Replies.
PRESBYTERIAN OATH.
(Vol. v., p. 274.)
No such oath as that given in page 274. of "N. & Q." is taken by Presbyterian ministers. Immediately previous to the ordination of a minister of the church of Scotland, the Moderator—that is, the member of Presbytery who presides upon the occasion—calls upon him to answer certain questions, acknowledging the Scriptures to be the word of God, the doctrines of the Confession of Faith to be the truth of God; disowning certain doctrinal errors; declaring his belief that the Presbyterian government and discipline of this church are founded on the word of God, and agreeable thereto; expressing the views with which he enters the ministry, and his resolution faithfully to discharge its duties. Having answered these questions satisfactorily, he is set aside to the work of the ministry by prayer and imposition of the hands of the Presbytery (the local Ecclesiastical Court).
At the conclusion of the service he is called on to sign what is called the Formula, an abstract of the first portion of the questions put to him. It is as follows:—
"I, A. B., do hereby declare, that I do sincerely own and believe the whole doctrine contained in the Confession of Faith, approven by the General Assemblies of this national church, and ratified by law in the year 1690, and frequently confirmed by divers acts of parliament since that time, to be the truths of God; and I do own the same as the confession of my faith: as likewise, I do own the purity of worship presently authorised and practised in this church, and also the Presbyterian government and discipline now so happily established therein; which doctrine, worship, and church government, I am persuaded, are founded upon the word of God, and agreeable thereto: and I promise that, through the grace of God, I shall firmly and constantly adhere to the same; and to the utmost of my power, shall, in my station, assert, maintain, and defend the said doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of this church by Kirk Sessions, Presbyteries, Provincial Synods, and General Assemblies; and that I shall in my practice conform myself to the said worship, and submit to the said discipline and government, and never endeavour directly or indirectly the prejudice or subversion of the same: and I promise that I shall follow no divisive course from the present establishment in this church: renouncing all doctrines, tenets, and opinions whatsoever, contrary to or inconsistent with the said doctrine, worship, discipline, or government of this church.
"Signed, A. B."
No oath is taken, and no obligation come under but the above. In the Confession of Faith, under the head Church, the supremacy of the Pope is denied; but neither in that, the Questions, or the Formula, is there any other reference to any other form of church government.
H.
THE OLD COUNTESS OF DESMOND.
(Vol. v., p. 145.)
As there has been, from time to time, much written in your very interesting publication on the subject of the "Old Countess of Desmond," it may, perhaps, not be unacceptable that I should give you a description of an old family picture in my possession, said to be of that person, to which allusion has been made by some of your correspondents, especially by A. B. R., in your paper of Saturday, 14th February. The painting in question has been for a great number of years in the possession of my family, and from my earliest childhood I have heard it designated as that of the old "Countess of Desmond," although there is no mention of her name thereon. My father for a long time thought it was a work of Rembrandt; but on a close examination there was discovered the name of "G. Douw," low at the left-hand side; and since the picture has been cleaned, the signature has become more distinct. It is painted on board of dark-coloured oak, of eleven inches by eight and a half. The portrait, which reaches to below the bust, and represents a person sitting, is eight and a half inches in length; the face about two and three quarter inches. It is admitted by the best judges to be a painting of great merit. It represents, as well as it is possible, extreme old age, with an extraordinary degree of still remaining vigour, and in this respect certainly fits exactly the character of its subject. The dress is correctly described by your correspondent A. B. R. The forehead is not very high, but square and intellectual—deeply wrinkled; the nose is rather long, and very well formed; the eyes dark; the mouth compressed, and denoting quiet firmness; the expression altogether pleasing and placid, and the face one that must have been handsome in youth. Should any of your correspondents wish to see this picture, I shall leave it for a short time in the hands of my bookseller, Mr. Newman, 3. Bruton Street, Bond Street, who has kindly consented to take charge of it, and to show it to those who feel an interest in such matters.