Page images
PDF
EPUB

R

Robert Miller.

OBERT MILLER, mason, Rutherglen, was tried along with Robert Pollock, January 19, 1685. He was found guilty, and suffered along with him, January 23, 1685, at the Gallowlee, between Edinburgh and Leith. He died in much serenity and inward consolation. His testimony was first given in full in the fourth edition of 1741. In the first edition, after Robert Pollock's testimony, there is added-" Together with him suffered Robert Miller, mason, in Rutherglen, sentenced for, and adhering to the same truths. In his testimony he blesses God for His providential care of him from his infancy, for His engaging his heart wonderfully to Himself, for His honouring him to tread the footsteps of his lovely Lord in suffering for His name. He declares his fears of the growth and prevalency of Popery, and of God's approaching wrath against the land; exhorts to keep up Christian fellowships; forgives his enemies the injuries done to his person; encourages his suffering brethren to venture on the cross of Christ, enforcing it with his own experience of God's love and supporting consolations sweetening the cross to him."-ED.]

[graphic]

HE LAST TESTIMONY of ROBERT MILLER, mason, who lived in the parish of Rutherglen, and suffered for the truth at the Gallowlee of Edinburgh, upon the 23d of January, betwixt six and seven [eight and nine] in the morning, 1685.

"LOVING AND DEAR FRIENDS,-I being sentenced to die by men, have thought it fit to leave behind me this mite of a testimony, and to let you know upon what grounds I

acknowledge the present

afraid to venture upon a gibbet for Hinot

His cause.

And now let none savion to the Word of God; and ath against the Apologetical

that

an enemy to the Covenants and work

rst not

do, no, not for my soul. been a great sinner against God, but I against man worthy of death, bonds, or

should be taken away for such
would never have gotten sur'
that I am ta'
none be sorry
wrath, for there are r
flee from His wrat1
much concerned
unto Christ,
fury; and

out upo

peace

Oh

fc

glory

to

Him, for He hath not been wanting to

Are seen in some measure, His hand of providence, aye, in e or more from my very infancy, guiding me to this day. But

sthough I have many times turned my back on Him, and also persecuted truths, and aye when I was like to be snared with strong me to go, but still kept me with a loving respect to Him, and His thought I followed my duty, with many failings; yet He never suffered

temptations

from Satan, the world, and my own wicked heart, then

He brake the snare, and I escaped as a bird out of the hand of the fowler. And, according to that word, He hath, in a wonderful meamade all things to work together for my good.

sure,

Oh! how many times have I turned back, and provoked Him

to hide His face, and to desert me, and to plague me with hardness

of heart! but aye, when I was ready to sink, then He manifested His and brought me up out of the great depth, and also made out power, that word, 'When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up' (Ps. xxvii. 10). Now, I say, glory, glory to Him, who hath plucked me as a brand out of the burning, and hath made a prison and irons sweet and easy to me. Oh what an honour is it, to tread the same steps that my loving Lord hath trod before me! Oh! now He is become altogether lovely, and the chief among ten thousand; I can now say from my experience, that my Beloved is mine, and I am His.

"1. Now I heartily adhere, and leave my testimony to that covenant of free grace, agreed upon between the Father and the Son; that noble work of redemption; and desire to take Him in all His offices, as King, Priest, and Prophet.

"2. I heartily adhere to the holy and sacred Word of God, with which my soul many a time hath been refreshed.

"3. And also to the Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms.

"4. And also to the National and Solemn League and Covenants.

"5. And also to that glorious work of Reformation, as it was med from Popery and Prelacy, and all other errors.

And likewise I leave my testimony to all the fellowship

s of the Lord's people, for keeping up of the fallen down of our Lord.

[ocr errors]

7. And likewise I leave my testimony to these worthy men's doctrine, viz., Mr Donald Cargill and the rest who jeoparded their lives upon the high places of the earth, for the bearing up of the fallen down standard of our Lord, when the rest most shamefully left it at the command of men.

"8. And likewise I heartily adhere and leave my testimony to that worthy man's doctrine, called Mr James Renwick, who is now carrying on that great work, when there are so few to own it. And I desire to bless the Lord that ever I heard them preach.

"9. And likewise I leave my testimony to the Excommunication at the Torwood, passed by Donald Cargill against these enemies of God.

"10. And likewise I leave my testimony to all protestations and declarations given by the Lord's people, against His enemies.

"II. And also, to the making use of defensive arms.

"And likewise I desire to tell you what I disown, and leave my testimony against.

"And in the first place, I leave my testimony against Popery and Prelacy, and Erastianism, and all other errors, not agreeable to the Word of God, and against all these that adhere to and own these abominable practices and principles.

"2. I leave my testimony against that tyrant that is now upon the throne, viz., Charles Stuart, who hath not only broken the Covenant, but burned it, and overturned the whole work of Reformation, which he was sworn and engaged unto, and is yet going on with uplifted hands, in his perjury, and making to do the like, according to that of Jeroboam who made Israel to sin; and also for his Supremacy over the prerogatives of our Lord.

"3. And also I leave my testimony against those called the Council of Scotland, who at this day sleep not, except they have done mischief, and they are now taking away my life, not having any manner of fact against me, either worthy of death or of bonds, but only because I would not perjure myself, and state myself an open enemy to God, and His truth, which I durst not do, no, not for my soul.

suffer; and it is only because I would not acknowledge the present authority, which is in a direct opposition to the Word of God; and also, because I would not take that oath against the Apologetical Declaration, and swear myself an enemy to the Covenants and work of Reformation, which I durst not do, no, not for my soul.

"Now I confess, I have been a great sinner against God, but I never acted anything against man worthy of death, bonds, or imprisonment; now glory to Him, for He hath not been wanting to me. I have seen, in some measure, His hand of providence, aye, in less or more, from my very infancy, guiding me to this day. But now it is about fifteen years since He engaged me wonderfully to Him, although I have many times turned my back on Him, and also thought I followed my duty, with many failings; yet He never suffered me to go, but still kept me with a loving respect to Him, and His persecuted truths, and aye when I was like to be snared with strong temptations from Satan, the world, and my own wicked heart, then He brake the snare, and I escaped as a bird out of the hand of the fowler. And, according to that word, He hath, in a wonderful measure, made all things to work together for my good.

"Oh how many times have I turned back, and provoked Him to hide His face, and to desert me, and to plague me with hardness of heart! but aye, when I was ready to sink, then He manifested His power, and brought me up out of the great depth, and also made out that word, 'When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up' (Ps. xxvii. 10). Now, I say, glory, glory to Him, who hath plucked me as a brand out of the burning, and hath made a prison and irons sweet and easy to me. Oh what an honour is it, to tread the same steps that my loving Lord hath trod before me! Oh now He is become altogether lovely, and the chief among ten thousand; I can now say from my experience, that my Beloved is mine, and I am His.

"1. Now I heartily adhere, and leave my testimony to that covenant of free grace, agreed upon between the Father and the Son; that noble work of redemption; and desire to take Him in all His offices, as King, Priest, and Prophet.

"2. I heartily adhere to the holy and sacred Word of God, with which my soul many a time hath been refreshed.

[ocr errors]

3. And also to the Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms.

"4. And also to the National and Solemn League and Covenants.

"5. And also to that glorious work of Reformation, as it was reformed from Popery and Prelacy, and all other errors.

"6. And likewise I leave my testimony to all the fellowship meetings of the Lord's people, for keeping up of the fallen down standard of our Lord.

"7. And likewise I leave my testimony to these worthy men's doctrine, viz., Mr Donald Cargill and the rest who jeoparded their lives upon the high places of the earth, for the bearing up of the fallen down standard of our Lord, when the rest most shamefully left it at the command of men.

"8. And likewise I heartily adhere and leave my testimony to that worthy man's doctrine, called Mr James Renwick, who is now carrying on that great work, when there are so few to own it. And I desire to bless the Lord that ever I heard them preach.

"9. And likewise I leave my testimony to the Excommunication at the Torwood, passed by Donald Cargill against these enemies of God.

"10. And likewise I leave my testimony to all protestations and declarations given by the Lord's people, against His enemies.

"II. And also, to the making use of defensive arms.

"And likewise I desire to tell you what I disown, and leave my testimony against.

"And in the first place, I leave my testimony against Popery and Prelacy, and Erastianism, and all other errors, not agreeable to the Word of God, and against all these that adhere to and own these abominable practices and principles.

"2. I leave my testimony against that tyrant that is now upon the throne, viz., Charles Stuart, who hath not only broken the Covenant, but burned it, and overturned the whole work of Reformation, which he was sworn and engaged unto, and is yet going on with uplifted hands, in his perjury, and making to do the like, according to that of Jeroboam who made Israel to sin; and also for his Supremacy over the prerogatives of our Lord.

"3. And also I leave my testimony against those called the Council of Scotland, who at this day sleep not, except they have done mischief, and they are now taking away my life, not having any manner of fact against me, either worthy of death or of bonds, but only because I would not perjure myself, and state myself an open enemy to God, and His truth, which I durst not do, no, not for my soul.

« PreviousContinue »