ANWOTH, _Sept. 14, 1629_.
[Illustration: KIRKCUDBRIGHT.]
VI.--_For_ MARION M'NAUGHT, _on occasion of the illness of his wife_.
[MARION M'NAUGHT was daughter to the Laird of Kilquhanatie, in
Kirkpatrick Durham (see Letter XXV.), the representative of an ancient
family, now extinct, and connected also with the house of Kenmure,
through her mother, Margaret Gordon, sister to Lord Kenmure. She
became the wife of William Fullerton, Provost of Kirkcudbright, and
was a woman extensively known and held in honour by the most eminent
Christians and ministers of her day, on account of her rare godliness
and public spirit. We find in "The Last and Heavenly Speeches of
Viscount Kenmure," that by the special desire of that nobleman (who
was her relative), she was in continual attendance on him as he lay on
his deathbed. Her name is sometimes spelt "M'Knaight," or
"M'Knaichte," the modern "Macknight." She had three children--one
daughter, Grizzel, and two sons, Samuel and William,--who are often
affectionately remembered in Rutherford's letters to her. The
following epitaph was inscribed on her tomb, in the churchyard of
Kirkcudbright:--
"Marion M'Naught, sister to John M'Naught of Kilquhanatie, an
ancient and honourable baron, and spouse to William Fullerton,
Provost of Kirkcudbright, died April 1643, age 58.
_Sexum animis, pietate genus, genorosa, locumque
Virtute exsuperans, conditur hoc tumulo._"
The tombstone was lost sight of, but in 1863 was discovered again
in removing the earth for a grave close by. It was only in 1860
that her house (in which the meeting between Blair and Rutherford
took place) was pulled down. It stood at the foot of the High
Street, which was then the principal street of the town.
A relative of this lady's husband, Fullerton of Carlton (see
Letter CLVII.), wrote on her the following acrostic:--
M More happy than imaginèd can be,
A And blessed, are such as with heart sincere
R Resolve to cleave to Christ, to live and die
I In Him, with Him, and for Him to appear.
O O what transcendent glory grows from grace!
N None but--no, not--the soul refinèd shall
M' Make to appear; that life, that light, that peace,
K Known only to the pure possessors all.
N Now, _THOU_, by grace, art into glory gone,
A And gained the garland of eternal bliss,
I In seeing Him who, on that glorious throne,
C Created, uncreated, glory is.
H Heaven's quire did sing at thy conversion sweet,
T Time posts thy final comforts to complete.
(_Append. to "Minute-Book of Committee of Covenanters."_)]
(_INWARD CONFLICT ARISING FROM OUTWARD TRIAL._)
LOVING AND DEAR SISTER,--If ever you would pleasure me, entreat the
Lord for me, now when I am so comfortless, and so full of heaviness,
that I am not able to stand under the burthen any longer. The Almighty
hath doubled His stripes upon me, for my wife is so sore tormented
night and day, that I have wondered why the Lord tarrieth so long. My
life is bitter unto me, and I fear the Lord be my contrair party. It
is (as I now know by experience) hard to keep sight of God in a storm,
especially when He hides Himself, for the trial of His children. If He
would be pleased to remove His hand, I have a purpose to seek Him more
than I have done. Happy are they that can win away with their soul. I
am afraid of His judgments. I bless my God that there is a death, and
a heaven. I would weary to begin again to be a Christian, so bitter is
it to drink of the cup that Christ drank of, if I knew not that there
is no poison in it. God give us not of it till we vomit again, for we
have sick souls when God's physic works not. Pray that God would not
lead my wife into temptation. Woe is my heart, that I have done so
little against the kingdom of Satan in my calling; for he would fain
attempt to make me blaspheme God in His face. I believe, I believe, in
the strength of Him who hath put me in His work, he shall fail in that
which he seeks. I have comfort in this, that my Captain, Christ, hath
said, I must fight and overcome the world, and with a weak, spoiled,
weaponless devil, "the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing
in me" (John xvi. 33, and xiv. 30). Desire Mr. Robert[91] to remember
me, if he love me. Grace, grace be with you, and all yours.
[91] Mr. Robert Glendinning, then minister of Kirkcudbright. His grave
may be seen there.
Remember Zion. There is a letter procured from the King by Mr. John
Maxwell to urge conformity, to give the communion at Christmas in
Edinburgh.[92] Hold fast that which you have, that no man take the
crown from you. The Lord Jesus be with your spirit.
Yours in the Lord,