JOHN LIVINGSTONE.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE.
JOHN LIVINGST0NE was the son of William Livingstone, tho
minister of Kilsyth, and was born there in 1603. He was blessed with godly
parents, and, above all, he was himself, and that early, the subject of
regenerating grace. In his Autobiography, he tells of the workings of God the
Spirit upon his heart while he was very young, leading him to earnest prayer
and to holy delight in the study of the Divine Word.
Though not resolved
when he was prosecuting his education in its earlier stages to devote himself
to the work of the ministry, he was afterwards led in thin direction by
Providences of a peculiar kind. On the second day of January, 1625, he
delivered his first sermon in his father’s pulpit. He gave good promise of
becoming an able and zealous minister of the New Testament
On account of
opposition to him on the part of the Prelatie party because of his strong
sympathy with Scriptural doctrine and purity, several parishes were prevented
giving him calls. In the summer of 1630 he received an invitation to go to
Ireland, and accept a call which the Parish of Killinchy was ready to offer
him.
Only for a year was be to discharge the office of the ministry there
without molestation. For nonconformity he was suspended by the Bishop of Down.
About a year later the sentence of deposition was reversed, and Livingstone
entered anew upon his ministerial labours.
In 1635, he was again suspended,
and no prospect of restoration appearing, he determined to go to New England.
Almost overwhelmed by a storm near Newfoundland, he and his associates resolved
to return to the shores of Ireland, Learning soon after his arrival there, that
a warrant was issued for his apprehension, he crossed to Scotland, and
sojourned for a time in the vicinity of Edinburgh.
In 1638, he was engaged
in the Renovation of the National Covenant, and in receiving throughout various
parts of the country signatures to that deed. In the same year, he was settled
as minister of Stranraer. He also attended the celebrated Reforming Assembly
held at Glasgow that year, and heartily supported its procedure and decisions.
In 1648, by the desire of the General Assembly, he was translated from
Stranraer to Kencrum in Teviotdale.
As an evidence of the high honour in
which he was held, and of his extensive influence, Livingstone was chosen by
the Assembly as one of their representatives to treat with the young king
Charles at the Hague, with a view to his coronation. With that power of
penetration, which was one of the prominent features of his character, he
judged the king to be insincere in his professions, and considered him
disinclined in heart, as well an in other respects unqualifed, to rule the
kingdom according to the Reformed constitution established therein. Nor did he
cease to protest against the national step then taken, although the king
subscribed the Covenants, and the other Commissioners expressed their full
satisfaction.
The storm Livingstone feared would soon arise, began to blow
in all its intensity immediately on the Restoration of 1660. As ministers were
required to acknowledge the Prelatic power, or remove, he resolved to quit his
charge, In the course of his last services, he gave a noble vindication of the
right of Christ to reign in His own house, and boldly avowed himself ready to
suffer for Christ’s sake. In obedience to a citation of the Council, be
voluntarily surrendered and appeared before them. On his examination, and
having refused to subscribe the Oath of Allegiance, sentence was pronounced
against him that he should leave Edinburgh within forty-eight hours, and within
two months depart from the king’s dominions.
In 1662, he arrived at
Rotterdam, where he had much joy and consolation in the company of the many
faithful men who for like reasons were banished from their native land.
Livingatone continued an earnest student. He had a tolerable acquaintance with
modern languages, and while in Holland spent a large part of his time in
literary work, specially bearing upon the Scriptures. It was when here that he
prepared a Latin translation of the Old Testament.
Being an intensely close
and persevering student, and having been much exposed by previous vicissitudes,
his body began to show symptoms of infirmity and decay. His conversation with
relatives and friends when death was drawing near, was sweet and elevating. He
was deeply concerned about the condition and prospects of Christ’s Church
and cause in Scotland, and many a time did he turn his thoughts to the land of
his birth he loved so well. “I would not have people to forecast the
worst,” he said to friends as they conversed on this subject, “but
there is a dark cloud above the Reformed Churches which prognosticates a coming
storm.”
Yet he was sure that the truths of Christ which Scotland
covenanted to maintain, would not be obliterated. “I die,” said be,
“in the faith that the truths of God, which He hath helped the Church of
Scotland to own, shall be owned by Him as truths so long as sun and moon
endure.” Of himself more particularly he said, “I have my own faults
as well as other men, but He has always made me to abhor shows. I know I have
given offence to many through my slackness and negligence, but I forgive, and
desire to be forgiven.” And again, “Carry my commendation to Jesus
Christ till I come there myself.” With his eye upon his ministry he said,
“I cannot say much of great services; yet if ever my heart was lifted up,
it wan in preaching of Jesus Christ.”
On the 9th of August, 1672, and
in the 78th year of his age, John Livingstone gently passed away. “Them
also which sleep in Jesus, will God bring with Him"