[The passages which we have thus quoted are often alluded to as affording evidence that the period in our church history to which they refer was the golden age of the Kirk. Without questioning the honesty of Kirkton, or without interfering with the right which other people have to judge for themselves in weighing the evidence afforded from many sources, we must say that Kirkton’s account of matters appears to be, in its leading points, an enthusiastic fable. There is in every ecclesiastical record of the time, the most redundant and revolting proof that, instead of the unspotted morality on which he discants, enormities of every sort prevailed to a great extent—and such records are unimpeachable evidence. With regard to the alleged extent of intelligence, education, &c., the following brief passage from the record of the Presbytery of Perth, (March 28, 1649,) is quite conclusive:—“List of the Families wherein some of them can read within the parishes following—viz., Scone, 25; Drone, 36; Dumbarny, 55; Sᵗ Madoes, 9; Rund, 25; Kinnoul, 18; Sᵗ Martins, 13; Ragarton, 9; Arngask, 16; Abernethy 100.” We now proceed to give a detailed account of the Assembly at St Andrew’s in 1651, when Scotland was subjected to the double distraction of a violent schism in the Church, and a war in the field, betwixt the Scotch and the invading army of Cromwell.]

1651.
Proceedings of the General Assembly which met at St Andrews and Dundee in July 1651.[446]

[Session 1, July 16.]

Preached in the fornoon Mr And. Cant; his text Heb. 12, 12, &c., and spoke generally against the publick proceedings: and in the afternoon, Mr Rob. Douglasse, his text Ps. 102, 6; and in the close of his sermon contradicted the former sermon.

After qᶜʰ, the members of the Assembly repaired to the Assembly House, and after the King’s Commissioner (my Lord Balcarras) and all wer sitt down in the house, prayer was made by Mr And. Cant, former Moderator; after qᶜʰ the Commissions wer given in. Ther wer double Elections given in of Commissioners from Glasgow, Stirling, and Dunkell, qᶜʰ wer waved till the Assembly should be constitute.

Mr Ja. Guthry made exception against the ruling Elders that wer chosen Comissioners from Churnside and Dunse, alledging they wer upon the Engagment, and according to ane act of the General Assembly ’49, they could not be Members; also affirming the Presbitry of Churnside to be but 3 or 4 in number, and therfor could not chose Commissioners; but that was laid by untill the Constitution of the Assembly.

After all the Commissions wer given in, quhen they wer about the constitution of the Assembly and election of a Moderator,

Mr John Menzies immediatly arose and said he had somquhat to propound, quhich was for noe intention but disburden his conscience, and it was that the Members of the Comission of the Kirke could not be admitted to sit in the Assembly, in regard their proceedings had been scandalouse, and that it was a rule that noe scandalouse persons should sit or have place in ecclesiasticall judicatorys.

Mr Douglasse did rise, and replyed, that they hoped their cariage should appear to be right, and noe wise scandalouse.