superior to all the arts of
flattery, that were sometimes tried with him; he was once blamed, as
being too fiery in his temper, he replied, "If you see my fire go
downward, set your foot upon it, but if it goes upward, let it go to its
own place." He died at Sedan in France, in a few years after.

_The Life of Mr. PATRICK SIMPSON._

Mr. Simpson, after having finished his academical course, spent some
considerable time in retirement, which he employed in reading the Greek
and Latin classics, the antient Christian fathers, and the history of
the primitive church. Being blamed by one of his friends for wasting so
much time in the study of pagan writers, he replied, That he intended to
adorn the house of God with these Egyptian jewels.

He was first ordained minister at Cramond, but was afterwards
transported to Stirling, where he continued until his death. He was a
faithful contender against the lordly encroachments of prelacy. In the
year 1584, when there was an express charge given by the king to the
ministers, either to acknowledge Mr. Patrick Adamson as arch-bishop of
St. Andrews, or else to lose their benefices, Mr. Simpson opposed that
order with all his power, although Mr. Adamson was his uncle by the
mother's side; and when some of his brethren seemed willing to acquiesce
in the king's mandate, and subscribe their submission to Adamson, so far
as it was agreeable to the word of God, he rebuked them sharply, saying,
It would be no salvo to their consciences, seeing it was altogether
absurd to subscribe an agreement with any human invention, when it was
condemned by the word of God. A bishopric was offered him, and an yearly
pension besides from the king, in order to bring him into his designs,
but he positively refused all, saying, That he regarded that preferment
and profit as a bribe to enslave his conscience, which was dearer to him
than any thing whatever; he did not stop with this, but having occasion
_anno_ 1593, to preach before the king, he publicly exhorted him to
beware that he drew not the wrath of God upon himself in patronizing a
manifest breach of divine laws: Immediately after sermon, the king stood
up and charged him not to intermeddle in these matters.

When the assembly which was held at Aberdeen _anno_ 1684, was condemned
by the state, and in a very solemn manner denounced the judgment of God
against all such as had been concerned in distressing, and imprisoning
the ministers of Linlith