Lord's supper, celebrated at Glasgow, by Mr. Andrew Gray. Several of the English officers had formed a design to put in execution the disorderly principle of a promiscuous admission to the Lord's table, by coming to it themselves, without acquainting the minister, or being in a due manner found worthy of that privilege. Mr. Guthrie, to whose share it fell to dispense the sacrament at that table, spoke to them, when they were leaving their pews in order to make their attempt, with such gravity, resolution and zeal, that they were quite confounded, and sat down again without occasioning any further disturbance.

The Quakers also endeavoured about this time to sow tares in Mr. Guthrie's parish, improving for this end his absence for some weeks, during which he was detained in Angus about his private affairs; but he returned before the poison had sunk deep, recovered some that were in hazard of being tainted by its fatal influences; and in conference so confounded those heretics, that they despaired of ever attacking with success a flock guarded by so watchful and skilful a shepherd, whereas they had made too many proselytes to their wild allusions in Kilbride, and some other neighbouring parishes.

It may be easily imagined, that the eminent gifts and graces of this excellent person would engage parishes of greater character and importance than Finwick to desire his ministry, and earnestly labour for success in their attempts to obtain it; and indeed his people and himself were frequently exposed to the trouble of pro

cesses of transportion, and vexed with fears as to the issue of them, Renfrew, Linlithgow, Sterling, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, having all of them called him. But beside the indifferent opinion he entertained of the method of supplying vacancies by transportations in general, and that the air and diversions of a country life were of use to him in maintaining a healthy constitution; his love to his flock was so warm and constant, that he put an invincible obstinacy against all designs of separating him from them. A relation is indeed founded on the noblest bottom, and sinks deepest into the soul, when it is animated by the principle of the spiritual life; and therefore it must in the highest degree endear a minister to his people, and engage their affection and esteem by the most powerful tie, when his labours have been successful in reclaiming them from sin, their ruin, and persuading them to enter upon a religious life; and so they owe to him, as far as they can do to an instrument in the hand of God, the salvation of their immortal souls, which is the incomparably strongest obligation that one man can have to another, and the most flowing source of gratitude; and on the other hand, a minister can scarce miss to have a peculiar tenderness and warmth of divine affection for those whose father he is after the spirit, and hath been honoured by God in bringing them to the kingdom of his Son, and begetting them through the gospel, whose heavenly birth is now the highest pleasure and brightest triumph of his life, and will be one day his crown of glory and rejoicing. A friendship that had such a

rise, and was invigorated by a spirit so pure and active, made Mr. Guthrie prefer Finwick, a poor obscure parish, to the most considerable charges in the nation; which was a proof of his mortification to the world, and that he was moved by views superior to temporal interests.

Thus Mr. Guthrie continued with his old parish till the great alteration which the restoration of king Charles II. made in public affairs. The first discovery that the measures of the court gave of a design to overturn the government of the church, affected the worthy Mr. Guthrie in the most sensible part; nor could any thing afford him satisfaction while she was in trouble, and about to be laid desolate; nor did he let any occasion slip of showing his concern for that which was dearer to him than his other interests. At the synod of Glasgow, held April 1661, after long reasoning about proper measures for the security of religion, the matter was referred to a committee: Mr. Guthrie presented the draught of an address to the parliament, wherein a faithful testimony was given to the purity of our reformation in worship, doctrine, discipline, and government, in terms equally remarkable for their prudence and their courage. Every body approved of it, and it was transmitted to the synod: but some worthy ministers of the side of the public Resolutioners, being doubtful of the seasonableness of such a representation, and considering the difficulties of the times, gave an opportunity to those who designed to comply with prelacy, to procure a delay, and so to crush it; which did not prevent its being serviceable to

the end of our now mentioning it, namely, af fording a proof of the zealous honesty and firmness of Mr. Guthrie.

Another instance whereof was, the resolution he took to wait upon his worthy friend, Mr. James Guthrie, at his execution, notwithstanding the apparent hazards he must thereby have exposed himself to. But his session prevailed upon him, though not without difficulty, by. their earnest entreaties, to lay aside a design that could not miss to deprive them immediately of his ministry, which, by the goodness of God, they enjoyed some years after his brethren were ejected.

Next to the protection of a kind providence, and the fervent prayers of his own people, and of many others, unto which he always attributed this distinguished favour in the first place, Mr. Guthrie's being connived at for some time, was principally owing to the favour of some great men in the government, particularly the Earls of Eglintoun and Glencairn, the last of whom had a regard for him which was heightened by a conjunction of esteem and gratitude, Mr. Guthrie having had occasion to oblige him when imprisoned for his loyalty before the restoration, which that noble lord never forgot, and when he was chancellor, contributed what he could to his preservation, by which means he enjoyed the peaceable possession of his church, till the year 1664.

As God had designed and prepared him for eminent and extensive services during this period, his excellent accomplishments now exerted themselves with the greatest efficacy, and his usefulness was more universally diffused through the

whole country, which was in a great measure deprived of their pastors. Many then hungered after the word of the Lord, and this made them with more eagerness embrace the advantage which a merciful providence afforded them, of Mr. Guthrie's ministry. Great multitudes resorted to him from all the parts of the west country; his large church was crowded with hearers from Glasgow, Paisly, Lanerk, Hamilton, and other distant places, and his strong and clear voice enabled him to extend the profit of his discourses to the many hundreds who were obliged to keep without doors.

An extraordinary zeal then enlivened the souls of sincere christians; they were animated by a warm affection to the truth, and an uncommon delight in hearing the joyful sound; and this made them despise the difficulties that lay in their way, and bear cheerfully with many inconveniences, which attendance upon the sacred ordinances was then accompanied with: so that we are assured by several worthy persons who enjoyed Mr. Guthrie's ministry at that time, that it was their usual practice to come to Finwick upon Saturday, spend the greatest part of that night in prayer to God, and conversation about the great concerns of their souls, attend on the public worship on the Sabbath, dedicate the remainder of that holy day to religious exercise, and then on the Monday, go home ten, twelve, or twenty miles, without grudging the fatigue of so long a way, and the want of sleep, and other refreshments or finding themselves less prepared for any business throughout the week, so much