Note 45 — SKETCH OF SAMUEL RUTHERFORD.

"In 1650, Mr. Samuel Rutherford, minister of St. Andrews, did preach the preparation sermon in Cant. v. 2. Mr. Samuel had a lecture on Monday following on the 20th chapter of Matthew's Gospel."

"1651, July 13.—The comm. was given at Scoonie. Mr. Alex. Moncrieff, m. there, did preach the Preparation Sermon, and on Monday morning Mr. Sa. Rutherford did preach; his text at both occasions was Luke vii. 36 till 39 ver. At this time was present, besides Mr. Sa. Rutherford, Mr. Ja. Guthrie, and Mr. David Bennet, Mr. Ephraim Melvin, and Mr. William Oliphant, m. in Dumfermlin. Thither did resort many strangers, so that the throng was great. Mr. Ephraim and Mr. D. Bennet both did sit within the pulpit while the minister had his sermon." So again, "In 1652, June 13.—Mr. S. R. of St. Andrews, did preach on the Sabbath afternoon; his lecture Luke xiv.; his sermon Luke vii. 36, 38, to end. Mr. S. did exhort on Monday following, on his foresaid text, Luke vii. 40, 44." Once more, "1653, Aug. 11.—A fast keepit at Scoonie kirk, Mr. S. R. in the morning, lecture, Jonah ii.; his text, Rev. iii. 1, at end. Afternoon preached on same; his lecture Psalms cxxx., cxxxi." "1654, Jan. 4.—Being Saturday, there was a Preparation Sermon for a Thanksgiving preached at Scoonie in Fyfe, for the continuance of the Gospel in the land and for the spreading of it in some places of the Highlands in Scotland, where in some families two and in some families one, began to call on God by prayer. Mr. Samuel Rutherford, m. in St. Andrews, preached on Saturday; his text, Isa. xlix. 9, 10, 11, 12. On the Sabbath, Mr. Alex Moncrieff, m., then preached; his lecture, 1 Thess. ch. i.; his text, Coloss. i. 27. In the afternoon of the Sabbath, Mr. Samuel preached again upon his forementioned text. On Monday morning, Mr. Samuel had a lecture on Psal. lxxxviii. He did read the whole Psalm. Observe, that on Saturday Mr. Samuel had this expression in his prayer after sermon, desiring that the Lord would rebuke Presbyteries and others that had taken the keys and the power in their hands, and keeped out, and would suffer none to enter (meaning in the ministry) but such as said as they said."—"Lamont's Diary."