and Prelacy and all that was done or ensued in the sincere and upright prosecution thereof was and is the Work of God which though Men fight against yet shall they never be able to prevail And as this is our Faith so it is our Hope to all that wait for the Salvation of God that Our God will surely appear for his own Glory and vindicate his Cause and persecuted People and render vengeance to his Adversaries even the vengeance of his Holy Temple and broken Covenent O be not then moved with our Sufferings with are but Light and Momentany for they Work for us a far more execeding and Eternal weight of Glory and for you also a strong Confirmation and abounding Consolation against the like trial that possibly may befal you O then save your selves from this Wicked and Apostat Generation and be ye stedfast unmoveable alwayes abounding in the Work and Cause of the Lord Waiting for the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ which in his Times he shall shew who only hath Immortality dwelling in the Light which no man can approach whom no man hath seen or can see to whom be honour and Power everlasting AMEN The Testimony of CAPT. ANDREW ARNOT one of the former ten who died Decem. 7. DEar Friends and Spectators I am brought by the good providence of God to this publick place of execution which is no dishonour for points of Treason as is alleadged but God knoweth who knoweth the secrets of hearts whether in Rebellion or not I cam forth He is my witness wil be my Judge And whoever they be that any way have been instrumentall or incensed against me to procure this Sentence against me God forgive them I forgive them I am not now purposed to disput the matter of my being in company with these worthy Christians who are now defeat and broken their blood shed and they despitfully mocked by many I acknowledge and declare that I was with them As to the cause of my being with them whither in Rebellion or not God knoweth and all Israel shall know And for me I say the Cause is the Lords who made the Heaven and the Earth though now it be hated And I desire to bear witness with the rest of the worthy witnesses who are gone before and are now staged to that glorious Work of Reformation in Britain and Ireland and to Gospel-Ordinances in their Purity as they have been taught and administrated these 30 Years last by past And I adhere to the Presbyterial way of Doctrin Worship Discipline and Government by General Assemblies Synods Presbyteries and Sessions according to the Patern of the holy Scriptures Jesus Christ himself being the head Corner-stone the Confession of faith Cathechismes Shorter and Larger Directory for Worship National Covenant Solemne League Covenant every Paper tending to the good of the true Religion And this I think fit to Testify Declare under my hand not knowing if I shall have any Liberty to speak intend God willing to Seal with my Blood shortly I confess that unexpectedly I am come to this place though some times I have had some small thoughts of it And I do account my self highly honoured to be reckoned amongst the witnesses of Jesus Christ to suffer for his Name Truth and Cause and this day I esteem it my Glory Garland Crown royall dignity to fill up a part of His sufferings And now I take my leave of you all my dear and worthy Friends and acquaintances The Blessings of the Eternall God be multiplied upon yow and your seed and upon all the suffering Friends of Christ this day upon my dear and loving Wife who hath been a faithful sympathizer with me and upon my dear Children The work of God is now at under but Christ shall carry the Day Blessed is he that believeth and seeth not for there shall be a performance Now the Eternall God who brought again the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead the great sheepherd of the flock strengthen and establish you and all the Lord's people So pray ye and so prayeth your Friend ANDREW ARNOT The Testimony of JOHN SHIELDS Yeoman one of the former ten who died at Edinburgh the 7 day of Decemb. 1666. I Am a man unlearned and not accustomed to speak in publick yet being now called to witness and suffer for the Lord in publick I cannot be altogether silent of that which Religion and Reason hath taught me anent the cause of my suffering I bless the Lord I suffer not as an evil doer especially not for any Rebellion against his Majesties lawful Authority I attest him who is the searcher of hearts that was never my intention in the least and it is as litle the nature and intention of what I have done But for renewing of the Covenant with the Lord and following the ends thereof as to the suppressing of abjured Prelats and Intruders upon the Lords flock and the restoring of the Government of the House of God by Presbyteries as He himself hath appointed in his Word with a faithful Godly Called and Sent Ministery And together with pure Ordinances the Power of Godliness For this I am condemned and to suffer this day This I acknowledged freely before our Judges This I still acknowledg and am persuaded that herein I witness a faithful Confession This Cause and Covenant I commend to all the Lord's People It is not free for you to forsake if You are inviolably ingaged in it It is not safe to desert it because of the Curse of the perjurer and false swearer There is unspeakable blessedness in the pursuance of it whereof I can bear witness to the Lord by my rich Experience since we began to Do and Suffer at this time for him Whereupon I cheerfully lay doun my Life for this his Cause He it is who Justifieth it what man or Authority under heaven can condemn it Arise O Lord let not man prevaill against Thee plead and Iudg this Cause which is thine own for thine own names sake The Testimony of another of the former ten Persons left subscribed with a Friend I designed no Rebellion against lawful Authority but the suppressing of Prelacy and of Profanity and advancing of Holiness in Gods World In a Word I adhere to all the Articles of the good Covenant and did intend the restoring of our good and Soul-refreshing Ministers and the casting out of the dumb greedy Dogs that cannot bark In this Cause I was a free Voluntier pressed by none thinking it my duty to appear for helping the Lord against the Mighty This I testify under my hand from the Tolbooth of Edinburgh the 6 of December 1666. The Testimony of M R ALEXANDER ROBERTSON Preacher of the Gospel and Probationer for the Ministry who died at Edinburgh Decemb. 14. 1666. FEaring that after the example of others I should not be permitted to speak openly to the People I thought fit beside my adherence to what my brethren who have
his own folly whereby the Lord did bring him to such a manifestation of his Grace and declaration of His Glory he to the admiration of all in his most constant and Christian suffering by his blood sealed the Truth and glorified God 3. That others of them though obscure and illiterate men upon the Scaffold hurried and interrupted in the declaring of their Testimony by the Prelats Orders and the rudeness and inhumanity of these that executed them yet did bear witness to the cause of God and of that grace and assurance whereby the Lord upheld them to the admiration and astonishment of all the beholders 4. That though at Glasgow and Air where eleven of them were executed all mean Countrey-men and some of them of decrepit age and others of them very young not exceeding 18 years their enemies caused beat drums about the Scaffold that they might not be heard a barbarity never practised in Scotland and rarely heard of except in the Duke of Alva's Martyring of the Protestants in the Low-countreyes yet were they so litle thereby amazed that both by words of of Praise and thanksgiving to God that had honoured such plough-men as they termed themselves to be His witnesses and the constancy of their countenance and whole carriage they did bear such testimony to the Holy Covenant as both many were thereby confirmed and their Enemies ashamed 5. That though some of them did appear weak and faint-hearted at first yet so powerfully and abundantly was it given to them in that hour that out of weakness they were made strong and declared that they had seen such glimpses of the Glory of God betwixt the prison and the Scaffold that all fear was clearly discussed And particularly a young Countrey-boy not much above sixteen years of age being condemned at Aix mostly because he did refuse to take the Declaration which they told him was the renouncing of that Covenant which he had taken at Lanerk though both through fear and ignorance of the very grounds of Christianity he fell into great anxiety neither daring to die nor yet to redeem his life at the rate proposed Yet after the Prayers and Conference of some that had access to him at Irwin two dayes before his death on the morning that he suffered he appeared so much changed both from the depth of fear and perplexity unto great resolution and joy and so much enlightened with the knowledge of God in our Lord Jesus Christ and the hope of Salvation through His Name that all that saw him do bear testimony to the Grace and wonderfull Work of God of that joy of heart that carried him to the Scaffold leaping and praising God From all which particulars and from the severall Testimonies and Speaches which these left behind them in writing we must conclude and rejoyce that God out of the dark cloud of such a sad and astonishing providence which lately overspread us hath brought forth so blessed and bright a cloud of Witnesses strengthened and filled with so much grace and glory to bear Testimony unto His Name Covenant and Cause and for the confirmation of all that love and wait for His Salvation We have hitherto ommitted to say any thing to that Oath of Conjuration taken by the Militia of Edinburgh and the concurrence and assistance of many others who did either Actually rise in Arms for the suppressing of God's People and Cause or since the Conflict did stop apprehend and spoil them in the cross way and have been assisting and abetting to their deaths and persecutions either as Guarders of Prisons Courts or Scaffolds or as Iudges Clerks Advocats Assizers or Officers in the Dooms pronounced against them If after all the truth equity and reason that have been represented and the Power and Glory which God hath declared men will not hear and fear nor be converted neither the tongues of men and Angels nor of such as should return from the dead would be of any force or persuasion to prevail with them Is it possible that Edinburgh should think that the pretence of a new invented Oath of alleageance and fidelity to the King and for the defence of his Authority against all Insurrections and Rebellions wherein the Prelates and the Up hold of their wickedness and the Subjecting of all the Godly to their lust and tyranny were and are clearly intended and designed shall warrand them in the great day of the Lord who is terrible unto the Kings of the earth for taking part with Rebels and Apostats against the God of heaven and for opposing and oppressing of such as continuing stedfast in the common Cause and Covenant for which Edinburgh was once very honourable and eminent did only endeavour to liberat themselves from that intolerable Bondage both of Bodies and Consciences more grievous then death under which they groaned doth Edinburgh thus not only condemn the practice of Our Noble Ancestors and Reformers who accounted it neither Insurrection nor Rebellion to set themselves for the defence of the Gospel against the then Powers who did endeavour to oppress it but by this Oath abandon both Religion and Liberty in this so perillous and backsliding a Generation to the lust and tyranny of abused Authority and whatsoever it shall please to impose without control or contradiction Do they thus remember the National Covenant and the Solemn League and Covenant once so powerfully sworn and owned amongst them and the mutuall defence and assistance wherein every one of us is thereby bound to another to the uttermost of our Power against all sorts of persons whatsoever and not to suffer our selves by whatsoever Combination Terror or Perswasion to be divided and withdrawn from that blessed Vnion therein contained While on the contrary they conspire and conjure themselves against such whom they are not only bound to assist but also to relieve of all the persecutions and oppressions which they suffer and sustain only for their adherence to the same holy Covenants Surely these things being duly considered this Oath in stead of qualifying the Declaration in lieu whereof being more general plausible and insnaring it was contrived and imposed will be found a practical application of all the Wickedness and unrighteousness which is therein only speculatively declared and may in the righteous judgement of God by reason not only of the equality but even of the excess hereof to London's sin bring upon Edinburgh London's plagues and judgements We need not here insist to testify against the rest who in any sort concurred or assisted in the opposition and persecution above-mentioned the meanest part of whose accession doth far exceed Paul's keeping the clothes of such as stoned Stephen If we consider that the suffering and not opposing to the utmost of our power the shedding of innocent blood doth involve all under that certain denounciation made by Ieremiah unto the Princes of Iudah and all the People Ier. 26 15. saying Know ye for certain that if ye put me to death
gone before me left behind them concerning our common Cause to leave a word in writ for satisfaction of them who survive me That for preservation defence of the true Religion of this Church and for the relief of my poor brethren afflicted persecuted therefore I joyned with others in Armes that I renewed the Covenant that all men might the better know my Cause and Principles I am so far from denying or being ashamed of that I both acknowledge and avow it as my duty But let no man that will not condemn himself upon the same common obligations to do what I did account me a Rebell therefore because with the same breath that I did swear and with that same hand that I did subscribe to preserve and defend Religion I did also swear to defend the King and his Authority Our Church was not more glorious in her self terrible to her Adversaries while we enjoyed pure Ordinances of Word and Sacraments and her beautiful Assemblies for Government and Discipline of the Lords own Institution then she became of late deformed by the Usurpation and Tyranny of Prelacy And I do solemnly declare as a dying man who dare not dissemble that as I thought and still averre that the erecting of this abjured Prelacy is the cause of much of the Sin in the Land and of all the sufferings of the Lords People therein so I had no worse design then the restoring of the Work of Reformation according to the Covenant and more particularly the extirpation of Prelacy to which his Ma and all the Subjects are as much obliged as I. And let that be removed and the Work of Reformation restored and I darâ— die in saying that his Ma shall not have in all his Dominions more loving loyall peaceable and faithfull Subjects then these who for their non-complyance are loaded with the reproaches of Phanaticisme and Rebellion The sufferings and insupportable oppression of these that could not because of the Command and Oath of God acknowledge comply with Prelacy may seem light to some in whom the spirit of the old enmity that is betwixt the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent remaineth and to others perhaps their Friends who look thereupon at adistance but as there is just reason to think that if these rigid oppressions had been made known to his Ma his justice and clemency would have provided a remedy and as the half thereof would have made the Prelats their patrons and adherents impatiently mad for as loyal as they pretend to be So in the like cases of irresistible necessity when there is little open door for representing of grievances and desires and less hope of relief thereby I suppose it will not be found condemned by the Confessions of Reformed Churches or doctrine of sound Divines but that it is authorized by the light and law of Nature by uncondemned examples in the Holy Scripture and by the practice of all Christian States by Armes to preserve and defend men Lives their Religion Liberties and Fortunes And especially where they are not seeking to acquire a new Religion or new Liberties but only to preserve their old or recover them when they are violently unjustly spoiled of the same as in our case Otherwise we should sin against the generation of the just and condemn as rebellious the most of the through Reformations of the Reformed Churches abroad and of our own at home If this course was lawfull and if it was our duty to joyn therein as I believe and lay down my life in the perswasion that it was and if all the Kingdom was as they are bound by Covenant to assist and defend one another in the â—ommon Cause of Religion and Liberty whatever may be said of these that came not forth to help the Lord against the mighty it cannot but be their dreadful sin who joyned themselves in Armes or took Oaths to oppose suppress and break it seing they have sided themselves against the Lord and his Work and their carriage is a much higher degree of Accession to the blood that is shed then Paul's keeping of the clothes of them that stoned Stephen to death And I wish that they may lay the matter to heart and repent of it that God may forgive them as I forgive all men and particularly Morâ—on who did apprehend me I know that there is a holy seed in the Land who shall be the substance thereof and I pray that the Lord may make them more zealous and valiant for the truth upon earth I know also that there are many whose bowells of compassion have been drawn forth toward these who took their lives in their hands by Prayers to God for them and Charity to them and especially in Edinburgh toward the poor Prisoners of whom I may not only say that what they have done deserveth to be told for a Memorial wherever the Gospel is preached but am assuredly confident that besides the blessings of the poor and persecuted the Lord is not unrighteous to forget their work and labor of love which they have shewed towards his Name in that they have ministred to the Saints do minister And yet I must needs regret that so many in this City once famous and honoured for harmonious owning of the Cause and Covenant of God and blessed above many other Cities with solemn Assemblies for Worship and Government should have been ensnared into an Oath so contradictory to the Oath of the Covenant which was devised contrived and imposed in lieu of the Declaration against the same and for a Grave-stone to suppress the revival of the Work of God within this Land The Apostacy of this Land is very great by Perjury and breach of Covenant and so much the worse and more aggreageble that it is Authorized and very universal And as I cannot but regret that so many are insnared therein so I must needs warne all to abhorre and beware of all Declarations and Oaths contradictory to the Covenant and renunciatory thereof as they would not involve themselves in the guilt and plagues denounced against and ordinarily inflicted upon Perjury and breach of Covenant and so much the rather because this is like to be the Shibboleth and triall of the times As for my self I have seen and do find so much worth in Truth which is to be bought at any rate but sold at none And so much transcendent excellency and amiableness in Christ that not only with cheerfulness confidence I lay down my life for Him and His Truth committing my soul to Him to be kept in hope of a joyfull Resurrection of the body but also bless Him that gave me a life to lose and a body to lay down for Him And although the Merket and price of Truth may appear to many very high yet I reckon it low and all that I have or can do little and too little for Him who gave Himself for me and to me for I account
all things but loss and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ MY LORD for whom I now suffer the loss of all things that I may win Him and be found in Him and that I may not only know the fellowship of His sufferings but the power of His resurrection and attain unto the resurrection of the dead And as for yow my dear Friends as I pray for you that the God of all grace who hath called us unto His eternall glory by Christ Jesus after ye have suffered a while may make yow perfect stablish strengthen and settle yow so I recommend to you the same truth that you be not soon shaken in mind but that ye hold fast the profession of your faith without wavering And as you have receaved the Lord so walk in Him Warning and obtesting you by all manner of obligations and by the hope and joy of that crown which I wait for that ye keep your selves unspotted with the abominable courses and practices of these times whereunto ye may be tempted by the extremity of suffering and particularly that ye beware of unlawfull Oaths and Declarations against the Cause and Covenant of God that ye have no complyance with nor give consent unto this Prelacy which ye have abjured And that you be afraid and aware of Popery which by Connivance doth so visibly abound and dayly increase But by fighting the good fight and keeping of the faith you may finish your course as I do in the assurance of the crown of Righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge hath laid up and shall give unto me and not to me only but to all them that love His appearance ALEXANDER ROBERTSON The Testimony of JOHN NILSON of Corsack who died at Edinburgh Dec. 14. 1666. BEing made a spectacle to the World to Angels and to Men I found it necessary for vindication of the Truth of my self for undeceaving of some encouraging of others to leave this line behind me which with my innocent blood may speak when I am gone I am condemned I shall not say how unjustly as a Rebell against Man but the Lord God of Gods He knoweth all Israel shall know that it is not for Rebellion against God but for endeavouring to recover the blessed work of Reformation and particularly for endeavouring to extirpate Prelacy which hath been the cause of so much sin and suffering within this Land and for renewing of the Covenant from the obligation whereof seing I made my Vow and Promise to the Lord neither I my self nor any humane Authority can absolve me And if any account this Rebellion I do plainly confess that after the way which they call Heresy I worship the God of my fathers Although the insupportable oppression under which I and many others did groan were enough to justify our Preserving and Defending of our selves by Armes yet know that the Cause was not Ours but the Lord's for we suffered all our grievous Oppressions not for evill-doing but because we could not in conscience acknowledge comply with and obey Prelacy and submit unto the Ministery of Ignorant Light and Profane men who were irregularly and violently thurst upon us Neither did we only or mainly designe our civil Liberties but the Liberty of the Gospel the Extirpation of Prelacy the Restauration of our faithful Pastors the Suppression of Profanity Promoving of Piety the saving of ourselves from unjust violence untill we had presented our Grievances and Desires And in a word the Recovering of the once glorious but now ruined Work of Reformation in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Nationall Covenant and Solemn League and Covenant to which I declare my adherence and through grace shall seal the same with my blood My Advocate drew up a Supplication for me wherein was acknowledged that I had been with the Rebels but let none offend thereat for â— do hereby declare that I was so far from accounting that course Rebellion that I judged and still do judge it was my duty to joyn therein and my honor to suffer therefore Otherwise I should have counted my self accessary to the blood of the Lord's People which is shed And cannot but regret that others of the Lord's People when they heard of us did not come forth with speed to help the Lord against the Mighty much more let all mourn that not only many have appeared as Enemies but also conjured themselves against the Lord the same Covenant which they so solemnly sware And as for the Petition it self I knew not that expression was in it Being conscious to my self of so much weakness so many hainous sins which predomine in me of unfruitfulness under the Gospel and unsutable walking thereto I confess my self the vilest of sinners and desire to mourn for the same and pray that the Lord for Christ's sake may freely forgive me as I have forgiven them that have wronged me and hope through the righteousness of Jesus Christ to obtain the same And I do exhort all and every one of my friends to more holiness Prayer and stedfastness alwayes abounding in the Work of the Lord And above all things to detest shun that wicked Declaration against the Covenant the apparant temptation of the time and the very mark of Antichristian Prelacy All that I have is but little but if I had many Worlds I would lay them all down as now I do my life for Christ and His Cause nothing doubting but the Lord will abundantly provide for my Wife and my six Children whom I commit to the Lord's care and recommend to the Kindness and Prayers of the faithful And do lay an express charge on my Wife that she shew all my Children that I have bound them all to the Covenant for which now I lay down my life and that She lay it upon them as my last command that they adhere to every Article thereof The Work and People of God are brought very low It may be because they were not ripe for a deliverance And for the greater triall and filling up of the cup of the Adversaries Or because there was litle or less prayer then should have been amongst these who appeared at this time that the Lord hath made this late breach But dear Friends be not therefore tempted to call in question the Work of Reformation or to think the worse of Christ and His Cause because of sufferings Nor be discouraged because these few who took their lives in their hands fell before the Adversary For as sufferings are often sweetned by the Spirit of God and Glory that resteth upon the sufferers and afterward bring forth the peaceable fruits of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby So the Lord will arise in due time and have mercy upon Zion and plead the cause which is his own And this Testimony as I am this day to seal with my blood so I subscribe with my hand JOHN NILSON OF CORSACK The Testimony
of GEORGE CRAWFORD Yeoman who died at Edinburgh Decemb. 14. 1666 SEing I am to die after this manner I lay before yow this Testimony which I avow before God and leave behind me to the World That which moved me to come along with these men was their persuasion and my desire to help them which with a safe conscience I could not well refuse who being tyrannically opprest by the Prelats and their dependants and upholders and seing no other way was left to be taken took up Armes for their own defence And if this be Rebellion I leave it to the great God the supream Judge to decern For in my weak judgement I found it warrantable from the Word of God and without prejudice of the King's Authority whom I pray God to direct and guide in the right wayes of the Lord and to make him prosper therein so that he may be surely set in his Kingdom having Him whom no enemy can resist to defend him seeing there was nothing intended by us against his or any others just and lawful Authority But that which was my principall and chief design was giving my poor assistance to the rooting out of Prelats Prelacy and all such as are come into God's vine-yard without the Master's commission these Hirelings who came not in at the true door Iesus Christ but have climbed up some other way as thieves and robbers whose voice the sheep know not All which is too sadly confirmed by the dreadfull and horrid sins that are risen in the Land and the curses and plagues that have followed thereupon that so by taking away these the abuses which proceed from them and the sad consequences which follow their standing falling with them the Covenant of God might be re-established and true Pastors that were silenced might be set at liberty their mouths opened and they themselves put to the keeping of their flocks and all other such persons who were banished or any other vvay under suffering relieved And I do adhere to the vvay of Church-Government svvorn to in the Covenant vvhich I think and assert to be conform to God's Word vvhich vvith His Spirit directing is the only Patern and judge in all controversies and hovvever our endeavours at this time have not been successful it is of the Lord vvho vvill come in his own time for He can do as well with few as vvith many but it is like the cup of the Adversaries is not full And who knoweth but the Lord God of hosts vvill hiss for the bee of Egypt and the fly of Assyria vvho vvill be more cruel and blood-thirsty then vve vvere to avenge the quarrel of His ovvn People and to make vvay for the establishing of His ovvn Cause I say no more but as I vvas vvilling to hazard my life for this Cause so I am ready to lay it down at my Master's feet seing He calls for it And I pray the Almighty to send His Spirit of Consolation promised by His Son to His ovvn people to strengthen them and bear them through till the appointed time of the Lord 's coming with Deliverance for He will come for His own Cause and for His peoples sake and will not tarry The last Speech and Testimony of M R HEW M C KAILE Preacher of the Gospel and Probationer for the Ministry at his death in Edinburgh Decemb. 22. 1666. BEing by a great surprisal of Providence thus staged before the World in a matter of so universall concernment to all that fear God and desire to be stedfast in his Covenant I could not forbear to leave behind me this standing Testimony concerning the Occasion and Uses thereof for the Glory of God for the Vindication of my Profession from the aspersions cast thereon by Men and the Edification of these by my death to whom I had devoted my Life in the work of the Ministery I have esteemed the Government of this Church by Presbytery to be among the chief of the Ordinances of Jesus Christ which by his blood he hes purchased and ascended up on high to bestovv as a gift upon it as being the very Gospell-Ministery in it's Simplicity and Purity from the Inventions of Men and so the Mean by which other Ordinances are administred and the most fundamental Truths made effectual in the hearts of his People and therefore that it ought with that same carefulness to be contended for Experience both of the having and wanting of it hath given it this Epistle of Commendation so as it may be both known and read of all men Which is also true of the solemne Engagements of the Nation thereto by the Nationall Covenant and Solemn League and Covenant which I have esteemed in their Rise Renewing pregnant performances of that promise Isaiah 44.5 where it is evident that where Church Reformations come to any maturity they arrive at this degree of saying I am the Lords subscribing with the hand unto the Lord. So was it in the dayes of the Reforming Kings of Iudah and after the Restauration from the Captivity in the dayes of Nehemiah This same promise did the Lord Jesus make Yea Amen to us when he redeemed us from spirituall Babilon which is so much the greater evidence that these were the very Motions of Gods Spirit in our first Reformers that they were expressly designed against the greatest motions of the Spirit of Darkness in Antichrist and his supposts and against the greatest confirmations that ever these Abominations attained by the decrees of the Council of Trent and that bloody Bond called the Holy League And therefore whatever indignity is done unto these Covenants I do esteeme to be no less then doing despite unto the spirit of Grace in his most eminent Exerting of himself but especially Declaring against the same as flowing from a Spirit of Sedition and Rebellion to be a Sin of the same nature with theirs who ascribed Christ his casting out of Devils to Beelzebub and that with this aggravation that these Scribes and Pharisees came never the length of prefessing Christ and submiting themselves to Him and his wayes Buâ— we are condemned to death upon the account of this Covenant for adhereing to the dueties therein sworn to by such as once did as much themselves as we have done and some of them more then some of us Which considerations have moved me to great feares of Gods wrath against the Land according to the curse that we are bound under if we should break that Covenant in the fear of it many times to pour out my soul before the Lord as soon as I heard of a Party up in Armes in behalf of the Covenant all other door being shut whereby the redress of the manifest violations of it might be obtained and these by manifest unheard of violence obtruded upon others to go along with them being bound by that Covenant against detestable Indifferency and Neutrality in this matter to esteem every injury done to any ingaged in
God with more Faithfulness and Stedfastness in the Truth without the least injurious reflexion thereupon or their own adherence thereunto with more Equability and composure of Spirit sweetly tempered with the Sorrow 's of Sin and Joyes of the Holy Ghost in assurance of Pardon and Life Everlasting and with less perturbation of mind and alteration of Carriage or Countenance then these Worthies did Here indeed was the Faith and Patience of the Saints here did the Lord stand by and strengthen them whom others forsook Yea the Lord to the Admiration of all the conviction of many of their adversaries the confirmation Establishment of the Cause the Encouragement of many thousands His own Eternall Glory and their Immortal Commendation did Work in the hearts of all Beholders more ample enduring Epistles of Commendation then the most Eloquent and Pathetick Rhetorician can Writ in their Favours This accompt further I will give yow of the first ten who died together December 7. that they once resolved to speak severally to the People at their death but thereaâ—â—â— considering that for one Common Cause and upon the same alleageances they were all appointed to die one manner of death together at one time and in one place and having the conveniency of being together in the Prison they preferred to leave a word jointly behind them in writ which as it was the cause of one conjunct Testimony and some others severally So the Foreseing Providence of God in this is very observable for had it been otherwise seing they were not at all permitted to speak to the People upon the scaffold there had nothing of their joint Testimony been extant more then is of these who were not suffered to speak at their death in Glasgow of the rest who Suffered in otheâ— places of the West of whom we have heard nothing more particularly but that the same Spirit of Glory and of God resting upon them did work in them all the same Stedfastness Patience Humility Consolation Courage and Confidence These being the last times wherein Sin aboundeth and the love of many is waxed cold I cannot devine what pity shall be shewed to them that are in Misery especially considering the Universall decay of Religion and dark cloud of prejudice and discountenance whereby the Kingdom of Christ is overshaddowed generally the whole world over and even amongst the Reformed Churches Nevertheless there being a Communion of Saints which should be entertained amongst both Persons and Churches whereby these of the same true Religion amongst other things reciprocally give and receave information of their common affaires that if they can or will express no other act of Love they may at least the more sutably Sympathize and mutually pray one for another And the Lord in his Providence giving the opportunity I thought it convenient yea necessary to communicat the following Deduction of the Wrestlings of the Church of Scotland for the Kingdome of Christ hoping that as it beareth the Name so the Wrestling Church of Scotland in due time shall reap the Blessing of NAPHTALI who Gen. 49.21 is called a Hinde let loose and said to give goodly words for who can tell but Her Wrestlings may be swallowed up of Victory and Liberty and Her ancient Covenanted Doctrin Worship and Government may become as Pleasant and Acceptable as it is Profitable not only within herself but also amongst the Churches abroad This Title being only affirmative of Her and not Negative of other Churches as if only She and not also They had Wrestled for the Kingdom of Christ let no man offend thereat For as the Lord Redeemer hath several Offices equally Necessary in themselves and Inseperable by Man and as particular Churches as well as Persons have their peculiar gifts and Excellencies and accordingly their distinct work assigned unto them whereby amongst other things they more or less eminently assert and Propugn this or that particular Truth So in this distribution whereas other Churches have asserted and contended for his Priestly and Propheticall Offices the lot seemeth to have fallen upon Scotland to assert and wrestle more eminently then many others for the Croun and Kingdom of Jesus Christ For the establishment of this did our first famous Reformers strive by the evidence of Holy Scripture as well as for Soundness of Doctrine and Purity of Worship for Preservation and Restauration of this did their Worthy Successors Zealously contend by Petitions Warnings Conferences and Disputations all Invasion Usurpation or the least encroachment upon this diâ— they valiantly resist by Protestations and Declinatures and for a Testimony to this did they patiently Suffer Bonds Imprisonment Confinement Sentences of Death and of late Death it self Neither should any man think this strange as if Presbyterial Government were in itself Unlawful or the Species of Church Government were indifferent and consequently Contending and Suffering therefore Unwarrantable or Needless as Pretenders to different Forms upon the right and left hand would have the World beleeve Hithertil indeed the Church of Scotland hath heen as a Speckled bird and the birds round about have been against her She hath endured the scourge of many tongues as well as the Violence of many hands upon both hands false witnesses have laid to her charge things which she knew not as being amongst other things too Laxe or too Rigide Yea as Unnatural Children have eaten thorow their Mothers bowels so Unkindly Brethren have rewarded her evil for good Standing on the other side and looking upon her and her affliction in the day of her calamity rejoicing over her in the day of her destruction and speaking proudly in the day of her distress yea laying hands on her Substance in the day of her calamity The wrath of man worketh not the Righteousness of God neither doth his invincible Truth need the help of humane Passions if therefore such men do not fear I shall not desire that their own tongues may fall upon themselves and that the Lord may render unto them according to their deeds and according to the wickedness of their endeavours but rather study the revenge of good will by Prayer that He would open their eyes convert their hearts that they may take revenge on themselves Charity which thinketh no evil obleegeth to beleeve till wee see the contrary that Scripture Conscience Covenant and Credite will make those who did once laudably assert constantly propugn and adhere to the Ius Divinum of Presbyterial Government until they publish which none can do as convinceing reasons of Retractation contrary Practice And whatever might be expected of others Religion Reason Candor Gratitude and Policy would seem to require that those who in their distress intreated obtained the succesful Assistance of the Covenanted Interest of Scotland others who owe thereunto whatever they are or have more then just nothing debt or broken fortunes should have been so far from contâ—mptuous throwing away the Covenant as an old Almâ—nack when by it as a
Albeit we be the Lords people engaged to him in a solemn way yet to this day we have not made it our study that judicatories Armies should consist of and places of power and trust be filled with men of a blamelesse and Christian conversation and of known integrity and approven fidelity affection and Zeal unto the cause of God but not onely those who have been neutrall and indifferent but disaffected and Malignant and others who have been prophane and scandalous have been intrusted By which it hath come to passe that judicatories have been the seats of injustice and iniquity aad many in our Armies by their miscarriages have become our plague unto the great prejudice of the cause of God the great scandall of the Gospel and the great increase of loosenesse prophanity throughout all the Land It were impossible to reckon up all the abominations that are in the Land but the Blaspheming of the name of God swearing by the Creatures prophanation of the Lords Day uncleannesse drunkennesse excesse and rioting vanity of apparrel lying and deceit railing and cursing arbitrary and uncontrolled oppression and grinding of the faces of the poor by Landlords and others in place and power are become ordinary and common sinnes And besides all these things there be many other transgressions whereof the Land wherein we live are guilty All which we desire to acknowledge and to be humbled for that the world may bear witnesse with us that Righteousnesse belongeth unto God and shame confusion of face unto us as appears this day And because it is needfull for these who find mercy not onely to confesse but also to forsake their sinne Therefore that the reality and sincerity of our repentance may appear We do Resolve and solemnly ingage our selves before the Lord carefully to avoid for the time to come all these offences whereof we have now made solemn publick acknowledgement and all the snares and tentations which tend thereunto And to testifie the integrity of our resolution herein and that we may be the better enabled in the power of the Lords strength to perform the same We do again Renue our Solemn League and Covenant Promising hereafter to make conscience of all the duties whereunto we are obliged in all the heads and Articles thereof particularly of these which follow 1. Because Religion is of all things the most excellent and precious The advancing and promoving the power thereof against all ungodlinesse and profanity The securing and preserving the purity thereof against all error heresy and schisme and namely Independency Anabatisme Antinomianisme Arminianisme Socinianisme Familisme Libertinisme Scepticisme and Erastianisme and the carrying on the work of uniformity shall be studied endeavoured by us before all worldly interests whether concerning the King or our selves or any other whatsomever 2 Because many have of late laboured to supplant the liberties of the Kirk we shall maintain and defend the Kirk of Scotland in all her liberties and priviledges against all who shall oppose or undermine the same or encroach thereupon under any pretext whatsomever 3. We shall vindicat and maintain the liberties of the Subjects in all these things which concern their consciences persons and Estates 4. We shall carefully maintain and defend the Union betwixt the Kingdoms and avoid every thing that may weaken the same or involve us in any measure of accession unto the guilt of those who have invaded the Kingdom of England 5. As we have been always Loyall to our King so we shall still endeavour to give unto God that which is Gods and to Caesar the things which are Cesars 6. We shall be so farre from conniving at complying with or contenancing of Malignancy injustice iniquity prophanity and impiety that we shall not onely avoid and discountenance those things and cherish and encourage these persons who are zealous for the Cause of God and walk according to the Gospel But also shall take a more effectuall course then heretofore in our respective Places and Callings for punishing and suppressing these evils and faithfully endeavour that the best and fittest remedies may be applyed for taking away the causes thereof and advancing the knowledge of God and Holinesse and Righteousnesse in the Land And therefore in the last place as we shall earnestly pray unto God that he would give us able men fearing God men of truth and hating covetousnesse to judge and bear charge among his people so we shall according to our Places and Callings Endeavour that Judicatories and all places of power and trust both in Kirk and State may consist of and be filled with such men as are of known good affection to the cause of God and of a blamelesse and Christian conversation And because there be many who heretofore have not made conscience of the oath of God but some through fear others by perswasion and upon base ends and humane interests have entered thereinto who have afterwards discovered themselves to have dealt deceitfully with the Lord in swearing falsly by his name Therefore we who do now renew our Covenant in reference to these duties and all other duties contained therein Do in the sight of him who is the searcher of hearts solemnly Professe that it is not upon any politique advantage or private interest or by-end or because of any terror or perswasion from men or hypocritically and deceitfully that we do again take upon us the oath of God But honestly and sincerely and from the sence of our duty And that therefore denying our selves and our own things and laying aside all self interest and ends We shall above all things seek the honour of God the good of his Cause and the wealth of his people and that forsaking the counsels of flesh and blood and not leaning upon carnall confidences we shall depend upon the Lord walk by the rule of his word and hearken to the voice of his servants In all which professing our own weaknesse We do earnestly pray to God who is the father of mercies through his Son Jesus Christ to be merciful unto us and to enable us by the power of his might that we may do our duty unto the praise of his Grace in the Churches Amen The occasion of this Acknowledgment and Engagement was this THE Commission of the General Assembly 1648. considering the many breaches of the Solemn League and Covenant and particularly by the Engagement in War that Year against England The Slackness of many in following the duties therein And that many being under age when it was first sworn had not been receaved into the same did by their Act October 6. ordain it to be renewed with this Solemn Acknowledgment of Sins breaches and Engagement to duties And to that effect appointed two solemn Fasts to be keeped in all the Congregations of the Land for the Causes contained in the Acknowledgment of Sins And that intimation thereof should be made to the people upon the Sabbath before that the Covenant
Adversary to reproach and blaspheme and did withall not a litle obscure and darken the beauty of severall former Actings about His blessed and glorious Work of Reformation happily begun and far advanced in these Lands wherein He was graciously pleased to Employ and by Employing to Honour me to be an Instrument though the least and unworthiest of many whereof I am not ashamed this day but account it my Glory how ever that Work be now cried down opposed laid in the dust and trod upon And my turning aside to comply with these men was the more aggravated in my person that I had so frequently and seriously made profession of my Aversness from and Abhorrence of that way and had shown much Dissatisfaction with these that had not gone so great a length for which as I seek God's mercy in Christ Jesus so I desire that all the Lord's People from my example may be more stirred up to watch and pray that they enter not into temptation 2. I do not deny on the other hand but must Testify in the second place to the Glory of His Free-grace that the Lord my God hath often shewed and engraven upon my Conscience the Testimony of His Reconciling and Reconciled Mercy through the Merits of Jesus Christ pardoning all my iniquities and assuring me that He would deliver me also by the graces of His Holy Spirit from the spait tyranny and dominion thereof And hath often drawn out my spirit to the exercise of Repentance and Faith and after engraven upon my heart in legible characters His merciful pardon and gracious begun cure thereof to be perfected thereafter to the Glory of His Name the Salvation of my Soul and Edification of His Church 3. I am pressed in conscience to leave here at my death my true honest Testimony in the sight of God and Man to and for the Nationall Covenant the Solemn League Covenant the Solemn Acknowledgement of our Sins Engagement to our duties to all the grounds Causes of Fasts and humiliations of the Lords displeasure contending with the Land And to the several Testimonies given to His Interests by Generall Assemblies Commissioners of the Kirk Presbyteries and by other honest and faithful Ministers and Professors 4. I am pressed also to encourage His Doing Suffering Witnessing People and Sympathizing ones with these that suffer that they would continue in the duties of Mourning Praying Witnessing and Symparthizing with these that suffer and humbly to assure them in the Name of the Lord our God the God of His own Word and Work of His own Cause Covenant and People that He will be Seen Found and Felt in His own gracious Way and Time by His own Means Instruments for His own Glory Honor to return to His own Truths and Interests and Servants and revive His Name His Covenant His Word His Work His Sanctuary and His Saints in these Nations even in the three Covenanted Nations which were by so Solemn Bonds Covenants Subscriptions and Oaths given away and devoted unto Himself 5. I exhort all these that have been or are Enemies or unfreinds to the Lord's Name Covenant or Cause Word Work or People in Britain and Ireland to Repent and Amend before these sad judgements that are posting fast come upon them for their sinning so highly against the Lord because of any temptation of the Time on the right or left hand by Baits or Straits whatsoever and that after so many Professions and Engagements to the contrary 6. I dare not conceal from yow that are Friendly to all the Lord's Interests that the Lord to the commendation of His Grace be it humbly spoken hath severall times in the exercise of my Repentance and Faith during my trouble and after groans and tears upon these three notable chapters to wit the 9 of Ezra the 9 of Nehemiah and the 9 of Daniel with other such sutable Scriptures and in the very nick of fervent and humble Supplication to Him for the Reviving again of His Name Cause Covenant Word and Work of Reformation in these Covenanted Nations and particularly in poor Scotland which first solemnly engaged to Him to the good Example and Encouragement of His People in the other two Nations to do the same also That the Lord I say hath several times given to me good ground of hope and lively expectations of His Mercifull Gracious Powerful and Wonderful Renewing and Reviving again of His fore-mentioned great Interests in these Covenanted Nations And that in such a Way by such Means and Instruments with such Antecedents Concurrents Consequents and Effects as shall wonderfully rejoyce His Mourning Friends and astonish His Contradicting and counter-acting Enemies 7. I do earnestly recommend my poor Wife and Children and 〈◊〉 posterity to the choicest Blessings of God anâ—â—o the Prayers and Favour of all the Lord's Children anâ— Servants in their earnest dealing with God and Men â—n their behalf That they may not be ruined for â—y Cause but for the Lord my God's sake they 〈◊〉 be favoured assisted supplyed and comforted 〈◊〉 so may be fitted by the Lord for His Fellowship and Service whom God Himself hath moved me often in their own Presence and. with their own Consent to dedicate devote and resign alike and as well as I devote and resign my own Soul and Body to Him for all Time and Eternity 8. I beg the Lord to open the eyes of all the Instruments of my Trouble that are not deadly Irreconcileable Enemies to Himself and His People that they may see the wrong done by them to His Interests and People and to Me and Mine and may repent thereof and return to the Lord and may more cordially own and adhere to all His Interests in time coming The good Lord give unto them Repentance Remission and Amendement and that is the worst wish I wish them and the best wish I can wish unto them 9. I do earnestly beg the fervent prayers of all His Praying People Servants and Instruments whether absent or present wherever they be in behalf of His Name Cause and Covenant Work and People and in behalf of my Wife Children and their Posterity And that the Lord would glorify Himself edify His Church encourage His Saints further His Work accomplish His good Word by all His Doings and Dealings in Substance and Circumstance toward all His own 10. Whereas I have heard that some of my unfreinds have slandered and defamed my Name as if I had been accessary to his late Majestie 's death and to the making of the Change of the Government thereupon the great God of Heaven be witness and Judge between Me and my Accusers in this for I am free as I shall now answer before his Tribunal from any Accession by Counsel or Contrivance or any other way to his late Majestie 's death or to their making that change of Government And I pray the Lord to preserve our present King his Majesty and to pour out His best blessings
upon his royall Posterity and to give unto them good and faithfull Counsellors holy and wise Counsels and prosperous successes to God's Glory and to the good and interest of His people and to Their own Honour and Happiness 11. I do here now submit and commit my Soul and Body Wife and Children and Childrens Children from generation to generation for ever with all others his Friends and Followers all His Doing and Suffering Witnessing and Sympathizing ones in the present and subsequent Generations unto the Lord's choice Mercies Graces Favours Services Employments Impowerments Enjoyments Improvements and Inheritments on Earth and in Heaven in Time and Eternity All which suits with all others which He hath at any time by His Spirit moved and assisted me to make and put up according to His will I leave before and upon the Father's Mercifull Bowels and the Son's Mediating Merits and the Holy Spirit 's Compassionate Groans for now and evermore Amen The Joint Testimony of these who died together in Edinburgh Dec 7. 1666. subscribed by them in prison the same day of their death Men and Brethren THis is a great and important work both for us who are now to render up our spirits to Him that gave them And for yow who are not a litle concerned in the Cause and in our blood by justifying or condemning our sentence And therefore as we speak to yow as Dying men who dare not dissemble with God or man nor flatter our selves So ye should not be idle curious or unconcerned Spectators We are condemned by men and esteemed by many as Rebels against the King whose Authority we acknowledge But this is our rejoycing the testimony of our conscience that we suffer not as Evill doers but for Righteousness for the Word of God and Testimony of Jesus Christ And particularly for our renewing the Covenant and in pursuance thereof for Preserving and Defending of our selves by Armes against the Usurpation and insupportable Tyranny of the Prelats And against the most unchristian and inhumane Oppression and Persecution that ever was enjoyned and practised by just Rulers upon Free Innocent and Peaceable Subjects The Covenant and Cause being so just in themselves and the duties of Self-preservation and mutual Defence in maintenance thereof being to Judicious and unbyassed men so clear we need to say the less for vindication of our Practice Only the Lawes establishing Prelacy and the Acts Orders and Proclamations made for Complyance therewith being executed against us by Military Force and Violence And we with others for our simple Forbearance being Fined Confined Imprisoned Exiled Scourged Stigmatized Beaten Bound as beasts and Driven unto the mountains for our lives And thereby hundreds of Families being beggared several Parishes and some whole Country-sides exceedingly impoverished And all this either Arbitrarily and without any Law or respect had to guilt or innocency Or Unjustly contrary to all Conscience Justice and Reason though under the Pretence of iniquous Laws and without regard had to the penalty specifyed in the Law And all Remonstrating of Grievances were they never so just and many and Petitions for Redress being restrained by Laws condemning all former Remonstrances and Petitions in the like cases There was no other remedy left to us but that last of necessary Self-preservation and Defence And this being one of the greatest Principles of Nature warranted by the Law or God Scriptural Instances and the consent and Practices of all Reformed Churches and Christian States abroad and of our own famous Predecessors at home It cannot in reason or Justice be reputed a Crime nor condemned as Rebellion by any humane Authority Though we be not the first that have suffered for the Cause or God within the Land yet we are among the first that have been Legally condemned and put to Death Expresly for taking the Covenant And we are so far from being ashamed thereof that we account it our honour to be reckoned worthy to suffer for such a Cause And cannot but bless the Lord that we have such a cloud of Witnesses in this and other Reformed Churches going before us in the same duty for Substance and in Suffering therefore We cannot but regret if we could with tears oâ— blood the Nationall and Authorized Backsliding of the Land by Perjury and breach of Covenant The overturning of the Work of Reformation The great Desolation of the House of the Lord by smiting of the Shepherds and scattering of the Flocks The Intrusion of so many mercenary Hirelings into the Ministry who because of Apostacy Perjury Ignorance and Profanness can neither be acknowledged as God's mouth to the People in Preaching nor employed as their mouth to Him in Prayer The abounding of Popery Superstition and Profanness by unheard-of Oaths Blasphemies Uncleannesss and Drinking even in some whose Office and Place requireth them to be more Examplary And the shedding of the Blood of the Saints by the rage of Persecution And therefore we cannot but disown all these abominable Laws Courses Practices declare our abhorrence of the same dissent therefrom Protesting before Angels and Men that we be not interpreted as consenters thereto and beseeching the Hearer of prayer that we be not involved in the guilt thereof nor partake of the plagues which follow thereupon As this Land was happy above all Nations for the purity and plenty of the Gospel and for a Form of Church Government more conform to the Patern in the Scriptures then in others of the Reformed Churches So we acknowledge His great goodness to us in speciall that gave us our lines in such pleasant places For we have such full perswasion of the Truth of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland And have felt so much of the Power and Sweetness thereof that we do here declare our firm belief and perswasion of and adherence to the same in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Nationall Covenant the Solemn League and Covenant the Confession of Faith Catechisms Directory of worship and Propositions for Government Accounting it our honor and happiness to have been born in it to have lived in Communion with it and now to die through Grace Members Witnesses and Asserters thereof And further as Christians and as Members of the same Church and Common-wealth in the Fear and zeal of our God in Love to our Brethren in desire of the Perservation of Church and Kingdom and for our own Exoneration now when we take our leave of the World We do seriously and in the bowels of Christ Supplicate Warn Exhort and Obtest yow all the Inhabitants of the Kingdom from the King to the meanest of the Subjects according to your old Principles Professions Promises Declarations Oaths and Covenants faithfully to Own Maintain preserve and Defend the said Religion And after the example of our Noble and Renowned Ancestors to quit your selves like Men Christians in endeavouring by all just Means according to your Places and Powers to shake off this heavy
yoke of PRELACY which neither we nor our fathers were able to bear which is Destructive to all our true Interests Religious and Civill As ye would not involve your selves in the guilt and plagues of Perjury and Breach of Covenant And as you tender the good of your own Names Persons Estates Families and Liberties as well as of your immortal Souls And as ye would partake of the good of God's chosen and of our joyes when ye come so near Eternity as we are We shall say no more but as we were not afraid to take our lives in our hands so we are not afraid to lay them down in this Cause And as we are not ashamed of Christ because of His cross so we would not have you offended in Christ nor discouraged because of us For we bear you record that we would not exchange lots with our Adversaries nor redeem our Lives Liberties and Fortunes at the price of Perjury and breach of Covenant And further we are assured though this be the daâ— of Iacob's trouble that yet the Lord when He hath accomplished the Triall of His own and filled up the cup of His Adversaries He will awake for judgement plead His own Cause avenge the quarrel of His Covenant make inquiry for blood vindicate His People break the arm of the wicked and establish the just For to Him belongeth judgement and vengeance And though our eyes shall not see it yet we believe that the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing under His wings that He will revive His Work repair the breaches build the old wastes and raise up the desolations Yea the Lord will judge His people repent Himself for His servants when their power is gone and there is none shut up or left And therefore Rejoyce O ye Nations with His People For He will avenge the blood of His servants and will render vengeance to His adversaries and He will be merciful to His Land and People So let thy Enemies perish O Lord but let them that love Him be as the Sun when He goeth forth in His might Sic subscribitur Iohn MeCulloch of Barholm And. Arnot Iohn Gordon of Knockbrex Robert Gordon his Brother Iohn Ross Iohn Schields Iames Hamilton Iohn Parker in Bosby Christopher Strang. Gawin Hamilton Another Testimony which was also left by such of the Former ten Persons as were in the same Chamber with Thomas Paterson Merchant in Glasgow who being in like manner Indited but dying of his Wounds before Sentence did communicate the same to his friends with his Assent thereunto MEn and Brethren being condemned by our Rulers as Traitors lest we should seem to many to suffer as evill doers In the first place we bless and praise the Lord our God who hath made us the unworthiest of all men Worthy to be faithfull to Him who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and in simplicity and godly Sincerity singly to mind his glory and who also maketh the cross of Christ though by men superscribed with Treason our sweet consolation and his own joy our strength 2. We declare in the presence of the same God before whom we are now ready to appear that we did not intend to Rebell against the King and his just Authority Whom as we acknowledg for our Lawful Soveraign so we do earnestly pray in his behalf that God would open his eyes and Convert his heart that he may remember his Vowes made unto God relieve this oppressed Kirk and long reign and flourish in righteousness 3. We declare that perceaving the Holy Covenants of our God broken the Work of the Lord overturned the Gospel and Kingdome of Jesus Christ despised and trampled upon his pure Ordinances corrupted his faithful and our soul-refreshing Ministers cast out and the Land filled with Perjury and Profanity and like to be hurried back to that gulf of Ignorance Superstition and Confusion whence the Lord did so gloriously deliver us And finding our selves not only Spoiled of our most precious blessings and most dear enjoyments but urged and compelled by cruel Violence and Barbarous Persecution to wicked Apostacy from our Holy Covenants and to Rebellion against our God And all this done by no other hand then the wicked and perjured Prelats And for no other ends whatever they may pretend then the satisfying of their own vile lusts and establishing their so often abjured Antichristian Tyranny over both Souls and Bodies of Men And lastly finding former Petitions condemned as Seditious and our private complaints when but muttered insolently rejected We did in the fear and Zeal of our God and by the warrant of his Holy Word according to the first and most Innocent instinct of pure Nature and the Practice of all People and Persons in the like case And after the Example of all the oppressed Kirks of Jesus Christ and of our Noble Ancestors take the Sword of Necessary Self-defence from the rage and fury of these wicked violent Men until we might make our heavy Grievances known to his Majesty and obtain from his Justice a satisfying remedy We will not now mention our particular Sufferings nor the sighes and groans of poor wasted Galloway which though very heavy from the hand of man are all to light for Jesus Christ Nor are we willing to reflect upon these grievous and bitter Lawes and Edicts by which they seem to be warranted Only we know that God is Righteous whose Lawes and judgments are Superior and above all the Lawes and Actions of men And to him who will judge righteously We intirly Commit our Cause which is none other then the Reviving of the Work of God and Renewing of his Covenant Which though it pleased the Holy and Wise God not to favour with Success in the field and though by men it be made our Condemnation yet it is our Righteousness Innocency and Confidence in his sight And all praise and thanks be unto our God who not only kept us stedfast in his Covenant and made us Willing and Ready to adventure our Lives for His Name but hath also accepted and dignifyed our Offer with this publick Appearance Where in his own glorious presence before whom we shall instantly appear and before our often Sworn and once Zealous and tender Brethren in the same Cause and in midst of Thee O Edinburgh once famous for the Glory and Zeal of God and of this Covenant we may give and Seal this our Testimony with our blood We therefore the unworthiest of all the Faithful do in the Spirit of God and Glory Testify and Seal with our Blood and Lives that both the National Covenant and Solemne League and Covenant are in Themselves Holy Just and True and perpetually Binding containing no other thing then our Indispensable Obligations to all Duties of Religion and Righteousness according to the revealed Will of God which no Authority nor Power of Man is or ever shall be able to disannul And that our blessed Reformations both from Popery
this Covenant upon account of it as done to my self Very Conscience of duty urged me to this against some reluctancy of fear of what might follow Upon the same reasons at Lanrik with the rest I declared my adherence to the Covenant by my lifting up of my hand after the Articles thereof were read And here I cannot but with greef of heart acknowledg my fainting in a day of trial that being ingaged with them upon such accounts I many times in fear designed to withdraw and at length did which as it was the occasion of my falling into the hands of the Enemy so I think among other things it was the cause why God delivered me into their hands Upon the same fear in all my Examinations I have denied my ingagement with them and endeavoured to Vindicate my self by asserting the real designes I had to part from them and have utterly cast away the glory of a testimony which my very being in their company as a favourer of the ends of the Covenant and as one willing to contribute my best endeavours for the promoving of them but especially my declaring for the Covenant did bear unto the Truth and Ordinances of Jesus Christ against this untoward Generation This I confesse to be no less then a denying of Jesus Christ and a being ashamed of his Words before men but I hope the Lord who remembreth that we are but frail dust shall not lay it to my charg but according to his faithfulness and Grace will forgive me who by this Publick Confession take to my self shame and confusion of face and fly to the propitiation offered to all sinners in Jesus Christ And these things as they have procured this death unto me as an act of Gods Justice so they mind me of other evils in mine own heart that have been the source of this my unwillingness to take on Christ's Cross My heart hath not studied to maintaine that Spirituality in walking with God and Edifying Exemplariness with others that became one that had receaved the first fruits of the Spirit and aimed at the Ministery of the Gospel living in times of so much calamity for the Church of God and particular afflictions as to my self If I had spent my dayes in groaning after my house from Heaven would I have shifted so fair an occasion of being cloathed with it Alas that I have loved my Lord and Master Jesus Christ so litle Alas that I have done so litle service to him that I have so litle labour to follow Me to my Everlasting rest This I speak to these especially with whom I have familiarly conversed in my Pilgrimage that seing the Lord will not grant me Life to testify my real Reformation of these things my aknowledgement at Death may have influence upon them to study not only Godliness but the Power of it As I acknowledg that I have not been free and ingenuous in these particulars formentioned so in other things wherein I interponed that Holy name of God as to the not being upon the Contrivance of this riseing in Armes nor privy to any resolution thereanent nor conscious of any Intelligence at home or abroad concerning it I was most ingenuous And they have wronged me much who said that I denied upon Oath that which they were able to make out against me or knew to be truth But non alleage Perjury against me but such as are so manifestly guilty of it before the World that their tougnes in such alleagances are no slander Although I be Judged and condemned as a Rebell amongst Men Yet I hope even in order to this Action to be accepted as Loyal before God Nay there can be no greater act of Loyalty to the King as the times now go then for every man to do his utmost for the Exstirpation of that abominable plant of Prelacy which is the bane of the Throne and of the Countrey which if it be not done the Throne shall never be established in Righteousness until these wicked be removed from before it Sure I ame these who are now comdemned as Rebels against Him by them are such as have spent much time in prayer for Him and do more sincerely wish his standing and have endeavoured it more by this late action so much condemned then the Prelates by condemning them to death This Disaster hath heightened greatly the Afflictions of our Chuch and ought to teach all of you to drink the Wine of Astonishment Ye have not known tribulation till now Now we Judg them happy that are fallen asleep and removed far away and know that God hath been taking away his Servants from the Evils that were to come Know that God's designe is to make many hearts contrite that have been formerly too whole and have not lamented sufficiently the removeall of his Ordinances and Ministery and the reproach rubed upon the Work of Reformation Beware that your sorrow be not a momentany motion of commoun Compassion that evanisheth when it may be there is some intermission in this violent course of sheding innocent blood Labour to have a constant impression that may sacrifice the heart nay ye vvould live much in apprehension of approaching Judgment Certainly the Withdrawing of many from us and not contributing their help to the great work they were ingaged to as well as we the generall Riseing against us in many places of the Countrey but above all this open sheding of the blood of the Saints which involveth the land in the guiltiness of all the righteous blood shed from the foundation of the World have made Scotland fit fuell for the fire of Gods Wrath. I can say nothing concerning times to come but this All things shall work together for good to them that Love God and so this present dispensation And they shall have most comfort in this promise who are most willing that such afflictions as we are brought to be the way that God choiseth to work their good Commit wholly the management of all maters to God and make it your intire study night and day to keep your very garments clean It is hard in times of so generall Corruptions not to be defiled one way or other be free of the Sin as you would be of the Judgments which will certainly be such as will make all the Churches Know that God is the searcher of the hearts and trier of the reins Revel 2.23 and so will not be mocked by these pretences whereby men colour their going along in an evill course from the real Love that they have to a present world If naked Presence amongst them who are esteemed Rebels by men be sufficient to engage them in the Crime and Punishment for that is all the ground of my Condemnation shall not God be much more Zealous of his own glory against all who so much as seem to go along with this course of backsliding As a good Mean and encouragement to all the duties of our time labour to be rooted and grounded in
the Love of Jesus Christ This will be tender of any thing that may have the least reflexion upon him His Words or Works and will prompt the soul to Zealous appearing for Him at the greatest hazard and to as much willingness to die for Him as to Live that they may Glorify Him And for the encouragement of yow all in this matter I do declare that ever since the day of my coming into prison God hath keeped my soul free from all Amazement or fear of death that since my inditement and sentence God hath so manifested Himself at several times that he hath lifted up my soul above Prelats Principalities PowerS Death Hell to rejoice be glad in His Salvation and from my soul to account him Worthy for whom in this his Cause I should undergo the greatest shame or Paine And to assured hopes of Eternal Communion with Him in Heaven And that nothing hath more brangled my peace then shifting an open and free testimony before my Examinators to the work that I was ingaged in I do freely pardon all that have accession to my blood and wish that it be not laid to the charg of this sinful Land but that God would grant Repentance to our Rulers that they may obtaine the same reconciliation with Him whereof I myself do partake Truely I beleeve many of them if not instigated by the cruel Prelats at whose door our blood doth principally lie would have used more mitigation But that reluctancy of mind to shed blood will be so far from Vindicating of them that upon the contrary it will be a witness against them in the Day of the Lord. I heartily submit my self to Death as that which God hath appointed to all men because of Sin and to this particular way of it as deserved by my particular Sins I praise God for this Fatherly chastisement whereby he hath made me in part and will make me perfectly partaker of his Holiness I glorify Him that called me forth to suffer for His Name and Ordinances and the solemne engagements of the Land to Him and that he hath taken this way to take me away from the evill to come The Lord bless all His Poor Afflicted groaning People that are behind Hereafter I will not talk with flesh and blood nor think on the Worlds consolations Farewel all my Friends whose company hath been refreshful to me in my Pilgrimage I have done with the Light of the Sun and Moon Welcome Eternal Life Everlasting Love Everlasting Praise Everlasting Glory Praise to Him that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever Though I have not been so with Thee as I ought to have been in the House of my Pilgrimage yet thow hast made with me an Everlasting Covenant Ordered in all things and Sure And this is all my Salvation and all my desire Bless the Lord O my Soul that hath pardoned all my Iniquities in the Blood of His Son and healed all my Deseases Bless Him O all ye his Angels that excel in strength ye Ministers that do his pleasure Bless the Lord O my Soul Halelujah Edinburgh Tolbooth December 22. 1666. Sic subscribitur HEW M c KAIL. I have heard that some of the Prisoners are willing to save their lives by taking the Declaration That is by abjuring that Work and Cause for which they adventured their Lives Which if they do our blood shall bear witness against them in the great Day of God And God shall so punish some of them in this Life that they shall curse the day that ever they shifted to dy on a scaffold HEW M c KAIL. The Testimony of JOHN WODROW Merchant in Glasgow who died in Edinburgh Decemb. 22. 1666. Dear Friends I Am condemned to die I shall say little concerning men who have judged and condemned me they are to answer to God for it But I bless the Lord who hath counted me worthy to die for so good and honourable a cause And that I be not mistaken after I am gone hence I have thought fit to testify that in singleness and sincerity of heart I came into the service not constrained but from conscience of my being engaged by Covenant to God and with a full purpose to perform my vows made in that Covenant unto the Lord in the strength of Jesus Christ And that I might endeavour to restore again the precious Ordinances to their former purity power and to recover the fair Church in this Land which our blessed Lord hath purchased to Himself and bought at so dear a rate to her former Beauty which is now defaced And particularly to bring down that Antichristian Prelacy and that perjured crue of Prelats who have so perfidiously wronged the Interests of our blessed Lord and Master Jesus Christ This is the only Cause for which I undertook this service and joyned with others my dear and Covenanted brethren And that I had no intention to wrong the King's person or Authority but to seek his real good according to my duty in the Word of God and also as I sware in the same Covenant wherein I did swear against Prelacy And notwithstanding I be condemned of men as a Rebel yet I am justifyed of God my God and Father in and through my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who giveth me sweet peace of conscience and joy of heart I grant it is not enough to justify me before Him that I had a just Cause unless likewise I had therewith the acceptation of my person through Faith in the Merits of Jesus Christ who standeth in our nature in heaven which I dare declare this day as a dying man that I have obtained for I am confident that through His righteousness made over unto me He hath made me free in which I shall stand for ever and that within a few hours I shall see Him in peace as I am seen of Him and behold and wonder and wonder and behold for evermore that most glorious excellency of His. And this yeeldeth to me great consolation in all my extremities were they never so great This I say is my peace and consolation this day even Christ my Righteousness who hath both accepted my Person and Cause Therefore I count it a small thing to be judged and condemned of men for my Testimony is on high and my record in heaven And now my Friends I am condemned to die for adhering to my Covenant made with God for Reformation of Religion and Conversation to which all ranks of the Land are as well bound as I though many alas too many shaking off all fear of God have despised the Oath not only by breaking the Covenant but by professing and declaring avowedly the bond thereof null and not binding either to their own or other mens consciences And this mischief is framed by a Law which doth greatly highten the Sin O! tell it not in Oath and publish it not in Askelon Oh! that this should be heard of amongst Papists and Pagans