The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-03-11

without communicating it to their Celtic
brethren of the West. This was an easy
thing by the ordinary channels of COM
mercial intercourse, which We're open
through all parts of the Roman empire.
Hence we find the origin of that Celtic
Christianity, which is as distinct type
of the Church, as the Greek, Latin, or
Teutonic. Christianity, the marked differ
ences of which are familiar to every
Christian scholar. 1t is a curious fact
illustrating the general object we have
in view, that race makes itself known in
religion as much as in civil affairs. Lat
in Christianity has always prevailed, and
still does so among the races speaking
the Latin tongues; whilst among Teutou-
ic races and partly among Celtic, the Re-
formation supplantei it. as if it never
soold.tai,s-s- GOeps-so0s s7shese races.
But the main fact we insist on is, that
the blood relationship of the Celtic tribes,
would naturally lead to missionary efforts
from the Celtic or Galatian Christians of
the East among their brethren in the
West, and that these efforts would be
likely to extend to the Celtic tribes of
Britain, Ireland and Scotland.
These facts win prepare US for the evil
dence bearing on the first introduction of
Christianity into the British isles. There
is much dispute about some of the au-
thOrities cited, but there is one about
which there is no doubt. Tertulian, the
Christian Cicero, who was born about six
ty years after the death of the Apostle
John, asserts, adv. Jud. c. ~ that
$ ''those parts of Britain that were mac
cessible to the Romans" Ii. e. Scotland J
" had become subject to Christ" Here
then We find within less than century
of the death of John, that Scotland had
so far received Christianity as to warrant
Tertullian to say that it was subject to
Christ. 1t must have required consid-
cradle time for such result to be reach
ed, among the hostile tribes of Caledonia,
whose native religion was that ancient
and powerful form of Paganism, the re-
hgion of the Druids. 1t must have re-
quired d great deal of labor to Danish
this old and terrible superstition as to
warrant the language of Tertullian.-
This general consideration would throw
the earliest professors and teachers of
Christianity back very near to the death
of the Apostle John, if not before it.
This early date is favored by the pro
liabilities of a very early introduction of
Christianity into Britain. Baronius, the
great Romish historian OF the Church,
asserts on the authority of some manu-
scripts in the Vatican, that Christianity
was carried to Britain A. D. 30. If so,
this was several years previous to It's be-
ing preached in Rome, and the misSiona-
ries must have come from Palestine direct,
or Asia Minor When it was once intro
duced into Britain, the wonderful mis-
sionary zeal of the Apostoical Church
would soon lead men to carry it into Scot
land, for there was no obstacle in the one
case much more formidable than was found
in the other. Hence we may infer very
early date to the first introduction of
Christianity into Scotland, one running
back very near and possibly much be-
yond that of the death of John.
This is confirmed by the fact that the
type of Christianity introduced was not
that of Rome. but that of the Eastern
Churches. Neander says, (Ch. Hist. l,
S5,) "the pecuiarity of the later British
Church is evidence against origin from
Rome; for in many ritual matters it de-
parted from the usage of the Romish
Church, and agreed much more nearly
with the Churches of Asia Minor. 1t
withstood, for long time, the authority
of the Romish papacy. This circum-
stance would seem to indicate that the
Britons had received their Christianity
either Immediately, or through Gaul,
from Asia Minor, thing quite possible
and easy, by means of the commercial
intercourse. Dean Milman refers to
the same fact in stating the struggle that
afterwards occurred between the Scottish
and Romish missionaries in England,
(which we will recur to again, when he
says, lit is curious to find Greek Chris
tianity thus at the verge of the ROmish
world maintaining some of its usages
and co-equality." Lat. Christianity, II,
1867
Hence many of the most eminent
scholars have reached the conclusion
which these facts certainly warrant, that
the Christianity of Scotland was intro
duced directly from some of the Greek
Churches of the East, and not from any
Church having any connection with Rome,
Thus SpOtswoOd Hist. Scot, l, 1917
says, . / verify think that under DOmi-
uan's prosecutions, some of Johns disci-
pies first preached the Gospel in this
kingdom. Sure not long after
the ascension of our Lord, at least when
the Anostle ST. John vet lived. the faith