affairs in the General Assemblies in Scotland, and was sent into England in the double capacity of a divine and plenipotentiary. He knew how to rouse the people to war, and to negotiate a peace. Whenever he preached, it was to a crowded audience, and when he pleaded or argued, he was regarded with mute attention." And a very late writer, of great respectability, says: "Mr Henderson had talents and acquirements which fit ted him for rising to eminence; that eminence he actual ly attained and preserved; and nothing but shameful ignorance or ruthless bigotry will deny him the praise of having been both a great and a good man.” It is certain, that he held a very conspicuous place, among our worthy Reformers, and was well known and highly respected for his judicious, faithful, and important servi ces, in the cause of Christianity, which render the particulars of his, Life deeply interesting to us. And to give such a name a distinguished place in the rolls of Biogra phy, is a debt of gratitude which the public are bound to pay, in return for benefits received.

Mr Henderson having been much employed in public affairs, had little time to prepare works for the press. But the few sermons of his which were published, although hastily composed amid much business and many avocations, afford very favourable specimens of his talents, and clearly shew that in pulpit oratory he was inferior to none of his contemporaries. His compositions are dis tinguished by accurate thinking, appropriate illustration, and elegant simplicity of language, and bear marks of a vigorous and well cultivated mind. These probably will be perused with great avidity by some persons at this present time, and may become an important record to posterity. Beside the pieces mentioned in his Life, I have seen the following sermons under his name, which are still extant.

1. A Sermon preached from Ezra vii. 23. to the Hon

a Grainger's Biog. Hist. vol. i. p. 416, first edition.

Edinburgh Christian Instructor, vol. vii. p. 408. 1813.

Durable House of Commons, at their solemn Fast, Wednesday, Dec. 27th, 1643. 4to. pp. 36. London, 1644. Mr Baillie calls it "A most gracious, wise, and earned Sermon."-2. A Sermon preached from Mat. iv 31. before the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, in Margaret's Church, Westminster, 10th of July, 1644. Thanksgiving, 4to. pp. 24. London, 1644. and reprinted at Edinburgh in 1644. with a arge Address prefixed to the Kirk and Kingdom of icotland, his native country-3. A Sermon preached rom John xviii. 36, 37. before the House of Lords, in he Abbey Church, Westminster, solemn Fast, 28th of May, 1645. 4to. pp. 31 London, 1645.. His Speech at aking the Covenant was printed both at London, and dinburgh, in 1643 and several times afterward, with The Sermons at taking the Covenant.

ROFESSOR OF DIVINITY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. ANDREW'S, AND ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS FROM THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND TO THE ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES AT WESTMINSTER.

SAMUEL

AMUEL RUTHERFORD is said to have been born f respectable parents, in the parish of Tongueland, near irkcudbright, in the south of Scotland. And it has also een said, that when he was a little boy, he narrowly es aped drowning in a well, from which he was delivered in very remarkable manner; and that, this wonderful deverance induced his father to dedicate him unto the service f his Lord and Saviour, expecting that he might probab 7 become an eminent man. I have the account of these hings only by tradition; but upon strict inquiry the auhority seemed to be good, and therefore I have venturd to mention such circumstances, in the life of this learnd and pious divine, wishing to be corrected, if the ac count is found not true. Be these particulars as they'

may. Mr Rutherford had a brother who was the Schoolmaster of Kikcudbright, and being a non-conformist, he was summoned before the High-commission Court, and commanded to resign his charge immediately, and remove from Kirkcudbright. The subject of this Memoir was much admired in early life, for the superior abilities which he' possessed He had a very good classical edu cation and made great proficiency in his studies. And he soon gained such reputation in the learned world, that he was chosen a Professor in the University of Edinburgh, during the establishment of Episcopacy; where it is said he received his education.

Afterward, he became Minister of the Gospel at Anwoth, in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, where he was indeed a burning and shining light some years. Whether Mr Rutherford, and other faithful ministers of that pe riod, were ordained by Bishops, or by a Presbytery independent of Bishops? is a question which has been much, agitated. Stevenson says; All that we can as sert concerning that matter, after the most inquisitive search, is, that until the beginning of the year 1628, some few preachers were suffered to enter the ministry without conformity, and of this number we suppose Mr Rutherford and Mr Douglas may be reckoned, because they were ordained before the door came to be more closely shut upon honest preachers." In what year Mr Rutherford was settled at Anwoth, I cannot,say; but there i one of his letters dated at Anwoth. June 6th, 1624, by which it may appear that he was there before that time. He laboured with very great diligence and zeal, in the Lord's vineyard, in that place.

In June, 1630, he was summoned before the Highcommission Court; and though that diet was deserted, and the summons passed from for the time, he did not always escape. He was again summoned before the same Court, -and accused by the Bishop of Galloway for non-conform

a Stevenson, vol. i. p. 151.

b Edinburgh Christian Instructor, vol. vii, p. 411.
• Stevenson, vol. i. r. 70.

ity, particularly for preaching against Perth Articles, and writing a book, entitled, Exercitationes apologetica pro divina gratia, which did cut up Arminianism, and much vex the Episcopal clergy. He appeared before the Court, but declined their jurisdiction, and refused to give the Bishops their titles. Lord Lorn favoured him to the utmost of his power; but the affair was carried against Mr Rutherford, and he was deprived upon the 27th of July, 1636, and discharged to exercise any part of his ministry within Scotland, under pain of rebellion, and ordered to confine himself, within six months, to Aberdeen, and its neighbourhood, during the King's pleasure. He yielded, and went to the place of his confinement.

The confinement in Aberdeen is one of the most interesting circumstances in the life of this eminently pious Christian, and faithful servant of Jesus Christ. And the manner in which he employed his time during that confinement, strongly marks his religious character, and is honourable to religion itself. From Aberdeen he wrote many of his truly excellent and religious letters, which eminently prove that very strong consolations are reserved for the people of God in their persecutions for righteousness' sake; and that they may count those very days of their confinement as the sweetest hours of their life, in a fair prison. We are told, that the confinement of M. de Voltaire in the Bastille was not prejudicial to his talents. He there composed several works, part of which he retained in his memory, and wrote the rest on the walls with a coal, or on the lead of the windows with the point of a pin. Nor was Mr Rutherford's confinement in Aberdeen prejudicial to his talents, in the least degree, as clearly appears by his eminently pious letters, which were written there. He employed his talents in doing good; and his several epistles composed in that confinement, have been highly beneficial to many persons, and are still much admired by the pious mind.

Mr Rutherford seemingly enjoyed the particular ac

a Stevenson, vol. i. pp. 148-150.

Voltaire's Memoirs, English, Dublin, 1786, p. 26.

complishment of that exceedingly great and precious pro. mise of Christ, And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. I am with vou, to carry you com fortably and honourably through the manifold difficulties which ye may meet with in this present evil world. I am with you, to support you, and to plead your cause: with you in all your services. and in all your sufferings. When ye pass through the deep waters of affliction and the violent fires of persecution, I shall most certainly be with you: both in the pulpit, and in the prison; lo, I am with you.

The weight of the chains, and the horrors of the inner prison, hindered not Paul and Silas from praying, and singing praises unto God at midnight, Acts xvi. 24. 25. They greatly rejoiced that God had accounted them wor thy, conterring upon them the honour and the grace, to suffer for the cause and doctrine of Jesus Christ. See Acts v. 41. Nor could all the severities, cunningly contrived by the most malicious enemies, interrupt that soul-solacing, and sweet spiritual intercourse, which these notable prisoners enjoyed with their God and Saviour. In like manner, Mr. Rutherford's confinement in Aberdeen hindered him not from praying, and singing praises unto the God of his salvation; while he much rejoiced that he was accounted worthy to suffer for Christ's sake, his renowned Lord, and Almighty 'Saviour. Nor could all the hardships to which he was subjected impair in the least degree, that most sweet spiritual intercourse which he now enjoyed with Heaven. His soul was richly stor ed with the truly comforting influences of divine grace, and with the sweet religious experiences, which mark the real Christian. The Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort most abundantly comforted him in all his tribulatiums: For as the sufferings of Christ abounded in him, so his consolation also abounded by Christ; as his admirable letters dated at Aberdeen sufficiently prove.

Mr Rutherford delighted exceedingly, in preaching the glorious gospel of the grace of God unto sinners who

a Sec Henry on Mat. xxviii. 20. vol. v.