90 Memoir of John Napier, 



study, which was undertaken for the purpose of converting 

 the Papists, as he states, himself, in the preface. But the 

 circumstances under which he chose to publish it, add to 

 his first project the character of a less charitable intention, 

 for that took place precisely two days after the demands 

 of the Presbyterians had forced from King James the definite 

 confirmation of the Act of Excommunication, in which the 

 father-in-law of Napier found himself included ; and, in 

 the dedication of this commentary, to James, we can see 

 with what fanatical violence he talks of it : " Provided Sire, 

 that it may be the constant study of your Majesty, (as called 

 by God) to reform the whole misrule of his kingdom ; com- 

 mencing first (after the example of the royal prophet David) 

 by reforming his house and his heart, and purging them 

 from all communications with Papists, Atheists, and neutral 

 persons, of which this book of Revelations reveals that there 

 are a great number, and that they will multiply in these 

 last days.— Thus I supplicate your Majesty, that in weighing 

 and considering well the treasonable plots of this time, 

 attempted both against the truth of God, and against the 

 authority of your Majesty, and against the public welfare 

 of his kingdom," &c. " Commencing first with his own 

 person, and from that advancing to the reformation of his 

 family, and then to that of his heart," &c. Napier, in his 

 preface, explains himself the motives of this public oration. 

 " It was not my intention," says he, " to publish this work 

 suddenly, and still less to write it in our vulgar tongue ; 

 until latterly, seeing the insolence of the Papists elevating 

 itself about the year 1588, and advancing and increasing in 

 this island, and moved with compassion and piety towards 

 those who gave more credit to the Jesuits and Priests of 

 the seminaries than to the Scriptures of God, and rather to 

 trust to the Pope and the King of Spain, (it was at the time 

 of the Armada), than to the King of Kings, to prevent the 

 evil which might follow, I gave up the Latin which I had 

 commenced, in order to produce, in common language, the 

 present book, scarcely yet complete, to instruct the simple 

 of this island, to overcome and frustrate the proud and 

 foolish attempts of the wicked : resolving, with the assistance 

 of God, to publish the Latin edition in a short time, for the 

 advantage of the whole church." 



