July 27, 1681

On this date in history, five Scotsmen were martyred in Edinburgh at a place just down the street from the church where we used to worship. The five men (one minister, two divinity students, one servant, and one seaman) were hanged for their faith in Christ and for their belief that Christ alone is the head of the church on earth. They died singing the words of Psalm 118:16, "The Lord's right hand is exalted on high; the Lord's right hand has done mighty things!" and Revelation 5:12, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!" What is all the more amazing is that these men died knowing that their wives and female children would be exiled from Scotland, their male children would be turned loose on the streets to fend for themselves, and their own heads would be prominently displayed on the city gates for all to see (even or especially their orphaned sons)! What has your Christianity cost you?