An Alarm Unto A Secure Generation;
James Dodson
OR,
A short Historical Relation of some of the most strange
and remarkable Appearances of COMETS, FIERY METEORS,
BLOODY SIGNS, SHIPS OF WAR, ARMIES
OF FOOT and HORSEMEN fighting, &c.
that have been seen since
THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR,
(as the tokens or forerunners both of promised Mercies,
and threatened Judgments,) through different ages;
particularly those lately observed in the Parishes of
FINWICK, EGLESHAM, and KILMARNOCK.
WITH
Some Arguments and Observations upon the whole, in
way of Application to our present Circumstances.
IN A LETTER FROM
JOHN HOWIE, TO WILLIAM YOUNG,
STUDENT IN THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW.
Job xxxvii. 14. Stand still, and behold the wondrous works of God.
Joel iii. 30. And I will shew wonders in the heavens, and in the earth, &c.
Psalm ix. 16. The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth.
[Second Edition, with Additions.]
KILMARNOCK:
PRINTED BY H. & S. CRAWFORD, FOR THE PUBLISHER.
1809.
2
TO THE PUBLIC.
ALTHOUGH the following subject be somewhat extraordinary, yet I can see no other apology necessary at present to introduce this small performance to the public, than to let the reader know, that I had not the most remote thought or intention ever to put pen to paper on a thing of this nature, until it was concerted,—proposed—and desired of me by my acquaintance.—And even after a grant of this, upon a more deliberate thought, I found it would be a task somewhat more arduous than I at first conceived, in regard, that things of this nature are either altogether exploded and disbelieved, or else treated with the utmost superciliousness by not a few in this sceptical generation.—But upon a second thought, considering that as it was no preconcerted thing in me, providence perhaps might have some secret call or design in it at this critical juncture of affairs.* And likewise it behoves some person or other still to register these things, otherwise how could they be kept on record and handed down to succeeding generations? one generation shall praise thy works unto another, and declare thy mighty acts. These motives prevailed upon me to draw up the following missive, and even when written, I did not think it would be published, until some of my intimate acquaintance had consulted the matter.
With respect to the authority of the following relations, those referring to former ages are collected from histories that are open to all; and those relating to the
_____
* Here it might also be remarked, that several remarkable instances of these strange appearances fell out, just at the juncture of time when the letter was returned back in order to be prepared for the press.
3
TO THE PUBLIC.
present times have their vouchers alive who can satisfy any rational mind who doubts of their authenticity. And for my own sentiments, I expect none will condemn them without a hearing, and upon mature deliberation; especially in an age wherein freedom of sentiment and liberty of conscience seem well nigh their zenith. The stile is plain and simple like myself. As there is no designed mistake in it, it is hoped, if there is any inadvertency in words or circumstances, or typographical mistakes, especially in such a multiplicity of figures, they will be the more easily overlooked by the more intelligent and indulgent reader; for no man can claim perfection in this life.
No question, but some, and even judicious persons, may be ready to think me to have been somewhat idle, when I fell upon such a piece of employment. To this I shall only say, that if in what I have here written, God shall be glorified in the least by a rehearsal of his wonderful and strange works—all thy works shall praise thee; or yet if it shall prove a mean in his own hand to awaken or rouse up any soul in this dead and secure generation, then I should think I have many times been as busily employed.—But if it be determined that none of these desirable effects are to be produced thereby, then let it stand as another mite of testimony and witness, (not from me, but from divine providence) against an obstinate and gainsaying generation.
I know that some, and perhaps church-men, may think that a private man has little to do with things of such a public nature.—All the reply I make to this, is, that a cause, yea truth itself, may suffer by the weakness, but never by the meanness of its assertors or defenders. Only it seldom falls out that a clergyman ever very much esteems a lay-man’s performance.
But if any person, or persons are offended or grieved (though no offence properly is given) at a detail of the land’s sins in few words, which indeed is no desirable subject unto me to dwell upon; then I fairly grant,—“It is easier, like an orator, to declaim against a thousand sins in others, than like Christians, to mortify one sin in ourselves.” Though this is, and ought to be our
4
TO THE PUBLIC.
duty and exercise: yet in the mean time, and for the present, they have this offence or grievance (though not the grounds of it) from\
JOHN HOWIE.
LOCHGOIN, }
Feb. 18th, 1780. }
It may not be improper to offer the opinion of the judicious Mr. ADDISON, to the consideration of those who affect to despise every relation of apparitions.
After having exposed the unreasonable terrors that are too apt to possess people’s minds from the common stories, he proceeds to give his own opinion, concerning the existence of apparitions in the following terms.
“I think a person who is thus terrify’d with the imagination of Ghosts and Spectres much more reasonable than one who, contrary to the report of all historians, sacred and profane, ancient and modern, and to the traditions of all nations, thinks the appearance of Spirits fabulous and groundless. Could not I give myself up to this general testimony of mankind, I should to the relations of particular persons who are now living, and whom I cannot distrust in other matters of fact. I might here add, that not only the historians, to whom we may join the poets, but likewise the philosophers of antiquity have favoured this opinion.”
SPECTATOR, VOL. II. No. 110.
AN ALARM TO A SECURE GENERATION.
SIR,
ACCORDING to your desire, and the desire of some of your reverend acquaintance, I have here sent or given you, in the following pages, a narrative of some of those remarkable appearances that have for some time been observed in our countryside, particularly in the moors of Fenwick and Eglesham.—But lest these should seem incredible, or beyond what has been observed in former days, I shall bring down the thread of the subject by relating some of the like remarkable appearances, or forerunners both of promised mercies and threatened judgments that have been observed from the Christian æra unto the present times.—But before I come unto the narration itself, these few things following may be shortly premised.—And
1st, That I am not now to mention every particular history or person who has observed these appearances; for that were a thing now impracticable, some of them being without my certain knowledge; others of them gone off the country; and several of them dead who perhaps have seen them as perfectly as any of those I am now to describe.—Nay, there are whole volumes wrote upon this subject,* and whole families have seen them often at once.
_____
* Any person who wants to see these at large may consult the writings of Josephus, Eusebius, Tacitus, the learned Hottinger, Fox, Clark, Gadbury, Burton, Buchanan, Walker, Stevenson, and several others of our own historians.
8
AN ALARM TO A
to the place, they saw the appearance of a brae-side of people sitting, with a tent amongst them; from whence a voice was heard, saying,—“This is the everlasting gospel; if ye follow on to know, believe and embrace this gospel, it shall never be taken from you.” But when they came to join them, (taking it for the intended place of meeting) all disappeared.—Another company coming another way, heard a sweet charming sound singing the xxxix psalm, which constrained them to stand still, till it was ended.—The like was also seen and heard on that well known place called Darmcad, betwixt Clydesdale and Lothian, singing the fifty-ninth psalm.
And likewise in Craig-mad, betwixt Falkirk and Morving-side, there was seen the appearance of a brae-side covered with people, with a milk-white horse, and a blood red saddle, standing beside them; which made discerning people conclude, that the gospel would be sent unto these parts; and that the white horse prefigured the gospel, or gospel church; and the red saddle, the saddle of persecution upon her back: which not only took place at that time, but for a good number of years afterwards.
But as these may serve for a specimen at present, I now come, in the second place, to observe some of these respecting judgments also.
And just before the destruction of the city and temple of Jerusalem, wherein near three millions of people perished, a comet appeared just above the temple, as if a man had held many drawn swords in his hand.—A sword, and other instruments of war, were also seen hanging over the city.—Also about sun-setting, there were seen chariots and horsemen fighting in the air; and great blasts of fire flying towards Jerusalem.
And before the terrible wars broke out between the Romans and the Britons; the sea betwixt Britain and France, at full tide, overflowed of a red bloody colour; and at low water, the print of men’s bodies were seen on the bare sand at the mouth of the Thames.
A.D. 412, The earth at Utica, in Italy, seemed to mourn seven days, together with horrible lowing; and a great flock of grasshoppers were seen in the air at Rome,
9
SECURE GENERATION.
Arthdulphus then warreth with the Vandels; Heraclion is slain by his own soldiers; and the monk Pelagius broacheth his heretical notions in Britain.*
A.D. 445, Before the Britons beat the Saxons, and the king of the Goths was slain, apparitions were seen in the air in England, and burning spears at Rome; an earthquake also happened, and a comet appeared for ten weeks together.
A.D. 570, The fountains ran blood at York, in England: The trees also seemed on fire at London; and blood rained from the clouds in Lombardy.—After this, the Huns brake out in Germany, and a terrible famine prevailed in England.
A.D. 507, One dreadful comet is seen at Constantinople, another at Jerusalem: the elements seem to burn in Holland, and a fiery lance was seen at Rome. Soon after, France and Poland is miserably wasted, a bloody war soon took place betwixt the Britons, Scots, and Saxons, and the Emperor is defeated in Thrace.
A.D. 808, The sun and moon were eclipsed contrary to nature; armies of men appear in the heavens.—The star Mercury is seen in the sun like a black spot, and blood rained in Holland. The letter X was said to be seen in the air in Scotland.—At this time, the Scots and Picts were at war with the English, the Bulgarians kill 6000 Greeks, the Danes subdue Friezland, and the Saracens disperse themselves into different countries.
A.D. 840, Sparks of fire were seen to run up and down the heavens; and a great comet appeared. The Spaniards rebelled soon after.—The Scots overcame the English who aided the Picts.—The Saracens were overcome by the Emperor, and the Danes entered England.
A.D. 912, Four rainbows were seen in Scotland, and
_____
* The chief articles of the Pelagian heresy are, 1. That original sin is not inherent in children. 2. That faith is a thing natural. 3. That good works done by the strength of our own free will, are agreeable to the law of God, and merit Heaven.—Pope Celestine sent Palladius to Britain to suppress this heresy: who coming to Scotland about 452, succeeded so well as to confute Pelagianism, and new model church-government by setting up bishops in Scotland.
10
AN ALARM TO A
fiery torches in the air. A great comet, and divers mock suns were seen in Italy. Soon after the Vandels invaded Greece, the Saracens Calabria and Italy, the Pope strangled, the Scots assist the Danes, but are overcome, and the Russians persecute the Christians.
A.D. 1033, Just as the superstitious idolatries of Antichrist were arrived at their height by overspreading the Christian world, upon June 29, (which is by some called St. Peter’s day,) at six o’clock in the morning, a terrible eclipse of the sun happened, in which he became like sapphire; so that it made men’s countenances look pale, as if they had been dead; and every thing in the air seemed of a saffron colour.*
_____
* According to history, this very same year 1033, Benedict the XI [likely IX] ascended the papal chair. He was a monster in nature. Before he became Pope, he frequented the woods, where he was so skilled in sorcery and magical arts, that he caused women to follow him thither, with whom he committed filthiness. By these devilish arts he obtained the Popedom. After which he made his companion magicians his familiar counsellors. But having laid a plot to depose the Emperor, and to put another in his place, he was so frighted by his general, that he sold his chair to Gregory the VI. for 1500 pounds of gold. After which, going to a forest that he might practise his former kind of sorcery more privately, he was suffocated or strangled by the devil. Afterwards his likeness appeared to an hermit, with his body like a bear, and head and tail like an ass; and when asked by him why he was so metamorphosed? he answered, “Because I have lived in the Popedom like a beast, without reason, without law, and without God,” Neither were several of his successors a whit better. Pope John XXII. caused his predecessor to be poisoned, he was a heretic, a simoniac, a murderer, an enchanter, an adulterer, a gamester, a sodomite, an atheist, a contemner of religion. He sold their supposed head of John the Baptist for 80,000 ducats, and at last denied life everlasting. Pope Sixtus IV. granted a license for sodomy in the three hot months of summer; built public stews in Rome for both whoredom and sodomy. He fed troops of harlots for his friends and servants; and for every harlot he received a Italian penny a week; which annually amounted to 20,000 ducats. Leo X was a beastly drunkard. Although he denied the immortality of the soul, yet issued out pardons and indulgences (to amass gain) both for dead and living. 1 shilling was required to bring every soul out of purgatory, and one penny less was not available. His emissaries preached that at the sound of this, cast into a bason, the souls in purgatory did leap for joy, and immediately flew away to Heaven. John Dacelius taught that, although a man had got the Virgin Mary with
11
SECURE GENERATION.
A. D. 1116, Fiery armies were seen in the heavens in Germany, with many earthquakes and great whirlwinds in diverse places. Then St. Barges in Flanders was burnt, Poland wasted, and the Emperor excommunicated by the Pope.
A. D. 1178, There was a wonderful inundation in England. Two armies were seen to fight in the heavens in Italy. At this time the English and Scots quarrel. The Spaniards take several places from the French; and wars commence betwixt the French and Fleemings.
A. D. 1300, Lances and darts were seen in the heavens. A great comet appeared. And men and horse were seen in the air in Germany. At this time the English beat the Scots; the Turks invaded the German Empire with terrible slaughter; the Pope styled himself universal Lord, &c.
A. D. 1376, A comet with a beard appeared: a great earthquake and mighty inundation fell out in Germany. After this 5000 houses were burnt at Gaunt; and other seventeen towns drowned in Flanders: The Christians killed 20,000 Turks in Bosnia: The Scots burnt Roxburgh, &c.
A. D. 1530, A large comet appeared which was seen through the most part of Europe.—The same year, 404 parishes, people, cattle and all, were drowned by an inundation in Holland.—The famous Swiss reformer Zuinglius, seeing this comet or one next year, told a friend that it would be fatal to him and another. Accordingly he was killed in a battle next year near Zurich, and Oecolampadius died soon after.
A. D. 1518, Nov. 6th, A great chasm opened in the
_____
[continued from page 10] child, he had power from this Pope to forgive it for money. Nay, he could forgive sins yet uncommitted. Paul III. sold his own sister to be an harlot, committed incest with his own sister, niece and daughter. He had also a number of harlots of whom he received tribute monthly, and with whom he conversed day and night.
These were some of Peter’s successors, and here was the charge of the Exchequer of the Romish church. See more of the wicked lives and miserable deaths of these and many other Popes in Fox’s Acts and Monuments, &c. Petrie’s Church-history, Clark’s Examples, and Mr. Welch’s dispute with Gilbert Brown the Papist from p. 370 to 382.
12
AN ALARM TO A
heavens; and in some places fire fell to the earth, and flew up to the air again; which the learned Cruciger seeing, (being about ten days before his death) much bewailed on account of the great commotions and dispersions he foresaw by this prodigy, would befal the church, which accordingly came to pass.
A. D. 1616, Before Frederick prince Elector Palatine was chosen king of Bohemia, on whose account so much blood was shed, there appeared in October over the city Prague, a crown in a great light with several armies of men fighting about it, as it were, who should have it.
A. D. 1618, Upon Nov. 18th, A mighty comet appeared, which in twenty-eight days compassed a great part of the known world, sometimes extending its blazing locks forty-five degrees in length. That same year in the night, a comet was seen over Constantinople in form of a sword, which became as red as blood. What terrible war, famine, blood-shed, &c. fell out immediately after this in Europe, particularly in Germany, is evident from the history of these times.
A. D. 1626, June 15th, Betwixt eight and nine in the morning, a strange phenomenon happened in Scotland: The sun shining bright, there appeared to the view of many, as it were, three suns, one by east, another by south-east, with the true sun in appearance near it. From the southmost proceeded a luminary in form of a horn, that pointed north-west, and carried with it, as it were, a gray rainbow, but clearer than the sky. This was thought by some to presage, some future calamity; an apprehension in which they were not mistaken, for in Germany the sword destroyed vast numbers of protestants; in France, the orb of the gospel was almost extinguished; at home, king Charles pointed the horn of his resentment against the Scots Presbyterians who would not comply with Prelacy and the five articles of Perth, which he pressed upon them with rigour. Archbishop Laud being now advanced to the helm of affairs, the mock suns of Popery and Arminianism made their way into the nations in a remarkable manner; in opposing which, several eminent lights of the church were reduced to a series of hardships.
13
SECURE GENERATION.
A. D. 1628, At Sunderberg in Pomerania, an army appeared in the air coming from the north: in the van appeared muskets and pioneers; after whom followed cannons and other ordnance: The rear was brought up by horsemen. Another army advanced upon them from the opposite side: upon which, a battle seemingly began: but the victory inclining to the northern army, at last a fiery ram appeared above the head of the northern conqueror, which continued for some hours: Two years after this, Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden, having conquered many cities in Poland, Prussia and Livonia, came near the same place with his northern army; and in two years wrested two thirds of Germany from a Puissant Emperor, in behalf of his Protestant brethren, and never returned without the olive branch of victory, till he lost his life victoriously, at the battle of Lutzen in defence of the Protestant religion.
A. D. 1638, A little before the wars broke out between Scotland and England, and afterwards between the king and the Parliament, several appearances of armies were seen in the air preparing to fight; and the appearance of ships was visible in the sky. And just before the Scots army went for England to assist the Parliament, it rained blood upon the church and church-yard of Bewcastle in Cumberland.
A. D. 1648, Before the duke of Hamilton went to England with an army where he was routed, there was seen the appearance of two armies fighting in the air: at last the northern army was defeated.
A. D. 1650, Before Charles II. was defeated at Dunbar in Scotland, and routed at Worcester in England, armies and armed troops were heard in the night riding through several towns in Yorkshire. And Nov. 30th same year, a little before sun-rising, a terrible sword with a blue handle, and a flame of fire hanging on its point, was seen hovering over a town called Standish in England; at last the sword disappearing, the fire fell down to the ground.
A. D. 1651 or 1652, Just before the English invaded Scotland, after the governor of Edinburgh castle had sent
14
AN ALARM TO A
off the country, he saw or heard, in the night, enemies approaching the walls, beating the Scots, English and French march. And next year, a black cloud dissolved itself in a shower of blood upon the town of Pool in England: Some green leaves with drops thereof upon them were at the same time sent up to London.
A. D. 1664, There appeared a comet, and in April 1665 there appeared another. This year the plague broke out in London, and carried off 68,596 of its inhabitants. And next year, a fire broke out in the same city, and burnt down 89 churches, 400 streets, and 13,200 dwelling houses.
And let me here turn aside, and observe a few of the forewarnings also of the sufferings of the Lord’s persecuted people in Scotland.
A. D. 1666, Upon Nov. 4th, twenty-four days before a number of the Lord’s faithful witnesses were laid in their winding sheets at Rullion green, at or near a place called the two mile house, about two miles from Haddington, were seen in the night the appearance of four men standing in gray cloathes, and a wound corpse lying on the ground beside them.
A little after the affair at Bothwell, about the year 1689, just before the persecution came to the hottest, a great comet appeared upon or near the horizon, in the south-west, having a great stream of light rising upward from it like the tail of a rainbow.
A. D. 1682, A little before John Findlay in Moorside was apprehended and executed at Edinburgh, one night my great grandfather called David Thomson, having paid him a visit, as he was convoying him up a burn-side, they heard, a little above the house, a great noise, as if it had been horses with the rattling of their harness approaching; and, taking it for the enemy, they both clapt in behind a little height upon the burn-side. In a little the noise ceased. One of them, I think the said David, creeping up to look if he saw any thing, perceived plainly upon the height just at hand, the appearance of a man standing without the head. The one communicating this
15
SECURE GENERATION.
to the other at parting, it was some matter of thought to them both, till providence brought about the event.
A. D. 1683, Notwithstanding a violent frost which continued from December to February without intermission, there were seen, in the desert places of the west of Scotland, many graves, in twos, threes and fours, with the lumps of earth lying whole beside them, which people handled sometimes with their hands. In the two years following, upwards of eighty of the Lord’s faithful witnesses were killed in these desert places. Their dead bodies were left upon the place, and few to make graves for them.
A. D. 1685, About eight days before that zealous and faithful martyr, John Nisbet in Hardhill, was apprehended in the Midland, by torch light, with three others of his dear friends and acquaintance, as he and some others were travelling in a dark wet night and no moon, a light sprung from above their heads, which for about two minutes space they thought exceeded the light of the sun, with a noise as if a torch had been burning. And sometime before, upon the Midland croft-head, where his three dear companions in tribulation were shot, on their being apprehended, some people saw at a distance the appearance of three linen shirts, one spread upon each ridge head where they fell, lying all clean and white. But to return,
A. D. 1678, In that place where the highland host were afterwards drawn up beside Glasgow, were seen the appearance of showers of swords and bonnets, with numbers of armed men marching forth in order.
A. D. 1686, About two years before the raising of the Angus Regiment, and the Revolution, and near three years before the battles of Killiecrankie and Dunkeld.*
_____
* Although king James at this time still lost ground; yet at these two battles many a brave soldier was killed. At the first, after the Highlanders had received several fires, wherein Claverhouse and many of them were killed, they threw all from them, and ran in their shirts and doublets in upon General M‘Kay’s men, sword in hand, cutting men down to the breasts, at one stroke, others had their sculls cut off
16
AN ALARM TO A
there were seen in the months of June and July, about the Crossford boat, especially at the Mains, two miles below Lanark, in the afternoon, the appearances of showers of swords, hats, and bonnets, and companies of armed men marching in battle array upon the water side; which companies falling down to the ground, their place was supplied by others, which also falling down in the same manner, disappeared. At the same time, people could plainly perceive the dimensions of the guns, the handles of the swords, and the knots upon the bonnets. And wherever they turned, one of these would fall in their way, and then disappear.
A. D. 1692, June 17, Was that terrible earthquake that happened in Jamaica, wherein 2000 people were crushed or squeezed to death, and 3000 more died by the unwholesome vapours. Just before these disasters, the sky, being most clear and serene, became in a few minutes as red as red-hot iron, and as hot as an oven.
That morning wherein the house of Ochiltree took fire, about two in the afternoon; wherein furniture, plate, and charters were all burnt to ashes, (and so remains to this day,) as twelve men were going to bring lime about break of day, they saw the likeness of a bloody fiery pillar, as they apprehended, about two yards in length; which made them conclude, that it was Mr. Cameron’s blood, and the blood of them that were killed with him at Airs-moss. The said laird of Ochiltree had given information to the enemy where they were to be found; for which, it was said, he received ten thousand merks, the price of blood.
A. D. 1715, The year commonly called Mar’s year, a few months before the Pretender made his appearance in Scotland, about nine o’clock in the morning, April 22d, there was a total eclipse of the sun; the darkness was so great in some places, that the stars appeared; which put the birds and animals into no small consternation.
_____
[continued from p. 15:] above their ears like night-caps, and some had both body and belt cut through at one blow. At Dunkeld, the brave lieutenant col. Cleland, and several other officers in the Angus regiment, were killed.—Vid. Claverhouse’s memoirs, page 27—30.
17
SECURE GENERATION.
A. D. 1744, The same year that war was declared betwixt France and Great Britain, and the year before the second Highland Invasion, there appeared in the month of January, a large comet, equal to a star of the first magnitude. It was near the head of Andromeda both morning and evening for a considerable time. Showers of blue bonnets in appearance were also said* to be seen (both before that and since) falling in divers places. And some of these appearances of armies of men fighting, were also seen in the moors of Fenwick, which now brings me unto these relations themselves. And which are as follows:
John Clark in Croilburn, aged 83 years, but fresh in judgment and ripe of memory, declares, that he has seen these visionary appearances several times; but that the following was the most particular: That a good while ago, about the beginning of harvest on a clear morning about sun-rising, as he and his brother went out to gather their flocks, when a little above the house, to their surprise they beheld the appearance of a large body of men, of a dark blueish colour, standing all in a straight line upon a rising ground. On their left hand, opposite to the rising sun, as they looked upon them with some admiration, they suddenly broke rank, and went off all in detached parties; and marching with great swiftness for some considerable length, down a piece of moor ground, until they arrived at a little height, where they were immediately drawn up in a body, and from whence they plainly perceived the appearance of smoke arising to some considerable height above their heads. At last, they wheeled to the north, falling in upon a water side, and
_____
* One James Fulton, now in Kilmarnoch, a very creditable person, declares, and has often declared unto several persons, that, in 1745, he and his family saw a number of these bonnets falling. They were so near them that they saw the very shag and colour of their rings.——They fell over a little precipice, and ran a few yards on the ground, and then vanished.——And were it necessary, I could here instance several other persons, that affirm that they saw the appearance of bonnets falling in showers, a number of years since that time.
18
AN ALARM TO A
then marched up again in parties towards him and his brother, (who were now advancing towards the said water side,) until they came within a little distance from them; where, upon a little holm on the water side, they were immediately drawn up in two parties, and fronted each other, until they came seemingly within reach of bayonet; and then made a push with somewhat seemingly across their arms, with such agility, that as if it had been in a moment, the one party dropt all down to the ground, and the other disappeared: and the said John was so convinced of the reality of what he saw, that he went unto the said piece of ground, where he thought they fell; but there he found nothing.
He declares further, that one time he saw them standing in a large body in a clear afternoon, and snow on the ground, and that they shifted ground from one place to another. At another time, he saw a party of them standing on a little rising ground, in the evening, and being betwixt him and the wind, he apprehended he felt a breeze of hot wind come in his face from that quarter, which made him a little timid, until he recollected himself: and so he returned home, and left them on the place.
John Howie, now in Loch-end, (Neilston parish,) aged 50 years, says he has seen these apparitions more than once; but the most particular was, a good number of years ago, when at home in Cregindunton; that being one day abroad, and returning home in the evening (which was very clear,) about or a little before sun-set, and when at some little distance from the house, he met with the foresaid John Clark, who had been traversing the fields, (perhaps in quest of some of his flock.) John asked him if ever he had seen the visions, (for so they were commonly called,) he answered, no. He then bade him come with him, and he would let him see them. Whereupon they went to a little height, where they saw the appearance of two armies of men, the one of a reddish colour, and the other of a pale white, standing at some distance from them, opposite to the setting sun. Those in the red uniform were standing pretty straight, as if it
19
SECURE GENERATION.
had been in line of battle. But the other seemed rather like a great body of men standing in a confused order, or huddled together. Their motion seemed to be very quick, and sometimes there appeared somewhat to glance or glister amongst them. Each party stood their ground, but made no advances towards one another. Having looked upon them for some considerable time, (John Clark being gone) at last, he went home to call out the rest of the family to see them; but when they came out, all was disappeared and gone.
John Boyd, elder in Collorie, aged 52 years, declares, that about the month of November 1754, being in a house at the head of the parish, called Whitle, all night smearing sheep, as he, his brother, and several other neighbours (who can attest the truth of this if required,) were returning home in the morning about sun-rising, the morning being very clear and frosty; on a sudden, they discovered the appearance of the form or likeness of a large city, upon a piece of ground on their left hand at about a quarter of a mile or so distant. Upon their looking on this object more intensely, they perceived it to be a representation of a large camp of military tents, of a pale whitish colour, all standing in ranks or lines close together, in a most beautiful figure. And now beholding them with some avidity, to their further surprise, all on a sudden, there issued forth from them, great numbers of men in appearance of a dark blueish colour, which ran up a hill at some small distance from them, with great rapidity; and, having gained the height, they turned off different ways with much alacrity. They in the mean while passing on their journey, and having two houses to come past, called the Craig-ends, they made a stop at one of them, and called out some of the family to see them; and they all beheld them go through several maneuvres in a most lively manner. Sometimes they would seem on the diminishing hand; again in a little they would be reinforced or increased. And they plainly perceived one amongst them to be somewhat taller in stature than the rest; who, one of the company said, would be their king or general. At last, passing on their way, and having a
20
AN ALARM TO A
little hollow (wherein was a running water) to pass through, when they gained the height on the other side, they looked towards the place, and (the sun being now a little way up,) they found they had mostly disappeared.
My brother James Howie in Drumtee, aged 42 years, gives it under his hand, that he has seen these visions several times. But the most remarkable time he thinks was, in the month of November, about the year 1755. That one morning, he, and one Robert Howie, (a clock-maker, I suppose in Irvine, who, if not gone from thence lately, could also attest the truth of this relation, if required,) went out to gather sheep in order for smearing, the sun being just about to rise, and the atmosphere being most clear and serene, not a cloud to be seen. One of them said to the other, that this was just like one of those mornings or evenings that the visions were seen. They had but gone a very little distance, until they beheld them beginning to appear betwixt them and the rising sun, standing in two large armies of a blueish colour, in a straight line from north or north-east, to south or southwest, on a large piece of rising ground, a little east from Lochgoin. At first their appearances were but small. Both armies seemed no higher than boys of three or four years of age; but they still waxed more in number and size as the sun advanced, until they were full as tall as any ordinary man. And being all in rank, about three men deep, with a little chasm betwixt each file, both armies advanced unto the others front in a fighting posture. And being brightest in the centre, they could perceive whole files sometimes to fall down in the front; whose place seemed immediately to be supplied by others: and, in the middle, there appeared a white mist, just like the smoke of guns, which rose up a few yards above their heads. And now and then, there appeared a glance amongst them, which glistered as polished armour does when turned quickly by the reflection of the sun. And being pretty near them, they perceived them to be all in motion: but who were most in number, or who had the mastery they could not tell; for both armies were very numerous; and both armies stood their ground. They
21
SECURE GENERATION.
stood for some time without any timidity; but were only somewhat concerned about what they for the present beheld. At last, they began to remove to a great distance from them; and at length they evanished out of their sight, and so went off, as these atoms of the sun (which we commonly call summer colts) do in a sun-shine day, before or after rain in the heat of summer.
JAMES HOWIE.
Robert Clark in Croilburn, aged 28 years, says, that sometime in winter, (according to his calculation) about the year 1766 or 1767, as he was out in the fields in a clear evening about sun-setting, snow being upon the ground, he on a sudden espied the appearance of two armies of men, of a blueish colour, standing upon a rising ground, like two or three men deep, in a line somewhat oblique to the setting sun, at some little distance from him. And though he could perceive no arms amongst them, yet he saw, now and then, somewhat amongst them that glistered like polished mettle. He could also plainly perceive their motion to be very quick; but neither army did advance, or retreat any. Only the one army fell back, as it had been out of his sight: and for the other, he left them upon the field, and went off.
John Young, aged 21 years, now teacher of the English language in Glasgow, gives it under his hand, that when at home in his fathers house in the moor of Royallan, in the month of January, 1774, being out in the fields in a clear morning, a little before sun-rising, to his surprize, at about a stone’s cast from him upon a certain spot of ground called the Sowan-hill, he espied a great army of men in appearance of a blueish colour, in a straight line, but somewhat shorter in the front ranks by a gradual decline from the van to the rear, marching at full speed towards the rising sun, in appearance as it had been the smoke of a running fire flying before them. Upon the opposite side from the rising sun, there appeared the likeness of another army, all in a red uniform, marching in the same order, over a piece of ground called Pike-house Steads, to meet the northern army, with the appearance of smoke, as if it had been from a running fire also flying before them. Each army being advanced within a
22
AN ALARM TO A
few yards distance, a pitched battle seemingly ensued. Though he could perceive no armour, nor hear any noise amongst them; yet he could plainly perceive the appearance of smoke rise up in a cloud; and then evanish away, (as if it had been for a little) until another volley was discharged; and then it would rise up afresh, and evanish away again from the front of both armies. This it did for some time without intermission; in which time, there would appear vacancies here and there in the front lines, as when men fall in real engagements (whose place is commonly supplied by others.) And sometimes the wing of one army would be retreating back, and the opposite wing of the other army would be advancing forward upon them; and then the retreating wing would again in a little recover itself, and as it were, beat back the other to its proper position. Such was the situation of both armies for some short space. At length a detached party came out from the army in red, to the end of the right wing of the army in blue; and at the same time a great volley of smoke came from the blue, which was as quickly returned by the said party in red. But in a little, the party in red fled into the red army; and then the whole army retired and fled; and the army in blue pursued them over the heights of Pike-house Steads; and so both armies falling down upon a piece of low ground towards the sun, just as he arose, he could see them no more.
JOHN YOUNG.
James Muir elder in Warnock land, aged 66 years, but quite sound in judgment, says, that about the beginning of October 1775, upon a fine Sabbath morning, his brother Robert having been out, came in and said, that he had seen, at some considerable distance above the house, a great number of men, like a burial or so, approaching. Upon which, he and the rest of his family went out; and they saw the appearance of a large body of men, of a darkish colour, marching with their backs upon the sun, which was about half an hour high. They advanced until they came to a piece of white ground upon the border of some arable land, a little above two houses called the
23
SECURE GENERATION.
Glassoch, and about a computed mile and a half or more above the Kirktown of Finwick, where they drew up in a straight line in two divisions at a little distance from one another. And so standing in this posture, they saw as it had been a detached party, like the number of ten or twelve men, march out from the grand division to a considerable distance, (as if it had been to view the ground;) and then they would walk back unto their own respective body in good order: and this would be immediately repeated by another party after the same manner. After they had stood in this posture near half an hour, both divisions marched off, the one going to the east towards the moors, and the other going to the north; and as they fell down towards the toll-road or king’s high-way, the people could see them no more.
William Shilly, deacon in Braks, aged 44 years, says, that at same time in October the same year 1775, going out of his house on a clear sabbath morning about sun-rising, he perceived, upon the south-west side of a hill called the Whitlehill, the appearance of two armies or great bodies of men of a dark blue colour, standing as in battle array, and very near in the front unto one another. He immediately called forth the rest of his family to behold the sight: they all perceived them to be hotly engaged, and sometimes they saw a file upon the front, as it were, fall to the ground, whose place seemed to be immediately supplied or filled up by others (as it is sometimes in real engagements). At last, the northern army gave way, turned their backs, and fled all in a body along the side of the hill with the greatest agility imaginable. Meanwhile the other army did not pursue; they only stood their ground for some short space; but with no small seeming emotion and confusion, until they all disappeared.
N. B. According to the testimony of different persons, these remarkable appearances were seen in the end of harvest 1777, and also in the end of December 1778, in form of a battery, with the appearances of men’s heads shoulder height above the parapet. They were also observed about the end of September last 1779,
24
AN ALARM TO A
in much the same circumstances with some of these already related.
James Picken in Low Collorie, aged 32 years, says, that upon Thursday, January 13th, (being this present year 1780,) he went out a little before sun-rising, the morning being clear and snow upon the ground. Looking towards the sun-rising, he espied a large black body upon the west side of the forementioned hill, called the Whitlehill; which body being drawn out from the top of said hill, down a long tract of falling ground, near a mile and a half in length, making two divisions, and fronting from east to west, at a very small distance from one another. The whole family (which consisted of a number of persons) being now come out, they all saw them. And this remarkable appearance, unto their view, consisted of the likeness of both foot and horse, and somewhat like large tents. The horse, as they apprehended, were mostly upon the south side of both armies, (for in this figure they appeared) that is, upon the right of the western army, and upon the left of the other. The tents, which were fewer in number, they thought, were mostly, in both armies, on the north or opposite side; only there would sometimes great numbers of men, in appearance, issue out from them, and run in unto their own respective bodies. They could plainly perceive (though at some considerable distance) their motion to be extraordinarily quick, especially near the front of both armies, and sometimes numbers would seem to fall, whose place was to them insensibly filled up. The western army seemed both to take up more room, and to be more in number; but the eastern army had the advantage of the rising ground, upon which they were posted. Having stood in this posture for some short time, both divisions rushed together, (as armies do when they come to fight sword in hand) and then numbers falling to the ground, no small seeming emotion and confusion ensued. In a little, the western army gave way, and fled westward very swiftly. The other followed hard upon them, without the least division or distinction; only, in the flight, a few horse-men
25
SECURE GENERATION.
went past the foot, and took the way before them; and so falling down the backside of a piece of rising ground, (the sun being a little way up) they could perceive them no more.
Being out in the fields in the same evening, the sky being most serene, and the sun shining brightly a little before he set, I had a short view of these remarkable appearances, in figure, somewhat resembling a small party of military men (of a faint reddish colour) under their manual exercises. But the circumstances that attended these visionary appearances (which were neither so long nor so perfect as I could have wished,) were somewhat singular, and so peculiar, that I shall forbear to relate them at present, lest they should seem almost incredible.
But upon the Tuesday morning following, being Jan. 18th, these remarkable appearances were again seen by the two families in the high Collories, both at once, upon the height of a large field of ground called the Raithmoor moor, about a quarter of a mile or so distant from them. Their representation was of two armies, of a darkish blue colour, standing in a straight line, and facing in the middle from east to west; they consisted also of horsemen, which mostly rode out of the front of the eastern army in upon the front of the western. The horse were of a blackish colour; and at one time one of the persons who beheld them, counted ten horsemen precisely, marching out of the front of the eastern army into the front of those on the west, all in one body: which men and horse seemed full as large at this distance, as real men and horse would do when standing beside them. When these entered into the other army, there seemed no small confusion; and sometimes numbers would seem to fall, but soon would be filled up again. They also perceived two men, in appearance somewhat larger, and of a blackish colour, standing out at a little distance from the front of the armies, as if they had been inspecting or commanding the rest. Having continued for a considerable time, until the sun would be an hour high or so, at last they disappeared.
26
AN ALARM TO A
Stephen Wallace, elder in Hershee-hill, aged 44 years, declares, that upon having heard of the foresaid remarkable appearances, he had gone out for a number of mornings, looking for something of that kind; but saw nothing, until Saturday, February 12th, 1780, when he was going out some considerable time before sun-rising, the morning both clear and frosty. Looking towards the sun-rising, he saw upon the height of the east end of the foresaid Raithmoor-moor, as if it had been, a thousand steeples, or masts of ships, in number all standing like a wood of trees, with a very little space or distance betwixt each of them.* Of a sudden, this remarkable figure was converted into the appearance of two large armies, or bodies of men, of a dark blueish colour, standing as it had been in a fighting posture, and very near in the front unto one another. The rest of his family being now come out, with some persons from a house in the neighbourhood, they all saw them go through different operations. Sometimes they seemed to fall down and backward; and then in a little rise up, as it were, and come forward again to renew the combat. And one time, he thought, he saw somewhat like a cloud rise up above their heads, and then evanish away like smoke. According to their view, both sides were in the most rapid motion. But the eastern party seemed to bear hard upon the other side; which in time made them shift ground to the westward. They continued in this posture for some time; and some of the company said, the sun was at a considerable height before they went off or disappeared.
Upon the sabbath morning following, something of the same nature was said to have been seen by some persons from different families, on a piece of ground near the head of Kilmarnock parish. But when I examined the truth of this appearance, I found that, although some of these persons affirmed, that they saw the appearance of
_____
* These seem rather to have been the representations of military tents; as from the altitude of the ground on which they stood, they might seem higher than they really were. Besides, some of the persons thought they saw some tents standing beside the armies afterwards.
27
SECURE GENERATION.
men walking, and others of them mentioned the colour of their clothes, which they said was blue, white, and red; yet their view was in general so dark and ambiguous, that the persons could not unanimously agree amongst themselves concerning what they saw. On this account, I forbear any farther relation of it at present. The following is somewhat more remarkable, although not connected, in time or place, with those above related.
According to the testimony of some persons who conversed with several who were witnesses, upon the 17th of July last, 1779, at six o’clock in the afternoon, in the parish of Kirkener, near Wigton in Galloway, the appearance of two armies were seen in the air; the one clad in blue, and the other in white; which met, and engaging as it were in battle, fought desperately for a considerable time, and then retired, as it were, from the field to give place to the ships of war from different nations, the one bearing a red flag, and the other a flag stripped with white and yellow, &c. which also fought obstinately for some time, till at last the red flag carried the day, and seemed to sink the other.
N. B. These remarkable appearances first mentioned, seen in Fenwick parish, were before the highland invasion in the year 1745. Those relations in the years 1754 and 1755, were just before the beginning of the late war with France and Spain, wherein so much blood was shed; and all the subsequent relations fell out either a little before or during the present war. And show me from history any extraordinary event or revolution that has fallen out in any kingdom, commonwealth, &c. since the destruction of Jerusalem, but what was ushered in with some remarkable appearance of one kind or another. It is true, they are not mentioned by every historian; but what one author omits, is often observed by another.
No question but some who even doubt nothing of the truth or reality of such appearances, may wonder that
28
AN ALARM TO A
they are seen mostly in the moors, and within a few miles circumference. One thing may be mentioned, these visionary appearances, for the most part, are not only large bodies in themselves, but also often take up a considerable space of ground to perform their different operations. On which account it seems proper, that they should be in some remote or uninhabited place. This is the more probable, in regard that it is usual with the Lord to show his rare or wonderful works, not unto the world or all men indiscriminately, but only unto a certain number of witnesses, (more or fewer as divine sovereignty sees fit,) whom he has appointed for that purpose.
But it is a sufficient cause of all these appearances, if it be the will and pleasure of divine wisdom and sovereignty that they should be in these places, and so near one place. That is enough. The ways of the Lord are right, for the foolishness of God (as the apostle expresses it) is wiser than men, Hos. xiv. 9. 1 Cor. i. 25.
Again, others may perhaps be apt to think, that they are produced from the nature of the marshy ground, seeing they are mostly seen in these places. But in this case, every piece of ground of the like species and quality would produce the same effects; nay, the same ground would produce them annually, and without intermission; neither of which holds true. Nor are they infallibly confined unto that species of ground; for they have been observed upon the borders of arable land; nay, upon the holms of Clyde, as was already hinted in the proper place. How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out, Rom. xi. 33.
But after all, I am fully apprised that upon hearing or seeing a subject of this nature, one of three objections commonly arises, and takes place. First, if the vouchers be not above all exception, then all is accounted fable and romance: but if the case is otherwise, then these things are reckoned the mere apprehensions of chimerical brains only.* But if both of these fail, the last resource is, that
_____
* If these visionary appearances had been seen only by a few persons, and these of a timid or gloomy nature and disposition, then it
29
SECURE GENERATION.
they are only the product or mere effects of nature, and so deserve no sober man’s attention.
_____
[continued from p. 28:] might have been said, that the darkness of their own nature, or the passion of fear, had so wrought upon their fancy or imagination, and so beclouded or overheated it, as to make them unable to judge aright of what they had seen, or that they had seen any thing but what was common, and to be seen at any time, and by every person, although not in the same form that it appeared unto them: for it is no new thing for persons of such dispositions, or who have had their imaginations so wrought upon, to take very trivial things, or nothing perhaps at all, (when they thought they saw them under cloud of night,) for wonderful appearances, or strange apparitions, of which they would be ashamed of, or treat with contempt if they saw them again when it was day, or their spirits were calm and in order.
If they had been seen by persons given to drink, or had been observed by them when coming from a tavern or ale-house, then it might have been said, that if they had not drunk so much spirituous liquors, to the disturbing of their own spirits, they would not have seen so many visions.
If they had been seen by persons subject to trances or raptures, or pretenders to inspirations of any kind. Or if they had been subject to any particular diseases, that might have rendered them unfit to have judged aright of what they saw, and therefore they could not have been relied upon in a thing of so much importance.
Or if they had been seen only by those who had the art or address to make little things appear of great stature to the view of others.
Or if they had been observed under night, when there was nothing but an imperfect light, which made every thing to appear in a gloomy condition, and to wear a discoloured garb upon them.
But as none of these things will hold true, concerning those that were witnesses of these visionary appearances, or at least not so much as will make out the charge.
And, 1st, They were not seen by few, but by a good number of witnesses; and even some of these times, there were more than two or three of them together; although, “by the mouth of two or three witnesses every thing shall be established.” Neither could it be supposed that such a number of persons should all be of a timorous nature, or that fear should make all unable to judge aright of what they saw; and as their continuance, many times, was of a considerable duration, so that they had time to recover themselves, if they had been seized with any sudden fear, and to call in their senses to see that they were not deceived themselves.
And, 2d, They were free of drink; or could it be supposed that they had all got drunk, considering the circumstances, as that they were seen for the most part, in the remote places, where there was no drink to be
30
AN ALARM TO A
Now, for the first of these, if we can credit any thing that we do not really see with our own eyes, then there is little room left to conclude them falsehoods. For the second, I presume that the above relation puts it beyond all dispute, that they were neither the fancies of whimsical brains, nor the productions of melancholy humours. And for the last, Although there seem no appearance of this kind, even the most extraordinary, but what our modern Atheists and Deists, by their lofty acquisitions in reason and philosophy, must comprehend. And yet, if we shall bring the matter unto the standard or touchstone of God’s sovereignty, of scripture and profane history; nay, to the test of nature and reason itself, we will find
_____
[continued from p. 29] had, even although they had desired it: nor is it very likely that they would have got so much of it in a morning in those remote places, for it is not ordinary for people to be drunk, even in those places where they can have it at will. But if need required it, it could be proven that some of those that saw these visions had not got any spirituous drink for some days before they saw them.
And, 3d, None of them ever pretended to any inspiration of any kind whatever: and so this will not cause their credit to be called in question.
And, 4th, They were free of any bodily trouble, (as far as was known at the time,) which might unfit them for being able to judge aright of what they saw: for every disease surely will not unfit them for such a thing.
And, 5th, They were seen by persons worthy of credit, who did not go under the character of liers.
And, lastly, They were seen under broad day, for the sun was either up before they appeared or disappeared; and it cannot be supposed that a number of persons standing in full view of these appearances, in a sun-shine morning or evening, having a considerable time to view them, and even to make observations upon them, should be deceived; or, even allowing one or two of them to have been guilty of the aforesaid charges; yet, if all the rest were free of such charges, as it hath been made evident they were, then their witness will hold true: and if it be rejected, then they will reject every thing which they do not see themselves: and there are some come to such a length in unbelief, that perhaps they would not believe their own eyes: and it cannot be thought that those who deny the scripture, because they cannot comprehend it, by their reason or dim light of sinful nature, should believe the history of such appearances: but it is the work of a historian to record things that are true, but not to make people believe them. (*)
31
SECURE GENERATION.
that all the reason or abilities they are master of upon this head, will amount to nothing.* For,
First, Although the Lord in his sovereignty sometimes hides the springs of his wise operations, and the wonders of his providences, beneath the vail of natural causes and ordinary events; yet if we shall acknowledge that he orders all events that fall out in the universe, and rules with a despotic sway the destiny of all persons, cities, commonwealths, kingdoms and empires, then we may conclude, that though he commonly works by second means or causes, and (according to philosophical reasoning) by the nearest and most proper causes too. Yet he can work both by causes, above causes, and without causes. Says divine sovereignty itself, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is there any thing too hard for me?
Secondly, Let us consult the nature of things. Grant, or suppose, that the most remarkable appearance we can behold of this kind, may, in a secondary sense, be sometimes produced by the effects of nature: and yet what hinders these (if the great author of nature think fit,) to be the tokens or forerunners of judgments, or outward calamities, by a supernatural casualty. For instance, it is granted that earthquakes are produced by natural causes, i.e. the abundance of wind, water and sulphur collected and pent up in the cavities of the earth, struggling to get vent; and yet the primary causes of earth-
_____
* But let them show us the proper reason, or true natural causes of gravity, or the tendency of a stone or any solid body to the centre of the earth: or why the leaves of trees, grass, &c. are green, and not of another colour. I know that some are now of such a sceptical turn of mind, that they will not believe even their own eyes, or that there are any colours at all. All things with them are founded on mere apprehension, and how shall they believe the report of others. It is true, we are not bound to believe things contrary to scripture and reason, or even things of an extraordinary nature upon human authority, without the most diligent enquiry. But pray, how can men press the belief of their own theses, wherein may be things both disputable and doubtful, if they themselves will credit nothing, unless presented unto their own eyes. Nay, this brings us to doubt of the existence of every person or thing that we ever saw, and consequently banishes all historical faith out of the world.
32
AN ALARM TO A
quakes must be God’s anger against a wicked and obstinate people; seeing they are not only foretold by Christ himself to be the forerunners of troubles and tribulations, the indications of wars, alterations of states, kingdoms, laws, customs, &c. but they have often proved terrible judgments in themselves, by overturning mountains, cities, killing and swallowing up the inhabitants under their ruins, and in the large chasms made in the earth thereby.*
It is likewise agreed by some astrologers, that comets are produced by natural causes, by a hot, dry, slimy exhalation drawn up by the sun into the uppermost region of the air. And yet I suppose every place where they have been seen, has either felt their effects when near to the earth, or acknowledged their presages. Nay, these heavenly bodies, stars themselves are said to fight against wicked men. “They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.”
Naturalists are also agreed that thunder, hail, &c. are produced by natural causes, such as the fire and water in the clouds, and water congealed into drops in the middle region of the air. And yet do we not hear of the dreadful effects of thunder from time to time? and for the hail, &c. the Lord has declared, that he has reserved it against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war.
Let me also mention the bow in the cloud, which is a token or sign of God’s covenant of promise, that he would no more destroy the earth by water. Though it proceeds from natural causes, viz. the refraction of the beams of the sun striking upon the hollow side of a watery cloud;
_____
* The most notable destructions by earthquakes were that, A.D. 19 whereby twelve cities in Lesser Asia were overturned; a terrible earthquake at our Saviour’s crucifixion; and just before the destruction of Jerusalem, a prodigious number of earthquakes in Crete, Miletus, Samos, Smyrna, Rome, Judah, Laodicea; of late that in Sicily, 1692 wherein about 60,000 perished; that in Catanea, in which 1800 perished; those in Jamaica, 1687, and 1692; that of Lima in Peru 1687, wherein about 5000 perished; that in the same capital 1746 wherein 1500 were killed; that of Lisbon 1755, wherein ten thousand perished; and that in Syria 1759, in which 30,000 lost their lives.
33
SECURE GENERATION.
which refraction cannot happen unless the sun be 42 degrees above the horizon: And yet I might affirm, that there is not a more infallible sign of approaching shower than the various coloured rainbow seen in the morning.
I might here likewise take notice of these light vapours that move so swiftly in the air in the night, which we commonly call streamers, which beyond all doubt, are produced by natural causes, such as the electrical matter in the air: And though we ascribe little more to them now, (though wars were once portended by them) than that they foreshow a change of the weather, yet permit me to say, that there were never so many streamers of a red bloody colour, especially in the western parts of the hemisphere, seen or observed, as have been, since the late wars began, I think, in the remembrance of no man alive.
And even suppose that these remarkable appearances which I formerly related, are in their matter or substance a large body of exhaled vaporous atoms, collected in the air; yet, as the forms exhibited by that electrical matter are somewhat preternatural or extraordinary, why may not their language unto us be extraordinary also? And though we should suppose a storm, or what we call a course of tempestuous rough weather should follow upon the back of these appearances; yet as their representation is mostly of men, their motion quick, and their posture warlike, they must certainly signify storms of a more tremendous nature. Nay, the one kind of storm is a very fit emblem to represent, or set forth the other. Nothing is more common in scripture language than to set forth God’s judgments by this metaphor: “The Lord hath a mighty and strong one; which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm—shall cast down to the earth with the hand.” And
Thirdly, Although the threatenings of God’s word against impenitent sinners, the repeated calls and warnings given therefrom by his servants, and the obstinate courses of a sinning land, church and people be of themselves sufficient to warn them of approaching judgments; yet can reason itself say why the Lord in his sovereign good
34
AN ALARM TO A
ness and superabundant mercy, since he hath no pleasure in the death of sinners, should not yet add a more awful messenger of this kind to announce the approach of some dreadful calamity? The Lord may do so not only to leave men altogether inexcusable, but even to represent and picture out that unto the bodily eye, which by the eye of faith they could not be brought to apprehend. And alas! how much reason have we, after all, to take up this mournful complaint of the Psalmist, in name of the church? We see not our signs, there is no more any prophet, neither is there any among us that knoweth how long, Psalms lxxiv. 9.
Fourthly, Is scripture so far wanting here as some men may imagine. Not to mention those wonders done by the hand of Moses in the land of Egypt which in scripture have the appellative terms of wonders, signs, and strange tokens; all which terminated in the destruction of that wicked and hardened people.
I shall only point out these two places following:
The first is that of Ezekiel’s vision, chap. i. Although it primarily sets forth the majesty of God who gave him his commission, with the sovereignty of his providential power in governing the world, and the qualifications of those ministering spirits who obey his commands; yet according to the judgment of several judicious commentators upon the place, there are several things in that vision that prefigure and point out the captivity of Judah, and the destruction of the city of Jerusalem.
The second is Joel ii. 30, 31. compared with Luke xxi. 25. I will shew (or as the Dutch divines translate it) I will give you wonderful signs in the heavens and in the earth, blood and fire, and smoky pillars.—There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars. Though these may primarily have a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem and the final conflagration of the world; yet it is the judgment of several sound divines that the whole distance of time betwixt these two must also here be comprehended. The learned Mr. Pool not only says, that it has respect unto “those alarming prodigies, which, in those days, God would shew, which should usher in the hard time, that
35
SECURE GENERATION.
should be chastisement to the best, and destruction to the worst,” but also mentions several of these strange appearances, and refers the reader unto what some historians and naturalists have reported of those times, wherein, he says, that he will see them fulfilled in the very letter of the text. I have given a specimen of such literal fulfilment in the foregoing pages, as they are recorded by creditable historians. And as these gained credit in former times, though fully as strange and extraordinary as those which have lately happened; what foundation in the world can there be for the wits of the age now to refuse or reject the certainty and reality of these remarkable appearances; unless they wittingly and willingly stop their own eyes and ears against all light and right reason? But if Democritus puts out his own eyes, must all the world become blind. Ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times, Mat. xvi. 3.
Now from the whole, let me draw a few conclusions by way of application unto our present circumstances. And
1st, I might observe that the foregoing instances seem, some way or other, to correspond with the very letter of the text. Only those last described seem more agreeable unto the pillars of smoke; not only from the smoky colour wherein they oftentimes appear, but also from the seeming pillars of smoke that sometimes rise from them. And though we should apply the whole of these remarkable appearances in the text unto the last and general judgment, since the destruction of Jerusalem is accomplished, (which certainly can never be the case.) Then if these appearances should serve for no other end or purpose unto us; every repeated instance of this kind we see or hear of, should prove a monitor unto us to put us in remembrance of that august and awful day of the end and dissolution of all sublunary things, for sure none of these awful warnings are sent for nothing unto us, upon whom the ends of the world is come. But
2dly, I observe that all the foregoing instances seem to have had some certain language to these places wherein they have been observed, as the event declared. And if
36
AN ALARM TO A
those late appearances be a just or proper representation of the different operations of war, as certainly they are, then they may have been foretokens of those wars which have already taken place, both on this, and the other side of the Atlantic, in all the different forms here represented.* And whether our southern neighbours, France,† threaten us with invasions daily, shall in providence be
_____
* But now the trumpet terrible from far,
In shriller clangors animates the war:
Confederate drums in fuller consort beat,
And echoing hills the loud alarm repeat.
ADDISON’S Campaign, &c.
† Surely we have more reason than ever to fear these southern neighbours of ours, whose power is still increasing, and whose victorious armies have made a great part of Europe, at one time or another to shake. And what hinders them from giving us a visit, as well as their other neighbouring nations? (and perhaps worse as we deserve it.) Nothing, but that they have not gotten a commission as yet from him who is the God of nature, and Commander of armies. For it can never be supposed that a few leagues of water, or a navy of ships, be they never so strong, and managed by never so brave men and wise commanders, would put a stop to such a visit for one moment of time, if the time were come, the cup full, and the commission given by him who holdeth the wind in his fists, and bindeth the waters as it were in a garment; and who can prepare instruments for the punishment of a guilty nation and people, without being accountable to any person or power whatever, for his strange acts; although mortal man, whose breath is in his nostrils, presumeth many times to quarrel with him who ruleth in the armies of heaven, governeth the inhabitants of the lower world as pleaseth him, because these instruments that he raiseth up for the carrying on of his work, do not suit with their selfish views, or because that work is not carried on by such instruments as they would have; and therefore they cannot be content to let him have all the glory, if they have not some profit or advantage by it, or at least the appearance of some. And as he raiseth up what instruments pleaseth him, so he can make these instruments prosper when and where he will; and he can make them strong in that which they were weak in before, when his own time comes, without working miracles; for it is as easy for him who is the God of nature to bring things about in a natural way, as in a supernatural way; and we need not build up ourselves in such vain refuges; for if we repent not of our evil ways, and turn from the violence of our hands, then surely they will be as refuge of lies unto us, when the Lord cometh out of his place and marcheth through the sea upon us. (*)
37
SECURE GENERATION.
permitted to make their inroads upon these nations, or even to penetrate unto the very places where these strange appearances have been observed, God alone knows who has the times and seasons in his own power. But we have the strongest ground from scripture, reason, and the general prevalence of wicked practices, to conclude that some terrible judgment or calamity does await us; which may come more fully, by and by, to be observed.
3dly, I would likewise have it observed, that although visionary revelations were one of the ways that the Lord made his mind known unto his church and people of old, yet we are not to expect any such revelations now, since the gift of miracles hath ceased, and the canon of scripture is completed: nor are we to dive too much into, or lay too much stress upon the most extraordinary appearance in nature or occurrence in providence we can be witness to. No, we have a more sure word of prophecy where unto ye do well to take heed: That is the revealed word of God, which is a sufficient rule both for faith and manners. Nay, I presume to say, that it is above the wisdom and policy of men, or the experience and subtility of devils, fully to know or make known the least design that lies hid in the womb of providence, unless it please the Lord to reveal it to them. And yet, at the same time, there is not a page in the volumes of creation and providence, that we can look upon, from the most glorious orb in the expanded heaven, to the most contemptible creature, vegetable, or insect, that floats upon the surface of the fluid element, or issues forth from the teeming earth, but what affords us matter of contemplation, admiration and praise. But then his works, his acts, his strange acts, call for our attention in a more eminent manner. It has been the practice of the Lord’s people in all ages of the church; and it ought to be ours also, to commemorate and keep in record the wondrous works of the Lord; I will remember the works of the Lord; Surely I will remember thy wonders of old, and talk of all thy doings, Psal. lxxvii. 11, 12. And
Lastly, Let it be further observed, that in all the instances of this kind, we have recorded in scripture and history, it was still a wicked, obstinate and impenitent
38
AN ALARM TO A
nation, church or people, that by their sins had incurred God’s wrath and displeasure, and so became the objects of these judgments, strokes, and calamities. For example, The world before the flood was drowned in all manner of wickedness. All flesh had corrupted their ways upon the earth. The inhabitants of Sodom, Gomorrah, &c. were burning in their lusts, and the most unnatural lusts too, before they were burnt with the fire of God’s wrath from heaven. The Egyptians were plagued with hardness of heart, drowned in oppression and injustice; before they were externally plagued of God, drowned in the Red-sea, and spoiled by his people. The cup of the Amorite and the Canaanite was full of all manner of wickedness, before they were exterminated from their own land, and destroyed. And not to mention the sins of the inhabitants of Gibeah, or of the commonwealth of Israel, during the time of the Judges, whose relapses into idolatry brought upon them as many repeated turns of slavery from the heathen amongst or around them: The nations of Israel and Judah in general were a people not only guilty of almost all manner of gross impiety and immoralities; but also had broken covenant with God, corrupted ordinances, being intensely set upon idolatry, and the vilest of idolatry, before they were carried captive out of their own land into the land of graven images. Again, after the captivity, they had not only foisted their own traditions into the true worship of God, and with wicked hands killed the Lord of glory with some of his apostles and followers, rejected their own mercy and salvation in the offers of the gospel; but were also fallen into the most cruel factions, rapines, bloodsheds, and oppressions; before they were in the righteous judgment of God, cruelly murdered and massacred, and utterly extirpated out of their own native country, under the most severe penalty never to return to it again.
In like manner, the Christian world not only became barren under the means of grace, and likewise guilty of the grossest immoralities; but even had corrupted the pure ordinances and institutions of Christ, until it was wholly over-run by Antichristian idolatry, before it was
39
SECURE GENERATION.
over-run by the Saracens, Turks, Tartars, Moors, Goths and Vandals, whereby so many millions of Christians were slain. And likewise the ancient Britons, as historians observe,* were not only guilty of the most abominable murders, adulteries, incests, &c. but even were arrived at such a height of wickedness as exercere odium in religionis professores tanquam in adversarios, To hate the professors of religion as their greatest adversaries, Before they were destroyed in a terrible manner by the Saxons. In the same manner, their successors the Saxons, as an English historian observes, were also guilty of the same vices, before the Norman Conquest. “The priests were idle, drowsy and unlearned. Discipline lay dead. The commonwealth lay sick of an infinite sort of vice: but above all, pride whose waiting maid is destruction, was come to a mighty head. Yea, they fell so fast to all lewdness, that to be ignorant of sinful crimes, was held a great crime.”† The same was the case of the Picts, Scots, and Danes before they were made a scourge successively unto one another.
And were not the reformed churches in Germany both become secure and dead in religion, and also divided amongst themselves, before they were attacked, for so many years by sword, famine and other tragical disasters and devastations of war. And passing by other instances, even in our own land, since our reformation from Popery, was there ever a company of more obdurate impious wretches in general, than that handful who went to the settlement at Darien in the year 1699? And was there ever a few people more visibly devoted to destruction of the Lord than they; while their sins were marked upon their judgments in every part of that enterprise‡. But what needs all this, when one sentence of divine inspiration may serve for all? Remember, I pray thee, whoever pe-
_____
* Vide Clark’s Examples, &c. (from Gildas and Bede) page (mihi) 527.
† Camden’s Britannia, page 143.
‡ For a more particular account of this, see the history of Darien lately republished.
40
AN ALARM TO A
rished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off, Job iv. 7.
But as neither scripture nor history, things moral nor divine, can be of any use or service unto us without application; let us, therefore bring matters a little nearer home, by applying unto our present circumstances. For, as a judicious divine has very justly observed, that “The general rule by which men may discern the indignation before it come, is this: when the same provocations and evils are found in one nation, which have brought down the wrath of God upon another nation, this is an evident sign of God’s judgment at the door. For God is unchangeably holy and just, and will not favour that in one people which he hath punished in another, nor bless that in one age which he hath cursed in another. And therefore, that which hath been a sign of judgment to one, must be so to all*.” And here, shew me one ingredient wanting at this day in the cup of Britain and Ireland’s sins, that was to be found in the cup of the sins of any of those nations above specified, when the Lord came out of his place to punish them for their iniquities. It perhaps may be enquired, where is Pagan idolatry? but pray, tell me, is Christian idolatry any thing better? For not to mention our national defection and apostasy from God in its degree, in its aggravating circumstances, and direful consequences, (a subject too prolix to be here insisted upon) how many other God dishonouring, soul ruining, and vengeance crying sins are to be found in our skirts, many of which are adopted even by professors? Atheism, and ignorance of the true God, and of the most interesting doctrines of Christianity prevail. Unfruitfulness under the means of grace, and contempt of both law and gospel are inexpressibly great. Lukewarmness in the concerns of God’s glory, and unthankfulness for the best of privileges continue. Vital religion decays, while carnality, worldly mindedness, and formality in every religious duty are apparent. The in-
_____
* Mr. Flavel’s Righteous Man’s Refuge, See his works, page (mihi) 402.
41
SECURE GENERATION.
crease of false religion is truly become mournful; for while the old condemned figments of Popery, Prelacy and Erastianism, with other Sectarian notions of a very dangerous tendency, find their admirers in not a few places of the nation, the Presbyterian system, though founded on a scriptural basis, seems in a tottering condition. These evils are not only resisted but faintly by those whom God in his providence, has given an opportunity to check them; but their rapid progress, from the support and countenance they receive from the supreme legislature, seems greatly to be facilitated. A lawless liberty is introduced with regard to the precepts of the almighty, under the beguiling pretexts of Christian forbearance and liberty of conscience. The most damnable doctrines, which deny the necessity of supernatural revelation, the righteousness of a Mediator, and the absolute need of the aids of the Spirit in performing moral duties acceptably before God, are openly avowed both from press and pulpit; while the most clear and confirming scripture truths are treated by many with indifferency.
Christ is dethroned in the land by impious men, who have shuffled their aspiring mortal heads under his glorious and immortal crown. Spiritual oppression still lords it far and wide, and the heritage of God is awfully depressed under the hands of men, and the vilest of men. Patronage rages with a high hand, and the flock of Christ is denied the right and freedom of choosing their own pastors; a privilege which he purchased for them with his own blood. The ministerial office is often filled up with unqualified persons,* whereby the places where our fathers worshipped in many parts of the land, are become the meeting places of buyers and sellers, or rather (in scripture language) dens of thieves and robbers. The cloud seems well nigh upon the threshold of the once fa-
_____
* Dr. South when complaining of some who enter into holy orders (as he calls it) though unqualified for the function, well observes, “That many a man runs his head against a pulpit, who might have done his country excellent service at a plough’s tail.”
42
AN ALARM TO A
famous established church of Scotland. And it were heartily to be wished, that this yet more mournful motto were not already inscribed upon her; Ichabod, the glory, is departed from Israel; because the ark of God is taken.
But let us turn aside to another chamber of imagery a little. And alas! what a scene of abominable immorality in almost all its species, presents itself unto view here? What irreverent use of God’s holy name in daily conversation? what taking of oaths in their very nature sinful besides, what idolatrous and superstitious forms of swearing*; while lawful vows and covenant obligations are either forgot, broke, or neglected? What gross and profane swearing, or rather blaspheming God’s name, titles and attributes? What swearing by God, by Christ, by his blood, wounds, &c. by their soul, by their body, and by the graces of the Spirit? what awful curses and imprecations are pronounced, men cursing and confounding themselves or others to hell; and sometimes, even for trifles, invocating the devil to take them, wishing God to damn them, to damn their souls, their bodies, their blood, their heart, their eyes, &c.? how shocking to hear the faultering lips of the rolling eyed drunkard, and the lisping tongued infant upon the streets, mincing and mumbling out the most horrid oaths? What trusting in frets, using of spells and charms for luck and medicine are practised, especially in the northern parts of this kingdom; besides tossing of cups to know futurities, with many other necromantical inchantments and diabolical divinations?
And how is the holy Sabbath, sacred unto the honour of a risen Redeemer, devoted to the vilest of abuse? How dreadfully is it profaned by idle talk, by superfluity of dress, by needless visits, by profuse feasting, by unnecessary traveling, by driving cattle and other carriages, by making up accounts, by running prohibited goods, by read-
_____
* That superstitious form of swearing in England and Ireland, is now sometimes used in Scotland, by laying the hand upon the Bible, kissing the Gospel, &c. And if a Bible is not at hand, (as they are sometimes not very rife in these Judicatories) then a stock of cards is made to serve the turn. Gross superstition and abominable idolatry.
43
SECURE GENERATION.
ing news papers and other improper publications, by advertising things that have no reference to religion, by viewing corn fields, inclosures and other worldly possessions, by posts riding and blowing their horns, by blowing French horns or trumpets before circuits, by calling military rolls, by beating on drums and using instruments of music, even sometimes unto the places of divine worship, and when guarding some of the patrons incumbents upon their first instalment to church, saluting them at their going in and coming out with stroke of drum and blast of fife, by the servile employments of some, and by the gaming, recreations and diversions of others!
What stational and relational sins prevail among us? How often do we hear of the husband or wife, either embruing their hands in one another’s blood, or else in the blood of their own children? Yea parricides are frequent.
How much is duelling grown fashionable amongst men of station, wherein death to the one party or both, sometimes ensues? What numbers are killed by unnecessary wars, while innocent blood remains unpurged? And how many are shot, stabbed or knocked down annually, either out of revenge, or for a little trifle of money? And how often do we hear of persons either poisoning, hanging, drowning, or cutting their own throats both in town and country?
Pride, luxury, and vanity of dress struts openly upon our streets: uncleanness of almost all kinds is become common, and the committers of it refuse to be ashamed. Our gallants are mostly abandoned to whoredom of one kind or other; and with many the marriage bed is lightly esteemed. Stage plays, masquerades*, balls, and dancing
_____
* Although these stage-plays, masquerades, and dancing assemblies, are not set up and frequented in every part of these nations; yet they are become rife in several places. And as if the different scenes of immorality that have taken place for sometime, were not sufficient to eradicate religion, and the broken remains of virtue amongst us, these criminal amusements from the English court must be introduced amongst us. And though they be countenanced and attended by men of high station and supreme authority in these nations; yet they can be accounted nothing else by all sober Christians, than the nurseries of vice
44
AN ALARM TO A
assemblies engross the attention of those in better station. Drunkenness, singing lascivious songs, jesting on the scriptures, drinking profane healths, quarrelling and fighting are become recreations much exercised, and much delighted in by many.
Thefts, driving or carrying off other men’s property, and notorious high-way robberies frequently take place. The adulterating of wares, and the engrossing of commodities are still carried on. Oppression by raising the rents of land under the specious pretence of good improvements is become epidemical. Honesty in trade and commerce gives place to the basest of frauds. Brother endeavours to defraud brother; and it is accounted a piece of good management for one to cozen or supplant his neighbour.
_____
*[continued from page 43] and impiety, calculated to corrupt the morals and to waste the substance of the people, and to introduce wantonness, which often terminates in riot and open debauchery. The heathens had their groves of this kind of immorality. The Greeks kept their saturnalia, and their festivals with masques, and with dances wherein the utmost indulgences were given to lewdness and criminal passions. This entertainment has become the favourite diversion of the times; which, if persisted in, will doubtless sink these lands unto a Sodom of lewdness. As this luscious entertainment descends to the very dregs of baseness, the honour of human nature is brought to the lowest ebb of infamy thereby.
For by this promiscuous congress of different and unknown dresses, loose reins are given to the most unlimited freedom in words, gestures and actions; and sometimes in dark scenes, unto the most vile and unnatural assignations. Let this one instance suffice at present: (says a modern author) “Not long ago a certain gentleman who frequented these plays, debauched his own daughter; but when the mask was thrown off, and she appeared to be his child, what rage, vexation and anguish oppressed the miserable father! who lived under horrible convulsions in his mind, and at last died with horror.”
It is not only a pastime unlawful to the last degree; but it is of bad consequence to our worldly interests. Witness the immense sums bestowed upon these seminaries of debauchery. Much precious time is spent therein. Not to mention the incapacity it puts the perpetrators into for the performance of any commanded duty, whether civil or religious. Upon the whole, these are only some of the sad effects of these amorous intrigues, and lascivious indecencies, (heightened by the enchantment of music.) And as they stand condemned by the sacred oracles, the canons of the church, and several laws of the land, both before and since the Reformation, they ought to be abhorred and detested by all sober Christians.
45
SECURE GENERATION.
Unlawful callings are followed. Unlawful gain by the state and by game lotteries, by piracy, by quackery in medicine, by exhibiting puppet shows is greedily sought. Horse races become fashionable; men using or rather abusing these creatures for diversion, for pride, or for a trifle of paltry gain; ends for which they certainly never were made or ordained. One wheedles himself, perhaps, into a hundred pounds or two of credit, and then runs out of the country for or with it. Another will perhaps borrow immense sums of money apparently with little or no design of paying it again: in a little he stops payment, swears himself insolvent or turns bankrupt; and yet perhaps will set up next day, and carry on business as brisk as ever*.
And how often is just judgment perverted in the place of judgment? when murderers, especially child murderers, are assoyled, and that upon very small pretences; while those guilty of lesser crimes, if they affect men’s property, must without all remedy go to the gibbet. One socius criminis or accomplice is often admitted to swear away the life of another, and sometimes very unjustly, to save himself from the halter. A friend at court, or a large sum of money, will sometimes procure a pardon, or reprieve for the most notorious malefactor. And this dispensation, or breach of the divine law frequently goes under the denomination of clemency. Forging of writs, and counterfeiting of money seem indeed to meet with the rigour of law; while the procuring of places of power or public trust by bribery, perjury in matters of
_____
* The above clause cannot be applied to any person who really designs honestly; but is borne down with cross providences, that after all diligence and industry to his worldly affairs, he is reduced to indigent want and extreme poverty: while others with less pains and anxiety, may have a full gale of prosperity as the Poet expresses it:
Thou’rt vext with cross events and griev’d;
With fruitless labours, and with hopes deceiv’d;
The stubborn course of things gainsay thy will;
Thy fate is to be contradicted still;
Whilst others who find providence more kind,
Live always gay, and sail before the wind.
CONTENTMENT.
46
AN ALARM TO A
trust, and lying for advantage, division, malice, these are now a-days hardly reckoned worth notice.
A covetous disposition is still rampant, and a spirit of discontentment prevails among all ranks and denominations of men. And what aggravates the whole is, the confident assurance with which these crimes are perpetrated; a circumstance which argues a stock of sin, and a progression in wickedness, while the sinner either justifies himself, or receives his reproof without a fallen countenance*. And shall I not visit for these things, saith the Lord; and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
Another awful indication of approaching ruin is the obstinate insensibility that prevails among the greater part of the generation, under the present alarming dispensations of divine providence to these nations and their colonies in an expensive and lengthened out war, in which several of the neighbouring nations have now taken part. And notwithstanding our fancied dreams of success, almost every thing hitherto seems to make against us†. It is true, many men are, by this time, sensible of the stagnation of trade and the decay of commerce. But how few are sensible that it is our iniquities that have procured all these things? The nations, who cut the calf in twain, have
_____
* N B. Some may perhaps think, that because every article of the above black catalogue is not within their certain knowledge or observation, that therefore they are unjust. But upon an impartial enquiry, all these sins, and many more will be found within the three kingdoms; nay, I may say within the boundaries of Scotland itself; which doubtless should not only touch the tenderest feelings of the heart; but also make every true son of Zion, with the bewailing Prophet, cry out, “For these things I weep, and mine eyes run down with water.”
† Some may be ready here to tell me, are there not a number of circumstances of late that promise success to Britain and Ireland? But I might ask, what is one repulse at the city of Savannah, or the taking of one fort in the Bay of Honduras, to the mortification of the house of Bourbon, or a conquest of the vast tracts of America? and what matter of joy for Government to grant that to Ireland which for the present they dare not well refuse? But it often falls out that sudden extasies of joy, if ill founded, are many times but a short lived, which made one who no doubt, had beheld the different turns of prosperity and adversity, say, “The triumphing of the wicked is but short, and the joy of the hypocrite for a moment.”
47
SECURE GENERATION.
both failed, and refused to pay their vows to the most high: and therefore the Lord in his anger, hath divided us both in church and in state, and has mingled a perverse spirit in the midst of us. I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. A confederacy is struck with Papists, the worst of malignants*: Men and money is got from them to push on a war with our protestant brethren in America. And shall such an enterprise prosper? Why transgress ye the commandment of the Lord, that ye cannot prosper: ye have forsaken the Lord, and he hath also forsaken you.
But what is worse, if worse may be, is, that there are few of the great or leading men that seems to acknowledge a divine hand of providence in it: for if any little success is gained over the enemy, then we are overwhelmed with feux de joie, with illuminations, and the popular boasts of well equipt navies, fine disciplined armies, wise, brave, and courageous commanders. But if providence turns the scale for a little upon the other side, then almost every thing is ascribed to the disadvantageous ground, the inadvertency of the commander in chief, or some piece of bad conduct in the inferior officers. But is there any man searching out the Ahan in the British camp, or saying, what iniquity have we, or our fathers done, that has brought all this upon us? Nay, instead of imploring the Lord by prayer in a regular way for success, or that impending judgment may be averted, any exercises of this kind that you will hear from these men are some profuse wishes and wagers of success in their drunken Bacchanals or revels of Bacchus over a glass of brandy, or a cup of wine.
And is it not more strange and surprising, that even some of the more thinking sort of people are ready to ascribe almost every thing to capacity or incapacity of
_____
* Any person who would see the sin, and bad consequences of joining in affinity with Papists and malignants, may consult Binning’s association with malignants, an Antidote against Popery, Welch’s Dispute, Testimony and Warning, an Address to the Protestant Interest, the Oracles of Christ and abominations of Antichrist compared, an Appeal to the People of Great Britain recommended by L. G——e G——n, and several others.
48
AN ALARM TO A
men, without scarcely ever mentioning a divine agency. No doubt men are the instruments: but God has a holy and wise hand in all public matters. And however unlawful in their first rise as to men; yet sure they are a scourge and punishment to a wicked obstinate people. Says the prophet, Shall there be evil in a city, (that is, the evil of punishment) and the Lord hath not done it? Indeed, we cannot, nay we must not limit divine sovereignty; but it must be an awful evidence and demonstration of his displeasure against men, when he infatuates their counsels, by suffering them to take wrong methods and measures. Quos Deus vult perdere dementet prius, i.e. God usually infatuates a people, when he means to destroy them; when he leaves them to their own carnal policy, and to trust in an arm of flesh instead of depending on the Lord of hosts who is strong in battle. And yet after all, if there were amongst all the schemes planned out by the present ministry for the extricating of these nations out of their present difficulties, but one proposal for bringing about a reformation in principle and practice, it would yet presage some hopeful issue*. But so blinded is the nations body, that
_____
* Here some may say, are not these national fasts, now annually kept, a hopeful token of reformation and bettering our condition? It is true, church judicatories may and ought to appoint diets of fasting, to which they may crave a civil sanction to enforce their punctual observation. But I could produce many arguments, both from scripture, and the practice of our reforming ancestors, shewing that neither king nor council can, without a manifest encroachment upon the crown right and royal prerogative of Jesus Christ, appoint or ordain diets of fasting to the church of Christ, &c. under civil pains or penalties, would time and place here permit. But I shall only observe a few things of the causes of the present fasts. And
1st, I observe, that in all these causes, there is little variation. There is no particular sin, national, congregational, social, or personal specified therein; all is summed up in the general, our sins. It is true, we cannot enumerate all our sins, which in scripture are said to be more in number than the hairs upon our heads. But if this be the right way of confessing, mourning over, and turning from sin, to have no certain sin acknowledged, the wound never examined, nor the sore ever touched, is contrary to the practice of the church and people of God in past ages. Nor
49
SECURE GENERATION.
they cannot see through the prospect of that wicked and impatient king, who said This evil is of the Lord, why should I wait any longer?
Now from what has shortly been noticed, and more that I cannot stay here to observe, the more intelligent and discerning reader may form a just idea in his own mind, whether we in these lands seem to be upon the eve of some destruction or calamity, or not; although from the protraction of time there seems to be few that either fear or believe it. It is true, the Lord in sovereign mercy and goodness, may bear with a sinning people long. But will he bear always? Surely no. My Spirit shall not always strive with man. He waited upon the world 120 years before the flood. He bore with the children of Israel from the time of their revolt from him in the days of Solomon before their captivity, 250 years; and with the children of Judah 390 years; and after their captivity from the date of Christ’s crucifixion, 40 years. He has now borne with the Antichristian world until the word of God shall be fulfilled, 1170 years. And he has now waited upon us in these lands from the æra of our apos-
_____
*[continued from page 48] 2dly, Is the way pointed out in these causes, whereby the penitent is to expect or obtain pardon of sin. No word of a Saviour here; an absolute God must be approached, or to use the words of the acts, it is ordained, that “we and our people humble ourselves before Almighty God in order to obtain the pardon of our sins.” Whether this proceeds from Arminian, Socinian, or Deistical principles, themselves best know. I shall not determine. But sure I am, if ever any sinner receive pardon of sin and find acceptance with God upon another footing than through the name, merit, and mediation of Christ, it is by some way unknown in scripture. “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name,” &c. Acts iv. 12.
3dly, The principle end specified in these causes seems to be, the imploring the Lord for success to their arms used against their American Brethren, (as there were none of these fasts for sometime, till the late war began.) But shew me either a precept or precedent in scripture, as a warrant to pray for success to an unlawful enterprise; or yet a promise to be heard therein in an approbative way; otherwise it were contrary to the other ordinary means of God’s appointment.
50
AN ALARM TO A
tasy 130 years*, although his long suffering patience with us seems to have little more effect in general, than to ver-
_____
* Hath not the Lord waited 29 years longer upon us, since the above alarm was first published; which will now make 159 years since our apostasy: and yet our security is still increasing. Although the sins held forth in the above Alarm, are not only continuing among us, but they are still increasing; every year brings some new species of sin upon the stage, although the former be not forsaken or repented of; for it is a sign that they are not repented of, when they are not forsaken; for it is not only the repenting, but the forsaking of sin, that hath the promise of forgiveness: and yet for all this, our security is still increasing as well as our sins; for we are minding nothing but the world and the things thereof; pursuing our own profits and pleasures, hunting after the world and the enjoyments thereof with all our might; never counting the cost, nor what will be the end of them, if we can but come by them. So that it may be said of us, as it was said by our Lord of those before the flood, They were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came and took them all away, &c. Matt. xxiv. 38, 39.
And, in the 1st place, this may be given as one reason of our security, that we think all is well with us in particular; for every one esteemeth himself better than another, and that no evil can befal the nation on his account.
And, a 2d reason may be given of our security; that is, we believe our strength is great as a nation, and that both by land and sea; and that we have wealth, wisdom, and conduct to manage such to the highest advantage; and it is a common thing among us, to be still boasting of, and putting our security in, the strength of our navies, and in the bravery of their men, and wisdom of their commanders; and we not only place a part of our security in such commanders while alive, but we even seem to place a kind of security in them after their decease, when we erect monuments unto them, and give them a kind of worship, as if they were a kind of demi-deities that could still protect us.
A 3d reason of our security may be said to be, our believing that we are the peculiar people of God, and that we are better than all the nations around us, and that we have his word amongst us, and that we have the gospel in the greatest plenty and purity (as we think,) that ever it was enjoyed in this land; and that we are like to have it in a greater plenty yet, because learning and learned men are still increasing among us.
A 4th reason of our security may be given, because we have been so long spared, while the nations around us have been visited with wars and all the calamities and judgments following it; and likewise because those judgments and calamities, which this nation, and the inhabitants thereof, have been so long and so often threatened with, by Christ’s faithful witnesses, have never as yet had their full accomplishment
51
SECURE GENERATION.
rify these words of divine inspiration: Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the hearts of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil, Eccl. viii. 11.
_____
[continued from page 50] and therefore we are apt to believe that they never will; and are ready to conclude that they never uttered such things; or if they did, that it was out of a spirit of revenge, or with a design to delude or bewilder people; and therefore we account them as those that have seen lying visions, and things of no profit; and as such, we have nothing to fear from such a quarter, and therefore we may go on in our own ways; for every thing is so strong and fixed, that we shall not be moved, at least in our day. And, how ready are we to say with those in Isaiah’s time, Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink, and to-morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant, Isaiah lvi. 12.
But we might run out to a great length in numbering all the marks of our security, which cannot be done in such a small piece as this note. Therefore, it may be remarked in general, that as long as we continue in such a state of security, no alarms will have any effect upon us, be they sounded in never so loud and striking a manner.
And, in the 1st place, in particular, it may be remarked, That every individual person hath a hand in the provocation; for as it is sin that is the procuring cause of all the judgments that may befal us, so none can free themselves from it.
In the 2d place, it may be remarked, That we may be no further from judgments, although we place our security in our situation, as laying in the midst of the sea: was not Tyrus situate in the entry of the sea, and had the riches of all nations flowing in upon them by reason of their merchandise; and they thought their strength great by reason of the skilfulness of mariners, and wisdom of their pilots; and their strength in the sea was such, that they were a terror to all that haunted it; and notwithstanding all their wealth, strength, and security in them, the time was at hand, when she (the city Tyrus,) was to be destroyed, and made like the top of a rock, and a place for spreading of nets upon, and it was never to be built again because the Lord had spoken it, Ezek. xxvi. 14.
And, in the 3d place, it may be remarked, That though we flatter ourselves with such a conceit that we are the peculiar people of God, and that we have his word and ordinances among us in great plenty and purity, and thereby place our security in them; yet we may be no further from trouble upon account of all this. Did not the Jews in their time, notwithstanding of all their apostasy and sins which they were chargeable with, place their security in this, that they had the Lord’s temple, priests, sacrifices, and worship among them, and therefore there was no fear of them: which made the prophet admonish them, not to
52
AN ALARM TO A
But in fine, for a final conclusion to the whole may the Lord who rules in Jacob to the ends of the earth, rule and
_____
[continued from page 51] trust in such lying words, by saying, The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are these, Jer. vii. 4. But were they any further from destruction upon account of all this boasting? No; for the prophet informs them of the contrary, when he tells them, Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched, Jer. vii. 20.
In the 4th place, it may be remarked, That although those judgments and calamities which the nations around us have felt, have never as yet been inflicted upon us; and those judgments with which we in this land have been threatened by Christ’s faithful servants and witnesses, have never as yet had their final accomplishment; yet this will not say that they never will: for until the cause be removed, the effect can never cease. But we have reason to fear that none of the causes are yet removed or taken away; for, besides all the other causes, which are almost numberless, we have these most weighty causes lying upon us, viz. the burning of our solemn covenants, (and that more than once,) with all the other sacred engagements which this nation came under to their God; with the innocent blood of some thousands of Christ’s faithful witnesses, who were slain in the last persecution, (for no other cause but their faithfulness to him and his cause,) remaineth yet untaken away: and therefore they have reason to join with their fellow martyrs, (who were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held,) whose souls are said to be crying under the altar, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth, Rev. vi. 9, 10. But we may say, that these things cannot be charged upon us, because we did not commit them: but it may be only answered in the words of our Lord, Because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers, Matt. xxiii. 29—32.
It shall only be remarked in the last place, that we have every evidence of being a secure generation; and that all ranks are sleeping in the utmost security; although perhaps in as much danger as him that sleepeth upon the top of a mast or rock. It is said of Hieram, that whatever he did, he still thought that a voice was in his ears, Arise, you dead, and come to judgment. O that we might have such a voice sounding in our ears, Arise, you secure generation, and prepare to meet with your God in the day of his judgment, when he cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; then the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain, Isa. xxvi. 21. (*)
53
SECURE GENERATION.
over-rule all those convulsive commotions for his own glory, the good of his church, and the destruction and downfal of his and her implacable and irreconcileable enemies. May the threatenings of his word, the calls of his gospel, and the warnings of his providence, whether of a more ordinary or extraordinary nature, prove effectual in his own hand, to awaken and rouse a secure, dead and sleepy generation; when his judgments are abroad in the earth, may the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness: So that his own professing people in obedience to the divine call, may be prepared to meet him, whether in a way of mercy or judgment. Because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God O Israel. And we are assured from his word, that when the Lord’s voice crieth unto the city, the man of wisdom shall see thy name. And that whoso is wise, and will observe these things, he shall know the loving kindness of the Lord.
Now, Sir, hoping this short missive (however incorrect or imperfect) will in some measure answer the end, and satisfy your desire and the desire of your reverend acquaintances. I rest and remain your affectionate friend and ever well-wisher,
JOHN HOWIE.
LOCHGOIN,
Feb. 22d, 1780.
N. B. The Reader may be informed that though there are only two names subscribed after their relations, yet the rest have the same authenticity which they have, only that I had letters from these two, viz. JAMES HOWIE and JOHN YOUNG; the other relations from the mouth of one or more of the persons who beheld these appearances.—If any think there is no relation mentioned in KILMARNOCK, as notified in the title page, it may be remarked that those seen in that Parish have not been so obvious as to give a particular account of them, or the persons who beheld them, yet we judge them worthy of notice.
POSTSCRIPT.
I doubt not but that several of the preceding pages will prove matter of mere speculation to many. Some perhaps expected to have found greater stories, (for so they will call them) from the noise lately raised, or at least more particular views, than what they have here met with. It is true, every one of these appearances have not been alike perfect. But I could have instanced persons both dead and alive, and even such as bear office in the church, who declare, or have declared, that they perceived the horses’ bridles, the mens’ cross belts, and the buckles in their shoes, if their relations could now have been properly vouched.
But shall I think, that after what caution has been taken, and all that has been here said, some will yet altogether refuse the truth of the appearing of these harmless visitants, (who of themselves are neither the causes nor executors of desolating plagues) upon the credit of the relators. If there are any such? Let me just ask them this one simple question: As these persons words are, and can be taken or sustained in any other matter, whether of a civil or religious nature, what reason have they in the world to report a falsehood here; nay, to belie divine providence without any occasion or the least provocation; and especially, when for the most part, there were present as many of their fellow-creatures as could witness the contrary of their declarations, if false or groundless.
55
POSTSCRIPT.
And what better are the arguments of those who argue against every appearance of this nature from Christ’s saying, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas, Seeing the very text and context, and the comment of every sound divine upon it, plainly imports, that this sign wholly referred unto his own death, burial, and resurrection, Jonas being in the whale’s belly was an eminent type of this. Besides, it was this generation, that is, the generation wherein it was spoken. But Christ has elsewhere plainly foretold, that there should be signs in the sun, moon, &c. until the end, at least before the end of the world, which has been formerly hinted, and upon which a modern divine who was no advocate for such remarkable appearances, comments, “We may therefore, keeping as near to the letter as we can, thus interpret them: There shall be great signs in heaven, dismal eclipses and obscurations of the sun and moon, new stars and comets shall appear, and others disappear, and many fiery meteors be suspended in the air*.” Indeed, I am afraid, that nothing but divine Omnipotency will do with us in this generation, and I wish it may not be to our cost. Only to such as wish to give any credit to the Lord’s voice in his word, and yet perhaps pay little regard to the voice of his providence, or the operations of his hand, I shall recite the two following texts of divine inspiration, (which doubtless comprehends these amongst his other providential works) and so leave them. The harp, and the viol, the tabret, pipe, and wine are in their feasts; but they regard not the works of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hand. And because they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operations of his hands, he shall destroy them and not build them up, &c.
_____
* Vide Innes’ Meditations, foot note, p. 135, 136.
56
[The following short accounts of these visionary appearances are not in the first edition, as the date may shew; but as they were wrote by the author with a design (as may be supposed,) of putting them in another edition; and, being found among his papers after his decease, it is thought proper to give them a place in this edition.]
My son James, being out burning heath, March 13th, 1785, just at sun-setting, to his surprise, he espied at some considerable distance east from him, on a rising ground, the appearance of a great body of men, mostly of a pale colour, standing on a straight line, straight opposite to the setting sun, the end of the line to the sun; the east-most end seemed tallest, and to be the front; they made a very great motion, sometimes he thought that those on the out corners waved of a reddish colour, and he plainly perceived upon the line, at some distance, as it had been white sheets flying above their heads; whether they represented flying colours, he could not say, as he was not much acquainted with such: the further end, or front, fell still off and evanished, till they came near the east end of the line, which was near a hollow called the Lochburn, which he could not see. He went forward to a height, but could see nothing; he turned north and came homeward, but afterwards looking back, he espied a body of them in the same form, but not so large, arranged, and standing upon a rising ground behind him, on the west hand, near where he was when he first saw them, on a place called the high ground of Powhire; but it turning dark, he came home, and knew no more about them at that time.
Upon April 6th, the same year the aforesaid James, his brother Robert, a little boy, and sister Mary, a young girl, being on the field in search of some ewes and lambs, west from the house, upon the foot of the hill, just at the same time of sun-setting, they espied the said appearances, just north from them (a very little space of ground being between them) standing on a straight line, with the one end
57
near the hill, the other a good way down, towards the setting sun; their colours were various, as gray, pale, and blue; their motion quick, and stature highest upon the sun, which seemed the front: they all plainly saw them a considerable time, and they perceived some large ones standing in twos together; and at the downmost end, or front, they perceived one far larger than the rest, of a brisk white colour, which they thought sometimes moved along the body; the highest end were mostly blue, and a blue one and a pale one stood at some places of them repeatedly together; they fell still down or off at front-end, and evanished, till they came to a few near the hill, which fell still back till they came to the centre of the very hill they were occasioned, on account of their business, to go close to them, till they were not many falls from them: but going to a little rivulate, or burn, they still grew lower in stature; and when they got up out of the burn, they saw nothing: but ascending up the hill and looking northward, they perceived them again on a place called the Ridge, at a considerable distance, in the same form; but turning dark, they could not see them, and so came home.
A. D. 1644, A year before the battle of Kilsyth, armies were seen fighting in battle array, near the same place.
A. D. 1688, Bonnets and arms were seen.—See Mr. Shields’ Journal.
The first of these light vapours, called streamers, according to Mr. Alexander Shields, were seen in the sky upon the night of the 30th of October 1688, when thousands sat up all night gazing thereon.—vid. Shields’ Journal.
A. D. 1744, About a year before the battle of Preston Pans, the day being perfectly clear, as two men were returning home from C——y communion, (in Bathgate) they saw a large sword, clear as glass or polished metal, hanging above the same place, about six miles from them. This I had from one of them.
58
[The following appearances were seen by the undermentioned, who are now alive to vouch their authenticity.]
James Howie, in Lochgoin, parish of Fenwick, affirms that going from home to hear sermon, upon a Sabbath morning in the month of January 1796, he espied, just at sun-rising, at a little distance from him, (upon a rising ground west from him upon the moor betwixt Cregendunton and Drumtee) the appearance of a large body of men, of a blue colour, standing south-east and north-west, when, upon a sudden, they divided in the middle, and became two distinct bodies or armies: the front of the one being to the sun, and the rear of the other. When there was a sharp action took place between them, wherein whole ranks fell to the ground in an instant, and were as quickly filled up again by others that stepped forward in there place, but none of the sides seemed to give ground, but continued hotly engaged until the sun rose to some considerable height, when they all disappeared from his view.
Robert Howie, in Clansfin, parish of Fenwick, says, that as he was going from Lochgoin home, in the month of November 1801, being a clear morning, just before sun-rising, he espied the appearance of a body of men betwixt him and the rising sun, of a light blue or sky colour, standing north-east and south-west; and as he viewed them, they still multiplied and drew out from the front, (which was south-west,) and marched from off the height into a hollow ground, and from thence they ascended a height on the other side, and so the front marched on still, until there was almost half a mile betwixt the front and rear; and he could plainly perceive the glancing of their arms, which they used in a most quick manner: but after viewing them some time, he turned about and looked north-west from him, when he espied a large black appearance, in a low ground or marsh, like a high ditch or wall; and upon viewing it more attentively, he thought he saw men working about it; when, upon a sudden
59
there issued the appearance of men out of both ends of it, of a white colour, and marched different ways, and both companies ascended a rising ground, and so stood for some time, and so both the south body and the north disappeared about the same time.
Extract of a Letter, dated at Edinburgh, 1st August, 1803.
The inhabitants of Edinburgh were much alarmed last night with a striking Phenomena of fire in the sky, east from Edinburgh; the elements seemed to be all on fire, it continued always in one place, sometimes it appeared like great sheets of fire, sometimes like the sun rising in the morning, a flaming light all around; at other times it appeared in the form of a serpent of fire, at other times it omitted fire like the report of a cannon; it impressed every mind with a serious idea, it put me in mind of our Redeemer’s coming in the clouds to judge the world, I stood with hundreds upon the Calton Hill, until near 11 o’clock at night, and it continued until one or two this morning. This is just the talk in Edinburgh this day: the Lord only knows what it meant or what it presages.
Upon Tuesday, the 11th of July, 1809, betwixt the hours of four and five o’clock afternoon, the day being fair and pleasant, there was not the smallest appearance of any shower, or drops of rain, falling in any place: yet, a noise, resembling that of thunder, was heard at the same instant, in the southern and western parts of Scotland. By some it was compared to the firing of two or three pieces of cannon in rapid succession, and they even thought that they heard the whizzing of the bullets; to others it seemed as the rattling of many chariots, insomuch that the labourers for a moment suspended their toil, and looked toward the next edifice to see whether it was still standing, or hastening to an eminence, to behold
60
the expected overturning of carriages; but no object met their view, either to realise their fears, or gratify their curiosity. To some others it appeared like the sounding or beating of bass-drums, the brutal creation even seemed to be afraid or astonished at it; for horses and cows at feed were seized with a sudden startling not to be accounted for from the annoyance of any insect or any similar cause, and they ran with the marks of the greatest consternation from one end of the field to another, and even gathered together in bodies.
It would be but superfluous to give an account of all the reports of this wonderful phenomenon, and therefore it may only be observed that as there is nothing falleth out in the sovereign providence of God, but what hath a striking language to us whether we understand it or not; and therefore it is our duty to search and see whether our sins be not the procuring cause of all such prodigies; and if we do not, we have reason to fear that a worse fear and dread may yet overtake us, than that which seized us when that phenomenon took place, when the Lord doth visit us with his judgments.
☞ The notes marked () at the end, are not in the former edition.*
FINIS.