Cargill," "I have seen some of Mr. Cargill's
sermons in writ, but I never saw none as he spake them; and I have
been much pressed to publish them, and other old sermons, which I
dare not do, upon several considerations; knowing that sermons would
have past then, and very edifying, which will not pass now, in this
critic and censorious age, without reflections; not knowing how they
were taken from their mouth, nor what hands they have come through
since." Biographia Presbyteriana, vol. ii. p. 53.

44 The presbyterian clergy in Scotland were much offended when this
silly yet mischievous book made its appearance, as they justly
looked upon it as calculated not only to blacken their reputations,
but to inflict a serious injury upon religion. (See "A Just and
Modest Reproof of a pamphlet called The Scotch Presbyterian
Eloquence," pp. 36, 38. Edin. 1693.)--No one is more perseveringly
held up to ridicule in it than the Rev. James Kirkton, whose
character as a man of talents, and possessing a sound judgment, has
been since sufficiently vindicated by the publication of his "Secret
and True History of the Church of Scotland." Kirkton takes notice of
the Scotch Presbyterian Eloquence, and informs us that its reputed
authors were "Mr. Gilbert Crockat and Mr. John Munroe," adding
"Truly one would think, a thinking man who reads this piece may
wonder first, what conscience governs these men, who publish, to
abuse the world, such stories, which they themselves know to be
lies, as well as they whom they believe. Next, what wisdom is among
them, who knew well enough there are thousands of honest people to
refute their calumnies!" (p. 194)--Provoked by an insulting reference
to the book under review, an able controversial writer of that
period says "Thou hast, by the bye, mentioned the Presbyterian
Eloquence. Every body knows that book to be a forgery out of the
curates shop. But to give the world a true test both of the
Presbyterian and the Episcopal eloquence, let us appeal to the
printed sermons on both sides. Do thou take the printed sermons of
the Presbyterians, and pick out of them all the ridiculous things
thou ever canst. And if I don't make a larger collection of more
impious and ridiculous things out of the printed sermons of the