March - the Free Presbyterian church of Scotland

Scottish Puritans 85evils, sin, desertions, afflictions, plagues of heart, and disappointments; andto put good constructions on all God’s dealings; and when anything comes,though never so cross, I first enquire, What love can I see in this?” (p 241).Asserting that the Lord’s people walk by a rule, he gave himself “specialrules for ordering my speech, behaviour and practice”. Among these thefollowing stands out: “Labour to have and keep right, sound, orthodox, andcharitable thoughts of God: fix a lovely character of God in thy heart suchas Exodus 34:6,7. Fix the faith of God’s attributes – study this most” (p 272).In a more directly-practical way he set himself “once in the month, either theend or middle of it” to “keep a day of humiliation for the public condition,for the Lord’s people and their sad condition, for the raising up the work andpeople of God” (p 275).The lives of David Dickson (1583-1663) and William Guthrie (1620-1665)are also to be found in this volume, together with a sermon by Guthrie. Manyprofitable details can be gleaned from the stories of these eminently usefuland godly men and much that should act as a call to reformation among ourselves.A martyr testimony is also included, entitled “A True Relation of theLife and Sufferings of John Nisbet in Hardhill”. This godly and zealousCovenanter was one of the martyrs of the “Killing Times”, being executedon 4 December 1685. Nisbet took up arms in 1666, “that with safe consciencehe might preserve to himself and others the free enjoyment of the gospel”(p 380). What sufferings and deprivations he, and such of his company asremained true to their principles, endured is related at some length. It makesfor humbling reading when we consider how little of Christ’s cross we arepresently called to suffer. A full account of Nisbet’s capture (by one of hisnear relations), his trial and execution makes stirring reading, and we couldall benefit from being better acquainted with it. His dying testimony on thescaffold is truly moving.Several other interesting and profitable biographies conclude this volume.These are of little-known persons, illustrating that it is not only such as haveobtained a reputation for piety, suffering and faithfulness whom God willreward at last, but also those who were obscure and soon forgotten. The “Raresoul-strengthening and comforting cordial for old and young Christians”,written by John Stevenson, a land-labourer from Dalry who died in 1728,and the “Memoir of Mrs Goodal” are examples in this volume of the moreobscure but eminently profitable. The last words of Lady Coltness, particularlythose addressed to her children, reveal a rare kind of piety, as does the sadaccount, written by Thomas Halyburton, of the accidental burning and piousdeath of Lady Anne Elcho. Such biographies give insights into the godlinessof this period. Many others like them have been left in obscurity until that