account of their labours; which, being directed by a majority in favour of a presbyterian establishment, similar to the church of Scotland, were rendered ineffectual, partly by the dread of another exclusive church, partly by the general toleration afterwards insisted on by Cromwell, and especially by the restoration of episcopacy with monarchy by Charles II. Their "Larger" and "Smaller Catechisms," however, constitute the standard of doctrine in the church of Scotland; and the smaller catechism is used for the instruction of children by a large portion of the Dissenters in Great Britain and America.

CHAPTER VII.

SCOTLAND UNDER CHARLES I.

Conduct of the bishops - Charles labours to overthrow the national church - He is crowned in Scotland Laud's haughty conduct-He sends a liturgy for the Scotch-They reject it- Charles threatens them with an army - He is obliged to concede The Scotch abolish prelacy and the oppressive courts Charles repents and raises a second army-He is obliged to yield-Visits Scotland and conforms to its church-The bishops reproach him— And occasion his ruin. CHARLES, inheriting the principles of his misguided father, adopted his despotic policy with regard to Scotland. Bishops had been nominated to the thirteen popish sees by James, and the high commission put into their hands. Expecting support from Charles, and being elated with their new dignity, the prelates behaved with arrogancy towards their presbyterian brethren, at which the people were filled with indignation. Various oppressive measures were adopted by the bishops to establish their elevation, and the first Lord's day in every month was generally observed by the ministers and people in special prayer and humiliation before God, on account of the prevailing disorders, which arose from the new order of things. In these services the evils of a lordly prelacy were frequently urged upon the attention of the people, contrasted with the benevolent institutions of Christ in the zealous and pious simplicity of their own pastoral bishops. Episcopal domination, therefore, felt as a grievance, was not only regarded as unscriptural, but increasingly abhorred in Scotland.

Charles was far from being satisfied with the appointment of bishops, while the ecclesiastical system was incomplete : under the direction of Laud, therefore, and in violation of promises made by his father to the Scotch, and of his own general promises not to alter religion, as left by the late king, he took the earliest opportunity to attempt the subversion of the church of Scotland, by establishing episcopacy in its complete form, and the imposition upon the people of a liturgy resembling that of the English Common Prayer.

Laud accompanied Charles to Scotland, and directed his coronation at Edinburgh, June 18, 1633; when the parliament assembled; and the king being present, two motions were carried, one relating to the king's prerogative, and the other the apparel of churchmen. The lords denied that there was a majority for the motions; but the threatenings of the king prevented a scrutiny of votes *. Laud preached before the king in the royal chapel, chiefly insisting on the utility of ceremonies in religious worship, making it the occasion of affronting the presbyterian clergy, whom he was unwilling to own as brethren.

Dr. Abbot dying soon after the king's return, Laud was appointed to succeed him as archbishop of Canterbury. He now sent articles to Scotland for the observance of the English liturgy and ceremonies in the royal chapel, as a pattern for all cathedrals, chapels, and parish churches in that kingdom." Thus, Neal remarks, "were the liberties of the kirk of Scotland invaded by an English bishop, under the wing of the supremacy, without consent of parliament or general assembly." Early in 1637, the archbishop transmitted a new service-book to Scotland, requiring its adoption by all the congregations, to commence on Easter-day. This was regarded as a national insult, and the populace rose against the attempt: which being reported by an express to the king, he was advised by the headstrong archbishop to yield nothing; and he returned the messenger to make known the royal determination. But the people were equally resolved; and they would not submit to the unconstitutional

*Neal, vol. ii, p. 207.

impositions. Petitions against them, however, were answered by menaces from the king; on which account the nation generally, in four tables, or classes, the nobles, the gentry, the clergy, and burgesses, formed a union, binding themselves by a solemn covenant to maintain the independence of their scriptural religion, against prelacy, popery, and superstition. A general assembly being called, episcopal prelacy was abolished as contrary to the Scriptures, and the covenant was required to be signed by the whole nation. In consequence of this extraordinary proceeding, Charles declared his Scotch subjects, "rebels ;" and yielded to the counsel of the archbishop to advance against them with an army of 20,000 foot, and 3,000 horse, and a fleet with 5,000 mariners, to compel them to adopt the liturgy and submit to episcopacy.

National enthusiasm in favour of their religion fired the bosoms of the Scots; who being aware of the king's preparations, raised an army for their own defence, and hastened to meet their sovereign, justifying their rejection of his illegal impositions. The two armies met on the frontiers: hut though the royal forces were by far the most numerous, the Scotch were confident of victory should their troops engage, they being animated with one spirit; and regarding their cause as involving the honour of God and truth, they inscribed on their colours this motto, "For Christ and his Covenant."

and

Many of the English favoured the cause of the Scotch, having felt the oppressions of Laud and the prelates; Charles perceiving he could not depend on his troops, acceded to the propositions which were humbly proposed by his opponents. By this wise concession a dreadful slaughter was prevented-both armies were immediately disbandedand the Scots called a General Assembly. This convocation voted away the service-book and new canons, and the high commission, unanimously determining that episcopal prelacy is unlawful and unscriptural, and not to be allowed in the church of Scotland.

Charles could not be expected to be sincere in regarding the petition of the Scotch, and in granting this pacification, only from dire necessity; and all the favourite schemes of

the archbishop being thus defeated, the king repented, and ordered his commissioners to object against their decisions. Laud, at the same time, corresponded with Wentworth, lord lieutenant of Ireland, who united in recommending the king to set aside the pacification, and vigorously renew the war. With this counsel, they engaged to furnish money, and an army of Irish; and the king approving the ambitious project, immediate preparations were made to carry forward "the episcopal war," as it was denominated by bishop Pierce.

The Scotch were not ignorant of the designs of the king; and they arose a united people to defend their national church. Many of the English nobles also, vexed with the unconstitutional measures of Charles and his ministers, as carried forward by the courts of star chamber and high commission without the sanction of parliament, by their letters, encouraged the Scotch in their righteous cause, promising them assistance; as they perceived that the contest involved the liberties and honour of both nations. In 1640 the two armies met a second time; but neither the mercenaries from Ireland, nor the English soldiers of the king, possessed zeal for their master's unworthy cause; while the Scots, united in heart, drove the royal army before them, and advanced into England, forwarding a humble petition to the king, requiring him to recal his proclamation which styled them “rebels”— to ratify their acts of parliament, and to call an English parliament for the establishment of peace in both kingdoms.

Reduced to this most humiliating dilemma, Charles was obliged to sacrifice his favourite despotism, in governing without parliaments according to the advice of his ambitious counsellors, and yield to the mortifying condition to call that national assembly. The English parliament proceeded vigorously in the reform of abuses, as noticed in the last chapter; and the king made a second visit to Scotland to meet its parliament, Aug. 19, 1641. Charles conducted himself with remarkable moderation towards his Scotch subjects. Accordingly his majesty allowed of their late proceedings in opposing the English liturgy, and erecting tables in defence of their liberties; he confirmed the acts of their assem

bly at Glasgow, which declared, that "the government of the church by archbishops and bishops was contrary to the Word of God, and was therefore abolished." All parties were so well pleased, that it was said, when his majesty left the kingdom, that "he departed a contented king from a contented people."

Charles on his return from the north was painfully subjected to the rebukes of the English prelates. They presumed to reproach their sovereign for having acknowledged the unscriptural character of their dignities, and for having conformed in public worship with the rites of the national church of Scotland! Again the king is said to have repented : but it was impossible to prevail by an armed force. And thus the unhappy monarch was agitated as by every wind. Flattered and bewildered by weak and wicked ministers who had set law at defiance, and by an imperious popish queen, the feeble king adopted, practised, or relinquished, the most pernicious principles, as his power prevailed or declined: and while he sought to gratify the ambition of lord Wentworth and archbishop Laud, he tarnished his royal honour by violating his most sacred engagements-sacrificed his peace of conscience and involved the nation in a series of calamities, which brought his two favourite counsellors, and ultimately himself, to terminate their lives on the scaffold, as related in the last chapter on ENGLAND!

Articles

CHAPTER VIII.

IRELAND.

Scotch Presbyterians and English Puritans colonize Ulster-Revival of religion Usher's wise measures - They offend bishop Land - Complaint of the Bishop Bedell's-Laud's intolerance -Irish Massacre- Memoir of Usher of Bedell:

bishops

IRELAND had partially received the protestant faith in the reigns of Henry VIII, and Elizabeth: but during the seventeenth century, there was no great advancement of religion. Nevertheless the seeds of divine truth were sown in different parts of the island, and these brought forth fruit unto life eternal.