name out
of the book of life: but I will confess his name before my Father and
his angels._

_The Life of Mr. JAMES WOOD._

He was, some time after the year 1651, made provost or principal of the
old college of St. Andrews, and one of the ministers there, and being
one who in judgment fell in with the resolution party, it occasioned
some difference betwixt him and Mr. Rutherford at that time professor of
divinity in the new college there, and yet he had ever a great and high
esteem for Mr. Wood, as appears from a message he sent him when on his
death-bed, wherein he said, "Tell Mr. James Wood from me, I heartily
forgive him all the wrongs he hath done, and desire him from me to
declare himself the man he is still for the government of the church of
Scotland." And truly he was not deceived in him; for Mr. Wood was true
and faithful to the presbyterian government; nothing could prevail upon
him to comply in the least degree with abjured prelacy. So far was he
from that, that the apostacy and treachery of others (_viz._ Mr. Sharp),
whom he had too much trusted, broke his upright spirit, particularly the
aggravated defection and perfidy of him whom he termed Judas, Demas and
Gehazi all in one, after he had found what part he had acted to the
church of Scotland under trust[134].

Mr. Wood continued in the exercise of the foresaid offices, until 1663,
when, by the instigation of bishop Sharp, he got a charge to appear
before the council on the twenty-third of July, to answer to several
things laid to his charge; and though Mr. Sharp was indebted to Mr. Wood
for any reputation he had, and was under as great obligations to him as
one man could be to another, for they had been more than ordinarily
familiar, yet now the primate could not bear his continuing any longer
there, and he caused cite him before the council.

When he compeared he was interrogate,--How he came to be provost of the
college of St. Andrews?--When he began to answer, he was interrupted, in
a very huffing manner, and commanded to give in his answer in a word,
for the arch-bishop and others present could not endure his telling some
truths he was entering upon. He told them, He was called by the faculty
of that college, at the recommendation of the usurpers, as some here,
added he (meaning bishop Sharp), very well know. Whereupon he was
removed, and a little after called in again, and his sentence intimate
unto him; which was, "That the lords of coun