AN EXAMINATION OF THE SCOTCH INTELLECT DURING THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
The rest of the Volume will be occupied with a still closer investigation of the double paradox presented by the history of Scotland; namely, 1st, that the same people should be liberal in politics, and illiberal in religion; and, 2nd, that the free and sceptical literature which they produced in the eighteenth century, should have been unable to lessen their religious illiberality 191
Their religious illiberality was the result of the immense power possessed by their clergy in the seventeenth century. The causes of that power will be examined in the present chapter 192
The failure of their literature in diminishing this illiberality during the eighteenth century, was the result of the peculiar method of the inquiry adopted by the Scotch philosophers. The causes of the universal diffusion of that method, the nature of the method, and the consequences of it, will be examined in the next chapter, which will conclude the 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