/alJi. JO 5rom f^e £i6rare of in (^emorg of Sub^e ^citnuef (Qtiffer (grecfttnrtb^e (Jpreeenfeb 6g ^amuef (ttttffer (grecfttnr%e feong to t^e £i6rarg of (Princeton J^eofogicaf ^emindrg n Ij^'/Ci2^ L/lC^U^c^C THE //^ *^'' HISTORY SCOTTISH CHURCH, ROTTERDAM. J. THOMSOK, PRINTFR, EDINBrnOH. c W J(U^^uLr num. MINISTER OF THE SCOTTISH CHUPXH, ROTTEEDAW, From 1645 to 16 '3 2. Pab^bTWan^&lEiies ivimbtrr^ 1832. I 1) ^ 1 S 1' o SCOTTISH SMwmeM, EOTiriiElD)AM. RE\^ WILLIAM STEVEN. M. A. S'Sebasnajis or old Scots Cliapri, Rotts^rllaai- (!r5iiibuiTib; WA1TOH & INl^KS: WIUTTAICER ?c C" LONDON; ANp VXXDKR MIFI! V VKKT-lRniiOKN.ROTTEl-'JlAM HISTORY OF THE SCOTTISH CHURCH, ROTTERDAM. TO WHICH ARE SUBJOINED, NOTICES OF THE OTHER BRITISH CHURCHES IN THE NETHERLANDS; AND A BRIEF VIEW OF THE DUTCH ECCLESIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENT. REV. WILLIAM STEVEN, M.A. JUNIOR MINISTER OF THE SCOTTISH CHURCH, ROTTERDAM. WAUGH AND INNES, EDINBURGH; W. CURRY, JUN. & CO. DUBLIN; WHITTAKER & CO. LONDON; AND VAN DER MEER & VERBRUGGEN, ROTTERDAM. MDCCCXXXIII. PREFACE. In compiling the following historico-biographical Memoir, the Author has endeavoured to make a legiti- mate use of every accessible source of information. From the Sessional Register of the Scottish Church, which is fortunately complete and in excellent pre- servation, the leading facts in the History are prin- cipally derived. Many collateral particulars in this part of the work, as well as in the subjoined Notices , have been obtained from documents equally authen- tic, and hitherto in a great measiu'e unexplored. The Author's original intention was merely to give an account of the Church, with which he has the honour to be connected ; but frequent mention being necessarily made of the other English Congre- gations in the Netherlands, he considered that his- torical sketches of the Sister Churches in this country, might be acceptable. It may be proper to observe that, in most cases, these Notices are the result of a minute personal examination of the several Consis- torial and Vestry Records. VI PREFACE. Eagerly does the Author seize this occasion of assuring the members of the Scottish Consis- tory and Congregation at Rotterdam, how much he appreciates the Christian friendship, which, collec- tively and individually, they have extended towards him ; and of gratefully acknowledging the encourag- ing interest which they, as well as others on the Continent, have taken in this little work. He gladly embraces this opportunity also of tendering his warm- est acknowledgments to his respected brethren, the British ministers in the Netherlands, for the prompt and handsome manner in which they granted access to the Records of their respective charges. To those gentlemen entrusted with the keeping of the Minute- books and papers of the discontinued churches in Hol- land, the Author's best thanks are due. Invariably has he taken care to quote his authority, whether printed, or manuscript : and his specific obligations to the promoters of his undertaking, will be observed in the course of the work. He cannot, however, omit mentioning, with becoming gratitude, the valued ser- vices of a much respected friend, who, as the Author's residence abroad prevented his superintending the press, undertook the task of correction. He alludes to the Rev. Thomas Murray, M. A. of Edinburgh ; whose learning, talents, and sound principles, are well known by his Literary History of Galloway, JLiJe of Samuel Rutherford, and other publications. The Rev. Hew Scott, M. A. assistant minister at Cockpen, must likewise be ranked among the kind contributors to the present volume. Much time has been devoted by Mr. Scott, in examining and mak- PREFACE. Vll ing important extracts from the Records of our Synods, Presbyteries, and Kirk-Sessions. It is to be hoped that, receiving due countenance, he will prosecute his laudable design of furnishing, what is a great desideratum, an illustrative catalogue of the established clergy of Scotland, since the period of the Reformation. An engraved portrait of the Rev. Alexander Petrie, from an original painting in the possession of Con- sistory ; together with views of the old and present Scottish Churches at Rotterdam, executed by three of the most eminent Dutch artists, will, it is pre- sumed, be regarded as no unwelcome accompani- ment. The writer indulges the hope, that this first at- tempt to preserve some memorials of our Continental Churches, will meet with a favourable reception ; especially from such as venerate the distinguished worthies who, in the days of persecution, sought in Holland a safe and honourable retreat. The names of many of these pious and learned refugees, will be found to occupy a prominent place in the succeeding pages. To such as are, or whose relations have been, connected by office or otherwise, with our churches in the United Provinces, the present work, with all its imperfections, may perhaps be regarded with pe- culiar interest. To the illustrious family of Orange, the hereditary patrons of our Presbyterian churches in this country, and to the Netherlands Government, whose munifi- cence, uninfluenced by political changes, has always been generously extended to our religious institu- Vlll PREFACE. tioris, the unfeigned respect and gratitude of every true-hearted Briton will ever be most cheerfully ren- dered. The Brief View given of the Dutch Ecclesiastical establishment has been drawn up, chiefly from the obliging communications and suggestions of several highly respectable individuals, particularly the Rev. Mil. VAN DER TuuK, editor of a standard work on the affairs of the Netherlands Reformed Church ; the Rev. Dr. Ypey, emeritus professor of Theology and Ecclesiastical History in the University of Groningen ; and the Rev. Mr. de Vries of this city. In the Appendix are inserted several original and curious documents, illustrative of the text. 346, Wine Haven, Rotterdam, October 6, 183i CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Page 1642 — 1675 — Scotsmen settle in Rotterdam early in the 17tli cen- tury — Scottish Church established in that City under the authority of the Dutch Government — Rev. Alex. Petrie inducted as minister. — Circumstances of the Church under his ministry. — His death. Is succeeded by the Rev. John Hoog of Leith .... 1 CHAPTER II. 1G7j — 1677 Church became Collegiate Rev. R. 3IacWard appoint- ed Second minister — Memoirs of him. — Owing to the interference of the British Government, obliged to leave Rotterdam Retires with Col. Wallace and the Rev. John Bi-own to Utrecht . . 24 CHAPTER III. 1677 — 1681. — IMacWard, on leaving Rotterdam, solicited by Consistory to nominate a suitable person to succeed him — Steps taken by him relative to this matter. — Rev. Rob. Fleming inducted as second mi- nister, — Farther account of Colonel Wallace and Mr. Brown iV'otices of the Rev. James Borstius. — Memoirs of MacWard con- cluded. — His death, character, and writings .... 43 CHAPTER IV. 1681 — 169o Biographical Sketch of the Rev. R. Fleming — ]\Ir. John Mf)og declared Emeritus Is succeeded by the Rev. James Brown — Death of Mr. Fleming, — and his Son, the Rev. Robert Fleming, elect- ed in bin stead ....•.•.. S3 CONTENTS. CHAPTER V. 1695 — 1723. — Rev. Rob. Fleming, junior Increase of the Congrega- tion, — and a liandsome Church erected for their use — I\Ir. Fleming removes to London. — Is succeeded by the Rev. Thomas Hoog — Mr. Brown becomes Emeritus, — and the Rev. Robert Black chosen in his room. — Death of Mr. Thomas Hoog Fage 114 CHAPTER VI. 1703 1774 Rev. John Enslie Scottish Poor-House instituted at Rotterdam Rev. Hugh Kennedy — Rev. William Walker — Rev. Archibald Smith. — Rev. Alexander Layel .... 152 CHAPTER YII. 1775 1832 Rev. James Somerville — Rev, Alexander Scot — Rev. James how Rev. Maurice Ritchie — Rev. Thomas Ross — Rev. William MacPhail Rev. Alexander ]\IacIntosh. — Rev. James Anderson Rev. William Steven — Conclusion . . . 204 NOTICES or THE BRITISH CHURCHES IN THE NETHERLANDS 259 Amsterdam 269 Arnhem 283 Bergen-op-zoom 284 Bois-le-duc 284 Breda .... 285 The Brielle 285 Bruges .... 287 Brussels 287 Campvere 288 Delft 294 Dordt 297 Flushing 301 Goriuchem or Gorcuni 306 H aarlem • » 307 Hague 307 Heusden 311 CONTENTS. XI Leyden Middleburg Ostend Rotterdam Utrecht Zwolle Page 311 315 324 324 337 344 APPENDIX . . 345 Note A. — Pecuniary Benefactors of the Scottish Church, Rotterdam 347 Note B Notices of the School established by Consistory in 1676 348 NoTK C Mr. MacWard's last letter to the Kirk-Session . 350 Note D — Letters Written by the Rev. Thomas Hoog . 356 Note E List of Elders and Deacons of Scottish Church, Rotterdam 368 Note F Records of the Scottish Brigade, . . 371 Note G Monumental Inscriptions to the Memory of British Subjects 372 BRIEF VIEW OF THE DUTCH ECCLESIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENT , . 379 INDEX 405 CONTINENTAL SUBSCRIBERS, Amsterdam. Ameshoff, Mr. L. H. Churchmaster of the Scottish Church. Bagman, Mr. J. W. Old-Elder of the S. Ch. Borski, Mr. W. Old-Deacon of the S. Ch. Bramley, Mr. William, Churchwarden of the English Epis. Ch. Brand van Cabauw, Mr. J. Member of the Court of Justice. Bryce, Mr. Alexander. Byleveld, Mr. J. C. Receiver of the Customs, and Elder of the S. Ch. Carp, Rev. B. H. (Muidenberg.) Carn Mr C 1 Carp,'M;.i.J.[01d-E^^^-«f^^^S.Ch. Clifford, the Honourable Gerard George, Member of the Coun- cil of State, and of the Second Chamber of the States General, and Old-Deacon of the S. Ch. Clifford, Mr. P. J. Elder of the S. Ch. Davis, Mr. Charles G. H. Diederichs, Messrs. Brothers, Booksellers, 2 copies. Domis, Mr. A. Eley, Rev. Henry, Minister of the Episcopal Ch. Jackson, Mr. Thomas, Churchwarden of the Episcopal Ch. Laar, Mr. Andries Frederick van de. Lennep, Mr. W. P. van. Macintosh, Rev. Dr. 6 copies, ) Tvyr , tj . T> V Mmisters of the S. Ch. Mackey, Rev. A. B. j Mantz, Mr. Adam, Churchwarden of the English Epis. Ch. Melvil, Mr. Francis, Deacon of the S. Ch. Melvil, Mr. John. Melvil, Mr. Robert, H. B. M. Consul, 2 copies. Melvil, Mr. Robert W. (London.) Ouckama, Mr. Lambert, Churchwarden of the English Epis. Ch. Oudermeulen, Mr. F. van der, Elder of the S. Ch. XIV CONTINENTAL SUBSCRIBERS. Reenen, the Hon. J. H. Member of the States General, and Old- Elder of the S.Ch. Roelofs, Mr. B. Old-Elder of the S. Ch. Schimraelpenninck, Mr. G. Counsellor of State, and Elder of tlie S. Ch. Sowden, Miss. Tattam, Rev. Dr. formerly minister of the Episcopal Church here, and now Rector of St. Cuthbert's, Bedford. Teding van Berkhout, Mr. P. J. Student in Law. Voort, Mr. G. A. van der, Churchmaster of the S. Ch. Voute, Professor F. P. E. of the Athenseum. Warin, the Hon. A. Member of the States General, and Old- Elder of the S. Ch. Wolterbeek, Mr. P. W. Old-Deacon of the S. Ch. Dordrecht. Morgan, Rev. James. Scottish Church, Consistory of the. Flushing. Morison, Rev. George, Minister of the Scottish Church. The Hague. Thierry, Mensing & Son, Messrs. Booksellers. Leyden. Bodel Nyenhuis, Mr. J. T. Hengel, Rev. Dr. W. A. van, Professor of Theology, and Se- cretary to the Curators of the University. Paris. Moore, John, Esq. Rotterdam. Allan, Mr. William Shaw. Anderson, Rev. Dr. Emeritus Minister of the S. Church. Bosworth, Rev. Dr. Minister of the Episcop. Church, 2 copies. Burger, Jun. Mr, D. Burn, Mr. John Southerden, (London.) Campbell, Mr. Arch. Deacon in S. Church, 2 copies. CONTINENTAL SUBSCRIBEKS. XV Campbell, Mr. Colin, 2 coi)ies. Campbell, Mr. Mungo. Cankrien, Mr. Richard S. Cantzlaar, Mr. P. J. Elder in Eng. Presby. Ch. Charante, Mr. H. A. van, Deacon in S. Cli. Collings, Mr. William, formerly Churchwarden of the Epis. Ch. Cruys, Mr. J. W. formerly Deacon in S. Ch. at Amsterdam. Dent, Mr. Wilkinson, formerly Churchwarden in Episcop. Ch. 2 copies. Deuchar, Mr. W^illiam. Dunlop, Mr. David, Deacon in S. Ch. Dunlop, Mr. Samuel. English Episcopal Church, Vestry of the. Galbraith, Mr. John, 2 copies. Gibson, Mr. Alexander. Gibson, Jun. Mr. George, Deacon in S. Ch. Gibson, Mr. James. Gibson, Mr. Patrick. Hall, Mrs. Herklots, Mr. H. W. Elder in S. Ch. Herklots, Mr. W. G. Deacon in Eng. Pres. Ch. Hoog, Mr. Marinus, Advocate, and Old-Burgomaster of this city. Hoynck, Mr. P. C. van Papendrecht, Advocate. Hudig, Mr. John, Elder in Eng. Presb. Ch. Hutchison, Mr. James, (Glasgow,) 6 copies. Hutchison, Mr. John. Jacob, Mr, J. L. C. Bookseller. Jay, Jun. Mr. William. Laming, Mr. James. Ledeboer, Mr. Bernard, formerly Elder in the S. Ch. Macdonald, Mr. James. Macpherson, Mr. James, 2 copies. Mackay, Hon. Baron, Director of the Post Office. MacPhail, Rev. William, Senior Minister of the S. Ch. Masterson, Mr. Henry W. Masterson, Mr. H. W. junior. Mees, Mr. R. P. Elder in the S. Ch. Merchant, Mr. Lewis le, formerly Deacon in Eng. Presb. Ch. Messchert, Mr. William. Miltner, Mr. J. Anderson. XVI CONTINENTAL SUBSCRIBERS. Minto, Mr. Francis. Moens, Mr. William, formerly Deacon in S. Ch. Moll, Mr. Jacob, formerly Elder in the S. Ch. Munro, Mr. Andrew, Old City- Architect. Murray, Mr. Thomas. Muston, Rev. C. R. Minister of the Eng. Presb. Ch. 2 copies. Ringrose, Mr. C. L. formerly Churchwarden in the Episcop. Ch. Rutherford, Mr. Henry, 2 copies. Scottish Church, Consistory of the, 6 copies. Schultze, Mr. Robert, Teacher of English. Schuurmans, Mr. D. A., Deacon in S. Ch. Smith, Mr. John, 2 copies. Smith, Mr. Richard, 3 copies. Stevenson, Mr. James. Stewart, Mr. Charles Augustus. Teding van Berkhout, Mr. J. C. formerly Elder of the S. Ch. Amsterdam. Turing, Sir James Henry, of Foveran, Baronet, Senior Church- warden of the Episcop. Ch. Twiss, Mr. Daniel, Deacon in the Eng. Presb. Ch. Twiss, Mr. Edward. Twiss, Mr. Henry, Elder in the Eng. Presb. Ch. Valeton, Mr. J. M. J. formerly Elder in the S. Ch. Veder, Mr. John. Verbruggen, Mr. Wm. Vertue, Mr. Stephen. Vink, Mr. N. M. Sardinian Consul. Vink, Mr. William. Wardrope, Mr. Alexander. West, Mr. W. O. 2 copies. Young, Mr. James, 4 copies. SCHOONHOVEH. Hebert, Capt. Abraham Louis. Utrecht. Altheer, Mr. J. Bookseller, 2 copies. ZUTPHEN. Schumachers, Mrs. A. C. (Stedman.) THE HISTORY OF THE SCOTTISH CHURCH, ROTTERDAM. CHAPTER I. 1642—1675. Scotsmen settle in Rotterdam early in the ITth century Scottish Church established in that City under the authority of the Dutch Government Rev. Alexajider Petrie of Rhynd is inducted as Minister Circumstances of the Church under his Ministry. — His Death Is succeeded by the Rev. John Hoog of South Leith. Celebrated as a place of commerce, Rotterdam, at a very early period, became much frequented by the British ; and the Scots, proverbial for their enterprising spirit, were among the first foreigners that settled in this city. Along with their sterling integrity and industrious habits, they brought with them a deep-rooted attachment to religious ordinances, which soon manifested itself by an eager de- sire to have divine service publicly performed thrice every Sabbath. For a considerable time the Scottish Presbyte- rians had no stated clergyman, although, many years prior to 1640, they enjoyed the occasional ministrations of dif- 2 HISTOUY OF THE ferent individuals, wlio were either chaplains in the army, or established at other towns in the Netherlands. Those of the residents who had a competent knowledge of the language, attached themselves to the Dutch Reformed Communion, which, in doctrine and discipline, correspond- ed with the Church of Scotland; and some of them at- tended the ministry of Mr. John Durie, chaplain to the English merchants, or frequented a recently formed con- gregation of Independents.* The magistrates kindly lent their powerful assistance in enabling the Scots to procure a pastor, whose salary might be paid out of the public purse. Much to their honour, the States of Holland gave a prompt and satisfactory re- ply to the memorial which had been transmitted to them ; and the following resolution is recorded in the minutes of the Chambers : — " The Hague, July 19, 1642. " On a proposition of the Lords of Rotterdam, after ma" ture deliberation, it was found good, that, within said city, there shall be erected and instituted, a church for the Scot- tish nation ; and their Noble Great Mightinesses, for car- rying on the same, agreed to, and agree by these, that there shall yearly be paid, in behalf of the States, for a sa- lary to the minister of that church, the sum of five hun- dred and fifty guilders."f The municipal authorities, in the most liberal manner, besides furnishing a place of worship, unanimously re- solved to supply, from the city funds, an additional an- nuity, which secured to the person who should be selected * The present English Presbyterian Church at Rotterdam, originally, and until the year 1652, belonged to the Independents; but, through the instrumentality of Mr. James Nalton and Mr. Thomas Cawton, it " was brought off, and remains so to tliis day." Cawton's Life, Pp. 51, 52. London, 1662, 12mo. \ Wiltens' Kerk-Plakkaat-hoek, 4to, vol. ii. p. 351. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 3 as minister, the handsome stipend of twelve hundred guild- ers. Letters were now addressed to the Presbytery of Edin- burgh, entreating their friendly assistance in procuring a pastor, fitted at once to foster the infant church, and to dis- charge, with strict fidelity, all the duties that devolve upon a minister of the Gospel. The Presbytery almost imme- diately made choice of Mr. Alexander Petrie, minister of Rhynd, in the neighbourhood of Perth, and strongly re- commended him, as, in their opinion, every way qualified to supply the office which they had been commissioned to fill ; and the General Assembly, being consulted, harmoni- ously agreed to his translation. Those who had taken an active part in this affair, and, indeed, every one desirous of enjoying the privilege of a stated and efiective ministry, were truly delighted to learn, that Mr. Petrie was likely to be prevailed with to leave his parish, and proceed to Rotterdam ; for, in addition to genuine piety, he was known to be gifted with talents of a most respectable or- der. Repeatedly had he distinguished himself as an ac- tive member in our church judicatories; and, from the un- printed Acts of the General Assembly, he appears to have taken his full share in the discussions which came before that venerable House, when he sat as one of the Commis- sioners from the Presbytery of Perth.* I can plainly perceive, from frequent allusions in various papers, inserted by himself in the Records of Consistory, that it was with feelings of no ordinary kind, that Mr. Petrie • Ads of Assemhly. From the following extract of a speech delivered by him in the Session, it would appear, that Mr. Petrie had held another living before his settlement at Rhynd : " I have been many times," says he, " in Kirk-sessiones, both wher I was minister, and wher other minis- ters have been : I have been in sundrie Presbyteries, and in the Synodes of Bishopes, and in the Provincial Syuodes of Perth and Sterlin, and Fife ; and I have been in fyve General Assemblies." Consist. Reg. Dec. 2G, 1650. 4 HISTORY OF THE came to the determination of breaking up the close con- nection which had long subsisted betwixt him and his at- tached parishioners, and of proceeding direct to the new scene of labour which Providence had marked out for him abroad.* There is, it must be confessed, something pecu- liarly touching, in quitting one's native land for a perma- nent appointment in a foreign country. Those who have experienced best can tell what is endured, when bidding, it may be, a last farewell to many endeared relatives and friends ; and moulding the ■ heart anew, to take the stamp Of foreign friendships in a foreign land." Not all the flattering prospects, which fancy had pictured, of increased respectability and usefulness in other climes, could aiford even momentary relief to the mind, on which the grief of a lengthened separation deeply preyed. And frequently, long after arriving in the land of the stranger, does memory summon into our presence the re- vered parents, and other affectionate friends of early days ; and there is a painful ease in reverting to the trying hour, when we received the weeping benedictions of those to whom we were allied by the ties of blood, or the bonds of companionship. Mr. Petrie, it is true, was not called upon to endure, as others have, in all its force, the anguish attendant on a parting, such as we have represented ; but there were other, and, what might be considered by some, still stronger in- ducements, for Mr. Petrie's continuance in Scotland. Not only were all his friendships already formed, but, as we shall shortly see, his family had attained that age, when, as a father, he would naturally be most unwilling to leave " Mr. Petrie became minister of Rhynd in 1632. Rev. Hew Scott's MS, Extracts. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 5 his native country, to stake his own happiness, and the comfortable settlement of his children, on an appointment in Holland, where he had an entirely new acquaintance to form. But higher and nobler motives constrained him to leave Rhynd. His brethren in the ministry, conscious of his peculiar fitness for the charge, employed their persua- sive powers with effect, conjuring him not to disregard their earnest entreaties, but submit to the sacrifice as a ser- vice done to the church. Mr. Petrie's scruples being at length got over, he repaired to Rotterdam, where he was welcomed with the greatest cordiality. On the 2d of Au- gust 1643, he preached his first sermon in a house in the Wine Street, which had been fitted up for the purpose, by the magistrates, who, along with other influential indivi- duals, were present on the occasion. As was expected, his introductory discourse gave general satisfaction ; and the Classis, or Presbytery of Rotterdam, who also had warm- ly promoted the application of the Scots settlers and mari- ners, caused an edict to be served, andappointed the Reverend "William Spang* of Campvere to preside at his admission, which was fixed for the 30th of the same month. On that day, accordingly, in presence of the congregation, and several Dutch clergy and elders sent to assist at his induction, Mr. Petrie Avas solemnly set apart as spiritual overseer of this lit- tle flock. In a few days the same deputation again met, with the view of aiding Mr. Petrie in the election of office-bearers, and thus forming a kirk-session. Two elders and two deacons were unanimously chosen from a list of individuals, Scotsmen by birth, who had recently obtained an honour- able attestation from the Dutch church, of which they were members. Mr. Rein Berkel, the oldest city mi- * Before his settlement in Walpheren, Mr. Spang, the cousin of Princi- pal Baillie of Glasgow, had been a doctor or teacher in the High School of Edinburgh. Regist. of the City of Edinb. vol. xiv. foliO; 152. He was appointed minister of the Scottish Church at Campvere, January 27, 1630. Records of the Convention of Royal Borovyhs in Scotland, vol. v. ff. 236-7. b HISTORY OF THE nister present on this occasion, with several of his clerical brethren, and in name of the municipality, the States, the Classis and Synod, solemnly and publicly declared " that now this Scotish kirk is established, and these elders and deacons being received, this is a free congregation in it- self as any other, and the consistorie thereof is absolute as the consistorie of the Dutclie kirke is*." By the same au- thority, Mr. Berkel farther intimated, that the Scots con- gregation in Rotterdam should unmolestedly enjoy all these Voluntary bestowed privileges ; and, besides, be for ever exempted from the observance of holidays and the formu- laries ; and that it should stand or fall with the common- wealth, the city, and the Netherland churchf. The greatest precaution was observed in the admission of members, as regarded both their moral and religious character. The Covenant, or Confession of Faith of the Church of Scotland, was repeatedly read and explained by Mr. Petrie : and, previously to members being received, a most solemn avowal of their belief was required, and given in the face of the assembled congregationij:. On the 7th of January 1644, the sacrament of the Lord's supper was administered for the first time in this church, — the Friday preceding having been observed as a day of preparation for that holy ordinance. Four massy silver communion cups, still in use, having the arms of the city engraved upon each, were then presented by the reign- ing burgomasters II . • Consist Regist. •\ Van Reyn's GescMedkundige Beschr, der Stad Rotterdam, vol. i. p. 324. Rott. 1832. 8vo. J " The Confession is exponed in the publik sermone, and after sermone many bunders swear unto it by solemne lifting up of their handes, and by subscriving it, as is to be seen in the register appointed for that end and other roles." Consist. Register. Jan. 6, 1644. This register, unfortunate- ly, is not now to be found. II In the year 1827, two handsome silver communion-plates were present- ed to the church b> JMr. William Van Houten, of Ypelaar, near Breda, for- merly a member of the coDgregation. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 7 Shortly after its establishment, the Scottish Church was so far incorporated with the Classis, as to be allow- ed to send commissioners to sit in that reverend court*. This arrangement, besides, whilst it has never had the effect of producing a single alteration in our national presbyterian form of worship, has been singularly be- neficial to the congregation. Whatever immunities the Dutch clergy have enjoyed from the State or the city, the Scots ministers have always had their full share. And during the troubles by which the continent of Europe was agitated, more especially when Holland was under French domination, the circumstance of the Scottish church forming part of the Dutch ecclesiastical establishment, was, as will afterwards be seen, of immense avail; and, under a gracious Providence, has mainly contributed to its existence to the present time. According to the good old custom which long obtained in Scotland, and still prevails throughout protestant Ne- therlands, the Scriptures were wont to be publicly read in this church before the service commenced. The people met at least half an hour previously to the clergyman's appearance in the pulpit : and the reader, who was usually precentor, had pointed out for him a portion of holy writ illustrative of the subject which was to be discoursed upon, or he went regularly through a particular book, selected by the minister. It was never expected that the reader should offer any explanation of the prescribed passage ; all required in him being a clear and audible voice, and that he could read the Bible with becoming solemnity and fluency. Upon such conditions, Mr. Alexander Petrie, the mi- nister's eldest son, accepted the office of reader, with an • " Matthew Paton is chosen to goe with the minister into the classis convening the morne, and crave that this kirk be enrolled in their societie as a member thereof." Consist. Regist, Nov. 15, 1643. The request was most readily complied with. 8 HISTORY OF THE annual salary of three hundred guilders, and liberty to choose a substitute as precentor or leader of the congrega- tion. Young Petrie, who had followed his father's pro- fession, having completed his theological studies, was oc- casionally absent in the autumn and winter of 1644, on preaching excursions, particularly at the Brielle, where a number of respectable Scotch families resided*. He em- braced a call from the English Consistory at Delft ; and on his leaving Rotterdam in 1645, a misunderstanding arose in defining the precise duties of the person who might succeed to the vacant clerkship. By some it was thought expedient that the reader should be qualified " to con- ceive prayers publicly," and capable also of expounding the Scriptures, that, in the event of an emergency, he might supply in part the minister's place. The proposi- tion at first met a hearty reception; and a considerable sum was actually raised by voluntary subscription, to re- munerate the individual to be so employed. The propriety of the measure was repeatedly canvassed at consistorial and special church meetings; and a majority finally de- creed that the exposition of a whole chapter at once " bor- dered on Brownism or Papistry," and was therefore con- trary to the Confession of Faith, and established usage. In vain did Mr. Petrie, when presiding at these meetings, endeavour to convince his tumultuary auditory, that, in the proposition, there was nothing unscriptural or opposed to presbyterian polity. The following extract from the mi- nutes of consistory affords a curious specimen both of the manner in which business was at times conducted in those • " Our preacher's sone being called to the Briel, the preacher did desire me to read in his place, and desired me to change my English toung to the Scots. — His sone not being placed at the Briel, the English members propounded unto him, that they would contribute for his sone, and he should interprete chapters and teach once in the week." Robert Hoivstmin's Pa- per of Grievances prepared for the Commissioners who met April 5th, 1645. Consist, Reg. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN EOTTERDAM. 9 days, and especially of tlie turbulent spirit that possessed the refractory party on the occasion alluded to. " Because some sayd last Wednesday, they understood not what wes petitioned anent the exposition of chapters, and some sayd, it wes contrarie unto the Confession of Faith, &c., and none wes appointed to read or sing in the kirk, the minister did read on Sunday, and as he had read a chapter, he did declare the generale heades of it, and ga- thered some doctrines thereupon shortly, and after did shew that he had done so for example, to let all see what wes intended by the exposition of chapters. And he did requir all the members, that if they could shew any errour in that which was done, or did conceive any such errour, they should appear before the session this day and declare it; or, if they did judge it expedient, they wold appear this day and shew their willingnesse to have it continewed : or, if they wold not appear, they should be so exponed as judging it laweful, but not willing to have it continewed. " And now the minister declares that he has heard how some have gone thorow the towne, persuading the mem- -bers into factiones, which, when he did understand, he had admonished some of them, and also had disuaded others from coming hither this day, who wer to come and shew their willingnesse to the exposition of chapters continewed, because he is desirous of quietnesse ; as also, he exhortes the members of the session not to speak against trueth, and submitte their willes in a quiet forme unto the pluralitie of voices. Whereupon, it is voiced, whether the exposition of chapters in such manner as wes done by the minister on Sunday last before the sermone, be lawefull or erroneous? All, both elders and deacones, in one voice, consent that it is lawefull in itself. The coster [church-officer,] is bidden call on others who think it erroneous or unlawefull. John Tomson, Robert Howstoun, and others compear and say, it is lawefull, but it is not expedient. The minister telleth them, that the question is not yet proponed, whether it 10 HISTORY OF THE shal be continewed, but only, whether it be lawefull ; and, therefor they should remove till the other question be proponed ; and so they doe. Arthur Logy comes and sayth, it is unlawefull, as being contrarie unto the Confes- sion of Faith. The minister demandeth, what word of the Confession eondemnes it ? Arthur answereth, it is not in the Confession. The minister demandeth, — think you that we may not believe nor practise any thing which is con- tained in that Confession ? Know ye not that that Con- fession is principally an abjuration of erroures, and con- taines not, neither the positive doctrine, nor what is to be done in the kirk, because these wer penned before in ano- ther Confession, andtheBookes of Discipline? Patrick Gib- bison answereth, he sayeth not that is imlawefull, but it is not expedient. In the meantime, a multitude without make a great tumult, and the minister goeth furth to stille them ; and preasing [endeavouring,] to satisfy them, they will not hear him, and upbraide him. He oftimes craves audience, all in vaine. After a long time he readeth the former act concerning the lawefulnesse of expounding the chapters, and shewes that no more is yet proponed. Pa- trick Gibbison sayeth in all their audience, that the act is wrong written. The people believing Patrick Gibbison, falling into railing against the minister, so that he is glaid to be out from them, and entereth unto the session-house. Then it is voiced, whether the exposition of Scripture, as wes done on Sunday last, shal be continewed ? By plu- ralitie of voices, for the time it is determined, that it shall not be continewed. The minister goes furth again, and reades this determination, and chargeth the multitude to departe." * From these strange proceedings, it must be apparent that Mr. Petrie's situation was far from enviable. Regard- less of the respect due to him as a man and a minister, the ofl&ce-bearers of the church, — they who ought to have been • Consist. Reg, 30 Sept. 1644. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 11 foremost to support him, — rejected his friendly counsels; and not a few of his deluded hearers acted a part which ill became them, towards a pastor, who appears to have zealously la- boured in word and doctrine for their spiritual edification. Tired at length, however, his contentious elders and dea- cons tendered their resignation ; and, contrary to their ex- pectation, Mr. Petrie at once allowed them to retire, and found no difficulty in suitably filling the vacant seats. In order, if possible, amicably andfinally to adjust matters, Mr. Petrie, with great good sense, applied for advice in a quar- ter of indisputable authority, and he had the satisfaction of soon producing a paper which he received from England, affording most seasonable information on the subject of dispute. On the 25th November 1644, "the minister shewes and readeth a letter written by the commissioners of the Kirk of Scotland, lying now in London, wherein they declare, that the exposition of a chapter at once, is not only lawfull, but since the Reformation hes been al- wyse practised in some of the kirkes of Scotland, and now is appointed by Synode of London to be a parte of the uni- formitie of divine service in all the kirks of the thrie king- domes ; and also advising us to use discretion in receiving communicants." * This pastoral epistle, which was order- ed to be made known to the congregation, had a wonder- ful effect in restoring tranquillity. Many of the actors in the late disgraceful affair, came voluntarily forward, ac- knowledged their fault, and expressed a readiness to make every reparation in their power. For several months Mr. Petrie had been laid under the necessity of conducting the whole public service, but the nomination of a reader shortly afterwards, relieved him of the additional duty, and that continual anxiety which he had experienced ever since the departure of his son to Delft. Notwithstanding the care which was taken in the admission to church-membership, it would seem • Consist. Register. 12 HISTORY OF THE Mr. Petrie, soon after liis settlement, had to lament that his congregation was composed of rather discordant mate- rials. Not a few individuals who attended his ministry, were much more disposed to wrangle with him about the outward forms of religion, than anxious to derive substan- tial instruction and comfort from his faithful exposition of divine truth. About this period Mr. Petrie's attention was directed to a work published in defence of Millenarianism, by a per- son named Maton. It would appear that the unscriptnral views of this author were industriously propagated in Hol- land, and entertained by several in Rotterdam. In order, therefore, to aiford his people an antidote to the pernicious tendency of that volume, Mr. Petrie sent to the press a judicious and well-timed reply. * In the preface of this tract, inscribed " To his beloved Scotes and Englishe of the worthie the Scots congregation," after enumerating Cerinthus, Swenkfeld, and others who had strenuously maintained that Christ should personally reign on earth for a thousand years, Mr. Petrie conjures them not to be led away by such " an old Jewish fancy and Cerinthian fable." " What I have done," says he, " is for your good, for, I. You have heard this error preached, in- stead of the doctrine of Christ (albeit it was first broached by the enemies of Christ,) by some of the authors of the Apologetical Narration for Independency, who had in their congregations, not only Millenaries but gross Anabaptists : and so their practice manifestly declares, wdiat they write • The following is the title of this pamphlet, which is exceedingly rare ; and for the perusal of which and other scarce works, I am indebted to the kindness of Joshua Wilson, Esq. Highbury Place, Islington, London: — " ChUiasto-mastix. or, The Prophecies in the Old and New Testaments concerning the kingdome of our Saviour Jesus Christ, vindicated from themis- interpretationes of the Millenaries, and specially of Mr. Maton in his book called Israel's Redemption. At Roterdame, printed by I saak Waesbergen, at the signe of Fame on the Steigcr, 1644." Quarto, pp. viii. and 71. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 13 obscurely in that narration, p. 12. saying, " We took mea- sure of no man's holiness by his opinion, whether adverse unto us, &e." — to wit, whatsoever noveller is welcome unto them. Their Dinah is liberty of conscience, their grand ammunition is anarchy or no discipline ; and they call it a bondage to be tied in the faith. 2. The book of Mr. Ma- ton, called Israel's Redemption, has often been put into your hands, and upon several occasions of my declaring the truth in this point, you have been entreated to put that book into my hand ; wherefore you have need of an antidote. Peruse this plain refutation of it ; whereby, I hope, you shall see, that the reward of your serving Christ, is not meat that perishes, but everlasting life, which the Son of Man shall give unto you, John vi. 27 ; and that the kingdom of God comes not with observation, (or world- ly respect and attendance), but behold ! the kingdom of God is within you, Luke xvii. 20. And as the wicked cannot have hope of long immunity from just punishment of their bodies and souls in hell, so our deliverance from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the children of God, shall not long be delayed. Walk you, therefore, in holiness, with sincerity and cheerfulness, as it becomes the heirs of so great salvation, and give all dili- gence to make your calling and election sure ; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly, not into an earthly monarchy, but the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." * There is nothing particularly striking in this perform- ance, either as regards sentiment or style, to make it de- sirable that we should give further extracts. The pamphlet is, at the same time, creditable to the author's judgment and taste, and affords evident marks of an experimental and critical acquaintance with the Sacred Volume. He ap- pears throughout, the humble, sober-minded Christian, * Dedication, p. vi. 14 HISTORY OF THE established in tlie faitli ; and he prosecutes the task which he has undertaken with fidelity and due decorum. When exposing the fallacy of his opponent, which he does with considerable adroitness, he may be thought to express himself rather warmly ; but he never forgets himself so far as to use language which propriety and the fairest criticism would not sanction. Mr. Petrie is a staunch supporter of what we esteem the Scriptural and only rational opinion of the millennium ; namely, that the thousand years' reign, when it shall arrive, will be signalized, not by the corpo- real presence of Christ, and the re-appearance on earth of departed saints, but by the rapid growth and universal spread of vital piety : that the church shall then flourish with unprecedented lustre ; that all ranks, animated with one soul, will shew an universal eagerness to advance this heavenly state of things, and derive unwonted delight in the daily manifestation of love to God and man. Society be- ing thus closely knit together in the exercise of the kindest affections, the business of life, civil as well as sacred, will move onward, free from envy and every interruption. We know that this faint description of millennial felicity will not come up to the standard of rapturous bliss, which some modern advocates have unguardedly ascribed to that de- lightful period. By a sad wresting of Scripture, and a perverted imagination, the millenarians of the present day, contrary to sound reason, and the settled opinion of the ablest divines, have taken the language of holy writ in a literal instead of a symbolical sense ; and, in our appre- hension, have daringly presumed to fix upon the year when Messiah's personal reign at Jerusalem shall actually com- mence. Whilst Mr. Petrie, by the publication which we have just noticed, shewed a commendable zeal to have his peo- ple established in the faith, his personal ministrations were unremittingly and successfully directed in warding off the envenomed arrow which threatened their spiritual stability. SCOTTISH CHUECH IN HOTTERDAM. 15 Towards his persecuted countrymen at home, also, Mr. Petrie bore the most affectionate sympathy : and he shew- ed himself a true son of presbytery by the deference which he uniformly paid to the enactments of his suffering mo- ther church. In the month of February 1645, the General Assembly issued " a Seasonable Warning," representing the exist- ing calamities of the land, and the most abounding sins, the causes thereof; and exhorting all unto repentance. This circular was appointed to be read in all the churches of the three kingdoms. The Scottish Consistory in Rot- terdam, taking a deep interest in the transactions, ecclesi- astical as well as civil, of a country endeared to them by so many ties, unanimously resolved that the utmost publi- city should immediately be given to this paper. Wednes- day, the 5th of April, was fixed upon, and observed as a season of fasting and solemn prayer, on account of the commotions in Scotland and England, and of deprecating the infliction of that punishment which their iniquities, collectively and individually, so justly merited. The de- votional exercises being ended, a meeting was held in the vestry to take into consideration the case of a member of the church who had caused much trouble, and continued to set at nought the authority of the session. By par- ticular request, the Consistory had the good fortune to se- cure the attendance of Robert Baillie, afterwards Princi- pal of the college of Glasgow, and George Gillespie, one of the ministers of Edinburgh, who had been driven into the Maese during a storm, when on their way to London, as commissioners to the Assembly at Westminster. The visit of such distinguished divines must, at any time, have been truly gratifying to Mr. Petrie ; for, independent of being two of the brightest ornaments of the national church, with whom he had often acted in concert in ecclesiastical courts, their unlooked-for appearance was most seasonable. Lord Forbes, who then held an official situation in Hoi- l6 HISTORY OF THE land,* and Mr. John Durie, minister of the English mer- chants' chapel, at Rotterdam, were also present on this oc- casion. The business, for the settlement of which this re- spectable assembly was convoked, was, by their united wis- dom, soon brought to an amicable adjustment : and the per- son accused of scandalously traducing Mr. Petrie and his Consistory, appeared deeply affected, and meekly bore the solemn admonition, to evince, by his future deportment, that his contrition was sincere. The reverend visitors openly declared that this kirk-session had a vested right to summon before it, and deprive of church privileges, all who violated those laws which, at admission, they had sworn to maintain. " The ministers, Messrs. Robert Bailie and George Gillespie doe entreat my Lord Forbes, that, see- ing ther be so many inordinate and stubborne persones of our nation in this towne, his lo. wold be pleased to give his concurrence and assistance unto the minister and session for restraint of such persones. My lord promiseth to doe any good that lyeth in his power, so long as he hes occa- sion to be in the towne."f Although, as we have said, Mr. Petrie's mind was great- ly relieved by the happy termination to which this extra- ordinary meeting had brought the dissensions among his peo- ple, he had frequent occasion, even afterwards, to lament the existence of the spirit of discord. Years glided on ; and the worth of Mr. Petrie being increasingly and duly estimated by the public, he was universally regarded by his fellow- citizens, especially by the native clergy, as a truly esti- mable member of society, and a most conscientious minister. That his value was rightly appreciated is apparent from the repeated enlargements which the place of worship under- • In the Register of Christenings in the Scottish Church, Rotterdam, I find the following entry : — " 1645, Nov. 12, Robert, son to Alexander Lord Forbes. Witnesses, The. Cunningham, Conservator, John Forbes, and Matthew Paton." -f Consist. Reg, - SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 17 went ; and the necessity tlie congregation was under to re- pair for more comfortable accommodation to another quarter of the town. In the month of May 1 658, they left their temporary church in the Wine Street for an ancient cha- pel in Lombard Street, originally built at the expense of the society of Cross-bowmen, and dedicated by them to St. Sebastian. This edifice, given to the French Protest- ants when they elected their first minister in 1591, was en- larged in 1627, since which time it has undergone little altera- tion. The French were yet in possession, when the magis- trates granted this chapel to the Scottish inhabitants also ; and, by mutual accommodation, it would seem, both con- gregations worshipped under the same roof for the space of four years. A handsome church having in the mean- time been built for the Walloons, to which they removed in 1662, St. Sebastian's chapel was then given over en- tirely to the use of the Scottish presbyterians. Mr. Petrie improved his residence abroad by collecting materials, not easily to be obtained at home, for the purpose of enriching a work on ecclesiastical history, upon the com- position of which he must have spent many years. This book exhibits uncommon industry and useful research ; and the Christian spirit which pervades the whole is remarkably pleasing. The volume, now become scarce, is much more interesting than is generally believed ; and affords abund- ant evidence that the author had, with great pains, exten- sively and minutely studied the Christian Fathers, and the early writers on church aflairs.* Having attentively perused this Compendious History of the Catholic Churchy " The following is the title of the work : — A Compendious History of the Catholick Church, from the year 600 untill the year ICOO, shewing her Deformation arid Iteformation ; together zvith the Rise, Reign, Rage, and Begin- fall of the Roman Antichrist, ivith many profitable Instructions, gathered out of divers writers of the several times, and other Histories, by Alexander Petrie, Minister of the Scots Congregation at Rotterdam. Hague ; Printed by Adrian Vlaek, M. DC. LXII. Folio, pp. 11 6D. C A 18 HISTORY OF THE we are inclined to think that Mr. Petrie, with all his quaintness, is deserving of a respectable place among our numerous and useful writers in the same department. To compile from original sources, the history of the Church of Christ for the period of a thousand years, was no easy task : and it is indeed difficult to estimate the immense toil en- dured by the man who seeks his materials in manuscripts almost illegible, and in the dense folios of former ages. Mr. Petrie dedicated his History to the Prince of Orange ; and, in securing the patronage of one distinguished alike by exalted station and personal worth, the author bade fair to enlist as readers all who valued the unspeakable bless- ings of civil and religious liberty, and who prized in a his- torian, that primary recommendation, — impartiality. "The experience of alteration in the church," says Mr. Petrie, " suifereth the history to be divided into five parts. The first age or part, is of the church spreading and suf- fering, when the word of the Gospel was in sowing thorow the world, and the professours thereof were under perse- cution, about the space of 300 years, until the days of Con- stantino the Great. The second age, is of the churcli flourishing and wrestling with heresies the space of other 300 years, until the days of Phocas Emperour. The his- tory of these two ages is plainly written by diverse, both ancient and late writers; but the other three are not so easie to be found : therefore was I moved to gather these observations out of sundry authors for my particular use. The third age, is of the church fading, and of antichrist rising, which contains 400 years and more, till the days of Pope Gregory the VI. ; during which time, churchmen did swell in pride and ambition, and were no little changed from the simple sincerity of the primitive times : albeit in outward profession there was some face of a church, yet corruption of doctrine, superstition, and hypocrisie, came apace ; and the Roman empire being removed, antichrist, or the Bishop of Rome, by degrees, lifteth uj) his head SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 19 above all that is called God. The fourth age is worse, of antichrist reigning, and the church lurking ; and contains the space of almost 300 years, in which time, both doctrine and holiness of conversation was almost utterly extinguish- ed. In the east the Mahumetists did prevail thorow Asia and Africk ; and in the west, the bishops of Rome turn all upside down, except that in some places and persons, as well in the east as west, holiness of life, and purity of doctrine, did in some measure remain; but Pope Gregory VII. and Lis successors, so far as they could, did wrest all religion to serve their gain and ambition : and to this end they vio- late all order, dissolve all discipline, deface all religion, and domineer over princes, emperors, nations, and consciences of men. The fifth age, is of the church reverting, and an- tichrist raging, untill this present age, when reformation was aimed at and begun in the west, antichristian pride was detected, and the number of true believers did in- crease. Then Satan was let loose again, the thousand years of his binding, from the dales of Constantine, being expired : then persecutions were frequent ; antichrist foam- ed, and opened his mouth wide to devour the sheep of Je- sus. But he who preserved the woman in the wilderness is the stronger, so that the gates of hell were not able, nor shall be able, to prevail against her ; yea, by the breath of his mouth and preaching of the word, his enemies are scat- tered, antichrist is revealed, and true Christians are multi- plied. And in these five diversities of times (I suppose) the Church-History may well be comprised. Herein my aim hath been, to see where the true church was before Martine Luther, as the papists are oft objecting; and when the Romish virgin became a whore. And for better me- thod herein, I have distinguished the foresaid Ages into their own centuries, and every century into five chapters. The first chapter is of emperors, because times were reck- oned by them ; and in the second age they became chief members of the church, (imder Christ the only Head,) both 20 HISTORY OF THE in degree and authority ; and we liave just reason to think, that some chapters (or large passages,) of the holy revela- tion are understood of their estate ; seeing the visions of Daniel run for the most part upon the civil monarchies. The second chapter is of the bishops, or popes of Rome, that we may know when the tyranny of antichrist did arise, and how it came to such height. The third is of divers countries, and contains the most notable things that have befallen in other parts of the world. The fourth is of Bri- tain, that we be not strangers at home. The last chapter is of Councels, and declares the most remarkable Acts of the Church ; yet all the canons that I have picked out, are not of one sort, for some are to be rejected : which I have marked to let see, that such errours and ungodly constitu- tions have not been alwaies in the church, as the vain-glo- rious papists believe, or would make us believe."* In following out the plan which we have here given in his own words, Mr. Petrie satisfactorily redeems his pro- mise ; and the flattering manner in which the performance was received by his contemporaries at home and abroad, sufficiently attests the importance which they attached to our author's labours.f In recounting the rise and progress of the reformation on the Continent, particularly in the Netherlands, Mr. Petrie has shown uncommon industry in collecting interesting facts illustrative of the subject. But what, in our opinion, renders the volume now worthy of especial notice, is the circumstance of its containing copious extracts from Records of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland,:!: which were unfortunately destroyed by a great fire, which happened in the Lawn-market, Edin- burgh, in the year 1701. Mr. Petrie mentions, besides, • Preface, 1, 2. -|- In the Life of the Rev. James Borsthts, one of the ministers of the Dutch Reformed Church, Rotterdam ; a work to which we shall have occa- sion shortly to refer, — very favourable mention is made of Mr. Petrie. X Petrie's History, Part ii. pp. 242, 407, 555. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 21 the liberal use which he had made of important original papers, throwing- great light on the history of the church, which he found in the possession of John Erskine of Dun.* This individual was the warm friend of Mr. Petrie; and to him, and several members of his ancient house, Scotland is eminently indebted for zealous and un- wearied services in the cause of religion and literature. Mr. Petrie did not long survive the publication of his his- tory, having died of a protracted and painful illness, Septem- ber 6th, 1662. An original portrait of him, habited in the^.* clerical costume of the age in which he flourished, is in the possession of the Consistory. His countenance is pleasing ; and the represented features bespeak one who would suffer no undue liberties to be taken with him; firmness and gentleness seem finely blended. From this fine old paint- ing, an engraving, distinguished alike by great fidelity and beauty of workmanship, has now, for the first time, been executed, as a frontispiece to the present volume. He left two sons and three daughters. Alexander be- came minister of the Scots Congregation at Delft, in the year 1645, and died there, June 2, 1683 ;f George, an apothecary, who was a deacon in his father's church, had several children ; and one of his grandsons, also an apothe- cary, left at his death in 1755, the sum of two thousand guilders to the Scots poor ; Christian was married to Mr. Andrew Snype, minister of the Staple Port at Campvere ; J Isobel, first to Mr. William Wallace, merchant, afterwards to Robert Allan; and Elspeth to George Murray.§ In drawing this sketch of Mr. Petrie to a close, we ought * Petrie's History, Part ii. pp. 444, 448. Mr. Petrie had also diligently examined the manuscripts deposited in the College of Edinburgh. lb. p. 191. •|- Records of the Scots Church at Delft, ap. an. ^Mr. Snype was Scots minister at Campvere from 1G64 till his death in 168G. Yair's Account of the Scotch Trade in the Netherlands, p. 270. § Reg. of Marriages, Scot. Ch. Rott. 22 HISTORY OF THE to observe that, though possessing talents of a respectable order, and of undissembled piety, he was rather of a hasty and warm temperament. Easily irritated, he made little allowance for the uneducated persons with whom he acted ; and he was wanting in that winning disposition, by which he might legitimately have made and secured many friends. But let it not be inferred that we wish to impugn his me- mory. On the contrary, we regard him as an able theolo- gian, and an impartial writer. He had turned his parti- cular attention to ecclesiastical law ; and unreasonably ex- pecting that a promiscuous auditory abroad, would attend to the forms of the mother church, as much as his former parishioners, he felt unnecessarily hurt when some of his people questioned the validity of those regulations which he meant to enforce. At times, he seemed to forget that he was in a foreign country, and that it is next to impossi- ble for a clergyman so situated, to put in force that salu- tary discipline, which, judiciously directed, is productive of the happiest results. To Mr. Petrie, succeeded Mr. John Hog or Hoog, who was admitted by Mr. James Borstius, one of the city clergymen, on the 31st December, 1662.* He had been successively minister of Linton, in Tweeddale, of the Ca- nongate, Edinburgh, and of the parish of South Leith. In the last mentioned place, he exercised his pastoral func- tions for the period of ten years, immediately preceding his embarkation for the Continent.f Though Mr. Hoog seems to have been zealous in the discharge of his professional du- ties, and suffered for conscience sake,:j: he possessed neither • Consistory Register. •f- From the Records of the Presbytery of Peebles, it appears, that IMr. Hoog was ordained at Linton, Feb. 5, 1640. He was thence translated by Synod, Cth May, 1646, to the Canongate; and on the 28th July, 1653, he became one of the ministers of South Leith Parish. Rev. Hew Scott's MS. Extracts, X Crookshank's Hist. ii. p. 215. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN llOTTERDAM. 23 the talents nor the turn for business of his predecessor at Rotterdam. During his incumbency, or rather, until he had the good fortune to obtain an efficient colleague, the Records of Consistory, imperfect in other respects, are un- fortunately taken up in detailing some unseemly encoun- ters betwixt the minister and several of his discontented hearers. More propitious days, however, both to the cause of re- ligion, and the internal peace of the congregation, were happily at hand. Desirous of obtaining a more central si- tuation. Consistory petitioned to have better church accom- modation. The chapel of St. Sebastian in Lombard street, was found not only too small, but rather remote from that quarter of the city where the Scots then mostly resided; and it was especially inconvenient for seafaring men, by whom the religious privileges thereby conferred, were then, and still are, duly appreciated. Instead of granting what existing circumstances loudly called for, the magistrates erected a gallery, — an addition which is rarely seen in the churches of Holland. It was not till the lapse of twenty years, that another and more commodious place of worship was erected. 24 HISTORY OF THE CHAPTER II. 1675—1677. Church became Collegiate Rev. Robert MacWard appointed Second Minister, — memoirs of him, — owing to the interference of the British government, obliged to leave Rotterdam, — retires, along with Colonel Wallace, and the Rev. John Brown, to Utrecht. The cure had hitherto been served by one clergyman, but various causes rendered the appointment of a second minister highly desirable. The flourishing state of the port; the great influx of settlers, especially Scots refugees, who found in Holland what was at this time denied them at home, — a safe retreat, and the liberty of worshipping God according to their consciences, — these, with other weighty reasons, were not ofi"ered in vain to the proper authorities. Rotterdam, as we have already remarked, like other towns in the Netherlands, afforded an asylmn to many who were glad to avoid, by voluntary or constrained exile, the tyrannical and persecuting government of the Stuarts. There were several banished presbyterian ministers now in town, who had been ejected from their parishes in Scotland for non-conformity; so that, for once, the inconvenience which our churches abroad have at times experienced during a vacancy, was not felt. The difficulty principally lay, not so much in procuring the stated services of one of these excellent men, as in giving no offence to the rest, by the selection which it behoved the session to make, before they could obtain the sanction of the burgomasters. It was in the month of February 1675, that Consistory first agreed to sup- SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 25 plicate the States of Holland and the lords or magistrates of Rotterdam, for an additional pastor, being thoroughly- convinced that one minister could very inadequately dis- charge the public and private official duties of an increas- ing and widely scattered flock. Those in power at once allowed Mr. Hoog a colleague ; and though, on this occa- sion, a salary was denied, we shall not proceed far in our narrative, until we have the pleasure of recording, that the State generously guaranteed, in all time coming, the se- cond minister's stipend, as it had done that of the first cler- gyman. In an affair of so great concernment, as that close connection which subsists betwixt a pastor and his people, the utmost caution ought ever to be exercised by those vested with the right of nomination. With peculiar plea- sure, therefore, do we mention to their honour, and as worthy of imitation, the laudable procedure of the Scots Consistory on the present occasion. They met repeat- edly for the express purpose of beseeching the Great Head of the church to direct them in the choice of a man after God's own heart. The individuals whose qualifications, in a religious and literary point of view, appear to have attracted most at- tention, were Messrs. John Carstares and Robert Mac- Ward, who had been respectively ministers in the Inner and Outer churches of Glasgow, and Mr. John Brown, formerly of Wamphray. Though the name of the first was put on the nomination list, Mr. Carstares had a little before sailed for Britain ; so that it was at length resolved by the electors to confine their attention to the other two. Both candidates being men of tried and acknowledged worth and ability, found most strenuous supporters in the Consistory. The result shortly brought in Mr. Mac- Ward as the successful favourite, sLx having voted for him, and three for Mr. Brown. After maturely considering this call, Mr. Mac Ward, to the unspeakable delight of the congregation, consented to 26 HISTORY OF THE accept, on a mutual understanding, that, as soon as public aiFairs in Scotland allowed Ins return, he should be at li- berty to proceed thither. On the 23d of January, 1676, in presence of a crowded and attentive audience, he was cordially welcomed as second minister.* Mr. Mac Ward was truly a man of elevated piety. Hav- ing savingly felt the influence and power of divine truth himself, he eagerly embraced every opportunity of aifec- tionately making known to others the glad tidings which had cheered his own breast. In seasons of severe suffer- ing he had experienced and exhibited that solid satisfac- tion and entire resignation, which can alone distinguish the faithful follower of Jesus ; and few were better fitted to en- courage the timid inquirer, to alarm the thoughtless, or edify and comfort the established Christian. Mr. Mac Ward was a native of Glenluce in the south of Scotland.f The time of his birth, and the condition of his pa- rents, have not been recorded with any degree of certainty. His circumstances were such as enabled him to prosecute, without interruption, those preparatory studies which his chosen profession, as a minister of the Gospel, behoved him to pursue. The celebrated Samuel Rutherford was professor of theology at St. Andrew's, when Mr. Mac- Ward was enrolled there as a student in divinity ; and by that eminent scholar and divine he was greatly beloved. He accompanied Rutherford to London in the capacity of amanuensis, when the latter proceeded to the metropolis, as one of the Scottish Commissioners to the Westminster As- sembly.| At this period it was no unusual thing for young men, before entering upon the stated exercise of their holy vo- cation, to be employed as regents or teachers in our uni- versities and grammar schools. Mac Ward, for a time, oc- • Consist. Reg. •\ Murray's Literary History of Galloway, 2d edit. p. 107. % Murray's Life of Samuel Rutherford, p. 233, SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 27 cupled one of the chairs of philosophy in the ancient se- minary of learning, of which his illustrious friend and patron, Rutherford, was Principal. On a joint recommendation from the masters of the New College, Mr. Mac Ward applied, July 26, 1655, to the presbytery of St. Andrew's, to be taken upon probationary trials. On the 10th of October following, he was enjoined to confer with Mr. Colin Adams, minister of Anstruther, Mr. David Forret of Kilconquhar, Mr. Patrick Scougall of Leuchars, and Mr. Henry Rymer of Carnbee, "con- cerning his not keeping a fast appointed by the Assembly, 1655, and his joining in a protestation in the meeting of the University against the choosing of a Commissioner to the General Assembly, because indicted by a preceding Assembly of a corrupt constitution." Mac Ward " refused the conference, because he thought to submit to a conference of that kind, a receding from that quhilk he formerly own- ed, quhilk he mynded not to doe."* I have not learned where he took license, but, in the subsequent year, he ap- pears as one of the ministers of Glasgow, having succeeded the celebrated Andrew Gray in the Outer High Church of that city. It says much for the piety and talents of Mr. Mac Ward, that he was, when yet so young, considered worthy to fill this important charge. For, it ought to be remembered, it was then, and, indeed, till within these few years, the practice of the magistrates, who are patrons, not to nominate any but such as had some experience, and had held a country living.f In this extensive sphere of usefulness, he laboured with apostolic zeal for the space of five years ; and by a con- scientious discharge of his official engagements, he gained • For this information, derived from the I\Iinutes of the Presbytery of St. Andrew's, I am indebted to the Rev. Hew Scott. •j- Cleland's Annals of Glasgow, where will be found, along with a variety of curious and valuable information, a list of the Presbyterian clergymen in that city, from the Reformation to the year 1816, pp. 127-133. 28 HISTORY OF THE an imperishable name for pastoral fidelity. While thus employed, he incurred the marked displeasure and hatred of the prelatie party, whose influence at court was now daily on the ascendant. A mind like that of Mac Ward, deeply imbued with Christianity, and strongly attached to presbyterianism in all its simplicity, could ill brook the im- perious dictates which were incessantly issuing, with the insidious design of depriving Scotland of its ecclesiastical polity. He timely and loudly raised his voice against those inroads which were making, under the sanction of the king, and which threatened not merely the annihilation of pres- bytery, but the extinction of the religion of the land. For a sermon, preached in the Tron Church of Glasgow, Feb- ruary 1661, in which he bore public testimony to the " glar- ing defections of the times," he was arrested, carried to Edinburgh, thrown into prison, and indicted by his majes- ty's advocate " for sedition and treasonable preaching."* Wodrow, the historian, has preserved the speech delivered by Mr. Mac Ward, when he answered the citation of parlia- ment on the 6th of June. Before this tribunal, he tri- umphantly defended his conduct ; but he spoke to preju- diced judges, who, it is to be feared, regarded more the wish of their sovereign, than the unspeakable satisfaction and honour of passing an impartial verdict. By those in- vested with precarious, short-lived power, he was looked upon as a very dangerous person ; and this was quite suffi- * The celebrated discourse, whicli undeservedly occasioned Mr. Mac- Ward's banishment from Scotland, was translated into Dutch by 3Ir. John Hofman, and appeared in a duodecimo volume of sermons by different au- thors, chiefly English, printed at Utrecht, 1711. The translator mentions, in a prefatory notice, that there were living in Utrecht, at the date of pub- lication, many Christian people, who cherished, with fond remembrance, the rare piety and ability of Mr. MacWard. I have not had an opportu- nity of perusing this discourse, except through the medium of Mr. Hof- man's version, but, I may say, that it is characterized throughout by great pastoral fidelity, and is far from being inflammatory — The subject is taken from Psalm L. 16, 17- SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 29 cient to sway the justiciary lords, wlio passed what they doubtless thought a lenient sentence; decreeing, that he should leave the kingdom within half a-year, — be permit- ted to sojourn one month in Glasgow, and be entitled to the following year's stipend. Getting his matters settled as best he could, Mr. Mac Ward and his family embarked for Holland, and arrived at Rotterdam, where he met with a hearty reception. In his correspondence, much of which has happily been preserved, Mr. Mac Ward speaks in warm and grateful strains of the sympathy and attention shewn him abroad. To Lady Kenmure, relict of John Viscount Kenmure, with whom he seems to have kept frequent in- tercourse by letter, he says, " If your ladyship be desirous to have any account concerning my condition, know that I have met with much undeserved kindness. I am ashamed to call my lot a suffering lot, for He hath rather hied me from the storm than exposed me to trouble. I have occa- sion now and then to preach at Rotterdam, where we have ane old Scots minister who is dissatisfied with the times."* Independent of having the use of Mr. Petrie's pulpit, Mr. Mac Ward's time was occupied in collecting and ar- ranging the papers of his honoured preceptor Rutherford, who died in March 1661. Having prefixed some biogra- phical notices of his deceased friend, he gave to the world the Religious Letters of Rutherford, which have long been popular, and deservedly valued for the vein of piety by which they are pervaded.f Mr. Mac Ward, after this, retired to Utrecht, where he resided several years. At this seat of learning, resorted to by students from distant kingdoms, on account of the celebrity of its teachers, he * Wodrow MSS. vol. Iviii. No. 53. Lady Kenmure afforded pecuniary- assistance to Mr. MacWard, and other banished ministers. Memoirs of Lord Kenmure, prefixed by the Kev. Thomas Murray to his recent edition of Rutherford's Last and Heavenly Speeches of Viscount Kenmure. Edia. 1827, pp. 38-9, 18mo. f Rutherford's Letters were first printed at Rotterdam, in 1C64. so HISTORY OF THE made himself uncommonly useful to his young country- men, by encouraging them in their academical pursuits, and benefiting them by his friendly counsel and holy ex- ample. With some of the professors, particularly Voetius and Nethenus, eminent theologians, he was on an intimate footing. In the English church of Utrecht he repeatedly preached ; and the following extracts from its records af- ford gratifying proof of his unwearied exertions in the cause of truth, and shew the consistent spirit of the Cove- nanter, in non-compliance with ecclesiastical forms, which, he conceived. Scripture no where enjoined, and which Presbytery, in its purest days, never tolerated. 1666, February 5, — " The number of the poore, and po- verty of the same encreasing, and the collections, by rea- son of the bad times, growing lesse, the brethren thought on means to supply the wants of the poore, and nothing more convenient occurring as an ordinary weekly lecture, Mr. Best* was desired to speake to Mr. Mac Ward about it, and aske him whether he would take upon him, so long as his abode shall be here, to preach once a weeke, either on the Sabbath or Wednesday morning, that so the saving knowledge of God might be furthered, and the poore bet- ter solaced." March 5, — " Mr. Best acquainted the brethren with his (Mr. Mac Ward's) answer, namely, that he was willing to doe God and the congregation any service ; and if the brethren desired one sermon a weeke of him, that he would be willing to doe it, as long as he shall stay here, on such a day and time as they shall thinke most conve- • The Rev. John Best was pastor of the English congregation at Utrecht, from the 29th of April 1655, till his death, September 13, 1696. Regist. Eng. Ch. in Utrecht. His grandson, Dr. William Best, was admitted Pro- fessor of Law in the University of Harderwyk, April 21, 1717, and died, generally regretted, August 16, 1719. Boekzaal. Several of his descend- ants have been clergymen in the Dutch Reformed Church. lb. and Soer- mans' Kerkelyk Register, 12mo. Haarlem, 1702, p. 148. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTEHDAM. 31 nient. Hereupon Mr. Tatwall was desired, with Mr. Best, to goe to Mr. Mac Ward's lodging, and desired [him] to preach every Wednesday morning, at nine of the clock." 1667, February II, — "Upon some occasion there was a large and earnest discourse about the use of the liturgy, and Mr. Mac Ward's never concluding his prayer with the Lord's prayer ; also some expression in prayer concerning England." March 4, — " Mr. Best being desired, with Mr. Van Ceulen, to speake with Mr. Mac Ward about his not praying the Lord's prayer, did at length condescend to it." Ajml 8, — " Mr. Best acquainted the brethren, that, for the recovery of his sight, he was counselled to goe for Rotterdam, to an experienced master there, and desired that they would, in the time of his absence, let Mr. Mac Ward supply his place. Some of the brethren being not pleased with his not praying the Lord's prayer, yet at last did condescend to it, because it was likely it would not be above 6 weekes." May 6, — " The brethren were much disconcerted to understand, that Mr. Mac Ward would not answer the principall matter propounded unto him, but desired to be excused ; saying, that he was minded to supply the place of Mr. Best during his absence, continueing his former manner of praying, except he were hindered by the breth- ren. Whereupon, Mr. Van Cleeft was desired to ac- quaint Mr. Best with the same, desiring him, that, if his indisposition did not permit him to come home at the ex- piration of the consented time of leave, or six weekes, he would be pleased to procure another, who, with consent of the consistory, might preach in the place of Mr. MacWard." May 15, — " The consistory having understood that Mr. MacWard unexpectedly had refused to preach any 32 HISTORY OF THE longer, untill Mr. Best came home, wliereby it happened, that the congregation, coming to church on the Wednes- day following, were faine to returne back againe, by rea- son that there was no sermon ; therefore, to prevent all further disorder in that kind, did ^vrite unto Mr. Best, de- siring him to take care that his place might be supplyed ; and, in the mean time, there were sermons read by Mr. Tuer, reader, according to ancient custom in minister's absence." 1667, June 1, — " The Consistory having understood that the Sunday before, being the 26 of May, in the after- noone, between two and foure of the clocke, and at evening, between five and seven, there were two several meetings at the house of Mrs. Simson, by [near] the Jacobi church, in which Mr. Mac Ward did preach with prayers before and after sermon, like as he hath, for a considerable time, used to doe at Mr. Best's house, on sundayes after sermon, be- tween 5 and 7 of the clocke ; and that also, in the winter, at the time of the publicke evening sermons, in the dutch churches ; therefore, to prevent such meetings on the sun- day following, the consistory found good to send to Mr. Mac Ward, to desire him, lovingly, not to continue in the causing or keeping on, any such private meeting ; also to desire Mr. Best, that he would admonish to leave the same." June 3, — " After some discourse about booking of the Acts, especially that which past the 11 of Feb^. and reading of that which past in the absence of Mr. Best, it was propounded of one of the brethren, and, by plurality of voices, concluded and resolved, that henceforth no mi- nister shall be admitted to preach in this congregation, that refuseth to say the Lord's prayer, and to use the formes of liturgy in the administration of baptisme, Lord's supper, confirmation of elders and deacons, and solemni- zation of marriage, according to the orders of the church, arrested in this province. Mr. Best, minister, upon this SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTEHDAM. 33 wish, that the brethren liad not proceeded in such a man- ner, and so farre in his absence, and would forbeare to take such a resolution, and did shew his dissent from those brethren by protestation, judging this resolution very pre- judicial! to the practise and liberties which the English churches in the Netherlands hitherto enjoyed." As the name of Mr. Mac Ward does not appear in the records of the Consistory, I presume that the captious el- ders carried their point, and that the congregation was no longer edified by the searching discourses of this good man.* In the year 1668, he brought under the notice of Ne- thenus. Professor of Divinity at Utrecht, the manuscript of Rutherford against the Arminians. Labouring, as this woi'k did, under all the imperfections of a posthumous production, it was so esteemed by him, and by Essenius and Voetius, to whose critical inspection it was submitted, as to be considered worthy of immediate publication. Nethenus undertook to superintend the printing, and, in the preface, he handsomely acknowledges his obligations to Messrs. Mac Ward and Livingstone, for the valuable as- sistance they afforded him in his capacity of editor of this masterly refutation, which, it may be observed, for circu- lation among the learned, was written in the Latin lan- guage.f About this time, Mac Ward returned to Rotterdam, where a greater number of banished Scottish ministers re- sided than at any other town in the Low Countries. This may be accounted for from the circumstance of there being a vast concourse of Presbyterians who had resorted thither, with the view of engaging in commercial pursuits, then most lucrative ; which enabled them to enjoy the high sa- * Minutes of the Scottish Church in Utrecht, ap. an. ■\ A particular account of this work, and the part taken in its publication by BlacWard, will be found in Mr. Murray's elaborate Life of Samuel Ruth- erford, p. 334. D 34 HISTORY OF THE tisfaction of relieving those of their countrymen who had left home for conscience sake. The claims on their ge- nerosity w€re many and frequent ; and the recorded in- stances of their united and timely liberality remain as evi- dences at once of their wealth, and the noble use they made of it. Among those, who countenanced and aided our exiled countrymen, I must here mention, in terms of the most respectful gratitude, the magistrates of Rotter- dam. The large sums given out of the town chest, and of which the Scottish Consistory were almoners, could never have been required, except for the purpose of relieving respectable individuals unexpectedly plunged into distress, in consequence of their property being confiscated by the rapacity of King Charles' partizans. But indeed, the church treasurer's book bears ample evidence of the ex- treme delicacy with which they administered the money placed at their disposal by the benevolence of private indi- viduals and the corporation.* Of the munificence of the magistracy, it may be sufficient to state, that, besides oft- repeated extra allowances, the kirk-session, for a long se- ries of years, were in the annual receipt from them of up- wards of one hundred guineas for the use of the stated poor and strangers. And with regard to the donations and bequests of individuals, we may have occasion yet to speak ; and, as far as in our power, will give in our appendix, a chronological list of the benefactors of the Scottish Church. Although most of the expatriated clergy and laity were not in the most affluent worldly circumstances, they were not wholly dependent upon the generous sympathy, either of the Scottish residents or of foreigners. Many of them, we know, had considerable property at home, which it was im- possible advantageously to dispose of in the brief space " Kirk Treasurer's Account Book, passim. The money was alvrays voted and paid out in presence of the session, upon whom the strictest secrecy was enjoined. The objects of charity are styled " poor gentlemen," and " mi- nisters' wives and children." II. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN EOTTERDAM. 35 given them to prepare for a final departure from their native shore; but they fortunately received the proceeds of sale through the kind exertions of their attached friends, whose unfeigned respect for their exiled brethren, distance of place increased rather than diminished. Into the midst of this interesting society, Mr. Mac Ward was now introduced; and daily converse with kindred spirits, must have been refreshing to him in the extreme. That he should have been named to supply the place of second minister, when men of such talent were numerous in Rotterdam, speaks volumes in his praise, and the selection was truly honour- able to the Scottish Consistory. Mr. Mac Ward effected many important improvements. At his suggestion, a sessional meeting was held every Monday morning for religious purposes, and prayer for the success of the Gospel at home and abroad. W^ith him, also, originated the proposal to levy a small gratuity for the poor of the congregation, from every Scottish vessel arriv- ing at Rotterdam. He successfully arranged matters, and got the owners and masters of ships readily to enter into his benevolent views. For this acceptable offering, which has been uninterruptedly and cheerfully continued to the present day, free church-accommodation is granted to captains, mates, and sailors, who have distinct pews.* The services of Mr. Mac Ward were highly valued by the whole congregation, and by those trading to the port. He was, indeed, no common man. His pious and becoming- deportment; his anxiety to promote personal and family religion, endeared him to his flock ; and from ship to ship, as well as from house to house, he statedly went, speaking of * This voluntary tax upon Scottish vessels, is put, every voyage, to the ac- count of the owners, by the ship-brokers, who, in the month of January, faithfully deliver to Consistory the collections made during the preceding year. Originally, each ship carried a ' Box for the Scottish Poor,' but this practice was discontinued long since. Similar boxes are now placed in the counting-houses of those merchants who trade with Scotland. 36 HISTORY OF THE the things that pertained to the everlasting peace of his hearers. As might be expected, his addresses from the pulpit, energetic and truly affectionate, could not he heard with cold indifference, by a people, for whose welfare he shewed such concern. The Scottish church, however, was not to be long favoured with the acceptable services of this man of God. The creatures of Charles the Second, who had driven Mr. Mac Ward from his native country, could not brook the idea of his being comfortably settled, even in a distant land. And the king, if he did not originate, heartily en- tered into every measure suggested for the annoyance or destruction of his non-conforming Presbyterian subjects. It might have been thought, now that Mr. Mac Ward had exiled himself, that the active malice of his persecutors would be stayed, and that he would unmolestedly enjoy the pastoral inspection of his affectionate friends at Rotter- dam. But it was far otherwise. And with grief must it be recorded, that few governments would have stooped so low as did that of England at this time, in seeking farther to distress Mr. Mac Ward and other humble individuals who had already borne, in its utmost extent, the sentence of banishment passed againt him.* The British cabinet, we verily believe, never gave greater proof of its weakness and implacability, than it did in the present instance. Spur- " We ought to mention that Charles, some years previous to this period, had formally applied for Mr. MacWard's expulsion from Holland. The de- mand of his Britannic Majesty was laid before the assembled States, July 2Gth, IC70. It accused Robert Trail, Robert Mac Ward, and John Nevay, formerly ministers in Scotland, and then residing within the jurisdiction of the State, of writing and publishing pasrjuils, and other infamous produc- tions, against his IMajesty's government. On the 23d of September, their High Mightinesses decreed that the three individuals complained of, be im- mediately posted up, as sentenced to quit the Dutch territories within fif- teen days, under pain of being prosecuted as " stubborn rebels." Resolutions of the Slates of Holland and Westfriesland, for 1670, p. 365, and pp. 431, 432. 3Ir. MacWard remained in seclusion near Utrecht. Storie's MS. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 37 red on by Sharp, the king wrote a holograph letter to the States-General, entreating- them forthwith to expel from the United Provinces, Robert Mac Ward, John Brown, and Colonel James Wallace, whom he characterized as rebels, unworthy of the least countenance ; and that, if the States regarded the request, they would lose no time in comply- ing with his earnest demand. But the States-General, to their immortal honour, were not to be hurried into an un- justifiable measure, merely to gratify the resentment of the king and his ministers. They properly viewed the request of Charles as an encroachment on their prerogative, and ac- cordingly enjoined their ambassador in London to acquaint his majesty, that the States-General did not feel at liberty to molest the individuals referred to, or, indeed, any one who, for similar reasons, sought refuge in the Netherlands. Neither did they wish to become the instruments of un- called-for oppression in the hand of an English monarch, whose jurisdiction, they conceived, did not extend into foreign territories, and in whose unreasonable demands, especially, they respectfully, yet pointedly, declined ac- quiescing. Charles, however, was not so easily to be re- buffed. By his extreme urgency, and the extravagant co- louring which he gave the whole affair, representing it as a matter that involved his personal safety, and the peace of the realm, the States were at length induced, as mediators, to devise some measure, in order, if possible, to pacify his Majesty, and to convince the accused, that the Dutch government were exceedingly averse to inter- fere. Before laying before our readers some further, particulars relative to the proceedings of the States-General in the fore- going case, it may be satisfactory, if we shortly advert to the previous history of Mr. Mac Ward's companions in this heartless persecution. Mr. John Brown has already been mentioned, as having been on the short leet, when his friend Mr. Mac Ward was appointed second minister of the Scot- 38 HISTORY OF THE tish Church in Rotterdam. As a writer on practical divi- nity, he is most advantageously known. For non-confor- mity, he was ejected from the parish of Wamphray, in the presbytery of Lochmaben, and was cruelly treated for the conscientious, bold, and honourable stand which he made against the restoration of Charles II. In consequence of the severeties to which he was subjected, by being confin- ed in a damp cell during the winter of 1662, he was in- duced to send in a representation to the council, setting forth, "that he had been kept close prisoner these five weeks by-past, and seeing, that by want of free air and other ne^ cessaries, for maintaining his crazy body, he is in hazard to lose his life ; therefore, humbly desiring warrant to be put at liberty, upon caution, to enter his person when he should be commanded." The lords of council " ordain the suppliant to be put at liberty forthwith of the tolbooth, he first obliging himself to remove and depart off the king's dominions, and not to return without license from his majesty and council under pain of death." The alternative was a hard one, but rather than pine away in a dungeon, he chose to bid a last adieu to his beloved flock and his numerous friends in Scotland, and repair to Rotterdam, where se^ veral of his acquaintance had already taken refuge. Mr. Brown was allowed two months from the 11th of Decern-^ ber, to prepare for his final departure from his native coun-^ try; and in the spring of 1663, he landed on the Continent. He resided partly at Utrecht and partly at Rotterdam ; and, though he preached frequently in both places, and was eminently useful in public and private, he was never ad- mitted pastQr of a particular congregation abroad. * When the resentful mandate of King Charles reached the Stadt- * The historian Wodrow, and the succeeding biographers of our Scottish 'Srorthies, represent Mr. Brown as one of the stated clergA'men in the Scot- tish Church, Rotterdam. This, however, was not the case. He merely favoured the two ministers, Messrs. Hoog and 3IacWard, with his greatly valued assistance in the pulpit, and in visiting their people. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN llOTTERDAM. 39 holder, Mr. Brown was at Rotterdam peaceably enjoying the Christian society of his expatriated brethren, and con- soling, by his printed writings and private letters, the dear friends among whom he now dwelt, as well as those whom he had been forced to leave behind. Here, however, must we for the present close our brief sketch of Mr. Brown, in order to introduce a few biographical notices of Colonel James Wallace, Mr. Mac Ward's other partner in tribulation and illegal prosecution. This estimable individual, who had early made choice of the military profession, was descended from an ancient and most respectable family in Ayrshire. The estate of Auchens, in the parish of Dundonald had been, for centuries, the patrimonial seat of his ancestors. For his bravery during the civil war he was raised to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. " He belonged," says Dr. M'Crie, " to the Marquis of Argyle's regiment, which was sent to Ireland in 1642, and was recalled in 1645, to oppose the victorious progress of Montrose. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Kilsyth. When Charles II. came to Scotland in 1650, the Parliament ordered two re- giments of Life Guards to be embodied, one of horse and the other of foot, to be composed of the choicest of the army, and fittest for that trust."* Lord Lorn was appoint- ed Colonel, and Wallace Lieutenant-Colonel, of the foot regiment of guards. Wallace was present at the battle of Dunbar, so disastrous to the Scots, and was taken prisoner on that occasion. His commanding officer. Lord Lorn, strongly recommended him to the favourable notice of par- liament, as well entitled to promotion, and an equitable compensation for the losses he had sustained in the cause of freedom. It does not appear, however, that government ever rewarded his patriotic services, or indemnified his pri- vate loss, which was very considerable. • M'Crie's Notices of Colonel Wallace, prefixed to Wallace's Narrative of the Rising of Pentland, pp. 357, 358. 40 HISTORY OF THE He lived in retirement after tlie Restoration, until the year 1666, wlien he came forth from the seclusion as the determined asserter of his country's liberties, and of the presbyterian religion. And he was placed at the head of the presbyterian forces, who reluctantly, but justifiably, had recourse to arms at the battle of Pentland. " In the appearance which he made at this time, and in accepting the dangerous post to which he was chosen, Wallace could be actuated only by the most disinterested motives. He had no private quarrel to revenge ; he had given no personal offence to the government ; and, as he was not involved in the circumstances which led to the first rising, he had no cause to be alarmed for his own safety. The prospects, when he first engaged in the design, were far from being flattering, especially to one of his knowledge and experience in military aifairs, and he had it in his power to retire, as others did, after he reached the west, and saw the real state of those who were in arms. Nor was his conduct, during the short time that he commanded, discre- ditable to his military talents ; especially when we take into consideration the small number of men which he had under him, the miserable manner in which most of them were equipped, and the want of inferior officers to conduct. * Wallace himself was a gentleman godly and resolute; but such an undertaking was for a man of miracles.'* By the line of march which he chose, he gave an opportunity to the friends of the cause, in the most populous counties, if they had been disposed, to join its standard. He pre- vented General Dalziel from obtaining that advantage which he sought, for attacking him during his march. If the government had been disposed to suppress the insurrec- tion without bloodshed, he gave them an opportunity of accomplishing this by the moderate letter which he sent to the General of the royal forces. The ground which he • Kirhtm, p. 245. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 41 chose on RuUion Green, and the disposition which he made of his men, was the very best, when he had to oppose an enemy three times the number of his own troops. By fighting at the time he did, instead of delaying, as he knew he could easily do, he provided for the better escape of his men, in the event of their being worsted ; and, indeed, the loss actually sustained was less than it would in probability have been, if, without engaging, he had disbanded his army during the night. The battle of Pentland-hills was a well-fought field, not a disgraceful rout, like that which afterwards happened, under a very different leader, at Both- well-bridge. " On the loss of the battle. Colonel Wallace left the field in company with Mr. John Welsh, and, taking a north- westerly direction along the hills, escaped the pursuit of the enemy. After riding to a sufficient distance, they turn- ed their horses adrift, and slept during the remainder of the night in a barn. Having concealed himself for some time, Wallace at last got safely out of the kingdom. The battle of Pentland was fought on the 28th of November, and on the 4th of December, the Privy Council issued a proclama- tion prohibiting all persons from harbouring or correspond- ing with Colonel Wallace, or any of those who had been in arms with him, under the pain of being treated as ac- cessory to the late rebellion. And, on the 15th of August, Wallace, and six others who had absconded, were found guilty and condemned to be executed as traitors, when they shall be apprehended, and all their lands and goods to be forfeited to his Majesty's use. This sentence was ra- tified by Parliament in 1669, and was rescinded at the Re- volution. " For several years Colonel Wallace was obliged to wander from one part of the Continent to another for the sake of security. For the same reason he assumed the name of Forbes. In the year 1670 he was on the borders of Germany. When he thought the search after him had 42 HISTOllY OF THE relaxed, he took up his residence at Rotterdam ; but he was not allowed to remain there undisturbed."* Colonel Wallace was a constant attendant at the Scottish church in Rotterdam, for a considerable time prior to the in- duction of his revered friend, Mac Ward, as one of the re- gular pastors. And it was not long after his settlement, and most probably at his suggestion, that Mr. MacW^ard had the satisfaction of admitting Colonel Wallace as a member of his session. The Colonel, with universal approbation, was ordained as an elder in 1676.f We consider it unnecessary to insert entire, the proceed- ings of the States-General in this business, especially as these have already been given to the public, partly by Wodrow, and particularly by Dr. M'Crie. Having had access to the Transactions of the States-General, deposited in the Royal Library at the Hague, we were gratified by the fidelity of the excerpts printed by the historians alluded to, and found little else worth extracting. King Charles continued to molest the Dutch govern- ment in such a way, that the States, unwilling to incur his Majesty's threatened displeasure and even hostility, came to the following resolution on the 6th February 1677, in regard to Messrs. Mac Ward and Brown, and Colonel Wallace : — " It is found good hereby to declare, that although the foresaid three Scotsmen have not only not behaved and comported themselves otherwise than as became good and faithful citizens of these states, but have also given many indubitable proofs of their zeal and affection for the ad- vancement of the truth, which their High Mightinesses • M'Crie's Notices of Colonel Wallace, ut supra, p. 362. — I need hardly say, that this work, hke every other of the same distinguished author, is marked by an accuracy rarely equalled and never surpassed. To the volume itself I must refer for the original authorities, as also for several valuable notes. -|- Consist. Reg. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 43 have seen with pleasure, and could have wished that they could have continued to live here in peace and security. Considering the risk they run, however, and with what pressing earnestness his Majesty had repeatedly insisted, by three several missives, and verbally through his envoy extraordinary, and with great reason apprehending a breach between his Majesty and these States, as Sir Temple has expressed himself on the subject in terms that cannot be mistaken, they feel themselves necessitated, in order to obviate so great an evil at this conjuncture, to cause the foresaid three Scotsmen — withdraw from this country ; and that consequently notice shall be given to the foresaid James Walles, Robert Mac Ward, and John Brown, in or- der that they may be able to avail themselves of the good intentions of their High Mightinesses, in having their ef- fects properly disposed of before the 5th of March next ; — and for this end, an extract of this resolution of their H. M. shall be sent to the counsellors of the States of Holland and West Friesland, in order that due notification may be given, and the foresaid Scotsmen may regulate their pro- ceedings accordingly. They shall also find enclosed, for their behoof, separate instruments ad omnes populos, word for word with the following, which shall be sent to the fore- said commissioners of the Council of the High and Mighty the States of Holland, to be put into the hands of the fore- said James Walles," &c. The instrument referred to in the preceding decree, so far as related to Colonel Wallace, was in these terms ; and Messrs. Mac Ward and Brown had each one to the same purport : — " The States General of the United Netherlands, to all and every one who shall see or read these presents, health. '•' Be it known and certified, that James Walles, gentle- man, our subject, and for many years inhabitant of this State, lived among us highly esteemed for his probity, sub- mission to the laws, and integrity of manners. And, there- 44 HISTORY OF THE fore, we have resolved affectionately to request, and here- by do most earnestly request, the Emperor of the Romans, and all Kings, Republics, Princes, Dukes, States, Magis- trates, or whomsoever else, our friends, and all that shall see these presents, that they receive the said James Walles in a friendly manner, whensoever he may come to them, or resolve to remain with them, and assist him with their council, help, and aid ; testifying that for any obliging, hu- mane, or kindly offices done to him, we shall be ready and forward to return the favour to them and their subjects whensoever an opportunity offers. For the greater confir- mation whereof, we have caused these presents to be seal- ed with our seal of office, and signed by the president of our assembly, and have ordered them to be countersigned by our first secretary, in our assembly, the sixth day of the month of February, in the year one thousand, six hundred and seventy-seven." The fact that the States refused the demand of King Charles, coupled with the above ample certificate in favour of those whom he bitterly accused, convincingly shew the extreme reluctance of the Dutch government to comply. But the report which Sir William Temple made to his court must not be omitted. His words are remarkable. " The business of the three ministers* hath been the hard- est piece of negociation that I ever yet entered upon here, both from the particular interests of the towns and pro- vinces of Holland, and the general esteem they have of Mackaird being a very quiet and pious man ; but chiefly from the firm persuasion they have, of not being obliged to it by any bare letter of his Majesty, without any sen- tence having passed against them, by which they are ad- judged rebels and fugitives. And, on the contrary, after a sentence of banishment against Mackaird and Brown, * Wallace is here spoken of, says Dr. M'Crie, as a minister, though it is evident from the correspondence, that both parties were quite aware of his real profession. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 45 wliicli, they say, is by all writers esteemed wholly to ex- tinguish their subjection, and, consequently his Majesty's right of declaring them rebels after they are banished and become subjects to another state. But I found the King's honour so far engaged in this matter, by three several let- ters which must have been public, that I have left no sort of arguments unessayed with the prince, the pensioner, and deputies, both of the provinces and towns, to procure his Majesty's satisfaction, and make it pass for a thing neces- sary for the campaign."* The Scottish church in Rotterdam had the greatest cause to lament this constrained decision of the States, as they were thus to lose the justly appreciated services of three ex- cellent men. The mournful intelligence was communicated at a full meeting of Consistory, held on the 1st of Feb- ruary, 1677. — " It was there signified to them by Mr. Ro- bert Mac Ward, minister, that there was come an order from the States-General], that he, Mr. John Brown, and Mr. Wallace, behoved to remove from this place, and out of the Seven Provinces belonging to the said States, with all possible diligence ; which ordinance so resolved, was im- posed upon them, doubtless from the Court of England. At which the session being very much grieved, thereby to be deprived of their faithfull, painfull, and pious preacher, and of such another also, who every I^ord's day was an helper in the work of the Lord, and likewise of the most painfull and useful elder they had amongst them : which sad and dreadfull stroake they could not look upon, but as a signal and eminent token of the Lord's high displeasure against this congregation, for the manifold sins and grie- vous provocations thereof, but especially for their unfruitful- ness and barrenness under the many waterings and powerful means of grace, not only of them, but of many other faith- * Sir William Temple's Letters, vol. iii. pp. 291, 292: comp. 248, 268, 311. 46 HISTORY OF THE full, able, and painfull ministers of the Gospel, formerly removed by death, whose labours in the Gospel had been very successfuU elsewhere ; so, that by the heavy stroake, added to all the former, they could not but foresee, in all pro- bability, that the Lord hereby intended to forsake this place, and to extinguish utterly the light of the Gospel therein. Which, taking to their consideration, they judg- ed it their duty to be deeply humbled before the Lord, in deprecating the fierceness of his wrath, and earnestly to plead with him for mercy and pardon, and not utterly leave and forsake some small remnant in this place, and to con- tinue with the congregation, the other faithfull and pain- full minister, till the Lord in liis mercy and good provi- dence should reduce and bring back these others, now un- justly banished from them. The which Mr. Mac Ward they do still own and avouch to be their minister, and the said Mr. Wallace their elder, notwithstanding of any Act or Ordin- ance now past out against them, as aforesaid, procured by the means of wicked and malicious instruments and enemies to the truth and power of godliness in the court of England, so as they are bound before God, and hold as a duty incumbent upon them, to receive and embrace them with all cordial affection, and brotherly aftection in the work of the Lord, whensoever he, in his providence, shall be pleased to take off this restraint, and bring them back to this place again. " The said day the session taking into consideration, that this congregation cannot be well served any considerable space in the dyets of preaching, catechising, and other mi- nisterial functions, such as they have had these many years bygone, having now only left with them Mr. John Hog, minister, although very painful in the ministerial work. They judged it most convenient to have some other faith- full, laborious, and godly minister of the Church of Scot- land, to be called to officiat here in the work of the minis- try, in the vice and place of the said Mr, Mac Ward, and SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 47 during his absence therefrom allenarly and under this re- straint. And, because the said Mr. MacWard was best ac- quaint with such faithful! and pious Gospell ministers as the necessity of this congregation doth call for ; and, with- all being most confident of his fervent love to the congre- gation, and earnest desire to have it supplied with such a Gospel ministery, they ordained an Act of the Session to be subscribed by the whole members thereof, impowering him to pitch upon any person he should judge fit, and could find most willing to embrace his said call. * Mr. MacWard readily promised to use his best efforts that the Scottish congrega- tion should continue to enjoy its full complement of minis- ters, and that his place should be filled as speedily as pos- sible, with an able and zealous labourer in the vineyard." At this meeting, the last at which he presided, Mr. Mac- Ward had the satisfaction of congratulating Consistory on the establishment (principally effected by his own exer- tions) of an English school under their auspices, and of for- mally introducing the newly elected teacher. This school has existed for more than a century and a half, under the immediate patronage of the Scottish Consis- tory, who have had gratifying proofs of its utility ; and it has afforded gratuitous instruction to several who have re- markably prospered in life, and have attributed their suc- cess, under a gracious Providence, to the benefits which they derived from an attendance at this little seminary. The branches taught at the Scottish School are, the principles of religion, English, arithmetic, writing, and geography. In addition to the charity children, the master, who receives a salary from the church, is allowed to take other scholars ; and, it is but justice to say, that the present teacher has gained the good opinion of his constituents, and has prov- ed himself a successful instructor of youth.f • Consist Reg. •\ As in the mother country, tlie office of precentor or reader was usual- ly, though not always, conjoined with that of schoolmaster. A chronologi- 48 HISTORY OF THE Tlie congregation was certainly in a most flourishing state during Mr. Mac Ward's short incumbency at Rotter- dam ; and pleasing evidence was afforded that his ministe- rial labours had not been altogether in vain. Before his departureMr. Mac Ward partook of the Lord's Supper with his people, and addressed his fellow-commu- nicants on the solemn occasion.* On the morning of Sab- bath, February 25th, 1677, he preached a farewell dis- course, " being to remove the 27th instant, as he did, to the great grief of all truely godly in the place."f cal list of the masters of the Scottish School, Rotterdam, will be found in the Appendix. * " 1677, Feb. 4 — The session appointed a congregational fast to be kept upon Thursday next, the 11th instant, before the celebration of the Lord's Supper, which they appointed to be celebrat upon the Lord's day there- after, the 14th instant, and intimation of both to be made from pulpit the next Lord's day, and of a sermon of preparation upon the Saturday before, and of a sermon of thanksgiving upon Monday morning after the Sacra- ment. A\''hich day of fast the session ordaines to be constantly observed in all time coming. " ]\Ir. Wallace and I\Ir. Allane are appointed to serve the tables, and David Edmonstone to fill the cups." Consist Reg. " Feb. 13 — After the preparation sermon, the tickets were distribut- ed by Mr. MacWard before all the members of the session." lb. " Feb. 1 4 The Lord's Supper was celebrat, — Mr. John Hog having preached. " Mr. John Brown (who should have preached at night) falling sick, Blr. John Hog did preach in his vice, and Mr. MacWard preached on the morrow the thanksgiving sermon." Jb. fib. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 49 CHAPTER III. 1677—1681. Mac Ward, on leaving Rotterdam, solicited by Consistory to nominate a suit- able person to succeed him Steps taken by Mm relative to this matter. Rev. Robert Fleming inducted as second minister — Farther account of Co- lonel Wallace and Mr. Brown Notices of the Rev. James Borstius. — Memoirs of Mac Ward concluded His death, character, and writings. Mr. MacWard retired to Utrecht, or its immediate neigh- bourhood, along with Mr. Brown and Colonel Wallace.* It does not appear that the two former ever found them- selves under the necessity of removing farther from Rot- terdam. From the States there was little likelihood that they would be molested; and his Britannic majesty was so far gratified in learning, that they had been obliged to re- linquish for ever the public exercise of their sacred func- tions. But Colonel Wallace, who was particularly ob- noxious to Charles, by reason of the active share which he had taken against the royal cause at Pentland, did not consider himself safe, even in the desirable society and prudent se- clusion of his two clerical friends. He, therefore, reluct- antly quitted them, and hastened to a more secure conceal- ment on the borders of France.f The name of Mr. MacWard, as we have seen, was not erased from the session roll ; and Colonel Wallace also was still regarded as a member of the Scottish Consistory.^ * Consist. Reg. and Storie's MSS. •f M'Crie's Notices of Colonel Wallace, p. 371. X " The session taking into consideration the great loss the congregation is at by being deprived of their brother, Mr. WaUace, who made it his work from day to day to visit families, insti'ucting in the principles of reli- E 50 HISTORY OF THE The letters written by Mr. Mac Ward, in reference to the supply of the vacancy at Rotterdam, breathe such an ex- cellent spirit, and evince so uncommon a degree of real piety, that their insertion here might be pardonable. It will be remembered, that the session had empowered him to fix upon any clergyman belonging to the church of Scotland, whom he might regard qualified to succeed him ; and that they agreed, besides, to abide by his decision. Conscious of the importance of the trust with whi*ch he had been charged, he proceeded with becoming caution; and it was after he had unsuccessfully besought the pastoral services of an eminent young divine, that he acquainted Consistory with his proceeding in the business, and his grief of heart at the unexpected issue of his suit. There is a remarkable modesty, simplicity, and savouri- ness in the following extracts from Mr. Mac Ward's first letter to his " dear colleague and brethren."* " I did first cast mine eyes and thoughts upon an eminently gracious young man, who, besides his singular piety, and zealous gion, and exhorting tlietn to the exercise of family-worship, and all Christ- ian duties, appoints that some expedient mean may be thought upon to sup- ply this great defect, which the session doth judge very expedient ; and that, because the said Mr. Wallace, in presence of all the sessiou, some few dayes before he went away, did declare, that through mercy he had found his paines, both in his visitations of families, and at his own chamber, in some more successful, than he had expected, which he earnestly intreated might be intertained, lest the beginnings of some warmth and affection to the truth he had found in many, might coole again." Consist. Reg. 18 fllarch, 1G77. The session "unanimously concluded, that there should be five elders, besides Mr. Wallace, whom yet they own as such, nottvithstanding of tvhat is gone against him ; and also five deacons." lb. 22 January, 1678. • This letter was presented by ]Mr. Hoog, and read at a sessional meet- ing, held on the 17th of June, 1677' Neither date nor place appeal on the copy recorded ; but, according to Storie, who must have known well, it was evidently written at Utrecht, a few days prior to its production in Consis- tory. Instead of the full signature, Mr. MacWard's initials only are at- tached to each of his letters. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN HOTTEUDAM. 51 peaceableness, is a person of known prudence and parts for government and discipline ; and wrote both most pressingly to himself and Mr. Carstares, (who, as he hath weight with him above all others, so your concerns are upon his heart above many of his own,) to deal with him, and interpose effectually with him to come over and help us. That which made me, — besides his fitness for the place, — begin with him was, I hoped thereby you might have been most easily and quickly supplied, to all our satisfactions ; and the poor remnant at home least prejudged. But I had both his re- turn, and also a return from worthy Mr. Carstares, who had laboured much to persuade him, wherein he utterly de- clined it; and, amongst other things, I perceived it af- frighted him into a peremptory aversion, to think he was called to succeed in a place late supplied by these great men of God, Mr. Livingstone, Mr. Nevay, and Mr. Brown." Mr. Mac Ward goes on to mention his having earnestly besought another eminent minister, of whom he gives a high character, both as respected talents and piety. With this individual, however, who turns out to be Mr. John Carstares, he was equally unsuccessful, though, he says, he offered to " risk home, in order that the Scottish Church of Rotterdam, might secure a pastor of such shining gifts." He conjures the members of Session, seriously to ponder the reason why his strenuous efforts to get them supplied should be so unaccountably nugatory. He regarded it as the marked displeasure of heaven for their non-improve- ment of former advantages. And he entreats the session to invoke the special interference of the Most High, to prosper the application, and incline the heart of one fitted for the task to accept the call. In alluding to the signal ministerial services which the Scottish congregation had re- markably enjoyed, and of which he feared, they had not been hitherto fully aware, he begs them not to imagine that he had the remotest reference to his personal labours 52 HISTORY OF THE among them. Deeply was he aware of his own shortcom- ings, and heartily did he monrn over the many imperfec- tions which stained his holiest religious exercises both in public and in private. " I must tell you this much," conti- nues Mr. Mac Ward, "to prevent prejudice, that often I was made to wonder at the patience of God, who mingled not the blood of such a preacher as I was, with his sermons and sacrifices ; though, alas ! my wonder did never reach, but was still short of its just altitude, that God did not consume me in your sight, for kindling strange fire upon his altar, is one signal proof above thousands, of the patience and forbearance of God. Alas ! can I remember how I have spoken of Him, and his Christ, and these mysterious depths of salvation ; and in that reflection rather wonder, that the earth did not swallow me up, than that pulpits and congregations should spue me out. Oh ! let it be my mer- cy to go wondering at this, and weeping over my pulpit provocations to the grave. I jvidge it would be an arro- gancy which God would be displeased at, if ever I should even myself to appear again in the capacity of a preacher, either amongst you or others, except it were to weep out my moisture in an acknowledgment of the wrongs I had done my master, and the souls of his people by my inseri- ous trifling in the matters of God's glory, and the everlast- ing concerns of men; and when that dried up and done, then disappear and drop into the grave, never any more to be seen to spill preaching and worship in the assembly : and I beg of you, my dear brethren, that you will by all manner of prayer and supplication, seek from the hearer of prayer, that greater giver, a broken and bleeding heart, as my bosom companion to the grave upon this account. Oh ! what will He give me if I get not this ? Or can I, or dare I even myself to be a sharer of that salvation which I have preached unto others, if godly sorrow, in the remembrance of my unworthy way of doing it, be not my daily exercise, till my days and nights be at an end ? Oh ! may I hope SCOTTISH CHURCH IN llOTTERDAM. 53 to obtain mercy to die a penitent, with my finger upon this sore, the iniquity of my holy things, and my eye towards the remedy, — I say I do not mistake, as if I judged you at so great a loss by my removal. No, no, — let this sad in- terjected parenthesis prevent both your provocation and prejudice. But have the people been belaboured by all of you to impress them suitably with the sin of despising the Gospel, which hath brought on this desolation ? Or have you endeavoured to make them sensible of their loss, by having so many great ambassadors for Christ recalled from negotiating a peace betwixt God and their souls by death ? Oh ! when I remember that burning; and shininPT light, worthy, and warm Mr. Livingstone,* who used to preach as within the sight of Christ, and the glory to be revealed; acute and distinct Nevay;f judicious and neat * John Livingstone was successively minister of Stranraer and Ancrum. Upon the demise of Charles I. he was sent to the Hague, and afterwards to Breda, as one of the commissioners from the parliament and church of Scotland, to treat with his son ; — whose vacillating and dissolute principles, he had the discernment to discover ; and shrewdly suspected that the prince was insincere in his vows and engagements. Mr. Livingstone, in conse- quence of his refusal to keep the anniversary of the death of Charles I., and to take the oath of allegiance in the precise way it was dictated to him, was condemned, Dec. 11th, 1G62, to quit his native land within two months. Having repaired to the Continent, he studiously devoted his years of exile to the prosecution of biblical literature, and in preparing a Latin version of the Scriptures, which, however, it is to be regretted, was never published. He died at Rotterdam, August 9th, 1672. -)- For refusing the oath of allegiance to Charles II., John Nevay, minis- ter of Newmills, and chaplain to the Earl of Loudon, was banished from Scotland, 23d Dec. 1GC2 ; when he became bound, under pain of death, to remove forth of the kingdom before the 1st of February. He then sailed for Holland, and spent the remainder of his days at Rotterdam, greatly re- spected. The General Assembly entertained so high an opinion of Nevay's poetical abilities, that they appointed him in tO'47, along with three others, to revise the metrical version of the psalms. He is author of a paraphrase of the Song of Solomon, in Latin verse. Prefixed to the sermons of the Rev. James Borstius, an eminent Dutch Divine at Rotterdam, will be found two copies of liEtin stanzas, signed Joannes Nevins, Scotus. Viiflicn Pre- dicaticn, door Jac. Borstius, pp. 151, 152, and 5«0, Utr, 1696, 4to. The 54 HISTORY OF THE Sympson ;* fervent, serious, and zealous Traile ;f when I remember, I say, that all these great luminaries are now set, and removed by death from one people, and out of one pul- pit in so short a time, what matter of sorrow presents itself to my eye ? But because it is less taken notice of when eminent instruments are removed by death, therefore, that he who runs may read displeasure fore a despised Gospel gone out against us, some must be thrust from you in an- other manner. The Lord hath suffered men to rob you of Mr. Brown, of whom I have confidence to say, for a con- junction of great learning, soundness in the faith, fervent zeal for the interests of Christ, and the souls of men, toge- ther with his unwearied painfulness, while upon the brink of the grave, spending his life to give light to others, and laying out his great receivings for the vindication of pre- cious truth, contradicted and blasphemed by adversaries, I know no minister alive (though the residue of the Spirit former is a paraphrase of Isaiah, ii. 1-5, and consists of ^2 lines. It is most creditable to the piety and scholarship of the writer. JMr. Nevay's son married Sarah Van Brakel, whose poetical powers are favourably exhibited in her elegy upon a popular preacher, and a kind friend to the British re- fugees. Theological Works of the Rev. W. a Brakel, (in Dutch) 4to. Dort, 1767. In the year 1737, there was published at the Hague, the 4th edi- tion of a small tract, by Sarah Nevius, entitled, The Devout Disciple taught by the Lord Jesus himself. • James Simpson, minister of Airth. In the autumn of 1G60, when on his way to Ireland, he was suddenly seized, and causelessly thrown into prison at Portpatrick. There he was kept in close confinement till the year following, when, by order of parliament, he was, without the privilege of being heard in his own defence, banished the king's dominions, fllr. Simpson never returned from Holland, where he took shelter. The period of his death, however, I have not ascertained. ■^ Robert Trail, minister of the Gray Friars' Church, Edinburgh, receiv- ed sentence of banishment on the same day as Livingstone ; along with whom and other persecuted brethren, he set sail for Rotterdam. In 1G70, Charles II. made application to the States-General, to remove Trail, Mac- Ward, and Nevay, from the Dutch territories. Mr. Trail secluded him- self for a while, and afterwards lived unmolested in Holland, till his death, which took place several years afterwards. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 55 be with liim) that would fill his room if he were removed : and whatever particular churches or persons may think, Mr. Brown would be missed out of the church of God at this time, that the greatest men he left behind would count themselves obliged to mourn over that miss. Yea, what- ever others may think, it is beyond delate with me, if our captivity were this day returned, that this Mr. Brown, now removed from the Scottish congregation of Rotterdam, would, by a General Assembly, be pitched upon to fill the most famous place in the Church of Scotland." " Many prayers sent to heaven from souls bleeding in the remembrance of former misimprovements, might make him, who is Lord of the harvest, thrust forth and send you over such a minister, as might make many praises be sent to heaven out of Rotterdam. O ! that he would be entreat- ed yet concerning this, and condescend to send such a la- bourer, and accompany him so at his work, as it might ap- pear he is indeed a worker together with God. And sure if we were frequent in this duty, and more frequent in that frequency, he might make us yet say, blessed be the Lord who hath not turned away our prayer, nor his mercy from us." " I will tell you freely, that Mr. Kirkton's the man pitched upon ; and who, by many providences seems to be pointed at, as a person well known for his singular grace, and shining parts to some of you, and deservedly looked upon by all, as one of the most eminent, accomplished, faithful and zealous ministers that is at present in the church of Scotland. I once intended to have concealed his name, for some reasons ; but lest that might have bieen liable to some mistakes, and might have seemed upon my part a too implicit craving of your concurrence to homolo- gate my invitation, I have told you who the person is, but withall, I must tell you, it concerns you both in point of conscience and prudence to keep it amongst yourselves, 56 HISTORY OF THE for you know, if you fall a talking of it there, it will be presently spread abroad at home, which, as it might infer no advantages to him in his present circumstances, so, up- on supposition, lie absolutely decline to come, next address- ed unto, would be so much the more unwilling to listen to our call, that so great a man in so good a case to come, and so much dealt with, had refused. Upon the sad supposi- tion that Mr. Kirkton will absolutely refuse, I intend to write another letter equally (sic) person to a blank person, leaving it to Mr. Carstares, (within whose I resolve to send it) to be indorsed and delivered by liim, if need be : and do you also send alongst with it your homologating of the same invitation, which needs be no other, but just a double of what you send Mr. Kirkton ; only, Mr. Carstares, as I have said, if yours and mine be made use of, must endorse both. Besides, brethren, though I will not take upon me, to prescribe to you what is convenient, yet I judge it will not be amiss, nay more, I judge it worthy of you to write a line of thanks to Mr. Carstares, for the great pains he hath been at, and for what he must further do in order to your being planted." Mr. MacWard, besides, hints to the session the propriety, along with their sincere regrets on learning that Mr. Carstares could not be persuaded to become their pastor, to urge him to reconsider the matter, and heartily delight them by his speedy compliance. Mr. MacWard was indeed apprehensive that a renewed application would, as it proved, be useless. In what estimation Mr. Carstares was held by him, the fol- lowing testimony pleasingly demonstrates. " If his bodily condition and other things had suffered him to come, you would quickly have had a conviction, that in planting the place with him, I had done it by one whose liveliness in preaching the Gospel would have made all the congrega- tion to have blessed the Lord that my withdrawing had made way for planting such a burning and shining light amongst them; and in remembrance of that mercy, (if be- SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 57 stowed, O if it might yet be !) my soul should have allow- ed them either an oblivion of me, or such a remembrance as would only have provoked them to have prayed for par- don to me that I sinfully wanted that shining seriousness, which they would have found in him ; the observation whereof gives me confidence to say, that though we con- versed long together as colleagues, and I judge no two mi- nisters on earth live in a more intimate fellowship, yet such was the eminence of the grace of God in him, and so manifest was the presence of God with him, that to the best of my remembrance, I did never open my mouth where he was, but with the greatest reluctance." We give only another extract from Mr. Mac Ward's letter. " In the interim of this dependance, suffer me to be- seech, obtest, yea humbly charge you who are members of that session, to lay out at this time yourselves more than ever, for the edification of the people; seeing you know well your revered minister, Mr. Hog, cannot positively perform both preaching and visiting work. And brethren of the eldership, suffer me to say to you without a mistake, since your minister, whom the Lord hath yet spared with you, doth not spare himself, but undertakes that which used to give many work enough, this noble example should provoke you to some more than ordinary diligence in sup- plying the want of that worthy elder, Mr. Wallace, of whom I dare say, he was in his visiting, and going from house to house, of more use and advantage to the souls of that poor people, than ever I was in the exercise of my mi- nistry. Such an elder at this time is a rare jewel in the church of God. Therefore, my dear brethren of the el- dership, set yourselves to prevent the devil's getting all the advantage he designed in driving that feckful and faith- ful man from you." "Dear brethren, affection towards you, and desire to have your souls prosper, and that you may dwell together. 58 HISTORY OF THE and converse tog'ether, as a company witli whom, and in whom God dwells, and will have at last to dwell with him, hath made me weary both you and myself. I shall there- fore say no more at present. If you please to let me know wherein I can be useful to you, I can only say, you shall find me willing. A blessing, a rich blessing, a shower, a plump and plentiful shower of all blessings, particularly of the best blessing be upon you, and upon that poor flock." * Agreeably to the advice given by Mr. Mac Ward, the Consistory lost no time in writing to Mr. Carstares, conjur- ing him to come over and exercise his ministerial gifts among his countrymen at Rotterdam. And should he, to their unfeigned grief, peremptorily refuse their unanimous invitation, he was requested to use his best eff"orts to se- cure Mr. Kirkton. In the event of Mr. Kirkton and him- self positively declining, the session inclosed also a signed call to be filled up by Mr. Carstares ; being perfectly sa- tisfied that, as he was well aware of their wants, he would ofi'er the call to none but such as would do honour to his choice, f The united eflbrts of Mr. Mac Ward and Con- sistory, were unavailing, so far as regarded the two indi- viduals named, and the blank call was put in requisition. Mr. Robert Fleming, who had been minister of Cambus- lang, in the presbytery of Hamilton, after much pressing, conditionally accepted the letter of nomination. After having already met with repeated disappointments, Mr. Mac Ward rejoiced to know that his Scottish correspon- dents, unwilling themselves to close with the invitation, had nevertheless been scrupulously careful in securing a most efficient substitute. Mr. Mac Ward instantly made the session acquainted with the happy result of the applica- * MacWard's Letter to the Kirk Session. Consist. Reg. -j- The letter forwarded to 3Ir. Carstares, and the invitation given to Mr. Kirkton, presei-ved in the Session Records, are exceedingly creditable to all parties. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN KOTTERDAM. 59 tion, and from long personal knowledge, he informed tliem, that Mr. Fleming was a person of tried worth, and uncommon Christian experience, and likely to fill with universal appro- bation, the pastoral office at Rotterdam. When he accepted the call of the Scottish Consistory, Mr. Fleming was re- siding in London ; and, as a mark of their high regard for their pastor-elect, Mr. Charles Gordon, student in divinity, afterwards minister of Dalmeny, was chosen as the bearer of the following letter to him : — " Rotterdam, S\st August, 1677. " Reverend Sir, — We having understood from that worthy person by whom our call was to be transmitted unto you, that he had used all diligence to convey the same to your hands. And, understanding likewise by another particularly concerned in that affair, that you had received our call, and were resolved to come over, we judged it an indispensable duty, first to let you know, that we with much satisfaction of soul hear the account that was given us, and look upon ourselves as under an obligation to bless Him who hath the hearts of all men in his hand, for determining you unto this compliance with our call. And we are hopeful that the same Lord who, by many things which have emerged in this affair, seems particularly to have pointed at you, and pitched upon you, as the man by whom he will serve himself amongst us, will also, to our advantage and the rejoicing of your own soul, let you see and find he will accompany you, hold your hand, and help you as a worker together with himself; and that by your ministry, Jesus Christ shall engage some poor strangers to him, and confirm and edify those that are engaged, and so see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied, and give you cause also, as often as he hath given you, of triumph- ing amongst us. Secondly, we judged, likewise, ourselves called, both out of respect to your person, endeared to us and to many for your work's sake, and for hastening and 60 HISTORY OF THE facilitating your coining over, to send one of our num- ber immediately to attend you, and wait upon you hither ; and, accordingly, James Gordon was pitched upon ; but, therefore, finding that his affairs made it morally impossible for him to undertake it, we pitched upon his brother Mr. Charles unanimously, to supply his place ; whom, as we have cause to look upon, on many accounts, as a person that will be acceptable to you, and fit to supply what his brother could not perform, so his brother pitched upon at first by us, to make it appear how far his affairs did cross his inclination, in rendering it impossible for him to be our messenger unto you, did most cheerfully and readily concur in, and press his brother to undertake this piece of service for us, as that which, with much satisfaction, he would have done himself, if in other than the present cir- cumstances. " Reverend Sir, this is all we have to acquaint you with at present, only our desire to see you amongst us, and the confidence that we have that you shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ, makes us to en- treat you will make all possible haste to come over unto us ; assuring you, that as our longings after you are great, so we hope you shall find our endeavourings ; that your hands may be strengthened, while you work the work of the Lord, shall witness how dear you are unto us, and how much desired by your affectionate brethren, who long after you in theLord." * During the two months which intervened before Mr. Fleming arrived in Holland, Consistory were actively em- ployed petitioning the Magistrates to grant an adequate stipend to Mr. Mac Ward's successor; having had sug- gested to them the extreme probability, that such a re- quest, if now made, would meet with a favourable hearing. And they were not disappointed in the present instance. * Consist. Reg. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 61 The city of Rotterdam generously decreed, tliat a sum, equal to that paid Mr. Hoog', should be settled, in perpe- tuity, upon the second minister of the Scottish Church in Rotterdam ; and tlie States also sanctioned this Act of the municipal regency, ordaining at same time, that the per- son who might be chosen, as well as his successor in office, should have secured to him the same privileges and emo- luments as the native clergy.* To the above munificent pecuniary allowance of the Dutch authorities, Mr. Mac- Ward thus feelingly adverts, when offering to session his felicitations on Mr. Fleming's acceptance. " I have no- thing to boast of, either as a Christian or minister, but upon the contrary, much to be ashamed of before God and before you ; yet I cannot say, but your condition since I left you hath been somewhat heavy unto me. Of late I have been much eased of that load, and comforted over any former sorrow I had in reference to you, by being informed, First, that it hath pleased the Lord to make the magistrates of Rotterdam so tender to that poor congregation, as to settle a maintenance for the future, for another minister to la- bour amongst you, for which, as I desire to bless the Lord, (and I hope the posterity will utter abundantly the me- mory of his great goodness for this so special a mercy to them,) so I desire showers of all sorts of blessings, particu- larly of the best blessings, to be rained upon that city, and vipon the magistrates thereof. Let the good Lord, who forgetteth not a cup of cold water given to any for his sake, remember that city, these honourable magistrates, their families and posterity, and every one who hath been in- strumental in this settlement, this their work and labour of love, shewed for his name's sake. Secondly, I have been more specially comforted, not only that another mi- nister hath a suitable maintenance, but, by the coming of that eminently pious and faithful minister of Jesus Christ, " Records of ilie City of Rotterdam- 62 HISTORY OF THE Mr. Fleming, there is bread enough now in his house amongst you. You have plenty of manna and meat for your souls ; your streets run to an overflowing with wine and milk, while many of the people of the Lord mourn for want of water, and because their bread for their soul is not brought into his house. O how strangely hath he dealt with you ! Others, in a manner, are famished that you may be fed ; other churches are robbed, that you may be enriched and served by those who will travail in birth, till Christ be formed in you." * Although Mr. Fleming accompanied Mr. Gordon to Rotterdam, and preached several weeks in the Scottish Church, it would appear he had at first no idea whatever that it was expected, notwithstanding a call had been given, he should be permanently settled as Mr. Hoog's colleague. Beyond the pulpit he did not conceive that this engage- ment extended ; and he was not prepared, and he thought delicacy forbade it, to enter into closer ministerial bonds with a congregation whose exiled pastor might ere long return. These amiable scruples were considerably remov- ed by the persuasive earnestness of the members of session, and especially by the production of a letter which they had most opportunely received from Mr. Mac Ward, who, after expressing his surprise at not having heard of his successor's induction, concluded in language which Mr. Fleming could not misinterpret or listen to without emotion. " I declare," contirmes Mr. Mac Ward, in the letter al- ready quoted, " my cordial and cheerful concurrence with you, in calling that worthy servant of Christ, Mr. Flem- ing, to the exercise of the whole ministerial work, in all its parts, amongst you : and all I have to say besides, and the mark at which all 1 have said is levelled, is, earnestly to beseech you, with all diligence, dexterity, and inces- santness, to press and pursue your call, till you have over- • Consist. Rep. Dec. f), 1077- SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 63 come him into a compliance. The God who hath, in many remarkable steps of this procedure, pointed him forth, and pitched upon, as the person by whom he will be served in the Gospel of his Son amongst you, will, I hope, bear home your earnest beseechings upon his soul, so that he dare not slight, or any longer shift that settlement. And, as I know from what you have now found upon your own souls, since he came amongst you, while under the preach- ings and persuadings of such a singularly serious Gospel minister, you will be restlessly solicitous till he be set- tled ; so I hope, yea, I am very confident, that the same God who hath brought the matter this length, will give such weight to your persuadings, that he dare neither withstand your desirings, nor add to your sorrow, by de- ferrings and delayings, to come under that relation to you. I need lay before you the reasons persuading, to the ut- most of instancy, in urging a present settlement, and how little (though great in itself,) his assistance in preaching will do, as to the answering the end of your call, and the necessity the congregation stands in to be visited, exhorted from house to house, and catechised. As these things lie more open to your eye, in their urgency, so I doubt not but they make a deeper impression upon your heart, than they can do upon mine ; and, therefore, in the assurance and confidence of this, I forbear to use any further argu- ings to persuade you to a restless importunity, till this business be at the much-desired and long-looked for close, whereof it will be the joy of my soul to hear. And, more- over, I assure you, I will never be glad till I hear it is done. I shall at present trouble you with nothing else, intending, if the Lord will, to write my mind at greater length, when I hear it is settled."* The selection of the Scottish Kirk-Session being unani- • Ccnsisf. Reg. 64 HISTORY OF THE mously approved of by the burgomasters, Mr. Fleming, to tlie great joy of all interested, consented to become one of tlie stated pastors. His letter of acceptance is as fol- lows : — " To the Reverend and Worthy the Minister, and remanent Members of the Consistory of the Scots Congregation in Rotterdam, " Having, with some seriousness, considered your call, and the case you are now in, whatever difficulties I have otherwise had to wrestle with, yet, upon the interest of my blessed Master, and for his work's sake, in this place, I do accept and consent thereto, to exercise my ministry, for some time, amongst you, with this provision, until the Lord shall clear my way and duty otherwise; and this I desire may be insert in your register, as it is here express- ly qualified. Dec. 23rd. 1677. R. Fleming."* No time was lost in notifying to the people the gratify- ing intelligence, and that Mr. Fleming would be solemnly set apart on Thursday the 30th of December. The fol- lowing account of his admission is extracted from the re- cords of Consistory, of same date : " After the sermon preached by Mr. John Hog, minister, it was by him de- manded of Mr. Robert Fleming, conform to the usual way in the Church of Scotland, in such a case, First, if the said Mr. Robert did believe the Scriptures to be the alone word of God, and rule of faith and life ? He answered, that he did believe the sacred Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the word of God, and the undoubt- ed standing rule of faith and life. Secondly, if he owned the Reformation of the Church of Scotland, in the doc- trine, discipline, and government thereof, sworn unto by • Consist. Reg. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 6.^ the Covenant, and conform to the word of God? To which he answered, he did own the Reformation of the Church of Scotland, in the doctrine, discipline, and go- vernment thereof, sworn unto by the Covenant, to be con- sonant to God's word ; and that, in defence thereof, he hath been put from the exercise of his ministry in that land, counting it not only his duty to maintain the same, but also his honour to suft'er in maintenance thereof. Thirdly, it was asked at him, that, seeing he had got a most unanimous call to the exercise of the ministry in this conarrepfation in the absence of Mr. Robert Mac Ward, if he would exercise all the parts of the said function, in pub- lic and private, as becomes a minister of the Gospel hav- ing the charge of souls? To which he answered, that, having come hither, upon their invitation, to help in the word of the Lord in this congregation for a while, he had no Intention to enter into the charge of a pastor here, but, being so called, as said is, after much seeking after the mind of God therein, he was content, for a time, to offi- ciate in all the parts of his ministry, through the Lord's assistance, till it should please the Lord more fully to clear his way, conform to the circumstances wherein he stood at the time, as he had hinted at in a paper he gave in to the Consistory of this congregation. Whereupon, the minis- ter desired him to take by the hand all the members of the Consistory sitting beside him at table, in sign of his will- ingness to accept of the charge aforesaid ; and the minis- ter coming down from the pulpit, took him by the hand also, who, ascending to the pulpit again, prayed for a bless- ing on his ministry ; and having sung a part of the Ps. 13*2, pronounced the blessing." Among those whom this settlement gladdened, we must particularly mention Mr. MacWard, who embraced an early opportunity of largely giving vent to his holy satis- faction. In his excellent and appropriate letter on this 66 HISTORY OF THE occasion, he solemnly conjures the Session, publicly and privately, to strengthen the hands of their new pastor.* It were impossible to suppose, that the ministers, and not a few members of the Scottish Church in Rotterdam, having themselves suffered by the cruel abettors of prelacy at home, could cease to remember, with prayerful regard, their devoted friends, whom persecution, in its fiercest forms, still unsparingly assailed. They sincerely lament- ed the yet suffering lot of their countrymen ; and on days specially set apart for the purpose, piously did they com- mit them, and their noble cause, to the safe protection of an all-wise God.f Having thus recounted the steps taken by Consistory, in conjunction with Mr. Mac Ward, to fill up the vacancy, and the cordial unanimity with which the congregation re- ceived Mr. Fleming, we may now resume and close our brief account of Colonel Wallace, and his two clerical as- sociates. Mr. Brown and the Colonel returned to Rotterdam in the year 1678, and Mr. Mac Ward soon joined them. No notice, however, except the simple fact, that they were then in town, can be found in the session record ; and I have no doubt, had any of them again acted in an ofiicial character, the fact would have been mentioned or alluded to in the register of the church. But, though their coun- trymen were denied the active services of these worthy in- dividuals, whom, indeed, bodily inability, as well as the * See Appendix, Note C, where this letter, the last written by Mr. MacWard to Consistory, is inserted. •j- " Ordained that the 28th day of April (1678) be set apart for prayer and humiliation before the Lord, for the sad and deplorable condition of our brethren in Scotland, in the west and south parts thereof, being under sad sufferings for their owneing and maintaineing the truth and cause of God, conforme to the Covenant, against the innovations and corruptions introduced contrary thereto, and to the word of God." Consist. Reg. " The sd, fast was observed by preaching and prayer the whole day." lb. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 67 existing ban of Charles, kept in retirement, they were ne- vertheless most usefully employed in counselling and en- couraging their fellow Christians. In their private cham- bers, sanctified by prayer, they were eagerly resorted to by those who loved spiritual things, and the communion of saints. The house of Mr. Andrew Russel, an elder of the church, was a favourite place of rendezvous, where the banished clergy weekly expounded the word of God to a select circle ; and, with this worthy Scottish factor, whose name is honourably enrolled among our persecuted coun- trymen, Mr. Fleming and others of the Scottish ministers lodged. At these holy convocations, well calculated to promote personal and family religion, the spiritual welfare of the Scottish congregation was specially enquired into, and the preparatory steps taken for its melioration ; the most recent intelligence was also communicated, concerning the real condition of the Church and State of Scotland. While health permitted, Messrs. Mac Ward and Brown were of this little party.* Colonel Wallace, to the unspeakable grief of the con- gregation, died at Rotterdam in the close of the year 1678. In discharging the duties of ruling elder in the Scottish church, he was beyond all praise. Like his divine Master he went about continually doing good ; and the voluntary testimonies borne to his patriotism and unwearied zeal for the furtherance of vital godliness among the flock over which he jointly presided, entitle him to hold no mean place in the catalogue of those distinguished worthies, who fought and fell in the cause of religious and civil liberty. As an office-bearer in the church, his example ought to stimulate his successors to take a deeper concern in the eternal welfare of their spiritual charge. The colonel rightly viewed the duties of an elder as involving obligations, * The record of the Scottish Consistory makes frequent alhision to this private meeting, more especially before any business of importance was brought under the judicial coguizance of the Kirk-Session. 68 HISTORY OF THE more sacred and binding than the world generally regards this ecclesiastical office as embracing. He studied, as every conscientious man will, who enters into a similar engage- ment, to attend to those apostolic injunctions which St. Paul has recorded for the direction of the successive over- seers in the church of God, This excellent person expired in the arms of his tried friend Mr. Mac Ward, who has given a particular account of the colonel's triumphant death in the following letter to the Rev. John Blackader.* "I doubt not but you have heard of the removal of worthy and great Wallace, of whom I have no doubt it may be said he hath left no man behind him in that church, minister nor professor, who hath gone through such a variety of tentations, without turning aside to the right hand or to the left. He died in great serenity of soul. He had lived abroad such an ornament to his profession, as he was not more lamented by us than by all the serious English and Dutch of his acquaintance, (who were many,) as having lost the man, who as a mean was made use of by the Lord to keep life amongst them ; yea, the poor ignorant people of the congregation of Rotterdam, (besides the more se- • The Rev. John Blackader, minister of Troqueer, died in 1686, when imprisoned on the Bass, an insulated rock in the Firth of Forth. JMr. Mac- Ward paid great attention to Mr. Blackader's sons while prosecuting their studies at the Dutch Universities. Dr. William Blackader, who took his degree of medicine at Leyden, in the year 1680, has gratefully acknow- ledged his deep obligations to Messrs. MacWard and Fleming, in the dedi- cation of his Thesis, where he has honourably inscribed their names. The letter in the text, dated 5-15 Dec. 1678, was lately printed for the first time, from the original in the Advocates' Library. APCrie's Memoirs of Veitch, &c. p. 515. Mr. IMacM'ard informed Mr. Donald Cargill, (who suffered at the cross of Edinburgh for his adherence to truth, July 27, 1681,) of the colonel's decease in these remarkable words : " Great Wallace is gone to glory. I shut his eyes while he went out of my sight, and was carried to see God, enjoy him, and be made perfectly like him in order to both." lb. p. 517. When writing his friends in Scotland, Mr. MacWard, fi"om pru- dential motives, frequently assumed the name of Mr. Long. Crichton's Mem. of the Rev. John Blackader, p. 308. SCOTTISH CHUECH IN ROTTERDAM. 69 rious and knowing' amongst tliem,) bemoan his death, and their loss as of a father. And they have good reason ; for 1 must say, he was the most faithful, feckful, compassion- ate, diligent, and indefatigable elder in the work of the Lord, that ever I knew at home or abroad ; and as for his care, solicitude, and concernedness, in the work and peo- ple of God, I may say, the care of all the churches lay more upon him than upon hundreds of us, so that the church of God hath lost more in the removal of that man than most will suffer themselves to believe. Only we who know it, have this to comfort ourselves, that the residue of the spirit is with Him who made him such, and that the Great Intercessor lives to plead his own cause, and the causes of his people's soul. I forgot to tell you, that when the cause for which he suifered was mentioned, when it was scarce believed he imderstood or could speak, there was a sunshine of serene joy looked out of his countenance, and a lifting up of hands on high, as to receive the con- fessor's crown, together with a lifting up of the voice with an aha, as to sing the conqueror's song of victory. And to close, I must tell you also, he lived and died in a deep detestation of that wretched indulgence, and of all the ways of supporting it ; and fliis abrupt accoimt of his death you may give to our friends. In a word, as a compound of all, he fell asleep in the furnace, walking with the Son of God, and now his bones will rise up with the bones of the other great witnesses buried in a strange land, as a testimony against the wrong done to Christ, and the violence used against his followers by this wicked generation, whom the righteous Lord in his time, from him who sitteth upon the throne to the meanest instrument that hath put the mis- chiefs he framed into a law in execution, will make a gene- ration of his wrath, of special wrath, which must answer and keep proportion unto the wrongs done to the Media- tor." Mr. Brown died at Rotterdam, September 1679, having 70 HISTORY OF THE survived Colonel Wallace scarcely ten months.* Of Mr. Brown, it may with the greatest truth be affirmed, that his heart was in his work. Deeply impressed with the re- sponsibility of the ministerial office, it seemed ever his grand and primary aim, faithfully and affectionately to dis- charge its important duties. Rather than violate con- scientious scruples, or relax in his firm adherence to the sacred cause, he willingly " suffered the loss of all things ;" and, like numbers of his brethren equally minded, he meek- ly and cheerfully bore many indignities and privations, which a despotic prince, by means of fiend-like emissaries, cruelly delighted to inflict. The annexed sketch of his character, written immediately after his decease by Mr. Mac Ward, will be read with interest, coming as it does from one so competent to appreciate Mr. Brown's remark- able piety and great personal worth. The letter, which has never before been printed, and of which we give a short extract, is addressed to a friend in Scotland.f — " During all the space we were together in the country, I observed him, (his chamber being just above mine,) to be as much in prayer and communion with God as ever I observed any, yea more, insomuch that my esteem for him grew above what it had been, though as I had good cause. There was no minister now alive in the Church of Scotland, in the same class with him in my esteem and ac- count of abilities, fixedness, faithfulness, and pure zeal according to knowledge ; and to sum up all, I must say, * Consist. Reg — "Mr. Russell shewed to the Session (Oct. 12, 1679,) that Mr. .John Brown, before his death, had appointed 100 guilders to be given to the session, for use of the poor, after the selling of his books." lb. ■\ Wodrow's MSS. Advocates' Library, vol. Iviii. art. 108. I am indebt- ed to the politeness of my esteemed friend, the Rev. Thomas Murray, Edin- burgh, (to whose Literary History of Galloway and other works I have al- ready referred,) for kindly transmitting Blr. l\lac Ward's letter, — the ortho- graphy of which I have modernized. Since writing this note, I observe that Dr. Burns has published the whole of this letter. Woc'ron; v. iv. pp. 500-1. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 71 alas ! the witness of tlie Churcli of Scotland ; the man who withstood the present course of desertion ; the man who, in resisting the adversaries of the truth of all sorts and sizes, was helped to do valiantly, and made able to do exploits for his God ; the man who, while the archers, (his brethren I mean, for they were the bowmen,) have sorely grieved him and shot at him and hated him, yet his bow abode in its strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong to his very grave, aye, the hands of the mighty God of Jacob. — How hateful soever it may render us to such who hated a man so greatly beloved of his Lord and Master, to have the reasons of what I said rendered, yet as the Lord may, and I hope shall, prepare me to bear the load above the burden they had already laid upon my loins, so they must prepare themselves to hear these set before them. And my friend, I give you warrant moreover to let as many know as you please, that however some were pleased to give it out that there was a difference and dryness betwixt us, (because many wish it, and would have it had been so,) yet it pleased the Lord to keep us, till death hath now made a separation, of the same sort and sentiments in all things relating to the public work and interest of Christ, yea we were more so than ever. — As I hope the Lord in his mercy will never leave me to a turning aside from those paths wherein with so much oneness of soul we had walked together, so through his strength and grace, I am resolved there shall no man attempt the straining of the memory of that famous man, (who in all respects is of more blessed memory than all who will make the attempt,) but I will essay, poorly as I am able, to vindicate him ; and if 1 can do it no other way, then I will set myself down till the Lord raise up one who can, to wipe away the black ink off the face of that famous light, with the tears of a bleared eye. But it may be, my blessed and compassionate Lord will, by shutting my eyes ere long, give an escape from the windy storm and tempest, and I hope till that day he will 72 HISTORY OF THE not suffer me to be tempted above wliat, tlirougli grace, lie will make such a weak wriggling able to endure, but that with the tentation, he will make a way to escape, that I may be able to bear it. O pray for this to me, and get all my friends to pray for the same to poor desolate me, de- prived of my brother, father, companion and guide, and and so left alone. But He lives to be a leader, who brings the blind by ways that they know not, and leads them in paths that they have not known, who makes darkness light before them, and crooked things straight ; and now let him do those things to me and not forsake me, and then the forsakings, reproachings, and buffe tings of all will be easily borne." The Dutch entertained a high opinion of Mr. Brown's theological attainments. Professor Leydecker and Span- heim, and Messrs. Borstius, a Brakel and Koelman, dis- tinguished native divines, were his intimate friends ; and by their united and individual commendations and labours, did all that in them lay, extensively to disseminate the able treatises on practical religion, written by Mr. Brown, during his exile. It is not my intention to analyse or spe- cify the numerous books of which he was the author. There are materials in his printed works and unpublished correspondence, sufficient to fill a moderate sized volume ; and, if Ave are not greatly mistaken, a separate Memoir of this distinguished divine, would be regarded by the religi- ous public as no small accession to our Christian biogra- phy. We may here mention, as not generally known, that several of his more popular writings were circulated in Holland, some years previous to being printed in the Eng- lish language, by means of the translation of Mr. James Koelman,* who obtained the manuscripts from the author, * IMr. James Koelman was ejected from his charge at Sluis in Flanders in consequence of refusing to observe the festival days and formularies of the Dutch Church. He appears to have been a very conscientious, worthy man ; and when his pastoral connection with Sluis was at an end, he devot- SCOTTISH CHURCH IN EOTTERDAM. 73 and rendered them into Dutch with extreme fidelity. I have seen five editions of this foreign version of Mr. Brown's Christ the JVay, the Truth, and the Life, and different impressions of some of his other productions, which are still prized in Holland. This eminent man, who is styled in the regis- ter of the Scottish Church at Rotterdam, " a painful help- er" in the cause of their divine Master, richly deserves to be honourably mentioned in the annals of a church where his services were so appreciated. Did our limits permit, we would willingly dilate on his acknowledged erudition, and the ability and singular zeal, by which he was distin- guished both at Wamphray and Rotterdam. His memory let us devoutly cherish ! By the grace of God he was what he was ; and in studying the writings and the life of Mr. Brown, and his devoted coadjutors, we cannot fail to ad- mire their assiduity, and earnestly desire to follow them, as they followed Christ.* ed his time to the composition as well as the translation of religious books, most of which he dedicated to his former flock. With the banished Scottish ministers ]\Ir. Koelman was on an intimate footing, and was consulted by them in their correspondence with the States-General. Besides many ori- ginal and useful works, he is advantageously known as the able translator of Guthrie's Grraf Concerre, Amst. 1668; Rutherford's Letters, Flushing, 1 073; Dickson's Chr. Metthew, Amst. 1686. Many more might be enumerat- ed, all of which have gone through several editions. In an original work which he published on the Festival days of the Reformed Church in the Netherlands, (Amst. 1680, 4to.) he mentions that Mr. Spang of Campvere, who was personally known to him, was author of Historia Motuum, &c. Dant. 1641. ; and that Naphtali (written by the Rev. James Stirling, mi- nister of Paisley, assisted by Sir James Stewart of Goodtrees) was transla- ted into Dutch by Mr. Borstius, and printed at Rotterdam in 1668, under this title, Historie der Kerken van Schotland tot het jaar, 1667. lb. p. 149. JMr. Koelman died at Utrecht, Feb. 6th, 1695. * For an account of the Rev. John Brown, and a complete chronological list of his works, see Edinburgh Christian Instructor, vol. xxi. pp. 659-668; • also 778 ; and vol. xxiii. pp. 827-8.31. Among the latest public acts of Mr. Brown, may be mentioned the ordination of the famous Mr. Richard Cameron, which took place in the Scottish Church, Rotterdam, in the year 1679 ; 3Iessrs. MacWard and Koelman assisting on that solemn occasion. Cmi- 74 HISTORY OF THE On tlie 1st of July 1680, tlie Dutch community of Rot- terdam, and particularly the British refugees, sustained a heavy loss by the lamented death of the Rev- James Bor- stius. As this estimable individual lived on the most inti- mate terms of friendship with Mr. Mac Ward and the other banished ministers, a short sketch of his life and his con- nexion with our countrymen, will not, we trust, be con- sidered altogether extraneous. He was born in 1612, and in his twentieth year entered the university, where he re- mained six sessions. When a student, he became acquaint- ed with Mr. Hugh Goudgier,* pastor of the English Church at Leyden; a man universally respected for his talents and active piety, and in whom Borstius found at once an experienced counsellor and a willing instructor. Under this reverend and kind preceptor, he speedily acquir- ed a thorough knowledge of the English language, which he ever after spoke wath remarkable fluency. His progress in theological learning gained him the marked attention of the professors ; and on completing his academical studies, he was presented to the parish of Wormerveer, where, however, he was not allowed long to continue. In 1643, Borstius received an unanimous call to Dordrecht. During his abode in that town he formed an intimacy with the Rev. Robert Paget,f — a man of extensive biblical know- sist. Papers. When the other two had removed their hands, ]\Ir. ]\Iac- Ward continued his on Mr. Cameron's head, exclaiming, " Behold all you beholders, here is the head of a faithful ministei- and servant of Jesus Christ, who shall lose the same for his Master's interest, and it shall be set up be- fore sun and moon, in the view of the world." Scots Worthies, p. 3C9. Mr. Cameron was shot at Airs-moss, 22d July 1G80 ; and, by order of the Privy Council, his head was fixed upon the Nether-bow port, Edinburgh, and his hands beside it, with the fingers upwards. lb. p. 372. " Hugh Goudgier or Goodyear, succeeded Robert Durie as minister of the English Church at Leyden in 1017, and died in 16G1. Soermans' Ker. kelyk Register, p. 52. Several particulars, which honourably attest the learning and benevolence of Mr. Goudgier, are to be found in the Life of Borstius. •\- Robert Paget, was minister of the Scottish Church at Dordrecht for SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 75 ledge, but of extreme modesty, — by whom he was intro- duced to the accomplished linguist. Dr. Marshall,* the English Episcopal minister there. Borstius, now become a favourite preacher, was invited to Rotterdam, and admit- ted one of the city ministers, May 17th, 1654. In this extensive sphere of usefulness he laboured with imusual acceptance till the close of life. He had now more than formerly an opportunity, which he gladly embraced, of cul- tivating an acquaintance with the British residents at Rot- terdam. His biographer informs us that Borstius was the bosom friend of Mr. Thomas Cawton,f and Mr. Alexander Petrie, both of whom, he says, were very pious, learned, and zealous men ; that from the latter he from time to time had particular intelligence of the sufferings endured by the Scotch on account of religion ; and that he was dis- tressed by the minute and faithful recital afterwards given him by Messrs. Robert Mac Ward, John Livingstone, Matthew (John) Nevay, Robert Trail, and John Brown, who, having escaped the threatened vengeance of the prelatic party, came over to Rotterdam, and were frequent- the long period of 4G years ; having been admitted in 1038, Soermans, p. 5. • Balen, the native historian of Dort, says, that Thomas Marshall, D.D. after having been sixteen years minister of the Merchant Adventurers' Church at Dort, returned to England, where he then enjoyed the Rectorship of Lincoln College. Balen, p. 195. Dord : 1654, quarto. •|- Thomas Cawton, an eminent non-conformist divine, accused of being concerned in Love's plot against Cromwell, after having endured much persecution at home, {Neal, IV. pp. 234, 236,) sought refuge in Holland, and in the year 1652, became pastor to the English Presbyterians at Rot- terdam. "He himself observed that Providence kept him about seven years in every place he was in : God so ordered his affairs that he was seven years at Cambridge, seven at Wivenho, seven at London, and as many at Rotterdam. He would often say towards the end of the seventh year in Holland, where shall I be next ? but God had no more apprentiships for him to serve." Cawton's Life, pp. 52 and 60. He died at Rotterdam, August 7th, 1659, aged 54 ; "and the Dutch ministers took order to have him buried in their own grave, and accordingly attended him to it." lb. pp. 83 and 84. 76 HISTORY OF THE ly in the company of this worthy divine. To Borstius, and to all who knew them, continues our respectable au- thority, they afforded much pleasure by their learned and holy conversation ; their quiet disposition ; their judicious love for their king, and their exemplary conduct in afflic- tion. The cross appeared sanctified to them, and served to purify them. Among them was no shadow of division, but one spirit and one feeling. The conscience which ob- jected to the domination of bishops in Scotland prevented them also wishing to be bishops in Holland ; but, with the character of servants, to remain quiet. They were not merely orthodox in church discipline, but in every thing. They were under no classis or synods ; nor did they re- quire it ; because they had learned to be a law to them- selves, and not to mock its authority. They were in- debted to no man for support, but contented themselves with the little which was their due from their Father- land. To visit, assist, speak for, and sometimes comfort at the Lord's table, those virtuous servants of Jesus Christ, was indeed a pleasure to him. He was delighted in once being able to free, in time, some property sent to these men, in a Scottish ship, but which rapacity would have seized and sold, under pretence of being contraband: in which good office he was assisted by the honourable and not less pious John Ruiter, member for Gelderland, at the Board of Ad- miralty. The Scottish brethren, to shew that they sought the peace of the churches, and that there was nothing among the members which they were not willing to make public, wrote against the schismatic and selfish Labadie. Bor- stius translated that paper ; as also some parts of the works of the excellent Rutherford and Durham, two luminaries of the Church of Scotland. He stated their sentiments in the form of question and answer. On his death-bed, he experienced great satisfaction and comfort of soul from the seasonable conversation of the SCOTTISH CHUECH IN ROTTERDAM. 77 pious Robert Mac Ward, wlio visited iiim two days before liis dissolution, and expressed, for the last time, the grati- tude he, and all the Scottish brethren, entertained for the kindness Borstius had uniformly shewn them. The inter- view was affectionate on both sides, but, as they spoke in the Scottish tongue, which was not v/ell understood by those present, all that was recorded is, that the dying Christian declared, he was particularly strengthened by the presence of a man, who was not only pious, but had almost suffered death for Christ's sake, having expected to seal his testi" mony by his blood, and could therefore speak more feel- ingly. Borstius gave his soul, in full confidence, to the faith- ful Shepherd, a few days before he had completed his 68th year.* The talents and ardent piety of our non-conforming an- cestors, who were forced to seek shelter abroad during the domineering ascendancy of prelacy, will not, we think, be questioned by any one open to conviction. It is gratify- ing, at the same time, in addition to the authentic narra- tives already published in Britain, of their cruel sufferings, to possess the unexceptionable testimony of the respectable foreigner, from whose memoir of Borstius we have made the preceding extracts. Mr. Mac Ward, though he had yet a goodly number with whom he could hold sweet fellowship, deeply be- wailed those frequent bereavements which he was call- ed to sustain. Yet he bore all these trials with the calm composure and resignation of a Christian. He repin- ed not at the doings of God, but, animated by the spi- rit of his departed fellow-exiles and counsellors, patiently awaited the solemn hour when he would be ushered into their blissful society. Nor did Providence design that he • The narrative in the text is abridged from the Life of the Rev. Jamea Borstius, prefixed to his Sermotis, 4to. Utrecht, 1(596. 78 HISTORY OF THE sliould tarry long behind them. The precise time of his death is not known, but it must have occurred towards the close of 1681. In his last illness, he requested Mr. Shields, and other waiting friends, to carry him out, that he might see a comet which then appeared ; and on behold- ing this " sign in the heavens," which was then generally regarded as the sure presage of the " distress of nations," Mr. Mac Ward, it is said, blessed the Lord, that he was about to close his eyes, and was not to witness the awful days that were coming on Britain and Ireland, but parti- cularly on Scotland. " Astronomical science was then little cultivated in Scotland ; and few were aware that the revo- lutions of a comet are as regular as those of the moon, though its orbit may be so large as to admit of its appear- ance only once in hundreds of years."* A half-length original portrait of Mr. Mac Ward has been preserved in the Scottish Session-house at Rotterdam ; and it is, indeed, an interesting and valuable memorial. The portrait is a happy index to his character. In his countenance there is something so heavenly, that we verily believe no one could look on his likeness without respect. The complexion is ruddy ; and the long auburn Lair falls in natural ringlets on the shoulder. So far as I have learned, he left no children; but his widow, an estimable person, remained in Holland, and resided chiefly at Rotterdam ; but sometimes also at Utrecht-t Mr. Mac Ward carried on a very extensive epistolary correspondence during his residence in Holland. Preserv- ed among the Wodrow MSS. in the Advocates' Library, Edinburgh, are no fewer than seventy original letters ad- dressed by him to various eminent persons. Shortly before his decease, he endeavoured to collect all the letters of im- Scots Worthies, edited by M'Gaviiij p. 421. -|- Consist. Regist. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 79 portance which he had written, in order, as it would seem, to be preserved at least, if not published. And he appears also to have kept minutes, or copies, — or extended these minutes from memory, sometime afterM^ards. These epis- tles are mostly about the backsliding of his countrymen : occasionally are they animated with the greatest ecstasies of personal piety, and devotedness to the cause of presbytery, and of pure and undefiled religion; and, at other times, they shew a heart glowing with the warmest affections, and breathing an intensity of love and friendship never sur- passed. They contain very little historical or biographical knowledge ; yet we are inclined to think, that a judicious selection from these genuine papers would be no unaccept- able present to the religious public. We have heard, in- deed, with much pleasure, that it is in contemplation to print them ; and we have no doubt but those who hold in reverence the piety, the talents, and the important services rendered by the Scottish Worthies, will be forward to pa- tronize such a publication. It is much to be regretted that Mr. Mac Ward's History of the Church of Scotland, which he left in manuscript, cannot now be found. We flatter ourselves, however, that this invaluable memorial of Scot- tish ecclesiastical aifairs, which would unquestionably throw much light upon the eventful era in which its author flou- rished, may yet be discovered in some unheeded corner of our public libraries, or extensive private collections. Should these lines, therefore, meet the eye of those who have the power of instituting such a desirable inquiry, we conjure them to set about a search which, to their lasting honour, may perhaps be crowned, by the discovery of this, or some other equally interesting monument of better days. When his friend, Mr. Koelman, was favouring the Dutch with translations of our choice divines, Mr. Mac Ward was repeatedly applied to by him for biographical information regarding the different authors. I have now before me 80 HISTORY OF THE Koelman's Version of Mr. Hugh Binning's excellent little treatise on the Principles of the Christian Religion^ printed at Amsterdam in 1678; and to it are prefixed several inter- esting particulars, gratefully acknowledged by the transla- tor as the contribution of Mr. Mac Ward. Several of Mr. Mac Ward's writings were given to the world during his lifetime, and some were printed long after his decease. Whoever has read Mr. Brown's works must be well acquainted with the very able recommendatory essays of Mr. Mac Ward, by which they are preceded.* Condensation, it is true, is no distinguishing feature in his style. With a heart full of his subject, and earnestly de- sirous to impress every reader with the vast importance of salvation, he seems fearful lest, in his direct appeals to the conscience, he may have omitted any consideration which might happily induce even a solitary individual, im- mediately to choose God as his portion. This is one of the causes, we apprehend, which gives to Mac Ward, and many of our old divines, much of that verbosity, which the pre- sent generation so loudly deprecates. But whilst we dis- claim against a vitiated taste, and with some reason de- nounce the unnecessary subdivisions, the lengthy discussions, and involved sentences of a former age, there is, it is to be feared, ground for suspecting that we run into an opposite ex- treme. The searching simplicity of Gospel statement is too frequently sacrificed at the shrine of taste. Those touch- • I refer particularly to Mr. Blac Ward's preface to Brown's Treatise en- titled, Christ the Way, and the Truth, and the Life ; the first English edi- tion of which was printed at Rotterdam, ' for John Cairns, bookseller in Edinburgh,' 1677* This work, however, had been published the preceding year in the Dutch language by Koelman. See also Brown's Swan Song. There is a paper by I\Ir. IMacWard on Holy Walking ivith God, prefixed to Koelman's translation of Binning's Common Principles of the Christian Re- ligion, 12mo. Amst. 1678. IMacWard also wrote a recommendatory pre- face to Durham's Commentary on the Revelation, a work which appeared in Dutch at Amst. 1744-5, in 2 vols. 4to., accompanied by a just tribute to its excellence, by the Rev. Dr. Cornelius Van Velzen of Groningen. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 81 ing remonstrances with the sinner ; that apt scriptural quo- tation and allusion which carried conviction to the under- standing, and powerfully affected the heart, are not now so often met with ; and it may be, are sometimes purposely kept back, in order to secure the short-lived approbation of the world. Mr. Mac Ward sought not the applause of men. Like every conscientious minister, he hesitated not to publish, whether from the pulpit or the press, the whole counsel of God. He knew that this might bring upon him the sneer of the profane, biit derision and persecution he was willing to endure, and did endure, without a mur- mur, in the cause of his Divine Master. I have perused most of the small treatises written by Mr. MacWard. His Solemn Appeal to Preachers in the times of spiritual declension,* struck me as an awakening and touching address. The Poor Man's Cup of Cold Water, ministered to the Saints and Sufferers for Christ in Scotland,^ was received with avidity, and esteemed as a timely and consoling draught by the Presbyterians, " who were amidst the scorching flames of the fiery tryal." To these may be added, Banders Disbanded, and an acute controversial work ascribed to him, written in reply to Bishop Burnet. % It has been repeatedly asserted that the well known work entitled, NajAhali, or the Wrestlings of the Church of Scotland for the Kingdom of Christ, was " In 1674, this work which, so far as I know, was never published in Enghsh, was translated into Dutch by Mr. Koelman, who says he procured the copy for that purpose from a pious lady residing at Utrecht, but the writer's name was then concealed. In the dedication of the third edition, now before me, Mr. Robert MacWard is acknowledged as the author of the piece, which is entitled, De Wekker der Leeraaren in tijden van Verval, 12mo. Rotterdam, 1733. -J-" Printed in Anno 1678. And Edinburgh, reprinted by John Reid, junior, in the 1709." 4to. X The True Non- Conformist, in ansivere to the modest and free conference betwixt a Conformist and a Non-Conformist, about the present distempers of Scotland. 12mo. printed in the year 1671. G 82 HISTORY OF THE edited by Mr. Mac Ward. This statement, however, is incorrect.* There is still another volume, which, in accordance with chronological exactness, ought to have been mentioned be- fore.f But as that book chiefly refers to the keenly agi- tated question on the Indulgence, in which Mr. Fleming, of all the British ministers in Holland, entered most warmly, we have purposely abstained anticipating a sub- ject, which will naturally fall to be considered in the next chapter. * See above p. 73. t EIIArilNISMOI; or, Earnest Contendings for the Faith ; beingthean- swers written to Mr. Robert Fleming^ s First and Second Paper of Proposals, for Union with the Indulged ; the first Paper printed Anno 1681. In which Answers, more sound and solid proposals for a safe and lasting union are of- fered ; and a solemn appeal thereanent made. Whereunto some of the Au- thor'' s Letters, relative to the sins and dzities of the day, are annexed. By that faithful servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. Robert MacWard, sometime minister of the Gospel in Glasgotv. Never before published. 12mo. printed 1723. This work was edited by ]\Ir. John M'Main, Schoolmaster, at the Foot of Libertoun's Wynd in Cowgate, Edinburgh. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 83 CHAPTER IV. 1681—1695. Biographical Sketch of the Rev. Robert Fleming, — Mr, John Hoog declared Emeritus, — is succeeded by ike Rev. James Brown — Death of Mr, Fleming, — and his son, the Rev. Robert Fleming, elected in his stead, Mr Robert Fleming, whom tliis clmreli obtained in place of Mr. Mac Ward, was born in the year 1630, at Yester in East Lothian.* His father, Mr. James Fleming, the pious and learned pastor of that parish, had been first married to Martha, eldest daughter of John Knox, the illustrious Scottish reformer. The subject of this memoir, however, was by his second wife, to whom he must have been unit- ed when considerably advanced in life.f After distin- guishing himself at the university of Edinburgh, Robert repaired to St. Andrews, that he might attend the theolo- gical prelections of Samuel Rutherford. Under that ex- cellent professor he greatly signalized himself, and was re- garded by his able teacher and youthful contemporaries, as a serious, prudent, and highly respectable student. He was not long a preacher; for in his twenty-second year he became minister of Cambuslang, near Glasgow. On * Burgess' Funeral Sermon on Mr. Robert Fleming, p. 18. prefixed to the folio edition of the Fulfilling of the Scripture, Lond. 1726. Several particulars mentioned in the text, are derived from this discourse. -j- Life of John Knox, vol. ii. p. 269, 5th edition. IMy honoured friend, Dr. M'Crie, has, I suspect, fallen into a mistake in regard to Fleming's con- nection with the family of Knox. It is not the author of the Fulfilling of the Scripture, but his son Mr. Robert Fleming, jun. who uses the following explicit language : " My grandfather did, indeed, marry the daughter of the first Mr. Knox, usually called the Reformer ; but my father was by a se- cond match." Fleming's Practical Discourse occasioned by the Death of King William, Pref. p. xiii. Lond. 1702. 8vo. 84 HISTORY OF THE the restoration of Charles II., it is well known that many of our national clergy were deprived of their livings for non-conformity; and, as Mr. Fleming had the honour to belong to that conscientious body, he was, with a wife and seven helpless children, thrown destitute upon the world. But Providence, ever mindful of the righteous, raised up for him sympathizing and liberal friends. Of his lot in life he was accustomed to say, " that it was made up of seem- ing contrarieties ; great outM^ard trouble and great inward comfort ; and that he never found more comfort than when he was under most affliction." Torn from his flock, who deservedly revered him, and bewailed his compulsory de- parture from among them, he took up his abode in Edin- burgh, where he frequently preached. He also made pro- fessional excursions to the country, especially to Fife, where he often prolonged his stay. Along with several ejected ministers, he was summoned to appear before the privy council, September, 1673; but, deeming it prudent to absent himself, he escaped, for a time, the vigilance of his persecutors, and took shelter in London. While there in 1674, he received the melancholy tidings of his wife's death ; and shortly after that mournful event, he ventured down to Scotland. It was during a second visit which he paid to England, when sojourning in the metropolis, occa- sionally preaching to his countrymen who were settled there, that Mr. Fleming was induced, in 1677, to accept of an invitation to Holland. Like his immediate predecessor at Rotterdam, he was unremitting in his zealous endea- vours for the spiritual improvement of the congregation, and of these numerous British seamen, who were his fre- quent hearers. He is represented as a powerful, lively preacher, and as having particularly excelled in the gift of prayer. In December 1678, Mr. Fleming, who, it appears, had brought none of his family with him to the continent, ob- tained leave to visit Scotland. A short time before his de- SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 85 parture, at a meeting of the Scottish Consistory, it was una- nimously resolved, according to custom, that a diet of prayer should be observed, preparatory to the annual nomination of new office-bearers, " The whole members of the sess. except James Norrie, having met [December 19th] att Mr. Russell's house in order to the election, where, after some time spent in prayer, the forsaid act was read. Where- upon, Mr. Fleeming, minister, layed out before them, that in regaird he had been about one year and a half without sight of his children, then in Scotland, and knew not well how they were, he did intend to take the first opportunity to go thither, where he intended not to stay. And that the place in his absence might be supplied, he had spoken with Mr. Adair, a young man at Amsterdam, who promised to come within a few dayes, whom he hoped would supply his place dureing his absence. Whereupon, the session, takeing into consideration, that albeit this diet was simply appointed for prayer, and after that, the diet for election of the members might be appointed ; yet not knowing but Mr. Fleeming might be called to go away, (he went on the morrow) before that diet might come, — it was carried by plurality of votes that presently they should fall upon the election. Whereupon, the said Mr. Fleeming did de- clare, that as he had been much refreshed since his entry into the ministry here, by their fellowship in the work of the Lord with him ; he did expect, that now while he was goeing for a short space from them, that none of them would be so peremptor as to desert the work of the Lord, but submit to the determination of the rest of the members of Consistory, as to their continuance in charge, which would be very refreshing to him now at his departing. Where- upon Mr. Hog, moderator, asking every man's vote about, it was carried by plurality, that no change of any member should be for the tyme, and that upon the considerations forsaid."* * Consist. Reg. 86 HISTORY OF THE Mr. Fleming had reason to believe that this visit to his native country would not be embittered or unnecessarily- prolonged by the interference of any officer of the crown. His relatives and other friends in Scotland rejoiced to see his face once more ; and, like himself, were delighted at the prospect of having, for a short season, uninterrupted christian fellowship with one another. Unfortunately, however, they were grievously disappointed in their hopes. In those dark days of oppression, it was almost certain to bring down upon them the haughty resentment and rigorous prosecution of the government, if a few pious people were known to assemble in their private dwellings, or in any so- litary spot in the open air, for spiritual exercises. Such con- venticles were, it is true, composed of men whose hearts beat high in the cause of religious and civil freedom ; but let it be remembered, that it is only the voice of calumny which has represented them as solely designed to undermine the constitution, and to hasten the downfall of lawful authority. The lords of privy council, having learnt that Mr. Fleming, an old offender in this way, was again encouraging and addressing his yet suffering Presbyterian brethren, issued orders for his immediate apprehension. He was thrown into Edinburgh jail, where he was confined several months. Some time after the battle of Bothwell-bridge he, and other pious ministers were released from prison " upon their en- gaging to live peaceably, and not preach at field- conven- ticles."* During his absence from Rotterdam, the pulpit of the Scottish Church was at first supplied by Mr. Adair, whom he had employed as assistant, and subsequently by Mr. Thomas Hoog, a young preacher, who happened to be here on a visit to his paternal uncle, Mr. Fleming's col- * Crookshank's History of the Church of Scotland, vol. ii. p. 60. Lond. 1749, 8vo. and MSS. in possession of Old-Burgomaster Hoog, Rotter- dam. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 87 league. * Of Mr. Thomas Hoog-, who afterwards honour- ably filled diiferent situations in the United Provinces, and who in 1723, died minister of this church, we shall have occasion to speak in the sequel. In October 1679, Mr. Fleming returned to his charge, and resumed, with wonted ardour, those official duties, from the stated exercise of which among his own flock, he had been forcibly detained so long. Those acquainted with the ecclesiastical history of Scot- land are aware, that the Acts of Indulgence occasioned great dissensions both at home and abroad. Friendships, which suffering in the common cause of religious liberty had more closely cemented, were broken by the acceptance or non-acceptance, or even by the approval or disapproval of these plausible, but designing gifts of the king. As Mr. Fleming, and several other Scottish ministers in Rot- terdam, warmly discussed, and took different views of this subject, it behoves us to introduce the short notice which we mean to take of that unhappy controversy, with a few explanatory observations. To forward his long cherished resolution of rooting out from Scotland every vestige of presbytery, and planting prelacy in its stead, and especially to put an end to private meetings or conventicles, which annoyed him exceedingly, Charles determined to indulge some of the parochial clergy, whom he had ejected in J 662: and at different times, from the year 1669, issued certain insidious proclamations in their favour, first in the shape of an indulgence, and afterwards in that of a liberal accommodation. The bishops, together with an eager anxie- ty about their generally despised hierarchy, acted in con- cert with the civil power in harassing the Presbyterians, that, if possible, they might ensure to themselves and their underlings, the most implicit submission. Heedless as the prelates were as to the character and attainments of • ITong MSS. and Consisl. JReffitt. 88 HISTORY OF THE those whom they hastily put in holy orders, they were un- able to furnish curates in room of the four hundred Pres- byterian ministers, so cruelly driven from their benefices. The country was dissatisfied with the curates, and had good reason to be so ; for, it is a notorious fact, that they were not only illiterate, but shamefully immoral. Can we won- der, then, when the newly established religion of the land was of so meagre a kind, that such of the former incum- bents as were still at large, and their numerous adherents, should frequently meet to worship God according to their consciences,- — to mourn over their spiritual vassalage, — and to pray for a speedy enlargement ? For engaging in such exercises, and for absenting themselves from the profitless harangues delivered in most of the parish churches, the Scottish gentry, as well as peasantry, subjected themselves to heavy fines and imprisonment. To pacify the nation, government threw out the bait of indulgence, inviting the Presbyterian clergy to accept office, subject^ however, to the bishop of the diocese ! An attentive perusal of the follow- ing royal message to the council, being the first act of in- dulgence, will give the reader some idea of the wily de- signs of his majesty. « Charles R. " Right trusty, and well-beloved cousins, and counsel- lors, &c. Whereas, by the act of council and proclama- tion at Glasgow, in the year 1662, a considerable number of ministers were at once turned out, and so debarred from preaching of the Gospel, and exercise of the ministry ; we are graciously pleased to authorise you, and our privy council, to appoint so many of the outed ministers, as have lived peaceably and orderly in the places where they have resided, to return and preach, and exercise other functions of their ministry in the parish churches where they former- ly resided and served, (provided they be vacant, ) and to allow patrons to present to other vacant churches, such SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 89 others of them as you shall approve of; and that such mi- nisters as shall take collation from the bishops of the dio- cese, and keep presbyteries and synods, may be warranted to lift their stipends as other ministers of the kingdom : but for such as are not, and shall not be collated by the bishop, that they have no warrant to meddle with the local stipend, but only to possess the manse and glebe ; and that you appoint a collector for these and all other vacant sti- pends, who shall issue the same, and appoint a yearly maintenance to the said not collated ministers, as you shall see fit to appoint. " That all who are restored, and allowed to exercise the ministry, be, in our name and authority, enjoined to keep kirk-sessions, and to keep presbyteries and synods, as was done by all ministers before the year 1638, and that such of them as shall not obey our command in keeping pres- byteries, be confined within the bounds of the parishes where they preach, ay and while they give assurance to keep presbyteries for the future. " That all who are allowed to preach, be strictly enjoin- ed not to admit any of their neighbours, or any other pa- rishes unto their communions, nor baptize any of their children, nor marry any of them, without the allowance of the minister of the parish to which they belong, unless it be vacant for the time. And if it be found, upon com- plaint made by any presbytery unto you, our privy council, that the people of the neighbouring or other parishes, re- sort to their preachings, and desert their own parish churches, that, according to the degree of the offence or disorder, you silence the minister who countenances the same, for shorter or longer time ; and, upon a complaint verified, that you silence again for a longer time, or alto- gether turn out, as you see cause ; and upon complaint being made and verified, of any seditious discourse or ex- pressions in the pulpit, or elsewhere, uttered by any of these ministers, you are immediately to turn them out. 90 HISTORY OF THE and further punish them, according to law and the degree of offence. " That such of the outed ministers who have behaved peaceably and orderly, and are not re-entered or present- ed as aforesaid, have allowed to them four hundred merks Scots yearly, out of the vacant churches, for their main- tenance till they be provided of churches ; and, that even such who shall give assurance to live so for the future, be allowed the same yearly maintenance. " And, seeing by these orders, we have taken away all pretences for conventicles, and provided for the wants of such as are, and will be peaceable ; if any shall hereafter be found to preach without authority, or keep conventicles, our express pleasure is, that you proceed with all severity against the preachers and hearers as seditious persons, and contemners of our authority. So leaving the management of those orders to your prudence, and recommending them to your care, we bid you farewell. By his majesty's com- mand. " Lauderdale.* " Given at our Court at Whitehall, « June 7th, 1669." This was indeed a bold thrust at the independence of the Church of Scotland ; and although several worthy mi- nisters accepted the above, and other indulgences which, in succession, were thrown out to entrap them, we candid- ly confess that the conduct of those who acceded to the royal proposals M^as not a little reprehensible. By return- ing to office they recognised the king's supremacy in mat- ters ecclesiastical as well as civil, and they thus disregarded a nobly prominent feature in the constitution of our nation- al Presbyterian church, which acknowledges no head save Jesus Christ. Painful separations took place between the indulged and non-indulged. The latter, always opposed • ^Vo(^^o^v's Church History, vol. ii. pp. 130, 131. Octavo edition. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTEHDAM. 91 to the measure as a whole, suspected also, as it afterwards really happened, that the promises of Charles' government would never be made good. And the memorable words of the Roman poet, Timeo Danaos et donaferentes^ must then have often dropped from the lips of the strict Presbyterian, with peculiar significancy. Mr. Fleming was the first at Rotterdam who keenly es- poused the cause of his indulged countrymen in Scotland, and he published one or two pamphlets on the subject. Mr. Mac Ward was equally violent on the other side, and was greatly displeased that his successor requested some of the indulged ministers to preach. In his posthumous volume, entitled Earnest Contendings, Mr. Mac Ward has left a triumphant refutation of his opponent's arguments. But it is truly distressing to observe how much the two di- vines, otherwise most excellent men, were left to them- selves in the progress of this controversy. As it can serve no beneficial purpose, we refrain entering more into the dispute, but will satisfy ourselves by giving a specimen of the least objectionable of Mr. Mac Ward's reply to Mr. Fleming. In the second Proposal of one of liis printed tracts to which we have referred, Mr. Fleming inquires, " May we on any safe ground break up church-fellowship, and com- munion, so far with these, who have accepted the late in- dulgence, as not to hear, or receive the publick ordinances from tliem, as being such ?" " Might I not retort the question," says Mr. Mac Ward, "and ask you, \st, Why your indulged have broken up church communion with us? For, did they not run away from us, when they rushed upon this acceptance without ever consulting God, by setting time solemnly apart, to pray together, in order to their being led in a right way ; when it was evident to all of them that the cause of the church of Scotland was no less concerned in the case, than in the case of Episcopacy, if not more? And here, sir. 92 HISTORY OF THE you must hear it, and I am little solicitous about your cen- sure or the censure of any man, who will rage at what fol- lows : I fear not, I scruple not to say, it had been good for the poor church of God in Scotland (if so it had seemed good to Him ; but now we must be silent, and adore any holy trying providence,) that all our indulged, without excepting a man, from first to last, had at first turned into Episcopacy, ^dly, Why did they not consult their bre- thren, in the case, who had obtained as much, if not more, mercy to be faithful in the evil day, than any of the ac- ceptors, and so were as like to have the mind of Christ? Yea, 3rf/y, Why did they not consider their covenant ob- ligations, (especially when it was evident, that the enemy did professedly design to divide, that he might more easily destroy,) of not suffering themselves to be divided from their brethren ? — which was the sad regret of some of the most eminent of them, when going in before the tribunal. Athly, Why did they not consider and consult, (I shall not say, the humour as now it is phrased, but) the edification and satisfaction of the godly in that nation antecedent to that acceptation ? But waving, and undervaluing all these things, forward they will run, follow who will, or be stumbled who will, it is all one to them. If we will not be huffed and hectored into a compliance with them in this cause-destroying deed, they will stand upon the legs of their old credit, and contemn all who will dare to mut- ter, III did tlmjr* " How comes it to pass," observes Mr. Mac Ward, " that you, who would be so prodigal of your life for peace and union, are yet so prodigal of your time and pains, (which, I can demonstrate, might be much better spent) in raising much dust and distraction in a society, who, these eighteen or nineteen years, have been of one soul and shoulder ? For, sir, all who are now alive, can bear witness that, till • MacWard's Earnest Contendings, pp. 90 — 93. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 93 your coming, there was nothing but a sweet and serene harmony amongst us. And it can escape the observation of no man, (and though, I know, in this I am not pleasant, yet the interest of truth and peace makes me plain :) That whoever fall in with you, in your course, and are proselyted by you into a compliance with your design, fall off from these who have been hitherto unite, and continue to be so still, in owning the good old way of the Church of Scot- land ; and lamenting both our defection from it, and the way of such who stand in the way of having its wickedness detected. And since I am driven to plainness, I must like- wise tell you, that it is a sad change in the pulpit of Rot- terdam, when the more serious must not only sorrow for the silence of our defection, while it grows; but also that there is so much rage against that just and faithful freedom, which some are constrained unto, not only from the pre- sent condition of our church, but from the silence and worse of others. Sir, these things ly so obvious to the ob- servation of all men, and I am so much concerned in the true peace and unity of a society, who, hitherto, have been so much one in the Lord, as I could not, out of a real re- gard to them, and also out of a true tenderness to you, for- bear this plainness. And it is vain to think, 1 will be si- lenced, while I observe these things, with a noise of pre- tences and great words. No, sir, it is things and seen realities that will either silence me, or satisfy others."* Fleming was naturally of a gentle disposition, but Mac- Ward being an extremely ardent spirit, was apt to exceed the limits of propriety. As a controversialist, the former kept a due check upon his expressions, and though suffi- ciently tenacious of his opinion, seldom forgot whose ser- vant he was. Mac Ward, again, like some master minds, delighted to expose, with unnecessary minuteness, the weak- ness of arguments which affected any of his own positions. " Earnest Contendings, pp, 198 — 200. 94 HISTORY OF THE When allowed time for cool reflection, however, he saw, with sorrow, that Christian principle had not always guid- ed him in the contest, and that it is " a rare thing to gain an ounce of truth by dispute, and for the gaining dispu- tant not to lose a pound of goodness." This boisterous storm, Mdiich confounded and saddened many, was withdrawn by Providence, after purifying the moral atmosphere which it had so greatly convulsed. Mr. John Blackader, a worthy Presbyterian minister, who was hostile to all indulgences, and had repeatedly corresponded on the subject with Mr. Mac Ward, most opportunely ar- rived from Scotland, in the summer of 1680, and was use- fully instrumental in bringing about a better understanding among his brethren, especially betwixt Mr. Fleming and Mr. Mac Ward. He imparted, what was much wanted at Rotterdam, correct intelligence respecting the state of af- fairs at home ; and, besides privately allaying the unfor- tunate animosities which distracted his exiled countrymen, he also acceptably preached in the Scottish Church for the period of three months.* From the Consistory Register it appears that not only the two stated pastors, but the other members of session, entertained very diiferent views on the question of the Indulgence. At a meeting held on the 4th of March 1683, they passed in Mr. Fleming's ab- sence, eighteen resolutions, which had been under con- sideration at previous sederunts, relative to a congrega- tional Fast. This paper, of which the draught was prepared by the Rev. John Hoog, contains a series of important reasons for the congregational observance of a day of humiliation ; and, although the session were divided on one or two particulars, they all concurred as to the propriety of such a motion, * Cmisist Reg. and Crich ton's Memoirs of the Rev. John Blackader, p. 283, 2d edition. For further information relative to the disputes mentioned in the text, I refer to Wodrow, and particularly to Brown's History of the Indulgence, printed (at Rotterdam) in the year 1680. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 95 and approved of tlie spirit of piety tliat pervaded the do- cument, of which the following is a copy : " 1. We desire to confess" and be humbled before the Lord, that, in the day when he had delivered the Reformed Churches from darkness and distress, and put them in the peaceable possession of the Gospel, as there was not a suit- able acknowledgment of him in what he had done for them, but evident unthankfulness for such inestimable mercies, so, the offer of Jesus Christ was not valued and entertained, but professors satisfied themselves with, and rested upon, a confession of the truth, and an enjoyment of ordinances, without a fervent labouring for the power of them upon their hearts ; whereby it came to pass that those who had lightly taken up a profession, without laying a solid foun- dation, soon withered; and those who appeared really to have accepted, and put on Jesus Christ, soon began to lan- guish and decay, growing cold and formal in their worship, and many untender in their walk, so that instead of bring- ing forth the fruits of the Gospel, having left [their] first love, there was a sudden discovery of a detestable indiffer- ency in the matters of God, amongst persons of all ranks, and an inordinate pursuing worldly interest, with such de- boardings to luxury, vanity, pride, unrighteous dealing, and oppression, as brought up a reproach both upon religion and the professors of it. " 2. That notwithstanding the Churches have enjoyed so great a measure of light, and have had the contrivance of salvation, and our Lord Jesus Christ, in the excellency of his person, the nature and use of his offices, more clearly held forth from the Scriptures than in former ages, yet ig- norance has exceedingly abounded, and there has been such a turning back, unto the darkness, and licking up of that vomit of Popery ; such a following the delusions of Quakerism, such a bold venturing upon that damnable doc- trme of Socinianism, with such a light entertaining [of] Arminian and other erroneous principles, — whereby Satan 96 HISTORY OF THE and his instruments have endeavoured to wrest the Scrip- tures, and in opposition to our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, to spreading of that pernicious doctrine of Erastianism, and pleading against the morality of the Lord's day, with many other wildnesses in opinion, as if the Beast's deadly wound were now to be healed, and all the locusts of the bottomless pit were broke loose, and had spread them- selves up and down through the Reformed Churches. " 3. That as the native effects and just punishments of such sins, religion and the power of godliness, have not on- ly decayed, but atheism and a high contempt of the Gos- pel, accompanied with a spirit of persecution, exposing, re- proaching, and mocking godliness, and good men have broken loose and abounded, and prodigious profanity, as a flood, has broken in, and overflowed the churches. " That in those churches where the civil powers pro- fessed the same truths, there was not a concurrence for ad- vancing the interests of the Gospel, and suppressing pro- fanity, superstition, error, and heresy, as might and ought to have been done. " 5. That the Reformed Churches have not evidenced such a mutual concernment in the case of one another, as did become members of the same body. " 6. That notwithstanding the Lord has discovered our sins unto us, and declared his displeasure against us for them, and has warned us by his word, — by frequent threat- enings, and beginning to excite judgments, but in such a way, and with such long intervals, accompanied with new mercies, as did evidently declare he not only called but courted us to repent and turn again to him ; yet there has been so little sense of sin, and so little fear of wrath, — such a shutting out of conviction and hardening of heart, that now vengeance seems to be upon the wing, and unless speedy repentance prevent it, the Lord's wrath and our own wickedness is like to be poured out upon us ; the rather, that there are so few mourners who off"er themselves to SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 97 stand in the gap ; and that in the few essays which have been made for agreeing upon causes for mourning and seeking the Lord together, they have mostly ended in de- bates, with a disappointment to the end. " 7. That in the Church of Scotland, where we had abrogated and abjured the government of the church of bi- shops, and set up presbyterian government in its just pu- rity and first simplicity, solemnly swearing to adhere there- unto, and endeavour for the purity of the Gospel, so that before the late revolutions, we had a ministry and govern- ment truly ecclesiastic, being held and exercised as com- mitted by, and depending upon, our Lord Jesus Christ alone, as King in Zion, and head of his Church, yet notwithstand- ing, there was little improvement made of these high pri- vileges, but a very unsuitable and contrary walking to such obligations as our solemn acknowledgment of sins and engagement to duties do witness for the time before, and the several steps of our declining do testify since. " 8. That when we did see the storm gathering, and ready to break upon us, which could not but overturn the Church, there was little concernment to seek the Lord to- gether, or apart, for counsel what to do, and for grace to suffer when called to it; so that many things were ne- glected which ought to have been essayed. " 9. That when some ministers were seized upon, and imprisoned for being met together, and about drawing a paper which they designed to present to the king, and thereby to represent to him what obligations he stood un- der, and the hazard of doing contrary to them ; that not- withstanding presbyteries and synods had then access to meet, yea, that some were actually sitting, and had form- ally renewed former engagements, yet nothing was done to declare their owning their brethren in their cause and suffering : And when the motion was made and pressed, in one of the best constitute synods in Scotland, that a petition should be presented on their behalf, it was rejected, and no H 98 HISTORY OF THE SO much as a draught of one could be admitted to be read, neither did many particular ministers and private Christians countenance them and other sufferers about the same time, as they ought to have done. " 10. That when the civil powers had evidently declar- ed their design for overturning the whole form of presby- terian government in our Church, and by several acts had deprived it of the civil sanction ; discharged all ecclesiastic meetings in synods, presbyteries, and sessions, during his majesty's pleasure, and until they should be authorised and regulated by a new authority ; ordered the re-establish- ment of the government of bishops, upon the foundation of the king's supremacy, and had rescinded all acts whatsoever whereby the king's perogative was any ways limited, and whereby church power and jurisdiction was asserted to stand in her offices and judicatories, by which they had, as far as it was possible for them, razed the government they were solemnly sworn to maintain, and built a new struc- ture upon another foundation. Withal, when they had by these, and two subsequent acts about a national synod and for delating the supremacy, not only thrust in a new kind of officers upon, but set a new master over, the Church ; to our sin and shame we must confess that, when these things were doing and done, neither any synod, pres- bytery, or session, or any company of ministers or profes- sors, did suitably witness their sense of, and sorrow for, such wrong done to our Lord Jesus Christ, by giving a just testimony against them; yea, so universal was our fainting, and so great our unfaithfulness, that nothing is to be found upon record to vindicate us from an accession to, or at least a detestable indifferency in, those matters, either before God or the churches about, except the particular testimonies of some few who were seized and called to suffer. "11. That ministers and their flocks were not more faithful in strengthening the hands of one another, but suf- SCOTTISH CHUllCH IN llOTTERDAM. 99 fered themselves to be so easily parted, and the incum- bent duties upon both to be interrupted and cease. *' 12. That there was no more care taken to preserve so much as a vestige of government in the church, unto which as we were bound by our Lord's institutions, and the so- lemn engagements we had taken upon ourselves, so we might have easily foreseen that, without it, we would fall into distraction and confusion. " 13. That when the whole non-conforming ministers and professors in the Church of Scotland were engaged in one common cause under the same lot and circumstances, wherein they had access to follow the Lord's work — tho' with personal hazard — and wanted not evidences of his ac- ceptances, that then, there should have been some minis- ters, and these learned and godly men, who, without, yea, against their brethren's advice, and without due seeking of the Lord in the matter, did venture upon treating about, and at last an acceptance of, the so called Indulgence, whereby, to the ensnaring of themselves, weakening the hands of their brethren in their work, sharpening the persecution against them, the visible hazard of offending and stumbling of many, and opening a door to such divisions as could not but rend the church, they went out from, and left the rest ; and albeit these, and more sad effects have been seen to follow upon the course, they are not to this day per- suaded to return. " 14. That some professors, upon their offence at this, have deboarded to such excesses both in principles and practice, as hath been matter of scandal to religion, and have a tendency to dissolve the whole visible church. " 15. That in the differences and debates which have arisen upon this, there has been upon all hands too little of the spirit of meekness, and too much of men's own spirit many times vented. " 16. That amongst those who have hitherto escaped persecution and suffering there has been a living at ease, and little evidence of a just regard unto the temptations and dis- 100 HISTORY OF THE tress of others, or sympathy with such who have borne the heat and burden of the day. " 17. That the most part of our land have carried so in- differently about our falling under a popish prince, and some so industriously to secure his succession without seek- ing a just security to the Protestant religion, that the world may justly reckon us both unfaithful to God, our own in- terest, and the church universal. " 1 8. That our land has been so frequently and hein- ously involved in perjury, not only by the breach of our covenants with God, but as our rulers have been indus- trious in contriving and imposing many different, yea, con- trary oaths ; so persons of all ranks, and many of whom it was not expected, have boldly run or suffered themselves to be driven upon them, whereby men's consciences have been ensnared and debauched, and the most high God most grievously provoked."* Upon the 28th of November this year, (1683) at a meet- ing held at Glasgow, the United Societies, — as the strict Conservative Presbyterians in the west of Scotland were denominated, — thoughtlessly passed certain resolutions cen- suring, and that, in most unchristian terms, Mr. Fleming, and other members of the kirk-session of the Scottish Church at Rotterdam, for admitting to the Lord's Table such refugees as had heard the indulged ministers, and given bonds of peace, &c. in Scotland. This strange production, signed in name and by the direction of the Societies, by their clerk, Mr. Michael Shields, was forwarded to Holland, and entrusted to Mr. Robert Hamilton, (son of Sir Thomas Hamilton of Preston,) who was requested to present it to the Consistory. Instead of faithfully deliver- ing the orignal manuscript when it came into his hands, Mr. Hamilton most unjustifiably got the Protestation^ printed • Consist. Regist, -|- The Protestation of the Antipopish, Antiprelatick, Antierastian, true Presbyterian, but poor and persecuted Church of Scotland, against the SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 101 at his own expense, and did wliat in him lay to dissemi- nate this calumnious attack upon the Session, — who ac- tually knew nothing of the existence of this private com- munication, till, to their astonishment and grief, they dis- covered that it was in extensive circulation. His constituents were much displeased with Hamilton ; and they found themselves called upon, publicly to apolo- gize for his indiscretion, and for their own untender, bitter, and offensive language.* Hamilton belonged to the more strict class of covenanters, — was a well disposed, but nar- row-minded man ; and there appeared something vindic- tive in the spirit which led him to assail the Scottish ses- sion at Rotterdam. Some of its members happened to dif- fer from him ; and he was one of those unfortunate indivi- duals, who regard their own peculiar views faultless, and of course, unworthily stigmatized, should a man of indepen- dent mind question the propriety of their sentiments or line of conduct. After the defeat at Bothwell, which was attributed to his imprudence and cowardice, Hamilton was glad to seek shelter in Rotterdam. Not only in Holland, but at Geneva and in the Palatinate, he endeavoured to excite the sympathy of foreign Protestants, with the suf- ferings of their Scottish brethren. He continued till the Revolution, to reside principally at Rotterdam, although the British government, apprised of his intention of returning to Scotland with arms and money to the assistance of his persecuted countrymen, repeatedly urged upon the States an application for his delivery, f The unprofitable discussions regarding the Indulgence were now finally set at rest ; and the Scottish community at Rotterdam, clergy as well laity, were living together in unity, when the glorious Revolution of 1688 opened a door Scottish Congregation at Rotterdam in Holland. Printed May 1684. Two leaves small quarto. " Wodrow's History, vol. iii. p. 511. f lb. (note by Dr. Burns) vol. iii. p. 51, and Consist Regist. 102 HISTORY OF THE for the safe return to Britain, of tlie surviving exiles. This ever memorable event, luider Divine Providence, was ef- fected by William, Prince of Orange. That illustrious personage, at the call of an oppressed nation, proceeded with his amiable consort to England, and succeeded his father-in-law, James II., whose cruelties and wickedness had now become insupportable. William and Mary ascended the abdicated throne ; and the wise and patriotic measures, which they pursued, endeared them to their subjects, and have secured to them, from an admiring posterity, the most grateful and enthusiastic applause. To King Wil- liam the Third, Scotland especially lies under many ob- ligations. Inexpressible was the joy of that portion of his dominions, when, by an act of the legislature, Presbyte- rianism was once more declared the established religion of North Britain.*' It remains so to the present day; and, agreeably to his coronation oath, every succeeding sove- reign is bound to preserve inviolate the privileges of the Church of Scotland. From the port of Rotterdam our pious countrymen, who had been banished for conscience sake, during the persecuting reigns of Charles and James, sailed in great numbers ; and, filled with gratitude to the Supreme disposer of all events, they longed to join their friends at home, and unite in the suitable ascription of praise to the Most High, for his wonderful doings in behalf of his long suffering church and people. It cannot, at this distance, with any degree of certainty be ascertained how many of our expatriated countrymen resided in Holland at a given time, or left it at this re- • The Churcli of Scotland is now strictly Presbyterian ; and experience has shewn that this form of ecclesiastical government is most congenial to Scotchmen. At the Reformation in 15G0, the Presbyterian form of religion was established in Scotland by law ; from 1572 to 1592, Episcopacy obtain- ed the ascendency. From 1592 to IGIO, it was Presbyterian. From 1610 to 1638, it was again Episcopalian. In 1638 Presbytery was restored. In 1662 it became a third time Episcopal, and remained so till the Revolution in 1688, when the present Presbyterian form was permanently fixed. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 103 markable era of British histoiy. The indefatig-able Wo- drow and subsequent writers, have endeavonred to enume- rate the Scottish Presbyterians who fled hither during the Episcopal persecution ; and the industrious Neal, Calamy, and others, have furnished interesting- particulars of the worthy English Puritans who also sought refuge here.* To notice, even in the most cursory manner, all the ex- cellent'men, who, for the sake of a good conscience, were in- duced to take up their abode at Rotterdam, and other places in the Seven Provinces; and worthily to speak of their unwearied exertions, while abroad, to effect that hap- py change in their native land to which we have ad- verted, would far exceed the limits of a single volume. The Scottish congregation of Rotterdam, as fully appears from the consistorial, baptismal, and marriage registers, had frequently the benefit of the valuable pastoral services of the exiled Scottish divines. If the members of the Scottish Church rejoiced at the heart-cheering cause of their brethren's return, they also had reason to lament the blank which their absence would occasion. The partings scene must have been a deeply affecting one : and joy and sadness, in rapid succession, would overpower all concern- ed. The homeward bound exiles forgot not to leave a blessing behind them; and upon the land, whose shores they were now quitting, they implored, with thankful hearts, that heaven might ever shower its choicest mercies, and richly repay the duly appreciated kindness of their Ba- tavian friends. I experience an inexpressible degree of pleasure while tracing these lines in the country which af- * Those of my Dutch readers who are desirous, and have not an opportu- nity, of consulting Wodrow's History of the Sufferings of ike Church of Scotland from the Restoration to the Revolution, may advantageously peruse in their own language, Crookshank's faithful abridgment of that large and interesting work. The Dutch version was prepared by I\Ir. John Ross, who, at the same time, translated Neal's History of the Puritans. The two publications, forming three volumes quarto, and printed at Rotterdam, 1752.3, are never sold apart in Holland. 104 HISTORY OF THE forded them shelter, and in the very city, too, where many of them long resided, awaiting, with prayerful anxiety, the return of better days to Scotland. Aware of the heavy debt of gratitude which Britain owes her generous friends the Dutch, ever since the persecuting reign of the Stuarts, I cannot resist this opportunity of bearing my humble yet warmest testimony to the Christian sympathy and signal liberality which our exiled countrymen uniformly met with m Holland. And there is, I am persuaded, no true hearted Presbyterian, — no lover of civil and religious liberty, — who would not cordially subscribe to an encomium, however in- adequate, which might bring into merited and livelier recol- lection, the seasonable protection which the States, and the towns of the different Provinces, gave our forefathers in the day of their distress. Blessed with religious free- dom, the Dutch unequivocally demonstrated that they were truly solicitous that others also, when severed from the land they loved, should breathe and enjoy with them, the sweet air of liberty. Mr. John Hoog, now far advanced in life, and unable satisfactorily to perform his clerical duties, repeatedly availed himself of the assistance of Mr. William Berman, an ordained clergyman then residing at Rotterdam. In the early years of his ministry in this church, Mr. Hoog mightily offended some querulous hearers by discontinuing the ancient practice of reading the Scriptures, and expound- ing the psalm which was sung at the opening of the morning service. They blamed him, besides, for not using, as his pre- decessor, Mr. Petrie, had done, the Lord's prayer at each meeting ; for omitting to read tjie twelve articles at baptism ; and for employing strange ministers to preach for him.* At a meeting of the kirk-session, held July 1, 1689, " Mr. Hogf declared his desire and resolution for hjs desist- • Consist Reg. Dec. 25, 1664. f He usually wrote his name thus : " Joannes Hog," though sometimes Hogg, and also Hoog. I have adopted the last as being the one by which SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 105 ing the publick exercise of the ministrie in this place, in re- gard of his great age, as he hath petitioned the magistrates of this city for his being Emeritus, and has obtained the same ; also it's likely to be obtained from the States Ge- nerall at the Hague. Therefore, he desires the Consistorie may endeavour to have the vacancie supplied ; and he pro- mises to continue his assistance in the publick work till there be a supplie, — if his abilitie will permit."* For a few months longer he regularly took his turn with Mr. Fleming; but he soon withdrew altogether from active service, on being declared a miles or minister emeritus, salvo honore. His re- tiring pension, which was nearly his full salary, was or- dered to be reckoned as commencing on the 1st of the preceding May. He continued to live at Rotterdam, — preached rarely, and died in the spring of 1692,f leaving a son and daughter, of whose subsequent history I can fur- nish no particulars. An original portrait of Mr. Hoog is preserved in the session-house. Owing to several untoward circumstances, Mr. Hoog's place could not be filled for two years, although the Con- sistory instantly proceeded to take the necessary steps relative to the election of a suitable successor.:}: Accord- ing to custom, they sent up to the burgomasters the names of three ministers, namely, Mr. William Carstares, Mr. James Brown, and Mr. George Hamilton. The first on this leet was unanimously chosen and approved of by the corporation. But Mr. Carstares of Ley den, (afterwards Prin- cipal of the University of Edinburgh,) declined the call, as he was on the eve of proceeding to England upon impor- tant business with which he had been charged by King his nephew's numerous descendants in Holland are best known. The ne- phew's first signature was Thomas Hogg, but he had not been long on the Continent when he changed it into Hoog. • Consist. Regist. ■f- MS. Book of Requests, in possession of Consistory. J From March till about the end of 1690, Mr. Campbell was the tempo- rary colleague of Mr. Fleming ; and Mr. James Brown, the next assistant minister, was chosen to fill the vacancy— CAwrcA Treasurer's Book. 106 HISTORY OF THE William, whose confidant he was. From a second leet the Idrk-session made choice of Mr. David Blair. In a letter from London, where he then was on a visit, he stated, that, in addition to the difficulty of coming over by reason of the French pirates, he was not released from his pastoral relation to the English congregation at the Hague, — and was already under a conditional promise to the magistrates of Edinburgh to accept one of the churches in that city. Unwilling to take this refusal, the Consistory once more pressingly urged him to acq\iiesce ; but Mr. Blair, upon the 28th Nov. 1689, gratefully acknowleged this reiterated proof of affection to him ; and farther informed them, that he had that very evening received his honourable dismis- sion from the Hague, and that, following the leadings of Providence, he had accepted the prior invitation, and was preparing to go down to Edinburgh to enter immediately upon his new engagement there.* Mr. Blair was held in great estimation as a man and a minister ; and in the Ge- neral Assembly, where his influence was considerable, he, along with Carstares, afterwards shewed, on more occa- sions than one, an affectionate concern for the spiritual in- terests of the Scottish congregation at Rotterdam. He died " much lamented by his brethren and people," June 10, 1710.f Robert, his eldest son, was the accomplished minister of Athelstaneford, and author of the beautiful poems entitled the Grave.X • Consist. Regist. •f- Anderson's Life of Robert Blair^ p, xi. Edin. 1826. 12mo. % Blair's Grave, has appeared in the vernacular language of Holland. Messrs. B. Ledeboer and J. Moll, formerly elders in the Scottish Church, Rotterdam, engaged, con amore, that each should render the poem into his mother tongue, the Dutch. The former gentleman furnished a prose transla- tion ; the latter a metrical one ; and having completed their voluntary task, they carefully compared and amended their respective productions. The metrical version underwent several alterations, and was, in 1825, inserted in the first volume of the Fakkcl, an able literary annual, edited by the Rev. J. P. Sprenger van Eyk of Rotterdam. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 107 After a long and disagreeable state of suspense, the Con- sistory at length found a colleague to Mr. Fleming, in the person of the Rev. James Brown. His acceptance was expressed in the following communication addressed to the session. Q Rotterdam, August r^ 1691. Reverend and much Honoured, — I have endeavoured, with much seriousness, to consider your call before the Lord, and though difficulties not a few have appeared unto me to discourage me, which I need not mention here, be- sides, the constant inclination I had to return to my patria, — being also often desired earnestly by many there to return. Yet, considering the immediate providences of God that have passed over me since I came to this place, — known to you all — whereby I was still stopped from going away; considering also the harmony of the congregation in your unexpected call, — besides other things well known to the Lord and myself, I dare not reject the call, but do offer my weak service to the congregation so long as God shall clear it up to me that I should stay with them. This is from. Sirs, your affectionate friend and servant in the Gos- pel of Christ, Ja. Brown. P. S. Tliis only I would add, that if, after pains taken upon this people, several of them should prove obstinate, indocile, and untractable, or others divide and withdraw from ordinances dispensed amongst us, whereby my hands would be weakened, and my labours amongst others of the congregation frustrated : if, I say, that should fall out, (which I hope God will prevent,) then I shall look on myself as at freedom to go when and whither the Lord shall please to call me. Idem qui supra. On the morning of Sabbath, September 2, 1691, Mr. Brown was admitted in due form. He was then in the 108 HISTORY OF THE flfty-seventli year of his age, — had been an ordained cler- gyman since 1660 ; and had statedly exercised his minis- try not only upon the Continent, but also in England.* Where he was first settled I have not learned ; but in 1677 he was pastor of a congregation at North Ferriby, on the Humber, eight miles above Hull. His hearers principally belonged to Ferriby, Swanland, South Cave, Anlaby, Hessle, Skidby, and the adjacent villages in that rich and delightful district. The members or communicants of his church amounted to a hundred and upwards.f He appears to have left Yorkshire in the course of the year 1683, when he proceeded to East Prussia, and became Chaplain to the British residents at Koningsberg, a large commercial town on the Pregel. Our countrymen do not seem to have established themselves in great numbers for any length of time at Koningsberg; and, except during Mr. Brown's short incumbency, I am not aware that divine service was ever statedly performed in that city in the English lan- guage. This assertion is borne out by the result of an in- vestigation recently made for the special purpose. Of the existence of a British church there, no trace can now be found ; and the corporation records and the city histo- rians are silent on the subject. It is, therefore, highly probable that the Scottish and English inhabitants never pos- sessed a regular church, but merely a temporary building as a place of worship. They soon entirely forsook Kon- ingsberg; and, moving westwards, settled at Danzic, where a vast number of Scotchmen had long resided, and enjoyed particular privileges in consequence of important services rendered to the city by a Scottish family of the name of • Consist. Papers. -)- I possess a small memorandum book, whicli contains, in Mr. Brown's hand-writing, a register of the children belonging to the Church at Ferriby, whom he had baptized from Nov. 1678 till April 1C83 ; a record of mar- riages from 1677 to June 1683 ; and a catalogue of the regular communi- cants in 1678 and the following year. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM, 109 Douglas.* Mr. Brown was not above five years at Kon- ingsberg; for, in 1689, lie had taken up his abode at Rot- terdam, and, as previously noticed, preached during the vacancy, and was thus favourably introduced to the Con- sistory, who elected him to succeed Mr. Hoog. Long before the period of which we treat, the fame of Mr. Fleming, now become senior minister, was honourably established. His personal piety was very remarkable; and, according to his biographer, " the sun stood still all the time in which he had no design for God's glory on foot." When a youth of fifteen, he commenced the prac- tice, which he devoutly continued during life, of setting apart the first day of every year to a self-surrender of him- self to the Lord Almighty. As a specimen, we give what he inserted in his private diary in 1692 : — • The Scotch established at Danzic had considerable commercial inter- course with their countrymen at Rotterdam and Campvere. Latterly the majority of the British settlers at Danzic were Episcopalians ; and in I7O6, through the activity of Dr. John Robertson, (afterwards Bishop of Bristol,) at that time Queen Anne's Envoy Extraordinary at the courts of Sweden and Poland, a sum of money was raised by voluntary subscription, with which a smaU but neat church was erected, and a theological library formed. From the end of the 17th, till the beginning of the present cen- tury, when the French took possession of Danzic, the English service had been uninteruptedly performed by the following clergymen. The first pas- tor after the British inhabitants united, was Mr. Alexander Burnet, who was established in 1693, and died 1712; Mr Alexander Davidson succeed- ed him in 1713, and held the situation tiU his death in 1722 ; Mr. William Bickerton of London, arrived in 1723, but in October 1727 he returned to his native country; Mr. Peter Hay, who died in 17G0, had been chaplain from 1727; Mr. M. Tucker, settled in 1761, tendered his resignation three years afterwards ; Mr. Richard Jamieson was minister from 1764 to 1790 when he repaired to Britain ; Dr. Gardiner entered upon his clerical duties in 1790, and left for Edinburgh in 1806. From the last mentioned date, there was no fixed clergyman until 1822, when Mr. J. J. Tucker was in- vited, but he resigned in the course of two years. Since then, divine ser- vice has been occasionally performed by clergymen of the Church of Eng- land in the service of the Missionary Society. For most of these particu- lars, extracted from the Vestry-Register, I am indebted to Mr. C. H. Bulcke, Jan., Danzic. 110 HISTORY OF THE "It is in the entry and first day of this year, that I de- sire here, as formerly, to enter (in this hidden record,) a new surrender and offering of myself to my dear Lord and Mas- ter, who hath been wonderfully tender and gracious to me, and hath brought me by his immediate conduct, through the days and years of my pilgrimage ; and oft hath still cared for his poor servant, and given more singular mer- cies and evidences of respect than to many else, and now hath taken me through this year with singular evidences of his presence and assistance. And now do I here, with my full and joyful consent, testify my giving up myself to the Lord, and to his work and service ; here and wherever he shall call me, my desire is to consecrate my old age to the God and guide of my youth. I love my master and his service, and let my ears be nailed to the posts of his door as one that would not go free from that blessed gate and service." From Mr. Fleming's Journal, entitled, " A short index of some of the great appearances of the Lord, in the dis- pensations of his providence to his poor servant," we ex- tract the subjoined : " That I, of all my father's sons, being four, should be spared, when the other three were so promising and de- sirable above me ; and should thus become the only male heir surviving of such a stock. " That solemn and memorable day of the communion at Grey Friers, [Edinburgh] in the entry of the year 1648, where I had so extraordinary a sense of the Lord's pre- sence; yea, whence I can date the first sealing evidence of my conversion, now forty years past. " Those two great deliverances at sea in going to Dundee ; the first time in company with the Duke of Lau- derdale, the other time in company with Mr. Andrew of Glasgow. " The great and conspicuous seal given to my ministry from the Lord, in the conversion of several persons ; with SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. Ill that marvellous power which then accompanied the word on the hearts of the people. " My deliverance from so eminent hazard of my life, in my fall from my horse at Kilmarnock. " That as my entry to my charge was with so bright a sunshine, so no less did the Lord appear at my parting from that place, [Cambuslang] wherein all things did meet, in a remarkable juncture, to make the same both honourable and comforting. " The preservation I had in going over to Fife, in the year 72 [1672] with the solemn times I got there. " That most solemn providence and wonder of my life, my falling under the York coach in Aug. 1674, when the great wheel went over my leg, so as I could feel it press- ing me, without hurting, far less breaking my leg ; as if it had been carried thus over in a just poise, to let me see how Providence watched over me," &c. The published writings of Mr. Fleming are, for the most part, judicious and well calculated to be useful.* His princi- pal work, The Fidfilling of the Scripture, has gone through six large impressions, and is both entertaining and improving. Annexed to the folio edition is an extremely favourable at- testation by Dr. Isaac Watts, Mr. Jabez Earle, Mr. Daniel Neal, the historian of the Dissenters, and other eighteen 'distinguished ministers in London. The writer, they ob- • Works of the Rev. Robert Fleming, Sen. 1. The Fulfilling of the Scrip- ture, was originally printed at Rotterdam. The first part appeared in 1674. The sixth and latest impression is that of Glasgow, 1801, in two vol. 8vo. — 2. Truth and Certainty of the Protestant Faith, &c. 1678. — 3. Epistolary Discourse, dedicated to Queen Mary, in two parts — 4. The Church wound- ed and rent by a spirit of division, 1681, 4to. — 5. The One Thing Necessary, 1681. — 6. Joshua's Choice ; or the confirmed Christian, 1684. This was previously printed the same year at Amsterdam, in Dutch. — 7- Confirming Work of Religion, Rett. 1686 8. Survey of Quakerism 9. A Discourse on Earthquakes, Lond. 1693. — 10. Present Aspect of our Times, &c. Lond, 1694. 112 HISTORY OF THE serve, "is universally known to have been aperson of singular worth and piety, and his works declare him a diligent and careful observer of the provides of God towards his church and people. Many such instances, which no other author has taken notice of, and which, were they not well attested, would appear almost incredible, are to be met with in his book called The Fulfilling of the Scripture ; a performance which has so far entitled itself to the esteem of all serious Christians, as not to need our recommendation." The work was originally printed in Holland, where, as through- out the British Empire, Mr. Fleming acquired a lasting reputation. It is designed to shew the workings of a particular" providence, and, in our opinion, is a produc- tion which does much honour to the piety and sound professional learning of its author. Few Christians more habitually recognised the overruling hand of the Almighty than did Mr. Fleming; and indeed in every object and event, he devoutly traced the divine operations. From the history of all nations, and especially from that of his native, as well as of Holland, his adopted country, he has gratefully recorded several ever memorable instances of a public and private kind, which afforded evident proofs of the merciful interference of heaven in the hour of extremi- ty. The Fulfilling of the Scrijjture is divided into three parts. I. An essay shewing the exact accomplishment of the Word of God in his works of Providence, performed, and to be performed, for confirming believers, and convincing the atheists of the present time ; as also many rare histories of the works and servants of God in the Church of Christ. II. The faithfulness of God considered and cleared, in the great event of his word. III. The great appearances of God for his church under the New Testament, with many choice speeches of suffering and dying Christians. Mr. Fleming repeatedly visited England, and remained there sometimes four or five months at a time. Whilst in London in the summer of 1694, he was seized with fever. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 113 When first attacked, he remarked, in a particularly solemn manner, that sickness and death are serious things. Call- ing to his bedside a brother clergyman, he spoke thus : " What freedom do you find in prayer for me ; seems God to beckon to your petitions, or does he bind you up, and leave dark impressions on your mind ? This way," continued he, "I have often known the will of the Lord." When his friend lamented being in darkness as to his case, the dying saint instantly replied, " Well, I know your mind ; trouble not yourself for me. I think 1 may say, that I have been long above the fear of death." His latter end pleasingly verified this declaration ; and after a short illness of only eight days, he calmly breathed his last, July 25th, old style, in the year 1694. He left two sons, both of whom were in London, and present when he expired ; and upon Robert, the elder of the two, devolved the melancholy duty of communicat- ing to the bereaved church, the loss which it had sustained in the loss of his worthy father. Having imparted the mournful intelligence to the bur- gomasters, the Consistory were enjoined by the corpora- tion to be particularly careful in selecting a worthy suc- cessor to their deceased and generally esteemed pastor. The session did themselves honour, and manifested the highest respect for the memory of their departed minister, by unanimously calling in his stead, his excellent son, then minister of the English Church at Leyden. 114 HISTORY OF THE CHAPTER V. 1695—1723. Rei\ Robert Fleming, Jun — Increase of the Congregation,^-and a handsome church erected for their use — Mr. Fleming removes to London, — is succeed, ed by the Rev. Thomas Hoog — Mr. Brown becomes Emeritus, — and the Rev. Robert Black chosen in his room Death of Mr. Thomas Hoog. Owing to tlie strong opposition which Mr. Fleming's translation met with from the congregation at Leyden, he was not admitted to the co-pastorship of this church, till the 30th of January 1695. It appears from the records of the kirk-session that burgomaster John Steenlack, then a member of the Scottish Consistory, was chiefly instrumen- tal in bringing him to Rotterdam. This worthy and much respected magistrate, during a long life of great usefulness, always shewed a paternal solicitude for the Scottish and English Presbyterian cliurches established in his native city. The more effectually to manifest his real disinterestedness towards the British residents, and to render them every service in his power, he was generally officially connected with one of the churches ; and in the minutes of both Con- sistories, high and well merited encomiums are passed upon his christian zeal and unwearied labours of love. Along with two of his colleagues in the kirk-session, Mr. Steen- lack went to Leyden in order to prevail upon the English Consistory there to grant Mr. Fleming's dismission. Al- though by particular request, the learned Dr. James Trig- landius, professor of divinity, acted as chairman at this con- ference, and in name of the Leyden church, and as a per- sonal friend, keenly argued the propriety of Mr. Fleming's continuance at the seat of the university, the weighty rea- SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 115 sons adduced by the deputation ultimately prevailed.* The church of Rotterdam had good cause to be satisfied with the happy result of the mission ; for their young- mi- nister was fully capable of sustaining-, with credit to him- self, and advantage to the congregation, the reputation which his father so largely enjoyed. When a child, the greatest possible care had been successfully taken by his excellent parents, to impress his heart with the superlative importance of spiritual things, as well as to enrich his mind with the most useful knowledge. His uncle, the Rev. John Sinclair, minister of Ormiston, and of whom some notice will be found in our account of the English church at Delft, had the direction of his classical education, and prepared him for college. Youns: Fleming- came over to Holland, and had the be- nefit of his father's excellent counsel and example, — and having fixed upon the ministerial profession, had the ad- vantage of finishing his studies at the Dutch universities. The judicious manner in which he improved his privileges at this time was most exemplary : and the modest account which he has himself left on record, is far from being un- interesting or unedifying. " When I had passed," says he, " the ordinary course of school and academical studies, and had resolved to devote my life wholly to the study of di- vinity, with the joint approbation of my friends and teach- ers, I thought it my duty to bind myself by a solemn reso- lution before God to prosecute that sacred work with the utmost intention of mind ; divesting myself, as far as pos- sibly 1 could, from all prejudices arising either from edu- cation, party, or interest. And I have reason to thank God that, (while I was very young,) my overhearing my father solemnly declare, to some particular friends, that he had all along acted thus, did leave such an impression on my mind, that I took up this resolution very early, though not so solemnly as afterwards, when time and experience * Consist. Regist. 116 HISTORY or THE luul farther ripened and improved my reason. In pursn- anee of this resolntion, I took a quite different method, Avhile I studied in the university at Leyden and Utrecht, than I found the students usually did. For whilst they reckoned it enough to digest and improve what the masters did read in their private and public lectures, pursuant to the design of such, or systems and compends of theology, or particular treatises upon controverted points and cases : I made it my business, over and above, to procure or bor- row the most famed writings of those of the contrary per- suasions. And by doing so, I did too frequently observe, that their arguments appeared quite another thing, and with another face, than as they were proposed under the name of objections by our authors. " However, though this course was the result both of rea- son and conscience, and, in many respects, delightful and satisfactory, yet I found it attended with great difficulties, and not a little danger too ; for I must own that I was fre- quently non-plussed, and rendered pendulous and doubtful what to think and believe in several cases. I lamented my own weakness and want of acuteness and penetration in comparison of others, who were as confident in their opinion of the most difficult things, as if they had been the most facile. However, one thing I pleased myself with, that if other students exceeded me in knowledge and learn- ing, I seemed to exceed any I conversed with in charity to those of different sentiments and professions. I saw they had so much to say for themselves, as was enough to engage even men of the best sense to think as they did ; and, therefore, I durst not usm-p God's providence, in judg- ing men's hearts and consciences, far less in passing any damning sentence upon them, but left them to their judge and mine, to be dealt with as he should see proper. And I am persuaded God will give vastly more allowance for men's education and circumstances, and, consequently, for their method of thinking, than any of us can attain to do, with re- SCOTTISH CHUllCH IN IIOTTERDAM. 117 latioii to our fellow creatures, seeing he is as infinitely above us in goodness and mercy, as lie is in wisdom and power. " Having thus divested myself of all prejudices, as far as possibly I could, both as to men and notions, I pro- posed to myself to forget, for a while, in what age I lived, in order to converse with the ancients, that I might see what the sentiments were that obtained in former ages, with men of the greatest figure and fame. And in doing this, I thought it might not be amiss, first to consult the remains of heathen antiquity, that I might see what no- tions were entertained by the several nations of the world, consistent with, or different from, those that now obtained among us. In this study I spent some considerable time, as in a spacious, but, for the most part, barren and uncul- tivated country, with various success. For sometimes I was tired with long and tedious discourses, where I found some good things hinted amidst a heap of confused and dark stuff. At other times, things ordinary in themselves appeared great and venerable, upon the account of the na- tive simplicity with which they were written, as well as by- reason of the antiquity of the authors. Sometimes I could not but admire the greatness of soul that appeared in some, under the greatest disadvantages. And some things like pedestals, rests and remains of noble edifices, seemed to give a greater idea of a lost and unfinished work, through the mossy lawn with which it was overspread, than the work itself, if perfect, would perhaps have aft'orded us. But the rays of light which now and then darted through the closest thickets of error, though, as it were, tinged with cloudy vapours, and blended with offensive exhalations, af- forded variety of pleasure and satisfaction, as discovering their first original and ultimate design. "Thus satiated with the philosophies, histories, and morals of the Gentiles, and tired with their fables and stories, as well as their superstition and dotage, I came, with a new appetite, to enter upon the perusal of the first 118 HISTORY OF THE Christian authors, whose genuine remains afforded me equal pleasure and profit. I found a new scene open to me here, quite different from our moderns. And as far as they exceed the fathers in exactness of method and con- nected reasoning, so far did I perceive them outdone by the ancients, for the most part in the freedom of thought, and an unaffected search after, and discovery of truth. But after a diligent examination of the fathers of the first three centuries, and some careful perusal of the most valu- able pieces of the learned age that followed, and of some of those of the greatest name that wrote in the fifth and sixth centuries, I began to think it high time to stop, and to allow myself a breathing^ time, in order to look over again, with second thoughts, the most improvable things in the first and best authors I had read; as finding a sen- sible decay, as to learning, but especially as to pure divi- nity, in the writers of the subsequent ages ; excepting that here and there some particular treatise seemed to be too valuable to be wholly overlooked. But finding that the first and purest Christian writers, who breathed most of the Apostolic spirit, and wrote nearest to the scriptural style, gave us quite different ideas of most truths, from those which moderns had taken up from philosophy and the schoolmen, I was concerned to find from what source and original they had borrowed their notions ; especially seeing they seemed more adapted to the sacred writings than any thing that had afterwards been obtained among Christians. For, be- sides, what was plainly proved by, and clearly deduced from Scripture, abundance of things occurred to me, which I perceived them to have borrowed from other writers, or, at least, to have obtained by a traditional conveyance. This obliged me to cast my eyes upon the Jewish nation, as the first and most celebrated of any, as to true learning, from whom, I could not but see the most ancient and emi- nent of the heathens had received their best notions; though they had proudly arrogated them to themselves, or SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 119 invidiously ascribed them to the priests or sages of other Gentile nations. And, though I pretend not to have dived so deep in this part of learning as the rest, far less to equal many others this way ; yet, I believe, 1 shall never repent my having spent so much time as I have done, in this study. For though no study was ever more barren than this appeared to be at first view ; and though sometimes I seemed to be raking in nothing but rubbish and dirt, yet now and then I fell upon those things that I could not but receive great satisfaction from. " But when I had taken all this pains, and run round in this mental survey of learning, I began not only to tire and grow uneasy, but disrelish, and in some sort nauseate all human writings. I found that there was no end in reading, as well as in writing books ; and that much study was a weariness to the flesh : nay, that vanity and vexa- tion of spirit were themselves entailed upon this, as well as upon all other things that the children of Adam busied themselves about. 1 resolved, therefore, to betake myself for the future, to the study of the sacred volumes alone, as my main business, and to make no other use of other books, than as they might become subservient to me in the un- derstanding and improvement of the same. For, I may truly say with David, that I easily * see the end of all human perfection, but that the law of God was exceeding broad ;' as appearing still greater and greater, the more it was searched into and understood. Having resolved to make this the great study and business of my life, I thought it might be of use to lay down some solid rules and maxims to myself, which might render me the more fixed and steady in my future inquiries into truth."* We shall insert the excellent rules which Mr. Fleming carefully drew up for his own guidance and improvement, — referring to the work from which the preceding ex- " Fleming's Chriatology, General Preface. 120 HISTORY OF THE tracts have been taken, for copious and satisfactory illus- trations of eacli. " In the prosecution," continues he, " of my theological studies, I do sincerely and fixedly resolve, through the grace and assistance of God, 1st, To admit of nothing which is inconsistent with the plain foundations and first principles of natural religion and common huma- nity. 2d, To admit of nothing as the revealed will of God, which tends to render human nature vile and mean ; for I must look upon Christianity itself as a contemptible thing, if this were the design and residt of it. 8d, Never to ad- mit of any thing as truth, which is inconsistent with the glorious nature and perfections of God. Ath, Never to ad- mit of any as the will of God, which is plainly absurd, and involves what is a contradiction in itself. 5th, I can never admit of any pretences to rapture, revelation, or spiritual experience, even the highest, fairest, and most specious, either in myself or any other person, to be the will of God, if these revelations, suggestions, or imperfections, be either, as to matter, manner, or tendency, inconsistent with Scrip- ture, or claim to be set up in any equality with it, as our rule. Therefore, 6fhJ?/, I am resolved ever to make the Scripture the only rule of my faith."* With his mind so well enriched and disciplined, Mr. Fleming, upon the 9th of February 1687-8, was privately ordained at Rotterdam, by several ministers of the church of Scotland. But though thus solemnly set apart, he had not as yet obtained the spiritual oversight of any particular flock. Shortly after this important era in his life, however, he went to England, and resided for a season with Bartholo- mew Soame of Thurlow, Esq., in the capacity of domestic chaplain, f He enjoyed and improved this retirement; and, from conscientious scruples, he could not be prevailed upon to accept a pastoral charge, which more than once he had in his offer. It was whilst living under the roof of * Fleming's Christology, General Preface. -|- The Kpistle Dedicatory to the Parajyhrasc of the Song of Solomon. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 121 this liospitable and serious family, tliat Mr, Fleming, in 1691, published his Poetical Paraphrase of the Song of Solo- mon, and his Miscellaneous Poems. The former piece he appropriately inscribed to his honoured friend, Mrs. Soame;* and the Poems, with much affection and gratitude, he ad- dressed to his maternal uncle, George Hamilton of Bin- ny, Esq. General Receiver of their Majesties' Supply and Inland Excise, for the kingdom of Scotland, and Paymas- ter-general to the army there. The Paraphrase, consider- ed as the work of so young a man, is extremely creditable to the author's piety, and critical acumen. If, as a metri- cal composition, we be not disposed to estimate it very highljr, we must allow, that the annotations annexed to it discover no ordinary degree of patient philological research, in discovering the true meaning of the remarkable and singularly beautiful portion of the inspired volume which he professes to illustrate. His minor poetical essays are on religious and moral subjects, including a very fair trans- lation of four of the Odes of Pindar, from the original. At one time he intended to have rendered into English verse, the whole of Pindar's works, for which his accurate know- ledge of the Greek language perfectly qualified him ; but he abandoned the design, wisely considering that loftier, and more directly professional, pursuits became him.f It has been said of Mr. Fleming, by one of his contempo- raries, that he " gain'd souls to God by prose and verse '"% and certainly, the greatest proportion of such of his writ- ings as have reached us, are well calculated, through the blessing of heaven, to effect this desirable end. We sub- join a specimen of his poetical talents, entitled * Mr. Fleming preached and published a Sermon on the death of the truly pious Mrs. Susanna Soame, who deceased Feb. 14, 1691-2, with some account of her life and death, Eccles. vii. 1. ■|- Pindarirjues,^, IGO. :J: Lines addressed " to the Reverend Author," prefixed to the Para- phrase. 22 HISTORY OF THE A REFLECTION ON A SUDAIN ALTERATION OF MIND TO THE BETTER. 1. Whence come these rayes To heart and eyes, So dead and dark before ? What makes my mind Just now inclin'd To sloth, awake and soar ? 2. Since I espye, That it's not I, That sets my mind on fire ; Since even now, I clearly view, On sin was my desire. 3. Nor possibly Can it be he, Who once from heaven fell ; Else should this fire Not up aspire. But savour should of hell. 4. No; it's my God, Who hath abode And dwells in purest light ; W^ho doth attend, And me doth send Eye-salve to cure my sight ; 6. Who with a smart. Doth wound my heart, And make me grieve for sin ; A smart, yet which Containeth much Of sweet to me therein. 6. Who doth incline. Without repine, My will, and makes me love What I of late So much did hate ; And ill doth far remove. 7. Those then do lye. Who do deny That God doth rule the will. Since he alone Its motion Conserveth as he will. 8. Him, him, therefore, I will adore, And call upon his name ; Since he alone. As from the throne. My wilful will doth tame. 9. My lips I'll give A sacrifice To him his love to sound : My tongue alway. To dying day. His praises shall resound. 10. Up then, my soul. All mists controul From earth's dark dungeon cast ; Mount to the light. Which gives thee sight. And shall when time is past.* Wliile the poetical effusions to which we have been ad- verting, were in the press, Mr. Fleming paid Holland a visit. The English Presbyterian church at Leyden, hav- • Fleming's Miscellaneous Poems, pp. 48.50. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 123 ing at this time become vacant, he embraced a unanimous invitation sent him by that Consistory, and in the course of 1692, was duly inducted as their pastor, in room of the deceased Mr. Henry Hickman. As noticed before, Mr. Fleming did not remain much above three years in this his first settlement, but, though induced to become his father's successor at Rotterdam, he always entertained the liveliest regard for his affectionate people at Leyden ; and conscien- tiously fulfilled a promise, made previous to his departure, of frequently preaching there, and regularly dispensing the Lord's Supper once a quarter, till his friendly services were no longer requisite, by the appointment, in 1696, of the Rev. John Milling, then a chaplain in the army.* We must now advert to Mr. Fleming's joint exertions for the prosperity of the Scottish church in Rotterdam. St. Sebastian's chapel, where our countrymen still worship- ed, could not nearly contain the stated hearers, who amount- ed to about one thousand souls, far less allow mariners and occasional visitors the privilege of attending divine ser- vice. Besides, the locality of this place of M^orship was in- convenient both as regarded the Scottish settlers, and the re- gular traders. The Consistory had long lamented, and re- peatedly made known to the authorities, the want of church accommodation, and the distance of the old chapel from that quarter of the city where most of the congregation resided. The present seemed a favourable moment to renew the sup- plication to the magistrates to remedy the evil complained of, and they did not let slip the golden opportunity. The corporation had uniformly manifested every inclination to patronise the Scottish church ; but one of the most influ- ential of the civic body, happened at this time to be in the eldership. This was burgomaster Steenlack, of whom we have lately spoken. When requested by the Consistory to aid them with his assistance, " he very cheerfully declared • Consist. Regist. S. Ch. Rott. (April 11th 1698,) and Van Mieris' Beschr. der Stad Leyden. 124 HISTORY OF THE his willingness and readiness, and told tliera he was suffi- ciently convinced of the reasonableness of their petition. And so answered also Sir Gilbert Sasch, (an elder,) upon the like desire, both of them being persons of great moyen in the place."* The way being thus made plain before them, the kirk-session, upon the 12tli of May 1695, agreed to, and signed the following petition : — " To the Right Honourable Lord Burgomasters of this city of Rotterdam. " May it please your I^ordships, — The members of the Consistory of the Scots Church in this city, doe find themselves necessitated and obliged, with all due reverence and respect, to signifie unto your Lordships, that the num- ber of those of our nation, inhabitants of this city, with others often frequenting the same, is so great, — that the church which at present, imder your I^op: favour, and pro- tection, we enjoy, is not able to contain the same, so that a number on the Lord's day (especially when a Scots fleet is here) get not in at the doors, whereby those that are se- rious are much grieved, being thus deprived of the public means of grace, and food of their souls, — not understanding other languages ; and others are tempted to profane that holy day by idleness, or by frequenting taverns, &c, to the great dishonour of the Most High God, offending of others, and endangering their own souls. By this means also, the ordinarie collections for the poor, every Lord's day, are much impair'd. May it therefore please your Lordships, graciously to take this into your grave and prudent consideration, and resolve on the best expedient for the effectual help of all this. The knowledge that we, and many others, have of your Lordships' constant kindness unto, and care of the Pro- testant Reformed Church, as true nursing fathers ; and the experience that we, of the Scots nation in particular, have * Consist, Refi'ist. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 125 had of the same, ever since the first foundation of our church in this city, encourageth as to make this humble address to your Lordships."* The magistrates, having taken some time to consider, were pleased, without a dissentient voice, to grant a favour- able reply; and immediately caused the city architect to prepare a plan for their approbation. A piece of ground in the south-west side of the town, on what is called the Vasteland, was appropriated as a suitable site for the pro- posed erection. This was the best situation which could have been chosen ; being exactly at the south end of a long street, called the Schiedam, or Scottish Dyke, from its be- ing then inhabited by numbers of that nation. Running parallel to, and very near the Dyke just mentioned, is the Leuve-haven, which, from time immemorial, has been oc- cupied by the Scottish shipping. To manifest their grate- ful sense of the sis'nal benefit which was about to be con- ferred upon them, — to lessen the outlay from the city chest ; and in order that they and their successors might hold pro- perty in the edifice, the Consistory and congregation rais- ed a considerable sum, with which they purchased and brought from Scotland all the stones used in the building. It deserves also to be mentioned, that the owners and masters of vessels trading betwixt Rotterdam and the dif- ferent ports in the Firth of Forth, seemed anxious to out- vie one another in furthering the good cause. They li- berally volunteered the use of their ships, and would ac- cept of no remuneration for the freight of 2500 feet of stone, nor for their personal services at Borrowstoun- ness, Queensferry, Elie, Pittenweem, and the adjacent places whence the stone was obtained.f Andrew Kenne- dy,J youthful son of Sir Andrew Kennedy of Clowburn, • Consist, Regist. -f Consist Papers, t Andrew, son of Sir Andrew Kennedy, Kt. and Mary Weir, his wife, was born at Rotterdam, April 11th, 1692. Regist. of Christenings in Scot. 126 HISTORY OF THE Resident for the kingdom of Scotland at the Dutch court, and Lord Conservator of the Scottish privileges at Camp- vere, laid the foundation stone of the new church, Decem- ber 13, 1695. Nearly two years elapsed before the work was completed. Upon the 13th October J 697, the Scot- tish congregation assembled for the last time in St. Se- bastian's chapel. This ancient building remains to this day much in the same state as when in their occupation, and is now used by the Dutch clergy, who, in rotation, preach here every Sabbath afternoon, chiefly to the poorer classes. The principal entrance is from Lombard Street on the west, — of which, as well as of the whole external appear- ance, a pretty correct idea may be formed from the small engraving on our title page. But of the interior, we must be allowed to note one or two particulars. On the south Avall is the antique carved oak pulpit, whence the first stat- ed pastors of the church, whose history we are endeavour- ing to record, as also the expatriated clergy, addressed eager listening hearers. The gallery on the right hand of the pulpit, with its open front, fenced by a balustrade of massy oaken pillars ; the venerable looking benches ranged along the wall beneath; and the large blue grave stones with which the chapel is paved, — all seem calculated to solem- nize the mind. Void of superstition, 1 confess that I have often lingered within its walls, surveying with intense inter- est every corner of this edifice, which no Scotchman can possibly visit without emotion, as the consecrated place where his countrymen were wont to worship, and where their ashes now peacefully repose. The following Lord's day, being the 20th of October, the new church was opened with great solemnity, in presence of the magistrates and other public functionaries. The Ch. Rott. In July 1717, he was nominatd by Geo. I. as his father's suc- cessor in the Conservatorship. Conventimi Records. JMr. Kenndy, like his worthy parent, was a warm friend of the Scottish families settled at Rotter- dam and Campvere. He died in the year 1726. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 127 morning service was conducted by Mr. Brown, the senior clergyman, who delivered an excellent discourse from Exodus XX. 24, " In all places where I record my name, I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee." Mr. Fleming, who preached in the afternoon and evening, gave two highly appropriate and much admired sermons, — the one from Luke vii. 8, " For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue;" the other from Isaiah xxxii. 8, " The liberal de- viseth liberal things ; and by liberal things shall he stand." The place was crowded to excess at each meeting ; the most devout attention was observable in all ; and many averred that this was the pleasantest Sabbath that they had ever spent.* This Scottish Church, accurately represented in the ac- companying plate, is a substantial and handsome structure, surmounted by a steeple and vane. The edifice is of brick, with the exception of the stone in front, where, immedi- ately above the two large windows, are six projecting shields, and over each, a coronet in high relief. Upon these shields, the arms of the then reigning four burgomasters, and of the two ediles, or inspectors of public works, were beauti- fully cut. But, in 1795, the French usurpers, sillily fond of eradicating every emblem of Dutch heraldry, ordered the armorial bearings upon the front of this, and the English Presbyterian church, to be entirely effaced. The church, which has no gallery, measures seventy-seven feet in length, sixty-five in breadth, and thirty-seven in lieight. It can accommodate nine hundred persons ; is neatly fitted up, and well lighted, there being five windows on each side of the pulpit, and the same number in front. The ceiling is sup- ported by four columns of the Tuscan order. The pulpit, which is at some distance from the wall, is elegant and lof- ty ; and, like most of the pews, is of brown wainscot. A raised seat was appropriated for the use of the magis- • Consist. Regist, and MSS. penes me. 128 HISTORY OF THE trates, wlio often were hearers, and sometimes mem- bers of session. For the British seamen who frequent this port, there are also a number of pews specially and gra- tuitously set apart, and designated as those of caj}tains, mates and sailors. As is the practice in Holland, every seat is supplied by Consistory with quarto Bibles and psalm books. In con-partments, similar in size to the windows, on the south or back wall, the session caused to be painted \st, Rom. X. 4 ; Tit. ii. 12, and Matth. vii. 12.— 2fZ, The Lord's Prayer; Rev. i. 5, 6 ; 1 Thess. v. 21, 22.— 3r7, and Ath, The Decalogue ; sum of the law, Matth. xxii. 37 — 40 ; sum of the gospel, John xvii. 3 ; and Matth. xvi. 24. — bth. The Creed. From the High Admiralty Court of the Maese, the Consistory was presented with a fine painted window, which was placed in the centre of the east wall. This gift was procured through the influence of Sir Gilbert Sasch, principal secretary of that body, and formerly an elder in the Scottish Church. Besides the arms of Great Britain and Holland, upon it were those of the Admiralty of the Maese, of the thirteen lords or commissioners of that court, and of their advocate fiscal and secretary. This valuable ornamental present, which was intended as a small token of regard from the Netherland to the Scottish nation,* got so much injured in the course of years, that reparation was found impracticable, and accordingly, in 1751, it was re- placed, at the expense of the city, with plain glass. At the time of the opening of the church, the ses- sion was composed of the following individuals : the Rev. James Brown and Robert Fleming, ministers; Messrs. John Christie, Peter Verbeek, David Edmondston, John Gordon, Gerard Steenlack, (the burgomaster's brother,) elders ; Andrew Storie, James Scott, Thomas Crawford, Robert Allan, Alexander Naughten, deacons. Shortly after this, a commodious consistory-chamber was * Van Revn's Bcschr. drr Stad Roll. vol. i. p. 327. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 129 erected, at the charge of the city, immediately behind the church. Here all public business connected with the congregation is transacted; and the room contains original portraits of eight of the early ministers, * as also of King William III. An Advertisement concerning this Church, for the Use of Posterity, was prepared by Mr. Fleming ; and this brief historical account, approved of by Consistory, was, by their desire, inserted at the beginning of their minute-book, f It is matter of regret, however, since he did voluntarily undertake the task of historian, that he confined himself to such narrow limits ; for his narrative, derived solely from the session-register, does not occupy four pages. The Ad- vertisement was never printed, but an inaccurate copy has found its way into the Bodleian Library at Oxford. % The Scottish congregation, now so admirably supplied by the munificence of the town regency with a place of worship, were happy in the enjoyment of two faithful pas- tors ; but, to their unspeakable grief, they had soon the mortification of being deprived of Mr. Fleming's ministra- tions. Mr. Nicholas Blakie, a Scottish clergyman esta- blished in London, having, through age and bodily debili- ty, become unfit regularly to discharge his oflacial duties, warmly co-operated with his people in endeavouring to se- cure for them and himself the associated services of the junior pastor of the Scottish church at Rotterdam. When Mr. Fleming first intimated to his session that such a thing was in agitation, they earnestly besought him to give the • In 1737, ]Mr- Alexander Carstares, (brother to the Principal,) a con- siderable merchant in Rotterdam, presented to the kirk-session, of which he was long an active member, half-length portraits, in oil-colours, of the Rev. Messrs. Alex. Petrie, John Hoog, Robert Mac Ward, James Brown, and Robert Fleming, junior. The remaining three likenesses were successive- ly gifted by the representatives of Messrs. Robert Black, John Enslie, and Dr. Kennedy, t Consist. Regist. Feb. C, 16f)8, + Bawlinsm MSS. Miscell. No. 205. K 130 HISTOUY OF THE callers no encouragement; and they lost no time in dis- suading Mr. Blakie and his flock from prosecuting- their announced design. For several months Mr. Fleming did " not come to a fixed determination as to the acceptance or refusing that call, yet he was resolved to go to London, that he might know the circumstances of that place, in or- der to balance circumstances, that, with full clearness, he might know what was duty in that case." At this meeting, held April 11, 1698, he informed the session that, though as yet no reply had been received from the calling church, he purposed in a few days to sail for England ; " and that, after he was there, he would, with the first he could, write to Consistory, and give them an account of his resolution, within a month or thereabout after he arrives in London, and that Mr. John Chalmers is to supply the church dur- ing that time." Upon this unexpected announcement, Mr. Brown, the moderator, expressed himself as follows : — " That whereas the Rev. Mr. Robert Fleming, my col- league, has told us that a call is come to him from the re- verend Mr. Nicholas Blakie and his people at Lon- don, to be his assistant, I do declare that I am utterly unclear to give my consent to his acceptance of that call, and that for many weighty reasons intimated by me to himself, part whereof also are in our consistorial letter to Mr. N. Blakie and his people. Wherefore, I do hereby solemnly protest, that whatever hurt may come to this church, or whatever other inconveniences may follow upon his acceptance of that call, (if he do accept it,) may nowise be imputed unto me, as being no way accessary to the same, either by concurrence or connivance ; and I do re- quire that this be inserted in our Consistory-books, ad fit- turam rei memoriam. *' After Mr. James Brown had thus declared himself, the whole Consistory unanimously assented thereunto, and joined with him in the foresaid declaration and protesta- SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 131 tion."* The expostulatory letter M'liieh the session ad- dressed to Mr. Blakie, to be communicated, has been pre- served, and contains several cogent reasons why the Lon- don congregation should relinquish the pursuit. We have not room for the whole, but the subjoined extract from it is not uninterestino- : — " Consider, to call a minister from this church to Britain is a thing unprecedented ever since the first foundation of it. Worthy Mr. Fleming, now in glory, was called at the late revolution to return to his first charge in Scotland, but absolutely refused to go, having no clearness to leave this so public a post, to go to any particular church in Britain ; and we know you reverence his judgment and memory. Famous Mr. Mac Ward, also, did often say that he was so far against taking a minister from this church, that if it wanted one, he would, if he were in a General Assembly, give his vote for transporting a minister, even from Glas- gow, to supply it. And pray, whither shall we go for supply when we want a minister but to Britain ? With what clearness, then, can any of our nation seek to deprive us of what we have ? " Pray, consider how difficult, if not impossible, it would be to get this place suitably supplied at this time, when Scotland has none such to spare ? Such also that are aged and have families, will not willingly cross the seas, though they were permitted; and a novice is not fit for this charge. " We have that persuasion of your integrity, that we hope you will take no advantage of this, that neither of us is subordinate to any superior church judicatory, so as to take liberty to do that which no honest church judicatory could approve of ; and we have no doubt but, if this matter came before any church judicatory now in our native land, we should scarce have one vote against us. * Consist. Regixt. 132 HISTORY OF THE " Tho' we do Inglily commend you for endeavouring to keep up a Scottisli church in London, yet, after most se- rious thoughts, we cannot approve of this method and means for its standing, which visibly may tend to tlie hurt, if not the ruin, of this church ; especially when you may he well provided another way. Considering, Mathal, that how ex- pedient soever it may appear to be that there be a Scottish church in London, yet it is nothing so needful as a Scottish church is here. For, in very deed, there is no more ab- solute necessity of a Scottish church in London, nor there is of an English church in Edinburgh, there being the same language and the same religion in both. And you know, that before you and Mr. W. T. there was no Scottish church in London, but our countrymen joined with the English, as a great many of our nation do still, some where- of we know to be worthy persons; whereas, a Scottish church in this place is absolutely needful, — the language of the place being unknown to our nation."* Mr. Fleming was allowed another month in London ; but, much to the mortification of the Scottish session and congregation at Rotterdam, he intimated, by letter dated June 3d, his acceptance of the proflFered call to be Mr. Blakie's assistant. Upon receipt of this communication, the Consistory saw, that the only alternative left them was, to proceed without delay, to fill up the vacancy with the fittest man they could find. Before we narrate the steps taken to obtain a colleague to Mr. Brown, we shall give a sketch of Mr. Fleming's subsequent history. It has been said that he was induced to make this exchange by King William.f Be this as it may, certain it is that he was frequently received at court, and privately consulted by that patriotic monarch. The Scottish congregation in London, over whom Mr. Fleming • Letter of the kirk-session, dated 21 Marcli 1698, — Consist, Regist. ■\ Chalmers' Biograph. Diet, art. Robert Fleming. SCOTTISH CHUKCII IN ROTTERDAM. 133 became pastor, June 19, 1698, met then at Founders-Hall Lothbury ; and was the oldest of that nation assembling in the metropolis. Two years after Mr. Fleming's entrance, the church was rebuilt on the same spot ; and so numerous had the hearers become in 1764, that in that year the well- known chapel, London Wall, was erected for their use. Mr. Blakie was the first minister of this respectable con- gregation.* He had been ejected by the Glasgow act in 1662, from the parochial charge of Roberton, in the pres- bytery of Lanark ; and it would seem, that, shortly after his expulsion, he went to London, where he soon acquired po- pularity as a faithful preacher of evangelical truth. There is reason to believe, also, that his unwearied labours were peculiarly beneficial to the inhabitants of London in 1665 and 1666, on occasion of the plague and burning of the city.f When Mr. Fleming entered upon this engagement, Mr. Blakie, by reason of extreme age, and long continued ex- cruciating pain, was wholly incapacitated from taking any active part in the pastoral duty. Within six months after Mr. Fleming had been joined with him in the ministry, he died at London, in the beginning of December 1698, much lamented.:]: Probably few clergymen have enjoyed a larger share of * Consist. Regisf. and Wilson's Dissenting Churches, vol. ii. p. 461. -f- Memoirs of William Veitch, pp. 54, 55. (Note by Dr. M'Crie.) 4: Consist. Papers. I have now before me an original letter, dated Lon- don, Dec. 17j lfi98, written by Mr. Fleming to the Rev. James Brown of Rotterdam, from which I extract the following paragraph in reference to the Rev. Nicholas Blakie. " I suppose Mr. Chalmers has told you of Mr. Blakey's death ; for I wrote to him of it. When he was opened, three great stones were found in his left kidney, the greatest as big as an ordi- nary hen's egg ; — but which was most strange, five other stones were found which hung together on a string, one of them five-cornered, two four- cornered, and two three-cornered, hard like flint, and the corners exactly shapt like thorns, and as sharp ; so that it is incredible the pain he has endured. — It is strange he lived so long, and bare his pains with such pa- tience." MS. penes mc. 134 HISTORY OF THE public esteem than Mr. Fleming. He was respected alike by high and low ; and among his personal friends he num- bered the archbishop of Canterbury, and other dignitaries of the church, as well as the most eminent protestant dis- senters. In May 1701, he was chosen one of the six preachers of the lecture instituted by the merchants of London, at Salters-hall, every Tuesday. Had he wished, he might have obtained more than one lucrative and hon- ourable appointment. We allude to an offer which was made him of the office of Principal in the College of Glas- gow, by his noble relative, John Lord Carmichael, then Se- cretary of State for Scotland, and chancellor of that imi- versity.* Not only did he decline the tempting offer to become head of this ancient and celebrated seat of learning, but he also refused a presentation to the church of Linlith- gow, and to other parochial charges.f Besides conscientiously and acceptably discharging his stated pastoral duties, and regularly taking his turn at the various lectureships in the metropolis, he found time to prepare for the press a number of single sermons, and of larger and more durable monuments of his sanctified erudi- tion. The most remarkable of his smaller publications is one which first appeared in 1701, on Tlie grand Apocalyp- tical Question concerning the Rise and Fall of Rome Papal. This learned and singular discourse excited immense in- terest toAvards the close of last century, from the astonish- ing coincidence between Fleming's conjectural interpreta- tion of the Fourth Vial in the Revelations, which he sup- posed to relate to the humbling of the French monarchy, before the year 1794, — and the calamitous events which, about this revolutionary period, occurred at Paris. The discourse in question, now brought forth from obscurity. * Fleming's Rise and Fall of the Papacy. Dedication. ■}• MSS. penes me. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 135 was read in every circle, was often reprinted in Britain and America, and translated into several European languages. Fleming's calculations are novel and ingenious ; and all his conjectures are built upon rational data, derived from an extensive acquaintance with history. The performance well merits an attentive perusal, as it is distinguished throughout by uncommon ingenuity and modesty ; whilst the improvement of tlie whole is truly excellent. Mr. Fleming's Practical Discourse on the death of King William, is honourable to the author's piety and sagacity. If we except, probably, a little overcolouring in his deli- neation of the character of that illustrious prince, we may safely aver, that Fleming's estimate of William is as just and concise, as any that has yet appeared. Subjoined to this funeral discourse, is a poetical tribute to the me- mory of his royal master, inscribed to Principal Carstares, of whom the king, a little before his decease, said, " I have known him long, and I know him thoroughly, and I know him to be a truly honest man." The following is the 23d stanza of the elegy : — O virtuous William ! glory of our times, Sent of past reigns to expiate the crimes : Thou wast in all things good and great ; State did not honour thee, hut thou didst honour state. In Rome hadst thou the sceptre sway'd, Ev'n Brutus had thy kingly power obey'd, And Cato, too, aside his jealousies had laid. Had Dane or Norman thy mild reign but seen, They had thy willing subjects been. And learn'd nor to oppose, nor to complain. But we, alas ! did ne'er thee prize aright. Till now thou'rt taken from our sight, And join'd thy own Maria bright, In th' higher regions of eternal light.* That which most entitles Mr. Fleming to be ranked as " Fleming's Poetical Essay on the Memory of King William, p. 16. 136 HISTORY OF THE no ordinary theologian, is his largest and well-known work, Christology. When he first announced this publication, the author signified that it would be completed in six books ; but from some cause or other, only the half of this learned work was given to the world. What has been printed is comprehended in three volumes octavo. The first volume, which is dedicated to Queen Anne, contains, Book I. A general View of Christology ; being a new exposition of two memorable passages of Scripture, viz. Christ's words, John V. 21, and God the Father's, Matth. xvii. 5. Book II. The Logos ; or an account of Christ as such. The second volume, inscribed to Princess Sophia of Hanover, contains, Book III. The Logantliropos ; or an account of Christ as he is, the Word made man. Volume third, — \\\q Loganthroijos concluded; and a Dissertation on the first resurrection, wherein the prior and special resurrection, and reward of the most eminent Christian witnesses during the reigrn of Pa- ganism and Anti-christianism is considered, in two grand inquiries, I. Concerning the certainty and genuine idea of this truth. 2. Concerning the epocha of this truth, and of the millenium. Being a new key, by which further light is brought, not only into the text and context insisted up- on, but also into many other memorable passages of Scrip- ture. The unpublished portion embraced the following topics : Book IV. Logocraty ; or an account of Christ's go- vernment, both of the world and church of old. Book V. Christocratg ; or an account of Christ's government as he is Loganthropos, with respect to the world in general, and to the church in particular ; more especially since his assum- ing our nature. Book VI. Christianoklesis ; or the calling and duty of a Christian, as he is Christ's subject and ser- vant.* The work, whose contents we have just enumerated, has * Chrislolofft/, Intiodiiction, p. •"). SCOTTISH CHUllCH IN ROTTERDAM. 137 now become rather scarce. It every where affords satis- factory proof, that the writer possessed an independent and well cultivated mind ; and that his biblical knowledge and critical powers were of a high order. Sir Isaac Newton, Dr. Doddridge, and other celebrated commentators, whilst they have properly rejected several of Mr. Fleming's views as rather fanciful, — have regarded his interpretation of some parts of the prophetical language of holy writ, as evincing uncommon ingenuity and erudition. We cordially assent to the character of this treatise given by a late judicious author, who says, that " many ingenious thoughts occur in the Christology, and many passages of Scripture are placed in a new light."* Mr. Fleming had much at heart the best interests of Britain and Holland; and his services in behalf of both countries are said to have been unremitting and important. His society was courted by men of piety, genius, and learn- ing ; and by his flock he was greatly venerated. He died at London, May 21, 1716, leaving a widow and several children.f But it is time that we should advert to the way in which Mr. Fleming's place in the Scottish Church of Rotterdam was supplied. Three clergymen were selected by the session and the burgomasters. The individuals so nam- ed were, Messrs. Thomas Hoog of Campvere, Alex- ander Shields at St. Andrews, previously chaplain to Co- lonel Ferguson's regiment of foot soldiers in Flanders, and Charles Gordon, minister of Ashkirk.J Mr. Hoog was * Orme's Bibliotheea Biblica. •^ For further particulars, see Dr. Joshua Oldfield's Sermon on the Death of the Rev. Ro. Fleming ; and Wilson's Dissent. Churches.^ Prefixed to the Christology, is a print of Mr. Fleming, engraved by R. White in 1701, from a likeness taken by C. D. Gard. It is either the original, or a copy of Gard's painting, which is now in the possession of Consistory. X Consist. Regist. 138 HISTORY OF THE unanimously chosen, and the magistrates not only sanc- tioned this election, but generously paid the expenses of a Consistoriai deputation appointed to proceed to Zealand with the call. A favourable reply was given on the part of Mr. Hoog, who consented, however, on condition that he was orderly released by the Church of Scotland, under whose jurisdiction the stated Scottish minister at Campvere always was. Agreeably to his advice, the Consistory applied to the Commission of the kirk to remove him to Rotterdam ; and requested the Rev. David Blair, and Mr. James Dunlop, merchant in Edinburgh, to plead their cause before that re- verend body. Burgomaster Steenlack also proceeded to Loo, in order that, through the friendly intervention of Mr. William Carstares, who at this time was sojourning at the palace. King William might be induced to grant his royal concurrence. But the church and staple-port of Camp- vere were not less alive to their interest. They repre- sented the incalculable injury which they would sustain if deprived of Mr. Hoog's valued labours. Sir Andrew Ken- nedy, the Conservator, acting for the royal boroughs, was par- ticularly active in endeavouring to prevent the translation ; and there is ground for suspecting that the worthy knight, actuated doubtless by the purest motives, was chiefly in- strumental in obtaining the deliverance of the Commission. Their decision, communicated to Consistory through their moderator, Mr. Blair, was, in effect, that the Commission could not acquiesce in the prayer of the Scottish Church at Rotterdam, because the settlement of the business had not been confided to them by the General Assembly.* To the next annual meeting of the Church of Scotland, the session and their nominee respectively applied ; and their letters, (copies of which are now before me) contained such cogent reasons, as made the Assembly at once accede. Along with an extract of transportation, the following let- • Oriff. Letter from the Com, of the Gen. Asscmb. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 139 ter from Mr. Blair, was addressed to the Rev. James Brown, Rotterdam: Edinburgh, Feb. 11, 1699. R. AND DEAR BROTHER. — I endcavoured to do you some service formerly in detaining your late colleague witli you ; but wherein I failed in that endeavour, I have been some way enabled to make up in getting you a new colleague. But it is the Lord only who gives success to endeavours. I hope you shall have in the pacquet which brings this, the extract of the Assembly's Act of Dimission to Mr. Hoog in your favours. I said in my last of 2d current, that the Assembly had granted your desire both out of respect and kindness to your church made up of people of our nation, and also out of a due regard to the Honourable Magistracy of Rotterdam. And I think I had reason to say so : for as soon as I was allowed by the Assembly, (not having been chosen a member of it,) to speak as com- missioned by your Consistory, the two main things I in- sisted upon were, first, the interest the Assembly had in your church, (although independent of them,) in that it was a General Assembly of the Church of Scotland that gave your church its first minister Mr. Petrie, famed for his Ecclesiastical History, and even by transportation out of the Synod of Perth. Another main thing I insisted on was, the concern of the Honourable Magistrates of Rot- terdam had, and the part they took in the desired transpor- tation of Mr. Hoog. I represented that their city had been as a city of refuge to our people in the day of distress, as many hearing me could bear me witness, (in speaking of this I thought their countenances seemed to assent.) I took also the freedom, and had the confidence to say : that the Honourable Magistrates of Rotterdam were worthy that the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland should do something for them : for they love our nation, and have built us a synagogue ; and this last was affirmed 140 HISTORY OF THE to be even literally true form the express words of your address. " It is true I did plead before equitable, yea, and even favourable hearers, for when parties were bidden remove, I went out with these words, ' I remove cheerfully, seeing I leave behind me in this house many who love Rotterdam as well as I, and who can sustain their interests much bet- ter.' And the event has shewed that I was not mistaken in my conjecture, and in my boding well. If the honour- able government of Rotterdam shall be pleased to think they have received a kindness in this matter from the Ge- neral Assembly, I wish their lordships may be also pleased to express it by strengthening the hands of you all. Give my hearty service to the whole Consistory, and to Mr. Hoog, whom, though I never saw, yet have had a very good character of, from those that knew him. And I am, D.Br. " Your most affectionate brother in the Lord, « D. Blair."* Mr. Brown had at length the happiness of admitting Mr. Hoog, as his colleague, upon the 10th of May 1699.f For three generations, Mr. Hoog's paternal ancestors had been respectable ministers of the Church of Scotland. His fa- ther, the Rev. Thomas Hoog, of the united parishes of Larbert and Dunipace, was married to Marjory Murray, the niece of Sir John Murray of Philiphaugh. Thomas, the subject of this sketch, was born at the manse of Lar- bert, in the month of August 1655. At the age of seven, lie was placed at the High School of Edinburgh, and six years afterwards he entered the University of that city ; and after publicly defending his thesis, in the great hall of the college, July 21, 1673, O. S. he received the degree of M.A. He now fixed upon the law as the profession of his • Cmisist. Regist. + Il>. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 141 future life. With this view he was placed with a Writer to the Signet ; and young Hoog is known to have had the charge of several processes before the Court of Session. Although, from his family connexions, he might reasonably have calculated upon an excellent practice, he soon forsook the study of the law for that of divinity ; and, with exem- plary assiduity having devoted himself to theological learn- ing, was licensed to preach the Gospel, March 7, 1678. In the course of the same year, he was privately ordained. He never had any parochial charge in Scotland, but preach- ed, while he could do so with personal safety to himself and his Presbyterian countrymen. The unsettled state of public affairs induced him to leave his native land, and on the 1st of April 1679, he arrived at Rotterdam. Here, for about half a year, he regularly preached in rotation with his uncle, whose colleague, Mr. Fleming, sen. (as mention- ed in the beginning of our Fourth Chapter,) had been de- tained as a prisoner, when on a visit to Edinburgh. After the battle of Bothwell Bridge, Mr. Thomas Hoog, on an invitation from Glasgow, where he had often preached, ventured back to Scotland ; but, owing to the Episcopal persecution, he was not merely prevented settling thercj but from privately dispensing the bread of life to his friends at home. Once more, therefore, he resolved to seek re- fuge in Holland, where he landed in 1681. He soon ac- quired the Dutch ; and his knowledge of the dead lan- guages recommended him to the notice of the magistrates of Tergoes in Zealand, as a suitable person to fill the situa- tion of rector of the Latin school of their town. Mr. Hooo- was appointed Oct. 7th, 1686; and by his ability and zeal, contributed greatly to the celebrity of this seminary.* Whilst holding this office he married a respectable Dutch lady, Mrs. Johanna van Stryen, widow of a Mr. Broede- let. * ^'rolikert's Vlissingsche Kerhhemel, &c. p. 357. 142 HISTORY OF THE The EngHsli cliurch at Delft having become vacant, by the death of Mr. John Sinclair, (to whom he, as well as many of our Scottish clergy, had been indebted for classical and philosophical instruction,) Mr. Hoog was chosen his successor; and, upon the 27th of September, 1689, he was formally invested and introduced, by his uncle, Mr. John Hoog, emeritus minister of the Scottish Church at Rotter- dam.* In the autumn of 1693, he received a call from Campvere, which, having accepted, he entered on his du- ties there, February 1694.f For the space of five years, he assiduously laboured in that congregation, and in doing good offices to the numerous Scotchmen who frequented the staple-port.:}: In January 1697, he received a most press- ing invitation from the elders of the parish of Clackmannan, to become their pastor. This case was long in dependence before the ecclesiastical judicatories; and the presbytery of Stirling, in whose bounds the charge is situated, as well as the presbytery of Edinburgh, to which Mr. Hoog was amenable, did all in their power to have him permanently established in his native land. It ought to be mentioned, that, on his first receiving a call to Clackmannan, he had written to the kirk-session, to the heritors of that parish, and to the clergy who had any interest, earnestly beseech- ing them not to proceed in the business, as he found no clearness to accept. Again and again, the " elders of Clackmannan" solicited his services ; and the General As- sembly concurred in a sentence of the presbytery of Edin- burgh, permitting him to leave Campvere. He complained of the church courts for prematurely deciding, without giving him or his people time to bring forward their ob- jections. And they and he being of one mind, the parish of Clackmannan dropped the prosecution. About the same time, also, the magistrates of Ayr wished him to accept * liecords of Eng. Ch. at Delft. -f- Records of the S. Ch. at Campvere. t See our Article on the Scottish Church at Campvere. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 143 the place of second minister of that burgh ; but he politely declined that situation, as he had done a similar offer, to be assistant and successor to his friend, the well-known Mr. James Fraser of Brae, the worthy pastor of Culross. In a letter to the Conservator, whose usual place of resi- de.nce was Rotterdam, Mr. Hoog mentions that his situa- tion at Campvere was becoming every day less pleasant, in consequence of some of the official men in that town conducting themselves towards him and other Scotchmen with an undeserved superciliousness. And the cold beha- viour of others, from whom he had reason to expect a dif- ferent treatment, determined him to close with the call from the Scottish congregation of Rotterdam. Besides, independent of a larger sphere of professional usefulness, and the advantage of getting his children better educated, there was still another inducement. His esteemed and be- loved brother-in-law, the Rev. James Van Stryen, a popular minister, had very recently been removed from Middleburg to Rotterdam. After Mr. Hoog had been three years Mr. Brown's col- league, he was honoured, in June 1701, with aa unsolicit- ed call to fill the chair of divinity in King's College, Aber- deen. Though he seemed much inclined to listen to the ur- gent request which he received from the synod of Aberdeen, in whom the appointment is vested ; and though, in his let- ters addressed to that reverend court, and to the principal and professors of the University, he expressed a strong desire to be useful to his mother-church, yet he was hindered not less by the warlike state of Europe, than by the affection- ate entreaties of the Scottish Consistory and congregation. In a reply to the kirk-session at Rotterdam, signed by the Rev. Thomas Blackwell, moderator of the synod, and Dr. George Middleton, Principal of the college, is this sen- tence : — " When we took advice at the sitting of the last General Assembly, whom we should call to be professor, 144 HISTORY OF THE there was none by far so mucli recommended to us as the Rev. Mr. Hoog." It appears from his epistolary correspondence iu regard to this affair, that Mr. Hoog had also the offer of a theolo- gical professorship in one of the Dutch universities, but that he preferred continuing his pastoral connexion with the Scottish congregation at Rotterdam.* The trade carried on betwixt Holland and Scotland was very extensive, especially during the seventeenth century ; and the goods then imported from the latter country so greatly exceeded the exports, that it was customary to re- mit the payments in Dutch coin, which was long current in the north of Scotland.f In the beginning of last cen- tury, however, the Scottish trade turned in favour of the Dutch. But the commerce of Rotterdam was materially injured by the Union. Previous to the passing of that act, Mr. Hoog, in a letterj to a respectable merchant in Edin- burgh, thus refers to the great political change which was then on the eve of being accomplished : " Men of prudence in this country are anxious about the issue of your parlia- mentary determinations, concerning the projected union ; which, some are afraid, may prove a seed of perpetual di- vision. The ruin of your church, as now established, is inevitable, if once ye become England's tail, to be moved by them as their prelatic and proud spirit may think fit, for their interest or pleasure. And it is more than probable, that the avarice and ambition of those who pretend public good, but design nothing more than private interest, to which they subordinate all things else, and sacrifice all that is civil or sacred, shall at length meet with miserable disappointments. However, events are wholly in the hand • See Appendix, Note D, for extracts from IMr. Hoog's IMS. corres- pondence, relative to his varions calls to Scotland. ■\ Storie's MS. Memoranda, and Kennedy's Annals of Aberdeen. + Grig, letter, dated Rott. Dec. 28, 1706, from Rev. Tho, Hoog, to Mr. James Nimmo, formerly a member of the S. Consist. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 145 of a g-ood God, wlio doth all things well, and will never forsake those that trust in him." When we read the above forebodings, and compare them with the actual and happy effects of the treaty of Union, the extract is both curious and instructive. Upon his own solicitation, Mr. James Brown was de- clared emeritus in July 1713; but he enjoyed his retiring pension of eight hundred guilders scarcely four months, having died, unmarried, on the 22d of the following No- vember, at the advanced age of 79.* He was a faithful preacher, and a most benevolent man. Much of his time he sedulously devoted to the temporal and spiritual welfare of the mariners who frequented this port : and he was in- strumental in establishing at Rotterdam, in the year 1697, a friendly society, called the Scottish Seamen's Box. He drew up the regulations of this association, and as well by contributions, as by his frequent presence at its monthly meetings, did all in his power to encourage the members to persevere in their commendable and provident design of timely preparing for those casualties to which a seafaring life is so liable. This society flourished many years, and afforded pecuniary assistance to its shipv/recked, sick, and aged members, and to their widows and children. In 1760, the association was finally dissolved by mutual consent; and the small capital, much reduced by the irregularity of some of the subscribers in paying their rates, was given over to the Scottish Consistory, who engaged to aliment during life, all those connected with the society, who might be in necessitous circumstances.f The session, on the 1st of January, 1714, orderly pro- ceeded to fill up the vacancy occasioned by Mr. Brown's * Consist. Regist. Mr. John Smith, prohationer, was for some time as- sistant to Mr. Brown. Altogether, he was employed from Sept. 1712, till July 1714, when he returned to Scotland, and was soon appointed to a liv- ing there. -f Record of the Scottish Seamen's Box, in the possession of Consistory. L 146 HISTORY OF THE removal. Having agreed upon a short leet, they appoint- ed a committee to present it to the burgomasters for their approbation. This list contained the names of the follow- ing eminent clergymen : Messrs. Robert Baillie at Inver- ness, John Brown at Abercorn, and Ralph Erskine* at Dunfermline. Mr. Baillie was unanimously elected. His translation to Rotterdam was vigorously opposed: and being brought before the supreme ecclesiastical court on the 8th of May, it M^as decided in favour of Inverness. Mr. William Mitchell, one of the ministers of Edinburgh, who was moderator, in name, and by authority of the Ge- neral Assembly, intimated to Consistory, " That it was with regret they found themselves obliged to continue him [Mr. Baillie] in the place where he at present is. They testified a great regard for you their countrymen and brethren, and inclination to fall in with your desire. But such are the present circumstances of Inverness, and of the country about, and such is his influence and usefulness there, that they could not, without great prejudice to the interest of religion in that country and corner of our Lord's vineyard, remove him from that important post. And it is earnestly desired and hoped, that ye, our dearly beloved brethren, would not be discouraged by this disappoint- ment, nor mistake the venerable Assembly, in that they were under an inevitable necessity to do." — " Such was the General Assembly's concern for you, and willingness to have you speedily and comfortably supplied, that they have instructed their commission to cognose and finally determine all causes that shall be brought before them for planting your vacancy with a minister of the communion of this church, without waiting the meeting of another General Assembly ; and they pray that you may be di- rected of God to the choice of an able and faithful minister • One of the founders of the Secess. Church in Scotland, and the cele- brated author of the Gospel Sonnets. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 147 of the New Testament, who may be had with as little trouble to you, or prejudice to others, as possible."* Shortly after receipt of this, the commission was re- quested by Consistory to name some evangelical ministers, any one of whom, in the event of being elected and accept- ing, might find no bar thrown in the way of his removal thither by the ecclesiastical courts. A list of clergymen, well fitted for this forei^^n station, was forthwith received from Scotland ; and from a reduced leet, the Rev. Robert Black of Lesmahago was selected.f He was translated to Rotterdam by a vote of the General Assembly. In the court " there was much heat and debate, and the evil of division and unwarrantable separation much exposed :" and many of the members, especially the commissioners from the presbytery of Lanark, were greatly against his going, and strenuously did what they could to prevent it.ij: In some respects, however, his translation, so far at least as he himself was concerned, was rather desirable ; for it appears by an act for preventing of division in the churchy passed May 12th, the day after it had been decided he shoukl go to Rotterdam, that the General Assembly took into consideration a representation from the heritors of I^esmahago, concerning the irregular and disorderly prac- tices of some elders and people in that parish, in with- drawing from ordinances dispensed by the Rev. Robert • Orig. letter from Gen. Asseinb. to Scot. Consist. Rott. ■\ Before Consistory proceeded to this election, their reduced leet stood thus : Rev. JMessrs. Ro. Black, Lesmahago ; Arch. Camphell, Weems ; Wm. Brodie. chap, to Col. Britton's regiment ; John 'Chalmers, Campvere, and formerly assist, min. at Rott. ; John Brand, Bo'ness ; Daniel Bayne, chap, to the garrison at Courtray. X Acts of Assemb. 1715, session 7th; and Crichton's Life of Col. Blacka- der, p. 458. The memoir to which we refer, is an interesting piece of biography ; and contains the Diary and Letters of a brave officer and emi- nent saint ; to whom the Scottish church of Rotterdam was on many occa- sions greatly indebted, by his appearance in its behalf in different ecclesi-. astical courts. 148 HISTOrvY OF THE Black, one of the ministers of the said parish, and others who had taken the oath of abjuration, when duly appointed to supply that charge. The Assembly seriously exhorted and obtested all concerned in that and other parishes, to forbear and avoid those disorders, which were so preju- dicial to peace and unity, and so much obstructed the success of the Gospel ; and further ordered the presbytery of Lanark to give all brotherly assistance to the Rev. Thomas Linning, until another colleague should be ap- pointed him ; and that they failed not punctually to supply the vacancy occasioned by Mr. Black's removal, by mem- bers of their presbytery, without distinction, the more ef- fectually to dispose the people to their duty.* Mr. Black brought with him to Rotterdam, the following official letter addressed to the Scottish Consistory : — *' Reverend, worthy and endeared FRiENDS,~The last General Assembly did, as you have heard ere now", take the affair of your congiegation into their serious considera- tion, and did manage so, as it might appear they had a particular esteem for you, and a tender regard to what might be for your satisfaction : and, therefore, they com- plied with your call to the Rev. Mr. Black, the bearer hereof; concerning whom, I am appointed by the Gene- ral Assembly to acquaint you, that Mr. Black's character and conduct have been such, as made them have so great a value for them, that they would not have deprived them- selves of his useful labours in his own country, had they not had a particular respect to your satisfaction, and com- passionate consideration of your circumstances, with Sense of what is owing to the continued generous kindness of the lords of your city. I doubt not but you will give Mr. Black all the encouragement that you can, and question not but his prudent conduct and pious behaviour, with his • Act Gth of Gen. Assemb. \7lo. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 149 commendable ministerial qualifications, will endear liim to you all. " I persuade myself that none of you will doubt my having always been heartily concerned for your interest, for I look upon myself as under special obligations to be so, and to have more than common interest in you. However, what is above, is, at the appointment of the General As- sembly, signified to you, by him who is to you all, " Yours in true alTection to love and serve, " William Carstares, Moderator."* Upon the 10th of August 1715, Mr. Black commenced his pastoral labours in Holland. He was called, on an annual stipend of seventeen hundred guilders; and this sum exactly, which is paid regularly once a quarter, still continues the legal salary of each of the three British pres- byterian ministers established at Rotterdam. We have already remarked, that the Scottish kirk-session of this city had been repeatedly entrusted with certain sums of money, either for immediate distribution, or for oc- casional charity. Mr. Hugo Verboom, who died in the month of October 1721, had often afforded Consistory the gratification of seasonably supplying the wants of poor householders and other deserving objects, both native and British. Mr. Verboom was an opulent merchant in Rot- terdam, had been long a much respected member of the Scottish church, and so far back as 1690, was elected a deacon,— an ofl&ce which, though urged to accept, he mo- destly declined. He had a high esteem for the Scottish inhabitants ; and, by his last testament, conveyed consi- derable property in perpetual trust to the session, whom he appointed hereditary almoners, and the sole guar- dians of his charity. The Consistory, during the lifetime of his widow, did not receive the legacy ; but on the de- * Consist. Regist. 150 HISTOllY OF THE cease of Mrs. Verboom in March 17'28, tliey came into the uncontrolled possession of it. Like all funded property in Holland, this bequest was materially diminished by Na- poleon's sweeping order for the reduction of the national debt. Conformably to testamentary directions, nearly all the interest of the impaired capital is expended among persons of reputable character and needy circumstances, who can produce satisfactory evidence of their being relat- ed to Mr. Verboom. By a singular clause in the Will, a deputation of the Scottish Consistorj'^, accompanied by a notary public, " are obliged four times in the year to take inspection of his [Mr. Verboom's] grave-stone, in the south aisle of the Great Kirk ; and to take care that no- thing be broken off or wanting in it, — the number of the grave being one hundred and forty." Failing to accom- plish this unmeaning survey, not of his tomb, (for he was in- terred in Gelderland,) but of his cenotaph, in St. Laurence's Cathedral, Rotterdam, the Scottish session would incur a heavy fine, payable to the Dutch Consistory, with whom a notorial certificate of visitation must be lodged, and a written acknowledgment obtained for preservation. Upon the sixth of January 1723, the congregation sus- tained a heavy loss, by the death of the Rev. Thomas Hoog. He was confined to his chamber for several months ; and during his last illness, he afforded a gratifying spectacle of lumible yet firm reliance on the divine pro- mises, and an assured hope of a blissful eternity. At home and abroad, he was respected for his piety, talents, and worth. If his imaginative powers were not remarkable, there was much of solidity and good sense in his intellec- tual character. Of his abilities as a Christian divine and scholar, we possess very honourable evidence : and his cor- respondence, part of which is inserted in the Appendix, gives us a favourable insight as to the motives which in- duced him to decline some flattering off"ers of preferment. Though he might have appeared with advantage as an au- SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 151 tlior, we are not aware that any of his writings were ever published. Mr. Hoog had seven chiklren, viz. Martha Marjory, — who was married to Mr. William Scott of Rotterdam, and died at Edinburgh, Dec. 1755. Marinus, born at Delft, April 8, 1690. Died emeritus minister of Schoonhoven, January 21st, 1766. Thomas and James, who died young. John, born at Campvere, January 10th, 1697. He was minister of Brouwershaven in Zealand, and died Oct. 15th, 1726. William, born March 28th, 1699, a merchant, and long an active member of the Scottish Consistory, Rotterdam —died July 13th, 1768. Cornelius, born August 31st, 1701, minister of Oolt- gensplaat, in the island of Over Flakkee, — died Oct. 30th, 1739. To Marinus Hoog, Esq. Advocate, many years burgo- master of Rotterdam, and the great-grandson of our Mr. Hoog, we have been indebted for most of the preceding information relative to his worthy ancestor. And by the kindness of the same gentleman, we are enabled to present our readers with several original letters written by the mi- nister of the Scottish church, whose descendants now in Holland, reflect equal honour on the name they bear, and the public offices which they fill.* * See Appendix, Note E, 152 HISTORY OF THE CHAPTER VI. 1723—1774. Rev. John Enslie Scottish Poor-House instituted at Rotterdam Rev. Hugh Kennedy — Rev. William Walker. — Rev. Archibald Smith. — Rev. Alexander Lay el. Mr. Patrick Paisley, a licentiate of the Church of Scot- land, who had been several months assistant minister, con- tinued his services after Mr. Hoog's decease, but he was shortly recalled home, to occupy a pastoral charge in Ayr- shire.* After Mr. Paisley's departure, the session engaged Mr. John Gunter, an English Presbyterian preacher, from Woodstock, in the county of Oxford, then living at Rot- terdam. ■ He was employed in the same capacity, not only for the remainder of the present protracted vacancy, but was always invited, when circumstances rendered it neces- sary, during the subsequent twelve years which intervened until his death.f A second, and strenuous, though unsuccessful effort was made by the kirk-session to obtain Mr. Baillie, who posi- • Consist. Resist, and Storie's MS. Memoranda. •f- Mr. Gunter never held any permanent situation in Holland. Along with Mr. Charles Jervey, presented to Campvere, he received ordination in the session-house of the Scottish church, Rotterdam, October 20, 1730. The examinators, appointed for that purpose by the presbytery of Edin- burgh, were the Rev. Robert Black and John Enslie of Rotterdam, and the Rev. Daniel Bayne, chaplain to Colonel Cunningham's regiment. Re- cords of the Scottish Church at Campvere, Oct. 23, 1/30. IMr. Gunter died at Rotterdam, April 18, 1730, and was interred in the Prince's Kirk there. MSS. penes me. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 153 tively refused to leave Inverness, where his pastoral la- bours continued so eminently useful.* Mr. Alexander Dunlop,f professor of Greek in the Uni- versity of Glasgow, apprized of this renewed disappoint- ment, which the Scottish congregation had met with, wrote to Mr. Black, warmlv recommending^ Mr. John Enslie as an eligible person to become his colleague. The Consis- tory forthwith prepared a leet, for the purpose of receiving the approbation of the magistrates. This list contained the names of three probationers, namely, Messrs. John Enslie, Patrick Simpson, and Andrew Martine. Mr. Ens- lie, who was unanimously elected, was on the eve of being settled at Anwoth, in Galloway, where the celebrated Samuel Rutherford first exercised his ministry. The cor- poration heartily sanctioned the choice of the kirk-session, and voluntarily issued the following document ; which, con- formably to the practice then frequent in Holland, was, by mistake, addressed to the civil, instead of the ecclesiasti- cal authorities. " The honourable burgomasters and magistrates of Rot- terdam, having seen the consistorial act of the Scottish congregation in this city, by which they have called the godly and learned Mr. John Enslie, preacher, within the bounds of the classis of Kirkcudbright, in Scotland; and being fully informed of his learning, eloquence, and other needful gifts, which the charge he is here called to doth require ; and being persuaded, that, by reason of his piety * Mr Robert Baillie, a Scottish divine of great popularity, was ordained minister of Lamington, as successor to his father, in 1693. He was, by decision of the General Assembly, translated in I7OI to Inverness, where He died in the year 1726. Besides the two calls to Rotterdam, Mr. Baillie also refused an invitation to Keith in 1699, and to Gladsmuir in 17 10. Consist. Papers, and Rev. Hew Scott's MS. Extracts. •f Mr. James Dunlop, merchant, and several years member of the Scot- tish Consistory at Rotterdam, was uncle to the professor, whose father died Principal of Glasgow College, in I70O. CoJimt, licfjist. and Wodrow's Church History, vol. iv. pp. 522, 524, 154 HISTORY OF THE and other excellent qualifications, lie sliall be found very- fit for edifying, and doing all good service to the church and people of God in this city, have, therefore, approved, and do hereby approve the foresaid call ; desiring the said Rev. Mr. John Enslie to accept the same freely, without making any difficulty, considering the harvest and need of this city, where he may employ his gift to the remarkable edification of the church of God ; and withal, beseeching the honourable magistrates of Kirkcudbright, that they may be pleased for that end to dimit the said Mr. John Enslie, and allow him to come over to this congregation in our city, — the design of all being, that the holy name of God may be magnified, and the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ enlarged. Done this 19th day of September, 1724, and extracted from the city register, by " J. V. Belle, Secretary^ No little difficulty was experienced by the Consistory, ere they had the satisfaction of having their minister-elect finally established among them. The subjoined extracts from the Records of the Assembly, and the commission of the church, present a sufficiently complete view of the va- rious steps taken in this business, and shew also the man- ner in which calls were wont to be disposed of in our ec- clesiastical judicatories. " At Edinhurrjh, Monday, May eighteenth, one thousand seven hundred and tioenty-four. The which day the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland having read a letter from the minister and Consistory of the Scottish congrega- tion at Rotterdam, in Holland, and considered the same, with the opinion of the committee of bills in the matter, they did, and hereby do instruct and empower their commission to cognose, and finally determine, in any process or appeal that may be brought before them for supplying the vacancy of the Scottish congregation." " At Edinhirgh, Wednesday, the ttcelfth of Auyusf, year SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 155 aforesaid. The Reverend Mr. William Mitchell gave in to the commission of the General Assembly a letter, di- rected to him and Professor Hamilton, from Mr. Robert Black, minister of the Scottish congregation in Rotterdam, shewing their design to call Mr. John Enslie, probationer, to be one of their ministers, but were informed he had got- ten a call to Anw^oth; and, therefore, craving that a stop may be put to his settlement there, until they be heard. The commission having considered the said letter, and finding that the planting of the vacancy in the foresaid congregation is referred by the General Assembly to them, they appointed that a letter be written to the said Mr. John Enslie, intimating this to him ; and that another be written to the presbytery of Kirkcudbright to the same purpose, and proposing to them to consider if it be not ad- visable to delay the settlement of Mr. John Enslie, at An- woth, till they have the whole of that matter before them ; and the rather, because Mr. Robert Black doth write, that the foresaid Consistory designs to prosecute their call, thoua'h the said Mr. Enslie be settled at Anwoth." ^^ At Edinhurgh, Wednesday, November the eleventh, one thousand seven hundred and twenty-four years. There was laid before the commission, an appeal entered by the commis- sioners from the Consistory of Rotterdam, against the sentence of the presbytery of Kirkcudbright, refusing to transport Mr. John Enslie, minister of the Gospel, from the parish of Anwoth, to the said church of Rotterdam. And parties being called, there compeared for the said Scottish congregation of Rotterdam pursuers, Lieutenant-Colonel Erskine, Mr. William Mitchell, Mr. Andrew Martine of Clockbrigs, their commissioners; and for those of the parish of Anwoth defenders, compeared Lieutenant-Colonel Max- well of Cardonness, Mr. M'Culloch of Ardwell, and other heritors and parishioners, and also the members of the said presbytery that are members of the commission, and also Mr. Garthshore ; but there not beina: sufficient time this fore- 156 HISTOllY OF THE noon to discuss this affair, the commission resolved to take it in as their first business this afternoon, and parties were warned, apud acta, to attend the said diet." " Eodcm die et loco, post meridiem. " The commission being to proceed to the consideration of the call of the Scottish congregation at Rotterdam, ac- cording to their resolve before noon, parties were called, and compeared as at the forenoon's diet. And the commis- sions, given by the Consistory of the foresaid congregation to their proxies, were read, as also the act of the late As- sembly, empowering the commission to judge in any pro- cess or appeal, for planting the said church. This being done, the proceedings of the presbytery of Kirkcudbright, containing their sentence, refusing to transport Mr. John Enslie from Anwoth to Rotterdam, appeal therefrom, rea- sons thereof, and answers thereto, were allowed. And the commission finding, that the reasons of the appeal did touch the merit of the cause, they, by consent of parties, did re- solve to proceed directly to consider the cause itself, pass- ing any question about the legality of the appeal ; and to that effect, they caused to be read the call of said Scottish congregation of Rotterdam, to the said Mr. John Enslie, to be their minister, reasons of transportation, and answers thereto; also, a petition given by the parishioners of An- woth to the presbytery of Kirkcudbright, pleading for the continuance of their minister with them ; also a letter from the magistrates of the city of Rotterdam, to said presby- tery, earnestly entreating them to send the said Mr. John Enslie to them. Then parties were fully heard, and particu- larly Mr. Enslie was heard to give his own thoughts with respect to his transportation ; and, after prayer put up to God for light and direction to the Commission in their reasoning upon, and determination of this important affair, parties were removed, and the Commission did at great length discourse and reason upon the matter. And, after SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 157 mature deliberation, the vote was put, Transport tlie said Mr. John Enslie from the parish of Anwoth, to be minis- ter of the Scottish congregation at Rotterdam, or not; and it carried, Transport, nemine contradicente. And, therefore, the commission of the General Assembly did, and hereby do, transport the said Mr. John Enslie, from his charge in the said parish of Anwoth, to be minister of the Scottish congregation in the city of Rotterdam, in Hol- land ; and appoints the presbytery of Kirkcudbright, to de- clare the said parish of Anwoth vacant, the first Sabbath of January next ; and ordains the said Mr. John Enslie to go, and be settled minister of the said Scottish congrega- tion of Rotterdam, as soon as conveniently he can. And parties being called in, the premises were intimated to them; and, thereupon, the commissioners of Rotterdam asked, and took instruments in the clerk's hands. " Extracted by me, sic snhscribitur, " John Dundas, Cls. Ecd. Scot"* Dr. William Wishart, Principal of the University of Edinburgh, as Moderator of the Commission, addressed a letter to the burgomasters as well as to Consistory, making known the above decision of the Court, and recommending their young and reverend brother as worthy of fostering countenance.! Upon the 10th of June, 1725, Mr. Enslie was admitted, and entered upon his ministry at Rotterdam. Prior to this period, it had been customary in the city, when a vacancy occurred, to invite none to supply it but those of long standing in the church. ELighly desirable as it unquestionably is, that candidates for town charges be men of kuown reputation and experience, it is certainly injudicious to call clergymen advanced in life to such situations. However distinguished by superiority of men- tal powers, their physical strength is often soon found quite * Consist. Regist. -|- lb. 158 HISTORY OF THE inadequate for the new and laborious stations, into wliich, by the partiality of friends, and their own easy inclination to change, they have been untimely introduced. To pre- vent the recurrence of this acknowledged evil, the magis- trates issued an ordinance, declaring, that none shall be chosen for the future to be pastor in any of the reformed congregations within this city, who had not reached his twenty-seventh year, or was above forty-seven.* It may be remarked, that hitherto, by this wise regulation, have the different Consistories here been invariably guided in the election of ministers. The Scottish kirk-session of Rotterdam have always en- deavoured, to the utmost of their power, to pay due re- spect to any injunctions emanating either from the Dutch or British governments. As in duty bound, they have shewn merited respect to the reigning powers in both coun- tries ; have rejoiced with each in the day of prosperity; and offered their sympathy and prayers in the season of nation- al distress.f It has been stated in a former part of this work, that the magistrates were in the practice of entrusting the Consis- tory with handsome donations, for the purpose of immedi- ate distribution among the stated and occasional poor con- nected with the Scottish congregation. For a long series of years, the municipal authorities felt themselves called upon, from peculiar circumstances, to continue their pecu- niary aid. The majority of the objects of their charity con- sisted of the wives, widows, and children of the Scottish soldiers who had bravely fought under Marlborough, and in defence ■ Records of the city of Rotterdam. ■\ Consist. Regist. passim. Upon the death of George I. in June 1727, and out of regard to his memory, the Consistory caused the pulpit and pre- centor's desk to be put in mourning. In this, and in the other British churches in the Netherlands, a similar mark of respect has been shewn on the demise of any of the members of the house of Orange, or of the British royal family. SCOTTISH CHUIICH IN ROTTERDAM. 159 of the Seven Provinces. Instead of merely affording tem- porary relief to those poor families, the kirk-session deter- mined, as far as their funds would admit, to take the desti- tute Scottish orphans then in Rotterdam, entirely under their own care. At first the Consistory rented private apart- ments for the reception of their youthful charge ; but, about a twelvemonth afterwards, in November 1728, they pur- chased for 9250 florins, two dwelling-houses, near the Scot- tish church, and on the west side of the Schiedam Dyke. In the month of June, 1729, the boys and girls were removed to this new establishment, which was designated the Scot- tish Poor House. It was formed on the excellent model of the Dutch charities, — which, we are persuaded, have had a mighty effect in training to habits of piety and industry, no inconsiderable proportion of the inhabitants of Holland. Consistory nominated two of their own number, usually an elder and a deacon, to act as regents ; whilst their ladies, as regentesses, kindly overlooked the/emale department, and saw that the prescribed instruction and economy were alike attended to. A master and mistress had the immediate management of the boys and girls, who were maintained, clothed,* and educated, until they could earn their liv^eli- hood. Though at first exclusively for children, the session, at a subsequent period, admitted into the institution seve- ral aged infirm men and women. The Scottish Poor- House in Rotterdam existed nearly ninety years ; in the course of which time, it furnished a comfortable home to several hun- dreds, young and old. Many of the boys have risen to be " The remarkably clean, but singular-looking dress, peculiar to some of the old charitable endowments in the Netherlands, never fails to attract the attention of a foreigner. While travelling in this country, and even in pass- ing through one of its numerous towns, he may witness, in perfection, the costume worn in three different centuries, and also the fanciful attire fixed upon by the capricious tastes of the founders or trustees of several hospitals. The dress of the inmates of the Scottish Poor-house at Rotterdam consisted of brown woollen cloth : and, as a distinctive and national badge, a represen- tation of the thistle was borne on the arm. 160 HISTORY OF THE most respectable and even opulent members of society ; and it is pleasing to have it to record, upon undoubted au- thority,* that, with few exceptions indeed, those brought up in this house have, in after life, conducted themselves in a way highly creditable to themselves and to the establish- ment. Much of the extensive utility of the charity was owing to the indefatigable exertions of the successive re- gents, as also to the burgomasters, who, in addition to fre- quent supplies in money, liberally exempted this institution from the heavy city taxes exigible on almost every article of consumption. Before it was jfinally broken up in 1815, the annual expenditure amounted to L.300 sterling ; but, at this last mentioned date, as will be noticed in the proper place, circumstances peremptorily called for its suppression. The Reverend Robert Black, who took a fatherly inter- est in the prosperity of the Poor-House, and was especially active in its formation, became seriously indisposed in 1735 ; and, for the recovery of his health, was induced to try the effect of the far-famed waters of Aix-la-Chapelle. He complied with the advice of his friends and medical attend- ants, and repaired to the place which had been recommend- ed ; but he had been at Aix only a few weeks, when he ex- pired on Saturday, the 27th of May, and was interred on the 29th, in the French Protestant church at the neigh- bouring village of Vaals.f Mr. Black was established at Rotterdam in 1715; and, at the time of his death, was in the 33d year of his ministry, having been ordained to the second charge of Lesmahago, February 10th, 1703.J Before he came to Holland, he was married to Miss Mary Brysson, who did not long survive him. There was Jio is- sue by this union. II * Register of the Scottish Pocr-House, passim. ■f Consist. Regist. June i)th, 1 735. X lb. and Rev. Hew Scott's MS. Extracts 11 Storie's MS. Memoranda. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. l6l From the establishment of the Scottish Church at Rot- terdam, it had been customary, when a vacancy occurred in any of the charges, for the magistrates, as a matter of course, to approve of the first leet presented, and then allow the Consistory to fix upon the individual. As a prepara- tory step to the appointment of a successor to Mr. Black, the Session, upon the 26th of January 1736, by plurality of votes, agreed that the short leet should consist of the following clergymen : Messrs. Henry Lindsay, Bothken- nar ; John Campbell, Barr ; and Alexander Comrie, a Scotsman, but minister of the Dutch Reformed Church at Woubrugge, a village near Leyden. When Mr. Lindsay's name was announced at the Stadt- house, as that of the successful candidate, the deputation, to their great surprise, were informed by the presiding bur- gomaster, — who assigned no reason for the unexpected decision — " that their lordships did not approve of the no- mination, but, in the meanwhile, allowed the Consistory to proceed to another nomination, in order to a call."* Sensible that Mr. Lindsay's character had been grossly misrepresented to the magistrates ; and solicitous, since they could not procure his pastoral services, to wipe off the calumnious accusations that were secretly circulated, his supporters at Rotterdam procured credentials of the most unexceptionable kind, in favour of this good man. It has long been matter of deep regret, that we possess such very slender memorials of different ministers of the Church of Scotland, who, in their day, were distinguished by no ordinary degree of piety and professional knowledge, and whose eminence as Christian divines ought to have secured for them the grateful remembrance of posterity. Such men were ornaments of our venerable establishment; and in rescuing from oblivion the smallest document which may place their worth in a clearer light, we feel that we • ConsMi. Regist. Feb. 23, 173G, M 162 HISTORY OF THE are doing an act of justice to departed merit. Whilst I regret, therefore, in not having it in my power to give more enlarged notices, I could not refrain from embodying in this work, a few unpublished letters, in possession of the Consistory, not merely of the stated ministers of this church, but also of such whose respectability and popularity re- commended them, as in the present instance, to the par- ticular notice of the electors. Without further apology, then, I insert, with pleasure, the subjoined vindication of Mr. Lindsay, from two clergy- men of high reputation : — "Edinburgh, I6th March, 1736. " Sir, — Seeing you are desirous that we, being of the number of his majesty's chaplains for Scotland, should give our testimony concerning Mr. Henry Lindsay, mi- nister of Bothkennar, in the presbytery of Stirling, who, you tell us, has been calumniate at Rotterdam, as a man of an unsociable temper, an enemy to all government, and of Jacobitish principles, — We cannot but do him the justice to declare, that to our certain knowledge, all this is ground- less and malicious. We have known Mr. Lindsay long and well, since ever he was a minister, and know him to be of a sociable temper, and one firmly attached to his Ma- jesty King George, and the Protestant succession in his royal family; and if ever he had given the least suspicion to the contrary, we could not but have known it. As for his piety, prudence, and ministerial abilities, they are so well known, that his very enemies cannot deny them. " To Mi: William Hogg, " Wm. Gusthart. " Merchant in Edinburgh, " Neil MacVicar." The following presybyterial certificate is so creditable to the reverend body who granted it, and honourable to the individual in whose behalf it was written, that it de- serves to be made public : — " The Presbytery of Dunfermline, being informed that SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. l63 the Reverend Mr. Henry Lindsay, minister of the Gospel at Bothkennar, hath been represented at Rotterdam as a man of an uneasy temper and Jaeobitish principles, dis- affected to the civil government of Great Britain, and even an enemy to all lawful government, &c. And some of Mr. Lindsay's friends having this day demanded of the Presbytery that they would give an attestation of his good behaviour and opinion, as far as is consistent with their knowledge, think it their duty to testify, that such re- ports are altogether groundless, and must have proceeded from certain causes which they are unwilling to mention. He was born, and lived most part of his time within the bounds of this presbytery, and by this presbytery was li- censed to preach the Gospel, after the usual examinations and trials, where he gave most satisfying evidences of his piety, learning, and other abilities, for that sacred work. His profession was adorned by a most becoming walk and conversation. He discovered on all occasions the firmest attachment to our happy establishment in church and state, and was in every respect a friend of society, and a truly social man. Since he was, in Providence, called to take upon him the pastoral charge of a neighbouring congrega- tion, the Presbytery can, upon good grounds, say that his reputation for loyalty, sweetness of temper, and usefulness in his station, has still been upon the ascendant, which hath not failed to make him the favourite of all who have the happiness of his acquaintance, particularly those imme- diately under his charge. Malice may represent the best of men in the worst light, and envy attempt to sully every valuable qualification, but the Presbytery are persuaded Mr. Lindsay's character and conduct will bear the test of the strictest scrutiny, and the more it is examined into, will be found the more unblemished, and still the fairer. This attestation the presbytery reckon only a piece of material justice done to the world, and particularly to their worthy and beloved brother so injuriously aspersed. It is now high time to make an open and public stand against mali- 164 HISTOllY OF THE cioiis efforts to mar the success of the Gospel, by reproach- ing its ablest defenders. The more specious the pretence of the calumniator, the greater is the necessity of laying open his criminal designs. This in name, and by appoint- ment of the Presbytery, is subscribed at Dunfermline, . 24th March 1736. "Alex. Webster, Moderator"'^' In every quarter, indeed,, where the members of Con- sistory applied for information, they invariably obtained the most gratifying accounts of the worth and suitableness of Mr. Lindsay. The irrevocable decree had gone forth against him here ; and much as the Session lamented that their nominee should have been so unjustly dealt with, they probed the affair to the bottom, and discovered that, from a quarter where they least expected it, Mr. Lindsay's character had been shamefully misrepresented to the Bri- tish ambassador at the Hague, and that, in consequence of a notification from that functionary, the Burgomasters had resolved to be guided by his opinion.f About four years after this Mr. Lindsay was comfortably .settled at Perth. | Unfortunately for the Scottish Church in Rotterdam, disappointments similar to that to which we have now had occasion to advert, happened more than once. The Rev. Thomas Mair, minister of Orwell, was chosen by Consis- tory, August 21st 1736, from a leet wliich had been ap- proven three days before. || It was not until the 24tli of • Consist. Papers. Besides the documents inserte.l in the text, there are also preserved, a letter from JMr. Lindsay in his own defence, dated Bothkennar Manse, ]March 22, 17^6, and addressed to Mr. John Lear- month, schoolmaster in Borrowstounness ; an attestation, written on the following day in his favour, from the magistrates of Dunfermline, in which parish he was born ; and a letter to Widow Storie and Sons, Rotterdam, from Mr. George Adam, Merchant, dated Bo'ness, on the 30th of the last mentioned month. -|- Consist. Papers. :{: Acts of Assembly. II This leet, made liy Consistory, July 10th, and approved of by the Bur- gomasters on the ICth August 1730, sti;od tlius : Messrs. James Smith, JS'ewburu ; John Farrier, Largo ; and 'Ihonias JJair, Orwell. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 165 November that tlie magistrates, after keeping the Session so unusually long in suspense, set aside the election. Mr. Mair was treated, by concealed enemies, precisely in the same unhandsome manner as his friend, Mr. Lindsay. " We understand," says a worthy member of the Scottish Consistory, " that our antagonists got the British envoy at the Hague to dissuade our magistrates from approving of Mr. Lindsay, we suppose because of his appearing against patronages, which we understand they represent Mr. Mair also to do ; and which we think is the duty of every minister of the Kirk of Scotland, — they having been restored contrary to the unalterable Act of the Union, as even Bishop Burnet acknowledges : and we hear the Dutch Synods yearly represent it to the States as a grie- vance."* A letter was exhibited, written by the celebrated divine Mr. Ebenezer Erskine, whose candid opinion of Mr. Mair had been received at Rotterdam in the beginning of this year. The character which he gave was as follows: — " The trust which you are pleased to put in me is so weighing, — the interest of religion, the grace of God, and the eternal concern of souls, so much interested in that matter, that I dare not take upon me to recommend any to that important charge, with whom I am not personally acquainted, nor yet any man of whose piety, prudence and literature, I am not fully satisfied. I pray that He, who has the seven stars in his right hand, may direct your Con- sistory in their choice of a proper man. When we, with some others, had your weighty aifair under our delibera- tion, the individual we adventured with freedom to recom- mend, was Mr. Thomas Mair, minister at Orwell, in the presbytery of Dunfermline ; and from personal acquain- tance we can recommend him, as a man of singular piety, " ]\Ii-. Robert Storie of Rotterdam, to Rev. Daniel Bayne, chaplain to Col. John Lamy's Regt. at the Bosch, Nov. 1736. Consist. Papers. 166 HISTOIIY OF THE of solidity of learning, judgment and experience, a plea- sant edifying gift both of prayer and preaching ; of a grave, tender, and circumspect walk, zealous for his Master's glory, and the edification of souls."* The Rev. Neil Mac Vicar, of St. Cuthbert's, enters more minutely into the analysis of Mr. Mair's character, in an excellent letter, which we here subjoin : — " Edinburgh, Slst August 1736. " Sir,-- Whereas the Reverend Mr. Thomas Mair, mini- ster at Orwell, has been proposed for supplying the vacancy of the Scottish congregation at Rotterdam ; and that those concerned in the comfortable supply of that place, want to know from you his character, with respect to his ministerial qualifications, his temper, his soundness with respect to the Antinomian scheme, and his preaching gift, I am sorry my brother, Mr. Gusthart, happens to be from home ; who, were he now in Edinburgh, from the knowledge he has of him, would readily concur with me in my following testi- mony. As to his ministerial qualifications, I judge in my opinion, that he is an able New Testament minister ; — if a competent measure of learning, beautified and blessed with an eminent degree of shining piety, can make him so. As to his preaching gift, I have heard him oftener than once, with a regard due to a minister that knows his Mas- ter and his work, to preach Christ, and him crucified ; and while he is a plain preacher of the Gospel, he, at the same time, magnifies the law, recommending it as a rule of righteousness, and obedience to it as the best evi- dence of sound faith in Christ. As to the charge of Anti- nomianism, either before or since his admission to the holy ministry, he is as far removed from it as darkness from light. And base imputations of that kind are but the poor ar- tifices of the ruler of the darkness of this world, that dare not • Extract of letter, dated Stirliiif--, January 173C, from Rev. Ebenezer Erskine, to Mr. Thomas M'ilson, Teacher, Rotterdam. lb. SCOTTISH CJrcilCH IN ROTTERDAM. 16? abide the ordeal of the light. He is a minister of a sound and sweet preaching gift, with plain Scriptural style, with- out affecting in his speech or preaching the enticing words of man's wisdom. But though his delivery be slow, yet the weight of his purposes, and their closeness and pertinency to the point he handles, commands the agreeable and delight- some attention of his hearers, who experience his doctrines affect them, not with excellency of speech or wisdom, as the Apostle speaks, (1 Cor. ii. 4.) but in demonstration of the spirit, and of power. As to his temper, it's even made up of obliging sweetness. He is, to my certain knowledge, a brother not of a haughty, turbulent, divisive spirit, but quite reverse, — humble, pleasant, and condescending ; not in a sneaking way, so as to be a pliable tool to any person or party. He knows his Master, and is so firmly attached to him as to govern himself as his honest servant ; cleaving to his truth and ways from principle, and not party views. Whereas those that know not the Reverend Mr. Mair are pleased to make homely with his character, in laying to his charge, by secret, sly, insinuations, things that he knows not. " Sir, I lay you under no restraint to hide this, my tes- timony of him. Shew it to whom you will, as 1 honour the truth in this justice 1 have done my brother, so I am confident his good spirit and behaviour will bear witness for me in it. — 1 am, " Your most affectionate and obedient humble servant, " To Mr. William Hogg, « Neil MacVicar."* " Merchant in Edinburgh.'^ The above statement was soon pleasingly corroborated by the Rev. William Gusthart, one of the ministers of Edinburgh, who was intimately acquainted with Mr. Mair, and had the best means of ascertaining, that the charge of his being tinctured with Antinomianism, was utterly * Consist. Papers. 168 HISTORY OF THE groundless. Rarely was Mr. Gusthart in the habit of giv- ing written characters of his acquaintance, but he thought himself warranted, nay, imperiously called upon, to make an exception in the present instance ; and, instead of with- holding, cheerfully to give, as he now did, his warm and impartial testimony in behalf of an injured friend. " We have division in our church," says Mr. Gusthart, " which is much to be regretted. Mr. Mair has always been on what is called the serious side ; but he has uniformly be- haved with the utmost modesty and steadiness. I under- stand, some who favour the other side make that an ob- jection ; as if, on that account, he were an unfit person for Rotterdam. In my judgment, a pastor of the Scottish congregation there has nothing to do with our differences, which concern not the doctrine, but the enactments and discipline of the Church. Removed from the pale of the Establishment, he would necessarily cease to take any part in the dissensions. I am certain the magistrates of Rotterdam need not be apprehensive that they will ever find him the promoter of division."* The Church of Scotland could always boast, in every period of her history, of some illustrious and imperishable names. At the time of which we are treating, and for years afterwards, though there were many noble excep- tions, not a few of the established clergy were far from being useful in their weekly ministrations. The sermons which they delivered were composed in the didactic style ; and a dry essay on morals was substituted for the faithful preaching of Gospel truth. Such an unedifying minis- try bore a striking contrast to the hearty devotedness which characterized the scriptural discourses of their predecessors, * Consist. Papers. Mr. Gustlian's certificate is dated at Edinburgh, Oct. 5, 1730, O. S. I ought to nieatiou that I have not seen the original, but an authentic translation, which, along with the letters of Messrs. Eben. Erskine, and MacVicar, had been rendered into Dutch, for the purpose of being circulated among the magistrates. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN KOTTEllDAM, 169 wlio spared no personal labour, so that they might win souls to Christ. Instead of treading in their holy steps, a piety like theirs was now impiously derided as fanaticism, and every thing was done to quench the de- votional ardour which had been legitimately and very generally excited. An undue asperity was especially shewn by the dominant party in the Assembly in almost every case where the rights of the people were concerned. It is painful to have it to state, that, not content with the field which their own country presented, they even pri- vately exerted their influence to thwart the measures taken by the Consistory to obtain for Mr. Enslie, a colleague of evangelical sentiments. I have no wish to speak of the party spirit, which unfortunately was at this time carried to such a height. I am not here called upon to expose the overbearing conduct of certain ecclesiastical rulers, who of- ten studied their own aggrandizement, and that of their voting friends, at the expense of religion, and the wishes of the people ; neither can I assert that those who advocated the adoption of milder measures, had always recourse to the best method of ensuring a redress of grievances. Suffice it to say, that Mr. Mair, who was prevented coming to Holland, in the way in which we have stated, continued to perform his pastoral duties at Orwell, and strenuously to oppose whatever he conceived harsh in the decisions of the church judicatories ; and that he was one of the eight se- ceding brethren, upon v.diom the General Assembly pro- nounced sentence of deposition, in 1740, — an event which he survived twenty-seven years.* • A brief memoir of the Rev. Thomas Mair is inserted in the appendix to an excellent piece of Christian biography, Fraser's Life arid Diary of the Rev. Ebenezer Erskine, A. M. of Slirling, Father of the Secession Church, pp. 537-540. From MSS. deposited in the Consist. Chamber of the Scottish Church, Rotterdam, a few particulars may be gleaned. It appears, then, that ]Mr. Slair was bora of pious parents, within the bounds of the presby- tery of Dunfermline, about the year 1700; that he seldom enjoyed good health ; that he was a diligent student, and much beloved by his flock ; that 170 HISTORY OF THE By means of the same sinister influence, a third election was rejected by the burgomasters.* But the fourth short leet, containing the names of Messrs. Hugh Kennedy, Cavers ; James Smith, f Newburn ; and John Ballingall,t his co-presbyters esteemed him so highly, that they would, if possible, keep him in Scotland ; and that his wife was such a valitudinarian as to render his voyage to Rotterdam a hazardous undertaking. • The third leet, set aside by the magistracy, contained the names of three respectable clergymen ; namely, 1. Mr. Robert Riccaltoun, minister of Hobkirk, born May 1689. He, as well as Mr. Kennedy of Cavers, his personal friend, and co-presbyter, were Jurants ; a consideration which of- ten greatly abated the violence of those otherwise opposed to the evangeli- cal party. Mr. Riccaltoun was distinguished by great learning and piety ; but his talents were not exactly of a popular cast. Consist. Papers. His works, edited by Walker, and now become scarce, afford a most favourable specimen of his theological and metaphysical erudition. 2. Mr. Thomas Turner, of TuUiallan. He was a solid, laborious, and active minister of the Gospel. " His way of deliverj'," says ]Mr. Wm. Hogg, jun. " is not so taking with the populace as some others. He is loved and respected dearly by the serious godly in the country-side, and by all his acquaintance." lb. 3. Mr. John Balfour, of Nigg. In the north of Scotland, he was held in high repute, as a faithful and truly affectionate pastor. lb. ■f Mr. Smith was born in the year 1708, and studied theology at Aber- deen, under Professor Anderson. When yet a young man, he was harmo- niously settled at Newburn, in the presbytery of Cupar. A clergyman in the synod of Fife speaks of him as a " well-favoured person, of good man- ners, and of unquestionable piety ; of good report among all his religious people ; of a tender, holy walk, of a sweet natural temper ; zealous and prudent, and a good stock of learning." lb. H^ Mr. John Ballingall was a superior man, and an acceptable divine. He prosecuted his academical course, first at St. Andrews, and then at Glas- gow. After he became a licenciate, he had the offer of several parishes, which he declined ; wishing rather to devote himself uninterruptedly to pri- vate study. For this purpose, he made choice of the retirement which Edenshead, an estate belonging to his elder brother, William, presented. There he lived nearly four years, and amassed so valuable a stock of know- ledge, immediately in the line of his chosen profession, that few ever en- tered the ministry better prepared for the due discharge of its very import- ant duties. In 1729, he was appointed by Mr. Johnston of Lathrisk, to the pastoral charge of Collessie, where he continued till 1738, when his popula- rity and worth obtained for him a presentation to be one of the ministers of the neighbouring town of Cupar. He took an active part in the discussion of questions which affected the religious interests of the people, especially SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 171 Collessie, was happily sustained by the Town Council, April 26th, 1737. The Session's choice of Mr. Kennedy on the day following was immediately acquiesced in by the authorities. We need not recount the different steps which were effec- tively taken by Consistory to ensure the translation of the worthy minister of Cavers. It is enough to remark that, al- though no impediment was thrown in the way by the patron, who, it seems was rather displeased at Mr. Kennedy for hav- ing legally demanded and obtained a small augmentation of stipend, the parishioners were exceedingly loath to part with their beloved pastor. The public -spirited Mr. George Drummond, one of the Commissioners of the Customs, Mr. James Nimmo,* Receiver-general of the Excise, Messrs. William Hogg, jun., and Thomas Davidson, mer- chants in Edinburgh, together with the Rev. Walter Stuart, minister of Ashkirk, appeared on two occasions at the bar of the presbytery of Jedburgh, to advocate the in- terests of Rotterdam. And they did not plead in vain ; for, upon the 25th of May, 1737, after having heard all parties, and seriously deliberated on the business, the pres- bytery unanimously decreed Mr. Kennedy I'eleased from his parochial charge, with the view of being settled in Hol- land.f He brought over the following official introduction to the kirk-session and congregation : — " Reverend and Worthy Gentlemen, — We had your letter, earnestly desiring us to send our Rev. brother, those regarding patronage, which were frequently agitated in our ecclesias- tical courts ; and his popular talents and excellent principles gave him a leading influence. For these particulars, and for other kind assistance rendered in my first ecclesiastical researches in Holland, I am indebted to one of the representatives of the subject of this note, — Mr. Robert Ballin- gall, merchant, formerly of Rotterdam, and now of Antwerp. * Mr. Nimmo was born at Rotterdam, " and baptised by the great Mr. Tho. Hog, [of Kiltearn] at the Hague ; — a very remarkable baptism it was." Co7isist. Papers. See also Wodrow's History, iv. 511-13. -f Consist, Regist, and Original Letters. 172 HISTORY OF THE Mr. Hugh Kennedy, to your help, in the work of the Gos- pel ; and your arguments have been strong enough to per- suade us, by our sentence, to transport him, even tho' it was a force upon us to dispense with a brother we so justly valued for his piety, literature, good temper, brotherly be- haviour, and useful labours in the Lord's vineyard amongst us. We make no doubt, but, through the good hand of his Lord and Master with him, he'll endear himself also to you, by discovering the same Christian and amiable qua- lities, which have raised his character amongst us : And, therefore, as he now goes a stranger amongst you, we can- not but recommend him and his family to your favour and affection, and that dutiful treatment, which the relation wherewith he's cloathed, does challenge. We heartily wish our dear brother may prove, through the Lord's blessing and countenance on his ministry, the happy instrument of winning souls amongst you ; and that he and you may long be a blessing and comfort to one another. " This, in name, and by appointment of presbytery, is signified to you, by R. & W. G. " Your affectionate brother and servant in our Lord, "Ro. Bell, Moderator.* " Jedburgh, July, 6th 1737." Upon the morning of Sabbath, August 18th, Mr. Ken- nedy was regularly admitted to the co-pastorship of the Scottish Church, Rotterdam ; and, in the afternoon, he de- livered, to a large audience, including many Episcopalians, Remonstrants, and Papists, a masterly discourse from Isaiah xlv. 22, Look unto me mid be ye saved, all the ends of the earth ; and, after his entry, he preached a series of valuable discourses from 2 Cor. v. 17, compared with John iii. 3.f " Consist. Begist. -f Stoiie's MSS. Memoranda. SCOTTISH CHUllCH IN ROTTERDAM. 173 Mr. Kennedy, whose settlement here gave universal sa- tisfaction, was born, of Scottish parents, in the north of Ireland, in the year 1698.* At an early period of life, he went to Scotland, studied for the national church, and upon finishing the prescribed course, obtained a pastoral appoint- ment. At Cavers, his second charge, he faithfully minis- tered for about fifteen years, to a truly attached flock. A worthy lay contemporary characterizes him as " one of the best pulpit-men in the kingdom. "f By his clerical bre- thren he was much respected ; and at their earnest request, printed, in 1732, a sermon which he had preached that year before the synod of Merse and Teviotdale. Shortly after his ordination he had been most happily imited to Miss Margaret Scott, by whom he had three sons and two daughters, — the youngest little more than a month old at the date of the father's accepting the call to Rotter- dam. Mrs. Kennedy's mother was married to the Rev. Robert Bell, who was translated from Cavers to Crailing about the year 1721.:i; Mr. Bell was also one of his ma- jesty's chaplains ; was greatly esteemed, and possessed considerable influence throughout the church; and so highly did he estimate the privilege of being a Presbyte- rian parochial clergyman, that he did what he could to perpetuate the sacred office in his family.§ With Mr. Bell, though much his senior, Mr. Kennedy lived upon the most brotherly footing, and consulted him 'Consist. Papers, and Boekzaal, for 17G4, p. 73G. f MSS. penes me. ^ Consist Paj)ers, and Acts of Assemhli/. § The late Dr. Thomas Somerville of Jedburgh informed the writer, that IMr. Bell of Crailing was so anxious to entail the ministerial profession upon his descendants, as to make it a testamentary condition that his grandson, the son of the Rev. John Bell of Gordon, should not inherit his property, unless he became a clergyman. The grandson having, it is sup- posed, a dislike to presbytery, took orders in the Church of England, was appointed chaplain in the Royal Navy, and afterwards to the Episcopal Chapel, Blackfriar's Wynd, Edinburgh, where he oiRciated to his death, which happened several years ago. 174 HISTORY OF THE upon all occasions. The minister of Crailing, from a firm persuasion of Mr. Kennedy's fitness, strongly urged liim to accept of tlie call to Rotterdam, and the result agreeably demonstrated that Mr. Bell had formed no unjust estimate of his young friend's character. When a clergyman enters upon a new sphere of profes- sional labour, there is invariably a certain degree of reli- gious concern excited in the particular congregation, of which a conscientious pastor will eagerly avail himself. Mr. Kennedy was exactly the person who would not let slip such an opportunity of doing good. His pulpit ad- dresses and private visitations very soon gained him a welcome hearing; and the annexed articles, the product of his pen, and approved of by Consistory, manifest, also, his love of order and commendable zeal for the further- ance of practical religion. " Overtures for the more effectually promoting the Lord's work in this Congregation. " The Consistory, considering that they are bound, as they would not forget the promised presence of the Lord Jesus, the alone King and Head of the Church, to admit nothing, practise nothing, in the worship of God, public or private, or in the dispensation of his house, but what they have his warrant for : Therefore, for the more orderly ob- servance of such circumstances as necessarily attend these ordinances, which the Lord Jesus has instituted, and for the more effectual advancement of the Lord's work in this church, they have unanimously enacted the following rules to be observed. " Ist^ The Consistory shall meet for ordinary, the first Thursday of every month, at five in the afternoon, and the Moderator for the time, or in case of his absence, the col- league minister, there being always five other members beside the Moderator present, shall constitute precisely at SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 175 half six by prayer, and that then, the rolls be always called, and such as are absent at the calling of the rolls, pay to the poor, six stivers ; and such as are totally absent from any diet of the Consistory, except in case of sickness, or being out of the city about their necessary aifairs, pay to the poor, twelve stivers : and that none may pretend igno- rance, it is ordained, that the Moderator always adjourn the Consistory to a certain fixed day, viz. first Thurs- day of the following month : And the night preceding the day fixed for their meeting, the koster [church officer,] be ordered to carry notes to the houses of the several mem- bers, intimating the same. " 2'>- Consist. Rcy. 226 HISTOllY OF THE gregation at Rotterdam, who have called him to be one of their ministers. He entered upon his stated labours, August 13th follow- ing ; upon the morning of which day he was duly admitted by Mr. Layel to the joint pastorship. In 1785, Mr. Scot refused a presentation, which was of- fered him by the Earl of Hopetoun, to the parish of John- stone, in the presbytery of Lochmaben.* Six years after- wards, he declined an invitation to preach at Amsterdam, of which the probable consequence would have been his receiving a call to supply a vacancy there. This step, as the former had done, exceedingly gratified his session and people. His decision having been made known to the magistrates by a worthy and efficient elder of the Scottish Church, who was likewise a member of the town-coun- cil, they presented Mr. Scot with a gratification of six hun- dred guilders for the preference he had given to Rotterdam. This flattering mark from a public body affected Mr. Scot in the most sensible manner ; and he took an early oppor- tunity of assuring his brethren, that the friendly exertions of the Hon. Mr. Van Heusden, the generosity of the mu- nicipality, and the approbation of the kirk-session, he should always consider as an honourable distinction, and remember with gratitude as long as he lived. He further expressed his fear that his conduct had been viewed in too favourable a light; as, in what he did, he consulted his own feelings, and followed the dictates of his heart, and yet what was only his duty to do, had been rewarded as meritorious. He trusted, however, that this token of re- gard would attach him still more to the city, the Consis- tory, and the church of Rotterdam ; and induce him ever to act in such a manner as to deserve their esteem. And he cordially united with the session in praying that the Lord of the vineyard might render his labours successful, • Consiiif. lieght. March llJtb, 17S5. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 227 and that both ministers and people might be mntual bless- ings.* Towards the close of 1794, Mr. Scot was appointed minis- ter of th 2 New Church in the flourishing town of Dumfries ; and having resolved to remove to that extensive sphere of usefulness, he took leave of his attached flock at Rotterdam on the first Sabbath of the following year ; and upon the fifth of March he was admitted to his new charge. Some- time after his settlement in Scotland he received the de- gree of D. D. Of retired and studious habits. Dr. Scot lived respected both at Rotterdam and Dumfries. His pulpit exhibitions, distinguished by good sense, shewed that he was no mean theologian, and that he was duly im- pressed with the vast importance of the clerical office. He delivered a most excellent sermon before the royal com- missioner during the sitting of the General Assembly in May, 1830. About a month after this period, when on a vi- sit to Ayrshire, he was thrown from his gig; and, though at first no danger was apprehended, the accident proved fatal on the 26th of June, at Largs, to the minister of which parish his only child was married. The regency of Rotterdam, pleading the exhausted state of the town chest, which had been considerably drained by the unhappy public commotions, declined, provisionally, to grant another colleague to Mr. Layel. But, consider- ing that the remaining pastor, now frequently indisposed, was called here on the express understanding that he should have a colleague, the magistrates, proposed that, since the recent changes had materially reduced the numbersf of the • Consist. Regist. April 14tb, 1791. -f- It appears from the session records, that in the year 1CU9, there wei-e upwards of eight hundred Scottish inhabitants in Rotterdam. In 1738, the roll of the Rev. Ilugli Kennedy gives four hundred and tifty-nine. Mr. Robert Storie's census in 1770 makes the number four hundred and twenty ; whilst by that of the Rev. Alex. Layel, two years afterwards, we find forty more. In 1795 the Rev. James Low made up a list containing three hun- dred and twenty names. At the period of the Union, the commerce be- 228 HISTORY OF THE Scottish congregation, whether it might not be advisable to ease Mr. Layel of at least one of the weekly services; and they further agreed that, by way of douceur, three hun- dred guilders should be annually added by the town to his stipend- The delicate state of Mr. Layel's health caused some little change which otherwise wo*ld not have occur- red. The Wednesday meeting was discontinued, and the Sabbath morning service was devoted to public catechising. Mr. Layel, after an illness of three weeks, died July 19th, 1796, aged fifty-seven; having " exercised with zeal the ministry among us for the space of twenty-five years and eleven months."* He vras educated at the University of Edinburgh, where he became distinguished as a Hebrew scholar ; and as a fovourite pupil of Professor James Robert- son, whose profound knowledge of oriental literature procur- ed for him the dignified title of rahhi. From Dordt, which was his first charge, Mr. Layel, in 1770, was translated to Rotterdam. He v/as a student of prophecy, and he publish- ed a pamphlet relative to the downfal of the Turkish dynas- ty. During his incumbency, and owing to his great partiality for sacred music, and by the pains -which he took in im- proving this important, but much neglected branch of pub- lic worship, the Scottish Church became celebrated, and was much resorted to by amateurs during the weekly ex- hibitions. In 1785, Mr. Layel was married to Mrs. Eliza- beth Hardie, relict of Mr. Alexander Livingston, formerly provost of Aberdeen. The only survivor of this union is, Mrs William Jav, now of Rotterdam. twixt Holland and Scotland was so injured, that many of the British mer- chants left Rotterdam ; and, at the close of the same century, when the French invaded this country, numbers of the Scottish congregation hastily withdrew. Soon after the glorious revolution of 1813, it received an acces- sion of members. At present (1832) the number connected with the Scot- tish Church of Rotterdam, may be stated at upwards of three hundred souls, including one hundred and foity-nine communicants. • Consist Benist. SCOTTISH CHL'KCH IN ROTTERDAM. 229 Now depriv^ed of both ministers, the Scottish Consistory and congregation were favoured with the friendly services of several of the British clergymen in Holland, particularly of the Rev. John Hall, pastor of the English presbyteriaii church in this city. Mr. Hall's obliging labours, during this and other vacancies, entitle him to be gratefully noti- ced in this place. He was born at Sheffield, Nov. 14th, 1740 ; was ordained at Hannington in Yorkshire, Aug. 8th, 1771.* Upon the death of the Rev. Benjamin Sowden, the pupil and constant correspondent of Dr. Doddridge, an invitation was given to, and accepted by, Mr. Hall to suc- ceed him at Rotterdam. By reason of bodily infirmity, this venerated servant of God retired from public life in 1817, having become emeritus. The present writer, who bad the happiness of being acquainted with Mr. Hall, will not readily forget the great benevolence of heart, and over- flowing of the kind affections, by which this amiable man was distinguished. The last years of his life were chiefly spent in the study of the Scriptures, and in the perusal of religious biography, a species of reading of which he was exceedingly fond. He departed this life, March 22d, 1829 ; and the office-bearers of the church, in token'!of re- spect for his memory, carried his remains to the grave, where an appropriate address was delivered by the Rev. Joseph Hague, then pastor of the congregation.f Strenuous endeavours were made to procure for the Scottish Church its usual complement of two ministers ; but, after much deliberation, the magistrates, June 19th, • Private Information, and Records of English Presbyterian Church. •f- I^Ir. Hall's widow is still residing at I'olterdam, Sir John Hall, Hano- verian C^onsul, and Secretary to the St. Catherine Docks, London, is the eldest son of his three surviving sons. The Rev. Mr. Hall^pnhl bed, Ist. An Address delivered April lOth, 1793, on the Total Retreat of the French from the Dutch Territories — 2. A Sermon, preached June X'dth, 1798, on the Death of his Colleague, the Rev. Tho. Greaves. Among works which he translated from the Dutch, we may mention Madame De Camhlon's Lettcis and Conversations, which had an extensive sale. 230 HISTORY OF THE 1797, allowed the kirk-session to proceed to the election of one clergyman. At a meeting, held six days thereafter, the Rev. Tho. Greaves, moderator, pro tempore^ the Scot- tish Consistory, entirely precluded by the warlike state of Continental Europe from applying to the mother country, prepared for the municipal government a short leet, con- taining the names of the three British ministers established in Zealand. The Rev. James Low cf Middleburg was chosen ; and, by letter, of which the annexed is a copy, he soon closed with the offer. " To the Reverend Consistory of the Scottish Church in Hotter dam. " Gentlemen, — Your sending Deputies to Middleburg to enforce the unanimity of your Call, was equally an honour and a favour I wish sincerely to acknowledge. You will permit me to say, that the short conversation I had with the two worthy members (Messrs. C. Brem and John Jay,) did a great deal towards relieving me from the painful dilemma I found myself in from the moment I re- ceived your letters of call, and enabled me to come to a decision. " You will believe I must feel for the situation in which my church would be involved by my departure, being taught to dread its existence. It is true, compared with your congregation, our community here is small; but then, the unanimous attachment of consistory and people to my ministry, person, and family ; their joint endeavours, by every argument to detain me with them; their representa- tions, among other things, of the loss my widow must sus- tain, which is no less than 300 guilders per annum ; and finally, the desire expressed by the magistrates and inha- bitants to stay with them, were so many loud claims on gratitude for such undisguised affection, which, of course, could not fail reducing me to a disagreeable inquietude SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 231 how to act. On the other hand, your call was free, unani- mous, urgent: Your language was such as superseded every doubt of its cordiality : your pressure in overlooking the great expenses necessarily attending my acceptance, and even adding thereto by honouring me with a visit of your deputies, whose friendly efforts were such as your warmest wishes could desire, was singularly strong, and, on the whole, indicated the hand of an adorable Providence appointing my removal hence. The dispensations of that hand, with you I wish ever to venerate and cheerfully to acquiesce in ; and this dispensation too, in the fear of God, 1 desire to follow up. I accept, then, dear brethren, of your call. Henceforth I consider myself your minister, and your congregation my own, in which too, I must la- bour in the work of the Lord. I commend myself and family to your friendship and esteem, but especially to your prayers, that God may qualify me, in some measure, to answer your expectations. Indeed, when I consider myself the successor of the learned and truly reverend Mr. Layel, I must own I feel uneasy, conscious of inequality ; but if sincerity of endeavour may compensate in some measure such inequality, and retain your esteem, I hope to lay a claim to it. I can hardly speak of that good man without thought on my intimacy with him, and kind offices received from him on my earliest arrival in Rotterdam; while I stand amazed at the ways of Providence conducting me, after a fourteen years ministry, back to be pastor of that church in which I was first a communicant in the Provinces. And truly, brethren, not a little did such thought contribute towards turning the balance in favour of your call, and reconciling to the sacrifice in point of widow funds. I had forgot almost to say, how much I found myself flattered with the readiness the magistracy shewed to approve of my person : I feel myself obliged to thank them, and inclose a few lines which, if you approve of them, I beg may be forwarded according to address. 232 UISTOllY OF THE " I should be wanting in acknowledgment, were I to forget thanking- you for your zeal in favour of your call, by making the annual allowance for children equal to that I have enjoyed here, and engagement to defray my neces- sary expenses in coming to you. " I have only now to add, that, Deo volente, I shall be re- leased, on Monday first, from my engagements to the Classis, and in the course of the week, from my ministry. On the 30th current, I shall take leave of my church, and on Sun- day, 6th August, enter with you on my new charge ; of course, against that time, I hope you will order my pro- clamations to be made, and engage a brother clergyman to admit me. I shall be able to come over in person : only from the hurry of my call and ordainment, the justice and necessity of which I am sensible of, I must request a reasonable time thereafter to return for my family and household furniture, in the meantime, accept of my best wishes and prayers for you all; and believe me to be, with perfect esteem, " Your sincere servant in the Lord, "James Low."* "MiDDLEBURG, I2th July, 1797. Upon the first Sabbath of August, accordingly, Mr. Low was duly admitted minister of the Scottish Church, Rot- terdam, by the Rev. Thomas Greaves, who, as consulent^ presided on the occasion. Mr. Low, born at Aberdeen, 8th March, 1759, was the eldest of the three sons of Deacon John Low of that city.f After attending the grammar school, and while yet a youth of eighteen, he came to Holland, on the recommen- dation of the Rev. Dr. Sherrifs, as domestic tutor to the children of Mr. James Martin, merchant in Rotterdam. He repaired in 1779 to Utrecht, where he found sufficient * CoJisist. Rctjist, -j- Private Information. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 233 employment as a private teacher of English ; and at the same time attended the classes in the university. Having studied divinity under the learned and pious Professor G. Bonnet, he was duly licensed to preach the GospeL The Scottish Church at Flushing became vacant by the death of the Rev. Justus Tjeenk; and the electors being satis- fied with Mr. Low's appearance as a candidate, made choice of him for their pastor. He was ordained at Flush- ing, October 19th, 1783; two clergymen, of whom Dr. Wilcocke was one, being deputed by the Classis ecclesiasti- cally to ratify the solemn deed betwixt minister and people.* He was next presented to the charge in the neigh- bouring town of Middleburg, which had been long held by the Rev. Dr. Wilcocke, now Emeritus. Upon the 26th June, 1796, Mr. Low was regularly invested by the Rev. Gabriel Ripping, who conducted the services of the day in the Dutch language.f It was in the autumn of the subsequent year that he was settled at Rotterdam, where he remained till March, 1801, when he removed to Amster- dam, in room of the Rev. Mr. Watt, deceased. He had been married at Utrecht, in 1780, to Miss Pool from Whitehaven, Cumberland. By this union there were three children, but only two of them grew up : John Christopher, who was a good classical scholar and an ex- cellent mathematician, was cut off in his 26th year, Fe- bruary 1st, 1811. He studied at Amsterdam and Leyden; and the thesis which he published in 1808, when advanced to the degree of Doctor in Philosophy, is honourable to his literary and scientific attainments. This inaugural disserta- tion, superior to the generality of such productions, is en- titled De lis quae veteres Philosophi de magnitudine telliiris vievioriae prodiderunt. His professor. Professor Van Swin- den of the Athenaeum, Amsterdam, in the preface to the latest edition of his Principles of Geometry, has affection- • Flushing lieght. -)- Middleburg Regist. 234 HISTORY OF THE ately acknowledged his obligations to liis promising dis- ciple. It is also known that the erudite professor was much indebted to his pupil during the scientific arrange- ments, preparatory to the introduction of the new weights and measures under King Louis.* Mr. Low did not recover the shock caused, first by his son's and then by his wife's death ; and though he continued zealous in preaching, catechising, and performing his other pastoral duties, his constitution, by nature healthy and vi- gorous, rapidly gave way. He was a high Calvinist ; and he was most punctual in his attendance at church courts, in whose debates, from his perfect knowledge of Dutch, he was enabled to take a part. Mr. Low died November *20th, 1817. f His only daughter, Catharine Isabella, was mar- ried to Mr. J. C. Teding Van Berkhout, advocate, Amster- dam. Mrs. Teding Van Berkhout, who survived her father only five years, left two sons and a daughter. The Scottish Consistory supplied the vacancy occasioned by Mr. Low's departure, by unanimously making choice of the Rev. Maurice Ritchie, of Dort; and upon the 19th July, 1801, he was formally inducted by the Rev. John Hall. Mr. Ritchie, a native of Perth, entered upon his • Private Information. -j- lb. and Boekzaal. BIr. Low's publications which I have seen, are as follows: — 1. The Winter Evening ; or a Collection of English Prose and Verse, 2 vols. 12mo. Utrecht, 17tJ0-81. 2. Six Practical Discourses, ren. dered from various English Authors into Dutch, and inscribed to Professor Bonnet, lb. 1785. 3. TJie Nature of True Thanksgiving, a Sermon on Psalm Ixxxvi. and 12tb, preached at Flushing, April 23, 1789, on the re- covery of George III. This discourse appeared at the same time in Dutch, translated by the author, and printed at Flushing. 4. The Uncertainty of Life Considered ; a Funeral Sermon, preached at Carapvere, July 5, 1789, on the death of several respectable members of the Scottish Factory and Court there, Flush. 1790. This sermon, in the declamatory style, is valu- able for the biographical notices interspersed, of certain Scotsmen who died in Zealand. 5. A Solemn Ap])eal to the Understanding of Christians, in favour of Revealed lielii/ion, Rott. 1 799. 6. On the Divinity of the Christian Religion, translated from the Dutch original of Professor Klinkcnburg, Amst. 18(»1, 12mo. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 235 pastoral functions at Dort, Sept. 3cl, 1797, having been re- commended to that situation by the Rev. John Dowe of Methven ; a gentleman who was also instrumental in send- ing several other British ministers to Holland.* Mr. Ritchie's services at Rotterdam were of short duration. Having, in perfect health, dispensed the sacrament on the 11th of October, 1801, he was suddenly carried off by a nervous fever on the 15th of the same month, in the thirty-sixth year of his age.f Mr. Ritchie, who died unmarried, had not quite com- pleted the third month of his ministry here, so that his be- reaved flock, too soon, alas ! were obliged to crave the will- ing services of those clerical friends to whom they had for- merly been so much indebted. Not only the British Presbyterian ministers in Holland afforded assistance, but several even of the native clergy occasionally delivered opening addresses at the evening public meetings for sing- ing. Two of the latter divines. Dr. Scharp and Mr Hoog, who were respectable ministers of the Dutch Reformed Church at Rotterdam, must be briefly noticed, not only in that they were both of Scottish descent, but more especially from the lively interest which they personally took in the prosperity of the Scottish Church and Congregation. John Scharp, D. D., born at the Hague, August 16th, 1756, was educated at the University of Leyden. " My father," says the Doctor, " was Abraham Scharp, who lost his parents when he was nine years old. After a great variety of fortune, he became chief collector at the Hague, of the revenues of the public lands ; and he died in my house, October 17th, 1791, in the seventy-third year of his • Dort Regist. and MSS. penes me. •j- Consist. Resist. Botterdam Courant, and Boekzaal. The Boekzaal, fre- quently quoted in these pages, is the name of a Dutch periodical, devoted to clerical, academical, and scholastic intelligence. In each classis, a mem- ber is appointed correspondent, to communicate the changes which occur, so that the information, biographical or historical, contained in this work, may be regarded authentic. 236 HISTORY OF THE age. He was an honourable, worthy, and holy man, belov- ed and respected by all who knew him. — My great grand- father was John Scharp or Sharp, wine merchant in the Hague, and a captain of the Columbian Company of city militia. His father Thomas, a manufacturer of steel wares, was born at London in 1660, and married to Aletta Pearson, niece to the Bishop of Chester. He fled from the perse- cution of James H., and settled in Holland in 1687. His grandfather was John Sharp, D. D., and Professor at Die, in Dauphiny.* His father, Matthew, was a minister in London ; his uncles, were William, a captain in the nav)'^, and Gilbert, a merchant. His brother John, was arch- bishop of York; his nephews were Richard, a captain in the navy, son to William, and James, archbishop of St. Andrew's, the son of Gilbert. His grand nephew was Admiral James Sharp. Thomas, his brother's son was, in 1736, archdeacon of Northumberland. Further, in 1390, John Sharp, D. D., was Professor at Oxford ; and from him the branches of the family, with their various modes of writing the name, have sprung ; as Scharp in Scotland, Sharp in England, Scharpf and Schapff in Ger- many, Scarpi in Italy. Under the last mentioned is to be found Paoli Sarpi, (by Voetius and others styled Paulus Scharpius) who is celebrated as minister of state at Venice, and as the historian of the council of Trent. Of the Ger- man branch, a shoot has been ennobled under the name of Scharpfenstein, of which the last heir, a female, was mar- ried to Count von Gratz, subscribing himself thereafter, Count von Gratz von Scharpfenstein. This, to me satisfac- tory genealogy, described fully, accurately, and in all its particulars, I could have extended, had I desired to boast of descent of the flesh."f • Afterwards Professor of Divinity in the University of Edinburgh. •y Appendix to a Sermon delivered by Dr. Scharp, in the Great Church of Rotterdam, August ICth, 1803, upon occasion of solemnizing the 25th year of his ministry. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 237 In 1778, our Dr. Scharp was settled at St. Annaland in the isle of Tliolen. He was thence translated two years afterwards to Axel in Flanders, an account of whose pecu- liar customs he published at Middleburg, in three vo- lumes octavo. His next parochial cure was Noordwyk-bin- nen, near Leyden ; but in that country parish he was not allowed to remain above a year, having received a call to Rotterdam, where he was inducted, July 1789. Dr. Scharp was a man of genius, an excellent scholar, and a ready speaker. He mixed much with society ; and, always lively, his company was greatly courted. With thousands in the United Provinces, he deeply bewailed the constrained departure from Holland of the Stadthol- derian family, to whose successive members, the cause of religious and civil freedom stands so much indebted. Warmly espoused to the house of Nassau, he felt for its severe and undeserved misfortunes ; and his sympathy, blended with that of every uncontaminated Dutchman, followed the prince and his illustrious suite into the land of exile. By French influence and intrigue, Holland was unhappily split into two parties. The republican party, or those who joined the Gallic invaders, had long before chosen, by a strange misapplication of an epithet, to deno- minate themselves jxitrlots ; and now, backed by an over- whelming physical force of a foreign country, they evinced a strong desire to imitate the example of their revolutioniz- ing neighbours. When, in 1796, the second year of the Ba- tavian republic, an oath was demanded by the National As- sembly, from every person in office, declarative of his firm ad- herence to the newly modelled state, his recognition of the sovereignty of the people, and his determination not to aid in the restoration of the former government. Dr. Scharp po- sitively declined to come under any such engagement. The consequence of this was, that the Doctor shortly afterwards was denuded of his situation as a minister in the Nether- land Reformed Church ,- and, leaving this city, he withdrew 238 HISTORY OF THE to East Friesland. Whilst there, being out of employ- ment, he accepted the small parochial charge of Loga, but he declined a more lucrative appointment in the neigh- bouring town of Emden. Requisitions in his favour, nu- merously and respectably signed, were at length listened to by those in power ; and, after an absence of four years and a half, he was permitted to resume his clerical func- tions in Rotterdam. It was particularly after his return tliat the Scottish Church stood indebted to the good offices of Dr. Scharp. Being requested by the kirk-session to preach a charity sermon on the 25th December, 1801, he consented with his characteristic promptitude. Though it is not the practice of the Church of Scotland to celebrate Christmas, yet in the Scottish congregation at Rotterdam, part of that day was sometimes devoted to public worship, accompanied with vocal music, probably out of deference to the other Reformed Churches here, who hold it strictly. Dr. Scharp, after the manner of the famous Dr. Tell, whose sermons before King Charles were usually in verse, determined that every part of the pulpit service on the present occasion should be performed in rhyme. He gave public intimation of his intention of doing so, in order to secure a fuller attendance. Circumstances prevented the meeting taking place until the evening of Wednesday the 30th of December ; the known celebrity of the preach- er, and the novelty of the exercise, drew together a nu- merous auditory, who were extremely gratified by the pro- priety and ingenuity which pervaded the whole. This metrical essay in Dutch, said to be the work of only eight days, was afterwards printed, at the earnest solicitation of the session, to whom the author inscribed it ; and the en- tire profits of the publication, which reached a second edi- tion, were devoted by Dr. Scharp, to the poor belong- ing to the Scottish congregation, and to one of the charity schools in the city. This uncommon production consists of sixty-eight octavo pages. The text was the SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 239' Song- of Simeon in the 2cl. ch. of St. Luke. " The cere- mony," says the author in a prefatory notice, " went off pretty well ; and though I saw before me poets of no small reputation, hearers of all kinds and of all denominations, and even such as I could not expect, but whom I knew to he favourably disposed towards me, the result answered expectation, and I thank God for it, and for the edifica- tion." The proceeds of the admission tickets, which were sold at 55 cents each, amounted to upwards of four hundred guilders ; — a most seasonable boon to the grateful Scottish poor. About three years after this. Dr. Scharp was chosen se- cretary of a Commission appointed to furnish the Evangeli- cal Hymns, which are now used by the Dutch Church. He was himself a considerable contributor to this valuable collection of sacred poetry. His writings in prose and verse are numerous. Two of his discourses, namely, Thij friend icho is as thine oum soul, (Deut. xiii. and 6th) and the other On Old Age, from the Song of Solomon, ch. xii, and second clause of the first verse, have been greatly admired. He translated from the German of the Rev. J. MuUner, a sermon in which the letter R does not occur ; and the Doctor's Dutch version, distinguished by the same singu- larity, is quite a literary curiosity. A small work also, which he published on the Band or Neck collars, worn by ecclesiastics and other functionaries, shews minute and ex- tensive research. He points out, from original paintings and rare prints, the various changes which this official piece of dress has undergone. Dr. Scharp's talents and public spirit recommended him to the notice of his worthy and patriotic sovereign, who, in addition to other marks of royal favour, caused the name of our divine to be enrolled, in 1816, among the Knights of the Netherland Lion. He was also a member of the Koyal Netherland Institute, and other learned associations. 240 HISTORY OF THE In 1826, Dr. Scharp became Emeritus ; and he died March 2d, 1828, leaving ready for the press, an interesting me- morial of his unostentatious piety, entitled Serious Thoughts on the last days of my life. This posthumous little tract was immediately edited by his only surviving son, Mr. J. H. G. Scharp, who holds a situation in one of the govern- ment offices at the Hague.* The Rev. Thomas Hoog, f who pronounced an appro- priate oration at the Interment of Dr. Scharp, was the other individual in whom, as formerly mentioned, the Scottisli Church found a tried friend. He was the second son of John Hoog, one of the magistrates of Rotterdam, whose father, Marinus, was minister of Schoonhoven. The subject of this sketch was one of the clergymen of Leeu- warden in Friesland, when he accepted a most cordial in- vitation to his native city Rotterdam, where he was in- vested 28th October, 1792. Much to the delight of the community, especially the serious portion of the communi- ty, Mr. Hoog declined a pressing call to the Hague in 1801 ; and Dr. Scharp, his bosom friend, complimented him and the citizens with a poetical effusion, which is honourable to all parties, Mr. Hoog was an early, zeal- ous, and steady friend to the Bible and Missionary Socie- ties ; and he was also ever ready to devote his time, or lend his support, to those numerous literary and benevolent institutions by which he was surrounded. Though Mr. Hoog had never been in Scotland, he was warmly attach- ed to the country of his ancestors. The writer well re- members the animation which beamed in the good man's countenance when, adverting to this subject, he significant- • Consist. Regist. and De Vletter's Levensschets ert Bloemkzing uit de Geschriften, van den Hoog- Eerivaardigen Jleer Jan Scharp, S. S. Theol. Doctor, enz. 8vo. Rott. 1828. -|- Two of Mr. Iloog'.s brothers are still alive, namely, the worthy Old- I^urgomaster of Rotterdam, the eldest of the family; and the youngest, Herman Peter of Pordt, nien:hcr of tlie States of Holland, who is married to the last lineal descendant of the famous De Witt. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 211 ly pressed his hand to his heart, and exclaimed in the Dutch language, that he was a Scotchman through and through {door en door). Upon a more public occasion, about eight months before his lamented death, whilst, as Moderator, he formally introduced the author to the mini- sters of Rotterdam, he spoke in feeling terms of his con- nexion with the Scottish church ; expressed his warmest wishes for its continued prosperity; and the great satis- faction which he experienced in having an opportunity of stating these sentiments. Mr. Hoog departed this life, Nov. 28, 1829, at the age of sixty-nine. For some years immediately preceding this event, he held the honourable situation of President of the Synod of South Holland; and he was likewise one of the Curators of the Erasmian School, an ancient and most respectable classical seminary at Rotterdam. He was greatly esteemed by his clerical brethren, as well as by the people among whom he faithfully laboured. The attention which he bestowed upon the sick and dying was unremitting and most exemplary. Several of his occa- sional sermons have been published, and are creditable to his piety and talents. His erudition was sound and ex- tensive. According to some, the linguist may be easily recognised amongst his fellows by projecting eyeballs. Although we are not disposed to lay much stress on this popular observation, the converts of such an opinion could not have failed at the first glance to have awarded to Mr. Hoog so honourable a distinction ; for we do not recollect to have watnessed in any man such large and prominent eyes. But Mr. Hoog was certainly a scholar, and with uncommon facility did he acquire a knowledge of langua- ges. Oriental literature was his favourite study, and in the Arabic and Japanese tongues he was a considerable adept. Mr. Hoog left two children. His only son, Isaac R 242 HISTORY OF THE Marius Jacob, is now senior minister of Barneveld near Harderwyk. But, to resume tlie history of the Scottish Church. The distracted state of public affairs in the Provinces, and the oppressive enactments of the changed administration, re- tarded tlie appointment of a successor to Mr. Ritchie. The National Assembly, cherishing a sort of horror at the sound or sight of any thing which reminded them of reli- gion, had decreed from the 1st September 1796, that no church bell* should be tolled, nor any minister or precen- tor should appear with gown and band : and in August 1797, the same omnipotent body had declared the church separated from the state, and that, at the expiration of three years, the salaries, paid jointly by the country and the local regencies, should for ever cease. Like the Dutch com- munities, the Scottish Congregation were under the neces- sity of raising subscriptions to defray the expense atten- dant upon public worship, even before the expiration of the period fixed upon for withdrawing the stipend of the clergy. The kirk-session were in frequent correspondence with Dr. Erskine ; but there being no certainty of support be- yond two or three years at the most, the church courts at home could not reasonably be expected to clothe any preacher with full ministerial powers, seeing there was a probability that the legal source of maintenance would be shut up. At this conjuncture, when their hopes seem- ed blighted, the Consistory were agreeably relieved from " Until this period, when the absurd injunction went forth, to silence all the church-bells in the country, the Scottish Congregation were summoned to public worship by a handsome bell which had been gifted in 1G99, by ]\Ir. Alexander Henderson, an opulent Scottish merchant in Amsterdam. Owing to a circumstance which it is unnecessary to mention, the l^cottish Church has unfortunately not possessed a ttell since Holland was subject to France. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN KOTTERDAM. 243 their embarrassment, by a favourable act passed by the municipality 21st January, 1892, and which guaranteed a permanent salary to the person who might be called. A leet was forthwith sent up to the Town-house, containing the names of Messrs. Thomas Ross and James Brewster,* probationers, then residing in Edinburgh, and Mr. Alexan- der Thom,-f- Head-master of Gordon's Hospital, Aberdeen. Mr. Ross, who had been tutor in the family of the Rev. Dr. Kemp, became the choice of the session, was ordain- ed by the presbytery of Edinburgh, April 14th, and upon the 27th of June, he was duly admitted by the Rev^ John Hall, as pastor of the Scottish Church. In less than three months after his settlement, the health of Mr. Ross became so impaired as to disqualify him from satisfactorily dis- charging all those clerical duties, which, to the entire ap- probation of the congregation he had already zealously performed. At his suggestion, the Consistory, with some prospect of success, resolved to apply to the Batavian go- vernment, and to the magistrates of the city, for permis- sion to call a second minister. The municipality, upon the 25th of November, generously complied with the prayer of the petitioners ; who, rejoicing at the liberty granted, proceeded, on the following day, to the unanimous election of Mr. William MacPhail,:]: preacher of the Gospel, and then assistant to the venerable Dr. Erskine. By the pres- bytery of Edinburgh, Mr. MacPhail was duly ordained, December 15th; and upon the 30th of January, 1803, he was regularly introduced here, as joint pastor. • The present learned incumbent of Craig, autlior of Lectures upon our Lord's Sermon on, the Mount, and other works. ■\ Now minister of Nigg, near Aberdeen. X Son to the late Rev. Hector fllacPhail, of the United parishes of Kirk- michael and Culliciidden ; a clergyman of singular worth and unaifected piety, and whose memory is much and deservedly cherished, especially in Ross-shire, a lovely district of Scotland, which has long been blessed with a gospel ministry. S44 HISTORY OF THE Mr. Ross, for the recovery of liis health, quitted Rot- terdam for Scotland in April ; and for a time, his share of the pastoral duties were discharged by his colleague, and by the Rev. John Henderson of Flushing. His indisposi- tion continuing, the magistrates, at the request of the ses- sion, allowed Mr. Ross to employ an assistant for one year. Mr. Alexander Macintosh, whom he had the happiness to fix upon, was ordained for the purpose, by the presbytery of Dornoch, in September ; and upon the 16th December 1804, he entered upon his engagement. Upon the 4th April 1806, Mr. (now Dr.) Ross forwarded from Edin- burgh a letter, by which he resigned his office of pastor in the Scottish Church at Rotterdam ; and in two years after- wards, the doctor, a distinguished Gaelic scholar, was pre- sented to Lochbroom, a parochial charge in the presby- tery of Lochcarron, which he still holds. Mr, Macintosh, who at this time had received a cordial invitation from the vacant English church at Middleburg, was induced to re- main at Rotterdam, where his services had been so accept- able. His investiture as colleague minister took place on the eleventh of May, five weeks subsequent to the declared retirement of Dr. Ross. In the year 1807, the Scottish Church of Amsterdam, destitute of one of its pastors by the retirement to America of the Rev. William Stodart, unanimously made choice of Mr. MacPhail. Three successive calls were forwarded to Mr. MacPhail, who politely declined.* His worthy col- league, however, much to the regret of an attached con- gregation, was prevailed upon to remove to the metropolis, Avhere he was invested on the 23d of August.f He is now (1832) the highly respected senior pastor of the Scot- tish Church in Amsterdam.:): * Consist. Regist. and Boeksaal, for July 1807. + BoekzaaliorJuh', Sept. and Oct. 1807. J The author cannot let slip this opportunity, without gratefully acknow- ledging the friendly service rendered him by the Rev. Dr. Macintosh. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 245 The Rev. James Anderson, wlio received a unanimous call, was admitted as Dr. Macintosh's successor at Rotter- dam, Nov. 22d, 1807. Previously to his settlement at Dordt, for which he was ordained by the presbytery of Auchterarder, 8th Dec. 1801, Mr. Anderson had been for several years rector of the flourishing grammar school iu the town of Crieif, Perthshire. Holland, which had been erected into a kingdom by Napoleon for his brother, continued greatly to suifer from French despotism. Anxious as Louis was to make his sub- jects happy, he was so crippled by the emperor in any patriotic endeavour, that, after the reign of a few years, he retired in disgust from a throne upon which he was obliged to move like a puppet. In the beginning of 1810, the British presbyterian churches in the Netherlands suffered severely. The salaries of the precentor, and church-officer of the Scottish congregation ceased to be paid by the town. The expense of keeping the church, (which is a large building,) in proper repair, now devolved upon the Consistory ; and the magistrates also declined furnishing the bread and wine used on sacramental occasions, and other gifts, such as fuel for heating the church, which had been immemorially received. To enable them to defray this accumulated expenditure, the session, for the first time, were compelled to tax the sittings in the church ; and by extraordinary exhibitions of sacred music on week days, a sum was raised which barely met these exigencies.* Holland was declared an integral part of the French empire, 19th July, 1810.f Bonaparte, in his progress through this country, accompanied by the empress, arrived • A small hymn-book, prepared by the two ministers, was introduced at one of the public exhibitions for singing in April IJJIO. It is entitled : — A Select Collection of Hymns, used in ivorship in the Scotch Church of Rotter- dam, i2mo. pp. 60. * Sir Walter Scott's Life of Napoleon Bonaparte, vol. vii. p. 84. Paris edition. 246 HISTORY OF THE at Rotterdam on the 25tli of Octobei of the following year. The different public bodies were that day honoured with an interview; and the clergy of all denominations were ushered into his presence at the same moment. The Catholics were placed on the right hand of his Imperial Majesty, and the Protestants on his left. Except a graphic notice of this conference by Mr. MacPhail, and printed in the Appendix to an excellent Sermon which he preached in the Scottish church at Rotterdam, I am not aware that any other account has yet appeared. But, be- sides Mr. MacPhail's narrative,* to which we refer the curious reader, there was also drawn up at the time, a more detailed account of the audience, ox proces verbal, both of what passed in the meetings of the Protestant clergy, be- fore the arrival of the Emperor, and of what Napoleon said on that occasion. This report, written in the Dutch lan- guage, by the Rev. P. Mounier of the French church, has never been printed ; a copy merely having been sent to each congregation for preservation. Though I should be charged with bringing forward irrelevant matter, I cannot deny myself the satisfaction of giving this official descrip- tion of this singular levee. The subjoined authentic do- cument throws considerable light upon the religious prin- ciples of that monarch ; and plainly shews, that he valued religion only so far as it tended to promote his unbounded desire of conquest. Bonaparte held this memorable levee at the Gemeen- landshuis or county-hall, where he lodged during his short • This discourse, which may be had at the publishers of our work, is en- titled : — The great things which the Lord halh done for us ; a sermon, preach- ed in the Scotch Church at Rotterdam, on Wednesday, July 20th, 1814 ; being the day of thanksgiving for a general peace, appointed by William, Prince of Orange and Nassau, sovereign of the United Netherlands. The subject of Blr. iMad'hail's discourse, is taken from 1 Sam. xii. 24 " It is an able, judicious performance, in some parts eloquent. It evinces a forcible mind." Rev. Robert Hall of Bristol. SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 247 stay at Rotterdam. The Protestant churches in the city were represented by ten clergymen : viz. Rev. Abraham Ch. Voute, ^ | Rev. John Hall, English Presbi/- Speaker. {.French. ''^''"'- Louis Porte, Peter Mounier, Sec. John J. le Sage ten -j Broek, ]■ Dutch. William INIacPhail, Scottish. Charles Philip Sander, Lu. theran. Peter Weiland, Remonstrant. Henry Oort. ' ' Nicholas Messchaert, Baptist. " His imperial majesty stood in the middle of the hall, having on his right the prince of Plaisance, Governor General, and surrounded by other high personages to us unknown. " The Roman Catholic priest of the Houttuin, in an un- intelligible tone, made a pretty long speech, which his majesty patiently heard to the end. After which, the em- peror put some questions to him in regard to the state of the Romish churches, and the number of catholics. Na- poleon then turned to the bishop and pastor of the Jansen- ists, whom he earnestly charged to fraternize with the other catholics. This gave occasion to an interchange of words between the respective priests, in which Bonaparte willingly took a share. His Majesty's remarks, though expressed with affability, were as follows : That the Ro- man Catholics must understand, that the power of the Pope to which they appeal, is not greater than that of other bishops ; that it is confined to spiritual matters, and has nothing to do with worldly affairs ; that the appointing of bishops belongs to him, the emperor ; that therefore, when he, the emperor, sends a pastoral instruction, they must submit to it, — his power, as regards them, being at ' least as great as that of any bishop.' " Having expressed himself in this manner, his Majesty turned round to the Protestants, at whose head Mr. Voute, with a strong and full voice addressed the emperor in a re- spectful but dignified, energetic, and appropriate speech. He testified to him the homage andsubmission of all the Protest- 248 HISTORY OF THE ants, and expressed their wishes for his personal prospe- rity, for his dynasty, and for his government. This re- spectful, but not flattering address, appeared to gratify the emperor. After that he had informed himself as to our churches, and of the total amount of the Protestant popu- lation, he spoke in commendation of the Protestants, and praised them as his best subjects. He even declared that, if the Romish churches of his empire had not entered into his views, he would have embraced the faith of the Protest- ants : that he now professed the faith of the Romish church : but, attentive to the precepts of the Gospel among the Protestants, he placed in the foreground the moral doctrine, do to others what you would wish others to do to you; that, in his arrangements, relative to the organiza- tion of the Romish and Protestant churches, in our coun- try, he should proceed with justice and equity, and be guided in his conduct toM^ards them, with a due regard to their numbers, expecting that Catholics and non- Catholics would live together in love, in which case they would con- stantly find in him a protector, but, on the contrary, the party fomenting quarrel would experience his displeasure, and lose its privileges. " His majesty afterwards addressed the representative of the Lutheran congregation, informed himself as to the state of his church, and their numbers, then he led on to some details, regarding points of difference between the Reformers and the Lutherans, and betwixt both these and the Roman Catholics, — and he again urged the consolida_ tion of the latter with the Jansenists, seeing that the stum- bling block between them, not being grounded upon points of doctrine, was in a great measure removed by the present order of things. ' In what regards the Protestants,' his majesty observed, ' it is now a long time since they have gained their cause, and they themselves make up their own religious societies : the various sects in which they are sub- divided, I shall leave to themselves : their difference has to SCOTTISH CHURCH IX ROTTERDAM. 249 do with opinions upon deep subjects, wliicli the human un- derstandino^ cannot fathom ; opinions which it is thus not proper to force upon each other.' " « Have you also,' said his majesty to the Protestants, * a zeal to make proselytes ?' * No, Sire,' answered Mr. Voute, ' this has never been our spirit.' The reply pleased the emperor, who immediately remarked, ' It is fit that a child adhere to the religion of his fathers ; he who abandons it inconsiderately, is, in my opinion, no honourable man.' " Farther, his majesty inquired respecting the British congregations, the number of their ministers, and their hearers. He asked, whether they belonged to the Church of England, and were thus Episcopalians? It was replied, that formerly, there had been such a Church here ;* but that those in question were Presbyterians — professed the same faith as the Reformers, and hence, their members were admitted into our church communion, just as ours are into theirs. " And now it was, lastly, the turn of the Israelites. They were interrogated by the emperor as to their num- bers ; if they belonged to the German or to the Portuguese Jews; (the first being answered in the affirmative,) whether they respected and punctually observed the law of Moses, in regard to usury and the institutions of the Sanhedrim of Paris ; and if they conducted themselves as orderly citizens. To all which queries a reply was given to his majesty's sa- tisfaction. In this manner, and with other discourse of less importance, we passed three quarters of an hour in the emperor's presence. Upon a sign given by him, we, along with all the other clergy, left the hall of audience, highly pleased with the honour which he had conferred up- on us, and the aifability with which we had been received, and listened to, by his imperial majesty."t " The members of the Church of England at Rotterdam had no clergy- man in 1811. See our notice of that Church. -f Translated from the original Dutc'i Report, in possession of the Scot- tish Consistory. 250 HISTORY OF THE The Dutch, pressed down by the overbearing conduct of Napoleon's haughty minions, were narrowly watched by the usurpers, who often attempted to entrap. In August 1812, an order was issued, commanding the members of the several Consistories in Rotterdam to give notice of any clandestine meetings within their knowledge, which as- sembled for the purpose of applying the predictions of Scripture to passing events, and of discussing politics.* In the words of an industrious and popular writer,f " the abuse, which the French made of their power, led the con- tending parties in Holland to forget their difference, and to unite as one against the oppressors of their country. Hence arose a new and a combined enthusiasm, and a spi- rit of resistance, which shewed that physical force cannot, for an unlimited time, chain down the heaven-born mind. Now came the revolution of 1813, which was hailed by songs of praise, of heroism, of triumph, to the defenders of Fatherland, and of congratulation to the state. Love of country was felt by every one with an ardour proportioned to the misfortunes which the state had experienced ; and the restoration of a family which was dear to her, was re- ceived Math universal joy." The Prince of Orange, after the resumption of his hereditary honours, took an early op- portunity of repairing to Rotterdam, — a city which has al- ways-been conspicuous for its loyalty to the house of Nassau. Upon the 9th December, 1813, scarcely a month after the sovereign's arrival, he held a levee in this city, which was attended by all the public bodies, civil and ecclesiastic, eager to give expression to their sentiments. These loyal addresses were collected and printed; and we would re- mark, in passing, that they were all worthy of the very in- teresting occasion. We extract the following speech, which was graciously received. It was delivered at the head of a deputation, by the Rev. James Anderson : • Consist. Regist. •f Professor Van Kampen of tbe Athenaeum, Amsterdam. SCOTTISH CHUllCH IN ROTTERDAM. 251 " Most Gracious Sovereign ! " We, the ministers, elders, and deacons, of the Scottish Church in this city of Rotterdam, who maintain the same doctrine, ecclesiastical discipline, and government, with the church established by law in North Britain, humbly beg leave to approach the person of your Serene Highness, and with heartfelt joy, to hail you on your safe arrival in your native country, after a long absence, which has proved ex- tremely detrimental to its dearest interests, and to congra- tulate your Serene Highness on your accession to the so- vereignty of the United States of the Netherlands. " It is with the liveliest sentiments of gratitude to Al- mighty God, that we see the heir of the illustrious house of Orange and Nassau restored with new lustre to the rights and prerogatives of his ancestors, whose uniform and zealous attachment to the reformed religion, and the liber- ties of their country, justly claims our grateful remem- brance. " When our hopes of emancipation from a foreign yoke were low, the Supreme Ruler of the universe has been graciously pleased to grant us a signal and unexpected de- liverance from the most debasing servitude and destructive tyranny. An event so momentous fills us with admira- tion of Divine providence in human affairs. " We beg leave most humbly to assure your Serene Highness, that, in teaching our fellow-subjects their duty, we will be especially careful to inculcate affection to your person, and thankful obedience to your government. The faithful discharge of their respective duties among all or- ders of men, must yield satisfaction to a wise prince. By performing the functions of our sacred office, diligently and conscientiously, we trust, that we shall secure our sove- reign's protection and favour, and what alone we value more, the approbation of God, whom we fervently suppli- cate to enable your Serene Highness to frame a wise, a free, and enlightened constitution of government for your 252 HISTORY OF THE people, and to render you a blessed instrument in contri-. buting speedily to terminate, by a secure and lasting peace, a sanguinary war, carried on by a bold aggressor of the in- dependence of nations, and of tlie civil rights of mankind; and of re-establishing liberty, security, and religion, which in our days have unfortunately been reduced to a low ebb in these provinces : And, lastly, our earnest prayer shall be, that descendants of the house of Orange may rule over a free, a loyal, and religious people, till the latest posterity, and that your Serene Highness may one day receive the brightest of those celestial crowns, which the Lord has promised to all them who love and faithfully serve him." In June, 1814, the kirk-session presented a petition to the sovereign of the United Netherlands in regard to the arrears due to the pastors of the Scottish congregation. After mentioning that this church had invariably been sup- ported by the Dutch government, and that the stipends of its successive ministers had always been paid out of the same funds, and to the same amount, with those of the native Reformed clergy, till the French usurped supreme power over the Provinces, this memorial to the Prince states: — That from the end of the year 1810, until the auspicious accession of his Royal Highness to the sove- reignty of the United Netherlands, the Scottish ministers did not receive from the existing government one year's stipend ; and, notwithstanding every means had been re- sorted to, that the clergy should not suffer, yet the balance still due them amounted to nearly four hundred pounds sterling. Let it suffice to say, that, some little time afterwards, to the generosity of the present government, an order was issued to discharge all unpaid ministers' sti- pend in the kingdom : and the Scottish Congregation, which suffered equally with the Dutch Reformed Church, of which, indeed, it forms a part, now received benefits si- milar to those conferred upon the latter. The Scottish Poor House was suppressed in 1815. The SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 253 Scottish Brigade, a principal source of supplying this charity with inmates, had long been disbanded ; and the few remaining members were comfortably alimented else- where. On Sabbath, November 2d, 1817, the third centenary of the glorious Reformation from Popery was celebrated in the Scottish church, as well as in all the other Protestant congregations in the kingdom of the Netherlands. Mr. Anderson preached in the morning from Gal. v. 1 ; and Mr. MacPhail's text in the afternoon, was Isaiah Ix. 3. The last time that the King of the Netherlands ho- noured the inhabitants of this city with an opportunity of giving utterance to their steady attachment to his per- son and government, was on the 16th of October, 1823. Audience was that day given to the different authorities in the county-hall ( Gemeenlandshiiis ) : and at the head of a commission from the Scottish Church, Mr. MacPhail, senior pastor, delivered the following speech : — " Most Gracious Sovereign, — We, your Majesty's dutiful and faithful subjects, a Deputation from the Scot- tish Consistory and Congregation in this city, beg leave to approach your royal person with sentiments of profound respect, and of loyal attachment. " Nearly ten years ago, — a period which your Majesty's auspicious reign has made to appear extremely short, — the same Deputation had the honour and felicity of welcoming your Majesty, upon your most joyful restoration to your native country, and to the hereditary dominions of your ancient and illustrious forefathers. " May it please your Majesty ! We now appear, most heartily to congratulate you upon the choice which Divine Providence hath been pleased to make of your Royal per- son, to fill the throne of the kingdom of the United Nether- lands ; a throne to which their personal merits, and their glorious achievements, gave your renowned ancestors the 254 HISTORY OF THE fairest title, — but to which the Almighty Sovereign of the nations had never seen meet to elevate them. " Nay morje, — and to rise still higher in our just con- gratulations, — we have to add, that by a most conspicuous and gracious agency of the same Divine Providence, like the pure diamond which, from the severest ordeal, receives not the smallest injury, but, on the contrary, derives a brilliant lustre it never had before, — your Majesty's Royal family has emerged from a long period of dormancy, of political extinction, to a degree of power and of glory, which, at no former period, adorned the illustrious House of Orange. " This, Sire, is evidently the doing of that God, to whom belong all the kingdoms of this earth, and by whom kings reign and princes decree justice ! " We must also beg leave to trespass upon your Ma- jesty's precious time, cordially to give you joy, upon the most happy results of a constitution, which was speedily formed amidst the din of arms, — and a constitution which has demonstrated its wisdom by such happy results ; upon the very flourishing state of commerce, manufactures, navi- gation, arts, and sciences, in so very short a period, after all these had been nearly lost amongst us ; and, especially, upon the profound internal tranquillity of your Majesty's compa- ratively new kingdom, composed as it is, of such heteroge- neous materials, while old monarchies of Europe, undivided and uniform alike in their sentiments of religion, and in their language, have been, and still are, the theatre of fierce civil discord, and of all its attendant calamities ! Here, we behold verified those words of holy writ, 'When the Lord giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? But if he be angry, w^ho then can behold him ? whether it be done against a nation or a man only.' " May your Majesty experience more and more, ' that the throne is established,' by a steady dependence upon the Almighty, in the exercise of every Christian, and of every SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM. 255 royal virtue, and those who honour God will be honoured by him ! " May your Majesty's royal posterity, to the latest ages, prove to the kingdom of the Netherlands, the pledge and channel of every privilege, sacred and civil. And may your Majesty, after having long, long reigned over a pious, a loyal, and a happy people, like the venerable King David, resign his temporal sway, to a son like Solomon ; and then, exchange an earthly, for a heavenly crown ! " These, Sire, are the sincere wishes, and fervent prayers, of every member of the Scottish Congregation ; of whose homage we have the honour to be the organs to your Ma- jesty; in whose name we most gratefully thank your Ma- jesty for your many and valuable favours already conferred; and in whose behalf, we solicit the continuance of your Majesty's most gracious protection !" The good monarch was sensibly affected during the de- livery of the above address; to which he condescendingly and very feelingly replied. The Rev. Dr. Anderson, having been for some time prevented by bodily infirmities from discharging his minis- terial duties, applied in 1828 to be made Emeritus. His petition was favourably received ; and accordingly, in January of the following year, he withdrew from public life, carrying with him into retirement, the best Mashes of many attached friends. The king of the Netherlands having in the most handsome manner granted permission to call a second minister, the writer of the present volume, who had been for nearly three years ordained assistant, had the honour to be chosen, and was duly inducted, March 8th, 1829, in room of the Rev. Dr. Anderson. Upon the accession of William the Fourth, a congratu- latory address from the Scottish Church in Rotterdam was presented to the British Monarch, in July 1830, by the Earl of Aberdeen, Secretary for Foreign Affairs; and which address his Majesty received most graciously. 256 HISTORY OF THE The patriotic spirit so universally displayed by the Dutch, since the recent revolt of the Belgian Provinces, surpasses any thing recorded of their eventful history in former times : and the truth of the national motto, Eendragt viaakt magt, (Unity produces strength,) was never more illustriously exemplified. To all this signal display of Netherland glory, the pen of impartiality will yet do ample justice ; but the author, living in the midst of a people who have made, and are still making, such prodigious efforts for their national honour, will, he trusts, be forgiven for here recording his own humble, yet hearty admiration of that remarkable devotedness to their country, which the brave and injured Hollanders are now giving to the world. But we must now draw this chapter to a close. Two centuries have nearly elapsed since the first planting of the church, whose history has been attempted in the pre- ceding pages. To the generosity of the States-General, and to the magistrates of Rotterdam, were Scotsmen in- debted not only for its erection, but for the expense atten- dant upon public worship. Since the assumption of royal power by the present beloved monarch, the Scottish con- gregation continues to receive from government most of the immunities which it originally enjoyed. If an earnest de- sire faithfully to discharge the momentous task assigned to its pastors, in setting before their hearers a pure exposi- tion of divine truth, agreeably to the received standards of the national churches of Holland and Scotland, to which they respectively belong ; in pressing upon those whom they are honoured to address, their duty to God and man, then may its ministers humbly expect the blessing of the Most High on their labours ; and they feel also assured that they will not look in vain for the continued counte- nance of that government, under whose paternal sway they so happily live ; and for whose growing prosperity, con- joined with that of their own Fatherland, they cease not to pray. NOTICES BRITISH CHURCHES NETHERLANDS. Quodsi veteres Romani, aeqneac Graeci, laudabili saneiiistituto, a Jove, et ceteris diis immoi'talibus ceperunt agendi priiuordia ; qua de re sa- tius est nie primulum disserere quam de templis vero Deo consecratis ? Washingtonii, De laude RoterodumL NOTICES BRITISH CHURCHES NETHERLANDS. Before presenting the reader with historical sketches of the other British congregations, each of which might justly claim to itself a more extended account than our limits will permit, it is proper that we should offer some general explanatory observa- tions as to the causes which immediately led to the establishment of those churches. Several centuries have elapsed since a profitable commercial intercourse began to be carried on between Great Britain and the Netherlands. It is impossible to state, with precision, the pe- riod when this connexion originated ; and we are by no means disposed to attach much importance to the old provincial chro- nicles, in which frequent, but indefinite, mention is made of a constant and lucrative trade. So early as the year 1285, the Dutch, for being allowed the privilege of fishing on the English coast, conferred certain immunities on such of King Edward's subjects as chose to repair to the Provinces.* To the Low Countries, now becoming the grand emporium for trade, merchants from distant nations anxiously flocked in quest of gain. During the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, Bruges was the centre of a universal commerce. The wives and daughters of the citizens outvied, in the richness of their dress, that of a (jueen of France ; and every luxury, which money could * Van Alkeiiiade's Beschr. der Stad Brielle. 260 BRITISH CHURCHES purchase, was to be seen, and might be procured, among the wealthy Flemings. Ghent, Louvain, and Brussels, were noted places for trade. At Malines, a single individual possessed counting-houses and commercial establishments at Damascus and Grand Cairo, and left to his heirs an immense fortune, the fruits of free commerce. A century later, Antwerp, the success- ful rival of Venice, and one of the principal sources of prosperity and abundance to the whole Netherlands, could, it is said, boast of almost five hundred vessels daily entering her ports, and two thousand carriages, laden with merchandize, passing through her gates every week.* In the mercantile pursuits carried on with such amazing spirit in the Low Countries, Britain soon took no unimportant share. Enterprising individuals from both sides of the Tweed were in- duced to settle in different parts of the Netherlands. Many Scotsmen resorted to Bruges, where extensive privileges had been bestowed upon them by John Duke of Burgundy, even prior to 1407.f And, as will be seen in the annexed Notices, the exten- sive and opulent company of merchants, Aenoxm-aoieAAdventurerSt had a powerful effect in bringing numbers of our countrymen to the continent. This respectable society, composed of English, ■Irish, and Scottish families, always carried a chaplain along with them; and it was generally the case, that, at the expiration of the company's agreement with a particular town, several of their number remained behind to follow their individual pursuits. Joined by others, those who had seceded from the society, or quitted its service, petitioned, and obtained, from the Dutch go- vernment, every assistance to secure for themselves and their fa- milies, the advantages of a stated ministry. Hence the origin of some of our churches in]this country. In the Isle of Walcheren alone, three British congregations flourished till the close of last century ; when Carapvere, an ancient staj^le port for the king- dom of Scotland, was broken up by order of the Batavian re- * Van Kampen. ■f Further information, and some curicxis particulars, respecting the origin and extent of British commercial intercourse with Flanders and Holland, will be found in Yair's Accoimt of the Scotch Trade in the Netherlands^ liond. 177c, 8vc. IN THE NETHERLANDS. 261 public, and deprived of all its valuable privileges. Not only in Zealand, but also in other parts of the United Provinces, parti- cularly at Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Dordrecht, and Delft, the British had already established themselves in considerable num- bers. To induce those and others to settle in the Provinces, and traffic with them, the States-general and the Magistrates of the towns, spontaneously and generously resolved to institute, and suitably to support, English and Scottish Presbyterian churches. Besides the great influence which commerce has exerted in peopling Holland with British families, another cause, arising out of the tyranny of Philip the Second, must now be adverted to. Queen Elizabeth being applied to, promptly sent out a body of six thousand troops, under the command of the Earl of Liecester, to the aid of the United Provinces, against the cruel oppression of the Spanish despot. She also advanced considerable suras of money ; and, as a security for the pay- ment of her loan, the towns of Flushing and the Brielle, with the fortress of Rammekeus, were given up to her.* These places were held in pledge from 1585 to 1616. Three regiments, well known on the Continent, under the name of the Scottish Bri- gade, and which had been raised in 1572, valiantly served in many campaigns under the princes of the house of Orange. They were among the oldest regular troops in Europe. In 1578 they sustained the brunt of the action against the Spaniards at the battle of Reminaut, near Malines, where they fought with- out armour, and in their shirts.-]- Belonging to this vast assem- blage of Scottish and English soldiers stationed indifferent parts of the Netherlands, was the full complement of chaplains. In course of time, these clergymen, with the others settled in the country, formed themselves into a body ecclesiastic, had fre- quent meetings, and are spoken of in some of our Consistorial registers, as well as by Dutch authors, as the Synod of the Bri- tish clergy in the United Provinces. We have not had the good fortune to discover where the synodal record is deposited, * Grattan's Hist, of the Netherlands, p. 81. f Crichtoii's TAfe of Licut.-Col. Blackadder, p. 68. See also Col. James (Junningliame's pamphlet, Strictures on Military Discipline, willi a Mili- inrrj Discmirse, and some Account of the Scotch Brigade in the Dutch service. 262 • BlllTISn CHUUCKES though we presume that it is in existence, and may yet be found among the archives of the States-General. Our reason for think- ing this probable, is the fact, that the following communication to that reverend court, is extracted from an extensive work noted for its accuracy, and containing a prodigious number of original papers, derived from the government offices in the Hague.* *' To the Synod of the English and Scottish clergy in the Netherlands, the annexed articles were exhibited and de- livered, this nineteenth day of May, 1628, in name of King Charles the First, by the Right Hon. Dudley Car- leton. Baron of Imbercourt, H. M. Ambassador Extra- ordinary to the States-General of the United Provinces. " I. It is his Majesty's pleasure that the foresaid clergymen do not interfere, either in making or composing, much less in pub- lishing or giving out, any new Liturgy or fixed form of prayer for their congregations. " II. That they shall in nowise undertake to exercise the power of ordination ; but that both of them, the English as well as the Scottish ministers, shall receive holy orders from their own mother churches, established in these kingdoms, and admit none into any pastoral charge, but such as has been so set apart. " III. That they shall introduce no novelties in any rites or ceremonies, relative either to the actual admission of lawful cler- gymen to their pastoral offices, or such as might be used in any other sacred ordinance whatever. " IV. That they shall not presume to meddle with any points of doctrine, but confine themselves to the doctrinal points already recognised by the English and German churches. " V. His Majesty is well satisfied that they will carefully ob- serve the directions which his royal father. King James, former- ly issued ; namely, to prevent the assumption of the pastoral of- fice by any who have not been legally clothed with that sacred character ; that they examine into, severely censure, and endea- " The book referred to in the text is, "\^an A'tzema's Hist, of United Prov., in Dutch, 7 vols, folio, which is most vahiable for the public acts, from 1621 to lfiC9, which it contains. There is a continuance of this work to l(Jfl2, in three volumes. Delvenne's Iiin;j. dcs Pitijs-niU. IN THE NETHERLANDS. 263 vour effectually to repress, every known species of immorality ; and his Majesty further enjoins them to keep a watchful eye up- on those who write books or pamphlets derogatory to the church or the state of England, and to use every means to prevent them. " VI. In case of any doubt or difficulty arising about the meaning or due execution of the above particulars, that they shall then address themselves to his Majesty's ambassador or agent for the time being, who will always have, or be able to obtain such instructions from his royal master, whereby such a pious work may be suitably countenanced and promoted. " D. Carleton." These articles, derived and translated from Van Aitzema's la- borious collection, have not, so far as known to us, been hither- to printed in the English language. The Synod's reply to Charles has also been preserved ;* but the great length of the document prevents the insertion of it in this place. The sub- stance, however, may be shortly stated. After professing their loyal attachment to Charles, their na- tive sovereign, they beg most respectfully to remind him, that they were also amenable to the States-General. They were most desirous to give no cause of offence to either party. Being the subjects of two very different and high authorities, the situation in which they were now placed was one of peculiar delicacy. To each article the answer was in effect as follows : *' I. As to making and publishing any new Liturgy, we grieve to think that our good intentions should be so misrepresented, as it never entered our minds to compose or publish any new Liturgy; neither would we attack or condemn the Liturgy of any other churches, but simply to extend the present, which we are charged by the States to maintain, adding to it from other formularies, and amongst the rest from the English Liturgy, as much as can properly be used in these churches ; which said Li- turgy has been in constant use in all the English churches in this country, from the time of Queen Elizabeth, of glorious me- mory, and whilst the Earl of Liecester governed these Provinces, and is likewise accepted and used with general approbation by * Van Aitzema, vol. i. pp. 765-768. 264 BRITISH CHURCHES our churches at the Brielle and Flushing, at that time absolutely dependant on the crown of England, and supported by her Ma- jesty. It was Elizabeth's constant desire that every thing should be done by her subjects residing here in conformity with the Netherland congregations, to prevent all offence, and to main- tain the peace and union of the churches. It is, we trust, your Majesty's intention that we shall still follow a similar course. To introduce a formulary which has never yet been authorized in these churches, or that we should allow every one to use a Liturgy as he pleased, would cause as great, aye, greater con- fusion and disorder, than that v/hich obtained previous to the establishment of our synod.* " II. Regarding the ordination of ministers, we humbly pray your Majesty to consider the nature of the ordinance ; being an essential point of our office, for the welfare of the liouse of God, over which we are set, as well to administer the sacraments as to preach the Gospel, so that we cannot, conscientiously, resign it, without being guilty of neglect of the office which Christ has given us ; and we are convinced, that, if your Majesty reflect up- on it, you will not forbid us to exercise the power conferred by the great Head of the church ; since, as we hope, no just cause exists in our persons or conduct to deserve it. If we should re- main a synod, without being allowed to ordain clergymen, we Avould be such an ecclesiastic body as is not to be met with in any of the Reformed churches. Are the Churches of England and Scotland to take upon themselves the sole privilege of or- daining ministers for congregations in other countries where they have no authority, and where the churches are not depend- ent on them, being under another, and a foreign state ? " HI. We are heartily sorry, that our lawful and ordinary pro- ceedings, in conformity with all other Reformed Churches, • For tlie use of such natives as chose to join, the Liturgy of the Church of England was translated into Dutch about the beginning of the seventeenth century. The earliest copy which we have seen is in duodecimo, and print- ed at Rotterdam in 1C45. Of this work tliere were several editions; that ]>ublished by Crellius at Amsterdam, 1711, in Dutch and English, has the imprimatur of the bishop of London. A new translation, by eminent na- tive scholars, is in contemplation, under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Bos- worth of Rotterdam. IN TFIE NETHERI-ANDS. 265 should have been so unjustly stigmatized. Nothing has been done by us but what is laudable and decent, agreeably to the old and present customs of these churches. " IV. Although, from the bottom of our souls, we have good cause to thank God for your Majesty's devout care, that the truth may be preserved, and errors avoided, nevertheless, we must be pardoned for stating our astonishment that your Ma- jesty should have been induced to form so unfavourable an opinion of us. Among our whole number there is none pollut- ed in the least degree with Popery, Arminianism, or any other doctrinal error ; but we have always stood, and through the mercy of heaven, shall ever stand, firm to the truth recognized by the English and German Churches. " V. We never understood that your Majesty's father, of glo- rious memory, contemplated granting us less power than is im- parted to the French Churches in these provinces; though it has been attempted, (for what reason we know not,) to make your Majesty believe the contrary. We shall do our utmost to ac- quit ourselves in all our proceedings, to the satisfaction of the States, of all the churches, and of your Majesty, relative to every particular recommended to us in this article. We ear- nestly beseech your Majesty to retain us in your royal favour and protection, and to harbour no suspicion of us, that we would ever designedly do anything disagreeable to your Majes- ty, or against the churches of England and Scotland. Such dis- ingenuous reports can only originate with those who endeavour to gratify a malignant partjs and have little estimation for God's glory, and your Majesty's honour, in the peace and welfare of the Churches." Whether the correspondence dropped here, we have not the means of ascertaining ; neither do we know at what period the Synod ceased to exist. Although the English army was withdrawn, the Scottish Brigade, as mentioned before, continued in the pay of this coun- try, and, after a service of more than two hundred years, it be- came nationalized during the American war. The most impor- tant of its records were then deposited in the Consistory Cham- SCO BRITISH CHURCHES ber of the Scottish Church at Rotterdam.* Many of the Scots officers formed alliances with the first families in Holland : and several of their descendants continue to hold important places of trust in the kingdom of the Netherlands. Anxious to pre- serve any memorials of our countrymen who, in olden times, signalized themselves in the Provinces by their piety or professional talents, we have given in the Appendix,-}- several monumental inscriptions which occur in the different churches ; and we have also added some of a more modern date. Holland has long been eminently distinguished among the na- tions of Europe as the favoured seat of civil and religious liber- ty. Rightly appreciating such distinguished privileges, the Dutch have uniformly received with open arms, and afforded most seasonable protection, to those of other countries, who were persecuted for conscience sake. The present volume af- fords many gratifying proofs of the benefit which our pious fore- fathers obtained from the States. The celebrity of the Universities of Holland drew students from almost every corner of the globe. At Leyden alone, a seminary which may be well termed European, nearly 2000 Bri- tish were, during the eighteenth century, enrolled as students.:}: Such an influx of our countrymen occasioned the erection of the churches at the seat of the colleges ; and those churches have been suppressed, only because so very few English have of late years availed themselves of the prelections of the learned men who now occupy the different chairs in the Dutch Universi- ties. The last occasion in which our Presbyterian Churches in the Netherlands appeared in a collective capacity, was in the year 1714, when George the First passed through this country on his way to England. Upon his arrival at the Hague, they present- ed to him the following Address : — * Appendix, Note F. + Appendix, Note G. ± Te ^\''ate^s' Narratio de Rebus Acad. Lugduno-Batavae seculo octavo et decimo prosperis et adversis. 8vo. Lug. Bat. 1802. p. 56. Siegenbeek's Geschiedems der Leidsche Hoogeschool, 8vo. liUg. Bat. 1829. Vol. I. pp. 2b7. 288. IX THE XKTIIEKLANDS. 267 " To His Most Excellent Majesty, George, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, De- fender of the Faith, &c. "The Humble Address of the British Churches establish- ed in Holland. " Great Sir I " Though we are immediately subject to the States of Holland, whose gracious protection of our persons, and gene- rous endowment of our churches, we thankfully acknowledge ; yet most of us being natives of Great Britain and Ireland, we crave leave to profess to your most Sacred Majesty, our unfeign- ed joy upon your happy accession to the Crown of those king- doms, to which you have the most legal right and best of titles. " With admiring thoughts, therefore, of the divine goodness, and thankful hearts upon this joyful occasion, we congratulate your Majesty on your Majesty's peaceable advancement to the throne of Great Britain, at a time when all true Protestants were under dismal apprehensions of the dangers that threatened your Majesty's succession, and the Reformed religion. " This wonderful providence has scattered our fears, revived our hopes, and rejoiced our hearts, now we behold you. Great Sir, advanced, by the God of heaven, to reign over the king- doms of Great Britain and Ireland, and the dominions thereto belonging, and to rescue all true Protestants, and particularly those of our principles in the British Islands, from the dangers and hardships to which they have been exposed, notwithstanding their steady zeal for your royal family. " That your Majesty may be safely conducted over the mighty waters, peaceably settled in your dominions, and emi- nently blessed in all your administrations for the glory of God, the good of your people, and the preservation of religion and liberty in all this part of the world ; that there may be always a good understanding and hearty friendship between your most Sacred Majesty, and their High Mightinesses the States-Gene- ral ; that all your enemies may be clothed with shame, and your throne be established in righteo-isness ; and that the Imperial S68 BRITISH CHURCHES Crown of Great Britain may long flourish on your royal head, is the constant and hearty prayer of, " May it please your Majesty, "Your Majesty's most dutiful, and most obedient Native Subjects of the Reformed Religion, in the Provinces of Holland."* The incorporation of our Presbyterian religious endowments with the Dutch Reformed Church will be noticed when we treat of that Establishment. It is now time that we proceed to offer a succinct account of the British Congregations which have been, or are now, esta- blished in the Netherlands. As, in a few cases, we cannot speak with desirable certainty as to the date of institution of particu- lar churches, the alphabetical, instead of chronological, order has been adopted. • From the Consistorial Register of the English Preshvterian Cliurch Rotterdam, of date September 7th, 1714. IN THE NETHERLANDS. 269 AMSTERDAM. Brownist Congregation. — In the latter half of the sixteenth century, those dissenters from the establishment, styled Brown- ists, from Robert Brown the founder, being debarred by the court from holding meetings in England, flocked in great num- bers to different towns in the United Provinces. As we shall have occasion to speak of them in the sequel, we may here state their peculiar tenets. They maintained " that the form of church government should be democratical ; that every distinct society was a body corporate ; having full power within itself to admit or exclude members, to choose and ordain officers, and when the good of the society required it, to depose them, without being accountable to any other jurisdiction. They did not al- low the priesthood to be a distinct order ; any lay brother had the liberty of prophesying, or giving a word of exhortation in their church assemblies ; it was usual after sermon for some of the members to propose questions, and confer with each other, upon the doctrines that had been delivered. They declare against all prescribed forms of prayer ; and as for church cen- sures, they were for an entire separation of the ecclesiastical and civil sword. Some of their reasons for withdrawing from the Church are not easily answered. They alleged, that the laws of the realm, and the Queen's injunctions, had made several un- warrantable additions to the institutions of Christ: that there were several gross errors in the church service : and these additions and errors were imposed and made necessary to communion : that, if persecution for conscience sake was the mark of a false church, they could not believe the Church of England to be a true one. They apprehended further, that the constitution of the hierarchy was too bad to be mended ; that the very pillars of it were rotten, and that the structure should be raised anew. Since, therefore, all Christians are obliged to preserve the ordi- nances of Christ pure and undefiled, they resolved to lay a new foundation, and keep as near as they could to the primitive pat- tern, though it were at the hazard of -Al that was dear to them 270 BRITISH CHURCHES in the world." Such were the principles of the Brownists, whose chief error seems to have been, their uncharitableness, in unchurching the whole Christian world but themselves.* About the year 1600, the Brownists who had settled at Am- sterdam, chose Francis Johnson as pastor, and Henry Ains- M'orth as doctor or teacher. They were joined by John Smytli of Gainsborough, and several others, in 1606 ; but this new auxiliary, adopting doctrines not unlike those shortly after- wards promulgated by Arminius, was forthv,dth expelled. Mr.' Smyth and his adherents went and established themselves at Leyden. Another schism took place in the Amsterdam con- gregation, on the subject of discipline : Johnson insisted that the government of the church was vested solely in the eldership, whilst Ainsworth, on the other hand, contended that it was in the church generally, of which the elders are a part. The dis- pute unfortunately was conducted with so much warmth, that a separation took place : and two meeting-houses for a while ex- isted at Amsterdam, called from the respective leaders, the Franciscan and Ainsworthian Brownists. Johnson having re- tired to Emden,f his small flock was dispersed, or joined that of * Neal's Puritans, (vol. i. pp, 253-4) quoted by Mr. Walter Wilson, in his interesting IJislory and Aritiquities of Dissenting Churches and Meet' ing Houses in London, IVestminster, and Southwark, (vol. h pp. 10, 17,) to whicli we refer for the detailed notices of the Brownists. In speaking of this last work, I beg to acknowledge my obligations to the industrious author, and to express my hope that he may he duly encouraged in com- pleting his original design, by favouring the public with the prepared Jifth volume of his History. -j- Emden, in East Friesland, to which Mr. Johnson repaired, was the ready asylum of numbers of our countrymen in the reign of ]Mary. John a Lasco, the famous Polish nobleman who accompanied the English refu- gees to this place, aided them also in the formation of a presbyterian church there in 1554. David Simson, a Scotsman, formerly a catholic priest in England, was chosen pastor; and, besides five elders and four dea- cons, there were two schoolmasters attached to his church. Mr. Simson, in a few years, was succeeded by David Whitehead, who subsequently be- came chaplain to the British residents at Frankfort on the I\Iaine. Shortly after the erection of this presbyterian church, the English Episco- palians, who were very numerous here, obtained a separate chapel. Sub- joined to the preface of Archbishop Cranmer's work on the Sacrament, IN THE NETHERLANDS. 271 Ainsworth, who continued till his melancholy death, which, there is good reason to believe, was effected by poison adminis- tered by a Jew. This occurred about 1622. He was succeeded by John Canne, the well-known author of the marginal referen- ces to the Bible. I have been unable to discover who were the pastors subsequent to the death of Mr. Canne in 1667. Though it certainly might be expected, from the number of years they lived here, and the great notoriety of the leaders of this sect, that something new might be found in Holland, there remains, I am sorry to say, little to be told regarding the Brownists, with which the English reader is not already acquainted. The theo- logical writings of Henry Ainsworth, who was one of the best linguists of his day, particularly his Annotations on the Penta- teuch, are frequently and honourably referred to by the old Dutch and German theologians. That the opinions of the Brownists excited great interest in the Netherlands, is abun- dantly evident, from the fact, that mostly every thing which proceeded from their pen was instantly translated : and not only were their numerous tracts rendered into Dutch, but various reprints and versions appeared at the principal cities in Holland. The number of the Brownists was at no time very consider- able at Amsterdam. At first, they held their meetings without the walls, but they soon obtained a licensed chapel within the printed at Emden in 1557, is a list of those bishops, archdeacons, deacons, and others, who, obliged to fly from England, settled in this town. Em- den was also, on two different occasions, a staple port for English cloth. A serious quarrel took place in the seventeenth century, betwixt the chief magistrate of Emden, and the celebrated William Penn, who resided here immediately before his departure for America. Penn pertinaciously at- tempted to establish a Quaker meeting, but was completely foiled by his opponent, the burgomaster. For these particulars, and other historical notices not generally known, I am indebted to the obliging kindness of Professor Ypey of Groningen, and the Rev. Hugh Mackay, Emden. The venerable Mr. Mackay, who has been nearly half a century a much re- spected clergyman of the Dutch Reformed Church, is of Scottish descent, and in his youth spoke nothing but English. Two of his sons have also chosen the clerical profession, and are settled in Holland : Daniel John is esta- blished at Amsterdam, and David George holds the rarely combined ap- pointments of minister of the parish, and rector of the Grammar school of Stavoren, in Friesland. 272 BRITISH CHURCHES gates. Their place of worship being destroyed by fire in 1662, they were at the expense of erecting another near it, on the Barndesteeg, six years afterwards. There is an alley which still goes by the name of the Brownists' gang.* After the Brownists had existed in this capital for more than a century as a separate community, their establishment was en- tirely broken up ; and their last representatives, six in all, in- cludino- two quondam office-bearers, were, at their own solicita- tion, received as members of the British Reformed or Presby- terian Church, Amsterdam, April 10th, 170 l.f Previous to this step, they conveyed all right to their chapel to the Dutch dea- cons, with an explicit understanding that it should never be us- ed but by those of the Reformed religion.;}: Several of the Amsterdam Brownists, about the middle of the seventeenth century, joined the Flemish Baptists and the Quak- ers who were numerous here. William Sewel, the respectable historian of the society of Friends, was the grandson of a Brown- ist. He was born at Amsterdam in 1654. Three years after this, his father, John Sewel, till then in communion with the Baptists, joined the Quakers, whose meetings here, at Rotter- dam, and at other places in the United Provinces, were then much frequented. He then continued till his death, March 13th 1720, a staunch supporter of the Quaker meeting in his native city, where, as a literary man, he comfortably maintained himself by his writings. He published a Dutch and English Dictionary, a translation of Josephus, &c. besides being a con- stant contributor to the Amsterdam Courant.|| Church of Scotland. — The Magistrates of Amsterdam having, in the year 1578, openly embraced the doctrines of the Refor- mation, the Catholics were forthwith obliged to surrender the principal churches, of which till then they had indisputable pos- session. And the Begyns, an ancient order of Nuns, were also under the necessity of placing their little chapel at the disposal " Wa'^enaar's Beschr. van Amst. vol. vii. pp. 592, 3. Octavo edit. f Regist. Scottish Cllmrch, Amsterdam, ap. an. + Wagenaar. ut supra. II \Viigeiiaar, vol. xi. p. 32G. IN THE NETHERLANDS. 273 of the burgomasters. To the British Presbyterians, who were numerous here in the beginning of the seventeenth century, the vacated Begyn chapel was assigned. This old building is situat- ed off the Kalver street, in the centre of a private court, called, from the Nuns who still continue to be its only inhabitants. The Begyn-hof. In instituting their church, our countrymen were warmly patronized by the magistrates, who, at the same time, granted them a pastor, with a salary payable by the city, and all the rights and privileges of public worship. Upon the 5th Fe- bruary 1607, " Mr John Paget, who had been called to be min- ister, did, after prayer and thanksgiving to God, particularlie for his mercie in his worke, preache the first sermone in this church. His text was Psal. li. 10, * Create in mee a cleane heart, O God.'"* He was duly admitted 29th April following, by Mr John Doug- las, chaplain to a Scots regiment quartered at Utrecht, and, by appointment of the Classis or Presbytery of Amsterdam, three of their members assisted at his induction.-]- This church, having been established for the benefit of British Presbyterians, and incorporated with the Dutch Reformed Church, is, in all public acts, recognized as an English Presbyterian or Reformed church. But its pastors having for many years been Scotsmen, and, with very few exceptions, been ordained in the Church of Scotland, it is called also a Scottish Church in doctrine and discipline, and in every respect, language and some guaranteed usages except- ed, it agrees with the Dutch Reformed or Calvinistic Church : and its ministers, assisted by an elder, take session in the Classis of Amsterdam. In addition to their stated pastors, the magistrates continued to supply the congregation with assistant ministers till 1709, when they were pleased to institute a second charge ; and, from that year, this church has, with very short intermissions, enjoyed the ministrations of two clergymen, whose salaries were, in the course of years, equalized. The Consistory of this Scottish Church, comprising the two ministers, four elders, and four deacons, is di- vided, according to the Dutch practice, into two chambers, — the ministers and elders meeting in one, and the deacons in another ; but, on cases of common interest, the members of both chambers • Consist. Regist. f lb. and RegisU Eng. Ch. Utrecht. 274 EUITISn CHURCHES meet together. The pastors are chosen by the Consistory, with the permission and approbation of the King of the Nether- lands, conceded at the request of the classical Court ; and, ex- clusive of their stii>end, formerly paid by the city, and now wholly by the State, all the temporal exigencies of the estab- lishment are provided for out of the pecuniary contributions of the members, by a commission of four church-masters appointed by Consistory. Individuals of every nation, who understand English, and who produce certificates attesting the soundness of their faith and the purity of their morals, or who are instructed by the clergyman, and found qualified by the Consistory, are now admissible into the membership of this Christian community, and among its members are enrolled eminent merchants and bankers, city counsellors and magistrates, and deputies of the States General. Encouraged by the protection of the local authorities, and by the gradual accession of members, both Dutch and English, the ministers, elders, and deacons, rivalled each other in promoting the more effective celebration of divine ordi- nances, and the spiritual edification of the flock ; and, by their united exertions, the Church possessed, before the middle of last century, a new edition of Tate and Brady's version of the Psalms, and a collection of hymns — the first perhaps ever used in this country — both set to music ; and, moreover, an improved trans- lation of the Heidelberg Catechism, and of the Confession of Faith of the Dutch Reformed Church, with its forms for the administration of the holy sacraments, and the performance of other ecclesiastical oflfices. And shortly afterwards, the Church was furnished, at the joint expense of all the members of the Consistory, with a handsome organ and a clock, a silver font for baptism, and a magnificent service of silver plate for the com- munion table, together with two ebony boxes, to be placed on that table, for receiving the gifts of the communicants to the poor. The members of this congregation, in their official char- acter, correspond frequently with their brethren in the Church of Scotland ; and, although they may but rarely have occasion for correspondence with the Supreme Court of that Church, yet, when one* of them was, in the year 1752, commissioned to fur- • The Rev. Dr. Thomson, who was afterwards successively minister of IN THE NETHEIII.ANDS. 275 ther in Great Britain the interests of German Protestants in America, some epistolary intercourse took place between the Consistory and the General Assemby. Here it may be proper to remark, on account of what follows, that, except in the event of war, and direct hostilities between Holland and England, prayer for the British nation and Royal family is continually offered up in this, as in all the other English churches in the Netherlands ; and the members are not at any time hindered, by the tenets of their religious belief, from culti- vating towards that kingdom the warmest sentiments of Christian charity. It would appear, that one of the pastors of this congre- gation displeased the Dutch in 1666, by a well-intentioned, but ill-timed allusion to Great Britain. In September that year, when a great part of London was destroyed by hre, Richard ]Maden, minister of the English Presbyterian Church here, took occasion to pray in public for its restoration and prosperity. The burgomasters, in consequence of instructions from the States of Holland, summoned the offender before them ; and, in their presence, he confessed that he had indeed prayed for the restora- tion and prosperity of the British metropolis, but, at same time, assured them, that if it gave offence, he should desist doing so in future. They found, however, that such prayers were in- decorous in the hottest of the war with Great Britain, and Maden, on the 2d of October, was accordingly prohibited from performing any ministerial duty, and enjoined, besides, to absent himself from public worship until farther orders. It is very probable that he would have been treated with more severity, had it not appeared that he was accustomed to implore the blessing of heaven upon the land and sea forces of the States." Such is the account given by Wagenaar in his History of Am- sterdam;* but it is remarkable that the register of the church is silent on the subject ; and, if Maden was actually suspended, Gargunnock and St- Ninians. In consequence of the powerful representa- tions of this gentleman, who visited Edinburgh for the express purpose, the General Assemlily appointed a collection to be made at the church doors of ail the parishes in Scotland, for relief of the German Protestant churches settled in Pennsylvania and North America. Jc(s of Assembly, 1752. lb, 1753. * Wagenaar, vol. v. p. ■I'iii. 276 BRITISH CHUllCHES the minutes afford sufficient proof of bis being speedily in active^ service again. The ministers of this congregation — and, we re- joice to say, the remark is appbcable to all the British clergy who have been established in the United Provinces — have had the wisdom never to take any active part in the commotions which at different times have distracted this country. That political excitement, however, which so violently agitated Holland towards the end of the last century, was peculiarly tr3'ing to men occupying public stations ; and, walking as they were in the midst of popular effervescence, the ministers of this church found themselves sometimes involved in perplexing and painful circum- stances. To harmonize their inalienable allegiance to the Royal House of Brunswick, their cherished loyalty to the illustrious House of Orange, and their dutiful submission to the powers in being here, was, it must be owned, a most arduous task ; and while it is to be regretted that one of them was so harassed by factious spirits, that he resigned his charge, it is not surprising that another, who would not recognise the constituted authori- ties, was dismissed from his. We here allude to the Rev. Mr. Nicolson, and the Rev. Dr. Peirson. The former having, in 1781, refused to introduce into public worship an obsolete form of prayer, prescribed by the States of Holland, in the event of war with Great Britain, and which, however offensive to English- men, was voluntarily used by his colleague, Dr Peirson, was, by the magistrates of Amsterdam, suspended in the exercise of his pastoral functions. Upon this, Mr Nicolson instantly sought and obtained his dismission, quitted Holland, took orders in the Church of England, and went as chaplain to the British embassy at Constantinople, where, after a few years, he died.* Dr. Peir- son, as a matter of course, now became senior minister. And having, as we have said, refused to recognise the newly formed administration, he was by them discharged ; and, still persisting to withhold his allegiance, he precipitately fled to England, from which he never returned. Five years before his death, which took place at Chelsea, July 12th, 1820,f he disposed of the greater part of his library by public auction in London; and the " Private Information and BibUothcca Pcirsoniana, p. 126. ■f Tombstone in the Dutch lieformed Ch. Avstin Friars, London, IN THE NETHERLANDS. 277 Catalogue Itaisonne, which he drew up himself, is quite a lite- rary curiosity, and, in spite of its needlessly numerous invectives against the French usurpers in Holland, is deserving of a place in the collections of the bibliographist. The " Apology for selling my Library," prefixed to the Bibliotheca Peirsoniana, is a singular production. Soon after his departure, Dr. Peirson's place in the Scottish Church at Amsterdam was filled up; an<^j through the providence of those who ruled the helm, this inte- resting bark was enabled, by grace divine, to weather all the storms that assailed it during that revolutionary period. So faithfully devoted were the members of Consistory to the charge committed to their oversight, that, in the beginning of the present century, when death had deprived them of both their pastors, they resolved to assemble in church with the congregation every Lord's day, and hear the Scriptures and a printed sermon read by the clerk, till the great Head of the Church should be pleased to supply a spiritual overseer. The vacancy was filled up sooner, perhaps, than, in the peculiar circumstances of the country, might have been expected ; and, in graieful memory of the ma- gistrates of Amsterdam, it should be recorded that they were for two hundred years nursing fathers of this Presbyterian Church; and it may be subjoined, that in fostering it, they were also sub- serving the spiritual intei'ests of the Church of England in that city, for the members of the latter have not only, on all occasions, had free access in the former to public worship, but they have also, when there was no resident Episcopal chaplain, been ad- mitted to sacramental ordinances in the Scottish Church, and by its ministers, have their sick and afflicted been visited and comforted. This Scottish Church experienced, at the hands of the French authorities, no hardships but such as were then common to others ; and although the salaries of its ministers were, after tlie incorporation of Holland with the French empire, suffered to fall into arrear, yet that deficiency, of considerable amount, was, at the glorious Restoration, generously and promptly brought up by its church- masters, and never reclaimed from the state. The Restoration may be viewed as a new era in this church. Here was founded immediately after that event, the English Bible So- ciety, having for its patron H. R. H. the Prince of Orange, and 278 BRITISH CIIUIICIIES for its president, H. E. the Earl of Clancarty ; and here also, shortly afterwards, was formed the Netherlands Bible So- ciety. Besides, by the members of this church, were esta- blished the Netherlands Tract Society, the Society for Pro- moting the Education of the Jews, and the Amsterdam English Reading Society. In justice to its members, it may further be noticed, that they, since the event referred to, paid an- nually, through their church-masters, for a period of six years, the third part of the salary of one of their ministers, that being the pension allowed to his predecessor in office who retired through indisposition. A few years ago were printed at Haarlem, for the use of this congregation, a Text Book, or a Harmony of the Scriptures, for the annual sermons during Christmas, Lent, Good Friday, Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost ; and a selection of hymns set to music, and adapted to those and all other occasions of Chris- tian worship. In 1830, the number of souls connected with the church amounted to three hundred.* The minutes of the kirk-session are nearly complete ; the baptismal register commences March 4th, 1607, and that of marriages on the 2d Dec. same year. Till about a century ago, this church had a special visitor of its sick, named Ziekentrooster. He belonged to an order of in- ferior clergy in Holland, and was appointed and paid by the magistrates. To accommodate many English families who took refuge in this capital upon the restoration of Charles II, a considerable addition was made to the chapel at the city's expense. This, we believe, is the only British Church in the Netherlands now used as a place of interment. Among others who possess vaults, the Nuns still hold property in graves in that portion of the Scottish Church, consecrated in the days of popery. When a Begyn dies, twelve of the sisters carrj' the body in solemn pro- cession three times round the hof or court, immediately before burial. Connected with this church is an Orphan House, whose * Feuiiiiji's Alphil. Resist, p. 9. IN THE NETHEllLANDS. 279 earliest and largest pecuniary benefactor was Mr. John Jordan, a member of the congregation. It was instituted in 1651 ; the deacons are, ex officio, governors, and they are assisted by two deaconesses. Two individuals, styled father and mother, reside in the house, and superintend the internal economy of this use- ful establishment. Wagenaar has furnished the Dutch public with a pretty ac- curate account of this church.* Through the politeness of the Rev. Dr. Buist, St. Andrews, I have also consulted a MS. in his possession, entitled A Short History of the English Presbyterian Church in Amsterdam, written in 1764, by the Rev. Dr. Blin- shall, one of the ministers, who was in the course of that year translated to Dundee. Whilst I have availed myself of the sources of information just mentioned, I cannot forbear stating, — though I exceedingly regret that I am reluctantly jirevented from being more explicit, — that for most of the materials of which the preceding article is composed, and for other valuable com- munications, I am greatly indebted to a much respected clerical friend in this country. Ministers.-^ 1607 John Paget, M. A. 1017 Tho. Potts, M. A. 1C3!) .John llulitius, . 1C37 JuHus Bering-, 1039 Tho. Paget, AI.A. 1G47 Richd. fllaUeu, 1648 Wm. Price, 1660 Kichd. Woodward, 106!) Alex. Hodge, M.A. 1691 Adr. van Uostrum, . 29 D . 18 D 3 T 8D 7T . 22 E . 18D 9 D . 20 D 1 T 1700 Hugo Fits, . . 41 E 1711 Dan. Rainey, . . 28 R 1740 Dav. Longneville, M.A.+ 36 D 1742 Dav. Thomson, . . 16 T 1758 Ja. Blinshall, D. D. . 6 T I7O0 V/m. Grierson, . 9 T 1775 Cha. Nicolson, M. A. 6 li 1777 Tho. Peirson, D, D. (see above) ^ . 19 • Wagenaar's Beschr. van Amst. vol. vii. pp. 590 — 596. -|- Tlie figures before each clergyman's name mark the commencement, and those after it, the years of his ministry in the particular church. R de notes that he resigned; T was translated to another benefice; E became emeritus ; D died in office. X An original portrait of the Rev. Mr. Longueville, a Scotsman, and the friend of Dr. Doddridge, is in the possession of the Rev. Dr. Macintosh. I may here state, without wishing to detract, in the least degree, from the acknowledged merits of his worthy co-adjutors, thatit v^as chiefly through the agency and influence of Mr. Longueville, that the church received those improvements, viliich, as specified in tiie text, distinguished his long and effective ministry. 280 BRITISH CKUnCHES 1782 Gill). Gerard, D. D.« 9 T 1791 Richd. Buchanan, D.D. 3 D 1795 Koht. Watt, M.A. . 5 D 1797 Cha. Hunter, M.A. . 2 D 1801 James Low, M.A. . 16 D 1803 Wm. Stodait, . . 4 R 1807 Alex. Macintosh, D. D. 1818 W. B. Nivis()n,t • 6 1823 Alex. B. Mackey, A. M. Church of England. — Holland, as we have already remarked, received into its bosom and fostered those Episcopalians who fled from the persecutions of Queen Mary. Small congregations ■were formed in different towns ; and, for the use of such natives as chose to join, the Liturgy of the Church of England was trans- lated into Dutch about the middle of the 17th century, and ex- cited much attention.^: Though many Episcopalians sojourned here during the troublous reigns of Charles and his brother James, they seem to have met for divine service with their Pres- byterian countrymen. There is no satisfactory account of any regular establishment at Amsterdam, for the resident members of the Protestant Episcopal Church of England, previous to the year 1698, at which time the registers commence, and a minister was appointed by the Lord Bishop of London. They assembled in a hired upper appartment, which had been used by the Roman Catholics ; but, in 1765, the burgomasters granted them permis- sion, till a suitable edifice was obtained, to meet in the hall of the Athenseura.§ Sanctioned and protected by the English and Dutch govern- ments, this church respectably supported itself under the imme- diate patronage of the metropolitan bishops, with the aid of a grantof L. lOOper annum from the British Exchequer, until 1806, ■when the service was discontinued, the funds were dissipated, • Dr. Gilbert Gerard resigned 3d April, 1791, having been appointed Professor of Greek in King's College, Aberdeen. Consist. Regist. In 1796, he was elected, after a comparative trial by the delegates of the Synod of Aberdeen, to succeed his father as Professor of Divinity in the same Uni- versity. He became, in 1811, minister of the second charge of Old Machar ; and at the period of his death, Sept. 2!Jth, 1815, was one of the royal chap- lains Geiieral List of the Members of Theol. Sac. Edin. p. 7- -|- The Rev. William Brown Nivison, on account of ill health, returned to Scotland in 1823, having obtained from his Majesty an honourable dis- mission from this charge. X See p. 264 of this work. § Wagenaar's Besc/ir. van Amst. vol. vii. pp. 97 — COl. IN THE NETHERLANDS. J28l and the congregation dispersed, in consequence of the French invasion of Holland. When, happy for the country at large, the Orange family returned, the Dutch government was re-esta- blished, and then generously intimated an inclination to provide a small yearly salary for the minister of this chapel, if he and his people, like their brethren of the Scottish communion, would be subject to the Dutch Synod. On such conditions, the Epis- copalians respectfully declined all assistance, alleging that, as members of the Church of England, they could recognise no other ecclesiastical authority except that of an English prelate. In 1818, the congregation once more statedly assembled, but as the old chapel was irrecoverably lost, and the newly collected congregation, including numerous poor, were not in a situation to erect or purchase a chapel, this appendage of the Episcopal establishment would have fallen, if means had not been procured for placing it upon a substantial and permanent basis. This was accomplished on the appointment of the Rev. Mr. Jeans, by whose pious and zealous exertions, a liberal collection was ob- tained ; of which nearly L. 600 was raised among the members. The local government handsomely granted a sufficient piece of ground, on which is erected a neat and commodious church, with an adjoining house for the residence of the minister. Before the work was completed, the sudden and lamented loss of Mr Jeans, the much respected pastor, who died August 20th, 1827, while on a visit to England, gave a check to the subscriptions, but, by the persevering eiForts of the church wardens, the building was so far finished as to be opened by the Rev. Mr. Parham, at the close of the last mentioned year. The contributions were most judiciously applied ; lor, besides erecting the church and a dwell- ing house, there was vested in the Funds, in the name of his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, and other trustees, the sum of L. 800, the interest of which is permanently secured, to- gether with what is annually paid from the Exchequer, to aug- ment the salary of the officiating clergyman. A Sabbath School has been established at the expense of the congregation ; and, assisted with books from the Society for Pro- moting Christian Knowledge, about thirty poor children are instructed in their native language, and in the principles of reli- gion. The church members amount to one hundred and fifty- 282 BRITISH CHUllCHES two, yet not more than the one half are in circumstances to pay for their seats, or to contribute to the support of divine service.* By an act of Parliament, termed the Consular Act, passed in the 6th of Geo. IV. chap. 87, certain provision is made for minis- ters of the national churches of England and Scotland who may be professionally and statedly employed abroad, in such places where British subjects reside, or repair to, in considerable numbers. The ministers of this church, like all Episcopalians in foreign parts amenable to this law, must be licensed by the Bishop of London, to whose ecclesiastical jurisdiction they belong. Agreeably to this act also, a portion of the stipend of the officiating chaplain here, is raised by the congregation, the English government al- lowing a sum equivalent to that derived from ^W^«s/i seat- holders and subscribers. The resident consul, ex officio, presides at the annual meeting of the supporters of the church, and transmits to the secretary of Foreign Affairs, an attested statement of monies collected, and of necessary expenditure during the year, for the maintenance of public worship. Chaplains. 1698 John Cockbiirn, D. D. 170!) Wm. Cull, A. B. . 171(» Rice Evans, . . . 1728 Wm. Blomher^, M. A. 17:^1 Peter RocheMare, . 1732 Archd. Campbell, M. A 1733 John Wigmore, J\l. A- 1739 Cha. Bransl)y . . 1741 John Charles, D.D. 1782 Renj. Choyce Sowden M.A , 11 T 7R 12 R 2T 1 T 1 R 6 T 2 R 41 D 41 D 1802 Joshua Jeans, D.D. . 180!) Ro. Bland, M.A.f . . 1 J22 lien. Tattam, M.A. and Ph. D 1825 Johu Locke Jeans, M.A. 1827 John Dolbeare Parham, M.A 1829 Jos. Bosworth, M.A. « 1832 Hen. Elev, A.B. 5D 2R 3T 2D 1 T 3T • The above particulars are principally derived from the Statement re- lating to the Eiigliah Episcopal Church at Amsterdam ; a paper which was circulated a few years ago, both in Holland and Britain, in order to obtain subscriptions. •|- Mr. Bland, (author of the Collection of the most beautiful poems of the minor poats of Greece, with notes and Illustrations, 8vo.i813, &c.) was only a few months at Amsterdam, but he was the legal chaplain till 1822. During his non-residejice, divine service was occasionally conducted by different ministers. The Rev. A. S. Thelwall, M. A., who was some years here in the service of the London Society for Promoting Christianity among the Jews, had thefreij'.ieiit use of this Episcopal Chapel. IX THE NETHERLANDS. 283 Antwerp. — The building, used here as an Episcopal Church, belonged to one of the suppressed religious houses. The King of the Netherlands, in the year 1821, gratuitously presented it to the British residents, on their application, on condition that they keep it in good repair. Until the arrival in 1823, of the present clergyman, the llev. Samuel Locke, D. D., we are not aware that divine service had been statedly performed in the English language at Antwerp, since the year 1571, when the well known Thomas Cartwright, Professor of Divinity at Cambridge, was here, and left it for Middleburgh. The trade of Antwerp has suffered severely in consequence of the Belgian revolution of 1830 ; and several of the most opulent and extensive merchants have removed their establishments to Rotterdam. There are still, however, a few Scottish and English families residing at Antwerp. Arnhem. — According to a chronicle of Arnhem, published a few years ago, it appears that, in 1638, ten or twelve English families, consisting in all of about one hundred individuals, established them- selves in this town, and obtained permission from the magistrates to assemble for i)ublic worship in the Broederen Kerk.* The chronicle does not give the pastor's name, though we learn from other sources, that the famous Thomas Goodwin, D. D., after- wards president of Magdalene College, Oxford, was the first who had the inspection of this congregation, and that he was here about two years.f Philip Nye, M. A. was their pastor for se- veral years prior to 1640, when he returned to England, became minister of Kimbolton in Huntingdonshire, and distinguished himself in different important appointments. At the Restora- tion he was deprived of a valuable living which he held : and, at his death, which occurred September 1672, he was pastor of the Independent Chapel, Silver Street, London.;]: It seems highly probable that the English Congregation at Arnhem, did not long continue a distinct body, as Mr. Bachiene makes no • Van Hasselt, p. 279. t Neal's History of the Puritans, vol. iv. p. 401. V\'iIson's Dissent. Churches, vol. i. p. 216. :;: Wood's Athenm Oxon. vol. ii. pp. 502-3, and 'S^'^ilsjn, ut supra, vol. iii. pp. 71—73. 28 1 BRITISH CHURCHES mention of it in his Ecclesiastical Geography of the Netherlands, which was published in 1768. The presumption is, that the members of this church who remained in Holland, gradually be- coming acquainted with the Dutch language, attended the na- tive clergy. And this opinion is borne out by a piece of infor- mation kindly communicated to me by the Rev. Dr. H. H. Don- ker Curtius of Arnhem ; who states, that among his parishioners there are many whose names indicate British descent, such as Beverly, Brown, Hereford, and others, some of whom, in all likelihood, are sprung from the emigrants who settled here nearly two centuries ago. Bergen-op-zoom. — An English Presbyterian church was long established in this fortified town, but I have not as yet had the good fortune to discover where its consistorial and other records are deposited. A Mr. Doncell was pastor of the con- gregation in the year 1676.* Bois-LE-Duc, also a strongly fortified town in North Bra- bant, so denominated by the French, who have translated its an- cient name, Sylva Ducis. It has been rendered Hertogenbosch by the Dutch, which means precisely the same, the Duke's Wood. By this last appellation, or rather its contracted form, " Busse," this place was best known in Britain in tiie beginning of last century. There was a British church here previous to 1644, but its Sessional record is unfortunately not now to be found. At that period, Mr. Alexander Wedderburn was stated minister, and he continued in his charge above twenty years,-]- His eldest son, John, practised as a physician at Middleburgh, and was a deacon in the English Church there, from 1668 till 1670.:}: Mr. John Mackenzie was Scots minister at Bois-le- Duc before and after 1680 ; and it is not improbable but he was Mr. Wedderburn's immediate successor. || Many Scotsmen re- " Regist. Eng. Ch. at the Hague. -j- Regist. Scot. Ch. Rott. Jan. 4, IG44 ; Regist. Eng. Ch. JMiddlchurgh, Sept. 20, 1652, and June 19, 1667. X Regist. Eng. Ch. Mid. II Rerid. Eng. Ch. Mid. Oct. 8, 1679, and i\Iay 4, IGo'l. IN THE XETHERI,ANDS. 285 sided at Bois-le-Duc, in former times ; and their descendants have repeatedly held official appointments in this town. Henry Grahame, a literary man, who died about the end of last cen- tury, practised as an advocate here. According to Mr. Van Hampden, he was a grandson of the great Montrose, who, in the Scottish civil war, was brought to the scaffold. Mr. James Oli- phant, the learned and esteemed professor and rector of the La- tin school, died here, March 1815, having long honourably dis- charged the duties of tiiat office. His grandfather, a cadet of the Gask family, was dean of guild of Dundee, and left Scotland during the troubles in the reign of George I.* Breda. — I have not been successful in procuring such infor- mation as I could have wished relative to the British Church which once flourished here. Though the civil and ecclesiastical authorities, to whom application was lately made, can give no intelligence regarding the Consistorial Register, I am in hopes that it may yet be discovered among the valuable MSS., deposi- ted in the Town-house. When public tranquillity shall be re- stored, it is the intention of the magistrates to have an alphabe- tical catalogue drawn up of the contents of their Records, and also of the curious documents in their possession ; some of which may perhaps throw light on our British history, particu- larly during the exile of Charles the Second. The English ministers, settled at Breda, were constituent members of that Classis : and the following is extracted from a printed chronological list of the clergymen in South Holland, &c. from the Reformation.-j- Ministers. 1643 Rich. d'El or Dellius, . 1 D I 1G59 David Michael, ...IT 1646 Samuel Johnson, D. D. 7 T 1661 Zach. Denman, . . . 9 D 1655 Andrew Kier, . . . 1 D I 1671 John Butler, . . . . IR The Brielle, near the mouth of the Maese, sixteen miles • Information from a gentleman at Bois-le-Duc ; and from the rector's nephew, Mr. Charles Naret Oliphant, Apothecary, Leyden. f Soermans' Kerkelyk Register, 2d edition, p. 155. Haarl. 1702. 12mo. 286 BRITISH CHURCHES below Rotterdam, is a fortified place of considerable antiquity. Van Alkemade mentions, that at a very early period, many na- tives of Great Britain and Ireland, availed themselves of the pe- culiar advantages vv'hich the Brielle offered for trade ; and that one of its longest streets was wholly inhabited by Scots mer- chants.* The magistrates fitted up a chapel for the use of the garrison quartered here, immediately on its being given in security to the crown of England. When the troops were withdrawn, the Eng- lish and Scots settlers retained the church for a while, and had service from time to time. About the close of the 17th, or be- ginning of last century, they petitioned the States of the pro- vince, for a regular ecclesiastical endowment, not only on the ground that there were several resident British families, but also that seamen were frequently long detained at the Brielle by con- trary winds. Although the ministers and elders of the British Churches in Rotterdam, interested themselves much in behalf of their countrymen, and in the most earnest manner addressed government on the subject, forcibly pointing out the utility of such an establishment, the prayer of the petition was not granted.f The French emigrants who, for years, met for divine worship in the garrison chapel at a separate hour, ultimately had the keys delivered over to them, as the British decreased in num- ber, and their descendants, (many of whom are yet to be found in the Brielle,) became quite nationalized. This French Protes- tant Church having in its turn been suppressed in 1826, the chapel is at present used by a small body of Lutherans, and by the town ministers for evening service. Except the Decalogue, in old English characters, painted up- on a tablet placed against the side wall of this church, no other memorial of our countrymen is observable there : nor, among the archives kept at the Stadthouse, is any English record to be found. • Van Alkemafle's Beschr. van Brielle, pp. 22, 57- Rott. 1729. Folio. -|- A copy of this recommendation from the British clergy to tiie States, in reference to the Brielle i)etition, has been preserved among the Consistory- papers of the Scottish Church, Rotterdam, in the hand writing of the Rev. James Brown. IN THE NETHERLANDS. 287 Bruges. — Divine service was first publicly performed at Bru- ges, by a minister of the Church of Engh^nd in the year 1817. The Episcopal place of worship was part of a convent destroy- ed during the French revolution ; and subsequently, whilst Bel- gium was united with Holland, it served as a chapel to the Eng- lish conjointly with the Dutch garrison. Dr. Luscombe of Paris, who periodically visits, with great ac- ceptance, the British Protestant Congregations in France and the Netherlands, and under whose license Mr. Bolton officiates at Bruges, has, on two different occasions, confirmed numerous young persons in this church. There are now about thirty fami- lies attending the chapel ; the recent disturbances having forced many to quit the town. 3rmisters. 1817 Sneyd, . . . 8 R [ 1«2G W. W. Bolton. 1825 W. Butts, . „ . . . 1 R Brussels. — Church of England. — Previous to the late revo- lution, it was computed that nearly four thousand British sub- jects constantly resided in this capital. Besides the ambassa- dor's chapel, there were other two Episcopal Churches of re- cent institution, both of which still exist, respectively under the ministry of the Rev. E. Jenkins, A. B. ; and the Rev. William Drury, M. A. Church of Scotland. — The Rev. Charles Siveright, M. A., was set apart by the Presbytery of London, in the spring of 1830, with the view of preaching to our countrymen in Brussels : — the first attempt probably ever made to follow them into those con- tinental cities where no Scottish national church was already es- tablished. The Dutch government, though it would grant no pe- cuniary aid, sanctioned the formation of a Presbyterian Church, which was opened by Mr. Siveright on the 30th May, 1830. Owing to the tumults which, on the occasion of the late Belgian Revolution, disgraced the city, the Scots Congregation, which was rapidly increasing in numbers and respectability, was en- tirely dispersed. 283 BRITISH CHURCHES Campvere, — better known on the continent by the names of Vere and Tervere, is a sea-port in the north-east of Walcheren. For more than three centuries, there subsisted betwixt Scotland and this ancient town, an almost uninterrupted commercial in- tercourse. The alliance of Wolfred van Borselen, lord of Camp- vere, with Mary Stuart, daughter to King James the First, in 1444, gave an impulse to the Scottish trade, which, according tb the best native historians, had already been carried on for se- veral years with mutual profit. Wolfred, for his prowess, was created a marshall of France, and knight of the Golden Fleece. His son, by this marriage, died at the age of twelve, when prosecuting his studies at the University of Louvain. The earl- dom of Buchan, bestowed upon Wolfred, and which he enjoyed during his lifetime, reverted to the Scottish crown, in conse- quence of there being no surving male issue.* Campvere, by contracts, which generally continued binding on the engaging parties for the period of twenty-one years, was es- tablished as the only staple port in the United Provinces for the whole of Scotland.-]- A factory, composed of respectable Scottish merchants, was formed, at the head of which was a Lord Conser- vator, who sat as supreme judge in matters civil as well as cri- minal. This officer was appointed and paid by the sovereign, but his presentation required also the sanction of the commis- sioners from the royal boroughs in Scotland, who, however, usually consented under protest, because they claimed the sole privilege of naming the conservator. No factor might settle at Campvere, without the written authority of these commissioners, who always required ample security for his honourable behaviour there. " De la Rue, Stadtkwidigen Heldhaftig, p. 140, Mid. 1736, 4to. Yair, p. 83. •f- Besides IMr. Yair's work already quoted, the inquisitive reader may ex- amine an official production, entitled " The Staple contract betwixt the Royal Burrows of Scotland, and the city Campvere in Zealand: with the several Amplifications, Prolongations, and Ratifications thereof. Published l>y oi-- der of the General Convention of Royal Burrows, in July 1749. To which is prefixed an Historical Account of the Staple, by a Private Gentleman," [ Charles Stewart, Esq. Depute Conservator.] Edinb. reprinted 1776, pp. 97, 8vo. IN THE NETHERLANDS. 289 The direction of this interesting colony was judiciously and advantaeeously entrusted, in succession, to different members of the van Borselen family ; and for its management they seem to have been admirably fitted by their love of enterprise, and the vast influence they derived from official situations and powerful connexions. Captain Paul van Borselen, an illegitimate son of Henry, the second lord of Campvere, in consideration of eminent services, rendered in his capacity of Conservator of the Scottish privileges in the Netherlands, received the honour of knighthood, together with the lands and lordship of Lauderdale. His vener- able castellated mansion, within the walls of Campvere, which was pulled down not many years since, was called Lauderdale House, after the family estate in Berwickshire. Paul having died in 1504, his only son Henry was promoted to the conservator- ship, and the chief magistracy of Campvere ; and, in the former office, like his father, he acquitted himself with distinguished ap- probation till his death, April 22d, 1526. His son and name- sake, after enjoying, for a short time, the same appointments, died Jan. 13th, 1533. Philip, the eldest of Paul's family, was one of the noblemen attached to the court of his relative, Maximilian, Duke of Bur- gundy, and Marquis of Campvere. The duke, who was the fa- vourite of Charles the Fifth, exerted himself to reinstate Philip in his alienated Scottish possessions ; and, for this purpose, on the 1 1th Feb. 1541, he despatched a missive, in his favour, to James V. : — representing, that the immediate predecessors of the said Philip had enjoyed the lands and earldom of Lauderdale, by virtue of a royal grant ; that he, Philip, by reason of various hinderances, occasioned by war, and repeated domestic affliction, had been prevented from regularly entering upon his inherit- ance ; and, therefore, supplicating his majesty, graciously to overlook this unintentional neglect, and replace the petitioner in the possession of his patrimonial estate, in consideration of the good and praiseworthy services of his ancestors towards the kingdom of Scotland, which were fresh in the memory of all at Campvere. This application, supported as it was by the power- ful influence of his ducal friend, appears not to have been at- tended with the desired success ; and Philip, the last Dutchman who held the office of Lord Conservator, died, in bis native town, u 290 BRITISH CHURCHES Campvere, April 29th, 1547, transmitting his honours to Maxi- milian, his only child. Maximilian, the last foreigner who bore the title of the Earl of Lauderdale, having deceased in 1577, without issue or naming heirs, his valuable estate in Walcheren became, by purchase, the property of the Stadtholder, and Camp- vere got the name of the Prince of Orange's town.* The earliest notice which I have met with, relative to the ap- pointment of a clergyman, is in the record of the transactions of the royal boroughs. On the 4th July, 1587, it is resolved, that " there be ane minister elected for preaching at Camphire :" and upon the 3rd of the following November, the meeting " agries to the erecting of a kirk and minister at Camphire, and for his maintenance, appoints the excyse of the beer and wine granted be the towne of C. to the Scots natione ; and gife ther be anie excycressancie, the same is to cum to the use of the burrowes in generall."-|- The pastor " is to be electet and nominat be the burghs, with the advyce and consent of his majestie.";): Our countrymen appear to have had no regular clergyman for a con- siderable while ; and the individual first named was Mr. Andrew Ramsay, who, declining the offer, which was made him with great unanimity, shortly afterwards became professor of theology in the university of Edinburgh.^ The commissioners then made choice of Mr. Alexander M'Duff, minister of Newburn in Fife, and his nomination was immediately approved of by the king, " and the right Reverent father in God, George, Archbishops of Sanct Androis."|| Care was taken to strengthen the hands, and add to the comfort of the officiating minister. The Lord Conservator was subject to the discipline of the Scottish Church, and he was for the most part the ruling elder. Every factor, * Ermer'ms' Antiquities of Zealand. Middl. 1780-97, eight volumes Svo. Several sections of this curious Dutch work are allotted to a minute gene- alogical disquisition regarding the house of van Borselen, lords of Lauder- dale, &c. Mr. Emierins, an eminent antiquary, was town-clerk of Camp- vere, of which his copious historical description forms one volume of the book just quoted. f Convention Records, vol. ii. fi". 136, 14G. See also June 18, 1591. Jb. f. 194. + July 12, 1612. lb. vol. iv. folio 106, § Reffist. offh" City of Edinb. vol. xii. f. 134. (Oct. 20th, 1612.) II Convention Rec. vol. iv. f. IGO. I>7 THE NETHERLANDS. 291 who, without being able to assign a good reason, absented him- self from public worship, incurred ecclesiastical censure, and a fine of half-a-crown for behoof of the poor. In the year 1641, this congregation was recognised by the General Assembly, as a component part of the Church of Scot- land, and was empowered to send two commissioners to the annual meeting of that venerable court.* Mr. Gordon, on his appointment, was the first clergyman here who was enrolled a member of the Presbytery of Edinburgh ; and he, and his suc- cessors, with one elder, were entitled to seats in the synod of Lothian and Tweeddale.f The sixth article of the renewed contract subscribed at the Hague, 25th December, 1697, has an exclusive reference to the Scottish Church, and is as follows: — " To the end that the people of the Scottish nation be not frustrate of the word of God, and exercise of the reformed religion, in their own proj^er language, the magistrates of the town of Campvere shall hereby be obliged, within a year after subscribing hereof, to take care that the old burnt church be rebuilt, or otherways, within two months, to accommodate the Scottish nation with a fit place wherein to exercise their religion, and to furnish the same with all necessaries requisite to the due order, and right administra- tion of God's service, and exercise thereof, according to the doc- trine, service and discipline, acknowledged, practised, and by law established within the kingdom of Scotland ; as also a fitting church-yard, where the dead of that nation, and none other, (without the consent of the conservator, or his depute, first ob- tained,) may be buried, together with such place in the church, as by the conservator, or his depute, shall be thought fit ; the said church or place, and church-yard, to be keeped in due repara- tion at the charges of the town, and to be exempted from any ground-right, which may be pretended to be paid, for burying within or without the church, and to have the liberty to bury their dead at any time of the day or night, at their pleasure, without paying any fine for the same : And whereas those of the Scottish nation have, (since the time their church was burnt,) em- ployed, for exercising God's service, the house belonging to the • Acts of Assembly, 1641 and 1704. f Yair, p. 281. 292 BRITISH CHURCHES Scottish poor, standing in the Winegaert street ; and that it was the duty of the magistrates to have provided them of a church, yet it is hereby agreed, that, for the rent of the said house and reparation done thereto, nothing shall be pretended, the same being hereby discharged ; hut, in lieu thereof, the magistrates of Campvere undertake and promise to pay the yearly stent im- posed upon the said house and tenement, and that for the space of the ensuing twenty-one years, which is the time of this con- tract ; and, in like manner, the stents of all years that are passed since the burning of the foresaid church, till the date of the ratifi- cation of this contract : And, moreover, that the obligations be- longing to the Scottish poor, and at present in the custody of the town of Campvere, shall forthwith be delivered over to the Lord Conservator, and to Mr. Thomas Hogg, present minister of the Scottish nation, with payment of all the interest that has been received since the very first time that those obligations came into the hands of the honourable magistrates. Which delivery of the said obligations, and bygone interest, the magis- trates of Campvere have performed to the Lord Conservator, and minister of the Scottish nation, conform to the accompt cur- rent of the same, and wherefore the said conservator and mini- ster have given acquittance. As also, to have a minister, pre- centor and clerk, for the service of the said staple church, according to their respective callings. And the said minister being duly admitted, the town shall provide, that the minister shall receive his yearly salary and maintenance, in the same manner as it is now paid ; and that they shall use their utmost endeavours to obtain for, and cause to be paid a fit salary to the precentor and clerk ; and if it shall so happen that the foresaid congregation shall so increase, that it should be found necessary to have a second minister for assistance, his maintenance shall be at the charge of the Scottish nation."* This establishment was broken up in 1795; and in the month of July that year, the Batavian Republic passed a resolution, that every community or person, by whatever contract or law formerly exempted from imposts or taxes, should be so no longer; and by an act dated 11th October, 1799, the privileges • Staple Contract, pp. 20-22. lb. pp. G3 and 75. IN THE NETHERLANDS. 29S granted to, and enjoyed by, the members constituting the Scot- tish Factory, were revoked. By this arbitrary measure, the British settlers suffered immensely, and many of them hastily withdrew, leaving much property behind, which they never re- covered. Monuments of beautiful workmanship erected to the memory of the Scots and Dutch in the Cathedral Church, were wantonly demolished ; and this ancient structure, the choir of which, (still standing,) was appropriated to our countrymen as a place of worship, was entirely stripped of its internal furnishings, and sacrilegiously convened by the French into a house of cor- rection. Several fruitless attempts have been made during the present century for the renewal of the contract, but there is now no probability of this ever taking place. The deserted appearance of Campvere forcibly struck the writer in the summer of 1827, when he visited Zealand. Nearly one half of the town had then disappeared ; and a number of uninhabited houses, in a tottering condition, with the usual date of erection or renovation on the front of each when Campvere was in its glory, gave a melan- choly interest to the whole. The Scottish residents scarcely amounted to twenty in all, much less than a tenth of their ori- ginal number. Although the Scottish Factory has been politi- cally extinct upwards of thirty j^ears, no motion has been for- mally made in the General Assembly to sever this first foreign appendage of our national establishment from the mother church. On the contrary, Campvere congregation, which has not been represented since 1797 in the Assembly, still remains on the roll of the house, and is called over like other places entitled to send deputies. The following is, we believe, as accurate a list of the ministers as can be given. * • Independent of many other favours, I am indebted to the kindness of my honoured friend, Alexander Ferrier, Esq., the present respected Lord Conservator, for being allowed to examine ths Campvere papers in his possession. They consist of the Conservator's Court Register, the trea- surer's book of the Scottish Church, beginning 1616, &c. From these docu- ments, and from the Convention Records, kept in the Council Chamber, Edinburgh, which I had some years since an opportunity of consulting, I have drawn up the above chronological catalogue of the Scottish clergy- men settled at Campvere. The Register of Births and Marriages, with the minutes of Consistory from 1732, are now in the custody of the magis- trates of Campvere. 294 BRITISH CHUHCHES lfil3 Alex. MacDuff, 1625 Geo. SydsevS o( Ruchlaw 1028 John Forret, 1630 Will. Span,?, M. A. . 1657 Geo. Roltertson, 16f;i Tho. Moubrav, 1664 And. Snype, M. A. . 12 D 2 U 1 D 23 T 3 R 3 T 21 D 1626 Cha. Gordon, M, A. 4 T 1694 Tho. Hoog, M. A. . 5 T 10!)D John Chalmers, M. A, 30 D 1730 Cha. Jervey, M. A. . 9 D 1739 James Yair, . . 45 D 17«3 Alex. Wilson, M. A. 5 D 1790 John Likly,* M. A. . 9 Delft. — According to a published description of this town, several British merchants settled at Delft, in the course of the 14th century ; and the same work mentions, but on authority ex- tremely slender, that our Edward III. lived here some time in exile, and took advantage of his temporary sojourn to acquire a knowledge of the superior mode adopted by the Dutch in the preparation of woollen cloths, which, on his return to England, he made known to the principal manufacturers.-]- Independent of this being occasionally a garrison town, an English staple and market for cloth existed here from 1621 till 1635. John Forbes, who accompanied the factory from Middleburg as chaplain, was the third son of William Forbes of Corse, and father to the Bishop of Caithness. Mr. Forbes, the first stated pastor here, was one of six banished from Scotland for holding the famous Assembly at Aberdeen, at v/hich he presided as moderator. He *' died in Holland about the year 1634, after he had been removed from his charge at Delft by the jealous interference of the English government.":): Although the staple was removed to Rotterdam in 1635, the British manufacturers and tradesmen who remained were not deprived of their place of worship, but, on the contrary, were allowed five hundred guilders from the town of Delft towards the maintenance of a fixed clergyman. Robert Parker and Patrick Forbes, whose names are subjoined, I have given on the authority of a list of ministers here, with which I was kindly furnished by Burgomaster Hoog of Rotterdam. The earhest sessional register, known to exist, commences December 1645, whilst Mr. Alexander Petrie was minister, Sir William ShefFeild * Mr. Likly, who fled with many of his people on the invasion of the French, was recommended to the British Government, and, in 1801, he ob- tained the living of Old IVIeldrum, in Aberdeenshire, which he enjoyed till his death, Dec. 8th, 1816. t Beschr. der Sladt Delft, Folio 1729, pp. 612, 614. J M'Crie's Life of Melville, vol. ii. p. 310. IN THE nethehla:nds. 295 and Mr. Jonathan HoUed were elders, and Arthur Woodward, and Captain Henry Hexham, deacons.* In the twenty-third year of his ministry here, Mr. Petrie resigned his situation for a church in Scotland, to which he had been appointed. Upon the 8th of April 1668, having preached his farewell sermon, he admitted as his successor, Mr. Alexander Hodge, late pastor of St. Thomas's, Exeter. It would appear that Mr. Petrie was disappointed in regard to the situation in his native country, as he returned, with his family, to Delft in lit- tle more than three montiis. In the following year, however, Mr. Hodge having embraced a call to the English Church, Am- sterdam, where he had formerly been employed as assistant, the Delft Consistory again made choice of Mr. Petrie, and, without any formal re-investiture, he entered upon his pastoral labours, February, 1669. Mr. John Sinclair, late minister of Ormiston, the celebrated instructor of many of our Scots divines, then an exile in Holland, was chosen in room of Mr. Petrie, who died much lamented, June 2d, 1683. Just as Mr. Sinclair's settle- ment was to take place, the British ambassador at the Hague, instigated by some influential persecuting party, captiously in- terfered, accusing the presentee " of enormous crimes, tending to discredit him, but no proof of any particulars at all."f Mr. Sinclair speedily procured most ample testimonials as to his worth and loyalty, from the Earl of Tweeddale, the Lord Regis- ter, and the King's Advocate fur Scotland. Seemingly deter- mined, if possible, to thwart the pastor-elect, the envoy declar- ed himself not satisfied with the honourable certificates which Mr. Sinclair produced ; and he dared the Consistory at their peril to proceed. This threatening epistle being shewn to the Two silver Comraimion-cups were presented to this church by Mr. Petrie, in memory of his relative, Sir John Gordon, Bart, of Smidars, who died at Delft, in the year 1C48. Upon each cup is engraven the name and arms of this worthy Scottish Knight, and, above the arms, is the following inscription : In memoriam noLiUss. Dni. Joh. Gordonii Eqidt. aur. dm. de Smidars, ^c. Ecclesiae Anylo-Delphensi donavit Alex. Petrehts ejusdem ecclesiae pastor. ■f Consist. Regist. Wodrow's History, vol. iv. p 70. contains a parti- cular account of iMr. Sinclair's alleged misdemeanouis, and the unwoitly treatment which he received from the court. It is a curious fact, tbat i]ie King's Advocate, who was, ex officio, his bitter prosecutor at home, sent to Holland a private testimonial in Mr. Sinclair's favour ! Consint Rcfjist. 296 BRITISH CHURCHES burgomasters, they instantly despatched the pensionary of the town, to wait upon the unreasonable and haughty functionary. This interview brought matters to an amicable termination ; and, to the great satisfaction of the magistrates and the classis, who warmly espoused the cause of our unjustly aspersed countryman, Mr. Sinclair was confirmed in his office, July 30th, 1684, and lived here greatly respected till his death.* From the minutes of the Town Council, Dec. 31st, 1706, it appears that a motion was carried, declaring that this church, in the event of a vacancy, might be suppressed without detriment to its members. In accordance with this resolution, upon the death of Mr. van Schie, the magistrates, Jan. 29th, 1724, declin- ed granting a hand opening, in consequence of there being very few members, and that those few were perfectly acquainted with the Dutch language. All registers, papers and plate, were direct- ed to be provisionally given up by the Consistory to the civic authorities ; but it was afterwards thought advisable that, as the English residents at Delft had uniformly met for Divine ser- vice in the chapel attached to the Gasthuis or Infirmary, the church property belonging to our countrymen should not be re- moved, but remain under the care of the Regents of that estab- lishment. These interesting memorials, through the kindness of the Rev. William Scholten, the learned chaplain, were in the most handsome manner sent for the author's use, by the Directors of the Gasthouse. Besides the Consistorial minutes, and the Treasurer's boohs, the Registers of Baptism and Marriage,f there has also been preserved a list of the church members and of those who communicated " as passengers." I observe in this catalogue the names of several ancient families who, during the incumbency of Messrs. Petrie and Hodge, repeatedly visited • In Fleming's Miscell. Poems, Lond. 1C91, 8vo. pp. 55-58, is " An Elegy to the memory of the Reverend Wr. John Sinclair, minister of the Gospel, who dyed [at Delft] March 24, An. 1687-" •j- From these Registers the following entries are extracted : 1644. July 3. Edward, son of Edwaid Richardson, pastor — 1G55. Feb. 8. Francis, son of Isaac, Lord Ashlie. Regist. of Baptisms. 1647- Oct. \2. stiliJiovo. Mr. Alex- ander Petrie, pastor, and Wistris Jlargret Witz — 1C50. Dec. 28. Capt. Simeon Gordon, and Sarah Host 1659. Nov. 12. Sir Alexander Hope of Kerse, Kt. Eart. and JMris. Louisa Hunter. Rcgist. of Marriages. IN THE NETHERLANDS. 297 Delft, such as the Earls of Callender, Kellie and Seaforth ; the Hon. Mr. Alexander, brother to Viscount Stirling, Sir George Stirling, Sir James Montgomerj', Sir William and Lady Stewart, Colonel Erskine, Sir Robert Murray, the Laird of Benholni, Lady Boswell, and her chaplain, «fcc. &c. Miiiisters. 1621 John Forlies, M. A. I 1668 Alex. Hodge, M. A. 10 month.T 1636 Ro!)ert Parker, IM. A. 4 R | 1684 John Sinclair, M. A. 3 D 1641 i-atrick Forbes, M. A. 2 T i 1689 Thomas Hoog, M. A. 5 T 1643 i.uw. Richardson . 2 T | 1G94 William van Shie 30 D 1645 Alex. Petrie, Jun. M. A.37 D ' Dordrecht. — Church of Scotland. — Dordrecht or Dort, familiar to every reader of ecclesiastical history, had been resort- ed to by our countrymen before the famous synod was convened here in 1618, for the settlement of the Arminian question. The representatives of the national churches of England and Scot- land in this assembly repeatedly preaclied during their five months' stay, and paved the way for the institution of the " Pres- byterian or ordinary English congregation in Dort.''* From the moment of the landing of these commissioners, and until the ob- ject of their mission was accomplished, the States shewed them marked attention, and most generously testified how much Hol- land appreciated their services.-|- Previously to their final de- parture, they made the tour of the Netherlands, and nobly exerted that influence which they had acquired, not only in en- * Balen's Beschr. van Dordrecht, 4to. 1677, p- 173. •j- On the breaking up of the synod, the minutes of the Court, having the signatures of all the members, were deposited in the library of the Univer- sity of Leyden, where they are still carefully preserved. The venerable stone-building at Dort, where the celebrated meeting was held, is at present occupied by a publican ; and the synod-room — a large upper chamber — is now, alas ! resorted to by the lovers of balls, cards, and billiards. An origi- nal painting, representing the members in full canonicals, busily engaged canvassing the disputed points, was an interesting and appropriate ornament to this room, till its longer continuance was latterly deemed rather ludicrous, and it was accordingly removed to the Cathedral church. The artist, who has done his part well, was employed by the town, and the portraits are said to be good likenesses. 298 BllITISH CHURCHES deavouring to secure the formation of a stated ministry here, but in benefiting also, where necessary, the British Protestant churches in the various towns through which they passed.* The British residents at Dort, after the departure, as before the arrival of the reverend deputies, had temporary supply from the chaplain stationed at the neighbouring town of Gorcum, and from other ministers in Holland. At length, in 1623, a church for the English and Scots was instituted here, and incorporated with the classis. Mr. Oswald, the first stated clergyman, en- joyed from the Dutch authorities, as have all his successors, nearly the same stipend as the native clergy. He formed a kirk- session, composed, as at present, of four lay members ; and his first associates in the Consistory were Henry Lodge and Vincent Johnson, elders; George Waters and Giles Langley, deacons. The congregation, composed of individuals from both sides of the Tweed, met for divine service successively in the Magdalene, Augustine, and New Churches ; but by a resolution of the magis- trates, June 22d, 1635, part of the Orphan Hospital was neatly fitted up at the town's expense. Balen, the historian, whom we have chiefly followed, mentions, that he was indebted for his information to Mr. Paget, the esti- mable pastor of this church for nearly half a century.f The wealthiest settlers were extensive dealers in wool ; and among the tradesmen were cloth manufacturers, gold-wire drawers, pin-makers, hat-band makers, &c.:l: Dort became, through the instrumentality of the brothers, De Witt, and Sir William Da- vidson, Conservator at Campvere, a regular Scotch staple port. The treat}' was ratified October 1st, 1668 ; but as the measure was far from popular, comparatively few merchants repaired to this place.§ A considerable accession was made to the British population several years before this period by the arrival of the merchant Adventurers, for whose use, as noticed in the subse- • Macaulay's Hist, of Eng. vol. i. p. 117. Fuller's Ch. Hut. Book x. p. {J2, and Balen, ut supra. t Balen, p. 174. :{: licf/ister of Marriages and JBaplisnis, passim. § Yair, pp. 244 — 275, fiid A'an tie Wall's rrivll. ^c. dcr Slad Dord. folio, pp. 180G— 182G. IN THE NETHERLANDS. 299 quent article, a separate chapel was assigned. But this latter congregation, which was Episcopalian, becoming greatly reduced in number, and having no minister, their chapel was transferred to the Presbyterians, who removed to it July 1700, when Mr. Samuel Masson* was admitted pastor of the united churches, and formed his kirk-session partly of Presbyterians and Episco- palians. This congregation has all along retained its Presby- terian aspect; and, since 1753, the successive ministers have in- variably received ordination from the Church of Scotland. When Mr. (now Dr.) Anderson was called to Rotterdam in 1807, little hope was entertained that his place here would be supplied. Upon the happy restoration of the Orange family, however, the Consistory having renewed their application, per- mission was granted to call another pastor, after the church had been eleven years vacant. The kirk-session records, prior to 1734, were for some time thought to have been lost, but fortunately they have been re- cently discovered. The marriage register extends from 1625 till 1774 ; that of christenings is complete from 1633; and the separate member-roll commences in 1727. By an official return, the number of souls belonging to this church in 1830 amounted to one hundred.-}- Public worship wss usually perfoimed twice every Sabbath, but now only once ; and the Lord's Supper is dispensed half-yearly, instead of quarterly', as formerly. The following is a complete list of the stated ministers of the Scottish Church at Dordrecht::]; • The Rev. John Masson, M. A., afterwards rector of Aswarby in Lin- colnshire, and brother to Samuel, now Presbyterian minister, has made grateful acknowledgment of the Christian sympathy and liberality which the corporation of Dort had manifested towards his father, a persecuted French divine, who, after the revocation of the edict of Nantz, found, till his death, a friendly asylum here. The pension which old jMasson enjoyed from the town for two years was, for a season, generously continued to his children. Jani Templum Christo N'ascente Reseratum, Ilott. 1700, 12mo. Dedic. ; and Register of Baptisms. ■\ Feuring's Alphab. Regist. p. 34. X Mar. Bap. and Consist. Regist. Balen, p. 194, and Soermans' Regist. p. 5. JMy best acknowledgments are due to the Rev. James Rlorgan for the obliging assistance which he has given me relative to this church. 300 BRITISH CHURCHES Ministers. 162S John Oswald, M. A. 1625 John Vincent, . . 1635 Francis Dihbets, . . 1638 Robert Paget, M. A. 1685 Sam. IVIegapolensis, M. 1700 Sam. IVlasson, . . 1742 Sam. Jay, .... 1753 James Affleck, M. A. 1763 Wm. Giierson, . . 1766 Alex. Layel, M. A. . 2R . 10 D . 2 T . 46 D D. 15 E . 42 D . 11 D . 10 T . 3 T . 4 T 1770 Tho. Steel, .... ID 1771 James Milne, ... 5 D 1776 Alex. Wilson, M. A. . 8 T 1784 Wm. Greig, IM. A. . 5 T 1790 John Glennie, M. A. . 2 T 1792 Charles Hunter ... 5 T 1797 Maurice Ritchie, M. A. 4 T 1802 James Anderson, . , 3 T 1818 James Morgan, M. A. . Church of England. — An Episcopalian Congregation, which, for distinction's sake, was called the " English Court Church," was established in 1666. The magistrates of Dort entered into an agreement with the " Merchant Adventurers," upon the 29th Nov. 1655, and the latter immediately thereafter, removed from Rotterdam to this town. The conditions, comprehended in 58 articles, are signed on the part of the Adventurers, by George Chandler, Thomas Skinner, their Secretary, and Thomas Clarke.* The following are some of the privileges : — Exemption from the town-guard, and from duty upon wine and all kinds of provisions used by the Factors ; currency of English coin by the course of Amsterdam; right of arrest; disposal of property by last will and testament, agreeably to the practice in Britain. The " Ad- venturers" engaged to carry on their trade in cloth and kerseys, at Dort, and no where else in Holland, for the space of fifteen years. The part of the town where they chiefly dwelt and car- ried on business, acquired the name, which it yet retains, of the English Quay. Dr. Marshall, who had been for some time attached to the Fac- tory, and accompanied it hither, according to Balen, remained at Dort sixteen years. The Iron Weigh-house, once a chapel, was quickly reconverted into a place of worship for this migrating body of merchants. " Service," says the historian just quoted, " is generally performed here every Sunday morning and after- noon. Before the singing, the minister reads, in inferiori ca- thedra, a psalm and two chapters from the Bible. A sermon al- • This contract has been printed hy van de Wall. Privil. ^c. der Slad Dord. pp. 1742—1771. IN THE NETHERLANDS. 301 so, is always preached in the said Court Kirk upon the 25th of May, that being the day for solemnizing the anniversary of the king's birth. The church-wardens at present, (1677,) are Mr. Samuel Bubwith, and Mr. Robert Hartley."* The war, which broke out betwixt the United Provinces and Great Britain, pre- vented the fulfilment of this commercial compact, as it compell- ed the merchants to quit Holland.f Mr. Whittel, who was probably the last stated minister, was here but a few years. In the year 1700, as already observed, the members of this church united themselves to the Presby- terians, who had always been the more numerous party. Ever since there has been no Episcopal chapel here. Chaplains. 1656 Thomas Marshall, D. D. 16 TllGGS Whittel.:|: 1672 Philip Bowie, Phil. D. 4 t| Flushing* — In the year 1586, the States of Holland, as Ge- neraliteit, gave four thousand guilders towards the erection of a suitable chapel for the British troops sent by Queen Elizabeth, under the command of the Earl of Leicester, to occupy this town. This grant of the States was to be paid on condition that the other provinces made up an equivalent sum, which they forthwith did. There were upwards of nine hundred English soldiers stationed at Flushing and at the Raramakins, which is close by ;§ and they did not leave Zealand till 1616, when they were withdrawn by order of King James. I have not discovered who were the Episcopalian chaplains ; but Thomas Potts, a Scotsman, and a Presbyterian, acted in this capacity prior to 1610. He continued to preach in the Garrison church to the British merchants, artificers and mariners, after the departure of the troops ; and to the grief of his attached hearers at Flushing, he accepted, in 1617, an har- monious call from the Presbyterians in Amsterdam. || * Balen, pp. 194, 195. -j- Consistory Papers, X Regist. of Eng. Ch. Hague, ]\Iay 1688. g Bowel's Familiar Letters, Lond. 16S8, 8vo. Cth edit. p. 10. II Thomas Potts, minister to the English army and residents, was be- trothed at Flushing, Jan. 2d, 1610. His son, born at Amsterdam, after 303 BRITISH CHURCHES After a vacancy of nearly three years, upon the 19th of June 1620, under the direction of Mr. John Paget of Amsterdam, as- sisted by two Dutch clergymen, and in " presence of the burgo- master and other magistrates, there were chosen and ordained as church-officers of this renewed English Church , Mr. John Wing, pastor ; George Brown, and Henry Corkers, elders ; and Philip Baker, and John Basset, deacons."* Mr. Wing, a pious man, and an edifying preacher, was first at Sand- wich,f but had latterly been chaplain to the " Merchant Adven- turers of England, resident at Hamburgh.";]: He exerted him- self much for the good of his people here till he was removed to the Hague in 1627. In the chaplaincy at Hamburgh, he was succeeded by Thomas Young, the preceptor of Milton. § Whether Flushing at this early period had become notorious for the smuggling propensities of some of its inhabitants, is nei- ther my wish nor province to determine ; but the anxiety and active vigilance of the kirk-session to discountenance, in our countrymen, every impropriety in speech and behaviour especial- ly merits commendatory notice. 1633 April 23. " It is determined that an elder and deacon shall, on the Lord's dayes in the beginning of the forenoon's ser- being successively pastor of the English Church here and at Utrecht, re- turned to Flushing in 1654, when he was placed over the German congre- gation ; but, in the subsequent year, he became one of the Dutch Reformed ministers of the town. His second wife, whom he married in 1667, was a daughter of the brave admiral de Ruyter. Mr. Potts, Jun. died July 1689. Vrolikhert's Vlissingsche Kerkhemel, pp. 133 — 139. • Consist. Regist. i" "Wing's Crowne Cwijugall, pp. 146. Dedic. Middleburgh, 1620, 4to. ^ Jacoh''s Staffe to beare up the Faithful, and to heate downe the Profane, — Formerly preached at Hamburgh by John Wing, late pastor to the Eng. lish Church there, as his farewell to the famous fellowship of Merchant Ad- venturers of England, resident in that city. And now published and dedi- cated, to the honour and use of that most worthy Society, there, or whereso- ever being. 4to. pp. 216. Fhishing, 1621. And AbcVs Offering ; A Ser- mon preached at Hamburg in November, 1617, aiid now published at the in- stant entreaty of a godly Christian. By John Wing (then) Pastor to the English Church there, 4to, pp. 71- Flushing, 1621. § Life of Milton, p. 2, prefixed to Easkerville's edit, of Paradise Re- gained, Berne, 1 70S, 8vo. I>^ THE NETHERLANDS. 303 mon, go and visit the tap-houses of the English, that so there may be order taken by the cliurch and civil magistrate, to re- forrae them of such disorder and profanesse as is wont at such times to be in them. " That such members as shal not be found on the Lord's day in the assembly, be visited the next day at their houses by one of the elders, with the minister, to take knowledge of the occa- sion."* In the year 1645, this church was incorporated with the classis.-j- Excepting a small yearly gratuity from the town of Flushing, the minister was entirely supported by his flock ; but Mr. van Laren, on his appointment, was placed by the Provincial States and the magistrates, on the same footing as the native clergy. Ever since 1654, the British residents here have met for di- vine service in the cross of St. Jacob's Kirk. During the war with England in the seventeenth century, there are several curious particulars inserted in the Sessional Register by the minister, who was by birth a Dutchman. A few extracts will suffice as a specimen. 1666. June 30. — " This day, we, with the rest of the people of God through al the United Provinces, celebrated a general thanksgiving, blessing the Lord for his great mercie bestowed upon these parts, in giving them the victory over their enemies ; and in the afternoon, and towards the evening, great signes of triumph were made. — Pugnatum est Bataros inter fortesq. Britannos, Et vix post quartum pugna peracta diem : Littora nota tenant Batavi, fundum maris Angli, Hos merito dominos dixeris esse maris. August 4. — " Our fleet having laid a month before the river of London, this day being the ordinary monthly fast, we were certainly informed, that both the fleets were in fight, we also hearing the roaring of the canon ; whereupon, the more fervent prayers were poured forth to God Almightie, both in the fore and afternoon in al churches, that He would be jjleased to pre- serve this country their fleet, and to give them the victory, that so we might come to a happy peace. " Consist. Regift. •{• lb. 304 BRITISH CHURCHES « The sixt of August being Friday, the people assembled to- gether in two churches in the forenoon, then was also a large prayer (at least of an houre, as usually these prayers were,) made ; before which was sung psa. 44. 1 parte, and after the prayer, psa. 142. " In the afternoon, our third esquader having destroyed some few of our enemies' ships, and put to flight one of their esqua- drons, joyned with the rest of our fleet." " 1667, July 6. — This day being the ordinary monthly fast, ■we celebrated, with the rest of God's people in these United Provinces, a day of thanksgiving for the great success which our fleet had on the 20, 21, 22, and 23 of June about Chatham and Rochester, in taking and destroying a fort, the king's magazyn, and the principal ships of England, viz. the Royal Charles, Royal James, the Royal Oake, Loyal London, and divers others." " September 7. — A day of thanksgiving for the happy peace made between England and the United Provinces on the 31 July last, at Breda."* The following extract also from the Minutes of Consistory will not be read without interest : — 1772, April 5. — " The minister Justus Tjeenk explained Gal. V. 13, in commemoration of Flushing's delivery from Spanish tyranny, which was stopped here on the 6tli of April, 157:^, when the citizens, unassisted and unsupported by any foreign power, drove out the Walloons, opened their gates, and laid the corner stone of that singular and always remarkable revolution, which placed seven small provinces in a state of independency, in des- pite of the utmost efforts of Philip. II,, then the most powerful monarch in Europe. " The Lord's day ensuing, (April 12) the holy communion was kept with much devotion ; and at the table used a silver chalice, at present the property of the president burgomaster E. Clyver, wherein, two hundred years ago, the protestants in this town had, for the first time, celebrated the Lord's Supper in a cellar here at the head of the Great Market, on account of the unrelenting persecution. " Eight medals coined on the present occasion, to keep in re- * Consist. Rcgist. IN THE NETHERLANDS. 305 membrance this second jubilee were, by order of the magistracy, distributed to such of our consistorial members as had not re- ceived the same in some other respects."* The English churches at Flushing and Middleburg were united by royal decree, June 27th, 1815. It is stated in this document, that each congregation consisted of little more than a hundred souls ; that the proximity of the two towns, and the facility of communication rendered it easy for one clergyman to serve both churches, at least till the congregations be consider- ably increased ; that experience had shewn that the service in the two churches can be conveniently performed by one minister, for such was the case from 1797 to 1807, during a vacancy at Middleburg, and from 1809 to the present time, during the va- cancj' at Flushing. Accordingly, from, and after the 1st of July 1815, the two churches are declared combined under one pastor, who is to enjoy a yearly salary of fourteen hundred guilders. He must preach once every Sunday in each church ; discharge his pastoral duties, particularly catechising, to the satisfaction of the respective consistories ; that, in the event of a vacancy, the two church-councils assembled shall proceed to the election of another minister ; and, if required, the clergyman so called must reside alternately at Flushing and Middleburg. The Mi- nister of the Interior is authorized to make such further altera- tions and modifications in the above as shall from time to time be found necessary. The oldest Sessional Record, commencing June 1620, though riot an original, is an authenticated copy, taken by the Rev. A. van Laren in 1663 ; from which period to the present the Con- sistorial minutes are entire. A register of baptisms in the Eng- lish church at Flushing, from 1593 till 1783, was deposited in the Stadthouse in 1808 ; but that ancient and beautiful Gothic structure, the pride of Walcheren, was unfortunately burnt to the ground the following year, during the bombardment, and numbers of the inhabitants, who had flocked to it as a place of safety, were apprised of their perilous situation, only when the building was in a complete blaze. Every public record and char- ter which it contained, together with an excellent town's librarj^, perished in the flames. * Consist. Ilcyist. X 306 BRITISH CHURCHES Reported number oP souls belonging to the Scottish or English church of Flushing, in 1830, — two hundred.* 3Iinisters. ICIO Thomas Potts, M. A. . 7 T.l 1733 Angus Beaton ... 3D 1620 John Wintr .... 7 T 1736 Dav. Rutherford, M.A. 22 D 1627 Max, Teelinck . . • 1 T , 1759 Arch. Laidlie, M.A. . 4T 1628 John Row .... 17 T 1646 Tho. Potts, Jun. . . 5 T 1651 Am. van Laren . . 25 D 1677 Sam. JMeg-apolensis, M.D. 8 T 1689 Hugo Fitts .... 11 T 1700 Sim. van der Pyl . . 32 D 1765 Justus Tjeenk . . 18 D 1783 James Low, M.A. . 13 T 1797 John Hendersouf . 12 + 1815 Sander van der Hoek . 1 D 1818 Geo. Morison, M.A. J GoRiNCHEM or GoRCUM. — Mr. Samuel Bachiler was station- ed here for sometime early in the seventeenth century, as " minis- ter to Sir Charles Morgan's regiment."§ He wrote the Campe Hoy nil, set forth in briefe meditations, on the ivords of the Prophet Moses, Deut. xxiii. 9-14. Preached in the army at the Leager, pro- fitable for all sorts of men to reade ; and published for the generall good of all that toill reade. The author has inscribed this tract, which is uncommonly rare, " To all my deare countrymen in seruice to the States of the United Provinces : the honourable officers, and all honest souldiers of the English nation, residing in the Netherlands; and especially (as seruice bindeth me) to those of Gorcom in Holland." Prefixed are some comj)liment- ary verses on this production, by " Tho. Scot, minister to the English in Utrecht." || The garrison chapel at Gorcum formed part of an ancient cloister ; and, in this building, converted into a private residence, and now occupied by the chief magistrate, there is a lai'ge apart- • Feuring's Alphab. Regist. ■\ Mr. Henderson, who had been minister of a Presbyterian chapel at Blonkwearmonth, near Sunderland, was admitted at Flushing, July 16th, 1797, and continued pastor till the town was finally evacuated in 1809, by the British troops, along with whom he returned to England. He died at Wanlockhead in Scotland, Sept. 14th, 1814. ^ To Mr. JMorison's obliging kindness, I am indebted for several parti- culars in regard both to the church here and at Middleburg. § Records of Eng. Ch. Flushing, July 11th, 1G27. II London ; printed for Henry Goson, and are to be sold at his shop on London Bridge, 1629, 4to. pp. 54. A Dutch translation of the Campe Royall was printed at Groningen in 1628, 8vo. IN THE NETHERLANDS. 307 nient, wliich tradition points out as the place where the British met for divine service. Haarlem. — During the seventeenth, and first half of the eighteenth century, some Scottish and English adventurers, most of whom were employed in the manufacture of cloth, had a chapel here. It was also used by them as a place of interment, and it now goes by the name of the Orphan church. Betwixt 1665 and 1670, the magistrates repeatedly bestowed upon the pas- tor, Edward Richardson, D.D., the sum of three hundred guil- ders and upwards, " as a gratuity for his good services, and the progress he is making in said congregation."* There are still a few British residents here, but it is more than a century since they had a church of their own at Haarlem. In the year 1708, the English Quakers had a meeting-house here.f The Hague. — The British residents, so early as 1595, had divine service publicly performed at the Hague in their own language. ^The chapel of a religious house, situated near the pre- sent palace, was then assigned to them as a place of worship. At first, and indeed for more than thirty years after this, there was no stated pastor ; the ambassador's chaplain here, and other mi- nisters in the Netherlands, as well as from England, occasionally doing duty for months at a time. At the recommendation of Ambassador Weywood, and Colonel Horace Vere, the States of Holland, upon the 18th of February, 1610, gave the officiating English minister here, a gift of five hundred guilders, " in consideration of his past services, his good reputation, and the singular edification of his ministry.":]; According to a resolution of the states, November 28th, 1626, permission was granted the residents to choose a Presbyterian clergyman, towards whose maintenance their High Mighti- • De Koning's Tafereel der Stad Haarlem, pp. 33, 34 ; and extracts from the Registers of that toivn, kindly procured for me by Mr. B. Lede- boer, Rotterdam. •f Bihliotheca Peirsotiiana, p. 4. :{: Rienier's Beschr. van "s Gravcnhurir, c. ix. pp. ■11^-415. BRITISH CHURCHES nesses agreed to afford an annual subsidy of three hundred pounds Flemish. The first fixed pastor at the Hague, Mr. John Wing from Flushing, was duly admitted by Mr. John Forbes of Delft, May 11th, 1627. He iramediatelj' formed a kirk-session composed of eight individuals, namely, William Colwall, Thomas, Fletcher, Henry Sharpe, Simon Netherwood, elders ; and John Harvey, Thomas Langton, John Shortis, Henry Lamborne, dea- cons. A sum of L. 100, Sterling, raised by subscription among the British, was expended in beautifying the church and erecting a gallery. The States, by their decree, August 17th, 1628, aug- mented the annual stipend to five hundred pounds Flemish ; in 1661, it was farther raised to 800 yearly: and the minister, in point of emolument, was finally put upon the same footing as the Dutch ministers in the Hague. This church, especially during the Stadtholdership, was al- ways much frequented by the royal family ; and Mary, the con- sort of the Prince of Orange, was a member, as well as a great benefactor, of the congregation. When she and her husband as- cended the British throne at the glorious Revolution, the queen manifested her partiality to this church, by procuring from the Exchequer an annuity of thirty pounds. Sterling, for the mainte- nance of public worship. By the original grant, this sum is given in perpetuity to the English Consistory at the Hague, whilst the congregation was served by a presbyterian minister. Upon tiie 7th of April, 1688, the States of Holland, at the re- commendation, it is believed, of the Prince of Orange, and in ac- cordance w'ith the wishes of the Consistory, instituted a second charge in this church. Mr. David Blair, then residing at Ley- den, being unanimously chosen by the session, conditionally closed with their offer. Appearing, June 19th, before the Con- sistory and the Deputies of the Classis, he " desired that, where- as he was rooted into the Presbyterian church of Scotland, and that among them no minister was bound to observe the festival- days, or to use the forms ; that therefore he might (if possible) be dispensed of the same, and that the words in the act of the Call or Election relating thereunto be left out ; declaring that, in such a case, he was ready forthwith to sign the instrument or IN THE NETHERLANDS. 309 act of election, and in the name of God thankfully to accept the same. " All which particulars being duly pondered, it was agreed and resolved by the Consistory, with the assistance and advice of the Deputies of the reverend Classis, to grant this desire and request of Mr. Blair, partly for the reasons before alledged, part- ly for other weighty considerations known both to the deputies forementioned and all the other members of the Consistory ; but with this condition, that hence no consequence ever afterwards shall be drawn in respect to others." * Dr. Bowie, in order to ensure the services, and to remove the conscientious scruples of so respectable a colleague, voluntarily offered to preach, as for- merly, on the festival days, — " and, besides, whensoever the sa- craments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper are to be adminis- tered, elders and deacons to be invested, or people to be mar- ried, to read the forms used in these churches, that so the reso- lution and decree of the Great and Migiity States of Holland and West Friesland, concerning the liturgy of the Dutch Church in general, and appointed also particularly by their Lordships in relation to our church, might be obeyed and punctually observed in this our congregation." f Mr. Blair, upon the 20th of the following June, was regularly inducted as joint pastor. He did not, however, continue here more than eighteen months, having accepted a presentation from the magistrates of Edinburgh, to one of the churches in that city, December 1689.-J: The place of seco7id minister remained in abeyance nearly half a century, but was worthily revived in the person of Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Maclaine, who came by in- vitation to assist his uncle, Mr. Milling, in 1746, and was the following year admitted co-pastor. This eminent man lived much respected in Holland for his virtues, talents, and acquire- ments. He usefully moved in the first circles, and for a time he was preceptor to the present King of the Netherlands. On the 2d of October 1795, Dr. Maclaine was suddenly attacked by a fit of apoplexy, which, being followed by a long state of weak- ness, prevented, during several months, the exercise of his pas- • Consist. Regist. -f- lb. J Papers in the possessioii of the Scottish Consist. Rotterdam. 310 BRITISH CHURCHES toral functions. As this circumstance, together with his advan- ced age, rendered it expedient and even necessary for him to retire from his ministerial labours, he, by letter, dated June 28th 1796, resigned his charge, and affectionately took leave of the Consistory. Shortly after this he went over to England, and took up his residence at Bath, where he died 25th November 1804, in his eighty-second year. Dr. Maclaine's translation of Mosheim's Ecclesiastical History is the most valuable performance which he left behind him. The Consistory did not obtain permission to fill up the vacancy till 1803, when Mr. Carp, a worthy native clergyman, acquaint- ed with the English language, was chosen. Mr. Carp, who was honoured with the degree of D.D. fi cm the University of Aber- deen, died 27th of June 1821. Although great efforts were used to keep it open, this church, composed of one hundred in- dividuals, Dutch as well as English, was provisionally suppressed, during his Majesty's j^leasure, by royal decree, January 8th 1822. The church funds, amounting to nearly L.IOOO, were, by order of Government, placed at the disposal of the deacons of the Dutch Reformed Church ; and the Bibles, the hymn-books, the communion plate, and a portion of the Consistory register, were deposited in St. Jacob's Kirk. The earliest record is entitled, " A Register for the Church, consisting of the subjects of y^ King of Great Brittaine resident in the Hague. Begun in the yeare 1627." This first volume is mostly filled with entries of marriages, christenings, and elec- tions of office-bearers, and the remaining three volumes are fuller on sessional business, and quite complete.* " When examining the records belonging to the English congregation at the Hague, I noted the following entries : — Marriage Regist. 1G3!) May 15, Lieut. Col. John Cromwell, to Mrs. Barbara Browne. 1689, Apr. 26. Lord William Paulet, son of the Mar- quis of Winchester, to Lady Louisa Hermelina De Caumont, da. of the Mar- quis of Mompouillan. IJ'IS, Nov. 19, Robert D'Arcy, Earl of Holdernesse, and one of the Lords of the Bed Chamber, to Mary Doublet. Regist. of Baptisms 1635, Jan. 20. Frederick, son of Lieut. Col. Couing- ham. Witnesses, the Queen of Bohemia, and Prince Elector Palatine. April 15. John, son of John Davenport, preacher of the gospel. 1641. March I7. Frederick, son of Colonel Cochran. Witnesses, the Queen and the young Prince of Orange. IN THE NETHERLANDS. 311 Ministers. 1C27 John Win?:, .... 2B 1630 yam. Balmfort, ... 20 R 1651 Geo. Beaumont, ... 9 T 1601 John Price, . . . . 15 T 1676 Philip M. Bowie, Phil. D. 39 D 1G88 Dav. Blair, M. A., 2d Min. \\ T 1716 Robert Milling-, ... 33 D 1747 Arch. JMaclaine, D. D. 49 R 1803 William Carp, D. D. . 18 D Since the discontinuance of the Presbyterian church, several ministers of the Church of England, particularly during the ab- sence of the Court every second year, have occasionally per- formed divine service here. We shall mention two — the Rev. Thomas Prince, D.D., previously at Brussels, as chaplain to the late Duke of Kent, and the British residents in that capital, re- moved, at the invitation of the Countess of Athlone, to the Hague, where he became her Ladyship's chaplain, and the con- ductor of a flourishing boarding school. In 1825, his state of health compelled him to leave Holland, where he was greatly esteemed as a man and a minister. Dr. Prince was much noticed by the late Princess Charlotte, who encouraged him to expect her unqualified future favour and patronage. He died at Bromp- ton in his 42d year, Jan. 22d, 1830, without having ever enjoyed a living. The Rev. Robert Fenwick, a native of Newcastle, who had been an Episcopal clergyman in Leith and Edinburgh for about thirty years, did duty in this church during the whole of 1828. He died suddenly at the Hague, August 2d, 1829, aged 78. At present, the Rev. William H. Holworthy, M. A., chaplain to the British embassy at the Hague, preaches regularly in the old Presbyterian church. Heusden. — In the course of the year 1651, Mr. George Beaumont removed from this place to the Hague, which he sub- sequently left for Ireland. Independent of being chaplain to Col. Cromwell's regiment, he statedly ministered to other British subjects, who were permanent residents at Heusden.* Leyden. — The University of Leyden, founded in 1575, rapid- Reciist. Enrj. Ch, Hague, 312 BRITISH CHURCHES ly acquired an astonishing degree of popularity, and was attended by students from almost every country. As many British re- sorted to this rising seat of learning, the States of Holland, and the magistrates of the town, instituted and endowed at their joint expense a Scottish church in 1609. Robert Durie, the first pastor, and the intimate friend of Andrew Melville, had been minister of Anstruther in Fifeshire ; but being one of six groundlessly con- victed of treason, was, with them, banished to France.* In less than three years, however, from the date of his expatriation, he was settled at Leyden, where, till his death, which took place September 1616,f he faithfully and acceptably laboured. Imme- diately after his decease, the congregation applied to, and ob- tained from the burgomasters, a suitable provision for a succes- sor. :}: Mr. Hugh Goudgier, a remarkably pious man, was cho- sen and admitted in the course of the following year. The Brownists, as we have mentioned under Amsterdam, had a chapel here, and their pastor was Mr. John Smith. In the printed histories of Leyden, there is no mention made of this religious sect, and the probability is that it did not long exist. The English who settled in this town were genteel families, whom the superior advantages of education drew hither in considerable numbers; and there were besides a few cloth manufacturers, and other artizans. In 1688, the celebrated William Carstares, the confidential adviser of the Prince of Orange, was unanimously elected second minister, an office which was founded by the Stadtholder solely on his account. Mr. Hickman did not long retain his colleague, who, by special request, went to England in the suite of the Prince, in the character of domestic chaplain. By King William III, Mr. Carstares was consulted on all questions relative to Scotland. This worthy and influential divine was afterwards • M'Crie's Life of Melville, i. 328; ii. 119. 122. •f Van ]\Iieris and Van Alphen's Beschr. van Leyden, vol. iii. p. 1001 ; and M'Ci-ie's Melville, vol. ii. 292. 309. J The Request of the English Reformed Church to the Burgomasters on this occasion has been printed, and also the favourable deliverance of the magistrates, dated Oct. 6th, 1616, and Feb. 20th, 1617- Van Mieris, vol. i. pp. 99, 100. IN THE NETHEBLANDS. 313 Principal of the University, and one of the ministers, of Edin- burgh, both of which situations he honourably filled till the period of his death, December 28th, 1715.* During the eighteenth century, two thousand British students, attracted by Boerhaave and other eminent teachers, were en- rolled as members of the University.f Such an influx of our countrymen necessarily contributed to the support and respecta- bility of the Scottish Church here. Edinburgh, however, soon took the lead as a school of medicine ; and Leyden, as well as other continental academies, could shortly boast of few pupils from England. Mr. Mitchell, the eleventh and last pastor of this church, was son to the Rev. James Mitchell, one of the ministers of Aberdeen. Owing to the cause which we have just mentioned, the congrega- tion had even begun to decrease prior to 1753, when Mr. Gowan had a colleague given him through the personal exertions of the Stadtholder. Upon the 20th of Aug. 1761, the magistrates pass- ed a resolution declaring that, in the event of the death or depar- ture of the then officiating clergyman, no other should be appoint- ed in his stead, " seeing that British students now no longer fre- quented the University of Leyden, and that there were no Eng- lish families in the town."j: Towards the close of last century, Mr. Mitchell refused to take the oath against the House of Orange, which was rigorously exacted from all spiritual and temporal officers of the Republic ; and, in consequence of non- compliance, he was ejected from his charge. He, with several • Chron. List of Ministers of the Eng. Congreg. at the end of the textbook for the annual sermons in the Dutch Reformed Church, 8th edit. p. 162, Levden, 12mo. The Edinburgh Christian Instructor for JMarch 1827 con- tains the best biographical sketch of Principal Carstares hitherto published. An extended memoir of this excellent man is still a desideratum. M^odrow has given a good account of him ; and, in the octavo edition of this valuable History of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland, Dr. Burns, the judicious editor, has published a portion of the Principal's correspondence- (vol. iv. pp. 516, 519). •f Te Waters' Narratio de rebus Acad, Lugduno-Balavae, seculo octavo et decimo prosperis et adversis. 8vo. Lug. Bat. 1802. p. 56. Siegenbeek's Geschiedenis der Leidsche Hoogeschool, 8vo. liUg. Bat. 1829, vol. i. pp. 287, 288. :J: Van Mieris, vol. i. p. 102. 314 BRITISH CHURCHES other of the Netherland Reformed ministers continued till recall- ed, to reject any pecuniary assistance out of the funds raised for providing for the necessities of the clergy. In the Consistory Register, (deposited in the Town-house) which commenced with his ministr}^, I found the following entry in Mr. Mitchell's hand-writing : — " The Rev. Mr. W. Mitchell removed and sus- pended from his office on account of political opinions, July 14th, 1796 ; but reinstated and honourably restored, September 12ih, 1801, and preached for the first time, October 4th of the same year." He continued to perform his duty till 1803, when, by reason of the growing infirmities of old age, he was declared Emeritus. He died, September 1807, in his eightieth year. There is an original portrait of Mr. Mitchell in the possession of his grandson, Professor Bake of Leyden. Upon the application of the Consistory, (which, besides the mi- nister, generally consisted of two elders and two deacons) the Scots and English had, in succession, three places of worship assigned to them by the magistrates, as the congregation increased : — I. St. Catherine Gasthuis, from 1609 till 1622. It was also used by the French and German Protestants.* II. Jerusalem Kirk, from 1622 till 1644 \\ and III. The Begjjn Chapel,X from 1644 till 1805. This large edifice belonged in former times to an order of Begyn's, called the Gefalyde, from a h\^c\i plaid or scarf \y\i\ch. they constantly wore. Twenty years after the erection of the University, this chapel was divided, and the entire upper part was appropriated for the library ; the lower part behind was given to the ana- tomical professor ; and the remaining third portion which, pre- viously to 1644, was used by the students as a fencing school, became a place of worship for the British residents, who retain- ed it whilst divine service was publicly performed in their lan- guage at Leyden. This suppressed English church, the front of the Old Begyn chapel, with its beautiful tower, was pulled down in 1822, and • Van Meiris, vol. i. p. 255. •\ Orlers' Beschr. vol. i. p. 153, 3d edit. Leyden, 1781, 4to. + Van l\Iierls, vol. i. pp. 100-102. lb. p. 555. and Appendix, p. 32. lb. pp. 1000, 1001, 1058, 1059. IN THE NETHERLANDS. 315 being rebuilt and enlarged, the whole building is now occupied by the splendid Anatomical Museum, and the Library belonging to the University, which stands at no great distance on the op- posite side of the haven. The only existing memorial of our countrymen on the site of this church is the tomb of James, Earl of Loudon, who was greatly persecuted in Scotland under prelacy, and who chose Leyden as the place of his exile, where he died in the year 1684.* We subjoin a list of the pastors of the Scottish Church at Leyden, from its formation in 1609 till 1805, the period of its final suppression. Ministers. 1609 Robert Durie, M. A. . 7 D 1617 Hugh Goudgier, . 44 D 1663 JNIatth. Newcomen, M. A. 6 D 1670 Edw. Richardson, D. D. 4 K 1675 Hen. Hickman, M. A. 16 D 1088 William Carstairs, M. A. 2d Minister . 1 R 1692 Rob. Fleming, M. A. 3 T 1696 John Milling . 6 T 1702 Robert Milling . 14 T 1 71 6 Thos. Gowan . 42 D 1753 \Vm. Mitchell, M. A. 47 E MiDDLEBURG. — Churcli of England. — Thomas Cartwright, a celebrated puritan, who had previously acted as chaplain to his countrymen at Antwerp, came to Middleburg in 1571, as minis- ter to the English merchants. He was so hard a student that he did not allow himself more than five hours' sleep : and for his unflinching adherence to the doctrines of the Reformation, he was deprived of the Divinity Margaret Professorship, and of his fellowship at Trinity, Cambridge. Who was Cartwrights' im- mediate successor is uncertain, but Hugh Broughton, an elo- quent preacher, and also distinguished by the depth of his learn- ing and the intensity of his application, officiated here, prior to 1611, when he returned to England, where he died the year fol- lowing.:}: * In compiling this article, the author has to acknowledge his obligation to Mr. Bodel Nyenhuis of Leyden ; a gentleman whose minute acquain- tance with the literature and topographical history of his country is well known. ■\ List of Ministers, Elders, and Deacons in Eng. Ch. Middleburg, (ia Dutch) 1770. pp. 1 and 2. X Broughton, famed for his knowledge of Hebrew, declined an offer made him by King James, of a chair in the University of St. Andrews. M'Crie's Life of Melville, vol. i. p. 332. 2d edition. 316 BRITISH CHURCHES The individuals last mentioned, and probably more whose names have not reached us, vi'ere chaplains to the English society of Merchant Adventurer?,, who, driven from Germany, settled at Middleburg, where, enjoying an exclusive privilege of trading in English woollen cloths, they continued from 1598 to 1616, when they fixed their residence at Delft. Their place of wor- ship was the Gasthuis Kerk ; and they held their Staple- Court in an apartment of the West India House. Srownist Congregation. — The magistrates, in the year 1588, permitted the celebrated Robert Brown, and his followers, to open a place of worship. This congregation, however, in con- sequence of some warm disputes among themselves, regard- ing church discipline, was soon dissolved. Their restless leader, unable to pacify the schismatics, returned to England in 1589, renounced his principles, and, through the interest of his relative. Lord Burleigh, was promoted to a rectory in Northampton- shire.* From the register of the Dutch Consistory, it appears that the few remaining Brovvnists had a meeting-house at Middleburg in 1592 : their chapel, which had been used by the British resi- dents prior to the Reformation, was called the Vischmarkt- kerk.-f In 1595 the number of the Brownistswas much increas- ed, by the arrival here, as also at other places in the Nether- lands, of those of their brethren whom the persecutions at home drove to the continent. Mr. Henry Jacob was their pastor here, for several years, from 1599.::j: The greatest proportion of the works written by the Brovvnists originally issued from the Midle- burg press. It is not precisely known how long this religious sect existed here, as a distinct community ; though the probabi- lity is that it became extinct in the end of the seventeenth cen- tury. Church of Scotland. — Mr. John Forbes, the celebrated incum- bent of Alford in Aberdeenshire, is, in our opinion, entitled to be • Notice prefixed to List of Ministers, Elders, and Deacons, in Eng. Clu Mid. ■\ lb. X Wilson's Diss. Churches, i. p. 38. IN THE NETHERLANDS. 317 considered as the founder of this church. Though some of the successors belonged to the English nonconformists, those illus- trious champions of civil and religious liberty, the congregation here tenaciously preserved its presbyterian aspect, and, as at present, has been often served by a minister of the church of Scotland. We have already had occasion to speak of Mr. Forbes, in our notice of Delft, whither he removed from this place in 1621, with the English merchants, to whom he was chaplain. How long he was with them in Zealand, I cannot precisely say ; but I am inclined to believe he was elected immediately after Mr. Broughton left Middleburg, and that thus he was about ten years pastor of this church.* From incidental hints in the records of Consistory', there is pleasing evidence that he was greatly beloved by the people here for his Christian worth, and for his zealous pastoral fidelity. Until the year 1622, the British residents were not suitably accommodated with a place of worship. They then invited Mr. Samuel Bachiler of Gorcum, but he declining, Mr. John Drake was chosen and settled Sept. 3d, 1623. Mr. William Teelinck, one of the Dutch Reformed ministers in Middleburg, was princi- pally instrumental in the erection of this church, which frequent- ly enjoyed his services.-}- This eminent Zealander, the most popular preacher and voluminous writer in his day among the Dutch divines, spent some years in Britain, and travelled through England and Scotland, making the acquaintance of the principal characters who flourished there in the beginning of the seven- teenth century. He was originally destined for a lawyer, and had taken out his degree at Poictiers in 1603; but soon after that, when in London, he was accidentally present at a prayer meeting held by John Dod, Arthur Hildersham, and other pious clergymen ; and so deep and salutary an impression was then made on his mind, that he resolved to devote himself to the ministry. Communicating his intentions to his English friends, they set apart a day for the special purpose of invoking the direc- tion of Heaven in his affair. They coincided entirely with him in his new undertaking, and they heaitily wished him God • M'Crie's Life of Melville, vol. ii, pp. 292, 308, 529. ■f Consist, liegist. 318 BRITISH CHURCHES speed. He died at Middleburg in his 50th year, April 8tb, 1629. To the British settlers in Walcheren, Mr. Teelinck was always a ready counsellor; and the active interest which he took in the restoration of the English Church in this town, en- titles him to our grateful remembrance.* Mr. Teelinck had two sons, Maximilian and John ;-f- the former was pastor of the English congregation at Flushing, and of the latter we shall presently speak. Mr. Drake died 17th February, 1642, at the age of sixty, and was succeeded by Mr. Gribius, {gente Germamts) upon the 23d of the following November. Upon the 7th September, 1645, "the English Churches of Middleburg and Flushing were admitted and acknowledged as members of the reverend Classis of Wal- cheren ; the pastors of both churches to subscribe such particu- lars as all other ministers do."J During the republic, the ad- miralty of Holland and Zealand had authority to require the superior church courts to select some of their number to officiate as clergymen in the colonies for a limited period. Whilst abroad, they had ample salaries, and enjoyed all the emoluments of their livings at home ; the duties of which being generally discharged by their brethren in the respective presbyteries. In the year 1646, the directors of the West India Company earnestly be- sought the Classis that the minister of the English Church at Middleburg might be sent to Brazil for eighteen months. The Consistory was greatly averse to this proposal, but ultimately complied, upon an understanding that Mr. Gribius, at his own expense, should employ an ordained assistant. John Teelinck was set apart by the Classis as his substitute, but he continued only a few months, having embraced a call to Utrecht. John Skase, who followed Teelinck as assistant, remained here till the arrival of Mr. Gribius from his service in South America, Sept. 1648. Four years after his return, Gribius removed to fill a va- cancy in the German Church at Amsterdam. He was succeeded here, Nov. 10th, 1652, by Mr. William Spang, the Scottish mi- nister at Campvere, and a man of acknowledged pietj' and learn- ing. Upon the death of Mr. Spang, June 17th, 1664, Mr. David • De la Rue's Geletterd Zeeluml, pp. 334-341. t lb. pp. 16y-171. % Comisl Hcffist. IN THE NETHEHLANDS. 319 Anderson, also a Scotsman, and previously of Walton in the county of Surrey, but then living at Middleburg, was inducted in his stead. Mr. Anderson did not enjoy this appointment long, having deceased 27th March 1667. He was the first pas- tor of this church who, by order of the Classis, preached from the Catechism. T!ie Consistory, June 19th same year, unanimously elected " Joseph Hill, B. D. formerly Fellow of Magdalene col- lege in Cambridge, and then residing as a traveller and student in the University of Leyden in Holland."* Upon the seventh of the subsequent August he was regularly invested. The stipend of the clergyman here was not paid by the States till 1668 ; before then, the burgomasters usually gave an annual gratuity to assist the congregation, upon whom this burden wholly lay. In 1673, Mr. Hill printed at Middleburg a quarto tract entitled Tlie Interest of these United Provinces, being a defence of the Zeel- anders choice. On account of this publication, in which the author passed some imseasonable reflections upon the govern- ment, he was, by resolution of the Provincial States, August 19th that year, ordered to quit Zealand. The act, which silenced him, contained this reservatory clause, that should Mr. Hill, at the termination of the war, feel disposed to return, he should be re- instated in his office. For a few months, John Beverland,-]- sometime pastor of the Dutch church at Great Yarmouth, preach- ed here ; but Mr. Hill, who went to London, whence he sent over his resignation, being determined never to resume his cleri- cal duties in Walcheren. Mr. Hill, in less than five years re- turned to the continent, where he long lived respected as second Minister of the English Presbyterian church, Rotterdam. He was one of the divines who completed Henry's Commentary, and was editor of an improved edition of Schrevelius' Greek Lexicon. On the 16th October, 1680, in room of Mr. Shepheard, an English-Rotterdaraer,:]: who died the preceeding month, the Session elected Mr. John Quicke, of London, " and exercising • Consist. Regist. •f Brother to the well-known heterodox writer on Original Sin. De la Buc, p. 18, J Leusdeni Philol. Ileb. {Dlsso-l. lO.J and Regist. Eng. Presh. Ch. Rott. 320 BRITISH CHURCHES his ministry constantly on the Lord's day in the congregation in Bridge's Street, Covent Garden." Mr. Qiiicke, author of Synodi- con in Gallia Reformata, and of a much more valuable unpublished biographical work in the Red Cross Street Library, was settled Jan. 5th, 168L Exactly eight days after his induction, a mis- understanding arose in Consistory in consequence of his refusing to observe the Dutch forms in baptism. After the evening ser- vice, Sabbath February 9th, a session was held, when Mr. Quicke informed the meeting, that though his admission had oc- casioned much talk, he had now satisfied the superior church- court. " Being then questioned about his not using the forms of administering the sacraments that are of custom in the Dutch Churches, he gave several reasons for it; but shewing himself willing to subscribe the forms of union, (established by that fa- mous national synod of Dort, 1619, and by the provincial synod of Tergoes in the year 1620,) as he did actually subscribe them, the Classis then thought meet not to move any further question or dispute thereabout, so he was immediately, without any more ado, admitted a member of the Walcheren Classis." * As Mr. Quicke, however, shortly afterwards displeased the au- thorities by non-observance of the forms, the lords of the pro- vince, and the magistrates stopped his salary, and resolved to withhold it so long as he did not comply. He was much nettled at this ; and, upon the 27th April, he acquainted his displeased Consistory, " that he intended to accept of a call proffered unto him by the Countess of Donegall and Langford, as chaplain in their noble families, and was resolved on Thursday next to present it to the Classis, and desire his dismission from them."-|- His session did what they could to persuade him to remain, but he would not listen to their repeated and flattering propositions. The spirit in which he left them, professedly for a short time, will best be seen from the following lines, written on the day of his departure, and inscribed by himself on the blank leaf of the Consistory Register : — Te vidi, IMediburga, vale ; tandemq. revertar, Cum sine fraude colas justitiam atq. fidem. Anglaq :, quje Domini temerasti Ecclesia foedus, Plorabo lachrymis vel tua fata meis. July 6. 81. " Consist. Regist, •\ lb. IN THE NETHERLANDS. 321 After interchanging many letters, Mr. Quicke at last, May 23d, 1682, gave Consistory full liberty to elect a successor. He remained in London during the rest of his days ; and for twenty- five years preceding his death, which happened 29th April, 1706, he was pastor of a Presbyterian church, Bartholomew- close.* Mr. van der Wind, the fifth successor of Mr. Quicke, having become Emeritus, 26th April, 1759, the Consistory elected Mr. George Hughes Worsley in his stead. This individual, of whom it behoves us to take notice, readily embraced the call, under- went the usual examination to the satisfaction of the Classis, and, upon the 5th of August following, was regularly ordained. He had been settled only a few months when a melancholy ex- pose of his character and conduct appeared. It was found that Mr. Worsley had illegally assumed the ministerial calling, and thrust himself upon the public as an accredited messenger of hea- ven. His father, a respectable man, gave him a liberal educa- tion, and advantageously placed him in business. In 1756 he stopped payment, and his creditors refused him a discharge. Upon this he went down into Kent, rented a parsonage-house, opened a school, and, giving himself out as a minister of the Church of England, was retained by the Rev. Sir Hugh Burdett, Bart, vicar of Newington. Mr. Worsley was next employed by a neighbouring clergyman ; but scarcely had he entered upon his new duty, when it was whispered abroad that he was a self-made curate, — a wolf in sheep's clothing. His certificate of ordina- tion was now, for the first time, demanded ; and, after a good deal of prevarication, as he knew it was impossible to satisfy his constituents, he abruptly withdrew from the parish, shipped for Zealand, and took up his residence at Middleburg. Here he feigned himself a Presbyterian preacher, and, shewing a recom- mendatory testimonial, apparently signed by several eminent Dissenting ministers in England, he easily gained admittance into the pulpit of Mr. van der Wind, who was then nearly four score, and to whom consequently assistance was peculiarly de- sirable. It was with this same certificate, which, we regret to add, was proved to have been fabricated by himself, that he im- posed upon Mr. van der Wind, and the Classis of Walcheren. • Wilson's Dissent. Churches, vol. iii. pp. 372-377. Y 322 BRITISH CHURCHES No sooner, however, did the Consistory and Classis, to their grief, discover that they had been the dupes of a designing man, than they instantly retraced their steps. They had clung to him to the last, charitably supposing that the grave charge brought against him might yet be groundless. In the month of October, 1760, this extraordinary case came under the review of the church courts, when Mr. Worsley's call and ordination were de- clared null and void, and his name was ordered to be forthwith erased from the roll of ministers. By a supplementary clause, however, the Classis approved and ratified the solemnity of bap- tism, marriage, investiture of clergymen, elders, and deacons, and admission of members, performed by Mr. Worsley in name of the Consistory. This deliverance was, by authority, published from the pulpit, and a copy was likewise forwarded to London, whither the deposed minister had gone. He soon penitentially acknowledged the justice of the sentence. Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Thomas Cogan, author of the work on the Passions, and then assistant to Mr. Longueville, of Amster- dam, preached here by request, and was offered the situation, but he, as well as Mr. William Wright at Ringwood, in Hamp- shire, who was next invited, declined, on the ground that they could not conscientiously give the required subscription to the whole articles of the Dort Confession. Mr. James Affleck, a Scotsman, highly esteemed by Dr. Doddridge for his Christian attainments, was at length fixed upon ; and, leaving his charge at Dort, to the great regret of the English there, he was invest- ed at Middleburg, Nov. 22, 1761. Mr. Low having departed July, 1797, to become minister of the Scottish Church in Rotterdam, the Middleburg congrega- tion continued vacant for nearly ten years; and the clerical duty was done by the incumbent at Flushing. The Consistory had, during this protracted interval, offered the pulpit to different gentlemen, who refused, because the full stipend could not then be ensured longer than three years. As mentioned in a former article, the English churches of Middleburg and Flushing were united by royal decree in 1815. According to an ecclesiastical injunction, the precentor (yoor- hzer) of this and the English congregation of Flushing, as in all the Dutch churches, reads immediately before the first prayer IN THE NETHEKLANDS. 323 the Ten Commandments ; and, in the afternoon, the Creed. The minister is enjoined to conclude his last prayer with the Lord's Prayer, which he is required to pronounce in a slower and more impressive tone. The minutes of this kirk-session are complete from 1622 ; and most of the letters and other documents to and from Consistory have been preserved and bound up in volumes. The Registers of Marriages and Baptisms begin 1624. It appears from a cata- logue of the church members, commencing 28th Dec. 1642, and kept in a separate form till the end of Mr. Coorne's ministry, that the average number of Bristish communicants was about sixty-five.* In the Record of Christenings I observed the fol- lowing entries: — 1634, April 26, Charles, son of Sir Gelein Quirinson, bart., and Dame Aletta Carey; Lord George Goring (Earl of Norwich,) and Lord Craven, godfathers. The Queen of Bohemia, godmother. At the baptism of their daughter, Charlotte Mary, Nov. 1656, Lord Wentworth represented his majesty as godfather, and Lady Wentworth, Mary, Princess of Orange, as godmother. Sir Gelein, who was one of the grooms of the bedchamber to Charles II., from whom he receiv- ed the honour of knighthood, died in the year 1667, while on a visit to London.f His widow. Lady Quirinson, resided at Mid- dleburg till her death, October, 1693.:j: The population of Middleburg, within the last forty years, has decreased nigh two-thirds, and there are now scarcely twelve British subjects in this once flourishing and handsome town. By an official return in 1830, the number of souls belonging to the English congregation is stated at forty.§ Ministers. IGllJohn Forbes, M. A. . 10 T | 1652 Wm. Spang, M. A. . 12 D 1623 John Drake, . . 19 D 1664 Dav. Anderson, M. A. 3D 1642 Peter Gribius, . . 10 T j 1667 Joseph Hill, B. D. . 6 R * The communion plate belonging to this church, it may here be men- tioned, is particularly valuable. -f- MS. List of Communicants in the EnyUsh Church at Middleburg. X Idem. § reuiiiig's Alphab. Reyid. p. &J. 324 BRITISH CHURCHES 1674 Nich. Shepheard, Ph. D. 5 D I 1750 Geo. H. Worsley, 1 Di posed. 1C81 John QuickC, 31. A. . 1 R 1701 James Affleck, M. A. 13 E 1682 Wm. Spang, jun.,M. A. 1 D 1775 bam. Wilcocke, M.D. 21 E 1683 Rob. Tory, . . 8 D 1796 James Low, M. A. . IT 1692 John Leask, , . 5 D 1807 Sander van der Hoek, 9 D 1698 Corn. Coorne, . 26 D 1818 Geo. Morison, M. A. 1725 Mart, van der "Wind, 34 E I OsTEND. — The Rev. Adrian van Deinse, favourably known as the Dutch translator of No Fiction, Father Clement, Decision, and other standard works, preached here for several years in the Dutch and English languages; and, till the present Episcopal clergyman settled at Ostend in April 1830, Mr. van Deinse, to gratify the predilections of his British hearers, adopted in part the service of the Church of England. The Rev. Moses Marcus, M. A., chaplain to the Consulate and British residents here, obligingly informed me, that although his congregation suffered much, by reason of the late commotions, he has still nearly three hundred members, including a hundred communicants ; that divine service is performed once every Lord's day in winter, but twice a-week during the summer months ; and that there is a Sabbath and day school for the education of English children. Rotterdam. — Church of England. — The States General passed an Act, on the 9th of January 1587, encouraging the in- troduction into Holland of British manufactured cloth and woollen stuffs.* This favourable decree brought several of our country- men to Rotterdam. Shortly after the date in question, and, indeed, until the breaking out of the war in the reign of Charles II, they were established here, following mercantile pursuits in their individual capacity, and latterly, from 1635 to 1666, as members of the society of Merchant Adventurers.^ At first, there was no church assigned to them by the city ; but it is certain that they always made a point of retaining a spiritual teacher. Accord- ing to the preponderance of the members, who were from both sides of the Tweed, their chaplain, though generally an Episco- palian, was, at least in one instance, a minister of the Church of Scotland. Upon the 6th June 1611, a request was made to the magis- " Groot Plakaatboek, vol. i. p. 756. -f- \ai\ Reyn's Beschr. der Stad lloUerdam, vol. i. p. 332. IN THE NETHERLANDS. 325 trates of Rotterdam, by the English residents, to have a place of worship ; but the records of the corporation bear, " that, for evident reasons," the prayer of the petitioners was then refused.* Who was their pastor previous to this period, I have no means of ascertaining ; and the earliest name that I have discovered is that of Mr. Thomas Berkeley, who was chaplain here in 1622.f When St. Sebastian's Chapel, now better known as the Old Scots Church, was repaired and enlarged in 1627, the Episcopalians were allowed by the burgomasters to have the use of it, along with those of the French Reformed Communion. When, in 1635, the " Court of English Cloth" removed from Delft to this place, the States of Holland, on the 23d April of that year, decreed, that, free of all cost to said society, a church should be supplied and solely upheld at the expense of the town. The magistrates instantly complied with this injunction, and caused some necessary alterations to be made on an old chapel at the north-west end of the High Street, then used by the French Protestants. Whilst in the occupation of the two congregations, it was designated the French and the English Court Kirk. When our countrymen left the town, this building, greatly enlarged in 1662, was given over entirely to the Walloons, in whose posses- sion it has been ever since. Mr. Syme was the officiating Episcopal clergyman in 1639 ;J and Mr. John Durie, son to the first pastor of the Scots congregation at Leyden, and " well known for the persevering exertions which he made to accomplish a union between the Lutheran and Reformed churches,"§ was minister of the English Merchants' or Court Kirk here in 1645. || Mr. Thomas held this chaplainship at the period of his death, in 1651 ; and the civic authorities issued orders that his remains should be buried free of all grave dues.^ This appears to have • Van Reyn's Beschr. der Stad Rotterdam, vol. i. p. 332. •j- Regis t. Scot. Ch. Utrecht. X In 1G39, Mr. Syme, the Episcopal minister here, had a child interred in the French or English chapel. MS. Extracts from the Dutch Church Accounts, obligingly communicated to me by Mr. G. van Reyn, the most recent; and by far the best historian of Rotterdam. § M'Crie's Life of Andreiv Melville, vol. ii. p. 303. second edit. II Regist. Scot. Ch. RoU. «[ Mr. van Reyn's MS. Extracts, ut supra. 326 BRITISH CHURCHES been a special mark of respect to his memory, as the exemption in question relates only to such clergy and laity as hold public situations, endowed by the State. Much about this time, Dr. Thomas Marshall, of Lincoln College, Oxford, was elected chap- lain to the Company. He was distinguished by his uncommon acquaintance with the Septentrional and Oriental languages ; and it was whilst here that he composed and printed his famous ver- sion of the Gospels in Gothic and Anglo-Saxon. In 1656, he removed to Dort with the English merchants.* Betwixt the years 1662 and 1688, Holland and Great Britain were frequently involved in war, which compelled a number of the English merchants to quit Rotterdam, and other towns in the Provinces. From Dr. Marshall's departure, till the close of that century, there was no stated minister of the church of England here. In 1699, seventeen individuals, -|- heads of families, agreed by voluntary subscription to raise a salary competent for the maintenance of an Episcopal clergyman. Upon a yearly stipend, which amounted to rather more than one thousand florins, the Rev. Luke Milbourne, D. D. of Pembroke-hall, Cambridge, cheerfully accepted of an invitation to be their pastor. He en- tered upon his stated services, April 9th, 1700, and speedily manifested a laudable zeal, not only in the pulpit, but from the press, to make his people acquainted with the doctrines and du- ties of our holy religion.^ Dr. Milbourne, however, left Hol- land, in the month of June, of the following year, to become rec- tor of St. Ethelburgh, and lecturer of St. Leonard's, Shoreditch, London. In the charge at Rotterdam, he was succeeded by Dr. * See our article on the English Episcopal Church at Dordrecht. •\ Regarding the gentlemen alluded to ahove, as the earliest patrons of the Church of England, in Rotterdam, we here give their names in the order of their subscription towards a stated ministry. IMessrs. Richard Davj'es, Christopher Bernard, Ro. Page, Benj. 'Wande, Nicholas Pitt, Tho. Nodes, Hen. Nicholas, B. Cocke, Gilbert Black, Richd. Davis, Ro. ]\lorste, Nich. Taverner, Geo. Barons, Sam. Palmer, ^Vm. Geo. Pennington, AVra. Pelsant, Caleb Fowler. Vestry Register. :}: The Catechisme of the Church of England, explained by Short Ques- tions and Answers ; for the use of the English Church in Rotterdam, by Luke Milbourne, presbyter and pastor there.^ Printed by Elias Yvans, Rott. 17. 0, 8vo. IN THE NETHERLANDS. 327 Thorold, July 3d, 1701. A chapel in the Wine Street, the one first used by the Scots Presbyterians, was at this period in the possession of the members of the church of England, but being found incapable of comfortably accommodating the congregation, its managers determined, in the following year, to build asuitable place of worship. Apprised of this resolution, the burgomasters, in the most handsome manner, supplied a site for a church, at the north-eastern extremity of the Haringvliet, which is one of the finest havens in the city ; and they also conferred upon the Episcopalians several privileges. By the strenuous efforts of those more immediately interested in the proposed erection, particularly through the praise-worthy and active exertions of Dr. Thorold and Mr. Richard Davis, a large sum was quickly placed at the disposal of the Trustees. This included the munificent gift of L. 500 from Queen Anne, and splendid donations from the Archbishop of Canterbury, the bench of bishops, both universities, the corporations of New- castle and Yarmouth, and the English nobility and gentry gene- rally. To their honour, it deserves to be recorded, that Dr. Thorold and Mr. Davis repaired not only to England, but to Flanders, then the theatre of war, where they were kindly receiv- ed by the Duke of Marlborough, who, alongst with the officers and private soldiers, generously encouraged the undertaking. The brave Admiral, Sir George Rooke, like his illustrious friend Marlborough, subscribed L.lOO, and his example had a similarly good effect ; for the companies of the several ships, then cruising on the Flemish coast under his command, gave, on this occasion, a noble specimen of that open liberality for which the British navy have ever been proverbial. A complete list of the donors is now before me, and the total amount of the contributions was L.4246, 2s. 6d. Sterling. The new church, " founded upon 700 masts," quickly rose, and reflected much honour upon all concerned ; and this work, so powerfully and extensively patronized, was, in due time, brought to a happy completion. As a suitable compliment, the vestry caused the royal arms of England to be placed in the pediment of the building, and the ducal arms of the hero of Blenheim underneath. These armorial bearings are well exe- 328 BRITISH CHURCHES cuted in stone, and prove beautifully ornamental to the front of the edifice.* From September 1703, till May 1708, the Rev. Francis Hewerdine, M. A. m as employed as curate during the minister's frequent absence in collecting contributions. On Sabbath, April 22d, 1708, this spacious and elegant chapel was consecra- ted by Dr. Thorold, a commission having been sent him for that purpose from the Bishop of London, in the records of whose diocese, it is styled, " the English Church of St. Mary's at Rotterdam." As the subscriptions did not nearly cover the outlay, the Bri- tish government, in 1712, voted the sum of L. 2500 Sterling, which enabled the Vestry to discharge all the tradesmen's bills.-]- Shortly before this, the bounty of her Britannic Majesty was worthily extended to this appendage of the national church. An annuity of L. 100 was permanently settled upon the resident chaplain here and at Amsterdam ; and this grant, though re- duced by an exaction for land tax and fees, to L. 81, 6s. is still regularly paid by the Crown of England. In the charter,;}: which was granted to this church by the magistrates of Rotter- dam, Nov. 14tli, 1702, it is expressly stipulated that, in all time coming, the Vestry shall have full power of naming a minister for the approbation of the Bishop of London ; and that when the individual so chosen has been approved by his ecclesiastical su- perior, the church-wardens are required to introduce their pas- tor-elect, at the Stadthouse, in order to his obtaining the requisite sanction of the city authorities. Except in one instance, the congregation have invariably ob- tained the clergyman whom they had recommended. Not being " To a stranger, this massy building seems in a dangerous state, in con- sequence of its reclining very much to one side. The foundation of the south wall gave way a few years after its erection ; and though, from this unfortunate circumstance, the church has an awkward appearance, it is per- fectly secure. + This sum was granted by the Commons, March, 1712, in compliance with a message from the Queen. The Earl of Strafford, Her Majesty's Am- bassador at the Hague, strongly supported the Representation of the Church to his government. :J: Original document in possession of the Vestry. IN THE NETHERLANDS. 329 at all consulted in 1719, and considering their vested rights in- fringed, the church-wardens absolutely refused to acknowledge, as their lawful pastor, Mr. Lowther, whom the bishop of his own accord, had sent over. It was not until the 14th of June, 1722, fully four years after his arrival in Rotterdam, that the Vestry, upon the express understanding that such a case should never again occur, formally recognised the Diocesan's nominee. For more than ninety years, the congregation flourished un- der successive ministers, most of whom enjoyed livings in their native country. Some of the principal British merchants in the city have held official appointments in this church. From 1714 till his death in 1743, Mr. Alexander Andrew appears to have been an active vestry-man. He was succeeded by Mr. Francis Twiss, a gentleman who, for a considerable time, was also an ef- ficient church-warden. In the month of July, 1760, the Duke of Brunswick, guardian of their Serene Highnesses the Prince Hereditary Stadtholder, and of the Princess of Weilburgh, presented to this church, the books belonging to the chapel at the Hague, of her late R. H. the Princess Royal and of Orange, &c., consisting of three Bibles, and seventy-six prayer books. Mrs. Mary Spicer, a worthy member of the congregation, who had been remarkably successful in the drapery trade, retired from business in 1773, and, besides a pecuniary donation, gave over her shop and its contents in trust, to the care of the minister, church-masters, and church-wardens. The property was forth- with converted into money, and, with a portion of the interest of the capital, the Vestry, agreeably to the design of the bene- volent donor, is enabled to afford occasional relief to British tra- vellers in distress. Messrs. Richard Pillans, Jasper Atkinson, Thomas Little- dale, and many others, were successively ruling members, down to October 1794, when the Rev. Wm. Williams, on account of severe indisposition, repaired to England. In consequence of the French invasion, he never returned to Rotterdam ; but, re- covering his health, he became vicar of Waterbeach in Cam- bridge-shire, and an active magistrate of that country. He was, besides, always recognised by the English government as the 330 BRITISH CHURCHES legal chaplain at this station, and, as such, received till his death in 1812, yearly allowance from the Treasury. For the space of twenty years, the Episcopalians in Rotter- dam, having no resident clergyman, availed themselves of reli- gio'js ordinances in the other two British congregations in the city. When Mr. Williams left Holland, his church was in ex- cellent condition, as in 1788 it had undergone a thorough re- pair, upon which the sum of one thousand pounds, from the Eng- lish Exchequer, was nearly expended.* It was, however, sad- ly despoiled during the long period which intervened prior to the joyous restoration of the Orange Family. The seats being broken down and removed, the church was used for various purposes ; such as a temporary receptacle for prisoners of war, — then as an artillery magazine, — and lastly, in 1813, it was de- secrated by the Russians, who converted into a stable that part which they required not for an army depot. As might be ex- l^ected from such a promiscuous and changing tenantry, the in- terior of this fine structure exhibited a melancholy spectacle, when the members of the chureh were desirous to have divine service again regularly performed. To their grief they disco- vered that every thing within reach had been either plundered or made useless ; and especially, that an organ, for the erection of which, in 1773, upwards of L. 300, had been raised by the congregation, and by the captains in the London and Dublin trade, was almost entirely destroyed. Upon the appointment of the Rev. Richard John Hay, A. B. of Univ. Coll. Oxford, the Episcopalians were accommodated by the English Presbyterians till their own church should be refit- ted. For its renovation, independent of voluntary contributions from private individuals, the British Parliament, in 1815, voted two thousand pounds, and the Dutch Government, in com- pensation for the church property either purloined or demolish- ed, during the French supremacy, gave L. 500, to assist in de- fraying the requisite repairs. For the effective and beneficial • Voted by the House of Commons, June 9th, 1788. This grant was ob- tained in consequence of a Petition to Geo. III. from the church- wardens, warmly supported by Sir James Harris, H. B. M. Ambassador at the Hague. IN THE NETHEllLAXDS. 331 measures then taken by the Vestry, the greatest praise is due. Since what is usually termed the Consular Act (6 Geo. IV. c. 87.) came into operation, a sum equivalent to that raised by British seat-holders and subscribers is paid from the English Ex- chequer, for the maintenance of public worship. Out of this last mentioned grant, the Treasury has hitherto deducted Queen Anne's annuity, by reason of which, the resident chaplains here and at Amsterdam, have derived comparatively little advantage from the act of Parliament. In September 1826, the Right Rev. Bishop Luscombe visited Rotterdam, and confirmed thirty-one members. This is the only confirmation which has taken place in this church. Mr. Hay, a native of London, to whose kindness we are in- debted for some of the particulars in the present article, died on the 22d of January 1832, in his 64th year. Upon the 8th of the subsequent month, the church proceeded to the election of another minister, when their choice fell upon the British chap- lain at Amsterdam. The resident consul being regularly adver- tised of this, and having communicated to government the re- sult of the election, the nomination was duly ratified. And the correspondence of the officers of the Crown on the subject, which we subjoin, will shew the customary manner of procedure in re- gard to the presentation of the Episcopal minister at this Port ; and we also may add, of the chaplain at Amsterdam. " British Consulate, ''Rotterdam, 5 March, 1832. ** Gentlemen, — In compliance with the request contained in your letter of 10 February last, I notified to Viscount Palmer- ston, the election of the Rev. Joseph Bosworth to the chaplain- cy of your church ; and I have now the pleasure of transmitting to you, for the information of its members, a copy of his Lord- ship's reply, whereby he has been pleased to sanction that ap- pointment. " I am. Gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant, " To the Church Wardens Alex. Ferrier. " of the English Episcopal Church, " Rotterdam" 332 BRITISH CHURCHES " Foreign Office, " February ti8th, 1832. " Sir, — I have received your despatch No. 3, of 10 instant, for- warding a letter of the church-wardens of the English Episco- pal church at Rotterdam, stating that the Reverend Joseph Bosworth, M. A. having been unanimously elected to be chap- lain of that church, they solicit on behalf of the members of the congregation, a confirmation of that appointment. " The Bishop of London having expressed to me a favourable opinion of the character and conduct of the Reverend Mr. Bos- worth, I have pleasure in sanctioning the appointment of that individual as British chaplain at Rotterdam. " I am. Sir, your most obedient humble servant, " Palmerston. " Alexander Ferrier, Esq. " His Majesty's Consul^ " Rotterdam^ The members of this church amount to about one hundred and eighty. The minute-book of the vestry is complete from the beginning of last century. An original register of marriages and christen- ings, commencing June, 1708 having been demanded by the Minister of ecclesiastical affairs, to be deposited in the town- house ; after several ineffectual representations, and an appeal to the Bishop of London, as well as to the Right Hon. the Earl of Clancarty, the British ambassador at the Hague, the church- wardens were obliged to give it up to the burgomasters. An ac- curate copy was previously taken.* Chaplains. 1700 Luke IMilbourne, D.D. 1 R 1701 Wm. Thorold, D.D. . 14 T 1715 John Mapletoft, M.A. 4 T 1710 Ricd. Lowther, ]M.A. . 30 D 1749 Hen. Mickleson, M.A. 2 D 1751 Cliristr. Anstey, B.Df 19 R 1770 Wra. Atkinson, M.A. 7 T 1777 Wm. Williams, JM.A. . 35 D 1815 R. J. Hay, A. B. . 17 D 1832 J. Bosworth, M.A. & P.D.+ • Vestry Regist. March 30, 18in. + Chaplain to H. R. H. the Princess of Orange. :{: Author of a Saxon Grammar, Vicar of Little Horwood, Bucks, &c. Since his appointment to this church, the University of Leyden has con- IN THE NETHERLANDS. 333 English Presbyterian Church. — In the year 1623, certain British residents at Rotterdam formed themselves into a congre- gation, under the pastorship of Hugh Peters, a man of an enter- prising spirit, and of great notoriety. A wooden building in the Glass-haven, originally used by the Rederykers — a company of pretended rhetoricians, as an exhibition hall, was assigned to this small body of Independents as a place of worship. There they regularly met until 1651, when a temporary church was prepar- ed for them on the north side of the Haringvliet. This last meeting-house proving incommodious, was pulled down, and in its place the present compact and neat church was erected, and opened for divine service, October 25th, 1716. The city bore the whole expense, with the exception of the internal furnishings, supplied by the Consistory and private individuals. From its establishment to the period of Mr. Cawton's settle- ment, this church was strictly congregational, but was then brought off,* and became Presbyterian ; an appellation it has ever since retained, though, for the last century, its stated preachers have been uniformly educated at Independent se- minaries in England. Three, and even four, clergymen have, at one time, been offi- cially connected with this church ; but it was not till January 13th, 1678, that the States of Holland agreed to support a se- cond minister. Upon the death of Mr. Maden, June 1680, an invitation was forwarded to the famous Mr. Richard Baxter, and next to the no less famous Mr. John Howe ; but both these em- inent divines, as well as Mr. David Clarkson of London, and Mr. Henry Newcome of Manchester, styled by his contempor- aries the prince of preachers, declined acceptance. Mr. Francis Robarts, then under a short engagement at Amsterdam, Mr. John Spademan of Swayton, Lincolnshire, and Mr. Dudley Rider at Lynn, in Norfolk, preached, by request, as candidates ferred the honorary degree of Doctor in Philosophy, on the Rev. J. Bos- worth ; to whom, and to Sir James Kenry Turing of Foveran, Baronet, se- nior church-warden, the author begs to return his best acknowledgments, for their friendly communications. • Cawton's Life, p. 62. Lond. 16G2, 12mo. S34 BRITISH CHURCHES for the vacant cure, The choice fell upon Mr. Spademan, " who had lived some years heretofore in this country."* Whilst Messrs. Hill and Spademan were pastors, Mr. John Shower, an excellent textuarist and scholar, was elected Sabbath evening lecturer, at the earnest solicitation of several members of the church. The Consistory unanimously resolved to comply with the request, " yet with these cautions and conditions, — 1. That as the present ministers were called by the congregation, approved by the magistrates of this city, and settled by law, so nothing should hereby be done to their prejudice; and that, as they desire no ease of their wonted pains and care for the con- gregation, so also that they should not be obliged to take care any further than for their own turns ; and therefore, that Mr. Shower, and those that call him, must take care of what they will have more preached than is at present, viz. twice on the Lord's day, and a weekly lecture on the Wednesdays, besides exposition and catechising. 2. That although we are satisfied of Mr. Shower's peaceable temper, yet if any, upon occasion of him or his lecture, make any stirs, factions, or divisions amongst us, to the disturbance of that peace we have now, for these seven years past, through God's blessing, enjoyed in the church, that then we shall not be obliged to continue this liberty longer than we see fit, according as we shall judge best for the good of the church, as we can best answer it to the great God, and the magistrates of the city, by whom we are intrusted with the care of the church. 2. That the Consistory shall not be obliged to contribute further towards the maintenance of the said Mr. Shower than what every one pleases, or to collect what is sub- scribed for him ; but do leave the collecting thereof to those that have desired him."f This church remained for one hundred and twenty years as a double charge ; but, in 1 798, when Mr. Greaves died, a Iia.7id- opening was refused, on account of the then very unsettled state of public affairs ; and the ministerial duties being in part curtail- ed, devolved, with his own consent, upon the surviving clergy- man. In the year 1816, this church was incorporated with the • Consist. Reght. Dcii. 7tb, 1680. f -^^^ I^ec. 25, 1686. IN THE NETHERLANDS. 335 Classis ; and its minister, consequently, is now amenable to the Dutch ecclesiastical laws. The Consistory, as at present, has long consisted of four elders, and the same number of deacons. The souls pertaining to the congregation, as given in Feuring's Index, amounted, in 1830, to two hundred.* I have experienced considerable difficulty in drawing up the annexed list of the pastors and occasional preachers. Unless otherwise stated, Neal's History of the Puritans, Wilson's Dis- senting Churches in and around London, and the Register of this and the other British Consistories in the Netherlands, are the sources Avhence I have gleaned the preceding and subsequent information.-j- Ministers. 1623 Hugh Peters, ... 12 P 16:i2 William Ames, D. D.+ 1 1) 1637 Jerem. Burrouj^hes, teacher, T 1B38 William Bridge, M. A. 4 R 1(>;}9 8yd Sympson, . . . 3 R 1C49 And. S'nype, M. A. . . 1 R ■tBreyS Tho. Cawton, . . . 7 D "^"' ( James Nalton, 6 months R 1660 Rich. Maden, ... 20 D 1663 Nath. Mather, ... 8 T 1678 Jos. Hill, B. D., 2d Min. 27 E 1681 John Spademan, M. A. 17 T 1681 John Shower, Even. Lect. 4 T 1699 Jos. Hill, 18 T 1707 Barth. Loftus, ... 44 D 1719 Josias Maultbv, . . . 26 E 1746 John Jolly, .' . 6 months D 1748 Benj. Sowden, ... 30 D 1752 Tho. Greaves, ... 46 D 1779 John Hall, .... SB E 1818 John Wood, .... 10 E 1829 Joseph Hague,§ . . . 2^ T 1832 Christ. R. Muston, M. A.|l * Alphab. Regist. p. 121. -j- The Consistorial minutes of the English Presbyterian church in Rot- terdam commence June 16, 1668; the marriage register begins June 6, 1700 ; and that of baptisms July 14, 1700. J A portrait of Dr. Ames, better known on the continent by his Latin riHme Amesins, is preserved in the senate-house of the academy at Franeker, where he was ten years professor of divinity, prior to his accepting of the pastoral charge at Rotterdam. For an account of his life and writings, see Vriemoet's Athenarum Frisiacarum, pp. 212, 221. Leov. 1763, 4to. § To his friend Mr. Hague, now pastor of Ebenezer Chapel, Upper Dar- ■wen, Lancashire, the author feels himself indebted for the liberal use which he procured him of the Consistorial registers. II Late of New Chapel, Bedford. ]\Ir. Muston is the author of a superior work, on a most delightful subject, — Becognition in the World to come ; or. Christian Friendship on Earth perpetuated iti Heaven. A Dutch version, by 31 r. G. van Ruyn, is about being published by our Rotterdam pub- lishers. 336 BRITISH CHURCHES Scottish Church. — To give at one view, and render somewhat complete, our catalogue of British clergymen who have statedly exercised their sacred functions in the Netherlands, we here subjoin a chronological list of the ministers of this Church, whose history is detailed in the preceding chapters. 1C43 Alex. Petrie, M. A. , 16G2 John Hooij, M.A. 1C76 Ro. Mac Ward, JM. A. 2d Mill." . . . 1677 Ro. Fleming, M. A. , ICyi James Brown, M. A. 1695 Ro. Fleming, jun. M. 1699 Tho. Hoog, JM.A. 1715 Ro. Black, M. A, 1725 John Enslie, 31. A. 1737 Hugh Kennedy, D. D. 1760 Wm. Walker, . 19 D 27 E 1 R 17 D 22 E 3T 24 D 20 D 34 E 27 D 14 D 1765 Arch. Smith, 1770 Alex. Layel, M. A. 1775 Ja. Somerville, D. D. 1780 Alex. Scot, D. D. 1797 James Low, M. A. 5 T 27 D 4 T 15 T 4 T 1801 M. Ritchie, M. A., 3 months D 1802 Tho. Ross, LL. D. . 4 R 18(13 Wm. MacPhail 1806 Alex. Macintosh, M. A. 1 T 1807 Ja. Anderson, D.D. . 21 E 1829 Wm. Steven, M. A. Quaker's Meeting-house. — Many members of the Society of Friends came over from Britain during the perscuting reign of Charles II. To what is already known relative to the settle- ment of the Quakers in Holland little can be added. Their principal place of resort in this country seems to have been Amsterdam.f In 1657, they are said to have arrested the at- tention of the magistrates of Rotterdam, by an over-zeal to make • Mr. Macward, through the unworthy interference of King Charles the Second, was compelled to leave Rotterdam. See p. 48. It has been mentioned at p. 29, that Mac Ward, on his first arrival in Holland, occasionally preached for ]Mr. Petrie. The result of a recent minute examination of the city treasurer's books, obligingly instituted at my request, shews, that when Petrie died, MacWard was invited by the magistrates to supply his place. The only pecuniary remuneration which he ever obtained directly from the town chest was at this time. " To Doctor Robert Macquire, (JMacWard) for performing the whole pastoral duties in the vacant Scottish Church here during three months, the sum of 125 guilders, due Dec. 1, 1662." Among the treasurer's disbursements, settled at same date, is the following entry: "Paid to the heirs of J\Ir. Alexander Petrie, 350 guilders, being one half year's tractament and house hire, due in August." — It may also be stated here, that since the text was printed, I have discovered from papers deposited in the Stadthouse, that Mr. MacWard died at Rotterdam in the month of December, 1681. •}- Wagenaar's Beschr. van Amst. viii. 85 ; and 2 Kerkelyk Plakaat-boek, iv. 314, 315. IN THE NETHERLANDS. 337 converts, and by the annoyance which they occasioned on the public streets. The burgomasters, in consequence, caused eight of the most troublesome of their number to be put in confine- ment, from which place, however, they soon contrived to effect their escape. The Quakers do not appear to have been held in much respect by the citizens, or to have conducted themselves in that peaceable manner, for which, as a body, they have long been eminently distinguished. Upon the 8th June, 1675, they applied to the magistrates to protect them from the populace, by whom they were molested during the hours of service. No re- ply being given, they sent in a second request five days afterwards. Upon this it was officially announced to them, that they should never obtain leave to assemble within the jurisdiction of the city. The Quakers returned for answer, " that they would never solicit from the magistracy of Rotterdam, or from any civil power in the world, permission to meet in private for the purpose of serving God in spirit and in truth ; and that, therefore, they would continue to assemble as formerly." The municipality did not think it proper to take any farther notice of them. To- wards the close of the seventeenth century, they had purchased a house on the South Blaak, which they sold again in 1725 ; and, in the title-deeds, it is called the Meeting -house of the Friends. It is uncertain where they assembled for worship from the last date, until 1786, when five gentlemen, merchants in Amsterdam, bought, in name of the Society of Friends in London, a small dwelling upon the north side of the Wine-street. The upper chamber of this house was fitted up as a place of meeting; and here have those Friends who have occasionally visited this city, assembled for their religious services. We are not aware that there is a single Quaker now in Rotterdam.* Utrecht, in the beginning of the seventeenth centurj', was the garrison town of several Scottish and English regiments. Messrs. Douglass and Clerk, Scotsmen by birth, were the stated chaplains in succession. As the troops were here during the winter months only, the British residents or burghers who regu- larly attended the garrison chapel, were destitute of preaching • Van Reyn's Beschr. der Stad Rott. i. 381, 383. Z S38 BRITISH CHURCHES during summer. To remedy this, they memorialized the Pro- vincial States and the Corporation for the grant of a church, and for some pecuniary assistance to support their minister. " The States consented, and allowed 150 guldens yearly towards the preacher's maintenance, and the city allowed them as much more : and both States and city designed them the Church of St. Catherine's for their place of meeting in, in common with the soldiers of the British nation, May 8, 1622. " Then the captains joyned with the burgers, and desirous to have an English preacher, they wrote their letters, and sent ex- press messengers to one Mr. Thomas Scot, then preacher of the English garrisone, at Gorcum, (who was newly called out of Eng- land for writeing a book called Vox Populi, therein discovering the impostures of the Spaniard, being therefore pursued with all heat and violence by Gondoraare, the then Spanish Ambassa- dour,) to call him to this place. And they promised to make his stipend 600 gulds. by the year ; to allow him a house, and that besides 2 gulds. by the short month of every single com- pany, and rateably of the rest. This was performed and settled, and the minr. Mr. Thomas Scot, inducted by the hands of Mr. John Forbes, preacher to the Company of English Merchant Ad- venturers, then resident at Delft, who presided at his induction, Mr. Thos. Barkeley, preacher to the English Church at Rotter- dam, Mr. Andrew Hunter,* preacher to the Scotish regiments, Mr. Walter Whitestone, preacher to the regiment of Viscount Leslie. The States and magistrates sent also * * ^ * to be present at the induction and admittance as witnesses and assistants ; and all this was performed the 20th of May, anno dora. 1622, w' due solemnity."f " Andrew Hunter, formerly minister of Carnbee, in Fifeshire, became, 1590, chaplain to one of the Scottish regiments in the Low Countries. Rev. Hew Scott's MS. Extracts. ■\ Consist. Regist. Aug. 13th, 1753. The oldest records of this church are not now to be found ; but copious extracts from them have happily been preserved in the minute to which reference has been made. The ex- isting register, commencing >'ov. 2d, 1057, and ending Dec. 12th, 1779, ■was politely sent from Utrecht for my inspection by IMr. H. I;. Swellengre- bel, who, at the forced dissolution of this church in 1795, was a member of Consistory, and keeper of its sessional retards. IN THE NETHERLANDS. S39 Mr. Scot's settlement and subsequent conduct afforded much satisfaction to his congregation, who are said to have, at this time, amounted to one hundred and twenty families. His ministry here was soon tragically closed ; for, upon the 8th June, 1626, whilst proceeding from his own house to the church, he was cause- lessly assassinated in the open street, by John Lambert, a private soldier belonging to Viscount Wimbleston's company. Mr. Jeremiah Elborough, the immediate successor of Mr. Scot, hnd been garrison chaplain at Montfort. His investiture, at which Mr. John Forbes also presided, took place, Jan. 11th, 1627. In the month of August of the same year, this church was incorporated with the Classis. Mr. Elborough having'ac- cepted a pastoral charge at Hamburg in 1629, the Consistory made choice of Alexander Leighton, M. D., a Scotsman, and father of the celebrated archbishop of that name. Leighton, the first minister of this church who took his seat in the Classis, resigned before he had been many months at Utrecht ; prefer- ring to quit the place rather than observe the festival days. Clayton, by whom he was succeeded, did not remain long, in consequence of some dissension in the congregation. His im- mediate successor, Mr. Isaac Forterie, or Forterinus, was chap- lain to the garrison at Utrecht. Wishing to return to Britain, Forterie sought and obtained his dimission, June 29th, 1637. Mr. Samuel Ward, of Ipswich, was next chosen, but he having declined, the Consistory elected Mr. Paul Ameraut, " minister in the army then before Breda ;" and upon the 12th November fol- lowing, he was legally admitted. In August 1638, Ameraut, who had designedly omitted taking his seat in the Classis, was summoned before that reverend court to answer for his conduct. Instead, however, of obeying, he tendered his resignation, which was immediately accepted. At this early period, by reason of several disagreeable misun- derstandings in those connected with the congregation, the kirk- session resolved to take upon itself, for the future, the whole re- sponsibility of the minister's maintenance. Upon the 14th January, 1639, " the Consistory met in amplis- sima forma, old and present officers. Sir Ferdinando Knightly, Serjeant-major Barrington, Capt. Arnold, Lieut. Pye, and En- sign Dudeley, came into our Consistory chambers ; and Sir Fer- 3^0 BRITISH CHURCHES dinando Knightly, speaking in name of the officers of this gairl- sone in town and out of town, gave the Consistory thanks for their respects towards them in delaying so long the Call of a pastor upon their desire ; recommending to the congregation one of the two ministers in England forenamed ; and now, by way of friendly correspondence, as being well-wishers to the church, being mem- bers of the same, they entreated, for the honour of the English natioii, (haveing heard that the Consistory was met about the election of a preacher,) that they would not pitch upon any stranger, and withall, that they would take into consideration Mr. John Herring, who had so long supplied the place with much ap- probation, in which doing, all former breaches would be made up, (the election falling upon him,) all controversies decided ; and the English officers of this garrisone with the citizens reconciled ; and they and all of them should be ever ready to do all offices of love to the church with the members ; desiring the reciprocal respects of the burghers ; and with all that, they would contribute to the min''- called, such means as they have formerly done to those that have been minisf* here. " To the profer of means from the soldiers, it was answered them, that for good reasones, (as the scandall it hath given offence to poor men not willing to pay it, with the hinderance of ad- vance from the States and magistrates,) it would not be done ; yet not their gifts or gratuities he could, or should be hindered from receiving. " And after their departure, it was by the first Consistory enacted, that who should be called to the place, should be ac- quainted with this restraint, and his assent to be procured. " After prayer and calling upon God, proceeded to election, and by unanimous consent, (all the billets bearing his name,) Mr. John Herring was pitched upon. " Mr. Herring being sent for, and after his election made known to him, (which he accepted,) he was acquainted, that when he is established here, he must not receive any means (as foimerly hath been used by Mr. Forterie and others,) from the English and Scottish Companies here garrisoned ; which he agreed unto."* Herring resigned August 1642, and was suc- ceeded by Mr. Malachi Harris, who, in May 1644, was named • Consist. Regist. at supra. IN THE NETHERLANDS. 341 by the Prince of Orange, as chaplain to the Princess Royal of Great Britain. Maden of Dordrecht was inducted January 5th, 1645, in room of Harris. Fourteen months after his settlement, he removed to Amsterdam. Mr. Walter Bowie, attached to the Scottish regiment at Gorcum, next became minister of this church, and was admitted Nov. 1647. Upon his death in 1650, Mr. Thomas Potts, of whom we have already spoken under the head of Flushing, was unanimously chosen, and he entered upoa his sacred functions here, Feb. 14th, 1651. During the unusually long interval betwixt 1655 and 1748, this church, which had heretofore been subject to so many in- conveniences, by frequent changes, was efficientlj'^ served by two individuals. The Consistory had the good fortune to supply the vacancy occasioned by the death of Mi'. John Best, which took place in 1696, by the appointment, in the following year, of Dr. De la Faj'e ; and, in July 1748, they selected, as his successor, the Rev. William Brown,* who, two years previously, had been or- dained to the parochial charge of Cortachy, in the presbytery of Forfar. Mr. Brown, whose father, Lawrence, was the respected minister of Lintrathen, consented to come to the continent ; and he was regularly admitted here, Nov. 17th, by one of the Dutch clergymen in the city. Could no other evidence be adduced of Mr. Brown's abilities and learning, we would point to the sessional minutes during his incumbency at Utrecht. We refer particu- larly to a series of able papers written by him, in defence of this congregation, when some members of the Classis denied that Mr. Brown was entitled to all the privileges of a town's minister, on the ground that his was no town's church, but simply a con- tinuance of the old garrison chapeh He proved, on the con- trary, that, precisely as the Dutch church here, had his been erected at the request, and continued for the benefit of the Eng- lish residents, to whom privileges, equal to those of the native clergy had been assigned ; that the calls of his predecessors, * The appearance which he made for Government in 1745 gave great offence to the Jacobites ; and an attempt having been made upon his life, he resigned his pastoral charge in 17-18, joined tl'e British army in Flanders, and, for a short time, acted as chaplain to one of the regiments. Being on a tour in Holland, he was requested to preach in the English church at Utrecht, which was then vacant. He was soon afterwards appointed minis- ter. Private Information. 343 BRITISH CHURCHES in the same manner as those in tlie Dutch church, had always been consented to and approved of by the municipality ; and that the burgomasters, when occasion required, sent deputies, in conjunction with those of the Consistory, to hear the gifts, and to promote the calls of such ministers. After a tedious process, Mr. Brown, though a decision was given against him in the Classis and in the Synod, remitted the consideration of the ques- tion to the Provincial States of Utrecht; and the decision of this superior court being in his favour, the question was set for even at rest ; and all the privileges of which a city clergyman could boast were secured to himself, and his successors in office. Mr. Brown, having been nominated by the crown, on the recom- mendation of the Duke of Cumberland, to the chair of Church History in the University of St. Andrews, returned to Scotland, and was admitted to his new charge, Feb. 28th, 1757. He died Jan. 10th, 1791. Mr. Robert Brown, brother to the former, came over and preached as assistant minister ; but, receiving an invitation from the Consistory, he was ordained by the presbytery of Meigle. " The Classis, after some deliberation whether Mr. Brown ought to be by them peremjitorily examined, since it appeared he had applied for ordination in Scotland, only after the accounts of hig being called here had reached his ear, had resolved to pay all due respect to the testimonial of the presbj'tery of Meigle in his favours, to consider him as a minister duly qualified, and thus to approve the call given him by the Consistory."* His inves- titure took place Nov. 20th, 1757. He continued acceptably to discharge the duties of his pastoral office until his death, which happened at Utrecht January 5th, 1777, at the age of forty-nine. He was married to a daughter of Sir James Kinloch, Bart. William Laurence, son of Mr. William Brown, who had left this for St. Andrews, was, with great unanimity, elected in his uncle's stead; and, upon the 22d March 1778, was introduced by the Rev. Benjamin Sowden, of the English Presbyterian church at Rotterdam. He was greatly admired in Holland for his genius and erudition ; and, not only as the eloquent pastor of the English church, but as one of the professors m his native city, Utrecht, lie continued to distinguish himself, till he was " Consisl Beght. IN THE NETHERX.ANDS. ^43 forced, by the invasion of the French, to seek shelter in the land of his fathers.* Lord Auckland, who had been ambassador at the Dutch Court, strongly recommended Dr. Brown to the Archbishop of Canterbury ; and, by the influence of his Grace, he was appointed by the King, Principal of Marischal College, Aberdeen ; and, in that honourable situation, as well as in the professorship of Theology in the same University, he became the coadjutor, and, shortly afterwards, the successor of Dr, Campbell. Until his lamented death, which happened May 11th, 1830, Dr. Brown discharged his official duties with distinguished success. There has been no British clergyman established at Utrecht since the departure of Dr. Brown. The English met for divine service in St. Mary's Church. It was converted by the French, in 1795, into a corn magazine ; and, though one of the finest and most substantial public edifices in the city, Bonaparte after- wards sold it for demolition. Besides his regular stipend, the pastor of this church usually received a honorarium from the King as he passed thi'ough Utrecht on his way to Hanover.-j- * " Gulielmus Laurentius Brown, Rheno Traieclimis, j^at. d. 7 Jan. 1755, Coetus Anglican! inurbe patria Doctor et Antistes, Ilistoriae Ecclesiasticae et Philosophiae Moralis Prof. d. 14 Febr, 1788, item Juris Naturae, d. 29 IMart. 1790. Exeunte a. 1794, relicta patria, abiit in Scotiam, qiiapropter locus eius dictiis est vacuus, d. 29 Martii. 1796." Annates Acad. Rlieno- Traject. 1824-25. (Annotata ad Orationem Prof. Heringae.) " De Guil. Laur. Brownio, viro cl. mihique per annum dimidiatum collega suavissimo, supra, p. 155. ea diximus, quae ibi essent, sive necessaria, sive opportuna. Hoc loco aliquid erit adjiciendum ; ad illustrandum quod in Oratione dixi- mus, de paucitate eorum, qui virum optimum audiebant Historiam Ecclesias- ticam docentem. Tradebat Brownius Philosophiam Hloralem et Jus Na- turae. Schola ejus proinde visa fuit magis pbilosopha et juridica, quam historica. Adscriptus erat ordini, non Theologorum, sed Philosophorum : his, non illis, pecunia honoraria a discipulis debebatur ; Lectiones autem de Historia Ecclesiastica haberi antea solebant gratuito. At Brownius sti- pendio militavit exiguo, nullaque adeo ei causa erat liberandi Theologiae studiosos onere, quod caeteros omnes ferre oportebat. Praeterea ejus scholae locus erat minus opportunus. Denique, gente Scotus, Anglorum favens partibus, expulso Hamelsveldio creatus, non omnibus placere poterat. lb. 232, 233. -f Geheym-Schrvyer van Staat en Kerke der Ver. Nederl. Utr. 1759, 4to. pp- 77 — 82. Van Rheenen en \^oet, Naamlijst der Pred. in de Provincie 344 BillTISH CHURCHES. Ministers. 1622 Thomas Scot, ... 4 D 1G27 Jerem. Elborough, . . 2 T 1629 Alex. Leighton, M. D. 6 mo. K Raphael Clayton, . 4 do. R 1630 Isaac Forterie, ... 7 R 1637 Paul Ameraut, ... 2 R 1639 John Herring, ... 3 T 1643 Malachi Harris, ... IT 1645 Rich. Maden, ... IT 1647 Walter Bowie, ... 3D 1651 Tho. Potts, .... 3 T 1655 John Best, .... 41 D 1697 Ja. de la Faye, M.D. & D.D. 51 D 1748 William Brown, D. D. 9 T 1757 Robert Brown, M. A. 20 D 1778 W. L. Brown, D. D. . 16 ZwoLLE. — Messrs. John Palmer, John Row, (afterwards of Flushing), and John Black, were established at Zwolle betwixt 1620 and 1633. van Utrecht, 8vo. 1724. The Register of Baptisms which belonged to this church, and now deposited in the Stadthouse, commences I6th June 1700, and ends 12th Nov. 1794; the Record of Marriages begins 27th Feb. 1701, and closes 17th Sept. 1794. There are at present, (1832,) six British fami- lies residing in Utrecht. APPENDIX HISTORY OF THE SCOTTISH CHURCH ROTTERDAM. APPENDIX. NOTE A p. 34. Pecuniary Benefactors of the Church, by Donation or Legacy, to the ammmt of One Hundred Guilders and upivards. 1649 Colonel John Gordon, who died at Delft. 1651 Robert Nlcolson, " a Scotishman lately from the East Indies." 1667 Alexander Dunbar. 167!) Rev. John Brown, late minister of Wamphray. 1680 Rev. Robert RlacWard, late pastor of this church. Donation. 1687 Mrs. Mary Shepheard. 1689 Mr. William Ross. 1707 Mr. William Robertson. 1713 Rev. James Brown, emeritus minister of this church. Mr. John Ritchie, bookseller. 1714 Mrs. Janet J. Cunningham. 1717 Mr. Alexander Johnston, session-clerk. 1719 Judith Roberts, widow of Corn. Govertse. 1721 Margaret M'Kinlay. 1722 Mr. William Cowie, formerly of Delft. Died at Leerdam in 17 16. 1728 Mr. Hugo Verboom, merchant. (See p. 149.) 1729 JHr. David Cassels, in the service of the Dutch W. I. Company. 1730 Helen Osburn, widow of Henry Barens, mariner. 1733 Helen Somerville, widow of John IMitehell, mariner. 1741 James Walker, mariner, from the parish of Muiravonside. 1742 John Hamilton, " an old soldier who died at Delft, January, 1742." 1747 IMrs. IMary Fothringham, wife of Mr. John Simpson, Amsterdam. 1751 Mr. William Stevenson, alias van Diemen, shopkeeper. 1752 Sir Walter SenserfF (or SydserfF) knight, burgomaster of Rotterdam, and director of the Dutch E. I. Company. 1755 Mr. George Petrie, apothecary. 1760 Capt. Richard Harris, who died at Bois-le-Duc, Dec. 1759. 1761 Janet Mill, relict of John Sharp. 348 APPENDIX. 17C3 Jacob Hoog, M.D. Helen 'Wright, widow of John Scoiiler, mariner. 1766 Mr. George Elgin, architect. 1768 Christian Scot, widow of Nicolaas de Veriks. Mrs. Helen Ross, widow of Mr. Angus Cameron, tailor. 1769 Miss Maria Commenicq, " an old maiden lady, who died 9th Feb. 1769." 1775 Hon. Robert Norrie, governor of Fort St. George d'Elmina, on the coast of Guinea, belonging to the Dutch W. I. Company. Died at sea in I7O8. 1782 Mary Kennedy, relict of James Muckle. 1801 George Gibson, sen. esq., Hanistead. Donation. James Crawfurd, esq. Donation. George Craufurd, esq. Donati&n. James JMartin, esq. Donation. 1808 Mrs. Hen. Moens. 1809 Mr. "William Sutherland, Nieuwe Tonge. 1814 Miss Sarah Schim. 1822 Mr. J. M. J. Valeton, notary. Donation. 1829 Mrs. Sarah Seraphina Logan, relict of Mr. Alex. Stewart, jun. ship- broker. NOTE B p. 48. Scottish School at Rotterdam — At the suggestion of the Rev. Robert MacWard, this seminary, which has proved so beneficial to the children of many of our countrymen, was established by the kirk-session in 1676. Though primarily designed for the instruction of the poor of the Scottish congregation, in the elementary branches of an English education, this school has been, and still is, deservedly countenanced by several respectable Dutch and British families, who avail themselves of the advantages which it offers. The master has usually been recognised and encouraged by the authorities, as a public teacher. In this seminary, which is periodically examined by the Consistory, the Bible is daily read, and the catechisms, the standard grammars and collections used at the parochial schools of Scotland are also taught. Of late, the system of tuition adopted, and most of the text books of the Edinburgh Sessional School, have been intro- duced here with excellent effect. The teacher, who receives a salary from the Church, must furnish himself with a suitable school-house. The successive masters of this seminary are as follows : — The first was Gilbert Duffie, or Duvie, a native of Aberdeen, but employed at the time of his election (1676) as a teacher in London. He died, .Tune i3tii. 1680, and was succeeded the same year oy Gawin Blair, schoolmaster at Borrowstoun- APPENDIX^ 349 iiess. After Mr. Blair's decease, Dec. 1686, the situation was offered to Robert Blackader, M. A. preacher of the gospel, C'ampvere. I\!r. Blackader reluctantly declined, as, in addition to his stated employment of reader and precentor in the Scottish Kirk there, he was bound to supply the place of the Eev. Charles Gordon, who was detained in French prison, from his charge in Zealand. Upon the warm commendation of Mr. Alexander Pitcairn, formerly minister of Dron, then residing in Rotterdam, the session solicited the services of John WylJie, IM.A. who, however, could not be pre- vailed to leave Scotland, having the immediate prospect of preferment in the Church : he first became minister of Saline, and was translated to Clack- mannan in 1700, when the Rev. Thomas Hoog, of Rotterdam, peremptorily- declined the unanimous call of that parish. The Consistory at last ob- tained a master for their school, in the person of George Rennie, M. A. teacher at Borrowstounness. In March, 1C92, he entered upon his duty here, but he resigned, August 1697, returned home, and died minister of West Kilbride. Alexander Johnson, who had occasionally been employed before Mr. Rennie's time, succeeded him in 1608, and died in the year I7O8. Thomas Wilson, " born in the parish of Carriden," was next chosen, and continued till his death, which happened JMarcli 19th, 1752. During the greater part of Mr. Wilson's service, the session also patronised, for the more advanced boys, William Bridges, a member of the church, and of Scottish extraction. He was long a recognised public teacher of English and Navigation in this city ; and that he was a person of considerable scientific attainments, is evident from a small treatise, entitled, A71 Essay to faci- litate Vulgar Fractions, ^c. by IV. Bridges, schoolmaster in Rotterdam. Lond. I7I8, 18mo. William Mitchell, M. A. subsequently minister of the Scottish Chvirch at Leyden, was IVIr. Wilson's immediate successor. In the year 1754, William JIurray, for a short while, engaged to give lessons in English. Upon the 23d of April, 1755, Edward Evans, a native of Bristol, was nominated. He was a popular teacher, and published some grammatical works which have gone throTigh several editions, and are still valued as useful elementary books, particularly to foreigners who wish to study the English language. Mr. Evans came early in life to Holland : and during the long period in which he acted in the capacity of session-clerk, and in- structor of youth, he evinced himself a pains-taking and worthy man. Growing infirmities compelled him to resign 1789, when he removed to Delft, where two of his daughters, still (1832) alive, kept a boarding school. He died April I4th, 1804, at the advanced age of eighty-nine. John, his only son, graduated at Leyden, and practised as a physician at Rotter- dam, till within a short time previous to his decease, which occurred in 1814. Dr. Evans had also but one son, namely, Boudewyn, a lieuten- ant in the Dutch army, who died at Ryswyk in 1807 ; cut off in his 29th year by excessive fatigue in the service of the State. After the retirement of IMr. Edward Evans, the resident superintendant of the Scottish Poor House was the only English schoolmaster employed by 350 APPENDIX. Consistory. Subsequent to the breaking up of that charitable establishment in 1815, the session took several persons on probationary trial for the mastership; but there was no regular appointment till 1827, "when Mr. Robert Shultze, the present teacher, was elected, to whom we are indebted for the di-awings of the two churches in this volume. NOTE C p. G6. Rev Mr. Mac Ward's Letter to the Eirk-Session, as Recorded in their 3Hnutes, of date January 20lh, 1C78. Reverend, much Honoured, and very Dear Brethren, Grace, great grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied upon you all. I have, since my departure from you, been often under some pressing weights and anxious thoughts about your condition, knowing that all your reverend pastor, Mr. Hog, whom it pleased the Lord to spare to labour amongst you, was able to do (and I must say, and you know, he did very much), could not keep a proportion to the greatness of the work, and indefatigable pains indispensably necessary to have been taken amongst that people in order to their profiting. But now I am not only eased of that anxietVj but, together with you, I joy and rejoice, that it hath pleased the Lord to settle amongst you so faithful a minister of Jesus Christ, and a pastor, to whom I hope it shall be given in a remarkable manner, to stand and feed in the strength of the Lord. O that the mercy may be prized by us all, and now improved to the just advantage so gracious a dispensation fairly promiseth. And I am very hopeful, this so great, so sweet, so in all respects seasonable a mercy, hath overcome each of you to a resolution, with all alacrity and readiness of mind, to lay out yourselves to more vigilancy over souls, and more vigorous acting for God, for the poor flock over whom you are set, and for whom you must watch, and for the advancement of the great interest of his glory in the place. As I nothing doubt but his tender, overcomingly kind dealing with you hath made you entertain your souls with these soliloquies alone. Now what shall we render unto the Lord for all his benefits, and for this great benefit towards us, that, while others weep for want, that their bread for their soul doth not come into the house of the Lord, there is with us a feast of fat things, yea enough and to spare ? He hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad. (O great things indeed, in that a good and great God yet waits on to be gracious, by sending ambassador after ambassador to negotiate a peace betwixt him and you ; and in that he continues to pursue you with requests and entreaties of reconciliation, as if he intended to take no refusal at your hands ! O let bim never give over persuading till he have prevailed) ! Now, what shall we do for him ? How shall we express APPENDIX. 351 otir gratitude for his grace and goodness ? — for I notliing doubt what answer he would give vou to these serious soul-inquiries, by what commands he laid upon his servants at his departure, — feed my flock. O, you comply with his design, and render unto him what is most pleasing to his soul, if you feed upon him, and feed his lambs. Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation, both to work out your own salvation, in fear and trembling, and, as workers together with God, to be persuading, exciting, and provoking and beseeching others to work out theirs, that they receive not the grace of God in vain, but be busy about the one thing necessary', before the night come upon them, wherein no man can see to work. It may seem to savour of arrogance and presumption for me to offer persua- sions, or lay motives before you ; but to prevent that prejudice, let me say, (O, if I could say it with so being !) I wish all of you to shew that dili- gence, that singleness, that singular seriousness, that shining and burning zeal, while you are about your blaster's business, which, alas ! was want- ing with me in its day; and whereas my peace might have been as a river, if I had laid out myself for God, as 1 ought; the remembrance of what I left undone, and of the manner of doing what I did, when the salvation of souls was concerned in it, may make me spend my solitude in sorrow, and cause me go down mourning to my grave. And therefore, I write these ■things to warn you, that in your after-reckonings you may have that peace, that serenity of soul, whereto I cannot pretend. O, if I might, as the close 'of all, win to the penitent's peace ! Now, having premitted this, to prevent or remove the prejudice of presumption against what is said, let me only, "without a mistake, add, that seems to be a peculiarly proper season for each •of you to stir up himself; and stretch, yea strain, your very souls in listing at his work, and laying out yourselves, in your respective capacities, for the good of those souls over whom the Holy Ghost hath set you as overseers and guides. First, because that, »ipon the coming of a new gift amongst a people, there is ordinarily some new motion and stirring upon their affec- tions ; and this would be observed, and such an opportunity would be laid hold upon ; for whenever there appears the least smoking of a flax amongst a people, O then is it a proper season for every one, who would approve himself to God, to be busy in bearing fuel to that fire, and, in the fervour of his soul, to be blowing at that smoking flax till it come to a flame. Let this, my dear brethren, provoke to an accurate observation of the case, con- dition, and carriage of the people, and behave now as good and wise ser- vants, with the utmost of possible diligence, while there is a probability of doing the work with advantage. And seeing God hath now settled amongst you a minister, whose seriousness in preaching is so promising of success, and whose gift seems to be so peculiarly adapted for casting fire in the affec- tions, now bear hands, and behave as workers together, indeed, with God, and as knowing the times and seasons, and as considering both what belongs to your own peace, and to the prospering of the pleasure of the liord, in your hand, and what belongs to the eternal peace of that poor people. Let this make you take warning, stir you up, and set you now to your work; 352 APPENDIX. that it hath heen a very common observation, (I grant sometimes it may fall out otherwise), that if a people were not prevailed with, and did not profit by a man's ministry at first, the Gospel ordinarily hardened the hearers afterward ; and often the more serious the man was, the more was his sor- row ; and he hath been made to languish out his day in lamenting himself that he had spent his strength in vain, because those to whom he preached were not gathered, but remained children of unpersuasion. O that it may not be so amongst you, as I hope it shall not; or if it should fall out, which I desire He may prevent, yet your labouring unweariedly in your several capacities might give you confidence to say, your labour were with the Lord ; and then you needed not doubt but your reward should be with your God. Secondly, you are the congregation, and the men I know upon the earth this day, under the most speaking and special obligation, to lay out yourselves for God, in your station, in an extraordinary way. I shall not so much mention, (though you and I should keep them in remembrance), these memorable mercies towards you, in robbing other churches to do you service, and enrich you for so man)' years together, and how that now he hath outdone the expectation, and graciously disappointed the fears of many, in pitching upon, and persuading a man of the same soul with the many great men now in glory, who laboured amongst you ; over all his discourage- ments and afflicting apprehensions, to comply with your call, and to con- descend to join with you in that work. I say, I pass these in silence, which yet I know have a pressing weight upon your souls ; and when you are helped to ponder with yourselves in seriousness, what of a gracious indul- gence is in his way with you, I nothing doubt but that you are swallowed up in wonder at these dimensions of grace and goodness in his carriage to- wards you, drawn out to a height, and length, depth and bieadth of tender mercy, as far beyond expectation as deserving. The thing which I would pitch upon at present, and which, I am sure, is more upon the soul of some of you, than upon the heart of this poor frigid scribbler, is the serious con- sideration what this calls you to do for God, for his Christ, for the souls of those committed to you, for the honour of your profession, and for bringing up a good report upon that blessed reformation, to which that church whereof you are a part, had, through unspeakable grace and goodness, attained beyond all other churches I know upon the earth : that now you are that congregation of all others wherein he hath set and settled the orna- ment of his beauty in the same majesty it was settled in the Church of Scotland. You are in a manner, as to an uninterrupted exercise of pure Gospel ordinances, the only congregation I know, all things being con- sidered, belonging to that church, which is in best case, yea, which is only case to carry and acquit yourselves without hinderance or hazard of perse- cution in some measure, answerably to these blessed and beautifying obliga- tions which that poor Church of Scotland took upon her to Jesus Christ. J shall not dilate, or dip into this matter beyond this hint, lest I should, without any necessity, be drawn to a length beyond my purpose. But O, dear brethren, I beseech you consider, not only that the eyes of God are APPENDIX. 353 upon you in this respect, and that the eyes of your poor brethren at home are upon you, who, while they lament their own loss, and would purchase your freedom and liberty with the loss of what is dearest to men, will yet be comforted to hear of your zeal, tenderness, and care, both to keep up what is destroyed amongst them, and to carry like men of such obligations to God ; but you are the only congregation belonging to that church set up as a beacon on a mountain to the eyes of strangers, who accurately observe and take notice of all that passeth amongst you, and will be ready to take their measures of wiiat our so much talked of reformation was, by what they perceive to be practised amongst you. Now, let this, even this, not only the rolling away of the reproach which the enemies of the work of God have cast upon it, but also the endearing, appreciating, and commend- ing to the hearts of all who perceive your practice, put you to the utmost of circumspection and diligence in taking heed to yourselves, and to the flock ; that so, by beholding what rule you walk by, and what are your en- deavours to bring up your practice to that rule, they may be constrained to bless the Lord for what he did to that poor church ; and your Gospel-adorn- ing diligence and indefatigableness in the work of the Lord may make the reformation and attainments of our church the measure of the desires of the more serious observers for this church, and the other churches of Christ throughout the world. And who knows but he hath done all these great things for you, and that poor congregation, that you may do this great thing for him, and aim at no less in your ministrations and services than bringing up a good report upon this way. But here I subsist, — knowing and hoping that you will ponder this, till you find yourselves under the power of its constraint to do your utmost for God, and keeping up the renown of that name he got to himself in carrying on our reformation such a length over all the opposition made unto it by men. O, what joy will this make in Heaven, (if I may say so), what rejoicing and glorying upon earth will this occasion on your behalf ! There is one particular more relating to the work of God amongst you, and the edification of that people, which I must touch ere I close. I sup- pose you have not yet fallen upon any change in your Consistory : if you have, it's more than I know ; and then this line comes too late. But, con- sidering how little time is past since the settling of Mr. Fleming amongst you, I shall take it for granted that it is not yet done ; and though I should come to counsel uncalled, and ap])ear impertinent, yet I shall, notwithstand- ing, without a demur, freely give my opinion in the case. And first, I must tell you, my dear brethren, whatever humbling convictions, together with myself, every one of you might, yea should have had ftn' shortcoming in duty, yet my soul, both when with you, but particularly in my solitude, hath been often refreshed at the remembrance, and in the consideration and confidence of this, that I was sure I had left a session behind me in that place for whom I had cause to bless, being assured that tiie hearts of the members thereof were biassed towards the work of God. This, I say, was, and is a comfort to me in my affliction. Secondly, I pretend to know ■ 2 A 354 APPENDIX. somewhat of the case of that congregation, and of the paucity of persons, in case of a change in any tolerable capacity, to be pitched u{»on as members of that session, with probaide advantage to the work of God, which leads me and necessitates me, in the third place, to declare plainly my opinion, that I judge it utterly, not only unsafe and inconvenient at this time, liut, as the case stands, a thing singularly prejudicial to the work of God amongst you, that any member of that Consistory be either removed, or his demis- sion at present accepted by the rest. I know this change must be, that some who have been deacons must be pitched upon to lie elders, for supply- ing the place of these two faithful men removed from you ; and in this I leave you wholly to the direction of God, and your own free election; and as to the deacons to be added, I say the same. Now, dear brethren, I have confidence to say, that what I have here suggested doth singly and simply flow from a desire to have things go right, and the work of God promoted amongst you. And liecause I can think on no mids (means) which hath a more clear connexion with that end than what I have proposed, I know every one of you would be glad of a breathing, and willing to withdraw, partly because of your other entanglements, but mostly because of the Tveightiness of the work, and the consciousness of weakness and unfitness for such an undertaking. And truly, if 1 knew a person amongst you who were not under that conviction in some degree, and who did not undertake the work, and go ai)Out it witli this, as the inward echo of his soul, (O, who IS sufficient for these tilings ?) I should be positive and peremptory for lay- ing him aside. But yet, on the other hand, I am persuaded that, under all these reluctances, you may have to abide at that work ; and, under all your convictions of insufficiency for these things, if Jesus Christ were audibly speaking to you from Heaven, and asking you, what will you do for me amongst this people ? Will you be and do what I would have you ? there is not one amongst you that durst entertain the thoughts of giving him the refusal. Well then, upon the matter, he is asking all of you this question ; when the question comes to be moved about the settlement of a session, and pitching upon the fittest persons for promoving his work, all the doubt that can remain with any of you is, if you be the man or person on whom he pitcheth for that purpose. And as to this, you are to submit to the judg- ment of those whom he hath put in case to give suffrage, and capacitate to cognosce in the case; and, upon the supposition of an harmony amongst them in pitching upon such and such a person, for such and such a piece of work, the person pitched upon ought to look upon it, and submit to be dis- posed upon accordingly as called of God ; for, lay aside this rule, there re- mains no rule for regulating of the church ; but I judge it needless to say more; and yet I cannot forbear to add, I hope none of you, having called that faithful man to labour amongst you, will, at his very entry, after, by your earnest beseechings and interposings, you have prevailed with him to take a part of the work with you, so discourage, so wound his soul, and weaken his hands, as to leave him, and deprive him of the assistance he ex- pected of these who call him to concur with them. And therefore, I not APPENDIX. S55 only, on his behalf, earnestly beseech, yea humbly obtest you in the Lord, you do not withdraw from him at this time, but I judge he may very war- rantably, as beseech, so likewise ministerially charge you, not to leave that work, nor abandon him while he is about it ; but I hope that God, who hath engaged you, will prevail with you to continue in his service. Now, upon the supposition of the settlement of your session, I shall not pre- sume to mention any particular overtures, being hopeful, he himself who hath called you to the work, will suggest expedients how you may best answer the ends of your station and capacities, and serve Him with your spirits in the Gos- pel of his Son : only having been speaking of theelectionof eldersand deacons, I remember there was an act made, appointing every elder monthly to visit his proportion, and give in an account of his diligence to the session, which may now both make such as are to be chosen stand aloof, and such who arte already in place despond under a weight and burden impossible for them to bear ; and, therefore, my opinion now is, that if each elder get his propor- tion gone through once every quarter, no more as answering the end of that appointment can be expected, and it is as much every way, as if he had ful- filled the appointment in the very letter at the time when it was made ; for then each elder had but ten families to visit, — faithful and feckful Mr. AVallace taking the charge of all the rest, who, as he had time for it, so his heart lay towards the work of the Lord, wherein he abounded, even beyond all the pressings and persuadings of particular appointments. Now, I say, he being removed, it is not possible for the rest to do more, in regard of what else God makes necessary for them in their employment, than to visit once a quarter. Dear Brethren, I shall say no more, only set yourselves in seriousness about the work, pray much alone, and together, and be not discouraged; despond not, He can either make your difficulties evanish, or facilitate them to you beyond imagination. Approach your work, because of His call to it, with confidence, and then it may go with you as it did with the priests that carried the Ark, Jordan recoiled before them, so soon as their feet were within the brink. Carry Him with you, and the work will be sweet and easy ; especially be as much as is possible in visiting work, and seek to go to it whenever you go, with some seriousness and suitableness of frame- Endeavour to have your own hearts previously impressed with the precious- ness of a Saviour ; that so whatever you say to others may be from a warm soul, and that will most probably warm theirs to whom you speak. O, His speech will certainly be comely and most taking with others, whose lips are as a thread of scarlet, v;ho goes to that work, as presently come from kiss- ing the wounds of a slain Saviour. But here I subsist; I will not chal- lenge you for not having written to me since I left you, only I can say, a line from you would have been very acceptable. Now that the God of all grace may make all grace abound towards you, that you always, and in all things, having all sufficiency, may abound unto every good work, is the de- sire of his soul for you all who is. Your poor unworthy brother, well-wisher, and Servant for Christ, R. M'WArd. 256 APPENDIX. NOTE D p. 144. To Ihe Rev. Jama Fraser of Brae, Minister of Culross. Rev. Sir, I am almost ashamed to write to you after so long silence, yet duty obli- geth, and love constraineth me. It was very long after the date of your kind and most acceptable letter that I at fii-t received it; and the business of my call to Clackmannan was then brought to such length at home, that it seemed a sufficient answer for the time, unto the proposals you, in your undeserved aiTection to me, do so friendly make. This, with some bodily indisposition, domestic encumbrances, and an overcharge of some alien affairs of public concernment, together with the report I heard of your being already provided of a colleague, did divert me for a time from writing; and the delay was prolonged further through the desire of being first within view of the period of the tedious affair, before I should send you any re- turn, being unwilling to trouble you with more uncertainties to no pur- posev And yet, after so long waiting, 1 do not find myself in much better state to give any suitable reply than before; for that call is yet depending. The act of transportation was sent over to me about eight or nine weeks after it had past. It alloweth seven months for my removal from this place, which time expireth at the beginning of March. People here are very urgent for my staying, and refuse their consent unto my removal; al- leging that the procedure of the presliytury hath been informal, and that they find themselves injured by their act, and necessitate to use all suitable means of redress. It is true, neither they nor I were ever summoned to answer for ourselves, neither were we acquainted with the presbytery's re- solution to determine that affair on 21st July ; but were surprised to hear that the business was concluded before we thought it was well begun. It having been put to a vote, the plurality ordained me to be transported, be- fore even they had received my answer to their letter, or knew any thing of my mind, as to forms of communion, or otherwise. But it seems they have not tliought it suitable that any thing should be left to my judgment and particular light in that business, but would needs have me altogether passive, and allow me only to see with their eyes ; leaving nothing to my care or deliberation, save simply to obey, and change my post whether I will or not ; or else, to undergo the severe censure which disobedience to church judicatories doth make men liable unto. I have all alongst endeavoured to behave so as I thought the conduct of the matter did mostly require; and have been very still and silent, waiting to see what the event might be of such endeavours as my people were minded to use. The encumbrances and vexations that have attended the renewing of the staple contract, have so liindered hitherto, that little or nothing hath as yet been done by them, but they intend very shortly with all vigour to pursue their design of reiftiwiiig APPENDIX. 357 me; and I am informed that the Royal Boroughs have written to the Con- servator, now at Kotterdam, some expedients which they propose, whereof as yet I am altogether ignorant, may for that end be exhibited. Though I be altogether passive, and meddle not, (albeit, my concernment is the great- est,) yet I begin to weary of having my tlioughts so long distracted with un- certainties, and long to see land after so much tossing. Herein have I peace, that from the very beginning I forewarned once and again, both the parish of Clackmannan, and the presbytery of Stirling, of the great opposition that their call would meet with, and the difficulties which the prosecution of that matter would labour under, and especially of the long continuance of that suspense and uncertainty which thence was likely to arise both to them and me. And upon that account, both before and since the act of transportation, I seriously advised them to take some course that might be more expedient, for better and more certain, and speedy supply of their vacancy. Thus, dear sir, you see in part, how I am at present stated, and how I am altogether out of case to give you any satisfaction as to the business you write of. When Clackmannan affair is brought to its full period, it is like, that as I shall then be more free to entertain other proposals, so I may be also in better case, even from some experience, to judge of them. I confess the reasons which you adduce for the station whereof you write, are very pregnant and weighty; and I see more of encouraging circumstances every way in that post, tlian in Clackmannan, which hath never appeared to me with an alluring aspect. Yet it is not likely that such a design could be carried without much difficulty and pains; tlie event also l»eing uncertain. And though nothing would encourage me more than to have you to draw in the same yoke with me, whom I should reverence not only as a brother, but as a father ; yet I cannot see that a transporation of me to be your as- sistant would be found practicable. At least, I doubt not, but that those that are concerned in the Staple Church would oppose that as vigorously as any other call ; and, among other things, allege that there is no neces- sity of my going to a place so abundantly provided already, especially, when thereby I should leave destitute such a charge as this is like to be shortlvi being now not in the wane, but in its encrease : so that I am of opinion, that it will be more the interest of yoti and your people to lay aside all thoughts of me, than to follow the footsteps of Clackmannan. I am not worthy to be contended for ; and am very averse from being a man of con- tention. Yet such is the unmerited res])ect that this people profess for me at present, that there is no doubt of their contending for me, and setting themselves by all means against any call that cometh, except perhaps it were from some chief town, which is not once to be suspected that it ever shall hap- pen. And they imagine also, that the interest both of the Staple and Staple Church doth require that a minister should not (without some evident ne- cessity require,) be transported from this to any village or petty burgh. Judging also that some regard should be had to the practice and judgment of ministers in this country, and that nothing ought to happen amongst us 358 APPENDIX. here which may be liable to much exception among them. But why should I trouble you with what people think, or say, or go on to multiply words to no purpose ? It is beyond my design that this letter hath swelled to such a bulli, and that I have written several things in it which only occasionally occurred ; but I doubt not of your taking .. . good part whatever I have here dropt. I would prize at an high rate an opportunity of seeing and speaking with you ; not only about matters that might concern myself as a minister, but also about the state of our Church in general, and the present management of affairs, anent which I hear such various reports, that I am at a stand what to think of some things. Neither have I so full informa- tion as yet, as to all terms of communion with the Church of Scotland, as were needful. I know what was enacted in the Ass. 1G94, anent what should be required of conformists and probationers; and these terms do the presbytery of Ed^ in their short letter to me mention as requisite more especially, though they insinuate that there are others that will be required of me. I may freely to you profess, that this was none of the greatest en- couragements to me, to find a fourth part of their laconic letter spent on that subject. And I think it somewhat odd, also, to see myself put in the same category with curates and expectants, at least reckoned as one without connexion with the Church of Scotland, though yet they reckon me as belonging to their presbytery ; and I need but a deputation from my own congregation for my being qualified to sit in the G. Ass., if the acts of our former assemblies be yet valid. You will do me a singular favour, if your more serious employments can permit, you to send me some full information, especially anent tlie methods that are taken about terms of communion, and legal qualifications as they are called. And, if you send with a sure hand, I can freely assure you, that, as to me, you need not scruple to commimicate your mind most freely in that and other matters. I want much an instructor and informer such as you are ; and would reckon it my great advantage to have particular cor- respondence with you. If ever I come to Scotland, which I often have longed after, I purpose not to be long there without paying you a visit, and taking your counsel and ad- vice anent my affairs ; but when that shall be, I know not, being here by so many bonds, that I can scarce have liberty to go to the neighbouring province; yet it is hard to say what may happen. And, in the meantime, heartily commending you to the infinite grace of God, and yet more and more desirable success unto your faithful labours, I remain, ReV^. Sir, Your loving but unworthy brother in Christ, Fere, 4 Febrtiart/, 1698. T. H. APPENDIX. 359 To the Lord Conservator at Edinlurgh, My Lord, Vcre, Uth Aug. 1698. I had your Lordship's kind letter from London, and am glad to hear this day of your safe arrival at Edinburgh. We doubt not but that by this time the reverend commission have put a period to that business of Clack- mannan, and I long to hear their decision. I have all alongst judged it somewhat strange to see so much pains taken to thrvist me into a charge which I am not fit for, and have been all alongst averse from, even after I had given abundant significations of my unwillingness to comply with that design. But it seems y' distance of place, and the managing of that matter only by missives, w'out using other more ordinary and regular methods, hath been the cause of some gross mistakes, and the occasion of so tedious delays, and also of their driving of the matter to such an height, beyond all expectation. I thought that my carrying passively should have proved the easiest and most expedient method, and have freed me also from blame on all hands, as in reason it might have done; but experience hath taught me the contrary; for, not to mention what formerly 1 have learned from reports and letters, ever since your 1/ordship left us, I have received letters from Clackmannan, which discover sufficiently how ill my practice in this matter is taken. In one, amongst other things, they tell me, y' if I adven- ture to refuse coming over upon that, their reiterated invitation, they ivill appeal to the righteous Judge of all the earth against me, insinuating that the perishing souls of their congregation shall be laid to my charge at the day of His appearance. And in auoy"^ letter y' came on Saturday last, being written by advice of the presbytery, and at y* desire of the congregation, though they express all love and kindness, yet I find an insinuated accusa- tion, as if I, together with our Consistory, were guilty of calling, not only the authority of the Presliytery of Edinburgh into question, but also of bringing it under debate, whether the minister of Campvere be suliject to the Church of Scotland or not ; and they tell me, y' by ivhat is done, the matter lyes at my door, viz. as to my coming to be their pastor or not. And if it be so, that business is at an end; for I have of late, once and again, sent a plain refusal, signifying y' my going to Clackmannan is contrare lioth to my light and inclinations : so that I hope that, according to my frequently re- iterated desires, they will shortly provide themselves otherwise, if they have not done that already. Yet I know not whence it is, that a certain friend hath lately wrote to me from Scotland that the commission do yet incline, notwithstanding the acknowledged weight and strength of your reasons, to countenance Clackmannan call, and make it take elfect ; which, if they do, they will put me to second thoughts, and perhaps resolve me of some doubts. In the mean time, my thoughts are much carried about that call to Rotter- dam, unto which, as yet, I have given no answer. Yet I confess, y* when I seriously think upon that affair, it doth not occur with any unpleasant aspect. It seems that I must leave this place ; friends at home will have it 260 APPENDIX. so ; and circumstances here, both as to me and others, have become such, that it is no very desirable post to stand here longer, esjiecially seeing the bruit which a certain brute did maliciously raise anent the illegality of my call to this place, doth not cease, but is encotiraged by the open connivance both of ]\Iagistrates and Dutch kirk-session, at the open reproach used against me on that account. And though I be assured of the contrare, and am satisfied in my own mind as to that matter, as all our countrymen like- wise are, yet, seeing the Dutch are apt to believe the lies and calumnies of their fellow-citizen, more y" all the truths y' can be spoke to the contrary, it appears to me as expedient, not only for myself, but also for the church, that, upon a lawfull call, I should retire to some other place ; and I know none more fitt, in all respects, for me than Rotterdam, where there is such convenience of dwelling, and of education for my children, which is not here to be had. Beside that, since your Lordship leaving of us, matters are here so far altered, that our nation are here in difficult circumstances, being every day in hazard of falling under the lash of our new-modelled Inquisition. And, except matters be made to run in a quite other channel! than hitherto, the Staple here will quickly come to a very weak pass, and perhaps Ter- Vere, by their arbitrary government, and enmity against our nation, may at length have the honour of becoming Peers with Armuyden, and may, ere long, not have many Scotsmen to persecute. The truth is, I have no great mind to live at their reverence ; and all y' I have spoke to here ac- knowledge, that if they could disengage themselves without loss, they would not stay long in this place; so y' I find no man that nseth any reason against my removing to Rotterdam, though some, by affection, do plead for my stav here. I know not as yet what I shall resolve, but intend to take the matter further into consideration. And if it happen that I have clear- ness to accept of that call, from which I find myself as yet not very averse, (notwithstanding that the stipend, &c. there is less than here), I hope your Lordship will approve of my so doing, and will also help, as occasion may require, to procure the Commission's allowance of this translation ; for I in- tend to shew unto those of Rotterdam the necessity of acknowledging duly the Church of Scotland in that matter, which I suppose they cannot be igno- rant of, though it seems they have not had one forethought of it. But I shall not further, at present, trouble your Lordship with a matter that is yet un- ripe, and perhaps may never come to maturity ; but, presenting my service to your I^ady and family, shall remain, my Lord, Your Lordship's humble servant, T. H. To the Rev. Mr. Th. BlccnweU, Moclr. and Dr. G. Middle/on, Prinil. of the K. College at Aberdeen. Vei*y Rev. and much Hon. in the Lord, The voice of your call hath never ceased from sounding in my ears, and deeply affecting my mijid siiice the first hearing of it ; but more especially APPENDIX. 361 after I liad seen in your last to me, with what kindness, eagerness, and force of argument, you continue to press me into that service. I ain persuaded of the justness of all your former informations, whereof I never doubted, and have ever been far from thinking meanly of that eminent post, which I deservedly look upon as too honourable and weighty for any such as I am ; only it can't seem strange unto you if some things have been suggested by people here, or even by my own thouglits, which do not indeed contradict your true account, yet may be said fairly to coun- terbalance it. And truly, the very forethoughts of a divorce from my pre- sent charge and dearest friends are so affecting, that I could not much have been blamed, if I had preferred in my choice the too kind and generous offers of a like station in this place, which have beeii made to me with no small outward encouragements. Beside, that there be some other things, not needful to be mentioned, which would have made me with joy receive the good tidings of your prudent condescending to hold me excused, as I earnestly desired in my last. However, reverend and honourable brethren, having long considered the whole affair, often weighed your reasons, and used all suitable means in dependence on the Lord for light, 1 have at length gradually overcome a great many of the chief difficulties with which I have so long been wrestling. So that albeit, your calling me to such an honourable and weighty charge, hath not a little humbled me under a deep sight and sense of self-insufficiency; yet I cannot deny, but that love to our native country, and mother church, and to the furtherance of the Gospel in your Itounds, hath made me sometimes wish my hand, how weak soever, were at that plougli ; and I think I could take singular pleasure in spending and being spent in that most useful and necessary work, of fitting- young students for greater service in the Lord's vineyard, than ever I have been able to do myself ; if so be, a blunt whetstone may, by the blessing of God, be steadable to sharpen the steel edge of capable youth, as sometimes indeed hath happened. And, therefore, whatever great averseness from that post did at first possess my heart, and whatever reluctance hath since been felt, yet your earnest pleading with so great strength of religious reason hath so far prevailed, that after frequent and serious pondering of the whole matter in the fear of God, I dare not reject your call, but find myself obliged, in all due submission to your judgment, humbly to accept thereof, and to declare my readiness, so far as in me is, to give myself wholly over unto the service of God in that station; relying upon the free and abundant grace of Him who sendeth none a warfare on their own charges. I\Iy purpose is to do whatever I can in performance of the duties of such a charge, though I have but too good ground to despair of ever being able to do all that I should, and may be required of me. Yet who knoweth but that the God whom I serve with my spirit, will so hear your prayers and mine, as graciously to supply my manifold defects, and bless the upright labours of an earthen vessel, making an empty nothing to become an useful instrument in his hand. If the Lord, in whose name you call me, shall also bring me to you, and his presence go with me, I 362 APPENDIX. shall therein rejoice ; but my soul hath said unto the Lord, // thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. And what the issue shall be I can- not foretell. Only the difficulty of safe transportation doth yet remain, which also hath for sometime retarded both my resolution and this signifi- cation of acceptance.- The summer is the only fit season for our removal, neither can we be ready till then ; and the appearance of approaching wars, which, in such a juncture, may break forth very suddenly, doth require no small caution. Neither is prudence, parental care, and natural aifection, inconsistent with true religion. I shall be glad if some sunshine of good providence shall dispel this mist; but if my coming to you be invincibly stopped by the intervention of bloody wars, and the prevalence of French pirates at sea, or even the continuance of present uncertainties, I cannot think but that all reasonable men will excuse my abiding still in the need- ful work of my ministry in this place, — where I hope yet to retain the affections of my people, notwithstanding of any ground of displeasure that may seem to be laid by an intended removal from them, which no doubt some will take in evil part. A short time now shall undoubtedly bring this business to some period or other; and, in the meantime, I do heartily pray that God, in his infinite goodness, may abundantly pour forth his richest blessings upon you, with those whom you represent, and make your faith- ful labours in the church and academy to be attended with all desirable success to his glory. And I shall ever remain, Rev. Sirs, your much obliged Brother and humble Servant, Rott. 23 February, 1702. T. H. To the Rev. Mr. Thomas Blackwell, Min . at Aberdeen. Reverend Br. Rott. 25 May, 1702. Yours with INIr. Burnet, having been much longed for, was greedily re- ceived, but could not be read without some trouide of mind, by reason of the far-changed state of public affairs since the date thereof; which putteth me out of ease to answer your desire and accomplish my own design. I continue as desirous to be with you as ye can be to have me ; and have been also at some expense and pains in making preparation from time to time ; but could not find it expedient to take any more open and effectual course, till I should first hear from Aberdeen, be advised about the means and manner of my transportation (to prevent all interfering), have assurance of an house in readiness for our reception (whereof I had ground to doubt), and get some information, what I might expect as to a mitigation of the rigidity of the taxmen, and the irregularities of their avaricious tools, in searching of goods, and exacting at their pleasure, whereof I once had a taste at Leith, as to some few books taken over for my own use, in the year 16G0, for which there was required of duty near the value. There have been other things beside which concurred to hinder further progress ; and yet, if I had bad the happiness of conferring with Pro- APPENDIX. 363 vost Allardice, as I expected to have had long ago, and yet hope to attain ; and if John Burnet had not been detained at home till it was too late, it is more than probable that I might have cut some knots, and pre- vented your writing. However, the late storms, with the loss of men and vessels, whereof both your town and ours is very sensil)le, and the imme- diately succeeding harm that French pirates have done at sea, even before the war was proclaimed, cannot but give us great ground for reverencing Providence, that hath kept us back from rushing into such dangers, which we could not have foreseen nor have otherwise evited. Matters now are so sadly stated, that I cannot see any door left open for me, but am forced in great perplexity to sit still, without any prospect of an outgate. For, to be free with you, as I before in all my letters did in- sinuate my fears of such an impediment, and made that just exceptioa also in my acceptance, most expressly, so I yet continue of the same thoughts, and cannot resolve to break all bonds of natural affection, and go beyond the bounds of reason and religion, by forcing a tender and timor- ous family to adventure upon the merciless fury of the French, who do all they please now at sea, and are making all preparations to liecome yet more formidable. As for the pretence of convoys, former experience hath taught us how slender security they can give to a fleet ; beside, that there goes not one to your coast, but only to the Firth of Forth. What your people do think I know not, but men of pnidence and ex- perience here do generally look upon my removal as hereby invincibly stopped ; whence some ministers have been at my house congratulating our compelled abode with them ; but found that this evidence of their affection was not altogether acceptable, being received with silence, and other signs of deep concernment. Yet 1 am not at all trouliled upon my own account ; seeing I can be here with the same affection of friends as formerly, not- withstanding of great apparent ground of displeasure I may have given to some, by resolving to leave them. But I am truly grieved and confounded when I think on the continued defect of a teacher and guide to your students of divinity, and the inconveniences that thence may arise, espe- cially in such a juncture. It seems Providence hath determined not to suffer me to be employed in that great work for which I am so meanly qualified, though yet very willing to do my utmost endeavour; but will have you more prudently to pitch upon some fitter instrument for ad- vancing the fabric of the house of God among you. And truly, though my heart be very much engaged to you and your brethren, to the work itself, and to the Church of God in your iioutids, yet shall I greatly rejoice if I may hear that, considering my providential arrestment in this place, you have taken due care that the common-weal of church and academy suffer no detriment. I do not at all rescind my upright and most deliberate accept- ance of your call (which you know was limited by the condition of the seas continuing open, as I probably expected at that time), but I had rather it were wholly annulled than that it should any way obstruct your being speedily and suitably provided. 364 APPENDIX. If others can see further than I or friends here do, as to a means of safe passage, I shall be glad to borrow light from them ; l)ut, if any should in- considerately prescribe that which may be perilous or impracticable, it can serve for nothing but to add unto my grief, and occasion further delays of your necessary supply. In the meantime, I cannot but heartily thank the Rev. Synod for their kind and cordial resolutions in my behalf ; but the motion of transmitting money by bill was no way needful, though an observable effect and evi- dence of your care and great discretion. It affiicteth me not a little that I'm forced to write to you in this melan_ choly strain, but I pray and hope that my being blocked up may tend to the advantage of your youth, by proving the occasion of your being better provided otherwise. The Lord bless them abundantly, and make both charges and schools to flourish and prosper by continuance of peace (which some are solicitous about) and increase of fruitfulness. I present my ser- vice to all our dear friends ; and particularly to your Rev. colleague Mr_ Osburn, and Dr. JVIiddleton. If you think fit, impart the contents hereof to Mr. John Gordon, to whom I purpose likewise to wi-ite with the first occasion; and shall remain. Reverend Sir, Your much obliged and very loving Brother, Bott. 25 May, 1702. T. H. To the liev. Mr. Ja. Osburn, M'in'\ of the Gospel, and Professor of Divinity in the College of Aberdeen.'^ Reverend Sir, I wrote my thoughts uprightly and seriously to Mr. T. Blackwell, (25 Way 1702) about the stop that Providence hath laid in the way of my coming to vou ; and I desired him to communicate tlie same with you. I have since had occasion to discourse with your honourable provost about that matter, though the throng of affairs did hinder his design of speaking with me concerning it ever till Friday last. I account myself much obliged to his kindness and good will ; but find not any further light than I had before as to any expedient for removing the known difficulty of sea hazard, which hath from the beginning of my deliberation about that matter always appeared as an insuperable mountain ; though I did not think it should have taken place so soon, when I conditionally accepted the call, but was then full of hopes that my transportation might have prevented the war. 1 have often and seriously considered this business, and have earnestly begged light from heaven, with full piirpose of heart to give myself over wholly to the doing of the will of God in that matter, so far as I may be • Mr. Osburn was translated, by Gen. Ass. l(i9G, from Kilmarnock to Aberdeen. APPENDIX. 365 able to discern It. But the longer I think of the matter, and weigh im- partially all that concerns it, the less do I see myself called to force ray frail and timorous family to sea in time of war, and lieside the many toil- some ai)d expensive inconveniences that inevitably would attend such an attempt, to expose ourselves, with all that we have, to the hazard of falling into French hands, so as severals last war did, who sailed under convoys of double strength to that which from Zealand can be expected to Aberdeen. I know Providence is to be ti-usted, yet it is not to be tempted. And I doubt not but that some with you, not well acquainted with affairs of that nature, nor understanding fully the circumstances of the present case, may entertain thoughts thereof different from the impartial judgment of godly and wise men in this place,' who have occasion of taking a nearer view of the whole business. But herein do I satisfy myself with an inward testi- mony, that I have not wittingly and willingly fallen short of what I con- ceived to be duty. And you may easily conceive how difficult it would be to answer the objection of any person here, that I am in nowise to be thank- ed for my staying, having done what I could to be gone. The truth is, I have found myself all alongst brought into great straits by the conduct of that matter ; which hath been both trouble and loss to me and my family ; and yet can take no effect at length. And it grieves me that the interest of the academy should, by this means, suffer any prejudice, while that post continues unsupplied. Though 1 entertain some secret hopes, that, as I earnestly desired, those that be concerned have by this time come to second thoughts, and shall find some way to provide some fitter person for under- taking that charge, wherein I shall rejoice. And this appears to me as a very sufficient reason why no answer hath been sent to my last, before mentioned. I shall not at present trouble you any further, having nothing to write but what hath been already signified ; but only assure you that, as the interest you seek to further goes near to my heart, so I am very sensi- ble of my obligations to you, your reverend colleague Mr. Blackwell, and our other friends with you, to whom I present my humble service, and remain. Reverend Sir, Your loving Brother and fellow labourer, Rott. 22 Aug. 1702. T. H. To IheRev. Mr. Th. Kinnier, [Minister ofUcht,] Moderator of the Synod of Aberdeen. Very Rev. and D. B. Rott. IG Jan. 1703. There seemed to me and others sufficient ground for thinking that .the great piety and prudence of your R. Synod had long ago entered upon some other more expedient course, for providing suitably that necessary post of your divinity profession ; but your too kind letter in their name did lately surprise me with oilier tidings. This obliged me to think again and again 366 APPENDIX. upon the whole business, and did set me at work many days in self-search- ing and other such exercise, to see if I were not perhaps labouring under some gross mistakes, and turned out of the strait road of dutiful obedience. I have seriously considered all things that have any manifest relation to the matter of your call, and my conditional acceptance, with desire to see more light, and to discover any oldigation that might be as to the change of my station ; or any door that by Providence might be yet left open for my entering that way unto your more immediate service. But the truth is, (and I hope you will bear with me in saying so,) the longer I think on that affair, though I endeavour to do it with all impar- tiality, and dependence upon Heaven for light, the further do I find my- self from judging it my duty in time of war, and as matters now stand, to break off the needful course of my ministry in this place, where is so much to do, and to force my way through seen dangers and insuperable difficul- ties, that I may enter into a new charge, another calling, for which I am conscious to myself of so much unfitness, and which also might now more easily be provided for than this can be, if brethren did dwell together ia more perfect unity. For I am sure there are many in Scotland far more fit for that place than I ani ; and I doubt not but that some might be found very willing to accept of such a promising occasion of doing good ; or might, without great difficulty, be obtained by the assistance which you have. Whereas, the congregation which I serve at present seems to be in hazard of being rendered wholly desolate if I should leave them, my rev. colleague being of great age, and become so infirm, that it is not likely he can long continue to labour in tiiis harvest ; and the difficulty of getting another in his room or mine, is greater than you can well imagine. It is true I once accepted of your call, and I did so in the simplicity of my heart, as matters then stood, with an upright willingness to cast in my mite into your treasury. But it is as tnie, (though all the letters I receive from your parts take little or no notice of it,) that my acceptance was ex- pressly and wholly conditional. And it is too evident that Providence hath thought fit to interpose, decide the matter, and shut the door, by making that fall out, which was then only supposed as credibly future, though not looked for, at least so soon. I see no reason why 1 should blame either myself or others for not preventing the impediments that lie in the way ; but only I adore the hand of God, in the conduct of that whole affair, wherein it is like his wisdom and goodness may more clearly appear after this. I cannot help it, that wise and good men among you find far less diffi- culty in sea danger and other things than generally, by ministers and others here, and some also at home, is apprehended. I shall not impute it to any degree of indifference and carelessness what might be the event, but shall leave every man to his own thoughts, and only humbly crave a share in the common liberty, that I may be allowed to see with my own eyes, and exer- cise a judgment of discretion, according to what we so frequently see and hear in this place, where we have far more occasion than friends at home APPENDIX. 367 can have to learn what harm trading people (some of them our intimate ac- quaintance) have this year sustained at sea. It is true the maritime force and unbriddled fury of the enemy have not been so great hitherto as at first was feared ; yet with bowels of compassion I regret the sad experience that Aberdeen hath had of the difference between peace and war, and of the little ground there is to trust upon the staff of the bruised reed of a convoy. There ai-e manifold inconveniences that attend the transportation of a family so circumstantiate as mine is, especially in time of war, which in- evitably add no small weight to the objection of hazard. And I forbear to mention other things more pulilic and too obvious, which are of moment enough to cause demur and great thoughts of heart. I wish the fears of wise and good men abroad, as well as at home, may be disappointed, and at length discovered to have been but vain conjectures. However, if they be just, as would seem, I cannot see it consistent with common prudence, to propose unto myself a settlement in such a charge, especially seeing the last incumbent is yet alive. No thinking person can l)e ignorant what methods were taken after the return of K. Ch. the II., both in Scotland and Eng- land, and how very moderate men, even those who were not averse from a qualified Episcopacy and a reformed liturgy, were treated. The conduct and issue of the Savoy Conference is yet on record. But I presume too far upon your goodness by an imprudent, if not impertinent, mentioning of such unpleasant matters. Wherefore, upon all this, I cannot but persuade myself that it is my duty rather to stay than remove, and earnestly beg that the reverend synod and others concerned will hold me excused, in that I cannot resolve to tempt Providence, go over the belly of reasun, and shake off natural affection, by attempting that which no religion obligeth to, espe- cially while I find mutual affection between my people and me here waxing stronger, and some promising appearances of success concurring to engage unto continuance in manuring this field. I am indeed obliged to all gratitude for the undeserved kindness and generous i-esolutions of the reverend brethren of the synod on my behalf, which I read and think of with blushing; but at present it is not possible for me to testify due resentment by an effectual compliance with your de- sires, which I beg may, in the good providence of God, be fully satisfied by some other, every way more fit for your purpose ; and I shall ever remain sensible of my debt of love and thankfulness, with a propensity to pay it as I may be able, in other regards, to every one that is concerned, being Rev. Sir, Your loving and much obliged Brother in the Lord, T. H. 368 APPENDIX. NOTE E p. 185. List of the Elders and Deacons from the establishment of the Church, with the date of investiiurei and the number of years each remained in his re- spective office. ELDERS. 82. Those marked thus* never served as Deacons. 1643 William Muir,« . 7 Matthew Paton,* . 4 1<)45 Robert Main, 7 1647 John Rhynd," 2 1648 Thomas Uiedan, . 2 1650 Robert Forgun, 3 Thomas Fleming,* 1 1652 James Ogilvie, 6 IC53 John Dawson, s. 1657 Thomes Martin,* 2 1658 Robert Burt, 2 Andrew Courtier, . 7 16G0 AVilliam Wallace, . 6 16G1 James Wardlaw, 3 1 663 James Ure or Eauer, 1 1664 Alexander Bisset, • 1 J 665 Robert Allan, 12 1667 Robert Caldom, 13 166y John Fleming, 12 1671 George Porterfield, M.A> .a 3 John Thomson, . 3 1676 Colonel James Wallace,* b 2 Andrew Russell, 11 1678 James Gordon,* 6 1679 John Christie, 27 r. 1683 Robert Gib,* 1684 John Beir,* . 1687 James Norrie, James, Dunlop, John Faa, 1691 Sir Andrew Kennedy of Clowburn, Kt.* "^ . 1692 Pieter Verbeek,* . 1693 Johannes Steenlack, bur gomaster,* David Edmondston, M.A apothecary, 1694 John Gordon,* 1695 Sir Gilbert Sasch,* <> 1696 Gerrit Steenlack,* . I(i97 Johannes Verbeek, 1698 Isaac Hornbeek, lord pen sionary,* "^ Alexander Carstares, M.A. 1701 Andrew Storie, 1706 Alexander Grosert, 1707 Gerard Colbrant, burgo master,* 1709 Gerard leBrun, 1722 Johannes de Vries, ears. 3 3 13 2 19 21 3 2 2 1 15 *24 19 3 1 2 ^ Lord Provost of Glasgow. He came to this country to avoid the violence of persecution ; resided nearly seventeen years at Rotterdam, where he died, Dec. I679, leaving a small legacy of 63 florins to the Scottish Church. Consist, Regist., AVodrow's History, vol. i. p. 428, and Veitch's Memoirs, p. 48. (Note by Dr. M'Crie.) '' A distinguislied officer, and leader of the Presbyterians at the battle of Pentland. See pp. 39. et seqq. of text. ' President for H. B. IM. at the Dutch Court, and Conservator of the Scottish Privileges at Campvere. ^ Principal Secretary of the Admiralty Court of the IMaese. * Called in 17^-, to the dignilied appointment of Grand Pensionary of Holland, '' Ijecame a Facttjr at Campvere, and Depute Conservator. APPENDIX. 869 Vcarg Years. 1723 John Gordon, 7 1773 Alexander Yeats, . . 3 1724 Johan van Meel, burgo- 1774 George Elgin, architect, 15 master,* . 11 1783 Christiaan Jongeneel, 27 Alexander Naughten, IG I78S Adriaiius Blcens, '^ . 9 1729 Ga!)riel van Charante, 5 1789 Cornells van Heusde, . 20 John Klpliinston of Lap- Cornelis P)rem, "^ . .24 ness,* 19 1798 Bernardus Ledeboer,'' . 19 1735 Simon Commenicq,* * 3 1803 Petrus Ularinus Keller, 8 1737 Robert Storie, S3 I81I8 Jonathan Tabor, 1740 Vv'illiam Hoojr, 18 1809 Jacob .Moll, ^ . . 8 Adriaan Roos, advocate,* 7 1810 Adriaan van Charante, . 14 Nicolaas Baartuians, 43 1811 George Gibson, , . 15 1748 Pieter Koogwerff,* 13 1818 Johan Gregorins 3I('es, 2 Andrew Storie, '' 20 Johan Frederick van Oordt 2 1753 James Hoog, M. D., 6 1821 William Robertson, . « John Dunlop, 2 1824 Isaac RIarinus Josue Yaleton, 5 17S2 Johannes tiendrik van William Jay,* der Does, burgomaster,' 11 1827 Rudolf Pieter Mees, I7G3 Henricus ^loens. 45 1829 Alexander Ferrier,*^ 17'J8 Abraliam Baartmans, 17 Hendrik Wiilem rierklots. DEACONS. 125. 1043 Andrew Diinlop, 1 Ro))ert Burt, 5 Patrick Gibson, 1 Robert Foigiin, 3 1G44 William Garden, , 2 Robert Main, 1 James Ogilvie, 5 John Baird, 1 1G45 Thomas Dredaii, 3 1C45 John Thomson, 12 Henry Nisbet, 2 John Dow, 4 1646 Robert Houstoun, . 2 Arthur Logie, 2 1C47 John Dawson, 3 1652 John Aitken, 1 John Corser, 2 1653 George Petrie, 3 ' Author of an excellent Dutch version of Dr. Owen's Commentary on the Hebrews, 4 vols, 4to. Rott. 1733-40. '' Mr, Andrew Storie succeeded his father in an excellent business ; but retired early in life with an ample competency. Like his worthy parent, he devoted a large portion of time and means in aiding his brethren of the session in their labours of love. His MS. Memoranda, in my possession, contain extracts from the Consistory Register, and a number of particulars regarding the Scottish Church, curiously minute, but not deserving of pub- licity. He died in 1789. * Late consul at Bristol for the King of the Netherlands. •^ Translator of Scott's Force of Truth, Sic, and author of several useful theological treatises. •^ Knight of the order of the Netherland's Lion. *■ Member of the city council, and translator of Wilberforce's Practical View of Chrisiianity, which has gone through two editions in the Dutch language. s H. B. Majesty's consul for Rotterdam, the Hague, &c. ; and Conserva- tor of the Scottish Privileges at Campvere. 2b 370 APPENDIX. 1655 Andrew Courtier, Henry Stohie, 1C5G William Wallace, . 1657 James \^''ardlaw, 1C58 Alexander Gray. 1659 James Ure or Eauer, 1660 Alex. Bisset, 1661 Thomas Henderson, 1C63 Robert Allan, John Fleming, James Thomson, 1664 Robert Caldom, 1665 George Main, 1667 Andrew Halyburton, John Mitchell, 1669 John Livingstone, 31. A James Smith, 1671 Andrew Russell, William Watt, Alexander Ramsay, 1672 Dav. Edmondston, M. A 1673 John Faa, 1676 John Christie, 1678 James Norrie, James Dunlop, 1679 James Gordon, jun. 1683 William Livingstone, M 1687 Thomas Augustine, Andrew Storie, James Scott, 1691 Alex. Carstares, M, A. Alex. Grosert, 1692 Johannes Verbeek, 1693 Thomas Crawford, 1694 Robert Allan, Alex. Naughten, , 1698 William Simson, . 1699 Robert Hoog,« Robert Stewart, John Gordon, 1701 James Thomson, 1703 Gerard le Brun, 1704 Gilbert Montier, . I7O6 William Gellie, 1709 Patrick Fletcher, . 1710 David Turpie, 1717 Abraham van der Sloot, 1722 Thomas Browne, . Gab. van Charante, Robert Storie, 1724 William Hoog, Alexander Cochran, 1729 N. Baartmans, 1732 Robert Gordon, 1738 Pieter S' Jacob, ears. 3 1 4 4 1 3 3 1 2 5 14 2 2 4 2 2 5 2 2 5 14 7 3 9 9 5 A. 5 6 11 Years. 1740 Andrew Storie, . . 8 1741 Doe Schim, notary, . 12 John Dunlop, surgeon, 11 Jacobus de Koningh, . 13 1748 James Hoog, M. D. . 10 Cornells Derrix, . . 5 1753 Johannes de Monte, . 2 H. Moens, ... 10 1754 Johau Steenlack L. Roos, 5 1756 Corn. Brem, dyer, . 9 Thomas Andrew Hoog, 12 1758 Johannes Baartmans, . 10 1660 Abr. Baartmans, . . 7 1762 William Stewart, . 6 1765 Alex. Yeats, . . 8 1767 George Elgin, . . 7 1768 John Enslie, . . 7 C. Jongeneel, sail-maker, 14 Andries van Loon, . 6 1773 John Key, ... 6 1774 Alexander Low, . . 5 Alexander Knight, . 4 1775 Theod. Mart. Mi'spelblom Beyer, ... 3 1778 Adr. Moens, . . 8 1779 Johan Philip de Monte', 3 Gerrit Groenevelt, jun. 6 John Elgin, ... 10 1782 Urbanus Adriaan Hoogwerflf, 2 1783 Gregorius van Oordt, . 5 1785 Alexander Strahan, . 3 B. Ledeboer, . . 13 1786 Jonathan Tabor, . . 22 1788 P. M. Keller, . . 15 John Jay, ... 10 1789 Abraham de Prill, . 8 1797 Jacob Moll, . . .12 1798 Jacob iSicolaas Verbrugge, notary, ... 8 A. van Charante, * . 12 1803 George Gibson, . • 8 1806 J. G. J\Iees, banker, . 12 1808 John Enslie, . . 2 1809 J. F. van Oordt, . . 9 1810 J. M. J. Valeton, notary, 14 William Robertson, . 11 1811 R. P. 3Iees, banker, . 16 1818 William Moens, . . 9 H. W. Herklots, . .11 1821 Dirk Adrianus Schuurmans, 1824 David Dunlop, 1827 Hendrik Anthony van Cha- rante, George Gibson, jun. 1829 Archibald Campbell. * The only son of the l!ev. John Hoog, minister of this church. Consist. Her/ist. APPENDIX. 371 NOTE F p. 266. Records of the Scottish Brigade — The regimental books which belonged to the Brigade are preserved at the Hague. In 1784, a short time after tliis fine body of men were disbanded, Count Bentinck caused the baptismal and marriage registers to be entrusted to the care of the kirk-session of the National Scottish Church in Rotterdam. Having agreed to take charge of these documents, so interesting to Scotsmen, the Session caused public information to be made in the principal Dutch newspapers as to the place of their deposit. In December 1811, however, when all consistories in Hol- land were obliged to surrender to the respective municipalities every such record in their custody, those belonging to the Scottish Brigade were also given up, upon a receipt from the Lord Mayor. The earliest of these re- gisters is dated in I7O8. Before, and even long after that period, it was no unusual thing for the members of the regiment to employ the native clergy at their various stations, to celebrate marriage, and administer bap- tism. Whether the chaplains of the Brigade kept regular public registers of christenings, &c. prior to the beginning of last century, I have not been able to ascertain. It seems probable that they did not. The four folio volumes now preserved in the Stadthouse of Rotterdam are labelled as follows : — 1. " A general register of children's names baptized by Rev. IVIr. Donald Bayne, Mr. Robert Douglas, and Mr. Alex^ MacAulay, formerly kept in separate books : By order of INIajor-General JMackay, transcrilied [at Breda April 1769] into one, which may serve as an authentic register for the future ; with papers relative to the same." This volume commences Dec. 17th, I7O8, and ends August I8th, 1782. 2. " Register of marriages done by Mr. Charles Campbell, minister in Gen'. Colyear's regiment," afterwards commanded by Gen. Dundas. This marriage record begins August 1718, and terminates March 10th, 1783. The same vohime includes the births and baptisms from Dec. 39th, 1711, to Feb. 5th, 1783. 3. " Register of marriages in General Stuart's Regiment," commencing June 16th, 1767, and ending January 30th, 1780. This volume likewise contains the baptisms from January 21st, 1771, to May 31st, 1781. 4. " Register of marriages, performed by the Rev. BIr Donald Bayne, chaplain to the Right Hon. JNlajor (ien. JMurray's regiment." It commences 6th March 1709 and ends August 8th, 1778. This volume contains an exact list of the communicants belonging to the regiment, who partook of the Lord's Supper, from 1714 to \112. 372 APPENDIX. Note G p. 2GG. Monumental Inscriptions in ike Northern Netherlands to the Atemory of British Subjects. Delft. — It may not be known to the generality of our readers, that a daughter of the renowned Philip Blarnix,* lord of St. Aldegonde, (the bosom friend of the first Prince of Orange, and a principal promoter of the Reformation in the Netherlands,) was united in marriage to Colonel Sir Charles Morgan, a brave Scots officer, in the service of the States. At the end of the north choir of the Old Church of Delft, is a magnificent monu- ment, erected to the memory of Lady Morgan, who departed this life in 1608, leaving an only daughter. This tomb, raised by her sorrowful widower in 1611, is of the Corinthian order, and is in excellent preservation. The pedestal is of black touch-stone, in the centre of which, in raised gilded letters, are these lines :— Illustri serie, longaeque ab origine gentis, Morgan! hie conjux Elisabetha tegor. Marnixi soboles, quod non nescitur in orbe Nomen, et invito tempore semper erit, Virtutum satis est, uni placuisse marito Quod pro me loquitur tam preciosus amor. Upon the pedestal are four columns, supporting a canopy, under which appears the effigy of Lady Morgan, as if covered from head to foot with a waxen garment, executed with incomparable skill, in white marble. The figure lies on a mattrass and a massive touch-stone tomb, supported by three lions in a reclining posture, of white gilded marble, resting upon the pedes- tal already noticed. The face, hands, and feet of the effigy are uncovered, having been moulded in plaster from the dead body. The monument is surrounded by various Dutch, Belgian, English, and Scotch armorial bearings. Upon a large blue grave-stone in front of the ornamental latticed screen, which protects the tomb, the following inscription occurs : — D. O. M. Elisabethae iMarnixiae v. n. Philippi Marnixii S. Aldegondani F. Matronae generosiss. uxori opt. castiss. matri pientiss. dulciss. Carolus Morgan Eques trib". C. P. L. P. • We regret that there does not exist a suitable Memoir of this very eminent man, to whom the cause of religion and literature was so much iudel)ted. ATPENDIX. 373 In the centre of the stone ai"e placed her husband's arms ; and in another compartment are these words, supposed to be spoken by the lady : — Vixi ut vivis, morieris ut sum mortua, anno cio.ioc.viii. x feb. relicta filiola Patri, Anna 31organ. Lex universa est, quae jubet nasci et morl. A remarkable fact remains to be told. The wife of Marnix expired be- fore she had given birth to the daughter, who afterwards became the spouse of Sir Charles Morgan. Lady fllorgan was a pious and charitable person, and was accustomed to send annually to the Poor-house at Delft, so many guilders as she was years old. Sir Charles was interred in the same grave." Dordrecht On a mural white marble monument in the Cathedral Church :t To the lamented memory of John Western, Esq. Lieutenant of his Britannic Majesty's frigate Syren, and as a testimony of the gallant services performed by him, This monument is erected by order of His Royal Highness the Duke or York. Lieutenaut Western, After distinguishing himself by his conduct and intrepidity with which he assisted the garrison of Williamstadt, (at that time besieged by the French,) Fell early in the career of glory, Having been unfortunately killed by the Enemy off the Moerdyke, On the twenty-first day of March, A. D. 1793, in the twenty-second year of his age, • Besehr. der Stad Delft, 1729, folio, pp. 200, 201. -}• The Great Church of Dort, a lofty and elegant structure, contains a much admired carved pulpit of white marble. Strangers are shewn the communion plate and the baptismal font, which are of pure massy gold. During the French time, the Dutch wisely took the precaution to conceal, by a screen of plaster work, all the fine monuments in this and the other churches, to save them from inevitable destruction. A tax was even levied by the usurpers to defray the expense attendant on their merciless work of demolition ! 374 APPENDIX. in the service of his country, and in defence of Holland. His remains were deposited near this place, attended by his Royal Highness the Duke of York, and By the Officers and seamen of the Royal Navy, the companions of his meritorious exertions, and by the Brigade of his Britannic IMajesty's Foot Guards in Garrison at Dordrecht. Flushing In the Dutch Reformed Church here, is a superb monument of black and white marble, having a well executed representation of a ship- wreck cut upon it, erected to the memory of Mr. D. O. Barwell, of whom there is a medallion. Returning from the east, he was unfortunately drowned near Westkappel ; the ship in which he was having struck upon a sand bank during a violent storm in July 1779- Over his body, which was found and interred at Flushing, his family have inscribed the annexed lines. Hie lapis nomen tueatur Danielis Octavii Barwell, Angli qui, cum ex India reversus patriam peteiet huic illisus littori, naufragio, periit Julii 25. A. D. 1779. ^tatis 23. Tantum illi natura tribuerat, Tantum studia adjecerant, Ea fuit morum gratia, Ea animi suavitas, Ut in illo non tantum amici suas delicias, Sed et quoddam sibi dectis tota gens hominum abreptum lugeat. Quicquid mortalibus aut quaerere aut habere datur Fluxum est et fragile. Virtus sola semper viret. Letdek In our account of the Scottish Church, which formerly existed at Leyden, we mentioned, that the only memorial of our countrymen w hich is now to be seen there is a tabular monument to the memory of the Earl of Loudon. It is inscribed as follows : — Hie jacet Jacobus Laudoniae comes Scotus, in hoc sepulcliro sibi suisque proprio. Obiit xxix Octobris, cio.ia.clxxxiv. ArpENDix. 375 OuDEWATER. — In the high choir of the Old Church is a tomb-stone in- sciilied to the memory of Sir John Gibson. It appears from what follows that he was a lieutenant-colonel in the British army; but, at the period of his death, which occurred in 1635, he held the rank of captain in the Dutch service. Nobili ac strenuo D. Johann. Gibson, Equiti, Apud Mag. Magnae Britanniae Regera Militum vice Tribune Et apud Illustr. Belgii Ordd. Centurioni B. M. Conjux Moesta M. H. L. IM. Q. J. P. Excessit Anno ^rae Christianae cio.ioc.xxxv. ^Etat LV. Rotterdam Next the beautiful monument of the great Admiral De Witte, in the Cathedral Church of St. Laurence, is one of plain white mar- ble, in memory of Chaloner, second son of Edward Chute, Esq. of the Vine in Hampshire. This youth, whose father was Speaker of the House of Commons, was, in his seventeenth year, cut off by fever, in 1705, shortly after his arrival in Holland, whither he had been sent to acquire a know- ledge of mercantile affairs. We annex the inscription on the mural tablet. II. S. E. Chalonerus Edvardi Chute de La Vine, in comitatu Hantoniae apud Anglos Armigeri filius natu secundus : qui novns advena hue appulsus, quo ad mercaturae studium animum adjungeret, febre correptus, mortem in aedibus venerabilis admodum dominae de Staveren praematuram obiit : qua exemplum in se statuit illustre, quam sanctissime foedus inter Anglos Batavosq. ictum colat Belgia, neq. minus privatis beneficiis et benevolentia, quam sociis armis certet obsignare. JMorienti ilia, prope jam parentis in loco hospitii primaevi jura humani ingenii animiq. Christiani officia, nee non matris teneras implevit vices ; tumuliq. proprii in hac ecclesia depositum honore tandem dignata est. Natus Octobris iv'° mdclxxxviii*" f Est die ) f Anno ^Erae ^ ( mensis f ( Christi J Denatus Mail v'° mdccv'" Schiedam — Upon a grave-stone in the Great Church of Schiedam, in memory of a son of Sir C. James, Bart, of Chrishall in Essex, who died at the age of fifteen, in the year 1710 : 270 APrENDIX. Depositum PLelipsii James, filii 2(li perhonorifu'i viri D"' Canei James, de Chrishall, in Essexieiisi apnd Anglos agro Baronetti ; sunimae spei fuit adolescens, at subito variolarum morbo in hac iirbe correptiis diem obiit, sibi ipsi non dubitamus felicem, a piis parentibus semper dolendum die Octobris 19° anno saliitis noslrae 1710°, aetatis suae 15°; ut peiegriiiae hae charae reliquiae non solum hospitii sed legis jure intemeratae doimirent donee a Christo faan'nt redintegratae. Pater amaiitissimus huiic sepulturae locum sibi suisque propiium pretio fecit. Zandvoout In the churcli of this fishing village, which is situated near Hauricm, a short inscription, in the Dutch language, to the following effect, may be seen on a tomb-stone : J. M. Corbet, daughter of Colonel Walter Corbet, and of Maria P.Iagda- lene lialket, and wife of Captain Halket, was shipwrecked between Noord- wyk and Zandvoort, on her way from iicotland. Her body was driven ashore here, 22d Sept. 1720. ZiERiKZEE In the old cathedral church of St. Baven, which unfortu- nately has recently (Oct. 1832,) been accidentally destroyed by fire, there were several very fine monuments. Among others, those erected to the memory of Captain Henry Hume, and Sir John and Lady Conyers, at- tracted much attention from the beauty of the execution. Through the politeness of a clerical friend in Zealand, I was furnished, some months ago, with a copy of the monumental inscriptions; but it would occupy too much space to insert them all. Lady Conyers, whose maiden name was IMaria de Pottere, was descended from an ancient and respectable noble family, who, to avoid religious persecution, fled from Brabant, and sought shelter in the immediate vicinity of Zierikzee. She died at Noordgouwe, the family mansion, July 15th, 1050. Her exemplary piety and benevolence were fully, though quaintly, recorded upon her tomb, both in Latin and in Dutch. Captain Hume, who was her nephew, predeceased Lady Conyers only a few weeks. We subjoin two inscriptions to his memory ; the one in the vernacular language of Holland, the other in Latin. Instead, however, of printing the Dutch, we insert an English version, furnished by an ac- quaintance, who has endeavoured to retain the spirit and quaintness of the original. In memory of the noble born Henry Hume, Captain in the service of the United Netherlands, who died at Delft, May 28, 1650. When young I lost my motlier, but my loss I never knew. For, oh ! an aunt's maternal heart my filial homage drew. Beneatli her watchful care 1 sought whaie'er adorns the mind. In sciences and arts, and tongues, and manners of mankind. APPENDIX. 377 As captain of our infantry, as horse- lieutenant too, I shew'd unto my Fatherland, a spirit bold and true : And after God for two full years had made our battles cease, He caird me hence to spend with him the life of heavenly peace. I do not grieve, because I die and part with wealth and state, I only mourn, in that my aunt so sorely weeps my fate. Henricus Hume, Illustri Humffiornm et Carriorum Roxburgen- sium a patre, comitum iiobilique a matre Potterorum et Wiskerkensium genere natus, linguarum, liberaliumque artium, doctrina excultus, equites optionis pedites centnrionis dignitate fideliter fortiterque duxit. Tsto munere simul et vita pie defunctus, amicis sni desiderium, materterae fatalem hictum reliquit. Obiit Delfis A° Salutis mdcl iv Calend. Junias aetat. xxxvii. Joannes Conyerius monumentum hoc, adfinis suo filio, quern ut suum educavit moestus posuit. Joannes Smith, Neomagensis, min. fecit. Sir John Conyers died in the year 1658, aged seventy-two. The subjoined inscription on his monument shews, that, for his gallant exploits, he was created a baronet by King Charles I. ; that he held the rank of general in the army; was governor of Berwick, and Keeper of the Tower of London : Jehovae, qui providit. Sacrum IDustriss. Generosiss. Nobiliss. Heroi J). Johanni de Conyers Equiti Aurato Antiqiiiss. pariter ac nobiliss. In Dunnelmensib. prosapia orco rebus bell, prudenter, fortiter et felic. turn in Belg. foeder. cum German. Angliaque gestis. clarissimo. Equestr. copiarum in Magn. Brittan. Reg. Caroli I. exercitu Duci supremo. Barvici urbis tum munitiss. gubern. strenuo indefesso Arcis Londenensis praefect : omnium vot. desiderat. Anno aetat. lxxii. Saliit. cioioclviii. Noortgov. ia Domino pie mortuo. Avuncul. suo dilectissimo 378 APPENDIX. in aeternam ejus menioriam Hoc qualecunque sincer. affect, testimonium JMoest. haered. posuit. Hie cui Carolus Primus rex auxit honores Atque Equitis titulos ob bene gesta dedit Cui data Barvici fuit et suprema potestas Londinique Arcis credita cura erit I quemque exercitui quoque rex praefecit equestri huic secuit vitae stamina parca ferox praesagus patriae turbarura has veiiit ad eras in pace ut vitam transigeret reliquam pax data, nam coeli providit pace Jehova iu coelis anima est, corporis hie cinis est. Servatius Gallaus V. D. M. In honour and memory of the noble and worthy, Dame Maria de Pottere, wife of Sir John Conyers, Baronet, &c., who died at Noordgouwe, July 15, 1650. With conscience free, to worship Ciod as he requires, our race From Brabant fled, in Zeland sought and found a resting place, The Lord of earth still follow'd them with providential hand. And ponr'd his blessings on them in their newly-chosen land : To me he gave for spouse, a bold and prudent English knight, Whose gallant bearing found him favour in his sovereign's sight. But not in Netherland alone, — the Germans, Britons too. Can testify what he hath done, and dared beneath their view : As general of cavalry, as keeper of the Tower, As governor of Berwick, he enjoyed applause and power. And that one soul, one sense, one joy, one passion might inspire, Our mutual bosoms with the wish, the longing to retire. To seek repose from state affairs, — the bustle and the blaze, And dedicate unto the Lord the remnant of our days : This was my first desire, my hope, my aim, my dearest thought. My next, to reverence my husband as I ought. My heart and hand were open evermore to aid the poor : Upright, domestic, faithful ; and in walk and converse sure. My course is finish'd now for aye, and to my soul is given, That rest for which it sigh'd so long, the joyful rest of heaven. John Smith, V. D. M. BRIEF VIEW DUTCH ECCLESIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENT. 2c BRIEF VIEW DUTCH ECCLESIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENT.* The Dutch Reformed Church is Calvinistic and Presbyterian. No people suffered more than the inhabitants of the United Pro- vinces, in securing that religious freedom which they now fully enjoy. It is not our present design to trace the rise and progress of the Reformation in the Netherlands, or to narrate the struggles which were effectually made to introduce the opinions promul- gated by Luther ; and the gradual erection, by the Protestants, of an Ecclesiastical Establishment. Whilst upon such an exten- sive and interesting field of historical research we do not now presume to enter, we may here be permitted to express our hope, that from the original and very valuable documents, manuscript and printed, which happily abound, some qualified person may be induced to supply, what is much wanted, a condensed and impartial History of the Netherlands Reformed Church. Such a work could not fail to be most acceptable and useful. In the Klooster-Kerk at the Hague, are to be found an exten- sive collection of Ecclesiastical Records and old papers, from the beginning of the Reformation. An accurate catalogue of this rich and invaluable treasure, \vas drawn up, by authority, in • This Sketch was meant by the author to be placed before the Appen- dix ; but the MS., containing it, having been accidentally interrupted on its way to this country, and it having been thought advisable to proceed meanwhile with the printing of the work, the article in question falls necessarily to be given iu this place, — an arrangement for which the person who superintends the publication iu Scotland is alone responsible — T. I\I. 382 DUTCH ECCLESIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENT. 1737.* Among the authentic documents which are there pre- served, we may mention tlie Acts (written in Latin), of the first Synod of the Netherlands Reformed Church, held at Wesel, Nov. Sd, 1368, having the original signatures of all the members. In the year 1664, the Latin Acts of the Synod of Wesel were trans- lated into Dutch, and published by the Rev. Dr. Louis van Re- nesse, professor of Theology at Breda ; and Renesse's version has been appended to the posthumous work of Professor John Ens, in his Short Historical Account of the Public Writings re- garding the Doctrine and Service of the Dutch Churches in the United Netherlands, published, in 4to, at Utrecht, 1733. The earliest printed Acts of the National Synods, which we have seen, are those which appeared at Delft in 1612, quarto. The History of the Reformation in the Netherlands, by the Rev. Gerard Brandt, minister of the Remonstrant congregation at Amsterdam, is well known to the British public. Trigland, an able professor of Theology at Leyden, published in 1630, An Account of the Ne- therlands Reformed Church, in reply to John Uytenbogaert, the Arminian divine and historian. The two last mentioned works are written in Dutch, as is also the new History of the Netherlands Reformed Chirch, the joint production of the Rev. Dr. Ypey, Emeritus professor of Divinity, &c., at Groningen, and of the Rev. Isaac John Dermout, one of the ministers of the Hague, Court Chaplain, and Secretary to the General Synod.f * It is much to be wished, that a printed and descriptive catalogue of the valuable original MSS. illustrative of the ecclesiastical history of the Ne- therlands, and which are deposited at the Hague, and in the libraries of the Universities and Athenseums of this kingdom, were published by authority. A similar remark may be made in regard to the JMSS. possessed by the Church of Scotland; The records and original papers belonging to that national church, are preserved in the General Register House at Edin- burgh ; but, although, by the unwearied and enlightened zeal of the Rev. Dr. Lee, the Convener, and his able co-adjutors in the Committee on the MSS. of the church, many important documents have of late years been discovered, the Scottish, like the Dutch clergy, are, in general, in a great measure, ignorant (which they ought not to be,) of the interesting IMSS. which, as a church, they happily possess. Were a catalogue once printed, it would lead to the publication of several old documents, which might be of essential service both in a religious and literary point of view. -|- Ypey and Dermout's History, in four thick volumes, octavo, (Breda 1819-27) exhibits an uncommon degree of research ; and, taken as a whole, DUTCH ECCLESIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENT. 383 The predominant church in the Netherlands, prior to 1795, was that of the Reformed. B}-^ every departure from the for- mulary, as well as for the correction of those abuses to which the authority of the General Synod did not extend, the secular arm might be called in. The whole of this system fell to the ground in the last mentioned year; and the Established Church, then separated from the State, no longer enjoys any civil privileges. The present constitution of this country " secures to all forms of worship, equal favour and protection." We shall endeavour, in this article, to point out the difference in the Regulations of the Netherlands Reformed Church before 1795, from those introduced since 1816, by contrasting the present with the former practice of the different courts. In their rising gradations, the courts, now existing, rank and are named as follows : viz. Kerkenraden, Klassikale Bestureti^ Provineiale Kerlihesturen, and the Algemeene Synode. I. The Kerkenraden, (Consistories or Kirk- Sessions,) are com- posed of the minister or ministers, in actual service, and the elders and deacons of each congregration. In small communities, dea- cons have a voice in all the business of the Kirk-Session, but in large consistories they have a separate chamber, where are ex- clusively discussed all matters relating to the poor. Both the elders and the deacons remain in office for two years ; and should their services be again solicited, which frequently happens, re- ordination takes place. The elders and deacons combine in the election of a minister : and, whether the patronage be vested in is the best which has yet appeared. Its palpable defects have, with an undue measure of severity, been exposed by Mr. C. M. van der Kemp, in bis book entitled. The Honour of the Netherlands Reform Church Vindicated, 2 vol. 8vo. Rott. 1830. The Rev. Theodore Fliedner, a wortliy German divine, in his recently published Travels, has given a full, but a hastily drawn up, account of the Dutch Church, and we have reason to believe that it is not regarded by the native clergy generally as very accurate or just. The Eng- lish reader is referred to a series of papers on the Dutch Presbyterian Churches, inserted in the first and second volumes of the Presbyterian Review ; and to an article in the Edinburgh Christian Instructor, (vol. xxvii. pp. 262-206',) On the State of the Church in Holland in 1728. ■ This last is the copy of a let- ter to the Rev. Robert Wodrow, the historian, from Lieut. Col. Erskine, who derived his information from the Rev. The. Hoog, of the Scottish Church, Rotterdam. 384 DUTCn ECCI.ESIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENT. his Majesty, or in a private individual, the Session almost always obtain the object of their choice. The Consistory have the charge of what relates to public wor- ship, Christian instruction, and the superintendence of the mem- bers of the congregation. A triennial visit, of which public intimation must be given from the pulpit, is made to each church, by two clerical members of the Classical Direction, One of the deputies takes the chair, the other acts as clerk. The pastor of the congregation being re- quested to retire, the elders and deacons are interrogated whether the ministerial functions be regularly and duly discharged ; or if they have aught to object to the life and doctrine of their clergyman. He is then called in, and suitably addressed by the presiding deputy. The like form is observed in regard to the elders and deacons respectively. The church-officer next form- ally summons such of the congregation as may have complaints against their spiritual overseers. And if, as generally happens, none come forward, the commissioners proceed to acquaint themselves as to the number of members, and the various changes which have occurred 'since the former church-visitation. During the two intermediate years, each Consistory is required to give written answers to several queries ; and this document must be subscribed by all the members of session. A small annual gra- tuity is, on this occasion, presented to needy congregations. II. Klassikale Besturen, (Classical Directions.) Each Province is divided into several classes, and in the Old Netherlands there are forty-three. The clergy amount to 1460, exclusively of one hundred and twenty-four Emeriti ministers.* • See Catalogue of the Dutch, French, and English ministers in the Netherlands, corrected till May 1832. The office of assistant and successor is unknown in Holland. When a clergyman becomes, by age or other causes unfit for duty, he retires on a pension proportioned to his public service. If he becomes Emeritus after forty years' service, he receives his full stipend. According to a printed statement which appeared in 1829, there were then IGOfl ministers in the kingdom; of whom 1-17" belonged to tlie Reformed church, C\?t to tlie liUtherans, 35 to tlie Baptists, and 24 to the Remonstrants or Arminians. South Holland enjoyed the greatest number of clergymen ; as, 2C8 Kefi)vmed, IG liUtheran, 16 Remonstrant, and 3 Baptist. DUTCH ECCLESIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENT. 385 And those in active service, are increased according to the de- mands of the Protestant population.* A village or district, whose population, belonging to the Reformed Religion, does not exceed two hundred souls, is, when a vacancy occurs, to be united to an adjoining parish. Unless, where weighty reasons can be adduced, a community under 1 600 is entitled to one pastor only. The legal allotment of Reformed clergymen is as follows : — Population. Ministers. 1600 to 3000 2 3000— 5000 3 5000— 7000 4 7000—10,000 5 10,000 — 13,000 6 13,000—16,000 7 16,000-20,000 8 For every additional Jive thousand souls, another minister is allowed by government. The classes are, for the most part, sub-divided into two, three, or four distinct bodies, called Rings. Each class has a court, con- sisting of a president, an assessor, and a scriha or clerk ; besides two, three, or four clerical members, and one from among the elders. The lay member, and the half of tho-e selected from the clergy, retire yearly ; and are relieved by others chosen by the King from a leet of six, made by the classical meetings, but reduced to three by the Provincial Directions. The clerk is changed, in like manner, every third year. The minister of the class who is member of the Provincial Direction, acts as president of this court, and what is termed his secundiis or deputy, is as- sessor. The Classical Directions carefully watch over the concerns of the congregations within their district ; statedly visit them in the way we have mentioned ; and transmit annually an account of them to the Provincial Direction : they take care that divine service is performed in vacant parishes, by the ministers of the • By the last census, which was taken in 1830, the population of the Netherlands stood thus : Protestants, 1,541,748 ; Roman C'atholics, 830,920 ; Jews, 45,493; Unknown Religious Denoroiuations, 3,045; — Total, 2j427,20C. 386 DUTCH ECCLESIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENT. Ring, and by the Consulents.* They superintend the filling up of vacant cures ; examine the subordinate teachers of religion ; are judges, in the first instance, of ministers and other members of Kirk- Sessions, unless deposition be called for; and they de- cide in the highest jurisdiction, in those cases upon which a de- cision has been given by the Consistory. On the last Wednesday of June, each Classis holds a general meeting, for the purpose of choosing delegates, who are invested with the power of nominating members to the Provincial Court. The ministers of a Ring, or small district, assemble at each other's houses by rotation, usually once a-quarter ; and at this social meeting, denominated the Ring-vergadering, an essay on a theological or literary subject is read by one of the members, upon which those present deliver their sentiments. The Ring- vergadering is designed for the mutual benefit and professional advantage of its members; who also adjust the appointments for the temporary supply of vacant livings. The senior minister is Praetor or chairman, whilst it is the duty of the last admitted clergyman (provided he be sufficiently acquainted with the Dutch language,) to officiate as clerk. Each Ring annually transmits an account of its transactions to the Provincial Court, by whom, again, a committee is appointed to draw up a general report to government, which is printed. The Klassikaal-Bestuur, is in place of the former Classis or Classical Assembly, in which every minister and elder within the particular bounds had a seat. By the Classis, candidates for the * In places where there is only one pastor, should a vacancy occur, whether by death, translation, emeritus- ship, voluntary resignation, or deposition, a neighbouring minister is appointed by the Synod to superin- tend the clerical duties of the parish. This person is styled the Consulent, and is in every respect, for the time being, pastor loci ; for no sessibnal meeting may be held but under his presidency, and without his consent no ministerial duties can be performed in the parish. The district clergymen, as well as the consulent, receive three guilders for each sermon, exclusive of travelling expenses. The consulent weekly catechises those who design to become members ; and he finishes his labours by admitting the elected clergy- man, by a mandate from the Provincial Court. Except the consulent, no other minister is required to be present at the investiture, which always takes place on a Sabbath morning, — the new incumbent preaching in the afternoon. DUTCH ECCLESIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENT. 387 ministry were examined, and members chosen to rejiresent it in the Provincial Synod. III. Provinciale Kerkbesturen, (Provincial Directions,) for- merly, the Provincial Synods. They are composed of a cleri- cal member from every class in the Province, and one elder, who is sent by each class in rotation ; besides a secretary, who is also a member of these courts. One-third of the number of the clergymen retire annually, as likewise the elder. Their suc- cessors are chosen by the King from a leet o^ six, named by the Classical, and reduced to three by the Provincial Directions. One of the members is yearly nominated president by his Ma- jesty, — who also appoints the secretary every third year, from a leet of three, prepared by the Provincial Directions. The Provincial Directions have the oversight of every church within the province ; an account of which is forwarded yearly to the General Synod. They examine candidates for the mi- nistry, and authorise the courts below legally to admit those whom they have approved of, to vacant charges. Unless depo- sition be necessary, they decide in the highest points about af- fairs upon which the Classical Directions have given a deliver- ance. Previous to 1795, an annual Synod was held, with permission of the States, in each province, (Zealand excepted,) composed of ministers and elders chosen by the Classes. Commissioners from other provincial synods had there an advising voice. The States of the province deputed one or more political commissa- ries (cowjmmarmew^o/eY/e^,) to attend those meetings; and no point might be discussed until their assent was openly asked and given. The Provincial Synods appointed a commission, {^Dejmtaten Synodi,) consisting of a minister from each Classis, but only one elder. The commission was charged with the execution of the resolutions of the Synod, and with the arrangement of the bu- siness which might be brought before the next annual meeting of the Synod ; to which court it behoved the commission to de- liver a detailed report of the several cases which had, during the interval, been decided by it. 388 DUTCH ECCLESIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENT. IV. Algemeene Si/7iode. (General, formerly the National Synod.) Since 1816, an annual General Synod of the Nether- lands Reformed church is held in the month of July, at the Hague. It consists of ministers commissioned from each of the Provincial Directions ; from the Walloon and India churches, and from the Theological Faculty of the Universities of Leyden, Utrecht, and Groningen ; but the academical representatives have no vote, but merely a deliberative voice. The superior court further consists of a stated secretary, who must be a mi- nister of the Hague ; and a fixed quaestor is chosen from among the elders in the city of Amsterdam. A minister of state, who is charged with the general direction of the affairs of the Reformed Church, opens this Assembly with a suitable speech ; is present, along with his secretary or adviser, at its various sittings ; and is ready to give his opinion, and to direct the court in difficult cases. Extraordinary resolutions of the Synod must also have his visum. All decrees, ecclesiastical resolutions, &c. are not valid until sanctioned by his Majesty. The King names the president and vice-president of this As- sembly, from among the members whom the Provincial Direc- tions have declared eligible. The General Synod discusses every thing pertaining to the interest of the Netherlands' Reformed Church ; makes and al- ters, with royal approbation, general ecclesiastical regulations and institutions, and gives a final deliverance in those cases where sentence has been passed by any of the Provincial Direc- tions. Neither in this ultimate tribunal, which is composed of nineteen members, nor in any of the inferior church judicatories, are strangers admitted, during the transaction of business. Since 1826, there has been a General Synodal Commission, consisting of seven members, of whom three are elders. They are relieved every six years by others, chosen by the King from a leet of six individuals proposed by the Synod. The president of the last Synod, and the secretary of the Synod, are, ex officio, of this commission. The Synodal Commission meets twice a-year at the Hague, to deliberate on questions left for its decision by the Synod, to which a report is statedly rendered. DUTCH ECCI.EglASTICAL ESTABLISHMENT. 389 In former times, a National Synod, convoked by the States- General was occasionally held, composed of commissioners from the Provincial Synods, and from the Theological Faculties of the Universities. Deputies from foreign Reformed Churches were also invited to attend, The States- General likewise sent repre- sentatives. But a National Synod has not been held since that of Dordrecht in the year 1619. V. Funds of the Church, and Financial Admijiistrations. At the Reformation, the property, which then belonged to the church, was set apart for the use and maintenance of the clergy. From this valuable fund the ministers on the establishment re- ceived a large proportion of their salaries ; — the local regencies making up the remainder. During the French supremacy, however, this fund was seized, and declared national property. This capital is understood to have been amply sufficient for the sacred purposes for which it was originally destined. Now that the fund in question has merged into that of the State, Govern- ment has paid the whole stipend of the clergy. A remittance is regularly made once a-quarter by the minister of Finance to the civil functionaries in the different towns and districts, by whom the money is sent to each clergyman, accompanied by a printed receipt for his signature merely. The maximum salary is about £200, — the minimum, little more than £30 ; but the clergy in country places have a free house, &:c. Out of the stipend of the clergy, including the English, Go- vernment retains ten guilders per annum towards the fund for ministers' widows. This sum is deducted from the first quarter- ly payment ; and Emeriti ministers also contribute to the same amount, provided their retiring pension amounts to six hundred guilders ; if below five hundred guilders they are required to contribute five guilders only in the yeai*. Since 1825, there are, in each province, colleges of inspection (collegien van Toezigt,) for the financial administration of the reformed congregation. These generally consist of the gover- nor of the province, the president, and two members of the Deputed States, and two other respectaljle members of the con- gregation, retiring at times, and chosen by the King; and also the president and secretary of the Provincial Direction, ex officio. 390 DUTCH ECCLESIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENT. The colleges have the inspection of the church property, the buildings, and the other financial interests of the congregations ; — which are managed by churchwardens chosen from among the most respectab'e of the parishioners. Formerly, the States took comparatively little oversight of ecclesiastical property and administrations. General Remarks regarding the Netherlands Reformed Church, — Short Statement relative to the Walloon Congregations, — and Summary of the Acts of the Dutch Reformed Church af- fecting the British clergy. GENERAL REMARKS. L Before a person be admitted to the ministerial office, he must produce to one of the Provincial Church Courts, (by whom all candidates for ordination are examined,) certificates that he has taken a degree as candidate in literature and divinity in a Netherlands University ; and that, after obtaining the former degree, he has studied Theology at least three years.* He is then • The Theological students, who are increasing greatly in numbers every year, do not at present pay any fees to the Professors of Divinity : but it is, we understand, in contemplation by the competent authorities to allow the Theological teachers to exact a fee from each student, such as was lately, and very properly introduced in the Scottish Universities. The only be- nefit which the Dutch Theological Professors derive from their students is at examinations. At Leyden, the salary from government, of an ordinary Professor in Divinit)', is, like that of other professors, two thousand eight hundred guilders ; and at Utrecht and Groningen, two thousand two hun- dred guilders. The Theological Professors have not the cure of souls, but they preach in their turn during the Academical Session ; and for this cle- rical service, a sum equivalent to the stipend of the ministers of the town where the University is situated, is equally divided among them. For in- formation on this and kindred subjects, I am indebted to my obliging friend Professor Siegenbeek, who has recently added to his numerous and justly valued writings. The History of the University of Leyden, from its Esta. llishment in 1575, till the year 1825. Under the auspices of the worthy Professor, and with the assurance of his kind assistance, an English version of the History is in progress ; and which translation, by the introduction of DUTCH ECCLESIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENT. 391 examined : 1st, On the explanation of the Bible, and in the original languages of the Old and New Testament. 2d, On Church History, and on the History of Dogmas. 3d, On Sys- tematic Theology. 4th, On Christian Ethics. And 5th, On the Art of Preaching, as well as on the duties of the pastoral oflice : here the candidate will be required to give written and verbal specimens of his talents as a preacher. The candidate for holy orders, having, on examination, been found qualified, solemnly declares by his oath, that no gift has been, or ever shall be given, by him to procure any appointment in the church, and also that no gift has been, or ever shall be given, by any other person, for that purpose, on his behalf. — And he further declares and promises, that he shall carefully promote the interests of Christianity in general, and of the Ne- therlands Reformed Church in particular ; that he receives in good faith, and cordially believes, the doctrine which, agreeably to God's holy word, is contained in the Formularies of the Ne- therlands Reformed Church ; that he shall diligently study and uphold the same, and that he shall zealously apply himself to the promotion of religious knowledge. Christian morals, order and harmony, binding himself by his signature, to submit, in the event of being found to deviate from any part of this promise and declaration, to the sentence of a competent church court. No preacher can accept a call from a congregation, till he has completed his twenty-second year ; and, in communities served by more than four ministers, no vacancy is allowed to be sup- plied by any clergyman under twenty-five years of age, or by one who has not been at least three years in the ministry. Ac- cording to the existing law of the church, no minister can leave his charge within two yeai's after his induction. new notes and unpublished documents, will be rendered if possible more in- teresting to British scholars. Before leaving the University, it is by no means unusual for the Theolo- gical student to take the degree of doctor in Divinity ; an honour which is not bestowed in Scotland but upon clergymen of reputation and standing in the church. Though many of the Dutch clergy enjoy that academical rank, it deserves to be noticed that, on the Continent, whether in theology or law, it is never, in conversation, prefixed to a minister's name as in Britain. In Holland, it is only physicians who are so colloquially distinguished. 392 DUTCH ECCLESIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENT. In Holland, clergymen are, familiarly, but as a terra of re- spect, called Dominies. They are easily recognised by their Court-looking dress, and cocked hat. In the pulpit, instead of a gown, they use a long mantel, .which consists of black cloth, only six inches broad, edged with silk, and fastened with a hook to the collar of the coat. Originally, this mantle, from the nu- merous plaits of which it is composed, must have been sufficient to envolope the person, but probably has gradually been reduced to give more liberty to the speaker. Few of the clergy preach from memory. They generally read their discourses ; and some- times, though rarely, their prayers. They are held in the greatest respect by the Dutch. In general they are certainly exemplary and zealous in the discharge of their sacred functions. And, like the people at large, are distinguished for loj'alty and strong attachment to their Fatherland. Accompanied by an elder, they regularly make a professional visit to their members, from house to house, twice a-year, immediately before the season of communion. They are also particularly careful whom they admit to the Lord's Table. Young people attend them, for years together, for catechetical instruction. As auxiliaries, indepen- dent of the ministers, there are also subordinate licensed male and female teachers of religion, who keep private preparatory classes, and receive a small gratuity from their pupils. In all the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands, the sa- crament of the Supper is administered once a quarter ; though formerly, as in some districts still, six times a year. The ce- lebration of that Ordinance is announced a fortnight before- hand ; and in the course of the week immediately preceding the Sabbath on which it is celebrated, there is a preparation ser- vice, towards the conclusion of which, all the intending commu- nicants stand up and answer in the affirmative, in presence of the congregation, a few questions put from the pulpit, com- prehending a declaration. That they believe, with all their heart, the doctrine which they have confessed; that they resolve, through Divine grace, to adhere to that doctrine, and to lead a Chi'istian life ; and that they will submit to the superintendance and the discipline of the church. All candidates for member- ship in the U^w Reformed Communion, receive a regular course of religious instruction from the ministers or the catechists of DUTCH ECCLESIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENT. 393 that church, in Christian doctrine and morality, according to the Confession of Faith and to the Heidelberg Catechism ; and also in the knowledge of Bible history, and the origin and pro- gress of the Reformation in the Christian church. Upon these subjects they are examined, an elder being present ; and when found qualified, they are solemnly and publicly admitted or con- firmed ; making, in a standing posture in church, satisfactory replies to the queries above enumerated. Within the pale of the Reformed church, very few adults are to be found who had not been duly enrolled as members ere they have attained the age of twenty. Before the celebration of the Lord's Supper, a meet- ing of the Consistory of each church is always held, in direct re- ference to the moral and religious character of the communi- cants. Members of other Protestant congregations in the Nether- lands are admissible to communion with the Reformed Church, provided that their moral character is unobjectionable. The practice is unknown in Holland, which is universal among Scot- tish Presbyterians, of distributing tokens or small pieces of lead, having on one side an appropriate passage of Scripture, and on the reverse, the name of the particular congregation or church. These tokens, given to intending communicants only, are collect- ed by the elders as soon as the members have taken their seats at the table. When the Apostolical benediction, after the ordinary service in the morning of the sacramental Sabbath, is pronounced, the offi- ciating minister directs the attention of the members to the pre- scribed and printed Form for the Communion Service. That Form commences with a plain statement of the nature and design of the Lord's Supper, and of the character of those who ought to ab- stain from it, and of those who worthily partake it. Then fol- lows an appropriate prayer, with the Lord's Prayer and the Apostle's Creed. A psalm or hymn is next sung, and the mi- nister takes then, if not before, his station at the Communion Table, which is placed in the middle, or most convenient and conspicuous part of the church. At his invitation the members promptly and decently approach the Lord's Table, and sit down promiscuously without distinction of age or rank, the King be- ing seated, perhaps, next to the poorest of his subjects. The generally prevailing practice, of the men communicating first, 394 DUTCH ECCLESIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENT. and then the women separately, is not enjoined by law, but esta- blished by custom. After a few prefatory sentences, left to his own discretion, the minister distributes, in the words of institution, the bread ajid wine to those who are nearest to him. He then pauses, and sitting down, partakes of the same himself; and while the sacred symbols are being handed from one member to another along the table, a solemn and impressive silence prevails in the as- sembly. When all at the table have communicated, the minister stands up again, and addresses to them words of comfort and exhortation ; after which they return to their pews. A small portion of Scripture, such as the 53d chapter of Isaiah, or a similarly appropriate passage is then read by the clerk or pre- centor, or a few verses of a psalm or hymn are sung. This process is repeated till all intending communicants have so re- ceived the Holy Supper. The same clergyman, who has de- livered the sacramental discourse, or what in Scotland is called the action sermon, conducts the whole of the sacred service ; and in large communities, he is sometimes called to address thirty tables consecutively. His address, of necessity, is very short. Reverting again to the form for the communion service, the minister next reads the invitation to thanksgiving and praise, and offers up the concluding prayer with the Lord's Prayer. Finally, a psalm or hymn is sung, and the benediction is pro- nounced. In the afternoon or evening of the same Lord's day there is a thanksgiving service. The frequency of the celebra- tion of this holy ordinance, we reckon to be productive of the happiest effects upon the Dutch community. The preparatory and thanksgiving services are neither injudiciously numerous, nor unnecessarily prolonged. As it is impossible, especially in large towns, that every mem- ber of a family can attend on the same day, the Sacrament is dis- pensed in one of the churches on the succeeding Sabbath, to give to all an opportunity of communicating. The otRciating elders and deacons are, like the minister, dis- tinguished by a band. The precentor or reader is also dressed precisely as the clergyman. 2. With respect to the principle of perfect parity of the clergy in rank and authority, the present ecclesiastical regulation is the DUTCH ECCLESIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENT. 395 same as formerly. All offices of ecclesiastical government are temporary; with the exception of the administrative posts, namely those of secretary and qnoestor of the Synod. AH ecclesiastic au- thority and government issues from the congregation represent- ed by its elders. 3. The Netherlands Reformed Church is now more indepen- dent of the State than formerly. Without ever having obtained a fixed limited form of ecclesiastical regulation, the meeting of the Church Courts were dependent on the States of the several Provinces. Now, however, the Reformed Church, according to its General Regulations, possesses a definite rule, a fundamental law, sanctioned by the King in 1816, by which no alteration can possibly be made till an overture to that effect has been submit- ted to, and concurred in by all the Provincial Directions, has then been approved of by the Synod, and ultimately sanctioned by the Crown. There is a regular establishment at the Hague, solely for the general direction of the affairs of the Reformed Church, at the head of which is Baron van Pallandt van Keppel, minister of state. This ecclesiastical minister has under him a secretary and adviser, — besides five commissioners, two adjunct clerks, and an agent for the Church. This establishment, though standing in immediate connection with all the church courts, possesses no legislative power and government, and takes no ma- nagement of church matters, without consulting those ecclesias- tical judicatories, to whose department such affairs belong. 4. The expenses of the Ke.rhhesluur are defrayed from the an- nual quota received, according to rank and ability, from each congregation. If there be annually any deficiency in the general classical chest, (which entirely consists of that collection, and is under the administration of the quaestor of the Synod,) it is made up by Government. Charges at examination, for the approba- tion of ministers' calls, for loosing and admitting clergymen, &c. from which formerly the expenses of the Classical meetings were defrayed, are now all abolished. 4. The Walloon, German,* English, Presbyterian and Scottish • There are only three German Churches in the North Netherlands; name- ly, in Amsterdam, at Maastricht and Venlo. 2 D 396 DUTCH ECCLESIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENT. congregations, are, with the exception of particular regulations, united to the Netherlands Reformed Church. We shall conclude this article with some more specific mention of the Walloon church, and then give the acts of the Dutch church relative to the British churches. WALLOON CHURCH. The Walloon churches in the Low Countries have had their Synods since 1563 ; and their present organization is very simi- lar to what it was towards the end of the sixteenth century. For the purpose of watching over their peculiar interests, there is a standing commission of six members, one of whom is an elder. At the expiration of twelve months, the elder resigns, as also one of the ministers ; but the latter may be re-elected. Though the French Reformed clergy are members of the District meeting or Rings, and are represented in the National Synod, they have also the power, as a distinct body, to hold an annual assembly. The revocation of the edict of Nantes in 1685, had a mark- ed influence upon the state of the Walloon churches. A million of Protestants of all ranks and conditions, forced to quit France by reason of the tyrannical measures of Government, were con- strained to seek shelter in other countries ; and in Britain and Holland a vast proportion of the refugees took up their abode, and experienced the most generous treatment. The number of those who sought an asylum in the United Provinces may be estimated by that of the ministers who accompanied them, and who amounted to more than two hundred. Many of the divines belonging to this respectable body have been most advantageous- ly known to the religious and literary world. Owing to the celebrity of some of the preachers, numbers of the Dutch joined the French congregations ; and it is long since the Walloon church became a place of frequent resort. Last century, there were nearly fifty French protestant churches in the United Pro- vinces. At present (1832) there are only seventeen churches served by twenty-five stated ministers ; and it is a very singular fact, that with probably one or two exceptions, the ministers now in office are all Dutchmen by birth. With regard to the alloca- tion, there are in Amsterdam 4 pastors ; at the Hague 3 ; Rot- DUTCH ECCLESIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENT. 397 terdam 3 ; Leyden 2 ; and one at each of the following towns,— Arnhem, Bois-Ie-duc, Breda, Delft, Dordrecht, Groningen, Haar- lem, Leeuwarden, Maastricht, Middleburg, Nimuegen, Utrecht, Zwolle.* Summary of the Acts of the Dutch Reformed Church, affecting the British Clergy and Congregations established in the Netherlands. Our first excerpts shall be from the earliest acts of the Synod of South Holland. And here it may be proper to mention, that the name of the town and date prefixed to each of the sub- sequent paragraphs, denote the place and year in which the Sy- nod was held. Delft, 1587. The Synod were rejoiced by the intelligence that the Earl of Leicester had recommended the Netherlands Reformed Churches of South Holland to the Queen of England, and the reverend court passed a vote of thanks to his Lordship for this piece of service. Art. 62. Rotterdam, 1621. It was determined that a certain English probationer should be examined by the deputies of the Synod, yet with correspondence of the British Churches of the Hague and Delft. Art. 57. Gorinchem, 1622. At this Synod an announcement was made, that the States had granted liberty to the English and Scottish Churches to hold consistorial and classical meetings, in conformity with what had been permitted to the Walloons. Art. 161. The Brielle, 1623. Agree to advance the Resolution of the States, which was communicated to the former Synod. Art. 13. The Hague, 1624. Find the above Resolution inexpedient, and determine to put a stop to the business. Art. 13. Woerden, 1625. To prevent the recurrence of any thing of • Liste des Pasteurs -6. 48-9. 51. 54-5. 66-73. 75. 80.347. Brown, Rev. Robert, 342. 344. Brown, Rev. William, 341.2. 344. Brown, Rev. Dr. W. L. 342-4. Brown, Robert, founder of Brown- ists, 269. 316. Brownists, account of, 269-72. Browne, Thomas, 370. Bruges, English Episcopal Church at, 287. List of ministers, ib. Brun, Gerard le, 368. 370. Brussels, Church of England at, 287. Brussels, Church of Scotland at, 287. Bubwith, Mr. Samuel, 301. Buchanan, Rev. Richard, 280. Buchanan, Rev. Dr. Walter, 215. 222. Buist, Rev. Dr. 279. Bulcke, Mr. C. H. 109. Burnet, Bishop, 81. Burnet, Rev. Alexander, 109. Burnside, Rev. William, 204-5. 220. Burt, Robert, 368-9. Burns, Rev. Dr. Robert, 70. 313. Burroughes, ]\Ir. Jer. 335. Butler, Rev, John, 285. Butts, Rev. W. 287. C Cairns, John, 80. Caldom Robert, 368, 370. Camblons, Madame de, 229. Cameron, Rev. Richard, 73-4. Campbell, Rev. Archibald, 147- Campbell, Rev. , 105. Campbell, Rev. Archibald, 282. Campbell, Archibald, 370. Campbell, Rev. Charles, 371. Campbell, Rev. John, 161. Campvere, Scottish Church at, 288- 94. List of ministers, 294. Canne, Rev. John, 271. Cargill, Rev. Donald, 68. Carleton, Hon. Dudle)', 262- 3. Carp, Rev. Dr. William, 310-1. Carstares, Mr. Alexander, 129. 368. 370. Carstares, Rev. John, 25, 51. 56-8. Carstares, Rev, William, 105-6. 138. 149. 3123. 315. Cartwright, Rev. Thomas, 283. Cassels, David, 347. Cawton, Rev. Thomas, 2. 75, 333. 333. Ceulen, Cornelius van, 31. Chalmers, Rev. John, 130, 133. 147. 294. Charante, Adriaan van, 369-70. INDEX. 409 Charante, Gab. van, 369-70. Charante, H. A. van, 370. Charles, Rev. John, 282. Chevallier, Rev. Paul, 194. Christie, John, 128. 368. 370. Church Discipline, as established by Consistory, Rotterdam, 183-5. Chute, Chaloner, 375. Clancarty, Earl of, 278. 332. Clarkson, Rev. David, 333. Clayton, Rev. Raphael, 344. Cleeft, Egbert van, 31. Cleland, James, 27. Clermont, Mr. G. 200. Cochran, Alexander, 370. Cockburn, Rer. Dr. 282, Cogan, Rev. Dr. Thomas, 322. 324, Colbrant, Hon. Gerard, 368. Colwall, Mr. William, 308. Commenicq, Simon, 369. Commenicq, ]\Iiss M. 348. Comrie, Rev. Alex. 161. 197-8. Congregational Fast, 94-100. C(mvers, Sir John, 376-8. Conyers, Lady, 376-8. Coorne, Rev. C. 323-4. Corbet, J. M. See Halket Mrs. Corkers, Mr. Henry, 302. Corser, John, 369. Courtier, Andrew, 368. 370. Cowie, William, 347. Crawfurd, Geo. 348. Crawfurd, James, Esq. 348. Crawford, Thomas, 128. 370. Cull, Rev. W. 282. Cunningham, Thomas, Conservator, 16. Cunningham, Mrs. J. J. 347. Curtius, Rev. Dr. H. H. D. 284. D Davidson, Rev. Alexander, 109. Davidson, Mr. Thomas, 171. Davidson, Sir William, 298. Davis, Mr. Richard, 326-7. Davyes, Mr. Richard, 326. Dawson, John, 368-9. Dei use. Rev. A, van, 324. Delft, Scots Church at, 294-7. List of ministers, 297. Dellius, or D'el, Rev. R. 285. Denman, Rev. Zach. 285- Dermout, Rev. Isaac J. 382-3. Derrix, Cor. 370. Dey, Rev. Anthony, 193. Dibbets, Rev. Francis, 300. Dickson, Professor David, 73. Doesburgh, Rev. J, 200. Does, J. H. van der, 369. Dordt, minutes of the Synod of, 297. Dort, Scots churcb at, 297-309. List of ministers, 300. Dort, church of England at, 300-1. List of chaplains, 301. Douglas, Rev. John, 273. Douglas, Rev. Rob. 371- Dow, John, 369. Dowe, Rev. John, 235. Drake, Rev. John, 317-8. 323. Dredan, Thomas, 368-9. Drummond, Mr. George, 171. Drury, Rev. W. 287. Duffie or Duvie, Mr. Gilbert, 348. Dunbar, Alexander, 347. Dunlop, Professor Alexander, 153. Dunlop, Andrew, 369. Dunlop, David, 370. Dunlop, Mr. James, of Rotterdam, 153. 368. 370. Dunlop, Mr. James, 138. Dunlop, Mr. John, 190-1. 368-70. Durie, Rev. John, 2. 16. 325. Durie, Rev. Robert, 68. 312. 315. Dutch Ecclesiastical Establishment, brief account of, 381-403. Dwight, Rev. Dr. Timothy, 193. Earle, Mr. Jabez, 111, Eauer, or Ure, James, 370. Edmondston, David, 128. 368. 370. Elborough, Rev. Jer. 339. 344. Elev, Rev. Henry, 282. Elgin, George, 348, 369-70. Elgin, John, 370. Elphinston, John, 369, Ens, Professor, 382, Enslie, Rev. John, 129 152-7. 189- 191, 336, Family of, 191-2. Enslie, John, 370, Erasmian School, Rotterdam, 241, Ermerins, Mr, 290, Erskine, Lieut. Col. 155. 383. Erskine, John, of Dun, 21, Erskine, Rev. Dr. John, 192. 201- 2. 206-7. 223. 242-3 Erskine, Rev. Ebenczer, 165-70. Erskine, Rev. Ralph, 146. 186. Essenius, Pi'ofessor, 33. Eyk, Rev. J, P. Sprenger van, 106. Evans, Mr. Edward, 349. Family of, ib. 410 INDEX. Evans, Rev. John, 189. Evans, Rev. Rice, 282. Faa, John, 368. 370. Fast. See Congregational Fast. Faye, Rev. J. dela,34l. 34t. Fenwick, Rev. Robert, 311. Ferrier, Alexander, Esq. 293. 331-2. 369. Ferrier, Rev. John, 164. Fitts, Rev. Hugo, 279. 300. Fleming, Rev. James, 83, Fleming, John, 3'»8. 370. Fleming, Thomas, 368. Fleming, Rev. Robert, 58-67. 83- 113. 336. Fleming, Rev. Robert, jun. 113-3?. 315. 336. Fletcher, Patrick, 370. Fletcher, Mr. Thomas, 308. Fliedner, Rev. Theodore, 383. Flushing, English church at, 301-6. List of ministers, 306. Forbes, Alexander, Lord, 15-C. Forbes Rev. John. 294. 297. 308. 316-17. 323. 338-9. Forbes, William, of Corse, 294. Forbes, Rev. Patrick, 294. 297. Forgiin, Robert, 368-9. Forret, Rev. David, 27. Forret, Rev. John, 294. Forrester, Rev. James, 205. Forterie, Rev. Isaac, 339-40. 344. Fotheringham, Mrs. Mary, 347. Fowler, Mr. Caleb, 326. Eraser, Rev. James, of Brae, 143. 356-8. G Garden, William, 369. Gardiner, Rev. Dr. 109. Garthshore, Rev. George, 155. Gellie, William, 370. George I., Address of the British Churches in Holland to, 206-8. Gerard, Rev. Dr. Gilbert, 280. Gib, Robert, 368. Gibson, George, 369-70. Gibson, George, sen. 348. Gibson, George, jun. 370. Gibson, Sir John, 375. Gibson, Patrick, 10. 369. Gillespie, Rev. George, 15.6. Gillon, Colonel, of Wallhouse, 213. Glennie, Rev. John, .300. Goodwin, Rev. Dr. Thomas, 283. Gorcum, British Church at, 300-7. Gordon, Colonel John, 347. Gordon, James, 60. 368. Gordon, James, jun. 370. Gordon, Sir John of Smidars, 295. Gordon, John, 128. 368. Gordon, John, 369-70. Gordon, Robert, 370. Gordon, Mr. of Hallheaths, 223-4. Gordon, Rev. Charles, 59. 00. 62. 137. 291. 293-4. 349. Goudgier, (or Goodyear), Rev. Hugh, 74. 312-15. Gowan, Rev. Thomas, 313. 15. Graham, Mr. Henry, 285. Gray, Rev. Andrew, 27. 110. Gray, Alexander, 370. Greaves, Rev. Tho. 230. 232. 334-5. Greig, Rev. William, 300. Gribius, Rev. Peter, 318. 323. Grierson, Rev. WiUiam, 203. 279. 300. Groenevelt, Gerrit, jun. 370. Grosert, Alexander, 368. 370. Gunter, Rev. John, 152. Gushart, Rev. William, 162. 167-8. Guthrie, Rev. William, 73. H Haarlem, English Church at, 307. Hague, English Church at the, 307- 1 1. List of ministers, 31 1. Hague, Rev. Joseph, 229. 335. Halket, Mrs. 376." Hall, Rev. John, 229. 234. 243. 247. 335. Hall, Sir John, 229. Halyburton, Andrew, 370. Hamilton, John, 347. Hamilton, Professor, of Edinburgh, 155. Hamilton, Mr. Robert, of Preston, 100-1. Hamilton, Rev. George, 105. Hamilton, George, Esq. 121. Hamilton, Rev. Hugh. 194-5. Harris, Rev. Mai. 340. 344. Harris, Captain Richard, 347. Harris, Sir James, 330. Hartley, Mr. Robert, 301. Harvey, IMr. John, 308. Haverdine, Rev. F. 328. Hay, Rev. Peter, 109. Hay, Rev. Richard John, 330-2. INDEX. 411 Henderson, I\Ii-. Alexander, 242. Henderson, Kev. John, 244. MG. Henderson, Thonia.s, i{7<*. Henry, Rev. Matthew, 200. Herklots, H. W. 3(>!).70. Hering, Rev. Julins, 279. Herring, Rev. John, 340-344. Heringa, Professor, 343. Heusde, Hon. Coruelis van, 22C. 369. Heusden, British Church at, .Sll. Hewerdine, Rev. Francis, .32(>. Hickman, Rev. Henry, 123. 312. 315. Hill, Rev. Dr. Joseph, 319. 323. 334-5. Hill, Rev. Joseph, 325. Hodge, Rev. Alexander, 279. 295. 297. Hoek, Rev. Sander van der, 306.324. Hofinan, John, 28. Hog, Rev. "i'homas, of Kiltearn, 171. Holland affords a Refuge for Expa- triated and Persecuted Scots- men and others, 102-4. Holled, Mr. Jonathan, 295. Holworthy, Rev. William H. 311. Hoog, Rev. John, 22-3. 25. 38. 48. 50. 57. 64. 85. 94. 104-5. 109. 129. 336. Hoog, Rev. Thomas, nephew of tlie preceding, 86-7. 137-44. 150. 178- 292. 294. 297. 336. 356-67. 383. Family of, 151. Hoog, Rev. Thomas, 240-2. Hoog, Burgomaster, 86. 151. 240. 294. Hoog, I\Ir. Herman Peter, 240. Hoog, William, 162-167. 170. 19.0. 369-70. Hoog, Hon. Thomas, 211. Hoog, Dr. Jacob, 348. Hoog, James, M.D. 195-6. 369- 70. Hoog, Rev. Isaac M. J. 241-2. Hoog, Robert, 370. Hoog, Thomas And., 370. HoogwerflF, Peter, 369. Hoogwerff, Urban A. 370. Hoornbeek, Lord Pensionary, 368. Houstoun, Robert, 8. 9. 369. Houten, William van, 6, Howe, Rev. John, 333. Hume, Captain Henry, 376-7 Hunter, Rev. Andrew, 338. Hunter, Rev. Dr. Andrew, 205. 223-4. Hunter, Rev. Charles, 280. 300. I. Indulgence, Acts of, 87-94. 99. 101. Inscriptions, Monumental. See Monumental Inscriptions. Jacob, Rev. Henry, 316. James, Sir C. 375-6. Jaraieson, Rev. Richard, 109. Jay. Mr. John, 230. 370. Jay, Rev. Samuel, 300. Jay, Dr. Samuel, 192. Jay, Mr. William, 228. 269. Jeans, Rev. J. L. 281-2. Jeans, Rev. Joshua, 282. •Jenkins, Rev. E. 287- Jervey, Rev. Charles, 152. 294. Johnson, Mr. Alexander, 349. Joluison, Mr. Francis, 270. Johnson, Rev. Dr. Samuel, 285. Johnson, Mr. Vincent, 298. •Johnston, Alexander, 347- Jolly, Aev. John, 189. 335. •Jongeneel, C. 369-70. Jordan, Mr. John, 279. K. Kampen, Professor van, 250. Keller, P.M. 369-70. Kemp, Rev. Dr. 243. Kemp, Mr. C. M. van der, 383. Kenmure, Lady, 29. Kenmure, Viscount, 29. Kennedy, Sir Andrew, of Clowburn, 125-6. 138. 368. Kennedy, Mr. Andrew, son of the above, 12S-6. Kennedy, Rev-iDr. Hugh, 170.202. Family of, 201-2. 227. Kennedy, Mrs. Mary, 348. Keppel, Baron van Pallandt van, 395. Key, John, 370. Kier, Rev. Andrew, 285. Kinnier, Rev. Thomas, 365-7- Kirk-session, minutes of, Scottish Church, Rotterdam, miscellane- ous extracts from, 188-91. Kirkton, Rev. James, 55-6. 58. 2 E 412 INDEX. Klinkenberg, Professor, 234. Knight, Alexander, 370. Knox, John, 83. Knox, Martha, daughter of John Knox, 83. Koelman, Rev. James, 72-3. 79-81. Koningh, Mr. J. de, 199. 370. Kuypers, Rev. Gerard, 199. Laidlie, Rev. Archibald, 193. 306. Lamborne, Mr. Henry, 308. Langley, IMr. Giles, 298. Langton, Mr. Thomas, 308. Laren, Rev. A. van, 305-6. Lasco, John a, 270. Lavel, Rev. Alexander, 203-4. 226- 8. 234. 300. 336. Leask, Rev. John, 324. Learmonth, Mr. John, 164. Ledeboer, Mr. Bernard, 106. 307. 369-70. liee, Rev. Dr. John, 382. Leighton, Rev. Dr. Alexander, 339. 344. Leydecker, Professor, ^2. lieyden, British Churches at, SH- IS. List of Ministers, 315. Leyden, British Students at Uni- versity of, 266. 313. Likly, Rev. John, 294. Lindsay, Rev. Henry, 161-5. Lindsay, Rev. Thomas, lGl-5. Linning, Rev. Thomas, 148. Littledale, Mr. Thomas, 329. Liturgy English, tried to be enforced on Englisli Episcopalians in Hol- land, 262-5. Livingstone, Rev. Dr. 193. Livingstone, Rev. John, 33. 51.53. 75. Livingstone, John, 370. Livingstone, 'W^m. 370. Locke, Rev. Dr. Samuel, 283. Lodge, IMr. Henrv, 298. Loftus, Rev. B. 189. 335. Logie, Arthur, 9. 369. Logan, Mrs. S. S. 348. Longueville, Rev. D. 279. 322. Ivoon, A. van, 370. Loudon, Earl of, 315. 374. Low, Rev. James, 227. 2S0-34. 280. 306. 322. 324. 336. Family of, 233-4. Low, Alexander, 370. Lov. tfaer, Rev. R. 329. 332. liuscombe. Rev. Dr. 287. 331. Lyon, Rev. George, 193. M M'Arthur, Rev. David, 222, M'Aulay, Rev. Alexander, 371- M'Crie, Rev. Dr. Thomas, 42. 83. M'Culloch, Mr. of Ardwell, 155. M'Duff, Rev. Alexander, 290. 294. M'Gachen, Rev. John, 215-19. Macintosh, Rev. Dr. Alexander,244- 5. 279-80. 336. MacKay, Rev. Hugh, 271. IMackenzie, Rev. John, 284. IMackey, Rev. A. B. 280. M'Kinlay, INIargaret, 347- JMaclaine, Rev. Dr. 309-11. .niacPhail, Rev. Hector, 243, ]\IacPhail, Rev. William, 243-53. 336. M' Vicar, Rev. Neil, 162. 166-8. ]\IacWard, Rev. Robert, 25-82. 91- 4. 129. 131. 336. 347-8. 350-5. Maden, Rev. Richard, 275-0. 279. 333. 335. 341. 3J4. retain, Robert, 368-9. 3Iain, George, 370. Mair, Rev. Thomas, 164-70. IMapletoft, Rev. Jo;in, 332. IMarcus, Rev. Moses, 324. Marlborough, Duke of, 327. Slarnix, Peter, 211. Marnix, Philip, Lord of St. Alde- gonde, 372-3. Marshall, Rev- Dr. Thomas, 75. 390-1. 326. Martin, Thomas, 368. Martin, James, Esq. 348. Martine, Rev. Andrew, 153. 155. Masson, Rev. John, 299. Masson, Rev. Samuel, 299. 300. Mather, Rev. Nath. 335. Maton's work on Millenarianism, 12-4. Maultbv, Rev. Josias, 335. Meel, John van, 369. Mees, R. P. 369-70. lAIees, J. G. 369-70. Megapolensis, Rev. Samuel, 300. 306. Blesschaert, Rev. N. 247. Merchant Adventurers, 260. 3fi0. Mickleson, Rev. Henrv, 332. 3Iichael, Rev. David, 285. IMiddleburg, Brownist Congrega- tion at, 316. INDEX. 413 JMiddleburg, Church of England at, 315. Middleburg, Scottish Church at, 316-24. Middleton, Rev. Dr. George, 143, 360-2 Blilbourne, Rev. Dr. L. 326. 332. Mill, Mrs. Janet, 347- Millenarianism. See Maton. Milling, Rev. John, 315. Bulling, Rev. Robert, 200. 309. 311. 315. JMilne, Rev. James, 300. Mitchell, Rev. William of Leyden, 313-15. 349. Mitchell, John, 370. Blitchell, Rev. William, 146. 155. Moens, Henry, 190. 369-70. Moens, Adrian, 309-70. Moens, William, 370. ]\Ioens, Mrs. Henry, 348. Moll, Jacob, 106, 309-70. IMontier, Gilbert, 370. Monte', John de, 370. Monte', John Philip de, 370. Monteith, Rev. James, 222-3. Monumental Inscriptions to the me- mory of British Subjects, .372-8. Morgan, Rev. James, 299. 390. 401. Morgan, Sir Charles, 371-2. Morgan, Lady, 371-2 Morison, Rev. George, 306.324.401. Morste, Mr. Ro. 320. Moubray, Rev. Thos. 294. Mounier, Rev. P. 246-7. l\Iuir, William, 368. Murray, Rev. Thomas, 29. 33. 70. 381. Pref. iv. Murray, Mr. Ayilliam, 349. Muschet, Rev. John, 215. Muston, Rev. C. R. 335. N. Nalton, Rev. James, 2. 335. Naughten, Alexander, 128. 369-70. Neal, Mr. Daniel, 111. Nethenus, Professor, 30. 33. Netherlands, Census of, 385. Netherwood, ]\Ir. Simon, 308. Nevay, Rev. John, 36. 51. 53-4. 75. Nevius, (or Nevay), Sarah, 54. Newcome, Rev. Henry, 333. Newcomen, Rev. Matthew, 315. Nicholas, Mr. Henrv, 326. Nicolson, Rev. Mr. 276. 279. Nicolson, Robert, 347. Ni'mmo, Mr. James, 144. 171. Nisbet, Henry, 309. Nivison, Rev. W. B. 280.401. Nodes, Mr. Thomas, HJ". Norrie, James, 368. 370. Norrie, Hon. Robert, 348. Nye, Rev. Philip, 283. Nyenhuis, Mr. Bodel, 315. O. Ogilvie, James, 368-9. Oldfield, Dr. Joshua, 137- Oliphant, Mr. C. N. 285. Oliphant, Mr. James, 285. Oordt, Gregory van, 370. Oordt, John Fred, van, 369-70. Oort, Rev. Henry, 247. Oostrum, Rev. Adr. van, 279. Osburn, Mrs. Helen, 347. Osburn, Rev. James, 304-5. Ostend, British Church at, 324. Oswald, Rev. John, 298. 300. Overtures drawn up by the Rev. Hugh Kennedy, and approved of by Consistory, 174-7. Page, Mr. Robert, 26. Paget, Rev. John, 273. 279. 302. Paget, Rev. Robert, 74-5. 298. 300. Paget, Rev. Tho. 279. Paisley, Rev. Patrick, 152. Palmer, Mr. Samuel, 326. Palmer, Rev. John, 344. Palmerston, Lord, 331-2. Paraphrases. See Psalmody addi- tioJial. Parliam, Rev. J. D. 281-2. Parker, Rev. Robert, 294. 297. Paton, Matthew, 7. 308. Pecuniary benefactors of the Scot- tish Church Rotterdam. See Benefactors Pecuniary. Peirson, Rev. Dr. Thomas, 219-22. 270-7. 279. Pelsant, Mr. William, 326. Penn, WUliam, 271. Pennington, Mr. George, 326. Peters, Rev. Hugh, 333. 335. Petrie, George, 21. 369. Petrie, George, 21. 347. Petrie, Rev. Alexander, 3-23. 75. 129. 336. Family of, 21. 414 INDEX. Fetrie, Rev. Alex. jnn. 7- 8. 21. 294-5. 297. Pillans, Mr. Richard, 329. Pitcairn, Rev. Ale.xander, 349. Pitt, Mr. Nicholas, 32G. Poor- House, Scottish. See Sootlish Poor-House. Porte, Rev. Louis, 247- Porterfield, George, 368. Pottere, Maria de. See Conyers, Lady. Potts, senior, Rev. Tho. 279. 301-2. 306. Potts, junior. Rev. Thomas, 301-2. 306. 341-44. Presbyterian Church of Scotland, brief account of, 102. Price, Rev. John, 311. Price, Rev. William, 279. Prill, Abraham de, 370. Prince, Rev. Dr. Thomas, 311. Psalmody additional, ■208-13. Pyl, Rev. Sim. van der, 306. Q. Questions put to those desirous of becoming INIembers of Scottish Church, Rotterdam, 177-83. Quicke, Rev. John, 319-21. 324. R. Rainey, Rev. Dan. 279. Ramsay, Rev. Andrew, 290. Ramsay, Alexander, 370. Renesse, Rev. Dr. Louis van, 382. Rennie, Mr. George, 349. Revivals, 198-9. Revolution of 1688, 101-2. Reyn, Mr. G. van, 325. 335. Rhynd, John, 368. Riccaltoun, Rev. Robert, 170. Richardson, Rev. Edward, 297. 307. 315. Rider, Rev. Dudley, 333. Ripping, Rev. Galiriel, 233. Ritchie, Rev. Maurice, 234-5. 300. 336. Ritchie, John, 347. Robarts, Rev. Francis, 333. Roberts, Mrs. Judith, 347. Robertson, Rlr. William, 347- 369- 70. Robertson, Rev. Dr. John, 109. Robertson, Rev. George, 294. Rocheblare, Rev. P. 282. Rooke, Admiral Sir George, 327- Roos, Adrian, 3C9. Roos, John, S. L. 370. Ross, Mr. John, 103. 198. Ross, Mr. William, 34?. Ross, Rev. Dr. Thomas, 243-4. 330. Ross, 3Irs. Helen, 348. Rotterdam, Episcopal Church at, 324-32. Rotterdam, English Presbyterian Church at, 333- 5. Rotterdam, Scottish Church at, 336. Pecuniary benefactors of Church there, 347-8. Rotterdam, Consistory of Scottish Church, 185. 191. Rotterdam, Quakers Meeting- House at, 336-7. Row, Rev. John, 306. 344. Ruiter, Mr. John, 76. Rulitius, Rev. John, 279- Rullion Green, battle of, 39. Russell, Andrew, 67. 70. 85. 368. Rutherford, Rev. David, 306. Rutherford, Rev. Samuel, 26-7. 29. 33. V': 83. Rymer, Rev. Henry, 27. St. Sebastian's Chapel, or Old Scottish Church, 17. 23. 123. 325. Sander, Rev. C. P. 247. Sangster, Rev. Mr. 205. Sasch, Sir Gilbert, 124. 128. 368. Scharp, Rev. Dr. John, 235-40. Genealogy of, 235-6. 212. Scharp, Mr. J. H. G. 240. Schim, Doe, 370. Schim, Miss Sarah, 348. Schie, Rev. William van, 296-7- School, English, under the patron- age of Scottish Consistory of Rot- terdam, 47-8. 348-50. Scholten, Rev. William, 296. Schultze, Mr. Robert, 350. Schuurmans, D. A. 370. Scot, Rev. Dr. Alexander, 223-7. 336. Scot, Mrs. Christian, 348. Scot, Rev. Thomas, 306. 338-9. 344. Scott, Rev. Hew, 153. 338. Pr^. iv. V. Scott, James, 128. 370. Scottish Poor House, Rotterdam, 159-60. 195-6. 252. INDEX. 415 Scottish Church, Rotterdam, Pe- cuniary Benefactors of. See Be- nefactors Pecuniary. Scottish Poor, 35. Scougall, Rev. Patrick, 27. Seamens' Box, Scoctisli, Rotterdam, 35. 145. SenserfF. See Sydserff. Sewel, John, 272. Sewel, Williann, 272. Sharpe, Mr. Henry, 308. Sheffield, Sir William, 294. Shepheard, Rev. Nicholas, 319. 324. Shepheard, Mrs. J\Iarv, 347- Sheriffs, Rev. Dr. 232. Shields, Rev. Alexander, 137. Shields, Rev. Mr. 78. Shields, Rev. Michael, 100. Shortis, Mr. John, 308. Shower, Rev. John, 334-51. Siegenbeek, Professor, 313. 390. Simpson, Rev. James, 54. Simpson, Rev. Patrick, 153. Simson, William, 370. Simson, Rev. David, 270. Sinclair, Rev. John, 1 15. 142. 295-7. Siveright, Rev. Charles, 287. S' Jacob, Pieter, 370. Skase, Rev. John, 318. Sloot, Abraham van der, 370. Smith, Rev. Archibald, 202-3. 336. Smith, Rev. James, 164-170. Smith, James, 370. Smith, Rev. John, 145. Smith, John, Brownist, 312. Smith, Rev. William, 2^5. Smyth, John, 270. Sneyd, Rev. Mr. 287. Snype, Rev. Andrew, 21. 294. 335. Soame, Bartholomew, Esq. 120-1. Soame, Mrs. 121. Somerville, Mrs. Helen, 347- Somerville, Rev. James, 204-19. 336. Somerville, Rev. Dr. Thomas, 173. Sowden, Rev. Benjamin, 229. 335. 342 Sowden, Rev. B. C. 282. Spademan, Rev. John, 333-5. Spang, Rev. William, 5. 73. 294. 318. 323. Spanheim, Professor, 72. Spicer, IMrs. Mary, 329. Steel, Rev. Thomas, 300. Steenlack, Gerard, 128. .308. Steenlack, Hon. John, 114. 123.4. 1.38. .368. Stephen, Rev. George, 205. Steven, Rev. William, 255. 336. Stevenson, Rev. Mr. 222. Stevenson, William, 347. Stewart, Sir. James, 73. Stewart, Robert, 370. Stewart, William, 370. Stirling, Rev. James, 73. Stobie, Henry, 270. Stodart, Rev. William, 244. 280. Storie, Andrew, 128. 368. 370. Storie, Andrew, junior, 369-70. Storie. Robert, 165. 190.1. 227. 369-70. Strahan, Alexander, 370. Stryen, Rev. James van, 143. Stuart, Rev. Walter, 17 1. Sutherland, Mr. William, 348. Swellengrebel, Mr. H. L. 3.38. Swinden, Professor van, 233. Svdserff, Rev. George, 294. Sydserff, Sir AValter, 347. Syme, Rev. Mr. 325. Sympson, Rev. Syd. 335. T. Tabor, Jonathan, 369-70. Tattam, Rev. H. 282. Taverner, Mr. N. 326. Teelinck, Rev. Max. 306. 318. Teelinck, Rev. John, 318. Teelinck, Rev. William, 317-8. Temple, Sir William, 43-5. Thelwall, Rev. A. S. 282. Thorn, Rev. Alexander, 243. Thomas, Rev. Mr. 325. Thomson, James, 370. Thomson, James, 370. Thomson, John, 9. 368-9. Thomson, Rev. Dr. 274-5. Thomson, Rev. David, 279. Thorold, Rev. Dr .William, 327-8. 332. Tjeenk, Rev. Justus, 233. 306. Tong, Mr. 200. Tory, Rev. Robert, 324. Trade, origin of Scottish, with the Low Countries, 259-61. Trail, Rev. Robert, 36. 54. 75. Triglandius, or Trigland, Professor James, 114. 382. Tucker, Rev. J. J. 109. Tucker, Rev. M. 109. Tiier, Christopher, 30. Turing, Sir James Henry, Bart. 333. Turner, Rev. Thomas, 170. Turpie, David, 370. 416 INDEX. Tuiik, Rev. Mr. van der, Pref. viii. Twiss, Mr. Francis, 329. U. United Societies, 100. Protestation of, 100-1. Utrecht, Scottish Church at, 337-44. List of Ministers at, 344. Ure, or Eauer, James, 368. 370. Uytenbogaert, Rev. John, 382. Valeton, J. M. J. 348. 369-70. Velzen, Rev. Dr. 80. Verbeek, John, 368-70. Verbeek, Peter, 128. 368. Verboom, Hugo, 149-50. 347. Verbrugge, Jacob ISicholas, 370. Vincent, Rev. John, 300. Voetius, Professor, 30, 33. Voute, Rev. Abr. Charles, 247-9. Vries, John de, 368. Vries, Rev. Mr. de, Pref. viii. Walker, Rev. Robert, of Edinburgh, 192. 1»6. 202. 206. Walker, ' Rev. Robert, of Canon- gate, 203. Walker, Rev. William, 194-5. 203. 336. Walker, Rev. David, 193. Walker, James, 347. Wallace, Colonel James, 37- 39. 46. 48-50. 57. 66-9. 368. WaUace, Mr. William, 21. 368-70. Walloon Church, 396. Wand, Mr. Benj. 326. Wardlaw, James, 368. 370. Ward, Rev. Samuel, 339.'~ Waters, Mr. George, 298- Watt, Rev. Robert, 233. 280. Watt, William, 370. Watts, Dr. Isaac, 111. Webster, Rev. Alexander, 164. Wedderburn, Rev. Alex. 284. Wedderburn, Dr. John, 284. Weiland, Rev. Peter, 247. Welsh, Rev. John, 41. Western, John, 319. 373-4. Weyland, Rev. Henry, 195. Whitehead, Rev. David, 270. Whitestone, Rev. Walter, 338. Whittel, Rev. Mr. 301. Wigmore, Rev. John, 282. Wilcocke, Rev. Dr. 233. 324. Williams,Rev.William,329-30. 332. Wilson, Mr. Thomas, 166. 349. Wilson, Joshua, Esq. 12. Wilson, Rev. Alexander, 294. 300. Wind, Rev. Mart, van der, 321. 324. Wing, Rev. John, 302. 306. 308. Wishart, Rev. Principal William, 157. Witherspoon, Rev. Dr. John, 192-4. Witherspoon, Rev. James, 193. Witt, de, 240. 298. Wodrow, Rev. Robert, 383. Wood, Rev. John, 335. Woodward, Rev. Richard, 279. Woodward, Mr. Arthur, 295. Worsley, Mr. George Hughes, 32 1-2. 324. Wright, Mrs. Helen, 348. Wright, Rev. WilHam, 322. Wyllie, Rev. John, 349. Yair, Rev. James, 294. Yeats, Mr. Alexander, 215. 369-70. Young, Rev. Thomas, 302. Young, Rev. Dr. 222. Ypey, Professor, 271. 382. Pref. viii. Z Zwolle, British church at, 344. FINIS. J. THOMSON, TRINTEn, EDIKBURGU. lU DATE DUE , Ill — tm ^;^,...«*«-??^ |«a»S!«MJ«"- m^^i^^m> GAYLORD PRINTED IN US A.