esert_, Isa. xxxv. 6.

He was before that venerable assembly held at Glasgow in 1638, and gave
an account of all these his former proceedings with respect to his
confinement, and the causes thereof. By them he was appointed to be
professor of divinity at St. Andrews, and colleague in the ministry with
the worthy Mr. Blair, who was translated hither about the same time. And
here God did again so second this his eminent and faithful servant, that
by his indefatigable pains both in teaching in the schools and preaching
in the congregation, St. Andrews the seat of the arch-bishop (and by
that means the nursery of all superstition, error and profaneness) soon
became forthwith a Lebanon out of which were taken cedars, for building
the house of the Lord, almost through the whole land, many of whom he
guided to heaven before himself (who received the spiritual life by his
ministry), and many others did walk in that light after him.

And as he was mighty in the public parts of religion, so he was a great
practiser and encourager of the private duties thereof. Thus in the year
1640, when a charge was foisted in before the general assembly at the
instance of Mr. Henry Guthrie minister at Stirling (afterward bishop of
Dunkeld), against private society meetings (which were then abounding in
the land), on which ensued much reasoning, the one side yielding that a
paper before drawn up by Mr. Henderson should be agreed unto concerning
the order to be kept in these meetings, &c. but Guthrie and his
adherents opposing this, Mr. Rutherford, who was never much disposed to
speak in judicatories, threw in this syllogism, "What the scriptures do
warrant no assembly may discharge; but private meetings for religious
exercises the scriptures do warrant, Mal. v. 16. _Then they that feared
the Lord spake often one to another_, &c. James v. 16. _Confess your
faults one to another, and pray one for another_, &c. These things could
not be done in public meetings, &c." And although the earl of Seaforth
there present, and those of Guthrie's faction upbraided this good man
for this, yet it had influence upon the majority of the members, so
that all the opposite party got done, was an act anent the ordering of
family-worship.

He was also one of the Scots commissioners appointed _anno_ 1643, to the
Westminster assembly, and was very much beloved there for his
unparalleled faithfulness and zeal in going about his Master's business.
It was during this ti