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THE LIFE OF
CHAPTER V.
An able writer in a biographical work to which we have already referredmore than once, has sketched the rise and early progress of Protestant learningin this country, under the title of “ the Life of Andrew Melville, containing il-lustrations of the ecclesiastical and literary history of Scotland during the lat-ter part of the sixteenth, and beginning of the seventeenth century.” * Thistask he has accomplished, with an accuracy of research and depth of criticismthat have deservedly met with great applause. It is only in the strict fulfil-lment of our own biographical duty that we are so bold as to point out an in-stance where his researches have failed him ; and one which leaves his sketch ofthe ecclesiastical literature of Scotland essentially imperfect. While minutelyrecording literary facts of far inferior interest, he has not observed that Na pier , whom he places at the head of our mathematicians, and pronounces tobe the man “ who reflected the highest honour on his countryf occupiedat the same time the throne of recondite theology in Scotland , f Speakingof the very epoch of the publication of Napier ’s commentaries he says,“ Theological learning made great advancement during this period. Former-ly no commentary on Scripture, and no collection of sermons had appeared in
•j- Vol. ii. p. 321.
J By “ a plaine discovery of the whole Revelation of Saint John : set downe in two treatises :The one searching- and proving the true interpretation thereof: The other applying the same para-phrastically and historically to the text. Set foorth by John Napier , L. of Marcliistoun younger.Whereunto are annexed certaine oracles of Sibylla, agreeing with the Revelation and other placesof Scripture. Edinburgh , printed by Robert Walde-grave, printer to the King’s Majestie, 1593.cum privilegio Regali.”