82 Transactions. 



Confusion and disorder ensued, and when after the lapse 

 of some months it became evident that the King was obdur- 

 ate and persistent, a National Covenant was adopted with 

 great popular enthusiasm, binding all that signed it to spare 

 nothing to save their religion. Obduracy induced obduracy, 

 till at length after a weary struggle of 50 years duration, in 

 which the Covenanters suffered most grievously in privations, 

 imprisonment, and death, their principles were at last ac- 

 knowledged in the Revolution Settlement of 1688 — when 

 the royal supremacy was withdrawn, and this being so, 

 Christ's Kingly Crown and Government, for which the Cove- 

 nanters contended, were in a manner set up. 



And the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is 

 convened and dissolved in the name of Jesus Christ, the 

 King and Head of the Church. 



This is done by the Moderator, who is appointed by the 

 Assembly itself, and after him the Lord High Commissioner, 

 representative of the Sovereign, does the like in the name of 

 the Sovereign, both in this way harmoniously agreeing 

 together as to the time of meeting, and thus also discriminat- 

 ing the Church of Scotland in its relation to the Civil Mag- 

 istrate, from the Anglican Church and from the Free Church 

 of Scotland and the Church of Rome. 



The genius of Presbytery was too severe and stern to ask 

 the aid of martial music to lead her companies, and her 

 occupations were too urgent to dally with musical ditties. 

 Her mind was that of the prophet Nehemiah to Sanballd 

 and the rest of them — / am doing a great tvork, so that I 

 cannot come down. 



Yet there is a legendary piece, under the name of 

 General Leslie's March to Marston Moor, which, whether 

 genuine or not, describes well the feelings of the covenanting 

 armies at that period. 



With respect to the merits of the Service Book, any 

 minute examination of it would be out of place here, as 

 savouring more of the theologian than the antiquary. But a 

 few general remarks may be allowed. 



