LEIGHTON, ROBERT, archbishop of Glasgow.
During Cromwell's usurpation, he was minister of a
church near Edinburgh, and distinguished himself by
his charity, and his aversion to religious and political
disputes. The ministers were then called over yearly
in the synod, and were commonly asked, Whether they
had preached to the times? "For God's sake (answered
Leighton), when all my brethren preach to the
times, suffer me to preach about eternity." His mo-
deration, however, giving offence, he retired to a life
of privacy. But soon after, he was called by the uni-
nanimous voice of the magistrates, to preside over the col-
lege of Edinburgh; where, during ten years, he dis-
played all the talents of a prudent, wise, and learned
governor. Soon after the Restoration, when the ill-
judged affair of introducing Episcopacy into Scotland
was resolved on, Leighton was consecrated bishop of
Dunblane, and immediately gave an instance of his
moderation: for when Sharpe and the other bishops in-
tended to enter Edinburgh in a pompous manner,
Leighton remonstrated against it; but finding that what
he said had no weight, he left them, and went to Edin-
burgh alone. Leighton, in his own diocese, set such a
remarkable example of moderation, that he was revered
even by the most rigid of the opposite party. He went
about, preaching without any appearance of pomp;
he gave all he had to the poor; and removed none of
the ministers, however exceptionable he might think
their political principles. But finding that none of the
other bishops would be induced to join, as he thought,
properly in the work, he went to the king, and resign-
ed his bishopric, telling him he would not have a hand
in such oppressive measures. Soon after, the king and
council, partly induced by this good bishop's remon-
strances, and partly by their own observations, resolved
to carry on the cause of Episcopacy in Scotland on a
different plan; and with this view, Leighton was per-
suaded to accept of the archbishopric of Glasgow, on
which he made one effort more; but finding it not in
his power to stem the violence of the times, he resigned
his archbishopric, and retired into Sussex, where he de-
voted himself to acts of piety. He died in the year
1684. He was of a most amiable disposition, strict in
his life, polite, cheerful, engaging in his manners, and
profoundly learned. He left many sermons and useful
tracts, which are greatly esteemed.