Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

or, The Wigtown Martyr

“To be tied to a stake fixed within the flood mark in the water of Bladenoch, near Wigtown, there to be drowned.”

Such was the terrible sentence passed by the agent of the last of the Stuart Kings upon Margaret Wilson, aged eighteen, and Wigtown became famous because of the heroic way in which that sentence was endured by the maiden martyr.

But what was the crime of which Margaret Wilson had been guilty? Had she been some powerful or treacherous leader of men who had darkly plotted against the life of the King, or sought to injure her fellow-subjects, such a sentence might have been deserved. But she was a simple young Christian. Her only desire was to be true to her Saviour, and she had refused to take the oath acknowledging the right of the King to dictate to his subjects in matters of religion, for she felt that it would be dishonouring to her Lord and Master.

A dissolute and bigoted King had sought to force his will upon the people and to make them accept a religion which was offensive to them, and altogether contrary to what they believed to be according to the Word of God. Charles II. and his successor entrusted the execution of the law to brutal and wicked men. One of the worst of these was Sir Robert Grierson, of Lagg, and he it was who tried Margaret Wilson and condemned her to so cruel a death.

On the 11th of May, 1685 (“the killing times of Scotland,” as the year was called), the brave girl and an older woman who was to suffer at the same time and for the same offence, were led out to suffer according to the barbarous sentence which had been passed upon them.

Crowds with hearts full of sympathy and pain followed them, and when they came in sight sobs and tears and muttered curses broke from men and women alike.

When the place of execution was reached an effort was made to turn the young girl from her stedfastness — to renounce her faith and take the oaths required of her.

But clearly in reply her voice rang out, “We are called upon this day to give a worthy testimony to our Lord. He has done us so much good and no ill these years we have served Him. This day shall we behold Him in the glory of His risen power, and I do rejoice the end is so near.”

The older woman who was to suffer with her was bound to a stake thirty yards further out to sea in order that the sight of her suffering might make Margaret quail. But it had no such effect upon her. When she saw her companion bound to her stake she exclaimed, “The Lord will this day cleave the waters of death asunder for me, and I shall behold the Lamb in His beauty.”

With ropes they roughly bound her to the upright beam at which she was to die.

Swiftly through the narrow channel of the Bladenoch ran the waves, and soon the older martyr was submerged and dead; and then in a triumphant voice, while the waves rolled round her, Margaret Wilson sang, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The waves had now begun to pass over her head, and half unconscious as she was they unbound her from the stake and brought her out of the water to see if she would at last recant.

Her weeping mother stood beside her, and pleaded with her to pray for the King. “Yes, that I will do,” said Margaret.

“See!” cried the mother to Grierson “she prays for the King.”

“Let us have less of her prayers,” was his cruel reply, “and let her take the oath.”

But this the noble girl refused to do, and she was flung back into the waters, sealing her faith and constancy by her death.

Life is full of sweet and pleasant prospects for those who are young; how great and blessed must have been the love and power of Margaret’s Saviour to enable her thus to witness for Him, and truly she shall have her reward. The crown of glory, the harp of gold, and palm of victory await the bold confessor of Christ. To be confessed by Him before His Father and all the holy angels is their bright prospect. To have the joy of His approval now is their present position.

Our lot is cast in happy days! We are not called upon to face a martyr’s death for the Saviour whom we love. But, Christian, we are called upon to confess Him, and this may mean the scoffs and jeers of those who know Him not. Ah, but if He is glorified what does it matter? Have we received eternal life of Him; did He lay down His life for us; and is it true that every joy in heaven above has been secured for us by His death and sufferings? Oh! then let us not be ashamed to own His lordship over us. If His love fills our hearts, His will must dominate our lives, and we shall then confess Him boldly, not fearing the results.