OF DIVINES, and CREEDS AND CONFESSIONS. The first of these documents was intended to supersede the book of Common Prayer in England, and. indirectly. the book of Common Order in Scotland. It laid down certain general rules in regard to public worship and the administration of the sacraments, but left very much to the dis cretion of the particular ministers and congregditions.
The union between the Scottish and English Puritans was dissolved by the ascen dency of the independents. Scotland, distracted by civil and ecclesiastical dissension, was unable to defend itself against Cromwell. It was conquered and kept thoroughly under subjection by the English army, which forbade the meetings of the general assem bly, but left the other courts and the rest of the church system as they were before. At the restoration, the higher classes generally, who had suffered under the ecclesiastical tyranny of the ministers, were zealous for the re-establishment of Episcopacy. The 'greater part of the nation, except in the south-western provinces, was indiffe;'ent. and the king experienced no difficulty in restoring thebishops to their former rights both in church and state. But Episcopacy alone was restored; there was uo attempt to intro duce a liturgy, or even to enforce the observance of the Perth articles. he new pri mate, archbishop Sharp, was an able man, of good moral character, but ambitious and overbehring, and the covenanters never forgave his change from Presbywrianism, thouri) he haul always belonged to the more moderate of Hie two parties into which the church was divided. He was almost the only one of the bishops who enjoyed political influence; and, unfortunately for himself and the hierarchy, that influence was generally used to encourage, not to restrain, that severe measures of the government. When the primate was assassinated. the severity became a cruel tyranny, and ninny who had 110 predilection for any particular ecclesiastical opinions were ready to weleome•the change which took place at the revolution. • • When the Scottish estates met in 16S9, to consider what course was to be adopted in the northern kingdom. the bishops declined to abandon king Janie& Whatever might
have been the consequences had they taken an opposite course. this resobrion was fatal to the Episcopal establishment. William and Mary were called to the throne, and prelacy was declared to be nn insupportable grievance, and was abolished. In the following year Presbyterianism was re-established, and the Westminster Confession of Faith was ratified as the national staudard of belief, and the right of patrons to nominate to eccle siastical benefices was taken away. In the end of the same year a general assembly was held. the first which bad been allowed to meet since its dissolution by the order of Cromwell. It was composed, as before, of ministers and elders from the various pres byteries, and of elders from the burghs and universities, and was presided over by a lay commissioner, named by the crown, and a minister elected by the members as modera tor. With the exception of snore years in the reign of William, the assembly has con tinued to meet annually since the revolution, and to transact business duringthe periods when it was not in session by a commission named by itself for the purpose. See ASSEXIBLY,GENEItAI, The other chief ecclesiastical events of William's reign were a series 0f vain attempts on the put of the sovereign to bring about a comprehension of the Episcopal clergy with those of the establishment, and the passing by the assembly in 1697 of what was called the " barrier art" (q.v.). which guarded against sudden leg islation, by providing that no' permanent net should be passed until it had received the approbation of the majority of the presbyteries.
During the reign of queen Anne, an nne, and in the year 1707. England and Scotland were united into one kingdom. A special sta•nte was passed for the security of the Protest ant religion and Presbyterian church government in the latter country; providing that these should continue without. any alteration in time to come, and confirming the act of William and Mary, which ratified the confession of faith, and settled the Presbyterian form of church government.