£ihvaxy of t:he Cheolojical ^eminarjp PRINCETON . NEW JERSEY PRESENTED BY The Library of Archibald Alexander BX 9223.135 A3 lB4b c,l Blair, Robert, 1593-1666. The life of Mr. Robert Blair, minister of St. RI Q99«; Rc; A^ 1GAQ r. 1 THE LIFE OF MR ROBERT BLAIR, IMINISTER OF ST ANDREWS, CONTAINING HIS AUTOBIOGIRAPHY, FROM 1593 TO 1636, WITH SUPPLEMENT TO HIS LIFE, AND CONTINUATION OF THE HISTORY OF THE TBIES TO 1680, BY HIS SON-IN-LAW, MR WILLIA3t HOW, MINISTER OF CERES. EDITED FOR THE WODROW SOCIETY, FROM THE ORIGHfAL MANUSCRIPT. BY THOMAS M'CRIE, D.D. EDINBURGH: PRINTED FOR THE WODROW SOCIETY. MDCCCXLVIII. JAMES WALKER, PRINTER, 6. JAJIES'S COCRT, EPIJSBCBCH. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Preface by Editor, ... ... Life of Robert Blair — I. The Autobiography, n. SCPPLEMENT BY WiLLIAM RoW, CONTAINING THE HiSTORY OF HIS LU^E, -^VHICH JIAY BE CALI-ED THE HiSTORT OF THE Times, especially from the year 1643, unto the DAY OF HIS DEATH, ANNO 1666, ni. The Continuation (by the same Author) of the History of the Times after Mr BlatiI's death, Aug. 27. 1666, TO 1680, Page 5 111 500 APPENDIX. No 1. Continuation of the Life of Robert Blair, by his son, ( James Blair, ........ 585 No. 2. Letters of Robert Blair, . . . . . 596 Index, 599 Facsimile of Blair's handwriting, .... xiii Woodcut of Blair's Monument in the old church- yard of Aberdour, ......... xxii EREATA. Page 112, line 14, after 1677: Dr Lee's MS. supplies the blank on this page as fol- lows, " has on his coat of anns the Moor's head." „ 228, line 7, de'^ (Jnslodyke. „ 464, line 3, /or Mr John M'MiUan, read Mr John M'Michan. 471, last line of foot note, /or author of " Memoirs of Scotland," read author of " Memoirs of the most matei-ial Transactions in England, for the last hundred years preceding the Revolution in 1688." " 517, 4th line from foot, /or apparently in the handwriting of the transcriber, read in a hand different from that of the transcriber. All the notations on the margin of l)r Lee's MS. are in the same hand, but different from that of the copyist. „ 555, 1st Une from foot, for son to Mr William Carstairs, read son to Mr John Carstairs. PREFACE BY THE EDITOR. In presenting the ample Memoirs of Robert Blaib, contained in this volume, it may appear very unnecessary to prefix any prefa- tory sketch of his life. Several reasons, however, render this de- sirable. The reader, before dipping into the volume, may wish to know somethino; of the character and general career of the man about whom so much has been written. It is of importance, too, to con- nect together, in a few sentences, the main facts of his life, the thread of the narrative being somewhat broken, in consequence of its ha^ang been treated by different hands, each of whom has added some incidents omitted by the rest. And we have thus an op- portunity of stating a few additional facts gathered from other sources, which could not, with so much proj)riety, have been thrown into the shape of scattered notes at the foot of the page. Robert Blair was the youngest of four sons of John Blair, " a gentleman living in the town of Irvine, and grandson of Alexan- der Blair of Windyedge, a brother of the Laird of Blair, the ancient and honourable family of that ilk."* (Life, p. 112.) His mother was Bessie Mure, of the equally " ancient and honourable family of Rowallan."t This venerable relative reached the patriarchal age of a hundred years. The precise day of his birth has not been recorded, but he was born in Irvine in the year 1593. He had * The Blairs of Windyedge were connected with the Blairs of GifFordland, a family which, Robertson says, " is generally understood to he a cadet of the family of that ilk." — Robertson's Ayrshire Families, i. 100. t We have not been able to trace this connection between Blair and the fa- mily of Rowallan. It appears, however, that the families had intermarriage at an earlier period. Sir William Mure of Rowallan, who died about 1348, had a daughter married to the Laird of Blair. — (^flistorie and Descent of the House of Roival/ane, by Sir William Mure, 41. Glasgow: 1825.) Jean and Hugh, the names of two of Blair's children, were common in the Rowallan family. His grandson, James, who was pro- vost of Irvine, had on his coat of arms the Moor's head, which is the crest of the Mures of Rowallan. (See Life, 112, with the blank supplied in the Errata.) VI PREFACE. three brothers, John, James and William, the two eldest of whom rose to be chief magistrates of Irvine, while William was first a regent in the University of Glasgow, and afterwards became the minister of Dumbarton. The early years of Robert, the subject of the following memoirs, are graphically described by himself in his Autobiography. It appears from the records of the University of Glasgow, that he entered college in the year 1611* that he was laureated, or took his degree of Master of Arts, in 1614; and that, after having taught for two years as assistant in a public school, he succeeded his brother as one of the regents of the college in March IGlG.t During the same year in which he was appointed regent, he re- ceived license as a preacher of the gospel. And at this period of his life the following anecdote is recorded of him by Robert Fleming, which it is rather strange should have been omitted both by himself and his biographers : — " Upon his first coming forth to preach," says Fleming, " he, by a remarkable providence, had Mr Bruce [Robert Bruce of Edinburgh] to be his hearer ; and as I heard himself declare, it was his desire to have the judgment of so great a man upon his discourse, whose censure, he said he would never forget, it had been so much blessed. It was this : ' I found,' said he, ' your sermon very polished and digested,' (which was indeed easy to one of his parts), ' but there is one thing I miss in it, to wit, the spirit of God ; — I found not that.'' This grave Mr Blair did often speak to others, which then took a deep impression upon himself, and helped him to see it was something else to be a minister of Jesus Christ, than to be a knowing and eloquent preacher." J * Stevenson, in his jirinted Memoirs of Blair, (p. 9,) has, in his bhindering way, made Blair say that he " entered to the College of Glasgow about the year 1608." The editor of an Irish edition of Stevenson's Memoirs, (Belfast: 18^4,) not aware of this, blames poor Blair for what he ne^•er wrote : — " Blair's memory, in respect of dates, had failed him in his old age, when compiling these notices of his early life." t Row states, that he was " hiureateil, anno 1613." — {Life, 112.) This must be a mistake, as we have derived the above facts from the registers, through the kind- ness of Dr J. Seaton Reid, Professor of Church History in that uuixersity. J Fultilling of the Scripture, 377. Ed. 1681. PREFACE. vn It does not appear what particular branches he taught while regent in the University of Glasgow * ; he usually signed himself professor of moral philosophy. Of his success in the art of teach- ing his memoirs afford us little opportunity of judging ; but we have fortunately the grateful testimony of one of his pupils, fi'om which it may be inferred that it was at this period he laid the foundation of that high celebrity for learning which he enjoyed among his contemporaries. Robert Baillie, in dedicating to him one of his treatises in 1646, testifies, in the following warm and enthusiastic terms, his obligations to his old tutor and regent : " When I look back, (as frequently I do, with a delightful remem- brance) towards those years of my childhood and youth, wherein 1 did sit under your discipline, my heart blesses the goodness of God, who, in a very rich mercy to me, did put almost the white and razed tablet of my spirit under your hand, after my domestic instructions which were from mine infancy, to be engraven by your labours and example, Avith my first most sensible and remain- ing impressions, whether of piety or of good letters, or of moral vir- tue : What little portion in any of these it hath pleased the Lord, of his high and undeserved favour, to bestow upon me, I were un- grateful, if I should not acknowledge you, after my parents, the first and principal instrument thereof. I cannot deny that since the eleventh year of mine age to this day, in my inmost sense, I have always found myself more in your debt than in any other man's upon earth."} In 1623, having been involved in a dispute with Dr Cameron, the learned Principal of the university of Glasgow, and " being now wearied of teaching philosophy," he accepted of a call to the minis- try at Bangor in Ireland. The particulars connected with this * Linngstone states, " I was then under the oversight of precious Mr Robert Blair, who, for two years, was my Regent in that college, and having got some gi-ound in logick and metaphysick, and the subtilties of the schoolmen, ane vain desyre to be above my equals set me to great jjains." — (^Life of John Livingstone. Select Biogra- phies, edited for Wodrow Society, i. 132.) t Tnhu/a rasa. X Dedicati(jn to Historical Vindication of the Government of the Church of Scot- land. London: 1G46. Vm PREFACE. part of his history are detailed at length in his Autobiography. After an unsuccessful attempt to cross the Atlantic, which the reader of his life will find graphically described, we find him again in his native land. He had been invited to become minister of the Scottish Church at Campvere, but " his averseness, after so manie sea-crosses, to accept any charge over sea, made him reject that motion without farder enquiry," * and he was admitted as colleague to Mr William Annand at Ayr, in July 1 638. After some scruple as to their commission, he and his L'ish brethren were al- lowed to take their seats in the famous General Assembly, which was held in Glasgow, Nov. 21, of that year ; and there we find him vindicating himself in what Baillie calls " a brave extemporall ha- rangue," from insinuations which had been thrown out against his loyalty, connected with the causes that led to his leaving the Uni- versity. Here too his feelings were subjected to a severe trial, by the proposal which was made to translate him to the more influential town of St Andrews, " Spottiswood, his archdean and doctors having ran away, where there were three colleges very corrupt, and the body of the town-people addicted to Prelacy and the ceremonies" (Life, p. 156.) His biographer, William Row, has said very little about this " act for transportation," but it seems to have cost all the parties concerned in it no little trouble. On the petition being presented by the Commissioner from St Andrews, Blair was called on to express his mind, when he said, " I confess I am in the hands of this Assembly ; but I protest heir, in God's presence, that / had rather lay down my life than he separate from my flock at Air."^ Baillie has preserved the particulars of the case, which we may give in his own homely but emphatic language : — " There fell in this day a most pitiful contest ; the toun of St Andrews supplicat for Mr Robert Blair to be their minister ; the toune of Aire, with tears, deprecated that oppression : Mr Robert himself most earnestlie opposed it ; for beside the great burden would fall on him in that toun, and the fatall unhappiness of that ministrie, * Baillie's Letters and Journals, (Bannatyne edition^ i. 31. t Pc'terkiu's Kecords of the Kiik of Scotland, 187. rREFACE. IX he was so farr engaged in affection with Aire, by the success of his ministrie, and the largeness of their charities, as any minister could be : yet St Andrews' earnestness, and the noblemen of Fife their importunities, the public good in provyding that seminarie toun with a good man, militated much against the pro vest, John Stewart's tears, and ISIr Robert's prayers : It was referred to a committee that night in my chamber, CassUlis, Lindsay, the Moderator, (Henderson), and a number of other noblemen and ministers. However much my heart pitied the case, (and, if it went through, it was a most dangerous preparative to rent any man from the flock his soul was bound to and others to him, to be fastened to the unhappie people of our great tounes,) yet I could not bot testifie my old experience of Mr Blair's great dexteritie ; yea, greater than any man I know living, to insinuate the fear of God in the hearts of young schoUars. Thus my testimonie, out of experience, farthered much, both that night in the committee, and the morne in the Assemblie, the man's transportation." It was carried, however, by a narrow majority of four or five votes, that he should be sent to St Andrews. " It went hardlie," says Baillie, " for the pitifuU complaints of John Stewart, craveing at leist a delay till Aire might be acquainted with this motion, and prepared to give in their reasons against it, did move manic, yet not the half; so the same Assemblie pleased and grieved exceed- ingly that toun by taking from them at once two ministers" (An- nan having been deposed) : " yet they have keeped still Mr Blair, almost by force ; else, how unwiUing soever, he had gone away, for he makes conscience to obey the AssembUe in all their commandments."* The people of Ayr succeeded in detaining him among them till the following year, when he was peremptorily ordered by the Assembly to go to St Andrews. Here he exer- cised his ministry with great success, till ejected in 1662. During this period Blair took an active share in all the public movements of the day, and contributed largely, by the sagacity of his counsels, and the moderation of his spirit, to promote the welfare, * Baillic's Letters and Journals, i. 173. X PREFACE. and consolidate the peace of the Church. In 1640 he was sent to London, along with Henderson, Baillie, and others, to attend to the affairs of the Church during the formation of the treaty of peace. After the death of Henderson, in 1646, he was appointed Domestic Chaplain to the King. " None so fit," says Baillie, " for the educa- tion of the King's children, both in piety, learning, and good man- ners. The man is so eminent in piety, wisdom, learning, gravity, and moderation, that I think his employment would bring a bless- ing to the royall family and all the kingdome.*" An anecdote connected with this portion of his history is recorded on the au- thority of Mr William Vilant of St Andrews, who, after stating " that scarcely did he [ever] know a more rare conjunction of these things more eminently shining in any one minister, than in Mr Blair, viz., eminent piety, prudence, and learning, and a most peace- able, calm temper of spirit," " tells us that in Oliver Cromwell's time, when he was called before the English Council, they intended to take his place and pension from him as King's Chaplain ; but he made such a wise appearance before them, that their preses said to the rest, ' It is well that this man is a minister ; for if he were not a minister, he might vex us all mth his great wisdom and policy ; therefore let us not take his pension from him, but let him keep it.' And so they dismissed him with great respect." f In the unhappy quarrel between the Resolutioners and Protesters, Blair — though, from the " moderation" of his character, inclining to the general policy of the Eesolutioners — adopted a middle course, and attempted to act as a peace-maker. He and the learned James Durham exerted themselves, unsuccessfully, but with the most praise- worthy zeal, to effect a union between the contending parties. As too often happens in such cases, his well-meant efforts at reconci- liation only excited jealousy and misconstruction. To use his own homely expression on the subject, he was " cuffed upon both haffets by them." In a letter addressed to BaiUie, March 23. 1652, after an earnest exhortation to peace, and recommending that aU former * Baillie's Letters and Journals, ii. 414. t Wodrow's Analecta, iii. 91. PREFACE. XI debates and determinations be quite laid aside, he adds, " If unit- ing on such terms may be had, they are accursed that would hinder the same, by seeking satisfaction for what is passed. For my own part, I think I see evidentlie enough some things amisse utrinque ; bot I would prefer one act of oblivion herein, lest new debating exulcerate our sores." * Baillie, who was a violent partisan on the side of the Resolutioners, seems to have taken this letter in very ill part. " Worse hardly can be than an accursed man : I groan at such horrible terms for no cause at all, bot sober dutie in the fear of God." And, with all his love and veneration for Blair, amount- ing almost to idolatry, " being sore grieved with this expression," he says, " I wrote sharp back to him a long bitter letter." Dur- ham was equally severe on poor Baillie, for he said, " that who would be against such a union were not worthic to sitt either in Presbyterie or Synods." " To this terrible reflection," says Baillie, "I said no more, but simplie, Brother, this requires no answer." f It has been justly remarked by a late writer, who has done ample justice to both sides of this sad controversy, that " it is evident that Blair was cordially united with Durham in the honourable work of mediation, and that nothing prevented their success but the obstinate and inveterate animosities of both parties." | On the restoration of Charles II., the subject of our memoirs, though he had taken an active part with the friends of the mo- narchy, and was now in infirm old age, was too honest to his prin- ciples as a Presbyterian, to be allowed to retain his charge in peace. He was more especially an eyesore to Sharp, with whose ultimate designs it did not comport to see a leader of the Presby- terian Church occupying the town which he hoped soon to call his archiepiscopal seat. Through the influence of this unhappy man he was subjected to various annoyances, which issued in his being obliged to leave St Andrews in September 16G1 ; and, after having been confined, by the orders of Council, first to Mussel- * Baillie's Letters, iii. 175. t Ibid. iii. 183. X Beattie's History of the Church of Scotland during the Coramonwealth, 251. E.lin. : Whvte & Co. 1842. XI I PREFACE. burgh, and afterwards to Kirkcaldy, where he spent three years and a half in comparative quiet, he removed to the Castle of Cous- ton, in the parish of Abei'dour, where he died, August 27, 1666, in the seventy-second year of his age." * Such is a brief outline of the life of a person who was, by his contemporaries, " reckoned one of the wisest men in the nation." f Unfortunately, few or none of his writings appear to have been committed to the press. It was probably owing to his high repu- tation for " wisdom," that, " when the General Assembly resolved upon a new explication of the Holy Bible, among others of the godly and learned in the ministry, Mr Blair had the books of Pro- verbs and Ecclesiastes assigned to him for his part." But we are informed, on the same authority, " he neglected that task till he was rendered useless for other purposes, and then set about and finished his Commentary on the Proverbs in 1666." | This is confirmed by Row, who informs us under the year 1663, that when lurking in Kirkcaldy, " all this while by-past he was not idle ; for he was perfecting his Annotations on the Proverbs." {Life, p. 457.) His Commentary, though completed and prepared for the press, has, however, never been published : the manuscript may still be extant, and we would fondly hope that the present publi- cation may lead to its discovery. (See Life, p. 403.) Bailhe, writing in 1641, speaks of another work undertaken by Blair: — " Think not we live any of us here to be idle : IMr Hendersone has readie now a short treatise, much called for, of our Church Dis- cipline ; Mr Gillespie has the grounds of Presbyterial government well asserted ; Mr Blair, a pertinent ansioer to Hall's Remonstrance; all these are readie for the presse." § Henderson's " Government and Order of the Church of Scotland," and Gillespie's " Assertion of the Government of the Church of Scotland in the Points of * " 1666, Augt. — Mr Robert Blair, leate minister of St Androus, (being deposed because he did not acquiesce with Episcopacy), depairted out of this life at CaM'ston, in the pai-ish of Aberdowre, being living there for the tyme, and was inteiTed Aug*'. at Aberdowre, in the day-tyme." — Lamont's Diary, 241. t Wodrow's Analccta, iii. 92. X Howie's Scots Worthies ; Art. Mr Rohert Blair. § Baillie's Letters and Journals, i. 303. PREFACE. Xm Rulmg Elders," &c., are well-known treatises ; but of Blaii-'s '' per- tinent Answer," if it was ever published, we have not been able to obtain any information. The famous " Answer to a Book entituled an Humble Remonstrance, by Smectymnuus" is known to have been the joint production of five divines, the initial letters of whose names compose the above strange nom de guerre ;* and it is highly probable that the appearance of that treatise, which was published in 1641, and led to a protracted controversy between the Smec- tymnuan divines and Bishop Hall, the author of the Remonstrance, may have induced Blair first to postpone, and finally to suppress the Answer which he had prepared. With the exception, there- fore, of his Autobiography, now for the first time printed as it was written by himself; a few fiigitive pieces of Latin poetry, pre- served by Row in his Continuation ; and a Preface to the posthu- mous treatise of Durham on Scandal ; the literary remains of Ro- bert Blair, once so famous for his wisdom and learning, may be said to have been lost to posterity. In personal appearance, Blair is represented as " a man of a not- able constitution, both of body and mind — of a majestick, awful, yet amiable countenance." f We are not aware that any portrait of him exists. The cm'ious reader may be gratified by the foUovA'- ing specimen of his handwriting, taken from the letter given in the Appendix, p. 598. (V/ipav\r Jn:>\>aUA ^^x>(-(lci^ 4^ &x4>r In spirit and in manners, as well as by descent, Robert Bliiir * Neal's History of the Puritans, vol. ii., ch. viii. t Livingstone's Mem. Characteristics. Select Biographies of WoJrow Soc. i. 324. XIV PREFACE. was, in the true sense of the word, a gentleman. Courteous and polite in his address, calm and moderate in his temper, he took the fancy of Charles I. at the Confei'ence at Newcastle, in 1646, while some of his brethren oiFended the dignity of the monarch by their rude simplicity. In his later years, he had acquired suffi- cient wealth to purchase a pi'operty of some value in Fife.* A foolish anecdote has been frequently told of him, by writers unfriendly to the Presbyterians, which we notice only to contra- dict. It is alleged that when Charles II. paid him a visit at St Andrews, during his brief sojourn in Scotland about the year 1650, Mrs Blair being about to hand him a seat, her husband said, " Hold, my dear, the young man can lift a chair for himself." This piece of wanton rudeness is so totally at variance with Mr Blair's character, and his uniform respect for royalty, that the story bears on its front the evidence of spuriousness. The reader who doubts of this may consult the scene described in the Life, pp. 186-188. An imputation much more injurious has been cast on him by the writer of the Memoirs of Sir Robert Spottiswood, the Lord President, who was executed for high treason at St An- drews in 1646. That author charges Blair, " the fanatical minis- ter of the place," with having incited the provost to prevent Sir Robert from speaking on the scaffold, and asserts that the Presi- dent having taunted him, by saying he would not have his prayers, because " God had sent a lying spirit into the mouth of the pi'ophets," Blair "grew so extremely in passion, that he could not forbear scandalous and contumelious language against Sir Robert's father, [Archbishop Spottiswood], who had been long dead, and against himself, who was now a-dying, which this mild gentleman took no notice of, having his mind fixed upon higher matters."! The unprejudiced reader will find a very different * " 1 660. — About Witsouday, Mr Robert Blaire, minister of St Androus, bought Clermont, in Fyfe, from one Eobertsone, eye to the dcceassed Robert Taylour, sometime provest of St Andrews : it stood him about eghteine thousande markes Scots." — LamonCs Diary, 157. t See Memoirs, quoted in Notes to Kirkton's History, by Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, Esq., p. 26. The same story is repeated, with some variations, in the Spot- tiswoode Miscellany, vol. i. 204, where, however, we are also infoi'ined, that Sir PREFACE. XV version of the story in the plain narrative of Row. So far from Sir Robert being prevented from speaking, it appears, that " m his railing discourse to the people on the scaffold, among other things he said, that the saddest judgment of God upon people at this time was, that the Lord had sent out a lying spirit in the mouths of the prophets, and that their ministers that should lead them to heaven were leading them the high way to helV And what was the reply made by Blair to " this mild gentleman ?" — " Mr Blair, standing by him (as he was appointed by the Commission of the Kirk), in answer to this only said, ' It's no wonder to hear the son of a false prophet speak so of the faithful and honest servants of Jesus Christ' ; which did so enrage the proud and impenitent spirit of Spottiswood, that he died raging and railing against Christ's honest and faithful ministers, and his covenanted people." (Life, p. 179, 180.) With all his gravity and dignity Blair could be occasionally facetious ; and one curious sally of his, character- istic of the freedom used by ministers in these primitive times, is preserved by Wodrow, who allowed nothing to escape him : — " Mr Blair, after he had been a while at St Andrews, observed many people go out of the church a little before the pronouncing the blessing ; and after some pains taken to reform them from this evil, one day after prayer he told them he had but one word to speak to them after the psalms, and desired them to stay. When the psalms were done, he said, ' Now, the prettiest man and woman among you aU rin first and fastest from the blessing !' This had, it seems, more influence on them than all his former pains, and they much refrained afterwards."* Blair was twice married. His first wife, to whom he was warmly attached, was Beatrix Hamilton, who died in July 1632, at the early age of twenty-seven. In 1635, he contracted a second mar- riage with Katherine Montgomerie, daughter to Hugh Montgo- merie of Braidstane, who carried over a colony of Protestants to Robert " inveighed much against the Parliament of England," which is not very con- sistent with his being prevented from speaking. * Wodrow's Analecta, vol. ii. 66. XVI PREFACE. Ireland, from the neighbourhood of Beith, and was created Vis- count of Ardes in 1620.* By his first wife he had three children, James, Jean, and Robert. The two sons died before their father. His daughter Jean survived him, and was married to Mr William Row, minister of Ceres, to whom we are indebted for the Conti- nuation of the Life of his father-in-law, contained in the present volume. By his second wife he left behind him two sons, viz., David and Hugh. David Blair became one of the ministers of Edinburgh, and was father to Mr Robert Blair, minister of Athel- staneford, and author of the well-known poem entitled, " The Grave," who, again, was father to the late Lord President Blair of Avonton. David was also father to Archibald Blair, who be- came minister of Garvald, and was father to Dr Robert Blair, Pro- fessor of Practical Astronomy in the University of Edinburgh. Hugh, the other surviving son of Mr Blair, was grandfather to the celebrated Dr Hugh Blair, one of the ministers of Edinburgh, and Professor of Rhetoric and Belles Lettres in the same University .f Thus, the subject of the following memoirs was grandfather of the author of " The Grave," and great-grandfather of Dr Hugh Blair, and Lord President Blair. It may be added, that Blair had a daughter by his second wife, Catharine, who was married to Dr George Campbell, minister of Dumfries at the restoration of Charles II., and Professor of Divinity in Edinburgh University, after the Revolution. It now remains to say a few words regarding the present work. Many may be familiar with the " Memoirs of the Life of Mr Robert Blair, printed for Andrew Stevenson, Writer, Edinburgh, 1754," 12mo, pp. 128. In his Advertisement to this work, Mr Stevenson, who was the author of. the well-known " History of the Church and State of Scotland," observes, " that the first and only part of the following Memoirs, wrote by Mr Blair, having been in- * * Bobertsoa's Ayrshire Families, iii. 233. Row has called him, apparently by mis- take, "Laird ofBusbie." — (^Life of Blair, 136.) t Hill's Life of Dr Hugh Biair, 12, 18. PREFACE. XVU tended chiefly f'oi* his own family, and made out by him at a time of life when the faculties of the mind use to be on the decline, the same must be supposed to want that correctness and accuracy which it might have had, if the worthy author had prepared the same for the press in his younger years. To prevent, as far as possible, all misconstmction on this account," he adds, " I have taken the trouble to compare my copy with several others which I have seen of these Memoirs, and particularly with a copy of both Parts, in the hands of Mr Blair's grandson, which he avouches to be genuine ; and, not satisfied with this, I offered mine to be re- vised by that gentleman and his friends, who, no doubt, have greater liberty to improve upon the original, than any other. But this they have not thought fit to take the trouble of; so that, — after patient on-waiting, for this purpose, a considerable time, and repeated solicitations to publish this Life from many to whom I had imparted my design, — I now bring it forth, with these varia- tions only : — First, Because what is here written doth not contain a full relation of the author's life, but only some of the most mate- rial passages thereof, I chuse to give it the additional appellation of Memoirs. Next, Whereas Mr Blair divides his Part into chap- ters, several of which seem only breathing-places, or stops, I follow the writer of the Second Part, who, more naturally, divides the same into Periods. And, lastly, I have ventured to make a few alterations in the style, in order, if possible, to adapt the same a little more to the modes of expression used in the present age ; but these alterations are inconsiderable. Doubtless the following Me- moirs might have admitted of more amendments ; but, such as they are, I am persuaded that all lovers of piety and useful history will reckon them highly acceptable, and a monument due to the me- mory of ' precious Mr Kobert Blair,' as an eminent divine, — his intimate cotemporary, (^Livingstone s lAfe and Characteristics, pp. 5j 28,)— did fitly call him." The public were certainly indebted to Mr Stevenson for having furnished them with an edition of these Memoirs at a time when, so far as Blair's family at least were concerned, they might other- b XVIU PREFACE. wise have been suppressed or entirely lost. And it must be owned tliat, whatever liberties this industrious collector may have taken with, the original manuscript, he has not materially changed the sentiments of those portions of it which he has given. But when we state that he has not only completely altered the phraseology, but in many instances greatly curtailed and abridged the narrative, while, on other occasions, he has interpolated it with pieces of his own, it will be admitted that he has overstepped the proper pro- vince of an editor, and that his book cannot be regarded as a genuine authority. Even in his " alterations in the style, to adapt the same a little more to the modes of expression used in the pre- sent age," he has more frequently failed than succeeded in " im- proving upon the original." Of this the reader may judge from the following sentences which occur in connection, and may be taken as specimens : * — Stevenson's Edition, p. 8, 9. Present Edition, p. 6, 7. About this time the Lord was pleased to About this same time thou wast pleased, visit me with a deadly-like disease, a 0 Lord, to visit me with a deadly-like bloody flux, of which my father died ; and disease of a bloody flux,_ whereof my when all prescribed means proved inefFec- father not long before had died ; and when tual, the gracious God loas pleased to sug- all prescribed means were to no effect, gest to myself a cure, which, when I had thou wast pleased, 0 gracious God, to sug- used, seemed at first to kiU me outright, gest to me a mean whereof I made use, but having fallen into a deep sleep for ivith the privacy only of an old servant, above twenty-four hours, I awaked per- which at first seemed outright to kill me; fectly recovered, and called for meat, tho' but being afterwards cast in a deep sleep / had tasted little for twenty-three days full twenty-four hours, I wakened perfect- before, ly recovered, and called for meat, which 1 had not before tasted at all twenty-three days. iVere?-^^e/ess the corruption of my nature But after this, the corruption of my \_did manifest itself more vigorous than be- nature did break out in contention and fore, and'\ did break out in contention and unruliness towards my two sisters ; and unruliness toward my two sisters. But then, 0 Lord, then didst cast me into a then the Lord did again cast me suddenly ^sudden and short sickness, and after the into a bed of affliction, [ivhich produced the recovery from it thou madest me to detest taming of my spirits,"] aud a detestation of all strife and contention, all strife and contention. In the twelfth year of my age, the And so growing up to the twelfth year * The interpolations of Stevenson, in these specimens, are included in brackets; his omissions and alterations are printed in italics. PREFACE. XIX supper of ths Lord having been celebrated of my age, when the time came of cele- [i'n Irvine,'] I was admirably taken with brating the supper of the Lord, I was ad- the sermon ; and my spirit ha^ang been mirably taken with the sennon that day, likewise greatly ravished with the first ex- the text being in the Song of Solomon ; and hortation at the table, I earnestly desired beii^g appointed to standby the minister ivith to communicate, &c. my psalm-book in my hand, I was gi'eatly ravished in my spirit with the first exhorta- tion at the table, and desired earnestly to communicate, &c. This was the Lord's work to his poor This was thy work, 0 Lord, to thy poor child, to make me his covenanted and child, to make me thy covenanted and sealed servant. sealed servant. Having profited well in my childish stu- In this time, profiting well in my haimly dies, I was found fit for the University, studies, I vf&s fitted to go to the College of [and entered to the College of Glasgoio in Glasgow, where I appeared to be inferior to 1608, where / studied hard,'] and made as none of my fellow-students ; and lest I ^reotjoro^rre^s as a«y of my fellow students; should be puffed up with my proficiency, but, lest I should have been puffed up thou, 0 Lord, wast phased to visit me with with my proficiency, the Lord was pleased a tertian fever, luhich did exercise me full to visit me with a tertian fever for full four months, &c.* four months, &c. Many other examples might have been selected from Steven- son's edition, still more awkward and corrupt, of this inexcus- able mode of dealing with the original ; but these may suf- fice to show the necessity that existed for a pure and genuine transcript. It need only be added, that though Stevenson has given part of Row's Supplement, he has candidly stated in his ad- vertisement to this part, that " it contains no more of that Supple- ment than what doth properly refer to Mr Blair's after life, with some hints of such of the publick occurrences of that time as Mr Blair had some connection with." In point of fact, the greater part of the Supplement has been entirely omitted, and it breaks off at Blair's death, thus leaving the whole of the subsequent por- tion of the history unpublished. In preparing the present edition, it was resolved by the Council of the Wodrow Society to give the whole manuscript of Blair's Autobiography, and of the Supplement and Continuation by Wil- liam How, entirely and exactly as they stand in the original. The * In these apostrophes, as given by Blair, ho appears to have been insensibly led into an imitation of the style of Augustine's Confessions, the early perusal of which, as he tells us, {Life, p. 6.) brought to his recollection the sins of his youth. b2 XX PREFACE. juster taste of modern times forbids all such "Intromissions" with the matter or manner of ancient Avritings, as was practised, without scruple though with the best intentions, by our worthy fathers of the last age. The only alteration, therefore, on which we have ven- tured relates to the spelling, which, as we found it to vary in dif- ferent MSS., and frequently in the same MS., we have throughout modernized, faithfully retaining, however, all the words of the original, and giving the Scottish terms, where these occurred, in their native guise. The Manuscript which we have adopted as the basis of the pre- sent edition, is a quarto volume, written in a very minute hand, preserved in the Signet Library, Edinburgh. In the opinion of Mr David Laing, Keeper of the Library, to whom we are in- debted for the free use of the MS., and much valuable assistance in our researches, it is the genuine autograph of WiUiam Row, Blair's son-in-law. This is, beyond all doubt, the most authentic, as it is the most accurate and complete, manuscript of Blair's Hfe ; in all pro- bability, it is the copy which Stevenson found " in the hands of Mr Blair's grandson, which he avouches to be genuine." * Various other manuscripts of Blair's life are still extant, copied from this, and from one another, which are more or less correct and complete. Some of these have been collated with the Signet Library copy. More particularly, we have collated the Autobiography of Blair with a MS. formerly in possession of Robert Wodrow, the his- torian, and now belonging to the Advocates Library, in Edin- burgh. Occasionally, also, this part has been collated with another MS. in the possession of Robert Pitcairn, Esq., from which we have adopted the headings or contents of the chapters. The con- tinuation we have copied from Row's o^vn cojiy compared with another in the Free Church College Library, and a third be- * Mr Laing has since informed me that the manuscript formed part of a vohime sold by Messrs Ballantyne and Co. in the library of the Kev. Dr Blair, in April 1816. According to the sale catalogue, No. G94, the volume contained a printed copy of the Solemn League and Covenant, " with the original MS. subscriptions from the Parsciiin of Cekes, in Fife, comprehending the barony of Struther and Craig- hall, &c. ; " but this had been taken out of the volume before it was acquired by the Library. PREFACE. XXI lon^ring to J. T, Gibson Craig, Esq. These two last mentioned ]MSS. begin only at the second part of the Supplement, and pro- ceed no further than Blair's death in 1666. But from these sources we have been enabled to supply the want of a leaf in Row's copy, amounting to nearly a sheet of letterpress. (Life, p. 449.) Finally, we have had the advantage of consulting another MS. in the possession of Dr Lee, Principal of the University of Edinburgh, (formerly belonging to Dr Jamieson of Edin- burgh, and to Gordon of Earlstoun), a beautiful copy, appar- ently taken from the Signet Library MS. From this we have been enabled to supply several passages in the latter, parti- cularly at the close, where the writing has been completely worn away. To all these gentlemen, the Wodrow Society stands deeply indebted for the franl^ness with which they granted the use of their respective manuscripts, in order to carry on and complete the present edition of Blair's Life. And with all these MSS. at our service, we flatter ourselves that we have succeeded in presenting to our readers a perfect transcript of this valuable work. The first part consists of the Autobiography of Blair. This, though wi'itten at a late period of his life, and bearing some evi- dence of the garrulity natural to old age and the superstition com- mon to the times, must be regarded as a valuable accession to the memoirs of the period. One cannot help regretting, however, that instead of dwelling at such length on some of the minor incidents in his private history, he did not enter more largely into the public events of the period, in which he took such an active share. The Supplement to the Life, beginning at p. Ill, and occupying the greater part of the volume, was written by Mr William Row, minister of Ceres, and son-in-law to Robert Blair. He was grand- son of the famous Dr John Row, the reformer and coadjutor of Knox, and son of John Row, minister of Caniock, whose " History of the Kirk of Scotland " forms one of the Wodrow Society's pub- lications. Several facts in his personal history will be found in XXn PREFACE. this volume. After being employed for two years as assistant to his father, he was admitted minister of Ceres in 1 644. Here he continued to labour till 1665, when on a sentence of suspension by Archbishop Sharp being intimated to him, lie took leave of his congregation. (Life, p. 474.) Subsequently he took advantage of the indulgence granted after the battle of Bothwell Bridge, and ^vas allowed to preach in his parish, but not within two miles of the parish church.* This liberty he did not long enjoy. The in- dulgence was recalled, and we find him in June 1680 summoned before the Privy Council, chiefly " in regard that the place of his meeting is wdthin a mile of the parish kirk," and discharged from preaching in that place. To this sentence he " silently submitted," in the hope of being allowed to preach in his " dwelling-house, or other houses of the parish." (Life, p. 573.) Thus he seems to have been employed till the Revolution, when he was restored to his former charge, 19th May 1689. His death appears to have taken place sometime between the years 1697 and 1700, when he was succeeded by Thomas Halyburton. In his sentiments on public questions, William Row appears to have exactly coincided with his father-in-law, for whom he enter- tained the highest veneration. While he approved of the Public Resolutions, he was inclined to moderation, being dissatisfied with the violence of both parties. Of this controversy he has given a full account, and it is characterised by singular candour. His opinions of the leading chai'acters of the times wall, of course, be variously estimated. A devoted royalist, he seems to have never forgiven Cromwell for his usurpation; he seldom gives him any other appellation than " that old fox ;" and, in our day, when a better opinion of the man at least has come to be entertained, a painful feeling is excited by the remark, — " that old fox died." (Life, p. 335.) Of Archbishop Leighton his estimate seems to have been very low ; and Archbishop Sharp he can never mention without unqualified aversion. His calling him so emphatically " that Sharp," reminds us of Dr Colville's compliment to the future Archbishop, * See Mr Laing's "Notices respecting William Row, prefixed to Row's History, Ivi. PREFACE. Xxiil Avhen giving him the right hand of fellowship, on his admission as regent to the University of St Andrews, in 1661, — " Satis est te esse Sharjyimn."* Row's strong Presbyterian leanings appear in his never by any chance giving Sharp or any of his compeers the title of bishop ; it is uniforaily " prelate," or " archprelate." At the same time, being an indulged minister, he shews little favour towards Cargill and the Cameronian party. But with all these peculiarities, which may by many be deemed blemishes, the Supplement by Row cannot be denied to be a valuable accession to our historical resources. Rude and unpolish- ed as it is in style, and pretending to be nothing beyond a plain chronicle of events, it furnishes us with much new information while it confirms what is old. This remark applies particularly to a large portion of the Supplement, embracing the general his- tory of the times, which has never before been published. The " Continuation of the History of the Times after IMr Blair's death, 1666, August 27," beginning at p. 500, also written by Row, is entirely new, having never before been printed in any shape. The same may be said of the " Continuation of the Life of Robert Blair, by his son, James Blair," which we have given in the Appendix, p. 585, but which, for the reasons there assigned, we consider to have been Avritten, in part at least, by his son David. We may here observe that this conjecture is confirmed by Stevenson, whor states in his advertisement to the second part, that, " his youngest son, Mr David Blair, one of the ministers of Edinburgh after the Revolution, had, with the assistance of his mother, and others of his father's acquaintance, added some other things memorable concerning him." In short, whether we consider the comparative obscurity of the period embraced by the present volume, particularly that of the Commonwealth; the curious and interesting facts collected, or rather scattered throughout the nan-ative ; or the oj)en-hearted candour that pervades the whole, stamping it with the evidence of genuine authenticity ; we have no hesitation in ranking the * Lamont's Diary, 165. < PREFACE. present as one of the most important of those contributions which the Wodrow Society, now brought to a close, has been honoured to make to the historical literature of our country. It only remains to make a parting allusion to the present aspect of the monument erected to the memory of Robert Blair in the old chm'chyard of Aberdour. The editor can attest, from personal observation, the fidelity of the sketch appended, which has been taken by his friend ISIr Rowand of the Free Church College Library. He found the stone exactly as described in the Life, p. 496, " erected upon the side wall of the (old) Kirk of Aberdour ;" but the wall is mouldering away piecemeal, and the monument with its simple inscription is sadly effaced ; so that unless measures are speedily taken for its preservation, even this memorial, which was all that " was judged fit and convenient to be put upon his tomb, by reason of the iniquity of the time," will, in a few short years, be entirely obliterated, and the fragments may soon have to be sought for among the nettles and brambles of the ruined build- inn to which it is attached. LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. THE AUTOBIOGKAPHY. CHAPTER I. FKOM HIS BIRTH TO HIS LAUREATION — 1593-1613. Having met A\ath great variety and vicissitudes of conditions in my lifetime, and dramng now near to the close of it (my seven- tieth year being almost expu^ed),* and having had experience of the constant care and kindness of my unchangeable Lord, I think my- self obhged to leave some notes concerning the cliief passages that have occurred to me in my pilgrimage, that my wife and children, at least, might have these to be a memorial of the way that I kept in the world, and that they may be the better furnished to answer the calumnies and reproaches that have been, and possibly may be cast upon me ; and that so much the more because this hath been often required fi-om me by my near relations, and some others also. To begin, then, with my younger years, my father (of whose piety, when I came to some years, I got certain inforaiation, how much he was addicted to prayer, and how tenderly he walked, refusing to enrich himself by buying commodities from pirates, as his neighbours did, being twice spoiled at sea by pirates) was taken from me the sixth year of my age ; and, at his interring, I used my bairnly endeavouring to be in the grave before him. And so being * Mr Blair was bom at Irvine in 1593. A 2 4 LIFE or ROBERT BLAIR. [1599. the youngest of six left upon the hands of a widow mother no**well furnished, and being then only civil,* till many years thereafter the Lord showed her mercy under the ministry of his worthy and famous servant, Mr David Dicksonf (for she lived near fifty years a widow after my father's death) ; being, I say, so left, the Lord early owned me, and began to catechise me in the seventh year of my age. Upon a Lord's-day, being left alone in the house through indisposition, the Lord caused my conscience to reflect upon me with this query, Wlierefore servest thou, unprofitable creature ? I not being able to answer, looking out at a window, I saw the sun brightly shining, and a cow with a full udder. I thought with * Only civil, that is, only decently and outwardly virtuous. t David Dickson, or Dick, was the only son of Mr John Dickson, a pious and wealthy merchant in Glasgow. He is supposed to have been born in 1583. After finishing his studies at the University of Glasgow, he was admitted Professor of Philo- sophy, a situation which he held for eight years. In 1G18, when in the 35th year of his age, he was ordained minister of Irvine, where he laboured with much acceptance and success. Having refused compliance with the Perth Articles, imposing the cere- monies of the English Church, he was, on the 9th of January 1622, summoned by Law, Archbishop of Glasgow, before the High Commission Court. Dickson appeared, but declined the authority of the court in ecclesiastical matters. The result was, that he was deprived of his charge, and banished to Tiu-riff. In that remote locality he was not idle, being employed in preaching every Sabbath by the minister of the parish. Yielding to the solicitations of the Earl of Eglinton and the town of Irvine, the bishop granted him liberty to return to his old charge in 1623. Here he continued to labour with increased ardour, preaching every Monday, the market-day of Irvine, for the benefit of the rural population ; and great numbers, particularly from the neighbour- ing parish of Stewarton, attending on these occasions, the result was the famous Stewarton revival, which lasted fi-om 1625 to 1630. After the renovation of the na- tional covenant in 1638, the people of Aberdeen having proved refractoiy, Dickson accompanied Alexander Henderson and Andrew Cant on a mission to that city, and engaged with them in disputing with its learned doctors, in behalf of the covenant. In 1642 he was appointed Professor of Divinity in the University of Glasgow, from whence he was aftenvards translated to the same ofiice in the University of Edin- burgh, In the contest between the Eesolutioners and Protesters, he took the side of the fonner ; but he lived to see all his anticipations overturned at the Restoration, when he was ejected from his ofiice by the monarch whom he had laboured to restore, and confessed that his brethren, the Protesters, had been " the tnier prophets." He died in December 1662. David Dickson was a man of no ordinary talents and theo- logical acquirements. He is the author of various works, among which his Truth's Victory over Error, and his Therapeutica Sacra are best known. His poems, of which he composed a considerable number, are remarkable chiefly for their pious simplicity, such as that well-kuown piece, beginning " O mother, dear Jemsalem." See Select Biograph., printed by Wod. Society, vol. ii. p. 5. 1599.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 5 myself, I know that sun was made to shine and give light to the world, and that cow was made to give milk to nourish me, and the like ; but being still ignorant wherefore I was made, I went pensive up and down that gallery wherein I was : then perceiving neither young nor old upon the streets, nor hearing any noise, I did re- member that the whole people used often to meet together, in a very large house, called the kii-k, where, no doubt, they were about that errand and duty which I had not yet laid to heart. Shortly thereafter, upon a Lord's-day, a stranger (I learned thereafter that he was an English minister, censured there by the bishops, and, going for L*eland, was waiting at Irvine for passage) entering the pulpit, his countenance and his band, the like whereof I had not formerly seen, drew my eyes to gaze upon him ; and, while I am thus taken up, he uttered these words : " But as to me, it is good to me to draw near to God."* These words, being the text whereon he was preaching, he very often repeated in his sermon ; and every time my heart was much aflfected therewith. I consented to that truth, and heartily approved it, and thought, verily, the Lord had given me the answer of the query that my conscience had made a little before; and though it be now sixty-three years since that time, the countenance, carriage, and voice of the speaker remain fresh upon my memory, and these words have been most sweet unto me, so that, in the very entry of my public ministry (as I had vowed before), I handled that text. From that day forth, I diu-st never play upon the Lord's-day, though the schoolmaster, after his taking an account of the Cate- chism, dismissed us with that express direction, " Go not to the town, but to the fields and play." I obeyed him in going to the fields, but refiised to play with my companions, as against the commandment of God. As I remember these early mercies of the Lord, so I remember my early sins. Not long after the former passages, in a time of rioting (commonly called the holidays of Yule), perceiving what liberty some elder than I took, to the end I might play the fool the more boldly, I feigned myself to be drunk, * Pt. Ixxiii. 28. 6 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1604. being as fresh as at any time. Also, forgetting my duty, I stayed at play tiU after suj^per time. Being challenged hereof, and threatened to be corrected, to escape correction I feigned that I was mourning at my father's grave, and so I escaped and set my mother a-mourning. These things I easily then digested, till the twenty- third year of my age, when, reading holy Augustine's Confessions, I observed how he in his old age laid to heart his childish faults — such as breaking into orchards and stealing of apples ; not for any want, having abundance thereof in his father's house, but lest he should be inferior to his comrades. Though I was free from that temptation and sin, yet I was thereby set to work to ponder the paths of my youth ; for sinful self-love is so strong, that though thy Word, O Lord, gives clear warning of the heart's deceitfulness above all things and desperate wickedness, yet we do not believe the same until we feel and find the same actually breaking out in our lives. About this same time thou wast pleased, O Lord, to visit me with a deadly-like disease of a bloody flux, whereof my father not long before had died ; and when all prescribed means were to no effect, thou wast pleased, O gracious God, to suggest to me a mean whereof I made use with the privacy only of an old ser- vant, which at first seemed outright to kill me ; but being ' after- wards cast ' * in a deep sleep full twenty-four hours, I wakened perfectly recovered, and called for meat, which I had not before tasted at aU twenty-three days. But after this the corruption of my nature did break out in contention and unruliness toward my two sisters ; and then, O Lord, thou didst cast me into a sudden and short sickness, and after the recovery from it thou madest me to detest all strife and contention ; and so growing up to the twelfth t year of my age, when 'the time came of celebrating the * Wodrow MS., and MS, of 1715. t This age may seem to us to have been somewhat premature for approaching the Lord's table. Instances, however, of admission at this early age were by no means rare in former times. It is curious, too, to notice, in an act of Assembly in 1 600, intended " to correct divers and great inconveniences arising by the untimeous maniage of young and tender persons," an order, " that no minister presume to join in matrimony any 1613.] LITE OF KOBEET BLAIE. 7 supper of the Lord, I was admirably taken with the sermon that day, the text being in the Song of Solomon ; and being appointed to stand by the minister with my Psalm-book in my hand, I was greatly ravished in my spirit with the first exhortation at the table, and desu-ed earnestly to communicate ; but having gotten my breakfast I durst not ; for it was then a generally received opinion, that the sacrament behoved to be received fasting. * Also, at the second exhortation being greatly moved, f I secretly la- mented that my bodily breakfast did bereave me of a soul break- fast and banquet ; but in the third exhortation, observing these words, " After supper," I thus reasoned within myself: Did Christ and his disciples celebrate this sacrament after supper, and can it be a fault in me to celebrate it after breakfast ? Sure it can be none, and so at the next table I sat down and communi- cated. This was thy work, O Lord, to thy poor child, to make me thy covenanted and sealed servant. About this time the min- ister giving order that ISIr Welsh's Catechism should be publicly repeated in the kirk before sermon, both before and after noon, I was made choice of to repeat all the answers. Thus, O Lord, thou wast pleased, who hadst a mind to make me a public orator for thee, to cause me timeously pronounce words whereby thy people were edified. In this time, profiting well in my bairnly studies, I was fitted to go to the College of Glasgow, where I appeared to be inferior to none of my fellow-students; and lest I should be puffed up with my proficiency, thou, O Lord, wast pleased to visit me with a tertian fever, which did exercise me fiill four months, to the great detriment of my studies. Thereafter I remember no re- markable thing till the fourth year (which was the twentieth year persons, in time coming, except the man be fourteen yeirs of age, and the woman twdve complete." — Calderwood's Uistori/, vi., 24. ♦ This was a relic of Popish superstition, which had lingered behind in the practice of the people, but which received no countenance from tlie discipline of the Reformed Church of Scotland. t In Wodrow MS. it is : " Also at the second table being greatly moved with the exhortation. 8 LIFE OF KOBEKT BLAIK. [1613. of my life) ; then I remember that I could not willingly want the exercise of my body by archery and the catchpole, and lest I should be at a loss thereby in my studies, I chose every other day to for- bear one meal of meat ; but perceiving that not to be a sufficient recompense, I resolved to watch at my studies every other night. And to carry this quietly without being perceived, I could find no other room for the purpose but a chamber wherein none was permitted to lie, by reason of apparitions in the night season ; yea, I myself had therein seen a spirit in likeness of one of my con- disciples, whom I, having a lighted candle in my hand, and suppos- ing verily it had been that boy, chased to a corner of the chamber, where he seemed to hide himself; but when I offered to pull him out I could find nothing.* Yet in that same chamber I resolved to spend my waking nights, and did so the whole summer, and was never troubled nor terrified a whit. And though I was car- ried on herein only by an ardent desire of prosecuting my studies diligently, yet thou, O Lord, hadst another design, even to fix my faith on thee ; for this thou taughtest me that devUs were chained with chains of darkness, reserved to the judgment of the last day, so that they could not, nor dm'st not, once appear, far less molest, without thy permission; and that if thou permittest any such thing, thou wouldst make it work for good to one devoted to thee, whom thou hast taken into protection. But withal, thou taught me then how necessary it was to pray seriously and fervently, and to live always as under thy onlooking eye; and so during that time I studied the one night without any fear or the least distrac- tion, and the other night I slept very sweetly. Glory to my blessed Protector for ever ! * Verv likely there was notliing to find ; still it •was no small proof of personal courage to make the attempt, in those days when kings were witch-finders, and whole parliaments trembled at a ghost stoiy. 1613.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. CHAPTEE n. DURING HIS ABODE IN THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW — 1613-1623. Having noAV finished my coui'se of philosophy, under the discip- line of my brother, JVIr William Blair, I took only some few days to recreate myself with my friends in the country, in hawking and hunting, and speedily entered into a very laborious task ; for I was eno-ao-ed beforehand to be an assistant to the aored and de- cayed schoolmaster of Glasgow, who had under his discipline above three hundred children, the one-half whereof were committed to my charge, where I remember no remarkable tiling, save that, being outwearied with the toil of the day, I oft went to bed -with- out supper, not for want but for weariness, making conscience of my employment. At that time Mr Robert Boyd of Trochrig * * Robert Boyd of Trochrig was one of the noblest characters of his day — combining the best qualities of the gentleman, the scholar and the Christian. But his lot was cast in an evil time, when none of these virtues were of any avail, without a sla\-ish sub- jection to the arbitrary will of a despot, incompatible with any one of them. Descended from the Earl of Arran, regent of Scotland, his father, James Boyd of Trochrig, had been archbishop of Glasgow. Having finished his course of philosophy and theology under the celebrated Andrew Melville and Rollock, Robert went to France in 1597, where he became acquainted with the learned Rivet, who used to call him his alter ego — his second self. Such was the extent of his learning, that it has been said of him, in the quaint language of those times, " he was more eloquent in French than in his mother's tongue ; more eloquent in Latin than in French ; more eloquent in Greek than in Latin." He was ordained to the ministry in France, where he married a French lady. The Continental divines soon discovered and highly appreciated the 10 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1615, being sent for by King James, came to be principal of the College of Glasgow. At the hearing of his inaugural oration I was not a little refreshed and upstirred. Therein he moved a doubt and question — that seeing he was a gentleman of a considerable estate, whereupon he might live competently enough, what caused him embrace so painful a calling, as both to profess divinity in the schools, and to teach people also by his ministry ? His answer was, that, considering the great wrath under the which he lay naturally, and the great salvation purchased to him by Jesus Christ, he had resolved to spend himself to the utmost, giving all diligence to glorify that Lord who had so loved him. I thought with myself. There is a man of God, there is one of a thousand ! — who am I, in the very entry, to weary of painfulness in serving my Lord, merits of the young Scotsman. In 1599, he was appointed professor of belles lettres in the College of Montauban ; but that noble champion of Protestantism, Du Plessis Momay, did not rest till he had secured his services as professor of divinity in his Uni- versity of Saumur, with a salary of £G00 a-year. This office he continued to hold, with great applause, from IGOG to 1614 ; when, on the earnest solicitations of James VI. — who, to do him justice, was always anxious to have men of learning about him — he was called over to Scotland, and appointed principal of the College of Glasgow in 1615. At the same time he became minister of Govan. Here he laboured with great suc- cess for six or seven years ; and during that period many young men, afterwards emi- nent in the Church, such as Blair, Livingstone, and BailUe, were trained up under his care. " He was," says Kow, " a very learned and well-gifted man, and yet one of the most humble, modest, and meek men that was in the ministry, in all this kingdom." But neither the piety of the minister, the eminence of the scholar, nor the amiable disposi- tions of the man, could atone, in the eyes of James and his courtiers, for his opposi- tion to " Prelacy and the ceremonies." The good man, hearing of the reports which the bishops sent up against him to his Majesty, shrunk with sensitive delicacy fi'om the threatened stonn, retired to his estate of Trochrig, and wrote to his friend Dr Rivet, earnestly soliciting some employment abroad. His friends, anxious to retain his valu- able services, procured his appointment as principal of the College of Edinburgh, and he was actually admitted in 1G22, but only suft'ered to continue hco months. HisPre- latical opponents, envious of his popularity as a preacher, informed against him as a ringleader of the Nonconformists ; whereupon his majesty wrote letters to the magis- trates, rating them severely for admittirtg him, and charging them to remove him, " unless he conform totally." He was afterwards called to the ministry in Paisley ; but this being at that time a " nest of Papists," as Row calls it, he was actually driven out of the town " vrith stones and dirt." Grieved in spirit, he retired home, where he contracted a disease which baffled medical skill, and he died at Edinburgh, July 5. 1627. His chief work is a large commentaiy on the Ephesians. — Life of Boyd, Wod- row MSS., printed by the Maitland Club. It has been said, I know not on what authority, that he died in Camck, January 1627. — Bannatyne MisceL, i. 285. 1615.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 11 though in a meaner employment ? From that day my heart was knit to that learned and lioly man, in whose hand the Lord had put, as it were, the key of my heart to open it to the Lord, when- ever I heard him in public or private. I profited little by others ; but he, as sent from God to me, spoke words of eternal life, whose lessons I carried away written in my heart, and thereafter did write them in paper for mine own use. After two years I was admitted to be a regent in the College of Glasgow, not without opposition from Archbishop Law, who had promised the place to another, having a purpose to detain me in the charge I was in, and having a son under my discipline, (for as yet I had not laid to heart the controversy about Church govern- ment ;) but herein the principal, Trochrig, and the regents would not give way to his motion. Being entered to this charge, my elder colleagues, perceiving that I had some considerable insight in Humanity, * urged me to peruse all classical authors ; and I, hearkening to the motion, began to peruse the most ancient frag- ments, and read over all Plautus. But the Lord being displeased with this design, diverted me thus : Having the charge of the library, I fell upon the ancients who are called fathers, especially Augustine, who had another relish with me, and who, in his Con- fessions, inveighs shai'ply against the education of the youth in heathen writino-s. I therefore betook me to the readinoj of the Holy Scriptures and the ancient fathers, who breathed out much piety ; yet even then I perceived our reformed divines much purer according to the Scriptures ; yet I resolved to peruse these an- cient monuments, beginning at the eldest, wherein I made consi- derable progress in the hours I could spare from my charge. In the midst of that year (1616) I was called by the presbytery to the public exercise ; and having made the exercise upon the Wednesday, the burden was laid upon me to preach the very next Sabbath in the College Kirk. Some of the hearers, better ac- quainted with God than I, after some years, told mc, that in that ray fii'st sermon the Lord spoke to their hearts ; whereat I greatly * Ilumanity, the Latin language. 12 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1616. wondered, and was stirred up to follow after the Lord. That year, upon an evening, having made a dangerous visit to ensnaring com- pany, when I returned to my chamber, and went to my ordinary devotion, the Lord did let out so much displeasure and wrath, that I was driven from prayer, and heavily threatened to be discoun- tenanced and deserted of God. Hereupon I had a restless night, and resolved to spend the next day in extraordinary humiliation, fasting, and mourning before the Lord ; and towards the evening of that day, I found access to God with sweet peace, through Jesus Christ, and learned to beware of such visits and company. But then I did run into another extremity, towards such as were pro- fane and irreligious — of rudeness and incivility. Holy Lord ! how hard a thing is it to short-sighted sinners to hold the right and the straight way ! Some days after this, being in conference after dinner with wor- thy ]\Ir Dickson, my elder colleague — once my master when I was a novice — I perceived that the very same day wherein I was so retired, he also was that same way employed ; whereof did arise betwixt us most entire friendship, and a covenant of mutual re- membrance one of another frequently before the Lord. About that time I learned that it was my duty, not only to teach my scholars according to the laws and customs of the coUege, but also, according to the law of God, and to teach them piety ; and from that time forth my reproof had more weight with them than the rod had formerly. At this time I observed little controversy in religion in the Kirk of Scotland ; for though there were bishops, yet they took little upon them, and so were very little opposed until Perth Assembly.* * This Assembly was held at Perth, 25th Augxxst 1618. " It was not made up," says Row " of commissioners sent from presbyteries, but of bishops, doctors, deans, and such ministers as were the bishops' followers. Then the king had his commis- sioners, and there were sundry noblemen and gentlemen, who were wiitten for by the king and bishops to keep the said Assembly ; and sundiy commissioners sent from presbyteries were not called upon, neither got they any vote there, the moderator not knowing what they would say. The Bishop of St Andrews (Spottiswood), usurped the place of moderator ; and when some modestly spoke that leets should be made, and out of them a moderator chosen by votes, he answered, ' This toune wherein we are 1618.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 13 I, hearing that some innovations were to be introduced * at that meeting, which was attempted before at a meeting at Aberdeen, and at another at St Andrews, but nothing could there be conclud- ed ; but great preparation being made to carry a conclusion of enacting kneeling at the communion, with some holidays, &c., that meeting being appointed in August, the college vacation being then, I resolved to Avait upon it to see how matters were carried. In the entry of that meeting, there was some contest about presid- ing and moderating the Assembly. The Archbishop of St An- drews, t who opened the Assembly "with a crafty sermon, pretended that presiding belonged to him of right ; but ancient worthy men opposed it, affirming that it was against the liberty and freedom of a General Assembly in Scotland that any should intrude into that place, and that still, in all Assemblies since the beginning of the Refonnation, the moderator was elected by the suffi-ages of the members of the Assembly ; as also, that no pretended Assembly is in my diocie ; let us see who will take mv place over my head.' " — Row's Hist, p. 315. ♦ These innovations were actually introduced, and are commonly called the Five Articles of Perth. They were : kneeling at the sacrament ; private communion ; private baptism ; confirmation of childi-en ; observance of festivals or holidays in commemoration of the birth, passion, resurrection and ascension of Christ, and the effusion of the Spirit. The king very plainly told the Assembly in his letter, that, though he had asked their consent to these Articles, they were not to suppose that he considered this necessary. " This were a misknowing of your places, and withal a disclaiming of that innate power which we have by our calling from God ; by the which we have place to dispose of things external in the Church as we shall think them to be convenient and profitable for ad- vancing true religion among our subjects. We will content ourselves ^vith nothing but a simple and direct acceptation of these Articles in the fonn by us sent unto you." — Booke of the Univ. Kirk, iii., 1146. t John Spottiswood, who was first minister of Calder, and then archbishop of Glas- gow, but made archbishop of St Andrews in 1615, in the room of Archbishop Glad- stanes, who died that year, and chancellor of Scotland. lie fled from Scotland, after the covenant had been sworn in 1638, exclaiming : " Now all that we have been doing these thirty years bypast is at once thrown down !" He died at London, November 26. 1639, just in time to escape witnessing the total overthrow of his favourite Church polity in Scotland. Spottiswood, though haughty and imperious, and frequently giv- ing way to unseemly bursts of passion against those who thwarted him in his projects, cannot be said to have been of a sanguinary or cruel disposition. His history has been admired for its moderation, but is chargeable with gi-oss misrepresentation, and, being a posthumous work, is suspected of interpolations. — See Index to M'Crie's Life of Mehillf, ii., .'548. 14 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1618. liad fixed the privilege of presiding upon bishops, that had crept in contrary to the ancient constitution of the Kirk of Scotland. Not- withstanding all this, the archbishop usurped the place, against which some of the brethren gave in a protestation in writing. Some days there w^as a disputation ; Mr William Scot of Cupar, Mr John Carmichael of Kilconquhar, and Mr Alexander Henderson ofLeuchars,* reasoning against the innovations; Drs Lindsay,t Gladstanes, t and Philip, § making answers, such as they were. They never offered any reason for the change but the king's will, (his letter being read several times), except one argument offered * Mr William Scot and Mr John Carmichael were the intimate friends of Andrew Melville, and must now have been old men. The former wrote an " Apologetical Narra- tion of the State of the Church of Scotland," lately printed by the Wodrow Society. Alexander Henderson afterwards distinguished himself as the hero of the second Ee- formation. t Dr David Lindsay, who was at this time minister of Dundee. He was made bishop of Brecliin in 1619, and afterwards bishop of Edinburgh in 1634. — Row's History, pp. 242, 325. He was the intimate friend of Mr James Nicolson, who, after accepting the bishopric of Dunkeld, fell into a state of remorse, which brought on his death. Lind- say set down in Latin verse the last words of his friend, which were expressive of pungent remorse for having accepted the bishopric, and, among the rest, Nicolson's exhortation to him not to haunt the court, and to eschew all the king's employments. " But neither his gi-ief nor his admonition," says Calderwood, " have wrought any good effect upon Mr David ; for he hath made no scruple to accept upon him the bishopric of Brechin, and to defend all the coiTuptions and innovations it pleased King James to obtrude upon our Kirk." — History of the Kirk of Scotland, \\., 672. Dr Lindsay wrote several works on the subject, as, " Resolutions for KneeHng at the Communion," 8vo, London, 1619 ; and, " An Account of Perth Assembly, with a Defence thereof," 4to, London, 1621. — Charteris' Short Account of Scots Divines, IVodrow MSS., vol. lii. 4to, no. 2, p. 8. t Dr Alexander Gladstanes was the son of George Gladstanes, archbishop of St Andrews. He studied at the University of Oxford, and in 1612 was ajipointed arch- deacon and first minister of St Andrews, although he had entered on the study of theology only three years before. So late as 1612 his father had continued to act as first minister ; but in that year the archdeanery was separated from the archbishoprick, (Acts Pari. Scot. iv. 493.) While in this situation, the conduct of young Gladstanes was far from being irreproachable. In December 1615, the year in wliich his father died. Archbishop Spottiswood found it necessary to ad^-ise liim to " follow his calling, and behave himself with greater gravity," and not to be " a company-bearer with com- mon folks in drinking.'' He continued, however, archdeacon of St Andrews till the overthrow of Prelacy in 1638, when he was deposed by the Presbyteiy of St AndrcAvs ; and the case coming before the General Assembly, that Court confinned the sentence of the Presbytery ; upon which he declined the authority of the Assembly, and pro- tested.— Life of Archbishop Gladstanes, in Wodrovo's Biographical Collections^ i. 293, 315, 546. § Dr Henry Phih'p, minister at Arbroath. — Row's History, p. 269. 1618.] LIFE OP ROBERT BLAIR. 15 by Dr Lindsay, wliicli was easily blown away. The reasoners against kneeling once asked whether their opponents urged the gesture of kneeling in reverence to the elements of the sacraments, yea or nay ? It was answered by Dr Gladstanes, " Not as to the elements, but as to holy signs ;" at which answer a great number of the Assembly murmiured as a most dangerous and superstitious conceit, yea, his very partners that stood with him showed their displeasure ; and yet the very act concluding for kneeling carries the same notion in the bosom of it not obscurely. In the midst of the disputation, the archbishop burst out in these words : " This matter shall not be carried either by arguments or votes ; if it were but we bishops, with liis Majesty's commissioners, we will conclude and enact the matter, and see Avho dare withstand this." Matters being thus earned, I had then no doubt, nor ever doubted since, on what side truth stood. Yea, then I perceived that Prelacy itself was the worst of all corrupt ceremonies, and was then fixed in my judgment never to approve their way, it being destructive to the purity of the Gospel. This change in- troduced persecution, yet nothing so hot and violent as that which now is incumbent on the Kirk of Christ.* From that time I * Tliis was written in 1663, when the persecution under Charles II. was " incum- bent," or lying heavily on the Church of Scotland. — Both ministers and private Chris- tians were exposed to trouble for not conforming to the Perth Articles. On June the Sth, 1620, an act of the Privy Council was passed for " a proclamation for keeping the acts of the last Assemblies of the Kirk," in which every minister who violates the said acts, it is stated, does so under the pain of being " called and convened before the Lords and others of the High Commission, and other ordinary judges of the Eark, and to be punished by deprivation, suspension, confining, and warding, at the discre- tion of the said judges of the Kirk : And every other person that shall refuse to come into the kirk and to hear preaching, the days [holidays] particularly above written, under the pain of pajTnent of the sum of thirteen shillings and fourpence, as a penalty modified to be taken of them and every one of them that shall so transgress (toties quoties) : And siklike for every person that shall refuse to communicate in the reverent manner that is prescribed by the acts of the said Assembly, under pain of payment of the sums of money after specified, according to their ranks, qualities and degrees ; that is to say, every earl under the pain of an hundred pounds, every lord under the pain of an hundred merks, every baron or laird under the penalty of fifty pounds, and every other person, of whatsoever rank or degree, under the pain of twenty pounds or less, at the discretion of the judges before whom they shall be called, convened, and punished in manner foresaid, without favour : And the said 16 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1618. studied the controversies about lord bishops and their ceremonies, and was still more and more confirmed against them as weighty corruptions. About that time, looking for a book in my press, I lighted upon another which I was not seeking, called " Petronius Arbiter." This book I heard some commend for an excellent Latin diction, both in prose and metre, and upon this account I bought it, but until that day I had never read any part of it ; but then where it opened to me I feU a reading, and did find, under the veil of most elegant words, the most base matter ; and, still upon my feet standing, I turned over and looked one or two other places, and still I found filthy poisons sugared and gilded with very ornate words. I thought with myself, if anything in the world be the devil's bait to defile and entangle souls, this is one eminently ; and wishing that there had been no more copies of it in the world, I went to the fire, and with my tongs I hfted out the best burning coal, and laid in this book in the place of it, lay- ina^ on the burnino^ coal above it. I learned thereafter that this Petronius Arbiter, the writer of the book, was called Arbiter be- cause he was Arbiter deliciarum Neronis ; that is, the inventor and master of wicked pleasures to that monster of cruelty and filthi- ness, the Emperor Nero *. O with how great circumspection ought we and others, especially young ones, to consider what books they have or read, lest unawares they swallow down soul- poison, which, as poison to the body, though it be vomited up again, yet leaves always a hurtful dreg ! Not long after that, I met with a most rare and admirable pains shall be taken up and applied to pious uses." — Wodrow MSS., vol. xliii., folio, no. 93. * Caius Petronius united talents of a high order with softness of manners and the lore of sensuality. Having fallen under the displeasure of the tyrant to whose vices he had pandered, he was condemned to ^ death. Petronius became his own execu- tioner. He opened a vein, then closed it up again, losing, at intervals, a small quan- tity of blood, " as if not in a hurry to leave a world which he loved ;" his friends, during this operation, all the while endeavouring to entertain him with grave dis- courses on the immortality of the soul, interspersed with recitations of gay and lively pieces of poetiy. Such was the writer whose talents recommended him to the favour of Nero, and to the praise of Pope in his Essay on Criticism : — " Fancy and art in gay Petronius please ; The scholar's learning with the courtier's ease." 1619.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 17 mercy, wherein I tasted abundantly of the Lord's loving-kindness that's better than life, and somewhat of that joy that is unspeak- able and glorious ; and thus it was : One of my colleagues, through indisposition, not coming to the table, I made him a visit after supper, and finding him distempered by a crudity in his stomach, I entreated the favour to send for wine and milk to be a posset. He knowing that then I could scarce taste wine, yielded to my motion, providing I would drink thereof myself: but the college servants, not being well skilled in posset-making, put in too little milk for allaying the strength of the wine. Hereby it came to pass, that having taken a draught thereof, and finding no harm for the present, two hours thereafter, being in bed, I was cast into a burnino; fever, and havino; never felt the like of that in all my life, I presently apprehended death to approach. I was the more capable of this apprehension, because from the twelfth year of mine age I had very frequent meditations of death, where- upon it was settled in my breast that I would never see thirty years, and then I was about five or six and twenty. The burning heat still increasing (as it uses to be in a diary fever, for meeting with the like thereafter by reading Femelius,* I learned that the access of the day-fever is most violent, inflaming the vital spirits), I concluded that I would not see the sun again risin the new creature was assaulted, hurled, and haled as a captive — 1G22.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 23 hindered in doing good and hurried away to evil; and that strength to resist was to be looked after from a Preserver and Deliverer. Yea, I perceived then that sin, that seemed to be dead, had too much of vigorous life ; which appeared most evidently when the spiritual law accurately urged obedience according to what is \\Titten, Rom. vii. 8, where the apostle, bearing the person of a combatant in this warfare, saith : " Sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once ; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died." Then, O Lord ! thou was pleased to humble thy servant, and to drive me out of myself, to teach me not to trust in myself, but in God, who raiseth the dead. — 2 Cor. i. 9. Then began I to leani the tiaith of that Christian paradox, and better to understand the meaning of it (see 2 Cor. xii. 10) : " AMien I am weak, then am I strong." The Lord gives a proof of his strength and power where he makes a discovery of weakness, according to verse 9 th : " My strength is made perfect in weakness ;" and so way is made that the power of Christ may rest upon such. If any think this was no great manifestation of an important truth — for who that knows any thing of God can be ignorant of this, that every good duty must be performed by strength and fur- niture from the Lord himself? — I answer. It is one thing to know a truth naturally, (" what they knoAv naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves" — Jude 10), or by a gift of common illumination ; to know it, 1 say, notionally, so as to dis- course thereof both accurately as to the matter, and elegantly as to the word-s. This many graceless students* and gifted persons attain, and yet the Lord's Word will pronounce of such a one : " He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions." — 1 Tim. vi. 4. Yea, he may be a great disputant, as the following verse doth intimate. A great deal of this brain, frothy, foamy knowledge cometh to little, yea, to nothing ; it puffeth up, and is but a witness against him that hath it, though, through God's bless- ing, it may be very useful to edify others. This differeth esscn- 24 LIFE OF ROBEIIT BLAIK. [1622. tiaUy in kind or species, as I may say, fi'oni the right, true, and saving knowledge of God. — See 1 John ii. 4, iii. 6, iv. 8. The Scriiiture aboundeth herein. This true and spiritual knowledge is affectionate and practical ; as it floweth from the Spirit of grace, so it carries with it a stream and current of holy affections, and stirreth up to endeavours and earnestness in holy practice. A little of this reacheth very far. Now, according to this distinction, no doubt I knew formerly this truth naturally and notionaUy, but as to the affectionate and practical knowing of it, upon good grounds, it appeared to me then a new lesson and a great light to order my conversation aright, out of a stock and store of the strength of God, influencing the soid from time to time, as felt necessity earnestly sought the same. Hereby I understood to purpose what is written in Isa. xl. 29-31 : " He giveth power to the faint ; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. The youth shall be faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fail ; but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength ; they shall mount up with wings as eagles ; they shall run, and not weary ; and they shall walk, and not faint ; " viz. (that is to say), when quick witted and well gifted persona shall sit up from duties, and fall away possibly both from profession and practice, the weaker witted and meanlier gifted, resting upon the strength and furniture of the Lord, shall persevere in profession, and abound in the practice of holy duties. This, through God's blessing, proved to me a great, long, and strong stroke of the oars, to set me forward in holy duties for a considerable time, walking in the strength of the Lord, in self-denying, and magnifying the grace of God and his gifted righteousness. But my gracious Lord, who intended to lead me on in holy practice, according to Gospel principles, by process of time suffered the great help and assistance gotten by what hath been even now mentioned to drink in and to decay. Then was I put hard to it what to do next. I found no stock in mv own hand to trade with, and that sti'enjjth and furniture from the Lord did not flow in as of late. When I was put to this restless pause, and was, as it were, out of all ways, then 1622.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 25 the words of our Saviour : " I am the way, and the truth, and the lite : no man cometh unto the Father but by me," (John, xiv. 6), * were suggested to me.' * Then Avas I thus rebids ed and upbraided : What meanest thou, dark-minded man, to live as if the Desire of all nations were not come — as if the Light of the Gentiles were not shining? — to live as if He were not published and proclaimed, in whom it pleased the Father that all fidness should dwell, and out of whose fidness we are to receive even grace for grace ? fof though thou be oft tliinking, oft speaking of Christ and to Christ, yet thou art not directly making him the way — that is, the guide or leader — the new and living way unto the Father. AYhat mar- vel that the strength and power of the Lord influence not thy soul, seeing thou makest so little application and address to God by his Son. Though thou seemest to know^, yet thou considerest not that all power in heaven and in earth is given into his hand. And as it was of old with his shadow, Joseph in Egypt, all garners were shut or opened, all sacks Avere filled or emptied, all comers and seek- ers were roughly or gently dealt with at his direction and pleasure ; so now in the kingdom of heaven aU petitioners, all traders, are to come directly and expressly to the man in whom the fidness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily, and all the disbursements and out'^ivino's to traders and handlers in this kingdom, come through his hands. Thus was I rebuked and chided into Jesus Christ. This was to me as the discovery of a new world. I began to lament that so many like myself, who had fled from the pursuing wrath of God to Christ, his satisfaction for them to the justice of God, had fled, I say, to his atonement, in order to their reconcihation and abso- lution from sin, and were therein exalting, extolling, and setting him on high, yet, in order to their sanctification, knew little or nothing what use to make of him. Then began I in a serious v/ay to study his person, his nature, his offices, and the several parts thereof; how he is made to us of God not only wisdom as the great promised prophet, righteousness • Wfxlrow says ou the margin of his copy : " These four words are not in the original ; but the sense not being comiilctc without them, they stand." 26 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1622, as our justifier and absolver, but also sanctification as our king to reign in us, and working that wliich is well-pleasing in his sight. Then looked I upon his human nature, wherein he was sib * to us ; and so " unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder." — Isa. ix. 6. " And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land, and when he shall tread in om* palaces." — ^licah v. 5. And so being made like one of us, partaking of flesh and blood with the children, " both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one : for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren." — Heb. ii. 11. Comfortable, then, was the consideration of his human nature, wherein he is touched with the feeling of our infirmities ; for upon this ground we are exhorted to come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. And so our Saviour was made fit to be a sacrifice to satisfy for sin, and our familiar, f to Avhom we might have recourse for sanctification to help us against all temptations as our need requireth ; seeing " for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." — 1 John iii. 8. Now, as the consideration of his human nature proves thus comfortable in order to our sanctification, so also his divine nature ; for the child that's born to us, the Son that's given to us, his name is " The mighty God, The everlasting Father." Wlien our spiritual enemies are terribly mustered up before us, and impudent Satan, as god of this world, claimeth an indepen- dent supremacy (for this is one of his stratagems against heartless sinners, to bear in temptations with such importunity, as having uncontrollable power both to command and compel), then he is to be knocked on the head with that divine word as a sword : " The God of peace shall bruise Satan under our feet shortly." — Rom. xvi. 20. But especially the king'ly office of Christ, in order to our sanctification, is most considerable, and that both in order to our * Sib — near of kin. ^ t Ovr fniidUar ; that is, our friend. In some copies it is erroneously written "more familiar." 1622.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 27 enemies, Satan, sin, the world, and death ; and in order to our- selves, as a victorious King to reign in us, through the abundance of his grace, to make us kings and priests to the Father. — Rev. i. 6. When sin offers to reign, and really does much prevail, he not only exhorts : " Let not sin reign in your mortal bodies," (Rom. vi. 12), but also (verse 14), upon his royal word, and out of his princely poAver, detennines the case — saith to all that have fled for refuge to him : " Sin shall not reign nor have dominion over you : for ye are not under the law as a covenant that curses the sinner, but under grace that supplies and supports." And so, now, when the fulness of Christ and the riches of Christ were made patent as a well-furaished magazine and an inex- haustible storehouse, O gracious God ! how sweetly and satisfy^- ingly did this refresh the soul of thy poor servant ! I saw then that the sacrifice once offered for sinners remained still to be a strength- ening feast, whereupon we are exhorted while we live : " Let us keep the feast." — 1 Cor. v. 8. AVhile thus I was feasting on and with Christ — looking on him as King and Lord, and drawing vu'tue from him — I perceived that as Christ had an inward kingdom, con- sisting of righteousness, peace, and joy of the Holy Ghost, (Rom. xiv. 17), and this kingdom is within us (Luke xvii. 21) ; so also that he did administi-ate his spiritual kingdom externally in go- verning his house, which is his Church, by his appointed servants and officers, the government being on his shoulders. This put me to a new examination of the point of Church go- vernment, considering first the Scriptures, and then authors who debated these questions. In searching the Scriptures I did find that our Saviour, upon several occasions, did forbid and discharge lordship and domination, even to his extraordinary commissioners (Luke xxii. 24-26 ; Matt. xx. 25, &c.) ; and, consequently, to aU that shall bear office at any time in his Kirk. And in these pro- hibitions these things are remarkable : First, The prohibition in the Gospel of Luke was given out at the celcbx-ation of the sacra- ment of his supper, Christ our Loi'd giving to his disciples their sacrament upon it ; secondly, It is observable that in both the Evan- 28 LIFE OP ROBERT BLAIR. [1622. gelists, where our Saviour discharges domination and lordship in Kirk officers, he asserts and allows civil and kingly government, and the titles of honour due thereunto, and thereby refutes that conceit that goes too current — " No bishop, no king ;" and, thirdly ^ It is remarkable, that with the discharging of domination in Kirk office-bearers, he discharges also titles of honour, to be assumed by them, or to be given to them, saying expressly in Luke, " It shall not be so with you." Also, the Apostle Peter (on whom especially the hierarchy is builded) discharges this domination, say- ing : " Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being en- samples to the flock." — 1 Peter v. 3. And wherever bishops are named in the New Testament, no other thing is meant than pas- tors, presbyters, or ministers ; so th.at bishop and presbyter, in the language of the Holy Spirit, is nothing else but two names of one and the same office, which is confessed even by the learnedest of the Prelatic party, and is so manifest from the 1st of Philippians, and the 20th of the Acts, that it cannot be denied but with great impudence ; and therefore it is that the wiser sort of the Prelatic party, not vexing the Scriptures to find their original there, betake themselves either to the authority of the civil magistrate, or to the ancient custom of the Kirk, or to the good end for which this superiority of bishops was ordained. But none of these can be a ground sufficient to found their superiority upon, much less their sole power. As to the first of these, it may justly be counted a profane conceit to imagine that Christ hath not ordained and insti- tuted the substantial of a government (whereof the office-bearers therein are a principal one) how to govern his house and kingdom ; and it contradicts the perfection and sufficiency of Holy Scripture. And who will think the man a wise governor of his house that leaves it to the servants to choose rulers over them without his direction and appointment ? As to the second, of pretended anti- quity, first, it is no absurdity to call every substantial change, after the closing of the canon of Scripture, a corrupt novelty ; and, secondly, it is well known to all conversant in the writings of the ancients, that the change at first was very small, yea, that for near- 1G22.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 29 ly four hundred years the person to wliom the name of a bishop began to be appropriated had nothing above the presbyter but ordination, as J ome witnesses in his time. Thereafter, as purity decayed and conniption increased, more was added from time to time, till it came to the height it is now at. As to the third, to wit, the end for which this superiority was by men ordained, viz., to keep unity, it is the truest plea of all the rest, but very weak and insufficient. For, as learned ^Miitaker observes, disputing the question, the remedy proved worse than the disease ; and in very deed, granting once the expedience and lawfulness of a lord bishop over a diocese to keep unity therein, and of a primate's grace to keep unity in a kingdom, it cannot be denied that, upon the same ground, it is fit and necessary that there be a universal bishop and pope over all the churches and kingdoms of the world, as the learned author now cited acknowledges. The truth is, that the denomination of bishops has been the greatest ground of division and contentions that ever was in the Christian world. And here it is very considerable, that when the chosen vessel, the blessed Apostle Paul, in the 4th of the Ephesians, is exhorting to unity, and gathering arguments to promote the same, if it had been the mind of the Lord to appoint the superiority of bishops, and to bless that as a means to preserve unity in the Kirk of Christ, it had been an opportunity there to suggest the same ; but, on the contrary, he showeth, that after apostles and evangelists, who were ex- traordinary commissioners, and in that wherein they w^ere extra- ordinary none were to succeed them, he nameth only " pastors and teachers for the perfecting of saints, till we all come to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a per- fect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ ;" where it is plain that, according to the wisdom of God, it is not the lording superiority of a prelate over a province, or primate over a kingdom, or a pope over all the churches of the world, that is the mean to keep unity ; but that it is the blessing of Christ upon the labours of his sent pastors and teachers, jointly acting and carrying on the work of the ministry, that doth perfect the saints. 30 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1622. bringing them to unity, and making them to grow up to the strength and stature of the grace of God. This discourse may seem a digression, and going out of the way to meet with a friend, or rather an adversary ; but in very deed is no digression. For studying sanctification and the progress of hohness, as belonging to the kingly office of Jesus Christ, where- by he reigneth in his people, destroys in them what is opposite to his kingdom, bringing up their hearts to a growing conformity Avith him, they being his apprentices in this work, and he still to them master of work ; wdiile, I say, I am about the study of the inward part of his kingdom, I saw it incumbent on me not to slight his kingly government of his Kirk, and to search it from the register of his own will ; not neglecting the learned writings of the most able disputants on the controversies arising thereon, whereby I attained what here I have set down. And here I pro- fess and protest, as I attained anything of progress in piety from the influence of the grace of Christ, I also attained to further con- firmation of the truth of the government of his Kirk by his aj)- pointed officers, and not by other intruders and usurpers, to whom I durst not give the accustomed titles of honour, being undue, and prohibited of the Lord, as well as the usurpation itself, as has been formerly said. And though I saw many who were clear enough against that usurpation, yet made no scruple of giving ' titles of honour ' * to the usurpers, following that maxim, Loquendum cum vulgo, sentiendum cum sapientihus — " We ought to speak as the common people do, but think as wise men do" — I durst not follow that loose principle, albeit I knew that was the way to hasten on trouble ; and I was herein confirmed by what is written Job xxxii., at the end, wdiere that grave though young moderator of the con- troversy betwixt Job and his friends, reproving them both as in- jurious to God, and mutually one to another, (and this his reproof is not censured by the Lord, though he censures both Job and his firiends), this Elihu saith : "Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man ; for I * Wodrow MS. 1622.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 31 know not to give flattering titles ; in so doing my Maker would soon take me away." In liis eyes the giving of undue and flattering titles was no trifling thing, that needed not to be stuck upon ; in doing so he feared destruction from God, and so did I also. Honour- able titles are indeed due to them that are honoured with civil honour by a king or state, which is the fountain of honour ; but persons interdicted hereof by the sovereign Lord, King of kings and Lord of lords, who authoritatively gives out indispensable laws, both of giving and receiving oOionours and the titles thereof, and hath said of Church officers, " It shall not be so with you," (hav- ing, in the words immediately before, allowed both power and honour, with the titles thereof, to be called " Benefactors," Gracious Lords, or your Grace), may neither require nor admit the same, nor may others, by so flattering them, harden them in their usurpa- tion. But now, to proceed in opening up the steps of practical light wherein the Lord did lead me in these times, I thought with my- self thus : Having found opened to me the mystery of Christ in order to a full satisfaction for sin, as also his kingly office, in order to carry on sanctification, and so made to me " all, and in aU," I concluded that there was no more ado but, in humble sincerity, to follow on that way ; and then, that I might better know how it was with my soul from day to day, having heard of the practice of some diligent Christians, who daily took brief notes of the condition of their souls, marking both what failings and escapes they were over- taken with, as also what speed they came and progress they made in the ways of God, I followed the same course, in some passages using a dark way of writing, and kept it up about sixteen years ; so that every Lord's-day the notes of the preceding week were con- sidered and laid to heart, and at the end of every month the notes thereof were perused, and at the end of the year a view taken of the whole. By this strict course I perceived some new obstruction to arise, whereat I was not a little afflicted, having before thought that the discovery made to me of the riches and fulness of grace in Christ should have reached further without any stop or let. Thus 32 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1622. was I again put to a stand witli great sorrow, wondering what would be the outgate. Sometimes I thought deeper humiliation for not improving a discovered Christ would clear the way to me ; another time 1 thought that more diligence, and, when ordinary diHgence carried not the matter, extraordinary would do it. But still the obstruction remained, to my great astonishment. While I am thus perplexed, that great oracle of God so often set down in Holy Scriptures, " The just shall live by his faith," sounded loud in my ears. This put me to a search through the Scriptures, where I did find great weight laid on that grace both in order to our justi- fication, as also to our sanctification. But I was not satisfied with what I did read commonly in our divines, who described rather the high degree and effects thereof attainable in this life, but gave not a description of it that agreed to the nature of that grace, and all the decrees thereof : but when that Treatise of Faith came forth penned by Ezekiel Culverwell,* a London minister, (his notion of faith is that same that is now published by the Westminster Cate- chism, penned by the divines of both kingdoms) ; I was thereby much satisfied and confirmed by his uptaking of the nature and notion of faith. By this study of the nature of precious faith, especially that oracle formerly mentioned, I learned first that nominal Christians, or common professors, were much deluded in their way of believ- ing ; and that not only Papists, who place faith in an implicit assent to the truth which they know not, and that it's better defined by igno- rance than by knowledge, (a way of believing very suitable to Anti- christ's slaves, who are led by the noses they know not which way), * were hugely herein mistaken,'! but also secure Protestants, abusing * " Ezekiel CiilvevwcU, educated in Emmanuel College, Cambridge, was some time rector of Stambridge, in Essex, and afterwards vicar of Felsted, in the same county. When in the latter situation he was prosecuted for nonconformity. In the year 1583 he was suspended by Bishop Aylmer, for not wearing the surplice. He was a man of great piety and excellent ministerial abilities, and instrumental in the conversion of the celebrated Dr "William Gouge, when a boy at school. His sister was the Doctor's mother. He is classed among the learned writers of Emmanuel College, and was author of ' A Treatise of Faith,' 1633 ; also ' A Ready Way to Remember the Scrip- tures,' 1637." — Brook's Lives of the Puritans, iii., 512. t Wodrow MS. 1622.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 33 the description of old given of faith, that it is an assurance or assur- ed knowledge of the love of God in Christ. This assurance, indeed, no doubt is attainable, and many believers do attain and comfort- ably enjoy it, as our divines from the Holy Scriptures prove un- answerably against the Popish doctors, who maintain the necessity of perpetual doubting, and miscall that Christian comfortable as- sux'ance of the Protestants' presumption. But notwithstanding it is true of a high degree of faith, yet it agrees not to all the degrees of saving faith ; so that hereby many gracious sound believers, who have received Jesus Christ, and rested on him as he is offered to them in the Word, have been much puzzled, as if they were not believers at all. But, upon the other hand, many secure, un- humbled misbelievers, who have not believed in the Lord's holiness and hating of sin, who have not believed how self-destroyed they are, out of self-love, without the warrant of the Word, conceit themselves to be beloved of God ; and that the formerly mentioned description of faith agrees well to them. Secondly, I perceived that many who make right use of faith in order to their justifica- tion, made not directly use thereof in order to sanctification. But then I perceived that the living of the just by faith reached forther than I fonnerly conceived, and that the heart is purified by faith. If any think. What I knew I not till then that precious faith, being a grace, was not only a part of our holiness, but did set forward other parts of holiness ? I answer, I did indeed know, and so accord- ingly made use of faith as a motive to stir up to holiness, according to the apostle's exhortation : " Having, therefore, these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord," (2 Cor. vii. 1.) But I had not, before that, learned to make use of faith as a mean and instrument to draw holiness out of Christ, the well of salvation, though it may be I had both heard that and spoken that by way of a transient notion ; but then I learned to purpose that they who receive forgiveness of sins are sanctified through faith in Christ, as our glorious Saviour taught Paul. — Actsxxvi. 18. Then I marvelled not that my progress met with an obstruction for not c 34 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1622. making use of faith, as hath been said for sanctification. Then I perceived that in making use of Christ for sanctification, without direct employing of faith to extract the same out of him, I was like one seeking water out of a deep weU without a long cord to let down the bucket and draw it up again ; or that I was like a child that opened the mouth to the teat or pap, but did not lay the tongue about the top or nipple thereof, and that milk rather did run into the mouth than that there was kindly sucking. Then was I like one that came to the storehouse, but got my provisions reached to me as it were by a window ; I had come to the right house, but not to the right door. But by this ' new' * discovery I did find a patent door made for provision and furniture in and from Christ my Lord. So, blessed Lord, thou trainedst on thy poor servant step by step, suffering difficulties to arise, that greater clearing from thyself might flow in. About that time I was employed to preach by my own brother, who had been my master and teacher ; and in the doctrine speaking to the point that now I have been uttering, he, after sermon, in conference, asked whence and how I learned that doctrine ; for he did not remember that ever he had heard or read that point before. I told him that I had especially learned it from the Holy Scriptures, and that I was put to a stand and a nonplus till I learned it, and that I was confirmed therein by that notable treatise of Mr Culverwell's, formerly mentioned. He told me, thereafter, he had made use of that treatise to purpose, both for himself and his flock. I hoped then to make better progress with less stumbling ; but not long after, encountering difficulties, I wondered what discovery would next clear the way. Then I found that the Spirit of holi- ness, whose immediate and appropriate work was to sanctify, had been slighted, and so grieved. For though the Holy Spirit had been teaching, and I had been speaking of him and to him fre- quently, and seeking the pouring out of the same, and urging others to seek the same, yet that discovery appeared to me a new practical lesson ; and so I laboured more to crave, cherish, and not * MS. of 1715. 1622.J LITE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 35 grieve or quench the Holy Spirit, praying to be led into all truth according to the Scriptures by that blessed guide ; and that by that heavenly Comforter I might be comforted in all troubles, and sealed up thereby in strong assurance of my interest in God. About that time the Lord set me a work to stir up the students who were under my discipline earnestly to study piety, and to be diligent in secret seeking of the Lord ; and my gracious Lord was pleased herein to bless my endeavours. But then the teaching of philosophy became irksome and grievous to me ; it was as sand betwixt my teeth. I began to think that sort of labour and study more prejudicial to piety and walking with God than any manufac- ture or handiwork was ; for I thought therein the mind was more free to contemplate the Divine INIajesty, and to meditate on holy duties, even when the hand is busied with external labour ; but to be reading, meditating, and teaching philosophic notions, distracted the mind more from divine contemplations ; and yet, for all this, I durst not slack my hand from a diligent performance of my duty herein. Being thus pinched and perplexed, my gracious Lord was pleased to support me by teaching me that duty in a lawiul calling was service acceptable to God through Jesus Christ, when his im- mediate service was not slighted, but conscionably performed ; see- ing the apostle (Col. iii.) exhorteth Christian servants, that what- ever they do in their employments, to do it heartily, not as to men, but as to the Lord ; for, saith he : " Ye serve Christ the Lord." Secondly, I was encouraged herein that I was taught to intermix holy ejaculations to God with all my reading, meditating, and • teaching of philosophy. And, thirdly. This comforted me, that I had access also to teach the grounds and urge the practice of true piety ; and so I got the residue of my time and laboiu- there, which was not long after this, patiently and comfortably endured. About this time, after Perth Acts were ratified, kneeling at the communion began to be strictly urged, and many faithftil ministers were deposed from the ministry for not obeying the said acts, as Mr Henry Blyth,* the minister at Holyrood House ; Mr Kichard * Spottiswood, archbishop of St Andrews, (1619) having gone to Court, procured a C2 36 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1622. Dickson,* minister at the West Kirk ; IVIr David Foster [' Forres- ter/] t minister at Leitli ; Mr David Dickson, minister at Irvine, and many others. At Glasgow, kneeling at receiving the elements was so hardly pressed that the Archbishop Law removed from the Lord's table some students, being well known to be godly young men. Hereat Troclirig, principal of the college, accompanied with the masters of the college, went to the archbishop, and with great liberty did admonish and reprove him for driving from the Lord's table godly young men whom, doubtless, Christ made welcome; telling him withal, that the table was not his, but Christ's, and that he had dealt in the matter as imperiously as if he had been removing his horse boys from the by-board. The warrant and command fi-om the king to Law, archbishop of Glasgow, to hold the High Commission Court, and depose Mr Blj^th and Mr Da^'id Forrester of Leith from their ministry, and to banish Mr Blyth to Inverness, and Mr Forrester to Aberdeen. Arch- bishop Law was reluctant to do this, feeling some struggles of conscience at the thought of treating in such a manner men who, he was convinced, were faithful and honest ; but, upon receiving a second letter ft-om the lung, he held the Com-t of High Commis- sion, and proceeded against these ministers according to the king's will. After Mr Blyth had continued for a long time in his ward at Inverness, he was admitted minis- ter of Eccles, not far from Berwick. " Thus he is far removed fi-om Edinburgh, and put in a place (as the prelates thought) sca7-ce capable of puritanical principles, hard upon the border." — Row's History, pp. 323, 324. Kow describes him as " an honest and holy man." — Ibid., p. 258. * In 1619, Mr Dickson was called before the High Commission by the Archbishop of St Andrews ; and, for not celebrating the communion according to the Articles of Perth, and condemning, in particular, the act of kneeling in receiving the elements, he was removed from his ministry, and warded in the Castle of Dumbarton. — Row's His- tory, p. 320. Here he was detained some years, and was never suifered to return to his flock. About the same tune, Mr Hogg of Dysart was banished to the Orkneys for the same offence. Archbishop Law having been employed to confer with them, Mr Hogg said to him that " they must answer before the Judge of heaven, who had a higher commission ;" when the bishop replied : " It is lang to that day, and ye must suffer in the meantime ! " The archbishop having threatened to close his mouth and banish him, " I shall be as ready," said the minister, " by God's grace, to suffer as you to persecute ; and one day will declare Avhether you do well or not." " We shall be doing till that day comes," replied the ai'chbishoi). — Scot's Apologetical Narration, p. 269 ; Wodrow 3ISS., vol. xhii., no. 94. t As is stated in the note preceding the last, Mr Forrester was at this time deposed from his ministry, and banished to Aberdeen by the Court of High Commission. After continiiing for a long time in his ward, he M^as, by the influence of Sir William Alex- ander of Menstrie, afterwards Earl of Stirling and Secretary of Scots affairs, a cousin of his wife's, restored to his charge at Leith. — Row's History, p. 323. 1622.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 37 archbishop was so incensed with this free admonition, that his pas- sion hindered his expression for some space ; but so soon as he had recovered himself, he uttered his indignation in very high Avords,* which occasioned the removal of that shining light from the coUege of Glasgow ; for he said, " I will not sit in Rome and strive with the Pope." But in the end, the archbishop magnifying Perth As- sembly (where kneeling at the communion was concluded) so highly, saying that all things there were carried upon so weighty grounds, I was forced (none of the rest there present having seen that Assembly) to say something, viz., that the moderator of that meeting said openly, in time of the disputation : " This matter shall be carried neither by arguments nor voices ; if there were no more than we bishops and the king's commissioner, we will con- clude the same." The archbishop, though he acknowledged that it was tiaie which I uttered, yet he poured out his indignation upon me by very injurious words; and thereafter, though he spared not to commend my parts out of measure, yet when I was pre- sented to any charge he opposed the same. Yet he attempted nothing against me till after the retiring of Trochrig, that Mr Ca- meron,! coming for a time into his place, set the archbishop against * As a specimen of the " high words, in which this prelate indulged, we may give the following fi-om notes of a sermon he delivered on John ii. 17, before the Provin- cial SjTiod of Glasgow, April 4, 1C20 : " \\niereas," he said, " the zeal of the house of God ate up Christ, now the zeal of the people eats up the Kirk ; and as Christ was crucified betwixt two thieves, so is his Ivirk now betwixt Papists and Schismatics. The zeal now is blind and for by-respects — tliat they may get credit with people and the purse filled, as Judas got the bag ; and as Diogenes would be singidar, by bathing in snow and water in ■w'inter, that the people came flocking about, pitying, and crj-ing, Come out. But Plato, more learned than himself, said, ' Good people, go home ; let him alone, and he will come out of his own will.' They will say that they suffer for righteousness, even as Dioscorus, when he suffered for heresy, cried out, ' I suiFer for righteousness' sake ! ' He then took God and his angels to witness, that the things in question in our Kirk were neither commanded nor forbidden in God's Word, but left indifferent. He took it upon his salvation, tliat they were but trifles that all the strife was for, and that the pamphleteer's pamphlet (meaning the Nullity of the Perth As- sembly) that called kneeling idolatry, was but a false lie." — Wodrow MSS., vol. xliii., no. 94. t The life of Dr John Cameron presents a series of vicissitudes seldom experienced by the mere student. He was bom about the year 1580, in Glasgow, "in our Salt- Mercat, a few doors from the place of my birth," says Robert Bailie. Having acquired the French language from Andrew and William Eivet, who were his fellow-students 38 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1622. me ; but before I set forth that matter, it shall not be amiss to premise something concerning that very learned man, and what it was that did irritate and provoke him so against me. and companions in the University of Glasgow, he went to France in 1600, and became professor of theology at Sedan ; but, devoting himself to the study of divinity, he ac- cepted a ministerial charge at Bourdeaux, in conjunction with his countryman, Gil- bert Primrose. While in this situation, he and his colleague became involved in a strange quaiTel with the Government. Ordei's having been given to disarm the Pro- testants of Bourdeaux, the consistory became alarmed, and, dreading a general massacre, suspended all meetings for pviblic worship. One of the elders, however, an advocate of the name of Saint-Angel, felt so aggiieved at the suspicions thus evinced of the designs of Government, that he entered a complaint against the two Scottish minis- ters before ParUament, representing them as " imbued with the maxims of their coun- try, according to which no distinction was made between absolute authority and tyranny." The consistory, on the other hand, considering this an undue interference with ecclesiastical liberty, suspended the recusant elder from communion, on the ground of his contemning the discipline and disturbing the peace of the Church. The Parliament, of coixrse, took the part of the advocate, and ordered the consistoiy to open the chiu'ches, and conduct the piiblic worship as usual. The ministers, to avoid this, retired from the city. — Hist, de VEdit de Nantes, tom. ii., p. 188, et seq. The Government never forgave Cameron for this oifence ; and though he was afterwards called to be professor of divinity at Saiimur, we find the king insisting on liis removal from the countiy, and telling the Synod of Charenton that " it was his will and plea- sure that those two gentlemen, Mr Gdbert Primrose and Mr John CamerOn, should not be preferred to any jjiiblic office, either of pastors in the churches or professors in the universities, not because of their birth being foreigners, but for some private reasons of State relating to his service." — Quick's Synodicon, p. 101. In 1621, he came to London, and was introduced to James VI., who, finding him favourable to Prelacy and the ceremonies, made him principal of the College of Glasgow, in the room of Boyd of Trochrig. His sapient majesty seems to have thought that the fame of the doctor's learning woidd cany all before it, and it is curious to find the man who suffered for witnessing against religious despotism in the person of Louis XIII. con- descending to become its tool in the person of James VI. It is strange to hear Baillie saying : " I had drunken in, without examination, fifom my master, Cameron, in my youth, that slavish tenet, that all resistance to the supreme magistrate, in any case, was simply unlawfid." — Baillie's Letters, vol. i., p. 188, 4to. James, however, being disappointed in his expectations, was proportionably incensed at " the dolts and de- ceivers," as he called his agents in Scotland ; and Cameron, smarting under his fail- ure and the king's displeasure, before he had been two years in Glasgow, returned to France, only to meet with fresh calamities. Venturing, in the time of civil war, to preach up his tenet of non-resistance at Montauban, he was suspected of cuiTying fa- vour with the king, and insulted in the streets. Poor Cameron, when assailed by one of the mob, in a fit of classic hei'oism, opened his breast, ci-jdng " Strike, A'illain !" when the fellow immediately knocked him down, and would have killed him, had he not been saved by a woman. He was compelled to flee to a village, where he fell sick and died in 1625, at tlie age of forty-six. Bayle represents him as " a man of great parts and of an excellent memory, very learned, a good philosopher, good humoured, liberal, not only of his knowledge but his purse, a great talker, a long-winded preacher, 1622.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 39 The college wanting a principal for a year, about the time of the laureation, 'Mi' Cameron came, being sent from the Coin't, where he was then residing, to bring that college to conform to Perth Articles, as we learned thereafter. AVhen we were leaving the town, he, knowing that his main work would be to persuade me (being somewhat confident, uj)on some essay he had made, to pre- vail with the rest), hearing that I intended a journey to the north, to visit the faithful servants of Christ who were there confined by the Prelatic High Commission ; he, thinking the work would be the harder to prevail with me after I had met vdih these worthies, set himself to mar my journey, offering that, if I would stay some days, he would go the length of Aberdeen ; but suspecting he had no real intention for Aberdeen (as the event proved), I earnestly entreated him to hold me excused, seeing I was engaged, and some company at Edinburgh were waiting upon my coming, who were to go aU the length of my journey, and farther. So I following the intended journey, those who had promised to go along with me being hindered by weighty causes, I did find unexpected com- pany, and therein very sweet passages of divine providence, all the time, from day to day ; my spiiit was much refreshed, observing the Lord's guiding : and when I an-ived at these sufferers, their com- pany and conference was to me admirably refreshful, especially at Turriff, where !Mi* David Dickson was confined, and at Inverness, where Mr Robert Bruce was the second time confined.* That an- little read in the fathers, inflexible in his opinions, and somewhat troublesome." Bishop Hall pronounced him " the most learned man ever Scotland produced." While in France, he propagated with success new views concerning universal grace, which his disciples, Amyrald and Testard, as usual, carried farther than their master, main- taining that Christ died for all men. Ilis theological lectures were printed at Saumur, in three volumes 4to, 162G. Ills remarks on the New Testament, entitled Myrothe- ci'wffi ^Van^re/icu;/?, were printed in 1G33. His "Examination of Popish Prejudices against the Reformed Religion" deserves a better translation than that " Englished out of French," Oxford, 1626. * Bnices ministry there appears to have been eminently blessed of God. " June 29, ] 700. — The memory of that man of God, Mr Robert Bnice, is sweet to this day in this place (Inverness.) He, in the days of King James, was confined to this town, where the Lord blessed his labours to the conversion of many brethren in the town and country about ; for multitudes of all ranks would have crossed several ferries every Lords-day to hear him ; yea, they came both from Ross and Sutherland. The 40 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1623. cient heroic servant of Christ, considering how long a journey I had made from Glasgow to visit him, being estimated one hundred and forty miles, did impart to me the memorable passages of his life in a large book, wherein was set down what hard and sore exercise his soul had met mth, both before his entry to the ministry at Edinburgh and after, affirming that he was full three years so as- saulted and disquieted, that he never said " My God," but he was challenged and questioned for the same : as also the strong conso- lations whereby the Lord had comforted him, among which two were most eminent, whereby he said the Lord strengthened him, before he fell under the king's displeasure. Also, therein was contained choice letters, either written to him or written by him. In my return, I also met Avith sweet passages of divine provi- dence, some being drowned in rivers about that same time, and others killed by robbers. Returning to Glasgow, I heard that Trochrig was sick in his own house in Carrick, whereupon I made haste the next day to visit him, who made me very welcome. INIr Cameron, Avho had stayed all this time at Glasgow, hereby took a strong prejudice that, in this my journeying first to the north and then to the south, I was carrying on a design (as I learned thereafter, when his fury broke out against me), negotiat- ing; amonsrst ministers who were disaffected to the innovations which had lately crept into the lurk of Scotland ; whereas it was my ordinary practice, in time of our vacation, to visit gracious minis- ters and eminent Christians, that, by their conference and fellow- ship, I might be edified and set forward in the good ways of my God. The vacancy being ended, that learned man began his prelec- tions, all which I took with my pen. At first, in private he did much insinuate himself, and, by his discourses, laboured to per- suade me to conform to the late Acts of Perth. I, with as good discretion and modesty as I could, answered his arguments, so that still we parted fauly. About that time came to my hands " The memory of the just is blessed." — Extract from the Diary of John Brand, minister at Borrowstounncss, from 1600 to 1727, p. 100. 1623.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 41 History and Acts of the famous Synod of Dort," together vnth " The Anti-Synodal Writings of the Belgic Remonstrants." Both these I peinised diligently in my night studies, and that so much the more diligently because that I conceiyed Mr Cameron was most able, both in our public disputes, which we had weekly, and in private conferences, wherein he was very communicative, to dissolve (resolve) doubts on that subject ; seeing lately he had, in a public dispute, confuted Tilenus, who had fallen into the Armi- nian faction.* So I being invited to that weekly disputation to oppugn the thesis,! did unexpectedly meet with ^Ir Cameron and the French student who maintained the thesis — their defence of election for foreseen faith.J Being herewith sm'prised, I knew not well what to do, partly because I had not Avill to fix them upon that point by my opposing of it, thinking that perhaps the argu- ment in hand had rather driven them to what they had said than that they were settled in that judgment ; and partly because the arguments I had thought upon were frustrated. In this my doubt- * Daniel Tileniis, a native of Silesia, bom in 1563, was professor of divinity at Se- dan. He was among the first opponents of Arniinius, but afterwards adopted his -views. Cameron had a public dispute (he calls it " a friendly conference") with Tilenus, while in France. — Wakk. Btbliotheca TheoL, vol. ii., p. 5-14. But he afteiTvards embraced the tenets of that professor, who, as Wodrow says, " was an enemy to the Presbyterian form of government and disciphne, and laid the foundation of what fonned Arminius' doctrine ; and it was aftenvards smoothed and improved by our Cameron, AmjTald and others in France, who generally bear the name of New Methodists, and have many followers at this day." — Life of Boyd, p. 106. Tilenus was a violent and im- fair adversar)'. Andrew Mch-ille was much annoyed by him when he taught vnth him at Sedan.— i>r M' Cries Life of Melville, vol. ii., pp. 290, 304, 305. t The thesis, according to the ancient practice in schools of divinity, was a Latin exercise on some question of theology, such as, " "Was Christ the eternal Son of God ?" after the reading of which, some student, appointed for the purpose, oppugned it, by adducing the objections of adversaries, to which the author of the thesis, who was called the respondent or defendant, was expected to reply on the spot. X That is, he found Mr Cameron and the French student defending the doctrine, that believers are elected in virtue of their foreseen faith. Cameron was more than sus- pected of loose views on various points of theology', and too fond of speculating on them all. Much of this may have been owing to his extreme vanity and loquacious- ness. He could hanlly endure to hear anybody talk but himself, and when inten'upt- ed, would frown, and say, with indignation : " Don't interrupt me ; let me speak." His scholars admired him almost to idolatrj-. It is said of Am}Tald, that he imitated him, not only in his speculations, but in the peculiar twist of his head and his Scotch accent, so that the king of France once took him for a foreigner. Bayle, art. Cameron. 42 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1623. ing what to do, I admonished the defendant that the famous Synod of Dort had lately determined the contrary of what he asserted. To this the preses replied, TupoUes argumentis, omitte testimonium* So I was necessitated either to be dumb or to dispute against what they held, and so I continued till the ringing of the bell ended the dispute. Many being present, hearers of what had passed, reports did fly through the town hereupon — some affirming that Mr Cameron and the French student or theologue, who w^as his dis- ciple, had maintained openly, in disputation, a point of Arminian- ism condemned by the Synod of Dort ; others said that I had openly charged them to have done so. This coming to the ears of J\Ir Cameron, he resolved to have a new public encounter with me, wherein he would baffle me, and I purposed to dispute no more with them. So at the next occasion, in the entry thereof, I was in- vited to dispute. I prayed to be excused, seeing I had taken up the whole time the last day ; and being the following day invited also, I declined, using the former excuse. In the end, there cometh to my chamber a student of theology, who had been under my discipline in philosophy. He told me he was sent by the rest of the theologues to entreat me to dispute the next day. I asked why they were so de- sirous to have me disputing again. He told me that they w' ere all wearied of disputing so long upon the same thesis, which they had declared to the preses, and he had answered that he would never give them new theses, till I should dispute again. I having formerly a jealousy that there was a snare lying in the frequent inviting me to dispute, I was confirmed therein by what this young man had said ; yet he urged me with his request so pressingly, assuring me that my reflisal would very much grieve all the young theologues in whose name he had come, that a promise w^as extorted from me ; and when the day came, I proceeded in the argument w^herein the ringing of the bells had interrupted me. The defendant would neither retract what he had the former day asserted, nor yet would directly defend it. I was forced to recapitidate the whole argu- ment I had used the last day, together with their answers. At * " You excel in arguments ; don't mind authorities." 1G23.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 43 this the preses was so enraged that he. uttered words of passion. I thinking, as the truth was, that I was very unequally yoked with a man so famous abroad and so much respected at home, and by myself as much as by any other, thought it not fit to insist further, but to come off, saying these words : " I will not dispute conten- tiously." The preses, not willing to part with me so, framed against me a dilemma thus : " You have either charged us with contention, which would be a proof of your arrogancy, or yourself, which is ' woidd be' an evidence of an evil conscience. Answer to this," says he. AYhile I am rising to answer, one of the ministers of the town gently laid hold on my go^^^l, saying : " Sit still, and answer nothing ;" to whom I answered quietly : " Sir, if I answer not discreetly, bear your witness against me, and spit in my face ;" but to the preses I said : " Sir, my speech neither charged you nor myself with contention, but, by yielding, I labom-ed to prevent the occasion thereof." My answer was commended by them who sat by, especially by him who requested me not to answer. But the preses added injurious and menacing words, till the rector of the university, Mr Robert Scot, a grave and learned minister of the High Kirk of Glasgow, publicly reproved and contradicted him. Then one of the French theologues craved leave of the rector to dispute. When all was ended, when the principal and regents had conducted the rector to the coUege gate, I went forward, and re- quested the rector and those that were with him to stay a little ; then I requested them, when matters were recent in their me- mories, to declare whether I had given any just cause to that great ^^'rath and reproachful menacing speeches. They with one con- sent answered, to their best observation I had given no cause ; only one of them added : " It seemeth there is some other thing among you which we know not ;" and he guessed rightly, for that learned man, not gaining his point In persuading me to conform to the Perth Articles by privy conference, thought himself affronted ; and being of great passions as well as of great parts, he could not contain himself from violent outbreaking. 44 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 1623.] But then ^Ii' James Roberton,* who was my senior colleague, rested not to travel betwixt us till a reconciliation was made ; but something fell out shortly that rankled this reconciliation, and it was this : At a meeting of the moderators of the university, before they entered upon the ajffairs to be considered, one of the minis- ters, who was dean of the faculty, asked ISIr Cameron, if at any time in the Christian Church before this age, the keeping of the day of Christ's nativity was questioned ? He answered, " Never ;" and confirmed his answer, citing Augustine's Epistle to Januarius, affirming that it was kept through the whole world. I, having lately read that epistle, observed, then, that in it there was no mention of the nativity-day ; yet, waiting to see if men of learning and years there present would make any answer, for a time I was silent ; but at last I said : " I trow Augustine makes no mention of the nativity-day in that epistle." Whereupon that man (of whom it was said that he knew not what it was to forget) rises hastily, and laying hold on that book, (for it was in the room where we were convened), turns to the place, thinking to convince me, but finding liimself mistaken, he still reads on, till he who asked the question came to look upon the book. Then suddenly throwing it together with some indignation, said : " I wonder that Augustine did forget this !" Before he spake these words some of those that were present looked upon mc as the barbarians did upon Paul when the viper was upon his hand, thinking that the present reading of the place would confound me. But I, who uttered the matter conjecturally, (though I knew it certainly), I looked also not confidentlike, neither while he was searching, nor after he had found his mistake. But all this availed not ; for though he concealed his wrath at that time, yet he showed his malice and hostility within a few days. While I had withdrawn myself out of the town, lest in the time of these superstitiously abused days, some debate should be there- about, he ' tried' who of all those who had been my scholars loved * Son of Eoberton of Earnock, an advocate, and at the Restoration raised to the bench by Charles IT., under the title of Lord Bedlay. 1623.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 45 me least ; and finding one fit for his purpose (not long thereafter he was taken for theft of books, and was laid in the bishop's stocks, whence he made an escape, leaving upon the stocks a paper, confessing, under his hand, that the judgment of God was upon him since that Lord's-day wherein he was seduced to inform against Mr Robert Blair ; which paper a friend sent to me, being then in Ireland), he called to him, and employed him to search my Dictates on Aristotle's Ethics and Politics, and to bring to him what he found either of magistrates, laws, or obedience. Some places capable of wresting, John Gardner (for that was his name) found, and presented them to ^Ir Cameron, and he to the arch- bishop, where three or four more were drawn upon this plot, their oath of secrecy being taken. But one of these thinking it a per- nicious-like plot, and that his oath given was unlawful, sent me information of the whole business. Whereupon I prepared my apology in worit, and being questioned, did read from writ mine answer to all the excepted places that were Avrested against me, so convincingly, that both the magistrates of the toAvn and ministers being present were satisfied, in such sort, that one of the ministers standing up in the meeting (even one who had been drawn upon the plot against me), said : " Would to God King James had been present, and had heard what answers that man hath given ;" and the archbishop himself told Mr James Roberton, that King James himself would be satisfied with my declaration, and, after some space, did write to my elder brother, minister at Dumbarton, to hinder me to go out of the country, and that shortly I should be planted in a considerable charge, even in the town of Ayr ; but before that letter came, I had followed a call that came to me from a nobleman in the kingdom of Ireland, whereof hereafter. Yea, Mr Cameron himself, before that matter was detenuined, perceiving my inclination to demit my place (he and I meeting privately in his chamber) dealt with me in a seeming earnestness not to relinquish my charge in the college, promising to be my cordial friend ; for now (said he) he perceived that both my parts and tenets would make way for my rising. But being now wearied 46 LIFE OF ROBERT BLATR. 1623.] of teaching philosophy, and considering in how dangerous company I was, and not trusting the fair promises that were made to me, I resolutely refused, and so demitted my place in the college, to the great grief of my fellow-regents, the students, and good people of Glasgow. Notwithstanding all this evident clearing, yet this calumny did follow me ; and when, many years thereafter, I was transported jfrom the ministry at Ayr to the ministry at St Andrews, by the famous Assembly at Glasgow, in the year 1638, the book written against that Assembly, called " The King's Large Declaration," sets a note upon the act of my transportation, that I was expelled the College of Glasgow for being disaffected to monarchical government. But by the good providence of God it came to pass, towards the beginning of that Assembly, that a gentleman, a ruling elder, having heard a surmise of my business, desired openly to be satisfied therein, I being a member of the Assembly. There had I a better occasion of vindication than ever I expected on earth ; for we were in the place where that matter was first handled, and many were present, especially IMr Robert Balllle * and Mr George Young, who were eye and ear witnesses of all that business, and did verify before that Assembly all the main articles of the relation before mentioned. The whole Assembly was fidly satisfied, and the gentleman who moved the scruple against me, at the parting of the Assembly that day would needs * The celebrated Robert Baillie, author of the well-known Letters and Journals, and afterwards principal of the College of Glasgow. In 1646, when he dedicated to Blair his " Historical Vindication of the Government of the Church in Scotland," he thus recalls the memory of his youthful days, and pays a high tribute to our author : " When I look back, as I frequently do, with a delightful remembrance towards those years of my childhood and youth, wherein I did sit under your discij^line, my heart blesses the goodness of God, who, in a veiy rich mercy to me, did put the almost white and rased table of my spirit under your hand, after my domestic instructions, which were from mine infancy, to be engi-aven by your labours and example with my first most sensible and remaining impressions, whether of piety, or of good letters, or of moral virtue. What little portion in any of these it has pleased the Lord, of his high and undesen'ed favour, to bestow upon me, I were ungrateful if I should not ac- knowledge you, after my parents, the first and principal instrument thereof. I cannot deny that, since the eleventh year of mine age to this day, in my inmost sense I have always found myself more in your debt than in any other man's upon earth." 1623.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 47 be acquainted with me, and thereafter entertained friendship with me ; yea, which is much more, the penner of that formerly men- tioned book, Avhich had that scandalous note against me, to wit, Dr Balcanqual, dean of Durham,* the year after that Assem- bly,! I being at London, waiting upon the commissioners of the great treaty, the said doctor sent his servant to me, to entreat that I would appoint some place where he might wait upon me, to satisfy me anent that note against me in the book penned by him, pro- mising to declare to me who had misinformed him therein ; to whom I returned this answer, that his whole book, and all the contents thereof, were under public agitation by the honourable commissioners of both kingdoms, by whose united consent (as he knew well enough) that whole book was, one of these days, to be condemned, with all the contents thereof, and he to be declared a public incendiary (and this was ratified by the Parliaments of both the nations ;) and that, therefore, I might not follow any private transaction for my own satisfaction ; and yet I sent him thanks for his offer, and wished he might see his errors in other things as well as in that for which he had sent to me. Albeit these things fell out not at one time, but there were near twenty years between the beginning and the end of what has passed in this last discourse ; yet I did find it expedient to join * Dr Walter Balcanqual was the son of Walter Balcanqual, one of the ministers of Edinburgh, distinguished for his opposition to the despotic measures of James VI., and whom Boyd of Trochrig, in his Obituaiy, describes as " a good man and straight." His son the doctor may have been " a good man," but he was far from being " straight." In IGIG King James sent him as commissioner to the SjTiod of Dort, to represent the Churches of Great Britain ; though it appears he had no commission from the Church of Scotland. — Hist. Motnum, p. 100. If he appeared as a Calvinist at Dort, he amply atoned for it by his subsequent exertions to put do^vn Calvinism in Scotland. Created Dean of Rochester in 1624, and Dean of Durham in 1639, he lent himself to become a tool in the hand of Archbishop Laud, and was the author of the " King's Large Declaration," a book in whicli the Presbyterians of Scotland were falsely and calum- niously represented, and which, in order to escape the odium of the pasquinade, was published in the name of the unfortunate monarch. Dr Balcanqual died at Chirk Castle, Denbighshire, on Christmas-day, 1646. He compiled the statutes of Heriot's Hospital, now printed. — Life of Boyd, 260 ; Chartcris Account, Wodrow MSS., lii., 2. There is a full account of Balcanqual in Dr Steven's Life of George Heriot. t On the margin : " 1639, after the pacification at the Birks of Berwick. The next year, 1640, when our army was in England, tlie long treaty began." 48 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 1623.] together all these passages — one part clearing another. But now, to return to my fore-mentioned trouble at Glasgow : Though I was expecting to share in the troubles of the time, and was not a little prepared and encouraged to undergo the same patiently, having lately been partaker of the consolations of the suffering servants of Jesus Christ, yet I was surprised both in the measure and manner of my trial. Not only Archbishop Law was incensed against me for testifying what I heard and saw at the Assembly of Perth, and had opposed my entry to the ministry, having had a call from several congregations within the land ; but the Lord was pleased, also, for my correction and humiliation, to raise up an eminent learned man, who was greatly incensed against me for not being satisfied with his persuasions to yield to that sinful con- formity, to be a sharp adversary ; he thinking that I intended the affronting of him in the passages formerly mentioned, which (the Lord, the searcher of hearts, knows) was far from my thoughts. Being thus surprised, and having none at hand to consult with (the messenger that I sent to my brother to hasten him to me deceiving me), and this being my first apprentice essay in public suffering, I was not a little astonished. The closest friend I had at hand, by whom I had gotten the intelligence of the plot against me, advised me to make an escape, and not to appear ; but I ab- horred the motion, seeing that was the way to betray my inno- cence. And the Lord established my heart with confidence, that he would clear my innocence and integrity ; and so I made ready my apology, keeping within my chamber the whole day. There- after I went to dispossess some worthy persons of some misinfor- mations made to them by my adversaries, and some of them, by the notable testimony they gave unto me, comforted me not a little ; for the praise and commendation of worthy persons, which at another time might be the ground of dangerous temptation, is very comfortable in time of trouble and trial. That which burdened me most was, that being acquainted with, and beloved of, many gracious people in the land, they would be much grieved for my trouble, and that others might fear that I 1G23.] LIFE OF ROBERT ELAIR. 49 had run Into orreat absurdities. This held me wakinsj a whole night, being under great vexation. It is a sad thing to be made a gazing-stock and a matter of talking to good and bad. Ah ! Lord, even when we seem to be prepared for doing or suiFering, how far are we from it ! When thou seest it meet to suffer pain and loss, but especially reproach (innocency and integrity being overwhelmed and oppressed with calumny) to assault us, this is more bitter a great deal than simple death. ' AMien thou, O Lord !' * seest it meet to bring on trouble and trial, thou wilt make it to be so in effect ; and this brings matters so about for the purging and fining of thy servants. Thou wilt have them, as It was with the blessed apostle (2 Cor. i. 8), pressed out of measure and above their strength, that they may learn not to tiiist in themselves, but in God, who quickeneth the dead. Was the chosen vessel that had carried the name of Christ so long, and with so great success, ' only' yet about the learning not to trust in himself, but in the living God ? and behoved he to be pressed be- yond any stock or store he had received ? If so, how can younger apprentices think themselves hardly dealt with, if they be squeezed under their trials ? They need not wonder if all their gifts and graces, if all their experiences and consolations, not only shrink, but even sink under them, when they offer to rest, trust, and rely thereon. In love to the souls of thy servants, thou wilt not en- dure that spice of heart whorishness, that thy gifts be rested on rather than thyself. Thou wilt make, O Lord I for this effect, that neither the sun, moon, nor stars of graces, gifts, or experi- ences, appear for some days, that so the Lord himself alone may be run to and rested on. And thus the Lord is pleased by trials to fine the faith of his servants, teaching them to trust alone in him who quickeneth the dead, as the place now cited holds forth. Gifts and graces, examples in others, and experiences in ourselves, may be pinnlngs, as it were, in a wall, to further, encourage, and advance our faith ; so may also the diligent use of the means and ordinances of life. All these, though in their own place, may and ♦ Wodrow MS. I> 50 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 1623.] do prove useful to our faith and living thereby ; yet if we oifer to make aU of these, or any of these, the object for our soul to rest or rely upon, in order either to our salvation, our sanctification, or outgate from trouble, they are not able to support and bear up the weight. As pinnings laid in to be foundations, these all will be crushed, for they are out of their own place and office. The Lord Jehovah, in whom alone is power — the Father, I say, in his Son and Spirit — without partners and colleagues — will be the only ob- ject of our faith to rest on. For this, see Ps. Ixii. 2, 5, 6 ; and in all these verses compare the word onhj with the word truly in the first verse, and thence we will learn that we do not truly wait, trust, or hope in God, when we do it not only, excluding from being the object all means and helps, outward and inward. But this is not all the Lord intends, when he brings his servants under such pressures, with the healing and fining of their faith, which is more precious than gold ; he intends, frirther, in relieving them from the pressure, to let out his strong consolations ; and yet further, he fits them thereby to comfort others with the consola- tions wherewith he had comforted themselves. The day that I left Glasgow, the minister of Stewarton, Mr William Castlelaw, in whose pulpit I had often preached, coming in the night before, resolved to go with me to Dumbarton ; that day, I say, I was so sweetly comforted, that the most part of the way (it being ten miles) we did cheerfully sing psalms. But be- fore I went, I staid some days at Glasgow, having got advertise- ment from the archbishop that he was to inform the king's majesty, but withal desired me to come and see the letter ; which I did, and was satisfied therewith. This letter was carried by my Lord Alexander, who had studied under my discipline, who also made this return to me, that his majesty took little notice thereof, seeing no cause to be offended. The- archbishop also told Mr James Roberton that he perceived that this whole matter flowed from spleen in Mr Cameron ; yet before I left the town, I went to his chamber, and peaceably took leave of him ; and as long as he lived, I made conscience to pray for him, that his great gifts might be 1623. J LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 51 useful to the Church of God, fearing, if I had omitted that duty, that I might also harbour spleen against him. How much of his estimation he lost, and how sore he was tossed, even to his dying day, I like not to rej)ort, lest that should smell of spleen. About that time I received a comfortable letter from Trochrig, who had gotten a call to be principal of the CoUege of Edinburgh, to profess divinity, and to preach in one of their ku-ks. But there was so great resort of gracious people and eminent persons to his preaching, that other ministers, especially Dr Forbes, * who there- after became the first bishop of Edinburgh, moved with envy, pro- cured a letter from Court to the Council of Edinbrn-gh, so that he was removed from that charge to his own private habitation. One thing frirther I may not omit, that the day after I demitted my charge, having nominated a successor who was received without competition or trial, there came to me a gentleman called James Hamilton of Kfrktonholm, who told me, that if I had a mind to stay it might be easily compassed ; but I prayed him to speak no more of that. Then he told me he had a commission to me from the Lord Claneboy in Ireland, patron of the kirk of Bangor, in the county of Down, craving my pardon that he had con- cealed it so long, telling me the reason — because he had not will that I should leave that place, where I was so well beloved of all the people that feared God ; but I rashly and unchristianly repelled that motion, telling liim that I had an invitation to France (for- merly mentioned), which I intended to follow. How I was diverted from the one, and inclined to the other, it is not amiss to * Dr William Forbes was bom at Aberdeen in 1585. His father was of the family of Corsindae, and his mother was sister of an eminent physician, Dr James CargiU. He was educated at Marischal College, and resided for some time at several of the Continental universities, and at Oxford. He was successively minister at Alford, at MonjTTiusk, and at Aberdeen, and in 1C18 was appointed principal of Maiischal Col- lege. He was afterwards for some time minister of Edinburgh ; but his zeal for Epis- copacy rendering him unpopular in the capital, he gladly accepted an invitation to become again one of tlie ministers of Aberdeen. He was nominated as first bishop of Edinburgh on the creation of that See, and was consecrated in February 1634, but did not long sun-ivc his promotion. He died suddenly on the 11th April 1634. Dr Jr- rinr/'s Lives of Scotish Writers, ii., 1-10; Spalding's History of the Troubles, i., 24; GordorCs Scots Affairs, iii., 241. d2 52 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIE. [1623. declare. In my daily prayer to God, that he would be pleased to dispose of me according to the good pleasure of his will, at the close of my prayer I did find myself as sensibly rebuked as if one standing by me had audibly said, " Thou fool : thou art taking the disposing of thyself, not submitting to me ; thou must either preach the Gospel in Ireland, or nowhere at all." Being thus often rebuked, I found myself boimd in spirit to set my face towards a voyage to Ireland ; and yet was not persuaded, for all this, to desire to settle there, loathing that place, and han- kering still after France. And so much for the second period of my life, wherein, though I studied brevity, I coidd not more briefly despatch it. 1623.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 53 CHAPTER III. HIS VOYAGE TO IRELAND, ADMISSION, AND FIRST YEAR OF HIS MINISTRY THERE AT BANGOR. Although I was presented to sundry charges in the ministry in Scotland, and had an invitation and a great inclination for France, yet the sovereign Lord, who hath determined the bounds of our habitation, thrust me over to Ireland altogether against my inclina- tion ; and though I seemed to myself to submit to the will of God, yet I retained much of a wall opposite, so deceitful is the heart of man. Passing from Irvine by sea. In a fair day, towards the sun setting, I passed by Arran, writing In my note-book that day's observa- tions ; but, in the night, a contrary wind arising, I was very sea- sick. In this sickness the tempter raised an Inward storm against me, and shrewdly objected calumnious accusations, which I could not for the present answer ; but admitting they were true, fled for refuge to God's mercy In Jesus Christ. But when the storm, both outward and inward, was calmed, I found these objections most groundless and impudent lies. Landing In a place where Irishmen had been at their cups, and all things smelling of a root called ramps, * I was confirmed In my prejudice against that land. Yet the next day, travelling towards Bangor, and meeting with * Rampiorts. — "This is the AUiwn ursinum, a species of wild garlic. I have found it growing in the vicinity of Carrickfergus."— •iJetV/'s Hist, of Pres. Church in Ireland, i., 101. 54 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. ' [1623. some Scotch gentlemen, by way of conference I discoursed to them the most part of the last sermon I had preached. They heard me most earnestly, and invited me to their dwelling ; but I holding my way, met unexpectedly with so sweet a peace, and so great a joy of spirit, that I perceived the Lord welcomed me to that land. I behoved to stay a little, a mile about Carrickfergus, and, lying upon the grass, to rejoice in the Lord, who was the same in Ire- land which he was to me in Scotland. The next day, as I was approaching to Bangor, remembering that there was an aged man in that charge to which I was called, it was suggested to me that the old man was sick, and would not rise again. I, not knowing whence that suggestion came, did sharply upbraid myself, that notwithstanding my habitual unwillingness to settle there, I was yet devising odious ways how to settle ; but when I came to my lodging, the first thing that was told me (without any inquiring of mine) was the very same thing which was suggested to me by the way. Hereby conceived I that therein the Lord was clearing the way of my entry. Yet gave I not over plodding to obstruct my settling there ; and, for that effect, I resolved to be very plain with the noble patron who had given me the invitation, showing both what challenges were made upon me of disaffection to the civil power, which, through God's mercy, I had fully wiped away, even in the eyes of those who were mine adversaries ; as also, that I could not submit to Episcopal government, nor any part of the English Liturgy, which there was in use ; to see if either the for- mer or the latter woidd cause him relinquish his invitation. But at our meeting, when I was prefacing what befeU me at Glasgow lately, he (having heard of a minister that was present at that dis- pute formerly mentioned, and thinking that that had been aU the matter) interriq^ted me, saying, " I know all that business ;" and, for the other point he said, that Jiotwithstanding my judgment in these things, yet he was confident to procure to me a free entry ; which shortly came to pass, and so all my devices to obstruct my settling there did vanish, taking no effect — the counsel of the Lord standing fast in aU generations. Yea, the wisdom of the only 1623.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 55 Wise overruled all this, both to procure me a freer and safer entry to the holy ministry ; as also, that when trials, after some years, came, neither could jiatron nor prelate say I had broken any con- dition unto them, seeing I honestly opened myself at the very first. Being invited to preach by the patron and sick incumbent, * I yielded to it ; and, after three Lord's-days, some ancient men of the congregation came to me in name of the rest, showing that they were edified by the doctrine delivered by me, entreating mc not to leave them, promising that if the patron's offer of mainte- nance were not large enough, they willingly would add thereto. But I, slighting their promise (being too careless of competent and comfortable provision), made no scruple to acquiesce in the first offer made to me, having no mind of a family, but to live a single life, with one boy or two to serve me. But of the former part of that speech, importing the congregation's call, I laid great weight upon it, and it did more contribute to the removing of my unwill- ingness to settle there than anything else. Also the dying man did greatly encourage me, and professed great repentance that ever he was a dean, speaking more peremptorily, and terribly con- demning them, which I never durst to do, cither before that or since. But, withal, he charged me, in the name of Christ, as I expected his blessing upon my ministry, not to leave that good way wherein I had begun to walk ; and, therewithal, stretching out both his arms, drew in my head to his bosom, and laying his hands on my head, blessed me. The house being kept dark for the sick man, some within hearing his speech, and comparing it with his former ways, gave out that it was not he that sj)oke, but an angel sent from heaven. I refuted that conceit ; f but I cor- * The patron was Lord Claneboy ; the " sick incumbent," Mr John Gibson, dean of DowTi, but resident at Banf^or. t The " conceit," which Blair here refutes has found its way into the account of the intennew given by Robert Fleming. Mr Blair " found the dean was lying sick, and, though a naughty man, he made him not only welcome upon his visit, but encouraged him to hold on his way, and told him he was to succeed him in that charge. Yea, he spoke so unlike himself, and in a strain so different from what was usual to him, that a gentlewoman standing by said to some others, ' An angel is speaking out of the dean's bed ;' thinking it could not be such a man. '—Fulfillinrj of the Scriptures, vol. 5G LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1623. dially accepted his exhortation and blessing. Within few days his death followed. But before I set forth my admission and solemn entry to that ministry, it is not amiss briefly to take notice of the state of that part of Ireland. The most part of the considerable lands in Ireland were possessed in ancient times by the English ; but the civd wars in England, between the houses of York and Lancaster, did draw from Ulster (the northern province of Ireland) the able men of the English nation, to assist their own faction in their wars at home. Hereupon, the Irishes in Ulster kiUed and expelled the remnant of the English out of that province, and molested aU the rest in Ireland — Ulster being, in their conceit, like the thumb in the hand, which is able to grip and hold against the four fingers — Leinster, Munster, Connaught, and Meath. The civil war ending in the beginning of the reign of King Henry VH., the suppressing of the Irish rebels was not much laboured by the English, partly through seditions at home, and partly through wars with France and Scotland, till the reign of that happy and excellent Queen Elizabeth, who, as she was a blessing not only to England, but to all the Reformed nations and Kirks in Europe, so she did much to finish that rebellion which yet was not fully extinguished (the Scots West-Islanders sometimes joining with the Irish rebels, and sometimes acting for themselves against the English) till King James, of famous memory, his receiving of the crown of England. These wars lasting so long, the whole country did lie w^aste ; the English possessing some few towns and castles, making use of small parcels of near adjacent lands ; the Irishes staying in woods, bogs, and such fast places. In the reign of King James, that de- i., 435. Dr Reid has subjoined a copy of this " naughty man's " epitaph ; and one would be inclined to suppose that another angel was speaking out of the dean's gi-aAe, *• thinking it could not be such a man." " Heir lyes belowe ane learned and reverend Father in Code's Church, Mester John Gibson, sence refonnatione fi'om Poparj^ the first deane of Down, send by his majestie into this kingdom, and received by my Lord Claneboy to be preacher at Bangor. At his entry had xl. communicants ; and at his departour this lyf 23 of Junij 1623 left 1200; being of age 63 years. So Christ was his advantage bothe in lyf and death." — Reid's Prcs. Church in Ireland, i., 103. 1623.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 57 solate laud began to be planted both with English and Scots, the northern Irishes remaining not only obdiu'ed in Popish superstition^ and idolatry, but also in their idleness and incivility. The parts of Scotland nearest to L-eland sent over abundance of people and cattle, that filled the counties of Ulster that lay next to the sea ; and albeit amongst these. Divine Providence sent over some wor- thy persons for birth, education, and parts, yet the most part were such as either poverty, scandalous lives, or, at the best, adventu- rous seeking of better accommodation, set forward that way.* The wolf and widcau'n were great enemies to these first planters ; but the long rested land yielded to the labourers such plentiful in- crease, that many followed the first essayers. Little care was had by any to plant religion. As were the people, so, for the most part, were the preachers. This was the main cause of my unwil- lingness to settle my abode there. Yet in the very next parish there was, before my coming, a very godly man — Mr Robert Cun- ningham ;t and in the county of Antrim, ISIr John Ridge,$ a gra- cious man at the town of Antrim. There had been in Carrickfer- * This melancholy account of the first Scotch and English settlers in Ireland is cor- roborated by the MS. history written by the Rev. Andrew Stewart. They are repre- sented as having been " generally the scum of both nations" — " all void of godliness" — " abhorred at home, insomuch that ' going for Ireland ' was turned into a proverb ; and one of the worst expressions of disdain that could be invented, was to tell a man that ' Ireland would be his hinder end.' " Dr Reid naturally enough observes, " it is probably a little overcharged." One would hope so, for the picture is most deplor- able ; but Stewart was nearly contcmporaiy, and had the best means of information. t Mr Robert Cunningham was a pious and amiable man, beloved by all his brethren, and highly useful as a minister of the Gospel. He had been chaplain to the Earl of Bucdcuch's regiment in Holland; hut aftcnvards went to Ireland, and on 9th Novem- ber 1015 was admitted to the ministry at Holywood by Bishop Echlin. Before Blair's coming to Ireland, Mr Cunningham had been strongly tempted to conform, but on re- ceiving further instruction on the controverted points from our author, became a firm Presbyterian Wodrow MSS., vol. Ixxv., no. 3. p. Gl. We shall hear of his death afterwards. X Mr John Ridge was a native of England ; left that country to escape from cci*e- monial impositions on conscience ; was admitted, through the patronage of Lord Chichester, to the vicarage of Antrim, 7th July 1G19 ; deposed by the Bishop of Do^vn for nonconformity ; and came over to Irvine, where he died. " A very humble man," says Livingston, and so charitable that " I heard him say he was once in a part of England where he wearied exceedingly, because he could not find in it an object of charity." — CharaclerLitics. — Select Bior/mphies, Edited for Wod. Soc, vol. i., 328. 58 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1623. gus a gracious and able man, ^Ir Hubart,* under the protection of the old Lord Chichester, who had been lord-deputy of Ireland, and carried secret favour to godly men, ISIr Cartwright having been his tutor in his younger years ; but he was dead a little before my coming over. My acquaintance being made with Mr Cunningham of Holy wood was comfortable to us both, and grew to such inti- macy that we freqviently visited one another, and spent many hours, yea, days together, in godly conference and calling on the name of the Lord. But the case of the people through aU that part of the country was most lamentable, they being drowned in ignorance, security, and sensuaUty. The old man, Mr Gibson (of whose encouraging me I spake be- fore) being dead, the Lord Viscount Claneboy (who of a gentle- man became a knight, thereafter a viscount, and died Earl Clan- brissel), procured my admission to the ministry, having before, at my desire, informed the bishop * Echlin' f how opposite I was to Episcopacy and their Liturgy ; and, for fear he had not been plain enough, I declared the same myself at our first meeting. Not- withstanding he was most willing I should be planted there, say- in f : "I hear good of you, and will impose no conditions upon you ; I am old, and can teach you ceremonies, and you can teach me substance. Only I must ordain you, else neither I nor you can answer the law, nor brook the land." I told him that was contrary to my principles ; to which he replied, both wittily and submis- * Mr Hubart or Hixbard, was another English minister, who officiated for some time in a nonconfonning congregation, formed in 1621 in Southwark, London, but oppress- ed by the intolerant measures then adopted against nonconformists, retreated to Ire- land with the members of his congregation, and settled in Canickfergus. He died two years after, and his flock, on losing the shepherd whom they had followed, returned to the vicinity of London, and chose as his successor Mr John Canne, famous for his " marginal notes" on the Bible — Brookes Puritans, ill, 61 7 ; Wilson's Dissenting Churches in London, iv., 124. t Stevenson, in his printed edition of this Life, has inserted, by mistake, the name of Knox, bishop of Eaphoe, as the prelate to whom Blau- applied for ordination. There is no name in any of the MSS. M'hich we have seen ; and it is manifest, as Dr Reid remarks, that it must have been Echlin, bishop of Down, " as appears not only from the context, but also from the entry on the diocesan roU of 1G33 [1G23 ?], in which Blair is set forth as having been ordained by this prelate." — Reid's Ireland, i., 103. 1623.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 59 sively, " Wliatever you account of Episcopacy, yet I know you account a presbyter to have divine warrant ; will you not receive ordination from Mr Cunningham and the adjacent brethren, and let me come in amongst them in no other relation than a presby- ter ?" This I could not refuse, and so the matter was performed. Being thus entered, I remembered my resolutions while I was at Glasgow, to wit, that whenever the Lord opened a door to me for the holy ministry, if I failed of that diligence which I used in teaching of philosophy to a few students, I could not be answerable to God when weightier things are to be taught to so many : and, indeed, the charge was very great — above twelve hundred come to age, beside children that were to be instructed. I saw that pub- lic preaching would not do it, though I was in public four times every week, having variety of matter and method in all these. I saw the necessity of more plain and familiar instruction ; for it is a mockery to examine people without previous instruction. I re- solved, therefore, to go out among them, and spend one day every week, and sometimes two, and spent as much time as my bodily strength could hold out. Shortly after I fell upon this way, the Lord was pleased to visit me with a fever. Some that maligned tliis painful way, said, somewhat scoffingly, they knew I could not hold out as I began. But within a few days the Lord raised mc up again, and helped me to continue that way during all the time that I continued in that ministry. About that time, before I went to dwcU in the manse, continuing in that lodging wherein I first began, I cannot forget a notable delivery my gracious God be- stowed upon me from a very imminent danger. It was upon Sa- turday wherein I had sitten close all day reading, meditating, and writing, tiU it was very late. The day being very cold, a fire had Ijcen kept on a brick hearth, so that the heat had gone through the brick, and had entered upon a joist that went directly under my bed. A little before I was ready to go to bed, my candle failing while I was searching a considerable place of Scripture, I called for another candle, which the mistress of the house refused, en- treating me to go to bed. But my importunate insisting compelled 60 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1623. her to go to the room under my chamber, where the fire was begun. She crying to me that it was all fire beneath me, I pre- sently raised the bricks, and with her help quenched the fb*e, and giving thanks to God, went to bed and slept sweetly. The de- livery was the sweeter upon this consideration, that there was all that night a strong northern wind, and the house wherein I lodged being higher than the neighbours, and situated upon the north end of the town, so that if the fire had prevailed against it, no human skill nor power could have preserved the most part of that town. Thanks be to the Lord for that great mercy ! In the first year of my ministry I resolved not to pitch upon a book or chapter to go through it, but to make choice of such pas- sages as held forth fundamentals (most material and important points of religion), and to close this course with one sermon of heaven's glory, and another of hell's torments. When I came to meditate on these two points, I was the whole day kept in such perplexity that I could not fix either upon matter or method. When night was approaching, and I had come no speed at all, and was like to desert that subject in great sorrow and perplexity, I threw myself upon my bed, there to pray and meditate. But then my spirits being spent I fell asleep for a little, and suddenly wak- ing, my eyes gushed out with tears, and presently both matter and order broke out with clearness, so that I fell a discoursing, first upon the one subject, then the other, and retained the same tiU publicly I delivered what then I discoursed. Not only the people were much affected with this doctrine, but my learned and judicious patron entreated me that the next Lord's-day I would re- peat over these same two sermons, only altering the order of them, and preaching before noon of hell, when aU the j)eople were present (for some that dwelt far from the kirk returned home after the first sermon), and of heaven in tlje afternoon. I commended the overture, but prayed to be excused. He wondering, asked my reason. Then was I forced to open up how it had been with me, while I meditated on these subjects, and that I durst not under- take that repetition, having nothing in writ of that which flowed 1623.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. Gl to me with such celerity, and remained only until I had delivered it. That nobleman hearing my excuse, accepted it. The first time I celebrated the Lord's supper I was distempered upon this ' the following' occasion : The noble lord, my patron, would communicate, and his lady, both of them kneeling : where- upon I went to him, and reasoned the matter ; but we, not accord- ing therein, parted with sorrow. I resolved to delay that work until another time. But his lordship remembering that his pew joined to the upper end of the table, it being so close that only one's head could be discerned in it, offered not to kneel providing he received within his own pew ; which I yielded to. But this thorny disceptation so much discomposed me, that to-morrow, when I began the sermon, I was so far deserted for half an hour, that I was like to leave the pulpit and desert the work of that day ; but the Lord, in great mercy, helped me. For, preaching upon the words of the institution of that sacrament, 1 Cor. xi., and hand- ling the words, " This cup is the new testament in my blood," as soon as I began to discourse of that new covenant or testament, I found new light and life flowing in upon my soul, enlarging it, and opening my mouth with comfort and courage ; and with that assistance went to the table and administered the sacrament. The action being ended, my patron and his lady called to me, and pro- fessed their great satisfaction ; especially the lady declared she had seen or heard nothing like that day's service, and from that day forth proved my most tender and real friend. 62 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1624. CHAPTER IV. CONTAINING SOME ACCOUNT OF THE SUCCESS OP THE GOSPEL IN THE NORTH OF IREL^ySTD, AND SOME OTHER PROVIDENCES. Many things considerable escape my memory after so long a time, not having by me the notes and observations I then made, having but now sent for them that I may be helped herein. But I can- not forget that memorable passage that occurred to me in the second year of my ministry in Ireland. There being a great crop upon the ground, the harvest proved very bad, especially in that parish, which was very large, being six miles of length, and the most part of it good arable land. The soil being for most part strong clay, fell out ordinarily to be later ten or twelve days than the neighbouring places. They had got in the most of their corns ere the weather brake. But after that, for a whole month, there were so great rains, that in the parish of Bangor there could be no inning. Whereupon we resolved solemnly, by humiliation and fasting a whole day, to seek His face to avert the threatened famine. When the day appointed came, great rain was poured out from morning to evening, so that the Xord seemed at first to answer us by terrible things, thrusting out our prayers. I had before that day conferred with the most ancient and expert husbandmen in what case their corns were. They ansAvered that the whole was in great danger by reason of the great growing in the stacks, almost 1624.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. G3 a finger long, and that if the weather fell out never so good the third part would be lost. But our gracious God was pleased that night after the day of oiu' humiliation to send so mighty a diying wind, which blew flill twenty-fom; hours, that houses were in danger of being overthrown, and some were in effect blown down. All the corns were so thro^^^l down and fully di'ied, the growing there- on snibbed, that in two days following (the people labouring night and day without intermission) the whole corns were got in. These two days I with two neighbouring ministers were continuing our supplications. When I returned home, perceiving the whole fields bare, I ask- ed these same husbandmen with whom I had formerly consulted, what loss of corns there was. They answered that in their judg- ment there was not one sheaf of corn lost, the Lord had dealt so exceeding mercifully with them. The neighbouring parishes find- ing their uncovered stacks smoking for heat, did in time of that great wind throw them all down, and set them up again, and so were partakers of our mercy. The wise landlord of these lands, and the whole inhabitants, were so sensible of this mercy, that they gave glory to the Lord, who is the hearer of prayer, and a pre- sent help in time of need. This notable act of Divine Providence did not a little endear me to the whole flock ; and that which is far more, prevailed with very many, beside their private praying, to set up family prayer in their houses, as formerly I had been urg- ing, both in public doctrine and private instruction. There was among them a devout person, the head of a family, who, upon this experience, and some others that he privately met ^nth, took up an erroneous opinion, that there was need of no other mean to be used but prayer, whatever ailed soul or body, young or old, com or cattle. This I learned by consulting the man (knowing him to be skilled) concerning my horse, which at that time was not well. He said I needed not to use any other help, but to go to my cham- ber and pray for him. Finding this error, not without some diffi- culty, I got him convinced that it was a tempting of God to ne- grlect other means. 6 A LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1624. The knowledge of God growing among that people, and the ordinance of prayer being precious in their eyes, the work of the Lord began to prosper. Mr Cunningham of Holywood helped us very much, and his little parish w^as a good example to ours ; we preaching often the one for the other. Some days we agreed also betwixt oiu'selves to celebrate the sacrament of the Lord's supper eight days in the year — four in his and four in mine ; so that pro- ficients in both did all these times communicate together. About this time Mr James Hamilton, * a learned and godly young man, * James Hamilton, nephew to Lord Claneboy, was educated for the ministry in Scotland, though at this time he held only the situation of steward or agent to his uncle. He was settled at Balwater, or Ballywalter, about 1625, but was destined to see a little more of life than generally falls to the lot of a " painful" minister in the county of Do-mi. Deposed by Bishop Leslie for declining to subscribe the canons, he came over to Scotland, where he became minister, first of Dumfries, and finally of Edinburgh. He sat in the famous Glasgow Assembly of 1638. Having been deputed with some others, in March 1644, to superintend the administration of the covenant in Ireland, he had the misfortune, on his r-etum, to Ml in with the noted Alaster Macdonnell, the Popish ally of Montrose, who was scouring the seas in a frigate, called " the Haqj," and, with several other prisoners, was earned to Castle Megrie, or Min- garie, in the island of Ardnamurchan. There he lay in a filthy dimgeon for ten months, including a dreaiy winter, during which time his fellow-prisoners, Mr Weir, and Mr Wat- son, his father-in-law, sunk under the hardships and privations to which they were sub- jected. It is a wonder that he escaped with his hfe ; for Alaster held him as a hostage until Argj-le should deliver up his fathci-, old Coll Kettach ; " and the truth is," says a record of these sad times, " Argjle had not old Coll now to deliver, for ha-ving him his prisoner, and a wicked man (I doxxbt not) that deserved death" — ^having, besides, says another story, a great indignation against all the clan, specially against old Coll — in the end, he " hanged him over the ship side, betwixt Inverkeithing and Kirkaldy ; — so he was both hanged and dro-^vned." Hamilton, however, was released in May 1645, after which he was translated to Edinburgh, where he continued to labour fifteen years. Here we find him an active man among the Resolutioners, the losing party in 1651, when Scotland was laid at the feet of the infamous Monk, and on 28th August of that year, " on Thursday, in the morning," he is surprised by five hundred horse, along with the whole Committee of Estates, and of the General Assembly, then sitting at Alyth, (formerly Elliot), in Angus, stript of all they had, carried to Broughty, and shipped off to the Tower of London. Among the prisoners is " Mr James Sharpie, minister of Grail," who contrives, by cringing to Cromwell, to get home next spring; while Hamilton, more honest in his loyalty, ha^ two years of it. In 1662, the same Mr James Shaqje, having, by cringing to Charles, become Archibishop of St Andrews, our Mr Hamilton, not choosing to turn so quickly, is expelled from his church, retires to Inveresk, and dies on the 10th of March 1666. Take his portrait by a friendly hand : — " Naturally of an excellent temperament both of body and mind — always in- dustrious and facetious in all the several provinces and scenes of his life ; he was de- lightful to his Mends, yea, beloved of his enemies. Bold for truth ; though naturally. 1624.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. G5 being a daily hearer, showed much tenderness and ability. Being then chamberlain to the Lord Viscount Claneboy, his uncle, Mr Cunningham and I put him to private essays of his gift, and being satisfied therewith, invited him to preach publicly at Bangor in his uncle's hearing, he knowing nothing till he saw him in the pulpit ; for we feared he would be unwilling to part with so steadable and faithful a servant. But having heard him publicly, he put great respects upon him that same day ; and shortly thereafter ' ISIr Hamilton' entered to a charge in the holy ministry, wherein he was painftil, successful, and constant, notwithstanding he had many temptations to follow promotion which he might easily have attain- ed ; but the Lord graciously preserved him from these baits, and made him very successful and instrumental in setting forward the work of the Lord, both in his o^vn charge and elsewhere also, when he got a call. The second time when I did celebrate the supper of the Lord, being mindful how much my heart was enlarged the former time, and bonds being taken off me when I fell to speak of the new covenant, I fell seriously about the study thereof, and that so much the more diligently, because little then was written thereof. And coming to Scotland shortly thereafter, I conferred thereon diligent- ly with Mr David Dickson, who was then studying and preaching on the same subject. Having declared how gracious the Lord hath been towards me, and that people he sent me to, I shall next show how the murderer Satan visibly appeared to a wicked man, stirred him up to stab me, and how mercifully I was delivered therefrom. I was spending a day in family humiliation, and was come to the mid-day, when one comes to the gate and knocks. Now, I had given order before- hand that if any knocked at the gate that day, none should open but myself. When I opened I saw two men standing without ; the one whereof, being a rich man, was chief constable of that parish — and in his own things, amongst the mildest sort of men ; rich in learning, intelligent, judicious, great in esteem with the greatest and wisest." — Rfid, ii., 52, 481 ; Lamonl's Diary, 41 ; Balfour's Annah, iv., 315. E G6 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1624. the other was a tenant of his. Their errand was to show me that the tenant had a bairn to be baptized, (for I baptized none till first I conferred with the father, and exhorted and instructed him, as need required.) When I had spoken what I thought necessary, and was ready to turn into my house, the constable dismissing the other, told me he had something to say to me in private. I, look- ing upon him, saw his eyes like unto the eyes of a cat in the night, and did presently conceive that he had a mischief in his heart ; yet I resolved not to refuse what he desired, but I kept a watchful eye upon him, and stayed at some distance ; and being near to the door of the church, I went in, and invited him to follow me. As soon as he entered within the doors he fell a-trembling, and I a- wondering. His trembling continuing and grooving, without any speech, I approached to him, and invited him to a seat, wherein he could hardly sit. The great trembling was like to throw him out. I laid my arm about him, and asked what ailed him ; but for a time he could speak none. At last his shaking ceased, and he began to speak, telling me that, for a long time, the devil had ap- peared to him ; first, at Glasgow, he bought a horse from him, re- ceiving a sixpence in earnest, and that in end he ofiPered to him a great pm'se fall of silver to be his ; making no mention of the horse, he said that he blessed [buyed?] himself; and so the buyer, with the silver and gold that was poured out upon the table evanished. But some days thereafter, at his own house, he appear- ed to him, naming him by his name, and said to him : " You are mine ; I arled you with a sixpence, which yet you have." " Then," said he, " I asked his name, and he answered, ' They call me Nicol Daunus.'" (I suppose he repeated evil,* and that he should have said, Nihil damns) . Being thus molested with these and many other apparitions of the devil, he said he left Scotland ; but being come to Ireland, he did often also appear to him ; " and now of late he stiU commands me to kill and slay ; and often," said he, " my whinger hath been drawn and kept under my cloak to obey his * Tliat is, ill, incoiTectly. 1624.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLATR. (37 commands ; but still something holds my hand, that I cannot strike." But then I asked him whom he was bidden kill. He answered, " Any that comes in that way, but the better they be the better service to me, or else I shall kill thee." When he uttered these words, he fell again a-trembling, and was stopped in his speech, looking lamentably to me designing me to be the person he aimed at. Then he fell a-crying and lamenting. I showed him the hor- ribleness of his ignorance and drunkenness. He made many pro- mises of reformation, which were not well kept ; for within a fort- night he went to an ale-house to crave the price of his malt, and sitting there long at drink, as he was going homeward, the devil appeared to him, and challenged him for opening to me what had passed between them secretly, and followed him to the house, pull- ing his cap off his head, and his band from about his neck, saying to him : " On HaUow-night I shall have thee, soul and body, in despite of the minister and all he will do for thee." The man, being exceedingly terrified, sent presently for me, and told me as is here presently set down. Being driven to his bed by this terror, when I came, his wife told me with what amazement he entered the house bare-headed and his band rent, saying he had hardly escaped. He entreated me for Christ's sake to be with him that night wherein Satan had threatened to carry him away. I in- structed him the best I could, and, praying with him, promised to be with him that night, providing he would flee to Christ for refuge, and not to me, who was but a weak and wretched creature. I intended to have spent the day before that night wherein I was to be with him as I had done that day when he first came to me, and thought to have killed me ; but when the day came, I had no mind of my resolution till it was near night, and being in great doubt what to do, I went to my chamber in great heaviness. I durst not break or shght my promise ; and how durst I go, being so unprepared for so pitched a conflict ? Being thus humbled before the Lord, I was encouraged to go, trusting in his gracious goodness who is the preserver of men against the wiles and violence of Satan. And so coming about daylight going, I called to one man e2 68 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1624. of that village who was under the reputation of a godly man, and an elder of the congregation : to him I imparted the whole matter, desiring him to convene the people of that village, and to tell them no more but that I would stay that night in the house of the sick man with them. I began with prayer, and thereafter expounded the doctrine of Christ's temptations, closing with a prayer and singing of a psalm, and after that did the like upon another passage of Scripture, and after that another, still intermixing prayer and singing till towards the morning. All this time, my chair being close by the sick man's bed-side, when I uttered anything which he did not understand, with his hand he laid hold on my arm, request- ing me to say that better. I hearkened to him, and laboured to do so. In the morning he took great courage to himself, defying Satan and all his works. Thereafter he recovered, behaving him- self better, and was charitable to the poor ; but I was never satis- fied with him continuing still ignorant. In end he sickened, and therein seemed very penitent. The last time I saw him, I asked at him whether Satan had ever appeared to him after that night wherein I continued wath him. He answered, " Never," taking the Lord witness thereof, and shortly thereafter died.* In the former discourse I made mention of an elder of the con- gregation ; and indeed we had discipline therein by elders, and deacons for the poor ; and as long as we got leave to exercise dis- cipline that way, the Lord blessed his own ordinance for edifying of the people. To this purpose I shall only relate one instance. There was a cunning adulterer who, living long in that sin before I came, and continuing still therein, did bribe the bishop's official to conceal his wickedness ; but one day, I preaching on the parable of the sower, and speaking of the thorny ground, how the seed of the Word was choked by the cares of the world and the sinful pleasures of the flesh, he came to- me, confessing his sin with many tears, and desired to be admitted to the public professing of his repentance. The elders, being acquainted with this, required him * Similar instances of the species of mania above described, somewhat resembling that of Eavaillac, were not uncommon at that period. 1624.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. G9 to appear, which he did, sore weeping several days, to the great edification of the whole congregation, and lived thereafter a re- formed man in the rest of his life. And so, also, sundry others wiUingly submitted themselves, until a proud youth, the son of a rich man, falling into scandal, proved refractory, and appealed to the bishop, whereby this order of our discipline was broken. But this young man, in the very flower and strength of his youth, being heir of a considerable estate, was cut oflP by death, leaving no succession, and a brother of better behaviour filled his place. I remarked that after the bishop's official had wnning the discipline out of our hands, compounding wdth the richer sort for money, and sending the poorer to public penance, as they call it, I never saw a blessing following that work, nor edification to the people thereby ; yet the Lord's husbandry prospered, the Lord thnisting out more labourers to his harvest, as shall be declared in the next chapter. Here is to be insert the great fever I had in my new house at Bangor. * * At p. 59, Blair speaks of a fever that lasted only " a few days," and " before I went to dwell in the manse." But this was evidently different from " the great fever"' which he here speaks of having " had in my new manse at Bangor." Veiy probably he meant to have inserted it from the " notes and observ^ations" which he mentions, p. 62, as not having by him at the time. Some of these notes, in reference to this fever, are afterwards given by Row in his supplement. 70 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1624. CHAPTER V. CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE LORD'S MAKING USE OF THE MINISTRY OF MR JAMES GLENDINNING, IN ORDER TO PREPARE SEVERALS FOR CONVERSION, AND OF HIS BACKSLIDING ; AS ALSO OF SOME DEVICES OF THE BISHOPS TO BREAK THE GOSPEL MINISTRY IN THE NORTH OF IRELAND. About that time I heard of one James Glendinning, lecturer at Carrickfergus, who got no small applause there for a learned man. I longed to hear him, and in a morning I passed from Bangor to Carrickfergus by water ; and hearing him, I perceived he did but trifle, citing learned authors whom he had never seen nor read. After sermon I waited on him, and communed with him, freely asking him if he thought he did edify that people ? He was quickly convinced, and told me he had a vicarage in the country, to which he would retire himself quickly. This man was neither studied in learning nor had good solid judgment, as appeared quickly there- after ; yet the Lord was pleased to serve himself of him. When he retired, as he had promised to me, to preach at Oldstone,* there he began to preach diligently, and having a great voice and vehement delivery, he roused up the people^ and wakened them with terrors ; but not understanding well the Gospel, could not settle them nor satisfy their objections-! Within a mile to that place lived * Near the town of Antrim. t " This man," says Stewart, in his MS., " seeing the great lewdness and ungodly sinfulness of the people, preached to them nothing but law, wrath, and the terrors of 1624.] LIFE OF KOBERT BLAIR. 71 ]VIr John Ridge, a judicious and gracious minister, who perceiving many people on both sides the Six Mile Water awakened out of their secmity, and wUling to take pains for their salvation, made an overture, that a monthly lecture might be set up at Antrim, and invited to bear burden therein JMi- Cunningham, Mr Hamilton, and myself. We were glad of the motion, and hearkened to it at the very first, and came prepared to preach. In the summer day four did preach, and Avhen the day grew shorter, three. This monthly meeting thus beginning, continued many years, and was a great help to spread religion through that whole country. Sir Hugh Clotworthy was very hospitable to the ministers that came there to preach. His worthy son (now Lord Viscount Mazareine),* together with his mother and lady, both of them very virtuous and religious, did greatly countenance this work. God for sin ; and in veiy deed for this only was he fitted, for hardly could he preach any other thing." This, however, was likely the very thing which the people needed ; just the John Baptist preaching necessary to awaken them. " But, behold the suc- cess," says the same writer, who was an eye-witness ; " for the hearers finding them- selves condemned by the mouth of God speaking in his Word, fell into such anxiety and teiTor of conscience that they looked on themselves as altogether lost and damned, as those of old who said, ' Men and brethren, what shall we do to be saved ? ' I have seen them myself stricken into a swoon -^vith the word ; yea, a dozen in one day carried out of doors as dead ; so man^ellous was the power of God, smiting their hearts for sin. And of these were none of the weaker sex or spirit, but indeed some of tlie boldest spirits, who formerly feared not with their swords to put a whole market town in a fray ; yea, in defence of their stubbornness, cared not to be in prison, and in the stocks ; and, being incomgible, were as ready to do the same the next day. For a short time this work lasted, as a sort of disease to which there was no cure, the poor people lying un- der the spirit of bondage ; and the poor man who was the instniment of it, not being sent, it seems, to preach Gospel so much as law, they lay for a time in a most deplor- able condition, — slain for their sin and knew of no remedy. The Word they coidd not want, and yet the more they heard it the more they could not abide it, as Paul says." " A most deplorable condition," certainly, but not nearly so much as flourishing their swords in the face of " a whole market town," and expiating for the dnmken brawl by being laid " in the stocks ! " — Wodrow MSS., vol. Ixxv., no. 3 ; Re'ul, i., 107. * Sir John Clotworthy, afterwards first Viscount Mazareine, or Massareene, is well known in the history of Ireland for his ardent attachment to Presbytcrianism, and the cause of civil liberty. The student of English history will also be familiar with his name and character, as a prominent member of the Long Parliament. He was one of nature's noblemen, one of the few whose names, when the history of that period ha.s been written, will be found honourable exceptions to the degeneracy of this age and order. " Lord Viscount Ferrard is the present representative of this ancient fa- mily, and the title of Lord Massareene, having been for some time dormant, is once more revived in bis eldest son." — Rcid, i., 10!>. 72 LIFE OF EGBERT BLAIR. [1G24. Mr Glendinning, who, at the first, was most glad of this conflu- ence, when his emptiness began to appear, began to be emulous and envious. Yet both the brethren cherished him, and the people carried good respect to him, yea, they were bountiful to him, until he was smitten with erroneous conceits. He watched much, and fasted wonderfully, and began publicly to affirm that he or she after they had slept a little in bed, if they return themselves from one side to another, coidd not be an honest Christian. This rigorous para- dox his hearers did bear with, in respect of the rigorous course he took with himself. But when he began to vent other conceits privately, condescending upon a day that would be the day of judgment, and that whoever would join him in a ridiculous way of roaring out some prayer, laying their faces on the earth, would be undoubtedly converted and saved, some judicious gentlemen to whom he imparted this folly, loving him dearly, because he had been at first instrumental of their good, resolved not to let him come in public with these conceits in his head; and presently posted away one to me, requesting me with aU expedition to re- pair to them. The day being then at the shortest, and the jour- ney considerable, I made such haste to obey their desire, that I stayed not so much as to break my fast, and yet, ere I could reach them, the night was fallen. "When I came, I found him in a reli- gious family, who had taken him in with his family, (his own house a little before being burnt down with a sudden fire). There were there also some judicious persons, all waiting upon him. I found him so fixed in his erroneous conceit that he laboured to persuade me to join therein with him. He had fasted I know not how long, and we being all set down to supper, they all expected that my persuasion would have induced him to eat, seeing heretofore he had always hearkened to my counsel. To induce him, I told him that I was yet fasting for his sake, and if he would not eat with me I would fast with him. But this availed not. I entreated the company that they would eat while J discoursed unto them. After supper, I was left alone with him, only his wife sitting by. He asked me if I would believe he was 1624.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 73 in the right, if his foot could not burn in the fire ? I answered, if he offered to do so, I would be confirmed that he was a deluded man. But before I had spoken out these words, his foot was in the midst of the fire, holding the lintel with both his hands. But I pulled so hard that I threw both him and myself in the midst of the floor. This noise drew in the gentlemen who had retired. Some of them were angiy that I had pulled him out, thinking that the heat of the fire might have helped to burn away his foUy. There, in presence of them all, he thus conditioned with me, that if ere to-morrow I were not of his mind, he was content to be for- saken as a deluded man. I accepted the condition, so we parted ; but I behoved to lie in bed with him. His wife revUed him for his delusion, whom I silenced with a rebuke. Being laid, he pre- sently fell asleep ; but I having fasted all day, and remembering the condition that was made, continued watching and praying. There was not an hour passed, when his wife, who lay in another room, came in muttering that the matter was revealed to her, and that the day of judgment was presently coming. He hereby awakened triumphantly, did leap out of his bed, saying, " You will be next." I who had not so much as warmed in the bed, being somewhat astonished, did rise also. While I was putting on my clothes, my flesh did a little creep and quake ; but being clothed, I was confirmed to encounter these deluded enthusiasts, though there had been an hundred of them. I thought the best way to confute them was to set them a-work to open the revelations, putting no doubt to find some absurdities and contradictions therein. They entreated me presently to write to their Christian friends, lest they should be surprised by the coming of that day. I calHng for paper, took the pen in my hand, as though I intended to write ; and asked first at him, then at her, and catch- ing a contradiction in their speeches, threw away the pen and pa^ per, and rebuking them, said, " Will you not yet see your folly?" But he inviting me to prayer did himself begin. I stood to see his new way (formerly mentioned), whereby he thought to con- vert me. When I saw and heard the absurdity thereof, in the 74 LIFE OF liOBERT BLAIR. [1624. idle, roaring repetitions, requiring him in his Lord's name to be silent, I kneeled down and prayed with humble confidence, hoping to be heard. A gentleman that lay in the room, surprised with fear and sweating in his bed, (supposing that the woman's mutter- ing had been the apparition of a spirit), when he heard my voice at prayer adventured to rise and join. Yea, his roaring before I began had awakened them who lay at some distance, and so all jointly continued a space in prayer. When I had made an end, Mr Glendinning takes me apart and confessed he saw now he was deluded, and entreated me to see how the matter might be covered and concealed. I called the gentlemen to hear his con- fession. They being very glad, I warned them that the matter was not yet at an end, as the event proved ; for he, falling from error to error, did run away at last to see the seven Churches of Asia. Always * we thanked God for what was done ; and I calling for bread and drink to refresh myself, went to bed, and so did all the rest, f That which I observe out of all this discourse is, what a deep design Satan had herein against the work of God in the county of Antrim ; for he, knowing that this man was very instrumental in rousing up many out of their security, thought, by deluding him, to shake, if not to crush, that blessed work. But — O the wisdom, the power, and goodness of God ! — except his own wife (of whom few had any good opinion before) there was neither man nor woman that stumbled or fell at his fall ; [.but, on the con- trary, were thereby guarded against delusion, magnifying the word of God in the Holy Scriptures, and learned to work out the work of their salvation in fear and trembling, not doting upon the bodily exercise of watching and fasting, whereby that man thought to cry up himself. And now having lost this one man, the Lord thought it fit to give unto us three gracious and able men. First, * Always, however. t The garrulity of age is somewhat apparent in this long account of poor Glendin- ning, who was evidently a lunatic, and we might have reduced it, as Stevenson has done, into a few sentences ; but the plan we have adopted, of giving the manuscript entire as it stands, forbids such freedom ; so we have allowed Mr Blair to tell out his story in his own way. i [1624. LIFE OF KOBERT BLAIK. 75 Mr Henry Colwart,* who came over with Mr Hubart (formerly mentioned), and was entertained by a godly lady at Broadisland, being an helper to an ancient minister there, Mr Edward Bryce.f After Mr Glendinning's departure, he was brought to Oldstone, where he laboured diligently, and did bear burden at the monthly raeetings, being a man of a fervent spirit and of a vehement de- livery in preaching. This variety of gift glorifies the Giver ; for his next neighbour, Mr Ridge, (formerly mentioned), as he was in his carriage, so in his doctrine, grave, calm, sweet, ordinarily pres- sing some weighty important point to good purpose. The Lord was also pleased to bring over from Scotland ^Ir Josias Welsh,J * Henry Colwart, or Calvert, was an Englishman, and was admitted to Oldstone in 1630; but, instead of being allowed to prosecute his labours in peace, he was de- posed, with many others, by Bishop Leslie, for refiising to subscribe the canons, and came over to Scotland, where he and his friends, by preaching what Traquair was pleased to caU " nothing but foolish, seditious doctrine," helped the Covenanters to overthrow canons and bishops and all. — Reid. i., 115-221. He was admitted minis- ter of Paisley, where he died. — Livingstone's Char., Select Biogr., vol. 1, 329. t Edward Bryce, or Brice, A.M., was for many years minister of Drymen, in Stir- lingshire (Livingstone says also of Dumbarton). But his opposition to the famous expedient of " the constant moderator," cost him his living. He was one of two of the SjTiod of Clydesdale, who, after all the rest had yielded to the menaces of the Earl of Abercom, and received Archbishop Spottiswood as their moderator, " mainly opposed it, and would never condescend, but spake publicly against it in bitter terms." — Balfour's Annals, ii., 22. Taking refitge in Lreland, he was admitted by Bishop Echlin to Broaflisland, where he laboured " with great success," from 1613 to 1636, when he was deposed by Bishop Leslie for non-subscription to the canons, which re- quired kneeling before the elements, &c. The good old man returned home, op- pressed with the thoughts of being obliged to resign his beloved ministry ; but, before any steps could be taken by Leslie to carry his sentence into effect, he had resigned both life and office into tlie hands of " the Bishop of our souls." " He was an aged man ere I knew him," says Linngstone, " and came not much abroad. In all his preaching he insisted most on the life of Christ in the heart, and the light of the Word and Spirit on the mind, that being his own continual exercise." X Josias Welsh was the younger son of the celebrated John Wekh, minister of Ayr, and Elizabeth, third daughter of John Knox. He was educated at Geneva, and, on his return to Scotland, was appointed professor of humanity in the University of Glas- gow. His opposition to Prelacy forced him to leave this situation, and, complying with Blair's advice, he went to Ireland about 1626, and was ordained minister of Temple Patrick by his relative, Knox, BLshop of Raphoe. Howie says : " He was commonly called the ' Cock of Conscience' by the people of that country, because of his extraordinary awakening and rousing gift. He was one of that blessed society of ministers which wrought that unparalleled work in the north of Ireland about the year 162C, but was himself a man most sadly exercised with doubts about his own 76 . LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. {1626. the sou of Mr John Welsh (that famous man of God, who, both in Scotland and France, was rarely instrumental, both for con- verting and confirming the souls of the people of God). A great measure of that spirit that wrought in and by the father rested also upon the son. I meeting with him in Scotland, and perceiv- ing of how weak a body and of how zealous a spirit he was, ex- horted him to haste over to Ireland, where he would find work enough, and, I hoped, success enough. And so it came to pass ; for he being settled at Temple Patrick, became a blessing to that people. He, being under great exercise of spirit, spake vehe- mently, to convince the secure ; sweetly, to comfort the cast down. Also, the Lord brought over to Lern the ancient servant of Christ, Ikir George Dunbar,* who was deposed from the minis- try of Ayr by the High Commission in Scotland, and by the Council was banished to Ireland. So careful was the Lord, and bountiful towards that plantation of his in the north of Ireland, that whoever wanted, they might not want. In that place the Lord greatly blessed his ministry. All these three now men- tioned, as they laboured diligently within their own charges, so were they still ready to preach at the monthly meetings when they were invited thereto. So mightily grew the Word of God, and his gracious work prospered in the hands of his faithful ser- vants ; the power of man being restrained from offering to oppose the work of God. About that time I perceived Echlin, bishop of Down, privily to lay snares ; being unwilling openly to appear, the people generally salvation all his time, and would ordinarily say : ' That minister was much to be pitied, who was called to comfort weak saints, and had no comfort himself.' " — Scots Worthies, p. 95. He was deposed, but restored again to the ministry, and died a young man, 23d June 163i. The reader will afterwards meet with an interesting account of his closing scene. He was the author of a small catechism. His name is still held in the highest respect in the nortli of Ireland ; and in Scotland he is known as the father of the eminent and faithful John "Welsh, minister of Irongray, whose perils and escapes during the persecution under Claverhouse form a most wonderfiU episode in that eventful history. * George Dunbar was twice turned out by the Scotch bishops — was for some time a prisoner in the castle of Blackness — went to Ireland, and was deposed in 1634 — re- turned to Scotland, and, in 1638, was admitted minister of Calder, where he died. 1G2G.] LIFE OP ROBERT BLAIR. 77 approving and commending the labours and success of his ser- vants. And, first, he wrote to me to be ready to preach at Primate Usher's * triennial visitation. He himself was then in England, but in his room were two bishops and a doctor, his sub- stitutes and delegates. If any ask how I durst countenance these Prelatic assemblies, how I did countenance these meetings, the ensuing discourse will declare ; but it may be rather wondered how these Prelatic meetings did countenance us, knowing our judgment and practice to be opposed to them and their way ; and it would be also considered that we were not then under an ex- plicit sworn covenant against them. Before the appointed day came, he sent me word that, as another was to supply that place, I might lay aside thoughts of it : his message by word thus con- tradicting his va-'it, that he might leave me in an uncertainty, and might pick a quarrel against me at his pleasure. ISIy meditation was upon the first verse of the 4th chapter of the Second to the Corinthians : " Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not." Beside other points, I speci- ally insisted to show that Christ our Lord had instituted no lord bishops in his Kirk, but presbyters and ministers, both to teach * James Ussher, archbishop of Arniagh, primate of Ireland, and, according to Bayle, " one of the most illustrious prelates in the seventeenth centurj-, as well with respect to his piety and other virtues, as his prodigious emdition," was the son of Mr Arnold Ussher, clerk in Chancery, and nephew of Henry Ussher, pre\'iously arch- bishop of Armagh, and was bom in Dublin, January 4th 1580. His great talents and acquirements, at a very early period, appeared in a dispute with Fitz-SjTnonds, an Irish Jesuit, and led to his appointment of professor of divinity in the University of Dublin in 1G07, when only twenty-seven years of age. In January 1G25, he was elevated to the archbishopric of Armagh, and during his administration of that See, he manifested as much zeal against the Papists as moderation towards the Puritans and Presbyterians. His profound acquaintance with history, civil and ecclesiastical, ap- pears in his invaluable writings, which throw much light on the Popish innovations, and shew the real antiquity of the doctrine recovered at the Reforma*^ion. In 1640 he went over to England, from whence he never returned. During the unhappy troubles which led to the execution of the King, and the erection of the Common- wealth, Ussher exerted himself with praiseworthy zeal, but without success, to re- concile the contending parties. Holding himself moderate and liberal views with regard to the government of the Church, he proposed a plan for accommodating the differences between Episcopacy and Presbytery, which neither party could be induced to adopt. He died at Rygate, March 21. 165G, aged seventy-five years, and was buried, by Cromwell's orders, with great magnificence, in Westminster Abbey. 78 LIFE OF ROBERT BLATR. [1626. and govern his Kirk, and proved this, first, from the Holy Scrip- tures ; secondli/, from the testimonies of purer antiquity ; and thirdly, from the famous divines that have been seeking reforma- tion these thirteen hundred years ; and, lastly, from the modern divines, both over sea and in England ; closing all my proofs with the consent of learned Dr Usher, thereby to stop their mouths ; and, finally, I closed with an exhortation, that, seeing the truth was proven so clearly and undeniably, they would use moderately what power custom and human laws had put in their hands. And so they did indeed, neither questioning me nor any other ; only the Bishop of Drummore, one of the delegates, being brother-in- law to Primate Usher, spake to me privately, desiring me also to be moderate towards them, as they had not questioned me, and so bade me farewell. This snare being broken, the crafty bishop fell to weaving an- other more dangerous. He knowing that one of the judges, the Lord Chief Baron, who came yearly to that circuit, was a violent urger of English conformity, did write to me to make ready a sermon against the next assizes. This was the more dangerous because the judges were to communicate that day, it being Easter- day. I came prepared by prayer and meditation, committing the matter to the Lord, who had all hearts and mouths in his own hand. The Scottish gentlemen there present, waiting upon the judges, told one of the judges that they wondered how they com- municated on the Lord's-day, being taken up with civil afiairs the whole Saturday. He answered, that he wished it was otherwise ; and said further, that if any were prepared for a sermon* that day, he would procure a hearing. They assured him (I knowing nothing of the matter) that the preacher appointed for the Lord's- day woidd preach the better then, if he preached upon the Satur- day also. When some were sent to me for that effect, I wondered at the unexpected motion, but durst not refuse, there being three or four hours for meditation before the hour appointed for the sermon. Upon the Lord's-day I resolved not to take notice of * That is, for preaching a sennoii. [1627. LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 79 their communicating, neither was it expected from me. So when I ended, I went to my chamber, and they to their work, which was ended in the eighth part of an hour. After the afternoon sermon, made by the curate of the place, one of the judges sent for me, and desired private conference with me in his chamber. He told me he was well satisfied with the Saturday's sermon, and more with that which I delivered on the Lord's-day ; " for there," said he, " you opened a point that I never heard before, viz., the covenant of redemption, made with the Mediator as head of the elect Chiu-ch." He entreated me to go throug-h the heads of that sermon. Then he opening his Bible, and I mine, we considered all the points and proofs, turning to aU the places cited, and read- ing them over. He was so well satisfied that he protested, if his calling did not tie him to Dublin, he would gladly have come to the north and settled under such a ministry. In end he told me I would be sent for to supper, warning me that his colleague was violent for English conformity. He entreated me, if he asked any captious questions at me, that I would answer them very cir- cumspectly. I was sent for, and used very courteously and kindly, without any captious questions proposed to me ; and so the only wise God, to whom I had committed myself and the work in hand, brake this snare also, bringing me off with comfort and credit. Yea, I had hereby this advantage, that the godly judge mayor, after that conference he had with me, sent for the bishop to his chamber, and in presence of the Master of Airds (who thereafter related this unto me), charged him to lay down his evil wiU against me, yea, to have a care that no harm nor in- terruption should come to my ministry ; and if any came, he would impute the same unto him, and hereof took the master witness. When Primate Usher came back to Ireland, my patron, desirous that I should be acquaint with him, took me in his company, where a meeting of the nobility and gentry of Ulster was to be, where he received me very kindly, and desired me to be at his table while I was in town. The next day coming to dinner, I met with the 80 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1630. English Liturgy in his family ; but I came not again, leaving my excuse with my patron, that I expected another thing in the family of so learned and pious a man than the reading of the Liturgy. But he excused the matter by reason of the great confluence that was there ; but he entreated me that I would be at the pains to come to TrodafF,* where his ordinary residence was, where he would be more private, and at leisure to be better acquainted with me. I obeyed the desire, and was made welcome. He was very affable and communicative. Li conference he desired to know of me what my mind was concei-ning the nature of justifying and saving faith. I told him my mind, that I held the accepting of Jesus Christ as he is oifered in the gospel, &c. With this he was well satisfied, confirming the same in a large discourse, clear- ing the matter by the similitude of a marriage, wherein it is not the sending or receiving of gifts that made the marriage, but the accepting of the person. Hereby I was much refreshed. From this he passed on to speak of ceremonies ; tried my mind therein, saying that he was afraid that our unsatisfiedness therein might endanger our ministry, and it would break my heart if that succes- ful ministry in the north should be interrupted and marred. " They think," said he, " to cause me stretch out my hand against you ; but all the world shall never move me to do so." When he had drawn forth my mind thereanent, he said, " I perceive you will never be satisfied therein ; for still you enquire what ought to be done. I confess all these things you except against might, yea, ought to be removed, but that cannot be done." I replied that T had read all those arguments used by Mr Sprint, in a treatise en- titled " Cassander Anglicanus ; or, A Necessity of Conformity in case of Deprivation ;" and I had seen all these fully answered in a treatise entitled " Cassandra Scoticanda ; or, A Necessity of Non- conformity in hope of Exaltation." Our conference being ended, he dismissed me very kindly, though I gave him no high styles at all, and proved thereafter very friendly when trouble came on us — as will appear in this subsequent discourse. * Or Tredaff, the ancient name of Drogheda. 1630.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 81 After all the former helpers we had from the Lord, Mr John Livingston was sent over to us. He was a man of a gracious melting spirit, and was desired much by godly people about Tor- phichen, where he had preached as a helper to another, but was still opposed by the bishops. But old Bishop Knox* of Raphoe refused no honest man, having heard him preach. By this chink he and sundry others got entrance ; and being settled at Killin- chle, the Lord was pleased greatly to bless his ministry, both within his own charge and without it, where he got a call. But he continued not long there, trials hasting upon us. Likewise IMr Andrew Stewart,! a well-studied gentleman and fervent in spirit, was settled at Donagore, and prospered well in the work of the Lord. But his ministry was of short endurance, he dying in the midst of oiu* trials. * Andrew Ejiox, bishop of Raphoe, was of the same family with the Scottish Ee- former ; consequently Welsh was his relative. The bishop was educated at Glasgow, and was minister first of Lochwinnoch, and next of Paisley. In 1606 he was made bishop of the Isles by James VI. ; and in 1622 was translated to the see of Eaphoe, where he died 7th November 1632. t Mr Andrew Stewart came over to Ireland after Mr Welsh, in 1627, and was settled minister of Donagore. He died about the same time with Josias Welsh. An interesting account of the closing scene of this excellent minister is given in Fleming's *' Fulfilling of the Scriptures." 82 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1630i CHAPTER VI. COJfTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE WONDERFUL GROWTH AND INCREASE OF THE GOSPEL, ^VND OF SEVERAL ATTEMPTS OF SATAN AND OTHER ENEMIES TO BREAK THE SAME, WITH THEIR SUCCESS THEREIN. At this time the Lord was pleased to protect our ministry, by raising up friends to us, and giving us favour in the eyes of all the people about us. Yea, the Bishop of Doa\ti himself used to glory of the ministry in his dioceses of Down and Connor. Yet we wanted not exercise enough. Some of the conform clergy, by let- ters, provoked me to a dispute about that wherein we differed from them ; but a modest answer, how unsafe it was to do so, did satisfy them. After that there was sent a dean to reside at Carrickfergus, to counteract and bear us down ; but some of us waited on him, and putting some civilities on him, invited him to concur with us In the monthly meeting at Antrim. We did not expect he would yield to the motion ; yet by our visit and invitation we obtained this much, that he proved no unfriend to us. As for the Papists, they became very bold through the land, by occasion of the match intended betwixt Prince Charles and the Infanta of Spain ; so that in every shire they set up their old convents — even in the city of Dublin itself; and so the rebel- lion, that after some years followed, and the bloody massacre that they made, had not the rise of it from any pressure that was on i I 1630.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 83 tliem, but rather from the great indulgence used towards them. The Irish priests generally were ignorant dolts, living in whoredom and diiinkenness ; yea, one that came from Rome with pardons, and had gotten a great deal of money thereby, when he was brought to my Lord Claneboy, in whose land he was taken, scarce under- stood Latin. Yet two Lish friars, who had been trained up in the University of Salamanca in Spain gave us a defiance, provok- ing us to a dispute. The particular heads were condescended upon, and time and place appointed ; but when, at the appointed day, I came to assist Mr Josias Welsh against these two friars, for all tlieu' bragging they appeared not.* We had also an assault from the Separatists.! Some of that faction at London, hearing tell that there was a people zealous for the Lord in the North of Ireland, came to Antrim, where our monthly meetings were, and there set up their dwelling, thinking to fish in these waters. They thought that zealous people would seek after them, and did not call to any ; but therein they were frustrated of their expectations. Seeing they came not to the public worship, none there did own them, or take any notice of them, till the minister of the place sent some judicious Cliristians to confer with them about some practical cases of conscience, who made their report to the minister concerning these persons, that they thought they understood not such proposals, nor could they at all discourse concerning the points by them proponed ; only they fell a-jangling against the Church of England. The next day I came there, the minister of the place desired me to go with him, that we might confer with these people. We did find them rude, and somewhat uncivil ; what they held they could not tell well, or else they kept up and concealed themselves. Yet in end, they began to essay whom they could seduce ; and with one of great tenderness they prevailed not to communicate with us ; but immediately thereafter the Lord did smite him with distraction, ♦ Blair and his friends do uot appear afterwards to have met with any more oppo- sition from this quarter. t Dr Ileid thinks tiiat these .Separatists were probaMy of the Baptist persuasion. f2 84 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1630. from the which he no sooner recovered, but he abhorred the sedu- cers. So careful was the Lord to preserve his people within our charges fi'om all sort of seducement. That blessed work of conversion was now spread beyond the bounds of Down and Antrim, to the skirts of neighbouring counties, whence many came to the meeting, and the sacrament of the Lord's supper. I being at a time invited to assist Mr Josias Welsh, it fell to my share to preach upon the Saturday, and the afternoon of the Lord's-day. When we are entering the church on the morn- ing of the Lord's-day, we perceived that there w^ould be large as many without the church as within it, and most of these were come out of other counties, hindered to be there on Saturday by the great rising of waters. At our entry, when they perceived the house to be filled, so that they coidd not enter, ' they' began to lament that for all the pains and hazard they had been at in pass- ing deep waters, they were now excluded. Being moved with compassion, I resolved to stay out with them, and making choice of a fit place where we might be accommodated, even the court of a castle hard by, I taught them as the Lord furnished me : and w^hen those that were within had received, they giving way to us, all did communicate, and I closed with the doctrine of thanksgiving in the evening. Having thus once oftener than I intended spoken in public, I was far from thoughts of being employed that way on the morrow ; but the Lord thought otherwise. The people having entered very early upon the Monday, fearing the throng, and staying there some hours before the appointed time of preaching came, some of the elders of that parish requested me that I would go in and read some place of Scripture, and give some notes thereon, till the appointed preacher came in. I was hardly persuaded to yield to this motion ; but they would take no naysay. While I am about this, the minister of the place being ready to enter in, the people that were without (the most of them being the people that had heard me before in the castle court), not using many words, laid hands on him, and carried him away to the same place where 1 exercised yesterday, sending an elder to me, to tell 1G30.] LIFE or ROBERT BLAIR. 85 me that I needed expect no other speaker. This message wonder- fully astonished me ; for I thus reasoned, Shall so many gracious souls, who have been waiting since day-light for the word of the Lord to be ministered to them, be thus dismissed and frustrated of their expectation ? and, on the other hand, how can I, who had already adventured a little, offer to go to the pulpit, whence much at that time was expected, especially some eminent persons being present ? Some that marked my countenance observed (as they told me thereafter) that all the blood went out of my face in a moment ; and no marvel, for I was in a perplexed anguish what to do. At last I was encouraged to adventure, and In my preface be- fore prayer (that Avhich I never durst do neither before that time nor after it), I promised a blessing fi-om God unto them that would seek it, and open their hearts unto it, seeing neither art nor in- dustry had any place or part in this work. After incalling upon the name of the Lord, and earnest Avrestling with him for his presence, I read a place parallel to what I had entered upon stand- ing below. The Lord so carried on that business, that in the entry there was offered to me only one proposition to speak of, and no more was presented to me till I was closing that point, in the very last comma of the sentence, and then was another edifying point suggested from the text, and so another still, till the glass was run. In all this I was but the voice of one crying. There was a promp- ter that suggested to me, even He that sent me to preach the gos- pel. But when the hour-glass was ended, three points, all weighty, concatenated together, were offered to me, the uttering whereof was almost (as I suppose) as much as all the rest. Closing with prayer, I hasted to my chamber, that I might meet with nobody, but tliat I might hide me in my chamber, and spend some time in admiration. I feared applause, whereas nothing of me was there but a voice. Yet I was surprised as I was stealing away by that ancient minister, Mr Bryce of Broadisland (who had been earnestly invited to preach at that diet, but obstinately refused). He per- ceiving the haste I was making, cried after me, " Of a truth the Lord was with you ;" and I turning cried to him, " Sir, God for- 80 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1630. give you your backclrawing." I liid me in a chamber till I was called to dinner, and all tlie time sat silent, except when something was asked at me. After dinner, I overheard an honourable person in conference with another, wishing that the speaker had spoken till sunset, the hearing whereof drew me out of that room. The next time that I was invited to the like occasion in that county, where people had a great zeal and a vehement appetite which could not be satisfied, I was sore tempted to be wholly silent, I saw such readiness in people to give great applause to instru- ments, and the great hazard of receiving and admitting the same. But dear Mr Cunningham offered to chide me out of this snare, approving my jealousy, but reproving my backdrawing. I had in my haste vowed not to set my feet in that pulpit at that season, yet I yielded standing below to be doing somewhat, which as I learned thereafter, the Lord was pleased to follow with no small blessing. The people so hung upon us still desirous to have more ; no day was long enough ; no room was large enough. Then said I in the hearing of many, " Our tide has run so high, that there will be an ebb ; no doubt a restraint is near, our trials are hasting on." Another assault Satan made upon us by an English Conformist, called !Mr Freeman, a strong opinator, who, falling upon Arminian j books, drank in their opinions, and began boldly to propagate the I same. This man having a strong body, able to watch and fast, made] himself very plausible by a seeming strictness and austerity of life. Thereby he did insinuate himself in the affections of people, invit- , ing them to conference, and singing of psalms. Being thus much* followed, he vented his opinions not only by preaching, but also by spreading of papers, one whereof had this inscription " Of the j Three Generations of Noble Christians." Many copies of this were j spread among the people, some whereof came to our hands. And being asked what was my judgment concerning the same, I an- swei'cd, " All these three generations of noble Christians might be among ignoble heathens, and that there was nothing of Christi- anity therein but the product of self-flattering nature, no expres- 1030.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 87 slon holding forth any thing of Christ, or of his grace, or of the sanctifying Spirit." Yet this man went on drawing disciples after him, having his person and practice in admiration. His patron, a generous gentleman, Mr Rowlie (who thereafter was killed by the Irish rebels), invited him to go to one of these monthly meetings at Antrim. He, undertaking the journey with his patron, gave out confidently that he would confute and silence us all. The ministers meeting there hearing of his brags, with one con- sent designed me to encounter him. I having gotten cold by the way travelling, was taking a sweat in my bed. Some of these brethren, sent by the rest, told me what was to be done, assuring me, that unless his brags were laid by a disputation, to which he had provoked us, the whole people where he lived would follow him in his erroneous way, to the great prejudice of the Gospel. I went with them to the Castle of Antrim, where his patron and he were waiting for the disputation. ^Vlien we came to it, he would choose both the matter and manner of procedure. The matter was the decree of reprobation, and he to oppugn. We told him that another method was better, but we gave way to his. His first argument he brought being easily answered, and retorted back upon himself, the second had the same issue; but he keeping still his jocund humour, telling us that he was coming on with the strength of his arguments. But then the Lord did smite him with such confusion that he spake nonsense, so that the scribe could set down nothing of it. All the hearers were sensible of this, and some fell a-laughing. His patron turning to me said, " You know what he would be at ; set you it in order, and give an answer to it." To whom I replied, " How can I know, seeing he knows not himself?" " But now," said I, " seeing it is late, and ye all see him in confusion, let him recollect his thoughts, and we shall meet in this place the next morning." That night I went a mile off to visit a fiiend, and at the ap- pointed time returned to the place appointed, where I did not find him, and so going to his chamber, I found him there with his patron. I found him writing out arguments from an Arminian 88 LIFE OF ROBERT BLATR. 1630.] author — Grevinchovius,* as I remember. I snatching the book out of his hand, said to him, " Now I perceive your subdolous deal- ing ;" and so I began to catechise him, and asked him if he believed that all events came to pass according to the determined counsel of God ; to which he answered by a flat denial, bringing a blasphe- mous confirmation of his answer. Then said I, " Know you not that it is written, ' He hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation, that they should seek the Lord?' but you say you would take a course of your OAvn, and would not seek the Lord ; behold, how you blaspheme and contra- dict the Scriptures !" His answer was, that what I cited as Scrip- ture was nowhere written in the Bible. Perceiving his gross and bold ignorance, I desired his patron to cast up Acts xvii. 26, 27. This being done, he could say nothing but that he thought that there had been no such thing in the Scriptures. Then said Mr Eowlie, " We need no more disputation, I see evidently his erro- neousness and ignorance in the Scriptures. Mr Freeman, I have followed you too long — here I renounce you, and will have no more to do with you." So he and I were left alone to confer together, where I told him that when I saw some of his papers, I perceived that he was evil-grounded in religion ; and by what now had ap- peared both yesternight and to-day it was now manifest. He thanked me that when others did laugh at him yesternight, I did not so, but spake still to him meekly and gravely. But then I dealt plainly with him, and told him, that perceiving him to be of a melancholic temper, though he had carried hitherto jocundly, yet, when he should lay matters to heart, he might be in danger of destruction ; or, if he carried still jocundly, that he was in hazard to become loose and openly profane. He offered no answer, but showed by his smiles a waiving of my warning. The ground of my apprehension was, because I perceived he knew nothing of the grace of Christ ; and the event followed sadly, for he being de- serted of the people who formerly admired him, turned more dls- * Nicolas Grevinchovius, a divine of the 17th centnry, who wrote against Amesius. 1G30.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 89 solute, and at last, as I was credibly informed, fell into mischie- vous practices. * The GosiJel thus flourishing by the ministry of his servants be- fore mentioned, no public opposition being made thereto, all Satan's devices proving abortive, he was at last let loose to devise a perni- cious device. There being many converts in all these congrega- tions, the destroyer set himself mainly against the people of Loch- learn by this stratagem — he playing the ape, did upon some igno- rant persons counterfeit the work of the Lord. In the midst of the public worship these persons fell a-mourning, and some of them were afllicted with pangs like convulsions, and daily the number of them increased. At first both pastor and people, pitying them, had charitable thoughts, thinking it probable that it was the work of the Lord ; but thereafter in conference they could find nothing to confirm these charitable thoughts — they could neither perceive any sense of their sinfulness, nor any panting after a Saviour. So the minister of the place did write to some of his brethren to come thither, and with him to examine the matter. Coming and con- ferring with these persons, we deprehended it to be a mere delu- sion and cheat of Satan to slander and disgrace the work of the Lord. And the very next Lord's-day one of my charge, in the midst of the public worship, being a dull and ignorant person, made a noise and stretching of her body. Incontinent I was as- sisted to rebuke that lying spirit that disturbed the worship of God, charging the same in the name and authority of Jesus Christ not to disturb that congregation ; and, through God's mercy, we met with no more of that work, the person above men- tioned remaining still a dull and stupid sot. All this was so noto- riously known that Primate Usher got word of it ; who, the next time I saw him, said to mc, I had reason to bless the Lord, who had assisted me so confidently (as he was pleased to word it) to conjure that lying spirit. Yet, for all this, a matter of accusation was made against us, as ♦ Blair and his friends do not appear to have l)cen afterwards troubled with attempts to introduce Amiinian tenets among tbcni. 90 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1630. if we had taught the necessity of a new birth by bodily pangs and throes. The instrument fitted for this accusation was Mr Harry Leslie,* who, being a violent and vain-glorious man, envied the credit and respect the ministers of these two counties had of all good people. It fell out so, that Mr Livingston and I were both in Scotland together, after some years absence, visiting our friends and doing our affairs. In our return, both of us were invited to assist an aged and infirm man, who was about the celebrating of the supper of the Lord at the Kirk of Shotts. There being a great confluence of zealous people there, Mr John Maxwell,t one of the ministers of Edinburgh, who was gaping for a bishopi'ic, entertaining correspondence by letters with the above-mentioned Mr Leslie, they so dressed the matter betwixt them, that the said Maxwell carried a letter from Leslie to the Court, containing the calumnious accusation formerly mentioned. The timorous Bishop * Heniy Leslie, dean of Down, was a native of Scotland, and a man of consider- able erudition, but a most violent and bigoted Episcopalian. He succeeded Echlin, bishop of Down, October 1635, and proved an active supporter of Wentworth in all his measiurcs against those who had sworn the covenant. He lived till near a hundred years, and died not long after the Eestoration of Charles II. •]• John Max^vell was a native of Dumfries-shire, and first settled at Mortach in Banffshire, whence he was removed, in 1620, to occupy the church of the venerable Robert Bruce, who was banished to Inverness. In 1633 he was made bishop of Ross by Charles I., and afterwards a Privy Councillor and extraordinary Lord of Session. In 1637, when some of his majesty's counsellors wisely iirged him to yield to the wishes of the nation, in regard to the Liturgy and Book of Canons imposed b}^ Laud ; " to aU this," says Balfour, " the bishops blowing the bellows, and still crjang fire and sword, especially Mr John Maxwell, bishop of Ross, (one that did favour Rome too much), suggests it to be a shame for his majesty to recede fi-om what he formerly had determined." — Annals, ii., 263. Spalding gives a curious account of his flight to Eng- land. Some boys having made a bonfire of the service-books which he had placed in his church at Ross, he got alarmed : " He had soon done with sermon and therefore hastily goes to horse, and privately disguised he rode south, and to the king goes he directly. A veiy busy man thought to be in bringing in this service-book, and, there- fore, durst not, for fear of his life, retuni to Scotland again." — Troubles, p. 47. " Fear of his life !" He was in much more danger fi-om the Papists, " whom he did favour too much." Exalted to the bishopric of KlUala, he proved an active instigator of the pei'secution of the Pi-esbyterian ministers in Ireland ; but during the rebellion in that country, was " stricken do^^Ti, and left witli many \^•ounds as dead, by the hands of the Irish, with whom he had been but too familiar." — BaUlies Hist., Vindication, p. 2. After escaping the fury of the Irish rebels he retired to Oxford, and died in 161:6. A poor life indeed! He was the author of " Sacro-Sancta Regum Majestas," wliich called forth Rutherford's reply of " Lex Rex." 1632.] LIFE OP ROBERT BLAIR. 91 of Down, getting an inkling* of this, thought it time to bestir himself, and presently suspended four of us — Mr Dunbar, Mr Welsh, Mr Livingston, and myself. Whereupon I presently had recourse to Primate Usher, speaking somewhat of an appeal which I never intended to make use of. But he presently did write to Bishop Echlin to relax that erroneous suspension ; which forth- with was done. So for a season we went on in our ministry, till a letter came fi'om Court, the narrative Mdiereof was that accusa- tion formerly mentioned, requiring the examination of the truth thereof, and to censure accordingly. The bishop knowing per- fectly the falsehood of that accusation, and concealing the contents of his majesty's letter, (which was most just and fair), took an- other way — cited again us four — urged us to a subscription. We in defence answered, that there was neither law nor canon in that kingdom requiring the same. Notwithstanding he, out of his cruel fury, proceeded to the sentence of deposition.! Primate Usher being acquainted with this was sorry, but said he could not help us ; but desired us to make our address to the two Lord Chief Justices, who then under his majesty governed that kingdom. I repairing to their lordships received this answer, that there was no remedy to be had but from the king himself, to whose ears that misinformation had come ; and so, by the earnest persuasion of my brethren, was I persuaded to undertake a journey to England. This, and some more toil that befell me, was revealed to mc ere It came to pass ; but I concealed it from all flesh, save my dear friend and brother Mr Cunningham, who was sorry when I opened it to him, and afraid also ; but when I told him the manner, and promised to him to act nothing thereupon, but would follow the rule of the revealed will of God in his Word, he acquiesced, atid, in process of time, did sec the event which I foretold him, even the recovery of our ministry after the compassing sea and land. * Inkling, liint. t On the margin, " May 4. 1G32," 92 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 1032.] CHAPTER VII. CONTAINING MR BLAIR's JOURNEY TO LONDON, IN ORDER TO PROCURE LIBERTY TO HIMSELF AND OTHERS TO PREACH THE GOSPEL, WITH HIS SUCCESS THEREIN ; AND HOW AT LAST HE AVAS DEPOSED AGAIN. While I am about my journey to England, I was much censured in the judgment of some wise men, who seemed to know best the times. What meant I, said they, to go to Court to complain of what bishops had done, that faction domineering so much at Court, especially in all matters that appertained to the Church and minis- ters ? Who there would appear, or durst once open their mouths for those that are disaffected with Episcopal government ? Albeit, I had with me letters to the Scottish noblemen who were at Court, and was well acquainted with my Lord Secretary for Scotland,* his eldest son having been my best beloved scholar at Glasgow ; yet I did forecast all the difficulties before mentioned, and, not- withstanding, resolved, to bestow charges and pains to seek redress, committing the event to him who is a King over kings, and Lord, over lords and courtiers, who hath' all hearts, mouths, and pens in his hand. I had but one answer : " The king is the ordinance of God, as a refuge under God for the oppressed. We had used all other means, and ought not to neglect the highest. If our desire * Sir William Alexander of Menstrie, aftenvards Earl of Stirling. 1632.J LIFE OF ROBEKT BLAIU. 93 were gnmted — to wit, that the truth of the information given to his majesty against us might be tried — we had gained our point ; and if refused, we had endeavoured our utmost duty ; satisfying our own consciences, and refuting them who say, ordinarily. They leave and forsake their ministry. So, setting forth with some merchants who were to bring commodities from Eng-land, though I was not used to long journeys, and they were yearly accustomed ^^^th the like, yet I endm'ed the travel much better than they. They wondering that I never complained, neither by day nor night, which they often did, did ascribe the same to the better errand I was about, and to the many prayers poured out daily to God to prosper my way, and to grant me success therein ; and, indeed, they were a praying people for whom I undertook this labour, praying night and day for the liberty of Gospel ordi- nances. At my house two nights Avere spent every week ; and they that did bear chief burden therein were not above the rank of husbandmen, and yet abounded in the grace and spirit of prayer, as I found by experience after my return, and spent many a night with them in that exercise ; and other parts were not short of this, but abounded much more, even those who yet enjoyed the benefits of their own pastors. Towards the entry of that jom*ney, I was suddenly saluted with the pain of the gravel in my kidneys, while I am riding upon the highway, so that I was forced to stoop and lie upon the veiy curche of the saddle. No one of them that were with me knew what I meant in so doing ; but my heart cried earnestly to the Lord, that he would be pleased to spare me till I was better accommodated for it. This was no sooner spoken than granted. Shortly after my coming to Court, which then lay at Greenwich, the king's progress being begun, I was promised by the Earl of Stirling, that if my petition was sent to him by the king, I should get a speedy despatch according to my mind, without expense either of time or money. lie promised the more liberally, because he never expccteI.S. belonging to J. Gibson Craig, Esq , and have been blundered in the transcription. 122 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1627. ReSPONSIO ANIJLffi ADMIBANTIS. Me stola lucida ! me thronus aureiis, aiit diadema ! Istane me dcceant ! stygia de fiece profunda Peccati vix elapsum ! O siibsellia Regis ! Ima pedum subsellia pone ; ibi mi locus esto ; In soliis sedeant sancli, et qui dogmata sacra Signarunt fidei pretioso sanguine testes. Christus. Cur, Deus omnipotens, vastse qui pondera molis Fulcio, sustinui ut vermis ? pojnamque, pudoremque, Atque iram Patris horrendam, infernique dolores ? Nonne ut vermiculos fcedos de faucibus Orci ^ Ereptos milii servarem, evelieremque ad lionorem Natorum Summi Patris, indelebile regnum. Mortalis pater optaret soboli ut, sine damno Alterius, regno eximio unusquisque fruatur. Hoc potis est prtestare meixs super omnia felix ; Hoc ego vivificus meis vult fratribus esse Spiritus, asternum nobiscimr ut regna capessent. Annon hs&c populum docuisti voce sonora ? Anima. Ista quidem docui, ista amplexus speque fideque, At nunc cum prcsens videam quanto intervallo ! In verbo promissa olim et nunc prtestita distent Victrix spes milii victa jacet, et fracta stupore. Jam mihi facta fides merum evancscit in actum. Hem ! quid agebamus ? quid mirabamur inepti ? Quantaj nos tenebrte, O caligo quanta tegebat 1 At nunc discussis umbris te sole nitente Sim quod, Chiiste, velis sequar, et quo ducis, Jesu ! This song lie did translate into English for the use of his wife and friends, that understood not Latin, in form of a dialogue be- twixt his soul and Christ. Soul. Let none lament about my bier. Let none for sorrow shout ; Out of the dreary vale of tears. My soul bath swattered out. An orphan to his father's house Is come, where Christ I see, With arms stretch'd out, as on the i.toss, Mc to embrace sweetly. 1627.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIK. 123 I'm call'd, I run with haste and joy, To thee O Christ I cleave ; Such pleasure is thee to enjoy, I can thee never leave. Christ. O -nelcome preacher of my word ! Sin that did so sore vex thee. Triumphing on the tree as Lord I dro^\'n'd in my death's deep sea. Come enter now the palace pleasure. To reign for aye with me ; Possess what thou look'd for at leisure. In aU eternity. Soui- (ivondering.) Could I such triimiphs once look for, Could I forecast this case ? That my poor suits and troubles all. Thou would'st so well embrace ? My toil and troubles manifold, My supplications all. My bm-ning earnest desire of thee, My tears that oft did fall. Christ. Did I not know what I did give ? Thereof no jott I mist ; All these were mine, and these be thine. To make thee truly blest. Now foUow me and thou shalt see The nuptials of my bride. The spouse which I purchas'd to me. With blood shed from my side. My trophies all thine own thou'se call. And breuk * them aye with me, — Tlie robe, the throne, the crown royal, Ne'er to be tane from thee. Soul (icondering.') A robe for me ! for me a throne ! A royal crown for me ! How can it weall become such one, Scarce out of misery. * Enjoy. 124 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1628. Who in the loathsome lake of hell, The sink of sin I mean, Did lately stick and sink fiill iU, And now outdrawn have been. The lowest footstool of thy thx'one, And worse if any were. Might well suffice for such an one, To have a low bench there. Thy saints and martyrs who did seal Thy sacred tmth ^^^th hluid [l^lood], Such robes and thrones would set them weaU At meeting in the cluide [cloud]. Christ. What is the cause, thinks thou, that I, The God omnipotent, ("Who by my power, right worthily, The heaven and firmament Of all the world's huge globes sustain'd), As wonn the Father's ire Did bear ? and feel the feaifid pain Of death and hell's hot fire ? Was't not that I to me might take These wonns and -svi^etches Aile ? Pluckt out of hell's hot fiery lake — Poor captives and exiles. Was't not to advance eternally Adam's lost sons to be Eight noble heu's of God Most High, For ay to reign with me ? A father to his children all Right heartily coidd wish That each, without another's fall, A kingdom might possess. They can but wish, and oft do miss. Not so my Father shall ; I, with my spu'it, do join in this, Unto my brethren all ; That they may reign most gloriously With us the Trinity. Did not thou teach the same boldly Into my chair for me ? 1629.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 125 Soul (accepting.) I taught the same, indeed I know, The same I did embrace By faith and lively hope : but now How altered is the case. Whate'er before the "Word did promise, "When now it's felt and seen, Passeth by infinite degrees AU that conceived hath been. My hope vrith ha\-iug overcome Is cast into a trance, My faith now by fruition Breuketh the whole substance. Below what were we wTetches doing, Or what admire we thus ? Wliat misty veil of ignorance Did so o'ershadow us ? But now these clouds so dark and gross Scattered, O Christ I by thee. Call when thou wilt I'll follow closs Where'er thou leadest me.* By this song, and the translating and enlarging of it after his recovery out of that fever, you may perceive what sweet manifesta- tions and divine raptures he had then, and in what an excellent fi'ame his soul was into in the time of that fever, and for some space after his recovery. But his Notes lead me to observe that ordinar- ily after such manifestations, divine raptures, and lifting him up on high, he met with saddest downcastings, desertions, obstructions, interruptions, occasioned especially by his intermitting his edifying exercise of remarking and recording both God's ways towards him, and his ways towards God. For, notwithstanding that God did then shed abroad his love in his heart, yea the love of Christ con- strained him to sing and rejoice, and to triumph over sin, death, hell, and the grave ; yet shortly thereafter see a dark cloud, some degrees of laziness and security creeping on, &c., so that his song * The above lines, more remarkable for their piety than their poetry, are yet a fair specimen of the wretched doggrel in wliich almost all writers of that period indulged. The Latin, though not so lame as the translation, is also very faulty, and much infe- rior to similar pieces written in the days of Andrew Melville. 126 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1629. is turned iato a lament. Yet quickly he recovers ; and his soul being restored he again changes his notes. February 1629, he says, *' How often shall I fall back from the profitable exercise of remark- ing my ways, having casten it away now long. Help me. Lord, to be humbled for it, and help me to it again for thy name's sake." " I was in some measure prepared for thy holy table, to which I went at the spurs both in soul and body. Thy Majesty helped me in the sermon afternoon, to stir up to the new song, Psalm xcviii., wherein thou, O Lord, madest my tongue as the pen of a ready writer. The minister at the table made me as welcome as the heart-blood of Clu'ist coidd make me." Again, thereafter, Feb. 19, he laments and bemoans himself thus : " Woe is me for the idleness of my natural heart ; 1. Idle, 2. Vain, 3. Wicked, 4. Exceeding stiff and strong in evil. But O, how good art thou who challenged sharply, humbled quickly, and let me find the truth of Tuesday's doctrine, making all things work together for my good. But never shall any find the good of coun- ter-poisons until they first find the evil of it." As this was the Lord's way with him after clearest manlfestions, sweetest raptures, &c., a cloud, something of an eclipse, degrees of dullness, deadness and security ; so we may see it has ever been the Lord's way with those devoted to him, admitted to most inti- mate commimlon, yea, to sweetest fellowship with himself. So with David, Psalm xxx. 1-7. But see the dark cloud, and him darkened, troubled, praying, crying, lamenting, &c., verses 7-10. But see him changing his note quicldy, verses 11-12. So with Paul, 2 Cor. xii. 3-6, and verses 7-9, (and it Is a certain truth, that after saddest temptations, and Satan's buffeting of Mr Blair, with most horrid temptations, he got sweetest manifestations, yea, divine rap- tures, which he thought not lawful for him to utter ; once, esj)e- cially after saddest buffeting, which he would never tell, nay not to his most intimate brother, Mr Dickson). So with the spouse. Cant. iv. 16, and v. 1, with v. 2, 3, &c. And this is a case worthy of the disquisition of casuists, when the Lord thus deals with his friends, yea, with his best beloved ones, that in a short time they 1630.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 127 have 80 many changes — lifted up, casten down, shined on, over- shadowed, quickened, deadened, praising, lamenting, blessing, cursing, &c. O how many changes had he in one month, Feb. 1629 ! as many as Jeremiah had in the 20th chapter of his Prophe- cies. In March that year he was visited with a sad sickness where he has this note : " Exceeding sick, then I said. Ad Bodium, ad Scotum et reliqiios proficiscor amicos, Face procul qiii nunc terrena. But thou, O Lord, rebuked the sickness, and the third day I went up to the house of the Lord on the Sabbath, where thou helped me to speak in thy name, not being weU able to stand." "Whenever he felt any wearying, discouragements or fainting, he was thereby stirred up to more frequent prayer, greater dili- gence and painfiilness, and that helped liim up again to a new song of praises. In JMay that year his note is, " Notwithstanding of thy assisting me, yet, wearying of my charge and life, fainting exceedingly, yet thereby drawn to more frequent prayer. Blessed be thou, O Lord, for ever ! Thou hast been very good, and wilt be better than ever thou wast in thy Christ. Be thou magnified for ever !" O ! how variously was he exercised and tossed this year, 1629, ending it as he did begin it ; for in the close of it he says, " Facilis dlscensus averni, sed, ^x. Help me, O Lord, to remark my estate, how thy Majesty deals with me ; little fruit yet of the removing of my child Elizabeth ; little preparation for Holywood communion ; yat thou, O Lord, helped me to urge spiritual matter, then graciously teachcd my heart at thy table ; but there- after great deadness and faints, greater than almost ever I re- member. I could not rejoice with the congregation in singing ; yet at last thou helped me to make use of the doctrine, and to speak pertinently to the estate of sundry drooping saints." June 24. 1630, his gracious wife, (so sometimes he did call her), Beatrix Hamilton, brought forth twins, two daughters, the eldest bap- tized Marion, who died shortly thereafter, the younger baptized Jean. 128 LIFE OF EGBERT BLAH!. [1G31. CHAPTER IX. 1631. The fourth period of his life was from the time of his being suspended from the exercise of his ministry at Bangor, anno 1631, to the time of his settling In his ministry at St Andrews, anno 1639, in the 46th year of his age. This period of his life was more troublesome than any before. It was a continual tract of troubles, one cross after another, and several sorts of crosses at one time. He Avas suspended in harvest-time, 1631. He gives you an account of the occasion and pretended cause thereof, and how immediately thereafter that erroneous censure was taken off, and how, upon the 4th of May the next year, 1632, he was de- posed, p. 101. The first censure being immediately taken off again, was only the Lord's warning-piece, to awaken and warn him to arm himself against the second censure, which proved, indeed, a woundlng- piece, a very heavy cross, and great trial for two fuU years. And it appears evidently by his short Notes written in the Interim, First, That he looked upon the first as a warning and an awakening shot ; and. Secondly, That the Lord helped him rightly to Improve it for preparing himself and his family, his flock, and other Chris- tian friends for the great trial; Thirdly, More particularly, we may see his very great diligence and painfulness In secret, in pri- vate, but especially In public. In preaching, praying, catechising, visiting, and in spiritual and holy conference ; and in all these 1631.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 129 duties, the Lord furnishing and strengthening him both in the inner and outward man, the time of the interim, which was eight months, but especially the last four months. First, As for improving the warning to awaken and arm himself against the trial, Ave see from his Notes, that in the time of that interim he was more than ordinarily before in secret prayer, often checking himself for swearness, laziness, and loving of his bed too well in the morning, though he did early waken, and that he prayed not only for his family, but for his flock, more particularly and earnestly (James v. 17, orig. " in his prayer he prayed," or " with his prayer he prayed"), than ever before. Secondly, To awaken and cheer up his heart he did in secret sing psalms to God ; he did much delight in and Avas often refreshed with reading, medi- tating, and singing of psalms in secret, especially the 23d, 33d, 71st psalms. In this he found great sweetness, and that the heart was the better seasoned all the day. Thirdly, Throughout the day he aimed at living as one in covenant with God ; yea, in his ordinary, common and civil actions, and affairs, he studied to have an eye to God, with whom he was in covenant. And this he re- cords as one of his experiences. That lawfiil actions done without an eye to thee, O Lord, are as many steps leading away from thee. He was challenged and troubled if at any time, though in the week, he had entertained too much worldly conference either in the house or riding by the way. And then he did always strive to denounce and keep up a constant war against all sin and every lust, saying, " Lord give me amends of the body of sin. I find one lust help another. My Lord help thou me against them all," &c. In his prayer, or with prayer, he often prayed with his wife, and for her ; especially he was most fervent in his prayer (James v. 16, orig. " working prayer") for her in the time of her labour ; and, having gotten a gracious answer, he used to say, " The prayer of faith (James v. 15) is more prevailing than any witchcraft; the one sets only Satan a-work, and the other sets God a-Avork." Hence Luther used to say that there was a kind of omnipotence I 130 LIFE OF EGBERT BLAIR. [1631. in prayer. As common and unedifying conference, especially with a minister, did deaden and distemper him, so spiritual edifying conference did recruit and cherish him, whether in riding or at meat. He used to say, " I love my meat the better because it comes through the hands of Christ, the mediator of the blessed bargain." Psalm iii. 5. 2. As for his very great and piaident diligence, especially in public, in preaching, praying, &c., in the time of this interim, as pre- vious and preparatory to and for his trial, from these his Notes, we see the Lord's guiding him, and his prudence in his diligence, mak- ing a right choice of the subject-matter of his preaching, for fixing and furnishing his own and his people's hearts against any trial coming on. For having renewed and sealed up his personal cove- nant with God, he resolved to preach that most comprehensive doc- trine of the New Covenant more largely than before, and to dwell upon that subject, which indeed is the sweet marrow of the ever- lasting Gospel. And as he was much in secret, wrestling with God for light, direction, furniture, a blessing upon, and acceptance for his work in public, and for a suitable walk according to the rule of the covenant ; so his prayer of faith wanted not gracious returns, as appears by thir two short notes : First, upon December the 24th, 1031, " Give me light. Lord, in thy covenant, that I may teach others the same, and walk accordingly to thy honour." Secondly, on the Sabbath, December the 25th, " Thy word sweet in my heart and mouth ; a lively opening up of thy blessed covenant." And in January next year. Sabbath : " My sweet Lord, blessed be thou for thy covenant which I got dwelt upon to thy glory !" O ! but it became him well to preach the new covenant, and to open up the secret of the Lord to his people. All that knew him well and his peculiar gift, acknowledged that he was in his own element when he was on that subject, wherein he delighted most, and oftenest dwelt upon it, especially before, at, and after the cele- bration of the communion. As for his praying, either secret, private or jiublic, in the time of this interim, it was always the prayer of faith ; and often, yea 1632.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 131 ordinarily, a working prayer, earnest. Importunate, fervent and elFectual. With prayer lie prayed for a sick kirk, James v. 15-17, especially in public. In his jjrayer he wrestled with God for the enlargement of the kingdom of Christ throughout the whole world. This is often recorded in his notes ; but aye the nearer to the time of that stroke and trial his and his brethren's diligence did increase more and more, especially about the time of the celebration of the holy communion, as in other places, especially in Holywood, as ap- pears by his Notes. "Feb. 19, Sabbath, — Holy wood Communion. Neither painfulness in prepai'ation, nor great feeling of any work in my soul. But O ! what plenty of the word there. In three days ten sermons. O how kind and liberal art thou ! How strength- ened thou thy people by thy covenant ! Blessed be thy name." — " Feb. 20. Thou wast highly. Lord, lifted up in the sanctuary. Thou hast ascended on high, &c. My soul was cheerful in thee. Praised be thy holy name ! We were afraid that the number of the ministers should have marred the work ; but, blessed be thy holy name, it was not so ! Honoured be thou in thy Christ !" — " 21. How joyfully did my soul sing in private to thee this morning !" And " March 1, Sabbath, — Thy Majesty did thy own work by sundry mouths. Thy name be blessed ! Blessed are they that dwell in thy house, they will ever be praising thee. How joyful made thou thy servant with the light of thy countenance, and how comfortably helped thou me to speak on Ezekiel xvi. 60 : ' Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee,' &c. Thy Majesty, having over- come me with thy loving kindness, has laid upon me a great con- viction of laziness and unthankfulness, that if it be not helped by thy covenant, thou will discover my nakedness and emptiness to friends and foes." Where, observe, that he preaching upon the covenant, made good use of his doctrine in his walking with, before, and after God, Gen. v. 24, and xvii. 1, 2 ; Deut. xiii. 4 ; and in his more private walk, Zech. x. 12 ; so that all his strength and furniture against temptations and for duties came by the covenant ; all misses were mended, and all wants supplied by the covenant-; all dcatlly dangers prevented, and all favours and mercies confer- i2 132 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1632. red by the covenant. O ! but it was to him, as a free, everlasting, well ordered, sure, so a soul-satisfying covenant, all his salvation, and all his desire, 2 Sam. xxiii. 5, with Song iv. 9. 10. About the middle of March 1 632, he was informed of the letter that came from the King against them, mentioned p. 91. First, He got word in general that a new storm against them was rising. The night immediately following was spent with some brethren till the break of day, for preparing and arming of them to sustain the charge, and ride out the storm. Then the next day being in- formed of the King's letter he said, " Then, Lord, thy Majesty must be our king, Ps. Ixxxix. 18." But the third day, March 17, by the way his horse ran from him, and he was put to his feet alone, his clothes being heavy with rain. In that passage he saw a type of his approaching trial and troubles, and so was helped thereby to lay the matter better to heart. 18th March, Sabbath, the doctrine jumping * well with his matters, he was cheerful at night, blessing and praising the Lord. The next day he got spi- ritual liberty in prayer, the day being spent with others. On Tuesday 20th March, (which ordinarily was his week sermon day), a part of his text was Rom. xv. 23, " But now having no more place in these parts." This made him yet to lay the trial more to heart ; and, on the next Tuesday, his text was Rom. xv. 30, 31. That day he was greatly refreshed to see such abundance of tears among the people, and said, " Blessed be thy name who made me to rejoice ! 0 prepare me for the trial coming !" AU the month £)f April, as the trial drew nearer and nearer, so the more sweetness was milked in unto his heart fi-om the Lord, which made praises more abundantly to flow out from heart and tongue ; and both these furnished and animated him to more and more painfulness and diligence, so that, for a number of days together, he preached in several parts on several texts,' all very suitable, such as Acts ix. 16, " For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake." In the end of April he celebrated the com- munion immediately before the trial ; and after his great pains * Jumping — agreeing. 1632.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 133 and diligence in catecliising the people, and preaching oftener than ordinarily at that solemn and remarkable time, he has thir notes : " My time is short ; I thank thy Majesty who gives me a mind and occasion to be busy. How gracious hast thou been, O my Lord, this communion time ! more afraid for it than formerly ; yet because men were challenging thy work and workmen, my soul claimed the greater right to thee, and expected the greater help fi-om thy Majesty. Also, Lord Jesus, because in thy banquet the last wine was the best, my soul claimed the performance thereof." And so it came to pass ; for he having meditate on that text, John i. 29, " Behold the Lamb of God," &c., and doubted nothing of the handling thereof, yet immediately in the morning the next day he was forced to take another text. Is. Ixvi., tiU the midst, wherein the Lord was graciously pleased to assist him, to the wonderful great satisfaction of the people ; and so was he assisted in the ex- hortations at the table, and likewise the Monday following, &c. Thereafter, this note, " Then for the next Sabbath I was in greater fear by reason of the former assistance, for so ordinarily have I been exercised with temptations of that kind ; but never spoke I so in pubUc as that day. O what melting in the prayer with great length and liberty ! what zeal gavest thou in preaching, pointing out that Lamb of God I As also, upon the Monday, altering of necessity the text I had meditate upon, and handling these words, Philip i. 27, 28, thy Majesty gave gracious assistance. O what a strange mourning was among the people ! what strange trances had sundry women, and what abundance of tears were shed ! Lord prepare me to bear thy sweet cross patiently and comfort- ably." Thus, he having preached many farewell sermons, imme- diately thereafter, upon the 4th of May 1632, he and other three ministers, Livingstone, Welsh and Dunbar were deposed. See p. 91. They being assured by Primate Usher and others that there was no remedy to be had but from the King himself, after earnest deal- ing and persuasion, Mr Blair undertakes a journey to Court to sup- plicate the King. The sum of the petition was this, That they might be tried in what was informed against them, and if found 134 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1634. guilty they refused no punishment, but otherwise ; they petitioned that for simple nonconformity they might, in respect of their Scots breeding, be forborne in such a barren place as the north parts of Ireland. He gives you an account of his journey, tedious onwait- ing, good success at last, and of his return, and of Strafford's slighting his Majesty's letter ; and last, of their continuing deposed till May 1634, pp. 92-102. While he is lying under this heavy load and sad public trial, being common to him with others, both ministers and people, the only wise Lord was pleased sadly to exercise him with a domestic and personal heavy rod and trial ; for, about the middle of Novem- ber 1633, his dearly beloved and gracious yoke-fellow was removed by death ; and thus the Lord did take from him the desire of his eyes with a stroke, as He had forewarned him of it at London, July 1632, p. 96. She died, being much desired and lamented by all that knew her.* She left behind her three children, James, Jean and Robert. His daughter was sent to be educated with her aunt, Marion Hamilton in the Strone, at the iron furnace of Milton of Belfast. Her two sons were boarded with Mr William Cockburn, school- master in Bangor, married to his wife's niece, daughter to Mr Richard Dickson and Bessie Hamilton. Mr Blair at first, the wound being green, did carry pretty soberly, with a great measure of Christian patience. But thereafter, finding the smart of the wound in the want of such a gracious and faithful yoke-fellow and burden-bearer, by whose prayers and sweet Christian converse with him, he had been so often refreshed and supported, he had much ado to bear up under the load, which proved to be a load above a burden, his stroke trysting with the public burden and trial. In February 1634, the deposed ministers, and some religious and zealous professors in that part of Ireland, having no hope to be de- livered from the Bishops' tyranny, had some purpose to transport * Ilcve Row has introduced an epitaph on Blair's wife, written " by a rural pen." It is not considered worth while to print the doggrel lines of this rural poet. 1634.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 135 themselves to New England, but resolved first to send a minister and a gentleman to the Governor, to try the condition of the country, and to agree for a place to settle in. They pitched upon ^Ir John Livingstone and WiUiam Wallace to go straight to London, that from thence they might go to New England with the first ship that went in the spring, and return with the first conveyance. But, however the Lord did accept and approve of their intentions, yet he wonderfully stopped their design. For ^Ir Wallace not coming at the time prefixed to Grames-port,* where !Mr Livingstone was waiting for him, (during which time the wind was favourable), and after his coming the wind turning contrary for fourteen days, they did not reach London before the first ships went, the first ships being gone, three being to go within fourteen days. Had they gone with the first ship that loosed, they had gone forward ; but the ship Avherein they were being retarded, (the skipper staying to do some business) after they had been at sea some few days a storm and contrary wind arose, so that they were forced to come to an anchor in Plymouth for the space of ten days ; and then j\Ir Wallace fell sick, and was averse himself, and advised by physicians not to go forward ; and the ministers and others in Ireland had resolved that Mr Livingstone should not go alone. It was so ordered by providence that they both returned. Not long after their return, ]SIr Blair and the other three deposed ministers got their liberty, and were restored in May 1634, accord- ing as his wife had foretold to Mr Welsh when he was in London, p. 100. Shortly after, on the 23d of June that same year, the Lord called home worthy ^Mr Welsh, about seven months after Mrs Blair's death. Messrs Blair and Livingstone hearing of his danger- ous sickness the Sabbath before, came to him to Temple-Patrick in the night time. He had many gracious and edifying expres- sions, as also wrestlings sometimes. One time when he had said, " O ! for hypocrisy !" Mr Blair said to the great company of Chris- tians there present, " See how Satan nibbles at his heel when he is ♦ Stevenson spells it Groonih-poit. — Life nf Livinr/slone, p. 20. 13G LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1635. going over the threshold to heaven." A little after, Mr Livingstone being at prayer at his bed side, and the word " Victory " coming out of his mouth, he, ' Mr Welsh,' took hold of his hand and de- sired him to cease a little, and clapped both his hands and cried out, " Victory, victory, for evermore !" and then desired him to go on in prayer, and then within a little expired. The six months' liberty granted by the deputy to Mr Blair and the other three (which liberty, and time of that second interim, was nobly improven to the great advantage of the people, and growth of the good work of God, in and among them) being ex- pired ; though the deputy was willing to grant other six months, yet Bishop Bramhall did depose and excommunicate them in 1634, and did hunt out his pursuivants to apprehend them. Yet notwithstanding of this hot persecution, Mr Blair did constantly preach ordinarily in his own house, which was kej)t and ordered by a discreet old servant. Christian Honett, and frequently in other houses, among his intimates and relations, but most often in Holy- wood ; and sometimes he, and likewise the rest, did go into their kirks, and convene the people near unto the kirk, and as they had done when they were deposed, 4th of June 1632, so now again he prayed with the people, and after one had read a chapter, he discoursed thereon. In the beginning of the year 1635, Mi* Blair began to think of a second marriage, and after seeking the Lord his direction, lead- ing and guiding in so important a business, the Lord inclined his mind and will, yea determined him to make choice of a well-born (as they use to phrase it) gentlewoman, Katharine Montgomerie, daughter to Hugh Montgomerie, laird of Busbie, in the west, who after the sale of these lands, went to Ireland, and there made pur- chase of the lands of Ballishary, and others. This gentleman had many daughters, one married to lioly INIr Cunningham of Holy- wood, another to Mr Hamilton, minister at Killileagh in Ireland, and Ballantrae in Scotland. Her father was out of the house of Eglinton, her mother out of the house of Glencairn. Her sisters, some of them were very eminent for grace, wisdom, virtue and pru- 1635.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 137 dence, but !Mr Blair's wife excelled them all in all these and other qualifications adorning wives, 1 Peter ili. 3, 4. After the mar- riage was agreed upon, and they were contracted, Mr Blair came over to Scotland and was much in Edinburgh, where he acquainted his first wife's friends and relations. Albeit his purpose of marriage with his second wife in Edinburgh, ^Ir Blair kept many private meetings (so were these meetings called then, which now, anno 1676, are called Conventicles, odioso nomine), in private families, where some few eminent Christians convened, and spent the time mostly in prayer, with fasting and humiliation of soulj the bishops then being in their ruff,* and persecution waxing hotter ; Perth Articles! being urged and other innovations plotted and much feared. Yet the persecution then was nothing so hot and violent as now ; for then the bishops (especially Spottiswood) were more moderate, and dealt Avith the King for moderation, and did strive to keep off innovations, such as surplice, liturgy, &c., and did de- pose very few of the nonconformists ; for in the province of Fife there were only two deposed ; and then they never challenged de- posed ministers for public preaching and assisting at the celebra- tion of the communion. And that was the cause why in these times there were no meetings in the fields, yea, no great and pro- miscuous meetings in houses, but only private meetings of eminent Christians ordinarily; and when it could be had, they had a minister, one or more, with them as occasion served, but often private Chris- tians convened for prayer and conference. Mr Blair was often in William Iligg % of Athemie's house, and in his first wife's relations' houses. In April that year he came over to Athemie in Fife, where ordinarily AYilliam Bigg then Hved. He was earnestly invited by Athemie to go with him to his uncle's house, to assist at the celebration of the communion, whereunto he conde- scended. The burden of the whole Avork was laid on him by the * Ruff, or roif, Scot. — rest, quietness, t Articles on ceremonies agreed to at Perth in 1018. X Rigg was bailie of Ediiiburgh, and for some time a prisoner in Blackness for refus- ing to communicate kneeling. — Livinffntone'a Characteristics. Select Biogr. vol. i, 342. 138 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1635. honest infirm old man, Mr John Row; so he preached the Saturday's sermon on Isaiah Ixiii., 15, 16, &c. ; Sabbath before noon on Ephes. iii. 14, 15, 16, &c. ; he served seventeen tables in the afternoon, on the 57th Psalm ; so easy a thing it was for him to preach often, and that upon short advertisement, having a strong healthful body, and a good composure book. There were at that communion in Carnock very many people from Edinburgh and the east nook of Fife, for at this time kneeling was vehemently urged ; and honest and godly professors that did not consent unto the apostacy, and were not involved in the national perjury of these times, they did flock unto communions where not only the minister of the place was antiprelatic and unconform, but unconform deposed ministers were employed ; it being the opinion of the then bishops, that though they deposed a minister from his benefice, and discharged him the exercise of his ministry in the parish where he served, yet they did not unminister him, and therefore did not quarrel his preaching and praying in public, or assisting at the celebration of the holy communion. Shortly after the diet of this communion, Mr Blair returned to Ireland, and thereafter was married May 12, 1635. After their marriage, the first time they went to visit her father, going from his first wife's sister's house, at the iron furnace of Millon, pSIalone], they both met with a remarkable passage of providence, yet they got a merciful delivery out of a most deadly danger ; for, riding the water of Belfast, it being thicker than he apprehended, his horse being almost at swimming, his wife was carried off the horse and down the river, which Mr Blair knew not until he saw his wife carried down the water with the current of the stream, but the stream not being violent, being sea water, or rather the fresh water joined up with the tide, she was carried down softly floating above the superfce [surface] of the water. Mr Blair perceiving his wife in this fearfiil hazard and danger, immediately quitting his horse and going down the brink of the river a little, did put his life in his hand, (resolving rather to hazard his own life than to be a spectator of the loss of his newly married wife's life), by riding into the water to the shoulders, till he approached 1635.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 139 near his wife, and putting out his staff, she gripping it, he did pull her to him, and so both were preserved, Ps. xviii. 6, 16, and XXX vi. 6. Here I cannot but insert the laudable testimony which Mr John Liviugstone, minister at Killinchie, gave unto all these famous and worthy ministers in the north of Ireland, and unto the professors there. Take it in his own words, as it is in the History of his life, ^^Titten by himself: — " Among all these ministers (speaking of their monthly meeting at Antrim, mentioned by IVIr Blair, p. 71), there was never any jar nor jealousy, nor among the professors, the greater part of them being Scots, and a good number of gracious English, aU whose contention was to prefer others to themselves ; and also the gifts of the ministers were much different, yet it was not observed that the hearers followed any to the undervaluing of others. Many of these religious professors had been profane ; and for debt, and want, and worse causes, had left Scotland ; yet the Lord was pleased, by his word, to work such a change. I do not think there were any more lively, experienced Christians than were these of that time, and that of good numbers, yea, and of per- sons of good outward condition in the world. Being but lately brought in, the lively edge was not gone off them ; and the per- petual fear that the bishops would put away their ministers, made them, with great hunger, wait on the ordinances. I have kno\vn them that have come several miles from their own houses to the communions, to the Saturday's sermon, and spent the whole Satur- day's night in several companies, sometimes a minister being with them, sometimes themselves alone, in conference and prayer, and waited on the public ordinances the whole Sabbath day, and spent the Sabbath night likewise, and yet, at the Monday's sermon, not troubled with sleepiness, and so not to have slept till they went home. Because of their holy and righteous carriage, they were generally reverenced, even by the multitude that they lived among. Some of them had attained such a dexterity of ' expressing' reli- gious purposes by resemblances of worldly things, that, being at feasts and meals, they would, among themselves, entertain a spi- 140 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1636. ritual discourse for a long time, and the other professed that, though they spoke good English, they could not understand what they said. In these days it was no great difficulty for a minister to preach or pray in public, such was the hunger of the hearers, and it was hard to judge whether there was more of the Lord's presence in the public or in the private meetings."* In winter 1635, the deposed and excommunicat ministers perceiving no appearance of liberty, either to preachers or profes- sors, from the bondage of the prelates, they, with a number of the north of Ireland, and some few of Scotland, now fixedly resolved (as they had attempted before) to transport themselves to New England. Others of their friends resolved to follow them. They had gotten letters from the Governor and CouncU, full of kind invi- tation and large promises of good accommodation. They built a ship near Belfast, called Eagle Wing, (Exod. xix. 4.)t about 115 tons. They were minded to have set out in the spring 1 636, but, through difficulties that use to arise in such undertakings, in preparing the ship, and their other accommodations, it was September following before they set sail. They were in all, to go passengers at that time, about 140, of whom the chief were Messrs Blair, Living- stone, Hamilton, Maclellan, Stewart, provost of Ayr, Archibald Campbell, David Garven, &c. ; among whom was one Andrew Brown, of the parish of Lern, born deaf and dumb, who had been a very vicious, loose man, but when it pleased the Lord to make a change in several of that parish, a very sensible change was found on him, not only in forsaking several of his loose courses, but joining himself to religious people, and all the exercises of God's worship, both public and private, and ordinarily, morning and evening, would go alone to prayer, and used to weep at ser- mons, and, by such signs as those who were acquainted with him understood, would express many signs of the work of God on his spirit, so that, upon his earnest desire, with the consent of all the ministers that used to meet at Antrim, he was at last admitted to * See Livingstone's Life, in Select Biograpliies, Wod. Soc. ed. aoI. i. p. 143. t " I bare you on eagles' wings, and broxight you unto myself." 1636.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 141 the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. Mr Blair (as the rest of the ministers that were to go) was abundantly clear that the Lord approved their intention and undertaking, and was as much in making of preparation as any of the rest ; yea, during all that time, AL* Blair, and they that were in his first wife's sister's house, where he dwelt with his -wife, spent one day of the week in fasting and prayer, for a blessing on their undertaking. Yet, not only Mr Blair, but Mr Livingstone also, before their outsetting, often said that it gave them in their mind that they would never go to New England. In August that year, 1636, all the rest of the honest ministers were deposed ; * and in that same month, Mr Blair's wife brought forth her first-born child, baptised WUliam ; and, about five weeks before that, in the latter end of June, Mr Livingstone's ■wife brought forth her first-born child, called John. These two worthy wives and holy women married their husbands when they were deposed, and, so as to their outward condition in the world, in a suffering, sad, and desolate condition, with a resolution, not- withstanding of their desolate and needy condition, to go sviih their husbands, Christ's suffering servants, and his ambassadors in bonds, whithersoever the Lord called them to preach, and so to spread the gospel, though it were by sea and land, even to America. But to return to that famous sea voyage : They had much toil in their preparation to so great a voyage, and many hindrances in their outsetting, and both sad and glad hearts in taking leave of their friends ; for they found, in the midst of mutual grief, their hearts often well refi'eshed, both in public and private. That which grieved their friends whom they left behind was, that they could neither be ready to go with them, which was their earnest desire, neither could they heartily pray to God for a prosperous voyage to them ; yea, some of them prayed that, after the Lord had caused them to go down to the sea, and tossed them a while in the depths, he would bring them back again, &c. ♦ These were Messrs Brjce of Broadieland, Ridge of Antrim, Cunningham of Holy- wood, Colvcrt of Oldstone, and Hamilton of Bally water. — Reid, i. 188-194. 142 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1636. At last, on the 9th of September 1636, they loosed from Loch- fergus, but with contrary winds were detained in Lochryan in Scotland, and grounded the ship to search some leaks in the Kyles of Bute ; yet, thereafter, they set to sea, and, for some space, had fair weather, tiU they were betwixt three and four hundred leagues from Ireland, and nearer the bank of Newfoundland than any part of Europe ; but if ever the Lord spoke by his winds and other dispensations, it was made evident to them that it was not his will they should go to New England. For, first, they for- gathered with a mighty hurricane, out of the north-west, that broke one of the great master joists made to go cross the middle of the ship ; there were no waves there, but mountains of waters, as the poet said. Well did they then understand and get experi- ence of what is written. Psalm cvii., 23-29. They sprung a leak that gave them 700 strokes of water pumped in the half-hour glass, yet we lay at hull a long time, to beat out the storm. In the time of the vehemency of the storm, he that was at the rudder and the pilot, came wringing his hands, and with a lamentable voice cried, " Now God have mercy upon us all, for we are all gone ! the ship will not answer the rudder ; it's either broke or dung off* the hin- ges ; but t heaven there's no safety for us." Mr Blair, hearing this sad alarm, and desperate lamentation, being led to the door of the cabin, where he lay, (for he was often sea-sick), and holding a tail of a tow in his hand, lest he should have been tossed to and again, did most confidently, and like another Paul, (Acts xxvii. 22), ex- press such hopes, that rather than the Lord would suffer such a company in such sort to perish ; if the ship should break, he would put \\ang8 to all their shoulders, and carry them as on " eagles' wings" (Dent, xxxii. 11) safe ashore. One of the company, a ship- wright,t hearing Mr Blair so confidently and prophet-like express himself, to the great encouragement of all, steps out, saying, " I will venture my life for the safety of all the rest ; for if some one do it * Dung off, Scot. — driven off. t But heaven, Scot. — without or besides heaven. J In a MS. Life of Blair this person is called " Andrew Agnew, a godly passenger." I 163G.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 143 not, infallibly we are all gone." So they did tie liim about the middle \nth clothes and ropes, as he desired and directed them, and gave him and tied to him ^uch instruments and materials as he desired and they judged necessary and convenient for the pur- pose, and then did let him down to the rudder, holding in their hands a large rope tied about his middle. This man did so fix the rudder on its hinges, that it not only served them all the while till they came ashore, but, after this voyage, the ship made a Spanish voyage with that same helm. Thus the Lord delivered them out of that deadly danger. One morning the master and company came and told them it was impossible for them to hold out any longer, and although they should beat out that storm, they would be sure to forgather with one, two or three more of that sort before they would reach New England. After prayer, when they were consulting what to do, Mr Livingston proponed an overture, wherewith he was peqilexed thereafter, viz., that seeing they had the Lord's warrant for their intended voyage, however, it be presumption to propone a sign to him, yet they being in such a strait, and having stood out some days already, they might yet for twenty hours stand to it, and if, in that time, he were pleased to calm the storm and send a fair wind, they might take it for an approbation of their advancing, otherwise they should retm-n. To this they all agreed ; but that day and the next thereafter, they had the sorest storm that they had felt. So all almost began to think of retiirning ; only !Mr Blair was not yet fully resolved and clearly determined to return. Whereupon they all resolved to lay it over upon Mr Blair, that if he, after seeking of God by earnest prayer did still continue resolute to go forward, they should do so, but if he were moved to be of their mind, that they should presently turn sail. Mr Blair, hearing that the deter- mination of so great and important a question or case was wholly devolved over upon him, to be decided by him alone, did fall into a fit of fainting or a kind of swarf, * but shortly recovering, he was determined to be of their mind. So all of them resolved and took * S'jnrf, Spot. — swoon. 144; LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1636. it for granted that it was the Lord's will and mind that they should return ; so that the next morning, so soon as they saw day, they turned and made good way with a main cross of a little fore-top- sail; and after some tossing, they at last came to Lochfergus, whence they loosed November the third. During all this time, amidst such fears and dangers, the most part of the passengers were most cheerful and confident. Some of them said that they never, in all their days, thought the day so short as all that while, though they slept some nights not above two hours, and some not at all, but stood most part in the gallery, astern of the great cabin where Mr Blair's and Mr Livingstone's families lay ; for in the morning, by that time, every one had been some while alone, and then at prayer in their several societies, and then at public prayer in the ship, it was time to go to dinner ; and after dinner they would visit their friends in the inner room, or those betwixt the decks, or any that had been sick ; and then public prayer afternoon did come, and after that supper and family exercises. Mr Blair was much of the time weakly, and Jay in the time of the storm. Several of those betwixt the decks were sickly ; one aged person and one child died and were buried in the sea. One woman, wife of Michael Colvert, brought forth a child, whom Mr Livingston baptized the next Sabbath, and called him Seaborn. Mr Blair's wife went a-board with her young son sucking her breast, yet the Lord gave her such measure of health and strength, and a willing mind to take up the sweet cross of Christ daily, hourly, yea momently, (whUe she with her sucking young child were sadly exercised, and grievously tossed in the depths), that she had milk enough for the child ; so that by this Mr Blair could not but evidently see, and doubtless did acknow- ledge God's good guiding him in his choice, wealling * out for him a second helper, very meet for^ him now in his sad yet sweet though suffering condition. But the child all the time they M^ere at sea was very sick, so that his mother often feared his death ; and that which occasioned the child's sickness, in all probability, * Wealling, or waling, Scot. — choosing, selecting. 1G36.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIU. 145 was this : When they went aboard, the child was but recovering of the small pox, so that the cold sea air had weaned the child. It pleased the only wise Lord to twist in this small ply in Mr Blair's rod. After they had turned sail, and in a short time made good way homeward, although they could not imagine what to make of such a dispensation, yet they were very confident that the Lord would let them see soon what that would abundantly satisfy them. When they came near to Ireland, they began to consult what to do for the future. The major part inclined to set to sea again the next spring, beseeming themselves that they set to sea, the winter approaching; but Mr Blair said, that though he was the last man that was induced to return, yet they having made a fair offer, not only of their service, but of themselves to God, to spread and propagate the gospel in America, and the Lord had accepted of their offer, yea, and of themselves, he thought they had done enough to testify theu' willing mind to glorify God ; and for himself, he for the pre- sent resolved never to make a new attempt, seeing the Lord, by such speaking providences and dispensations, had made it evident to them that it was not his will they shoidd glorify him in America, he having work for them at home. All the company of passengers hearing Mr Blair thus express himself, both ministers and others were of his mind. That which most grieved all of them almost was, that they were like to be signs and wonders, and a very mock- ery to the wicked, who did laugh and flout at their enterprise. But Mr Blair, after much sad exercise thereanent, at last very confidently, as he had foretold (when they were in greatest danger by the rudders being broken and dung off the hinges) their de- livery and safety, so now when they were to go ashore did as con- fidently assure them, that, though the wicked among whom they lived did flout at their enterprise, yet that the Lord should so bow and incline their minds that they should be glad of their return, and welcome them. For he, lecturing on Psalm Ixv. 7, which was their last lecture at sea, and his ordinary text for lecturing, said, " As the Lord has given us a wonderful proof of his omnipotence and kindness to us in stilling the noise of the seas and the noise K 146 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1637. of their waves, so shall the Lord as evidently give us a proof of his sovereignty and dominion over the unruly spirits and tempers of wicked people, in stilling and calming the tumults of the wicked people to whom we are going, ' and' among whom we are to live a space." And the Lord fulfilled the word of his servant, so that not only they were not mocked but welcomed, even by the wicked ; yea, the prelates and their followers were much dismayed and feared at their return. But neither the prelates and confoi'- mists, nor they themselves, knew that within a year the Lord would not only root out the prelates in Scotland, and after that out of England and Ireland, but make some of them, especially Messrs Blair, Livingstone and Maclellan, &c., to be very instru- mental in the work of reformation. Their outward means were much impaired by this sea voyage and blessed disappointment ; for they had put much of their stocks in provisions for a plantation, and somewhat in merchandise, which they behoved to sell at low rates at their return, and had provided themselves with some servants for fishing and building of houses, whom they behoved to turn off; and, lastly, much of their house- hold stuff, and many of the ministers' books were spoiled with sea- water in the time of the grievous storm. They came ashore at Lochfergus, where they embarked ; and that same night Mr Blair's young son, William, died, so that he was persecuted to the death by the prelates and their followers. In this the Lord heard his mother's prayers, who often prayed that he might not die at sea, nor be made meat to sea monsters. Mr Blair went and dwelt at the Strone in Belfast,* in the house of one Archibald Millar. Mr Livingstone returned to his mother-in-law's house. They both preached each Sabbath that winter as they had done before, not- withstanding the hot persecution of the prelates, by sending out their pursuivants and others, their emissaries, to apprehend them. In February, 1637, one Frank Hill of Castlereagh, who yet used to come some Sabbaths to their meetings in Mr Blair's and Mr Livingstone's houses, being in Dublin, informed the State against * Dr Reid thinks the correct reading is " Strand of Belfast." 1G37.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 147 Messrs Blair and Livingstone. Order was given for their appre- hension. One night one Andrew Young, a servant of Mr Barr's,* who dwelt hard by Mr Livingstone's house, overheard a pursuivant calling to a stabler to provide against to-moiTow morning two horses to him, and another, because they had order to go to the north and bring up two Scots deposed ministers. This Andrew immediately goes to another stabler, prepares a horse, and rode all that night, and in two days after brings them word ; so that Messrs Blair and Livingstone went out of the way, and came over to Scot- land. When they came to Irvine, to !^L• David Dickson, they learned that some good gentlemen of that country had been with him, having heard that they were come to Scotland, and had de- sired him not to employ them to preach for fear of the bishops, they being then upon the urging of the Service Book, lest they shoidd take occasion thereby to put him out of his ministry. " But," said honest jSIr Dickson, " I dare not be of their opinion, nor follow their counsel, so far to discountenance these worthies, now when they are suffering for holding fast the name of Christ and every letter of that blessed name, as not to employ them as in former times ; yea, I would think that my so doing would provoke the Lord so that 1 might upon another account be deposed, and not have so good a conscience." Upon the other hand, Messrs Blair * The proprietor of the iron furnaces at Malone. " He was an extensive merchant, and traded under a special license between Scotland and Ireland. He was particularly obnoxious to Wentworth, who, in a letter to Laud, in the year 1637, bitterly and satirically complains of his misrepresentations. ' There is one,' says he, ' Mr Barr, a Scotchman by nation, whose person your Grace once saw before you at the Committee for Irish Affairs at my last being in England.' He then describes him as ' scarce so good as a petty chapman,' though he ' pretends to be a merchant,' and had got a special license ; as ' leaping' between England and Ireland, ' like a jackanapes betwixt two stools ;' ' who holds everj' inward intelli- gence with some here who wish me ill ;' and as procuring access to the King in Eng- lanfl, to whom he was whispering continually something or another to my prejudice ; boasts familiarly liow freely he speaks with his majesty, what he saith concerning me, ' And now, an'tpleese your majesty, ea werde mare anent your debuty of Yrland.' " — Reid, i. 235. We find Leslie, the bishop of Down, in a letter to the Lord-deputy of Ire- land in 1638, speaking of Barr as ha\'ing joined in the " conspiracy" in Scotland, as he designates the religious movement there at that time, because he was a notable nonconformist, and had been lately in Scotland, and had fled from Ireland for fear of the High Commission. k2 148 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1637. and Livingstone were very unwilling either to occasion his trouble or dissatisfy any of the gospel men of the country ; but he urged them with such grounds that they could not refuse to preach in Irvine, or else where they got a call. Mr Livingstone went to Lanark to his father. Mr Blair abode at Irvine, and sometimes visited the Earl of Cassillis and others in that country, but always was employed either preaching in public or in private meetings. The 26th of March that year, 1637, the communion was celebrated at Irvine, where Messrs Blair and Livingstone were employed. Many resorted to this communion even out of Ireland, out of the parishes Bangor and Killinchie ; their wives and some of their eldest children with their mothers came over. All the rest of the honest deposed ministers were forced to flee out of Ireland. Mr Cunningham came to Irvine, and died there, 29th March, 1637. He had many gracious experiences of the Lord's goodness to him, and great peace in regard of the cause of his suffering, and spoke much and well to the Presbytery of Irvine who came to see him ; and a little before he died, his wife sitting on a low bed where he lay, and having her hand upon his hand, he was in prayer commending his flock of Holywood, and his dear acquaintance and children to God : and at last he said, " O Lord I commend unto thy care this gentlewoman, who is now no more my wife ;" and with that he thrust away her hand with his hand ; and after a while he slept in the Lord, and was buried in the burial place at the kirk of Irvine. Mr Blair wrote his epitaph, which is engraven on his grave stone in the kirk-yard of Irvine. Hie Cunninghami recubat Eoberti Corpus. O qualis genius latebat, Quamque divinus fragili iuvolutus, Pu\.vere in isto ! Acrius nemo intonuit superbis ; Nemo dejectos magis erigebat ; Sed Dei laiides celebrando, ricit Seque aliosque.* * Some weeks after Cunningham's death, his persecutors in Ireland, either not aware of the event, or through a barbarous malignity which would wreak its vengeance on the i 1637.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 149 After IVIr Blair had abode some space of time at Irvine with his two brethren, where also were many of his near relations, his wife, with the children of his first marriage, came over from Ireland to Irvine. In this short sea voyage Mr Blair got a thu'd proof of the Lord's merciful and gracious providence in preserving his wife, and delivering her out of these deadly dangers (two whereof are mentioned before in Belfast water and the long sea-voyage) ; for she and his three children were in o-reatest hazard of beings drowned at the bar of Irvine. Mr Blair, with his brethren and others, standing in the kirkyard of Irvine, did see the great hazard that the boat was in, but little knew he that his dearest wife and dead, summoned him before the High Commission at Dublin, and fined liim for not appearing. This could not touch the good man now reposing in the grave, but it proved a source of hardship to his ^\-ido\v and numerous children. This appears from a petition presented by his widow to the Parliament of Ireland on this subject, which is deserving of being preser\-ed, as illustrating the intolerance exercised towards the Presbj-terians in Ireland at that period. The petition is as follows : " The humble Petition of Isabel Montgomerie, relict of Mr Eobert Cimningham, late preacher at Holjwood in Ii-eland, with her eight fatherless children, To the Commissionar his Grace, and to the Honom-able Court of Parliament, Most humbly shewing. That your Suppli- ant's late husband (a man who for his painfulness in his ministry and holy conversa- tion, was had in estimation even by his enemies) being cited some five weeks after his death to compear before the High Commission Court at Dublin in Ireland, for his adherence to the National Covenant and Confession of the Faith of the Kirk of Scot- land, -was fined in twenty pounds sterling for not compearance, notwithstanding sure information given to that Court of his death ; upon the which, they and their ofiicers did lift all the cows and horses which did remain for maintenance of your Suppliant and her eight children, amounting far above the sum of twenty pounds sterling, and drove them some twenty miles away, until I found surety, under the pain of forty pounds sterling, to pay the said sum at a ceitain day, or else to produce an acquittance of the same from the High Commission Court, which did cost your Suppliant more charges nor my small means could well afford, and yet I am not freed of the danger thereof. As also because of your Suppliant's fiim adherence to the Covenant of Scot- land, warrants did lately issue out for my apprehension, and forced me to forsake the place of mine filjode, together with my fatherless children, and I am now constrained to live in this kingdom without certain residence, separate from my children and all means of sustentation : Which extraordinarj' hard measure done to nic (as to many hundreds more of our nation) for adherence to our covenant made with God, I do, in all humility, remonstrate to your Grace and this honourable Court of Parliament, en- treating tliat such crying sins of oppression against the widow and the fotherless, and many more of this nation, may, by your Grace and Honours, be manifested to the King's Majesty for redress of your Suppliant, and others who arc iu like case and op- pressed for the same cause ; and I with my eight fiithcrkss children shall ever and earnestly pray that his majesty may long and liappily reign over us." — ]]^o(lrow MSS. vol. l.vii. foho, no. 52. 150 LIFE OF IIOBEIIT BLAIR. [1637. children were in it ; yet, notwithstanding, he prayed earnestly for their preservation, and " the prayer of faith saved them," James v. 17 with 15. They lay all that night at the bar, and next morning the Lord his God, to whom he prayed, brought safely to him his wife and children. For this merciful, yea wonderful, cast up pro- vidence, Mr Blair heartily blessed his good and gracious God. All this summer Mr Blair had as much preaching in public, and exercises in private, as ever before, mostly at Irvine, and partly in the country about Irvine, and in Edinburgh. For at this time the bishops were hot upon the chase urging the Service Book * upon the ministry. This occasioned many private meetings, and the godly's often speaking one to another (Mai. iii. 16,) in all the corners of the land, but especially in Edinburgh. In this sum- mer Mrs Blair brought forth her second son, baptised David, in Irvine. This summer several ministers in Scotland were charged to buy and receive that new infamous, I had almost said Popish Service Book, which stirred up great thoughts of the hearts of them that feared God throughout all the land, and occasioned a great tumult especially in the High Kirk of Edinburgh, by some zealous and holy women mostly, at the first attempting to read that doleful Service Book obtruded upon the Kirk of Scotland by the prelates and their followers. The true rise of that blessed reformation in Scotland began with two petitions, one from Fife and another from the west, which met together at the Secret Council's door at Edin- burgh, the one not knowing of the other. After that, about the 20th of September, a great many petitions from several parts and corners of the kingdom were presented against that Service Book. These being denied, the number of the petitioners and their de- mands increased ; for they desired not only exemption from that Service Book, (which was a great deal worse than the liturgy in * This was the celebrated Sendee Book, prepared by Archbishop Laud, expressly for Scotland, and containing numerous alterations on the English Book of Common Prayer. The title of this obnoxious publication is, " The Booke of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments and other parts of Divine Service, for the use of the Church of Scotland. Edinburgh, 1637." 1637.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. « 151 England), but from the five ceremonies of Perth and the High Commission Court. And these things being denied, they desired also freedom from Episcopacy, the book of canons, and of ordina- tion, which being denied, they humbly supplicate for a free Parlia- ment and General Assembly. Allien all these were still denied, the number of the petitioners so increased, that in some sort they were the whole body of the land ; so that it was not only Primores regni, but, in effect, the collective body of the kingdom ; not only the better, but the far greatest part of all ranks and degrees that did often protest against the actings and proclamations of the Council. Matters being thus in great confusion, and no appearance of pranking * of them, or of any settling of them and harmony be- twixt the Council and the petitioners, (who humbly and peaceably continued very long supplicating for a reformation), Mr Blair's old inclination for France, and his hankering after it, mentioned p. 52, began again to revive. He could not but think, " I being thrust out of Ireland, and matters being thus in Scotland, and having such an inclination to France, (p. 53), now is the time that I must at least attempt to go to France, the Lord, by these speaking dis- pensations, says it to me." JNIr Blair, therefore, (as he thought then), following the Lord's call, did attempt to go over to France to preach the gospel there, where there are no prelates, and where he would be the better liked of, (and so in a greater capacity to glorify God in winning of souls), because he was persecute by the bishops in Ireland, and sadly threatened to be worse dealt with by the prelates in Scotland ; for Bishop Spottiswood, hearing of his coming over to Irvine, vowed that he should not get leave to stay in any of the King's dominions. He had an invitation, and was earnestly dealt with to go over and to be preacher to Colonel Hepburn's regiment in France. He condescending, was shipped in Leith Road, to be carried to France with a number of soldiers that were levied in Scotland by the officers of that regiment, who came to Scotland to levy a recruit for their regiment. But, as when he did go down to sea attempting to go to America, many * Pranking — arranging. 152 • LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1637. laboured to dissuade him, and many prayers were poured out to God to bring him back again ; so now, aU his relatives in Edin- burgh were against his going to France, yea, when he was gone to the ship, prayed he might be brought back again ; and it seemed their prayers of faith availed much, (James v. 15, 16). That which occasioned his return and quitting that voyage was this : — There was embarked with him a number of soldiers, some of them Highlandmen, that were to go passengers for the recruit of Hepburn's regiment. These, especially the Highlanders, were most profligate, and desperately wicked men. Mr Blair being necessi- tated to be near them, (as another Lot, " was vexed mth their filthy conversation, for he, dwelling for the time among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day"*), he thought he was in a kind of Sodom, or in a corner of hell. But at last, when he began to rebuke them for swearing and cursing, one of the Highlanders pvdled out his dirk, vowing to stab him, but the Lord hindered him, as he did the other whom the devil tempted, and he undertook, to stab Mr Blair, p. 66. This made him pre- sently resolve to go ashore, and quit this French voyage ; so, calling to the skipper, or shipmaster, he desired that he might be set ashore, not imparting to him his fixed purpose of not return- ing. As he was coming down from the ship to the ship's boat, he was in great hazard of going down to the bottom of the sea, but mercifully preserved ; for his foot sliding upon the ship's side, he did faU down. But the Lord provided one of the tows of the ship (which providentially, yet accidentally, was hanging near by the place where he was falling), to be the mean appointed of God for his preservation ; for he catching hold of that tow, did hang by it upon the ship's side. I have heard Mr Blair teU that when he was hanging on the side of the ship, he had this reflection on that cast of providence, saying in his heart, " I have often read and preached that the good angels are ministering spirits sent forth by God to serve and preserve them who shall be heirs of salvation ;t but though I knew that truth notionally, now as to the prac- * 2 Pet. ii. 7, 8. t Hel). i., last verse. 1637.] LIFE OF IIOBERT BLAIR. "^ 153 tical and experimental knowing of it, it is a new lesson to me. Now I see, and by experience find that to be true which is writ- ten, Ps. xci. 11, 12, 'For he shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways ; they shall bear thee uj) in their hands,' " &c. Without all doubt, though it cannot be proven from Scripture, that every one has a tutelar angel, yet it is certain that the good angels do many good offices to the people of God, especially to his ministers and ambassadors, which we do not see, and do not re- mark or know ; especially when we are in hazard and dangers in our infancy and old age especially. See Isaac Ambrose, his War with Devils and Communion ^vith Angels.* Mr Blair being thus preserved coming ashore, came immedi- ately from Leith to Edinburgh, and to John Mein's house, whose ■wife, Barbara Hamilton, was his first wife's sister. Glad were they, and aU his first Avife's friends and relations, of his return, and looked upon it as the answer of their prayers and a gra- cious cast of providence. That worthy wife, B. H. ' Barbara Hamilton,' brings to ISIr Blair paper, pen and ink, saying, " Write a Supplication to the Secret Council, and humbly petition them in your own name, and in the name and behalf of others in your con- dition, for liberty to preach the gospel publicly, wherever ye get a call from honest ministers or people, and we that are wives shall put it in the treasurer's hand as he goes in to the Council." Where- unto Mr Blair condescended, and delivers his supplication, written with his own hand, to her. The first Council day immediately following, there convenes a great number of the religious matrons in Edinburgh, drawn up as a guard from the Council house door to the street. They agreed to put the Supplication in the hand of the oldest matron, Alison Cockbum, relict of Mr Archibald Row. When the treasurer, Traquair, perceived the old woman presenting to him a paper, suspecting that it was something that would not * The treatise here referred to was the production of the well-known Isaac Ambrose, author of " Looking unto Jesus." The first part of it, " War with Devils," which is dedicated " To Jesus Christ the Eternal Son of God," is a practical treatise on Satan's temptations, founded on Eph. vi. 12. He was a pious and ingenious writer of the I'urilan school, and at one time verv popular in Scotland. 154 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1638. relish with the Council, he did put her by, and goes quickly from her towards the Council house door, which being perceived by B. H., she appears and pulls the paper out of the old weak Avoman's hand, and coining up to Traquair, did with her strong arm and big hand fast grip his gardie,* saying, " Stand, my Lord, in Christ's name I charge you, till I speak to you." He looking back, replies, " Good woman, what would you say to me ?" "There is," said she, "a humble supplication of ]Sir Blair's. All that he petitions for is that he may have liberty to preach the gospel, &c. I charge you to befriend the matter as you would expect God to befriend you in your dis- tress and at your death !" He replied, " I shall do my endeavour, and what I can in it." Mr Blair's supplication was granted by the Secret Council ; and so he had liberty not only to stay in Scotland, but to preach the gospel to any congregation where he got an orderly call. By this narration you may perceive how the Lord in this time stirred up and animated the spirits not only of men, espe- cially of the nobles who were magnates et primores regni, and of the ministers of the gospel, but even of holy and religious women, who as they first opposed the reading of that black Service Book, June 23, 1637, so the Lord made them instrumental in many good affairs for the promoting of the blessed Reformation ; the Lord making- use of weak, siUy and contemptible instruments, that he might get all the glory and praise. See Philip iv. 3 ; Rom. xvi. 1, 3, 6. t Those of all ranks and degrees that were commissionate, and did convene at Edinburgh for supplicating the Council and for protest- ing against the proclamations, especially the ministers, considering that the Lord's greatest controversy with them was the breach of * Gardie, Scot., ami. t The " religious matrons" of Scotland frequently appear on the stage at this event- ful period of our history. Actuated by the heroic spirit which the female sex has often disiilayed in cases of emergency, they not only served, as on the above occasion, in the capacity of a " guard," but even ventured to resist the militaiy. They were jiarticu- larly formidable to obnoxious or renegade clergymen, whom they treated witli little ceremony. A baud of such heroines as Bai'bara Hamilton, " ^^'\t\\ her strong arm and big hand," were not such " silly and contemptible instruments," as Row has called them, or as we may suppose, judging from their representatives in these degenerate days. See note on next page. 1638.] LIFE OP ROBERT BLAIR. 155 the National Covenant, made and often renewed in King James his time, by authority of the King, Parliament, Council, and Ge- neral and Provincial Assemblies, they did in March 1638, very solemnly in the Greyfriars' ku'k in Edinburgh, renew that National Covenant, and thereafter throughout the kingdom most solemnly. Mr Livingstone was immediately sent post to London, with several copies of the Covenant and letters to friends that were well-A\asli- ers to the work of reformation. Mr Eleazar Borthwick was at London before him for that same end that Mr Livingstone was sent. These two informed fi-iends and some of the English nobi- lity how matters went in Scotland, viz., that through the whole kingdom or kirk of Scotland, except the Secret Council and some of the nobility, and except Papists and some few who for base ends adhered to the prelates, the people universally entered into Cove- nant with God for a refonnation of religion against prelates and the ceremonies. Not long after the renewing of the National Co- venant !Mr Blair got a hearty and unanimous call from the town and parish of Ayr to be their minister. The place was vacant for ISIr William Hanane * formerly minister there, being a conform and Episcopal man, (as the bishops, especially Spottiswood, chancellor and archprelate of St Andrews, hearing of the renewing of the Covenant, did immediately flee into England or elsewhere), so did !Mr Hanane run away from his charge before he was summoned, accused or censured, liis conscience, the Lord's deputy within his * Mr Hanane, alias Hannay, alias Annan, was deposed by the General Assem- bly of Glasgow, 1G38, Dec. li, Sessio 21, along with four other ministers. — Balfour's Annals, vol. ii., p. 312. Bailie gives the following graphic account of his treatment by the women of Glasgow : — " At the outgoing of the church, about thirty or forty of our honestest women, in one voyce, before the bishope and magistrats, did fall in rayling, cursing, scolding with clamours on Mr William Annan ; some two of the meanest were taken to the Tolbooth. All the day over, up and down the streets where he went, he got threats of sundiy in words and looks ; bot after supper, when nccdlcsslie he will goe to visit the bishope, he is no sooner on the causey, at nine o'clock, in a mirk night, with three or four ministers with him, bot some hundreds of inraged women, of all qualities, are about him, with neaves, and staves, and peats, but no stones : they beat him sore ; his cloake, ruffe, hatt were rent ; however, upon his cries, and candles set out from many windows, he escaped all bloody wounds ; yet he was in gicat danger, even of LiUihfj." — Letters and Journals, i. p. 21. 156 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1638. breast, accusing and condemning him. Mr Blair, finding the call clear, hearty and unanimous, accepted of it, and followed it as the Lord's call to the exercise of his ministry among that people. So Mr Blair was received there by the Presbytery and town of Ayr. About this time Mr John Livingstone got a call from the parish of Stranraer, which he embraced. ]\ir Blair being minister at Ayr and Mr Livingstone at Stranraer, several of their friends in Ireland came and dwelt in Ayr and Stranraer. Ayr being one of the ports whence they sail to Ireland, and Stranraer being within four miles of Portpatrick, many of the Christians in Ireland came over to their communions in great number. At one time came five hun- dred. They brought over their children to be bapticed. Twenty- eight children were baptised at one time in Stranraer. After the renewing of the Covenant, the collective body of the kingdom, all ranks and degrees, entering into covenant with God for reformation of religion, and against bishops and the ceremonies, the King was pleased so far to yield to the just desires of the Cove- nanters, that he did, by his authority, indict a free General Assem- bly to convene at Glasgow, November 1638, referring all matters ecclesiastic to the Assembly, and matters civil to a parliament to be indicted. At this famous Assembly which excommunicate the bishops, and established religion according to the pattern in the mount, ]\Ir Blair was by an act of that Assembly transported from Ayr to St Andrews, as he himself relates, p. 46. But Mr Blair, being most unwilling to remove from Ayr, where the Lord had begun to bless his labours, and to go so far fi'om his Christian friends and acquaintance, from the west to the east sea bank, spoke, and did what he could to impede that transportation, but nothing could avail. The most discerning and judicious men of that Assembly, thought Mr Blair the meetest man to fill the vacant place at St Andi'ews, (Spottiswood, his archdean and doctors having run away, fearing the Genei'al Assembly's censure), where there were three colleges very con-upt, and the body of the town people addicted to prelacy and the ceremonies, it being the see of the archprelate. These reasons that moved the Assembly 1G39.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 157 to enact ]Mr Blair's transportation, did mostly render him unwilling to obey the act ; so Mr Blair stayed at Ayr until the next General Assembly, 1639. In that year, 1639, the King, being highly displeased with the proceedings of the Assembly 1638, did through all England declare the Covenanters rebels, against whom he would use a more power- ful way, as was threatened in the last proclamation which was fidly answered in a large Protestation, (see the printed paper), and in- stantly did levy an army to invade Scotland and subdue the Cove- nanters, setting up the royal standard at York. When it was certainly known that the royal army was marching towards Scot- land, the King himself being in the army, accompanied vdih many of the nobility and gentry of England, the Covenanters thought it high time to bestir themselves, and to prepare for a defensive war. They levied an army, * came near the border, encamped on Dunse- law, the royal army lying at the Birks of Berwick on Tweed's side, a little above Berwick. The king was graciously pleased to con- sent unto a happy pacification ; f so both armies returned without one drop of blood being shed. ^Ir Blair was one of the ministers of the Covenanters' army. While he was on his journey towards Dunse-law, where the King was, looking to his upper garment, he was made to remember that word which he had spoken to a bigot conformist, and which now the Lord did fulfil and confirm, Is. xliv. 26. This conformist, hearing that ^Ir Blair, when he was at London commissionated by his brethren that were suspended, had put on a cassock, which is a part of their canonical habit, (because he could not have access at court to the courtiers to whom he had letters of recommendation, in his own habit, which was the habit of Puritan ministers, as they were then called ; the cassock being in it- self a grave and suitable habit for a churchman, ]Mr Blair put it on, * " A very gallant army," says Balfour, " esteemed to be between 26 and 30 thou- sand horse and foot, of which they made Sir Alexander Lesley of Balgoney, knight, general." He adds, that the King's army was not 12,000 men, horse and foot. — Annnh, vol. ii. p. 324. t The articles of pacification or treaty between the King and the Covenanters are to be found in Balfour's Annals, vol. ii., pp. 327, 328. They were signed by the King's Majesty, and then by the commissioners on both sides, June the 19th. ^ 158 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1639. and by that means got access), did deride, and Ishmael-like mock and persecute Mr Blair after he returned from court, saying, "Pray, you Mr Blair, what will you now do with your canonical coat? What use will you make of it now ?" Mr Blair replied, " I will keep it seven years, and every year sun it and give it the wind ; and after seven years, I will make it over again in another mode, and wear it when you and the like of you will be forced to run away, not daring to appear." This word thus spoken did the Lord fulfil ; for the seventh year after his return from London was 1639 ; and Mr Blair being to march with the army to Dunse-law, took the cassock, and made of it a long four-tailed coat, and rode in it to Dunse-law, where no bishop nor conformist durst appear. * One of the articles of the pacification concluded at the Birks of Berwick was that armies on both sides being disbanded, all matters civil should be referred to the Parliament, and ecclesiastic to the General Assembly, which both were instantly indicted to convene at Edinburgh,! Traquair being commissioner to both. This General Assembly, 1639,1 (Mr David Dickson being mode- * Baillie gives a veiy interesting account of the Covenanters' army as they en- camped on Dunse-law. " It would have done yoiir heart good," says he, " to have casten your eyes athort our brave and rich hiU, as oft I did with great content- ment and joy, for I (quoth the wren) was there among the rest, being chosen preacher by the gentlemen of our shire, who came late with my Lord of Eglintoun. I fur- nished to half a dozen of good fellows, muskets and picks, and to my boy a broad- sword. I carried myself, as the fashion was, a sword, and a couple of Dutch pistols at my saddle ; but I promise for the offence of no man except a robber in the way ; for it was our part alone to preach and pray for the encouragement of oiir countrjTuen, which I did to my power cheerfully." Speaking of the sokliers, he s.ays, " the sight of the nobles and their beloved pastors daily raised their hearts ; the good seiinons and prayers morning and even under the roof of heaven, to which their drums did call them for bells ; the remonstrances very fi-equent of the goodness of their cause ; of their conduct hitherto, by hand clearly divine ; also Leslie, his skill and fortune, made them all so resolute for battle as could be wished. We Mere feared that emu- lation among our nobles might have done harm, when they should be met in the fields ; but such was the wisdom and authoixty of that old, little, crooked soldier, that all with an incredible submission, from the beginning to the end, gave over themselves to be guided by him, as if he had been Great SoljTuan." — Letters andJournah, vol. i. pp. 203, 211-214, t According to the 8th article of the treaty, the General Assembly was to be indict- ed on the 6th of August, and the Parliament to meet on the 20th of the same month. X This Assembly sat eighteen days, from the 12th of August to the 30th. The King's Commissioner, Traquair, continued with the Assembly to the end of the seseion, 1639.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 159 rator), did cliallenge Mr Blair for not obeying the act of the Assembly of Glasgow, by transporting to St Andrews, and per- emptorily command him instantly to transport to St Andrews, in obedience to the former act at Glasgow ; but to encourage him cordially to obey the act, the Assembly did transport j\Ir Samuel Rutherford from Anwoth to St Andrews, to be principal of the New College there. But ISIr Eutherford altogether refused to transport to St Andrews, to that place in the New College, unless he were also admitted to be Mr Blair's colleague in the ministry there, only receiving stipend as principal of the New College. Mi Blair came to St Andrews, August 1639, and brought with him the three children of the first marriage, and David of the second marriage, born at Irvine, April the 10th, 1639 ; and Mr Ruther- ford about that time came also. In the time of this General As- sembly, 1639, there fell out a remarkable passage of providence relating to Mr Blair, and tending much to his credit and reputa- tion. On a Lord's day, when the most part of the members of that Assembly were convened in the Great Eark, where the As- sembly sat, ' after the' ringing of the third bell, word comes that the minister appointed to preach in that kirk was not to come. The Earl of Rothes hearing this, and looking ' through' the kirk upon several of the members of the Assembly, called to Mr Blair, saying, " We are trysted with a disappointment ; we are told that the minister appointed to preach here is not to come ; sir, I know, if you please, you may supply the place by lectiu-ing or preaching, or if it were but reading Scripture and praying. I entreat you, do something to keep us together, for now the third bell being rung, we will get no place in other kirks." ]Mr Blair replied nothing, but went to the lettren and took the Bible from the reader, and read over again the chapter that he was reading, which was the 5l8t of Isaiah, and lectured upon that whole chapter most pertinently, &c. and assented to all their acts ; although when he went up to the court in England, he denied with heavy oaths that he had assented to any thing, and exaggerated the pro- ceedings of the Covenanters, representing them as tending to the destruction of the fundamental laws of the kingdom, and the overthrow of monarchical government. 160 LIFE or ROBERT BLALR. [1639. CHAPTER X. 1639. THE CONTINUATION OF THE SUPPLEMENT, WHICH, FROM THE TEAR 1643, MAY BE CALLED THE HISTORY OF THE TIMES.* The fifth period of Mr Blair's life was from his coming to St Andrews and settling in his ministry there, 1639, to the time of his being summoned over by the Parliament, 1661, to appear and answer to these things they had to lay to his charge. The King returning from the Birks of Berwick after the pacifi- cation with his army, but very much diminished, multitudes of them being dead, whereas there was not one of the Covenanters' army either sick or dead, (which was judged a wonderful cast of provi- dence, that about 30,000 men, beside boys, pedies,t lackeys, &c., abiding together for some weeks, not one of them was either sick or dead) ; immediately after he came to London, the bishops being highly displeased that he had concluded a treaty of peace with the Covenanters, these rebels never ceased, until they forced the King to burn the Articles of the Treaty by the hand of the hangman, in the most pubUc place of the city of London.^ Immediately there- * This title we give as it appears in the MS. from which we print, t Fedies, foot-boys. X This was done at Cheapside Cross, the King's chief advisers being Laud, arch- bishop of Canterbury, and the Earl of Strafford, deputy or Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. 1640.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 161 after, the clergy promising great assistance, they persuaded the King to act contrary to all the articles of the Treaty, and to think of a new war and army to invade Scotland and subdue these rebels ; and so, contrary to the articles of the treaty, there was a company of English soldiers sent down to the Castle of Edinbm*gh, and General Kuthven made captain of the Castle. Thereafter the King began to levy another army to invade Scotland ; the Cove- nanters resolving not aye to play after-games, and stiU to be wise behind the hand, (having levied a strong army, and having pub- lished to the kingdom of England the grounds, motives, and rea- sons of their imdertaking), did prevent the King's invading of Scotland by their going in unto England. ]\Ir Blair was sent out 1640, to go into England with the Lord Lindsay's regiment. The Covenanters' army lay some time at Chousley-wood, not far from Dunse, (where the army had leaguered * the year preceding), till the rest of the army came up. When the whole army rendezvoused, it was found that they wanted powder and provi- sions. This produced suspicion that the expedition might be de- layed for that year. One day when the Committee of Estates and general officers, and some ministers, whereof Mr Blair was one, were met in the Castle of Dunse, (where the year preceding Gene- ral Leslie had his quarter), and were with prayer poured out to God consulting w^hat to do, an officer of the guard comes and knocks rudely at the door of the room where they were consulting and seeking God by earnest prayer, and told that there was treachery discovered ; " for I going," said he, " to a big cellar in the bottom of the house to seek something, have found some ban*els of powder, which I apprehend is laid there to blow us all up." After search, it was found that that powder had been laid there the year before, when the army decamped from Dunse-law, after the paci- Balfour justly remarks on this flagrant breach of good faitli, that " his Majesty's honour never received a greater wound than it did by his assenting to so unworthy and dishonourable an act, as in so scurvy a way to disclaim and disown his own con- cessions, signed by his own hand, before so many famous witnesses of both nations," —Annals, ii. 328. * Leaguered — encamped. L 162 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. fication at the Birks of Berwick. Now the Lord having provided the army with powder, by causing them find treasure in their own sacks, Gen. xliii. 23 ; the Earl of Rothes, (who was honoured of the Lord to be one of the prime instruments of the work of reforma- tion). Lord Loudon, Mr Alexander Henderson, and Mr Archibald Johnstone * returned to Edinburgh, and wdthin few days brought back with them meal and cloth to be tents, by the gift of the weU- affected people there, which suflSced the whole army. The 20th of August 1640, the Covenanters' army passed Tweed and were in English ground. They met vfith no opposition till they came to Newbrnn, where there is a ford of Tyne above Newcastle. On the south side of Tyne the English army had made fortifications and entrenched themselves to impede our army's passing Tyne; but our cannon being planted on the other side did quickly beat them from their trenches. The English running confusedly out of their fortifications, emboldened our army to cross the river. The first troop that crossed and drew up on the other side was rencountered with a troop of coriassiers, t armed caj^-a-pie, that appeared like a brazen wall, against them that had no arms save their swords, carabines, and pistols. Yet, O wonderful ! it pleased the Lord of hosts to strike these so w^eU armed and mounted Englishmen with such a panic fear that the very first charge made them all iiin. Some of them did not halt till they came to Dur- ham. They running who were judged the strength and pith of their army, the Avhole army was quickly put to a most confused and shameful rout. There did the Lord evidently demonstrate himself to be the Lord of hosts. The English army being routed, Newcastle immediately is rendered to the Covenanters. The Covenanters' army having seated themselves in Newcastle as their head-quarter, the Committee of Estates, with the army, sent an humble petition to the King, and, after another petition, followed the treaty at Rippon, and thereafter the calling of the English Parliament in November. The Committee of Estates, * Afterwards Lord Wamston. t Coriassiers — Cuirassiers, horsemen armed with a cuirass. 1640.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 163 wdth the army, now quartered in and about Newcastle, did send up to London ]\Ir Blair, to attend and wait upon the Commissioners of the great treaty, (p. 47), when the large treaty was concluded. The Covenanters' army, now in and about Newcastle, as they were orderly, so they were devout. It was refreshful to hear and see them ; for upon their march, when they came to their quarters at night, there was notliing to be heard almost through the whole army but singing of psalms, and praying or reading of Scriptures, in their tents and huts ; and though this army was much in this, yet the army at Dunse-law, the year preceding, was more in it, whereof I myself was an eye and ear witness ; there being with the army many ministers and probationers, and a multitude of devout, yea religious persons. * In the army 1640, was Captain EUis' f com- pany, who were all come from Ireland. They were all water lap- pers, Judges vii. 5-7, and bible bearers. I believe since the days of the reforming kings of Judah there was never such two armies. And, indeed, in all our meetings, both within doors and in the fields, always nearer the beginning of the work there was more dependence on God, and more tenderness in worship and in walk- ing ; . but through process of time thereafter we stiU declined more and more. That day the Covenanters came to Newbum, General Leslie and some others stepped aside to Haddon on the Wall; where old ^Irs Finnick came out and met them, and burst out saying, * This account is confirmed by Baillie, who was present with the army. " Had ye lent your ear," says he, "in the morning, or especially at even, and heard in the tents the sound of some singing psalms, some praying, and some reading Scripture, ye would have been refreshed For myself, I never found my mind in better temper than it was all the time frae I came from home till my head was again homeward ; for I was as a man who had taken my leave from the world, and was resolved to die in that sen-ice without return." t " Captain Fulk Ellis was eldest son of Edraond Ellis of Can-ickfergus, an English colonist. He and his company joined the Scottish forces in resisting the arms of Charles in 1G40, and were at the battle of Newbum. He shared in the supplies for- warded to the different companies of the army from their respective parishes in Scot- land. He returned to Ireland after the rebellion ; and was Captain and Major in Sir John Clotworthy's regiment of foot, and is believed to have fallen in action near De- sertmartin, in the county of Deny, in September 1643. His descendants, of the same name, still reside at Carrickfcrgus." — lieicTs Uistonj of the Presbyterian Church in Ire- land, i., 254. l2 164 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1641. "And is it so that God will not come to England to reform abuses but with an army of 22,000 men at his back !" The army was well accommodated and provided for. In England they got meat, and in all the parishes of Scotland whence they were sent, there were voluntary contributions, money collected and sent to them to buy their clothes ; so tender were they and unwilling to oppress the English where they had their quarters. * It was at this time, while the army lay in and about Newcastle, that the Earl of Montrose kept secret correspondence with the King by letters, contrary to an act of the Committee of Estates and Council of War, with the army ; which, when it was found out, he deserted their meetings, vowing to cause Scotland swim in blood if he were not avenged on the Lord Lindsay ; for he defend- ed his writing to the King, alleging he did but what the Lord Lindsay did, in writing to the Marquis of Hamilton, his brother- in-law. But Lindsay replied. That what he wrote he did, (according to the act of the Council of War, shew his letters to the General, and sent them, they being allowed), not in a clandestine way, as Montrose did, but avowedly. This did so stir and enrage the proud spirit f of Montrose, that he proved transfuga, % and in end a most cruel and bloody enemy to his mother kirk and country. The large treaty being concluded, the King, now the third time, grants a free General Assembly and Parliament to Scotland for settling of all matters, as well ecclesiastic as civil. The General Assembly did sit in summer 1641. They convened at St Andrews July 20, The Earl of Wemyss was the King's Commissioner. Mr Blair did preach at the opening up of this Assembly. The King did write to the Assembly a gracious and comfortable letter ; * In a letter written by the General and Committee of War of the Covenanters' army at Newcastle to the Earl of Lanerick, lately made Secretary for Scottish Affairs in the room of the Earl of Stirling, lately deceased, they say, " Our behaviour to those that are in Newcastle can \ntness our intentions, which is to hve at peace with all, and rather suffer than offend. We bought all -with our money, and they extortion us to the triple value." — Balfour's Annals, ii., 892, 393. t Row had originally written " the deviUshly proud spirit ;" but upon farther reflec- tion he appears to have considered the word *' devilishly " would scarcely do, as it is cancelled in the MS. J Transfuga, a turncoat, a deserter. 1641.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 165 unto the which the Assembly returned a suitable answer. The Assembly was transferred to Edinburgh, July 27. Thereafter our army came home from England in a most peaceable man- ner. Shortly thereafter 1^j|e King came down to Scotland in Sep- tember, and was present in the Parliament, and ratified all the pre- ceding work of reformation. In October 1641, while the King was in Scotland, the Irish rebellion broke out. Many of the religious people in the north of Ireland, where Mr Blair served in the ministry, had left Ireland that same year when the deposed ministers were forced out of it by pursuivants hunted out to apprehend them. Others left it 1639, when the Deputy urged upon all the Scots in Ireland an abjuring of the National Covenant of Scotland (which commonly was called the black oath), * and so they were free of that stroke of the rebel- lion. Many who took that black oath were murdered by the rebels. They that Kved nearest the coast, over against Scotland, escaped for the most part, and sundry fled elsewhere from these parts. It was observed that the stroke on the north of Ireland increased by degrees. At first they thought it a hard case that they were not sure to enjoy their ministers. But thereafter, when their * The following is a copy of this oath : " I, do faithfully swear, profess, and promise, that I A\-ill honour and obey my sovereign lord, King Charles, and will bear faithful and true allegiance unto him, and defend and maintain his royal power and au- thority ; and that I will not bear arms, or do any rebellious or hostile act against him, or protest against any his royal commands, but submit myself in all due obedience thereunto ; and that I will not enter into any covenant, oath, or band of mutual de- fence and assistance against any persons whatsoever by force, without his majesty's sovereign and regal authority. And I do renounce and abjure all covenants, oaths and bautls whatsoever, contrary to what I have herein sworn, professed and promised. So help me God, in Jesus Christ." In May 1039, by a proclamation from the Lord Deputy and Council, all the Scottish residents in Ulster, above the age of sixteen years, were required to take this oath, upon " the most severe punishments which may be inflicted according to the laws of this realm on contemners of sovereign authority;" and magistrates received commissions to administer the oath in their respective districts, and were directed to proceed in the most summary manner. Those who refused to swear it were treated with every kind of severity short of death ; and the the Lord Deputy declared that he would prosecute all who refused to take it " to the blood," and drive them "root and branch," out of the kingdom. The consequence was that many fled to Scotland, and so many of the labouring population left the countrj% that it was difficult to obtain a sufficient number to reap the harvest. — lieid's History of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, i., 244-249, 257. 166 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1642. ministers were deposed, that was found hard to be borne. But then the ministers were forced to flee the country, and hu'elings were thrust upon them ; and when that had continued some time, and they thought hardly a worse could ,come, the black and bloody oath comes ; and after all, the bloody sword of the rebels ; and yet after all this, they complained that they thought the oppression and insolence of the Scots army, that came over for their aid, was worse nor the rebellion. That army from Scotland for suppressing of the Irish rebels came over to Ireland in April 1642, being commanded by General-Major Monro. Those of the north in Ireland sent over Commissioners to the General Assembly 1642, petitioning for ministers to be sent to them. The Assembly thought it not fit to loose any from their charge, but for four or five years thereafter ordered eight ministers in the year to go over for visiting them, two together for three months, &c. ; and in the meantime some godly and able young men to be dealt with to go over for settling there ; and that these ministers might establish elderships, and with the ministers of the army that went over with Monro, try and ad- mit ministers. These ministers that were sent over by the Gene- ral Assembly used for most part to separate themselves for diverse parishes in several parts of the country, there being such a great number of vacant parishes, yet so as the one would visit the places where the other had been. Mr Blair was appointed by that As- sembly 1642, to go for Ireland to visit his parishioners in Bangor, and others in the north of Ireland, and in obedience to the appoint- ment did go. He found a great alteration and change to the worse in Ireland ; many that were civil before having become exceeding loose ; yea sundry who, for any thing could be perceived, had true grace declined much in their tenderness; so that it seems the sword openeth a gap and makes every body worse than before — an inward plague coming with the outward. Yet some few were in a very lively condition. For the most part of all these three months he preached every day once, and twice on the Sabbath. The destitute parishes were many. The hunger of the people was 1642.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 167 become great, and the Lord was pleased extraordinarily to flirnish and assist him. Often they met in the fields ; the confluence of people was so great that no house nor kirk could contain them. One day ]SIr Blair preaching, a great multitude convened, and knowing that many among them had taken that black oath, he did very pithily and pathetically lay out the guiltiness of taking that oath, and their hazard and danger by reason thereof. There- after he charged them whose conscience accused and condemned them, to separate themselves from among those that were not in- volved in that grievous provocation ; which the people willingly and immediately did. The guilty, separating themselves, stood on his left hand ; and after he had again thundered and threatened them, and exhorted them to repentance, ' he' did hold out mercy and par- don upon the terms of the covenant. And after the guilty had will- ingly, and Avith great expressions of grief and sorrow, confessed the same, Mr Blair did receive them as sincere penitents to be admitted to the communion. Some old experienced Clu'istians yet alive (anno 1677) declared that in all their lifetime they never heard the gos- pel so powerfully preached and pertinently applied — threatenings, promises, exhortations, motives, means, conserves and cordials ; — and that they never saw such commotion and heart-melting, with greatest abundance of tears among hearers, both guilty and inno- cent, so that it may be truly said that they gathered together to that place and drew water and pom'cd it out before the Lord, and said, " We have sinned before the Lord, yea against the Lord", 1 Sam. vii. 6. Such hyperbolic expressions of greatest abundance of tears drawn out of the fountain of contrite hearts you have, Psalm vi. 6, and cxix. 136. ]Mr Blair came, ordinarily, the night before, to the place where he was to preach the next day, and commonly lodged in some re- ligious person's house, where they were often well refreshed and comforted with their family exercise. Usually he got no more time but before he went to bed, to fix upon and make sure the place of Scripture he was to preach on the next day. Then rising in the morning early, being alone, cither in a chamber or in the I 168 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1642. fields, at the appointed time they went either to a kirk or the fields ; sometime thereafter, dined, and rode some five or six miles more or less, to another parish. Sometimes there would be four or five communions in the three months' time. They, both minis- ters and professors, had many sweet and soul-refreshing days of the gospel then and there, and some solemn and high Sabbath days, the like whereof Mr Blair seldom had in St Andrews. Likest to these days were some communion Sabbaths on the north side of Fife, in those parishes where Mr Blair assisted at the celebra- tion of the holy communion, especially betwixt 1650 and 1660 years. After the Assembly 1647, the Assembly sent no more for visits to Ireland, because, by that time, several godly ministers were settled in the north of Ireland. Mr Blair, at his very first coming to St Andrews, and settling there, finds the burden of that congregation very ponderous, and only not bone-crushing ; for, besides that it was very numerous, the common people, in the landward round about the town, were very ignorant, and the gentry and citizens were not only profane and dissolute, but very superstitious and highly prelatical ; and no wonder it was so, they dwelling even where Satan's seat was, and where Satan dwelleth, (Rev. ii. 13). After Mr Blair had for some time wrestled with his unsupportable burden, he began to think what way he might be eased at least of a part of the burden. This set him upon a contrivement of getting a part of the spacious and numerous landward parish, (viz. that part lying south-west from the tovm, namely, the two Ladornies, Lathones, Lathober, Civigstown, Vicarsgrange, Craigtown, Dinnork, &c.), erected in a new parish, quitting some vicarages that belonged to the Archdean's stipend, (IMr Blair contenting himself with the modi- fied stipend, never meddling with what properly belonged to the Archdeanrie, such as entries of those that were the Archdean's vassals, or other casualties, that made the Archdean's stipend a considerable rent), and evicting, by law, some teinds and vicarages of these lands within that new parish, and of some lands lying in the east end of the parish of Ceres, which formerly were of the I 1463.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 169 landward parish of St Andrews. Having thus gotten some sti- pend allotted to, and legally ratified by Act of Parliament for that new parish, Mr Blair resolved (folloAving the practice of others, both ministers and religious heritors), to deal with all the rest of the heritors of the parish of St Andrews, and with the citizens and aU the heritors in the east neuk of Fife, or elsewhere, for a voluntary contribution for building of a new kirk and a manse. He made choice of John Martin of Lathoness, (a forwai'd and zealous man for the late reformation, and so good a work), to go along with him to receive, keep, and be accountable for what was gotten. !Mr Blair did contribute, but would neither keep nor meddle with the moneys contributed and collected. After the kirk was builded at Cameron, and the glebe bought, ISIr George Nairn was ordained minister of the parish of Cameron in the year 1646. ^Ir Blair preached at that ordination, and moderate the whole action. Thus Mr Blair got himself eased and disburden- ed of a considerable part of the weighty burden of that landward parish. The actings and affairs of kirk and estate in the years 1643 and 1644, &c., were many, various, and weighty, in Scotland and England, and ISIr Blair much concerned and employed therein in both kingdoms. In the beginning of August 1643, the General Assembly convened, unto the which, and Convention of Estates, Commissioners were sent from the two houses of the Parliament of England, namely, John, earl of Rutland, Sir William Armine, baronet, Sir Henry Yane, younger, Thomas Hatcher, and Henry Darley, esquires; and from the Assembly of Divines, Messrs Stephen Marshall, and Philip Nye, ministers.* Their earnest de- * Of these commissioners, the most distin;fuished were Sir Henry Vane, Mr Stephen Miirshall, and Mr Nye. Sir Henry Vane is described by Baillie as " one of the greatest and ablest of the English nation." — (^Letters and Journals, ii. 89). He was active in procuring the framing of the Solemn League and Covenant, and af- tenvards Ijccame a leader of the Independents. Subsequent to the Restoration, hav- ing been excepted from the general indemnity granted to such as had been concerned in the civil war against Charles I., he was publicly tried and executed. On the scaf- fold he behaved with the utmost intrepidity, entertaining the confident persuasion that death would prove to him a passage to eternal felicity. 170 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1643. sires to the Convention and Assembly, respective, were thir espe- cially : — First, that the two nations may be strictly united for Mr Stephen Marshall, who was at this time lecturer at St Margaret's, Westminster, is described by BailUe as " the best preacher in England," ii., 148. The same author, in a letter to Mr Simeon Ashe, minister at London, dated December 31, 1655, thus WTites : — " I am sorry Mr Marshall is a-dying : he was ever, in my heart, a very eminent man. His many sermons on that verse of John viii. 36, ' If the Son make you free, you shall be free indeed,' I have oft pressed him to make pubhc. He was the preacher now living who ordinarily most affected my heart. I wish you press- ed him to let so many of his papers be published as may . . . Mr Marshall long ago lost the hearts of our nation. He was the main instrument of that National Covenant with God and among ourselves, which wont to hing on the walls of your churches : It will hing ever before the eye of God, the prime Covenanter." — Letters andJournah, iii. 302. Mr Marshall died in November 1655, and was interred in the south aisle of Henry VII.'s chapel. But, in 1661, his body was taken up, along with many others, by express command of his Majesty, for the part he acted in the time of Charles I. and Cromwell, and buried in the churchyard adjacent.— Wood's Fasti Oxonien. part i. p. 371. Marshall does not appear to have renounced his Presbytei-ian principles ; but he employed his influence in the Westminster Assembly to obtain the consent of the Assembly to the legal toleration of the Independents. " The Independents," says Baillie, " with Mr Marshall's help were veiy near to have carried, by canny conveyance of some propositions in the matter of church censure, a fair and legal toleration of their way." — {Letters and Journals, ii. 260.) Again he says, " At last they did give us a paper, requiring expressly a full toleration of congi-egations in their way everj^vhere, separate from oiirs. In our answer, we did flatly deny such a vast liberty Here Mr Marshall, our chainnan, lias been their most diligent agent to draw too many of us to grant them much more than my heart can yield to, and which, to my power, I oppose." — {Ibid., ii. 31:3.) PhiUp Nye, who was related to Stephen Marshall, having been married to his daugh- ter, was also a distinguished nonconformist. After having entered into holy orders, his nonconformity exposing him to the censure of his Episcopal superiors, he retired to Holland about 1033. Eetm'ning in 1610, he became soon after minister at Kim- bolton, in Huntingdonshire. Upon his return to London from the mission on which he was on this occasion sent, both houses of Parliament took the Covenant, of which he was the zealous assertor ; and at the taking of it he addressed the audience on its nature and warrantableness. About this time he became rector of Acton, near London. In the Westminster Assembly he was at the head of the Independent party. He appears to have been no favourite of Baillie's, who, in a letter to Mr Spang, dated September 22, 1613, thus writes : — " 20. The Sabbath, before noon, in the New Church, we heard Mr Marshall preach with gi'eat contentment. But, in the afternoon, in the Grey-Friars, Mr Nye did not please; his voice was cla- morous ; he touched, neither in prayer nor pi'eaching, the common business ; he read much out of his paper book : all his sermon was on the common head of a spiritual life, wherein he ran out, above all our understandings, upon a knowledge of God, as God, without the Scripture, without grace, without Christ. They say he amended it somewhat next Sabbath." — Letters and Journals, ii. 97. He died in the parish of St Michael, Cornhill, or near it, in London, in September 1672, and was buried in the upper vault under part of the Church of St Midmcl.— Wood's Ath. Ox., iii. 906. 1643.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 171 their mutual defence against the Papists and prelatical faction, and their adherents, in both kingdoms. 2. That both churches, in the two kingdoms, may be brought into a more near union and con- junction, in one form of church government, one directory of wor- ship, one catechism, &c., and the foundation laid of the utter ex- tirpation of popery and prelacy. 3. They desired (as an effectual mean hereimto) their brethren of Scotland to raise a considerable force of horse and foot, for their aid and assistance, to be sent pre- sently against the papists, prelatical faction, and malignants, &c. 4. For the more firm settlement of the union, and as the most ready and effectual means thereunto, they desired that both na- tions enter into a strict union and league, by way of a solemn co- venant, to be sworn by both nations. The result of the debates and consultations betwixt thir Com- missioners and the Committee of Assembly, whereof jMr Blair was one, was the Solemn League and Covenant ; and when the draught thereof, at last agreed unto, was read in open audience of the whole Assembly, our smoking desires for a more strict union and uniformity in religion betwixt both the nations, did break forth into a vehement flame ; for it was so unanimously and heartily embraced (so sincere was the kirk of Scotland in this grand affau-), with such a torrent of most affectionate expressions as none but eye and ear witnesses (whereof the writer was one) can conceive. Some of the oldest ministers, when their vote was asked, their joy was so great that tears did interrupt their expressions. Mr Blair, among other things, said that when he sometimes pleased himself in his hypothetic reveries, a solemn covenant for reformation of, and uniformity in, religion, in the three kingdoms, was to him mensura voti* Dr Calamy says that Nye had a complete history of The Old Puritan Dissenters in MS., which was burnt at the fire of London. — (Calami/ s Ejected Ministers, ii., 29, 30). * Mensura voti — the height of iiis wishes. — The EngUsh Commissioners were at first for a civil league, and the Committee of the General Assembly for a religious one. But a draught of the Solemn League embracing both objects was submitted for consideration by Alexander Henderson. Having beenunanunously agi'ecdto by the three committees, — one from the State, one from the General Assembly, and one from the Parliament of 172 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1644. When the Convention of Estates got the army raised, which was earnestly desired for the aid and assistance of the Parliament, and when in the end of the year 1643 they marched into England, Mr Blair was appointed by the commission of the Assembly (whereof he was one), to go with the army and to be minister to the Earl of Crawford's regiment. After the conjunction of our forces with the Parliament's, ]\Ir Blair diligently attended his charge, performing all ministerial duties to that regiment, until the month of July 1644, he came home to his charge at St Andrews, shortly after that won- derful victory obtained over Prince Bupert and his numerous army in Lona:; Marston-moor. * He came to St Andrews late at nio^ht, and that same night his wife was brought to bed of a son. July 28, there was a solemn thanksgiving in Fife for the victory at Long Marston. t Mr Blair being an eye and ear witness of that battle and confused conflict, (for at one time both the armies were fleeing), and being in no small hazard and danger while he exhort- ed some of them that fled to stand, he did pertinently and pathetl- England, — it was immediately brought to the General Assembly. Row's account of the manner in which it was there received is confinned by the statement of Baillie. " From that meeting," says he, " it came immediately to our Assembly, in the which at the first reading, being well prefaced with Mr Henderson's most grave oration, it was received with the greatest applause, that ever I saw any thing, with so hearty affections, express- ed in the tears of pity and joy by very many grave, wise, and old men. It was read dis- tinctly the second time by the Moderator. The mind of the most part was speared, both of ministers and elders ; where in a long hour's space, every man as he was by the Mode- rator named, did express his sense as he was able. After all considerable men were heard, the catalogue was read and all unanimously did assent." — Letters arid Journals, ii. 90. It was also very favourably received in England. Wlien it reached London " it was so well liked, that, Friday the 1st of September, being sent to the Assembly of Divines, it was there allowed by all, only Dr Burgess did doubt for one night. On Saturday it passed the Hoiise of Commons, on Monday the House of Peers." — Ibid. ii. 99. It was sworn and subscribed by the Westminster Assembly and House of Com- mons ; but " the little House of Lords did delay for sake of honour, as they said, till they found our nation willing to swear it as it was formed." — Ihid., ii. 102. * In Yorkshire. t After this victory obtained over Prince" Rupert's army, a letter was addressed by the Earl of Lindsay, dated fi-om the Leaguer before York, July G, to the Committee of Parliament, conveying the intelligence, and earnestly desiring that Scotland would unite in solemn thanksgi-\Ting to God. The Parliament on hearing this letter read, ordained it to be sent to the Commissioners of the General Assembly, and that there should be a general thanksgiving to God for so great a victory. — Balfour's Annals, ii. 214, 215. I 1644.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 173 cally preach at St Andrews on that day appointed to be kept as a day of solemn thanksgiving. In August that year, the Earl of Montrose, (of whom before, p. 164), after his imprisonment in the castle of Edinburgh, and enlargement upon hopes of better carriage, did gather together a handful of cursed cut-throats. The most part of them were bloody Lishes, come over from Ireland, under the command of that bloodthirsty monster, Alester Mackdonald. * With these and some few unnatural countrymen, he advances towards Perth. To oppose and resist him, there were hastily and confusedly gathered together out of Fife, Angus and Strathern, multitudes both of horse and foot. These he routed Sept. 1. Many were killed in the flio-ht in the common moor of St Johnston. It was both fearful and terrible to see the flight and fear of aU sorts. The Lord's angry countenance might have been seen in making his own Israel to flee and fall before these Irish rebels, nothwithstanding of many and great advantages of horses, cannon, number far exceeding the enemy. Thereafter, September 13, at Aberdeen there was a hot conflict, but at last ours were put to the rout, and many killed near and within the town of Aberdeen. In this very sad time, October 1, the Synod of Fife conven- ed at Cupar. Mr Blair was appointed to preach before the sitting down of the Synod, though he was not Moderator of the preced- ing Synod, as the fittest minister to speak a word in season both to ministers and people, in a time of so much wrath, and the Lord's hot displeasure against his covenanted people. His text was Job xvii. 8, 9 ; he had both a thundering and comfortable sermon, wherein he was Boanerges to hypocrites, backsliders, apostates and covenant breakers, and Barjona to the upright, innocent, righte- ous and those that in a time of defection have clean hands, * Alester or Alexander Mackdonald Macgillespic, the son of Col. Archibald Mac- gillcspic, wa.s Major-Gcneral to the Earl of Antrim ; he was a devoted adherent to the Marquis of Montrose, and hy his zeal and activity in his service rendered himself ob- noxious to the Scottish Parliament, which on March 8, 1G45, ratified an act of Coun- cil for apprehending and detaining Col. Macgillespic and his sons. Alester had come over to Scotland about this time with 2500 renegades from Ireland — Baillie's Letters and Journals, ii, 217. 174 LIFE OP ROBERT BLAIR. [1645. and have not defiled their garments in a defiling time. O ! but that was true of him which he wrote of holy Mr Cunningham, Acrius nemo intoniiit superbis ; Nemo dejectos magis erigebat. * Mr Blair was chosen Moderator of that Synod ; there was drawn up by that Provincial Assembly overtures for humiliation and re- formation of the shire of Fife ; also that Assembly ordained, Octo- ber 20, the Lord's-day, and Tuesday and Thursday following to be kept as days of solemn fasting and humiliation. October 19, our army in England being separated from the Parliament's forces after the battle at Long Marston took in the town of Newcastle. After that Montrose's forces, being much increased, had beat ours several times, (Feb. 2, 1645, at Inverlochy they beat Argyle's army ; May 9, at Alderne, after a hot conflict, wherein many of the Irishes were killed, our forces were routed by the treachery of Hurrie f ; July 2, at Alford, a party of ours, commanded by Baillie was routed) ; a Parliament was called. They first sat at Stirling, J and ordained a great levy. July 24, the Parliament sat down in Perth, our army being much increased, being near the town. The Commission of the Kirk also convened at Perth ; Mr Blair was chosen by the Commission, and ordained to preach at the opening up of that session of the Parliament. July 26 and 27 being the Lord's-day, were kept as days of solemn humiliation by the members of Parliament and Commission of the Kirk in the town of Perth, and by the whole army lying at Forgandenny. All the army, both horsemen and foot, had sermons in the fields in twelve or thirteen several places. On the Sabbath day, July 27, Mr Blair, after he had preached in Perth in the forenoon, the members of Parliament and Commission being hearers, he came out in the afternoon to the army, and preached to Crawford's and Maitland's regiments, to whom he had been minister in England, they being now recalled and joined with other forces at home. In his sermon he told that * " None thundered more terribly against the proud ; none more sweetly comforted those that were cast dowoi." — See p. 148. t Colonel Sir John Hurrie. t They sat down on the 8th of July — Balfour's Annah, iii. 292. 1645.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 175 brigade that he had learned that they were become very dissolute and profane ; he assured them that unless they repented, and that very speedily, there was a sore stroke ordained for them, and that though the Lord had honoiured them to stand at Long Marston, when many fled, and then covered their head in the day of battle, so that though they were often charged, yet very few of them were killed, not above three of Crawford's regiment, yet now they should not be able to stand before their enemy, yea they should be routed and killed. He said that he expected that they would like well of his freedom with them because that they knew that he loved them, and that when he was with them in England he had a care both of their souls and bodies. This sad threatenino; and com- mination was shortly thereafter fulfilled, August 15, at Kilsyth ; for at that woeful battle Crawford's whole regiment was cut off almost whoUy ; all the officers were killed except Cra^vford, who wonderfully escajDed their bloody hands, and the major who served on horse. IVIr Blair at that time was at home in St Andrews with a trembling heart (1 Sara. iv. 13). "WTien the company of the new levied regiment, commanded by the laird of Cambo, marched out of St Andrews to join with the standing forces, some few days before the fatal day at Kilsyth, Mr Blair desired them to wait for him at the West Port, that he might pray to God for them and with them. But when he came as soon as he could, finding that they were gone, he thought it was malum omen. Many of that regi- ment were killed with Cambo their commander. * After that sad defeat of all our forces in Scotland at Kilsyth, there was great fear, consternation and confusion in Fife. There were several meetings of the heritors of the shire, and all the mi- nisters at Cupar and Kennoway. At last they resolved to have a rendezvous, September 4, at the Thorn in the moor, above ♦ The Scotch anny, both at Tippermuir and Kilsyth, was to a large extent com- posed of levies from Fifeshire. Accordingly, we find that in an act of the Scottish Parliament, passed Feb. 184G, ancnt recruiting the army in England with 10,000 foot, Fifeshire is expressly excepted from the act, on the ground of the gi-eat loss which that part of the countiy sustained at Tijipermuir and Kilsyth, and the former great levies made from it. — Balfour's Annals, iii. 372. 176 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1645. Kirkaldy, of all the weU affected noble and gentlemen in the shire, to see what could be done for the defence of the shire. Some few ministers were appointed to attend upon them for their advice in cases of conscience. Mr Blair was one of those ministers who did attend that meeting, who did freely declare his judgment that it was unlawful, because sinful, to treat with Montrose, or to send commissioners to him upon any pretext never so specious. While thir matters were in agitation, word came that a party of the ene- my were approaching near Dunfermline. That meeting concluding nothing for the defence of the shire, nay, not against a small straggling party, Mr Blair, vnth almost all the ministers in the east end of Fife, went over to Dundee. The inhabitants of that town, in April, did most gallantly resist Montrose's forces, who un- expectedly fell on them with fire and sword, until a party of ours came to their aid. Thereafter they fortified their town. Thither did sundry gentlemen and ministers, with their families, in this saddest time resort, expecting and longing for that strong party of our cavalry from England, who were sent for and commanded by David Leslie. Mr Blair abode at Dundee but some few days. After he had preached in Dundee on the Lord's-day, leaving his wife and children there, he came over to St Andrews to visit his flock, resolving to stay with them for their comfort and encourage- ment in so sad a time of greatest hazai'd and danger. About this time, September 11, the Lord of hosts began to look on his owti people in Scotland with pity and compassion, " his soul being grieved for their misery,"* and hearing that the enemy had re- proached him. For, when Montrose heard that David Leslie with 4000 horse and 1000 dragoons were on their march for our aid and recovery of the kingdom, he said, "Though God should rain Leslies from heaven he would fight them," — nothing doubting of the victory ; which being reported to IMr Blair, he said, he nothing doubted of the victory, Montrose having in a manner reproached and defied God himself, the Lord of hosts.! Neither did his hope * Judges X. 15, 16. t It is allowed by all parties, that success had so infatuated Montrose, as to lead him, through the flattering imagination that nothing could withstand his military skill and 1645.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 177 make him ashamed, for, September 13, our forces, command- ed by General-Major David Leslie, in a misty morning, were near Montrose's forces, leaguered in Philiphaugli, ere they were discovered. The enemies' leaguer, * being on advantageous ground, compassed with dikes and ditches, Montrose resolved to fight our forces in that same ground. When our forces approached the enemy, that Lord of hosts that sent that mist and fog to hide and cover our forces as with a cloud from the enemy's scouts, until they had passed them, that same Lord did dispel and scatter the fog and mist, so that David Leslie and the rest of the com- manders, Avith our noblemen that escaped at Kilsyth, resolved presently to charge them, which they did with such courage and resolution, that, notwithstanding the disadvantage of the ground, they routed the enemy, killing many of them, and pursuing them ten or twelve miles to Peebles. Many w^ere killed in the rout. Prisoners taken of note were, Sir Robert Spottiswood, president, Sir John Hay, lord register. Sir William Rollock, Nathaniel Gor- don, &c. Montrose himself escaped with 200 horse to Athole. Not above ten of ours were killed, f prowess, to neglect that prudence and those precautions which the uncertainty of con- tinued success in military operations renders so necessaiy. " It seems Montrose," says Baillie, "shall prove fatal to the King ; his \'ictories hitherto have been powerful snares to his hard heart. A little more continuance in this disposition is like to undo him." — Public Letter of Baillie, London, Aug. 10. 1645, in his Let. andJourn. ii. 30.5. Gordon in his " Britane's Distemper," writing the same year, says, " This was the greatest error that Montrose had committed from the beginning of the war, that he proceeded after the victor}' with too much confidence, and trusted too much, as it seems, to his happy fortune, and the more to bring his careful vigilance asleep." — (P. 156.) * Leafjuer, i. e. encampment. t Baillie states, that " above a thousand were buried in the place ; whereof scarce fifteen were ours." — Letters and Journals, ii. 321. Gordon, in his " Britane's Distemper," (p. 160,) draws a dark picture of the severity with which the Cove- nanters' army, on this occasion, treated their enemies ; but he admits that the Irish, to whom no quarter was shown, " were too cnicl, for it was everywhere observed that they did ordinarily kill aU they could be master of, witliout any mo- tion of pity, or any consideration of humanity ; nay, it seemed to them there was no distinction betwixt a man and a beast, for they killed men ordinarily with no more feeling of compassion, and with the same careless neglect that they kill a hen or capone for their supper. And they were also without all shame, most brutishly given to un- cleanness and filthy lust. As for excessive drinking, when they came where it might be had, there were no limits to their beastly appetites ; as for godless avarice and merci- less oppression, and plundering of the poor labourer." — Ibidem, 161. Gordon alleges M 178 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1645. After this most sweet and seasonable cast of providence,* the Committee of Estates did meet in several places, namely, at Perth, September 26, at Dunse in the beginning of October, at St Andrews, October 14, to consult about the affairs of the state, and ordering of their forces, Montrose beginning again to gather new forces in the north. Also, the Commission of the Kirk convened at Perth and St Andrews, to consult about the affairs of the Kirk, especially taking order with malignants that had com- plied and joined with Montrose. The Committee of Estates con- vened at Glasgow, October 20, especially because that was the day and place, which, by proclamation, Montrose had appointed for holding of the Parliament, which he had indicted, and which he had vowed to keep. Our forces were gathered to Glasgow then, when some of the prisoners taken at Philiphaugh, viz. Sir William RoUock, Sir Philip Nisbet, &g. Avere executed. The Committee of Estates at Glasgow did indict a Parliament to be holden at St Andrews the last Wednesday of November. The Committee of Estates came again to St Andrews, November 13, to prepare for the Parliament's sitting there. November 26, the Parliament sat down in St Andrews, the pest at this time and some months before, being in Edinburgh, Leith, and several parts of Lothian, the Lord smiting at one time both by sword and pestilence, Amos iv. 10. The Commission of the Kirk did also sit there at that diet. Several prisoners taken at Philiphaugh were brought to St Andrews before and in the time of the Parliament, and kept in the Castle to be judged by the Parliament. Mr Blair did often preach before the members of Parliament, and did pray in the Parliament House at their several sessions. He did take much pains to take away the differences betwixt the two parties or factions, viz., the Hamiltons and Camp- that quarter was promised to such of them as sun-endered their arms ; but Sir James Turner, who was on the spot, affirms that no quarter was promised to the prisoners. — Memoirs, p. 74. They had all been active in the Irish massacre. * It is impossible to sympathise in this sentiment, without placing ourselves in the circumstances of our Scottish ancestors at this trying period, when all that was dear to them as men, and sacred to them as Christians, was at stake. 1G46.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 179 bells, and to reconcile those of them that were members of that Parliament, viz., Argyle, Crawford, Lanerick, &c. He brought them together in his lodgings and did effectually deal and mediate betwixt them at several meetings, but stdl they parted in worse terms. He did often visit the prisoners in the Castle. Of them all he was best pleased with Nathaniel Gordon, who, besides that he was deeply engaged in that wicked way with Montrose, was very vicious and profane otherwise. The Lord so blessed IVIr Blau*'s dealing with him that he was much convinced and humbled for his wicked ways, professing very seriously repentance for the same. After many debates in Parliament about the prisoners, and the escape of the Lord OgUvy * out of the Castle, January 7, 1646 ; upon the 17th of January three of the prisoners were be- headed at the cross of St Andrews ; first, Nathaniel Gordon, who, after he had subscribed a paper, (wherein was contained his earnest desire to be relaxed from the sentence of excommunication, to- gether Avith his confession of his sins, especially of shedding inno- cent bloods, and joining in that wicked course, &c.), was by Mr Blair relaxed and received as a member of the Kirk. Thereafter upon the scaffold he gave great satisfaction, not only to IMr Blair, (whom the writer did hear say that he hoped his soul was in heaven), but to all good and godly men, by confession of his sins, and especially of that wherefore he was condemned ; and when he was to lay down his head, he left his worst wishes to liis friends if they should strive to revenge his death. The second was Sir Robert Spottiswood, who died far otherwise. In his railing discourse to the people on the scaffold, among other things he said that the saddest judgment of God upon people at this time was, that the * Gordon thus describes the manner of Lord Ogilvy's escape : " By the help of his mother and his sister, the Lady Lethendy, being of a witty and masculine spirit, he escapes the danger ; for this young lady, leaving her mother in the other room, to hold the keepers in discourse, desires leave to go in and see her brother, wlio feigned himself sick, and in her habit he came forth, leaving her to represent the person till he were out of danger ; by which means he was conveyed away and set at liberty." — Britane's Distemper, p. 168. M 2 180 LIFE OF EGBERT BLAIR. [1646. Lord had sent out a lying spirit in the mouths of the prophets, and that their ministers that should lead them to heaven were leading them the high way to hell. INlr Blair standing by him (as he was appointed by the commission of the Kirk) in answer to this, only said, " It's no wonder to hear the son of a false prophet speak so of the faithful and honest servants of Jesus Christ ;" which did so enrage the proud and impenitent spirit of Spottiswood, that he died raging and railing against Christ's honest and faithful ministers and his covenanted people. The third was Mr Andrew Guthrie, who died stupidly and impenitently. These two were bishop's sons ; mali corvi malum ovum* February 4, the Parliament closed. All the members of the Parliament staid in the town, partly because the next day was ap- pointed to be kept as a day of solemn humiliation through the whole kingdom, and partly because the Lady Lindsay, thereafter Lady Boyd,t was to be buried, February 6. All the members of Parliament, especially the noblemen and gentlemen, were invited to the burial. Mr Blair (who was well acquaint with that eminent Christian), came to her burial and wrote two epitaphs, one in Latin, and another in English ; for as he was eminent in all litera- ture so he was one of the best poets in his time. But he did not delight in poetry, neither did he nourish his vein ; but it will be worth the while to make a collection of his few poems. In March this year, there was presented to the Committee of Estates a dangerous and seditious bond under the name of a Humble Remonstrance, &c., framed by the Earl of Seaforth and his adhe- rents in the north, containing seven articles ; the first whereof con- tained an invitation to the King to come to Scotland, &c. The Commissioners of the General Assembly, whereof Mr Blair was one, did emit a declaration against this bond, March 30. See the * " Birds of an ill nest." t The maiden name of this lady was Christian Hamilton, being the eldest daughter of Thomas, first Earl of Haddington. She was first married to Robert, ninth Lord Lindsay of Byres, and after his death to Eobert, sixth Lord Boyd. She is one of those eminent Christians of his acquaintance, whose memory Livingstone has presei'ved in his Memorable Characteristics. I 1646.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 181 printed paper. Meanwhile Seaforth had an army of five thou- sand for to effectuate the ends contained in his Remonstrance. He did not join Montrose, (who all this while, since the victory at Philiphaugh, -was raging and ranging in the north, on Speyside, about Inverness, &c. ; M'Donald Avith the Irishes infested Ar- gyle's bounds ; Ogilvy with the Atholers, and other highlanders, infested the Stormont ; the Gordons, with Lanerick and Lindsay infested the north,) partly because he thought to get the whole praise of the Avork to liimself, as also because proud Montrose did but slight him when he joined with him the year before, being pufied up with so many victories. David Leslie, in the end of the preceding year, returned to our army in England, leaving considerable forces under the com- mand of ^liddleton, whom the Parliament at St Andrews made general over all the forces in Scotland, he being then looked upon as a religious, honest and valiant commander. In this spring time Middleton took the fields and divided his forces, for the suppression of the several parties of the enemies. He himself marched to the north to regain those strongholds which the Gordons had possessed themselves of, which he quickly did, and routed the Gordons in the fields. About this time the house of Kincardine, Montrose's own house, was taken in with several other strongholds. Our forces thus prevailing in Scotland over several parties of several sorts of enemies at home, the Parliament's forces in Eng- land did so far prevail over the King's army, that they being often beaten in the fields, the King had no standing army to keep the fields, so that he was forced to betake himself to Oxford, where he was hardly besieged by the Parliament's forces. The Parliament thus prevailing, began to quarrel with our Commissioners at London, and to speak far otherwise than their Commissioners did at Edin- burgh 1643; for they would not only reserve to themselves the ultimate appeal from General Assemblies, but were altogether un- willing to settle Presbyterian government, except in a way of their own, which indeed was not Presbyterian government.* Likewise, * This is nothing more than what might have been expected from the character and 182 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1646. they were very highflown in their demands in reference to the King. They would have the militia absolutely taken from the King and his posterity ; and though he had offered to come in with his ordinary train to treat with them himself, they refused to accept of him till first he should subscribe such articles as should be sent to him, and then render himself as a prisoner. Our Commissioners did not agree with them in these and other particulars. During the time of thir and other debates betwixt the Parliament and our Commissioners, the King is still besieged in Oxford by the Parlia- ment's forces, (our forces all this while lying in and about New- castle, Durham, and the northern parts of Yorkshire), so that at sentiments of the parties who composed the Parliament. Baillie, speaking of the setting up of the Presbyterian form of Church government, thus describes them: " The Independent party, allieit their numbers in the Parhament be very small, yet being prime men, active and diligent, and making it their great work to retard all till they be first secured of a toleration for their separate congregations ; and the body of the la-wyers, who are another strong party in the House, believing all Church govern- ment to be a part of the civil and Parliamentary power which nature and Scripture has placed in them, and to be derived from them to the ministers only so far as they think expedient ; a third party ot worldly profane men, who are extremely affrighted to come under the yoke of ecclesiastical discipline ; these three kinds making up two parts at least of the Parliament, there is no hopes that ever they will settle the govern- ment according to our mind, if they were left to themselves." — Lettei-s and Jownals, ii. 336. The " way of their own" in which they were willing to estabhsh the Presbyterian Government, was simply by subjecting the Church Courts to the review of the Civil. " The Parliament will have a court of Civil Commissioners erected in every shire, on pretence to make report to the houses in every new case of scandal, but really to keep down the power of the Presbyteries for ever, and hold up the head of Sectaries." — Ibid. ii. 348. In a letter dated London, March 6, 1646, the same writer remarks, " They [the House of Commons] have passed an ordinance not only for appeal from the Ge- neral Assembly to the Parliament, for two ruling elders, for one minister in evciy church meeting, for no censure except in such particular offences as they have enu- merate ; but also, which vexes us most, and against which we have been labouring this month bygone, a court of Civil Commissioners in every coxmty, to whom the con- gregational elderships must bring all cases not enumerated, to be reported by them, with their judgment to the Parliament or their committee." — Ibid. ii. 357. He says again, " The Pope and the King were never more earnest for the headship of the Chm-ch than the plurality of this Parliament^'— /6iV/. ii. 360. It is thus evident, that neither principle nor inclination would have led the Parhament to establish free pres- byteiy. They might have been overawed to estabhsh it, but they would never have voluntarily done it. There is much truth in what Baillie states, with great simplicity, " Had our army been but 15,000 men in England, our advice would have been fol- lowed quickly in all things ; but oiu" lamentable posture at home, and our weakness here, makes our desires contomiilibli'." 1646.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR, 183 last, fearing to be taken, he resolved to make an escape out of Oxford and to come in to the Scottish army; and so, April 27, in a disguise he escaped out of Oxford, riding before a gentle- man, Ashburnham, in his servant's garb, with his portmanteau be- hind him. He came directly to our army at Newark of Trent. When his near approach was kno^vn, the Earl of Dunfermhne was sent by the General to convey him to the army. "\Mien the King came the General LesKe, and General-Major David Leslie, upon their knees received him. He told them that he would concreditt himself to them, hoping that the Scots had no mind to prejudge him of his royal prerogative, and were not against monarchical government, and that they only desired to have religion esta- blished, and that he had been misinformed anent their desires and intentions, &c. Upon the 6th of May he was conveyed to Newcastle with great joy of the whole army ; and the Laird of Garthland was presently sent to Edinbm*gh to acquaint the Com- mittee of Estates with the King's coming in to our army and his coming to Newcastle. Shortly thereafter commissioners were sent to him from Edinburgh — Callender, Lanerick, Balmerinoch, and Humbie, and ^Mr Robert Douglas ; and the King sent to London for some of our commissioners, viz., for Chancellor Campbell and Mr Alexander Henderson to come to him. It was then hoped that the King would be moved to consent to all the articles of the treaty at Uxbridge.* * To settle the difference between the King and the Parliament of England, and his Scottish subjects, sixteen commissioners from the King met at Uxbridge vdih twelve appointed by the Parliament, attended by the Scottish commissioners, on the 30th of January 1645. The Scottish and Parliamentary Commissioners gave in their demands, which related to religion, to militia, and Ireland. But the King's Commis- sioners not satisfying them with regard to any of these points, it was found impracti- cable to come to any agreement. Lord Loudon, in a letter to Lord Warriston, dated London, February 25, 1045, explains the diflSculties which prevented that treaty from being brought to a successful issue, and which, indeed, rendered all negotiation be- tween the King and the Covenanters so utterlx- hopeless. " The treaty at Uxbridge was broken oflF on Saturday last without any agreement. That which was chiefly in- tended by those who did treat for the King was to make objections and cast in ques- tions to divide the two kingdoms, as will appear by the papers passed between us, which arc not yet transcribed, and arc to be sent by the Earl of Lauderdale's servant, who is to go from home to-morrow or next day. The propositions for religion stick 184 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1646. The King sent from Newcastle a proclamation, which, May 24, was proclaimed at Edinburgh. With it came a letter from the King to the Committee of Estates. The smn of both was, that after so long an interruption, he would heartily apply himself to the counsels and advices of the Parliaments of both kingdoms, and study to settle religion according to the advice of the divines of both kingdoms ; also, that he had written to all, both at home and abroad, by sea or land, having commission from him to lay down their arms, disband and render their garrisons. After this proclamation, and the King's letters to Montrose, Seaforth, the Gordons and M'Donald, there was a cessation. But before the proclamation, yea, even after the King's coming to Newcastle, Montrose did assault Inverness, and the Gordons fell in upon Aberdeen and killed many of our forces whom Middleton left there, when he marched north for the relief of Inverness. Middle- ton killed many of them, and chased them all to the hiUs. It was observed, that the place where Montrose was defeated was the same place where the year before he had killed so many brave gentlemen. (Isaiah xxxvii. 29.)* Now, after the proclamation, Middleton was prohibited to attempt any thing against the enemies. The Gordons presently did lay down their arms. Mon- most, and were most vehemently opposed, and the greatest length they will come to was, a pretended limitation of bishops, of whom they are so tender as they were scarce- ly content ' to pare' their nails, so as the bill for removing Episcopacy, ' and for' the Covenants, the Directory, and Presbyterial government, are all flatly reftised ; nor is there any satisfaction given to our other demands concerning the militia and Ireland." He then adds : " The present posture of the Parliament's armies betwixt the old and the new model, and the news of Montrose's success in Scotland, have been no further- ance to our agi'eement ; for the counsels at Oxford depend no less on success (although a very uncertain gi'ound to build on) than the justness of what is demanded, and till both kingdoms be in a right posture for war, it is not to be expected we shall obtain a happy and well grounded peace, and, therefore, our next care here ' shoidd be' to use all possible speed to strengthen our armies, remove differences betwixt the houses and members of Parliament, that being united amongst ourselves, all may go on the more cheerfully and unanimously for caiiying on of the cause wherein I entered, God will- ing, to employ my utmost endeavours, and improve my interest and credit with both parties ; for I find our common enemies have no less confidence in our divisions, than in their own strength." — Wodrow MSS. vol. Ixvii. folio, no. 32. * The passage here referred to is ; " Because thy rage against me, and thy tumult is come up to mine cars, therefore will I put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle iu thy lii)S, and I will turn thee back by (he way by which thou camest." 1646.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIK. 185 trose kept himself within the quarter assigned to him by Middle- ton. In the beginning of June 1646, the General Assembly convened at Edinburgh. ^Ir Blair was chosen moderator. This Assembly appointed three ministers, viz., !Mr Blair, the moderator, ]Mr Kobert Douglas,* and Mr Andrew Cant,t to repair to the King at * Robert Douglas was one of the most eminent ministers of his day, and the leader of the Church of Scotland after the death of Alexander Henderson in 1646. He acted for some time as chaplain in the army of the celebrated Gustarus Adolphus of Sweden, by whom his character and talents were held in high estimation. Upon his return to Scotland he was admitted second minister of Kirkaldy in 1630, and thence was transported to Edinburgh in 1641. — (Extracts from Records of Synod of Fife, 2.32). At the coronation of Charles II. at Scoone, he preached and conducted the re- ligious part of that ceremony. In 1669 he became indulged minister at Pencaitland, where he died at an advanced age in 1674, and was buried in Edinburgh. Douglas was a Resolutioner in sentiment, but, being a man of moderation, was less disposed to push his ovfn views than some others of that party. " I have known you," says Bailhe, in a letter to him about the Western Remonstrance, " keep the Commission from going the way of some peremptory men ; howsoever I have been grieved, at other times, to see you let things go ^^•ith them which I supposed was contrary to your mind. If at this time you suffer yourself to be drawn over, or to connive at such an insolent passage, I think you will contribute to give our lurk and State a wound which in haste will not be gotten remedied." — Letters and Journals, iii. 110. Wodrow describes him a " truly great man, who for his prudence, solidity and research, was equalled by very few in his time." — History, i. p. 225. t Andrew Cant was bom in the year 1584. He was educated in King's College, Aberdeen, where he became a teacher of Latin in 1614. Soon after, he was appointed minister of Alford ; whence he was translated to the church of PitsUgo. In 1639 he was removed to Newbottle, and in 1640 to the New Town of Aberdeen, where he be- came professor of theology in Marischal College. Here he continued until the resto- ration of Charles H. BaUlie informs us, that when in 1661 " Rutherfurd's Lex Rex was burnt by the hand of the hangman at the cross of Edinburgh and St Andrews, himself confined to his chamber, his stipend sequestrated, and himself cited before Parliament, Mr Andrew Cant, preaching against Mr Rutherford's hard usage, was accused before the magistrates of treason. He demitted his ministrj-, and came to his son at Liberton." — Letters and Journals, iii. 447. In 1663 he was formally deposed from his charge by the Bishop and Synod of Aberdeen ; and died not long after, aged 79. He was interred beside the west wall of the churchyard of St Nicholas in Aberdeen, where his tombstone yet remains. — ( Gordon's Scots Affairs, ii. 1 65). Cant was a zealous Covenanter, and held in no small estimation by his party. In 1638 he, with Mr Dickson and Mr Henderson, were sent by the Tables on a mission to Aberdeen to promote the cause of the Covenant, on which account they were termed by their op- ponents, " the apostles of the Covenant." Speaking of this deputation, Gordon says, " The most part of the Prcsl)yter)' of Deer, by Mr Andrew Cant's painstaking, (who was then a member thereof), had subscribed before, so had the most part of the Pres- bytery of Alford done, (from which Presbytery Mr Andrew had been not many years before transplanted), by his means and influence being fetched in to the Covenant." 186 LIFE OP ROBERT BLAIR. [1646. Newcastle, to concur with Mr Alexander Henderson and others there to treat with the King ; for as yet he was little changed from what he was, not laying to heart the blood shed within his kingdoms by himself, and -wicked men clothed with his commis- sions, refusing to subscribe our covenants, nor willing to settle Presbyterian government in England, &c. When these three ministers got access to the King in that large room of his lodging where he did eat and hear sermon, which they called The Presence, the room was presently filled with several sorts of people, Scots and English, to hear and see their reception. Mr Andrew Cant being the oldest of the three, and aye very forward and zealous, being of a fiery temper, did take upon him first to speak to the King, and, beginning very briskly, insinuating a challenge against the King as favouring Popery, was interrupted by Mr Blair say- ing to the King, " Sir, we judge this neither a fit time nor place to speak to your Majesty." The King, looking earnestly to him, said, " That honest man speaks wisely and discreetly ; therefore I ap- point you three to attend me to-morrow at ten o'clock in the fore- noon in my bed-chamber." When they came to the King at the time appointed in his bed-chamber, the King resolved first to speak to them, but beginning, as Mr Andrew Cant conceived, to sj)eak favourably of Papists, was interrupted by him saying, " I tell you that we have often heard that ye favoured Papists and Popery, and now we hear it from yourself." The King's passion was so stirred, that he pursued Mr Andrew Cant to a corner of the room with a stern countenance, saying, " I hope to stand to the Protes- tant religion when it may be INIr Cant wall flinch from it." Mr Blair again interj)oses, saying to the King, " Sir, are there not abo- minations in Popery that your soul hates and abhors ?" The King- replied, (taking off his hat), " I take God to witness that there are abominations in Popery which I so much abhor, that ere I con- — llnd. i. 85. Besides what he wrote against tliese learned doctors, he published a treatise on "The Titles of our blessed Saviour." His son Andrew, minister of Libcr- ton, conformed to prelacy, and was afterwards translated to Edinburgh, and made Principal of the College. — Account of the Learned Men and Writers in Aberdeen, Wod- row MSS. vol. lii. 4to, no. 3, p. 24. 1G46.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 187 sented to them, I rather would quit my crowns, yea I would rather lay down my life." Mr Blair replied, " Sir, that is enough to us as to that." In the beginning of July our army in England emitted a declaration for clearing of themselves, especially to the Parlia- ment in England, being suspected by reason of some letters intercepted, written by the King to the Earl of Ormond, shewing that he was to come in to the Scots army, and that they and Montrose in Scotland would join with him against the Parliament. Also the army did supplicate the King for subscribing the Cove- nant ; to the which the King returned a general fair answer, but nothing anent his subscribing of the Covenant. All the month of July was spent in treating with JSfontrose and the rest of the rebels. That treaty was carried on against the mind of the greatest part of the honest ministers in Scotland. None was more against it than Mr Blair. Notwithstanding, it was con- cluded that Montrose, and some others that were excepted out of the pardon, should depart out of the country, their forces being disbanded, ' and' that McDonald should return tolreland. Montrose got till the first of September to prepare himself to go to France. In the meanwhile he, even he that had shed so much blood of the Lord's covenanted people, was permitted to live peaceably in the bosom of the kingdom at Old Monross [Montrose], many of the Malignants * and profane people flocking to him. All this while Islx Blair, with the assistance of ]\ir Henderson, (for these two the King liked best), did most earnestly and press- ingly deal with the King to satisfy the just desires of the Kirk and Estate of Scotland, and to agree to the articles sent to him from the Parliament of England ; but he obstinately refused both. In the beginning of August some noblemen, with others of the English Parliament, did come to the King with the propositions of peace agreed upon ]>y the commissioners of both kingdoms, en- * Tlic MuUgminla or Pnfalisls, were those wlio favoured the measures of tlie Court, whose ohject was to supplant Prcsl)} tery by I'rtlacy, and, at the same time, to invest llic Crown with absolute power. 188 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1646. treating the King to sign the same ; but, notwithstanding of the most earnest request of our commissioners, Argyle and Loudon, and a supplication from the magistrates of Edinburgh, with Messrs Blair and Henderson, and some others upon their knees, with tears falling from their eyes, entreating and beseeching him, yet did he refuse. This made no small stir. Argyle, Loudon, with the Earl of Dunfermline, returned to London. August 18, the Committee of Estates convened at Edinburgh. To them some queries from our army were proponed. 1. If the Parliament shall require the King, what shall be our carriage ? 2. If an army come from the Parliament to the north of England what shall be our carriage ? 3. What shall be done anent the removal of our army out of England ? At this time the Commis- sion of the Kirk gave in a Remonstrance to the Estates, insinuating their dislike of the agreement made with Montrose. In this Re- monstrance they did entreat the Estates to keep fast the union with England. The Convention of Estates dissolved, not answer- ing the queries. They sent nine commissioners to the King, three noblemen, Duke Hamilton, (who the day before the sitting down of the Commission of the Kirk was received to the Covenant by Mr Andrew Ramsay), the Treasurer, and Cassillis, three barons, and three burgesses, yet again to desire the King to sign the pro- positions of peace. He still refusing, Mr Blair returned to Scotland with thir nine commissioners. August 11, Alexander Henderson being sick and over-burdened with sorrow and grief, came to Edinburgh and died there, August the 19th. No sooner did the King hear of the death of worthy Mr Henderson, who was his chaplain in Scotland, but he resolved to confer that pension on Mr Blair, saying to his secretary, the Earl of Lanerick, " I know I will be importuned to confer this pension on some one whom it may be I like not very well, therefore presently draw a patent in favours of Mr Blair, for I think, he is pious, prudent, learned, and of a meek and moderate calm temper." News hereof first came to Mr Blair attending his charge at St Andrews, by James Snoide, provost of St Andrews. His news was 1646.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 189 not very acceptable to Mr Blair ; but when his patent came to him and he was invited to come to Newcastle to attend the King, and to officiate at court as the King's chaplain, he had some scruples that made him demur and delay to return any answer, or to repair to Newcastle, resolving to do nothing in that most important affair until he had by prayers and supplications wrestled with the Hearer of prayers, to know the Lord's mind in the thing, and until he had advised with some honest ministers thereanent. After some space consulting with Mr David Dickson, (who for many years had known him, and with whom he had been most intimate, see p. 12), he encouraged him to accept of the employment, and to repair to Newcastle. Among other things, he said to him, " When ye at- tempted to go to America to preach the gospel there, ye did there- by hazard the loss of all, and did indeed lose much of your worldly means, (see p. 146). Now the Lord, by this cast of j)rovidence, is saying to you. Ye shall lose nothing at my hand ; the way to save your life or means is to lose them." Mr Blair being thus encourag- ed, and considering how honest and straight a man Mr Henderson was, (with whom he grew very familiar and intimate at Newcastle), who had accepted of that place and employment before him, not- withstanding that it was a place of many snares and temptations, did after some considerable space of time repair to that weighty charge at Newcastle, whom the writer of the Supplement found at Newcastle when he came there minister to the governor. Sir James Lauiselles [Lascelles], his regiment, about the middle of October. !Mr Blair was faithful, and very diligent, and painful in this weighty charge and difficult time. For family exercise, he prayed twice every day in the King's house, before dinner and supper in the Presence, the King and all the court attending the diets. On the Lord's-day he lectured and preached twice before and after noon in the Presence, besides his earnest dealing with the King, (with whom he had many debates anent prelacy, liturgy and set forms, ceremonies, &c.,) in secret, to condescend to the just desires of his Parliaments. In his public preaching at court, he was abundantly free, plain and particular, though he used no apostrophe, nor point- 190 LIFE OP ROBERT BLAIR. [1G46. ed out the King with his finger as some others did, which did irri- tate the King, whereas he confessed that Mr Blair by his way- gained ground on him. One day after prayer, the King asked Mr Blair, If it was warrantable or right in prayer to determine a con- troversy ? He repHed, that he thought he had determined no con- troversy in that prayer. " Yes," said the King, " you have, for you know it's a controversy amongst orthodox divines, whether the Pope, the bishop of Rome, be the great Antichrist or not, and in your prayer you have determined the controversy, praying against him," (as ordinarily he did), " as the great antichrist." To this Mr Blair answered, " Sir, to me it is no controversy, and I am sorry that it should be a controversy to you. Sure it was no contro- versy to your father of happy memory, the leamedest of princes, who wrote against the Pope as antichrist." This silenced the King, for he was a great defender of his father's opinions, and his testi- mony had more weight with him (as Mr Blair knew well) than the testimony of any divine. Besides his constant preaching at court on the Lord's-day, on some week-days he preached in the town in St Nicholas' church, at the desire of the ministers in the garrison, and of the magistrates of the town, some whereof were devout and well inclined, but some of them favoured too much the Independent way ; others in that town were led aside with the Arminian errors. ISIr Blair did labour in his preaching and praying to reclaim them from both these ways. After much debating with the King, anent the government and liturgy of the Church of England, he got the King's promise that he should read Jus Divinum Hegiminis Ecclesiastici, &c., penned by the London ministers.* In the beginning of September, some articles were condescended upon by the Estates, to be sent up to our commissioners at Lon- don : 1. That Presbyterian government be settled before our anny *The title of this treatise is, '^Jus Divinum Regiminis Ecclesiastici ; or, the Divine Right of Church Govemraent Asserted and Evidenced by the Holy Scriptures. By sundiy ministers of Christ mthin the city of London." It must be distinguished fi"om another treatise entitled, " Jus Divinum Ministerii Evangelii ; or, the Divine Right of the Gospel Ministrj'. Published by the Pro^ancial Assembly of London 1654." 1G4G.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 191 remove out of England. 2. That the Parliament do nothing in prejudice of our King his lawful authority or posterity. 3. That our army be paid of all their arrears before they remove. But before thir articles came to our commissioners they had agreed with the Parliament, anent the removing of our army and render- ing of the garrison towns, and that for the payment of the arrears due to the army, the one half thereof, viz., £200,000 sterling, should be presently paid to the army, and that they should have the public faith of England for as much. September 17, there was a Convention of the Estates. Little was done there because of the approaching session of the Parliament in Edinburgh, in November. The grand debate and controversy at this time betwixt the Parliament of England and our commissioners there, was anent the disposal of the King's person, our commissioners craving and plead- ing a joint interest in him as King of Scotland, and consequently a vote in his disposal, they by their vote of Parliament denying the same. The question was accurately disputed on both sides, both by word and in print. Many pamphlets came abroad anent this debate. Some of the English were full of acrimony and invective, but disallowed by the Parliament. In end, the Parliament of England did pass a vote, that when our army removed, the King should come from New^castle to Holmby-house, fifty-five miles on this side London. All that our commissioners could obtain was, that the King should be with them in honour, freedom and safety. This unreasonable vote, denying unto Scotland .a joint interest or vote in the disposal of their King's person, made all honest and right hearted men, noblemen, ministers and others, jealous of the bad designs of the Parliament and of their army, especially against religion and the King ; and this did not a little commove them that attended the King at Newcastle, and stirred them up yet to deal most effectually with the King to subscribe the covenant, to secure religion according to the National and Solemn League and Covenant, and to subscribe the propositions of peace agreed upon by commissioners of both kingdoms, &c. None was more ear- 192 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [164G. nest and instant, and did more rationally and effectually deal with the King to condescend to the most earnest entreaties of those that loved him best, than Mr Blair ; but still he continued as before, being obfirmed and principled * against any thing that could be spoken or preached unto him. About this time, Mr Blair despairing of prevailing with the King, and weighed and bound in spirit, came home to Scotland, to visit his flock and family at St Andrews, about the convening of the Parliament. In the beginninfy of November the Parliament did sit down at Edinburgh. At this time there were great thoughts and impres- sions of heart, yea, and great searchings of heart, for the divisions of this Parliament. There were two great factions in it, viz., the Hamiltons and Campbells. The duces factionum were the Duke of Hamilton (who, lately, to strengthen their faction, was received to the Covenant) and Argyle. The Ham. [Hamiltonians] endeavour- ed, at least seemed so, to get our army to stay still in England, until Presbyterian government were fully settled there ; or, if our army came home, that the King should come home with the army. The Commission of the Kirk at that same time convened. The designs of the Hamiltonian faction were looked on, by the plurality of the commissioners of the Kirk, and the other faction, as most dangerous, yea, destructive to religion, the King, and both kingdoms. At the first down-sitting of the Parliament, all things threatened dan- ger to religion, and a breach betwixt the kingdoms, imbruing them again in blood, which moved some sincere, honest members of Parliament to make a motion for a fast, or day of humiliation, to be kept by the Parliament. It was (though with a difficulty) ob- tained that they should spend half a day (they that were not cor- dial for it, pretending they could spare no more time) in preaching, praying, &c. ; which being accepted of by the Commission of the Kirk, since no more could be obtained, they set about it cordially and sincerely. They appointed Messrs Blair (moderator of the Commission) and Douglas to preach the very night before the diet. After this, the Lord so ordered business in the Parliament * Ohjirmed, Lat. ohfirmatus, resolved, obdurate ; Prlndpled, i. e. fixed in his tenets. 1647.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 193 that honest and right-hearted men, that wished well to religion, Eang, and both kingdoms, were encouraged, and plotters and poli- ticians were disappointed. In end, the Parliament assented to the votes of the EugHsh Parhament, anent the removal of our army out of England, anent the payment of their arrears, and (in case the King still continued to refuse to satisfy the just desires of his Parliaments, for the security of religion and the peace of the king- doms) anent the King's going to Holmby-house. They resolved that, if the King would not subscribe the Covenant and proposi- tions, that the kingdom should be governed as these six years bypast. The Commission of the Kirk first gave in to the Parliament a Remonstrance, and thereafter emitted a Warning which was read in all pulpits, both tending to the holding fast om' Covenant and League with England, and showing the danger of bringing the King to Scotland unless he secured religion and the peace of both kingdoms. All business being thus accorded and ordered, in January 1647 our Parliament did yet again send up commissioners to the King, viz., Lothian, Balcarras, Frieland, Garthland, and William Glen- dinning. The Chancellor being come from London did join with them at Newcastle. Their commission was, that the King would yet be pleased (so sincerely desirous were all honest men of his wel- fare and happiness) to subscribe the Covenant and propositions, and heartily join with his Parliaments for the advancement of the work of reformation of religion in his kingdoms. The King, as oft be- fore, refused either to subscribe the Covenant or propositions. He was desirous to have come to Scotland with the army, hoping to make a strong party there for his designs. But both Parlia- ments having concluded his going to Holmby-house, he intended, in a disguise, to make an escape (as was thought), but could not get it done. Being challenged by the first guard he came towards, he retired again into his bed-chamber. About this time Mr Blair returns again to Newcastle, especially yet further to deal with the King ; and, though the courtiers at N 194 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1647. Newcastle thought that the King would never give him his coun- tenance, he not only being a leading man, but moderator, in the Commission where such votes passed, especially anent the King's going to Holmby-house ; yet the King, when he came to court, not only gave him access, but received him very pleasantly ; and though the room rushed full to hear and see, &c., yet they were much disappointed, for, at that time, the King was not serious with Mr Blair, but did heartily laugh at some things that passed betwixt them ; so that they wondered both at the King's calm temper, patience, and condescension, and at Mr Blair's moderation, wisdom, and prudence. But shortly thereafter, the King calling Mr Blair to his bed-chamber, they did at length debate all business. Mr Blair laboured to convince the King that he, still refusing to satisfy the desires of his Parliaments, and the most earnest en- treaties and requests of honest men and his most loyal subjects that loved him best, and the Parliament of England having passed such votes in reference to him, — ^matters standing as they were (hie et nunc), his Parliament in Scotland, and the Commission of the Kirk, could do no otherwise than they had done, unless they would have endangered, not only religion and his person, but made an open breach betwixt the kingdoms, and imbrued them both in blood again. " Now, therefore," said Mr Blair, " seeing there is yet an open door, as you love the honour and glory of God, the settling and security of religion, your own safety and welfare, and the good and peace of your kingdoms, hearken to the desires of thir Commissioners that now last are sent unto you." Especially Mr Blair urged the King with all earnestness, arguments, and motives that he could, that he would subscribe the Covenant and abolish Episcopacy out of England, and then he doubted not but that our army and all honest men would espouse his quar- rel against his enemies in England, and venture their lives and fortunes in his quarrel. The King to all this answered, That he could neither subscribe the Covenant nor abolish Epis- copacy, the liturgy, nor the ceremonies of the Church of Eng- land, because, at his coronation in England, by his great oath, 1647.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 195 he was bound to defend all these in England. In end, he said, ere he wronged his conscience by violating his corona- tion oath he would rather lose his crowns, jea his life. Mr Blair asked Avhat was the tenor and form of his oath. The King said, That he swore to the utmost of his power to defend and main- tain, in England, Episcopacy, &c. IMr Blair repKed, That he had maintained and defended all these to the uttermost of his power, yea so long and so far that now he had no power. " Yea," said !Mr Blair, " I think the surviving Bishops in England, if they have any true love to you or to your honour and re-establishment on your throne, should liberate you of your oath." The time prefixed for the removal of om.' army and the surren- dering of the garrisons approaching, the Parliament of England sent to Newcastle some commissioners, viz., Pembroke, Danby, Monteagle, Mr Han-ison, &c. with some ministers, Messrs Mar- shall, Caryll, &c., to attend the King in his journey to Holmby- house. Likewise the Parliament of Scotland appointed Lothian and Garthland to wait on the King until he came to Holmby- house. With these English commissioners, ]Mr Blair had many conferences and debates, especially ^^^th the ministers ; for at this time there were many and great presumptions of the deceitful and double dealing of the English in the matter and grand business of the Solemn League and Covenant, and though there was an honest Presbyterian party in England that wished well to religion, King, and both kingdoms, yet the leading party in the Parliament, and especially in the army, had no mind to settle Presbyterian government, nor the other parts of uniformity ; and that the army designed no good for the King, though they had engaged that he should be with them in honour, freedom, and safety. Yea, Mr Blair had great fears and strong jealousies, especially of the bad and wicked designs of the English army against religion, the King, and the peace of the kingdoms ; which made ^Ir Blair yet again, at last shortly before the removal of our army, most urgently and affectionately deal with the King, that yet (after his second, yea third, &c. thoughts, after his more serious and deliberate pondering n2 196 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1647. and weighing all things) he would subscribe the Covenant, abolish Episcopacy in England, that so he might march to Scotland at- tended by our army, &c. The King still refusing, and Mr Blair upon his knees, with tears entreating and pressing him, at last the King said to him, " IMr Robert Blair, I know you love me, and earnestly desire my soul's salvation, and my welfare and happiness, which makes you so earnest, but this I will say, if ever I grant that to any man which you so earnestly now entreat for, you shall say that I am not an honest man." ^Ir Blair entreated the King not to speak so, wishing that some others might have more power with him, and better success ; and so Mr Blair took leave of the King with a sad and sorrowful heart, his heart trembling for reli- gion, King, and the peace of the kingdoms. January 30, all our army was on the north side of the Tyne, according to the articles of agreement, for the fulfilling whereof six hostages were given by us. In the forenoon, our cavalry marched through the town of Newcastle, estimated to be 6000, in view of the English commissioners. In the afternoon. Gene- ral-major Skippon, appointed by the Parliament governor of New- castle, entered the town with a troop of horse. Shortly thereafter, two foot regiments entered the town and relieved our guards at their several posts, and the King's house in the head of Pilgrim Street. So our army, according to the articles of agreement, ren- dered up the King and the garrison of Newcastle. Upon the morrow, being the Lord's day, the King refused to hear sermon, because the English ministers refused to read the Book of Common Prayers. While our army is on their march homeward, the garri- sons of Berwick and Carlisle were rendered up, the fortifications whereof the English promised to slight, that they might be no ground of jealousy betwixt the kingdoms. The King took journey to Holmby the 3d of February, conveyed with 200 horse. Our army were all in Scots ground about the 10th of February. The army was disbanded at several places most fitting. Only five foot regiments and fifteen troops were kept a-foot, commanded by Ge- neral Leslie, Lieutenant-general David Leslie, Middleton, Hep- 1647.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 197 bum, for the subduing of the Gordons, (who all this while, though it was given out that Robert Leslie was sent from the King, with a commission to cause them lay down arms), kept themselves to- gether, and committed acts of hostility in the north ; and M'Donald's bloody Irishes who infested Ai'gyle's lands. The new modelled army mustered in Leith sands, February 18. Shortly thereafter, they march north against the Gordons, who, upon the report of our army's approach, betook themselves to their houses and strongholds, which, in a short time, with little pains or expense, either of blood or treasure, were aU taken in. After business thus settled in the north, Middleton is left there with a considerable party and garrisons in the strongholds. The rest of our army marches to Argyle's bounds in May, against M'Donald, where they had the like success, that, by the blessing of God, they had in the north. In August, the body of our army returns to their winter quarters be-south Forth, where they were to be quartered so long as they were to stand. !Mr Blau' after his return to Scotland, and his flock and family at St Andrews, in the beginning of May did take journey to Aberdeen, where the Commission of the Kirk was to sit. At that session of the Commission (whereof Mr Blair was moderator) se- veral scandalous ministers were censured ; and as the army a little before had ordered civil and military aflPairs, and procured peace in the north, so now the Commissioners of the Kirk ordered and settled ecclesiastic affairs there. When Mr Blair left St Andrews there were some fears, yea beginning of the infection of the pesti- lence, one or two dead in the town. But when he returned he found his family removed out of the town, and though his family was in great hazard and danger of being infected, yet it pleased the Lord to preserve them. Mr Blair preached to the people that were judged free of the infection upon the street at the market- cross, and did visit, and preach to the people that were infected or suspected in the fields. But it pleased the Lord so to rebuke that sad rod, that there did not many die either in the town or 198 LIFE OF ROBEKT BLAIR. [1648- fields.* After his family were freed of their fears, in the begln- ing of August he went to Edinburgh to the General Assembly. Mi Blair did preach at the opening up of that Assembly on 1 Cor. xi. 17, 18. Matters thus ordered and settled in Scotland, the face of affairs is far altered in England. Sir Thomas Fairfax declares himself general of the independeit army — takes the King out of Holmby-house, and carries him along with the army ; and in a short time that independent sectarian army overawes, yea com- mands not only the King but the Parliament and city of London, and ruled all as they pleased. All that summer and winter fol- lowing they earned the King from place to place, till at last he was brought to the isle of Wight and there made prisoner ; and it was ordained by Act of Parliament that no more addresses shoidd be made to him. As that sectarian perfidious army defaced all in the Kirk, so also in the Estate ; for they turned enemies to monarchical government. This winter, in the Committee of Estates, there were great debates betwixt the two factions. The Hamiltons would have had our little army disbanded, and a new modelled army levied for the relief of the King. The other faction carried it by plurality of voices, that the army shoidd stand till the 10th of March 1648, and for ease of the country the ofiicers did quit the third part of their pay. In the beginning of the year 1648 there was great diversity of judgments in Scotland, concerning the managment of aflfairs in Estate and Kirk. Some thought that, seeing the army and Parlia- ment of England had so used the King and favoured the independent * As one evidence, among others, that might be given of the alarm which the pesti- lence created in this countiy in former times, the following extract fi-om the Eecords of the Kirk Session of Montrose may be quoted : — " Because of ane fearfiill pestilence, entered into the citie, inlarging and spreading itself daylie, destroying and cutting down many, which occasioned ane scattering and outgoing of all the members of the Sessione to landAvard for their saiftie : Thairfore, There was no Sessions nor collections, in this our burgh of Montrose, betwixt the last of May 1648, and the first of February 1649. Which Session was keeped in church yeard, everie ane standing ane distance from ane other. 1648.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIK. 109 eectarian party, an army should be levied to relieve the Bang and suppress the independent sectarian party. Others were against any levy in the mean time. Our commissioners at London being slighted by the Parliament, after they had gone to the Isle of Wight and spoken with the King, in the beginning of the year came to Edinburgh. In February there was a frequent meeting of the Committee of Estates and Commission of the Ku'k. In the Committee of Estates the question was debated anent a levy. Our Commis- sioners (of whom the Chancellor Campbell * was one who went to the Isle of Wight, and, as was suspected, there undertook to the Kang that an army should be levied for his relief), and the Hamil- tons were very forward for an army for the relief of the King and the suppressing of the sectaiies. This question, as a case of con- science, being propounded to the Commission of the Kirk, where, with the ministers, there were several noblemen and others as elders, their judgment was, that as yet there should be no breach with England, nor any engagement till first several articles of agreement betwixt the two kingdoms were looked to and kept, and tiU first religion were secured by the King, and some maKg- nants at home taken order with : but the Parliament beino; to sit down in ISIarch nothing was concluded. The Chancellor was selected preses of the Parliament that con- vened in March. He and the rest of our commissioners, Avith the Hamiltonian faction, were stiU earnest for an army to be levied. Argyle, with other noblemen and gentlemen were against them and their courses, fearing hazard and danger to religion. The Commission of the Kirk sitting at this time did emit a Declara- tion, shewing. That all that the King had granted to our Commis- sioners, at their conference with him at the Isle of Wight, was de- structive to the Covenant and welfare of religion ; that still he thought himself bound to defend Episcopacy, &c. The Parlia- ment, after much debating, concluded, that not only the kingdom should be put in a posture of war, but that there should be a * John Campbell, first Earl of Loudoun, Lord Chancellor of Scotland. 200 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1648. strong army presently levied. There was a considerable party in the Parliament of noblemen, viz., Argyle, Cassillis, &c., gentlemen, commissioners from shires, and some burgesses, that did protest against their courses. The Parliament did emit a Declaration, shewing. That the present levy and engagement was in pursuance of all the ends of the Covenant, the suppression of sectaries, as well as for the relief of the King. But, in the meantime, known malignants and enemies of the Covenant were countenanced and employed, yea, the greatest malignants that had been with Prince Rupert, viz.. Sir Marmaduke Langdale, Sir Thomas Glenham, &c. These two were privately advised by some that were most forward for the engagement, to surprise and take the towns of Berwick and Carlisle, (contrary to the articles of agreement be- twixt the two kingdoms,) which they did with the assistance of some of our forces, and yet the Parliament, in the printed act of levy, did make the taking in of these towns by the malignants of England one of the causes of that levy. The Commission of the General Assembly answered the Parliament's Declaration by a large Representation, shewing, That they were not satisfied anent the grounds and causes of the war, &c., and wrote letters to all the Presbyteries that they should not anyways countenance or concur with that engagement, nor do anything to advance the same.* The Parliament did elect the Duke of Hamilton general * This meeting of the Commission, was a little before the election of Commission- ers by the Presbyteries to the General Assembly. " It was moved by some in the Com- mission that something might be written to Presbyteries, requiring them to choose none but such as were against the engagement; but this was opposed and refused by the Commission as savouring of a prelimitation of the Assembly, and all that was done was a letter written to Presbyteries, gi\'ing them an account of the Commis- sion's proceeding, and exliorting them to their duty, and to choose able and faithful men." — Wodrow MSS. vol. xxxii. 4to, no. 13, p. 1. The gi'ounds upon which this Kirk objected to this engagement, as stated in the Parliament's Declaration, were, 1. That the object of it was to rescue the King from his imprisonment, and restore him to the exercise of his royal power, without so much as ashing from him any security for religion, although he declared himself as much for Episcopacy, and as strongly op- posed as ever to the Solemn League, which the Church regarded as the palladium of her liberties. 2. That the conducting of this war had been committed chiefly to those who were indifferent or hostile to the securing of religion. As loyal subjects, and warmly attached to monarchical goveniment, they were anxious for the safety of their 1648.] LIFE Ui ROBERT BLAIR. 201 to the army, and, in the beginning of May, did direct a letter to the several Presbyteries conjuring them to think well of their proceedings, and to preach and pray for the army. Thereafter adjourned the Parliament to the first of June. In the latter end of ISIarch Mr Blair was called over to Fife, upon an occasion, even in the time of the hottest debates betwixt the Parliament and Commission of the Kirk anent the present en- gagement. His judgment and opinion thereanent was moderate. For whereas some few were altogether against any engagement upon any terms, and others were altogether for the present engage- ment, as it was stated, !Mr Blair did steer a steady and even course betwixt these two dangerous extremes ; for he was for an engage- ment for the relief of the King, suppressing of the sectaries, &c., but first all other ways of treating and friendly dealing being used with the Parliament of England, and especially religion being secured by the King, according to our Covenant, and the Kirk getting satisfaction anent the lawfulness of the war, the causes thereof being cleared. The Parliament did sit down again in June. Many supplications from presbyteries and several shires against the engagement were read in Parliament, together with several answers from some presbyteries to the Parliament's letter, and supplications from some burghs ; but no answer returned, but orders given out to obey the act of levy, and all threatened that seemed to dislike their courses. In the close of this session an act was made that any minister that should be suspended or de- posed for preaching or praying for their engagement or army, should be secured of his stipend ; and the Parliament adjourned to 1650 ; and for the governing of the kingdom in the meanwhile, the Parliament chose a Committee of Estates, giving them the power of the Parliament. The Parliament being up, they carry on their engagement more actively and vigorously, levying horse and foot. They that did King, and his restoration to the exercise of his government ; as religious men, and agreeably to the tenor and spirit of the Solemn League, they >vished security for the settlement of religion first. — Baillie's Letters and Journals, iii. 42, 202 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1648. not give ready obedience to the act of levy vv^ere quartered on, until by themselves or others, their proportions were put out. Thus many honest men in Fife and Lothian did sadly suffer. In the west where there was greater opposition, honest ministers and some gentlemen with many of the commons, were pitifully abused, and suffered most sadly by the forces in the west, commanded by Middleton (now far changed from what he was), and Hurrie. The opposition against the levy in the west being quashed by the routing of a small party that skirmished with Middleton's troops in Mauch- line Moor, their levy goes on in the west without opposition ; so that in July, having gotten an army together, they marched into England upon the south-west border towards Carlisle, where Sir Marmaduke Langdale with some forces joins with them. The Committee of Estates sitting at Edinburgh did emit a Declaration to the Houses of Parliament and their brethren of England, concerning the necessity, grounds and ends of their engagement. The General Assembly convened at Edinburgh July 12. The Committee of Estates then sitting, laboured by all means pos- sible to hinder the Assembly to approve the proceedings of the Commission of the former Assembly against the engagement, but all in vain ; for the Assembly having examined the proceedings of the Commission, especially their Declarations, Remonstrances, Representations, Petitions, Vindication, and other papers relating to the present engagement, did unanimously find that in all their proceedings they had been zealous, diligent, and faithful in dis- charge of the trust committed to them ; ratifying and approving the whole proceedings, acts and conclusions of the said Commis- sion, and particularly all their papers relating to the said engage- ment, and their judgment of the unlawfulness thereof.* The * From an apprehension that those who had been instrumental in leading the Par- liament to enter npon tliis engagement, would use their \xtmost endeavours to procure such Commissioners to the General Assembly as would support their measures, great care was taken in Presbyteries throughout the Church to choose for members such as were the most zealous supporters of the Covenant, and who approved of the proceed- ings of the Commission. " So that," as Baillie states, " this Assembly did consist of 1648.] LIFE or KOBEKT BLAIR. 203 General Assembly (beside other papers relating to the engage- ment), did emit a declaration concerning the present dangers of religion, and especially the unlawful engagement in war against the kingdom of England, together with many necessary exhorta- tions and directions to all the members of the Kirk of Scotland. Also they did emit a Declaration and Exhortation of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland to their brethren in England; though they were desired by the Committee of Estates not to emit any papers.* The King's army now in England still increases ; regiments fi'om Scotland and some English coming in to them. After a skirmish at Apleby, betwixt some of the Duke's army and Lambert's troops, and beating them from a bridge, Lambert re- tiring southwards, the Duke's army advancing southwards, fearing no enemy, grew too secure ; for they divided their forces for their more commodious quarterings, and sent ISIiddleton with a strong party for the relief of Colchester, whether Cromwell had driven some malignants in England, that had gathered together in hopes to join with Duke Hamilton. Cromwell having suppressed these that intended to join with the Duke, did join his with Lambert's forces, and with all expedition and long marches advancing, falls first upon Sir Marmaduke's forces (who quartered ten miles from the Duke's army), and routed them before the regiments whom the Duke had sent for his aid came to them. Thereafter at Preston they routed the Duke's army, and last they routed Middleton's party. All this was upon the 17th and 18th of August. The such whose mind cairicd tlicm most against the present engagement, which was the great and only question for the time." — Letters and Journals, iii. 54. In their opi)osi- tion to the Engagement, the Assemhly, however, represented the sentiments of the great body of the ministers throughout the countiy. " The whole churches in Scot- land, almost in all the Presbyteries and Synods thereof, had declared themselves im- satisfied in conscience with the engagement, excepting a very few ministers scattered here and there in Presbyteries, which few were also known to have been either opposers of the work of God, or neutral and indifferent therein from the beginning." — ]Vodrow MSS. vol. xxxii. 4to, no. 13, p. 2. ♦ This Assembly received a letter fi-om the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and Mr Blair was employed to draw up an answer to it. " Mr Blair's answer," says Baillie, " was good and nncontroverted." — Letters and Journals, iii., 62. 204 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1648. Duke with the chief officers that escaped, fled to North Wales.* Some came home. This woeful defeat of the engagers in England made a great change on the face of affairs, and no small revolution in Scotland ; for all that were not satisfied in point of conscience with the engagement, and had suffered upon that account, made use of the oj)portunity offered for shaking off the yoke laid upon them by the engagers. Those in the M^est did first bestir them- selves ; for immediately after the news of the defeat at Preston, they, with the Chancellor (who before the rising of the Parlia- ment deserted the engagers), gathered together about a thousand horsemen. The Committee of Estates did elect the Lord Lanerick general to the forces in Scotland. Also they sent letters to George Monro, (who came from Ireland with some forces, intending to join with the Duke's army), desiring him in all haste to march homewards for suppressing of the people in the west, who, in this meantime, were flocking together, horse and foot. They disarmed some troops in the west. In the beginning of September there was a meeting of all the ministers in Fife, at Dysart, to consult what were fitting to be done in this nick of time. The Lords Burley and Elcho (to whom the Chancellor had written that the anti-engagers in the west were speedily marching eastward, desiring them to advertise all well affected in Fife to meet and join with them), did write to the meeting at Dysart that there was a rendezvous of the shire appointed at Inverkeithing, September 6, desiring some minis- ters to come thither. Likewise the Chancellor did advertise the Lord Burley, that Cassillis and Kirkcudbright were coming to him with the forces of Carrick and Galloway, and that Argyle was advancing with his forces. All thir anti-engagers were moving towards Edinburgh against the engagers, to hinder their prose- cuting of the engagement ; for, in this meantime, Lanerick their general is gathering forces in East Lothian, and Monro with his forces advancing towards him, and gathering whom he could get * The Duke of Hamilton was, however, soon taken prisoner, carried to London and there executed. 1648.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 205 together, some of the runaways and stragglers that escaped after Preston fight. September 5, the Chancellor with his forces entered Edinburgh. He did write to the meeting at Inverkeithing, desir- ing the gentlemen presently to come over to Edinburgh, and that the anti-engagers that were on the Committee of Estates should come over that they might meet ; for the engaging committee upon the approach of the Chancellor's forces fled out of the town to Lanerick, who about that time had a rendezvous in Gladsmuir. A quorum of the anti-engagers did meet in the Committee of Estates. They ordained General Leslie (as before) to be general of their army, and the rest of the staff officers as before. Septem- ber 11 was appointed to be a day of rendezvous of their army in the Links of Leith. September 1, the forces with the Chan- cellor were mustered in Leith Links, and lay there in leaguer. Lanerick having joined with Monro's forces, advances towards Musselburgh. The Chancellor's forces leaguered upon the craigs at the foot of Leith Wynd, expecting the rest that were advanc- ing eastward to join with them. September 10, being the Lord's day, was appointed by the General Assembly to be kept through- out the kingdom as a day of solemn humiliation. This fast was kept in Edinburgh and the leaguer. There were many ministers with the army, especially from the west. September 9 and 10, the Commission of the Kirk (whereof IVIr Blair was one) did sit in the leaguer. They sent a pithy exhortation to the Committee of Estates that did also sit there. Also they sent a short Declara- tion to the Earl of Crawford, and some others in the engaging army ; showing them that their undertaking was to secure reli- gion, to hinder any farther prosecuting of the engagement, and to shake off that yoke under which the people of God groaned in the land, &c. This Declaration was occasioned by a letter sent by the Earl of Crawford and some others to the Commission of the Kirk, asking their advice what should be their carriage. Thereafter Lanerick, and others with him, sent in to the anti-engaging army some propositions, which being agreed unto, they would desist. The sum of them was, that all that was done by the Parliament 206 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1648. and Committee of Estates should be allowed as lawful ; that they should still have the rulino- of the kino^dom ; that ISIonro should be paid of all that the Parliament had promised him ; that they should bruik their honours and offices. These propositions were rejected. Meantime some acts of hostility were committed by the skirmishing of parties. September 11, Lanerick and Monro marched westwards be-south Edinburgh, which occasioned the Chancellor's army to march after them. Lanerick leaguered that night near about Linlithgow, the other army about Corstorfen [Corstorphin.] The engaging army used all possible expedition to gain the pass at Stirling, which Argyle with his forces was ordained to keep, to hinder them to cross the bridge of Stirling, and so from joining with Athol and other engagers be-north Tay. That same day Cassillis and Kirk- cudbright did join with a considerable number of horse and foot with the anti-engagers. At this time the engagers made the report go that the anti-engagers had invited a party of Crom- well's horse to come in to Scotland and help them against the engagers, who should be commanded by one Major Strachan, a Scotsman, who, fearing to be evil used by the Duke's anny, went in to the English army with Cromwell, when the Duke entered England. It was certain that Major Strachan, at this nick of time, came alone to Edinburgh, and told the noblemen, anti-engagers, that Cromwell and Lambert were upon the borders, and that they were willing, if they were desired and invited, either by Kirk or Estate, to send help to repress the engaging army now in Scot- land, but that they would not enter the kingdom uninvited, lest it should be thought a breach, &c. That same day, viz., September 11, there was an appointment betwixt the two armies that there should be a conference upon the morrow. Some ministers were desired to be present, viz., Messrs David Dickson, Robert Blair, Robert Douglas, and James Guthrie. Some noblemen and these ministers did meet with some appointed by Lanerick and Craw- ford, September 12. The engagers gave in some new proposi- tions much more reasonable than the first ; but this conference 1648.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 207 was broken off suddenly, because the anti-engagers alleged that the engagers had not kept their promise to them, viz., that they should not march during the time of the conference, whereas they marched before the conference began, that they might gain the pass at Stirling, which they did very easUy, for they came to Stirling shortly after Argyle \nth his forces came there, whom Lanerick surprised, lying securely, and routed. Argyle himself came to the North Queensferry, and crossed there and joined with the anti-engagers. The engagers having gained the pass at Stirling (the other army lying about Falkirk), and expecting assistance from the North, waxed prouder and w^ere more high-flown in their demands. Mean- Avhile their parties infested and plundered the west end of Fife, the length of Falkland and Monkland. The English army upon the borders, hearing that the engagers had gained the pass at Stir- ling, and that they were waxed a great deal prouder than before, and being acquainted with their demands, (one whereof was, that Scotland should secure them, yea fight for them against England, in defence of the engagement), did enter the kingdom of Scotland minding either to force the engagers to agree upon reasonable terms or otherwise to subdue them. And, lest their entering the kingdom should be misconstructed, Cromwell did write to the Chancellor and other anti-engagers in arms, that he was entered the kingdom to pursue his enemies and the enemies of both king- doms, protesting and taking God witness of his sincerity, and vowing, that so soon as he had subdued them, or they had amicably agreed with them, to depart out of the kingdom again ; and that, in the meantime, he should be more tender of Scotland, in point of charges, than he would be of England. So they came in and lay in the Merse. The anti-engagers' army (the pass at Stirling being gained) re- moved eastwards, be-east Edinburgh. The eng-agers enlarge their quarters on both sides of Forth. They convened a quorum of the Committee of Estates at Stirling, and wrote a commanding letter to Fife, commanding them not to stir or join with Leslie, &c. 208 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1648. September 26, the Synod of Fife should have convened, but by reason of the forces in Dunfermline and Kirkaldy Presby- teries, none of them came, and Mr Blair and some others of the other two Presbyteries being with the army, the Synod was ad- journed. On this meantime and juncture of ticklish affairs, three armies lying near other, Mr Blair did deal most affectionately and effec- tually with some of the engagers, especially with the ingenuous and noble earl of Crawford, that there might be another conference to make way for a treaty of peace, and that he would be a good instrument, yea as a mediator betwixt the two parties that were in extremes, to bring them to some good mediocrity and modera- tion. And though Mr Blair gained not what he wished, yet his labour and dealing with Crawford was not in vain, for a conference was appointed. Mr Blair riding west towards Falkirk to attend that meeting, the day being tempestuous, his cloak, though a strong cloth one, was blown asunder, divided in the middle — ma- lum omen. The engagers, hearing of the English army's entering the kingdom, became a great deal more calm, and a great deal more reasonable in their demands, which (after some conferences betwixt Crawford, and some others of them that were more mo- derate and reasonable than some others of them, and Mr Blair) made the treaty to go on the better, till at last, September 28, the treaty closed, and peace being concluded, the chief articles of the agreement were : — " 1. That all forces upon both sides should be disbanded ; only the anti-engagers were to keep on foot a thousand foot and five hundred horse till all forces that were levied or gathering be-north Tay should be disbanded, and until the kingdom should be in a right posture again. " 2. That all matters concerning religion should be referred to the General Assembly and their Commissioners, and all matters civil to a Parliament which was to sit down on the 10th of January 1649. " 3. That until the Parliament none of those that had been as- sisting or concurring with the engagement should be upon the 1648.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 209 Committee of Estates, or manage the public affairs of the kingdom, and that the Officers of Estate that had assisted the engagement should, in the meantime, forbear the meddling with their offices, and refer the disposing of these places to the Parliament. " 4. That all prisoners upon both sides should be relieved pre- sently." As !Mr Blair was most instrumental in drawing the two extremes to some good mediocrity, so it is certain that the Earl of Crawford was most willing, and dealt with others to be content with these articles of the treaty, yea he did deal a round sum of money among Monro and some other officers of his stamp, and some of the sol- diers, to persuade them to lay down their arms, &c. In the time of the treaty the English army lay about Dunbar and Haddington. Some of their officers came to Edinburgh with Lambert. They earned most civilly and were expected to return, a peace being concluded. Shortly after the pacification Cromwell came in to Edinburgh, and was kindly entertained and feasted by the Com- mittee of Estates and by General Leslie in the Castle, he being keeper of the Castle of Edinburgh. He gave in a paper to the Committee of Estates, showing how far the late engagement had tended to the detriment of the kingdom of England, and withal desiring that none that had hand in it might be permitted to carry office in Scotland, either in judicatories or armies, which desire was granted by the Committee of Estates. So the act was framed that was called The Act of Classes,* debarring engagers, or any having accession to it, [viz., the Engagement], fi'om places of trust in judicatories or armies, &c. In this meantime the Commission of the Kirk sent three of their number, viz., Messrs David Dick- son, Robert Blair and James Guthrie to speak with Cromwell, &c. It was by the other two laid upon Mr Blair to speak to him, be- ♦ This act was passed on the 23d of January 1649. It was called " The Act of Classes," because it divided such as had been connected with the Engagement into four classes, corresponding to the degree in which they were implicated. Mr Blair considered this act in some respects too rigorous. " I was not satisfied with sundry things in it. . . . The rigour and selfynes vented therein I never liked." — Letter to Robert Doughs. BailUe's Letters and Journals, iii. 557. O 210 LIFE OF KOBERT BLAIK. [1648. cause he had some knowledge of him, having conversed with him before and after the victory at Long Marston. Wlien they came to Cromwell he had a long discourse to them, with a fair flourish of words, and sometimes with tears, taking God to be witness of their sincerity and good intentions, &c. There- after Mr Blair (as ordinarily he used) spoke much to him in few words. Among other things he said, that he and his brethren (the ministers of the Kirk of Scotland) saw no party or power that now hindered the reformation of religion in England and the work of uniformity but only their army. Thereafter Mr Blair did put three queries to Cromwell : 1. What was his opinion of monarchical go- vernment ; to which CromweU answered. That he was for monarchi- cal government, and that in the person of this King and his poste- rity. 2. What was his opinion anent the toleration? Answered, That he was altogether against toleration. 3. Wliat was his opi- nion anent the government of the Kirk. To this Cromwell an- swered, " O now, Mr Blair, you article me too severely, you must pardon me that I give you not a present answer to this ; I must have some time to deliberate." Thus he shifted to answer that query, because he had often professed to Mr Blair that he was for Independency. After they came out from Cromwell, Mr Dickson, rubbing his elbow, said, " I am very glad to hear this man speak as he does." IVIr Blair replied, " And do you believe him ? If you knew him as well as I do, you would not believe one word he says. He is an egregious dissembler, and a great liar. Away with him, he is a greeting devil !" * About October the 7th CromweU returned again to England with his whole army, except two regiments of horse and two troops of dragoons, whom the Committee of Estates desired to abide until the small army they intended to levy were up. ♦ Greeting, Scot, weeping, blubbering. — This summary and unceremonious estimate of Cromwell's character, whatever may be now thought of its foundation in truth, deserves some attention, as formed by one who had frequent personal intercourse with the usurper, who was well qualified by his shrewdness to judge of men's cha- racters, and who would not be swayed, at all events, by indiscriminate disgust at the high professions of piety made by Cromwell, — professions which were too common in his day to be viewed as, of themselves, indicative of hypocrisy. 1649.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 211 October 17, the Synod of Fife did meet at Cupar. Mr Samuel Rutherford was elected Moderator. About this time Mr Blair was sent from the Commission of the Kirk to London for promoting the work of reformation, &c. There were sent with him from the Committee of Estates, Lothian, William Glendinning and Sir John Chiesley unto the Parliament, as Mr Blair was sent to the Assembly of Divines, and to attend these three Commissioners, &c. About this time the Committee of Estates sent David Car- michael to the King with a missive letter, which was occasioned by the King's writing to them to send up to liim some lords and others, that he might learn of them the estate of affairs in Scotland. The Committee not being -galling to send these, also the English refusing to give them a safe conduct, they sent Daniel Carmichael with the foresaid letter. The appointed forces being levied, the English forces left Avith Lambert returned again to England. In the time that Cromwell and his army were in Scotland the Parliament * began a treaty with the King at the isle of Wight. They gave him more liberty than formerly, and taking the ojipor- tunity of the army's absence, the real, sincere and honest party in the Parliament carried on the treaty with the King, and it was generally thought that there would be a peaceable and happy close of the treaty ; for at this time the Parliament, by their ordinance, established Presbyterian government by the law of the land, not as it was 1645, only for three years, unless the Houses thought fit to order otherwise, but did now order and ordain this form of Church government to be used in the Churches of England and Ireland without limitation of time for its duration. Also they passed another act for establishing of monarchical government. And, upon the other hand, the King became more condescending, for he was content that Presbyterian government should be tried for three years, &c. But still it was feared that Cromwell and the army would not condescend to the treaty, as it came to pass ; for while they are hasting to close the treaty Cromwell sends a Colonel [Joyse] who had taken the King from Holmby-house. This Joyse ♦ The English rarliament. (J 2 212 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1649. takes the King out of the Isle of Wight and carries him to a castle, called Hurst Castle, where the array keeps him in close prison. While affairs are thus carried in England, the Commission of the General Assembly taking to their consideration the great apostacy and backsliding in the land among all degrees, (for even some ministers had backslidden, and dealt deceitfully in the matter of the Covenant and in the business of the late En- gagement, endeavouring in the time of the last Assembly to get the Engagement approven ; for which subdolous plots Mr Henry Guthrie, dux factionis, with some others, were deposed), thought that there was an inevitable necessity laid on them, forcing them at this time to renew the Solemn League and Covenant, which was done December 17, the Thursday before being spent in humi- liation and fasting, according to the directory for humiliation, printed and sent to several Presbyteries, together with several acts concerning the debarring of several persons from the Covenant. Affairs in Scotland thus being ordered, matters in England are in a woefid confusion ; for the army having put the King in Hurst Castle comes to London, and takes up their head quarters at West- minster. A little before their coming to the city they gave in to the Parliament a Remonstrance, and after they came a Declaration, wherein they desire : " 1. That King Charles, as the capital grand author of the late troubles, may be speedily brought to justice. " 2. That Prince Charles and the Duke of York may be sum- moned to come in and render themselves. " 3. That this Parliament may have a speedy period put to it, and another Parliament to be called, and delinquents not to elect or be elected. " 4. That there may be an agreement for all the kingdom to sign, which shall be above law, and all to be disfranchised that wiU not sign it." After the giving in of these papers to the Parliament, the army, by orders from the General, did apprehend all the members of Par- liament that were any ways affected for Presbyterian government 1649.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 213 or the King, to the number of forty-one. Tliey were put in prison and accused of many things, whereof this was one, that they had hand in bringing in the Scots the last summer into England. Thereafter, in the midst of December, they gave in their agree- ment to be approven by the Parliament, Fairfax and CromweU now sitting as members, and the army guarding the Parliament, having discharged the train bands of the city. That agreement did over- turn all in the estate, like as their demanding liberty of conscience for all men and opinions, excepting only Popery, did overturn all in the Kirk. The army thus ruling all at their pleasure, did pass some votes in the House of Commons for trial of the King, and doing justice upon him ; which being sent to the House of Peers, and they not joining with them presently, the House of Commons did vote and conclude that what was done by the House of Commons was to be obeyed as done by the only supreme lawftd authority in the king- dom of England, and that, under God, the Commons of England was the subject of all supreme authority. Thus did they reject both King and Lords. Mr Blair all this while being in London attending the commissioners, seeing and considering the most ille- gal, irreligious and wicked proceedings and actings of the sectarian army, did from day to day vex his soul with their unlawful deeds. Perceiving that their desperately wicked designs were — to ruin re- ligion by their toleration, the King and all government by their agreement and votes that they had passed in the House of Com- mons, and knowing the deep dissimulation and crafty fox-like wickedness, especially of Cromwell, he did by all means shun to speak with him ; for Cromwell coming to his lodging to visit him, Mr Blair hearing of it went abroad. Thereafter Cromwell sent to him, and appointed time and place where they might meet ; but Mr Blair coming at the precise appointed time, (dedita opera to shun meeting with him), and Cromwell not being come, he refused to stay until Cromwell was advertised. So Cromwell perceiving that Mr Blair, being unwilling to meet with him, still shifted him, did not thereafter trouble him. So Mr Blair all the while he was at 214 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1649. London did not converse nor speak with Cromwell ; but still as Cromwell went on, yea desperately drove on his most pernicious and wicked designs, Mr Blair's sorrow and grief was augmented ; for he being nearer them, yea, seeing them, had worse thoughts of their wicked ways than other honest ministers that were at home in Scotland. And this was the reason that he was not well pleased with a paper sent up to London by the Commission of the Kirk, called " A Solemn Testimony against Toleration and the Present Proceedings of Sectaries in England, in reference to Religion and Government, vdth an Admonition to their Brethren there." Like- wise, he thought that their censure of the King's concessions in the treaty with him in the Isle of Wight was too rigid, and gave too great advantage to the sectaries to proceed in their most un- godly, wicked, and devilish designs against him ; w^hich was the reason why Mr Blair advised the Commissioners to change some words in that paper, and to insert other words, which they thought would greatly tend to the King's advantage and his safety. • But nothing could stop or hinder these treacherous and covenant- breaking king-murderers in their dreadful and desperate career of wickedness ; for in January a High Court of Justice was by them constituted, consisting of officers of the army, and some Parliament men of the House of Commons, to try the King, to accuse him of treason, murder, tyranny, &c., and to judge him as the Parliament's prisoner. For that purpose a long charge containing many things against the King was drawn up. The King being convened be- fore that mock court, (O, strange ! that the King did so far conde- scend and submit to that unparalleled usurpation and villany as to come before them), still refused to answer their charge, because they could not satisfy him of the lawfulness of their authority. He being convened before them the fourth time, and still refusing to answer the chai'ge, and likewise being denied of all he required, yea, even of those things that tended merely to the good and wel- fare of his soul, was, upon Saturday the 27th of January 1649, condemned to be executed and put to death, by severing his head from his body ; which unparalleled murder and devilish wicked- 1649.] LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. 215 ness was acted by that king-murdering and covenant-breaking, hellish crew, upon January the 30th. In this meantime, while these active agents of Satan, that old murderer and liar, are thus, contrary to all reason, humanity, law, equity, and conscience, pro- ceeding against the King, Mr Blair, with ovir Commissioners then at London, did still upon all occasions dissent from, and at last protest against all these unlawful, ungodly, and treacherous pro- ceedino-s aijainst the Kins;.* The King being refused the benefit of having the company of, and converse with, his own chaplains during the time of his close imprisonment, did at last, shortly before his death, earnestly desire that Ml' Blair might be permitted to come to him and be with him at his death ; Avhich desire of the King being made known to Mr Blair, he used all means to obtain liberty to go unto the King and be with him so long as he desired his company, but it was flatly refused ; which devilish cruelty and hellish design, even against the good and welfare of the King's soul, cannot be enough admired.f But in this they did the deeds of their father the devil, who was a murderer both of soul and body from the beginning. Mr Blair regretted that he coidd not obtain liberty, nay, not so much as to speak with the King ; but thereafter, did often profess, that if he had been permitted to have gone to the King, and to have been with him at his death, he would never have advised him so far to submit to that most illegal and wicked sentence of death, as to go upon his ovm. feet to a scaffold, and that he was resolved so to speak and carry on the scaffold, testifying against that horrid mur- der, that he laid his account to die with the King, and that he would have as willingly laid down his head to the hatchet as ever he laid his head to a pillow.^ * It became the policy of the Cavalier party after the Restoration, with the view of ousting the Presbyterians from the Church, to represent them a.s accessory to the death of Charles I. ; and ever since, this charge, so ridiculously opposed to historical fiicts, has Iteen repeated by writers of that party. The above may be regarded as a fair ex- pression of the sentiments then held by the Presbyterians of England and Scotland on this point. t Adinired, wondered at. X As Blair had always been in principle favourable to monarchical government, 216 LIFE OF ROBERT BLAIR. [1649. Report of the King's death coming to Scotland, seeing he was proceeded against, and in end murdered contrary to the dissent and protestation of their commissioners, both of Kirk and Estate, then at London, the Committee of Estates did presently proclaim the prince King of Britain, &c., and resolved to make addresses to him as their King. Shortly thereafter the Committee of Estates did write to the young King, Charles the Second, then living at the Hague in Holland, showing him of the more than lamentable death of his father, and their proclaiming of him King, as the undoubted successor to his father's crown, hoping that he would apply himself to the counsels of his Parliament in Scotland, and of the General Assembly or their Commission. The letter was sent with Sir Joseph Douglas, who had no other commission save only to dehver the letter to the king. Shortly thereafter, the Committee of Estates resolved to send their Commissioners to the young King, together with some minis- ters and an elder from the kirk, and it was thought fit that the Com- missioners* at London, together with Mr Blair, should go from Lon- don to Holland to the King, and that a minister and an elder from the commission of the Kirk should meet them at the Hague, with a com- mission, articles and instructions. Advertisement hereof was sent up to the three commissioners and Mr Blair very secretly, which they so he had ever been a warm friend of the Stuart family, notwithstanding their attempts to crush the liberties of their subjects, and to introduce prelacy and ar- bitrary power. StiU this did not prevent some from accusing him as an enemy to monarchy. Dr Balcanqual, as we have already seen, (p. 47), brought against him this charge. Balfom- treats him with similar injustice. " Mr Robert Blair," says he, "was, Reg. Ja. VI., banished the University of Glasgow (for his anti-monarchical tenets) to Ireland, where he lurked till these unhappy troubles began in Scotland ; and scarce was he well returned, but ' he was' prefen-ed by those that favoured him ' to Ayr, and' then preferred to be minister of St Andrews, thereby setting him in a place where he could most diffuse his venom," [his anti-monarchical princiides].— ^l?»;a/s, iii. 412, 413. He again affirms, that " it is to be noted, that in every college, Blair, Rutherford and "Wood have their emissaries and dilaters," and " that thir three men have, with their abettors," resolved, " to displace and defame all that affects monarchy or kingly government."— 76. iii. 412. Blair's own statements of his principles on kingly govern- ment, as well as the deep interest he uniformly took in the royal famUy, completely prove the falsity of these charges. * Namely, the Eari of Lothian, Sir John Chiesly, and William Glendinning.— 5«7- fonr''s Annuls, v