The only confession of faith legally established he- fore the Revolution of 1688 was that which is published
in the History of the Reformation in Scotland, attrib- uted to John Knox. It consists of twenty-five articles, and was the confession of the Episcopal as well as of the Presbyterian Church. The Parliament, however, during the Commonwealth, adopted the Westminster Confession. At the Revolution this confession was de- clared to be the standard of the national faith; and it was ordained by the same acts ofParliament which Bet- tied Presbj terian Church government in Scotland, "that no person be admitted or continued bin alter to be a minister or preacher h ithin this < ihurch unless he sub- scribe the [that is, this] confession of faith, declaring the same to be the confession of his faith." By the act of union in 17o7 the same is required of all professors, principals, regents, master-, and others bearing office.
The Westminster < lonfession ol Faith, then, and what are called the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, contain the publicly recognise d doctrines of ibis < Ihurch; and it is well known that these formularies are an embodiment of the Calvinistic faith. No liturgy or public form of prayer is used in the Church of Scotland, the ministers only guide being the Directory for thi of God. The administration of the Lord's Su] general thing observed lour limes a year, is conducted with simple forms, but is accompanied, usually preceded and followed, by special religious services, consisting of prayers and exhortations. A metrical version of the Psalms on the basis of that of Rous (died 1659) is used, and supplementary hymns have recently been introduced.
The provision which has been made by the law of Scotland for the support of the clergy of the Estab- lished Church consists of a stipend, a small gli be of land, and a manse (parsonage house) and office houses. By an act of Parliament passed in 1810, £10,000 per annum were granted for augmenting the .-mailer parish stipends in Scotland. By this act the lowest stipend assigned to a minister of the establishment is £150 sterling, with a small sum. generally £8 6s. 8d., for communion elements. Patronage, ill part abrogated at the Revolution, was restored in 171-_' by act ol Parlia- ment. Scottish independence rebelled at this, the peo- ple claiming the right to elect their own clergy, or at least to exercise a veto o\er the appointment of an un- satisfactory one; and the controversy which ensued led to secession, which was ushered in first by indifference, and was helped on by the renewal of the old interest From that time a worldly spirit crept into the Church ;
men of talents, but lax in principle, obtained | i ssi( n
of influential positions; the leaven ofmoderatism — ridi- culed in Dr. Witherspoon's Characteristics s< | exten- sively to work; and in the coins" of lime Armiuian, Pelagian, and even Socinian tenets were propagated, with little attempt at concealment. The result was the secession of several important bodies from the Church. The first who formally withdrew were the Covenant- ers, or ( iameronians, w ho objected to the interference of the state authorities in Church affairs, and to the Eras- tian principle involved in the existing establishment, as inconsistent with the covenant to which the Church had sworn. See Caheronians. A few faithful men, led by Ebenezer Erskine, endeavored to breast the tide; but, being deposed by the commission of the Assembly, who were Moderates, they seceded in 17;;.".. and formed themselves into a distinct body, called the Associated Presbytery, more commonly known as Seceders. They became known as the Secession Church. This seces- sion proved a severe blow, and shook the establish- ment io iis foundations. Another secession arose in 1760, ami from ii was formed the Presbyterians of Re- lief, heller known as "The Relief Synod.'" These
bodies ha\ e since been united, and constitute I hi Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Those who remained in the Established Church were divided in opinion
on the subject of lay patronage The sentiment against ii continued to grow because of the indifference of the clergy. For a while moderatism held the upper baud, but ii- reign was dreary. Under the dominant influ-
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES 517 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES
ence of principal Robertson, whose studies were more devoted to elegant literature than to the Holy Script- ures, the preaching of the Gospel was superseded by moral essays, and Dr. Blair's cold and polished sermons were regarded as models of the highest excellence. This state of things continued till near the close of the 18th century, when Christians in Scotland began to share in that general reviving of evangelical principles which then pervaded Great Britain. A positive reac- tion set in, and gradually new life began to animate the frozen limbs of the Established Church. The evan- gelical party took heart, and constantly increased in strength. Dr. Andrew Thomson, Dr. Chalmers, and others came upon the stage of action, and under their vigorous lead a new asra was inaugurated. The Assem- bly entered with zeal into the subject of foreign mis- sions, while it multiplied churches to supply the need at home. The burden of patronage was felt to be a great hindrance to the progress of vital piety and active effort, and the autonomy or independent jurisdiction of the Church became a topic of earnest debate.