Samuel Rutherford was born in the little village of Nisbet, in the shire of Roxburgh, around the year 1600. We do not know much about his childhood accept that he said that the sins of his youth were a new fire of sorrow to him. In 1617, he entered the University of Edinburgh. There, in 1626, he began his theological studies. In 1627, he was licensed to preach. In that same year, he felt God was calling him to Anwoth, where he would serve faithfully for nine years. While in Anwoth, in 1630, Samuel’s wife died. He also suffered the loss of his two children while serving God there. But even through this great amount of sorrow, Samuel knew God was in control. “His (God’s) own hand planteth me here, and here I will abide until the great Master of the Vineyard think fit to transplant me.” Samuel Rutherford wrote this in his journal in 1631.
In 1636, Rutherford published “An Apology (Argument) for Divine Grace”. It aroused the opposition of Archbishop Laud’s party. Samuel was tried in Edinburgh on July 27, 1636 and was banished to Aberdeen. He was also warned never to preach in Scotland again. He remained in Aberdeen from August 20, 1636 to June, 1638, where he was known as the banished minister.
In March 1638, he was able to leave Aberdeen and return to Anwoth. In November, 1638, he was officially “vindicated” by the assembly and he settled down again to minister there. But in 1639, he was commissioned to take the chair of divinity at St. Mary’s College in Edinburgh, and he reluctantly obeyed. Then in 1643, he was sent to London to represent the Scottish church at the Westminster Assembly. He remained in London until November, 1647, when he returned to Edinburgh to become principle of St. Mary’s. He died on March 29, 1661.
“Glory, glory dwelleth in Emmanuel’s land.” - Samuel Rutherford
In 1636, Rutherford published “An Apology (Argument) for Divine Grace”. It aroused the opposition of Archbishop Laud’s party. Samuel was tried in Edinburgh on July 27, 1636 and was banished to Aberdeen. He was also warned never to preach in Scotland again. He remained in Aberdeen from August 20, 1636 to June, 1638, where he was known as the banished minister.
In March 1638, he was able to leave Aberdeen and return to Anwoth. In November, 1638, he was officially “vindicated” by the assembly and he settled down again to minister there. But in 1639, he was commissioned to take the chair of divinity at St. Mary’s College in Edinburgh, and he reluctantly obeyed. Then in 1643, he was sent to London to represent the Scottish church at the Westminster Assembly. He remained in London until November, 1647, when he returned to Edinburgh to become principle of St. Mary’s. He died on March 29, 1661.
“Glory, glory dwelleth in Emmanuel’s land.” - Samuel Rutherford
