BURNING LIGHTS

WE purpose, as enabled, to give our readers, under the above title, some extracts from history to show how the truth was loved and fought for by our fore-fathers. Even to the sacrificing of their lives and families, homes, lands; yea everything here on earth excepting their precious Gift of faith which they received of God in His infinite mercy. This faith being so firmly rooted into their hearts, by grace, they were enabled to give their bodies over to the flames of hell’s persecution (which was all the devil could harm, and that only by permission of God) rather than deny their Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, co-equal, co-eternal, with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.

Their burnt bodies shine through histories records to the praise of the power of God. It was through such a fiery path of tribulation the victory of God’s true Israel was to be gained. God did deliver nations from their blind heathen ignorance and translated them into the light of His Glorious Gospel of Liberty, revealed in Jesus Christ, the Word of God. The lives of such men we aim to set before you with the prayerful desire and hope, that, it may so please God, to bless these burning and shining lights to many a heart. That the prevailing ignorance into which we have sank, in this age, in the Word of God, may be turned into a knowledge of Him in all truth. That the spirit of indifference may become an earnest considering of our ways and where they shall end. That our slothful hands and feet may be quickened to work while it is day; and to run toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. So that our hearts may be quickened and set on fire by the tender love of God. We shall commence these articles of Burning Lights with, the

First Scotch Reformer,

PATRICK HAMILTON

Patrick Hamilton was a gentleman of Scotland, and, of royal descent, being a nephew to James Hamilton, earl of Anan; and to John Stewart, duke of Albany. This was a circumstance in Providence, that was subservient to raise more attention to his excellent doctrine, holy life, and patient sufferings. He had an amiable disposition, and was well educated. At the age of twenty-three, he with three companions travelled into Germany, in pursuit of religious knowledge. Coming to Wittenberg he met with Luth and Melancthon, with whom he held frequent and close conferences, and by whom he was well instructed in the doctrines of the gospel. From thence he went to Marpurg, an university newly erected by Philip Landgrave of Hesse. He became intimately acquainted with Lambert, the English martyr, at whose instance he was the first in that university who set up public disputations concerning faith and works; the propositions and conclusions of which are in what is entitled “Patrick’s Places,” of which excellent tract we shall subjoin a few extracts.

He grew daily in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ; and being well established in the faith, and much improved in all useful learning, he returned with one of his companions to Scotland, desirous to impart the knowledge of the true religion to his countrymen. With a view to this, he began to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ with great fervency and boldness, and to lay open the errors and corruptions of the church of Rome. This soon alarmed the whole body of the clergy, and particularly James Beaton, archbishop of St. Andrew’s, who laboured to get Mr. Hamilton to come to him at St. Andrew’s; where, after several days conference, he was dismissed, the archbishop seeming to approve of his doctrine, acknowledging that many things wanted reformation in the church. But, at the same time, the archbishop consulted with other bishops, to put the king (who was young and much led by them), upon going on a pilgrimage to St. Dothesse in Ross: so that, during his absence, they might condemn Mr. Hamilton, as no interest could then be made with the king to save his life. Mr. Hamilton

not suspecting their malice and treachery, remained at St. Andrew’s; and the king being gone on his pilgrimage, he was cited to appear before the archbishop and his colleagues on the first day of March, 1527. The articles following were the very articles, for which he suffered. Let these four suffice:

1. Man hath no free-wil.

2. A man is only justified by faith in Christ.

3. A man, so long as he liveth, is not without sin.

4. A good man doeth good works: But good works do not make a good man.

Having gone through the farce of a trial, they proceeded to pronounce sentence upon him, which, proved his understanding, orthodoxy, and innocence; as well, as the ignorance and cruelty of the papists.

That this sentence might have the greater authority, they caused it to be signed by all present, of any account, whether clergy or laity; and, in order to make their number appear great, they took the subscription of the very children of the nobility. Being thus condemned as an obstinate heretic, he was delivered over to the secular power, and after dinner, on the same day, the fire was prepared, and he was led to execution; whilst most people thought it was only to terrify him, and to make him recant. But God, for His own glory, the good of the elect, and for the manifestation of their brutal tyranny, had decreed it otherwise; and so strengthened him, that neither the love of life, though young, nor fear of this cruel death, could in the least move him from the truth he had boldly professed.

At the place of execution, he gave his servant, that had long attended him, his gown, coat, cap, and his other garments, saying, “These are the last things you can receive of me, nor have I anything now to leave you, but the example of my death, which I pray you to bear in mind; for, though it be bitter to the flesh, and fearful before men, yet it is the entrance into eternal life, which none shall inherit, who deny Jesus Christ before this wicked generation.”

He was then bound to the stake in the midst of wood and coal, which they attempted to set on fire with gun-powder; but it neither killed him nor kindled the fire, only exceedingly scorched one side of his body and his face. During the painful interval of their going to the castle for more powder and combustibles, the briars called frequently upon him to recant; and when the fire was kindled, it burnt so slowly, that he endured great torment; which the briars endeavoured to increase by setting some of their own creatures to cry out in a clamorous manner, “Turn, thou heretic, pray to the virgin, say, solve regina,” to whom he answered, “Depart from me, and trouble me not, you messengers of satan.” One briar Campbell, who had visited him often in prison, was particularly officious, and continued to bellow out, “Turn, thou heretic; turn, thou heretic;” whom Mr. Hamilton thus addressed, “Wicked man! you know I am not a heretic, and have confessed the same to me in private; but I appeal to the just tribunal seat of Jesus Christ, and cite you to appear there to answere for it to Almighty God.” And then said, “How long, O Lord, shall darkness overwhelm this realm? and how long wilt Thou suffer the tyranny of these wicked men?” And at length with a loud voice he cried, as he had frequently done, “Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit!” and died.

It is recorded, that briar Campbell died not long after in a phrensy, and seemingly in despair. This, considered with the circumstance of his being cited by Mr. Hamilton, made a great impression on the minds of the people, and caused them to inquire more particularly into the nature and meaning of the articles, for which Mr. Hamilton was burnt; and so this event proved the means of many embracing the truth.

This martyr is but one example of the cost of true religion held aloft and practiced along with preaching. Do you, compare with such characters, who call yourselves christians? It is evident by Mr. Hamilton’s death, as an example, that the definition of a true Christian is: “to be crucified to the world and to the flesh, to put on Christ and to be one with him, and to be a stranger and pilgrim upon earth, seeking a better country and a heavenly.

It is very much needed in our age when true religion is indeed on the decline, that such articles again be examined by the nations and kingdoms, rulers and people, the whole ecclesiastical state; yea, by everyone; for real religion is a personal matter, and decides our fate for the great eternity.

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