he severity of Mary's government,
took shelter in Scotland, where they found more protection, and a milder
administration; and while they propagated their theological tenets, they
filled the whole kingdom with a just horror against the cruelties of the
bigoted Catholics, and showed their disciples the fate which they
must expect, if ever their adversaries should attain an uncontrolled
authority over them.

A hierarchy, moderate in its acquisitions of power and riches, may
safely grant a toleration to sectaries; and the more it softens the zeal
of innovators by lenity and liberty, the more securely will it possess
those advantages which the legal establishments bestow upon it. But
where superstition has raised a church to such an exorbitant height as
that of Rome, persecution is less the result of bigotry in the priests,
than of a necessary policy; and the rigor of law is the only method of
repelling the attacks of men who, besides religious zeal, have so many
other motives, derived both from public and private interest, to engage
them on the side of innovation. But though such overgrown hierarchies
may long support themselves by these violent expedients, the time comes
when severities tend only to enrage the new sectaries, and make them
break through all bounds of reason and moderation. This crisis was
now visibly approaching in Scotland; and whoever considers merely the
transactions resulting from it, will be inclined to throw the blame
equally on both parties; whoever enlarges his view, and reflects on the
situations, will remark the necessary progress of human affairs, and the
operation of those principles which are inherent in human nature.

Some heads of the reformers in Scotland, such as the earl of Argyle, his
son Lord Lorne, the earls of Morton and Glencarne, Erskine of Dun, and
others, observing the danger to which they were exposed, and desirous
to propagate their principles, entered privately into a bond or
association; and called themselves the "congregation" of the Lord, in
contradistinction to the established church, which they denominated
the congregation of Satan. The tenor of the bond was as follows: "We,
perceiving how Satan, in his members, the Antichrist of our time, do
cruelly rage, seeking to overthrow and to destroy the gospel of Christ
and his congregation, ought, according to our bounden duty, to strive in
our master's cause, even unto the death, being certain of the victory
in him. We do there