[ALEXANDER GORDON was proprietor of Garloch, an estate lying in
Kells, about five miles N. W. of New Galloway. It is often
corrupted into "Garroch." He was brother to Robert Gordon of
Knockbrex, formerly noticed. He was a warm promoter of the
Presbyterian cause in his day. Livingstone describes him as a
"very gracious person;" and mentions him as present at a private
meeting for prayer and Christian conference, with a number of
"eminent Christians." John Gordon of Knockbrex, and his brother
Robert, who were publicly executed in 1666, for being concerned
in the insurrection at Pentland Hills, were the grandchildren of
the subject of this notice. See Letter LXV. They were tried for
high treason and rebellion, and sentenced to be hanged at the
Cross of Edinburgh upon the 7th of December that year, their
goods confiscated, their bodies thereafter dismembered, and their
heads fixed on the gate of Kirkcudbright. Other eight were at the
same time condemned; and the arms of all the ten (because they
had with uplifted hands renewed the Covenant at Lanark, previous
to the engagement) were to be cut off and sent to that town, to
be fixed on the top of the prison. This sentence was executed in
all its parts. The case of all the sufferers, but particularly
that of the Gordons, who, as Wodrow informs us, "were youths of
shining piety, and good learning and parts," excited much
sympathy. When turned off the ladder, the two brothers clasped
each other in their arms, and in this affectionate embrace
endured the pangs of death. "They were lovely and pleasant in
their lives, and in their death they were not divided."
Livingstone, in the beginning of his "Historical Relation of his
Life," mentions meetings which he used to hold at Airds (where
Gordon of Earlston at one time resided), and at _Garloch_, or, as
it is printed in different editions, Gairleuch or Garleuch.
Gordon of Garloch was a warm friend to the truth. Gordon, the
"translator of Tacitus," was a descendant of this family.]
(_FREE GRACE FINDING ITS MATERIALS IN US._)
DEAR BROTHER,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--If Christ were as I
am, that time could work upon Him to alter Him, or that the morrow
could bring a new day to Him, or bring a new mind to Him, as it is to
me a new day, I could not keep a house or a covenant with Him. But I
find Christ to be Christ, and that He is far, far, even infinite
heavens' height above men; and that is all our happiness. Sinners can
do nothing but make wounds, that Christ may heal them; and make debts,
that He may pay them; and make falls, that He may raise them; and make
deaths, that He may quicken them; and spin out and dig hells for
themselves, that He may ransom them. Now, I will bless the Lord that
ever there was such a thing as the free grace of God, and a free
ransom given for sold souls: only, alas! guiltiness maketh me ashamed
to apply to Christ, and to think it pride in me to put out my unclean
and withered hand to such a Saviour. But it is neither shame nor pride
for a drowning man to swim to a rock, nor for a shipbroken soul to run
himself ashore upon Christ. Suppose once I be guilty,[332] needforce I
dow not, I cannot, go by Christ. We take in good part that pride, viz.
that beggars beg from the richer; and who so poor as we? and who so
rich as He who selleth fine gold (Rev. iii. 18). I see, then, it is
our best (let guiltiness plead what it listeth) that we have no mean
under the covering of heaven, but to creep in lowly and submissively
with our wants to Christ. I have also cause to give His cross a good
name and report. Oh, how worthy is Christ of my feckless and light
suffering! and how hath He deserved at my hands that, for His honour
and glory, I should lay my back under seven hells' pains in one, if He
call me to that! But, alas! my soul is like a ship run on ground
through ebbness of water. I am sanded, and my love is stranded, and I
find not how to bring it on float again. It is so cold and dead, that
I see not how to being it to a flame. Fy, fy upon the meeting that my
love hath given Christ. Wo, wo is me! I have a lover Christ, and yet I
want love for Him! I have a lovely and desirable Lord, who is
love-worthy, and who beggeth my love and heart, and I have nothing to
give Him! Dear brother, come further in on Christ, and see a new
treasure in Him. Come in, and look down, and see angels' wonder, and
heaven and earth's wonder of love, sweetness, majesty, and excellency
in Him.
[332] Suppose for once that I were guilty, I dare not pass Christ by.
I forget you not; pray for me, that our Lord would be pleased to send
me among you again, fraughted and full of Christ.
Grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus,