,-,,.v^^v ^^ •"*"' ^//.>, princp:ton. n. j. Purchased by the Mrs. Robert Lenox Kennedy Church History Fund BR 742 .B6 1820 v. 2 Brown, John, 1722-1787. A compendious history of the British churches in <^mi^y^^^^f Prelacy — Im|>ositionof sinful Oaths and De- c laraiionii, and Bond? — And terrible Persecution of all faithful Adherents to their Covenants wilh(;octwccn Id'A and 16W ^^ CHAPTER Vn. Kini; William btu»- enthroned. Prelacy it abolished, and Presby- tery ic-e*t«bli-.hnl — Many, but not all. grievances iitlitrNted — Mjny jrtHMl Ait.% o( AsMuiblitf — Religion •Jmost at a stand for CONTENTS. V I'agc Qlwve twenty years— but afterwards much hurt by the Union Settlement — By the Abjuration Oath — Toleration Act — Resto- ration of Patronage — Condemnation of tho Marrow — Simson, Glass, Campbell, Wishart, &c/s Errors — Manifold divisions thereby occasioned 375 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE RISE ANp rUOGRESS OF THE SECESSION. COi^IPENDIOUS HISTORY CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE MOST MATEHIAL TRANSACTIONS SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY TO THE PRESENT TIME. TOGETHER WITH A HISTORY OF THE COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. CHAPTER I. Christianity Introducedr— Popery follows, and gains ground about 1100 years — Resby, Craw, Hamilton, Wishart, Mill, Sfc. burnt for opposing it — and many others per- secuted. Who first published the gospel of Christ in North Britain we know not: But, from our ancestors' zealous attachment to observe their Easter upon the 1 4th day of the moon, we are tempted to think that some of their first preachers had come from the Lesser Asia, after that superstition had become fa- shionable there. It is said, that about A. D. 203, King Donald I. and his queen, with several of his nobles, embraced the Christian religion ; and that Cratilinth, about seventy years after, more fully established it, and abolished heathenism. Probably vor,. I. B \l A CU.MrENDIOUS HISTORY 01 THK llic terrible persecution raised by Diocletian, the Roman emj)eror, about A. D. t502, obli/;ed both preachers arj»l other Christians, in the south parts of the ishind, to flee northward, where his power could not reach them. — Palladius, coming from Rome, in the .Olh century, to assist our preachers in their op- position to the Felatiian heresy, is said to have intro- duced diocesan prelacy, and to have sent St. Patrick from near Glnsi^ow to Ireland, in order to christia- nize the inhabitants, or to introduce bishops among them. But so inconsiderable was the power of these j)rimary bisho|)s, that it was not till about six hun- dred years afterward that they had any fixed dio- ceses in Scotland. About this time, Hildebert, Se- dulius, Columba, and other learned men, flourished here, antl were encouraged by Congall our kin^^. And in this, or the next century, Kintogern, Bal- dred, Conval, INIornan, Cormack, Ilebred, l^unstan, Jonas, Gabrian, (iall, and Columban, were famed preachers, 'J'he two last travelled into France and Switzerland, if not also into part of Italy. About A. n. .;2(), the Saturnalian festivals of the heathens, which had in other |)laces been before transferred to the pretended honour of Jesus Christ, were introduced into Scotland, and still continue to be observed in our revels of Christmas and the new year, under pretence of honouring the birth and circumcision of our Saviour. In tlie seventh rentury, Thomian, Cohitnban, Chroman, Hathan, Herman, Laustran, Slellan, Seigan, Corman, Ai- Han, Tinan, Colman, Adaman, Chilian, Wire, Plechelm, Samson, and Chinens, ma>i()naries from Rome, because they refused to suhjrct their con- .sciences or country' to his Papal Alajesty, and op- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. O posed the observation of Easter on the day ap- pointed at Rome, as well as the imposition of celi- bacy on the clergy, and of their shavin^r of their heads in the form of a cross, to mark their mission from Christ. In the eighth century, we find a considerable number of learned men, of whom John of Air, Alcuin, Clemens, and Raban, favourites of Charles the Great of Germany and France, appear to have been the chief; but whether they were all natives of Scotland I know not. About A. D. 860, a Synod held at Scoon enacted, That all clergymen should reside at their charges ; instruct their people by their example, as well as by their doctrine ; that they should keep no hawks or hounds for hunting; that they should neither cany warlike weapons, nor plead any civil causes. Constantine, the king, also enacted, That drunken- ness should be punished with death ; and that none should take above one meal a-day, or accustom themselves to lie on soft beds. About A. D. 904^, King Gregory, in a convention of states at Forfar, is said to have exempted the clergy from all taxes, service in war, or subjection to civil courts; — and to have given them power to draw tithes, enact ecclesiastical canons, and judge of matrimonial and testamentary causes. It was moreover €n acted, that every king, at his coronation, should swear to maintain all the clerical privileges. About A. D. 977> Beornel, or Bernet, a Scotch bishop, and others, were summoned to England, to have their heretical principle of the lawfulness of priests' mar- riage disproved and condemned. Dunstan, bishop of Canterbury, their principal opponent, by causing the beams of the floor on which they sat, to be secretly cut, that it might sink under every one but himself, pretended that their fall, while he re- u^ained safe, plainly marked the decision of heaven 4 A ( U.MPKNDIOUS IIISTOKY OF THE in his favours. AI)Out the beginning of the eleventh century, King Malcolm fixed the bishops to parti- cular dioceses, and erected the bishoprics of St. Andrew's, Glasgow, IMurray, Caithness, Murthlack, and Aberdeen. Turgot was the first bishop of St. Andrew's. In this century, Marian, Patern, Amichad, Sigebcrt, and Elias, Scotch preachers, made a respectable figure in Germany. Kings began to be anointed at their instalment. About A. D. 119atin histo- ries of their nations, encouraged others to the study of learning, the burning of Hamilton roused multi- tudes to examine whether his principles were truth or error, and found them supported by Sciipture. Friar Seaton taught, That the law of God is the onlij rule of righteousness ; that no man can satisfij for his own sin; that pardon of it is only obtained by true faith in the merits of Christ and an unfeigned repentance ; that the Scripture requires bishops to preach the gospel. Being persecuted by his superiors, he fled into Eng- land. Gavin Loggy and William Airth began to perceive the truth, and in their sermons to expose the wickedness of the clergy. Henry Forrest of Lin- lithgow, a simple priest, who used an English New Testament, having been decoyed by his confessor to acknowledge, that he thought Mr. Hamilton a good man, and his articles defensible, he was treacher- ously discovered, imprisoned, and burnt. Several were prosecuted for heresy, but recanted. David Straiton, who had been converted from a most fu- rious and turbulent profligate, and Norman Gour- lay, were condemned to the flames for their denial of purgatory, and of the Pope's jurisdiction in Scot- land. Alesse, Fife, iNPDougal, and M'Bee, com- VOL. T c 10 A COMPKNDIOUS HISTORY OF THK jirarrd not, hut lied '\ntn V.nu;\i\m\. After the death of Lord Cromweh the first three retired thenee into S«i\ony; and at Last Fife returned to Scothand. IVF'Bee n^tired to Denmark, and \\ as remarkably useful in promotinc: the reformation r)f that country. In 15d8, Killore, Belfrai^e, friars; Simson, a priest; Forrat, a canon ; and R. Forrester, were hurnt for h(Metics. The hishop of I)unk( Id had warned For- rat, that his preachini^ every Sabbath rendered him suspected of heresy, and advised him never to ])reacli on the (pistle or f;osj)el of the day, but when it was a e^ood one; and thanked his Maker, that lie had lived well many years, without knowing" cither Old or New I'estamcnt. Russel, a ^rey friar, and Kennedy, a young man of 1tants. Adam Wallace, a simple man, beini; apprehended at Winton in East Lothian, was condemned and burnt for teaching his ncii^^h- bours, and for baptizin^^ his own child for want of a faithful minister; and for denial of Purf^atory ; and for maintaining that prayers for the dead were superstitious, the mass an idolatrous service, and the bread and w ine in the Lord's Supper not turned into the body anealed ; that nothin^^ should be reckoned hcrcsi/, but what was contrary to the fundamental doctrines of (iod's word ; and that su{ h as were prosecuted for it before civil judL^cs, should be allowed to except ai;ainst the wit- nesses, an(J j)ropose their own delences, as well as other criminals. The Queen Kegent kept their pe- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 19 lition in her pocket, pretending that it was not ex- pedient to have it read in parliament, as the cleri- cal members would oppose her designs ; and tliat it would be more proper, first to procure the favour of the convocation. The Lords yielded for the time: but, before the parliament was dissolved, they solemnly protested, That, since they could not obtain a just reformation according to the word of God, it should be lawful for them to believe and act in mattersof religion, as they could answer to God and theirownconscience,tilloncethe Popish clergyshould prove themselves true ministers of Christ, and purge themselves of such crimes as they were ready to lay to their charge ; that no Protestant should in- cur any danger for non-observance of the laws and rites of the Popish church ; that as they desired no- thing but an orderly reformation of religion, no tu- mults, occasioned by the diversity of religions, or violent reformation of abuses, should be imputed to them. But, by her fair promises to remember these points, and to rectify matters to their satisfaction, the Queen Regent prevented the marking of their protest in the minutes of Parliament. It was easily foreseen that all application for re- dress to the Convocation, in which the principal corrupters of religion, and whose carnal interest was closely connected with the corruptions com- plained of, had the sole sway, could be to no pur- pose. The Queen Regent having got her point, relative to the settlement of the crown on Fran- cis, her son-in-law and countryman, settled, and being offended with the freedom of some of the Re- formed, gave plain hints of her intention to crush them, and to make examples of some of their chiefs, in order to terrify the rest. Accordingly, in next spring 1559 she issued a proclamation, requiring all her subjects to observe the festival of Easter, in the 20 A COMPRNDTOrS HISTORY OF TIIK W'ontod Popish miinner. Snrli ministers as refused compliance were summoned !)efV)rp her privy coun- cil at Stirling, on the lOth of jMay. The Hefor- incrs SI nt tlie earl of (ilenrairn and Sir Iluf^h Camp- bell to solicit her favour to their ministers, and to put her in mind erf lier |)romises. Bnt she iold ihcm in a fury, that in despite of all their supporters, these ministers should be banished from the kin^- don). and that the promises of princes ivere not to be uroed upon them any further than consistent v» ith their own convenience. I'he commissioners replied, that if she renf)iniced her jironiises to them, they would renounce their subjection to her; and desired her seriously to ponder the consequences. rindini; that vast multitudes, chiefly from Angus and Mearns, were on their way to attend the minis- ters at their trial, and to n^ake an open confession of their faith, and being advanced to IVrth. had «ent John Krskine of l)un to assure her of their j)eacea!)le ai)proach, she, by flattery, and solemnly declaring that the diet of council against the mi- nisters should be deserted, and nothing done to their j>rejudice, engaged him to persuade his con- stitui-nts to stop, and disperse themselves home- ward. ViUt no sooner had she heard of their return, than she held the meeting of council, and outlawed th( ministers in their absence. Highly oftcnded w ivh her (iiiisian treachery, and some other attempts to niin her Protestant subjects, Erskine posted to Perth, c\cuseri his former advice relative to their dispL'i-sion, informed them of the Regent's proce- dure against their ministers, and warned them to prcj)an' tor the woi-st. A nudtituile of the Koformed quickly reosseni- Wed at Perth ; and Knox, having just returned tVoui Geneva, pn'ached a warm distourse against the I'o- pish idoblry. lie had scarce iinished it, when a 6 CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 21 presumptuous priest began to celebrate high mass^ and struck a boy, who exclaimed against his unsuf- ferable impudence. A tumult immediately ensued, and every monument of idolatry in that church was destroyed. The mob, assembling, fell on the mo- nasteries, destroyed all the monuments of idolatry they could find, and levelled the buildings almost with the ground ; but permitted the monks to carry off the spoil. Not one of the protestants took for his own use the value of a groat. The inhabitants of Cupar in Fife and other places, served the mo- numents of idolatry in much the same manner. In- formed of these things, the Regent vowed to de- stroy every inhabitant of Perth, man, woman, and child, and to burn the town to an heap of ashes, and sow the place with salt. She represented the Protestants as intending nothing but rebellion. To refute her calumnies, the principal Reformers made her a solemn offer of wonted obedience, providing they could have the word of God truly preached to them, and the sacraments rightly administered. They certified her, that if she did not put a stop to her cruelty, they would defend their brethren, take arms against their enemies, and manifest their innocence to Francis and Mary their sovereigns, and to other Christian princes. They warned her French troops, that if they attacked them, it should be at their perd. They entreated the Popish Lords to refrain their fury till their cause should be tried, and they have opportunity to manifest the abomin- able practices of the Romish priests, and the false- ness of their religion. They warned the Protes- tants, that if any of them should take arms against their brethren, they should be held traitors to God^ and excommunicated from their society. They boldly declared, that, with God's assistance, they would defend themselves and their brethren against 22 A coMrENnior:^ iiisronv of the tlicir enemies, though t( n t imcs their number. TJicsc resolute declarations o( the master of Lindsay, lairds of Halvaird nnd I.undy, and some other barons of Angus and I'ile, made a deep inijnession tm some of the Regent's adherents. They began to doubt of the lawfulness of persecuting men, who oHered all due obedience to civil authority, and required nothing but liberty of conscience, and to have their religion tried by the word of (»od. As the prelates, and their clerical agents, to their utmost, suppressed the spread of their petitions, and inflamed their fel- low subjects against them, the Jieformers publisii- cd a declaration, bearing. That if they persevered iu such conduct, and did not mitigate those ^^ horn they had inflamed, they would apprehend them, wherever they could find them, and treat them as ()[)en enemies to God and man ; and that they would make no peace with them, till they should desist from their public idolatry and cruel persecution of God's chiMren. Iniormed that nuiltitudcs were marching from the south-west parts of the kingdom to join this re- solute body, — and finding that lord James Stewart, prior ol St. Andiew's, the bastard brother of (iueen Mary, and the earl of Argyle, who had married her bastard sister, her commissioners to the congrega- tion at Terth, were convinced that their Protestant brethren had bein falsely charged with rebellious intentions, the Regent and d'Oselle, her IVeneh ge- neral, re>olved to strike u[) an agreement with them upon as liard terms as possible. lUit the Marl of (ilencairn, with 'J 'AX) of his friends, having, with almost in( redible expedition, marchcdovei the moun- tains westward of Stirling, canu' up before it was fjni>hed, and obliged her to grant more advantage- ous terms, vi::. 'J'hat none of the towns should be challenged for destroying the monuments of idola- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND 32 try ; that the profession and practice of the Protes- tant religion should be freely allowed through the whole kingdom ; that no French soldiers should come within three miles of Perth ; and that all other matters should he left to the determination of the Parliament. But the Reformers returning to their own homes, the Regent was scarcely ad- mitted into Perth, when she changed the magis- trates, fined and banished many of the inhabitants, and left behind her a guard of Scotch soldiers in French pay. Before their departure from Perth, the Refor- mers had solemnlij covenanted ]om\\y to promote the reformation of religion in the nation, and to defend one another in so doing. The Earls of Argyle and Glencairn,Lord James Stewart, Boyd, Ochiltree, &c. subscribed it. Argyle, and Lord James Stewart, who had mediated in order to obtain the late treaty, Lord Ruthven, the Earl of Monteith, and the laird of Tullibarden, finding that it had been so shame- fully violated, deserted the Regent ; and the two first, with their assistants, destroyed the monuments of idolatry at St. Andrew's, Stirling, Linlithgow, and Edinburgh, and set up the reformed worship ; and restored it at Perth. She thought to have cut them off at St. Andrew's : but being informed of her design, they offered battle to her troops at Ciipar moor. She fled to Dunbar, though her forces were ten to one of her opponents : but being informed that many of the Reformers had gone home, she in vain attempted to surprise the Pro- testant lords at Edinburgh. Nevertheless, as she had the castle, and the French troops on her side, they entered into a new treaty with her, bearing, that no Protestants should be molested for what innovations they had made, till the parliament should settle these matters, and none of their mi- Qif A COMPENDIOUS HISTOnV OF THK r.istcis hv hindered from prearhin£^; that the Po[)ihb iilolatjy shuuUl not he restored, where it iiad been suppressed ; and that no soldiers should be quar- tereil in Kdinhur^h. 'J'lje Reformers would not admit the mass to Ije celebrated in that city ; but the Re^^nt restored it at Leith and llolyrood- housc. The Duke of Chatelcrault havin^^ returned to them, and his son the Earl of Arran having joinwl them, the Protestant lords again vovcnantcd to assist and defend one another in the mainten- ance of their religion. I^ut the Regent receiving a reiniorcement of French trooj)s, resolved to force them back to the Romish delusions. After some missives had been exchanged, the war began. 'Y\\v Regent's troops we Regent, took it by the way. About eight thousand English also came to their aid. The lonls having renewed their nuilual covenant, Bolcmtily engaged to concur with them in expelling the Flench, whom they besiegul in Leith, with considerable loss on buth side*. The Fri-nch CHl/RCH OF SCOTLAND. 25 troops, having repulsed the allies, and slain a con- siderable number of them, piled up their naked bodies along the side of the wall. The Regent, from the castle of Edinburgh, beholding the horrid spectacle, was transported with joy, and cried. That it was the finest tapestry ever she had seen ; ^nd wished that all the fields between Leith and the castle were adorned in like manner Not long after, she died of a shameful and loathsome distem- per, lamenting the misery which she had brought on her subjects, by employing French troops against them, and professing that she expected salvation only through the blood of Christ. As she could not obtain Popish funeral in Scotland, her corpse, after about five months, was transported to France. After a short truce, a treaty of peace was finish- ed in July 1560, between Queen Elizabeth of Eng- land and Francis and Mary of Scotland, in which the interest of our Reformers were included ; and the articles of which were, That Francis and Mary should never more claim the sovereignty of Eng- land or Ireland, and should erase the royal arms of these kingdoms from all their escutcheons and household furniture; that the transactions of the pre- ceding year should be buried in oblivion, on both sides; that both French and English forces should return home with all convenient speed; that Francis and Mary should make no war without the advice of their privy council and estates of Parliament; nor any of the Scotch nobility assemble soldiers, in any case not allowed by the laws and customs of the country, without consent of their Sovereign and his council; that no foreigners should be put into places of power or trust ; and that a free parliament should meet in August next, for settling the reli- gion and liberties of the kingdom. VOL. I. F. ^ OO.MPENDKH'S HlbTOllY OF THE After obscrvinLT a solrnin thank?<;ivini^ to God for their reinarkaljle ilclivcranre, the Ueforniers disposeil of their twelve prineipal preaehers to the best advaiitai^e, John Knox to Mdinhiiri^li ; (Muis- topher (iootlinan to St. Andrew's; Adam Uerriot to Aberdeen; Jolin Row to Perth; William Chris- tison to Dundee ; David Fcriruson to Dunfermline: and Paid Methven to .Kdhur^h; John Spotswood was apjiointed superintendent of Lothian and IMersc; John Winram of Fifr; John Er>kint' of Dun of An^-us and Meanis ; John Wilhjck oi Clydsdalc and y\ir, and places adjacent; and John Carswel of Ariivleshire and the Western Isle^'. The estates of Parliament assembled Aii^-nst 1560; but as Francis and Mar} liad not fulfilled their promise, in sendini; up a commissioner to re- present them in it, there was some dispute whether its meeting was lawful and valid. Hut it was at last resolved in the aflirmative. 'j'he Protestant nobility, ^^entry, buri;esses, and others, presented a j)etition, craving. That the corruptions of the Po- pi>h churrh might be condemned and abolished, and the worship oi the j)rimitive church restored ; that the authority of the Pope should be renounced and prohibited; and the patrimony of the church ap- plied to supj)()rt ministers, teachers, and the poor. All these demands were readily granted, except the last ; the nobles, who had seized uj)on the ecclesias- tical revenues for themselves, being very loth to lose their prey. — The ministers were a[)pointed to thaw up a confession of that faith, the civil establishment of Avhich they requestiul: for hitherto the llelormers had u>ed the Conjr.ssiofi of (irnrvay as their ecclesias- tical standard. Heing exhilnted to the jiarliament on the fourth day after, it was approved, without the least alteration, and without a contrary vote, except of Athole, Sommervil a?id lU)rthwick. v, ho CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 27 said, They were resolved to believe as their fathers had done. The ten Popish clergymen present, whose interest tempted them to oppose it, were perfectly silent, which made the earl of IMarshal insultingly to say, that certainly it contained the very truth of God. — The parliament also abolished the Pope*s jurisdiction in this realm, rescinded all acts in fa- vours of idolatry, and appointed, that such as said or heard mass should be imprisoned for the first fault, banished for the second, and hanged for the third. But whether this or a subsequent meeting appointed the Protestant clergy to meet in a Gene- ral Assembly, twice every year, I know not. Sir James Sandilands, a knight of Malta, who had be- haved himself very neutrally in the late broils, was sent over to France with the above mentioned acts, to get them ratified by Francis and Mary : but his message was treated with the utmost contempt. Nevertheless, the Reformers the less regretted the want of their ratification, as they had so solemn a warrant for the holding of parliament. Francis' death prevented the execution of Mary's resent- ment, as well as the massacre of the Protestants at Orleans, — for which her Gidsian uncles had got every thing prepared. Both Papists and Protestants immediately dispatched their commissioners to in- vite Mary home to her native country; and the con- tempt she suffered in France, after her husband's death, caused her gladly to accept the invitation, and hasten her return. Meanwhile, the twelve ministers above mention- ed, w ith thirty-two ruling elders of note, met in their first General Assembly, December 20, 1^60, and approved of the disposal of the ministers, and presented afo7'?n and order for the election of super- intendents, ministers, elders, and deacons. As, in their Confession of Faith, they had scarcely touched 28 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THB upon church ^^ovcrnment and disciplinr, and did not fully aij-ree with the Order of (^eneva respecting funeral sermons and set forms of prayer, they ap- pointed Messrs. Knox, Willock, Winram, Spot*- wo d, Row, and l^one^Ias, to draw up a Form of churr], s;overnmcnt and discipline. They finished it in a few week-^, and presented it to the privy coun- cil about the middle of January 15G1, for their ra- tification But some of the members, perceiving that their behaviour was to be more strictly watch- ed, and that it inferred a recovering of the eccle- siastical revenues, which they had seized, and re- quired an application of them to pious uses, it could not obtain a judicial ratification. But, instigated by Knox, the Duke of Chatelrault, the Earls of Argyle, Arran, Glencairn, Marshal, Morton, and Rothes, and the Lords James Stewart, Yester, Boyd, Ochiltree, Herreis, and Lindsay, the masters of Maxwell and Lindsay, George Gordon, bishop of Galloway, Alexander Campbell, dean of Murray, and oth<'rs, liarons, or burgesses, subscribed an extrajudicial approbation of it. This Jirst book of discipline required the abolish- ment of superstitious days, vou s, meats, prayers, and of idolatry and all monuments thereof. It prescribed the manner of administering and receiv- ing baptism and the Lord's Supper, and other ordi- nances of public worship; the form of installing ministers, ruling elders, deacons, superintendents, and readers of the Scripture, in the church, and their work ; the form of censuring scandalous per- ikuns ; the order of the weekly meetings of minis- ters for the joint exercise of their preaching gifts; the form of i elebrating marriages and managing buriaU; aiul rules for towns, parishes, universities, churdi revenues, and re|)arations of kirks. Our Reformers considered their superintendents as » CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 29 mere temporary expedient for promoting the wel- fare of their infant church, widely different from diocesan bishops. They were to be elected by all the kirks within the bounds of their visitation, — to be examined, and admitted by the ministers and neighbouring superintendents. They were obliged to preach thrice every week, and as much oftener as possible, and to visit the several congregations in their bounds thrice a-year, and put every thing to rights. They had no sole power of excommu- nication or ordination allowed them ; but were themselves subjected to the censures of the mini- sters of their province or synod, and especially to those of the General Assembly, to which they were bound, twice every year, to give an account of their conduct. In the book of discipline^ ten or twelve of them were proposed : but, I suppose, through want of necessary salaries to bear their expences, their number never exceeded five. Public readers of the Scriptures were necessary in that infant state of the church, in which not one of an hundred was capable of reading them. Their work was to read some chapters of the English Bible to the people, especially when, as was often the case, they had none to preach to them. Notwithstanding the convention of estates had no inclination to ratify the hook of discipline, they appointed the Popish cloisters and monasteries to be demolished ; in consequence of which, many costly buildings, much ecclesiastical furniture, and even many valuable registers and libraries, were destroyed. But the Popish bishops, abbots, and priors, being allowed to retain much of their wont- ed revenues, they disposed of what had been reck- oned the property of the church as civil property, to their bastards or otherwise. After the news of king Francis' death, the Popish clergy and mob of 30 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE lAlinhnrjnh made some attempts aq^ainst the pro- testant religion, (o which the care and ( ourai^e oi the lieformers ^^ave a timely cheek, so as, for some months, scarcely any durst cele!)rate mass, or ma- nifest themselves Papists hy their manner of wur- sliip. I^it no sooner had (Jueen Mary returned, in August l.5(jl, than she restored the mass in her own ahhey chapel. IIi;;hly offended, many of the Pr(»testants declared, that they could not be un- concerned spectators of such gross corruption oi the worship of God, nor would suffer the land a^ain to he defiled therewith in their presence. To deter them, JMary issued forth a proclamation for protecting her domestics in their idolatrous devo- tion. The Karl of Arran protested, That notwith- standing this proclamation, it should he held as lawful to punish her servants for saying or j)artak- ing of mass or other idolatrous practices, as if they were murderers. Knox, in his sermons, and other- wise, holdly declaimed against the Protestant cour- tiers, who, contrary to their solemn oath, sufl'ered the idolatry of the mass to be committed; and added, that one tolerated mass was more terrible to him than ten thousand armed forces invading the kingdom, as it would provoke (fod to give them up to ruin. To Mary's face, he ])oldly averred, I'hat the mass was an idolatrous worship; and that Papists betook themselves to fire and sword, be- cause they could not support their cause by Scrip- ture or ri'ason. He viudicated his own conduct, and maintained, that if ])iinces furiously oppress and murder their subjects, they may be restrained and imprisoned. Not long after, the town council of Kdinhiirgh enacted. That no obstinate I'apist, mass. priest, drunkard, fornicator, or adulterer, should be received into their city. In revenge .hereof, Mary imprisoned the provost, declared the CHURCPI OF SCOTLAND. 31 city free to all her subjects, appointed the council to elect a new provost, and caused her own mass to be more publicly and pompously celebrated. The second General Assembly, meeting in De- cember, Lethington, one of Mary's zealous Protes- tant supporters, gave them some trouble relative to the lawfulness of their convention without her allowance, and in opposing their supplication of her to procure them a civil ratification of their hook of discipline. The Assembly sustained theanselves impowefed by Jesus Christ, as head of his church ; nor, for twenty years after, had any commissioner from the sovereign any place in their meetings.. Jn February 1562, the privy council, by an act, assigned two parties of the remaining revenues of the church to the Popish clergy, and the other third to the Popish Queen, out of which she was to pay stipends to the Protestant ministers, some of whom had 100, others 200, and some SOO merks, assigned them; which were of the same value as ten or twelve times as much at present. Knox observed that it boded ill to the church, when the devil had the two first parts of her revenues firmly secured to him, and God had but a poor chance for the last third. In their General Assemljly, which met in June 1562, the Reformers agreed upon an uniformity in the administration of the sacraments, according to the Genevan hook of comnion order; and that the life, doctrine, diligence, and faithfulness of the superintendents, should be tried in every assembly. They earnestly petitioned her majesty to remove the idolatrous mass out of her family and kingdom, and take care. That adulterers, fornicators, blas- phemers, and open contemners of God, and his Sab- baths and sacraments, should be condign ly punish- ed ; that ministers and poor should be proper! v 32 A COMPENDIOUS HlSroitV O! THK provided for, and kirks duly repaired. Messrs. Knox and Hay were appointed as oecasional super- intendents to visit the counties of Galloway, Kyle, Carrick, and Cunnintrhani. In his travels, Rnox so eilectually re{)resentcd the dani^er of the Pro- testant relii^ion from the then prevalence of the Popish courtiers and their friends, that a great part of the barons and gentry in the three last mention- ed places, entered into a Jifth solemn engagement to promote the true Protestant religion, support their ministers, and j)rotect each othei ; which was sub- scribed by the Earl of Glencairn, the Lords Boyd, Cathcart, Ochiltree, and about 170 or 180 others. At the next (xcneral Assend)ly, in December, Win- ram, superintendant of Fife, was accused of slack- ness in his visitations; and of being addicted to worldly business, negligent of preaching, rash in liis excommunications, and rigid in his exaction of tithes. Erskine of Angus was accused of admit- ting men to be ministers, and exhorters, or proba- tioners, without any due trial ; and Popish priests, and other wicked or ignorant persons to be readers; and scandalous persons to be ruling elders ; and of conniving at ministers not residing at their charges, and not duly attending the weekly exercises of jirophesying or mutual imj)rovement. Methven of Jedburgh was accused, deposed, and excommuni- ratcd lor uncleanness with his servant maid. No doubt, these blcMuishes in three of the twelve re- forming ministers, did, in the awful providence of Ciod, much hurt their cause. In June, 1563, the Assembly finding that the superintendents had not been duly laborious and faithful, or had too much work on their hands, ap- pointed Rnox and some others, whom they ac- counted most Uarned and faithful, to visit particu- lar districts, plant churches, promote the licstiuc- 4 CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 33 tion of idolatrous monuments, suspend, depose, and transplant ministers, as the superintendents did, and with the sa^ne assistance from con^re<4ations, synods, meeting^s for exercise, or learned men. Such as found themselves injured by their minis- ters, elders, or deacons, were allowed to appeal to the superintendents and their synod, and from these to the General Assembly, which, for about twenty- two years, met once in six months They also appointed the Earl of Marshal, Lord Ruthven, Le- thington, and the celebrated George Buchanan, to revise their hook of discipline, in order to procure a parliamentary ratification of it. But they do not appear to have fulfilled their task. Lord James Stewart having been advanced to be Earl of Mur- ray, became much more negligent of the establish- ment of religion, and of punishing mass -priests, which occasioned a difference between him and Knox. In a set dispute with the time-serving Lethington, Knox and Row boldly maintained. That it was lawful for subjects to resist tyrannical princes, and to refuse her majesty the use of her idolatrous mass. Knox was prosecuted before the privy council for writing some letters calculated to convene his Protestant brethren for consultation, when he apprehended their religion and liberties were in danger; but, notwithstanding all the ef- forts of Mary and her courtiers to ruin him, he was acquitted. A narrative of Mary's refusal to ratify the treaty of 1560, with her cousin Elizabeth of England; of Huntley's influence at court, and hindering Mary's conference with Elizabeth, for fear of here- tical infection ; his intrigues to ruin or murder the Earl of Murray, and the remarkable defeat of him and his rebellious associates in the battle of Cor- richy, 1.562: or of the Duke of Lenox's return VOL. I F Si A COMPRXDIOUS HISTOIIV 01 THE from Ent^lniul ; and the amours and marriap:e of Henry, liis son, with the (iucen, notwitlistanding all that Murray and his friends could do to the contrary ; of Mary's flattering- the Protestant lords, in order to obtain their consent to her marria^^e witli Henry, and consequent contempt of them, and refusing- to e^'rant them security for their religion ; lier advancement of Kizzio, the Italian musician, and shameful intimacy with him; and the nojjles' slauo^hter of him l)y her husl^and's direction, when she intended to make him chancellor, in order to attaint the Earl of Murray and his party, who liad fled into England ; and of Mary and Bothwel's iiuirder of Henry, in order to their marriage; and the prosecution of Mr. Craig, for publicly intimat- ing his detestation of that marriage, when he was recpiired to publish the banns of it ; of the nobles' prosecution of Botlnvel, till he fled the country; and deposition of Mary from her royal power, as a subverter of their religion and liberties; and impri- sonment of her in the castle of Lochleven ; and of her escape from thence and flight into England ; and of the nobles' production of the proofs of her whore- dom with Hothwel, and being his accomplice in the murder of Henry her husband; and of her plots against Elizabeth during her twenty vears impri- sonment in England ; and her violent death by tlie base and villanous influence of Elizabeth ; — or of the civil war carried on for seven years with ter- rible barbarity, between her partizans and those of James her son, who was crowned, an infant, in J. 0^)7, would scarcely answer our purpose. Mary's intentions to extirpate the Protestant re- ligion, daily became more and more evident. In I.^f^.O, Hamilton, bastard brother of the Earl of Arran, was n stored to Ins dignity and revenues of Archbishop ol St. Andrew's. Ucr pretended kind- I CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. S5 ness and flatteries gained many of the Protestant chiefs to her interest. The Earl of IMurray and some others were highly offended with Knox and his faithful brethren, for their pulpit declamations against her Popish idolatry. In order to obtain their consent to her marriage with Henry, her Po- pish cousin, she fawned upon the Protestants, and seemed almost ready to concur with their articles for the abolishment of Popery, and for provision to their ministers, schools, and colleges ; and for the punishment of horrible crimes. But she had no sooner gained her own purpose, than she peremp- torily told them, That she would never part with her mass ; and absolutely refused to concur with any laws against Popery or profaneness, or to al- low the ecclesiastical revenues with which her council had intrusted her, to go for the support of their clergy. The destruction of Rizzio, her Italian darling, in her arms, by Ruthven, Morton, and others, who abhorred his advancement, provoked her to pretend great kindness to Murray, her bas- tard brother and his companions, who had just re- turned from their exile in England, in order that she might bend all her fury against the destroyers of her paramour. — Nevertheless, she absolutely re- fused to have James, her child, for whom the Pro- testants were so liberal of their thanksgivings to God, baptized in their scriptural form. Meanwhile, the General Assembly had enacted, Tiiat no superintendents should depose any mini- ster, exhorter, or reader, without the advice of the nearest discreet ministers, and no longer than till the following Assembly, which might restore, or further censure the offenders, as they thought pro- per ; and that they should excommunicate no de- linquents, in places where there v/ere no reformed congregations, without the advice of such as were 3C A COMPKNDIOUS HISTORY 01' THH nearest. They appointed Messrs. Knox and ( Tall- in draw up liulc.s for the rifj;ht ohscrvat'u)n oj pu' ic fasts. Tliey presented to the privy council, a so- lemn Rernonst ranee ai^ainst the restoration of the Pt)|)ish arehl)ishnp of St. Andrcw*s to his ancient and now enlarged jurisdiction. They wrote a let- ter to the Englisli bishops, in favours of their Puri- tan brethren, that were persecuted for their non- compliance witli the surplice, cornered cap, and other remains of Popish superstition ; and also ap- proved the latest Helvetian (^onfessioji of Faith, except as to the observation of holy days. In consequence of a precedini; agreement, many noblemen and barons met in the Assembly 15(i7, between the deposition of Mary and the coronation of .lames her son ; and agreed. That the acts of 1.360, lor establishing of the Protestant religion, and giving the ministers a third part of the ancient benefices, ought to be duly executed ; and that, in the ensuing j)arliament, they should exert them- selves to their utmost to have the Protestant reli- gion established upon a sure footing, and to have every future king bound, by his coronation oath, to maintain and practise it, as a condition of his sub- jects' allegiance to him ; — and to have the mass and (jther relics of idolatry abolished, and th'^ Pro- testant religion introduced into every part of the realm ; and to have the horrid crimes of adultery, whoredom, blasphemy, and the like, duly pu- nished. Alter the parliament, which met that year, had confirmed the election of the Karl of Murray to be Kr;;i nt (or .lames his infant nephew and king, they ratified the Coniession ot Faith compiled in ].5()(>, and declared, That all who should oppose it, or re- fuse to receive the sacraments in the l^rotestant manner, should be hekl as no members of thi^ CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 37 church. They enacted, That all kin^^s, princes, and magistrates, at their instalment, should swear to maintain the true Protestant religion now esta- blished, and abolish every thing contrary to it, — and root out all heretics and enemies to the true worship of God, when duly convicted : They ap- pointed the thirds of ecclesiastical benefices to be paid to the reformed ministers, till the church should obtain full possession of the tithes as her proper patrimony ; and that, though patrons may appeal from superintendents and provincial synods, the General Assembly shall have the final decision relative to all presentations, from which none may appeal. They ordained, that no ecclesiastical juris- diction be acknowledged within this realm, but what is established in, and proceeds from this re- formed kirk, concerning the preaching of God's word, administration of sacraments, and correction of manners : They appointed Messrs. Knox, Craig, Erskine, and Spotswood, to mark out what pro- perly belonged to ecclesiastical jurisdiction, and re- port to next meeting of parliament. Next year, the General Assembly appointed Messrs. Craig, Row, Pont, Christison, Lindsay, and Willock, to revise the Order of excommunicaiion, drawn up by Knox, and report their judgment. It was agreed to, and printed before their Psalm book, and plainly shews. That they reckoned their su- perintendents as merely occasional officers, that had no sole power of any kind. They also appointed an order of electing commissioners to their Gene- ral Assemblies, bearing. That superintendents and commissioners for visitation of kirks should all have power of voting in them ; that ministers and com- missioners of shires should be chosen by synods ; that commissioners from burghs should be chosen by the council and kirk-session of the place ; and 38 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE that ministers should !)e chosen hy turns. After tiie erection of Presbyteries, ministers were elected hy them. 'J'he nnirder of the Re<^ent, Earl of IMurray, by Hamilton of I>(Uh\vel llaui;h, occasioned no small contention about the ehoice of his successor. And the Karls of Lennox and Mar filled his place but a!)out two years between them. Durin^^ tiie re- gency of INIurray and Lennox, relij^ion prospered, ecclesiastical courts enjoyed full freedom in plant- ing" of churches and censurin^^ of offenders, and other i)arts of their work. In I.O70, the General Assembly established regulations of their meetings, that : 1st, After a sermon by the Moderator of the last Assembly, a new INIoderator should l)e chosen, ^d, The conduct of superintendents and commis- sioners for visitation of kirks should be tried, dd. Penitents and scandalous persons shall have their cases considered. 1th, Matters referred by the j)receding Assembly, or Lords of Session, shall be considered. .0th, I'he conduct and accounts of ec- clesiastical collectors shall be examined, (ith, Pe- titions from superintendents, and appeals from sy- nods, shall be heard. 7th, (Juestions projiosed on the first or second days of the meeting, shall be considered. 8th, and lastly, Bills and complaints shall be judged. The Assembly also enactetl, Tliat every candidate for the ministry should, at his ad- mission, solemnly engage never to desert his office under pain of infamy and perjury. In L'j71, the Assend)ly ordained, That all adul- terers, murderers, incestuous persons, and other more heinous offenders, should be prosecuted be- fore the provincial synods, which met twice every year ; and that all (juestions should be first pro- posed to synods, and only such as were too hard for them should be laid before every Assembly. CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 39 Messrs. Knox, Erskine, Winram, Pont, and Row, having drawn up articles concerning the 'proper object of ecclesiastical jurisdiction, bearing, That it belonged to the church to judge of true and false religion, doctrine, heresy, and every thing annexed to the preaching of the word, and administration of sacraments ; — to elect, examine, admit, suspend, or depose all such as have charge of souls, or enjoy ecclesiastical benefices ; — to admonish, rebuke, and excommunicate the scandalous, and receive to re- pentance, and absolve the penitents ; — to judge of ecclesiastical pleas between church officers, and of causes relative to marriage and divorce. They approved these articles, and presented them to the parliament for their ratification, along with a peti- tion. That ecclesiastical benefices should only be conferred on such as the church should find quali- fied for the charge. But the Earl of Morton, who now managed that court, and some other Lords, abused the commissioners from the Assembly with insolent language. Morton even obliged John Douglas, whom he had just before presented to the arbishopric of St. Andrew's, in the room of Hamil- ton, who had been hanged for a traitor, — to vote in the parliament as a bishop, under pain of trea- son ; though the superintendent had prohibited him to vote, under pain of excommunication. In preferring Douglas to the archbishopric, Mor- ton had secured most of the revenues for himself, and left Douglas little more than a high sounding character, and a chance of some Antichristiaii power. The gain which Morton made by this in- famous bargain, tempted him and Mar the Regent, a great part of whose estate consisted of church property, to enlarge their incomes in the same scandalous manner, by preferring to bishoprics such pitiful wretches as could be content with 40 A compi:ndious history of the episcopal titles and shaiiows of power, and allow their promoters the most of the revenues claimed by their sees. These the people called tulchan bishops, in allusion to calves' skins, stuffed with straw, and placed before cows, to make them f^ive their milk. — An occasional nicetin«; of ministers and others, that used to be members of the Gene- ral Assembly, pretended to have the power of it, and marked their stron«^ inclination to comply with that of the two infamous Earls. Pont was allowed to be a I.ord of Session, providing that he conti- nued his ministerial work Encouraged by their compliances, 3Iar and his |)rivy council appointed jMorton the chancellor, Ruthven the treasurer, Adam nominal bishop of Orkney, and Robert com- mendator of Dunfermline, secretary, and four others, to meet with their superintendents or their com- misioners, and along with them to conclude a Form of chunk policy^ and method of supporting ministers and the royal dignity, — which might be binding till his iNIajesty should be of full age, or at least till the Estates of Parliament should abolish it. This convention was quickly hold at l^eith. But it doth not appear that any ministers but Erskine, Winram, Hay, Lindsay, Pont, and Craig, were pre- sent. They agreed, That the titles of archbishops, bishops, deans, and the forms of dioceses, should be retained as before the Reformation; that a chap- ter of learned mifiisters should be annexed to every episcopal see; that in case of a vacancy the dean or president of this chapter should exercise the episcopal [)ower; that bishojis should have no more power than the superintendents, till it should be a- greed on ; that they should be subject to the (ge- neral Assembly in every spiritual affair ; that they should admit none to the ministry without the ad- vice of six of their chapter: — they agreed on the CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 41 manner of the creation of such as should be pre- sented by the king* to bishopricks ; and that every one admitted to ecclesiastical functions or livin«»-s, should swear an adherence to the Confession of Faith, and an allegiance to his majesty. They also made some rules concerning* abbots, priors, or commendators, "i hat they should be men of learn- ing*, and might be Lords of Session or members of Parliament, representing the church. They fur- ther agreed, That no minister should leave his charge forty days in the year, without express licence from the king or his bishop; that Readers might administer baptism, or celebrate marriage, if it had been duly intimated. They also enacted some regulations of ecclesiastical benefices, and of the orders and offices in colleges. The most of their agreements marked an Antichristian and car- nal mind. Morton took care that nothing shcmld be secured to the clergy, but their tithes, which he knew not how to take from them, unless in dona- tive pensions to noblemen's servants, or by causing them to dispone them in fee to their masters. Mar, being episcopally inclined, highly approved the above regulations. To the great grief of Knox and others, John Douglas, who was remarkable for nothing but compliance with the covetous humour of Morton, was solemnly admitted archbishop of St. Andrew's. Knox not only refused to conse- crate him, but also publicly denounced a curse up. on the giver and the receiver of that office. In- formed of these proceedings, Beza of Geneva, begged of Knox and his brethren, to beware of re- introducing the plague of prelacy, which they had thrust out in their Reformation. Nevertheless, James Boyd was made archbishop of Glasgow, John Faton, bishop of Dunkeld, and A. Graham, ^f Dumblane. Soon after, we find G. Douglas G i2 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THK bishop of Murray, and some olhcis, — of Caitliness, Brecllin, Isles, (iailoway, SsC. In tlu' end of this yi'ar, l.'>71, died John Knox, our princij)al Reformer, in a truly humble and Christian manner. His zeal for, and trust in his (^od, made him fearless of every thing but sin. INIorton, who hated him, after his death attested, that he never feared the face of man. The ma- jesty of his master Christ, appearing in him, made his enemies stand in awe of him. (^ueen Mary, notwithstanding all her levity and wickedness, owned that she was more atraid of his prayers than often thousand armed men. He foretold a multi- tude of unhkely events, wnich were exactly fulfill- ed, particularly. That the thick walls of the castle of St. Andrew's should prove as egg shells in de- fence of the conspirators against Cardinal Beaton; that the English would not deliver them, but they would fall into the hand of their enemies, and be carried into a foreign country; that notwithstand- ing manifold repulses, God would perfect the refor- mation of religion in Scotland ; that Queen ]Mary would be compelled to hear the word of God ; that since Henry her husband had burned the Psalm book to please her, God should strike them both head and tail ; and since he went to mass to j)lease her, God should make her the instrument of his destruction; that tht castle of Edinburgh should spue Sir A\'illiam Kirkaidy over its walls, and he should be hanged for his obstinate adherence to the wicked (Jueen ; and that its St. David's tower should run down liki' a sand glass; that, if 3Iorton did not study to promotf the welfare of the church and nation, his regency should have an ignominious end ; that Th(jmas lAlaitland should die misc'rably among strangers, and Lethington unhappily at home, as the punishment of their treacherous op- position to the cause of Christ. CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. -^3 Alarmed by the articles of the convention at Leith, the faithful ministers, notwithstanding all the power and influence of Morton, now Regent, set themselves to o[)pose them. The General As- sembly, 1573, declared it impossible for any man faithfully to fulfil the work of a minister, and of a civil judge ; and prohibited every minister, after Pont, to accept of a place in the Court of Session. The complaints against Pont for his neglect of vi- siting the county of Murray, as he had been ap- pointed, justified their conduct. They likewise appointed every meeting of the clergy for exercise of their gifts to have a copy of the acts of the assembly ; and that every province should have copies of the orders given to superintendents, that they might observe whether they did faithfully execute them or not. After the General Assem- blies had, for eight years, laboured in limiting the power of the new bishops, and in censuring them for exceeding their bounds, and for their admission of ignorant and scandalous persons into ecclesiasti- cal offices, and for their personal negligence and immoralities, they, notwithstanding much opposi- tion from Morton, and even from the young king, put them down altogether, as dregs of Popery. And, with much deliberation, formed the second hook of discipline, and declared. That the office of Readers, Exhorters, and Visitors of the church, being but temporary, should now cease. Some of the corruptions complained of, in the eleventh chapter of that book, were soon after abolishedc A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY, &C. ^ CHAPTER III. Jk'mg James VI. introduces the National Covenant; and Presbyteries Jbrmed — He once and again labours to esta- blish Prelacy and his own Erastian Supremacy — No- ticmal Covenant renewed. — Presbyterian Church Govern^ vient established — Assembly Covenant with God, and earnestly promote Refornmtion. ni^HE French zealots and Spaniards had formed a sacred league to extirpate the Protestant religion, and their Popish brethren in Britain were disposed to join them ; dispensations had l)een sent them from Rome, allowing them to enter into any en- jT^agement, by oath or otherwise, in favour of the Protestant religion, providing they continued firm adherents t^ the Pope and his religion in their heart. King James, now about fourteen years of age, under one of his religious fits, or prompted by some church-men, or by his favourites, Stewart of Aubigne, his father's cousin, now made Earl of Lennox, and Stewart of Ochiltree, now made Earl of Arran, who, about this time, for difi'erent ends, professed great zeal for the Protestant religion, — required John Craig, his minister^ to form a cove- >:ant or oath, so expressly pointed against Popery, that no Papist, whose conscience was not utterly 4« A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OK THK debauclicd, ini<;ht Ix^ capable to swear it. Crai^ es, and bishops, who still enjoyed the ecclesiastical revenues, and were basely dilapidating them to compear betore next As- seml.ly to answer for tiieir conduct. Upon his ma- j( sty's denianiHng how the third estate of Parlia- ment was to be now supj)lied, when bishops were out down, they agreed, That conmiiijbioiiers frou^ CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 47 the Assembly should fill their place. But I do not find that they intended that these commissioners should be clergymen. They also appointed the Covenant, which had been lately subscribed by James and his council, to be subscribed by all ranks in the kingdom, and that such should be censured who refused to do so. They prohibited all private celebration of baptism or marriage, under pain of deposition to ministers. No sooner had Lennox, lately converted from Popery, got rid of Morton his rival, than he laid aside his religious appearances, and presented Mont- gomery, minister of Stirling, to the archbishoprick of Glasgow, in the room of Boyd, and got him ad- mitted by force ; but secured for himself a great part of the episcopal revenues. He and Adamson of St. Andrew's, by their scandalous behaviour, and by their fraudulent and violent opposition to re- forming measures, gave their brethren no small trouble in their assemblies. Montgomery was ex- communicated ; but Lennox supported him. Bal- canquel, A. Melvin, Dury, and no doubt other faithful ministers, thundered forth their declama- tions against the court's encroachments upon the spiritual power of the church. Balcanquel and Melvil were prosecuted, and Dury was banished on that account. In consequence of their trouble with Montgo- mery, the Assembly 1582, under pain of excommu- nication, prohibited all indirect methods of enter- ing into ecclesiastical offices ; all asking of presen- tations from magistrates or patrons ; and all at- tempts to free themselves from the jurisdiction and discipline of the church by appeals to. great men, or courting Uieir favour. They declared all de- privation from ecclesiastical offices, as well as exa- mination and admission to them, to belong to the 48 A COMPENDIOUS HISTOUY OK THF governors of tlic? church ; and that dcpiivatiun is from njjice, as will as from the salary. J'hey de- chircd herosy, l\)|)ery, common swearing-, blas[)he- my, perjury, adultery, incest, fornication, man- slaut^^hter, theft, common opj)resiion, common drunkenness, takinp^ of immoderate usury, non-resi- dence at their charges, unnecessary absence from them, or nee^hct of the duties thereof for forty days in a year, >\ ithout very relevant grounds, or their holding ol' more benefices than one at the same time, or their dilapidation of the church-rents, or their simony, to be sufficient grounds of deposing ministers. They remonstrated to King James, That, l>y the advice of his counsellors, he had, to the dishonour of Christ, assumed a spiritual head- ship over the church, somewhat similar to that of the Pope ; that ecclesiastical benefices were be- stowed upon men that were violently intruded into the ministerial office ; that Presbyteries, Synods, and General Assemblies were, by letters of horning, hindered from censuring the scandalous ; that while Dury was suspended and banished for his faithful- ness, Montgcmiery, though scandalous arid excom- municated, was entertained and recpiired to preach ; that the privy council had, by an act, pretended to annul his excumnuinication ; that such as abused, hurt, or murdered ministers or others, concerned in the prosecution of Montgomery, and other scan- dalous persons, were not punished, but favoured ; that, contrary to his promise, Lennox had never reformed his family from Poj)ery or Papists ; and that thr laws, which had been made for the main- tenance of the true religion, and for punishment of its open enemies, were not executed ; — and insisted for the redress of these grievances. Lennox and Arran thought to intimitlate and prosecute the presenters of this remonstrance. But when they CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 49 saw how boldly A. Melvin subscribed it before their face, they dismissed them in safety, suspecting that they were supported by some secret influence. While James, and Lennox, and Arran his direc- tors, continued oppressing the church, the nominal bishops, fearless of censure, abandoned themselves to their wonted enormities. But the nobles having rescued James out of their hands, and taken Arran prisoner, and charged Lennox to return home to France, the General Assembly appointed particular Presbyteries to prosecute the bishops of Murray, Aberdeen, Brechin, Dunkeld, St. Andrew's, and Dunblain, for neglecting their ministerial work, and for their familiarity with excommunicated per- sons, wasting of the church's patrimony, and other personal scandals. They supplicated his majesty and estates. That the acts of Parliament, relative to the liberties and jurisdiction of the church, be so explained and enlarged, as that she may have the sole power of the admission or deprivation of ministers, trial of their doctrine, and stopping of, or loosing from censure ; that Presbyteries of pas- tors and ruling elders be legally authorized, and an adequate punishment denounced against such as oppose their meetings ; that Synodical and General Assemblies be authorized to meet as often as they find necessary for the good of the church, and have full power to appoint their own time and place of meeting ; that no league be made with the Papists abroad, and that such as have, contrary to their oath, apostatized to Popery, be punished with ban- ishment or otherwise, as traitors to God ; that pro- per methods be taken to recover the patrimony of the church, and provide for her ministers ; that all presentations be directed to Presbyteries ; that mi- nisters disabled for their work by age or trouble H .♦O ^ (()MJ*k:NI)lul * nU'TORY Of '1 H K f njov their salaiii's for lite. 'I'hey also declared all baj)tism of infants hy laics to he void and null. For ten months, while the Lords had the direc- tion of James, ministers had full liberty to exe- cute their office ; Papists, excommunicated and li- centious persons, either left the country, or assum- ed an appearance of Protestant relii^inn and scjher conversation : the friendship between Scotland and En<>land revived. James himself, in a multitude of forms, the convention of estates, and the (gene- ral Assembly, liad all declared the nobles, takin^]^ him out of the hands of Lennox and Arran, his evil counsellors, to be a lawful, honest, and good service to him and the nation, — for which they should never be pursued. But James's new tutors being more intent to instruct him in the methods of vir- tue and lawful government, than to flatter his pride and other predominant lusts, he soon wearied of them, and made his escape from them in June 1.3S3. And, notwithstanding all the remonstrances of the General Assembly, Papists were as highly favoured by him as ever. Archbishop Adamson, a drunken glutton, under pretence of drinking spaw water, repaired to England, to contrive with the managers there the proper methods of elVectually introducing Episcopacy into Scotland. Though scarcely seven- teen years of age, James returned to his former work of persecuting such as faithfully testified against the proceedings of him and his favourites. Dury was (!harge(l to remove from Edinburgh, an(i remain at Montrose. A. ]\lelvin was cited before the privy council for some spx?eches he was said to have uttered at a public fast. The university of St. Andrew's presented a solemn attestation of his innocence, subscribed by thirty of the principal per- sons in the college and place. But James and his CHURCH OF SCOTLA^'D. 51 courtiers disregarded every thing that was in fa- vours of such ministers as were faithful and zea- lous ; it was only pitiful and scandalous wretches that they inclined to protect. Melvin compeared, and after protesting that it belonged to ecclesiasti- cal courts to judge of his doctrine, he repeated and vindicated his words. While James and his coun- cil raged, he laid down his Hebrew Bible before them, and told them, that there were his instruc- tions for preaching. After admitting his enemies to be witnesses, they could find nothing in his words to make an handle of; and therefore re- solved to imprison him in the castle of Blackness, on account of his refusing them to be proper judges of his doctrine. But he retired into England. AH these that had been principally concerned in rescuing James from his wicked directors, were charged to leave the country, and never to return to Britain or Ireland without his express licence ; and all their servants were prohibited to come within ten miles of his residence. But few of the ministers dared to meet in the Assembly 1584. Nor durst even these transact any business. Faithful ministers were every where persecuted. Spies were employed to watch their sermons, and inform the court if they uttered any words on which they might be prosecuted. Patrick Galloway suffered no small trouble for denouncing the just judgments of God against those that sub- verted the Protestant religion, and abused his ma- jesty and his authority. Davidson, Carmichael, Pol wart, and others, were obliged to flee into Eng- land. After Adamson had laboured to render our faithful ministers as odious as possible, and con- certed how to conform the Scotch church to the English, he returned home. A Parliament was soon after held in May, with such secresy and dis- .v2 A COMPENDIOUS HISTOKY of IHK patch that it was almost ended he fu re it was heard of. Adani.soii and Montgomery represented the Estate of bishops in it. A lord of the articles hav- ing informed some ministers of Edinhurgh of it, they, in vain, attempted to get access to it. 'J'his Parliament enacted, That his majesty had the su- preme authority in all causes ccclvsiu.stlcid as well as civil ; that all refusing to acknowledge the privy council as judges in any matter, or pretending tiiat things merely ecclesiastical did not belong to the civil jurisdiction, or attempting to diminish the power and privileges of bisho])s, that were the third estate in l^irliament, should be held and punished as high treason; that all holding of assemblies, ecclesiastical or civil, without his majesty's special permission or appointment, or the uttering of any false or reproachful speecjies against him or his an- cestors or ministers, from pulpits or otherwise, should be capitally punished. When these acts were proclaimed, i^alcanquel and Pont protested against them. James, having ordered the magis- trates of Edinburgh to imprison all such as dared, from the pulpit, to utter one word against these acts, l^alcanquel and Lawson fled into Englanil, and remitted a faithful warning to their peojile ; to which James obliged the town council to return a most abusive answer. I'he ministers replied in a discreet vindication of themselves. Another l*ar- liament that year enacted, That every minister, reader, and niaster of a college, should, within forty days subscribe the above acts of Parliament, and solemidy engage to observe them, and to submit themselves to bishops as their ordinaries, uniier pain ol' losing their sti])cnds. Craig, and too many others complied ; but most of the more faithful ministers fled into England. CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 6S In 1585, Elizabeth having taken ofFence at the slaughter of some of her subjects by the Scotch bor- derers, the fugitive Lords returned; and a pestilence prevailing in Edinburgh and places about, they got James into their management, and reduced Arran to his original meanness. But they manifested more zeal for the recovery of their own civil property, power and dignity, than for the redress of ecclesi- astical grievances. When the Parliament met at Linlithgow, the commissioners from the church pre- sented to his Majesty a remonstrance against the Erastian acts of the preceding year, to which he gave asoftjbut not very important reply. They were thank- ful that it was not worse, and insisted that he would confer with some of their most judicious and godly ministers concerning the discipline of the church, in order to have it distinctly established by the Parlia- ment. Not long after, a conference was held be- tween some of the privy cousellors and some cler- gymen, who from their allowance of power to bi- shops and their chapters, appear to have been none of the strictest. In 1586, the Synod ofFife excommunicated Arch- bishop Adamson, for his wicked intrusion of himself into that antichristian office, and his vi^icked and contemptuous behaviour in it : But he 'appealed from them to his Majesty, Estates of Parliament, and Privy Council; and drawing up a form of excommu- nication against James and Andrew Melvin, and others of the more faithful members of the Synod, he caused his boy, attended by one or two of his jack- men, to read it in the church ; and notwithstanding his own excommunication, and a preceding suspen- sion, he would preach. — In consequence of his sham submission, corroborated by James's solicitation, the next Assembly took off, or rather declared null, his Synodical excommunication; against which Andrew $^ A CUMPKNDIOUS HISTORY 01 Tiff-: Mclvin and Thomas Buclianan enteroti their solemn protest. From the dechirations of the Synods of Merse, Teviotdale, and Tweedale, it appears, that the ministers were far enoni^h from unanimity of sen- timent eoneernin^ the suhs( ription of the I'>a5tian acts of 1581<. But it is still more plain, that, to se- cure rest for Arehl)ish()p Adamson, the privy eouncil appointed A. Melvin, j)rofessor of divinity at St. An- drew's, to traverse the counties of An^us, Perth, and ISIearns, for confutin<^ and converting; the trafficking Jesuits; and Adamson to supply ids place, by teach- ing two lessons of divinity every week. But as this change was like to have ruined the college by the de- parture of all the foreign and other students of divi- nity, king James, at the university's request, per- mitted A. Melvin to return to his work. But his persecution of Gibson and C'owpcr, manifests, that James still hated all those that dared to testify against his conduct from the pulpit. He at once banished all the ministers of Edinburgh, because they would not pray for his mother's life, before they had pro- per eviilence of the injustice of her condemnation. Hesupported Montgomery and Adamson, whose con- duct was base, and their consciences always at his nod. Pont was presented to the bishoprick of Caith- ness ; but it seems, he refused to accept of it. Lesly, a staunch Papist, who had so zealously sup- ported Mary in England, was restored to his bi- shoprick of Ross. In conse(pience of a remonstrance from the mini- sters, the Parliament, 1.387, enacted, ^J'hat Jesuits and trafficking priests, hearers of masis and apostates to Popery, should be duly prosecuted and punished. The preceding laws relative to the l^rotestant reli- gion were renewed and confirmed, by a general act. And, from reganl to the king's purse, the episcopal revenues were annexed to the crown; which was a CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 55 stab to the heart of the prelatical interest. In 1588, James and his Estates made another act against Je- suits, trafficking' priests, hearers of mass, and re- volters to Popery. They also entered into a new bond or covenant to maintain the Protestant religion, and defend his Majesty's person and authority against the holy leaguers or others, and to bring Papists and excommunicated persons to condign punishment; and, for the more harmonious promotion of these ends, to submit all differences among themselves to the arbitration of some friends. About the same time, the General Assembly prohibited Archbishop Adamson to marry the Popish earl of Huntley ; and also observed two fasts, the one upon Thursday, and the other on the Lord's day; — and agreed, that there- after, the first day of every General Assembly should be employed m fasting and humiliation. Another so- lemn fast was observed about the end of October, on three several Sabbaths — with which they con- nected the administration of the Lord's supper. Notwithstanding the remarkable defeat of the pontifically blessed Spanish Armada in \5SS, the earls of Huntley,.Errol, Crawfurd, and others, main- tained a correspondence with Philip of Spain, and with the Duke of Parma, in order to promote a Spanish invasion. The discovery of their treachery procured pompous, but scarce ever executed, laws against the Papists. Upon a supplication from the Assembly, the Bond for religion was again ra- tified in the council. Orders were issued for about ninety six ministers, in the different parts of the na- tion, to convene the godly and well affected of all ranks, and administer to them the national covenant, and take their subscriptions to it, and to the late bond for maintenance of religion and his Majesty's authority. To prevent tumults by Papists, about 130 of the nobility and gentry were appointed to 5(i A COMPENDIOL'S HIi)TORY OF THF attend and support them, in this work. The zeal of the Presbyterian elerii^y for James' safety, mani- fested in this nnd other matters of that critieal junc- ture, and their kcepin;^ of liis kin^^dom in such or- der, while he took his romantic voyage to brin^ liome his new queen from Denmark, so ingratiated them, that, takini; one of liis rebgious fits, he pre- sented liimself in their (General Assembly, and ex- tolled their constitution, as highly preferable to that of any other church u[)on earth. Archbishop Adam- son's dying recantation — his profession of his sin in marrying Huntley in opposition to the authority of the church, and in opposing his Presbytery, and slanderously defending the Erastian acts of the Par- liament 1384 — and of his sorrow for the same, and his earnest solicitation to be absolved from the ex- communication pronounced against him by the Sy- nod of Fife, also encouraged the faithful part of the clergy. For the confirmation of their Presbyterian go- vernment, the Assembly had reijiiired all ministers and intrants to subscribe their second Book ofdkci- pline, James, who had rendered himself odious to many of his subjects, by his continued favour to the l^Jpish lords, and !)y neglecting to avenge the mur- der of the late Fail of ^lurray, upon Huntley, one of them, was become fond of their favour. At their recjuest, and perhaps by means of iNIaitland his chan- cellor, who neciled to wipe otf suspicions of his hav- ing a iiand in that murder, he held a conference with some of the principal of them — in consequence of which an act was made by the Parliament, June, 1 .092, rat I filing Preshijterian government^ and appoint- in f( the rcLtnlar viectnifj; of Assemblies, and assigning to Si/ nods, Prest)ijtirics, and Sessions, their respective work : and annulling all former acts in the time of Poj)ery, contrary hereto, and declaring, that the CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 5^ acts of 1584, should not hinder the church to exer- cise her own intrinsic power in judging ecclesiasti- cal causes — and annulling the act which granted commissions to bishops, and appointing all presen- tations to ecclesiastical charges to be directed to Presbyteries- — and appointing them to accept of can- didates presented by his iMajesty or other patrons, if duly qualified. This Parliament further enacted, That if patrons did not timeously present a quali- fied candidate, the right of presentation should de- volve on the Presbytery. — And they prohibited all markets on the Lord's day, or erection of church lands or tithes into tem;5oral lordships. Notwithstanding this favourable act, it appears, from the reasons of their fast on two Sabbaths of December, that a considerable part of the nation continued perishing in ignorance for want of teach- ers ; that many of all ranks, especially of the nobi- lity, were inclined to Popery and Atheism ; that Jesuits, and other Popish Priests, swarmed without control ; that blasphemy of God's name, contempt of his word, and of civil magistrates — treason, mur- der, adulter}^ witchcraft, and other like abomina- tions, mightily prevailed. The Assembly appointed Messrs. John Davidson, Robert Bruce, Walter Bal- canquel, David Lindsay, and four others, as a stand- ing committee, to espy the dangers of the church ; and appointed brethren in the different parts of the nation to give them j)roper information concerning Papists and immoralities. By letters intercepted in the end of this year, it was found, that the earls of Huntley, Errol, and An- gus, and others of inferior rank, had continued their treasonable correspondence with Philip of Spain, and that it was intended, that S0,000 Spaniards should invade the kingdom, either at Kirkcudbright in Gal- loway, or at the mouth of the Clyde, westward of o6 A COMPENDIOUS HISTOllY OF THE (ilas^ow. IltTt'iipoii, .lames cinittcd a proclamation against the guilty, and called Ids sidjjects to make a resolute stand (or the defence of their country ; and lie, and a considerable nund)er of his nobles, barons, and oljieis, entered into a solemn association or co- venant, to exert thepiseives to their utmost in de- fence of the Protestant religion, and in punishini^ the traitors. lUit, notwitstanding' all this parade, James took care to protect his Papal friends, who sought his life, and the l^lrliament 1.093, as good as absolved them, under pretence that no proper proof could be had against them. Tliis render- ed them and their brethren more and more insolent. The vSynod of Fife made this a ground of fasting; and, to James' great vexation, delivered up unto Satan, Huntley, Eirol, Angus, and Home, and their principal assistants, as apostates to Popery ; and Huntley and the laird of Auchindou n, as also mur- derers of the earl of Murray. Tiie (Tcneral Assem- bly, not only formed 1-8 |)articular Presbyteries, ap- pointed rules for the visitation of them, and prohi- bited ministers to publish any slander against his Majesty, but also insisted with him to bring the ex- ( omnmnicaied lords to their trial. Chancellor JNIaitland got that matter relerred to the conven- tion of Estates, in which, upon a sham submission, sent u[) in writ, these traitors were absolved from all past treasons, providing they be good subjects and Protestants for the future, and pay a certain fine. This absurd indulgence of the obstinate ene- niies of the religion and liberties of the nation, high- ly provoked the zealous Protestants, especially wiien they ob>erved them, regardless o( the terms of their absolution, proceeding in their wonted courses. 'i'he Assembly ].0J)1< confirmed the sentence of ex- conununication inflicted by the Synod of" Fife, and insisted with James for their condign punishment; CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 59 and that proper methods should be taken to stop the increase of Popery. He returned them soft words, which, it is probable, he never intended to reg-ard. Lord Home got himself reconciled to the church. The rest, to whom Bothwel, who had for a time terribly disturbed the nation with his vio- lences, joined himself, were declared outlaws, and their estates forfeited. In 1595, we find little more than the Assembly's appointment of commissioners to visit colleges, plant vacant churches, and try per- sons that enjoyed ecclesiastical benefices. Chancellor Maitland, perhaps chiefly to support himself in opposition to Bothwel, had for some time past favoured the church. After his death, the ma- nagement of matters chiefly depended on the eight commissioners for the now super-expended royal re- venues—some of which were reckoned concealed Papists. In the beginning of 1596 James emitted a proclamation, requiring all his subjects to with- stand the Spaniards and all their agents ; but he took care not to mention the Popish lords as any of them. Nay, while, in his beggared condition, he was soliciting the General Assembly for a public con- tribution in all their congregations to assist him against the Spaniards, he allowed the wives and friends of the outlawed Papists to enjoy the whole of their revenues. The General Assembly, consisting of about 400 ministers, having met in March, applied themselves to search out the causes of the Lord's controversy with the nation, and to appoint measures for the better preservation of their religion and liberties. They began with an inquiry into the sins of the mi- nistry ; and, for remedies of the corruptions which they found among them, they appointed, That ail candidates, at their admission, should be carefully tried concerning their knowledge, prudence, and 60 A COMl'lNlilOUS HISTORY OF THP Spiritual experience ; that they should be solemnly int( rrof^ated, what had moved them to accept of the charge; that ?i<)in' \\\u) in^yicd themselves, oi soli- cited admission to a place or char«;e, slwxild he adm'd- fcd, nor any of the Presbytery, who had solicited for one, be allowed to act in his ele( tion or admission ; that none should ask a presentation, without advice of the Presbytery, in whose bounds the charge lay; that such ministers as shoidd not be i^ivcn to prayer and diligent study, j)articularly of the Scri])tures — or, who should not study to be spiritual and power- ful in their ministrations, and to apply their doc- trine in opposition to the prevalent corruptions of the place and time ; or, who should preach in a dry, scholastic, and obscure manner; or who should be careless about promoting religion, negligent in visit- ing the sick, or in taking care of the poor; or, who should connive at the sins of their hearers, especially persons of high rank ; or should be slothful in the administration of the sacraments, or admit to them peisons ignorant, profane, or scandalous — or upon little or no trial — should be rebukkd for the first offence, and be DKroi;KD, if thereafter they conti- nue in their evil course; — that all admitters of per- sons to sacraments for money or worldly gain, be directly deposed ; — that every minister have a ses- sion, composed of the fittest |)ersons in his congrega- tion, to assist him in governing his charge ; — that their discipline strike not only against whoredom, murder, and the like, but against cursing, profane swearing, profanation of Sabbath, disobedience to j)arents, idleness, and want of a lawful calling, drunkenness, want of God's worship and good order in faniili<'s, neglect of the religious education of chil- dren, lying, slander, backbiting, and breach of pro- mise— and that all ministers that persevere in the neglect hereof be detoskd : — That none that fall 1 CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 61 into scandal be readmitted to fellowship in sealing ordinances, without proper evidence of repentance : That such ministers as dilapidate benefices, or de- mit them for favour or money, or exchange or set tacks of them, or tjiat transplant themselves with- out advice of the church, be censured: That all mi- nisters, that are light or wanton in their behaviour, apparel, speech, or company, or that sport them- selves with dancing, cards, or dice ; or that keep inns, take immoderate interest for money, bear worldly offices in families of great men, deal in mer- chandise, forestalling of corn, or other worldly oc- cupations, tending to discredit their office, or divert them from their work — or that are liars, revilers, backbiters, flatterers, breakers of promise, braw- lers, or quarrelers — be dk posed, if they do not re- form, when duly admonished: That no minister wait upon the court, or commence a law suit of impor- tance, without the allowance of his church : That such as, notwithstanding admonition, take no care to cause their family behave in a sober and religi- ous manner, shall be judged unfit to govern the church of God : That such as do not study to be every where edifying and spiritual in their conver- sation, be rebuked : And that none take part with scandalous persons, who are under process by their brethren. — In order to impress these matters more deeply on their consciences, Mr. John Davidson of Prestonpans, after he had read and briefly explained the 3d and 33d chapters of Ezekiel relative to the duty of Watchmen, laid home their sins to them, with such faithfulness and power, as issued in much deep contrition of heart, and solemn confession of sin, renovation of their national covenant with God, andengagementto walk more warily and labour more diligently in their charges. Not a few of the clergy being absent, the Assembly appointed, that there 62 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE shoukl be like limniliation and c()V(?nantin^' with Cod in their synodical ineetin;;s ; and in Presbyteries, for the sake of such as could not attend at Synods. The covenant w as also renewed in many con^rej^a- tions; and where it was not, the subse(juent lielec- tion quickly appeared. Tlie Asnteinj>t of (iod s ordinances — the ne- glect of his worshij) in families, or masters turning over the performance ol it upon their cooks, or other servants — the neglect of spiritual converse, and pre- valence of that which is carnal and profane — the countenancing of idolatry and superstition — the ob- servation of Popish festivals, bonfires, ])ilirrimages, singing of carols at Christmas, \:e — blasphemy of (iod's name, or cursing in common discourse; pro- fanation of the Sabbath, by the labours of seed-time and harvest, and by journies and trysts about civil business, or by carnal sports and recreations, danc- ing, drinking, or keeping of markets; — neglect of re- lative duties, and of the religious education of chil- dren and servants — orchildren commencing law suits against their parents, or giving themselves in mar- riage without regarding their consent; — murders, or countenancing of murderers; — adulteries, forni- cations, incests, unlawful marriages and divorces, legitimation of adulterous or other bastard children, drunkenness, gluttony, gorgeous and vain apj)arel, fdthy or bloody speeches; — sacrilegious seizing of the church's j)roperty, to the hindrance of the s})read of the gospel; oppression of tenants \n ith rackeci rents, slavish services, or unseasonable tithing — oppression of the |)oor by usury, forestalling of mar- kets, or withholding of corns from sale — strolling about ol" pipers, fiddlers, songsters, sorners, sturdy beggars, or like unlawful callings, and all counte- nancing of them. CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 63 They represented to the courts of civil judica- ture, their great wickedness, in their almost uni- versal neglect of doing justice between man and man ; their remissions or reprieves in cases of mur- der, incest, or adultery ; the advancement of weak and wicked men into the office of judges ; the ne- glect of punishing Papists, particularly the Popish Lords, and their adherents, but allowing the rents of their forfeited estates to their wives and friends, who supported them ; the allowing of pretended bishops, abbots, or priors to vote in parliament, in name of the church ; buying of pleas ; delaying or wresting of justice for the sake of bribes ; and suf- fering about four hundred parishes to continue without any fixed gospel ministrations, for want of provision to ministers. They no less faithfully represented to the king himself, the sins of his family, that sometimes fa- mily worship, and even the reverend asking of God's blessing upon meals, or giving thanks for them, were neglected ; that they made no conscience of attending the sermons on week days ; that he and his favourites sometimes conversed in time of ser- mon ; that he and his courtiers were guilty of pro- fane cursing and swearing; that murderers. Pa- pists, and excommunicated persons, were counte- nanced in his family, or allowed to be in his com- pany ; that his queen and her ladies were not duly delicate in their company, but indulged themselves in night-wakes, balls, and sinful absenting from the worship of God — They also represented to him some methods of redressing the more public griev- ances.— And they agreed to appoint a committee to attend his court, in order to promote the plant- ing of churches, and procuring of stipends ; and that, if patrons did not present candidates before six months from the death of the former incumbent, the Presbytery should immediately present one. A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY, kc. 65' CHAPTER IV. King' James favours Papists, and hy captious questicnS'^ Clcrgymcti\s Vote in Parliament — Constant Moderators — Packed General jissemblics — Introduction of D'wcC' sail Bishops and Popish Ceremonies — And by Persecu- tion of' the Faithjid about txcenty-seven years, terribly defaced the Church — King Charles I. and Archbishop Laud, for about thirteen years more, increased her viiseiy, by supporting Arminianism and Prelacy, and obtruding more Superstition, In the end of 1569, the Popish Lords, finding their foreign quarters not to their wish, resolved to return home, and make their peace with their coun- try, on the easiest terms. As it was suspected that James encouraged, if he did not formally in- vite them to return, the ministers took the alarm, and the Assembly and their commissioners remon- strated against their continuance in the country, as they were notorious enemies to its religion and liberties, — and against James' allowing the Popish countess of Huntley to be present at the baptism of his daughter Elizabeth, and his entrusting that princess to the care of the Popish lady of Living- ston, who was upon the point of being excommuni- cated by the church. Andrew Melvin, in his bold K 6G A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE anJ zealous nianiur, faillilully represented to him liis and his couneirs wiekethiess, in labouring to bear dow n the faithful ministers of Christ, and to assume authority in spiritual causes, and to protect the Popish I.ords. Janus gave them no satisfac- tion, but told them, That he and they would never agree, till the limits of their respective jurisdictions should be distinctly fixed; and particularly, till it should be enacted, that no minister should, from the pulpit, meddle with his and his council's pro- cedure ; — that no Cieneral Assembly should meet without his special command, nor any deed of it be of any force, before it was ratified by him or bis commissioner; and that no church judicatory should meddle with any causes against which the civil laws do strike. Not long after, James summoned Mr. David Black in St Andrew's, to appear before his privy council, to answer for some words, which he was said to have uttered from the pulpit, against the behaviour of himself, his queen and council. Black protested, that the church was the proper judge of his doctrine at first instance, and declined the au- thority of the council, as incompetent to be primary judge in this matter. Solemn attestations of his innocence of that which was laid to his charge, from a great number of his most respectable hear- ers, in the magistracy and university, uere produced before the council ; but these were altogether disre- garded, and the deposition of his enemies, however imalicious, and of others grossly ignorant, were sus- tained against him as prool : and he was banished to the north side of Tay. About three or four hundred ministers signed an advice to Mr. Black, to decline the council. None was more active in procuring svibx riptioiis than Spoiis^iioodf afterward Archbishop oi Si. Andrew's, who, at the same time. CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 67 treacherously informed James of all their proced- ure. The faithful ministers earnestly remonstrated against his majesty and councirs judging and pu- nishing their brother, Mr. Black. But all was in vain. He was determined to humble them. Highly offended with the commissioners, whom the church had appointed to watch against her dangers, on account of their faithful information of Presbyteries, and for their remonstrances against the favour shewn to the Popish Lords, or the like, James charged every one of them to depart from Edinburgh ; and then stretched every nerve to de- coy those that remained into his Erastian measures. He promised his utmost efforts to procure better stipends to the clergy, if they would demonstrate their loyalty, by subscribing a Bond, which he had, or intended to form. Fearing that some, by their poverty, might be induced to comply, the banished commissioners transmitted a warning to the several Presbyteries to be on their guard. The bond, which James prepared for their subscription, con- tained in it a promise of allegiance, and of submit- ting their doctrine relative to things which might be reckoned to concern the king and his council, to them as proper judges of it, and never to de- cline their jurisdiction as incompetent. Against the subscription of this Bond, the ministers pled. That it was superfluous to bind themselves to al- legiance, since they had done that sufficiently in the national covenant, which had been lately renewed; that their doing it, in the manner required in this bond, supposed them to have been formerly disloyal; that this bond, proceeding from the church's ene- mies, was to be suspected as a snare; that the in-* famy of those that subscribed a like bond, by ihe instigation o^ Archbishop Adamson in 1584*, was a warning to forbear subscribing at present; that 68 A COMPKNDIOLS HI5T0UY OF THR this l»ond restrained faithful reproof, and means of repentance, and made the kint; head of the church as well as of the state, and was contrary to the word of God, and to the laws made for the liberties of this ( hurch. Uohei t Bruce, and other ministers of Edinburgh, declined to confer with James, till he shoidd recal the commissioners of the church, wiiom he had ba- nished from the city. Some courtiers, who hat- ed the Ku;iiT managers of the royal revenues, by dealin^r with both parties, laboured to kindle strife between them and the church. 'J'o free himself of four hundred pounds Scots of debt, one Robert Stewart a macer, ^ave up to the king a list of such burghers in Edinburgh, as were most careful for the safety of faithful ministers; in consequence of which, 21' of them were charged to depart from the city. Alarmed herewith, ^^lessrs. Balcanquel and Bruce represented the dangerous situation of the church to such as were well affected to her. They, after mutual consultation, appointed the Lords Lindsay and Forbes, Mr. Bruce and some others, to represent to his majesty his duty to in- terpose his authority for the prevention of impend- ing dangers : But he refused to regard their re- quest. Some agents of the court, by raising a re- port, that he had given an unfavourable answer; and that the inhal)itants were in arms; — and l)y crying at the doors of the churches, in which they were assend)Ied, Save jfoursclvcs, and in the streets, To nrms, raised a considerable mob, — some of which thought the king had I)een in danger, and others, that their ministtrs had been murder- ed. Notwithstanding his sickness, the provost rose, got out, and quelled the uproar. AflVightrd for the consequences, James sent for their petition that same night, and promised ta CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. €9 content the ministers and their supporters. They insisted that he should remove from his council, Seaton, Elphinj^ston, and Hamilton, three of the OcTAViANs formerly mentioned, whom they judged troublers of the church, and supporters of the ex- comnmnicated Popish lords ; and that these lords should be banished the country till they should offer proper satisfaction to the church and nation ; and that the commissioners of the church should, by a royal proclamation, be invited back to Edin- burgh, whence they had been driven. But his fright being over, he refused their agents access to present these requests to him ; and at last, pre- tending to be provoked with the late tumults, he fled off to Linlithgow, appointed all strangers to depart from Edinburgh, and prohibited the judges to hold any more courts in it. Messrs. Bruce, Balcanquel, Balfour, and Watson, minsters of Edin- burgh, and Cranston of , were summoned to appear before the privy council at Linlithgow, and answer as required ; and warrants were issued to apprehend five of the principal burghers that fa- voured their courses. Expecting no justice, the ministers fled, but the burghers compeared and were cast into prison. The ministers and other friends of the church were exceedingly grieved on account of the tumult, as they perceived how it would be improved to the reproach of the work of God in their hands. On the Sabbath after, Mr. Bruce publicly declared his detestation of it, and of the neutrality of too many ministers, and of the countenance given to the Popish lords. After their flight, he, and Balfour, and Watson, remitted large vindications of themselves and brethren from all share in the tumult. Bent to have the Scotch church conformed to the English,, in order that his succession to Queen *0 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE Elizabeth of Ent^land mi^lit be the easier, James had already formed a list of his intended bishops ; but as thini^s were not yet quite ripe for establish- ing them in their sees, he published fifty-five ques- tions, which he re(juired the (general Assembly to answer, viz. Whether matters relating to the ex- ternal ^^overnment of the diunh mi^ht not be dis- puted ? What power the kin^ and chT^y have in the makini; of ecclesiastical laws ? When it is law- ful for ministers to leave their flocks ? Whether ministers may a])ply their doctrine to such as are not of their congregation ? Whether ministers may, from the pulpit, point out particular transgres- sors ? For what enormities they may publicly blame magistrates ? Whether such public declarations from the pulpit against the faults of particular per- sons, ought to proceed on full certainty, or upon mere report and suspicion ? Whether preachers may wander from their text in declaiming against vices? Whether a minister may exercise jurisdiction with- out the consent of the greater part of his session ? Whether the session be judges of their minister's doctrine? Whether ruling elders may ever mode- rate in sessions ? Whether the minister alone hath power to choose the members of session ? Why- ruling elders and deacons are nut chosen for life ? How many Presbyteries ought to be in a county ? And how many pastors in each ? Whether only pastors, or also all ruling elders and deacons ou^ht to have votes in Presbyteries? What ought to be handled in Presbyteries, which may not be trans- acted in sessions ? What form of process ought to be used before sessions and Piesbyteries ? What ought to be decided in Synods, which may not in Presbyteries? What j)ower of judgment have go- vernors and professors of colleges in Presbyteries, Synods, and Asscniblies ? Whetiier any but the «u. CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. '71 preme magistrate, when he is Christian and pious, hath lawful power to convene General Assemblies ? Whether should the meetings of General Assem- blies be ordinary or extraordinary ? Who have right to vote in Assembliess ? Whether all men of religion and learning in the church, or only all pas- tors, or only commissioners? How many members are necessary to form a General Assembly ? How many of these ought to be ministers ? And how many not ? Who have the power of choosing com- missioners to sit in General Assemblies ? Whether an act of the General Assembly be valid without the king's consent ? Whether two thirds of the votes be necessary to render an act authoritative ? Whether inferior judicatories can judge persons that do not reside within their bounds? What ju- dicatory shall administer discipline to the king's household and council ? Ought every person re- quired to attend church judicatories to have a for- mal citation assigning its own grounds ? Can an inferior court summon persons to a superior one ? Must private admonitions, with reasonable inter- vals, take place before all citations ? W^hat interval is necessary betv/een different admonitions, or be- tween admonition and citation, and between cita- tion and compearance ? Of how many citations doth the neglect infer contumacy ? Whether simple contumacy, without a particular crime, or a parti- cular crime without any contumacy, be a sufficient ground of excommunication ? What different church censures are there ? What scandals may Presby- teries judge of, and what not ? May murderers, usurers, and such as do not pay their just debts, be excommunicated ? If so, why should not all the thieves of the Highlands and borders, and mer- chants be excommunicated ? May an appeal be made from an inferior to a superior judicatory ? Is 72 A COMrFNDIOUS IIISTUKV 01 TIIF the sentence suspended during* an appeal to a hi^^her court? Ou«;lit all processes to be extracted tor the helionf of parties ? Is summary excommu- nication, without any citation, lawful ? May any but pastors vote in a sentence of excommunication ? ilath every church judicatory equal jiower to ex- communicate offenders ? May Papists, who were never members of our chur( h, be excommunicated ? May Christian kinj^rs annul notoriously unjust ex- communications ? May a whole council and uni- versity be excommunicated ? And for what ? By whom? And in what manner? Tf the clergy ne- glect their duty, may Christian kings rectify their disorders? May fasts for general causes be appoint- ed by Christian i)rinces ? IMay church courts re- quire persons to give an oath of purgation ? .Alay points relative to civil rights be judged in church courts ? 'I'hese (|uestions had answers returned to them by order of the Synod of Fife, and by Patrick (Talloway, and by anotlier minister of a more zea- lous cast. Soon after, James called an assembly at Perth, and took care to have an hitherto unparalleled num- ber of north country clergymen to be members of it. After no small disputing, the majority voted it to have the power of a General Assembly. Drop- ping a numi)er of his above mentioned questions, James required them to declare. That it should Ije lawful for either the prince, or any pastor, to move their doubts, and crave information concerning any part of their government, which is not exj)ressly appointed in the word of God ; that no minister should publicly meddle with affairs of state, or with any of his Majesty's lau s and ordinances ; l)ut if they think them w^rong, privately com])lain to himself and his council ; tliat no minister shall publicly point out any transgressors, except fugi- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 73 lives and excommunicated persons, so as the hearers may know them ; that none shall meddle with any point not pertinent to his own congregation ; that every Presbytery shall take care of these in their bounds behaving regularly in these matters ; that three different citations, with eight days of inter- val, shall precede every excommunication ; that no Presbytery or Synod shall censure any person who doth not reside in their bounds ; that all cita- tions shall contain the cause and crime for which the person cited are to answer ; that except their ordinary meetings of Session, Presbytery, or Synod, ministers shall hold no convention without his ma- jesty's consent ; that in principal towns no minis- ter shall be chosen without the consent of their particular flocks, and of his majesty ; that some discreet ministers shall be appointed at a proper time to reason upon the rest of his questions ; and that till that be done none shall touch upon them either in pulpits or judicatories ; and that some of the northern clergy shall be appointed to absolve the Earl of Huntley from his excommunication, providing he give them full satisfaction. The con- sciences of this pliant Assembly could not come up to the Avhole of James's demands : but they did what they could to gratify him. They fixed as terms of satisfaction for Huntley, that he should renounce the Popish religion, subscribe the national covenant, join in communion with the church ; and in the kirk of Aberdeen profess his sorrow for his apostacy and murder — and that, as an evidence of his sincerity, he should reconcile himself to those that had promoted his prosecution, and should pro- vide sufficient stipends for the kirks on his lands. At the request of Angus's countess, and of Errol himself, ministers were appointed to deal with them, and to absolve them on the same terms as L 74 A COMPENDIOUS HiSTOllY Ul- THli [lunlloy, except in that whicli related to the niiii- (icr of the Kail of Murray, in which An^us ami Krrol had no hand. Meanwhile, t(j please the faith- ful party, this Assemhly supj)li(ate(l James to j)ub- lish a declaration of his real intentions to maintain the true Protestant relij^ion and discipline present- ly professed, and to banish from his kini^doni all obstinate l*a])ists, Jesuits, and exconnnunicated i)tr- sons, and apprehend and imprison them if they should return ; and to relax his outlawry against the ministers of Edinburgh and otherii, and allow Messrs. Black, Howison, and Welsh to return to their flocks; to deal favourably with the city of l^dinbur^h, notw ithstanding the late mob, or other provocations; to promote the due punishment of such as had, or should assault, hurt, or mutilate ministers; and to provitle suHicient stipends where they were wanting. He pretended that he was ready to grant all their desires, except what jc- lated to the outlaws mid banished. Few besides the commissioners from Fife came up to the ordinary meeting of the General Assem- bly in April J5erdeen, j)rt;hibit(.'d the meetin^T of Assend)ly in his ma- jesty's name. Hut though multitudes were on the spot the whole day, not one could testify that he heard this public proclamation. To corroborate Lauriston's false affirmation, it is said, that the clerk ante-dated the indorsement of the charge. The ministers, who had kept this meeting of the Assembly, were immediately prosecuted be- fore the privy council. The magistrates of Aberdeen were charged to prevent the meeting in September; and presbyteries and synods pro- hibited to own the validity of the late meeting. The ecclesiastical commission readily declared it void anil null to all intents. After three months imprisonintMit in Blackness castle, — and vindica- tion «)i their own conduct, and declining of the privy council as incompetent judges, iMessrs. John Forbes, John Welsh, Robert Dury, Andrew Duncan, Alexander Strachan, and John Sharp, were condemned to perpetual banishment from the kingdom, as guilty of high treason ; and had probably been hanged, had not the terrible fer- ment ot the nation intimidated James and his council. iMessrs. Charles Fairholm, John iMonro, Nathaniel Inglis, James Greig, William Forbes, John Ross, and Robert Voungson, after lying in dilVerent prisons, were banished to remote parts of the kingdom. All ministers were prohibited publicly to pray for, or make honourable men- tion of their condemned brethren. CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 89 Neither the terrible pestilence, of which about "/OjOOO are said to have died in or about London, and not a few about Edinlxir^h, St. Andrew's, &c. nor his own and his English Parliament's re- markable deliverance from immediate destruc- tion by the Popish gun-powder plot, diverted James from his beloved work of persecuting the faithful ministers of Christ, and introducing the English Episcopacy into Scotland. Upon some new revival of Mr. Bruce's hesitation to believe his account of Cowrie's conspiracy, he was con- fined to Inverness. A. and J. Melvin, James Balfour, William Scot, John Carmichael, Robert Wallace, Adam Coult, and William Watson, were called out of the way to London, under pretence of conferring with them concerning the lawfulness of the meeting at Aberdeen, and the proper method of holding General Assemblies, &c. James Melvin died in his return home. Af- ter three years imprisonment, on account of a short Latin satire on the English worship in his Majesty's Chapel, Andrew was permitted to re- tire to France, where he died. Meanwhile, James having called a Parliament at Perth in 1606, which solemnly acknowledged his supremacy in all causes, and appointed an oath of the same import to be sworn upon the gos' pels- They also restored the estate of bishops to all their ancient honours, rights, and revenues ; and erected chapters for their respective sees. Against this deed the two Mel v ins, just before they set off for London, with about forty others, of whom Ballantyne, Abernethy, and Cooper, were afterward bishops, entered a solemn protes- tation, bearing, That it was contrary to the word of God, their national covenant, the constitutions N 00 A COMPKNDIOLS HISTORY OF THE of this cliurcl), and the laws, jieaco, and lionoiii of the kins^doin. Tlicir reasons were nioru lar^^'^c- ]y explained in a tract then |)ul)lishcd under the title of The course of Conforinity. An Asseml)lj was soon after held at Liriiithi^ow, which con- sisted of such statesmen, and of such clcr^ynieu as James called uj), without any re^^ird to com- missions from their respective IVeshyteries. Un- der |)retence of zeal against Poj>ery, they a|)- pointed a minister in every Presljytery,\vho should inform the privy council against Papists, and who should have a yearly salary of an hundred pounds Scots for his pains, and also the honour of con- stantly moderating in his Presbytery, till proper course should be taken with the Pa])ists, and the peace of the church settled. They supplicated iiis Majesty in favours of such of the banished ministers as should confess their faults to him. The nominated bishops j)rotested, That they in- tended to usurp no pre-eminence over their brethren. Some cautions were proposed for li- mitation of the j)Owcrof the constant moderators. Nevertheless, the managers, within about six months, had the miiuite so formed, as to bear, that the constant moderators of Presbyteries shoulil be constant members of General Assem- blies, and the bisho[)s or their vicars constant moderators in Synods. Fully persuaded that his innovations would meet with warm opposition, James, by a proclamation, solemnly chargeil all the NOMiNEKs to accept of their new honours, and all Presbyteries and Synods, u'luler pain of rebellion, to accept ol' their constant moderators. Nevertheless, several of the ministers nominateil to be constant moderators oi' l^esbyteries, refus- A CO.MPKNDIOrS HISTORY OF THE rerkoncd scdiicible into the measures of the court. Plenty of bribes, under the name iA' sub- sistence moneij, were distributed amon^them, and others had better stipends promised tiiem. 'J'he northern eleri^y came up trom tlie remotest cor- ners, and brought with them consciences suffi- ciently complaisant. 'J'he llarl of l)unl)ar, at- tended by a troop of his majesty's life guards, did all that he could to promote his master's in- tintions. 'J'hey condemned the Assem!)ly of IGO.A at Aberdeen, as an Hnlawjid and seditious nlcetin^'. I'hey acknowledi^ed the power of callini,'' Assend)lies to be an inherent ri^ht of the crown. They enacted, That no ordination of pastors should be confirmed unless it was con- summated by the bishoj) ; that no minister shoidd l)e deprived without the (onsent ol the bishop ; that bishops or their vicars should preside in all provincial Synods and (General Assemblies, and iiave the sole power ol visit iui;- the dioceses. Under pretence of only changin«j^ the name of Pfrsljj/tiricSy which they said was offensive to his majesty, into the vicitinu;s oj'fhc ministers of their hounds, they left bishops at liberty to choose whom they pleased for n'itnes.u-s rather than as- sistants in tlu ir acts of jurisdiction. They fur- ther enacted, That all presentations should be directed to bi>h()|)s instead of Presbyteries ; that no excommunication or absolution should take j)lace without the bishop's direction ; that minis- ters absenting of themselves from episcojial visi- tations of their dioceses should inia suspension and deposition, if continued in ; that every en- trant should, at his admission to the ministry, swear alh i^iance to his majesty as supreme otq- vernor in the conservation and purgation of reli- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. QJ gioii, as well as in things temporal ; to which, it seems, they afterward clandestinely added ohc- dience to his oj'dinarij, i. e. bishop of the bounds, &c. ; that marriage should be celebrated upon the Lord's day, if people desired it ; that the two archbishops, three other bishops, and three others appointed by them, should deal with his majes- ty for the planting of vacancies. They also formed some sham directions for the bishops, and asserted the necessity of General Assemblies, and their power over bishops: and finally enacted. That no minister, under pain of deposition, should publicly speak against their acts, or treat of the equality or inequality of ministers, in the church of Christ. As IMessrs. Patrick Simsou and Walter Balcanquel, and others, loudly in- veighed against the apostacy and perjury of the bishops, James, by a proclamation, charged all his subjects, under the highest pains, not to im- pugn, but obey all the acts of the Assembly, aiid to inform the next magistrate or some mem- ber of the privy council of every thing contrary which they knew ; and charged all judges and magistrates immediately to imprison all trans- gressors, ministers or others. As James and his votaries did not expect, that even their above packed Assembly would distin- guish the office of a bishop from that of a pastor, in the manner of Bancroft, and other late high- fliers in England, no mention was made in it of the consecration of bishops. But soon after, Spotswood of Glasgow, Lamb of Brechin, and Hamilton of Galloway, posted to London for it ; and on their return consecrated their brethren without consulting either Presbytery or Synod. Gladstones of St. Andrew's met with verv little 9(S A COMl'KNDiOUS HISTORY OK THli ojiposition ill iUc Synod of An^iis, hut in tlic^e of V'li'v and Lothian, with niurli more than he wished. W Ik ii the Parliament m(>t in 16 1 2, they formally (fn/mffrd their (KhmI of i5i)2y cstd- Ulshhiij; Prcshijicnf ; they ratified the acts of the late Assembly of (ilasi^ow with explications, curtailments, enlaii^ements, and alterations. By this act of J Parliament, hishops were I'reed from all trial of their lifi' or doctrine by the General Assend)ly ; they miii^ht dej)ute w hom they pleased to he moderatcjrs in Synods ; they mii^ht dispose of all henefiees to which the patron did not pre- sent a qualified candidate within six months from the commencement of the vacancy ; if the !)ishoj) refused to admit his candidate, the patron mifjht appeal to the archbishop, and from him to the lords of Session or privy council, " that they, by letters of horninof, mii^ht ohli<;e the bishop of the diocese to do his duty. In the oath for entrants to the ministry, they must swear allei^iance to the kinu^ as suj)reme in all causes spiritual and errh'siastiral as well as temporal, and swear obe- dience to their ordinary. It was not required, that men should be forty years of ag-e, or ten years in the ministry, before their election to bishopricks ; nor was the continuance of the weekly meetings of ministers in the least men- tioned. After a little breathing, James and his agents pushed on their designs. In 16 1. G, all adult subjects were commanded to receive the Lord's su|)per at Easter in all time coming. Spotswood being now archbishop of St. Andrew's, and Law of (rlasgow, they united their hi or minirlcrs as Ik? pKasod to c'onsult, sliniilil \\i\vv lull puvver to detcrinine all matters relative to the external government of the (hurcli. In formed hereof, ////// ministers omitted a solenni protestation ai^ainst it. Hall, Struthers, and Ramsay of Kdinbur^Hi, quickly pro- lessed their repentance, liut Arciiihald Simson of Dalkeith, P. Steuart of Kdiid)iirgii, and David C'alderwood of Crailing, beini^ far less pliable, were de[)rived from their oflice, and confined. Calderwoodwas troubled for not attending Synod, notwithstanding the high commission had pro- hi!)ited him to attend part of the time. He was banished the kingdom. Nevertheless this spirit- ed opposition made the Parliament to supersede their act. In IGU), James had hinted his intentions to introduce kneeling ^X, the Lord's table; the sacred observation of the festivals of Christ's birth, death, and ascension, and of the descent of the Holy Ghost; i\\^ private administration of baptism and the Lor d^s Supper, together with t^e confirmation of children^ by laying on of the bishop's hands. liis bishops represented to him, that it would be necessary to get these articles authorized by a General Assembly. After he and his tools had tixed upon the mendiers, one was indicted upon J. 5 days warning, to meet at St. Andrew's in No- vember, 1017. Hut here his majesty met with more opposition than was ex[)ectcd. They only yielded to allow the communion privately to sick persons, providing there were a proper number ])resent, and the minister gave the elements out of his own hand. Highly (dlended with their partial com|)liance, and with their delay of the principal points, James ordered that none of the CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 99 Opponents or non-Uquds should have any modifica- tion of their stipends for that year. But coolin/^ at last, he indicted another Assembly at Perth next year, which he took care to pack with such nobles and gentlemen, as he knew would scarce stick at any thinj^ to please him, while his bi- shops, with promises of augmented stipends, took care to secure a proper number of minis- ters. Archbishop Spots wood, having mounted the chair as moderator, James's expostulatory letter was read, — and seconded by the declama- tions of Spotswood, and of Young, an Episcopa- lian doctor from England. Spotswood disdain- fully rejected every motion made by his oppo- DCTits ; and, without regard to either Presbytery or Synod, nominated the committee of overtures. To induce the Assembly to comply with his ma- jesty's will, it was promised, that none should be obliged to practise these ceremonies ; and that he would never seek to introduce any more from England. Such as offered to reason against the ceremonies proposed were rebuked, and threat- ened. Nevertheless ybr(z/^2;e ministers, one no- bleman, and one doctor of a university, voted against them. The Assembly had no sooner carried an act for the above mentioned articles, than James ratifi- ed their deed by a public proclamation ; appoint- ed his subjects to refrain from labour on the four festivals specified ; and denounced the most ri- gorous punishment in person and property against all that should dare to disobey his man- dates. The introduction of kneeling in receiving the. Lord's supper occasioned terrible confusion. Messrs. William Arthur, Richard Dickson, John Murray, Pvobert Bovd, Robert Blair, John Ker, iOO A COMPENDIOUS HISTQIIY OF TUB Thomas Hoc;;', Andrew Duncan, Henry Blyth, David Forrester, Rolieit Bruce, John Weenis, John Scrim^eor, Jolin (iillespie, John Hume, Geor^^e Grier, James Porteous, William Living- ston, John Ferguson, Archihalii Simson, and many other eminently holy and faithfid ministers were prosecuted before the hi^^h commission, which deprived, fined, or imprisoned such as re- fused compliance with the articlks, or testified a^^ainst the prevalent corruptions. Robert Bruce's principal crime u as, that he and some of his bre- thren had kept two private fasts at his house in Old Monkland. Richard Lawson, James Cathkin, John IMein, William Ri^g, and others in Edin- burgh, and in other places, where their pastors informed against them, were cruelly persecuted by the high commission, for scrupling to kneel at the communion, and to observe the appointed festivals, t\:c. INIeanwhile, such was the tender sympathy of the court party for the idolatrous and treacherous Papists, that Anderson, a traf- ficking priest, being apprehended, was kindir set at liberty, and honestly apparelled, and had his charges paid, got a compliment of ^100 wSterling, and then was safely conveyed to France. After the bishops and their agents had very unsuccessfully laboured three years in the intro- duction of the Art'u Ics of Perth, the Parliament at Edinburgh, IGSil, solemnly ratified them, though not without great opposition. Fifteen of the nobility, and Jorty -Jour of the. commission- ers from burghs, voted against this deed. Not- with^tan(ling his majesty's charge to all the malecontcnt clergy to remove from the city, and all possible care to restrain their access to Parlia- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 101 ment, a number of them sent up a warning a- gainst the ratification of the Articles, and after- wards entered a solemn protestation against it. While the Marquis of Hamilton, as the king's commissioner, rose to touch the act with the sceptre, three terrible flashes of lightning dart- ed into his face, attended with claps of thunder, which broke almost immediately on the Parlia- ment House, and such a darkness and rain as had not been known in the memory of man. Some interpreted these things as marks of God's ab- horrence, and others as marks of his approbation of the Parliment's deed, which enacted. That in token of their deep humility, every partaker should receive the communion on his knees ; that the Lord's Supper should be administered to per- sons long sick, or apparently dying, providing there were three or four fellow partakers ; that, in case of necessity, baptism should be privately administered to infants, and report made thereof to the congregation, next Lord's day ; that after proper instruction by their minister, children about eight years of age shall be solemnly con- firmed by the bishop of the diocese, with prayer and laying on of hands ; and that the seasons of Christ's bi?ih, death, ascension, and effusion of the Holy Ghost, be religiously commemorated by ser- mons, abstinence from labour, and the like. When this deed was proclaimed at the Cross of Edinburgh, Dr. Barclay fixed one copy of the ministers' protestation on the cross, another on the church door, and a third on the gate of Holyroodhouse, and took instruments with the usual solemnities. Having now got the civil, as well as the ec- clesiastical law, on his side, James, by letters to 102 A COMrKNDlUUS UlSTUUV UF THK till' hisliops, whit li wtro prohalily planned, if not coni[)lctcly fornicd by tliernsclvcs, and subscribed at their desire, enjoined the most rigid execution of it: and they took care to obey him. For quietly eomin:;; from his place of confinement to Edinburi^Hi, about an aiVair of 20,000 merks value, Mr. Uubert I*ru(i', once reckoned by Janus worth the half of his kin^^chjm, was imprisoned in the castle, and John Welsh, whom, after lit years exile, grievous bodilv trouble had forced from France, was di'nied allowance to die in liis native country. While (iod by most terrible rains ruined the crop, and carried otf the bridges of Berwick and Perth, Messrs. John 3Iurray, John Row, David Dickson, George Dunbar, George Johnston, and others, were deprived, ba- nished, and confined by the high commission. It being re[)orted, That J^avid Calderwood, whose Altarc Damasccnum, printed in both Latin and English, had so galled the Kpiscopal party, iiad died in Holland, Patrick Scot, it is said, by his majesty's direction, published a recantation in his name; and to prevent his rcl'uting it, went to Holland to seek him out, ami murder him if he were still alive. As the sessions, council, and citizens of Edin- burgh, had long used to meet on the Tucsdai/ be- fore the administration of the Lord's Supper, in order to make known and remove whatever ob- jections they had against their ministers, — Bailie William Uigg, .John Dickson, John Fleming, James Nairn, and .lohn Nairn, being interrogat- ed, by the provost, objected, that Mr. Forbes, afterwaid bishop, had taught, I'hat there was but little dillVrence between the Papists and Protes- tants in ihe doctrine of justiticalion ; and James CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. • 103 Cathkin, John Mein, and others, having desired the administration of the communion in the for- mer manner, — William Rigg, John Dickson, a butcher, John Hamilton, apothecary, John ]Mein, and William Simson, were cited before the privy council. ^ Bailie Rigg was first confined to his own house, and afterwards imprisoned at Black- ness, and fined in fifty thousand pounds Scots. William Simson and John Dickson were con- demned to imprisonment in the common jail of Edinburgh; John Mein at Elgin; and John Hamilton at Aberdeen, and fined in twenty thousand merks Scots. Notwithstanding all that James and his bishops could do to prevent the spread of Cal- dervvood's A/tare Damascenuin, which so effectu- ally demolished the whole structure of the Eng- lish hierarchy and superstition, — and his Course of Conformity, with several other tracts, which had been printed in Holland, many copies of them were secretly transmitted hither, and greedily purchased and read. The death of Hamilton, the zealous promoter of the Articles of Perth in the parliament, and of James him- self, in the beginning of A. D. 1625, gave a transient check to the persecuting rage : and Robert Bruce, and no doubt several others, were permitted to leave their respective con- finements. But in vain either church or state expected happiness under Charles I. who pursued the maxims, and copied the pattern of his father. He was scarcely proclaimed king at Edinburgh, when his clergy notified their intention to have the communion celebrated on the following Sab 104 ^ COMPKNDIOUS niSTOKV OF THR bath, which was Easter. Rut the callinf^ of people and ministers to meet on the 'I'lie^day before, for the removal of offences and dillVren- ces, was omitted. This was reckoned liie !nf)re j;rievous, as the Articles of Perth hatl occasi 'oed inanifold prejudices and contentions amyriiT li ose that had formerly lived in the most j>irlect friendship. Charles having;' appointed a nuiional fast on the '20th of July, the presbyteriari mini- sters added to his reasons others of thi'ir own. The warm opponents of the Articles of Perth and others, bein^ informed of Ids pretences to piety and moderation, dispatched Mr. Robert Scot of Glasgow, to j)resent their sr.opiication for a redress of that i;rievance. instead of regarding it, Charles, by a letter to Spotswood, instigated him and his fellow bishops, to proceed in the course into which l.is father had put them. I'hey extolled his pi* ty to the highest, and so zealously obeyed his orders, that if a minister but conformed to Episcopacy and the Articles of Perth, he was almost in no danger of being quarreled for any thing else. Provincial synods had now little more left them than the name. Bisliops, or their depu- ties, were their constant modeiators. The con- stant moderators of presbyteries, and a few others chosen by the bishoj»s, or their agents, formed into the privy conference or committee of overtures, had the whole power of managing affairs. Nevertheless, as some still continued zealous for the presby terian form of government, and for the wonted simplicity of gospel worship, Charles issued forth a public proclamation, bear- ing, That he did not in the least intend to alter the government of the church presently esta- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. IQ^ blished ; and that siicli as should dare to disturb it, or suggest, that he intended to alter it in favours of the non-conformists, should be punish- ed. This encouraged his bishops to endeavour the removing of all that scrupled to conform from all places of power and trust. Charles himself, by a letter, required the tovv^n council of Edinburgh to elect none for maf^istrates but such as observed the articles of Perth : and about the same time issued forth a proclamation against all Papists and Non-conformists. But the Pa- pists vi^ere protected and cherished, as they were of the queen's religion, and not disliked by the managers. Having modelled the Court of Ses- sion to his pleasure, he formed his privy council of forty-seven, that of the Exchequer of fifteen, and the High Commission of seventeen mem- bers, which last, in the manner of the English one, had power to call before them whomsoever they pleased, for transgressing the acts of par- liament, or for speaking against his majesty or his progenitors, or their conduct, and to punish them with fines, imprisonment, deprivation, ex- communication, kc. While Elizabeth his sister, and progenitor of our now royal family, had above eighty thousand of her subjects in Bohemia and Palatinate, and an infinity of her allies, murdered by the Papists in Germany, the zeal of Charles and his bishops inflamed hot only against those that appeared most averse from returning to Rome. Certain of protection or an easy escape, the Papists here- on became insolent. Charles commanded the Lords of Council, the advocates and clerks, to communicate kneeling, as a pattern to others. Finding none of his own party qualified to check 106 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE the increase of Popery at Paisley, where the Earl of Abercorn, and his mother and brother, impudently promoted it. Law, archbishop of Glasgow, permitted Mr. Robert Boyd of Troch- rig to be settled there. H»it he had scarcely taken up house there, when the Karl's brother threw all his books into the street, as he was preachine^ on the Lord's day. For this he was cited before the council ; but as Mr. Boyd in- treated, that he might not be imprisoned, and as he himself professed his sorrow for what he liad done, and his brother and the magistrates undertook publicly to reinstate Mr. Boyd in his possession, the affair was dropped. But when Mr. Boyd, along with the magistrates, returned to take possession, they found the doors bolted ; nor could they break them open, as they were without their jurisdiction, a mob, consisting chiefly of women, thought to have been hounded out by the EarFs mother, so abused iMr. Boyd with revilings and throwing of dirt, that he was obliged to return to his own house at Trochrig in Carrick. About this time, several trafTicking priests were apprehended at Dundee, Dumfries, ^c. but their court-favoured brethren procured them all an easy deliverance. In July 1626, Charles held a convention of estates chiefly for recovering into hh own hand the tithes and church lands, which his lather had disponed to laymen. While the possessors beg- ged him to drop his designs, the bishops and their clerical favourites met in Edinburgh, and dispatched the hish()|)s of Ross and Murray, with AVhiteford and Struthers, to beseech him to curb the insolent Papists, and to perfect his revocation of bis father's donations of the church's property, CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 107 ^nd to promote the augmentation of ministers' stipends. Upon their return, the conforming and non-conforming ministers agreed to appoint some, from their respective presbyteries, to con- sult for the welfare of the church. The archbi- shops absented, that they might have it in their power to declare the meeting null, if things were not carried to their mind. This meeting agreed to supplicate his majesty, to promote the fixing of proper stipends on ministers, and the planting of vacant congregations ; and that the sentences might be taken off ministers, who had been pro- secuted for non- conformity — and they be allowed to be candidates for, or members of, the General Assembly, if Presbyteries please ; and that none might be troubled for non-conformity, or with subscriptions at their admission, before such an Assembly should be held. The Conformists chose the bishop of Ross, and the Non-conformists Mr. Kobert Scot of Glasgow, to present their petition. The archbishops and other diocesans were highly offended with the most of these conclusions. Hence Mr. Scot went not to court, while the bi- shop went ; and being charged with secret in- structions from his diocesan brethren, betray- ed the cause of the meeting. Nevertheless, the Non-conformists were charged with part of his expenses. Charles appointed commissioners to value the tithes: but some barons procured a let- ter from him, allowing the gentry an easy com- position for such as were still in their hands. The commissioners insisted, that such tithes as were in the bishops' hands ought also to come under the revocation^ that his majesty might have a part of them. — Meanwhile, a sudden inunda- tion of the sea, upon the parishes of Caerlaverock 108 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THR and Rnthwcll, in Cialloway, alarmed tlic surviv- ing iidialutants and tJjcir neighbours, and render- ed tlieni deeply |)enitent of their sins, and con- cerned for their eternal ^alvati^n. As few of the eoninuiiiicants in several chur- ches, in or about Edinburgh, had kneeled at the sa( rament at Easter the preceding- year, the ge- neral session, wliirh met before it in 1G28, beg- ged their ministers to dispense it in the ancient inannt r, for the avoiding of strife and confusion. Some of these were for allowing every one to sit or kneel as he pleased. Others were for no kneel- ing, and for the communicants dividing the ele- ments among themselves. The \on-conformists insisted, That they should first celebrate the sa- (Tament in the former manner, and then suppli- cate his majesty's tavour, if he were displeased. But the Conformists got it carried, first to sup- plicate his permission. In their supplication, and by Sydserf their commissioner, they repre- sented, That few of their people now joined in the Lord's supper, and few of those that did, would receive it Icjieeling : that notwithstanding all their pains to extinguish it, the contention was still increasing, and had already become in- tolerable ; that by means of it, ministers in- veighed against, and people hated, one another ; that atheists wen* tempted to reckon the whole of religion an indilVerent thing, which might be altered at men's pleasure; that kneeling at the communion had an apjiearance of symbolizing with Papists, and encouraged them in their ido- latrous worship of the sacramental bread; — and besought him to dispense with their obedience to the act of Assembly and Parliament imposing it. Instead of granting their rc([uest, Charles ap- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 109 pointed the archbishop of St. Andrew's to cite them to his tribunal, and inflict such punishment upon their ring-leaders, as might effectually de- ter others from all such supplications for the fu- ture ; and to labour with all his might to estab- lish the form of worship appointed by law. These things prevented the dispensation of the Lord's supper at Edinburgh for that season. — Upon the two last Sabbaths of May, and the Wednesday betwixt them, Charles appointed a solemn fast to lament the troubled state of the churches abroad, and the sins abounding at home, and to beseech the Lord to avert his threatened judg- ments, and succeed his Majesty's arms against France. To these, some Non-conformists added the innovations made upon the government and worship of the church, and the persecution of faithful ministers for opposing them ; which fo- mented the difference between the two parties. The Non-conformists more and more gained the affections of the people, while the Conformists, losing their esteem, instigated the bishops to persecute them — who having power on their side, threatened to excommunicate all such as should not speedily conform. Being excluded from all the churches of Edinburgh, Mr. Robert Bruce preached in several of these in the neighbourhood, whether multitudes of the citizens resorted to hear him. Informed of this, Charles required his privy council to confine him to his own house in Kinnaird, and within two miles around : but about the same time required the excommunica- tion of the Popish earls of Angus, Nithsdale, Abercorn, and their ladies, to be dispensed with, and no laws executed against them, till himself should come down to Scotland. 110 A COMPKNDIOUS HISTORY OF THE While, about the beginninij of A. D. 1629, Dr. Forbes of Abenlet-n, Wc(lderl)urn of St. An- drew's, and Maxwc'l and Sydserf of Edinburgh, occupied themselves in ventinf^ their Arminiaii tenets, which now paved the way for preferment, tlie privy council, alarmed by repeated complaints of the increase and insolence of the Papists, aj)- peared more than ordinarily earnest, in prosecut- in^' them, particularly if they were excommuni- cated; and in taking care of the Protestant edu- cation of their children. Not to appear behind them in zeal, the conforming clergy took up a list of about 500 gentry and others, and sent up INIaxwel to London to learn his iMajesty's plea- sure concerning them. But Huntley, through the queen's influence, procured such an order of soft dealing with them, as amounted to a kind of royal protection of them. iMeanwhile, the Presbyterians were more and more cruelly per- secuted, many of the inhabitants of Edinburgh, Leith, and places ad jacent, being cited before the privy council and High Commission, and arbitra- rily fined, if they did not answer to satisfaction. IVIessrs. Lamb of Traquair, D. Forrest of Leith, and Crcorge Dunbar of Air, were deposed for their opposition to the course of defection. Ro- bert ISIelvil, assistant to the aged minister of Culross, having in a sermon, before hiiu, boldly inveighed against the pride of Adam Ballantyne, bishop of Dunblane, and his contempt of the faithful ministers of Christ, had no doubt also been prosecuted, if he could have been deprived of any legal salary. The bisho[)s regarded the alTronts which they received from the people the less, as his Majesty highly favoured them •uid the Bishop of St. Andrew's was ordered tn CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. Ill take the precedence of the Chancellor in the pri- vy council, and in places of public resort. The pride of the bishops having rendered them odious to a great part of the nobility, a number of ministers, about the end of this year, trans- mitted a Representation of 28 grievances to his majesty ; and begged, That he would interpose his influence for the redress of them. But per- haps he never deigned to read it. About the beginning of 1630, Struthers, a conformist mi- nister of Edinburgh, offended by the wide steps some of his brethren were taking towards Eng- land and Rome, and hearing that Maxwel, his colleague, had brought from London an order to the Primate of St. Andrew's, and his diocesan brethren, to prepare matters for the reception of the whole government and manner of worship used in the English church, wrote a letter to Sir William Alexander, now Earl of Airth, and the king's secretary, in which he represented, that K. James, by his commissioner, had promised to the Parliament in 1621, that no further altera- tions should be made in the public worship; that the introduction of other rites, especially if with- out the consent of the church, would render the bishops still more odious ; — would deprive people of their best pastors, alienate their affec- tions more and more from one another, and in the issue make them either Papists or Atheists. — Meanwhile, faithful ministers were remark- ably countenanced of God at their sacramental and other occasions. Multitudes crowded to their communions ; and being eager to hear as much of the gospel as they could, when they had an opportunity of it, they began to have one ser- mon upon Saturday before, and another on the J 12 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OT THK Monday after. IMr. John I/ivini^ston a pioba tioner, after liavini^ run so far ofl', that mornin::^, preached a sermon at the kirk of Shots, on I\Ion- day .Iiine 21, at which ^00 were converted to Christ, and ahnost every one in his lar^e audi- ence remarkably affected. This was an evident answer of the prayers in which most of the peo- ple had spent the whole of the preceding- niixht. Soon after, the prelates' persecution of him ol)lii;- cd him to flee to the north of Ireland ; where, for some years, he and IMessrs. Robert Blair, Robert Cunint^ham, James Hamilton, George Dunbar, John JNI'Lellan, and Josias Welsh, la- boured with great success in the work of the Lord. The like divine influence attended the ministrations of iNIr. David Dickson at Irvine and places about, in the west of Scotland. To bring a reproach upon this work of God, Satan drove some into disagreeable excesses and fren- zies : but, by the care of these faithful ministers, his designs were in a great measure defeated. Being informed of an intended Convention of States, for imposing a new tax for the supply of his Majesty's, or his hungry courtiers', necessities, and for making trial, how farther innovations would relish — but pretending to redress grievan- ces, the Nonconform ministers, by the Karls of Rothes, Cassils, and Linlithgow, and the Lords Yester,Ross, Balmerino, IMelvil, andLowdon, and some well affected gentlemen, presented a sup- plication for liberty to administer the Lord's supper as pastors and people should find most for edification; and that such entrants as scru- pled, should not be obliged, before their admis- sion to the ministry, to swear the oath of si/prc- iiiacii and canonical obedience. But the court and 4 CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 113 bishops, by their warm opposition, prevented the readino^of it. Balmerino afterwards insisted, that the oath» which was imposed without the autho- rity of Parliament, should be laid aside ; and that according^ to law, no bishops should be allowed to deprive or suspend any minister, without the trial and consent of the ministers in that bounds. But the managers also smothered this motion in the birth. In 1631, the apostacy still increased. Dr. Max- well taught, That our Saviour at his death de- scended to hell, in order to deliver from it the souls of virtuous heathens; pretending, that this doctrine tended much to his glory, and to the comfort of Christians. John Adamson of Liber- ton taught, that the church of Rome is a true church of Christ. Wedderhurn of St. Andrew's and Sydserf, without control, published their Ar- minian errors: Many of the conform clergy, and especially the bishops, altogether abandoned themselves to drinking in taverns, and sports on Sabbath afternoons. Foster of Melrose, having but one hut of corn in his barn yard, zealously manifested his Christian freedom, by causing his servants carry it into his barn on Sabbath. Not a few as faithfully bore witness against their abo- minations— among whom we may reckon Messrs. John Sharp, who was banished in 1605, but on account of his distinguished learning recalled, and made professor of divinity in the new college of Edinburgh; Robert Bruce, who now died in a triumphant manner, holding his finger on the last verses of Rom. viii ; Robert Boyd of Troch- rig, John Scrimgeor, John Chalmers, John Dick, William Scott, John Row, John Ker, James Cur- ry, Ad. Colt, David Foster, Richard and David Q lit A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE Dicksons, James Grei^, John Ferguson, James In^lis, \\'illiarn I jvin^'-ston, Tlioinas Ilo^, and Alexander Henderson, wlio had been eon verted from Prelacy by a note of Mr Bruce; Samuel Rutherford, who, like some others, had ^ot into the ministry, without any sinful enicai^ement, by means of some of the nobility — Robert l)oui;las, (leorge (iillespy, a preacher, and others. Nuthintrof importance relative to the church happened in 1G.'32. But next year, Charles, at- tended by ])ishop Laud and many others, came down to Edinburgh, in order to be crowned, and to abolish the remains of Presbytery, and perfect the relicfious conformity of the two nations. Af- ter beint; crowned in t!ie most splendid and cere- monious manner, he, on next Sabbath, was gra- tified with the I^nglish mode of worship, and with the most fulsome flattery from the pulpit, and the most insolent railing against such as scrupled at lioly vestments, or any thing else, which he pleased to a])j)oint in the worship of God. The afternoon was spent in extravagant feasting, attended with concerts of music, sound- ing of" trumj)ets, and the like profane, carnal j)a- rade. The Parliament having met, asserted his supremacy over the church in all causes, and his power of prescribing proper vestments f(jr clergy- men, the last of which it seems his father had never executed. They ratified all former acts in favours of the religion presently professed, that is, as they had dressed it up with Kj»iseoj)acy and superstition. Hence the fait hi ul party o|)posed their ratification. They ratified his revocation of his progenitor's grants of tithes and church lands. The faithful ministers delivered to Sir John Hay, elerk register, under the form of pro- CHURCH OF Scotland; 116 testation, a petion for redress of grievances, crav- ing. That as the commissioners from the church had transgressed the caveats, they might be sus- pended from voting in parliament, till they were heard ae^ainst them on that point; that the alte- rations in the act of Parliament 1612, from that of the assembly 1610, might be rectified; that the act 1592, establishing Sessions, Presbyteries, Synods, and General Assemblies, might be revis- ed and ratified ; that, as was promised when they were introduced, none should be urged to ob- serve the articles of Perth; and that all imposi- tion of oaths not appointed by the Assembly or Parliament on Intrants, l>e prohibited. Sir John, being a sworn enemy to religion, and a slave to the bishops, was highly offended with the peti- tion, and especially with Mr. Hog's solemn man- ner of delivering it. The same ministers, by Mr. Hog, transmitted another supplication to Charles himself, who lodged at Dalkeith, beseeching him to favour their forementioned petition in the Par- liament. But he, detesting their honest designs, got both their petitions smothered in the birth. Instigated by the ministers, a number of the lords, barons, and burgesses, presented to the king and Parliament a petition, craving. That the novations lately introduced into the church, should be abolished; that such as had no interest in the happiness of the kingdom, or had been de- clared incapable of being judges in any court, should be debarred from seats in the Parliament. Charles heartily abhorred their requests. Ne- vertheless, he had no small difficulty to carry the ratification of his spiritual supremacy, and of the hierarchy and superstition which his father had introduced. Notwithstanding all his solicitations lie A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE and threatenings, and even calling for a pen to mark their names that served or opposed him, JlJU'cn carls and lords, witli furiif-j'uur commis- sioners from burghs, voted against that act. Bi- shop Ikirnet aflirms, that it was really carried in the negative. Hut Hay, tiic register, who collect- ed thevotcs, affirming that it was carried in theaf- firmative, the Earl of Rothes, who had opposed it with great freedom and strength of reasoning, averred the contrary. Charles, meanly interpos- ing, told Rothes, that the clerk's declaration must stand, unless he, at the hazard of losing his head, would prove him guilty of falsifying the records of Parliament. Knowing that Charles, instigat- ed by his bishops, would rain down his vengeance upon them, as soon as he could get an opportu- nity, the nobles prepared a representation of their designs and reasons thereof. Rut either their want of unanimity among themselves; or their information ot his intention to refuse to hear it ; or his sudden departure to London, prevented their |)resenting it to iiim. Having returned home, and made Laud, his faithful attendant, archbishop of Canterbury, he transmitted an order to Ballantyne, bishop of ]>umblane, and dean of his royal chapel at Edin- burgh, to take care to have the communion there received on their knees, and in cups consecrated to the king's use, on the first Sabbath of every month, and to cause all the lords of privy coun- cil and session, advocates, clerks, and writers to the signet to receive it in Ci\.w form, at least once eveiy year, as a pattern to others ; and to report their obedience or disobedience in this matter to him. Nevertheless, it is said, that no more than six lords of privy council, seven of session, two CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 117 advocates, one writer to the signet, with the clerk of the bills, and two young lords, conformed to this order. While Charles had been in Scotland, he had erected a new bishoprick at Edinburgh, and no- minated William Forbes, a minister of the city, zealous for the reconcilement of the popish and protestant religions, to it. After a farce of elec- tion by the chapter, he was solemnly consecrated, in January, J 634, in the presence of the two archbishops and five bishops ; and had the little and g7'eat kirks united to form his cathedral. Notwithstanding his monkish temper, he imme- diately dispersed his mandates, requiring all mi- nisters in his diocese, within fourteen days, to subscribe an engagement to full conformity, and to administrate the sacraments to none but those of their own congregations, under pain of being punished as schismatics. Most of the Presbytery of Edinburgh subscribed the engagement, on the same day that they received his mandate. Four of them took it to an advisement. But William Arthur at Westkirk, and James Thomson at Col- lington, flatly refused their subscription. Other Presbyteries were much less complaisant. Some expressly refused to come under any such en- gagement. The Presbytery of Greenlaw trans- mitted to him their reasons against compliance, and warned him, that the wrath of God would certainly overtake him, if he persisted in requir- ing ministers to act contrary to their conscience. He had scarcely threatened to make the best in Edinburgh kneel at the communion, or lose his Episcopal gown, when a vomiting of blood put an end to his violent measures, about two months after his instalment. To obtain his fat benefice, 118 A COMPRNDIOCS HISTORY OF TIIK Syclserf laboured to imitate him in Arminianism, and in approaches towards Popery, liut Charles, knowin;,^ him to he much hated in lulinhurgh, transported Dr. Lindsay from Brechin, and placed Sydserf in his room. A rude drau«^ht of tlie intended address of the nobles to his majesty, at the conchision of the above mentioned Parliament, having been left in the handsof Babnerino, one Dunmuir awriter,who had been allowed to view Ins library, clandestinely took a coj)y of it, which lie inadvertently shewed to Hay of Nau^hton, who took a copy of it w bile he slejit, and transmitted it to Archbishop Spots- wood. He, as usual, posted off with it on the Lord's day to London ; and represented to Charles, That it amounted to lease-making against him and his government ; and that copies of it were industriously spread by the noblemen concerned in it, in order to alienate his subjects, and make ministers to refuse the vestments, and other rites prescribed by law. At last, he and his fellow bi- shops procured a commission for some ignorant, mercenary, or Pojiish creatures of the court, to try the authors and favourers of it, as guilty of treason. Ilaig, the advocate, who had draw^n it, after writing a letter to Balmerino, bearing that he had written it without any iielp or direction from him, fled off. After some months imprison- ment Balmerino was brought to his trial. Not- withstanding all that the bishops could do, seven of the jury brought him \\\ not ii;uilty. Traquair, to please them, gave his casting vote against him. But finding, that the subjects were fully deter- mined either to liberate him, or to revenge his death upon those that had condemned him, with- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 119 out any shadow of ground, he quickly procured for him a royal remission. In 1685, death had scarcely transported the pious Viscount of Kenmure, and five or six of the faithful ministers of their heavenly thrones, when Archhishop Spotswood was made chancellor of Scotland, Ballantyne transported to Aberdeen, and Sydserf to Galloway, and Wedderburn made bishop of Dunblane, and Whiteford of Brechin. Some ministers of every presbytery were made Justices of peace; but few, except thorough paced episcopalians, accepted of that office. It was in- tended to provide ministers for all the abbacies, in order to have as many ecclesiastical lords to vote in Parliament. But the nobility opposed this motion ; and Traquair persuaded Charles, that it would be for his advantage to keep the abbacies in his own hand. To pacify the morti- fied bishops, a royal patent was issued, empower- ing every one of them, with any six associates that he pleased, to judge all persons within their diocese, in the manner of the high commission. Without delay they improved this power for the destruction of their opponents. For imposing an intrusion on his parish, Alexander Gordon of Earlstown was cited before Sydserf and his Gal- loway commission; fined for absence, and banish- ed to Montrose. For refusing to conform, or to con- sent to the intrusion of a conformist on his charge, Mr. Glendoning of Kirkcubright, aged seventy- nine, was confined to his parish. Wm. Dalgleish, a neighbouring minister, was confined in like manner. For continuing to hear Mr. Glendon- ing, the magistrates of Kirkcudbright were con- fined at Wigton ; and his own son, being one of them, imprisoned, because he would not incarce- ii 120 A COMPHNDIOUS HISTORY OF THE rate his father. Mr. William Livinj^ston of F.a- nark was prosecuted by the archhi^iiop of Glas- gow for eniployini; his son .loiiu to preach, who, alonij: with his brethren, had been lately silenced by the bisiiops of Ireland : but the old man so boldly vindicated his coiuluct, and laid home to the consciences of liis judt;es their many heinous offenres aj^ainst (jod, that they were ^Had to be rid of him. Walter (Treii^s who had enter(Hi to Balmerino with Spotswood's own consent, and by the call of both patron and people, was cast out as an intruder, that wanted collation from him. John IMein, merchant in Edinburgh, was again prosecuted for not observing an anniversary fast, and attending his own [)arish church. The members of the college of justice and people of Edinburgh, were mightily urged to perfect con- formity, in all the novations introduced 'J'hus the bishops carried all before them, leaving little else for the friends of reformation, but to cry to the Lord because of their oppressors. In the beginning of \(jS6t IMaxwell bishop of Ross, \\\\[^ was already a lord of the privy coun- cil, a lord of the excluHpui, and an extraordinary lord of the session, thought to have got the high treasurcrship, which Morton demitted. But the nobles, otfended with Si)otswoo(rs promotion to the chancellorship, procured that office for the Earl of Tra(piair, who often proved a thorn in the side of the bishops. Traipiair's j)rocuring a pension of .-0 200 Sterling for Maxwell, si- lenced him a little. Hut when he s(>licited the dissolution of the commission for valuation of tithes, 'IVacpiair, by gaining not only the nobles, but even part of tlie bish.)ps to the opposition, prevented his success. S])otswood durst nut ap- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 121 pear against Traquair, for fear he should detect his villanies. The archbishop of Glasgow had obtained a royal grant of the first fruits in his diocese ; but Traquair found means to pocket them himself. He also thought to oblige the in- habitants of Glasgow to pay their ministers sti- pends, and to deprive their council of the Patro- nage of Blackfriars and the Loxv-kirks; but Tra- quair defeated his plan. In 1 630, Mr. Samuel Rutherford had been cit- ed before the high commission ; but a storm hin- dering Spotswood to cross the Forth, and Alex- ander Colvil, one of the Judges, befriending him, the diet was deserted. Some ministers in his presbytery, labouring to exasperate Spotswood against him, a new prosecution of him and Mr. Dalgleish was intended in 1634. But Lord Kirk- cudbright screened Rutherford from his persecu- tors' rage. In 1636, he was obliged by Sydserf, to appear before the high commission for his non- conformity, and his preaching against the Articles ofPerthf and writing against Arminians. He de- clined their jurisdiction as unlawful and incom- petent : nor would he give any of the bishops pre- sent their lordly titles. Notwithstanding all that Lord Lorn and others could do in his behalf, he was prohibited, under pain of rebellion, to exer- cise his ministry any more in Scotland, and char- ged to confine himself in Aberdeen and its envi- rons, during his Majesty's pleasure. In that con- finement he wrote many of his letters, which have since been so refreshing to multitudes. Mr. Da- vid Dixon, whom the Earl of Eglinton had got restored to his charge, was on the point of being deposed by the archbishop of Glasgow, for employ- ing Messrs. Blair, Livingston and others, whom R 122 A coMPr.NDiur^ iiistoky uj the the episrojial persecutors had driven from Ire- land. \h' this time Laud of Canterbury was deeply concerned to have a perfect conformity establised between the Scottish and Kni^^lish ( luirclies. Ho laboured to persuade the Scottish bishops to re- ceive the Env:Hsli I'dnrgij. But, in their ])ride, and to avoid all appearance of their dejiendence on England, they insisted for a liturgy of their own composition, but near to the English in both matter and form. U'his occasioned a dryness be- tween them and the Canterburian primate. But Charles, advised by Laud and his underling bi- shops of London and Norwich, took the matter upon himself. lie fixed upon the alterations which he thought proper, and required the Scot- tish bishops to frame their service book according to them, and particularly to retain all the Eng- lish Sai/its (Jdj/Sf and add the most renowned of Scotland to them, especially those of the royal family or episcopal order, and by no means to omit Sai?iU Geofgc and Patrick — and to retain the phrase, receive ye the Holij Ghost, in the Rubric, for ordination ; — and to insert among the lessons ordinarily read, ^\'ie doctrine, contrary to the religion legally establislx d ; and even approaching nearer to tlie Popish Missal tlian the l.nglish had done; — and \\\\\\ forming the Ihxtk of Canons^ in which bishops arc empo>Nered to tyrannize over ministers and people at plcrisure , — by which means, they had wionged his iNIajesty, kindling discord between him andhi> .subjects, and between the subjects themselves,--and had rent the church, and undei mined her doctrine, worship, discipline, and government; — and tli(i(forc they begged, that they might be brought to tlieir trial, and CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 133 duly punished ; and in the mean time, not be al- lowed to sit judges upon the petitioners. This complaint was signed by twenty-four noblemen, some hundreds of gentlemen, some hundreds of ministers, and most of the burghs. Nor doth it appear, that any but Mr. R. Bailie, afterward principal in the college of Glasgow^ did hesitate to subscribe it, who thought some expressions of it too severe. — Finding that their former suppli- cation had not been presented to his majesty, ac- cording to promise; and that the courts of jus- tice were removed from their city ; and that, after their fellow petitioners returned home, they would be exposed to the resentment of their provost, severals in Edinburgh, chiefly women, attended the town council, and threatened them, that un- less they would concur with the other burghs in their supplications and complaints, and would re- store Messrs. Ramsey and Rollock, their minis- ters, and Henderson a reader, they w^ould not suffer one of them to come out alive. This obliged them to an immediate compliance. These fe- male insurgents, in their way home, had handled the bishop of Galloway and the provost too rough- ly, had not the nobles prevented them. After several unsuccessful addresses to the privy council, the numerous supplicants returned home, having resolved to meet again upon the 15th of November. Then greater numbers than ever attended at Linlithgow, and were joined by the Earl of Montrose, and some other noblemen. Notwithstanding the counsellors could not pre- suade them of the lawfulnes of their conventions, they agreed. That, since their grievances were not like to be soon redressed, the noblemen, with two gentclmen from every shire, and a minister 134 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OP THE from every pres])ytery, and a commissioner from every hur^li, should attend the council, and the rest return home. They also aii^reed, that Ro- thes, Montrose, Lindsay, and Loudon, as depu- ties for the nobles ; the lairds of Reir, Cunning- hamiiead, and ()Id!)ar, for the shires; the two bailies of F^diidjurgh, and provost of Culross, for the burghs; and Messrs. James Cunningham and Thomas Ramsay for the ministers, should ordi- narily attend at Edinburgh for receiving answers of petitions, and giving in remonstrances to the council. After settling a method of gentlemen serving by turns, and of advertising their consti- tuents in case of need, and a solemn admonition to, and promise of personal and family reforma- tion, most of them returned home. The above-mentioned deputies remonstrated to the lords of privy council. That if they find his jMajesty not rightly informed of their grievances; or it they obtain not redress by the methods agreed upon, it shall be lawful for them to assemble their constituents; — that such bishops or ministers as have slandered their conduct as seditious, shall be obliged to give satisfaction for their offence ; — that since it was none but the low mob that rais- ed the late tumult in Edinburgh, the council shall intercede with his Majesty for the return of the courts of judicature to that city; — that Messrs. Ramsay and Rollock shall be reponed to their charges ; — and that the bishops be prohibited to urge the use of the service Injok, till his Majesty's pleasure be further known. They were the more zealous on this last point, because Wedderburn, bishop of Brechin, had prohibited the town coun- cil of that place, to send any commissioners to sup])licate against it; and, upon their refusing to CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 1^5 obey him, had taken instruments in the name of God, the King, and himself, as a privy counsel- lor, and on the Sabbath following-, contrary to the advice of the Chancellor and Treasur- er, had gone to his pulpit to read the service^ armed with pistols, his servants, if not also his wife, being prepared to second his warlike at- tempt. But he was so drubbed by some of the people, in his way home, that he never repeated his dangerous task. Though the privy council, to shift a proper an- swer to the people's demands, solemnly protested to their deputies, that they were not regularly met, they, as constituted, dispatched two mis- sives, one to Charles, and another to the Earl of Stirling, secretary for Scottish affairs ; in which they represented the necessity of the restoration of the ordinary courts of judicature, and their own reasons for yielding so far to the aggrieved sub- jects. TheEarl of Roxburgh, their agent, return- ed from London, with an ample commission from his Majesty. But it being whispered^ that he had orders to apprehend some of the principal noblemen among the petitioners, the deputies convened all their commissioners. But, upon Traquair's entreaty, and the council's promise to do nothing to their prejudice, they remained at Edinburgh. Directed by his Majesty's letter, the council made three acts, declaring, that he had no intention of altering the religion presently professed, or the Imusofthe country; and appoint- ing two meetings of council every week at Dal- keith, and thereafter at Stirling, of which that on the Thursday should discuss complaints and grievances — and aj)pointing the Court of Session to meet in the beginning of February next, JGii8. 4. 13G A COMPENDIOUS HISTORV OF THE for tlio adiniiiist ration of civil aflairs, wlii( h, lor almost a year, had been totally interrupted, or run into ronliision. 'I'hc n»alcontents plainly pcrc.uUed, Whether the covenanters assemblini; themselves, without his ^Majesty's au- thority, protestini; a^^ainst his royal proclama- tions, and cnterini;' into covenant with (Tod, and with each other, were warrantable by law, gave their opinion. That most of their conduct was legal, and none of it against any exj)ress law. It was even suspected, that they had walked by the direction of Sir Thomas Hope, the King's advo- cate, in the most critical steps of it. No sooner liad the three commissioners got to London, than the Scotch affairs were taken into serious consi- deration. 'I'he bishops, chietly of Brechin and Murray, i'oreseeing that they would be inevitably ruined, if Charles should incline to clemency, did all that lay in their power to exasperate him Jo the most violent mea:>ures against the cove- / CHURCH OK SCOTLAND, 145 panters. The noblemen with great zeal opposed them. Lorn candidly laid open all that he knew of the grievances of his country, and declared his dislike of the Articles of Perth, the liturgy, and canons, and of the conduct of the bishops ; and that he was resolved rather to leave his country, than to concur in binding these burdens upon his fellow subjects. As Traquair insisted for peace- able methods, the bishops reproached him with giving the covenanters intelligence, while he, to avenge himself, charged the miscarriage of his Majesty's designs on their imprudence and vio- lence.—Fearing that the commencement of a war in Scotland might give the English malcontents an opportunity of obtaining their wished redress, the English counsellors were no less averse to it than the Scotch. Lennox, in a fine and warm oration, remonstrated that there was no present necessity for a war ; nor were the motives of such impor- tance as to plunge the two kingdoms into a war, in which, be victorious who would, his Majesty would lose a multitude of his subjects, or the hearts of such as survived it ; and insisted, that either the occasion of the present ferment should be removed out of the way, or time should be al- lowed for it gradually to work off, or his Majesty might yield to the covenanters' demands. These and like speeches, with the news of multitudes entering into the covenant, made Charles prefer peace, and made the bishops to be looked upon as the real enemies of the kingdom. About this time, Presbyteries, disregarding their espiscopal superiors, began to ordain mini- sters without consulting them, and removed their constant moderators. Rutherford returned to Anworth in Galloway; I^ivingston, Hamilton, u 146 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THK M^Lellan, Blair, and I\o\v, who had been driven from Ireland, were sctllcd in vacancies, or as as- sistants to others. The Ej)iscopalian doctors of St. Andrew's published their reasons for refusini^ the covenant, and Drs. Haron and Forbes of Aber- deen conmunced a paper war with the covenan- ters. lUit botli were quickly silenced by more nervous replies. The King's suspension oC the civil courts for about a year tempted some Jliij^ii- landers of his party to plunder and o[)press their neighbours, and some women and low rabhle to abuse some contbrm clergy. — ^\hile the covenant- ing clergy did what they could to prevent or sup- press such riots, the bisiiops and their agents im- proved them, to provoke his ^Miijesty to an open war with the whole covenanters. Charles having resolved for a time to yield something to them, he was on the point of en- trusting that critical management to Traquair : but the bishops, who reckoned him their mortal enemy, by a long and trifling accusation, divert- ed him from this. 'J'he Marquis of Hamilton was therefore entrusted with it. To prevent all division of the covenanters among themselves, by any concessions which his Majesty might of- fer, the Earls of Rothes, Cassilis and ^lontrose, drew up a draught of the lo^uest terms upon which the religion and liherties of the nation could be settled in a solid manner, viz. That the service hook and boo/c of canons should be discharged; that the HiLi;h Commission Court should be for ever dissolved ; that the articles >>/' Perth should not be urged by authority; that no clergymen should have vote in l^arliajucnf^ without an exact suhmis- sion to the caveats fixed hy the Cieneral As- sembly 1600; that no unlawful articles or oaths CHURCH OF-SCOTLAND. 147 should be imposed upon entrants to the minis- try; that proper security should be given for the holding of yearly General Assemblies ; and that a Parliament should be called for the redress of grievances. To preserve unity among themselves, the covenanters farther agreed, That no answer should be given to statesmen without com.mon consent ; that a committee should be chosen out of each table to prepare and manage matters; and that some gentlemen, ministers, and burghers, should meet with the nobles, that it might not be thought they took too much upon them ; tliat all of them should attend at Edinburgh as ap- pointed ; that, to shew their adversaries that their principal strength did not lie in their nobility, fewer of these should attend than formerly; that if any proclamation be issued contrary to the de- sign of their former supplications, it should be an- swered by a protest, containing for substance the eight articles above mentioned; that if his Majesty prohibit the canons and liturgy^ and limit the High Commission, they shall insist for the redress of their other grievances, and none rest content with less than the said eight articles contain ; that the number of commissioners be doubled against the time of Hamilton's arrival ; that the reports of the subscription of the covenant be called up from every corner of the kingdom ; and that they should observe a solemn/tw/, to confess their own sins, and implore God's favour and help at their general meeting. While the bishops that remained in Scotland gave all the information they could against the covenanters to court, Hamilton having received twenty-eight instructions from his Majesty, part of which he was to conceal or avow, as circum- 14t A iOMPENDIULS HISTOUY OV Hit j^tances irquiird, pnparcJ for his journey to Scot- land. Hut, fearing' that his I'urious countrymen might, by their advice, counteract his pencelul at- tempts in Ills al)s('nct', he rcfusetl to leave the court, till as many of them as could ho s[)ared, were ordered down !)efQre him. This was ex- tremely disa«;rcealjle to the !)ishops, and to Pre- ^Mdt•Ilt Spotswoud and Sir John Hay, formerly mentioned, as they knew themselves to be detest- ed at home; and several of them were in danger of prosecutions for debt. No sooner had Hamil- ton arrived at Edinburgh, than he found, to his great dissatisfaction, tliat the covenanters had agreed, that not one of them should wait upon him without theeoncurrenceofalltherest. Charles, on the other hand, sent sixty barrels of powder, and some hundred stands of arms and matches, to be lodged in the Castle, to be used against them, if his proposals should not succeed. Being secretly landed at Fisherrow, and thence convey- ed to Dalkeith, this occasioned a report that Tracpiaii had brought them to blow up the cove- nanters, when they should meet to confer with Hamilton ; and his vindication of liimself gave too nmeli ground to suspect his Majesty's hostile inlentions. It was also reported, that Ilamilton, as he passed, had ordered the sheriffs of Northum- berland to have their trained bands in readiness. Nor did he appear capable of clearing himself. It was also reported, that the Earls of Hunile}, Herreis, Aberc^rn, and Winton, intended to man h their w hole forces to Edinburgh for sup- porting his Majesty's j)leasurc. The covenanters, who as yet appear to have purchased no arms from abroad, set a watch upon the castle, that it CHURCH OF SCUTLAND. 1*^ might not be reinforced or supplied with any thing more than necessary provisions. The marquis of Hamilton having taken up his lodging at Dalkeith, the privy counsellors met with him there ; all of whom the ministers served with an earnest intreaty to subscribe their cove- nant The covenanters, thinking it neither safe nor convenient to attend the privy council at Dalkeith, Hamilton, after some altercation, and a treaty, came to Edinburgh, where about 20,000 of thein, five or seven hundred of whom were nii- nisters, met him; together with the town council, inhabitants, and an infinity of women and chil- dren ; and old Mr. William Livingston wel- comed him with a short address.— In vain each party laboured to find out the secrets of the other. At last, Hamilton told them, that his majesty was willing to abolish the canons, liturgy, and other grievances, providing they would give up with their covenant. By appointment, Mr. Alexander Henderson drew up reasons against this, bearing. That it would involve them in per- jury before God ;— would imply an acknowledg- ment of the unlawfulness of their covenanting;— would mark the vilest ingratitude to God, who had singularly encouraged them in it ; — would deny his commandment^binding them to vow and pay to him; — would condemn whatever like work had been, or might be, transacted in this church ; that they could not give up their cove- nant without the consent of God and every per- son concerned in it ;— that it could not be expect- ed, that their surrender of it would influence their opponents to concur with them in swearmg to the same things by virtue of a new command, but would repreeent them as inconstant, as breaks 150 A cOMrtNDIOUS HISTORY Of THE ers of tlicir oath, and deniersof their faitli, while God was calling them to confess it. The marquis could obtain no niorc% than tliat the body of the covenanters siiould retire from Edinburgh, leav- ing some deputies to transact with him in their name. These deputies immediately drew up a supplication, in which, after an enumeration of their grievances, they insisted for dijree General Asscvibhj, and a Parliament, in order speedily to redress them, as they were daily growing worse and worse. And, to procure an immediate an- swer, they dispersed a paper to be advised upon, so as it might come into the hands of the cour- tiers, bearing. That since the grievances com- plained of respected the whole kingdom, the remedies behoved to be equally public and exten- sive, and eifectual for preventing like grievances in time coming ; that only a free Assembly and Parliament are able to produce such effects ; that the bishops could not be their judges, till they purge themselves of the crimes laid to their charge ; that, if the court take dilatory methods, it would be proper to consider of some other me- thod of calling a General Assembly ; that, if the court should violently enforce obedience to their will, a committee should be allowed to deliberate what might be done for the defence of their reli- gion, liberty, and laws. Perhaps these strong hints disposed the marquis to receive their peti- tion with the more appearance of regard. lie offered to proclaim his majesty's pleasure ; hut the deputies, knowing that it would not be satisfactory, assured him, that they would be con- strained to protest against it ; that thereby they might justilytlieir own aud their fathers' conduct; tliat llu V in> :ht manifest their adherence to their CHURCH OF SCOTLA.ND. 151 former testimonies ; that they might preserve and manifest their union among themselves ; and that thoy might publicly thank his majesty for the concessions which he had made. When he saw that the deputies had erected their scaffold for theEarl of Cassilis, Mr. William Livingston, and two others, to protest against the proclama- tion at the cross of Edinburgh, he forbore to pub- lish it ; and, as if earnestly desirous of peace, re- quired a conference with the deputies. They ap- pointed Rothes, Montrose, and Loudon, to con- fer with the Earls of Traquair, Southesk, and Lord Lorn. As the agents from Hamilton pre- tended, that in the covenant there seemed to be a combination for protecting delinquents against public authority and law, in other points besides those which concerned the religion and liberties of the kingdom ; the covenanters, in a remon- strance, explained this, and gave the strongest assurances of their loyaliy, and again petitioned for a free Assembly and Parliament. Chiefly intending to gain time, till his majesty should be ready to attack them with the sword, Hamilton proposed to the covenanters, that since his pre- sent instructions could not content them, he would ride post to London, and represent their case, in consequence of which, he hoped quickly to return with more satisfying proposals. Igno- rant of his vi^icked designs, they relished his mo- tion, and besought him to agent their cause with his majesty, and procure them a free Assembly and Parliament; and added, that if he did not quickly return, they should be excused, if they took it for a denial of their request ; that their cause should be no wise hurt by proclamations, or any thing else, before his return ; that, in the 152 A tOMrKN'UlOLS HISTORY OK IIIK mean time, no forts shoulil be repaired or forti- fied, or lawful coinmerce by sea or land interrupt- ed ; that none of the bishops should repair to court, or, if ealled up, should return with, or be- fore him ; and that tiie liturgy and auiojis should be of no force. To deceive the covenantini; conimissif)ners, and make most of them return honje, Hamilton pre- tended to set off for London ; but returned next da V, when he hoped there would be none to protest; puhlislu'd a j)ro(:hiination, |)rohal)ly drawn up by bimstif in his Majesty's name, in which he pro- mised never to ur«^e the observation of the liturgy and canniu, but in a fair and legal manner; that he intended no alteration of the reliorion or laws of the kini^dom ; that he would rectify the Hisfb Commission by advice of his council; that with the first conveniency he would call a free Gene- ral Assembly and Parliament, for the establish- ment of the religion presently professed. The Earl ofCassilis, Alexander Gibson, laird of Dury, Archibald Johnson, advocate, John Ker, minister of IVestonpans, and James Fletcher, provost of Dundee, protested againt it. Being informed, that the j)rivy council was solicited to approve of this proclamation, the covenanters delivered to the Marquis, anil every other member, a copy of their reasons against the ratification of it, bear- ing. That it did not disallow or abolish the //7//r- /,n/ and canoru, but confirmed the proclamation of Fehruary 19th, and directly avowed, that they might l)e legally imposed; that it did not abolish, but establish the High Commission Court; that it did not grant any of their recpiests, but con- demned their procedure as disorderly and crimi- nal ; that it ;rave no ground to hope for freedom CHURCH OF SCOTLANC. 153 from the articled of Perth, but the contrary ; that it altogether concealed the guilt of the bishops; that it gave no certainty of a free Assembly or Parliament ; that it did not acknowledge these things, of which they had complained, as innova- tions or superstitious ; but represented them as means of confirming religion. But before the counsellors got these reasons, all of them but Lorn and Southesk had subscribed the procla- mation, at their own houses, and attested it to be sufficient to content all his Majesty's good sub- jects. The disappointed covenanters, after solemn supplications to God, presented to the Marquis a complaint of the counsellors approbation of the proclamation, bearing, That thereby the Lords had, without hearing them, condemned their pro- ceedings as criminal, and part of them as treason- able; had confirmed all the calumnies of their ad- versaries against them, and justified the injuries which they had received; and stopt the course of his Majesty's favour towards them, on better in- formation ; had provoked him to use his power against them as disobedient subjects; had prema- turely shewed, that they would asi*ist his Majesty in executing his threatenings against them; — and therefore they begged them to rescind their act. Moved herewith, the Lords never rested till they got back their act and tore it to pieces. Hamil- ton then offered the covenanters a more favour- able proclamation, prohibiting the observance of the liturgTj and canons , and rescinding all acts of council in favours of them, and forbidding the High Commission to sit till it should be duly re- gulated. But as this did not satisfy the covenan- ters it was not published. They nevertheles!? X 154 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY 01 THE j»romised to behave (juietly till tlie .Alanjuia i^hould ^(} to London, and inl'onii his Majesty Jiow things stood, and return. Meanwhile Cliarles carried on his preparations in Kn;;land and Irc- lanil tor a \s arlike inva>i(jn of* his native country; and his doctors of Aljerdeen did what they could, liy p\d)lishiiii^ their objections and duplies, to op- pose and disgrace the covenanters' bond. But these were so answered by Messrs. Henderson and Oickson, that a considerable number in and about Aberdeen, both ministers and peo|)le, sub- scribed the covenant, notwithstanding all that the doctors and Earl of Huntley could do to re- strain them. In consecpiencc of Hamilton's information con- cerning Scotch aflairs, Charles, after declaring his own adherence to the Confession of Faith es- tablished in 1.'360, empowered him to cause all the mend)ers of privy council to subscribe it, to- gether with a neiu bond for the maintenance of its doctrines, and of the Ring's authority. If they complied, he might call a General Assembly when and where they pleased, but, it behoved Lim to take care that the bishops should have power to vote, anil one of them be moderator; that he might declare the articles of Perth indilfer- ent, and that ministers should be admitted, as befcjre the late commotions ; that he should re- strict the power of bishops as little as possible ; and might, if he found j)roper, publish the last nHiitioni'd proclamation and act of council. He had oth( r private instructions to take care oi pre- Ian/ and y>;vA//, .v. Kelurning to Kdinburgh, Hamilton demanded of the covenanters, That all those ministers that had l>ecn suspended by Presbyteries since .lanu- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 155 ary last, without warrant of their bishop, should he reponed in their charges ; that all their former moderators of Presbyteries be reponed in their places ; that such ministers as have been admit- ted since that time leave their charges ; that peo- ple resort to their own churches ; that no mini- sters come to the Assembly, unless they be cho- sen commissioners; that all the lawful moderators of Presbyteries, be commissioners ; that no lay person, i. e. ruling elder, should interfere in the choice of commissioners from Presbyteries; that they should either give up, or alter their cove- nant ; that they should forbear their meetings in time coming ; that ministers should have their stipends paid, and be secured in their persons. — The covenanters, having answered these demads in a manner that shewed they could not be easily imposed on, Hamilton reduced them all to two, namely, That no lay elders or ministers of ano- ther Presbytery should vote in the choice of com- missioners to the Assembly; and that the Assembly should meddle with nothing which had been es- tablished by the Parliament, unless in remon- strances and petitions to that supreme court. Af- ter some friendly dispute among themselves, the covenanters rejected these demands, as snares laid to entrap them; and finding that the Marquis did not shew due forwardness in calling such a free Assembly as they wished, they resolved to call one themselves, and published their reasons for so doing, viz. That General Assemblies were necessary for the welfare of the church ; that Christ had given his church full power to convene and hold councils when necessary ; that by virtue of this divine right, this church had long, with remarkable countenance from God, held her Ge- ]')G A COMPKNOIOUS HIbTORY OF THK ncral Asseml)lios; that the laws of the land, and even the corrupt Assemhlies of 160'j, and IGIO, allowed the necessity of General Assemblies ; that at present a General Assembly was peculi- arly necessary for the suj)pression of error, re- dressing of grievances, restoring of discipline, peace, and unity ; for the mutual edification of ministers and j)eople ; for confirmin*,^ such a doubt of the truth; for protecting faithful ministers, and censuring Popish and Arminian teachers. Tliey also solved the objections which might be made to their calling of it. Finding that the covenanters were resolved to have an Assembly more free than his instructions permitted him to call, Hamilton, with no small difficulty, persuaded them to delay all steps to- ward calling one themselves, till he should again post to London, and solicit his Majesty's concur- rence with their views. They agreed to wait till the 20th of September, upon condition that he should insist with his Majesty, that the Assembly should be frke, both as to its members, and the matters handled in it ; that it should be held within a short time; and that it should meet in a place most conmiodious for all concerned ; and that all interception of their letters in England might be prohibited. — INIean while, the deputies agreed upon ui lks of choosing commissioners to the Assembly to be transmitted to the several Pres- byteries, viz. I'hat the number of commissioners should be regulated by the act of the Assembly at Dundee in l';97; that their commission should empower them to act according to the word of (jn«l. and the confession of faith in every thing judged ; tliat every kirk session should have an ♦'Ider nl the Presliytery, when the commissioners CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 157 should be chosen ; that ministers under scandal be immediately processed, in order to prevent their being chosen for commissioners ; that no moderators of Presbyteries be members of As- sembly by virtue of their office ; that notwith- standing their late solemn fast upon the 22d and 29th of July, they should observe another on the Sabbath immediately before the election of com- missioners, in order to implore the Lord's direc- tion in this important step. As not a few of the clergy were averse from ruling elders sitting with them, in Presbyteries, Synods, or Assemblies, co- pies of a paper, proving by a great many acts of Assembly and Parliament, that such officers had, and ought to be in this church, in order to pro- cure ready access for them into Presbyteries. More- over secret instructions were transmitted to the more trusty clergymen, bearing. That they should protest against the choosing of any for commis- sioners, that were under any process for scandal; that they should take care to have the bishops timely brought under process for their offensive behaviour; that ministers prepare themselves for disputing upon such points as are like to be hand- led in the Assembly ; that three ministers be cho- sen out of every Presbytery, where they can be had well affected to the cause of truth ; that the well affected consult among themselves before tlie election, that their election may fall on the same persons; that the election of such as have chosen bishops, have sat in the High Commission, have countenanced the Ring's chapel ceremonies, or have offered to observe the liturgy and canojis^ or have been justices of peace, be avoided, unless they have acknowledged the sinfulness of their former courses ; that where well affected noble- 1j8 a compendious history or Tin: men or i^entlomon may Ix* (Mjmmissioned as rul- ini; I'ldiTs in diUVMcut i'rcsbytei ii's, they Ijo cho- sen in til it Picshylcry in which thero are fewest ahlr ministiTs. 'i'hisc hints were ofTertNl not as anihni ii.'ilivc rules, hut as advices, as many had but little knoNvledji^e of Piesbyterian government. While Sessions and Prehyteries were busy pro- motini,^ the election of profier commissioners, Tliomas Abernethy, a Jesuit, liaving heard at Rome of the wonderful providences of (^od to- wards his native country, hastened to witness them, and had not been long here, when, mani- festly persuaded of the truth, he was, \ipon his earnest entreaty, admitted into their church fel- l()wshi|). His deep marked repentance and con- version, and his zeal for the covenant, not a little encouraged the covenanters. Hamilton having reached the court, infi^rmed his Majesty, that lie durst n(jt divulge his last in- structions, lest he should have thereby exposed tiie royal authority to contempt, and that he could think ol nothing so apt to remove the present jea- lousies of the malcontents, as an order for the re- novation of the nutlondl covenant f)f 1,381, which contained a jiarticular renunciation of Pcpery, the fears of which had occasioned the malcontents' late covenant. Charles was heartily |)rovoked to find all his stratagems so unsuccessful ; but, not being yet ready for the open w ar w hich he intended, he iiiNlrueted tlieiMar(juisto prohibit the litur^j/ and (y/z/cz/jt, the J/io/i (\)/nni'tssi()ny and ob- servance of the articles of I\rfli : — to declare the admission of ininisters to their oflice j>erfectly free ; and that bishops should be subject to the Assend>ly ; and to indict an Assend)Jy and Par- liament as he saw cause, and to rccpiire all the CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 159 subjects to subscribe the covenant of 1581, and bond of 1589. Returning to Edinburgh, Hamil- ton read his instructions to the privy council, but could not persuade them to subscribe the above-mentioned cownant and bond, till a clause was added, bearing, that they subscribed it accor- ding to its original meaning. They declared their satisfaction with his Majesty's concessions ; and that all his subjects ought to rest contented with them ; and promised to sacrifice their lives and fortunes in executing them, and settling the peace of the kingdom. They issued a proclamation for a General Assembly to meet at Glasgow, Novem- ber 21st, and warned bishops and commissioners to attend it ; and another for a Parliament at Edinburgh, on the 15th of May next ensuing, and warned the nobles, bishops, barons, and com- missioners from burghs, to attend it. They commanded all the subjects to subscribe his Ma- jestifs covenant and bond, with all expedition ; — and then published his Majesty's proclamation. The covenanters did not think it sufficient for the redress of their grievances — as it did not clearly and distinctly condemn the ijinovations of which they had complained ; — it allowed the bishops their wonted power, and so called them to their seat as judges in the Assembly and Parliament. They largely exhibited their reasons against ad- mitting of any limitation of the Assembly, as contrary to the word of God, the large Confes- sion of Faith, and book of discipline, their former contendings, and the ends of General Assemblies, and to the acts of the church, or of Parliament, ratifying the liberties of that court. They refus- ed to subscribe his Majesty's coveiiant, as they did not know but therebv he intended to invali- IHO A COMPKNOIOUS HISTORY OF Till! date and dis^^raco thtir late bond; as such a suIj- scriptinn inii^ht amount to a takiii;^ of Clod's name in vain, nuiltiplyini; oaths without necessity; as it niii^ht divide them anioni; thcnisclve?, and so involve thiin in perjury; as it uould import that their former vows haci been rash and destitute of lawful authority; as it would expose them to the reiiroaeh of ineon>isteney in reli<;ion; as it would involve them in an approbation of the articles of Pcrthy their subseription answerini; to his Majes- ty's eommand ; as it mii^'^ht consist with an ap- probation of the liturgy and canons; as it import- ed an unlawful .£^<)in<^ back from truth, when (iod was calling to a steady adherence to it ; as it approved the Ring's proclamation, and so im- ported acquiescence in his pardon of their former proceedings, which they reckoned their recjuisite duty and glory ; and because that part of the narrative of his IMajesty's covenant was different from that of 1581 ; and that it contained no en- gagement to practical reformation ; and because the counsellors' subscription of it had but tend- ed to widen breaches, instead of healing them. They farther protested, That the present distrac- tions of church and state were owing to the no- rations of whieh they complained and not to their groundless fears, as the proclamation prj^tended ; and that all (piestions relative to the freedom of the Assembly in its constitution, members, and points to be judged, or form and order of proce- dure, should be left to the determination of the As8cml)ly itself; that the bishops should attend it, nut as judges, but merely for trial and censure; and that, adhering to their own late covenant with God, they ought not to be charged to sub- wribe any other, or to procure subscriptions to CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 161 it ; that the subscription of his Majesty's cove- nant by the privy council, should nat be preju- dicial to theirs. — In this lon^ protest, the cove- nanters had their eye upon the proclamation oC September 9th, and the acts of council complexly taken, as they knew that proclamation was to be explained by them. Notwithstanding- this solemn protest, Hamilton and the privy council dispatched their commis- sioners, assisted by their missives, to procure sub- scriptions to his Majesty's covenant. By extolling his condescension, and the necessity and expedi- ence of subscribing it, these commissioners did what they could. Aware of this divisive mea- sure, the covenanters sent their deputies through the nation, with copies of their late protest and additional advices, warning their friends to avoid the snare, and in as large numbers as they could, to read the protest, wherever the King's procla- mation should be read. Where the court com- missioners got the start, chiefly in the counties of Aberdeen and Banff, in which the Earl of Huntley had remarkable influence, they obtain- ed not a few subscriptions. About 28,000 in all, subscribed it, more than the half of whom were in these two shires. In Aberdeen, the doctors would not subscribe it without declaring, that they understood it as consistent with Prelacy and the ceremonies. The citizens subscribed it in the same sense. Here the Lord and ]Master of Forbes, at the hazard of their life, read the pro- test ; but the people were generally too much overawed by Huntley, and addicted to the court, and its novations, to regard it. The inhabitants of Glasgow, warmly urged by Hamilton himself, and by Orbiston, lord justice clerk, were many Y 162 A ( O.MrKNDIOUS HI.'5'IOUV OK THE of them on the point of subscribing^ ; but, having jj^ot sonic time to think on it, their scruples in- creased, and few complied. While the court laboured to have all the ma- ojstrates of burghs to their mind, the elections for the Assembly went almost every where in fa- vours of the covenanters. Part of the Presbytery of (ilasgow, for a time, opposed the election of any ruling ciders lo represent them. lUit the reasonings of Lord Loudon, and of Messrs D. Dickson, R. Blair, and .1. Bonner removed most of their scruples. As there were no judicatories hut Presbyteries, at the time, for citing the bi- vhops to take their trial at the Assembly ; and as the King had called them up as judges, and his commissioner refused warrants to cite them as pannels, the covenanters first drew up a libel against them all, in which they accused them of their common faults, transgression of the caveats established by the Assembly 1600; — behaving themselves in a lordly manner ; — pul)licly teach- ing, conniving at, or countenancing Popish and Anninian errors. To these they subjoined char- ges of drunkenness, whoredom, playing at cards ami dice, proiane swearing, bribery, simony, ly- ing, dishonesty in civil bargains, and the like, to be applied to particulars as they deserved. Ele- ven noblemen, thirty- one barons and gentlemen, five nunisters, and six burghers and commons, in name of the covenanters that were not chosen nH'ml)ers of the Assenddy, were appointed to pro- secute them btfore the Presbyteries where they resided; and to add to the general libel what other partieular crimes they could prove against them. 1 he Presbyteries, according to the advice "f the 'J'ables, referred the matter to the Assem- 7 CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 16'3 biy, and appointed the libel, with a citation of them to the Assembly, to be read from every pul- pit within the bounds of the Presbyteries con- cerned. Many processes were also commenced against scandalous ministers, part of which were referred to the Assembly. The Tables farther advised, That all the no- blemen who had subscribed their covenant, should meet at Glasgow on the Saturday before the As- sembly ; that every ruling elder chosen for the Assembly, should bring along with him four gen- tlemen as his assistants, whom he might consult in difficult cases ; that each burgh should send up from two to six of their most judicious member.^ for the same purpose ; that according to his JNIa- jesty's proclamation, the first Lord's day of No- vember should be spent in solemn fasting in con- gregations, for the Lord's direction, before mini- sters set off; that congregations take care that no minister be hindered from attendance, for want of necessary charges ; that such as had been de- coyed or compelled to subscribe the Ring's cove- nant, declare the same in writing, or before their sessions. To prevent a numerous attendance of the covenanters at the Assembly, which might at once protect and encourage their friends, Hamii^ ton and his party did what they could, prohibit- ing every person concerned to bring in any with him but his own family and ordinary retinue. But the covenanters protested, That all should have liberty to attend, who had interest as par- ties, witnesses, judges, or assessors; and that all might come with such retinue as the privy coun- sellors should give example of. Traquair adivs- ed to put as many of the covenanters as possible to the horn, for not paying their taxes or debts- i^M. A ( o.Mrr.NDiOLis iiistouy of thk some oi' tliLin a few days before the niectini,^ of the Asscml)Iy. i>iit they encountered this stra- tagem with such a spirited remonstrance, as ohMiTciI the Manjuis and council to drop it. When the Lords of Session met at I'kiinlnir^h on the first day of November, Hamilton required them to subscri!)e liis Majesty's covenant, inti- mating, that ids declared nieaninfr of it was con- sistent with all the novations introduced into the church since 1.580. Hut, after a debate of three hours, only nine of them would subscribe it. The Lords Dury, Craii^hall, Scotstarvet, and Inner- teil, refused, and j)rotested. Hamilton declared in the privy council, that it was his ^Tajcsty's pleasure, that Episcopacy might be limited, but not that it should be abolished ; and therefore uri^ed them to a|)[)rove it, as a mean of deterring the Assembly from presuming to condemn it. But vSir Thomas Hope, lord advocate, so vigor- ously opposed this motion in a paj)er which he sent to the council, that it miscarried. Hamilton, almost infuriated, charged vSir Thomas to repair to (ylasgow, and there defend Episcopacy for liis royal master, as he should answer at his peril. But Sir Thomas declined it, as a piece of service for which he could not answer to (^od and his conscience. Uj)on which Hamilton prohibited him to go to that place at all. While the cove- nanters were spending tlie 4th and some follow- ing days of November in solemn fasting and prayer for direction in, and ble-sing on, the en- suing Assembly, as Charles had appotnicd them, liis (hsigu of making war upon them, and forcing ihcm III submit to his impositions, became more and more manifest. The ]:nglish arrested the Scotch horses that were in their countrv : but CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 165 this was got compromised. Their ships were stopped and searched by his command, pro])ably in order to apprehend General Lcsly in his return from Sweden. The command of the castle of Edinburgh was taken from the Earl of Mar, and given to Ruthven, a trusty royalist. Prepara- tions were made for the fortification of Berwick, Carlisle, he. Archbishop Spotswood had advised to hold this Assembly at Aberdeen, to which the old, and most able and trusty covenanters could not have travelled in the winter season, and where the learned doctors of both universities were lo op- pose them, and the Karl of Huntley could have suddenly raised several thousands of bloody men to overawe or suppress them. But Providence directed Hamilton to fix upon Glasgow, where no doubt he hoped that himself would have no small influence. The Assembly met on the day appointed, Nov. 21st, 1638, and consisted of 140 ministers from 58 Presbyteries, and 95 ruling elders, and 2 from the universities. Never had our church or Assembly, in which solid sense, strict piety, bold and prudent zeal, and divine di- rection, so remarkably appeared. After spend- ing part of the first day in solemn prayer and fast- ing, and reading of his Majesty's letter appointing the Marquis of Hamilton his Commissioner, they proceeded to the choice of their Moderator. Ha- milton, Traquair, and liCvvis Stewart, who acted as King's advocate, vehemently pled, that the commissions of the members should be first tried, that so it might appear vvho had right to vote in the election. But Rothes and I^oudon, with Messrs. Dickson, Henderson, and William Li- vingston o])pnsed them with equal zeal and ^\\\w- 106' A COMIM-NDIOI'S HISTORY OF THE rior strciii^tli of ari;iinuMit. I'liey pled, That it bud \)vvii i\ic ((Histant practice fust to choose the Moderator ; that such respect was due to com- missions, the most of which were, doubtles, va- lid, as entitled them to vote in the ( hoice of a Moderator, that so the j)romiscuous meetini^ mii^ht he gradually foriiu'd into an Assembly instructed witii re«^ular commissions; that it he- Kings to the freedom of an Assembly, that com- missioners choose their iModerator immediately after the exhibition of their commissi(jn, lest any thing be irregularly transacted in their presence without their consent ; that, in their suj)plica- tions, they had insisted, that the matter and man- ner of assembling should be judged by the As- send)ly itself, which cannot be done till the Mo- derator be chosen ; and that it would be a wrong- ing of the churches, which had sent up these commissioners, not to suifer them to embody themselves in an orderly manner. At last, after advising witii the privy counsel- lors, thelNIarquis permitted them to choose their Moderator ; — but protested, That this should not import his ap[)robation of any commission which he should lind ground to exce|)t against ; and that the choice of the Moderator should not prejudge the bishops of any oHice or dignity be- longing to them. \n opposition to this, llothes, in name of the commissioners, j)rotested. That the Manjuis's protestation shouhl no wise hurt any law fid commission to be produced, or mar the freedom of the Assembly, which was to be fenced in the name of the Son of (iod; and that no protest in favours of the bishops coultl be ail- initled, till both they and tluir claims were tried and allou til. Lord Montgomery, in name of the CHURCH OP SCOTLAND. 167 prosecutors of the bishops, protested, that tlie Marquis's protestation should not hinder the dis- cussion of their libel ae^ainst them. Hamilton then pled, that a declinature which he had receiv- ed from the bishops, should be immediately read. This being refused, he insisted, that six privy- counsellors should be allowed to vote as his as- sessors, according as they had been directed in his Majesty's letter ; — which was also refused. After both sides became weary of altercation and protestation, they proceeded to the choice of their Moderator. Mr. Bell, an old minister of the place, who had opened the Assembly as Moderator pro temp, taking care to put none other on the leet but such as were too infirm, beside the celebrat- ed Mr. Alexander Henderson, he was unani- mously chosen, who having anew constituted the court with prayer, made an handsome speech for the direction and encouragement of his brethren. Next day the Marquis, supported by Traquair and Lewis Stewart, again unsuccessfully insisted for the votes of the assessors, which issued in his new protest against the denial, and a counter- protest by Loudon in name of the commissioners to the Assembly. For refusing Hamilton's de- mand, it was pled, That the Assembly was an ec- clesiastical meeting of ecclesiastical rulers ; that no political preses had any vote in the ancient councils; that in the thirty-nine first General As- semblies of this church, there was not so much as a King's Commissioner present ; that after one was introduced, he never had more than one vote; that Hamilton's commission empowered none but himself; that as he represented his Majesty, the voting of assessors along with him as his equals, would derogate from theroyal dignity ; that thougli J 68 A roMl'KNDlOUS Ulbl'OliY OK THK assessors had a power of reasoning, it behoved to he only after the reasonin;^ of members, and in the way of proposing doubts. The election of a clerk coming next upon the carpet, Hamilton insisted, that Thos. Sandilands should officiate for his aged father James, who had been chosen by the Assembly 1616*. But the votes carried it almost unanimously in fa- vours of Archibald Johnston, advocate, who, for almost two years, had faithfully served the cove- nanters without any reward. Upon inijuiry for the registers of former Assemblies, Sandilands delivered up two volumes, which contained, at least, part of the acts between 1,090 and 1610, together with the minutes of 1616, 1617, and 1618, signed by Ids father. As soon as it ap- peared, that no other mendjer knew where any more could be had, Johnston, their clerk, present- ed four vcdumes, which contained all the acts from 1560 to 1.390, exce{)t about twenty leaves, which had been villainously cut out by Archbishop Adamson, together with another volume, which contained the acts of that whole period, some- what abridged. A committee was aj)p(Mnted to examine these books ; and upon an exhibition of nineteen marks of their genuineness, the Assem- bly sustained them as authentic registers. Mr. William Scot of Cupar, afterward produced another copy of these old minutes. Notwithstanding the ^lanjuis's earnest strug- gle to have the bishops' didlnaturc first received, the Ass('nd)ly proceeded to examine controvert- ed commissions ; and rejected such as pr(jceeded on irregular election, or that were not rightly at- tested. The bishops' dcdinaturc of the Assembly was then read bv Dr. Hamilton of Glassford theiV CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 16fl procurator. In it they protested, That the meet- ing was unlawful, and all its proceedings null and void, because most, if not all, the commissioners to it had been chosen before his majesty had in- dicted it ; and that the clerical commissioners to it were not qualified according to law, having never subscribed the Confession of faith, in the presence of their bishops, nor sworn the oaths of fidelity and supremacy, — nay, had refused to sub- scribe the Confession of Faith or covenant, as re- quired by his Majesty in September ; and that they had seditiously impugned the dignities and privileges of bishops, who were an Estate in Par- liament; that they had their commission from Presbyteries, which had deposed their proj)er, z. e. constant moderators, and elected others in their stead ; that they had been chosen by lay elders ; that they had seditiously opposed the order of the king and authority of the church, and so are dis- qualified to sit in any ecclesiastical court ; that they allowed of lay elders voting in the Assem- bly ; — and that most, if not all, of the members had pre-condemned Episcopacy and the articles of Perth, and, by their covenant, had bound themselves to oppose them ; that by their calum- nies and libels, they had made themselves parties in the cause of the bishops ; that they had ex- cluded all the bishops from sitting in the Assem- bly, unless they were deputed to it by Presbyte- ries ; that they had deprived primate Spotswood of his privilege of moderatorship, and thrust one chosen by Presbyteries and laymen into his place. In fine, they pretended, that it was altogether absurd for Presbyters and much more for lay el- ders, to judge diocesan superiors. The Assem- bly prepared their answers to these reasons J 70 A rOMPKNllIOUS HISTORY (»K TUF iinuinst next s(*Jt'riint, in which they maniftsted iheahsolutc falsohuocl ol' some, and the weakness ot' others. After a tidioiis (lisj)ute with Dr. Baleancjuel, whom the manjuis hail brou;;ht alun^; with him for an assistant ; and when the Assembly was proecedin;; to vote, whether tliey had power to judi;e tlie hisljops, notwithstanding their cU'cli- naturi\ Hamilton <^ave in a written declaration, in iiis Majesty's name, wiiieh seemed to i^rant not a litth' redress; hut really bore, that every thinf; should be left to the king's will, and that the Assembly had no proper power to judf^e of any thing, nor the church any security for any thing. To this the moderator made an hand- some reply, in which he thanked his majesty for what kindness he had shewed, and pointed out what power civil magistrates have with respect to the church and her Assemblies. As they per- ceived the Marquis intent upon breaking with, and leaving them, they were at great pains to ob- viate his pretended scruples with respect to their commission, the freedom of their election, the conduct of the Tables^ and the power of ruling elders. They shewed him the impropriety of allowing advocates to plead the cause of the bi- shops at their bar, as it was contrary to the na- ture of ecclesiastical courts, was not allowed in privy council, and had been refused by the As- sembly ITi'iCj. But nothing could retain him. After repeatedly declaring, that he would not suffer them to Judge the bishops, he, in his own and their name, protested, that no act of the As- sembly shoidd be binding on any of the subjects ; and in hisMajesty's named issolved their meeting, and prohibited them to proceed to any business ; CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 171 but whether under any penalty, none of my cre- dible vouchers inform. Rothes protested against the dissolution of the Assembly ; and that they could not dissolve it, till their work was finished, as it had been called by his majesty, and consti- tuted according to the word of God ; as his ma- jesty's commissioner had acknowledged it a law- ful court, and sat seven days in it and exhibited his majesty's declaration to be registered in the minutes of it ; that the continuance of it v/as ne- cessary for the many reasons contained in their former supplications for it ; that their covenant bound them to maintain the privileges which Christ had left to his church ; that according to the laws of this church and kingdom, neither the king nor his commissioner have power to dissolve a General Assembly ; that the Assembly had formerly sitten, notwithstanding contrary require- ments of court ; that to dissolve now, after so much preparation and progress towards redress of grievances, without finishing their work, would offend God, and increase their misery ; that it was absolutely necessary to explain the meaning of the national covenant subscribed in 1581, and 1590 ; and therefore he protested, That the As- sembly had full power to continue and discuss the whole business for which it had convened. Messrs. Henderson, Dickson, and others, by their sensible and affectionate speeches, encouraged their brethren to adhere to their duty, and shew them- selves as faithful to Christ as the Commissioner had done himself to his king's command. Deep- ly affected hereby, Lord Erskine, son to the Earl of Mar, with tears begged the Assembly's allow- ance to subscribe their covenant. Messrs. For- bes and iM'Kail ministers, hitcly come from Hoi- 175 A COMPENDlOUb HISTORY OF TIIK land, rulloued his exainj)lc. Kncourag'ed by this, and conscious of their duty, the whole Assem- hly, cxcc])t four or five, by a vote, promised to continue sittin^^ at all hazard, till their business should be finished : and immediately after, by another vote, sustained themselves lawful and comj)ctent judi^es of the bisho|)s, notwithstand- ing^ their declinature and protestation. Next day, November 29th, a proclamation subscribed by the ^lanjuis and most of the privy counsellors was published over the cross of Glas- gow, prohibiting all the members of the Assem- bly, under pain of high treason, to meet or judge any thing further ; and charging them to leave (rlasgow within twenty-four hours ; and declar- ing, that all their acts and deeds posterior to yesterday's dissolutions should be held null and void; and prohibiting the subjects to regard or obey the same. In answer to this, Archibald .lohnson. Lord Krskine and others, read the pro- testation, which Rothes had given in the day be- fore, as the mind of the court. And further pro- tested, that they and their brethren had no dis- loyal designs; that all ecclesiastical causes of ge- neral concern ought to be discussed, and the j)eace of the church fully settled, and its peace i\Ui\ order re-established, before the Commission- ers depart ; that if the JMarquis would leave the church and kingdom in such disorder, it should 1)1' lawful for them to continue sitting till they had finished their work; that this Assemblyshould be held lawful, and its dveiU of eijual ibice with those of other free General Assemblies; that no bad coiibicjuenccs ensuing upon the hindering or molesting of the freedom of this Assemblv should be imputed tn tlinn, but to the bad advice ol the CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 1 T5 bishops; on accountof which, they are hereby again summoned to attend the Assembly, hear proof led, and sentencepassed upon themaccordingto justice. In fine, they protested their adherence to all their former protestations, and left room for extending their paper or reasons, as they should find neces- sary for vindicating their procedure. After the hurry of the proclamation, the As- sembly met, and the Moderator recommended to them, as in the sight of God, to behave them- selves in the most pious, prudent, peaceable, and orderly manner, answerable to their circum- stances. Lord Lorn, i. e, Argyle, came back, and being desired by the Moderator to counte- nance them, and witness the rectitude of their procedure, he promised to do so, and begged them to proceed wisely, with the utmost defe- rence due to their Sovereign. Some at first looked upon him as a court spy and check upon them; but it soon appeared, that he acted from an hearty love to Christ and his cause. About the same time, the Earls of Wigton, Kinghorn, Galloway, Mar, and Lord Napier, privy counsel- lors, joined the covenanters, which not a little encouraged the Assembly. To wipe off the re- proaches which had been cast upon them, in the bishops' declinature, Messrs. Blair, Livingston, Hamilton, and M'Lellan, who had been driven from Ireland, shewed that it had been merely for their adherence to the doctrine, worship, disci- pline, and government of the church, sworn to in the late covenant. And Messrs. Dickson, Ru- therford, and the Laird of Earlstoun, who had been censured by the High Commission, repre- sented their case to the full satisfaction of the >vhole Assembly. On that day, and the next, Ifi- A CDMf ENDIOCS HISTORY OP THE committees were appointed to incjuire into the ori^^inal sense of the national covenant ; — to pre- pare matters for the trial of the bishops ; — to con- hiiler the new liturgy and canons ; — and to form an act nullilyint,^ the Assemblies IGOG — 1G18. After the Moderator liad largely shewed the intrinsic power of the church, particularly in ad- ininisterin HFSTORV OF TlIF? profane cursinp^ and swearing, and of avowed ne- glect of lecUiriiii;. A;;ainst Hallantyne of Aber- deen, were proved frecpient acts of simony, vio- lent pressin^;^ of tlie iUur89; and therefore to be removed. In their 'J.'^d and 21th sessions, the .Assembly n vived (jld, or framed new acts for promoting of reformation among alJ ranks. They revived the act of l.>iu;, relative to the corruptions of mini- sters, and remedies of them. They aj)proved the erection of some Presbyteries, and erected others in Argyleshire. I'heyappointed that Presbyieries be holden weekly ; and that an exercise and ad- ditions be given in, and an exegesis exhibited and sustained at each; that Presbyteries visit all the c(ingregati(jns in their bounds once every year, and examine how family worship is observed, and take care that the youth be diligently instruct- eil ; that schools and colleges be visited, and the orthodoxy, ability, and regularity of conversation of the masters, tried ; that no nunister be absent froui hij* congregation above forty days in a year, witliout special liberty ; that schools be planted CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 181 in landward places, and the teachers catechise the common people ; that Presbyteries have the whole power of admitting ministers, and choos- ing their own Moderators ; that the Lord's sup- per be more frequently administered ; that, in or- dinary cases, ministers be twenty-five years of age before they be ordained ; that burghs take pro- per care to change their markets, which are on Monday or Saturday, to some other day of the week; that the Lord's day be carefully sanctified; that there be afternoon sermons in country pa- rishes; and that Presbyteries take care to have the old acts against going of mills, salt pans, or fishing of salmon, on that day, duly executed: — that obstinate frequenters of the company of ex- communicated persons be excommunicated; that such as speak or write against the late covenant of this Assembly or its acts, be censured ; that all Popish titles of abbots, priors, deans, or other ec- clesiastical dignity, be abolished ; that none be admitted into any office of pastor, reader, or tea- cher, contrary to the will of the congregation to which they are appointed ; that no marriages be celebrated without due proclamation of banns; that funeral sermons be disused, as savouring of superstition ; that the abilities and practice of candidates for the ministry be carefully examin- ed ; that Presbyteries take care to excommuni- cate such ministers as acquiesce not in lesser cen- sures inflicted by this Assembly. — They also fixed a plan of fourteen Synods, and assigned six Pres- byteries to the Synod of Merse and Tiviotdale ; six to that of Lothian ; four to that of Dumfries ; three to that of Galloway ; tv^o to that of Ayr ; five to that of Glasgow ; five to that of Argyle ; five to that of Stirling ; four to that of Fife ; four 182 A COMfEKDIOUS HISTORY OF THE to tliat of An^ns; scveii to that of Aberdeen; three to that of Ross ; three to that of Caithness ; two to that of Orkney; six to that of Murray ; and ap|)uintc(l their first nieetin^^s on particular days of April next; and that they should all maintain a rorres[)ondence with their next neighbours, and lor that purpose send one or two eommissioners to their nieitnii^s. — It is scarcely worth while to mention the transportations requested at this As^sembly, as of Air Dickson to Glas£^ow ; of Mr. Cant to Pitsli<;o; of Messrs. Sharp and Hamilton to Paisley ; of Mr. Douglas to Kirkaldy ; and of Blair and Rutherford to St. Andrew's. The two last warmly opposed their own removal ; nor would Rutherford at all accept of the professor- ship of divinity, witliout a congregation to which he uiight preach Christ. But, in prevent trans- portation for the future, as much as possible, it was recommended to Presbyteries to settle McNsis. David Calderwood, James Cuthry, and about sixty-eight others, who, in the Jate times, had l)et n denied admission, and driven from their charges. Next day the Assembly condemned all civil potrer of ministers. They agreed to petition the Parliament for a ratification of their acts. They asserted the divine right of ruling ciders. Upon December 'JOth, in their last session, they enact- ed, that none should print an) thing relative to the ehuich, without a licence from their clerk ; that Presbyteries and Synods should censure such ministers as were scandalous, or would not ac- knowledge this Assembly, and submit to its re- (juirtnients. They approved the late national covenant, and recjuired all ministers, masters of universities, colleges, and schools, and others, CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 1S3 who had not subscribed it, to take it speedily, as ahjming P^^elaci/, the articles of Perth, and the civil places and power of ministers ; and prohil)it the taking of it in any other sense. They asserted the intrinsic power of the church, and the divine, ecclesiastical and civil warrant of the General Assembly to meet once every year, or oftener, as her necessities require. They appointed their next meeting at Edinburgh, on the 3d Wednesday of July next ; but required Presbyteries rather to keep the King's diet, if he should appoint one. They formed a supplication to his IMajesty, vin- dicating their conduct, and imploring his appro- bation and concurrence. They appointed the marvellous kindness of God towards them to be thankfully commemorated in their several con- gregations and Presbyteries, after their return home ; and that they should read the acts of As- sembly to their congregations on the firt Sabbath, and on the next observe a solemn thanksgiving to God. After an excellent speech by the Modera- tor, in which he exhorted all present to consider, and be thankful for the Lord's goodness to them, and to manifest their gratitude to his Majesty in earnest prayer for him and consciencious obedi- ence to him ; he was seconded by Messrs Dick- son and Ramsay; — and Argyle, desired by theiMo- derator, represented their deep obligation to a careful performance of their duty toward superi- ors, inferiors and equals. After concluding with prayer, the Moderator added, Now we have cast down the walls of Jericho, let him, who rebuilds them, beware of the curse of Hiel the Bethelite. On the 18th of December,a royal ruocLAMATioN was read over the cross of Edinburgh, extolling his Majesty's condescension; vindicating the con- iSi A COMPKNDIOUS HISTORY OF THE (JiK t of tlu'!Nfan|uisori lamiltonjiis commissioner, .111(1 rliar^int: the covenanters w ith many disorder- ly and di.sloyal practices, in ^uardini; the castle ol" Mdiidmr^'h, stopping importation of warlike am- munition to his xMajcsty's houses, carrying; arms \v ith them to the (ilas^ow Assembly, contrary to his proclamation ; and citing- his privy counsellors to answer to him and his Parliament lor their subscription of the late proclamation at (ilas- i^ow, \c. In their imiotpst, read in answer to this, the covenanters re])lied, That they had done nothinp;* to the castle of Edinburgh, but watched it in order to prevent their own danger; that, by the laws of the land, and maxims of all nations, the public safety is the supreme law, and the end of all lawful power; that, by the laws of the land, all forliluations are to be kept for the welfare of the subjects, as well as for his Majesty's behoof; that they had carried arms to (ilas^njw to defend themselves from the outlawed clan (Trec^ors, who just !)efore had ravaged the country about — and had but followed the example of his Majesty's Commissioner and his attendants ; that, according^ to law, counsellors, who had given bad counsel, ou^ht to be prosecuted before j)roper judiifes, civil or ecclesia>tical. They further sheu c il, that the firohibition of obedience to the acts of Assembly, and assurance of protection in disobedience to them, contained in the pnnhnnation, were con- trary to scripture — the practice of the primitive church — the civil and canon law — the law of na- tions— the acts of fovmer faithful assemblies — and to the large confession of faith, and national covenant. After the Assembly, the court party appeared more and more furious. The old college of Aber- 7 CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 185 tleen threatened Mr. Lundy, their Commissioner, with deprivation, because he had continued in the Assembly after it was dissolved in his Ma- jesty's name. They agreed to shut their gates against the Committee, which the Assembly had appointed to visit their university, and that no member should acknowledge their power under pain of deprivation. The Marquis of Huntley published the King's proclamation of December 18th, and declared his resolution to keep the country for his Majesty's service. The town council put their city into a posture of defence. Before Hamilton set off for London, in the be- ginning of January 1639, some principal cove- nanters waited upon him, and besought him to intercede with his INIajesty in their favours ; but he answered them with threats of a speedy exe- cution of royal vengeance upon them. They nevertheless transmitted their supplication to Charles himself, who received it with the utmost contempt, but still disguised his warlike inten- tions, being not fully prepared to execute them. He meant to invade them with 60,000 forces from England and Ireland. But the Papists and high flying Episcopalian clergy were almost the only willing contributors towards the charge. Scotchmen at court were required to abjure the late covenant and Assembly, and to swear, that they would assist his Majesty against their coun- try, whenever he should require them. Under pretence, that the Scots were arming to invade and extirpate Prelacy from England, Charles, on January 26th, issued forth a proclamation, re- quiring all the English nobility and gentry to at- tend his standard at York ; and appointed Hunt- ley his lieutenant general for raising of forces in 2 li 186 A COMPFNDIOUS IIISTOUY OF THK Scotland. iNfcain; liilc, the covenanters proceed- ed in refniniini^ the country froin wickedness, and in censuring the scanchdous. To vindicate themselves, they carefully dispersed a paper thr()U«^h Mn^^land, diicctcd to all t^ond Christians there, llij^hly cnra^'^ed at the iUw credit wiiich it obtained, the Scotch bishops instii^ated Charles to emit a pioclaniation, declaring all the cove- nanters traitors and tcbfls, lo be read from all the pulpits in England. The answer of the covenan- XvT^ to it, w Inch was also industriously dispersed through MriLiland, rendered th(.'ni more and more pitied, and their enemies proportionally abhorred. Heini; at last fully convinced of Charles's inten- tions to attack thcni in war, they studied to have the lawfulness of takin^^ up arms in their own liefcnee fidly cleared to their own consciences, as well as to the world. I\[r. Hailie and the Karl of Cassilis, for a time, much doubted if it was law- ful to resist their Sovereiirn, in a forcible manner. But y\T. Henderson, by ap])ointnient, drew up a paper which solved their scruples, and vindicated such conduct. Some moved, that they should sup- j)licate assistance from the French, Swedes, or Dutch ; but others, doubtin*; of the propriety of confederacies with Lutherans, and much more with Papists, they resolved, by the help of (iod, to stanii by themselves. Only they aq-reed to supplicate the French Kinc^, the States General, the Prince of Orauj^e, (iueen of Sweden, and Kin«; of Dernnark, to intercede with their own Sovi'rci^ri,^ tiijit lie would ^-rant their rccpiests a fair and unbiassed hearing; whii !», had they done, it would have prevented much r( proach of them in the nations around. IMcanw Idle, they ear- ne:>tly prepared for their own warlike defence. CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 187 While General I.esly invited home the Scotch officers from the Swedish army in Germany, and procured military stores from Holland, Argyle laboured to secure the peace of the North, and to fix as many as he could in the covenanters' inte- rest. But Huntley, his brother-in-law, was too much in the bishops, if not the Pope's interest, to attend their meeting when desired. The danger of the covenanters was exceedingly alarming. The Scotch mariners, travellers, and merchants, in England and Ireland, were every where treated as rebels ; their goods seized, and their persons imprisoned, unless they abjured the late national covenant and Glasgow Assembly. The King's army at York increased fast. The Marquis of Huntley and Earls of Airly and Southesk, and the citizens of Aberdeen, began to take arms, and threaten the covenanters in these parts with immediate destruction. In the South, the Marquis of Douglas, Lords Nithsdale, Herreis, and their followers, and those of the Mar( uis of Hamilton, had or were taking arms for the same purpose. The Earls of Galloway, Dumfries, Traquair, Roxburgh, Queensberry, and the Viscount of Dalziel were suspected of an in- clination to join them ; and that, by the influence of Hamilton and others, the citizens of Glasgow would be made to do the same. The Earl of An- trim was preparing to transport hither ten or twelve thousand of his Irish countrymen, pro- bably most of them cruel and murderous Papists. jMany of the Scotch M'Donalds had gone to join them, in hopes of robbing Argyle of Kintyre, as they returned. Hamilton conducted his Majes- ty's navy for the Firth of Eorth, whiie he himself brought northward the main army l)y land. IScS A COMrilNDIOUS IlISTOUY 01" 'iiii: Xutwitlistandini,^ all, the cuvrnantcrs levied and trained their troops in the best way they could. God delivered into their hand the strong castles of Kdinhiiii^h and Oumharton without a single drop of hlood. Nnr did those of Stratii- avon, Douglas, Tantallon, and Brodick cost much more. Instigated hy Montrose and Mar- shal, ahout seven or eight thousand, northward of the 'J'ay, took arms, with whom Montrose oMigcd the Ahcrdonians to surrender their city, and obliged Huntley to swear the covenant, as directed hy the Assembly, and to send Commis- sioners to concur with the other covenanted de- puties at J']diid)urgh, in supporting the common cause. I laving fortified Leith, and put the coun- try into a posture of defence, the covenanters once and again, but without success, attempted to supplicate his IMajesty*s friendship. — Mean- while, Providence marvellously interposed in their favours. Five or six thousand Walloons and Irish, coming over against them, were by the Dutch Ad- miral driven back to Dunkirk, which then per- tained to England. The tyranny of Strafford, l/ieutenant of Ireland, rendered it unsafe to send over any more than about J 500 ragamuffins, good for little else but theft, robbery, and munler. Most of the English either declined serving in the invasion, or were very unhearty in it. The Po|)e reipiired his votaries to withhold their as- si^tance, unless upon condition of a secured open liberty for their religion. Contrary winds de- tained Hamilton's fleet till Huntley and his fac- tion were suppressed, and the covenanters had got most of their warlike stores imported from abroad. CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. ISJ) Hamilton, at last arriving in the Forth, trans- mitted to the town council of Edinburgh, the King's proclamation, declaring them all traitors^ who did not within eight days submit to his will; and disponing their estates to their superiors or vassals, that should assist in suppressing them — to be published over their cross: If ready obedience was not given, Charles had appointed him to pro- secute them with fire and sword. The council begged to be excused from publishing this procla- mation till the Estates of Parliament, which ^vere to meet in a few days, should consider it. Meet- ing upon May 9th, they found, that as the pro- clamation was written and printed without the kingdom, and not warranted by the privy coun- cil, and was of so dangerous consequence, it could not be legally published ; that by the laws of the land, no treason or forfeiture of life or estate, even of the meanest subject, far less of Peers, and the body of the nation, could be declared, but in the Parliament or supreme court of jus- tice, upon due citation and legal proof; and that as the proclamation required a material renunci- ation of their covenant, they could not obey it without bringing a curse upon the nation. They transmitted their resolution to the Marquis. He, next day, wrote to the Earl of Rothes, and after receiving a bold reply, ret\irned answer, that he intended to die in his Majesty's cause, and to the utmost of his power prove an enemy to his obstinate countrymen. He was neverthe- less more merciful than his party wished, and la- boured to persuade Charles to a treaty of peace. The Parliament meeting on May 15th, they agreed to prorogue it till any day his Majesty pleased. But, before they left Edinburgh, thej li)0 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY 01 THE appointed Gonoral I^csly tlioir military Comman- thr in Cliict" Mcanwliik', Lord Ahoyn, Umitley's son, and other Lords appointed hy Charles, had raised a new army in the North. An invasion from Irchnul was hourly expected. The inacti- vitvof Charles's armvon the north border of VjUS- Jand, and of his fleet in the Forth, was apprehend- ed to proceed from a design to j^ain time, till the covenanters should he ohliij^cd to disperse them- selves for want of provisions. After solemn fast- in£]^ and prayer, INIontrosc, who was offended that his late a( tivity in the North was not rewarded Avith the prfncipal command, was dispatched to attack the royalists in the North. General Lesly marched his army toward the border of Eng- land— while the select committee fixed the pro- per methods of modellin*:^ and supplying their troops. The accounts o( their instructions, and of Lesly 's march, being conveyed to the English ar- my atBirks,al)out three milessouth from Berwick, threw many of them into a terrible consternation, ('harle;* was obligeil to issue forth a proclamaiion, That he was desirous of peace, and ready to grant the Scots their just recpiests. But, fearing that information of the true state of affairs would ren- dermanyof his officers and forces altogether averse to attack them, he commanded their army not to come within ten miles of his own ; in wliich, to manifest their desire of peace, and their readi- ness to obey him in every thing lawful, they sub- mitted. 'J'iie bishops persuaded hiui, that fear had made them stop at the appointed distance — and to re j)ublish his proclamation of April 25ih, declaring them all rcfh/.s that did not lay down their arms within eight days, and setting a price on the heads ul their chiefs, and charging their CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 191 vassals and tenants to pay them no more rents. This was published at Dunse. The Earl of Hol- land, with 4000 men, was appointed to publish it at Kelso : but Colonel Monro, and the Lords Fleming and Erskine, with their forces, obliged them to retire with the utmost terror and preci- pitation. Lesly advanced to Dunse Law with his army. Contemptible enough in his crooked shape, and of no more than the rank of a gentleman, he behaved himself with such prudence and autho- rity, that all the nobles readily obeyed his com- mands, which he wisely issued forth in the form of advices. His raw troops, being daily exercis- ed, made great progress in military skill. They had sermons and public prayers, every morning and evening, from their beloved ministers. Scarce- ly was there a single tent, in the whole army, in which joint prayers and praises were not twice every day offered to God. — The frame of their souls was no less spiritual and elevated, than if they had been attending a noted communion. Persuasion of the goodness of their cause, and of God's assistance in it, made them altogether bold and resolute for battle, if necessary. His army being increased to 20,000, Lesly in- clined advancing nearer to the English camp, that, if possible, he might apprehend some of the principal incendiaries, who had kindled the war. Informed of his intentions, the English laboured in fortifying their camp ; and being inferior iu numbers and ardour, were earnestly desirous of peace. In order to deceive the covenanters, one Lesly, a Scotch domestic of Charles, came to their camp at Dunse Law, and, with solemn pro- fessions of regard to his country, falsely pretend- ed that the English forces were multiplying so 1 192 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THK fast, that tliiy were in tlic utmost dan^jcr of bc- iiii^ «|»iickly ^u allow I'd up hy them; and thciffore bct;L;i.'d that ihcy would once more supplicate his INIajcsty for a treaty of peace, in which, he said, several oltlie Kui^lish nobility wouhi second them. The Scots, nothin;^ terrified by his ti«lin<4s, but looking (tn him as sent by some of the iMiglish, condescended to transmit another humble suppli- cation to Charles, alon«; >\ ith a letter to the Lords of his Kn^lish Council. Puffed up with pride, Charles insisted, that they should first publish his above-mentioned declaration of April L^5th, at the hea(i of their army. They shewed Sir Ed* ward V'ernham their reasons for refusinc;' to do so; but to shew their readiness to ^o as far as they could, they read it with (^reat reverence at the General's table. Vernham j^ave such a favour- able report of their conduct, as made Charles think his order had been as t;ood as obeyed. Hereupon theKarls of Arundel, Essex, [lolland, Salisbury and Berkshire, and Secretary Coke, were empowered to treat with the Earls of Rothes, Dunfermline, and Loudon, Sir William Douglas, sheriff of Teviotdale, Mr. Henderson, and Archibald .Johnston. The Scots (^)mmis- sioners had scarcely entered into Arundel's tent, when Charles himself came in, and upbraided them for accusiuLC him of not listeniui,^ to the re- quests ot his loyal subjects. After bei^^i^in^; his permission to speak freely, they, to his disho- nour, plainly represented their caust\ and their just delences of it. And in the conclusion of the conference, Loudon, upon his knees, declared, that they insisted for nothini; more than the free t njoyna-nt nt their religion and liberties, accor- dint^ to the civil and ecclesiastical laws of their CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 19S kingdom. This Charles professed his readiness to grant; but, instigated by the bishops of Ross and Aberdeen, kc. he talked more tartly on the Monday after, and interrogated them, Whether he had the sole power of indicting Assemblies ? Whether he had a negative voice in them ? and. Whether they might sit, after he had command- ed them to dissolve ? After suggesting, that the decision of such questions properly belong to the Assembly itself, they, for themselves, allowed Kings to have a power of calling General Assem- blies, and expressed their hopes that himself would allow, that in extreme necessity the church might convene of herself, and enact constitutions for the preservation of religion, the plain reasonable- ness of which they shewed. Being informed, that their army intended to take their station nearer to his camp, he abandon- ed his queries, and desired the Commissioners to fix the particulars which they required as terms of peace. They proposed, that the acts of the Glasgow Assembly should be ratified by the Par- liament ; that in all time coming church affairs should be finally determined by the Assembly, and civil affairs by the Parliament; that all his Ma- jesty's forces, by sea or land, should be recalled ; that all arrested persons, ships, and goods, should be restored; that all excommunicated persons who, for their own private ends, had promoted the public commotions, should be remitted to Scot- land to suffer condign censure and punishment. They subjoined their reasons to each of these de- mands. After some perplexity, and taking the advice of his council, Charles replied. That though, for many reasons, he could not approve the Assembly of Glasgow, yet he would not only 2c 194 A COMt'KNDlOL'S mSTOHY OF TIM-. acfree to take away the rdurij;ij and canons^ and the Hig;h Commission, but also dispense with the articles of Perth, and order, that no oath should be recjuired of entrants to the ministry, but what was appointed by act of l^arliauient; and tliat bi- shops should be censurable according to their de- merits by the (ieneral Assembly; and further agree, that all matters ecclesiastical should be fi- nally determined by the Assembly, and all civil affairs hy civil courts; that General Assemblies should be kept once a-year, or oftener, as neces- sity required ; and that, for settling the present distractions, a free General yVssembly should '»e indicted on the 6th, and a Parliament on the 20th of August next ; that, upon their disband- ing their army, dissolving their Tables and con- venticles, and restoring his castles, forts, and am- munition, and restoring to his subjects their lands and goods, which had been seized since the late Assembly, he would withdraw all his forces, and make restitution of iiwiiry thing detained, on his part. After some further conference, and several r^ri- vate concessions by Charles, the Scotch Commis- sioners were almost satisfied, and the articles of pacification were drawn up, bearing, That the co- venanters' forces should l)e disbanded within forty- eight hours after the publication of his above de- claration is agreed upon; that all his castles, forts, and ammunition shall be delivered, as soon after the said publication as he shall send his servants to receive them ; that thereon all his ships shall depart with the first fair wind, and till then shall in no wise interrupt the trade or fishing; that he flhall restore all j)ersons, goods, and ships, wiiich linve been detained since November last ; that CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 195 there shall be no meetings of the subjects in Scot- land, but such as are warranted by act of Parlia- ment ; that there be no further fortifications made, and these, that are, remitted to his Ma- jesty's pleasure ; that all his good subjects have their lands, houses, and goods restored to them, which have been seized since November last. As the articles to which his Majesty had agreed, at the private conference, were not subscribed, nor made public, the Earl of Cassilis, after the reading of the public articles in the camp, read and pro- tested, upon a short information agreed to by the managers — That though his Majesty did not ap- prove the Glasgow Assembly, he did not intend that the acceptance of his declaration should in- fer any disapprobation of it ; and that their ac- ceptance of it imported no such thing. This in- formation was again read along with his Majes- ty's declaration at the cross of Edinburgh. AVhile these things were transacting at Birks, Montrose had, with no small difficulty, levied an army in the North, and he and Colonel Middleton had routed Aboyne's forces, and were just going to plunder the city of Aberdeen, when an express concerning the pacification prevented it. Neither party were pleased with the above treaty. The furious royalists pretended. That Charles had lost a glorious opportunity of com- pletely crushing the covenanters, and had disho- noured himself, by allowing them such equal terms; and they loudly reproached Flamilton and others, as advisers to it. Many of the cove- nanters were displeased with the obscurity of the articles, and especially with the surrender of the castle of Edinburgh, and the fortifications of Ixith, without proper terms. Nevertheless, they burnt their camp, disbanded their army, and gave 196 A tOMPKNDlOL'S III.STURY OF TIIK up the castle of Kdinburgli to Hamilton, who committed it toRuthvcn, who had ac(juired much iiiilitaiy honour in the Swedish army. But Charles paid no such regard to his solemn agreement, but left strong" <;arrisons in Berwick and Carlisle, and disbanded his other forces very slowly. And he and his friends ripened matters for a new rup- ture. In Edinburgh, Huntley and Aboyne, his son, were scarcely liberated from prison, when Aboyne and Iluthven, in their drunken revels, provoked some common people to chastise their insolence ; this was loudly complained of. Grant and Dugair, two tools of Huntley, ravaged the territories of the Earl of Marshal and other co- venanters in the North. The covenanters pro- test against his calling of the bishops to the next General Assembly as members ; their allow- ance of subsistance money to Lesly and some other officers, till they could be otherwise provid- ed; their meeting together, in order to pay off the debt which tiiey had contracted in the war; their enemies falsely charging them with forcing the subs( ription of* their covenant, and some parts of it misunderstood ; and their Commissioners di- vulging some of his private concessions, j)rovoked ("harks against them. Under pretence of de- sired consultation with them, but really intend- ing to apprehend, if not assassinate them, he call- ed up fourteen ot their principal leaders to Lon- don. But the mob, having got some notice of his intentions, prevented their ojjeying him. This di:^appiiintment so enraged him, that he had re- called both Assembly and Parliament, if Hamil- ton had not persuaded him otherwise, ami Tra- \ ho were the third Estate, could have force in law. CHURCH OF^SCOTLAND. 197 Hamilton having refused to be Commissioner to tlie next Assembly, Traquair was appointed, and was instructed to declare against lay elders having any vote in the election of Commissioners from Presbyteries, or in any fundamental point of religion ; to shift all questions relative to the last Assembly, or to the King's power in calling or dissolving Assemblies ; to permit the abolish- ment of Prelacy, not as sinful in itself, but as ne- cessary to the peace of the kingdom ; to allow the swearing of the covenant, providing that Pre- lacy be not abjured in it, as contrary to the word of God and Protestant religion ; to endeavour to have those ministers who have been deposed, speedily reponed, upon their profession of repen- tance— and that the King may have a power of choosing fourteen ministers to vote in Parliament instead of the bishops; to indict another Assem- bly as far back in the following year as possi- ble ; to take heed that nothing civil be treated in the Assembly, and no Commissioner be sent from it to the King ; nor any act made for the continuance of the tables or any like meetings. And, at the end, to protest, That if any thing prejudicial to the King's interest should have been granted, he should be heard for redress in his own time and place. From these instructions it appears, that Charles merely inclined to de- ceive the covenanters, whom he could not subdue; and that he really inclined to yield nothing at all important, and left himself an open door to revoke every concession made in his name. Accordingly, in a few days after, he wrote to Traquair, that he would not yield to a ratification of the Glasgow Assembly, nor to the abolishment of Prelacy, as contrary to the covenant of \5S\i and the consti- 198 A COMriiNDIOLS HISTORY OK THIi tiitions of tills church; nor to have the service hook and canons corulcinncci as containin;^ divers seeds ofPoperyand superstition, or the Hi rrh Commhssion conticiniuHl, as without law, or ch*structive to ci- vil and ecclesiastical judicatories — nor the r7;7/c/^^ of Perth as contrary to the national covenant — or that the Assenihlit's Piorj — Hjl8, should be de- clared di'stitnte of authority ; and that if any such thini^ sliould be done he should protest against it. lie further instructed him, that he would not be bouful to allow General Assemblies every year; and that the covenant behoved to be sworn as it htuod in 1581, without any interpretation sub- joined to it, unless the Rin^ approved it. IMean- v/hile, he admonished the bishops not to ^o to the Assembly, as nothing but partiality could be ex- pected at it; and assured them, that notwith- standing his present concessions, he was firmly determined to have their grievances redressed. The General Assembly having met, August 12th, Mr. Henderson opened it with a sermon from Acts v. 33. and exhorted the Commissioner and members to vie with each other in thankful- ness, zeal, moderation, and prudence. No sooner had Mr. Dickson, the new moderator, finished a like speech, than Tracjuair excepted against all the ( ommissions of such as had been elected by more ruling elders than ministers, or for places in which they had not their residence — or of el- dns elected for places in which they resided, but had not been originally chosen to their office; or of such as were under horning and outlawry — but named no body. The Assembly therefore procci'dcd to their business, and with pleasure received (;raham of Orkney, and Lindsay of Ounkcld's renunciation of Prelacy. To please CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 199 his Majesty, and retain what they had j^ot, they formed the substance of the service hook and ca- nons, the High Commission and articles of Perth , prelatical offices, civil poiver of ministers, and cor- rupt Assemblies, into one act, and as it were re- enacted them, in terms a little softened, declar- ing, that the liturgy, canons, and High Commis- sion should be still rejected, the articles of Perth no more practised. Episcopal jurisdiction and ci- vil power of clergymen still held unlawful in this church ; that the six Assemblies of Linlithgow 1606, and 1608, of Glasgow 1610, of Aberdeen 1616, of St. Andrew's 1617, and of Perth 1618, should hereafter be accounted destitute of all au- thority ; — and that, in order to prevent the like evils in time coming, General Assemblies shall be held once every year or oftener, if need be, in consequence of remonstrance to his I\lajesty of the necessity thereof ; and that Sessions, Presby- teries and Synods, should be constituted accor- ding to the order of this church. This act was voted with great harmony ; and Traquair declar- ed his approbation of it, and promised that it should be ratified in the ensuing Parliament. To prevent the precipitant entry of novations for the future, the Assembly enacted, that no novation tending to disturb the peace of the church should be proponed, till the matter had been first com- municated to the several Sessions, Presbyteries, and Synods — that commissioners may come up prepared to give a solid determination. Contrary to Traquair's inclination, the reports of the commission of the last Assembly relative to their censuring of scandalous clergymen were produced and approved. Their number amount- ed to eighteen ; Init the Assembly recommended 200 A (:r)MPKNnrous history of tiif to inferiorjudicatories to reponc them and others, who had been deposed for declininfj of the last Assembly, or for readini; of the service book, upon any tolerable manifestation of their repentance. They next considered the large decldi'ation pub- lished in his Majesty's name, but really composed by Dr. Balcanquel, without Charles havini^ any knowledge of many of the facts, but by Jiis mis- representation. Nine ministers, the Earls of Rothes, Cassilis, and Loudon, the Lords Kirk- cudbrii^ht and Burleif^h, and two ij^entlemen, were appointed as a committee to examine it. They pointed out eight articles dishonourable to his Ma- jesty,/A /Wcezi dishonourable to this church, thirteen dishonourable to the nation, t went i/- six gross fals- lioods, and four most WTCtched misrepresentations of their conduct. The Assembly therefore sup- plicated Charles to call in the copies of it, and appoint the writers of it to be prosecuted for their calumnies. But either Traquair neglected to pre- sent their petition, or Charles disrei^arded it. — They also authorised the subscription of the na- tional covenant, as explained by the Glasf^ow As- sembly, and besought the privy council to rerjuire it of all the subjects with due ex[iedition. Tra- quair subscribed it, with a declaration, which he said merely respected him as King's Commis- sioner ; and he promised to have their act rati- fied by the Parliament. They recommended to the Parliament a supplication in favours of some ministers, who had been oj)pressed by Huntley and otluT loyalists, in the Highlands and Islands. They approved several overtures, bearing, That n commiltre should be appointed to revise all the acts of fornu-r Assemblies, that might be of ge- neral u>c i that the Parliament should be intreat- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 201 ed to restrain people from going to England for irregular marriages ; that Commissioners to the Assembly, from remote places, should have their expenses furnished by the Sessions in these Presbyteries that send them; that deposed mini- sters demit their charges under pain of excom- munication ; that the acts againsts Papist and excommunicated persons, and such as frequent their company, or encourage them, be duly exe- cuted ; that a public catechism and order of fa- mily worship be drawn up ; and that candidates presented to kirks be carefully tried with respect to their fitness for their charge. As, by the instigation of Strafford, an oath ac- knowledging the King's supremacy in all eccle- siastical and civil cases, and an abjuration of the Scotch covenant, and all like bonds, had been im- posed upon such Scotsmen as were found inEng. land, and especially in Ireland, where Strafford do- mineered, many who had been thereby oppressed, besought the Assembly to intercede in their fa- vours, and declared themselves ready to swear the oath of allegiance, or any other declaration of loyalty consistent with their covenant. The As- sembly recommended this affair to the ensuing Parliament. It is observable, that many tender Christians, who fled from Ireland, to avoid the above oath, escaped the massacre, while those, who complied with it from carnal considerations, were quickly stript of their lives and property by the Papists. — After appointing their next meeting, INIr. Dickson, in a solemn speech, represented the mixture of God's mercy and justice towards them for some time past ; and that, on account of his Majesty's education and misinformation, they ought always to view his conduct in the most fa- 2 D 202 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE vourablc lig'lit ; — and commended Hamilton and 'IVaiinair iur the services which they had done this church; and recommended to ministers and elders their respective duties in the present cir- cumstances. Soon after the risini,^ of this Assem- bly, a solemn thanksgiving^ was observed through the kingdom, the causes of which were drawn up by the Presbytery of Kdin!)urgh. A\ hen the rarliament met, August .'31st, it was proposed to have the following articles enacted into standing laws. That the Parliament con- sist only of Lords, Barons, and Burgesses ; and that all acts empowering Commissioners from the kirk be rescinded ; that the acts of the late As- sembly relative to bygone evils and the remedies thereof be ratified; that the whole power of nam- ing the Lords for forming the articles to be con- sidered in Parliament, be in the three estates themselves; that the castles of Edinburgh, Dum- barton, and Stirling, be entrusted to none, but by the advice of Parliament; that the large declara- Hon which, in his Majesty's name, had so exceed- ingly calumniated the covenanters, be condemn- ed ; and that the privy council be subordinated to, and censurable by the Parliament. But Traquair, the Commissioner, directed by Charles, or afraid that such deeds would enrage him, jirevented their establishment, by proroguing the Parlia- ment nine tiiues in the months of September and October. — Finding themselves thus restrained, tlicy deputed the b'arlsof I .oudon and Dunfermline to implore Charles's allowance to proceed in their work : and, meanwhile, a solemn fast was ohserv- <'d for bewailing that their enemies were like to frustiat( tlu'ir great expectations; and that op- pression and violence much prevailed in the nor- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 203 thern parts of the kingdom ; that there were few faithful labourers in the church, and no due care taken of the seminaries of learning; that the case of the truly poor was much overlooked, while sturdy beggars ranged about without controul ; and that unthankfulness, carnal security, indo- lence in promoting of the reformation, which they had solemnly engaged, and neglect of God's wor- ship in public, private or secret, much abounded. Informed of the approach of Dunfermline and Loudon, and, supposing that they had no com- mission from Traquair, Charles prohibited them to come within a mile of his presence. By the Queen, Strafford, and Laud's influence, his private concessions to the covenanters at the treaty of Birks, were openly impugned, and pub- licly burnt by the hangman. Traquair was charg- ed to prorogue the Parliament till the 2d of June, 1640; and to declare such as should refuse to rise, guilty of high treason. When he executed his orders, November 14th, the Estates read a solemn declaration against his deed, narrating what had been done, and declaring the prorogation null and void: but that, to carry their obedience to the utmost length that could consist with a good conscience, they would discontinue their meet- ing till, by their committee, they had presented their remonstrances to his Majesty. Commission- ers from this committee were allowed to repair to Charles. But Traquair, to atone for the of- fence which he had given by his concessions in the Assembly, after several attempts to divide the covenanters, or to exasperate them by his ar- bitrary procedure, repaired to court, and there represented their conduct in tlie most odious light, and suggested, that they could only be sub- 204 A COMPENDI()r> m^luUi Ul 'IUE ilucd hy force, some methods oC which he point- ed out — and tliiis inlhimed the Kn^^lish courtiers. l)un((.*indiiic and Loudon, and two gentlemen, were nevertheless sent up to his Majesty, hut di- rected to he ware of acknowledj^in^^ the Eni^lish council as their juci^^ts; — t(j refute the misrepre- sentations of Tracpiair ; to support the articles which had heen proposed to the Parliament; to insist for a speedy recal of that court; to remon- strate against fdling the castles of Edinhurgh and Oumharton \\ith foreigners, or exacting from Scotchmen in l^ngland and Ireland any oath in- consistent with their covenant. — They managed their cause with great spirit — illustrated the ar- ticles mentioned, and answered a multitude of ob- jections made hy Laud and Tracpiair. After Charles and his council had, for a time, pretended a desire of agreement, that they might carry on their warlike preparations the more un- ohservahly, the Scotch Commissioners were ta- ken into custody, and Loudon committed to the Tower for a letter, w hich, they pretended, he had sent to the French King. The letter referred to Jiad lje(Mi drawn up a year before by Montrose, when Charles was marching to invade Scotland, and had been transcribed by Loudon, and sub- scribed by them two, and the Lords Mar, IMont- g(jmery, Forrester, and General Lesly ; but never made use of; nor had either date or direction. One Goram getting hold of it, delivered it to Tra(piair, and he to Charles, who h.)j)ed to turn it to Ills own atlvantage, particularly in making a sacrifice of l^oudon, who had been a principal leader of the covenanters. Upon examination, Loudon readily acknowledged his own hand writ- ing and subscription; but pled, that the letter was CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 205 written before the late pacification, when his Ma- jesty was marching to invade his native kingdom; and that, in these circumstances, they thought none so fit to intercede with him as his brother-in- law, than which their letter desired no more. Notwithstanding, Charles was determined to have him assassinated, and ordered Balfour, lieutenant of the Tower, to have his head struck off, before nine o'clock next morning. After informing Lou- don, Balfour acquainted Hamilton with this man- date. He and Balfour having got access to Charles, so represented to him the infamous nature of murdering a nobleman, to whom he had given a safe conduct, and the terrible consequences that might follow, that they got him, with reluc- tance, to tear his warrant. Some time after, up- on promise of concealing his treatment, and en- gaging to use his utmost endeavours to dispose his countrymen to subjection, Loudon was per- mitted to return home. In November 1639, Charles and his council had resolved upon a new war with the Scots. But it was difficult to find money to bear the ex- penses of it. Strafford subscribed for L. 20,000 Sterling, the Dukes of Lennox and Richmond for as much, if not double. Many of the Eng- lish nobility and gentry subscribed largely enough, chiefly the Papists, instigated by their Queen. By Strafford's influence, the Irish Parliament voted about L. 24^,000 The English clergy vot- ed an annual compliment of L. 20,000. All these being insufficient, Charles was obliged to call an English Parliament to provide more ; but whose stubborn commons would allow him no mo- ney, unless in the way of securing their own re- ligion and liberties, which he and his agents had 1 20G A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OP THK foarrully inrriiii^eil. lie therefore had recourse to methods dishonest and iiifainous — which <;ave the covenanters time to prepare for their own de- fence. INIeanw hihs Charles did them all the mis- rhief that he could. Their ships were arrested in Eni;land and Ireland; and these that were traf- fickini; to other places were seized, and these in them harharously imi)risoned. The castle of Edin- l)ur^Hi was repaired and reinforced, and the i^ar- rison daily killini; some of the inhabitants, or spoiliui,^ their iiouses. The English General had a commission to destroy the whole Scotch nation. Charles published a declaration, requiring all his subjects in England and Ireland, to take arms against them, and treat them as rebels. The Irish Parliament declared them such. Alarmed by these things, the covenanters sent Rothes and Lindsay to solicit the Marquis of Hamilton to in- tercede for them with their King. But finding no help in man, they betook themselves to God by fasting and prayer. The Presbytery of Edin- burgli. which had been desired, by the Commit- tee of Estates, to warn the church of her ap- proaching danger, proposed a solemn fast on ac- count of the gross ignorance, superstition, sorce- ry, profanation of the Lord's name and Sabbath, neglect of his worshi]), uncleanness, intemperance, fraud and violence, contrary to their covenants — and on account of their perplexing outward cir- ( nmstances, thereby procured: They also spread inlormatory renujnstrances among their friends in England, part oi which were burnt by'the hang- nuii. Ni'vertheless they did not begin their war- like piiparations till June next year: Nor did they ^tir, till the Parliament had concluded on I he war, ami aj)|)ointed the general officers. 'J'hcse CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 207 in the west did not begin their march till Au gust. When the Parliament met at Edinburgh, June 2, 1640, Traquair durst not attend it, as Charks's Commissioner. But the Lords Elphingston and Napier, Orbiston, justice clerk, and Lewis Stew- art, as King's advocate, were empowered in his absence to prorogue their meeting. But, upon reading their commission, Elphingston and Na- pier doubted of the legality of their acting with- out Traquair's order, and the other two could do nothing but protest. The Estates therefore vot- ed themselves a legal Parliament, and chose Lord Burleigh for their President; and enacted all the articles proposed at their former meeting, with some variations. They ordained that this and all future meetings of Parliament should consist only of Noblemen, Barons, and Burgesses, re- scinding all former laws in favours of the voting of bishops or other clergymen ; — that all future Parliaments shall have the power of appointing a committee for drawing up articles to be laid before them — the members of which each Estate shall choose from among themselves. They ra- tified the act of the last General Assembly con- demning bygone corruptions, and appointed the late covenant to be subscribed by all ranks under all civil pains ; and particularly by members of Parliament before admission to a seat, and by all magistrates, ministers, and state officers, before their admission. They declared, that the power of jurisdiction in the church stands only in As- semblies, Synods, Presbyteries, and Sessions; and revived the act of 1.G92, establishing Freshi/terian government in all the heads of it ; and rescinded all laws in fcxvours of Prelacy ; but, for fear of 'J08 A COMPKNDIOUS HISTOllV OF THE givins^ a handle to their exasperated Kin^, left unnoticed s'une former acts of Parliament estah- lishini; his eoelesiastical supremacy. 'J'hey de- clared null and raid all the censures inflicted hy the late hishops or Iheir aijcnts; and that Presby- teries had the power of presentini^ ministers in these parishes in which the bishops had claimed it; and ordained, that Presbyteries, with consent of the eoni;re«;ation, should plant these parishes which had lain six months vacant. They prohi- bited the ^"oiiii; of mills antl salt pans, and the fishing of salmon on the Lord's days, or the holding of fairs upon ^Mondays ; and appointed justices of peace and kirk sessions to j)revent the profa- nation of the Sabbath by the confluence of reap- ers, or of peoj)le to hire them in harvest. They ratified all the former laws against Papists, ex- communicated persons, and such as reset them ; and appointed letters ol' horning to be issued forth against the bishops and other excommunicated persons. They approved the Assembly's suppli- cation against the large dcclaraiiony and ordered the authors and spreaders of it to be punished as \:^\\\iy oUeaseviaking unA sowing division between his Majesty and his loyal subjects. They enact- ed, that a free Parliament should be held once, or oftener, in every three years ; that the castles of Edinburgh, Dumbarton, and Stirling, should be entrusted only to natives, well afl'ected to King and country ; that none should vote in Parlia- ment by proxy; that none should be nobilitat- ed, who had not ten thousand marks of yearly Tent in the kingdom ; that the Lords should no more !)e distinguished into temporal -^unX spiritual: that the privy < ouncil should be accountable to his Majesty and Parliament, and be punishable CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 209 for giving wrong counsel. They declared null and void all unlawful proclamations issued in his Majesty's name, since the commencement of the late troubles ; and that the ancient acts of Parli- ament forbidding leagues and conventions among the subjects, did not extend to such as were made for the preservation of the King's life or authori- ty, or of the religion, laws, and liberties of the kingdom. They appointed twelve Noblemen, sixteen JBarons, and twelve Burgesses, as a com- mittee to give directions concerning the impend- ing war ; and appointed a tenth of all land and house rents, and a twentieth of all interest of mo- ney, to be raised for carrying it on ; and that the heirs of such as should be slain in the defence of their religion and country, should have a free entry to what belonged to them. They further appointed all the subjects to subscribe a bond for the maintenance and defence of the acts of this Parliament ; appointed general officers for their army ; and passed a sentence of forfeiture upon General Ruthven for refusing to deliver up the castle of Edinburgh, and for the daily mischief he did to the city. After nine days the Parlia- ment rose ; and their committee sent a copy of their acts to Lord Lanark, secretary for Scotch affairs — and suggested, that if the violences of- fered to their persons and goods without the kingdom, were not quickly repressed, they be- hoved to provide for their own deliverance and safety — and assigned the reasons of their conduct. But Charles was so far from being sa- tisfied, that he considered their parliamentary pro- cedure as a blow at the root of his authority. The General Assembly met at Aberdeen, July 28, 1640; and, after enacting some rvlcs Un- it K 210 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORV OF TIIF the orderini^ of their own meetings, they ordain- ed, I'hat all ni()?uinu'nts of idolatry, particularly in the North, should ho destroyed; that the laws against witches and charmers should be carefully executed; that such as should speak against the covenant after they had taken it, sliould be cen- sured ; that candidates for the ministry, who re- fus(»d to subscribe it, should be declared inca])a- ble of teaching children, reading in kirks, preach- ing within Presbyteries, or residing in burghs, universities, or colleges — and should be j)rocessed as scandalous, if they continued obstinate. They appointed a solemn fast upon the 2Sth of August, on account of their distressed circumstances. As in this northern Assembly there were many cler- gymen, who either did not l)elieve Prelacy and the Articles of Perth to be sinful in themselves, or were unwilling to acknowledge them as such, they did not attack the doctors of Aberdeen in their adherence to these ; but found them guilty of Arminianism. Dr. Forbes was spared for the time, on account of his ingenuity ; and Scroggs on account of his health; butSibbald, tenaciosusly adhering to his errors, was deposed. An atfair, relative to prarjing societies y gave them much more trouble. During their want of faithful ministers, many serious people, in Scotland and Ireland, had met together on Sabbaths, and other occasions, for prayer and spiritual confer- ence. Some, before they were driven from Ire- land, had been a little infected with Brovnism troiu Kngland, and had inclined to join the Inde- penilents in New Kngland. 'i'hese brought along w ith them some of their singularities, which were overlooked, on account of their remarkable piety, till an a|)pcarancc thereof hapi)cned in the charge CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 211 of Henry Guthry of Stirling, afterward worthless bishop of Dunkeld. The Laird of Lecky, a man remarkable for knowledge and serious godliness, and who had been a distinguished sufferer under the late bishops, much encouraged fellowship meetings for prayer and Christian conference. Several of his neighbours, who could not read themselves, or who thought his manner more edi- fying than their own, attended his family worship. Some, who probably came as spies, alledged, that in prayer he used some expressions not duly ho- nourable to Guthry his minister. Guthry imme- diately prosecuted Lecky before his Presbytery, and got fellowship meetings condemned as preju- dicial to the standing office of the ministry, and got the magistrates to extirpate them from the place. Not satisfied with this, he laboured to have them utterly abolished from the nation ; and by collecting and exaggerating reports of their imprudences, he drew Mr. Henderson and Mr. Calderwood, who had seen the Brownistical dis- orders in Holland, and some other leading cler- gymen, to his side. In the Assembly 1638, he had attempted to foist in a complaint against these meetings. But Messrs. J. Livingston, S. Ruther- ford, and D. Dickson, and others, unwilling that many serious saints should be publicly discredit- ed for the imprudence of a few, got the affair kept from any public hearing ; and it was agreed, that Guthry should preach up the duty of family worship, upon which he said these meetings en- croached, and that the eminently pious Messrs. Blair, Livingston, and JM^Lellan, who befriended such societies, should preach against night meet- ings, and the abuses complained of. Their soft 4nd Christian methods of correcting or prevent- 'Jl'J A (OMrENDIoas IIISTOllY 01- THE iiii^ such abuses not plcasini; Guthry, who hated to sec or hear of any others more serious than liimself, he continued to exclaim aejainst these meetiui^s in general. To quench this flame of con- tention, Messrs. Henderson and liorthwick u])ou the one side, and Dickson and Blair upon the other, held a solemn conference on the i)oint. Hen- derson drew up a paper of rt'gulaiiojis or caveats for such meetings, bearini^, that the members should be few, and such as were proper to meet together; that the meetings should not interfere with public or family worshi]) or relative duties, nor be held in the night ; that they should be ocasional, and no wise tending to separate the member from the rest of the congregation ; that no impertinent (juestions or uncharitable judging of others should lie allowed in them ; that if any members in th^ni bad any objection against the common form of public worship, (as Jtoiciug in the pulpit, and sing- ing the Gloria Pain) they should discreetly lay them before the persons concerned ; and, finally, that all things relative to them should be con- ducted with holiness, prudence, humility, and charity. This gave general satisfaction. But Ciuthry and his assistants, pretending that caveat:: l)rought in bishops, pushed the matter into this northern Assembly, in which they expected their friends to be strongest. Guthry poured forth torrents of accusation against the absent Lecky, and the society meetings. Simson of Bathgate seconded him ; and, in the most outrageous man- ner, U])braided Rutherford, Livingston, and M'Lelian, as encouragers of them. Supported by the Karl of Seaforth, and many of the northern clergy, (Juthry and his faction thought to have carried an act for the utter sujiprcssion of them. CilUUCIi OF SCOTLAND. 213 But Dickson, Bailie, Rutherford, and others, so warmly opposed then!, that they could only get it enacted, That people should observe family worship with the members of the family alone ; that reading of prayers is lawful, where none can pray extempore ; that none but preachers shall explain scripture; and that no innovation relative to the time, matter or manner of religious wor- ship, or the number or quality of joiners in it, be introduced without allowance from the Assem- bly. Meanwhile, Charles and the covenanters pre- pared for war of another kind, and laboured to divert the blame of it from themselves. Charles loudly complained, that they, by their own au- thority, had raised forces, provided large stores of artillery, and imposed taxes; that they had published scandalous papers, under pretence of informing the English; had refused materials for the reparation of the castle of Edinburgh ; had committed violence upon some of the garrison, and prepared to block them up ; had imprisoned Lord Southesk and others for their loyalty ; had written to the French King for assistance ; and that the magistrates of Edinburgh had, on seve- ral occasions, refused due obedience. The cove- nanters pled. That they had done nothing but what his Majesty's refusals to grant their just and humble petitions for redress of grievances, and the violences committed by persons pretend- ing his orders, had obliged them to ; that 1;hey had granted favours to those in the castle of Edin- burgli, notwithstanding the unprovoked injuries, murders, and violences which they had suffered from them ; that they had but protected South- csk and his followers lioni the violence of (he 21 i A COMPENDIOUS HISTOIIV Ol- THK inol); that the council and citizens of E(lin!)iir<(h had done every thin^ in their power, as faithlul and humble servants ; that they never intended to ask any assistance from the French Kin^, far less to subject themselves to his authority, but merely desired to prevent his taking offence at them, and helpintj to destroy them, and desii^ned to suj)|)li(ati' his mediation in their favours, in or- der that an unnatural war mif^ht be prevented; that they had never sent him the letter referred to, nor so much as ever directed or dated it; that they reckoned it a notorious breach of the law of nations, to .have their deputies, under his INFajesty's safe conduct, imprisoned by him, and Loudon, who had no more hand in the above mentioned letter than others, punished, without so much as a form of trial. Ar/^yle bein«j^ appointed to deal with the disaf- fected chieftains and clans of the North, invaded the territories of the earl of Athol, apprehended himself and fourteen other principal loyalists — ami obli«;cd his vassals to pay the contributions required by theParliament, together with.^l 0,000 Scrits, for the support of his army, which had been raised on their account. He used the ter- ritories of Airly in much the same manner. But it doth not apj)ear that ever he allowed any thing to be taken IVom the people, but the com- mon tax, and that which he found necessary for the subsistence of his troops. Robert ^lonro, >vho was (lis|)atc!ied against the Martpiis of Huntley, Earl of Aboyne, and Sir James Ogilvy <»f l>anir, was not so delicate, lie, at his own hand, imposed the covenant upon such as he thought disalVected, and remitted about forty ol the ( ili/.ens ol Aberdeen and gentlemen altuiit, CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 215 prisoners to Edinburgh, *He turned Huntley's palace into a garrison, and destroyed Sir James's mansion house, and wherever he came, seized on the effects of the royalists. The march of the English required the cove- nanters to meet them in a proper place. They found no such difficulty in levying men or money as Charles did. Instigated by the preachers, every fourth man was ready to take arms on a call. Such as had money, cheerfully lent it up- on the public security of the Committee of Es- tates, and others gave their silver vessels to be coined. The women readily contributed their yarn and cloth for the service of the troops, in tents or the like. In their march, such as could, carried thirty or forty days' provision along with them. Every regiment had a minister attending it, of whom Messrs. Henderson, Blair, Livingston, Bailie, Cant, and G. Gillespy were the most not- ed. In the beginning of August, they assembled at Dunse, about 25,000, and for three weeks con- tinued on the border, learning to handle their weapons, and preparing for an entrance into eter- nity. At their appointed times for private wor- ship, nothing was to be heard but singing of psalms, reading of Scripture, and prayer to God, in their tents. At first the covenanters had re- solved not to enter into England. But the Eng- lish nobility, having informed their late commis- sioners at London, how averse their nation was from the war, and encouraged them to a bold prosecution of their righteous cause, and Lord Sackville, and one Darley, having written letters to some ol" them, in name of a number of the Eng- lish nobility, whose subscription he forged, encour- aging them to enter England, as they might expect 21(1 \ COMFKNDIOIJS lUSTOUV OF THR that the English wouM not only take the oppoi- tiinity to insist for a redress of their own anil their «^rievances, but wouhl assist them witii men and money, as soon as they entered Enghmd, and send them liome liberally recompensed for their labour ; — and sometime after, havin*^ reeeived another letter upbraidini^ them for their slack- ness to enter into that country, and sut^gestin«^, that it had lost them .ClO,000 Sterlin,!,', which was prepared for them ; and that Charles's troops had neither money nor an inclination to resist them. Knowing that there was much truth in these missives, they resolved to march into Eng- land ; but, to prepare tiieir way, they dispersed two dilVerent i)apers of information, — in the first of which, they shewed, That their march into England was necessary, in order to avoid the maintenance of two armies on their border, aiul to secure their trade and the administration of justice at home; that it was merely defensive, as his majesty's promises formerly made to them had been notoriously violated, and their commis- sioners refused a hearing at court, till a war against them was resolved upon ; that the Parlia- ments of England and Ireland had been conven- ed to grant subsidies for making war upon them ; that his majesty had already begun a war upon them, in seizing their ships and goods, and in the murder of several inhabitants of Edinburgh by his garrison in the castle ; that they were ready to lay down their arms as soon as they could ob- tain a sure peace; that the Lord, by their march into England, might perhaps lead to the abolish- ment of I'relacy there, from whence it had come totluiu; that they did not march against the kingilom of llngland, but against Archbishop CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 217 Laud's faction of Papists, Atheists, Arminians, and Prelatists, who misled his majesty, and were enemies to both kingdoms ; and therefore they hope their English brethren will not refuse them victuals for money ; that they did not come to commit disloyalty against their sovereign, or to enrich themselves with plunder, but to do the kingdom what good they could, in the regular punishment of those that had troubled them; and that the long prayed for uniformity in refor- mation might be promoted. In the other, they shewed what injuries had been done them, and that they entered England, in order to promote the regular punishment of Laud, Strafford, and other incendiaries, and the securing of their own religion and liberties. And they engage to re- turn home, as soon as these ends shall be gained. God rendered the day of the covenanters' so- lemn fast, Aug. 28th, remarkable for a strange mixture of mercy and judgment. On it their troops routed about five or eight thousand Eng- lish, that were posted at the ford of Newburn to prevent their passage over the Tyne, with the loss of about twelve persons, and the wounding of a few others; which spread such a terror among Charles's army, that they precipitantly re- tired from Newcastle and places about, to Dur- ham. The sickness and death which prevailed in the castle of Dumbarton, made the garrison glad to deliver it up to the covenanters. The English garrison of Berwick came to Dunse with a considerable number of carts, to carry off the Scotch artillery and ammunition ; but the earl of Haddington coming up with them, sent them back laden with nothing but their own dead and wounded. Returning to the castle of Dunglass, 2 F 2\S A rOMPKNDIOUS HISTORY OP THR Ills English servant, |)io])al)Iy bribed by the garri- son of Kerwick, set lire to a magazine of powder, and blew up the fort, in which the earl and his brother, ten gentlemen, and fifty-four servants, instantly perished ; and about thirty others were grievously wountled. 'J'he alarm given by the noise, made the people in Fife and Lothian to set up their beacons. Imagining that this was occasioned by the king's fleet coming up tlu? Forth for their relief, the garrison in the castle of Edinburgh caroused so heartily as to consume most of their provisions, and were obliged next Sabbath to surrender that fort. After premitting a declaration of their peace- ful intentions, the covenanters took possession of Newcastle, in which they found 5000 stand of arms : — And while Charles's troops fled faster be- fore them than they were pursued, they, though flushed with conquest, in an humble supj)lieation, represented to him, after what manifold suifer- ings, necessity had obliged them to march into England, and how harmlessly they had behaved in it, and earnestly insisted that he, with advice of his English Parliament, would redress their grievances, that they might cheerfully obey him as their native sovereign, and his throne be esta- blished among them. Charles had treated this w ith the utmost contempt, if another, subscribed by thirteen of the English nobility, comj)laining of their grievances, and insisting for redress, had not been presented to him about four hours after ; lor which the lords Howard and Wharton had been immediately shot at the head of the army, had not Ihunilton got him convinced, that it would occasion a general mutiny, if not total revolt of the troops. Charles proudly disdained to answer CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 219 the covenanters' petition himself, but being afraid of their approach toward his camp, lie ordered Lanark, Hamilton's brother, to require them to mark their particular grievances, and he would call a parliament at York to advise an answer to them ; and to command them to march no far- ther into England, if they wished for any recon- cilement. The committee of their army quickly replied to Lanark, That they insisted, that the acts of their last Parliament should be published in his Majesty's name, as well as of the Estates ; that the castles and forts of the kingdom should be used for their security ; that none of their countrymen in England or Ireland should have any oaths imposed upon them inconsistent with their covenant ; that notour incendiaries should be brought to public justice ; that their ships and goods should be restored with recompense of damage ; that all the w rongs which have been done to them, be fully recompensed ; that all pro- clamations of them, as traitors, be recalled ; that all garrisons on the borders, and all other hinder- ances of free trade, be removed. Last year, Montrose, w^ho had been once a zealous covenanter, instigated by his envy of Ge- neral Lesly's promotion, had shewed an inclina- tion to desert to the king ; at this time a treach- erous letter of his was discovered. But, as he begged forgiveness of his rashness, and it was suspected that Lords Drummond, Boyd, Fleming, and some others were also unfaithful, Lesly, with some of the ministers, got the matter made up, that no breach might happen in so critical a junc- ture. As the English doubly rated the provi- sions which they sold to them, Lcsly ordered the town of Newcastle to ad'ord his army L.2U0 220 A COMrF-NDIOUS lUSTOHV OF "^UK worth of* victuals a-day, Northumljerland L.300, and the county of Durham L.3.50, for ready mo- ney, orj^ood security. Hut the English collectors sometimes exacted the double of what tliey <;ave to the army, and laid the heaviest burdens on the j)uritans, to provoke them ai,^1inst their Presby- terian brethren. Knc^lish vagabonds put on blue bonnets, and plundered the country in name of Scotsmen. 'J'he servants of such clergymen as had run olf from their charges, robbed them of that which was left to their keeping, and then, perhaps by their master's direction, laid the blame on the Scots. Loud complaints of these things were made to Charles, who delighted to receive them. But the covenanters quickly manifested their innocence. It scarcely appears, that Charles really intend- ed a pacification. Instead thereof, he laboured to increase his army, jirocure [)rovisions, and fur- nish his garrisons, and required all the trained hands northward of the river Trent to be ready to march upon a day's warning. It was report- ed that Strailord had sent for ten thousand Irish Papists to join them. Lesly therefore demanded four or five thousand recruits from Scotland, which, with a band of gentlemen from Argyle- shire, immediately marched to his assistance. Rut the English peers, meeting at York upon September 2 1th, apj)ointed eight earls and as ma- ny lords to treat with the Scots. The Earls of iMorton, Traquair, and Lanark, with Sir Lewis Stewart and Ilenry Vane, were appointed their assistants. But the Scots would not admit them. The carls of Rothes, Lowdon, and Dunfermline, A. Henderson, and Archibald .b»hnston, and six gentlemen, were commissioners from the cove- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 221 iianters. After some conferences at Rippon, the place of treaty was transferred to London, and a cessation of arms was immediately agreed upon, providing that the Scotch army should have L.850 Sterling j^er day allowed them for subsist- ence, till the treaty should be finished ; that no fortification should be erected on either side ; that the river Tees should be the boundaries be- tween the two armies, unless the Scots should be obliged to appoint detatchments to collect the contributions allotted them on the south side of it. After several months, the treaty was finished, and the English Parliament ageed to it, August 7, 1641. It imported. That all the acts of the last Parliament at Edinburgh should be publish- ed, and have the same force of law as any other acts of Parliament ; that all the forts of Scotland should be furnished with the advice of the Es- tates of Parliament ; that all censures inflicted for taking of the national covenant should be an- nulled, and none hereafter inflicted ; that only such Scots as settled in England, should be sub- jected to the laws of it ; that the Parliament should have full power to prosecute all evil coun- sellors and delinquents ; that none, disqualified by sentence of Parliament, shall be admitted to his majesty's service or friendship ; that all ships and goods seized by either party be restored, and damages be refunded ; that L.30,000 Ster- ling be paid to the Scots to indemnify their loss in this war ; that all proclamations and pamphlets representing them as 7'cbels or z/;i- dutij'ul subjects, be recalled and suppressed, and their loyalty pul)lished from all the pulpits in his majesty's dominions, upon the day of solemn 2'i2 A COMrKN'DIOUS HISTOHV OK Till': tlianksL;ivini; for the peace; that the t,^1lTisons l)e removed i'rom Herw iek and Carlisle; that the Scots desire of an iinifonnity in church i^overn- inent and worship was approved, and the Eng- lish Parliament wouhl proceed in that matter, as they found most conducihle to the glory of God and the [)eace of the church and state in both na- ticHis ; tliat his majesty, or the Prince cjf Wales, shall visit Scotland as soon as possible ; that he ])refer none to oflices without the recommenda- tion, or at least consent of the Parliament, privy council, or college of justice ; that some Scots- men he placed about him ; and none but such as are of the reformed religion, about either himself or the Prince ; that all that hath happened in the late troubles be buried in everlasting oblivion, except that the Scots bishops, Traquair, Sir Ro- bert Spotswood, Sir John Hay, and JMr. Walter ]>alcan(piel, shall be prosecuted as incendiaries ; that no war shall !)e declared against any of the three kingdoms, but with consent of Parliament ; and such as without such consent make war upon their fellow subjects, shall be prosecuted as trait- ors by both nations concerned ; that the Scotch l\irliament, which shall meet to ratify this trea- ty, have full power to sit till they finish their business, unless they adjourn with their own con- sent ; and that none who commit a crime in one ])art of his ^Majesty's dominions shall be protect- ed in another. Meanwhile, the Assembly met at St. Andrew's, July 20, IGtl ; but adjourned to Edinburgh, be- cause many of the nu^nbers behoved to attend the approaching Parliament. Jn favours ol 31r. 1 lou ie, of the college of St. Andrew's, and others, they enacted, that superannuated ministers should 3 CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 223 eiijoy their benefices for life, — They established some rules for the universities, and appointed every Presbytery to maintain a bursar at the college; and Mr. Henderson recommended it to the city of Edinburgh, and other principal burirhs, to maintain some students of distinguished abili- ties at some foreign university, as thereby them- selves or the church might be provided to the greater advantage. They appointed, that the ut- most care should be taken of the religious conver- sation of candidates for the ministry ; and that none should be allowed to preach in another Presbytery, without testimonials from that which had licensed him. The flame relative to fellow- ship meetings for prayer and spiritual conference had still continued. Lecky and his friends in- sisted for preferring an accusation against Guthry, their leading antagonist, and to have the act of the preceding Assembly, which respected their meetings, cancelled. Guthry and his partisans were no less eager to support it, or, if possible, to make it worse. The ministers of Edinburgh were generally for a total suppression of all pri- vate meeting for religion, except these of families. IMany of the citizens were no less zealous to pre- serve praying societies, and to have the act of the Aberdeen Assembly either repealed or explained. The court found themselves obliged to cancel that act, as if it had never existed, and to substi- tute another in its room, which imported, that all ministers and others should labour to restrain all impiety and all mocking at religious exercises, or casting of odious names upon godly persons; and that, on the other hand, great care should be taken, lest under pretence of religious meetings and exercises, errors, scandal, schism, or anything 22 i A COMPRNDIOUS HSTORY OK TIIR contrary to peace or truth, should be cherished, or the duties of particular callings neglected; and api)ointed that Presbyteries or Synods, should censure the transgressors of this on either hand. By another act, they prohibited tlie introduction of any novelty in doctrine, worship, or govern- ment, till it was first allowed by the General As- sembly. Being desired by the Parliament, they examined the bond, which Montrose, and some other treacherous covenanters, had subscribed, and of which the Parliament had burnt the origi- nal— and declared it nnlazcful and unbinding, as it was contrary to their former engagements to do nothing without common consent, and as it tends to promote division : but gave it as their opinion, that such subscribers as should, under their hand, accpiiesce in this judgment, should be no further troubled. The Lords Seaforth, Ring- horn, and Laird of Lowr immediately complied, as did most of the other subscribers afterward. They offered their mediation for Montrose and some other su])scribers, who it seems did not sub- mit; but the Parliament refused it. — Being in- formed that the Independents at London pre- tended tliat Messrs. Dickson and Cant were in- wardly of their sentiments, the Assembly unani- mously declared their rejection of Independency as contrary to the national covenant; and appoint- ed Mr. Henderson to inform their London friends that they were all of one heart and soul against Inde[)endency, as well as against Prelacy. — To promote an easy correspondence with the reform- ed churches abroad, they appointed the Scotch minister of Campvere, in Holland, and an elder from his session, to be members of each Assem- bly. Mr. Henderson having moved the drawing CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 225 up of a Confession of Faith, Catechism, Directori/ for Worship, and Form of Church Government, in which it might be hoped the English would agree with them, his motion was embraced ; and Mr. Dickson, the moderator, and such assistants as he pleased were enjoined to form them. But he resolutely declined the task as too difficult. A. committee was appointed for reforming the wild Highlands, and the Isles, from their remaining heathenish and Popish abominations; and a com- mission to finish such work as they had not got overtaken. The Parliament of 1640, had been adjourned from time to time, till July 15, 164^1, when thirty-nine Noblemen, forty-nine Barons, and fifty-seven Representatives of burghs met ; but resolved to transact no important business, till his Majesty should come down in the following month. Nevertheless, they formed overtures for regulat- ing their meetings. They concerted measures for prosecuting Traquair, Sir R. Spotswood, Sir John Hay, Walter Balcanquel, and Dr.-Maxwel, late bishop of Ross, as incendiaries ; and Montrose, Lord Napier, Sir G. Stirling of Keir, and Sir Lewis Stev/art of Blackball, for plotting to under- mine their fellow covenanters. A scurrilous libel against his country, and in defence of his divisive lK)nd, drawn up by ^lontrose's direction, was read^ and he was required to subscribe a recantation of it. Such of the above criminals, as could be ap- prehended, were imprisoned ; and Lord Loudon's labour to excuse them as far as he could, almost rendered himself suspected. — It plainly appeared, that Montrose had slandered the Marquis of Ar- gyle, as having publicly talked to Athole, and other eight of his late prisoners, that he and hi? 2 G 226* A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE friends had consulted lawyers and divines con- cerning^ the dethronement of his Majesty, and had thoiit^ht of doin^^ it at tlieir preceding Parliament, hut would do it at the next. — Montrose pive up Stewart, commissary ol" Dunkehi, as his informer, who at first acknowledged, under his hand, that he had done so. But, being prosecuted, he said, that he had invented the story out of mere malice against Argyle; and that, by the advice of Mon- trose, Napier, Keir, and Blackhall, he had trans- mitted a sul)scrihe*i copy of his forged speech to his .Majesty. They also, at the Assembly's desire, ordered all misrepresentations of the covenanters, to be razed from the minutes of the privy coun- cil. Being at last come up to the Parliament, along with Prince Frederick Palatine, his nephew, Charles, after his speech, offered to touch with his sceptre the thirty- nine acts of the preceding Parliament. But the sagacious members, per- ceiving that he thus intended to mark these acts as formerly destitute of legal authority, and so unhinge the late treaty, and all that was before done in prosecution of these acts, warded off the blow, and pled that the validity of these acts had l)een already secured by the trcatij^ and nothing remained for his Majesty, but to consent to their pubbcation. Upon the 18th of August, they en- acted. That all the members, I)efore taking their seals, should swear the national covenant nwd hand of 16^8, as explained to abjure Prclacij and the articles of Perth y together with an oath, binding them to reason and vote, as they judged most conducive to the glory of (iod and the peace of this church and kingdom, and to defend to the Uttermost his .Majesty's person, honour, and es- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 227 tate, together with the rights of Parliament and suhjects, and to preserve the union and peace be- tween the kingdoms of Scotland, England, and Ireland ; and, by all proper methods, labour to bring to condign punishment all such as had, or should do any thing contrary to the purity of re- ligion, or the laws, liberties, or peace of the na- tion By this act, they hoped to exclude all the malignants, who hated the covenanting interest. But the Duke of Lennox, Marquis of Hamilton, andEarlsof Morton, Roxburgh, Annandale, Kin- noul, Lauderdale, Perth, Lanark, Galloway, and Dumfries, after some demur, yielded to the terms, and so the number of Peers was increased to for- ty-eight. Profane Carnwath alone chose rather to want his seat, than to swear oaths which he had no intention to keep. Charles subscribed the treaty of Rippon and London^ and the Parliament solemnly approved it by an act, which they trans- mitted under the great seal to the Parliament of England. That same day, Charles and they ap- pointed the thirty- nine acts of the Parliament last year to be published as bearing authority from the moment in which they were framed. They appointed a solemn thanksgiving on the 7th of September, of which the General Assem- bly drew up the reasons. The thanks of the Parliament were given to the commissioners, who had formed the treaty ; and a complimentary re- ward appointed to General Lesly and IMr. Hen- derson. The malignant enemies of the pure religion and full liberties of the kingdom, cherished by Charles, who one day came to Parliament at- tended by five hundred of tliem, laboured to tra- .duce the .Marquises of Hamilton and Argyle, 'J26 A COMPENDIOUS HISTOHY Oh THE But the affair was pot compromised ; and even INTontrose, Napier, Kcir, Hlackliall, president Spotswood, Hay, and .Monro, who had deliver- ed to (ioram the letter, which had occasioned so much tr()ul)h^ and dam^^er to Loudon, were li- berated upon security for their ^^ood behaviour, and their compearance for trial, before the com- mittee of Estates in January next. The Parlia- ment voted 10,000 men to Prince Frederic, for enahline^ him to recover his Electorate in Ger- many from the Popish oppressors. But the breakinf,^ out of the Popish massacre of the Pro- testants in Ireland prevented the execution of this, and obliged his Majesty to post off to Lon- don, as soon as this Parliament ended. The Par- liament appointed a solemn fast upon 2d and 4th Sabbaths of November, of which the Com- mission of the Assembly drew up the reasons. Another fast was observed in the ensuiui^ March, but by whose appointment we know not ; nor that any general Jasl or t/ian/csgiring was observ- ed, of which the ehurch did not at least draw up the reasons. They also enacted, That none should go to England to be married, without proelamation of banns, under severe penalties: that besides formerly required qualifications, all patrons should subscribe the national covenant; that all monuments of idolatry should l)e abolish- ed, and Presbyteries should see to have them re- moved out of churches, colleges, cJiapels, and other pid)Iic places ; that excommunicated per- sons, or persons who did not communicate at their ow n parish church, at least once a-year, should be pr«)S(Tuted aceording to their respective ranks ; that such as caused their mills or salt pans to go, or hired reapers, or sold goods on the Lord's day. CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 229 or otherwise profaned it, should be severely pu- nished. They disposed of the Bishop's rents chiefly to the universities, and to some nobility and gentry. They made some acts for payment of the public debt, which had been contracted in the late war, and in favours of orphans and fa- therless children, and for the administration of justice and encouragement of trade and manu- factures. They approved the conduct of Argyle, now made a Marquis by his Majesty, and other commissioners in the late war; appointed a com- mittee for preservation of the peace between the two kingdoms, and appointed next meeting of Parliament in June 1644<, unless his Majesty pleased to call one before that time. Upon Charles's return to London, his bishops loudly reproached him as undoing, in an instant, all that himself and his father had, with no small difficulty, established in many years. The differ- ences between him and his English Parliament having become very wide, the Scotch commis- sioners, who had gone up to concert measures for sending their troops to Ireland, to check the Popish murderers, who about that time massa- cred two or three hundred thousand of their Pro- testant neighbours, offered their mediation. — Charles, highly displeased, commanded them not to interfere with him and his English Parliament, without first communicating their proposals to him. Having sent off 6000 forces to Ireland, under General Monro, the breaking out of the ci- vil war in England obliged them to retain the other 4000 intended for it, at home. By the in- fluence of Montrose, and other Bonders, Charles laboured to cause the Scotch privy council t(» threaten the English Parliament with their as- 230 A COMTHNDIOUS IIISTOIIV OF THK sistancc of him : ])ut the covenanters, by theii counter sii|)|)lications, prevented it. When the Assenihly met at St. Andrew's, July 'J7, HM-2, a report lliat Montrose and his feUovv Jiondcrs intended to force them to dechire, that the national covenant favoured the making of war upon the Kn^lish ParliaFnent, caused so many of tlie covenanted nohles to attend, that no such ihinir durst be attempted. The Assembly appointed that the minutes of Synods should be tried by the Assembly ; that transported mi- nisters should not undergo new trials ; that, in consequence of his iMajesty*s concession, six can- didates for a vacant charge in the low country, ai.d as many as can be had for one in the High- lands, !)e nominated by the Presbytery, with con- sent of the UKJst, or best of the congregation, to tlic patron, out of which he must present one. Argyle and some other patrons offered to give up their right of presentation, if ministers would pro- mise to insist for no augmentation of stipends ; but they would not consent. The Assembly also established some rules for reclaiming of Papists, non-communicants, and profaners of the Sab- bath, and for family worship, catechising, &:c. ; and for (h lating of adulterers, wizards, and the like, to the civil magistrate; and for burdening and limiting transportation of ministers ; and for .settling of sc!iools; and for sending over ministers to the remains of their Protestant brethren in the north of Ireland, who had earnestly petitioned for them; they prohibited the taking of contrary oaths in liic purgation of adulterers, fornicators, and the like — and all slandering of ministers, or using of tlu ir names, in public pa[)ers, without their consent. They appointed a committee to CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 231 visit the Isles of Orkney and Shetland, in order to reform them from their heathenish and Popish corruptions, and to regulate the universities of St. Andrew's and Glasgow; and made an act for the suppression of Popery, and monuments of idola- try in the North. They erected a new Presby- tery at Biggar, and joined that of Sky to the Sy- nod of Argyle, They appointed a general con- tribution for the Protestants in Ireland. And, as both Charles and his English Parliament had courted their favour, they, without siding them- selves, urged both to promote a reformation of England in public worship and church govern- ment, and supplicated the privy council to concur with them herein, and appointed a public fast and prayer, that the Lord might succeed their project. Some noblemen, who had been commissioned to beseech his Majesty, to give satisfaction to his English Parliament, being very ill used by him and his party, and the letters transmitted to them broken up, were therefore recalled. Meanwhile, Hamilton, Montrose, and other Bonders, finding it impossible to arm the nation in general against the English Parliament, concerted with Charles how to raise an army in the North, and seduce General Monro and his troops to their party ; and at least make the Earl of Antrim accommo- date matters with the Irish Papists, and then transport an army of them into England for his assistance against his Parliament. But iMontrose, refusing to serve under Hamilton, their reproach- es of each other manifested part of their de- sign, and the rest appeared from missives found upon Antrim, when he was providentially appre- hended by a Scotch officer near Carrickfergus, 252 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF TlIP: and from the examination of him and his servant. Instigated by the Popish Queen, Montrose car- ried on his work in the North, and ^ot all the chiefs, ()i;ilvies, and (iordons, to substirilje an as- sociation in favours of Charles. But Lord Mar- shal refusini^toronrur,and even persuadini^ Hunt- ley to recal his sul»cription, ^ave a rheck to this project. Montrose therefore courted the favour of the covenanters, who, he hoped, would put more trust in him than his new friends had done. But new proofs of his villany made them also to despise him. Charles's troops had almost defeated those of the Parliament at Kd«^ehill, in October, and had entirely routed them, had not Balfour, a Scotch officer, with his battalion at the head of the foot, made a i^^alhint defence, while Prince Rupert of the Palatinate drove the cavalry before him. The Scotch managers, laying their account that his Majesty, after he had subdued his English oppo- nents, would turn his victorious arms against them, ordered Loudon, their chancellor, to issue forth warrants for callini; a convention of Estates, in order to put the country into a proper posture of defence. Notwithstanding all that Hamilton and Sir Lewis Stewart could say. they voted them- selves a legal convention. Charles being inform- ed of their meeting, by his missives limited their dcli!)erations to the supply of their army in Ire- land, the procuring of the arrears due to them from the Knglish, and the preventing of ground- less jealousies of himself, and restricted them troni doing any thing towards raising forces for the Knglish Parliament. Instigated by the Earl of Derby, Morton, Koxburgh, Rinnoul, Lanark.. Anuandalc and Carnwath, wrote to the Queen, CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 233 that unless his Majesty detached three or four thousand of his troops to Scotland, that country would probably be lost to him. The English Parliament having intercepted this letter, remit- ted it to the convention. Upon which these Lords submitted, and promised to interfere no fur- ther with the English affairs, and were all excus- ed, except Carnwath, who appeared to have ac- cused his countrymen to the King as rebels, and their commissioners as favourers of the rebellion in England, in order to ruin him and his children. He fled, and was fined L. 10,000 Scots for the public service. The affecting sermons and edifying behaviour of the Scotch ministers, who had attended their commissioners at the making of the late treaty at London, had rendered many of the English pu- ritans fond of the nearest union and conformity in religious matters with the Scots. A correspon- dence for that effect had ever since subsisted. Their distress, since the battle of Edgehill, had rendered a league with the Scots most necessa- ry. After some warning, the commissioners from the English Parliament, attended by JMessrs. Marshal and Nye from the Westmin- ster Assembly, came to Edinburgh in the be- ginning of August 164^3, in order to solicit an amicable and religious league. Meanwhile, the Assembly met and received a letter from C^harles, indorsed to Sir Thomas Hope, Lord Advocate, and those convened with him. Notwithstanding his Majesty's shyness to acknowledge them an Asse?Mf/, they boldly censured the ministers of Auchterarder, for refusing to publish the decla- ration emitted against the cross petition of the Bonders, in which they had urged the priw couu- 2h *23if A COMPENDIOUS HISTORV OF Tllli cil to publish his INIajesty's reasons lor making- war on his English Parliament, without publish- ing their vindication aloni^ with it. Instii^ated by Archibald Johnston, who had lately been made a knii^ht, they suf^i^ested to tiie Convention of Es- tates, 'J'hat, as the Kin^^'s war with his English Parliament was directed against the reformation of religion, the Protestant faith was in danger; that the English had helped them in their dis- tress ; that if the serious part of the church of England be ruined, that of Scotland cannot ex- pect long to survive; that the intended uniformi- ty of discipline and worship between the two kingdoms, would much strengthen the Protestant interest in general; and that his JMajesty's actions had so often contradicted his promises, that they could not trust him. They enacted, I'hat pro- fessors of divinity, being ministers, might be cho- sen commissioners to the Assembly, either by the university or Presbytery ; that there should be no burials in churches where God is worshipped, and his sacraments dispensed. They appointed a new supply of ministers for the north of Ireland, and a committee to incjuire into the nature and pro- per remedies of witchcraft, for which many about this time were delated and burnt; and that mi- nisters and magistrates should search for all books calculated to promote separation from pastors; ami that all sentences of supreme judicatories should remain in force till repealed by themselves; that no deposed clergymen should be rej)oned, lait by the advice of the Assembly; and they con- tninedali former acts for the sanctification of the Sabbath, and that masters should be censured, who |)ermitted their servants to transgress. — As the customary repetiiion of the dodoiom/ and Gh- 1 CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 235 riapatri, at the end of public worship, and kneel- ing in the pulpit, had offended not a few of the godly, IMessrs. Henderson, moderator, D. Dick- son, and D. Calderwood, were appointed to draw up a directory for the worship of God. Finding it difficult to procure candidates with the Gaelic ianguage for the Highlands, they appointed such students as could speak it, to be preferred in the bestowing of burseries, and in order to get the Highlands and Isles supplied as well as the low country, while probationers were scarce, they be- sought his INIajesty to accept of a list of three candidates for a vacancy in the low country, and of one in the Highlands, in order to a presenta- tion. All the commissioners from burghs and shires, having supplicated an abolishment of pa- tronage, it was recommended to Presbyteries to devise a proper plan of settling congregations, which might remove all contests between patrons, Presbyteries, and people. They prohibited all ministers, having landed estates, to sit members in the Parliament or Convention. They appointed the Earl of Huntley to be admonished for his ne- glect of family worship, his not communicating, and his retaining of Popish servants. They ex- communicated Roger Lindsay for blasphemy, and appointed John Seaton to put from his house, a woman with whom it was suspected he kept a criminal correspondence. They agreed upon a religious and solemn covenant with the English Parliamentarians ; and, at the request of the Westminster Assembly, appointed IMessrs. A. Henderson, R. Douglas, S. Rutherford, R. Bailie, and G. Gillespie, ministers, the Earl of Cassilis, Lord Maitland, afterwards Earl of Lauderdale, and Archibald Johnston, now a lord of session, by the name of Warrlsion, ruling elders, to join them. 236 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE After the Assembly and Convention of Estates had approvcil of the .soh-mn hague a fid vovtuanty it was transmitted to l^ondon, and with some small alterations approved by the Assembly, and botli houses of Parliame!U. lieini^ remittt d to E(linl)ur*;h, the Commission ol the General As- sembly, C)ct. 1 1th, apjiointed it to be sworn and subscribed throiij;!! the whole cliurch, and, by missives to Pie.sl)yteries, directed them how to forward the same. In consequence hereof, the (^ommittee appointed by the Convention of Es- tates next day a])pointed it to be sworn and sub- scribed by all the subjects, under pain of beini^ held and punished as enemies to relig-ion and his majesty's lionoui, and peace of the kint^doms, and to have their goods confiscated for the use of the public, and not to be allowed to enjoy any benefit, j)lace, or office within the kini;doin, and appointed sherifls and other magistrates, to as- sist ministers in promoting this engagement. As this and some other deeds of this period imjiosing their covenants under such penalties, cannot be justified, it is agreeable to find none but Mon- trose and Monro, two military men, one of whom, at least, afterward turned a murderer of his bre- thren, yo/c/YVj/ urging these covenants. Every where, the solemn league being read the one Sab- bath, it was, with marvellous unanimity, sworn the next, by both men and women, and subscrib- ed chiefly by men. Nor do I find, that the de- cliners of it ever suffered in the least for so doing. Nov. ijf^, I61-3, the Committee of Estates and commissioners from England finished their trea- ty ul friendship. !)earing. That the solciiui Ica^i/i: and (uwiuint should be sworn and subscrilied by all riiidvs in both kingdoms; that K^,000 CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 237 foot, and 3,000 horse should immediately march to the assistance of the English Parliament, with victuals and pay for the space of forty days ; that this army should be commanded by a Scotch ge- neral, but subject to the direction of the two Far- liaments,and their committees; that the whole ex- pences contracted by the Scots, should be repaid to them at the end of the war ; that their army should receive L30,000 SterHng per month out of the estates of the English papists and other malignants, and have 1^.100,000 per advance; that the Scots shall assist with their credit in raising L.200,000 for that purpose, and for pay- ment of their troops in Ireland, whicli shall be repaid them at the end of the war ; that no paci- fication shall be made with his majesty, without the consent of both kingdoms ; that the Scotch troops in England shall be no v/ise employed, but to ansvv^er the ends of this treaty ; that the English shall assist the Scots in any like extre- mity ; and that eight ships shall protect their coasts and trade. In January i64^i, the Scots army, to the amount of 21,500, marched into England, under the com- mand of old General Lesly, now earl of Leven, and John Bailie lieutenant-general of the, horse, and David Lesly of the foot ; and notwithstand- ing the Independents giving the honour to Crom- v/ell, who had perhaps gone off in his wounds, had the principal hand in gaining the famous vic- tory of Marston Moor, in which Charles lost about ten thousand of his forces, and all his baggage. To oblige them to return home, that Charles might at least recover the west of England, Mon- trose, Crawford, Nithsdale, Aboyne, ()gilvy, Rao, Herreis, he. entered into an association at Ox- I?JS A coMPKNniors history of THF ford, to return to Scotland, and raise forces for his majrsty. Antrim undertook to send them 10,000 Irish, under the crunniand of Alexander ^TDon- ald, a Scot. Huntley took the field with a con- piderahle body, which Ar^yle quickly suppressed. In ri'lurninLr northward, through Westmoreland, IMontrose raised a body of forces, and set up his majesty's standard at Dumfries. Hut the She- riff of Teviotdale marchinf^ a body of country- men toward them, they fled at the sifrht, and IMontrose himself escaped to Carlisle. I'he com- mission of the General Assembly laid him under the lesser excommunication, and ordered it to be published fiom all the pulpits in the kingdom. Exasperated l)y this, he pushed his way north- "uard alon^- with two others, and put himself at the head of the Irish ragamuffins, who, in smal- ler numbers than was expected, had just landed in Argyleshirc, where they committed the most barbarous ravages upon ministers and others, whom they looked on as most hearty in the cove- iianling interest. lie conducted them eastward through Badenoch and Athole, where many join- ed them, and in Perthshire, a whole regiment raised by lord Kilpont. Argyle, with a body of undisciplined countrymen, thought to attack thcni : but .Montrose fell upon them before they were ready ; and, especially in their flight, killed many of them. After ravaging Argyleshire, and turning it into a kind of desert, he marched to- ward Lochaber and (ilenco, in order to collect his friends in that country. Meanwhile, the Scotch commissioners to the Westminster Assembly were but coldly received by many ; nor till after a warm debate, were they allowed to be members. But after their ad- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 239 mission, much deference was paid to their judg- ment ; and they had no small hand in promoting of Presbyterian government. None of them made a more shining appearance than Gillespy the youngest. The General Assembly, meeting at Edinburgh, in May 16i4', received letters from the Presbytery, which attended the army in Eng- land,— from tbeir commissioners at London, — and from the Westminster Assembly, — together with petitions from Ireland for supply of minis- ters,— to all which they returned favourable an- swers. They declared the bond of association at Oxford framed by Montrose and his fellow cove- nant breakers, perfidious^ and calculated to throw this church and kingdom into confusion ; and empowered their commission to })roceed against all that entered into it to the highest excommu- nication, unless they should publicly acknowledge their offence. They appointed ministers to de- late to their Presbyteries, all such as manifested dissatisfaction to the covenanted cause. They wrote to the churches in Holland, thanking them for sending supplies of money to their distressed brethren in Ireland, and informing them of their own critical circumstances and covenant with God. They appointed ministers to be more dili- gent in raising the fines annexed by law to scan- dals, and applying them to pious uses. They ap- pointed a contribution in favours of their Protes- tant brethren in Ireland, and gave order for sup- plying their armies with ministers; and appoint- ed a solemn fast to confess their sins, lament their miscM'ies, and supplicate relief from God. The Parliament meeting, June 4th, made a number of acts for preventing the desertion of their troops, and for levying others with proper expe- 240 A COMPENDIOUS HISTOIIY OF THE dition ; — for decLaring it treasonable to take arms or hold out houses a<;ainst the Estates ; — for ra- tification of the late cunvcnlion and committee oj Estates, and their acts, particularly these which approved and imposed the solemn league and co- venant ; — for a])pointing commissioners for pro- moting peace between his Majesty and Parliament, upon proper terms; — for paying to the burghs the debts owing them for arms and ammunition; — for approving the conduct of Argyle and Burleigh, in suppressing the northern insurrections ; — for preventing the profanation of the Sabbath, and of public fasts, by captions for debt or the like; — for granting divorces, when shrewd tokens of adultery are proven; — for prohibiting fares and markets on Mondays ; — for restraining innkeepers from unnecessary selling of drink on the Lord's day; — for prohibiting patronages belonging to particular ministers; for preventing application of vacant stipends to private uses ; — for securing to mini- sters, universities, hospitals, and schools, the re- venues belonging to them from the estates of forfeited malignants; — for renewing the commis- sion for valuation of the tithes and assignations of manses and glebes to ministers ; — for carrying on the war against Montrose and other enemies, and supporting of such as shall be disabled in it; and for continuing the commission for conservation of the peace with England, a])pointed b}' the former Parliament, non-covenanters excepted. When the Assembly met in January 1645, they approved the directonj for public worship framed by the Westminster Assembly, with some explications and limitations ; as also some over- tures for the .advancement of learning in schools and colleges, and for the maintenance of bursars. CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 241 They authorised their commission to approve the Westminster directory for church government, and ordination of ministers, leaving room to examine, whether doctors have power to administer the sa- craments? and what are the respective rights of Presbytery and people, in the calling of ministers? They emitted a solemn warning, calling all ranks to a proper improvement of God's great mercies and alarming judgments, and appointed that all such ministers as did not read it from their pul- pits, should be censured. They prohibited the observation of Christmas, and other superstitious days, the abuses at penny weddings, and the re- poning of deposed ministers to their former char- ges. They represented to his Majesty his great wickedness, in permittmg the Irish invaders, un- der his commission, to exercise cruelty upon, and murder multitudes of his best subjects ; in his permission of Popish idolatry in his family and kingdom ; in his authorising the hook of sports, and profanation of the Lord's day thereby encou- raged ; in his neglecting to punish the notorious scandal and profane behaviour of his court ; his stopping of his ears against the petitions of his faithful subjects; his compliance with Papists, and concluding an advantageous cessation of arms with the massacrers in Ireland ; and in his following the counsels of wicked men, and opposing the re- formation of his kingdom. They encouraged their commissioners at Westminster, further to pro- mote the religious uniformity between Scotland and England, and appointed Mr. Henderson to assist the English commissioners, in the religious part of the treaty at Uxbridge, with his INIajesty. They appointed ministers to attend their eleven 242 A COMfENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE new reginu'nts, and others to supply their Pro- testant brethren in Ireland. The Parliament, meeting at Edinburgh on the 24'th oi" the same month, appointed an augmen- tation of ten or twelve thousand men to their ar- my, intended to reduce Montrose and his fol- lowers ; and made a number of acts for defray- ing the expenses of the war ; and for putting the country into a posture of defence, by mustering all men between 1 6 and (JO, on one day, that they might see what arms or men were wanting, and might train such as appeared in the military ex- ercises.— Montrose took Dundee by storm, and set it on fire in several places ; and, about the same time, murdered multitudes in St. Andrew's and Kirkaldv, almost in cold blood, rendering two hundred women widows in one day. Finding that the covenanters' troops were divided into two bodies, he first attacked the weaker under Urie, and then the stronger under Bailie, and routed them both. The Parliament being there- fore obliged to meet again in July, a raging pes- tilence kept them from Edinburgh, and drove them from Stirling to Perth. They appointed a new levy of ten thousand troops to withstand IMontrose; and devised methods for paying them. They ratified the Assembly's act, approving of the VVesminster directory for public worship ; and under penalties suited to men*s difterent ranks, prohibitid profane swearing, drunkenness, and mocking at religion ; and ai)pointed deputies in eve ly parish to levy fines imposed for scandals, and to punish the scandalous in their persons. Finding that the covt nanted forces were assem- bled at Perth, Montrose attempted to ])ush south- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 243 ward, to favour his junction with a body of horse, which he expected from his Majesty : and, to draw off Bailie's attention, M'Donald, with'liis Irish, fell upon the Campbells, near Cupar An- gus, murdering all that he met with. But Bailie still hanging close to him, Montrose was obliged to return northward, once and again, to levy more troops. At last, when the covenanters' newly raised forces had gone home, he marched up to the Bridge of Erne, in order to attack their remain- ing army. But they, expecting reinforcements from Fife, would not stir from their entrench- ments. He therefore marched southward by Kin- ross ; and, then turning westward to Stirling, burnt into a desart the parishes of Muckart and Dollar, which pertained to Argyle. Informed of his motions, the covenanters marched the near way to Stirling, burnt the houses of Menstry and Airthry, which belonged to malignants ; but did no hurt to their tenants ; and came up with him at Kilsyth, August 15, 1645, where he gave them battle before their expected western assist- ants came up; and, with very small loss on his side, killed most of their troops, giving, it is said, no quarter to such as offered to surrender Ter- rible was the havock made in the pursuit; and terrible the case of the nation, in consequence of It — many thousands having lost their fathers, brothers, or children. While the covenanting no- bles and gentry fled oflf* to England and Ireland, Montrose took up his head quarters at Bothwcl, and, by detachments of his troops, relieved his friends, and raised contributions from Edinbugh to the Western Ocean. The malignant noblemen flocked about him ; and Charles sent him a com- mission, appointing him Captain Genera), and 2U A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE Deputy Governor of Scotland ; and empowered hini to call a Parliament, and create Knii^hts to sit in it. By proclamations at Kilinhurijli, I.in- litli»;o\v, aii(l(.la>i;o\v, he summoned a I'arliaincnt to meet at (ilas^ow, on the 'JOth of October en- suin^^, and made M'Donalil, his murderous lieute- nant, a Knight. Amidst their distress, envy of pref 'rments and carnal stupidity had fearfully prevailed among the covenanters; and not a few, amidst the licen- tiousness of war, had become openly profane. Tlie raging pestilence, and the six bloody defeats they had received from Montrose, together with the alarming sermons of their faithful ministers, awakened them not a little. Finding no help in man, and that their apostate and barbarous ene- my carried all before him, they betook themselves to solemn lasting and prayer; and the Lord quick- ly appeared for their relief. Intending to join him with all the forces they could collect, the Earls of Home and Koxburgh invited IMontrose to march towards the south-east of Scotland. To favour their junction with him, he took up his head quarters at Philiphaugh, beside Selkirk. jNIean- w bile David Lesly and Colonel Middleton march- ing N\ ith part of the Scotch army from England, aj)prehended Home and Koxburgh; and then took tlicii route by Dunglass and Haddington, where none watched their motions; and then suddenly turning southward, through the favour of the night and mist, unexpectedly fell upon Montrose's army, from which the (Gordons and M'Donalds liad lately gone home with their j)luiider, and killed or took prisoners the most of them. 'J'he most malignant of the prisoners N\ere tried and executed as traitors and muiderers. The iMai- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 245 quis of Douglas, with other Lords and Gentle- men of the low country, made their peace with the Committee of Estates. D. Lesly returned with his army to England, and left iMiddleton, with the horse, to pursue Montrose, who had got back into Athole. M'Donald, with his Irish mur- derers, continued ravaging Argyleshire; putting almost every thing to fire or sword. ArdingUiss conducted about twelve hundred of the poor in- habitants to Monteith, to live upon the JMalig- nants. But Inchbrake and the Athole men fall- ing upon them at CaJlender, killed not a few of them, and forced the rest to flee towards Stirling. Argyle carried them thence to Lennoxshire, to live upon the lands of Lord Napier, and other ma- lignants. He then brought over a part of the army from Ireland, at whose landing in his coun- try, M'Donaldand his Irishmen fled to the West- ern Isles, and thence into Ireland. IMontrose, having got northward, formed a new association with the Earls of Seaforth and Sunderland, Lord Lovat, and a great many other of the principal chiefs. But the ecclesiastical commission hav- ing published a declaration against this league ; and the committee of Estates an indemnity to all such as should desert it, except the Earl of Sea- forth ; and Middleton marching northward with his troops, all the subscribers, except Seaforth, quickly disclaimed the bond, and several of them professed their sorrow for joining in it. Charles having fled into the Scotch army in England, or- dered JMontrose to lay down iiis arms: upon which he retired into Germany, and assisted the Emper- or in oppressing and murdering the Protestants. Meanwhile, the Parliament, which met at St. Andrew's in the end of November 164J, made a '216 A COMPENDIOCS HISTORY OF THE variety of acts — for approviiifj^ the conduct of (^ien'Tal Bailie and the Lords Monti^oinery and Sinclair, at the battle of Kilsyth, and for levying new taxes and forces for suppressing the mali^^- nants; — for the relief of such as had Ijcen plun- dered by Montrose and Ids party, and fur punish- \l^^ <»f the principal prisoners that had been ta- ken at Philiphauqh. They prohibited all hold- in"^ of lairs on Mondays or Saturdays, and all printing" of books relative to religion, without a licence from the Assembly or Commission, or of others without a licence from his Majesty's secre- tary ; — and all lykewakes under pain of L.20 Scots for each fault : and appointed Presbyteries to have the sole |)ower of planting- vacant parish- es, the patrons of which are excommunicated, or have not sworn the covenant; and that schools l)e erected \n evciy |)arish, with a salary not below 100, and not above 200 merks Scots, besides usual percjuisites ; and appointed a Committee of Es- tates to manage the government of the nation »luring the interval of Parliament, the members of which are allov/ed a salary for their work. When the (Tcneral Assembly met at Edini)urgh in the beginning of June 1616, Charles, from the Scots army, sent them a very humble letter, ex- pressing his grief for the divided state of his king- dom, and his earnest desire to comply with the requests of his Parliament, and recommending himself and hisdistracted kingdom to their j)rayers. Hy Messrs. Henderson, Blair, Douglas, James (ru- thry, and A. Cant, they presented to him a most Christian and loyal answer, with other recpiests. They enacted tiiat ante- nuptial fornication should 'iiQ censured in the ordinary manner, as aftt r acts of justice do not atone for former faults; that CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 24-7 every professor in the universities present to the Assembly a copy of his prelections ; that the in- terest of congregations in the calling and admis- sion of ministers, and what relates to it, be ma- turely considered by Presbyteries and Synods, and their proposals for preventing contentions, be returned; that compliers with Montrose ought to be censured; that no students of divinity shall preach to the people, till they be regularly licens- ed; that no ships should launch from harbour, or loose anchor on the Lord's day — nor any children go out of the kingdom without testimonials from their Presbytery, and without bringing back such, relative to their conduct when abroad. They laid the Earl of Seaforth under the higher excommu- nication. And, awakened by the rage of sword and pestilence, they pointed out the corruptions of ministers, in their private and public conduct, and the proper remedies thereof. They approv- ed some overtures respecting the mutual corres- pondence of Presbyteries, the assistance of poor students, and the planting of kirks and schools in the Highlands, with candidates that understand their language. They wrote to the Parliament of England, and to the Wesminster Assembly, commending their past endeavours, and beseech- ing their further diligence in promoting an uni- formity in reformation between the two king- doms. They ordered their solemn thanks to be given to Mr. David Calderwood, for the trouble he had taken in collecting the history of this church; appointed him and his clerk to be indem- nified for their labour, and the work to be pub- lished as soon as possible. The confusions of these times prevented the publication. His abridgment of it was published about thirty LM8 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THK years after, as a testimony ai^^ainst the then do- iuineerin<; Ki)iseopacy. An attempt uas made about thirty years a^o to i)iiblish the full history; but subscriptions failed. Let us now, for a while, turn our eyes toward En«;land. Scarcely had the Parliamentarians, by the victory of Marston .Moor, perceived themselves able to withstand all the furces that his Majesty could brin^^ aj^ainst them, than they ungratefully provoked their Scotch deliverers to a breach. To shut them up to mutiny, desertion, or oppression of the country by taking- free quarters, they with- held their pay, pretending that the interest would sufficiently balance the delay of payment. Being thus obliged to take free quarters, these were dishonestly over-rated. Want of subsistence oblig- ed them to want ministers, which occasioned a profane licentiousness in severals. Sometimes the English Parliament, for weeks, or even for months, neglected to answer the remonstrances of their conmiissioners. Their expresses were sometimes intercepted, and their letters opened, while the House of Commons screened the olfenders. In their treaty with Charles, at Uxbridge, they changed al'.nost every thing in the propositions made to his Majesty, which marked the power of, or did honour to the Scots, and assumed all to themselves. Notwithstanding all these provo- cations, the Scots, regardful of their solemn co- venant with God, did all that in them lay, and even renounced part of their own interest, in or- der to promote the peace and welfare of England. In INIay IfJlO", Charles, after he had empower- ed Ormond and Digby to clap up a peace with the Irish Papists, which almost established their religion to tliem, in order that he might obtain CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 219 their faithful service against his Protestant sub- jects in Britain, — he fled from Oxford when it was upon the point of being blocked up by the parliament's army ; and in company with two or three more, rode within a few miles of London ; then directed his course toward the sea ; and at last resolved to throw himself into the Scotch ar- my, which lay at Newcastle ; and continued with them about eight months. Commissioners from the Committee of Estates presented to him some propositions for peaoe ; and these above-mention- ed, from the Assembly, laboured to remove his prejudices against Presbytery and the covenants. At least pretending that he believed Episcopacy to be of divine appointment, and that he had bound himself by his coronation oath to support it, he and Sir Robert Murray debated this point in a series of letters w ith Mr. A. Henderson ; in which he pretended, that the English, in their reformation, had preciselij followed the apostolic appointment, and the universal pattern of the pri- mitive church ; and that where the succession of episcopal priesthood ceaseth, there is no valid ad- ministration of the sacraments ; that no reforma- tion of churches is lawful, but under the direction of royal authority ; that no real defects could be pointed out in the reformation established by King Edward and Queen Elizabeth ; that Pres- byterian government was never known till Cal- vin introduced it at Geneva; that the unani- mous consent of the Fathers is the true standard of interpreting scripture ; and that the clause in his coronation oath respecting religion being in- serted in favours of the church, the Parliament cannot dissolve that obligation without her con- sent. In his replies, Mr. Henderson shewed, 2 iv 2^0 A COMI'KNIMOUS HISTUUY OF THE I'liat many serious Christians and learned di- vines, had all alon^ coni[)lained of the imperfec- tion of the l*]ni;lish icformation ; that, to the ^nief of other Protestant churches, it had occa- sioned no small contention and schism ; that all subjects, hein*; under the whole law of God, and hound to take care for their own and posterity's eternal salvation, ou^ht to reform themselves, if j)rinces be net^bi^ent or attached to prevalent cor- ruptions ; that in the ajjostoHcal a^e, there was no dilfereTice between bishops and presbyters ; that not the j)ractice of the church some a<^es alter Cliri^t, or the consent of fathers, but the word of God, is our rule in religion ; that it is now impossible to know the universal practice of the primitive churcli, or the unanimous consent of the Fathers ; that, according to these Fathers, the scriptures must be interj)reted by themselves, and our faith not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God ; — that when the formal reason of an oath is removed, the obligation of it ceaseth ; and when the Parliament repeal laws, the coronation oath doth not bind to oppose their deed ; that his royal and learned father, never ad- mitted episcopacy to be ajipointed by Christ or his apostles, and all the reforming divines, even of I'^ngland, had reckoned it merely an human ap- pointment ; that the Westminster Assembly had jjroved Presbyterian government founded on the scripture ; that magistrates' supremacy over the church in spiritual affairs cannot be justified from the word of (iod or right reason. The felt approaches of death, probably hastened by grief, that Charles, by his obstinate refusal to comply with his Parliament, was like to ruin himself and his kingdoms, obliged Mv. Henderson to break CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 251 off his answer to Charles's fourth letter, and retire to his country. The Episcopalians gave out, that he died of remorse, that he had occasioned so much trouble to so pious a king, and published a forged recantation, as if made by him on his death- bed. But the General Assembly declared it false and scandalous. Old General Lesly, at the head of an hundred of his officers, on their knees, in an humble sup- plication, earnestly besought Charles to satisfy his English Parliament, and favour the solemn League and Covenant. Lord Loudon represented to him his absolute necessity of com])lying with their demands, if he inclined to keep the throne for himself, or his family. Meanwhile, the Inde- pendents and their friends, afraid of Charles's com- pliance with the Parliament's demands, and par- ticularly with Presbytery by the Scots influence, got a vote carried in the Parliament, that there was no further need of their army in England. Hereupon their pay was withheld, their quarters were straitened by the Parliament's forces ; and they had almost nothing but the four northern counties to support them. Want of pay obliged them to take free quarters, which, by the Secta- rians' means, occasioned loud cries of oppression. They also published scurrilous defamations of them, as covenant-breakers, apostates, and com- pilers with malignants. These and the like abuses made the Scotch army heartily tired of England, and anxious to return home, as soon as they could secure the payment of the arrears due to them. They produced proper claims for al- most a million Sterling: but, when the English offered them ^200,000 in hand, and security for .€200,000 more, they, to testify their disinterest- 2^2 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THP. cclncss and love of peace, accepted it, September 2, 164-6, in place of full payment. About sixteen days after this pecuniary agree- ment was fully settled, Charles, in despite of all that had or could be said to persuade him, refus- ed to comply with the Knglish Parliament's pro- positions for peace. Hereupon that Parliament voted, that his person should be disposed of as they thought fit. Against this deed the Scotch commissioners earnestly remonstrated, and insist- ed for a joint consultation with respect to the dis- posal of his majesty's person. Loudon repre- sented to the English commissioners, That, by the solemn league, both kingdoms were united to God, and to their king, and to one another ; and that after the Scots had done so much to promote the welfare of England, it was neither consistent with honour, conscience, or equity, to dispose of his majesty's person, without consent of both kingdoms ; and he, as in the above-mentioned remonstrance, insisted that he might be allowed to reside in or near London, that so an agreement between him and his Parliament might be speed- ily effected ; — or at least that commissioners might be again sent to him to explain their pro- positions, and endeavour to remove his scruples. Argyle, in his address to both houses of Parlia- ment, begged them to promote the work of refor- mation according to the solemn league, and nei- ther to persecute true pieiy, nor to allow lawless liberty ; and that they would endeavour to main- tain the peace of the two kingdoms, and study- to reform, not ruin his majesty, and to regulate, but not destroy monarchy. \\'hilc the Scots were labouring to persuade Ciiarles to agree with his English Parliament, CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 253 he, finding their army heartily attached to their solemn league, soon wearied of them, and repeat- edly applied to his English Parliament for their allowance of his safe dwelling in London, or near to it. They appointed him Holmby, in the coun* ty of Northampton, for his residence, and agreed, That as soon as he should come thither, and the Scots retire from England, they would concur with them in endeavouring to obtain his consent to their propositions. These resolutions being transmitted to Charles, and to Scotland, the Par- liament there earnestly besought him to comply with theproposals, shewed him the reasons of so do- ing, and the danger of his refusing, as they could not, in that case, assist him in recovering his king- dom ; and that both kingdoms would be obliged to take some joint course for disposing of his person, till he should give satisfaction to his Parliaments. While he was with the Scotch army, he earnest- ly solicited them to join with the Episcopalians, that they might be enabled to destroy their sec- tarian enemies. But, his proposals being laid be- fore the Assembly in June, they declared as warmly against joining with the one as with the other. And the Commission in December, re- monstrated against his coming to Scotland, as he would probably act up to his former principles, and endeavour to draw them from their sokiiDi league; and as it would confirm the English in their suspicions of underhand dealing with him, before he came to their army; and as it would involve them in breach of covenant, and a bloody war with England. When the Scotch Parliament met in January 1647, they, considering that notwithsanding his promise to their army when he came to it, and 2.3 l< A COMPKNniOUS HISTORY OF THE the many addresses presented to him from this kingdom, he* continued stifly to refuse the propo- sitions which the Ilni^lish Parliament had made to him ; and that he liad requested said Parlia- ment i'nv allowance to reside in or near London, and they had allowed him to reside at Ilolmby house, they consented that he repair to either of these |)laces, and there remain till lie should give satisfaction to hotli kingdoms with respect to their propositions of peace — providing that no injury he done to his person, or change of govern- ment, from that of the three preceding years, be attempted, and that his posterity be no wise pre- judiced with respect to their succession to the throne. Along with this declaration transmitted to the English Parliament, they insisted, that when his Majesty shall come to Holmliy House, committees from both Lords and Commons shall l)e apj)ointed to deal with him to procure his con- sent to the propositions for peace; and that Com- missioners from Scotland should have free access to deal with him for the same purpose; — and that no pacification should be made without the con- sent of both kingdoms. The other acts of this J*arliament were — for suppressing the remains of 3Iontrose\s faction ; for reinstating of some who Iiad been forfeited for their junction with him ; for distributing L. .0000 Sterling among the chil- dren and widows of such as had been slain in the late war; for prosecuting excommunicated per- sons as rebels, after forty days contumacy ; for suppression of all observance of Christmas and other superstitious seasons, by the removal of col- liers, sailers, or the like; for reparation of dama- l^es suft'cred for conscientious adherence to the religion and liberties of the kingdom; for declar- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 255 ing" null and void all engaerements to Montrose, McDonald, or their associates ; for the lords of privy council's taking the children or pupils of Papists from them, and committing them to such as will train them up in the Protestant religion, and in virtuous behaviour; and for disbanding all their troops but 7,200. Horrible have been the outcries of Jacobites and their friends against the Scotch army and Parliament, as if they had sold Charles, their King, for L. 200,000 Sterling ; for it seems they never got more of the milion that was owing, and L.400,000 that was promised them. But it ought to be considered, that Charles did not come to the Scotch army but unwillingly, as his last shift, and that without either warning or terms; and that all the money they got, and much more, was due to them for what laborious and useful ser- vice they had performed for the English, ere Charles came near them, and was granted to them entirely upon that footing, without the least mention of the King in the agreement ; that the agreement relative to this money was concluded before there was any treaty respecting his Majes- ty's person, whether he should go to Scotland or remain in England, and five months before he went from Newcastle to Holmby; that the affair of the money was finally settled in September 2, and the warm debates iDCtween the Scotch Com- missioners and English Parliament concerning the disposal of Charles's person, did not take place before October following; that, during his stay in the Scotch army, he had repeatedly petitioned the English Parliament for allowance to come to London, or some place near to it, which is much the same with what the Scots yielded to ; that 2.^fj A COMPKNDfOUS HISTORY OF TIIK lUirinc^ the montlis of November, Deccm!)er, and January, the Parliament had laboured to per- suade him to a compliance with the propositions of peace ; and a few days before he removed to riolmby house, the Scots had offered to sacrifice their lives and fortunes in the re-establishment of him on his throne, if he would but do so; and that when the Scotch army returned iiome, there was no appearance of things taking- the turn which they aflorwards did ; that the Scots en- trusted his Majesty's person to the Parliament of England, who were, by duty, by oath, and by interest, as deeply bound to protect him as them- selves, and would have done it, had not Charles's trusting of himself to the Sectarian army occa- sioned their tall, and so hastened his own ruin. No sooner had the Scots heard that the Kng- lish armv, now under Sectarian management, had his Majesty in their power, than they added the Earls of Loudon and Lanark to their former Commissioners, in order to ])ersuade him to a full compliance with the [)ropositions of peace. In- stead hereof, Charles, finding his expectations from the English army disappointed, especially by means of Lanark, attempted to engage the Scots Commissioners to commence a war against the English, in order to his restoration. Hopes of annuities, by which he might relieve his deep- ly indebted estate, drew Loudon himself into the snare. Returning home about the beginning of I'obruary 1018, these Commissioners, chiefly Lou- don and Lauderdale, represented to their bre- thren, that his IMajesty had been very ill used by the English Parliament, and could put no trust in tlu' arn^y; that, contrary to their covenant, the interest of religion, and i)eace of the kingdom, CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 257 that Parliament had extended their demands up- on him, and had absolutely refused to allow the Scots to concur with them in settling matters with him as their common Sovereign ; that, after dissenting from their procedure, they had dealt with Charles to confirm the solemn league^ establish Presbyterian government^ and disallow the heresies and sects presently swarming in England ; that he is willing that the covenant be confirmed by act of Parliament, providing that none be constrain- ed to take it ; that he is willing that Presbyteri- an government be established for three years, providing that he and his family be allowed the use of the liturgy ; that he is willing to concur in an act for the suppression of sectaries and blas- phemers, and to have it secured by an act of Parliament ; that neither he nor his heirs shall quarrel any for their obedience to the acts of the last triennial Parliament of Scotland, or its com- mittees. Meanwhile, the English Parliament sent down some commissioners to cultivate har- mony with the Scotch Parliament, and to notify their intentions to pay speedily, at least part of the L. 200,000 which they owed to their armies, which had served them in England and Ireland. During these litigations in England, the Gene- ral Assembly met at Edinburgh in August 1647, had established some directions for secret and fa- mily worship; had prohibited persons' withdraw- ment from public worship in their own congrega- tions ; — after a double reading of the Westmin- ster Confession offaith^ and calling of all such as doubted of any thing in it, to j)ro[)ose their ob- jections to a committee appointed to answer them, had approved it, but explaining' part of chap. xxxi. to mean only, that, in extraordinary cases, mini- 2 1. 258 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE sters and other fit persons, by virtue of tlicir of- fice, or by a 7nen' call of the ^^a^i^trates, picking out parti(*ular pumiiIkts, as in the Westminster Assenihlv, may hohl Synods without anjj drlcga- Hon I'rotn Ihnr churches; had prohibited the spread of erroneous books, which the Knirlish sectaries were inclined to pour into the country ; liad ex- tracted and approved in eight propositions the principal heads of Gilespy's Hundred and eleven projHhsitionSy which they had remitted to the con- sideration of the most famous foreign divines, as well as recommended to the examination of their own ministers and doctors of universities, in or- der that they may send up their judgment of them to the next Assembly ; and had written a letter to their countrymen abroad, informing them of (jod's mercy's to them, and of their pre- sent difficulties, and begging their sympathy and prayers; had formed some overtures for excite- ment of teachers in universities, and for baptiz- ing children of beggars, ^c. ; and had appointed some to review the metre version of the Psalms, transmitted tothem by the Westminster Assembly. Next year, their Commission had an uncom- mon struggle with the state. In the beginning of March 161^8, the l\irliament met, and began to resolve on a war with the J^^nglish army, in or- der to rescue his Majesty out of their hands, and restore him to his throne, the Ecclesiastical (Com- mission conceiving, that all his concessions which LoTidon had mentioned, were neitiier satisfacto- ry, nor much to be trusted, especially as most of the ufhc'crs intended for comnuuui in the project- ed engagement, were too evidently enemies to a covenanted reformation — presented to ihe Par- liaiucut d remunslruncc against that undertaking. CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 259 as dans^erous to both church and state. Nor could the Parliament hinder their faithful publi- cation of it, and reading of it in all the churches of Edinburgh. Not long after, the Commission be- ing informed that, contrary to the large treaty with the English in 1643, it had been carried in Parliament, to surprise and take Berwick and Carlisle, and place garisons in them, and that Ar- gyle, and fifty-six other members, had protested against it, they besought the Parliament, that nothing might be done before the lawfulness of the war and principal state of the question be agreed upon ; that the breaches of the covenant and peace of the kingdoms by the Sectarians should be made evident, and reparations unsuc- cessfully sought, before any war be commenced; that if war should be found necessary, it might be so stated, as to offend none of the English that stedfastly adhere to the covenant; and carried on without any concurrence with Papists, Prelatists, or malignants ; that his Majesty's concessions should be declared unsatisfactory, and security obtained from him, That he, for himself, heirs, and successors, shall agree to the acts ratifying the solemn league, and establishing Presbyterian government, the Directory for worship, andConfession of Faith in all his dominions, and never make any opposition to them ; and that none but such as had been faithful to the covenanted cause should be entrusted with the management of public af- fairs ; and that there might be no engagement for war in favours of his Majesty, in which the church should not have the same interest as in the solemn leamie After some wrangling, the Parliament, instead of coming to any agreement with the Commis- HGO A COMPENDIOUS HISTOHY OF THE sion, reflected lii^lily upon them for meddling witli civil allairs, thouj^^li it is plain these in hand deeply aflec ted their solemn covenant with (iod, and the e*tal)lishment of religion in tlie three kin<;doms, and tended to plunge multitudes into eternity in an act of sinning. The principal Sy- nods in the nation, and some Preshyteries in others, solemnly thanked the Commission for their faithfulness, who, being hereby encou- raged, boldly insisted that the Parliament should clear the lawfulness of the war before they pro- ceeded any further. For this purpose, the Par- liament published a large, but very uncandid, de- claratioiiy in which they accused the English of several breaches of their former trcati/ and solemn league, and declared their intentions to require the English Parliament to take effectual methods for making all their subjects swear the solemn league^ and for establishing i\i\\y J^reshj/ierian go- vernment, the Directory for war ship, and Confes- sion if Faiilu and causing the same to be every where received; and for sup|)ressing .^oc'////(/;z^7;/, Arminianism, Arianism, Anal >apt Ism , Antinomi- anism, Familisnu Brownism, Independencxj, and other heresies and schisms, and for suppress- ing Popery, Prelacy, and the service book ; and that his Majesty be allowed safely to reside in or near London, for the pur|)ose of his Parliament's treating with him, in order to the establishment of religion and peace; and that all the members of Parliament may attend it, and a|)plications be made to his iMajesty without any hindrance; that the Sectarian army under (General Fairfax be disbanded, and none but such as take the cove- nant, (jr are well alFected to religion, l)e hereaf- ter employed, either in the army or to command CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 261 They further declared. That they did not intend to make war upon any of the En^^- lish that adhered to their covenant, but to main- tain their liberty ; that they would enter into no association with Papists, Prelatists, or others who refused to take the covenant ; nor allow any but such as were faithful to it to have any trust, or command in this war; that they would edeavour to rescue his JMajesty from the Secta- rians, that he might freely concur with his peo- l)le in promoting the ends of the solemn league ; that though they would immediately put the kingdom into a posture of defence, they would not begin a war, till the lawfulness of it should be fully cleared, and reparation of injuries un- successfully sought in a peaceable manner ; and that, in their whole conduct, they would carefully prosecute the ends of the solemn league and cove- nant with England. Not satisfied with this declaration, the Com- mission, April 28, remonstrated, That the breach of covenant was not chargeable upon all the Eng- lish, but merely upon the Sectarians, as it was no less upon the malignants in Scotland ; that such as encouraged his Majesty to decline giving satis- faction, relative to his securing of religion, hin- dered his deliverance; that they could not prove upon the English Parliament any such breaches of treaty as could be sufficient grounds of a war with them; that it would be inconsistent to desire the English Parliament to hold all the refusers of the solemn league as enemies to religion and ♦heir country, while no such penalty had ever been executed against the shifters of it in Scot- land; that they ought not to insist for his iMa- jesty's being allowed to * '" in or near Lon- 2C2 A coMi^r.NDioirs iiiSTonv of the don, without insisting for his givin|^ satisfaction to his Parliament, concerning the security of their religion and peace of the kingdom ; that there was as much need for preventing the rise of a Po- ])ish or Prehitical party in the army, as for dis- handing ihe Sectarians; and that the proposed engagement in war with the Englisli, |)lainly tended to j)revent the dishanding of the Sectarian army. — Xolwithstanding this remonstrance, the Scotch Parhainent transmitted their demands to the I'Jiglish Parliament, and published their above mentioned dvclaration. The Commission, heart- ily grieved herewith, emitted a declaration, hear- ing, 'J'hat they were ready to agree to the na- tion's engaging in a war w ith the English, if they were satisfied concerning the sufhciency of the grounds, and the lawtuiness of the means for car- rying it on. But as things stood, they reckoned the engagement dangerous to the reformed reli- gion, prejudicial to the true interests and liberty of this church, favourable to the Popish, Prelatic, and malignant party, inconsistent with the union of the kingdoms, and the satisfaction of the Pres- byterians in England, and therefore contrary to the word of (Tod and our solemn covenants; and that the managers of it pretended zeal against the sectarians, merely for a cloak to the favour which they intended for nialignants; and had even late- Jy pled, that Scotland was in no danger from the sectaries. Highly offended with the faithful op- position of the Commission, the Parliament sent letters to the several Presbyteries, complaining of it ; — in answer to which the Commission publish- ed a rindicalion of themselves. Several synods, presbyti i ies, and shires, again petitioned the Parliament, that religion might be secured, and the union of the kingdoms preserv- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 263 ed, and no war commenced without very weii^bty grounds, maturely considered. The Parliament, after they had framed an answer to these, laid it aside, and pretended to ask the advice of the Commission concerning the proper method of se- curing* religion. After testifying their regard to the Parliament, and to his Majesty's liberty and honour, they advised that these petitions should be granted ; that the surprising of Berwick and Carlisle be disclaimed, and no longer continued ; that all peaceable methods of treating with Eng- land, and supplication to his Majesty be further tried, in order to compose differences ; that his concessions mentioned by Loudon be declared un- satisfactory ; that they declare against any en- gagement for restoring him to his house with freedom and safety, which is almost equivalent to his having the exercise of his royal power, before he gave it under his hand and seal, That he shall, for himself and his successors, agree to the acts of Parliament enjoining ihesoleinii league and cove- nant y and fully establishing Pr^eshyterian govern- ment, the directory for ivorship, and confession of faith, in all his dominions, and never make oppo- sition to, or endeavour a change of any of them ; that they should make it evident, that they have no intention to enable his Majesty to bring the proceedings of both nations, relative to the so- lemn league, into question, or to abridge the power of his Parliaments ; that they should take proper methods to suppress such Papists, Pre- latists, or malignants, as had, or might take arms to plunder and murder their fellow sub- jects : that nothing be done which may infringe the union of the two kingdoms, or disoblige the Presbyterian party in England ; that all putting 2C)h A COMPKXIJIOUS HISTORY OF TIIK of such as had been indifTcTent neutrals, or oppos- ers of a covenanted reformation, into places of power and trust, should he (juickly remedied ; that there should he no en;^agement for the war without a solemn oath, in which the church should have the same direction as in the solemn lL'a!j;iif: that such as have heen oppressed for not contrihutini^ to the levies for the army be refund- ed, and no such thin^'- permitted for the future; that the profaneness and insolence of soldiers be severely j)unished; that nothing be enacted detri- mental to the liberty of the church, and no arbi- trary power entrusted to their officers or ai^ents; or an oath imposed tending- to ensnare the con- sciences of the subjects. Regardless of these advices, the Parliament ap- pointed an army to be immediately raised under the command of Duke Hamilton, and the Earl of Callender as his lieutenant; and laid an enormous tax upon the nation, for defraying the expenses of the war. Argyle, Sutherland, Cajsilis, Eglin- ton, Loudon, and Lothian, with many other Lords, Barons, and Burgesses, protested against their cn^^agcmcjtt. Colonels Ker, Strachan, Hal- ket, and other officers, refused to serve in it; and had their places filled with scandalous malig- nants. Such as refused to pay the new tax, were terribly oppressed and spoiled by soldiers quar- tered upon them. The Parliament next pre[)ar- ed a dccUtrailoji to be sent into England, recount- ing all that they thought criminal in the conduct of the sectaries, ami pretending that, as they had got no satisfaction to their former demands, they had been necessarily obliged to this engagement ill war; that they intended to preserve the re- formation of religion as established by law in I CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 265 Scotland, and to rescue his Majesty from his base imprisonment, that he may with safety and honour come to one of his houses in, or near London, where he may treat with his Parliament, and to restore freedom to his English Parliament, that they, together with the Scotch, might con- clude the treaty with their Sovereign, answerably to the petitions presented to him by the city of London, at Oxford and Newcastle ; and to pro- cure the disbanding of the army under General Fairfax — and that none but covenanters, and well affected to religion and Presbyterian church go- vernment, miglit hereafter be employed in troops or garrisons. Notwithstanding all these preten- ces, many notorious malignants were principal agents in carrying on this engagement. Hence the more serious covenanters generally disliked, and, as they had opportunity, opposed it. The General Assembly, which met July 12, 1618, approved and ratified the proceedings of the late commission. The committee of Estates, which the late Parliament had entrusted with the execution of their designs, demanded, what they thought necessary for securing of religion ? The Assembly replied, that they knew no possi- bility of securing religion, while this unlawful engagement was carried on, since none of the just desires of the late commission had been grant- ed ; that it was plainly calculated to break the union of the two kingdoms ; that all proper means to prevent a war have been neglected, and malignants and incendiaries have been joined with ; that it hath been carried on in the way of polluting men's consciences by unlawful bands and oaths, and of oppressing sucli in their j)er- sons and estates as had been most zealous for the 2 M 266 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE covenanted interest, — and of remarkable en- croachnrients on the liberty of Christ's church. The coiniiiittce therefore required them, to de- monstrate from the word of (4od the unlawful- ness of their engagement, and what interest the church had in the undertakini^ of wars; in an- swer to which the Assend)ly emitted a lar<;e dc- c/aratinny plainly illustrating both these points from the scripture. And, as the Parliament had required all the subjects, under pain of beiui;' held enemies to their kin<^ and country, solemnly, by their oath and subscrij)tion, to acknowledge all their acts relative to the engasend)led at a sacramental occasion at rslachiin. and killed and wounded a number of them. At Carsphearn, they fell u|)on another assembly employed in sa- cramental work, and devoured the elements. About the middle of Aui^ust, their engagement issued in the slauohter and rout of their army by Cromwell at Preston, and in imprisonment and death to Hamilton and other commanders of it ; and not lonp^ after, in the ignominious death of Charles, who had planned and pushed them to it. Sir (George JMonro had brou<::ht his army from Ireland to assist them :• but, after murder- ing a number of his fellow-covenanters in the west, tiiat opposed the engagement, Argyle, Cas- sils, and Lovvdon, and their friends, obliged him to return l)ack. After routing the engagers, Cromwell had directly marched his army into Scotland, had not Argyle and his party, who now prcvaded in the Committee of Estates, represent- ed to him how earnestly the Assembly, and a consider(d)le body in the Parliament, had opposed the Hainiltonian engagement and invasion of Eng- land.— In the beginning of October, the Commis- sion of the CTfueral Assend)ly appointed a reno- vation of the aoleinn league and covenant, with a solemn acknowledgment of preceding breaches of it, and engagement to duties, which the Com- CHUnCH OF SCOTLAND. 269 mittee of Estates ratified, without aunexing any penalty, and which was pretty generally complied with through the land. Many scandalous cler- gymen were soon after deposed, and the rest, by frequent inquiries, excited to their work ; and, for a year or two, the preaching of the gospel was very remarkably blessed through the land. After publishing a tract against association with malignantSf idolaters^ and the like, and leaving a dying testimony against the same, Mr. G. Gilles- py, moderator of the preceding Assembly, died, greatly lamented. The Committee of Estates called a Parlia- ment, but secluded from it such as had voted for duke Hamilton's engagement, many, if not most, of whom professed their willingness to have no more share of the public management. After spending a day in solemn humiliation and fast- ing, they renewed their covenants with God and one another, as directed by the Commission. They repealed all the acts of the last meeting of Parliament, and of their Committee of Estates, which authorized or promoted Hamilton's en- gagement. They approved the protestation which had been taken against it, and the opposition made to it at Machlin moor. They, by an act of classes, and another for purging the army, se- cluded the promoters of it, and all malignant and scandalous persons from all places of power and trust, and even from the army, till they L'ive proper evidence of repentance. They approved the Commission's solemn testimonies against the toleration of errors and sectaries in En^lanti. They enacted. That before any future king 1)C admitted to the exercise of his royal power, he shall, by oath, and under his hand and seal. !?70 A COMPKNDIOUS HISTORY OF THE declare his allowance of the national covenant, and of the solemn league, and oblige himself to prosecute the ends of the same, in his sta- tion ; and that he shall, for himself and his successors, agree to acts of Parliament, en- joinini^ the solemn league and covenant, and fully cstablishini; Pre.shj/trrutn p;overnment^ the Direc- tory for nor ship , Confession of faith, and Cate- chisms, as approved hy the Crcneral Assembly and Parliament, — in all his dominions ; and that Jie shall observe these in his own j)ractice and fa- mily, and never make opposition to, or endeavour any change of them ; and that he shall leave all counsel and counsellors prejudicial to said religion and covenants, and shall give satisfaction to his Parliament as now constituted, in what other things they find necessary for the civil and reli- gious welfare of the nation ; — and agree, that all civil matters be determined by the Parliaments of this kingdom, and all church affairs by the Ge- neral Assemblies. They ratified three acts of the Assembly and Commission, approving the larger and shortei' Catechisms, and enjoining the renovation of the covenant. They enacted. That drunkenness, profane swearing, scolding, obscene- language, uttered or printed, mocking at piety, and drinking of healths, be punished, and the guilty, upon their fourth conviction, to be impri- soned, till they find security for their good beha- viour, under pain of L.400 to noblemen, 400 merks to barons, 200 merks to gentlemen, heri- tors, and burgesses, L.40 to yeomen, and L.20 to servants ; — that such as married in a clandestine manner should be imprisoned three months, and l)e fined, nol)lemen in L.6lK)(), barons and landed gentlemen in 6000 merks, gentlemen and bur- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 271 gesses in 2000 merks, and others in 500 nierks, to be paid before they should be liberated ; and that such as, according to the act of IG%5, are nominated to lift the fines or inflict corporal pun- ishments on scandalous persons, accept that office, and deliver up the fines to the kirk sessions for the use of the poor, except the tenth part, which is allotted to the officers employed in executing that work : — that going of mills and salt-pans, or fishing of salmon, or other unnecessary labour on the Lord's day, be punished ; that all blasphem- ers, and revilers, and obstinate deniers of God, or of any of the persons of the Trinity, and all worshippers of false gods, cursers and beaters of parents, or guilty of incest, be punished with death ; that none but such as are of a blameless conversation, and apparently well affected to the covenanted reformation, be admitted to, or con- tinued in any place of power, or trust, in the state, army, or burghs ; — and that all commis- sions, patents, honours, offices, or gifts, received from his majesty before he give satisfaction to his Parliament, are null and void, and the seek- ers thereof censurable. They made an act for contributions of assessments on parishes, and for withholding of supply from sturdy beggars, and for relief of such poor as are willing, but unable to work, — and for relief of such as through ship- wreck, burning, devastation, or the like, are re- duced to poverty. In fine, they abolished pa- tronage as a Popish corruption, contrary to the second Book of discipline, and to several acts of Assembly, and prejudicial to the liberty of the Christian people, and the hee calling and entry of ministers, — and declared, That admission by the Presbytery, upon the call of the congregation. 272 A COMI'ENDIOUS 1IIST(JJIY OV THE shall give ministers suflicient right and title t<» their manses, glehes, and stipends; — meanwhile declaring the patron's right to the tithes as he- fore ; and recommending it to the General As- semhly to estahlish a proper rule of calling mini- sters, giving to Presbyteries and congregations their resj)ectivc powcr^ in that matter. I'his Parliament had scarcely begun their above work, whvn they received information, that the Sectarian army in England had extruded all the hearty fjiends of monarchy from their Parlia- ment at Westminster ; had brought back his Ma- jesty from the Isle of Wight, to which he had fled from them ; and aj)})ointed an high court of justice to try him for his liCe. Shocked with these things, both church and state appointed their com- missioners at London to exert themselves to their utmost for j)reventing his trial. In their remon- strance of January 6th, 1619, these commission- ers, in name of the kingdom of Scotland, repre- sented to the House of Commons, the several en- gagements the two kingdoms had lately come under, with res|)e(^t to religion and the preserva- tion of his majesty's person ; and earnestly insist- ed. That no violence should be done to him, and nothing at all, without the consent of both king- doms. Upon the 16th of January, the Commis- sion published a tcslimnnij against the errors and comluct of the Sectaries, and a warning to their fellow covenanters in England, which were pre- sented to the House of Commons, on January 26. — Finding the Sectaries determined to have liis Majesty's liCe, the Scotch commissioners at London, in nanu' of their ParlianicMit, in January, pri'scnlcd to the Speaker of the House of Com- mons, a solemn protestation against it ; and, des- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 273 pairirjf!^ of success with them, as the army had now modelled them, they, upon the 'i-9th, remon- strated to general Fairfax against the putting of his Majesty to death, as horrid and scandalous. He was nevertheless beheaded next day, pre- tending to die a martyr for the laws and liberties of his people, of whom his stubbornness, pride, and treachery had produced the terrible oppres- sion, and plunder, and even the death of perhaps four hundred thousand in Britain and Ireland. Informed of his exit, the Scotch covenanters, infatuated with zeal for their royal family, imme- diately proclaimed Charles, his eldest son, then about eighteen years of age, their King, and pro- mised to defend him according to the solemn league and covenant ; but declared, that he be- hoved to give satisfaction concerning religion and the unity of the kingdoms secured by that cove- nant, before he be admitted to the exercise of his royal power; an information of which they trans- mitted to him at the Hague, by Sir Joseph Dou- glas, along with a faithful warning from the Com- mission. And as the English House of Com- mons had excluded him from their crown, they transmitted to them their proclamation of him, along with a solemn remonstrance, in which they represented how the English Parliament had all along, from 1 642, solemnly declared, that they in- tended no hurt to his Majesty's person, or abridg- ment of his authority — no commonwealth form of government — or toleration of heretics, blasphe- mers, or the like; — and remonstrated against the violence done to his late Majesty, and insisted on their proclaiming his son to be their King, and that no toleration should be given to heretics or blasphemers. Highly olTended with these free- 2 N L'Tl' A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE (loms, the Sectarians, who now ruled as they pleased, imprisoned the Commissioners from Scot- land. Hut, Ix'ini; cpiitkly convinced that this was an infjin«;cment of the law of nations, they conveyed tnem safe to their own country, ^^ean- while, the Scotch Parliament had dispatched the Earl of Cassilis and Cieorge Winram, along with Messrs. Bailie and Wood, from the church, to ob- tain projHT satisfaction from Charles at the Ila'^ue. But JNIontrose, and a number of Eng- lish malignants, buoying him with hopes of an unhampered access to Ireland, \\ hence, by the as- sistance of Ormond and his malignant or Popish friends, he might force his way to the English and Scotch crown, without any conditions, he despised the covenanters* proposals. I'he General Assembly meeting in July, ap- proved and ratified the deeds of the late Commis- .sion, and approved the conduct of their Commis- sioners which had been sent to deal with his JNIa- jesty. They prescribed censures for such as had assisted IMontrose, and served in Hamilton's en- gagement ; and that the principal offenders be not re-admitted to communion in sealing ordi- nances, but by the General Assembly or their Commission, and others by Presbyteries. They published a solemn warning relative to the pre- sent dangers, and the necessary duties of mini- sters and others with respect to them ; and par- ticularly the necessity of obtaining proj)er secu- rity from his Majesty relative to religion, and the exclusion of all malignants from places of power and trust, before he be admitted to the ex- ercise of his royal power. They wrote a brother- ly exhorljitioh to their friends in England, bewail- ing the broken state of their church and king- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 275 «?om, and beseeching and encouraging them to cleave to their duty according to their covenant with God. In a letter to their young King, they declared their detestation of the murder of his father, and lamented that he himself had con- temned the representations presented to him by the church's Commissioners ; — held an intimacy with Montrose, a perjured rpurderer of many thousands of his best subjects^ and approved his conduct ; — and had settled a peace with the Po- pish murderers in Ireland, and granted them a peace, and the full liberty of their idolatry and other abominations ; — and besought him, as he regarded his own and his kingdom's happiness, to submit to the laws of Christ, and the counsels of truth and peace. They prohibited all promis- cuous dancing, as productive of scandal, immodes- ty, or lasciviousness. They thanked the Parlia- ment for their abolishing of Patronage ; begged that the tithes belonging to the church might not only be applied for ministers stipends, but also to bear other pious expenses in parishes; and they appointed, that in electing of ministers, the Session should be the proper electors ; but the members of the congregation should be asked their consent. If the greater part of a congre- gation dissented from the choice of the Session, unless it was plainly causeless prejudices, the can- didate was to be laid aside. But if only a lesser part dissented, except where the grounds were plainly relevant and weighty, the Presbytery should proceed to the trials and ordination, but in such a manner as tended to bring all parties to an harmonious agreement. Next year, 1650, the Parliament again dis- patched the Earls of Cassilis and Lothian, Alex- HlG A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE ander Brodie, and George Winram. Lords of Ses- sion, with Messrs. John Smith and Alexander Jaffray, alonc^ with Messrs. John Livin^:ston, James Wood, and (^eor^^c Hutchinson, to Breda, to try if they couU\ persuade their youn^ K.inf; to accept of the terms, upon which they liad ac^recci t<> a(hnit him to exercise his royal power. Partly by the treachery of Lothian and Winram of Lihherton, and partly !)y Charles's exj)ecta- tions that Montrose, whom he had appointed to invade Scotland from the North, with such fo- rei«;'ners as he could get, would procure his unli- mited admission, he held oiT from compliance till the time was almost wholly elapsed. But un- derstandins^ that D. Lesly had taken JMontrose prisoner, >\ ith his commission on him, and scat- tered his 3000 forciq;n mercenaries ; and that CromwclTs success in Ireland had rendered him altoi^cther hopeless of availini^ himself of that kiui^dom ; and findini;-, hy Lihhcrton's treachery, that the Scotch Committee of Estates had order- ed their Commissioners to break of}^ all treaty with him, on account of his empowerini;' ■Montrose to attack them by violence — he pretended to com- })ly with all their proposals, enq-a'^ini; himself to remove from his counsels all that stood excom- municated by the kirk ; — to take the national co- venant and .solemn leajrjte and covenavf., and prose- cute the ends of them ; — and to ratify and ap- j)rove all acts of Parliament enjoining- these cove- ■nantSy and establishing" Presbyterian (yovernmcntj ihe Direcfonj oj n'or.s/iij>y and Confession of faith , :iiul Catechisms; and that all civil matters should be determined by. the present and subsequent Parliaments, and all ecclesiastical ones by the Ge- neral Assemblies. Notwithstandiuii' all this, he CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 977 continued till the very last, to use the English li- turgy at Breda, in o{)|josition to all that the ec- clesiastical Commissioners could say to the con- trary. On his passage, he had shewed some un- willingness to take the covenants; but his malig- nant friends persuaded him to comply. Accor- dingly, at his arrival in the mouth of the Spey, June 23, 1650, he declared his willingness to swear them ; and Mr. Livingston, who had with reluc- tance, and not without being decoyed into the ship, come along with him, as he thought they were bringing the plague of God to their country, after a faithful sermon, administered the national covenant and solemn league to him, which he swore in the following words subjoined to them : " I " Charles, King of Great Britain, France and Ire- " land, do assure and declare, by my solemn oath, " in the presence of Almighty God, the searcher " of hearts, my allowance and approbation of the ** national covenant, and of the solemn league and " covenant above written, and faithfully ol)lige " myself to prosecute the ends thereof in my sta- " tion and calling; and that I, for myself and suc- *' cessors, shall consent and agree to all acts of "Parliament enjoining i\\id national covenant, and '« solemn league and covenant, and fully establish- ** m^ Preshyterial government, the directory ofxvor- " ship, the confession of faith and catechisms, in the " kingdom of Scotland, as they were approven by " the General Assembly of this kirk, and Parlia- ** ment of this kingdom ; and that I shall give «• my royal assent to the acts of Parliament en- " joining thesafne in the restof my dominions; and ** that 1 shall observe them in my own practice ** and family, and shall never make opposition to " any of these, or endeavour any change thereof.** 21S A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE — This oath he immediately subscribed, and iflf other things submitted as pleasantly as he could, and even parted with the new Duke of Hamil- ton and witli Lauderdale, and other favourites. But hating^ every thint^ that looked like strict- ness in relif^ion, and especially the faithful re- proofs, which he received from time to time, he was heartily wearied of his new attendants. Charles having refused to subscribe and pub- lish an acknowledgment of his own and his fa- ther's wickedness, and declaration of his future resolutions, offered to him by the Committee of Estates, and Commission of the General Assem- bly, many of the members of which exceedingly suspected him, the Commission meeting at the West kirk of Edinburgh, August 15, 1G50, de- clared, That this kirk or kingdom did not own or espouse any malignant party, or quarrel, or in- terest, nor would fight, but merely upon their former grounds and principles, in defending the cause of (^od and the kingdom, as they had done these twelve years past ; and that, as they dis- claimed the sin of the King and his house, they would not own him or his interest, but in subor- dination to God, and so far as he disclaims his own and father's opposition to the work of God and to the covenant — and likewise all the ene- mies thereof; and that they would quickly mani- fest the same to Cromwel, who, marching to in- vade their country, had, in pajiers transmitted to them, charged them with the contrary. The Committee of Estates, that same day, approved and heartily concurred in this declaration of the state of any war for defending his Majesty. — Charles, though heartily sorry, that he could not get his malignant friends into places of posvcr and GHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 279 trust — to engage the covenanters to withstand Cromwel, who was fast approaching, published a most solemn declaration at Dunfermline, Au- gust 16, blessing God for recovering him from the snare of his malignant counsellors; confessing and bewailing his own and his father's hearkening to evil counsels, and opposition to the work of refor- mation, and to the solemn league and covenant, as well as the idolatry of his mother, and tolera- tion of it in their family; and his own encourage- ment and countenancing of the Irish Papists ; — and declaring his deliberate, and judicious, and candid approbation of the national covenant and solemn league and covenant, and his firm resolution, in the Lord's strength, to prosecute the ends thereof in his station, really, constantly, and sin- cerely, all the days of his life ; and that, in order to this, he will have no enemies but the enemies of the covenant, or friends but the friends of it ; and that, as he now detested all Popery, super- stition, idolatry, Prelacy, error, heresy, schism,- profaneness, he would, to the utmost of his power, labour to extirpate them from all his dominions ; and begging and requiring all such of his sub- jects, as had formerly opposed the covenants and cause of God, to lay down their enmity, and all regard to human interest, as opposed to the in- terest and honour of God ; and professing that he would only reckon these his best servants and most loyal subjects, who served him, and sought to promote his interests, in subordination to the glory of God, and the gospel and kingdom of Je- sus Christ. Mr. Patrick Gillespie obtested him, in the name of Christ, not to subscribe this de- claration, no, not for three kingdoms, if he had ihe smallest hesitation in his mind concerning 280 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE tlio rio^htcousncss of it. But Charles repeatedly declared, that he was sat'isficd in his mind irith it, and therefore woidd suhscrihe it. Not lon^ af- ter, he solemnly declared his fj^reat ohhij^ations to the iNIanjuis of Arjjfyle for liis faithful endeavours to restr)re him to his just ri;;hts, and promised Jiim ills hi*;hest favour and IViendship, and digni- ties which he could confer, toc^cther with pay- ment of I.. 4-0,000 of deht; and, it is said, secretly promised to marry his daughter. After victory had, for eif];-ht days, seemed to incline to the side of the Scots army, commanded by David Lesly, the committee of war obliged him to leave the hill, where he had advantage- ously [)osted his troops, in order to prevent Crom- weKs escape from Dunbar, Cromwel, with his half dead forces, overpowered the larger army of the Scotch covenanters, and entirely routed tliem, Sept. 3. No doubt Cromwel, who had been be- fore in such desperatelike circumstances, mighti- ly rejoiced in his victory : but perhaps not so iiiuch as Charles did over the death and captivity of so many of his covenanting subjects, that seemed so bent to restrain his vicious inclina- tions. After two days spent in solemn fasting, and after he had relincpiislud the covenan- ters at Perth, in order to throw himself into an army of malignants, which he expected IVliddle- ton had rai>ed for him in the North, and being obliged by disappointment to return to Perth, Charles was solenmly crow ned at Scoon, January J, in.3l, and again swore the covenants, as he had done about six months before. And not long aft( r, he and his i^arliament, in June, ratified all his pu'( t'ding treaties, transactions, engagements, and actions, and enacted them into a perpetual 4 CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 2Sl law: and it was expressly provided, That in all succeeding Parliaments, every member, before they entered on business, should subscribe the covenant : and without this, the constitution of the Parliament was declared void and null. 2 0 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY, kc, 283 CHAPTER VI. Bf/thc rash Admission ofK. CJiarlcsII. — btj public Resolu- tions of the Commission to please him — by his imlimit- ed Rcstoj'ation — Re-establihment of' Prelacy — Imposi- tion of sinful Oaths ayid Declarations^ arid Bonds — And terrible Fei'secutiwi cyf all faithful Adherents to their Covenants with God — arid even by his Indulgen- cies of the less Faithful — and by the Labours of K. James VII. to introduce Popery ^ the once attained Re- formation is almost entirely ruined, between 1651 and 1688. Ihese solemn transactions of Charles and his malignant friends, were but a scene of shocking- dissimulation. In consequence of the route at Dun!)ar, and of a lesser defeat at Hamilton a lit- tle after, it was pretended, that the English could nut be resisted, unless all able to bear arms should be raised without distinction ; and Charles and his Parliament at Perth, required the quorum of the Commission, which had met upon a sudden call at that place, December 1 1<, 16.30, to deter- mine what persons might be admitted to rise in arms tu assist the standing forces against thear- 28i A CO.MPKNDIOUS HISTORY OF THE mics of the Knglish sectaries, who, contrary to tlio soh'f/in lca<^2ic and vnvtnanty had must unjustly invadetl, ami were destroyinf:^ the kingdom? 'J'o this the Commission replied, That, in this case oi' so great necessity, ihey could not he against rais- ing all able to hear arms, excepting excommuni- caied, Ibrfeited, or notoriously j)rof'ane or flagi- tious persons ; or who had heen long continued and inveterate ()i)posers of the covenant and cause of (lod; providing always, that none should he put into such trust and power, as may he prejudicial to the cause of (Jud ; and that such officers as are of known integrity and affection to the cause, and ])articularly such as have sufTered in former wars, jje preferred. In consecpience of this resolution, several of the general officers, and more than half nf the colonels employed were malignants, and not a few of them such as had been with .Alon- trose. — These proceedings were exceedingly o(- fcnsive to many ministers and Presbyteries, par- ticidarly to those of Stirling and Aberdeen, wiiich represented their dissatisfaction to the next meet- ing of the Commission. For their public testi- monies against them, IMessrs. (iutlny and Den- net of Stirling, were called f)efore Charles and his comviittcc of Estates at Perth, l^ut they, by repeated protestation, declined the jurisdiction of his INIajesty and his Committee as not proper judges in matters of doctrine, which pertained to the church. INTeanwhile, the Commission, pro- voked with the opposition of ministers and Pres- byteries to their answer, published a vindication of it, prohibited all miiiisters or preachers to speak or write against it, and ordained Presbyte- rii's to censure such as op[>used it ; and, to pre- vent their being members, urdained all such as 3 CHURCH OK SCOTLAND. 2S5 Opposed it, to be cited as scandalous to the next Assembly at St. Andrew's. Highly pleased, that he had thus sent the co- venanting clergy a tearing of one another, and es- pecially trampling the strict party, whom he most heartily hated, under their feet, he, and the nialignants, whom he had got into the army, in order that they and their friends might get into the judicatures, required the Commission to de- termine, whether, for the more effectual prosecu- tion of the public I'csolutions for the defence of the King and kingdom, such could lawfully be mem- bers of the Committee of Estates, who were de- barred from public trust by the ad of classes, pro- viding they have since satisfied tiie kirk for their oft'ence, and been admitted to enter into cove- nant ? And whether it would be sinful to repeal the act of classes? To these the Commission re- plied. That as their solemn covenants and decla- rations mentioned as grounds, in the act of classes, did not particularly determine what time such persons should be excluded from })laces of trust, for by-past offences, but only bind to the due pu- nishing of offenders, and to purge judicatories and places of power and trust, and to endeavour, according to the law of God, to have them filled only with such as are of known affection to the cause of God, and of a blameless, C'hristian con- versation— nothing hindered the Parliament to admit such secluded persons to be members of the Committee of Estates, and to take off the censures inflicted upon them by the act of classes, providing they have satisfied the church for their ofl'ences, and have renewed and taken the cove- nant, and l)e qualitird f«»r such f>laces, according to the wold ol God, and late ackiiowlcdginent of Jio A coMrKN'nioijs histouy of thk v///.y, and cnf^afi'cment to duties. In consequence ol* tills answer, tin* act of classes was repealed, and nndtitudes of niali^nants and profane per- sons, upon a mock profession of repentance, were aflinitted menil)cr?> of Parliament and Committee of Instates, and into i)laces ol power and trust, and soon had the whole management of the na- tion in their hands. Thus multitudes thcji, and ever .shici\ have been admitted to he the minlsiers of God for good to the nation, in a way of tramp- Jin2^ on the law of God, and plain violation of our solemn covenants with him. No wonder, there- fore, that so many of them prove a curse to us instead of a blessini^. Nor is it any wonder, that the synod of Glasf^ow, and especially the forces of the five south-western shires, presented such remonstrances to the Commission and Committee of Instates at Perth, against the rash admission of Charles to his crown, without any proof of his sincerity, and ai^ainst all junction with his favou- rite malii^nants, the last of which Charles and liis (Committee of Instates voted to he trecusonahle : J)ut, about fifteen members, who disliked the pa- per itself, dissented. As the Commission, to maintain their own ground, had enacted, that none who opposed theii resolutions should be achiiitted mcndjers of their ensuinp^ Assembly, and had wrote circular letters (') Presbyteries for that elfect, and to cite the more active opposers as pannels to the bai, their own party punctually obeyed them. In Presby- teries where they had a majority, none but friends of the resolutions were chosen for their Commis- i»ioners; and where they were the minority, they cither protested a;;ainot the choice, or withdrew ami elected one by themselves. When the As- CHURcrf or Scotland. 287 semhly mot at St. Aiuliew's, July 18, 10,31, a consi(lorM!)le body of ministers presented a peti- tion, earnestly beseeching' them, That, as the act and letter of'theCommission had hindered the free election of Commissioners, by which many of the most eminent abilities, and constant faithfulness and zeal, had been secluded, and as many elec- tions were questionable, on account of" their not being made in due order, or of persons qualified according to the constitutions of this church ; and as many Commissioners were hindered from at- tendance by the English troops, who were mas- ters of almost all the country south and westward of the Forth — the meeting might be adjourned for a time, and the act and letter of the Commis- sion declared no bar of electing such for members as remain unsatisfied with the j;?^6/ic' rcwhdions ; and that it might be recommended to Presbyte- ries to elect men of approved abilities and inte- grity, against whom there could be no exception by the acts and constitutions of this church; and that, in the mean time, a solemn fast be observ- ed through the whole land in order to entreat the Lord to shew the causes of his contending; and that by his giving light on all hands, he would graciously heal their divisions. The prevailing party, many of whom had been long galled with the faithfulness and credit of the antlrcsolidioncrs, scorned to regard this request ; but, having con- stituted themselves, and resolved to proceed U) business, sustained the elections of such Com- missioners as they hoped would favour the rcso/u fio7i6\ and of as few others as possible. Their oj)- ponents therefore solemnly protected, that the meeting could not be held a /rre a?id lairful C^e- neral Assembly of the church of Scot hind — in re- 288 A COMIM-.NDIOUS UISIJTOKV or TUF. ^ard, tliat tlir Cvvc vlvcl'um of Commissioners had heen prclimitrd liy tlic letter and ad of the Com- mission al)<>vt' ini'iitionod ; in re^-ard many Com- missions s could not attend on aecount of the mo- tions of the Kni^lish army in the country; ami in reL,^ard that many of the Commissioners of the preeedini^ Assemhly had betrayed their trust, and had, in their remonstrances and papers, stir- red up the civil magistrate against their brethren who remained dissatisfied with their public reso- Inthms ; and who, by their above mentioned act and letter, had prelimited the freedom of the court, were admitted members of it, and their mo- deratorchosen to be moderatorof it, notwithstand- ing they had been regularly and timeously ex- cepted against as not admittable, till their pro- ceedings should be tried and approved by the As- sembly ; and in regard, that his iMajesty, by his letter, and his Commissioner, by his speech, have ex(^ited them to persecuting measures against su( h as remain unsatisfied with the proceedings of the late Commission, before they be tried and approved by the Assembly itself: And they pro- tested in their own name, and of all ministers, ruling elders, and others, in the church of Scot- land, that should adhere to them. That, as this nieeting of Assembly was woi free, laxcfuJ, or valid in its constitution, they had no power of jurisdic- tion in determining controversies — making acts — (Muitting declarations — -judging protests, appeals IVom, or proceedings of inferior judicatories — ■ eensuring persons or paper — or in issuing forth Conunissions : And particularly they protested. That they might not proceed to approve or jus- tifv the det'ds of the late Connnission, which con- tained manv things contvaiy to the trust conunit- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 289 ted to it, in allowing and carrying on a conjunc- tion with malignants, and bringing them into places of power and trust, in the army and judi- catories, contrary to the word of God, solemn leagm and covenant, late acknoiuledgment of sins and engagement to duties, and to the constant te- nor of former declarations, warnings, remon- strances, causes of humiliation, supplications, acts, and constitutions of this church ; and fur- ther protested. That all their determinations, acts, ratifications, declarations, sentences, cen- sures, or commissions, should be held null and void, no way binding on the church of Scotland — and that it should be free for themselves and all such as adhered to them, to exercise their minis- try, and enjoy their Christian liberty according to the word of God, and our covenants, and other acts and constitutions of this church; and that it shall be free for them to choose Commissioners, and meet in a free, lawful General Assembly, when the Lord shall give opportunity for it. Lord Warriston, by a letter to this Assembly, re- presented, in a multitude of constitutions of this church between 1560 and 1650, how faithful mi- nisters had withstood the civil magistrate's judg- ing of their doctrine by themselves, and how, by protestations, the Lord had, from time to time, kept up a testimony for his truths and cause ; and he protested against the Assembly's ratifica- tion of the paper, in which the late Commission had approved to the Parliament their confine- ment of the ministers of Stirling, for their preach- ing against the countenancing of malignants, or of any other paper of theirs, prejudicial to the cause of Christ. 2 P 290 A COMPENDIOUS IIISTOIIY 01- THE Ilet»artllcss of all opposition from their pious opponents, the Assembly pushed forward in esta- biishini;- themselves, and gratifying" Charles and liis malignant dissemblers. They deposed .hrcc, and sus])endcd o/ie, of the ministers who had pro- tested against the validity of their constitution, and ratified all the proceedings of the late Com- mission. Their oj)i)onents therefore quickly pulj- lished their j)roofs, that this meeting was no iree lawful General Assembly of the church of Scot- land, viz, J. That the Commission, by their act and letter to Presbyteries, had plainly restricted the freedom of the election of the members of it, in directing them to choose none but such as con- curred with the public resolutions ; and had inti- mated, that dissenters from these resolutions ought to be looked on, not as fit to be members, but as transgressors to be cited as j)annels ; had declar- ed, that, if any such should be chosen, they would not be admitted to be judges, but obliged to an- swer at the bar as guilty offenders ; and that Presbyteries, which should choose such, should be looked upon as disobedient contemners of the public order of the kirk. 2. That many, who had been excepted against, as guilty of betraying- their trust, and of a scandalous apostacy from their sworn reformation, and conspiring with the enemies of our religion, — had, contrary to the constitutions and former practice of this church, been sustained members, without trying their con- duct, the facts and sinfulness of wliich was ofler- ed to be proved ; and even been admitted to judge of the relevancy of the objections offered against their being sustained judges. S. There was \\i) proper freedom of debate on the ])rinci- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 291 pal points necessary to be handled, as the Com- mission had stirred up the civil magistrate against their brethren who disapproved their pithlic re- solutions; in consequence of which the ministers of Stirling had been confined, and the Parliament had ordered all such to be proceeded against as enemies to religion and the kingdom. The Com- mission had, by their warnings and letters, stir- red up Presbyteries to censure them, or cite them to the Assembly as scandalous transgressors, and many of them had been cited accordingly. The king, by his letter, and his commissioner, by his speech, had stirred up the Assembly to take such severe methods with them, as might deter others from ever doing the like : — all which the Assem- bly had first connived at, and then approved. 4. Persons were not allowed to speak their mind in this Assembly, and the letter of Lord Warris- ton, who was an elected commissioner, and had been singularly faithful and active, and acquaint- ed with the constitutions of this church, was ob- stinately refused a reading. 5. On account of the roving bands of the English, and even of the Scotch army in the heart of the country, many members could not attend, and none at all from nine or ten Presbyteries ; and, even in their re- turn home, his Majesty and his Committee of Es- tates had apprehended and confined severals, be- cause they had not shewed themselves friendly enough to the public resohdions, 6. That the members of the late Commission, before any ap- probation of their proceedings, were admitted as judges of a protestation, which insisted, That these proceedings should not be ratified, because contrary to the word of God, and their solemn covenants and constitutions, and in judging of 292 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE the Protestors, in order to censure. Nay, tliat the committee, which managed the condemnation of the protestation, chiefly consisted of members of the Commission The Uesolutioners, for whom it is shocking to find not only Bailie, but Dick- son and Douglas, zealous advocates, published a vindication of their Assembly and conduct, and condemned the above mentioned protestation as liighly criminal. But their reasonings were suf- ficiently refuted by their opponents. Charles and his army being entirely routed at Worcester by the English forces, Sept. 3, 16'.51, such as had been appointed members of the Com- mission by the Assembly 1650, and sundry of their friends, who disliked the public resolutions, soon after drew up a Representation of the causes of God^s wrath against the nation, and an acknoit'- Icdgemcnt of the s'nis of the ministrij, the most full and candid, perhaps, that ever was published in the Christian church. In their Causes of God's urathi they mention, and illustrate by instances and aggravations, and by many scripture proofs of their sinfulness and ruinous influence, the fol- lowing, viz. Gross ignorance ; looseness and pro- fanity in opposition to all God's commandments ; the despising and neglecting of Jesus Christ, and his word and ordinances ; neglect of family reli- gion and the power of godliness, or even loathing and bearing it down ; base love of the world, is- suing in covetousness and oppression, and even l)erjuries ; abuse and prostitution of the public faith of the kingdom ; hypocritical, carnal, and selfish prosecution of covenanting, and other ne- cessary and religious duties ; deep security, im- penitence, obstinacy, and incorrigibleness under manifold signs and tokens of the Lord's anger j CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 293 fearful backslidings from attained reformation and covenant engagements, in falling from once attained singleness and honesty of heart, fervency, zeal for God, spiritual liveliness, tenderness of conscience, and purity of conversation ; — in some falling off more secretly, and others more open- ly to the malignant party, headed by Montrose, and afterward by duke Hamilton ; — in neglect- ing, hindering, or condemning the purging of the judicatories and army in 1649, and afterward, according to covenant engagements ; — in agree- ing to invest, and actually investing the king with the government of the nation, notwithstand- ing many clear evidences of his disaffection and enmity to the work and people of God ; — in re- fusing manifold discoveries of guilt given in tes- timonies of Synods, Presbyteries, and other re- monstrances and representations ; — in the public resolutions of both kirk and state, for bringing malignants into the army and into places of power and trust ; — in joining in arms with the forces of the king, after the malignants had the principal management of them, and were by them carrying on their own ends ; — the prelimiting and corrupting of the General Assembly, — rati- fying former defections, and commencing perse- cution against the faithful opposers thereof, In the Acknowledgement, they point out the sins of ministers, before their entrance into their of- fice,— in their entering into it, and during their continuance in it, — in their private and their so- cial conduct, — in their ministerial work, preach- ing of the gospel, dispensing the sacraments, vi- siting families and sick, catechising, ruling and ^-ensuring, and in respect of public matters. 29i< A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE Nothwithstandinp^ General Monk had subdu- ed these parts of the nation which Cromwel had left unconcjuered, and all tin* counties had, on the 2d April, 1652, acknowledged the sove- reipity of the English, the General Assembly met at Edinburgh in July. Lord Waniston, Messrs. Andrew Cant, John Livmgston, Samuel Ruther- foord, and thirty-two others, presented to them a representation, protest, and proposals signed by sixty-seven ministers, and ninety-five ruling elders, probationers, and others, in which they lament. The great inward and open apostacy from once at- tained reformation, and that an approbation of the public resolutions was now considered as the principal qualification of candidates for the holy ministry, or of screening scandalous ministers from censure, and that notwithstanding the changed circumstances of the kingdom by the prevalence of Cromwel and his sectaries, and the complete rout and flight of Ring Charles, so much use had been made of the authority of the last year's Assembly, begun at St. Andrew's, and thereafter removed to Dundee ; — and earnestly and solemnly beseeching them. That since many commissioners were restrained from attendance, and the far greater part of the commissions of those that had come up, were controverted by dissents and protests at their election ; and, since their Ibrmer conduct had so much hindered re- formation, and the edification of souls, — they would not constitute themselves into an Assem- bly, but appoint a free and friendly conversation, in order to remove difficulties, and fall on some licaling overtures. vVnd they laid before them the 1 olio wing Proposals for removing offences. CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 295 and restorini^ mutual harmony and confidence, I. That they will ^ive proper evidence of their approbation of, and adherence to the national co- venant and solemn league, late acknowledgment of sins and engagement to duties, and other laudable acts of uncontroverted Assemblies, and act ac- cording to them in dispensing" of sealing ordi- nances, censuring offenders, or absolving peni- tents. ^. That it be considered, how, after our sad defection and fearful judgments, we may ho- nour the Lord, obtain his favour, and prevent like apostacy from him. 3. That a proper method be established for securing against error, heresy and schism on the one hand, and against the danger of malignancy on the other ; and that proper marks be fixed, by which malignants may be known and judged. 4. That proper methods be taken, according to the rules of this church, for purging out intruders and scandalous persons from the ministerial office ; and that none be hereafter admitted, but such as have the positive qualifications required by the word of God and constitutions of this church. 5. That proper rules be fixed and practised for censuring of scandals, and debarring the ignorant and profane from the Lord's table. 6. That care be taken, that none be absolved from censure, but such as give that evidence of their repentance, which the word of God and constitutions of this church require. 7. That an effectual course be taken to prevent fur- ther hurt from the controverted constitutions and procedure of the Assembly at St, Andrew's and Dundee, and for securing the right constitu- tion of the Assemblies in time coming. These requests and proposals being altogether disregarded, they presented another paper, in 206 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE which they observe, how they had been contemn- ed ; how an Asseml)ly indicted by the null meet- ing of Dundee, had been pretended to be the on- ly method oC healini^^ their divisions ; how these, once hearty promoters of Prelacy, having- gotten the ascendant in judicatories, had more than ever manifested tiieir contempt of their covenant en- gagements, and covenanted reformation, — and had become persecutors of such as were endea- vouring faithfully to adhere to the Lord and his cause, according to their solemn vows : — they de- clare their adherence to their former testimonies against their apostacy, and protest, That the con- stitution and acts of this Assembly shall be held jiull and void, and not binding by virtue of any authority derived from them. 1. Because it de- rived its indiction and autliority from the pretend- ed Assembly of St. Andrew's and Dundee last year. 2. It is for the most part constituted of the same kind of persons as it, who have begun, supi)orted, and carried on a course of defection, contrary to the word of God, and the covenants and constitutions of this church. 3. Because, by the act of that i)retended Assembly, last year, which required all Presbyteries and Synods to inflict censures upon all ministers, probationers, students, and private Christians, who opposed the public resolutions, and did not acquiesce in their acts, — all opposers are rendered incapable f»r election, and in consequence of it, several Sy- nods and Presbyteries, in their approbation of the ihnuls of that Assembly, had made several preli- initations. k Many Presbyteries had refused to send up commissioners to this meeting, as a Ge- neral Ass(Mnbly of the church of Scotland ; and lUo election of such as liave come up as commis- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 297 sioners, is generally controverted. Regardless of all these things, the Assembly proceeded to business, and enacted. That scandalous ministers or others should be duly restored to their office and church fellowship, not without evidence of thorough repentance ; and that none should be licensed to preach the gospel, or ordained to be ministers or ruling elders, or be commissioned to Presbyteries or Synods, before they give it under their hand, that they approve of the public reso- lutions, or at least will never make any opposi- tion to them : — but refused to a[)prove a decla- ration in favours of Independency and toleration of errors, which some of the English had present €d to them. Finding the Scotch clergy ex- tremely attached to their king, Cromwel would not allow them to hold any more General Assem- blies ; and sometimes his officers drove them out of their Synods. This did the less hurt, as the resolutioners, in their courts, chiefly aimed at supporting their own authority, and crushing their protesting brethren. Deprived of civil assistance from Charles and his malignant favourites, to persecute the protcs- toj's by fines, imprisonment, or death, the public resolutioners persecuted them with manifold re- proaches, as miners of their king and country, — as favourers of the English sectaries and their usurpations, — as renters of the church, and the like ; and lalioured to their utmost to keep these of their principles from any ministerial charges, which, in divers places, occasioned a protesting minister and a resolutioner in the saine congre- gation. So ternble were their torrents of re- proach and calumny, that even Principal Bailie, notwithstanding all his coolness, prudence, piety, 2 Q S98 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE and learninp^, appears, in his letters, ready to re- ceive and spread ill-ijroiinded calumnies, to black- en the characters of his mo^t eminent, and, a lit- tle before, dearly beloved brethren. The uncom- monly meek and calm Mr. Guthrie of Stirling he represents as a kind of forward flainini]^ fire-brand ; the almost too peaceful iMr. Livingston as a vio- lent pusher ; the pious and learned IMr. Simson of Airthas an arrant fool; holy Rutherfoord, and uniting Durham and Blair as working the ruin of the church ; great M*Ward as guilty of being Rutherford's servant ; and pious Andrew Gray and Hugh Binning, whose sermons the Lord then, and since, hath so remarakably blessed, as romantic, new-fashioned, and unsubstantial preach- ers ; and in short, the protestors' settlements of ministers, carriage in judicatories, and at solemn fasts, and sacramental occasions, which were at- tended with such marvellous powers from on high, as a scene of disorder, pride, and selfishness. But the more their brethren reproached and persecuted them as they could, the more the Lord countenanced their labours, and made them sing as in the days of their youth, about 1688 and 1049. Remarkably warned of, and dreading times of restraint, they were exceedingly diligent in their ministrations, and these were attended with amazing success. JNIultitudes of the most serious attended their many sole m?i fasts and their sacramental occasions; and so marvellous was the influence they felt, that they were often in a kind of spiritual tranre the whole time. After one sa- cramental occasion, about sixty of the aged hear- ers earnestly applied themselves to learn, that they might read the word ol God. — '' 1 have been many years' says Mr. Kirkton in his iMS. Me- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 299 moirs ** in a parish, where I never heard an oath; and one might have rode many miles without hearing one. In a great part of the country, one could not have Iod»"ed in a family, where God was not daily worshipped by reading, signing of Psalms, and prayer. People were generally so sober, that the inn-keepers complained of the ruin of their trade." The Lord also gave them peculiar favour in the sight of the English inva- ders, who relished their unfavourable apprehen- sions of King Charles, and his malignants, Pre- latists, and Papists — and repeatedly offered them the government of the country, which they al- ways refused. And indeed none were more zea- lous against compliance withCromwel and his sec- taries, or for continued praying for Charles, than Lord Warriston, Mr. James Guthry, and other principal men among the protestors. Even Ar- gyle fell under their frown for some involuntary compliances that he had made. The English had the whole civil government of the nation in their hands. No newly plac- ed minister could plead in law for his stipend without a warrant from some of their judges. The English Parliament even gave their judges and sequestrators a power to put out scandalous ministers or teachers in universities, and prohi- bited ministers' public praying for Charles, as their King, under pain of losing their stipend. This both protestors and resolutioners refused to comply with; and such was their zeal for their wicked and treacherous Prince, that the Lord's Supper was not dispensed for some years in Edin- burgh and several other places, because they scrupled to admit the magistrates to it, who had been obliged to crouch under the English con- 300 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE querors. By means of Durham, Blair, and some other pacificators, the protestors and resolutio- ners had several conferences in order to atrree- nient in Mi.3.5; and the matter uas carried up be- fore (!!romwel, who haity of" the protestors, and courted with hirf^^e offers hy Sharp, afterward archbish- shop, in name of the resohitioners, he gave both parties an e(pial liberty. As he indulged the sec- taries, which abounded in his time, with liberiy to spread their [)rinciples,and to restrain the Pres- byterians from foisting into their causes of fasting any thing in favours of Charles or against him- self or his government, had taken the power of appointing general fasts, and fixing the causes thereof next to wholly into his own hands — Ru- therford and sixteen other protestors, in the coun- ties of Fife and IVrth, emitted a solemn testimony against these things, and in behalf of their cove- nanted reformation. During the confusions which happened after Cromwel's death in 16.58, both protesters and lesolutioners aj)peared pretty calm, and agreed to bury their differences. — Instigated by Messrs. Robert Douglas, and James Sharp, iNFonk, who liad commanded the English forces in Scotland f(u- several years, undertook to restore Charles to his throne, and, by the vilest perjury and trea- chery, got it accomplished. Charles himself was wearied of his miserable and pinched circumstan- ces abroad, and stuck at no dissimulation by let- ters, to persuade the nation of his virtues and good intentions 'I'he no!)les at home disdained cTouchini: to luiglishmen (»f no rank in the world. The Mibjects in general were tired of an unset- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 301 tied government. Such as thought they had serv- ed Charles, though but in pillaging their neigh- bour's houses, expected that he would richly re- ward them : his friends in general highly extolled his excellencies. And thovigh, in his travels, he had solemnly professed himself a Papist, some divines represented him as the great instrument by which God would fulfil the promises of Anti- christ's destruction. Sharp, whom the resolution- ers chose for their agent to concert matters with General Monk and Charles, and to take care that no injury might be done to their church, notwitlistanding his most solemn professions of sincerity, betrayed them, and concerted with Charles how to introduce Episcopacy, in reward of which Charles gave him twenty chalders of corn, and the archbishoprick of St. x\ndrew's; and, in the mean time, stirred them up against the protestors, whom he represented as abhorred by his Majesty ; so that it is hard to say if the Prelatic persecution made their circumstances a whit worse than the resoiutioners would have made them. Convinced that the protestors would oppose their introduction of Prelacy, Charles and Sharp heartily agreed to ruin the principal of them as quickly as possible. Charles therefore gave or- ders to imprison the Marquis of Argyle, Lord Warriston, Sir James Stewart, provost of Edin- burgh, and Sir John Chiesly, who shewed the most bold opposition to the beheading of his fa- ther ; while he advanced to honour Sir John Fletcher, who had, among the first, abjured him- self, and Middleton and Sharp, who had shewed not a little forwardness in taking the engagement of fidelity to the English commonwealth. — Some- 302 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE time after, a sole mn thanksgiving for Cliarles's restoration, at Ktlinf)uri;li, the afternoon of which was spent in honiil dmnkenness, dehauchery, and madness — tbeCommittee of Estates appointed by the Parliament in lf).31, all the members of which had conciuTcd with their Sovereign in taking the national covenant and solemn league, and some of them had advised him to make that solemn de- daralion at Dunfermline, August 1 C, 16.30, met on the 2d of August 16G0. — Finding that the re- solutioners would neither join with their protest- ing brethren to form a supplication to his Majes- ty, nor form one Ijy themselves, Mr. James Guth- ry, and nine other ministers, and two elders, met in a private bouse in Edinburgh, to form a draught of a supplication to be laid before a larger meeting of their brethren, particularly the synod of (rlasgow. In this draught, they represented to his Majesty, how hateful the procedure of the late usurpers had been to them, in offering vio- lence to the Parliament of England, in murder- ing his royal father, and in secluding himself from his government, and in their impious en- croachments upon the kingdom of Jesus Christ, &c. — how thankfully they acknowledged the Lord's signal preservation of his Majesty's per- son, and in restoring him to his throne ; — how they did, and resolved to pour forth their fervent sup[)lications to God for him ; and hoped, that he would protect, countenance, and encourage them as their gracious Sovereign — what dangers threatened religion and the work of reformation in these kingdoms, from the unremitted endea- vours of Papists, Prelatists, and malignants on the one hand, and of the sectaries on the other; and therefore humbly besought his Majesty t(^ CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 803 employ his royal power for the preservation of the reformed religion, in doctrine, worship, disci- pline and government in the church of Scotland ; and for the reformation of religion in England and Ireland ; — and that all places of trust might be filled with such as have taken the covenant, and are of approved integrity and known affec- tion to the cause of God ; — and that his Majesty would remove the ceremonies and service hook from his church and family, and from other places of his dominions, and publicly signify his approba- tion of the covenant, into which he had so solemn- ly entered, and of his purpose to adhere to it — as it was the desire of their soul, that he might be like David, a man according to God's own heart, and to Solomon, of an understanding heart to judge the Lord's people, &:c. The committee, hearing of their meeting, caused apprehend them all, except one elder that escaped, and without hearing them, imprisoned them in the castle of Edinburgh, from whence the Parliament next year liberated them all, except Mr.Guthry. Next day the committee emitted a proclamation against all unlawful m.eetings, without his Majesty's spe- cial authority, and against all seditious petitions and remonstrances, as every faithful one was now called. By a flattering letter directed from Charles to the resolutioners of the Presbytery of Edinburgh, in which he promised to support their cause, and maintain their religion as by law established ; — by a proclamation against Rutherford's Lex rex, and the causes of God's wrath, as containing many things injurious to his Majesty, and laying the foundation and seeds of rebellion, and the burn- ing of what copies they could find, at Edinburgh, 304f A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OK THE by the hane^man; — and by a proclamation against rciiiimslrants and their ddhcroits; — and hy tlie con- finement or "nnprisonment of some i^entlemen or ministers, that tfiey mii^ht have no infhience uj)- on the eh'ctions (or the ensiiinn^ Parliament, or citint^;- them to it as criminals — prepaiations was made for its hein^ wiiolly comj)hiisant. Great rare was taken that none should be elected coin- iiiissioners, hut such as should in all thinirs he subservient to the will of the court. For this reason, it seems none else could be found fit in the biMi^h of" Lanark, but their jyiper. And care was takin to have the elections of those that were otherwise disj)osed set aside. The most part of the members were absolutely infamous, who wal- lowed in profaneness, whoredom, and drunken- ness. Only Loudon, Cassilis, Sutherland, Craw- ford, Horthwick, Torphichen, and a few other old convenanters, who often dissented from the deeds of the rest, retained their wonted sobriety. And indeed, drunkenness, whoredom, cursing, and blasphemy, were now reckoned badges of loyalty ; and piety, or even common gravity, a mark of rebellion. Charles himself appears to have been a [)rofligate atheist, abandoned to pro- fane swearing, drunkenness, and whoredom, and ca[)able of the most base dissimulation. Sharp, his director and agent, was chiefly remarkable for activity, craft, and dissimulation. Such as were intimately ac(pjainte(l with him reckoned him a downright atheist, who affected to believe that there was neither God, heaven, nor hell; he used no private prayer, and scarcely had prayer in his family once a-month; he lived, who knows how long, in whoredom with one Isabel Lindsay, and, with his own hand^ strangletl the child which CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 305 she bare to him. And there is not a little ground to believe, that he had entered into a solemn compact with the devil, in order to preserve his life and carry on his designs. The Parliament having met on the 2 1st of January, 1661, after a faithful sermon from Mr. Robert Douglas, would choose their after preachers for themselves ; who, by their fulsome harangues, excited them to render his Majesty ab- solute, and to establish some greater authority in the church to keep her ministers in order. Highly pleased with such stuff, the Parliament appointed a new oath of allegiance^ acknowleding the King's supremacy over all persons, and in all causes. They enacted. That no conventions, leagues, or bonds, should be made without his Majesty's consent, and prohibited the renew- ing of the solemn league and covenant, or any other covenants or public oaths concerning the government of the church or kingdom, without his special warrant and approbation; and appoint- ed all persons in public offices to swear the oath of allegiance or supremacy before mentioned, and subscribe the declaration asserting his Majesty's prerogative ; bearing, that it was his and his suc- cessors' sole right, to choose and appoint officers of state, privy counsellors, and lords of session; — and to call, hold, and dissolve all Parliaments and other conventions of the states ; that no acts of Parliament are binding without his special ap- probation or commission; that the power of mak- ing peace or war doth only reside in him, and his heirs and successors ; that it is high treason for any subjects to rise or continue in arms without his authority, or to meet for determining any matters, civil or ecclesiastical, except in 2 R 306 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OP THE the ordinary jude^mcnts, or to make leagues and Ijonds, witliout his s])ecial consent; that the so- lemn league and covenant, and all treaties fullow- in^ upon it, are 7iot obli A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE ministers, and to fine, imprison, &c. them and others, who continued in tlieir non-conformity to the religion estahlished by law ; and appointed the officers of the army or militia, and lords of j)rivy council to assist them, in apprehending and punishing of such delinquents. In consequence whereof, persons were called before them with- out information, accusation, or witness; and re- quired to answer whatever questions were pro- ])Osed. If any offered any legal defence, he was rc(|uired to take the oath of supreniacij^ the refu- sal of which was reckoned sufficient guilt. They, in the manner of the Spanish inquisition, and the privy council, in their wonted manner, proceeded to ruin every serious opposer. Such non-conform ministers, as yet remained in their charges by the favour of some of the nobility, or the like, were driven from them, and soldiers were appointed to force people who absented from the sermons of their intruded curates, to pay twentypence for every time they should be absent. Besides seve- ral proclamations for enforcing or executing the above mentioned acts of Parliament against non- conformists and preachers, or attenders upon re- ligious meetings not allowed by law, they emit- ted one against Brown's apohgetical relation of the suj/'erings oj'ihcjaitlful ministers and professors of that period, and ordered it to be burnt in the street of Edinburgh by the hangman ; and all that had copies of it to deliver them up to their sheriffs, or be liable to a fine of L.2000 Scots : and iNIr. James Guthrie's widow and daughter were pro- secuted for having it. In IGGG, the remains of the fines imposed by the Parliament of 1G(>2, Ibr some trifling conq)li- ances with the Knglish usurpers, or the like, were exacted with rigour by the King's troops,, who CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 315 took free quarters till they j^ot them : no excuse was accepted, unless by taking the oath of supre- macy, and subscribing the declaration ; and such as could neither pay their fines, nor entertain the troops, were dragged to prison. Sir James Tur- ner and his soldiers were empowered to fine the west country people for non-attendance on the ministrations of their profligate curates, and even to fine gentlemen, if their ladies or servants did not attend ; and to quarter on tenants, if their landlords withdrew. No widowhood or poverty excused from the fines. The soldiers snatched the meat from the mouths of innocent children, and gave it to their dogs; and when they had con- sumed all their provisions, they sold or burnt the furniture. In this manner. Turner and his troops levied almost L.60,000 Scots, from the two shires of Galloway and Dumfries for their non-conformity. — Being obliged to give up the infamous High Commission^ two regiments of foot, and six troops of horse were raised, under General Dalziel, a profligate savage, educated in the military service of Russia, in order to force the non-conformists to hear the curates: the coun- cil emitted a proclamation, requiring masters to answer for the conformity of their servants, and heritors for that of their tenants, and give bond accordingly, under pain of horning. Sir James Turner, though it is said he scarce- ly acted up to his orders, had almost wholly ruin- ed the south-west of Scotland, and obliged multitudes to leave their houses, and wander among mosses and mountains. Four countrymen in Galloway, being informed that his merciless soldiers had apprehended a poor old man, and were going to roast him naked upon a red-hot .'5IG A COMPENDIOUS HISTOUY OF THE ^riilircm, went and bettered tliem to let him alone: but, instead of hearkenini^ to this humane desire, the soldiers fell u[jon the men, who, ^-ettinc^ the better of theni, disHinied them, and relieved their friend ; and fearin^^ that tiie other soldiers in the parish would fall upon them, they, and seven or einht more, surprised the l)arty, which all laid down their arms, except one that was killed. 'J'he countrymen about, apprehending^ that Tur- ner would cruelly resent what had been done, upon them, without loss of time, went to Dum- fries and surprised liim, and disarmed his troops without hurtini^ any of them but one that was wounded; — and then, at the cross, publicly drank the Kino's health, and prosperity to his govern- ment. Informed hereof, the council published a proclamation, which could not reach those con- cerned till it was too late, requirin<^ them to lay down their arms, and surrender themselves to his INIajesty's Lieutenant-General, or some other of- ficers, within twenty- four hours, and prohibiting all persons to assist, harbour, or keep any corres- pondence with these rebels, but containing no promise of indemnity in case of surrender. Af- ter some deliberation, that persecuted handful formed themselves into a small army, and re- solved to march towards Edinburgh, in order to give their persecuted friends an opportunity to join them; and at Lanark, being about 1500, they renewed their solemn covenant with God ; and, about the same time, drew u]) a manifesto nowise disowning his IMajesty's authority, but bearing, that they had taken up arms to defend themselves and their persecuted brethren, in their adherence to their covenants, into which the King himself iiad solemnly entered, and to protect them- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 517 jselves and friends from such cruelty and violence as they had for some time past suffered. As Dal- ziel, with Charles's troops, marched up towards them, they marched eastward, byBathgate, till they came to Collington, about thee miles from Edin- burgh. Greatly diminished by their fatigue, in marching so far,in one of the last nights of Novem- ber, and disappointed of their expected assistance from the Lothians, they, about nine hundred, marched by the east end of Pentland hills, where, while they were quite dispirited and fatigued, and expecting a peaceful negotiation, Dalziel, contra- ry to his promise of a cessation of arms, fell upon them, and killed fifty of them, and took as many prisoners. But the country people in the neigh- bourhood killed and took prisoners not a few more. Notwithstanding, Charles himself was so ashamed of the illegal cruelties proved against Sir James Turner, that he dismissed him from his service, yet the privy council, to whom, just before their skirmish at Pentland, the poor peo- ple had begged leave to represent their grievances for two or three years, persecuted, murdered, im- prisoned, forfeited, or banished them that had ta- ken arms, or that gave them any harbour or lodg- ing. And such as got an indemnity, had it, at the expense of wounding their conscience, by sub- scribing what they called the bond of 2-)eacc^ iw which they engaged for themselves and these un- der them, to live 'peaceahli) ; that is, to l)ear no testimony against the abominations established by law. As the nobles were wearied of persecuting mi- nisters and people merely for not hearing of cu- rates, many of them shamefully ignorant or pro- fligate ; and as it was expected that it ivould di- 318 A COMPENDTOUS HISTORY OF THE vide and weaken the Presbyterian party, Charles, moved by Tweedale, by a letter in 1G69, grant- ed an iNDUf.GKNCK to them, under certain condi- tions, whi( h, through the opposition of the bi- sho})s and their clergy, had no small difficulty to obtain the approbation of the council. In conse- quence of this, about forty-three Presbyterian ministers were indulged either in their own pa- rishes when vacant, or in some other parish, as the council judged meet. Another indulgence was granted to about eighty, in 1672, to keep matters quiet,while Lewis of France, andCharles, his pensionary, laboured to destroy the Dutch na- tion, which kindly sheltered their persecuted Pro- testant brethren. Some few of the persons, to whom these indulgences were offered, refused to acce[)t them. Some of them that did accept, testified against the conditions, or betook them- selves to silly shifts to quiet their conscience, and cover their shame; while a considerable number boldly pled for their own compliance, and raged at the field preachers, who testified against it. It was })led in favours of it, that magistrates, for ends known to themselves, may prohibit mini- sters to preach for a time, and afterward permit them to preach ; that though magistrates have not power to silence ministers altogether, yet they have power to prohibit the public exercise of their ministry, and again, when they think fit, to grant that liberty unto them ; that the second book of discipline allows magistrates to place ministers, when the kirk isrorru})ted, and all things are out of order; that Kings Hezekiah and Josiah reformed the Levites, purged the temple, and apjwinted the courses of the priests and Ijcvites; that seve- ral of the indulged were sent to their own char- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 319 ges ; that if the indulgence be rejected, because it proceeds from the King's supremacy, then he might banish all preaching out of his dominions, by commanding to preach by virtue of his supre- macy ; that the preaching of the gospel is so im- portant and necessary, that many things may be comported with, in order to obtain it ; that the mere making use of his Majesty's present favour doth not homologate the exorbitancies under which we have groaned; that the rulers did not assign the indulged ministers to particular charges by express deputation, but only by permitting and allowing them to exercise their ministry there ; that, after the ruin of our liberties, we may accept a relaxation, which is sinful on the granter's part; that, though the magistrate's prin- cipal design in these indulgences be to establish his own supremacy over the church, yet the ac- cepting of them cannot imply an approbation of that design ; that, as the magistrate proposeth this indulgence by command, obedience to the command cannot imply an engagement to the prescriptions annexed ; that, notwithstanding his carrying his supremacy to the highest, the King hath not assumed the power of church order or dispensation of word and sacraments ; that the indulged ministers plainly owned, that the ordi- nation of Christ is the only proper foundation, upon which the exercise of their ministry, by the permission of this licence, doth subsist, and the magistrates' allowance is but merely the removal of his former unjust restraints ; that acceptance of the indulgence imported no subjection of the ministry to the arbitrary will ui' men, but rather an acknowledgment that our persons are in sub- jection to them. 3 SCO CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. On the other hand it was pled, that the procla- mation for the induli;ence plainly flowed from the King s supremacy over the church, and maintains his council's power to depose ministers from, and restore them to the exercise of their ministry, as they find proper ; and that it w as granted to some ministers to prevent others from preaching to any but their own families : and that it was clogged with several sinful conditions, as, that they behoved to utter nothing agaisnt Prelacy, or the King's supremacy ; that, unless they attend the bishops synods and Presbyteries, they must confine themselves to the parishes in which they preach ; that they should admit none to sealing ordinances, or to marriage, who belonged to any other established, or indulged minister, without his allowance; that they give no coimtenance to peo[)le of other congregations coming to hear them ; that they all administer the Lord's supper on the same day ; that they ])reach only in their own churches, under pain of being held keepers of conventicles; that all matters of discipline, which formerly belonged to Presbyteries, must still belong to the Bishops, Presbytery of the bounds, or next to it: — that therefore, 1. The itrcepfancc of the indulgence reflected dishonour upon Jesus Christ, the only King and head of his church, as it practically declared, that the accep- ters did not hold their ministry wholly and only of Jesus Christ ; that they hold the exercise of it from the magistrates either solely or in con- junclion with ('hrist ; that thus they receive the ollice or exercise of their ministry from men, who, in this deed, neither do, nor can act in a subor- dination to Christ, as the head and fountain of fill church [)owcr; that thus they acknowledge all CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 321 tl}e rules and directions prescribed by them for ordering- of the exercise of the ministry, to be in- sufficient ; and that not Christ alone, but mai^is- trates, have power to prescribe the qualifications necessary for the exercise of the ministry ; that not Christ alone, but magistrates also, have power to prescribe how he will have such an officer set ov^er such a particular flock; and that hereby they concur with limitations in, and about the dispen- sation of Christ's spiritual ordinances, not pre- scribed by himself, nor by any ministerial power subordinated to him, but in opposition to him, both in matter and manner. 2. It is contrary to Presbyterian principles ; such as, that it belong- eth to the church, and to church officers, to try and examine qualifications of such as are to ex- ercise the ministerial office, and, by explaining and applying Christ's rules, to declare who are fit and qualified for it ; that it belongs to the church, or church judicatories, to convey mini- sterial office and power to persons qualified, and to grant them a protestative mission, authorising them to exercise their ministerial function ; and to plant and transplant ministers to particular charges, or loose their relation to them, as the good of the church requireth ; that it belongs to church judicatories to give injunctions concerning the exercise of the ministry and dispensation of the ordinances of Christ ; that the power of cen- suring, suspending, or deposing ministers, belongs to the church, not to a King or his council. 8. It supports and confirms the Ring's Erastian supre- macy. The acceptance of it, made the subsequent act, of almost unlimited headship over the church, necessary to warrant the granting of it; and that act of suprqnacy alone makes the King's indul- 2 T 322 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE ^ence a Ief]^al deed, and secures the indulged i'roiH beini^- held seditious persons in the eye of the law. All the particulars included in the two preccdint^ arguments, belong to the Ring's claim- ed headship over the church. "J he matter of the indulgence is the very matter of the supremacy alloted him to settle, enact, and enut constitu* lions, acts, and orders concerning matters, meet- ings, and persons ecclesiastical, according to his royal pleasure. The acceptance of a benefit flow- ing from an usurped power, manifestly homolo- gate> that usurped power. 4. It wrongs the peo- ple concerned in them, in practically giving up their former relation to their flock, and taking a new charge without any call from the people. 5. While it plainly confirms and adopts the Eras- tian principle of the dependence of the ministry upon the magistracy, and the necessary support of it on the magi>trate*s will, it tends to the re- markable hurt of the church. IMagistrates thrust- ing out faithful ministers, and putting in whom they pleased in their room, did, under the Arian Emperors, and even under Ring James, much hurt to the church. According to his method, magistrates may quickly deprive us of faithful, or even Protestant ministers, and [)lant naugh- ty, erroneous, or Popish priests in their stead : nay, by the indulgence, the most part of non-con- form ministers are shut up m one corner by two's or three's, in a parish, wliile the rest of the land is given up to the will of Prelatists, Papists, or Quakers. It is intended to restrain these field meetings at which multitudes of souls have alrea- dy found so much spiritual benefit. It tends to introduee the subjection of all ministers to the (council in ecclesiastical aftairs. It encouragcth CHURCH Of SCOTLAND. 323 0th6i*s to enter into the ministry upon base con* ditions. It abandons the discipline of the chnrch tpthe bishops and their curates. It i^ivesnpw iih an ordination of a faithful succession of faithful mi- nisters to the church. 6. It gives up with all our own and our fathers sufferings for our opposition to patronage or Erastian encroachments of Kmg or council on the power of Christ and his churchy and for the sole headship of Christ, or for Pres- byterian government. 7- It strengthens the hands of Prelatists, as hereby ministers imprison them- selves in congregations under their influence. It tempts them to seek collation from bishops. It withdraws them from helping their faithful suffer- ing brethren, and leaves the curates in quiet pos- session of the most of the nation, and secures it to them in all time coming. It encourageth a kind correspondence with curates, and diminish- eth zeal ai^ainst them. It justifies them in ac- cepting Prelacy from the same fountain of the King's supremacy. The conditions, under which the indulgence is accepted, mightily strengthens their hands. 8. It is contrary to our covenants, in so far as they bind to the doctrine of Christ's being the onl^ head of the church, and to maintain Presbyterian government, and the liberties and privileges of the church of Scotland, and abjure Prelacy and Erastianism. 9. The accepters of this indulgence condemn themselves, in so far as they had, or have any regard to field or house meet- ings for religious worship; or have or do condemn the King's ecclesiastical supremacy, or the entry of curates by the bishops ; or have refused to con- tinue with their parishes on the footing of a new appointed presentation; or have refused to join with bishops and their curates in Presbyteries and 324 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THR sydods, accordinj; to Bishop Leighton's pro- posals of (trrommodation ; or have, or do scruple at the bishops' collation of their ofiice upon them. 10. It is prejudicial to field meetings, which have been remarkably blessed by (lod to the edifica- tion of multitudes. The Kini;'s letter represents it as contrived and granted in order to supjiress them utterly. It draws off the accepters from preaching in the fields, and if all named by the council had accepted, few had been left to carry on that necessary work, to which God seems to be loudly calling. The acceptance of it by so many, encourageth the rulers in prosecuting their designs against these meetings, by the most cruel and bloody acts. It withdraws the people from these meetings, and so rents them asunder. It materially condemns these meetings as unlawful and seditious, and exposeth such as scruple to hear the indulged, to the fury of their adversaries. 1 1. The acce])tance of that indulgence is exceed- ingly offensive. It grieves and discourageth such ministers and peo])le as scrupled at, or thought it unlawful. It violated the accepters' sacred bonds of unity; and, by withdrawing from the brethren, particularly such as preached or heard at field meetings, they weakened their hands. It encou- raged the Prelates and rulers to proceed with an high hand, in their apostacy and persecution It will tempt posterity to submit to magistrates' im- position of ministers, in what manner, and under what restrictions they please. It will grieve and stumbU" our Protestant brethren abroad, to un- '^^•rstand, that after all the faithful conteiulings M)tch ministers, from the reformation till so rtiany, after a short struggle, have so fear- complied upon a small temptation. CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 32.5 No wonder then, that Messrs. John Burnet, Donald Cargil, and eight or ten others refused to accept this indulgence. Being unable to attend the council, Mr. Burnet sent his reasons of refus- al to the chancellor, bearing, that as Christ alone was the sole head of the church, all ministerial office, and power of exercising it, flowed from him ; whereas the indulgence flowed from that absolute supremacy which his Majesty claimed, and had been affirmed to him by Parliament, as an inherent right of the crown ; — that he could not so much as interpretatively condemn field meetings, which had been always peaceably at- tended, and been remarkably blessed by God ; — that he reckoned there was still a pastoral rela- tion standing between him and his former flock, of which not fifty, out of twelve hundred exami- nable persons, had ever yet submitted to the cu- rate placed among them — so no relation could be fixed between him and another congregation, by an act of a mere civil judicatory ; — that his con- finement did not merely confine his person, but even his office, and the gospel itself; and so hin- dered him from the duty he was called to for the good of the church, which was now in hazard to bes\vallowedupbyJesuits,Quakers,&c.; and while three parts of the kingdom were groaning under the want of the faithful preaching of the gospel, a few shires in the west were made the common jail of all the ministers permitted to preach; that he looked on a permission to preach without any call from the people, authority or assistance of a Presbytery, and without the exercise of church discipline and government, as very lame, and the restrictions annexed to it, as an heavy yoke. — The other refusers of the indulgence drew up a j)aper of much the same import ; and in which S26 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE they begg-ed the council to believe, that their non-compliance (lowed from real tenderness of conscience; and that by their influence and deal- ing with ins Majesty, they might have an unre- strained liberty to preach to their flocks, or others, as providence called them, in a peaceable manner, for the edification of the body of Christ. Several of tlie compilers with the indulgence formed a paper of grievances to be given in to the council, when they received it, as a testimo- ny against the evils implied in the grant of it, bearing, that however thankfully they received his Majesty's permission to exercise their minis- try, yet they disliked that Erastianism, which ap- peared in the grant of it ; that, though they dis- allowed all tumultuary and seditious meetings of subjects, yet they could not condemn the field meetings for preaching and hearing the gos()el. as stick, and were grieved that the grant of their indulgence did so ; — that the indulgence breaks the relation between ministers and their former Hocks, and deprives the people, to whom they are appointed, of any free call ; that it shuts them iij) sometimes, by two's or three's, in a parish, where one might serve, and imposed on them flocks belonging to faithful brethren ; that it confined them as evil doers, without any trial or conviction of guilt, and hindered them from meet- ing in judicatories or even mutual converse, and restrained the faithful preachingof the gospel from a great part of the nation; and exposed such as did not comply, to far greater sufiferings than former- ly; that it entirely cut oif from the people all hope of haviuiT their f.iitliful pastors restored to them •. and that all their restrictions were plainly form- ed in favours of the Frelatic party, and to the CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 827 disadvantage of Presbyterian ministers and peo- ple implied a subjection to Erastianism, and some of them thrust the accepters into a direct and formal subjection to Prelacy. — After they had in several meetings, considered this paper, they dropt it altogether for want of harmony, with re- spect to it. — They agreed, that when they ap- peared before the council, to receive their licence, and instructions, Mr. George Hutchinson should. by a speech, in their name, give some testimony ao'ainst the Erastianism and sinful restrictions connected therewith. But by neglecting to speak at the beginning, and by delivering himself in an obscure equivocal manner, it was to little or no purpose. Meanwhile, IMr. Alexander Blair ho- nestly told the council, that as he looked upon himself as an ambassador of Christ, he could not receive instructions from them, for regulating him in the exercise of his ministry, and let fall their instructions: on account of which the coun- cil ordered him to prison. While the outed ministers were sadly divided about the indulgence, great pains were taken to de- coy them and the people into, at least, a partial submission to Prelacy. Dr. Burnet, afterwards bishop of Salisbury, and other popular preachers, were sent to the West Country, to preach in the several kirks, in hopes that this would bring the people to a liking of Episcopal preachers. But few heard them, except some of the younger sort, out of curiosity. Burnet says, that he and his brethren were amazed to see poor common peo- ple, even cottagers and servants, so capable to ar- gue upon church government, and the power of Princes in matters of religion. 'J'his failing, Leighton of Dumblain, now administator of the 328 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE Archbishopric of Glasgow, proj)oscd an accom- viodation to the Pres!>yti'rian minislt'is, allowing; them to retain their own prineiples, and to [)r(j- test aj^ainst what they thoui^ht wrong in Prela- cy, and tlien, like their fathers before 16S8, to concur in Presbyteries, which had constant mo- derators. The Presl)yterian ministers, indulged and not indulged, after several conferences, de- clined compliance, and the more readily, as Lei^h- ton, with all his hii^h pretences to relij^ious peace and piety, would not or could not assure them, that the bishops, who moderate, should not have a negative over the synod's decisions. But force was the principal mean used for causini^ both ministers and people to submit to what the court pleased. As Charles's first indul- gence of the Presbyterian ministers at his own hand, by his council, had exceeded the limits of the supremacy which had been formerly allowed him by the Parliament, and was contrary to the laws establishing Prelacy, the bishops complain- ed of it, as an illegal trampling on their power. — The Parliament Hj69 therefore asserted him and his successors to have an unlimited supremaci/ over the church, as an inherent riCOTLAND. 331 and all below that station in L.2 Scots As an addition to these persecuting acts, the Parlia- ment 1672, enacted, That none should be oflicers of the militia but Episcopalians ; and both offi- cers and soldiers take the oath of allegiance and declaration, under pain of imprisonment and ba- nishment; that none but those authorized by law, should ordain any to the ministry ; and all ordi- nations by Presbyterian ministers since 1661, be held void and null; that all that had not a certi- ficate from their parish minister that their chil- dren were baptized within thirty days of their birth, should be fined, heritors in a fourth part of their yearly rent ; merchants in L.lOO Scots ; &c. and that all that did not observe the anni- versary of the 29th of May, should be fined, or otherwise punished. Dreadful were the severities carried on against the non-conformists. While the indulged minis- ters were disliked by many of the people, for their want of due faithfulness, they were not a little harassed by the council for their lecturing, — baptizing of children not belonging to their pa- rishes,— giving some testimony against the apos- tacy of the times, and for not observing of the anniversary thanksgiving on the 29th of May, or the like. The refusers of the indulgence, and all that preached at, or attended field meetings, were still more cruelly persecuted, by fines, im- prisonment, or banishment. Many were the ex- orbitant fines imposed upon gentlemen, and others, in the shires of Dumbarton, Lanark, Ayr, Gallo- way, Dumfries, and Renfrew, for mere non-con- formity to Prelacy, and non-attendance on the ministrations of ignorant and |)rofligate curates. These of eleven gentlemen in the shire of Ken- .332 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE frew, amounted to near L. 3 1,000 Sterling. Finding that, notwithstanding, the field meetings more and more increased, the council in June 1674, emitted two proclamations, the first of which requires heritors to become bound for their tenants, and tenants for their families, cottars, and servants, that they should not, under the pain of L.2.3 Scots for each tenant, — L.12 for each cottar, — and a fourth part of their year's fee for each servant, and the half for each wife or child, be present at any house conventicle, nor at any field conventicle, under the penalty of the double. If tenants refused to give bond to their heritors, their whole property was to be forfeited for them, and no new leases were to be granted without such engagement. And all magistrates had an imlimited power to require every person whom they suspected, to give security for their good be- haviour in this matter. The other imported, That all those that should apprehend convocators to, or attenders on conventicles, should be reward- ed with their fines or forfeited property ; and whoever should apprehend any minister at con- venticles, should have 1000 merks, and 2000 for JNIessrs. Welsh, Semple, and Arnot. — They fined eleven gentlemen in Fife, in about L.7000 Scots, for attending conventicles, and because one of them had harboured jMr. Welsh ; and denounced forty or fifty more, and soon after fifty more, who compeared not,rc6c7ut none of these things abat- ed their rigour against field meetings, and such as attended on, or any way favoured them. Cla- verhouse, Westraw, and tlieir military judges, murdered them as fast, in the fields or their own houses, as ever ; and often would not so much as give them time to pray before death. Ac- cording to order, they drowned two women in Gal- low.:y, by tying them to a stake within the sea- mark, merely for refusing to take the Ahjuration. — Prisoners were crowded together, almost starv- ed, and driven from one prison to another. INIany were banished to the plantations, for refusing the oaths of Siiprcviacii and Ahjuration, and the Ti'st, some of wliom survived manifold hardships, and returned after the Revolution. Though the correspondent societies did not join with Ar- gyle, as they thought he and iNIonmouth went upon too broad a bottom, they published a dccla- ration, in which they disowned the royal autho- rity of James, on account of his being an excom- municated Papist, and murderous idolater ; and declared their detestation of Popcrij, Sictarian- ism, and inalig;nancij. — and their detestation of all niurdcro us and assassinating principles, and all manner of roljbing oi' open enemies or others, and all unwarrantable practices, such as the killing of the curate at Carsphearn, — which had been ialx'ly charged upon them. Toward the end of this year, James began to e\« mpt his favourites, l^ipists or others, from tak.ng the 7V.y/, while he required it to be im- posed on all others, as the Parliament had order- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 3.57 eel. But the persecutions against the supporters oi field convcnliclcs, and against the parlizaiis of Argyle, were carried on with great vigour. John Nisbet of llardhill, and Edward IMarshall, were publicly executed. Others were more privately murdered, or died in prisons, and others scourged or banished for their non-conformity. Notwith- standing Sarah Stewart attended the curate her- self, she had her house plundered, she was driven, with a sucking child, leaving other three babes be- hind her, to the prison of Wigton ; and lay there eleven weeks, because she would not engage to discover her husband, and never to converse with him. — The soldiers continued to plunder the poor non- conformists in the cruellest manner. — Mean- while, many who had been with Argyle, or fa- voured his cause, were obliged to hide themselves in dens and caves of the earth, and others were forced to pay prodigious compositions for their fines. About eighty of them, mostly of the name of CampheU, were indicted, and sentenced to be executed, when apprehended. In the three following years, 1G86 — 1688, the registers of the privy council are wanting. — And to lull the nation asleep, for the more j)eaceablc introduction of Popery, James and his agents abated their persecuting rage. But the conten- tions between the persecuted themselves rather increased. The most false and groundless re- j)roaches were invented and spread against Mr. llcnwick and his friends. These had not a little alienated holy INIr. Peden from him ; but Mr. Kenwick's conference with him on his death-bed, fully removed all his prejudices, and made him sorry that ever he had so credited these misrepre- sentations of him. One of the ministers, who 7 S5S A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE came over with Argyle, provoked that Mr. Ren- wick and his friends did not readily join that no- bleman, accused them of overturninjj;- Presbyte- rian government, and setting up a [)npular con- fusion instead of it, — committing the trial and censure of scandals to men that were not church officers ; — of thrusting themselves into the magis- trate's room, as a convention of Estates, and ma- naging both civil and ecclesiastical fiflairs by the same persons, and in the same Assembly; — and of imposing unha[)py restrictions on ministers, in the exercise of their ministry, and requiring all to be disowned who were not precisely of their judgment with respect to debated points. Alex- ander Gordon, John Dick, and Robert Cathcart, exceedingly misrepresented and reproached Mr. Renwick and his adherents, both in Scotland and Holland, as, contrary to our covenants, acting like Papists, who believe their church infallible, — in declining to hear a minister, be he ever so faithful, for the least alleged personal failing; — like Independents, taking upon them to depose ministers, and differing little from the Separat- ists ; — in sending over a youth scarcely read in the common heads of divinity, to be ordained at Groningen in Holland, a most corruj)t church ; and setting him up, as Jeroboam did his idol calves, instead of the faithful ministers of the church of Scotland ; — and in judging of faults, dispensing censures, and making ecclesiastical laws and acts, as if they, tlu»ugh laics, were a General Assembly. I'hese odious calumnies obliged Mr. Renwick and his friends to publish their Infoniiatory Vlndicaf'wu. from which, as well as from RtiLWu-k\s LiJ'c, and tlie Minutes oj tlwir general Correspondence, lately published, it is^abun- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. $39 dantly manifest, that Mr. Renwick was a young man of uncommon piety, solid judgment, and great candour, humility, meekness, and prudence, with whom none of his reproachers, for ou^4it I know, were worthy to he compared ; that, hy the kind providence of God, and the pious condescen- sion oi the Dutch ministers concerned, he got his instruction and ordination in a cleanly manner ; that neither he nor his friends ever thought every personal failing of a minister a cause of deposing him, or even so much as of withdraw- ing from him in the most broken state of the church ; that, in their correspondent meetings, they did not judge either of scandal or censure of offenders, but of their own duty with respect to them, whether the scandal was such as to warrant their withdrawment from them ; which power the Scripture allowed them, Rom. vi. 17. 2 Thess. iii 6, 14 ; that, though they had reject- ed the authority of the present magistrates as ty- rants, who had no authority from God, nor ac- cording to the good laws of the land, yet they had no more set up themselves or meetings in their room, than those who had declined the authority of the bishops had thrust themselves into their episcopal office ; that they never in- tended to lay any restrictions on ministers, but only desired, I'hat they would declare the whole counsel of God, and would freely preach up all duties, and down all sins. JNIr. Renwick and some of his friends, having afterward met with Robert Cathcart, attacked him on his dej amatory wformaiioTiy which he had been so careful to spread far and near : he was obliged to excuse himself by saying, That he had wrote of them not as what tliey were, but what they would be. 360 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE How villanous such conduct, and how shameful f of Wodrow to ij;irc Jit in and li'ts Injbrmation such ho- nour able place in his histonj ! While jMr. Renwick was thus abused by wide- spread calumnies, and sometimes by protesta- tions against his preaching- at places, i^iven in by fellow sufferers, especially apostates from the correspondent societies, Kin*;- .fames laboured with all his might to have all the penal laws against Popery annulled, in order that it might be speedily established. Their Arminian princi- ])les, unconcern about any thing serious, and lust of court favour, and the promotions which they expected from it, made most of the established clergy ready to comply with his intentions. He therefore summoned a Parliament to meet in April 16SG. (ireat care was taken to pre[)are the members for compliance with his \v\\\. But Whit- ford, son to one of the former bishops, who had long before turned Papist, and had been concerned in the massacre of the remains of the Waldenses in Piedmont, having, notwithstanding all that the Po- j)ish priests could do or say, died in great horror, a few days before the Parliament, confessing his execrable murders, and crying out against Popery as that bloody religion ! Sir Robert Sibbald, a most learned anti(piary and [)hysician, having been lately persuaded, by the Earl of Perth, to turn Papist, had scarcely done so, when he was ashamed of his conduct, retired to London, and after some months retirement from company, and close study, became so fully convinced of the er- rors of Popery, that lie could not be easy, till he had come down to Edinburgh, to make a public recantation in the church, a few weeks before the Pailiament met. These events, so circumstan- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 361 tiated, awakened many, especially of the laity, to their old zeal against Popery. Notwithstanding James's earnest letter, and all that his agents could deal with members, by promises or threat- enings, the Parliament refused to repeal the pe- nal laws. Some of the principal opposers were therefore turned out of their places, which they held under the crown, and their places, especially in the privy council, supplied with Papists. At the same time. Popish books were ifidustriously dispersed through the nation, while aJl printing or selling of any thing contrary to his Majesty's ab- solute dispensing power, or to his Popish religion, was carefully repressed. Having got the council modelled to his mind, James continued his zeal agRinstJield conventicles. j^. 100 Sterling was offered to any that should bring in Mr. Ren wick, either dead or alive, and some of his friends were murdered in the fields. Some also of Argyle's assistants were condemned to death in their absence. But, encouraged by the English judges, to believe it an inherent right of the crown to dispense with all laws, James required the council to support and main- tain his innocent Q2iiho\\cs, who, amidst all the un- natural rebellions raised against himself, his royal brother, and father, had still adhered to the royal interest, supported the crown, and died for the peace of their persecutors, against all the penal laws, and in the free private exercise of their re- ligion in their own houses; and to take under their special protection and care, his cliaj)lains and others, whom he had appointed to celebrate the worship of God, in the Popish manner, in his chapel at Ilolyroodhouse, and to take care to pu- nish all preachers or other?, who should insinuate that he intended to make any violent alteration S62 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE of the established religion. In February 1687, after recommending it to the council to root out the field convcnticleSy with all the severity of the laws, and the most rigorous prosecution by the forces — he, by his sovereign authority and absolute power, granted a Toi.b iwt ws to moderate Presbi/- ierians to meet in their private houses, and hear such ministers as accepted the indulgence, and said or did nothing seditious or treasonable, con- trary to the peace of his reign ; — and to Qua- kers, kc. ; — and to Papists — so that they shall be as free in all respects, as any Protestant subjects, to exercise their religion, and enjoy all offices, benefices, &c. which he might think fit to bestow upon them : — and, by the same absolute power, suspended, stopped, and disabled all laws, cus- toms, or constitutions against any Papists, and cassed, annulled, and discharged all oaths, by which any subjects were disabled from holding places, &c. and all laws enjoining the said oaths; and in place thereof, only require them to swear an oath, bearing, that he was rightful King, or supreme governor of these realms, and of all persons therein ; and that it is unlawful, on any pretence whatsoever, to rise in arms against him or any commissioned by him; and that the swearers should never so rise in arms, nor assist any that did so, nor ever resist his per- son or authority, but should, to the utmost of their power, assist, defend, and maintain him, and his heirs and lawful successors, in the exercise of their absolute power and authority, against all deadly. The council having published this pro- clamation with all solemnity, returned him an answer approving it, and intimating their readi- ness to prosecute the ends of it, and thanking him for his royal word for maintaining the Protestant CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 368 religion, as the best security they could have. Duke Hamilton and the Earls of Panmure and Dundonald, having refused to subscribe this an- swer, were by him quickly turned outof the council. And the council was required to suffer no Pres- byterian minister to preach without their allow- ance, nor until they had sworn the above-men- tioned oath to maintain his unlimited and irresist- ible power. But quickly after, he allowed the Presbyterian ministers to preach during his plea- sure, and so long as they behaved agreeably to his will, without taking this oath. Amidst all this lenity, sixteen men and five women were banish- ed to America, because they would not own the present authority to be according to the word of God, nor condemn the Sanquhar declaratioUy nor engage never to hear Mr. Renwick. Finding that his two former indulgences had little effect, James, in July 1687, caused his coun- cil proclaim a third, in which he declared his pro- tection of the bishops, &c. in the free exercise of /^eiV Protestant religion, and his suspending, stop- ping, and disabling, by his absolute power, all pe- nal laws made against any for non-conformity to the established religion — and allowed all his sub- jects to meet and worship God after their own w^ay, in private houses, chapels, or places hired and built for that purpose, providing tliat his counsellors or sheriffs be informed of such houses, and of the names of the preachers; and that these meetings be peaceably and openly held, and all persons freely admitted to them, and nothing taught which may any way tend to alienate the subjects from him, or his government — but com- manding all the judges, magistrates, and officers of the army, vigorously to prosecute all guch as ^ .*-f . 36ii A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE were g-uilty of preaching at, or attending field con- venticles Upon this, most of the Scotch mini- sters who had been banished, or had retired to other countries, returned home; and, at a meeting of Presbyterian ministers at Edinburgh, a consi- derable number agreed not only to accept the toleration, but also to present an address of thanks to James for it, which they not very candidly subscribed, in name of their brethren, as well as their own. After this, the Presbyterian ministers began to hold presbyteries and synods, as their circumstances permitted. — Mr Ren wick and his followers, who ^vere as. much exposed as ever, paid no regard to this toleration, but published a testimony against it, and were much offended with those Presbyterian ministers who had complied with, and solemnly thanked James, on account of it. They looked on the granter as one with wiiom they could not communicate in any such transac- tion, being by his principles bound to keep no fai.h with heretics, and having repeatedly shew- ed his treachery and dis^iniulation ; — and as an apostate, bigotted, and excommunicated Papist, and, as such, under the curse of Christ, as well as under the imprecations of his grandfather, who wished the curse of God to fall uj)on such of his posterity as should, at any time, turn Papists. They looked on him as no magistrate ; but, by the laws of the land, incapable of government, liaving neither given, nor being capable to give the security required by the coronation oath. They looked on the toleration itself, as plainly proc( edmg from his usurpation of an absolute and unlimited power, inconsistent with the law of (tOcI and liberties of mankind ; that it implied in it a dispensation of all the penal laws against Pa- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. S65 pists, and its proper tendency was to introduce a lawless loyalty, establish royal tyranny, and unite the hearts of Protestants to Papists as safe neiujh- bours. They observed, that, by means of it, Pa- pists were encouraged, their numbers increased, and the executive power lodg-ed in their hands, &c. They considered it as dishonourable to the cause of Christ, to be merely tolerated under the notion of a crime, and the exercise of it clogged with unlawful restrictions of speaking nothing* against Popery, Prelacy, or absolute power of Kings. They looked on it as extending not only to archbishops and bishops, but to all Quakers and Papists, and so opening a door for all blas- phemy and idolatry. — They looked on the accep- tance of it as a scandal, which could not but of- fend the generation of the righteous. They con- sidered the addresses of thanks made on this oc- casion as a train. of fulsome and blasphemous flat- teries, to the dishonour of God, the reproach of his cause, the betraying of the church, the hurt of the nation, and the exposing of the addressers to contempt. With respect to the ministers' ad- dress above mentioned, they observed, how con- trary it was to Presbyterian principles to congra- tulate an antichristian usurper, for undermining religion and overturning laws and liberties ; — to justify the abrogation of the national covenants, in giving tlianks for a liberty, by which ijll tiie laws confirming them, or confirmed in thetn, are cassed and disabled; — to thank their King for opening a door for bringing in Poju-ry, which, by their solemn covenants with (iod, they were deep- ly engaged to extirpate. Thus, like the body of the English dissenters, Renwick and his friends had no freedom to accept ut liberty, at the e\- S66 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE pense of the free introduction of Popery, and the enslaving of their nation. They also solemnly assert- ed the perpetual obligation of the national covenant and solemn league ; and the propriety of keeping up field meetings for gospel ordinances, as a re- taining of that liberty which Christ had given, whether magistrates will or not; — as a publ'C testimony against the public dishonours done to Christ ; as a testimony against the Popish tolera- tion, and as a public testimony for the headship of Jesus Christ alone, in opposition to the injuries done him, and for our covenants, which are declar- ed criminal by the same law which prohibits these meetings ; — and in order to prevent the discou- ragement of friends to a covenanted work of re- formation, and the hardening of enemies, and en- couraging them to banish all meetings out of the land. Soon after, Mr. Renwick, who had been mar- vellously preserved, notwithstanding about fifteen or twenty desperate searches for him, was appre- hended in the beginning of 1688. Notwithstand- ing none had spoken before the council or justi- ciary with more boldness and freedom, yet such was the sense, meekness, and candour with which he answered their questions, and spake in his own defence, that even his persecutors were affected, and behaved with uncommon mildness to him, who had for several years been the distinguished butt of their malice. He, like the Marquis of Argyle, Messrs. Guthry, Cargil, Kid, King, and the other martyrs, had his soul ravished with the consola- tions of Christ for some time before, and at his death. And after it, few, except some of the Presbyterian ministers who had been indulged and thanked J amea for his toleration, and the Pa- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 367 pists, spoke of him without reverence or regard. Nay, the faithful sufferers in general, at their public worship, their society meetings, and private and secret exercises of religion, had generally such gales of divine influence on their souls, as balanced all their outward troubles. Even in this world, they received their hundred fold with per- secution. So good a master is Christ to his faith- ful servants. Meanwhile the Romish priests bestirred them- selves to their utmost, to fill the country with catechisms and manuals of devotion. James and his agents laboured to cramp the liberties of the Presbyterians as much as they could, and to pro- secuteand turn them outof their prearhinghouses. on any frivolous pretence ; and still more eagerly prosecuted the followers of Renwick. James de- clared his dissolution of all judicatories and ma- gistrates in royal burghs, and that he would main- tain all his former proclamations ; and threaten- ed those that would not comply with his mea- sures. To debar Mary and Anne, his two Pro- testant daughters, from the succession to the crown, a pregnancy, and at last a delivery of a son by his queen, was publicly asserted, and so- lemn thanksgivings to God, on that account, ap- pointed. But most of the Protestants believed the whole to be an imposture, instead of the mi- raculous eflect of a vow her Majesty had made to the Virgin Mary of Loretto. — Informed that William Prince of Orange, the husband of his daughter Mary, invited by many persons of rank, intended to invade Britain, and at least procure the subjects' security for their religion and liber- ties, he amused the English with hopes of a Par- liament, and pretended to ask the advice of the S68 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE bisliops. But the privy council and bishops of Scotland, heinj^ entirely at his devotion, offered him their lives and fortunes for his service, and Were desired to imprison all suspected persons. They ordered all the heritors to ^et ready their best horses and men, and to assemble them in particular places, that they mi^ht, as need hap- pened, march to his Majesty's defence or assist- ance. In the beginninii of November the bi- shops transmitted a letter to James, admiring what marvellous deliverance and prosperity he liad met with — thanking* God for giving- him a son and heir to his throne — and thaaking him- self for the assurance he had given them of pro- tecting their established religion; and their deep concern to hear of an unnatural invasion from Holland ; and their fervent prayers, that all con- cerned in it might be covered with shame. And, as the Prince of Orange had sent a declaration, representing as the grounds of his expedition, how the laws of the kingdom liad been arbitrari- ly overturned ; how Papists had been put into places of power and trust, and means used for a speedy introduction of Popery ; how the rights and privileges of burghs had been taken from them by mere arbitrary power, without any cita- tion, trial, or sentence; how evil counsellors liad subjected all administration of justice to an absolute and despotic power, and had turned out and put in judges as the sovereign pleased ; and what an exorbitant power had been exercised in imposing bonds and oaths; — in imprisoning gen- tlemen without any alleged treason; — in forcing many by tortures to accuse themselves; — in im- posing arbitrary fines, frighting and harassing many parts of the country with intcrcommuning 7 CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 369 and circuit courts, making some incur forfeiture of life or property for the most general and harin- less converse with their nearest relations outhiw- ed; — empoweringofficers and soldiers barbarously to destroy, hang, shoot, and drown the subjects, without any form of law, or any respect to age or sex — not giving some of them time to pray to God for mercy ; and all this for no other reason, but because they would not satisfy them in such questions as they proposed to them without any warrant of law, and against the common interest of mankind, which frees all men from being obli- ged to discover their secret thoughts — besides a great many other violences and oppressions, &cc. — The council emitted a proclamation to prevent the spread of it ; but it made people the more fond of seeing it. Notwithstanding their deep poverty, the fol- lowers of Mr. Renwick, who had JMr. Linning ordained for them in Holland, as his successor, had, a little before, collected L.240 Sterling, and therewith ransomed a number of their brethren, that had been transported to be slaves in Barba- does. They had scarcely heard of William's land- ing in England, when they warned the western curates, peaceably to leave their charges ; and some who did not, were more sharply used. They also laid out themselves to destroy all monuments of Popish idolatry, not only in the west, but some of them in Edinburgh. They, but with too littk- unanimity, renewed the covenants at Lesmahago. 'J'hey used what influence they could, to iiave proper persons elected to be representatives in the convention of Estates; and with no great una- nimity raised a number of men to guard it, and 3 B '^70 A COiMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE Otherwise promote the establishment of William on the throne. iMany of them were formed into their regiment under Lord Angus, which served against Claveriiouse and his nialignants ; but while their junction with the established forces dis])leased many of tiieir friends, they were not over well used by the managers of the state and officers of the army at the battle of Gillicran- ky, c^c. These societies prepared an address to the Prince of Orange, in order to have their grievances redressed ; but, by reason of their di- visions among themselves, and some incidents which retarded it, till it was too late, it was ne- ver presented, as neither was their petition to the convention of Estates. They drew up a petition to the Parliament 1G90, in which they complain- ed that the redress of grievances had been so long delayed ; that, though Prelacy had been abolished, yet many wicked acts supporting it, and suppressing Presbyterian government, were not yet repealed, and many of the curates con- tinued in the peaceable possession of those churches into which they had been intruded; that many acts or forfeitures stood unrepealed ; that ir.any acts condemning our covenants and cove- nanted reformation as rebellion, and imposing wicked oaths and bonds, stood yet unrepealed; that many, who had been active in the late per- secuting times, and even murderers of their bre- thren, were continued, or admitted to places of power and trust — and craved, that these giiev- anccs may be redressed ; and that Presbyterian govcrnmc nt may be restored as it was established in UiH); that a lull and free General Assembly of Presbyterian ministers and elders be called. CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 371 with full power to order church afTairs, cof^noscc public scandals, remove intruders from churches, and plant them with faithful ministers; that pa- tronage, the King's supremacy over ecclesiastical causes, and all indulgences proceeding from it and the late toleration^ proceeding from abso- lute power, be condemned, as contrary to law, and abolished; that some proper method be devis- ed for renewing of the covenants ; and the admi- nistration hereof left to the General Assembly. This petition was presented to the committee for the church, but disregarded by most, and never presented to the Parliament. Meanwhile, another address was*drawn \\\) in name of many thousands, representing to William, still Prince of Orange, how the prevailing party, who had apostatized from their former reforma- tion, had, by laws, bonds, and oaths, excluded such as were able and faithful, from all places of power and trust both in church and state ; had invested the King with an absolute supremacy over both church and state, by which he might dis- pense with all laws, and issue forth what com- mands he pleased, to be obeyed without gainsay- ing ; had enacted and executed many laws, per- secuting men by fines, imprisonment, death, or the like, for their adherence to the true religion, and particularly for preaching and hearing the gospel; had annulled all the reforming Parliaments between 1638 and 1650, and all their acts, though part of them had been ratified by the King; had terribly oppressed the nation by enormous taxes, and by annexing to the crown (or bestowing on favourites) the estates of sucli as they pleased to punish with forfeiture ; iiad required persons of all sexes, degrees, or quality, to depone againsl 372 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE delinquents, their nearest relations; and that such as ref'jsed to depone against themselves, should ]je holden guilty of what was inquired at them; and that masters be answerable for their tenants, wives, cliildren, servants, and cottars, that they shall not attend conventicles ; had indemnified all judges and officers of the army, against all pursuits that can be raised against them, for what they do, or omit, in serving his Majesty — even in wounding and killing such as fled from their bar- barities, (Sec. 6cc. These things they illustrate from the several acts of that period, and from the practices of the managers. And, they sup- ()licate, that a free Parliament may be speedily called, in which no bishop or evil counsellor may sit ; that the j)ublic oaths may be laid aside or rectified ; that Prelacy may be abolished, since it had always been a grievance in this land, and was contrary to the word of God and our solemn co- venants; that Presbyterian government be restor- ed, as in the reformation period, and renewed in 1638, and continued till 1660; that such Presby- terian ministers as are yet alive be restored to their charges, and the present curates, who are generally intruders or scandalous, b« liable to the judgment of the church judicatories ; that patro- 7Wgcs be abolished as in 1649 ; that the subjects be restored to their several civil rights, and fines and forfeitures restored, &:c. Whether this large and sensible paper was presented to William I know not. But the Presbyterian ministers pre- sented a short one, in which, after congratulat- ing his appearance lor their relief, and apologizing for their compliance with the late toleration, they beseech him to take effectual methods for deli- vering tlieni from the yoke of Prelacy, which had CHUKCH OF SCOTLAND. ^13 been obtruded contrary to the will of thecburch, and to the genius of the nation — and for restor- ing Presbyterial church government, and Presby- terian ministers that were still alive, to their for- mer charges. A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY, &CC. 375 CHAPTER VII. King' WiUiam being enthroned, Prelacy is abolished, and Presbytery re-established — Many, but not all, griev- ances redressed — Many good Acts of Assemblies — Religion almost at a stand for above twenty years — but afterwards much hurt by the Union Settlement — By the Abjuration Oath — Toleration Act — Restoraticm of Patronage — Condemnation of the Marrow — Sim- son, Glass, Campbell, Wishart, ^c.'*s Errors — Manifold Divisions thereby occasioned, Ci i- HE Convention of Estates having met in April 1689, found that James, being a professed Pa- pist, had assumed the royal power, and acted as King, without ever taking the coronation oath required by law; and had invaded the fundamen- tal constitutions of this kingdom, and altered it from a legal limited monarchy to an absolute and despotic power ; and had exercised the same to the subversion of the Protestant religion, and the violation of the laws and liberties of the nation; and inverted the ends of government, by which he had forl'aulted the crown — and the throne was 376 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE become vacant ! (Tliiis they practically approved the principles oi" Rcnwick and his followers on this point.) And alter declaring the several prac- tices of James and his counsellors contrary to law, and claimino; their rvj^lits in opposition to the same, they, confiding" that William would perfect their deliverance which he had begun, and maintain for them the enjoyment of their said rights, and preserve them from all other attempts upon their religion, laws, and liberties, they declared him and Mary, his spouse, their King and Queen; and assigned the crown to the longest liver of them, and to the heirs of her body ; which failing, to the Princess Ann of Denmark, and the heirs of herbody; which failing, to the heirs of the body of said Wil- liam, King of England. And they required, that instead of all the oaths, declarations, and tests, re- quired by the preceding persecuting Parliaments, no more than a simple oath of allegiance be re- quired of persons in places of power and trust. They appointed the coronation oath of 1567, but not that of 1651, to be administered to the King and Queen, at their acce^.tance of the crown. They formed articles of grievances to be redress- ed by the Parliament; appointed a new military oath; issued forth proclamations against Papists, who had lately swarmed in the nation, and for securing suspected persons — and for a public thank.szlvifii^ to God for his merciful deliverance of the nation. The Parliament meeting on June 5th, 1689, without any bishops, declared their meeting of noblemen, barons, and burghs, to be a lawful and free Parliament, which none might disown or im- pugn under pain of treason. I'hey acknowledg- ed William and IMary king and queen of Scot- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 377 land, and declared it high treason to disown or impugn the same ; appointed the new oath of al- legiance to them, to be sworn by all in public trust ; and rescinded all preceding laws and acts of Parliament, in so far as they imposed any other oaths of allegiance, supremacy, declarations, and test, except the oath of fidelity in administering particular offices. They abolished Prelacy as a great and insupportable grievance to the nation, and contrary to the inclinations of the generality of the people, ever since the Reformation. In their second session, April, 1690, they rescind- ed the act of 1 66-9, which established the king's unlimited supremacy over the church ; they re- stored the ministers that were thrust from their charges since 1660, to them. They ratified the Westminster Confession of Faith, engrossing it in- to their act, as the public confession of the Scotch church, and restored Presbyterian government as agreeable to the word of God, and most condu- cive to the advancement of true godliness, as it was settled in Act 114^ of the Parliament 1592; reviving said act, in all its heads and clauses, except that part of it which relates to patronage, which they afterward rescinded ; and placed the power of electing ministers in Protes- tant heritors and ruling elders, leaving to the congregation to give their consent or their dis- sent, supported by reasons to be judged by the Presbytery. They lodged all the power of church government in the restored Presbyterian minis- ters, and ministers or elders admitted by them, and allowed them to try and purge out all insuf- ficient, negligent, and erroneous ministers, and appointed their first General Assembly to meet at Edinburgh on the third day of October next. 3 c 878 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THft They prohibited the vacation of the courts of jus- tice at Christmas. They rescinded all the laws which required the subjects to defame or renounce the covenants, or which required conformity to Prelacy, or required them to take any oaths, bonds, declarations, or tests, imposed in or after 1661, or exposed them to any penalty for defend- ing the covenants, hearing Presbyterian ministers in fields or houses, — or refusing said oaths and declarations ; — and all acts enjoining the anni- versary thanksgiving for Charles's restoration on the 29th of i\Iay ; and all acts enjoining civil pains upon sentences of excommunication ; and all acts asserting the unlimited power of the king ; and all acts of forfeiture on account of non-conformity to Prelacy and the persecuting measures of these times. After the General Assembly had sat down in October 1690, and observed the first day of their meeting in solemn fasting and humiliation, and had returned an answer to his jNIajesty's letter, in which they assure him, that the re-establishment of Presbytery which they enjoyed, was not more agreeable to the inclinations of all his best subjects within this kingdom, than it was acceptable to God, — Messrs. Linning, minister, and Shields and Boyd, preachers among the correspondent socie- ties, in the south-west, presented two papers to the Assembly. In the larger one, after profes- sions of thanksgiving to God, That tyranny had been repressed, Popery suppressed, and Prelacy depressed, — the doctrine of this church asserted, and the Confession of faith formerly received, approved, and established by the Parliament, — the worship and ordinances of Christ adminis- tered in great purity, — the government appoint- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 379 ed by him restored to what it was in 1592, — the discipline so retrieved, that all ecclesiastical courts may, without restraint, assert all the authority, and exercise all the power, with which he hath entrusted them, — Erastian usurpations are abro- gated,— the church's intrinsic power redintegrat- ed, and the corruptions introduced by compli- ances so far abdicated, that they are not in the constitution of the church, and do not continue to be the scandal and snare of the times ; and lamenting. That in zeal to purge out corruptions, — in acknowledging all former attainments in re- formation,— in renovation of our solemn cove- nants with God,-- and in faithful testifying against all corruptions of great or small, — the glory of the church appeared much inferior to what it had been in former times ; — they therefore be- seech the Assembly, that in order to a happy and desirable communion of all the friends of a cove- nanted work of reformation, — the several steps of defection in the preceding period be diligently in- quired into, confessed and condemned ; particu- larly ministers laying aside the exercise of their ministry at the command of the magistrate, — giving way to, not testifying against, but even submitting to, and encouraging others to submit to the ministry of the curates, who were mani- fest intruders, — Erastians both in principle and practice, — schismatics, who caused divisions and oflences contrary to the received doctrine and order of this church, — perjured covenant break- ers,— in several points erroneous, — and in several respects scandalous; and while the hearing of and submittitig to them was rc(iuiroil as an evidence of hearty compliance with Erastianism and Pre- lacy, and of yielding to the rescinding of our to- 380 ^ COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THB venants, — and ^avc ofTence, hardening those that complied with Prelacy, and weakening the hands and condemning; the sufferings of such as opposed it, — and amounting to a preferring of them to the faithful ministers of the true church of Scot- land, as the case was circumstantiated. 2. The horrid violations of our solemn covenants with God ; and substituting in their rooms, such oathsy bonds, and tests, as solemnly renounced them, and obliged to contrary courses, — all which in- ferred or implied a sinful confederacy with the wicked managers in promoting a course of apos- tacy from God, — were, in the sense of the im- posers, condemnatory of, or contradictory to the covenants, and some part of the covenanted re- formation,— were imposed by the malignants without consent of the church, and could not be sworn in truth, judgment and righteousness. 3. What injuries had been done to Christ's incom- niunicable headship over his church by the king's usurped supremacy, and what proceeded there- from ; particularly the indulgences, the plain end of contriving and granting which was to advance and establish the supremacy, and divide Presby- terians among themselves ; and the granting of which included an exertion of the whole power of the supremacy, in taking away and restoring at pleasure the power of Christ's stewards ; and the acceptance of which was considered by the granter, as implying a submission to all the sinful restrictions contained in his grant, — and was a faint yielding to prevailing Eras- tianism, and defection from former ministerial freedom and faithfulness ; and thus hardened Erastian enemies, stumbled real friends, and oifended posterity. \. The late toleration, CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 381 ^nd addressing for it, and acceptance of it, which plainly proceeded from an usurped absolute jiower, and was intended for the introduction of Popery and slavery ; — was extended not only to Prelacy, but to Popery, Quakerism, and all idolatry, blas- phemy, and heresy, contrary to the word of God, our confession and covenants ; — was clogged with such limitations as exceedingly hampered the freedom of the ministry ; — and was exceed- ingly scandalous, disgraceful to the Protestant religion, as if it were only to be suffered as an evil thing ; confounding and grieving to our true friends ; and occasioned disdainful insulting of Prelatists and Papists over Presbyterians and co- venanters. 5. General want of zeal and faith- fulness in renewing our covenants with God, notwithstanding they have been so fearfully bro- ken and affronted. 6. Too general silence, or only ambiguous speaking against the crying sins of the preceding period, which cannot be contro- verted among Presbyterians, as imposing and taking bonds contrary to the covenants and work of reformation, in order to shift persecution, or to purchase preferments ; — manifold forms of perse- cution, and even shedding of the blood of multi- tudes for righteousness' sake. 7. That many who had sworn the wicked oaths, and sundry ways persecuted the godly, were admitted to scaling ordinances ; and that many, who had iiabitually complied with prelacy, and borne oflice under it, and had taken the above-mentioned oaths and bonds, were admitted to be ruling elders; and some who had been trained uj) to be curates ad- mitted to the ministry, without any proper evi- dence of their repentance. — And though they did not plead, That every one of these oll'enccs, 382 A COMPRNDIOUS HISTORY OP THB or every dee^ree of any, should be proceeded against by disciplinary censure ; yet they pled. That as the Convention and Parliament had found prelacy, supremacy, and the like, contrary to the laws of the land, the vVssembly would find these, and the fruits thereof, contrary to the laws of Christ, and state them as causes of a solemn general fast ; — that proper methods be taken for renewing our covenants in a manner accommo- dated to their circumstances, — none being forced to swear or subscribe, or so much as admitted, unless they appear to have a competent know- ledge and sense of the sins acknowledged, and duties engaged to therein ; and that, in answer- ableness to the allowance of Parliament, due care be taken to purge out all curates that are either insvfficicnt, negligent, erroneous, or scanda- Imis, as the continuance of such had done much hurt after 1638 ; — the people are perishing in ig- norance and irreligion under their ministry, and their continuance will exceedingly obstruct the planting of the Lord's vineyard with faithful pas- tors.— This large paper was given into the com- mittee of overtures, and read by them ; but, in their report of the impropriety of reading it, it was carried by one vote in the Assembly, that it should not be read there. Tiie printed act of Assembly says, that the committee of overtures represented, that though tiiis paper contained several good things in it, yet it also contained several peremptory and gross mistakes, unseason- able and impracticable proposals, and uncharita- ble and injurious reflections, tending rather to kindh^ contention than to comj)ose divisions. But IMr. l.inning, in his picface to Shields on Church coniiHunion, strongly avers that these CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 383 words were not in the original minutes, but af- terwards fraudulently foisted in by the clerk, and the correctors of that act for the press. In their short paper, they do little more than intimate. That, after laying their larger paper at the feet of the Assembly, to be disposed of as they should judge proper, they declared their sub- jection of themselves and doctrine to the judica- tories, and promised to live in union and commu- nion with, and subjection and due obedience to, the authority of this church. This the Assem- bly accepted of, and received them into church fellowship with them. The societies with which Messrs. Linning, Shields, and Boyd were con- nected, likewise gave into the committee of over- tures a pretty large representation of their grie- vances, the substance of which was much the same as that of their preachers. It was ordered to be put into the hands of those that were to draw up the Causes of the general Jast, that they might make a proper use of it. Notwithstand- ing they were not satisfied, many, if not most of these societies, especially where they had more godly and faithful ministers in their parishes^ joined in the establishment, giving in testimonies against what they took to be wrong, to tlie mi- nisters or sessions, at their junction. This Assembly ordered Presbyteries to censure the late incumbents, or others who should not observe the fasts and thanksgivings appointed by the church, or should privately administer the sa- craments, celebrate clandestine marriages with- out due proclamation of banns, or be guilty of any other irregular carriage. Tiiey appointed, that all probationers licensed to preach, all en- trants into the ministry, and all oilier ministers 381 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THB and elders received into a share of the church go- vernment, should subscribe their approbation of the Westminster Confession of Faith ; that notice be taken what Papists are in their bounds, and how their children are educated, and pains be taken to reclaim them ; that all celebration of marriage without due proclamation of banns, on three se- veral Sabbaths, in the respective parishes, be dis- cliarged, and the contra veners censured ; that kirk sessions take care to execute the acts of for- mer General Assemblies against profanation of the Lord's day by unnecessary sailing, travel- ling, <^c. and that application be made to Parlia- ment for altering all the markets which are on Saturdays and Mondays; they allowed two or more Presbyteries to associate together till the vacancies be filled; they prohibited ministers who had charges to remove out of the kingdom, with- out consent of their respective judicatories ; they prohibited all private administration of baptism and the Lord's Supper, as contrary to their end of solemn communion with the church, and as tending to nourish the Popish notion of their be- ing absolutely necessary means of salvation ; they approved methods of erecting schools in the High- lands, and of spreading the Gaelic Bibles, New Testaments, Psalm books, and Catechisms, for which some English had so liberally contributed ; they declared null all the censures which the re- solutioncrs or protestors had passed upon one ano- ther; they, agreeably to their letter to the King, and to tlieir declaration by their moderator, that they would de[^ose no incumbents simply for their judgment concerning the government of this church, nur urge re-ordination upon them — ap- pointed their commission for the north of Tay, CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 38.'5 to pnr^e out all wlio, upon due trial, should he found insufficient, ncp;ligcnf, scandalous, or errone- ous ; — to take care that none should be admitted by t!iem to ministerial communion, or a share of church i^overnment, but such as are found to be orthodox in their doctrine, of com|)etent al)ilities, of a pious, loyal, and peaceable conversation, and of an edifyino- gift, and who may be expected to be true and iaithful to God and the government, and diligent in their ministerial vvork; and to ])ro- ceed very cautiously in receiving information and inflicting censures on the late conformists, that none may have ground to complain. No part of their work required more candour and faithfulness than their act for a general fast, and nowhere were they more deficient. They indeed assign as grounds of humiliation, that the nation had dealt treacherously with God, and been unstedfast in his covenant ; — the inte- rests of Christ, and privileges of his church, had 1)een sacrificed to the lusts of men ; the King's su- premacy over the church advanced in surh a way, and to such an height, as no Christian church had ever acknowledged; the government of the church altered, and Prelacy, which hath been alwaj-s grievous to this nation, introduced, and many of the then standing ministry of Scotland had sud- denly and readily complied with it ; many faith- ful ministers had thereupon been cast out, and insufficient and scandalous men intruded on their charges; and many families ruined, because they would not own them as their pastors; ungodly, unlawful oaths and bonds had been imposed and taken, and many ruined and oppressed for not 3 u 386 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE taking them ; iniquity had been established by law, and uniii^htoous statutes had been made and executed ; and many had been cruelly per- secuted f ( r their conscience towards God ; there had been too i^eneral fainting, ministers not giv- ing seasonable and necessary testimony against the dtfectitius of the times ; tiie abomination of the mass liad been set up in many places, and Pof)ish schools erected, and severals fallen into idolatry ; — dreadful impiety, profaneness, athe- ism, profanation of God's name by ignorant swear- ing and breaking of oaths, neglect of God's wor- shi[*, profanation of the Sabbath, violence and shedding of innocent blood, shameful sensuality, mutual divisions and heats, and reproaches among the friends of truth, &c. had greatly abounded. Jr gave no small offence to many of the most se- rious, that in these causes of fasting, the mini- sters had shewed such aversion to mention their own sins, particularly respecting the indulgences and toleration above mentioned ; that they had not more plainly represented all these evils as highly aggravated, being at once contrary to the word of God, and to the so often repeated co- venants of the nation with him ; that the seve- ral horrid abominations of the preceding period were n(jl more particularly, and much more plainly and strikingly inentioned. King Vv'illinm hnd !)een bred up in Erastian no- tiou'i of magist; a' os' power over the church, and perhaps also in the pohtit al maxim, that no par- ti* uiar form f»f church '^ov( rnment \<, founded in the w.^rd of God, but Trcsl^yteiy. Prelacy, or In- dependency, beome most o^rccahle to it, as they best suit tiie inclinations ur circumstances of ra- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 387 tions concerned. The sentiments of most of liis courtiors v\ere much the same. jMany pt^rsMjis of rank were so concerned about their own tnn- poral deliveranc>^, and gtttin<^ hack thrir foriVit- ed estates, that they much overlooked the spirit- ual interests of the church. Not a ievv of ihe ministers wanted proper zeal, and others were loth to break with them. Wearied of their loni^ and dreadful persecution, which had murdered or rendered outwardly miserable about ei^ht<'en or twenty thousand in Scotland, and sixty thousand in England, the Presbyterians were generally willing to take up with less than they wished, rather than to provoke William and the great ones to frown upon them, and disturb their quiet. Hence the reformation which took place between 16:68 and 1650 was wilfully overlooked, and the wicked acts of Charles's first Parliament, in so far as they buried it, or the Parliaments which es- tablished it, left unrescinded. The Parliament laid aside a draught of an act, which but debar- red such as had been active in the persecuting work from places of power and trust. As the state did not rescind all the laws in favours of Erastianism, or against our covenants, the church did not so plainly assert the sole headship of Christ over his church, and her intrinsic power to ma- nage all her spiritual concerns independent of the magistrate, nor the divine right of Presbyte- rian government, nor the j)erpetual obligation of our solemn covenants, as the opposition thereto in the preceding period called for: nor were .ei- ther church or state much inclined to put their necks afresh under this yoke of God. 38^ A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THK No doubt, encouraged by his courtiers, King "William laljomcd to render the Presbyterians and tlieir judicatories as dependent on the civil authority as he could. By keeping the curates in their churches, aUowing thcni their stipends, and evtn procuring for many, perhaps some hun- dreds of tliem, an easy access to the established church, he laboured to promote his own carnal interests. By two letters to their Commission, and another to the Assemhli/, 1692, he strongly urged Presbyterian ministers to proceed further in assuming these Episcopalian curates into a share of the established church government. And, because the Assembly did not seem so for- ward in this matter as he wished, the Earl of Lo- thian, his commissioner, dissolved their meeting without naming any future diet. I\Ir. Crighton, their moderator, remonstrated against this disso- lution, and in their name boldly declared. That the ojjicc -hearers in the house of God have a spiritual 1 N T u I N s i c poiverjrorn Jesus Christ, the only h k ad of his church, to meet in Assemblies about the affairs thereof the necessity of the same being represenled to the magistrate; and craved, that the dissolution of this Assembly without indicting a new one to a certain day, might not be to the prejudice of our yearly (ieneral Assemblies, granted us by the laws of the kingdom — and named the 2d of August next year for the diet of their next meeting. To th's remonstrance ail the members declared their adherence. This free, faithful, and open testi'uony for the sole headship of Christ and in- trinsic power of his church, much gladdened the heaiis of the godly, who were grieved for the neutrality and indiflerence about the cause of Ciirist whieh then prevailed. But some ministers, aHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 389 addicted to the court, clandestinely apoloq;ized for this honest dealini^ to his IMajesty, as if it had been improper ; nor did any of them hold their appointed meetine^ of Assembly next year. Not only did Kine: William, five or six times in his reign, adjourn the meeting' of the (General Assembly, and was too readily obeyed, but the Parliament .1698, by their Gth act, appointed the new oath of allegiance, together with an assurance, sincerely acknowledging William and P.Iary the only lawful and undoubted Sovereigns of this realm by right, as well as hy possession, and faith- fully engaging to maintain their title and govern- ment against the late King James, and all his adherents, and all others — to be taken not only by all noblemen, and all civil and military of- ficers, but also by all ministers of the gospel, clerks of church judicatories, precentors, and vo- ters in the election of ministers, under pain of their being deprived of their offices and salaries, or banished, or otherwise punished, as the privy council should judge proper. By their 2Sd act, for settling the quiet and peace of the church, after a solemn and perpetual confirmation of act 5th, l(J90, ratifying the Confession of Faith and Ca- techisms, Presbyterian government, in all the heads, articles, and clauses thereof, they further enacted. That none, who had not first taken and subscribed the oath of allegiance, and subscribed i\\e assurajice, and also subscribed the Confession of Faith, as the confession of his faith, and acknow- ledged Presbyterian government, as now settled, to be the only government of this church, and promised to submit thereto, and concur therewith, and never endeavour, directly ur indirectly, the prejudice or subversion thereof — be admitted, or 1 390 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE hereaft<*r roiiliniiod, n minister or preacher with- in this rhun |» ; jjui ihat all the curates who had not yet been assumeii by the Presbyterian courts, shonld, \\ithiii thirty days, offer them- selves for admission on the above terms; that if they did so, th' y should have their Majesties' pro- teiHion, unless ti)ey ^hould, v iihin thirty days after their said application, be proved sianda'oiiSy errnncovs, ncghgnity or insufficient : And farther ordait.eJ, 'J'hat the j^rivy council, and all other inat;istrati s, judges, and officers of justice, give all due a distance in rendering the sentences of churrl: juilicatories effectual. By their 27th act, 169.5, tiie Pr.rliament again required all ndnisters, Preobyterian and Kpi^copalian, who had not ta- ken the above-mentioned engagements to the go- vernm( nt, to qualify themselves without delay, under pain ol deprivation from both (ffice and be- nejfic. The Parliament of 1693, appointing a monthly fast on account of the war with France, and other groimds, had been less disliked by ma- ny, had n(it one publicly declared end of that war been to cause Lewis XIV". of France make ?T/5rt- rafion to the holy See of Rovie for whatsoever he had acted against it, and make void all the in- famous proceedings of the Parliament of Paris against the holy father Pope Innocent XI. The bulk of the Presbyterian ministers did what they could to comply with his Majesty's pleasure, 'i hey pretended, that the oath of al- legiance and the assurance were imposed on them as subjects, atid not as a condition of, or quali- fication for their holding or exercising their of- fice. Hut the words of the act inijiosing them, and especially the exclusion of Mr. James Hogg from sitting in the Assembly 1695, by the King's CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 391 commissioner and advocate, on account of his want of that legal qualification, plainly manifest- ed the contrary. These ministers not only frown- ed on, reproached, and harassed Mr. Hoi^g, and others no less loyal than themselves, because they looked on the imposition of said oath and assu- rance as a political snare, disgracing' their office, and making them liable, on every change of civil government, solemnly to acknowledge the rights of the present governors; and as an Erastian ad- dition to the ministerial qualifications prescrib- ed by Jesus Christ. Several i)rocesses were at once commenced against the eminently pious and useful Mr. John Hepburn of Orr, in Galloway, on account of his open and perhaps sometimes imprudent testimonies against the taking of that oath, and other defects of the revolution cluuch, and his preaching and baptizing within the bounds of some of his laxer brethren. After suspend- ing him from the exercise of his ministry, they stirred up the magistrates to punish him with a long imprisonment at Edinburgh. lie at length submitted, and was restored to the exercise of his office ; but, returning to his reprehended conduct, he was deposed in 170.5, as one that ob- stinately continued in erroneous opinions and schismatical courses. In J 694, the Assembly agreed on a fokiMula for the reception of the cu- rates, in which, answerably to the conin^and of the Parliament a!)ove-mentione(l, tliey should de- clare their belief of the whole doctrines contain- ed in the Co'Jcssion of Failhy and cngagr *'(m- stantly to maiiitain them, and should acknow- ledge Presbyterian government now sctt'td bv law, to be the only government ol" tliis < liurcli, (N, B. not the only government prescribed bv 392 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF TIIR Christ in his word) ami cnj;aged to submit to and concur with it, and to ohsei-ve an unifonnitj of pul)lic worship, as at present performed and allowed in this church. Meanwhile the Parliament made sundry .good acts for confirming the laws in favours of the Confession of Faith and Presbyterian church g"0- vernment ; and for restraining blasphemy, pro- faneness, clandestine and irregular marriages, spread of Popery, and holding of weekly markets on Saturdays and Mondays, in towns ; — and for settlement of schools and encouragement of preachers, particularly in the North, &c. ; — and a[)plication of vacant stipends to promote such purposes. The Assembly fixed the proportion of commissioners to its meetings, viz. two ministers and one ruling elder, from Presbyteries of not above twelve ministers; three ministers and one elder from Presbyteries of not above eighteen mi- nisters; four ministers and two elders from Pres- byteries of not above twenty-four ministers, and so proportionally in larger Presbyteries; and that none should be admitted members but ministers and ruling elders. Finding that the Assembly of lG42's burdening their allowance of transpor- tation, in some cases — with burghs maintaining of students of divinity at the universities, in order to prevent the need of it, as much as possible, and that the Commission of 1650's lamenting over the sinfulness of fretpient transportations, even to eminent charges, had not effectually restrain- ed vacancies from troubling their neighbours and judicatories with attempts to procure ministers, probationers being scarce, from other congregr.- lions, they, by act (Hh, 161)1', recommended to all vacant congregations, not to call any settled CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. S93 minister from any other congregation, till they had first seriously, but without success, endea- voured to be supplied with a free object. And, for preventing transportation, they afterwa d, in their Large Overtures concerning discipline and government, declare the power of supply- ing vacancies to belong only to their own Pres- bytery, and that no minister of another Pres- bytery ought so much as occasionally to preich in them, l)ut with advice of the neighbour- ing ministers, and the hannonious consent ol the elders ; — and that Presbyteries should la- bour bij all means to p?'evcnt transportaiion of ministers who are already usefully settled; as transportation is often a great grievance, and is seldom to be practised. They appointed every minister to lecture a considerable portion of scrip- ture, according to the Westminster director ij for public worship ; that candidates for preaching the gospel be sufficiently known to be of a sober, grave, prudent, and pious behaviour, and like to be useful and edifying in the church, and be duly attested in order to licence, or when removing from one Presbytery to another; and that no mi- nister employ any in his own pulpit, but with the consent of the Presbytery ; that great cau- tion be used, both in admitting and censuring of curates ; that no minister be hastily censured for not qualifying himself according to the civil law ; that, in order to restrain the abounding j)ro- faneness, ministers preach plainly and laitiifully against it, judicatories impartially exercise dis- cipline against offenders — proper testimonials be recjuired on a person's removal fjom one place to another — ministers and elders take care th.it tin* worship of (iod be daily performed in families — SOif A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE none be ruling elders who do not make conscience of this necessary duty — none grossly ignorant or scandalous be admitted to the Lord's Table — and ministers and sessions apply to magistrates for execution of the acts of Parliament against profaneness. They further appointed, that preach- ers in vacant congregations, particularly in the North, should have a proper allowance out of the vacant stipends ; that all intrusions of curates or others into vacant congregations should be care- fully prevented ; that Presbyteries carefully maintain exercises and additions, by members at their meetings — have frequent privy censures — and maintain bursars of divinity at colleges; that the Irish or Gaelic Psalms and Catechisms be used where that, and not the English language, is understood ; and that no preacher who un- derstands the Irish language be settled in the low country. The Assembly 1695 prescribed forms of com- missions for members sent to their meetings; es- tablished directions how to deal with trafficking Papists and Quakers — and for transmitting pro- posals of new acts concerning doctrine, worship, discipline, or government to Presbyteries, to be maturely considered by them, before they be en- acted by the Assembly as binding rules. They appointed forty-four ministers to go and preach in the North, one-half of which, in the present necessity, might be transported thither, if they got calls; that in Presbyteries where two-thirds of the congregations were settled, one- fourth part of the ministers should go north and one-eighth part be transported; that, in order to content the deprived parishes, their next minister shouhl be declared iiitransportable, without their cunscntj CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 395 unless he had insupportable grievances ; — tliat ministers should preach catechetical doctrine ; that no ministers, sessions, elders, Presbyteries, or synods, should give recommendations for charity without their own bounds ; that ministers labour to their utmost to restrain the spread of deisti- cal opinions, or any other errors contrary to the Conjession of Faith; that great care be taken that none be licensed to preach the gospel, or or- dained to the ministry, but on proper trial of their abilities, piety, and good behaviour — particularly of their knowledge of the Scriptures in their ori- ginal languages, if not also in the Syriac and Chaldaic, and of the principal controversies re- specting doctrine, worship, discipline, and go- vernment ; that synods and Presbyteries take care to prevent the commission of irregularities by vagrant ministers ; and that ministers be very cautious in recommending persons to public of- fices in the church without consulting the Pres- byteries concerned. In 1697 the Assembly appointed that a roll of probationers and of students of divinity, who do. not attend the professors that teach it, be yearly presented to the Assembly, read before it, and registered in the minutes of it ; — that the large overtures concerning the discipline and method of proceeding in ecclesiastical judicatories should be transmitted as overtures from private hands to the several Presbyteries, that they may send their observations on them to the Commission, which is to prepare them for the consideration of the Assembly ; that ruling elders and deacons, who neglect the daily worship of God in their fami- lies, be seriously admonished or rebuked, and be removed from their office, if they continue ia 39G A COMPENDIOUS HISTOHY OF THR that sin ; and that this act, together with that of 1694*, against profaneness, be read from tlie pulpit, in every congregation yearly, on the first Sabbath of INIay ; that ministers punctually ful- fil their appointments to preach in vacant con- gregations ; that no novations in doctrine, disci- pline, worship or government, be enacted by the Assembly, till the matter have been maturely considered by Presbyteries; that commissioners to the Assembly duly attend the several meet- ings of it; that ministers, sessions, and Presbyte- ries, exert themselves for restraining the abound- ing of swearing, cursing, Sabbath-breaking, pro- fane withdrawment from and contempt of gos- pel ordinances, or mocking at religion and the exercises of it, together with fornication, adul- tery, drunkenness, tippling, deism, blasphemy,. and other abominable sins — and deal with magis- trates, faithfully to execute the laws against such vices ; and that this act be every year read from every pulpit at Whitsunday and JMartinmas. They also laboured to supply the army with preachers, and the North with ministers, cate- chists, and schoolmasters ; and recommended to Presbyteries to be very cautious in either cen- suring or admitting the still outstanding curates. Finding that former appointments of ministers to preach or be settled in the North, had exceed- ingly failed, the Assembly 1698 formed a num- ber of overtures for the supply of that poor, des- titute and ignorant country, and appointed twe?ifi/ ])robationers to go and preach in it. They ap- pointed the above-mentioned lar^c overtures to be further considered by Presbyteries ; and after- wards framed others for the repression of pro- faneness — checking the spread of Popery, and 3 CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 397 preventing marriage without proclamation of banns for three several Sabbaths. Not a few serious people, especially in the south and west, still scrupling" to join the established church, r)n account of her original defects and superadded blemishes, the commission published their ^ea^o/z- ahle admonition, in which they very plainly as- serted the sole headship of Christ over his church, her intrinsic power derived from him, and the di- vine right of Presbyterian chnrcli government, and laboured to shew that the church was in such a state of purity that she may be safely joined with, and could not, without sin and danger, be deserted. The Assembly 1G99 chiefly occuj)ied them- selves in forming acts and overtures against pro- faneness and Popery, and for the spread of Chris- tian knowledge in the North, and for that end planting schools and ministers there, — and for causing all ministers, probationers, and school- masters, subscribe the Confession of Faith. They also transmitted to Presbyteries several overtures concerning the revisal of the registers of judica- tories,— school-masters' diligence in teaching the principles of the Protestant religion, — and con- cerning witchcraft, — obstinacy in scandal, — Pa- pists' renunciation of their delusions, — and con- cerninc: the makina" and observation of acts of Assembly. The Assembly 1700 did little more than form the last mentioned overtures into acts, and make further provision of ministers for the North. 'I'he Assembly ] 701, moreover, condemn- ed an Apology for J\I. Antonia Bourignion, wiiieh denied (4od's permission of sin, or infliction of punishment for it, — ascribed to ('hrist two hu- man natures, one formetl from Adam belore tiie 398 A COMPKNDIOUS HISTORY OF THR creation of Eve, and another born of the Virgui ]\Iary ; — denied God*s decrees of election and re- probation as wicked, cruel, and partial ; — denied his foreknowledge of futurities ; — and maintain- ed, That all men have a i^ood and an evil spirit in them before their birth ; — that man's will is unlimited, and he must have some infinite (piali- ty, by which he may unite with God ; — that Christ's human nature had sinful corruption in it, and his will had in it rebellion ac^ainst the will of God ; — that men may be perfect in this life, or purified from sin in the next ; — that natural gene- ration takes place in heaven ; — that there are now no true Christians in this world, (S^c. The curates having so terribly neglected the administration of the Lord's Supper, that in all the bishopric of Argyle, it was dispensed but twelve times in twenty-eight years, the Presbyterian ministers had no small difi[iculty to render it as frequent as they wished. This Assembly recommended the more frequent administration of it, and that the number of ministers assisting at it should be lessened. They revived the acts of 1615 and 1G49, against Lykwakes, abuses at penny- wed- dings, and promiscuous dancings. They trans- mitted to Presbyteries some overtures concern- ing scandalous i)ersons turning Papists, in order to escape discipline, — Protestants marrying Pa- pists,— intimations of excommunication through the whole Presbytery, or in case of obstinacy, through every kirk in the nation, — or irregular absolution from censure by curates or others ; and concerning the strict trial of candidates for the ministry, — and the calling of Presbyteries to account for their diligence in the restraining of profaneness. CHURCH OF SCOTI,ANn. 399 King William dying just after the Assembly 1702 had convened, they did nothing that needs to be here recorded. Queen Anne having suc- ceeded him, several Synods, dreading her un- friendly disposition, thought proper to form acts expressly asserting Christ's sole headship over his church, her intrinsic poiver, and the divine right of Presbytery : and some of the more zealous minis- ters thought to have pushed an act of that kind in the Assembly 1703. But, to prevent it, the liaughty Earl of Seafield, her commissioner, dis- solved their meeting, when they had done little more than to form some directions for planting of ministers in the North, — and to draw up an address to her majesty in favour of their Presby- terian government, and representing the extra- ordinary growth of Popery, the disorderly beha- viour of the curates, and the abounding of im- morality and profaneness ; — and had given some recommendations for supplying and preserving the registers belonging to the Assemblies, and their committees and commissions, part of which had been destroyed by the dreadful fire in 1701 ; and concerning the Large Overtures of 1697. — Many protestations from all corners of the house were offered against this dissolution of their meeting, and for the intrinsic power of the cliurch. But Mr. Meldrum, the moderator, was so over- whelmed with abuse by the commissioner, and with confusion, that he concluded with prayei-, before any thing could be regularly marked. Ever since, I think, the General Assemblies have been first dissolved by the moderator in the name of Christ, and then by the coiinnisiionc! }n the name of the sovereign. 400 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THIi Probably to lull the Piesi)yterians asleep, one act was niatle by Anne's Parliament, in 1702, and another in 170.'3, ratifyin^^ all former laws in favour ui' the Co/ifcssLun of Failh, and Preshijtc- rian church govciiiment, partieularly the act /;th, 1G|)0. JNIany had fearful apprehensions of a de- sign to have Prelacy tolerated, if not established by the Parliament I7O0, but the Lord threw the members into such heats and confusions, as issued in declaring it treasonable to alter the govern- ment of the church. Nevertheless, a treaty of an incorporating union with England was almost immediately after projected, and, notwithstand- ing much opposition, carried on and concluded. When it was laid before the Parliament in I70O, and the majority of members appeared to favour it, both ministers and people were exceedingly concerned, and presented addresses against it. The Commission of the General Assembly sat during the whole session of Parliament, and was uncommonly numerous. They first presented an address for an unalterable establishment of their religion, in the present and all succeeding gene- rations, as far as human laws could go. ^Po sa- tisfy them, the Parliament enajted. That the perpetual establishment of the doctrine, worship, discipline, and Presbyterian government of this church, should be held as an unalterable, funda- mental, and essential condition of the intended union, if it should be concluded. Many thought that this would be a better security for their re- ligion than any act of the Scotch Parliament alone. But the most part of the true Presbyte- rians still continued averse to an incorporatinrr vniou, or coining under the jurisdiition of a Bri- tish Pailiament, in which the l^nglish Prclatists CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 4C)1 would be ten to one of the Scots. Notwith- standing great opposition from noblenien and gentlemen, who expected temporal advantages by promoting the union, the Commission pre- sented a second address, in which they represent- ed the danger they would be in of oaths, tests, and impositions inconsistent with their principles; and that it was contrary to their principles and covenants to approve of the civil power of bishops, to twenty-six of whom the nation w ould be sub- jected in the British Parliament. To this they got no answer, but a clause inserted into the act for securing the church, bearing, TJiat no oath, test, or subscription, should ever be imposed within the bounds of this church and kingdom, contrary to our Presbyterian establishment; but leaving Scotch- men liable to such impositions in any other part of the British dominions. The Parliament there- after declared, that the Parliament of England might provide for the security o{ ihitix church with- in that kingdom, as they shoidd think expedient. By this, they, contrary to the word of God, and our solemn covenants with him, particularly the solemn league, consented to the securing of Pre- lacy and the ceremonies in England, as an essen- tial and fundamental condition of the union. The Commission being informed of this, notwith- standing great opposition, presented a third ad- dress, craving. That there might be no such sti- pulation or consent to the establishment of the hierarchy and ceremonies in Englaml, as they would not involve themselves and the nation in guilt. But the expectation of .C40(),(X)0 Sterling, to balance the loss ofDarien to the Spaniards, through the treachery of the English, and the hopes of worldly advantages from the 3 r 402 A COMPENDIOL'S HISTORY OP THE court, or in point of trade, made most of the Parliamenters overlook every tiling relif^ioiis, — so that the pcipetual estal)lishment of Episco- pacy and the ceremonies in Eni^land, as well as of Presbyterian [rovcrnment and the simplicity of s;os- pel worship attending it in Scothind, were l)oth fixed as fundamental and unalterable conditions of the union ; and each nation, by a solemn deed of their Parliament, guaranteed to the other an establishment of religion not a little contrary to their own. Besides their labour in prosecuting and de- posing INIr. John McMillan in 1703, who, besides declaiming against the defects and blemishes of the Revolution church, denied the authority of the civil magistrates, because of their not taking the covenants, and wanting other qualifications required in Scripture, and by the laws between 1638 and 1650, — and of Mr. John Hepburn in 170.5, on account of his relapsing into his former conduct, — the principal appointments of the As- sembly in 1 70i are. That ministers should lecture a considerable portion of scripture at a time ; that none should be commissioners to the Assem- blies but such as have subscribed the Confession of Faith y and have relation to, and reside in, the place from which they are sent ; that scandalous persons, who turn Papists to escape censure, be excommunicated; that excommunications be in- timated in the bounds of Presbytery, Synod, or through the whole kingdom, as may l)est corre- spond witii the obstinacy of the scandalous per- son; that candidates for licence and ordination l)e very strictly tried, and that Synods take care that it be so ; that Synods call Presbyteries to account with respect to their diligence in the CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 403 restraining' of profaneness, and causing- tlic acts made against it to be read from all their pulpits twice every year ; that Synods and Presbyteries carefully observe, that none be permitted to vent any Arminian, Arian, or Socinian errors ; that students who understand the Irish language, be preferred to bursaries in colleges before any others ; that Presbyteries earnestly travel in col- lecting money from noblemen and others, in order to raise a fund for the establishment of schools in the Hi£chlands, and forminc: libraries there; that proper means be concerted for print- ing a new edition of the Irish or Gaelic Bible, and for translating the Confession of Faith auA Larger Catechism into that language, and for rendering the Psalms and Shorter Catechism, al- ready translated, more generally useful ; that care be taken to repress Popery, and prevent Protes- tants marrying with Papists; that an exact i^^or/;i of Process be speedily and carefully drawn up, and great pains used for recovering registers and other papers belonging to the church ; that Pres- byteries and ministers see to the erection of a school in every parish, and that the youth be pro- perly taught in schools as well as in colleges. About this time, the Large Overtures were again published in a more correct state. They con- tained directions for the right constitution of church JUDICATORIES in general, and respecting their moderators, clerks, registers, proceedings, behaviour of members in them, and conclusion of their meetings, — and more particularly for the constitution of kirk skssions, — election and or- dination of elders and deacons, — marriage, — ad- mission of infants to ba[)tism, — admission to, or debaning from the Lord's tal)lc, — procedure with 401 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE drunkards, swearers, profaners of the Lord's day, fornicators, adulterers, and other unclean per- sons,— privy censures : — for the constitution of Presbytekies, — licensing of preachers, planting of vacant congregations, — ordination or trans- portation of ministers, appeals and references from sessions, censuring of gross scandals, from which sessions do not absolve, — processes in or- der to the greater excommunication, Presbyterial exercises, — privy censures : for the constitu- tion and opening of Synods, — procedure of their committees, — procedure in processes, — privy cen- sure of Presbyteries, — and conclusion of their meetings : and for the constitution and open- ing of General Assemblies, — procedure of their several committees, — procedure in their own work, — appointment and procedure of Commissions, — and concluding their meetings. But the indo- lence of Presbyteries, the restoration of patrona- ges, and the embarrassment of the Assemblies with other business, hindered the establishment of many of these excellent directions from being formed into standing rules. INfost of the acts of the Assemblies 1705 and 1706 were little more than enforcements of preceding ones rela- tive to profaneness, S^c. — and for calling in the assistance of magistrates to prevent abuses at penny lueddings, and for recommending the late- ly composed Scripture songs; for giving in of Overtures and References to the Assemblies, and the exact registering of the minutes of church courts ; and for strict admission to the Lord's Supper ; parochial visitations, — and ministerial visitation of families. — The most important acts of the Assembly 1707 are these, largely directing how to prevent the increase of Popery, and es- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 40 > tablishing' a most QXCQWeni FormoJ' Process, cliicf- ly extracted from the Large Overtures. While the perjury and other evils of the union settlement more and more confirmed Messrs. Hepburn and M'Millan in their former courses, the established church, in her Assemjjly 1708, established excellent rules for ministers' visita- tion of families ; they formed new acts for pre- venting the profanation of the Lord's day, and other impieties ; they enjoined Presbyteries to beware of rashly licensing or ordaining any can- didates, whose qualifications were doulitful ; they recommended their forming an Overture for pre- venting competition of calls, or giving a second call to any candidate before his former one was final- ly discussed ; they empowered their Commission finally to examine and establish the public use of the scripture songs^ which had, for several years, been under consideration. In 1709 they recom- mended the utmost reverence in the public wor- ship of God, and ordered a warning to that pur- pose to be read from every pulpit ; they earnest- ly called all under their inspection to concur in promoting the erection of a Society for propaga- ting Christian knowledge in the Highlands ix\u\ fo- reign parts of the world, and required ministers and elders to collect what they could from their people, as a fund for supporting this excellent design : They recommended to each Presbytery to form a library for itself, out of the books sent by friends from England, and such others as they could obtain. They, as had been repeatedly done beibre, retpiired Presbyteries carefully to examine the Large Overtures^ that they m'ght !iave them si)eedily established as a rttmphte di- rectors lor their judicial prdcedurc. — The A>>em- i()() A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE Illy 1710 fornuHl sotnc new overtures for pre- venting' the JiccMisini^ of too many, or unciualilied preachers. They reipiired all general fasts, ap- l)ointe(l by either church or state, for just and necessary causes, to be duly observed. 1 hey ap- pointed all ministers in whose bounds Bourignian errors are spreading, to preach particularly and faithfully against them; and all Presbyteries in whose bounds they are vented, carefully to cause all schoolmasters, teachers, chaplains, and gover- nors of youth to subscribe the Conjessioii of Falih as the confession of their faith ; and that no heri- tors or heads of families retain in such stations any that refuse their subscription : that Presby- teries transmit to the Commission an exact and full account of the principal propagators of these errors, and the professors of divinity publish a full collection and nervous confutation of them. Tiiey formed directions for disposing of bursaries in colleges to students, especially such as had the Irish language. In answer to a representa- tion of the society for propagating Christian Knowledge, they appointed all those who had not made the above recommended collections, to do it without further delay, and enjoined Synods to point out to the Society what places had most need of schools and catechists. Almost every Assembly, for a considerable number of years, is- sued recommendations for the assistance of that useful Society, with collections of money or otherwise. 'Hie Assembly I7II recommended to Presbyteries to have the Lord's Supper so ad- ministered in their bounds, that people might liav(! access to it every month of the year. Tliey earnestly enjoined Presbyteries to labour, to their ulmobl, to have the wor^hip of God set up, and CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 407 daily performed, in all the parts of it, in every family in their bounds. They formed a new act for the cautious and careful procedure of Preshv- teries in trying, licensing", and ordaining candi- dates for the ministry ; and eslahlished a For- mula of questions and engagements for them at licence and ordination, in which they solemnly declare, That they believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the word of God, and only rule of faith and manners; that they sincerely own and believe the wholk doctrine? contained in the Conjl'ssion of FaiOi, and ^\ ill, to the utmost of their power, constantly maintain the same, along with the purity of worship i)re- sently practised in this church, — and disown all Popish, Arian, Socinian, Arminian, Bourignian, and other doctrines, tenets, or opinions whatso- ever, inconsistent with, or contrary to said Con- fession of Faith; — that they believe the Presbyte- rian government and discipline of this church to he founded on the u'ord of God, and will maintain, sup})ort, and defend the same all the days of their life ; — that they will meekly submit themselves to their respective judicatories, and maintain the unity and peace of the church, and follow no di- visive course from her established doctrine, wor- ship, discipline, and government ; — that zeal for the honour of God, love to Jesus Christ, and de- sire of saving souls, are their great motives and chief inducements to enter into the holy minis- try, and not any worldly designs or interest; — that they have used no vndiir vwtJiod.s, either hy iJwmselves or oiJiers, in procurnig their call ; that in the strength of Christ they will live an holy and circumspect life, and faithfully, diligent 1' and checjlully discharge all the parts of tin- i y, lii- 408 A coMPKNnioi.'s history of the nisterial work to the edification of the body of Christ, i)articularly of the ])eople entrusted to them. These, however little regarded by many, still continue the ordination vows of all ministers in the established church. This Assembly fur- ther prohibited all students or preachers to offer themselves to licence or ordination, unless they carried sufficient testimonials from their profes- sors, parishes, and Presbyteries ; and aj)pointed their CommJssion to acquaint ministers in foreign j)arts what testimonials they may safely receive IVom candidates that offer themselves to licence or ordination with them. As good order, as well as the Large Overtures, required vacant congre- gations to be supplied only by their own Presby- tery, unless they be invited by the Presbytery in whose bounds that vacancy lies, or at least some neighbouring minister of it ; the Large Overtures requires the invitation of neighbouring ministers, and the harmonious consent of the elders of the vacant parish. During the preceding twenty-two years, the ]{cvolution church had continued in much the same condition. The Lord had not a little coun- tenanced her ministrations, especially by the more faithful, for the instruction, conviction, con- version, and edification of souls, which had been left by the curates in a most ignorant or profli- gate case. The clergy had somewhat rectified several defects of their original erection with re- spect to the asserting of Christ's sole headship over tlie church, her intrinsic power, and the divine right of Fresbijterian government. The modera- tor of the Assembly 1692, with consent of the members, boldly remonstrated to the king's com- missioner, that the office-bearers in the house of Ciod have a spirit ual Intrinsic power from .lesus CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 409 Christ the only hend of his church, to niert in Assemblies about the affairs thereof M my |)ro- testations of the same kind were made in the Assembly 1703, when the Queen's commissioner dissolved it. The Assembly 1701^ plainly tohl her majesty, that they were now a^-ain met in a national Assembly in the name of the Lord Je- sus Christ. — and a])[)rovcd several Synod books, which contained new acts assertini; Christ's sole headship over his chnrcli, her intrinsic poxver^ and the divine right of Presttytcrij. The Assembly J 705, in their ,5Lh act, expressly assert tlu* Lord Jesus Christ to be the alone king and head of his church. The Asssembly 1707, in their llthact. expressly declare, IViat our Lord Jesus Christ hath instituted a government and governors ecclesi- astir.al in his own house, with jjower to meet for the order and government thereof. At the conclusion of each Assembly, the moderator, before the king's commissioner, publicly declares, that as the Assembly met in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the only king and head of his church, so they part in the same. — The Commission 1698, in their Seasonable AdmonitioHy pui)licly de- clare. We do believe and own, that Jesus Christ is the ONLY H^AD and king of his church; and that he hath instituted in his church officers and ordinances, order and government, and not left it to the will of men, magistrate, or church, to alter it at their pleasure. And we believe this go- vernment is ne'ither Prelatical nor congregational, hut Presbyterian^ which now, throuirh the mercy of God, is established amniig us; ami believe wc have a letter foundation for this our government than the inclinations of the people, or laws of jnen. This seasonable Admonition was ratifnd and ap- .'3 G 410 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE proved l)y the Assembly 1699, act xii. By the above mentioned Fokmlla of 1711, every can- didate licensed to ppf^ach, or ordained to the mi- nistry, is required solemnly and j)ublicly to avow, That tlie Presbyterian ^^overnment and discipline of this ehiireh lire J'uundid on the word of God. — All alonii' to 1710, the Assemblies, in their causes of fasting- or otherwise, more or less acknowledged the binding obligation of our public covenants. In act 5th, 1700, they lament our continued un- faithfulness to God, notwithstanding our solemn covenants and engagements to the contrary. In act 9th, 1710, they say, Our sins are the more aggravated, that they are against so solemn and repeated vows, and engagemeids, and covenants with God, which have jjeen openly violated and broken by persons of all ranks, and treated with public contempt and indignities. To these two acts they, for several years after, refer in their causes of lasting. In act 7th, 1710, they say, The crying sins both of former and present times are highly aggravated by the violation of our ^o- lemn covenants and engagements to the contrary. But, by this time, tlie temporal advantages of our incorporating union with Kngland began to be more anil more overi)aianced by the introduc- tion of sinful corruptions from that country. The Sahbath began to be greatly profaned by driving of cattle and other unnecessary labours. The so- cieties for reformation of manners gradually- dwindled a^^'ay. Our nobility and gentry, by little and little, gave up with family religion, and dropt the very form of godliness. Spending much of their time in England, they either contracted a liking to the hierarchy and suj)erstition there used, or lived nuich in the neglect of i)ublic wor- ship ; and being there under no ministerial ii\- 1 CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 411 spection, they and their families foUowoc! their own inclinations without controul. — Pul)lic oaths in qualifying men for civil offices, or in collecting of taxes, w^ere exceedingly multiplied, and much perjury thereby increased. The aljjuraiion oath, which had for some years been used in l.ngland, was extended to those in places of power and trust in Scotland, to be taken along with the oath of allegiance and the assurance. The ej)is- copalian party introduced the English ceremo- nies and service, which their fathers had refused. And notwithstanding the Assembly 1707 made an act against it, and the commission used some means to prevent it, they were but the more for- ward to set it up, or extol it, and to rail at the gospel simplicity of the established worship. Nay, the idolatrous worship of the Papists was openly practised and connived at. A superstitious form of swearing, by laying the hand on and kissing the gospel, was introduced into some of our civil courts. Such Scotsmen as served the sovereign in England or Ireland, were required to take the Lord's Supper in the English manner, as a test of their loyalty, and otherwise conform to the litur- gy and ceremonies. An observation of su])ersti- tious holy days was encouraged by the vac. a ion of our civil courts in the end of the year, .yc. Addresses to the House of Peers were rejecicd, unless they were directed to the Lords spiutval as well as temporal. Strongly attached to their Popish pretcnder,many of the episcopal dcr- gy, of whom, in 1707, 1^>.) still retained their churches and stipends, began to plead lor a middle state of souls after death, and jjr^jjers for the dead; — the Lord's Supper !)eing a prupitiatorj/ sacrifice for sin ; — the ?nising of the sacramental 1 412 A COAirKNDIOUS HISTORY OF THE ^vine with water; the necessity of ahsolufion hj a jwicsf, and cnnfcssion of sins to him in order to 1 ori;iveness of them ; the anoiniing with oil ia baptism and other eases ; — the ncccssifv of epis- coj)al ordination and hoptism to salvation ; — the hirding towards the altar, and at the name of Je- sus ; — the reception of the vwaning of the scrip- tures jrom the cliurch or clergy ; — and tlie rejec- tion of the Athanasian creed, concerning the Tri- nity, used in the Knglish service, and to recom- mend Popish bo(jks containing devotions and 'prayers to the virgin Mary and other saints. iMeanwhile, contrary to the most solem secu- rity granted to the Presbyterian establishment in the treaty of union, the British Parliament, 1712, grimted the episcopalians an almost unbounded iolcraiion^ providing their clergy took the oaths to the government, and prayed for Queen Anne, who was now straining every nerve to bring her Popish su])posed brother to the throne— prohibit- ing magistrates to oblige them to appear before any established church judicatory, and recpiired them to protect them in their public worship, so long as they did not turn Paj)ists or blas})hemers. To protect such of them as should scruple at the oathoi' ahjuratio/it which solemnly renounced their Popish pretender, and avowed the rightful suc- cession of the elector of Hanover to the crown in liis stead, the Parliament, now managed by JaC'bilical influence, imposed that oath upr)n every Presbyterian minister, under a very heavy penalty, if thiy should continue to ofliciate with- out taking it. \ly the imposition of this oath, (Vfihigt/oi/s or ddngrrous in several of its (expres- sions, and expres>ly said in the English act, first imposing it to be calculated lor the pcrpeii(al CHURCH OF SCOTLAND 413 maintenance of the church of Engl and as hij tair cs- iahlisJied^ and in which one had to swear to main- tain the succession of the British crown as li- niited by two acts of the English Parliament, one of which expressly provided, that the successor should be of the communion of the church of Enrr. land, and swear to maintain her as hij law establish- ed, the Presbyterian clergy would either, by their general refusal, ^ive the court a handle to over- turn their establishment, or at least be divided and weakened, and the refusers a()pear as dis- loyal as any of the Jacobites, thoui^h their scru- ples were very different ly founded. And, to pro- voke the Presbyterians the more, the Parliament restored patronages in their v. hole extent, pro- viding only, that patrons took the oaths to i^^o- vernment, and did not profess themselves Pa- pists. The Jacobites' doctrine of unlimited olje- dience toSoverei^^ns, and their distinction of them by right and by actual possession, qualified multi- tudes of them in Scotland, as well as in Eng- land, to swear the oa/h of ahjura{wnt when im- posed by authoriti), and now plainly enough im- posed, as a mean of enthroning their Pojjish pre- tender. These acts, so hastily passed, exceedingly alarmed the Scotch Presbyterians, 'i'he tolera- /io7ienervated their discipline, and encouraged the Jacobites in their rudeness and insolence towards the establisiied religion and clergy, and opened a door for almost every error and abomination in the worship of God. I'he restoration (f jjat/onagr was calculated to fdl the church with Ja< dbiiish or naughty clergymen by means of solicitations or simoniacal pactions, and so occasion much perjury in their ordination vows, and render their 414 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE ministrations contemptiMc, useless, and hurtful. The imposition of the ahjurafion. oaf/f on ininisfcrs^ as a condition of their entrance to, or exercise of their office, rendered them more and more the slaves of an Krastian court — tended to debauch their consciences, in taking oaths without any ne- cessity, or even without due certainty of their lawfulness, or any plain tendency to the lionour of Cod, and to diminish their zeal for their co- venanted reformation and Presbyterian govern- ment, and render them approvers of the perjuri- ous settlement of religion by the incorporating union with England ; and threatened, as it soon actually did, to produce the most mournful divi- sions among ministers, or between them and their hearers. To prevent the passing of these acts, the Commission transmitted solemn addresses to her Majesty, pleading the laws j)erpetually con- firmed by the union settlement in opposition to the int( nded toleration and restoration of patron- ages, which addresses the Assembly approved, and seconded wi*h an address of their own. The Commission 'also addressed her w ith respect to the alijuration oath^ and, in a solemn profession of their loyalty, declared their sense of it — which she said was acceptable to her. Hereupon the Assembly, in another address, begged that she would interpose her influence for preventing the prosecution of scrupulous refusers of it. Messrs. Carstairs, ]jlackwell, and Hailie, were sent to London to present these addresses, and to agent their cause; but all to no purpose. As the abjuration oath produced the most dis- agreeable divisions, the Assemblies, 1712, 17KS, 1714, and 1715, by express acts, recommended and obtcatcd all ministers to cultivate peace and CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 415 liarniony, notwithstanding their difTercnt views or practices with respect to it. The other more remarkal)le acts of these Assemhlies were, for assisting and encoura^inc^ the Soclchj for Propa- gating Christian Knowledge ; for reoular admis- sion of infants to baptism; for more frequent ad- ministration of the Lord's Supper; for purging the scandals of scddiers ; for directing the visi- tors of synod registers; for regulating the licens- ing of preachers, and discouraging unworthy bur- sars; and for execution of former acts to [)revent the growth of Popery. The Commission, 1713, emitted a seasonable warning to be read from eve- ry pulpit, entreating people to beware of being deluded by the subtile pretences of the Jacobites, who really laboured to bring them under the yoke of a Popish pretender ; and the Assembly, 1714^, presented an address to her Majesty, re- presenting the alarming increase of Popery. About this time the curates were become ex- tremely insolent and abusive, intruded them- selves into vacant congregations, and encourag- ed their followers to mob such as were appoint- ed by their Presbyteries to preach in them. But most of them joining in the rebellion, 1715, they were turned out of their kirks by the JMagis- trates. After the accession of King George T. to the throne in 1714*, the Assembly il\5 transmit- ted to him and the members of Parliament, a new representation of their grievances, relative to the toleration and ahjuralion oath, patronages, and (he sacramental test imposed on Scotch uien while serving the Sovereign in England and Ireland. He got his Parliament, that year, to turn the as of reduplication on the two English acts men- 416 A COMPENDIOUS HISTOUV OF THP: tioned in that oath into which, and to declare that it was not intended to oblige his subjects in Scotland to any thini; inconsistent with their lei^-al establishment oi' their relii^ion. And as, not\vithstandin2^ this, many still scrupled at that oath, the Parliament, 17 tD, removed all mention of their Enf^lish acts out of the form of it imposed upon ministers and schoolmasters. In conse- quence of this, the most of the ministers took it, and the few that did not, became disliked by their brethren, but more esteemed by many of the peo- ple. About the same time, the Parliament en- acted, That all presentations given by patrons to candidates for vacant cong-regations should be of no effect, unless the presentee accepted or de- clared liis willingness to accept, which it was, for a time, expected few or none would. At least the church had full power to prohibit candidates to accept presentations, until they had first the call of the congregation. The union settlement, and especially ministers taking the oath of abjuration, having given new ground of offence to Messrs. John M'Millan. late minister of Balmaghie, John Taylor of Wam- phray, John Flepburn of Orr, and James Ciil- christ of Dunscore, as well as to Messrs. John ]M*Neil and John Adamson, ])rcachers — they went about inveighing against the same. On this account the Assemblies 1715, 1716, 1717, and their inferior judicatories, prosecuted them with no small severity. No less than about twenty- four acts and overtures were passed against these pious, but sometimes imprudent and mistaking friends of our covenantid reformation, eleven of whieli respected Mr. Hepburn, arc! nine iMr. M*JMillan. JNIr. Hepburn had been driven from CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 417 his charge, and suffered a lono^ imprisonment, he- sides many other harassments. JNIr. INI'iMillaii had been driven from his charge, and another thrust into his place. Mr Gilchrist was depos- ed and laid under a sentence of excommunica- tion, appointed to be intimated in all the parish churches in Scotland. Meanwhile these, and the two following" Assemblies, made acts for assist- ance to the Sociefi/ for Propagating ('hristian Know- ledge, and for the speedy settlement of ministers in the Highlands — and against Popery and pro- faneness; — and repeatedly enjoined Presbyteries, without delay, seriously to consider the large overtures above-mentioned, in order to their be- ing established as a complete directory for disci- pline and government ; — and prohibited prelatical curates or Presbyterian separatists, to exercise dis- cipline on any members of thischurch. The Assem- bly, 17 18, issued arecommendation for providing a fund for supporting the indigent widows and or- phans of ministers. The Assembly, 1719, enjoin- ed every minister to take care to have deacons as well ^s riding ciders m his congicgation. They issu- ed a solemn warning against smugp^ling of goods, and perjuries at custom houses, in matters of trade, to be read in all the parishes of Scotland, and enjoined synods, Presbyteries, and sessions, to execute the acts of Assembly against abuses at penny- weddmgs, and to apply to the magistrates to execute the civil laws against such as are found guilty. They also framed an overture for regulating the settlement of vacant congrega- tions, especially where the patron's (h^lay for six months had put the matter in the hands of the Presbytery, iji which elders, and especially heri- tors, a majority of whom is required, are repre- 3 n 418 A COMrENDIOlTS HISTORY OF THE sented as the proper electors, thouf^li, especially where there arc no elders, heads of families, and persons of f^ood reputation in the congregation are to be regarded. But the |)rincipal business of these Assemblies respected the dorlr'nu' of the church. In i714 there c omnienced a flagrant report, that Mr John Simson, Professor of divinity in the college of Glasgow, had taught Arminian and other gross errors. Mr. James Webster, a most pious and zealous minister of Edinburgh, finding by con- verse with him, that there was too much ground for this report, laid the matter before the Gene- ral Assembly. They unreasonably burdened him with the prosecution of iMr. JSimson before his own Presbytery of Glasgow. Notwithstand- ing all his subtile shifts and quibblings, it was found evident, from his answers to his libel, and his letters to Mr. Rowan, that he had taught, That nothing is to be admitted in religion but what is consonant to reason; — that regard to our own happiness in the enjoyment of God ought to be our chief motive in serving him, and that our glorifying of God is subordinate to it ; — that the heathen may know, by the light of nature, that God hath provided a remedy for sin, and if they w^'^uld pray sincerely for the discovery of the way of salvation, he w ould grant it to them ; that if men would w ith diligence, sincerity, and faith, use the means lor obtaining saving grace, God hath promised to grant it to them; and that the using of these means, in this manner, is not above the reach of their natural powers ; — that there was no proper covenant made by God w ith Adam for himself and his posterity; and that he was not our federal head ; that it is inconsistent CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 419 with God's justice and goodness, to create souls wantini^' original riohteousnes, and that the souls of infants since the Fall are created pure and holy; — that it is prohable, there are more of man- kind saved than damned ; and it is more than probable that baptized infants, dying in infancy, are all saved ; — that there is no sinning in hell after the last judgment, &c. all which erroneous tenets were fully refuted by JNIessrs. M'Laren and Flint, ministers of Edinburgh. But such was the power of his friends in the Assembly 1717, which concluded his process, that in their 9th act, they only say, that he had given offence, and had vented some opinions not ncccssanj to be taught in divinity, and that have given more occasion for strife, than to the promoting of edi- fication ; that he had used some expressions that bear, and are used by adversaries in an unsound sense, though he disowns that unsound sense; and for answering the objections of adversaries, he had adopted some hypotheses different from what are commonly used among orlhoilox di- vines, and are not evidentli) founded on Scripture, and tend to attribute too much to natural rea- son and the power of corrupt nature, which un- due advancement of reason and nature is always to the disparagement of revelation and effica- cious free grace ; and therefore prohihit him to use such expressions, or to teach, prcacii, or other- wise vent such opinions, propositions, or hypo- theses, as aforesaid. l>\it the Assemblies were far from being equal- ly kind to such as earnestly endeavoured a clear illustration of the doctrines of (lod's free grace reigning through the righteousness of Christ. Mr. Hamilton of Alrth havijig published a cate- 420 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE chetiral treatise concerning the covenants of works and grace, aiul the sacraments of haptisin and the Lord's Supper, in a more evan<:^elical strain than some wished, tiie Assemhly, 1710, prohi- bited all ministers or members of this church to print or disperse in writ any catechism, without the allowance of the Presbytery of the bounds, or the Commission. The Presbytery of Auch- terarder havinjn;- begun to require candidates for licence to acknowledge it vnsoimd to teach that men must forsake their sins in order to come to Christ, the Assembly, 1717, on the same day they had dealt so gently with professor Simson, declared their abhorrence of that proposition as tinsound and most detestable — as if men ouglit on- ly to come to Christ, the alone Saviour from sins, after they have got rid of them by repentance. Mr. James Hogg, one of the holiest ministers in the kingdom, having published or recommended a celebrated and edifying tract of the Cromwel- lian age, called the Marrow of Modern Divi nit tj, the Assembly 1720, fell upon it with great fury, as if it had been replete with Antinomian er- rors, though it is believed many of these zealots never read it, at hast had never perused it, in connection with the 2d part oi' it, which is whol- ly taken up in manifesting the obligation, mean- ing, and advantages of observing the law of God. They condemned the ottering of C hrist as a Sa- viour to all men, or to sinners as such — and the doctrine of believers' full deliverance from under the law as a broken covenant of works. 1 hey asserted men's holiness to be a federal or condi- tional mean of their obtaining eternal happiness. They condemned these ahnost express declara- tions of Scripture, that believers are not under CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 421 the law ; that they do not commit sin ; that the Lord sees no sin in them ; and cannot he an^ry with them — as Antinomian paradoxes, and con- demned the distinction of the moral law as a co- venant of works, and as a binding rule of dutij in the hand of Christ, in order to explain these ex- pressions. IMessrs. James Hof^i-ir-, Thomas Bos- ton, Ehenezer and Ralph Erskines, Gahriel Wil- son, and seven others remonstrated to the next Assembly a^-ainst these decisions, as injurions to the doctrine of God's Grace ; and, in their an- swers to the Commission's twelve (jueries, they illustrated these doctrines with no small clear- ness and evidence. Perhaps influenced hy this, as well as by the wide-spread detestation of their acts, 1720, on that point, the Assenibly 1722 re-considered the same, and made an act explain- ing and con/inning them. This was less gross and erroneous. Nevertheless the twelve repre- senters protested against it as injurious to truth ; but this protest was not allowed to be marked. The moderator, by the Assembly's appointment, rebuked them for their reflections on the Assem- bly 1720, in their representation, and admonish- ed them to beware of the like in all time coming; against which they protested. Mr. Wilson hav- ing preached an excellent sermon before the sy- nod of Merse and Teviotdale, in 172J, in whicli he had freely hinted his dislike of the legal doc- trines and other corruptions then prevalent, af- ter two years harassment before the synod and Commission, he was at last dismissed by the As- sembly 1723 with an admonition. Little more of importance was done in these Assemblies, unless that about L.12(K) Sterling were collected fur the persecuted i\otestaots of 422 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE Lithuania, and four of their students appoint- ed to be supported hy bursaries whih^ attend- ing the study of divinity at the college of Edin- burgh. Several acts were made for preventing the increase of Popery, and, in I72'J, they repre- sented to his IMajesty the danger of his govern- ment l)y it. Otiier acts were made against pro- fanencss, and for assisting the Socidyjor Propa- gating Christian Knowledge, and for planting pro- per ministers and teachers in the North. They enacted, That none shold be admitted to, or con- tinued in, the office of elders or deacons, unless they were circumspect in their walk, punctual in their attendance on ordinances, and strict in their observation of the Lord's day, and in regu- larly keeping up the worship of God in their fa- milies ; and that none should be sent to, or ad- mitted members of the General Assembly, unless they were attested by the Presbyteries, &:c. as thus qualified. Many of the clergy, perhaps fond of avoiding every appearance of good will towards the JMar- row of Modern Divinity, seemed now more legal and Haxterian in their doctrine than formerly. This induced multitudes of serious Christians, who had been formerly not a little disgusted by their swearing of the altjuration oath, to leave them, and hear the representers and their friends, whom the late dispute, and their harassment at- tending it, had made to search and see further into gospel truth. These, notwithstanding their emi- nent exemplification and earnest urging of gos- pel holiness, were exceedingly traduced by the prevailing party, as new scJiemers, and Antinonni- an encou racers of a licentious life. Tiiey had probably been more abundantly reproached and 7 CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 4.23 harassed, had not the managers got their hands full of other business. Mr. Hepburn, above- mentioned, dying, his friends in Angus-shire al- most persuaded Mr. Francis Archibald, ministerof Guthry, into their sentiments. By this and some concurrent circumstances, more than ordinary noise concerning the national covenant and solemn league happened in that country. Roused here- by, Mr. John Glass, a young popular preacher in it, set himself to rail at these covenants, as un- warrantable under the New Testament, and not obligatory, and even against some articles of the Confession of Faith. He further taught, that national churches are unwarrantable under the New Testament ; that the kingdom of Israel was of an ecclesiastical nature, and its officers church officers ; that then church and state were the same ; and both entirely typical ; that the Old Testament church was an earthly kingdom ; that all church covenants that bring her in- to any connexion with the state, are legal and earthly, and means of introducing profane per- sons into her. By his address he decoyed Mr. Archibald into his notions, to which they soon added others, as that Ccmfessions of Faith ought not to be subscribed; that only congregational churches are warranted under the Gospel ; that illiterate men are fit for preaching the (xospel ; that Christian congregations have power to or- dain their own teachers ; that all members have a share in governing the church ; that Chiistian magistrates have no more power about religious matters than other men, and ought not to em- ploy their power for advancing religion, or for restraining or i)unishing heretics, or for giving more encouragement to good Christians, than to 424 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE other ^ood subjects. Notwithstanding all means for reclaiminLC them, they obstinately went about preachinc;^ their principles in fields and streets, or printing pamphlets in favours of them. They were therefore suspended in 17-8, and l^ecause they contemned this censure, they were, about two years after, deposed. But notwithstanding their laying out themselves to their utmost, to erect independent churches of a new form, in every corner where they could find any encou- ragement, the Assembly 17^59 reponed them to their office, though not to their charges. — On the other hand, it began to be loudly reported, that professor Simson had not only continued to dis- regard the prohibition of the Assembly 1717, and teach his above-mentioned errors — but also had taught, that ,Jes2is Christ is not necessarily ex- iste?if ; — that the persons in the Godhead are not the very same in substance ; — that necessary existence, supreme Deity, and being the only true God, may be taken in a sense import in i^ the personal property of the Father, and so not belonging to the Son or Holy Ghost. Both libels were fully proven against him ; but the first was left undiscussed. In consequence of his declaring his mind on the latter points in orthodox language, and after much (piibbling and tergiversation, professing his sorrow for some of the oifensive expressions proved against him, the Assembly J 728, suspend- ed him from all exercise of any ecclesiastical power or function till another Assend)ly should think fit to restore him. And the Assend)Iy 1720 further declared, that it was not fit that he should be any further entrusted with the training up of students for the holy ministry. This slight censure of an Arminian, and an Ari- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 42'5 an blasphemer, exceedingly grieved and olTend- ed multitudes of the mere serious. Scarcely was this prosecution of Professor Simson finished, when Mr. Campbell, professor of church history in the college of St. Andrew's, began, from the press, to ridicule close walking with God, and acknowledging him in all our v/ays, as enthusiasm, and to aver, that in the in- terval between Christ's death and resurrection, his disciples looked on him as a cheat and im- postor;— that self love is the chief motive and standard of, all virtuous and religious actions; — that the existence of God, and the immortality of the soul cannot be known by the light of nature; that notwithstanding the laws of nature are a certain and sufficient rule to direct rational minds to happiness, and the observation of them is the great mean of our real and lasting felicity. For these he was processed before the judicatories ; but, by his artful colourings of his tenets, and pretences to adhere to the Confession of Faith , as Professor Simson had always done, he not only escaped censure, but drew the Assembly, 1786, which finished his process, into an appro- bation of his doctrine concerning self love. Dr. William Wishart, late principal of the col- lege of Edinburgh, was soon after found to have taught from the press. That men are not alto- gether, if at all, vitiated with original sin ; that the light of nature may, in some instances, be sufficient to lead mankind to complete happiness ; that freedom of inquiry should never be restrain- ed by any Formula of doctrine, or Confession of faith ; that the minds of children should not be biassed to the principles of a party, by learning catechisms by heart ; that civil magistrates have 3 I 4-26 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE no power to punisli heresies of any kind, but their jurisdiction reacheth only to those crimes that are committed against the state; and that all men oui;ht to have full liberty to speak and write as they please, provided their senti»>ients do not endanger the welfare of civil society. — His {)ro- cess came Ijefore the Assembly i7.>(^; but his artful colouring of his errors, and his profession of adiierence to the Confession of Faith, brought him off, without any censure; inconsequence of which, he soon after, from the press, recommend- ed Dr. Whichcofs sermons to the students of di- vinity to form upon, — without the smallest warn- ing against the Arminian and Socinian errors therein contained, viz That as to moral duties, we have the Jul! concurrence of all heathen authors that are ani/ whit reformed; (according to which, dependance on Christ, walking with God, ur vvor- shipping him in three persons, in and through Christ as mediator, and the like, are not moral duties,) — that the great differences hetivecn men in the several ages of the tvorld, have not been about any necessarif truth or any thing plainly declared in scripture, (according to which, the doctrine of three distinct persons in the God-head, — the true and supreme God head of Christ, — the necessity, reality, and vicarious nature of his satisfaction for our sins, — free justification l)y his imputed righteousness, — regeneration and sanctification by the almighty influence of his spirit ; and of original sin imputed or inherent, — men's natu- ral inability to will or jierform that which is natu- rally good, cVc. — are all excluded from being ne- cessary truths, or clearly revealed in the scrip- ture,)- that no perfection of God's nature in- clines him. to punish sin, but to be reconcileable to (ill that repent; — that that repentance, which is in CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 427 the power of every man, is the term or condition of the neio covenant, renders men objects of the divine compassion, and removes the necessity of divine pun- ishment ; — that to be accepted in and throv(j;h Christ, or justified through his righteousness, is to be assur- ed, that God through the perfection of his own na- ture, is reconcileable to sinners, and is absolutely re- solvedand engaged to pardon their sin in and through Chiist, to all who repent and believe ; that religion is just a moving according to reason ; that if men use their natural pouters aright by consideration, they may spiritucdly understand the scriptures, and make room for, and render the infucnce of God's grace effectual, and find him their superlative de- light, (!^c. (§c. While the errors that were creeping into the church, were so tenderly handled, and the spread- ers of them dismissed from the bar of General Assemblies on the easiest terms, they, who set themselves against the growing defections, were not a little oppressed. For about a dozen of years after patronages had been restored by the Parliament, no candidates had courage to im- prove a presentation for their own intrusion on reclaiming congregations. At first, one or two probationers began to accept presentations : but the outcry against them was so great, that they soon retracted and passed from them. But Mr. Chambers, Principal of the college of Aberdeen, having accepted a presentation to Old Machir, probationers and others took courage, and fol- lowed his example ; and though they, at first, qualified their acceptances, with having the peo- ple's consent, yet they would not retract, after the people had shewed their aviTsion. About 1729 and 1730, intrusion of ministers upon the 428 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE footing of presentations was become pretty com- mon, and \; ere warmly supported by the Assem- l)lies, and especially by their commissions. This rendered the attempts of som- l^resbyt^^ries and Synods to restrain them ineffectual. The kin^^, having the patronage of very many parishes in his hand, such ministers as expected favours from the court, promoted the intrusions with all their might; and, in judicatories, and printed pam- phlets, denied and railed against the right of the Christian people to elect their own pastors; while IMessrs. Currie, Hill, and others, laboured to establish that right. Finding that they were like to be much troubled with remonstrances, dissents, and protestations, in Assemblies, Commissions, and inferior judica- tories, the Assembly, 1 780, refused to record them, and to prevent any standing testimonies against their refusing to assert the truth, in di- rect opposition to professor Simson's errors and blasphemies, and their violent procedure in the intrusion of ministers, they enacted, that no rea- sons of dissent or protest should be recorded in their minutes. Several remonstrances and peti- tions were given in to the Synods of INIerse and Lothian, as well as to the Assembly 1731, but no way regarded. A remonstrance by forty-two ministers and throe elders, and another by about 1600 Christian people, many of them ruling el- ders, were presented to the Assembly 1 732, in which they represented the many abounding de- fections, which grieved their spirit, as well as dis- honoured God, and tended to the ruin of his church, and begged, that the Assembly would address his majesty and Parliament, for rescind- ing their acts imposing the sacrainental test oh CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 4-29 the members of this church ; — estaMishiiii]; the foleratlon^ — restorin*^ patronages^ and lor hiyini^ aside the new form of swearin*^ in the j^ospels, — and for aHowino- the addresses of this church, though not directed to the spiritual Lords; that the Assembly would exert themselves to put a stop to the intrusion of ministers on reciaiminp^ congreg-ations; would restrain commissions from countenancing it, even where neither the Pres- bytery nor congregation, in the least, concur in the call, trial, or ordination, of the candidate ; that no appeals from Synods be judged by the commission, unless the members of that sede- runt be supernumerary to these of the Synod, in ministers, as well as elders ; that, if any of the actings of the commission be contrary to the constitutions and known principles of this church, they shall be reversed, and themselves censured ; that instead of judicatories being condenmed any more for testifying their displeasure at candi- dates's offensive acceptance of presentations, none may be licensed or ordained, that favour that course ; that the seventh act of Assembly 1730, prohibiting the recording of reasons of dissent may be repealed ; that, according to the injunc* tion of some former Assemblies, an act may be made to restrain the legal and heathenish man- ner of preaching lately introduced by some young ministers and preachers; — and that a solemn war- ning be emitted by the Assembly against Pro- fessor Simson's errors, and others, which are spread through the land, in order to prevent the infection of them. But neither of tht^se remon- strances were allowed so much as a hearing. But, in consequence of an overture of the preceding Assembly, not a little worse than that of J 71 IK 430 A COMPKXniOlTS HISTORY OF, THE and contrary to the instructions of most part of Presbyteries that sent any, they enacted, that Protestant heritors, of any denomination or char- acter, and elders, should be the onlij electors of gos- pel m blisters This act was reckoned by multi- tudes an overturning^ of Christ's spiritual king- dom, and a robbini^ of his people of their spirit- ual rights, in his name and under pretence of his authority. But the next assembly prohibit- ed the Presbytery of Dunfermline, and by conse- quence all others, to administer sealing ordi- nances to any, whose conscience hindered them to submit to the ministrations of an intruder vio- lently imposed upon them. Several ministers, in sermons before synods or Presbyteries, as well as others, testified against this act of 1732, respecting the election of mi- nisters. Among others, INIr. Ebenezer Erskine, whose evangelical, clear, and majestic manner of preaching, made him highly respected by the people, but disliked by many of his brethren, in his sermon, before the synod of Perth, in Octo- ber, 1732, testified against that act, and ])atro- nage, and some other prevalent corruptions. Af- ter three days' warm disputation, the synod ap- pointed him to be rebuked at their bar for the matter and manner of the quarreled parts of his sermon. Twelve ministiMs and two e!dad encouraged the mob, the king and Parliament, having framed an act for the discovery of his murderers, aj)pointed all the ministers of Scotland to read it in the time of God s public worship in their churches, every first Sabbath in the month, for a whole year, beginning in August, 17S7, under this pe- nalty, for the first day's neglect. That tJici/ shall he declared incapable of sitting or •i^i^lijig in anj/ church judicatory/. JNIany ministei^v looking on several things in the act as inconsistcFit u ith justice and equity ; and that it was not j)roper for Christ's ambassadors of the gospel of peace, to become heralds or executors of the sanguinary laws of men ; that the reading of such a civil act from the pul|)it, on the Lord's day, in the time of divine service, was a profanation of his Sab- bath and worship ; and tliat they could not ac- quiesce in the penalty annexed to the first ne- I3G A COxMTKNDIOUS HISTonY OV TFTK glcct, w'ithocit practically owning" the civil ma-- V^hir?i\.{: head nf Ihe rhurch, having power to fi?c the qualifications and conditions of ministers' ex- ercise of their office in /[governing' the church of God, which they reckonecf, at once contrary to the estahlished doctrine of this church, and to their own solemn engagements to maintain it. Many others, especially such as had, or wished for, court favour, made a shift to come over those scruples, and read at least part of the act, the whole or part of the time. These different views and practices produced some alienation hetween the parties for a time ; hut, after a ^ew years, they liavmoniously agreed to bnry it in oblivion. The Seceding ministers* publication of their second TesHmonjfy in which they had represented the backslidings of church and state frorr> their covenanted doctrine, worship, discipline, and go- vernment, and laudable acts and constitutions for supijorting- it, more plainly than most of the established clergy wished, — and their supplying- of people with sermon, who could not submit to intruders, or scru])led to hear the readers of the act concerning captain Porteous, — having highly displeased the ecciesiabtical managers, — the As- sembly )7S8 therefore appointed their commis- sion to libel and cite them to the next Assem- bly. When they, now increased to the number of eight, appeared at the bar, they were informed by tiie Assembly IToD, that they were ready to drop all that was contained in their libel and every thing bygone, and recx^ive them with open arms, providing they would, for the future, Ibr- ])ear all separating courses, and join in the com- munion of the church. But, instead of such com- ^^liance, these ministers solemnly declined the CHURCH OF SCOTLANO. 437 Assembly and otiier established judicatories, as not right constitute courts of Christ in their pre- sent condition, because instead of" purging out, they received and supported, intruders and other scandalous persons, as mem!>ers ; because they had generally, for many years past, been active in carrying on a course of defection, tolerating the erroneous, countenancing error, and enact- ing laws, by which the liberties of Christ's mini- sters and people were suppressed ; and because, by their reading of the Parliament's act concern- ing captain Porteous, they had submitted tl^em- selves to the civil magistrate, as head of t]ic cintrch, instead of Christ. This declinature so gall- ed the managers and others of the prevailing party, that, without finding them guilty of ciiher error in doctrine, w scandal in practice, the As- sembly 1740 deposed them from all exercise of their ministerial office in this church. Since tliat period things have been nothing bettered, but rather grown worse. While prac- tical godliness in persons and families hath sadly decayed, and error and impiety of almost every kind have prevailed, and become fashionable, settlements of ministers have proceeded on the footing of Patronage. But long custom hath ren- dered these, and all their soul-ruining consequen- ces, less affecting, even to many of the godly. Errors, and even scandalous practices, unless ex- tremely gross, ordinarily pass uncensured. Viola- tions of these commands, which immediately res- pect (iod himself, are by many reckoned very venial, or no transgressions. Little more than gross acts of murder, or approaches to it : gross and notorious uncleanness, and especially di- rect theft and robbery, is practically held as either 438 A COMrENDIOUS HISTORY OF THR censurable by the church, or punishable by th^ state. The Seceders have now about two hun- dred ministers settled in Britain and Ireland, besides others in America. But their falling from their first love, indulirence of conformity to the world, and their anc^ry divisions about thing's which many of themselves do not fully under- stand, have cxceeding-ly marred their usefulness in maintaining- Christ's injured truths, and win- jiing- souls to his service. The Reformed Pres- bytery was formed about 1713, by IMr. John jM'Millan above-mentioned, and Thomas Nairn, who left the Secession. In many things they re- semble the Seceders, but differ from them, in im- pugning" the present civil government. Their splitting into parties, on a debate concerning- the extent oj ChrisCs deaths weakened these old dis- senters^ as they call themselves, and retarded their increase. The Presl)ytery of Relief origi- nated from j\rr. Thomas Gillespy, whom the Ge- neral Assembly in 1751 deposed, because he would not, contrary to his conscience, assist in a violent intrusion, — and some other ministers of the church of Scotland, who, at their own hand, left their established charges, and took up with such people as invited them in other places. Their scheme of admittin;^ persons of ditfeient denominations to sealirig ordinances, and g"iving their people an answerable allowance in hearing and joinin«2^ in sealing ordinances, is excctulingly suited to the taste of the age. But divisions and other incidents have not a little retarded their expected increase. Besides all these, there are, I think, between twenty and thirty thousand Papists, who, notwithstanding^ all the laudable CHURCH OK SCOTLAND. 439 diligence of the Society for propagating;' Christian Knowledge in that country, tlo chiefly swarm in the north. How nianv Epicopalian minsters or people there be in Scotland at present, 1 do not certainly know. KXD OK THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OK SCOTLAND. ADVERTISEMENT. The Historical Account of the Rise and. Pro gress of the Secession^ by the Rev, John Brown of Haddington^ is so intiinaiely Connccfed with the History/ of the Church of Scotland, tJiat it has been lho7ight proper to annex it to the present volume, — Ami the Publishers flatter Uiem&elves that it xvill he c'07isideredf by iJie Public^ as a valuable addition to his History of the Scottish Church: the work of ^^ a man wlio^'' says 07ie of his biographers, *^ though ^^ firm in his adherence to what he judged to be truth, *• and strenuous in its defence, tms at Vie same time *' the friend of forbearance boih in principle and ** pracliccJ^ AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF TUE SECESSION. MR. JOHN BROWN, LATE MINISTER OF TUE GOSPEI- AT IIAUDINGTOK. HISTORICAL ACCOUNT RISE AND PROGRESS SECESSION 1 HE connection of the Secession with former events, renders necessary a rehearsal of a variety of facts, prior to the date of it. — Our reformers not only published, but procured tlie estabbsh- ment of the doctrines of Christ, maintained by Calvin, in their Confession of Faith : they also introduced his scriptural plan of Presbyterian church-i^overnment ; according to which, every minister has ccpial power, and acconbiiii;- to which the ecclesiastical courts of Sessions, Presbyteries, and Synods, are held of divine authority; and subordinated the former to the latter. 'JMie i;reat lines of this plan they marked out, in their fust book of discnpline : a more clear and distinct delineation thereof they gave in their sc- 4 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE cond; whicli every minister amorjf^ tliem was required to subscribe. An express parliamentary ratification of this form of church-government, they, after no small stru^-^lin^', at last obtained in J. 592. In direct contradiction, however, to their second book of discipline, patronage was confirmed, and sundry other evils not fully abo- lished. Quickly after, partly by fraud, partly by force. King James gradually pulled down the Presby- terian form of church-government, and set up the Episcopalian in its stead. He assumed a spiritual headship over all persons and causes in the church. This the parliament required many of the sub- jects to acknowledge by oath. The simple and scriptural form of worship, introduced by our re- formers, he began to exchange for the supersti- tious one of the English. By his influence, a ge- neral assembly at Perth, chiefly composed of his own creatures, admitted the five subsequent arti- cles, viz. kneeling at theLord's Supper; privatead- ministration of it to sick persons ; private admi- nistration of baptism to distressed infants ; con- firmation of children by the laying on of the hands of the Bishop ; and the annual celebration of five holidays, commemorating the nativity, death, re- surrection, and ascension of Christ, and the mira- culous descent of the Holy Ghost. These, from the place where they were enacted, are ordina- rily termed. The Articles of Perth. James had not finished his intended model- ling of our church, when death cut him oft'. His son Charles I. Avith the assistance of Archbishop Laud, bestirred himself, to render her altogether E?iglish, or rather a little ?no?'e Romish. Fired with indignationat the tyrannical imposition of RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 5 lialf-popish canons and liturgy, many of all ranks in Scotland took the alarm. With the most hold, though i)atient struggling, they at last obtained the royal indiction of a free assembly and par- liament. The assembly meeting first in 1088, had plenty of rubbish to remove: — The national covenant, sworn a little before, referred a vast deal of matter to their consideration. The six packed meetings of the general assembly, which assisted King James to deform the church, they annulled. The liturgy, the book of canons, and of ordination ; the unlawful oaths of entrants to the curacy; the ofiice of Bishops; the High Com- mission-court ; and civil offices of kirk men, they condemned. The most active ringleaders in the former apostacy, they censured. All the Bishops were cited to their bar; and, notwithstanding of whatever themselves, or the King's commissioner could do, in their behalf, nine of them were ex- communicated, three of tliem deposed from all office in the church, two of them deposed from their Episcopal function, and suspended from the ministry. The assembly, moreover, restored kirk- sessions and synods, provincial and national, agreeable to the order prescribed in the second book of discipline; and revived or enacted a num- ber of excellent rules for maintaining the order and purity of the church. They not only con- tinued their meeting after the King's commis- sioner pretended to dissolve it, but expressly af- firmed their divine, ecclesiastical, and civil au- thority, to hold general assemblies, whenever it is necessary. They nevertheless avowed that the King, though a bigot for Prelacy, had power to call and convene such courts; and in case he call- ed one next year, they agreed to desert the diet, 6 AN IirSTOniCAL ACCOUNT OF THE which themselves had fixed, and observe that wJiich his Majesty should appoint. This faithiul assembly of Glasgow, Ring Charles proclaimed to be, after his Commission- er's dissolution thereof, an unlawful and sedi- tious meeting; nor did any of the reforming parliaments ever acknowledge its authority. The substance of its principal acts the assembly 1639 threw together into a new act, and soften- ed some of the expressions. This the parliament 161-0 explicitly ratified. They also revived the fore-mentioned act of 1592, in all the points and articles thereof; and expressly declared, that the sole and only power and jurisdiction within this kirk, stands in her sessions, Presbyteries, synods, and general assemblies. With one consent both church and state went forward, promoting re- formation, and suppressing Popery, Prelacy, and profaneness ; and prompted their neighbours in 'England and Ireland to follow their example. The Westminster Confession of Faith and Cate- chisms, with their Directory for Worship, were ratified by both church and state. The West- minster Form of Church'govermncnt was expressly received by the church; but never ratified by our state. For eleven years of this reforming period, pa- tronage retained its legal force ; nay, by some acts, both church and state, directly or indirect- ly, approved it. Care was, however, taken, that no minister should be obtruded upon the Chris- tian peoi)le against their will. In 1619, the par- liainent entirely abolished it as a Popish custom, and an oppressive grievance to the people of God. In eonsctpicnee liereof, the assembly that year IVamed a Directory for the election of ministers ; RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 7 which, it is presumed, ascribes to the session more power than is allowed them, by the ora- cles of Christ. Nothing so much distinguished our ancestors, as their public covenanting with God. Divinely assured, that, in the days of Moses, Joshun, Asa, Joash, Josiah, and Nehemiah, the Hebrews had, with his approbation, thus dedicated themselves and their seed to the Lord: Convinced that pub- lic covenanting is no where, in the sacred page, represented as a ceremonial service, and so must be equally lawful under the N^ew dispensation as under the Old: Convinced that it was expressly j)romised to take place under the Gospel* ; and, with apostolic approbation, was probably prac- tised in the INIacedonian church j : Convinced, that if subjects, on proper occasions, may enter into a solemn association and bond, to promote the service, honour, and safety of their Sove- reign, the professed subjects of Jesus Christ, may, in a social manner, devote themselves to promote his interest and honour: Convinced, that if a number of purchasers at once may take out a charter for their property, wherein they constitute themselves and their heirs the v.':ssals of a Prince, Duke or Lord; there can be nothing unreasonable if a number of men take hold of the everlasting covenant, and God in it, for their God, and the God of their seed; and hereon de- vote themselves and posterity to be his honmir- able vassals and servants: Convinced, that if one man may solemnly devote himself to his .Maker, himdreds, nay, tiiousands, may do so together: Convinced, that if one, or nidic may in b.i!»li>iii " \>n. \\\ IS, 21. «. ..r. ..11. .. 8 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE surrender his seed to tlie Lord, a whole nation may surrender their posterity to him; — therefore they did so in their public covenants. Alway supposini^ such vows good in their matter, plain in their form, seasonable in their juncture, and taken in truth, judgment, and righteousness, our ancestors were convinced, the three first precepts of the moral law approved thereof. The first requires us to avouch the Lord to be our God ; — why may not a number do this together ? The second enjoins our receiving, observing, and keep- ing pure and entire, the ordinances of God's worship; — why may we not vow to be faithful to this trust, and to cleave to the Lord? Especially, when the third requires us to swear hi/ his name, and voio to the mightij God of Jacob. Our ancestors knew, that the seasons of pub- lic covenanting, specified in Scripture, were af- ter signal deliverances ; amidst threatenings of sore trials and heavy judgments ; or when ear- nestly endeavouring to withstand, or reform from signal corruptions. They thought the occasions whereon they practised it, tallied therewith. When the Popish powers abroad were forming their league, to extirpate the Protestant cause, and its adherents; was it unseasonable for King .James, and his council, prompted by the church, to set on foot the national covenant, or for the church to re(|uiie the subscription thereof? — When King Charles, Achbishop Laud, and their creatures, combined to bury the pure worship of God, the Presbyterian form of church govern- ment, and the civil liberties of the nation, was it unseasonable for the tables of the nobles to set on foot the renovation of the national covenant ; RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECF.SSIoy. 9 and stir up their brethren, to swear to maintain these valuable points ? With respect to the matter of their (M)vcnant?, our fathers were ready to defy their adversaries, to show them any thin^ rcnouna'd, that was not prohibited by the divine law ; or any thini^ es- jyoused, that was not therein required. \n 1.580 and 1581, Popery in i^eneral, and in many par- ticular heads, >vas abjured ; and the Protestant religion, in doctrine, worslii[), discipline, and government, then professed, was sworn to. h\ 1590 an engagement to defend the King's person and authority was subjoined. In 159G they con- fessed their various sins, and engaged to walk more circumspectly for the future. In 16:^8 the maintenance of the true Protestant religion, and of the civil authority of King Charles, then a Prelatic persecutor ; an opposition to Laud's ca- nons and liturgy ; and a forbearance of some no- vations already introduced, till tried and allowed in a free general assembly : together with the leading of holy and exemplary lives ; and the as- sistance and defence of one another, in fuUilling these vows — were sworn to and engaged. Epis- copal government, the five articles of Perth, and the civil places and power of kirkmen (whose lawfulness was left undetermined in the cove- nant 1638, in order that Episcopals, as well as others, might take it) being condemned by the assembly that year, the covenant was afterward subscribed, as importing a renunciation ul these novations. In the solemn league, most of the Scots, and multitudes in England and Ireland, swore, in their places and callings, to endeavour the pre- servation of religion in Scotland, and the refor- I© AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE mation of it in England and Ireland, according to the word of God, and tlie example of the best reformed churches ; and so promote an unifor- mity of religion in all the three kingdoms, that they and their children might live together in faith and love, and the Lord delight to dwell among them. They engaged, in their respective stations, to endeavour the abolishing of Popery, Prelacy, superstition, heresy, schism, profaneness, or what- ever else is contrary to sound doctrine and the power of Godliness. They swore to promote the peace of the nation ; to support the authority of the King, and the privileges of the parliament ; and to promote union among themselves in pro- secuting these laudable ends. — In 164-8 the Scots, purged of many rotten-hearted professors, by the English defeat of Duke Hamilton's engagement, undertaken in favour of King Charles I. made an extensive acknowledgment of their breaches of the solemn league : Error, heresy, schism. In- dependency, Anabaptism, Antinomianism, Fami- lism, Libertinism, Scepticism, and Erastianism, then rampant in Britain, were abjured ; the maintenance of King Charles, still a strict Epis- copalian, hisauth(»rity, and of the liberties of both church and state, uas engaged to. What thing vnlawful is here espoused ? What thing lawful is here renounced ? What is here sworn to, that is not implied in the ordination vows of every mi- nister of the established (hurch? What that is not implied in every candid adherence to the Westminster Confession of Faith ? What that is not implied in every proper baptismal engagement.^ Whatever rigour they used, in imposing these covenants; whatever allowance they gave any to RISE AND PROGRKSS OF THH SECESSION. 11 swear them, who did not understand iheni, or who did not appear inclined to perform his vows, must never be justified. It is certain they were less culpable on these heads than many su[)pose. Notwithstanding of the compulsory laws, 1 scarce find an instance of any forced to take the cove- nants, except by JNTontrose and Monro, who were military men, anti both of them at last noted enemies to the genuine covenanters. It is cer- tain multitudes took these covenants with cheer- fulness, knowledge, and candour; and that sur- prising evidence of sobriety, and serious godli- ness, appeared among them ; prayerless and pro- fane persons, or families, were held as a detes- table nuisance. Their very armies resendjled a congregation of saints. Multitudes sufl'ered to the death, for adhering to these vows, and died rejoicing in God their Saviour. Whom God thus honoured, let not us dare to calumniate as fools, and lavish of their lives. The ratification of these covenants I)y the state, on some ol" the covenanting occasions, no doubt inferred a civil security of the religion therein espoused, even as the ratification of the Confes- sion of Faith, and other subordinate standards, inferred a civil security to the Protestant reli- gion therein exhibited But as the latter makes not the Protestant religion a mere state religion; neither did the former render the covenants merely state covenants. In the national, the co- venanters expressly declare, that therein they join themselves to the true protestant ( hur( h, os livi'h/ menihrrs of the same in Christ thi ir Head. Times without number, they represent their engagements as covenants wrni (ion, which ne- cessarily infers their reckoning them reli^ivus. 12 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF Till!: not state covenants, uhich cannot be made with God. without sup[)osin^" a renovation of the Jew- ish Theocracy, in which God sustained the cha- racter of princijial 3Iai;istrate. In J. 596, and I^SSy the most noted occasions of covenantinp;', they were not so much as influenced by the smallest injunction from the state. In It; 1-3 and 164S the other two most remarkaljle sea- sons thereof, the ecclesiastical authority had the lead, and the civil did little else than add its sanction to what appointments the church had made. And in every period, ministers, not states- men, were the ordinary administrators of these oaths. In this covenanting work, they never intend- ed a mere acknoiuledgment of the obligation of the divine lau\ with respect to the duties contained in their covenant; !iut a morestrict bindingoftheiiu selves to these necessary duties, bij a new and supers added obligation. An obligation not increasino^ the original obligation of the divine law to these duties, but one entirely distinct from, and su- peradded thereto. In this view have all na- tions of mankind, in all ages, made use of secon- dary obligations, af promises, ])onds, vows, pro- missory oaths, as means of more deeply impress- ing the original mandates of the law of nature or revelation, by the constitution of a new, solemn, and distinct obligation, which cannot be violat- ed, without superadding the new and distinct crimes of infidelity, treachery, and perjury, to that of rebellion against, and disobt^dience to, the original revpiirement of tlie moral law. The obligation of the divine law to perform the du- ties contained in the covenants was the same thousands of years ere they were thought of, and niSE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 13 would have been the same, suppose they hatl ne- ver been thought of, anil is entirely divine. The law of God warrants the eonstitution of tlie ob- ligation of lawful covenants to duty ; and when it is constituted recjuires the fulfilment thereof; and enforces the same with a divine sanction of rewards, in case of fulfilment, and of punishment, in case of breach. But tiiis obligation, and which alone is the ohlif^aiion of the covenant, iiath no ex- istence before the first covenanting act, and is constituted by it. 'J'he divine obbgation of the moral law extends ecjually to all men. The ob- ligation of covenants being constituted by a hu- man act, in obedience to the law of God, extends only to such as either immediately or mediately engage in those covenants*, and relates only to this imperfect state. That the obligation of the national covenant and solemn league is perpetual, binding the whole nation, in this and succeeding ages, is evi- dent. 1. The things covenanted are duties required in the law of God ; and so it cannot but be for the honour of God, and the good of the nation, and every person therein, they be perpetually ob- served. 2. These covenants were public deeds of our fathers, who had power to dedicate us to the Lord, in that manner, as well as in bajjtism. — And from God\s ancient grant of the nation to his Son, Psal. ii. 8. Isa. xlii. I. cVc. they had strong encouragement to do so. The covenant- ing work in Scotland was so often repeated, and on some occasions, particularly in Ui.'58, so uni- * See SvnoU's Catechism on ihirU Command. 14 AX IIISTOUICAL ACCOUNT OF THE versal, that it is scarce probable there is a Scotch family on the continent, which is not de- scended from some covenanter *. S. These covenants were public deeds of the representatives of both church and state, acqui- esced in by tlie subjects, and so as hindinrr as the covenant of Israel with the Gibeonites, which was only sworn by the Princes of the congrega- tion, Josh. ix. and yet continued binding on the whole nation four hundred years afterward, 2 Sam. xxi. 4. These covenants were public deeds of the body of the adult members in both church and state, and often repeated and ratified by the su- preme authority of both, and so binding upon the whole church and nation, and their posterity af- ter them, Deut. v. 2, S. and xxix. 1 — 13 f. Even the public curse imprecated by the Jews, met at the passover, iMath. xxvii. 25. hath af- fected their whole nation and their posterity. Without supposing that public covenants of pa- rents, and of representatives of church or state, or of the greater part of a society, were bind- ing on their descendants, the body represented the whole society, and such as accede thereto, there could be no dependence on public covenants • See Rapin, vol. ii. fol. 303. Hume's Hist, on ann. 1638, p. vi. 257. Neal's Hist. Puritans, vol. ii. p. m, 2,5{> iJGO 2(il. Dickson, Henderson, and Cant's Answers to, and Kcplies of. Doctors of Aberdeen, p 4", 40, 44- 77. 97. Spang's Historia Motiiuni, p (iO. Brown's ApoIogeticalJlclation, p. 48. Hind let Loose, p. 77. 514 — 520. Livinosc, p. 514 — 520. Urown's Apologctiral Kelation, p. 327 to 4-li. See also Brown's Letter on the perpetual oblii^ation of the Scotch Covenants, Walker's Sermons, both hitely published. RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 15 and treaties in, or between societies. Whenever the immediate covenanters, or often a i'vw of them, died or lost their power, the ohlit;- ition of the treaties would be voided, and so all thiiiL^s kept in confusion. Twelve years of reformation were scarce elaps- ed, when all the above advances therein bei^an to be plucked up by the roots. To support King Charles II. ag^ainst Cromwell, but contrary to solemn enslavements, m icked malignants were received into places of power and trust. By this, both church and state were thrown into fearful disoiders. Those of the general assembly, who countenanced this promiscuous admission, were called Resohitionei'S : these who warmly opposed it, were designed the Protester. The nation was overspread, and torn asunder by the warm- est animosity, and the mutual censures betwixt them. Cromwell having routed their King, and forced him to flee the country, restricted both parties. When Charles II. was restored to his kingdom, anno 1660, he, and most of his subjects, profane- ly trampled on their solemn vows. Zealously, and at no small expense, had the covenanters supported his interest, and promoted his restora- tion: Destruction and ruin were their only re- ward. Their covenanted reformation, Irom J6iJ7 to 16^0, was declared null and void; and much of it rebellious and treasonable. Their cove- nants were declared unlawful, and not binding on the swearers ; many of tlu' subjects were obliged solemnly to renounce them as such ; by order of authority they were publicly burnt; and it was declared treasonable t(» give or take tliem. JEpiscopacy was restored and advanced. The 16 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE Kin^ was declared supreme head of the church in all causes, to whom the orderini:^ of her whole external govcrjmient did solely heioii;^, as an in- herent rijj^ht of his crown. By oaths, declara- tions, or tests, the subjects were reijuircd to jus- tify these odious crimes. Such as (aithfully op- posed, were fined, imprisoned, tortured, banish- ed, or murdered, under, and without colour of law. At the very beginning", about two-thirds of the ministry complied with the court. Not a few others, too cowardly, deserted their judica- tures and flocks : many accepted of an indul- gence to preach, flowinj^ from Charles's supre- macy, and hampered with sinful restrictions, as, that they should not meddle with the Sove- reign's spiritual headship ; should not marry, or admit to the seals of the covenant, any who re- sided in the congregations of curates, unless at- tested by them ; should either attend the Pre- latic courts, or confine themselves to their own parish, &:c. They afterward thanked the Duke of York for his toleration, clearly founded on his claim to absolute power, and calculated to introduce the whole delusion, idolatry, and ty- ranny of Antichrist. In 1688, when James and his agents were just going to wreath the yoke of Popery and slavery about our necks, God ejected him from his throne, and crushed his designs. The parliament which met thereafter, abolished prelacy, the King's su- premacy in ecclesiastical affairs, the Yule va- cance, together with the persecuting acts of the preceding period. Its wicked oaths and declara- tions, they discharged; and, in room thereof, ap- point(Hl a simple oath of allegiance, and a solemn declaration of lidelity to our Sovereign King Wil- r> RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 17 liam. They revived and confirmed all fornier laws, in so faras against Popery, and lurthe maintenance of the true reformed Piotestantrelif^ion. They rati- fied the Westminster Confession of Faitli, and en- grossed it into their act. 'J'hey ratified and conlirin- edPresbyterianchurchgovernment and discipline, as agreeable to the word of God, and most conducive to the advancement of true pletjj and i^odlin ss, and the establishing of peace and tranqniUiiij within this realm. They revived tiie 1 14th act of the par- liament 1692, in so far as it estahlished the same; and rescinded all acts and laws in so far as con- trary to said Protestant reliiifion, and Presbyte- rian g-overnment and discipline. The govern- ment of the church they lod«;ed in the iiands of such ministers as had been ejected for oj)j)osin;^ Prelacy. They abolished patrona<^e ; but lodg- ed the election of ministers in the hand of heri- tors and elders, with the consent of the con/;re- o^ation. They made a variety of excellent acts against profaneness and blasj)hcmy. (Jueen Anne's first parliament lurther ratified the true Protestant religion, together \\lth thenorsliip, discipline, and government of this church ; and declared the unalterable continuance thereof an essential ixwil fundamental condition of the union, in all time coming. In 1090, the General Assembly s|)ent the first day of their meeting in solemn lasting, and la- menting over the sins of the land. Tlie former assemblies concerned in the above-mentioned public resolutions, were given uj) to o!)livion. Whatever censures the resolutioners or jirotestcrs had passed upon one another, were declared null and voitl. In the act for a national last, a mul- titude of the abominations of thi- ru rsiHiilin:; pi!- 18 AN HISTOIUCAL ACCOUNT OF THE riod Were condemned and lamented. The par- liamenTs settlenit nt of religion was acquiesced in without any c()iiij)laint. In the acts of this, and other subsequent assemblies, we find a va- riety of occasional hints, inq)lyinc^ an acknow- ledgment of the authority of the <^a^neral assem- blies from 1638 to 10.30 ' Till after 1710, espe- cially in acts for fastini;, we find Irequent hints of the binding" obligation of our covenants. In the Commission's Seasonable Admonition, ratified by the assembly 1699, and in some acts of fol- lowing assemblies*, we have as full an assertion of Christ's sole headship over his church ; of her intrinsic power; and of the divine right of Pres- byterian government, as can be met with in the records of this church. In 1706 the Commis- sion remonstrated against subjecting the nation, in any degree, to the authority of the English Bishops, as spiritual lords in the British parlia- ment ; and against making the confirmation of Prelacy in England an essential condition of the union. In 1711, the Commission, and in 171^, the Assembly, warmly remonstrated against the British parliament, their granting a toleration to all sects, except Papists and blasphemers; and against their restoring of patronage. King William and his managers were far enough from being hearty IViends to a covenanted refor- mation, or willing to allow of the ejection of loy- al Episcopalian clergy, whose lives were tolera- ble. For fear of provoking him and his agents to oppose or subv' rt the cstabli>hment ol' Pres- byterian government and discipline, the princi- pal promoters of the revolution minced matters, * Adnion. p. 5. Ass. 1703. act 7. IG. Ass, 17U7. act 11, Ass. 171 1, act 10. RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION'. 19 as far as their consciences would permit. Hence a number of well-disposetl persons in the revohi- tion church, thoui^ht the procedure of both par- liament and assembly defective. Considering the horrid wickedness of the persecuting ptMiod, they were displeased that the threefold representation of grievances, especially that by Mr. Shields and his brethren, presented to the assembly lf;i)0, was refused to be read or considered ; that the wicked oaths, acts, indulgencies, and persecution, and other evils of that period, were not more ful- ly and plainly condemned, and the testimonies of the martyrs against them clearly approven. Considering the indignity done to the work of reformation between 1G:58 and 16'5(), they were persuaded it ought not to have been so much overlooked, or left under any slur, but solemnly and plainly approven. Considering what daring indignity had of late been done thereto, they thought the sole headship of Christ over his church, together with her intrinsic po^^ er, and the divine right of Presbytery, should have been more clearly, and still more solemnly, asserted, in acts made for that very purpose. They were grieved that our covenants were not more so- lemnly and particularly approven, and their ob- ligation upon posterity more fully asserted and evinced ; and that no steps were taken towards the renovation thereof. I'hey were offended that noted persecutors possessed civil places ui' power and trust, and were so easily admitted to sealing or(lin;inces, and even to tlu^ office of elders in the church: — offended that the Hishops' early flight to England, and the favour of some great men, screened them from chureh-censure ; and tliat jnany curates were admitted by the chuich into 20 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE iTiinisterial fellowship, without any express re- nunciation ofahjured Prelacy, or profession of sor- row for their compliance with it. They were of- fended that the meetin^Ts of the General Assem- bly were so tamely dissolved, or prorof:^ued, at the will of Kin^ William, or Queen Anne. It is easy to see that such persons would hearti- ly detest the parliament's consentini^ to the con- firmation of Prelacy in England, as an essential condition of the union ; and reckon it contrary to Scripture, and a plain burial of the solemn leai,aie, wherein we are engaged to endeavour the reformation of England from Prelacy : — would be grieved with the introduction from England, of the abjuration-oath, as a qualification for ci- vil offices ; of custom-house-oaths ; of unnecessa- ry repetition of oaths ; of superstitious swear- ing by touching and kissing the Gospel- ; and of Scotsmen's receiving the Lord's Supper in the English manner, as a qualification for civil offices, while serving the Sovereign in EnL>land ; and with the parliament's restoration of patro- nag(% and the superstitious Yule vacance of our civil courts ; and with their granting an almost unlimited toh'ration. But it was the imposition of the abjuration oath, especially upon the minis- try, which then occasioned the most mournful often ce and division in the church. Every true Presbyterian heartily abhorred Popery, and de- tested the Pretender for its sake : but knowing that God had expressly prohibited the taking of his name in vain, and that he will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain, Exod. XX. 7.-— that forwardness in swearing oaths is marked as part of a wieked man's character, Eccl. ix. 2. and great caution therein as part of RISE AND rROGilESS OF THE SECESSION. 21 the character of a saint, Gen. xxiv. 2 — D. Know- ing that every oath oui>lit to be fur confirniation, to make an end of strife, Ilcb vi. j (j. and so ought, as far as the terms can admit, to ht* ta- ken in the sense of the imposer; — that it oui;lit to be sworn in trulh, and in judirmcut, an*! in righ/cousficsSy Jer. iv. 2. and with a single eye to the glory of God, 1 Cor. x. SI. Knowing that Ave in this land can take no oath contrary to our public covenants, the national and solemn league, wherein we abjure Popery, Frelac)', superstitious ceremonies, Lrastianism, schism, kc. witliout in- volving ourselves in the most fearful perjury ; — many truly loyal, judicious, and godly ministers and Christians scrupled at taking it, or even at joining in church-fellowship with these mini- sters whf) took it. Besides other objections. 1. They thought that oath unnkckssaiiy, and so a taking of the name of the Lord their God IN VAIN ; — as every thing lawful therein contain- ed, is just the moment before sworn in the alll- GiANCfe, and solemnly engaged to in the assur- ance. It moreover appeared to them, that this oath was of no use to exclude treacher^ius Jaco- bites from places of power or trust, or to secure the Protestant succession in the family of Hano- ver.— The imposition of it both in I 702 and 1711 being chiefly owing to Jacobitical influence; and none make less scruple to take it than most of the Jacobites. 2. Notwithstanding the jurants being obliged to [)rofess, upon oath, that every word in it has a ])/ain and common sc?isCy in which they swear they take it, wi/hout arij/ secret fiSenut/ion what- soevcr, they found in it several expressions which they deemed unsafe ; as to swear the sovereign 22 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE to be LAWFUL and rightful king of all the do* minions and countiiL's helon^-ing to Great Bri- tain ; as they hardly knew what countries Bri- tain claimed ; or the lawfalness of her claim to some of them ; nay, suspected her claim to some of them to he merely founded on treachery and violence : — to swear they would to the utmost of their power defend the sovereign against all attempts which should be made against his dig- nity, which thf»y were certain, in the original form of the oath, included his spiritual headship over the church, as well as his civil supremacy ; and in most part of his dominions certainly re- tains the same signification ; nor hath it ever been declared, that it hath not that signification when the oath is sworn in Scotland : — and to swear they would do their best endeavours to disclose all treasons, i. e. whatever was declar- ed treason by the Scotch, English, and British laws ; when they had scarce access to examine all these laws, and were scarce satisfied that every thing they declared treasonable was really so. 3. As the parliament of England, in their ori- ginal imposition of this oath, had expressly de- clared, that one end thereof was the perpetual maintenance of the church of En/' the bodif of So- phidy upon the simple condition of their bcimr Protestants, was unlawful, as being contrary to some fundamental laws of the kingdom ; and as it might, in a variety of suj)posable cases, in- volve the adherent to this oath, in unreason- able conduct. 4. When they judged the swearing of this oath an unnecessary taking of God's name in vain ; when they looked on the above and other expressions of it as obscure or unsafe; w hen they looked on it, as including an engagement to the indirect and mediate maintenance of Prelacy, and the ceremonies in England ; and when they moreover knew, that, contrary to manifold laws of God, Lev. xix. 14. Deut. xxvii. 18. Kom. xiv. 13 — 22.andxv. I — S. 1 Cor.x.2.S.31 — 3^. andviii. 9 — 1^^. Rom xvi. 17, IS. Malth. xviii. 6, 7. they would, in taking it, lay stumbling-blocks in the way of others; encourage or harden some in tak- ing it rashly and ignorant ly in the too common manner; or, in taking it frejpitnily, perhajis se- veral times in one day or week, to qualify them fordifiVrent ofliccs in the slate; or give occa>ion to contention, schism, evil-speaking, and mutual 24> AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE revilinE^, in the societies wherewith they were connected — they could not allow themselves, for fear of any human penalty, to take it heartily and WILLINGLY, as every jurant has to swear he doth. — 'I'o these reasons, a variety of answers were })ublished ; hut destitute of that candour or clearness necessary to satisfy a duly tender and well-informed conscience, in the awful and solemn point of an oath. AVhile the affair of the abjuration-oath conti- nued rending the church, I\Ir. John Simson, pro- fessor of divinity at Glasgow, in his defences to the assembly, against Mr. James Webster, main- tained, that Heathens have an implicit discovery of redemption through Christ : that if they, or others, with such moral seriousness, as they are by nature capable of, use the means of liappi- ness they have, they shall certainly obtain sav- ing grace and endless felicity : that all infants have their souls formed as pure and holy as Adam's was, and dying in nonage, shall |)robably be saved : that no proper covenant of works was made with Adam, as the representative of his posterity : that our own happiness ought to be our chiet end in the service of God: that there is no immediate precourse of God attending, and influencing ihe acts of his reasonable creatures : and that there will be no sinning in hell after the last judgment. — After tedious altrrcations, at various meetings, the assembly 1717 found these positions no more but opinions not ncccssarij to be taught in divinifi/ ; opinions ?wt cvklc?it/j/ Jowuhd in Scripture, and some oj t/icni tending to alirihuic too much to the power of corrupt nature: and they discharged him, or any other under their inspec- tion, to propagate them. I RISE AND TROriRKSS OF THE SECESSION. 25 That verv day, however, they rondcmned, as most inisouiid and detestable^ this proposition. That it is unsound to teach. We must forsake our sin in order to come to Christ, and to insUttini^ us in covenant with God. This was thought a plain affirming, that we ought to forsake our sin, saving ourselves from the h)ve, power, and prac- tice thereof, before we come to Christ, as the only Saviour; or have any interest in his new- covenant blessings. To give a check to this, and other legal errors, then too ranij)ant, a noted Eng- lish treatise, entitled, The Jf arrow of Modern Divinity, was republished, with a recommenda- tory preface by Mr. .Tames Hog, one of tlie ho- liest ministers in the kingdom. For about eighty years this treatise had maintained a considera- I)le character with the serious : now, the Assem- bly 1720, many of whose members, it was shrewd- ly suspected, had never much, if at all, perused it, condemned a great number of passages there- in, and charged ministers to warn their people against reading it. In this hasty attack, they too plainly condemned the ofl'ering of Christ as a Saviour to ^// men, or to \\\qv[ as sinners ; and the maintaininir, that believers are fully deliver- ed from the commanding and condemnmg power of the law as a covenant of works. 'J'hey too plainly asserted our holiness to be a federal, or conditional means of our obtaining everlasting happiness ; and that slavish fear of endless mi- sery, and legal hope of future blessedness, ought to influence the saints in their study of gospel- holiness. — These almost entirely scriptural ex- pressions, that believers arc not under the law, and do not counnit sin ; that the Lord sees no sin in them, and cannot be an^n/ uith (hem ; they dc- 26 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE dared Antinomian paradoxes. The distinction of the moral law into the forms of a covenant, and of a rule of duty in the hand of Christ, used in order to explain these expresions, they utterly condemned. Messrs. Thomas Boston, Ebenezer anil Ralph Erskines, with nine others, remon- strated against this decision ; and in tlieir an- swers to the Commission's twelve queries, with no >iinall evidence elucidated the truth. The As- sembly i7'^2 resumed the affair, rebuked the twelve representers for some ex[)ressions in their representation, and made an act explaining and confirmini^^ the act of 1 720 relative thereto. This, thouijh not so gross as the former, the represent- ing L-rethren protested against, as injurious to truth I but the Assembly refused to mark their protest. Not a few ministers, in order to avoid the most rlistant appearance of favouring the Marhow, seeminii to become more legal in their doctirne than (brmerly, great numbers of serious Christians crowded after the representers and their friends. These, notu ithstanding of their distinguished holiness of practice, and zealous recommending of it to their hearers, were ex- ceedingly tiaduced. as n(^w schemers, and Anti- noi'.ian encouragers of a lircMitious life Probably their reproach and trouble had been more extensive, had not a flagiant report spread al»road, tliat INIr. John Simson not only con- temned thf Assend)ly*s prohiijition, and \aught bis fore mentioned errors; hul had taught, that Jesus Christ is not necessarily existent: that the persons in the Godhead an not the very same in substance: that ncicssa/j/ (wisfcnct', .suprtinc Dciii/, and bcMig the o///// true C-s* d his sorrow for some o( the oftrnsive expressions that were proved against him. When the pro- cess had eontinued more than two years, the As- sembly .72s suspended him fV()m t*i'.' exer< ise of all eeelesiastieal funetion, till another assenibly should think fit to take off the sentence, 'i'he Assembly ; 729 furtl^r deelared, that it was not proper to entrust him any more with the train- inii^ up of youn^ men for the holy ininistry I'he libel relative to his continuir)(^ to teaeh his tbr- nier errors, was fully jiroved, but left undis- cussed. Many were offLuded, that his b!aspi)e- my and error were so slightly censured. Not lont,^ ."fter, IMr. Campbell, Professor of church history in the university of St. Andrew's, in his. printed tracts, ridiculed close walkini,^ with God, and consulting him m all i»ur ways, as tn- ihusiasm. He averred, that, in the int( rval be- tween Christ's death and resurrection, his disci- ples looked upon him as a downrii;ht impostor, lie maintained that self love is the rhiel motive, and standard of all actions, relit;rous or virtu- ous. He asserted, that the existence of (iod, and the immortality of the soul, cannot be knjfun by the Iii;ht of nature: and that the laws of naiure are a certain and sufficient rule to direct ration- al minds to happiness; and our observation ilure- of the great means of our real and lasiinn t( li- city. — Tiiese he so varnished ovrr, in Ins de- fences, that he never was censured on a count of them. Tiiis added to the lurnier ulfence. 28 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE The mal-administration of church-government ■was now become notorious and glaring. For ahout thirteen years after Queen Anne liad re- stored j)atr()nage, none accepted the presenta- tion unless he had tlie call or consent of the Christian people. The British parliament in 171 9 ex])ressly declared, that unless the candi- date accepted, the presentation was null. How easily then might the church have restrained her candidates trom accepting ! But it was, and is more and more otherwise. During Mr. Sim- son's last process, the violent intrusion of pre- sentees u])on reclaiming^ungregations began. To cut otr standing testimonies against their own sinful conduct, the Assembly 1730, by an express act, discharged marking the reasons of any protest or dissent in their minutes. Nay, in this and some subsequent Assemblies, it be- came fashionable to refuse to record the dissents or protests themselves. Against this, and other growing defections, about forty ministers, and sixteen hundred people, presented a warm re- monstrance to the Assembly 1732, and begged a judicial assertion of truth, in opposition to jMr. Simson's errors. These representations the As- sembly refused to hear: and, contrary to instruc- tion from the far greater part of presbyteries which sent any, they enacted, that Protestant heiitors, whether prelatic Jacobites or not, and elders, should be the sole electors of gospel mi- nisters. This act was reckoned an overturning of Christ's spiritual kingiium, in his own name ; and u robbing his people of their spiritual privi- lege, undei pretence of his authority. Next As- sembly, under pain of the highest censure, pro- liibited the Presbytery ot Duuiferlinc, and by RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 29 consequence every other, to allow sealiii«; ordi- nances to such whose conscience could not sub- mit to the ininistrv of a presentee, violently ob- truded upon them. According to this, many be- hoved either to trample on their conscience, and the Christian law, or to be held as Heathen men and publicans. Meanwhile Mr. Ebenezer Erskine, in a sermon before the Synod at Perth, October 1732, de- cried patronage, and the Assembly's above-men- tioned act, relative to the election of ministers, and some other prevalent courses of defection. After three days of warm disputation, the sy- nod ordered him to be rebuked at their bar, for the matter and manner of his sermon. Twelve ministers and two elders dissented. Himself ap- pealed to the ensuing general Asscmijly. But, instead of redress, that sui)reme jutlicature ap- pointed him to receive a rebuke at their bar. Conceiving the truths of (Jod affirmed in his ser- mon were hereby injured, he protested, that without violating his conscience he could not submit ; and that he should be at liberty to give a like testimony on every i)roper occasion. For their own exoneration, Messrs. William Wilson. Alexander Moncrief, and James Fisher, adhered to his protest. Without allowing these four bre- thren to attempt a defence of their conduct, the Assembly appointed their Commission to proceed againt them, in August next, by suspension, or higher censure, if they did not retract their pro- test, and profess their sorrow lor taking it. In August, being hanlly permitted to declare their mind, and still adheiing to their protest, they were su>peiu!eil from tlie exereisi' ol their office. In November, tiie Conmiissiun still finding them .■^0 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE impeniteut, did, hy tlieir moderator's casting vote, loose tli'ir tninistcrial relation to their re- spective coni;i< .^'ations. These four brethren protested, that their oifi^^e, and their relation to their conjure, ations, should be held as valid as if no sui'h sentence; had been passed; and they declared a Sl^CKS^I^JN, not from the constitution oi. the church of Scotland, but from the prevai/'uig purffj in hrr Judicatures. 'jiiat they mi^ht regularly adhere to their principles, and afFr»rd relief to such as were op- pressed with lnlru^i(Jn^, they quickly after, with prayer and fasting, constituted themselves into an ecclesiastic court, which they termed, the As- sociate Preshvtcry. Their minutes hear, that Messrs. Wi}s(>n and Moncrief, soon after, framed their first testimr)ny to the doctrine, worship, disciplifie, and yovernment of the church of Scot- land; and that tliis wa^ judicially a[)proven J 734, in their meetings at Coltargy and Dunfermline. Herein th('y exhibit their reasons of secession, and which readers ought carefully to observe, viz. 1. That the prevailing partij, in the establish- ed judicatures, we7^e t)r caking doxvn the Preshyte- rian constitution of church government, by tlieir trampling upon, and making decisions in an or- der quite contrary to that prescribed in the barri- er acts of this church, in her purest times, ena(^ted to secure due deliberation, in the appointment of standing laws, and general rules; by their ex- ercising a lordly power over the consciences of Christians, empowering heritors and elders to impose on them their spiritual guides ; by their promoting the violent intrusion of |>resentees up- on reclaiming congregations; by their censuring and ejecting uiiuisters, merely for protesting; RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. ."^L against a >inful art of the General Assembly ; l>y their allowing the Commission to take into their own hand the Presbytery's power in settling a pastor, if the expedini? a violent intrusion was by the Presbytery refused : and by their tlircut- ening tiie highest censure to these who adnjini- stered sealinj^' ordinances to such as coiild not, in conscience, submit to the ministry (d' intruders. 2. 'IMiat said prevail in:;- party were pursuing such methods as Jmd nii evident tendency to cornipt the doctrines of truths contained in their own Con^ fession of Faith; in thrir so easily dismissin;^ the process relative to ProlVssor Simson, and refus- ing; judicially to assert the truth in opposition to his errors; in th<-ir caressiuL;; I'rofessor ('amp- bell, while he spread his erroneous tenets ; and finally, in their [)ermitting or encouraging pr(»ach- ers to entertain their hearers with dry harangues, of almost mere Heathen morality, instead of the gospel of Christ S. That they rvere imposinfi; vpon ?ninisters sin- fnt terms oj' conunnniony even tlie breach of their ordination-vows, in forbearing a proper op[)osi- tion to the prevalent course of apostacy from the doctrine, worship, discij)line, and government of this church. ^. That they were co?>tini/infrin those evil nai/s, notu ithstandina; of the use of ordinary means to re- claim them. And which last they took, as bring- ing the matter to a crisis, leaving no probable view of redress, but m a v\ ay of se|)arati()n. — In this testimony, the seceding brethren, as on many other occasions, declarcil their /e;dous adhe- rence to their ordination vows, and to every sub- ordinate standard espoo-v I in lh< ir motlier- ehurcii. They likewise avowed tiicir intention 32 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE to maintain church-fellowship, with all these of lier ministers, or members, who faithfully oppos- ed, and groaned imder the prevalent course of defection, as o])portunity should permit. In I7-^4< the Assembly was very diflerent from some of the precedinj^. The better part had vi- gorously bestirred themselves in the choice of the members. Sundry corrupt and tyrannical courses received an observable check. The Sy- nod of Perth was appointed to repone the seced- ini^ brethren to their respective charges : but as this appointment represented the reposition as effected without condemning the act of the pre- ceding Assembly, or the conduct of their Com- mission, these brethren accounted it as an act of favour, rather than of justice ; and so deemed the truths, which suffered along with them, not duly vindicated. Hence they forebore return- ing to the established judicatures upon such a foundation. They published the reasons of their conduct, and the terms upon which they were willing to accede to the judicatures. About two years and a half, however, they kept their meet- ings of Presbytery, for almost nothing but prayer and conference ; waiting, and wishing, for an opportunity of an untainted return. But observing the established judicatures fast relapsing into, or proceeding forward in, their former defection ; — observing that Professor Campbell's sentiment of self-love being the great standard and motive of all actions, religious and moral, as varnished over by him, was inconsider- ately approven by the Assembly 1736; and ob- serving that the excellent acts of that Assembly against i/ifn/sio?is, ov for orthodox preaching, were generallv disregarded; — they beuan to supply 1 RISE AND PUOGRKSS OF THR SECFSSIOy. 33 with sermon such oppressed Christians as peti- tioned for it; and Mr. Wilson was appointed to educate students for the work of the inin stry, in connection with them Meanwhile M< >srs. Ralph Erskine and Thomas Mair, minister-, ac- ceded to the Associate Presbytery, declaring that they joined them not as diffcTent from, hut as a pait of the church of Scothmd, witnessing" ai^i)ifist the corruptions of the prevailing party in her cstahlisheii judicatures ; that they intinded no withdrawment from such i;()(lly brethren in the ministry, as were t^roanini;* under, and wrrst- linir against the then prevailing course of l)a< k- sliding; and that thty resolved to return to the above-mentioned judicatures, whenever these re- turned to their duty. — 'J'his form of secession the Associate Presbytery cheerfully accpiiesced in; and declared to be in ellect the same with their own. AJjout the same time, the Associate Presby- tery published a skcond tksi imony to the doc- trine, worship, governnunt, and disriplinc of the church of Scothind. It was not designed to state the grounds of secession ; — lor thi' defections of the prelatic p(Tsecutors, and of the civil govern- ment, from neither of which they made their se- cession, were therein r( hearsed ami ( ondt inncd; — but was designed and calculated to represent the grounds of the T.ord's controversy \\ ith the g(Mieration ; calculated to i^ive ajudieial appro- bation of former ste[)s of reloi niatioi), and to con- demn the steps of apostacy therefrom ; and to condemn the prevalent errors of the time, and expressly assert the truth, in direct opposition thereto. r 3h AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE In this testimony, they marked out and con- demned the leadinf^ defections of both church and state, from 1650, when the apostacy remarkably began, to 17'^G They expressly condemned the errors of Professors Simson and Campbell ; and shewed their contrariety to the word of God, and the standards of this church. I'hey solemnly asserted, that the Old and New Testaments are not merely a si/J/icienty and the prificipal, but the ONLY RULE to dircct us, how to glorify God, and enjoy him : that Jesus Christ is the supreme, the only true God ; the same in substance and dig- nity with his eternal Father : that God from all eternity decreed all things according to the coun- sel of his own will ; and elected a certain num- ber of mankind to everlasting life, of his mere good pleasure, without any regard to their fu- ture good works, as the condition or ground of his choice : that God entered into a covenant of life, upon condition of perfect obedience, with Adam, as the representative of all his natural seed : that by Adam's breach of that covenant, in eating the forbidden fruit, all men are con- ceived and born in sin ; are by nature children of disobedience and wrath ; and can do nothing spi- ritually good : that though there be no nccessaty connection between the natural seriousness of unregenerate men, and their obtaining of saving grace ; yet it is their duty carefully to attend the ordinances of the gospel, as the means whereby God conveys his converting Spirit and influence; that the light of nature is not sufficient to guide fallen men to any true or lasting happiness : that Christ assumed our nature; is very God, and very man, in two distinct natures, and one person for ever : that he, as surety, undertook BISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. S.j for all the elect, and them only, and gave to the law and justice of God whatever ohodience and satisfaction they could rc(|uire of us : that his surety-rii^hteousness, imputed to us, is the only foundation of our forgiveness of sin, ac- ceptance into favour with God, and title to eternal life, and not any thing wrought in, or done by us : that want of conformity to Ciod's law, in heart or life, is truly and properly sin ; and that sinning and suffering will \)v the misery of the damned in hell through all eternity: that all believers in Christ are fully delivered from the moral law as a covenant of works, so as to be thereby neither justified nor condemned : but are for ever under it, as a binding rule of obedience, given by Jkhovah the Creator and Redeemer of man : that God needs nothing from, nor can be profited by, any creature; and therefore rewards their good actions merely of his own free will and gracious bounty : that not self-interest or pleasure, but the holy law of God, is the supreme and sole standard of all actions, religious or mo- ral : that not self love, but a view of the glorious excellencies of God, as revealed in Christ, and a kindly regard to his authority, are the leading motives of our love and obedience to him : that no believer can ever totally or finally fall away from his state of grace ; nor did Christ's disci- ples, while he was in the grave, account him a downright impostor: that Jesus (Mirist a/onc is the Iving and head of his church ; to whom alone it belongs to give unto her, laws, ortlinances, and officers ; and to whom (tfoni' Iut officers are sub- ject in their spiritual ministrations: that Christ hath in his word prescribed a paiticular form of government for his church, distinct from, and S6 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE not subordinate to, the civil magistrate: that the form of government a|)|)ointed by him to conti- nue in his New-Testament church till his second coming, is the Presbyterian, according to which there is no office above that of a pastor ; and congregational sessions, consisting of a minister or ministers, eldeis an i deacons, which are sub- ordinated to Presbyteries, or classes, and these to Synods; and he hath appointed no other form either Independent, Episcopalian, or Erastian : that Christ hath entrusted this government, not to all church •members,but to office-bearers, whose power is entirely subordinated to the laws de- clared in his word : that these officers have power and warrant from Christ, to hold General As- semblies, and other ecclesiastical courts, as often as is necessary for the good of the church : that Christ's kingdom, being oi a spirituaf nature, the ministers, and other officers thereof, ought to be set over congregations, by the call and consent of such therein, as are admitted to full commu- nion in all her sealing ordinances, no person's vote being preferred upon any secular acconnt. Along with this assertory declaration of truth, they condemned and declared their detestation of the contrary errors. They professed their hearty adherence to the Westminster Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms, Di- rectory for Worshij), and Form of Chuich Cro- vernnient. I'hey declared their adherence to the National Covenant, as exj)lained to abjure Pre- lacy, the civil places and power of kirknun, and the Articles ot Ferth; and to the Solemn League and Covenant of the three kingdoms ; and to every act of Asst mbly, or other testimony, in so far as calcidated to promote or maintain tlieir RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 37 fathers' covenanted work of reformation. And, finally, they, in their judicative capacity, declar- ed their adherence to the representations present- ed by them to the Commission of 1733; to their first testimony; and to their reasons of not acced- int^ to the judicatures of the established church : and so made those papers as really parts of this testimony, as if they had been v^holly engrossed therein. This testimony, as Mr. Wilson, its principal drawer and defendant, observes, was never in- tended for a new standard, but for a public ad- herence to such as had been long acknowledged by the nation. The extent of it, especially when considered as comprehending the three pamph- lets just now mentioned, made it very unfit to be adopted as an ecclesiastical standard. Per- sons, iiowever, who acceded to, or joined with the seceding brethren, commonly professed their aj)probation thereof, so far as they understood it; but it must not be imagined they were required to believe the real certainty of every narrative of fact therein contained. To have demanded a religious adherence to narrations of fact, depend- ing entirely on the testimony of fallible histori- ans, would have been antichristian tyranny. Knowing the hundreds and thousands of mis- takes observed in the most noted histories ; knowing the ignorance and fallibility of mankind; the seceding ministers abhorred the thought of having their followers' faith to stand in the wis- dom or authority of men ; and not wholly in the wisdom, power, and veracity of God. ^Nlr. A\'il- son openly averred, that IMr. Currie's charging this testimony with twenty-luiir historical mis- 38 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE takes, no way aflected its proper substance ; but was a mere wranti^lin^ about circumstances; and that the plain meaning of people's approving of it at their accession, was their signifying their con- jiinciion with the Associate Preshyterii, hi the same confession of the truths of God held forth from his word, in our received standards. Now, it is no- tour, that not the word of God, but acts of Par- liament, or Assembly, or like fallible vouchers, support the historical narrations therein con- tained. Though plenty of objections were mustered up against this testimony ; some reckoning it sinfully defective, and others reckoning it as much redundant ; yet the prevailing party of the mini- stry in the nation, proceeding on in their defec- tion, and a multitude of them giving new offence, by reading from their pulpit, on the Lord's day, an act of Parliament for discovering the murder- ers of Captain Porteous, in which that civil court had claimed a spiritual headship over the church, constituting themselves judges of ministers' qua- lifications to sit in her courts, and threatening ec- clesiastical eensure, if their civil authority was not obeyed ; two ministers, and a multitude of elders and private Christians, joined the seced- ing brethren. 'J'lie reading of Porteous's paper from the pulpit, in the time of divine service, they reckoned a very criminal [)rofanation of the Christian Sabbath ; and a sunjeetion of the read- ers to the Parliament as their spiritual head. The offended people warmly j)etitioned the As- sociate Presbytery to afford them sermon, and liold fasts with them, that they might mourn over ti)e apostacy and wickedness of the times. RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. S9 Their requests were granted, but not without much deliberation. These people were far from accounting their leaving of their ministers unreasonable or ground- less. They knew God had commanded his peo- ple to come out of a corrupt church, that they might not be partakers in her plagues*; that he had commanded them to withdraw from brethren walking disorderly!; that he had charged them to mark such, as by their evil courses caused of- fences, and to avoid themf; had charged them to beware of the legal leaven or doctrine of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod ||. In vain you told them that Jesus Christ, and his pro- phets and apostles, maintained communion with the Jewish church : they knew the qualifications of New Testament ministers did not turn upon natural descent and ceremonial purity, so much as under the Old ; but upon things spiritual and moral. They knew men did not now cut off themselves from all public ordinances, by with- drawing from a particular national church, as they did when there was but one tabernacle or temple, wherein God caused his own name to dwell. They defied you to prove, that Jesus, and his prophets or apostles, countenanced the corrupt party in their time : they granted that he, just before his death, required his disciples to regard the civil rulers who sat in Muses' seat: but they challenged you to prove, he required them to hear the ecclesiastical officers who sat ill Aaron's: they challenged you to prove, that Nicodemus, and Joseph of Arimathea, sat in the • Uev. xviii. 4. f 2 Thcs. iii. G. X liom. xvi. i: H Mark viii. l). 40 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE Jewish Sanhedrim, after it condemned the Lord of glory ; or, tliuii^^h they had continued in this civil court, with very wicked companions, to prove from thence, our duty to continue in a particular church, or with a particular part there- of, ohstinate in their wickedness and apostacy. In vain you told them, God, in the apostolic age, enjoined no separation from the churches of Co- rinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Pergarnos, and Thya- tira, notwithstanding of the various corruptions therein: for they believed no particular church was to be separated from, till she appeared ob- stinate in apostacy ; and they defied you to prove that any of these churches continued ob- stinately deaf to the apostolic admonitions given them. In vain you told them, that their with- drawment was a breaking up of the communion of saints, and an interpretative condemnation of Christ for holding commimion with any who did not withdraw along with them : they knew God had charged them to withdraw even from bke- THKKN who walked disorderly : they challenged you to shew, how one, who was bound by the word of God, and solemn covenant with him, to maintain the doctrine contained in the Confes- sion of Faith, and Presbyterian govern mc-nt, could, without any disorder or degree of scan- dal, countenance or bid God speed a minister who was obstinately overthrowing ^aid doctrine or government : they knew God had charged them to buy the truth, and not sell it ; no, not though it were to obtain fellowship witli good men : they knew not how inward grace, which lies in the hidden man of the heart, could be the term of visible church communion, especially to such as cannot search the heart, and try the reins 7 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SRCT.,SST0N. ii ef their neighbour: they challeng-ed you to prove that there is no real saint in the Popisii church, from which, notwithstanding, (lod expressly re- quires us to withdraw; or to prove that Luther and Calvin's obedience to that ( ommand, auu)unt- ed to a breaking^ up the communion of the saints, and was an interpretative condemning- of Christ, merely because some saint, whom he loves to the end, and vvaters every moment, sinfully disobey- ed his solemn mandate, and did not come along with them. "Do we," said they, ''condemn Christ for retaining his saints always in his everlasting arms, if we refuse to sit down with them at a communion table, that moment they commit adultery, as David; idolatry, as Solomon; or, with curses and oaths, deny their Master, as Peter?" They knew the grounds of separation from a church, ought always to be solid and weighty ; such as heresy in doctrine, idolatry in w«>rship, tyranny in government, violent intrusion of pas- tors, scandalous lives of the ministry, or sinful terms of communion: they thought they had se- veral of these in their case. Knowing what vows their ministers came under at their ordination, they reckoned them guilty of perjury and scan- dal, if they were notorious breakers thereof. If their pastor entertained them with legal and Ar- minian harangues, instead of the gospel of Christ, they tliought it full time to flee from the poison, and go where they might have food for their souls. If, through his unfaithfulness, they, at the Lord's table, were in danger of having tiie elements to receive from an elder knou n to be a profane swearer or drunkard, and to give to a fel- low-communicant, as well known to be a grossly ignorant, or almost a praycrlcss person, thev f 42 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OP THE thought their condition very unhappy. If he ha- bitually accommodated the censures and other ordinances of the church, to the humours of his hearers, especially the great, they suspected the man-pleascr could not be a servant of Christ. If he was extremely slothful and careless, or more given to his farm or carnal employment, they susj)ected Christ had not sent him, as he had not given him a spirit for, and love to his work. If their pastor had a better personal character than some others, but prostituted this gift of God, to support such as were naughty, by assisting at their communions, or conniving at their sinful procedure in judicatures, they reckoned this a plain bidding of them God speed, and so account- ed him a noted partaker in their evil deeds : A lit- tle leaven, said they, leaveneih the luhole lump. Nothing they more objected to than the vio- lent intrusion of a pastor, by the power and in- fluence of a patron. They knew the sacred ora- cles assign the choice of church-officers to adult church-members, free of scandal. The hundred and twenty disciples at Jerusalem, chose can- didates for the apostleship*. The multitude of the Christian people chose their deacons, and the apostles ordained thcmf . In all the churches elders, or presbyters, were ordained hij the election or siijfrages of the professed believersi. Christ charges his people to try the spirits\\ ; a sure proof they have some capacity for it : but to what pur- pose should they try them, if they have not power to choose the fit, and refuse the improper, but must accept whoever is imposed upon them ? Christ's kingdo7n himself declared with his dying « Act* i. l.>— 2(;. t Acts vi. 1—6. :;: Chap. xiv. ?3. Gn § 1 John iv. I. RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 43 breath, is not of this ivorld, John xviii. 36, ; how- then is it possible for civil property to constitute one a member, far less a ruler thereof? How- can civil property, however considerable, enable the patron to discern better than themselves, what minister's talents are best suited, and most edifying to the souls of such as are taught ofGod'^ Will his civil property qualify him to answer to God for all these souls, over whom he imposes a pastor ? Can civil property exalt a man in spiri- tual things above God's poor ones, who are rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which he hath promised to them that love him ? Is God a re- specter of persons? If he condemn the preference of a rich man to a poor, in respect of a seat in our worshipping assemblies*, is it possible that he, for the sake of civil greatness, will give any man power to dispose of the souls of his people, into the hand of such spiritual physicians, guides, and governors, as the man pleaseth ? If one may choose his natural physician, is it reasonable to deny him the choice of one for his soul ? In a vo- luntary society, such as the church, how can one have the relation of a minister to a congrega- tion thereof, fixed, without, or contrary to their consent ? How can we believe him a messenger of Christ ? How can we pray for, or in faith hear him as such, for whom Providence would never open a regular entrance, but he was obliged to be thrust in by the window, as a thief and a rob- ber ? In vain you told them of the great man's superior learning ; they had read in their Bible, that the mysteries of the kingdom are often hid from the wise and prudent of this world, ajid re- * James ii. 1—13. 4l4l AN HISTORKAL ACCOUNT OF THE vealed unto babes ; and that n >f many vnse men af- ter the fie sh, not manif noble are called In vain you told thetn, that a ^ivat part of the con^rre- gation were the patron's tenants or servants; their l^ihle infornu'd them, that in Christ there is neither male nor jhnaU\ bond nor free ; but Christ is all and in alt. In vain yon told them, the rich pai'.i most, or all of the stij)end ; they kncnv the contrary ; that heritors purchase the lands with the burden of the stipend thereon, and so obtain the '» at the less prire : their Bible informed them, it was a suhckkkm'^, not a Christian j)rin- ciple, that the spiritual ^ifts of God, or privileges of his church, can l}e purchasrd leith moneif. In vain you told them, that the residence of the great was more fixed than of the poor cotta^i^er; they shewed you instances of the poor remain- ing in the same p rish from generation to gene- ration, while the rich had often changed their property : they pointed out the poor man, who more attended the gospel, and more prayed for success to it, and was more a comfort to his faith- ful minister, in one year, than sundry great men and patrons in t\\ enty. To as little purpose you told them that the civil law compelled to settle the presentee, be the opposition what it would; they knew the contra; y ; and moreover their Bi- ble had taught them, that luc ought to obei/ God rather than men. For what simony, sacrilege, perjury, and cruel wasting of the church, said they, doth patronage open a door? To [)lease a frienti, to gratify or re- ward a chaplain, the presentee is complimented with the Sdcred function : the souls of men are sold over to his care, and the devoted revenues secured to his purse ; and what hinders him to RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 45 return some obsequious compliance, or carnal ac- knowledgment, for the presentation lie receives? How readily are the lionour of Christ, and the salvation of men, thus betrayed into the hand of their open adversaries? A notorious infidel, a blasphemer, a profaner of the Sabbath, an athe- istical neglecter of the worship of God in his closet and family, an unclean whoremonger, an habitual drunkard; in fine, one who has not so much rt-ligion as, with Satan, to believe and trem- ble^ if he is a patron, chooses ambassadors for Christ, and pastors to the souls of his people. Will this man commit the presentation for the ministry to faijhful, or not rather to errone- ous, com[)laisant, and naughty men? By patronage, how readily may one be admit- ted to the sacred office, who, at his ordination, will solemnly declare and vow before God, an- gels, and men, that he b -lieves the whole doc- trine c(»ntained in the Westminister Confes- sion of Faith to be founded on the word of God ; and that he will maintain and defend it in opposition to all Popish, Arian, Arminian, and other errors : and yet, in contradiction to his sworn confession, will that moment believe, and w ill afterward habitually or frequently ])reach to his people, Arminian and other errors: — in contradiction to his sworn confession, will in- dulge his hearers in the neglect of Sabbnth-saiic- tification, and of the daily, secret, and private worship of God : — in contradiction to his sworn confession, will habitually baptize the children ot such whose gross ignorance unfits them to profess their faith, and whose notour wicked- ness demi'nstrates, they intend no obedience to Christ \ — and will admit, perhaps, w ithout any 46 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE trial, to the Christian feast, persons who know not the very first principles of the oracles of God; or who are openly wicked, swearers, drunkards, whoremongers, 6cc. ? How readily may one he admitted, who, at his ordination, will solemnly avow that he helieves the Preshytcrian government and discipline to be founded on, and aj^reeahle to the word of God; and engage that, to the utmost of his power, he will maintain and defend it all the days of his life; while, in contradiction thereto, he that very moment improves a Popish presentation, as the whole or chief part of his call to that office, and intends to encourage others in doing the like : — in contradiction to his vow, is constantly dispos- ed to ridicule our covenant-engagements, to maintain said government and discipline; and our martyrs who suffered in adherence thereto; and, as oft as occasion permits, will assist in breaking down various points of Presbyterian government ; will perv^ert the discipline, over- looking or protecting those guilty of error and scandal, and censuring the conscientious adhe- rents to truth ; or at least without protesting against, or inward grief for them, will witness at- tacks on the doctrine, worship, discipline, or go- vernment of Christ ? By patronage, how readily may one be admit- ted to the ministry, who, at his ordination, will solemnly affirm, that zeal for the glory of God, love to Jesus Christ, and desire of the salvation .of men, not any worldly interest or view, are his chief motives to undertake that office ; and that he hath used no undue means, by himself or others, to. procure his call ; while it is notourly known he, by himself or friend, solicited, at least RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 47 accepted, a Popish presentation, to procure, or rather instead of, a call ; and whose future un- concern for his flock, attended with a sharp look- out for his stipend, will plainly manifest, that not zeal for the glory of God, love to Christ, or desire of men's salvation, but worldly views and interest, were his chief motives to undertake that work ? Hereby one is readily admitted to the sacred function, who, in his ordination- vows, will so- lemnly engage to rule well his own family ; to live a holy and circumspect life ; and faithfully, diligently, and cheerfully to discharge all the parts of his ministerial work ; who, in contradic- tion to these vows, will frequently indulge him- self in such loose and carnal behaviour as no way becomes a follower and messenger of Christ ; will too often neglect the morning and evening sacrifice of secret or family worship ; will almost wholly neglect the religious instruction of his chil- dren or servants ; will witness his hearers pro- fanely swear, or prostitute the Sabbath, without administering a shadow of reproof to them; will flatter men, especially if great, in a sinful course, and encourage them to hope that their good works will recommend them to the favour of God ; — who will, in Jesus' name, attest elders to the General Assembly, as persons of a sober and Christian practice, strict observers of the Sabbath, punctual attenders upon public ordi- nances, regular maintainers of the daily worship of God in their faniLlies, when he knows for cer- tain the truth of the very reverse ; will cheer- fully, and without trial, admit vile persons to partake of the sacramental food of the chikhen of Christ ; will spend his precious, his devoted 48 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE hours in idle chat, or in overseeing farms, or per- lisini^ romances and plays; and by nejj^lectin^ to visit his people, even when sick and dyinp^ ; by nei^lectint illegal. GO AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE silence concerning this affair, in tlrj covenant acknowledgment of sins which they, some time after, drew up, plainly shews that the above- mentioned decision was far from being generally approven by the ministers. Numbers of the peo- ple, however, in different corners, once giving into a prejudice in favours of it, it was but in icw places found for edification to observe pubHc fasting or thanksgiving on the diets nominated by the King. The seceding ministers indeed failed not to recommend private fasting on such occasions ; and to admonish their people to be- ware of offending others with any pul)lic labour. So that, excepting a few of the forward and less judicious, as little open offence was ever given to the government, on this head, by the seceders as by them who professed to be the most zealous ob- servers of the royal fasts. From a number of favourable reports concern- ing the English methodists, not a few of the se- ceders had judged them laborious reformers, and prayed for their success. By letters, jMr. Ralph Erskine corresponded with Mv. John Wesley, one, if not their principal leader. Informed by a private hand of his unsoundness, informed by Mr. Whitefield, that he and his brother blas- phemed the doctrine of' election, and scarce preached one principle agreeable to the gospel of Jesus Christ; and finding that iMr. Wesley declined giving him any satisfaction, with respect to his orthodoxy, he entirely dropped his correspondence with him. Nor indeed were the seceders sorry there- at, when they afterwards observed how i\Ir. Wes- ley copied after the Popish orders, in sending forth, or superintending a number of lay-preach- ers, labouring in different nations ; — and had, in RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. CI the Popish manner, instituted a confession of heart-secrets, in the societies under his care, cal- culated to render them dissem])lers, or to render him and his underlings so much master of their secrets, as should make it dangerous for them to desert his cause: — when they heard of his money- rated tickets for different degrees of saintship ; when they observed what fulsome pride, what want of candour, what pretence to working of miracles ; what estimation of Popish or Popish- like superstition, what vain and false character- izing of his followers, as a body of perfect, or almost perfect men; what extolling of Servetus, a most shocking blasphemer of the blessed Tri- nity, as a /t'o/y and luise man, appears in his pub- lic performances : when they observed how he taught, and recommended his preachers to teach in his societies. That orthodoxy, or soundness of opinion, is a slender part of religion, if any part at all: That God gives every man, in his natural state, a power to accept of an offered salvation : That every man, in his baptism, has a principle of grace infused into him, which cannot be lost but by a long course of sinning : That the fulfil- ling of the broken law, in its precept and penalty, by Christ, was not necessary to purchase our sal- vation : That not Christ's satisfaction to law and justice, but faith and repentance, are the terms of salvation to fallen men: That men have reason to complain, if Christ died not for all, and if all be not rendered able to receive him : I'hat if (lod pass by nine-tenths of mankind, if he deny any soul what is necessary to his present good, or fi- nal acceptance ; if he hate any we are bound to love, he cannot be infinitely good, nay, is worse than we are : That if God from eternity chose 62 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE some to everlasting life, and purposed to leave others to perish in their sin, he is an almicrhtjj fjj- rant, and more false, cruel, and unjust, than the DEVIL : That God's purpose of election consists in his choosing obedient believers, accordin:^ to the foreknowledge of their good works; and our obedience to Christ is the cause of his becominir the author of eternal salvation to us: That no man is particularly elected till the day of his con- version to God: That it is better to be a Turk, a Deist, an Atheist, than to believe God has only chosen so?ne men to everlasting life, and not others, or to believe that Christ did not die equally for all men : That to say the covenant of grace v»^as made with Christ, and its condition exacted from, and fulfdled by him, in our stead, \s false, and the very centre of Antinomianism : That the phrase Imputed righteousness has done immense hurt, and tempts men to work all uncleanness with greediness ; the nice metaphysical doctrine of Christ's imputed righteousness leads men to licentiousness ; the doctrine of the saints having a sinless obedience in Christ their Head, while they are notorious, that is, manifestly sinners in themselves, is calculated to please and encourage the vilest rakes : That not the imputed righteous- ness of Christ, but our faith, is our justifying righteousness before God : That our keeping of the commandments is undoubtedly the way to eternal life ; that we are to obey the law in or- der to our final acceptance with God ; our holi- ness, as well as the blood of Christ, will give us boldness in the day of judgment, and will be the ground of our being then i)ronounced righteous: Tijat our salvation is by works as a condition ; that we are rewarded of (lod according to our works, for the sake of our works, and according RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 63 to the merit of our works: That Heathens, who never heard of Christ, are accepted of God, for their fearing- God, and working righteousness, according- to the light they have : That there is no such thing as a state of justification, or sanc- tification, but men are every moment accepted of God or not, according to their temper or work: That our justification is incomplete at first, and is perfected by degrees ; that to be justified is the same thing as to be born of God : That a man may be justified, and yet not have the Spi- rit, norChrist dwelling in him: That we cannot possess justification or peace with God, without knowing that we do so: That we cannot be Chris- tian believers, except we be free from sin : That the best of men do not complain of disorder in their affections ; nor that, when they would do good, evil is present with them : That while our heart is perfect in piety or love, we may, in our life, be compassed about with sinful infirmities : That the doctrine of the unfailing perseverance of the saints is deadly poison: that the souls of be- lievers, at their death, do not immediately pass into the heavenly glory, but to a middle state called Paradise : That church or state may im- pose indifferent ceremonies in God's worship, and exclude Christians from church-communion, merely because their conscience cannot comply therewith. On these, and many other accounts, the seceders have hot a favourable opinion of IMr. Wesley, nor of the preachers he superin- tends, as it is feared they too much resemble their leader. From Mr. George Whitefielc^'s own missives to Mr. Erskine, and other reports, sundry, if not all of the seceding minister's conceived no small re- 6h AN HISTORICAL ACCOtTNT OF THE ^ard for him. But finding, by converse with him, that he decried every particular form of church- f^overnment, as ii mere luiman device; findini;, in his sermons and journals, a number of hints, which they deemed not agreeable to the word of God ; and exceedingly olFendcd with his printed account of God*s dealing with his soul, wherein they thought he had shown a strange fondness to run the parallel between himself and Jesus Christ; had represented Poj)ish, and some other bad books, as the darling directors of his spiri- tual exercise ; had founded his call to the mini- stry upon early stirring of his aifections, idle tales, dreams, or impressions ; had represented absti- nence from flesh in Lent, living on coarse food, Avearing of woollen gloves, a patched gown, and dirty shoes, as great 2)ro7note?'s of the spiritual life; had averred, that in his unconverted state, he had endeavoured to do all to the glory of God ; Avas built up in the knowledge and fear of God ; received abundant grace, in receiving the Lord*s Supper; and increased in favour with God and man; had represented his conversion as if begun in an uncommon drought and clamminess in his throat, and which, by means of his casting him- self dov/n on the bed, and, in imitation of Jesus Christ, crying out, / tliirst, was removed, and succeeded with a ravishing joy, and rejoicing in God his Saviour, by which his conversion was fi- nished ; and pretended to have been guided by tlie Spirit, and by watching and reading the Scripture on his knees, in the viinutest circuin- sta/ice, as j)lainly as the Jews, by consulting the Urim and Thummim, cVc. : These, and the like things, togetluT with his letter and extract, where- in he insisted for joining Christians of all deno- RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 65 minatlons, Papists or Protestants, Quakers, Ari- ans, Arininians, &c. if not also Jews and Hea- thens, into one religious society, without mind- ing their different sentiments ; provoked the se- ceders to turn their regard into dislike, and warm opposition. In 1742 a surprising commotion, in the souls and bodies of men, happened in various places of the nation, as they attended upon sermons. This many extolled as a wonderful work of the Spirit of God. The seceders allowed that the lives of many were reformed by it for the present ; and that truly divine and converting influence might attend the gospel truths preached on these occa- sions : yet, because of the bodily convulsions, the disorderly noise, the imaginary views of Christ as man, the dislike to a covenanted work of reformation, and the proud boasting, which they thought attended it, they accounted it mostly delusive. Amidst the warm contention on so critical a topic, it is possible both parties run in- to extremes, and became stumbling-blocks one to another. But multitudes of the su])jects of this famed influence returning to their v/onted course, the seceders were thereby not a little con- firmed in their own sentiments thereof Meanwhile they had another trial from among themselves. It was their earnest prayer to God, that he would make our Sovereign, Ring George, and every subordinate magistrate, hearty friends to, and promoters of a covenanted work of refor- mation. They were, however, firmly persuaded, that difference in religion did not make void, or in the least annul their just power and autho- rity. They zealously testified against such in the land, who denied their civil authority iu i 66 AX HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE things lawful. Such were often publicly debar- red from recL'ivinf,^ the Lord's Supper with them. In the late rebellion, many of them voluntarily bore arms against the pretender; not one of them appeared on his side. Numbers of them suffer- ed considerable hardships, rather than do any thinp^ tending to the su])port of his army or cause. Mr. Thomas Nairn, however, one of their mini- sters, presumed to assert, that none but a cove- nanted Presbyterian could be the lawful Sovereign of this realm. Quickly his brethren prosecuted him with vigour, and expelled him from their society. They judicially refuted his sentiments, and published a large declaration, wherein they shewed, from the word of God, our subordinate standards, and covenants, that the whole nation ought, for conscience sake, to obey the present civil government, in all things lawlul. Nor, in respect of obedience to our laudable civil laws, are they, or their people, afraid to risk a compa- rison with any party in the kingdom. After about seven years advisement, the se- ceding ministers agreed on a bond for public co- venanting with God; and in the end of i^i^S themselves began to swear and subscribe it. Next year their act of Presbytery, relative tliereto, to- gether with a judicial vindication of gos])el-truth from the injuries done it, by the General Assembly 1720 and 1722, was published by them. Their covenant-bond had been abundantly short, and mostly plain, had it not reduplicated upon a long confession of sins, of Mhich it is probahle lew of their [)eople could J'ui/jj know the import and cer- tainty. It must not be imagined the seceding brethren inserted, into this confession, such a multitude of historical hints, that [)eople might RISE AND PROGRESS OF TIIK SECESSION. 07 swear to the truth, the fact thereof. To have sworn many of these historical articles in truth, righteousness, and judgment, was absolutely im- possible: they had no vouchers for them but the fallible testimony of men. Besides, to swear the certainty of facts in an oath directed to God as the party, appears a blasphemous attempt to certify the Omniscient, and teach the Almighty knowledge. It wac necessary, however, that people should have a considerable knowledge of, and certainty for what they solemnly confessed to God, lest their confessing work should partly amount to a hypocritical slander. The {)resby- tery's act, constituting the swearing of this cove- nant the term of ministerial and Christian com- munion with them, was not a little condemned. It was by many tliought quite unreasonable, that a person zealously attached to divine truth, nay, to our subordinate standards and covenants, and of an eminently holy practice, should be exclud- ed from church-fellowship with them, merely be- cause he could not understand the meaning or certainty of every thing in this bond and ac- knowledgment of sins ; or would not confess or swear to God what he understood not. Not a few of the seceding ministers were afterwards sensible of the sinfulness of this act: nor do I know that ever the most zealous for covenant- ing, did, with respect to the admission of their peo[)le to sealing ordinances, act up to the tenor of it. To punish thcScceders's pride of their success; their want of due tenderness to, and concern for those who remained Ijehind them in the esta- blished church ; their slightly laying to heart the sms of the land, which they professed to wit- 68 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE ness a:;aliist; and their sad nce^Iect to do more than others^ in a holy and exemplary practice, the Lord i^'ave them up to a most unchristian contention and breach amon^ themselves. In 1745 their ministers were so increased as to con- stitute three presbyteries under one synod. Their synodical work commenced with an inquiry into the lawfulness of some oaths, not imposed by Parliament, but used in the land. They were of opinion that the masox-oath implied in it au iq-norant, childish, and superstitious profanation of the name of God, and therefore harmoniously a«^reed to take pains to prevent any of their peo- ple having afterward any hand in the swearing thereof. With respect to the oath imposed in some burghs, there was the warmest contention in their synod. The great point of debate was, whether it was lawful for a seceder to swear that clause, I profess and allow with m\) heart, the tfiic religion pirsenili/ professed iviiJiin this realm, and authorised by the laius thereof; I shall abide at, and drfnd the same to my Uje's end, renouncing the Roman religion called Papistry, JMessrs. Ebenezer and Ralph Erskines, James Fisher, and others, contended, that since it was the true, the divine religion, professed and authorised in Scotland, iTSELT, and not the human and faulty manner of profe^sing and settling it, that was sworn — the words of the oath not being, \^ j^j'esently profess- ed and authorised, but words of a very diil'erent im- })ort: that since, in their secession, they had ne- ver pretended to set up a new religion, but to cleave closely to that, which they had before professed: That since, in their vari(jus teaiinuj- nies, they had solemly appro ven the doctrine, RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. GO worship, discipline, and government of tlio church of Scotland ; had solemnly declared their adherence to the standards avowed by the established church, and no other ; had so often declared their adherence to the ordination vows, which they had taken in the established church, whereby the}^ were sworn to that very religion, doctrine, worship, discipline, and government, professed and authorised in the realm : That since, though they had stated a quarrel with the manner in which the true religion is pre- sently professed and settled, and had testi- fied against the corruptions of both church and state, yet they had been so far from stating a quarrel with the true reUglon itself, professed and authorised in the realm, that they had but two years before, in their declaration of principles against Mr. Nairn, judicially declared the reli- gion presently authorised to be their own, so- lemnly thanking God, that our religion has such SECURITY hij the V RE sii'iiT civil gover7Wientf as no nation on earth enjoijs the like; therefore they pled, that the synod could not, without the most glaring self-contradiction, prohibit the swearing of the above clause, as, in itself , sinful for a se- ceder. — Messrs. Alexander Moncrief, Thomas IVIair, Adam Gib, and others, no less warmly contended, that this oath being administrated by these of the established church, and ought to be understood in the sense of the magistrates, for v.iiose security it is given ; and the true re- ligion mentioned in it to be understood as re- duplicating upon every act of Parliament or Assembly inconsistent with the law of God; and as including all the corruptions of both churcli and state : and so natively inferred, tl^.at the 70 AN insToniCAL account of the swearing of the disputed clause imported a so- lemn renunciation and droppini^ of the whole of their testimony. They contended, that the words true religion, j)resenthj professed and authorised, in a time of reformation, would reduplicate only upon j;ood acts of Parliament and Assembly ; but in a time of deformation, reduplicated upon all the bad. iVftcr no small disputing, the defenders of the clause, and now called Burghers, for the sake of peace, offered to condescend to an act discharg- ing seceders to swear this clause of the oath, as inexpedient for them in the present circumstan- ces, viz. of strife and contention a])0ut its mean- ing. This proposal the antiburghers rejected. Nothing would please them but an act declaring the ])resent swearing of it sinful for seceders, and inconsistent with their testimony and cove- nant-bond. In a meeting of Synod, April 9, 171 6, they carried a, decision to their mind. A num- ber of the burgher ministers and elders protested against it ; and soon after gave in their reasons, im})orting, that it was sinful in itself, contrary to Christian forbearance, tending to rent the church, enacted contrary to the order prescribed in the bar- rier acts, and carried by a catch, when many mem- 1)ers weie absent. Contrary to order, the Anti- burghers neglected to have their answers to these reasons ready against next meeting of Synod ; and some of them having, in the meanwhile, pub- licly debarred from the Lord's Table such as maintained the lawfulness of the burgess-oath, a (piestion was intruducotl, whether the above de- cision, condemnatory of the present swearing of the religious clause of some burgess-oaths, should RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 71 I)e a term of ministerial and Christian commu- nion with them? Conceiving- that there is a wide difference between enacting a deed of Synod, and making that deed a term of church-couunu' 7iion, the seven burgher ministers who had pro- tested against the former decision, considered this as a 7iew question, and so claimed a vote therein. After too much unchristian altercation, at two different meetings of Synod, and notwithstand- ing of a dissent and protestation of the Antibur- ghers to the contrary, it was voted and carried, that the decision condemnatory of a ])resent swearing of tlie religious clause of some burgher- oaths should NOT be a term of ministerial and CJiris- tian connmuiion ivith them, at least till the cijfair should be maturely considered in presbyteries and sessions, and their opinion (not decisive judgment) returned; and further means of unanimity, by prayer and conference, essayed. No sooner was this sentence carried, than Mr. Thomas Mair protested, that hereby the Burghers had forfeit- ed all their sy nodical power and authority ; and that the whole power of the Synod devolved up- on himself and his party, and such as clave to them : all of whom he, though not moderator, called to meet to-morrow in j\Ir. Gib's house, in a synodical capacity; and then, with twenty-two more, without either moderator or clerk, with- drew from thirty-two of their brethren, consti- tuted in the name of Christ, with their modera- tor and clerk among them, viz. IMr. James j\Iair, moderator; with Messrs. E. R. II. and J. I^rs- kines, J. Fisher, J. Macara, I). Smiton. I. Paton, ^A. Black, D. Horn, D. Teller, W. Ilutton, J. Smith, J. Johnston, A. I'homson, ministers; T. Tord, K. Lees, A. Douglass, W. .Manderston, J. 72 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OP THE Moubray, J. Beui^o, R. AVishart, G. Coventry, D. Millar, R. Patcrson, J. iMarshall, S. Harper, J. Rcder, J. Calendar, W. jMillar, J. Millar, el-- ders. All these are marked in the minutes as present* ; nor is tiiere the smallest probability that any of them would go off, when such an im- portant cpiestion was the subject of debate. Next day the burghers met synodically, ac- cording to adjournment, in the ordinary place. Upon the foundation of Mr. Mair's declaration, the antiburghers constituted themselves into a Synod in Mr. Gib's house. Here they sustained themselves judges of their own answers to the burgher's reasons of protest aljove-mentioned ; and of their own dissents and protests. They determined that the burgher ministers had for- feited all power belonging to their office ; and that no seceding Presbytery or Session, except constituted in subordination to their present meeting, could be a lawful court of Christ. This act was the basis of their after meetings of Ses- sions and Presbyteries. Hence the Antiburgh- ers on , south of Forth deserted their appoint- ed diet at Stow, and constituted their Pres- bytery elsewhere. These on the north absolutely refused their burgher brethren a seat in their court ; nay, even these of them, who had not voted in what they accounted the criminal deci- sion. In the west they had no Presbytery, till some ministers withdrew from the Rurghers. None of them would sit in Session with such elders as refused to approve the constitution of b\vnod in • The orif^inal mimifcs, wliich arc a far better autliority tlian 3Ir. Gib, affirm, that Mr. Henry Krskii.c was chosen to assist Mr. Ilulton as cicik, at the first sederunt of tliat luecluiij i>f synod. 3 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 75 Mr. Gib's house, and were for holding any church- fellowship with the Burgher ministers. They soon after began to seclude from the sacraments, such of their people as opposed the division, and were determined to hear both sides, as opportu- nity should permit. These being thus driven away, went over to the Burghers. Had the body of the Seceders refused to side themselves, and obstinately continued hearing the ministers on both sides, it might have con- tributed to a speedy harmony as to the most. But it was otherwise ; and mournful was the stumbling, and the alienation of heart that took place : multitudes were perplexed how to side themselves ; and no doubt many did it entirely by guess : the most ignorant of the dispute were generally the fiercest bigots. To remedy these unhappy disorders, the Burgher ministers twice begged of their brethren an extra-judicial meet- ing for prayer and conference, in order to regain harmony in the cause of truth. Unwilling to convince their brethren of the crimes they had laid to their charge, or conscious of the want of sufficient arguments for that purpose, or from some other motive, the Antiburghers returned no other answer, but that they could not, in con- sistence with their testimony, comply with any such proposal ; and that their brethren's only method of peace was to appear penitent pannels at their bar. To this they were, with all expe- dition, libelled and cited. None of them api)ear- ed except Mr. William Hutton. He did it, not to answer his libel, but to make a bold attack upon the constitution of their Synod, as schis- matical, and contrary to Presbyterian parity;— as founded on the overthrow of the office of el- 74« AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE ders, and the unnatural murder of their bre- thren's sacred office, &:c. A speedy excommuni- cation was his reward, and the most noted reply Jie ever received to his speecli. This constitu- tion of synod, the rest of the Burgher brethren judicially declared null and void, contrary to scrip- ture and reason. INIeanwhile the Antiburghers, to support their cause, prosecuted their Burgher brethren with deposition and excommunication, till they had delivered them over into the hand of Satan, and cast them out of the church, as Heathen men and publicans. After employing themselves, about two years, in this censuring work, they were obliged to acknowledge. That themselves had all along been lying under the scandal of partaking with the Burghers in sundry of their censured crimes : from this scandal they, at a meeting of synod, purged one another, by judicial rebukes and admonitions. How scanda- lous persons were fit to censure others, or to purge one another, was, at least by the Burghers, not well understood. By no small prayer and fasting, the Antiburghers implored the blessing of Heaven upon their excommunications. But God appeared to refuse binding in heaven, what they had bound on earth. I'he censures seem- ed to have no other effect, than to constitute the objects, a kind of bugbears, to the Antiburgher people. Whatever abhorrence they endured from their brethren, the Burgher ministers, as helped of God, held their judicatures, and exercised their ministry as before. The Messrs. Erskines, and others, lived as holily, preached as edifyingly, and died full as comfortably, as their excomnui- nicators. Nor did it esca])e unobserved, that Mr. Thomas IMair, who founded the excommu- RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 75 nicatin^ court, was, not many years after, oblig- ed by his conscience, publicly to declare, he had been verily guilty concerning his Burgher bre- thren's jjlood ; and was himself ejected by his Antiburgher brethren, as an erroneous person, for maintaining that Christ, in some sense, died for all mankind. Nothing since transacted on either side, is much worthy of our notice. Permit me only to essay an impartial account of the present agree- ment and difierence of the two parties. The con- gregations belonging to both are about two hun- dred, or more : in some of these are thousands of members ; but the greater part fall much be- low that account. AVliich party have the great- est number of followers, I know not ; but their teachers of philosophy and divinity, at their rup- ture, happening to be on the Antiburger side, al- most all the then students went along with their masters; and to this day, that party has the great- est number of ministers, though even here the Burghers seem to gain ground. Since 1747, both have had their respective Synods, Presby- teries, and Sessions : both have supplied the mal- contents, in their opponents' congregations, with sermon : both constantly avow their adherence to the Scriptures, as the only rule of faith and practice: both avow their adherence to the West- minster Confession of Faith, Catechisms Larger and Shorter, and to the Directory for Worship and form of Presbyterian church-government thereto subjoined, and to the National Covenant of Scotland, and Solemn League of the three kingdoms. And they believe few decry Con- iessions of Faith for subordinate standards, but in order to vent some erroneous dream. With 76 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE Ijotli, I hope, the ^^ospel is preached in purity, and endeavours used to commit the ministry only to serious and faithful nwn. With both, mini- sters deliver three public discourses on Sabbath, through the most, and not a few through the whole of the year. With both, I hope, ministers endeavour publicly to catechize, and privately to visit their congregations, at least once a year, without respect of persons. With both, the pri- vate administration of baptism is detested, and shunned as an abjured relic of Popery. With both, ministers dispense the Lord's Supper once, and sundry of them twice, a year. Neither party allow themselves in admitting to the sacraments, such as have no visible appear- ance of saintship, nor without examination into both their knowledge and character : — and gross ignorance of the Christian faith ; neglect of se- cret and family worship ; cursing or swearing in ordinary conversation, or even in passion ; play- ing at cards or dice ; idleness, or unnecessary la- bour or travel on the Lord's day ; apparent ha- tred of others, or notour neglect of relative du- ties to them, or squabbling with them; drunken- ness; promiscuous dancing; obscene language, or other apparent approaches to uncleanness ; clandestine marriage*, fornication, dishonesty, smuggling, lying, reviling, and the like, are, with both, accounted scandals, sufficient to ex- clude one from the sacraments, till he, in a pro- per manner, profess his sorrow for his offence, and resolution to guard against the like for the future. Their discipline is much the same with what was once universally practised in the church of Scotland, but now almost generally disused. ♦ Sec above, p. jO— 53 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 77 Hence sundry of the less conscientious Seceders, falling into scandal, return to the established church, that they may altog-ethor avoid, or only receive a very slight censure. From a view of their agreement in so many points, impartial beholders can hardly fail to think that, would both parties, with due earnest- ness, search out their own evils, and be affected therewith ; would they seriously consider what hurt their division, and vain jangling have done, and are like to do to the honour of Christ, the life of religion, and the souls of men, and how they will answer at his tribunal for their concern and hand therein ; would they soberly consider what Christ has done and doth to promote peace, and what he requires them to do ; would both entirely lay aside their pride and prejudice, and often meet for mutual prayer, and Christian con- ference, especially on what they agree in, they would certainly, ere it was long, consign their censuring, division, and dry, or almost unintel- ligible disputes, to everlasting oblivion ; and re- turn, as brethren, to join together, in the fear and service of God. But, through mistake and prejudice, their dif- ferences at present, seem, at least to themselves, not iuconsiderable. The Antiburghers still con tinue upon their quarrelled constitution of Sy- nod in Mr. Gib's hou^e, wherein about two-fifths of the Synod met by themselves, and assumed the whole power of it : they continue approving and praying for a blessing on the excommunica- tion, and other censure, which they, while con- fessedly under scandal themselves, passed on their brethren, who never once acknowledged the au- thority of their separate courts. They contend 7 78 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE that the constitution of the revolution-church was Erastian, founded on the will of the civil magistrate and inclinations of the people, and therefore can never lawfully be joined with. They contend that their own religion is different from that professed in the established church, and authorized by the laws of this realm ; but, though repeatedly called, have not hitherto mar- ked out one divine truth professed by them, which is not contained in the publicly acknowledged standards of religion in the nation. They pro- fess a very high veneration for their second tes- timony, as if it were one, if not a principal, stand- ard ; and they reckon it no small crime to find fault, even with an historical expression thereof; but they renounce their ordination-vows, the first testimony, and the representations expressly ad- hered to in it, ifi so fa?' as these approve the con- stitution of the revolution-church, and the reli- gion presently professed therein. At licence, and at ordination, their candidates solemnly avow their approbation of the Associate Presbytery's declaration of principles against Mr. Nairn, (in p. 50. of which they thank God that the scced- ers' own religion has such skcuhitv b^ the present civil govermnenty as no nation on earth enjoij the like;) and also declare, that they believe it sin- ful, inconsistent with their testimony, and bond, for any seceder to swear to the true religion pre- sently professed and authorised in the realm. At least an indirect acknowledgment of the sinful- ness of seceders' s\vearing the above-mentioned religiousclause of some burgcss-oaths isnecessarv, in order to a person's admission to sealing ordi- nances with them. They require a djrect, or indi* rcct aj)probation of their conduct, in separating RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 79 from, deposing, and excommunicating their bre thren, for believing and affirming, that the true re- ligion presently professed and authorised in Scot- land, was the same with that of the seceders, and so safely sworn to by them ; or, for insisting that such as were of that mind should not be exclud- ed from the ministry, or seals of God's covenant. Public covenanting they reckon avery distinguish- ed point of religion, and with great zeal instigate their people thereto; and represent the burghers as very wicked for not doing the same : it is shrewdly alleged, however, that these covenant- ers are generally far from being sufficiently in- structed and tried at their admission, and that very many of them understand very little of their covenant-bond, or acknowledgment of sins ; and so are nothing bettered in practice, but only be- come more remarkable in their conceit of their own covenanting, and a firm attachment to their party. The Burghers having been the majority at the instant of the rupture, and keeping possession of the place and power of the Synod, continue still upon that footing: their brethrens' withdrawment and constitution in IMr. Gib's house, they still account most unreasonable and absurd. Their above-mentioned deposition and delivery of them to Satan, with their fasting and prayer for the divine ratification thereof, they account a most fearful profanation of the name and ordinance of Christ. But they never attempted to censure their brethren, as they saw no warrant from Scripture to do so, while it was morally certain it would not tend to general ediiication. Had they any glimmering hope of success, they would even again supplicate their meeting with them. so AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE for prayer and conference, in order to promote the healin;,^ of tiKi torn body of Christ. How- ever far they allow tlie glory of the covenanting period between 1683 and 1650, to exceed that after 1689, tlioy believe the constitution of the re- volution-church to have been not Erastian, but scriptural, and therefore lawfully joined with. And they intend to unite with the established judicatures, whenever they observe them ear- nestly reforming from the various and growing defections, introduced since the revolution. The covenants, and good acts of church or state, se- curing and establishing our standards, and what is contained therein, they reckon no articles of the true religion, professed and settled, but only human appearances, in favours thereof: and in this view they maintain the religion professed m the revolution church, to have been the very same with that professed betwixt 1 638 and 1 650, though the human manner of professing and set- tling it, by sinful and fallible men, was in some respects different. Since their standards of re- ligion in doctrine, worship, discipline, and go- vernment, are the very same with these publicly espoused in the established church, they gene- rally think their religion is also the same with that of their brethren in the church ; but they esteem their own manner of profession and adhe- rence to it, to be more strict, and so think they ou":ht to have the countenance of the civil rulers, rather than such who, contrary to solemn vows, practically tread the established standards under their feet. Their second testimony they reckon no standard, but a judicial declaration in favours of the public standards of the nation, and the truths therein contained. In its historical part. RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. SI they grant a few ill-guarded expressions, and mis- takes as to fact : its assertory part they profess to cleave to without reserve. Persuaded that Christians, equally candid and single in their aims, and equally zealous for the truth and honour of God, may have different views of the disputed clause in the burgess-oath, or of other human, nay, many divine expressions, they abhor making either the approbation or condemnation of that clause a direct or indirect term of church-fellowship with them : him that is wcak\ or different from them in hisjailh, about this point, they cheerfully admit even to the ministry; hutnot to douhffuldispittations. Public covenanting, when seasonable, done by persons only who liave Jcnou'Iedge and understanding, and in truth, judg- ment, and inghtcousness, they heartily approve. The continued obligation of their ancestors' o- venants they boldly maintain. At ordinations, and other occasions, they solemnly declare their adhe- rence thereto. But, finding from Scripture, that it is not a standing, but occasional duty of religion, never, as appears, promoted by godly David nor So- lomon, during the eighty years of their reign; nor recommended as a then present duty by Christ or his apostles, during the more than forty years of their ministrations ; knowing that it is better not to vow, than to do it ignorantly, or without paying of vows, by a distinguished holy conver- sation ; fearing the present broken and divided state of the godly, and of so remarkable restraint of spiritual influences, may not be altogether pro- per for it : Finding, that besides some few in- advertent expressions, the confession of sins pub- lished in M'^h, and now useil by their Antibur- ghcr brethren, is such as they could scarce hope / 82 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT, kc. to make the twentieth part of their hearers un- derstand ; and cxceedinf^ly stuml)!cd at the manner in which this work is managed hy their brethren, they have hitherto been afraid to proceed therein. BRIEF CHARACTER, OR VIEW OF SECEDERS, DRAWN FROM The principal Decisions of their Supreme Judicatures. Xt is necessarily incumbent upon all those who profess to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, in an evil day, 1. Firmly to believe, earnestly maintain, and openly, in their profession and practice, bear witness for the truths of God revealed in his word ; particularly such of them as are in danger of being murdered by opposition, poisoned by mix- tures of error, or buried in careless oblivion, Prov. xxiii. 23. Psal. Ixxviii. 3 — 8. Deut. iv. 9. and vi. 6 — 9. Isa. xxvi. 2, and xxxviii. 19. and lix. 13, 14., 15. Phil. iii. l6. and i. 27. 2 Thess. ii. 15. 1 Tim. vi. 20. 2 Tim. 1, 13. and ii. 2. and iv. 7. Heb. ii. 1. 2 John 4. 3 John 3, 4. Jude 3. Rev. ii. 13, 25. and iii. 3, 10. ^ Pet. i. 12. 2. Thankfully to commemorate, and dutifully improve, the singular favours which God hath bestowed upon their church or nation ; particularly, those by which he hath put or kept them in the possession of his oracles, ordinances, and eternal salvation, Psal. Ixxviii. 1 — S. and cv. cvii. cxlv. and cvi. 1 — 5. 13. Isa. Ixiii. 7- Deut. xxvi. 1 — 9. 1 Chron. xvi. 3. Mournfully to search out, confess, bewail, avoid, and practically testify against those steps ofapostacy from once at- tained reformation, by which the truths of God Iiave been in- jured, or his singular favours abused. Lev. xxvi, 40. 2 Chron. XXX. 2i2. Ezek. ix. 4, 6. and xvi. xx. xxii. xxiii. 2 Kings xvii. 7 — 23. Psal. Ixxviii. cvi. Isa. i. ii. v. xxviii. lix. Jer. ii — xviii ; with Exod. XX. 5. Matth. xxiii. 35. Eph. v. 7, 11. 1 Tim. v. 22. Answerably hereto, they profess an hearty adherence to the Old and New Testament, as the only divine and inJaij'ihle rule of faith and practice, 2 Tim. iii. 14 — 17- Rev. xxii. 18, I9. and to the Westminster Confession of Faith, Catechisms, and Form of J'rcsbyterian church-government, as founded on the 84i AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE word of God, 2 Tim. i. 13. and to the National Covenant of Scotland, and the Solemn League of Scotland, England, and Ireland, us religious row.s\ whereby they are solemnly engaged to the belief and practice of whatever is authorised by the word of God, and is therefrom deduced into said Confession of Faith, Catechisms, Directory for worship, and Form of church-goveiiimcnl, I'sal. Ixxviii. 10. and cxix. 100". Prov. xx. 25. Dent. xxix. 1—2.0. and xxxi. 20. Jer. 1. 5— y. As they consider themselves bound to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints ; to keep the word of Christ's patience, and be established in the present truth, Jude 3. Rev. iii. 10. 2 Pet. i. 12. Eph. iv. 14. Prov. xxiii. 23. they, in opposition to the errors presently rampant in the land, par- ticularly maintain. 1. That Jesus Christ is the supreme and only true God, of the same substance and dignity with his eternal Father, Rom. ix. 5. Tit.i). 13. John x. ^0. Phil. ii. 6. 2. That God, from all eternity, decreed whatsoever comes to pass. Acts XV. 18. Eph. i. 11. 3. That God, of his mere good pleasure, without any re- gard to their future piety, as the moving cause, from all eter- nity elected a certain, but the smallest, number of mankind, to everlasting life. Eph. i. 3 — 6. Matth, xx. \6. Luke xii. 32. 4. That God entered into a covenant with Adam, as the re- presentative of all his natural posterity; in which he promised him and them life temporal, spiritual, and eternal, upon con- dition of his perfect obedience; and denounced the contrary death, in case of the smallest disobedience, Gal. iii. 12. Matth. xix. 17. Gal. iv. 24. Hos. vi. 7. 5. That through his breach of that covenant, in his eating of the forbidden fiuit, all men arc conceivetl and born in sin, able to do nothing spiritually good, but are children of disobe- dience and wrath, Rom. v. 12 — 20. and viii. 3, 7, 8. Eph. ii. 1, 2, 3, 8. 6. That no light of nature, but the scripture alone, is suf- ficient to conduct fallen men to true and everlasting happiness. Acts xiv. 1.0, l6. and xvii. 30. Prov. xxix. 18. Eph. ii. 12. 2 John 9. Col. i. 26, 27, 1 Cor. i. 20—24. 7. That in order to redeem men from an everlasting stale of sin and mi.sery, and bring them to everlasting salvation, Christ, the only begotten Son of God, assumed our nature, and for ever continues to be true God and true man, in two distinct natures, and one person, Ilcb. ii. 8 — It). Rom. viii. 3. Psal. ii. G — 11. Isa. vii. 14. and ix. ti. Rom. ix. 5. and i. 3, 4» RISE AND PHOGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 85 8. That he, as our surety, in the covenant of grace;, from all ^eternity, undertook for all the elect, and them only, and in the fulness of time performed to the broken law, and oHcnded justice of God, whatever obedience end satisfaction couM have been required of us, Jer. xxx. 21. Psal. xl. 6 — 8, Isa. liii. and xlii. 21. Rom. V. 15 — 21. and viii. 3, 4. 2 Cor. v. 21. Gal. iv. 4, 5. and iii. 15. Heb. x. 10 — 14. 1 Pet. ii. 24. and iii. 18. 9. That his surety-righteousness, imputed to us by God, and not any thing wrought in, or done by us, is the founda- tion of our pardon of sin, acceptance with God, and title to eternal life, Rom. v. 15 — 21. Phil. iii. 9. Tsa. Ixiv. 6. and xlv. 24, 25. and Ixi. 10. and liii. 5^, 11. and liv. 17. Jcr. xxiii, 6. Dan. ix. 24. 10. That though God hath not fixed any necessary and in- fallible connection between tlie natural endeavours of unrcge- nerate men, and his bestowing of saving grace upon them, yet it is their indispensable duty, carefully to attend the ordinan- ces of the gospel, as means appointed of God, for the effectual conveyance of his Spirit and grace, Psal. xxxiv. 11. Prov. viii. 34. Acts viii. 32. Isa. Iv. 3. Matth. vii. 13, 14. Luke xiii. 24. 11. That though Jesus Christ laid down his life for the elect only, yet, in the gospel, he, and his complete righteousness, and everlasting salvation, are freely offered to all sinful men who hear it, so as each may warrantably receive him, his righteousness and salvation, to himself in particular, Prov. i. 22, 23, 2i. and viii. 4. and ix. 4. 5. Isa. Iv. 1 — 7- and xlvi. 12, 13. and xlv. 22. John vi. 37- Matth. xi. 28. Rev. xxii. 17. 12. That in consequence hereof, there is, in the very na- ture of faith, a real appropriation of Christ, his righteousness and salvation, as in the gospel freely given of God to one's self in particular, John xx. 28. Jer. xxiii. 6. Isa. xlv. 24, 25, Zech. xiii 9- Acts xv. 11. Gal. ii. I6, 20. 1 Cor. i. ^0. 2 Cor. v. 21. 13. That all believers, through their union to Christ, as the Lord their righteousness, who fulfilled the moral law as a co- venant for them, are fully and irrevocably delivered from the law, in that covenant form, so as they can neither be justified or condemned, on account of their own works; yet they are lor ever under that law as a binding rule of life, established by Jehov.mi their Creator and Redeemer, Rom. vi. and vii. 4. Gal. ii. 19. and iii. 13. and iv. 4, 5. 1 Cor. ix. 21. Luke i. 7 I, 75. Tit. ii. II, 12, IJ. S6 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE 14. That there can be no true turning from sin, before coming to, and uniting with Christ; nor ought we to attempt it, in order to pave our way, or to recommend ourselves to him ; but as utterly ignorant, guilty, polluted, weak, and enslaved in ourselves, we ought to receive him as made of God to us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, that he may save and turn us from our sins, John xv. 5. Horn. viii. 7, 8. Matth. i. '21. and xviii. 1 1. Uom. xi. '26. Acts v. 31. Jer. xxxi. 18, 19, 20. 15. That the gospel, properly taken, is no new law, requir- ing of men faith, repentance, and sincere obedience, as the proper conditions of their salvation ; but is God's infinitely gracious declaration, in which he manifests, gives, and offers to us, as sinful men, Christ, his righteousness and salvation, free- ly, without money, and without price, Luke ii. 10, 11. Isa. xlii. 1—7. and Ixi. 1, 2, 3. and Iv. 1—7. 1 Tim. i. 15. Rev. xxii. 17. John vLi. 37, 38. i6. That gospel-holiness is at once, a distinguished privi* lege, a principal part of salvation, and an indispensable duty, and necessary preparation for celestial happmess; but is not a proper condition of our title to, or possession of it, 1 Thess, V. 23. 1 Cor. i. 30. 1 Pet. i. 15, If). Heb. xii. 14. 1 Cor. xv. 58. Phil. iii. 9. Tit. iii. 5—8. Rom. xi. G. and v. 21. and vi. 23. 17. That believers being perfectly freed from the law, as a covenant of works, no slavish fears of falling into hell by their daily sins, or hopes of procuring heaven by their good works, ought to influence their obedience, but they ought always to act as united to Christ, and interested in his everlasting righte- ousness and salvation, Rom. v. 15 — 21. with chap. vi. and vii. 4. Tit. ii. J 1 — 14. Psal. cxvi. iG. and cxix. 32. 1 John iv. I9. 18. That God needs nothing from, nor can be profited by, any creature ; and so can only reward their good works of his own free will and bounty, Job xxii. 2, 3. and xxxv. 7. Luke xvii. 10. 19. That not self-love, interest, or pleasure, but the law of God is the sole standard by which the goodness of actions, re- ligious and moral, is to be estimated and adjusted ; and not self-love, but proper views of the excellencies of God as our God in Christ, and a regard to his authority, ought to be the leatling motives of our obedience to him, Matth. xvi. 24. Deut. xii. .S2. Exod. XX 2 — I?. Tit. ii. 11 — 14. 20. That believers can never cither totally or finally fall from their state of grace, or hold Jesus Christ for a downright I RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 87 impostor, Jer. xxxii. SO, 40. Job xvii. 9. Prov. iv. 18. 1 Pel. i. 5. John iv. 14. and vi. 40. 54. and x. 28, 29. and xiv. I9. 21. That Jesus Christ alone is the King and head of his church, having power to appoint her laws, ordinances, and offices; and to whom only her officers are subject in all their spiritual ministrations, Psal. ii. 7. Isa. ix. 6, 7- Ezck. xxiv. 23. Matth. xvi. 18, 19- and xxiii. 8— 10. and xxviii. 18—20. Heb. xiii. 17. 1 Pet. v. 2—4. 22. That Christ, in the New Testament, hath prescribed a particular form of church-government, distinct from, and inde- pendent on the civil magistracy ; which is the Presbyterian, and no other — to continue unalterable, till the end of the world, John xviii. 36. Mattli. xvi. 18, I9. and xviii. 15 — 20. and xx. 25 — 27. and xxvi. 26 — 29. and xxviii. 18, 19. iO. John xx. 21, 22, 23. Acts i — xx. Rom. xii. 4 — 8. 1 Cor. iii — xiv. 2 Cor. ii. 1 — 8. Epistles to Timothy and Titus almost throughout, &c. 6cc. 23. That Christ hath not entrusted the power of church-go- vernment to magistrates, lordly bishops, or to believers in ge- neral ; but to spiritual officers, pastors, elders, and deacons, appointed by himself — who have full power and warrant from him to hold spiritual courts in his name — Sessions, Presbyte- ries, and Synods, when necessary — but whose whole manage- ment must be regulated by his laws prescribed in his word, 1 Cor. xii. 28. Eph. iv. 11 — 14. 1 Thess. v. 12. 1 Tim. v. 17. Acts vi. 1 — 9. Matth. xviii. 15 — 20. and xvi. 19. 1 Tim. iv. 14. Acts XV. Heb. xiii. 17- 1 Cor. iv. 1, 2. &c. &c. 24. That Christ's kingdom being of a spiritual nature, her officers ought to be elected to their office by persons in full com- munion with her in all her sealing ordinances; no person's vote being preferred on any secular account, 1 John iv. 1. Acts i. 15 — 26. and vi. 1 — 6. and xiv. 23. The Seceders also profess, thankfully to commemorate, and dutifully improve the singular favours of God, which he hath bestowed upon this church and land, and by which he hath put or kept us in possession of his oracles, ordinances, or other spiritual blessings ; such as, 1. That notwithstanding our fathers' savage ignorance and barbarity, and their great distance from Jerusalem, the gospel of peace and salvation was, perhaps, within about forty years after our Redeemer's ascension, early introduced into our island, in fuKiinicnt of his many precious j)romiscs, concerning the ends of the earth, and isles of the sea. 88 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OP THE 2. That notwithstanding all the united force and fraud of the Popish clergy, and of the courts of Scotlanrl and France, the Protestant Reformation uas, with great regulaiity, intro- duced into our country; and by manifold;, faithful wrestlings, against the rage of Papists, treachery of protesfed Protestants, and poverty and distress of ministers, carried on to further de« gree of purity than in any other Protestant church 3. That, as during the darkness and bondage of Popery, he had isti!) given power to some in our land to witness for him, clothed in sackcloth ; so, under the fearful apostacies, profane- ness, and persecutions, between 1600 and 1637, and between 1 660 and l68S, he had preserved for himself a number of faithful witnesses for his injured truths ; afforded them singu- lar measures of bis Spirit and presence, and honoured them to win many souls to Christ. 4. That when Archbishop Laud, and our profligate Bishops, assisted by King Charles I. and his courtiers, had reduced our church and nation to the brink of Popery and slavery, the Lord wrought such a deliverance and reformation in 1638, as astonished every serious beholder, and confounded his ene- mies; and by the struggles and prayers of the then faithful managers, laid the foundation of these civil and religious pri- vileges which we now enjoy. 5. That at the revolution in l6S8, when our watchmen in both church and state were remarkably asleep, he redeemed us out of the very jaws of Popery and slavery, if not also of a bloody massacre ; and that by means of our tyrant's own son- in-law, a<5sistea by a train of almost miraculous providences, he re-established our religion and liberties, though not altoge- ther in the former glorious maimer. 6. That when Queen Anne and her courtiers had ripened their scheme for introducing a Popish pretender to the over- throw of our religion and liberties, the Lord, by her season- able death — by the defeat of the rebels in ITl-*. as well as in 274,5 — and by the esublishment of the family of Hanover on the British throne — hath preserved for us the enjoyment of our religion and liberties. 7. That when Arminian, Arian, and other errors, attended by outrageous ecclesiastical tyranny, threatened the ruin of re- ligion in our land, the Lord gave us a little reviving in our bondage, in the rise of the Secession 1733 ; by means ot which, however sinfully mismanaged, by both ministers and people, the doctrines of the go-pel have been not a little made known, and probably the corrupt parly in the church somewhat re- strained from their error or wickedness. BISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 89 8. That on several occasions, the Lord enabled our ances- tors solemnly to infeft themselves and their posterity in the grant which he had made to his Son, Christ, of the Isles, and utmost ends of the earth for his possession, and on several oc- casions to dedicate themselves and their seed to his honour- able service; and countenanced them in so doing, not only in external smiles of providence, but by such remarkable out- pouring of his Spirit, for the conviction, conversion, and re- formation of men, as hath not been known in any period of the Christian church, since the apostolic age. ReckonincT themselves commanded of God, to mourn over c .... . . their own iniquities, and the iniquities of their fathers and neighbours, they, in consequence of the above adherence, re- nounce every thing contrary thereto, whether in principle or practice, and profess to lament over the prevalency thereof, as a ground of the Lord's controversy with this church and na- tion. The errors they, according to their knowledge, condemn, are principally the Socinian, Arian, Arminian, Popish, Pre- Jatic, and Sectarian. — Among the practical backslidings i'rom the once attained-to, and covenanted work of reformation, which have happened in the preceding and present age, as abuses of the above-mentioned, or like singular favours of God, they enumerate, 1. The re-admission of wicked malignants to places of civil power and trust, in order to assist King Charles II. against Cromwell and his party. 2. Cromwell's toleration of manifold errors and heresies. 3. The restoration of King Charles to his power in l66'0, without requiring any security for his governing the nation ac- cording to the good laws thereof. 4. The Parliament's disannulling all the laws which had been made between l638 and l650, in favours of a covenanted work of reformation, or the good order of the nation. 5. Their establishing the King's supremacy, or spiritual head- ship over the church. 6. Their declaring of the national covenant, as explained to abjure Prelacy, and the Articles of Perth, and the solemn league, to be unlawful oaths, and not binding on the swearerg and subscribers thereof. Their requiring the subjects solemnly to renounce them, and making it treasonable to give, t.\ke, SPEAK, or WRITE, in defence of them — together with the pub- lic burning of these solemn covenants with Gud, at Linlithgow «nd Edinburgh. f.'t 90 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE 7. The restoration of Prelacy, after it had been found con- trary to the word of God, and repeatedly abjured in solem co- venants:— Ministers and others', neglect to give proper testi- mony against the introduction thereof; and too general com- pliance therewith ; and the terrible persecution of such as faithfully opposed it. 8. The obliging of the subjects, by manifold oaths and de- clarations, to approve the various impieties of that persecute ing period. 9- King Charles II. 's indulgences of Presbyterian ministers to exercise their office, which flowed from his blasphemous claim to ecclesiastical supremacy, and were clogged with seve- ral sinful restrictions : and Kins James VII. 's unlimited tole- ration, founded in his claim to absolute power, and plainly ni- tended for the introduction of Popery, and Presbyterian mi- nisters' thankful acceptance of the same. 10. That the revolution Parliament did not revive the legal securities given to a covenanted reformation between iGSS and l(i50, but even left some bad laws at least not plainly re- scinded. 11. That they did not duly resent the heaven-daring inju- ries which had been done to the national covenant and solemn league, nor abolished Prelacy, as contrary to the word of God, and these covenants. 12. That in the union settlement 1707, the Parliament, in manifest contradiction to the covenants, and the belief of the divine light of Presbytery, not only consented to, but actiialltf confirmed, the perpetual establishment of Prelacy, and the ce- emonies in England. 13. That the British Parliament restored patronage, and the superstitious Yule vacance ; established a toleration of Pre- lacy, and every other form of religion in Scotland, only Po- pery and blasphemy excepted ; and have repealed the penal statutes against witchcraft. 14. That they imposed the abjuration oath upon ministers and others ; and in an Erastinn manner, required the Scotch ministers to read from their pulpit, on the Lord's day, in the time of divine worship, a civil proclamation relative to Cap- tain Porteous, under pain of seclusion from sitting in Presby- tery. 15. That the Presbyterian clergy, at the Revolution, did not more plainly niourn over, and teslifv against the horrid brandies of apostncy in the preceding persecuting peiiod; and did not more readily and solemnly assert the sole headship of Chiist RISE AND PROGRESS OP THK SECESSION. -OI oyer his church, the divine right of Presbyterian government, and the intrinsic power oi the church, wliich hail bc2n so dar- ingly denied and lenounced in the preceding period. Nay, did themselves too readily dissolve or prorogue their Gene al As- semblies, in obedience to the Erastian requirements ot" King William and Queen Anne. 16. That instead of being duly censured, many who had plainly perjured themselves in their compliance with Prelacy, and in taking the impious oaths and bonds, and even in per- secuting the Lord's people, were admitted to church-fellowship, na}', to the office of elders or ministers, without proper tokens of repentance. 17. That the bulk of the ministry, to the no small offence of the godly, and renting of the church, complied with the Erastian and sinful orders of the Pailiament, relative to the abjuration oath, and proclamation concerning Captain Porte- ous. 18. That in their rage against the Marrow of Modern Di- vinily, the A ssembly condemned a variety of precious gos- pel-truths ; but have slightly censured, and more frequently screened from censure, such as have been pannelled at their bar for Arian, Arminian, or other errors ; and have refused to as- sert the truth, in express opposition thereto. 19. Their violent and habitual promoting of patronage, and intrusion of ministers, ordinarily very unfit for the office ; and persecuting of such as faithfully oppose it*. These things, together with the so frequent repetition of oaths, relative to allegiance and trade ; receiving of the Lord's Supper in the English manner, as a test of loyalty ; swearing, by touching and kissing the gospels; repeated rebellion of a malignant party against our lawful Sovereigns of the family of Hanover, in favours of a Popish pretender ; abounding igno- rance of the Christian doctrines ; neglect of God's worship in public, private, or secret ; profane cursing and swearing in common discourse ; open violation of the Sabbath ; notorious neglect of relative duties; admission of insufficient and wicked persons to offices in church and state, or to the seals of God's covenant; drunkenness and bribery, deceit and profane swear- ing in the election of magistrates, or even of ministers ; abound- ing murder, uncleanncss, luxury, theft, smuggling, stage-plays ; • Sec these trutlis, jnercics, and steps of apostacy, more fully represent- ed in the re-cxliibition of the Scicdcrs' testimonies", particularly tl)c second testimony; and in that most excellent act concerning tlie doctrine of grwc, &c and several church-hiatorici. S2 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT, &C. games at caiiis and dice ; lying, reviling, backbiting, and covetoiisness, they profess to detest and mourn over, as causes ot the Lord's wrath still standing against the generation. But it is not to be imagined, that every one hath an equal clear view of all these evils, particularly such as relate to former times ; nor that every one hath the same view of the sinful- ness of each of these facts. 93 BRIEF EXPLANATION Tht Terms used in the preceding Pages. -TXTHBiST. One who denies the being of God. Arian. One who denies the equality of the Son to the Fa- ther in the Godhead ; so called, iiom one Arius, who in the fourth century, disturbed the church by his heretical opinions on the subject of the Trinity. — The Arians are of two kinds. Both admit the pre-existence of Christ ; but the proper Arians make him only a super-angelic being, the first and highest of creatures ; whereas the Semi-Arians allow to him some of the perfections of Deity, and make him a kind of in- ferior God. Arminian. One who maintains the opinion of Jacobus Arminius, a Dutch divine. The leading principles of this sect, are known by the name of the Five Arminian Points. — They maintain, 1 Conditional election ; 2. Universal redemp- tion ; 8. Free-will, or man's natural power to convert him- self; 4. The resistibility of divine grace; 5. The possibility of falling totally and finally from a state of grace. Antinomian. One who denies the obligation of the moral law on believers in Christ, and affirms that good works are un- necessary. The term is often impropeily given to those who are advocates for the freedom and sovereignty of divine grace, although they maintain the necessity of good works. Anabaptist. One who maintains that children ought not to be baptized ; and that those who have had baptism admi- nistered in infancy, ought to be re-baptized. ^^NTICIIR1ST. Literally, one who, opposes Christ, a term used in the New Testament, and, by divines, generally ap- plied to the Pope, and to that power which, as the head of th* Romish church, he has usurped ov«r the conicicncc* of men. 94 A BRI^F EPLAN/ITION OF THE Blasphemy. A general term_, expressive of any indig- nity ofTercd unto God himself by the tongues of men ; as when tilings are said of him unworthy of his greatness, incon- sistent with his hoHncss, reproachful to his character, or which manifest a contempt of his perfections, word, or works. Deist. One who professes to believe the existence and unity of the Deity; but who denies that he has ever given any written revelation of his will^ and who refuses that the Scriptures arc the word of God. Erastian, One who adopts the sentiments of Erastus, a German lawyer ; asserting, that church-government and dis- cipline are entirely to be regulated by the will of the civil ma- gistrate. Episcopalian. One who maintains that there ouglit to be in the church an order of officers superior to teaching elders, styled Bishops, in whom the government of the church is vested. Enthusiast. One who depends on private internal reve- lations, without regarding the written word ; or, in general, who is guided by an over-heated imagination in matters of religion, without regard to Scripture, or common sense. FaMILIST. One who is of that religious description known formerly by the style oH/ie Family of Love ; a species of Ana- baptists, who made the whole of religion to lie in inward feel- ings of divine love. Heathen. A general name for those nations which are ignorant of divine revelation, and live in superstition and ido- ktry. Infidel. Any one who believes not in Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, and the Saviour of the world ; nor in the Scriptures, as divinely inspired. Independent. One who accounts every particular con- gregation an entire and independent church ; and refuses that the church ought to be governed either, on the one hand, by Bishops, or, on the other hand, by assemblies of ministers, known by the name of Presbyteries, Synods, &c. Jew. One of the seed of Israel, who imagines that the Messiah has not yet appeared, and continues to worship God according to the law of Moses. Jesuit. A member of the Society of Jesus : a Popish or- der, instituted with a view to oppose the Reformation ; and whose principles are subversive of civil govenuncnt, and con- fidence between man and man. The Jesuits, long troublesome to Protestants, became at last intolerable to Roman Catholics thcmselvc5, and gcme time since were destroy c\.l. TERMS USED IN THE PRECEDING PAGES. 95 JuRANT. One who ha* sworn an oath. Libertine. One of loose principles in religion, and of loose practice. Monk. One of the Popish religion, who has professed to renounce the world, has vowed celibacy, lives in a monastery subject to certain rules, is principally employed in offices of de« votion, and is esteemed singularly pious. Prelate. A Bishop ; so styled, because he is preferred in honour and power above his brethren in the office of the ministry. Papist. A Roman Catholic ; so styled, because he ac* knowledges the authority of the Pope. Pelagian. One who follows the opinions of Pclagins, a heretic of the fifth century, who, among other things, denied original sin, and the necessity of the Spirit's operation in the soul in order to conversion. Protestant. One who professes the reformed religion ; so styled, because the first reformers jpro/e^/ct? against the church of Rome. Patronage. The method of introducing candidates for the ministry into charges in the church, by the presentation of a lay palroji, without regarding the choice of the people. Quakers. A religious sect, who despise the written word, and the instituted ordinances of religion, and depend on in- ternal revelations, and the motions of what they style the spirit within them ; styled Quakers, because, at their first ap- pearance, when the spirit moved them, they fell into tremb- lings, and shakings, and convulsive agitations. SociNiAN. One who espouses the opinions of SocimtSf a heretic who appeared soon after the Reformation. Socinians deny that Christ existed before his incarnation, allow him to be only a mere man, reject his atonement, and consider him since his ascension as a 7nade God. Sectarian. One who adheres to a particular sect or de- scription of Christians, different from that established by civil authority. The term is commonly used in a bad sense, as in- cluding the idea of separating from the established religion without sufficient reason. ScETTic. One who doubts of every thing, and believes nothing. Schism. Unlawful separation from a church ; or want of love and affection, while continuing in it. 3 96 A BRIEF KXLANATION, (5cC. Turk. An individual of an eastern nation, which has erected a great empire, called the Turkish empire, the capital of which is Constantinople. The term is frequently used to mean a Mahometan, because that nation are believers in Ma- homet as the prophet of God. FINIS. Prlntrd Inj Rilfmr Sf Clarke, Edint/ur^/i, lsl9. BW5008.B87V.2 A compendious history of the British Princeton Theological Seminary- Speer Library lll|lllllll|l|lllllll III III llllll|lllll|llll|llllllt 1 1012 00037 9166