March - the Free Presbyterian church of Scotland

78The Free Presbyterian Magazinewhile certain priests or monks craftily questioned the young doctor with theintention of destroying him, he had it in mind to save him. Campbell, likeAlesius, was open to the truth, but the love of the world and its favours prevailedin him, and therein lay his danger. He often conversed with Hamiltonon the true sense of the Scriptures and acknowledged: “The Church is inneed of reformation in many ways”. Hamilton, pleased with this admission,hoped to bring him, like Alesius, to the faith. Having no fear of a friend whomhe already looked on almost as a brother, he kept back none of his thoughtsand attached himself to him with all sincerity.But after several interviews, the Archbishop ordered Campbell to give himan account of proceedings. This request astonished and disturbed the priorand, when he stood before Beaton and his councillors, he was intimidated –overpowered by fear of offending the primate and of incurring the censuresof the Church. He wished he could at the same time obey both the Lord andthe bishops, but he saw no means of reconciling the gospel and the world.When he saw everyone look at him he was agitated, he wavered, and he toldeverything Hamilton had said to him in the freedom of brotherly confidence.He even consented to become one of his judges. Choosing ease, reputationand life rather than persecution, opprobrium and death, Campbell turned hisback on the truth and abandoned Hamilton.When the young Reformer heard of Campbell’s treachery, he was greatlysaddened but not disheartened. On the contrary, he went on teaching withredoubled zeal, both at his lodging and in the university. He bore witnesswith all his heart and might to the Word of God. For beginning the work ofreformation, no place in the kingdom was more important than St Andrews.Hamilton found there students and professors, priests, monks of variousorders, canons, deans, nobles and laymen of all classes. This was the widefield on which for one month he scattered the divine seed.When the adversaries of the New Testament saw the success of Hamilton’steachings, they grew more and more alarmed. There must be no more delay,they thought; the great blow must be struck. Hamilton was summoned to theArchbishop’s palace, to answer a charge of heresy. His friends in alarm imploredhim to flee; it seemed that even the Archbishop would have been gladto see him go back to Germany. But when Hamilton returned to Scotland, hehad resolved to lay down his life, if need be – if only by his death Christshould be magnified. The joy of a good conscience was so firmly establishedin his soul that no bodily suffering could take it away.As Patrick was not minded to flee, his enemies decided to rid themselvesof so formidable an antagonist. One obstacle, however, lay in their way.Would the King, feeble but humane, permit them to sacrifice this young