-
Articles/Ads
Article REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. Page 1 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Review Of New Publications.
REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS .
Iconographies cotica , or Portraits of illustrious Persons of Scotland ; engraved from the most authentic Paintings , & c . With short Biographical Notices , B y John Pinkerton , F . S . A . Perth . 4 / 0 . 5 / . ; s . Herbert , & c . THIS very elegant work is chiefly valuable on account of the numerous portraits it contains , and which are mostly engraved in a superior style of graphic excellence . There are many heads of persons in this colleStion of whom , we never met
with portraits before . And we ought to add , that we were disappointed in not finding some likenesses preserved in this magnificent volume which hi ghly deserved to have been placed in it . Among these desiderata we reckon Drumnioiid , of Hawthornden ; and the illustrious Napier , of Mercliiston . The accompanying notices also are by far too meagre and unsatisfactory . A work of such importance and price ought certainly to have been elucidated with copious memoirs and interesting anecdotes , instead of which there is
hardly a biographical article in it worth reading . We shall cxtraft the two best . The first is of Alexander Henderson , the celebrated champion ofPresbyterianism against Charles I . ' This Franklin of the Scottish commotions in the last century was minister ' at Leacbars ; and was in vain tempted with a bishoprick . He died in 16 49 , regretting the excess to which affairs were carried ; but never repenting of his own moderate motives and a & ions , as vainl y repeated by his opponents ; a state device of party . ' In faft , the Presbyteri . tns , after overturning the episcopal despotism of
the time , were gradually ruining their own cause by a despotism far more disgusting . The saints attempted to establish a clerical aristocracy , not only over Scotland , but over England ; and the civil power would have become the meer slave of ecclesiastic censure and excommunication . Liberty of conscience was entirely denied by the Presbyterian party ; their church polity was a part of their creed ; and the penalty against any dissent was excommunication in this world , 3 nd a liberal inheritance in hell-fire hereafter . A man ' s private life
was to be tainted with saintshi p or hypocrisy ; and every pleasure was to vanish at the nod of those physicians of Sancho the governor . The Presbyterians supported the regal power , as a shield against the Independents and sectaries ; who , with far superior political skill , allowed universal liberty of conscience . —But a non-descript saint , named Cromwell , put himself at the head of the Independents , and completely overthrew the Presbyterian despotism . Both parties appealed to King Christ , and he decided in favour of the democratis
church . ' In the sole choice left , between the impertinent authority , and degrading superstition of the Presbyterians , and the power merely military of Cromwell ,, it is no wonder that the nation sighed for the antient monarchy ; a government At least of" gentlemen over gentlemen , and more beneficent to all , than that of parsons or soldiers over slaves . ' Henderson ' s favourite polity , and the clerical aristocracy , were , after his de 3 th , to be trampled under foot ; but -he timcously escaped from the evils VOL . IX . ?
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Review Of New Publications.
REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS .
Iconographies cotica , or Portraits of illustrious Persons of Scotland ; engraved from the most authentic Paintings , & c . With short Biographical Notices , B y John Pinkerton , F . S . A . Perth . 4 / 0 . 5 / . ; s . Herbert , & c . THIS very elegant work is chiefly valuable on account of the numerous portraits it contains , and which are mostly engraved in a superior style of graphic excellence . There are many heads of persons in this colleStion of whom , we never met
with portraits before . And we ought to add , that we were disappointed in not finding some likenesses preserved in this magnificent volume which hi ghly deserved to have been placed in it . Among these desiderata we reckon Drumnioiid , of Hawthornden ; and the illustrious Napier , of Mercliiston . The accompanying notices also are by far too meagre and unsatisfactory . A work of such importance and price ought certainly to have been elucidated with copious memoirs and interesting anecdotes , instead of which there is
hardly a biographical article in it worth reading . We shall cxtraft the two best . The first is of Alexander Henderson , the celebrated champion ofPresbyterianism against Charles I . ' This Franklin of the Scottish commotions in the last century was minister ' at Leacbars ; and was in vain tempted with a bishoprick . He died in 16 49 , regretting the excess to which affairs were carried ; but never repenting of his own moderate motives and a & ions , as vainl y repeated by his opponents ; a state device of party . ' In faft , the Presbyteri . tns , after overturning the episcopal despotism of
the time , were gradually ruining their own cause by a despotism far more disgusting . The saints attempted to establish a clerical aristocracy , not only over Scotland , but over England ; and the civil power would have become the meer slave of ecclesiastic censure and excommunication . Liberty of conscience was entirely denied by the Presbyterian party ; their church polity was a part of their creed ; and the penalty against any dissent was excommunication in this world , 3 nd a liberal inheritance in hell-fire hereafter . A man ' s private life
was to be tainted with saintshi p or hypocrisy ; and every pleasure was to vanish at the nod of those physicians of Sancho the governor . The Presbyterians supported the regal power , as a shield against the Independents and sectaries ; who , with far superior political skill , allowed universal liberty of conscience . —But a non-descript saint , named Cromwell , put himself at the head of the Independents , and completely overthrew the Presbyterian despotism . Both parties appealed to King Christ , and he decided in favour of the democratis
church . ' In the sole choice left , between the impertinent authority , and degrading superstition of the Presbyterians , and the power merely military of Cromwell ,, it is no wonder that the nation sighed for the antient monarchy ; a government At least of" gentlemen over gentlemen , and more beneficent to all , than that of parsons or soldiers over slaves . ' Henderson ' s favourite polity , and the clerical aristocracy , were , after his de 3 th , to be trampled under foot ; but -he timcously escaped from the evils VOL . IX . ?