the sanctuary to his people in their wilderness condition these sixteen years and upwards, as he hath promised to his people, Ezek. xi. 16. Yet will I be to them a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.' And I die in the faith of it, that God will come, and countenance and own those, who venture most for him. Therefore, my beloved, let not the fear of man prevail, but fear him who can kill both soul and body:-Luke xii. 4, 5. Fear not him that can kill the body, but fear him that after he hath killed the body, hath power to cast into hell.' Isa. li. 12, 13. Shouldest thou be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; and forgettest the Lord thy Maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day, because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy; and where is the fury of the oppressor?' Consider for your encouragement what our Lord hath suffered for his elect:-Isa. liii. throughout. -Also, Luke xxii. 44. And being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood;' and mind what will follow, Rev. ii. 4. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.' Luke xxii. 28. Ye are they which have continued with me in my tentations, and I appoint unto you a kingdom.' As that chapter hath been oft sweet to me, press towards the mark, and sink not; as it is, Psal. lxxiii. 1. Truly God is good to Israel;' and Isa. xl. 29-31. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.' John xiv. 1-3. Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.' the eighth chapter to the Romans hath oft comforted me; yea, the Lord who hath the tongue of the learned, bath spoke a word in due season to me, which words have been as apples of gold in pictures of silver. There is not a moment of our time, but we must depend on him, and to all such needy dependants he will make out that word, 2 Cor. xii. 9. My grace is sufficient for thee.' John xvi. 13. When the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself: but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall be speak and he will show you things to come.' And at the close of the warfare, God will make out these sweet words, 1 Cor. xv. 54. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.' Job xix. 25, 26. I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin, worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.' Psal. xvii. 15. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be All 6 satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.' Psal. xvi. 8—11. 'I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth; my flesh also shall rest in hope: for thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.' Psal. xxx. 5. In his favour is life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning; ver. 11, 12. Thou hast turned my mourning into dancing, to the end that my glory may sing praise unto thee.' Rev. iii. 12. Him that overcometh, will I make a pillar in the temple of my God;' chap. vii. 10. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God, and to the Lamb;' chap. xix. 7. For the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.' Isa. xxxiii. 24. And the inhabitants shall not say, I am sick.' I shall end here with these words, Rom. viii. 17, 18. If so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together: for I reckon, that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us.' 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousness. Rev. xxii. 20. Surely I come quickly. Amen, even so come Lord Jesus,' Sic Sub.-JAMES LEARMONTH." "At Edinburgh, 27th September, 1678." 2. HIS SPEECH on the SCAFFOLD. "Men and Brethren :—I am called here this day to lay down my life, I hope as one whom the Lord will own as a witness to the born-down cause and truth, that now in this hour and power of darkness is unjustly oppressed, although one of the least and unworthiest of all that the Lord hath called to seal his truth with blood,—yet I am called and honoured here in your audience to declare, before I die, that I adhere to that work of reformation from popery, prelacy and profanity, heresy, and all manner of ungodliness abounding in these loose times, as the fruit of breaking down of the hedge of government, occasioned by the coming in of that unjust usurpation of the crown of Jesus Christ, and putting it upon the head of a mortal man, whose breath is in his nostrils. I also adhere to the church of Scotland,—as it was governed by a general assembly lawfully constitute, by synods, presbyteries, and kirk sessions,-as the only hedge appointed of God, if well approven, to hold out the wild beasts out of his vineyard. I adhere also to the national covenant, and solemn league and covenant, to the solemn acknowledgment of sins, the Confession of Faith, the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, to the despised way of preaching of the gospel, the receiving of the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper, from the lawfully ordained and called ministers of the gospel, who are forced to the fields, because of persecution from those who were never friends to the church of Christ, or his church in this na tion;-I mean these lord prelates, who, contrary to the rule, lord it over the consciences of the inheritance of the Lord. Also I declare, I die free of the blood of all men, especially the blood of that man, for which I am unjustly condemned to die this day, as the assize did find me not guilty of his blood, whatever seemed to be alleged to the contrary, to the lords who passed sentence against me, without any just ground as from them; and there is a day, wherein the righteous Judge will judge again, when he makes inquisition for blood, and will call to account all the bloodshed of the saints, that is dear in his sight. As for Alexander Maitland who apprehended me, my blood lies directly at his door, who promised me then, that nothing should reach my life, as he swore by faith and conscience; and his brother is also guilty of my blood, who hath much pursued after my blood. I desire the Lord to give them repentance, and mercy, if it be possible. And as for the Archbishops, I charge my blood upon them, with all the blood of the innocent sufferers in this cause, which by their means and their associates has been shed, and all the other sufferings the covenanted people of the Lord has been put to, all which cry for just revenge from the righteous Lord and Judge of all. I have my mind more fully expressed in another paper, that is more large, all which I subscribe as a dying man, who am to appear immediately before the righteous Judge,-I hope to receive the sentence, • Well done faithful servant, enter into your Master's joy;'-though not by my merit, but through the merits and purchase of Christ. So farewell all enjoyments in time,-farewell sun, moon, and stars,— farewell all ordinances, and welcome precious Christ! "Being to die this day, the 27th Sep. 1676." Sic Sub.-JAMES LEARMONTH." XXV. JOHN KID. [To all who are in the least acquainted with the history of the period, it is well known that the persecuted presbyterians, again stimulated to insurrection by the oppressions of the government, were opposed and defeated by the king's troops at Bothwell bridge, on the 22d of June, 1679. Of the prisoners who were taken on this memorable occasion, Mr. Kid was one, and was with his brother, Mr. King, shortly after doomed to an ignominious death. Whether he had ever been ordained, or was only a probationer, we have not discovered. If he was, it must have been shortly previous to the engagement at which he was taken, and his presence at which was deemed sufficient to infer the highest penalty. He was strictly examined as to the origin of the rising, and his answers not being satisfactory, he was questioned by torture. He was thereafter indicted, along with Mr. King, for having been in the rebellion, and for having preached at field conventicles. And notwithstanding their offering to adduce an exculpatory proof, which was refused, and there being no other evidence but their own declarations, partly gained by promises, and partly extorted by the Boot, they were condemned and executed on the 14th of August, 1679. Here follows Mr. Kid's Testimony.] "Right worthy and well beloved Spectators and Auditors :-Considering the bodily distempers I have been exercised under since I came out of the torture, viz. scarce two hours out of my naked bed in one day, it cannot be expected I should be in case for saying any thing to purpose, in such a juncture; especially, seeing I am not as yet free of it; however, I cannot but reverence the good hand of God upon me for good, and desire with all my soul to bless him for this present lot. "It may be, there are a great many here, that judge my lot very sad and deplorable:-I must confess death in itself is very terrible to flesh and blood, but as it is an outlet to sin, and an inlet to righteousness, it is the Christian's great and inexpressible privilege. And give me leave to say this: "I. That there is something in a Christian's condition, that can never put him without the reach of unsufferableness,—even shame, death, and the cross being included.* And then if there be peace betwixt God and the soul, nothing can damp peace through our Lord Jesus Christ; it is a supporting ingredient in the bitterest cup, and under the sharpest and fieriest trial he can be exposed unto. This is my mercy, I have somewhat of this to lay claim unto, viz. The intimations of pardon betwixt God and my soul. And as concerning that for which I am condemned, I magnify his grace, that I never had the least challenge for it, but on the contrary, judge it my honour that ever I was counted worthy to be staged upon such a consideration. "II. Another thing that renders the most despicable sufferings of Christians and mine sufferable, and that is a felt and sensible presence from the Lord, strengthening the soul, when most put to it. And if I could have this for my allowance this day, I could be bold to say, 'O death, where is thy sting?' and would but cry out, welcome to it, and all that follows upon it. I grant, the Lord from an act of sovereignty may come and go as he pleases, but yet he will never forsake his people, and this is a cordial to me in the case I am now exposed unto. "III. The exercising and putting forth of his glorious power, is able to transport the soul of the believer and mine, above the reach of all sublunary difficulties; and therefore, seeing I have hope to be kept by this power, I would not have you to look upon my lot, or any other that is, or may be in my case, in the least deplorable;-seeing • This is a statement which, from the manner in which it is expressed, the reader may find it difficult to comprehend. The meaning seems to be, that there are sources of peace, and joy, and comfort, in the Christian's condition, such as may render tolerable the severest troubles and trials of life, or at least prevent them being intolerable. we have ground to believe, that in more or less he will perfect his power and strength in weakness. "IV. That I may come a little nearer to the purpose in hand, I declare before you all, in the sight of God, angels, and men, and in the sight of that sun, and all that he has created, that I am a most miserable sinner, in regard of my original and actual transgressions: I must confess they are more than the hairs upon my head, and altogether past reckoning: I cannot but say, as Jacob said, I am less than the least of all God's mercies,' yet I must declare to the commendation of the freedom of his grace made known, and that by a strong hand, and dare not but say, ' He has loved me, and washed me in his own blood from mine iniquity;' and well is it with me this day, that ever I heard or read that faithful saying, 'Jesus Christ came into the world, to save sinners, of whom I am chief.' "V. I must also declare in his sight, I am the most unworthy that ever opened the mouth to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ in the gospel; yea, the sense of this made me altogether unwilling to fall about so great a work, until by the importunity of some, whose names are precious and savoury to me, and to many others, I was prevailed with, to fall about it: and howbeit out of great weakness I went about it; yet I am hopeful not altogether without some fruit: and if I durst say it without vanity, I never found so much of the presence of God upon my spirit, as I have found in exercises of that nature, though I must still confess, attended with inexpressible weakness. And this is the main thing for which I must lay down my tabernacle this day, to wit, That I did preach Christ and the gospel in several places; for which I bless him, as I can, that ever such a poor obscure person as I am, have been thus privileged by him, for making mention of his grace, as I was able. I "VI. Give me leave to add this word, that though there be great appearance for the spreading and preaching this glorious gospel, yet fear there be a snare at the bottom, and poison in the dish, which may gender and be productive of, not only greater scarcity of honest preaching and preachers, but a real famine of the word. This, I say, is my fear; and I hope God will keep his servants from fomenting any thing to the detriment of the gospel. "VII. I am also afraid, the Lord is intending to multiply his strokes upon the land. We have walked seven times contrary to him, and therefore we may lay our account (unless repentance prevent it) that he will walk seven times contrary to us: there is more than ground to fear, that a sword is bathed in heaven, a glittering sword, sharpened and furbished against thee, O guilty and harlot Scotland! "VIII. For that other clause in mine indictment, upon which my sentence of death is formed, viz. personal presence twice or thrice with that party, whom they called the rebels-for my own part, I never judged them, nor called them such. I acknowledge, and do believe, there were a great many there, that came in the simplicity of their own hearts, like those that followed Absalom long ago. I am as sure on the other hand, that there was a great party there, that had nothing before them, but the repairing of the Lord's fallen work, and the re |