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if the Queen oppose herself to ters, and commissioners of our religion, which is the only Kirks within the realm of Scottrue religion, in that case, the land, unto their brethren, the nobility and states of this realm, bishops and pastors of England, (viz. the parliament or the repre-who have renounced the Roman sentatives of the kingdom) who antichrist, and are professing with have professed the true doctrine, them the Lord Jesus in sincerity, may justly resist or oppose them-wish the perpetual increase of selves to her. But as concerning the Holy Spirit.

her own mass, which I know is "Reverend pastors, it has idolatry, I am not yet resolved come to our knowledge, both by whether by violence we may take word and writ, that divers of our it from her or not." Mr. Win- dearest brethren, among whom ram said, “The same is my con- are some of the best learned in science." It may be remarked, our realm, have been deprived of that the national revolution, which their ecclesiastical function, and took place in 1688, was conduct-forbidden by you to preach, beed in a manner conformable to cause their consciences will not this opinion. suffer them to take upon them

As yet the English and Scot- such garments as were used in tish Churches had not expressed the times of blindness and idolaany uncharitable opinion of each try. other. Many members of both "We will not enter into the arChurches seem, for a considera-gument, which we understand is, ble number of years, to have with greater vehemency than is maintained an amicable corres- necessary, agitated with you, pondence. The Assembly, De- whether such apparel is to be accember, 1566, granted to Mr. counted among the things which John Knox leave of absence for are simple and indifferent; but about six months, that he might in the bowels of Christ Jesus, we go into England to transact some crave, that Christian charity may of his own affairs, and especially so far prevail in you, that ye to visit his two sons, who were would not do unto others, what prosecuting their studies at the ye would not wish that others university of Cambridge. The should do unto you.

Assembly gave him an ample tes- "You cannot be ignorant how timonial, subscribed by their tender a thing the conscience of clerk, in which he was earnestly man is. All that have knowledge recommended, "as a true and are not alike persuaded. Your faithful minister of the Evangel of conscience reclaims not at the Jesus Christ."

using of such garments; but many At the same time they took the thousands of godly and learned opportunity of sending by him to men are of another mind; they the bishops of England, a Chris- cannot consent to the surplice, tian and friendly letter, which the corner cap, and tippet, for Mr. Knox himself had been de- these things were formerly the sired to indite. The address and badges of idolatry, and as such substance of the letter, were as were worn by them who were follows: employed in the acts of idolatry. "The superintendents, minis- Our brethren who conscientious

ly reject that unprofitable appa- they would not, perhaps, have rel, do neither damn nor molest had cause to distinguish, as they you who use such vain trifles; if soon did, some of their people ye shall do the like to them, we by the name of Puritans; many doubt not but therein ye shall of whom proceeded at length to please God, and comfort the dissent from the English Church, hearts of many, who are wounded and to profess Presbyterian prinwith your severity to our godly ciples. It may also be observed, and beloved brethren. that in a course of time arose,

"We look that you will not from among those who were disrefuse the humble request of us contented, a sect who were called your brethren, in whom albeit Brownists, or Independents. Histhere appears no great worldly tory informs us of what these pomp; yet we suppose, that ye English Brownists or Independwill not so far despise us, as not ents, (who were hostile to Presto esteem us in the number of byterian as well as to Episcopal them who fight against the Roman government,) afterward accomantichrist, and travail that the plished under the leading of Olikingdom of Jesus Christ may be ver Cromwell. Thus, from a universally promoted. small beginning of strife, even

"To the protection of the about the meanest trifle, obstiLord Jesus we heartily commit nately maintained, an increased you. From Edinburgh, out of animosity may be expected to enour General Assembly, and third sue. session thereof, December 27, 1566 from your loving brethren and fellow-preachers in Christ Jesus."

To some persons, however, it may be satisfactory to add, that the early Puritans, who disliked fantastical habits, do not appear Keith inserts in his history this to have found any fault with the remarkable letter, of which the grave apparel, which was then, above is only an abridgment. In as it is now, used by ministers in the Assembly it was subscribed Scotland, and in the best reformed by such of the superintendents as Churches abroad. They consiwere then present, and by some dered, that such an outward atother respectable ministers, of tire, though not absolutely newhose character the bishops were cessary as to its particular form not ignorant. Keith and Calder- or fashion, was decent, and most wood give the names of the sub-suitable for those persons who scribers, one of whom was Mr. were warning their hearers against

Winrhame," superintend- the vanities of the world, and disent of Fife, with the moderation coursing to them of the serious of whose sentiments the strain of truths of religion. But I may the letter, and the request which possibly be deviating too much it contained, were known fully from my proposed account of Mr. to correspond. Winram.

It may not, I think, be impro- There was still a great scarcity per to observe, that if the bishops of Protestant ministers in Scotof England, at this period, had land, so that many parishes in hearkened to the well-meant the country remained unprovidcounsel of the Scottish Church, ed. Superintendents, and "com

they were commonly called, who were occasionally appointed, and endowed with authority equal to that of superintendents, were still reckoned to be needful.

missioners of the country," as mony of inauguration, as he now very much disapproved of what the Assembly had done. Mr. Winram did not feel so much reluctance. Considering that his friend Mr. Douglas was to be accountable, like himself, to the general meetings of the Church, he went up to the pulpit, and after having given a short exhortation, admitted him to the office of archbishop, by using the same form which was set down in "the Book of Common Order," for the admission of superintendents.

In 1571, the Earl of Morton, who, though not yet regent, had the chief management of all public affairs, took advantage of this necessity, and prevailed with the Assembly to allow a limited Episcopacy. It was agreed, that some ministers should be chosen to the name and rank of bishops, but who, like the superintendents, should be accountable for their conduct to the General Assemblies.

The county of Fife was an ancient part of the diocess of St. Andrews. Mr. Winram, therefore, with the consent, or by the It was not his intention, that appointment of the General Asthe Church should thereby reco-sembly, resigned it to the new ver any considerable part of its archbishop, and confined himself patrimony, as some fondly hoped, to the district of Strathern. He but that the ministers chosen to was appointed archdeacon of St. be bishops might be invested Andrews, but was commonly dewith a legal right of alienating its nominated superintendent of revenues to himself, and to some Strathern, during the two years other powerful persons. Many in which Mr. Douglas continued good men in the Assembly, not to live. After Mr. Douglas had aware of the views he enter- died, Mr. Winram was appointed tained, thought that no great dan- to resume the whole of his forger could be apprehended from mer province. such an allowance, for that these At a meeting in 1572, he was nominal bishops, being under the nominated one of the commissioncontrol of the Assembly, would ers for compiling what is called be as pious in their lives, as cir- the Second Book of Discipline. cumspect in their transactions, It was hoped that this book, when and as unambitious of extending completed, would serve to fix the their authority, as the superin- outward constitution of the tendents were, and had always Church, which was now inclining been. sometimes towards Presbytery, On the Lord's-day, February and sometimes towards Episco10, 1572, which was the day on pacy. The commissioners were which Mr. John Douglas was to occupied in their work about six be admitted to the archbishopric years; and their final determinaof St. Andrews, the Earl of Mor- tion, in which they were seasonton was present in the Church. ably assisted by the zealous Mr. Mr. John Knox, who was then at Andrew Melvin, or Melvil, who, St. Andrews, preached a sermon, in 1574, arrived from Geneva, but refused to perform the cere- was on the side of Presbytery.

But while the work was going age, the business of the abbey on, the Earl of Morton, who had was chiefly to devolve upon him. become regent of the kingdom, The address with which he made an attempt, in 1576, to pro- managed the ecclesiastical affairs vide an archbishop to St. Andrews, of that city, for some time after who should have no dependence the death of Cardinal Beaton, upon the General Assembly. He show, that he must then have presented Mr. Patrick Adamson been in the prime of his life, and to that archbishopric, who was a in the full vigour of his judgment. man of great learning and of emiI have not met with any genenent talents, but bold and ambi- ral character of him, farther than tious. Mr. Adamson, without that "he was a learned man." any election, or ceremony of ad- From what has been related, it mission, and without consulting should appear, that he was a man the mind of the Assembly, acting generally respected for his good merely upon the mandate given sense and sound learning his by the regent, took possession of mind was evidently unfettered by the diocess, and began to exercise vulgar prejudices, and he held in ecclesiastical jurisdiction, espe- contempt the false philosophy, cially in the county of Fife. and subtle disquisitions, which

The Assembly were justly were fondly taught and practised offended. Many upright men in in the schools in the popish times. the Assembly now saw how much No blot is known with regard the regent had formerly deceived to his moral character; and no them, and that his aim was to Presbyterian church writer, that establish an unlimited Episcopal I have heard of, has expressed government. They appointed a any censure on him for his havcommittee with powers to meet, ing, once in his life, assented to a and call Mr. Adamson to an ac- limited Episcopacy. The unrecount for his undutiful behaviour. mitting attention which he gave Mr. Winram, being then super- during such a great number of intendent of Fife, and therefore years to the interests of religion, a person more immediately con- bind us charitably to believe, cerned, was nominated one of that he was actuated by the most these commissioners. But the serious impressions of its infinite Assembly, having knowledge of importance.

the great failure of his health Perhaps it may be wished that and strength, appointed, that, "in he had sooner made an open decase of his inability," two other claration of his Protestant princiministers, whom they named, ples. But at this distance of should supply his place. He was time, it is only a few circumnow an old man, and was indeed stances with which we are acunable, and as no after mention quainted, and therefore we are is made of him, it is most probable not competent judges of the line that he died in that same year. of conduct which it was his duty

He could not be very young, to follow. It is evident, that his when, about the year 1540, he real principles were early known was raised to the office of sub- to Protestants; and that even at prior at St. Andrews; especially the time of George Wishart's as because of the prior's non-death, they were known to Car

dinal Beaton. In concert with Mr. Winram was a benefactor other persons who were secret to St. Leonard's College in St. favourers of the reformation, he Andrews. As prior of Portmoak, appears to have been all along viz. of the monastery of St. Serweakening the efforts of the vanus's Isle, in Lochlevin, which popish party, and paving a sure was a cell belonging to the way for a general acknowledg-Augustine abbey of St. Andrews, ment of the truth. he annexed, October 5, 1570, to

Such a person as he was, and the said college the aforesaid there were many such among our priory, with the baronies of Kirkoriginal reformers, added in the ness and Auchmaire. eyes of other nations a considerable degree of respectability to the Protestant cause in Scotland.

and Uses of Divine Revelation.

Contrary to the blind assertion of Brief Statement of the Evidences some adversaries, we are warranted, after a careful inquiry, to say that our reformation was Reasoning from the nature of planned and conducted, not by a Deity, we might conclude, a priori, mean and illiterate multitude of that the mind of rational man people who had no right know- must have a natural sense of the ledge, but by some of the princi-existence of a supreme intellipal noblemen of the kingdom, and gence. God made all things by pions and learned clergymen, good. That goodness consisted who had received at the univer-in part at least, in a suitableness sities a liberal education. in the creature to answer the end

The inferior animals were placed on this earth, with a peculiar design to subserve the use of man. In order to answer this

Mr. George Martine, in his of its creation. History of the See of St. Andrews, informs us that there were seventeen monks of the Augustine priory, or abbey, who became Protestant ministers, and were pro- end the fear of man was constivided in churches which had be- tutionally connected with their longed to the abbey. Their con-existence. Was it not for this, version, it may be presumed, was, under God, much owing to the pious endeavours of their subprior when he resided among

them.

not only the largest and the most useful animals, but even the most feeble and seemingly insignificant, might soon overpower the lord of the manor, and drive him from his earthly possessions. Gen. x. 2.

Both Mr. Winram and his prior, the Earl of Murray, retained their abbey revenues after the Man was designed to give unto reformation. It may indeed be God active praise. God conseremarked, that when the mo- quently created man under such nastery buildings in Scotland were constitutional regulations as that demolished, the monks and friars he must inevitably have a sentiwere not thrown destitute, but ment of a divine existence as soon had yearly salaries allotted them, as the moral and rational faculwhich were called " Friars Pen- ties would be capable of rendersions." ing obedience to their Prince.

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