yet fixed, and adhering to the conscientious use of all the ordinances of Jesus Christ; practising with those who, according to his light, he conceives to come nearest to the [written] word; without passion or bitterness in contending with others, but embracing in love all that are truly gracious, and walk soberly according to the gospel of Christ. For this is worth the observing, that how sure soever the authors and maintainers of these forms have become, so to idolize and cry them up, as to conclude them to be the only way of Christ, and so to have them imposed upon the consciences of their brethren ;-then hath the Lord visibly appeared against them and their way, and overturned it to the sight of all men. So he did with Episcopacy: when they were at the height of their pride, and become very insolent; then are they overturned, first in Scotland, then in England and Ireland. And so hath he begun to do with Presbytery: when they were at the top and height of their confidence; having by the League and Covenant engaged the three nations thereto, and the Assembly of Divines fully for them;-accommodation to the persons of some good men was that only which could be obtained, but toleration to no way but that;-when they are thus at their height, then, there, the Lord leaves them, and their business goes back every day. Not only in England, the power of the state turns opposite to them, and offers liberty to such as would serve God in other gospel ways; but also in Scotland, (the power for them there, upon a double sort of account, both civil, and ecclesiastical, being fully in their hands,) the Lord appears visibly against both, by breaking the one in the open fields at Dunbar, and the other in the open meetings at St. Andrews

and Dundee, through needless contests and prejudices one with another, irreconcilably dividing them one from another,-which hath tended more to the prejudice and overturning of their way, than all the power and policy of men could have done against them. Let Independents beware, and keep close to their principles, which so far as I know, (if men's pride and corruption lead them not to it,) tend not to persecution or imposing upon others. [SEE APPENDIX, U.]

Some time after this, some Christians in Aberdeen, men and women, having for a long time been convinced of these things, (long before ever a thought of them was with me,) found themselves obliged to endeavour to have the ordinances administered in a more pure way, than there was any hope ever to attain to have them in the national way. But before we would conclude to do any thing of this, it was thought necessary, first to impart our purpose to some Christian friends, and to be willing to hear what they could object against our resolution. Whereupon, by common consent, a letter was drawn up and subscribed, in the name of the rest, by Mr. John Rowe, Mr. John Menzies, Mr. William Moire, [Moor] and me, and directed to the Lord Warristoun, Mr. David Dicke, Mr. John Levinstone, [Livingstone] Mr. James Guthrie, and Mr. Samuel Rutherford, to be communicated to whom they pleased; which letter was of date, at Aberdeen the . day of..... jaj vj and ...

After this, very shortly, we had large letters from many good men, both south and west, written to us; the scope of which was, to dissuade us from our purpose, or at least beseeching us not to fall on

any such dividing way, as they called it, until we should first meet with them and confer thereabout, promising to endeavour our satisfaction as much as could be. After seeking of God in this, we could not see how we could refuse this their offer of conference, as a means by which the Lord might further make known his mind to us, for our confirmation in these things, which we hoped for; yet so, as being reserved to receive whatever light the Lord should offer to us. And therefore, having notice of a meeting of these good men, to be at Edinburgh of

day

it was resolved, that Mr. John Menzies and I should go there, and confer with them. We, being there, met with them,-not in their public meeting-place, yet not in a corner, but publicly in Warristoun's chamber, for several days together; but in the end, came to no other conclusion than formerly, that we were clearly called upon to endeavour to have the ordinances, (especially the sealing ordinances of Christ,) administered unto us in a way nearer the institution, and more pure in way of administration, than it was possible, or there was any ground of hope, to have in the national way. Upon this, we having told them so much, in a very calm manner, and that we were the more confirmed in this our resolution since we came there, parted calmly, they having exonerated themselves very freely and lovingly to us;-only Mr. Andrew Cant went out, before our dissolving, in some passion, and left us. Yet they left it not thus; but resolved that four of their number, namely, Mr. Samuel Rutherford, Mr. James Guthrie, Mr. Patrick Gilespie, and Mr. John Carstairs, should come to Aberdeen, and there confer with us together; pressing us much, to delay any pub

E

1

lic appearing until then. To which we would

terms agree; promising, only to do as the Lord should direct us. Within some few months thereafter, namely, the ... day of ..

they came to Aberdeen. They staid seven or eight days, and had frequent meetings with us all, together and apart,but to no purpose for the errand they came about; all of us being rather more confirmed to our former grounds; Mr. John Menzies and Mr. William Muire not being with us, by reason of sickness. Thereafter, in the month of November, in the year

we

did together partake of the ordinance of the supper of the Lord, publicly, in the meeting-place called Gray Friars. [SEE APPENDIX, V.]

CHAPTER V.

1652: ALEXANDER JAFFRAY IS MADE DIRECTOR OF THE CHANCELLRY-1653: HE BECOMES, WITH FOUR OTHERS OF SCOTLAND, MEMBER OF THE PARLIAMENT OF ENGLAND-HE REMAINS IN THE HOUSE, TOGETHER WITH ABOUT 30 OTHER MEMBERS, WHEN THAT ASSEMBLY IS BROKEN UP-CROMWELL OFFERS TO MAKE HIM A JUDGE FOR SCOTLAND-HE CONTRACTS MUCH WEAKNESS OF BODY WHILE IN LONDON-1656: REMOVES HIS RESIDENCE TO EDINBURGH-IN A VIEW OF MERCIES, TEMPORAL AND SPIRITUAL, HE RESOLVES "TO MAKE HASTE AND FOLLOW HARD AFTER GOD," &c.-ON BEARING THE CROSS; ALSO SOMETHING RELATIVE TO THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST-1637: THE ILLNESS OF HIS SON ANDREW-ON THE STATE OF THE CHURCH.

THEREAFTER, I was called by the Judges at Edinburgh to be Director of the Chancellry, in the month of March, 1652, which I accepted of in the month of June. [SEE APPENDIX, W.]

In the month of June, 1653, I was called, with other four out of Scotland, to sit as Member of the Parliament of England. I came there the 5th of July, and staid until the 6th of February, 1654. I had there good occasion to meet, and be acquainted with many godly men; though I can say little of any good we did at that Parliament; yet, it was on the hearts of some there, to have done good for promoting the kingdom of Christ; but, the time not being come, when these things were to be brought forth, we were dissolved the 12th of January, 1654. I came for Scotland the said 6th of February thereafter; having gotten, at that time, from the Lord Protector and his Council, an order for paying to me by the Commissioners at Leith, £1500 sterling,