Sill ROBERT S1BBALD. 
51 
is an additional proof of his integrity, that his 
abjuration of the errors of Popery was as public 
as possible, * and occurred while the king was 
pursuing its extension with the utmost vigour of 
his power. He deeply repented his fault, and it 
ultimately proved beneficial to himself, as exhi- 
biting to him his own weakness and dependence 
for strength upon a higher power. “ I thank 
God,” he adds, “ who opened my eyes, and by 
my affliction gave me the grace to know myself 
and the world, and to take better heed to my 
ways, and to .amend my life.” 
In times of affected liberality, like the present, 
we would urge on every educated person the 
duty of forming their religious principles, not 
from the example of men, as they may happen to 
be born in one part of the British dominions or 
another ; but, like the Bereans, let them search 
the Scriptures, to ascertain whether these things 
be so or no. Let them not “ follow cunningly 
devised fables,” but be able to give a reason for 
the hope that is in them. Let them thus form a 
standard by which to test all things 5 and having 
thus satisfied themselves of the truth and impor- 
tance of the principles they maintain, they will 
not be liable to be blown about by every wind of 
* The news immediately reached London, as we find 
Evelyn, in his Diary under that year, recording that “ The 
King’s chief Physician in Scotland, apostatizing from the 
Protestant religion, does, of his own accord, publish his 
recantation at Edinburgh.” 
