bishop until a year after. The plan of accommodation between the episcopalians and presbyterians, the particulars of which may be seen in Burners history, was, by the king's directions, limited to certain instructions, by Avhich Landerdale was empowered to embody the concessions that were to be offered into laws.
Encouraged even by this support, Leighton had frequent conferences with some of the most eminent presbyterian ministers, but in vain; he found it impossible to gain them over even to the most moderate form of episcopacy. It is evident the presbyterians mistrusted the overture in question, and looked upon it as a snare to lull their vigilance; and they had already too many deceitful examples in a former reign to think that the friends of prelacy were now either more humane or honourable. The result of these negotiations grieved Leighton very much, while they delighted Sharpe and all of the same party, to whom every thing like liberality or concession in favour of peace and religion was alike unknown or despised. They even went so far as to hint, in very intelligible terms, that under the mask of moderation, he was secretly undermining their cause. Being thus unhappily situated, and despairing of being able to carry his great designs of healing the divisions and reforming the abuses in the church, he resolved to relinquish his see, and retire into seclusion. He said "that his work seemed to be at an end, and that he had no more to do, unless he had a mind to please
himself with the lazy enjoying of a good revenue." His friend, Dr Burnet, endeavoured all in his power to make him give up this idea, but all to no purpose; the good man was resolute. He repaired to London, and after much difficulty obtained the king's reluctant consent to his resignation, on condition that he would remain in oflice for another year. The court thought it possible in the
interval that he might be gained over to remain and assist a cause fast falling into hatred and contempt, by his pious and venerable name. He returned "much pleased with what he had obtained, and said to Dr Burnet upon it, that there was now but one uneasy stage between him and rest, and he would wrestle through it the best he could." He continued to perform his duties with the same zeal as before, and at the end of the year 1673, he hastened to London, and tendered his resignation, and was succeeded by the former possessor of the
see, Dr Alexander Burnet.[1] After residing for some time in the college of Edinburgh, where he had long been principal, amongst a set of select friends,
- ↑ The following paper was left by Leighton for the purpose of explaining his reasons for resigning the see of Glasgow. It has been preserved in the university of Edinburgh, over which he so long and ably presided.
"Whatsoever others may judge, they that know what past before my engaging in this charge, will not (I believe,) impute my retreat from it from levitie or unfixedness of mind, considering how often I declared before hand, baith by word and write, the great suspicion I had that my continuance in it would be very short; neither is it from any sudden passion or sullen discontent that I have now resigned it; nor do I know any cause imaginable for any such thing, but the true reasons of my retiring are plainly and briefly these:
"1. The sense I have of the dreadful weight of whatsoever charge of souls, and all kinds cf spiritual inspection over people; but much more over ministers; and withall of my own extreme unworthiness and unfi tness for so high a station in the church ; and there is an episcopal act that is above all the rest most formidable to me the ordaining of ministers. "2. The continuing and deeply increasing divisions and contentions, and many other disorders of the church, and the little or no appearance of their cure for our time, and the little hope, amidst those contentions and disorders, of doing any thing in this station to promote the great design of religion in the hearts and lives of men, which were the only worthy reasons of continuing in it, though it were with much pains and reluctance.
"3. The earnest desire I have long had of a retired and private life, which is now much increased by sicklyness and old age drawing on, and the sufficient experience I have of the folly and vanity of the world. "To add any farther discourse, a large apologie in this matter were to no purpose; but instead of removing other mistakes and misconstructions, would be apt to expose me to one more, for it would look like too much valuing either of myself or of the world s opinion, both of which I think 1 have so much reason to despise."—Rower's History of the University of Edinburgh, vol. i. App. No. 6.
