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for there is no public power now in the land, but what is founded upon perjury, sacrilege, and tyranny; Ezek. xxii. 6. Behold, the princes of Israel, every one were in thee, to their power, to shed blood.' And compare Scotland's sins with Israel's sins, in that of Ezekiel, and see if they be not parallel. And seeing they are so, what can be expected, but that their punishments and plagues shall be parallei also? For there are few mourning for all the abominations done in the land

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Now, these are charging me with self-murder, (which is a breach of the sixth command,) which is very false: for self-preservation must stoop to truth's preservation; and further, I have that much of humanity, that I love my life, but cannot redeem it with the loss of my integrity; but I prove that such as do these things, which they would have me to do, are actually guilty of a breach of the second commandment, which is, Thou shalt not make unto thyself any graven image. For, I cannot say, but it is a worshipping of images, to yield to them in these things,-now when they have seated theinselves in Christ's room: therefore, I exhort you all, to beware of joining with them in their sins, lest ye partake with them in their plagues, -now when they have made it manifest, that they will have no king but Charles Stuart; wherefore, I think it is our duty to cleave to Christ: we must either quit Christ or Charles. Indeed, there is some folk pretend to keep both; but I defy any, if they be called to a public testimony, but they must either quit Christ or Charles: for they will not have the civil law without the ecclesiastic; so I cannot see how they can be owned in either; for by their acts of parliament they have made them alike inherent in the crown: and shall that authority be so owned by me, being a free-born member of the church of Scotland,-which is Christ's mystical body,-without being guilty of high rebellion against God? And further, he having broken all obligations, which was the tenor by which he entered into the government, and without which he could not have entered into the government, the covenant being the coronation-oath; which he hath not only broken, but made it death to all that speak of them. And further, having seated himself in the Mediator's chair of state, which is enough to denude him of authority, even in civil matters. If it shall be said, The land has given him that supremacy, and so cannot take it from him again to this I answer, Every individual person in the land hath not given him that; and therefore is free to reject him upon that head, when they are called to it. But O! the sin of Scotland is great in departing away from God; for Scotland hath slidden back like a backsliding heifer, for they declare their sin like Sodom, they hide it not; the show of their countenance witnesses against them. But, however, it will be well with those that keep their garments clean; for ye will find enough ado when it cometh, although ye should live Christians twenty years; therefore slight not time when ye have it; for if death come upon you, it will not be easy; but well is that soul that can say upon good grounds, That Christ is all in all to it; but the worldly-mindedness, and slavish fear of this genera. tion, makes their practice declare to the world, that Christ is not

worthy the suffering for, otherwise they durst not adventure to forsake him, who is altogether lovely; for he will bid none go his errands upon their own charges.

"Now, as to the articles of my indictment, upon which my sentence of death is passed, they are chiefly these. 1st, My owning as lawful, my rising in arms at Bothwell-bridge, which I did with great cheerfulness and boldness,—it being self-defence, and in defence of the gospel; for my own part, the only end I had before me there was, the glory of God, if I was not deceived; therefore, I could not think it rebellion, or unlawful against God, although the laws of men be against it, who have set themselves in opposition to all the commands of God. 2dly, It was my disowning the curates to be faithful ministers, which I did very boldly; and they said, if I disowned the curates, I disowned all authority, which may testify, that they have set themselves in Christ's stead. 3dly. My owning Mr. Donald Cargill, Mr. John Kid, and Mr. Richard Cameron, to be faithful ministers of Jesus Christ, which I did, and I bless the Lord that ever I heard them, and I set to my seal to the faithfulness of these men's doctrine. 4thly, My not praying for the king in his person and authority, which I durst not do, it being a perfect owning of him in all that he hath done. Some may

object, and say, that I am against the scriptures in this, because in several places in the Old Testament, we find, that the kings of Israel were anointed to that office by the Lord, and obedience to them thereupon enjoined. But this was only done to lawful kings, and so could not be to ours, he having set up himself in the room of God incarnate. And we may justly say, as the children of Israel said, 1 Sam. xii. 19. For we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king;' because we follow him in things contrary to the command of God. And should I pray for that man, to preserve him in his person and government, who hath thus ventured upon the thick bosses of the buckler of God Almighty? If one should object, and say, These are small things to this I answer, No truth is small; Luke xvi. 10. 'He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much.'

"Now, I shall give an account of my principles, and I shall do it as in the sight of God. I am a true Christian, truly anti-popish, antiprelatic, anti-schismatic, anti-sectarian, anti-Erastian, a true Presbyterian and whatever many have said of me, or may say, thus I have lived, and so now I die. Now, 1st, I close with Christ in that way of redemption, which he hath purchased, for the redemption of sinners; 1 Tim. i. 15. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the chief.' Ver. 16. Howbeit, for this cause I obtained mercy.' 2dly, I give my testimony to the followers of the holy scriptures, for they are the rule that men are to walk by, and they declare the revealed will of God to men, anent man's salvation. 3dly, I give my testimony to the work of reformation in the church of Scotland, and I bless the Lord that I was born a member of that church; but chiefly against popery, prelacy, and quakerism, and independency; and, finally, from under all the errors of the church. 4thly,

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I give my testimony to the Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms, Sum of Saving Knowledge, Directory for Worship, the order of the church of Scotland. 5thly, I give my testimony to the divine worship, discipline and government of the church of Scotland, both by kirk-sessions, presbyteries, synods, and general assemblies. 6thly, I give my testimony to the Covenants, National and Solemn League and Covenant. 7thly, I give my testimony to the faithful actings of the protestors, called remonstrances, against malignants and malignant interests, which is the very thing this poor church is contending for, this day. 8thly, I give my testimony to all the faithful testimonies of the people of God, that have been given for that noble work, whether on scaffolds, or in the fields, or on the seas. 9thly, I give my testimony to the faithful actings of the last martyr; although this generation is calling sin a duty, and duty a sin, because of hazard; for if this generation get leave to go on in their pernicious ways, they will not believe that there is a God in heaven to punish such sinners and sins as are committed in the land. Mal. iii. 9. Ye are cursed with a curse; for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.'

"Now, 1st, I witness my testimony against the public resolutioners, for bringing in the malignant party to places of power and trust, for which this poor land is smarting, and bearing the weight of their hands to this day. 2dly, I leave my testimony against that act of supremacy, and the act rescissory by which two they have overturned the whole work of reformation, both in kirk and state. 3dly, I leave my testimony against the unfaithfulness of ministers, both indulged, and others, who are sheltering themselves under the wings of those who have declared themselves enemies to all godliness: and I wonder how they can say, they are even-down for God, yet never one of them is troubled, be troubled who will; for before my face, one of these ministers said (viz. Mr. Anthony Shaw by name,) he prayed, God save him from the man that would not pray for the king in his person and government; to whom I said, magistrates ought to punish evil-doers: indeed so he doth,' said he. 4thly, I leave my testimony against the wrongers of my lovely Lord's crown, all in general. 5thly, I leave my testimony against the hearers of these perjured curates, throughout the land; but especially in that corner of the land, to wit, Kilmarnock, for their going to kirks, subscribing of bonds, paying of fines, which includeth in it the acknowledgment of a fault, which I deny we have done, but they have done it to us; and yet never a watchman to testify against it! 6thly, I leave my testimony against paying of the cess, or any other thing that may strengthen the hands of evil-doers: Isa. lxv. 11. For ye are they that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish a drink-offering unto that number.'

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"Now I will speak a word to three sorts of folk: 1st, To you that are strangers, enemies to my lovely Lord, let your estrangedness be done away, fly to him, ere he break out in fury against you. sider how near you are to the destroyer, if ye fly not unto him: and if you fly in unto him he will abundantly pardon. Therefore, I entreat, that ye would turn from your evil ways, and leave off your persecution, and flee to him, for there is mercy with him that he may be feared:

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and if ye will not turn, wrath will be upon you to all eternity. A second sort, are those that formerly have known God, and now are fallen from their first love: O consider your former ways, and turn again to your first husband, lest there be no space to repent; for all the ways that ye have taken to get past trouble, will not hide from him who is the great sin-revenging God; and he will bring all your sins, and your compliance, to stand witness against you; therefore delay not repentance, for ye will find death have enough ado, with itself. A third sort, are those who desire to walk in his way, and to keep themselves from the crying wickedness of these times. O stand fast in the faith; for there is no other burden laid upon you, but hold fast till he come.' O for that day when ye shall be made one stick in his hand, and have fervent charity among yourselves!—and Let him that standeth, take heed lest he fall,' for ye will find enough ado with it, when death comes; therefore let the main thing be your study, and get once that made sure that cannot be taken from you; for ye have many enemies to fight with, if ye get through, for the way to heaven is very strait for it is no wonder Satan seek to tempt poor Christians, when he essayed to tempt our blessed Lord and Master. Let none of you think it strange, concerning what hath befallen me, for it is in his holy wisdom he hath carved out my lot, such; and I have been made to bless him for my lot. O! study to wrestle against your own corruptions, which are very heavy to me sometimes, but his love hath been great in bringing me out of the state of nature, and hath brought me to see my own weakness, and also hath given me a sight of the remedy, for which my soul shall be made to praise him throughout all eternity.

"Now, my dear friends in Christ, study to walk blameless in all manner of conversation, as becometh the gospel; let your light so shine before the world, that they may be ashamed that shall accuse your good conversation in Christ: for now ye need not think, if ye keep the way of God, but ye will have many enemies, both within and without, therefore seek strength from him who is able to give it ye need not think, that all the stock of grace that a man hath, will be sufficient when the trial comes, if there be not fresh supply given in the time of need. O! wrestle with him, that ye may be hid in the day of his wrath, that seems to be poured out on this generation, for their great treachery and departure from God,--the breach of his laws, and subjecting to the laws of men; but my eyes shall be closed, that I shall not see it, and I am well content, seeing I get my soul for a prey,-then I shall have no loss.

"Now, as for His way with his church, it is mysterious to me; but this I think is a token for good, that he is taking some to witness for hir despised and trampled-upon truths, and he will keep some witnessing still, until he return again: but indeed I think it seems it is but very few that will see him return again in this generation. Now, death is called the king of terrors,' but I think it is not so with me; 1 Cor. xv. 55. O death, where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory? 2 Cor. v. 1. For we know if this earthly tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in

the heavens for which we long earnestly, to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord, which is far better.'

“Now, I declare I am free of the blood of all men; and although men have no public scandal to charge me with, yet by original and actual transgression, I am the chief of sinners; but His love hath been great, the manifestations of his presence hath been great also; for Satan hath not been wanting to assault, but yet glory to His name, who hath resisted him, and hath not permitted him to get his will. Now, as my last words, I recommend it to all, to be tender one of another, without sinning; and be in earnest with God, for ye will find death will have enough ado with itself; therefore delay not repentance, lest he come when ye are not aware. Now, as for these men that are unjustly taking away my life, only for adhering to the truth, and for no other end ;-now for what they do to me, as I am of myself, I freely forgive them and all others, and especially these blinded soldiers, that do what they do ignorantly (some of them); but as they do it to the image of God in me, that is not mine to forgive; but I leave to him, 'to whom vengeance doth belong,' that he may do with them what may most glorify himself.

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Now, my work is finished, I have fought the good fight; I have finished my course; henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousness; but let such as will condemn me read that scripture, Rom. viii, 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? it is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth? For my lot is fallen to me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage;' for I would not change my lot for the greatest man's upon earth. Men and angels praise him for this; all the creation praise him; O! my soul shall praise him, through all the ages of eternity.

"Now, farewell all true friends in Christ; farewell Christian relations; farewell sweet and holy scriptures; farewell prayer and meditation; farewell sinning and suffering. Welcome heaven; welcome innumerable company of angels, and the church of the first-born, and the spirits of just men made perfect; welcome Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; welcome praises for evermore. Now, dear Father, receive my Spirit, for it is thine, even so come Lord Jesus.

Sic sub.-JOHN NISBET."*

XXVIII. JOHN WILSON.

[This was a man of great integrity and worth, with no small share of learning and talent. He was, by profession a Writer in the town of Lanark, and having held a commission in the Presbyterian army at the battle of Bothwell, he was with many others condemned, though absent, to suffer death as soon as he should be apprehended. At what time he was taken cannot be ascertained; but on the 17th of April, he was brought before the Council, examined, and remitted to

• Cloud of Witnesses, pp. 272, 283.

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