Volume 192-193

Circumstances in the seventeenth century favourable to the influence of the Scotch clergy 193-197

While the English war against Charles I. was essentially political, the Scotch war against him was essentially religious 197-200

Though this was the effect of Scotch superstition, it was also a cause of its further progress 201-202

Hence, in the seventeenth century, secular interests were neglected, and theological ones became supreme. Illustration of this, from the zeal of the people to hear sermons of inordinate frequency and of terrible length; so that they passed the greater part of their lives in what were erroneously termed religious exercises 203-206

The clergy availed themselves of these habits to extend and consolidate their own authority 205-206

Their great engine of power was the Kirk-Session. Tyranny of the Kirk-Sessions 206-210

Monstrous pretensions of the clergy 210-212

Cases in which it was believed that these pretensions were upheld and vindicated by miracles 212-220

The clergy, becoming elated, indulge in language of extraordinary arrogance 221-227

They asserted that miracles were wrought in their behalf, and often on their persons 228-229

Effect of these proceedings upon the Scotch mind 230-232

The clergy, to intimidate the people, and bring them completely under control, advocated horrible notions concerning evil spirits and future punishments 232-243

With the same object they propounded notions more horrible still, respecting the Deity, whom they represented as a cruel, passionate, and sanguinary Being 245-252

They moreover declared that harmless and even praiseworthy actions were sinful, and would provoke the Divine wrath 251-262

To prevent such imaginary sins, the clergy made arbitrary regulations, and punished those who disobeyed them, sometimes by flogging, and sometimes by branding with hot irons, and sometimes in other ways 262-263

Specimens of the sins which the clergy invented 264-268

The result was, that all mirth, all innocent gaiety, all demonstrations of happiness, and nearly all physical enjoyments, were destroyed in Scotland 268-269

Hence, the national character was mutilated. For, the pleasures of the body are, in our actual condition, as essential a part of the great scheme of life, and are as necessary to human affairs, as are the pleasures of the mind 269-271

But the clergy, by denouncing these pleasures of the senses, do what they can, in every country, to diminish the total amount of happiness of which humanity is susceptible, and which it has a right to enjoy 271-275

In no Protestant country have the clergy pushed these narrow and unsocial tenets so far as in Scotland 275-276

Indeed, in some respects, the Scotch clergy were more ascetic than those of any branch of the Catholic Church, except the Spanish; since they attempted to destroy the affections, and to sever the holiest ties of domestic love 276-279