end whereto
they are destined, is in use to be exercised by kirk sessions, or
rather by their officers and beadles in deficiency of the
magistrate, this your scruple must quickly cease." "The True
Non-Conformist," p. 55, printed abroad in the year 1671.--_Ed._]

285 [See Note, page 375.--_Ed._]

286 [This passage is quoted in the Life of the Author.--_Ed._]

287 [That is, the persons who prescribe or appoint it.--_Ed._]

288 ["The longer I live in the world the less fond am I of that divinity
that stand upon quirks and subtilties. What should drive us upon
determining whether faith or repentance goes first? What valuable
ends or purposes in religion can it serve to promote? What
edification can it give to an audience to dispute learnedly about a
point of this nature?... I cannot but heartily approve what Mr
Robert Blair, an eminent light of this church now in glory, said
upon the question in hand. He told his people from the pulpit, that
it was a very needless one. 'Tis just (said he,) as if you should
ask me, when we are to walk, which foot should we lift first. If we
should walk to purpose we must make use of both limbs; and so
despatched the thorny question. I wish we may all imitate the wisdom
of that great and good man. Is it not sufficient for us to declare
that both are necessary, without determining the nice point of
priority and posterority?" (Essay on Gospel and Legal Preaching, by
a Minister of the Church of Scotland, pp. 22, 23. Edin. 1723.) "Mr.
Robert Blair, born in Irvine, was first a Regent in the College of
Glasgow, at which time he was licensed to preach the gospel, and was
from the beginning zealous for truth and piety." (Livingston's
Memorable Characteristics, p. 73) Mr. Blair died in 1666 in the 73d
year of his age. (See Memoirs of the Life of Mr. Robert Blair, the
first part written by himself, p. 128, Edin. 1754.) Mr. James
Durham, Minister of the High Church of Glasgow, a short time before
his death, intrusted to him the publication of his "Dying Man's
Testament to the Church of Scotland, or a Treatise concerning
Scandal," to which Mr. Blair wrote a preface. Principal Baillie
gives this account of Blair, "Truly, I bear that man record that in
all his English voyages, in many passages of the Assembly, pr