404 
des 
Untersuchung 
Schott. 
Geistes 
keine originale Philosophie, keine schöne Literatur, keine weltliche 
Schriftstellerei, die jetzt noch gelesen zu werden verdiente. 3) Die 
einzigen einflussreichen Leute waren die Geistlichen. Sie regierten 
die Nation und die Kanzel war die Haupthandhabe ihrer Macht. 
Von der Kanzel aus setzten sie alle Geister in Bewegung, die 
grössten wie die geringsten. Dort unterwiesen und bedrohten sie 
sie, dort sagten sie was sie wollten, und sie wussten, dass man 
ihnen glauben würde, was sie sagten. 4) Aber alle ihre Predigten, 
alle ihre Controversschriften sind im hohen Grade deduetiv, nicht 
eine unternimmt eine inductive Beweisführung. Der blose Gedanke 
an so etwas kam ihnen nie in den Sinn. Sie nahmen die Wahr- 
heit ihrer eigenen religiösen und moralischen Vorstellungen an, die 
wcre alone to be solved. It might have been expected that the country of Napier, 
seventy years after his time, wonld have had many sons capable af applying his key 
to such mysteries of natura. But no one had arisen  nor did any rise for iifty years 
onward, when at length Coliu Maclauxin unfolded in the Edinburgh University the 
sublime philosophy of Newton. There could not be a more expressive signification of 
the character of the seventeenth century in Scotland. Our unhappy contentions about 
external religious matters had absorbed the whole genius of_ the people, rendering to 
us the age of Cowley, of Waller, and of Milton, as barren 01' elegant literature, as 
that of Horrocks, of Halley, and of Newton, was of science." Olmmbcrs' Domesiic 
Annals of Svotland, II, 444, 445.  
3) „Thus, during the whole seventeenth century, the English were gradually 
refming their language and their taste; in Scotland, the former wa much debased, 
and the latter alxnost entirely lost." History af Seotlavzd book VIII, in Robertswfs 
Works, p. 260. 
„But the taste and science, the genius and the learning of the age, were absor- 
bed in the gulph of religious controversy. At a time when the leaming of Salden, 
and the genius of Milton, conspired to adorn England, the Scots were reduced to 
such writers as Baillie, Rutherford, Guthrie, and the two Gillespies." Laingk History 
qf Scotlumd, III, 510. „From the Restoration down to the Union, the only anthor of 
eminence whom Scotland produced was Bumet." Ibddu 'IV, 406.  
„The seventeenth centnry, fatal to the good taste of Italy, threw a total night 
over Scotland."     "Not one writer who does the least credit to the nation 11011- 
rished during the century from 1615 to 1715, excepting Bnrnet, whose name would, 
indeed, honour the brightest period. In particular, no poet whose works merit Prager. 
vation arose. By a. singular fatality, the eentury which stands highest in Englieh 
history and genius, is one of the darkest in those of Seotland." zlncient Scotish Poems, 
edited by John Pinkerton, vol, I, p. III, IV, London 1786. 
4) Ray, der Schottland 1661 besuchte, konnte einen Anüug von Standesneid nicht 
unterdrücken, als er sah, wie viel höher die Geistlichen hier, als in England geschätzt 
Wurden. Er sagt: „the people here frequent their churches much better than in 
England, and have their ministers in more esteem and veneration." Ray's Memorials, 
edited by Dr. Lankester for tlze Ißay Socicty, p. 161.