MORAL VALUE OF THE DISRUPTION. 245 



in what she deemed an effectual manner, and since she 

 was willing to let the Civil Courts do what they pleased 

 with the temporalities, the State was bound to ratify her 

 proceedings ; that persistence in the course she had 

 taken was no rebellion, inasmuch as appeal was made 

 to fundamental principles of her constitution, but that, 

 if the Church retraced her steps and did the bidding of 

 the Civil authorities, she would be held by all the 

 world to have surrendered at discretion, and would, at 

 best, possess her freedom in future by sufferance of the 

 State. I humbly hold, with Chalmers and Cunningham 

 and Hugh Miller, that the reply of the majority was 

 conclusive ; but the scales of argument were rather 

 nicely balanced, and perfect respect could be ac- 

 corded to every man of either party who was ' firmly 

 persuaded in his own mind.' The essential point was 

 that word should correspond to belief and that action 

 should correspond to word. This is the foundation 

 canon of all morals. Whether a man or a Church stands 

 morally on a foundation of adamant or on a foundation of 

 sand is determined by the answer to be rendered to the 

 question whether said man or said Church conforms to 

 this canon or does not. The founders of the Free Church 

 did not ' palter with eternal God.' Whatever was the 

 persuasion of their opponents, they believed that it was 

 their duty to sacrifice emolument and position rather 

 than submit to the Civil Courts. They conferred not, 

 therefore, with flesh and blood, but did their duty. 

 Their act was the noblest thing done in Europe in their 

 time. This, I understand, is Mr Carlyle's estimate of 

 the Disruption. 



Among those who were assembled in Canomnills 

 Hall to welcome the Free Church, the stalwart form and 

 great shaggy head, and earnest, thoughtful features of 



