subject; we are warm, and can dispute no longer with advantage." Perhaps
he had the greatest mixture of fervent zeal and sweet calmness in his
temper, of any man in his time. But being educated in opposition to
presbyterian principles he was highly prelatical in his judgment when he
came first to St. Andrews, but by conversing with worthy Mr. Rutherford
and others, and especially through his joining the weekly society's
meetings there, for prayer and conference, he was effectually brought
off from that way, and perhaps it was this that made the writer of the
diurnal (who was no friend of his) say, "That if Mr. Guthrie had
continued fixt to his first principles, he had been a star of the first
magnitude in Scotland." Whenas he came to judge for himself, he happily
departed from his first principles, and upon examination of that way
wherein he was educated, he left it, and thereby became a star of the
first magnitude indeed. It is said, that while he was regent in the
college of St. Andrews, Mr. Sharp being then a promising young man
there, he several times wrote this verse upon him,

If thou, Sharp, die the common death of men,
I'll burn my bill, and throw away my pen.

Having passed his trials, _anno_ 1638, he was settled minister at
Lauder, where he remained for several years. _Anno_ 1646, he was
appointed one of those ministers who were to attend the king, while at
Newcastle, and likewise he was one of those nominated in the commission
for the public affairs of the church, during the intervals betwixt the
general assemblies. And in about three years after this, he was
translated to Stirling, where he continued until the restoration, a most
faithful watchman upon Zion's walls, who ceased not day and night to
declare the whole counsel of God to his people, _shewing Israel their
iniquities, and the house of Jacob their sins_.

After he came to Stirling, he again not only evidenced a singular care
over that people he had the charge of, but also was a great assistant in
the affairs of the church, being a most zealous enemy to all error and
profanity. And when that unhappy difference fell out with the public
resolutioners, he was a most staunch protestor, opposing these
resolutions unto the utmost of his power, insomuch as after the
presbytery of Stirling had wrote a letter to the commission of the
general assembly, shewing their dislike and dissatisfaction with the
resolutioners, after they had been concluded upo