eye, and with no less attention consider that greater evils are with more probability like to follow, if our differences receive not some settlement: profanity shall abound, discipline go down, and the heat that is already among us shall swell to greater heights and distempers. And if obedience to Authority, and the Peace of the Church, which are certain duties, be not to be more considered than uncertain evils, I have lost the true balance for weighing things aright. For it should be considered, the case is not what they would desire, and, being left to their own choice, would accept of: in which case these apprehended evils might have much weight, but the question now is, what they will do for the peace of the Church, and obedience to authority, whereby they are obliged to many things from which otherwise they might conceive a just aversion. Neither are the (tests) of subscriptions called for now, all that is demanded being a temporary concurrence: so that if these concessions be violated in their time, the case being altered, they are then to consider what to do next: if their model outlive them, then they shall die in peace; and for what may come, I suppose they may, on good grounds and with a secure confidence, commit the managing of the Church to Him that redeemed her with His own Blood, and hath now governed her very well for so many ages, who can raise up witnesses for His Truth and instruments to promote it when He lists. Surely they may safely commit it into His hands, in which nothing can miscarry; and believe that if His kingdom and glory be nearly concerned in this matter, as they believe, they need not doubt His care of it.

"Now I come to the last consideration (viz., the apprehension of some), that this accommodation may defeat the very design of it, and be a means to raise a new and perhaps a greater schism both among ministers and people. I know this (objection on the part of Ministers) appears to most with the worst visage: as if a humour of popularity were too prevalent with them, and that they are in servitude to their people. But if these severe thoughts be cherished by you, I beg you may rid yourself of them, and impute this neither to an ambitious and vain gaping after applause, nor to a servile pusillanimity of spirit: but whatever may be in the latter, appearing perhaps to them in disguise with a better visage, yet let your charity clear them of the former. For, after a long and free converse with many of them, I must hope for better things from them for really they are good men, and live and preach well; and having heard

them vindicate themselves so solemnly from sinistrous designs and vain ends, I am obliged to have better thoughts of them. But still I add that this consideration is as weak as any of the former: for if the thing required of them be itself lawful, then the considerations of the commands of Authority and the Peace of the Church make it necessary. In which case we are to consider our duty, and to leave events wholly to God, who will support all those who faithfully serve Him, and not expose them unfurnished and unassisted to any straits, while they continue doing their duty. Shall we trust nothing to God's providence and care of His Church? And truly, if this consideration, of following the people too much, should keep them off from their duty, I doubt that there be much juster grounds to believe that God, out of His just and unsearchable judgments, would leave them and their people to dash into pieces! since often our idols become our plagues. And indeed, the peevish and insolent humour of many is of that height, that if somewhat be not done to tame it, I tremble to think where it may end. The schismatical principles they have drunk in are such that they themselves confess they are both aware and afraid of. And it is to be hoped that these good ministers will judge themselves obliged to lift up their voices like a trumpet, and make them know their iniquities, and not only covertly declare against them, but speak plain Scots to them. For if this schismatical temper go on to the height it is running to, the blood of all these souls that might perish by it, and all the other evils that may follow upon it, shall undoubtedly be required at their hands who see the evil of these things, if they do not plainly and faithfully forwarn them of their sin and hazard But to speak what I certainly know, the humours of the People, being only such as have been infused into them by some Ministers, will not prove unconquerable either to them or to others, faithful, pious and zealous Ministers: Piety with Truth is great, and will certainly overcome at length."

CHAPTER XII

ROBERT LEIGHTON: ARCHBISHOP OF GLASGOW

URNET resigned the see of Glasgow on December 24 1669, and retired into private life with £300 a year from the revenues of the diocese. He was of himself good-natured and sincere, but too much under the power of others, and too remiss in what ought to have been his chief business-the spiritual part of his function. The West was singularly stormy during his tenure of office, and while he met the struggles more with secular than spiritual weapons, he failed to pacify them.

The Earls of Lauderdale and Tweeddale pressed Leighton much to accept the see of Glasgow, but he was most averse to the proposal. Nothing moved him but the hope of bringing about an accommodation, in which he had all assistance promised him by the Government. Leighton proposed his scheme to the King, who apparently acquiesced in it, and Leighton's paper, corrected by Sir Robert Murray was turned into instructions, by which Lauderdale was authorized to pass the concessions that were to be offered, into laws.1 Leighton, in other words, accepted office on the understanding that the substance of his scheme was to become the statute-law of the land, and Scotland was in other words to be ruled constitutionally, and with toleration for the Covenanters. But how treacherous was the promise; for Lauderdale had evidently received received secret counterinstructions, and acted contrary to the solemn asseverations of Charles. The result of the late Indulgence had been, 1 Burnet, i. 519.

A.L.

433

28

that conventicles became more numerous than ever, and what was specially obvious, those who attended them, began to carry weapons with their Bibles. By what he called "a clanking Act" against conventicles, passed in the second session of the new Parliament, Lauderdale definitely announced that he had reverted to the policy of Rothes, and thenceforward every year was marked by increasing severity. Linked thus with one of the fiercest of ministers, was the gentlest of saints, and the former surely undid what the latter nobly strove for.

The following letter shows that Leighton undertook the duty much against his own likings, and solely from the desire to help the Church.

Robert Leighton, Bishop of Dunblane, to the Earl of Lauderdale.

"Ed Ap 6 (1670).

"MAY IT PLEASE YOR GRACE,

"I am so far from attracting vanity upon it, that knowing how infinitely I am below his Maties good opinion, it falls as a weight upon me, & sinkes mee so much ye deeper into ye shame & grief of my utter incapacity for ye service requir'd of mee, for, besides an infirm and diseased body, I have that invincible indisposition of mine, & am so extreamly weary of the trifling contentions of this part of ye world, that instead of engaging further in them, I intend an entire escape out of them; but (as his Matie enioyn'd mee upon my former attempting it at London) I shall doe it here, and in the most orderly way y' may be without his Matie at all with it: And this I was resolv'd to doe this sumer, or at furthest towards ye end of this year, before there was any mention of this remoov for the truth is, my Lord, I am greatly ashamed that wee have occasion'd so much trouble, & done so little or no good, now these seven or eight years since y restitution of our order, & after so many favours heapt upon us by his Maties Royall goodnesse, not that I would reflect ye blame of this upon any, save my own share of it upon myself: for, may bee, it is not so much o' fault as our unhappinesse

1 (To succeed Burnet at Glasgow.)

& y reveschnesse of ye matter wee have to work upon. But, however, hee that can sitt down content with honour & revenue without doing good, especially in so sacred a function, hath I think a low & servile soul: but to trouble yo' grace no further, I doe for my pardon in this affair humbly confide in his Maties clemency, & next to that in yo' grace's favourable representation & intercession, wch shall add very much to ye many obligements of

"My Lord,

"Yr Grace's

"Most humble Servant,

"R. LEIGHTON."

Memorandum of Bishop Leighton.

(To be read in connection with the foregoing letter.) "The true reasons both of my purpose of retiring from my present charge, & of declining a greater, are briefly these:

"1. The sense I have of ye dread full weight of whatsoever charge of souls, or any kind of spirituall inspection over people, but much more over ministers : & withall of my own extream unworthinesse & unfitnesse for so high a station in ye church.

"2. The continuing divisions and contentions of this church, and ye litle or no appearance of their cure for our time.

3. The earnest desire I have long had of a retir'd & private life, wh is now much increased by sicklinesse & old age drawing on & ye sufficient experience of ye folly & vanity of ye world, and, in a word, it is rerü humanaru fastidium.

"Whatsoever I might add more, I forbear, for I confesse, after all I could say, I expect little right or fair construction from ye world in this matter, but rather many various mistakes and miscensures on all hands but soe that ye relief is, that in y retreat I design, I beleev I shall not hear of them, or if I doe I shall not feel them."

Leighton did not retire from his work at Dunblane, but evidently discharged its duties, as well as those of the See of Glasgow, where he was now Commendator or Administrator. The last Synod of Dunblane he attended was in 1672, so that not in the full sense of the term till then, was he Archbishop 'Lauderdale Papers, ii. pp. 181-183.

2 Law's Memorials, pp. 32, 33.