14 April 1626 A.D. Rev. Andrew Duncan, Church of Scotland, pens
his last will and testament.
Dr.
Rusten has the story.
Rusten, E.
Michael and Rusten, Sharon. The One Year
Christian History. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2003. Available at: http://www.amazon.com/The-Year-Christian-History-Books/dp/0842355073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393302630&sr=8-1&keywords=rusten+church+history
Mr.
(Rev.) Andrew Duncan, a Scots Churchman, signs his last will and
testament. Mr. Duncan was ordained to
the Presbyterian ministry in Scotland, 1597.
But those were difficult days.
Mr. (King) James 1 of England was on a campaign—along with his Billygoat
Laud in Canterbury—to impose Anglican bishops and Prayer Books on the Scots. In
1605, Duncan and four other prominent ministers were arrested for defying the
King by attending the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in
Aberdeen. He spent 14 months in prison
and was banished to France. After 6
years in France, he returned to Scotland, but again fell into disfavor, ended
up in jail, and finally went into exile again.
He and his family suffered hardships.
On
14 April 1626, he penned is last
will and testament:
I, Andrew Duncan…set down the declaration of my
latter will, concerning these things, which God hath lent me in this world; in
manner, following,--First, as touching myself, body and soul; my soul I leave
to Christ Jesus, who gave it, and when it was lost, redeemed it, that He may
send His holy angels to transport it to the bosom of Abraham, there to enjoy
all happiness and contentment; and as for this frail body, I commend it to the
grave, there to sleep and rest, as in a sweet bed, until the day of
refreshment, when it shall be reunited to the soul, and shall be set down at
the table with the holy patriarchs, prophets, and apostles; yea, shall be
placed on the throne with Christ, and get the crown of glory on my head. As for the children whom God hath given me,
for which I thank His Majesty, I leave them to His providence, to be governed
and cared for by Him, beseeching Him to be the tutor, curator, and agent, in
all their adoes, yea, and a father, and that He would lead them by His gracious
Spirit, through this evil world; that they be profitable instruments…holding
their course to heaven, and comforting themselves with the glorious and
fair-to-look-on heritage, which Christ hath conquered for them, and for all
that love Him. Under God, I leave John
Duncan, my eldest son, to be the tutor to my youngest daughter, Bessie Duncan,
his youngest sister, to take care of her, and to see that all turns go right,
touching her person and gear. My
executors I leave my three sons, John, William and David, requesting them to be
good and comfortable to their sisters, but chiefly to the two that are at home,
as they would have God’s blessing and mine.
As concerning my temporal goods, the baggage and blatherie of the earth,
as I have gotten them in the world off God’s liberal hand, so I leave them
behind me in the world; giving most humble and the hearty thanks unto my heavenly
Father for so long and comfortable loan of the same.”
Questions:
- Is the last will and testament written and on file?
- Shouldn’t this be in the preamble of said will or living trust in addition to other details?
- What’s the chief intellectual, spiritual and theological legacy left to others?
Bibliography
Howie, John. The Scots Worthies. Edinburgh: Banner of
Truth Trust, 1870. 110-114.
Wright, D.F. “Duncan,
Andrew.” DSCHT. 261-2.
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