in humility judge ourselves, though the chief of sinners, the sons of Zion, and of the seed of Christ; if you remove from us, and carry from hence the candlestick, let our Father be judge, and show us, why the Lord hath bidden you come out from among us. We look upon this visible church, though black and spotted, as the hospital and guest house of sick, halt, maimed, and withered, over which Christ is Lord, Physician, and Master; and we would wait upon those that are not yet in Christ, as our Lord waited upon us and you both. We therefore, your brethren, children of one Father, cannot but, with tears and exceeding sorrow of heart, earnestly entreat, beseech and obtest you by the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, by his sufferings and precious ransom he paid for us both, by the consolations of his Spirit, by your appearance before the dreadful tribunal of our Lord Jesus; yea, and charge you before God and the same Lord Jesus, who shall judge the quick and the dead, at his appearing, and in his kingdom; break not the spirits and hearts of those to whom you are dear as their own soul, forsake not the assemblies of the people of God, let us not divide. Not a few of the people of God, in this shire of Fife, in whose name I now write, dare say, if you depart, you shall leave Christ behind you with us, and the golden candlesticks, and shall cast yourselves (we much fear) out of the hearts and prayers of thousands, dear to Jesus Christ in Scotland; therefore, before you fix your judgment and practice on any untrodden path, let a day of humiliation be agreed upon by us all, and our Father's

mind and will inquired, through our one common Saviour; and let us see one another's faces at best conveniency; and plead the interest of Christ, and be comforted, and not stumble at your ways. So, expecting your answer, we shall pray that "the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, may make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ," and shall remain,

Your affectionate brother in the Lord,

St. Andrews.

S. R.

SOME OF THE

LAST WORDS OF MR. RUTHERFORD:

CONTAINING

SOME ADVICES AND EXHORTATIONS TO HIS FRIENDS AND RELATIONS, DURING HIS LAST SICKNESS.

SOME days before his death, he said, "I shall shine, I shall see him as he is, I shall see him reign, and all his fair company with him; and I shall have my large share, my eyes shall see my Redeemer, these very eyes of mine, and no other for me: this may seem a strong word, but it is no fancy or delusion; it is true, it is true, let my Lord's name be exalted, and if he will, let my name be ground to pieces, that he may be all in all. If he should slay me ten thousand times ten thousand times, I'll trust." He often repeated, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart."" Exhorting one to be diligent in seeking God, he said, "It is no easy thing to be a Christian, but for me, I have gotten the victory, and Christ is holding out both his arms to embrace me." At another time, to some friends about him, he said, "At the beginning of my sufferings I had

mine own fears, like another sinful man, lest I should faint, and not be carried creditably through; and I laid this before the Lord: and as sure as he ever spake to me in his word, as sure his Spirit witnessed to my heart, he had accepted my suffering; he said to me, Fear not: the issue shall not be simply matter of praise.' I said to the Lord, if he should slay me five thousand times five thousand times, I would trust in him; and I spake it with much trembling, fearing I should not make my attempt good. But as really as ever he spake to me by his Spirit, he witnessed to my heart, that his grace should be sufficient."

The last Tuesday night before his death, being much weighed down with the state of the public, he had that expression, "Terror hath taken hold on me, because of his dispensation." And after adverting to his own condition, he said, "I disclaim all that ever he made me will and do, and look on it as defiled and imperfect, as coming from me; and I take me to Christ for sanctification, as well as justification ;" and repeating these words, "He is made of God to me wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption;"" he added, "I close with it, let him be so, he is my All in all this."

On March the seventeenth, three gentlewomen coming to see him, after exhorting them to read the Word, and be frequent in prayer, and much in communion with God, he said, " My honourable Master and lovely Lord, my great and royal King, hath not a match in heaven or in earth; I have my own guiltiness like another sinful man, but he hath pardoned,

loved, and washed me, and given me joy unspeakable and full of glory.' I repent not that ever I owned his cause. Those whom ye call Protesters, are the witnesses of Jesus Christ; I hope never to depart from that cause, nor side with those that have burnt the Causes of God's Wrath.

"They have broken their covenant, oftener than once or twice: but I believe The Lord will build Zion, and repair the waste places of Jacob.” O, to obtain mercy, to wrestle with God for their salvation! As for this presbytery, it hath stood in opposition to me these years past: I have my record in heaven, I had no particular end in view, but was seeking the honour of God, the success of the gospel in this place, and the good of the new college, that society which I have left upon the Lord: what personal wrongs they have done me, and what grief they have occasioned to me, I heartily forgive them; and desire mercy to wrestle with God, for mercy to them and all their salvation."

The same day, Mr. James M'Gill, Mr. John Wardlaw, Mr. William Violant, and Mr. Alexander Wedderburn, (all members of the same presbytery with him) coming to visit him, he made them heartily welcome, and said, "My Lord and Master is the chief of ten thousand of thousands, none is comparable to him, in heaven or in earth. Dear brethren, do all for him; pray for Christ, preach for Christ, feed the flock committed to your charge for Christ, do all for Christ; beware of men-pleasing, there is too much of it among us. Dear brethren, you know I have had my own grievances among you