l meetings, and uttered on scaffolds
and fields of blood. Connected with this, as necessary corollaries, were
the supremacy of Holy Scripture--the spiritual independence of the
Church, and the subjection of rulers and national legislation to the
sceptre of the reigning Mediator. On these grounds, they not only
rejected infamous rulers, but condemned and rejected with utter
abhorrence the royal supremacy. The sentiment expressed in the words
subscribed to the minutes of their general meetings--"LET KING JESUS
REIGN,[5] declare the leal allegiance of Renwick and the persecuted
Covenanters to Prince Messiah. Earnestly did they seek to have the
authority of King Jesus universally acknowledged, honoured, and obeyed.
They believed firmly the sure word of prophecy that "all kings shall
fall down before Him; and all nations shall serve Him." "He shall have
dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the
earth." Psal. lxxii. 11, 8. So should we also aim to be faithful to
Christ and His cause; to our own sacred vows; to the souls of men; and
to the blood-bought privileges that have been entrusted to us to
preserve and transmit. We are responsible, not for success, but for
fidelity; and the promised reward will be a glorious recompense for all
trial and suffering. "Be thou faithful unto the death, and I will give
thee a crown of life."

Renwick was, furthermore, distinguished by a _catholic, genial, loving
spirit_. This characteristic is not generally thought to have been
prominent in the spirit of illustrious reformers and suffering
confessors. Luther, Calvin, and Knox, have been represented as unsocial,
morose fanatics, and gloomy bigots. Renwick has been branded as rigid
and austere, and those who have embraced and faithfully maintained the
same testimony have been exhibited as sectaries of the deepest dye. No
representation could be more unjust, and none is more opposed to
historic truth. Luther was most genial and loving, as his "Table Talk,"
and the record of his domestic life, abundantly testify. Calvin's
"Letters" collected by Bonnet, show how keenly and long he felt the
death of his wife and infant child; how deeply his heart was affected
with the sufferings of Protestants everywhere, even of those who
differed from him in principle; and attest, moreover, the warmth and
constancy of his friendship. Knox's declaration before Queen Mary, that
he was always affected by the crying of his infant children