,
more than if I were to ly down in a bed of roses; nay, thro' grace, to
thy praise, I may say, I never had the fear of death since I came to
this prison; but from the place where I was taken, I could have gone
very composedly to the scaffold. O! how can I contain this, to be within
two hours of the crown of glory." He exhorted them much "to prepare for
death, for it is (said he) the king of terrors, though not to me now, as
it was sometimes in my hidings; but now let us be glad and rejoice, for
the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Would ever I have thought that the fear of suffering and of death could
be so taken from me! But what shall I say to it? It is the doing of the
Lord, and marvellous in our eyes.--I have many times counted the cost of
following Christ, but never thought it 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 the Father._" He said many times, "Now I
am near the end of time, I desire to bless the Lord, it is an expresly
sweet and satisfying peace to me, that he hath kept me from complying
with enemies in the least." Perceiving his mother weep, he exhorted her
"to remember that they who loved any thing better than Christ were not
worthy of him. If ye love me, rejoice that I am going to my Father, to
obtain the enjoyment of what eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, &c." Then
he went to prayer, wherein he run out much in praise, and pleaded much
in behalf of the suffering remnant, that the Lord would raise up
witnesses that might transmit the testimony to succeeding generations,
and that the Lord would not leave Scotland, asserting with great
confidence of hope, that he was strengthened in the hope of it, that the
Lord would be gracious to Scotland.

At length, hearing the drums beat for the guard, he fell into a
transport, saying, Yonder the welcome warning to my marriage; the
bridegroom is coming; I am ready, I am ready. Then taking his leave of
his mother and sisters, he intreated them not to be discouraged, for ere
all were done, they should see matter of praise in that day's work. He
was taken to the low council-house (as was usual) where after his
sentence was read, they desired him to speak what he had to say there.
He said, "I have nothing to say to you, but that which is written in
Jer. xxiv. 14, 15. _As for me, behold I am in your hand_, &c." He was
told that the drums would beat