Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 1.djvu/170

 from this work, as a specimen of the English style of Barclay: it is a curious contemporary character of King James IV. of Scotland.

Barclay also made a translation of Sallust's History of the Jugurthine war, which was published in 1557, five years after his death, and is one of the earliest specimens of English translation from the classics.  , A.M. was the founder of a religious sect in Scotland, generally named Bereans, but sometimes called from the name of this individual, Barclayans. The former title derived its origin from the habit of Mr Barclay, in always making an appeal to the Scriptures, in vindication of any doctrine he advanced from the pulpit, or which was contained in his writings. The perfection of the Scriptures, or of the Book of divine revelation, was the fundamental article of his system; at least this was what he himself publicly declared upon all occasions, and the same sentiments are still entertained by his followers. In the Acts of the Apostles, xvii. 10. the Bereans are thus mentioned, "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so." These words were frequently quoted by Mr Barclay. It ought to be observed, however, that originally it was not a name of reproach invented by the malevolent part of the public, with the design of holding up Mr Barclay and his associates to contempt, but was voluntarily assumed by them, to distinguish them from other sects of professed Christians.

Mr Barclay was born in 1734. His father, Mr Ludovic Barclay, was a farmer in the parish of Muthill, in the county of Perth. Being at an early age designed by his parents for the church, he was sent to school, and received the best education which that part of the country could afford. The name of his master is now forgotten, but if we are to judge from the eminent proficiency of the pupil, we must infer, that he was a good scholar and an excellent teacher, and was well aware of the absolute necessity and advantages of being well grounded in the elements of classical learning. Respectable farmers, such as Mr Barclay's father, had a laudable ambition in affording to their sons an opportunity of being instructed in the learned languages, and to do the parish schoolmasters justice, many of them were eminently qualified for performing the task which they had undertaken.

Young Barclay was sent by his father to St Andrews, and was enrolled as a student in that University; where he regularly attended the literary and philosophical classes, and having submitted to the usual examinations, he took the degree of A.M. At the commencement of the subsequent session, he entered the New Divinity, or St Mary's College, a seminary in which theology alone is taught. Nothing very particular occurred during his attendance at the Hall, as it is generally