Religion & morality > Cloud of witnesses, for the royal prerogatives of Jesus Christ, or, The last speeches and testimonies of those who suffered for the truth in Scotland, in the years 1681-1688, with an appendix, containing the Queensferry paper, Torwood excommunications, &c

268
last speech and testimony op
bom an heir of hell and wrath: but now he hath redeemed
my soul through his precious blood and suffering, from the
power of sin and Satan, and hath made me overcome by the
blood of the immaculate Lamb of God. I die not by con¬
straint ; I am more willing to die for my lovely Lord Christ,
and his truths, than ever I was to live : and my soul bless-
eth the Lord, that ever he did accept of a testimony from
the like of me. Scare not at the way of Christ, because of
sufferings. If ye knew what of his love I have got since
I was honoured with imprisonment for him, and what sweet
ingredients he hath put into my cup, ye would not be afraid
of suffering. He hath paved the cross all over with love ;
and hath made all sweet and comfortable to me, and hath
made all my troubles fly away like the morning shadows.
O, I cannot express his matchless love to me, neither can
I make mention of his goodness ! O, it is but little I can
speak to the commendation of my lovely Lord and his cross,
&c. James Winning, after bewailing being so long a hearer
of curates, subjoins, I bless the Lord, because of his good¬
ness to me, who, notwithstanding of all my compliance with
enemies, hath not left me in that woful case, but hath
brought me hither to witness for his opposed, burdened, and
ruined cause and glory. O, Idesireto bless him for it, and
call in all the creation to help me. O the wonderful power,
riches, and goodness of the Lord; glory to his rich and ex¬
cellent name, who hath discovered to me the need of a Re¬
deemer, who will wash me from my sins, and make me
pure and spotless before his throne in heaven. James John¬
ston, among other heavenly expressions, hath these concern¬
ing his lot of suffering : For this I bless the Lord, for I
could never have ventured upon the cross, especially upon
death itself, unless that he had helped me to it. They all
died with a forgiving spirit, imitating their Lord and Master,
and his holy apostles, in praying for forgiveness to their
persecutors : though, withal, assuring them, that their blood
would be required at their hands, if they did not repent, for
what they had done against the image of God in them.
Letter from Archibald Stewart, to his Christian Acquaintances.
My Dear and Loving Friends and Acquaintances,
—You and I must take good night of one another for a