John Law was a 17th-century Presbyterian minister from Scotland. He became a moderator and was a prisoner on the Bass Rock. Law was born in 1632, the son of Thomas Law, minister of Inchinnan. Like John Spreul he began life as an apothecary. He graduated with an M.A. from the University of Glasgow in 1653. He was ordained to be the minister of Campsie in 1656. He was deprived of this charge in 1662 but later restored in 1678. He was again deprived on account of the Test in 1681. He was called to the High Church 22 July 1689. He was appointed to the charge 20 April 1692 and confirmed by the town council24 July 1689. He was a member of the General Assemblies in 1690 and 1692 and was elected Moderator in 1694. He was appointed almoner to His Majesty on 2 October 1700. He demitted his charge or retired on 26 November 1707 and died 26 December 1712. He was interred on the Bass Rock from April 1679 until July 1679. His brother was the minister of East Kilpatrick.
Early ministry
John Law, born around 1632, graduated with a Master of Arts degree from Glasgow University allowing him to be known as Mr. John Law. He was ordained by the Protesters to be minister of Campsie in 1656. He was deprived by an Act of Parliament on 11 June, and Decreet of Privy Council 1 October 1662. Law for the next eight years conducted conventicles — often at great risk to himself — in the west of Stirlingshire, about Kippen, Gargunnock, and Menteith. Under the "Indulgence Act" he was allowed to exercise the functions of the ministry in the parish of Irvine in 1672, but declined, and as he did not appear before the council when called, 12 March 1673, they ordered his apprehension, 4 June 1674. However, he did not confine himself to these parts; and, accordingly, a warrant was issued for his apprehension. He was accused at the Diocesan Synod, 22 October, of holding conventicles at Kippen. Captured and taken to the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, Law was brought before "My Lords" but discharged upon a security of five thousand merks to "live orderly "; or, in default thereof, to be treated as a "seditious" person. This was in 1674. But he was no sooner set at liberty than he entered again into all the enthusiasm of conventicles and managed, for five years, to elude the state's control. He was put to the horn on 7 December 1676. A meeting-house built for him in the parish in 1678 was demolished by order of the council. About the beginning of 1679 he was arrested, in the house of the laird of Kincaid, while on his way to visit his dying wife. He was sent prisoner to the Bass Rock in 1679, for "invading several pulpits and presuming to ordain persons to the ministry" but was released after three months on finding caution to appear when called and under a bond of one thousand merks. He was deprived in 1681, probably on account of the Test was restored by Act of Parliament 25 April 1690, but having been called to the High Kirk, Edinburgh, accepted that charge.
After the Revolutionary Settlement
After the Revolution he became minister of the St. Giles', Edinburgh. Law died in December 1712, at the advanced age of eighty years, and was buried in the churchyard of Old Greyfriars. His Wife, Isabella Cunninghame, "noted for true holiness," was interred in the same place, on 8 November 1703, in her 70th year.
Family life
He married Isabella, who was the daughter of Robert Cunningham, minister of Holywood, Ireland, and had issue — William, professor of moral philosophy in the University of Edinburgh, founder of the family of Law of Elvingston, East Lothian. William built a tomb for his parents in Greyfriars Kirkyard. The inscription reads:
