AND Woodhull OBSERVATIONS Concerning the WORSHIP, DISCIPLINE, and Go- In four BOOK S. By WALTER STEUART of PARDOVAN. Unto which are added, The Form of Procefs in the Judicatures of the Church, AND, The Second Book of Difcipline; or, Heads and Conclufions of ALSO, A Chapter of a celebrated Treatise, concerning the Causes of the EDINBURGH: Sold by W.GRAY, front of the Exchange, and R. INGLIS, Potterrow. PREFACE. T was the happiness of Scotland, very early, perhaps as early as the apoftolic age, to receive the light of the glorious gofpel and although, as was the cafe with the reft of the Chriftian world, this light came to be greatly obfcured, by the ambitious incroachments of the church of Rome; yet it is evident, that in Scotland it was never entirely extinguished. For, in fome of the remoter parts of our country, in fome of those very iflands which we are now apt to confider as the feats of ignorance and barbarity, lived a people, remarkable for fimplicity of manners, purity of behaviour, and unaffected piety towards God. These never fubmitted to the ufurpations of the Papal tyranny; and these were "the little leaven which afterwards leavened the whole lump." Of their number, a Columbus and a Kentigern were famous in the fifth century, and a Clemens and Sampfon, in the seventh. And even in the tenth age, when the darkness of corruption and error had greatly increased, we are told, there were fome godly men in Scotland, who taught the true doctrine of Christ's atonement, and continued to exercise their functions apart by themfelves, without acknowledging the authority of those who affumed a fpiritual power over God's heritage. But it was not till about 400 years after this, that any thing of a general reformation began to appear. Then " indeed waters broke forth in our wilderness, "and ftreams in our defert." Nor was all the cruelty of bigotted zeal able to deftroy this heavenly plant; but, watered by the blood of a Refby, a Hamilton, and a Wifhart, it grew ftronger and ftronger, till thoufands flocked to its refreshing fhade, and o took fhelter under its branches. To fupport and animate these, and carry on the glorious work fo happily begun, providence raised up a man of apoftolic piety and refolution, whofe zeal awakened the attention, and whofe prudence conducted the zeal of his countrymen, in fhaking off the Romifh yoke. Every one will immediately perceive, that I fpeak of the famous John Knox, that great inftrument of our reformation, whofe name will be precious to latest ages. The civil diffenfions which then prevailed in the country, did not a little befriend the reformation. And the bold attempt of the Popish clergy to get the whole power into their own hands, on the death of James V. opened the eyes of many who till then had a remained |
