quence of it, and tremble and fear. I cannot but also say, that there is a great addition and increase of wrath. First, By that deluge of profanity that overfloweth all the land, and hath reins loosed unto it every where, in so far that many have lost, not only all use and exercise of religion, but even of morality, and that common civility that is to be found amongst the heathen. Second, By that horrible treachery and perjury that is in the matter of the covenant, the cause of God, and work of reformation. "Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be ye horribly afraid, and be ye very desolate, saith the Lord, for my people have committed two great evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no waters." Shall he break the covenant and prosper? Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with God, which frameth mischief by a law? I fear the Lord is about to bring a sword on these lands, which shall avenge the quarrel of his covenant. Third, Horrible ingratitude: the Lord after ten years' oppression and bondage, hath broken the yoke of strangers from off our necks; but what do we render unto him for this goodness? Most of the fruit of our delivery is, to work wickedness, and to strengthen ourselves to do evil. Fourth, A most dreadful idolatry, and sacrificing to the creature: we have "changed the glory of the incorruptible God, into the image of corruptible man," in whom many have placed almost all their salvation and desire, and have turned that which might have been a blessing unto us (being kept in a due line of subordination under God) into an idol of jealousy, by preferring it before him. God is also wroth with a generation of carnal, corrupt, time-serving ministers. I know and bear testimony, that in the Church of Scotland, there is a true and faithful ministry blessed be God, we have yet many, who study their duty, and desire to be found faithful to their Lord and Master; and I pray you to honour, and reverence, and esteem much of these for their works' sake; and I pray them to be encouraged in their Lord and Master, who is

with them, to make them as iron pillars and brazen walls, and as a strong defenced city in the faithful following of their duty. But oh! that there were not too many, who mind "earthly things, and are enemies to the cross of Jesus Christ;" who push with the side and shoulder, who strengthen the hands of evil-doers, who make themselves transgressors, by studying to build again what they did formerly warrantably destroy; I mean prelacy, and the ceremonies, and the service book, a mystery of iniquity that works amongst us, whose steps lead unto the house of the great whore

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Babylon, the mother of fornication;" or whosoever he be that buildeth this Jericho again, let him take heed of the curse of Hiel the Bethelite, and of that flying roll threatened, (Zech. v.) And let all ministers take heed that they watch, and be stedfast in the faith, and quit themselves like men, and be strong; and give faithful and seasonable warning concerning sin and duty. Many of the Lord's people do sadly complain of the fainting and silence of many watchmen, and it concerneth them to consider what God calleth for at their hands in such a day: silence now in a watchman, when he is so much called to speak, and give his testimony, upon the peril of his life, is doubtless a great sin. The Lord open the mouths of his servants, to speak his word with all boldness, that covenant-breaking may be discovered and reproved, and that the kingdom of Jesus Christ may not be supplanted, nor the souls of his people be destroyed without a witness.

I have but a few words more to add: all that are profane amongst you, I exhort them to repentance, for the day of the Lord's vengeance hasteneth, and is near; but there is yet a door of merey open for you, if you will not despise the day of salvation. All that are maligners, and reproachers, and persecutors of godliness, and of such as live godly, take heed what ye do; it will be hard for you to kick against the pricks: you make yourselves the butt of the Lord's fury, and his flaming indignation, if you do not cease from, and repent of all your hard speeches and ungodly deeds. All

that are neutral, and indifferent, and lukewarm professors,

be zealous and repent, lest the Lord " spue you out of his mouth." You that lament after the Lord, and mourn for all the abominations that are done in this city, and in the land, and take pleasure in the stones and dust of Zion, cast not away your confidence, but be comforted and encouraged in the Lord; he will yet appear to your joy. God has not cast away his people, nor work in Britain and Ireland: I hope it will once more revive by the power of his spirit, and take root downward, and bear fruit upward, and of this I am now confident. There is yet a holy seed and precious remnant, whom God will preserve, and bring forth; but how long or dark our night may be, I do not know; the Lord shorten it for the sake of his chosen. In the mean while, be ye patient and "stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord," and in love one to another; beware of snares which are strewed thick; cleave to the covenant and work of reformation; do not decline the cross of Jesus Christ,"choose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season," and account the reproach of Christ greater riches than all the treasures of the world.

Let my death grieve none of you; it will be more profitable and advantageous both for me, and for you, and for the church of God, and for Christ's interest and honour, than my life could have been. I forgive all men the guilt of it, and I desire you to do so also. Pray for them that persecute you, and bless them that curse you; bless, I say, and curse not. I die in the faith of the Apostles, and primitive Christians, and Protestant Reformed Churches, particularly of the Church of Scotland, whereof I am a member and minister. I do bear my witness and testimony to the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of the Church of Scotland, by Kirk-sessions, Presbyteries, Synods, and General Assemblies. Popery and Prelacy, and all the trumpery of service and ceremonies that wait upon them, I do abhor. I do bear my witness unto the National Covenant of Scotland, and

the Solemn League and Covenant betwixt the three kingdoms of Scotland, England, and Ireland; these sacred, solemn, public oaths of God I believe can be loosed or dispensed with by no person, nor party, nor power upon earth; but are still binding upon these kingdoms, and will be for ever hereafter; and are ratified and sealed by the conversion of many thousand souls since our entering thereinto. I bear my witness to the protestation against the controverted assemblies and the public resolutions; to the testimonies given against the sectaries, against the course of backsliding and defection that is now on foot in the land, and all the branches and parts thereof, under whatsoever name or notion, or acted by whatsoever party or person. And in the last place, I bear my witness to the cross of Jesus Christ, and that I never had cause, nor have cause this day to repent, because of any thing I have suffered, or can now suffer, for his name: I take God to record upon my soul, I would not exchange this scaffold with the palace or mitre of the greatest prelate in Britain.

Blessed be God, who hath shewed mercy to such a wretch, and hath revealed his Son unto me, and made me a minister of the everlasting gospel; and that he hath deigned, in the midst of much contradiction from Satan and the world, to seal my ministry upon the hearts of not a few of his people, and especially in the station wherein I was last, I mean the congregation and presbytery of Stirling; and I hope the Lord will visit that congregation and presbytery once more with faithful pastors. God forgive the poor empty man that did there intrude upon my labours, and hath made a prey of many poor souls, and exposed others to reproach and oppression, and a famine of the word of the Lord. God forgive the misleaders of that part of the poor people, who tempted them to reject their own pastor, and to admit of intruders; and the Father of mercies pity that poor misled people; and the Lord visit the congregation and presbytery of Stirling once more with faithful pastors, and grant that the work and people of God may be revived through all Britain, and over all the

world. Jesus Christ is my light and my life, my righteousness, my strength and my salvation, and all my desire; him, oh, him, I do with all the strength of my soul commend unto you. Blessed are they that are not offended in him; blessed are they that trust in him. Bless him, O my soul, from henceforth even for ever. Rejoice, rejoice, all ye that love him, be patient, and rejoice in tribulation: blessed are you, and blessed shall you be for ever and ever; everlasting righteousness and eternal salvation are yours; all are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's. "Remember me, O Lord, with the favour thou bearest to thy people: Oh visit me with thy salvation, that I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the good of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance." "Now, let thy servant depart in peace, since mine eyes have seen thy salvation."