We follow Rutherford to Aberdeen, the capital of the North, whither he was accompanied by a deputation of his affectionate parishioners from Anwoth, in whose company he would forget the length and tediousness of the way. He arrived here in September 1636. This town was at that time the stronghold of Episcopacy and Arminianism, and in it the state of religion was very low. "It consisted of Papists, and men of Gallio's naughty faith."[40] The clergy and doctors took the opportunity of Rutherford's arrival to commence a series of attacks on the special doctrines of grace which he held. But in disputation he foiled them; and when many began to feel drawn to him in consequence of his earnest dealings and private exhortations, there was a proposal made to remove him from the town. "So cold," writes he, "is northern love!" But (added he) "_Christ and I will bear it_;"[41] deeply feeling his union to Him who said to Saul, "Why persecutest thou _Me?_" Often, on the streets,[42] he was pointed as "_the banished minister_;" and hearing of this, he remarked, "I am not ashamed of my garland." He had visitors from Orkney, and from Caithness, to the great annoyance of his persecutors.[43] Some blamed him for not being "_prudent enough_," as we have seen men ready to do in similar cases in our own day; but he replies, "_It is ordinary that that should be part of the cross of those who suffer for Him_." Still he enjoyed, in his solitude, occasional intercourse with some of the godly ones, among whom were Lady Pitsligo, Lady Burnet of Largs, Andrew Cant, and James Martin. His deepest affliction was separation from his flock at Anwoth. Nothing can exceed his tender sorrow over this flock.[44] [40] Letter lxvi. Dr. James Sibbald, said to have been a man of great learning, was minister in one of the churches of New Aberdeen. Rutherford attended his preaching, and finding that he taught Arminianism, testified against him. [41] Letter cxvii. [42] The impression of some readers might be that he was in prison. But he never was so. He was _in exile_; but the whole town was his _prison_. He was, in this respect, like Shimei confined to Jerusalem (Letters lxviii., lxix., etc.). His house was in the Upper Kirkgate. [43] Letter clxi. [44] Letter clxxxi. [Illustration: MARKET CROSS, ABERDEEN] It was a saying of his own, "Gold may be gold, and bear the King's stamp upon it, when it is trampled upon by men." And this was true of himself. But he came out of his trial not only unscorched, but, as his many letters from Aberdeen show, greatly advanced in every grace. The Latin lines prefixed to the early editions of these Letters scarcely exaggerate when they sing-- "Quod Chebar et Patmos divinis vatibus olim; Huic fuerant sancto claustra Abredæa viro."