The “Lectures and sermons” of James Renwick that remain were published from the notes taken, at the time of their delivery, by some of his attached hearers and followers.  They were not prepared with any view to future publication; and the trying circumstances in which their devoted author was placed, wholly prevented any correction or revisal.  Yet they contain not only remarkably clear expositions of the word, and a full exhibition of the scheme of salvation, but also many passages which, for searching application to the conscience, and moving eloquence, are unsurpassed in the discourses of eminent preachers either in ancient or 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 show it in the way that is competent to you in your stations.  So as I was saying before, I expostulate with you for some testimonies of your love.  “Make a free and full resignation of yourselves and your all to Christ, that ye may say with the spouse, I am my Beloved’s!  Oh, ye should not prig (higgle) with Him about anything.  Some prig with Him about their hearts, and will have a part thereof