LIFE ОР THE AUTHOR. MR. SAMUEL RUTHERFORD, a gentleman by birth, having spent some time at the grammar-school, went to the university of Edinburgh, where he was so much admired for his great talents, and one from whom great things might be expected, that in a short time, though but then very young, he was made professor of philosophy in that university. 1 Some time after this he was called to be minister at Anwoth, in the shire of Galloway, which charge he entered by means of the Viscount of Kenmure, without any acknowledgment or engagement to the bishops. There he laboured with great diligence and success, both night and day, rising usually by three o'clock in the morning, spending the whole time in reading, praying, writing, catechising, visiting, and other duties belonging to the ministerial profession and employment. Here he wrote his "Exercitationes de Gratia,' &c. for which he was summoned, in June 1630, before the High Commission Court; but the weather was so tempestuous as to obstruct the passage of the Archbishop of St. Andrews hither, and Mr. Colvill, one of the judges, having befriended him, the diet was deserted. About the same time, his first wife died, after a sore sickness of thirteen months, and he himself being so ill of a fever for thirteen weeks, that he could not preach on the Sabbath day without great difficulty. upon In April 1634, he was again threatened with another prosecution, at the instance of the Bishop of Galloway, before the High Commission Court. Accordingly he was again summoned before the High Commission Court for his non-conformity, his preaching against the Five Articles of Perth, and the forementioned book "Exercitationes Apologeticæ pro Divina Gratia," which book, they alleged, reflected the Church of Scotland; but the truth was, says a late historian,* the argument of that book cut the sinews of Arminianism, and galled the episcopal clergy to the very quick, and therefore Bishop Sydreserf could endure him no longer. When he came before the Commission Court, he altogether declined them as a lawful judicatory, and would not give the Chancellor (being a clergyman) and the bishops their titles, by lording of them; yet some had the courage to befriend him, particularly Lord Lorn, afterwards the famous Marquis of Argyle, who did as much for him as was in his power to do; but the Bishop of Galloway threatening, that if he got not his will of him he would write to the king, it was * See Stevenson's History, vol. i. p. 149. page 295. Rowe's History, |