends, all other love is infinitely beneath this. He took not on him
+the nature of angels, but He took the seed of Abraham. Oh, my friends,
+God hath made us the centre of His love; and therefore, I beseech you,
+do not despise His love. He came not to redeem any of the fallen angels,
+but the seed of Abraham."
+
+In the following moving terms, he pleads with his hearers to accept of
+Christ and his salvation:--"Your eternal enjoyment of God will be your
+element, which ye shall for ever delight in, and this shall be to praise
+and admire his love. For, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath
+it entered into the heart of man to conceive the things that the Lord
+hath prepared for them that love Him. Oh, then, sirs, what think ye of
+Christ? Will ye not, at _this time_, say, He is your Beloved and your
+Friend? Oh, give your consent to become His friends, and accept of Him
+as your friend. I leave this offer at your door; He is willing to
+befriend you, if you will come into an estate of friendship with Him.
+Come, come, and take His offer off his hand. Say not that ye have
+continued so long in sin, that ye know not if He will befriend you now;
+for if ye will come to Him, He will yet befriend you. Therefore, for the
+Lord's sake, put not away such an offer, but take it _in the present
+time_; for ye know not if ever ye shall have an offer again. If ye will
+not take his offer off His hand _this day_, I will be a witness against
+you in the great day of judgment, that this day, the Son of
+righteousness offered Himself to be your friend, and ye have made light
+of the offer. Yea, the hills and mountains about us shall be witnesses
+that ye had Christ in your offer such a _day_, in such a _place_;
+therefore, my dear friends, say now that He is your beloved, and that He
+is your friend."
+
+His close dealing with the conscience, and his solemn warnings and
+exhortations are exemplified in the following passages:--
+
+"Consider your own condition without Christ. Ye are lost and undone,
+limbs of Satan, children of wrath, hell to be your dwelling-place, and
+devils and damned souls to be your company eternally, and where sin
+shall be your eternal torment. This is your condition without Jesus
+Christ. What think ye of eternal exclusion from the presence and comfort
+of God? What think ye of hell, where there is nothing but utter
+darkness, weeping and wailing for evermore, to be your dwelling-place?
+What think ye of devils to be your continual company? And what think ye
+of sin to be your continual life--always blaspheming the glorious name
+of God? And what think ye of your final condition--to be in continual
+torment--always weeping and gnashing your teeth? All this, I say, is
+abiding you who will not embrace Jesus Christ, whatever your profession
+be. For, believe me, a profession will not save you from this eternal
+misery, if ye receive not Jesus Christ. Whatever your sufferings be
+here, yet ye shall suffer this hereafter, if ye receive not Jesus
+Christ. My heart bleeds for many sufferers in Scotland, who shall suffer
+everlasting torment in hell, because they will not receive and embrace
+Jesus Christ, this gracious and free Saviour, who is now in your offer.
+Oh, embrace Jesus Christ, otherwise, be ye who ye will, and do what ye
+will, God's justice shall pursue you, and He shall have war against you
+without cessation: there shall be no discharge in that war. The great
+warriors of the earth are all lying with their weapons broken under
+their heads; but here is a war that hath no end. You who will not
+receive Jesus Christ, you will see that ye have made an evil choice,
+when ye pass through the dark gates of hell, to the inner chambers
+thereof. To move you, further consider, that if ye will take Him, ye
+shall have Him and all His. Ye shall drink of the waters of life; your
+feet shall stand on the sea of glass before the throne. Ye shall have
+His name, and bear His image, and wear a crown of pure gold upon your
+heads, and follow the Lamb with palms in your hands, saying,
+'Hallelujah! and glory, and honour and power, unto the Lord our God.' Ye
+shall have the fine white linen garments of Christ's righteousness, to
+wear in heaven, in clothing eternally. Ye shall have the glorious cloud
+of witnesses--angels and the spirits of just men made perfect, for your
+continual company; and ye shall have a life of love and joy everlasting,
+with Him that is altogether lovely. Oh, then, come and take Jesus
+Christ. Would ye make a happy choice? Then take Him and embrace Him, old
+and young, man and woman, lad and lass. Now Christ is in your offer; and
+you are all invited to come to Him. And now I charge you all, as ye
+respect the glory of God, and as ye desire this happy condition that I
+have spoken of to you, slight not this offer. Now the golden chain of
+salvation is let down to you. Grip, grip it fast, before it is taken up
+again. Go not away fools, lest ye never be at such a market-day again.
+"What shall I say to persuade you? Let the excellency and glory of His
+great name do it. Be entreated to accept of Christ in this present
+offer. Here I obtest you, by what He hath purchased for sinners, and by
+what He has suffered, come and embrace Him. I obtest you by the blood He
+shed on the cross; I obtest you by the great drops of blood He shed in
+the garden, and by all the joys that are above the clouds in heaven,
+that ye put not this offer away. I obtest you, by all the torments of
+hell, that ye put not this offer away. I obtest you by the glory of
+heaven, and by the crowns which believers put on His head, that ye
+slight not this offer.
+
+"Here I take every man and woman to witness against one another, that ye
+had Christ in your offer; and I shall be a witness against all of you
+that have not received Christ _this night_. Yea, though he should never
+be glorified in such a sort by me, yet I will be a witness against you.
+Here, before the throne of grace, I declare in His name, that I have
+made an offer of Him unto you; and, therefore, your blood shall be upon
+your own heads if ye perish, and I shall be free of the same."
+
+In another place, he presses with like earnestness acceptance of the
+gospel offer:--"If ye would be rightly concerned, ye must at once come,
+and be a right son or daughter of the church, and member of Jesus
+Christ; until then, ye cannot have a fellow-feeling of the body. Come
+then, and Christ will give you a fellow-feeling with the sufferings of
+the church. Come and embrace Himself, and He will set the stamp of
+natural children upon you. Without Him, ye can do nothing; without Him,
+ye cannot be concerned with the sufferings of His name and members.
+Refuse not; reject not His offers, when He calls you to Himself. It is
+hard to say if some of you shall have an offer again. _Now_ is the
+acceptable time--_now_ is the day of salvation. He is _now_ spreading
+his net, and will ye not come about the net's mouth, that a catch of you
+may be gotten. He is proclaiming unto you that He hath invincible power,
+though managed by apparent weakness. Oh, find you any of this
+irresistible power of Christ? Oh, come unto Him who is the joy of
+heaven, and it shall be a joyful time in heaven. He will have a good
+report of you through heaven, if ye shall have it to say that some poor
+lad or lass hath put a crown upon His head in such a place. But oh, how
+sad will it be, if Christ shall have it to say, 'I gave offer of myself
+to a people like stocks and stones, but they would not hear!'"
+
+On the duty of devoting the best to God's service, in another discourse,
+he thus forcibly reasons:--
+
+"Observe, that it cannot but be a great injury against God, and procure
+a curse, when people employ not their best things in His service. This
+is clear from the words, 'Cursed be the deceiver which hath in his flock
+a male, and voweth and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing.' So
+men that employ not their best things in the Lord's service, believe it,
+they are chargeable with this. He calls for your best things in His
+service, and not that you should spend that upon your lusts. Ye are
+called to employ the best of your time in his service; and many of you
+give Him but the refuse of your time, or at least, He gets but your
+by-time for His service. But ye should give Him the best of your time
+and strength, and your hearts--all should be employed in his service. Do
+not say that you do the best that you can; for I am persuaded that there
+is none of you but may do more for Him than ye do. Do not say that ye
+improve the talent that He hath given you to trade with, for ye but
+misimprove it; and the best of you, we fear, come short of improving it.
+If ye improve it, ye should find it increase upon your hand, and you
+would appear like his children. But because people do not improve their
+time and abilities to lay them out for God, it procures a curse. For
+though our obligations go far beyond our duties that we do, yet when we
+do not lay out all our abilities for Him, and do not bestow our love,
+our affections, and our time, and all that we have for Him, but bestow
+them upon other things, we procure His curse. Young folks, set to the
+work, and be entreated to give up yourselves to his service, and employ
+your best things for Him, now when your desires are fast and quick. Oh,
+will ye bestow them on precious Christ? You have a brave prize put in
+your hand, if ye set aright to the work; ye may see Zion's King come
+back, and the crown set upon his head again."
+
+Urging the necessity of being found within the kingdom of God, he
+says:--
+
+"Seeing that the gate is very strait and narrow that leads to the
+kingdom of heaven, then what shall become of many of you, that never
+came the length that hypocrites have come? Oh, what will ye say, and how
+will ye meet with God, when He comes to count with you for a preached
+gospel? What will ye think of a Mediator that was offered to you, whom
+ye slighted and despised; when the heaven and earth shall melt away; and
+great men, and mean men, shall howl and cry, and all the tribes of the
+earth shall wail because of Him? Oh! this will be the portion of
+hypocrites from God.
+
+"It is of use for trial--for all of you to try yourselves, and ponder in
+your hearts, and say, 'Oh, soul, whether art thou in the kingdom of
+heaven or not?' Oh, be exhorted to this, whatever be thy state, O man
+and woman. It is safe for thee to search thy state; if matters be right
+betwixt God and thy soul, it will be thy peace; if not, thou mayest
+possibly get righted. For my part, I count him the best Christian that
+is most accurate in this searching and communing with his own heart; for
+if ye neglect this, ye may come to lose the sight of your interest in
+Christ, if ever ye had it. Do not satisfy yourselves with being near the
+kingdom of God, but go into it. For this end, break the bargain and
+peace with your lusts and idols; and make up your peace with God through
+Christ, our Peace-maker, and ye shall find great advantage in the
+exchange; for the wicked have peace, but with sin and sinful men, but
+the godly have peace with God. Oh, will ye quit all other things, and
+seek to be interested in Him? For it is to be feared that many here have
+proclaimed peace with sin, and some idol, or other. Oh, break the
+bargain, and make peace with Christ! Make choice of Him; for He can give
+you that which no other lover can give you. O break that peace with your
+lusts and idols, and make peace with Him. Remember, He offers himself to
+you freely this day. Choose, therefore, what ye will do. O seek for the
+fulness of the Spirit of Christ, and rest upon nothing but upon himself
+alone; and seek to be in the kingdom of God, by the thorough work of
+conversion upon your souls.
+
+"And now to all that are in the kingdom, I proclaim peace in the name of
+God, whatever troubles they are under here. So enter into the kingdom
+through Christ only, for that is the way to it. But as for you who will
+not come to him, and enter into the kingdom through Christ only, who is
+the way to it, I do, in like manner, proclaim war with that soul from
+God, whatever ye be in profession. O friends, lay it to heart, and
+choose you whether it be better to have heaven's peace, and the devil
+and the world's feud; or to have the devil and the world's peace, and
+feud with God for ever! And now to Him who is purchaser of true peace,
+be glory and praise for ever. Amen."
+
+When it is understood that the discourses from which these extracts are
+taken were preached in the open air, and often in the night time, amidst
+the exposure both of the preacher and the hearers to all changes of the
+weather, not unfrequently in rain and tempest; and that the "Sermons and
+Lectures" that bear Renwick's name, were not prepared in a quiet study,
+in peaceful times, but in the midst of frequent removings, incessant
+labours, and manifold dangers, and that they are transmitted to us from
+the imperfect notes, and the recollection of attached
+hearers,--themselves the objects of fierce persecution,--they cannot
+fail to impress us with a vivid idea of the remarkable power and
+fidelity as a preacher of the youthful martyr, and to account, at the
+same time, for the popularity and salutary effects of his preaching.
+
+
+RENWICK'S SPECIAL TESTIMONY.
+
+To understand properly the position of James Renwick and his associates,
+and the distinctive testimony which they maintained at the peril of
+life, and transmitted, sealed with their blood, to posterity, it is
+necessary to advert to the particular time in which these devoted
+witnesses were called to appear in behalf of precious truth; and to the
+public measures which had been adopted at that period for extinguishing
+the liberties of the nation, and for destroying the independence and
+purity of the church.
+
+The Prelatic persecution in Scotland, which commenced with the
+restoration of Charles II. to the throne of his ancestors in 1660, had
+continued for nearly _twenty-three_ years, when Renwick entered on his
+ministry. Instead of the perfidious rulers in church and state being
+satiated with the number of the victims of their cruelty, their thirst
+for blood became more intense, as the time wore on; and when they found
+they could not crush the spirit of a free people, or extinguish the
+light of gospel truth, they had recourse to the most despotic and
+atrocious measures for effecting their diabolical purposes. What has
+been designated "THE KILLING TIME" of the Scottish persecution, embraced
+the greater part of Renwick's public ministry. The graphic pens of such
+able writers as De Foe, Charles James Fox, and Macaulay, have but
+imperfectly sketched the barbarities perpetrated by the infamous royal
+brothers, and their base counsellors, and the sufferings of an oppressed
+nation, and of thousands of godly people of all ranks, during this dark
+and distressing period.
+
+Two matters of general public interest, and intimately connected with
+the position of Renwick and his associates, excited particular attention
+in the concluding period of the persecution. These were, 1, The measure
+called THE INDULGENCE; and, 2, The limits of Civil Authority, and of the
+allegiance of the subject.
+
+
+I.--THE INDULGENCE.
+
+When the power of the persecutors was unable to put down the preaching
+of the gospel in the fields, and to crush the spirit of liberty in the
+breasts of multitudes of the people of Scotland, the Indulgence was a
+master contrivance of the arch-enemy to divide the Presbyterians, and to
+seduce them to abandon some of their fundamental principles, for the
+sake of outward advantages. The first indulgence was issued by Charles
+II. and his council in June, 1669. It was proclaimed as flowing directly
+from the royal supremacy. The power was granted to the persecuting
+Council, at their discretion, to appoint certain of the outed ministers
+to vacant parishes, on ensnaring conditions. In case they refused to
+receive collation from the bishops, they could not have the stipends or
+tiends, they were only to possess the manse and glebe, and be allowed an
+annuity. If they did not attend diocesan synods, they were to be
+confined within the bounds of their own parishes. They were not to
+dispense ordinances to persons from other parishes, nor, on any account,
+to hold conventicles. They were prohibited from speaking against the
+king's authority, or the public measures of the government; and they
+were to report their peaceable behaviour from time to time to the
+Council.
+
+Two other indulgences were issued at intervals during the latter part of
+the reign of Charles II. All of them by public proclamation denounced
+relentless vengeance against the faithful men who refused the royal
+boon. They threatened utter extermination to all who pleaded for the
+independence of the Presbyterian Church, and who maintained the freedom
+of the gospel by holding conventicles, preaching and administering
+ordinances in their purity in the fields.
+
+The indulgence unhappily proved a snare in which by far the largest
+number of the Presbyterian ministers in Scotland were entangled. We
+cannot hesitate to agree with the historian Hetherington, in holding
+that "It was offered on a principle clearly subversive of the
+Presbyterian Church, and that not one of the ejected ministers ought to
+have accepted of it, because it was impossible to do so, without
+sacrificing the fundamental and essential principle of the Presbyterian
+Church--that which constitutes its glory and its life--the sole
+sovereignty of Christ."[1] Three results followed the acceptance of the
+indulgence, which proved highly injurious to the Presbyterian Church,
+and which were, in all likelihood, foreseen by the contrivers of the
+measure, and led them to introduce it. These were--1. The constant
+interference of the government with the indulged in the discharge of
+their strictly ministerial functions. 2. A rupture between the indulged
+and the non-indulged, with many of the best of the people clinging to
+the latter; and, 3. The more systematic, virulent, and crushing
+persecution of those who, defying the tyrant's rage, bared their bosoms
+to the storm; and had the courage at all hazards to plead for the royal
+prerogatives of Messiah the Prince, and to contend for the chartered
+liberties of the Presbyterian Church. This honour belongs exclusively to
+Cargill, Cameron, and Renwick, and the Society people; when the large
+majority of the Presbyterian ministers in Scotland, followed by great
+numbers of the people, proved recreant to sound scripture principle, and
+unfaithful to the sacred engagements of their fathers. However belied
+and misrepresented the persecuted covenanters were in their own day,
+impartial history has not failed to do justice to their memory, and to
+show that their faithful contendings had no little influence in the
+nation's deliverance from degrading oppression.
+
+
+II.--THE LIMITS OF PUBLIC AUTHORITY, AND OF A PEOPLE'S ALLEGIANCE.
+
+A question was raised in the later times of the persecution of difficult
+solution, but of vast practical importance. This was the due limit of
+submission to civil rulers, and the withdrawal of allegiance and
+submission from those who had violated their compact with the people,
+and had trampled under foot their constitutional rights. It is ably
+shown by Dr. D'Aubigné,[2] as had been done before, that civil freedom
+and religious reformation, originating with the people, have ever been
+closely united and advanced together. Wherever the principles of
+evangelical truth have been rightly understood and firmly maintained,
+the people have refused to tolerate civil oppression. "_He is a freeman
+whom the truth makes free._" All genuine civil freedom is based on
+religious liberty. Calvinism, as is admitted even by many who are
+opposed to it as a doctrinal system, has been the irreconcileable foe of
+despotism all over the world;--by the heroic struggles, and cheerful
+sacrifices of its adherents, the battle of freedom has been fought, and
+its triumphs achieved in many lands. Particularly in Scotland, where the
+Reformation, from the first, originated with the people, and was carried
+forward in opposition to the mandates of arbitrary rulers, and
+notwithstanding the relentless persecution of the civil powers, the
+eminent instruments whom God honoured for advancing the truth, all along
+contended for the liberties of their country, and earnestly pleaded that
+the duties of rulers and ruled should be clearly defined, and the rights
+of the people settled on a constitutional basis. This was the plea of
+the illustrious Knox, as is seen in his expostulations with the Queen
+and nobles of Scotland, and in his intercourse with the statesmen of the
+day--English and Scottish--and in his writings. The works of Buchanan,
+Rutherford, and Gillespie, bear ample testimony to the enlarged views of
+their authors in relation to the proper bounds of civil and
+ecclesiastical authority, and to their fidelity to the cause of genuine
+liberty. The same great principles were contended for by Alexander
+Henderson, embodied in the scriptural attainments of the memorable
+Second Reformation, and clearly enunciated in the Solemn League and
+Covenant of the three kingdoms, in which the covenanters explicitly
+bound themselves to support the king and parliament in "the maintenance
+of the true reformed religion." When the Scottish nation, forgetful of
+their sacred vows, tamely submitted to the tyranny of the royal
+brothers, and Presbyterian ministers remained silent under an infamous
+indulgence, it devolved upon a few despised and persecuted
+covenanters,--the Society people,--to lift up and hold aloft the torch
+of freedom; and by their faithful testimonies and declarations uttered
+in fields and on scaffolds, and more still, by their blood freely shed
+to confirm their righteous cause, to sow broadcast the principles of
+genuine liberty. These, after lying buried in the earth for a time,
+sprung up vigorously, and bore fruit, when the perfidious race of the
+Stuarts was driven ignominiously from the throne; and, at the
+Revolution, some of the fundamental truths for which the martyrs of the
+covenant contended, became ascendant and triumphant.[3]
+
+In the _Queensferry Paper_, penned by Cargill, in a rough draft, and
+found on the person of Henry Hall of Haughhead, when he was taken, the
+heroic sufferers expressly disowned the authority of Charles II. and his
+government. The terms employed, it has been remarked, very much resemble
+those used by the English nation when they rejected the Government of
+James II., and transferred the crown to William and Mary.
+
+"We reject the king and those associate with him in government from
+being our king and rulers, being no more bound to them. They have
+altered and destroyed the Lord's established religion,--overturned the
+fundamental and established laws of the kingdom--taken away altogether
+Christ's church government, and changed the civil government of this
+land, which was by a king and free parliament, into tyranny." The
+conclusion expresses sentiments worthy of the most distinguished
+patriots, and that are fit to be taken as the watchward of struggling
+freemen all over the world. "We bind and oblige ourselves to defend
+ourselves and one another in our worshipping of God, in our natural,
+civil and divine rights and liberties, till we shall overcome, or send
+them down under debate to posterity--_that they may begin where we
+end_."
+
+The grand principle of the rejection of tyrannical power was boldly
+proclaimed by Cargill, in preaching to thousands of Conventicle hearers,
+and was prominently held forth in his last testimony:--"As to the cause
+of my suffering," said he, "the chief is, not acknowledging the present
+authority, as it is established in the supremacy and explanatory act.
+This is the magistracy I have rejected--that which is invested with
+Christ's power. Seeing that power taken from Christ which is His glory,
+and made the essential of an earthly crown, seemed to me, as if one were
+wearing my husband's garments, after he had killed him. There is no
+distinction we can make that can free the conscience of the acknowledger
+from being a partaker of this sacrilegious robbery of God. And it is but
+to cheat our conscience to acknowledge the civil power alone, that it is
+of the essence of the crown; and seeing they are so express, we _ought
+to be plain_, for otherwise we deny our testimony, and consent that
+Christ be robbed of His glory."
+
+The same testimony against the Indulgence and against unconstitutional
+power was firmly maintained by RICHARD CAMERON, during the whole of his
+public ministry, and in the noble testimony emitted by him shortly
+before his death. Soon after his return from Holland in 1680, in one of
+his earliest sermons, he declared, "I know not if this generation will
+be honoured to cast off these rulers. But those that the Lord makes
+instruments to bring back Christ, and to recover our liberties, civil
+and ecclesiastical, shall be such as shall disown this king and the
+magistrates under him." He added this warning to the persecuting
+authorities, with the heroic resolve--"Let them take heed unto
+themselves; for though they should take us to scaffolds, and kill us in
+the fields, the Lord will yet raise up a party who will be avenged on
+them. We had rather die than live in the same country with them, and
+outlive the glory of God departing altogether from these lands."
+
+A short month before his death, the intrepid Cameron, his brother
+Michael, and some twenty other covenanters, armed and on horseback,
+posted up at the market cross of the burgh of SANQUHAR, the "_Sanquhar
+Declaration_" in which are contained these ever memorable words:--
+
+"We do, by these presents, disown Charles Stuart, who has been reigning,
+or rather tyrannizing in the throne of Britain, these years bygone, as
+having any right, title to, or right in the crown of Scotland, for
+government:--as forfeited several years since, by his perjury, and
+breach of Covenant both to God and His truth, and by his tyranny and
+breach of the very _leges regnandi_--the very essential conditions of
+government, in matters civil." This was a noble deed, and ranks Cameron
+and his followers with the purest and most disinterested patriots of any
+age or country. It has been justly remarked by an eloquent writer, "The
+real matter of fact for which the Cameronians contended was just the old
+claim of the Covenanters--'a free Parliament and a free Assembly.'" "It
+is the glory of the Cameronians, in which no other party shares, that
+when most people lay prostrate, and many of the bravest stood aloof,
+they were the first to hoist the flag, disowning the government of the
+Stuarts, without whose expulsion liberty was impossible."[4]
+
+The testimony which Cargill and Cameron boldly proclaimed and sealed
+with their blood, was cordially espoused by Renwick, and faithfully
+maintained by him during the whole course of his public ministry. He was
+called, besides, to the great work of preaching a full and free Gospel,
+throughout many parts of his native country, to multitudes who were
+hungering for the bread of life, when through terror of oppressive
+rulers, or from seeking their favour, others shrunk from the performance
+of so important and hazardous a duty. He was required, moreover, to
+dispense the ordinances of religion in Scriptural purity, to the
+scattered, persecuted remnant, and thus to repair "the desolations of
+Zion," and to transmit the truth to future generations. In the year of
+Cameron's martyrdom, the Societies framed their "General
+Correspondence," and formed a simple but effective organization, for
+mutual fellowship and edification,--for preserving their precious gospel
+liberties, and for taking advantage of any event in public affairs, for
+re-establishing the Covenanted order in Church and State, which had been
+violently taken away, by despotic power and prelatic intolerance. The
+extent of this organization, in a time of great suffering is remarkable.
+Gordon of Earlston, when examined before the Privy Council in 1683, with
+the instruments of torture placed in view, testified that several
+counties were divided into districts, of which there were 80, with 7000
+associated members. There is evidence that, chiefly through the Divine
+blessing upon Renwick's faithful preaching, and his singular wisdom in
+council, those Societies increased, instead of diminishing, in the
+latter part of the prelatic persecution.
+
+To the friends of evangelical truth, and the faithful witnesses for the
+Redeemer's royal prerogatives, the services of Renwick, at the crisis in
+which he exercised his public ministry, were invaluable. He was
+eminently the man for the time. Through the influence of the unhappy
+Indulgence, the strict Covenanters were reduced to what they style
+themselves in the "Informatory Vindication," a "wasted, suffering,
+anti-popish, anti-prelatic, anti-erastian, anti-sectarian remnant." By
+the death of Cargill and Cameron, they were left as "sheep without a
+shepherd,"--broken and scattered. Through the fierceness of persecution,
+and the machinations of enemies, they were in danger of falling into
+confusion, and of being entirely wasted and destroyed. We admire the
+gracious providence of God in preparing, at this particular crisis, an
+instrument of such rare and suitable endowments for feeding "the flock
+in the wilderness," and for unfurling and upholding so nobly the "Banner
+of truth" amidst hosts of infuriated enemies.
+
+James Renwick, though a very youth when he entered on his arduous work,
+and trained under great outward disadvantages, had a powerful and
+well-cultivated mind. He was endowed with singular administrative
+talent, and had great tact and skill in managing men. He was an acute
+and logical thinker, an eloquent and attractive public speaker, and was
+distinguished by fertility and force as a writer. The "Informatory
+Vindication"--his testimony against king James's toleration, with his
+"Letters," and "Sermons and Lectures," bear ample evidence of his sound
+judgment, comprehensive mind, and ability as an author. His prudence,
+meekness and loving disposition, combined with his sanctified zeal, and
+heroic courage, deservedly gave him great influence among those to whom
+he ministered. He was eminently fitted to be "a first man among men."
+The Lord held him in the hollow of his hand, and made him a "polished
+shaft in his quiver."
+
+The services which Renwick rendered to the Protestant cause were
+invaluable. He organized the scattered remnant, and imparted new life
+and ardour to their proceedings. He set forth clearly the principles of
+the "Society people;" and in a number of able and logical papers,
+clearly defined their plans of action. He rendered it, in a great
+measure, impossible for enemies to misrepresent and accuse them falsely
+to the Government. He was their Secretary in their correspondence with
+foreign churches; and he did much to evoke the prayerful sympathy of
+Protestants in other lands in behalf of the victims of persecution in
+Scotland. The presence and influence of Renwick among the suffering
+Presbyterians were of the highest importance in his own day; and not to
+them alone, but also to the whole church of Christ in these lands, and
+to the constitutional liberties of the nation. So far as we can see, but
+for the singular power and devoted spirit of Renwick, and the firm and
+unyielding position which the Cameronians through him were led to
+assume, the cause of truth would have been completely borne down, and
+Erastianism, and Popery, and Despotism had triumphed. Renwick and his
+followers were the vanguard "in the struggle for Britain's liberties,
+and for the Church's spiritual independence." Though, like other
+patriots born before their time, they were doomed to fall, yet posterity
+owes to them a large part of the goodly heritage which they enjoy.
+
+The _manifold labours and sufferings_ of Renwick, which were ended by
+his martyrdom, deserve a brief notice. For a period of five years, after
+he entered on his public ministry, he was in constant movement and
+unremitting and exhausting labours. He was employed at all seasons, and
+often in the night time, and in the most inclement weather, preaching
+the gospel in the fields, visiting families, and conversing with the
+people individually and in groups, attending stated general
+meetings--taking part in their deliberations, composing differences,
+confronting gainsayers and opponents, and writing the papers and
+manifestoes of the persecuted party. His services were in constant and
+increasing demand, in various places widely scattered. After he had been
+engaged in the most arduous labours, he had little or no rest, and no
+comfortable place of retirement. He was obliged to lodge in moss-hags,
+sheils of shepherds, or holes dug in the ground by his followers; when
+sticks were kindled for a fire, and children conveyed to him food, not
+unfrequently without the knowledge of their parents. Naturally of a weak
+constitution, he was, at times, so borne down by sickness and total
+prostration of strength, that he was literally carried on the shoulders
+of faithful followers, or supported when on horseback. He had frequently
+to flee from one hiding place to another, barefoot, or without some of
+his garments, as he had also to travel in disguise. Letters of
+intercommuning were launched against him. A price was set upon his head,
+and persons were forbidden, on pain of death, to yield him shelter, or a
+mouthful of food, to converse, or correspond with him by writing, or
+offer him the smallest service of humanity.
+
+It is recorded that in 1687, the year before Renwick's martyrdom, the
+royal troops, _thirteen times_, made the strictest search for him
+throughout all the country. To avoid the pursuit of enemies, he had to
+travel in disguise, and often in the dark night, and to seek shelter in
+caves, and rocks, and dens of the earth. Whenever he was engaged in his
+ministerial work, friendly watches were placed around him, to give the
+alarm on the approach of danger. When he preached, a fleet horse was
+standing beside him saddled and bridled, by which he could speedily
+distance the pursuit of enemies. He had, moreover, to suffer much from
+disputes, contentions, and reproaches among those for whom he was
+expending his energies, and for whom he was prepared to sacrifice his
+life. On one occasion, when entering the cottage of John Brown of
+Priesthill, he is said to have given momentary utterance to the pent-up
+grief of his heart by exclaiming, "Reproach hath broke my heart." "From
+an enemy," he added, "he could have borne it, but it was hard when it
+came from those whom he loved as himself, and for whom he was undergoing
+such privations and sufferings." From the Presbyterian ministers and
+people, who had closed in with the Indulgence and James's toleration, he
+received no kindly recognition, nor a single act of friendship. On the
+contrary, they heaped on him every term in the vocabulary of abuse,
+calling him "Jesuit," "devil," &c. They misrepresented his principles,
+and sought to excite prejudice against him throughout the country and
+among foreign churches, especially in Holland, where Renwick had many
+attached sympathisers and friends. What was the ground of such dislike
+and hostility? His life,--even his enemies being witnesses,--was
+blameless. He preached fully and powerfully the glorious gospel. He
+enforced a strict Scriptural discipline, and he was constantly careful
+to promote practical godliness. His sole fault in the eyes of the
+Indulged was that he strictly adhered to the great principles of the
+Covenanted Reformation, when his opponents had plainly abandoned
+them,--that he refused to accept a royal toleration which was designed
+to establish Popery and absolute power, and that he disowned a
+perfidious race of monarchs, whose oppressive and galling yoke was felt
+by many, and whose rule the whole nation soon after rejected. The
+fidelity of Renwick to the cause of God and truth powerfully reproved
+those who had made defection; while his holy living and devotedness
+strongly condemned such as, to secure immunity from suffering and the
+world's favour, were at ease in Zion. Therefore was it, that, in the
+spirit of apostates in all ages, they laboured to misrepresent and
+calumniate him and the cause which he maintained, and abetted the
+designs of those who persecuted him to the death.
+
+
+RENWICK'S MARTYRDOM AND TESTIMONY.
+
+This devoted servant of Christ, though worn with incessant labours, was
+found actively engaged in his darling work when he was called to receive
+his reward. On the 24th and 27th of January, he preached in Fifeshire,
+and at Borrowstoness, on the 29th. The last night of the month, he
+lodged with a friend in Edinburgh. On the morning of the 1st of
+February, the house was beset with soldiers, in the employment of the
+persecuting Council. When Renwick attempted to escape, he was arrested
+near the Cowgate, and was carried by Graham the captain of the guard,
+before a quorum of the Council, by whom he was committed to close
+prison, and laid in irons. When he stood in the presence of those who
+had issued against him fierce proclamations, and had sought his life,
+they were surprised at his youthful appearance, and his comely
+countenance, and one exclaimed, "Is this the boy Renwick, that the whole
+nation was so troubled with," Renwick replied only with a quiet smile.
+
+On the 3d of February, he was brought before the Council, and received
+his indictment. In it, he was charged with casting off the fear of
+God--disowning the king's authority--preaching in the fields--and
+teaching the people to refuse to pay cess, and to carry arms in
+self-defence. It is related of Renwick, when he became a prisoner, that,
+though he had grace given willingly to offer his life to confirm his
+testimony, he yet dreaded torture. Having in prayer freely surrendered
+his life to God, he obtained in answer the assurance that enemies would
+not have the power to inflict on him torture. This he afterwards told
+his mother in prison, shortly before his execution, when she was
+expressing concern about seeing his head and hands on the ports of the
+city. He said he was persuaded that the persecutors would "not be
+permitted to torture his body, nor touch one hair of his head farther."
+
+He was so open and candid hi his answers that the members of the
+Justiciary were to some extent favourably impressed, and this had
+doubtless some influence in preventing him from being tortured. He
+enjoyed so much of Divine presence from his entrance into prison, till
+his execution, that to his mother he said, "he could hardly pray, being
+so much taken up with praise, and ravished with the joy of the Lord."
+When before the Justiciary, on the 14th February, he confessed to all in
+the indictment, save the first article, charging him with having "cast
+off all fear of God." He said, "It is because I feared to offend God,
+and to violate His law, that I am here to-day, standing to be
+condemned." When asked about disowning the king's authority, he answered
+like a true Protestant and a heroic patriot--"I own all authority that
+hath its prescriptives and limitations from the word of God; but I
+cannot own this usurper as lawful king--seeing both by the word of God,
+such a one is incapable to bear rule, and likewise by the ancient laws
+of the kingdom, which admit none to the crown of Scotland until he swear
+to defend the Protestant religion, which a man of his profession cannot
+do."
+
+At the close of his examination, when asked if he would subscribe his
+Testimony, he did so, with protestation that he subscribed it as his
+testimony, but not as recognizing the authority of his judges. When
+condemned to be executed in the Grassmarket, on the Friday following, he
+was asked by the Justice General if he desired a longer time, he
+declared, "It was all one to him; if the time was protracted, it was
+welcome; if it was shortened, it was welcome too;--his Master's time was
+the best." Without his knowledge he was reprieved for ten days, till the
+17th of February, as the persecutors were to some degree sated with
+blood, and perhaps somewhat troubled in conscience by the demeanor of
+the youthful confessor. After his condemnation was pronounced, many
+attempts were made to shake his constancy. Several petitions were
+written for him, but he refused resolutely to sign any of them. It was
+at one time proposed to him, that his dropping a few drops of ink on
+paper would be sufficient: this however, he promptly refused, alleging
+that it would be so far an owning of wicked authority, and a
+renunciation of his whole testimony.
+
+His friends were denied access to him in prison; paper and ink were
+removed from him, and also part of his dying testimony which he had
+written. Others--persons in authority--prelates, curates, and popish
+priests visited him. His Christian firmness resisted all their attempts
+to make him swerve from his principles; while several of them were
+struck and overawed by the power of his singular wisdom, gentleness, and
+unaffected goodness. Viscount Tarbet, a man of intellect, but noted for
+his lax accommodating principles, said of Renwick, after several times
+visiting him, "He was the stiffest maintainer of his principles that
+ever came before us. Others we used always to cause at one time or other
+to waver; but him we could never move. We could never make him yield nor
+vary in the least. He was of old Knox's principles."
+
+The testimony of Renwick contained in the "CLOUD OF WITNESSES," was
+written the night before he suffered, and in near anticipation of his
+martyrdom. His mother and sisters were allowed to be with him for a
+short time, on the morning of the day of his execution: In giving thanks
+at food in their presence, he said--"Lord! Thou hast brought me within
+two hours of eternity, and this is no matter of terror to me, more than
+if I rose to go to lie down on a bed of roses. Nay, through grace, to
+thy praise, I may say, I had never the fear of death since I came within
+this prison; but from the place I was taken in, I could have gone very
+composedly to the scaffold." Again, he said, "Let us be glad and
+rejoice, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made
+herself ready. Could I ever have thought that the fear of suffering and
+death could be so taken from me? What shall I say of it? It is the doing
+of the Lord and marvellous in our eyes." He asked, "I have many times
+counted the cost of following Christ, but never expected it would have
+been so easy. Now, who knows the honour and happiness of that--'He that
+confesseth me before men, him will I confess before my Father!' Several
+times, he said, _"Now that I am so near the end of time, I desire to
+bless the Lord: it is inexpressibly sweet and satisfying peace to me,
+that He has kept me in the least from complying with enemies."_ On the
+morning of his execution, he wrote his last letter to his most attached
+friend, Sir Robert Hamilton, who was then an exile in Holland, for the
+sacred cause for which Renwick suffered. Every part of this brief
+epistle is calm and thoughtful, and bespeaks the joyful serenity of the
+martyr's spirit. "This," he writes, "being my last day on earth, I
+thought it my duty to send you this, my last salutation. The Lord has
+been wonderfully gracious to me since I came to prison. He has assured
+me of His salvation, helped me to give a testimony for Him, and to say
+before his enemies all that I have taught, and strengthened me to resist
+and repel many temptations and assaults." He closes, with these simple,
+solemn, and affecting words--"But I must break off, I go to your God and
+my God. _Death is to me as a bed to the weary._"
+
+When the drums beat for his execution, he exclaimed, "Yonder is my
+welcome call to the marriage. The Bridegroom is coming. I am ready." On
+the scaffold, he sung the first part of the 3d Psalm, read the 19th
+chapter of Revelations, and prayed. When he was rudely interrupted, he
+said, "I shall soon be above these clouds. Then shall I enjoy Thee and
+glorify Thee, O my Father, without intermission and interruption for
+ever." In the few sentences that he was permitted to speak to the
+spectators from the scaffold, after commending the Lord's special mercy
+to him, in washing away his sins, and honouring him to suffer for His
+name's sake, he declared he laid down his life mainly for three things:
+1. For disavowing the usurpation and tyranny of James, Duke of York. 2.
+Preaching that it is unlawful to pay cess, expressly exacted for bearing
+down the gospel, and 3. Teaching that it is lawful for people to carry
+arms for defending themselves in their meetings for persecuted gospel
+ordinances." At the close, he said, "I leave my testimony against
+Popery, Prelacy, and Erastianism, and against all profanity, and every
+thing contrary to sound doctrine, and the power of godliness;
+particularly against all usurpations and encroachments made upon
+Christ's rights, who alone must bear the glory of ruling His own
+kingdom, the Church; and in particular, against this absolute power,
+usurped by this usurper, that belongs to no mortal; but is the
+incommunicable property of Jehovah; and against this toleration flowing
+from this absolute power." Here he was compelled to leave off speaking,
+and to go up the ladder. He then prayed again, and said, "Lord! I die in
+the faith that Thou wilt not leave Scotland, but that Thou will make the
+blood of thy witnesses to be the seed of the Church, and will return
+again and be glorious in our land. And now, Lord, I am ready; the Bride,
+the Lamb's wife, hath made herself ready." When the napkin was tied
+about his face, he uttered a few affectionate words to the single friend
+who was permitted to attend him on the scaffold; his last counsels then
+spoken to the suffering remnant, show how much his heart was with them,
+and the cause of truth in their hands. "As to the remnant I leave, I
+have committed them to God. Tell them from me, not to weary, nor be
+discouraged in maintaining their testimony. Let them not quit or forego
+one of these despised truths. Let them keep their ground; and the Lord
+will provide them churches and ministers. And _when He comes, He will
+make these despised truths glorious in the earth._"
+
+In the close of his testimony, written in prison, the day before his
+execution, there are those sublime and affecting expressions, which were
+designed to be his last words from the scaffold--"Farewell, beloved
+sufferers, and followers of the Lamb. Farewell, Christian and
+comfortable mother and sisters. Farewell, sweet societies and desirable
+general meetings. Farewell! night wanderings in all seasons for Christ,
+and all sublunary things. Farewell! conflicts with a body of sin and
+death. Welcome, scaffold, for precious Christ. Welcome, heavenly
+Jerusalem. Welcome, innumerable company of angels. Welcome, crown of
+glory. Welcome, above all, O Thou blessed Trinity and one God. O Eternal
+One, I commit my soul into thy eternal rest."
+
+The relentless persecutors of our Presbyterian forefathers were not
+content with removing this eminent servant of God, by a violent death;
+as if to throw upon him the utmost indignity, his body was buried in the
+common grave of felons, at the lower entrance of the Greyfriars
+Church-yard, a plain slab of stone erected over the spot, stating that
+the dust of the Rev. James Renwick lies interred with that of eight
+other martyrs, and with the remains of a hundred common felons. The
+emblem and inscription on the stone point, however, to the glory
+reserved for faithful servants of Christ, when the sufferings of the
+Church shall have been completed, and antichristian power shall have
+been overthrown. The emblem is an open Bible, with the words in
+Revelation vi. 9, 10, 11, inserted underneath.
+
+Though enemies thus did their utmost to pour dishonour on the name and
+memory of Renwick, and to extinguish the cause for which he suffered,
+yet the Redeemer whom he intensely loved, and faithfully served, has in
+his providence, vindicated the one, as He has preserved, and will yet
+more extensively and gloriously display the other. Not only have eminent
+historians and other distinguished writers, in recent times, done
+justice to the character and labours of Renwick, and the contendings of
+the Society people; but within the last few years, by several public
+Commemorative services in Scotland, the spirit and testimony of the
+later Scottish martyrs, have been held forth as worthy of the grateful
+regard of posterity, and commended to their imitation and adoption. The
+Bicentenary of the SANQUHAR DECLARATION was commemorated with
+appropriate services,--upwards of 4000 persons of different religious
+denominations convening at the ancient burgh of Sanquhar for this
+purpose. The addresses delivered on the occasion by ministers and
+others, ably displayed and vindicated the position assumed by Richard
+Cameron, and his followers, and commended to public approval their
+testimony. Some three years ago, a like public commemoration of
+Renwick's birth and martyrdom was celebrated, at the place of his
+nativity near MONIAIVE, in the south of Scotland,--ministers and people
+of the Free, United, and Reformed Presbyterian Churches manifesting the
+deepest interest in the proceedings. Besides the ministers and large
+concourse of people--many of them gathered from great distances, that
+met in the open air, near the place of Renwick's birth,--numerous
+congregations assembled in different houses of worship, observed the
+solemn occasion with solemn devotional exercises. The addresses
+delivered were a suitable tribute to the spirit and conduct of the
+covenanted martyrs; and various articles of their special testimony were
+clearly displayed and ably vindicated. An admirable sermon was preached
+at this commemoration by Rev. WILLIAM ANDERSON of Loanhead, which has
+since been published under the title of "_the Voice of Renwick_," and
+extensively circulated. It contains a condensed, yet lucid sketch of the
+life, labours and sufferings of Renwick, a faithful portraiture of his
+character, and an able exposition and defence of the great principles of
+the testimony of the Scottish martyrs. There has been published in
+modern times no juster or more appropriate tribute to the character,
+principles, and heroic deeds of these faithful confessors, than is
+contained in this discourse. On this account, as well as for the weighty
+practical lessons which it enforces, it is of no local or ephemeral
+interest, but deserves to be transmitted along with the testimonies of
+the Presbyterian martyrs to future generations. These movements indicate
+the gracious design of Zion's King to put lasting and increasing honour
+upon those who cheerfully suffered the loss of all things in maintaining
+his cause, and of yet reviving the principles for which they nobly
+contended. Though the day may be distant when these nations shall
+voluntarily and generally return to allegiance to Prince Messiah, yet,
+as the dimness of the hour is the sure precursor of the perfect day, and
+the cloud like a man's hand betokened "abundance of rain," so these
+grateful reminiscences of the covenanted martyrs and their distinctive
+testimony, point to a day of deliverance and brightness approaching,
+when Antichristian error and idolatry shall be overthrown, and the reign
+of righteousness and truth shall be universally established.
+
+
+CONCLUSION.
+
+The record of the life, labours, and testimony, of James Renwick is
+fraught with _practical lessons_ of the highest value to the Church in
+the present day; and ministers, theological students, and the rising
+youth of the Church generally have a special interest in pondering them
+deeply, and in seeking to reduce them to practice.
+
+From Renwick's personal history, we see--1. An instance of the Divine
+blessing on parental dedication, and early religious instruction,
+confirming the truth of the Divine promise, and exhibiting the
+unspeakable benefit of the faithful labours of godly parents, especially
+of mothers, to the Church. 2. It is impressively shown too, that a
+person's work and influence for good, is not dependent on birth or
+station in life, or on outward advantages. Many of the most eminent
+servants of Christ, like Luther and Renwick, sprung from the humbler
+ranks of society, and before they came forward to public usefulness, had
+to contend with great difficulties. Grace ennobled them. God often
+chooses "the weak things" of the world to "confound the mighty." His
+servants are raised from the dunghill to sit among princes. In heaven's
+heraldry, a man's rank is taken, not from hereditary titles, or
+possessions, but from grace renewing and sanctifying the heart, and a
+life of true devotedness to Christ and his service. 3. We are taught to
+lay no stress on present prosperity, but to do God's work, looking for
+the recompense of reward which He gives. A noble forgetfulness of self,
+and mortification to the favour of the world, have characterized all
+Christ's most approved servants. Dr. Payson relates about himself, what
+has been experienced by many faithful men, "When I thought myself to be
+_something_, I never knew happiness of mind; since I came to feel myself
+nothing, and Christ all, I have realized full satisfaction and joy."
+Renwick reviled, calumniated, and persecuted in his day, while esteeming
+all but loss for Christ, enjoyed in life and death, peace surpassing
+understanding--his name will be ever fragrant, and his memorial
+everlasting.
+
+4. Again, Renwick's life presents a bright and attractive _example of
+the graces of fervent piety_. There shines forth in his character, in
+harmonious display and concentrated lustre, an array of lovely and
+ennobling features. To faith, he added virtue, and knowledge, patience,
+temperance, godliness, &c. (2 Pet. i. 5-7.) His Christian _wisdom_ is
+singularly conspicuous. Renwick was blamed in his own day by
+time-servers and backsliders as imprudent; and those who maintain the
+same testimony even in our times, are characterized as foolish,
+imprudent, and infatuated. Certainly, if wisdom consists only in
+securing present temporal gain--fleeting pleasure and the applause of
+the world, then Renwick and his followers have no claim to be considered
+wise. But if the "beginning" and spirit of true wisdom are the "fear of
+the Lord;" and if it is shown in preferring the advancement of God's
+glory and the enjoyment of His favour to all else, and in seeking the
+attainment of those ends by means divinely appointed, and approved, then
+the persecuted remnant were eminently wise. By opposing Popery, Prelacy,
+Erastianism, and arbitrary power, and pleading resolutely for the
+covenant liberties of the Church and nation, they proposed to themselves
+holy ends. Their faithful contendings; their stern denunciations of
+royal perfidy and tyranny; their organization of societies, and a
+general correspondence; their proclaiming open opposition to usurped
+authority; and, above all, their willing sacrifice of life rather than
+abandon right principles, evince true wisdom. These were the best means
+that could possibly have been adopted to expose the countless evils of
+the government of the royal brothers; and to rouse the dormant spirit of
+the nation, to hurl tyrants and oppressors from the throne, and to
+establish constitutional liberty. Then, the _fidelity_ of Renwick and
+the Cameronians were seen in maintaining fully their testimony to the
+whole covenanted reformation, amidst manifold perils, when the large
+body of Presbyterians had made defection. The standard which they firmly
+grasped and refused to surrender had its glorious motto, "FOR CHRIST'S
+CROWN AND COVENANT." The central doctrine of the Redeemer's Headship
+over the Church and the nations, occupied a first place in all the
+testimonies emitted in their general meetings, and uttered on scaffolds
+and fields of blood. Connected with this, as necessary corollaries, were
+the supremacy of Holy Scripture--the spiritual independence of the
+Church, and the subjection of rulers and national legislation to the
+sceptre of the reigning Mediator. On these grounds, they not only
+rejected infamous rulers, but condemned and rejected with utter
+abhorrence the royal supremacy. The sentiment expressed in the words
+subscribed to the minutes of their general meetings--"LET KING JESUS
+REIGN,[5] declare the leal allegiance of Renwick and the persecuted
+Covenanters to Prince Messiah. Earnestly did they seek to have the
+authority of King Jesus universally acknowledged, honoured, and obeyed.
+They believed firmly the sure word of prophecy that "all kings shall
+fall down before Him; and all nations shall serve Him." "He shall have
+dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the
+earth." Psal. lxxii. 11, 8. So should we also aim to be faithful to
+Christ and His cause; to our own sacred vows; to the souls of men; and
+to the blood-bought privileges that have been entrusted to us to
+preserve and transmit. We are responsible, not for success, but for
+fidelity; and the promised reward will be a glorious recompense for all
+trial and suffering. "Be thou faithful unto the death, and I will give
+thee a crown of life."
+
+Renwick was, furthermore, distinguished by a _catholic, genial, loving
+spirit_. This characteristic is not generally thought to have been
+prominent in the spirit of illustrious reformers and suffering
+confessors. Luther, Calvin, and Knox, have been represented as unsocial,
+morose fanatics, and gloomy bigots. Renwick has been branded as rigid
+and austere, and those who have embraced and faithfully maintained the
+same testimony have been exhibited as sectaries of the deepest dye. No
+representation could be more unjust, and none is more opposed to
+historic truth. Luther was most genial and loving, as his "Table Talk,"
+and the record of his domestic life, abundantly testify. Calvin's
+"Letters" collected by Bonnet, show how keenly and long he felt the
+death of his wife and infant child; how deeply his heart was affected
+with the sufferings of Protestants everywhere, even of those who
+differed from him in principle; and attest, moreover, the warmth and
+constancy of his friendship. Knox's declaration before Queen Mary, that
+he was always affected by the crying of his infant children, shows his
+gentle and susceptible disposition; while his letters to his wife and
+mother-in-law bear witness, equally to his piety, and to the depth of
+tender feeling that filled his large heart. Renwick was, at all times, a
+loving, thoughtful, and confiding friend, as many passages in his
+"Letters" declare. The annals of the persecution, and the traditions of
+suffering times, testify to his genial disposition, even when he was
+harassed by relentless enemies, and his heart was overwhelmed with
+incessant cares and anxieties.
+
+In proof of the catholic, unsectarian, Christian spirit of Renwick and
+his followers, the clear statements of the INFORMATORY VINDICATION, the
+work which most fully and clearly defines their position, may be
+referred to. After laying down an admirable platform of fellowship and
+discipline, the persecuted Covenanters declare in effect, "We are not a
+Church at present, and cannot act fully as an organized Church. We are a
+broken, persecuted remnant. Our societies are not a Church, but a
+temporary means of enjoying proper religious instruction and ordinances
+of worship. They are, besides, associations for self-defence, and for
+watching and taking advantage of any public movement for overturning the
+present despotism, and recovering our liberties, civil and religious. We
+require to make the terms of admission strict, to guard against spies,
+and those who are contentious or quarrelsome. At the same time they
+declare the close and hallowed relations that bound them to all the true
+disciples of their common Lord. In a noble spirit of Christian
+brotherhood, they virtually proclaim, "On the communion of saints, let
+us impose no new restrictions. Though others differ from us in the word
+of their special testimony, let us embrace and love them, and
+acknowledge fellowship with them as Christian brethren."[6] In these
+noble utterances, we have strikingly exemplified the true spirit of
+Christian brotherhood and Catholic communion. This is the genuine import
+of the vow of the Solemn League and Covenant, which binds Covenanters to
+regard whatever is done to the least of them, as done to all and to
+every one in particular. While firmly holding fast all Scriptural
+attainments, and contending "earnestly for the faith once delivered to
+the saints," we should cordially rejoice in the evidences of grace in
+Christ's servants wherever we find them. We should love them as
+brethren, fulfil the law of Christ by bearing their burdens, wish them
+God speed in all that they are doing for the advancement of His glory,
+and fervently labour and pray for the coming of the happy period when
+divisions and animosities shall cease, and when there shall be one King,
+and His name one in all the earth.
+
+5. The testimony of Renwick and his associates is of permanent value and
+of special importance in our day, as it was directed against _systems of
+error and idolatry_, which serve to corrupt the Church and enslave the
+State. Against Popery in every form Renwick was a heroic and
+uncompromising witness. At the peril of life, he publicly testified
+against the usurpation of the papist James, and rejected him as having
+no claim to be regarded as a constitutional sovereign, and as utterly
+disqualified to reign in a Protestant reformed land. This was the main
+ground of his objection against James's toleration, for which the
+Indulged ministers tendered obsequious thanks to the usurper. Yet this
+edict of toleration was issued for the purpose of opening the way for
+the practice of Rome's abominations, and for the advancement of papists
+to places of power and trust in the nation. None of the Cameronians
+would, for any earthly consideration, even to save their lives, for a
+moment admit that a papist had any right to exercise political power in
+a reformed land. Our martyred forefathers we regard as worthy of high
+respect and imitation, for their deeply cherished dread of the growing
+influence of Popery, and for their determined resistance to its
+exclusive and extravagant claims. The system of Popery is the abnegation
+of all precious gospel truth; and is a complete politico-religious
+confederacy against the best interests of a Protestant nation. The boast
+of its abettors is that it is _semper eadem_--ever the same. Rome cannot
+reform herself from within, and she is incapable of reformation from
+external influences and agencies. The Bible never speaks of Antichrist
+as to be reformed, but as waxing worse and worse till the time when he
+shall be completely subverted and irrecoverably destroyed. Whatever
+changes may be going on in some Popish countries, whereby the power of
+the Papacy is weakened, it is evident that the principles and spirit of
+the Romish priesthood, and of those who are under their influence,
+remain unchanged. The errors of the Antichristian system, instead of
+being diminished, have of late years increased. Creature worship has
+become more marked and general. The Immaculate Conception has been
+proclaimed by Papal authority as the creed of Romanism. In these
+countries, and some other Protestant lands, the influence of Popery in
+government and education, and so on the whole social system, has been
+greatly on the increase. Among those who have most deeply studied
+inspired prophecy, there is a general expectation that the period of
+Babylon's downfal is hastening on, and is not far distant. There is a
+general presentiment too, that the Man of Sin, prior to his downfal,
+will make some dire and violent attempt through his infatuated followers
+against the truth, and against such as faithfully maintain it. The
+"_Slaying of the Witnesses_,"--which we are disposed to regard as yet
+future--may take place, not so much by the actual shedding of blood,
+though it is plain that Jesuit policy and violence will not hesitate to
+re-enact former persecution and massacre, to accomplish a desired
+purpose. It may mainly be effected, as Scott, the expositor, suggests,
+by silencing the voice of a public testimony in behalf of fundamental
+truths throughout Christendom; and of this there are at present
+unmistakeable signs not a few, throughout the churches in various
+countries.
+
+The Protestant church in all its sections should be thoroughly awake to
+its danger from the destructive errors, idolatry and power of its
+ancient irreconcilable enemy; and should, by all legitimate means,
+labour to counteract and nullify its political influence. The ministry
+and the rising youth of the church should study carefully the Popish
+controversy, and should be intimately acquainted with the history of the
+rise and progress of the Papacy--its assumed blasphemous power--its
+accumulated errors and delusions, and its plots, varied persecutions and
+cruel butcheries of Christ's faithful witnesses. Above all, they should
+set themselves earnestly, prayerfully and perseveringly to diffuse the
+Bible and Gospel light in the dark parts of their native country, and
+among Romanists in other lands. By embracing fully and holding fast, in
+their practical application, the principles of the British Covenants,
+and by imbibing the spirit of covenanted martyrs--men like Renwick and
+the Cameronians, we will be prepared for the last conflict with
+Antichrist. The firm and faithful maintenance of a martyr-testimony will
+be a principal instrument of the victory of truth over the error and
+idolatry of Rome. "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by
+the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the
+death," (Rev. xii. 11.)
+
+Finally--the testimony of Renwick is valuable, as throwing light on
+_great evils connected with systems of civil government_, and _with
+Protestant churches_, and as pointing out clearly the duty of faithful
+witnesses in relation to them. Two great principles--the one
+_doctrinal_, and the other _practical_, were essential to it, or rather
+constituted its whole speciality. These were--first--that, according to
+the national vows, and the reformation attainments, the whole civil
+polity of the nation should be conformed to the Scriptures,--and
+secondly, the positive duty of distinct separation from whatever systems
+in the state or the church that are opposed to entire allegiance to
+Messiah, the Prince. The civil constitution and the national legislation
+and administration, as well as the lives of rulers, were required to be
+in subjection to His authority, and in accordance with the prescriptions
+of His word. When such subjection is withheld, Christ's servants, if
+they would be faithful to the exalted Saviour, cannot do otherwise than
+refuse to incorporate with the national society, and to homologate the
+acts of its rulers; and from Churches that do not testify against
+national defection, they are constrained to maintain distinct
+separation. The past history of the Church bears clear testimony that
+truth has been frequently preserved, when it was in danger of being
+lost, by open separation from those who were bent on declension and
+apostacy.
+
+In our day, it should not be regarded as enough to profess in theory the
+doctrine of Christ's Headship, or merely to speak in commendation of a
+martyr-testimony. We should aim, as Renwick and his followers, at
+whatever inconvenience and hardship, to give it _practical effect_. The
+reason why these honoured confessors disowned the authority of Charles
+and his brother, was, not solely or chiefly, because of their tyranny or
+persecuting measures, but principally because the authority assumed was
+opposed to the exclusive royal prerogatives of the Redeemer. The public
+evils against which Renwick and the later martyrs testified to the
+death, did not cease at the Revolution; nor can we admit that the
+Revolution Settlement embodied all the principles for which the
+Covenanted martyrs contended, and suffered, and died. On the contrary,
+there are essential and inherent evils in the Revolution Settlement,
+both civil and ecclesiastical, which exist to this day, and which render
+a decided testimony against it dutiful now, as it was at the period of
+the Revolution. The Act Rescissory, which was passed at the Restoration,
+is still retained in the Statute Book: the National Covenants were
+abandoned, both by the Church and the nation, and neither has returned
+to a sense of their obligation. The Scriptural attainments of the
+Reformation were left under a gravestone. Presbyterianism was
+established in Scotland--not because it was Scriptural or right in
+itself, but because it was agreeable to the wishes of the majority of
+the nation, and it was set up on an Erastian basis. By the introduction
+of the curates into the ministry of the Scottish establishment, at the
+king's behest, without any public confession or renunciation of
+Prelacy--the germ of Moderatism was laid, which, in due time, budded and
+brought forth bitter fruits, in numerous corruptions and oppressions,
+and in multiplied divisions and separations.
+
+Prelacy, abjured in the Solemn League of the three kingdoms, was, at the
+Revolution, established in England and Ireland, and the supremacy of the
+monarch as head of the National Church, and in "all causes, civil and
+ecclesiastical," was declared to be an inherent prerogative of the
+crown. These evils yet exist in the civil and ecclesiastical
+establishments of these countries; and others have in recent years been
+added, such as the admission of papists to places of power and trust
+throughout the nation, the national endowment of popish institutions,
+and the public favour shown by rulers to the Antichristian system. The
+national policy in these instances and others that might be mentioned,
+is wholly inconsistent with the doctrine of the Redeemer's Headship in
+its legitimate application, and is the source of many of the evils that
+in our day corrupt and degrade the Church of England, and that prevent
+the developement and prevalence of genuine Protestantism throughout the
+nation. The Presbyterian Churches that claim descent from the
+covenanting reformers and martyrs, should seriously consider whether
+they do not compromise a faithful testimony, and encourage national
+apostacy, by incorporating with a civil system that refuses homage to
+the reigning Mediator, and obedience to the authoritative prescriptions
+of His word.
+
+The rising youth of the Church should carefully study in its legitimate
+application, and vitally important consequences, the grand article of
+Renwick's testimony,--the Redeemer's Headship over the Church and the
+nations, and the cognate principles of the supremacy of the word, the
+spiritual independence of the Church, and the claim of the subjection of
+the nation and its rulers to the authority of the reigning Mediator.
+Whether viewed in the light of the past or of the present state of the
+nations, as of America, and the kingdoms of the antichristian earth; or
+of prophecy yet unfulfilled, a testimony for these truths is of grand
+and overwhelming importance. This is emphatically, the _present
+truth_--the cause of God and truth, now to be pleaded in the earth. It
+is "the word of Christ's patience," which we are required to hold fast.
+It is at our peril If we be found neutral here; our preservation from
+the coming "hour of temptation," is alone to be expected in fidelity to
+the great trust committed to us. We are assured in the faithful word of
+prophecy, that the Redeemer will ere long take to Him his power to
+reign. The "Little Stone" shall bruise and break in pieces the feet and
+toes of the "great Image,"--the representative of the world-powers,--and
+become a "great mountain," and fill the earth. Then shall the cause for
+which Christ's witnesses testified in sackcloth, and for which chosen
+martyrs died, gloriously triumph. "The kingdoms of this world shall
+become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ."
+
+The peaceful, triumphant death of Renwick, shows impressively that there
+is a reward to the righteous; that a life of self-denial and devoted
+piety appears at the close, enstamped with heaven's approval; and that
+labours and sufferings for Christ's sake conduct to the joy of completed
+victory, and to perfect communion with the Redeemer, and the redeemed in
+glory. "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of
+that man is peace." (Ps. xxxvii. 37.) "After this, I beheld, and lo, a
+great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and
+kingdoms, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before
+the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. And cried
+with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God, which sitteth upon the
+throne, and unto the Lamb." (Rev. vii. 9, 10.)
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 1: Hist of Ch. of Scotland, vol. ii. p. 64]
+
+[Footnote 2: Calvin and Geneva, vol. I., II.]
+
+[Footnote 3: See Appendix,--Note A.]
+
+[Footnote 4: Dodds' "Fifty Years' Struggle," p. 275.]
+
+[Footnote 5: See "Faithful Contendings."]
+
+[Footnote 6: Dodds' "Fifty Years' Struggle," p. 275.]
+
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+
+It has been common in some quarters of late, to speak of Renwick and his
+associates in testimony-bearing and suffering, as only contending
+against the unconstitutional and persecuting measures of the government
+of the Royal brothers,--and to declare that, had they lived to witness
+the change of government which took place at the Revolution, they would
+have joyfully hailed it as the realization of their eager
+aspirations,--and would have incorporated readily with the national
+society. Thus, Dodds in his "_Fifty Years' Struggle of the Scottish
+Covenanters_,"--while acknowledging the important services rendered to
+the cause of the Prince of Orange, by the bold and resolute position
+taken by the Cameronians, represents Renwick, as not only "the last
+martyr of the Covenanting struggle," but also as "the _Proto-martyr of
+the Revolution_." He adds, "Like the shepherd overwhelmed in the
+snow-storm, he perished within sight of the door. The door of
+deliverance was speedily opened, on the arrival of William, in November,
+1688." And, again, speaking of Cameron, Renwick, and the stricter
+Covenanters, he says, "So far, the REVOLUTION SETTLEMENT--in the main
+adopting what was universal, and rejecting what was exclusive, or
+over-grasping in their views,--was the consummation and triumph, civilly
+and politically, and to a large extent, ecclesiastically, of the FIFTY
+YEARS' STRUGGLE OF THE SCOTTISH COVENANTERS." These statements, though
+plausible, and such as seem likely to be readily embraced by those who
+have no relish for a full Covenanted testimony--or who desire to
+maintain fellowship with corrupt civil and ecclesiastical systems, are
+liable to one fundamental and unanswerable objection,--they are wholly
+unsupported by historical evidence. All pains were taken by Cameron and
+Renwick, in preaching and in their dying testimonies, and by the United
+Societies in their published declarations, to show that they testified
+not merely against the usurpation and blasphemous supremacy of the last
+of the Stuarts,--but likewise, principally, against all invasion of the
+Redeemer's royal prerogatives,--and all departure from the scriptural
+attainments of the former happy Reformation. In nothing were they more
+decided than in testifying to the death, that the National Covenants
+were the oath of God, perpetually binding on all classes in the
+realm,--"the marriage tie," which no power on earth could dissolve--that
+all departure from the principles of these federal deeds was sinful, and
+involved the land in the guilt of national apostacy and perjury,--and
+that the authority of the Scripture was supreme in constituting the
+national society, in enacting and administering the laws, and in
+regulating the lives and official acts of the rulers.
+
+The Revolution Settlement, in both its civil and ecclesiastical
+departments, instead of being the exemplification and carrying forward
+of the work of the Second Reformation,--for the maintenance of which the
+Scottish martyrs shed their blood,--was a deliberate abandonment of it,
+and was established in open opposition to its grand and distinguishing
+principles. The faithful companions and followers of Renwick refused to
+incorporate with this Settlement, on the ground of adhering firmly to
+the scriptural vows of the nation, and the testimonies of illustrious
+martyrs. While giving the best proof of their genuine patriotism, they
+withheld allegiance from the government of William, and they took the
+name and position of "Old Dissenters," for reasons which they clearly
+stated, which those who opposed and misrepresented them, were unable to
+answer, and the greater part of which are as applicable to the present
+British government, and existing ecclesiastical systems, as they were to
+the Settlement of the Revolution. Several of the political changes which
+have taken place in recent times, have supplied strong additional
+grounds for faithful Covenanters maintaining the position of public
+protest against, and active dissent from the establishments, civil and
+ecclesiastical, of the nation. The reasons of separation from the
+Revolution Church and State, as given by the "Society People," are
+presented in a lucid and convincing manner, in the work entitled--"Plain
+Reasons for Presbyterians dissenting from the Revolution Church in
+Scotland, as also their Principles concerning Civil Government, and the
+difference betwixt the Reformation and Revolution Principles." They are
+likewise exhibited in a condensed form in the "Short Account of Old
+Dissenters," emitted with the sanction of the Reformed Presbytery, and
+in very luminous terms in the Historical part of the "Testimony of the
+Reformed Presbyterian Church."
+
+No person who peruses these works, and ponders their carefully prepared
+statements, can with candour and honesty affirm that Renwick and his
+fellow-sufferers would have willingly incorporated with the Revolution
+Settlement; or that fellowship with the present British political
+system, by taking oaths of allegiance and office, and setting up rulers,
+is consistent with their declared and dearly prized principles. Let the
+"Plain Reasons" to which we have referred, be duly weighed--and it must
+be perfectly apparent, that Mr. Dodds's oracular statement--that the
+"REVOLUTION SETTLEMENT" was the consummation and triumph, civilly, and
+politically, and to a large extent ecclesiastically, of the "Fifty
+years' Struggle of the Scottish Covenanters," is completely destitute of
+any solid foundation. These _reasons_ are such as the following--The
+Scottish reformation in its purest form was deliberately abandoned in
+the Revolution Settlement--Both the Church and State concurred in
+leaving unrepealed on the Statute-book, the infamous Act Rescissory, by
+which the National Covenants were declared to be unlawful oaths, and all
+laws and constitutions, ecclesiastical or civil, were annulled, which
+approved and gave effect to them. The Revolution Church was, in every
+respect, an entirely different establishment from that of the Second
+Reformation. Its creed was dictated by Erastian authority--its
+government established on the ground of popular consent and not of
+Divine right--its order and discipline were placed in subjection to
+Erastian civil rulers--and the Scriptural liberties of the ministry and
+membership interfered with; and corruption in doctrine, and ordinances
+of worship, without the power of removing it, extensively spread
+throughout the ecclesiastical body. How sadly different a structure did
+this appear to the eyes of faithful men, who lamented that the carved
+work of a Covenanted Sanctuary had been broken down, and the "beautiful
+House where their fathers worshipped, was laid waste!" Nor could the
+civil and political part of the Revolution Settlement have any
+pretensions to be a proper carrying out of the civil system of the
+Reformation era. In this the federal deeds of the nation were the
+compact between rulers and ruled, and were an essential part of the oath
+of the Sovereign on admission to supreme power. Civil rulers were
+required to be possessed of scriptural and covenant qualifications--and
+were taken bound to make a chief end of their government the promotion
+of the divine glory in the advancement of the true reformed religion,
+and the protection and prosperity of the Reformed Presbyterian Church.
+They were likewise solemnly engaged to employ their official influence
+and authority to put away systems that had been abjured in the National
+vows,--Popery, Prelacy and Erastianism, and to discourage all
+profaneness and ungodliness. At the Revolution, all these engagements
+were deliberately set aside. The sovereign's coronation oath, and the
+oath of allegiance of subjects, bind both equally to the support of
+Prelacy--which is declared to be established unchangeably in England and
+Ireland. The whole civil system is based on expediency and the popular
+will, and not on Scriptural principles. The authority claimed and
+exercised by the monarch over the Presbyterian Establishment in
+Scotland, and the National Church in England and Ireland, is grossly
+Erastian. The introduction of Popery into the bosom of the State--the
+admission of Papists to offices of power and trust in the nation, and
+the endowment of Popish Seminaries and chaplains--which the Revolution
+Settlement barred--but which the Antichristian and infidel policy of
+recent times has enacted, show still more clearly that the civil and
+political system established in these countries is diametrically opposed
+to that which was set up at the era of the Reformation, and was
+contended for by the Scottish martyrs--and impose on all who would
+honestly promote the ends of the National Covenants, the obligation to
+maintain distinct separation from it.
+
+
+
+
+
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+<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Life Of James Renwick, by
+Thomas Houston, D.D.</title>
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+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life of James Renwick, by Thomas Houston
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Life of James Renwick
+       A Historical Sketch Of His Life, Labours And Martyrdom And A
+              Vindication Of His Character And Testimony
+              
+
+Author: Thomas Houston
+
+Release Date: October 18, 2004 [EBook #13781]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF JAMES RENWICK ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Jordan Dohms and the PG Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+<div style="height: 1em;"><br></div>
+<center><img src="images/front.jpg" alt=
+"Execution of James Renwick, Edinburgh, 1688."><br>
+<span style="font-size: 80%">[Execution of James Renwick,
+Edinburgh, 1688.]</span><br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h2>The Life of</h2>
+<h1>James Renwick</h1>
+<br>
+A historical sketch of his life,<br>
+labours and martyrdom and a<br>
+vindication of his character<br>
+and testimony.<br>
+<br>
+<i>by Thomas Houston, D.D.</i></center>
+<center>Originally this life was written as an introduction to "The
+Letters of Renwick" Published by Alex. Gardner, Paisley,
+1865.</center>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h2>HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION.</h2>
+<p>The prophet's message to Eli, "Wherefore the Lord God of Israel
+said * * * THEM THAT HONOUR ME, I WILL HONOUR," (1 Sam. ii. 30,)
+declares a fundamental law of the divine government, which the
+history alike of individuals and of communities has illustrated in
+all by-past ages. The works of many men of eminent talent and
+remarkable energy&mdash;admired in their own day,&mdash;have
+speedily passed into oblivion, or have been productive of few
+permanently salutary results. Despising God, "they have been
+lightly esteemed." Those, on the other hand, who honoured God, and
+were devoted to His service&mdash;however humble their talents or
+position in society,&mdash;however contemned and persecuted by the
+world&mdash;have been honoured of God. Their labours have been
+accepted to advance His glory in the earth&mdash;their memories
+have continued long fragrant, and their principles and character
+have furnished the most valuable instruction and the brightest
+examples to future generations.</p>
+<p>Of this we have a striking instance in JAMES RENWICK,&mdash;the
+last, and in various respects the most illustrious of the Scottish
+martyrs of the seventeenth century. Hated and persecuted in his own
+day, by the men in authority in Church and State&mdash;caluminated
+and reproached by ministers and others, who professed evangelical
+sentiments and affected piety&mdash;and his principles generally
+misrepresented and condemned even to our own day,&mdash;there is
+yet abundant evidence to show that the Master whom he faithfully
+served, and for whose cause he willingly surrendered his life,
+singularly owned and honoured him. His faithful contendings and
+arduous labours contributed not a little to subvert the throne of a
+bigot and tyrant, and to achieve the nation's liberties. They
+served also to secure the purity and independence of the Church,
+and to transmit a legacy of imperishable principles to future
+times, when "the handful of corn" upon the top of the mountains,
+"shall shake with fruit like Lebanon." Scant and fragmentary as are
+the memorials of Renwick&mdash;clothed in the most homely garb, and
+written with no artistic skill, they have yet been the means of
+nurturing vital piety in many a humble breast and household, in
+these and other countries, from the martyr era, to our own day; and
+not a few of the most devoted ministers, who have earnestly
+contended for precious truth, and been wise to win souls to Christ,
+have received from the record of the labours and sufferings and
+testimony of Renwick, some of their first solemn impressions for
+good, and propelling motives to holy diligence and self-devotion.
+As the story of Joseph in the Old Testament has been remarkably
+blessed, above other parts of the divine word, for promoting the
+conversion and early piety of the young, so the unadorned narrative
+of the life, labours, and death of the youthful Scottish martyr,
+has led not a few to prefer the cause and reproach of Christ to the
+world's favour&mdash;to imbibe his spirit, and to imitate him, in
+seeking ends the most important and glorious.</p>
+<p>Renwick's work in the Church is not yet fully accomplished, nor
+is the influence of his name losing its attractive power. On the
+contrary, there is evidence, increasing as it is cheering, that
+while the one is drawing to it more earnest regard and willing
+workers, the other is constantly becoming more powerful and
+widespread. Let any person compare the manner in which the later
+Scottish martyrs&mdash;Renwick and the Society people,&mdash;were
+spoken of in the histories, civil and ecclesiastical, emitted in
+these countries, forty or fifty years ago, with the altered tone of
+historians of a recent date, and he will see that posterity is
+beginning to do tardy justice to the memories of men of whom "the
+world was not worthy,"&mdash;- who were the noblest, most
+disinterested patriots of which their country could ever boast, and
+whose services to the cause of pure and undefined religion were
+invaluable. Occasionally, we yet find, in the works of some popular
+writers, Renwick and his fellow-sufferers, designated enthusiasts
+and fanatics, their principles misrepresented, and some of their
+most heroic deeds held up to ridicule and scorn. Even the brilliant
+Macaulay, while exposing to deserved condemnation their cruel and
+heartless persecutors, and while depicting with graphic power some
+of the incidents of the deaths of the Scottish martyrs, yet shews
+his strong aversion to evangelical principle and godly practice, by
+applying to the honest confessors the same opprobrious epithets.
+The age in which the martyrs and their principles were kept
+entombed, by heaping on them reproach and slander, is past,
+however, not to return again. Their names are destined not to
+perish. God designs in his providence to honour them more and more,
+by bringing more clearly to light the great principles for which
+they contended unto blood, striving against sin. The era long
+predicted and desired is approaching, when the saints shall rise to
+reign with Christ on the earth, when the spirit which distinguished
+them shall be extensively revived, and the great principles of
+their testimony shall be triumphant.</p>
+<p>Meanwhile, the resurrection of the <i>names</i> of the
+confessors and martyrs of a former age, is a sure indication of the
+resurrection of their principles too. Through the evidence
+furnished by the faithful contendings and devoted lives of men of
+sanctified wisdom and high-toned piety, and the light reflected
+from the story of their sufferings and triumphant deaths, we cannot
+doubt that numbers will be led to earnest inquiry concerning the
+principles for which they testified in life, and in confirmation of
+which they willingly laid down their lives, that they might
+transmit the precious heritage to future generations. The result
+will be a wider appreciation of the value and excellency of a
+martyr-testimony; and in the period of promised light and
+enlargement, the lifting up of a standard in many places, and by
+strong hands, in behalf of the same great principles.</p>
+<p>As prefatory to the memorials of the piety, wisdom, and
+devotedness of the martyr Renwick, it appears desirable to present
+a brief sketch of his personal history&mdash;to notice the
+particular time in which he laboured, and the principles for which
+he contended,&mdash;his martyrdom, character, and the distinct and
+honourable position assigned him in the great work of maintaining
+and advancing the Redeemer's cause in the earth.</p>
+<h2>RENWICK'S LIFE</h2>
+<p>James Renwick was the child of godly parents in humble life. His
+father, Andrew Renwick, was a weaver, and his mother, Elizabeth
+Corson, is especially mentioned, like the mother and grandmother of
+Timothy, or like Monica, the mother of Augustine, as a woman of
+strong faith, and eminently prayerful. As several of her children
+had died in infancy, she earnestly sought that the Lord would give
+her a child, who would not only be an heir of glory, but who might
+live to serve God in his generation. Her prayer was heard and
+graciously answered. The son of her vows was born at Moniaive, in
+the parish of Glencairn, Gallowayshire, on the 15th of February,
+1662. His father died before he reached the age of fourteen, but
+not before he felt assured&mdash;probably from observing in the boy
+remarkable indications of early piety&mdash;that, though his course
+on earth would be short, the Lord would make singular use of him in
+his service. The early training of this distinguished martyr was,
+in a great measure, through the instrumentality of a devoted
+mother, who could boast of no worldly affluence or accomplishments,
+but whose heart was richly pervaded by the grace of the Spirit, and
+intensely concerned for the Saviour's glory; and who, in times of
+great difficulty and great trial, maintained unwavering confidence
+in the faithful word of promise.</p>
+<p>If James Renwick was not "sanctified from the womb," there was
+clear evidence afforded, that, in early childhood, he was the
+subject of gracious motions of the Spirit. At two years of age, he
+was observed to be aiming at secret prayer; and as his childhood
+advanced, he evinced love to the ways of God, by reading and
+pondering the Scriptures, delight in secret prayer, and by
+reverential regard to the authority of his parents. Like Luther,
+and other eminent servants of God, Renwick was trained for his
+life-work in the school of <i>temptation</i>; he experienced
+painful mental conflicts, and the assaults of the tempter, at a
+very early period. It is recorded that, at six years of age, he was
+conscious of distressing doubts, in relation to the Divine
+existence and perfections. These exercised and agitated his mind
+for a period of two years. In answer to prayer, and by meditation
+on the power and goodness of God, as seen in creation, he overcame
+the temptation, and attained to internal composure and
+tranquillity. At a time of life considerably subsequent, when he
+had reached mature youth, and had acquired extensive acquaintance
+with Scriptural truth, a like temptation again assailed him. He
+himself relates that he fell into deeper perplexity and distress
+about these fundamental truths. Like the excellent Robert Bruce of
+the First Reformation, he was strongly tempted to atheism. So
+powerful at one time was the assault, that, being in the fields and
+looking to the distant mountains, he exclaimed, "Were all these
+devouring furnaces of burning brimstone, he would be content to go
+through them, if he could thereby be assured of the existence of
+God." There was at length made for him a way of escape from this
+severe temptation, and not only did he attain to a full and joyful
+persuasion of God's existence, but to the assurance of his personal
+interest in God as his covenant portion.</p>
+<p>James Renwick was endowed with a vigorous reflective mind, and
+from his childhood he was devoted to reading and study. Amidst
+considerable difficulties, he commenced and prosecuted with ardour
+studies for the ministry. There is ample evidence from his writings
+that his attainments in learning were by no means superficial.
+Through the kindness of friends raised up in providence, he was
+enabled to pursue classical studies in Edinburgh, and while
+attending the University there, he maintained himself till he had
+finished the undergraduate course, partly by teaching and aiding
+others in their studies. When his scholarship entitled him to a
+University degree, he refused to receive this honour, because it
+was required at the time that students, on graduating, should swear
+the oath of allegiance, which expressly owned the royal supremacy.
+In company with two fellow-students, he sometime after received his
+degree privately.</p>
+<p>Continuing in Edinburgh to prosecute his studies, he was brought
+to attend the private fellowship-meetings of the persecuted
+covenanters. He met with the "outed" ministers, and was led to
+study, by the light of the Divine word and the teaching of the
+Spirit, the exciting and deeply important questions of the day.
+Thus did he become convinced of the numerous defections from the
+principles and ends of the Covenanted Reformation, of the majority
+of the ministers and Presbyterian people of Scotland; and he was
+persuaded that the stricter Covenanters,&mdash;the followers of
+Cargill and Cameron, and those associated in Societies, and who
+frequented conventicles,&mdash;alone consistently carried out the
+grand principles and aims of the national vows. At length, after
+much searching of heart, and according to his words, testifying to
+his deep conscientiousness, "with great grief, reluctance, and
+trembling of soul," he became identified with the persecuted
+remnant. Soon after, while yet only <i>nineteen years of age</i>,
+Renwick witnessed the martyrdom of the venerable servant of Christ,
+Donald Cargill. He stood near the scaffold, beheld his courageous
+and triumphant departure to glory, and heard the clear and powerful
+last words, in which he nobly testified for the crown-rights of the
+Redeemer, and against Erastian usurpation. "As to the causes of my
+suffering," said the dying martyr, "the chief is&mdash;not
+acknowledging the present Authority, as it is established in the
+Supremacy and Explanatory Act. This is the magistracy I have
+resisted, that which is invested with Christ's power. Seeing that
+power taken from Christ, which is His glory, and made the essential
+of an earthly crown, it seemed to me as if one were wearing my
+husband's garments, after he had killed him. There is no
+distinction we can make, that can free the acknowledger from being
+a partaker of this sacrilegious robbing of God. And it is but to
+cheat our consciences to acknowledge the <i>civil power</i> alone,
+that it is of the essence of the crown; and seeing they are so
+express, we ought to be plain; for otherwise, we deny our testimony
+and consent that Christ be robbed of His glory."</p>
+<p>These mighty utterances, so solemnly confirmed by the martyr's
+blood, could not fail to make a deep impression on the heart of the
+youthful Renwick. His purpose was fixed, and his resolution taken,
+to maintain the same great principles; and reproach and persecution
+and death could not turn him aside. His Christian decision had its
+reward. He declared that he did not fully know what the gracious
+presence of God with His people meant, till he joined the
+fellowship of the persecuted remnant. A large measure of the spirit
+of the "faithful Cargill" rested on his youthful successor; and
+when, some two years after, he entered on the work of the ministry,
+it was justly said&mdash;"he took up the Covenanted Banner as it
+fell from the hands of Cargill."</p>
+<p>At the time that Renwick united with the Society People, they
+were destitute of a public ministry. Cargill and Cameron had sealed
+their testimony with their blood. The Churches were either filled
+with Episcopal curates, or by time-serving Presbyterian ministers,
+who had accepted the indulgence flowing from the royal supremacy.
+By an act of Parliament passed in 1672 against "unlawful
+ordinations," the way to the ministry was barred against all who
+could not accept Prelatical ordination. The Societies, having
+organized a general correspondence, earnestly desired a stated
+ministry, while they manifested the strictest regard to scriptural
+order. Animated by a noble public spirit, they selected James
+Renwick and two other young men, and sent them to complete their
+studies for the ministry in Holland, then renowned for its
+theological Seminaries, where deep sympathy was manifested for the
+suffering Church of Scotland. He studied at the university of
+Groningen, where some of the most distinguished theologians in
+Europe occupied professorial Chairs. Studying in the spirit of
+entire devotedness, and actuated by an earnest desire to return to
+Scotland, where there was pressing need for faithful ministerial
+services, he made such proficiency, that in a short time, he was
+fully qualified to receive ordination. According to the usage of
+the Dutch Church, he was ordained at Groningen, by a Classis or
+Presbytery of learned and godly ministers, who evinced their
+catholic spirit by yielding to his request to allow him to
+subscribe the standards of the Church of Scotland, instead of their
+own formula. There was remarkable evidence of God's gracious
+presence being enjoyed in the solemn service.&mdash;It has been
+appropriately said, that as the conflicts of the German reformation
+were acted over by Luther in his cloister, before he was called to
+his public work, so the struggles of the covenanted cause in
+Scotland, were first engaged in by Renwick in his retirement and
+solitary chamber in Groningen. There he clearly foresaw the
+conflicts and trials that awaited him; and in near communion with
+God, he yielded himself up as an entire self-sacrifice,
+anticipating the blessed recompense of the reward. In the early
+Pagan persecutions, the church was sometimes symbolically
+represented by an ox with a plough on the one side, and an altar on
+the other, with the inscription, "Ready for either"&mdash;prepared
+for work or slaughter. Such was the spirit of Renwick, as he looked
+forward to the work that lay before him in his native land. In a
+letter written from Holland at this time, he says, "My longings and
+earnest desire to be in that land, and with the pleasant remnant,
+are very great. I cannot tell what may be in it, but I hope the
+Lord hath either some work to work, or else is minded presently to
+call for a testimony at my hand. If He give me frame and furniture,
+I desire to welcome either of them."</p>
+<p>Renwick returned from Holland in the autumn of 1683. Escaping
+some dangers at sea, he visited Dublin, where he bore a faithful
+testimony against the silence of ministers in the public cause, and
+left behind him a favourable impression on the minds of some of his
+Christian zeal and devotedness. In September, 1683, he landed in
+Scotland, and on the 3d of November, he entered on his arduous work
+of preaching the Gospel in the fields, and lifting up the standard
+of a covenanted testimony. He preached on that day at Darmead in
+the parish of Cambusnethan. From that time, till he closed his
+glorious career and won the martyr's crown, he preached with
+eminent fidelity and great power the glorious gospel of the grace
+of God. His public labours were continued for a period of nearly
+five years, and extended to many districts in the east, south, and
+west of Scotland. In remote glens, unfrequented moorlands, often in
+the night season, and amid storm and tempest, when the men of blood
+could not venture out of their lairs, to pursue the work of
+destruction, he displayed a standard for truth, and eagerly
+laboured to win souls to Christ. His last sermon was preached at
+<i>Borrowstoness</i>, from Isaiah liii. 1, on January 29th,
+1688.</p>
+<p>Though he ever testified boldly against the defections of the
+times, especially the Indulgence, and insisted on disowning the
+papist James, as not being a constitutional monarch, and on
+maintaining fully Presbyterian order and discipline, and all the
+covenanted attainments, his discourses were eminently evangelical.
+His darling themes were salvation through Christ, and the great
+matters of practical godliness. With wonderful enlargement and
+attractive sweetness, he unfolded the covenant of grace&mdash;the
+matchless person and love of Christ&mdash;the finished atonement,
+and its sufficiency for advancing the glory of the Godhead, and for
+the complete salvation of elect sinners. Considering Renwick's
+youth, being but <i>nineteen</i> years of age when he entered on
+his great work, he was endowed with singular qualifications as a
+preacher of the gospel. These remarkably fitted him for the great
+work to which he was called&mdash;promoting the Redeemer's glory,
+in awakening and converting sinners, and in edifying and comforting
+the Church in a season of suffering and trial. He was, moreover,
+gifted with personal talents, natural and acquired, that rendered
+him an attractive and powerful preacher of the gospel. His aspect
+was solemn and engaging. His personal appearance, even when
+harassed by incessant labours and privations, night wanderings and
+hair-breadth escapes from enemies, was sweet and prepossessing. His
+manner in preaching was lucid and affecting. His whole heart was
+thrown into his discourses. He often rose to the height of the most
+moving eloquence; and with the constant reality of God's presence
+and love, and the dread realities of persecution, and violent
+death, and eternity, before him, he poured out his soul in such
+strains of heavenly enlargement, that his hearers were melted,
+subdued, and raised above the fear of death, and the terror of
+enemies.</p>
+<p>The following account of Renwick's manner of preaching, and of
+the impressions made on his hearers is taken from an unpublished
+MS. of Ebenezer Nesbit, son of Captain Nesbit of Hardhill, and may
+be regarded as descriptive of the way in which he proclaimed the
+gospel to the "flock in the wilderness," during his brief but
+singularly efficient ministry. Need we wonder, after reading this
+narrative, at the spiritual effects of his preaching to thousands
+in his day, and at the precious fruits that resulted from his
+labours long afterwards, and the sweet savour of his name
+throughout subsequent times? "The latter end of this year, I heard
+that great man of God, Mr. James Renwick, preach on Song iii. 9,
+10, when he treated greatly on the covenant of redemption agreed on
+between God the Father and God the Son, in favour of the elect; as
+also on the covenant of grace established with believers in Christ.
+Oh, this was a great and sweet day of the gospel! for he handled
+and pressed the privileges of the covenant of grace with seraphic
+enlargement, to the great edification of the hearers. Sweet and
+charming were the offers which he made of Christ to all sorts of
+sinners. There was one thing that day that was very remarkable to
+me; for though it was rain from morning to night, and so wet as if
+we had been drenched in water, yet not one of us fell sick. And
+though there was a tent fixed for him, he would not go into it, but
+stood without in the rain and preached; which example had a great
+influence on the people to patience, when they saw his sympathy
+with them. And though he was the only minister that kept closest to
+his text, and had the best method for the judgment and memory, of
+any that ever I heard; yet now, when he preached, the people
+crowded close together, because of the rain, he digressed a little,
+and said, with a pleasant, melting voice, 'My dear friends, be not
+disturbed because of the rain. For to have a covenant-interest in
+Christ, the true Solomon, and in the benefits of his blessed
+purchase, is well worth the enduring of all temporal, elementary
+storms that can fall on us. And this Solomon, who is here pointed
+at, endured a far other kind of storm for his people&mdash;even a
+storm of unmixed wrath. And oh, what would poor damned reprobates
+in hell give for this day's offer of sweet and lovely Christ. And
+oh, how welcome would our suffering friends in prison and
+banishment make this day's offer of Christ.' 'And, for my own
+part,' said he, 'as the Lord will keep me, I shall bear my equal
+share in this rain, in sympathy with you.' And he returned to his
+sweet Subject again, and offered us grace and reconciliation with
+God, through Christ, by his Spirit.</p>
+<p>"Words would fail me to express my own frame, and the frame of
+many others; only this I may say, we would have been glad to have
+endured any kind of death, to have been home at the uninterrupted
+enjoyment of that glorious Redeemer who was so livelily and clearly
+offered to us that day.</p>
+<p>"He was the only man that I ever knew that had an unstained
+integrity. He was a lively and faithful minister of Christ and a
+worthy Christian, such as none who were acquaint with him could say
+any other but this, that he was a beloved Jedidiah of the Lord. I
+never knew a man more richly endowed with grace, more equal in his
+temper, more equal in his spiritual frame, and more equal in walk
+and conversation. When I speak of him as a man&mdash;none more
+lovely in features, none more prudent, none more brave and heroic
+in spirit; and yet none more meek, none more humane and
+condescending. He was every way so rational, as well as religious,
+that there was reason to think that the powers of his reason were
+as much strengthened and sanctified as any man's I ever heard of.
+When I speak of him as a Christian&mdash;none more meek, and yet
+none more prudently bold against those who were bold to
+sin&mdash;none more frequent and fervent in religions duties, such
+as prayer, converse, meditation, self-examination, preaching,
+prefacing, lecturing, baptizing, and catechising; none more
+methodical in teaching and instructing, accompanied with a sweet,
+charming eloquence, in holding forth Christ, as the only remedy for
+lost sinners; none more hated of the world, and yet none more
+strengthened and upheld by the everlasting arms of Jehovah, to be
+steadfast, and abound in the way of the Lord, to the death;
+wherefore he might be justly called "Antipas," Christ's faithful
+martyr. And as I lived then to know him to be so of a truth, so, by
+the good hand of God, I yet live, thirty-six years after him, to
+testify that no man upon just grounds had any thing to lay to his
+charge. When all the critical and straitening circumstances of that
+period are well considered, save that he was liable to natural and
+sinful infirmities, as all men are when in this life, and yet he
+was as little guilty in this way as any I ever knew or heard of, he
+was the liveliest and most engaging preacher to close with Christ,
+of any I ever heard. His converse was pious, prudent, and meek; his
+reasoning and debating was the same, carrying almost with it full
+evidence of the truth of what he asserted. And for steadfastness in
+the way of the Lord, few came his length. He learned the truth and
+counted the cost, and so sealed it with his blood. Of all men that
+ever I knew, I would be in the least danger of committing a
+hyperbole when speaking in his commendation. And yet I speak not
+this to praise men, but for the glory and honour of God in Christ,
+who makes men to differ so much from others, and in some periods of
+the Church more than others."</p>
+<p>The "LECTURES AND SERMONS" of James Renwick that remain were
+published from the notes taken, at the time of their delivery, by
+some of his attached hearers and followers. They were not prepared
+with any view to future publication; and the trying circumstances
+in which their devoted author was placed, wholly prevented any
+correction or revisal. Yet they contain not only remarkably clear
+expositions of the word, and a full exhibition of the scheme of
+salvation, but also many passages which, for searching application
+to the conscience, and moving eloquence, are unsurpassed in the
+discourses of eminent preachers either in ancient or modern times.
+As specimens of the matter of Renwick's discourses delivered in the
+<i>Conventicles</i>, in the fields, amidst all dangers and
+incidents of weather, and by night as well as day, the following
+are selected from the published reports of his hearers:&mdash;</p>
+<p>In a discourse on Song i. 7,&mdash;"Tell me, O Thou whom my soul
+loveth, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon,"&mdash;he thus
+earnestly pleads, "Love Him, and you shall not come short of the
+enjoyment of Him hereafter. It is true, faith is that which, as an
+instrument, apprehends Christ and engrafts us in Him; yet it
+worketh by love, and love accompanieth faith, as the sunbeams do
+the sun. Oh what shall I say? Love him! love him! Ye cannot bestow
+your love so well. Turn others to the door, and take in this
+Beloved. Here I make offer of Him unto you, here I present Him unto
+you! Lift up your heads, O ye doors, that the king of glory may
+come in. I present a glorious Conqueror <i>this night</i>, to be
+your guest. O cast ye open the two foldings of the door of your
+hearts, to wit, that ye may receive Him; cast ye open the hearty
+consent of faith and love, that He may take up His abode with you.
+Oh, what say ye to it? Friends, will ye close with Christ? I obtest
+you by his own excellency, I obtest you by the joys of heaven, and
+the torments of hell, that you close with Him. <i>All of you come,
+whatever you have been or are; none of you</i> shall be cast
+<i>out</i>. Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life
+freely."</p>
+<p>"Seeing it is the duty of people to set their love upon Christ,
+I exhort you to give some testimonies of love. Think ye that ye
+love him? Will ye then show that? I would expostulate for some
+testimonies of your love. When Peter confessed that he loved
+Christ, our Lord desires him to show that by feeding His lambs and
+sheep. It is true, you cannot show your love that way, for ye are
+not called to that office; but ye ought to show it in the way that
+is competent to you in your stations. So as I was saying before, I
+expostulate with you for some testimonies of your love. "Make a
+free and full resignation of yourselves and your all to Christ,
+that ye may say with the spouse, I am my Beloved's! Oh, ye should
+not prig (higgle) with Him about anything. Some prig with Him about
+their hearts, and will have a part thereof in their darling idols,
+which they cannot think to quit. Some prig with Him about their
+time, and will make religion but their by-work. If their worldly
+employments be throng, they will neglect the worship in their
+families, and prayer in secret. Others, if they keep any family
+worship, it is in the evening: ordinarily they are impatient, and
+haste to an end in it: and neglect it in the morning altogether.
+Oh, what a sad prigging is this. Some prig with him about their
+relations. They will not quit these when He calls them to suffer
+for His sake; but will tempt them, or will insinuate upon them to
+comply, and deny His cause. Some prig with Him about their
+possessions, and yielding to this or that iniquity, will keep their
+houses and lands, they will not quit them. And some will prig with
+Him about their lives; and if the swearing of a sinful oath, the
+subscribing to an iniquitous bond, or denying of His cause, will
+save their lives, they will not lose them. Oh, what sad prigging is
+this! Oh, be ashamed of it. Will ye lay all at his feet, and count
+it your honour and joy that He dispose of the same as He pleaseth?
+Give this testimony of your love to Christ, rejoice in Him when
+present, and keep His room empty when absent. I say rejoice in him
+when present. I need not press you much to do this, for in his
+presence there is great joy: though the enjoyment of Him here be
+imperfect, yet it brings exceeding gladness with it. Therefore
+saith the Psalmist,&mdash;'Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more
+than when corn and wine are increased.' But when He is absent, see
+that ye keep His room empty for Him. When He sees it meet at any
+time for your correction, trial, and instruction, to withdraw
+Himself, or hide His face, then idols or other lovers will readily
+present themselves, and seek to possess His room. But, be chaste
+and true to your Beloved, as the spouse who, in His absence, could
+not be contented, but used all means and diligence until she found
+Him."</p>
+<p>In a sermon on Song v. 16,&mdash;"His mouth is most sweet, yea,
+He is altogether lovely. This is my Beloved, and this is my friend,
+O ye daughters of Jerusalem,"&mdash;the following affecting views
+are presented: "The second property of Christ's love is, that it is
+a <i>strong</i> love, which appears from what He hath done for
+sinners. He has done great things for sinners. He took upon Himself
+all the sinless infirmities of human nature&mdash;not sinful
+nature. Yea, He endured a shameful and lingering death, besides a
+flood of wrath that he waded through, such a flood of wrath as
+would have drowned all the sons and daughters of Adam to all
+eternity. Thus 'He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might
+be made the righteousness of God in Him.' Greater love hath no man
+than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Oh, my
+friends, if ye will follow Christ through all the steps of his
+humiliation, ye may see that the love of Christ is strong love,
+which makes him endure such things for sinners. He gives great
+things to sinners, whereby He shows the strength of his love to
+them; for He gives grace and glory, and no good thing will He
+withhold from them that walk uprightly; for He saith, 'Father, I
+will that they also whom Thou hast given me, be with me where I am,
+that they may behold my glory which Thou hast given me.' Christ
+gives the believer union with himself and communion in glory with
+the Father, even a share of that glory which the Father giveth Him,
+He giveth them. He gives them a crown of righteousness which shall
+never fade away; and He gives them to drink of the rivers of his
+pleasures, that are at his right hand for evermore. Oh, my friends,
+Christ doth not prig with His spouse: He will keep nothing back
+from them, that He sees to be for her profit.&mdash;Oh, but His
+love is <i>strong</i>. He requires no more for all that He has
+done, and all that He hath given, but that He see the travail of
+His soul. He will think but little of all that He hath done, if we
+will but accept of His love, and lay our love upon Him. Yea, so may
+be said of Him, as was said of Jacob,&mdash;the seven years that he
+served for Rachel seemed but a few days, for the love that He bare
+unto her. His love is so strong, that although thou shouldest run
+away from Him never so fast, yet His love will overtake thee, and
+bring thee back again. Paul ran very fast in opposition to His
+love, when he was going to Damascus to persecute the Church. But
+Christ's love overtook him suddenly. Manasseh ran very fast from
+Christ, when he made the streets of Jerusalem to run with innocent
+blood, and set up an abomination in the house of God, and used
+witchcraft; and yet Christ's love overtook him, and brought him
+back again from the pit. If thou art one of those that the Father
+hath given to the Son, though thou shouldest run to the brink of
+hell, He will bring thee back again from thence.</p>
+<p>"Christ's love is <i>pure</i> and <i>sincere</i> love. 'Herein
+is love, not that we loved Him, but that He loved us;" not for any
+advantage that He can have by us, for He is infinite in all
+perfections without us; therefore we can neither enrich Him, nor
+add any more glory to Him. We may well magnify His power; that is
+all we can do, and all the advantage is our own. Christ's love is
+not a base love; He loves us not for His good or advantage, but for
+our real good and advantage. It is pure and sincere love, for all
+the advantage is ours.</p>
+<p>"Christ's love is an <i>enriching</i> love, for those upon whom
+His love is bestowed are no more poor. How can they be poor who
+have Christ for their riches? for, saith the Apostle, 'All things
+are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's.' If ye have
+this love bestowed on you, then all other things are made to serve
+for your good&mdash;ye shall lack nothing.</p>
+<p>"Christ's love is a <i>free</i> love. He gives His love freely,
+without any reward, and so it is free love; the offer is <i>alike
+to all</i>. If ye will but take it off his hand, He makes open
+proclamation of it to you all, saying, 'Ho every one that
+thirsteth, come ye to the waters.' Oh, my friends, all other love
+is infinitely beneath this. He took not on him the nature of
+angels, but He took the seed of Abraham. Oh, my friends, God hath
+made us the centre of His love; and therefore, I beseech you, do
+not despise His love. He came not to redeem any of the fallen
+angels, but the seed of Abraham."</p>
+<p>In the following moving terms, he pleads with his hearers to
+accept of Christ and his salvation:&mdash;"Your eternal enjoyment
+of God will be your element, which ye shall for ever delight in,
+and this shall be to praise and admire his love. For, Eye hath not
+seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man
+to conceive the things that the Lord hath prepared for them that
+love Him. Oh, then, sirs, what think ye of Christ? Will ye not, at
+<i>this time</i>, say, He is your Beloved and your Friend? Oh, give
+your consent to become His friends, and accept of Him as your
+friend. I leave this offer at your door; He is willing to befriend
+you, if you will come into an estate of friendship with Him. Come,
+come, and take His offer off his hand. Say not that ye have
+continued so long in sin, that ye know not if He will befriend you
+now; for if ye will come to Him, He will yet befriend you.
+Therefore, for the Lord's sake, put not away such an offer, but
+take it <i>in the present time</i>; for ye know not if ever ye
+shall have an offer again. If ye will not take his offer off His
+hand <i>this day</i>, I will be a witness against you in the great
+day of judgment, that this day, the Son of righteousness offered
+Himself to be your friend, and ye have made light of the offer.
+Yea, the hills and mountains about us shall be witnesses that ye
+had Christ in your offer such a <i>day</i>, in such a <i>place</i>;
+therefore, my dear friends, say now that He is your beloved, and
+that He is your friend."</p>
+<p>His close dealing with the conscience, and his solemn warnings
+and exhortations are exemplified in the following
+passages:&mdash;</p>
+<p>"Consider your own condition without Christ. Ye are lost and
+undone, limbs of Satan, children of wrath, hell to be your
+dwelling-place, and devils and damned souls to be your company
+eternally, and where sin shall be your eternal torment. This is
+your condition without Jesus Christ. What think ye of eternal
+exclusion from the presence and comfort of God? What think ye of
+hell, where there is nothing but utter darkness, weeping and
+wailing for evermore, to be your dwelling-place? What think ye of
+devils to be your continual company? And what think ye of sin to be
+your continual life&mdash;always blaspheming the glorious name of
+God? And what think ye of your final condition&mdash;to be in
+continual torment&mdash;always weeping and gnashing your teeth? All
+this, I say, is abiding you who will not embrace Jesus Christ,
+whatever your profession be. For, believe me, a profession will not
+save you from this eternal misery, if ye receive not Jesus Christ.
+Whatever your sufferings be here, yet ye shall suffer this
+hereafter, if ye receive not Jesus Christ. My heart bleeds for many
+sufferers in Scotland, who shall suffer everlasting torment in
+hell, because they will not receive and embrace Jesus Christ, this
+gracious and free Saviour, who is now in your offer. Oh, embrace
+Jesus Christ, otherwise, be ye who ye will, and do what ye will,
+God's justice shall pursue you, and He shall have war against you
+without cessation: there shall be no discharge in that war. The
+great warriors of the earth are all lying with their weapons broken
+under their heads; but here is a war that hath no end. You who will
+not receive Jesus Christ, you will see that ye have made an evil
+choice, when ye pass through the dark gates of hell, to the inner
+chambers thereof. To move you, further consider, that if ye will
+take Him, ye shall have Him and all His. Ye shall drink of the
+waters of life; your feet shall stand on the sea of glass before
+the throne. Ye shall have His name, and bear His image, and wear a
+crown of pure gold upon your heads, and follow the Lamb with palms
+in your hands, saying, 'Hallelujah! and glory, and honour and
+power, unto the Lord our God.' Ye shall have the fine white linen
+garments of Christ's righteousness, to wear in heaven, in clothing
+eternally. Ye shall have the glorious cloud of
+witnesses&mdash;angels and the spirits of just men made perfect,
+for your continual company; and ye shall have a life of love and
+joy everlasting, with Him that is altogether lovely. Oh, then, come
+and take Jesus Christ. Would ye make a happy choice? Then take Him
+and embrace Him, old and young, man and woman, lad and lass. Now
+Christ is in your offer; and you are all invited to come to Him.
+And now I charge you all, as ye respect the glory of God, and as ye
+desire this happy condition that I have spoken of to you, slight
+not this offer. Now the golden chain of salvation is let down to
+you. Grip, grip it fast, before it is taken up again. Go not away
+fools, lest ye never be at such a market-day again. "What shall I
+say to persuade you? Let the excellency and glory of His great name
+do it. Be entreated to accept of Christ in this present offer. Here
+I obtest you, by what He hath purchased for sinners, and by what He
+has suffered, come and embrace Him. I obtest you by the blood He
+shed on the cross; I obtest you by the great drops of blood He shed
+in the garden, and by all the joys that are above the clouds in
+heaven, that ye put not this offer away. I obtest you, by all the
+torments of hell, that ye put not this offer away. I obtest you by
+the glory of heaven, and by the crowns which believers put on His
+head, that ye slight not this offer.</p>
+<p>"Here I take every man and woman to witness against one another,
+that ye had Christ in your offer; and I shall be a witness against
+all of you that have not received Christ <i>this night</i>. Yea,
+though he should never be glorified in such a sort by me, yet I
+will be a witness against you. Here, before the throne of grace, I
+declare in His name, that I have made an offer of Him unto you;
+and, therefore, your blood shall be upon your own heads if ye
+perish, and I shall be free of the same."</p>
+<p>In another place, he presses with like earnestness acceptance of
+the gospel offer:&mdash;"If ye would be rightly concerned, ye must
+at once come, and be a right son or daughter of the church, and
+member of Jesus Christ; until then, ye cannot have a fellow-feeling
+of the body. Come then, and Christ will give you a fellow-feeling
+with the sufferings of the church. Come and embrace Himself, and He
+will set the stamp of natural children upon you. Without Him, ye
+can do nothing; without Him, ye cannot be concerned with the
+sufferings of His name and members. Refuse not; reject not His
+offers, when He calls you to Himself. It is hard to say if some of
+you shall have an offer again. <i>Now</i> is the acceptable
+time&mdash;<i>now</i> is the day of salvation. He is <i>now</i>
+spreading his net, and will ye not come about the net's mouth, that
+a catch of you may be gotten. He is proclaiming unto you that He
+hath invincible power, though managed by apparent weakness. Oh,
+find you any of this irresistible power of Christ? Oh, come unto
+Him who is the joy of heaven, and it shall be a joyful time in
+heaven. He will have a good report of you through heaven, if ye
+shall have it to say that some poor lad or lass hath put a crown
+upon His head in such a place. But oh, how sad will it be, if
+Christ shall have it to say, 'I gave offer of myself to a people
+like stocks and stones, but they would not hear!'"</p>
+<p>On the duty of devoting the best to God's service, in another
+discourse, he thus forcibly reasons:&mdash;</p>
+<p>"Observe, that it cannot but be a great injury against God, and
+procure a curse, when people employ not their best things in His
+service. This is clear from the words, 'Cursed be the deceiver
+which hath in his flock a male, and voweth and sacrificeth unto the
+Lord a corrupt thing.' So men that employ not their best things in
+the Lord's service, believe it, they are chargeable with this. He
+calls for your best things in His service, and not that you should
+spend that upon your lusts. Ye are called to employ the best of
+your time in his service; and many of you give Him but the refuse
+of your time, or at least, He gets but your by-time for His
+service. But ye should give Him the best of your time and strength,
+and your hearts&mdash;all should be employed in his service. Do not
+say that you do the best that you can; for I am persuaded that
+there is none of you but may do more for Him than ye do. Do not say
+that ye improve the talent that He hath given you to trade with,
+for ye but misimprove it; and the best of you, we fear, come short
+of improving it. If ye improve it, ye should find it increase upon
+your hand, and you would appear like his children. But because
+people do not improve their time and abilities to lay them out for
+God, it procures a curse. For though our obligations go far beyond
+our duties that we do, yet when we do not lay out all our abilities
+for Him, and do not bestow our love, our affections, and our time,
+and all that we have for Him, but bestow them upon other things, we
+procure His curse. Young folks, set to the work, and be entreated
+to give up yourselves to his service, and employ your best things
+for Him, now when your desires are fast and quick. Oh, will ye
+bestow them on precious Christ? You have a brave prize put in your
+hand, if ye set aright to the work; ye may see Zion's King come
+back, and the crown set upon his head again."</p>
+<p>Urging the necessity of being found within the kingdom of God,
+he says:&mdash;</p>
+<p>"Seeing that the gate is very strait and narrow that leads to
+the kingdom of heaven, then what shall become of many of you, that
+never came the length that hypocrites have come? Oh, what will ye
+say, and how will ye meet with God, when He comes to count with you
+for a preached gospel? What will ye think of a Mediator that was
+offered to you, whom ye slighted and despised; when the heaven and
+earth shall melt away; and great men, and mean men, shall howl and
+cry, and all the tribes of the earth shall wail because of Him? Oh!
+this will be the portion of hypocrites from God.</p>
+<p>"It is of use for trial&mdash;for all of you to try yourselves,
+and ponder in your hearts, and say, 'Oh, soul, whether art thou in
+the kingdom of heaven or not?' Oh, be exhorted to this, whatever be
+thy state, O man and woman. It is safe for thee to search thy
+state; if matters be right betwixt God and thy soul, it will be thy
+peace; if not, thou mayest possibly get righted. For my part, I
+count him the best Christian that is most accurate in this
+searching and communing with his own heart; for if ye neglect this,
+ye may come to lose the sight of your interest in Christ, if ever
+ye had it. Do not satisfy yourselves with being near the kingdom of
+God, but go into it. For this end, break the bargain and peace with
+your lusts and idols; and make up your peace with God through
+Christ, our Peace-maker, and ye shall find great advantage in the
+exchange; for the wicked have peace, but with sin and sinful men,
+but the godly have peace with God. Oh, will ye quit all other
+things, and seek to be interested in Him? For it is to be feared
+that many here have proclaimed peace with sin, and some idol, or
+other. Oh, break the bargain, and make peace with Christ! Make
+choice of Him; for He can give you that which no other lover can
+give you. O break that peace with your lusts and idols, and make
+peace with Him. Remember, He offers himself to you freely this day.
+Choose, therefore, what ye will do. O seek for the fulness of the
+Spirit of Christ, and rest upon nothing but upon himself alone; and
+seek to be in the kingdom of God, by the thorough work of
+conversion upon your souls.</p>
+<p>"And now to all that are in the kingdom, I proclaim peace in the
+name of God, whatever troubles they are under here. So enter into
+the kingdom through Christ only, for that is the way to it. But as
+for you who will not come to him, and enter into the kingdom
+through Christ only, who is the way to it, I do, in like manner,
+proclaim war with that soul from God, whatever ye be in profession.
+O friends, lay it to heart, and choose you whether it be better to
+have heaven's peace, and the devil and the world's feud; or to have
+the devil and the world's peace, and feud with God for ever! And
+now to Him who is purchaser of true peace, be glory and praise for
+ever. Amen."</p>
+<p>When it is understood that the discourses from which these
+extracts are taken were preached in the open air, and often in the
+night time, amidst the exposure both of the preacher and the
+hearers to all changes of the weather, not unfrequently in rain and
+tempest; and that the "Sermons and Lectures" that bear Renwick's
+name, were not prepared in a quiet study, in peaceful times, but in
+the midst of frequent removings, incessant labours, and manifold
+dangers, and that they are transmitted to us from the imperfect
+notes, and the recollection of attached hearers,&mdash;themselves
+the objects of fierce persecution,&mdash;they cannot fail to
+impress us with a vivid idea of the remarkable power and fidelity
+as a preacher of the youthful martyr, and to account, at the same
+time, for the popularity and salutary effects of his preaching.</p>
+<center>RENWICK'S SPECIAL TESTIMONY.</center>
+<p>To understand properly the position of James Renwick and his
+associates, and the distinctive testimony which they maintained at
+the peril of life, and transmitted, sealed with their blood, to
+posterity, it is necessary to advert to the particular time in
+which these devoted witnesses were called to appear in behalf of
+precious truth; and to the public measures which had been adopted
+at that period for extinguishing the liberties of the nation, and
+for destroying the independence and purity of the church.</p>
+<p>The Prelatic persecution in Scotland, which commenced with the
+restoration of Charles II. to the throne of his ancestors in 1660,
+had continued for nearly <i>twenty-three</i> years, when Renwick
+entered on his ministry. Instead of the perfidious rulers in church
+and state being satiated with the number of the victims of their
+cruelty, their thirst for blood became more intense, as the time
+wore on; and when they found they could not crush the spirit of a
+free people, or extinguish the light of gospel truth, they had
+recourse to the most despotic and atrocious measures for effecting
+their diabolical purposes. What has been designated "THE KILLING
+TIME" of the Scottish persecution, embraced the greater part of
+Renwick's public ministry. The graphic pens of such able writers as
+De Foe, Charles James Fox, and Macaulay, have but imperfectly
+sketched the barbarities perpetrated by the infamous royal
+brothers, and their base counsellors, and the sufferings of an
+oppressed nation, and of thousands of godly people of all ranks,
+during this dark and distressing period.</p>
+<p>Two matters of general public interest, and intimately connected
+with the position of Renwick and his associates, excited particular
+attention in the concluding period of the persecution. These were,
+1, The measure called THE INDULGENCE; and, 2, The limits of Civil
+Authority, and of the allegiance of the subject.</p>
+<center>I.&mdash;THE INDULGENCE.</center>
+<p>When the power of the persecutors was unable to put down the
+preaching of the gospel in the fields, and to crush the spirit of
+liberty in the breasts of multitudes of the people of Scotland, the
+Indulgence was a master contrivance of the arch-enemy to divide the
+Presbyterians, and to seduce them to abandon some of their
+fundamental principles, for the sake of outward advantages. The
+first indulgence was issued by Charles II. and his council in June,
+1669. It was proclaimed as flowing directly from the royal
+supremacy. The power was granted to the persecuting Council, at
+their discretion, to appoint certain of the outed ministers to
+vacant parishes, on ensnaring conditions. In case they refused to
+receive collation from the bishops, they could not have the
+stipends or tiends, they were only to possess the manse and glebe,
+and be allowed an annuity. If they did not attend diocesan synods,
+they were to be confined within the bounds of their own parishes.
+They were not to dispense ordinances to persons from other
+parishes, nor, on any account, to hold conventicles. They were
+prohibited from speaking against the king's authority, or the
+public measures of the government; and they were to report their
+peaceable behaviour from time to time to the Council.</p>
+<p>Two other indulgences were issued at intervals during the latter
+part of the reign of Charles II. All of them by public proclamation
+denounced relentless vengeance against the faithful men who refused
+the royal boon. They threatened utter extermination to all who
+pleaded for the independence of the Presbyterian Church, and who
+maintained the freedom of the gospel by holding conventicles,
+preaching and administering ordinances in their purity in the
+fields.</p>
+<p>The indulgence unhappily proved a snare in which by far the
+largest number of the Presbyterian ministers in Scotland were
+entangled. We cannot hesitate to agree with the historian
+Hetherington, in holding that "It was offered on a principle
+clearly subversive of the Presbyterian Church, and that not one of
+the ejected ministers ought to have accepted of it, because it was
+impossible to do so, without sacrificing the fundamental and
+essential principle of the Presbyterian Church&mdash;that which
+constitutes its glory and its life&mdash;the sole sovereignty of
+Christ."<a href="#note-1"><small>1</small></a> Three results
+followed the acceptance of the indulgence, which proved highly
+injurious to the Presbyterian Church, and which were, in all
+likelihood, foreseen by the contrivers of the measure, and led them
+to introduce it. These were&mdash;1. The constant interference of
+the government with the indulged in the discharge of their strictly
+ministerial functions. 2. A rupture between the indulged and the
+non-indulged, with many of the best of the people clinging to the
+latter; and, 3. The more systematic, virulent, and crushing
+persecution of those who, defying the tyrant's rage, bared their
+bosoms to the storm; and had the courage at all hazards to plead
+for the royal prerogatives of Messiah the Prince, and to contend
+for the chartered liberties of the Presbyterian Church. This honour
+belongs exclusively to Cargill, Cameron, and Renwick, and the
+Society people; when the large majority of the Presbyterian
+ministers in Scotland, followed by great numbers of the people,
+proved recreant to sound scripture principle, and unfaithful to the
+sacred engagements of their fathers. However belied and
+misrepresented the persecuted covenanters were in their own day,
+impartial history has not failed to do justice to their memory, and
+to show that their faithful contendings had no little influence in
+the nation's deliverance from degrading oppression.</p>
+<center>II.&mdash;THE LIMITS OF PUBLIC AUTHORITY, AND OF A PEOPLE'S
+ALLEGIANCE.</center>
+<p>A question was raised in the later times of the persecution of
+difficult solution, but of vast practical importance. This was the
+due limit of submission to civil rulers, and the withdrawal of
+allegiance and submission from those who had violated their compact
+with the people, and had trampled under foot their constitutional
+rights. It is ably shown by Dr. D'Aubign&eacute;,<a href=
+"#note-2"><small>2</small></a> as had been done before, that civil
+freedom and religious reformation, originating with the people,
+have ever been closely united and advanced together. Wherever the
+principles of evangelical truth have been rightly understood and
+firmly maintained, the people have refused to tolerate civil
+oppression. "<i>He is a freeman whom the truth makes free.</i>" All
+genuine civil freedom is based on religious liberty. Calvinism, as
+is admitted even by many who are opposed to it as a doctrinal
+system, has been the irreconcileable foe of despotism all over the
+world;&mdash;by the heroic struggles, and cheerful sacrifices of
+its adherents, the battle of freedom has been fought, and its
+triumphs achieved in many lands. Particularly in Scotland, where
+the Reformation, from the first, originated with the people, and
+was carried forward in opposition to the mandates of arbitrary
+rulers, and notwithstanding the relentless persecution of the civil
+powers, the eminent instruments whom God honoured for advancing the
+truth, all along contended for the liberties of their country, and
+earnestly pleaded that the duties of rulers and ruled should be
+clearly defined, and the rights of the people settled on a
+constitutional basis. This was the plea of the illustrious Knox, as
+is seen in his expostulations with the Queen and nobles of
+Scotland, and in his intercourse with the statesmen of the
+day&mdash;English and Scottish&mdash;and in his writings. The works
+of Buchanan, Rutherford, and Gillespie, bear ample testimony to the
+enlarged views of their authors in relation to the proper bounds of
+civil and ecclesiastical authority, and to their fidelity to the
+cause of genuine liberty. The same great principles were contended
+for by Alexander Henderson, embodied in the scriptural attainments
+of the memorable Second Reformation, and clearly enunciated in the
+Solemn League and Covenant of the three kingdoms, in which the
+covenanters explicitly bound themselves to support the king and
+parliament in "the maintenance of the true reformed religion." When
+the Scottish nation, forgetful of their sacred vows, tamely
+submitted to the tyranny of the royal brothers, and Presbyterian
+ministers remained silent under an infamous indulgence, it devolved
+upon a few despised and persecuted covenanters,&mdash;the Society
+people,&mdash;to lift up and hold aloft the torch of freedom; and
+by their faithful testimonies and declarations uttered in fields
+and on scaffolds, and more still, by their blood freely shed to
+confirm their righteous cause, to sow broadcast the principles of
+genuine liberty. These, after lying buried in the earth for a time,
+sprung up vigorously, and bore fruit, when the perfidious race of
+the Stuarts was driven ignominiously from the throne; and, at the
+Revolution, some of the fundamental truths for which the martyrs of
+the covenant contended, became ascendant and triumphant.<a href=
+"#note-3"><small>3</small></a></p>
+<p>In the <i>Queensferry Paper</i>, penned by Cargill, in a rough
+draft, and found on the person of Henry Hall of Haughhead, when he
+was taken, the heroic sufferers expressly disowned the authority of
+Charles II. and his government. The terms employed, it has been
+remarked, very much resemble those used by the English nation when
+they rejected the Government of James II., and transferred the
+crown to William and Mary.</p>
+<p>"We reject the king and those associate with him in government
+from being our king and rulers, being no more bound to them. They
+have altered and destroyed the Lord's established
+religion,&mdash;overturned the fundamental and established laws of
+the kingdom&mdash;taken away altogether Christ's church government,
+and changed the civil government of this land, which was by a king
+and free parliament, into tyranny." The conclusion expresses
+sentiments worthy of the most distinguished patriots, and that are
+fit to be taken as the watchward of struggling freemen all over the
+world. "We bind and oblige ourselves to defend ourselves and one
+another in our worshipping of God, in our natural, civil and divine
+rights and liberties, till we shall overcome, or send them down
+under debate to posterity&mdash;<i>that they may begin where we
+end</i>."</p>
+<p>The grand principle of the rejection of tyrannical power was
+boldly proclaimed by Cargill, in preaching to thousands of
+Conventicle hearers, and was prominently held forth in his last
+testimony:&mdash;"As to the cause of my suffering," said he, "the
+chief is, not acknowledging the present authority, as it is
+established in the supremacy and explanatory act. This is the
+magistracy I have rejected&mdash;that which is invested with
+Christ's power. Seeing that power taken from Christ which is His
+glory, and made the essential of an earthly crown, seemed to me, as
+if one were wearing my husband's garments, after he had killed him.
+There is no distinction we can make that can free the conscience of
+the acknowledger from being a partaker of this sacrilegious robbery
+of God. And it is but to cheat our conscience to acknowledge the
+civil power alone, that it is of the essence of the crown; and
+seeing they are so express, we <i>ought to be plain</i>, for
+otherwise we deny our testimony, and consent that Christ be robbed
+of His glory."</p>
+<p>The same testimony against the Indulgence and against
+unconstitutional power was firmly maintained by RICHARD CAMERON,
+during the whole of his public ministry, and in the noble testimony
+emitted by him shortly before his death. Soon after his return from
+Holland in 1680, in one of his earliest sermons, he declared, "I
+know not if this generation will be honoured to cast off these
+rulers. But those that the Lord makes instruments to bring back
+Christ, and to recover our liberties, civil and ecclesiastical,
+shall be such as shall disown this king and the magistrates under
+him." He added this warning to the persecuting authorities, with
+the heroic resolve&mdash;"Let them take heed unto themselves; for
+though they should take us to scaffolds, and kill us in the fields,
+the Lord will yet raise up a party who will be avenged on them. We
+had rather die than live in the same country with them, and outlive
+the glory of God departing altogether from these lands."</p>
+<p>A short month before his death, the intrepid Cameron, his
+brother Michael, and some twenty other covenanters, armed and on
+horseback, posted up at the market cross of the burgh of SANQUHAR,
+the "<i>Sanquhar Declaration</i>" in which are contained these ever
+memorable words:&mdash;</p>
+<p>"We do, by these presents, disown Charles Stuart, who has been
+reigning, or rather tyrannizing in the throne of Britain, these
+years bygone, as having any right, title to, or right in the crown
+of Scotland, for government:&mdash;as forfeited several years
+since, by his perjury, and breach of Covenant both to God and His
+truth, and by his tyranny and breach of the very <i>leges
+regnandi</i>&mdash;the very essential conditions of government, in
+matters civil." This was a noble deed, and ranks Cameron and his
+followers with the purest and most disinterested patriots of any
+age or country. It has been justly remarked by an eloquent writer,
+"The real matter of fact for which the Cameronians contended was
+just the old claim of the Covenanters&mdash;'a free Parliament and
+a free Assembly.'" "It is the glory of the Cameronians, in which no
+other party shares, that when most people lay prostrate, and many
+of the bravest stood aloof, they were the first to hoist the flag,
+disowning the government of the Stuarts, without whose expulsion
+liberty was impossible."<a href="#note-4"><small>4</small></a></p>
+<p>The testimony which Cargill and Cameron boldly proclaimed and
+sealed with their blood, was cordially espoused by Renwick, and
+faithfully maintained by him during the whole course of his public
+ministry. He was called, besides, to the great work of preaching a
+full and free Gospel, throughout many parts of his native country,
+to multitudes who were hungering for the bread of life, when
+through terror of oppressive rulers, or from seeking their favour,
+others shrunk from the performance of so important and hazardous a
+duty. He was required, moreover, to dispense the ordinances of
+religion in Scriptural purity, to the scattered, persecuted
+remnant, and thus to repair "the desolations of Zion," and to
+transmit the truth to future generations. In the year of Cameron's
+martyrdom, the Societies framed their "General Correspondence," and
+formed a simple but effective organization, for mutual fellowship
+and edification,&mdash;for preserving their precious gospel
+liberties, and for taking advantage of any event in public affairs,
+for re-establishing the Covenanted order in Church and State, which
+had been violently taken away, by despotic power and prelatic
+intolerance. The extent of this organization, in a time of great
+suffering is remarkable. Gordon of Earlston, when examined before
+the Privy Council in 1683, with the instruments of torture placed
+in view, testified that several counties were divided into
+districts, of which there were 80, with 7000 associated members.
+There is evidence that, chiefly through the Divine blessing upon
+Renwick's faithful preaching, and his singular wisdom in council,
+those Societies increased, instead of diminishing, in the latter
+part of the prelatic persecution.</p>
+<p>To the friends of evangelical truth, and the faithful witnesses
+for the Redeemer's royal prerogatives, the services of Renwick, at
+the crisis in which he exercised his public ministry, were
+invaluable. He was eminently the man for the time. Through the
+influence of the unhappy Indulgence, the strict Covenanters were
+reduced to what they style themselves in the "Informatory
+Vindication," a "wasted, suffering, anti-popish, anti-prelatic,
+anti-erastian, anti-sectarian remnant." By the death of Cargill and
+Cameron, they were left as "sheep without a shepherd,"&mdash;broken
+and scattered. Through the fierceness of persecution, and the
+machinations of enemies, they were in danger of falling into
+confusion, and of being entirely wasted and destroyed. We admire
+the gracious providence of God in preparing, at this particular
+crisis, an instrument of such rare and suitable endowments for
+feeding "the flock in the wilderness," and for unfurling and
+upholding so nobly the "Banner of truth" amidst hosts of infuriated
+enemies.</p>
+<p>James Renwick, though a very youth when he entered on his
+arduous work, and trained under great outward disadvantages, had a
+powerful and well-cultivated mind. He was endowed with singular
+administrative talent, and had great tact and skill in managing
+men. He was an acute and logical thinker, an eloquent and
+attractive public speaker, and was distinguished by fertility and
+force as a writer. The "Informatory Vindication"&mdash;his
+testimony against king James's toleration, with his "Letters," and
+"Sermons and Lectures," bear ample evidence of his sound judgment,
+comprehensive mind, and ability as an author. His prudence,
+meekness and loving disposition, combined with his sanctified zeal,
+and heroic courage, deservedly gave him great influence among those
+to whom he ministered. He was eminently fitted to be "a first man
+among men." The Lord held him in the hollow of his hand, and made
+him a "polished shaft in his quiver."</p>
+<p>The services which Renwick rendered to the Protestant cause were
+invaluable. He organized the scattered remnant, and imparted new
+life and ardour to their proceedings. He set forth clearly the
+principles of the "Society people;" and in a number of able and
+logical papers, clearly defined their plans of action. He rendered
+it, in a great measure, impossible for enemies to misrepresent and
+accuse them falsely to the Government. He was their Secretary in
+their correspondence with foreign churches; and he did much to
+evoke the prayerful sympathy of Protestants in other lands in
+behalf of the victims of persecution in Scotland. The presence and
+influence of Renwick among the suffering Presbyterians were of the
+highest importance in his own day; and not to them alone, but also
+to the whole church of Christ in these lands, and to the
+constitutional liberties of the nation. So far as we can see, but
+for the singular power and devoted spirit of Renwick, and the firm
+and unyielding position which the Cameronians through him were led
+to assume, the cause of truth would have been completely borne
+down, and Erastianism, and Popery, and Despotism had triumphed.
+Renwick and his followers were the vanguard "in the struggle for
+Britain's liberties, and for the Church's spiritual independence."
+Though, like other patriots born before their time, they were
+doomed to fall, yet posterity owes to them a large part of the
+goodly heritage which they enjoy.</p>
+<p>The <i>manifold labours and sufferings</i> of Renwick, which
+were ended by his martyrdom, deserve a brief notice. For a period
+of five years, after he entered on his public ministry, he was in
+constant movement and unremitting and exhausting labours. He was
+employed at all seasons, and often in the night time, and in the
+most inclement weather, preaching the gospel in the fields,
+visiting families, and conversing with the people individually and
+in groups, attending stated general meetings&mdash;taking part in
+their deliberations, composing differences, confronting gainsayers
+and opponents, and writing the papers and manifestoes of the
+persecuted party. His services were in constant and increasing
+demand, in various places widely scattered. After he had been
+engaged in the most arduous labours, he had little or no rest, and
+no comfortable place of retirement. He was obliged to lodge in
+moss-hags, sheils of shepherds, or holes dug in the ground by his
+followers; when sticks were kindled for a fire, and children
+conveyed to him food, not unfrequently without the knowledge of
+their parents. Naturally of a weak constitution, he was, at times,
+so borne down by sickness and total prostration of strength, that
+he was literally carried on the shoulders of faithful followers, or
+supported when on horseback. He had frequently to flee from one
+hiding place to another, barefoot, or without some of his garments,
+as he had also to travel in disguise. Letters of intercommuning
+were launched against him. A price was set upon his head, and
+persons were forbidden, on pain of death, to yield him shelter, or
+a mouthful of food, to converse, or correspond with him by writing,
+or offer him the smallest service of humanity.</p>
+<p>It is recorded that in 1687, the year before Renwick's
+martyrdom, the royal troops, <i>thirteen times</i>, made the
+strictest search for him throughout all the country. To avoid the
+pursuit of enemies, he had to travel in disguise, and often in the
+dark night, and to seek shelter in caves, and rocks, and dens of
+the earth. Whenever he was engaged in his ministerial work,
+friendly watches were placed around him, to give the alarm on the
+approach of danger. When he preached, a fleet horse was standing
+beside him saddled and bridled, by which he could speedily distance
+the pursuit of enemies. He had, moreover, to suffer much from
+disputes, contentions, and reproaches among those for whom he was
+expending his energies, and for whom he was prepared to sacrifice
+his life. On one occasion, when entering the cottage of John Brown
+of Priesthill, he is said to have given momentary utterance to the
+pent-up grief of his heart by exclaiming, "Reproach hath broke my
+heart." "From an enemy," he added, "he could have borne it, but it
+was hard when it came from those whom he loved as himself, and for
+whom he was undergoing such privations and sufferings." From the
+Presbyterian ministers and people, who had closed in with the
+Indulgence and James's toleration, he received no kindly
+recognition, nor a single act of friendship. On the contrary, they
+heaped on him every term in the vocabulary of abuse, calling him
+"Jesuit," "devil," &amp;c. They misrepresented his principles, and
+sought to excite prejudice against him throughout the country and
+among foreign churches, especially in Holland, where Renwick had
+many attached sympathisers and friends. What was the ground of such
+dislike and hostility? His life,&mdash;even his enemies being
+witnesses,&mdash;was blameless. He preached fully and powerfully
+the glorious gospel. He enforced a strict Scriptural discipline,
+and he was constantly careful to promote practical godliness. His
+sole fault in the eyes of the Indulged was that he strictly adhered
+to the great principles of the Covenanted Reformation, when his
+opponents had plainly abandoned them,&mdash;that he refused to
+accept a royal toleration which was designed to establish Popery
+and absolute power, and that he disowned a perfidious race of
+monarchs, whose oppressive and galling yoke was felt by many, and
+whose rule the whole nation soon after rejected. The fidelity of
+Renwick to the cause of God and truth powerfully reproved those who
+had made defection; while his holy living and devotedness strongly
+condemned such as, to secure immunity from suffering and the
+world's favour, were at ease in Zion. Therefore was it, that, in
+the spirit of apostates in all ages, they laboured to misrepresent
+and calumniate him and the cause which he maintained, and abetted
+the designs of those who persecuted him to the death.</p>
+<center>RENWICK'S MARTYRDOM AND TESTIMONY.</center>
+<p>This devoted servant of Christ, though worn with incessant
+labours, was found actively engaged in his darling work when he was
+called to receive his reward. On the 24th and 27th of January, he
+preached in Fifeshire, and at Borrowstoness, on the 29th. The last
+night of the month, he lodged with a friend in Edinburgh. On the
+morning of the 1st of February, the house was beset with soldiers,
+in the employment of the persecuting Council. When Renwick
+attempted to escape, he was arrested near the Cowgate, and was
+carried by Graham the captain of the guard, before a quorum of the
+Council, by whom he was committed to close prison, and laid in
+irons. When he stood in the presence of those who had issued
+against him fierce proclamations, and had sought his life, they
+were surprised at his youthful appearance, and his comely
+countenance, and one exclaimed, "Is this the boy Renwick, that the
+whole nation was so troubled with," Renwick replied only with a
+quiet smile.</p>
+<p>On the 3d of February, he was brought before the Council, and
+received his indictment. In it, he was charged with casting off the
+fear of God&mdash;disowning the king's authority&mdash;preaching in
+the fields&mdash;and teaching the people to refuse to pay cess, and
+to carry arms in self-defence. It is related of Renwick, when he
+became a prisoner, that, though he had grace given willingly to
+offer his life to confirm his testimony, he yet dreaded torture.
+Having in prayer freely surrendered his life to God, he obtained in
+answer the assurance that enemies would not have the power to
+inflict on him torture. This he afterwards told his mother in
+prison, shortly before his execution, when she was expressing
+concern about seeing his head and hands on the ports of the city.
+He said he was persuaded that the persecutors would "not be
+permitted to torture his body, nor touch one hair of his head
+farther."</p>
+<p>He was so open and candid hi his answers that the members of the
+Justiciary were to some extent favourably impressed, and this had
+doubtless some influence in preventing him from being tortured. He
+enjoyed so much of Divine presence from his entrance into prison,
+till his execution, that to his mother he said, "he could hardly
+pray, being so much taken up with praise, and ravished with the joy
+of the Lord." When before the Justiciary, on the 14th February, he
+confessed to all in the indictment, save the first article,
+charging him with having "cast off all fear of God." He said, "It
+is because I feared to offend God, and to violate His law, that I
+am here to-day, standing to be condemned." When asked about
+disowning the king's authority, he answered like a true Protestant
+and a heroic patriot&mdash;"I own all authority that hath its
+prescriptives and limitations from the word of God; but I cannot
+own this usurper as lawful king&mdash;seeing both by the word of
+God, such a one is incapable to bear rule, and likewise by the
+ancient laws of the kingdom, which admit none to the crown of
+Scotland until he swear to defend the Protestant religion, which a
+man of his profession cannot do."</p>
+<p>At the close of his examination, when asked if he would
+subscribe his Testimony, he did so, with protestation that he
+subscribed it as his testimony, but not as recognizing the
+authority of his judges. When condemned to be executed in the
+Grassmarket, on the Friday following, he was asked by the Justice
+General if he desired a longer time, he declared, "It was all one
+to him; if the time was protracted, it was welcome; if it was
+shortened, it was welcome too;&mdash;his Master's time was the
+best." Without his knowledge he was reprieved for ten days, till
+the 17th of February, as the persecutors were to some degree sated
+with blood, and perhaps somewhat troubled in conscience by the
+demeanor of the youthful confessor. After his condemnation was
+pronounced, many attempts were made to shake his constancy. Several
+petitions were written for him, but he refused resolutely to sign
+any of them. It was at one time proposed to him, that his dropping
+a few drops of ink on paper would be sufficient: this however, he
+promptly refused, alleging that it would be so far an owning of
+wicked authority, and a renunciation of his whole testimony.</p>
+<p>His friends were denied access to him in prison; paper and ink
+were removed from him, and also part of his dying testimony which
+he had written. Others&mdash;persons in authority&mdash;prelates,
+curates, and popish priests visited him. His Christian firmness
+resisted all their attempts to make him swerve from his principles;
+while several of them were struck and overawed by the power of his
+singular wisdom, gentleness, and unaffected goodness. Viscount
+Tarbet, a man of intellect, but noted for his lax accommodating
+principles, said of Renwick, after several times visiting him, "He
+was the stiffest maintainer of his principles that ever came before
+us. Others we used always to cause at one time or other to waver;
+but him we could never move. We could never make him yield nor vary
+in the least. He was of old Knox's principles."</p>
+<p>The testimony of Renwick contained in the "CLOUD OF WITNESSES,"
+was written the night before he suffered, and in near anticipation
+of his martyrdom. His mother and sisters were allowed to be with
+him for a short time, on the morning of the day of his execution:
+In giving thanks at food in their presence, he said&mdash;"Lord!
+Thou hast brought me within two hours of eternity, and this is no
+matter of terror to me, more than if I rose to go to lie down on a
+bed of roses. Nay, through grace, to thy praise, I may say, I had
+never the fear of death since I came within this prison; but from
+the place I was taken in, I could have gone very composedly to the
+scaffold." Again, he said, "Let us be glad and rejoice, for the
+marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.
+Could I ever have thought that the fear of suffering and death
+could be so taken from me? What shall I say of it? It is the doing
+of the Lord and marvellous in our eyes." He asked, "I have many
+times counted the cost of following Christ, but never expected it
+would have been so easy. Now, who knows the honour and happiness of
+that&mdash;'He that confesseth me before men, him will I confess
+before my Father!' Several times, he said, <i>"Now that I am so
+near the end of time, I desire to bless the Lord: it is
+inexpressibly sweet and satisfying peace to me, that He has kept me
+in the least from complying with enemies."</i> On the morning of
+his execution, he wrote his last letter to his most attached
+friend, Sir Robert Hamilton, who was then an exile in Holland, for
+the sacred cause for which Renwick suffered. Every part of this
+brief epistle is calm and thoughtful, and bespeaks the joyful
+serenity of the martyr's spirit. "This," he writes, "being my last
+day on earth, I thought it my duty to send you this, my last
+salutation. The Lord has been wonderfully gracious to me since I
+came to prison. He has assured me of His salvation, helped me to
+give a testimony for Him, and to say before his enemies all that I
+have taught, and strengthened me to resist and repel many
+temptations and assaults." He closes, with these simple, solemn,
+and affecting words&mdash;"But I must break off, I go to your God
+and my God. <i>Death is to me as a bed to the weary.</i>"</p>
+<p>When the drums beat for his execution, he exclaimed, "Yonder is
+my welcome call to the marriage. The Bridegroom is coming. I am
+ready." On the scaffold, he sung the first part of the 3d Psalm,
+read the 19th chapter of Revelations, and prayed. When he was
+rudely interrupted, he said, "I shall soon be above these clouds.
+Then shall I enjoy Thee and glorify Thee, O my Father, without
+intermission and interruption for ever." In the few sentences that
+he was permitted to speak to the spectators from the scaffold,
+after commending the Lord's special mercy to him, in washing away
+his sins, and honouring him to suffer for His name's sake, he
+declared he laid down his life mainly for three things: 1. For
+disavowing the usurpation and tyranny of James, Duke of York. 2.
+Preaching that it is unlawful to pay cess, expressly exacted for
+bearing down the gospel, and 3. Teaching that it is lawful for
+people to carry arms for defending themselves in their meetings for
+persecuted gospel ordinances." At the close, he said, "I leave my
+testimony against Popery, Prelacy, and Erastianism, and against all
+profanity, and every thing contrary to sound doctrine, and the
+power of godliness; particularly against all usurpations and
+encroachments made upon Christ's rights, who alone must bear the
+glory of ruling His own kingdom, the Church; and in particular,
+against this absolute power, usurped by this usurper, that belongs
+to no mortal; but is the incommunicable property of Jehovah; and
+against this toleration flowing from this absolute power." Here he
+was compelled to leave off speaking, and to go up the ladder. He
+then prayed again, and said, "Lord! I die in the faith that Thou
+wilt not leave Scotland, but that Thou will make the blood of thy
+witnesses to be the seed of the Church, and will return again and
+be glorious in our land. And now, Lord, I am ready; the Bride, the
+Lamb's wife, hath made herself ready." When the napkin was tied
+about his face, he uttered a few affectionate words to the single
+friend who was permitted to attend him on the scaffold; his last
+counsels then spoken to the suffering remnant, show how much his
+heart was with them, and the cause of truth in their hands. "As to
+the remnant I leave, I have committed them to God. Tell them from
+me, not to weary, nor be discouraged in maintaining their
+testimony. Let them not quit or forego one of these despised
+truths. Let them keep their ground; and the Lord will provide them
+churches and ministers. And <i>when He comes, He will make these
+despised truths glorious in the earth.</i>"</p>
+<p>In the close of his testimony, written in prison, the day before
+his execution, there are those sublime and affecting expressions,
+which were designed to be his last words from the
+scaffold&mdash;"Farewell, beloved sufferers, and followers of the
+Lamb. Farewell, Christian and comfortable mother and sisters.
+Farewell, sweet societies and desirable general meetings. Farewell!
+night wanderings in all seasons for Christ, and all sublunary
+things. Farewell! conflicts with a body of sin and death. Welcome,
+scaffold, for precious Christ. Welcome, heavenly Jerusalem.
+Welcome, innumerable company of angels. Welcome, crown of glory.
+Welcome, above all, O Thou blessed Trinity and one God. O Eternal
+One, I commit my soul into thy eternal rest."</p>
+<p>The relentless persecutors of our Presbyterian forefathers were
+not content with removing this eminent servant of God, by a violent
+death; as if to throw upon him the utmost indignity, his body was
+buried in the common grave of felons, at the lower entrance of the
+Greyfriars Church-yard, a plain slab of stone erected over the
+spot, stating that the dust of the Rev. James Renwick lies interred
+with that of eight other martyrs, and with the remains of a hundred
+common felons. The emblem and inscription on the stone point,
+however, to the glory reserved for faithful servants of Christ,
+when the sufferings of the Church shall have been completed, and
+antichristian power shall have been overthrown. The emblem is an
+open Bible, with the words in Revelation vi. 9, 10, 11, inserted
+underneath.</p>
+<p>Though enemies thus did their utmost to pour dishonour on the
+name and memory of Renwick, and to extinguish the cause for which
+he suffered, yet the Redeemer whom he intensely loved, and
+faithfully served, has in his providence, vindicated the one, as He
+has preserved, and will yet more extensively and gloriously display
+the other. Not only have eminent historians and other distinguished
+writers, in recent times, done justice to the character and labours
+of Renwick, and the contendings of the Society people; but within
+the last few years, by several public Commemorative services in
+Scotland, the spirit and testimony of the later Scottish martyrs,
+have been held forth as worthy of the grateful regard of posterity,
+and commended to their imitation and adoption. The Bicentenary of
+the SANQUHAR DECLARATION was commemorated with appropriate
+services,&mdash;upwards of 4000 persons of different religious
+denominations convening at the ancient burgh of Sanquhar for this
+purpose. The addresses delivered on the occasion by ministers and
+others, ably displayed and vindicated the position assumed by
+Richard Cameron, and his followers, and commended to public
+approval their testimony. Some three years ago, a like public
+commemoration of Renwick's birth and martyrdom was celebrated, at
+the place of his nativity near MONIAIVE, in the south of
+Scotland,&mdash;ministers and people of the Free, United, and
+Reformed Presbyterian Churches manifesting the deepest interest in
+the proceedings. Besides the ministers and large concourse of
+people&mdash;many of them gathered from great distances, that met
+in the open air, near the place of Renwick's birth,&mdash;numerous
+congregations assembled in different houses of worship, observed
+the solemn occasion with solemn devotional exercises. The addresses
+delivered were a suitable tribute to the spirit and conduct of the
+covenanted martyrs; and various articles of their special testimony
+were clearly displayed and ably vindicated. An admirable sermon was
+preached at this commemoration by Rev. WILLIAM ANDERSON of
+Loanhead, which has since been published under the title of "<i>the
+Voice of Renwick</i>," and extensively circulated. It contains a
+condensed, yet lucid sketch of the life, labours and sufferings of
+Renwick, a faithful portraiture of his character, and an able
+exposition and defence of the great principles of the testimony of
+the Scottish martyrs. There has been published in modern times no
+juster or more appropriate tribute to the character, principles,
+and heroic deeds of these faithful confessors, than is contained in
+this discourse. On this account, as well as for the weighty
+practical lessons which it enforces, it is of no local or ephemeral
+interest, but deserves to be transmitted along with the testimonies
+of the Presbyterian martyrs to future generations. These movements
+indicate the gracious design of Zion's King to put lasting and
+increasing honour upon those who cheerfully suffered the loss of
+all things in maintaining his cause, and of yet reviving the
+principles for which they nobly contended. Though the day may be
+distant when these nations shall voluntarily and generally return
+to allegiance to Prince Messiah, yet, as the dimness of the hour is
+the sure precursor of the perfect day, and the cloud like a man's
+hand betokened "abundance of rain," so these grateful reminiscences
+of the covenanted martyrs and their distinctive testimony, point to
+a day of deliverance and brightness approaching, when Antichristian
+error and idolatry shall be overthrown, and the reign of
+righteousness and truth shall be universally established.</p>
+<p>CONCLUSION.</p>
+<p>The record of the life, labours, and testimony, of James Renwick
+is fraught with <i>practical lessons</i> of the highest value to
+the Church in the present day; and ministers, theological students,
+and the rising youth of the Church generally have a special
+interest in pondering them deeply, and in seeking to reduce them to
+practice.</p>
+<p>From Renwick's personal history, we see&mdash;1. An instance of
+the Divine blessing on parental dedication, and early religious
+instruction, confirming the truth of the Divine promise, and
+exhibiting the unspeakable benefit of the faithful labours of godly
+parents, especially of mothers, to the Church. 2. It is
+impressively shown too, that a person's work and influence for
+good, is not dependent on birth or station in life, or on outward
+advantages. Many of the most eminent servants of Christ, like
+Luther and Renwick, sprung from the humbler ranks of society, and
+before they came forward to public usefulness, had to contend with
+great difficulties. Grace ennobled them. God often chooses "the
+weak things" of the world to "confound the mighty." His servants
+are raised from the dunghill to sit among princes. In heaven's
+heraldry, a man's rank is taken, not from hereditary titles, or
+possessions, but from grace renewing and sanctifying the heart, and
+a life of true devotedness to Christ and his service. 3. We are
+taught to lay no stress on present prosperity, but to do God's
+work, looking for the recompense of reward which He gives. A noble
+forgetfulness of self, and mortification to the favour of the
+world, have characterized all Christ's most approved servants. Dr.
+Payson relates about himself, what has been experienced by many
+faithful men, "When I thought myself to be <i>something</i>, I
+never knew happiness of mind; since I came to feel myself nothing,
+and Christ all, I have realized full satisfaction and joy." Renwick
+reviled, calumniated, and persecuted in his day, while esteeming
+all but loss for Christ, enjoyed in life and death, peace
+surpassing understanding&mdash;his name will be ever fragrant, and
+his memorial everlasting.</p>
+<p>4. Again, Renwick's life presents a bright and attractive
+<i>example of the graces of fervent piety</i>. There shines forth
+in his character, in harmonious display and concentrated lustre, an
+array of lovely and ennobling features. To faith, he added virtue,
+and knowledge, patience, temperance, godliness, &amp;c. (2 Pet. i.
+5-7.) His Christian <i>wisdom</i> is singularly conspicuous.
+Renwick was blamed in his own day by time-servers and backsliders
+as imprudent; and those who maintain the same testimony even in our
+times, are characterized as foolish, imprudent, and infatuated.
+Certainly, if wisdom consists only in securing present temporal
+gain&mdash;fleeting pleasure and the applause of the world, then
+Renwick and his followers have no claim to be considered wise. But
+if the "beginning" and spirit of true wisdom are the "fear of the
+Lord;" and if it is shown in preferring the advancement of God's
+glory and the enjoyment of His favour to all else, and in seeking
+the attainment of those ends by means divinely appointed, and
+approved, then the persecuted remnant were eminently wise. By
+opposing Popery, Prelacy, Erastianism, and arbitrary power, and
+pleading resolutely for the covenant liberties of the Church and
+nation, they proposed to themselves holy ends. Their faithful
+contendings; their stern denunciations of royal perfidy and
+tyranny; their organization of societies, and a general
+correspondence; their proclaiming open opposition to usurped
+authority; and, above all, their willing sacrifice of life rather
+than abandon right principles, evince true wisdom. These were the
+best means that could possibly have been adopted to expose the
+countless evils of the government of the royal brothers; and to
+rouse the dormant spirit of the nation, to hurl tyrants and
+oppressors from the throne, and to establish constitutional
+liberty. Then, the <i>fidelity</i> of Renwick and the Cameronians
+were seen in maintaining fully their testimony to the whole
+covenanted reformation, amidst manifold perils, when the large body
+of Presbyterians had made defection. The standard which they firmly
+grasped and refused to surrender had its glorious motto, "FOR
+CHRIST'S CROWN AND COVENANT." The central doctrine of the
+Redeemer's Headship over the Church and the nations, occupied a
+first place in all the testimonies emitted in their general
+meetings, and uttered on scaffolds and fields of blood. Connected
+with this, as necessary corollaries, were the supremacy of Holy
+Scripture&mdash;the spiritual independence of the Church, and the
+subjection of rulers and national legislation to the sceptre of the
+reigning Mediator. On these grounds, they not only rejected
+infamous rulers, but condemned and rejected with utter abhorrence
+the royal supremacy. The sentiment expressed in the words
+subscribed to the minutes of their general meetings&mdash;"LET KING
+JESUS REIGN,<a href="#note-5"><small>5</small></a> declare the leal
+allegiance of Renwick and the persecuted Covenanters to Prince
+Messiah. Earnestly did they seek to have the authority of King
+Jesus universally acknowledged, honoured, and obeyed. They believed
+firmly the sure word of prophecy that "all kings shall fall down
+before Him; and all nations shall serve Him." "He shall have
+dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of
+the earth." Psal. lxxii. 11, 8. So should we also aim to be
+faithful to Christ and His cause; to our own sacred vows; to the
+souls of men; and to the blood-bought privileges that have been
+entrusted to us to preserve and transmit. We are responsible, not
+for success, but for fidelity; and the promised reward will be a
+glorious recompense for all trial and suffering. "Be thou faithful
+unto the death, and I will give thee a crown of life."</p>
+<p>Renwick was, furthermore, distinguished by a <i>catholic,
+genial, loving spirit</i>. This characteristic is not generally
+thought to have been prominent in the spirit of illustrious
+reformers and suffering confessors. Luther, Calvin, and Knox, have
+been represented as unsocial, morose fanatics, and gloomy bigots.
+Renwick has been branded as rigid and austere, and those who have
+embraced and faithfully maintained the same testimony have been
+exhibited as sectaries of the deepest dye. No representation could
+be more unjust, and none is more opposed to historic truth. Luther
+was most genial and loving, as his "Table Talk," and the record of
+his domestic life, abundantly testify. Calvin's "Letters" collected
+by Bonnet, show how keenly and long he felt the death of his wife
+and infant child; how deeply his heart was affected with the
+sufferings of Protestants everywhere, even of those who differed
+from him in principle; and attest, moreover, the warmth and
+constancy of his friendship. Knox's declaration before Queen Mary,
+that he was always affected by the crying of his infant children,
+shows his gentle and susceptible disposition; while his letters to
+his wife and mother-in-law bear witness, equally to his piety, and
+to the depth of tender feeling that filled his large heart. Renwick
+was, at all times, a loving, thoughtful, and confiding friend, as
+many passages in his "Letters" declare. The annals of the
+persecution, and the traditions of suffering times, testify to his
+genial disposition, even when he was harassed by relentless
+enemies, and his heart was overwhelmed with incessant cares and
+anxieties.</p>
+<p>In proof of the catholic, unsectarian, Christian spirit of
+Renwick and his followers, the clear statements of the INFORMATORY
+VINDICATION, the work which most fully and clearly defines their
+position, may be referred to. After laying down an admirable
+platform of fellowship and discipline, the persecuted Covenanters
+declare in effect, "We are not a Church at present, and cannot act
+fully as an organized Church. We are a broken, persecuted remnant.
+Our societies are not a Church, but a temporary means of enjoying
+proper religious instruction and ordinances of worship. They are,
+besides, associations for self-defence, and for watching and taking
+advantage of any public movement for overturning the present
+despotism, and recovering our liberties, civil and religious. We
+require to make the terms of admission strict, to guard against
+spies, and those who are contentious or quarrelsome. At the same
+time they declare the close and hallowed relations that bound them
+to all the true disciples of their common Lord. In a noble spirit
+of Christian brotherhood, they virtually proclaim, "On the
+communion of saints, let us impose no new restrictions. Though
+others differ from us in the word of their special testimony, let
+us embrace and love them, and acknowledge fellowship with them as
+Christian brethren."<a href="#note-6"><small>6</small></a> In these
+noble utterances, we have strikingly exemplified the true spirit of
+Christian brotherhood and Catholic communion. This is the genuine
+import of the vow of the Solemn League and Covenant, which binds
+Covenanters to regard whatever is done to the least of them, as
+done to all and to every one in particular. While firmly holding
+fast all Scriptural attainments, and contending "earnestly for the
+faith once delivered to the saints," we should cordially rejoice in
+the evidences of grace in Christ's servants wherever we find them.
+We should love them as brethren, fulfil the law of Christ by
+bearing their burdens, wish them God speed in all that they are
+doing for the advancement of His glory, and fervently labour and
+pray for the coming of the happy period when divisions and
+animosities shall cease, and when there shall be one King, and His
+name one in all the earth.</p>
+<p>5. The testimony of Renwick and his associates is of permanent
+value and of special importance in our day, as it was directed
+against <i>systems of error and idolatry</i>, which serve to
+corrupt the Church and enslave the State. Against Popery in every
+form Renwick was a heroic and uncompromising witness. At the peril
+of life, he publicly testified against the usurpation of the papist
+James, and rejected him as having no claim to be regarded as a
+constitutional sovereign, and as utterly disqualified to reign in a
+Protestant reformed land. This was the main ground of his objection
+against James's toleration, for which the Indulged ministers
+tendered obsequious thanks to the usurper. Yet this edict of
+toleration was issued for the purpose of opening the way for the
+practice of Rome's abominations, and for the advancement of papists
+to places of power and trust in the nation. None of the Cameronians
+would, for any earthly consideration, even to save their lives, for
+a moment admit that a papist had any right to exercise political
+power in a reformed land. Our martyred forefathers we regard as
+worthy of high respect and imitation, for their deeply cherished
+dread of the growing influence of Popery, and for their determined
+resistance to its exclusive and extravagant claims. The system of
+Popery is the abnegation of all precious gospel truth; and is a
+complete politico-religious confederacy against the best interests
+of a Protestant nation. The boast of its abettors is that it is
+<i>semper eadem</i>&mdash;ever the same. Rome cannot reform herself
+from within, and she is incapable of reformation from external
+influences and agencies. The Bible never speaks of Antichrist as to
+be reformed, but as waxing worse and worse till the time when he
+shall be completely subverted and irrecoverably destroyed. Whatever
+changes may be going on in some Popish countries, whereby the power
+of the Papacy is weakened, it is evident that the principles and
+spirit of the Romish priesthood, and of those who are under their
+influence, remain unchanged. The errors of the Antichristian
+system, instead of being diminished, have of late years increased.
+Creature worship has become more marked and general. The Immaculate
+Conception has been proclaimed by Papal authority as the creed of
+Romanism. In these countries, and some other Protestant lands, the
+influence of Popery in government and education, and so on the
+whole social system, has been greatly on the increase. Among those
+who have most deeply studied inspired prophecy, there is a general
+expectation that the period of Babylon's downfal is hastening on,
+and is not far distant. There is a general presentiment too, that
+the Man of Sin, prior to his downfal, will make some dire and
+violent attempt through his infatuated followers against the truth,
+and against such as faithfully maintain it. The "<i>Slaying of the
+Witnesses</i>,"&mdash;which we are disposed to regard as yet
+future&mdash;may take place, not so much by the actual shedding of
+blood, though it is plain that Jesuit policy and violence will not
+hesitate to re-enact former persecution and massacre, to accomplish
+a desired purpose. It may mainly be effected, as Scott, the
+expositor, suggests, by silencing the voice of a public testimony
+in behalf of fundamental truths throughout Christendom; and of this
+there are at present unmistakeable signs not a few, throughout the
+churches in various countries.</p>
+<p>The Protestant church in all its sections should be thoroughly
+awake to its danger from the destructive errors, idolatry and power
+of its ancient irreconcilable enemy; and should, by all legitimate
+means, labour to counteract and nullify its political influence.
+The ministry and the rising youth of the church should study
+carefully the Popish controversy, and should be intimately
+acquainted with the history of the rise and progress of the
+Papacy&mdash;its assumed blasphemous power&mdash;its accumulated
+errors and delusions, and its plots, varied persecutions and cruel
+butcheries of Christ's faithful witnesses. Above all, they should
+set themselves earnestly, prayerfully and perseveringly to diffuse
+the Bible and Gospel light in the dark parts of their native
+country, and among Romanists in other lands. By embracing fully and
+holding fast, in their practical application, the principles of the
+British Covenants, and by imbibing the spirit of covenanted
+martyrs&mdash;men like Renwick and the Cameronians, we will be
+prepared for the last conflict with Antichrist. The firm and
+faithful maintenance of a martyr-testimony will be a principal
+instrument of the victory of truth over the error and idolatry of
+Rome. "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word
+of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death,"
+(Rev. xii. 11.)</p>
+<p>Finally&mdash;the testimony of Renwick is valuable, as throwing
+light on <i>great evils connected with systems of civil
+government</i>, and <i>with Protestant churches</i>, and as
+pointing out clearly the duty of faithful witnesses in relation to
+them. Two great principles&mdash;the one <i>doctrinal</i>, and the
+other <i>practical</i>, were essential to it, or rather constituted
+its whole speciality. These were&mdash;first&mdash;that, according
+to the national vows, and the reformation attainments, the whole
+civil polity of the nation should be conformed to the
+Scriptures,&mdash;and secondly, the positive duty of distinct
+separation from whatever systems in the state or the church that
+are opposed to entire allegiance to Messiah, the Prince. The civil
+constitution and the national legislation and administration, as
+well as the lives of rulers, were required to be in subjection to
+His authority, and in accordance with the prescriptions of His
+word. When such subjection is withheld, Christ's servants, if they
+would be faithful to the exalted Saviour, cannot do otherwise than
+refuse to incorporate with the national society, and to homologate
+the acts of its rulers; and from Churches that do not testify
+against national defection, they are constrained to maintain
+distinct separation. The past history of the Church bears clear
+testimony that truth has been frequently preserved, when it was in
+danger of being lost, by open separation from those who were bent
+on declension and apostacy.</p>
+<p>In our day, it should not be regarded as enough to profess in
+theory the doctrine of Christ's Headship, or merely to speak in
+commendation of a martyr-testimony. We should aim, as Renwick and
+his followers, at whatever inconvenience and hardship, to give it
+<i>practical effect</i>. The reason why these honoured confessors
+disowned the authority of Charles and his brother, was, not solely
+or chiefly, because of their tyranny or persecuting measures, but
+principally because the authority assumed was opposed to the
+exclusive royal prerogatives of the Redeemer. The public evils
+against which Renwick and the later martyrs testified to the death,
+did not cease at the Revolution; nor can we admit that the
+Revolution Settlement embodied all the principles for which the
+Covenanted martyrs contended, and suffered, and died. On the
+contrary, there are essential and inherent evils in the Revolution
+Settlement, both civil and ecclesiastical, which exist to this day,
+and which render a decided testimony against it dutiful now, as it
+was at the period of the Revolution. The Act Rescissory, which was
+passed at the Restoration, is still retained in the Statute Book:
+the National Covenants were abandoned, both by the Church and the
+nation, and neither has returned to a sense of their obligation.
+The Scriptural attainments of the Reformation were left under a
+gravestone. Presbyterianism was established in Scotland&mdash;not
+because it was Scriptural or right in itself, but because it was
+agreeable to the wishes of the majority of the nation, and it was
+set up on an Erastian basis. By the introduction of the curates
+into the ministry of the Scottish establishment, at the king's
+behest, without any public confession or renunciation of
+Prelacy&mdash;the germ of Moderatism was laid, which, in due time,
+budded and brought forth bitter fruits, in numerous corruptions and
+oppressions, and in multiplied divisions and separations.</p>
+<p>Prelacy, abjured in the Solemn League of the three kingdoms,
+was, at the Revolution, established in England and Ireland, and the
+supremacy of the monarch as head of the National Church, and in
+"all causes, civil and ecclesiastical," was declared to be an
+inherent prerogative of the crown. These evils yet exist in the
+civil and ecclesiastical establishments of these countries; and
+others have in recent years been added, such as the admission of
+papists to places of power and trust throughout the nation, the
+national endowment of popish institutions, and the public favour
+shown by rulers to the Antichristian system. The national policy in
+these instances and others that might be mentioned, is wholly
+inconsistent with the doctrine of the Redeemer's Headship in its
+legitimate application, and is the source of many of the evils that
+in our day corrupt and degrade the Church of England, and that
+prevent the developement and prevalence of genuine Protestantism
+throughout the nation. The Presbyterian Churches that claim descent
+from the covenanting reformers and martyrs, should seriously
+consider whether they do not compromise a faithful testimony, and
+encourage national apostacy, by incorporating with a civil system
+that refuses homage to the reigning Mediator, and obedience to the
+authoritative prescriptions of His word.</p>
+<p>The rising youth of the Church should carefully study in its
+legitimate application, and vitally important consequences, the
+grand article of Renwick's testimony,&mdash;the Redeemer's Headship
+over the Church and the nations, and the cognate principles of the
+supremacy of the word, the spiritual independence of the Church,
+and the claim of the subjection of the nation and its rulers to the
+authority of the reigning Mediator. Whether viewed in the light of
+the past or of the present state of the nations, as of America, and
+the kingdoms of the antichristian earth; or of prophecy yet
+unfulfilled, a testimony for these truths is of grand and
+overwhelming importance. This is emphatically, the <i>present
+truth</i>&mdash;the cause of God and truth, now to be pleaded in
+the earth. It is "the word of Christ's patience," which we are
+required to hold fast. It is at our peril If we be found neutral
+here; our preservation from the coming "hour of temptation," is
+alone to be expected in fidelity to the great trust committed to
+us. We are assured in the faithful word of prophecy, that the
+Redeemer will ere long take to Him his power to reign. The "Little
+Stone" shall bruise and break in pieces the feet and toes of the
+"great Image,"&mdash;the representative of the
+world-powers,&mdash;and become a "great mountain," and fill the
+earth. Then shall the cause for which Christ's witnesses testified
+in sackcloth, and for which chosen martyrs died, gloriously
+triumph. "The kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of
+our Lord, and of his Christ."</p>
+<p>The peaceful, triumphant death of Renwick, shows impressively
+that there is a reward to the righteous; that a life of self-denial
+and devoted piety appears at the close, enstamped with heaven's
+approval; and that labours and sufferings for Christ's sake conduct
+to the joy of completed victory, and to perfect communion with the
+Redeemer, and the redeemed in glory. "Mark the perfect man, and
+behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace." (Ps. xxxvii.
+37.) "After this, I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man
+could number, of all nations, and kingdoms, and people, and
+tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with
+white robes, and palms in their hands. And cried with a loud voice,
+saying, Salvation to our God, which sitteth upon the throne, and
+unto the Lamb." (Rev. vii. 9, 10.)</p>
+<center>FOOTNOTES:</center>
+<br>
+<br>
+<a name="note-1" id="note-1"><!--Note--></a>
+<p class="foot"><u>1</u> [ Hist of Ch. of Scotland, vol. ii. p.
+64]</p>
+<a name="note-2" id="note-2"><!--Note--></a>
+<p class="foot"><u>2</u> [ Calvin and Geneva, vol. I., II.]</p>
+<a name="note-3" id="note-3"><!--Note--></a>
+<p class="foot"><u>3</u> [ See Appendix,&mdash;Note A.]</p>
+<a name="note-4" id="note-4"><!--Note--></a>
+<p class="foot"><u>4</u> [ Dodds' "Fifty Years' Struggle," p.
+275.]</p>
+<a name="note-5" id="note-5"><!--Note--></a>
+<p class="foot"><u>5</u> [ See "Faithful Contendings."]</p>
+<a name="note-6" id="note-6"><!--Note--></a>
+<p class="foot"><u>6</u> [ Dodds' "Fifty Years' Struggle," p.
+275.]</p>
+<div style="height: 4em;"><br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br></div>
+<h2>APPENDIX.</h2>
+<p>It has been common in some quarters of late, to speak of Renwick
+and his associates in testimony-bearing and suffering, as only
+contending against the unconstitutional and persecuting measures of
+the government of the Royal brothers,&mdash;and to declare that,
+had they lived to witness the change of government which took place
+at the Revolution, they would have joyfully hailed it as the
+realization of their eager aspirations,&mdash;and would have
+incorporated readily with the national society. Thus, Dodds in his
+"<i>Fifty Years' Struggle of the Scottish
+Covenanters</i>,"&mdash;while acknowledging the important services
+rendered to the cause of the Prince of Orange, by the bold and
+resolute position taken by the Cameronians, represents Renwick, as
+not only "the last martyr of the Covenanting struggle," but also as
+"the <i>Proto-martyr of the Revolution</i>." He adds, "Like the
+shepherd overwhelmed in the snow-storm, he perished within sight of
+the door. The door of deliverance was speedily opened, on the
+arrival of William, in November, 1688." And, again, speaking of
+Cameron, Renwick, and the stricter Covenanters, he says, "So far,
+the REVOLUTION SETTLEMENT&mdash;in the main adopting what was
+universal, and rejecting what was exclusive, or over-grasping in
+their views,&mdash;was the consummation and triumph, civilly and
+politically, and to a large extent, ecclesiastically, of the FIFTY
+YEARS' STRUGGLE OF THE SCOTTISH COVENANTERS." These statements,
+though plausible, and such as seem likely to be readily embraced by
+those who have no relish for a full Covenanted testimony&mdash;or
+who desire to maintain fellowship with corrupt civil and
+ecclesiastical systems, are liable to one fundamental and
+unanswerable objection,&mdash;they are wholly unsupported by
+historical evidence. All pains were taken by Cameron and Renwick,
+in preaching and in their dying testimonies, and by the United
+Societies in their published declarations, to show that they
+testified not merely against the usurpation and blasphemous
+supremacy of the last of the Stuarts,&mdash;but likewise,
+principally, against all invasion of the Redeemer's royal
+prerogatives,&mdash;and all departure from the scriptural
+attainments of the former happy Reformation. In nothing were they
+more decided than in testifying to the death, that the National
+Covenants were the oath of God, perpetually binding on all classes
+in the realm,&mdash;"the marriage tie," which no power on earth
+could dissolve&mdash;that all departure from the principles of
+these federal deeds was sinful, and involved the land in the guilt
+of national apostacy and perjury,&mdash;and that the authority of
+the Scripture was supreme in constituting the national society, in
+enacting and administering the laws, and in regulating the lives
+and official acts of the rulers.</p>
+<p>The Revolution Settlement, in both its civil and ecclesiastical
+departments, instead of being the exemplification and carrying
+forward of the work of the Second Reformation,&mdash;for the
+maintenance of which the Scottish martyrs shed their
+blood,&mdash;was a deliberate abandonment of it, and was
+established in open opposition to its grand and distinguishing
+principles. The faithful companions and followers of Renwick
+refused to incorporate with this Settlement, on the ground of
+adhering firmly to the scriptural vows of the nation, and the
+testimonies of illustrious martyrs. While giving the best proof of
+their genuine patriotism, they withheld allegiance from the
+government of William, and they took the name and position of "Old
+Dissenters," for reasons which they clearly stated, which those who
+opposed and misrepresented them, were unable to answer, and the
+greater part of which are as applicable to the present British
+government, and existing ecclesiastical systems, as they were to
+the Settlement of the Revolution. Several of the political changes
+which have taken place in recent times, have supplied strong
+additional grounds for faithful Covenanters maintaining the
+position of public protest against, and active dissent from the
+establishments, civil and ecclesiastical, of the nation. The
+reasons of separation from the Revolution Church and State, as
+given by the "Society People," are presented in a lucid and
+convincing manner, in the work entitled&mdash;"Plain Reasons for
+Presbyterians dissenting from the Revolution Church in Scotland, as
+also their Principles concerning Civil Government, and the
+difference betwixt the Reformation and Revolution Principles." They
+are likewise exhibited in a condensed form in the "Short Account of
+Old Dissenters," emitted with the sanction of the Reformed
+Presbytery, and in very luminous terms in the Historical part of
+the "Testimony of the Reformed Presbyterian Church."</p>
+<p>No person who peruses these works, and ponders their carefully
+prepared statements, can with candour and honesty affirm that
+Renwick and his fellow-sufferers would have willingly incorporated
+with the Revolution Settlement; or that fellowship with the present
+British political system, by taking oaths of allegiance and office,
+and setting up rulers, is consistent with their declared and dearly
+prized principles. Let the "Plain Reasons" to which we have
+referred, be duly weighed&mdash;and it must be perfectly apparent,
+that Mr. Dodds's oracular statement&mdash;that the "REVOLUTION
+SETTLEMENT" was the consummation and triumph, civilly, and
+politically, and to a large extent ecclesiastically, of the "Fifty
+years' Struggle of the Scottish Covenanters," is completely
+destitute of any solid foundation. These <i>reasons</i> are such as
+the following&mdash;The Scottish reformation in its purest form was
+deliberately abandoned in the Revolution Settlement&mdash;Both the
+Church and State concurred in leaving unrepealed on the
+Statute-book, the infamous Act Rescissory, by which the National
+Covenants were declared to be unlawful oaths, and all laws and
+constitutions, ecclesiastical or civil, were annulled, which
+approved and gave effect to them. The Revolution Church was, in
+every respect, an entirely different establishment from that of the
+Second Reformation. Its creed was dictated by Erastian
+authority&mdash;its government established on the ground of popular
+consent and not of Divine right&mdash;its order and discipline were
+placed in subjection to Erastian civil rulers&mdash;and the
+Scriptural liberties of the ministry and membership interfered
+with; and corruption in doctrine, and ordinances of worship,
+without the power of removing it, extensively spread throughout the
+ecclesiastical body. How sadly different a structure did this
+appear to the eyes of faithful men, who lamented that the carved
+work of a Covenanted Sanctuary had been broken down, and the
+"beautiful House where their fathers worshipped, was laid waste!"
+Nor could the civil and political part of the Revolution Settlement
+have any pretensions to be a proper carrying out of the civil
+system of the Reformation era. In this the federal deeds of the
+nation were the compact between rulers and ruled, and were an
+essential part of the oath of the Sovereign on admission to supreme
+power. Civil rulers were required to be possessed of scriptural and
+covenant qualifications&mdash;and were taken bound to make a chief
+end of their government the promotion of the divine glory in the
+advancement of the true reformed religion, and the protection and
+prosperity of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. They were likewise
+solemnly engaged to employ their official influence and authority
+to put away systems that had been abjured in the National
+vows,&mdash;Popery, Prelacy and Erastianism, and to discourage all
+profaneness and ungodliness. At the Revolution, all these
+engagements were deliberately set aside. The sovereign's coronation
+oath, and the oath of allegiance of subjects, bind both equally to
+the support of Prelacy&mdash;which is declared to be established
+unchangeably in England and Ireland. The whole civil system is
+based on expediency and the popular will, and not on Scriptural
+principles. The authority claimed and exercised by the monarch over
+the Presbyterian Establishment in Scotland, and the National Church
+in England and Ireland, is grossly Erastian. The introduction of
+Popery into the bosom of the State&mdash;the admission of Papists
+to offices of power and trust in the nation, and the endowment of
+Popish Seminaries and chaplains&mdash;which the Revolution
+Settlement barred&mdash;but which the Antichristian and infidel
+policy of recent times has enacted, show still more clearly that
+the civil and political system established in these countries is
+diametrically opposed to that which was set up at the era of the
+Reformation, and was contended for by the Scottish
+martyrs&mdash;and impose on all who would honestly promote the ends
+of the National Covenants, the obligation to maintain distinct
+separation from it.</p>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Life of James Renwick, by Thomas Houston
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life of James Renwick, by Thomas Houston
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Life of James Renwick
+       A Historical Sketch Of His Life, Labours And Martyrdom And A
+       Vindication Of His Character And Testimony
+
+
+Author: Thomas Houston
+
+Release Date: October 18, 2004 [EBook #13781]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF JAMES RENWICK ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Jordan Dohms and the PG Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The Life of
+
+JAMES RENWICK
+
+A historical sketch of his life,
+labours and martyrdom and a
+vindication of his character
+and testimony.
+
+_by Thomas Houston, D.D._
+
+Originally this life was written as an introduction to "The Letters of
+Renwick" Published by Alex. Gardner, Paisley, 1865.
+
+Cover Picture: Execution of James Renwick, Edinburgh, 1688.
+
+
+
+
+HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION.
+
+
+The prophet's message to Eli, "Wherefore the Lord God of Israel said
+* * * THEM THAT HONOUR ME, I WILL HONOUR," (1 Sam. ii. 30,) declares a
+fundamental law of the divine government, which the history alike of
+individuals and of communities has illustrated in all by-past ages. The
+works of many men of eminent talent and remarkable energy--admired in
+their own day,--have speedily passed into oblivion, or have been
+productive of few permanently salutary results. Despising God, "they
+have been lightly esteemed." Those, on the other hand, who honoured God,
+and were devoted to His service--however humble their talents or
+position in society,--however contemned and persecuted by the
+world--have been honoured of God. Their labours have been accepted to
+advance His glory in the earth--their memories have continued long
+fragrant, and their principles and character have furnished the most
+valuable instruction and the brightest examples to future generations.
+
+Of this we have a striking instance in JAMES RENWICK,--the last, and in
+various respects the most illustrious of the Scottish martyrs of the
+seventeenth century. Hated and persecuted in his own day, by the men in
+authority in Church and State--caluminated and reproached by ministers
+and others, who professed evangelical sentiments and affected piety--and
+his principles generally misrepresented and condemned even to our own
+day,--there is yet abundant evidence to show that the Master whom he
+faithfully served, and for whose cause he willingly surrendered his
+life, singularly owned and honoured him. His faithful contendings and
+arduous labours contributed not a little to subvert the throne of a
+bigot and tyrant, and to achieve the nation's liberties. They served
+also to secure the purity and independence of the Church, and to
+transmit a legacy of imperishable principles to future times, when "the
+handful of corn" upon the top of the mountains, "shall shake with fruit
+like Lebanon." Scant and fragmentary as are the memorials of
+Renwick--clothed in the most homely garb, and written with no artistic
+skill, they have yet been the means of nurturing vital piety in many a
+humble breast and household, in these and other countries, from the
+martyr era, to our own day; and not a few of the most devoted ministers,
+who have earnestly contended for precious truth, and been wise to win
+souls to Christ, have received from the record of the labours and
+sufferings and testimony of Renwick, some of their first solemn
+impressions for good, and propelling motives to holy diligence and
+self-devotion. As the story of Joseph in the Old Testament has been
+remarkably blessed, above other parts of the divine word, for promoting
+the conversion and early piety of the young, so the unadorned narrative
+of the life, labours, and death of the youthful Scottish martyr, has led
+not a few to prefer the cause and reproach of Christ to the world's
+favour--to imbibe his spirit, and to imitate him, in seeking ends the
+most important and glorious.
+
+Renwick's work in the Church is not yet fully accomplished, nor is the
+influence of his name losing its attractive power. On the contrary,
+there is evidence, increasing as it is cheering, that while the one is
+drawing to it more earnest regard and willing workers, the other is
+constantly becoming more powerful and widespread. Let any person compare
+the manner in which the later Scottish martyrs--Renwick and the Society
+people,--were spoken of in the histories, civil and ecclesiastical,
+emitted in these countries, forty or fifty years ago, with the altered
+tone of historians of a recent date, and he will see that posterity is
+beginning to do tardy justice to the memories of men of whom "the world
+was not worthy,"--- who were the noblest, most disinterested patriots of
+which their country could ever boast, and whose services to the cause of
+pure and undefined religion were invaluable. Occasionally, we yet find,
+in the works of some popular writers, Renwick and his fellow-sufferers,
+designated enthusiasts and fanatics, their principles misrepresented,
+and some of their most heroic deeds held up to ridicule and scorn. Even
+the brilliant Macaulay, while exposing to deserved condemnation their
+cruel and heartless persecutors, and while depicting with graphic power
+some of the incidents of the deaths of the Scottish martyrs, yet shews
+his strong aversion to evangelical principle and godly practice, by
+applying to the honest confessors the same opprobrious epithets. The age
+in which the martyrs and their principles were kept entombed, by heaping
+on them reproach and slander, is past, however, not to return again.
+Their names are destined not to perish. God designs in his providence to
+honour them more and more, by bringing more clearly to light the great
+principles for which they contended unto blood, striving against sin.
+The era long predicted and desired is approaching, when the saints shall
+rise to reign with Christ on the earth, when the spirit which
+distinguished them shall be extensively revived, and the great
+principles of their testimony shall be triumphant.
+
+Meanwhile, the resurrection of the _names_ of the confessors and martyrs
+of a former age, is a sure indication of the resurrection of their
+principles too. Through the evidence furnished by the faithful
+contendings and devoted lives of men of sanctified wisdom and high-toned
+piety, and the light reflected from the story of their sufferings and
+triumphant deaths, we cannot doubt that numbers will be led to earnest
+inquiry concerning the principles for which they testified in life, and
+in confirmation of which they willingly laid down their lives, that they
+might transmit the precious heritage to future generations. The result
+will be a wider appreciation of the value and excellency of a
+martyr-testimony; and in the period of promised light and enlargement,
+the lifting up of a standard in many places, and by strong hands, in
+behalf of the same great principles.
+
+As prefatory to the memorials of the piety, wisdom, and devotedness of
+the martyr Renwick, it appears desirable to present a brief sketch of
+his personal history--to notice the particular time in which he
+laboured, and the principles for which he contended,--his martyrdom,
+character, and the distinct and honourable position assigned him in the
+great work of maintaining and advancing the Redeemer's cause in the
+earth.
+
+
+
+
+RENWICK'S LIFE
+
+
+James Renwick was the child of godly parents in humble life. His father,
+Andrew Renwick, was a weaver, and his mother, Elizabeth Corson, is
+especially mentioned, like the mother and grandmother of Timothy, or
+like Monica, the mother of Augustine, as a woman of strong faith, and
+eminently prayerful. As several of her children had died in infancy, she
+earnestly sought that the Lord would give her a child, who would not
+only be an heir of glory, but who might live to serve God in his
+generation. Her prayer was heard and graciously answered. The son of her
+vows was born at Moniaive, in the parish of Glencairn, Gallowayshire, on
+the 15th of February, 1662. His father died before he reached the age of
+fourteen, but not before he felt assured--probably from observing in the
+boy remarkable indications of early piety--that, though his course on
+earth would be short, the Lord would make singular use of him in his
+service. The early training of this distinguished martyr was, in a great
+measure, through the instrumentality of a devoted mother, who could
+boast of no worldly affluence or accomplishments, but whose heart was
+richly pervaded by the grace of the Spirit, and intensely concerned for
+the Saviour's glory; and who, in times of great difficulty and great
+trial, maintained unwavering confidence in the faithful word of promise.
+
+If James Renwick was not "sanctified from the womb," there was clear
+evidence afforded, that, in early childhood, he was the subject of
+gracious motions of the Spirit. At two years of age, he was observed to
+be aiming at secret prayer; and as his childhood advanced, he evinced
+love to the ways of God, by reading and pondering the Scriptures,
+delight in secret prayer, and by reverential regard to the authority of
+his parents. Like Luther, and other eminent servants of God, Renwick was
+trained for his life-work in the school of _temptation_; he experienced
+painful mental conflicts, and the assaults of the tempter, at a very
+early period. It is recorded that, at six years of age, he was conscious
+of distressing doubts, in relation to the Divine existence and
+perfections. These exercised and agitated his mind for a period of two
+years. In answer to prayer, and by meditation on the power and goodness
+of God, as seen in creation, he overcame the temptation, and attained to
+internal composure and tranquillity. At a time of life considerably
+subsequent, when he had reached mature youth, and had acquired extensive
+acquaintance with Scriptural truth, a like temptation again assailed
+him. He himself relates that he fell into deeper perplexity and distress
+about these fundamental truths. Like the excellent Robert Bruce of the
+First Reformation, he was strongly tempted to atheism. So powerful at
+one time was the assault, that, being in the fields and looking to the
+distant mountains, he exclaimed, "Were all these devouring furnaces of
+burning brimstone, he would be content to go through them, if he could
+thereby be assured of the existence of God." There was at length made
+for him a way of escape from this severe temptation, and not only did he
+attain to a full and joyful persuasion of God's existence, but to the
+assurance of his personal interest in God as his covenant portion.
+
+James Renwick was endowed with a vigorous reflective mind, and from his
+childhood he was devoted to reading and study. Amidst considerable
+difficulties, he commenced and prosecuted with ardour studies for the
+ministry. There is ample evidence from his writings that his attainments
+in learning were by no means superficial. Through the kindness of
+friends raised up in providence, he was enabled to pursue classical
+studies in Edinburgh, and while attending the University there, he
+maintained himself till he had finished the undergraduate course, partly
+by teaching and aiding others in their studies. When his scholarship
+entitled him to a University degree, he refused to receive this honour,
+because it was required at the time that students, on graduating, should
+swear the oath of allegiance, which expressly owned the royal supremacy.
+In company with two fellow-students, he sometime after received his
+degree privately.
+
+Continuing in Edinburgh to prosecute his studies, he was brought to
+attend the private fellowship-meetings of the persecuted covenanters. He
+met with the "outed" ministers, and was led to study, by the light of
+the Divine word and the teaching of the Spirit, the exciting and deeply
+important questions of the day. Thus did he become convinced of the
+numerous defections from the principles and ends of the Covenanted
+Reformation, of the majority of the ministers and Presbyterian people of
+Scotland; and he was persuaded that the stricter Covenanters,--the
+followers of Cargill and Cameron, and those associated in Societies, and
+who frequented conventicles,--alone consistently carried out the grand
+principles and aims of the national vows. At length, after much
+searching of heart, and according to his words, testifying to his deep
+conscientiousness, "with great grief, reluctance, and trembling of
+soul," he became identified with the persecuted remnant. Soon after,
+while yet only _nineteen years of age_, Renwick witnessed the martyrdom
+of the venerable servant of Christ, Donald Cargill. He stood near the
+scaffold, beheld his courageous and triumphant departure to glory, and
+heard the clear and powerful last words, in which he nobly testified for
+the crown-rights of the Redeemer, and against Erastian usurpation. "As
+to the causes of my suffering," said the dying martyr, "the chief
+is--not acknowledging the present Authority, as it is established in the
+Supremacy and Explanatory Act. This is the magistracy I have resisted,
+that which is invested with Christ's power. Seeing that power taken from
+Christ, which is His glory, and made the essential of an earthly crown,
+it seemed to me as if one were wearing my husband's garments, after he
+had killed him. There is no distinction we can make, that can free the
+acknowledger from being a partaker of this sacrilegious robbing of God.
+And it is but to cheat our consciences to acknowledge the _civil power_
+alone, that it is of the essence of the crown; and seeing they are so
+express, we ought to be plain; for otherwise, we deny our testimony and
+consent that Christ be robbed of His glory."
+
+These mighty utterances, so solemnly confirmed by the martyr's blood,
+could not fail to make a deep impression on the heart of the youthful
+Renwick. His purpose was fixed, and his resolution taken, to maintain
+the same great principles; and reproach and persecution and death could
+not turn him aside. His Christian decision had its reward. He declared
+that he did not fully know what the gracious presence of God with His
+people meant, till he joined the fellowship of the persecuted remnant. A
+large measure of the spirit of the "faithful Cargill" rested on his
+youthful successor; and when, some two years after, he entered on the
+work of the ministry, it was justly said--"he took up the Covenanted
+Banner as it fell from the hands of Cargill."
+
+At the time that Renwick united with the Society People, they were
+destitute of a public ministry. Cargill and Cameron had sealed their
+testimony with their blood. The Churches were either filled with
+Episcopal curates, or by time-serving Presbyterian ministers, who had
+accepted the indulgence flowing from the royal supremacy. By an act of
+Parliament passed in 1672 against "unlawful ordinations," the way to the
+ministry was barred against all who could not accept Prelatical
+ordination. The Societies, having organized a general correspondence,
+earnestly desired a stated ministry, while they manifested the strictest
+regard to scriptural order. Animated by a noble public spirit, they
+selected James Renwick and two other young men, and sent them to
+complete their studies for the ministry in Holland, then renowned for
+its theological Seminaries, where deep sympathy was manifested for the
+suffering Church of Scotland. He studied at the university of Groningen,
+where some of the most distinguished theologians in Europe occupied
+professorial Chairs. Studying in the spirit of entire devotedness, and
+actuated by an earnest desire to return to Scotland, where there was
+pressing need for faithful ministerial services, he made such
+proficiency, that in a short time, he was fully qualified to receive
+ordination. According to the usage of the Dutch Church, he was ordained
+at Groningen, by a Classis or Presbytery of learned and godly ministers,
+who evinced their catholic spirit by yielding to his request to allow
+him to subscribe the standards of the Church of Scotland, instead of
+their own formula. There was remarkable evidence of God's gracious
+presence being enjoyed in the solemn service.--It has been appropriately
+said, that as the conflicts of the German reformation were acted over by
+Luther in his cloister, before he was called to his public work, so the
+struggles of the covenanted cause in Scotland, were first engaged in by
+Renwick in his retirement and solitary chamber in Groningen. There he
+clearly foresaw the conflicts and trials that awaited him; and in near
+communion with God, he yielded himself up as an entire self-sacrifice,
+anticipating the blessed recompense of the reward. In the early Pagan
+persecutions, the church was sometimes symbolically represented by an ox
+with a plough on the one side, and an altar on the other, with the
+inscription, "Ready for either"--prepared for work or slaughter. Such
+was the spirit of Renwick, as he looked forward to the work that lay
+before him in his native land. In a letter written from Holland at this
+time, he says, "My longings and earnest desire to be in that land, and
+with the pleasant remnant, are very great. I cannot tell what may be in
+it, but I hope the Lord hath either some work to work, or else is minded
+presently to call for a testimony at my hand. If He give me frame and
+furniture, I desire to welcome either of them."
+
+Renwick returned from Holland in the autumn of 1683. Escaping some
+dangers at sea, he visited Dublin, where he bore a faithful testimony
+against the silence of ministers in the public cause, and left behind
+him a favourable impression on the minds of some of his Christian zeal
+and devotedness. In September, 1683, he landed in Scotland, and on the
+3d of November, he entered on his arduous work of preaching the Gospel
+in the fields, and lifting up the standard of a covenanted testimony. He
+preached on that day at Darmead in the parish of Cambusnethan. From that
+time, till he closed his glorious career and won the martyr's crown, he
+preached with eminent fidelity and great power the glorious gospel of
+the grace of God. His public labours were continued for a period of
+nearly five years, and extended to many districts in the east, south,
+and west of Scotland. In remote glens, unfrequented moorlands, often in
+the night season, and amid storm and tempest, when the men of blood
+could not venture out of their lairs, to pursue the work of destruction,
+he displayed a standard for truth, and eagerly laboured to win souls to
+Christ. His last sermon was preached at _Borrowstoness_, from Isaiah
+liii. 1, on January 29th, 1688.
+
+Though he ever testified boldly against the defections of the times,
+especially the Indulgence, and insisted on disowning the papist James,
+as not being a constitutional monarch, and on maintaining fully
+Presbyterian order and discipline, and all the covenanted attainments,
+his discourses were eminently evangelical. His darling themes were
+salvation through Christ, and the great matters of practical godliness.
+With wonderful enlargement and attractive sweetness, he unfolded the
+covenant of grace--the matchless person and love of Christ--the finished
+atonement, and its sufficiency for advancing the glory of the Godhead,
+and for the complete salvation of elect sinners. Considering Renwick's
+youth, being but _nineteen_ years of age when he entered on his great
+work, he was endowed with singular qualifications as a preacher of the
+gospel. These remarkably fitted him for the great work to which he was
+called--promoting the Redeemer's glory, in awakening and converting
+sinners, and in edifying and comforting the Church in a season of
+suffering and trial. He was, moreover, gifted with personal talents,
+natural and acquired, that rendered him an attractive and powerful
+preacher of the gospel. His aspect was solemn and engaging. His personal
+appearance, even when harassed by incessant labours and privations,
+night wanderings and hair-breadth escapes from enemies, was sweet and
+prepossessing. His manner in preaching was lucid and affecting. His
+whole heart was thrown into his discourses. He often rose to the height
+of the most moving eloquence; and with the constant reality of God's
+presence and love, and the dread realities of persecution, and violent
+death, and eternity, before him, he poured out his soul in such strains
+of heavenly enlargement, that his hearers were melted, subdued, and
+raised above the fear of death, and the terror of enemies.
+
+The following account of Renwick's manner of preaching, and of the
+impressions made on his hearers is taken from an unpublished MS. of
+Ebenezer Nesbit, son of Captain Nesbit of Hardhill, and may be regarded
+as descriptive of the way in which he proclaimed the gospel to the
+"flock in the wilderness," during his brief but singularly efficient
+ministry. Need we wonder, after reading this narrative, at the spiritual
+effects of his preaching to thousands in his day, and at the precious
+fruits that resulted from his labours long afterwards, and the sweet
+savour of his name throughout subsequent times? "The latter end of this
+year, I heard that great man of God, Mr. James Renwick, preach on Song
+iii. 9, 10, when he treated greatly on the covenant of redemption agreed
+on between God the Father and God the Son, in favour of the elect; as
+also on the covenant of grace established with believers in Christ. Oh,
+this was a great and sweet day of the gospel! for he handled and pressed
+the privileges of the covenant of grace with seraphic enlargement, to
+the great edification of the hearers. Sweet and charming were the offers
+which he made of Christ to all sorts of sinners. There was one thing
+that day that was very remarkable to me; for though it was rain from
+morning to night, and so wet as if we had been drenched in water, yet
+not one of us fell sick. And though there was a tent fixed for him, he
+would not go into it, but stood without in the rain and preached; which
+example had a great influence on the people to patience, when they saw
+his sympathy with them. And though he was the only minister that kept
+closest to his text, and had the best method for the judgment and
+memory, of any that ever I heard; yet now, when he preached, the people
+crowded close together, because of the rain, he digressed a little, and
+said, with a pleasant, melting voice, 'My dear friends, be not disturbed
+because of the rain. For to have a covenant-interest in Christ, the true
+Solomon, and in the benefits of his blessed purchase, is well worth the
+enduring of all temporal, elementary storms that can fall on us. And
+this Solomon, who is here pointed at, endured a far other kind of storm
+for his people--even a storm of unmixed wrath. And oh, what would poor
+damned reprobates in hell give for this day's offer of sweet and lovely
+Christ. And oh, how welcome would our suffering friends in prison and
+banishment make this day's offer of Christ.' 'And, for my own part,'
+said he, 'as the Lord will keep me, I shall bear my equal share in this
+rain, in sympathy with you.' And he returned to his sweet Subject again,
+and offered us grace and reconciliation with God, through Christ, by his
+Spirit.
+
+"Words would fail me to express my own frame, and the frame of many
+others; only this I may say, we would have been glad to have endured any
+kind of death, to have been home at the uninterrupted enjoyment of that
+glorious Redeemer who was so livelily and clearly offered to us that
+day.
+
+"He was the only man that I ever knew that had an unstained integrity.
+He was a lively and faithful minister of Christ and a worthy Christian,
+such as none who were acquaint with him could say any other but this,
+that he was a beloved Jedidiah of the Lord. I never knew a man more
+richly endowed with grace, more equal in his temper, more equal in his
+spiritual frame, and more equal in walk and conversation. When I speak
+of him as a man--none more lovely in features, none more prudent, none
+more brave and heroic in spirit; and yet none more meek, none more
+humane and condescending. He was every way so rational, as well as
+religious, that there was reason to think that the powers of his reason
+were as much strengthened and sanctified as any man's I ever heard of.
+When I speak of him as a Christian--none more meek, and yet none more
+prudently bold against those who were bold to sin--none more frequent
+and fervent in religions duties, such as prayer, converse, meditation,
+self-examination, preaching, prefacing, lecturing, baptizing, and
+catechising; none more methodical in teaching and instructing,
+accompanied with a sweet, charming eloquence, in holding forth Christ,
+as the only remedy for lost sinners; none more hated of the world, and
+yet none more strengthened and upheld by the everlasting arms of
+Jehovah, to be steadfast, and abound in the way of the Lord, to the
+death; wherefore he might be justly called "Antipas," Christ's faithful
+martyr. And as I lived then to know him to be so of a truth, so, by the
+good hand of God, I yet live, thirty-six years after him, to testify
+that no man upon just grounds had any thing to lay to his charge. When
+all the critical and straitening circumstances of that period are well
+considered, save that he was liable to natural and sinful infirmities,
+as all men are when in this life, and yet he was as little guilty in
+this way as any I ever knew or heard of, he was the liveliest and most
+engaging preacher to close with Christ, of any I ever heard. His
+converse was pious, prudent, and meek; his reasoning and debating was
+the same, carrying almost with it full evidence of the truth of what he
+asserted. And for steadfastness in the way of the Lord, few came his
+length. He learned the truth and counted the cost, and so sealed it with
+his blood. Of all men that ever I knew, I would be in the least danger
+of committing a hyperbole when speaking in his commendation. And yet I
+speak not this to praise men, but for the glory and honour of God in
+Christ, who makes men to differ so much from others, and in some periods
+of the Church more than others."
+
+The "LECTURES AND SERMONS" of James Renwick that remain were published
+from the notes taken, at the time of their delivery, by some of his
+attached hearers and followers. They were not prepared with any view to
+future publication; and the trying circumstances in which their devoted
+author was placed, wholly prevented any correction or revisal. Yet they
+contain not only remarkably clear expositions of the word, and a full
+exhibition of the scheme of salvation, but also many passages which, for
+searching application to the conscience, and moving eloquence, are
+unsurpassed in the discourses of eminent preachers either in ancient or
+modern times. As specimens of the matter of Renwick's discourses
+delivered in the _Conventicles_, in the fields, amidst all dangers and
+incidents of weather, and by night as well as day, the following are
+selected from the published reports of his hearers:--
+
+In a discourse on Song i. 7,--"Tell me, O Thou whom my soul loveth,
+where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon,"--he thus earnestly pleads,
+"Love Him, and you shall not come short of the enjoyment of Him
+hereafter. It is true, faith is that which, as an instrument, apprehends
+Christ and engrafts us in Him; yet it worketh by love, and love
+accompanieth faith, as the sunbeams do the sun. Oh what shall I say?
+Love him! love him! Ye cannot bestow your love so well. Turn others to
+the door, and take in this Beloved. Here I make offer of Him unto you,
+here I present Him unto you! Lift up your heads, O ye doors, that the
+king of glory may come in. I present a glorious Conqueror _this night_,
+to be your guest. O cast ye open the two foldings of the door of your
+hearts, to wit, that ye may receive Him; cast ye open the hearty consent
+of faith and love, that He may take up His abode with you. Oh, what say
+ye to it? Friends, will ye close with Christ? I obtest you by his own
+excellency, I obtest you by the joys of heaven, and the torments of
+hell, that you close with Him. _All of you come, whatever you have been
+or are; none of you_ shall be cast _out_. Whosoever will, let him take
+of the water of life freely."
+
+"Seeing it is the duty of people to set their love upon Christ, I exhort
+you to give some testimonies of love. Think ye that ye love him? Will ye
+then show that? I would expostulate for some testimonies of your love.
+When Peter confessed that he loved Christ, our Lord desires him to show
+that by feeding His lambs and sheep. It is true, you cannot show your
+love that way, for ye are not called to that office; but ye ought to
+show it in the way that is competent to you in your stations. So as I
+was saying before, I expostulate with you for some testimonies of your
+love. "Make a free and full resignation of yourselves and your all to
+Christ, that ye may say with the spouse, I am my Beloved's! Oh, ye
+should not prig (higgle) with Him about anything. Some prig with Him
+about their hearts, and will have a part thereof in their darling idols,
+which they cannot think to quit. Some prig with Him about their time,
+and will make religion but their by-work. If their worldly employments
+be throng, they will neglect the worship in their families, and prayer
+in secret. Others, if they keep any family worship, it is in the
+evening: ordinarily they are impatient, and haste to an end in it: and
+neglect it in the morning altogether. Oh, what a sad prigging is this.
+Some prig with him about their relations. They will not quit these when
+He calls them to suffer for His sake; but will tempt them, or will
+insinuate upon them to comply, and deny His cause. Some prig with Him
+about their possessions, and yielding to this or that iniquity, will
+keep their houses and lands, they will not quit them. And some will prig
+with Him about their lives; and if the swearing of a sinful oath, the
+subscribing to an iniquitous bond, or denying of His cause, will save
+their lives, they will not lose them. Oh, what sad prigging is this! Oh,
+be ashamed of it. Will ye lay all at his feet, and count it your honour
+and joy that He dispose of the same as He pleaseth? Give this testimony
+of your love to Christ, rejoice in Him when present, and keep His room
+empty when absent. I say rejoice in him when present. I need not press
+you much to do this, for in his presence there is great joy: though the
+enjoyment of Him here be imperfect, yet it brings exceeding gladness
+with it. Therefore saith the Psalmist,--'Thou hast put gladness in my
+heart, more than when corn and wine are increased.' But when He is
+absent, see that ye keep His room empty for Him. When He sees it meet at
+any time for your correction, trial, and instruction, to withdraw
+Himself, or hide His face, then idols or other lovers will readily
+present themselves, and seek to possess His room. But, be chaste and
+true to your Beloved, as the spouse who, in His absence, could not be
+contented, but used all means and diligence until she found Him."
+
+In a sermon on Song v. 16,--"His mouth is most sweet, yea, He is
+altogether lovely. This is my Beloved, and this is my friend, O ye
+daughters of Jerusalem,"--the following affecting views are presented:
+"The second property of Christ's love is, that it is a _strong_ love,
+which appears from what He hath done for sinners. He has done great
+things for sinners. He took upon Himself all the sinless infirmities of
+human nature--not sinful nature. Yea, He endured a shameful and
+lingering death, besides a flood of wrath that he waded through, such a
+flood of wrath as would have drowned all the sons and daughters of Adam
+to all eternity. Thus 'He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we
+might be made the righteousness of God in Him.' Greater love hath no man
+than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Oh, my friends,
+if ye will follow Christ through all the steps of his humiliation, ye
+may see that the love of Christ is strong love, which makes him endure
+such things for sinners. He gives great things to sinners, whereby He
+shows the strength of his love to them; for He gives grace and glory,
+and no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly; for He
+saith, 'Father, I will that they also whom Thou hast given me, be with
+me where I am, that they may behold my glory which Thou hast given me.'
+Christ gives the believer union with himself and communion in glory with
+the Father, even a share of that glory which the Father giveth Him, He
+giveth them. He gives them a crown of righteousness which shall never
+fade away; and He gives them to drink of the rivers of his pleasures,
+that are at his right hand for evermore. Oh, my friends, Christ doth not
+prig with His spouse: He will keep nothing back from them, that He sees
+to be for her profit.--Oh, but His love is _strong_. He requires no more
+for all that He has done, and all that He hath given, but that He see
+the travail of His soul. He will think but little of all that He hath
+done, if we will but accept of His love, and lay our love upon Him. Yea,
+so may be said of Him, as was said of Jacob,--the seven years that he
+served for Rachel seemed but a few days, for the love that He bare unto
+her. His love is so strong, that although thou shouldest run away from
+Him never so fast, yet His love will overtake thee, and bring thee back
+again. Paul ran very fast in opposition to His love, when he was going
+to Damascus to persecute the Church. But Christ's love overtook him
+suddenly. Manasseh ran very fast from Christ, when he made the streets
+of Jerusalem to run with innocent blood, and set up an abomination in
+the house of God, and used witchcraft; and yet Christ's love overtook
+him, and brought him back again from the pit. If thou art one of those
+that the Father hath given to the Son, though thou shouldest run to the
+brink of hell, He will bring thee back again from thence.
+
+"Christ's love is _pure_ and _sincere_ love. 'Herein is love, not that
+we loved Him, but that He loved us;" not for any advantage that He can
+have by us, for He is infinite in all perfections without us; therefore
+we can neither enrich Him, nor add any more glory to Him. We may well
+magnify His power; that is all we can do, and all the advantage is our
+own. Christ's love is not a base love; He loves us not for His good or
+advantage, but for our real good and advantage. It is pure and sincere
+love, for all the advantage is ours.
+
+"Christ's love is an _enriching_ love, for those upon whom His love is
+bestowed are no more poor. How can they be poor who have Christ for
+their riches? for, saith the Apostle, 'All things are yours, and ye are
+Christ's, and Christ is God's.' If ye have this love bestowed on you,
+then all other things are made to serve for your good--ye shall lack
+nothing.
+
+"Christ's love is a _free_ love. He gives His love freely, without any
+reward, and so it is free love; the offer is _alike to all_. If ye will
+but take it off his hand, He makes open proclamation of it to you all,
+saying, 'Ho every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.' Oh, my
+friends, all other love is infinitely beneath this. He took not on him
+the nature of angels, but He took the seed of Abraham. Oh, my friends,
+God hath made us the centre of His love; and therefore, I beseech you,
+do not despise His love. He came not to redeem any of the fallen angels,
+but the seed of Abraham."
+
+In the following moving terms, he pleads with his hearers to accept of
+Christ and his salvation:--"Your eternal enjoyment of God will be your
+element, which ye shall for ever delight in, and this shall be to praise
+and admire his love. For, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath
+it entered into the heart of man to conceive the things that the Lord
+hath prepared for them that love Him. Oh, then, sirs, what think ye of
+Christ? Will ye not, at _this time_, say, He is your Beloved and your
+Friend? Oh, give your consent to become His friends, and accept of Him
+as your friend. I leave this offer at your door; He is willing to
+befriend you, if you will come into an estate of friendship with Him.
+Come, come, and take His offer off his hand. Say not that ye have
+continued so long in sin, that ye know not if He will befriend you now;
+for if ye will come to Him, He will yet befriend you. Therefore, for the
+Lord's sake, put not away such an offer, but take it _in the present
+time_; for ye know not if ever ye shall have an offer again. If ye will
+not take his offer off His hand _this day_, I will be a witness against
+you in the great day of judgment, that this day, the Son of
+righteousness offered Himself to be your friend, and ye have made light
+of the offer. Yea, the hills and mountains about us shall be witnesses
+that ye had Christ in your offer such a _day_, in such a _place_;
+therefore, my dear friends, say now that He is your beloved, and that He
+is your friend."
+
+His close dealing with the conscience, and his solemn warnings and
+exhortations are exemplified in the following passages:--
+
+"Consider your own condition without Christ. Ye are lost and undone,
+limbs of Satan, children of wrath, hell to be your dwelling-place, and
+devils and damned souls to be your company eternally, and where sin
+shall be your eternal torment. This is your condition without Jesus
+Christ. What think ye of eternal exclusion from the presence and comfort
+of God? What think ye of hell, where there is nothing but utter
+darkness, weeping and wailing for evermore, to be your dwelling-place?
+What think ye of devils to be your continual company? And what think ye
+of sin to be your continual life--always blaspheming the glorious name
+of God? And what think ye of your final condition--to be in continual
+torment--always weeping and gnashing your teeth? All this, I say, is
+abiding you who will not embrace Jesus Christ, whatever your profession
+be. For, believe me, a profession will not save you from this eternal
+misery, if ye receive not Jesus Christ. Whatever your sufferings be
+here, yet ye shall suffer this hereafter, if ye receive not Jesus
+Christ. My heart bleeds for many sufferers in Scotland, who shall suffer
+everlasting torment in hell, because they will not receive and embrace
+Jesus Christ, this gracious and free Saviour, who is now in your offer.
+Oh, embrace Jesus Christ, otherwise, be ye who ye will, and do what ye
+will, God's justice shall pursue you, and He shall have war against you
+without cessation: there shall be no discharge in that war. The great
+warriors of the earth are all lying with their weapons broken under
+their heads; but here is a war that hath no end. You who will not
+receive Jesus Christ, you will see that ye have made an evil choice,
+when ye pass through the dark gates of hell, to the inner chambers
+thereof. To move you, further consider, that if ye will take Him, ye
+shall have Him and all His. Ye shall drink of the waters of life; your
+feet shall stand on the sea of glass before the throne. Ye shall have
+His name, and bear His image, and wear a crown of pure gold upon your
+heads, and follow the Lamb with palms in your hands, saying,
+'Hallelujah! and glory, and honour and power, unto the Lord our God.' Ye
+shall have the fine white linen garments of Christ's righteousness, to
+wear in heaven, in clothing eternally. Ye shall have the glorious cloud
+of witnesses--angels and the spirits of just men made perfect, for your
+continual company; and ye shall have a life of love and joy everlasting,
+with Him that is altogether lovely. Oh, then, come and take Jesus
+Christ. Would ye make a happy choice? Then take Him and embrace Him, old
+and young, man and woman, lad and lass. Now Christ is in your offer; and
+you are all invited to come to Him. And now I charge you all, as ye
+respect the glory of God, and as ye desire this happy condition that I
+have spoken of to you, slight not this offer. Now the golden chain of
+salvation is let down to you. Grip, grip it fast, before it is taken up
+again. Go not away fools, lest ye never be at such a market-day again.
+"What shall I say to persuade you? Let the excellency and glory of His
+great name do it. Be entreated to accept of Christ in this present
+offer. Here I obtest you, by what He hath purchased for sinners, and by
+what He has suffered, come and embrace Him. I obtest you by the blood He
+shed on the cross; I obtest you by the great drops of blood He shed in
+the garden, and by all the joys that are above the clouds in heaven,
+that ye put not this offer away. I obtest you, by all the torments of
+hell, that ye put not this offer away. I obtest you by the glory of
+heaven, and by the crowns which believers put on His head, that ye
+slight not this offer.
+
+"Here I take every man and woman to witness against one another, that ye
+had Christ in your offer; and I shall be a witness against all of you
+that have not received Christ _this night_. Yea, though he should never
+be glorified in such a sort by me, yet I will be a witness against you.
+Here, before the throne of grace, I declare in His name, that I have
+made an offer of Him unto you; and, therefore, your blood shall be upon
+your own heads if ye perish, and I shall be free of the same."
+
+In another place, he presses with like earnestness acceptance of the
+gospel offer:--"If ye would be rightly concerned, ye must at once come,
+and be a right son or daughter of the church, and member of Jesus
+Christ; until then, ye cannot have a fellow-feeling of the body. Come
+then, and Christ will give you a fellow-feeling with the sufferings of
+the church. Come and embrace Himself, and He will set the stamp of
+natural children upon you. Without Him, ye can do nothing; without Him,
+ye cannot be concerned with the sufferings of His name and members.
+Refuse not; reject not His offers, when He calls you to Himself. It is
+hard to say if some of you shall have an offer again. _Now_ is the
+acceptable time--_now_ is the day of salvation. He is _now_ spreading
+his net, and will ye not come about the net's mouth, that a catch of you
+may be gotten. He is proclaiming unto you that He hath invincible power,
+though managed by apparent weakness. Oh, find you any of this
+irresistible power of Christ? Oh, come unto Him who is the joy of
+heaven, and it shall be a joyful time in heaven. He will have a good
+report of you through heaven, if ye shall have it to say that some poor
+lad or lass hath put a crown upon His head in such a place. But oh, how
+sad will it be, if Christ shall have it to say, 'I gave offer of myself
+to a people like stocks and stones, but they would not hear!'"
+
+On the duty of devoting the best to God's service, in another discourse,
+he thus forcibly reasons:--
+
+"Observe, that it cannot but be a great injury against God, and procure
+a curse, when people employ not their best things in His service. This
+is clear from the words, 'Cursed be the deceiver which hath in his flock
+a male, and voweth and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing.' So
+men that employ not their best things in the Lord's service, believe it,
+they are chargeable with this. He calls for your best things in His
+service, and not that you should spend that upon your lusts. Ye are
+called to employ the best of your time in his service; and many of you
+give Him but the refuse of your time, or at least, He gets but your
+by-time for His service. But ye should give Him the best of your time
+and strength, and your hearts--all should be employed in his service. Do
+not say that you do the best that you can; for I am persuaded that there
+is none of you but may do more for Him than ye do. Do not say that ye
+improve the talent that He hath given you to trade with, for ye but
+misimprove it; and the best of you, we fear, come short of improving it.
+If ye improve it, ye should find it increase upon your hand, and you
+would appear like his children. But because people do not improve their
+time and abilities to lay them out for God, it procures a curse. For
+though our obligations go far beyond our duties that we do, yet when we
+do not lay out all our abilities for Him, and do not bestow our love,
+our affections, and our time, and all that we have for Him, but bestow
+them upon other things, we procure His curse. Young folks, set to the
+work, and be entreated to give up yourselves to his service, and employ
+your best things for Him, now when your desires are fast and quick. Oh,
+will ye bestow them on precious Christ? You have a brave prize put in
+your hand, if ye set aright to the work; ye may see Zion's King come
+back, and the crown set upon his head again."
+
+Urging the necessity of being found within the kingdom of God, he
+says:--
+
+"Seeing that the gate is very strait and narrow that leads to the
+kingdom of heaven, then what shall become of many of you, that never
+came the length that hypocrites have come? Oh, what will ye say, and how
+will ye meet with God, when He comes to count with you for a preached
+gospel? What will ye think of a Mediator that was offered to you, whom
+ye slighted and despised; when the heaven and earth shall melt away; and
+great men, and mean men, shall howl and cry, and all the tribes of the
+earth shall wail because of Him? Oh! this will be the portion of
+hypocrites from God.
+
+"It is of use for trial--for all of you to try yourselves, and ponder in
+your hearts, and say, 'Oh, soul, whether art thou in the kingdom of
+heaven or not?' Oh, be exhorted to this, whatever be thy state, O man
+and woman. It is safe for thee to search thy state; if matters be right
+betwixt God and thy soul, it will be thy peace; if not, thou mayest
+possibly get righted. For my part, I count him the best Christian that
+is most accurate in this searching and communing with his own heart; for
+if ye neglect this, ye may come to lose the sight of your interest in
+Christ, if ever ye had it. Do not satisfy yourselves with being near the
+kingdom of God, but go into it. For this end, break the bargain and
+peace with your lusts and idols; and make up your peace with God through
+Christ, our Peace-maker, and ye shall find great advantage in the
+exchange; for the wicked have peace, but with sin and sinful men, but
+the godly have peace with God. Oh, will ye quit all other things, and
+seek to be interested in Him? For it is to be feared that many here have
+proclaimed peace with sin, and some idol, or other. Oh, break the
+bargain, and make peace with Christ! Make choice of Him; for He can give
+you that which no other lover can give you. O break that peace with your
+lusts and idols, and make peace with Him. Remember, He offers himself to
+you freely this day. Choose, therefore, what ye will do. O seek for the
+fulness of the Spirit of Christ, and rest upon nothing but upon himself
+alone; and seek to be in the kingdom of God, by the thorough work of
+conversion upon your souls.
+
+"And now to all that are in the kingdom, I proclaim peace in the name of
+God, whatever troubles they are under here. So enter into the kingdom
+through Christ only, for that is the way to it. But as for you who will
+not come to him, and enter into the kingdom through Christ only, who is
+the way to it, I do, in like manner, proclaim war with that soul from
+God, whatever ye be in profession. O friends, lay it to heart, and
+choose you whether it be better to have heaven's peace, and the devil
+and the world's feud; or to have the devil and the world's peace, and
+feud with God for ever! And now to Him who is purchaser of true peace,
+be glory and praise for ever. Amen."
+
+When it is understood that the discourses from which these extracts are
+taken were preached in the open air, and often in the night time, amidst
+the exposure both of the preacher and the hearers to all changes of the
+weather, not unfrequently in rain and tempest; and that the "Sermons and
+Lectures" that bear Renwick's name, were not prepared in a quiet study,
+in peaceful times, but in the midst of frequent removings, incessant
+labours, and manifold dangers, and that they are transmitted to us from
+the imperfect notes, and the recollection of attached
+hearers,--themselves the objects of fierce persecution,--they cannot
+fail to impress us with a vivid idea of the remarkable power and
+fidelity as a preacher of the youthful martyr, and to account, at the
+same time, for the popularity and salutary effects of his preaching.
+
+
+RENWICK'S SPECIAL TESTIMONY.
+
+To understand properly the position of James Renwick and his associates,
+and the distinctive testimony which they maintained at the peril of
+life, and transmitted, sealed with their blood, to posterity, it is
+necessary to advert to the particular time in which these devoted
+witnesses were called to appear in behalf of precious truth; and to the
+public measures which had been adopted at that period for extinguishing
+the liberties of the nation, and for destroying the independence and
+purity of the church.
+
+The Prelatic persecution in Scotland, which commenced with the
+restoration of Charles II. to the throne of his ancestors in 1660, had
+continued for nearly _twenty-three_ years, when Renwick entered on his
+ministry. Instead of the perfidious rulers in church and state being
+satiated with the number of the victims of their cruelty, their thirst
+for blood became more intense, as the time wore on; and when they found
+they could not crush the spirit of a free people, or extinguish the
+light of gospel truth, they had recourse to the most despotic and
+atrocious measures for effecting their diabolical purposes. What has
+been designated "THE KILLING TIME" of the Scottish persecution, embraced
+the greater part of Renwick's public ministry. The graphic pens of such
+able writers as De Foe, Charles James Fox, and Macaulay, have but
+imperfectly sketched the barbarities perpetrated by the infamous royal
+brothers, and their base counsellors, and the sufferings of an oppressed
+nation, and of thousands of godly people of all ranks, during this dark
+and distressing period.
+
+Two matters of general public interest, and intimately connected with
+the position of Renwick and his associates, excited particular attention
+in the concluding period of the persecution. These were, 1, The measure
+called THE INDULGENCE; and, 2, The limits of Civil Authority, and of the
+allegiance of the subject.
+
+
+I.--THE INDULGENCE.
+
+When the power of the persecutors was unable to put down the preaching
+of the gospel in the fields, and to crush the spirit of liberty in the
+breasts of multitudes of the people of Scotland, the Indulgence was a
+master contrivance of the arch-enemy to divide the Presbyterians, and to
+seduce them to abandon some of their fundamental principles, for the
+sake of outward advantages. The first indulgence was issued by Charles
+II. and his council in June, 1669. It was proclaimed as flowing directly
+from the royal supremacy. The power was granted to the persecuting
+Council, at their discretion, to appoint certain of the outed ministers
+to vacant parishes, on ensnaring conditions. In case they refused to
+receive collation from the bishops, they could not have the stipends or
+tiends, they were only to possess the manse and glebe, and be allowed an
+annuity. If they did not attend diocesan synods, they were to be
+confined within the bounds of their own parishes. They were not to
+dispense ordinances to persons from other parishes, nor, on any account,
+to hold conventicles. They were prohibited from speaking against the
+king's authority, or the public measures of the government; and they
+were to report their peaceable behaviour from time to time to the
+Council.
+
+Two other indulgences were issued at intervals during the latter part of
+the reign of Charles II. All of them by public proclamation denounced
+relentless vengeance against the faithful men who refused the royal
+boon. They threatened utter extermination to all who pleaded for the
+independence of the Presbyterian Church, and who maintained the freedom
+of the gospel by holding conventicles, preaching and administering
+ordinances in their purity in the fields.
+
+The indulgence unhappily proved a snare in which by far the largest
+number of the Presbyterian ministers in Scotland were entangled. We
+cannot hesitate to agree with the historian Hetherington, in holding
+that "It was offered on a principle clearly subversive of the
+Presbyterian Church, and that not one of the ejected ministers ought to
+have accepted of it, because it was impossible to do so, without
+sacrificing the fundamental and essential principle of the Presbyterian
+Church--that which constitutes its glory and its life--the sole
+sovereignty of Christ."[1] Three results followed the acceptance of the
+indulgence, which proved highly injurious to the Presbyterian Church,
+and which were, in all likelihood, foreseen by the contrivers of the
+measure, and led them to introduce it. These were--1. The constant
+interference of the government with the indulged in the discharge of
+their strictly ministerial functions. 2. A rupture between the indulged
+and the non-indulged, with many of the best of the people clinging to
+the latter; and, 3. The more systematic, virulent, and crushing
+persecution of those who, defying the tyrant's rage, bared their bosoms
+to the storm; and had the courage at all hazards to plead for the royal
+prerogatives of Messiah the Prince, and to contend for the chartered
+liberties of the Presbyterian Church. This honour belongs exclusively to
+Cargill, Cameron, and Renwick, and the Society people; when the large
+majority of the Presbyterian ministers in Scotland, followed by great
+numbers of the people, proved recreant to sound scripture principle, and
+unfaithful to the sacred engagements of their fathers. However belied
+and misrepresented the persecuted covenanters were in their own day,
+impartial history has not failed to do justice to their memory, and to
+show that their faithful contendings had no little influence in the
+nation's deliverance from degrading oppression.
+
+
+II.--THE LIMITS OF PUBLIC AUTHORITY, AND OF A PEOPLE'S ALLEGIANCE.
+
+A question was raised in the later times of the persecution of difficult
+solution, but of vast practical importance. This was the due limit of
+submission to civil rulers, and the withdrawal of allegiance and
+submission from those who had violated their compact with the people,
+and had trampled under foot their constitutional rights. It is ably
+shown by Dr. D'Aubigne,[2] as had been done before, that civil freedom
+and religious reformation, originating with the people, have ever been
+closely united and advanced together. Wherever the principles of
+evangelical truth have been rightly understood and firmly maintained,
+the people have refused to tolerate civil oppression. "_He is a freeman
+whom the truth makes free._" All genuine civil freedom is based on
+religious liberty. Calvinism, as is admitted even by many who are
+opposed to it as a doctrinal system, has been the irreconcileable foe of
+despotism all over the world;--by the heroic struggles, and cheerful
+sacrifices of its adherents, the battle of freedom has been fought, and
+its triumphs achieved in many lands. Particularly in Scotland, where the
+Reformation, from the first, originated with the people, and was carried
+forward in opposition to the mandates of arbitrary rulers, and
+notwithstanding the relentless persecution of the civil powers, the
+eminent instruments whom God honoured for advancing the truth, all along
+contended for the liberties of their country, and earnestly pleaded that
+the duties of rulers and ruled should be clearly defined, and the rights
+of the people settled on a constitutional basis. This was the plea of
+the illustrious Knox, as is seen in his expostulations with the Queen
+and nobles of Scotland, and in his intercourse with the statesmen of the
+day--English and Scottish--and in his writings. The works of Buchanan,
+Rutherford, and Gillespie, bear ample testimony to the enlarged views of
+their authors in relation to the proper bounds of civil and
+ecclesiastical authority, and to their fidelity to the cause of genuine
+liberty. The same great principles were contended for by Alexander
+Henderson, embodied in the scriptural attainments of the memorable
+Second Reformation, and clearly enunciated in the Solemn League and
+Covenant of the three kingdoms, in which the covenanters explicitly
+bound themselves to support the king and parliament in "the maintenance
+of the true reformed religion." When the Scottish nation, forgetful of
+their sacred vows, tamely submitted to the tyranny of the royal
+brothers, and Presbyterian ministers remained silent under an infamous
+indulgence, it devolved upon a few despised and persecuted
+covenanters,--the Society people,--to lift up and hold aloft the torch
+of freedom; and by their faithful testimonies and declarations uttered
+in fields and on scaffolds, and more still, by their blood freely shed
+to confirm their righteous cause, to sow broadcast the principles of
+genuine liberty. These, after lying buried in the earth for a time,
+sprung up vigorously, and bore fruit, when the perfidious race of the
+Stuarts was driven ignominiously from the throne; and, at the
+Revolution, some of the fundamental truths for which the martyrs of the
+covenant contended, became ascendant and triumphant.[3]
+
+In the _Queensferry Paper_, penned by Cargill, in a rough draft, and
+found on the person of Henry Hall of Haughhead, when he was taken, the
+heroic sufferers expressly disowned the authority of Charles II. and his
+government. The terms employed, it has been remarked, very much resemble
+those used by the English nation when they rejected the Government of
+James II., and transferred the crown to William and Mary.
+
+"We reject the king and those associate with him in government from
+being our king and rulers, being no more bound to them. They have
+altered and destroyed the Lord's established religion,--overturned the
+fundamental and established laws of the kingdom--taken away altogether
+Christ's church government, and changed the civil government of this
+land, which was by a king and free parliament, into tyranny." The
+conclusion expresses sentiments worthy of the most distinguished
+patriots, and that are fit to be taken as the watchward of struggling
+freemen all over the world. "We bind and oblige ourselves to defend
+ourselves and one another in our worshipping of God, in our natural,
+civil and divine rights and liberties, till we shall overcome, or send
+them down under debate to posterity--_that they may begin where we
+end_."
+
+The grand principle of the rejection of tyrannical power was boldly
+proclaimed by Cargill, in preaching to thousands of Conventicle hearers,
+and was prominently held forth in his last testimony:--"As to the cause
+of my suffering," said he, "the chief is, not acknowledging the present
+authority, as it is established in the supremacy and explanatory act.
+This is the magistracy I have rejected--that which is invested with
+Christ's power. Seeing that power taken from Christ which is His glory,
+and made the essential of an earthly crown, seemed to me, as if one were
+wearing my husband's garments, after he had killed him. There is no
+distinction we can make that can free the conscience of the acknowledger
+from being a partaker of this sacrilegious robbery of God. And it is but
+to cheat our conscience to acknowledge the civil power alone, that it is
+of the essence of the crown; and seeing they are so express, we _ought
+to be plain_, for otherwise we deny our testimony, and consent that
+Christ be robbed of His glory."
+
+The same testimony against the Indulgence and against unconstitutional
+power was firmly maintained by RICHARD CAMERON, during the whole of his
+public ministry, and in the noble testimony emitted by him shortly
+before his death. Soon after his return from Holland in 1680, in one of
+his earliest sermons, he declared, "I know not if this generation will
+be honoured to cast off these rulers. But those that the Lord makes
+instruments to bring back Christ, and to recover our liberties, civil
+and ecclesiastical, shall be such as shall disown this king and the
+magistrates under him." He added this warning to the persecuting
+authorities, with the heroic resolve--"Let them take heed unto
+themselves; for though they should take us to scaffolds, and kill us in
+the fields, the Lord will yet raise up a party who will be avenged on
+them. We had rather die than live in the same country with them, and
+outlive the glory of God departing altogether from these lands."
+
+A short month before his death, the intrepid Cameron, his brother
+Michael, and some twenty other covenanters, armed and on horseback,
+posted up at the market cross of the burgh of SANQUHAR, the "_Sanquhar
+Declaration_" in which are contained these ever memorable words:--
+
+"We do, by these presents, disown Charles Stuart, who has been reigning,
+or rather tyrannizing in the throne of Britain, these years bygone, as
+having any right, title to, or right in the crown of Scotland, for
+government:--as forfeited several years since, by his perjury, and
+breach of Covenant both to God and His truth, and by his tyranny and
+breach of the very _leges regnandi_--the very essential conditions of
+government, in matters civil." This was a noble deed, and ranks Cameron
+and his followers with the purest and most disinterested patriots of any
+age or country. It has been justly remarked by an eloquent writer, "The
+real matter of fact for which the Cameronians contended was just the old
+claim of the Covenanters--'a free Parliament and a free Assembly.'" "It
+is the glory of the Cameronians, in which no other party shares, that
+when most people lay prostrate, and many of the bravest stood aloof,
+they were the first to hoist the flag, disowning the government of the
+Stuarts, without whose expulsion liberty was impossible."[4]
+
+The testimony which Cargill and Cameron boldly proclaimed and sealed
+with their blood, was cordially espoused by Renwick, and faithfully
+maintained by him during the whole course of his public ministry. He was
+called, besides, to the great work of preaching a full and free Gospel,
+throughout many parts of his native country, to multitudes who were
+hungering for the bread of life, when through terror of oppressive
+rulers, or from seeking their favour, others shrunk from the performance
+of so important and hazardous a duty. He was required, moreover, to
+dispense the ordinances of religion in Scriptural purity, to the
+scattered, persecuted remnant, and thus to repair "the desolations of
+Zion," and to transmit the truth to future generations. In the year of
+Cameron's martyrdom, the Societies framed their "General
+Correspondence," and formed a simple but effective organization, for
+mutual fellowship and edification,--for preserving their precious gospel
+liberties, and for taking advantage of any event in public affairs, for
+re-establishing the Covenanted order in Church and State, which had been
+violently taken away, by despotic power and prelatic intolerance. The
+extent of this organization, in a time of great suffering is remarkable.
+Gordon of Earlston, when examined before the Privy Council in 1683, with
+the instruments of torture placed in view, testified that several
+counties were divided into districts, of which there were 80, with 7000
+associated members. There is evidence that, chiefly through the Divine
+blessing upon Renwick's faithful preaching, and his singular wisdom in
+council, those Societies increased, instead of diminishing, in the
+latter part of the prelatic persecution.
+
+To the friends of evangelical truth, and the faithful witnesses for the
+Redeemer's royal prerogatives, the services of Renwick, at the crisis in
+which he exercised his public ministry, were invaluable. He was
+eminently the man for the time. Through the influence of the unhappy
+Indulgence, the strict Covenanters were reduced to what they style
+themselves in the "Informatory Vindication," a "wasted, suffering,
+anti-popish, anti-prelatic, anti-erastian, anti-sectarian remnant." By
+the death of Cargill and Cameron, they were left as "sheep without a
+shepherd,"--broken and scattered. Through the fierceness of persecution,
+and the machinations of enemies, they were in danger of falling into
+confusion, and of being entirely wasted and destroyed. We admire the
+gracious providence of God in preparing, at this particular crisis, an
+instrument of such rare and suitable endowments for feeding "the flock
+in the wilderness," and for unfurling and upholding so nobly the "Banner
+of truth" amidst hosts of infuriated enemies.
+
+James Renwick, though a very youth when he entered on his arduous work,
+and trained under great outward disadvantages, had a powerful and
+well-cultivated mind. He was endowed with singular administrative
+talent, and had great tact and skill in managing men. He was an acute
+and logical thinker, an eloquent and attractive public speaker, and was
+distinguished by fertility and force as a writer. The "Informatory
+Vindication"--his testimony against king James's toleration, with his
+"Letters," and "Sermons and Lectures," bear ample evidence of his sound
+judgment, comprehensive mind, and ability as an author. His prudence,
+meekness and loving disposition, combined with his sanctified zeal, and
+heroic courage, deservedly gave him great influence among those to whom
+he ministered. He was eminently fitted to be "a first man among men."
+The Lord held him in the hollow of his hand, and made him a "polished
+shaft in his quiver."
+
+The services which Renwick rendered to the Protestant cause were
+invaluable. He organized the scattered remnant, and imparted new life
+and ardour to their proceedings. He set forth clearly the principles of
+the "Society people;" and in a number of able and logical papers,
+clearly defined their plans of action. He rendered it, in a great
+measure, impossible for enemies to misrepresent and accuse them falsely
+to the Government. He was their Secretary in their correspondence with
+foreign churches; and he did much to evoke the prayerful sympathy of
+Protestants in other lands in behalf of the victims of persecution in
+Scotland. The presence and influence of Renwick among the suffering
+Presbyterians were of the highest importance in his own day; and not to
+them alone, but also to the whole church of Christ in these lands, and
+to the constitutional liberties of the nation. So far as we can see, but
+for the singular power and devoted spirit of Renwick, and the firm and
+unyielding position which the Cameronians through him were led to
+assume, the cause of truth would have been completely borne down, and
+Erastianism, and Popery, and Despotism had triumphed. Renwick and his
+followers were the vanguard "in the struggle for Britain's liberties,
+and for the Church's spiritual independence." Though, like other
+patriots born before their time, they were doomed to fall, yet posterity
+owes to them a large part of the goodly heritage which they enjoy.
+
+The _manifold labours and sufferings_ of Renwick, which were ended by
+his martyrdom, deserve a brief notice. For a period of five years, after
+he entered on his public ministry, he was in constant movement and
+unremitting and exhausting labours. He was employed at all seasons, and
+often in the night time, and in the most inclement weather, preaching
+the gospel in the fields, visiting families, and conversing with the
+people individually and in groups, attending stated general
+meetings--taking part in their deliberations, composing differences,
+confronting gainsayers and opponents, and writing the papers and
+manifestoes of the persecuted party. His services were in constant and
+increasing demand, in various places widely scattered. After he had been
+engaged in the most arduous labours, he had little or no rest, and no
+comfortable place of retirement. He was obliged to lodge in moss-hags,
+sheils of shepherds, or holes dug in the ground by his followers; when
+sticks were kindled for a fire, and children conveyed to him food, not
+unfrequently without the knowledge of their parents. Naturally of a weak
+constitution, he was, at times, so borne down by sickness and total
+prostration of strength, that he was literally carried on the shoulders
+of faithful followers, or supported when on horseback. He had frequently
+to flee from one hiding place to another, barefoot, or without some of
+his garments, as he had also to travel in disguise. Letters of
+intercommuning were launched against him. A price was set upon his head,
+and persons were forbidden, on pain of death, to yield him shelter, or a
+mouthful of food, to converse, or correspond with him by writing, or
+offer him the smallest service of humanity.
+
+It is recorded that in 1687, the year before Renwick's martyrdom, the
+royal troops, _thirteen times_, made the strictest search for him
+throughout all the country. To avoid the pursuit of enemies, he had to
+travel in disguise, and often in the dark night, and to seek shelter in
+caves, and rocks, and dens of the earth. Whenever he was engaged in his
+ministerial work, friendly watches were placed around him, to give the
+alarm on the approach of danger. When he preached, a fleet horse was
+standing beside him saddled and bridled, by which he could speedily
+distance the pursuit of enemies. He had, moreover, to suffer much from
+disputes, contentions, and reproaches among those for whom he was
+expending his energies, and for whom he was prepared to sacrifice his
+life. On one occasion, when entering the cottage of John Brown of
+Priesthill, he is said to have given momentary utterance to the pent-up
+grief of his heart by exclaiming, "Reproach hath broke my heart." "From
+an enemy," he added, "he could have borne it, but it was hard when it
+came from those whom he loved as himself, and for whom he was undergoing
+such privations and sufferings." From the Presbyterian ministers and
+people, who had closed in with the Indulgence and James's toleration, he
+received no kindly recognition, nor a single act of friendship. On the
+contrary, they heaped on him every term in the vocabulary of abuse,
+calling him "Jesuit," "devil," &c. They misrepresented his principles,
+and sought to excite prejudice against him throughout the country and
+among foreign churches, especially in Holland, where Renwick had many
+attached sympathisers and friends. What was the ground of such dislike
+and hostility? His life,--even his enemies being witnesses,--was
+blameless. He preached fully and powerfully the glorious gospel. He
+enforced a strict Scriptural discipline, and he was constantly careful
+to promote practical godliness. His sole fault in the eyes of the
+Indulged was that he strictly adhered to the great principles of the
+Covenanted Reformation, when his opponents had plainly abandoned
+them,--that he refused to accept a royal toleration which was designed
+to establish Popery and absolute power, and that he disowned a
+perfidious race of monarchs, whose oppressive and galling yoke was felt
+by many, and whose rule the whole nation soon after rejected. The
+fidelity of Renwick to the cause of God and truth powerfully reproved
+those who had made defection; while his holy living and devotedness
+strongly condemned such as, to secure immunity from suffering and the
+world's favour, were at ease in Zion. Therefore was it, that, in the
+spirit of apostates in all ages, they laboured to misrepresent and
+calumniate him and the cause which he maintained, and abetted the
+designs of those who persecuted him to the death.
+
+
+RENWICK'S MARTYRDOM AND TESTIMONY.
+
+This devoted servant of Christ, though worn with incessant labours, was
+found actively engaged in his darling work when he was called to receive
+his reward. On the 24th and 27th of January, he preached in Fifeshire,
+and at Borrowstoness, on the 29th. The last night of the month, he
+lodged with a friend in Edinburgh. On the morning of the 1st of
+February, the house was beset with soldiers, in the employment of the
+persecuting Council. When Renwick attempted to escape, he was arrested
+near the Cowgate, and was carried by Graham the captain of the guard,
+before a quorum of the Council, by whom he was committed to close
+prison, and laid in irons. When he stood in the presence of those who
+had issued against him fierce proclamations, and had sought his life,
+they were surprised at his youthful appearance, and his comely
+countenance, and one exclaimed, "Is this the boy Renwick, that the whole
+nation was so troubled with," Renwick replied only with a quiet smile.
+
+On the 3d of February, he was brought before the Council, and received
+his indictment. In it, he was charged with casting off the fear of
+God--disowning the king's authority--preaching in the fields--and
+teaching the people to refuse to pay cess, and to carry arms in
+self-defence. It is related of Renwick, when he became a prisoner, that,
+though he had grace given willingly to offer his life to confirm his
+testimony, he yet dreaded torture. Having in prayer freely surrendered
+his life to God, he obtained in answer the assurance that enemies would
+not have the power to inflict on him torture. This he afterwards told
+his mother in prison, shortly before his execution, when she was
+expressing concern about seeing his head and hands on the ports of the
+city. He said he was persuaded that the persecutors would "not be
+permitted to torture his body, nor touch one hair of his head farther."
+
+He was so open and candid hi his answers that the members of the
+Justiciary were to some extent favourably impressed, and this had
+doubtless some influence in preventing him from being tortured. He
+enjoyed so much of Divine presence from his entrance into prison, till
+his execution, that to his mother he said, "he could hardly pray, being
+so much taken up with praise, and ravished with the joy of the Lord."
+When before the Justiciary, on the 14th February, he confessed to all in
+the indictment, save the first article, charging him with having "cast
+off all fear of God." He said, "It is because I feared to offend God,
+and to violate His law, that I am here to-day, standing to be
+condemned." When asked about disowning the king's authority, he answered
+like a true Protestant and a heroic patriot--"I own all authority that
+hath its prescriptives and limitations from the word of God; but I
+cannot own this usurper as lawful king--seeing both by the word of God,
+such a one is incapable to bear rule, and likewise by the ancient laws
+of the kingdom, which admit none to the crown of Scotland until he swear
+to defend the Protestant religion, which a man of his profession cannot
+do."
+
+At the close of his examination, when asked if he would subscribe his
+Testimony, he did so, with protestation that he subscribed it as his
+testimony, but not as recognizing the authority of his judges. When
+condemned to be executed in the Grassmarket, on the Friday following, he
+was asked by the Justice General if he desired a longer time, he
+declared, "It was all one to him; if the time was protracted, it was
+welcome; if it was shortened, it was welcome too;--his Master's time was
+the best." Without his knowledge he was reprieved for ten days, till the
+17th of February, as the persecutors were to some degree sated with
+blood, and perhaps somewhat troubled in conscience by the demeanor of
+the youthful confessor. After his condemnation was pronounced, many
+attempts were made to shake his constancy. Several petitions were
+written for him, but he refused resolutely to sign any of them. It was
+at one time proposed to him, that his dropping a few drops of ink on
+paper would be sufficient: this however, he promptly refused, alleging
+that it would be so far an owning of wicked authority, and a
+renunciation of his whole testimony.
+
+His friends were denied access to him in prison; paper and ink were
+removed from him, and also part of his dying testimony which he had
+written. Others--persons in authority--prelates, curates, and popish
+priests visited him. His Christian firmness resisted all their attempts
+to make him swerve from his principles; while several of them were
+struck and overawed by the power of his singular wisdom, gentleness, and
+unaffected goodness. Viscount Tarbet, a man of intellect, but noted for
+his lax accommodating principles, said of Renwick, after several times
+visiting him, "He was the stiffest maintainer of his principles that
+ever came before us. Others we used always to cause at one time or other
+to waver; but him we could never move. We could never make him yield nor
+vary in the least. He was of old Knox's principles."
+
+The testimony of Renwick contained in the "CLOUD OF WITNESSES," was
+written the night before he suffered, and in near anticipation of his
+martyrdom. His mother and sisters were allowed to be with him for a
+short time, on the morning of the day of his execution: In giving thanks
+at food in their presence, he said--"Lord! Thou hast brought me within
+two hours of eternity, and this is no matter of terror to me, more than
+if I rose to go to lie down on a bed of roses. Nay, through grace, to
+thy praise, I may say, I had never the fear of death since I came within
+this prison; but from the place I was taken in, I could have gone very
+composedly to the scaffold." Again, he said, "Let us be glad and
+rejoice, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made
+herself ready. Could I ever have thought that the fear of suffering and
+death could be so taken from me? What shall I say of it? It is the doing
+of the Lord and marvellous in our eyes." He asked, "I have many times
+counted the cost of following Christ, but never expected it would have
+been so easy. Now, who knows the honour and happiness of that--'He that
+confesseth me before men, him will I confess before my Father!' Several
+times, he said, _"Now that I am so near the end of time, I desire to
+bless the Lord: it is inexpressibly sweet and satisfying peace to me,
+that He has kept me in the least from complying with enemies."_ On the
+morning of his execution, he wrote his last letter to his most attached
+friend, Sir Robert Hamilton, who was then an exile in Holland, for the
+sacred cause for which Renwick suffered. Every part of this brief
+epistle is calm and thoughtful, and bespeaks the joyful serenity of the
+martyr's spirit. "This," he writes, "being my last day on earth, I
+thought it my duty to send you this, my last salutation. The Lord has
+been wonderfully gracious to me since I came to prison. He has assured
+me of His salvation, helped me to give a testimony for Him, and to say
+before his enemies all that I have taught, and strengthened me to resist
+and repel many temptations and assaults." He closes, with these simple,
+solemn, and affecting words--"But I must break off, I go to your God and
+my God. _Death is to me as a bed to the weary._"
+
+When the drums beat for his execution, he exclaimed, "Yonder is my
+welcome call to the marriage. The Bridegroom is coming. I am ready." On
+the scaffold, he sung the first part of the 3d Psalm, read the 19th
+chapter of Revelations, and prayed. When he was rudely interrupted, he
+said, "I shall soon be above these clouds. Then shall I enjoy Thee and
+glorify Thee, O my Father, without intermission and interruption for
+ever." In the few sentences that he was permitted to speak to the
+spectators from the scaffold, after commending the Lord's special mercy
+to him, in washing away his sins, and honouring him to suffer for His
+name's sake, he declared he laid down his life mainly for three things:
+1. For disavowing the usurpation and tyranny of James, Duke of York. 2.
+Preaching that it is unlawful to pay cess, expressly exacted for bearing
+down the gospel, and 3. Teaching that it is lawful for people to carry
+arms for defending themselves in their meetings for persecuted gospel
+ordinances." At the close, he said, "I leave my testimony against
+Popery, Prelacy, and Erastianism, and against all profanity, and every
+thing contrary to sound doctrine, and the power of godliness;
+particularly against all usurpations and encroachments made upon
+Christ's rights, who alone must bear the glory of ruling His own
+kingdom, the Church; and in particular, against this absolute power,
+usurped by this usurper, that belongs to no mortal; but is the
+incommunicable property of Jehovah; and against this toleration flowing
+from this absolute power." Here he was compelled to leave off speaking,
+and to go up the ladder. He then prayed again, and said, "Lord! I die in
+the faith that Thou wilt not leave Scotland, but that Thou will make the
+blood of thy witnesses to be the seed of the Church, and will return
+again and be glorious in our land. And now, Lord, I am ready; the Bride,
+the Lamb's wife, hath made herself ready." When the napkin was tied
+about his face, he uttered a few affectionate words to the single friend
+who was permitted to attend him on the scaffold; his last counsels then
+spoken to the suffering remnant, show how much his heart was with them,
+and the cause of truth in their hands. "As to the remnant I leave, I
+have committed them to God. Tell them from me, not to weary, nor be
+discouraged in maintaining their testimony. Let them not quit or forego
+one of these despised truths. Let them keep their ground; and the Lord
+will provide them churches and ministers. And _when He comes, He will
+make these despised truths glorious in the earth._"
+
+In the close of his testimony, written in prison, the day before his
+execution, there are those sublime and affecting expressions, which were
+designed to be his last words from the scaffold--"Farewell, beloved
+sufferers, and followers of the Lamb. Farewell, Christian and
+comfortable mother and sisters. Farewell, sweet societies and desirable
+general meetings. Farewell! night wanderings in all seasons for Christ,
+and all sublunary things. Farewell! conflicts with a body of sin and
+death. Welcome, scaffold, for precious Christ. Welcome, heavenly
+Jerusalem. Welcome, innumerable company of angels. Welcome, crown of
+glory. Welcome, above all, O Thou blessed Trinity and one God. O Eternal
+One, I commit my soul into thy eternal rest."
+
+The relentless persecutors of our Presbyterian forefathers were not
+content with removing this eminent servant of God, by a violent death;
+as if to throw upon him the utmost indignity, his body was buried in the
+common grave of felons, at the lower entrance of the Greyfriars
+Church-yard, a plain slab of stone erected over the spot, stating that
+the dust of the Rev. James Renwick lies interred with that of eight
+other martyrs, and with the remains of a hundred common felons. The
+emblem and inscription on the stone point, however, to the glory
+reserved for faithful servants of Christ, when the sufferings of the
+Church shall have been completed, and antichristian power shall have
+been overthrown. The emblem is an open Bible, with the words in
+Revelation vi. 9, 10, 11, inserted underneath.
+
+Though enemies thus did their utmost to pour dishonour on the name and
+memory of Renwick, and to extinguish the cause for which he suffered,
+yet the Redeemer whom he intensely loved, and faithfully served, has in
+his providence, vindicated the one, as He has preserved, and will yet
+more extensively and gloriously display the other. Not only have eminent
+historians and other distinguished writers, in recent times, done
+justice to the character and labours of Renwick, and the contendings of
+the Society people; but within the last few years, by several public
+Commemorative services in Scotland, the spirit and testimony of the
+later Scottish martyrs, have been held forth as worthy of the grateful
+regard of posterity, and commended to their imitation and adoption. The
+Bicentenary of the SANQUHAR DECLARATION was commemorated with
+appropriate services,--upwards of 4000 persons of different religious
+denominations convening at the ancient burgh of Sanquhar for this
+purpose. The addresses delivered on the occasion by ministers and
+others, ably displayed and vindicated the position assumed by Richard
+Cameron, and his followers, and commended to public approval their
+testimony. Some three years ago, a like public commemoration of
+Renwick's birth and martyrdom was celebrated, at the place of his
+nativity near MONIAIVE, in the south of Scotland,--ministers and people
+of the Free, United, and Reformed Presbyterian Churches manifesting the
+deepest interest in the proceedings. Besides the ministers and large
+concourse of people--many of them gathered from great distances, that
+met in the open air, near the place of Renwick's birth,--numerous
+congregations assembled in different houses of worship, observed the
+solemn occasion with solemn devotional exercises. The addresses
+delivered were a suitable tribute to the spirit and conduct of the
+covenanted martyrs; and various articles of their special testimony were
+clearly displayed and ably vindicated. An admirable sermon was preached
+at this commemoration by Rev. WILLIAM ANDERSON of Loanhead, which has
+since been published under the title of "_the Voice of Renwick_," and
+extensively circulated. It contains a condensed, yet lucid sketch of the
+life, labours and sufferings of Renwick, a faithful portraiture of his
+character, and an able exposition and defence of the great principles of
+the testimony of the Scottish martyrs. There has been published in
+modern times no juster or more appropriate tribute to the character,
+principles, and heroic deeds of these faithful confessors, than is
+contained in this discourse. On this account, as well as for the weighty
+practical lessons which it enforces, it is of no local or ephemeral
+interest, but deserves to be transmitted along with the testimonies of
+the Presbyterian martyrs to future generations. These movements indicate
+the gracious design of Zion's King to put lasting and increasing honour
+upon those who cheerfully suffered the loss of all things in maintaining
+his cause, and of yet reviving the principles for which they nobly
+contended. Though the day may be distant when these nations shall
+voluntarily and generally return to allegiance to Prince Messiah, yet,
+as the dimness of the hour is the sure precursor of the perfect day, and
+the cloud like a man's hand betokened "abundance of rain," so these
+grateful reminiscences of the covenanted martyrs and their distinctive
+testimony, point to a day of deliverance and brightness approaching,
+when Antichristian error and idolatry shall be overthrown, and the reign
+of righteousness and truth shall be universally established.
+
+
+CONCLUSION.
+
+The record of the life, labours, and testimony, of James Renwick is
+fraught with _practical lessons_ of the highest value to the Church in
+the present day; and ministers, theological students, and the rising
+youth of the Church generally have a special interest in pondering them
+deeply, and in seeking to reduce them to practice.
+
+From Renwick's personal history, we see--1. An instance of the Divine
+blessing on parental dedication, and early religious instruction,
+confirming the truth of the Divine promise, and exhibiting the
+unspeakable benefit of the faithful labours of godly parents, especially
+of mothers, to the Church. 2. It is impressively shown too, that a
+person's work and influence for good, is not dependent on birth or
+station in life, or on outward advantages. Many of the most eminent
+servants of Christ, like Luther and Renwick, sprung from the humbler
+ranks of society, and before they came forward to public usefulness, had
+to contend with great difficulties. Grace ennobled them. God often
+chooses "the weak things" of the world to "confound the mighty." His
+servants are raised from the dunghill to sit among princes. In heaven's
+heraldry, a man's rank is taken, not from hereditary titles, or
+possessions, but from grace renewing and sanctifying the heart, and a
+life of true devotedness to Christ and his service. 3. We are taught to
+lay no stress on present prosperity, but to do God's work, looking for
+the recompense of reward which He gives. A noble forgetfulness of self,
+and mortification to the favour of the world, have characterized all
+Christ's most approved servants. Dr. Payson relates about himself, what
+has been experienced by many faithful men, "When I thought myself to be
+_something_, I never knew happiness of mind; since I came to feel myself
+nothing, and Christ all, I have realized full satisfaction and joy."
+Renwick reviled, calumniated, and persecuted in his day, while esteeming
+all but loss for Christ, enjoyed in life and death, peace surpassing
+understanding--his name will be ever fragrant, and his memorial
+everlasting.
+
+4. Again, Renwick's life presents a bright and attractive _example of
+the graces of fervent piety_. There shines forth in his character, in
+harmonious display and concentrated lustre, an array of lovely and
+ennobling features. To faith, he added virtue, and knowledge, patience,
+temperance, godliness, &c. (2 Pet. i. 5-7.) His Christian _wisdom_ is
+singularly conspicuous. Renwick was blamed in his own day by
+time-servers and backsliders as imprudent; and those who maintain the
+same testimony even in our times, are characterized as foolish,
+imprudent, and infatuated. Certainly, if wisdom consists only in
+securing present temporal gain--fleeting pleasure and the applause of
+the world, then Renwick and his followers have no claim to be considered
+wise. But if the "beginning" and spirit of true wisdom are the "fear of
+the Lord;" and if it is shown in preferring the advancement of God's
+glory and the enjoyment of His favour to all else, and in seeking the
+attainment of those ends by means divinely appointed, and approved, then
+the persecuted remnant were eminently wise. By opposing Popery, Prelacy,
+Erastianism, and arbitrary power, and pleading resolutely for the
+covenant liberties of the Church and nation, they proposed to themselves
+holy ends. Their faithful contendings; their stern denunciations of
+royal perfidy and tyranny; their organization of societies, and a
+general correspondence; their proclaiming open opposition to usurped
+authority; and, above all, their willing sacrifice of life rather than
+abandon right principles, evince true wisdom. These were the best means
+that could possibly have been adopted to expose the countless evils of
+the government of the royal brothers; and to rouse the dormant spirit of
+the nation, to hurl tyrants and oppressors from the throne, and to
+establish constitutional liberty. Then, the _fidelity_ of Renwick and
+the Cameronians were seen in maintaining fully their testimony to the
+whole covenanted reformation, amidst manifold perils, when the large
+body of Presbyterians had made defection. The standard which they firmly
+grasped and refused to surrender had its glorious motto, "FOR CHRIST'S
+CROWN AND COVENANT." The central doctrine of the Redeemer's Headship
+over the Church and the nations, occupied a first place in all the
+testimonies emitted in their general meetings, and uttered on scaffolds
+and fields of blood. Connected with this, as necessary corollaries, were
+the supremacy of Holy Scripture--the spiritual independence of the
+Church, and the subjection of rulers and national legislation to the
+sceptre of the reigning Mediator. On these grounds, they not only
+rejected infamous rulers, but condemned and rejected with utter
+abhorrence the royal supremacy. The sentiment expressed in the words
+subscribed to the minutes of their general meetings--"LET KING JESUS
+REIGN,[5] declare the leal allegiance of Renwick and the persecuted
+Covenanters to Prince Messiah. Earnestly did they seek to have the
+authority of King Jesus universally acknowledged, honoured, and obeyed.
+They believed firmly the sure word of prophecy that "all kings shall
+fall down before Him; and all nations shall serve Him." "He shall have
+dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the
+earth." Psal. lxxii. 11, 8. So should we also aim to be faithful to
+Christ and His cause; to our own sacred vows; to the souls of men; and
+to the blood-bought privileges that have been entrusted to us to
+preserve and transmit. We are responsible, not for success, but for
+fidelity; and the promised reward will be a glorious recompense for all
+trial and suffering. "Be thou faithful unto the death, and I will give
+thee a crown of life."
+
+Renwick was, furthermore, distinguished by a _catholic, genial, loving
+spirit_. This characteristic is not generally thought to have been
+prominent in the spirit of illustrious reformers and suffering
+confessors. Luther, Calvin, and Knox, have been represented as unsocial,
+morose fanatics, and gloomy bigots. Renwick has been branded as rigid
+and austere, and those who have embraced and faithfully maintained the
+same testimony have been exhibited as sectaries of the deepest dye. No
+representation could be more unjust, and none is more opposed to
+historic truth. Luther was most genial and loving, as his "Table Talk,"
+and the record of his domestic life, abundantly testify. Calvin's
+"Letters" collected by Bonnet, show how keenly and long he felt the
+death of his wife and infant child; how deeply his heart was affected
+with the sufferings of Protestants everywhere, even of those who
+differed from him in principle; and attest, moreover, the warmth and
+constancy of his friendship. Knox's declaration before Queen Mary, that
+he was always affected by the crying of his infant children, shows his
+gentle and susceptible disposition; while his letters to his wife and
+mother-in-law bear witness, equally to his piety, and to the depth of
+tender feeling that filled his large heart. Renwick was, at all times, a
+loving, thoughtful, and confiding friend, as many passages in his
+"Letters" declare. The annals of the persecution, and the traditions of
+suffering times, testify to his genial disposition, even when he was
+harassed by relentless enemies, and his heart was overwhelmed with
+incessant cares and anxieties.
+
+In proof of the catholic, unsectarian, Christian spirit of Renwick and
+his followers, the clear statements of the INFORMATORY VINDICATION, the
+work which most fully and clearly defines their position, may be
+referred to. After laying down an admirable platform of fellowship and
+discipline, the persecuted Covenanters declare in effect, "We are not a
+Church at present, and cannot act fully as an organized Church. We are a
+broken, persecuted remnant. Our societies are not a Church, but a
+temporary means of enjoying proper religious instruction and ordinances
+of worship. They are, besides, associations for self-defence, and for
+watching and taking advantage of any public movement for overturning the
+present despotism, and recovering our liberties, civil and religious. We
+require to make the terms of admission strict, to guard against spies,
+and those who are contentious or quarrelsome. At the same time they
+declare the close and hallowed relations that bound them to all the true
+disciples of their common Lord. In a noble spirit of Christian
+brotherhood, they virtually proclaim, "On the communion of saints, let
+us impose no new restrictions. Though others differ from us in the word
+of their special testimony, let us embrace and love them, and
+acknowledge fellowship with them as Christian brethren."[6] In these
+noble utterances, we have strikingly exemplified the true spirit of
+Christian brotherhood and Catholic communion. This is the genuine import
+of the vow of the Solemn League and Covenant, which binds Covenanters to
+regard whatever is done to the least of them, as done to all and to
+every one in particular. While firmly holding fast all Scriptural
+attainments, and contending "earnestly for the faith once delivered to
+the saints," we should cordially rejoice in the evidences of grace in
+Christ's servants wherever we find them. We should love them as
+brethren, fulfil the law of Christ by bearing their burdens, wish them
+God speed in all that they are doing for the advancement of His glory,
+and fervently labour and pray for the coming of the happy period when
+divisions and animosities shall cease, and when there shall be one King,
+and His name one in all the earth.
+
+5. The testimony of Renwick and his associates is of permanent value and
+of special importance in our day, as it was directed against _systems of
+error and idolatry_, which serve to corrupt the Church and enslave the
+State. Against Popery in every form Renwick was a heroic and
+uncompromising witness. At the peril of life, he publicly testified
+against the usurpation of the papist James, and rejected him as having
+no claim to be regarded as a constitutional sovereign, and as utterly
+disqualified to reign in a Protestant reformed land. This was the main
+ground of his objection against James's toleration, for which the
+Indulged ministers tendered obsequious thanks to the usurper. Yet this
+edict of toleration was issued for the purpose of opening the way for
+the practice of Rome's abominations, and for the advancement of papists
+to places of power and trust in the nation. None of the Cameronians
+would, for any earthly consideration, even to save their lives, for a
+moment admit that a papist had any right to exercise political power in
+a reformed land. Our martyred forefathers we regard as worthy of high
+respect and imitation, for their deeply cherished dread of the growing
+influence of Popery, and for their determined resistance to its
+exclusive and extravagant claims. The system of Popery is the abnegation
+of all precious gospel truth; and is a complete politico-religious
+confederacy against the best interests of a Protestant nation. The boast
+of its abettors is that it is _semper eadem_--ever the same. Rome cannot
+reform herself from within, and she is incapable of reformation from
+external influences and agencies. The Bible never speaks of Antichrist
+as to be reformed, but as waxing worse and worse till the time when he
+shall be completely subverted and irrecoverably destroyed. Whatever
+changes may be going on in some Popish countries, whereby the power of
+the Papacy is weakened, it is evident that the principles and spirit of
+the Romish priesthood, and of those who are under their influence,
+remain unchanged. The errors of the Antichristian system, instead of
+being diminished, have of late years increased. Creature worship has
+become more marked and general. The Immaculate Conception has been
+proclaimed by Papal authority as the creed of Romanism. In these
+countries, and some other Protestant lands, the influence of Popery in
+government and education, and so on the whole social system, has been
+greatly on the increase. Among those who have most deeply studied
+inspired prophecy, there is a general expectation that the period of
+Babylon's downfal is hastening on, and is not far distant. There is a
+general presentiment too, that the Man of Sin, prior to his downfal,
+will make some dire and violent attempt through his infatuated followers
+against the truth, and against such as faithfully maintain it. The
+"_Slaying of the Witnesses_,"--which we are disposed to regard as yet
+future--may take place, not so much by the actual shedding of blood,
+though it is plain that Jesuit policy and violence will not hesitate to
+re-enact former persecution and massacre, to accomplish a desired
+purpose. It may mainly be effected, as Scott, the expositor, suggests,
+by silencing the voice of a public testimony in behalf of fundamental
+truths throughout Christendom; and of this there are at present
+unmistakeable signs not a few, throughout the churches in various
+countries.
+
+The Protestant church in all its sections should be thoroughly awake to
+its danger from the destructive errors, idolatry and power of its
+ancient irreconcilable enemy; and should, by all legitimate means,
+labour to counteract and nullify its political influence. The ministry
+and the rising youth of the church should study carefully the Popish
+controversy, and should be intimately acquainted with the history of the
+rise and progress of the Papacy--its assumed blasphemous power--its
+accumulated errors and delusions, and its plots, varied persecutions and
+cruel butcheries of Christ's faithful witnesses. Above all, they should
+set themselves earnestly, prayerfully and perseveringly to diffuse the
+Bible and Gospel light in the dark parts of their native country, and
+among Romanists in other lands. By embracing fully and holding fast, in
+their practical application, the principles of the British Covenants,
+and by imbibing the spirit of covenanted martyrs--men like Renwick and
+the Cameronians, we will be prepared for the last conflict with
+Antichrist. The firm and faithful maintenance of a martyr-testimony will
+be a principal instrument of the victory of truth over the error and
+idolatry of Rome. "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by
+the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the
+death," (Rev. xii. 11.)
+
+Finally--the testimony of Renwick is valuable, as throwing light on
+_great evils connected with systems of civil government_, and _with
+Protestant churches_, and as pointing out clearly the duty of faithful
+witnesses in relation to them. Two great principles--the one
+_doctrinal_, and the other _practical_, were essential to it, or rather
+constituted its whole speciality. These were--first--that, according to
+the national vows, and the reformation attainments, the whole civil
+polity of the nation should be conformed to the Scriptures,--and
+secondly, the positive duty of distinct separation from whatever systems
+in the state or the church that are opposed to entire allegiance to
+Messiah, the Prince. The civil constitution and the national legislation
+and administration, as well as the lives of rulers, were required to be
+in subjection to His authority, and in accordance with the prescriptions
+of His word. When such subjection is withheld, Christ's servants, if
+they would be faithful to the exalted Saviour, cannot do otherwise than
+refuse to incorporate with the national society, and to homologate the
+acts of its rulers; and from Churches that do not testify against
+national defection, they are constrained to maintain distinct
+separation. The past history of the Church bears clear testimony that
+truth has been frequently preserved, when it was in danger of being
+lost, by open separation from those who were bent on declension and
+apostacy.
+
+In our day, it should not be regarded as enough to profess in theory the
+doctrine of Christ's Headship, or merely to speak in commendation of a
+martyr-testimony. We should aim, as Renwick and his followers, at
+whatever inconvenience and hardship, to give it _practical effect_. The
+reason why these honoured confessors disowned the authority of Charles
+and his brother, was, not solely or chiefly, because of their tyranny or
+persecuting measures, but principally because the authority assumed was
+opposed to the exclusive royal prerogatives of the Redeemer. The public
+evils against which Renwick and the later martyrs testified to the
+death, did not cease at the Revolution; nor can we admit that the
+Revolution Settlement embodied all the principles for which the
+Covenanted martyrs contended, and suffered, and died. On the contrary,
+there are essential and inherent evils in the Revolution Settlement,
+both civil and ecclesiastical, which exist to this day, and which render
+a decided testimony against it dutiful now, as it was at the period of
+the Revolution. The Act Rescissory, which was passed at the Restoration,
+is still retained in the Statute Book: the National Covenants were
+abandoned, both by the Church and the nation, and neither has returned
+to a sense of their obligation. The Scriptural attainments of the
+Reformation were left under a gravestone. Presbyterianism was
+established in Scotland--not because it was Scriptural or right in
+itself, but because it was agreeable to the wishes of the majority of
+the nation, and it was set up on an Erastian basis. By the introduction
+of the curates into the ministry of the Scottish establishment, at the
+king's behest, without any public confession or renunciation of
+Prelacy--the germ of Moderatism was laid, which, in due time, budded and
+brought forth bitter fruits, in numerous corruptions and oppressions,
+and in multiplied divisions and separations.
+
+Prelacy, abjured in the Solemn League of the three kingdoms, was, at the
+Revolution, established in England and Ireland, and the supremacy of the
+monarch as head of the National Church, and in "all causes, civil and
+ecclesiastical," was declared to be an inherent prerogative of the
+crown. These evils yet exist in the civil and ecclesiastical
+establishments of these countries; and others have in recent years been
+added, such as the admission of papists to places of power and trust
+throughout the nation, the national endowment of popish institutions,
+and the public favour shown by rulers to the Antichristian system. The
+national policy in these instances and others that might be mentioned,
+is wholly inconsistent with the doctrine of the Redeemer's Headship in
+its legitimate application, and is the source of many of the evils that
+in our day corrupt and degrade the Church of England, and that prevent
+the developement and prevalence of genuine Protestantism throughout the
+nation. The Presbyterian Churches that claim descent from the
+covenanting reformers and martyrs, should seriously consider whether
+they do not compromise a faithful testimony, and encourage national
+apostacy, by incorporating with a civil system that refuses homage to
+the reigning Mediator, and obedience to the authoritative prescriptions
+of His word.
+
+The rising youth of the Church should carefully study in its legitimate
+application, and vitally important consequences, the grand article of
+Renwick's testimony,--the Redeemer's Headship over the Church and the
+nations, and the cognate principles of the supremacy of the word, the
+spiritual independence of the Church, and the claim of the subjection of
+the nation and its rulers to the authority of the reigning Mediator.
+Whether viewed in the light of the past or of the present state of the
+nations, as of America, and the kingdoms of the antichristian earth; or
+of prophecy yet unfulfilled, a testimony for these truths is of grand
+and overwhelming importance. This is emphatically, the _present
+truth_--the cause of God and truth, now to be pleaded in the earth. It
+is "the word of Christ's patience," which we are required to hold fast.
+It is at our peril If we be found neutral here; our preservation from
+the coming "hour of temptation," is alone to be expected in fidelity to
+the great trust committed to us. We are assured in the faithful word of
+prophecy, that the Redeemer will ere long take to Him his power to
+reign. The "Little Stone" shall bruise and break in pieces the feet and
+toes of the "great Image,"--the representative of the world-powers,--and
+become a "great mountain," and fill the earth. Then shall the cause for
+which Christ's witnesses testified in sackcloth, and for which chosen
+martyrs died, gloriously triumph. "The kingdoms of this world shall
+become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ."
+
+The peaceful, triumphant death of Renwick, shows impressively that there
+is a reward to the righteous; that a life of self-denial and devoted
+piety appears at the close, enstamped with heaven's approval; and that
+labours and sufferings for Christ's sake conduct to the joy of completed
+victory, and to perfect communion with the Redeemer, and the redeemed in
+glory. "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of
+that man is peace." (Ps. xxxvii. 37.) "After this, I beheld, and lo, a
+great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and
+kingdoms, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before
+the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. And cried
+with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God, which sitteth upon the
+throne, and unto the Lamb." (Rev. vii. 9, 10.)
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 1: Hist of Ch. of Scotland, vol. ii. p. 64]
+
+[Footnote 2: Calvin and Geneva, vol. I., II.]
+
+[Footnote 3: See Appendix,--Note A.]
+
+[Footnote 4: Dodds' "Fifty Years' Struggle," p. 275.]
+
+[Footnote 5: See "Faithful Contendings."]
+
+[Footnote 6: Dodds' "Fifty Years' Struggle," p. 275.]
+
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+
+It has been common in some quarters of late, to speak of Renwick and his
+associates in testimony-bearing and suffering, as only contending
+against the unconstitutional and persecuting measures of the government
+of the Royal brothers,--and to declare that, had they lived to witness
+the change of government which took place at the Revolution, they would
+have joyfully hailed it as the realization of their eager
+aspirations,--and would have incorporated readily with the national
+society. Thus, Dodds in his "_Fifty Years' Struggle of the Scottish
+Covenanters_,"--while acknowledging the important services rendered to
+the cause of the Prince of Orange, by the bold and resolute position
+taken by the Cameronians, represents Renwick, as not only "the last
+martyr of the Covenanting struggle," but also as "the _Proto-martyr of
+the Revolution_." He adds, "Like the shepherd overwhelmed in the
+snow-storm, he perished within sight of the door. The door of
+deliverance was speedily opened, on the arrival of William, in November,
+1688." And, again, speaking of Cameron, Renwick, and the stricter
+Covenanters, he says, "So far, the REVOLUTION SETTLEMENT--in the main
+adopting what was universal, and rejecting what was exclusive, or
+over-grasping in their views,--was the consummation and triumph, civilly
+and politically, and to a large extent, ecclesiastically, of the FIFTY
+YEARS' STRUGGLE OF THE SCOTTISH COVENANTERS." These statements, though
+plausible, and such as seem likely to be readily embraced by those who
+have no relish for a full Covenanted testimony--or who desire to
+maintain fellowship with corrupt civil and ecclesiastical systems, are
+liable to one fundamental and unanswerable objection,--they are wholly
+unsupported by historical evidence. All pains were taken by Cameron and
+Renwick, in preaching and in their dying testimonies, and by the United
+Societies in their published declarations, to show that they testified
+not merely against the usurpation and blasphemous supremacy of the last
+of the Stuarts,--but likewise, principally, against all invasion of the
+Redeemer's royal prerogatives,--and all departure from the scriptural
+attainments of the former happy Reformation. In nothing were they more
+decided than in testifying to the death, that the National Covenants
+were the oath of God, perpetually binding on all classes in the
+realm,--"the marriage tie," which no power on earth could dissolve--that
+all departure from the principles of these federal deeds was sinful, and
+involved the land in the guilt of national apostacy and perjury,--and
+that the authority of the Scripture was supreme in constituting the
+national society, in enacting and administering the laws, and in
+regulating the lives and official acts of the rulers.
+
+The Revolution Settlement, in both its civil and ecclesiastical
+departments, instead of being the exemplification and carrying forward
+of the work of the Second Reformation,--for the maintenance of which the
+Scottish martyrs shed their blood,--was a deliberate abandonment of it,
+and was established in open opposition to its grand and distinguishing
+principles. The faithful companions and followers of Renwick refused to
+incorporate with this Settlement, on the ground of adhering firmly to
+the scriptural vows of the nation, and the testimonies of illustrious
+martyrs. While giving the best proof of their genuine patriotism, they
+withheld allegiance from the government of William, and they took the
+name and position of "Old Dissenters," for reasons which they clearly
+stated, which those who opposed and misrepresented them, were unable to
+answer, and the greater part of which are as applicable to the present
+British government, and existing ecclesiastical systems, as they were to
+the Settlement of the Revolution. Several of the political changes which
+have taken place in recent times, have supplied strong additional
+grounds for faithful Covenanters maintaining the position of public
+protest against, and active dissent from the establishments, civil and
+ecclesiastical, of the nation. The reasons of separation from the
+Revolution Church and State, as given by the "Society People," are
+presented in a lucid and convincing manner, in the work entitled--"Plain
+Reasons for Presbyterians dissenting from the Revolution Church in
+Scotland, as also their Principles concerning Civil Government, and the
+difference betwixt the Reformation and Revolution Principles." They are
+likewise exhibited in a condensed form in the "Short Account of Old
+Dissenters," emitted with the sanction of the Reformed Presbytery, and
+in very luminous terms in the Historical part of the "Testimony of the
+Reformed Presbyterian Church."
+
+No person who peruses these works, and ponders their carefully prepared
+statements, can with candour and honesty affirm that Renwick and his
+fellow-sufferers would have willingly incorporated with the Revolution
+Settlement; or that fellowship with the present British political
+system, by taking oaths of allegiance and office, and setting up rulers,
+is consistent with their declared and dearly prized principles. Let the
+"Plain Reasons" to which we have referred, be duly weighed--and it must
+be perfectly apparent, that Mr. Dodds's oracular statement--that the
+"REVOLUTION SETTLEMENT" was the consummation and triumph, civilly, and
+politically, and to a large extent ecclesiastically, of the "Fifty
+years' Struggle of the Scottish Covenanters," is completely destitute of
+any solid foundation. These _reasons_ are such as the following--The
+Scottish reformation in its purest form was deliberately abandoned in
+the Revolution Settlement--Both the Church and State concurred in
+leaving unrepealed on the Statute-book, the infamous Act Rescissory, by
+which the National Covenants were declared to be unlawful oaths, and all
+laws and constitutions, ecclesiastical or civil, were annulled, which
+approved and gave effect to them. The Revolution Church was, in every
+respect, an entirely different establishment from that of the Second
+Reformation. Its creed was dictated by Erastian authority--its
+government established on the ground of popular consent and not of
+Divine right--its order and discipline were placed in subjection to
+Erastian civil rulers--and the Scriptural liberties of the ministry and
+membership interfered with; and corruption in doctrine, and ordinances
+of worship, without the power of removing it, extensively spread
+throughout the ecclesiastical body. How sadly different a structure did
+this appear to the eyes of faithful men, who lamented that the carved
+work of a Covenanted Sanctuary had been broken down, and the "beautiful
+House where their fathers worshipped, was laid waste!" Nor could the
+civil and political part of the Revolution Settlement have any
+pretensions to be a proper carrying out of the civil system of the
+Reformation era. In this the federal deeds of the nation were the
+compact between rulers and ruled, and were an essential part of the oath
+of the Sovereign on admission to supreme power. Civil rulers were
+required to be possessed of scriptural and covenant qualifications--and
+were taken bound to make a chief end of their government the promotion
+of the divine glory in the advancement of the true reformed religion,
+and the protection and prosperity of the Reformed Presbyterian Church.
+They were likewise solemnly engaged to employ their official influence
+and authority to put away systems that had been abjured in the National
+vows,--Popery, Prelacy and Erastianism, and to discourage all
+profaneness and ungodliness. At the Revolution, all these engagements
+were deliberately set aside. The sovereign's coronation oath, and the
+oath of allegiance of subjects, bind both equally to the support of
+Prelacy--which is declared to be established unchangeably in England and
+Ireland. The whole civil system is based on expediency and the popular
+will, and not on Scriptural principles. The authority claimed and
+exercised by the monarch over the Presbyterian Establishment in
+Scotland, and the National Church in England and Ireland, is grossly
+Erastian. The introduction of Popery into the bosom of the State--the
+admission of Papists to offices of power and trust in the nation, and
+the endowment of Popish Seminaries and chaplains--which the Revolution
+Settlement barred--but which the Antichristian and infidel policy of
+recent times has enacted, show still more clearly that the civil and
+political system established in these countries is diametrically opposed
+to that which was set up at the era of the Reformation, and was
+contended for by the Scottish martyrs--and impose on all who would
+honestly promote the ends of the National Covenants, the obligation to
+maintain distinct separation from it.
+
+
+
+
+
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