pure gospel of Christ: Mention is
first made of Clemens and Samson, two famous Culdees, who in the seventh
century supported the authority of Christ as the only king and head of
his church, against the usurped power of Rome, and who rejected the
superstitious rites of Antichrist, as contrary to the simplicity of
gospel institutions. The succeeding age was no less remarkable for
learned and pious men, to whom Scotland gave birth, and whole praise was
in the churches abroad; particularly Joannes Scotus, who wrote a book
upon the Eucharist, condemned by Leo IX. in the year 1030, long after
his death. In the ninth century, a convention of estates was held at
Scoon for the reformation of the clergy, their lives and conversations
being at that time a reproach to common decency and good manners; not to
say, piety and religion. The remedies provided at this convention,
discover the nature of the disease. It was ordained, that church-men
should reside upon their charge; that they should not intermeddle with
secular affairs, but instruct the people, and be good examples in their
conversations; that they should not keep hawks, hounds, nor horses for
their pleasure, &c. And if they failed in the observance of these
injunctions, they were to be fined for the first, and deposed for the
second transgression. These laws were made under King Constantine II.
but his successor Gregory rendered them abortive by his indulgence. The
age following this, is not remarkable for witnesses to the truth, but
historians are agreed, that there were still some of the Culdees who
lived and ministred apart from the Romanists and taught the people that
Christ was the only propitiation for sin, and that his blood could only
wash them from the guilt of it, in opposition to the indulgences and
pardons of the Pope. Mr. Alexander Shields says, that the Culdees
transmitted their testimony to the Lollards[27] and Pope John XXII. in
his bull for anointing King Robert Bruce, complains that there were many
heretics in Scotland; so that we may safely affirm there never was any
very great period of time without witnesses for the truth and against
the gross corruptions of the church of Rome. Some of our kings
themselves opposed the Pope's supremacy, and prohibited his Legates
from entering their dominions; the most remarkable instance of this kind
is that of Robert Bruce. After his having defeated the English at
Bannock-burn, they became suppliants to the Pope for his