Life and diary of Lieut. Col. J. Blackader

CHAP. XVIII. DOMESTIC SKETCHES. 447
May 12. This day the affair I was concerned in
came before the Assembly. I was sensible how weakly
it was managed on my part. I was unwilling to take
the commission, but I could not get by it.
May 17. This forenoon the Assembly rose, and a
pleasant sight it was. Such unity and harmony ! I
hope the Lord's presence has been with us. I was
much affected while singing the 133d Psalm.
May 19. Waiting upon the Assembly's Commis-
sion, and representing the case of our old regiment as
to conformity to the English Service.* I am apt
to get too hot in debate : and I am sorry that too
many in Scotland are so. I think religion runs greatly
in the wrong channel, and may be called Pres-
byterianism rather than Christianity, — strict opinions
in the head about public things, and oftentimes about
doubtful points, where good men are on both sides :
while the influences of it do not go through the con-
duct of their lives, in universal obedience and charity.
On the 2d of June he quitted Edinburgh and fixed
his residence in Stirling. At this time the country
was in considerable fermentation, from the intrigues
of the Pretender's friends and some unpopular acts of
the administration. The death of the Queen seemed
also to throw an additional gloom over these appre-
hensions.
* This was in reference to the grievance imposed upon them by the
Test and Act already alluded to : it certainly was an obvious inequality
of toleration, that those of the Scots communion employed in her
Majesty's service in England or Ireland, should be obliged to conform
to the English Church, while the same conformity was not required of
Episcopalians in Scotland.
T 2