Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

Observer, June 1,72.

would look with dire horror, could they rise again, at the kind of thing which an English Parliament can create and baptize as a Christian Church. To them the Church is essentially a self-existent, self-governing community, teacher of all political communities, ruler of all political communities, but absolutely incapable, without forfeiting the very name of Church, of accepting from political communities its doctrines, discipline, and the law of its life. Do not think, I pray you, that the Anglican Establishment, to which our fathers were ready to die rather than conform, was simply the old Mediæval Church with a Royal instead of a Papal head. The whole thing was set in an entirely new key. The constituted political authorities in the State took in charge the establishment and management of the truth and the kingdom of the Lord Jesus in this English land. We may grieve, as would Mediæval Churchmen, as do modern High Churchmen, over the degradation of Christian ideas and of the Christian spirit involved in the very existence of such a worldly, rich, pompous, prelatical, Erastian institution as this. But its special character has had one good result. It has kept it alive. I mean alive with the life of the nation. It has kept up a free circulation of the juices of the national life in its limbs and organs, and presents it at this day, in point of vitality, in very favourable contrast to the churches in Europe, which, born at the same time, were not welded in, so to speak, as ours has been with their national political life. Much as I sadden over the miseries and the wrongs of which the English Establish ment has been the parent, I can conceive of something still worse, far worse, for England: a powerful Church, highly endowed, and free to govern itself, and to press the yoke of spiritual tyranny on our English necks. From that the founders of our Establishment delivered us, They have given us a Latitudinarian Church, whose doctrine is just as elastic as the laytheological intellect, and whose discipline is a farce; but bad as it is, it is better than the ecclesiastical tyranny which, had their army triumphed, the Scotch Presbyterial party would have crushed upon us in its room. You remember Bailie's speech in the Westminster Assembly, on the debate on the elderships. "This is a point of high consequence, and upon no other we (the Presbyterians) expect so great difficulty, except alone Independency, wherewith we purpose not to meddle in haste, till it please God to advance our army, which we expect will much assist our arguments.” We must take just views of history. There is, one thing worse than an Erastian Establishment, and that is an Establishment in which Priest-writ large or small-Presbyter, or Pope is supreme.

The broadest and most characteristic feature of our natural develop. ment-that which is peculiarly English-is the deep religious spirit which has possessed the nation in the critical moment of its development, the crises of revolution by which nations pass into new and higher stages of life. Somehow, we will say a word about the how directly, our great revolutions have been conducted for distinctly religious ends. The controversy with prelacy was at the root of the movement which is known as the Great Rebellion; the controversy with Popery was really at the root of the great revolution of 1688. In England men have won their political in struggling for their religious liberties. This sacred element in political conflict, the fear of God in the hearts of the men who were fighting in the forefront of the political battle, has been in all ages a leaven of incalculable value to our higher national life. And this we owe to the elder Nonconformity. Our fathers were perforce made political as well as religious reformers. The political character of the Establishment inevitably gave a

Observer, June 1, '72.

political direction to all movements for ecclesiastical reform. Inevitably I say. Men were driven into it. The head of the State and the head of the Church being one, religious discontent assumed a tinge of political complaint and protest. The enemies of the Church as by law established were counted emenies to the State and the Royal prerogative; and thus a great religious party of reformers was organized which, in two generations grew strong enough to lay both Church and King in the dust.

*

*

[blocks in formation]

There is yet one point on which a word must be said in closing-the influence which the elder Nonconformity exercised, not on the morals only, but on the morale of our country; and on the measure of elevation, of honesty, of purity, which characterises our domestic, social, and political life. There can be no question, the proofs are, alas! abundant and conclusive, that it was a foul world, as well as a tyrannous world, against which our fathers rose up in judgment. There can be no question-the proofs again are happily abundant and conclusive-that the victory of the Nonconformists was the purification of the national life. The army of the Independents was a model of discipline, military and moral. Such an army the world had never seen before, has never seen since; and its triumph everywhere was the triumph of mercy over cruelty, gentleness over brutality, sobriety over drunkenness, and chastity over lust, and it breathed its spirit through society. The Commonwealth was the purest, the most sober, continent, selfrespectful, self-governed, as well as God-fearing State which has ever existed in this world. Then came the flood of the Restoration. Impurity, blasphemy, obscenity, gambling, servility, treachery, bribery, everything against which the elder Nonconformists had witnessed and striven, and which they had put down in England, as they had never been put down in this world, returned with sevenfold malignity, and took possession of the land. We speak of those days as days of unexampled license, and talk as if all the fruits of the great struggle had been swept away by this new deluge of sin. It is a great mistake. The purity, the domestic fidelity, the domestic Courtesy and grace, the culture, the dignity of the elder Nonconformity, lived on. It betook itself with the Nonconformists of the second exodus to quiet, godly country homes, and was nursed and cherished there by godly Nonconformist ministries, in tears and pain, as most noble things are cherished, until it had lent a tinge to the whole middle-class life of England, a tinge of domestic purity, of self-restraint, of dignity, of piety, which it bears to this day, and which God grant that it may bear while England endures. It is a dreary mistake to imagine that all the virtues, or even the most precious part of the virtue of the life of the Commonwealth was swept away by that French deluge of the Restoration. We read about the court life of Charles II., and think that it is in England. But what is the Court life to the country life of a nation? It is as the coat to the man. Never mind the coat, see what kind of a man is beneath. And I say the reformation, for reformation it was, which the elder Nonconformists wrought, betook itself with the Nonconformists of 1662 to the wilderness. It left courts and camps, and sheltered itself in quiet country homes, in county halls and farmhouses, among the gentry, in upper rooms, in towns among the tradesmen, in peasants' cottages, and in miners' huts, and there it brought an element inestimably precious into our national life. It made the great Nonconformist party, from 1662 till our own day, the champion of order, cleanness, sobriety, chastity, honesty, and liberty. Born in sorrow and nursed in affliction, it has not been afraid to suffer for England,

Observer, June 1, '72.

and to win, by its own pain and sacrifice, liberties and advantages in whose blessings now the whole nation shares. It has taught monarchy limitation, it has taught government its responsibility; it has taught aristocracy its duty, and democracy its power. It has taught the State the law of Conservative progress; it has taught the Church charity and the voluntary principle and it prays us now, with its worn, sad countenance, full of thorough noble endurance and conquering faith, to carry on and to complete with the same strength, and with the same high aim, the great enterprise of the gospel-to make this earth a kingdom of heaven,-unless we are prepared to declare ourselves, before God and man, unworthy of our noble traditions, our illustrious ancestry, our ever memorable and glorious history.

AN EXHORTATION FROM THE SICK ROOM.

To the Editor of the ECCLESIASTICAL OBSERVER.

DEAR BROTHER,-As you are aware, I have been ill for some considerable time. About nine weeks ago I was seized with a species of the prevailing epidemic; a medical practitioner was called in, who informed me I must expect a month's illness. Very soon the disease assumed a most virulent form, the symptoms were alarming; the filling of the throat was most dangerous, my intellect was so affected that reason ceased to hold her proper sway; then at the suggestion of my medical attendant, the aid of an eminent physician was obtained and, with the blessing of God on the means used, the more dangerous symptoms subsided and consciousness returned. I had requested an interest in the prayers of the church; and who can tell to what extent the Lord, in His providence and mercy, interposed on my behalf. I had been concerned respecting the more immediate wants of my family, but the prompt kindness of several near and dear relatives afforded me rest and pleasure. I am happy to say I felt greatly resigned to the Lord's will. Although I knew I had complied with the conditions of pardon, viz. :-belief in the Lord Jesus, repentance, and baptism, yet I felt that during my Christian life I had been less faithful than I might have been. Assured that the Lord had known all my circumstances, and the obstacles in my path, I pleaded, and trusted in, the righteousness of Christ my Saviour, I became gradually convalescent, but am still a prisoner. Previous to this attack, during the forty years of my life, I have been blessed with health, therefore have reason to be thankful.

Brethren in Christ, let us watch! for we know not what a day may bring forth. Let us work while it is called day, for the night cometh when no man can work! Yours in the one hope,

H. PICKERING.

Family Room.

AILSIE BRUCE, THE SCOTTISH MAIDEN.

"Howe'er it be, it seems to me,

'Tis only noble to be good;

Kind hearts are more than coronets,

And simple faith than Norman blood."

TRUE heroism is to be found in | lives dear unto them, that so they suffering for, or defending, the true and good. In every age and in every clime, some of our noblest souls have dared death for the defence of sacred principles, not counting their

might prove themselves faithful to the high and holy cause which they had espoused. And not only do we find these moral heroes among the fathers and elders of the church

Observer, June 1, '72.

66

among those with hoary hairs and matured minds-but also among "young men and maidens." Alice Bruce, or Ailsie," as her friends affectionately termed her, was one of these young Scottish martyrs. She was the daughter of John Bruce, a good man, who was for some time marked by Claverhouse and his dragoons for destruction, because of his attachment to the "Covenant." For the information of our young readers, we will explain that the "Covenant " was a confession declaration of faith, drawn up and signed by the people of Scotland, during the reign of the Stuart dynasty, and which stated that they would acknowledge only Christ as the head of the church; that in all matters of religion they would be free to worship God according to their conscientious understanding of Christ's law; and that, being conscientiously Presbyterians, they would not be forced into Episcopalianism (or "Prelacy," as they termed it) by any king or government. This was the occasion of a long and dreadful struggle between the government and the Scottish people. Charles II. determined to force his own way on the people, and those who would not 'conform," persecuted, and many put to death with unrelenting severity; so that many thousands are said to have perished in the struggle.

[ocr errors]

were

Ailsie was the eldest and favorite daughter of John Bruce, and had spent some happy years at the old homestead when the storm of persecution burst over the land. One day a neighbour rushed into the house stealthily and said:

[ocr errors]

summit of which his house stood. One glance was enough for him; and, like a deer, he darted off to the hills, which towered in wild majesty behind the house. He was well acquainted with these mountain caves and dens in which the Covenanters were hiding, and made for one of them. In about half an hour he reached a long, dark heathery cave, and, on making a peculiar signal, was admitted by tnose who were inside. Among the fugitives there were a half brother of his own, and the former minister of the parish. Here he knew he was safe.

While he was speeding off among the hills, the soldiers had pressed forward and entered the house. Here they found only Mrs. Bruce and her little family, who were cowered around her, afraid of their lives; for the ferocious fellows who had invaded the sanctuary of their home hesitated at no wrong violence. In reply to all their insolent questions and brutal demands, Mrs. Bruce declared, and declared truthfully, too, that she had no knowledge of her husband's whereabouts, But this would not satisfy the commander. Going up to her, and, presenting his musket at her head, he said:

or

"Tell me, woman, where can I find thy husband."

66

"I cannot tell," replied she. 'Before my Maker, I know not where he has gone."

"Then you shall suffer the penalty. We will force it out of you with the thumb-screws."

"You may torture me, but I cannot tell. I do not know."

"Search the house immediately," returned Claverhouse, turning to his the men, "And if he is concealed any. where here, let us give the old hag a taste of the torture for her deception."

"Fly, fly, John Bruce! Phillistines are upon thee! Bruce stayed to hear no more, but darting out of the house and looking round, he saw the troop of dragoons, commanded by Claverhouse, galloping over the little burn which rippled along at the foot of the hill, near the

On this the soldiers dispersed themselves over the house and premises; but their search was fruitless, and one after another they returned to their captain with the

Observer, June 1, '72.

same story. Nothing was to be seen | between the fugitives and their of Bruce. friends. These were dangerous "Well, well, regale yourselves errands; for the dragoons and their with the best that the house affords." spies were always on the lookout for returned he, "And we will continue any one carrying provisions or on the lookout for him. And, as for lingering about in unfrequented you, madam," said he, turning to places; and many had been put to Mrs. Bruce, "If we can discover by the torture, with the view of making any means that you or your children them disclose the retreat of their are in the habit of holding any friends. communication with him, we will force you to reveal his whereabouts by the torture."

[ocr errors]

"What! forbid a wife and family to hold any intercourse, or to give succour to their ain husband and father! exclaimed Mrs. Bruce, when the soldiers had departed. "Methinks they little ken the affection we bear to John Bruce." Many days and weeks went on, and the blushing spring gave place to the brilliant summer; but John Bruce had not yet returned to his family. He was still a proscribed man, hiding in dens and caves of the hills. Sometimes at midnight he would creep down to his home, crawling on all fours among the heather and peat-moss, in order that he might not be seen by any spies or soldiers. How precious and how short were those visits! None knew of them but Mrs. Bruce and Ailsie; for it would not have been safe to have admitted any of the younger children to these dangerous confidences.

Ailsie was the only one of the family to whom was entrusted the duty of carrying supplies to the cave where her father lay hidden. Her journeys there were made mostly at night-oftenest, indeed, when the stars were clouded, and silence and darkness lay over all. When near the cave, she would imitate the cry of the curlew, and after depositing the burden among the peat-moss at a given place, would retire again. On other occasions, if the way seemed clear, she would creep into the cave and carry messages to and fro

One evening just before the twi light, Ailsie set out on her mission, and proceeded part of the way in safety. Her mind was full of the coming interview between herself and her father. She would tell him her mother's messages of love and undy. ing affection, Hugh's wishes that he could see his father and Sandy's childish prattle as to the foreign land to which he supposed his father had gone. Then she must tell him, too, to be very careful and avoid coming home, as Claverhouse and his troops were again in the neighbourhood, scouring the country over for those Covenanters who were suspected. All this, and much more, passed through her mind, and she pressed on quickly toward the cave, when suddenly she was accosted by a couple of moss-troopers, and commanded to deliver up what she was carrying. She stopped at once; for disobedience to the order might cost her her life.

"It's only a few barley bannocks and a wee drop of whiskey," replied the little maid tremblingly. "Oh sirs, dinna tak' away this little from me."

"We shall not take it away, but you will have to go with us, and inform the captain were you were going, and for whom they were intended."

So saying, the brutal soldiers seized the maiden and hurried her along by the side of their horses, towards Claverhouse's quarters. She was only fourteen years old, and small of her age, and the rough rude grip of the soldiers made her quake

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »