80

transported into a train of musing, and continued in this exercise for about the space of two years, until, by prayer and meditation, he came to a thorough belief that God made all things, and that all which He made was very good. And yet, after he came to more maturity, he relapsed into deeper labyrinths of darkness,

and was so assaulted with temptations of atheism, that, being in the fields, and looking to the mountains, he said that if these were all-devouring furnaces of burning brimstone, he would be contented to go through them all, if so be he could be assured there was a God. Out of this, however, he emerged through grace, into the sweet serenity of a settled persuasion of the being of a God, and of his own interest in Him.

Renwick studied in Edinburgh. Then he went to Holland, and entered the University of Gröningen. After Renwick's ordination, he had a most longing desire to improve his talents for the poor persecuted people in Scotland, who were his brethren; and having received large testimonials of his ordination and learning (particularly in the Hebrew and Greek tongues) from the Classes, and finding a ship ready to sail, he embarked at the Bill.' They had a dangerous passage, but at last they reached their port, and Renwick began on the Scottish shore his weary and uncertain wanderings.'

Late in the Autumn of 1683, Renwick preached his first sermon in the moss at Darmeid. But the result of this earnest sermon was only to raise him up foes, even among those he had trusted and counted as his friends. 'Some said he had excommunicated all the ministers in Scotland, and some after they were dead.

Others said he was no Presbyterian, and that his design was only to propagate schism; others, that he was a Sectarian, Independent, or Anabaptist, or they knew not what. But the general outcry was, that he had no mission at all.'

Saddened, yet stedfast, under all these reproaches, he went among the hills and the glens; and for all that was said against

him, the people loved him more and more, and gathered from far to hear the truth of God by Renwick poured in gentle stream.'

'In the meanwhile, from the noise that went through the country concerning him, the Council got notice; and thereupon, being enraged at the report of his preaching in the fields, they raised a hotter and more cruel persecution against him than can be instanced ever to have been against any one man in the nation.'

Lonely and sad, among false friends and cruel enemies, with a sensitive pensive spirit, and small and delicate frame, Renwick, still undaunted, kept on his devoted way.

'In prosecution of a cruel information against him, the soldiers became more vigilant to seek and hunt after him, and from them he had many remarkable deliverances. Particularly in the month of July, as he was going to a meeting, a country man, seeing him wearied, gave him a horse for some miles to ride on, when they were surprised by Lieutenant Dundas, and a party of dragoons. The two men with him were taken and pitifully wounded. He escaped their hands, and went up Dungavel Hill; but was so closely pursued (they being so near that they fired at him all the time), that he was forced to leave the horse, losing thereby his cloak-bag with many papers. Seeing no other refuge, he was fain to run towards a heap of stones, where, for a little moment, getting out of their sight, he found a hollow place into which he crept. Committing himself by earnest ejaculation to God, in submission to live or die, and believing that he should be reserved for greater work, that part of Scripture often came into his mind"Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity" (Psa. vi. 8); together with these words

For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways" (Psa. xci. 11). In the meantime, the enemy searched up and down the hill, yet were restrained from looking into that place where he was. Many such sore and desperate chases he, and those with him,

met with; often continuing whole nights and days without intermission in the wildest places of the country, for many miles together, without so much as a possibility of escaping the rage of those who pursued them.

'The same year, in the 4th of September, letters of intercommuning were issued against him, commanding all to give him no reset or supply, nor furnish him with meat, drink, house, harbour, or anything useful to him; and requiring all sheriffs to apprehend and commit to prison his person, wherever they could find him.' A reward of a hundred pounds was offered for his discovery.

Meantime, Renwick grew so weak that he could not sit on horseback. His delicate constitution sank and wasted through the hardships to which he was exposed. But he would not desist from his work; 'his zeal for fulfilling his ministry increasing more and more,' says John Howie. And his faithful friends often carried him to baptize in some dark shady burn, or to some lonely moor or hillside, where the people had gathered to hear him preach.

In the beginning of the year 1668, being now near the end of his course, he ran very fast, and fought very hard, both as a Christian and a minister.' On the 29th January, at Borrowstounness, he preached his last sermon.

From this he went to a friend's house on the Castle-hill of Edinburgh, where he was discovered by a custom-house officer, a certain John Justice.

'What! is this the boy Renwick that the nation hath been so much troubled with?' exclaimed Graham, the captain of the guard to which he was brought.

He was made a close prisoner, and laid in irons.

'I desire that none may be troubled on my behalf,' he wrote in a letter dated February 6th, 'but that they rather rejoice with me, who, with hope and joy, am waiting my coronation day.'

'Another time his mother having asked him how he was, he answered he was well, but that since his last examination he

81

could scarcely pray. At which she looked on him with an affrighted countenance; and he told her that he could hardly pray, being so much taken up with praising, and ravished with the joy of the Lord. His mother was expressing her fear of fainting, saying,

"How shall I look upon that head and those hands set up among the rest on the port of the city? "

'He smiled, telling her she should not see that,

"For," said he, "I have offered my life unto the Lord, and have sought that He may bind them up; and I am persuaded that they shall not be able to torture my body, nor touch one hair of my head farther."

He made many friends in prison.

'Think you none can be saved but those of your principles?' asked Bishop Paterson, who visited him often, and would have saved his life if he could.

เ

'I never said nor thought,' answered Renwick, that none could be saved except they were of these principles; but these are truths which I suffer for, and which I have not rashly concluded on, but deliberately, and for a long time have been confirmed that they are sufficient points to suffer for.'

'It is a great loss he has such principles, for he is a pretty lad,' said the bishop, when he took his leave.

'Several petitions,' writes John Howie, 'were written from several hands, of the most favourable strain that could be invented, and sent him to subscribe, but all in vain; yea, it was offered him if he would but let a drop of ink fall on a bit of paper, it would satisfy, but he would not.

'On the day of his execution he was told he might still have his life, if he would but sign the petition that was offered him. He answered, he never read in Scripture nor in history that martyrs petitioned for their lives when called to suffer for truth.

His mother and sisters having obtained leave to see him, after some refreshments, in returning thanks, he said, "O Lord,

82

Thou hast brought me within two hours of eternity, and this is no matter of terror to me, more than if I were to lie down on a bed of roses; nay, through grace to Thy praise, I may say I never had the fear of death since I came to this prison. O how can I contain this, to be within two hours of the crown of glory! Would

ever I have thought that the fear of suffering and death could be so taken from me? ... I have many times counted the cost of following Christ, but never thought it would have been so easy; and now who knows the honour and happiness of that?"

He was disturbed upon the scaffold, for such a crowd as never was seen before had gathered in the streets, and the drums beat incessantly.

'I shall soon be above it all,' he said, ' and then I shall enjoy Thee, O God, and enjoy Thee without interruption for ever.' Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit: for Thou hast redeemed me, Lord God of truth.'

These were his last words. 'Thus died the pious, faithful, and zealous James Renwick, on the third day over the 26th year of his age. He was of a stature somewhat low, of a fair complexion, and like another young David, ruddy and of a beautiful countenance. Most men spoke well of him after he was dead; even his murderers, as well as others, said that they thought he went to heaven.'

Renwick was the last who suffered. Within a year from his death, William of Orange was king of England.

H. W. II. W.

GOUROCK CHILDREN'S SERVICE.

FAMILY WORSHIP.

**The aim of this Series is to encourage the practice of Family Worship, and make its introduction easy in every household. The whole Series will contain services for a week. The service for each day includes praise, Scripture portion, and prayer. (See 'Dayspring for May.) III.-For TUESDAY. The Psalm. THE Lord is just in His ways all, And holy in His works each one; He's near to all that on Him call, Who call in truth on Him alone.

God will the just desire fulfil

Of such as do Him fear and dread;
Their cry regard, and hear He will,
And save them in the time of need.
(Psalm cxlv. 17-19.)

The Scripture Portion. God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.

He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (Jolin iii. 16-19.)

The Prayer.

Tune our hearts, O Father in heaven, to Thy praise.

Though we have not loved Thee, but have sinned against Thee, and forgotten Thee; yet Thou hast loved us, and hast redeemed us with the blood of Thine own Son.

O help us to look to Jesus with the eyes of faith! Thou hast given Him to be the light of the world. O that we, and all others, may love the light, and turn away from the darkness! Give us the pure heart. For Jesus' sake. Amen.

[SUITABLE CLOSING HYMN-Pioneer Hymn, 9 or 14; Hymns Old and New, 12, 24, 51, 53, 95, or 124.]

SABBATH EVENING FIRESIDE BIBLE CLASS. CHRIST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.

July 2nd.

What is the first Messianic prophecy in Jeremiah? Jer. iii. 16.

What was the most sacred object in Jewish worship? 1 Sam. iv. 22.

Where did the ark stand? Heb. ix. 3, 4. What made it so sacred? Ex. xxv. 21, 22. Did God find a better dwelling-place on the earth? John i. 14.

What does Christ compare Himself to in John ii. 18-22?

Where does He say He is greater than the temple? Matt. xii. 6.

Did the temple in Christ's day contain the ark? No, it perished amid the ruins of the first temple.

If then the ark had perished, and Christ was the true tabernacle, is not the prophecy of Jeremiah fulfilled?

July 9th.

Where is the second Messianic prophecy in Jeremiah to be found? Jer. xxiii. 5, 6.

What designation is here given to the Messiah, which He was already known by? Isa. iv. 2; xi. 1. Did the Jews acknowledge Christ as the Branch of David, and King of Israel? Matt. xxi. 9, with John xii. 13.

What designation does Jeremiah give to the Messiah that had not been given to Him before?

Prove from the New Testament that Christ is our Righteousness. Rom. x. 4; 1 Cor. i. 30. Did He take our sin, that He might be able to bestow on us His own righteousness? 2 Cor. v. 21.

July 16th.

What other Messianic prophecy occurs in Jeremiah? Jer. xxxi. 31-34.

Where is this prophecy given as fulfilled in Christ? Heb. viii. 8-11; x. 16.

Where was the law written under the old covenant? Ex. xxxii. 15, 16.

Where is the law written under the new covenant? 2 Cor. iii. 3, last clause.

Is obedience easy when the law is in the heart? Psa. cxix. 32.

What does Christ give for the fulfilling of the law? John i. 17.

What is the chief blessing of the new covenant, as described by Jeremiah?

How were the blessings of the old covenant obtained? Rom. x. 5.

How are pardon, and the other blessings of the new covenant, obtained? Rom. x. 9, 10.

July 23rd.

What description does Ezekiel give of Gospel days? Ezek. xi. 19, 20.

What is the first blessing mentioned here?
Was 6

one heart' a characteristic of the early church? Acts i. 14; ii. 46; iv. 32.

What is the second blessing in the passage in Ezekiel?

Was a 'new spirit' a special feature of the early churches? Acts ii. 4. Rom. viii. 9.

Is the Holy Spirit a new spirit' of repentance, of love, and of obedience? Zec. xii. 10. Rom. v. 5. Gal. v. 22.

What is the last blessing in the Prophet's protrait of New Testament times?

Where does this find its final accomplishment? Rev. xxi. 3, 4.

83

Is Christ the One Way, the One Door, the One Mediator, as well as the One Shepherd? John xiv. 6; x. 7-9. 1 Tim. ii. 5.

Whose name does Christ bear in this passage in Ezekiel, who was also a shepherd in his youth? Is David a Messianic name occasionally given to Christ? Jer. xxx. 9. Hosea iii. 5.

Repeat some_references to Christ as a Shepherd and a Prince in the New Testament? Heb. xiii. 20. 1 Pet. ii. 25. Acts. iii. 15. Rev. i. 5. A. G. F.

PRIZE BIBLE QUESTIONS.

SENIOR DIVISION.

19 Which is the first direct instance of a coronation in the Bible?

20 Give the name of a celebrated artist, who was called the 'father' of a great Eastern Monarch.

21 The cannon taken on the field of battle have frequently been melted down to form statues: give the first instance in the Bible of the trophies of victory being converted info ornaments for the House of God.

JUNIOR DIVISION.

19 Which verse of an epistle teaches that confession of Christ's name should be joined with believing in Him?

20 In which verse of a prophecy are we told four times over that men will confess the name of the Lord?

21 Where do we read of the Lord's people signing a written covenant?

PRIZE ESSAYS.

I. Prizes of the value of £1 10/ and 10/ respectively will be given for the best and second best Essay on

"The Life and Times of Hezekiah, king of Judah."

II. Prizes of the value of £1 10/ and 10/ respectively will be given for the best and second best Essays on

"The Life and Labours of the Apostle Peter."

Competitors not to be above eighteen years of age. Essays to be sent to Rev. JoHN KAY, Coatbridge, N.B., not later than 1st November, 1876. Each Essay must be accompanied by a sealed envelope, containing the motto prefixed to the Essay, together with the name, address, and age of the writer.

N.B.-The name of the writer must on no account be affixed to the Essay.