Note. Notwithstanding the size to which this work has swelled is far THE KIRK, OR CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. NAME, RISE, PROGRESS, &C. The word Kirk, signifying Church, is of: Saxton original, or may be considered as a contraction of the two Greek traction words uple atop, the house of God, and is still used in Scotland, where it is chiefly confined to the Establishment, and the Relief Synod.* The most eminent Scottish reformer was John Knox, a man of considerable abilities, of no less courage and resolution, a disciple of Calvin, and a warm admirer of the constitution and discipline * The word kirk is used for a church also in Flanders; of this Dunkirk is an instance.-The Latins called the church Dominicum, or Domus Dei, God's House; which answers to the Greek Kuglanov, whence the Saxons derived their name Kyrick or Kyrck, and the Scotch and English Kyrk, or Kirk and church.-Tertullian called the church Domus Columbæ. which he had established at Geneva. Almost from the æra of the Reformation in Scotland, till that of the Revolution, there was a perpetual struggle between the court and the people for the establishment of an Episcopal or a Presbyterian form of Church Government. The former model of ecclesiastical polity, was patronised by the house of Stuart, on account of the support which it gave to the prerogatives of the crown; the latter was the favourite of the majority of the people, not so much doubtless on account of its superior claim to apostolical institution, as because the laity are there mixed with the clergy in church judicatories, and the two orders, which under episcopacy are kept so distinct, incorporated, as it were, into one body. But the history of the Scottish: reformed Church, before the accession of Charles II. to the throne, is not very generally known, even at this day, and it is of so extraordinary a nature, that Dr. Pagitt has well observed, "We read of many reformations, but of such one as is now in Scotland, we never heard of."* That John Knox and his brethren were violent reformers, laying it down as a principle, that in new modelling their church they could not recede too far from the church of Rome, is generally known; but it is not much known, that those men were not, in the proper sense of the word, Presbyterians; for the first proposal of dividing the Church of Scotland into presbyteries, as it is now divided, was made in the General Assem * Christianography, p. 188. bly, 1579, though the reformation had been supported by the civil power from 1560. In its constitution during those nineteen years, the Congregation, as the reformed Church was then styled, seems to have resembled the Lutheran churches in Germany; the kingdom being divided into districts, over which were placed superintendants with episcopal powers; but each superintendant, absurdly enough, amenable to the jurisdiction of the Synod, of which he was appointed permanent moderator. This constitution was so very defective, that is could not well subsist. Accordingly, the old ecclesiastical government, by Archbishops, Bishops, &c. was restored in 1572, when the church put on a more regular appearance of Episcopacy. This, however, did not continue long; for in 1581, the presbytery of Edinburgh was erected, the first in Scotland; but those courts called Presbyteries, were not generally agreed to by the king till 1586, nor ratified by an act of Parliament until 1592, when Presbyterianism became the establishment of Scotland. This constitution of the church was far from being acceptable to King James. Even before his accession to the throne of England, he had acquired such influence over the Scottish clergy, as' to obtain from them an acknowledgment of the Parliamentary jurisdiction of bishops, and after that event he prevailed with them, in 1606, to re Yet Dr. Hill dates the first establishment of Presbyterian Government in 1560. See p. 234. of his Theological Institutes. ceive those who were styled Bishops, as perpetual presidents or moderators in their ecclesiastical synods. It was not however, till 1610, that there was in Scotland a reformed Episcopacy, such as the Church of England has always enjoyed, and such as Cyprian and the other luminaries of the third century would have acknowledged as regular and apostolical. By the General Assembly which was that year held in Glasgow, Episcopacy was solemnly voted to be thenceforward the government of the Church of Scotland; and it is remarkable, that of more than 170 members, of whom that Assembly consisted, only five voted against Episcopacy, and seven who could come to no determination, declaring, non liquet.* Presbyterianism thus rejected, was again set up on the ruins of Episcopacy by the covenanters in the reign of Charles I., and continued during the interregnum; but the episcopal form was re-established by his son and successor in 1661; and this constitution of the Church remained till the Revolution in 1688, when Presbyterianism was finally established, and in 1690 ratified by act of Parliament. Thus Scotland and England having been separate kingdoms at the time of the Reformation, a difference of circumstances in the two countries led to different sentiments on the subject of religion, and at last to different religious *See The Fundamental Charter of Presbytery as it hath been lately established in the Kingdom of Scotland, published in London 1695; and the British Critic for Feb. 1805. See also above, Vol. II. pp. 298, 403, &c. |