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a committee the most proper mode of considering the matter , and the appointment of the committee was agreed to .
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May " 30 . —Dr . Dick son , from the Committee on Books containing Erroneous Doctrines , gave in a report , which , after pointing out and referring to various passages of the works which he read , concluded hy expressing an opinion that these books or pamphlets contain doctrines the same as the Borrinian heresy condemned in 1701 , doctrines which each licentiate of the church declares he condemns .
The discussion which followed on this report was rather animated ; all the members who spoke agreed in condemning the doctrines , but there was a considerable difference of opinion as to the mode of condemnation . Dr . Forbes , having alluded to the subject being forced on the Assembly , and
to its being connected with one of the cases which had been under their consideration , said , if they had visited one of jthe branches with excision , were they not to visit the tree itself with a similar fate ? He then adverted to Mr . Hugh Baillie M'Lean's case being brought forward in these pamphlets , and that young man described as a " ¦ dear friend" of the
writer , who , he ( Dr . F . ) had no doubt , had been seduced by this person . Were the gentlemen within the bounds of the church , there could not be the least difficulty as to what should be done ; but he would be the last man to propose to extend a jurisdiction iuto a couutry where a sister church is established . He
concluded by moving , in substance , that the Assembly approve of the report , and , in respect of the nature and tendency of the doctrines contained in these publications , enjoin any Presbytery of the church , into which the Hev . Edward Irving shall come to claim the privilege of a licentiate or minister of the Church of Scotlaud , to lay these works before him , and inquire whether he is their author , and to proceed thereafter &s they shall see cause . *—He said he was afraid
that there were ministers who would not scruple to admit the reverend gentleman into their pulpits , and the object of the motion was to tie up Presbyteries to prevent his being employed till he avowed or denied these doctrines . Mr . Douglas , of BUlon , seconded the motion .
Dr . P . M'JVlttcfarlan said , in the cape of Hugh 3 ailUe M'Lean , the Assembly ^ ad give n the strongest vindication of
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the principles of the church , but he could not consent to pronounce sentence against an individual upon the supposed fact that he was author of the book . He was , however , against pronouncing a sentence in absence of the individual , who had not had an opportunity of
defending himself . He did not intend to make any motion , but he would suggest that Mr . Irving should not be allowed to appear in any of their pulpits , or have a presentation to a church , the doctrines of which he had misrepresented , until he disclaimed them .
Dr . Cook regretted that any report had been laid ou the table , and it was not till that morning he was convinced any report would be made . What occasion was there for any report ? for this was no new heresy . Last year the Assembly made a solemn declaration condemning
the doctrine ; and this year , when an individual came before them holding these opinions , they had found he could not be received into the church . Having already judicially and formally raised their voice against the doctrines , it was not necessary to do more .
Dr . Hamilton held that , having appointed a committee , the Assembly , was bound to follow up its own act . It was said that Mr . Irving was beyond the reach of the church , but the church was not beyond the power of his immense manufactory in London , from which he deluged Scotland with nonsense . Mr . Geddes , of Paisley , said they were in the habit of ordaining men to go and preach beyond the bounds of the church ; and if such were to be entitled to insult
and blaspheme the Saviour , and be beyond their power , he never would ordain another minister to go beyond the bounds of Scotland . He then referred to what had been done in the case of Mr . Thom , of Liverpool , and suggested that something similar should be adopted as to Mr . Irving .
Principal Macfarlan was against the motion , because , in giving judgment on the books , they virtually gave it against the ma IT , and that without their reading the whole of the one or hearing the other . He moved , in effect , that an opinion against these doctrines had been strongly expressed by the last Assembly , and , as that opinion had been followed up in a particular case in the present one , that it was unnecessary to proceed further on this matter at present .
The Dean of Faculty coincided in the views of Principal Macfarlan ; and , while he reprobated the doctrines , he said he did not consider them as calculated to
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502 Intelligence . —General Assembly of the Church of Scotland .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1831, page 502, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2599/page/70/
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