ministry. There is ample evidence from his writings that his attainments
in learning were by no means superficial. Through the kindness of
friends raised up in providence, he was enabled to pursue classical
studies in Edinburgh, and while attending the University there, he
maintained himself till he had finished the undergraduate course, partly
by teaching and aiding others in their studies. When his scholarship
entitled him to a University degree, he refused to receive this honour,
because it was required at the time that students, on graduating, should
swear the oath of allegiance, which expressly owned the royal supremacy.
In company with two fellow-students, he sometime after received his
degree privately.

Continuing in Edinburgh to prosecute his studies, he was brought to
attend the private fellowship-meetings of the persecuted covenanters. He
met with the "outed" ministers, and was led to study, by the light of
the Divine word and the teaching of the Spirit, the exciting and deeply
important questions of the day. Thus did he become convinced of the
numerous defections from the principles and ends of the Covenanted
Reformation, of the majority of the ministers and Presbyterian people of
Scotland; and he was persuaded that the stricter Covenanters,--the
followers of Cargill and Cameron, and those associated in Societies, and
who frequented conventicles,--alone consistently carried out the grand
principles and aims of the national vows. At length, after much
searching of heart, and according to his words, testifying to his deep
conscientiousness, "with great grief, reluctance, and trembling of
soul," he became identified with the persecuted remnant. Soon after,
while yet only _nineteen years of age_, Renwick witnessed the martyrdom
of the venerable servant of Christ, Donald Cargill. He stood near the
scaffold, beheld his courageous and triumphant departure to glory, and
heard the clear and powerful last words, in which he nobly testified for