Page:Cry from the dead, or, The ghost of Mr James Guthrie appearing.pdf/16



EN and brethren, I fear many of you are come hither to gaze, rather than to be edified by the carriage and laſt words of a dying man; but if any have an ear to hear, as I hope ſome of thſis great confluence have, I deſire your audience in a few words. I am come hither to lay down this earthly tabernacle and mortal fleſh of mine, and I bleſs God, through his grace, I do it willingly, and not by conſtraint. I ſay, I ſuffer willingly; if I had been ſo minded, I might have made a diverſion, and not been a priſoner; but being conſcious to myſelf of nothing worthy of death, or of bonds, I would not ſtain my innocency with the ſuſpicion of guiltineſs, by withdrawing; neither have I wanted opportunities and advantages to eſcape ſince I was a priſoner, not by the fault of my keepers, God knoweth, but otherwiſe; but neither for this had I light or liberty, leſt I ſhould reflect upon the Lord’s name, and offend the generation of the righteous: and if ſome men have not been miſtaken, or dealt deceitfully in telling me ſo, I might have avoided