QUARRELWOOD ChURCH AND ITS MINISTERS. 169 



to have been written by John Courtass. The strictly historical 

 portion contains a sketch of the contendings of the Scottish 

 Church from the Reformation till 1649, a review of the various 

 steps of defection from that date till the Revolution, and a 

 lengthened restatement of the grounds upon which the " Societies " 

 refused to homologate the settlement, either in Church or State, 

 then made, together with an enumeration of the many acts in the 

 administration of both after the Revolution that were derogatory 

 to the principles of the Covenanted Reformation, purity of 

 Doctrine and Discipline, the royal prerogatives of Christ, and the 

 freedom and independence of the Church. 



John Fairley was ordained as colleague to John Courtass 

 over the southern congregation in 1763, at Leadmines (now 

 Leadhills). Although he never resided permanently at Quarrel- 

 wood he would undoubtedly be often there, assisting Mr Courtass 

 and often preaching. His father occupied some land about six 

 miles north of Lanark, and here John Fairley was born in 1729. 

 Like many another Scottish lad he had a hard struggle to get his 

 education. As a youth he had to engage in the ordinary farm 

 work. Employed as a shepherd lad, he used to carry the Bible 

 and other books along with him in a fold of his plaid; and his 

 mother, a good woman, encouraged the bent of his inclination. 

 His father was averse to his being engaged with books. He did 

 not wish him to follow learning, and " had no favour to the Old 

 Dissenters." But by firmness of will and diligent application the 

 son not only acquired the rudiments of a good education, but 

 qualified himself for the University. He is said to have sup- 

 ported himself by teaching, and to have passed his academical 

 curriculum with approbation. 



When his theological training was completed, he was taken 

 on "trial " by the Presbytery. It is interesting to know what 

 were the subjects of examination when he was licensed. In the 

 minutes of Presbytery they are given as:— "Popular sermon, 

 P.salm Ixviii., 22— 'The Lord said, I will bring again from 

 Bashan; I will bring my people again from the depth of the sea.' 

 Also to read the 13th Psalm in Hebrew, and the Greek Testa- 

 ment, ad apcrhiram libri, and to answer extempore catechetical 

 questions, together with the ordinary questions put before 

 license." Some five months before this, however, thev had 



