Monthly Repository. No. CCXXVII.] NOVEMBER, 1824. History of the Irish Presbyterians. [As the attention of the country is, more drawn towards Ireland, the history and present state of the Presbyterians in that country becomes an object of inquiry. Their numerical strength, (half a million of people,) their singular ecclesiastical constitu tion, a secondary endowed churchestablishment, and their general tendency towards a free and charitable spirit in matters of religion, render them peculiarly interesting to the readers of the Monthly Repository. There are two publications from which we are able to take an outline of their history, and it is singular that both of these are proofs of the revival of religious zeal amongst our Irish brethren. One is a new edition of Towgood's "Dissent from the Church of England," printed at Newry, in 1816: "to which is added a Large Appendix, illustrative of the History, Principles and Present State of the Presbyterian Church, particularly that of Ireland." [To our copy of the "Dissent" is attached "An Essay on Church Consecration," by James Crombie, D. D., one of the ministers of the first Congregation of Presbyterians in Belfast, printed at the same press, in the same year; a sensible pamphlet, well worthy of being reprinted in England.]. The other is a new edition of Palmer's "Nonconformists' Catechism," with an additional chapter, containing "A Brief History of the Irish Presbyterians," in question and answer, by a Presbyterian clergyman of Carrickfergus, who entertains the design of writing a complete history of his body, and who, if we may judge from this specimen, is fully qualified for the work, which is a desideratum in ecclesiastical literature. In the following sketch, every thing is borrowed from these two works. The Appendix to the Dissent is the basis of the article; the paragraphs within brackets are from the addition to the Catechism. The history will be completed in this and the following Number. We call the attention particularly of our Irish [Vol. XIX. readers to this attempt to familiarize to the English public a people little known to them, and solicit their assistance in correcting, explaining, or extending the memoir. ED.] G VILL, had created archbishop of Dublin, was the first person who publicly attempted to reform the religion of Ireland. During the reigns of Henry and Edward, he made considerable progress in abolishing the Popish superstitions. Queen Mary had meditated great severities against the Irish Protestants; but dying before her designs were carried into execution, the accession of Elizabeth saved them from the intended persecution.* EORGE BROWN, whom Henry [As yet, no distinction of Protestants was known in Ireland. One instance will suffice to shew this to be the fact. The second Provost of Trinity College, Dublin, was Walter Travers, a Presbyterian minister, ordained at Antwerp, and admitted to the Provostship in 1592, though maintaining his Presbyterian principles. To this it may be added, that the two persons, who, after public examination, first obtained the situation of Fellows in this College, were also Presbyterians. These were Mr. James Fullarton and Mr. James Hamilton; the latter being tutor to the celebrated Usher, and afterwards ennobled by the title of Lord Clandeboy.] When James I. came to the throne of England, the British and Protestant interests were extremely low in Ireland. The government had, at an early period, encouraged many English families to remove into that country, to assist in keeping the native inhabitants in subjection; but a considerable number of the settlers having returned home, to assist in the contest between the houses of York and Lancaster, the Irish, who were extremely impatient of the English yoke, soon manifested a high degree of in Mosh. Eccles. Hist. Vol. III, p. 263. subordination. They regarded their governors with still stronger aversion, when Henry VIII. abjured the supremacy of the Pope; for they now apprehended that even their religion was brought into danger. In Elizabeth's reign, their hereditary antipathy acquired additional strength, and the progress of the Protestant religion was greatly retarded by an Act continued from the former reign, entitled, " An Act against bringing in of Scots, retaining of them, and marrying with them." The country, distracted by continual insurrections of the native Irish against the English, displayed a dreadful scene of anarchy and confusion. James, finding that the laws could not be carried into execution without the aid of a military force, endea voured to make a favourable impression on the people of Ireland by le nient measures. He therefore restored to some of the most considerable Irish rebels their former possessions. But this step was not followed by any salutary consequences. Many projects were proposed for settling the kingdom; and at length the Parliament resolved to repeal the Act against the bringing in of the Scots: and though many Scotch families, anticipating a change of measures in their favour, had previously removed into Ireland, the plantation of Ulster is properly dated from the time of that repeal; for soon after, many thousands of Presbyterians, together with their ministers, came over and settled in Ulster. Three English ministers, Mr. John Ridges, of Antrim, Mr. Henry Calvert, and Mr. Hubbard, of Carrickfergus, who had been a pupil of the great Cartwright, came over to reside in Ulster at this time; the two former under the patronage of the Clotworthy family, (afterwards Massereene,) and the latter under that of Lord Chichester, then Lord Deputy of Ireland. The first Presbyterian minister who arrived from Scotland was Mr. Edward Bryce, -who settled in Broad-island, anno 1611. After him, Mr. Robert Cunningham was settled in Holywood; Mr. Robert Blair in Bangor; Mr. This is the date ordinarily assigned, but a stone in the old church or meeting house has it 1613. Mr. B. probably came over in 1611. James Hamilton, nephew of Lord Claneboy, in Ballywalter, and Mr. John Livingstone in Killinshy. Soon after, Mr. Josias Welsh, grandson of Knox, the Reformer, became minister of Templepatrick, and Mr. George Dunbar, of Larne. The good understanding which subsisted at this time between the two parties of Protestants in Ireland, the Episcopalians and the Presbyterians, tended to facilitate the settlement and plantation of Ulster. The following is a remarkable instance. When Mr. Robert Blair, who scrupled at episcopal ordination, was presented to the parish of Bangor by Hamilton, Lord Claneboy, Echlin, Bishop of Down, proposed that the Presbyterian ministers should join with him in the ordination, (Mr. Blair acknowledging the bishop to be a presbyter, and as such to have power of ordination, in conjunction with other presbyters,) and that any expressions to which Mr. Blair should object, in the established form of ordination, should be exchanged for such as he might recommend. Thus was Mr. Blair publicly ordained in the church of Bangor.+ The Bishop of Raphoe granted the same indulgence to Mr. John Livingstone; and the same form was used in the ordination of all the Scotch ministers who settled in Ireland from that time till the year 1642. The Presbyterian ministers at this It has been observed, that the principles inculcated by the Culdees, for seduce in the inhabitants of Scotland that veral centuries, probably tended to prostrong predilection for Presbyterianism which they have always evinced. See Edinb. Encyclop. article Culdees. It is not unlikely, that the existence of the same religious order in Ireland, so late as the time of Usher, was, in some respects, favourable to the settlement of the Presbyterians in that country. + Mr. Blair was born at Irvine in Scotland. He was ordained minister of Bangor, in his 29th year; and had under time possessed the churches and the tithes, though they did not use the liturgy, nor otherwise conform to the usage of the episcopal church. They were, however, comprehended within the Church of Ireland; for they frequently met and consulted with the Bishop concerning the common interests of religion, and some of them were members of the Convocation, in the year 1634.* They held monthly meetings at Antrim, in which, with much solemnity and devotion, they consulted together on the best methods of serving the cause of the Reformation. They had also quarterly communions, which greatly contributed to the increase of piety. Their labours were eminently useful in civilizing a rude people and promoting general tranquillity; insomuch that their entire conduct commanded the approbation of all the moderate Episcopalians, particularly of Primate Usher, with whom Mr. Blair was intimately acquainted, and who vouchsafed to him and his brethren his warmest tribute of applause. Many of the ministers were held in high estimation by men of the first consequence in the province of Ulster. Their ministry was much respected, and was attended even by some of those who did not scruple to conform to the Established Church. This was remarkably instanced in the case of Mr. Blair, who, at the desire of the Bishop of Down, preached on EasterSunday, before the judges of assize. In the evening of that day, he was sent for by one of the judges, that he might converse with him on the subject of the sermon which he had preached; on which occasion, his Lordship testified the highest regard for Mr. Blair and his brethren, and the ministry in which they were engaged.+ The Protestant religion being now pretty well established in Ireland, it was thought expedient to draw up articles of the common faith, after the manner of other churches. Accord ingly, some moved in Convocation, that the articles of the English Church should be adopted; but this was opposed, as unsuitable to the dignity of an independent national establishment, Presb. Loy. p. 162. Neal's Hist. Pur. Vol. II. p. 94. + Presb. Loy. p. 164. and therefore it was agreed to, that a new confession should be prepared. The articles contained in it are in a great measure the same as those which the Puritans requested in the Hampton-court Conference." The plantation of Ulster was considerably forwarded by the harsh treatment which the Presbyterians both of England and Scotland experienced at this time. For as the public safety and interest required a union of counsels among the Protestants of Ireland, many of the Scotch and English Nonconformists escaped into that country, where they were secure from the persecution which awaited them at home. The good effects resulting from the settlement of Presbyterians in Ulster, were afterwards so sensibly felt by "For 1st, (as Mr. Neal observes,) the nine articles of Lambeth are incorporated into this confession. 2dly, The morality of the Lord's Day is strongly asserted, and the spending it wholly in religious exercises is required. [Art. 56.] 3dly, The observation of Lent is declared not to be a religious fast, but grounded provision of things tending to the better merely on political considerations, for preservation of the commonwealth. [Art. 50.] 4thly, All clergymen are said to be lawfully called and sent, who are chosen and called to this work by men who have public authority given them in the church, to call and send ministers into the Lord's vineyard; [Art. 71;] which is an acknowledgment of the validity of the ordinations of those churches that have no is said to be only declarative. [Art. 74.] bishops. 5thly, The power of the keys 6thly, The Pope is declared to be Antichrist, or that Man of sin, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and abolish with the brightness of his coming. [Art. 80.] 7thly, The consecration of archbishops, &c. is not so much as mentioned; as if done on purpose, (says Mr. Collyer,) to avoid maintaining the distinction between that order and that of priests. Lastly, no power is ascribed to the church in making eanons, or censuring those who either carelessly or wilfully infringe the same. Upon the whole, these articles seem to be contrived to compromise the difference between the Church and the Puritans; and they had that effect till the year 1634, when, by the influence of Archbishop Laud and of the Earl of Strafford, these articles were set aside, and those of the Church of England received in their room." Neal's Hist. Pur. Vol. II. p. 95. the government, that in the 10th of Charles I. an Act was passed in the Irish Parliament for the naturalization of all those of the Scottish nation who were born before King James's accession to the crown of England and Ireland: the object of which was-to improve the condition of some Scots who had come over before, and who were liable to various inconveniences for want of being naturalized, and to encourage more of the Scots to come over and settle in the country. In that Act, their great usefulness in improving the state of the kingdom is set forth in these remarkable words-"It being a great discouragement and disheartening unto many of your said subjects of Scotland, that otherwise would have planted themselves here, for the farther civilizing, strengthening and securing this your Highness's said realm, against rebels at home, and all foreign invasion." During the reign of Charles I., very considerable encouragement was given to the Papists both in England and Ireland, by the King and his Court, notwithstanding the strong remonstrances of Parliament; and they were, in many instances, promoted to situations of trust and power. They had," says Lord Clarendon, "for many years, enjoyed a great calm, being on the matter absolved from the severest parts of the law, and dispensed with for the gentlest." In fact, the hierarchy discovered a manifest tendency to Popery; and the faith and worship of the national church did not differ widely from those of the Church of Rome.* [This union subsisted among the Northern Protestants till the year 1633, when Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, by the agency of Laud, was made Lord Deputy of Ireland. He behaved Neal's Hist. Pur. Vol. II. pp. 146, 209, 246. Hume's Hist. Eng. Vol. VI. p. 225. "If we would but open our eyes, we should see that we are beholden to the Dissenters for the continuance of a great part of our theological principles; for if the High Churchmen had no checks, they would have brought in Popery before this time, by their overvaluing pomp and ceremony in divine worship. So that if there had been no Dissenters, the Church of England had been long since ruined."Dr. Edward's Preacher, Vol. II. p. 133., towards the Presbyterians in the most tyrannical and unjustifiable manner; pursuing a course similar to that of his patron in England. He caused Echlin, Bishop of Down and Connor, who had formerly joined in ordaining many of the Presbyterian ministers, and lived in habits of intimacy with them, to depose four of them for not conforming to the ceremonies of the Episcopal Church, though there was not at that time a single canon to authorize such violent proceedings.] In 1633, Laud determined that the Thirty-nine Articles should be adopted by the Church of Ireland: and, accordingly, a canon was passed in Convocation, with but one dissenting voice, approving of the Articles of the Church of England, and denouncing excommunication against all those who should affirm that they contain any thing superstitious or erroneous.+ [The spirit of persecution being once raised was not easily laid. The ministers were driven from their flocks, denounced as outlaws, obliged to skulk in privacy through the province. Even the schoolmasters who were suspected of being Presbyterians, were required to subscribe, though there was then no warrant for it in the canons: and while the conscientious Protestants were thus persecuted, the Papists were connived at in their masses, nunneries and schools, and suffered little or no molestation. In the diocese of Down and Connor, Leslie, made bishop in October 1635, on the 12th of August following, deposed five more Presbyterian ministers, ex gor, Livingston, of Killinchy, Dunbar, of [These were, Blair, minister of BanLarne, and Welsh, of Templepatrick. They were shortly after restored, but it was only for half a year, when Wentworth again relapsed into his former severities, and they were once more deposed. The three former fled to Scotlaud for a time; but Welsh, who was grandson to Knox, the Scottish Reformer, died shortly after, in 1634.] + Neal's Hist. Pur. Vol. II. p. 219. [These were, Brice, of Broad Island, the first Presbyterian minister that came to Ireland; Ridge, of Antrim; Colvert, of Oldstone; Cunningham, of Holly wood; and Hamilton, of Ballywalter, nephew to Lord Clandeboy. The former died in his charge in 1636-the others fled to Scotland.] posed them to many privations, and at last forced them to abandon the kingdom. Many of the ministers returned to Scotland-some remained in privacy in the country, and a few prepared to transport themselves to North America, which at that time was an asylum for all persecuted Protestants. Three of them prepared a vessel at Belfast, and, with about 140 persons, embarked for New England in September 1636; but they encountered such tempestuous weather off Newfoundland, that they were driven back to Carrickfergus Lough; whence they afterwards succeeded in reaching Scotland in safety.] About this time, an oath, commonly called the Black Oath, was imposed in Ireland, without any parliamentary authority and sanction, on all persons of the Scottish nation of the age of sixteen years and upwards, under heavy penalties. The Presbyterians refused to take this oath, both because it was imposed in an illegal manner, and because it tended to the destruction of liberty and property; and for so doing, multitudes of sincere Protestants were miserably persecuted and driven into banishment. These violent and unjust proceedings greatly contributed to depress the Protestants, and to strengthen the Roman Catholic party in Ireland. The countenance and encouragement which the Papists received from Charles and his ministers, was one of the causes to which may be attributed the bloody massacre of 1641. Vast multitudes of Protestants perished in the insurrection of that year; but as many Presbyterian ministers had been driven out of the kingdom by Wentworth's persecution and the Black Oath, a remnant was providentially saved, and reserved for farther useful ness. These returned, and were joy [These were, Blair, Livingston and M'Clelland; the vessel was called the Sea-Wing, and was about 150 tons burthen.] †The oath obliged them to swear as follows:-" I will not bear arms, or do any rebellious or hostile act, against any of the king's royal commands, but submit myself in all due obedience thereunto. And I will not enter into any covenant or bond of mutual defence or assistance against any person whatsoever, by forces, without his Majesty's sovereign and regal authority." fully received by their flocks, after the storm of persecution had subsided. On the breaking out of the Irish rebellion, the Lords Justices importunately applied to England for a supply of men, money and arins; and as the Scots could be more readily transported into the North of Ireland, the government agreed that 10,000 Scotch soldiers should be sent over, to oppose the insurgents. Owing to a difference of counsels between the King and the Parliament, the first division of these troops did not arrive until April 1642. The several regiments were accompanied by their ministers, who united with those that remained in the kingdom, and founded a Presbytery, which met at Carrickfergus, July 10th, 1642, [and planted ministers in various parts of the adjacent country, who, as their predecessors had done, enjoyed the tithes and churches of their respective parishes.] [The gentry now felt that the re establishment of the Protestant religion depended principally upon the ministers, while the power of the Scots, at this conjuncture, in Ulster, still farther promoted their views. Lord Viscount Montgomery, of Airds, Lord Clandeboy, Sir John Clotworthy and others, wrote to the Presbytery that they would "join them in disci cline," and support their cause.] The former nobleman afterwards accepted of a commission under the Marquis of Ormond, who had projected a union of the King's forces with the Irish insurgents, and thereby incurred the strong displeasure of the Presbytery. [One of the first acts of the Presbytery in July 1642, was to forward a memorial to the General Assembly of Scotland, for a mission of ministers to supply the destitute remnant of Presbyterians in the kingdom. They again petitioned the same body with a similar view, in August 1643, and May 1645, and were gradually furnished with preachers, who disseminated extensively the principles of the Protestant faith. The government of the kingdom at this period was in the hands of the Marquis of Ormond, a staunch friend to Charles I., who was now at war with his Parliament in England, and whose authority was but low in Ulster, where that of the Parliament was principally respected. The |
