Robert Douglas (minister)

rdf:langString Robert Douglas (minister)

rdf:langString Robert Douglas

rdf:langString Robert Douglas

rdf:langString Scottish

rdf:langString Presbyterian

rdf:langString Robert Douglas (1594–1674) was the only minister of the Church of Scotland to be Moderator of the General Assembly five times. Robert Douglas was son of Robert Douglas, an illegitimate son of Sir George Douglas of Lochleven, brother of William, fifth Earl of Morton. He was educated at University of St Andrews, graduating with an M.A. in 1614. He was licensed as a church minister about 1617. Almost immediately afterwards he was engaged as chaplain to one of the brigades of Scottish auxiliaries co-operating with Gustavus Adolphus in the Thirty Years' War. During that period he is said to have had no other book to read but the Bible, and committed nearly the whole of it to memory. Returning to Scotland he became "second charge" minister of Kirkcaldy Parish Church, in 1628. He was a member of the General Assembly in 1638, and was translated, in 1639 to the Second Charge of St Giles in Edinburgh. In 1641 he was moved to the Tolbooth Parish (still within St Giles). He was Moderator of the General Assembly in 1642 (and also in 1645, 1647, 1649, and 1651). In 1643 he was elected a Commissioner to the Assembly of Divines in a delegation sent to Westminster in London. In 1644 he was chaplain to one of the Scots Regiments in England. In 1649 he was again minister of St Giles, and assisted in the presentation of the Solemn League and Covenant to Parliament. In 1650 he was one of the ministers who waited on Charles II. at Dunfermline, to obtain his signature to a declaration of religion; when Charles refused to sign, and a serious division of the Church ensued. Douglas became a leader of the Resolutioners, the moderate party. On 1 January 1651 he preached at the coronation of Charles II at Scone. Sent prisoner to London by Cromwell in 1653, he was soon released. In 1654 he was summoned to London (with others) to consult with the Protector upon the affairs of the Church of Scotland. In 1659 he preached the sermon at the opening of Heriot's Hospital. In 1661 he preached before Parliament. After the Restoration he was offered the Bishopric of Edinburgh, but indignantly declined, and remonstrated with Sharp for accepting the Archbishopric of St Andrews. On 27 June 1662 he was translated to Greyfriars, Edinburgh, but refusing to conform to Episcopacy, he was deprived on 1 October of the same year. He was admitted as an "indulged minister" to Pencaitland on 2 September 1669, and died (buried 6th) February 1674. "No man," it was said, " contributed more to the Restoration, and received less benefit from it."