away on the horse, which was by this time returned for her, but would not tell her name, nor from whence she came.

Thus did God take His own servant under His immediate care and providence, when men had wrongfully excluded him from enjoying his worldly comforts. He continued zealous and steadfast in the faith, and to the end of his life his conduct was uniform with the circumstances of this narrative. The following is a copy of the last will and testament of Mr Duncan, a valuable memorial of the piety of this worthy :

"I, Andrew Duncan, a sinful wight, Christ's unworthy minister in His glorious Gospel, being sickly and weak, worn out with years, and heaviness of heart in this pilgrimage; and being now weary of this loathsome prison, and body of death because of sin; and having received sundry advertisements and summonses of my Master to flit out of this uncouth country, the region of death, home to my native land; and now sitting upon the prison-door threshold, ready to obey, waiting till the sad messenger be sent to convey me home to that glorious palace, even the heavenly Jerusalem, that I may enter into possession of my heritage, even that glorious kingdom of eternity, which Christ came down from heaven to conquer for me, and then went up to prepare and possess it in my name, as my attorney, until it please his Majesty to take me thither, that I may in my own person possess it :

"I set down the declaration of my latter will, concerning these things, which God hath lent me in this world; in manner following, ---First, as touching myself, body and soul; my soul I leave to Christ Jesus, who gave it, and when it was lost, redeemed it, that He may send His holy angels to transport it to the bosom of Abraham, there to enjoy all happiness and contentment; and as for this frail body, I commend it to the grave, there to sleep and rest, as in a sweet bed, until the day of refreshment, when it shall be reunited to the soul, and shall be set down at the table with the holy patriarchs, prophets, and apostles; yea, shall be placed on the throne with Christ, and get on the crown of glory on my head. As for the children whom God hath given me, for which I thank His Majesty, I leave them to His providence, to be governed and cared for by Him, beseeching Him to be the tutor, curator, and agent, in all their adoes, yea, and a father; and that He would lead them by His gracious Spirit, through this evil world; that they be profitable instruments, both in kirk and commonwealth, to set out His glory; beseeching them on the other part, as

they would have God's blessing and mine in all their affairs, to set Him before their eyes, and to walk in His ways, living peaceably in His fear, in all humility and meekness, with all those they have ado with; holding their course to heaven, and comforting themselves with the glorious and fair-to-look-on heritage, which Christ hath conquered for them, and for all that love Him. Under God, I leave John Duncan, my eldest son, to be tutor to my youngest daughter, Bessie Duncan, his youngest sister, to take a care of her, and to see that all turns go right, touching her person and gear. My executors I leave my three sons, John, William, and David Duncan, to do my turns after me, and to put in practice my directions; requesting them to be good. and comfortable to their sisters, but chiefly to the two that are at home, as they would have God's blessing and mine. As concerning my temporal goods, the baggage and blathrie of the earth, as I have gotten them in the world off God's liberal hand, so I leave them behind me in the world; giving most humble and hearty thanks unto my heavenly Father for so long and comfortable loan of the same."14th April, 1626.

John Scrimgeour.

OHN SCRIMGEOUR was settled minister at Kinghorn, in the shire of Fife, and went as chaplain with King James VI., in 1590, to Denmark, when he brought home his Queen. He was afterwards concerned in several important affairs of the Church, until that fatal year 1618, when the five articles of Perth were agreed on in an Assembly held at that place. He attended this Assembly, and gave in some proposals (see Calderwood's History), upon being, along with others of his faithful brethren, excluded from having a vote by the prevailing party of that Assembly.

In 1620, he was, with some others, summoned before the High Commission Court, for not preaching upon holidays, and not adminis

tering the communion, conform to the agreement at Perth; with certification, if this was proven, that they should be deprived of exercising the functions of a minister in all time coming. But there being none present on the day appointed, except the Archbishops of St. Andrews and Glasgow, the Bishop of the Isles, and Mr Walter Whiteford, they were dismissed at that time; but were warned to compear again on the 1st of March. The bishops caused the clerk to exact their consent to deprivation, in case they did not compear against that day. Nevertheless, they all protested with one voice, that they would never willingly renounce their ministry; and such was the resolution and courage of Mr Scrimgeour, that, notwithstanding all the threatenings of the bishops, he celebrated the communion. conform to the ancient practice of the Church a few days thereafter.

On the day appointed for their next compearance, the Archbishop of St Andrews, the Bishops of Dunkeld, Galloway, the Isles, Dun blane, Mr Hewison, Commissary of Edinburgh, and Dr Blair, being assembled in the archbishop of St Andrews' lodging in Edinburgh, John Scrimgeour was again called upon to answer, and the Archbishop of St Andrews alleged against him, that he had promised either to conform or quit his ministry, as the act at his last compearance in January 26th reported. He replied, "I am sore straitened; I never saw reason to conform; and as for my ministry, it was not mine, and so I

could not quit it." After long reasoning betwixt him and the bishops, concerning Church policy and the keeping of holidays, he was removed for a little. Being called in again, the Archbishop of St Andrews said to him, "You are deprived of all function within the Kirk, and ordained within six days to enter in ward at Dundee." "It is a very summary and peremptory sentence," said Scrimgeour; "ye might have been advised better, and first have heard what I would have said." "You shall be heard," said the Archbishop. This brought on some further reasoning, in the course of which Scrimgeour gave a faithful testimony against the King's supremacy over the Church, and among other things, said, "I have had opportunity to reason with the King himself on this subject, and have told him that Christ was the Sovereign and only director of His house; and that his Majesty was subject to Him. I have had occasion to tell other men's matters to the King, and could have truly claimed this great preferment." "I tell you, Mr John," said the Archbishop of St Andrews, "that the King is Pope, and shall be so now." He replied, "That is an evil style you give him." He then gave in his reason in writing, which they read at leisure, and afterwards the Archbishop of St Andrews said to him, "Take up your reasons again: if you will not conform, I cannot help it; the King must be obeyed; the lords have given sentence, and will stand to it." You cannot deprive me of my ministry," said Scrimgeour; "I received it not from you; I received it from the whole Synod of Fife, and, for anything ye do, I will never think myself deposed." The Archbishop of St Andrews replied, "You are deprived only of the present exercise of it." Then Scrimgeour presented the following protestation: "I protest before the Lord Jesus, that I get manifest wrong; my reasons and allegations are not considered and answered. I attest you to answer at His glorious appearance, for this and such dealings; and protest that my cause should have been heard as I pled, and still plead and challenge. I likewise appeal to the Lord Jesus, His eternal word; to the King my dread Sovereign, His law; to the constitution of this Kirk and kingdom, and to the Councils and Assemblies of both; and protest, that I stand minister of the evangel, and only by violence I am thrust from the same.” "You must obey the sentence," said the Archbishop of St Andrews. He answered, that Dundee was far off, and he was not able for far journeys, as physicians could witness; and added, "Little know ye what is in my purse." "Then where will you choose your place of confinement," said the Archbishop. He answered, "At a little room

of my own, called Bowhill, in the parish of Auchterderran." "Then," said the Archbishop, "Write, at Bowhill, during the king's pleasure."

Thus this worthy servant of Christ lived the rest of his days in Auchterderran. In his old age he was grievously afflicted with the stone. He said to a godly minister, who went to see him a little before his death, "I have been a rude stunkard all my life, and now by this pain the Lord is humbling me, to make me as a lamb before He take me to Himself." He was a man somewhat negligent in his clothing, and in some of his expressions and behaviour; and yet was a very loving, tender-hearted man; of a deep natural judgment, and very learned, especially in Hebrew. He often wished that most part of books were burnt, except the Bible, and some short notes thereon. He had a peculiar talent for comforting the dejected. He used a very familiar, but pressing manner of preaching. He was also an eminent wrestler with God, and had more than ordinary power and familiarity with Him, as appears from the following instances:

When he was minister at Kinghorn, there was a certain godly woman under his charge, who fell sick of a very lingering disease, and was all the while assaulted with strong temptations, leading her to think that she was a castaway, notwithstanding that her whole conversation had put the reality of grace in her beyond a doubt. He often visited her while in this deep exercise, but her trouble and terrors still remained. As her dissolution drew on, her spiritual trouble increased. He went with two of his elders to her, and began first, in their presence, to comfort and pray with her; but she still grew worse. He ordered his elders to pray, and afterwards prayed himself, but no relief came. Then sitting pensive for a little space, he thus broke silence: "What is this! Our laying grounds of comfort before her will not do; prayer will not do; we must try another remedy. Sure I am, this is a daughter of Abraham; sure I am, she hath sent for me; and, therefore, in the name of God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who sent Him to redeem sinners; in the name of Jesus Christ, who obeyed the Father, and came to save us; and in the name of the Holy and blessed Spirit, our Quickener and Sanctifier, I, the elder, command thee, a daughter of Abraham, to be loosed from these bonds." And immediately peace and joy ensued.

Mr Scrimgeour had several friends and children taken away by death. The only daughter who at that time survived, and whom he dearly loved, was seized with the king's evil, by which she was reduced to the very point of death, so that he was called up to see