The
gentlemen with whom I conversed are all inclined to the English
liturgy; but they are obliged to maintain the established Minister,
and the country is too poor to afford payment to another, who must
live wholly on the contribution of his audience.
They therefore all attend the worship of the Kirk, as often as a
visit from their Minister, or the practicability of travelling
gives them opportunity; nor have they any reason to complain of
insufficient pastors; for I saw not one in the Islands, whom I had
reason to think either deficient in learning, or irregular in life:
but found several with whom I could not converse without wishing,
as my respect increased, that they had not been Presbyterians.
The ancient rigour of puritanism is now very much relaxed, though
all are not yet equally enlightened. I sometimes met with
prejudices sufficiently malignant, but they were prejudices of
ignorance. The Ministers in the Islands had attained such
knowledge as may justly be admired in men, who have no motive to
study, but generous curiosity, or, what is still better, desire of
usefulness; with such politeness as so narrow a circle of converse
could not have supplied, but to minds naturally disposed to
elegance.
Reason and truth will prevail at last. The most learned of the
Scottish Doctors would now gladly admit a form of prayer, if the
people would endure it.
