TIDINGS FROM THE MOUNTAINS:

A REPLY

TO CERTAIN STATEMENTS IN

THE HONOURABLE AND REVEREND B. W. NOEL'S ESSAY,

ENTITLED

THE CASE OF THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.

BY C. HUTCHESON, ESQ.

Strange to us it seem'd

At first, that Angel should with Angel war,

And in fierce hosting meet, who wont to meet

So oft in festivals of Joy and Love

Unanimous, as Sons of one great Sire,

Hymning th' eternal Father.

PARADISE LOST.

LONDON: SMITH, ELDER & CO.

MDCCCXLV.

GLASGOW: PRINTED BY JOHN GRAHAM, 181, TRONGATE.

CONTENTS.

Part E.

I. Elections in the Primitive Church.-II. Non-intrusion never

exercised by the negative right of an unexamined Veto.-

III. Books of Discipline.-IV. Rejection of Ministers not

permitted in the Kirk unaccompanied by avowed reasons.-

V. The principles of the Veto Act.-VI. Incorrect opinion

as to its effects.-VII. Legality of Veto Act doubted by its
originators.-VIII. Its unscriptural character.

Part EE.

IX. Council of Trent.-X. Spiritual independence of the Scottish
Kirk.-XI. Power of the Civil Ruler.-XII. Union of
Church and State.-XIII. Auchterarder Case.-XIV. The
false position of the Kirk.-XV. Veto Act a violation of the
Union.-XVI. Miscellaneous Quotations and Remarks.

Part EEE.

XVII. Quoad-Sacra Ministers.-XVIII. The name, "Free

Church."-XIX. Remarkable Letter.-XX. Future pros-

pects of the Kirk.-XXI. The Headship Question.-XXII.

The Free Church Magazine and Lord Aberdeen's Act.-

XXIII. Conclusion.

Appendix.

TIDINGS FROM THE MOUNTAINS.

CHRISTIAN-But will your practice stand in a court of law?

Bunyan.

PART I.

THE Church of Scotland was reared amid the storm. With a sovereign hostile to her claims-with a nobility, many of whom still avowed the faith of the Church of Rome-with a people who, although inclined to the Reformed doctrines, were comparatively without instructors, and, with the influence of the ancient ritual still everywhere recognisedthe early progress of the Scottish Church, in the acquisition of Divine truth, was not more remarkable than the wonderful energy, zeal and power, which He displayed in her deliverance from error, of whom it was truly said, "He never feared the face of man."

KNOX had seen the Scottish Church established. He had witnessed the triumphant success of his unwearied exertions, but his anxieties and sufferings had been deep and painful, and his exclamation on his death-bed was, "Lord, restore peace again to this commonwealth! Lord, put an end to troubles!" Troublous times are trying times; and he earnestly prayed that troubles might cease, that peace might universally prevail, and that the Church he was privileged to rear, might present an aspect similar to that in apostolic times, thus described in Scripture:-" Then had the Churches rest throughout all Judea, and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and, walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied."

B