me that he published _lex rex_, and several other
learned pieces against the Erastians, Anabaptists, Independents, and
other sectaries that began to prevail and increase at that time, and
none ever had the courage to take up the gauntlet of defiance thrown
down by this champion[85].

When the principal business of this assembly was pretty well settled,
Mr. Rutherford, on October 24, 1647, moved that it might be recorded in
the scribe's book, that the assembly had enjoyed the assistance of the
commissioners of the church of Scotland, all the time they had been
debating and perfecting these four things mentioned in the solemn
league, _viz._ Their composing a directory for worship, an uniform
confession of faith, a form of church-government and discipline, and the
public catechism, which was done in about a week after he and the rest
returned home.

Upon the death of the learned Dematius _anno_ 1651, the magistrates of
Utrecht in Holland, being abundantly satisfied as to the learning,
piety, and true zeal of the great Mr. Rutherford, invited him to the
divinity chair there, but he could not be persuaded. His reasons
elsewhere (when dissuading another gentleman from going abroad) seem to
be expressed in these words:--"Let me intreat you to be far from the
thoughts of leaving this land. I see 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 beside angry Jesus
Christ (knowing he mindeth no evil to us), than in any Eden or garden on
the earth[86]." From which it is evident that he chose rather to suffer
affliction in his own 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 discharge of his duty.

When the unhappy difference fell out between those called the
protesters and the public resolutioners, _anno_ 1650, and 1651, he
espoused the protestors quarrel, and gave faithful warning against these
public resolutions, and likewise during the time of Cromwel's usurpation
he contended against all the prevailing sectaries that then ushered in
with the sectaries by virtue of his toleration[87]. And such was his
unwearied assiduity and diligence, that he seemed to pray constantly, to
preach constantly, to catechise constantly, and to visit the sick
exhorting them from house to house, to teach as much in the schools, and
spend as much