The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-02-05
Fns rHr CENrnAL PaEsBggERIAN.
SIR WALTER SCOTT AND PREsBYTE-
RIANISM.
(coNoLUDED J
~ R. R. 4.


If we wish to look yet more narrowly int
his heart on this subject, we must follow hiu
through those days of darkness, when in tn
midst of overwhelming money liabilities AM
embarrassmeuts, brought on by his cOntrac'
as a partner in the printing house OF Jane
Bsllentyue 4 Co., and as such, endOrser To-
Constable & Co., and Hurst Robinson, n
found himself, within the same period o
twelve months, plunged into enormous PeOu
mary Indebtedness, and deprived by death o.
his wife, whom he tenderly loved and who
had been for nearly thirty years the trusted
and sympathiziug companion of his life.
Aay ordinary man would have sank, under
such misforunes, into hopeless gloom and
apathy. Bui Soosi's strong aid honest nature
rose superior TO them all. History present:
few grander instances of "a good man strug
Cling with algersisy' than she inds in him.
He refused to obtain the legal release which
would have lefs hin free TO use his pen fol-
himself sad his children, during she rest OF
his life. He deliberately dedicated MS re-
naming years TO his creditors, aud worked
with success which not Only paid his debts
but has given to she world pathetic picture
never 70 be forgotten. His admirers all
over Christeud9m rallied to his help
"Woods,oek" the first of his novels pub
Ished after his misfortuues, brought his cred
isors more than S4l, ,OOO His "Life OI
Napoleon" brought them not less than $780,
600. Hs finished it in his FIFTY. seventh
year, aud hardly was it done before he pro
iected and commenced bis "Tales of Grand
fsther" which, though dedicated to his little
invalid grandson, John Hugh L7ckhars, IN
der the humorous title of "Huga Listiejohn,
ESQ a-s really among ais most mature and
finished works; and which give US, even to
this day, the best summary Of the History OF
Scotland ever produced. This work, both
in its first and succeeding series, Was received
with the highest favor not only IN Great
Britain, bu: on the Coatineat and in Amer
lea; aud its sale exceeded thas of any of bis
works since IvanhOe.
Now in these "Tales Of Grandfather
We have his rpened and we'll considered
views of the Reformation and Of the Pcesby-
tsriau Church, and With these We may ap-
uropriately close our arsices-alrasdy per-
hsps too long Il must be remembered that
in this work Walter SEPT: sought to instruct
his own grandson aud the rising generation.
he does so in all simplicity and tTu a He
says:
eater the death of our blessed Sa.
yiour Jesus Christ, the doctrine which be
preacaed was planted in Rome, the principal
cisy of toe greas Roman Empire, by the
Apostls Peter as it IS said, whom che Cath,
olics therefore term the first Bishop OF Rome.
In process of time, the Bishops of Rome who
succeeded, ss they said, tae Apostle in bis
office. claimed an authority over sll others 10
Christendom. Good and we'll meaning per
sons in their reverence for the religion which
they had adopted, admitted these preteasions
without much scrutiny. As the Christian
religion was more widely received, the EN-
perors and Kings who embraced 1t, thought
70 distinguish their piety by heapi0g benefits
on the Church, aud on the Bishops of Rome
in particular, who, at length, obtained great
lands and demssnes as temporal Princes
while in their character Of clergymen they
assumed the title of Popes, and the full and
exclusive authority over all their clergymen
or the Christian world As the people oil
those times were extremely Ignorant, any
little knowledge which remained was to be
found among the clergy, who had some leis
ure 70 study; while the lsity, that IS they
who were not clergymen, learned little ex
ceps to tilt, fight snd feast. The Popes Of
Rome having established themselves a
Heads Of the Church went on By degrees
Introducing into the simple and beautiful
system delivered to Us in the gospel, O.hel
doctrines, many of them inconsistent With Of
contradictory of pure Christianity, and al
of them tending TO extend the power OF th
pries,s over the minds and eonsciences
other men.
Taeu he points out among these unseriP
tural Innovations Papal Bulls, Monkery
worship of the Virgin Mary, Saints an
Relics, aud fasting on special days. He adds
ave have 20 right from Scripture to be
lave in the existence of any intermediat
state between that Of happiness which v
call heaven, to which good men have scees
Immediately after death, and that called he
being the place of eternal punishment t
which the wicked are consigned with tn
Devil and bis angels. Bat the Csthoi
priests imagined ;be Intervention Of sn il
rermediase state called Plrga.ory The
supposed that many, or indeed that moss pec
pie we're not of such piesy as to deserve in
mediate admission into state Of eternal bar
piness until they should have sustained
certain portion of punishment, but yet Wer
not so wicked as to deserve instant and etel
nal condemnation. For the benefit Of thes
they invented the intermediate situation {
purgatory-s place Of punishment to whio
almost every one not doomed to hell itsel