Page:Life of James Renwick.pdf/22

22 would do with the remnant behind him? He answered, "It would be well with them; for would not forsake nor cast off his inheritance."

His mother and sisters, having obtained leave to see him after some refreshment, in returning thanks, he said, "O thou hast brought me within two hours of eternity, and this no matter of terror to me, more than if I were to lie down a bed of roses; nay, through grace to thy praise, I may say never had the fear of death since I came to this prison; from the place where I was taken, I could have gone very composedly to the scaffold. O! how can I contain this, to be two hours of the crown of glory!" He exhorted them to prepare for death; "for it is (said he) the king of  through not to me now, as it was sometimes in my hidings,  now let us be glad and rejoice, for the marriage of the Lamb come, and his wife hath made herself ready. Would ever  have thought that the fear of suffering and of death could  so taken from me? But what shall I say to it? It is the  of the Lord and marvellous in our eyes, I have many  counted the cost of following Christ, but never thought  would be so easy; and now who knows the honour and happiness of that? He that confesseth me before men, him will I confess before my Father." He said many times, "Now I am the end of time, I desire to bless the Lord, it is an  sweet and satisfying peace to me, that be hath kept me  complying with enemies in the least." Perceiving his weep, he exhorted her to remember, that they who loved  thing better than Christ were not worthy of him, "If ye  me, rejoice that I am going to my Father, to obtain the enjoyment of what eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor heart conceived." Then he went to prayer; wherein he ran out in praise, and pleaded much in behalf of the suffering  that the Lord would raise up witnesses that might transmit  testimony to succeeding generations, and that he would leave Scotland, asserting, with great confidence of hope, he was strengthened in the hope of it, that the Lord would  gracious to Scotland.

At length, hearing the drums beat for the guard, he fell in a transport, saying, "Yonder the welcome warning to my ; the bridegroom is coming; I am ready, I am ready." Then taking his leave of his mother and sisters, he them not to be discouraged; for, ere all were done, they  see matter of praise in that day's work. He was taken to low Council-house, as was usual; where after his sentence  read, they desired him there to speak what he had to say. said, "I have nothing to say to you, but that which is in Jer. xxvi. 14. 15. As for me, behold I am in your hand,"  He was told that the drums would beat at the scaffold all  time, and therefore they desired him to pray there; but he refused, and declared, he would not be limited in what he  say, and that he had premeditated nothing, but would  what was given him. They offered him any minister to be him, but he answered, "If I would have had any of them as