LAST WORDS (2)

[49] When the Lord's Supper was to be dispensed, Blair in vain used every argument to induce Rutherford to take part with himself and Mr. Wood in serving tables; and, being forced to do it alone, began thus: "We must have water in our wine while here. O to be above, where there will be no mistakes!"—"Wodrow's Anal."

[50] "Brodie's Diary" (May 27, 1653) says that S. R. in a conference in "Warriston's Chambers" retorted, that he had heard much of peace with men, but would like better to hear of a peace with God, and with sin, that His wrath may be turned away, without which a patched peace would be little effectual (p. 43). In June a longer conference (pp. 48, 49, 50).

[51] In 1655, we find in "Diary of Brodie of Brodie," p. 141:—"Quhil Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Blair, Mr. Wood, and many others, are labouring in places, and as we hear come small speed; Oh, is it not a marvel that we should be discouraged!"

[52] 2 Chron. xxvi. 5.

[53] He planned a Commentary on Hosea in 1657, but the design was not executed. Reference is made to this in Letter cx.

[54] "Lamont's Diary," p. 133.

[55] See (ch. vi.) of "Memoir of Halyburton," who, on his deathbed, quoted Rutherford's words, "Glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel's land."

[56] In "Lamont's Diary," April 1650, we read of "Mr. Robert Makeward, sometime servant (i.e. secretary) to Mr. Samuel Rutherford, minister of St. Andrews."

[57] Why "Joshua"? Did he think of the faithful witnessing in Joshua xxiv.? Or is the reference to Joshua as one of the spies? See Letter cxviii.

[58] Even in his controversial works, sparks of the same poetic fire fly out when opportunity occurs. In his Treatise "De Divina Providentiâ," the following paragraph occurs, extolling the glory of Godhead wisdom. "Comparentur cum illa increata sapientia Dei Patris umbratiles scintillulæ creatæ gloriolæ quotquot nominis celebritate inclaruerunt. Delirat Plato. Mentitur Aristoteles. Cicero balbutit, hæsitat, nescit Latine loqui. Demosthenes mutus et elinguis obstupescit; virtutis viam ignorat Seneca; nihil canit Homerus; male canit Virgilius! Accedant ad Christum qui virtutis gloria fulgent! Aristides virtutem mentitur. Fabius cespitat, a via justitiæ deviat. Socrates ne hoc quidem scit, se nihil scire. Cato levis et futilis est; Solon est mundi et voluptatum servus et mancipium, non legislator. Pythagoras nec sophos, nec philosophus est. Bias nec mundi nec inanis gloriæ contemptor. Alexander Macedo ignavus est," &c. Another work bears this title: "Exercitationes Apologeticæ pro Divinâ Gratiâ, studio et industria Samuelis Rhætorfortis, Anwetensis, in Gallovidiâ, Scotiæ provinciâ Pastoris." The preface, or dedication, to Gordon of Kenmure, is very characteristic, ending thus: "Non enim ignoras in hac valle miseriarum minime sistendum, neque tentorium figendum; ad æternitatem ipsam (quod vere magnum nomen est & ineffabile) te vocari; crescere iter, decrescere diem, omnia alia aliena, tempus tantum nostrum esse, si modo nostrum est." In this preface he calls himself "Pastor Anwetensis," the old spelling of Anwoth being Anweth.

[59] Letter clxxxii.

[60] Letter clxxxiii.

[61] Letter clxxxii.

[62] Letter cclxxix.

[63] Letter cclxxxviii.

[64] Letter ccxxx.

[65] Ephes. ii. 18.

[66] Letter xcix.

[67] Letter ccii.

[68] Letter cclxxxvi.

[69] Letter cvii.

[70] Letter cii.

[71] Letter ccvi.

[72] Phil. iii. 10.

[73] Letter civ.

[74] Letter civ.

[75] Letter lxi.

[76] Letter clx.

[77] Letter clxxix.

[78] Letter clxviii.

[79] Letter clxxxvii.

[80] Letter cclxxxvi.

[81] Letter ccclii.

[82] Letter cclxxix.

[83] Letter cccxxxvi.

[84] Letter lxiii.

[85] So in his "sermon before the House of Lords," 1645: "Faith thinketh no evil of Christ." Also Letters XX. and XCII.: "Love believeth no evil."

[86] So it is in the earlier editions; not "faileth."

[87] "In reference to her,"—alluding to the known design of Charles I. to enforce conformity to Episcopacy.

[88] The Marquis of Argyle.

[89] In the earlier editions it is given "fly" throughout; not "flee."

[90] Lord Kenmure and his lady resided at Rusco, in the parish of Anwoth, during the first two years of Rutherford's ministry there; but they were now about to leave it. See Letter CXLVII.

[91] Mr. Robert Glendinning, then minister of Kirkcudbright. His grave may be seen there.

[92] Mr. J. Maxwell here mentioned was at this time a minister in Edinburgh, and afterwards became Bishop of Ross,—a man of talent, but devoid of principle, whose aim was to secure the favour of the notorious Laud, by forwarding his designs for forcing Episcopacy upon the Scottish people. The letter above referred to was from the King, urging the adoption of the English service.

[93] Episcopal.

[94] Mixed up with each other.

[95] Probably a relative of his wife, whose name was Eupham Hamilton. He was an apothecary in Edinburgh, and is mentioned among the godly in Livingstone's "Characteristics."

[96] The Rev. Mr. Robert Glendinning, then minister of Kirkcudbright.

[97] Work?

[98] The prelates, when the Courts of High Commission were erected in 1610, were invested with the powers of imprisoning and depriving Nonconformists.

[99] One of the judges.

[100] Archbishop Spottiswoode.

[101] The emigration of preachers and people to New England was the consequence of the persecuting measures pursued by Archbishop Laud for enforcing conformity, in the prosecution of his favourite scheme of bringing the Church of England as near to that of Rome as could consort with his own supremacy and that of his sovereign. About seventy ministers and four thousand other persons emigrated to the American continent to escape the tyranny of Laud and his agents.

[102] Blackness Castle, on the Forth, was used as a prison.

[103] In the sense of making a show of or appearing as if He would go; Luke xxiv. 28.

[104] So in his "Trial of Faith" p. 133 (published 1655).

[105] Sir W. Alexander of Menstrie, afterwards Earl of Stirling.

[106] Carleton, in Galloway (see note at Letter CLVII.), not far from Anwoth, where Mr. Fullerton, a true friend, resided.

[107] At Anwoth.

[108] Gustavus Adolphus.

[109] To whom I have given, and dare venture to give.

[110] Henry Burton, an able divine of the Church of England, wrote several vigorous pieces against Popery, and against Montague's "Appello Cæsarem."

[111] Sabbath that comes eight days after this.

[112] Allusion to Horace, Sat. i. 1, 19. One of the few allusions to the classics that occur in Rutherford.

[113] His term-day.

[114] Livingstone in his "Memor. Characteristics" mentions this godly man, a merchant in Ayr.

[115] See Letter CLXI.

[116] Mr. William Dalgleish, minister at Kirkmabreck.

[117] A proverbial expression, as in Herbert's Poem, 84:

[118] Z. Boyd's Last Battle, p. 185.

[119] His place.

[120] Possibly, Mr. Abraham Henderson; a staunch defender of Presbytery, who, in 1605, persisted, along with eight of his brethren, in convening at Aberdeen, in face of prohibition, in order to maintain a protest in behalf of the Church's inherent right to meet in General Assembly. (See Forbes' "Apolog. Narration," p. 136.)

[121] Noon, or a little before it, was then the usual hour for dinner.

[122] In regard to whom I pray for the mercy Paul sought for the house of Onesiphorus (2 Tim. i. 6).

[123] μόνας.

[124] The village and church of Carsphairn stood not far from Kenmure Castle, and very near Earlston and Knockgray. The road from Dalmellington is bare, with steep, rocky hills on either side of the glen. The "Ken" may be meant by "that water" in the next sentence.

[125] A burden above a load, or a load above a burden, is a phrase for a very heavy weight.

[126] Mr. George Gillespie; see Letter cxliv.

[127] Barcaple is in the stewartry of Kirkcudbright, in the parish of Tongueland.

[128] Mr. Robert Glendinning, the minister.

[129] "For this;" as in our metre version, Ps. cvi. 40, etc.

[130] Efforts to obtain redress from grievances inflicted by the prelatic party.

[131] See Letter LXXI.

[132] Edinburgh.

[133] Referring to a promise made to the people of Kirkcudbright by the Bishop of Galloway, to give them a man according to their own mind, provided they would not choose Mr. Rutherford.

[134] Mr. Robert Glendinning.

[135] William Dalgleish, minister of Kirkdale and Kirkmabreck. See Letter CXVII.

[136] David Dickson.

[137] About four miles east from Earlston. It has a small loch, where are ruins of an old castle.

[138] See note, Letter XII.

[139] Probably Mr. Alexander Colville, mentioned Letter XI.

[140] In the Preface to his "Peaceable Plea," he expresses the same yearnings towards the Jews. And also in "Trial of Faith," sermon xiii.

[141] Bishop Sydserff wished to force a minister upon the people of Kirkcudbright, in room of Mr. Glendinning, whom he ordered to be imprisoned, because he would not conform to Episcopacy. Provost Fullarton (husband of M. M'Naught), along with other magistrates, refused to imprison Mr. Glendinning. See note at Letter LXVII.

[142] Surety.

[143] J. Gordon.

[144] Sydserff.

[145] Conformity to episcopal forms.

[146] Alluding to Gen. xxxii. 14, and Isa. xl. 11.

[147] It is probably the little mound in the wood called "Low's Seat," from its being the favourite resort of a local poet of that name.

[148] Luke xxi. 18, 19.

[149] Zech. xii. 2, 6.

[150] Zech. xii. 2, 6.

[151] Stumble; be offended.

[152] The prelates; alluding to 1 Pet. v. 3.

[153] Exercitat. Apol. pro Divinâ Gratiâ, published this year (1636) at Amsterdam.

[154] Calling them "Lords."

[155] Brother to Lady Kenmure, and afterwards the celebrated Marquis of Argyle. See Letter LXI. also.

[156] See Letter CXL.

[157] See Glossary.

[158] Endure.

[159] Of little moment.

[160] Correspondents who, because of the oppressive measures of the prelates, intended to proceed to New England. There was a M'Lelland of Balmagachan, near Roberton, in the parish of Borgue; but this is not he. This was John M'Lelland, sometime minister of Kirkcudbright, a friend of R. Blair's.

[161] Probably "Queensberry."

[162] His brother was a teacher in Kirkcudbright, and between him and Samuel there was a warm attachment, and strong sympathies. He, too, suffered persecution for his adherence to the cause of Presbytery. For this, and his zealous support of Mr. Glendinning, whom the Bishop of Galloway treated with such cruelty, he was in November 1636 condemned to resign his charge, and remove from Kirkcudbright before the ensuing term of Whitsunday.

[163] Referring probably to the number of prelates (consisting of two archbishops and twelve bishops) who were members of the High Commission by whom he was sentenced to imprisonment.

[164] Some editions read "dow,"—are not able.

[165] In Thomson's edition this is explained by referring to Proverbs xiv. 10.

[166] "Trial of Faith," p. 462, 1655, uses the same words.

[167] At one time I would have falsely charged Him with unkindness.

[168] Bringing down the price, perhaps alluding to Zech. xi. 31.

[169] I have no want of.

[170] My being silenced as to preaching, and my grief, keep me from saying.

[171] Spin fine.

[172] Ask.

[173] Kirkcudbright.

[174] Leave the mark of their teeth.

[175] Unbelief has not its origin in reason.

[176] There is a village of Craighall near Inveresk, in the barony of Pinkie, which got its name from this family, just as there is an Earlston in Borgue parish, called from the old Earlston.

[177] Who is here meant cannot now be well ascertained. It may have been Mr. Loudian, of whom Baillie says, "He was an excellent philosophe, sound and orthodox, opposite to Canterbury's way, albeit too conform. I counselled oft Glasgow to have him for their Divinity Lecturer" ("Letters and Journals," i. 77).

[178] All the divines in Britain.

[179] John Spottiswoode.

[180] James Law, Bishop of Glasgow, was the deputy of Sydserff, the Bishop of Galloway.

[181] Arguments drawn from the risk of provoking.

[182] Sorrowful.

[183] Drink the health of the buyer over the concluded bargain.

[184] Jer. li. 35.

[185] Zech. xii. 2, 3.

[186] Dr Robert Baron, Professor of Divinity in the Marischal College of Aberdeen, one of the learned doctors of that city, whose dispute, in 1638, with Alexander Henderson, David Dickson, and Andrew Cant, on the subject of the Covenant, excited at the time so much attention.

[187] Mr. John Ridge was an English minister, whom opposition to ceremonial impositions on conscience led to leave his native country for Ireland. He was admitted to the vicarage of Antrim on the 7th of July 1619, in which he laboured with success for many years; but being deposed by Henry Leslie, the Bishop of Down, for nonconformity, he came over to Irvine, where he died.

[188] Mr. Henry Colwart was also a native of England; and, like Mr. Ridge, left the land of his birth, and went to Ireland. He was admitted to the pastoral charge of Oldstone in 1630; but, being deposed by Bishop Leslie for refusing to submit to the innovations of Prelacy, he came over to Scotland, and was admitted minister of Paisley, where he died.

[189] The Latin is to be accounted for as being an extract from some learned treatise. It is in substance what we find in Calderwood's "Altare Damascenum," p. 595.

[190] Does no harm.

[191] Such as I am!

[192] All those whose initials are given are understood to have been parishioners of his at Anwoth.