perfect his power and strength in weakness Fourthly That I may come a little nearer to the purpose in hand I declare before you all in the sight of God Angels and men and in the sight of that Son and all that he has Created that I am a most miserable sinner in regard of my Original and Actual Transgressions I must confess they are more in number then the Haires of my Head They are gone up above my Head and are past numbering I cannot but say as Jacob said I am less then the least of all Gods mercies yet I must declare to the exalting of his free grace That to me who am the least of all Saints is this grace made known and that by a strong hand and I dare not but say he has loved me and washed me in his own blood from all iniquities and well is it for me this day That ever I heard or read that faithful saying that Jesus Christ came into the World to save sinners of whom I am chief Fifthly I must also declare in his sight I am the most unworthiest that ever opened his mouth to preach the unsearchable Riches of Christ in the Gospel Yea the sense of this made me altogether unwilling to fall about so great a work until by the importunity of some whose names are precious and savoury to me and many others I was prevailed with to fall about it and yet I am hopeful not altogether without some fruit and if I durst say it without vanity I never found so much of the presence of God upon my Spirit as I have found in exercises of that nature though I must still confess attended with inexpressible weakness and this is the main thing for which I must lay down my Tabernacle this day viz. That I did preach Christ and the Gospel in several places of this Nation for which I bless him as I can That ever such a poor obscure person as I am have been thus priviledged by him for making mention of his grace as I was able Sixthly Give me leave to add this word farther that though there be great appearances for spreading and preaching this Glorious Gospel yet I fear there is a snare at the bottom and poyson in that dish which may gender and be productive of not only greater Scarcity of Honest preaching and preachers but a Real Famine of the Word this I say is my fear and I hope God will keep his servants and people from fomenting any thing to the detriment of the Gospel Seventhly I am also afraid that the Lord is intending to multiply his stroaks upon the Land we have walked seven times contrary to him and therefore we may lay our account unless Repentance prevent it that he will walk seven times contrary to us there is more and more grounds to fear that a Sword is Brandished in Heaven a Glittering Sword sharpned and forbished against the Guilty and Harlot Scotland Eightly As for the Fifth Cause in my indictment upon which my sentence of death is founded viz. Personal presence Twice or thrice with that party whom they call the Rebels for my own part I never Judged them such I Acknowledge and do believe there were many there that came in the simplicity of their hearts like those that followed Absolom long ago and I am as sure on the other hand there were a great party there that had nothing before them but the repairing of the Fallen work and the restoring the breach which is wide as the Sea and I am apt to think that such of these who were most branded with mistake will be found to be most single but for Rebellion against his Majesties person or Lawful Authority the Lord knows my Soul Abhorreth the name and thing Loyal I have been and I wish every Christian to be so and I was ever of this Judgment To give to Caesar the things that are Caesars and to God the things that are Gods Ninthly Since I came to prison I have been much branded with many that I must call Aspersions whereof Jesuitisme is one I am hopeful there was never one that did converse with me that had the least ground for laying this to my Charge I know not how it comes to pass it is laid upon me now except implacable prejudice that some have been prepossest with against me I am not Ignorant that near two years ago a person of some note in this Church while Living was pleased to say I was dyed in that Judgment after he was better informed he Changed his Note and said it was misinformation but now the Lord before whom I must stand and be Judged by and by knows I have a perfect Abhorrence of that thing And that it was never my Temptation directly nor indirectly Though I must confess some few years ago some were very pressing upon me that I would conform and imbrace Prelacy But for Popery and that Trash it never came nearer my heart than the Popes Conclave and the Alcoran which my Soul Abhors Tenthly I Have also been branded with factiousness divisive and seditious preaching and practices I must confess if it be so it was more then ever I was aware of according to the measure that God has given me it was my endeavor to commend Christ to the hearts and Souls of the people even repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ according to the word of God confession of faith and Catechismes Larger and Shorter yea I did press them when God did cast it in my way to remember their former Obligations in Doctrine worship Discipline and Government and that they would make it their work to stand to it in substance and Circumstance seeing it is so Cryed down in this day and if this be divisive preaching I cannot deny it Eleventhly I am prest in Conscience to bear my Testimony to and Abhorrence of every Invasion Usurpation and incroachment that is made or has been made against Christs Royal prerogative Crown and Kingdome Originate upon and derivate from that which they call the Supremacy I was never free to say a Confedcracy with those that I Judge have in a great part said a Confederacy with that thing and the Lord is my record I was never free in my Conscience for that that is called indulgence neither first nor second as it was tendered by the Counsel and as it was imbraced by a great many Godly men in this Land yea it was never Laudable nor expedient to me and in effect this is one of the main grounds why I am rendred so Obnoxious to so many imputations that I have been all along contrary to that indulgence in my Judgment I confess I have been so and I die in my Judgment contrary to it and this I Crave Leave to say without any Offence given to the many Godly and Learned that are of another Judgment Twelfthly I Judge it fit likewise in this Case to leave my Testimony against that Stent Taxation and Cess
well what it is that God calls for at their hands To be silent now especially when so many Cruel and Horrid things are Acted when they are so much called and ought to be concerned to speak even upon the Peril of their lives certainly a dreadful sin in the light of God their silence must be I shall only desire that the Lord would open the mouths of his faithful servants that with all boldness they may speak out the mind of their Master that so the work interest Crown and Kingdome of our Lord Jesus Christ may not be destroyed and that the troubles of his poor people which are precious to him may not without a Testimony be ruined I Shall but say a few words First All you that are profane I would seriously Exhort you that you return to the Lord by serious Repentance if you do iniquity shall not be your Ruine if you do not know that the day of the Lords Vengeance is near and hastneth on Oh know for your comfort there is a door of mercy yet open if you be not despisers of the day of Salvation And you that have been and yet are Reproachers and persecutors of Godliness and of such as live Godly take heed Oh take heed sad will be your day when God arises to scatter his Enemies if you repent not for your ungodly deeds Secondly All those who are taken up with their own private interests and if that go well they Care the less for the interest of Christ take heed and be zealous and repent lest the Lord pass the Sentence I will spew you out of my mouth Thirdly For the truly Godly and such as are Lamenting after the Lord and are mourning for all the abominations of this City and are taking pleasure in the very Rubbish and Stones of Zion be of good Courage and Cast not away your Confidence I dare not say any thing to future things but surely the Lord has a handful that are precious to him to whom he will be Gracious to these is a dark night at present how long it will last the Lord knows Oh let not the sad disasters that his poor people meet with though very astonishing Terrifie you beware of snares that abound Cleave fast to your Reformed Religion do not Shift the Cross of Christ if you be called to it it is better to suffer than sin account the reproaches of Christ greater Riches than all the Treasures of the World In the last place let not my Death be Grievous to any of you I hope it will be more profitable both for you and me and for the Church and interest of God than my life could have been I bless the Lord I can freely and Frankly forgive all men even as I desire to be forgiven of God pray for them that persecute you bless them that Curse you As to the cause of Christ I bless the Lord I never had cause to this day to repent for any thing I have suffered or can now suffer for his name I thank the Lord who has shewed mercy to such a vile sinner as I am and that ever he should advance me to so High a dignity as to be made a Minister of his blessed and everlasting Gospel and that ever I should have a Seal set to my Ministry upon the hearts of some in several places and Corners of this Land the Lord visit Scotland with more and more faithful Pastors and send a Reviving day unto the people of God in the mean time be patient be stedfast unmovable always abounding in the work of the Lord and live in Love and peace one with another and the Lord be with his poor Afflicted Groaning people that yet remain Now I bid farewell to all my friends and dear Relations Farewell my poor Wife and Children whom I leave in the good hand of him who is better than seven Husbands and who will be a Father to the fatherless Farewell all Creature comforts Welcome everlasting life everlasting glory Welcome everlasting love everlasting praise bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me Sic Subscrib John King August 14th 1679. Tolbooth Circa horam Septimam THE LAST SPEECH OF Mr. JOHN KID AT THE PLACE OF EXECUTION ON The Fourteenth day of August 1679. Printed in the Year 1679. THE SPEECH OF Mr. JOHN KID Right Worthy and well beloved Spectators and Auditors COnsidering what bodily distempers I have been exercised with since I came out of the Torture viz. Scarce two hours out of my naked bed in one day it cannot be expected that I should be in Case to say any thing to purpose at this Juncture especially seeing I am not as yet free of it however I cannot but Reverence the good hand of God upon me and desires with all my Soul to bless him for this my present Lot It may be there are a great many here that Judge my Lot very sad and deplorable I must confess death it self is very Terrible to Flesh and blood but as it is an out-let to sin and an in-let to righteousness it is the Christians great and inexpressible priviledge and give me leave to say this that there is somthing in a Christians Condition that can never put him without the reach of insufferableness even shame death and the Cross being included And then if there be peace betwixt God and the Soul nothing can damp peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ this is a most supporting ingredient in the bitterest Cup and under the sharpest and firiest Tryal he câ—n be exposed unto this is my mercy That I have somthing of this to lay Claim unto viz. The intimations of pardon and peace betwixt God and my Soul And as concerning that for which I am condemned I magnifie his grace that I never had the least challenge for it but on the contrary I Judge it my Honour that ever I was counted worthy to come upon the Stage upon such a consideration another thing that renders the most despicable Lot of the Christian and mine sufferable is a felt and sensible presence from the Lord strengthening the Soul when most put to it and if I could have this for my Allowance this day I could be bold to say Oh death where is thy sting and could not but cry out Welcome to it and all that follows upon it I grant the Lord from an Act of Soveraignity may come and go as he pleases but yet he will never forsake his people and this is a Cordial to me in the Case I am now exposed unto Thirdly The exercising and puting forth his glorious power is able to Transport the Soul of the believer and mine above the reach of all Sublunary difficulties and therefore seeing I have hope to be kept up by this power I would not have you to look upon my Lot or any other that is or may be in my Case in the least deplorable seeing we have ground to believe that in more or less he will
THE LAST SPEECHES OF THE TWO MINISTERS Mr. JOHN KING and Mr. JOHN KID At the Place of EXECUTION AT EDENBURGH On the 14 th day of August 1679. Printed in the Year 1680. THE PUBLISHER TO THE READER HAving observed that of late years it is become Customary to publish the dying Speeches of such as have been in a Publick manner Executed as Criminals I thought the sight of these Speeches not as Speeches or Discourses only but as the Speeches of these two so much talk'd of Men would to most be very acceptable all persons I believe being curious to know what they would say in their Circumstances I did not think it necessary to make any Animadversions upon them but leaâ—e it to the 〈◊〉 of every Reader to make his own Remarks it being as easie to animadvert in this Case as to read I would as unwillingly impose my Comment upon others as I would be imposed upon my self Farewel THE SPEECH OF Mr. JOHN KING Men and Brethren I Do not doubt but that many that are Spectators here have some other end than to be edified by what they may see and hear in the last words of one going to Eternity but if any one of you have Ears to hear which I nothing doubt but some of this great gathering have I desire your Ears and Attention if the Lord shall help and permit me to speak to a few things I bless the Lord since infinite Wisdom and holy Providence has so carved out my Lot to dye after the manner that I do not unwillingly neither by force It 's true I could not do this of my self Nature always having an Inclination to put the evil day far off but through Grace I have been helped and by this Grace yet hope I shall 'T is true through Policy I might have shunned such a hard Sentence if I had done some things but though I could I durst not God knows redeem my life with the loss of my Integrity and Honesty I bless the Lord that since I have been apprehended and made a Prisoner God hath very wonderfully upholden me and made out that comfortable word Fear not be not dismayed I am with thee I will strengthen thee I will uphold thee by the right hand of my Righteousness Isaiah 42.10 I thank the Lord he never yet gave me leave so much as to have a thought much less to seek after any shift that might be in the least sinful I did always and yet do judge it better to suffer Affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of Sin for a Season therefore I am come hither to lay down my life I bless the Lord I dye not as a Fool dyeth though I acknowledge I have nothing to boast of in my self yea I acknowledge I am a Sinner and one of the chiefest that hath gone under the name of a Professer of Religion yea amongst the unworthiest of those that have Preached the Gospel my Sins and Corruptions have been many and have defiled me in all things and even in following and doing of my Duty I have not wanted my own sinful Infirmities and Weaknesses so that I may truly say I have no Righteousness of my own all is evil and like filthy Rags but blessed be God that there is a Saviour and an Advocate Jesus Christ the Righteous and I do believe that Jesus Christ is come into the World to save Sinners of whom I am the chief and that through Faith and his Righteousness I have obtained Mercy and that through him and him alone I desire and hope to have a happy and glorious Victory over Sin Satan Hell and Death and that I shall attain unto the Resurrection of the just and be made Partaker of Eternal Life I know in whom I have believed and that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day I have according to my poor Capacity preached Salvation in his name and as I have preached so do I believe and withal my Soul have commended it and still do commend to all of you the riches of his Grace and faith in his Name as the alone and only way whereby to come to be saved It may be many may think but I bless the Lord without any solid ground that I suffer as an Evil-Doer and as a busie body in other mens matters but I reckon not much upon that having the Testimony of my own Conscience for me It was the lot of our blessed Saviour himself and also the lot of many of his eminent precious Servants and People to suffer by the World as Evil-doers Yea I think I have so good ground not to be scar'd at such a lot that I count it my non-such-honour and Oh what am I that I should be honoured so when so many Worthies have panted after the like and have not come at it My Soul rejoyceth in being brought into Conformity with my Blessed Lord and Head and so Blessed a Company in this way and lot and I desire to pray that I may be to none of you this day upon this account a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of Offence and blessed is he that shall not be offended in Christ and his poor Followers and Members because of their being Condemned as Evil doers by the World As for these things for which Sentence of Death hath past against me I bless the Lord my Conscience doth not condemn me I have not been Rebellious nor do I judge it Rebellion for me to have endeavoured in my Capacity what possibly I could for the born-down and ruined Interest of my Lord and Master and for the Relief of my poor Brethren afflicted and persecuted not only in their Liberties Priviledges and Persons but also in their Lives therefore it was that I joyned with that poor handful the Lord knows who is the searcher of hearts that neither my design nor practice was against his Majesty's person and just Government but I always studyed to be Loyal to lawful Authority in the Lord and I thank God my heart doâ—h not condemn me of any Disloyalty I have been Loyal and I do recommend it to all to be obedient to higher Powers in the Lord. And that I preached at Field-Meetings which is the ground of my Sentence I am so far from acknowledging that the Gospel preached that way was a Rendezvous of Rebellion as it is so tearmed that I bless the Lord that ever he counted me worthy to be Witness of such Meetings which have been so undoubtedly countenanced and owned not only to the conviction but even to the Conversion of many therefore I do assert That if the Lord hath had any purer Church in the Land than other it hath been in and amongst these Meetings in Fields and Houses so much now despised by some and persecuted by others That I preached up Rebellion and taking up Arms against Authority is untrue I bless the Lord my Conscience doth not condemn me for that
that has been so injustly imposed so frivolently founded and vigorously carried on by the Abettors of that contention and meerly upon no other account imaginable but to make a Final Extirpation of Christ and his Gospel Ordinances out of the Land and how Lamentable it is to consider how many professors did willingly pay it and were most forward for inciting others to do the same In the next place though to many I die desired yet I know to not a few my death is not desired and it is the rejoycing of my heart that I die in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ who has loved me and given himself for me and in the faith of the Prophets and Apostles and in this faith that there 's not a name under heaven by which men can be saved but the name of Jesus and in the Faith of the Doctrine and Worship of the Kirke of Scotland as it is now established according to the word of God Confession of faith Catechisms Larger and shorter and likewise I joyn my Testimony against Popery Perjury Profanity Heresie and every thing contrary to sound Doctrine In the Close as a dying person and as one who has obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful I would Humbly leave it upon godly Ministers to be faithful for their Lord and Master and not to hold their peace in such a day when so many ways are taken for injuring of him his name way Sanctuary Ordinances Crown and Kingdome I hope there will be found a party in this Land that will continue for him and his Matters in all Hazzards and as faithfulness is called for in Ministers so professors would concern themselves that they Countenance not nor abet any thing inconsistent with former Principles and practices Let the Land consider how Neuteral and indifferent we are grown in the matters of God even like Ephraim long ago a Cake not turned Next how far we are fallen from our first love how far we are degenerated from the noble Vine into which the Lord did once plant us Lamentable it is how far we are gone in the way of Egypt drinking the Waters of Sichar c. Again What a woeful Spirit of bitterness is predominate in this Land in this our Age Ephraim vexing Judah and Judah Ephraim Manasseth Ephraim and Ephraim Manasseth the growing dogedness of this temper almost amongst us all portends terrible things from the Lord against Scotland Fourthly Reformation neither designed nor practised what means all this deformity that is come to pass in these days instead of the contrary how many of us are pulling down that which we have been building up how many of us calling good evil and evil good dis-owning and dis-savouring that which sometime we judged our honour to testifie for and to avouch Fifthly A Publick Spirit in contending for God in his matters in substance and circumstance according to our Vows and Obligations is much wanting amongst us at this day Farther I am prest in Conscience to make honourable mention of all those glorious things that God has done in Scot. since the year 1638. the abundant measure of his spirit that has been power'd out upon his people Here he spoke much concerning the Solemn League and Covenant and afterwards proceeded as followeth And moreover I bear my Testimonies against all other Confusions Imprisonment and Blood that is or may be intended against those of the Land that desire to keep their Garments clean whether in Prison or out of Prison 6thly As concerning that which is the ground of my death viz. Preaching here and there in some Corners I bless my God I have not the least challenge for it and though those that Condemned me are pleased to call such Preachings Rendezvouses of Rebellion yet I must say this of them they were so far from being reputed such in my Eyes that if ever Christ had a People or Party wherein his Soul took pleasure I am bold to say these Meetings were a great part of them the shineing and Glory of God was eminently seen amongst these Meetings the convincing Power and Authority of our Lord went out with his Servants in those blasphemously nick-named Conventicles this I say without reflection upon any I have a word to say farther that God is calling persons to Repentance and to do their first work Oh that Scotland were a mourning Land and that Reformation were our practice according as we are sworn in the Covenant Again that Christians of Grace and Experience would study more streightness and stability in this day when so many are turning to the right hand and many to the left he that endureth to the end shall be saved he has appointed the Kingdom for such as continue with him in his Temptations Next if ever you expect to have the Form of the House shewed you in all the Laws thereof goings out thereof and comings in thereof then think it no shame to take shame to you for all that has been done sitting down on this side Jordan is like to be our bane Oh when shall we get up and run after him till he bring us into the promised Land let us up and after him with all our heart and never rest till he return I recommend my Wife and young one to the care and faithfulness of the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob the God that has fed me to this day and who is the God of my Salvation their God and my God their Father and my Father I am also hopeful that Christians Friends and Relations will not be unmindful of them when I am gone Lastly I do further bear my Testimony to the Cross of Christ and bless him that ever he counted me worthy to appear for him in such a lot as this Glory to him that ever I heard tell of him and that ever he fell upon such a method of dealing with me as this and therefore let none that loves Christ and his Righteous Cause be offended in me And as I have lived in the faith of this that the three Kingdoms are married Lands so I dye in the faith of it that there will be a resurrection of his Name Word Cause and of all his Interest therein though I dare not determine the time when nor the manner how but leave all these things to the infinitely wise God who has done and will do all things well Oh that he would return to this Land again to repair our breaches and take away our back-sliding and appear for his work Oh that he were pacified towards us Oh that he would pass by Scotland once again and make our time a time of Love Come Lord Jesus come quickly Himself hasten it in his own time and way The Lord is my light and life my joy my song and my salvation the God of his chosen be my Mercy this day and the inriching comforts of the holy Ghost keep up and carry me fair through to the Glory of his Grace to the edification of his people and my own eternal advantage Amen Sic Subscrib John Kid. August 14th 1679. Tolbooth Ante horam Septimam FINIS