Robert Baillie (1602–1662)
A Member of the Westminster Assembly and Scottish Commissioner“The like of that Westminster Assembly I did never see, and, as we hear say, the like was never in England, nor anywhere is shortly likely to be.”
His Works:
A dissuasive from the errours of the time: wherein the tenets of the principall sects, especially of the Independents, are drawn together in one map (1645)
A parallel or briefe comparison of the liturgie with the masse-book, the breviarie, the ceremoniall, and other romish ritualls (1641)
A review of Doctor Bramble, late Bishop of Londenderry, his Faire warning against the Scotes disciplin (1649)
A review of the seditious pamphlet lately pnblished in Holland by Dr. Bramhell, pretended Bishop of London-Derry (1649)
A Scotch antidote against the English infection of Arminianism. (1652)
An historicall vindication of the government of the Church of Scotland (1646)
Anabaptism, the true fountaine of Independency, Brownisme, Antinomy, Familisme, and the most of the other errours (1647)
Appendix practica, ad Ioannis Buxtorsii epitomen grammaticæ hebrææ (1653)
Catechesis elenctica errorum qui hodie vexant Ecclesiam, ex nudis sacræ Scripturæ testimoniis (1654)
Errours and induration, are the great sins and the great judgements of the time (1645)
Ladensium autokatakrisis, the Canterburians self-conviction (1640)
Operis historici et chronologici libri duo (1668)
Prelacie is miserie (1641)
Satan the leader in chief to all who resist the reparation of Sion (1643)
The Dissvvasive from the errors of the time, vindicated from the exceptions of Mr. Cotton and Mr. Tombes. (1655)
The life of William now Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, examined (1643)
The unlawfulnesse and danger of limited episcopacie (1641)
Biography of Robert Ballie:
Robert Baillie was born at Glasgow on Friday the 30th of April, 1602. His father was a citizen there, being lineally descended from Baillie of Jerviston, a brother of the house of Carphin, and a branch of the ancient house of Lamington, all in the county of Lanark. By his mother’s side, he was of the same stock with the Gibsons of Durie, who have made such a figure in the law. He received his education at Glasgow; and at that university plied his studies so hard, that by his industry and uncommon genius, he attained to the knowledge of twelve or thirteen languages, and could write a Latin style, that, in the opinion of the learned, might well become the Augustan age.
After his study of divinity, he took orders from Archbishop Law, about the year 1621, and was soon after presented by the Earl of Eglinton to the living of Kilwinning. When the Reformation began in the year 1637, he wanted not his own difficulties, from his education, and tenderness of the King’s authority, to see through some of the measures then taken. Yet, after reasoning, reading, and prayer (as he himself expressed it), he came heartily into the Covenanting interest about that time.
Being a man of distinct and solid judgment, he was often employed in the public business of the Church. In the year 1638, he was chosen by his presbytery to be a member of that memorable Assembly held at Glasgow, where he behaved himself with great wisdom and moderation.
Source: Scots Worthies by John Howie