BOYD, ROBERT, of Trochrig, was born in Glasgow in 1578. He was educated in Edinburgh, where he studied theology under Rollock. He repaired to France for the prosecution of his studies, and after having acted as pastor of the church at Verteuil, he received an appointment in r6o6 to a professorship in the University of Saumur. Ile afterwards became professor of divinity in the same college, and the fame of his ability and learning reaching his native country, he was offered by King James, and accepted, the princi palship of the University of Glasgow. He resigned his office when he could not accede to the views of the government in favour of Episcopacy. He afterwards became for a brief period principal of the University of Edinburgh, but this situation also, at the bidding of conscience, he was obliged to relinquish. He was appointed to Paisley, but the anxieties of a troubled time taking effect upon a weak constitution, he was seized with a compli cation of diseases, and after seeking in vain relief from medical skill in Edinburgh, he died in that city on January 5, 1627. The chief work for which he is celebrated as an author, is his Conz menta7 on the Epistle to the Ephesians. It was published in 1652 at the expense of the Stationers' Society. The work narrowly escaped destruction; for a copy of it, sent in manuscript to Dr. Ruet, in order to be printed at Geneva, on the capture of the ship in which it was sent, fell into the bands of the Jesuits, who refused to give it up. The origi
nal, however, still existed, and the book, in a dense folio, issued from the London press in 1652. It is a specimen of laborious and valuable commentary. Besides an analysis of the passage, an exposition of the doctrine contained in it, and practical obser vations, it gives special treatises, such for instance as one on Predestination, discussing the more prominent doctrines to which the epistle refers. It is evangelical and instructive. Principal Baillie does not hesitate to rank it above the commen taries of Calvin, Zanchius, Rollock, and Bayne, on the same portion of Scripture. It will be found that he follows to a great extent in the wake of Zanchius. The work cannot be said to be very diffuse in style ; but on the principle of crowding into it an expression of his views on every theological topic that came up in the course of his exposition, Boyd discusses at great length matters that had but slender connection with his duties as an exegete. In reference to his copiousness in the treatment of any subject, it was the witty remark of Du Plessis, necessarium ei esse jugerum terra, in quo se com mode verteret H. G.