Page:Testimony to the work of reformation in Britain and Ireland (1).pdf/16

16 perfecting thee four things mentioned in the Solemn League, viz. Their compoing a Directory for Worhip, an uniform Confeion of Faith, a Form of Church Government and Dicipline, and the Public Catechim; which was done in about a week after he and the ret returned home.

Upon the death of the learned Delmatius, anno 1651, the magitrates of Utrecht in Holland, being abundantly atisfied as to the learning, piety, and true zeal of the great Mr. Rutherfoord, invited him to the divinity chair there; but he could not be peruaded. His reaons elewhere (when diuading another gentleman from going abroad) eem to be expreed in thee words; 'Let me intreat you to be far from the thoughts of leaving this land. I ee it and find it, that the Lord hath covered the whole land with a cloud in his anger; but though I have been tempted to the like. I had rather be in Scotland beide angry Jeus Chrit, (knowing he mindeth no evil to us) than in any Eden or garden on the earth. From which it is evident, that he choe rather to uer affliction in his native country, than to leave his charge and flock in time of danger. He continued with them till the day of his death, in the free and faithful dicharge of his duty.

When the unhappy difference full out between those called the proteters and the public reolutioners, anno 1650 and 1651, he epoued the proteters' quarrel, and gave faithful warnings againt thee public reolutions, and likewie during the time of Cromwell's uurpation, he contended againt the prevailing ectaries that then uhered in with the Protector by virtue of his Toleration. And uch was his unwearied aiduity and diligence, that he eemed to pray contantly, to preach contantly, to catechie contantly, and to viit the ick, exhorting them from houe to houe: to teach as