He returned to Scotland, and married the lady Margaret Kennedy, daughter of the earl of Cassils, a lady of great piety and knowledge, highly esteemed by the Presbyterians, to whose sentiments she was strongly inclined. As there was some disparity in their ages, that it might remain past dispute, that this match was wholly owing to inclination, and not to avarice or ambition, the day before their marriage our author delivered the lady a deed, whereby he renounced all pretensions to her fortune, which was very considerable, and must otherwise have fallen into his hands, she herself having no intention to secure it. The same year he published his " Vindication of the Authority, Constitution, and Laws of the Church and State of Scotland;" which, at that juncture, was looked upon as so great a service, that he was again offered a bishoprick, and a promise of the next vacant archbishoprick; but he did not accept it, because he could not approve of the measures of the court, the grand view of which he saw to be the advancement of popery. Mr. Burnet's intimacy with the duke of Hamilton and Lauderdale, occasioned him to be frequently sent for by the king and the duke of York, who had conversations with him in private. But Lauderdale, conceiving a resentment against him, on account of the freedom, with which he spoke to him, represented at last to the king, that Dr. Burnet was engaged in an opposition to his measures. Upon his return to London, he perceived, that these suggestions had entirely thrown him out of the king's favour, though the duke of York treated him with greater civility, than ever, and dissuaded him from going to Scotland. Upon this, he resigned his pro fessorship at Glasgow, and staid at London. About this time, the living at CrippleGate being vacant, the dean and chapter of St. Paul's, (in whose gift it was,) hearing of his circumstances, and the hardships he had undergone, sent him an offer of the benefice; but, as he had been informed of their first intention of conferring it on Dr. Fowler, he generously declined it. In 1675, at the recommendation of lord Hollis, whom he had known in France, ambassadour at that court, he was, by sir Herbottle Grimstone, master of the rolls, appointed preacher of the chapel there, notwithstanding the opposition of the court. He was, soon after, chosen a lecturer of St. Clement's, and became one of the preachers that were most followed in town. In 1679, he published his "History of the Reformation," for which he had the thanks of both houses of parliament. The first part of it was published in 1679, and the second in 1681. The next year, he published an abridgment of these two parts. Mr. Burnet, about this time, happened to be sent for to a woman in sickness, who had been engaged in an amour with the earl of Rochester. The manner in which he treated her during her illness, gave that lord a great curiosity for being acquainted with him whereupon, for a whole winter, he spent one evening in a week with Dr. Burnet, who discoursed with him upon all those topicks, upon which skepticks and men of loose morals attack the Christian religion. The happy effect of these conferences occasioned the publication of the life and death of that earl. In 1682, when the administration was changed in favour of the duke of York, being much resorted to by persons of all ranks and parties, in order to avoid returning visits, he built a laboratory, and went, for above a year, through a course of chemical experiments. Not long after, he refused a living of 300% a year, offered him by the earl of Essex, on the terms of his not residing there, but in London. When the inquiry concerning the popish plot was on foot, he was frequently sent for and consulted by king Charles, with relation to the state of the nation. His majesty offered him the bishoprick of Chicester, then vacant, if he would engage in his interests; but he refused to accept it on these terms. these terms. He preached at the rolls, till 1684, when he was dismissed by order of the court. About this time, he published several pieces. On king James's accession to the throne, having obtained leave to go out of the kingdom, he first went to Paris, and lived there in great retirement, till, contracting an acquaintance with brigadier |