John Livingstone (minister)

The Reverend John Livingstone
Portrait by Frans Hals
Church	Church of Scotland Church of Ireland
Personal details
Born	1603 Kilsyth
Died	1672 Rotterdam
Nationality	Scottish
Denomination	Presbyterian
Occupation	Minister
Alma mater	University of Glasgow, University of St. Andrews
Signature

John Livingstone (or Livingston; born 21 June 1603, Kilsyth^[1][2] – 9 August 1672) was a Scottish minister. He was the son of William Livingstone, minister of Kilsyth, and afterwards of Lanark, said to be a descendant of the second son James, of the fourth Lord Livingston.^{[3][page needed]} His mother was Agnes, daughter of Alexander Livingston, portioner, Falkirk, brother of the Laird of Belstane.^[1]

He was educated at Stirling High School and graduated with an M.A. at the University of Glasgow in 1621. Against his father's wish, he preferred to enter the ministry rather than adopt the life of a country gentleman. He studied theology at St Andrews, and was licensed in 1625. For a time he assisted the minister of Torphichen, and was afterwards chaplain to the Countess of Wigtown at Cumbernauld. While engaged in the latter capacity he took part in the memorable revival at the Kirk of Shotts. He declined presentations to several parishes, chiefly on account of his reluctance to obey the Five Articles of Perth. In 1630 he went to Ireland, on the invitation of Viscount Clandeboye, and became minister of Killinchy, County Down, being ordained by Andrew Knox, Bishop of Raphoe, and a company of Scottish ministers who had taken up a kind of middle position between Presbyterianism and Prelacy.^[1]

In 1631 he was suspended for nonconformity, but was soon reinstated through the friendly offices of Archbishop Ussher. Unfortunately, he had a bitter enemy in Robert Echlin, the Bishop of Down and Connor. On 4 May 1632 Echlin had him deposed and excommunicated for the same cause. Having resolved to emigrate to America, he left Ireland in September 1636, along with a number of his parishioners and other Scottish and English Puritans — 140 in all. They sailed for New England in the Eagle Wing, but through contrary winds were obliged to return home. In 1638 he signed the National Covenant, and was commissioned to proceed to London with copies of it for supporters of the Scottish cause at Court. On 5 July 1638 he was admitted minister of Stranraer, where he remained for ten years. It is recorded that his half-yearly communions there were attended by as many as five hundred of his old parishioners of Killinchy. In 1640 he was chaplain of the Earl of Cassillis's Regiment in England, and wrote an account of the skirmish at Newburn, which he had witnessed. When minister of Stranraer he frequently crossed to Ulster, and officiated to the Scottish troops quartered there.^[1]

In 1648 the Commission of Assembly sent him to dissuade those troops from joining the army of the "Engagement," but his mission was a failure. On 13 July 1647, William, Earl of Lothian, presented Livingston to Ancram, and he was admitted and installed on 25 April 1648. He was a member of the Commission of Assembly in 1649. Next year he was one of those appointed to negotiate with Charles II., at Breda, as to the terms on which he should receive the Crown. While the royal ships were lying at anchor off Speymouth, Livingston obtained the King's oath of fidelity to the Covenants. He did not, however, trust Charles, and soon afterwards he identified himself with those who opposed the coronation and the conduct of the government. He was asked by the General Assembly of 1650 to write a History of the Church of Scotland from 1638, but this was never completed.^[1]

In October 1651 he was chosen Moderator of a general meeting of the Protesters. He preached before Cromwell in London in 1654, and was authorised by the Protector to recommend candidates for vacant parishes. Between 1655 and 1659 he declined calls to Antrim, to his former charge at Killinchy, and to Glasgow. He was summoned before the Privy Council 11 December 1662, the same day as Robert Traill, and, refusing to take the Oath of Allegiance, was banished. He went to Rotterdam in April 1663, where he spent his last years in almost constant study, and in the preparation of a Latin version of the Scriptures which was never published. He died on 9 August 1672. He is described as having been modest in manner, sweet in temper, of retired and contemplative habits; so that, though he joined the more extreme Presbyterians, in his moderation he deeply lamented the division that had torn the Church asunder.^[4]