The First Scotch Reformer, Patrick Hamilton

Patrick Hamilton was a gentleman of Scotland and of royal descent, being a nephew to James Hamilton, earl of Anan, and to John Stewart, duke of Albany. This was a circumstance in providence that was subservient to raise more attention to his excellent doctrine, holy life, and patient sufferings. He had an amiable disposition and was well educated. At the age of twenty-three he and three companions traveled to Germany in pursuit of religious knowledge. Coming to Wittenberg he met with Martin Luther and Philip Melanchthon, with whom he held frequent and close conferences, and by whom he was well instructed in the doctrines of the gospel. From thence he went to Marburg, a university newly erected by Philip Landgrave of Hesse. He became intimately acquainted with John Lambert, the English martyr, at whose instance he was the first in that university to set up public disputations concerning faith and works, the propositions and conclusions of which are in a book entitled Patrick’s Places.

He grew daily in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Being well established in the faith, and much improved in all useful learning, he returned with one of his companions to Scotland, desirous to impart the knowledge of the true religion to his countrymen. With a view to this he began to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ with great fervency and boldness, and to lay open the errors and corruptions of the church of Rome. This soon alarmed the whole body of the clergy, particularly James Beaton, archbishop of St. Andrew’s, who labored to get Mr. Hamilton to come to him at St. Andrew’s. There, after several days of conference, he was dismissed, the archbishop seeming to approve of his doctrine, acknowledging that many things needed reformation in the church. However, at the same time, the archbishop consulted with other bishops to propose to the king that they might condemn Mr. Hamilton. The king, who was young and much led by them, was going on a pilgrimage. During the king’s absence no possibility of appeal could be made to him by Mr. Hamilton to save his life. Hamilton, not suspecting their malice and treachery, remained at St. Andrew’s. The king being gone on his pilgrimage, Hamilton was cited to appear before the archbishop and his colleagues on the first day of March, 1527. The following articles were the very articles for which he suffered. Let these four suffice:

1. Man hath no free will.

2. A man is only justified by faith in Christ.

3. A man, so long as he liveth, is not without sin.

4. A good man doeth good works, but good works do not make a good man.

Having gone through the farce of a trial, they proceeded to pronounce sentence upon him which proved his understanding, orthodoxy, and innocence as well as the ignorance and cruelty of the papists.

That this sentence might have the greater authority they caused it to be signed by all present, of any account, whether clergy or laity. In order to make their number appear great, they took the subscription of the very children of the nobility. Being thus condemned as an obstinate heretic, Hamilton was delivered to the secular power; after dinner on the same day, the fire was prepared, and he was led to execution, while most people thought it was only to terrify him and to make him recant. Yet God, for His own glory, the good of the elect, and for the manifestation of their brutal tyranny, had decreed it otherwise, and so strengthened him that neither the love of life, though young, nor fear of this cruel death could in the least move him from the truth he had boldly professed.

At the place of execution Hamilton gave his servant, who had long attended him, his gown, coat, cap, and his other garments, saying: “These are the last things you can receive of me, nor have I anything now to leave you but the example of my death which I pray you to bear in mind; though it be bitter to the flesh and fearful before men, yet it is the entrance into eternal life which none shall inherit who deny Jesus Christ before this wicked generation.”

He was then bound to the stake in the midst of wood and coal, which they attempted to set on fire with gun powder, but it neither killed him nor kindled the fire, only exceedingly scorched one side of his body and his face. During the painful interval of their going to the castle for more powder and combustibles, the briars called frequently upon him to recant, and when the fire was kindled, it burnt so slowly that he endured great torment which the briars endeavored to increase by setting some of their own to cry out in a clamorous manner, “Turn, thou heretic, pray to the virgin; say, solve regina (hail queen),” to whom he answered, “Depart from me, and trouble me not, you messengers of Satan.” Briar Campbell, who had visited him often in prison, was particularly officious and continued to bellow out, “Turn, thou heretic; turn, thou heretic.” Mr. Hamilton thus addressed the briar: “Wicked man! You know I am not a heretic, and have confessed the same to me in private; but I appeal to the just tribunal seat of Jesus Christ, and cite you to appear there to answer for it to Almighty God.” He then said, “How long, O Lord, shall darkness overwhelm this realm? How long wilt Thou suffer the tyranny of these wicked men?” At length with a loud voice he cried, as he had frequently done, “Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit!” and died.

It is recorded, that not long after, Briar Campbell died in a frenzy and seemingly in despair. This, considered with the circumstance of his being cited by Mr. Hamilton, made a great impression on the minds of the people and caused them to inquire more particularly into the nature and meaning of the articles for which Mr. Hamilton was burned. Thus, this event proved the means used for many embracing the truth.

This martyr is but one example of the cost of true religion held aloft and practiced along with preaching. Do you, who call yourselves Christians, compare with such characters? It is evident by the example of Patrick Hamilton’s death that the definition of a true Christian is to be crucified to the world and to the flesh; to put on Christ and to be one with Him; and to be a stranger and pilgrim upon earth, seeking a better country and a heavenly.

It is very much needed in our age, when true religion is indeed on the decline, that such articles again be examined by the nations, kingdoms, rulers, and people, the whole ecclesiastical state; yea, by everyone. Real religion is a personal matter and decides our fate for the great eternity.

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