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to fill the highest offices, the nation had already experienced the pernicious effects arising from their interference, and they knew the king's decided aversion to the only men, who, at the present critical juncture, enjoyed the confidence of the nation, nor had they any other effectual constitutional control over the choice of the servants of the crown, unless they had followed the precedent of Lauder bridge.

Previously to his departure, the king endeavoured to secure the personal attachment of the leading nobles; he created the earl of Argyle a marquis, lords Loudon and Lindsay were raised to the rank of earls, and the general, Leslie, besides a large pecuniary remuneration, had also the title of earl of Leven conferred upon him. The greater part of the ecclesiastical revenues, which, on the suppression of the bishoprics, had reverted to the crown, was distributed among the chiefs who had opposed him, and the only persons passed over, were those who had been forward in his support, and Balmerino, a nobleman whom he had injured too deeply, ever to forgive. Arrangements were made for more regular and adequate support to the ministers, and Henderson, his chaplain, had the temporalities of the deanry of the chapel royal bestowed upon him. The universities had also some portions allotted to them, but still the church had to complain of the irregular payment of their moderate stipends, and that the seminaries of learning were not encouraged with a liberality proportioned to their importance.

Although subordinate in interest to the transactions of parliament, the proceedings of the general assembly, which sat at the same time, and which are, in general, passed over by our historians without remark, are far from being unworthy of notice; they are, in fact, necessary to be known, in order to trace accurately the progress of that pernicious intolerance, which, by attempting to enforce presbyterian uniformity over the whole island, was the source of so much mischief, and so many misfortunes to Scotland. It met first at St. Andrews, but as a number of the elders were members of parliament, it speedily adjourned to Edinburgh for their convenience, and the two councils so arranged their meetings, the ecclesiastical sitting in the fore, and the estates in the

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afternoon, that the business of both was carried on at the same time, without interfering with their mutual sederunts. The earl of Wemyss was commissioner, and delivered a gracious letter from the king, expressive of his intention to secure the constitution of the church, to support an efficient ministry, by appointing able men to fill the vacant charges within the patronage of the crown, and to provide for its continuance, by promoting every measure that tended to encourage learning in the schools and colleges, and in return, requested their prayers in his behalf, and their endeavours in inculcating upon their flocks the duty of paying him that honour and obedience, they owed him as God's vicegerent for good. In the warmth of their gratitude, the assembly replied, assuring his majesty of their prayers for his happiness, and of their exertions to preserve peace and tranquillity, that they might be an example to others in paying that honour, which by all laws, divine and human, is due to him, being confident that he would find, at his coming among them, more satisfaction and pleasure than they were able to

express.

From whatever cause, whether private animosity, or a real difference of sentiment, the variance between Henry Guthrie and the laird of Leckie, had rather increased since the Aberdeen Assembly, and as each endeavoured to strengthen his party, the dissension threatened to spread in the church. In Edinburgh, the dispute assumed a serious aspect, some contending for the right of private Christians meeting together for the purposes of mutual exhortation, without a minister being present, and the ministers insisting, that by the act of Aberdeen, no private Christian was authorized to explain the Scriptures, or exhort, except in his own house, and to the members of his own family. The former, which was considered as opening a door to independent sentiments, was espoused by several of the most pious of the ministers; the latter opinion was supported by a majority, especially of such as had struggled for the legal establishment of presbytery, and were afraid of whatever bore the name of innovation; but the whole were either convinced of the divine authority, or agreed in the practical expediency

of church courts, and were at that time, afraid of independency, more from having heard of, or witnessed the extravagancies committed by some under this name, than from any absolute conviction of the unscriptural nature of their tenets, as then pled for.

A number of the most respectable citizens insisted upon the utility and propriety of private meetings, and required the repeal, or at least the explication of the act made at Aberdeen, and some of the over-zealous, imprudently, expressed their dislike of the restraints of that act, in terms which highly displeased their pastors, who appear to have thought that they favoured the error-afterward very prevalent-of rejecting or undervaluing the office of a regular pastor in a Christian church; and they, perhaps, on the other hand, might be apt to exalt too highly the sacred character, which, in their zeal to humble the ridiculous pretensions of indelibility, claimed by popish and prelatical priests, some of themselves had, in the heat of controversy, treated with irreverent contempt.

After a conference between the parties, and several of the most eminent of the ecclesiastical commissioners in private, where the subjects were reasoned upon, and considered calmly, the matter was brought before the general assembly, and an act adopted, which guarded against the extremes on both sides, and for the time, set the controversy at rest. It ran thus. "In order to prevent dishonouring the name of God before men, the assembly find it most necessary to stir up themselves, and to provoke all others, both ministers and people of all degrees, not only to the religious exercises of public worship in the congregation, but of private worship in their families, and of every one by themselves apart; but also to the duties of mutual edification, instruction, admonition, exhorting one another to forwardness in religion, and comforting one another in whatsoever distress," "but because the best means have been, and may still be despised or abused, and particularly the duty of mutual edification, which hath been so little in use, and so few know how to perform in the right manner, may be, on the one part, subject to the working of ungodly men, who cannot endure in others,

that which they are unwilling to practise themselves, and on the other, the many errors into which the godly, through their weakness, may fall, or by the craftiness of others, may be drawn into; such as error, heresy, schism, scandal, self-conceit, and despising of others; pressing above the common calling of Christians, and usurping that which is proper to the pastoral vocation; idle and unprofitable questions, uncharitable censurings, neglect of duties, meddling with other men's matters, and many similar errors in doctrine, charity, and manners; therefore, the assembly, earnestly desiring to promote the work of reformation, and to have the comfort and power of true godliness sensible to every soul, and religion to be universally practised in every family, charge all the ministers and members of this kirk, that, according to their several places and vocations, they endeavour to suppress the mocking of religious exercises, especially by those who cast foul aspersions, and factious or odious names upon the godly on the one hand; and on the other, that they be aware, lest, under the name or pretext of religious exercises, otherwise lawful and necessary, they fall into any of those abuses which occasion scandal, and are contrary to truth and peace; and presbyteries and synods are directed to take order with such as transgress in either respect." This act shows how anxious the church of Scotland was to preserve peace and harmony within its own bounds, and to promote real religion among its members, and at the same time, gives toleration to, or rather, approbation to private meetings for exercise, as they were afterward called, while the superintendence, and oversight of the church courts, preserved them from degenerating into irregular, unwarranted assembling, calculated to supersede the decent and orderly public worship of the congregation. *

While the assembly were alarmed at the appearance of independent principles among their people, they had their attention turned to a charge brought against some of themselves, by their presbyterian brethren in England.

The

* This act was drawn up by Henderson, and supported by Rutherford, Blair, Dickson, and Cant.

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