NWICK.

James Renwick was the last martyr of the Covenant, who suffered by
public execution. His short life was a miracle of devotion to the
Societies, whose fidelity to Christ and their Covenant had inflamed the
enemy with rage, and thereby greatly increased the violence of the
persecution. He had a marvelous victory over death, being in a transport
of joy on the way from the prison to the scaffold. His soul was
overflowing with happiness, in anticipation of the marriage supper of
the Lamb, of which he was about to partake.]

We find Renwick, soon after this, studying theology in Holland. After
twenty months he appeared before Presbytery for ordination. This is the
man who has had his introduction to God. Now we will see what his
acquaintance with God will do for him. Acquainted with God! Oh, how
singular that will make any man! Acquainted personally with God, with
His sovereignty, His holiness, His love of righteousness, and His
hatred of sin! The man who is thus honored will be peculiar indeed. He
will have deep insight, unswerving purpose, strong character,
unhesitating courage. He will not deviate an hairbreadth from the law of
God, as he sees it. He will not yield his convictions for any
consideration. He will stand alone against the forces of all worlds
combined, rather than compromise one jot of revealed truth. The pleading
of friends and the threats of enemies will alike fall heedlessly upon
his ears. He will consider every word of Christ, and every gem in His
crown, worthy of all the blood that may flow for its sake. Such was
James Renwick at this time.

There were no ministers of his own denomination to ordain him. The
Church in Holland was not a Covenanted Church, but a branch of the
Presbyterian Church, and at that time it was burdened with corruptions.
But it was not guilty of Covenant-breaking, like the Church of Scotland.
Therefore he sought ordination in Holland. Now, this is the man who is
acquainted with God. Observe what he does. In his trial sermons, he laid
bare the errors and faultiness of the Holland Church. What a daring step
for a student of theology! What a breach of ordinary courtesy! He placed
conventional etiquette on the altar of truth, and consumed it in the
flames of zeal for God's House, and the purity of Divine worship. He
would, then and there, give faithful testimony; for the opportunity
might no more return. Presbytery listened with amazement; yet his
arguments were so Scriptural