M'Crie, Thomas 1772-1835

From the Dictionary of National Biography

McCRIE, THOMAS. D.D. (1772-1835), Scottish seceding divine and ecclesiastical historian, eldest son of Thomas McCrie, a substantial linen-weaver,by his first wife Mary (Hood), was born at Duns, Berwickshire, in November 1772. After passing through the parish school, he became an elementary teacher in neighbouring schools. In 1788 he entered at the Edinburgh University, but did not graduate. He became in May 1791 teacher of an 'anti-burgher' school at Brechin, Forfarshire. To qualify himself for the ministry, he studied divinity under Archibald Bruce [q.v.] of Whitburn, Linlithgowshire, professor of theology to the 'general associate synod' (anti-burgher). He was licensed in. September 1795 by the associate presbytery of Kelso, and ordained on 26 May 1796 as minister of the second associate congregation in Potterrow, Edinburgh. He early showed both literary and controversial ability.
Since 1747, when the 'general associate synod' seceded from the 'associate synod on the ground of the unlawfulness of the civic oath [see Erskine, Ebenezer, and Gib, Adam], changes had come over the minds of the 'anti-burghers' on the question of the mutual relations of civil and ecclesiastical authority. From the position that the civil power is to exercise itself in church matters under the guidance of ecclesiastical criticism, they had advanced to a view of the complete independence of church and state, and consequent denial of any place for civil authority in church affairs. This change of front was signalized by a 'new testimony,' adopted by the synod in May 1804. Bruce, McCrie, and two other ministers made repeated protests against this 'new testimony' as at variance with the older standards. At length, on 28 Aug. 1806, they formed themselves into a 'constitutional associate presbytery.' The synod deposed them (McCrie on 2 Sept.) from the ministry. A lawsuit resulted (24 Feb. 1809) in McCrie's ejection from the Potterrow meeting-house, when his congregation built new one in Davie Street, out of West Richmond Street. In 1827 the 'constitutional' body, joined by protesting members of the 'burgher' synod, took the name of 'original seceders.'
McCrie was drawn by this conflict about the first principles of ecclesiastical theory to a thorough and searching study of Scottish church history, in its organic connection with the national life, and with the general development of protestant civilisation. The first fruit of his labour was the life of Knox, finished in November 1811, which made its mark at once as a work of genius as well as of erudition, and has permanently placed its author in the front rank of British writers on church history. Its breadth of treatment was something new in ecclesiastical biography. It effected a revolution in the public estimate of its subject, akin to that achieved by Carlyle's 'Cromwell,' though by different means. McCrie is not a showman with a hero on view, but an historian of principles and policy. His biography of Melville (November 1819) pursues the theme of the Scottish national career under the influence of the Reformation. The post-Reformation church history of Scotland he did not treat with the same fulness: his life of Alexander Henderson (1583?-1646) [q. v.], in the 'Christian Instructor,' vol. x., is little more than a personal sketch. Later he broke new ground in his histories of the Italian (1827) and Spanish (1829) movements of evangelical and free opinion at the era of the Reformation; which nothing is more admirable than the fairness of his dealing with schools of thought very different from his own. It is to be lamented that he did not live to execute a projected life of Calvin. 'His literary genius,' says Professor Lorimer, 'was neither wholly historical nor wholly biographical, but found congenial employment in biographical history or historical biography, buying equal delight in the personal traits and minute facts appropriate to the one, and in the broad views and profound principles characteristic of the other. It is not often that biographers make good historians, or that historians are equally great in biography, but be was equally great in both' (Imperial Dict. of Biog. pt. xiii. p. 265).
On 3 Feb. 1813 the Edinburgh University made him D.D., a degree often conferred on English nonconformists, but never before on a Scottish dissenter. After the death of Bruce (1816), McCrie acted till 1818 as his successor in the chair of divinity. Coincidently with his entrance on this office he published in the 'Christian Instructor' (January-March 1817) a powerful critique on Sir Walter Scott's representations of the covenanters (in 'Old Mortality'), in which he proved himself a better antiquary than the great novelist (Scott, Journal, ii. 404 n.) Subsequently he published, either separately in magazines, a number of biographies and reviews of biographies, chiefly Scottish.
McCrie died at Edinburgh on 5 Aug. 1835, and was buried on 12 Aug. in Greyfriars' churchyard; a deputation from the general assembly of the church of Scotland attended funeral. He married, firstly, in 1796, Janet, daughter of William Dickson of Swinton, Berwickshire, bv whom he had issue: (1) Thomas [q. v.]; (2) William, merchant in Edinburgh; (3) Jessie, married to Archibald Meikle of Flemington; (4) John, d. October 1837; and (5) George, minister of Ciola, Aberdeenshire. He married, secondly, in 1827, Mary, fourth daughter of Robert Chalmers, minister at Haddington, who survived him and received a pension from government on the ground of her husband's services to literature.
A portrait by Sir John Watson Gordon is in the National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh.
He published, besides single sermons:

1. 'The Life of John Knox, containing Illustrations of the History of the Reformation in Scotland,' &c., Edinburgh, 1812, 8vo, 2 vols.; 2nd edit, revised and enlarged, Edinburgh, 1813, 8vo. 2 vols. Of the many subsequent editions, the most important are: Edinburgh, 1840, 8vo (reprinted London. 1854, 8vo), with corrections, notes, and memoir by Andrew Crichton, LL.D. [q.v.]; and Edinburgh, 1865, 8vo, with appended notes by Thomas McCrie, his son, being vol, i. of his' Works.'
2. 'The Life of Andrew Melville, containing Illustrations of the Ecclesiastical and Literary History of Scotland," &c., Edinburgh, 1819, 8vo, 2 vols.; 2nd edit, revised, Edinburgh, 1623, 8vo; 3rd edit. 1866, 8vo, with appended notes by his son, being vol. ii. of his 'Works.'
3. 'Memoirs of … William Veitch and George Brysson, written by themselves, with other Narratives illustrative of the History of Scotland … to the Revolution," &c., Edinburgh, 1825, 8vo.
4. ' History of the Progress and Suppression of the Reformation in Italy,' &c., Edinburgh, 1827, 8vo; 2nd edit, enlarged, 1832, 8vo.
5. 'History of the Progress and Suppression of the Reformation in Spain,' &c., Edinburgh, 1829, 8vo.

Posthumous was

6. 'Sermons,' &c., Edinburgh, 1836, 8vo.

A volume of his 'Miscellaneous Writings,' collected and edited by his son, Edinburgh, 1841, 8vo, contains annotated reprints of his biographies of Henderson, Patrick Hamilton [q.v.], F. Lambert, A. Rivet, and J. Murray; his account of the 'Taborites,' his reviews of Milne on presbytery and episcopacy, Simeon on the liturgy, Sismondi's 'Considerations' on Geneva, Scott's 'Tales of my Landlord,' Orme's Owen, and Turner's 'Life and Times,' also three pamphlets on church matters. In 1805 or 1806 he edited the 'Christian Magazine.' He was a contributor to 'Blackwood's Magazine' in its first year (1817). His last publication was an anonymous pamphlet (May 1833) advocating the abolition of church patronage.

[Life, by his son, 1840; Thomson's Historical Sketch of the Secession Church, 1848. pp. 173 eq.; Memoir by Crichton, 1854; Catalogue of Edinburgh Graduates, 1858, p. 251; Grub's Eccl. Hist. of Scotland, 1862. iv. 153, 160 sq., 235; Anderson's Scottish Nation, 1872, ii. 711 sq.]

A. G.

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The life of Thomas M'Crie, D.D. : author of "Life of John Knox," "Life of Melville," etc., etc. (1842) - by his son, M'Crie, Thomas, 1797-1875
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Sermons (1836)
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The works of Thomas M'Crie, D.D., Volume 1 (1855)
Life of John Knox - Containing Illustrations of the History of the Reformation in Scotland with Biographical Notices of the Principal Reformers, and Sketches of the Progress of Literature in Scotland During the Sixteenth Century and an Appendix Consisting of Original Papers
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The works of Thomas M'Crie, D.D. Volume 2 (1856)
Life of Andrew Melville
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The works of Thomas M'Crie, D.D., Volume 3 (1856)
History of the Progress and Suppression of the Reformation in Italy in the Sixteenth Century (Including a Sketch of the History of the Reformation in the Grisons)
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The works of Thomas M'Crie, D.D., Volume 4 (1857)
1. Review of "Tales of My Landlord"
2. Two Discourses on the Unity of the Church: Her Division, and Their Removal
3. Sermons
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Lectures on the Book of Esther - 1838
     Notes: Page numbers 289-296 missing. Page numbering misprinted, resets to 73 after page 80.
     Lecture 1: Esther 1:1-9
     Lecture 2: Esther 1:10-22
     Lecture 3: Esther 2:5-11; 15-20
     Lecture 4: Esther 2:21-23; 3:1-6
     Lecture 5: Esther 3:6-15
     Lecture 6: Esther 4:1-12
     Lecture 7: Esther 4:13-17
     Lecture 8: Esther 4:15-17; 5:1-8
     Lecture 9: Esther 5:9-14
     Lecture 10: Esther 6:1-11
     Lecture 11: Esther 6:12-14
     Lecture 12: Esther 7:1-6
     Lecture 13: Esther 7:7-10
     Lecture 14: Esther 8:1-5
     Lecture 15: Esther 8:7-17
     Lecture 16: Esther 9:1-16
     Lecture 17: Esther 9:17-32
     Lecture 18: Esther 10

Lives of Alexander Henderson and James Guthrie: With Specimens of Their Writing - 1846


--Life of Alexander Henderson by Thomas M'Crie
--A Sermon, Preached Before the Lords and Commons, at Margaret's Church in Westminster, Upon 
Thursday the 18th of July, 1644 (Matthew 14:31) by Alexander Henderson
--A Sermon, Preached Before the Right Honourable House of Lords, in the Abbey Church at Westminster, Upon Wednesday the 28th of May, 1645 (John 18:36, 37) by Alexander Henderson


--Life of James Guthrie by The Editor
--Sermon Preached at Airth in 1658, Preparatory to the Communion by James Guthrie
--Sermon Preached Upon the Communion Sabbath (Luke 22:14) by James Guthrie
--A Cry from the Dead: Being Mr. Guthrie's Last Sermon, Preached at Stirling, Before His Martyrdom at Edinburgh in June 1661 (Matthew 14:22-25)
--James Guthrie's Last Speech Upon the Scaffold June 1, 1661
--James Guthrie's Considerations: Contributing Unto the Discovery of the Dangers that Threaten Religion and the Work of Reformation in the Church of Scotland
----Consideration First: From that swarm of pestilent errors and heresies that doth abound in the neighbour nation of England, and our vicinity thereunto, and intimate and daily correspondence therewith.
----Consideration Second: From the infection of errors and heresies already begun, and the footing that they have already got in this church and nation.
----Consideration Third: From the toleration and protection that is pleaded for, and allowed to many gross errors and heresies.
----Consideration Fourth: From the ignorance, unfruitfulness, instability, looseness and profanity that do abound in the land at this time.
----Consideration Fifth: From a great decay of a true public spirit, and of diligence, and seal, and watchfulness in the things of God; from the great increase of the spirit of sloth, and neutrality, and security amongst us.
----Consideration Sixth: From the Divisions that are amongst us.
----Consideration Seventh: From the attempts and assaults that are made by many upon the ordinances of Jesus Christ.
----Danger Eighth: From the growth and increase of Popery in the land.
----Danger Ninth: From our guiltiness in many of these things, for which the Lord threateneth to depart, and remove his candlestick.
----Danger 10: That the Lord who is our light, and life, and strength, is in no small measure departed from us, and hath smitten us with many plagues of heart.
----Some considerations soberly offered in answer to those who seem to entertain a fixed persuasion, that God will not remove his tabernacle from amongst us. 
Annals of English Presbytery : from the earliest period to the present time (1872)
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History of the progress and suppression of the Reformation in Italy in the sixteenth century : including a sketch of the history of the Reformation in the Grisons (1842)
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History of the progress and suppression of the reformation in Spain in the sixteenth century (1829)
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Life of John Knox; containing illustrations of the history of the reformation in Scotland: with biographical notices of the principal reformers, and sketches of the progress of literature in Scotland during the sixteenth century; and an appendix, consisting of original papers, Volume 1 (1831)
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Life of John Knox; containing illustrations of the history of the reformation in Scotland: with biographical notices of the principal reformers, and sketches of the progress of literature in Scotland during the sixteenth century; and an appendix, consisting of original papers, Volume 2 (1831)
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The life of Andrew Melville, the Scottish reformer, abridged for the Board from McCrie's Life of Melville ([1840])
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The life of Andrew Melville: containing illustrations of the ecclesiastical and literary history of Scotland, during the latter part of the sixteenth and beginning of the seventeenth century. With an appendix, consisting of original papers (Volume 1) 1819 - M'Crie, Thomas, 1772-1835
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The life of Andrew Melville: containing illustrations of the ecclesiastical and literary history of Scotland, during the latter part of the sixteenth and beginning of the seventeenth century. With an appendix, consisting of original papers (Volume 2) 1819 - M'Crie, Thomas, 1772-1835
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The Life of Andrew Melville, Volume 1 - 1824 (2nd Edition) - M'Crie, Thomas, 1772-1835


The Life of Andrew Melville, Volume 2 - 1824 (2nd Edition) - M'Crie, Thomas, 1772-1835




Life of Andrew Melville, Volume 2 - 1856 (A New Edition: Edited by His Son) - M'Crie, Thomas, 1772-1835


Life of Andrew Melville - 1899 (New Edition) - - M'Crie, Thomas, 1772-1835




Sketches of Scottish church history : embracing the period from the Reformation to the Revolution, Volume 1 ([1846])
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Sketches of Scottish church history : embracing the period from the Reformation to the Revolution, Volume 2 (1846)
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Lectures on the book of Esther (1838)
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Lives of the Scottish reformers (1846)
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Miscellaneous Writings: Chiefly Historical - 1841



Vindication of the Covenanters, in a review of the 'Tales of my landlord' [by sir W. Scott ... (1845)



Sermons (1836)



Civil and Ecclesiastic History of the Bass: By the Rev. Thomas M'Crie - 1848



Memoirs of Mr. William Veitch and George Brysson, written by themselves ... - 1825



Memoirs of Mr. William Veitch and George Brysson [microform] : written by themselves with other narratives illustrative of the history of Scotland from the restoration to the revolution : to which are added biographical sketches and notes by Thomas M'Crie (1825)