Dr Ritchie, 1834

 This case sits firmly at the trivial end of the scale of heresy accusations.

On Friday May 23rd, 1834, at an Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Andrew Johnstone, M.P. (probably this man) complained about “the alleged heretical doctrine” in a book by Rev. Dr. David Ritchie, “Lectures on the Epistle of Paul to the Romans”. 

(Ritchie, D., & Blackwood, W. (1831). Lectures: Explanatory and practical, on the doctrinal part of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans. Edinburgh: William Blackwood.)

Johnstone called for a committee of inquiry to discover the author and to ascertain “whether it did not impugn the doctrine of justification by faith.” he had given no prior notice of his complaint. (Report of the proceedings of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, for the year 1834, Edinburgh, Wm Whyte and Co., p.10 here.) 

Dr Ritchie immediately declared himself the author, and affirmed 

“I cordially believe in the doctrine of by faith alone without works, - I teach this doctrine explicitly whenever it comes before me, and therefore if there be any expression in my lectures which seems to impugn this doctrine, it must have been inadvertently; … In the doctrine of justification by faith alone I concur as cordially as any member of the Assembly, be the said individual who he may.” (Ibid. p. 11)

 He said he was not clear what exactly in his writings had given rise to the complaint. 

But Andrew Johnstone was not satisfied. He called for a committee to examine the matter further (Ibid. p. 89). Ritchie repeated his declaration of belief in the doctrine of justification by faith alone. Principal Dewar of Aberdeen was not happy with the way the issue had been addressed. He felt it was difficult to reconcile statements in Dr Ritchie’s book with “the fundamental doctrine of Justification by Faith;” but, nonetheless, he accepted Richie’s solemn declaration. (Ibid. p.90; Caledonian Mercury - Saturday 31 May 1834 p3 col 3)

Andrew Johnstone was not so easily satisfied. He continued to argue for a committee to examine Ritchie’s teaching. (Northern Whig - Thursday 05 June 1834 p2 col 5). So far as I can see, his campaign went nowhere.