George Wishart arose at this time in the spirit and majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ, and displayed the banner of truth with an invincible faith.  His heart was true, pure, fresh, and fragrant as the heart of a rosebud, through the indwelling Spirit of God.  His life was wonderfully attractive.  His eloquence was seraphic; his lips had been touched with a live coal from the altar of God; his soul was aflame with the Gospel.  He was animated with transfiguring revelations of Christ and His redeeming truth.  He was a burning and shining light.  The light he shed was too bright to last long in those dangerous times.  The cardinal, prelates, and priests consulted for his overthrow.  He fell suddenly into their hands and his death was decreed.  To the stake he was hurried where the flames once more did their work, and another faithful soul appeared before the Throne, washed in the blood of the Lamb, and arrayed in a white robe, rejoicing in the victory won through Jesus Christ.  At the stake his executioner begged forgiveness.  Wishart kissed his cheek, saying, “Go, here is a token that I forgive thee; do thine office.”  One standing near said to him, “Be of good courage.”  He replied, “This fire torments my body, but in no way abates my spirit.”  This execution was in 1546.

The success of life is not measured by the years we live, but by loyalty to Jesus Christ and service in the Gospel; the might of our faith, the healthiness of the soul, the greatness of the heart, and the intensity of the light shining from a character radiant with the presence and glory of Jesus Christ.

Are we every day trying to make our lives rich, radiant, successful, and certain of reward, through earnest effort to bring others into the possession of the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

* * * * *

Points for the class.

1.  What was Scotland’s condition when over-ridden by the Roman religion?

2.  How was the true Church kept alive?

3.  Describe the sufferings endured by the witnesses of Jesus.

4.  Give the death scene of John Resby, Paul Craw, Patrick Hamilton, Helen Stark, George Wishart.

5.  How may the study of the martyrs’ lives purify, strengthen, and ennoble our lives?

IV.

Knox in the field of conflict.—­A.D. 1547.

“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”  This crimson adage is a striking truth.  “If ye burn any more,” quaintly said one who had observed the effects of the martyrdom of Wishart on the public mind, “burn them in your cellar, for the smoke infects all upon whom it is blown.”