character, referable to a period a few years later; but it may not be
much out of place to subjoin them here.—P. 52.]
Immediatly upon the king’s landing, Cromwel invaded Scotland, and the
Scottish army levyed for the king being entirely beaten at Dumbar by
the English, division entered both state and church, which is not as
yet even to this day removed. Here the staff of bands was broken. The
cause of this rent was this: After the defeat of Dumbar, the king
required a new army to be levyed, wishing earnestly it might be of
another mettall than that which hade been lossed. So he desired that
sort of people who were called Malignants, his darlings, might be
brought into places of trust both in council and army, though they hade
been secluded from both by their own consent. And this request was
granted both by committees of estates and commission of the church
sitting at Perth. But there was a party in both these councils, which
alleadged confidently, that though the malignants were content to
profess repentance for their former practices, yet they should be found
to be men neither sincere in their professions, nor successfull in
their undertakings. This was the beginning of the fatal schism in the
Scottish Church.
[P. 54.—After the battle of Worcester, September 3, 1651.]
The King escaped into France, and the English became peaceable masters
of Scotland for nine years following. So, after all the counties of
Scotland hade formally acknowledged the English for their sovereigns,
they appointed magistrates and constitute judicatories to govern the
land for their time. They did indeed proclaim a sort of toleration
to dissenters amongst protestants, but permitted the gospel to have
its course, and presbyteries and synods to continue in the exercise
of their powers, and all the time of their government the work of the
gospel prospered not a little, but mightily. It is also true, that
because they knew the generality of the Scottish ministers were for
the King upon any termes, therefore they did not permit the General
Assembly to sitt, (and in this I believe they did no bad office) for
both the authority of that meetting was denyded by the protesters, and
the Assembly seemed to be more sett upon establishing themselves than
promoving religion: also the division of the church betwixt protesters
and resolvers continued in the church for six or seven years with far
more heat than became, and errors in some places infected some few; yet
were all these losses inconsiderable in regard of the great successe
the word preached hade in sanctifying of the people of the nation. And
I verily believe there were more souls converted to Christ in that
short period of time than in any season since the Reformation, though
of treeple its duration. Nor was there ever greater purity and plenty
of the means of grace than was in their time. Ministers were painfull,
people were diligent; and if a man hade seen one of their solemn
communions, where many congregations mett in great multitudes, some
dozen of ministers used to preach, and the people continued as it were
in a sort of trance (so serious were they in spiritual exercises,) for
three dayes at least, he would have thought it a solemnity unknown to
the rest of the world.
[In reference to the year of the King’s return, Kirkton thus describes
the state of the country and Church.—P. 64.]
Now before wee speak of the alteration court influences made upon
the church of Scotland, let us consider in what case it was at this
time. There be in all Scotland some 900 paroches, divided into 68
presbytries, which are again cantond into fourteen synods, out of all
which, by a solemn legation of commissioners from every presbterie,
they used yearly to constitute a national assembly. At the King’s
return every paroche hade a minister, every village hade a school,
every family almost had a Bible, yea, in most of the countrey all
the children of age could read the Scriptures, and were provided of
Bibles, either by the parents or their ministers. Every minister was a
very full professor of the reformed religion, according to the large
confession of faith framed at Westminster by the divines of both
nations. Every minister was obliedged to preach thrice a-week, to
lecture and catechise once, besides other private duties wherein they
abounded, according to their proportion of faithfulness and abilities.
None of them might be scandalous in their conversation or negligent in
their office, so long as a presbterie stood; and among them were many
holy in conversation and eminent in gifts; the dispensation of the
ministry being fallen from the noise of waters and sound of trumpets to
the melody of harpers, which is, alace! the last messe in the banquet;
nor did a minister satisfy himself except his ministry hade the seal
of a divine approbation, as might witness him to be really sent from
God. Indeed, in many places the spirit seemed to be powred out with the
word, both by the multitude of sincere converts, and also by the common
work of reformation upon many who never came the length of a communion;
there were no fewer than sixty aged people, men and women, who went to
school, that even then they might be able to read the Scriptures with
their own eyes. I have lived many years in a paroch where I never heard
ane oath; and you might have ridde many miles before you hade heard
any: Also, you could not for a great part of the countrey have lodged
in a family where the Lord was not worshipped by reading, singing, and
publick prayer....
Now, in the midst of this deep tranquility, as soon as the certainty
of the king’s return arrived in Scotland, I believe there was never
accident in the world altered the disposition of a people more than
that did the Scottish nation. Sober men observed, it not only inebriat
but really intoxicate, and made people not only drunk but frantick;
men did not think they could handsomely express their joy, except they
turned brutes for debauch, rebels and pugeants; yea, many a sober
man was tempted to exceed, lest he should be condemned as unnatural,
disloyal, and insensible.
[The passages which we have thus quoted are often alluded to as
affording evidence that the period in our church history to which
they refer was the golden age of the Kirk. Without questioning the
honesty of Kirkton, or without interfering with the right which other
people have to judge for themselves in weighing the evidence afforded
from many sources, we must say that Kirkton’s account of matters
appears to be, in its leading points, an enthusiastic fable. There
is in every ecclesiastical record of the time, the most redundant
and revolting proof that, instead of the unspotted morality on
which he discants, enormities of every sort prevailed to a great
extent—and such records are unimpeachable evidence. With regard to
the alleged extent of intelligence, education, &c., the following
brief passage from the record of the Presbytery of Perth, (March 28,
1649,) is quite conclusive:—“List of the Families wherein _some of
them_ can read within the parishes following—viz., Scone, 25; Drone,
36; Dumbarny, 55; Sᵗ Madoes, 9; Rund, 25; Kinnoul, 18; Sᵗ Martins,
13; Ragarton, 9; Arngask, 16; Abernethy 100.” We now proceed to give
a detailed account of the Assembly at St Andrew’s in 1651, when
Scotland was subjected to the double distraction of a violent schism
in the Church, and a war in the field, betwixt the Scotch and the
invading army of Cromwell.]
1651.
_Proceedings of the General Assembly which met at St Andrews and Dundee
in July 1651._[446]
[Session 1, July 16.]
Preached in the fornoon Mr And. Cant; his text Heb. 12, 12, &c., and
spoke generally against the publick proceedings: and in the afternoon,
Mr Rob. Douglasse, his text Ps. 102, 6; and in the close of his sermon
contradicted the former sermon.
After qᶜʰ, the members of the Assembly repaired to the Assembly House,
and after the King’s Commissioner (my Lord Balcarras) and all wer sitt
down in the house, prayer was made by Mr And. Cant, former Moderator;
after qᶜʰ the Commissions wer given in. Ther wer double Elections given
in of Commissioners from Glasgow, Stirling, and Dunkell, qᶜʰ wer waved
till the Assembly should be constitute.
Mr Ja. Guthry made exception against the ruling Elders that wer chosen
Comissioners from Churnside and Dunse, alledging they wer upon the
Engagment, and according to ane act of the General Assembly ’49, they
could not be Members; also affirming the Presbitry of Churnside to be
but 3 or 4 in number, and therfor could not chose Commissioners; but
that was laid by untill the Constitution of the Assembly.
After all the Commissions wer given in, quhen they wer about the
constitution of the Assembly and election of a Moderator,
Mr John Menzies immediatly arose and said he had somquhat to propound,
quhich was for noe intention but disburden his conscience, and it was
that the Members of the Comission of the Kirke could not be admitted to
sit in the Assembly, in regard their proceedings had been scandalouse,
and that it was a rule that noe scandalouse persons should sit or have
place in ecclesiasticall judicatorys.
Mr Douglasse did rise, and replyed, that they hoped their cariage
should appear to be right, and noe wise scandalouse.
Immediately there arose a great number on both sides, with a great heat
and fury—Mr Menzies insisting on his former motion.
Mr Ja. Guthry, backing him, said, that these persons behoved to be
scandalouse who had led the Kirk and Kingdome to a course of defection,
and told he had noe better termes to expresse their proceedings by.
Mr Pat. Gillespy, Mr John Hamiltoun, and some others, did back this
motion.
To this motion replyed Mr Blair, saying he saw the seasonable
admonitions given in the preceeding sermons, to meekness, peace, and
unity, made noe use of by those who propounded the former motion; but
that Mr Menzies’ and Mr Guthry’s speaches wer feirce and bitter.
They replyed that their motion was for the exoneration of their
conscience: likewise Mr Ja. Wood, Mr D. Dickson, Mr Bailay, Mr Ramsey,
the King’s Commissioner, with some others, replyed to Mr Menzies’ and
Guthry’s motion, saying that nothing could be said in that or any other
bussiness untill ther should be a constitute Assembly to be judge.
The contrary party said that the report of a scandal was enough to
debarr any to sitt in a Kirk Judicatory quhille once they wer freed
judicially of a scandall.
Mr Douglasse replyed, that they could not be debarred till judicially
they wer found scandalouse, quhich could not be till the Assembly wer
once constatute, and did examine their proceedings; and said, that upon
that ground the other party should not be admitted, in regard they wer
more hurtfull to the work, and scandalouse, by their opposing the safty
of religion, King, and Kingdome, then the Commission of the Kirk had
been.
After this Mr Sam. Rutherford offered a paper to this purpose, against
the constitution of the Assembly, but, with much difficulty and long
debate, it was laid aside; for the drift of the motion and paper, by
confession, was to hinder a Generall Assembly, to hold quhich was
thought very dangerouse.
Mr And. Cant and some proponed a conference to take away the former
heat and division; but it was replyed, that that could not be untill
the Assembly should be constitute; for they being a confused multitude,
and noe judicatory, they could not appoint a Committy for that purpose.
They went to chuse a Moderator; and the old Moderator named Mr Blair,
and Mr Wᵐ Rait. Besides, the Assembly added Mr Douglasse, Mr Ja.
Hamiltoun, Mr And. Cant, Mr Jo. Hamilton, Mr Dickson, by the naming any
three of these as the Members thought fitt.
Mr Jo. Hamilton said, quhen it came to his voice for the naming of some
to be in the list to be Moderator, that he would name them with this
verbal protestation that his naming of them should not be prejudiciall
to the exceptions they had to give in against the constitution of this
Assembly; to quhich protestation and way of naming the list adhered Mr
Jo. Menzies, the Presbitry of Pasley, with some others.
All this being done, the voice passing betwixt Mr Douglasse and Mr
Blair, Mr Douglasse, by plurality of voices, was chosen Moderator, and
this closed the first session.
Sess. 2ᵈ—July 17.—10 hours.
The Lord Commissioner presented a letter from the King, excusing his
absence, entreating them to study unity, to censure these who wer
contrary to the publick resolutions; and to that purpose the Lord
Commissioner had a speech; after quhich
Mr Dickson propounded a motion for conference, quhich they promised
to take into consideration after the appointment of the several
comittys,—viz., one for examination of the Commissions proceedings—one
for overtures and bills—one for contraverted Commissions—one for
appeals, references, and reports—one for the synod books; all these to
meet at 2 hours in the afternoon.
After all quhich, they fell again upon the motion of appointing a
conference with unsatisfyed bretheren; qʳupon
Mr John Smith said, that a conference could not weel be while once the
examination of the Commissions wer seen.
Mr Douglasse replyed, that for all that there might be ane amicable
conference, without any prejudice.
Upon this motion there was a long debate by Mr Jo. Smith on the one
hand, and several others on the other.
My Lord Comissioner backed Smith’s motion, saying it was derogatory
from the authority of the Assembly to appoint conferences about ane
undetermined bussiness, but desired the proceedings of the Commission
might be examined and tryed, and then a conference with parties on
either hand, whilk should not be satisfied with the Assembly’s mind of
the Commission’s proceedings.
It was replied by Mr Wood, Mr Dickson, and Mr Blair, that there might
be a conference about the meating of men’s minds and affections, and
about other things besyde the procedure of the Commission.
Sess. 3ᵈ.
A Bill from Mr James Hamiltoun, craving money from the severall
Presbitrys that have not payed for the Ministers’ Regiment of Horse, he
having depursed 10,000 merks and not payed. It was referred to be more
particularly examined by the Committy of Bills.
There being a Letter sent from my Lord Waristone, Register, to the
Assembly, there fell a hote debate whether it should be read, and it
was delayed to a more convenient time.
There was ane appointment of writting a Letter from the Assembly to the
King and Army for encouragment, and these Letters to be drawen by Mr
Ja. Wood and Mr Jo. Hamiltoun. As for the Answer to the King’s Letter,
because it had many particulars in it, it was deferred till further
consideration.
Because of the desolation of Orkney, a visitation was appointed to goe
ther and visite Orkney and Caithness.
Sess. 4ᵗʰ.
The Assembly fell on the controverted Commissions. The first was
concerning Blaketer, the ruling Elder of Churnside, quhich bred much
debate; some alledging him to be included under the Act of Assembly
because of his accession to the Engagement—others saying the contrary:
soe in regard of the unclearness of the bussiness it was referred to a
Comitty.
Then came in the contraverted election from Glasgow. The Election of
the Commissioners was Mr Pat. Gillespy, Mr Heugh Binning, Mr Carstairs,
Geo. Porterfeild: The 2ᵈ Election of Commissioners was Mr Ro. Ramsey
and Mr Geo. Young, and these opposed the election of the former before
the Assembly, shewing they had given in 2 protestations against the
first election: one against the formality of the election, because it
was on a suddain without premonition; a 2ᵈ protestation against the
persons—one excepted, viz. Mr Carstaires. The accusation against the
persons did run upon their opposition to the Publick Resolutions of
the Kirk and State, and about the Remonstrance, branched out in very
many reasons; and after much debate whether they should fall upon the
relevancy or not relevancy of these reasons given in against Mr P. G.,
0. M., H. B., it was concluded that discussing these reasons should be
delayed untill the Assembly should have examined the proceedings of the
Commission of the Kirk; and quhen all the Commissioners of the several
elections wer called in, Mr P. G. said that these reasons could not be
heard by the Assembly—1. Because the most of them wer emergents since
their election; 2ˡʸ Because the reasons wer materially a libell, quhilk
first should have been presented and prosecute before the Presbitry,
before they had come to the Assembly. But all was deferred till the
Books of the Commission should be examined.
Sess. 5ᵗʰ.
This Sess. was spent all upon particular Bills.
Seas. 6ᵗʰ.
This Sess. did hold at 12 hours at night, the Lord’s day, upon the
alarme of the routing of our party in Fyfe; and then the Assembly was
adjourned to Dundie; and there to sit down on Teusday at two afternoon.
At this Session, Mr Rutherford gave in a protestation against the
lawfulness of the Assembly, conteaning the reasons thereof in name of
the Kirk of Scotland, subscribed with 22 hands, and desired it might
be read; but it was delayed to be read, and all that subscribed the
remonstrance, with some others, went away.
Sess. 7ᵗʰ. At Dundie, July 22.
First, the roll of all the members was called; and, beside these who
protested, there wer many absent—towards the one half. After citation
of the Catalogue, the Moderator declared, that, after their adjourning
of the Assembly last Session at St Andrews, a protestation was given
in; and [in] regard then it could not be read, he asked if there wer any
now to present that paper?
It was answered, that none of the subscribers wer present; but one Mr
Oliver Coult said, that he had found that paper quhilk was called the
Protestation, and that he would give it in, but that he did not adhere
to it, and desired it to be marked. After this, the Protestation was
read, and did tend to this—That they declared and protested, in the
name of the Kirk of Scotland, and all the members thereof quhich would
adhere to that Protestation, against the lawfull constitution of this
Assembly—1. Because it was a prelimited Assembly, in regard the free
votes for choosing Comissioners was hindred by the Commission of the
Kirk’s Letter to the severall Presbitries, desiring them to cite all
unsatisfied men to the Assembly, if, after conference, they were not
satisfyed; _2ly_, Because of the King’s Letter, overawing the Assembly;
_3ly_, Because of the Commissioner’s speech, tending to the prelimiting
of the members of the Assembly; _4ly_, Because that the members
of the preceeding Commission of the Assembly wer members of this,
quhilk should not be, in regard the Commission had led to a course of
defection; and therefor they protested against all that should be done
by that Generall Assembly or their Commission. This Protestation was
subscribed with 22 hands, and licence to add moe subscribers, and moe
reasons, as they saw fitt.
After the reading of the Protestation, all their names wer called at
the kirk dore, and none compeared.
Then the Moderator publickly enquired, if there wer any moe that would
adhere unto them, and own that Protestation? quhilk was presently
interrupted by another motion; but shortly after,
Mr W. Jameson desired the Moderator, that he might propone quhat
formerly he had said—viz., to enquire if there wer any that would own
the former Protestation. But the Moderator, upon his second thoughts,
would not hear of it, I know not on what ground.
Quhen this was over, the Commissioner had a speech to this
purpose:—That that Protestation was very derogatory to the freedome,
liberty, and honnour of the Generall Assembly; and, if it wer
requisite, that the King’s authority should be interposed against
these men for the vindication of the Assembly’s honnour, to quhich he
and all was tyed by Covenant, he promised that should not be wanting.
The Moderator replyed, desiring him to cease; for they should deal with
them ecclesiastically, according to the freedome of the Assembly.
This was by way of nipp to the Commissioner; yet he desired to speak
his mind, quhich he proceeded in to the former purpose. Nixt the
Moderator enquired Mr Dickson’s mind how the Assembly should proceed
in this weighty bussiness. He answered, that the bussiness was of the
highest concern that ever came before ane Assembly; and that hitherto
the Lord had preserved the liberty and freedome of this Kirk intire;
and that this Protestation stroke at the root of the freedome of the
Assembly. He desired that all would be diligent to deal with God in
this bussiness; and least unripe thoughts should be vented anent that
Protestation, that it might be referred to a committy to think upon.
Nixt Mr James Wood, being interrogate his mind as to the former
bussiness, spoke thus: that he was much weighted and afflicted with
that bussiness and the timing of it, and desired it might be referred
to a Committy.
Nixt Mr W. Jameson said, In respect they wer declinators of the
Assembly, he desired the act anent such as declined the Assembly might
be read; and it being read, ordeaned such as declined and protested
against the Assembly to be summarly excomunicate.
Nixt spoke Mr Ja. Hamiltoun, and propounded they might be cited to
compear befor the Assembly or their Commission, and that a distinction
might be made amongst the Subscribers, in regard some wer headstrong
and cheife hands in the remonstrance and opposing the Publick
Resolutions, and drawing aside of others, and writing agˢᵗ the Publick
Resolutions, and others lesse active. 3, In regard that these men would
be labouring to draw severall aside to their way, both ministers and
others; therfor he said it would be fitt that Letters wer written to
the severall Presbitrys shewing the evil of their way, and vindicating
the present Assembly. Some others said, that in reference to the first
thing that Mr Hamiltoun had said, they thought it enough that the
most eminent in the fault might be cited. Others replyed, that it wer
fittest all should be cited, and then to let the Assembly make the
difference of evry man’s guilt. Some others said, that that quhich was
lurking, viz. separation, had now appeared; and the Moderator blessed
God that he had deciphered these men.
The Commissioner said they might be censured uncited.
My Lord Humby replyed, that men could not be condemned unheard; but I
conceive this was not out of any affection to them or their cause, but
only for legality’s sake.
Mr Jo. Smith spoke much agˢᵗ them, with great profession of high esteem
of the Persons.
Soe, after much discourse, it was referred to be considered upon by
the Committy for publick affairs; but upon this there rose a debate
in regard some of the Protesters were members of that Committy, and
therfor could not sit as Judges in their own matters. Some would have
had a new Committy for that purpose; others said the former Committy
might serve:—_1st_, Because that such members of that Committy as
wer Protesters wer not present; _2ly_, Though they wer present, they
could not sit, seeing they had declined the Assembly; and soe it was
concluded that this bussiness should be referred to that Committy.
After this the severall Committies wer appointed immediatly to meet,
and this Session concluded.
Sess. 8.—July 23.