Background
He was born at Coleraine, Londonderry, Oct. 19, 1680.
He was born at Coleraine, Londonderry, Oct. 19, 1680.
At the age of 13 he enrolled at the University of Glasgow, and after obtaining his M.A. degree he studied theology at the University of Edinburgh.
Returning to Coleraine, he continued his preparations for the ministry, and after a trip to Dublin he was called by three Presbyterian congregations to be their pastor.
The synod decided to send him to Antrim, where he was ordained Aug. 8, 1703. He received other calls during his stay at Antrim, where his work was greatly appreciated, but the synod allowed him to remain until 1717, when it decided to send him to Dublin. After a short stay there he felt it his duty to return to Antrim. The synod regarded this as tantamount to treason, and it was then that Abernethy openly expressed his contempt for the "tyrannical exercise of ecclesiastical power." He and other Presbyterian ministers who sympathized with his views formed the Belfast Society, the creation of which divided the church in Ireland into two camps: subscribers and nonsubscribers. Abernethy was a leader of the nonsubscribers. In the face of a possible schism, he wrote his conciliatory Seasonable Advice to the Contending Parties in the North. The schism occurred, nevertheless, when in 1726 the nonsubscribers were expelled from the church. In 1730 he received a call to Wood Street Church, Dublin, where he added to his fame as a debater and orator. In 1731 his support was sought for the repeal of the Test Act, and Abernethy undertook the task with great fervor, declaring himself to be "against all laws that, upon account of mere differences of religious opinions and forms of worship, exclude men of integrity and ability from serving their country."