he Lamb, and by
the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the
death," (Rev. xii. 11.)

Finally--the testimony of Renwick is valuable, as throwing light on
_great evils connected with systems of civil government_, and _with
Protestant churches_, and as pointing out clearly the duty of faithful
witnesses in relation to them. Two great principles--the one
_doctrinal_, and the other _practical_, were essential to it, or rather
constituted its whole speciality. These were--first--that, according to
the national vows, and the reformation attainments, the whole civil
polity of the nation should be conformed to the Scriptures,--and
secondly, the positive duty of distinct separation from whatever systems
in the state or the church that are opposed to entire allegiance to
Messiah, the Prince. The civil constitution and the national legislation
and administration, as well as the lives of rulers, were required to be
in subjection to His authority, and in accordance with the prescriptions
of His word. When such subjection is withheld, Christ's servants, if
they would be faithful to the exalted Saviour, cannot do otherwise than
refuse to incorporate with the national society, and to homologate the
acts of its rulers; and from Churches that do not testify against
national defection, they are constrained to maintain distinct
separation. The past history of the Church bears clear testimony that
truth has been frequently preserved, when it was in danger of being
lost, by open separation from those who were bent on declension and
apostacy.

In our day, it should not be regarded as enough to profess in theory the
doctrine of Christ's Headship, or merely to speak in commendation of a
martyr-testimony. We should aim, as Renwick and his followers, at
whatever inconvenience and hardship, to give it _practical effect_. The
reason why these honoured confessors disowned the authority of Charles
and his brother, was, not solely or chiefly, because of their tyranny or
persecuting measures, but principally because the authority assumed was
opposed to the exclusive royal prerogatives of the Redeemer. The public
evils against which Renwick and the later martyrs testified to the
death, did not cease at the Revolution; nor can we admit that the
Revolution Settlement embodied all the principles for which the
Covenanted martyrs contended, and suffered, and died. On the contrary,
there are essential and inherent evils in the Revolu