which the Church of Scotland endured | lawless pillage of the licentious soldiery, from perjured and remorseless Prelacy, by which whole districts were almost and the absolute despotism of the Brother turned into a wilderness. Surely those Tyrants. who talk of the possibility of Prelacy ever becoming the religion of Scotland, must expect it to be preceded by such a revolution both in the constitution of the human mind and in the frame of nature, as shall completely sweep away all records of the past; for so long as our mountains, heaths, and glens, are studded with the gray memorials of our martyred fathers, and so long as the free blood courses more warmly and the heart beats higher in one true Scottish bosom, at the narrative of their glorious sufferings and the savage cruelty of their merciless persecutors, so long must it be absolutely impossible for Prelacy to be regarded in Scotland with any other feelings than those of indignant reprobation, as alike hostile to the principles of civil liberty, and contrary to the mild and gracious spirit of Christianity.

It would not have been strange if the Presbyterians had inflicted a terrible retribution on their merciless oppressors. But they acted in general like men conscious of a glorious cause, which they might not permit their own passions to sully and disfigure. When the rumour that an Irish invasion was intended reached the Covenanters, they immediately mustered in a considerable body, and prepared to defend their country and their friends from the invaders; but finding the rumour groundless, they resolved to take that opportunity of expelling the prelatic curates from the parishes which they had so long polluted with their presence and devastated with their cruelty. They accordingly seized upon these wretched men, turned them out of their usurped abodes, marched them to the boundaries of their respective parishes, and sent them away, without offering them further violence. No plunder, no bloodshed, stained the hands of the Covenanters. As their constancy through the long period of fiery trial had been almost unparalleled, so their high-principled self-government was conspicuous in their hour of bloodless triumph. How gloriously different the conduct of the Scottish Presbyterians from that of their prelatic persecutors, rendering it manifest to the world, as if written with a sunbeam, which of these two forms of Church government possessed most of the principles, and displayed most of the character of the gospel of peace and good-will. When the landing of the Prince of Orange, and the revolution which followed, put an end to the persecution which had continued for twenty-eight years, a computation was made, from which it appeared, that above eighteen thousand had suffered by death, slavery, exile or imprisonment, inflicted in the vain endeavor to destroy the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and establish Prelacy on its ruins. This is exclusive of the desolation spread over the country by oppressive fines, assessments, and the

In taking a retrospective glance over that dark and stormy period of the Church of Scotland's history between the Restoration and the Revolution, there are some topics which force themselves upon the mind so strongly as to demand a brief investigation before proceeding further. What was the ruling motive which induced Charles and James to persecute the Presbyterian Church with such relentless cruelty? In the case of Charles, it could not have been his preference of Prelacy on religious grounds, as he was evidently a man of no religion at all. In the case of James, it was as manifest, that if he preferred that form of church government, it was only because he regarded it as less directly opposed to Popery, on the re-establishment of which his heart was bent. The steady and unswerving perseverance with which the whole course of public affairs was guided in Scotland, towards the effecting of one object, during so many years, proves clearly that some one ruling principle was in continual. operation all the while. That principle, we think, Burnet's "History of His Own Times" furnishes the means of detecting. From that work, as well as from many other sources, we learn that Charles had joined the Church of Rome before he left France. Burnet tells us further, that soon after the restoration, Charles in con

this intention, and were willing to become the base instruments by which it should be accomplished; yet their conduct and their written sentiments not only supported, but too often seemed to lead the way to the full establishment of the most arbitrary and cruel tyranny, And it must never be forgotten, that the execrable design of reducing Britain to a state of abject slavery was, under Providence, frustrated solely by the unconquerable fortitude with which the Presbyterian Church of Scotland endured every extremity of suffering which a long, relentless, and desolating persecution could inflict.

versation with him, reprobated the liberty that, under the reformation, all men took of inquiring in matters of religion, from which they proceeded to inquire into matters of state; adding, that he thought government was a much safer and easier thing when the authority was believed infallible, and the faith and submission of the people were implicit. The king's predilection for Popery was evidently not on the ground of conscience, but because by its means alone he could hope to acquire absolute power, and to reduce the people to the implicit obedience of slaves. To effect this tyrannical intention was the constant endeavor of both Charles At the same time it must be observed, and his brother; and there are many sig- that the resistance of the Presbyterian nificant indications, that even in the case Church proceeded from a far higher of James, the love of Popery was subor- principle than merely the determination dinate to the love of despotism. This to defend the civil liberties of the country, view completely explains both the direct-a principle without which civil liberty endeavors and the evasive changes and can never be fully realized, and which, fluctuations of these two reigns. Lau- in free and active operation, would renderdale appears to have early penetrated into the king's designs, and to have made the attempt to realize them the ruling aim and effort of his whole administration. Remembering also, that it was the presence of the Scottish army in England which turned the wavering balance in favor of the parliament during the civil wars, he made it his steady endeavour to bring Scotland into a state of such complete subserviency to the king, that a powerful army might be raised in support of his majesty, should any contest arise between him and his English subjects. In this view, the act which Lau-preme court for the exercise of their rederdale procured from the Scottish par- spective functions. The direct conseliament in 1663, offering to the king an quence of this great and sacred principle, army of twenty thousand foot and two thus realized, is, that it preserves the thousand cavalry to be at his own dispo- whole region of the conscience entirely sal, was no empty bravado, as it has gen- free from the control of external power; erally been regarded, but a significant and where the conscience is free, men hint from that despotic statesman, that the cannot be enslaved. The attempt to estime for the monarch's assumption of ab- tablish an absolute despotism, involved, solute power was near at hand. The of necessity, the destruction of this prinoath of supremacy, and the acts enforcing ciple: and the oath of supremacy was it became, when viewed in this light, not the weapon by which it was directly and only perfectly intelligible, but pregnant fiercely assailed. The cruel policy of with meaning of fearful import. They the assailants needs little explanation. It were all so many steps towards that abso- was an easy matter for them to enact an lute despotism which the king desired to unjust and irreligious law, such as that establish, and that state of utter slavery which virtually declared that the soveto which he wished to reduce the king-reignty of the Church should be taken dom. It is not necessary to suppose that from Christ, and given to the king, and the prelatic party were fully aware of then to shout, "Obey the law, obey the

der the dire counterparts-absolute power and abject slavery for ever impossible. This great principle, as abstractly stated and most tenaciously maintained by the Church of Scotland, is, "That the Lord Jesus Christ is the sole Head and King of the Church, and hath therein appointed a government distinct from that of the civil magistrate." In the form in which it practically appears, this great principle realizes such a disjunction of the civil and the ecclesiastical powers from each other as to assign and secure to each a separate, co-ordinate, and independent su

law!" proclaiming men rebels and trai- | was indeed a substantial confirmation of tors, and persecuting them to the death, the justness of their bold opinions. But because they could not yield obedience to still, for any section of a community to a law which required the violation of proclaim and act upon such opinions, their allegiance to the Divine Redeemer, must unavoidably expose them, as citibut chose to obey God rather than man in zens, to the charge of rebellion, and as matters of religion. It requires but little ministers and members of the Christian Christian principle, metaphysical acumen, Church, to the charge of interfering with or knowledge of the general principles of matters beyond their legitimate province. jurisprudence, to perceive that no law can There seem to be but two conditions by possibly be binding upon man which which such a course of procedure can be is manifestly contrary to the law of God. fully justified, either of which can rarely So reasoned and so felt our covenanted occur, and the one of which cannot be fathers; and in defence of that sacred known beforehand, and, therefore, ought and eternal principle they "endured a not to be assumed as a primary cause. great fight of afflictions," through which These are, the direct command of God, they were triumphantly borne by the of which the Bible relates various inmighty power of God, unfolding and stances; and ultimate success, which, correalizing in the fearful struggle, what, rectly speaking does not justify the atthough of subordinate importance, was tempt, but merely ratifies the deed, from still of inestimable value, that noblest which it may be inferred, that the entercharter of civil liberty which man has prise was accordant with the will of ever framed, the British Constitution. Divine Providence. This second condition, we are aware, may be both misunderstood and misrepresented, as if it were identical with the false principle, that the end justifies the means. What we mean is this, that when an attempt is made by any considerable party in a nation, for an object which appears to be in accordance with Scripture, reason, and civil liberty, its failure may prove it to have been premature, but will not prove it to have been wrong; whereas its success will go far to prove it to have been essentially right. The first, many of the Scottish Covenanters conceived themselves to have, both by reasoning from Scripture analogies, and from the directly unchristian character of the principles attempted to be enforced by their opponents: the second they obtained when the Revolution completed what they had begun and carried forward with determined resolution, heroic fortitude, and Christian patience; and it must be remarked, that they never doubted of the ultimate triumph of their sacred cause, even in the most disastrous periods, and amidst the darkest horrors of the fierce exterminating persecution directed against them by their despotic and merciless oppressors. Any censure, therefore, which could justly be pronounced against them, must be exceedingly slight, and, when compared with the vast debt of gratitude. due to them by the entire empire, must become almost invisible, like a speck in the

The only accusation which can, with any degree of propriety, be urged against the Covenanters is, that they did to a certain extent misunderstand and overpass some of the essential distinctions between things civil and things sacred. But this cannot justly either excite our surprise or call forth our censure. Few seem yet to have any accurate perception of these distinctions; and many seem disposed to deny that they either do or can exist, or, at least, that they can be so specifically marked out as to prevent the incessant mutual encroachments of the civil and the ecclesiastical jurisdictions upon the respective provinces which rightfully belong to each. It was not strange, therefore, that the Covenanters partially erred, especially when engaged in such a deadly struggle. The contest was, on their part, at first waged solely in defence of the central principle of religious liberty. But as civil and religious liberty exist or perish together, they were soon compelled to contend equally for both, and thus the scene of conflict was both enlarged and altered, involving a complication of interests which tended to produce confusion. It was this which led them to the idea of disowning the king, and declaring what they explained to be a "defensive war" against him, as against a lawless tyrant, whose own acts involved the invalidation of his right to reign. The Revolution

sun.

Still, while such must be the senti- | them on account of the pernicious, treachments of every enlightened lover of free- erous, and murderous principles which dom, it is the true spiritually-minded they were said to hold, than the fact, that Christian alone who can enter fully into when their principles had free scope, the the feelings of these much-enduring and most remarkable characteristic which devoted men, comprehend the true nature they displayed was the forgiveness of of the great and sacred principles in de- their fallen enemies. The expelling of fence of which they encountered the perils the curates, which has been already noand suffered the extremities of poverty, ticed, was in truth nothing else but the imprisonment, exile, torture, and death, ejection of lawless intruders from positions. and appreciate the real value of the and property on which they had wrongservice rendered by them to the cause of fully seized, with the view of having vital piety, and to the interests of the them restored to their rightful owners. Divine Redeemer's spiritual kingdom. Still, the condition of the country was full of peril, which was held in check by the power of religious principle alone; and it was the manifest interest of all classes to reconstruct the disorganized frame of society as speedily as possible. On this account men of all political par

CHAPTER VIII

FROM THE REVOLUTION, IN THE YEAR 1688, ties hastened to London, to hold inter

TO THE TREATY OF UNION IN 1707.

Meeting of the Convention of Estates-Declaration and
Claim of Right--Petition of the Covenanters Their
Loyalty and Patriotism-Condition of the Church

and Country-King William and Carstares-The
Prelatists-Meeting of Parliament-Acts abolishing

Prelacy, ratifying the Confession of Faith, establish ing the Presbyterian Church, and abolishing Patron

course with each other and with the Prince of Orange, to ascertain their re Spective strength, and to deliberate on the course to be pursued.

[1689] The legislature of England met in the form of a convention, avoiding age-Meeting of the General Assembly-Acts of the term parliament, as not being called Assembly-Remarks on the Revolution SettlementState of the Conflicting Parties-The restored Min- by the king, and, after considerable dis isters, the Conformists, the Covenanters Views of cussion, voted, "That James the Second the King, of the Church, and of the Jacobites, and Prelatic Party-Origin of the Moderate Party-The having endeavored to subvert the con Commission--The Assembly forcibly adjourned-Its stitution of the kingdom, by breaking the and Peace of the Church-Its Character and Conse- original contract between the king and quences—A Mutual Compromise-A New Collision the people, and, by the advice of Jesuits the Assembly-Proceedings of the Church-Conduct and other wicked persons, having vioof the Jacobites and Prelatists Act against intruding

Firmness-Act of Parliament for settling the Quiet

threatened-The King and Carstares-Meetings of

into Churches-Competing Calls and Transportations-The Rabbling Act-Misrepresentations of the Prelatic Party-Death of King William-Queen Anne

Political Intrigues against the Church-Proposals

for a Union-Act of Security-The Union-General View of the State of the Church

THE dissolution of the Scottish privy council relieved the country instantly and completely from a tyranny and persecution under which it had groaned and bled for a period of twenty-eight terrible years; but it left the kingdom in a state of anarchy dangerous to the peace and welfare of the community. Had the Presbyterians been influenced at all by the spirit of revenge, there was nothing to have prevented them from inflicting a dreadful retribution upon their paralyzed and defenceless oppressors in their hour of utter weakness. Nothing, therefore, could have given a more perfect proof of the injustice and falsehood of the accusations formerly urged so vehemently against

lated the fundamental laws, and withdrawn himself out of this kingdom, has abdicated the government, and the throne is become vacant." After some further discussion, the vacant throne was given to the Prince and Princess of Orange, as joint sovereigns, the title constantly running William and Mary, King and Queen of England, the sole administra. tion resting in the king. On the 8th of January, 1689, William assembled the leading Scottish noblemen and gentlemen who were in London, and after referring to his Declaration, told them that he had called them together to ask their advice respecting the best method of securing the civil and religious liberties of their country. Their advice was, that he would assume the administration of affairs till a convention of estates could be held in Edinburgh, and a proper settlement be effected, which convention

they requested to be empowered to meet on the 14th of March; and to this he gave his assent.

Hamilton was named by the Presby terians; the Prelatists gave their support to the Marquis of Athol. The Duke of The Scottish convention met on the Hamilton was chosen by a majority of day appointed, the short interval having fifteen; and as this proved the superiority been employed by the two contending of the Presbyterian party, a considerable parties, the adherents of James, who number of that wavering class of poli were generally Prelatists, and the sup- ticians who act from selfish motives, porters of the Revolution, who were joined the side which they saw to be the Presbyterians,—in the most strenuous strongest, increasing its majorities, though endeavours to muster their whole strength adding nothing to its moral influence. for the struggle. It had been stipulated The struggle was no longer doubtful, so by the meeting in London, that in the far as regarded the transfer of the crown election of representatives to the conven- from James to William; but the adjusttion, none who were protestants should be ment of the many great interests therein excluded from legally voting, or from be- involved, was still a matter of an exing returned as members. This at once tremely difficult nature. Viscount Dunremoved the disabilities under which the dee, having in vain attempted to disturb oppressive acts of the preceding reigns or overawe the convention, abandoned had laid the greater part of the Presby- the wily arts of the politician, and deterterians, and enabled them to send to the mined to have recourse to the sword. convention a majority of right-minded His abrupt and threatening departure men. Still the peril was great. Claver- ruined the plans of the adherents of house, who had been created Viscount James, by precipitating them into a conflict Dundee by James, was fully determined for which they were not prepared, and by to maintain the right of that despot by relieving the convention in a great meawar; and had brought with him to sure from the impediments which the Edinburgh a considerable body of armed supporters of despotism, had they reand desperate men to overawe the con- mained, might have thrown in the way of vention. There were no military forces the Revolution Settlement. The convenin the kingdom to prevent Dundee from tion then ratified the London Address, in any extreme to which his daring and all its tenor and conditions. A committee ferocious spirit might impel him; and was next appointed, similar to the Lords the castle was held by the Duke of Gor- of the Articles, for preparing the overdon, who also favoured the interests of the tures for settling the government; and in fallen monarch. In this dangerous junc- this committee the prelates were omitted, ture recourse was had to the Cameronian-by which a sufficiently intelligible intiCovenanters, as the only body which mation was given what was likely to be both possessed the power and the inclina- the fate of Prelacy. Two letters were tion to protect their country's liberties, and might be trusted in this hour of peril. They were requested to come to Edinburgh, armed and prepared to resist any outrage which might be offered to the convention or the town by Dundee, their former relentless persecutor. This was a noble tribute to the character of these much injured and greatly calumniated men. They had formerly been hunted down as disturbers of peace and the very enemies of society; they were now sought and hailed as conservators of peace, and protectors of the public welfare.

presented to the convention, the one from King James, the other from the Prince of Orange; the first was disregarded, the other treated with great respect. An answer to the Prince's letter was prepared, and then the convention proceeded to declare their opinion respecting the state of the nation, and the necessary remedial measures. This declaration was publicly read and agreed to, on the 4th of April, the day on which the Prince's letter in reply was received; and having been embodied in the " Claim of Right," in the conclusion of which was contained an offer of the Scottish crown to William and Mary, together with a brief and simple oath of allegiance, the whole document was read, and the king and queen