Letter to the Peers, from a Peer's Son, on the Duty and Necessity of Immediate Legislative Interposition in Behalf of the Church of Scotland, as Deter

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1842 Excerpt: ... to it. Patronage here stands in the character of a simple initiative, whose exercise is in all ways subject to ecclesiastical control, but whose existence is independent of it; and thus, it is placed in a position where it can be honestly said, that it is intended for the good of the Church, and calculated to promote her welfare. But it is of more importance to attend to the next great period, at which the Legislature was called upon to illustrate and declare the principles of the constitution, in regard to the Establishment. We shall there see Patronage assuming a slightly different shade of character, though one which is still perfectly consistent with the fullness of the Church's power. By the regulations laid down concerning it in the act of 1592, it was placed upon a footing more consistent with that view which regards it as a right of property, and proportionably less so with that adopted and proceeded upon in 1567, which, while speaking of it as a right, yet practically treats it as a mere means for promoting order and regularity in the internal economy of the Church. But it is important to observe that, even here, the line was drawn with firmness and accuracy between the limits of spiritual and temporal jurisdiction, and that the act of 1592 preserved inviolate, from any wrfe-attack, the integrity of that province, which, in general as well as in the most special terms, it had previously declared to belong exclusively to the spiritual office-bearers of the Church. It provided that, in future, presentations to benefices should be directed to the particular presbyteries it declared their power to put order in all matters and causes ecclesiastical within their bounds, and to give collation upon presentations according to the discipline of the ...