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 give some testimonies of love. Think ye that ye love him? Will ye
then show that? I would expostulate for some testimonies of your love.
When Peter confessed that he loved Christ, our Lord desires him to show
that by feeding His lambs and sheep. It is true, you cannot show your
love that way, for ye are not called to that office; but ye ought to