Speech Delivered Before Execution on 1 June 1661
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A42359.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
The True and Perfect SPEECH OF Mr. James Guthrey LATE Minister of Sterling As It was delivered by himself immediately before his Execution, on June 1. 1661. at EDINBROVGH.
Sent from Edinburgh, And printed for public satisfaction, and to prevent the disperssing of false Copies. 1661.
THE SPEECH OF Mr. James Guthrey, LATE Minister of STERLING.
Men and Brethren,
I Fear many of you come hither to gaze rather then to be edified by the carriage and last words of a dying man, but if any have an ear to hear, as I hope some of this great Confluence have, I desire your audience as to a few words: I am come hither to lay down this earthly tabernacle and mortal flesh of mine; and I bless God I do it willingly, and not by constraint, I say I suffer willingly, if I had been otherwise minded I might have made a diversion, and not been a prisoner, but I being conscious to myself of nothing worthy of death or bonds, I would not stain my conscience with the suspicion of guiltiness by my withdrawing. Neither have I wanted opportunity nor advantages to escape since I was a Prisoner: Not by the fault of my Keeper, God knows, but otherwife. But neither for this had I light or liberty, least I should reflect upon the Lord's Name, and offend the Generation of the Righteous.
And if these men have not been mistaken or dealt deceitfullie in telling me so, I might have avoiced, not only the severity of the Sentence, but also had favor and countenance by complying with the course of the times: But durst not redeem my Life with the loss of my Integrity, God knows I durst not.
And that since I was a Prisoner the Lord hath so held me by the hand, that he never suffered me to bring to debate in my inward thoughts, muchless to propound or hearken to any Overtures in that kind.
I did judge it better to suffer then to sin, and therefore I am come hither to lay down my life this day, and I bless God I die not as a Fool, not that I have anything wherein to glory in myself: I acknowledge I am a Sinner, yea one of the vilest and greatest that hath owned a profession of Religion, and one of the most unworthiest that hath preached the Gospel, my Corruptions have been strong and many and hath made me a sinner even in all things, yea even in following my Duty: And therefore righteousness have I none of my own, but I do believe that Jesus Christ came into the World to save sinners whereof I am the chief, through faith in his righteousness and blood, have I obtained mercy, and in him and through him alone have I the hope of a blessed conquest and victory over sin and Satan, and hell and death, and that I shall attain unto the Resurrection of the just and be made a partaker of eternal life, I know whom I have believed, and he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day.
I have preached Salvation through his name, and as I have Preached so I believe, and do commend the riches of his free grace and faith in his blood unto you all, as the only way whereby you can besaved, and I bless God as I die not as a fool, so also I die not for evil doing, not a few of you may hapily judge that I suffer as a Thief, or as a Murderer, as an evil Doer, or as a busy-body in other men's matters, that was the lot of our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and hath been the lot of many of his precious people and servants, to suffer by the World as evil doers, and as my soul stirs not at that, but desires to rejoice in being in conformity to my blessed head, and so blessed a company in these things, so do I desire in prayer that I may be to none of you today on this account a stone of stumbling, or a Rock of offense.
Blessed is he that will not be offended in Christ, and his poor servants, because of their being condemned as evil doers by the World, God is my record that in these things for which sentence of death hath passed against me, I have a good Conscience, I bless God they are not matters of Compliance with the Sectaries, or designs and practices against his Majesty's person, or Government, or the Person or Government of his Royal Father, my heart I bless God is Conscious of no disloyalty, nay Loyal I have been, and commend it to you all, to be Loyal and Obedient unto the King, true piety is the foundation of true loyalty, a Wicked man may be a flatterer, and a time server, but he will never be a loyal Subject, but to return to my purpose.
Matters, for which I am condemned, are matters belonging to my calling and function, as a Minister of the Gospel, such as the discovery and reproof of sin, and pressing the holding fast the Oath of God and the Covenant, in preserving and carrying on the work of Religion and Reformation, according thereunto, and denying to acknowledge the civil Magestrate to be the competent Judge in matters Ecclesiastical, that in all these things which God so ordering by his gracious providence are the ground of my sentence and death, I have a good conscience, as having walked therein according to the light and rule of God's word, as doth become a Minister of the Gospel. I do also bless the Lord that I do not die as one not desired, I know that of not a few I have never been nor am desired: It hath been my lot to have been a man of contention and sorrow: but it is my comfort that for my own things I have not contended, but for the things of Jesus Christ, and for what relates to his Interest and Work, and well being of his people, in order to the preserving and promoting of these I did protest against, and stood in opposition to those Assemblies at St. Andrew's, and Dundee, and Edenburg, and the public resolution of bringing the Malignant party to judicature, and Armies of this Kingdom, as conceiving the same contrary to the Word of God, and to our Solemn Covenant, and Ingagement, and to be an inlet to defection, and to the ruin and destruction of the Work of God, as it is now manifest to this day to men's Consciences. I have not therein been mistaken, and was not fighting against the man of straw, I was also desirous to have some poor Indeavour, to have the Church of God purged from insufficient, scandalous, and corrupt Ministers and Elders.
For these things, I have been mistaken by some, and hated by others: but I bless the Lord, as I had the testimony of my own conscience, I am there in a approving, and in the conscience of many of the Lord's people and precious servants, and how little soever I may die not desired by some, yet by these I know I die desired, and their approbation is of more value to me then all the contradictions and reproaches of the other: I do with all my heart forgive them, and wherein I have offended any of them I do beg their mercy and forgiveness, and do from my soul wish that my death may be profitable unto both, that the one may be confirmed in the sweet way of the Lord, and that the other (if the Lord will) may be convinced, and cease from those things that are not good, and do not edify. But yet there is one thing I would warn you all of, that God is wroth, yea very wroth with Scotland and threatens to depart and remove his candlestick. The Causes of his wroth are many, and would to God that were not one great cause, that the causes of his wroth are despised and rejected by a great many. Consider that case that is recorded Ier. 26. and the consequence of it, and tremble and fear. I cannot but also say, there is a great increase of wroth by the deluge of profanity that overflows the Land, and hath reins loosed unto it everywhere; in so far that many have lost not only the use and exercise of Religion, but even morallity and common civillity, that is to be found even among heathen.
Secondly, The horrible treachery and perjury that is in the matter of the Covenant and Cause of God, and work of reformation: Be astonished ye Heavens at this, shall the people break the Covenant and prosper, saith the Lord? Shall the Throne of iniquity have fellowship with God, which frameth mischief by a Law. I fear the Lord is about to bring a Sword on this Land, which shall aveng the Covenant.
Thirdly, Horrible Ingratitude after ten years oppression and bondage. He hath broken the yoke of Strangers from off your necks, but what do we render unto the Lord for all his kindness? Most of the fruit of our deliverance is to work wickedness and strengthen ourselves to do evil.
Fourthly, Most fearful Idolatry and sacrificing to the creature. We have changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the Image of a corruptible man, in whom many have placed almost all their salvation and desires, and have turned that which might have been a blessing unto us (being kept into a due subordination unto God) into an Idol of jealousy, by preferring it before him.
5. God is also wroth with a corrupt and carnal generation of corrupt and carnal time-serving Ministers; I know and bear Testimony, there is your true and faithful Ministers; blessed be God, we have yet many who study their duty, and desire to be found faithful unto the Lord; and I pray you to Honor, Reverence, and Esteem much of those for their Work sake; & I pray them to be encouraged in their Lord and Master, who is with them, to make them an Iron Pillar, and Brazen Wall, and a strong Defenced City, in their faithful following of their Duty: But O that there were not too many that mind Earthly things, that are enemies to the Cross of Christ, who push with the side and shoulder, who strengthen the hand of evil Doers, who make themselves Transgressors, by studying to build what formerly they did destroy, I mean Prelacy, and the Service Book, and the Mystery of Iniquity that works on us, whose steps lead us to the House of the great Whore, and Mother of Fornication; and whoever he be that builds this Jericho, let him take heed of that Curse of the Flying Rowle mentioned in Zach. 5. and let all Ministers take heed that they walk and be steadfast in the Faith, and quit themselves, and be strong, and give seasonable warning concerning sin and Duty: Many of the Lord's people do sadly complain of the fainting and silence of many Watchmen; and it concerns them to consider what God calls for at their hand in such a day; Silence now in a Watchman, now when he is called to speak, and to give his Testimony on the peril of his life, is doubtless a great sin: The Lord open the mouths of his Servants to speak his Word with all boldness; That Covenant-breaking may be discovered and reproved, and that the Kingdom of Christ may not be supplanted, nor the souls of his people be destroyed without a Warning. I have but a few words more to add; All that are profane among you, I • xhort to Repentance; for the day of the Lord's wrath hasteneth, and is near; but there is yet a Door of mercy opened unto you, if you will not despise the day of salvation. All you that are Malignant, and Reproachers of Godliness, and of such as live godly, take heed what you do; it will be a hard matter for you to kick against pricks; you make yourselves the Buts of the Lord's fury and flaming Indignation, if you do not cease, and repent of your Ungodly deeds: All that are Neuters, 〈◊〉 Indifferent Luke-warm Professors, be zealous, lest the Lord spew you out of his mouth. And you that repent for all the abominations that are done in the City, and in the Land, and that take pleasure in the stones and dust of Zion, cast not away your confidence, but be comforted and encouraged in the Lord, he will yet appear for your joy; God hath not cast away his people and work in Britain and Ireland; I hope it shall once appear and revive by the power of his Spirit, and take root downward, and bring forth plentiful fruit upward; there is yet a holy Seed, a Root whom God will preserve, and bring forth; but how long and dark our night may be, I do not know; The Lord shorten it for the sake of his Chosen. In the mean time be you patient and immovable, abounding in the work of the Lord, and in love one to another: Beware of Snares, which are strowed thick; Cleave unto the Covenant, and Work of Reformation; Do not decline the Cross of Christ; Choose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, then to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season; and account the reproaches of the Lord greater riches then all the Treasures of Egypt. Let my death grieve none of you, it will be more profitable and advantageous both for me and you, and for the Church of God, and for Christ's Interest, then my life could have been; I Forgive all men the Guilt of it, and desire you to do so also: Pray for them that persecute you, Bless them that Curse you, Bless I say, and Curse not.
I die in the Faith of the Apostles and Primitive Christians and Protestant Reformed Church, particularly that Church of Scotland, whereof I am a Member and Minister, and bear my Testimony and Witness to the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of Scotland, by Assemblies, Synod, Presbyteries, and Societies; Popery, Prelacy, and also their Trumpery of Service and Ceremony I do abhor, and bear my witnessing unto the National Covenant in Scotland, Solemn League between the three Kingdoms; the Sacred Solemn and Public Oath of God I cannot believe can be loosed by or dispensed with by any Person or Power, or any one on earth, but are still binding on these Nations, and will be forever hereafter, and are Ratified and sealed by the Conversion of many thousand Souls since our entering therein: I bear my witness unto the Protestation against the Contraverted Assembly and their public Resolution. To the testimony given against the Sectaries. Against that course of defection that is now in the Land, and all the branches thereof in that.
In the last place I bear my witness to the Cross of Christ, and that I had never cause, nor have cause this day to repent of anything I have suffered or can suffer for his Name; and I take God to Record upon my Soul, I would not exchange this Scaffold with the fairest Palace or Miter of the Greatest Prelate; blessed be God who hath shown Mercy unto such a Wretch, and hath revealed his Son unto me, and made me a Minister of the Everlasting Gospel, that he hath dignified me in the midst of much Contradiction from Satan and the World, to fulfill my Ministry on the hearts of not a few of his People, especially in the Stage wherein I last was, I mean the Congregation of the Presbyterie of Sterling, God forgive that poor vain empty man that did there Intrude my labor, and hath made a prey of many poor Souls, and hath exposed others to reproach, and oppression, and a famine of the Word of the Lord, God forgive that misleader of the poor People, who tempted them to reject their alone Minister; the Father of Mercy pity that poor mislead people, and the Lord direct the Congregations and Presbyteries of Scotland once more with faithful Pastors, and grant that the Work of the Lord may be revived through all Britain and over all the World: Christ is my Light and my Life, my Righteousness, my Strength, and my Salvation, he is also my Salvation and all my desire is in him; I do with all the strength of my Soul commend him to you: Blessed are they that are not offended in him; Bless him O my Soul from henceforth, and forever rejoice, rejoice, yea rejoice all that love him, be patient and rejoice in Tribulation; blessed are ye, and blessed shall you be forever, and everlasting love and Eternal Salvation is yours, all are yours, ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
Remember me O Lord with the favor thou bearest to thy one People, direct me with thy salvation, that I may see the good of thy chosen therein, that I may rejoice with the gladness of thy Nation, that I may glory with thy Inheritance; now let thy Servant depart in peace, since my eyes have seen thy Salvation.