4.  Again, Renwick’s life presents a bright and attractive example of the graces of fervent piety.  There shines forth in his character, in harmonious display and concentrated lustre, an array of lovely and ennobling features.  To faith, he added virtue, and knowledge, patience, temperance, godliness, &c. (2 Pet. i. 5-7.) His Christian wisdom is singularly conspicuous.  Renwick was blamed in his own day by time-servers and backsliders as imprudent; and those who maintain the same testimony even in our times, are characterized as foolish, imprudent, and infatuated.  Certainly, if wisdom consists only in securing present temporal gain—­fleeting pleasure and the applause of the world, then Renwick and his followers have no claim to be considered wise.  But if the “beginning” and spirit of true wisdom are the “fear of the Lord;” and if it is shown in preferring the advancement of God’s glory and the enjoyment of His favour to all else, and in seeking the attainment of those ends by means divinely appointed, and approved, then the persecuted remnant were eminently wise.  By opposing Popery, Prelacy, Erastianism, and arbitrary power, and pleading resolutely for the covenant liberties of the Church and nation, they proposed to themselves holy ends.  Their faithful contendings; their stern denunciations of royal perfidy and tyranny; their organization of societies, and a general correspondence; their proclaiming open opposition to usurped authority; and, above all, their willing sacrifice of life rather than abandon right principles, evince true wisdom.  These were the best means that could possibly have been adopted to expose the countless evils of the government of the royal brothers; and to rouse the dormant spirit of the nation, to hurl tyrants and oppressors from the throne, and to establish constitutional liberty.  Then, the fidelity of Renwick and the Cameronians were seen in maintaining fully their testimony to the whole covenanted reformation, amidst manifold perils, when the large body of Presbyterians had made defection.  The standard which they firmly grasped and refused to surrender had its glorious motto, “FOR CHRIST’S CROWN AND COVENANT.”  The central doctrine of the Redeemer’s Headship over the Church and the nations, occupied a first place in all the testimonies emitted in their general meetings, and uttered on scaffolds and fields of blood.  Connected with this, as necessary corollaries, were the supremacy of Holy Scripture—­the spiritual independence of the Church, and the subjection of rulers and national legislation to the sceptre of the reigning Mediator.  On these grounds, they not only rejected infamous rulers, but condemned and rejected with utter abhorrence the royal supremacy.  The sentiment expressed in the words subscribed to the minutes of their general meetings—­“LET KING JESUS REIGN,[5] declare the leal allegiance of Renwick and the persecuted Covenanters to Prince Messiah.  Earnestly did they seek to have the authority of King