DONALD CARGILL - A Letter (2)
Two who survived the battle and afterwards suffered
martyrdom in the Grassmarket of Edinburgh, on the 13th August, were John
Malcolm and Archibald Alison, to whom Cargill found time to send a long and
interesting letter, from which we make the following extract:
“DEAR
FRIENDS,
Death in Christ and for Christ is never much to be bemoaned, and
loss at this time than any other, when those that survive have nothing to live
among but miseries, persecutions, snares, sorrows, and sinning, and where the
only desirable sight - viz., Christ reigning in a free and flourishing Church,
is wanting.
Your work is great and time short; but this is a comfort, and
the only comfort in your present condition, that you have a God infinite in
mercy to deal with, who is ready at all times to forgive, but especially
persons in your case, who have been jeopardising your lives on account of the
Gospel . . . Dear friends, be not terrified at the manner of your death, which
to me seems to be the easiest of all, where you come to it without pain and in
perfect judgment, and go through so speedily; before the pain be felt, the
glory is come. But pray for a greater measure of His presence, which only can
make a pass through the hardest things cheerful and pleasant. . I bid you
farewell, expecting, though our parting be sad, our gathering shall be joyful
again. Only our great advantage in the case you are in is to credit Him much;
for that is His glory, and engages Him to perform whatever you have credited
Him with.”
Back to Menu