_something_, I never knew happiness of mind; since I came to feel myself
nothing, and Christ all, I have realized full satisfaction and joy."
Renwick reviled, calumniated, and persecuted in his day, while esteeming
all but loss for Christ, enjoyed in life and death, peace surpassing
understanding--his name will be ever fragrant, and his memorial
everlasting.

4. Again, Renwick's life presents a bright and attractive _example of
the graces of fervent piety_. There shines forth in his character, in
harmonious display and concentrated lustre, an array of lovely and
ennobling features. To faith, he added virtue, and knowledge, patience,
temperance, godliness, &c. (2 Pet. i. 5-7.) His Christian _wisdom_ is
singularly conspicuous. Renwick was blamed in his own day by
time-servers and backsliders as imprudent; and those who maintain the
same testimony even in our times, are characterized as foolish,
imprudent, and infatuated. Certainly, if wisdom consists only in
securing present temporal gain--fleeting pleasure and the applause of
the world, then Renwick and his followers have no claim to be considered
wise. But if the "beginning" and spirit of true wisdom are the "fear of
the Lord;" and if it is shown in preferring the advancement of God's
glory and the enjoyment of His favour to all else, and in seeking the
attainment of those ends by means divinely appointed, and approved, then
the persecuted remnant were eminently wise. By opposing Popery, Prelacy,
Erastianism, and arbitrary power, and pleading resolutely for the
covenant liberties of the Church and nation, they proposed to themselves
holy ends. Their faithful contendings; their stern denunciations of
royal perfidy and tyranny; their organization of societies, and a
general correspondence; their proclaiming open opposition to usurped
authority; and, above all, their willing sacrifice of life rather than
abandon right principles, evince true wisdom. These were the best means