[2] Six years later, he was presented by the commissioner for William, Earl of Dundonald, who had electoral interests in the area, to Paisley High Kirk as 2nd Charge Minister, where he was ordained on 7 September 1758.
He was presented by the Patron and major Heritor, John Campbell of Blythswood, (who also had electoral interests in the area) on 17 December 1760, but was not able to take up the post until 20 October 1761, .
He signed a proclamation in Glasgow newspapers, in the name of the Minister, Elders and Heads of Families of the Parish of Inchinnan, denouncing "the unchristian spirit and savage cruelties of Popery", declaring that "we desire to see no Papist suffering ... for conscience sake, nor for his speculative opinions, however absurd or erroneous, while he lives quietly and inoffensively, and does not attempt in any manner of way to seduce or pervert others".
However, they would not submit to allowing Popish priests, "ever zealous and artful ... to teach and preach openly, and with impunity, in a Protestant country"[6] They threatened to "use every legal and constitutional measure in our power" to make sure it did not happen.
The King in his letter to them asked them to avoid any "disputes and unnecessary and unbecoming discussions" (Principal Acts, page 5) and in response the Assembly wanted "to embrace every opportunity of testifying the ardent zeal which we feel for the support of Your Majesty's Government and Royal person".
It thanked the King for delivering the nation from the threat of war, securing the independence of "a neighbouring Protestant country", and re-establishing an old alliance with it.
This was the United Provinces from which William of Orange had invaded England in 1688, so the Assembly asked the King to take the opportunity to commemorate "the Revolution of 1688 which delivered us from Popery and arbitrary power".
study in philosophy and then had to pass a number of tests – producing an exegesis in Latin on a contested topic in divinity, a homily in English and a "popular sermon".
At the end, Presbytery should check that the student was over 21, sober and "well affected to the happy establishment in this Kingdom, both in Church and State" (p 28) with sufficient knowledge in the Greek and Latin languages (and, often, Hebrew), and in philosophy and theology.
The Assembly agreed to declare their abhorrence of the slave trade (page 40) and their earnest wish that the legislature would do something about it, but rejected a motion to petition the House of Commons on the subject.