on, imposing new duties,
there should be a corresponding and ceremonial entrance. The new pastor,
until this public introduction, could not be legitimately assumed for
known to the parishioners. And accordingly at this point it was--viz.
subsequently to his authentic publication, as we may call it--that, in the
case of any grievous scandal known to the parish as outstanding against
him, arose the proper opportunity furnished by the church for lodging the
accusation, and for investigating it before the church court. In default,
however, of any grave objection to the presentee, he was next summoned by
the presbytery to what really _was_ a probationary act at their bar; viz.
an examination of his theological sufficiency. But in this it could not be
expected that he should fail, because he must previously have satisfied
the requisitions of the church in his original examination for a license
to preach. Once dismissed with credit from this bar, he was now beyond all
further probation whatsoever; in technical phrase, he was entitled to
"admission." Such were the steps, according to their orderly succession,
by which a man consummated the pastoral tie with any particular parish.
And all of these steps, subsequent to the "_reception_" and inaugural
preaching, were now summarily characterised by the revolutionists as
"spiritual;" for the sake of sequestering them into their own hands. As to
the initiatory act of presentation, _that_ might be secular, and to be
dealt with by a secular law. But the rest were acts which belonged not to
a kingdom of this world. "These," with a new-born scrupulosity never heard
of until the revolution of 1834, clamoured for new casuistries; "these,"
said the agitators, "we cannot consent any longer to leave in their state
of collapse as mere inert or ceremonial forms. They must be revivified. By
all means, let the patron present as heretofore. But the acts of
'examination' and 'admission,' _together with power of altogether refusing
to enter upon either_, under a protest against the candidate from a clear
majority of the parishioners--these are acts falling within the spiritual
jurisdiction of the church. And these powers we must, for the future, see
exercised according to spiritual views."

Here, then, suddenly emerged a perfect ratification for their own previous
revolutionary doctrine upon the creation of parish clergymen. This new
scruple was, in relation to former scruples, a perfect linch-pin for