The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

When that he came to the fire he sat down upon his knees, and rose again; And thrice he said these words; O thou Saviour of the world, have mercy on me: Father of heaven, I commend my spirit into thy holy hands. When he had made this Prayer, he turned him to the people, and said these words, having obtained leave to speak a little: I beseech you Christian brethren and sisters, that ye be not offended at the Word of God, for the affliction and torments which ye see already prepared for me. But I exhort you that ye love the Word of God for your salvation, and suffer patiently, and with a comfortable heart, for the Words sake, which is your undoubted salvation, and everlasting comfort. Moreover, I pray you, show my brethren and sisters, which have heard me oft before, that they cease not, nor leave off to learn the word of God which I taught them, after the grace given unto me, for no persecutions nor troubles in this world, which last not: And show unto them that my Doctrine was no wives fables, after the constitutions made by men; And if I had taught mens doctrine, I had gotten greater thanks by men. But for the Words sake and true Gospel, which was given to me by the grace of God, I suffer this day by men, not sorrowfully, but with a glad heart and mind. For this cause I was sent, That I should suffer this fire for Christs ⟨p. 69⟩sake. Consider and behold my visage, ye shall not see me change my colour: This grim fire I fear not, and so I pray you for to do, if that any persecution come unto you for the Words •ake; and not to fear them that slay the body,¹ and have no power afterward to slay the soul. Some have said of me, That I taught that the soul of man should sleep until the last day: But I know surely, and my faith is such, That my soul shall sup with my Saviour this night, ere it be six hours, for whom I suffer this. Then he prayed for them which accused him, saying, I beseech the Father of heaven to forgive them that have of any ignorance, or else of any evil mind forged lies upon me; I forgive them with all my heart: I beseech Christ forgive them that have condemned me to death this day ignorantly. And last of all, he said to the people on this manner; I beseech you brethren and sisters to exhort your Prelates to the learning of the Word of God▪ that they may be ashamed to do evil, and learn to do good;