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

JAMES RENWICK. 353
world, for “ they are not worthy to be compared to the
glory that shall be revealed.”
I may say to his praise, that I have found his cross sweet
and lovely unto me, for I have had many joyful hours, and
not a fearful thought since I came to prison; he hath
strengthened me to outbrave man, and outface death, and I
am now longing for the joyful hour of my dissolution; and
there is nothing in the world that I am sorry to leave but
}rou : but I *go to better company, and so must take my
eave of you all. Farewell, beloved sufferers, and followers
of the Lamb; farewell, Christian intimates ; farewell, Chris¬
tian and comforting mother and sisters ; farewell, sweet so¬
cieties; farewell, desirable general meetings; farewell, night-
wanderings in cold and weariness for Christ; farewell, sweet
Bible, and the preaching of the gospel; farewell, sun, moon,
and stars, and all sublunary things ; farewell, conflicts with
a body of sin and death. Welcome, scaffold, for precious
Christ; welcome,heavenly Jerusalem; welcome,innumerable
company of angels; welcome, general assembly, and church
of the first-born; welcome, crown of glory, white robes, and
songs of Moses and the Lamb : and above all, welcome, O
thou blessed Trinity, and One God ! O Eternal One ! I
commit my soul into thy eternal rest.
James Renwick.
Letter to his Christian friends, written during the time of his reprieval.
My Dear Friends in Christ,—I see now what hath been
the language of my reprieve ; it hath been, that I might be
further tempted and tried, and I praise the Lord, he hath
assisted me to give further proofs of steadfastness ; I have
been often assaulted by some Popish priest; but the last
time they came, I told them, I would debate no more with
such as they were, and that I had lived and would die a
Protestant, and testify against the idolatries, heresies, super¬
stitions, and errors of that Antichristian way. But yesterday
I was cast into a deep exercise, and made to dwell under an
impression of the dreadfulness of every thing that might
grieve the spirit of God. I found sin to be more bitter
than death, and one hour’s hiding of God’s face, more insup¬
portable. And then at night I was called before a part of
the council, and the chancellor produced the Informatory
Vindication, and asked, if I knew it ? I answered, I know