is pursuit, he found congenial
employment for his pious and active mind in the household of Lord Kenmure,
where he resided as domestic chaplain, till the death of that nobleman in
September, 1634. Soon afterwards we find him discharging a similar duty in
the family of the Earl of Cassilis, and, at the same time, acting as tutor
to Lord Kennedy, the Earl's eldest son. This latter employment furnished
him with both leisure and inducement to prosecute his studies, and that,
too, in the very direction to which his mind had been already predisposed.
But, in order to obtain an intelligible view of the state of matters in
Scotland at that period, we must take a brief survey of the events which
had been moulding the aspect of both church and kingdom for some time
before.

It may be assumed as a point which no person of competent knowledge and
candid mind will deny or dispute, that the Reformed Church of Scotland
was, from its very origin, Presbyterian; equally opposed to the prelatic
superiority of one minister over others, and to the authority of the civil
power in spiritual matters. This point, therefore, we need not occupy
space in proving; but we may suggest, that there is a much closer and more
important connexion between the two elements here specified, than is
generally remarked. For, as a little reflection will show, without the
pre-eminence of some small number of ministers over the rest, the civil
power cannot obtain the means of directly exercising an authoritative
control in spiritual matters. Even the indirect methods of corruption
which may be employed can be but partially successful, and may at any time
be defeated, whenever the general body shall be restored to purity and put
forth its inherent power. A truly presbyterian church, therefore, never
can be thoroughly depended on by civil rulers who wish to use it as a mere
engine of state for political purposes; consequently, a truly presbyterian
church has never found much favour in the estimation of the civil
power,--and, it may be added, never will, till the civil power itself
become truly Christian. Thus viewed, it was not strange that the civil
power in Scotland, whether wielded by a regent such as Morton, or a king
like James VI., should strenuously and perseveringly seek the subversion
of the Presbyterian Church. In the earlier stage of the struggle, first
Morton, and then James, attempted force, but found the attempt to be in
vain. At length the King seemed