better than prelacy or popery. - Again, the more
moderate party were content to allow the king's title to the throne, and in
secular affairs to acknowledge his authority, so long as it was exercised with
due regard to the liberties of the subject, and in conformity to the laws of the
realm. But the tenets of the wilder sect (called, from their leader Richard
Cameron, by the name of Cameronians) went the length of disowning the reigning
monarch, and every one of his successors who should not acknowledge the Solemn
League and Covenant. The seeds of disunion were, therefore, thickly sown in this
ill-fated party; and Balfour, however enthusiastic, and however much attached to
the most violent of those tenets which we have noticed, saw nothing but ruin to
the general cause, if they were insisted on during this crisis, when unity was
of so much consequence. Hence he disapproved, as we have seen, of the honest,
downright, and ardent zeal of Macbriar, and was extremely desirous to receive
the assistance of the moderate party of Presbyterians in the immediate overthrow
of the Government, with the hope of being hereafter able to dictate to them what
should be substituted in its place.
    He was, on this account, particularly anxious to secure the accession of
Henry Morton to the cause of the insurgents. The memory of his father was
generally esteemed among the Presbyterians; and as few persons of any decent
quality had joined the insurgents, this young man's family and prospects were
such as almost insured his being chosen a leader. Through Morton's means, as
being the son of his ancient comrade, Burley conceived he might exercise some
influence over the more liberal part of the army, and ultimately, perhaps,
ingratiate himself so far with them, as to be chosen commander-in-chief, which
was the mark at which his ambition aimed. He had, therefore, without waiting
till any other person took up the subject, exalted to the council the talents
and disposition of Morton, and easily obtained his elevation to the painful rank
of a leader in this disunited and undisciplined army.
    The arguments by which Balfour pressed Morton to accept of this dangerous
promotion, as soon as he had gotten rid of his less wary and uncompromising
companion, Macbriar, were sufficiently artful and urgent. He did not affect
either to deny or to disguise that the sentiments which he himself entertained
concerning church government, went as far as those of the preacher who had just
left them; but he argued, that when the affairs of the nation were at such a
desperate crisis