Part 27 (2/2)

He owned the lawfulness of defensive arms in cases of necessity, and denied that those who rose at Bothwel, &c. were rebels; and being interrogate anent the Sanquhar declaration, he declined to give his judgment until he had more time to peruse the contents thereof. He further declared, he could not give his sense of the killing of the bishop; but that the scriptures say, Upon the Lord's giving a call to a private man to kill, he might do it lawfully; and gave the instances of Jael and Phinehas. These were the most material points on which he was examined[190].

While he was in prison a gentlewoman (who came to visit him) told him weeping, ”That these heaven-daring enemies were contriving a most violent death for him; some, a barrel with many pikes to roll him in; others, an iron chair red-hot to roast him in, &c.” But he said, ”Let you, nor none of the Lord's people be troubled for these things, for all that they will get liberty to do to me will be to knit me up, cut me down, and chop off my old head, and then fare them well; they have done with me and I with them for ever.”

He was again before the council on the 19th, but refused to answer their questions, except anent the excommunication, wherein he exprest himself much as above. It appears that there was some motion made to spare him, as he was an old man, and send him prisoner to the Ba.s.s during life; which motion, being put to a vote, was, by the casting vote of the earl of Argyle, rejected, who doomed him to the gallows, there to die like a traitor.

Upon the 26th, he was brought before the justiciary, and indicted in common form. His confession being produced in evidence against him, he was brought in guilty of high treason, and condemned, with the rest, to be hanged at the cross of Edinburgh, and his head placed on the Nether-bow. When they came to these words, in his indictment, viz.

_having cast off all fear of G.o.d_, &c. he caused the clerk to stop, and (pointing to the advocate Sir George MacKenzie) said, ”The man that hath caused that paper to be drawn up, hath done it contrary to the light of his own conscience, for he knoweth that I have been a fearer of G.o.d from mine infancy; but that man, I say, who took the holy Bible in his hand, and said, It would never be well with the land, until that book was destroyed, &c. I say, he is the man that hath cast off all fear of G.o.d.” The advocate stormed at this, but could not deny the truth thereof.

When they got their sentence announced by sound of trumpet, he said, ”That is a weary sound, but the sound of the last trumpet will be a joyful sound to me, and all that will be found having on Christ's righteousness.”

Being come to the scaffold, he stood with his back to the ladder, and desired the attention of the numerous spectators, and after singing from the 16th verse of the 118th psalm, he began to speak to three sorts of people, but being interrupted by the drums, he said, with a smiling countenance, Ye see we have not liberty to speak, or speak what we would, but G.o.d knoweth our hearts. As he proceeded, he was again interrupted. Then after a little pause or silence he begin to exhort the people; and to shew his own comfort in laying down his life, in the a.s.surance of a blessed eternity, expressing himself in these words, ”Now, I am as sure of my interest in Christ and peace with G.o.d, as all within this Bible and the Spirit of G.o.d can make me; and I am fully persuaded that this is the very way for which I suffer, and that he will return gloriously to Scotland; but it will be terrifying to many.

Therefore I intreat you, be not discouraged at the way of Christ, and the cause for which I am to lay down my life, and step to eternity, where my soul shall be as full of him as it can desire to be; and now this is the sweetest and most glorious day that ever mine eyes did see.

Enemies are now enraged against the way and people of G.o.d, but ere long they shall be enraged one against another, to their own confusion;” here the drums did beat a third time. Then setting his foot on the ladder, he said, ”The Lord knows I go on this ladder with less fear and perturbation of mind, than ever I entered the pulpit to preach.”--When up, he sat down and said, ”Now I am near the getting of the crown, which shall be sure, for which I bless the Lord, and desire all of you to bless him, that he hath brought me here, and made me triumph over devils, men and sin; They shall wound me no more. I forgive all men the wrongs they have done me; and I pray the sufferers may be kept from sin, and helped to know their duty.” Then having prayed a little within himself, he lifted up the napkin and said, ”Farewel all relations and friends in Christ; farewel acquaintances and earthly enjoyments; farewel reading and preaching, praying and believing, wanderings, reproach and sufferings. Welcome Father, Son and Holy Ghost; into thy hands I commit my spirit.” Then he prayed a little, and the executioner turned him over as he was praying; and so he finished his course, and the ministry that he had received of the Lord.

Take his character from Sir Robert Hamilton of Preston, who was his contemporary.--He was affectionate, affable and tender-hearted to all such as he thought had any thing of the image of G.o.d in them; sober and temperate in his diet, saying commonly, It was well won that was won off the flesh; generous, liberal and most charitable to the poor; a great hater of covetousness; a frequent visiter of the sick; much alone; loving to be retired; but when about his Master's public work, laying hold of every opportunity to edify; in conversation still dropping what might minister grace to the hearers; his countenance was edifying to beholders; often sighing with deep groans; preaching in season, and out of season, upon all hazards; ever the same in judgment and practice.

From his youth he was much given to the duty of secret prayer, for whole nights together; wherein it was observed that, both in secret and in families, he always sat straight up upon his knees with his hands lifted up, and in this posture (as some took notice) he died with the rope about his neck.

Beside his last speech and testimony, and several other religious letters, with the lecture, sermon and sentence of excommunication at Torwood, which were all published, there are also several other sermons and notes of sermons interspersed, among some people's hands in print and ma.n.u.script, some of which were lately published. Yet if we may believe one[191] who heard severals of them preached, they are nothing to what they were when delivered; and however pathetical, yet doubtless far inferior to what they would have been, had they been corrected and published by the worthy author himself.

_Follows an ACROSTICK on his Name._

Most sweet and savoury is thy fame, And more renowned is thy name, Surely than any can record, Thou highly favoured of the Lord.

Exalted thou on earth didst live; Rich grace to thee the Lord did give.

During the time thou dwelt below, On in a course to heaven didst go.

Not casten down with doubts and fears, a.s.sured of heaven near thirty years.

Labour thou didst in Christ's vineyard; Diligent wast, no time thou spar'd.

Christ's standard thou didst bear alone, After others from it were gone.

Right zeal for truth was found in thee, Great sinners censur'dst faithfully.

In holding truth didst constant prove, Laidst down thy life out of true love.

_June 21st, 1741._ W. W.

_The Life of Mr. WALTER SMITH._

Walter Smith was son to Walter Smith in the parish of St. Ninian's, near Airth in Stirling-s.h.i.+re. He was an eminent Christian and good scholar.

He went over to Holland, where he studied sometime under the famous Leusden, who had a great esteem and value for him, as being one both of high attainments and great experience in the serious exercise and solid practice of christianity.

In the year 1679, we find that he made no mean figure among that little handful of the Lord's suffering remnant, who rose in their own defence at Bothwel-bridge.--For he was both chosen clerk to the council of war, and also a commanding-officer among the honest party; and had the honour not only to witness and protest against the sinful compliance of that corrupt Erastian party, that then foisted themselves in amongst them, but was also one of those three who were then appointed to draw up the causes of the Lord's wrath against the land, and the Hamilton declaration was to be one of the last causes thereof, with a new declaration which they intended to have published at that time; and although both of these were undertaken, yet the Lord did not honour them to publish the same, as some of them with great regret, unto their dying day, did acknowledge.[192]

After the overthrow and dissipation of the covenanters at Bothwel (wherein the Erastian party among them had no little hand), it appears that Mr. Smith went over, for some time to Holland, but did not stay long; for we meet with him again with Mr. Cargil at Torwood, in Sept.

1680, after which he was very helpful to him in his conversation and advice in difficult cases, and praying in families (when he was fatigued with sore travel, being an old man, and going then often on foot), and many times in public preaching days precenting for him.

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