Part 15 (1/2)
March 17th, three gentlewomen came to see him, and after exhorting them to read the word, and be much in prayer, and much in communion with G.o.d, he said, ”My honourable Master and lovely Lord, my great royal King hath not a match in heaven nor in earth. I have my own guilt even like other sinful men, but he hath pardoned, loved, washed, and given me joy unspeakable and full of glory. I repent not that ever I owned his cause.
These whom ye call protestors, are the witnesses of Jesus Christ. I hope never to depart from that cause nor side with those that have burnt the causes of G.o.d's wrath. They have broken their covenant oftener than once or twice, but I believe _the Lord will build Zion, and repair the waste places of Jacob_. Oh! to obtain mercy to wrestle with G.o.d for their salvation. As for this presbytery, it hath stood in opposition to me these years past. I have my record in heaven I had no particular end in view, but was seeking the honour of G.o.d, the thriving of the gospel in this place, and the good of the new college, that society which I have left upon the Lord. What personal wrongs they have done me, and what grief they have occasioned to me, I heartily forgive them, and desire mercy to wrestle with G.o.d for mercy to them, and for the salvation of them all.”
The same day Messrs. James M'Gil, John Wardlaw, William Vilant, and Alexander Wedderburne, all members of the same presbytery with him, coming to visit him, he made them welcome, and said, ”My Lord and Master is the chief of ten thousand, none is comparable to him in heaven or earth. Dear brethren, do all for him, pray for Christ, preach for Christ, feed the flock committed to your charge for Christ, do all for Christ, beware of men-pleasing, there is too much of it amongst us. The new college hath broke my heart, I can say nothing of it, I have left it upon the Lord of the house, and it hath been and still is my desire that he may dwell in this society, and that the youth may he fed with sound knowledge.”--After this he said, ”Dear brethren, it may seem presumptuous in me a particular man, to send a commission to a presbytery;--and Mr. M'Gill replying, It was no presumption, he continued,--Dear brethren, take a commission from me a dying man, to them to appear for G.o.d and his cause, and adhere to the doctrine of the covenant, and have a care of the flock committed to their charge, let them feed the flock out of love, preach for G.o.d, visit and catechise for G.o.d, and do all for G.o.d, beware of men-pleasing, the chief shepherd will appear shortly, &c. I have been a sinful man, and have had mine own failings, but my Lord hath pardoned and accepted my labours. I adhere to the cause and covenant, and resolve never to depart from the protestation[90] against the controverted a.s.semblies. I am the man I was. I am still for keeping the government of the kirk of Scotland intire, and would not for a thousand worlds have had the least hand in the burning of the causes of G.o.d's wrath. Oh! for grace to wrestle with G.o.d for their salvation.”
Mr. Vilant having prayed at his desire, as they took their leave he renewed their charge to them to feed the flock out of love. The next morning, as he recovered out of a fainting, in which they who looked on expected his dissolution, he said, ”I feel, I feel, I believe, I joy and rejoice, I feed on manna.” Mr. Blair (whose praise is in the churches) being present, he took a little wine in a spoon to refresh himself, being then very weak, he said to him, ”Ye feed on dainties in heaven, and think nothing of our cordials on earth.”--He answered, ”They are all but dung, but they are Christ's creatures, and out of obedience to his command I take them.----Mine eyes shall see my Redeemer, I know he shall stand the last day upon the earth, and I shall be caught up in the clouds to meet him in the air, and I shall be ever with him, and what would you have more, there is an end.”--And stretching out his hands he said again, ”There is an end.”----And a little after he said, ”I have been a single man, but I stand at the best pa.s.s that ever a man did, Christ is mine and I am his.”--And spoke much of the white stone and new name. Mr. Blair (who loved with all his heart to hear Christ commended) said to him again--”What think ye now of Christ?--To which he answered, I shall live and adore him. Glory! glory to my Creator and my Redeemer for ever! Glory s.h.i.+nes in Emmanuel's land.” In the afternoon of that day he said, ”Oh! that all my brethren in the public may know what a Master I have served, and what peace I have this day, I shall sleep in Christ, and when I awake I shall be satisfied with his likeness. This night shall close the door and put my anchor within the vail, and I shall go away in a sleep by five of the clock in the morning” (which exactly fell out). Though he was very weak, he had often this expression, ”Oh!
for arms to embrace him! Oh! for a well tuned harp!” He exhorted Dr.
Colvil (a man who complied with prelacy afterward) to adhere to the government of the church of Scotland, and to the doctrine of the covenant, and to have a care to feed the youth with sound knowledge.----And the doctor being the professor of the new college, he told him, That he heartily forgave him all the wrongs he had done him.
He spake likewise to Mr. Honeyman (afterward bishop Honeyman) who came to see him, saying, ”Tell the presbytery to answer for G.o.d and his cause and covenant, saying, The case is desperate, let them be in their duty.”----Then directing his speech to Mr. Colvil and Mr. Honeyman, he said, ”Stick to it. You may think it an easy thing in me a dying man, that I am now going out of the reach of all that men can do, but he before whom I stand knows I dare advise no colleague or brother to do what I would not cordially do myself upon all hazard, and as for the causes of G.o.d's wrath that men have now condemned, tell Mr. James Wood from me, that I had rather lay down my head on a scaffold, and have it chopped off many times (were it possible), before I had pa.s.sed from them.” And then to Mr. Honeyman he said, ”Tell Mr. Wood, I heartily forgive him all the wrongs he has done me, and desire him from me to declare himself the man that he is still for the government of the church of Scotland.”
Afterwards when some spoke to him of his former painfulness and faithfulness in the ministry, he said, ”I disclaim all that, the port that I would be at, is redemption and forgiveness through his blood, _thou shalt shew me the path of life, in thy sight is fulness of joy_, there is nothing now betwixt me and the resurrection _but to-day thou shalt be with me in paradise_.” Mr. Blair saying, Shall I praise the Lord for all the mercies he has done and is to do for you? He answered, ”Oh! for a well tuned harp.” To his child[91] he said, ”I have again left you upon the Lord, it may be, you will tell this to others, that _the lines are fallen to me in pleasant places, I have got a goodly heritage_. I bless the Lord that he gave me counsel.”
Thus by five o'clock in the morning (as he himself foretold) it was said unto him, Come up hither, and he gave up the ghost, and the renowned eagle took its flight unto the mountains of spices.
In the foresaid manner died the famous Mr. Rutherford who may justly be accounted among the sufferers of that time, for surely he was a martyr both in his own design and resolution, and by the design and determination of men. Few men ever ran so long a race without cessation, so constantly, so unweariedly, and so unblameably. Two things (rarely to be found in one man) were eminent in him, _viz._ a quick invention and sound judgment, and these accompanied with a homely but clear expression, and graceful elocution; so that such as knew him best were in a strait whether to admire him most for his penetrating wit and sublime genius in the schools, and peculiar exactness in disputes and matters of controversy, or his familiar condescension in the pulpit, where he was one of the most moving and affectionate preachers in his time, or perhaps in any age of the church.----To sum up all in a word, He seems to be one of the most resplendent lights that ever arose in this horizon.
In all his writings he breathes the true spirit of religion, but in his every-way admirable letters he seems to have out-done himself, as well as every body else, which, although jested on by the profane wits of this age because of some homely and familiar expressions in them, it must be owned by all who have any relish for true piety, that they contain such sublime flights of devotion that they must at once ravish and edify every sober, serious, and understanding reader.
Among the posthumous works of the laborious Mr. Rutherford are his letters; the trial and triumph of faith; Christ's dying and drawing of sinners, &c.; and a discourse on prayer; all in octavo. A discourse on the covenant; on liberty of conscience; a survey of spiritual antichrist; a survey of antinomianism; antichrist stormed; and several other controverted pieces, such as _lex rex_, the due right of church-government; the divine right of church-government; and a peaceable plea for presbytery; are for the most part in quarto, as also his summary of church discipline, and a treatise on the divine influence of the Spirit. There are also a variety of his sermons in print, some of which were preached before both houses of parliament _annis_ 1644, and 1645. He wrote also upon providence, but this being in Latin, is only in the hands of a few; as are also the greater part of his other works, being so seldom republished. There is also a volume of sermons, sacramental discourses, &c. which I have been desired to publish.
_An EPITAPH on his Grave-stone._
What tongue! What pen, or skill of men Can famous Rutherford commend!
His learning justly rais'd his fame, True goodness did adorn his name.
He did converse with things above, Acquainted with Emmanuel's love.
Most orthodox he was and sound, And many errors did confound.
For Zion's King, and Zion's cause, And Scotland's covenanted laws, Most constantly he did contend, Until his time was at an end.
At last he wan to full fruition Of that which he had seen in vision.
_October 9th, 1735._ W. W.
_The Life of the honourable ARCHIBALD CAMPBEL Marquis of Argyle._
Archibald Campbel having, after a good cla.s.sical education, applied himself to the study of the holy scriptures, became well acquainted with the most interesting points of religion, which he retained and cultivated amidst his most laborious and highest employments both in church and state ever after.
From his earlier years he stood well affected to the presbyterian interest, and being still a favourer of the puritans (the presbyterians then so called) when Mr. Rutherford was, for his non-conformity, brought before the high commission court _anno_ 1638, he interposed to his utmost in his behalf; concerning which Mr. Rutherford in his letters says,[92] ”My Lord hath brought me a friend from the highlands of Argyle, my lord Lorn, who hath done as much as was within the compa.s.s of his power. G.o.d give me favour in his eyes.” And elsewhere to the lady Kenmuir, ”And write thanks to your brother, my lord of Lorn, for what he has done for me, a poor unknown stranger to him. I shall pray for him and his house while I live. It is his honour to open his mouth in the streets for his wronged and oppressed Master Christ Jesus.” Nor was this all: for about the same time, he so laboured and prevailed with the bishop of Galloway, that worthy Earlston was relaxed from the sentence of banishment unto which he was a.s.signed for the same n.o.ble cause.
And no sooner did our reformation (commonly called the second reformation) begin to dawn _anno_ 1637, than he espoused the same cause himself; for we find next year, that the earl of Argyle (his father dying about that time), though a private counsellor, diligently attending all the sessions of that famous general a.s.sembly held then at Glasgow, in order to hear their debates and determinations concerning diocesan episcopacy, and the five articles of Perth, wherein he declared his full satisfaction with their decisions. And here it was that this n.o.ble peer began to distinguish himself by a concern for the Redeemer's glory, in which he continued, and was kept faithful therein, until he got the crown of martyrdom at last.
At this meeting, amongst many other things, his lords.h.i.+p proposed an explication of the confession and covenant, in which he wished them to proceed with great deliberation, lest (said he) they should bring any under suspicion of perjury, who had sworn it in the sense he had done, which motion was taken in good part by the members, and entered upon in the 8th session of that a.s.sembly. Mr. Henderson the moderator, at the conclusion of this a.s.sembly, judging that, after all, the countenance give to their meetings by this n.o.ble peer deserved a particular acknowledgment, wished his lords.h.i.+p had joined with them sooner, but he hoped G.o.d had reserved him for the best times, and would honour him here and hereafter. Whereupon his lords.h.i.+p rose, and delivered an excellent speech _ex tempore_, before the a.s.sembly, in which amongst other things he said, ”And whereas you wished I had joined you sooner; truly it was not for want of affection for the good of religion, and my own country which detained me, but a desire and hope that by staying with the court I might have been able to bring a redress of grievances, and when I saw that I could no longer stay without proving unfaithful to my G.o.d and my country, I thought good to do as I have done, &c.----I remember I told some of you that pride and avarice are two evils that have wrought much woe to the church of Christ, and as they are grievous faults in any man, they are especially so in church-men, &c.--I hope every man here, shall walk by the square and rule which is now set before him, observing duty, 1. To superiors. 2. To equals; and 3. To inferiors.--Touching our duty to superiors, there needs nothing be added to what has been wisely said by the moderator. Next, concerning equals, there is a case much spoken of in the church, _i. e._ the power of ruling elders, some ministers apprehending it to be a curbing of their power; truly it may be some elders are not so wise as there is need for.--But as unity ought to be the endeavour of us all, let neighbouring parishes and presbyteries meet together for settling the same, &c. And thirdly, for inferiors, I hope ministers will discharge their duty to their flocks, and that people will have a due regard to those that are set over them to watch for their souls, and not to think, that because they want bishops, they may live as they will, &c.”[93]
After this, when the Scots covenanters were obliged to take arms in their own defence, _anno_ 1639, and having marched towards the borders of England, under the command of general Leslie, this n.o.ble lord being set to guard the western coast, contributed very much by his diligence and prudence to preserve peace in these parts, and that not only in conveening the gentlemen in these quarters, and taking security of them for that purpose, but also raised four hundred men in the s.h.i.+re of Argyle, which he took in hand to maintain at his own charges. Which number he afterward increased to nine hundred able men, one half whereof he set on Kintyre to wait on the marquis of Antrim's design, and the rest on the head of Lorn to attend the motions of those of Lochaber, and the western isles. From thence he himself went over to Arran with some cannon, and took the castle of Brod.i.c.k, belonging to Hamilton; which surrendered without resistance.
He was again, in the absence of the covenanters army, _anno_ 1640, appointed to the same business, which he managed with no less success, for he apprehended no less than eight or nine of the ring-leaders of the malignant faction, and made them give bonds for their better behaviour in time coming. Which industrious and faithful conduct in this great man stirred up the malice of his and truth's adversaries, that they fought on all occasions to vent their mischief against him afterward.
For, at the very next sitting down of the Scots parliament, the earl of Montrose discovered a most mischievous attempt to wound his reputation, and to set the king at perpetual variance with his lords.h.i.+p; and among other offensive speeches uttered by Montrose, one was, That when the earl of Athol and the other eight gentlemen taken up by him last year (for carrying arms against their country), were in his lords.h.i.+p's tent at the ford of Lyons, he (_viz._, Argyle) should have said publicly, ”That they (meaning the parliament) had consulted both lawyers and divers others, anent the deposing of the king, and had got resolution that it might be done in three cases, _viz._ 1. Desertion. 2. Invasion; and 3. Vendition. And that they once thought to have done it at the last sitting of parliament, but would do it at the next sitting thereof.”