Abstract
In studying the Scottish reformation, with a
view to discovering the origins of the Presbyterian
polity, the reforming activities of the Lollards
must form our starting-point. For the purposes of
our survey the reformation movement in Scotland may
be divided into eight periods:-
I. The Period of Lollard influence in Scotland
appears to have extended from about 1366
to 1525.
II. The period of purely Lutheran influence was
short - 1525-28.
III. From 1528-1543 the example of the martyr
Patrick Hamilton was the dominating influence
among Scottish Protestants, and
Francis La: Ebert may have given a Swiss
bias to Hamilton's views.
IV. From 1543-46 George Wishart carried on his
mission in Scotland.
V. In 1547 John Knox ministered to what was
apparently the first organised reformed
congregation in Scotland, and from that
date till 1560 encouraged and guided the
Scottish Protestants from England and the
Continent.
VI. After Knox's return to Scotland, the reformed
Church received its earlier constitution
in the First Book of Discipline
of 1560.
VII. Between 1560 and 1574 the attempt was made
to apply the principles of this Book of
Discipline in the government of the
Scottish reformed congregations. During
these years the inadequacy of this hastily
compiled constitution became apparent, in
spite of fuller definition of its institutions
in the hats of the General Assembly.
VIII. Between 1574 and 1578 a revised constitution
was drawn up embodying the new court
of the Presbytery. Without waiting for
official Parliamentary sanction, the General
Assembly began to institute the new
Courts,(1). It was in effect this modified
form of the reformed church polity which
was legally established by Act of Parliament
in 1592.
Our primary aim then, in following the course of the Reformation movement in Scotland, will be to
ascertain the points at which Presbyterian institutions
first appeared, and their sources of origin
in this earliest form.
