Towns > Dundee > 1822 - Dundee delineated; or, A history and description of that town, its institutions, manufactures and commerce

Chapter 7<
ECCLESIASTICAL STATE CONTINUED — SECTARIES, AND VARIOUS
PLACES OF WORSHIP.
At the time when the gross absurdities, ignorance,
cruelty, and persecuting spirit of the Romish church
had arrived at the greatest height, and opened the
eyes of men, who, from the rapid progress of know-
ledge, were now beginning to think for themselves,
the Reformation of the Church took place in Scot-
land. This had arisen in Germany, and had per-
vaded England sometime before. Though some-
what later in Scotland; yet it was not less effectual,
and in many respects approached nearer to the sim-
plicity of the sacred Scriptures.
In the cause of reformation, Dundee is well known
to have appeared among the foremost ; and perhaps
was the first town in Scotland where the reformed
religion was openly professed. The preaching of
George Wishart, and the labours of Paul Methven,*
who followed him, had raised the inhabitants to vin-
dicate their religious liberty : But perhaps as much
was effected by the zeal and influence of James Ha-
liburton, who was Provost of the town for thirty-
three years, and was an early and able supporter of
the reformation. By his activity the designs of the
Regent, Mary of Guise, in 1559, to apprehend the
chief of its leaders, were defeated at Cupar in Fife,
and likewise at Perth, — both of which places were
indebted to Provost Haliburton and his townsmen
* See Appendix.
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