# Strange and wonderful account of the wicked life, and deplorable death of Mr Alexander Parkinson

The strange and wonderful
ACCOUNT
Of the Wicked Life, and deplorable Death of
Mr ALEXANDER PARKINSON;
Otherwise known, by the Name of,
The GOLDEN FARMER.
Who departed this life on June 15. 1788. but arose up in his bed 12 hours after his death, to the great terror and amazement of all present, making confession of many hainous sins he had been guilty of during the time of his life.
Also the substance of a
S E R M O N?
Which was preached on the same occasion by the Rev. Mr Jones.
Published for the Benefit of Mankind.
Entered according to Order.
The Wicked Life and Death of Mr ALEXANDER PARKINSON.
THis Alexander Parkinson lived near the parish of Tain in Ross-shire. in the north of Scotland: he was commonly known by the name of the Golden Farmer because he had always plenty of money to lend on sure and great interest, especially on land; but how he came by the money no person could tell, there were various conjectures about it but no person could make it out. He had but one son living when he took sick at this time which was his last. He also made a will according to law, making his son heir of all his money & effects, which amounted to 1500 pounds, & the next day he died in great pain: he was washed & dressed according to custom, & remained for 12 hours, at which time son & two other gentlemen was present siting where the funeral was to be ordered, he started up in bed to the great surprise of all present. When they saw that the began to run to the door, striving who to be out first the son being almost dead with fear, the father bad them not be afraid for tho’ said he, I was dead I am now alive & in my proper sense, O the sights that I have seen! sit you down here ​until I disburden my conscience of those sins I have been guilty of during my sinful life which I repent of when too late O my son I have ruined my immortal soul to gain a fortune for you, the ways I took to get the money I left you makes my soul & heart so tremble within me when I think upon it. the first way I took to raise my fortune was killing an English drover, & taking a 100l off him that he had to buy cattle in the Highlands, With the money I bought the good will of this farm, hut not content with that I killed old ready money John & burnt his house over his head for fear of a discovery, yet I was not satisfied. By this time I began to buy up meal and transport it to the common enemy, or any where I could get a great price, I began to lay up great stores of it buying it up in all parts that I could get it, stopping at no price, knowing that the poor must have bread at any rate. I could not endure the sight of a poor person near my house. One day a poor old sailor came to ask charity, I struck him several times with my cane, then set my mastiff dog at him who tore him in several places so as he died in a few days after in a poor man’s byre who lived near by, & was ​buried at the expence of the parish; but woes me I gave nothing but oaths & imprecations to them that asked me to give money to bury such a old dog. But this is not all my wife died soon after--I had some time after this some business in Edinburgh, where I got acquainted with a creditable young woman, who I persuaded to come home with me & be my housekeeper. She pleased me well I therefor thought to marry her, but the devil had too much power o'er me to do that, I promis’d her marriage, giving her presents at same time, till I gained my wicked design. O had I never seen her, but I soon became tired of her. abusing her several times in a barbarous manner, till at last I gave her a kick it proved her death. When he had ended his discovery he called for a writing table & altered his will, leaving his son but 500l and the rest to the bank, the interest to be given to the poor forever in the parish of Glenap. Whilst these transactions were carying on his son was for making him hold his peace, he said if he died he must come back again a second time if permited. He then sent for Mr Jones who came to him, he then made a confession of all his ​sins and seemed very penitent he begged he might have absolution, which he received after their manner, and desired the priest to make all the particulars of this affair public in hopes it may be a warning to all who hear of his deplorable death, that they may leave off their evil ways & turn to the Lord while it is to-day, lest they repent when too late: the messenger is now come I must to my everlasting habitation, when he said these words he laid down & died. Very remarkable was the day on which he was buried, for those it accompanied him to the place of interment was like to be destroyed by wind & rain; & what was still more remarkable, when they came to the grave it closed up & would not receive him as tho' he deserved better to be hung in chains than to ly among christians, so they were obliged to dig him another.
The Substance of an excellent Sermon very suitable to the above occasion.
From Rev. xx 7.
And when the thousand years are expired Satan shall be loosed out of prison, &c.
IT is undoubtedly for mens' sins that the prince of darkness is permitted to ​go up & down like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, that he prevails on the souls of men; It is for sin that God gives us to sin & reproach, to rashness & despair of his mercies, so certain is it that God never leaves our soul eclipsed under the power of an implacable enemy, who being an immortal spirit too subtle for mortals to contend with, unless supported by the divine assistance, we are unable to resist the temptations which he gilds o’er like a bitter potion, that we may swallow them more secure, & studies to suit them to our inclination. To the choleric fiery spirit he represents revenge & blood-shed, bold & brave to the sanguine, carnal lust & luxury to the generous & jovial, to the phlegmatic laziness & sloth, & to the melancholy envy and despiar, We find that he durst even in presence of the almighty be so bold as to demand a commission to tempt Job, & had no doubt prevailed had not the almighty sustained him, as you may read in Job chap ii. nay more transcendent than this he did tempt even the Lord his God when he had carried to an exceeding high mountain, and shewed him all the kingdoms of the earth ​& glories of them promising to give him them if he our Saviour would fall down and worship him; & had a lie immediately prepared if it had been possible of its taking place; for that continues he, is delivered unto me & to whosever I will I give it; but there he was refused with, get thee behind me Satan, for it is written——thou the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve, Luke xiii. If St. Paul was endued with the utmost spirit of wisdom, which was not proof against his temptations with strong prayers and cries, when he sent a messenger to buffet him, a thorn in the ⟨flesh⟩ as he himself stiles it, what can we that dare pretend to so small a portion of ⟨immediate⟩ inspiration do to refuse him. (illegible text) whom as the Psalmist says, is our hope why truly our hope is in the Lord, it is ⟨he⟩ alone can deliver us from the power ⟨of⟩ satan he is come to us in great wrath ⟨because⟩ he hath but a short time, and is ⟨so⟩implacable An Enemy to the soul ⟨that⟩ when his force is baffled, subtle ⟨underminings⟩ frequently take place. L(illegible text) run to be safe from temptations, so (illegible text) they may not bring us to shame in ​world and endless misery in the next—Lay hold on him that is mighty, and able to save to the uttermost all who by faith and true repentance draw near to him. Let us lay hold on the rock of ages, and build a sure foundation on his mercy and goodness, for he alone can deliver us from everlasting death, and defeat the designs of the destroyer of souls.
Had this person made God his refuge he had not now been suffering under the almighty’s vengeance, tho’ we must not presume to limit the mercy of God even to the worst of sinners, but we must submit them to his will and pleasure whose mercies are over all his works.
Sometimes we may be tempted for good, this is the trial of our faith and perseverance——Let us then be servant in prayer, that we enter not into temptation as this deplorable wretch did.
F I N I S.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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