Instead of the

silent amazement the One that is next to him. harsh features of a demon in human shape, such as he had been familiar with all his days, he there reads for the first time in the face of JESUS the lineaments of godlike purity and a holy life. From the mockery of the crowd he learns the import of His character and mission. Out of the falsified titles and vilified speeches of the rabble, he translates, in the face of JESUS, the lofty conceptions of the MESSIAH and SAVIOUR of the world. Doubtless his arm had been a dauntless one in his deeds of daring and crime and now, seeing the infinite disparity between his own black character and the shining innocence of the HOLY JESUS; and feeling and owning the compassion of that SAVIOUR'S heart, he never for a moment trusts in a lie-never for a moment cloaks and dissembles, excuses or palliates his offences-the part of a mean and cowardly heart-but with virtuous, heroic contrition confesses that his ignominious death is the just punish ment of his crimes: and now, inspired with superhuman courage, he dares to despise the shame of that trying hour, and not only to believe on the LORD JESUS, but even to proclaim aloud his faith in the crucified Nazarene, by boldly rebuking the blasphemy of his fellow-sinner.

HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND SINCE THE REFORMATION.

NO. IX. THE NATIONAL COVENANT": FIRST PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH.

"We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement." -Isaiah, xxviii. 15.

WE had occasion, when treating of the time of Mary's reign to expose the dishonesty and perfidy of the Reformed leaders in their conduct towards her: the same base qualities stand forth in bold relief amid the congeries of vices which adorn the Covenanting chiefs. Traquair, holding a high State office and as Privy Councillor sworn not to divulge the secrets of his Sovereign, had no sooner returned to Edinburgh than he

betrayed to Rothes, and other nobles connected with the "Tables," the intended measures of the King, and especially the forthcoming proclamation; and they immediately prepared their schemes to counteract it. The Privy Council were ordered to meet at Stirling on the 20th February to issue it in due form, and the Earls of Traquair and Roxburgh proceeded thither for the purpose; but the Lords Lindsay and Home accidentally heard of their intention, and got there before them. The proclamation approved the Liturgy, prohibited all future meetings for attacking it, and ordered all strangers to lear the town within six hours; but no sooner had it been affixed to the market cross than the Covenanters appended their protestation, containing the usual commonplaces of slander and invective against the Bishops and Prayer Book, and couched in the most seditious language. Nor was this all, for armed men to the number of 2000 flocked into Stirling, with fearful menaces to the peaceable and well-disposed citizens, and were with the utmost difficulty induced to leave at close of day by their own leaders, alarmed at the spirits they had conjured up

The same proclamation was made at Edinburgh on the 22d. and multitudes, armed and unarmed, assembled from the cour try round on that and the following days, in open defiance of all law and order. A solemn "Bond of Union" had been prepared by the leading conspirators, and was presented to the Presbyterian ministers for their concurrence. A fast wa ordered on the next Sunday, and preachments were deliv ered in its favour. This document is otherwise termed the "National Covenant," is extremely long and tiresome in its verbiage, and abounds in the most unblushing hypocrisy. It consists of three parts, 1st. The Confession of Faith directed against the Papists, made in 1580, and signed by King James and his household, many nobles and others; 2d. A wearisome recital of all the Acts of Parliament passed in favour of the schemes of Knox and Melville, with a careful avoidance to mention those establishing the Episcopal order and govern ment; and 3d, A covenant to resist all innovations in the Kirk and religion introduced since 1581, and binding the subscri bers to aid each other, and defend themselves to the utmost of their power if interfered with, no matter by what authority,

With all this were intermingled profuse assertions of loyalty to the King, respect for the laws of their country, desire for peace, and zeal for the purity of religion. Their subsequent acts are a striking comment on these professions, and show how Satan ofttimes transforms himself into an angel of light, and can quote the words of Holy Writ itself to subserve his wicked ends. In preparing this production we are told that Johnstone, of Warriston, attended to the legal recitals and phraseology, while Henderson did the canting. When it was presented to the clergy for their approval some few honest ones opposed it, partly because of the oaths they had taken when ordained, partly because Episcopacy and the Perth articles had been legally established by Parliament, and some, farther, because they conscientiously approved them. The quibbles and falsehoods invented by Rothes and his comrades to soothe their consciences and obtain their signatures would disgrace a Tombs lawyer, but still in many cases they accomplished their design.

"The National Covenant" having been thus prepared and approved, was publicly presented for signature in the Greyfriars church, at Edinburgh, on the 1st March, 1638. Presbyterian writers pretend that 60,000 persons were present, but others, better informed and less prejudiced, pronounce this a gross exaggeration. It was read by Johnstone, of Warriston, from "a fair parchment sheet, an ell square," and when the nobles and other principal persons had subscribed their names, it was carried to the graveyard, spread out upon a large flat stone, and signed by as many as could get near enough, till the back and margin were entirely covered. The most frantic enthusiasm was displayed during this process. Some wept, others groaned loudly as if in convulsive agony, others shouted with uproarious joy, and many actually pierced their arms and signed their names in blood. The whole scene reminds the reader of the terrible frenzy of the Baal-worshippers, recorded in the eighteenth chapter of the First Book of Kings, and, we doubt not, was equally instigated by the arch-enemy of mankind.

One of the loyal clergy of Edinburgh, the Rev. David Mitchel, gives, in a letter to Leslie, Bishop of Raphoe, a vivid

description of the unscrupulous violence and the base arts resorted to by the Covenanters :

The true pastors are brought into Edinburgh to cry out against us wolves, and they with our brethren here, Mr. Andrew Ramsay. Mr. Henry Pollock, and your whilom friend the Principal (Adamson), crying out that they are neither good Christians nor good subjects that do not subscribe,-nay, not in covenant with GOD,-have made us so odious that we dare not go out in the streets. I have been dogged by some gentlemen, and followed with many mumbled threatenings behind my back; and then when in stairs, swords drawn, and "If I had the papist villain-oh!" Yet, I thank God, I am living to serve GoD, and the King, and the Church, and your Lordship. There is nothing expected here but civil war. There is no meeting of Council. The Chancellor may not with safety attend it, nor any Bishop: the very name is more odious among old and young than the devil's. Galloway takes shelter under the Treasurer's wings; he draws him out to known dangers, and then makes a show of protection.

The madness spread rapidly through the whole kingdom; and everywhere the loyal were persecuted, the faithful clergy insulted and maltreated, and the diabolical Covenant forced upon all classes, sexes, and ages. Amid the general degeneracy, the city of Aberdeen presented a glorious example of loyalty, fidelity, and obedience. The clergy," the Aberdeen Doctors" as they were styled, nobly maintained the cause of their Church and Sovereign, and by their irrefragable argu ments put to silence the prating of the miserable fanatics sent to urge heresy and treason. One of these latter, Samuel Rutherford by name, says with characteristic irreverence, in a letter to David Dickson, "I cannot get a house in Aberdeen wherein to leave drink-siller in my MASTER'S name, save one only. There is no sale for CHRIST in the North; He is like to stay long on my hands ere any accept of Him." It grieves us deeply to transcribe this blasphemous cant, but it is necessary to exhibit to the life these men and their times.

Drs. Barron and Forbes, Professors in the College of Aberdeen, especially distinguished themselves in defence of the Lit urgy and Episcopal government, and by their assaults on the Presbyterian system. In Glasgow, too, the Rev. John Maxwell, John Bell, Jr., and Zachary Boyd, stoutly refused “to touch the unclean thing," and remained unshaken in their fidelity.

Emboldened by success, the Covenanting nobles and ministers presented "Eight Articles for the peace of the Kirk and Kingdom," to the Duke of Lennox, Marquis of Ham

ilton, and Earl of Morton, to be forwarded by them to the King. They demanded, 1. The withdrawal of the Liturgy and Canons; 2. Abolition of the High Commission Court; 3. Revocation of the Perth Articles; 4. Limitation of Churchmen to sit in Parliament; 5. Restoration of the Act of 1592, giving Presbyteries the power of collation, &c., to benefices, and of deprivation; 6. An annual General Assembly; 7. The immediate summoning of a Parliament; 8. The liberty to present more particular suggestions to the Assembly and Parliament when convened.

The Marquis of Hamilton, having communicated these demands to the King, was in May appointed Lord High Commissioner, and instructed to employ conciliatory measures; to admit no petition against the Perth Articles, but at the same time to forbear enforcing them; and to suspend the Acts of Privy Council enforcing the use of the Liturgy. The Privy Council and the Supreme Judicial Courts were to return to Edinburgh as soon as the treasonable National Covenant should be abrogated by the citizens, and the term of six weeks was allowed them to make such renunciation. The Commissioner was a loyal, well-meaning, and amiable man, but far too timid and vacillating to suit the times; and, without intending or perceiving it, he kept all the while playing into the hands of his enemies. On his arrival at Dalkeith with his new appointment, the Presbyterian pulpits resounded with the fiercest denunciations; the King was accused of treachery, and their adherents were warned to put no trust in his promises or professions. Inflammatory addresses were circulated throughout the country; arms were secretly purchased, and the number of malcontents sedulously increased. The most frightful blasphemies were fearlessly uttered. Cant, for example, in his sermon at Glasgow, told his audience that "he was sent to them with a Commission from CHRIST to bid them to subscribe, it being CHRIST's contract-that he came as a wooer for the bridegroom to call upon them to be hand-fasted by subscribing the contract and that he would not depart till he had got the names of all refusers, of whom he would complain to his MASTER!" The disgusting phrases of a "Covenanted Bridegroom," a "Covenanted GOD," a "Covenanted JESUS," and the