NOTE.

THE information contained in the following" RELATION" deserves to be preserved, as forming an instructive chapter in the history of the period to which it refers. Wodrow has collected various additional particulars regarding Nisbet, and embodied them in his History of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland. From other quarters farther information might have been collected; but this reprint of so much authentic matter will convey an accurate notion at once of the man and of his There are few, perhaps, who would now approve of all the sentiments emitted by JOHN NISBET; but there can be as few who do not admire the fortitude with which he endured for what he reckoned the truth, and the patience with which he suffered rather than consent to violate his conscience, or compromise his convictions. It is for this reason that the RELATION is put into the hands of the Members of the WODROW SOCIETY. It is reprinted from the Second Edition, dated M.DCC.XIX.

era.

TO THE READER.

CHRISTIAN READER,

I

T has been reputed amongst the truly godly, as a thing edifying, confirming, and comforting in all ages, to read of the holy lives, dying words, and testimonies to and for the truth of those whom the great Jehovah, the Lord God of all truth, hath fitted, qualified, and enabled, by his divine, distinguishing, glorious, and victorious grace, and in providence called to give testimony to and for his despised and trampled upon truths in declining and apostatising times; for they are that noble cloud of witnesses that we are encompassed about with, and whom we are obliged to copy after, in mourning for, giving up with, and forsaking of sin and all sinful courses, and in closing with, embracing of, and laying hold upon the Lord Jesus Christ for pardon of sin, justification through his righteousness, and sanctification through and by the Spirit of his saving grace; and unless that we, through grace, attain this, and become martyrs in resolution, we can have little ground to expect that our course shall be crowned with joy, or that we shall be ranked in with the seed of the woman, when the Lord makes up his precious jewels of mercy; but rather rejected, forsaken, and turned out with the serpent and his seed, who hath made war with the saints of the Most High. That there hath been such a war, and that such hath been the end of the two contending parties, each under their captain and leader, to wit, the saints under the banner of their Lord Jesus Christ, the noble Plant of renown; and the wicked reprobate, under the banner of their indulged head, the old crooked serpent, as is foretold of them, Gen.

iii. 15, will evidently appear, if we shall read, with observation and application, the sacred Scriptures, and Mirror or Martyrology of Martyrs through all ages or periods of the Church, particularly the first that suffered under the heathen emperors for asserting Christ's prophetical office. 2dly, Such as suffered under the cruel and bloody Antichrist for owning Christ's priestly office. 3dly, Those who suffered under the monstrous brood of counterfeit Protestants, tools of Antichrist, since the year 1610, but more especially since the year 1660, under these two fomenters of wickedness, Charles the II. and James the VII., for owning and avouching Christ's kingly office as King and Head of his own Church, who loved not their lives unto the death, but frankly and freely gave them up in sacrifice, bearing testimony against the sacrilegious supremacy and other abominations of these iniquitous reigns; amongst the number of which this John Nisbet was one, with many others, the reading of whose lives and testimonies, when well considered, how far their good and gracious Lord was with them, in assisting and bearing them through all their tribulations with invincible courage, patience, and constancy, may make us with wonder and admiration to cry out, "O the height, the depth, the breadth, and length of the love of the blessed Lord Jesus Christ which constrained them."

The design of publishing this Martyr's Life and Testimony the last year, 1718, was, that God might be glorified, and the souls of his people might be edified: and it having found more than ordinary acceptance, is again humbly offered with the like design, heartily desiring that all who read it may be helped of the Lord, under the exercise of faith and repentance to work out their salvation work with fear and trembling, and their generation work with wisdom, zeal, and constancy to the end; and then, sure, theirs shall be the crown of life, the motto whereof is, "Free, free, free grace," and the reception, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord," the attaining whereof is the earnest desire and prayer of him who is your friend and humble servant, JAMES NISBET.

Edinburgh Castle, June 26, 1719.