March - the Free Presbyterian church of Scotland

The Early Scottish Reformation 77who makes good works.” It was above all for this proposition, so Christian,that he was to be attacked.The enemies of the young Reformer exulted when they heard him avowprinciples so opposed to those of Rome; but desiring to compromise him stillfurther, they engaged him in private conversations, in which they tried hard todraw him to the extreme of his anti-Romish convictions. Nevertheless, amonghis hearers were righteous men who loved him, went to his house, confidedtheir doubts to him, and desired his guidance. He received them with kindliness,invited them to his table, and sought to do good to them all.Among the canons of St Andrews was Alexander Alane, better known bythe Latin name, Alesius. This young man, of modest character, with a tenderheart, a moderate yet resolute spirit, and a fine intelligence which had beendeveloped by the study of ancient languages, had made great progress inscholastic divinity, and had taken his place at an early age among the adversariesof the Reformation. His keenest desire was to break a lance with Luther,but as he could not measure himself personally with the man whom he namedan arch-heretic, Alesius had refuted his doctrine in a public discussion at theuniversity. The theologians of St Andrews covered him with applause.“Assuredly,” said they, “if Luther had been present, he would have been compelledto yield.” Alesius, alive to these praises and a sincere Roman Catholic,thought it would be easy to convince Hamilton of his errors; he loved himand desired to bring him back from his errors.With this purpose he visited the young noble. Conversation began. Alesiuswas crammed with scholastic learning; Hamilton had before him nothing butthe gospel, and he replied to all the reasonings of his antagonist with the clear,living and profound word of the Scriptures. Alesius was silenced, and felt asif “the morning-star were rising in his heart”. It was not merely his understandingthat was convinced. The breath of a new life penetrated his soul andthe truth appeared to him all radiant with glory. He did not content himselfwith that first conference, but frequently came again to see Hamilton, takingday by day more and more pleasure in his discourse. His conscience was won;his mind was enlightened. On returning to his priory cell, he pondered withamazement the way he had just gone: “The result of my visit has been contraryto all my expectation; I thought that I should bring Hamilton back tothe doctrine of Rome, and instead of that he has brought me to acknowledgemy own error”.One day another speaker came to Hamilton – a young Dominican prior,Alexander Campbell, who, like Alesius, had great learning and a kindlydisposition. The Archbishop begged him to visit Hamilton frequently and tospare no efforts to win him back to Roman doctrine. Campbell obeyed; but