|
SCOUGAL, HENRY, a theological
writer of considerable eminence, was born in the end of June, 1650. He was
descended of the family of the Scougals of that ilk, and was the son of
Patrick Scougal, bishop of Aberdeen, from 1664 to 1682; a man whose piety
and learning have been commemorated by bishop Burnet. His son Henry is said
to have early displayed symptoms of those talents for which he was
afterwards distinguished. We are told by Dr George Garden, that "he was not
taken up with the plays and little diversions of those of his age; but, upon
such occasions, did usually retire from them, and that not out of sullenness
of humour or dulness of spirit, (the sweetness and serenity of whose temper
did even then appear,) but out of a stayedness of mind, going to some
privacy, and employing his time in reading, prayer, and such serious
thoughts, as that age was capable of." [A Sermon preached at the Funeral of
the reverend Henry Scougal, M.A. By G.G. (George Garden), D.D., p. 285.]
Tradition has asserted that Scougal was led to the study of theology, in the
hopes of finding in it a balm for disappointed affections; and this is in so
far countenanced by the tenor of several passages of his writings. Another
cause, however, has been assigned, and apparently on better authority.
"Being once in a seirous reflection what course of life he should take, he
takes up the Bible, to read a portion of it; and though he was always averse
to the making a lottery of the Scriptures, yet he could not but take notice
of the first words which he cast his eyes upon, and which made no small
impression on his spirit: ‘By what means shall a young man learn to purify
his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.’" On his father’s
election to the see of Aberdeen, Scougal entered as a student at King’s
college there, of which university his father was chancellor. He seems to
have taken the lead of his fellow students in almost every department of
science; and, in addition to the usual branches of knowledge pursued in the
university, to have acquired a knowledge of some of the Oriental tongues.
Immediately on taking his degree, he was selected to assist one of the
regents in the instruction of his class; and the next year, 1669, he was, at
the early age of nineteen, appointed a professor. His immature age was
probably incapable to preserve order in his class; at all events, tumults
and insubordination broke forth among his students, of whom so many were
expelled from the college, that he scarce had a class to teach. His office
of regent, which was thus inauspiciously commenced, he held but for four
years, having at the end of that time accepted the pastoral charge of the
parish of Auchterless, in Aberdeen-shire. He retained this charge no longer
than a twelvemonth, and, in 1674, was appointed professor of divinity in the
King’s college; a chair which had shortly before been filled by the
celebrated John Forbes of Corse, and more lately by William Douglas, the
learned author of the "Academiarum Vindiciae," and other works. As was
customary in that age, Scougal printed a thesis on his accession to the
divinity chair: this tract, which is still preserved and highly prized, is
entitled, "De Objecto cultus Religiosi."
In 1677, appeared "The Life
of God in the Soul of Man, or the Nature and Excellency of the Christian
religion." This work, to which Scougal’s modesty would not permit him to
prefix his name, was edited by bishop Burnet, who appended to it a tract
called "An account of the Spiritual Life," supposed to be written by
himself. In the prefatory notice, Burnet states of the author, "that the
book is a transcript of those divine impressions that were upon his own
heart, and that he has written nothing in it but what he himself did well
feel and know." The work passed at once into that extensive popularity and
high reputation it has ever since enjoyed. Before 1727, it had gone through
five editions, the last under the superintendence of the Society for
promoting Christian knowledge. In 1735, it was again reprinted with the
addition of "Nine Discourses on Important Subjects," and Dr Garden’s funeral
sermon; and in 1740, another edition appeared, with some "Occasional
Meditations," not previously published. Since that period editions have
multiplied very rapidly. In 1722, it was translated into French, and
published at the Hague. Scougal survived the publication of his work for no
longer than a twelvemonth. At the early age of twenty-eight, he died on the
13th of June, in the year 1678, and was interred on the north side of the
chapel of King’s college, where a tablet of black marble, bearing a simple
Latin inscription was erected to his memory. He bequeathed a sum of five
thousand merks to augment the salary of the professor of divinity in the
university, and left his books to the college library. A portrait of Scougal
is preserved in the college hall, and the countenance breathes all that
serene composure, benevolence, purity, and kindness which so strikingly mark
his writings. Besides the works which have been mentioned, Scougal left
behind him in manuscript various juvenile essays, and some Latin tracts,
among which are "A short System of Ethics or Moral Philosophy;" "A
Preservative against the Artifices of the Romish missionaries," and a
fragment "On the Pastoral Cure." This last work was designed for the use of
students in divinity and candidates for holy orders. None of the least
beautiful or remarkable of his works is "The Morning and Evening Service,"
which he composed for the Cathedral of Aberdeen, and which is characterized
by a spirit of fervid devotion, and a deep and singular elevation of
thought, and solemnity of diction. |
