orld's favour, were at ease in Zion. Therefore was it, that, in the
spirit of apostates in all ages, they laboured to misrepresent and
calumniate him and the cause which he maintained, and abetted the
designs of those who persecuted him to the death.
RENWICK'S MARTYRDOM AND TESTIMONY.
This devoted servant of Christ, though worn with incessant labours, was
found actively engaged in his darling work when he was called to receive
his reward. On the 24th and 27th of January, he preached in Fifeshire,
and at Borrowstoness, on the 29th. The last night of the month, he
lodged with a friend in Edinburgh. On the morning of the 1st of
February, the house was beset with soldiers, in the employment of the
persecuting Council. When Renwick attempted to escape, he was arrested
near the Cowgate, and was carried by Graham the captain of the guard,
before a quorum of the Council, by whom he was committed to close
prison, and laid in irons. When he stood in the presence of those who
had issued against him fierce proclamations, and had sought his life,
they were surprised at his youthful appearance, and his comely
countenance, and one exclaimed, "Is this the boy Renwick, that the whole
nation was so troubled with," Renwick replied only with a quiet smile.
On the 3d of February, he was brought before the Council, and received
his indictment. In it, he was charged with casting off the fear of
God--disowning the king's authority--preaching in the fields--and
teaching the people to refuse to pay cess, and to carry arms in
self-defence. It is related of Renwick, when he became a prisoner, that,
though he had grace given willingly to offer his life to confirm his
testimony, he yet dreaded torture. Having in prayer freely surrendered
his life to God, he obtained in answer the assurance that enemies would
not have the power to inflict on him torture. This he afterwards told
his mother in prison, shortly before his execution, when she was
expressing concern about seeing his head and hands on the ports of the
city. He said he was persuaded that the persecutors would "not be
permitted to torture his body, nor touch one hair of his head farther."
He was so open and candid hi his answers that the members of the
Justiciary were to some extent favourably impressed, and this had
doubtless some influence in preventing him from being tortured. He
enjoyed so much of Divine presence from his entrance into prison, till
his execution, that to his moth
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