mind of God is with him; and desire him to write to me. I think, I dare not misbelieve, but when fears assault me, I think there is a voice saying to me, Fear not. Let none stumble at our cause, because of the late dispensation; it is God's cause, which was and is in our hands, though he has punished us with his fatherly chastisements, because of sin amongst us. 'Every tree that bringeth forth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.' But, that which decayeth and goeth backward, is laid by as useless. John Pollock has been in the boots, but I am informed, he is not discouraged, but is likely to be well again. My wounds are very sore, but, blessed be God, he keeps me in a good temper, both of body and mind. I am kindly enough used, wanting nothing. I recommend you, and all the faithful, to the protection of him, who is the almighty God, and everlasting Father. No more, but rests, yours in our sweet Lord Jesus Christ:

"DAVID HACKSTON."*

4. TO HIS SISTER.

"Loving Sister,-I received yours, and the other with it, both to my contentment and satisfaction: it makes me afraid, that the eyes of many should be on me. Let all look to God; I am frail, but Christ is strong: I have his promise of through-bearing, and assurance that he should honour me in his cause, before this. Lie low before the Lord, and let others that are yet faithful be earnest on my behalf; and do it in faith: the prayers of the faithful avail much.' Have you nothing, and tell all friends to have nothing to do with such, as have ado with those that are sitting in that seat, and exercising that power, which belongs alone to Christ. The stroke of the Lord's anger is ready to be poured forth; and those that have received greatest talents from God, and have made that use of them, to strengthen enemies' hands by bonds, or otherwise owning them,-shall be most remarkable in the stroke; and shall not be honoured to testify for Christ, despised Christ, robbed Christ, contemned Christ, by this generation. Remember me to all relations and friends: and give warning to all to flee to Christ's truths and interest. If the free grace of God be glorified in me, ought not all to praise him? 'Christ came not to call the righteous, but sinners.' Many of this generation think they have so much grace that they cannot sin; but I must tell them, grace doth not warrant from sin, and they may so think of it. "Sic Sub.-DAVID HACKSTON."

II. ARCHIBALD ALISON.

[Besides the worthy Author of the preceding letters, there were two other individuals taken at Airsmoss, of whom Archibald Ibid pp 77, 78.

• Cloud of Witnesses, pp 76, 77.

261

Alison was one. He seems to have belonged to Evandale in Lanarkshire-a district of country in which the supporters of the Covenant were both numerous and respectable. With his companion in suffering, he was brought before the Justiciary on the 4th of August-tried and condemned to be executed on the 11th, or according to other accounts, on the 13th of that month, in the Grassmarket of Edinburgh. This sentence he underwent accordingly. The following Testimony to the cause in which he suffered he left behind him.]

"THERE have been many such sights seen in this place of execution, since the year 1660, for this interest and cause, for which I have received the sentence of death; and here I am in your presence to lay down my life this day; for which I charge thee, O my soul, and all that is within me, to bless and magnify the name of the Lord, who can perfect his praise, and bring a testimony out of the mouths of babes or sucklings; yea, before he want some to seal his testimony, even if it were from the beasts of the field, he will not want, as in Balaam's days, the dumb ass speaking with man's voice, gave a testimony against the madness of the prophet Wherefore, unworthy as I am, I am come here, and beg your ear and attention,-ye who are spectators and auditors-if the Lord shall permit me to speak a few words, and I shall be but brief.,

"There are many come here this day to hear and see me lay down this tabernacle of mine, that hath various ends, but our Lord knows you all and your ends both: it is true, God is my witness, that I judge myself the unworthiest person of any that have lost their blood He has been pleased to take a testimony for this honourable cause. from noblemen, gentlemen, ministers, and poor ploughmen lads, and tradesmen of several sorts, which is a token for good, that he has yet And I bless the Lord with a kindness for these covenanted lands. all my heart, that ever he called me with his heavenly calling: I bless the Lord, that I have a life to lay down for his sake; glory to the Lord, that I shall have blood and wounds in his cause.

"But to come more particularly to the purpose in hand, the articles of my indictment were these:-First, they charged me with rebellion, for joining with these they call rebels, and declared enemies to the king, and enemies to all good government: for my own part I never called them so. I declare here where I stand before him who will be my Judge within a little, my design in coming forth with arms, was to hear the gospel preached truly and faithfully, and I know it was the design of that poor handful to defend the gospel, and to keep up a witness and testimony against the abounding corruptions that this deed is filled with from end to end, and to plead with the Lord that he would not make a total removal therefrom. Yea, I heard Mr. Richard Cameron say: My friends, we are not to compare ourselves with Gideon's three hundred men, no not at all; our design is to have you examined, how ye are, and what ye are; to choose two or three of the foot, and two or three of the horse, that are found fittest qualified for elders, to try your principles, to try your life and

conversation, and to have you being Christians. Our number was more the last day, and we gave them free leave to go home, and only but a few handful to stay; for we design not to fall upon any party of the forces, except they be few in number, and oppose us in keeping up the gospel in the fields, for I am persuaded that one meeting in the fields has been more owned and countenanced by His presence with His people, than twenty house meetings, as they are now bought; and therefore make no strife among yourselves about officers, because they are but men; yea, I think there is not a man among you all meet for it; we are not meet to be a minister to you, only we are to wait till the Lord provide better; and ye that are not satisfied to stay in defence of the gospel, good-morrow to you, whatsoever ye be.' And so I thought it was rational and warrantable both from the word of God, and our solemn vows and covenants, which you and the whole land are engaged unto.-Now, ye see what was my motive to join with that handful, and in this I have peace, and on this ground I lay down my life. There is a second motive I had, for which I thought myself bound to own that persecuted cause and interest of my blessed Lord and Master, Jesus Christ: I being about two years ago in Carrick, and hearing the precious gospel of Jesus Christ; in these glorious days, the shining of the countenance of our Lord was discernibly seen there, both upon his ministers and people; I thought it my duty to mark it. The Lord did so soften and animate my heart at that time, that I made it my work how I might win to clearness how to state myself, being among the deceitful indulged ministers, and finding several places of scripture calling me out from them, as that known scripture, If the Lord be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him. Come out from among them, my people, and touch not the unclean thing,' &c. 'Touch not, taste not, handle not, which are all to perish with the using.' I thought it was dreadful to be halting between two opinions. On the other hand, I had some scriptures concerning the cross that attends pure religion and undefiled. The Lord who has called me here to-day, to seal these truths, wrought with an irresistible power on my heart, that good word of his in the xviii. Psal. 46, 47, 48. verses, The Lord liveth; and blessed be my Rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted. It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me. He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me thou hast delivered me from the violent man.' This makes me rejoice. 'The Lord of hosts is on my side.' 'The God of Jacob is my defence,' &c. O so strongly as this binds and obliges me to suffer, and count all joy now to go up this ladder! And I bad occasion to be at several other meetings, I bless the Lord for it: I bless the Lord that ever he made choice of me, who was a miserable sinner, to lay down my life for his cause: and so I die not by constraint or force, but willingly at his command.

"There is another clause in my indictment, and sentence of death. They say, that I walked up and down the country, murdering, destroying, and oppressing the subjects. But, I say, I did never mind the like. And so they have (as they have done to many a

one) assized and sentenced me wrongously; for I did never mind to murder or rob any man: therefore I am clear to charge them guilty of my blood, and to give my testimony against them, as murderers of the servants and people of God, in their being about the service and worship of God, as I was.

"In the next place, I believe that all the scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the word of the eternal and ever living God, given by Divine, inspiration; and that every duty commanded therein ought to be obeyed and performed upon the greatest peril and hazard, and that every crooked and false way should be avoided and guarded against, whatever be the seeming advantages which may accompany the embracing of it, under the pain of being led forth with the workers of iniquity, when he shall pronounce peace on his Israel. 2dly. I give my witness and join my adherence to the Confession of Faith, the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, National and Solemn League and Covenant, with our Solemn Acknowledgment of Sins, and Engagement to Duties. 3dly. I adhere to the Church-government by general assemblies, synods, presbyteries, and kirk-sessions, according as it was established in the year 1648. 4thly. I give my testimony to that faithful declaration at Rutherglen, the 29th of May, 1679. 5thly. I adhere, and give my testimony to the declaration at Sanquhar, June 22, 1680, together with the paper gotten at the Ferry upon Henry Hall, June 3, 1680.* 6thly. I give my testimony and set to my seal to all the former testimonies sealed by the blood of them who have been murdered on scaffolds, in the fields, and in the sea, from the year 1660, to this day; and by all the imprisonments, and banishment of exiled and wandering ones, and by all the spoilings and robbings, oppression, stigmatizing, scourging, and booting, and other horrid cruelties, which have been committed by the enemies of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"On the other hand:-1st. I enter my protestation before the Judge of all, both living and dead, before whom I am to appear within a little time, against all the encroachments made upon the prerogatives of our Lord Jesus Christ, particularly against Popery, Quakerism, and Frelacy, and all their underlings, and the joiners with them; and against all supremacy that is contrary to the word of God; and against all Erastianism; and against both the indulgences first and last, and all the joiners with, connivers at, and supporters of it; and against the silence in watchmen at this day, in not giving faithful warning, according to that in Isa. lviii. 1. Cry aloud, and spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet, show Israel their sins, and the house of Jacob their transgressions;-and against her ambiguous and dark applications, so that the sin of the times is not touched, lest they irritate the magistrates, and bring themselves in hazard of our Lord's cross; which was an evil creeping in long ago, which the assembly condemned in the ministers; and ordered them to be suspended, if they did not amend; and seeing no humiliation for such a great sin, they were to be deposed. 2dly. I enter my protestation against all

6

Commonly called the Queensferry Paper, and drawn up by Mr. Cargill

those who have declared themselves opposite to our Lord Jesus Christ, and have displayed a banner for Satan; not only tolerating, but acting and committing all manner of abominations, and horrid cruelties in things civil and ecclesiastical. 3dly. I enter my protestation against all declarations, proclamations, bonds, cess, and militia money, for keeping standing forces with a displayed banner against our Lord; and against all profanity, looseness, and lukewarmness, and all the backslidings of the Church of Scotland, since our entering into covenant with God to this day.

"Now, Sirs, I have given you but a short hint of my faith and principles; and also of the motives which moved me to join with the serious seekers of God; and also the grounds of my indictment, and sentence of death: also some little glance at the corruptions of the times. I have here joined my testimony to the sufferings of the people of God, and I have entered my protestation against some open sins, which are obvious to all who have not willingly yielded themselves to work wickedness. O! it is but little that I can say! it would take a long summer day to rank them up, and not win at them all: for my part, I am but ignorant, my capacity can but reach to little things. It may be that ye will take but little notice to what the like of me says, but I cannot help it. Now, as a dying man, I leave all these things to your consideration, if this prelatic and indulged party be the party, to be meddled with, and owned, pleaded for and defended; what think ye of them that have gone before us? What think ye of Argyle, and Mr. Guthrie, that were men of understanding? What think ye of Mr. Kid, and Mr. King, and that gentleman that suffered last at the cross ?* Nay, what think ye of religion and the cost of it? What think ye of heaven, and glory that is at the back of the cross? The hope of this makes me look upon pale death as a lovely messenger to me. I bless the Lord for my lot this day.

I shall come shortly to a close, only I beg leave to speak a word to two or three sorts of folks; and I think, all may be comprehended under these three. I entreat you take heed; I wish I may not be a stumblingblock to any, that is looking on me this day. Blessed is he,' says Christ, that shall not be offended in me, and my followers.' The first sort is the seekers of God; I have a word to you: ye have kirk and state upon your top; ye get leave to weep a long night, and have none to comfort you: and if you cry, Watchman, what of the night?' the watchmen are drunk and fallen asleep, they cannot tell. Can these dry bones live? Lord, thou knowest.' Ye are seeing the godly cut off, one way and another; ye are hearing them that have the root of the matter in them crying up a sinful union; and ministers will not tell you what is your duty or danger. O my dear friends, cast not away your confidence; ye must come through many tribulations; but there is a begun heaven for you at night. Seek ye the Lord, ye meek of the earth: ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger.' There is no persecution in heaven, where our Lord's enemies shall never come: I shall not take upon

i. e. Mr. Hackston of Rathillet.