Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Over His Church thus boldly they contend,
And by His grace endure unto the end;
Refusing e'er to make a base surrender
Of Christ's regalia to a vile pretender,
Who, swoll'n with more than Luciferian pride,
Could not in his own princely place abide,
But would usurp the sp'ritual pow'r and throne
By God JEHOVAH giv'n to Christ alone.
And having thus 'gainst heav'n display'd a banner.
The Covenant he swore in solemn manner
He broke and burnt; Divine and human laws
Trod under foot; and, to advance his cause,
Made bloody violence the only claim,
Whereby he wore the royal diadem:

Being serv'd with beasts devoid of human sense,
Much more of honour and of conscience;
Who slew God's dearest saints in field and city,
'Gainst law and reason, without sense of pity;
Whose sharpest sufferings could not assuage,
Nor death itself allay their hellish rage;

As if their bodies dead felt sense of pains,
Cut all in parts, they hung them up in chains;
Heads, legs, and arms, they plac'd on every port
Of burghs, or other places of resort,

As standing trophies of their victory

O'er Divine truth and human liberty.

Well, have they kill'd, and ta'en possession too?
Is this the utmost that their rage could do,
Only to send Christ's loving subjects home,
To their dear country where they long to come!
What matter where their dusty parts do ly,
Interr'd in earth, or lifted up on high,

While as their souls eternal anthems raise,
In sweet accents to their Redeemer's praise!

And will not Zion's King regain His crown?
Throwing such vain aspiring mortals down
Into that direful pit, from whence did flow
These mists of pride which did enchant them so.

Come, then, behold these noble Witnesses
Adorn'd with holy zeal and faithfulness;

Who like a Cloud do us environ round,

Viewing (as 'twere) what way we'll stand our ground.

Let's run our race with equal patience,

With eyes intent upon our recompense.

[graphic][ocr errors][merged small]
[graphic][subsumed][merged small]

JONALD CARGILL was the fourth minister, in succession from the Reformation, of the Barony parish, Glasgow; his predecessor being Zachary Boyd, the author of the quaint poem, the "Last Battle of the Soul," and a metrical version of the Psalms. He was a native of the parish of Rattray in Perthshire, and received his early education in Aberdeen. From school he went to the University of St Andrews, where he passed through the regular curriculum.

His father, a godly and religious gentleman, says Sir Robert Hamilton, in his "Relation of some Remarkable Passages in the Life of Mr Donald Cargill" (given in the Appendix to this volume), was desirous that he should study for the ministry; but he declined, under the conviction that the responsibilities of the office were greater than he could bear. His father still continued to urge him, when he resolved to set apart a day for fasting, and prayer for Divine direction. The result was, that he yielded to his father's wishes.

Professor James Wodrow, the father of the historian, was a fellow-student, and was very intimate with him. The Professor says that he was shy and reserved, and for a time was troubled with grievous temptations, which drove him to such despair that he at length determined to put an end to his miserable life. Under the horrible fury of those fiery darts, he went out once or twice to the river Clyde, with a dreadful resolution to drown himself; but somebody or other coming by him, always stayed his purpose.

« AnteriorContinuar »