Colonel Patton, a leader of the Covenanters, was taken prisoner by the troops of Charles II., and doomed to execution at Edinburgh. He was met by a royalist officer, Dabsell, who had fought side by side with him in Germany. "I'm sorry to see you here, Patton," said his old friend. "I'll go to the king for a pardon." "It's of no use; you'll not get it." "If he doesn't grant it, I'll never lift my sword for him again." He applied for it, got it, hastened to Edinburgh with it; and the pitiless lords of the council held it back and left the brave soldier to go to the block. Do we detest them? What, then, shall be said of us if, when Christ has proclaimed a free pardon to men, we hold it back from their knowledge and leave them to perish in their sin?