Some questions resolved concerning Episcopal and Presbyterian government in Scotland
         Cunningham, Alexander.
      
       
         
           1690
        
      
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             Some questions resolved concerning Episcopal and Presbyterian government in Scotland
             Cunningham, Alexander.
             Cunningham, Gabriel.
          
           [4], 31, [1] p.
           
             Printed for the author :
             and are to be sold by Randal Taylor ...,
             London :
             1690.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in Britol Public Library, Britol, England.
             By Alexander Cunningham; ascribed in error to Gabriel Cunningham. cf. Halkett & Laing.
             Table of contents: p. [1] at end.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Church of Scotland -- Government.
           Episcopal Church in Scotland.
           Presbyterianism -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
     
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           SOME
           
             Questions
             Resolved
          
           CONCERNING
           EPISCOPAL
           AND
           PRESBYTERIAN
           GOVERNMENT
           IN
           SCOTLAND
           .
        
         
           
             I
             protest
             before
             the
             great
             God
             ,
             and
             since
             I
             am
             here
             as
             upon
             my
             Testament
             ,
             it
             is
             no
             time
             for
             me
             to
             lye
             in
             ,
             that
             ye
             shall
             never
             find
             with
             any
          
           High-Land
           
             or
             border
             Thieves
             ,
             greater
             Ingratitude
             ,
             and
             more
             Lies
             ,
             and
             vile
             Perjuries
             ,
             then
             with
             these
             Phanatick
             Spirits
             .
             And
             suffer
             not
             the
             Principles
             of
             them
             to
             brook
             your
             Land
             ,
             if
             you
             like
             to
             sit
             at
             rest
             :
             Except
             you
             keep
             them
             for
             trying
             your
             Patience
             ,
             as
          
           Socrates
           
             did
             an
             evil
             Wife
          
           .
           
             K.
             J.
             his
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             ,
             lib.
             2.
             p.
             51.
             
             Lond.
             
          
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           for
           the
           Author
           ,
           and
           are
           to
           be
           Sold
           by
           
             Randal
             Taylor
          
           ,
           near
           Stationers-Hall
           ,
           1690.
           
        
      
       
         
         
           IMPRIMATUR
           ,
        
         
           
             Z.
             Isham
             ,
             R.
             P.
             D.
             Henrico
             ,
             Episc.
             Lond.
             à
             Sacris
             .
          
           
             
               March
               10
               1690.
               
            
          
        
      
       
         
         
           THE
           PREFACE
           .
        
         
           THE
           Government
           by
           Arch-Bishops
           and
           Bishops
           ,
           was
           in
           Scotland
           restored
           
             An.
             1662
          
           ,
           as
           being
           
             most
             agreeable
             to
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             ,
             most
             convenient
             for
             the
             preservation
             of
             Truth
             ,
             Order
             ,
             and
             Unity
             ,
             and
             most
             suitable
             to
             Monarchy
             ,
             and
             the
             peace
             and
             quiet
             of
             the
             State.
          
           Those
           motives
           for
           its
           Restitution
           are
           every
           way
           so
           great
           ,
           that
           none
           others
           can
           be
           so
           worthy
           of
           the
           
             Wisdom
             of
             that
             Nation
          
           ,
           which
           challengeth
           a
           more
           early
           Profession
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           and
           an
           Ancienter
           Race
           of
           Kings
           ,
           than
           any
           of
           these
           parts
           of
           Christendom
           can
           well
           pretend
           to
           .
           But
           that
           Ecclesiastical
           Government
           ,
           which
           in
           its
           self
           is
           most
           agreeable
           to
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           and
           best
           fitted
           against
           Heresie
           and
           Schism
           ,
           may
           to
           prejudiced
           Men
           seem
           burthensome
           ,
           and
           by
           them
           be
           Misrepresented
           to
           others
           .
        
         
           From
           this
           it
           hath
           happened
           ,
           that
           the
           Episcopacy
           (
           as
           Exercised
           in
           Scotland
           these
           26
           years
           )
           hath
           been
           of
           late
           abolished
           ,
           
             as
             an
             unsupportable
             Grievance
             to
             the
             Nation
             ,
             contrary
             to
             the
             general
             Inclition
             of
             the
             People
             ,
             and
             inconsistent
             with
             the
             Legal
             Establishment
             of
             that
             Church
             at
             the
             Reformation
             :
          
           
           Whoever
           duly
           compares
           the
           Narratives
           of
           these
           Two
           Acts
           ,
           the
           one
           ,
           about
           its
           Restitution
           ,
           and
           the
           other
           ,
           about
           its
           Abolishment
           ,
           may
           find
           some
           of
           their
           Reasons
           why
           no
           other
           Ecclesiastick
           Politie
           is
           yet
           settled
           in
           its
           place
           ;
           For
           by
           this
           delay
           ,
           every
           Member
           of
           Parliament
           hath
           had
           time
           to
           consider
           what
           Church
           Government
           for
           Essentials
           is
           of
           Divine
           Right
           ,
           and
           may
           both
           preserve
           the
           Church
           from
           Heresie
           and
           Schism
           ,
           and
           the
           State
           from
           Usurpation
           and
           Rebellion
           ;
           and
           which
           may
           best
           conduce
           to
           the
           satisfaction
           of
           all
           Religious
           Protestants
           ,
           and
           Loyal
           Subjects
           in
           that
           Kingdom
           .
           For
           this
           Effect
           ,
           the
           due
           consideration
           of
           the
           following
           Questions
           is
           doubtless
           of
           great
           importance
           ,
           and
           the
           impartial
           Resolution
           of
           them
           cannot
           but
           be
           at
           this
           time
           very
           seasonable
           .
           Whether
           they
           are
           resolved
           here
           with
           such
           impartiality
           as
           this
           matter
           requires
           ,
           is
           submitted
           to
           the
           unbyassed
           Iudgment
           of
           the
           Reader
           :
           Whom
           I
           shall
           desire
           that
           if
           he
           has
           any
           thing
           to
           object
           ,
           he
           will
           tell
           the
           world
           in
           Charity
           and
           Meekness
           ,
           that
           are
           the
           proper
           Characters
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           and
           not
           in
           that
           Unchristian
           way
           of
           Evil
           Speaking
           and
           Reviling
           ,
           which
           sufficiently
           shews
           what
           Spirt
           he
           is
           of
           ,
           that
           writ
           ,
           
             The
             brief
             and
             true
             Account
             of
             the
             Sufferings
             of
             the
             Church
             of
          
           Scotland
           ,
           
             occasioned
             by
             the
          
           Episcopalians
           
             since
             the
             year
             1660.
          
           
        
         
           I
           wish
           I
           had
           seen
           that
           Pamphlet
           before
           this
           was
           going
           to
           the
           Press
           .
           It
           would
           have
           Occasion'd
           me
           to
           add
           some
           things
           more
           ,
           tho'
           I
           do
           not
           find
           my self
           obliged
           by
           it
           ,
           to
           alter
           any
           thing
           that
           I
           have
           Written
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           SOME
           Questions
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           
             
               QUESTION
               I.
            
             Whether
             Presbytery
             (
             as
             contrary
             to
             the
             Episcopacy
             restored
             in
             
               Scotland
               ,
               An.
               1662.
            
             )
             was
             settled
             by
             Law
             when
             the
             
               Protestant
               Religion
            
             came
             to
             have
             the
             Legal
             Establishment
             in
             that
             Kingdom
             ?
          
           
             1.
             
             ALL
             the
             Dispute
             here
             ,
             intrinsick
             to
             the
             notion
             of
             a
             Church
             Governour
             ,
             is
             purely
             this
             ;
             Whether
             he
             should
             be
             nominated
             by
             the
             State
             or
             by
             the
             Church
             ;
             whether
             after
             Nomination
             ,
             the
             power
             to
             Elect
             him
             should
             be
             entrusted
             to
             a
             Delegated
             Number
             ,
             or
             remain
             in
             the
             mixt
             Synod
             of
             Clergy
             and
             Laity
             ;
             and
             whether
             after
             the
             Election
             is
             past
             ,
             his
             Institution
             unto
             his
             Office
             should
             be
             for
             Life
             ,
             or
             only
             during
             Pleasure
             ;
             and
             lastly
             ,
             whether
             in
             the
             Exercise
             of
             his
             Function
             he
             have
             a
             Negative
             voice
             over
             his
             Synod
             ,
             or
             they
             a
             Conclusive
             Voice
             over
             him
             :
             Wherefore
             the
             Presbyterian
             Moderator
             An.
             1662.
             abolished
             ,
             
             is
             rightly
             defined
             ,
             the
             Church-Moderator
             ,
             Nominated
             and
             Elected
             by
             the
             Clergy
             ,
             Lay-Elders
             and
             Deacons
             of
             the
             Synod
             ;
             instituted
             unto
             his
             Office
             during
             their
             pleasure
             ;
             invested
             with
             no
             fixed
             Power
             of
             Ordination
             ;
             nor
             any
             Negative
             Voice
             in
             the
             exercise
             of
             his
             Jurisdiction
             .
             And
             the
             Episcopacy
             which
             was
             then
             restored
             ,
             is
             by
             the
             Rule
             of
             contraries
             a
             Church-Government
             of
             a
             Moderator
             Nominated
             by
             the
             King
             ;
             Elected
             by
             the
             Chapter
             ;
             invested
             with
             a
             fixed
             power
             of
             Ordination
             regulated
             by
             Cannons
             ;
             and
             of
             Jurisdiction
             balanced
             by
             assisting
             Presbyters
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             Now
             although
             such
             an
             Episcopacy
             was
             in
             Scotland
             taken
             away
             April
             last
             ,
             yet
             since
             Presbytery
             is
             not
             yet
             setl'd
             by
             Law
             ,
             this
             question
             of
             Fact
             propos'd
             about
             it
             ,
             may
             be
             stated
             and
             resolved
             according
             to
             Truth
             ,
             without
             the
             crime
             of
             
               LEESING
               MAKING
            
             .
          
           
             3.
             
             It
             is
             not
             to
             be
             doubted
             ,
             but
             that
             the
             Protestant
             Religion
             had
             the
             Legal
             Establishment
             in
             Scotland
             ,
             in
             the
             year
             1567
             ,
             in
             which
             year
             by
             Parliamentary
             Statutes
             Popery
             was
             
             Abolished
             ,
             a
             Protestant
             Confession
             of
             Faith
             Authorized
             ,
             and
             their
             Kings
             by
             the
             Coronation
             Oath
             obliged
             to
             maintain
             it
             .
          
           
             4.
             
             By
             the
             Nature
             of
             the
             Scottish
             Monarchy
             ,
             neither
             the
             King
             without
             Advice
             of
             his
             Estates
             ,
             nor
             they
             without
             his
             Royal
             Consent
             touching
             the
             Publick
             Act
             with
             his
             Scepter
             ,
             can
             make
             or
             unmake
             Laws
             to
             govern
             the
             People
             :
             Wherefore
             the
             Constitution
             of
             Bishops
             having
             then
             the
             Publick
             Authority
             ,
             (
             the
             Popish
             Bishops
             sitting
             in
             this
             Parliament
             which
             thus
             setl'd
             the
             Reformation
             )
             must
             in
             the
             construction
             
             of
             the
             Law
             be
             confest
             to
             remain
             firm
             and
             valid
             from
             the
             aforesaid
             year
             1567
             ,
             till
             the
             full
             Legislative
             Power
             of
             the
             King
             in
             Parliament
             ,
             concur'd
             to
             shake
             or
             destroy
             it
             .
          
           
             5.
             
             But
             whatever
             was
             done
             at
             that
             time
             in
             favour
             of
             Mr.
             
             
               Iohn
               Knox
            
             his
             Book
             of
             POLICY
             ,
             (
             proposing
             a
             superintendency
             which
             is
             another
             Model
             of
             Episcopacy
             )
             or
             Mr.
             
               An.
               Melvil
            
             his
             Book
             of
             DISCIPLINE
             ,
             (
             proposing
             Presbytery
             ,
             An.
             1578
             )
             by
             Acts
             of
             
               Privy
               Council
            
             extorted
             in
             tumultuous
             times
             ,
             through
             the
             Menacing
             Applications
             of
             Clergy
             Men
             Assembling
             
             themselves
             without
             Warrant
             ;
             yet
             before
             the
             year
             1592
             ,
             there
             is
             no
             Act
             of
             Parliament
             either
             in
             Print
             or
             Unprinted
             ,
             setling
             that
             Presbytery
             which
             is
             contrary
             to
             the
             Episcopacy
             Established
             before
             ,
             and
             remaining
             in
             substance
             at
             the
             time
             of
             the
             Reformation
             .
          
           
             6.
             
             Wherefore
             the
             impartial
             Resolution
             of
             the
             Question
             proposed
             ,
             is
             in
             short
             this
             ,
             That
             Presbytery
             ,
             as
             contrary
             to
             the
             Episcopacy
             restored
             in
             
               Scotland
               An.
            
             1662
             ,
             was
             not
             by
             Law
             setled
             35
             years
             after
             the
             Protestant
             Religion
             had
             the
             Legal
             Establishment
             in
             that
             Kingdom
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               QUESTION
               II.
            
             Whether
             ever
             Presbytery
             was
             setled
             in
             the
             Church
             of
             Scotland
             ,
             without
             constraint
             from
             tumultuous
             times
             ?
          
           
             1.
             
             KING
             Iames
             describing
             the
             Presbyterians
             ,
             calls
             them
             
               the
               very
               Pests
               in
               the
               Church
               and
               Commonwealth
               ,
               whom
            
             
             
               no
               deserts
               can
               oblige
               ,
               neither
               Oaths
               nor
               Promises
               bind
               ,
               brea
               thing
               nothing
               but
               Sedition
               and
               Calumnies
               ,
               Aspiring
               without
               Measure
               ,
               Railing
               without
               Reason
               ,
               and
               making
               their
               own
               Imaginations
               (
               without
               any
               warrant
               of
               the
               Word
               )
               the
               square
               of
               their
               Conscience
               .
            
             And
             thereafter
             describing
             
               their
               Church
               Politie
               and
               Discipline
            
             ,
             calls
             it
             
               that
               Parity
               which
               can
               never
               stand
               with
               the
               Order
               of
               the
               Church
               ,
               nor
               the
               Peace
               of
               a
               Commonweal
               ,
               and
               well
               Ruled
               Monarchy
               :
            
             Now
             when
             these
             are
             the
             Characters
             which
             the
             
               British
               Solomon
            
             gives
             
               Presbyterians
               and
               Presbytery
               (
               and
               with
               a
               Protestation
               before
               God
               that
               he
               lies
               not
               )
            
             Who
             can
             with
             any
             shadow
             of
             Reason
             ,
             or
             grain
             of
             Charity
             ,
             think
             that
             he
             either
             was
             so
             Unwise
             or
             
               Irreligious
               ,
               as
               by
               Act
               of
               Parliament
            
             to
             Establish
             Presbytery
             in
             the
             Church
             ,
             out
             of
             his
             own
             free
             choice
             ,
             and
             not
             out
             of
             some
             kind
             of
             Compulsion
             :
             Nay
             ,
             when
             that
             Government
             and
             its
             Admirers
             have
             these
             Characters
             
             from
             him
             ,
             can
             any
             thinking
             man
             read
             over
             the
             
               Act
               of
               Restitution
               of
               Bishops
               An.
            
             1606
             ,
             and
             not
             believe
             that
             ,
             according
             to
             its
             Preamble
             ,
             the
             former
             Act
             An.
             1592
             ,
             impairing
             that
             
               first
               Estate
            
             of
             his
             Kingdom
             ,
             was
             purely
             owing
             to
             his
             
               young
               years
               and
               the
               unsetled
               Condition
               of
               Affairs
               ?
            
          
           
             How
             he
             was
             forced
             to
             it
             we
             may
             learn
             from
             his
             own
             Book
             ,
             
             wherein
             he
             says
             ,
             that
             God
             Almighty
             was
             pleased
             that
             the
             Blessed
             Reformation
             of
             Scotland
             should
             begin
             with
             Unordinate
             and
             Popular
             Tumults
             ,
             of
             men
             clogg'd
             with
             their
             own
             Passion
             and
             particular
             Respects
             ;
             that
             some
             fiery
             spirited
             Ministers
             got
             such
             a
             guiding
             of
             the
             People
             at
             that
             time
             of
             Confusion
             ,
             as
             finding
             the
             gust
             of
             Government
             sweet
             ,
             they
             began
             to
             fancy
             a
             Democracy
             to
             themselves
             ;
             that
             having
             been
             over
             well
             baited
             upon
             the
             wrack
             ,
             first
             of
             his
             Royal
             Grandmother
             ,
             and
             next
             of
             his
             own
             Mother
             ,
             and
             usurping
             the
             liberty
             of
             time
             in
             his
             own
             long
             Minority
             ,
             there
             never
             rose
             any
             Faction
             among
             Statesmen
             ,
             but
             they
             that
             were
             of
             that
             Factious
             part
             ,
             were
             careful
             to
             perswade
             and
             allure
             the
             Church-Men
             to
             
             espouse
             that
             quarrel
             as
             their
             own
             :
             Wherefore
             in
             the
             year
             1592
             ,
             the
             pernicious
             Feuds
             between
             the
             Earls
             of
             Huntley
             and
             Murray
             ,
             and
             those
             Contests
             between
             the
             Assembly
             Men
             of
             the
             Clergy
             and
             the
             Lords
             of
             the
             Session
             :
             Together
             with
             repeated
             Treasonable
             Plots
             carried
             on
             against
             his
             Royal
             Person
             ,
             by
             Bothwel
             ,
             and
             his
             Associates
             ,
             of
             the
             greatest
             Power
             and
             best
             Quality
             ,
             forced
             that
             young
             King
             to
             settle
             Presbytery
             in
             the
             Church
             ,
             that
             thereby
             he
             might
             bring
             off
             Presbyterians
             from
             joyning
             with
             the
             Acts
             of
             their
             Kirk
             to
             unsettle
             his
             Throne
             .
          
           
             3.
             
             
               Charles
               the
               First
            
             of
             ever
             Blessed
             Memory
             ,
             
               he
               pleads
               that
               in
               Charity
               he
               may
               be
               thought
               desirous
               to
               preserve
               the
            
             English
             
               Church
               Government
               by
               Bishops
               in
               its
               right
               Constitution
               ,
               as
               a
               Matter
               of
               Religion
               ,
               wherein
               both
               his
               Iudgment
               was
            
             
             
               justly
               satisfied
               ,
               that
               it
               hath
               of
               all
               others
               the
               fullest
               Scripture
               Grounds
               ,
               and
               also
               the
               constant
               practice
               of
               all
               Christian
               Churches
               .
            
             And
             after
             he
             had
             written
             this
             Confession
             with
             Ink
             ,
             and
             then
             Sealed
             it
             with
             his
             
               Royal
               Blood
            
             ,
             who
             can
             imagine
             that
             
             his
             once
             giving
             some
             way
             to
             Presbytery
             in
             Scotland
             ,
             was
             his
             voluntary
             Act
             ,
             especially
             when
             his
             Majesties
             Commissioner
             the
             Earl
             of
             Traquair
             ,
             (
             according
             to
             instructions
             )
             gave
             in
             his
             
             Declaration
             to
             the
             contrary
             :
             But
             here
             there
             is
             no
             need
             to
             declare
             the
             unhappy
             State
             of
             Affairs
             that
             forced
             him
             to
             it
             :
             Since
             there
             are
             Volumes
             written
             concerning
             that
             Religious
             Rebellion
             ,
             which
             produced
             the
             most
             horrid
             Murder
             of
             the
             best
             King
             that
             ever
             was
             in
             these
             Kingdoms
             .
          
           
             4.
             
             Wherefore
             the
             Impartial
             Resolution
             to
             the
             question
             proposed
             ,
             is
             in
             short
             this
             ,
             that
             K.
             Iames
             the
             6th
             ,
             and
             K.
             Charles
             I.
             setled
             Presbytery
             in
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             Scotland
             ,
             being
             constrained
             thereunto
             by
             troublesome
             and
             tumultuous
             times
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               QUESTION
               III.
            
             Whether
             the
             Principles
             of
             Scottish
             Presbytery
             grant
             any
             Toleration
             to
             Dissenters
             ?
          
           
             1.
             
             SINCE
             the
             solemn
             League
             and
             Covenant
             is
             the
             Canon
             ,
             and
             the
             Acts
             of
             the
             general
             Assembly
             the
             Comment
             ,
             of
             the
             Principles
             of
             Scotch
             Presbytery
             ,
             this
             Question
             in
             reference
             to
             their
             Toleration
             of
             Dissenters
             ,
             plainly
             resolves
             in
             this
             ,
             Whether
             Covenanters
             and
             Assembly-men
             according
             to
             their
             Principles
             ,
             are
             for
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
             ,
             or
             against
             it
             ?
          
           
             2.
             
             In
             the
             first
             Article
             of
             the
             
               Solemn
               League
            
             ,
             they
             swear
             ,
             
               That
               they
               shall
               sincerely
               ,
               really
               and
               constantly
               endeavour
               the
               preservation
               of
               the
               Reformed
               Religion
               in
               the
               Church
               of
            
             Scotland
             
               in
               Discipline
               and
               Government
               against
               their
               common
               Enemies
               .
            
          
           
             3.
             
             To
             preserve
             this
             part
             of
             the
             Reformation
             ,
             they
             swear
             again
             in
             the
             
               second
               Article
               against
               Popish
               Prelacy
               ,
               that
               is
               ,
               the
               Church
               Government
               by
               Arch-Bishops
               ,
               Bishops
               ,
               their
               Chancelors
               
               and
               Commissiaries
               ,
               Dean
               and
               Chapters
               ,
               Arch-Deacons
               ,
               and
               all
               other
               Ecclesiastical
               Officers
               depending
               on
               that
               Hierarchy
               ,
               Superstition
               and
               Heresie
               .
            
          
           
             4.
             
             What
             is
             meant
             by
             their
             
               Sincere
               Real
            
             and
             
               constant
               endeavour
               against
               their
               common
               Enemies
            
             (
             King
             or
             Parliament
             )
             for
             preserving
             that
             Reformation
             in
             Church-Government
             ,
             by
             extirpating
             such
             an
             Episcopacy
             ,
             is
             manifest
             in
             the
             
               last
               Article
            
             ,
             in
             which
             they
             swear
             
               to
               assist
               and
               def●nd
               all
               those
               that
               enter
               into
               the
               League
               and
               Covenant
               ,
               in
               the
               maintaining
               and
               persuing
               thereof
               ,
               and
               that
               they
               shall
               not
               suffer
               themselves
               directly
               or
               indirectly
               ,
               by
               whatsoever
               Combination
               ,
               Perswasion
               or
               Terror
               to
               be
               divided
               from
               their
               Blessed
               Union
               and
               Conjunction
               ,
               whether
               to
               make
               defection
               to
               the
               contrary
               part
               ,
               or
               to
               give
               themselves
               to
               a
               detestable
               indifferency
               or
               neutrality
               in
               the
               Cause
               ,
               which
               so
               much
               concerneth
               the
               Glory
               of
               God.
               
            
          
           
             5.
             
             But
             if
             after
             all
             these
             parts
             of
             the
             first
             ,
             second
             ,
             fourth
             ,
             and
             sixth
             Articles
             of
             the
             Covenant
             compared
             together
             ,
             any
             Seruple
             yet
             remains
             ,
             whether
             those
             Men
             who
             make
             Conscience
             of
             the
             Oath
             they
             have
             taken
             against
             any
             Indifferency
             or
             Neutrality
             in
             this
             Cause
             against
             Episcopacy
             ,
             (
             which
             in
             Charity
             I
             believe
             they
             think
             the
             Cause
             of
             Christ
             )
             can
             allow
             any
             Toleration
             to
             Dissenters
             ,
             let
             us
             in
             the
             next
             place
             consider
             some
             Acts
             of
             their
             
               General
               Assemblies
            
             ,
             which
             are
             the
             
               Infallible
               Interpreters
            
             of
             this
             Rule
             of
             their
             Faith
             about
             
               Ecclesiastical
               Polity
            
             .
             Now
             although
             the
             Episcopal
             Clergy
             in
             the
             times
             before
             the
             year
             1639
             ,
             (
             when
             they
             saw
             that
             destruction
             of
             the
             Church
             Government
             )
             neither
             themselves
             appear'd
             in
             Tumults
             nor
             in
             Sermons
             ,
             or
             Books
             ,
             exhorted
             others
             to
             Tumultuate
             ,
             (
             for
             to
             preserve
             it
             )
             yet
             the
             Presbyterians
             were
             so
             far
             from
             taking
             pains
             to
             gain
             them
             unto
             a
             Conformity
             ,
             or
             in
             case
             they
             conform'd
             ,
             from
             letting
             them
             continue
             in
             their
             Cures
             (
             as
             the
             Presbyterians
             were
             dealt
             with
             ,
             after
             the
             year
             1662
             )
             that
             on
             the
             contrary
             they
             pass
             these
             following
             Acts.
             
          
           
             6.
             
             
               The
               General
               Assembly
               ordaineth
               ,
               the
               subscription
               of
               the
               Covevant
               to
               all
               the
               Members
               of
               that
               Kirk
               and
               Kingdom
               .
            
             
          
           
           
             7.
             
             And
             whereas
             the
             former
             Act
             Aug.
             1630.
             hadnot
             been
             
             obeyed
             ,
             it
             was
             again
             ordain'd
             by
             another
             
               Assembly
               ,
               That
               all
               Ministers
               make
               intimation
               of
               the
               said
               Act
               in
               their
               Kirks
               ,
               and
               thereafter
               proceed
               with
               the
               Censures
               of
               the
               Kirk
               against
               such
               as
               shall
               refuse
               to
               subscribe
               the
               Covenant
               ;
               and
               that
               exact
               account
               be
               taken
               of
               every
               Ministers
               diligence
               herein
               by
               their
               Presbyteries
               and
               Synods
               ,
               as
               they
               will
               answer
               to
               the
               General
               Assembly
               .
            
          
           
             8.
             
             Neither
             was
             this
             last
             Act
             ,
             inflicting
             
               Ecclesiastical
               Censures
            
             only
             to
             fall
             heavy
             upon
             those
             who
             were
             hinderers
             of
             their
             
               blessed
               Reformation
            
             ,
             (
             whom
             they
             called
             Anticovenanters
             )
             but
             in
             the
             
               Assembly
               ,
               it
               's
               appointed
               ,
               that
               all
               Ministers
               take
               special
            
             
             
               notice
               when
               any
               secret
               disaffecters
               of
               the
               Covenant
               shall
               come
               within
               their
               Parishes
               ,
               that
               so
               soon
               as
               they
               shall
               know
               the
               same
               ,
               they
               may
               without
               delay
               ,
               cause
               warn
               them
               to
               appear
               before
               the
               Presbyteries
               ,
               within
               which
               their
               Parishes
               lies
               ,
               or
               before
               the
               Commissioners
               of
               the
               Assembly
               appointed
               for
               Publick
               Affairs
               ,
               as
               they
               shall
               find
               most
               convenient
               ;
               which
               warning
               the
               Assembly
               ,
               declares
               shall
               be
               a
               sufficient
               Citation
               unto
               them
               .
            
          
           
             9.
             
             
               And
               that
               all
               ,
               and
               every
               one
               of
               such
               Offenders
               shall
               humbly
               acknowledge
               their
               Offence
               upon
               their
               knees
               ,
               first
               ,
               before
               the
               Presbytery
               ,
               and
               thereafter
               ,
               before
               the
               Congregation
               ,
               upon
               a
               Sabbath
               ,
               in
               some
               place
               before
               the
               Pulpit
               ;
               and
               in
               the
               mean
               time
               ,
               they
               be
               suspended
               from
               the
               Lords
               Supper
               .
               And
               in
               case
               they
               do
               not
               satisfie
               in
               manner
               aforesaid
               ,
               they
               be
               processed
               with
               Excommunication
               :
            
             And
             this
             is
             as
             easie
             an
             
               Ecclesiastick
               Censure
            
             as
             the
             whole
             body
             of
             their
             Acts
             of
             Assembly
             have
             upon
             Record
             ,
             or
             any
             now
             alive
             can
             remember
             .
             Nay
             ,
             the
             Assembly
             
               enjoyns
               this
               Excommunication
               against
               Covenanters
               themselves
               ,
               who
               but
               in
               so
               far
               comply
               with
               Malignancy
            
             (
             the
             King
             's
             Evil
             of
             those
             times
             )
             
               as
               to
               drink
               the
               health
               of
               any
               declar'd
               a
               Common
               Enemy
               of
               that
               Covenanted
               Kirk
               and
               Kingdom
               .
            
          
           
             10.
             
             And
             in
             case
             any
             
               Excommunicated
               Malignant
            
             should
             ,
             for
             all
             his
             being
             Heathen
             ,
             be
             yet
             so
             much
             the
             Christian
             ,
             as
             to
             long
             after
             the
             Communion
             of
             Christ's
             Body
             and
             Blood
             ,
             they
             did
             all
             they
             could
             to
             hinder
             it
             :
             For
             not
             only
             is
             
             it
             by
             them
             ordain'd
             ,
             
               That
               all
               Deposed
               Ministers
               ,
               who
               after
               the
               Sentence
               of
               Deprivation
               pronounced
               against
               them
               ,
               exercise
               any
               part
               of
               the
               Ministerial
               Calling
               in
               the
               Places
               they
               formerly
               served
               in
               ,
               or
               else
               where
               ,
               they
               should
               be
               proceeded
               against
               with
               Excommunication
               :
               but
               Five
               Years
               before
               ,
               Anno
            
             1643.
             
               it
               was
               by
               them
               provided
               ,
               that
               if
               any
               Covenanted
               Minister
               should
               haunt
               the
               company
               of
               any
               Excommunicated
               Person
               ,
               he
               should
               for
               the
               first
               fault
               ,
               be
               suspended
               from
               his
               Ministry
               ,
               by
               his
               Presbytery
               ,
               during
               their
               pleasure
               :
               and
               for
               the
               second
               fault
               be
               deprived
               :
               and
               in
               case
               the
               Presbyteries
               be
               negligent
               therein
               ,
               that
               the
               Provincial
               Assembly
               shall
               censure
               the
               Presbytery
               thus
               negligent
               :
            
             And
             when
             they
             have
             done
             sufficiently
             to
             deprive
             the
             Excommunicate
             person
             of
             all
             Spiritual
             Mercy
             (
             as
             far
             as
             they
             could
             do
             )
             they
             proceed
             to
             take
             from
             him
             all
             his
             temporal
             comfort
             of
             Liberty
             and
             Property
             according
             to
             their
             Act
             ,
             whereby
             
               they
               order
               his
               Person
               to
               be
            
             
             
               imprisoned
               ,
               after
               the
               loss
               of
               his
               Goods
               and
               Estate
               .
            
          
           
             11.
             
             Now
             these
             being
             the
             Principles
             of
             Presbytery
             ,
             founded
             upon
             the
             Oath
             of
             the
             Covenant
             (
             to
             extirpate
             Episcopacy
             ,
             and
             never
             to
             be
             
               indifferent
               in
               the
               Cause
            
             )
             and
             explained
             in
             the
             Assembly-Acts
             ,
             (
             enjoyning
             Censure
             and
             Excommunication
             ,
             and
             recommending
             to
             the
             State
             the
             Temporal
             punishment
             of
             Forfeiture
             and
             Imprisonment
             to
             pass
             thereupon
             against
             all
             Persons
             disaffected
             )
             the
             impartial
             resolution
             to
             the
             Question
             is
             this
             ,
             That
             the
             Principles
             of
             Scottish
             Presbytery
             grant
             no
             Toleration
             to
             Dissenters
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             
               QUESTION
               IV
            
             ,
             Whether
             between
             the
             Year
             1662.
             and
             the
             Year
             1689.
             
             Presbyterian
             Separatists
             were
             guilty
             of
             sinful
             Separation
             ?
          
           
             1.
             
             THE
             
               Larger
               Catechism
            
             agreed
             upon
             by
             the
             pretended
             Assembly
             at
             Westminster
             ,
             with
             assistance
             of
             Commissioners
             from
             the
             
               Kirk
               of
               Scotland
            
             ,
             and
             thereafter
             approved
             by
             their
             general
             Assembly
             ,
             teacheth
             such
             Doctrine
             ,
             as
             from
             it
             can
             be
             demonstrated
             how
             necessary
             it
             is
             for
             Salvation
             that
             every
             person
             keep
             Communion
             with
             the
             
               particular
               Church
            
             established
             by
             the
             
               Laws
               of
               the
               State
            
             he
             liveth
             in
             ;
             unless
             she
             either
             enjoyn
             in
             her
             Canons
             any
             sinful
             
               term
               of
               Communion
            
             ,
             or
             propose
             in
             her
             
               Confession
               of
               Faith
            
             any
             Heretical
             Article
             ,
             or
             prescribe
             in
             her
             
               Directory
               for
               Worship
            
             ,
             any
             Idolatrous
             impurity
             .
             So
             that
             the
             Question
             here
             proposed
             plainly
             resolves
             into
             this
             ,
             Whether
             the
             Episcopal
             Church
             of
             Scotland
             these
             27
             years
             enjoyn'd
             any
             sinful
             Canon
             as
             a
             
               term
               of
               Communion
            
             ,
             or
             prosess'd
             any
             
               erroneous
               Doctrine
            
             to
             be
             believed
             ,
             or
             directed
             any
             Idolatry
             to
             be
             performed
             in
             
               Divine
               Worship
            
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             All
             the
             Presbyterians
             in
             the
             World
             cannot
             produce
             one
             Canon
             of
             any
             Synod
             of
             the
             
               Episcopal
               Church
            
             of
             Scotland
             ,
             from
             1662
             ▪
             to
             the
             last
             year
             ,
             with
             which
             they
             will
             not
             readily
             comply
             ,
             excepting
             those
             Canons
             that
             
               qualifie
               Ministers
            
             to
             the
             Exercise
             of
             the
             
               holy
               Function
            
             :
             and
             none
             of
             those
             are
             enjoyned
             the
             Clergy
             of
             that
             Perswasion
             ,
             as
             a
             term
             of
             their
             Communion
             ,
             but
             as
             a
             condition
             of
             their
             Ministration
             :
             So
             that
             however
             these
             should
             debar
             any
             Ministers
             from
             the
             Pulpit
             ,
             they
             cannot
             shut
             them
             out
             of
             the
             
               Church
               ▪
            
             Nay
             ,
             when
             it
             hath
             been
             demonstrated
             to
             them
             (
             in
             a
             Letter
             for
             Union
             ,
             dated
             at
             Edinburgh
             the
             4th
             of
             March
             
             last
             )
             that
             never
             any
             Confession
             of
             our
             Reformed
             Church
             avowed
             a
             
               Divine
               Right
            
             in
             a
             parity
             among
             all
             Church-Officers
             ;
             and
             that
             the
             
               Solemn
               League
            
             did
             not
             abjure
             the
             
               President
               Bishop
            
             ,
             and
             that
             the
             
               English
               Presbyterians
            
             ,
             in
             Conscience
             
             of
             their
             Oath
             of
             the
             Covenant
             ,
             petitioned
             for
             such
             an
             Episcopacy
             ;
             I
             think
             it
             may
             be
             presumed
             (
             when
             twelve-months
             are
             past
             without
             any
             Reason
             published
             against
             the
             said
             Letter
             )
             that
             they
             now
             believe
             that
             sin
             lieth
             at
             their
             door
             ,
             for
             leaving
             their
             Charges
             after
             the
             Restauration
             of
             our
             Kingly
             Government
             ,
             upon
             the
             point
             of
             Difference
             about
             Episcopacy
             .
          
           
             3.
             
             In
             the
             second
             place
             ,
             the
             Scottish
             Presbyterians
             ,
             for
             
               Matters
               of
               Faith
            
             ,
             adhere
             to
             the
             Westminster
             Consession
             ,
             in
             obedience
             to
             the
             Act
             of
             their
             General
             Assembly
             :
             Now
             let
             any
             
             Presbyterian
             discover
             ,
             if
             he
             can
             ,
             one
             single
             Article
             of
             all
             the
             three
             and
             thirty
             Chapters
             of
             that
             Confession
             ,
             that
             was
             ever
             condemn'd
             by
             the
             late
             Episcopal
             Church
             of
             Scotland
             ,
             in
             any
             whatsoever
             Synod
             ,
             since
             the
             time
             of
             its
             Restitution
             .
          
           
             4.
             
             Thirdly
             ,
             
               Scotch
               Presbyterians
            
             ,
             for
             publick
             Worship
             in
             the
             Church
             ,
             retain
             the
             Directory
             ,
             composed
             by
             the
             foresaid
             pretended
             Assembly
             at
             Westminster
             ,
             and
             thereafter
             approved
             
             by
             the
             General
             Assemblies
             of
             their
             Kirk
             .
             Now
             to
             this
             Rule
             of
             Divine
             Service
             the
             established
             
               Episcopal
               Church
            
             there
             hath
             these
             27
             years
             been
             more
             conformable
             than
             the
             Presbyterians
             ever
             were
             or
             are
             .
             It
             is
             true
             ,
             that
             those
             who
             have
             Sworn
             in
             the
             
               Solemn
               Leagne
            
             to
             preserve
             the
             Protestant
             Religion
             as
             it
             stood
             reformed
             in
             
               Scotland
               ,
               An.
            
             1638.
             and
             to
             reform
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             England
             ,
             in
             the
             same
             point
             of
             Worship
             ,
             according
             to
             the
             
               Example
               of
               the
               Church
               of
               Scotland
               ,
            
             are
             by
             virtue
             of
             this
             their
             Solemn
             Oath
             obliged
             to
             ling
             the
             Doxologie
             after
             the
             singing
             Psalms
             ,
             ever
             after
             the
             year
             Forty
             Eight
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             they
             did
             it
             all
             the
             ten
             years
             before
             ;
             and
             to
             avoid
             the
             sin
             of
             Perjury
             ,
             they
             were
             bound
             to
             make
             their
             English
             Brethren
             to
             sing
             it
             ,
             rather
             than
             at
             their
             instigation
             to
             forbear
             to
             sing
             it
             themselves
             .
             But
             not
             to
             insist
             upon
             this
             Covenant-Obligation
             ,
             doubtless
             when
             the
             Episcopal
             
             
               Church
               of
            
             Scotland
             continues
             that
             Christian
             Hymn
             ,
             which
             the
             Directory
             hath
             no
             where
             forbidden
             ,
             their
             sin
             of
             Commission
             is
             not
             half
             so
             great
             as
             the
             
               Omission
               of
               the
               Lords
               Prayer
            
             ,
             which
             the
             Directory
             enjoyneth
             to
             be
             said
             at
             Sermon
             times
             ,
             of
             which
             Omission
             the
             Presbyterians
             are
             only
             guilty
             ,
             of
             all
             the
             Christians
             in
             the
             world
             .
          
           
             5.
             
             Again
             ,
             in
             Administration
             of
             both
             Sacraments
             ,
             the
             Episcopal
             Church
             of
             Scotland
             ,
             observeth
             the
             Directory
             in
             all
             things
             ,
             save
             one
             which
             is
             a
             very
             justifiable
             Practice
             ;
             and
             that
             is
             in
             the
             Office
             of
             Baptism
             ,
             the
             solemn
             Confession
             of
             the
             
               Apostolick
               Creed
            
             ,
             which
             both
             the
             pretended
             Assembly
             here
             at
             Westminster
             ,
             and
             the
             General
             Assembly
             there
             in
             Scotland
             ,
             (
             at
             the
             end
             of
             the
             shorter
             Catechism
             )
             acknowledge
             to
             be
             a
             
               Brief
               Sum
               of
               the
               Christian
               Faith
               ,
            
             agreeable
             
               to
               the
               Word
               of
               God
               ,
               and
               amiently
               received
               in
               the
               Churches
               of
               Christ
               :
            
             This
             their
             acknowledgment
             of
             its
             Antiquity
             and
             Scripture
             Purity
             ,
             must
             force
             any
             Scotch
             Presbyterian
             ,
             to
             grant
             that
             there
             is
             no
             more
             sin
             in
             saying
             the
             Apostles
             Creed
             publickly
             in
             the
             Church
             ,
             tho'
             there
             be
             no
             precept
             for
             saying
             it
             ,
             than
             there
             is
             in
             sprinkling
             water
             upon
             the
             Baptized
             Infant
             .
          
           
             6.
             
             Now
             laying
             all
             these
             considerations
             together
             ,
             that
             the
             purity
             in
             Doctrine
             which
             Presbyterian
             Synods
             confess
             ,
             and
             the
             purity
             of
             
               Publick
               Worship
            
             ,
             doing
             nothing
             which
             the
             Directory
             forbids
             ,
             could
             be
             as
             well
             retained
             in
             the
             
               Episcopal
               Church
            
             of
             Scotland
             these
             27
             years
             ,
             as
             in
             any
             Presbyterian
             Kirk
             or
             Meeting-House
             :
             And
             that
             no
             Confession
             of
             any
             Reformed
             Church
             ,
             asserts
             the
             Divine
             Right
             of
             their
             Presbytery
             as
             before
             defined
             :
             And
             that
             the
             Covevenant
             abjures
             not
             the
             Epis
             opacy
             likewise
             defin'd
             ,
             but
             on
             the
             contrary
             it
             was
             peti●ioned
             for
             by
             the
             
               English
               Covenanters
            
             ,
             I
             say
             laying
             all
             these
             things
             together
             ,
             the
             impartial
             Resolution
             of
             the
             present
             Question
             ,
             is
             this
             ,
             That
             between
             the
             year
             1662
             ,
             and
             the
             year
             1689
             ,
             Presbyterian
             Separatists
             were
             guilty
             of
             sinful
             Separation
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             
               QUESTION
               V.
            
             Whether
             the
             Penal
             Laws
             against
             Scotch
             Presbyterians
             ,
             had
             any
             thing
             of
             Persecution
             in
             them
             ?
          
           
             1.
             
             IT
             cannot
             be
             denied
             but
             there
             may
             be
             a
             party
             in
             a
             Kingdom
             of
             well
             meaning
             men
             ,
             truly
             Pious
             and
             Peaceable
             ,
             who
             yet
             for
             some
             Non-Conformity
             to
             the
             Church-Establishment
             ,
             may
             have
             too
             severe
             Laws
             Enacted
             against
             them
             ,
             by
             the
             Execution
             of
             which
             they
             may
             suffer
             for
             
               Conscience
               Sake
            
             ;
             so
             that
             the
             question
             here
             proposed
             ,
             plainly
             resolves
             into
             this
             ,
             Whether
             the
             
               Penal
               Laws
            
             against
             Scotch
             Presbyterians
             had
             any
             thing
             in
             them
             which
             cannot
             be
             justified
             in
             Christian
             Policy
             as
             necessary
             ,
             (
             at
             those
             times
             in
             which
             they
             were
             Enacted
             )
             for
             the
             Preservation
             of
             
               true
               Religion
               and
               Publick
               Peace
               in
               the
               Church
               and
               State
               ?
            
             Or
             whether
             they
             were
             the
             uncharitable
             effects
             of
             a
             peevish
             resentment
             ,
             inconsistent
             with
             good
             Nature
             or
             Christianity
             ?
          
           
             2.
             
             
               Forasmuch
               as
               it
               had
               pleased
               Almighty
               God
               to
               compassionate
               the
               Troubles
               and
               Confusions
               of
            
             Scotland
             ,
             
               by
               returning
            
             King
             Charles
             
               the
               2d
               ,
               to
               the
               exercise
               of
               that
               Royal
               Government
               ,
               under
               which
               ,
               and
               its
               excellent
               Constitution
               ,
               that
               Kingdom
               had
               for
               many
               Ages
               enjoyed
               so
               much
               Happiness
               ,
               Peace
               ,
               and
               Plenty
            
             ;
             The
             Noble
             Lord
             the
             Earl
             of
             Middleton
             ,
             being
             for
             his
             unshaken
             Loyalty
             honoured
             with
             his
             
               Majesties
               High
               Commission
            
             ,
             the
             Administration
             of
             the
             
               Oath
               of
               Allegiance
            
             ,
             to
             all
             the
             Members
             of
             Parliament
             ,
             was
             the
             first
             thing
             enacted
             by
             the
             States
             thereof
             .
          
           
           
             3.
             
             
               In
               Conscience
               of
               their
               Oaths
               of
               Allegiance
               ,
               to
               maintain
               and
               defend
               the
               Sovereign
               Power
               and
               Authority
               of
               the
               Kings
               Majesty
               ;
               and
               in
               consideration
               of
               the
               sad
               consequences
               that
               do
               accompany
               any
               encroachments
               upon
               ,
               or
               diminution
               thereof
               ,
               they
               ,
               from
               their
               sen●e
               of
               humble
               Duty
               ,
            
             wholy
             applyed
             themselves
             in
             this
             Session
             ,
             to
             Establish
             such
             wholesome
             Laws
             ,
             as
             might
             by
             acknowledgment
             of
             his
             Majesties
             Prerogatives
             ,
             prove
             Salves
             to
             cure
             the
             State
             from
             the
             Diseases
             of
             
               Anarchy
               and
               Confusion
            
             ,
             which
             had
             before
             in
             the
             Usurpation
             seized
             her
             Vitals
             .
          
           
             4.
             
             But
             all
             this
             time
             of
             the
             Parliaments
             sole
             application
             to
             matters
             of
             State
             ,
             in
             this
             first
             Session
             ,
             the
             Presbyterian
             Clergy
             did
             not
             neglect
             to
             do
             all
             they
             could
             for
             a
             Parliamentary
             Confirmation
             of
             their
             Ecclesiastical
             Government
             .
          
           
             5.
             
             First
             ,
             the
             Synod
             of
             Edenburgh
             ,
             applyed
             themselves
             to
             a
             Person
             of
             great
             Interest
             with
             his
             Majesties
             Commissioner
             ,
             that
             his
             Grace
             might
             be
             intreated
             to
             procure
             from
             his
             Royal
             Master
             ,
             instructions
             to
             give
             them
             Presbytery
             without
             Bishops
             ;
             and
             they
             promised
             that
             they
             should
             themselves
             Enact
             ,
             never
             to
             meet
             without
             his
             Majesties
             Commissioner
             ,
             who
             should
             call
             and
             dissolve
             them
             at
             his
             pleasure
             :
             Which
             Act
             of
             theirs
             ,
             they
             promised
             to
             get
             ratified
             by
             the
             first
             General
             Assembly
             .
          
           
             6.
             
             And
             when
             they
             found
             this
             Address
             of
             theirs
             to
             be
             without
             any
             success
             ,
             they
             sall
             upon
             another
             method
             ,
             and
             send
             a
             Clergyman
             ,
             whose
             name
             (
             because
             of
             his
             Memory
             for
             his
             Piety
             and
             School
             Learning
             )
             I
             shall
             not
             mention
             ,
             with
             this
             threatning
             ,
             that
             if
             the
             Estates
             in
             Parliament
             consirm'd
             not
             their
             Presbytery
             ,
             they
             should
             have
             the
             People
             let
             loose
             upon
             them
             ▪
          
           
             7.
             
             In
             that
             
               first
               Session
            
             of
             the
             Parliament
             already
             mentioned
             ,
             the
             King
             with
             the
             Advice
             of
             the
             Estates
             therein
             
             Convened
             ,
             had
             before
             forbid
             the
             renewing
             of
             the
             Solemn
             
             
               League
               and
               Covenant
            
             ,
             and
             by
             several
             Acts
             annulled
             all
             the
             pretended
             
               Conventions
               of
               the
            
             preceeding
             Rebellion
             ;
             but
             this
             imperious
             Address
             from
             the
             Ministers
             ,
             gave
             them
             a
             new
             sensible
             occasion
             to
             be
             perswaded
             ,
             
               that
               all
               the
               late
               Disorders
               and
               Exorbitances
               in
               the
               Church
               ,
               incroachments
            
             
             
               upon
               the
               Prerogative
               and
               Right
               of
               the
               Crown
               ,
               and
               Usurpations
               upon
               the
               Authority
               of
               Parliaments
               ,
               and
               the
               prejudice
               done
               to
               the
               Liberty
               of
               the
               Subject
               ,
               were
               the
               Natural
               Effects
               of
               the
               Invasion
               made
               upon
               the
               Episcopal
               Government
            
             ;
             and
             therefore
             upon
             deliberation
             of
             twenty
             Months
             ,
             they
             past
             an
             Act
             of
             its
             Restitution
             ,
             in
             the
             beginning
             of
             the
             second
             Session
             of
             that
             Parliament
             .
          
           
             8.
             
             This
             Act
             of
             
               Restitution
               of
               Bishops
            
             had
             this
             effect
             ,
             in
             reference
             to
             the
             Scottish
             Clergy
             :
             Whoever
             among
             them
             were
             disappointed
             in
             their
             hopes
             of
             Preferment
             ,
             or
             were
             Lovers
             of
             Ease
             from
             the
             burthensome
             Service
             in
             the
             Church
             ,
             or
             else
             impatient
             to
             be
             made
             subordinate
             to
             those
             with
             whom
             they
             so
             lately
             had
             been
             upon
             a
             Level
             ,
             forsook
             their
             Ministry
             ,
             but
             they
             lived
             quietly
             at
             their
             respective
             habitations
             ,
             and
             in
             Personal
             Conformity
             to
             the
             Church
             Establisht
             .
             Others
             again
             (
             and
             of
             them
             not
             a
             few
             )
             were
             sensible
             that
             the
             Established
             Episcopacy
             ,
             being
             obliged
             to
             exercise
             their
             Jurisdiction
             in
             a
             Synod
             with
             the
             ballance
             of
             Assisting
             Presbyters
             ,
             was
             the
             only
             Church
             Government
             which
             could
             be
             obtained
             of
             the
             State
             ,
             (
             and
             which
             was
             not
             abjur'd
             in
             
               the
               Solemn
               League
            
             )
             and
             therefore
             did
             keep
             their
             Charges
             ,
             and
             were
             willing
             to
             own
             Canonical
             Obedience
             to
             their
             Diocesan
             Bishops
             .
          
           
             9.
             
             This
             Example
             of
             Christian
             submission
             to
             Authority
             ,
             given
             by
             the
             generality
             of
             Presbyterian
             Ministers
             of
             both
             sorts
             ,
             gain'd
             the
             Laity
             of
             that
             Perswasion
             to
             a
             Pious
             and
             Sober
             observance
             of
             the
             Publick
             Worship
             ;
             so
             that
             at
             that
             time
             nothing
             was
             wanting
             to
             render
             that
             National
             Church
             happy
             without
             Protestant
             Dissenters
             ,
             but
             a
             competent
             
             number
             of
             Godly
             ,
             Learned
             ,
             and
             Grave
             Men
             to
             fill
             up
             the
             vacant
             places
             of
             those
             who
             ,
             for
             any
             of
             the
             Motives
             before
             mentioned
             ,
             had
             left
             their
             charges
             ;
             and
             till
             that
             deplorable
             want
             (
             especially
             in
             the
             West
             ,
             )
             the
             Separation
             from
             the
             regular
             Meetings
             for
             Divine
             Service
             ,
             was
             so
             little
             observable
             ,
             that
             before
             June
             1663
             ,
             the
             wisdom
             of
             that
             Nation
             had
             by
             no
             Act
             provided
             against
             it
             .
          
           
             10.
             
             It
             is
             true
             ,
             that
             the
             libellous
             Sermons
             and
             Books
             of
             some
             wicked
             Men
             ,
             which
             were
             written
             to
             justify
             the
             Murder
             of
             Charles
             the
             I.
             and
             the
             Banishment
             of
             Charles
             the
             II.
             the
             renovation
             of
             the
             Covenant
             ,
             the
             necessity
             of
             taking
             up
             Arms
             to
             promote
             its
             Ends
             ,
             and
             the
             sinfulness
             of
             complyance
             with
             the
             legal
             Settlement
             in
             Church
             or
             State
             ,
             did
             now
             alarm
             that
             Parliament
             .
          
           
             11.
             
             They
             considered
             
               how
               seditious
               ,
               and
               of
               how
               dangerous
               example
               and
               consequence
               Seperation
               from
               the
               rugular
               Church
               might
               prove
            
             for
             the
             future
             :
             And
             therefore
             for
             security
             of
             the
             State
             from
             the
             confusions
             they
             had
             so
             lately
             smarted
             under
             ,
             they
             were
             forced
             to
             enact
             a
             Penal
             Law
             against
             it
             ,
             importing
             ,
             
               That
               every
               Person
               having
               an
               Inheritance
               ,
               should
               pay
               the
               fourth
               part
               of
            
             
             
               his
               yearly
               Estate
               ;
               every
               Yeoman
               Tenant
               or
               Farmer
               the
               fourth
               part
               of
               his
               free
               moveables
               (
               after
               the
               payment
               of
               their
               Dues
               to
               their
               Master
               ;
               )
               and
               that
               every
               Burgess
               should
               lose
               all
               the
               Priviledges
               within
               the
               Borough
               ,
               and
               the
               fourth
               part
               of
               his
               moveables
               .
            
          
           
             12.
             
             But
             notwithstanding
             this
             Penal
             Law
             ,
             the
             contagion
             of
             those
             Books
             and
             Sermons
             which
             poisoned
             so
             many
             with
             Principles
             of
             Separation
             from
             the
             established
             Church
             ,
             produced
             the
             renovation
             of
             the
             Covenant
             ,
             contrary
             to
             the
             Authority
             of
             the
             King
             and
             Parliament
             ;
             and
             that
             again
             was
             followed
             by
             an
             open
             Rebellion
             of
             the
             Western
             parts
             (
             known
             by
             the
             name
             of
             
               Pentlin
               Hills
            
             )
             in
             the
             Year
             1666
             ,
             defeated
             by
             the
             King's
             Army
             ,
             so
             that
             they
             were
             out
             of
             capacity
             of
             resisting
             :
             However
             ,
             the
             King
             in
             his
             
             Royal
             Clemency
             ,
             at
             the
             Address
             of
             some
             States-men
             ,
             gave
             them
             indulgence
             to
             convene
             in
             Meeting-Houses
             for
             Divine
             Worship
             ;
             and
             they
             made
             this
             good
             use
             of
             his
             Mercy
             ,
             as
             that
             by
             them
             the
             incumbent
             Ministers
             (
             whose
             Characters
             would
             have
             secured
             them
             any
             where
             but
             in
             the
             West
             of
             Scotland
             )
             
               had
               their
               Houses
               in
               the
               night
               time
               invaded
               ,
               their
               Persons
               assaulted
               ,
               wounded
               and
               pursued
               for
               their
               Lives
               .
            
             Then
             indeed
             ,
             that
             
               merciful
               Prince
            
             ,
             with
             advice
             of
             his
             Estates
             in
             Parliament
             ,
             
               having
               a
               just
               indignation
               of
               such
               horrid
               and
               unchristian
               Villanies
               ,
               thought
               fit
               to
               brand
               the
               same
               with
               a
            
             
             
               signal
               mark
               of
               displeasure
            
             .
             And
             this
             Act
             of
             the
             Date
             ,
             Aug.
             1670.
             is
             the
             first
             that
             punisheth
             with
             Death
             and
             confiscation
             of
             Goods
             .
          
           
             13.
             
             It
             is
             true
             indeed
             ,
             the
             King
             and
             his
             Estates
             of
             Parliament
             ,
             
               filled
               with
               indignation
               at
               the
               scandalous
               sin
               ,
               which
               procured
               this
               former
               Penal
               Law
               ;
               and
               understanding
               from
               thence
               ,
               that
               the
               specious
               pretences
               of
               Religion
               were
               altogether
               false
               ,
               and
               taken
               up
               by
               seditious
               Persons
            
             ;
             They
             immediately
             
             pass'd
             another
             Act
             against
             Conventicles
             ;
             the
             Preamble
             of
             which
             last
             Act
             declares
             ,
             
               That
               such
               Meetings
               were
               the
               ordinary
               Seminaries
               of
               Rebellion
               as
               well
               as
               Separation
               ,
               that
               they
               tended
               to
               the
               alienating
               the
               Hearts
               of
               the
               Subjects
               from
               their
               Duty
               and
               Obedience
               they
               owe
               to
               his
               Majesty
               and
               the
               Publick
               Laws
               ,
               and
               by
               consequence
               ,
               to
               the
               reproach
               of
               the
               Authority
               of
               the
               King
               and
               Parliament
               ,
               as
               well
               as
               the
               prejudice
               of
               Gods
               publick
               Worship
               ,
               and
               the
               scandal
               of
               the
               Reformed
               Rel●gion
               :
            
             And
             therefore
             they
             were
             obliged
             in
             reason
             of
             State
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             for
             the
             Peace
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             to
             make
             the
             Penalty
             of
             this
             Law
             fall
             heavy
             upon
             the
             Transgressors
             thereof
             .
          
           
             14
             And
             the
             Penalties
             therein
             contained
             (
             as
             nigh
             as
             I
             can
             value
             Scottish
             Mony
             by
             the
             current
             Coin
             in
             England
             )
             are
             these
             following
             :
             
               That
               every
               Minister
               ,
               preaching
               at
               a
               Conventicle
               ,
               should
               be
               imprisoned
               till
               he
               find
               surety
               for
               275
               l.
               that
               he
               should
               not
               do
               the
               like
               thereafter
               ,
               or
               else
               oblige
               himself
               by
               Bond
               to
               remove
               
               out
               of
               the
               Kingdom
               ,
               and
               never
               to
               return
               without
               his
               Majesties
               leave
               ;
               that
               every
               one
               of
               any
               Inheritance
               should
               pay
               the
               fourth
               part
               of
               his
               yearly
               Estate
               ;
               that
               every
               Servant
               should
               pay
               the
               fourth
               part
               of
               his
               yearly
               Wages
               ;
               that
               every
               Farmer
               should
               pay
               Forty
               Shillings
               ,
               and
               every
               Tenant
               under
               them
               Twenty
               .
            
          
           
             12.
             
             Further
             ,
             
               His
               Majesty
               understanding
               that
               divers
               disaffected
               Persons
               had
               been
               so
               maliciously
               wicked
               and
               disloyal
               ,
               as
               to
               convocate
               his
               Subjects
               to
               open
               Meetings
               in
               the
               Fields
               ;
               and
               considering
               that
               those
               Meetings
               were
               the
               rendezvous
               of
               Rebellion
               ,
               and
               tending
               in
               a
               high
               measure
               to
               the
               disturbance
               of
               the
               publick
               Peace
               ,
               declares
               ,
               that
               those
               who
               in
               Arms
               did
               convocate
               in
               Field
               Conventicles
               ,
               should
               be
               punishable
               by
               Death
               ,
               and
               confiscation
               of
               Goods
               ;
               and
               that
               those
               present
               at
               them
               ,
               should
               be
               punished
               in
               double
               the
               respective
               Fines
               appointed
               against
               House-Meetings
               .
            
             This
             Act
             is
             dated
             Aug.
             the
             30th
             .
             1670.
             
          
           
             13.
             
             
               These
               acts
               against
               Separation
               in
               Meeting-houses
               ,
               or
               in
               the
               Fields
               ,
               were
               appointed
               to
               endure
               only
               for
               the
               space
               of
               three
               years
               ,
               unless
               his
               Majesty
               should
               think
               fit
               to
               continue
               them
               longer
               ;
               wherefore
               his
               Majesty
               considering
               that
               they
               had
               not
               received
               due
               Obedience
               ,
               and
               that
               the
               execution
               thereof
               had
               not
               been
               so
               prosecuted
               ,
               as
               by
               the
               Tenor
               of
               the
               same
               is
               prescribed
               ,
               found
               it
               necessary
               ,
               with
               the
               advise
               of
               his
               Estates
               in
               Parliament
               ,
               in
            
             Sept.
             1672.
             
               that
               they
               should
               remain
               in
               force
               for
               other
               three
               Years
               to
               come
               .
            
          
           
             14.
             
             These
             are
             the
             Penal
             Laws
             in
             Scotland
             against
             the
             Presbyterians
             ,
             made
             by
             divers
             free
             Parliaments
             against
             their
             sinful
             Separation
             from
             the
             Church
             ,
             to
             frequent
             Meeting-houses
             or
             Field-Conventicles
             ,
             upon
             mature
             consideration
             of
             the
             inconsistency
             of
             it
             ,
             with
             Religion
             towards
             God
             ;
             Affection
             to
             the
             Laws
             ;
             Loyalty
             to
             the
             King
             ;
             or
             Study
             of
             the
             publick
             Peace
             of
             the
             State
             :
             And
             three
             Rebellions
             in
             23
             years
             (
             from
             the
             year
             1663
             to
             the
             year
             1686
             )
             have
             justifyed
             the
             Justice
             and
             Wisdom
             of
             these
             Parliaments
             .
             But
             none
             ever
             
             suffered
             for
             meer
             Separation
             but
             in
             purse
             ;
             and
             never
             any
             was
             punished
             that
             way
             ,
             but
             such
             as
             came
             to
             Church
             to
             save
             their
             Money
             ,
             notwithstanding
             all
             their
             pretended
             scruples
             of
             Conscience
             :
             Wherefore
             unless
             we
             derogate
             from
             the
             Authority
             of
             King
             and
             Parliament
             ,
             justify
             Rebellion
             ,
             and
             prefer
             private
             Humour
             to
             publick
             Peace
             ,
             the
             impartial
             Resolution
             of
             the
             present
             Question
             is
             this
             ,
             That
             the
             Penal
             Laws
             against
             the
             Scotch
             Presbyterians
             had
             nothing
             of
             Persecution
             in
             them
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               QUESTION
               VI.
            
             Whether
             the
             Episcopal
             Clergy
             in
             Scotland
             from
             the
             Year
             1662
             to
             the
             Year
             1686
             ,
             shewed
             any
             thing
             of
             the
             Spirit
             of
             Persecution
             against
             Presbyterians
             ?
          
           
             1.
             
             NOtwithstanding
             that
             the
             Presbyterians
             are
             pleas'd
             to
             say
             ,
             they
             were
             dragoon'd
             by
             the
             Bishops
             and
             Episcopal
             Clergy
             ,
             alluding
             to
             that
             way
             of
             Conversion
             in
             France
             ,
             which
             indeed
             was
             procur'd
             by
             an
             Address
             of
             the
             Assembly
             of
             the
             Clergy
             of
             that
             Kingdom
             ;
             yet
             this
             is
             a
             palpable
             Injustice
             and
             Calumny
             .
             For
             certain
             it
             is
             ,
             that
             all
             these
             twenty
             four
             years
             never
             produced
             one
             Address
             of
             the
             
               Presbyterial
               ,
               Diocesan
               ,
               Provincial
            
             ,
             or
             
               National
               Assembly
            
             of
             the
             Established
             Church
             of
             Scotland
             ,
             either
             beseeching
             the
             High
             Court
             of
             Parliament
             ,
             or
             the
             
               Lords
               of
               the
               Privy
               Council
            
             ,
             to
             make
             or
             execute
             Laws
             against
             
               Protestant
               Dissenters
            
             :
             Wherefore
             ,
             notwithstanding
             all
             the
             passionate
             Exhortations
             in
             private
             ,
             and
             the
             publick
             Sermons
             in
             the
             Church
             ,
             concerning
             the
             guiltiness
             of
             Schism
             ,
             and
             the
             necessity
             of
             Union
             among
             
             Protestants
             ,
             against
             their
             
               common
               Adversaries
            
             ,
             the
             Inferiour
             Clergy
             there
             cannot
             be
             possibly
             charged
             with
             the
             Spirit
             of
             Persecution
             against
             Presbyterians
             .
             Nay
             ,
             upon
             the
             contrary
             ,
             our
             Clergy
             were
             so
             averse
             from
             giving
             obedience
             to
             the
             Act
             that
             enjoyned
             them
             to
             present
             written
             Lists
             of
             the
             Dissenters
             in
             their
             respective
             Parishes
             ,
             and
             so
             very
             inflexible
             to
             the
             Publick
             Order
             for
             their
             Judicial
             informing
             upon
             Oath
             against
             Separatists
             ,
             that
             the
             Judges
             competent
             ,
             and
             Officers
             of
             State
             chid
             them
             in
             Publick
             for
             disaffection
             to
             the
             Royal
             Government
             ;
             so
             that
             under
             that
             Imputation
             they
             had
             nothing
             but
             their
             Innocency
             to
             support
             them
             ,
             in
             the
             Spirit
             of
             Meekness
             and
             Charity
             to
             their
             sworn
             Enemies
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             Again
             ,
             it
             were
             a
             great
             Injustice
             to
             the
             Lords
             Spiritual
             ,
             the
             Bishops
             ,
             to
             charge
             any
             of
             them
             as
             having
             been
             the
             first
             movers
             of
             those
             Penal
             Laws
             against
             Separation
             ;
             but
             since
             the
             repeated
             Rebellions
             of
             Forty
             Years
             past
             ,
             convinced
             all
             Mankind
             of
             the
             necessity
             of
             those
             Laws
             for
             the
             security
             of
             Religion
             and
             the
             Peace
             of
             the
             State
             ,
             the
             Bishops
             consenting
             ,
             or
             even
             advising
             to
             those
             Laws
             ,
             is
             so
             far
             from
             inferring
             their
             having
             a
             Persecuting
             Spirit
             ,
             that
             on
             the
             contrary
             ,
             their
             doing
             otherwise
             ,
             had
             demonstrated
             them
             to
             be
             Enemies
             to
             the
             Commonwealth
             ,
             in
             all
             its
             concerns
             both
             Sacred
             and
             Civil
             .
          
           
             3.
             
             But
             withal
             ,
             it
             cannot
             but
             be
             acknowledged
             by
             any
             one
             that
             considers
             things
             calmly
             ,
             that
             none
             of
             those
             Bishops
             had
             it
             ever
             in
             their
             power
             to
             shew
             acts
             of
             Compassion
             towards
             deluded
             Separatists
             of
             whatever
             quality
             ,
             but
             he
             chearfully
             did
             it
             ,
             in
             relieving
             their
             Necessities
             ,
             or
             mitigating
             the
             execution
             of
             the
             Penalties
             by
             Law
             enjoin'd
             .
             To
             make
             a
             proof
             of
             this
             by
             enumerating
             particular
             Acts
             of
             Charity
             (
             which
             Presbyterians
             ,
             to
             this
             day
             alive
             ,
             will
             acknowledge
             )
             would
             make
             the
             Resolution
             of
             this
             Question
             swell
             Four
             times
             bigger
             than
             all
             the
             Four
             Letters
             concerning
             
             the
             present
             Persecution
             of
             their
             Clergy
             ;
             therefore
             I
             shall
             forbear
             it
             .
          
           
             4.
             
             Now
             since
             Private
             Exhortations
             ,
             and
             Publick
             Sermons
             against
             Schism
             ,
             and
             recommending
             Union
             ,
             were
             all
             the
             appearances
             made
             by
             that
             Inferiour
             Clergy
             against
             Separatists
             ;
             and
             since
             all
             the
             Bishops
             in
             Parliament
             advis'd
             to
             no
             
               Penal
               Laws
            
             against
             Separation
             ,
             but
             such
             as
             were
             justified
             to
             the
             World
             by
             a
             
               Threefold
               Rebellion
            
             ,
             to
             be
             necessary
             in
             Policy
             as
             well
             as
             Religion
             ,
             for
             the
             common
             good
             of
             the
             State
             as
             well
             as
             Church
             ;
             I
             say
             ,
             after
             all
             ,
             the
             impartial
             Resolution
             of
             the
             present
             Question
             is
             this
             ,
             That
             the
             Episcopal
             Clergy
             in
             Scotland
             ,
             from
             the
             year
             1662
             to
             the
             year
             1686
             ,
             shewed
             nothing
             of
             the
             Spirit
             of
             Persecution
             against
             Presbyterians
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               QUESTION
               VII
            
             .
             Whether
             the
             Episcopal
             Church
             of
             Scotland
             were
             Compliers
             with
             the
             Designs
             for
             taking
             away
             the
             Penal
             Laws
             against
             the
             Papists
             ?
          
           
             1.
             
             FOr
             the
             clearer
             resolution
             of
             this
             Question
             ,
             let
             us
             distinguish
             betwixt
             the
             Scottish
             Episcopal
             Church
             ,
             diffused
             through
             all
             the
             Laity
             of
             that
             Kingdom
             ;
             and
             that
             Church
             again
             under
             the
             more
             restrained
             notion
             of
             Representative
             ,
             comprehending
             the
             Clergy
             :
             and
             let
             us
             likewise
             distinguish
             the
             Clergy
             unto
             the
             
               Lords
               Spiritual
            
             the
             Bishops
             ,
             and
             the
             subordinate
             Ministers
             and
             Pastors
             ;
             that
             so
             without
             partiality
             ,
             
             every
             one
             of
             these
             Societies
             of
             Protestants
             may
             be
             considered
             in
             reference
             to
             the
             matter
             of
             fact
             in
             question
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             And
             to
             begin
             with
             their
             Episcopal
             Church
             Diffusive
             .
             The
             Two
             Estates
             of
             Barons
             (
             great
             and
             less
             )
             and
             Burgesses
             ,
             fully
             represent
             them
             ,
             in
             Parliamentary
             Assemblies
             ;
             the
             free
             and
             full
             Parliament
             convened
             An.
             1685.
             consisted
             of
             such
             Men
             as
             had
             all
             of
             them
             sworn
             in
             the
             Test
             against
             the
             Covenant-Principles
             of
             Presbytery
             :
             This
             Episcopal
             Parliament
             so
             resolutely
             own'd
             themselves
             to
             be
             averse
             from
             taking
             away
             these
             Legal
             Restraints
             upon
             Papists
             ,
             that
             the
             Vote
             about
             repealing
             those
             
               Penal
               Laws
            
             came
             never
             further
             than
             the
             
               Lords
               of
               the
               Articles
            
             :
             All
             this
             the
             Episcopal
             Church
             Diffusive
             did
             ,
             with
             the
             apparent
             hazard
             of
             displeasing
             the
             Prince
             ,
             who
             was
             then
             so
             zealous
             for
             an
             extensive
             Liberty
             to
             Papists
             ,
             that
             for
             the
             disappointment
             which
             he
             found
             therein
             from
             that
             Parliament
             ,
             he
             chose
             to
             turn
             out
             of
             his
             Service
             ,
             some
             who
             had
             been
             the
             most
             faithful
             to
             him
             both
             in
             Civil
             and
             Military
             Affairs
             .
          
           
             3.
             
             Again
             ,
             for
             the
             Church
             Representative
             of
             Scotland
             ,
             the
             most
             malicious
             Enemies
             to
             the
             Episcopal
             Order
             ,
             asperse
             but
             two
             of
             fourteen
             Bishops
             ,
             for
             their
             complyance
             to
             these
             designs
             ;
             and
             it
             is
             as
             well
             known
             that
             two
             of
             the
             twelve
             were
             depriv'd
             .
          
           
             4.
             
             Then
             as
             for
             the
             inferior
             Clergy
             ,
             they
             were
             constantly
             faithful
             in
             Preaching
             against
             the
             Doctrines
             of
             the
             Roman
             Church
             ,
             notwithstanding
             the
             necessity
             they
             were
             under
             ,
             of
             reading
             the
             Law
             against
             
               LEESING
               MAKING
            
             ,
             every
             quarter
             of
             the
             year
             ,
             to
             affright
             them
             into
             silence
             ;
             they
             as
             often
             as
             they
             preached
             ,
             remembred
             in
             their
             Publick
             Prayers
             ,
             the
             persecuted
             Protestants
             in
             France
             ,
             notwithstanding
             all
             that
             was
             done
             to
             stifle
             and
             disparage
             the
             belief
             of
             the
             Persecution
             ;
             nay
             ,
             in
             none
             of
             
             their
             Synodical
             Sermons
             ,
             was
             the
             eminent
             danger
             from
             the
             busie
             Jesuites
             and
             other
             Papists
             forgotten
             ;
             nor
             in
             any
             Sermon
             ,
             the
             miserable
             Fopperies
             of
             Popery
             omitted
             ,
             even
             before
             his
             Majesties
             own
             Commissioner
             ,
             whether
             in
             the
             Cathedral
             Church
             at
             Edenborough
             ,
             or
             the
             Chappel
             Royal
             at
             Holy-Rood-House
             :
             And
             in
             the
             Synod
             of
             April
             1685
             ,
             (
             when
             the
             Bishops
             could
             not
             be
             with
             them
             ,
             by
             reason
             of
             the
             approaching
             Parliament
             )
             they
             drew
             up
             their
             Remonstrances
             against
             Popery
             ;
             and
             like
             dutiful
             Sons
             and
             Zealous
             Protestants
             ,
             shewed
             their
             ready
             concurrence
             with
             the
             Bishops
             ,
             in
             that
             day
             of
             Tryal
             :
             And
             it
             's
             certain
             ,
             that
             to
             their
             Interest
             with
             the
             Country
             ,
             it
             is
             chiefly
             to
             be
             attributed
             ,
             that
             the
             Penal
             Laws
             against
             Papists
             were
             not
             then
             repealed
             .
          
           
             5.
             
             All
             this
             they
             did
             ,
             not
             with
             connivance
             of
             the
             Court
             ,
             but
             with
             apparent
             hazard
             of
             its
             heaviest
             displeasure
             ,
             executed
             in
             the
             censuring
             of
             some
             ,
             suspension
             of
             others
             ,
             and
             deposition
             of
             others
             ,
             who
             were
             all
             patient
             and
             chearful
             Confessors
             for
             that
             Holy
             Religion
             ,
             which
             they
             Professed
             and
             Taught
             in
             season
             and
             out
             of
             season
             :
             Wherefore
             the
             impartial
             Resolution
             to
             the
             present
             Question
             ,
             is
             this
             ,
             That
             neither
             the
             Episcopal
             Church
             Diffusive
             ,
             nor
             Representative
             the
             Clergy
             ,
             whether
             Superior
             ,
             or
             Inferior
             ,
             were
             Compliers
             with
             the
             Designs
             for
             taking
             away
             the
             Penal
             Laws
             against
             Papists
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             
               QUESTION
               VIII
            
             .
             Whether
             the
             Scottish
             Presbyterians
             were
             Complyers
             with
             the
             Designs
             for
             taking
             away
             the
             Penal
             Laws
             against
             Papists
             ?
          
           
             IN
             satisfying
             this
             Question
             ,
             let
             us
             take
             the
             same
             method
             which
             we
             took
             to
             satisfie
             the
             former
             :
             And
             to
             begin
             with
             the
             Laity
             of
             the
             Presbyterian
             Perswasion
             ,
             none
             of
             these
             were
             ignorant
             that
             the
             Convening
             of
             the
             Parliament
             in
             1685
             ,
             was
             to
             obtain
             of
             them
             a
             free
             admission
             of
             Papists
             into
             all
             places
             of
             Trust
             ;
             King
             Iames
             his
             Principles
             for
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
             ,
             fill'd
             up
             all
             his
             Declarations
             for
             Indulgence
             within
             his
             Kingdoms
             ;
             none
             of
             the
             Presbyterians
             were
             unacquainted
             that
             he
             had
             sent
             an
             Ambassador
             to
             the
             Pope
             ,
             and
             that
             the
             Pope
             had
             his
             Nuncio
             at
             Whitehall
             ;
             none
             of
             them
             believed
             that
             the
             English
             Court
             in
             those
             circumstances
             ,
             would
             do
             any
             thing
             relating
             to
             Religion
             ,
             but
             what
             was
             agreeable
             to
             the
             measures
             of
             the
             Conclave
             ;
             none
             of
             them
             were
             ignorant
             ,
             that
             Papists
             call
             all
             Protestants
             Hereticks
             ,
             and
             that
             they
             damn
             all
             Hereticks
             to
             Hell
             ;
             and
             that
             King
             Iames
             oft
             declared
             ,
             that
             Presbyterians
             could
             not
             be
             Loyal
             ;
             and
             that
             he
             could
             never
             so
             much
             forget
             the
             Murder
             of
             his
             Royal
             Father
             of
             ever
             Blessed
             Memory
             ,
             as
             to
             trust
             them
             himself
             :
             There
             was
             none
             of
             them
             but
             knew
             ,
             that
             every
             Zealous
             Papist
             believes
             the
             Roman
             Church
             Infallible
             ;
             and
             that
             Infallibility
             is
             inconsistent
             with
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
             :
             And
             therefore
             all
             the
             Presbyterian
             Laity
             were
             doubtless
             conscious
             ,
             that
             the
             Indulgence
             given
             to
             them
             by
             a
             Popish
             King
             ,
             assented
             unto
             by
             the
             
             Pope's
             Nuncio
             ,
             conformable
             to
             the
             Sense
             of
             the
             Roman
             Conclave
             ,
             could
             never
             be
             
             intended
             for
             the
             Ease
             of
             
               Protestant
               Dissenters
            
             ,
             but
             with
             design
             of
             making
             Papists
             share
             in
             the
             Blessing
             ;
             and
             that
             by
             this
             step
             Papists
             ,
             got
             into
             Power
             ,
             might
             apply
             it
             to
             the
             overthrow
             of
             the
             Reformation
             ,
             was
             doubtless
             obvious
             to
             every
             Presbyterian
             :
             And
             therefore
             the
             acceptance
             of
             ,
             and
             thanksgiving
             for
             such
             an
             Indulgence
             ,
             was
             a
             gross
             complyance
             with
             the
             designs
             for
             Popery
             ,
             tending
             to
             the
             destruction
             of
             the
             
               Protestant
               Religion
            
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             All
             this
             Charge
             lies
             equally
             heavy
             upon
             the
             Ministers
             of
             that
             Perswasion
             ,
             with
             these
             aggravating
             circumstances
             ,
             that
             whereas
             in
             the
             Reign
             of
             a
             Protestant
             King
             ,
             they
             preached
             against
             Popery
             as
             imminent
             and
             at
             hand
             ;
             they
             in
             the
             Reign
             of
             a
             Popish
             King
             ,
             were
             guilty
             (
             for
             the
             most
             part
             )
             of
             shameful
             silence
             ;
             yea
             when
             one
             of
             their
             number
             (
             more
             faithful
             than
             the
             rest
             )
             viz.
             Doctor
             Hardy
             ,
             in
             a
             Sermon
             at
             Edenborough
             ,
             which
             he
             preached
             at
             their
             
               Provincial
               Assembly
            
             ,
             had
             Exhorted
             them
             to
             take
             heed
             ,
             that
             the
             Indulgence
             to
             Proustant
             Dissenters
             ,
             might
             not
             be
             an
             Engine
             for
             bringing
             Popery
             into
             the
             Kingdom
             ;
             and
             when
             for
             the
             preaching
             of
             this
             Sermon
             ,
             he
             was
             Arraigned
             for
             his
             Life
             ,
             none
             of
             all
             his
             Brethren
             ,
             nor
             any
             of
             the
             Laity
             ,
             (
             except
             the
             good
             Mr.
             
               R.
               B
               —
               d
            
             Merchant
             in
             Edenborough
             )
             would
             shew
             him
             any
             Friendship
             :
             But
             on
             the
             contrary
             ,
             they
             did
             openly
             condemn
             his
             doing
             his
             Duty
             ,
             as
             
               indiscreet
               Zeal
            
             :
             And
             certainly
             he
             had
             suffered
             as
             the
             worst
             of
             Malefactors
             ;
             had
             it
             not
             been
             for
             the
             Episcopal
             Advocates
             that
             pleaded
             for
             him
             ,
             and
             the
             Episcopal
             Judges
             that
             acquitted
             him
             ,
             and
             took
             all
             his
             danger
             upon
             themselves
             :
             Wherefore
             the
             impartial
             Resolution
             to
             the
             present
             Question
             ,
             is
             this
             ,
             That
             the
             
               Scotch
               Presbyterians
            
             were
             Compliers
             with
             the
             late
             Designs
             for
             taking
             away
             the
             legal
             Restraints
             against
             Papists
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             
               QUESTION
               IX
            
             .
             Whether
             Scottish
             Presbytery
             in
             the
             Church
             ,
             be
             consistent
             with
             the
             Legal
             Monarchy
             in
             that
             Kingdom
             ?
          
           
             1.
             
             AS
             the
             
               Solemn
               League
            
             is
             the
             Canon
             ,
             and
             the
             Acts
             of
             their
             
               General
               Assemblies
            
             ,
             the
             Interpreters
             of
             the
             Principles
             of
             
               Scottish
               Presbytery
            
             ;
             so
             on
             the
             other
             hand
             ,
             the
             Acts
             of
             Parliament
             of
             that
             Kingdom
             ,
             are
             the
             only
             Interpreters
             of
             the
             Rights
             of
             their
             Monarchy
             :
             Wherefore
             the
             Question
             here
             proposed
             ,
             resolveth
             unto
             this
             ,
             Whether
             the
             
               Scotch
               Presbyterians
            
             in
             their
             Assembly
             Acts
             ,
             which
             are
             founded
             upon
             the
             Covenant
             ,
             make
             any
             Enchroachment
             upon
             the
             
               Royal
               Prerogatives
            
             of
             that
             Crown
             ,
             which
             are
             asserted
             by
             their
             Acts
             of
             Parliament
             unrepealed
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             
               To
               chuse
               Persons
               qualified
               by
               Law
               to
               be
               Officers
               of
               State
               ,
               Councellors
               ,
               and
               Iudges
               ,
               is
               one
               Prerogative
               acknowledged
               to
               be
            
             
             
               inherent
               in
               the
               Kings
               of
            
             Scotland
             :
             but
             the
             Principles
             of
             their
             Presbytery
             ,
             make
             this
             to
             be
             the
             Prerogative
             of
             the
             Kirk
             ;
             as
             appears
             by
             the
             
               4th
               Article
            
             of
             the
             
               Covenant
               ,
               wherein
               they
               swear
               to
               endeavour
               with
               all
               faithfulness
               the
               discovery
               of
               all
               such
               as
               have
               been
               or
               shall
               be
               evil
               Instruments
               ,
               by
               making
               any
               Parties
               contrary
               to
               that
               Covenant
               ,
               that
               they
               may
               be
               brought
               to
               publick
               Tryal
               ,
               and
               receive
               condign
               punishment
               .
            
             This
             is
             
             farther
             declared
             in
             their
             Answer
             to
             the
             pretended
             Committee
             of
             Estates
             ;
             by
             which
             Answer
             they
             propose
             as
             a
             safe
             Rule
             in
             this
             case
             ,
             
               that
               the
               Duties
               of
               the
               Second
               Table
               ,
               as
               well
               as
               of
               the
               First
               ,
               namely
               the
               Duties
               between
               King
               and
               Subject
               ,
               Masters
               and
               Servants
               ,
               being
               contained
               in
               ,
               and
               to
               be
               taught
               and
               cleared
               from
               the
               Word
               of
               God
               ,
               are
               a
               subject
               
               of
               Ministerial
               Doctrine
               ,
               and
               in
               difficult
               cases
               a
               subject
               of
               cognizance
               and
               judgment
               ,
               to
               the
               Assemblies
               of
               the
               Kirk
               :
            
             Now
             what
             cases
             are
             difficult
             ,
             in
             which
             King
             and
             Subjects
             are
             the
             Parties
             ,
             the
             Kirk
             must
             judge
             ,
             and
             be
             as
             Infallible
             in
             Scotland
             as
             in
             Rome
             .
          
           
             3.
             
             Another
             Perogative
             of
             the
             
               King
               of
               Scotland
            
             ,
             is
             declared
             ,
             
             
               his
               power
               of
               Calling
               and
               Dissolving
               Parliaments
            
             (
             by
             himself
             )
             
               and
               making
               of
               Laws
               with
               their
               Advice
               and
               Councel
               .
            
             And
             this
             Prerogative
             ,
             in
             all
             its
             Branches
             ,
             is
             usurped
             upon
             by
             the
             
               Principles
               of
               Presbytery
            
             .
             As
             for
             his
             power
             of
             calling
             Parliaments
             by
             himself
             ,
             either
             Presbyterian
             Kirk-men
             are
             not
             Subjects
             of
             the
             Scottish
             King
             ,
             or
             else
             by
             their
             acknowledgement
             of
             this
             Royal
             Prerogative
             ,
             his
             
               Letters
               Patents
            
             directed
             to
             them
             ,
             may
             command
             their
             Assembling
             about
             
               Ecclesiastical
               Affairs
            
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             the
             other
             Estates
             to
             convene
             for
             
               Matters
               Civil
            
             :
             But
             should
             they
             once
             grant
             that
             the
             power
             of
             their
             Assembling
             flows
             immediately
             from
             the
             King
             their
             Soveraign
             ,
             and
             not
             immediately
             from
             Christ
             ;
             then
             should
             they
             by
             Laws
             of
             consequence
             be
             obliged
             to
             confess
             ,
             that
             Christ
             gives
             them
             no
             Warrant
             to
             Assemble
             without
             Warrant
             from
             their
             King.
             But
             this
             the
             
               Presbyterian
               Kirk
            
             cannot
             grant
             to
             the
             State
             ,
             because
             thereby
             their
             Covenant
             should
             become
             an
             unlawful
             bond
             of
             Treason
             ,
             and
             the
             most
             of
             their
             Assembly
             Acts
             
               null
               and
               void
            
             ;
             since
             first
             that
             Oath
             was
             sworn
             ,
             and
             thereafter
             the
             most
             of
             those
             Acts
             were
             pass'd
             without
             ,
             yea
             ,
             and
             contrary
             to
             the
             
               express
               Will
               and
               Pleasure
               of
               their
               King.
               
            
          
           
             4.
             
             Then
             the
             Kings
             Power
             to
             Dissolve
             Parliaments
             by
             himself
             is
             another
             Branch
             of
             his
             Royal
             Prerogative
             :
             But
             this
             is
             likewise
             Usurped
             upon
             by
             the
             Principles
             of
             Presbytery
             ;
             for
             as
             much
             as
             the
             Second
             Article
             of
             the
             
               Covenant
               bindeth
               to
               preserve
               the
               Priviledges
               of
               Parliament
               ,
            
             with
             the
             
             preservation
             of
             which
             Priviledges
             ,
             the
             General
             Assembly
             
             
               declares
               the
               Kings
               negative
               Voice
               inconsistent
               .
            
             Now
             if
             the
             King
             have
             no
             
               Negative
               Voice
            
             in
             a
             Parliament
             that
             enjoys
             its
             Priviledges
             ,
             then
             any
             thing
             concluded
             by
             the
             Majority
             of
             such
             a
             Parliament
             ,
             may
             pass
             into
             a
             formal
             Act
             ,
             though
             the
             King
             should
             deny
             his
             concurrence
             ;
             and
             by
             consequence
             ,
             without
             the
             Royal
             Assent
             ,
             they
             might
             make
             a
             Law
             for
             continuing
             their
             Session
             as
             long
             as
             they
             please
             ;
             by
             vertue
             of
             which
             Law
             ,
             the
             
               Royal
               Authority
            
             could
             not
             Dissolve
             them
             ,
             according
             to
             these
             Covenanting
             Principles
             .
          
           
             5.
             
             In
             the
             Third
             place
             ,
             
               the
               power
               of
               making
               Laws
            
             is
             Usurped
             from
             King
             and
             Parliament
             by
             the
             Principles
             of
             Presbyterians
             :
             For
             in
             the
             last
             Article
             of
             their
             
               Covenant
               they
               swear
               that
               they
               shall
               all
               the
               Days
               of
               their
               lives
               zealously
               and
               constantly
               continue
               therein
               against
               all
               opposition
               ,
               letts
               ,
               and
               impediments
               whatsoever
            
             ;
             and
             in
             conscience
             of
             this
             part
             of
             their
             Oath
             the
             Kirk
             Assembly
             Men
             pass'd
             an
             
               Act
               declarative
               against
               an
               Act
               of
               Parliament
               and
            
             
             
               Committee
               of
               Estates
            
             (
             
               dated
               in
            
             June
             ,
             
               the
               same
               year
               ,
               )
               and
               in
               general
               ,
               against
               all
               others
               made
               in
               the
               common
               cause
               without
               consent
               of
               the
               Church
               .
            
          
           
             6.
             
             A
             Third
             
               Prerogative
               Royal
            
             in
             the
             
               Crown
               of
               Scotland
            
             ,
             is
             that
             of
             
               making
               Leagues
               and
               Conventions
               of
               the
               Subjects
               .
            
             Now
             that
             cannot
             consist
             with
             the
             Principles
             which
             flow
             from
             that
             Covenant
             which
             was
             entred
             into
             by
             the
             Assembly
             of
             the
             Subjects
             ,
             without
             the
             King
             ;
             and
             more
             particularly
             is
             it
             Invaded
             by
             those
             Principles
             by
             which
             they
             emitted
             an
             
               Act
               declaring
               against
               the
               bond
               subscribed
               by
               the
            
             Scotch
             
               Lords
               at
            
             
             Oxford
             ,
             
               and
               inflicting
               the
               highest
               Ecclesiastical
               Censures
               against
               any
               who
               subscribed
               ,
               or
               framed
               ,
               or
               were
               accessary
               to
               the
               Execution
               of
               the
               same
               .
            
          
           
             7.
             
             The
             making
             Peace
             and
             War
             with
             Foreign
             Princes
             ,
             is
             another
             Branch
             of
             this
             Prerogative
             of
             the
             Crown
             of
             Scotland
             ,
             
             acknowledged
             to
             be
             in
             the
             King.
             But
             this
             also
             ,
             according
             to
             the
             Principles
             of
             Presbytery
             ,
             is
             Usurped
             upon
             by
             that
             
             Kirk
             ;
             for
             she
             ,
             in
             the
             Explication
             of
             the
             Sixth
             Article
             of
             the
             Covenant
             (
             already
             mention'd
             in
             the
             Fourth
             number
             concerning
             the
             Third
             Question
             )
             declares
             her self
             in
             her
             
               solemn
               and
               seasonable
               warning
            
             to
             all
             her
             Children
             of
             the
             Covenant
             ,
             after
             this
             manner
             ,
             
               Whosoever
               he
               be
               that
               will
               not
               according
               to
            
             
             
               publick
               Order
               and
               Appointment
               adventure
               his
               Person
               ,
               or
               send
               out
               those
               that
               are
               under
               his
               power
               ,
               or
               pay
               the
               Contributions
               imposed
               for
               the
               maintenance
               of
               the
               Forces
               ,
               must
               be
               taken
               for
               an
               Enemy
               ,
               Malignant
               ,
               and
               Covenant-breaker
               ,
               and
               so
               involved
               both
               into
               the
               displeasure
               of
               God
               ,
               and
               censures
               of
               the
               Kirk
               .
            
          
           
             8.
             
             Now
             the
             King's
             Power
             to
             
               chuse
               Officers
               of
               State
               ,
               Counsellours
               and
               Iudges
            
             qualified
             by
             Law
             ,
             to
             
               Call
               and
               Dissolve
               Parliaments
            
             by
             himself
             ,
             and
             
               make
               Laws
            
             with
             their
             Advice
             ,
             to
             make
             
               Leagues
               and
               Conventions
               of
               the
               Subjects
               ,
            
             and
             to
             
               make
               Peace
               and
               War
            
             ,
             being
             all
             Prerogatives
             Royal
             of
             the
             
               Crown
               of
               Scotland
            
             ,
             asserted
             by
             
               Acts
               of
               Parliament
               unrepealed
            
             ;
             and
             all
             these
             being
             so
             notoriously
             Usurped
             upon
             by
             the
             Presbyterian
             Kirk
             ,
             the
             impartial
             Resolution
             of
             the
             Question
             is
             this
             ,
             That
             this
             Scottish
             Presbytery
             in
             the
             Church
             ,
             is
             Not
             Consistent
             with
             legal
             Monarchy
             in
             that
             Kingdom
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               QUESTION
               X.
            
             Whether
             
               Scottish
               Presbytery
            
             be
             agreeable
             to
             the
             general
             Inclination
             of
             that
             People
             ?
          
           
             1.
             
             AFter
             it
             hath
             been
             Demonstrated
             that
             the
             Principles
             of
             Scotch
             Presbytery
             are
             inconsistent
             with
             that
             Monarchy
             ,
             
             to
             say
             that
             Presbyterian
             Church-Government
             were
             agreeable
             to
             the
             mind
             of
             the
             Representatives
             of
             that
             People
             in
             the
             current
             Parliament
             ,
             might
             be
             constructed
             the
             capital
             Crime
             of
             
               LEISING
               MAKING
            
             to
             his
             Majesty
             ,
             against
             his
             Supreme
             Judicature
             :
             And
             therefore
             this
             Question
             hath
             Reference
             to
             the
             People
             whom
             they
             represent
             ;
             and
             resolveth
             into
             this
             ,
             Whether
             the
             generality
             of
             the
             Scottish
             Nation
             would
             be
             glad
             to
             accept
             of
             Presbytery
             ,
             instead
             of
             the
             Episcopacy
             lately
             abolished
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             For
             the
             clearer
             resolution
             of
             the
             Question
             thus
             stated
             ,
             that
             Kingdom
             may
             be
             distinguished
             into
             the
             Laity
             and
             Clergy
             ;
             and
             the
             Laity
             distinguished
             into
             the
             
               Nobility
               ,
               Gentry
            
             ,
             and
             Commons
             :
             And
             the
             Clergy
             again
             into
             the
             Bishops
             and
             subordinate
             Pastors
             ,
             after
             whom
             we
             may
             consider
             the
             Universities
             and
             Colledges
             of
             Learning
             .
          
           
             3.
             
             As
             for
             the
             Nobility
             .
             Since
             that
             Honourable
             Estate
             of
             the
             Kingdom
             have
             by
             birth
             their
             Peerage
             in
             Parliament
             ,
             beside
             that
             it
             were
             
               Scandalum
               magnatum
            
             to
             say
             that
             they
             inclin'd
             to
             that
             Church
             Government
             ,
             which
             is
             not
             consistent
             with
             their
             Monarchy
             ;
             it
             were
             also
             a
             
               Scandalum
               Christianorum
            
             ,
             to
             say
             that
             those
             Men
             of
             Honour
             and
             Conscience
             ,
             who
             (
             a
             very
             few
             excepted
             )
             swore
             in
             the
             Test
             against
             all
             Fanatical
             Principles
             ,
             and
             renounced
             all
             Covenant-Obligations
             ,
             do
             incline
             to
             Presbytery
             .
             And
             it
             's
             well
             known
             that
             there
             never
             were
             in
             Scotland
             above
             a
             dozen
             of
             Peers
             so
             much
             Presbyterian
             as
             to
             refuse
             the
             Declaration
             against
             the
             Covenant-Principles
             ,
             the
             taking
             of
             which
             qualified
             them
             to
             sit
             in
             Parliament
             ▪
          
           
             4.
             
             Again
             ,
             for
             the
             
               Scottish
               Gentry
            
             ,
             it
             's
             certain
             ,
             that
             not
             One
             of
             Forty
             in
             all
             Scotland
             but
             has
             taken
             the
             Test
             ;
             and
             Four
             years
             ago
             ,
             not
             Fifty
             in
             all
             Scotland
             (
             out
             of
             the
             West
             )
             did
             upon
             the
             Indulgence
             ,
             forsake
             their
             Churches
             to
             frequent
             Meeting-Houses
             .
             And
             it
             cannot
             be
             supposed
             
             of
             any
             who
             have
             so
             generous
             Blood
             in
             their
             Veins
             ,
             that
             they
             should
             have
             so
             little
             Honour
             or
             Conscience
             as
             to
             Incline
             to
             that
             Church
             Government
             ,
             which
             usurps
             the
             
               Priviledge
               of
               entring
               into
               Covenants
               and
               Leagues
               ,
               and
               Convening
               in
               Assemblies
               ,
               for
               Treating
               ,
               Consulting
               and
               Determining
               in
               matters
               Ecclesiastical
               ,
               without
               the
               Royal
               Command
               ,
               or
               express
               License
               :
            
             Which
             is
             a
             Practice
             contradicting
             the
             Promissory
             part
             of
             that
             Oath
             of
             the
             Test.
             
          
           
             5.
             
             Then
             for
             the
             Commons
             ;
             it
             is
             certain
             that
             the
             generality
             of
             them
             (
             as
             well
             as
             the
             richest
             and
             most
             sensible
             part
             )
             live
             in
             Cities
             and
             Market
             Towns
             ;
             now
             all
             such
             Burgesses
             who
             were
             either
             worthy
             to
             be
             of
             the
             
               Common
               Council
            
             of
             the
             Towns
             they
             lived
             in
             ,
             or
             were
             able
             to
             follow
             any
             ingenuous
             Trade
             ,
             were
             obliged
             to
             take
             the
             Test
             before
             they
             could
             be
             qualified
             to
             elect
             Burgesses
             for
             Parliament
             ;
             and
             therefore
             ,
             according
             to
             their
             Sense
             and
             Conscience
             of
             an
             Oath
             ,
             they
             cannot
             but
             have
             an
             aversion
             against
             Presbytery
             ;
             yea
             ,
             their
             loud
             Cries
             and
             Rivers
             of
             Tears
             at
             the
             Farewel-Sermons
             of
             their
             Episcopal-Pastors
             (
             for
             whom
             they
             would
             have
             pluckt
             out
             their
             right
             Eyes
             )
             in
             all
             other
             parts
             of
             Scotland
             but
             the
             Western
             Shires
             ,
             heighteneth
             the
             probability
             ,
             that
             they
             are
             not
             in
             love
             with
             Presbytery
             .
          
           
             6.
             
             Then
             for
             the
             Clergy
             ;
             since
             they
             all
             have
             owned
             Episcopal
             Ordination
             ,
             sworn
             the
             Oaths
             of
             
               Allegiance
               ,
               Supremacy
            
             ,
             and
             the
             Test
             ,
             it
             cannot
             be
             suspected
             of
             any
             of
             them
             ,
             without
             a
             blemish
             of
             their
             Integrity
             or
             Constancy
             ,
             that
             they
             should
             be
             inclin'd
             to
             Presbyterian
             Government
             .
             And
             if
             Twenty
             of
             a
             Thousand
             are
             Trimmers
             betwixt
             the
             Bishop
             and
             the
             Presbyterian
             Moderator
             ,
             yet
             sure
             those
             Twenty
             added
             to
             all
             the
             Field-Preachers
             and
             Meeting-housekeepers
             ▪
             will
             not
             make
             up
             the
             number
             of
             a
             fifth
             part
             of
             the
             
               Episcopal
               Clergy
            
             :
             No
             doubt
             they
             will
             say
             ,
             that
             what
             they
             want
             in
             the
             number
             ,
             they
             have
             in
             the
             worth
             of
             their
             
             Ministers
             :
             But
             how
             far
             we
             may
             believe
             them
             in
             their
             setting
             value
             upon
             themselves
             ,
             may
             partly
             appear
             from
             the
             consideration
             of
             their
             late
             Commissioners
             to
             this
             Court
             ;
             for
             doubtless
             ,
             for
             the
             managing
             of
             their
             Cause
             ,
             they
             made
             choice
             of
             the
             fittest
             Men
             they
             had
             ,
             as
             for
             all
             other
             Abilities
             ,
             so
             especially
             for
             soundness
             in
             the
             Principles
             of
             Presbytery
             ,
             also
             of
             the
             greatest
             moderation
             ;
             and
             yet
             one
             of
             the
             Three
             ,
             Mr.
             
               W
               —
               son
            
             ,
             before
             he
             got
             his
             First
             Wife
             ,
             was
             a
             malignant
             Lecturer
             under
             Bishops
             ,
             and
             so
             continued
             ,
             till
             his
             first
             disappointment
             of
             getting
             his
             Rectors
             Place
             ,
             made
             him
             desert
             his
             own
             with
             Indignation
             ,
             and
             that
             made
             him
             an
             enemy
             to
             Episcopacy
             .
             Another
             of
             them
             ,
             Mr.
             
               K
               —
               dy
            
             ,
             was
             ,
             before
             the
             restitution
             of
             Bishops
             ,
             deprived
             by
             his
             Presbyterian
             Brethren
             ,
             (
             to
             use
             their
             own
             Words
             as
             near
             as
             I
             can
             remember
             )
             
               as
               a
               Firebrand
               of
               Hell
               to
               inflame
               the
               Church
               on
               Earth
               .
            
             The
             Third
             is
             so
             famous
             ,
             that
             I
             never
             heard
             of
             him
             till
             he
             came
             in
             this
             Character
             .
          
           
             7.
             
             Then
             in
             all
             the
             Four
             Universities
             ,
             it
             is
             certain
             that
             not
             Four
             Masters
             ,
             Head
             or
             Fellow
             ,
             incline
             to
             Presbytery
             ;
             and
             the
             Colledges
             of
             Justice
             and
             Physick
             at
             Edenborough
             ,
             were
             so
             averse
             from
             it
             ,
             that
             the
             generality
             of
             them
             were
             ready
             last
             Summer
             ,
             to
             take
             Arms
             in
             defence
             of
             their
             Episcopal
             Ministers
             .
             Wherefore
             ,
             since
             neither
             the
             most
             part
             of
             the
             Scotch
             Noblemen
             ,
             Gentry
             or
             Commons
             ,
             Clergy
             ,
             Universities
             or
             Colleges
             ,
             are
             for
             Presbytery
             ,
             or
             in
             Honour
             or
             Conscience
             can
             be
             ;
             we
             conclude
             ,
             That
             Scottish
             Presbytery
             is
             not
             agreeable
             to
             the
             mind
             of
             that
             People
             .
          
           
             FINIS
             .
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           The
           CONTENTS
           .
        
         
           
             
               Quest.
               1.
            
             
             Concerning
             the
             time
             of
             the
             first
             settlement
             of
             Presbytery
             in
             
               Scotland
               .
               pag.
               ●
            
          
           
             
               Quest.
               2.
            
             
             Concerning
             the
             manner
             of
             the
             settlement
             
               〈◊〉
               Presbytery
            
             in
             Scotland
             ,
             in
             the
             Reigns
             of
             K.
             
               Ja.
               V●
            
             and
             
               Charles
               I.
               pag.
               ●
            
          
           
             
               Quest.
               3.
            
             
             Concerning
             the
             Principles
             of
             
               Scottish
               Presbytery
            
             in
             reference
             to
             
               Dissenters
               ,
               pag.
               ●
            
          
           
             
               Quest.
               4.
            
             
             Concerning
             the
             Separation
             of
             
               Scotch
               Presbyterians
            
             from
             the
             Episcopal
             Church
             since
             the
             Year
             1662.
             
               p.
               ●
            
          
           
             
               Quest.
               5.
            
             
             Concerning
             the
             
               Penal
               Laws
            
             against
             
               Scotch
               Presbyterians
            
             ,
             since
             the
             Year
             1663.
             
               pag.
               ●●
            
          
           
             
               Quest.
               6.
            
             
             Concerning
             the
             Carriage
             of
             the
             
               Episcopal
               Clergy
            
             of
             Scotland
             ,
             towards
             
               Dissenters
               ,
               pag.
               ●●
            
          
           
             
               Quest.
               7.
            
             
             Concerning
             the
             Carriage
             of
             the
             
               Episcopal
               Church
            
             of
             Scotland
             ,
             in
             reference
             to
             the
             
               Penal
               Law
            
             against
             
               Papists
               .
               pag.
               ●●
            
          
           
             
               Quest.
               8.
            
             
             Concerning
             the
             Carriage
             of
             
               Scotch
               Presbyterians
            
             ,
             in
             reference
             to
             the
             
               Penal
               Laws
            
             against
             
               Papists
               .
               pag.
               23.
            
             
          
           
             
               Quest.
               9.
            
             
             Concerning
             the
             Principles
             of
             Scottish
             Presbytry
             ,
             in
             referenee
             to
             
               the
               power
               of
               the
               King.
               pag.
               25.
               
            
          
           
             
               Quest.
               10.
            
             
             Concerning
             the
             mind
             of
             the
             people
             in
             Scotland
             ,
             in
             reference
             to
             the
             
               Presbyterian
               Government
            
             in
             the
             Church
             .
             
               pag.
               28.
            
             
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A35430-e370
           
             
               K.
               Iames
            
             6.
             
             Parl.
             1.
             
             Act.
             2
             ,
             3
             ,
             8.
             
          
           
             
             Spotswood's
             3
             Book
             
          
           
             Spotswood
             Book
             3.
             p.
             152.
             
             Book
             6.
             p.
             289.
             
          
           
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
             lib.
             2.
             p.
             ●8
             .
             Lond.
             Ed.
             
          
           
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             ,
             l.
             2.
             
          
           
             Spotswood
             6
             Book
             .
          
           
             K.
             Charles
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             ,
             17
             Chap.
             
          
           
             August
             30.
             1639.
             
          
           
             Aug
             1639.
             
          
           
             Aug.
             1643.
             
          
           
             May
             1644.
             
          
           
             A●g
             .
             164●
             .
          
           
             〈…〉
             An.
             1661.
             
          
           
             Aug.
             1647.
             
          
           
             Feb.
             1645.
             
          
           
             K.
             Ch.
             2.
             
             Parl.
             1.
             
             Act.
             7
             ,
             9
             ,
             10.
             
          
           
             K.
             Ch.
             2.
             
             Parl.
             1.
             
             Sess.
             2.
             
             Act.
             1.
             
          
           
             K.
             Ch.
             2.
             
             Parl.
             1.
             
             Sess.
             3.
             
             Act.
             2.
             
          
           
             K.
             Ch.
             2
             Parl.
             2.
             
             Ses.
             2.
             
             Act.
             4.
             
          
           
             K.
             Ch.
             2.
             
             Parl.
             2.
             
             Ses.
             2.
             
             Act.
             5.
             
          
           
             K.
             Ch.
             2.
             
             Parl.
             1.
             
             Act.
             2.
             
          
           
             Aug.
             1648.
             
          
           
             K.
             Ch.
             II.
             Part.
             1.
             
             Act.
             3.
             
          
           
             Iuly
             1648.
             
          
           
             Iuly
             28.
             1648.
             
          
           
             Iune
             3.
             1644.
             
          
           
             K.
             Ch.
             2.
             
             Part.
             1.
             
             Act.
             5.
             
          
           
             Feb.
             12.
             1645.