Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 8.djvu/326

274 body was rent in twain. The question of Psedobaptism was the subject of controversy; and while Haldane and his brother adopted the sentiments of the Baptists, and were followed by a large portion of the Congregationalists, the rest took a more decided stand upon those principles of Independency which had long been recognized in England. Such was the history of a religious cause which, be its intrinsic merits what they may, has never been congenial to the spirit of the Scottish nation.

In this manner the days of Robert Haldane were indefatigably occupied for a course of years, and to these general labours we must add his own individual exertions as a lay-preacher and missionary; for he was of opinion that the office of an evangelist neither needed the regular preparation of a college, nor the authoritative sanction of a presbytery. At length, finding that repose to be necessary which results from change of action, he once more turned to the occupations of a country gentleman, by purchasing, in 1809, the estate of Auchingray, in Lanarkshire a desolate moor of 2000 acres, on which grew only a single tree; but which his exertions adorned with forests of larch, firs, birch, ash, and coppice. This, however, was not his chief occupation, for a large portion of his time was spent in the study, where his preparations for the pulpit equalled those of the most ambitious or pains taking minister. Another important purpose to which he addressed himself was the preparation of a literary work on the Evidences of Christianity. He was dissatisfied with the established writings upon this important subject, where the authors, however learned and talented, seemed to be more solicitous about the outworks of Christianity than its inner life and spirit; and he justly thought that a more correct and more endearing view of the faith itself should be given, in addition to the arguments by which its heaven-descended authority was authenticated. The result of this wish was his "Evidence and Authority of Divine Revelation," of which the first edition was published in 1816. The work, which, at a later period of his life, was considerably extended and improved, was not only favourably received by the Christian public, but highly commended by the most influential judges.

After this publication, an important epoch in the life of Mr. Haldane followed. This was his memorable journey to Geneva and Montauban. After twenty years of toil and sacrifice, he had witnessed such a religious revival in Scotland as left him little cause to regret that Congregationalism should at last be found unnecessary. Still as earnest upon the great work of his life, and as buoyant for missionary enterprise as when he commenced his career, he now resolved to make once more a tour of the Continent, which the peace had but lately opened to the visits of British travellers. Accompanied by Mrs. Haldane, he left Edinburgh on the 9th of October, 1816. His first halt was at Paris; but finding no opening there for missionary labour, and hearing of the benighted state of Geneva, he went to that city, and there took up his residence. That home of Calvin and refuge of John Knox, and therefore so endeared to the affections of every leal-hearted Scotsman—alas! how it had fallen from its ancient supremacy! Those doctrines, of which it was once the nursing-mother and propagandist, had been so utterly forgotten, that, when the new visitor announced them, he was met with the Athenian cry, "Thou bringest certain strange things to our ears!" Not merely the Calvinistic form of Christianity, but even Christianity itself, had dwindled "down into Arianism, Socinianism, Neology, Deism—anything, in short, but what it originally was, while each man was allowed to modify it according to his own pleasure, provided he did