The Salvation and Testimony of John Gordon

From "Scots Worthies", John Howie, 1775

In reading this chapter from John Howie's 18th century work I was taken with the tone of the account of one man's deathbed struggle for salvation and his faithful, grace-filled testimony. I have taken the liberty of editing the text from the 1902 revision to make it more accessible to the modern reader, but I hope that I have preserved the power and charm of the original narrative that was written by a possible ancestor. Howie closes the chapter with a heartfelt defense of his decision to include this story of a sinner saved at the gates of Hell in a book filled with stories from the lives of the great saints and martyrs of Scottish Presbyterianism.

Mark Hoy Henshaw Hamlin, NY, USA, 2003

JOHN GORDON of Lochinvar (afterwards Viscount Kenmuir) was born in Scotland about the year 1599. He received a reasonable measure of education; and yet, through the circumstance of his birth, the corruption of the age, and above all, the depravity of nature and want of restraining grace in his younger years, he became somewhat irreligious and profane. When he arrived at manhood, his bad habits broke out into more gross acts of wickedness. Yet all the while the Lord never left him altogether without a witness in his conscience ; yea, sometimes when at ordinances, particularly sacramental occasions, he would be filled with a sense of sin, which, being borne powerfully in upon his soul, he was scarcely able to hold out against. For a long time he was a stranger to true and saving conversion. The most part of his life, he spent like the rich man in the Gospel, casting down barns, and building greater ones; for at his houses of Rusco and Kenmuir, he was much employed in building, parking, planting, and seeking worldly honours.

About the year 1628, he married that virtuous and religious lady Jean Campbell, sister to the worthy Marquis of Argyle, by whom he had some children (two at least). It appears that one of their children died about the beginning of the year 1635, for we find Samuel Rutherford, in one of his letters about that time, comforting Gordon's noble lady upon such a mournful occasion.

In 1633, Charles I, to honour his coronation in the place of his birth and first Parliament under his reign, dignified many of the Scots nobility and gentry with higher titles, and places of office and honour. Among them was Sir John Gordon, who, upon the 8th of May of that year, was created Viscount Kenmuir, and Lord Gordon of Lochinvar. Accordingly, the Viscount came to the Parliament which sat down at Edinburgh, June 16th, 1633 and was present the first day, but stayed only a few days thereafter. Being afraid to displease the King, from whom he hath both received some, and expected more honours, and not having the courage to glorify God by his presence when His cause was at stake, he deserted the Parliament under pretence of indisposition of body, and returned home to Kenmuir in Galloway. There he slept securely for about a year, without check of conscience, till August 1634, when his affairs occasioned his return to Edinburgh. He remained some days, not knowing that with the ending of his affairs he was to end his life, returning home with some alteration of bodily health ; and from that day his sickness increased until September 12th, which was the day of his death.

The Lord, though, had other thoughts than that this nobleman should die without some sense of his sin, or yet go out of this world unobserved. Therefore it pleased Him, with bodily affliction, to shake Gordon's soul, making him sensible of the power of eternal wrath, for his own good and for an example to others in after ages, never to wrong their consciences, or to be wanting to the cause or interest of God, when He gives them an opportunity to that purpose.

Upon the Sabbath, August 31st, being much weakened, Gordon was visited by a religious and learned minister, who then lived in Galloway, not far from the house of Kenmuir. His Lordship much rejoiced at the man's coming, observing God's over-ruling providence in sending such a man (who had been abroad from Galloway some time) sooner home than he expected. After supper, his Lordship began to confer with the minister, showing he was much taken up with the fear of death, and extremity of pain. "I never dreamed," said he, "that death had such a terrible, austere, and gloomy countenance. I dare not die; howbeit, I know I must die. What shall I do? I dare not venture in grips with death, because I find my sins grievous, and so many, that I fear my account is out of order, and not so as becomes a dying man."

The minister for some time had discourse with Gordon about this weakness of nature, which is in all men, believers not excepted, making them afraid of death. He spoke of his hope that Christ would be Gordon's second in his combat with the fear of death, encouraging him to rely upon His strength. Furthermore , the minister said, "My lord, I fear more the ground of your fear of death, which is, as you say, the consciousness of your sins. There can be no plea betwixt you and your Lord, if your sins be not taken away in Christ; therefore make that sure, and fear not." Gordon answered, "I have been too late in coming to God; and have deferred the time of making my account so long, that I fear I have but the foolish virgins' part of it, who came and knocked at the door of the bridegroom too late, and never got in."

The minister recounted what he knew of both Gordon's own and his father's sins, in particular their cares for this world and worldly honours. Thinking that Gordon designed to extenuate his fault in this, the minister drew forth several weighty propositions relating to the fears of death and eternal hell, the outcome of which depended upon one's being "in or out of Christ". He then addressed Gordon in these words, "Therefore, I entreat you, my lord, by the mercies of God, by your appearing before Christ your Judge, and by the salvation of your soul, that you would look ere you leap, and venture not into eternity, without a certificate under Jesus Christ's hand; because it is said of the hypocrite "He lieth down in the grave, and his bones are full of the sins of his youth."

Gordon replied, "When I begin to look upon my life, I think all is wrong in it, and the lateness of my reckoning afrighteth me; there-fore stay with me, and show me the marks of a child of God, for you must be my second in this combat." Lady Gordon answered, "You must have Jesus Christ to be your second;" to which her husband heartily said, "Amen; but," continued he, "how shall I know that I am in the state of grace? For though I be resolved, my fears will still overburden me." The minister continued, "My lord, scarcely or never doth a castaway anxiously and carefully ask the question, whether he be a child of God or not." But Gordon excepted against that, saying, "I do not think there is any reprobate in hell, but would, with all his heart, have the kingdom of heaven." The minister explained the different desires in reprobates, but Gordon replied, "But you never saw any tokens of true grace in me; this is my great and only fear."

The minister said, "I was indeed sorry to see you so fearfully carried away with temptation, and you know I gave you faithful warning that it would come to this. I wish your soul was deeply humbled for sin; but I must tell you that I did think you had a love for the saints, even to the poorest, who carried Christ's image, even though they could never serve nor profit you in any way. "We know we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren." (1 John iii 14).

At last, with this remark, after some few objections, Gordon seemed convinced. The minister then asked, "My lord, dare you now quit your part in Christ, and subscribe an absolute re-signation of Him?" Gordon said, "O Sir, that is too hard; I hope He and I have more to do together, and I will be advised ere I do that." and then asked, "What mark is it to have judgment to discern a minister called and sent of God from an hireling?" The minister allowed it was a good sign, a good mark, and cited John x. 4, "My sheep know my voice."

At a second conference with Gordon, the minister urged deep humiliation. Gordon acknowledged the necessity thereof; but said, "Oh if I could get Him! But sin causeth me to be jealous of His love to such a man as I have been." The minister advised him, "to be jealous of himself but not of Jesus Christ, there being no meeting between them without a sense of sin" (Isa. lxi. 2, 3). Whereupon Gordon said, with a deep sigh accompanied by tears, "God send me that!" He thereafter reckoned out a certain number of his sins, which were as horrible as serpents before his eyes. The minister told Gordon that he was yet a stranger to death, and hoped that he would tell another tale ere all the play was ended, and that he should think death a sweet messenger to carry him to his Father's house. Gordon said with tears, "God make it so!" and desired him to pray.

At their third conference, Gordon said, "Death bindeth me straight. O how sweet a thing it is to seek God in health, and in time of prosperity to make our accounts, for now I am so distempered, that I cannot get my heart framed to think on my account, and the life to come." The minister told him that he must fight against sickness and pain, as well as sin and death, seeing it is a temptation. Gordon answered, "I have taken the play long; God hath given me thirty-five years to repent ; but, alas I have misspent it;" and with that he covered his face and wept. The minister assured him, that although his day was far spent, yet he must in the afternoon of his life, yea, when near evening, run fast and not to lie in the field and miss his lodging, upon which Gordon, with uplifted eyes, said, "Lord, how can I run? Lord, draw me, and I shall run" (Cant. i. 4). The minister, hearing this, desired him to pray, but he answered nothing; yet, within an hour, Gordon did pray before the minister and Lady Gordon very devoutly, and bemoaned his own weakness, both inward and outward, saying, "I dare not knock at thy door; I lie at it scrambling as I may, till thou come out and take me in; I dare not speak; I look up to thee and look for one kiss of Christ's fair face. Oh, when wilt thou come!"

At their fourth conference, Gordon asked the minister to go to a secret place and pray for him, and do it not for the fashion. ''I know," said he, ''prayer will pull Christ out of heaven." The minister said, ''What shall I pray for? Give me your commission." Gordon answered, "I charge you to tell my Beloved that I am sick of love." The minister asked if he should pray for life or recovery. Gordon replied, "Yea if it be God's good pleasure, for I find my fear of death now less and I think God is now loosing the root of the deep-grown tree of my soul, so firmly fastened to this life.'' The minister told him, if it were so, Gordon should covenant with God, dedicating himself and all he had to God and His service, to which he heartily consented; and after the minister had recited several Scriptures for that purpose, such as Ps. lxxviii. 36, Gordon took the Bible, and said, "Mark other Scriptures for me." Having marked 2 Cor. v., Rev. xxi. and xxii., Psalm xxxviii., John xv., he turned over these places, and Gordon read them crying often, "Oh Son of God, for one sight of Thy face."

When the minister told Gordon his prayers were heard, Gordon took hold of his hand, and drew him to him, and said with a sigh. "Good news indeed;'' and desired him and others to tell him what access they had got to God in Christ for his soul. They told him they had got access, at which he rejoiced and said, "Then will I believe and wait on. I cannot think but my Beloved is coming, leaping over the hills!''

When friends or others whom he knew feared God came to visit Gordon, he would cause them to go and pray for him, and sent some of them expressly to the wood of Kenmuir on that errand. After some cool of a fever (as was thought), he caused one of his attendants to call for the minister, to whom he said, smiling, ''Rejoice now, for He is come. Oh if I had a tongue to tell the world what Jesus Christ hath done for my soul!"

And yet, after all this, conceiving hopes of recovery, he became more careless, remiss, and dead, for some days, and seldom called for the minister, though he would not suffer him to go home to his flock. Lady Gordon and others perceiving this, went to the physician, and asked his judgment about the man's condition. He plainly told them, there was nothing but death for him if the flux returned, as it did. The minister went to Gordon, and gave him faithful warning of his approach-ing danger, telling him his glass was shorter than he was aware of, and that Satan would be glad to steal his soul out of the world sleeping. This being seconded by the physician, Gordon took the minister by the hand, thanked him for his faithful and plain dealing, and acknow-ledged the folly of his deceiving heart, in looking over his affection to this life, when he was so fairly once on his journey toward heaven; then, ordering all to leave the chamber except the minister, and directing him to shut the door, he conferred once more with him about the state of his soul.

After prayer, the minister told him he feared that Gordon's former joy had not been well grounded, nor his humiliation deep enough; and therefore desired him to dig deeper, representing his offence both against the first and second tables of the law. Thereupon Gordon reckoned out a number of great sins, and, amongst the rest, freely confessed his sin in deserting the last Parliament, saying, ''God knoweth, I did it with fearful wrestling of conscience, my light paying me home within when I seemed to be glad and joyful before men." The minister being struck with astonishment at this reckon-ing, after such fair appearance of sound marks of grace in his soul, stood up and read the first eight verses in the sixth chapter of the epistle to the Hebrews, and discoursed thereon; then cited the eighth verse of the twenty-first chapter of Revelation, and told Gordon he had not one word of mercy from the Lord to him, and so turned his back. At this Gordon cried out with such tears, that they heard him at some distance, saying, "God armed is coming against me to beat out my brains. I would die - but dare not die I would live - but I dare not live! O what a burden is the hand of an angry God! Oh what shall I do? Is there no hope of mercy?" In this agony he lay for some time. Some said that the minister would kill him; others, that he would make him despair; but he bore with them, and went to a secret place, where he sought words from God to speak to his patient.

After this another minister came to visit him, to whom he said, "He hath slain me;" and before the minister could answer for him-self, added, "Not he, but the Spirit of God in him." The minister said, "Not I, but the law hath slain you;" and proceeded to tell Gordon of the grievances the Lord had against the house of Kenmuir. The other minister read the history of Manasseh, and of his wicked life, and how the Lord was entreated of by him. But Gordon's primary minister, supposed to have been Samuel Rutherford, went on still upon wrath, telling Gordon he knew that he was extremely pained both in body and mind, but what would he think of the lake of fire and brimstone, of ever-lasting burning, and of utter darkness, with the devil and his angels? Gordon answered, "Woe is me if I should suffer my thoughts to dwell upon it at any time; it were enough to cause me to go out of my senses. But I pray you, what shall I do?" The minister told him he was still in the same situation, only the sentence was not given out, and, therefore, desired him to mourn for offending God and further said, "What, Gordon, if Christ had given out the sentence of condemnation against you, and come to your bedside, and told you of it; would you not still love Him, trust in Him, and hang upon Him?" Gordon answered, "God knoweth, I durst not challenge Him; even though He should slay me, I will still love Him-yea, though the Lord should slay me, yet will I trust in Him. I will lie down at God's feet, let Him trample upon me; if I die, I will die at Christ's feet." The minister, finding Gordon claiming such kindness to Christ, and hearing him often cry, "O Son of God, where art Thou? When wilt Thou come to me? Oh for a love-look!" spoke, "Is it possible, Gordon, that you can love and long for Christ, and He not love and long for you? Can love and kindness stand only on your side? Is your poor love more than infinite love, seeing He hath said (Isa. xlix. 15) "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." My lord, be per-suaded; you are graven upon the palms of God's hands." Upon this, Gordon, with a hearty smile, looked about to a gentleman, one of his attendants, and said, "I am written, man, upon the palms of Christ's hands-He will not forget me. Is not this brave talking?"

Afterwards, the minister, finding Gordon weaker, said, "My lord, the marriage-day is drawing near; make ready; set aside all care of your estate and the world, and give yourself to meditation and prayer and spiritual conference."

Thereafter Gordon was observed to be continually engaged on that exercise, and when none were near him he was found praying; yea, when to appearance sleeping, he was overheard to be engaged in that duty. After some sleep he called for one of his kinsmen, with whom he was not reconciled, and also for a minister, who had some time before offended him, that they might be friends again, which was done quickly. To the preacher he said, "I have ground of offence against you as a natural man, and I do to you that which all men breathing could not have moved me to do; but now, because the Holy Spirit com-mands me, I must obey. I therefore freely forgive you, as I would wish you to forgive me. You are in an eminent station, walk before God and be faithful to your calling; take heed to your steps; walk in the right road; hold your eye right; for all the world, decline not from holiness, and take example by me!" To his cousin he said, "Serve the Lord, and follow not the footsteps of your father-in-law" (for he had married the Bishop of Galloway's daughter); "learn to know that you have a soul, for I say unto you, the thousandth part of the world know not that they have a soul. The world liveth with-out any sense of God."

He desired the minister to sleep in a bed made upon the floor in the chamber next to him, and urged him to sleep, saying, "You and I have a far journey to go, make ready for it." Four nights before his death he would drink a cup of wine to the minister, who said, "Receive it, Gordon, in hope you shall drink of the pure river of the water of life, proceeding from the throne of God and from the Lamb;" When Gordon took the cup in his hand, with a smiling counte-nance, he said "I think I have cause to drink with a good will to you." After some heaviness the minister said, "Gordon, I have good news to tell you. Be not afraid of death and judgment, because the grievance that your Judge had against you is cancelled and rent in pieces, and Christ hath trampled it under his feet" Gordon answered, with a smile, "Oh that is a lucky tale. I will then believe and rejoice, for sure I am, that Christ and I once met, and will he not come again?" The minister said, "You have gotten the first fruit of the Spirit, the earnest thereof, and Christ will not lose his earnest, therefore the bargain betwixt him and you holdeth." Gordon then asked, "What is Christ like, that I may know him?" The minister answered, "He is like love, and altogether lovely"(Cant. v.).

The minister continued, "My lord, if you had the man Christ in your arms, would your heart, your breast, and sides be pained with a stitch?" Gordon answered, "God knoweth I would forget my pain, and thrust Him to my heart; yea, if I had my heart in the palm of my hand I would give it to Him, and think it a gift too unworthy of Him." Gordon went on to complain of Christ's coming and going, "I find," said he, "my soul drowned in heaviness; when the Lord cometh He stayeth not long." The minister said, "Wooers dwell not together, but married folk take up house and sunder not; Jesus Christ is now wooing, and therefore He feedeth His own with hunger, which is as growing meat as the sense of His presence."

Thereafter, in his remaining days, Gordon said often, "Son of God, when wilt thou come? God is not a man that he should change, or as the son of man that He should repent. Them that come to Christ life casteth not away, but raiseth them up at the last day." He was even heard to say in his sleep, "My Beloved is mine, and I am His." Being asked if he had been sleeping, he said he had; but he remem-bered he had been giving a claim to Christ. He asked, "When will my heart be loosed and my tongue untied, that I may express the sweetness of the love of God to my own soul?" and before the minister answered any thing, he himself answered, "Even when the wind bloweth."

At another time, being asked his judgment about the ceremonies then used in the Church, he answered, "I think, and am persuaded in my conscience, they are superstitious, idolatrous, and antichristian, and come from hell. I repute it a mercy that my eyes shall not see the desolation that shall come upon this poor Church. It is plain Popery that is coming among you. God help you. God forgive the nobility, for they are either very cold in defending the true religion, or ready to welcome Popery, whereas they should resist; and woe be to a dead, time-serving, and profane ministry."

During the last few days of his life Gordon took great pains to advise all he could to turn to a true faith. He called his lady and a gentleman who had come from the east country to visit him, and caused them to shut the door; then from his bed directed his speech to the gentleman thus: "I ever found you faithful and kind to me in my life; therefore I must now give you a charge, which you shall deliver to all noblemen you are acquainted with: Go to them, and tell them from me that I have found the weight of the wrath of God for not giving testimony for the Lord my God when I had occasion, once in my life, at the last Parliament, For which fault have I found the wrath of the Lord to be fierce. My soul hath raged and roared; I have been grieved at the remembrance of it. Tell them that they will be saved as I am now. Encourage my friends that stood for the Lord; and tell them that failed, if they would wish to have mercy when they are as I am now, they must repent, and crave mercy of the Lord. For all the earth I would not do as I have done."

Another gentleman, one of Gordon's kinsmen, he told: ''I love you, soul and body; you are a blessed man if you improve the blessed means of the Word preached beside you. I would not have you drown yourself so much with the concerns of this world, as I did. My grief is, that I had not the occasion of good means as you have, and if you yourself make not a right use of them, one day they shall be a witness against you."

To Lord Herries, his brother-in-law, Gordon said: "Mock not at my counsel, my lord. In case you follow the course you are in, you shall never see the face of Jesus Christ. You are deceived with the mer-chandise of the whore, that makes the world drunk out of the cup of her fornication; your soul is built upon a sandy foundation. When you come to my condition you will find no comfort in your religion. You know not what wrestling I have had, before I came to this state of comfort. The kingdom of heaven is not gotten with a skip or leap, but with much seeking and thrusting."

To one of his own sisters he said: "Who knows, sister, but the words of a dying brother may prevail with a loving sister. Alas, you incline to a rotten religion; cast away these rotten rags, they will not avail you when you are brought to this case as I am. Half of the world are ignorant and go to hell, and know not that they have a soul. Read the Scriptures, they are plain easy language to all who desire wisdom from God, and to be led to heaven."

Gordon advised another of his sisters:" My dove, thou art young, and, alas, ignorant of God. I know thy breeding and upbringing well enough. Seek the spirit of regeneration. Oh, if thou knew it, and felt the power of the Spirit as I do now - think not that all is gone because your brother is dead. Trust in God, and beware of the follies of youth. Give yourself to reading and praying, and be careful in hearing God's word, and take heed whom you hear, and how you hear; and God be with you.''

To a neighbour, he spoke thus: "Your soul is in a dangerous case, but you see it not. Leave these sinful courses. There are small means of instruction to be had, seeing the most part of the ministry are profane and ignorant. Search God's word for the good old way, and search and find out all your own ways."

To another cousin, he said: "You are a young man, and know not well what you are doing. Seek God's direction for wisdom in your affairs, and you shall prosper; and learn to know that you have need of God to be your friend." And to yet another cousin: "David, you are an aged man, and you know not well what an account you have to make. I know you better than you believe, for you worship God according to men's devices; you believe lies of God; your soul is in a dreadful case, and until you know the truth, you shall never see your own way aright."

To another neighbour he spoke thus: "Because you are but young, beware of temptation and snares; above all, be careful to keep your-self in the use of means; resort to good company, and howbeit you be named a Puritan, and mocked, care not for that, but rejoice and be glad that they should admit you to their society. I must tell you, when I am at this point in which you see me, I get no comfort to my soul from any other second means under heaven, but from those who are nick-named Puritans; they are the men that can give a word of comfort to a wearied soul in due season, and that I have found by experience."

To a minister he said: ''Mr. James, it is not holiness enough to be a minister, for you ministers have your own faults, and those more heinous than others. I pray you, be more painful in your calling, and take good heed to the flock of God. Know that every soul that perisheth by your negligence, shall be counted to your soul, murdered before God. Take heed in these dangerous days how you lead the people of God, and take heed to your ministry."

To Mr. George Gillespie, then his chaplain: "You have carried yourself discreetly to me, so that I cannot blame you. I hope you shall prove an honest man. If I have been at any time harsh to you, forgive me. I would that I had taken better heed to many of your words; I might have gotten good by the means God gave me, but I made no use of them. I am grieved for my ingratitude against my loving Lord, and that I should have sinned against Him who came down from heaven to the earth for my cause, to die for my sins. The sense of this love borne in upon my heart hath a reflex, making me love my Saviour, and grip to Him again."

To another kinsman he gave this good advice, "Learn to use your time well. Oh, alas! the ministry in this country is dead; God help you, ye are not led right; ye had need to be busy among yourselves. Men are as careless in the practice of godliness as it were but words, fashions; signs, and shows; but all these will not do the turn. Oh, but I find it hard now to thrust in and take the kingdom of heaven by force."

To two neighbouring gentlemen he said : "It is not rising soon in the morning, and running to the park or stone-dyke that will bring peace to the conscience, when it comes to this part of the play. You know how I have been beguiled with this world. I would counsel you to seek that one thing necessary, even the salvation of your souls."

To a cousin, who was bailie of Ayr, he said : "Robert, I know you have light and understanding; and though you need not be instructed by me, yet you need to be incited. Care not overmuch for the world, but make use of good means which you have in your country; for here is a pack of dumb dogs that cannot bark; they tell over a clash of terror, and clatter of comfort, without any sense or life."

To another cousin, a gentleman who was along with the former, he said : "Ye are young men, and have far to go, but it may be, some of you have not far to go; and though your journey be short, howso-ever it is dangerous. Now are you happy, because you have time to lay your accounts with Jesus Christ I entreat you to give your youth to Christ, for it is the best and most acceptable gift you can give him. Give not your youth to the devil and your lusts, and then reserve nothing to Jesus Christ but your rotten bones; it is to he feared that then He will not accept you. Learn, therefore, to watch and take example by me."

He called Mr. Lamb, who was then Bishop of Galloway, and com-manded all others to leave the room. They had a long conference during which Gordon exhorted the Bishop earnestly not to molest or remove the Lord's servants, or enthral their consciences to receive the five articles of Perth, or do anything against their consciences, as he would wish to have mercy from God. The Bishop answered, "My lord, our cere-monies are, of their own nature, but things indifferent, and we impose them for decency and order in God's kirk. They need not stand so scrupulously on them as matter of conscience in God's worship." Gordon replied, ''I will not dispute with you, but one thing I know, and can tell you from dear experience, that these things indeed are matters of conscience, and not indifferent; and so I have found them. For since I lay on this bed, the sin that lay heaviest on my soul was withdrawing myself from the Parliament, and not giving my voice for the truth, against these things which you call indifferent. In so doing I have denied the Lord my God." The Bishop began to commend him for his well-led life, putting him in hopes of health, and praising him for his civil carriage and behaviour, saying he was no oppressor, and without any known vice. Gordon answered: "No matter, a man may be a good civil neighbour, and yet go to hell." The Bishop replied, "My lord, I confess we have all our faults;" and thereafter he insisted so long that Gordon thought him impertinent. He interruptted the Bishop, saying, "What should I hear more? I have got a grip of Jesus Christ, and Christ of me." On the morrow the Bishop came to visit again, and upon asking how he did, Gordon answered, "I thank God, as well as a saved man hastening to heaven can be."

After he had given the clerk of Kirkcudbright some suitable advice, about his Christian walk and particular calling, Gordon caused him to swear, in the most solemn terms, that he should never consent to, but oppose, the election of a corrupt minister or magistrate.

To his coachman, Gordon said, "You will go to any one who will give you the most hire ; but do not so: Go where you can get the best com-pany; though you get less wages, yet you will get the more grace" Then Gordon made him hold up his hand, and promise before God so to do.

To two young serving-men, who came to him weeping to get his last blessing, he said, "Content not yourselves with a superficial view of religion, blessing yourselves in the morning only for a fashion. Yea, though you would pray both morning and evening, yet that will not avail you, except likewise ye make your account every day. Oh ye will find few to direct or counsel you; but I will tell you what to do; first pray to the Lord fervently, to enlighten the eyes of your mind, then seek grace to rule your affections; you will find the good of this when you come to my situation." Then he took both their oaths to do so.

Gordon gave many powerful exhortations to several persons, and caused each man to hold up his hand, and swear in his presence, that by God's grace he should forbear his former sins, and follow his example.

When giving a divine counsel to one friend, he rested in the midst of it, and looking up to heaven, prayed for a loosened heart and tongue to express the goodness of God to men. Thereafter he went on in his counsel, not unlike Jacob, (Gen. xlix. 18) who, in the midst of a prophetical testament, rested a little and said, "I have waited for thy salvation."

He gave his lady many times openly an honourable and ample testimony of her holiness, goodness, and respectful kindness to him, earnestly craved her forgiveness wherein he had offended her, and desired her to make the Lord her comforter; and said, he was but gone before, and it was but fifteen or sixteen years up and down.

He spoke to all the boys of the house, the butler, cook, etc., omitting none, saying, "Learn to serve and fear the Lord, and use carefully the means of your salvation. I know what is ordinarily your religion; ye go to kirk, and when ye hear the devil or hell named in the preaching, ye sigh and make a noise, and it is forgot by you before you come home, and then ye are holy enough. But I can tell you, the kingdom of heaven is not got so easily. Use the means yourselves, and win to some sense of God, and pray as you can, morning and evening. If you be ignorant of the way to salvation, God forgive you, for I have discharged myself in that point towards you, and appointed a man to teach you; your blood be upon yourselves.' He took an oath of his servants, that they should follow his advice, and said to them severally, "If I have been rough to or offended you, I pray you, for God's sake, to forgive me." Amongst others, one to whom he had been rough said, "Your lord-ship never did me wrong; I will never get such a master again." Yet he urged him to say, "My lord, I forgive you\;" although the boy was hardly brought to utter these words, and said to all the be-holders about him, "Sirs, behold how low the Lord hath brought me."

To a gentleman burdened in his estate, he said; "Sir, I counsel you to cast your burden upon the Lord your God."

To a religious gentleman of his own name coming to visit him four days before his death, he spoke thus: "Robert, come to me, and leave me not till I die." Being much comforted with his speeches, Gordon said, "Robert, you are a friend to me both in soul and body.' The gentleman asked him what comfort he had in his love towards the saints. He answered, "I rejoice at it." Then he asked him what comfort he had in bringing the minister who attended him from Galloway. Gordon answered, "God knoweth that I rejoice that ever He put it in my heart so to do, and now because I aimed at God's glory in it, the Lord hath made me find comfort to my soul in the end. The mini-sters of Galloway murdered my father's soul, and if this man had not come they had murdered mine also."

Before his sister Lady Herries, who was a Papist, he testified his willingness to leave the world, "That Papists may see," said he, "that we who die in this religion both see and know whither we go for the hope of our Father's house."

When letters were brought him from friends, he caused them to be delivered to his lady, saying, "I have nothing to do with them. I had rather hear of news from heaven concerning my eternal salvation." It was observed, that when any came to him about worldly business, before they were out of doors, he was returned to his spiritual exercises, and was exceedingly short in dispatching all needful writs. He recommended the case of the poor to his friends.

Upon coming out of a fainting-fit, into which his weakness had thrown him, he said, with a smiling countenance to all about him, "I would not exchange my life with you all; I feel the smell of the place whither I am going."

Upon Friday morning, the day of his departure from this life, Gordon said, "This night I must sup with Jesus Christ in paradise." The minister read to him 2 Cor. v., and Rev. xxii., and made some obser-vations on such places as concerned his state. After prayer, Gordon said, "I conceive good hopes that God looketh upon me, when He granteth such liberty to pray for me. Is it possible that Jesus Christ can lose His grip of me? Neither can my soul get itself plucked from Jesus Christ!" He earnestly desired a sense of God's presence; and the minister said, "What, my lord, if that be suspended till you come to your own home, and be before the throne, clothed in white, and get your harp in your hand, to sing salvation to the Lamb, and to Him that sitteth on the throne, for that is heaven; and who dare promise it to you upon earth? There is a piece of nature in desiring a sense of God's love, it being an apple that the Lord's children delight to play with. But, my lord, if you would have it only as a pledge of your salvation, we shall seek it from the Lord for you, and you may lawfully pray for it." Earnest prayers were made for Gordon, and he testified that he was filled with the sense of the Lord's love. Being asked what he thought of the world, he answered, "It is more bitter than gall or wormwood." And being demanded, if he now feared death, he answered, "I have tasted death; it is not a whit bitter; welcome, the messenger of Jesus Christ!"

The minister said: "There is a grievance betwixt the Lord and your father's house, but your name is taken out of it. How dear was heaven bought for you by Jesus Christ." Gordon frequently said, "I know there is wrath against it, but I shall get my soul for a prey." Oft times he said, "It is a sweet word God saith, 'As I live, I delight not in the death of a sinner.' I will not let go the hold I have got of Jesus Christ; though He should slay me, yet will I trust in Him."

In deep meditation on his change of heart, the minister put this question to Gordon, "What will Christ be like when He cometh?" It was answered, "Altogether lovely."

A short time before Gordon died, he was heard praying very fervently, and said to the doctor, "I thought to have been dissolved ere now." The minister said, "Weary not of the Lord's yoke; Jesus Christ is posting fast to be at you; He is within a few miles." Gordon answered, "This is my infirmity. I will wait on; He is worth the on-waiting; though He be long in coming, yet I dare say He is coming, leaping over the mountains, and skipping over the hills." The minister said, "Some have gotten their fill of Christ in this life; howbeit He is often under a mask to His own ; even His best saints, Job, David, Jere-miah, were under desertions." Gordon replied, "But what are these examples to me? I am not in holiness near to them." The minister said, "It is true, you cannot take so wide steps as they did, but you are in the same way with them; a young child followeth his father at the back, though he cannot take such wide steps as he. My lord, your hunger overcometh your faith: only but believe His word; you are longing for Christ; only believe that He is faithful, and He will come quickly." To this Gordon answered, "I think it is time; Lord Jesus, come!"

Then the minister said, "My Lord, our nature is anxious for our own deliverance; whereas God seeketh first to be glorified in our faith, patience, and hope." Gordon answered, "Good reason to be first served. Lord, give me to wait on; only, Lord, turn me not to dross."

Another said, "Cast back your eyes, my lord, on what you have received, and be thankful;" at the hearing of which Gordon broke forth in praising of God; and finding himself now weak-his speech failing more than an hour before his death-he desired the minister to pray. After prayer, the minister cried in his ear, "My lord, may you now sunder with Christ? "To this Gordon answered nothing, nor was it expected he would speak any more. Yet, in a little while the minister asked him, "Have you any sense of the Lord's love?" and he answered, "I have." The minister said, "Do you now enjoy?" He answered, "I do enjoy." Therefore the minister asked him once more, "Will ye not sunder with Christ?" and Gordon answered, "By no means." This was his last word, not being able to speak any more. The minister asked if he should pray, and Gordon turned his eyes towards him. In the time of the last prayer he was observed joyfully smiling and looking upward. He departed this life about sun-setting, September 12, 1634, aged thirty-five years. It was observed that he died at the same instant that the minister concluded his prayer.

Samuel Rutherford, in one of his letters to the Viscountess of Kenmuir, to comfort her a little after the death of her husband lets fall this expression: "In this late visitation that hath befallen your ladyship, ye have seen God's love and care in such a measure, that I thought our Lord brake the sharp point of the cross, and allowed us to see Christ take possession upon earth, of him who is reigning and triumphing with the hundred and forty and four thousand who stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion."

Some may object - What did this nobleman for the cause of Christ, or Scotland's covenanted work of Reformation, that he should be inserted among the Scots Worthies? To this it may be answered: What did the most eminent saint that ever was in Scotland, or any-where else, until enabled by the grace of God? So it was with Gordon; for no sooner was he made partaker of Salvation, than he gave a most ample and faithful testimony for his truths and interest. Although the Lord did not see it proper that Gordon should serve Him after this manner in his day and generation, yet He, no doubt, accepted of the will for the deed. Why should we not enroll his name among these Worthies on earth, seeing He hath written his name among the living in Jerusalem?