Ecclesiastical Empire

CALVINISM IN SCOTLAND

41. It has been written that before his death Calvin had the satisfaction of knowing that his system of Church polity had been adopted in Scotland. No doubt this furnished him much satisfaction indeed. But if he could only have lived to see the time when that system was being worked in Scotland according to its perfect ideal, we may well believe that even he could have fairly wept in the fullness of his unspeakable joy. ECE 789.3

42. From A. D. 1638 to 1662, under the Covenanters, the Calvinistic system was supreme in Scotland. And “when the Scotch Kirk was at the height of its power, we may search in vain for any institution which can compete with it, except the Spanish Inquisition. Between these two there is a close and intimate analogy. Both were intolerant, both were cruel, both made war upon the finest parts of human nature, and both destroyed every vestige of religious freedom.”—Buckle. ¹⁷ ECE 790.1