[255] Rutherford appears sometimes to have entertained the idea of removing abroad, should he succeed in obtaining his liberty. In a preceding letter to Stuart, he names New England; and some of his friends thought that he might be honourably and usefully employed abroad. Robert Baillie, in a letter to Mr. William Spang, minister at Campvere, dated January 29, 1637, says: "Alwayes I take the man [Rutherford] to be among the most learned and best ingynes of our nation. I think he were verie able for some profession in your colledges of Utrecht, Groningen, or Rotterdam; for our King's dominions, there is no appearance he will ever gett living into them. If you could quietly procure him a calling, I think it were a good service to God to relieve one of his troubled ministers; a good to the place he came to, for he is both godlie and learned; yea, I think by time he might be ane ornament to our natione" (Bailie's "Letters and Journals," vol. i. p. 9).
CLXIV.--_To_ NINIAN MURE [see Letter CXCI.], _one of the family of Cassincarrie_.
[We do not know more of _Ninian Mure_ than that he was a parishioner of Anwoth. The name "_Mure_" is found on several tombs in the old churchyard, of which the oldest and most interesting is the following, on the east side of the enclosed pile:--
"Walking with God in purity of life, In Christ I died, and endit all my strife. For in my saul Christ here did dwell by grace; Now dwells my saul in glory of His face. Therefore my body shall not here remain, But to full glory surely rise again." "_Marion Mure_, goodwife of Cullindock, Departed this life, anno 1612."]