Biographia Scoticana (Scots Worthies) Part 42

[92] Part I. letter 4, and part III. letter 37.

[93] See this discourse at large in Stevenson's history, page 674.

[94] See a more full account of these transactions in Stevenson's history, vol. III. page 176.

[95] Some accounts bear that this was a rape committed by him.

[96] See the national covenant.

[97] See the coronation of Charles II. page 38, &c.

[98] See these articles at large and his answers in Wodrow's church history, vol. 1. page 43,----52.

[99] See the appendix to Wodrow's history, No. 18.

[100] The historian Burnet in the introduction to his history page 30.

&c. is pleased to say, "This Argyle was a pretender to high degrees of piety. Warriston went to very high notions of lengthened devotions, and whatsoever struck his fancy during these effusions he looked on it as an answer of prayer." But perhaps the bishop was much a stranger both to high degrees of piety and lengthened devotions, and also to such returns of prayer, for these two gallant n.o.blemen faced the b.l.o.o.d.y ax and gibbet rather than forgo their profession, with more courage, and (I may say) upon better principles or grounds of suffering than what any diocesan bishop in Scotland at least, or even the doctor himself was honoured to do.

[101] Or the wrestling of the church of Scotland, page 166.

[102] Wodrow in his history, vol. I. page 56.

[103] It surely was a piece of ill advised conduct (as many of themselves afterward acknowledged), that ever they elected or admitted any of that family of Ahab, after the Almighty had so remarkably driven them forth of these kingdoms, unto the regal dignity, upon any terms whatsoever; particularly Charles II. after he had given such recent proofs of his dissimulation and dissaffection unto the cause and people of G.o.d in these nations. After which they never had a day to prosper; for by contending against malignants, and yet at the same time vowing and praying for the head of malignants they not only had malignants and sectaries to fight with, but also made a desuetude unto their former attainments, and so came to contend with one another, until prelacy proved their utter ruin at last. It is objected that king Charles was a good natured man, and that the extermination of our excellent const.i.tution, was from evil counsellors. It is but too true, that evil counsellors have many times proved the ruin of kingdoms and commonwealths, else the wise man would not have said. _Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established_, Prov.

xxv. 5. But take the matter as it is, he was still the head of that const.i.tution and (not to speak of his other immoralities), a most perfidious, treacherous and wicked man, and could engage to day and break to-morrow, and all to obtain an earthly crown. For a further ill.u.s.tration of this, see a letter shewing the defection of both addressers and protestors, &c; Dr. Owen's sermon before the protector in Scotland; the history of the Stuarts; and Bennet's memorial of Britain's deliverances, &c.

[104] Apologetical relation, -- v. page 83.

[105] See these protestations in Wodrow's church-history, vol. I. p. 58 & 59.

[106] This unjust sentence was p.r.o.nounced in the high church of Glasgow by Mr. John Carstairs, who prefaced Mr. Durham's posthumous works some of which are supposed to be vitiated by him especially his treatise on scandal.

[107] See this paper called the humble pet.i.tion in Crookshank's history, vol. I. p. 64.

[108] Wodrow's history, vol. I. p. 61.

[109] History of his own times, page 127.

[110] Mr. Alexander Hamilton, when a student at the college of Edinburgh, at the hazard of his life, took down Mr. Guthrie's head and buried it, after it had stood a spectacle for twenty seven years; and it is observable that the very same person afterward succeeded him at Stirling, where he was minister for twelve years.

[111] He was crowned on the 8th of June by Spotswood arch-bishop of St.

Andrews, a.s.sisted by the bishops of Rose and Murray, Laud then bishop of London had the direction of the ceremony. He preached in the chapel royal, and insisted upon the benefit of conformity, and the reverence due to the ceremonies of the church &c. But this discourse was far from being to the gust of the people. See Stevenson's history, Vol. I.

Bennet's memorial, page 178.

[112] Vide Bailie's Letters, Vol. I. page 69.

[113] History of the Stuarts, Vol. I. page 140.

[114] History of the Stuarts, vol. I. p. 140.

[115] Memoirs of the duke of Hamilton, p. 163.

[116] Rushworth's history, vol. I. Oldmixon, vol. I. p. 14{illegible}.

[117] See Dr. Welwood's memoirs, p. {illegible}0.

[118] See these speeches in the history of church and state, vol. III.

pages 1215-25.

[119] His son James earl of Loudon suffered much after his father's death, during the persecuting period; and at last was obliged to leave his native country, and died an exile at Leyden, after having endured a series of hards.h.i.+ps. And there are recent instances of the truly n.o.ble and independent spirit for liberty this worthy family have all along retained, which, we doubt not, will be transmitted to their posterity.

[120] Of his life prefixed to his letters.

[121] See this and another of his letters to Lauderdale, Wodrow's history, Vol. I. page 129.

[122] See the first discourse in Stevenson's history page 562.; and the last in the a.s.sembly-journal.

[123] See Mr. Livingston's memorable characteristics, page 81.

[124] See further of these declarations and protests in Stevenson's history of church and state, page 361.

[125] See a more full account of these affairs in the history of church and state, vol. III. page 1009.

[126] See the said reasons, &c. page 50.

[127] Blair's memoirs, page 121.

[128] Wodrow's history, Vol. I. page 164.

[129] Wodrow's history, Vol. I. page 175.

[130] See his history, page 203.

[131] Preface to the apologetical relation.

[132] Crookshank's history, Vol. I. page 248.

[133] The reader will find this speech in Naphtali, and in the appendix to Wodrow's history.

[134] About the time of Middleton's parliament 1661, or 1662, Mr. Wood in company of Mr. Vetch, went into one Glen's shop in Edinburgh to see Sharp, whom he had not seen since he turned bishop.--Sharp discoverning his head to receive the commissioner they had a full view of his face to whom Mr. Wood looked very seriously, and then with much affection uttered these words, "O thou Judas, apostate, traitor, that has betrayed the famous presbyterian church of Scotland to its utter ruin as far as thou canst, if I knew any thing of the mind of G.o.d, thou shall not die the ordinary and common death of men." And though this was spoken eighteen years before it was exactly accomplished, _anno_ 1679. See Vetch's large life biography, prior edition, page 471.

[135] Wodrow's history, vol. I. page 208.

[136] See Wodrow's and Crookshank's histories.

[137] Rutherford's letters, part III. let. 66.

[138] After the rest of his brethren were cast out, people so flocked to his sacramental occasions, that the church was so thronged, that each communicant (it is said), had to shew their tokens to the keepers of the door before they got entrance, to prevent disorder and confusion.