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TESTIMONY 
 
 TRUTHS OF CHRIST, 
 
 AGREEABLY TO THE 
 
 WESTMINSTER STANDARDS AS RECEIVED BY THE RE- 
 FORMED CHURCH OF SCOTLAND; AND IN OPPOSI- 
 TION TO DEFECTIONS FROM THE REFORMATION 
 SWORN TO IN BRITAIN AND IRELAND. 
 
 AGREED TO BY THE 
 
 ASSOCIATE SYNOD OF ORIGINAL SECEDEKS. 
 
 18th May 1827- 
 
 EDINBURGH : 
 
 SOLD BY GUTHRIE AND TAIT, EDINBURGH; WILLIAM M'CARTER, AYR J 
 WILLIAM TROUP, ABERDEEN; ROBERT DICK, DUNDEE; 
 AND JAMES DEWAR, PERTH. 
 
 1827. 
 
 Price 2/6. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2012 with funding from 
 
 Princeton Theological Seminary Library 
 
 http://archive.org/details/actssociateprOOasso 
 
A C 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 ASSOCIATE PRESBYTERY, 
 
 FOR RENEWING THE 
 
 NATIONAL COVENANT of Scotland, 
 and the SOLEMN LEAGUE and CO- 
 VENANT of the three Nations. 
 
 I N 
 
 A Way and Manner agreeable to our prefent Situ- 
 ation and Circumstances in this Period. 
 
 EDINBURGH: 
 
 Printed by Neill and Company. 
 
 oold by W. Laing, Edinburgh ; J. Duncan, Glafgow ; Morison and 
 
 Son ; Perth j W. Knight, Aberdeen, and R. Nicol, Dundee. 
 
 r.l,DCCjLXXilIX. 
 
INTROD UCTION. 
 
 AGREEABLY to Scripture-precepts and patterns, of perpetual 
 obligation and ufe, the reformation of religion in Scotland, 
 hath through the feveral periods thereof, being carried on in a way 
 of Covenanting ; wherein alfo the kingdoms of Scotland, England 
 and Ireland, did concur, anno 1643. And it was in purfuance of 
 Covenant -engagements then come under, that pure ftandards of doc- 
 trine, in our Co?ifeJJion of Faith and Catechifrns, were eftablifhed : 
 and that a great pitch of reformation, as to the worfhip and go- 
 vernment of the Church, was attained unto, in our Diretlory for 
 the puhlic worfhip of God, and Form of Prejbyterial Church- Govern- 
 ment. 
 
 In England and Ireland thefe Covenant-engagements were foon 
 forgot ; fo as the reformation, then arifing,, did fpeedily give way 
 to an apoftafy, which hath lamentably increafed hitherto : And in 
 Scotland, a door began to be actually opened, by the public refolu- 
 tions, annis 1650 and 165 1, for defection from former ccvena?its 
 and reformation, which hath wofully prevailed unto this day. 
 
 The AJfociate Prefbytery, being led out, in the courfe of fove- 
 reign and holy providence, to efTay the revival of reformation, 
 have judged it their duty to en* ay, for this purpofe, the revival of 
 Covenanting. Accordingly, 
 
 The Prefbytery did, fome years ago, appoint a committee of their 
 number, to prepare and lay before them, an overture anent the re- 
 novation of our folemn Covenants. Hereupon the overture of an 
 \atl of the Affociate Prefbytery, for renewing the National Cove- 
 nant of Scotland, and the Solemn League and Covenant of the three 
 Nations, in a way and manner agreeable to our prefent ftuation and 
 circumflances in this period'] was laid before the Prefbytery. And 
 after the faid overture had undergone fundry readings, reafonings 
 and amendments, it was approven of, at Edinburgh, October 21. 
 1742, by the unanimous vote of all members prefent, excepting Mr 
 Nairn. However, the Prefbytery, defirous of proceeding with 
 great deliberation in a matter of fo much importance, agreed that 
 there mould be acceis for all mtmbers, prefent or abfent, to pro- 
 pofe any difficulties they might have, againft next meeting. And 
 the matter was left in this ftate, from one meeting to another, till 
 December 23. 1743. 
 
 At the meeting in Stirling, December 23. 1743, Mr Nairn for- 
 mally dijfented from the paragraph that confeffed the evil of the 
 Anti-government Scheme which fome, formerly in acceffion to the 
 Prefbytery, had efpoufed : And at the fame time, fome other mem- 
 bers 
 
iv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 bers propofed a fcruple about the faid paragraph, ftanding in the 
 Co?ifeJJio?i of Sins, as they conceived, that the reduplication of the 
 bond thereupon, would amount unto a blending of civil and ec- 
 cleliaflical matters in the oath of God, in renewing the Covenants, 
 which is not competent unto a Church-judicatory. This fcruple 
 being again infilled upon, when the Preibytery was met at Edin- 
 burgh, in Fehruary 1743, they did thereupon unanimoufly tranflate 
 that paragraph into the following acl. 
 
 * At Edinburgh, the third day of February, One thou/and /even 
 
 6 hundred and J oriy -three Years. 
 
 * 'T^HE Preibytery are of opinion, that in regard they had for- 
 1 i merly agreed, that it was not fuitable to their prefent cir- 
 f cumftances, to blend civil and ecclefiajlic matters in the oath of 
 
 * God, in renewing the Covenants ; becaufe that the cognizance of 
 1 civil affairs belongs not properly to them as a Church-judicatory ; 
 
 * and fome members being of the mind, that the reduplication of 
 
 * the oath upon that claufe of the Confeffion of Sins, which was 
 ' the occalion of the dijfent, would, upon the matter, amount to 
 ' the forefaid blending ; that therefore the faid claufe mould be 
 f left out. Yet, that none may mifconftrucl the principles of the 
 ' Preibytery, on the head of the civil Magiflrate : Although the 
 *. national a/jqflajy, under which the Lord's remnant through the 
 ' land have been groaning, while our rulers have not only negleiled, 
 f but contradicted their duty, of efporfing and fupporting the co- 
 
 * venanted principles and reformation of this Church, whereby they 
 i have greatly provoked the Lord to anger, be ground of humilia- 
 
 * tion before the Lord : Yet the Preibytery do hereby condemn the 
 4 dangerous extreme that fome have gone into, of impugning the 
 ' prefent civil authority over thefe nations, and fubjedlion there- 
 
 * unto in laivfuj commands, on account of the want of thefe quali- 
 
 * fications, which Magiftrates ought to have by the Word of God 
 
 * and our Covenants ; even though they allow us in the free exer- 
 1 cife of our religion, and are not manifeftly unhinging the liberties 
 c of the kingdom - 7 an opinion and practice contrary to the plain 
 
 * tenor of Scripture, and to the known principles of this Church, 
 ' in her ConfelTion and Covenants, and of all other reformed 
 ? Churches : And that fome. few others carry their zeal againft the 
 
 * defections and evils of the times, to the dangerous extreme of 
 
 * elpoufing principles in favours of propagating religion by offenfive 
 
 * arms ; quite contrary to that difpoiition, which ought to be in 
 ' all the profeffed followers of Chrift, who came not to dellroy men's 
 ' lives, but to fuve them. And likewife the Preibytery agree, 
 
 * that unlefs the Reverend Mr Nairn retratl the principles con- 
 
 * tained in the faid diffint, that tend to overthrow civil Magiftracy, 
 
 * thev will proceed againft him according to the rules of this 
 
 * Church.' 
 
 At 
 
INTRODUCTION. v 
 
 At after meetings, there were made fome other amendments up- 
 on, as alfo fundry additions unto, the aft for renewing the Covenants; 
 whereupon (the Prefbytery, being met in Stirling ; December 23. 
 1743) after ferious deliberation and prayer, the queflion was put, 
 Approve of this acl as now amended and enlarged, in order to the re- 
 novation of our Covenants, or Not? And it carried unanimoufly Ap- 
 prove, wherefore the Prefbytery did approve and enacl accordingly, 
 and ordered the fame to be publi fried ; the tenor whereof follows, 
 immediately after the National Covenant, and the Solemn League 
 and Covenant ; as it is the renovation of thefe which this acl pro- 
 pofeth. 
 
 N. B. Only the National Covenant, as it was entered into annis 
 1580 and 1 58 1, (without the Bond wherein it was renewed, anno 
 1638) and the Solemn League and Covenant, (without the Solemn 
 Acknowledgment of Sins and Engagement to Duties, anno 1648) 
 are here prefixed to the followizig acl: ; agreeably to the defign of the 
 faid acl:, and unto the example of our Reformers, anno 1638, who re- 
 newed the National Covenant by a new Bond, in place of that Bond 
 wherewith it had been renewed and [worn, anno 1590, and which they 
 omitted. And the Prefbytery 's procedure in this whole matter, is 
 more fully explained and vindicated in their Answers to Reafons of 
 DifTent, \£c. p. 27, — 39. 
 
 K T H£ 
 
T II E 
 
 NATIONAL C O V E N A xN T 
 
 OR T PI E 
 
 CONFESSION or FAITH. 
 
 Subfcribed at firjl by the Kings Majefy and his Houfjold in the 
 year 1580 ; thereafter by perfons of all ranks i?i the year 1581, by 
 ordinance of the Lords of Secret Council, and ABs of the General A f- 
 fembly. Subfcribed again by all forts of perfons in the year 1590, by 
 a new ordinance of Council, at the defire of the General A/femb/j\ 
 with a General Bond for the maintaining of the true Chrijtian Religion, 
 and the King's perfon ; and, together with a reflation and promife, 
 for the caufes after expreffed, to maintain the true Religion- and 
 the King's Majefty, according to the fore f aid Confeffion and ABs of 
 Parliament, fubferibed by Baro/rs, Nobles, Gentlemen, Burgejfes, 
 Minifters and Commons, in the year 1638; approven by the Ge- 
 neral A ffemb I y 16 38 and 1630, and fubferibed again by perfons of 
 all ranks and avaliaes in the Tear 1639, by an ordinance of Coun- 
 cil, upon the /up-fl'calion of the Genera/ Affembly, and AB of the 
 General Affembly ; ratified by an AB of Parliament 1640 ; and 
 fubferibed ly King Charles \\. at Spey, June 23. iftjc, and at 
 Scoon, January 1, 1651. 
 
 WE all and every one of us under written, prcteft, That, after 
 long and due examination of our own couiciences, in matters 
 of true and falie religion, we are now thoroughly refolved in 
 the truth by the "Word and Spirit of God : And therefore we be- 
 lieve with our hearts, confefs with our mouths, fubferibe with 
 our hands, and conftantly affirm before God and the whole world, 
 That this only is the true ChrifKan Faith and Religion, pleaiing Gcd 
 and bringing falvation to men, which now is, by the mercy of 
 God, revealed to the world by the preaching of the blelTed Evan- 
 gel ; and is received, believed, and defended by many and fundry 
 notable Kirks and Realms, but chiefly by the Kirk of Scotland, the 
 King's Majefty and Three Eftatcs of this realm, as God's eternal 
 truth, and only ground of our falvation ; as more particularly is 
 expreffed in the Confeffion of our Faith, eftablilhcd and publicly 
 confirmed by feveral A£ls of Parliaments, and now of a long time 
 hath been openly profefTed by the King's Majefty, and the whole 
 body of this realm both in burgh and land. To the which Confef- 
 fion and Form of Religion, we willingly agree in our confeience in 
 all points, as unto God's undoubted truth and verity, grounded on- 
 ly upon his written Word. And therefore we abhor and deteft all 
 contrary religion and doclrine ; but chiefly all kind of Papiflry in 
 general and particular heads, even as they are now damned and 
 confuted by the Word of God and the Kirk of Scotland. But in 
 
 fpecial 
 
The National Covenant. \ 
 
 ipecial we deteft and refufe the ufurped authority of that Rwnan 
 Antichriit upon the Scriptures of God, upon the Kirk, the civil 
 Magiltratcs, and conferences of men : All his tyrannous laws made 
 upon indifferent things againft our Chriftian liberty : His erroneous 
 doctrine againft the fuiticiency of the written Word, the perfection 
 of the Law, the office of Chrift and his bkilld Evangel : His cor- 
 rupted doctrine concerning original lin, our natural inability and 
 rebellion to God's Law, our juftifi cation by faith only, our imper- 
 fect fanctilkation and obedience to the Law ; the nature, number, 
 and ufe of the holy Sacraments ; hi; five baftard Sacraments, with 
 all his rites, ceremonies and falfe doctrine, added to the miniftration 
 of the true Sacraments without the Word of God : His cruel judg- 
 ment againft infants departing without the Sacrament : His abfolute 
 neceffity of Baptifm : His blafphemous opinion of Tranfubftantiati- 
 on, or real pretence of Chrilt's body in the elements, and receiving 
 of the fame by the wicked, or bodies of men : His difpenfations 
 with folemn oaths, perjuries and degrees of marriage forbidden in 
 the Word : His cruelty againft the innocent divorced : His devilifh 
 -mats : His blafphemous priefthood : His profane facriiice for the 
 fins of the dead and the quick : His canonization of men : calling 
 upon angels or faints departed^ worfhipping of imagery, relics and 
 ■crofles ; dedicating of kirks, altars, days ; vows to creatures : His 
 purgatory, prayers for the dead ; praying or fpeaking in a ftrange 
 language ; with his proceilions and blafphemous Litany, and multi- 
 tudes of Advocates or Mediators : His manifold orders, auricular 
 ■confeflions : His defperate and uncertain repentance : His general 
 and doubtfome faith : His fatisfactions of men for their tins : His 
 j uftification by works, opm operatum, works of fupererogation, me- 
 rits, pardon, peregrinations, and ftations : His holy water, baptifing 
 t)f bells, conjuring of fpirits, croirlng, fayning, anointing, conjuring, 
 hallowing of God's good -creatures ; with the fuperititious opinion 
 joined therewith : His worldly monarchy, and wicked hierarchy : 
 His three folemn vows, with all his Ihavellings of fundry forts : His 
 erroneous and bloody decrees made at Trent, with all the fubfeibers 
 or approvers of that cruel and bloody band, conjured againft the 
 Kirk of God. And finally, we deteft all his vain allegories, rites, 
 figns, and traditions brought in the Kirk, without or againft the 
 Word of God, and doctrine of this true reformed Kirk : to the 
 which we join ourfelves willingly, in doctrine, faith, religion, dif- 
 cipline, and ufc of the holy Sacraments, as lively members of the 
 fame in Chrift our Head : Promiiing and fwearing by the great 
 name of the LORD Our GOD, That we fnall continue in the obe- 
 dience of the Doctrine and Difcipline of this Kirk, and fhall defend 
 the fame, according to our vocation and power, all the days of our 
 lives ; under the pains contained in the Law, and danger both of 
 body and foul in the day of God's fearful judgment. 
 
 And feeing that many are ftirred up by Satan and that Roman 
 Antichrift, to promife, fwear, fubferibe, and for a time ufe the holy 
 Sacraments in the Kirk deceitfully, againft their own confeience ; 
 
 minding 
 
8 The National Covenant. 
 
 minding hereby, firft, under the external cloak of religion, to cor- 
 rupt and fubvert fecretly God's true religion within the Kirk ; and 
 afterwards, when time may ferve, to become open enemies and 
 perfecutors of the fame, under vain hope of the Pope's difpenfation, 
 devifed againft the Word of God, to his greater contufion, and 
 their double condemnation in the day of the Lord Jefus : We there- 
 fore, willing to take away all fufpicion of hypocrify, and of fuch 
 double dealing with God and his Kirk, proteft, and call the Searcher 
 of all hearts for witnefs, That our minds and hearts do fully agree 
 with this our confefiion, promife, oath, and fubfcription •, fo that we 
 are not moved with any worldly refpecT:, but are perfuaded only in 
 our confcience, through the knowledge and love of God's true reli- 
 gion, imprinted in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, as we fhall an- 
 fwer to him in the day when the fecrets of all hearts fhall be dif- 
 clofed. 
 
 And becaufe we perceive, that the quietnefs and liability of our 
 religion and Kirk, doth depend upon the fafety and good behaviour 
 of the King's Majefty, as upon a comfortable inllrument of God's 
 mercy granted to this country, for the maintaining of his Kirk and 
 miniftration of juftice amongft us ; we proteft and promife with our 
 hearts, under the fame oath, hand-writ, and pains, that we mall de- 
 fend his perfon and authority with our goods, bodies and lives, in 
 the defence of Chrift his Evangel, liberties of our country, mini- 
 ftration of juftice, and punifhment of iniquity, againft all enemies 
 within this realm or without, as we defire our God to be a ftrong 
 and merciful Defender to us in the day of our death, and coming of 
 our Lord Jefus Chriji : To whom, with the Father and the Holy 
 Spirit, be all honour and glory eternally. Amen. 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 SOLEMN LEAGUE and COVENANT, 
 
 FOR 
 
 Reformation and Defence of Religion, the Honour and 
 Happinefs of the King, and the Peace and Safety of 
 the Three Kingdoms of Scotland, England and Ire- 
 land: 
 
 Agreed upon by CommiJJioTiers from the Parliament, and Affembly of 
 Divines in England, with Commiffoners of the Convention of Ef~ 
 tates and General Affembly in Scotland : Approven by the General 
 Affembly of the Church of Scotland, and by both Houfes of Parlia- 
 ment and Affembly of Divines in England, and taken and fubfcrib- 
 ed by them, anno 1643 : And thereafter, by the /aid authority, ta- 
 ken and fubf crib ed by all ranks in Scotland and England, the fame 
 year ; and ratified by acl of the Parliament of Scotland, anno 1 644 : 
 And again renewed in Scotland, with an Acknowledgment of Sins 
 and Engagement to Duties, by all ranks, anno 1648, and by the 
 Parliament 1649 : And taken and fubjcribed by King Charles II. 
 at Spey, June 23. 1650 and at Scoon, January 1. 1651. 
 
 WE Noblemen, Barons, Knights, Gentlemen, Citizens, Bur- 
 gefles, Minifters of the Gofpel, and Commons of all forts in 
 the Kingdoms of Scotland, England, and Irela?id, by the providence 
 of God, living under one King, and being of one reformed Religion, 
 having before our eyes the glory of God, and the advancement of 
 the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, the honour and 
 happinels of the King's Majefty, and his pofterity, and the true pu- 
 blic liberty, fafety and peace of the kingdoms, wherein every one's 
 private condition is included : And calling to mind the treacherous 
 and bloody plots, confpiracies, attempts, and practices of the ene- 
 mies of God, againfl the true religion, and profeflbrs thereof in all 
 places, efpecially in thefe three Kingdoms, ever fince the Reforma- 
 tion of religion ; and how much their rage, power and prefumption 
 are of late, and at this time increafed and exercifed, whereof the de- 
 plorable ftate of the Church and Kingdom of Ireland, the diftrefied 
 eftate of the Church and Kingdom of England, and the dangerous eftate 
 of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland, are prefent and public tef- 
 timonies : We have now at laft (after other means of fupplication, 
 remonflrance, protections and futferings) for the prefervation of 
 ourfelves and our religion, from utter ruin and deftruction, accord- 
 ing to the commendable practice of thefe Kingdoms in former times, 
 and the example of God's people in other nations •, after mature de- 
 liberation, refolved and determined to enter into a mutual and So- 
 lemn League and Covenant, wherein we all fubfcribe, and each 
 
 one 
 
i o The Solemn League and Covenant. 
 
 one of us for himfclf, with our hands lifted up to the Mcft High 
 God, do fwear, 
 
 I. r te ^»HAT we ihall fincerely, really, and conftantly, through 
 1 the grace of God, endeavour in our feveral places and 
 callings, the prefervation of the reformed Religion in the Church 
 of Scotland, in Doctrine, Worlhip, Difcipline and Government, 
 againft our common enemies ; the reformation cf Religion in the 
 kingdoms of England and Ireland, in Doctrine, Worfhip, Difcipline 
 and Government, according to the Word of God, and the examole 
 of the beft reformed Churches : And mail endeavour to bring the 
 Churches of God, in the three kingdoms, to the nearefl conjunc- 
 tion and uniformity in Religion, Confeluon of Faith, Form of 
 Church-government, Directory for worflaip and catechizing ; that 
 we, and our polterity after us, may, as brethren, live in faith and 
 love ; and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midil of us. 
 
 II. That we inall, in like manner, without refpeel: of perfons, 
 endeavour the extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, (that is, Church - 
 government by Archbiihops, Biihops, their Chancellors and Com- 
 milTaries, Deans, Deans and Chapters, Arch-deacons, and all other 
 ecclefiaftical officers depending on that Hierarchy) Superftition, 
 Herefy, Schifm, Frofaneneis, and whatibever ihall be found to be 
 ■contrary to found Doctrine, and the power of Godlinefs ; left we 
 partake in other mens iins, and thereby be in danger to receive 
 of their plagues : And that the Lord may be one, and his name 
 one, in the three kingdoms. 
 
 III. We mall, with the fame fmcerity, reality and conftancy, 
 in cur feveral vocations, endeavour, with our eftates and lives, 
 mutually to preferve the rights and privileges of the Parliaments, 
 and the liberties of the kingdoms ; and to preferve and defend the 
 Kind's Majefty's perfon and authority, in the preservation and de- 
 fence of the true religion, and liberties of the kingdoms: That the 
 world may bear witnefs with our confidences of our loyalty, and 
 that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminilri his Majeily's 
 juft power and greatneis. 
 
 IV. We mall alio, w r ith all faith fulnefs, endeavour the difcovery 
 of all fach as have been, or ihall be incendiaries, malignant , or 
 cvilinitruments, by hindering the reformation of Religion, dividing 
 the King from his people, or one of the kingdoms from another, 
 or making any faction, or parties amongft the people, contrary to 
 this League and Covenant ; that they may be brought to public 
 trial, and receive condign punifiimcnt, as the degree of their of- 
 fences ihall require or deferve ; or the fupreme Judicatories of both 
 kingdoms reflectively, or others having power from them for 
 that effect, ihall judge convenient. 
 
 Y. And whereas the happinefs of a blefTed peace between thefe 
 kingdoms, denied in former times to our progenitors, is, by the 
 good providence of God, granted unto us, and hath been lately 
 
 con- 
 
The Solemn League and Covenant. 1 1 
 
 concluded, and fettled by both Parliaments : We (ball each one of 
 us, according to our place and intereft, endeavour that they may 
 remain conjoined in a firm peace and union to all pofierity •, and 
 that iuilice may be done upon the wilful Oppofers thereof, in man- 
 ner exprefTed in the precedent article. 
 
 VI. We fliall alfo, according to oar places and callings, in this 
 common caute of religion, liberty and peace of the kingdoms, al- 
 l-it and defend all thofe that enter into this League and Covenant, in 
 the maintaining and purfuing thereof ; and mall not fufFer ourfelves, 
 direftly or indirectly, by whatfoever combination, perfuafion or 
 terror, to be divided and withdrawn from this bleiTed union and 
 conjunction, whether to make defection to the contrary part, or to- 
 gi re ourfelves to a deteftable indiiferency, or neutrality in this 
 c mfe, which fo much concerneth the Glory of God, the good of 
 the Kingdoms, and honour of the King •, but (hall, all the days of 
 our lives, zealouiiy and conftantly continue therein, againft all op- 
 ponticn, and promote the fame, according to our power, againft all 
 lets and impediments whatfoever ; and, what we are not able our- 
 felves to fupprefs or overcome, we mail reveal and make known, 
 that it may be timely prevented or removed : All which we fhall 
 do as in the light of God. 
 
 And, becaufe thefe kingdoms are guilty of many fins, and pro- 
 vocations againft God, and his Sen Jefus Chrift, as is too manifeft 
 by our prefent didrefles and dangers, the fruits thereof ; we pro- 
 fefs and declare, before God and the woiid, our unfeigned defire 
 to be humbled for our own iins, and for the fins of thefe king- 
 doms ; efpecially that we have not, as we ought, valued the inefti- 
 mablc benefit of the Gofpel, that we have not laboured for the pu- 
 rity and power thereof, and that we have not endeavoured to re- 
 ceive Chrift in our hearts, nor to walk worthy of him in our lives, 
 which are the caufes of other fins and tranfgrefnons, fo much a- 
 bounding among us ; and our true and unfeigned purpofe, defire 
 and endeavour, for ourfelves, and all others under our power and 
 charge, both in public and in private, in all duties Ave owe to God 
 and man, to amend our lives, and each one to go before another in 
 the example of a real reformation : That the Lord may turn away 
 his wrath, and heavy indignation, and eitabliil thefe Churches and 
 Kingdoms in truth and peace. And this Covenant we make in 
 the prefence of Almighty God, the Searcher of all hearts, with a 
 true intention to perform the fame, as we fhall anfwer at that great 
 day, when the fecrets of all hearts fhall be difclofed : Moft humbly 
 befeeching the Lord, to ltrengthen us by his holy Spirit for this 
 end, and to blefs our defires and proceedings with fuch fuccefs, as 
 may be deliverance and fafety to his people, and encouragement to 
 other Chriflian Churches, groaning under, or in danger of the 
 yoke of Antichriftian tyranny, to join in the fame, or like AfTocia- 
 tion and Covenant -, to the Glory of God, the enlargement of the 
 kingdom of Jefus Chrift, and the peace and tranquillity of Chriftian 
 kingdoms and commonwealths. 
 
 A C T 
 
[ *« ] 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 ASSOCIATE PRESBYTERY, 
 
 FOR RENEWING THE 
 
 NATIONAL COVENANT of Scotland, and the 
 Solemn League and Covenant of the Three 
 Nations, in a Way and Manner agreeable to our 
 prefent Situation, and Circumstances, in this 
 Period, 
 
 At Stirling the twentieth and third day of December, one thoufand 
 /even hundred a?id forty -three Tears : 
 
 THE which day and place, the minifters and elders affociate to- 
 gether, being met in Pre/by tery ; and taking under their fe- 
 rions confideration, how the Lord was gracioufly pleafed to vifit 
 this nation with the light of the glorious Gofpel, not only in great 
 purity but alfo with remarkable power and efficacy, when Anti- 
 chriflian darknefs had overfpread the whole land ; and that when, 
 together with the nations about, we were groaning under the yoke 
 of Popifh tyranny, idolatry and fuperftition, even then the Lord 
 did, by his outftretched arm, deliver our fathers from the bondage 
 that they were under to Rome Antichriftian, and reared up a taber- 
 nacle for himfelf among us, according to the pattern mown in the 
 mount of Divine Revelation ; a pure fyftem of Truths, laid down 
 from the Word of God in our firft Confeflion of Faith, directed 
 mainly againft the errors and abominations of the Church of Rome % 
 the great point upon which the Teftimony of the Lord's Witnefles 
 was then ftated, was received, embraced and confeffed, by all ranks 
 of perfons in this land ; and in like manner, the Worfhip of God 
 was purged from the abominable idolatries, the grofs corruption and 
 fuperftition of the Church of Rome -, and the government and dif- 
 cipline of the houfe of God was eftablifhed, according to the divine 
 pattern, in the due fubordination of congregational elderfhips to 
 Prefbyteries, of Preibyteries to Synods, and of Synods to General 
 Aflemblies : The Prefbytery further confidering, that all ranks of 
 perfons within this land, have fundry times bound, both themfelves 
 and pofterity, by a Solemn National Oath and Covenant, [to 
 abide in the faith, profeflion and obedience of the forefaid true re- 
 formed religion, in Doctrine, Worfhip, Government and Difcipline, in 
 oppofition to the corrupt do&rines, the grofs idolatry and fuperfti- 
 tion 
 
Acl for renewing our National Covenants. 13 
 
 tion of the Church of Rome, and whatfoever elfe is contrary to 
 found doctrine and the power of godlinefs :] And that afterwards, 
 by the good hand of God upon them, all the three nations were 
 brought to join themfelves to the Lord, and to one another, in a 
 Solemn League and Covenant, [for the prefervation of the 
 forefaid reformed religion in the Church of Scotland, in doctrine, 
 worihip, difcipline and government; for the reformation of religion 
 in England and Ireland, in doctrine, worihip, difcipline and govern- 
 ment, according to the Word of God, and the example cf the bed 
 reformed Churches ; and for bringing the Churches of Chrift in the 
 three kingdoms, to the neareft conjunction and uniformity in religi- 
 on, Confeirion of Faith, Form of Church -government, Directory for 
 worihip and catechizing : that they, and their pofterity after them, 
 might as brethren, live in faith and love ; and that the Lord might 
 delight to dwell in the midft of us ; and that the Lord might be 
 one, and his name one, in the three kingdoms] : By which Oaths 
 and Covenants, all the three nations, and this nation in a fpecial 
 manner, mrrendered themfelves to the Lord fefus, and fwore fealty 
 and allegiance unto him as the only King over Zion the hill of his 
 holinefs, and as the only Lord and Lawgiver unto, and over the 
 Church, his own fpiritual, free and independent kingdom ; and 
 thereby many fcripture prophecies and promifes were in part ac- 
 complimed, fuch as " Ifa. lv. 5. Behold, thou ihalt call a nation 
 " that thou knoweft not, and nations that knew not thee mall run 
 
 " unto thee. Ifa. xlii. 4. And the Lies mall wait for his Law. 
 
 41 Zech. ii. 11. And many nations {hall be joined to the Lord in 
 " that day, and mail be my people, Micah iv. 2. And many nati- 
 ** ons fhall come and fay, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of 
 " the Lord and to the houfe of the God of Jacob, and he will teach 
 " us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths. Rev. xi. 15. And 
 " the feventh angel founded, and there were great voices in 
 " Heaven, faying, The kingdoms of this world are become the 
 " kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Chrift :" The Prefbytery further 
 confidering, that all the three nations, and particularly this whole 
 Church and land, have burft the Lord's bands afunder, and call a- 
 way his cords from them, having dealt perfidiouily and treacher- 
 ouily in the forefaid folemn Oaths and Covenants ; and that though 
 they have had many loud calls, both by word and providence, to 
 return to the Lord, yet they have held fair deceit, and refufed to 
 return : As alfo, confidering that the forefaid Oaths and Covenants 
 are of perpetual and indifpenjible obligation, and that it is the duty 
 particularly of all forts of perfons in this land, to return to the Lord, 
 by taking hold of his Covenant of Grace, which ftands faft with 
 Chrift our glorious new-covenant Head ; and, in the faith of this 
 his Covenant, and the grace and iirength therein promifed, calling 
 away all our tranfgremons and idols, devoting ourfelves unto the 
 Lord in a Covenant of Duty, and fwearing unto him : And, in re- 
 gard that as a public confeiling, acknowledging and avouching of 
 the Lord to be our God, is a religious duty required in the firfl 
 
 L Command- 
 
14 A51 for renewing our National Covenants. 
 
 Commandment of the Moral Law ; fo it has been the frequent prac- 
 tice of the Church and people of God, efpecially after grofs back- 
 
 flidmg and defection from him, as 2 Chron. xv. 10. 16. " So 
 
 " they gathered themfelves together at Jerufalem in the third month 
 " in the fifteenth year of the reign of Afa ; and they offered unto the 
 " Lord the fame time of the fpoil which they had brought, feven 
 " hundred oxen, and feven thoufand ilieep : And they entered in- 
 " to a Covenant to feek the Lord God of their fathers, with all 
 " their hearts, and with all their foul ; That whofoever would not 
 *' feek the Lord God of Ifrael, mould be put to death, whether 
 " fmall or great, whether man or woman : And they fware unto 
 " the Lord with a loud voice, and with ihouting, and with 
 " trumpets, and with cornets : And all Judah rejoiced at the Oath; 
 " for they had fworn with all their heart, and fought him with 
 " their whole defire, and he was found of them, and the Lord gave 
 " them reft round about : chap, xxiii. 16. And Jehoiada made a 
 " Covenant between him, and between all the people, and between 
 " the King, that they mould be the Lord's people : chap. xxix. 10. 
 " Now it is in mine heart to make a Covenant with the Lord God 
 " of Ifrael, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us : and chap. 
 " xxxiv. 31. And the King flood in his place, and made a Cove- 
 " nant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his 
 " Commandments and his Telfimonies and his Statutes, with all 
 " his heart, and with all his foul, to perform the words of the Co- 
 " venant which are written in this book. 2 Cor. viii. 5. They firft 
 " gave their ownfelves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of 
 " God :" And this is promifed to take place in I^ew-T^ejlainefit days, 
 Rem. ix. 25. " I will call them my people, which were not my 
 " people, and her beloved, which was not beloved \ compared with 
 
 " Zech. xiii. 9. 1 will fay, it is my people ; and they mall 
 
 " fay the Lord is my God. Ifa. xliv. 3, 4, 5. For I will pour wa- 
 " ter upon him that is thirfly, and floods upon the dry ground : I 
 " will pour my Spirit upon thy feed, and my blemng upon thine 
 " offspring : And they mail fpring up as among the grafs, as wil- 
 " lows by the water-courfes. One ihall fay, I am the Lord's ; and 
 " another fhall call himfelf by the name of Jacob ; and another 
 " fhall fubferibe with his hand unto the Lord, and firname himfelf 
 " by the name of Ifrael. Rev. xi. 15. The kingdoms of this 
 " world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Chriit ; 
 " and he fhall reign for ever and ever : " And that the fame duty 
 has been often praclifed by this Church and land, and found a fpe- 
 cial mean, through the Lord's blemng, of a reviving unto them 
 out of their bondage : And likewife, in regard this is a duty en- 
 joined with the greateft folemnity, Ifa. xlv. 23. / have fworn by 
 myfelf, the word is gone out of my mouth in right eoufnefs> andfJoall 
 not return, That unto me every k?iee Jhall bow, every tongue fhall 
 fwear : As alfo, in regard all fuch as defire to be found faithful to 
 the Lord, and to cle: ve unto him, ought publicly to confefs, ac- 
 knowledge and avouch the Lord and his truths, though they fhould 
 
 be 
 
AEifor renewing our National Covenants. 15 
 
 be the fmaller part, and though the bulk and body of a nation and 
 people, fhould either through wickednefs and enmity, or through 
 blind prejudices, or through negligence and flothfulnefs, refufe to 
 concur and join in fuch an important and folemn duty ; as the pro- 
 phefy feems plainly to point out to us, Ifa. xix. 18. In that day 
 fhallfive cities in the land of Egypt, /peak the language of Canaan, 
 and f wear to the Lord of hojls : 
 
 Therefore, and for all the above weighty grounds, reafons and 
 confiderations, this Prejbytery, in obedience to the command of 
 God, conform to the practice of the Church and people of God, re- 
 corded in Scripture, and according to the laudable example of their 
 religious progenitors in reforming times, do judge it their duty to 
 call and befeech ; likeas they hereby do, call, obtest and be- 
 seech, all forts of perfons in this land, into whofe hands this their 
 prefent act and deed may come ; and more particularly, all fuch as 
 have acceded to this Prefbytery, to humble themfelves under the 
 mighty hand of God on account of our iniquities both perfonal and 
 national ; to flee, by faith, to the atoning blood of the Lamb of 
 God for the expiation and remilTion of them ,• and to look upon him 
 whom we have pierced, and mourn bitterly, for the manifold dif- 
 honours and indignities that we have done him ; and to turn from 
 them unto the Lord our God, with hearty grief for, and hatred o£ 
 them ; and with our hearts and fouls, to renew our folemn Vows 
 and Covenant-engagements unto the moft high God. Jer. 1-5- 
 
 " Come, and let us join ourfelves to the Lord, in a perpetual 
 
 " Covenant that mall not be forgotten. Hof. vi. 1. Come and 
 " let us return unto the Lord : For he hath torn, and he will heal 
 " us ; he hath fmitten, and he will bind us up. iChron. xxx. 8. 
 l<t Now be ye not flifT-necked as your fathers were, but yield your- 
 " felves unto the Lord, and enter into his San£tuary, which he 
 " hath fanetified for ever : And ferve the Lord your God, that 
 " the liercenefs of his wrath may turn away from you." 
 
 The Prefbytery, in like manner, calling to their remembrance, 
 and ferioufly coniidering, that, when the National Covenant was re- 
 newed in Scotland, it was accommodated to the circumjlances of 
 the Church and land, at the feveral times of the renovation of the 
 fame. As for inftance, in the year 1590, it was renewed with 
 a general Bond, adapted to their circumftances at that time. Like- 
 wife, in the year 1^96, a year remarkable for folemn Cove- 
 nanting in this land, accompanied with the Lord's fpecial coun- 
 tenance and prefence, firft in the General AJfembly which met 
 that year, and afterwards in Synods and Prcfbyteries, and through 
 moft of the particular congregations. For, though the Nati- 
 onal Covenant was not fworn, at this time, in the exprefs terms 
 -in which it was before conceived; yet it was, upon the matter, 
 fworn by the Minifters of this Church, in the particular acknow- 
 ledgment which they made of the fins and corruptions of the mi- 
 niitry, and in their engagement to the duties of their office and 
 calling ; and likewife, by the feveral congregations through the 
 2and, in the engagements they came under, agreeable to their fitu- 
 
 atioji 
 
1 6 A51 for renewing our National Covenants* 
 
 ation and circumftances at that time. In like manner, in the yea 1 " 
 1638, our National Confeffion and Covenant was fworn and fiftr 
 fcribed, in a Bond fubjoined thereunto, whereby it was accommo- 
 dated to their circumftances and fituation the faid year : After- 
 wards, when the /'Jfembly that met at Glafgow the fame year found 
 and declared, that the five articles of Perth, the government of the 
 kirk by bifhops, and the civil places and power of kirkmen, were 
 all contrary to our Confeffion and Covenant ; it was again fubferib- 
 ed in the year 1639, according to the forefaid determination of that 
 AfTembly. Likewife the Solemn League a?id Covenant, which was 
 at firft fworn through the three Nations, and particularly by all 
 ranks of perfons in this land, in the year 1643 » wnen it was after- 
 wards renewed in Scotla?id, in the year 1648, it was fworn and 
 fubferibed, with a folemn acknowledgme?it of the breaches thereof, 
 and with an engagement to the duties contained therein. Which is 
 alfo agreeable to Scripture pattern and example, as Ezra, chapters 
 ix. and x, and Nehem. chapters ix. and x.; where the Church and 
 people of God, after a particular acknowledgment of their own 
 fins and the fins of their fathers, engaged themfelves againft the 
 particular evils and fins that prevailed among them, and to the 
 duties incumbent upon them in their fituation and circumftances at 
 that time. Therefore, conform to the above Scripture examples, 
 and agreeably to the above-mentioned laudable precedents in our 
 own Church and land : This Prefbytery agree and refohe, that the 
 National Covenant of Scotland, and the Solemn League and 
 Covenant of the three Nations fhall be renewed and fworn, in a 
 Manner fuitable to the prefent Circumstances and Situation 
 of this Church and land ; by all fuch as fhall willingly offer them- 
 fehes unto the Lord, in this folemn work and duty : And, for this 
 end, they appoint that both Cove?ia?its fhall be renewed in a folemn 
 acknowledgment of the public fins and breaches of the fame, and in a 
 fole7nn profeffion of our faith, and engagement unto the duties con- 
 tained in them. The lienor whereof follows. 
 
 [*TheACKNOWLEDGMENTofSINS.] 
 
 \7[/E all and every one of us, ferioufly confidering the great 
 v V goodnefs of God manifefted towards this land, in bringing 
 our fathers, firft out of Pagan darknefs, and afterwards, when anti- 
 chrijlian idolatry and fuperftition had overfpread the whole land, 
 in making the light of the glorious gofpel of Chrift break f ch 
 with fuch remarkable purity and power, that the thick cloi.us of 
 Popifh darknefs were fcattered, and the Houfe of God was reared 
 up among us, in a great meafure of conformity to the pattern laid 
 down in the Lord's word : As alfo, that all ranks of perfons with- 
 in this land, did, by a National Confeffion, Oath and Co e uena?it, abjure, 
 particularly and expre&ly, the errors and corruptions of Popery; 
 
 and 
 
 * In this Edition fome explanatory Notes are inferted, taken from an Edition 
 ?ublifiied fomc years ago by the late Reverend Mx Gib, 
 
The Acknowledgment of Sins. 1 J 
 
 and that, by the faid Oath and Covenant, they did fundry times 
 bind and oblige both themfelves and their pofterity, to continue in 
 the profeflion, faith and obedience of the true reformed religion, 
 as the fame was held forth from the Word of God, in our firft 
 ConfeJJion of Faith and Books of Difcipline ; and to defend the fame, 
 and refill all contrary errors and corruptions, according to their 
 vocation, all the days of their life : And likewife, confidering that 
 all ranks of perfons in the three Kingdoms, did, by a Solemn League 
 and Covenant, fwear each one of them for himfelf, that they mould 
 fincerely, really and conftantly, through the Grace of God, en- 
 deavour, in their feveral places and callings, the prefervation of the 
 reformed religion in the Church of Scotland, in Doctrine, Wor- 
 lhip, Difcipline and Government; the reformation of religion 
 in the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, in Doctrine, Wor- 
 ship, Difcipline and Government, according to the Word of God, 
 and the example of the belt reformed Churches ; and that they 
 mould endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three King- 
 doms, to the neareft conjunction and uniformity in Religion, Con- 
 feilion of Faith, Form of Church-Government, Directory forWor- 
 fhip and Catechifing, that they, and their pofterity after them 
 might, as brethren live in faith and love, and that the Lord might 
 delight to dwell in the midft of us : As likewife, by the faid Co- 
 venant, every one bound and obliged themfelves to perfonal refor- 
 mation ; fo that, in their feveral places and callings, they might 
 endeavour National reformation : And, in purfuance of the above 
 Covenanted uniformity, the AfTembly that met at Wejlminjler, 
 with commiffioners from the Church of Scotland, agreed upon a 
 ConfeJJion of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechifms, the Form of 
 Prejbyterial Church -Gov eminent, and of Ordination of Minijlers, 
 with a Dire&ory for the public Wcrfhip oj God ; all which were 
 received and approven by the General Affemblies of this Church, 
 in the manner exprefled in the feveral Acls adopting the fame ; 
 and they hold forth unto us, from the Word of God, the fame true 
 reformed religion, in Doctrine, Worihip, Order and Government, 
 which had been, from our reformation from Popery, believed and 
 practifed in this Church and land, and fworn to in our National Cove- 
 nant: And farther, confidering that all ranks of perfons, both in for- 
 mer and prefent times, have treacheroufly departed from the Lord,. 
 and have tranfgrefTed his Laws, changed his Ordinances, and broken 
 his Covenant ; and that, at this time, we are under many heavy 
 fpiritual plagues, which are the ordinary forerunners of defolating 
 ftrokes and judgments, both upon Churches and Nations. 
 
 Therefore, being warranted by the Word of God and the exam- 
 ple of the Church and people of God in Scripture, and remember- 
 ing the practice of our religious predecefibrs, who have acknow- 
 ledged before the Lord their departure from him, by unbelief and 
 manifold breaches of their folemn National Engagements and Co- 
 venants, and have engaged themfelves to Reformation ; and per- 
 ceiving that this duty, when gone about in the Faith of God's pro- 
 mife, and in obedience to his command, hath been attended with a 
 
 reviving 
 
iS The Acknowledgment of Sins. 
 
 reviving out of bondage, and with a bleffing and fuccefs from Hea- 
 ven : We desire, in dependence upon the Lord Jesus who is 
 exalted a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance and forgive- 
 nefs of lins, to acknowledge ; and in the faith of his attoning 
 blood, and in the ftrength of the Grace that in Chrift Jefus, we 
 confess and acknowledge, as in his fight, who is the Searcher 
 of hearts, our own tranfgreilions and the tranfgreffions of this Church 
 and land. 
 
 We with our Fathers have hnned, we have done wickedly ; 
 our Kings, our Princes, our Nobles, our Judges, our Magiftrates, 
 our Minifters and People of all forts. Though the Lord hath fpok- 
 en long and clearly unto us in flie word of the gofpel, we have not 
 hearkned to his voice ; though we have made fome profeffion of 
 Chrift, yet we have not, as we ought, received him into our hearts, 
 nor walked worthy of him in our lives : And in this particular in- 
 stance we have, in a very eminent manner, tranfgreffed the Cove- 
 nant of the Lord our God. Our own confciences within us, and 
 the many fpiritual judgments that we are under, may convince us 
 of our manifold, wilful, and renewed breaches of our folemn Oaths 
 and Covenants. 
 
 Particularly, though the finfulnefs of receiving into our bofom, 
 and admitting into places of power and truft, fuch as were oppofers 
 of, and enemies to, a covenanted work of reformation, was folemn- 
 ly acknowledged in the year 1649, and reformation in this particu- 
 lar was fworn unto : Yet in a fhort time thereafter, in confequence 
 of the public refolutiojis, places of power and trull were filled with 
 fuch ; and they were fuddenly received into full Church-communion 
 and fellowfhip. And our back fli dings did increafe from time to 
 time, till that general apoftafy and defection, when Charles II. be- 
 ing reilored to the government, all the legal fecurities given to a 
 covenanted reformation betwixt the years 1638 and 1650, were 
 pulled down ; all the feveral Parliaments that met during this pe- 
 riod, together with all their acts and proceedings in favours of Re- 
 formation, were declared null and void : In like manner, the Pref- 
 byierial order and government of the houfe of God, to the mainte- 
 nance and prefervation of which the whole land was folemnly fworn 
 was overthrown ; and Prelacy, which had been abjured by our Co- 
 venants, was fet up in its place : And likewife that famous Afiem- 
 bly which met at Glajgow in the year 1638, was declared by the 
 Parliament to be an unlawful and feditious meeting ; and all that 
 was done between the forefaid year, and the year 1651, in profe- 
 cution of a Covenanted Reformation, was declared rebellious and 
 treafonable ; and the National ' Covenant as fworn in the year 1638, 
 together with the Solemn League and Covenant , were declared to be 
 unlawful oaths, and not binding on the lands ; yea, fuch was the 
 height of wickednefs that they were ignominioufly burnt in fome 
 confiderable places of the nation : As alfo, moll iinful and wicked 
 invalions were made upon the Headfhip and Sovereignty of our 
 Lord Jefus Chrift, the alone Head and King of his Church ; by fe- 
 veral Parliamentary ads and deeds, afferting the King's fupremacy 
 
 in 
 
The Acknowledgment of Sins. 19 
 
 in all caufes whatfoever, and declaring that the ordering and difpo- 
 fal of the external government and policy of the Church, doth pro- 
 perly belong to the King, as an inherent right of the Crown. And 
 when Prelacy was thus reared up, as the molt part of the miniftry 
 made a finful and fhameful defection unto it, fo the bulk and body 
 of the land, in contradiction to our folemn Oaths and Covenants, did 
 fubmit unto the fame. Likewife in this day of apoftafy and defec- 
 tion fuch of the miniftry as complied not with Prelacy did, upon the 
 privy council's proclamations, defert their Synodical and Prejbyteri- 
 al meetings, whence no judicial Teftimony was lifted up againft the 
 courfe of defection : Yea, the melt part of them left their own 
 flocks, which thereby became a prey to the grievous wolves that 
 were afterwards thruft in upon them. 
 
 Moreover, during this period of haincus backfliding, many fin- 
 ful oaths, declarations and bonds were impofed ; and, among others, 
 the oath of allegiance or rather fupremacy, with the instrument of- 
 fertory of the royal prerogative ; the declarition, and that felf-con- 
 tradi&ory oath the Tef : By which oaths and bonds, the ufurped 
 fupremacy over the Houfe of God was acknowledged and recognif- 
 ed, and a Covenanted Reformation was renounced and abjured ; fo 
 that ail ranks of perfons in this land made themfelves more and 
 more vile, by the blackelt perjury, and the greateft apoftafy from 
 the Lord. x\nd, as if all this had not been enough, fuch as endea- 
 voured to witnefs againft that courfe of grievous backfliding, and 
 who departed from evil, became a prey to the greateft tyranny and 
 cruelty : even to imprisonment, banifhment, fpoiling of their goods 
 and cruel tortures ; yea the blood of the witnefTes for a covenanted 
 reformation, was £bed in our principal cities under colour of law, 
 and likewife in the high places of the fields, without any legal pro- 
 cefs againft them : Therefore, in our fkirts is to be found the blood 
 of thofe that have fuffered for the teftimony of Jems, which is cry- 
 ing to heaven for vengeance againft us to this very day. 
 
 Alfo, in confequence of the above-mentioned ufurped fupremacy 
 over the kingdom of Chrift, in the year 1669 and 1672, indulgences 
 to fome minifters who had not conformed to prelacy, were granted, 
 under certain conditions, limitations and reilriclions : Wherefore, 
 as thefe indulgences had their rife, fubfiftence and conveyance from 
 the above wicked fupremacy, and as the accepters of them were 
 limited and reftri&ed in the exercife of their miniftry ; fo the ac- 
 ceptance of them was a departure from the word of Chrift's pa- 
 tience, which his fervants and people in this land were called to 
 hold faft, efpecially in fuch a day of temptation and trial. Like- 
 wife, when the Duke of York, a profeffed Papifl, was advanced 
 to the throne, a boundlefs toleration was granted by this popifh 
 prince ; which was plainly defigned for the introduction of popery 
 and flavery, being exprefsly conveyed from the King's abfolute 
 power, fufpending and difabling all the penal ftatutes againft Pa- 
 prfts : And, inftead of a due teftimony offered againft the fame, 
 it was accepted by all the minifters of the prefbyterial denomination 
 
 through 
 
2 o The Acknowledgment of Sins, 
 
 through the land, except a few only ; with an addrefs of thanks 
 for the fame, by a confiderable number of the faid minifters, in 
 name of the reft : Whereby we have been ftill further involved 
 in the hainous guilt of departing more and more from the Lord. 
 
 As thus the beautiful order, the pure government and difcipline 
 of the Houfe of the Lord, was overturned, buried and foriaken ; fo, 
 that apoftate Prelatical Church (or party, and generally the whole 
 land) did likewife reject Chrift the chief corner-ftone, in the word of 
 his grace and the purity of Gofpel-truth ; for maintaining of which 
 this land was once fo famous, and whereby, at our Reformation, a 
 nation was born at once, and a people brought forth as in one day : 
 And inftead of the purity of Gofpel-truth, there was a general a- 
 poftafy to Arminiaji and other anti-evangelic errors, perverting the 
 Gofpel of Chrift. 
 
 Though the Lord was gracioufly pleafed, by a very glorious and 
 furprifing appearance for thefe lands in the latter end of the year 
 1688, to deliver us from the yoke of tyranny and arbitrary govern- 
 ment, under which we then groaned ; yet we have never, to this 
 day, rendered unto him according to the benefits which we have 
 received from him. We did not underftand his wonderful works, 
 neither remembered the multitude of his mercies. We provoked 
 him at the fea, even at the Red Sea; and, inftead of waiting for his 
 counfel, we followed the counfels of flefh and blood. We turned 
 not unto him with our whole hearts, but feignedly : And our 
 backflidings have increafed from time to time, till our apoftafy and 
 defection, in the prefent age, is come to an height, as to fome par- 
 ticular inftances, which was not known in former times. 
 
 Though the Lord wrought a great falvation for us the forefaid 
 year, yet we faid not, Where is the Lord, that brought us up out of 
 the Land of Egypt ? We returned not unto the Lord, by a free and 
 particular confeflion and acknowledgment of our above, and many 
 other fteps of defection and backfliding from him ; nor by the re- 
 novation of our folemn Covenant-engagements to the moft high 
 God. 
 
 When the eftates of the nation were met in a free Parliament, 
 in the year 1690, our Prefhyterial Church-government was fettled 
 •according to its civil eftablifhment in the year 1592 ; and all the 
 fteps of Reformation attained to in that covenanting period betwixt 
 1638 and 1650 were neglected and paft by : Yea, in the faid fet- 
 tlement of Prefbytery, all that was done againft a covenanted work 
 of Reformation, in the firft feflion of Parliament of King Charles 
 after his reftoration, is left untouched -, particularly the infamous 
 acl refcijfory, whereby all the acts and deeds of the forefaid cove- 
 nanting period were declared null and void, is never repealed : 
 Alfo that impious and wicked acl:, the fecond act of the fecond 
 feflion of the fame Parliament, declaring null and void the proceed- 
 ings of that faithful AfTembly at Glafgow in the year 1638, and 
 all other acts and deeds of that reforming period, ftands in the body 
 of our Scots Laws to this very day. And thus that great work, 
 
 which 
 
The Acknowledgment of Sins. o,x 
 
 which the Lord wrought with an outitretched arm in the days of 
 our fathers, lies Hill buried under the graveftone of feveral Parlia- 
 mentary acts and deeds ; which is an iniquity that teitiiies againfl 
 us to this very day. Likewife by the fame Parliament, in the 
 year 1690, inftead of our c?a<z;t7/<«// /"-allegiance, which was judged a 
 proper badge of loyalty in our reforming periods, a general oath of 
 allegiance to the Sovereign was impofed, 
 
 And as, in the above and like iuitances, the Inflates of the nation 
 mewed no difpofition to return unto the Lord •, fo, when the iirft 
 (general sijjtmbly of this Church did meet, the fame year 169c, 
 they did not, in their eccleiiaflic.d capacity, faithfully and particu- 
 larly reprcfent unto all ranks of perfons through the land, their 
 manifold iniquities and backflidings, in order to excite them to hu- 
 miliation and mourning before the Lord : They fat down upon the 
 above civil eftablifhment, without remonfi rating againfl: what was 
 defective in the fame ; or making any exprefs and particular ac- 
 knowledgment of the many hainous backflidings of the former 
 period . They did not, by any formal act, condemn the facrilegi- 
 pus uiutpation of the Royal Dignity of Zion's King } nor did they, 
 h^v any exprefs act, affert him to be what he is, 'Tbe alone King and 
 Ilea J ofl'.'s Church ; in opposition to the above mentioned ufurpa- 
 tion ot his royal prerogative, and the indignities done unto the 
 fame by the many wicked acts and laws that were made, and the 
 iinful oaths that were impofed in that period : Neither did they af- 
 fert the divine right of Prefbytery, nor the intrinjic power of the 
 Church, with refpect to the calling of her National Affemblies , 
 which are two fpecial branches of the Redeemer's glorious head- 
 ship in ami over his Church : Likewife, they did not exprefsly ap- 
 prove our covenanted Reformation, attained unto from the year 
 1638 to the year 1650 ; neither did they plainly juftify the wreft- 
 lings, testimonies and iufferings of the Lord's remnant for the fame , 
 in the late perfecutmg times : Alfo they did not, by any particular 
 act of Atfembly, ailert the obligation of our Covenants National and 
 Solemn League ; and their binding force upon pofterity : Nor did 
 they particularly condemn the above-mentioned iinful oaths, de- 
 clarations and bonds, and many other Heps of defection from the 
 Lord, during the forefaid period. And though the Lord, by hi. 
 fpecial and remarkable providence, brought the minifters and el- 
 ders of this Church together again in a National AlTembly : yet, 
 inftead of cenfuring fuch as had made grofs defection from the 
 Lord, fome were admitted into minifterial communion, and many 
 into the ofrice of elders, and multitudes into full communion with 
 the Church in her fealing ordinances, who had taken the above- 
 mentioned oaths and bonds, and who were deeply involved in the 
 guilt of perfecuting the Lord's people, and in the other defections 
 of that period of apoftafy ; wdthout requiring from them any evi- 
 dence of their repentance, and forrovv for the fame. 
 
 Thus though the Lord did wonderfully deliver us, w T e rendered 
 not unto him according- to the mercies received ; but mingled our- 
 
 M felves 
 
22 The Acknowledgment of Sins. 
 
 felves with our enemies, and have learned of them their ways : 
 And they have been a dead weight upon the Lord's work and in- 
 tereft ever fince that time. 
 
 Our iniquities and backfiidings have increafed mere and more : 
 Particularly when, by the treaty of Union with England, in the year 
 1 7c 7, we were incorporated with our neighbours in England, upon 
 terms oppofite unto, and inconufient with our Covenant -union with 
 them ; in regard the maintenance of the hierarchy and ceremonies 
 of the Church of England is made, by the faid treaty, a fundamen- 
 tal and effential article of the Union of the two kingdoms : And 
 thus, with our own confent, the Antichrijlian hierarchy, and a fu- 
 perflitious worfnip in England, have all the fecurity that human 
 laws can give them ; whereby this whole nation hath again not on- 
 ly given openly up with their folemn Covenant-engagements to the 
 Lord, but alfo involved themlelves in the guilt of confenting to, 
 and thereby approving of, the Antichrijlian hierarchy, and a fn- 
 perftitious worfhip in England. 
 
 Immediately after the forefaid incorporating Union, our land was 
 made to groan under the load of unnecejfary fwearing, in the ma- 
 nifold repetition of oaths 5 and the nation was burdened with un- 
 lawful oaths : Such as the oath of Abjuration, impofed Upon all in 
 civil and military trufl, and afterwards upon the minifters of the 
 Church of Scotland ; which oath we acknowledge as one of our na- 
 tional fins and Heps of defection, in fo far as the united connitution, 
 oppofite unto our Covenant-union, is thereby homologated and ap- 
 pro ven : Likewife, the fac i-amental tejt * is impofed upon the mem- 
 bers of this Church, while ferving the Sovereign in Englcmd and 
 Ireland. Alfo a fnperftitious form of fwearing is introduced a- 
 mongft us, by laying the hands upon, and tiffing the Go/pels. More- 
 over, the fame oaths are frequently repeated upon the fame day, 
 to qualify men for different polls and offices ; whereby the weight 
 and impreflion of a folemn oath is ready to wear off the fpirits of 
 many. And, by all thefe finful impositions and practices, our land 
 is more and more involved in fin and guilt. 
 
 Further, a fhort time after the above.incorporating Union, parti- 
 cularly in the year 1712, an almoft boundlefs toleration was gran- 
 ted \ whereby a door was opened to grofs corruption in principle, 
 which always brings along with it loofenefs in practice : And in 
 confequence of this toleration, the fupcrlHtious and corrupt wor- 
 fhip of the Church of England is fet up in all the corners of this 
 land. Alfo, in the forefaid year, the right of prejentation to vacant 
 Churches, claimed by patrons, was again lettered unto them ; and 
 though patronage is contrary to our received and known principles, 
 yet countenance is given- to this Antichriftian usurpation, by the 
 judicatories their intruding prefentees upon reclaiming congregati- 
 ons. Likewife, the fuperflitious obfervation of holy-days is intro- 
 duced 
 
 * That is, — a taking tlte Sacrament of onr Lord's Supper, as clifpenfrd in the Church 
 of England '. 
 
The Acknowledgment of Sins, 23 
 
 duced amongft us, by the vacation of our moft confiderable courts 
 of juftice in the latter end of December. By all which finful cour- 
 fes and practices, our land is defiled under the inhabitants thereof be- 
 caufe they have tranfgrejjed the Laws, changed the Ordinance^ broken 
 the everlajling Cove?iant. 
 
 As our provocations in the above inftances are great, fo they 
 have increafed, and are ftill more grievous, through the deep wounds 
 that have been given unto many precious and important truths, 
 laid down from the Word of God in our Confeflion of Faith. Par- 
 ticularly, it has been vented and taught among us, That " nothing 
 " is to be admitted in religion but what is agreeable to reafon, and 
 " determined by reafon to be lo :" That " there are means appointed 
 " of God for obtaining laving grace ; which means, when diligent- 
 " ly ufed, with ferioufneis, fincerity, an-d faith of being heard, God 
 " hath promifed to blefs with fuccefs ;" and that " the going about 
 " thefe means in the forefaid manner, is not above the reach of our * 
 " natural powers and abilities :" That, " were it not for the profpeel: 
 " of happinefs, we could not, and therefore would not ferve God :" 
 u That " by the light of nature, and works of creation and provi- 
 " dence, including tradition, God hath given an obfeure objective 
 " revelation unto all men, of his being reconcileable to finners :" 
 That " it is probable that none are excluded from the benefits- of 
 " the remedy for lin, provided by God, except thofe who, by their 
 u aclual fins, exclude thernfelves, and flight or rcjecl: either the 
 " clearer light of the Gofpel, revealed to the Church, or that ob- 
 " fcure difcovery and oiler of grace, made to all without the Church :" 
 As .alfo, That " there was not a proper Covenant made with Adam, 
 " forhimfelf and hispofterity ;" and that M Adam was not a federal 
 " head to his pofterity." 
 
 Though the above grofs and dangerous errors, whereby many 
 important truths, laid down from the Word of God in our Con- 
 feflion of Faith, are fubverted, were all taught in one of our uni- 
 verlities j and though they were brought before the judicatories of 
 this Church ; and likewiie, though the teacher of them owned and 
 maintained them in his defences at their bar : Yet the General Af- 
 fembly, in the year 171 7, difmilVed the procels without any cen- 
 sure inflicted upon the faid teacher ; yea, without any particular 
 exprefs Teftimony againlf the above grois and dangerous errors. 
 And fo, as a righteous judgment upon this Church, for neglecting 
 to vindicate injured truth, and to cenfure the broacher of the above 
 errors, the Lord permuted him to proceed from evil to worfe, even 
 the length of impugning the Deity of the great God our Saviour ; as 
 appears from the procefs againft him in the years 1727 and 1728. 
 For it was found evidently proven, by the AiTemblies which met 
 the faid years, that he had vented and taught, That cur Lord Jefus 
 Chrijl is not neceflarily exiflent : That the necefTary exigence of 
 our Lord Jefus Chrijl is a thing we know, not : That the three Per- 
 fans of the Trinity are not to be faid to be numerically one in fubjiance 
 or t • /fence : As alfo. thai the terms NecefTary Exiilence, fupreme De- 
 
 itv. 
 
24 « The Acknowledgment of Sins. 
 
 ity, and the title of the only true God, may he taken in a fenfe that 
 includes the pcrfonal property of the Father, and fo not belonging to 
 the Son. By which proportions, the Son of God our Redeemer, 
 and the Holy Ghoft our' San drifter, have been robbed of their true 
 Deity, and confequently of their effejitial glory . 
 
 Through the above-mentioned grofs and dangerous proportions, 
 this land has been the feat of pernicious errors, and of grievous 
 blafphemy againft the Perfons of the adorable Trinity. But though 
 it is to be feared, that the feed of error which hath been thus town 
 amongfl us, has taken deep root, and is bringing forth corrupt and 
 poifonous fruits : Yet, as the judicatories of this Church have ne- 
 ver inflicted any cenfure upon the teacher of the above errors, ade- 
 quate to the great fcandal and offence he had given ; fo they have 
 not, to this . very day, particularly and exprefsly condemned any 
 of the above-mentioned errors, as contrary to the doctrine h.l'i 
 forth from the Word of God in our Gonfemon cf Faith ; nor have 
 they afTerted the truth, in opposition unto the terms in which it has 
 been impugned and denied : And thus, many important and pre- 
 cious truths have been left wounded and bleeding, without any 
 fnitable Teflimony given unto them. 
 
 Likewife, feveral other grofs and dangerous errors have been 
 vented among us ; even fuch, whereby the peculiar and fuperna- 
 tural operations of the Holy Spirit have been traduced, and fpiritual 
 exercife expofed and. ridiculed ; and fuch, whereby the peculiar 
 doctrines of the gofpel, concerning the per/on and mediation of 
 Chrifl, are wickedly fubverted. And though feveral fuch errors 
 have been brought to the bar of the prefent judicatories •, yet nei- 
 ther is the author thereof cenfured, nor is there any exprefs judi- 
 cial. Teflimony given againfl them. Moreover, it has been publicl}- 
 afferted and maintained by him, "That the fole and univerfal motive 
 to virtuous actions, is felf-love, inter ejl or pleafure ; whereby [elf is 
 exalted unto the throne of God. And yet the AfTembly, in the 
 year 1736, not only difmifTed the publiiher of this and feveral fuch 
 grofs errors, without any cenfure inflicted urion him, or any con- 
 demnation of his errors : But inflead of this, the faid AfTembly ad- 
 mitted his explication of the article concerning felf-love, namely, 
 c That our delight in the honour mid glory of God, is the chief motive 
 of all virtuous and religious aclions ,• whereby it appears, that the 
 forefaid AfTembly have adopted the above erroneous principle con- 
 cerning felf-love, as their own : In regard that the maintainor there- 
 of does, by the above explication, if ill make our delight (and fo our 
 felf-love, interefl or pleafure) the chief motive of all virtuous and 
 religious actions •, fo that hereby the great idol felf is fUll exalted 
 and placed in the throne of God, and the declarative glory of God, 
 is flill fubordinated unto felf, as cur chief and higheft end. 
 
 Our iniquities and backilidings have aifo increafed by die con- 
 duct of the prefent judicatories, in their exerciimg a lordly power 
 and authority over the heritage of God, and by their grofs pervert- 
 ing of the ordinance of difcipline. Thus, violence has been done 
 
 to 
 
The Acknowledgment of Si?is. 25 
 
 to the flock and heritage of God, by obtruding miniiters upon them 
 in all corners of the land; and by exerciiing a legiflative power and 
 authority over the houfe of God, in making laws to his fubje&s 
 contrary to his will declared in his word ; as was done by the Ge- 
 neral AlTembly in the year 1732, in their acl anent the fettlement 
 of vacant pariihes. And though this a£t was repealed by the Af- 
 fembly, in the year 1734; yet it was not repealed on account of 
 thefnfulnefs thereof, but only becaufe it was enacted contrary to 
 fome ordinary forms. Accordingly the contrariety of the faid aft 
 to the Word. of God, and the laudable constitutions of this Church 
 agreeable thereto, has never been acknowledged : Yea, vacant con- 
 gregations are, to this day, fettk d according to the manner pre- 
 scribed in the faid repealed aft. Like vile, the ordinance of disci- 
 pline has been perverted by the AfYembly in the year 1733 ', in ap- 
 pointing their commiflion to inflict cenfures upon fome miniiters, 
 merely for protefting, for their own exoneration, againit a fentencc 
 of the faid AfTembly, retraining miniiterial freedom, in teflifying 
 doftrinally againit a courfe of defection, in cafe the faid miniiters 
 mould not retract their proteflation. Moreover, by an aft of the 
 faid AlTembly, concerning the miniiters of the Preibytery of Dun- 
 fermline, men as cannot fubmit to the mimicry of intruders are ex- 
 communicated from fealing ordinances \ and miniiters are threatened 
 with the higlieft cenfures of the Church, if they difpenfe fealing or- 
 dinances unto them : And yet the erroneous are diihiiiTed from the 
 bar of the judicatories, either without any ceniure at all, or with no 
 due cenfure inflicted upon them. 
 
 Alio, of late, the Sabbath of the Lord has been publicly profaned, 
 by the moil part of miniiters their reading the acl of Parliament a- 
 nent Captain john Porteous ; by which reading of that aft, the alone 
 Headihip and Sovereignty of the Lord -J ef us over the Church, his free 
 and independent kingdom, was likewife praEiically given up *. And 
 fome of the judicatories having Screened the readers of the faid aft, 
 by their acts of forbearance ; and none of the judicatories having cen- 
 fured any of them for this public fcandal and offence : The whole 
 lump of the eitablifhed Church, thus leavened, by fuifering the lea- 
 ven of this unpurged fcandal to continue among them, may there- 
 fore 
 
 * This John Porteous, a Captain in the Town-guard pf Edinburgh, having fired and 
 caufed his men alfo to fire among the multitude, upnn feme p-ovocation which he got 
 when guarding the fcaffbld at an execution,--- whereby a confiderable number of per- 
 sons were killed a;ul wounded; he wa< condemned to lurTer death, for the murders 
 thu> commited by him. But he obtained a reprieve, which was fuppofed would be 
 perpetual. Hereupon a great body of people, on the evening of the 7th of September 
 1736, having taken efteclual meaiures to prevent oppoiition, — broke into the prifar, 
 carried him out; and gave him a public execution in the Grafs-market. 
 
 At the enfuihg frffion of Parliament, the a:t hear referred to was palled : By which 
 all perfons charged with being acceffpry to the murder of Captain Porteouf, were 
 commanded on pain of death to ftfrrertder them !elves for trial within a limited tirao ; 
 all perfons concealing or fuccouiing them after that time, were adjudged to incur the 
 pains of death ; amf perfons were encouraged to become evidences againit their a r- 
 complices. by a promifc of pir^ori,- -r.id pia great reward. [Yet no difcovory w..» ;- 
 ver made !J 
 
 And 
 
20 'The Acknowledgment of Sins: 
 
 fore juftly be conftructed to have departed from ; their holding of the 
 King ofZion, and to have fubjected and fub'ordinated their eccleTi- 
 aftical meetings to the civil powers ; whereby the Redeemer's Crown 
 has been profaned and caft down to the ground. 
 
 Though the judicatories of this national Church have neen, for a 
 confiderable time, carrying on acourfe of defection ; yet they are fo 
 far from acknowledging their iniquity, and returning to the Lord, 
 that they condemn a Teftimony unto the truth ; and they not only 
 refufe to lift up a judicial Teftimony for truth themfelves, but they 
 perfecute ethers who are endeavouring to do it. Particularly, the 
 General AfTernbly that met in the year 1738, condemned in bulk 
 the 'Tefimony emitted by the AiTociate Prefbytery, as calling many 
 groundlefs and calumnious reflections upen the faid judicatories, 
 without condefcending upon any one of thefe which they call 
 groundlefs and calumnious reflections \ whereby, inflead of confef- 
 fmg their guilt to the glory of God, they juitify themfelves, and 
 plead that they are innocent, and refute that they have finned : Far- 
 ther, the faid AfTernbly impowered their CommiiTion to libel and 
 cite the feceding minifters before the enfuing AfTernbly. Likewife, 
 the AfTernbly in the year 1739, (even in the face of a public and 
 open teftimony given by the Prefbytery, in their Acl and Declina- 
 ture read in prefence of the AfTernbly, againft their courfe cf de- 
 fection and backfliding from the 'Lord ; together with a folemn call 
 given them, in the faid Act and Declinature, to return to the Lord) 
 did harden themfelves yet more in their iniquity, by condemning 
 this Teftimony ; as containing nothing but groundlefs prejudices a- 
 gainft the prefent judicatories, and moft injurious, infolerit and dif- 
 refpecrful expreftions, concerning the higheft civil authority : 
 Though the Declinature contains nothing with reference to civil au- 
 thority, but a juft and neceffary Teftimony againft the above act of 
 Parliament anent Captain John Porteous. Moreover, they recom- 
 mended it to the next AfTernbly to inflict the cenfure of depofition 
 upon the feceding minifters ; and afterwards that AfTernbly did pre- 
 tend to do fo : By which procedure they have heightened and aggra- 
 vated their iniquity ; in regard they have thereby materially fen- 
 tenced all fuch minifters to depofition, who fhall duly teftify againft 
 the prefent courfe of defection, which, as matters ftand, cannot be 
 done in a way of communion with the prefent judicatories. And 
 we deftre to lament over it before the Lord, that the prefent judica- 
 tories have come to fuch a height of defection, that they continue to. 
 
 refufe 
 
 And this acl every mmlfter of the Church of Scotland was appointed to read from 
 the pulpit, in the time ot divine worfhip, on the fir it Lord's day of every month for 
 one whole year ; under heavy ecclcjiajlical per.aitie;, t'/ci. *' in cafe fuch miniiler iliall 
 '* ncglccl to read this act as is hereby directed, he ihali for the tint offence be declar 
 *' ed incapable of fitting or voting in any Chureh-judicatory ; ami, for the fecond of- 
 " fence, be declared incapable of taking, holding or enjoying any ecclefjaftical bene- 
 " free in Scotland:' Which eeetijiafiical penalties were appointed to be executed by 
 the Court of Seffion, or any Court of J'lflic'ary ; upon a fu miliary complaint, at the 
 .. of his Majeity'j> Advocate ! 
 
The Acknowledgment of Sins. 27 
 
 refufe all calls which are given them to return to the Lord, from 
 whom we have, every one of us, deeply revolted. 
 
 It is alfo to be lamented, that a flood of errors hath broke in 
 upon the land ; whereby the Lord's name is dreadfully difhonoured, 
 the doctrine of juftification by grace is wofully corrupted, the pro- 
 per imputation of the righteoufnefs of the Lord Jefus Chrift for our 
 juftification before God is denied, the foundations of our holy reli- 
 gion overturned, thouiands of precious fouls deftroyed, and wide 
 fteps made towards Popery and Paganifm. More particularly, it 
 is to be lamented, that there is a dreadful prevalency of Deifm j 
 whereby all revealed religion is rejected, and the light, of corrupt 
 nature is exalted in its room : That the feed of Arianif.n is fown 
 amongft us, whereby the true and fupreme Deity of the Son of 
 God, and of the Holy Ghoft, is denied ; and thus, the very foun- 
 dation of the Chriftian faith is unhinged : As alfo, that there is a 
 general growth of Arminumifm ; whereby it .is maintained, that 
 God's act. of election and reprobation depends on his forefight of 
 ihe good or evil works of men ; that jelus Chrift, by his death, has 
 merited grace to all mankind ; that notwithstanding the fail, man 
 retains a freedom of will to that which is fpirituaiiy good ; that 
 the Grace of God is not irrefiftible and efficacious of itfelf ; and 
 that believers in Chrift may fall totally and finally away from a 
 ltate of grace. And it is further to be lamented that, of Jate, fomc 
 who formerly diftinguifhed themfelves in zeal for our Preformation 
 and covenanted Principles, have turned aiide to Latitndinarian, Inde- 
 pendent and Se&arian extremes ; whereby the unity of the true 
 Catholic Church is denied, and the Prefbyterial order and govern- 
 ment, the only government which Chrift hath inftituteu.. in his 
 houfe, is fub verted. As alfo, the warrantablenefs and great delign 
 of Confeftions of Faith and Catechifms, as tells of foundnefs in the 
 faith, is thereby overthrown ; and a wide door is opened unto a 
 toleration of all herefy and error, under the old fpecious pretext of 
 liberty of confeience. And for all thefe things the .Lord. may juft- 
 ]y fay of us, / hearkened and heard, but they /pake not aright ; no 
 ?nan repented him of his vAckednefs, faying, what have I done ? Every 
 one turned to his courfe, as the horfe rufheth i?ito the battle. 
 
 Together with the above-mentioned fteps of defection and back- 
 fliding, a flood of profanenefs and wickednefs overfpreads the whole 
 land. All ranks of perfons have corrupted their ways ; our nobi- 
 lity and gentry have for the mod part, burit the Lord's bands afun- 
 cter, and call away his cords from them ; our minifters, burgeftes, 
 and commons of all forts, have turned away backward, and forfaken 
 the holy One of Ifrael ; The whole head is fick, and the whole 
 heart is faint. Many hainous fins and provocations, againft the 
 iirft and fecond table of the Law, are to be found among us : Such 
 as grofs ignorance of God, Atheifm, Infidelity, profane mocking* 
 at the myfteries of religion; the holy Scriptures are burl eicmed, 
 Popiih errors and delufions are fp reading, and the idolatrous mafs 
 is openly frenumted h.i nitmy corners of the land ; the name of God 
 
28 The Acknowledgment of Sins. 
 
 is profaned by rafh and ordinary fwearing in common converfation, 
 and by perjury and falfe fwearing, especially in trade and com- 
 merce ; the Lord's day is many ways profaned, particularly by 
 frequent and unneceflary jcurne} ing from place to place •, many 
 are without natural affection, unruly, difobedicnt ; the land is alfo 
 denied with murders, drunkennefs, prodigality and vanity in appa- 
 rel, foolilh jellings, rioting and wantonnefs ; yea, with open adul- 
 teries and uncleannefs of all forts : And fome profane and finful 
 cuftoms, which have little obtained in former times, are countenan- 
 ced and encouraged both at court, and in fome eminent places of 
 the nation ; fuch as, the diverlions of the llage, mafque rades, balls, 
 and other fuch feminaries of lewdnefs and lafcivioufnefs : Like-wife, 
 fraud and injuftice, in dealings betwixt man and man, are to be 
 found among us ; together with oppreiTion, lyiv.g, envy, malice, 
 evil-fpeaking, backbiting, falihood, dimmulation, and covetoufnefs 
 which is idolatry : Likewifc, of late, an idob.trou'3 picture of our 
 Lord Jcfus was well received in fome remarkable cities of the na- 
 tion * : As alfo, the penal ftatutes againll witches have been repeal- 
 ed by the Parliament, contrary to the eKprefs Law of God : for 
 which a hply God 7uay be provoked, in a way cf righteous judg- 
 ment, to leave thofe who are already enfnared to be hardened more 
 and mere •, and to permit Satan to tempt and feduce others, to the 
 fame wicked and dangerous fnare f. 
 
 The fins and provocations of this land are farther increafed, by 
 the kind reception that many, both miniflers and people, have 
 given to Mr George Wbitejivld ; a profeffed member and prieit of 
 the fuperilitious Church of England: And by the great entertain- 
 ment that has been given to LatitudinarLin tenets, as further propa- 
 gated by him and others ; whereby any particular Form of Church- 
 government is denied to be of divine institution, and under a pre- 
 tence of Catholic love, a fcheme is laid for uniting parties of all de- 
 nominations in Church-communion, in a way deilnuftive of any 
 Teftimony for the declarative glory of Immanuel, as Head and King 
 of X.ion, and for the Covenanted Reformation of this Church and 
 land : For which a righteous God hath juftly chojen their delufions, 
 and fent forth a Spirit of delulion among them, in the prefent aw- 
 ful work upon the bodies and fpirits of men £. And though the 
 
 Lord 
 
 • This was a large Crucifix, or a pretended fine picture of our Lord upon the 
 Crofs ; which had been very lately carried about by a Romifh Mirfionary for a (how. 
 
 f The Aflbciate Prefbytery is not to be considered, as having ever interefted 
 themfelves in the affair of thefe pcnA fiatutes, by way of particular approbation, 
 as to the terms in which any-of them were laid ; or as to what method of procefs 
 was preftribed by them, or ever praftifed in confequence of them : Nor is it to be 
 fuppofed, that the Prefbytery would have taken any particular alteration of thefe 
 fratuter— f. >r a fubjetf: of their confideration. What they faw caufe to teftify a- 
 vainft. as among the public fins of the nation is,— -an abfolute repealing of thefe 
 <ratutes; « That there mail be no profecution againft any perfon for witchcraft, 
 " forcery, inchantment, or conjuration." 
 
 \ This is the work which took place about Cambufiang, and other parts through 
 the Weft of Scotland,— -in the year 1742, and a year or two afterwards ; in connexion 
 with, and among th* favourers of Mr lVhitefie,li>\ ministrations. 
 
 44 The 
 
The Acknowledgment of Sins. 29 
 
 Lord has been pleafed, in his foverei^ n goodnefs, to preferve a rem- 
 nant from being carried off by the above dangerous fcheme and aw- 
 ful delufion ; yet, while endeavouring to teftify againft the fame 
 before the world, we have not been fuitably exercifea* thereanent 
 before the Lord. 
 
 AND we defire, through grace, to turn our eyes inward to onr 
 own hearts, to fearch and try our ways, to declare our iniquity, to 
 be forry for our fin, and to turn again unto the Lord : For, who 
 gave Jacob for a fpoil, and Ifrael to the robbers ? did not the Lord, 
 he againji whom we have Jinned, by our unbelief, felnihnefs, forma- 
 lity, earthlinefs and carnality, falling from firft love, and fecurity ; 
 by want of tendernefs, watchfulnefs and fprituality, in our frame 
 and difpoiition, and in our walk and converfation. 
 
 And, in a particular manner, we defire to be humbled before the 
 Lord for our contempt of the glorious Go/pel of the Son of God, 
 which we acknowledge to be our fin, as it is the great fin and chief 
 guiltinefs of the land wherein we live : That we have not fuitably 
 improven it, as it is the miniftration of right eoufnefs for our juftin- 
 cation, and as it is the miniftration of the Spirit for our fanctirlca- 
 tion. We acknowledge, that we are filthy and polluted ; and we 
 have it to lament over, that, in a very great meafure, we have not 
 obeyed the voice, we received not correction, we have not trufted in 
 the Lord, we have not drawn near to our God ; we have been ob- 
 ftinate, our neck has been an iron finew, and our brow brafs ; we 
 have dealt very treacheroufly, and have been tranfgrefibrs from 
 
 N the 
 
 " The fiippofed converts" (as is elfewhere reprefented) " were commonly all at 
 once feized with dreadful horrors ; which call them into long tannings and fwoon- 
 i( ings, or frightful agitations and convulfions : or made them fcreech and roar, fo as 
 v utterly to drown the preacher's voice; that he could neither be heard by themielves 
 " nor others. This condition they continued in, Tome Blotter and lome longer : and 
 " then they were again all of a fudden ravifhed with joy ; tranfported (as they ima- 
 " gined) with the cleared manifestations of God"s love, and filled with the a Aura nee 
 " of (what they took to be) their intereft in Cluifr. And this faith of theirs was at- 
 •* tended with, or built upon imaginary Ideas of Chrifi ; fo as fome of thtin even ima- 
 " gined themfelves to fee him : According to the imaginary doctrine they uere in- 
 " (trucked in ; the abfurd doctrine of an imaginary Idea :f CkriJI as man being helpful 
 " to Faith, preached and publifhed upon this occalion." 
 
 And, as was exprefTed in an act of the Ajjociate Presbytery for a public JFqft. 'appoint- 
 ed July 15th, and obferved Augujl 4th, I 742) : " Bhter outcrying, faintings, ievere 
 M bodily pains, convulfions, vifions, — are the ufual fymptoms of a deiulive fpirit. — 
 il The promoters of this work, are going on in the fame courfe of defection 3s before. 
 " — The following fruits and effects of it are undeniably evident, viz. The warmeft 
 " averfion from and oppofition to a TefHmony for our covenanted reformation, for 
 " thefe; fame very principles which have been fworn to and fuffcred for unto blood in 
 " thefe lands, — as if it were nothing but Bigotry and Party-zeai ; and the clofeft con- 
 «' junction with their minifters, though they are continuing to bear down theie prin- 
 u ciples with a high hand,— whether Intruders or not : Contrary to the practice of 
 " fcripture-converts, and the experience of the faints of God in this land ; who, upon 
 •' their converfion, (till efpoufed the teiVimony of their day, — and contended for the 
 " prefent truth." And this was a principal fource of that Seljijh Religion which has 
 prevailed ever fince, among the more ferious members of the Eitablilhed Church ; in 
 oppofition to all Teftimony for the truths of God, and againit the public fins of the. 
 time. 
 
30 The Acknowledgment of Sins. 
 
 the womb. We confefs our ignorance and great fhort-coming in 
 the knowledge of Jefus Chrift our Lord, in his perfon, offices, blef- 
 fings and benefits ; of the Covenant of Grace, as it Hands fall with 
 him •, and of the way of improving Chrift, and the Covenant of 
 promife. And we defire to be humbled for our undervaluing 
 Chrift, communion with him, and his fpiritual graces and blefhngs ; 
 that we have preferred other things fo much to Chrift and his in- 
 tereft, and have not given him the pre-eminence above all : That we 
 have been fo little exercifed in meditation, iearching the Scriptures, 
 felf-examination, and fervent wreftling with God by prayer ; thefe 
 means of fecret communion and fellowfhip with him : That we 
 have come fo far fhort in receiving Chrift into our hearts, and im- 
 proving him, as held forth by the Gofpel, in his fulnefs of grace ; 
 and that we have been much eftranged from the life of faith upon, 
 the Son of God, for IVifdom, Righteoufnefs, San&ification and Re- 
 demption* We acknowledge, that we have gone about to eftablifti 
 our own righteoufnefs, and have not entirely refted upon his righ- 
 teoufnefs alone, as revealed to us in the Gofpel ; which appears, a- 
 mong many other things, in finking fears, fcarring to apply Chrift 
 and the promifes, and not rejoicing in Chrift the propitiation, with 
 humility, under a fenfe of wants, mort-coming and failing in du- 
 ties ; which, in effect, is a degree of eftablilhing a righteoufnefs of 
 our own, and not fubmitting to the righteoufnefs of God : And 
 that we have performed duties more in a legal, than in an evange- 
 lical or gofpel-way and manner. And we defire to be humbled 
 for our not making ufe of Chrift, as we ought, for fan Siification ; ac- 
 cording to the promifes of the Covenant : As we have not acted 
 in a way of dependence upon him in all duties and ordinances, and 
 in all the performances of our common Chriftian calling, and of our 
 particular lawful vocations; for direction, quickening, and ftrength 
 to mortify our corruptions, and to carry us through our Chriftian 
 courfe againft all discouragements and temptations. 
 
 We defire to be humbled, that we have not duly made ufe of 
 Chrift, in approaching to the Throne of Grace, by prayer and fup- 
 plication with tbankfgiving ; that, in our approaches to God, we 
 have not had the eye of faith duly fixed upon Chrift, nor offered 
 all our fervice through him as we ought ; and that we have not 
 come, with that humble boldnefs and full affurance of faith, unto 
 God as a Father, wherewith the facriiice and interceffion of Chrift 
 have warranted us to come. 
 
 And we defire to be humbled, that we have not been duly ex- 
 ercifed in falsifying the Lord's day ; particularly, in being careful 
 enough to avoid carnal converfe in coming to, going from, and du- 
 ring the intervals of public worfhip. 
 
 We defire to be humbled, that, in attending upon a preached 
 Gofye/ 7 we have not had it more for our end, to find communion 
 with Chrift, a tafte of his goodnefs and excellency, and to be built 
 up in holinefs and comfort, through Faith unto Salvation : That we 
 have not duly prepared our hearts before-hand in fecret, to come 
 
 with 
 
The Acknowledgment of Sins. 31 
 
 with godly fear and reverence, humility, fpiritual hungering and 
 thirfting after the kingdom of God and the righteoufnefs there- 
 of ; and deiiring, as new-born babes, the fincere milk of the word, 
 that we might grow thereby : That we have been fo little acquaint- 
 ed with receiving the word, not as the word of man, but as it is in 
 truth, the Word of God ; that we have not employed the Lord 
 more to teach us inwardly, by accompanying the outward means 
 with the efte&ual operations of his holy Spirit : That we have not 
 mixed the Word preached with faith, as we ought to have done % 
 believing it with our hearts, and applying the truths preached to 
 ourfelves : And that we have not, as vve ought, hid the words of 
 Chrift in our hearts, for after-improvement of them ; nor employ- 
 ed the Spirit of Chrift, to bring the word we have heard to our re- 
 membrance ; and have not taken due pains to meditate upon it in 
 fecret. 
 
 We defire to be humbled before the Lord, that wc have not duly 
 made ufe of the Sacraments, as feals of the Covenant of Grace ; 
 and of the promifes there made to us in Chrift. And particularly, 
 that, in offering our children to the Lord in Baptifm, vve have not 
 fet ourfelves, as we ought, to consider and prize the free love and 
 grace of God ; which hath prevented us and our feed, in providing 
 fuch a fountain for iin and uncleanneis : That we have not been 
 fuitably exercifed with our own and our children's defilement, by 
 original guilt and corruption ; nor have been duly concerned that 
 they might be regenerated, united to Chrift, and get an intereft in the 
 Covenant of Grace and promifes thereof, fealed up untc^them : That 
 we have not fuitably applied the Covenant and promifes of it to 
 ourfelves and to our feed, and this Sacrament as a feal thereof : 
 That, at the adminiftration of this Sacrament to others, we have 
 not been exercifed, as we ought ; by joining therein either for our 
 own edification, or in holding up the baptifed to God, that he 
 might blefs his own ordinance to them, and receive them in amongfl 
 his children in Chrift : That we have not made more confeience 
 to make known to our children, when they Came to years of capa- 
 city, their baptifm, the ends and ufe thereof, and the obligation 
 thereby lying upon them, as cenfecrated to Chrift : And that we 
 have not duly made ufe of this Sacrament, all along the courfe of 
 our life, for taking hold of God's Covenant ; for furthering and 
 ftrengthening the Faith and Comfort of our intereft in God as our 
 God and Father in Chrift, and fcr ftrengthening, through Chrift, 
 our refolutions and endeavours of mortification and newnefs of life. 
 And we delire to be humbled, that we ha... net been at more 
 pains in preparation for partaking of the folemn ordinance cf our 
 Lord's Supper, by felf -examination, meditation, prayer and fuppli- 
 cation, and by renewed actings of Faith upon the Lord Jeius Chrift, 
 for righteoufnefs and ftrength : That we have not approached his 
 holy table with fpiritual hunger and thirft after Chrift crucified) 
 and with humble, broken and contrite fpirits, as we ought : That 
 we have not duly exercifed ouridves in remembering the Lord's 
 
 death 
 
32 The Acknowledgment of Sins. 
 
 death till he come agiin, and in applying the fame to ourfelves ; 
 for peace with God, for mortifying the body of fin, for working 
 deep repentance and Gofpel-forrow on account thereof, and for get- 
 ting the love of Chrift more kindled in our fouls, and our hearts 
 enlarged with greater thankfulneis, toward him who loved us, and 
 gave himfelf for us : That, through prevailing unbelief, we have 
 too often been plunged into legal heavinefs, even when partaking 
 of this ordinance ; whereas we ought efpecially to be rejoicing 
 through Faith on the propitiation in the death of Chrift, fo famili- 
 arly fet forth thereby to us : And that, after coming from the 
 L td's table, we have not walked more clofely with God, either 
 in a fnitablenefs to the great and high privileges and mercies be- 
 lt owed upon us, or the deep and folemn engagements we have 
 there come under ; but among other mifimprovements of this ordi- 
 nance, and departures from the Lord, we have too often given way, 
 either to unbelieving difcouragements under the want of feniible 
 enjoyments, or to carnal fecurity, after being privileged with fen- 
 fible attainments ; and have not otherwife walked before the Lord 
 unto all well-pleaung. 
 
 We defire to be humbled, that we have not been fuitably exer- 
 cifed with the fcandals of others, who have been the objects of 
 Church-cenfures : That we have not, upon fuch occasions, been fuit- 
 ably humbled for the fountain of fin in our own hearts ; that we 
 have not mourned in lecret places for the diftionour done to God 
 by thefe fcandals ; and that we have not, as we ought, pitied and 
 prayed for thofe who had fallen into the fame. 
 
 And w r e defire to be humbled for our great formality in prayer, 
 both in fecret and in our families; and that we have not made 
 more confcience of joining with our fpirits, in public prayers and 
 praifes : That we have employed the Spirit of Grace and Supplica- 
 tion fo little, and have not duly improved this ordinance of prayer, 
 as a mean of communion with God, and for ftrengthening our 
 Faith, and every other Grace ; and that, when we have directed 
 our prayers to God, we have been fo little employed in looking up 
 after them, for a gracious anfwer and return. 
 
 We defire to be humbled, that we have not walked as becometh 
 the gofpel of Chrift ; but have failed and come far fhort in the du- 
 ties we owe to God, to our neighbours, and ourfelves. Particular- 
 ly, we defire to be humbled for our vain thoughts, our idle words, 
 and our overlincfs in divine worfhip : That our converfe has fa- 
 voured fo much of the earth, and fo little of heaven and things a- 
 bove : That we ha~-.o not ftriven to keep the thoughts of the love 
 of Chrift, and of the free grace of God in him, upon our hearts, fo 
 frefh and conftant as they ihould be ; in order to keep them watch- 
 ful, tender, zealous, and enlarged for God, his honour and glory : 
 That we have not obferved and yielded unto the knockings of the 
 Spirit ; v/hereby Chrift has offered to come into our hearts, that he 
 might fup with us and we with him : That we have often quench- 
 ed the motions of the Holy Spirit, whereby he ftirreth up to duties ; 
 
 and 
 
The Acknowledgment of Sins. 33 
 
 and ftifled and put away his challenges, which tend to repentance 
 and humiliation : That we have not been tender of his pref'ence 
 and confolations, to entertain the fame ; but have grieved him by 
 undervaluing and refufing them, and by our carelefs walking, with- 
 out attending on his direction and guiding. And we defire to be 
 •humbled for our untendernefs, in not watching duly againft carnal 
 company and converfe ; in not ftudying more to recommend religion 
 to others, by an holy, convincing and edifying converfation ; in 
 not ftudying more faithfully to watch over and admonifh one an- 
 other, with meeknefs and love ; in being too ready to fpeak of one 
 another's infirmities and failings behind their backs, inftead of ob- 
 ferving the Scripture rule, Matth. xviii. 15, 16, 17. And that we 
 have not duly improved fpiritual company, and fpiritual exercife of 
 focial prayer and conference. 
 
 As all the above fins, defections and backflidings, are highly ag- 
 gravated ; being committed againft great Gofpel-light, and many re- 
 markable appearances of God amongft us, both in a way of mercy 
 and judgment, in former as well as in latter times ; and notwith- 
 standing a great profeffion on our part, our baptifmal vows, and 
 our indilpenfible engagements by the National Covenant of Scot- 
 land, and the Solemn League and Covenant of the three Nations : 
 So we defire to be deeply humbled before the Lord for the fame ; 
 to lie down in fhame before him, confefling our iniquities, that we 
 with our fathers have finned, and that we have done wickedly; 
 and to acknowledge the Lord as righteous and holy, though he 
 ftiould caft us. out of his fight, and fend in a fword amongft us to a- 
 venge the quarrel of his Covenant. But fince the Lord is yet wait- 
 ing that he may be gracious, we defire to flee unto the blood of 
 Jefus for the remiflion of our own fins, and the fins of this whole 
 covenanted Church and land : And to pray that he may return un- 
 to us, and that he may heal our backflidings and breaches ; that glo- 
 ry may yet dwell in our land. 
 
 And in regard it is the duty of a finning people, not only to con- 
 fefs and acknowledge their iniquities, and to be humbled for them; 
 but to take hold, by faith, of God's gracious covenant revealed to 
 us in the glorious Gofpel : Avouching the Lord to be our God, ac- 
 cording to the tenor of this his Covenant, and returning to the Lord 
 our God, from whom we have fallen by our iniquities ; and, in the 
 faith of his free mercy through Jefus Chrift, and confidence of that 
 grace and ftrength promifed in his covenant of mercy, to engage 
 unto and purfue after reformation, and the advancement of the inte- 
 reftsof the Mediatorial Kingdom of our Lord Jefus Qhrift, which is 
 in, but not o/*this world, and as fubfervient to which, the kingdom of 
 providence is committed unto him : And being convinced in our 
 minds, and confefting with our mouths. I it the pjefent and fuc- 
 ceeding generations in this tand, are \ . A as aforefaid, by the 
 National Covenant of Scotland \ and the "Solemn League and Covenant 
 
 of 
 
34 The Acknowledgment of Sins. 
 
 of the three Nations ; firmly and conftantly to adhere unto the Doc- 
 trine, Worfhip, Prelbyterial Church-government and Difcipline of 
 the Houfe of God, laid down in his Word, contained in our flan- 
 dards, and fworn to in thefe Solemn Covenants : 
 
 THEREFORE, in obedience to the command of God, conform 
 to the practice of the Godly in former times ; and according to the 
 laudable example of our worthy and religious progenitors, in the 
 forefaid Covenants ; 
 
 [The ENGAGEMENT unto DUTIES.] 
 
 WE all and every one of us, though fenfible of 
 the deceitfulnefs and unbelief of our own 
 hearts, and however frequently perplexed with doubts 
 and fears anent our a&ual believing ; yet defiring to ef- 
 fay in the Lord's ftrength, and in obedience to his com- 
 mand, to glorify God, by believing his word of Grace 
 contained in his covenant of promife ; and in the faith of 
 his promife, to devote ourfelves unto the Lord in a cove- 
 nant of duty : We do, with our hands lifted up to the 
 MOST HIGH GOD, hereby profefs, and before God, 
 Angels and Men, folemnly declare, That, through the 
 grace of God, and according to the meafure of his grace 
 given unto us, We do, with our whole hearts, take hold 
 of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, as the only propitiation 
 for our fins ; his righteoujhefs ', as the only foundation of 
 our accefs to, and acceptance with God ; his Covenant of 
 free and rich promifes, as our only charter for the heaven- 
 ly inheritance ; his Word, for our perfect and only rule 
 of faith and practice ; his SPIRIT for our alone guide, 
 to lead us into all truth revealed in his holy Word, unto 
 which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by 
 new revelations of the fpirit or traditions of men. We 
 avouch the LORD to be OUR GOD. And, in the 
 ftrength of his promifed grace, we promife andfwear, by 
 the GREAT NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD • 
 That we fhall walk in his way, keep his judgments and 
 commandments, and hearken to his voice : And particu- 
 larly, that we fhall, by the Lord's grace, continue and a- 
 bide in the profeffion, faith and obedience of the forefaid 
 true reformed religion, in Doctrine, Worfhip, Prefbyterial 
 Church -government and Difcipline ; and that we mall, 
 according to our feveral ftations, places and callings, con- 
 tend 
 
The Engagement unto Duties. 35 
 
 tend and teftify againft all contrary evils, errors and cor- 
 ruptions ; particularly, Popery, Prelacy, Deifm, Arian'ifin, 
 Arminianifm, and every error fubveriive of the Doctrine 
 of Grace ; as alfo Independency, Latitudinarian tenets, and 
 the other evils named in the above confeliion of fins. 
 
 In like manner, we promife and /wear, That by all 
 means which are lawful and warrantable for us according 
 to the Word of God, the approven and received flandards 
 of this Church, and our known principles, we mail, in 
 our feveral itations and callings, endeavour the reforma- 
 tion of religion in England and Ireland ; in Doctrine, 
 Worfhip, Difcipline and Government, according to the 
 Word of God ; And to promote and advance our cove- 
 nanted conjunction and uniformity in religion ; Confeliion 
 of Faith and Catechifms, Form of Church government, 
 and Directory for Worfhip, as thefe were received by this 
 Church. 
 
 And, in regard we are taught by the Word of God, and 
 bound by our Covenants, National and Solemn League, to 
 live together in the fear of God, and in love one to ano- 
 ther, and to encourage one another in the work and caufe 
 of the Lord ; and that, denying all ungodlinefs and 
 worldly lulls, we fhould live foberly, righteoufly and god- 
 ly in this prefent world : Therefore, in a dependence on 
 the Lord's grace and ftrength, we in the fame manner do 
 promife and /wear, That we (hall, in our feveral puces 
 and callings, encourage and ftrengthen one another's 
 hands, in purfuing the end and defign of this our iblemn 
 Oath and Covenant ; and that we (hall endeavour a life 
 and converfation becoming the gofpel of Chrift : And 
 that, in our perfonal callings and particular families, we 
 (hall ftudy to be good examples to one another of godlinefs 
 and righteoufnefs ; and of every duty that we owe to God 
 and man : And that we fhall not give up ourfelves to a de- 
 teftable indifferency and neutrality in the caufe of God ; 
 but, denying ourfelves and our own things, we (hall, a- 
 bove all things, feek the honour of God and the good of 
 his caufe and people.: And that, through grace, forfaking 
 the counfels of fle(h and blood, and not leaning upon car- 
 nal confidences ; we (hall endeavour to depend upon the 
 Lord, to walk by the rule of his Word, and to hearken to 
 his voice by his fervants, In all which, profefling our 
 
 own 
 
36 The Engagement unto Duties. 
 
 own weaknefs, we earneftly pray to God, who is the Father 
 of mercies through his Son Jefus Chrift, to be merciful 
 unto us, and to enable us, by the power of his HOLY 
 SPIRIT, that we may do our duty, unto the praife of his 
 grace in the Churches. Amen. 
 
 Extrailed 
 
 JOHN POTTS, Pr. Cls. 
 
 ACT of the AJfociate Prefbytery, anent the Terms of Miniflcrial 
 and Chriflian Communion. 
 
 At Edinburgh, February 14. 1 744. 
 
 THE Prefbytery confidering the grievous and growing courfe 
 of defection, by the prefent generation in thefe lands, from 
 the truths, caufe and inftitutions of Chrift, revealed in his holy 
 Word, and maintained in our Reformation-ftandards ; as alfo, the 
 dreadful prevalence of Latitudinarian principles for uniting perfons 
 of all denominations in Church Communion, to the overthrow of 
 the government of Chrift's houfe, and the manifeft prejudice of all 
 his precious truths ; And confidering likewife the many loud calls 
 at this day, on the forefaid and other accounts, to flate, more ex- 
 prefsly, the terms of Minijierial and Chriflian Communion, agreeable 
 to the Word of God, the principles of this Church, and the duty 
 of the Lord's remnant in thefe lands : Therefore, for thefe and o- 
 ther weighty reafons, the Prefbytery did a?id hereby do, agree, re- 
 fohe and determine, the Renovation, of the National Covenant, of Scot- 
 land., and the Solemn League and Covenant of the three nations, in the 
 manner novo agreed upon and propofed by the Prefbytery, fball be the 
 term of Minijierial Communion with this Prefbytery ; and likewife 
 of Chriflian Communion, in the admilTion of people to fealing ordi- 
 nances, fecluding therefrom all oppofers, contemners, and fighters, 
 of the faid renovation of our Solemn Covenants : And moreover, 
 as the Prefbytery judge that much tendernefs and lenity is to be 
 ufed with the weakeft of Chrift's flock, who are lying open to light, 
 and minting to come forward in the faid caufe, that they may not 
 be, at firft inftance, fecluded from fealing ordinances ; fo they agree, 
 that all fuch are to be fecluded, who, after deliberate pains taken 
 for their information, with all due meeknefs and patience, fhall be 
 found, by the Seffion or fuperior judicatories they are in fubjec~tion 
 unto, to be negleSters and fhifters of this important moral duty •, or 
 not to be, themfelves, in the due ufe of means, for light and fatisfac- 
 tion thereanent. 
 
 Extracled — 
 
 JOHN POTTS, Pr. Cls* 
 
Order of renewing the Covenants, 37 
 
 ACT of the Ajfociate Prefbytery, anent the Order to be obferved, in- 
 renewing the Covenants. 
 
 At Edinburgh, February 15. 1744. 
 
 W r HERE AS the Prefbytery have, by a late Acl, condefcended 
 upon a Solemn Acknowledgment of the public fns and breaches 
 of our Covenants, with a Bond, containing a folemn profejjion of our 
 faith, and Engagement unto the Duties contained in them ; appoint- 
 ing that thefe Covenants be renewed in the faid Acknowledgment and 
 Bond, by all fuch as Jhall 'willingly offer them/elves unto the Lord in 
 this folemn work and duty : They agree and refolve, that, in re- 
 newing them accordingly, the order following be obferved. 
 
 1. That the forefaid Solemn Acknowledgment of the public Jins 
 and Breaches of our Covenants, mail be publicly joined in and made ; 
 whereupon thefe Covenants mall be publicly /worn and fubj crib <ed, 
 in the forefaid Bond. 
 
 2. That none mall be admitted to fwear or fubfcribe the Cove- 
 nants, but fuch as have a competent meafure of knowledge, are 
 free of all known fcaridal, and have a converfation becoming the 
 Gofpel ,• as thefe only can make a credible profemon of willingly 
 offering themfelves unto the Lord, in this work. 
 
 3. That, after the people in acceflion to this Prefbytery have 
 had occalion to perufe, confider and deliberate upon, the Acl for 
 renewing the Covenants ; the Seffions in the feveral AlTociate Con- 
 gregations under the Frefbytery's infpec~tion, (whether fuch as have 
 a minifter fettled among them, or fuch as are occafionally confti- 
 tute by a minifter of this Prefbytery,) ihall, feverally, fix on a con- 
 venient day for public fa/ling and humiliation, upon the grounds 
 and reafons laid down in the Solemn Acknowledg?7ient of the public 
 
 fins and breaches of our Covenants ; as alfo, for /wearing and fubfcri- 
 bing the Covenants, in their refpective bounds •, and that intimation 
 hereof fliall be made unto the congregations, feverally, on the 
 Lord's day immediately preceding. 
 
 4. That, upon the faid day of falling and humiliation, (two mi- 
 nifters of this Prefbytery being prefent, in vacant congregations, 
 and the minifter, in a fettled congregation, being amfted by one of 
 his brethren ;) after prayer, and preaching of the Word, the Na- 
 tional Covenant of Scotland mail be firft read, and next, the Solemn 
 League and Covenant of the three nations ; that then, the forefaid 
 Acknowledgment and Bond fhall be likewife read ; that, after all 
 thefe are read, one of the minifters fhall, in prayer, acknowledge 
 and confefs the breaches of our Covenants, and fupplicate the Lord 
 for his pardoning mercy and gracious prefence, in the folemn ac- 
 tion to be gone about : That, immediately after prayer, the Bond 
 fliall be again read by the minifter •, that, during the reading there- 
 of, all prefent, who are willing and qualified, as above, for coming 
 under the oath of God,*fhall ftand, with their right hands lifted up 
 to the Lord ; and that then, the folemn action Ihall be concluded 
 with exhortation and prayer. 
 
 o 5? 
 
38 Confe flion of the Sins of the Mmiflry. 
 
 5. That, the day immediately following, one of the minifters 
 fhall convene the people, for prayer, and exhortation from the 
 word, unto ftedfaftnefs in the Oath and Covenant of the Lord : 
 And that, when public worfhip is over, the Covenants mall be fub- 
 fcribed as above, in prefence of the minifters. 
 
 Extracted — 
 
 JOHN POTTS, Pr. Cls. 
 
 ACT of the ASSOCIATE PRESBYTERY, 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 A Confefjion of the Sins of the Miniftry, with an anfwer. 
 able ProfeJJion of Faith, and Engagement to Duties ; to 
 he entered into by Minifters, before their Renewing the 
 Covenants. 
 
 At Dunfermline, the third Day of November, One thoufand feven 
 
 hundred and forty three Years. 
 \ X 7HICH day and place, the Prelbytery being met, the}' had 
 V \ under consideration the draught of a ConfeJJion of the fins of 
 the miniftry, with an anfwerable profeJJion of Faith, and Engagement 
 to Duties ; to be entered into by minifters, before their renewing the 
 Covenants. 
 
 The faid draught having formerly, and at this diet, undergone 
 fundry readings, amendments and enlargements ; the Prefbytery 
 did, by an unanimous vote, as hereby they do, agree unto and ap- 
 prove of the fame : The tenor whereof follows. 
 
 Confession of the Sins of the Ministry, 
 
 WITH an ANSWERABLE 
 
 Profession of Faith, and Engagement to Duties \ 
 
 *To be entered into by Minifers, before their renewing the Covenants. 
 E all and every o?ie of us, ferioufly confidering, that our land 
 
 w 
 
 is filled with fin againft the holy One of Ifrael, and that a 
 cloud of divine wrath is hovering over our heads •, that our hand, 
 as minifters of the Gofpel, has been deep in the tranfgreftion ; that 
 we have had no fmall accefhon to the drawing on thefe judgments 
 which are upon us •, and that a holy God may juftly proceed in his 
 controverfy with us : And coniidering, that we are called of God 
 to acknowledge our iniquity, in having tranfgrelTed againft the 
 
 Lord 
 
ConfeJJion of the Sins of the Minifbry. 39 
 
 Lord our God 5 to fearch and try our ways, and turn again to the 
 Lord i and, as the priejis, the miniflcrs of the Lord, to weep between the 
 porch and the altar, and to fay, Spare thy people, Lord, and give 
 not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen Jhould rule over them : 
 
 We therefore deiire, with an eye of Faith to the Lord Jefus, who 
 is the great High Priejl over the Houfe of God, and who is exalted 
 a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to ifrael, and forgivenefs 
 of Jim, to acknowledge ; and, in a dependence upon the promifec} 
 influence of his Spirit and Grace, we do confefs and acknowledge, 
 
 Not only that, in our original fin, we are guilty of Adam's nrft 
 fin, deftitute of original righteoufnefs, having our natures univer- 
 fally corrupted •, that, by unbelief, we have defpifed the noble 
 Plant of Renown, who is more glorious and excellent than the moun- 
 tains of prey ; not believing in God, nor trufting in his Salvation, as 
 we ought ; and that, as to our other actual lins, our trefpafs is grown 
 up unto the heavens ; innumerable evils have compajfed us about ; and 
 our iniquities are gone over our head, as an heavy burden, they are 
 too heavy for us : 
 
 But alfo, in a fpecial manner, as to the important office of the Mi- 
 niflry, to which the Lord has condefcended, of his Grace, to call 
 .us ; we confefs and acknowledge, that we have not, with due faith- 
 fulnefs, taken heed to the mimitry which we have received, to ful- 
 fil it •, we have not faithfully kept his charge, nor walked in his 
 ways ; and therefore he might jullly have turned us oft' from judg- 
 ing his houfe, and keeping his courts. 
 
 We acknowledge, That we are too negligent in improving pray- 
 er and fellowship with God, opportunities of a lively mininxy, fo 
 far as in providence we were favoured therewith, and alfo other 
 means afforded us ; for attaining the practical knowledge and expe- 
 rience of the myltery of the Gofpel in ourfelves, before we preach- 
 ed it to others. And though we hope that, through Grace, we 
 were made in fome meafure, iingle as to our end, in entering upon 
 the holy minii'try ; yet we defire to be humbled, that we then 
 knew fo little of the love of Chrift conftraining us, and that we did 
 not breathe more fervently after the glory of God, and the gaining 
 of fouls : That, after entering upon this great and weighty work, 
 we attain to fo little of a life of Faith upon the Son of God ; that 
 we fo greatly want nearnefs to God, and take up fo little of him, 
 in reading, meditating and fpeaking of him : That we have watched 
 fo little over our own hearts, and have been fo carelefs in felf- 
 fearching, and in reflecting upon our own ways ; that conviction 
 might have a thorough work upon us, and iffue, through Grace, in 
 our perfonal Reformation, laying alide e\Qiy weight, and the fin 
 which doth lb eaiily befet us : And that we have been fo felnfh in 
 all that we have done, acting fo much from ourfelves, and for our- 
 felves -, and being fo little acquainted with fi lglenefs of end and aim, 
 and a dependence upon Chrift in the whole of our walk and way. 
 
 And we < eflre to be humbled be' re .he Lord, for our deadnefs 
 of Spirit, after all the fore ftrckes of God upon the land : That 
 
 fome 
 
 L.._ 
 
40 Conf effort of the Sins of the Mini/try. 
 
 fome of us were not timeoufly enough aware of Mr George White- 
 field, a Prieft of the Church of England, and the danger of his waj, 
 nor timeoufly enough employed in warning the Lord's people a- 
 gainit the fame •, and that all of us have been too remifs, in our en- 
 deavours to prevent the fad effects which have attended and fol- 
 lowed upon his miniftrations, particularly in this land : T hat we 
 have been too little humbled for the entertainment which hath been 
 given him ; that we have been too little affected before tKe Lord, 
 with the bold attack made upon the order and inftitutions of the 
 Lord's Houfe, by the Latitudinarian principles which he hath pro- 
 pagated, and with the awful delufion wherein he has been an in- 
 ftrument of the Lord's wrath unto this generation : That we have 
 not been duly exercifed in fearching into the grounds of the Lord's 
 controverfy this way ; and in crying unto him, that he would pity 
 his heritage, and rebuke the Devourer for their fakes, carting the 
 falfe Prophet and the unclean Spirit out of the land. 
 
 We defire to be humbled, That we have made fo little confeience 
 of humiliation and failing by ourfelves apart, and in our families, 
 that we might mourn for our own and the land's guiltinefs and 
 great backfliding ; betaking ourfelves to the Lord Jems Chriit, and 
 his blood Of the New Teftament, fhed for the rendition of the fins 
 of many : That we have not duly laid to heart the decayed ilate 
 of religion in all the Churches of the Reformation, and the heavy 
 fufferings of the fmall remnant in France and other places, who de- 
 fireto cleave to the Lord : That we have not been fuitably concern- 
 ed for the enlargement of Chrift's Kingdom ; by the downfal of 
 Antichrift and Mahomet, and the in-bringing of the Jews, with the 
 fulnefs of the Gentiles : As alfo, that we have not fuitably lamented 
 over the bars which have been laid in the way of the propagation 
 of Chriftianity, and the Kingdom of Chriit ; by the fmful negle&s 
 and unchriftian behaviour of thefe profefTed Proteitants, who live 
 contiguous unto, or trade with Papifls, Mahometans and Heathens. 
 
 And we deiire to be humbled, That the confeflions we have 
 made of our own fins, and the fins of the land, have had their rife 
 fo little from Faith in Chriit, and have been lb little accompanied 
 with Gofpel-repentance and Reformation : That, though we have 
 endeavoured to iearch out and teftify againft public faults and fins; 
 yet we have feen fo little of the plague of our own hearts, and the 
 innumerable evils that are there, attaining fo little Gofpel-humili- 
 ation on that account ; that we have not been fuitably humbled by 
 the confideration of the falls of gracious men, and mourned and 
 prayed for them in the manner we ought to have done : That we 
 have not duly obferved particular rods and deliverances, nor im- 
 proved them for the honour of God, and edification of ourfelves 
 and others : And that we have been fo little exercifed in mourning 
 for our unbelief and the corruption of our nature, and in an habi- 
 tual longing to be delivered from the body of fin and death, the 
 bitter root of all our other evils. 
 
 We 
 
 
ConfeJJion of the Sins of the Miniflry. 41 
 
 We alfo defire to be humbled before the Lord, That, in our con- 
 verfation and walk, with and before our flocks and others, our 
 converfe has had fo little favour of Chrift, and has been fo little 
 feafoned with fait ; that it might minifter Grace to the hearers : That 
 we have not ftudied more to improve opportunities of doing good 
 to others : That we have not fan&ified the Lord's day, as we ought 
 to have done, in being duly habituated to fpiritual converfe about 
 Chrift and the great things of God's Law, fo necefTary to be prac- 
 tifcd by Chriftians, and efpecially by minifters of the Gofpel upon 
 that holy day ; and in improving it for Communion with God 
 through Jefus Chrift our Lord : That we have not duly mourned 
 for the ignorance, unbelief and mifcarriages of the flocks committed 
 to our charge ; that we have not dealt io faithfully with them as 
 we ought, in reproving them for their faults ; nor have taken due 
 pains on the ignorant and profane, for their good. 
 
 And we defire to be humbled, That, in the difcharge of mi?iijle- 
 rial duties, we have not been more on the mount of communion 
 with God, in preparing for public work ; that we have not employ- 
 ed Chrift, and drawn virtue from him by faith, as we ought to 
 have done, for enabling us to preach in demenftration of the Spirit 
 and of power, but have trufted too much to our own preparation : 
 That we have not, with that faith and fervency which was necefTary, 
 recommended to God by prayer that matter we have brought forth, 
 to be quickened by his Spirit to his people : That, in the time of the 
 delivery of his menage, the eye of fair h has not been more fingly 
 and habitually directed towards the Lord, for the breathings and 
 influences of his holy Spirit; from who^ operation alone proceed- 
 eth the fruit and increafe of gofpel-adminiftrations : And that, after 
 preaching the Gofpel, we have not wreftled fo fervently with God 
 in prayer as we ought', that the feed of the "word fown might be 
 blefted ; receiving the flrft and latter rain of the Spirit, to make it 
 fruitful in the hearts and lives of them who hear it. And we de- 
 fire to be humbled for our exceeding great unikilfulnefs to fet forth 
 the excellency of Chrift, in his perfon, offices, and the unfearchable 
 riches of his grace, with the new r Covenant as it ftands faft in him, 
 and the way of living by faith upon him : That, in preaching Chrift 
 w r e have fpoken too much from mere fpcculative or common know- 
 ledge, and too little from practical knowledge and experience, or a 
 real impreffion of his infinite excellency upon our own hearts, and 
 with too little remembrance and reverence of him ; in whofe name 
 and by whole authority we fpeak, in whole pretence we ftand, and 
 to whom we mail give an account : That we are too little affected 
 w T ith,the deep concern which our own fouls, and thefe of our hear- 
 ers, have, in what of the Lord's word we fpeak : That, when 
 preaching anent the awful ligns of Chrift's leaving the land, we 
 have wanted due brokennefs of heart, ana! have not ftirred up our- 
 felves to take hold of him, nor preached with bowels of companion 
 to them who are in hazard of pcrifhing eternally, through their re- 
 jecting the counfel of God againlt their own fouls ; and that we 
 
 have 
 
42 Confejjion of the Sins of the Minijlry. 
 
 have not ftudied to profit more by the doctrine of the gofpel, de- 
 livered by ourfelves or others. 
 
 We defire to be humbled, that we have wreftled fo little with 
 God, for his blefiing on the feals of his Covenant, Baptifm and the 
 lord's Supper ; for having ourfelves and people prepared unto the 
 difpenfing and receiving of them •, and for having our guilt and 
 theirs, contracted in holy m migrations, purged and done away by 
 the blood of the everlafting Covenant. We defire to be humbled, 
 that in vijitir/g, we have known fo little how to fpeak, by the Spi- 
 rit of Chriir, a word in feafon to all and every one ; particularly, 
 to the weary and exerciied in confcience, or to the afflicted with 
 outward diitreffes, loltes and croifes, for the improving of thefe trials 
 to their fpiritual advantage •, or to dying perfons, with a view to 
 their great change, and their appearing before God the great Judge 
 of all. We defire to be humbled, that, in catechizing, we have not 
 prepared our hearts, or wreftled with the Lord for a blening, unto 
 that ordinance as we ought ; whence it has proceeded, in a great 
 meafure, that the people have been fo little profited by it : And 
 that we itudy too little meeknefs, tendernefs and patience, in deal- 
 ing with our people, upon that and other occaiions. We defire to be 
 humbled, that, in the exercife of difcipline, we have not been iuita- 
 bly affected with the diihonour done to the Lord's holy name, and 
 the hurt done to precious fouls, by the public fins of fcandalous per- 
 fons brought before Church-judicatories ; that we have not made a 
 due ufe of this ordinance of Church-cenfure, for the gaining of fouls ; 
 "but have too much ground to charge ourfelves with being luke- 
 warm, remiis and formal upon the one hand, or, on the other, of 
 failing in point of meeknefs and tendernefs towards offenders : And 
 that we have not been at more pains, before fteps be taken for in- 
 flicting fevere ceniures upon them, to endeavour their recovery 
 from the error of their way, by laying before them the evil of 
 theiF**i from the Word of God, and exciting them to repentance, 
 by motives drawn from the authority of Chrift, his grace and- love 
 manifefted in the whole of the Gofpel, and particularly in this ordi- 
 nance of difcipline. And we defire to lament, that, in our Pre/by- 
 terial meetings, though cenftituted in the great name of the Lord, 
 yet we have not been duly exercifed in looking unto and waiting 
 upon the Lord, with finglenefs, humility and confidence ; and that 
 we have not ufed due freedom and faithfulnefs, as before the Lord, 
 in watching over, admonifhing and comforting one another : All 
 which, we have re.ifon to fear, hath contributed to provoke the 
 Lord to refufe the carrying on his work more powerfully among 
 our hands, and * the making mountains in the way thereof more 
 ipciedily become a plain. 
 
 We defire to be humbled before the Lord, for the deep hand we 
 have had in the provocation wherewith the Lord is provo&cd, by the 
 public defections of minifters and judicatories : As we have not 
 bacn valiant for the Truth upon the earth, in appearing with that 
 open freedom, zeal and conftancy, for the Caufe of Chrift, and a- 
 
 gainft 
 
ConfeJJion of the Sins of the Minijlry. 4 1 
 
 gainfl the many dishonours done to him, as alfo the wrongs and 
 violence committed upon his truths, intereft and people, which we 
 ought to have ufed ; but have many times, through fear or floth, 
 or carnal prudence, or from fome felnfh confederation, hid, as it 
 were, our faces from him, fothat when he was defpiied, we efteem- 
 ed him not. We have Iffachar-like, couched under the burden, 
 and reckoned ourfelves exonered by condemning the evils of the 
 time, without being fuitably humbled before the Lord, and mourn- 
 ing in fecret places for them, or bearing fufheient teftimony againft 
 them in the courts of judgment. 
 
 Yea fome of us, through miftake and neglect of due enquiry, 
 were left to be partakers in the public defection, by taking the 
 Oath of Abjuration ; which lince has been matter of humiliation to 
 us in the fight of the Lord, on our difcovering and reflecting upon 
 its inconfiftency with our Covenants, National and Solemn League i 
 as we acknowledged at the time of our acceffion to the AJfcciate 
 Prefbytery. Moreover, we defire to be humbled for our having 
 been fo far left of the Lord, all of us who were then in the roiniftrjr, 
 that we were not watchful and fuitably jealous for the Lord of h oils 
 and for the Caufe of Truth, when many indignities were done unto 
 the fame, both in palliating error, fcreening the erroneous, and 
 condemning truth, in the year 171 7; and in condemning truth, 
 and venting error, in the years 1720 and 1722. We defire to be 
 humbled before the Lord, that all of us who were then in the mi- 
 niftry were fo far left, that we gave no fuitable nor adequate Teiti- 
 mony to the Caufe of Truth, in the year 1729, when the proper, 
 true and fupreme Deity of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chriil was 
 impugned and denied, and no due cenfure was inflicted upon the 
 broacher of thefe grofs errors and blasphemies -, as we acknowledg- 
 ed in the privy cenfures before the AfTociate Prefbytery, a little 
 after the firil errecrion thereof. And we defire to be humbled, 
 that fome of us were left to faint finfully in the year 1733, when 
 fullering ourfelves to be fo far blinded, by the feeming docifion of 
 a meeting of the Prefbytery of Dunfermline at Edinburgh, for the 
 inrolment of an intruder among them, as to drop our Teftimony 
 againft his being inrolled ; through our not adverting, either to the 
 unlawfulnefs of the conftitution of that meeting of Prefbytery, 
 which all the members were not warned to attend \ or the fmful- 
 nefs of the decifion, though the Prefbytery had been lawfully con- 
 stituted : And that fome of us, when having opportunity to witnels 
 for the Lord, againft the blafphemous and infidel fchemes of Pro- 
 fefTor Campbell, were far from that freedom, faith fulnefs and con- 
 ilancy therein, which we ought to have ufed ; as we gave not any 
 fuitable and adequate Teftimony, againft thefe pernicious and dam- 
 nable principles, in the Judicatories. 
 
 We acknowledge, that, for all thefe our fins, (and innumerable 
 others, relating both to our private capacities, and to our miniflerial 
 office and character; for, who can urid is errors ?) a righteous 
 
 and holy God might juftly, , caufe us to ceafb from feeding 
 
 his 
 
44 Confejion of the Sins of the Minijlry. 
 
 his flock, but call us out of his fight, and iliut up his tender mer- 
 cies, making the waves and billows of his vindictive wrath to pais 
 over us for ever ; if he dealt with us according to the demerit of 
 our fins, and tenor of the Covenant of Works. 
 
 BUT, in a dependence upon the gracious influences of 
 the HOLY SPIRIT of prcmife, and, according to the 
 meafure of Grace given unto us, we fly for refuge to lay 
 hold upon the hope let before us, even upon the Lord 
 Jefus Chnft, which is our hope, as God hath let him 
 forth to be a propitiation, through Faith in his blood : 
 And we believe, that, through the Grace of the Lord 
 Jefus Chrift, we (hall be faved ; that he will heal our 
 backilidings, and love us freely ; and that he will turn 
 again, have compaffion upon us, fubdue our iniquities, 
 be merciful to our unrighteoufnefs, and call: all cur lins 
 into the depths of the feci. And, in a dependence upon 
 the Grace that is in Chrift Jefus, we refolve to walk more 
 clofely with God, as Chriftians and min liters, and to 
 watch agamlt the above and all the like fins and evils ; 
 going in the flrength of the Lord, and making mention of his 
 right eoufnefs, even of his only. 
 
 Extracted 
 
 JOHN POTTS, Pr. Cls. 
 
 The Covenants were firft renewed at Stirling, December 28. 
 
 1743. when the following Minifters, members of the AfTociate 
 Preibytery, joined in that folemn work, wz. Mr Ebenezer Erfkim 
 Minifter" at Stirling, Mr Ralph Erjkine Minifter at Dunfermline, 
 Mr 'James 'Thom/bn Minifter at Burntifland, Mr Alexander Moncriejf 
 Minifter at Abernethy, Mr Thomas Mair Minifter at Orivel, Mr 
 James Fifljer Minifter at Glafgow, Mr David Smyton Minifter at 
 Kilmaurs, Mr William Button Minifter at Stow, Mr Adam Gib 
 Minifter at Edinburgh, Mr Andrew Clark/on Minifter at Craig- 
 mailen, Mr John Cleland Minifter at Balfron, Mr George Brojton 
 Minifter at Perth, Mr William Campbell Minifter at Ceres, Mr 
 Thomas Bullantyne Minifter at Sanquhar, and Mr David Horn Mi- 
 nifter at Gnmbufhetban. — Other four not then prefent, with one not 
 then ordained, joined in that folemn work, at Falkirk, March 14. 
 
 1744. viz. Mr James Mair Wmiitzr at Linton, Mr Patrick Matthew 
 Minifter at Midholm, Mr James Scot Minifter at Gatefjall, Mr 
 John Whyt Minifter at Dunfe, and Mr Henry Erjkine Minifter at 
 Fafkirk.— All who have been ordained lince that time, have pre- 
 viously joined in covenanting-work. 
 
 N. IV An Edition of the Judicial Act and Testimony, of the fame Size and 
 Type, '■a.'iUbefpeedily publijl 
 
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