Biographia Scoticana (Scots Worthies): A Brief Historical Account of the Lives, Characters, and Memorable Transactions of the Most Eminent Scots WorthiesHowie, John
History
Biographia Scoticana (Scots Worthies): A Brief Historical Account of the Lives, Characters, and Memorable Transactions of the Most Eminent Scots Worthies
Howie, John
Church of Scotland -- Biography; Scotland -- Biography
Mr. David Calderwood, having spent some time at the grammar-school, went
to the university to study theology, in order for the ministry, where
after a short space, being found fit for that office, he was made
minister at Crelling near Jedburgh, where, for some considerable time,
he preached the word of God with great wisdom, zeal and diligence, and
as a faithful wise harvest man, brought in many sheaves into God's
granary. But it being then a time, when prelacy was upon the advance in
the church, and faithful ministers every where thrust out and
suppressed, he, among the rest, gave in his declinature in the year
1608, and thereupon took instruments in the hands of James Johnston
notary public, in presence of some of the magistrates and council of the
town, whereupon, information being sent to the king by the bishops, a
direction was sent down from him to the council, to punish him (and
another minister who declined) exemplarily, but by the earnest dealing
of the earl of Lothian with the chancellor in favours of Mr. Calderwood,
their punishment resolved only in a confinement within their own parish,
&c.
Here he continued until June 1617, that he was summoned to appear before
the high commission court at St. Andrews, upon the 8th of July
following. Being called upon (the king being present) and his libel read
and answered, the king among other things said, "What moved you to
protest?"----"An article concluded among the lords of the articles," Mr.
David answered. "But what fault was there in it," said the king.----"It
cutteth off our general assemblies," answered Mr. Calderwood. The king,
having the protestation[75] in his hand, challenged him for some words
of the last clause thereof.----He answered, "Whatsoever was the phrase
of speech, they meant no other thing but to protest, that they would
give passive obedience to his majesty, but could not give active
obedience unto any unlawful thing which should flow from that article."
"Active and passive obedience!" said the king.--"That is, we will rather
suffer than practise," said Mr. David. "I will tell thee, said the king,
what is obedience man,----What the centurion said to his servant, _To
this man, Go, and he goeth, and to that man, Come, and he cometh_, that
is obedience."----He answered, "To suffer, Sir, is also obedience,
howbeit not of the same kind, and that obedience was not absolute but
limited with exception, of a countermand from a superior power." "I am
informed, said the king, ye are a refractor, the bishop of Glasgow your
ordinary, and bishop of Caithness the moderator and your presbytery,
testify ye have kept no order, ye have repaired to neither presbytery
nor synod, and are no way conform." He answered, "I have been confined
these eight or nine years, so my conformity or non-conformity in that
point could not well be known." "Gude faith, thou art a very knave,"
said the king, "see these same false puritans, they are ever playing
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