"And now I recommend my soul into the hands of my heavenly Father, the Creator thereof, and to Jesus Christ my only Redeemer and Saviour, by whom the parts of heaven are made patent unto me, willing my trusty and dearly beloved brethren, insert witnesses of this my will, to cause bury my body in that place and after that manner which shall seem good unto them, there to sleep until the day of the joyful resurrection to life everlasting, when my soul and body joined together shall have the full fruition of His face with the bodies and souls of all the faithful. And now, concerning the ordering of my family, seeing the possession of earthly things is not able to enrich my posterity;-I desire as God is the Father of the fatherless and Comforter of the widow's case, by the riches of his blessing to supply their poverty; and touching the portion of goods given to me I put the same in the hands of my most special friends, Robert Fairly of Braid, Mr. John Lindsay senator of the college of justice, John Johnston, Elphingston, burgess of Edinburgh, with my loving spouse Janet Guthrie, whom I constitute executors of this my testament, and they with common consent shall choose one or more of their number to whose fidelity the intromission shall be committed upon sufficient security that all things shall come to the use of my children; which burden I most earnestly request them to take upon them for the love and familiar conjunction that has been betwixt us in Christ, giving power to them to make and subscribe an inventure of my books, household gear, and other moveables left behind me in Scotland, wherever they shall be transported, and also praying my beloved brethren, the witnesses underwritten in this testament, to make and subscribe another inventure of my books, clothes, and other moveables which I have in London, and deliver them to be kept by my brother Mr. Walter Balcanquall; the whole books, clothes, and other moveables, and household gear, whatsoever, contained in the said inventures, to be set at reasonable prices, and to be sold at the sight and appointment of my said executors and intromitters, and that part thereof which shall of right be judged by them to appertain to me, shall be divided into four equal portions, to my wife and three children, to bring them up in the fear of God at the schools, in such company as their wisdom shall think most meet and expedient. And, as touching the gold and silver presently in my possession here, amounting in whole to the number of 76 pieces,* I have committed them to he credit of Mr. Walter Balcanquall, to be disposed as follows: Imprimis, He shall deliver to the French kirk at London, three angels, to be distributed to their poor. Item, To Mrs. Vanual, who kept me in my sickness, an angel. Item, I will that my loving brother, Mr. James Carmichael, shall take a rose-noble instantly, and deliver it to my dear brother and loving friend, Mr. Walter Balcanquall, who has been so careful of me at all times, and especially in time of my present sickness, to remain with him as a perpetual token of my special love and Here there was a very curious and minute inventory given of the various nk possessed by Mr. Lawson at the time, which, however, it was not thought hry to insert here, more especially considering the particular object, with his latter will has been introduced into the volume. thankful heart towards him. Item, I will that the said Mr. Walter deliver in my name to my dear and well beloved spouse, Janet Guthrie, beside other provision made, or that may fall unto her by my testament, the Portugal ducat, in sign of my loving kindness, which she has well deserved, as a faithful brother gave the same to me as a pledge of his singular love towards me. And touching the pieces of gold and English silver, resting of the sum foresaid, I will that the said Mr. Walter deliver the same, bona fide, to my said executors, which gold and silver, resting, I will that my said executors bestow in the manner following: Imprimis, To my sister, Christian Lawson, the sum of twenty pounds Scots, and all the rest to be equally parted betwixt my three bairns, in three portions: providing always, that the recompense of the physicians, apothecaries, and whatsoever expenses necessary shall be made in time of my sickness, or shall be owed by me in London, when it shall please God to call me out of this valley of misery, which is just debt, and which I am owing presently, or any expense in transporting my graith home, be first paid to my brother Mr. Balcanquall at the sight of the said brethren, of the readiest of the said sum, which shall be disbursed thereof, by the said executors after the sight of the ticket thereof, by the said brethren, which shall be a sufficient discharge unto him for the same. Lastly, I earnestly request of my loving brethren, Mr. Andrew Melville, Mr. John Davidson, and Mr. James Carmichael, to concur with my brother Mr. Walter Balcanquall in revising my written books and papers well at London as elsewhere, and use the same as they think may best serve for the glory of God and comfort of the kirk, and my will is, that my said executors deliver them thankfully unto their hands, giving power also to my said executors to put this my testament, if need be, in more exquisite and ample form with all clauses requisite, the substance always being reserved. In witness and verification of this my testament and constant will, in the premises, and in confirmation of my testament, written at my request by Mr. James Carmichael, I, the said Mr. James Lawson, hath subscribed the same with my hand,† and desire my good and trusty friends, Mr. ** as • It appears that Mr. Lawson, in his books and papers, left many proofs of his talents and industry, but we are not aware that any of his writings were published, though they must no doubt have been highly valuable from the "zeal, learning, and eloquence," ascribed to him, by his cotemporaries. + Perhaps it may appear to some that, viewed as a testimony to a man's religious tenets, there is here a degree of minute formality which might have been dispensed with. Regarded as a legal deed anent the disposition of his property, perhaps some attention to this may be allowed to have been necessary; but the truth is, that it was in the former rather than the latter of these views that the designs and sentiments of the testator were, in the times in which he lived, liable to be misrepresented. And such, in point of fact, was the virulence of party feeling against him, that archbishop Adamson, on hearing of his death, wrote a testament in his name, containing a recantation of his principles, and also a variety of letters to his brethren, in which he is inade to reflect on their conduct and motives in opposing the king and bishops! It was thus that acts which, at the present day, would disgrace and criminate the humblest citizen in the eyes of his countrymen, were then resorted to by men in the highest stations in life, with a view to supporting a cause which had no footing of itself in the feelings of the people. Andrew Melville, provost of the new college of St. Andrews, Mr. James Carmichael, minister of God's word in Haddington, Mr. John Davidson, minister of God's word at Libberton, and Mr. Walter Balcanquall, my colleague, in the ministry at Edinburgh, to testify the same by their handwriting, the which also they did in my presence, after we had all heard the same distinctly read, day, month, year, and place foresaid. Mr. ANDREW MELVILLE, Mr. JOHN DAVIDSON, Sic. Sub.*-JAMES LAWSON, Mr. WALTER BALCANQUALL. Witnesses to the Premises. VII. ROBERT ROLLOCK. [Mr. Rollock was born about the year 1555. After finishing his studies at St. Andrews, he was chosen a professor of philosophy in that university. In this office he continued for four years, discharging its duties with much applause, when, about the year 1585, he was invited to a chair in the university of Edinburgh. In that institution he afterwards became principal, a station which he occupied till his death, in 1598. He was signally distinguished not only by the conscientious diligence with which he performed his public duties, but also by the peculiarly mild and Christian spirit, which adorned his private character, and which, as the following details evince, became especially prominent in his last sickness.] Perceiving that his end was approaching, he, with his wonted prudence, settled his domestic concerns, and solemnly commended his wife, at that time pregnant of her first and only child, to the care of his friends. Two of these friends, (Patrick Galloway and David Lindsay) who had always stood high in his regard, having come to him, he called them to witness that he professed himself to be a dying man, and as such, he implored them to go in his name to the king, and to exhort him to prosecute the path of religion in the same inoffensive courset he had hitherto followed; proceed in it with an unfaltering step till the last hour of life, and not allow himself to be drawn from it, either by the hope of enlarging his authority, or by the MS. Life of Lawson. It must be confessed, that in this and other instances, the language employed in reference to the king is somewhat too flattering and obsequious. It may be observed, however, in palliation, that the commendation here bestowed, was evidently meant to refer to the immediately preceding, and consequently least objectionable years of James' reign; and that at all events, such language, however objectionable it may appear, could have proceeded from no wish on the part of Rollock to compromise his principles, but only from that singularly benevolent temper and innate love of peace, by which he was so prominently characterized through life. evil advices of wicked men. With respect to the pastors of the church, for which he felt an equal degree of reverence, he thus spoke: "The ministry of Christ, though in human calculation a mean and humble office, was yet glorious in the sight of God; and though ministers are earthen vessels, the refuse and offscourings of the earth, they will hereafter shine in glorious splendour." Afterwards the ministers of Edinburgh having waited upon him, he discoursed to them as follows: "Wearied out with a weight of sickness, and longing for rest and the end of my life, I continue to breathe and hope; yet I have not so learned nor preached Christ, but in him to feel support under all my distresses. The care of the college, brethren, has always stood highest in my thoughts: God is my witness with what faithfulness and diligence he enabled me to look after its administration, and I am sensible to myself, you are not ignorant of the advantages that redound to the church and the commonwealth from the right management of that society. The thread of my life is now breaking; I am fast hastening to my home, my country, my Father's house, long and much desired by me. I beg of you when I am taken away, let not the college mourn too bitterly and long, in widowhood. You, I hope, even you, my brethren, will not be stepmothers to her, but affectionate and kind parents, and nourish and cherish her in your bosom. The work of the ministry has also lain heavily on my spirit, and you are not ignorant of my motives in entering upon it. I dare not say I have ever done any thing worthy of that high office, but I dare say it was in my heart so to do. You will remember that I was chosen by the assembly at Dundee to watch for the interest of this church. In this, I had the glory of God and the safety of the church, miserably tossed with tempests and shaking, before mine eyes; and I can now declare, that my conscience does not smite me with any wicked departure from duty, in doubling the number of the ministers of Edinburgh, and particularly in my activity to bring in two (Messrs. Howat and Robertson) who studied under me, when I thought I saw gifts in them suitable to such a trust, and hoped God would bless their labours. I am so far from repenting any share I had in it, that to this hour it is satisfying to me. It was lately told me that a rumour is propagated, as if I were vexed in mind for the hand I had in this. But I can appeal to God, the witness and judge of secrets, before whose tribunal I am shortly to stand, that in all that matter, I had right and straight ends before me, according to the grace and prudence God has vouchsafed to me : and there is nothing that vexes and troubles me now. I am persuaded the wise Maker of the world has tied the church and state together, with a brotherly and adamantine chain, and it hath been my great care to advance the good of both; so that the temporal sword should not be perniciously drawn against the church, nor the church incited against the king and state, and that an inevitable war might be prevented. And yet the love of peace hath not so far bewitched me, that I could not distinguish between genuine and adulterous peace, neither hath my affection to my sovereign carried C me that length as that, to please him, I would submit to the least stain on my conscience. I hope the integrity and candour of my practice shall appear when I am dead. In a word, brethren, join together with the most intimate love and concord in the work of the Lord. What can be more unnatural than that the ambassadors of peace should be rending one another with strife and discord? especially at a season when our enemies are so busy, and our forces ought not to be scattered by strife, but by all means united, that so we may thrust not at one another, but only at our enemies' hearts. Let me put you in mind to pay the most obsequious obedience to the king. You live in happy times, and enjoy a singular felicity. You are blessed with a prince who drunk in religion with his milk, who hath guarded your doctrine with a right discipline, and covers both the doctrine and discipline of religion with his protection; who hath taken the church so much into his care, as by open and plain unanswerable documents to make it evident, that he will never desert her while he breathes. Therefore, what you may easily and pleasantly enjoy, it will be folly to seek after by harsh methods. You will then take particular care that the church be not ruined by a fall from such high happiness. Paul might have retained Onesimus with him, but without Philemon he would do nothing, that his benefit should not be as of constraint, but willingly. It is my opinion, we should follow the apostle's pattern in matters of far greater weight. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, enrich you with all spiritual blessings, and furnish you with all might and strength for the faithful discharge of your office." Towards the evening of the same day, he appeared to feel that death was fast approaching, and fell out into a most rapturous discourse, which edified all that heard him. The physicians having attempted by some prescriptions to alleviate his trouble, he turned himself and said, “ Thou, O Lord, wilt be my Physician.” He then prayed most fervently for the pardon of sins, through the Redeemer's merits, declaring that he counted all things dross and dung, be they ever so great, for the excellency of the cross of Christ. He then beseeched God that he would give him a comfortable and happy end to this life, that being covered under the wings of mercy, he might sleep in Christ, and enjoy the face of God, which he most violently longed to see. "I have seen thee," added he, "in the faint glass of the word, as through a glass darkly; allow me that long and much wished for enjoyment, of the light of thy countenance for eternity." He then discoursed of the resurrection and eternal life, as if he were already in heaven; and taking all present by the hand, like the patriarchs of old, he blessed them, adding exhortations, suited to the temper and office of each individual. Next day, the magistrates and counsellors of the city having waited on him, he addressed them as follows: "As far as I can conjecture, I am going over the threshold of time, and entering into my native country and my Father's house. This is not uneasy to me: I have frequently longed for the end of this life. I have still been most anxious about the college; and now when I am about to leave it, |