your own souls, that ye would turn again to your first husband, for it was better with you than it is now. Next, you that are the young generation, men and women, what are ye doing?-are ye following the footsteps of your fathers in their courses of defection, joining in hearing these perjured curates, answering at their courts, joining in their worship with them, in their abominable and soul-destroying courses, contrary to the word of God, our solemn Covenants, and Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms, the order of the church of Scotland, in discipline, worship, and government-as they, ye, and I, are sworn, with hands lifted up to the most high God, which no power on earth is able to loose, or undo, or free from, any man, or woman, baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. O therefore, take heed how ye think to answer before the great sinavenging God, before whom I am to appear within a little space, and before whom I and all the world will stand and be judged with righteous judgment !

"And likewise, seeing that I dare not but show you my mind anent some persons and their carriage in this day of Jacob's trouble, when Zion is laying waste and plowing like a field: First, I give my testimony against these men called elders in my own parish, because of their complying with every course of defection and abomination that comes alongst through the country;-they being thought to be faithful elders in the time of the presbyterian government, and then turned elders to the curate Carnagie, and then turned elders to Mr Wedderburn, that indulged minister, and now are sessioners to this curate. And seeing this is true, that they have shewed themselves to be men of no principles, and the Spirit of God saying expressly, Meddle not with them that are given to change;' who can blame me to disown them?

"I give my testimony against John Boyd, called bailie of Kilmarnock, for his bloody courses in many things, and especially in his uplifting of the cess and bloody fines, and in oppressing the poor in their consciences, and laying on dragoons upon them most cruelly, which he did upon me four times; I wish God may forgive him for what he has done in that matter.

"Now, according to my blessed Lord's command, I am not possessed with malice, or a spirit of revenge, but bless when cursed. As for these men that are unjustly taking away my life, not only contrary to the law of God and the ancient laws of the land, but even contrary to their own law; now for what they are doing to me, as I am in myself, I can freely forgive them, and all others; but, as they do it against the image of God in me, and upon his truth's account, and so against himself, that is not mine to forgive, but I leave it to him to whom vengeance belongs, that he may deal with them as he may most glorify himself. O! if I could speak or write any thing to the commendation of the covenanted God of the church of Scotland, I have surely many things to say, for that he trysted my lot to be in a nation where he hath set up his pure worship; whereas he might justly have let my lot be amongst Pagans, and heathen nations, that knew nothing of the true God. Or, 2dly, he might have ordered it to be

among those that are worshipping Antichrist, that whore, that monstrous beast, that sits upon many waters; whose sentence may be read in Rev. xiv. 9. ' And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,' Ver. 10. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture, into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone, in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb;' Ver. 11. And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.' And so, as sure as God is God, and the holy scriptures are his word, according to which all men that have heard or seen, it shall be judged, having the sentence of absolution or condemnation past according thereto, Rom. ii. 12. For as many as have sinned without law, shall also perish without law;'-so it is clear, that the first will surely perish, viz. all Infidels, and Atheists, and Heathens, and Pagans, that know not the true God nor his law: And as many as have sinned in the law, shall be judged by the law.' And so whatever vain hopes the papists may have of being saved, living and dying papists, or whatever charity loose professors have on that head to give them, they are as far from being saved as devils, which are eternally cast out of his presence. 3dly, I have him to bless for this, that my lot is not among corrupt protestant churches abroad, Lutherans, and other corruptions and abounding errors, both in doctrine, discipline, worship, and government, Sectarian, Episcopal, or Erastian;-but in the reformed church of Scotland, where all these things have been cast over the hedge, as not plants of his planting, where he hath been owned in all his offices, Prophet, Priest, and King, though he may say of us, in a great measure, as to the church of Israel of old, 'I have planted thee a noble vine, but thou art become a degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me,' &c. In that day of planting we could have sung that song, Isa. xxvi. 1.— We have a strong city, salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.' Lam. iv. 11. The Lord hath accomplished his fury, he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.' Ver. 12. The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world would not have believed, that the adversary and the enemy should have entered the gates of Jerusalem.' Ver. 13. For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, they have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her.' Ver. 14. They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments.' This may be our regret before God, as in verse 7. Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:' verse 8. Their visage is blacker than a coal: they are not known in the streets their skin cleaveth to their bones, it is withered, it is become like a stick,' &c. O how unnatural-like were it for the mother to let the child, the fruit of her womb, perish for lack of the breasts; were she free of the child's blood, it perishing for want of its natural food?

And O how many are this day perishing for want of the lively preached gospel: Even the sea monsters draw out the breasts, they give suck to their young ones; the daughters of my people are become cruel like the ostriches in the wilderness,' verse 3. And, 4thly, I have him to bless for this, that I am not this day fighting against him in an open stated war, and so bearing arms against him and his people, for there is no more in me, as to myself, than these that are imbruing their hands deeply in the blood of the saints. 5thly, I have him to bless for this, that ever he opened mine eyes to see the mystery of iniquity that abounds, and hath its seat in the heart as also, in some measure, a sight of the remedy in the blood of Jesus, with his Spirit engaging me to himself, letting me see himself, altogether precious, making me to see that it is better to be a door-keeper in the house of God, than to dwell in the pleasures of sin for a season;' Psalm lxxiii. 24. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.' Verse 25. Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee!' 6thly, I have his holy name to bless that ever he honoured me to know any thing, how small soever, of his persecuted truths, viz. his crown, kingdom, and privileges, now, when many by their acts and laws have taken his crown and sceptre and royal robe from him, and settled the whole government of his house upon a man that is but a worm; but I believe his decree will stand, oppose it who will; Psalm ii. 6. Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion,' Isa. xlii. 8. ‘I am the Lord, that is my name, and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Now it is his declarative glory which that usurper hath taken to himself. Ay, but he that leadeth captivity captive according to his royal will and word, will reclaim his own glory he it is alone that hath given him to be the sure foundation, whereon all the building is fitly framed; that stone that the builders hath rejected is made the head of the corner, Isa. xxviii. 16, Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation; he that believeth shall not make haste. Ver. 17. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet, and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place.' 7thly, I bless and magnify the holy name of my God, that hath called me to be a sufferer for his work and interest, counting it not my shame, but a high privilege, and dignifying me, when many, famous in their generation, have been denied it, when so many are denying, and by their practice are rendering the cross of Christ of no effect. O my friends, bless and magnify your God for this, that ye are privileged with these things, and strive to walk worthy of him in your places, callings, and stations, and relations, as a husband, as a wife, as a master, as a servant, as a Christian; study to have a blameless conversation, as becomes the gospel, as far as ye can, walk void of offence towards God and man. My dear friends, I have sweet peace in my lovely Lord; he has made my prison become a palace unto me, and he has made me many a time to bless him for my lot, for which my soul shall praise him through all eternity. Therefore, my dear

friends, let none of you think it strange, concerning the fiery trial, as though some strange thing had happened unto me, for it is in his holy wisdom he hath made my lot sweet; for he has made out his sweet promises unto me, one of which is of more worth than all the world, giving me the witness of his Spirit, bearing witness with my spirit that I have a right to them all.

"Now farewell all things in time; farewell holy Scriptures; farewell all Christian friends; farewell prayer and meditation; farewell faith; farewell hope. Welcome heaven; welcome Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; welcome angels, and the souls of just men made perfect; welcome praises for evermore!

Sic sub.-JOHN FINLAY."*

XXII. WILLIAM COCHRAN.

[This was the other of the three individuals who were executed together on the 15th of December, 1682. It appears he belonged to Cairnduff, in the parish of Evandale. His examination before the committee was nearly of the same tenor as that of the two former. He seems to have been very cautious and reserved in his answers. Yet nevertheless he was brought in guilty. Being asked to say "God save the king," as a test and indication of his loyalty, he did not reply. The only additional proof adduced on trial, was the deposition of two soldiers, who declared that Cochran and Finlay had on some occasion, (perhaps Drumclog, at which the latter confessed he had been present,) taken their arms from them. With his two companions he was executed in the Grassmarket on the above-mentioned day, and left the following testimony.]

"LOVING FRIENDS,-Seeing I am going off time into eternity, I think it fit now to leave my testimony to the truths of God. And, Ist, I own the Scriptures, and acknowledge them to be the only rule to the church and people of God at all times, and under all dispensations. 2dly, Jesus Christ to be the only Saviour of his people, and bead of his church, and sole governor of his house. 3dly, I adhere to the covenanted work of reformation, Confession of Faith, and the Covenants and Catechisms: and I think it my great honour and glory, that I was born a member of that church, and desire to bear my testimony to all the privileges of that church; and also I desire to bear witness against all her enemies, especially against supremacy and prelacy, and all prelatic and Erastian courses, and against all joiners and compliers whatsoever with such like.

"Now I desire every believer in the church of Scotland, to take a look how matters stand between God and their souls, in such a day as this; for it seems to me, that that religion which would have done your turn at other times, will not do it now; for his way is now in the deeps, and ye would need to look where ye stand, when so many are

• Cloud of Witnesses, pp. 249-258.

ye

falling; and see whether have made religion your only choice or not: for except Christ be the only pearl of price to you, and his law your delight, ye cannot hold out; for it seems to be a great work to be selfdenied, and to part with all things, when they come in competition with the truths of Christ. Your going to kirks, and answering courts now, when they are founded upon perjury, and seated upon the ruins of the church, I cannot see, but it is a direct contradicting of the work of reformation, which we are sworn to maintain in its purity, in doctrine, worship, discipline, and government, (for we should not be divided directly or indirectly) and a joining with the enemies of the truth, when we should neither touch nor taste with the men of these abominations. O look where ye are, and what will be the end, if mercy prevent it not; when once ye are fanged in their snares, ye stand stoutly to the defence of it, and of these that join with them in these ensnaring courses. I desire you would look through the causes, why the Lord contends with this poor land, and leaves them thus to consume away unto dross, for the whole land is involved in perjury, for they are all joining together to destroy that which we were bound and sworn to maintain both in kirk and state.

"Ye know that the land was given away to the Lord by covenant, and we, with all our substance, lives, and fortunes, sworn to defend it to the utmost of our power. O therefore consider where ye are now, you may date your perjury from the changing of the government, and the overturning of the work of reformation, and your being witness to it, and to the taking and beheading of Argyle and Mr. Guthrie, without either resisting or resenting it, which is astonishing to me to think upon, for ye were bound to defend the lives of these two men, though all your lives should have gone for it; I am put to wonder at Scotland's blindness. Ye may see your crowning and entering into covenant with Charles Stuart hath been a thing contrary to the will of the Lord, for he and all his predecessors have still been known to be in opposition to the ways of the Lord. It seems that the Lord is still contending with the land, and will contend, until he consume him and the land, because the king's sins become the people's sins, when not witnessed against and withstood. Now we know how he hath insnared the whole land by his acts, but especially his supremacy over the church, and intrusion on Christ's prerogatives; and so many ministers being in the land, and yet have not witnessed against it, but have either kept silence, and thereby declared their unfaithfulness to the Lord, and the souls of them they were set over; for the ministers ought to preach in season and out of season, and set the trumpet to their mouths,' and give the people warning of every sin, or else the Lord will require their blood at the ministers' hands. I fear the ministers of Scotland will be found very guilty of this; they have not given the people faithful warning against the hearing of the curates and indulged, for the people's testimonies lay partly in forbearing to hear; for they were thrust in by the king's supremacy, and entered not in at the door: and the indulged have done more hurt to the church, than all the curates have done; for they were looked upon to be godly men, and poor things not considering, but following them blindly, not looking to the