Oh thrice fools are we who like new-born princes weeping in the cradle know not that there is a kingdom before them then let our Lord's sweet hand square us and hammer us and strike off the knots of pride self-love and world-worship and infidelity that He may make us stones and pillars in His Father's house.

In 1627 he was settled as minister of Anwoth in Kirkcudbrightshire Galloway from where he was baniSamuel Rutherfordd to Aberdeen for nonconformity. He was one of the Scottish Commissioners to the Westminster Assembly of Divines in London and after his return to Scotland he became Rector of St. On the re-establishment of Presbyterianism in 1638 he was made Professor of Divinity at St.