n 4 \- ■ sc s *W GRJNGE. ORj THE SCHEMISTS On Calling of MINISTERS AND Trefentations in Scotland. This being the firft Book on Calk By Philumon Scots mai. Left or em deleft undo, panterq^monendo. Hop,* EDINBURGH, Printed by R. Fleming and Company, and fold by nod Bookfellers in Town and fcountry. Sc4^* .V>W THE SCHEMISTS O N Ta/loral EleBions and Calls 9 Infcrib'd to the Celebrated Names Hamilton, Erskine, Princi- pal, and Commissioners to Parliament. GRANGE, or the Sche- mists, on calling of Mi- nifters and Indentations in Scotland. Boo'kL %o the Judicious of that Nation, Excellent Sirs, | H A T in every Church and Na- tion the planting of vacant Sees has frequently raifed Contentions, and too much defeated the true Deflgn of the facred Office, you will all own. This every Body knows, that is any Thing acquaint with Hiftory • the Com- plaint of it is general; 'tis Remedy not yet found. Good Sirs, Your Author is not fo vain, as to think he has invented a perfecV Elixir, he tit&j^iS 6 GRANGE; Or, he only hints at fbme Ingredients, which,, cbiv- cofted by your Wrfdotfs Art^ may be a pretty healing Plaifler for our Ulcers. He thinks it may do Good, knows it can do no Harm ; and therefore recommends it to the Proof of your Reafon, knowing, that if it bide that Teft 5 your Prudence will not be wanting to try its U(e. Fai'r Reafbning, he knows, you highly approve : If imperial Reafbn keep the Helm, you will give the Paffions their Room in playing at the Oars, for the Delight and Service of their Prin- cefs. His Genius, he is fenfible, as well as his Subject, is not capable of the Ornaments and Pleafantry to be found in the Books of thefe grand Luminaries of Antiquity, the Philofbphers of Greece and Rome-, and of later Improvers of Tafie, and Language in Great 'Britain. Thefe are Copies to him inimitable. His Method can go no further, than to render his Piece fbme- thing more palatable, than the common Enqui- ries on this Subject. Neither needs he make an Apology for hiding himfelf : If one mould ap- pear in his own Name, on a Caufe wherein the Faflions of Men have fb much been interefted, he could fcarce expect to be heard patiently. He therefore gives his Reafcning to Names renown- ed, praifed, and efteemed through Nations, Churches, and Cells ; hoping that the Honoura- ble and worthy Gentleman, whofe Place and Stile* gives Scene and Title to the following Dif fertation \ and the Reverend Minifiers join'd . with the. SCHEMlSTSon Calls. 7 with him, will pardon the Preemption, fince they'll find it add no fmall Fame and Weight to his Thoughts, which, without fuch Aids, might be lefs fpread or regarded. Thefe Gen- tlemen, 'ris well known, are not all of the fame Judgment on thefe Subjects, and fb much the better for the Purpofe in Hand : For if the Re- verend Gentlemen, fb oppofke in Opinion on this Point, can, by the Help of their honourable Midfman and Hoft, be brought amicably to ar- gue, and by Force of Arguments to compound their Differences at Grange', it may be hoped the Scots People and Church, who partly ad- here to one, partly to another of our Difpurants, by making equitable Concefiions on every Hand, may bring together their Sentiments; and by the Favour and Authority of the auguft and good Legiflators of Great ^Britain, may come to an eafy, juft, and harmonious Method of plant- ing Vacancies. The Reverend Mr. Erskine at Stirling, having ftaid with his Friend at Grange (bme Night toward the End of the Spring- Va- cance of the Jufticiary, the next Day the Reve- rend Principal comes to pay a Vifit to the ho- nourable Family -: When he was near the Place, he fees Grange and Mr. Erskine walking in a Gar- den, that lyes by the Side of the Way as one goes in. They coming near to him, he falutes them : The Salutation returned, Grange defires him to ride along, and he would come and meet him at the Houfe. The Principal feeing a 8 GR ANGE: Or, a little Door in the Garden- wall, replied, If his> Honour had the Rev, he would rather chufe to walk there with them for a while. The Key being got, he alights, gives his Servant his Hor- fes to Stable; they meeting and embracing hiriij as is ufual among Friends, after Enquiries about each others Health and Families, they all Three walk into the Garden 3 where talking a little of News, as happens on fuch Occafions, the Difc courfe turns to the Bill for abrogating Patronage in Scotland, depending before the Honourable Houfe of Commons. After a Turn or two, Grange invites them both to his Houfe, telling them> he wanted to talk with them at Eafe, he being now fomewhat weary of walking. Mr. Er shine ■fuggefted, It might be as pleaiant refting in the the Cooi-houfe of Ew, to which all gladly confenting, becaufe of the Retirednefs and Beau- ty of the Place, and prefent Heat of the Sun, to it they went; being at Hand, and under the Shade in Council fage Grange thus begins. Now, Prin- cipal, I muft tell you, that you could never come more defired, or in better Time. I pre^ fume we are all at Leafure,my Coufin and I were mightily defiring your Pretence ; we were juft now talking about the ASt of the Synod of Aberdeen. He ftrenoufly maintains, that it was an Honour to that Synod to have a&ed Co zeal- bufly for the Intereft of Chrift, when others are Co remifs in thefe high Concerns. I argued againft it, from its Hardnefs on Students irt thefe the SC HE Ml ST Son Calls. 9 thefe Bounds, with its Unfeafonablenefs, when a Petition for abrogating the Patronage-Act was in Dependence at our Parliament of Britain, He infifted, that the Command of God is to be done, and his Laws obeyed, without Regard to the private Interefts of Men, and what fome call fit Seafbns. We waved further purfuing that Point as lels important. And I asked, What would fatisfy him from the Parliament? He anfwered, " If Patronage were abolifhed, " and the Power of electing Minifters left to " the Chriftian People, as the Word of God " allows, he would think it enough, and with c ' lefs he could not be fatisfied f but that with* all, he would moft gladly argue the Matter to the Bottom, with an ingenuous and knowing Man that thinks otherwife. I was going to offer fome Difficulties in popular Elections ,• but fince you, good Principal^ are fo opportunely come, a Man to his Wiihes, I defirc and hope, ; that you and Mr. Erskine will, as briefly and diliinctly as you can, and furely none can better^ argue the Cafe of Prejentations, and Calling of Minijiers in our Church. I really want Informa- tion, which you can give me with more Plea- fure, than the Writings on thefe Subjects readily would : Fori own I have fcarce glanced quite over the moft noticeable of them. The Principal replied, I mall reckon it, Sir, both my Duty and Honour, if I can ferve a Gentleman of your Character in any Thing. It makes me B fond 10 GRANGE:0r, fond to comply with your prefent Propofal, that I am to corner with Mr, Er shine ; For I hope to make it appear to him, that it was not Hu- mour led many to oppoie him in our late Afiem- blics and Com mi (linns, there being good Rea- fon for fo doing ; fince he troubled the Church about a Thing juftly enafted by the Afjembly, and nowife determined by the Word or God. —We know, Sir, you'll hear us impartially ; and we beg, \t we fall into any Heats, for wc are (enfible of our Tempers, you will flop us ; and when we. have difcuffed any Head, you'll condefceni as Umpire, to cut the juft Mean be- tween us, if you find us on Extremes ; or, in fliort, you'll tell us your Opinion of the Matter. I have taken the Liberty to fpeak this in Mr. Erskine's Name, as well as for myfelf ,- .and, if he don't join me in the Requefr, I humbly beg his Pardon. Oh! Sir, fays Mr. Er skint, I'm extremely well pleafed with the Motion: Only Principal, I wilh you had not infinuated, that the Word of God does not determine the Me- thod of electing Gofpel Minifters. Grange fays, Gentlemen, fince you chufe me for your Mo- derator, and feem Co much inclined that I Ihould undertake that Office ; and fince you io heartily yield to my Defire, I cannot refufe your Offer. And I promife you, I fhall as carefully as I can keep you to the Point, tho' I am no fuch Stran- ger to your Diicretions 5 as to fear any indecent Warmths orStrayings. I fhall likewile endea- vour the SCHEMIS7S on'Calh. U vour impartially ro obferve the Refidt of your Arguments on both Sides; and fmiling to Mr. ■ Erskine y he adds, and Coufiji, you need not be npprehenfive, but the Principal will have due Regard to Scripture-rules, fb far as he knows, or you make them appear. I am obliged to your. Honour ^ (ays the Principal, for your Con- defcenfion, and favourable Opinion; and I pro- mife to you both, if I do not allow Mr. Erskine to make all of Scripture that in Reafon he can, I fh-ill never fpeak more in Church Affairs. ■* Weil, Sirs, fays Grange 9 you'll begin your Con- ference. The fir ft and chief Thing you have to do, in my Opinion, is, each of you to pro- pound, and confirm by Arguments, the Method of . electing Minifters, which you would have efta- blifhed by Authority of Church and State ; for I fuppdfe we would all wifh that the A Sis of both thefe might coincide. Principal, you'll please to fpeak firft. The Principal smlWers, 1 wifh, Sir, you had put that Part upon Mr„ Ershne\ for I reckon he is riper on the Head ; however, fince you would have me begin, you fhall he ve my undigefled Thoughts as plainly as I can. Tne Point, Sir, you propofed, is certainly the\ moft material in our prefent Circumftances ; what in thefe maybe abfoluteiy beft, is perhaps hard precifely to define. I have frequently declared my Opinion in the moft publick Judi- catures of this Church, particularly when the much controverted Aft thirty two was enafted, B 2 and ii GRANGE: Or, and likewife when it was laid afide ; " That I 4i was very well fat isfied with the Act 1690, f c of our happy Deliverer, of immortal Memory, S continue ftill, Sir, of the fame Opinion. > For juftifying that Aft, 1 might draw Arguments from feveral Topicks. ' In the Scripture I find 110 particular Rules $ I might make Ufe of ge- neral ones, fuch as, Let all Things he done de- cently in Order , and for Edification. But, with my Reverend Brother's Leave, 1 mall not infift on thefe neither, but go to plain fimple Reafon. I would firft have it noticed, that no particular precepts or Dircftions, pointing out who are to fce the Electors or Callers of Chriftian Paftors, are to be found in the New Teftament. As ro she Practice recorded in the Afts of the Apoftles ; theft, nor any Examples befide, can be binding on other People, unlefs in Co far as, a Parity of Circumftances makes it equal and juft. How far the prefent Condition of our Church differs from that of the primitive, you very well know ; they had no Favour, nor Eftablifhments from she Civil Powers, but frequently Perfecution and Banilhments. ' By the Bleffing oC GOD, it is far otherwife with us: Is it not reafbnable then, that the Church fiipport the Civil Magistrate, when he maintains her? Should not me confpire with him for the Peace and Happinefs of the Nation, fecular and fpiritual, of Church and filiate ? — ^ The allowing Heritors to be a great I in calling Faf!ors ; .certainly tends to advance dug the SCHEMJSTS on Calls. r$ Jhis complex and general Good; Heritors eafily lead their Tenants to Peace or War, Loyalty or Rebellion, as they incline. Is it not therefore for the Good of the Realm, that Church and State jointly give them all the Honour and Power, which they had by the Aft I am now pleading for ? This would undoubtedly tend to enfure the external Peace and Happinefsof the Nation ; its Spiritual Good too will be promoted this Way. Heritors are generally Men of bet- ter Education and Judgment of paftoral Abili- ties, than the rude Vulgar, and do aft for the Good of their Farmers, on which their own in Part depends, Again, the Elders are a Kind of Tribunes of the People, their Reprcfenta- tives and the Guardians of their Church-privi- leges ; that they may have all the Power our Aft grants them, is therefore manifeft. 'Tis true indeed, aftrift Computation of the Impor- tance of Heritors and Elders, compared with one another, and among themfelves, is not pra- cticable. The general and abftraft Rule in this Cafe, I think, is, in comparing the Heritors a- mong themfelves, their Votes fhould be valued by the compound Ratio of their external Power and perfbnal Worth. The fame may be faid of the Elders, compared one with another, if we take into the Account the Power and Worth of the Proportions of the Parifh which they repre- sent. In adjufting the Balance between the whole Heritors^ and whole Elderfhjp, • their juft J4 GRANGE: Or, juft Weights would be found by the compound Value of the one Body, compared with that of the other. But fince fuch Comparifons are mo- rally impoffible, and would be the Source of perpetual Contentions* I fee no other we can make of it, but allow their feveral Votes to be all conjunctly valued equally, and according to their Numbers. If you would bring in all Church-members^ or even but Heads of Families, on equal Footing with Heritors and Elders, it would be both unjuft in the Nature of the Thing, and the Mother of Confufions unavoidable and fcandalous, efpecially in the greater Cities of the Nation, where the whole Burgh has a joint Con- cern in every Paftor. For Inftance, where could you aflemble all the Communicants, or Heads of Families Communicants in the City of Edinburgh ? When would you receive ail their Subicriprions to a Call ? And if you (bould do both thefe orderly, could they, think you, be good Judges of a Man's Abilities, of whom a great Part had probably never heard him? So that on the whole;, that Aft to me feems moft reafbnable and juft, in making Heritors and Eiders the legal Callers of Pallors, the Congregation being to approve or not, and their Objections, if they have any, being to be judged of by the Presbytery : • However, I would not have you to think, that I am fb attached to this Aft as much to diflike cither a more Popular Method, if it could be found not troublefome or fuch a Way as the Bill the SCHEMISTS on Calls. 15 Bill before the Houfe of Commons propofes; that is, Hericors of fuch a yearly Rent, and aa equal Number of Elders, provided there be as many of the whole Elderfhip. 1 need not fpeak of the Power of Presbyteries in fettling Pa£ tors : They have I think, without Controveriy, a- mong us, Right to prefide at the fubfcribing Calls, to judge of the Perfon called his Abili- ties in Knowledge, and Prudence in genera!, the Firnefs of his Gifts for that particular Pa- rifli, and to ordain him to the Cure ; even with, out the legal Election, if none concerned will make a Nomination or Choice. • I iliall (ay no more till I hear my Brother, for I fup- pofe I will be heard again. Grange an- fwers, No doubt, Sir ; and now Mr. Ershne you'll fpeak your Mind. * He begins; I told you, Sir y my Opinion before the Principal came, which you repeated to him. It now re- mains that I bring Proofs for it : I muft diflent from fever al Things juft now (aid; Is it not grange, that a Minifter of the Church of Scotland^ efpecially one of fuch Abilities as the Principal, fhould fpeak fb lax and indifferently about a Ma'tter of Co much Importance? But that I may come to difprove his Arguments a- gainft Popular Elections or Gofpel Calls, and eliablifh my own, or rather thole fully vindica- ted by that worthy honourable Gentleman Sir nomas Gordon ofEarlfion, and by our Reverend Brother Mr, Curry m- KinglaJJie, and before them briefly t6 GRANGE: Or, briefly touched at by our late Reverend Father Mr. Hog at Carnock. What the Principal ad- vances againft Church Members as fiich, and they only being allowed to chufe their own O- verleers, falls to two Parts ; firfi, His evading the Apoftolical Institution," and then alledging Injuftice andConfufion in popular Eleftions. If thefirft of thefe, the Divine Inftitution, be efta- bliihed,as it Ifeould, the latter, to wit, Reafons a- gainll it,muft doubtlefs give Place, as being Con- fequences by Accident, having their Foundation in the Perverfenefs of Men, contrary to the Word of God I fhall therefore take iome Pains to evince the Divine Right of People in this Cafe: I might infift at large on the Ele&ion of an Apoftle, Acts i. of the Deacons, Atls vi. and from the Words, AMs xiv, 23. Thefe are excel- lently cleared by the Writers I juft now nam- ed, and in an anonimous little Book Or Pamph- let, entitled, A Letter by a Parochial Bifloop to u Prelatick Gentleman, faid to be done by the worthy Mr. Willijon. I fliall only now for a- yoiding Tedioufnefs^ make a few (hort Obfer- vations on what the Principal faid againft this Proof , andv then, fhew the Reafbnablenefs of Gofpel Calls in Oppofition to ail other Kinds of Ele&ion. I muft again regret, that the Princi- pal flaould follow the jugling Jefuits and other deceitful Papifts, in interpreting or rather abu- fing thefe Scripture Paflages, an hundred Times vindicated by Proteftants long ago. Has not our Church the SC HE MISTS on C^h. 17 Church, and all reformed Churches befides, una- nimoufly agreed ro the binding Force of thefe Texts ? To what Days ! To what Corruptions are we come! How are we pofting to RfitAet Can any Thing be plainer than that the Dis- ciples or then Church Members had the Di- rection and Approbation of their glorious Matter in what they did ? If we make their Example hot binding, the next Step will be to deny thar we are bound to imitate Our Lord himfelf. — - Far be fuch Thoughts from us } I might 3dd a great many Things here, but I pafs ro the fe- tond Head, The Reafonablenefs of Gofpel Calls. It will be owned, Sir, I fuppofe, by my Anra- gonift, that the great End of the Gofpel Mimftry is to edify the Body of Cbr'tft^ hs Church. Now > fuch Men, and fuch only, are fit for this Work, as are themfclves acquaint with a Work of Grace in their own Souls ; who are mcdeft, grs»ve > and fober in their Conversions; and of fuffici- ent Learning and Knowledge; who are ortho- dox and true to our Presbyterian Principles ; and zealous for the Intereft of Chrift and his Kingdom. Then, it is fure, whoever knows our Country is fenfible, that the common People have more Religion, and a jufter Senfe of the Doctrine and Converfation which is nioft evangelical and exemplary, than the Gentry and Nobility, generally fpeaking, have. And be- fide, thefe great Heritors are many of them not Of our Communion, either not joyning wirb us 18 GRANGE: Or, at all, or no further than ferves their worldly Purpofes : And therefore will ufe their Interefi to introduce fuch Paftors as are unfbund and un- faithful; whofe Sermons have nothing that may bring them to the Uneafinefs of Conviction and Repentance ; but fuch as wilMull them in their Vices, or, at leaft, never bring them to Chrift, the only Foundation and Author of Salvation ; but will pleafe their Ears with chiming Periods, and dry Pagan Morality. And I have with Sorrow remarked, that iince your unchrjftian Method of fettling Minifters has of late Years become Co frequent, Students and Preachers are generally at more Pains to have A-cquaintance with the loofe£;^///^Writers,than with theBible, our Confejjion of Faith 9 and other found Syftems ; And, even in their outward Behaviour, they fhew Co much Levity, with Ruffles at their open Breafts, if not at their Hands; liter Dancing- matters, and rakifh Writers, than Expectants of the grave Office of the Miniftry. What can be the Cauie of this Behaviour ? Nothing elfe but the late tyrannical Settlements, in Compliance with the pretended Right of Patrons, and ex- orbitant Power of Heritors. There is one Thing In the late Practice, for which no Rea- fbn, I'm fure, can be pretended ; that is, the Power given to non-refiding Heritors. Can any Thing be more unjuft than to allow Men who do not live in a Parifh, and that never are to live there, to obtrude Perfons for the fpirirual Inftruclion the SCHEMISTSm Calls. 19 Inftruclion of others, they themfelves being to have no Part therein ? Is not this Confufion with a Witnefs ? And yet popular Elections muft bear the Blame. Where are thefe popular Confufions ? In Country Parifhes it is not urged. ' And in greater Towns where there are more Kirks than one, notwithstanding the Vicinity and joint Concern the whole Inhabitants have in every Minifter, I fee no Reafbn to hinder a particular Quarter to chufe him under whofe Special Infpeftion they are to be; tho* they are not all, and at all Times, to be his Hearers. And it were not amift, that every Quarter of fuch Cities were admonifhed and obliged to go to their own Kirks, as the Weftminticr Directory, and Acts of AfTembly require. And what Con- fufion is there in all this ? But,is the Oligarchic Method free of other Confufions, befide that named. Ah ! finful Confufions ! The Collufi- Ons among Lords and Lairds, " Let my Chap- Ci lain have this Kirk, and yours (hall have the ** next," be they agreeable to the Parifhes or not; and then by Flattery and Threats, they entice the poor Heritors and Elders, to act con- trary to trjjeir Judgments, and the Inclination of the People. The Principal had fbme fub- tile Reafoning, or ob (cure Affertions about com- paring the Value of Heritors and Elders Votes. So far as I understand them, they are neither true, nor confonant to the Simplicity of the Gofpel ; and if his Computation have any Foun- C 2 dation. 10 GRANGE: Or, dajtion, it ftands upon (uch a Mixture of politi- cal and fpiritual Grounds, that it minds me of the Feet and Toes of Nebuchadnezzar's Image. The Wood, Hay and Stuble mingled in it, makes it unfit to be tried with Fire. Tis too Jike the Houfe with fandy Foundations,mentioned in the Gofpei, or Piece of new Cloth put into an old (garment. My Kjf%dw i* V ot °>f 1 ^ s World y fajs our Saviour. For which Reafons, 'tis plain i\iq GofpelyCail is given to Paftors by all, and oniy^hoje that are in full Communion with the Giunch in the vacant Congregation, at leaft, Ilenus of Families fo qualified, without Diftinc- tion of Heritors and others ; and, that fuch Call? are the moft reafonable and juft, -As to the Fovver of Presbyteries in planting Vacancies : I fnali lay nothing againft what the Principal fpoke of it. Only, Sir, obferve that Presbyteries have an unalienable Right of requiring any Qualifi- cation in Intrants, which they find to be for the Good of the Church, and Security of our Con- ftitution; fuch as, their not accepting Prefer^ tat'tons. Another Power lately wrefted out of iheir Hands, in many'Inftances, is the ordain-* ing of Parlors in their feveral Bounds, with- out the violent Intrusions of any Commiffions or their Committees. Do we ever read in the Bible, of the laying on, of the Hands of the Ge* reral Afll-rnbly, or of their Commiffions and Committees? But fince the Aflembly laft Year jhas restored the peaceat>lepo(TeiTion of this Right to the SCHE MISTS on Czlh. n to Presbyteries, I need fay the .left of it. , When Mr. Ersiine ftoped, the Principal fays ? truly, Sirs, Controverfy was always dry 'to me even in reading. I muft take a Drink before. I (peak, (for Grange had cauled a Drink to be brought a little before) having drunk, he adds, Honourable Prefes^ my Reverend Brother h\s followed a Method of Reafoning, the feveral Parts of which, I fear I fhall not have Memory enough to retain till I go thro 5 them. I fhall hot complain of the Stifneft of fome of my Brother's Expreffions, as he does of the Laxneft of mine. It I were to purfue his Way, might I not proteft againft his Tenets ? Might I not think it ftrange, That a Man of Mr. Ersk'wes Zeal for the Bible, fhould make (uch wide In- terpretations, or ufeleft Allufions, when we de- fign clofs Reasoning ? For I dare affirm the moft Part of his Citations are nothing to the Purpofe, tho' he fhould think them the ftrongeft Proofs in the World. Might I not regrete, that Mr. Erskine (hould follow vile Dreamers of frefh Pate, in talking of potting to Rome, when he himfelf explains the Scripture, little better than a jugling jefuit, or deceitful Papift? The Papifts, Sir, you know, have as many Scriptures which they adduce for the Pope's Infallibility, (which is the great Foundation, Hinge and Cop ftone of Popery) as Mr. Ersk'me quotes for his popu- lar Elections. What do you think offfiou art Pe- ter , and upon thisRock I will build mj Church ; And the 22. GRANGE: Or, the Gates of Hell /hall not prevail againlt it- And whatfoever thou /halt bind on Earth, (hall he hound in Heaven: Compared with the Hiftory, at the End of the firft Chapter of the Atts ? Do not think Brother, that I plead for Popery : I am as much perfwaded as any Man, that Popery and Epifcopacy too, as at this Day exercifed, are manifeftly contrary both to Scripture and Rea- son ; and I am fure this Text I have cited, is miferably abufed by Papifts; as likewife that o- ther, Feed my Lambs, or my Sheep. But is your Application of your Paflages in the Afts a Whit better? They have both Promife and Pre- cept, not indeed to their Pope 7 as they would have it, but to the Apojlles eminently, and to o- ther Church Office-bearers in their Meafure. Do you pretend either Precept or Promife for your Electors Privilege ? I believe you will nor. May not I then with as good Reafbn judge, that the Pope of Rome is to imitate our Saviour in exercifing the infallible Headfhip of the Church univerfal,as you think Church Members, now a- Days in chufmg theirOver(eers,are to follow the Example of the Apoftolick Church in chufing an Apoftle, or Set of Deacons ? And what better are the Citations againft my Eftimate of Votes? Look all the Commentators from the incom- parable Grotius, to the dulleft Paraphrafer, and you'll fcarce find your Senfes in them all. Might I not then cry out v temporal Mores! when Protectants join with Papifts in drawing from Scrip. the SC HE Ml ST Son Calls. 23 Scripture, Things that were never in it. Forgive me, Prefes, for imitating my Brother, perhaps too keenly. He names feveral Wri- ters of his Way of thinking, without giving us a PafTage from any of them. 1 could counter- balance that, by as many of another Mind : Such as, our learned and worthy Brother Mr. Logan, who has confidered thefe Things particularly. And if he would not be angry, rfhe Rights of the Chriftian Church, The Independent Whig, and Occafwnal Paper ,Books worth reading, tho 5 they go too far on the other Side, in ftriving to make loofe all Church-Government and Discipline ,• yec with a good'Defign to beat down Biggotry, and deprels the Arrogance of the Clergy.— — Another Thing my Reverend Brother fpeaks of, I may as e^Cily pais over \ namely, the Confent of all refor- med Churches, and particularly our own, in aflTert- ing the obligatoryForce ofhisTexts. Had ir real- ly been Co, they were but Men whom no Pro- t eft ant will allow us blindly to follow. But I admire our Brother does not better mind what is (aid in the fecond *Beok of Difciplwe, Aft of Aflembly 49 ; both which were the Mind of the Church of Scotland, and the Aft of Parlia- ment 90, which was alfb done by Advice from oyr Church. Do all thefe own the divine In- ftitutionof his popular Calls ? nay, Do they not all differ from his Way, as well as from one a- ncther ? Neither muft he evade this by Interims^ or pre n jailingParties>- Mr. Er shine's next Con- firmation 24 GR ANGE: Or, firmation is from the Apoftles and Difciple^ their having the divine Direction and Approba- tion in what they then did. Who doubts of that ? Even an extraordinary Direction they had ; but the worfe for his Purpofe. The Of- fice chofen to was extraordinary, I mean that of an Apoftle, the Direction to the Choofers extra- ordinary ; therefore their Practice is not to be imitated inordinary Cafes; one would think were a pretty fair Conclusion. But the laft Thing he faid, tor defending his Examples, de- ferves more Regard. I might^upon Punciples, whichj fancy 7 Mr. Erskiue efpou'es, and indeed, he has many and great Divines, Morahfts, and Lawiers on his Side, who deduce all Obliga- tion from the Command of a Superior. On theie Principles, I fay, I might deny that any bare Example can bind to Imitation, in any Part, or in any View : But I rather join the Pbilofophers, as well ancient as of late 5 who find Obligations independent on the Confideracion of a Superior, founded on the Nature of Things, the Reafon, Senfes^ and Inffin&s felt in human Nature. According to thefe Principles, I con- ceive, that Imitation is natural to Mankind, and that the virtuous Practice of others is one of the moft ufeful Inftru&ions to us, efpecially if we be of the more unthinking Rank of Men ; con- (equently, that fuch Examples, in (b far as our Condition agrees with that of the virtuous Per- (bn 3 are ftriclly obligatory. And this might hU fice theSCHEMiSTSonQdls. 1$ fice for vindicating the Example of our bleffed Saviour. But beftde, my Brother would re~ member, That the Example of our LOR. D, and even of good Men^ is not naked. He has fre- quently read, Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of Heart. If any Man will come after me, let him deny himfelf y take up his Crofs and follow me. Walk in Love, as Chrift alfo hath loved us, and he ye Followers of them who thro* Faith and Patience inherit the Promifes. And yet^ even thtfe Commands cannot bind us to imi- tate the good Affe&ions of Chrift and of Saints any further than our Circumftances allow, and we can know them : The fime may mora ftrongly be (aid of any outward, and particular "Anions. Now, are we in the fame Circum- ftances wirh the Church at Jerufalem, or any where elfe, in the Days of the Apoftles ? Do wef know who thefe 1 2cDiiciples were ? Are we fure that no Part of them was Women ? Them my Brother will perhaps exclude ; becaufe they are prohibited to /peak in the Church, where Mi* nifters are ufually chofen. Were all the primi- tive Ele&ors Corhmunicarits ? I. do not hear of a Communion from CHRIST'S Death till afrer the new Apoffle was ordained : But they werd fuch as were fit for it. Well! But he has no» great Scruple againft Heads of Families only : Yea, then he is departed from the Pattern, for ought he knows.— Yet Sir, you mtift not think that Mr. Ershtti can retort upon me,- the' Obfcu- fi tiif 16 GRANGE: Or, rityof the Act 90. Whether Heritors contain: Liferenters, Minors, thofe that have Wadfets, and the like ? Whether Heritors are to be rec- koned quoad capita^ or quoad cenfus ? Whether Deacons are to be accounted with Elders, pro- perly fo called, and fo on ? For there is a Dif. fere nee between a Pattern divinely authorifed, and punctually to be imitated, and a humane Law. But entfugh of this. When my Bro- ther comes to reaibn from the Nature of the Tning, he brings a great Variety of Things, too many to be particularly noticed. In his Entry, he gave a pretty good Defcription of a Chriftian Pailor. 1 (hall only in the general obferve, that my Reverend Brother feems to have too narrow Conceptions of our Conftitu- tion. He does not think, I know, that the Church of Scotland is (6 pure, as to need no further Reformation. There is none infallibly (lire of every Thing : One may fee one Thing, that needs to be reformed, and another may fee another. Befide, he wpuld notice, that there are fome Parts of Religion more elTential, others more indifferent, where Forbearance and brotherly Charity is to be exercifed as to Diffe- rences. And I am perfwaded, that a confide- rate reading what he calls the loofe Englifh Wri- ters, even the worft of them, with their An- fwers 3 will give a clearer View of the Founda- tion, and Value of the feveral Parts of Chrifti- anityj than the reading his Orthodox Syftems only. the SCHEMISTSon Calls. 27 only. Students, now that they have Time e- nough, ihould impartially read the beft Writers on all Sides, and thefe too that are called the Btlles Lettres^ above all the Bi'le in the original Tongues and ancient Translations; And I know a great many Youths are very laborious this Way. And fuffer me, Sir, to tell my Reve- rend Brother, that the Church of Scotland will never want Contentions about Doctrines, till either fuch Minifters as have read Books only on one Side wear out, or old Minifters be more diligent in reading new Books. Difcourfes cal- led Moral, or Rational ^ any Way in confident with, or unprofitable to, the great Defigns of the (Jofpel, I think mould by all Means be difcou- raged : But, lo far as I know, very few fuch have been in Scotland. One Soldier makes not an Army. Neither do I approve the infilling always on a few Heads of Morality, rho 1 good in themfeives; but too abftrac"t for common Hearers • Yet, fuch as ufe this Way, do no more than compenfate the Cullcm of orhers, who preach always Myfteries of another Kind. - — As to Stile, Pronounciation, and Cloathing; my Brother would confider, that (orhethfrig is to be allowed to Cuftom, which is much chani- J o ed every few Years. But, I am mfifiing too long on Things fo remote from the Point; fihee rhey are not alledged,as Confequences of the Ac! or, but of the late tyrannical Settlements in Com- pliance with the pretended Right of Patrons, as D 2 he %% GRANGE: Or, he is pleafed to fpeak. -What he fays a little clofer to the Head, is drawn from an AC- fertion of common People's Discernment of pa- floral Qualifications, fuperior to that of Men in higher Stations j this might as eafily be denied as affirmed, yea with more Juftice. But let us fuppofe great Men as bad as Mr. Ershne pleafes; Will it therefore follow, that they are to be ex- cluded from chufing Minifters ? Will it not be for the Advantage of Religion, that winning^ gather than irritating Methods,be ufed with Per- fons of Influence? Oughr not Church-men to be mfe as Serpents for gaining fuch ? For, then will their Influence, which my Brother takes always ty the worft Handle, be profitable to the Con- gregation- nay, whole Nation and Church: I rnean this, both of Men that are not fo moral as were to be defired, and thpfe not of our Com- jnunion. I know it will be objected againfi this, that fuch Perfons will chute the worft Preachers, who are not Orthodox, or not well aflfefted to pur Church and State. Are there really any fuch Preachers ? No. I hope there are no Preachers in Scotland^ but fuch as may fafely be Paftors. Does it not belong to Presbyteries to take Care pf that ? They will certainly ofrdain none whom they find unfit. But, is the Suppofition true ? I cannot believe it is. Great Men are doubtleis pf like natural PaiTions with others, which Paf- fions in jfourh, and the Beginning of Manhood, thro' Idlenefs and Luxury in fuch Perfons, too the SCBEM1STS «i Calls. 29 frequently become Over-matches for Virtue and Reafbn ; and then they are expofed to the Ob, fervation of the World more than meaner Per- fons, their Vices are blazed abroad, and Fame runs thro' the Crowd, crying, That all great Men are wicked, Jacobites, and Enemies to the Church. But 'tis well known, by thofe that are acquaint with aged Men of beft Eftate in the Nation, that they are generally both fbber, and well affeiied to our Conftirution of State and Church, tho' their Education makes them not Co fiery on fmaller Points,which is theirAdvan- tage,and ours too, — -As tonon-refiding Heritors: I faid before, that we muft take Things in the grofs ; we cannot cut Hairs,but muft followgene- ral Rules : And if they are not Inhabitants of a particular Parifh, fuppofed vacant, yet they are Chriftians, and Members of the Great Congre- gation of Scotland. The two Parts of Pre& byterial Power, which my Brother thinks has been infringed, do not properly belong to the prefent Difpute. The firft will be confidered, when we come to fpeakof Prefentations,which, I imagine, will be our next Subjeft ; of the o- ther I (hall be willing to talk with Mr. Er skint by ourfelves. I would only now put him in Mind of our common Proverb, Necejfity .has no Law. -I hope, Sir, if I have omitted any Thing that deferves Notice, you, or Mr. Erf- line will be fo good, as to put me in Mind of it } for I do not defign to fpeak again on this 1 Head. 3° GRANGE: Or, Head.— —Grange anfwers, Really Sir, you have been very particular and diftinft, (b far as I could obferve; if your Brother has noticed any Omiffion, I wifh he may let you fee ir. 1 Mr. Erskine replies, Prefes, I remember no Ar- gument that I ufed, but what the Principal has given fbmeAnfwer to.ThePoints of Controverfy betweeaus are grown fb numerous, that I can- not (peak to every one, nor remember all that did not fatisfy me. If I fhould fay all that my Love to our Church, and Abhorrence of Cor- ruptions crept into it, whatever fair Face the Principal may put upon them, prompt me toj I would be reprefented by fbme as outragious and mad ; I fhall therefore fay very little/ . I take every Thing the Principal fays, better than his accufing me of Papift-like mifinterpreting of Scripture. I am not without Faults and Igno- rance ; but if I err here, I but follow Eufebiur, and Cyprian, Men venerable for Antiquity, hav- ing lived before Popery came to any Height ; Calvin, Beza and Knox s theie (hining Lights of the Reformation, with many others in Scotland, now triumphant in Glory, with a Remnant at this Day wreftlingagainft the Enemies of Chrift, and his Kingdom in this degenerate Church. "With fuch Men to interpret Scripture, I hadal- moft faid, to err, I fhall always glory ; at leaft, while I have them on my Side, I fhall never fear the Name of Papift from any unprejudiced Man.—- The Principal fbmetimes fays, I muft no: the SC HE MISTS on Calls. 31 not reply fo or fo, and you muft not think I can retort thus or thus : If I muft not, I (hall nor. But then, Sir, you muft not think, that I have, no more to fay, or that the Obje&ions are weak} but that he will have no Regard to them. As I faid before, our Difpute is fpread to fo many Points, that my Memory will not ferve me to fpeak to each of them at once. I would therefore have the Principal to repeat Part after Part, what he faid, that we may confider it fe- parately. — The Principal replies, Truly Sir, my Memory is not fo faithful, as to do that, but I can do what may be as good. I fhall allow Mr. Er shine to choofe any Point he thinks fir, and venture the whole Difpute on ir. But then, I can forecel my Brother, without the Spirit of Prophecy, that his Point, whatever it be, will bring in more than he is perhaps aware of. I fhall fay nothing of his Venerables deceaft, or Wreftlers living; but only, that it were better for the Church of Scotland^ and every Church under Heaven, to enquire into Matters impar- tially themfelves, than take Shelter under the Wings of any Mortals. Grange then frriiling, makes Return, your Goodnefs, Principal, has come far enough for your Parr. Now, Cou- Cn, you have a fair Offer, and very favourable for ending your Conference. — Mr. Erskine fays, . I will not take upon me to name a Particular, by which the whole Difpute fhall ftand or fall ; but if the Principal pleafes, he and I fhall pro-v" pofe 31 G R A NGE: Or, pofe a Queftion to others by Turns, and let the other anfwer it, Wich all my Heart, fays the Principal, and I hope Mr. Erskine will begin. Mr. E. I would then ask the Principal, Have not all Communicants in a Congregation, and they only, a Divine Right to choofe their own Minifters? If not, for what ferve the Accounts of the primirive Elections in the Afts of the A- foftks. Pr. Communicants, amd every Perfbn befides in a Congregation, have a Divine Right to choofe their Minifters, both from Scripture andReafon; but that Divine Right doth not hinder, but requires, that the ReprefentativeS of many do it for them, and that others be joined with them; To the other Queftion I an- fwer, Thefe Accounts in the A3s ferve to let all following Ages of the Church fee the primitive Methods, for their Direction, fo far as their Cir- cumftances agree^not to mention the Connection of theHiftory,and the like. Pleafe, Sir, to go thro 7 your Difficulties, before you expect mine. Mr. E. I fee it will be beft to do fo ; for I fee Things are artfully eluded, but I fhall be nearer the Sore, Can a paftoral Relation be contracted between a Preacher and private Chri- ftian, without mutual Confent ? Can Marriage be jutt without Confent of Parties? Or, can a Phyfician reafonably be forced upon a difeafed Perfon. Pr. To the firft, Prefes, I anfwer^ The Confent of the Preacher is necefTary, every Pa- rifhioner's Confent is not 3 fome cannot give ir, namely, the SC HE Ml St Son Calk J| Namely, Children; others will not, fuch as re- fuie our Communion ( but then, there is pro- perly no paftoral Relation ) many are more conveniently reprefenred by others, for avoiding Confufion, to wit, all mere private Perions by the Elder of their Quarrer of the Parilh. To the two laft Queflions: Th2 Negative generally holds, but not without Exceptions; efpecially in the laft, it is very oft juft, when a fick Per- fon by D.ftemper calls for an unskilful Phyfi- cian, or refufes to admit any, that his Friends employ one whom rhey know to skilled and faithful But neither this nor the other is pa- rallel to a Parlor's Gall. Thefe are both pri- vate Affairs, the other is publick, in which People muft be reprefented 5 as is fit and ufuah Mr. E. I find every Thing turns upon the El- ders being the Rep'refentatives of their feveral Quarters, which, I think, I forgot to fpeak of before. Now I'askj Do Elders reckon them- felves'Reprelentatives of their Proportions^ a Parifli, and aft as fuch when they shoofe a Minifter ? Who chooles them for that Office? Pr. To the firft: I know not well what El- ders think, ordo; but is it not eaiy to make Elders think and aft according to the Quel"! ions if they do it not already ? May not MinifterS admonimthe Elders that are, of their Duty \\\i Way ; and engage fuch as (hall be admired, to do it. To the (ecoiid \ anfwer, The Scfflio'ri choofes therrjj that they may hoc {rouble E ftfciffi 34 GRANGE: On Panili in (b fmall a Matter: But they are pro- posed to the Congregation, which is much the fame Thing] And what is the Parifli concerned who choofethem, if they reprefent them fair- ly? Mr, E. My Queftions are anfwered by Counter-queries, which is iDut oblique anfwer- ing. But, 1 would further ask, How (hall El- ders be got, who will accept the Office with fuch a new Burden added to it ? Will any mo- deft Man take Co much upon him. Pr. I can (ay little to that; Seffions and Presbyteries muft do the beft they can. And, I would think a new Honour, as well as new Burden, will make the Difficulty no greater ; and there is nothing againft Modefty in ir, were it in Ufe. Mr. £. But I can fay, That People in fbme Places would ftone Elders, who would take upon them to ask their Minds, in order to reprefent them at fubfcribing a Call. P. They might club them too, for ought that I know ; but I dare affirm, If Minifters did not inftill fuch ill-natured Principles into People un- der the Name of Chriftian Zeal, we might have left Tr6uble from many Places. But you may go on wirh your Queftions, Brother. Mr. E. I mall go on Moderator, when I have told" the Principal, that our Troubles proceed more from the (elf-feeking Humours of great Men, and thofe that flatter them for their own Ends, than from common People. — The Query I. now pro- pofe is, Are not all Ranks of People to befatis- fied. the SCHEMlSTSon Calk $$ fied, and Peace maintained, as much as pofiible, for Edification ? Pr. Yes, by all Means. Mr. E. Would it not tend to Peace and Edification, that all ParifhonerSj Communicants., be allowed to vote in chufing their Paftors. Pr. Juft as Peoples Notions are; And People, I hope, in Time will lay afide their contentious Principles, fo that it may be as much for Peace, and more for Or- der and Edification another Way. Mr. E. That will never be ib Jong as there is Violence on one Side, and Love of juft Liberty and Privileges on the other. — I have done with my Queftions, leaving it to our Prefes to judge of them, and the Anfwers, And fhall now be Re- ipondent, if the Principal incline to catechize me. The Principal fays, Honourable Prefes^ I fhall not trouble you and Mr. E. with Questions. I long to hear your Sentiments. And I hope you remember what I faid againft the Obligation of Examples; and the Arguments for the Regard I plead for, to People of Importance to. State and Church jointly, even tho' they do not live in the Parifh vacant. It is juft now come into my Mind, that my Brother went near contradicting himfelf in his firft Speech, on this and his fol- lowing Articles. He's fure there is no Realbn for non-refiding Heritors having Power to vote, and yet he allows, if I may Co fpeak, non-hear- ing Burghers to vote powerfully. Mr. E. This Remark of the Principal's iSftrangely wide. Did not I fhew, that Burghers fhould go to their own Kirks j and then they will not be E a Kon- $6 GRANGE: Or, Non-hearers? He does well to fhorten our Pifcqurfe, and I heartily joyn him in defiring .]your Thoughts, on the whole. Grange replies^ 1 Gentlemen, you have argued the Matter ad- mirably. Buchanan and Knox, CaUerooood and Rutherford, or Carjiairs and Brisbane, would (carcely have done it more accurately. I need pot eflay to go thro' your Arguments particu- larly. I may only obferve to you the Truths that feem to reiuk^om all that you have (aid. I have frequently had fome confufed Notions o r y;ft: Concefiions on all Hands, in the Matter qt calling Minjfters, which, fince you began jo (peak, ieem to be formed to fome Confift- ence. If I miftake not, your Opinions on this J-Lad are both juft in good Meafure j and that is it, wh cb makes your Arguments look ftrong o. both Sides. If one mould make a wife Com- pofitjon among all the Clients that either of you Jiave patronised, his Arguments might ftand {ayincil le. " Divifion weakens every Thing, ——'There are three OafTes of People, whole pl Matter -you have fpoken to. Thefe the Presbytery, ( whofe Power is mo- d rate enough if other Things were fatisfy- k y ljufted) the Mentors, the Elders, and the re Communicants, or Heads of Families. (ar as I unde^ftend ir, doth not t entirely to any one of thefe Pre leaves k to the Prudence *>f the L giflatqrs, Civil and Ecclefiaftick, to make rqpofitiQn.as may promote, and (ecu re the theSCHEMlSTSon Calls. 37 the Happinefsof the Nation in the moft efTe&ual Manner. Satisfaction, Peace, and mutual Love are the great Bonds of all Society ; and the Way, at leait, to univerfai Happinefs. Now if the Claims of any of the Parries juft now named, be wholly rejected, that Clafs or Gaffes will un- doubtedly be difgufted ; many of them will withdraw from the Church, and fb become more expofed to the praftifing of any that are diCffected to Church and State, and Enemies to the Nation. Should nor therefore every Clafs remit fome Part of the Power which it has fbme- time poffeft, giving it up to the Satisfaction of others, and Good of all ? I am perfinded, all Ranks would willingly fiibmit to an equitable Abatement of their utmoft Claims : But what fhall every one lore, and what (hall they retain ? Let usconfider the feveral Gaffes, and their Pre- tences, for by that Means we may find what may lafely be done. To begin with Heritors, their Claim at the utmoft is by Aft 90, that they, and the Elders are to have the Nomination; Which, tho' the Aft of your AiTembly 32. ieem- ed to interpret of the conjunct Meeting, might as well be underftood of diftinft Bodies of equal Power. Might not they, and the Seffion break up their Monopoly,lhall I call ir, or dipoly, and admit others into Society with them ; name- ly, the Heads of Families, or Communicants in the Parilh, as a third Body on equal Footing with their own :wo Eftates j and iikewife Patrons, as 58 GRANGE: O; as ftpcrior Fellows in the landed Faculty. Nei- ther of you, Gentlemen, have fpoken in Defence of the Right of Patrons, nor (hall I undertake to be their Advocate : But both becaufe of their Importance in the Nation, being generally Men of the higheft Stations ; and becaufe of their Claim by the Laws of Britain, I would fhow a particular Regard to them, by allowing their Votes to be accounted, as fome two, or four of other Heritors. This, I think, could .do no Harm, and might fatisfy them too^ in regard their Rights are both oi'ten doubtful in particu- lar Cafes, and very chargeable by Suits with one another ; and alfb in general, pretty loote, by clafhing Laws, and now in a fair Way to be vacuate by the Parliament. The Seffion had Sometime the fble Power of ele&ing for the Parifh : But that was only becaufe of the then Circumftances of our Church, which they do not pretend to at this Day. They are good Men who will not be unsociable. The laft Oafs, I'm perluaded will fee the Unfufficient- nefs of their utmoft Claim from Scripture, and lince many of them are uncertain of flaying long in the Pariih ; and now^ that they are in Danger of lofing all, will not refute to join with the other two as a third Body. — . — « I would there- fore hope, That the Parliament might eate our Church of Contentions on this Head, if they would make an Act, ' c abrogating the Patron's rayer f on Defign, that if the General Aflembly find Caule, they may c allow Presbyteries, ■ where Disturbance is feared from Crowds 6 out of circumjacent Parifhes, or from fuch i in the fame Parifh as cannot be Callers, ' to make the Election on Monday* ; the Mode*- rator having preached Ycfterday, and intimated, " That all and only Heritors, Seffion, and Heads " of Families, who are admitted to vote, meet cc To-morrow for choofing their Minifter, and 41 that none other will have Accefs into the " Kirk." This the Aflembly might exprefly de- clare. And befide, if they mould fear Con fufion> by admitting Heads of Families 7 tho' : this, as I (aid before, has been the Practice of the greateft Part of rhis UnurCh, and we never heard of any Disturbance till of late, that Heads of Families have been excluded from Votes, and allowed only to object, not indeed about the Unfitnefs of Candidates Gifts, for their. Edification, as fbme, with what Reafcn I fhall not fay, underftood the Act 90; bin folely againft his Doctrine or Walk as heretical or fcandalous, which any Perfon in the World mud be heard in, as well as they. Or, if it fhould be thought that the joynt Concern of Burghs in every Paftor 5 re- quires the whole Inhabitants to be accounted Pa- nfhoners of every Congregation, which I muft own I do not fee fufficient Reafbn.s for. If either or bsthofthefe, I fay, make it appear neceflary, the ii the SC HE MISTS on Calls. J| the General Aflembly may add a Claufe in thefe or the like Words, c And if any Presbytery/fear * Confufion from the Multitude of Voters, 4 efpeciaily in Royal Burghs, let the JTritima- * tion, where thefe Inconveniencies are dreaded, 4 be to this Purpofe', That the EleSHori of one 4C for their Pallor is to be on fuch a Day, 1 2 " or 1 "j Days hence, and that on fuch a Day or 4 ' Days, a Day or two before the conclusive 44 Ele&ion, the Heads of Families (and Heri.- 44 tors too, if the whole Burgh be to vote) fe- 4C verally as their Conyeniencies allow them, u are to repair to the Senior* Clerk's Room, general. St-flion Clerks if it be a Town having fuch a SelTion, and there to vore for, and 4C fubferibe a Call to one to be their Minifter, 41 or Minifter of fuch a Kirk", which mull be 4 in Prefence of fome two Elders, or neigh- 4 bouring Minifter appointed to be there pre- 4 fent at the fet Time, and to report, how the 4 Votes went to him that moderares at the 4 fijling up of the Call, if it be not the fame 4 Perfon who is Witnefs to both.' I have faid 'too much for peventing the Objeftion of Tur- "bulency : Tediouihefs now, I fore fee, will be 'called up, and the whole Plan blamed for that on the one Hand, and on the other for giving great Men Opportunity to entice or overaw the other Heritors and Seffion. Bur, what Laws or Conftiturion is altogether Proof againft thefe In- conveniencies ? Was not the wile Divider* of G 2 the 5i GRANGE: Or, the Romans, by one of their Kings, into fix CIaffes y with as many different Powers and Badges of Honour, and I don't know how many Centuries in each Claft, more tedious and mi« Snute than what I offer? The civil Conftitution of Britain is doubtlefs the beft modelled in the World ; and yet cannot quire banifh Parties and Collufions. Our civil Legiflators will find this JDivifion much like their own ; in which the Commons are an ufeful Part, fo much that the Natiop for the retrenching their juft Power, among other Reafons, fouad it necefTary, with- in our Memory, to aft as we know, and re- joice they did. ttbey, our Minifters, as every knowing and good Man, will confider that the Sowed and moft ignorant People, ftand moft in Need of paftoral Care and Inftruftion ; That they will not fubjeft themfelves to thefe, if they be excluded from choofing their Teachers; and, that upon Suppofition their Right this Way Were otherwife worfe founded than it is ; yet great and knowing Men are bound by GOD and Mature to bear with the Infirmities of the 'weak for their Edification, and not to offend their Bre- thren for whom CHRIST died. And, for ob- viating undue Practices in this Matter, the Ge- peraiAiTembly might require anOath of allVoters, ihat they aft for no fecular Ends topleafe Men,buc flncerely as before GOD ; as I hinted in the Overture for the General Affembly, which I prbpofed i befide ? that the Bufinels is fo laid, f the SCHE MISTS on Calls. 55 by making the Voters fa numerous, and a Dif- ference between thefe that are prefenr, and not prefent at 'the Election; that, unlefe the Party be very ftrong, it will be an Hundred to one, but their Plot will be difconcerted. Now, I know the Principal will not ftick on thefe fmal- ler Thorns. Are you pleafed, Coufin ? Tru- ly, fays Mr. Erskine, I wifti all the Church of Scotland were of your Judgment. I would be glad to (ee fuch A&s as you have mentioned take place, inftead of worfe. If Settlements were fb ordered, and as good a Courfe taken for maintaining found Doftr'we, I would rejoice to be a Member of our Church judicatures. Very good, Sir ! fays Grange, fuch Things in Time may come about: And now, Gentlemen, 'tis Time we leave this poor Lodge. We muft give fomewhat to the Body ; and after that we will better talk on the reft. Now, good Scot/men, let your Friend, the Author, befpeak you in a few Words. He has given you from the Mouths of two able Debaters, the Strength of the principal Arguments on both Sides: Not .indeed to learn you to contend, but to let you fee Difficulties, to prefi you to fall in with the Prefes's Overtures; in which he has laid before you, what he conceives to be the nariveft Way of ending Variancies among your feveral Ranks and Characters, in the Bufine(s of filling your vacant Sees. He then, by the Love you bear to your Country, earneftly begs it of you, as Bre- 54 GRANGE: Or, Brethren and Chriftians, That ye all follow thefe Things that make for Peace and Edification, in Knowledge and Love. Ye Men of Eminency and liberal Fortunes, Oh ! condefcend to Men of low Degree, thefe Farmers and Hynds, who clad in Sackcloth, fed with Oats and Water, and fweating from the Ground, minifter to your Scarlet, your Plenty, and Eafe. Can you find in your Hearts to defpife thefe honeft Parrners of your Kind, or to reckon them any more than a Degree below yourfelves ? Think how good the KING oi Churches is to you, compared with thefe; think what you would defire of them, had you exchanged Places, and they come into your Room. Be ye then merciful and kind, as your dread Sovereign is, whofe Kindnefs alone has raifed you above your Fel- lows, thefe other Children of Men: In fine, fa- vour their Rights, ceafe from Oppreflion, and be ye the Sons of Heaven. Again, ye Church- men, who teach others Condefcenfion, Induftry, and Love, let thefe fair Three lead you to Modefty, Wifclom and Care, in weighing the Caufe, and adjufting the Meafures of the Intro- duction of your own Sons. The Higheli Court of Britain you have found truly civil to you; go on then in your Diligence ; and you need not defpair of Succefs. Only let Wifdom be your Breaft-plate, for I muft tell you, the bed Hearts are (bmetimes joined but with indifferent jHeads, Let Knowledge lead your Van, Pru- dence the SC HE MISTS on Calls. 55 dence be Chief, and Application drive the Rear ; and then will you do worthy Exploits, and be^ come tkir as an Army of Princes. Be at Peace among yow/ehes, and you fhill be Victors. Good Vulgar, what fh 11 Pbilumon fay to thee? Purfue thy Claims with Sobernefs, envy not the Great their Preference, hearken not to bufy Bo- dies; and thou (halt be wife, and obtain the Defire of thine Heart. Ye rifing Hopes of the Nation, Fxptflants of the facred Truft, and young Sons of the Prophets ; ply your Studies affiduoufly, acquaint your felves with your Bible, impartially read all Kinds of Authors, recede little from your Fathers in fpe^king ; and you (hall be Bleflings to the Land, and Teachers of the People. Finally, Brethren, be ye ail cour- teous, without Flattery, religious without Bi- gotry, loving without Diflimulation, and you fhall be a glorious Church and Nation to thelaft Sun ; throw away Jealoufies, get a juft Way of Settlements, and fave the Trouble of your Au- thor's fecond Book. S& Bid of the Firft Bool,