Today in Covenanter History

Today is the anniversary of the martyrdom of Covenanter field preacher, James Renwick, 17th February 1688. He was the last of the Covenanter martyrs to be executed in Edinburgh. This is his last speech from the scaffold.

“Spectators, or (if there be any of you) auditors, I must tell you, I am come here this day to lay down my life for adhering to the truths of Christ, for which I am neither afraid nor ashamed to suffer. Nay, I bless the Lord, that ever he counted me worthy, or enabled me to suffer any thing for him; and I desire to praise his grace, that he hath not only kept me free from the gross pollutions of the time, but also from many ordinary pollutions of children; and such as I have been stained with, he hath washed me from them in his own blood.

I am this day to lay down my life for these three things.
1. For disowning the usurpations and tyranny of James duke of York.
2. For preaching, that it was unlawful to pay the cess, expressly exacted for hearing down the gospel.
3. For preaching, that it was lawful for people to carry arms, for defending themselves in their meetings for the persecuted gospel ordinances. I think a testimony for these is worth many lives, and if I had ten hundred, I would think it little enough to lay them all down for the same.

Dear friends, spectators, and (if any of you be) auditors I must tell you, that I die a presbyterian protestant. I own the Word of God as the rule of faith and manners. I own the Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms, Sum of Saving Knowledge, Directory for Worship, &c. Covenants, National and Solemn League, acts of general assemblies, and all the faithful contendings that have been for the work of reformation. I leave my testimony approving the preaching of the gospel in the fields, and the defending of the same by arms. I adjoin my testimony to all that hath been sealed by blood, shed either on scaffolds, fields or seas, for the cause of Christ. I leave my testimony against popery, prelacy, erastianism, &c. Against all profanity, and everything contrary to sound doctrine; particularly against all usurpations made on Christ’s right, who is the Prince of the kings of the earth, who alone must bear the glory of ruling his own kingdom, the church: and in particular, against the absolute power usurped by this usurper, that belongs to no mortal, but is the incommunicable prerogative of Jehovah; and against this toleration flowing from that absolute power.

I have near done. Ye that are the people of God, do not weary in maintaining the testimony of the day, in your stations and places; and whatever ye do, make sure an interest in Christ; for there is a storm coming that shall try your foundations. Scotland must be rid of Scotland, before the delivery come. And you that are stranger to God, break off your sins by repentance, else I will be a witness against you in the day of the Lord.”

He than sang a part of the 103rd Psalm from the beginning, and read the 19th chapter of Revelation, before being hanged. It was 3 days after his twenty-sixth birthday.