The Free Church of Scotland; Her Origin, Founders and Testimony (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1893. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXXI. 0e Convocation. TN response to Chalmers's invitation, the clergy flocked--together from all parts of Scotland. One of the members of the Convocation noted that, on his way up to Edinburgh, he had met the minister of Maidenkirk, and that, having arrived, he found himself in the same lodgings with a minister from John o' Groats. There were four hundred and sixty of them by tale, and their quality was still more remarkable than their numbers. "This band," said Lord Cockburn, "contains the whole chivalry of the Church." The Convocation opened in St. George's Church, Edinburgh, on the 17th of November 1842. Chalmers preached, choosing for his text the Scripture words, "Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness." More solemnly beautiful watchword for men contemplating an enterprise of great pith and moment could not be furnished by the literature of the world. A glance of courage, hope, and exultation flashed from eye to eye when the words were uttered. "The great lesson of this text," said Chalmers, "is the connection which obtains e between integrity of purpose and clearness of discernment, insomuch that a duteous conformity to what is right is generally followed up by a ready and luminous discernment of what is true." "My venerable fathers and brethren of the Established Church of Scotland, I will not speak of it as a certainty that, if you persevere in the high walk of uprightness on which you have entered, the secularities of that Establishment will be wrested from your hands. It would not be venturing far, however, to speak of it as a probability and a hazard, and surely, at the very least, not to speak of it as a possibility were downright affectation. I rejoice to believe that, whatever be the shades or diversities of sent...