CHARLES I. 59

hierarchy might seem advantageous to the in-Cferior clergy, both as it erected dignities, towhich all of them might aspire, and as it bestow-ed a lustre on the whole body, and allured menof family into it; these views had no influenceon the Scottish ecclesiastics. In the presentdisposition of men’s minds, there was anothercircumstance , which drew consideration , andcounterbalanced power and riches , the usualfoundations of distinction among men; and thatwas , the fervor of piety , and the rhetoric,however barbarous, 'of religious lectures and dis-courses. Checked by the prelates in the licenceof preaching, the clergy regarded episcopal juris-diction both as a .tyranny and an usurpation, andmaintained a parity among ecclesiastics to be adivine privilege, which no human law couldalter or infringe. While such ideas prevailed,the most moderate exercise of authority wouldhave given disgust; much more, that extensivepower, which the king’s indulgence encouragedthe prelates to aflume. The jurisdiction of pres-byteries, synods, and other democratical courts,was, in a manner, abolished by the bishops; andthe general assembly itself had not been summon-ed for several years 1 . A new oath was arbitrarilyimposed on entrants , by which they swore toobserve the articles of Perth, and submit to theliturgy and canons. And in a word, the wholesystem of church - government, during a course

* May, p. 2o.

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