“ I require none with me but this one man," (meaning the friend that was wailing upon him.)
He went from thence to the scaffold with great cheerfulness, as one in a transport of triumphant joy, and had the greatest crowd of spectators that has perhaps been seen at any execution, but little was heard, on account of the beating of the drums all the time without intermission, from his first ascending the scaffold until he was cast over. ”

“ There is a great trial coming. As to the remnant I leave I have committed them to God. Tell them from me, not to weary nor be discouraged in maintaining the testimony, and the Lord will provide you teachers and ministers, and when he comes, he will make these despised truths glorious in the earth.” He win turned over, with these words in his mouth, “Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit, for thou hast redeemed me. Lord God of truth.”
Thus died the faithful, pious, and zealous Mr James Renwick, on the third day over the 26th year of his age ”

“ All which dolorous effects, and more, when Mr Renwick, with a sad and troubled heart observed, he was often heard to sa y, though he had peace in his end and aim by it, yet he wished from his heart, that that declaration had never been published.
Neither was the year 1685 any thing better. For it became now the enemy's greatest ambition and emulation, who could destroy most of these poor wandering mountain men, (as they were called;) and when they had spent all their balls, they were nothing nearer their purpose than when they began; for the more they were afflicted, the more they grew. ”

“ Yea, some ministers, more seemingly serious in their essays to prepossess the people against him, said, “That they had sought and got the mind of the Lord in it, that his labours should never profit the church of Scotland, nor any soul in it,” assuring themselves he would break, and bring to nothing, him and them that followed him ere it were long, comparing them to Jannes and Jambres who withstood Moses. ”

“ He complained of being disturbed in worshipping God, but, said he, "I shall soon be above these clouds; then shall I enjoy thee, and glorify thee, without interruption, or intermission, for ever" Prayer being ended, he spoke to the people much to the purpose of his written testimony, whereof somewhat was remembered, to this effect:
"Spectators, 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 be counted me worthy, or enabled me to suffer any thing for him ”

“ The curate, among other things, asked his opinion concerning the toleration, and those that accepted it. Mr Renwick declared that he was against the toleration; but as for them that embraced it, he judged them to be godly men. The curate leaving him, commended him for one of great gravity and ingenuity, etc. Dalrymple, the King’s Advocate, came also to visit him, and declared that he was sorry for his death, and that it should fall out in his short time. Several Popish priests and gentlemen of the guard, with some of the tolerated ministers, were premitted to converse with him. ”

“ For, having publicly proclaimed him a traitor, rebel, &c., they proceeded to pursue his followers with all the rigour that hellish fury and malice could suggest or invent and yet the more they opposed, the more they grew and increased.
In 1684, his difficulties from enemies, and discouragements from friends opposed to him, and manifold vexations from all hands, began to increase more and more; yet all the while he would not intermit one day's preaching, but was still incessant and undaunted in his work. This made the ministers inform against him, as if he had intruded upon other men's labours ”

“ He that confesseth me before men, him will I confess before my Father." He said many times, "Now I am near the end of time, I desire to bless the Lord, it is an inexpressibly sweet and satisfying peace to me, that be hath kept me from complying with enemies in the least." ”

“ Ye that are the people of God, do not weary to maintain 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 foundation. Scotland must be rid of Scotland before the delivery come ”

“ When he went over, he was settled at the university of Groningen, where he plied his studies so hard, and with such proficiency, from the necessities of his friends in Scotland, who were longing for his labours, and his own ardent desire to be at the work, that in a short time he was ready for ordination. ”

“ After this the father of lies began to spue out a flood of reproaches, to swallow up and bury his name and work in contempt, which was very credulously entertained, and industriously spread, not only by the profane, but even by many professors. Some said, he had excommunicated all the ministers in Scotland, and some after they were dead; whereas, he only gave reasons why he could not keep communion with them in the present circumstances. Others said, that he was no Presbyterian, and that his design was only to propagate schism. ”

“ A third was emitted, October 5th, declaring that all preachers and hearers at any meeting in the open fields, should be prosecuted with the utmost severity that law would allow, that all dissenting ministers who preach in houses should teach nothing that should alienate the hearts of the people from the government; and that the privy counsellors, sheriffs, etc., should be acquainted with the places set apart for their preaching. This proclamation, it seems, was granted as an answer to an address for the toleration given in, in name of all the Presbyterian ministers, July 21st, 1687. ”

“ For preaching that it was unlawful to pay the cess expressly exacted for bearing down the gospel. 3. for teaching, that it was lawful for people to carry arms for defending themselves in their meeting for the persecuted gospel ordinances. I think a testimony for these is worth many lives; and if I had ten thousand, I would think it little enough to lay them all down for the same.
"Dear friends, 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 Public and Family Worship, Covenants National and Solemn League, Acts of General Assemblies, and all the faithful contending that have been for the covenanted reformation. ”

“ All which reproaches he was remarkably supported under, and went on in his Master’s business, while he had any work for him to do.
In the mean while, from the noise that went through the country concerning him, the Council got notiee; and thereupon, being enraged at the report of his preaehing in the fields, they raised a hotter and more cruel persecution against him than can be instanced ever to have been against any one man in the nation; nay, than ever the most notorious murderer was pursued with. ”

“ The Council published a proclamation for discovering such as owned or would not disown it; requiring that none above the age of sixteen travel without a pass, and that any who would apprehend any of them should have 500 merks for each person; and that every one should take the oath of abjuration; whereby the temptation and hazard became so dreadful, that many were shot instantly in the fields; others, refusing the oath, were brought in, sentenced and executed in one day; yea, spectators at executions were required to say, whether these men suffered jnstly or not. ”

“ When his time at the college drew near an end, he demonstrated such a tenderness of offending God, &c., that upon his refusal of the oath of allegiance then tendered, he was denied his share of the public solemnity of laureation with the rest of the candidates, but received it privately at Edinburgh. After which he continued his studies, attending o. the then privately persecuted meetings for gospel ordinances for a time. ”

“ The Chancellor replied, and the rest applauded, That they believed that these were the Presbyterian principles, and that all Presbyterians would own them as well as he, if they had but the courage. However, on February 3rd, he received his indictment upon the three foresaid heads, viz., disowning the King’s authority, the unlawfulness of paying the cess, and the unlawfulness of defensive arms ”