The Life of James Renwick | Page 6

him as a man--none more lovely in features, none more prudent,
none more brave and heroic in spirit; and yet none more meek, none
more humane and condescending. He was every way so rational, as
well as religious, that there was reason to think that the powers of his
reason were as much strengthened and sanctified as any man's I ever
heard of. When I speak of him as a Christian--none more meek, and yet
none more prudently bold against those who were bold to sin--none
more frequent and fervent in religions duties, such as prayer, converse,
meditation, self-examination, preaching, prefacing, lecturing, baptizing,
and catechising; none more methodical in teaching and instructing,
accompanied with a sweet, charming eloquence, in holding forth Christ,
as the only remedy for lost sinners; none more hated of the world, and
yet none more strengthened and upheld by the everlasting arms of
Jehovah, to be steadfast, and abound in the way of the Lord, to the
death; wherefore he might be justly called "Antipas," Christ's faithful
martyr. And as I lived then to know him to be so of a truth, so, by the
good hand of God, I yet live, thirty-six years after him, to testify that no
man upon just grounds had any thing to lay to his charge. When all the
critical and straitening circumstances of that period are well considered,
save that he was liable to natural and sinful infirmities, as all men are
when in this life, and yet he was as little guilty in this way as any I ever
knew or heard of, he was the liveliest and most engaging preacher to
close with Christ, of any I ever heard. His converse was pious, prudent,
and meek; his reasoning and debating was the same, carrying almost
with it full evidence of the truth of what he asserted. And for
steadfastness in the way of the Lord, few came his length. He learned
the truth and counted the cost, and so sealed it with his blood. Of all
men that ever I knew, I would be in the least danger of committing a
hyperbole when speaking in his commendation. And yet I speak not
this to praise men, but for the glory and honour of God in Christ, who

makes men to differ so much from others, and in some periods of the
Church more than others."
The "LECTURES AND SERMONS" of James Renwick that remain
were published from the notes taken, at the time of their delivery, by
some of his attached hearers and followers. They were not prepared
with any view to future publication; and the trying circumstances in
which their devoted author was placed, wholly prevented any
correction or revisal. Yet they contain not only remarkably clear
expositions of the word, and a full exhibition of the scheme of salvation,
but also many passages which, for searching application to the
conscience, and moving eloquence, are unsurpassed in the discourses of
eminent preachers either in ancient or modern times. As specimens of
the matter of Renwick's discourses delivered in the Conventicles, in the
fields, amidst all dangers and incidents of weather, and by night as well
as day, the following are selected from the published reports of his
hearers:--
In a discourse on Song i. 7,--"Tell me, O Thou whom my soul loveth,
where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon,"--he thus earnestly pleads,
"Love Him, and you shall not come short of the enjoyment of Him
hereafter. It is true, faith is that which, as an instrument, apprehends
Christ and engrafts us in Him; yet it worketh by love, and love
accompanieth faith, as the sunbeams do the sun. Oh what shall I say?
Love him! love him! Ye cannot bestow your love so well. Turn others
to the door, and take in this Beloved. Here I make offer of Him unto
you, here I present Him unto you! Lift up your heads, O ye doors, that
the king of glory may come in. I present a glorious Conqueror this
night, to be your guest. O cast ye open the two foldings of the door of
your hearts, to wit, that ye may receive Him; cast ye open the hearty
consent of faith and love, that He may take up His abode with you. Oh,
what say ye to it? Friends, will ye close with Christ? I obtest you by his
own excellency, I obtest you by the joys of heaven, and the torments of
hell, that you close with Him. _All of you come, whatever you have
been or are; none of you_ shall be cast out. Whosoever will, let him
take of the water of life freely."
"Seeing it is the duty of people to set their love upon Christ, I exhort
you to