_Be ye
imitators_) _of me, as I am of Christ._--And, 2. Neither are we on the
other hand to dwell too much upon the faults, or failings that have
sometime been discovered in some of God's own dear children; but at the
same time to consider with ourselves, that although they were eminent
men of God, yet at the same time were they the sons of Adam also: For it
is possible yea many times has been the case for good men not only to
make foul falls themselves but also when striking against the errors and
enormities of others to over-reach the mark, and go beyond the bounds of
truth in some degree themselves; perfection being no inherent plant in
this life, so says the apostle, _They are earthen vessels, men of like
passions with you_, &c. 2 Cor. iv. 7. Acts xiv. 15.

_Thirdly_, As to the motives leading us to this publication. Can it be
supposed that there was ever an age, since reformation commenced in
Scotland, that stood in more need of useful holy and exemplary lives
being set before them; and that both in respect to the actions and
memories of these worthies, and with regard to our present
circumstances. For in respect to the memories and transactions of these
worthies, it is now a long time since bishops Spotiswood, Guthry and
Burnet (not to mention some English historians) in their writings,
clothed the actions and proceedings of those our ancestors (both in this
reforming and suffering period) in a most grotesque and frantic dress,
whereby their names and noble attainments have been loaded with
reproach, sarcasms and scurrility; but as if this had not been enough,
to expose them in rendering them, and their most faithful contendings,
odious, some modern writers, under the character of monthly reviewers,
have set their engines again at work, to misrepresent some of them, and
set them in such a dishonourable light, by giving them a character that
even the above-mentioned historians, yea their most avowed enemies, of
their own day, would scarcely have subscribed[6]: to such a length is
poor degenerate Scotland arrived.--And is it not high time to follow the
wise man's advice, _Open thy mouth for the dumb, in the cause of all
such as are appointed to destruction?_ Prov. xxxi. 8.

Again, with regard to our present circumstances, there needs little more
to prove the necessity of this collection at present, than to shew how
many degrees we have descended from the worthy deeds or merit of our
_Renowned forefathers_, by runn