"Farewell all relations and friends in Christ; farewell acquaintances and all earthly enjoyments; farewell reading and preaching, praying and believing, wanderings, reproaches, and sufferings"
About this Quote
Donald Cargill, a prominent Scottish Covenanter, penned these poignant words as he dealt with execution in 1681. His farewell addresses a profound departure not just from life but from the interconnectedness of temporal and spiritual existence. Here, Cargill articulates a multidimensional farewell, dealing with diverse aspects of his earthly journey, which will stop upon his death, while implying a transition to a divine connection beyond this life.
First, when Cargill bids goodbye to "all relations and pals in Christ", he speaks to the community of believers who shared his faith and struggles. This indicates the extensive individual network he developed through shared spiritual and ideological convictions within the Presbyterian motion. It's an acknowledgment of the strength that communal ties offered, anchoring his earthly spiritual life.
The inclusion of "goodbye acquaintances and all earthly satisfaction" widens his goodbye to the more short-term interactions and pleasures of life. These words reflect the inescapable and universal severing from daily experiences and thrills, which, although short-term, enrich human life. Recognizing earthly satisfaction in his farewell highlights a balance of spiritual dedication with gratitude for worldly enjoyments.
Cargill's reference of "reading and preaching, praying and thinking" reflects core activities of his faith that shaped his identity and mission. This farewell indicates a cessation of his active engagement with bible and spreading its mentors. It also implies that this spiritual communion will change rather than end, developing into a magnificent fellowship beyond his mortal presence.
Finally, "wanderings, reproaches, and sufferings" acknowledges his ideological journey and the substantial difficulties he sustained for his faith. It's a testimony to the cost of steadfast conviction in a period of spiritual persecution, highlighting the sacrifices made at the intersection of public faith and personal conviction.
Through these farewells, Cargill eloquently encapsulates the totality of a life lived devoutly, marking completion of an earthly vacation while preparing himself, and his contemporaries, for the ultimate spiritual journey beyond the physical realm.