pears died about the beginning
of the year 1635, for we find Mr. Rutherford in one of his letters,
about that time, comforting this noble lady upon such a mournful
occasion.

In the year 1633, Charles I. to honour his coronation, in the place of
his birth and first parliament, dignified many of the Scots nobility and
gentry with higher titles, and places of office and honour, among whom
was Sir John Gordon, who upon the eighth of May was created Viscount
Kenmuir and Lord Gordon of Lochinvar[57].

Accordingly the viscount came to the parliament which sat down at
Edinburgh June 16th 1633, and was present the first day, but stayed only
a few days thereafter, for being afraid to displease the king, from whom
he had both received some, and expected more honours, and not having the
courage to glorify God by his presence, when his cause was at stake,
deserted the parliament under pretence of indisposition of body, and
returned home to his house at Kenmuir in Galloway, and there slept
securely for about a year without check of conscience, till August 1634,
that his affairs occasioned his return to Edinburgh, where he remained
some days, not knowing that with the ending of his affairs he was to end
his life. He returned home with some alteration of bodily health, and
from that day his sickness increased until September 12th ensuing, which
was the day of his death.

But the Lord had other thoughts than that this nobleman should die
without some sense of his sin, or yet go out of this world
unobserved.--And therefore it pleased him with his bodily affliction to
shake his soul with fears, making him sensible of the power of eternal
wrath, for his own good, and for an example to others in after-ages
never to wrong their own consciences, or to be wanting to the cause or
interest of God, when he gives them an opportunity to that purpose.

Upon the Sabbath August 31st, being much weakened, he was visited by a
religious and learned minister who then lived in Galloway not far from
the house of Kenmuir, his lordship much rejoiced at his coming,
observing the all-ruling providence in sending him such a man (who had
been abroad from Galloway some time) sooner home than he expected. After
supper his lordship drew on a conference with the minister, shewing he
was much taken up with the fears of death, and extremity of pain. "I
never dreamed, said he, that death had such a terrible, austere and
gloomy countenance. I dare not die, howbeit I