consciousness of integrity, that I have walked in his way, and kept his charge though with much weakness, and many infirmities, whereof ye have been witnesses.

"Now, my dear friends in precious Christ, I think I need not tell you, that as I have lived, so I die in the same persuasion with the true reformed and covenanted, presbyterian church of Scotland; that I adhere to the testimony of the day, as it is held forth in our Informatory Vindication, and in the Testimony against the present toleration; and that I own, and seal with my blood all the precious truths, even the controverted truths, that I have taught. So I would exhort every one of you, to make sure your personal reconciliation with God in Christ: for I fear many of you have that yet to do; and when ye come where I am, to look pale death in the face, ye will not be a little shaken and terrified, if ye have not laid hold on eternal life. I would exhort you to much diligence in the use of means, to be careful in keeping up your societies, to be frequent and fervent in secret prayer, to read much the written word of God, and to examine yourselves by it. Do not weary to maintain, in your places and stations, the present testimony; for when Christ goes forth to defeat antichrist, with that name written on his thigh and on his vesture, King of Kings AND Lord of Lords, he will make it glorious in the earth: and if ye can but transmit it to the posterity, ye may count it a great generationwork. But beware of the ministers, that have accepted of this toleration, and all others that bend that way; and follow them not, for the sun bath gone down upon them. Do not fear, that the Lord will cast off Scotland; for he will certainly return again, and show himself glorious in our land. But watch and pray, for he is bringing on a sad overthrowing stroke, which shall make many say, That they have easily got through, that have got a scaffold for Christ; and do not regard the present sufferings of this world, for they are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed.'

"I may say to his praise, that I have found his cross sweet and lovely unto me, for I have had many joyful hours, and not a fearful thought since I came to prison; he has strengthened me to brave man, and face death, and I am now longing for the joyful hour of my dissolution; and there is nothing in the world that I am sorry to leave but you but I go to better company, and so I must take my leave of you all. Farewell beloved sufferers, and followers of the Lamb; farewell Christian intimates: farewell Christian and comfortable mother and sisters: farewell sweet societies; farewell desirable general meetings; farewell night-wanderings in cold and weariness for Christ; farewell sweet Bible, and preaching of the gospel; farewell sun, moon, and stars, 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 general assembly, and church of the first-born; welcome crown of glory, white robes, and songs of Moses and the Lamb; and above all, welcome, O thou blessed Trinity, and one God! O eternal One! I commit my soul into thy eternal rest.

Sic sub. JAMES RENWICK."

3. HIS LETTER TO HIS CHRISTIAN FRIENDS.

'My dear friends in Christ, I see now what hath been the language of my reprieve, it hath been, that I might be further tempted and tried; and I praise the Lord, he hath assisted me to give further proofs of stedfastness; I have been often assaulted by some popish priests; but the last time they came, I told them, I would debate no more with such as they were, and that I had lived and would die a protestant, and testify against the idolatries, heresies, superstitions, and errors of that antichristian way. But yesterday I was cast into a deep exercise, and made to dwell under an impression of the dreadfulness of every thing that might grieve the Spirit of God. I found sin to be more bitter than death, and one hour's hiding of God's face, more insupportable. And then at night, I was called before a part of the council, and the chancellor produced the Informatory Vindication, and asked if I knew it I answered, I know it. And being interrogated, I confessed that I had a great hand in writing of it: they pressed me to tell my assistants: I told them, they were those whom they persecuted; but would satisfy them no further. They also urged me upon pain of torture, to tell, where our societies were? who kept our general correspondencies? and where they were kept? I answered, though they should torture me, which was contrary to all law, after sentence of death, I would give them no further notice than the books gave. was moreover threatened to tell my haunts and quarters, but I refused to make known to them any such thing: so I was returned to prison. Such exercise as I had was very needful for such a trial; and I would rather endure what they could do unto me, than have dishonoured Christ, offended you, and brought you unto trouble.-But I hope, within less than three days, to be without the reach of all temptations. Now I have no more to say: farewell again in our blessed Lord Jesus."

4. HIS LAST Words upon THE SCAFFOLD.

I

Before he went out of the tolbooth, he was at dinner with his mother and sisters, and some Christian friends, when the drum beat the first warning to his execution; which so soon as he heard, he leapt up in ravishment of heavenly joy, saying, 'Let us be glad and rejoice, for the marriage of the Lamb is come:' and I can say in some measure, The bride, the Lamb's wife, hath made herself ready.' And till dinner was over, he enlarged upon the parallel of a marriage, and invited all of them to come to the wedding, meaning his execution. When he was come to the scaffold, the drums being beat all the while, none of the distant spectators could hear any thing that he said; only some very few, that were close by him did hear it, whereof one has collected the following account: he delivered himself to this effect:

"Spectators, or (if there be any of you) auditors, I must tell you, I am come here this day to lay down my life for adhering to the truths of Christ, for which I am neither afraid nor ashamed to suffer; nay, I bless the Lord, that ever he counted me worthy, or enabled me to suffer any thing for him; and I desire to praise his grace, that he hath not only kept me free from the gross pollutions of the time, but also from

many ordinary pollutions of children; and such as I have been stained with he hath washed me from them in his own blood. I am this day to lay down my life for these three things. 1. For disowning the usurpations and tyranny of James duke of York. 2. For preaching, that it was unlawful to pay the cess, expressly exacted for bearing down the gospel. 3. For preaching, that it was lawful for people to carry arms, for defending themselves in their meetings for the persecuted gospel-ordinances. I think a testimony for these is worth many lives, and if I had ten hundred, I would think it little enough to lay them all down for the same.

"Dear friends, spectators, and (if any of you be) auditors I must tell you, that I die a presbyterian protestant. I own the Word of God as the rule of faith and manners. I own the Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms, Sum of Saving Knowledge, Directory for Worship, &c. Covenants, National and Solemn League, acts of general assemblies, and all the faithful contendings that have been for the work of reformation. I leave my testimony approving the preaching of the gospel in the fields, and the defending of the same by arms. I adjoin my testimony to all that hath been sealed by blood, shed either on scaffolds, fields or seas, for the cause of Christ. I leave my testimony against popery, prelacy, Erastianism, &c. Against all profanity, and every thing contrary to sound doctrine; particularly against all usurpations made on Christ's right, who is the PRINCE OF THE KINGS OF THE EARTH, who alone must bear the glory of ruling his own kingdom, the church: and in particular, against the absolute power usurped by this usurper, that belongs to no mortal, but is the incommunicable prerogative of JEHOVAH; and against this toleration flowing from that absolute power."

Upon this, he was bid have done. He answered, I have near done." Then he said, "Ye that are the people of God, do not weary in maintaining the testimony of the day, in your stations and places; and whatever ye do, make sure an interest in Christ; for there is a storm coming that shall try your foundations. Scotland must be rid of Scotland, before the delivery come. And you that are strangers to God, break off your sins by repentance, else I will be a witness against you in the day of the Lord." Here they caused him desist. Upon the scaffold he sung a part of the ciii. Psalm from the beginning, and read the xix. chap. of the Revelation. And having thus finished his course, served his generation, and witnessed a good confession for his Lord and Master, before many witnesses, by the will of God, he yielded up his spirit into the hands of God who gave it.

THE END

Edward Khull, Printer.