James Renwick, though a very youth when he entered on his arduous work, and trained under great outward disadvantages, had a powerful and well-cultivated mind.  He was endowed with singular administrative talent, and had great tact and skill in managing men.  He was an acute and logical thinker, an eloquent and attractive public speaker, and was distinguished by fertility and force as a writer.  The “Informatory Vindication”—­his testimony against king James’s toleration, with his “Letters,” and “Sermons and Lectures,” bear ample evidence of his sound judgment, comprehensive mind, and ability as an author.  His prudence, meekness and loving disposition, combined with his sanctified zeal, and heroic courage, deservedly gave him great influence among those to whom he ministered.  He was eminently fitted to be “a first man among men.”  The Lord held him in the hollow of his hand, and made him a “polished shaft in his quiver.”

The services which Renwick rendered to the Protestant cause were invaluable.  He organized the scattered remnant, and imparted new life and ardour to their proceedings.  He set forth clearly the principles of the “Society people;” and in a number of able and logical papers, clearly defined their plans of action.  He rendered it, in a great measure, impossible for enemies to misrepresent and accuse them falsely to the Government.  He was their Secretary in their correspondence with foreign churches; and he did much to evoke the prayerful sympathy of Protestants in other lands in behalf of the victims of persecution in Scotland.  The presence and influence of Renwick among the suffering Presbyterians were of the highest importance in his own day; and not to them alone, but also to the whole church of Christ in these lands, and to the constitutional liberties of the nation.  So far as we can see, but for the singular power and devoted spirit of Renwick, and the firm and unyielding position which the Cameronians through him were led to assume, the cause of truth would have been completely borne down, and Erastianism, and Popery, and Despotism had triumphed.  Renwick and his followers were the vanguard “in the struggle for Britain’s liberties, and for the Church’s spiritual independence.”  Though, like other patriots born before their time, they were doomed to fall, yet posterity owes to them a large part of the goodly heritage which they enjoy.

The manifold labours and sufferings of Renwick, which were ended by his martyrdom, deserve a brief notice.  For a period of five years, after he entered on his public ministry, he was in constant movement and unremitting and exhausting labours.  He was employed at all seasons, and often in the night time, and in the most inclement weather, preaching the gospel in the fields, visiting families, and conversing with the people individually and in groups, attending stated general meetings—­taking part in their deliberations, composing differences, confronting gainsayers and opponents, and writing the papers and