Aspects of Arminianism in Scotland

Abstract

“In view of [the] meagre harvest of writings on Arminianism in Scotland, the study contained in the following pages is an attempt to fill a small part of the hiatus in Scotland's church history. In the general set-up and division of the chapters, the topical approach was followed. There are various disadvantages inherent to this kind of approach. The first is that it gives the work a fragmentary character. This is due to the fact that a system of division based on outstanding events or prominent persons, does not always follow the chronological lines of history, and thus results in an intermittent narrative. Another disadvantage is that there are always certain items which cannot easily be brought under one of these headings, but which are at the same time not broad or important enough to justify a separate division. In this study an attempt was made to overcome these difficulties by constructing the subject divisions within a chronological framework, and thereby trying to relate Arminianism chronologically to the main ecclesiastical events. This study covers only the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries because after the eighteenth-century Arminianism exerted very little new influence, and excited very little interest in Scotland. The theological trends of the nineteenth century were virtually an intensified extension of eighteenth-century currents. Finally, it should be pointed out that the following discussion of Arminianisn in Scotland does not purport to be exhaustive* In fact, it is very incomplete because, as the title indicates, only some aspects of Arminianism connected with certain persons and events are coming under observation.” – From the Preface.