Shows that

the civil

*

*

CHAP. XII. its exercise as regarded the church of Scotland? In England ordination preceded presentation; in Scotland both might be said to be done at once, and almost by the same act. In Scotland a patron chose a person not ordained; and the question, the claim of therefore, was whether the civil court should have the Courts was power to force that presentee, not into possession of ritual act of the temporalities, but into an office with the cure of souls. These were the real differences as to the two churches; and he could assure the house that the decision in the Auchterarder case did not go nearly to the extent of forcing the presentee into holy orders ; and he was sure that the learned judges who had given that decision would be the last persons in the world to justify such a step."

ordination.

Emphatic and important as was this repudiation of the charges brought against the church, the fact still remained, that the chief of that great political party that was already on the eve of accession to power, had committed himself in the face of the country to opinions that bound him, in all consistency, to support the moderate party in the resistance they were now offering to the authority of their ecclesiastical superiors. The attitude Moreover, as the whig leaders-though they allowed the political their subordinates to speak in support of the church in the State were themselves studiously silent, the effect of this courage the parliamentary discussion was, undoubtedly, to render the recusant ministers of Strathbogie, and those who supported them, more resolute in their purpose to disregard and defy the censures of the church. Already, indeed, an association had been secretly formed-under the auspices of Dr. Cook and other

and tone of

chief's of

both parties

fitted to en

rebellion.

prominent members of the more extreme section of CHAP. XII. the moderate party-with a view to band together the dissentients of the late general assembly in a combined opposition to its authority. A letter was prepared, dated, Edinburgh, 1st July, 1840, and signed by Dr. Cook, and others,-containing a copy of this not very 1840. "solemn league and covenant" of moderatism. The document in question,* to the great discomfort of its

"We whose names are hereto adhibited, being ministers, elders, and members of the established church of Scotland, concur in the following resolutions:—

"1st, That in the present perilous situation of our church, occasioned or increased by the proceedings of the last general assembly, it becomes necessary for the ministers, elders, and other members of the establishment, cordially to unite and co-operate for mutual support and defence against the consequences which may result from those proceedings, and which may most seriously affect us both collectively and as individuals.

"2d, That a large minority of the members of the late general assembly, having entered their dissents from the above specified proceedings, and put on record the reasons for so doing, the subscribers hereby resolve to adopt these reasons as the basis of the association thus formed for the defence of the constitution of the church, and of its ministers and members.

"3d, That for the accomplishment of the object in view, a correspondence shall be immediately opened with all the dissentients in last general assembly, and other friends of the church in every synod, inviting them to join in promoting and securing the important purposes for which the association is instituted.

"4th, That a general meeting of those who agree to these resolutions shall be held at Edinburgh on the 12th day of August next, at nine o'clock, A.M., for maturing the plans of the association, and for adopting such resolutions as may then be deemed requisite.

"5th, That previously to the said meeting, each subscriber shall contribute one pound, at least, to be applied as the subscribers then shall appoint; the subscriptions to be transmitted to H. D. Hill, Esq., W.S., George Street, Edinburgh.

The moderate

league of 1st July,

CHAP. XIL authors, fell prematurely into the hands of those from whom it was meant to be concealed,—at least, until the plot should have been ripe for execution. The The object of intention of the parties concerned seems evidently to confedera- have been to have turned the mutiny of Strathbogie

this intended

tion.

into a general insurrection, and in this way to have so multiplied the number of the rebels against ecclesiastical authority as to have made the exercise of church discipline practically impossible. The 12th of August was fixed for the meeting of the secret conclave in which the plans of the confederates were to be finally arranged, and the same day that sends the sportsman to the hills was to have witnessed the springing of the mine by which moderatism was to have blown spiritual independence and non-intrusion into the air. The time, however, had not yet come-nor was this destined to be the way-in which the drama of this eventful conflict was to be finally wound up. The discovery of the secret circular, and the consequent revelation of the intended movement, led on the instant to the the Church's adoption of measures on the other side so energetic and decided as to have led to the abandonment of the whole design. One combination could be effectually counteracted only by another; an "engagement" was accordingly drawn up, after full and prayerful deliberation on the apparently approaching crisis, in the following terms:

The counter movement of the

friends of

constitu

tional liber

ties.

The engage

ment.

"Whereas it is the bounden duty of those who are entrusted by the Lord Jesus with the ruling of His house, to have a supreme regard in all their actings to the glory of God the Father, the authority of His

beloved Son, the only King in Zion, and the spiritual CHAP. XII. liberty and prosperity of the church which He hath purchased with His own blood.

66

'Whereas, also, it is their right and privilege, and

Reasons for

ment.

is especially incumbent upon them in trying times, as the engagewell for their own mutual encouragement and support as for the greater assurance of the church at large, to unite and bind themselves together, by a public profession of their principles, and a solemn pledge of adherence to the same, as in like circumstances our ancestors were wont to do.

"And, whereas, God in His providence has been pleased to bring the church of Scotland into a position of great difficulty and danger by acting according to the dictates of conscience and the word of God, imminent hazard of most serious evil, personal as well as public, is incurred.

"In these circumstances it being above all things desirable, that in the face of all contrary declarations and representations, our determination to stand by one another and by our principles should be publicly avowed, and by the most solemn sanctions and securities, before God and the country, confirmed and sealed,

claration.

"We, the undersigned, MINISTERS AND ELDERS, Prefatory dehumbling ourselves under the mighty hand of our God, acknowledging His righteousness in all His ways, confessing our iniquities and the iniquities of our fathers, mourning over the defections and shortcomings which have most justly provoked His holy displeasure against His church; adoring, at the same time, His long-suffering, patience, and tender mercy,

CHAP. XII and giving thanks for the undeserved grace and loving kindness with which He has visited His people and revived His cause, under a deep sense of our own. insufficiency, and relying on the countenance and blessing of the great God and our Saviour, Do deliberately publish and declare our purpose and resolution to maintain-in all our actings, and at all hazards to defend those fundamental principles relative to the government of Christ's house, His church on earth, for which the church of Scotland is now called to contend, principles which we conscientiously believe to be founded on the word of God, recognized by the standards of that church, essential to her integrity as a church of Christ, and inherent in her constitution as the established church of this land.

The principles which the

was design

hold.

"The principles now referred to, as they have been engagement repeatedly declared by this church, are the two followed to up-ing, viz.-I. That the Lord Jesus, as King and Head of His church, hath therein appointed a government in the hand of church officers distinct from the civil magistrate.' II. That no minister shall be intruded into any parish contrary to the will of the congregation.'

"To these principles we declare our unalterable adherence, and applying them to the present position and the present duty of the church, we think it right to state still more explicitly what we conceive to be implied in them.

"1. We regard the doctrine-' that the Lord Jesus is the only King and Head of His church, and that He hath therein appointed a government in the hands of church officers, distinct from the civil magistrate;'