Page:Life of the martyr, John Brown, of Priesthill, in the parish of Muirkirk, Ayrshire (3).pdf/24

24 Who for his constancy and zeal, Still to the back did prove good steel, Wbo for Christ's royal truth and laws, And for the covenanted cause Of Scotland's famous Reformation; Declining tyrants' usurpation, By cruel Crichton murder'd lies, Whose blood to heaven for vengeance cries.

Joseph Wilson who was also under hiding in the moss hag with John Brown, was met by a party of north Highlanders in a moss, near the water of Kyle, when he and other four men were returning from hearing Mr. Renwick preach, and on their confession where they had been, were all shot without further trial. Thus their blood was mixed with their sacrifice They were not granted even time to commit their souls to God: but their souls' safety did not depend upon their prayers, but on their praying HEAD. William Steel alone, of those friends, survived the persecution period, and lived after the Revolu- tion to tell his wonderful escapes. " The memory of the most glorious scenes of action, and the most dismal scenes of suffering that the church of Scotland bas passed through, have not been left buried in their own ashes." Her first Reformers bave been nobly drawn forth from the rubbish of lies and prejudice, that had long lain heaped upon their memories. And may not the less conspicuons stones that compose the fair building, be gathered out with this warrant.--The righteous shall be held in everlasting remembrance.

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