great goodnesse to them who went before you you need not in order to your establishment run so far backward as to the records and experiences of former generations but I may say as you have heard so have you seen in the Ciâ—ie of our God Call to remembrance what you have been witnesses to what not a few of you have seen with joy and all of you have heard with gladnesse yea your enemies have beheld it with confusion of â—ace shame griefe and astonishment to wit that singular heart solacing and shining presence of God under which these your martyred Brethren were at their death It was evident he did not so much leave them into the hands of them who hated them to take away their lives as because he was so well pleased with their zealous fervour their fidelitie and fixednesse in his way which made them in Testimony of their love to him not to love their lives unto the death he therefore brought them forth to Crown them in the sight of these who killed them and in that Crucified their Master againe while they with a keen crueltie killed he crowned with loving kindnesse and kissed their souls out of them kepped them as they fell carried them off the scaffold in embraces to present them to his Father and set the Martyrs Crown upon their head I â—eed noâ— insist in a matter so manifest as it is beyond the hidings or denyings of those who put them to death and hath also caused so many thanksgiving unto God amongst the Saints so that I may aske you what do you feare Do you feare fruition Do you feare that they who cast you in the fiery furnace shall see the Son of God walking with you in the midst of the flames Do you feare to be seen made more then Conquerours through him who hath loved you Do you feare that when the incensed world hath yoked a fiery Chariot for you to cary out of the world that the world who hate you and hurry you thus off the stage shall see the King come and pave the bottome thereof for you with love Do you feare that while they stretch out their hand against you to take away your life he manifest his love in putting his left hand under your head and in embracing you with his right do you feare that while your blood is shed he give convincing significations to all that look on of his she ding abroad his love in your heart and that your blood is precious in his sight Are these things to be feared which have been the ambition of many righteous men yea and a piece of so great honour as they durst scarce even themselves to a sharing in it Or hath he deserted one of all the sufferers see if you can say it why then are you daunted with danger why do you doubt but he who hath glorified his name in others will glorifie it again in you Nay did he not most signally defeat the expectation of advâ—rsaries and out-do the hope of his poor servants by the remarkablenesse of his assistances given to some who were looked upon as such weake wriglings as they could noâ— stand it out but how by standing by them and strengthning them did he still the enemy and avenger and how did he by the marvellous supporting of his Grace perfect praise out of the mouth of such babes and sucklings I may appeale to the conscience of any present at these executions who savoure the things of God and saw under what a shining presence and with what joy uâ—speakeable and full of glory these dying men went out of the world and these murthered martyrs mounted their triumphant charriot if they would not at that time upon assuâ—ance to be carried off the stage under the same sun-shine and sweetnesse have left all they had in this world and gone with gladenesse in their company in to the other world If any one of all that now glorified company had been deserted you might be discouraged and shrink away and say what is our strength that we should hope But since everlasting armes underneath have been so visibly seen supporting every one whom he called to suffer it saith nothing if it say not this â—eare none of those things which you shall suffer For my grace shall be sufficient for yâ—u And my strength shall be made perfect in your weakenesse Therefore be not affraid but approach your duetie with humble confidence and courage even when death it self is in the way and you shall â—inde it with you as it was with the Priests beâ—ore whom Jordan recoiled not till their feet were within the brink Waite for your assistances and supports in the hour of conflâ—ct and in that very hourâ— it shall be given you and you put in case to say when we are weake â—hen are we strong And to compleat this account and make it appeare that the most daring and desperat enemy cannot ease his own soul by giving one instance to the contrair I can not here passe the death of Mr Miâ—chel which the Lord hath so excellently ordered both as to time and circumstances for whereas they who put him to death did hope to give thereby a daâ—h to the people oâ— God at this time and by their severitie exercised upon him to make them shrink into a fearefull compliance with their iniquous Contrivances but the supporting presence of God with him was such as no man needs for feare to forsake the way of the Lord because of what befell him I mentione not here the cause but leave the world to the account himself hath given thereof with what his Advocats had to plead on his behalfe And shall onely without making a parallel or instituting a comparison between the two allude to Samson's death in this execution Not that I mâ—y take occasion to tell the world that he who was aimed at may passe any day in the yeer for a Lord amongst the uncircumcised Philistims For that is no newes nay the world may judge I do these Lords wrong and him too in not associating him with But First Sampson was a rackel and rough-handed saint ready to peâ—t the Philistims upon all occasions yet secondly the Holy Ghost for all the faults that followed him hath recorded his name and enrolled him in thâ— number even while the names of many other are left out of these eminent worthies Hâ—b 11. And so he hath made the name of Mr Mitchell savovrie and as he tooke many Testimonies from him at all his appearances to the cause so he owned him in the end and honoâ—red him to die witnessing a good confession which will be on record to posâ—eritieâ— Thirdly as Sampson did more mischeâ—fe to the enemies of the people of God at his death than in all his life for when they sent for him to make themselves mirry with a sight of his misery the Lord helped him to spil â—heir sport so I judge it is beyond question with every sober man
that Mr Mitchells death hath done more hurt to it's contrivers and furious drivers than ever his lâ—fe could have done even though he had shot againe and hit that un hallowed marke For now where as he hath died desired they who drove it have in breathing out their crueltie against him brought an indelible infamy upon themselves and entâ—iled upon their posteritie a reproach never to be rolled away yea they have missed their marke so far in hiting him as I suppose the most confident scoffer amongst all those who promised them selves matter of mirth by his death and some thing on which they might breake their jest will be more loath to heare Mr Mitchels death mentioned than the death of any of those worthies that went before him lest concerning themselves it also be remembered how And thus was that prediction fulfilled with a witnesse contrary to the mind of him who in saying so did both mock and menace at once that God did glorifie himself by Mr Mithels death in the grasse market Yea glorifie himself he did and glory to him for having done so Is not this then Brethren heart-comforting and hand strengthening that all who went off the stage thus died under these refreshing manifestations and ravishments of spirit as their enjoyments would be the measure of mens desires for their own soul as they were the measure of the desires of these dying Martyrs for all the people of God For what could they wish more or seek more on the behalfe of these But O that it were with them in all things as it is with us except as to this scaffold which yet to us while under these manifestations is preferable to all the thrones of the Earth and the Pharadises and Pleaâ—ures wherein they live who put us to death Nay so marvellous was the presence of God with these his dying witnesses as I doubt nothing but some of the enemies who looked on and had a hand in sheding that innocent blood have said with themselves since O let me die the death of thâ—se righteous men and let my latter end be like theirs And I much doubt when death shall look the greatest Desperado amongst them in the face and he finds himself ready to be dragged before the judgement seat of Christ if the question were asked him whether he would have his soul now gathered with the souls of these suffereâ—s or with their souls who shall be brought in before the Tribunal with their fingers droping with the blood of those whom they killed upon such an account that he would be at any demurre what to choise Feare not then to follow Deare Brethren since you see how honourably the charges of all that have gone before you have been borne you have the same good God the same Christ the same Spirit the same cause the same covenanted strength have therefore the same confidence and courage as they did so doe you carry as in nothing terrified by your Adversaries which as it was in them so it will be in you an evident token of perdition to your proud and implacable persecuters But to you of salvation and that of God Suffer me ere I close to put one drop more in this cup to make it cooling and never-the-lesse cordial for that Endeavour Deare Friends with a Zealous prudence while you are in this fire of fiery trialls to prevent or exstinguish the wilde fire of unnecessare and hurtfull animosities amongst your selves by the flame of fervent and true love to God and one another this fire will burne out the other you see the enemy thrusts sore at you that you may fall therefore to the end they may misse their marke and you may stand fast in the Lord stand close together I shall not enlarge upon this head onely let me put you in mind of that notable place to this purpose when the Apostle Philip. 1. after what he had said of himself V. 20. O for a company in case to say the like comes to persuade to a carriage such as becometh the Gospel he pitched particularly upon this piece of a Gospel-becomeing conversation and perswads to it That I may heare saith he that ye stand fast in one Spiâ—it with one minde striving together for the faith of the Gospel c.. And knoweing well how much true unitie did strengthen the saints while put to this striving he doth in the following Cap. Viz. c. 2. v. 1 2 3. with a mervellously sweet emphaticknesse inculcat and commend the same thing with such a warme varietie of heart-melting and affection-moving words and arguments as are sufficient or nothing can be to cement and souder into a samenesse the souls and affections of all saints If there be therefore saith he any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the spirit if any bowels and mercies fullfill ye my joy that you be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory but in lowlinesse of mind let each esteem other better than themselves Now what can be said after this Here you have union nobly qualified and arguments powerfully quickening to pursue after it O fall a striving therefore while put to strive against enemies who shall love God and his precious interests most and one another best who shall be most ready to forbeare and to beare one anothers burdens that so in fulfilling this law of Christ all may the more cheerfully beare the Crosse of Christ have there been amongst you animosities contentions jealousies whisperings evil surmiseings c. the more is the pitieâ— well then now is the time to confirme your love one towards another Now set your selves to provoke one another to love and to good works Now see if you who have discoursed and disputed your selves a sunder can pray your selves together and so meet in that blessed center I little doubt if your heart be heaven-hot in praying together in weeping before God together in wrestleing with him together but you will walk after the Lord together in a sweet zealous singlenesse of frame when your hearts have been warmely poured out together before God a spiritual harmonie and famenesse of soul in working the work of the Lord will follow upon it And if my observation do not fail our contentions never became hot till we were cooled and much taken off from praying together Consider what your enemies are doing driveing and designing Is it not to make you fall asunder that you may not be able when divided amongst your selves to stand before them or to withstand them take that door of them by shuting the door upon them at which you see they designe to enteâ— and that their accesse may be the more easie they will flatter some of you or forbeare some of you while they fall upon others that so they may run down and ruine all and raze foundations at last with ease Set your selves therefore with an onenesse of
the source rise and conduct of the Rulers procedour against you and their barbarous câ—uelty give you not onely confidence to pour out your heart befoâ—e him and present your câ—sâ— and cause in this General for thy sake we are killed all the day long we are counted as sheep for the slaughtâ—r But more particularly when you can sist your selves bâ—fore him and sob out your sorrowes in these words of a truth Lord against thy Holy Châ—ld Iâ—sus whom thou hâ—st anoâ—nâ—ed are all thâ—se gathered together and it is for our owning of him as thy anointed and râ—fuseing to be on that conspiracy that we ore thus used I know not vvhat can give ground of gladenesse in a mans life or vvhat can be cause of gloriation in death if resisting unto blood upon such a quarrell and not loving a mans life unto death in such a cause will not give ground for it Beloved Friends and much honourâ—d sufferers for Christ you know since you are taught of God that the way to overcome all trouble here and to carry as becometh Saints under it is to look above it and beyond it above it to the high and supreme hand that sends it and disposeth of it so as it may subserve your great Interest for in despight of the malice and madnesse of all inferior agents all these dire and dreadful things shall together with him who worketh mightily in his people and for them work together for your â—ood and beyond it and above it to the end of it and the recompence of reward following after it This is the way to profite by pressures to be gainers in all losses This is the ground of sweet peace and serenitie of mind amidst all trouble and the solid foundation for patience of Spirit For he is only in a capacitiâ— to possesse his spirit in patience whose spirit hath received these impressions without which the soul will be still disquieted Trouble will still tosse it as a ball in a large place and it will prove unstable as water I suppose since you are Saints and so must have some impressions of the absolute Soveraignitie of God that though in your searchings you could not finde out or fixe upon the cause of his contendiug with you thus yet you would either be silent or say it is the Lord let him doe unto us what seemeth hâ—m good And if he have no pleasure in our liveiâ—g and dwelling in our little huts and houses Bnt will drive us thence the will of the Loâ—d be done But not to insist on this which yet you will grant to be infinitly rational for who hath enjoyned him his wayâ— or who may say unto him what doest thou there is sufficient to keep you and me aâ—d the Christians of this generation from frâ—tingâ— and saying while in the fire and while the rod of the wicked rest upon your lot and these plowers plow upon your back and make their furrowes longer and deeper than all these plowersâ— which went before them did O when will God Loose the plough by cutting asunder the cords of the wicked and confouâ—ding turning them all back that hate you He is the Lord who will hasten it in his time to shew that he is righteous Let us weep for what we have done And wait in hope for what he will do why are we thus Surely a sight of our sin would make us wonder that we are not worse yea admire his goodnesse who will be at all this pains about us to heal us of these mortal diseases whereof our immortal souls are sick even unto death I am sure that the crimson dye of our crying iniquities would curb our impatience and cure us of that evil of quarrelling with him because of our suffâ—rings Consider therefore however you suffer very unjustly from men against whom you have done nothing justly to procure their indignation yet if you look within you and lift up your eyes above you and consider how the cry of your transgâ—essions is come up into his eare you will be constrained not onely to justifie him in this seeming severiâ—ie but to confesse from clearnesse and conviction you are punished lesse then your iniquities desâ—rve And that it is of the Lords mercâ— you are not consumed because his compassions fail not Hence is it thaâ— when the Apostle Peter hath been speaking of the fiery trial 1 Pet. 4â—12 13 14 15 16. which this day in our case and hath been encouraging and comforting them to a paâ—â—ent endâ—reinâ— while schorâ—hed with these flames by many noble arguments yet when he looks upâ—n thes heavie afflictions as coming from God he calls them verâ— 17 judgements intimaâ—ing thereby that his precious and peculiar people how upright and innocent soever as to men yet they are guiltie before God the righteous judge and that they muâ—â— acknowledge when â—hey â—ist thâ—mseâ—ves in his sight that what ever they suffeâ— is the fruit of their own doings and that by their provocations they have procured these things and rewarded all these evils unto their own soul by not walking worthy of him nor befoâ—e him to all pleasing If his people by their multiplied and manifold sins did not extort if I may say so strokes our of his hand he who doth not aâ—â—lict willingly nor grieve the Children of men but hath pleasure in the prosperitie of this people would not so often take the rod in his hand or would soon cast it into the â—ire for he doth not love to lash beyond necessitie and therefore when he hath performed his whole work upon mount zion he casts the rod into the fire and punisheth the fruit of the stout heart of his and his peoples enemies and the glory of their high looks The saints you know Brethren how graciows and grown so ever they are but Children and therefore must be under Chastisment The best of them are given to many Childish toyes and not a few of them in whom the root of the matter may be yea will be found are so far from abideing witâ— God in their callings and from adorning the Doctrine of God the Saviour that so men by seing their good works may glorifie their Father which is in heaven that there is a groffnesse in their way their iniquitie is ofâ—en found upon the skirts of their garmenâ—s and their spots are so unlike the spots of the people of God and Persons made partakers of the divine nature that because of these mouths of enemies are opened to blaspheme the name of God and reproach the blessed Profession But seting thsee aside Alas how doe they who escape such grosse pollutions yet often trifle in the matter of communion with God How formal and luke-warme in their addresses So that he who seeks the heart and will be worshiped in Spirit and Truth misseth their soul in their service How seldome arâ— they in Heaven How little dwelling upon the thoughts of Jesus Christ and the great sâ—lvation purchased by him on purpose
withstand that you lose not the things which you have wrought and let not go a victory so neer gained Read over Râ—v 12. and see how that after Michael and his Angels have encountred the Dragon and his blake Legions and I must say however these who marched against you were called a glorious host I doubt if ever there were legions who more compleatly were clothed in Satans livery and it was very suteable since there was never a company of men gathered together since man was upon the earth wherein the quarrel was so formally stated against the Prince Michael and have overcome by the blood of the lamb c. A victory in kinde and qualitâ—â— much like yours Now take notice that the Devil thus cast down even while he casts them down that with stood him and thus defeat in the death of those who loved not their lives unto the death studies a revenge and comes down having great wrath Be suâ—e theâ—efore he will endeavour to be avenged upon you for the broken head got at this bout He will make war upon you and mannage it with all the foâ—ce and â—urie he can yea wiâ—h all the fraud and Hellish Sâ—ratagems whereof yet I am most afraid against that remnantâ— by whose keeping the commandment of God and holding fast the Testimony of Jesus Christ he finds hiâ—self cast down He hath had great wrath against a poor feeble company these many years by whom after he had hurried all the Representatives of the Nation into this diâ—ch of dreadâ—ul Defection Aâ—ostasie carried them the length of that heaven-daring act of Supremacy he found himâ—eâ—f resisted all the homage he got by this Apostasie did avail him nothing so long as these base-lâ—ke and beggarly Mordecaies did not onely not bow the knee to him but resisted him and wiâ—hstood him and by their runing to and fro he found the knowledge of God hiâ— great eye-sore encreased his old nests herried his ordinary haunts invaded and these daâ—ke Deâ—s wherein he had dwelt without disturbance taken in â—ossession and his old servants and slaveâ— vindicat into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God Seeing himself at such a loss that by a company of un doughts as they are judged yea nothings the fittest things for this opposed Christ to work by and the fittest â—ime too for by his reigning and conquering thus and by these noble and notable inroads he makes upon Satans â—erritories he proves himself the Captain of Salvation and that King who is in Zion against whom there is no rising up against whom there is neither counsel nor strength and so no prevailing however exautorat by ouâ— Law that Law put in execution by all the methods and strength that they who fâ—amed the Law can enforce it by he is more incensed And as to you my Deare Friends oâ— the Weâ—t oâ— Scotland more particulaâ—ly suffer me to say That he seems to have devised that this storme should have first fallen upon you not onely because of old Long-syne But as hoâ—ing that now after so much ease you have had while others were in trouble and some remaâ—kable abatemen of that zeal which sometime was observed to be amongst you O let never such a sight be again seenâ— he would finde you unprepared to stand it out and withstand such a furious assault and so by your fainting and being â—oiled he expected that all the rest of your brethren should have been either frighted into the like compliances with this course of defection and have been made to couch as Asses between the burdens or their resistance when relinquâ—shed by you to be but feeble at best and at last such as would end in their own ruine But now being so far disappointed in finding that you have been helped not with a little help but with a great help and that you have been enablâ—d through Grace to shake your selves as at other times and that the Lord hath stood by you while â—uch a Lion was let loose upon you and hath strengthened you and helped you â—o aquite your selves in this conflict as the good Souldiers of Jesus Christ he hath now more wrath against you than ever How doth he now meditat revenge How doth he now grin and gnash his teeth upon you when having stretched out his hand against you as nothing doubting of the victory he finds himself foiled and made to draw in a stump You may expect then to meet with all that the Gates of hell can do to uâ—do you therefore be upon your guard you may expect to be attacqued upon all quarters now battered with fury then underminded bâ— fraud Be sober therefore be vâ—gilant for this roaring Lyon is walking about seeking how he may devour you whom resist stedfast in the faith and to the end he may get no advantage againâ—t you see that you carry as not ignorant of his devices beware of his wiles beware of his smoothnesse for when he speakes you fairest then there are seven abominatiâ—ns in his heart Be sure where ever you watch or what ever you do to double your gairds at this passe for it may be you shall be yet assaulted at this postâ— and be in greatest hazard to be put out of your posture by his smooth insinuations And in order to your resistance and standing it outâ— both against the wiles of the Divil and against his open wrath let me drop these things and bring them to your mind First Let me beseech you to considâ—r what your treasure is and see to the securing of that in the right â—and and the right place for if that be safe anâ— well laid up all is well you may then suâ—fer and sing we will not feare what fleshe in do unto us I need not tâ—ll you that your treasure is yoâ—r precious and immortal soâ—â— and that you have nothing woâ—th keeping nay nâ—thing that is truely tenable or that can be keep 't but that for it is Christ's own account who knew the worth of souls what hath a man profited saith he if he should gaine the whole world and lose his own soul and the words added or what can a man give in exchange for his soul are resolveable in this other question whâ—â—â— haâ—h a man lost if he should lose the whole world and save his own sâ—ul O what can be gaine where â—he â—ainer is eternally lost or what can be loss where the loser is saved and for ever made up Nor need I tell you that it is for this precious treasure that loose handed Devils â—unt and to the end your enemy may get hold of this and run away with it he houâ—dsâ—out such emissaries as you have had to deale with that you may be hurried by their hoâ—rid savagenesse into a solicitousnesse how to preserve some things out of their grips till he run away with his prey while you are noised into an oblivion of your gâ—eaâ— Interest Nor need I teâ—l you that the alone way