a method of cruelty: for the Jesuits know, where two contrary parties act this game, they will be sure, for fear of their places, to consent to go along to the utmost of cruelty. The next mystery is to convene the whole country by circuit courts, as guilty,-some of treason, some for one transgression, and some for another (the whole country being generally guilty by their law) and force them to rise in arms; and then gather Papists, and take occasion to burn and slay all the country over. The Lord in his mercy take them in their own net; but I fear Popery shall once overspread. And I am really of that opinion, that God shall root this race of kings, root and branch, away, and make them Zeba and Zalmunna-like, not only for taking God's house in possession, but also emitting in their last printed proclamation or indemnity, that they resolved to root out the seed of the godly, under the name of Fanatics.

"My advice and humble request to ministers is, to be tender toward any this day that have zeal, though knowledge be not so great; and to be less fearful of outward danger, and more active where persecution hath been hottest, where they may have any freedom. My advice to all professors is, to lay no imposition on ministers' consciences; and that for the Lord's sake, they would study to take some in among them, that have light and judgment to withstand the flood of defection and Popery that is like to overspread the land. And again, I have another advice to ministers and professors, that where any have suffered for their consciences, they would be sparing to condemn them.

"I come now to declare my first engagement with God, which was about ten years hence, which was through reading of The Fulfilling of the Scriptures,' and scripture truths therein contained, and the grounds of out-making thereof, which gave a check to my atheism,-which is naturally seated in all men's hearts. The next was Gray's Sermons on Prayer;' and the last, Guthrie's Trial of an Interest in Christ' all which, God so powerfully laid home to my conscience, that I then covenanted with God; and though at that time I could not get the faith of perseverance, yet I had a respect to all his statutes; so that, the Bible was a most sweet book to me; and I took up my whole time for near a year thereafter in studying religion, (the most pleasant time that ever I had in my lifetime,) yea, it was a burden to me to turn me to my necessary affairs in the world. I found religion sharpened me in all my natural parts; yea, bring me, who was naturally a most anxious, fretting, grudging, creature, to such a calmness and serenity in cross providences, that I thought,-though there were neither hell nor heaven, religion was a reward to itself. And I was so taken up with Christ's gracious condescendency, that his name was most pleasing; yet durst I not draw a conclusion of assurance and perseverance,-yea, was put to question the work itself, upon account of the quality of my repentance; but meeting with Guthrie's Trial of a Saving Interest in Christ, I found that sensibly swallowed up a lawwork, in love; but I found this, that there is not a more excellent piece of the armour of God, than the helmet of salvation, and which Satan is most busy with a Christian to keep off. I found likewise, as knowledge and grace grew, that presumption grew; that is, that with

what I had gotten, I could walk alone: but that truth, Without me ye can do nothing,' was known to my sad cost. But after all this sweet time,-yea, I may say, most sweet time,-falling more and more engaged in worldly affairs, I found an impossibility to me to be instant in business, and fervent in spirit; so that some throngs in these, abated that life which I had; and accordingly as love grew to outward things, so decreased that power and life I had attained; yet so all along, I find that God has still been holding me by the hand: and I desire, with submission to other men's judgments, to say, I think a person falling in love with godliness,-covenanting with God, having a respect to all his statutes without exception, counting the cost, and seeing the cost of themselves incalculable, and believing that Christ, who was the author, will be the finisher of such a work; I say, I cannot think that ever God will part with such, who do so covenant with him; yea, it has been a comfort to me, when I could see no more of my interest in him, but that I said, 'Thou art my God.' And as I cannot conceal the loving-kindness of God, so upon the other hand, without compliments, as the words of a dying man, I look upon myself as the most worthless object that ever free love has paged and waited upon through the world,-compassed about with so many sins, and clothed with such a perverse nature; but it is He with whom I made the bargain that makes crooked things straight, and rugged places plain.

"Next, I advise all sufferers to beware of proposing to themselves, to do this and the other thing, for safety of life, which is sinful; for if such a false mind be in folk,—' God will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity;' and they will not miss stumbling-blocks to be laid before them: I say this to them who have sinned, and yet continue in the furnace; I fear that be their doom, Jer. xxii. 10. They shall go from their native land, and return no more.' As for you that have tested, that which has been a terror to me, may be now a terror to you; It is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, if they fall away,' &c. by putting Christ to open shame, to renew them to repentance.' As for unconcerned folk, I shall only say this, Think ye nothing of men's choosing death before life! I know I have gotten Roman gallantry cast up to me, since I came to prison; but for my own part, I could never hear tell, that it set up the head of it in the world, to face a gallows, since the word of hell became so rife in the world. But let me tell you this one thing, That though I have read of some single ones dying for opinion, (not truth) yet could I never read of a tract of men, such as has been in Scotland these twenty-two years, laying down their lives for a naked opinion, so calmly, so solidly and composedly, with so much peace and serenity. As for my own part, I am a man naturally most timorous, yet the Lord has made sufferings easy. It might do you good to inquire into the cause of our sufferings, so owned by God. It is a bad cause that is defended with swords, and beating of drums on sufferers. And, besides, the Lord has forced a testimony from the mouths of several of our dying adversaries, and from the mouths of executioners and apprehenders. Yea, in this place, some psalms which were of clear application to themselves they would not suffer

to be sung. And as to professed Presbyterians,-to many of you for your unconcernedness, I am sure the Lord says,-Ye shall drink of another sort of a cup, that is brewing for you,-shun it as you will, by your compliance. As for our really concerned friends, I pray the Lord to protect you, and multiply his grace towards you. I am confident, when you are beneath the rod, ye shall find it an ease to your own smart, however great a lift you have taken of others' sufferings.

"Next, I say to all that come under the rod, let no terrors of men, nor temptations of Satan anent eternity, come into your mind; but go to God with them, acknowledging your unworthiness of his protection and counsel, and you will find him faithful, not to suffer you to be tempted above what you are able.' It is no new thing to be assaulted with terrors without, and within with fears.' The Apostle, a most experienced Christian, wanted not this. I see a Christian to be a most passive creature in his own salvation; yet there must be an All of diligence, otherwise the roaring lion will soon get advantages. And you must know this, that the sufferers have a large allowance; and although, His own want not in their sufferings to the faith of adherence to him, yet ye must not think to sail that way in a bed of roses to heaven; but that ye must have fire in your trial;—I mean a desertingGod-as to apprehension: yet, wait patiently, and at length he will incline his ear, and you shall not want experience to say, 'For a moment lasts his wrath.'

"And now, I leave my dear wife, children, and sisters, upon the Lord, who gave me such sweet refreshing relations, and desire all the people of God to be kind to them; and I bless the Lord he has enabled me to quit them to him: and though the Lord has made every one of them so sweet and so pleasing to me, that I have been forced to curb my affection with the bridle of religion; yet herein I bless the Lord, he has given me heart to go through my cross, with forgetfulness of all; yea, to be most unconcerned to the tears and weeping of my relations.

"And now, I leave all God's people, and others, with this, That his cross is beautiful; yea, though I had had occasion of escaping prison since sentence, yet I durst not without a check of conscience have done it and though I did petition,-yet there was (to me) two necessary ends therein: first, they designing to make me odious, that I would not seek my life; and I desiring to make my suffering clear to their own consciences, to be unjust and next, if any thing ailed my wife, I might lay her blood at their door. But I would advise all to beware of them, for there must be frequent consulting with God, and a reasonable judgment, to discern their snares; it being their main design to ensnare. I advise any called to suffering, never to quit with the faith of adherence, and they shall not want the faith of assurance; for since ever I came to prison, I saw and believed God's design to me was love: and having emptied me of all promises to sufferers, and of all my own righteousness, made me close with him, and take him for all, and believingly to rest on him, and to have recourse to him, for grace to supply necessity, and give me a believing of (though

to me incomprehensible) seeing him as he is,' and knowing him even ' as I am known of him.'

"Now I die, commending to all the people of God the duty of unity, conform to 2 Tim. ii. 22. Follow peace with them that call upon the Lord with a pure heart.' And that, 1 John i. 7. If we have fellowship one with another, the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth from all sin,' I do not say this to make up an union or joining with these I testify against.

Sic sub.-JOHN WILSON."*

XXVII. DAVID MMILLAN.

[With respect to this individual, history has transmitted no particulars. It appears that on the 4th of May, 1683, he was, with some others, brought before the Justiciary, after having been previously examined by the Council. He was found guilty of being in arms at Bothwell, and of judicially owning the lawfulness of joining with those who were there, and sentenced accordingly. He maintained his constancy even to the last, for the clerk of court, while reading the sentence, being stopped, he was informed that after being read out, it could not be recalled, and offered the Test; but his answer was, "Go on ;"—and when it was finished, being asked what he thought of it now, he said, it was very welcome. He died in company with John Wilson, on the 16th of May, 1683, leaving in writing an account of his examination, and a Testimony, which are subjoined.]

1. HIS ANSWErs before the COUNCIL AND JUSTICIARY. WHEN he was brought before a Committee of the Council, their queries and his answers were, "Do you keep the kirk? He answered he was taken out of it, not when hiding, but when retired to it for reading the Scriptures. Being asked who took him, and for what; he answered, Claverhouse, for being at Bothwell. Then he was questioned, Do you not count Bothwell rebellion? No, answered he, it was in defence of the truth. Next he was asked, Do you acknowledge lawful authority? He answered, he is not a Christian that does not so. But, added they, Do you acknowledge the present authority? Ans. In so far as he hath kept his engagements according to the word of God. Then he was asked, Will you take on to be a soldier, and go over sea? for if you abide here you will be hanged. He answered, Being under your power now, I will not cut out mine own lot."

Before the Justiciary his confession before the Council was adduced against him, upon which he alleged that it contained some things which he had not spoken, particularly about the Bishop's death. "Well," said the Judge who presided, "What say you to that now?" He answered, he had no judgment to judge such heads. He adhered to what he had said as to Bothwell; and being asked if he had any thing ot

• Cloud of Witnesses, pp. 291-299.

say to the Assizers, he said, he knew none of them, "but betwixt you and them and God, be it." He was told there was yet room to renounce his ill principles that took him to Bothwell, by taking the Test. He answered, if he took it, it would not be willingly, and his heart would not come up, and so he thought it best to adhere to his right.*

2. HIS TESTIMONY.

"I bless the Lord that chose me to join with that persecuted party, with whom I joined for defence of the truth, and when many fled on horse,-I and my horse going away with the rest,-I shot him from me, and went back and joined with the standing foot, and there was pursued by some riders, to whom I cried for quarter, who said they should give me quarter, and so felled me down to the ground; and thereafter there came an Highland-man, and at about 30 feet distance, shot two balls at me out of a musket, which hit me on the breast, and fell down on the grass without hurting me,—which was so great a marvel to me, that I durst not doubt of his providence since; and then being far from friends, I was through His providence, cured of my wounds. And when I went home my friends said how will you live now, (having lost the power of my arms,) but blessed be He ever since, his providence has never left me without abundance. And I desire that godly love may continue amongst all-the godly, notwithstanding matters of judgment. And I would desire every one to look first into his own sins as the great cause of this undoing of religion. I desire all seriously to consider what price was paid for the church. And for my own part, I think it an admiration that ever he has honoured me with his cross; and let none think ill of it. And I bless the Lord I ever heard field-preachings, for thereby God convinced me of sin, and stirred up a love to Christ. And when it was desired I might deny my deed, I durst not for that word, 'Keep the truth, and the truth shall set you free.' And that of Isaiah, For we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood we have hid ourselves, and the hail should sweep away the refuge of lies,' and that woe to the rebellious children, who take counsel, but not of God, and cover with a covering but not of his Spirit.' And I think, of the covenant that was made with Levi, of peace, because of the fear wherewith he feared God, That the rulers having no fear of God, nor intending peace, have no interest in that covenant.' And I durst not take man's counsel, because of that woe to the rebellious children that took counsel, but not of God. I desire every one to take heed when they stand, lest they fall; for if folk begin to consult with flesh and blood and fetch their steps, they will be fair to slip. And, labour to strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die. For my part, I durst not meddle with petitioning for fear of the sinful snare therein, for they labour to mark them either in the forehead or hand, that they part with. And that word comforted me, Thou hast a little strength, and hast not denied my name, and I have opened a door, and no man can shut it.' I could not argue for the truth as others, but I had

• Wodrow's History, Vol. II. p. 298.