(18.) _Robert Barclay_, generally known by the title of the _Apologist_, was born on the 28th of December 1648, at Gordonston in Morayshire, the seat of his maternal grandfather. After being educated in the best schools in Scotland, he was placed under the tuition of his uncle, who was rector of the Scots College in Paris. He gave early presages of great genius, and acquired much proficiency in all the learned sciences and elegant accomplishments of the times. He soon became conspicuous, and was particularly noticed for his vivacity and acuteness in the public disputations of the seminary, where he gained many prizes. His uncle was extremely solicitous to detain him in France; but his mother, on her death-bed, had strongly enjoined his removal from the college, lest he should imbibe the errors of popery. In obedience to parental authority, he returned home in 1664, and thus lost his uncle’s fortune and favour, to gratify his father’s conscientious compliance with the prejudiced but pious notions of his mother. Though destitute of wealth, he possessed what was more valuable, for his mind was deeply fraught with the riches of literature. Soon after his return to Scotland, he joined the society called Quakers, and became their greatest ornament and ablest advocate. Previously, however, to his embracing the opinions of that sect, he visited his friends of all religious persuasions, to canvass their doctrines, that he might adopt a system of faith corresponding to the truths of the gospel; and, by conviction alone, as we are informed, he was guided in his choice. But probably, when in France, he had formed an attachment to the Quietists, who were the Quakers among Roman Catholics. In the year 1670, he married _Christian Molison_, of the family of _Lachintully_, the grand-daughter of the celebrated Colonel Molison, who so much signalized himself in the defence of Candia against the Turks. About this time, he first appeared as an author, by a work, entitled, “_Truth cleared of Calumnies_,” which is an answer to “_A Dialogue between a Quaker and a Stable Christian_,” written by William Mitchell, a preacher, and printed at Aberdeen. A keen controversy then subsisted between the clergy of Aberdeen and the Quakers, relative to the doctrines of the latter, which, warmly interesting Barclay, called forth his talents as a polemical writer; and in the same year, he published a postscript in the form of questions. Mitchell replied to “_Truth cleared of Calumnies_,” and our author again answered him in a work, entitled, “_William Mitchell unmasked_,” which was published in 1672. In this controversy, Robert Barclay discovers the variety of his learning, and that he was well acquainted with ecclesiastical history; but above all, he shews with how much judgment and dexterity he could apply his knowledge in support of his religious opinions.