Hugh McKail and the Pentland Rising by James A. Dickson

Blue Banner Productions – 2021.  d.w.  232pp.

Over a hundred Covenanters were either killed in battle, hanged in public, or exiled. Thus ended their brief uprising against a tyrannical King, Charles 2nd, and his persecuting Bishops. One of the faithful, young preachers who joined the Covenanters in their protest was Hugh McKail. He was just 26 years of age when he was brutally tortured and executed for being part of the ‘rising’. The godly young preacher’s sacrifice has never been forgotten, and his life has been woven together with the history of the Pentland Rising in this work.

His only printed sermon is also included and gives us a taste of the savouriness of his brief ministry. His testimony has been printed many times over, but it is also included, hopefully making this a useful work covering McKail and the ‘Pentland Rising’.

Hereafter, I will not talk with flesh and blood, nor think on the world’s consolations: farewell all my friends, whose company hath been refreshful to me in my pilgrimage; I have done with the light of the sun and moon. Welcome eternal life, everlasting love, everlasting praise, everlasting glory! Praise to him that sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever! 

 

Though I have not been so with thee as I ought to have been in the house of my pilgrimage, yet thou hast made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure: and this is all my salvation, and all my desire. Bless the Lord, O my soul! that hath pardoned all mine iniquities in the blood of his Son, and healed all my diseases. ‘Bless him, O all ye his angels that excel in strength, ye ministers that do his pleasure. Bless the Lord, O my soul!’ Hallelujah.

 – From the testimony of Hugh McKail.