several sessions thereof; and when several prisoners, taken at Philiphaugh, were tried, and three of them, viz., Sir Robert Spottiswoode, Messrs Nathaniel Gordon and Andrew Guthrie, were condemned to be executed on the 17th of January thereafter, Mr Blair visited them often, and was at much pains with them. He prevailed so far with Gordon, that he desired to be released from the sentence of excommunication under which he was; and accordingly Mr Blair did the same. The other two, who were bishops' sons, died impenitent— Mali corvi malum ovum.

In the year 1646, the General Assembly, sitting at Edinburgh, ordered Robert Blair (who was then Moderator), with Andrew Cant and Robert Douglas, to repair to King Charles I. at Newcastle, to concur with Alexander Henderson and others, who were labouring to convince him of the great bloodshed in these kingdoms, and reconcile him to the Presbyterian Church government and the Covenants. When these three ministers got a hearing, the room was immediately filled with several sorts of people to see their reception. Andrew Cant, being oldest, began briskly to insinuate, with his wonted zeal and plainness, that the King favoured Popery; but Blair interrupted him, and modestly hinted, that it was not a fit time nor place for

The King looking earnestly said, "That honest man speaks wisely and discreetly, therefore I appoint you three to attend me tomorrow at ten o'clock, in my bed-chamber." They attended according to appointment, but got little satisfaction; only Mr Blair asked his Majesty, if there were not abominations in Popery. The King, lifting his hat, said, "I take God to witness that there are abominations in Popery, which I so much abhor, that ere I consent to them, I would rather lose my life and my crown." Yet after all this, Mr Blair and Mr Henderson (for these two he favoured most) having most earnestly desired him to satisfy the just desires of his subjects, he obstinately refused, though they besought him on their knees with Renewed commissions for this end were sent from Scotland, but to no good purpose, and Mr Blair returned home to St Andrews.

tears.

Alexander Henderson died at Edinburgh, August 19, which the King no sooner heard, than he sent for Robert Blair to supply his place, as chaplain in Scotland. He, through fear of being ensnared, was at first averse to this, but having consulted with Mr David Dickson, and reflecting that Mr Henderson had held his integrity fast unto the end, he applied himself to that employment with great diligence, every day praying before dinner and supper in the presence-chamber;

on the Lord's day lecturing once and preaching twice; besides preaching some week-days in St Nicholas's Church; conversing also much with the King, desiring him to condescend to the just desires of his Parliament; and at other times debating concerning Prelacy, liturgies, and ceremonies.

One day, after prayer, the King asked him, if it was warrantable in prayer to determine a controversy? Mr Blair taking the hint, said, he thought he had determined no controversy in that prayer. "Yes," said the King, "you have determined the Pope to be Antichrist, which is a controversy among orthodox divines." To this Mr Blair replied, "To me this is no controversy, and I am sorry that it should be accounted so by your Majesty: sure it was none to your father.” This silenced the King, for he was a great defender of his father's opinions. King James' testimony, Mr Blair knew well, was of more authority with him than the testimony of any divine. After a few months' stay, Mr Blair was permitted to visit his flock and family.

After the sitting of the Scots Parliament, Mr Blair made another visit to the King at Newcastle, where he urged him, with all the arguments he was master of, to subscribe the Covenants, and abolish Episcopacy in England, and he was confident all honest Scotsmen would espouse his quarrel against his enemies. To this the King answered, that he was bound by his great oath to defend Episcopacy in that Church; and ere he wronged his conscience, by violating his coronation oath, he would lose his crown. Mr Blair asked the form of that oath. He said, it was to maintain it to the utmost of his power. "Then," said Mr Blair, "you have not only defended it to the utmost of your power, but so long, and so far, that now you have no power." But by nothing could he prevail upon the King, and so he left him with a sorrowful heart, and returned to St Andrews.

Again, in the year 1648, when Cromwell came to Edinburgh, the Commission of the Kirk sent Robert Blair, David Dickson and James Guthrie, to deal with him for an uniformity in England. When they came, he entertained them with smooth speeches, and solemn appeals to God as to the sincerity of his intentions. Blair being best acquainted with him, spoke for all the rest, and among other things, begged an answer to these three questions-(1.) What was his opinion of monarchical government? He answered, he was for monarchical government; (2.) What was his opinion anent toleration? He answered confidently, that he was altogether against tole

ration; (3.) What was his opinion concerning the government of the Church? "O, now," said Cromwell, "Mr Blair, you article me too severely; you must pardon me, that I give you not a present answer to this." This he evaded, because he had before, in conversation with Mr Blair, confessed he was for Independency.

When they

came out, Mr Dickson said, "I am glad to hear this man speak no worse;" whereunto Mr Blair replied, “If you knew him as well as I, you would not believe one word he says, for he is an egregious dissembler, and a great liar."

When the differences fell out betwixt the Resolutioners and Protesters, Mr Blair was at London, and afterwards for the most part remained neutral in that affair. For this he was subjected to some hardships, yet he never omitted any proper place or occasion for uniting and cementing these differences; none now in Scotland being more earnest in this than he, and the learned and pious Mr James Durham, minister at Glasgow. These two, meeting at St Andrews, had the influence to draw a meeting of the two sides to Edinburgh, where harmony was like to prevail; but the Lord's anger being still drawn out for the prevailing sins of that time, all promising beginnings were blasted, and all hopes of agreement did vanish. Thus affairs continued until the year 1660, when the kingdom being quite sick of distractions, restored Charles II.; the woeful consequences of which act are otherwise too well known. On this last occasion, Mr Blair again began to bestir himself to procure union betwixt the two foresaid parties, and for that end obtained a meeting; but his endeavours were frustrated, and no reconciliation could be made, till both sides were cast into the furnace of a sore and long persecution.

In September 1661, James Sharp came to St Andrews; and the Presbytery, having had assurance of his deceitful carriage at Court, and of the probability of his being made Archbishop of St Andrews, sent Mr Blair and another, to discharge their duty to him; which they did so faithfully, that Sharp was never at ease till Mr Blair was rooted out.

Mr Blair taking occasion, in a sermon from 1 Pet. iii. 13, etc., to enlarge on suffering for righteousness' sake, and giving his testimony to the Covenants and the work of Reformation, against the sinful and corrupt courses of the times, he was called before the council, November 5, when the Advocate and some noblemen were appointed to converse with him, where they posed him on the following points: (1.) Whether he had asserted Presbyterian government to be jure divino? (2.) Whether he had asserted that suffering for it was suffer

ing for righteousness' sake? And (3.) Whether in his prayers against Popery, he had joined Prelacy with it?

Having answered all in the affirmative, professing his sorrow that they doubted his opinions in these points, he was first confined to his chamber in Edinburgh; and afterwards, upon supplication, and the attestation of physicians on account of his health, he was permitted to retire to Inveresk, about the 12th of January 1662.

Mr Blair continued here till October following, enjoying much of God's presence amidst his outward trouble; but being again commanded before the council, by the way he took a sore fit of the gravel, and was for that time excused. Afterwards, through the Chancellor's favour, having got liberty to go where he pleased, except St Andrews, and the west country, he went to Kirkcaldy.

While at Kirkcaldy, he lectured and prayed often to some Christian friends in his own family; and for his recreation taught his younger son the Greek language and logic. But the Archbishop, envying the repose Mr Blair and some others had in these circumstances, procured an act, that no outed minister should reside within twenty miles of an Archbishop's see; upon which Mr Blair removed from Kirkcaldy, in February 1666, to Meikle Couston, in the parish of Aberdour, an obscure place, where he continued till his death, which was shortly after. For, upon the 10th of August, Mr Blair, being now worn out with old age, and his spirits sunk with sorrow and grief for the desolations of the Lord's sanctuary in Scotland, took his last sickness, and entertained most serious thoughts of his near approaching end, ever extolling the glorious and good Master whom he had served.

His sickness increasing, he was visited by many Christian friends and acquaintances, whom he strengthened by his many gracious and edifying words. At one time, when they told him of some severe acts of council newly made, at Archbishop Sharp's instigation, he prayed that the Lord would open his eyes, and give him repentance. At another time, to Mrs Rutherford, he said, he would not exchange conditions with that man (albeit he was now on the bed of languishing, and the other possessed of great riches and revenues) though all betwixt them were red gold, and given him to the bargain. When some ministers asked him, if he had any hopes of deliverance to the people of God, he said that he would not take upon him to determine the times and seasons which the Lord keeps in his own hand, but that it was to him a token for good, that the Lord was casting the prelates out of the affections of all ranks and degrees of people; and even

some, who were most active in setting them up, were now beginning to loath them for their pride, falsehood, and covetousness.

To his wife and children he spake gravely and Christianly, and, after he had solemnly blessed them, he severally admonished them as he judged expedient. His son David said, "The best and worst of men have their thoughts and after-thoughts; now, sir, God having given you time for after-thoughts on your way, we would hear what they are now." He answered, "I have again and again thought upon my former ways, and communed with mine heart; and as for my public actings and carriage, in reference to the Lord's work, if I were to begin again, I would just do as I have done." He often repeated the 16th and 23d psalms, and once the 71st, which he used to call his own psalm.

About two days before his death, his speech began to fail, and he could not be well heard or understood; however, some things were not lost, for, speaking of some eminent saints then alive, he prayed earnestly that the Lord would bless them; and as an evidence of his love to them, he desired Mr George Hutchison, then president, to carry his Christian remembrance to them. When Mr Hutchison went from his bedside, he said to his wife and others who waited on him, that he rejoiced in suffering as a persecuted minister. "Is it not persecution," added he, "to thrust me from the work of the