SC^4IH \uli. A : J> r $ Zfyrutf f 'Jofc'it.tf 4? A SECOND VINDICATION OF THE CHURCH SCOTLAND: BEING AN ANSWER 3f M $amn)let& The Titles of which are fet down atcer the Preface. By the Author of the former Vindication id Anfwer to the I o Queftions. — — - ■ - — i _ Pfal, 3 1 , rS. Let f%e lying Lips heput to Silence, which jpedke grievotu things, proud ly and contempt uoujly, againjl the Righteom. Pfal. 55, 3. T hey eaft Iniquity upon me, andinvrath they bate me. Pfal. 6j. ii. But the mouth of them that [peak* Lies Jhaii be (lopped, Gregor. Lib, iS. Moral. Noanunquam pejus eft wndaciummeditariquamloqii > Nam loqui plerumqueprecipitatioois eft, meditari vcro-Siudiofaepravitaris. -Jugupi*. contra Farm en : L. 4. Quifquis vel quod potcft corrigit ; vcl quod noa potcftCorrigcre.falvopacis vinculo cxcludit i vel quod falvopacis vinculo cxJu. dcre noa potcft, aequitatc improbat, is pacificus eft. E V I N B V R G H, Printed by George Mofman, Printer to the Church of Scot landznd Her Assemblies, and are to be Sold at his Shop in the Parliament Clofe , ^fnno 7)omtn$ M DC XL I THE PREFACE. He Wreftlings of the Church of Scotlandhzvc been manifold, and of long continuance : Ja- cob and Efau have been long ftrugling in her womb/ many, Changes have gone over her; fometimes the one Party prevailing, and fome- nmes the other: If there were no more at bot- tom of this ftrife then is pretended ; there mightbel n chopeoi Feace-- If not by Onenefsin Opinion and praftice, yet by yeildinglofaras Confcience can allow, ar d mu- tual forbearance in that where. n we cannot unite. But the Enmi- ty between the Seed ot the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent, as it began with -Wo; Id it Utf, lo inslike to haveno more early Exit. Tamfure, Lying, Railing, and malicious Reproaches, initeadof Argumentative Confutations, ate nor conducive to peace. This Conduct cannot convince them chatare other wife minded, nor can it render that way Lovely, for the fake of which it is ufed, to one who is influenced either by Religionor Reafon : Butirtend- ethro render the Caufe that is fo managed, Sufpicious; yea to difparage and Blacken a good Caufe; in the Eyes of the SoSsr an J rational partof Manknd It is a bad Caufe that mad befo fup. portedy and a worfe Soul that will ufefuch a weapon: Yea, - ofa good cemper will not 1 (ten to fuch Difccurfes , but abto* 1 them : Nor will they auribus ahquem calummari, as &im> . fptak h. ltha'h been an old ftratagem oi Satan, to difpa Trtith, or the right way esoi God; eicher by mifreprcfennn^ o difguifing tht Opinions of them who own thefe; or dra^vi n* ftrange and abfurd Conferences from ,vaat they hMJ : Qt i n- A z putiflg The ¥ RE FACE. purine that to them that they never faid nor thought : Or by raifing and venting Calumnies againft the Perfonsand Aftions of thern whom they would expofe: Thus did the Heathens againft the Jews, and againft the Chriftians: For the former, enough to this purpofe may be feen in Jqfeph. contra /Ipion. lib i x. And theAnticnrHiftories of the Church are full of the Latter: And the Apologies of Tertulltan, and others, were occafioned by them. Itwasalfo the way of Papifts againft Proteftants: Yea our Lord, inthedavesofhisflefh, iuffcrtd the fame ; andthevery footfteps of thefe Enemies of Truth , do thefe Authors tread, with whom 1 have now to do : As will appear in our progrefs. It it is a woeful work for men to imploy their Wit. in, andtheirtime about. The Devil hath his Name from this praftice, not only in Greek, *%** ; but alfo in the Syriak N. T. jj^Wof , one that feedcth on Calumnies. It is ftrange that Veracity is become as much a ftranget among ProteftantSt as among Jeluits; Heathens would be alhimed of fuch Intemperance of theTongue.as fome Divines ufe; and that in Debates about Religious things: It is Unmanly as well asUnchriftian to tell a Lye, tho* for never fo good a Caufe , or on never fo good a defign : Tlutarch: de Liber. Educand. Menttr'tenmfervileeflx Et dignumapudomnes Homi» nesod'w, acne medweribus quidemfervis ignofcendnm. Is it any wortder that we hefitate about fome things related by Antient Hiftorians, when To much falfe Hiftory is, with fuch effronted Boldnefs, written about the things that we all know, and about which we could be habile Witnefles, andcould Swear them to be Lyes, before a Judge ? Or thair we can have little perfwafion of what we Read, or hear about remote Nations ; When things aded among our felvesarefofalfly reprefented? Woe toPofterity, if the Lying Stones that fome have Printed, and with bold Impu* dence avouched, pafs with them for Authentick Hiftories, Not only the Writings of Jefutts, but thefe of fome difcontented Tre* Iati/ts, are able to turn the fucceeding Ages into abfohue Sceptic cifme about all the Tranfattions of former times. §.x. OurOppofues, in the Debate that I now manage, hare not only loaded us with reproach, without iuft caufe given foe \ theii The T RE FACE. irheir obfoqui* and clamours i But they haY€ fiiewed their averfion from Peace with us : And that by methods unbecoming men of Candor and Integrity; as well as lovers of Peace. We are not ignorant of the meafures that were the refult of deep confults, both in this Nation , and at London, when open Spice and Malice was notable to effeft what they defigned; that thefeveral Pariihes fhould addrefs the King for their Minifters to be continued with them; even yvhile it was evident that many of them regarded not the Civil Authority of the Nation now fetled; and others by their Leudnefs of Converfation made themfdves un.vorthy to be in the Holy Function of the Minittry; and whenthis at- tempt did not fucceed , it was concerted at London , and advice a* boucit written by Dt, Canaries 10 Mr. Lesk, to be communicated to the reft of the PaTty ; That they fhould yetld feigned Obedience to the Presbyterians atprefent, becaufe their other Methods could not take at that time. In purfuance of this advice , two addrefles were prepared for the QommiJJion of the General xyiffembly, in which as little Wit as Candor appealed : It was evident by thern» that the Addreflers did not intend , nor defire , to be received into a ihare of the Government with Presbyterians, And thefe Papers were faill contrived that it was vifn eto all, that no blame could refleft on the Presbyterians, by refufing to admit them on the terms that i hey propofeds They were not only in the fame (train, but both of them in the fame words: For their Lcflon was conned for them. One of them .was offered to the Commijfivnof the >^«r£/y that was for the Southern of scotlaud,by Mr. I/ex- anderLesL thei/dayof July 1691. In hisown Name, andof feveral others in the North. He was told by the Commilfion, That they could not receive nor confidcr his Addrefs ; becaufehe, and they in whofe Name he made application t« the Commiffion, lived in the North; and that the Commiflion had no Power (rom the Aflcmbly to meddle with any Affairs in that part of the Ccui- trey ; but that another Qomtntjjion was appointed for the North; to which he might apply if he pleafed. Hetooklnllrumentsin the Clerks Hand that he had offered his Paper to the Com million; Which was allowed. The other Addrefs was, at the fame time pre- ThtTREFACE. prefcn ted by Mr. William T>enune and Mr. Thomas Wtod: whicfe was received, and Read : Of which I here give you a true andexaft 44 Copy. To the Reverend the Minifters and Elders by Law im- " powered to Eftablifli the Judicatories of the Church oiScg land % 61 The humble Petition of the Minifters of the EpifcopalPeriwaf- u on, fheweth : That whereas Epifcopacy is by Law abolifhed in u this Kingdom, We, who have in the moft dangerous times, " manifefted out Z?al againft Popery , are now ready to give all u the atfurances that are, or can be, by Law, required of us, of " ourAverfion to Popery: of ourfirmnefstotheProteftantRe- •• ligion : And of Our Duty and Fidelity to their Majefties, King 44 IVilltam and Queen Mary. We are farther readie and willing, in 44 Our refpeftive Charges and Stations. to do every thing that is in- 44 cumbentonus, as Minifters of the Gofpel, for advancing the 44 power of Religion, for the repreffing of Scandal and Vice, 44 and for fecureing the peace and quiet of their Majefties 44 Government; and to Aft in Church Judicatories for carrying 44 on of thefeends, without any regard to the differences ot per- %i fvvafion in matters that are not fundamental We do therefore cr " humbly and earneftly defire, that in order to thefeends, we 14 maybefuffered to Aft as Presbyters, in the Church, inour * l feveral Stations and precinfts. Sit : fubcribitur, DavidUrqtihart 44 Mit\iRcr&tClackmannan t William T>enune Minifter at Pent- 44 caitland, Kentth Mckenzie Minifter at /^r» kn nv ; for they will explain none of their words. But we think that many Truths of t he Gofpel are to be regarded by them who are Guides of Mens Consciences, and who are to cenfure Men for Errours, as well as for immoral practices ; about whSch we will notftifly con- tend with them who do not think fit to call them Fundamentals. Again they may know, that there are fome things Fundamental to Salvation: Others that are Qnlyfo with refpeft to the Government of the Church; Thatis, without which the Governmeut fetled in any Church cannot (land- I know no Church; whether ruled by Parity of Presbyrers, orotherwife, but they have relpfccl to thefe; and refufe to commit the Ruling ot the Church to Them who have no regard t€pftMf*hings as are neceflary to the (landing of her Go- vernment: If we would rightly manage the Government of the Church, we muft not regard the former onely; but alfo the latter. We arc not to admit to a (hare of Presbyterian Government, fuch as tho' they be found in the Faith, will Vote againft the Parity of Power in the Minifters of Gofpel: Nor who will be forietting Eifhops over us again ;~ nor who will not fecure us againft endea. vouring the overturning, tho' it were by degrees, whatisnow, by the Mercy of God, eftabliflied among us. One remark more I make on their Petition; which is; that they defire To befuffere&to h£i as Tresbyters in this Church m their fever al Stations and TrccinRs. Itisnotonlyambiguoufly worded, but they refufed to tell us what they meant by it. For it may he underftood either that they ihould concur with us in our Judicatories; which they cannot do for the reafons above adduced; or that they might AA in meetings by themfelves, and without dependence on the Govern- ment of the Church now eftabliihed by Law ( as in marry places rhey do piaftife, without leave asked or given J this is a moft ab- furd defire: For itis, that Presbyterian Government being now eftabliflied by Law, as it was before countenanced by the Gofpel; the Presbyterians themlelvcs fhould allow a contrary way tobefet up, The T RE F ALE; op, in oppofition to it; and tor perpetuating a Schifm in thisNa" tional Church : and that Presbyterians fhould, by this means, put themfelves out of Capacity to purge the Church from Erroneous, Scandalous, and infuffhiem Miniftas. If they have a third mean- ing, that they might be allowed to exercife their Miniftery within their own Panflies; their Petition is wholly impertinent: For that is already granted them, and none of them is hindered from this, except fuch as me Church findethto belnfufficienr, Erroneous, Scandalous, or fupinely Negligent: It they plead for a toleration to fuch, neither Reafon nor Religion will allow the granting of fuch arequeft. All this confideied, lesr all the world judge whether thefe men defign peace and union with the Church, on Rational Grounds.- §. f. While we have made fuch rational propofals for Burying former differences; and yet they can neither fatisfy nor quiet a Spiteful and Clamorous fort of Men; We muft defend our felves, as well as we can, againft Reproaches; and as we have (in this matter) agood Confidence towards God; fo we muft vindicate our way before Men. This Vindication hath been long expect- ed; Thecaufewhy itcomethout folate, is not, that much time was taken to make it accurate, either as tothc Stile, or other ma- nagment of it; neither the Authors capacity, nor inclination nor the fubjed matter, do admit of that, it was written fcfiinante calamo; tho'lhope, not any material efcapes will be found in ic; much lefs was it from the difficulty of the Work: Neither deep thinking, nor much Reading, was needful to anfwer the Reafons brought againft us; The Argumentative part of thefe Pamphlets is of very fmall bulk, as well as of little Strength. But the true Caufes of this delay were, i . It was at firft committed to ano- ther hand, who, after many moneths, returned the Papers to be Anfwered without any reply to them, next,. thcPerfonon whom it was laid , and w ho now hath done it , was lent a long Journey , a- bout the Affairs of the Church:fo that it was four months before he could doany thing roward it. 3. He hath fo much ncccfury Wo.rfc toattend, andthatdaiJv , that very fcldom he could gctanhour ^nhisBufincfi,; which he looked on as a **W* in refpeftof a 2- what The T RE FACE. what was his daily imploymenr. 4. Informations from many corners of the Nation about matters of faft, contained in the Pamphlets that I Anfwer , were to be expefted, and they came in very flowly ; many of them after this Work was almoftfinifh- ed: For which blanks behoved to be left in feveral places of the Book : and fome of them not come to this day. But the Reader muft judge of the vetacity and candor of fome of the things charg- ed on us by what he may obfetve in the reft of them. §. 6. I have treated the Adverlanes I deal with as Brethren (de- firing rather to exceed , then come fhort in Civility, and fair deal- ing with them)tho* they ufe us as Enemies; 1 hope,calling things by their true Names, will not be reckoned mecnfiftent with that mo- deration and calmnefs that becometh a Difputant. I have called no- thing Lies nor Calumnies, nor Spite, but what is manifeftly fuch; and is made appear to be fuch: If any fharpnefs of ftile be ufed.how could it be ihunned : Even the Difciples of Zeno would forget their \pathie , when lafhed with fuch virulent pens, as rnyAd- verlaries ufe; but I hope there is nothing in the ftrain of this 4 writeing, that is beyond the bounds of the Apoftlesinjunflion; Tit. 1. 1 j. of : reproving fharply \ \mv%} ***r*ii»s is argue the cafe; cuttingly ; As the ftrength of Argument fhould wound a bad caufe io a Petulant and Effronted Adverfary is not to be handled with that loftnefs of ftile, that is fit for fuch as are more modeft. The- truth of matters of faft aflerted in this Treatife, is not to be taken from me; but from them who are my Informers: Fcvvo£ them I pretend to perfonal knowledge of, therefore not my vera- city is pledged for them, but that ot others; If I have here aflerted any thing that I cannot bring cfedible Wittnefles for, let me be blamed: But if they have deceived, or been deceived (which I hope fhall not be found) I am not to anfwer for that. Neither do I'build on hear fay, or common talk ; which is the beft Foundation^ of many of the AfTertions of my Adverfaries: But for many things I name, the witnefles ot what I affirm:In fome of them 1 bring thcTeftimoniesof them who had fworn thefe things before a- Judge; and where the names of Witneflcs ate for Brevities fake, Qni:::;d, iris in matters of lefler moment; and Efficient Teftinio- ny TheTREFACE. nyfball be given of thefc things, when it thallbs required. I hope the Reader will fi d by this Examination of the Railing Accufati- ons brought againft us, that the Church of $cotlandhz\h given no joftcaufeot Clamour to her Enemies, norofdiliketoour Rulers, cKiring the rime in which our Obfervers do fix blame upon us:\vhich istotheendof the General Affembly. 1690. What the King and Parliament, and Council) and beiore them, the Convention of Eftates) did that hath difpleafed this Party that I deal with, I have alfo Vindicated from unjuftice and opprefTion, and breach of promife, that this pretended Loyal Party charge them with. For what was Afted by the injured and enraged Rable,who in their own Perfons, or in their Relations, hadfuffered intolerable and Barba- rous ievereties from thefe men ;: I am far from approving, or ex- cufing : Only I affirm that many of the things they are charged with, are Lies and Calumnies : Others of them Truths fo difguif- ed, as none can own them for truths. I alfo (hew that the Aftings of the Rable were not to be compared, in Cruelty, and Savage Barbarity, with what they furTered from that Parry whom thev attempted to rid themfelves of, when they got opportunity. And what was done by the Epifcopal party, was done under colour ofLaw, or connived at by them in- Power; and was at the indica- tion of Church men: What w T as done by the Rable was their deed alone: Neither Rulers nor Minillers , northe fobererfortof the People, did cither approve lr, or was partaker in their Deeds. §, 7. Ihtve, in a former paper, plecced for the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, againft an Adversary much cf the fameTempcr with thefe I now deal with;, whofe ten queftions. and anfwers to thcm,l have examined ; I now examine five other Pamphlets : The firft two wcrcinjoyned metoanfwer; the reft, being of the lime flrain, and coming to hand while I was bufie withthefc, and feme Perfons of the beft quality for rank; and for Religion, defucing it of me, I thought fit to give my help (fuchasitis) to this labour Church, in oppofmg all thefe efforts of enraged Malice : li truth, and the ordinances of God, bethereby Vindicated, and weaker ones helped to (land againft the (hock of impQdenc Calumnies; and any who gave coo ready an ear to raifrepicfciuations of cur Af- fairs, The T RE FACE. lairs, be better informed, I have my defign. When I firftread and confidered thefe Pamphlets, 1 hoped fuch a work would be need- lefs ; for among our fclves , moft of their Aflertions are known to be Lies;y ea fome of their own party have regrated thatfuchLies fboiild be fpread; and it was hoped that ftrangeis would notfuffertfiem- felves to be impofed upon by fuch vile ftories,while the Propagators of them had not the wit to perfonate Hiftorians, but did openly vent fuch fpite and inveterate Malice, as the'eondiment of whac they fet before the Readers, that might ruine all pretences they could make to Veracity, with them who wifely confider what they hear or read. But we fee the world is fo ftated, that lilent innocency may foon be run down by bold Calumnies: And therefore this Vindication was, on after thoughts, judged to be needful. I do not pretend to vindicate Presbyterians fr om all blame : I know they are fubjeft to like paffions as other men ; they are Sinners and have need of a Saviour: And their publick Aftings, as wella^ perlonal Conversation, are fhort of perfection. Therearemany things among us that may be mended, or better done. And we are endeavouring to. bring things into better order, and do not think; that thus kmufthe, becaufe thus it hath been. Yetwearenoc afraid to compare our Church order with that which ourOppofites are io fond of : Nor that they can charge us with fuch mifmanage- rnents as we can charge them with; or as can infer any notable detriment to the great defign of the Gofpel, and advancing of Truth and Holinefs. I meet, in thefe Papers with Variety of pur- pofes, and frequent Coincidences; To have enlarged in difcourfe upon all thefe fubjefts would have fwelled this work.unduely. Wherefore I behoved, in many places, to give fhortanfuersand cj : h *«$«**;. which yet may be underflood by an attentive Reader; Efpecially if he compare the paflages that isreplycdto f which I could not alwayes fully Tranfcribe J with what is faid in anfwer to it. II any thing be not touched, it is either nor material or is before met with, or it is fo plainly falfe and abfui d, that every one may fee it. I have not willingly overlookt any thing that" might reflect any blame on the caufe that I plead for. c& $ c$» .& c&a .$> $ c^r&ri5r*a& *vO(^:&c&c>5fcflSft ^, ($>.$».$).&.& >% & The Pamphlets here anfweted are. I. An account of theprefent Per /editions of the Church of Scot- land, in (ever al Letters. II. The cafe of the afflifted Clergy inScothndtruelyrepre- fented. III. A late Letter concerning the fujferings oftheEpi/copal Clergy in Scotland. IV. A Memorial for his Highnefs the Trince of Orange, in re- latton to the Affairs of 'Scotland, &c. I V. An Historical Relation of the late General Affembly, held at Edinburgh,/™^ October, 1 6. to November, 1 3 . Anno, 1 690 ^^^'■f*^ '$"$*$ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ A SECOND VINDIC A T ION OF THE CHURCH S C O T L A N D,*< Hough it be no pleafant task, ro draw the Saw of ^^^^^^ Debate in Matters vv herein Religion is concerned ; Cflpj THffijN efpecially, with fuch as own the fame Religion ^jd JLiB Bf with us, and who, with us, fliouldbe engaged a- gainft the common Enemy of the Reformation; Yet it is fomefatisfaftion, when we ate attacked only with the force of Argument, witb'plain Scripture, or rati- rional Deductions from it: But to becxpofed ro the dint of Ma- lice, Lies, and Railing, andthe fouled and faffed Mif reprefen- rations diat the minds of Man can fugged to them, when they are enraged by being deprived ot the occafion they once had to Pcrfccuce their Neighbours, and being denuded of thefe Lucrative Places that (Key improved to fuch Ends: This I fay is, and mud t>c grievous ro an ingenuousSoul : Now this isour Lot; Self-de- fence, yea the Defence of the Inditutions of Chrift, which (hould be more precious ro us than any thing that we can call ours, m ik- eth it neccflary thus to enter the Lids, in confident Hope ol his AdiiUnce whofc Caufe we Plead. I am tar from either li widen- 4 \yi Second Vindication of t be rohand, IfliillcaftinasafiL^ri^r/aw I fliall confider them feparately, yctjoyning them when coincidencies occur, toavoid repetition. Ir is eafie for an urb> afted Reader to obfer ve the fcope of the fe Pieces to be, not fo much the refutation oi our Opinior* about Church Government, and the aiTerting of {heir own; (for little chat looketh like Argument to thatpurpofe, istobc foundirr them) or to fet matters of Faft in their true Light; for the Can. dor requifite to that is evidently wanting: Asitis, partly tomake all Presbyterians as hateful to others, as they are hated by them $ And partly to beg Mmsof the Church of England; which to be their intention they do not conceal : While, Account of Per/ecu- trori^&Q, Preface, the Reader is thus Addreflcd to ,/ have but one thingtorcqueft jrom'thee, and thafisnomore than what thy 'Pro- fejjionzvill oblige and command thee \ I mean, to put en Bowels of Mercy andtompaffion to the poor hff&fted, T)iftrefied ;. to help them as much as thou are t.ble with thy Subftance, and tp extend, that Chanty which ts already gone ever the Alps, andhdthajjift- cdtleProteilants m France, Hungary and Peidmont , to thy- Neighbouring Brethren, and of thy Qommunjon in Scotland : And if thy Car cum > arces are toomennto ajfift themwiththy Purfe, be jure to It them have thy Chanty for their Sufferings in thy Hearty 'Prayers (iris \* jell ihat Prayer hath fome place, tho'butthele- cord ard in wane of Moneys in their defires. Asalfo, Qafcof the fijjhJedClogy. Preface, The defign of that Writing is faid to be, Efpccialiw that the mojl Charitable Church of 'England may fee the fad ejfetli of Rampant Presbytery, Pitie their Brethren that have jo feverely (marted under it.-<~ Of a piece with thefe Expreffionsare their fettmg up Conventicles here (fa much de- cried by them before) and in them ufing ths Engl* (h Service, in all its Formalities, and their other Expreflionsof high efteemof, and Zcai for that way, which were never heard of before, while, they were under no reftraint, either for Pleading for ir, or endea- vouring is be:ng,fer up bj Authority Let the World jud^ewhitt- Meannefsoi Spirit is thusmanifefted, and what Mercenary Soul* they mufthave, vvhoimploy themfelvesinfach mendicant Writ- ings aV;d Practices, in the matters of Religion. But thus itap- peaiall Church of Scotland* - '$ ptareth How wife they are in their own Generation-, Who con- sider, fVbat to do when they a* e put out of their Steward/hip. Ic isind^dartvifer way for them, then to have complycd with the prefent Eftablifliment of the Church; from which not a few would, it is like, have been excluded, either for their Immorali- ties, or Errors; or their manieft abhorrence cf the Civil Govern- menr. Iobfervebut one tiling more, common ,o rhefe Books, That rhey complain much more of the Government of the Stars, than of that of the Church And indeed the Councilfyea the King and Parliament,/ andrheRable, were the Aclorsot molt of the rhinos that they make iuch Tragical Out cries againO, and not the Church. §4. I proceed now to confidet the firft of thefe Pamphlets. The Recount of the prefent Terfecutionof the Church of Scor^ land tn/everai Letters, In the Preface to which, I have but few things to obferve, befide what is already noted: What is cilum- ninuily afferted, without artempt toward any proof, I Jer pafs as Railing: Such as , Out doing our fpecious 'Pretences by our Afli- ens 1 Our bewgofthe fame Principles with Hobs, Whofe Doctrines mona do more abhor then we. Our Trinciples being exceeded and baflcdbyour Praffice, - That which is added v and may be deftgned as ' i\\t ground of thefe Imputations ^is as deftitufeofallfcmjblance of Truth as any thing can be, viz. That They r. fy Kddrejftd for Liberty of Lon/ciencejo now Ufnrp and Tyrannize over others, and deprive them of Liberty in Religion , of their Poffeffions, and of their Lives , fur adhereingtothe^Doamte once delivered to the Saints, and often eltablifhed by Law m th it Kingdom, This Author-had conlulceJ his own Credue in the nuaerof Ing: ty and Veracity, If 1. Hj had mide ic appear tint we. Ad- dteflcd for Liberry of Confcience, in thac goner*! Notion tf he he exprefleth it : None do more ( and ever have done fo) opp< but not of any Judicar tory oftheChurch. But what of this kind he imputeth even to the Multitude, isaftertobeexamined. We are not afraid to have that Englifh ?er/ecution s and that which he calleth a Scots Verfecution, impartially compared. But when he faith, It hath come near to y if not outdone the French \Drago(ming, Is fuch an effort of the Rheto- rick of men ol hisStamp.as is feldom paralleled by Men w ho know, or care what they fay. We do,no lets than he, apprehend the evil of the Ryots committed by a heady Rable,and deteft conniveing at,oc countenancing fuch practices, but we deny, that ever that was done among us , and what he can fay to prove what he infinuateth, is in its due place to be confidered. What he addeth ol the refolute Cbriftians of his Party, who dare fuffer for the Truths that they have taught-, maketh nothing againft our Caufe ; nor for hi&Caufa facit Martyr em, If they fuffer for well doing, they will have Peace in it; but when they have fuffered as hard things, and as long, as they made others to fuffer, then they may boaftof their Sufferings. § 6. Having now difpatched his Preface, I come to the fuft of the four Letters, of which this Book is madeup. Itis (orpre- tendeth to be) written by mF.nglijb Chaplain to a Regiment*' that oi Sir Jchn Laneer, a* is fuppofed ; In which 1 meet with no - thing; JJ A fecond V indention of the tiling but falfe Hi (lory, and an unfair Reprcfenta'ton of things; Which mi :hr happen through piejuriice, anrirmitakes, if the Au- thor were indeed a ftranger; bu T cannot be excufeJ from down right lyes, if he be one among our felves „ and acqu aimed with our At- fairs. But who ever he be, that is evident, that rhefcope of his Let- ter is tK>t barely to baffle Presbyterian Government cf the Church ; burtooverturn the ptef.nt Eflabiifhmentofthe^tate: ronullifie the Convention of EQates, the Parliament, and all that they have done : to advance the Reputation ot the Vifcount oi *Di.ndie* and hir faction y fo that the Gentleman doth indeed fuppofe that the m- tercftof King H'lliiam, and that of Presbyterie in Scotland are imbarkedin the fame bottom, which many thinking men take to be rrcunjull/^ .of pur Affairs. In his i/?. Paragraph, he hath aheapot Abortions, fo me palpably falfc, others as really falfe; being general Afiertions, built on, may be, a particular intfance or two, ye: none named: Of which after: and exceptrhat it is iliid. Epifcopacyis abol/fad, there is not a true word from the beginningcotheendof.it. In that which followeth, helayechthe blame of *\\tbe Di/afiers, asfoecalleththem, on the Cameronian Tarty* and Characterized! them at his pleaiure. Here I take no- tice ofatewgrofsmiftakes, to callthernnoworfe. That the -pre- vwm.g flrengthof the Cameraman party was theoccafwn of all thathecehecomplainethof; z\eniheaboh(hingofEpifcopacy. AH the Pjesbyterians in Scotland did contribute their endeavours to this.as alfo did many who formerly had gone along with the courfes that the Epilcqpahans promoted; now to call all the Presbyterians or mod of them Catneronians, is as remote from truth as any thing cm be,z. He faith theCamercnians are Fifth-Monarchy men which ismoftfalfe, I deny not that they have had Principles about Go- vernment, that Sober Presbyterians could not go along with them in; but that they were of the fame Principles with thefe called \tfth Monarchy men, we deny: And he fhould have brcughtfoma proof for his aflertion. ^ Itisalfofalfe, That thefe men care nei- ther for King VJtlliam.nor Kin% ]ames,but as thefe Kings happen to pleafethem. They have given fuch proof of their Loyaltie to King y^liiam, as their Enemies do envie, butatenotabktoobfeure; their Church ^Scotland; 9 their aftion at Dunkell, known over all Brit tain; and their cheer- ful g°i n gat His Command to venture their Lives tor him in For- raignNations,arefufficienr Refutation of this impudent Affertion. 4. He accufeth Some defimin^ Heads in the Council and Par- liament forraifing Tumults amongthe Cameronians ; and then by thefe Difordcrs reprefentin^ abroad the Inclinations of the People, This is the height of Difingenuity . for ihefc Diforders where he was fo civilly treated, a* himfelf confefleth. Another of his reproaches is, that many were allowed to fit in the Convention contrary to Law ;.and particulaily fome who were not infef t in their Eftates. If he had given inftance; it could have been the more eafilyanfwered, but feing he thought not fit to do fo, our denyal is a fufficientanfwer to his Affirmation. I never heard that any fuch fat in the Convention, unlefs he mean ot one or two who had been moft unjuftly forfeited in the late reign, and die Convention thought it not fix to debarre any man of his juft tight that had been unjuftly taken from him. On this hefaith, mod of. the Xobtliry withdrew from the Convention and "Parliament Anf: It is falfe that moft withdrew, though fome did, and they who did fo withdraw, werefoundto beon the Plot which was after dif-. covered for overturning the Government, So that it is evident that this Gentleman ail along his difcourfe pleadeth more for overturn- ing the Throne, than the prefent Government of the Church. This is confirmed by what followeth, viz That if Dundee had livedo doubt but that be had changed the whole Hate of Affairs in this Nation. Hac Ithacm veht.et magno rnerccntur htridd. nothing bar Church 0/ Scotland, 13 but overturning oi theSratc andChurch will pleafe him and his com- plices. And it is reckoned by them a Crofs providence, that he was taker* out. of the way, who was like to be the chid actor in that Scene. But for all this confidence it might have fallen out that Dun- die might have lived, and yer the prefent Eftabhfliment continued, our confidence is built on a better foundation than fuch as Dundte was. §, 10 Havirjg mentioned the Vifcount of Dttndie. he telleth as (\vi the Vindication of bis Rebellion^ ane ill made Story : it is, that there was a defign on foot to ajjdfinate him % of which he com ■ flainedto t he Convention, andno notice was taken of it ; though he repeated his complaints, and offered to prove the attempt : /lndbe* ing thus in hazard,and not fret effed, he went to the Highlands- and took Arms again/} his Countrey. This is purely a Forgerie,and mifreprefentatioo, Dundte did indeed pretend hazardand made complaint, but they were fo far from taking wo notice of his com- plaint, that they examined fuch as he accufed, but nothing could be found againft them 7 but on the contrary it was evident that his defign Was to have them who from the weft were come to Town to oppofe his party, and Guard the Convention, ftnt away, on pretence of his being unfafe among rhem, that fo he may compafle his defign above mentioned agamil the Convention, What re- maineth of this letter, I (hall nor much infift upon, it being main- ly a declaration againft the State,and the prefent Parliamenc,which this Gentleman ^ according to his wonted Modefty^ wifhethto be difTolved and anoiher called, f 10m which he promifcth a redrefs of all thefe things that he thinketh to be grievances: And indeed ifweconfidcr the ltrain of his leaer, we may conclude, that from it he expeð an utter overturning of the prefent fetlement both of the Church, and of the State, and all this he propofeth to an En^- lifh Lord (to whom his letter is diverted; hopeing that thence may come that which hecounteth adeliverance. Othershope»hatthd Lord will preferve what he hath wrought for the Nation.and for the Church in it, cither by this Parliament, or by another, or by what means he feeth fit. He mentions a great many things that he and h 1 s Party wonder at ; which aie no wonder totninking men in the N a ■ 14 A Second Vindication of the tion, but there is a fort or men who wonder at all rhines. one of thefe wdnders \$J)ow the King can be fond oft his Parliament, which demeth him a Soveraiqn inter eft in what is dcbateable in Har- liament, which fs an eminent branch of his prerogative. I pretend to no skill in ftate //flairs, as rhis military Chaplain doth : but wife men among us look on the conititutionof the Lords of the Articles /which isnodoubrwhathehereaimethat^ as an innovation (I mean, confidering that Committe with the power that it was lately fcruedupto) as a deftroying all libertie of Parliaments. And the King ( who bed knoweth his own Prerogative) with the Parlia- ment, have happily compofed this difference; which fome ma- naged as a device to break them. § ii. His next wonder is, tbat the VarliamenPhath given the King no money, notwit branding of the great neceffity of his Affairs. What was done when this Gentleman was pleafedinhisLecrerto Criticife on our Affairs, which lay out of his way, I know not t but it is well known that the Scotiih Parliaments.hath been^s liberal in a flirting the King with Money,as the Nation was able to beare. His next wonder is, How Tresbytfry confute Monarchy in the State, and that OneKukrfoould give Encouragement to the [ettingup of many. Ignorance is the caufeof wondring.We know how well thefc two Governments ot Church and State have futed on another many ages, fince this Nation was Proteftant, and before it was Po- pifh, as 1 have elfewhere made it appearand fi*rely,if the Argument have any weight, it will prove that Monarchy ( and confequently Popery ) muft be in all thefe Churches where a King ruleth theNa- tion, which, I hope Proteftants will not yeild, whatever maybe the Sentimen ts of thisGentleman.and his high flown Church- men. I ask him, are not Bifhops Rulers, and many Rulers,in the Church ? Let him then anfwer his own doubt: How is Epifcopacy con- ftftent with one Ruler in the Srate. And indeed this Argument ftneketh at the root of Church Government, of whatever Form it be, and brings in pure Erajtiani/m. It is no rare thing to fee contrary Inferences drawn from afalfe Pofirion. Is it any won- der that many Rulers in the Church fhould vvell fute with one Su- preme ftuler in the State, while thefe Governments have fuch dif- ierenc Lhurch of Scotland. rjr ferent Originals- The one is from God, as King of the World; the other from Chrift as King of his Church : They are about moft different Ofcjecls, the one about the Affairs of the World, the o- ther about the concerns of Mens Souls: They areexercifedin dif- ferent wayes;the one by Officers of Mans devifing,the other by Of- ficers of Chrifts Inftitution: The one Inflating Corporal or W T orld- ly Punifhments,the other Spiritual Cenfures only; efpeci?lly while the Church Rulers are far from pleading exemption from the Jurif- diclionof the Civil Magiftrare.which is our Profeflion and Practice. This Gentleman might, with the fame pretext c f reafon, have faid, • That he wondererh now Chrift could pretend to have a Kingdom, and yet {vj^That his Kingdom is not of this World, Another of his wonders is a groundlefsrniftake, it is, How Men fhould be turned out for not Praying for King William and Queen Mary by Name ;* when the Intruders (fo he is plcafed to call the Presbyterians) rejufedtodoit : This is a grofs Calumny, for Presbyterians ge- nerally did it: And if one or two in the Nation did it not, let him fhew that they were complained of, and yet efcaped Cenfure : And ifar.any time they did not Name the King and Queen, they ufed fuch Circumlocutions as were fufficiemly Intelligible: Whereas the other party rather gave ground to think that they meant King James and His Queen: His next wondei doth indeed fill uswith wonder, that he fhould think ftrangeof it: it is, That they who in this comply ed, yet were put out on (ome other Libel. As it Pray- ing for the King and Queen could attone all the Crimes of a Mini- fter, tho' he were a Drunkard, Svvqarer, f§c. If any be put out on Inefficient Lybels. and theit Grievances not Redrcfled, let them challenge us, but that fome are put out on other Libels, even tho' they can comply with the Times, is not to be wondered at. % \i. It is noncaufa procaufa, that he alledgeth,. the reafon why they had to that time made no Addrcfs to the King, was, be- caufc their Enemies had his Majsrties Eare : I hope the Presbyte- rians have not loft that Favour with His Majcfty; tho'nowthefe Gentlemen have made, yea multiplied, their Addreffes: But it is evident, That fuch Addrcfles were never thought on, till the Succcfrof His Majeftics Arms in Ireland, and in the Highlands of t6 A fecond Vindication, &c. °{ Scotland, did a little damp their Hopes from King Jan?e>s. He "atli not yet done with wondering. 4t is wondered .That the Church c f England doth not lntet fife for them, (incethe violent "Party in Scotland will influence the ^ijcontentedin England : for they are Sworn fa their Covenant to Reform tn^land upon their Model. He needed not wonder at this : Forlcmeot the Church of England have medled far beyond their Line in our Affairs : Though we be far from Inrerpofing in any of theirs. What we are bound toby the Covenant is, not to Reform them, but to concur with them when lawfully called , to advance Reformation; And it isfac from our Thoughts rogobeyon d that Boundary, in bring concerned in their Affairs; We wiih their Reformation, but leave the managing of it to themfel ves. What foHoweth concerning the Clergy, we are little concerned in : We wifh they were better then they are, we never thought them all Scandalous: But we know many are, and none (hall fuffcr by us on that Head, but they who arc made ap- pear to be manifeftly and grofly fuch. I (hall obferve but one rhing more in this Letter, and dif mifs it. It is a palpable and moft fbuItJntrurh, viz. That where but one fingle Dtflenter is in a Parifti. tho' aH the reft of the Parifti be for the Minifter, it is a fuffi- cient reafon to eject him ; andhegivethinftancesinthe Patifhcsof Moufgard ( a place not know* here^ Colmgtonn, Kirknewtoun, and Kiriliftoun. Never any Allegation was more injurious and falfe; yea the contrary is day lyprafttfed, that men are continu- ed where the far greateftpart of the Parifti are Diflenters. It is cruefome in that Cafe have accepted of a Call to another place, whete they might do more Good, and have more Peace, but never any was deprived on that Account. For Kirklijfoun, I know the t alfehood of what he aflerreth ; Not above fixteen in that great Pa- tifti did ever hear Mr. CM'kenzie, the Minifter there, and he had leldom Preached in that Church 4 and his admiflion to that Church was moft irregular even according to the Epifcopal way: And on thefe grounds the Affembly did not depofe him, only declared him not to be Minifter in that place; but kit him in a capacity to be called t« any other Church, hnf. fetter ^, Account of Terfecutton, &c. 17 Anfwer to the Second Letter. TBis letter is moftly Hiftorical ; but fuch a parcel of falfe and Difingenuous Hiftory it contained, a^isnoteafily Parallal- sd elfewhete. We defire nothing more then what he would have us expert, An account of the ft ate of things among us which mayfet things in their true Light i For then \\q are pei (Waded the World will be convinced that our Reprefentations arc neither unjuft , nor Calumnious.nor partial. He give&pag, i, a mod unjuft account of the unitie that, he faith, was between Presby terians and the E- pifcopal party* W 7 hile he laith that all Scots men were General* Jy of one Communion, and that the Presbyterians (except the Ca- meronians) had returned to the EptfcopaK hutch, and were be- come hearers and many Commnntcaters with her : That there was no Jeparate meetings kept , at leaftpublickly, but very rarely T his I fay is moft falfe : For tho* never any of the Presy teuans wt uld di- reftly, nor undireftly, own Epifcopal Government; yet many of the more fober and Intelligent among them did not think it unlaw- Jul to hear them occafionally who had complied with Epifcopacy ; yet they chufed rather to hear their own Lawful Paftors^ho* driven into Corners, then thefe unfaithful men ; and nor only fo, but there were many Thoufands,b€fideCameronians who would never hear them: and that many (who when they hadoccafiontoheac others, made ufe of that opportunity )did go to hear thcie men when their liberty ot hearing others was taken away, it is no wonder. Yet this pra&ice was far lefs General than he faith, and meetings of Non conformifts were not fo rare ( for all rhe horrid perfecution thai they were under) as he would make us believeimany ,\\ ho were no Cameronians, kept up their meetings: tho' Iconteisit was no wonder that their meetings were net publick, when they were by foch Barbarous Perfecutions driven unco Corners ; and iff >mc un- der the heat of Pcriecution ftretched their Conferences to comply, it is nothing but that which hath been common among men oilnfic- mitics. § x. Another falfhood is, that the panic which was then treated fcveiely, was cwly the Cameronians ; Whereas tho* they had their D ihare i$ A Second 'Vindication. &c. fliare of the pcrfecution, yet other Presbyterians Were moft cruet ly deait wirh ; and ic was obferved, that, indeed, the fpite of his par- tie appeared moft againft thenioftfoberofthePrgSbyrerians, as being the perfons moft capable to do them hurt. It is alfo falfe that it was thejeverity ufed again £i them fitly, that was complained of in the Prince of Orange's Declaration; and in the Scotch inqttifition^ one of which papers (but which of them no man can know by his words, and may be fuch ambiguity hath been defigned ) he callerh *mos~i Scurrilous pamphlet. It is alfo moft falfe and Calumnious, that all Presbyterians in Scotland were of one principle, only the Cameronians were more Ingenuous: For the lober Presbyterians did ahvayes condemn many both principles and praclifes of that party: Such as that Magiflrats and Ministers fall, Ipfo faflo, from their Authority, refpehive, and ft attorn, whenthey are guil- ty ofwifmanagements. and that private perfons may treat them as fuch, without a Sentence of State or Church, That the re si of the Presbyterians condemned the Cameronians for keeping up their Meetings, is alfo an untruth, for they alfo kceped up meet ings.but the y condemned them for the manner of their meeting ; with fuch contempt of ,& bidding delyance to the Authority of theMagiltrate. He giveth a general account of Argyls Invafion: But the ground ©f the Presbyterians not joyningwithhimhe mifrcprefenteth. It was not they , but an irritated party among them who had been pro. vcked by the moft defperate hardfhips, and pinching neceffities, who had fmarted for other intet prizes of that Nature; The Gene- ral and dark account he giveth of the concert made at London, by fomeof the fiat e, and feme Bifhops \about 'taking off the TenalLaws 9 we can make noJudgraentof,tillthat/a//^r^^«»r be given of ir, that he giveth us hope of; but this we know, thattherelultofit was, thefe men did what they could for taking away the penal Laws that were againft Papifts, tho that attempt fucceeded not in the Epifcopal Patliaments,neither did we ever thinluhatall,efpe- dally of the Gentry, and other Members of Parliament, who went along with Epifcopacy while it had Law for it, were inelin'd to Popery, § 3. He doth moft iaiuroiufly charge the diflenters , with mafc- Letter x . Account of the Terfecution, &c. I j> making a Schtfme, after that abovementioned imaginary union that he had talked of: And that by fir ft ref ufing, and then accept- ing of the Tolleratton granted by King James, which was founded en the difpenfing Fewer, and after a great deal of pains to fix lome guilt on them in that matter, he concludeth, that both the declara- tions that came out about that Indulgence, being materially the fame, inpur/nance of the fame defign.and both owning the Kings ab ■ folute dijpenfing power , they wveas guilty in ufing their liberty on the lasl declaration, as if they had done that on the fir ft . For Anfw. i .Let his Friends reconcile him to himfelf in faying the two Decla* rations were materially the fame, and yer that the one required an Oath of them who had liberty of it, andtheoth^rnotfo 2 Ic is well known that the Presbyterians would never meddle with that liberty,;till it was fo contrived as might neither engage them to own the difpenfing power, nor to any other unawtulAft: Forfucha power bcin^ aflerted in the Declaration, doth no way infer theit owni rg of that power by their ufing the liberty granted them, after it had been unjullly with held from them ; and which was their due by a grant from Cluift in the Gofpel. What could prompt this Au- thor to Aflirm, that the 'Presbyter ians were moved at Uft toufe the liberty granted, becaufe they could no longer be difobedtent to tfje ^Divine Trovidence^nd thut according to their T> ivinity, Providen- tial occurences make a confiderable part of the rule of Faith and manners. 1 leave it to others to guefe. For none are more remote from fach principles, then Presbyterians. He next undertaketh to prove that Presbyterians did not feperatc from them ( he mean- eth,makeufc ofthe liberty granted them) on any principle cf Con> fcience. If this be well provedjt will give a deep wound to our inte- rcft, horn their continuing in Communion with the Epijcopalians fome^ears before the liberty, and manyfome months after. Anf, His Arguments 1 /?. are, This Communion was nothing elfe but hear- ing them when they could get none elfe to hear, which many, yea, molt Fresb)terians never fcruplcd; but let him tell us if all that time they ever owned tlxfe men for their Lawful Paftors, or thought it duty to forfake them whom they had ownedasfuch, to cleave to thefe 4 Or that they ever countenanced the Government, D x or to A Second Vindication, &c. cr difcipline of the Church, which wascxercifed under Bi/hop^ and by their Authority. It they had donefo, it had not confided with Confcience to feparare from them on occafion of a liberty granted : but if other wife, it doth clearly confift with leaving them for Confcience fake: Becaufc their fcruple was not (imply about hearing, but about forfakmg their Lawful Paflors, and owning thofe others as their Paflors , and their Church Government as Chriflsdifciplint,Arg,x While they centinuedwithjis they acknow- ledged that their Cenfciences allowed them. A»/And well they might, on the grounds already given : But the fundamental mis- take, on which all his reafonrngs are built, is, that he takes fuch oc- cafional hearing of a Miniftcr to be the exercife of that Church Communion that fixed members of a Congregation have with that Church. Argument 3 . Many thanked God that they were reconciled to us, and frequently protefted, all the IVorldjbould never again in* gaqe them in the Schi/m. Anf: He \v\klyconcc&\Qth their names ( tho* he faith he can tell them^ leaft they fhould contraftift him: but that which enervateth his Argument, is, that he inferreth the pra<5tice of Presby terians (which muft be meant of all, ormoft) from that of many: andheisnotpleafedtotellus how many they were, rwo or three, to do fowere many, and too many, and I confefle fuch as faidfo, and yet did other wife, did not Aft Con. fciencioufly : But lam perlwaded notoneofaThoufandofthem that were, from a principle , Presbyterians, were guilty of fuch jugling ; what ever fome might do, who (from other motives then Confcience) owned that way ; inwhofe Adionsvrearenowayes concerned, What he calleth Schifm, we fay, they are not engaged 5 in, who went to the meetings* but they who had departed from the good old wayesof the Gofpel Church,and the Church of Scotland: a deviation from whofe courfes, 'Presbyterians could not own. Arg. 4. Some oftheablefl "Preachers, a few Weeks before, faid tbey would never embrace that Tollerat ion, and that they re/olved never to Preach more. iyinf. I have [he Charity to think that thisisafalftiood,thatistoogroftro be uttered by aChriftiany but the Author might have consulted his Credit, by informing us, who riiefc able Men were, if any fuch vvere. I doubt they were neither Able: Letter x Account o\ z Terfecutton, &c 2 1 Able nor Hon£ft : Andlamfure, it they were known they would be abhorred by Presbyrerians. Arg. $tb. Some, even after the %d. Edition of the Toller at ion, continued in their Refolution not to engage init, and it coft their Brethren much pains to prevail with them, islnf. They who have confidered his above mentioned af- fcrtions, may eafily know how to believe this: For my part, I be- lieve nor one word of it, fave that there were fomemenfounrea- fonable as to be (hie ot accepting any Liberty granted by the Magi- ftrate, which was far from the general Sentiment of Presbyte- rians. A 6th. Argument he ufech, There could be no Confiience in this matter, feing we hadnofinful condition in our Communion \ we agree with them 2 n Do&rtnejbe hdmimflration of Sacraments, and have Ordination which ts valid \ and our main difference is about t he IDoxoloqy, Lords Trayer, and the Belief rehearfed at Baptifm. knf. Forthefirltof thefe, We deny it, tor it isfintul to fubjeftto Epifcopal Government; and without this no man could be of their Communion: That is, fubjeft to all the Ordi- nances among them. Again, tho' none of thefe were; removing ourtaithlul Paftors. and fetling Intruders over us, did warrant us to wait on theMiniftry of the former,and not on that ot the later. That any feparated meerly on account ot the Doxology, Lords Prayer, and Belief, I know not ; tho' many would not ufe them as his Church did. §. 4. Hetellsusnext, of the wonder full encreafe of Meeting?, and Meeting houfes, which was very true, but not well confident with the account he had but now given of the Difpofuionof tha Noncontormifls to comply with the Epifcopal way. It is not ufual for a Nation to be Born in one Day: But it fufficiently ftiewetli how the Generality ot the Nation, who do much concern thern- felves in Religion, are inclined ; that many in the fVtft went to tha Meetings we deny not; but that te.w went elfe where, fliould not beinfinuared. His Branding them with fnnaticifm, is expref- five of the Spite againft them that his Party is eminent for ; but hath neither Truth nor Charity, to warrant it : For the Men of that way, will vie with any in the Nation for Jobriety and Sound - nels in the Faith, and for Ability to give a rational Account of what r hcy n KAiecondVtndication. ccc. they hold. But what followeth, ot the Caufc he affigneth Tor this concourfe to the Meetings, is raife, (tofay no worfeof \\) in all the parts of it : Never we^e men farther from Ccmpulfion then they were in this matter. Yea it can be made appear (which he doth not fo much as pretend to for what he Affirmeth) that many werereftrained from the Meetings, by the power of ill affccled Noble-men and Gentle men. But it is not fir to rake into this mat- ter ; but to forget what caufed Differences, that we may now unite in one good way. He feemeth, p: i x. to ridicule the Presbyterians grateful adre/s to Ki'>g James, and prejcjjmn of Loyaltte to him , on occafionofchelibertie that he granted them. But I gladly would know by what Topick either of thele can be condemned : They gave Thanks for reftoring them to their juft Right, which had been unjuftlyraken from them; they profeffed, andprafiifed Loyalty towards their Lawful Soveraign ; tho> of a different Religion from them: And though they had Jealoufies of Dcfigns on foot, to ruine their Religion, and them: While his Royal Authority was not taken away by the Nation, They as private Men ought not ro queftion it : That nothing was fpoken in Meeting houfes againft Popery, is mod falle. The Preachers there, I confefs, neither then did, nor now do, make Controverfics the conftant fubjed of their Sermons: Yet are at pains both in Sermons, andCatechifing, to clear the Truth againft all the Errours of Popery. But their main Work is to deal with the Souls of the People,about thele things that do moft nearly concern their eternal Intereft, to make them know themfelves, and God in Chrift, and Salvation through him. For they confider that the fureft way io preferve irom Errour, is not only to make them know the difference between it and Truth ; but to get them to be truly concerned about their Souls, and fed- oufly Religious. To the f alfehood of what he affirmeth, he add- eth Spite, in enumerating the Caufestowhichhe is pleafed to im- pute their fuppofed Silence againft Popery. Not one of them all hath Truth or Reality in them : Their Kefpett to Tapifts, their in- fluencefrom the Court, are Reflexions which I will not brand with their due Name: Their ignorance of thefe Controverfies, is an Allegation fo Impudent that no man that is not blinded with Rage and Letter 2. tyzecottnt of werertecurion, fxc. ^ and Malice, could be guilty of. The Cant uhat is the word when lucli men as he would Ridicule what ever looketh like ferious Re- ligion) which he faith, T hey ufe again ft Prelacy and Malignancy, . and about King J e (us and the Go/pel beingbam[hed\ Is averted, not becaufe it is fo, bur becaufe it is a fine Device to Defame. No- thing is more rare in our Pulpits, then meddling with the late Con- troverfies, which now we would haye to be buried: And when they fall in, they are difcourfed Argumentatively ; and if any, ac anytime, dootherwife, that is nor to be charged on all. There is no Parry among whom fome lndilctetion doth not appear in the conduct of fome Men $ 5 His next effort is, a Satyre againft the Prince of Orange's De. claration for Scotland: And he fixeth the Original of rheir Perfe- ctions that he complaineth ot, on it: HeCharaftenzethitas Ttowti right Presbyterian He taxeththe Presbyterian Nobiliry and Gentry's going to London to wait on his Highnefs: And/confef- feth them to be the chief pcrfons who {upon His Aiajcfhes retire- ment, (fo he termeth that which the Parliament called & James's Abdicating the Government) did confer the Government of this Kingdom on the Prince. This paragraph is a fufficient evidence of the Temper of this Author, and ot thofe ior whom he pleadeth ;. And yet they have now the Brow to make Ad Jreflcs to King W//- Jiamjullot thehigheft Aflenionsof their Loyally both part and prefenr. But they who knew their way , don't believe any fuch Profeflions: And they who read this Book will, 1 hope, be as far fromg vingCredirto them- He now (prgei^.) beginnerh ro tell us of their Sufferings /Jndizhat horrid Barbarities were u/ed a^ainslthern: AndisfokindtohisCoumrey, astobefpareingin this Relation, leafi hejhould thereby bread a dtjguft at hi* native Countrey, ThisisfhanjelulHypocrify, rwifted with Malice; For I hope it will be found, as we proceed , that his big Exprcffions abour rheir Sufferings will dwindle into Flea bits, in compaiifon of the Bloody Lafhes that others iuffered, not long before, from Men of his Tribe: Which I mention not here toexcufe, nrrex- tenuare, any hrcgular Courfe that fome took, nor to plead for re- tribution to his Parry; Wchad rather fufter ten Wrongs, than do one 1 4 KSecondVindication, &c. one. It will be found that his Party did indeed expofe the Nation to the Reproach of Barbarity, and Perfecting their Brethren: So he doth what in him lyeth to bring the fame again upon the Nation* by his horrid Lyes, aggravating of things, and Mifreprefentations. Before he come to his particular Stories of that which he calleth^ The Per [edition of the Clergy ; He Prefaceth three things,to render thefe Paflages more odious. The i/?. is, The opportunity that was given for it by King James's Forces being at that time called in to England, to oppofe the Prince of Orange, who fometime be- fore that, had Landed in England : And the Council at that time dijfolvedofit/elf Jo that, faith he, ineffttt, the Nation wo* -with- out Government. Whatever improvement he may make ot this Remark, it may be of iome ufe to us : For it is hence evident (as it is in it felf well known,) That it was by Force, and not the Sub- miffion, orAffeftion, theCallor Approbation of the People, who ihould have been their G barge, that his Party enjoyed their Mi- niftry, or any Exercife of it : And indeed, an Army was, for many years, kept up in time of Peace, to force people to come to hear them. Another thing that I here infer is, That King James's ln- tereft, and that of the Prelatick Clergy, were Embarqued toge- ther , as are King William's and that of Presbyterians. A $d In- ference is, That it being an Interregnum, when there w ? as no Go- vernment, Tumults and Difordcrs, though never to be approved, yet are not fo much to be wondered at : And indeed,confidering our Circumftances (after robe Noted) itisa wonder rhat they had no fader Effe&s. There are Men in the eWorld who being fo pro- vocked as that People was.and wii hout reftraint from Gevernmenr, would have avenged themfelves on their Bloody Perfecutars ar an- other rate. But, as we are forry that there were fuch tumultuous Aftings, fo we Bleis the Lord that they had no worfe Effects. The x, thing that he premifeth is, TheftoryoiaMaflacreby an Irtfh Armie, faid to beJandeddt Kirkcubright : which he Fancieth to be a device of the / res byterians ; and tnduslrioujly fpread by them to be aCollourjor d/fat ming the reft of the Countrty. How that Story arofe we are yet in the Datk, 1 hope his imagination is not fuificient tofixitonthe!Piesbytenan$; We know in fuchatimcofHurrte, Fear, Letter!. sjccountottneverjecuTtov, a~ x? A Second Vindication, &c. David Tark, William Couts, All living near to Mr, jinnies lioufc) is, there being that night an alarum, as if the French and Irifh had landed at Greenock, all the Countrey got together in Arms : Whe»i the Alarum was found to be falfc, theparifh of Cathcart (tho'the Gentlemen had defired them to go homeland be in readinefs if there ihouldbe nced^ heating the Prince of Oranges Manifefto was to be proclaimed at Glasgow, went thither, and afli (led at the Solem- nity, and returning with Joy, made Bonefires in fevcral parts of the Parifh ; and at Mr, Minnies houfe ( he being abroad) made a Bone- fire before the Barn Door, ofhisCoals: fomeofthem, who had been greatly injured by Mr, Fmnie went into the Houfe, offered, Violence to no Perfon, only defired his Wife to withdraw; which flie did till they were gone, which was about eight or nineaCIock at night: when (lie returned to her houfeandftayedinit for aeon- fidcrable time, and left it of her own accord, without compulsion* I hope the Reader by comparing thefe two accounts of the matter may fee hovvaftory mav be altered by the right or wrong telling of it,' yet, I am far from approving what they did: butlamfureitis not like the Vrench TDragooning. § 8. The third Story is of Cfttr. Boyd<2l Carmanock, whofe* < Family, he faith, was as ruddy treated \ \_/Jnd the like was dons inmany other places. This general we cannot anfwer:. He not being pleafed to mention particulars, but that this Gentleman fhouid give theft for inftances of incredible Barbarities (as here hs is pleafed to call them) may help us to underfiand his words ; and to put a fofter knte on rhem then they bear. For it is evident thaD inthiscaufe. his words are full of monftruous Hyperbolies, if not of plain Forgeries: The Parifh of Carmanock had their own former Paftor among them, Mr. fi^had been a Cruel Perfecutor of fome of them, by caufing fome to be Imprifoned, forcing others to flee, and wander for feveral Months* they peaceably, defired his Family to remove, which they did ; leaving only fome Lum- ber in the Hpufe, they expefted fever ai Months till that alfo fliould be taken away ; which not being done, and finding that the Par- liament had made an Aft, for the Old Presbyterian Miniiters, who had been caav, and of the Communion of the Chut. | England and Scotland, which he owne d. The n they [ore Lis G. uedbm not ttVi each any more, which he would ] not fron jo t>^ Second Vindication. &c. Thisisallthatismaterialin that long Narration, and isfigned at G la fgow January^. 1 6i(). Robert Bell In anfwer to all this, I (hall give the Reader a Breviate, which is atteftedby many per- fonsinthatParifh. of Wouh and Credit, whole Names flull be fubjoyned. They obfervc his flattering Infmuations on the Church of England, andh/smoft difingenuous Imputations, as if thefe things had done by the Presbyterians: Whereas his own Con- fcience hath extorted from him, in private Difcourfc, a clearing of that Party from fuch principls or praftifes. They take notice of his fmall proficiency at the Colledgc of Glafgow, witnefled by his Matters, and feveral Students: That being fome time at Oxford, at his return, he was Jealoufed at ^London and elfewhere, by all good Protectants, vvhofhunnedbisConverfe: Yer, by the means of the Archbiihop of GUfgow , he was planted at Kilwimngi Where he Preached but one Lords Day. Then got into )kilmar- 00f/6by Simoniacal dealings with the Patron, his Father giving a Bond for two Thoufand Merks : And he making Exchange of rhe Glebe: Duringhis being Minifter there, he Preached feldom, re- siding moftly at Glajgow, 16 Miles diftanr : Spending his rime inWhifling, Singing, Carding, Drinking, and the like. About this time, a Liberty being granted to Presbyterians, The Parifli had recalled their Old Minifter, Mt. James \Kowat % and called to his affiftance Mr. James OJbum , and built a Meeting houfe, where the whole Parifli frequented : So that never above i z of that Parifli (confiftingofxfoo Perfonsot Age to be Catcchifed) did hear Mr. Bell: Theyfhew farther that among that whole Party who fo treated Mr. Bell, there was not one perfon that belonged to the Parifli of Ktlmanwck, fave one poor young man; but that lomeof the Parifli who never owned Mr Bellas their Minifter, yec did deal earneftly with the party that molefted him to defift from their courfe; but they were in no Cafe to hinder them by force ? Both becaufc they were furprifed by this Tumulr,and becaufe they had been frequently Difarmcd through the Jealoufies of the former Government. And the Party confuted of xoo well Armed, and Refolute men, They affirm furrher, That the Armed party were as much Enemies to the Presbyterian Minifters in the Meeting. houfes Letter %. Account of theTerfecution> Sec. 51 houfes, as to the Epifcopalians ; calling them Apoftates, and Preachers of the Duke oi Torlzs Got pel: With many other unfavory Expredions: And that they had divers Confutations about the doing the fame Indignities to them, that they did to the Epifcopal Clergy: And that particularly they did threaten Mr. Of bum, if Jie did not der/a't thence. At the lame time they fixed a Paper on the Meeting- houfe at Irwin, threatningtobuinit. Further, tho' they cannot evince the falfliood of all that is here alledged; yec they can prove fome things ( where they were ear and eye Wit- nefles)that they are falfe ; from which the Credibility of what they faw not nor heard, may beguefsedat: As that the Service Book was lifted up on the end of a Pike : There was nor a Pike among all thatRable, that it was done with Shouts and Acclamations is alfo falfe,as alfo it is falfe that any fuch words were fpoken.as^tfzcw with the laolatry of the Church of I ngland iWScotland. And that he wasqueftioned about the Church Government, is falfe; no- thing was asked but it the owned Prelacy, to which he faintly re- plied, Yes, What is faid cf the Laird of Bndgehoufe is incre- dible; For he never hath (h:\ved fuch Refpect to the Prince of Orange, nor to our So veraign King William z But often Drinketh King James's Health, a'jd hath often Caballed with Mr. B?// f efpecially when his Brother Mr, )ohi BeO\ and his Coufens Colin Bell, and Patrick Bell, were preparing for their "Dublin Voyage > in which they were taken going with Supplies for the Irijb Rebels there. Thefc things ar^ Arreted by the Subscriptions of John Crawford of Crawfordland, Hugh Hunter, Robert Wright, John Pater/on, Joh'i Boyd, Alexander CMuir,]:hn Adam,Jofeph Vlaugb, Robert bankhead. John M tiler y James Can\pbel,/^ndrewT ay lGr t JohnTuw:b:U, Matthew Duncan, JohnTunahill, John Armour ^ William , Robert Paterfon , 1 leave the Reader to make his own Judgment on thefe Stories, the one avouched by the p:rfon concerned, the other by fo many unconcerned perions, and ot known Integrity And co confider whether horn this talc fuch barbarity as is alledge J be imputable to the Presbyterians. § 9 I now return to the firft Book : The Authors next inltance is, Mr.Simplon Mmi/ier at Galfton, wbotM they caujed t yi y^4 Second Vindication, &c. Bareheaded to thepublickeft place of the 'Village ; and caufedhim put on his Morning Gown : {the Canonical Gown not being found) which they tore cffhim,andcaufed him wade through aRivtr at one of the deepefl places, and commanded him not to return ' The Truth ot themmeTisMrRobertSymp/on had violently Perlccutcdfeve- ralof the Parifh; particularly he had caufed George Lambe , a very old Man, Janet Lambe, the Wife of James Mtll, who was very Infirm, and brought forth a Child ten dayes after, and James Lambe ; to be carried on Cars (notberng able to go) to Ktlmar- nock by Lieutenant Colloncl Buchan's Souldiers, and that for not coming to hear; fomeoi their Friends in Refentment of this, did in January, or February 1689. ta ^ c ^ r - Symfjon out of his Houfe, and DiicourLd with him about an Hour, he being Unco- vered, and put him through the Water of Irwinnut of the Patifh, but they neither rent his Gown.nor did other Injury to him. Thefe Perfons were Strangers, except fomefewofthc Parifh. This is atteftcd by Hugh Hut c he/on Not ar, Thorn as Morten, John Adam. Next cometh on the ftage Mr, Miller Minifter at Cauder : lie being abfent they rent his Gown, Harangued and Prayed beforehand concluded with a voly of Shot ; Concerning this I have received no Information bur from what is faid, have caufe to disbelieve it; Next we have Mr. White MiniHerofBallingtrea, whom a 'Pedler beat on the Face with a Musket for /peaking to him with his hat on his Head; thru ft at him with a Sword to the piercing of his Qloaths^ andfzin ; but it went no deeper, a throng being in theRoome.and the AEtorofit at advance. To this isanfwered, that the Pariflihad no hand in this,tho' he had beat fome of them of good note,and had been injurious to feveralsofthem in his dealings This isatteftedby Henry Mackbreath, James Mow at , Hugh Kennedy, Gilbert Maciltire, JohnMacqualter: all who have their Teftimony from their Minifter, that they are credible and famous Witnefles. This is witnefLd by the fame perfons ; that whereas he accufed the Pref- byrerians for Beating his Wife, that they never knew any to Beat his Wife except hi mfelf, which they have often heard and (een. Our nexcinftance is Mr Brown Mini ft ] er at Kells in Galloway re- y7^/^^Newtoun, whom ma Storm of ¥rofl and Snow, they car- ried Letter zl Account of theT erf ecution&c. 53 vied to the Marketplace about 4 a Clock m the Morning, tyed him to a C art y Jet his face to the Weather , where he had died, if a poor Woman had not caff i loathes about him T\.e Truth of this Story is f that Mr. firown being bsaftly Drunk at night, after a Jittlefleep, went tohis Houfe at a diftance from that Town, and returning in the Morning be times, was by the Guard taken for a Spie, who were informed that fix or feven Men had prefently gons through the River, iuppofedtobetheEarl of Meljord-, and that they had inquired if my Lord was at Home : And were faid to come by Mr. Browns Houfe: On thefe grounds the Prifon not being firm, they Bound him : This is Attefted by Gilbert Gordon, and Lieutenant Kennedy. It is hard to juftifythis ufage of any Man : But it is yet harder to impute this Indifcretion of Souldiers to the Presbyterians Next we have Mr. Rofs at Renfrew,who(c Wife With her lnfanr they threw out the third day after (he was brought Co Bed. Anf. This Narration is fo falfe, that neither Mr. Kofi nor his Wife will own it $ M rs R ofs was 17 day es after Child Birth before thefe men came to the Houfe ; they caufed the Goods be removed without any Damage to them: And at the entreaty of fomeofthcTown, fufferedthe Goods to be put into the Houfe again •. And Mr. Rofs's Family lived peaceably in that Houfe 1 6 Months after that time. But which is mainly to our purpofe, the Presbyterian Minifter at Renfrew, hearing ot fuch Diforders elfe- where, had warned his Hearers againft them: So that none of them had a hand in this Faft ; But they who did it were Strangers, and fuch asjoyned with no Presbyterian Meeting, A 11 this is Atteft- ed by William Scot Baillie, Wtlltam Scot Elder, WUltam Armour Elder, JohnKeidman, TatrickScot, ]ohn]ackfon. /. 1 o. Next he bringeth on the Stage Mr. Gutberie, Minifter at Kier, who/e Family, in a rainy day they turned out, tho y three of his Children were Sick ; one of a leaver, and two ofthefmall Pox 9 and two them died upon that Treatment. To this the perfons after mentioned do Anfwer tw o things. 1 . That he did extremely dif- oblige and provoke the Parifli. not only by his Intrufion againft the Will, both of the Gentry and the reft of the Parifh ; but alfo by informing againft the PeopU : Who by his means were feverly F fi<-ed: 34 A Second Vindication, &c. fined: He had a Hand in fending out Dragoons who killed (oufr Men, and hanged them on a Tree for 1 8 dayeS, at the Church of Iron gray : He beat Bejjie Smith (he being on Horfe back and fee on foot) to the great effufion ci Blood, and till (he fell dead; and after returned to her and beat her, faying, it would heal her*. %. The People being fo exafperare, threatned to call him out of hisHoufe, he often prom ifed to remove, butdiditnot: Atlaft they caft out his Family,without doing hurt to any perfon, his Wife through pcevifhnefs would not go into another Houfe^ho' earneft- ly invited by feveral perlons, particularly the Miftres of Water fide,. John Of burns Wife,, and John Wudfions Wife: There was but one of her Children Sick at that time, who isftillalive. The o- ther two did not fall fick for eight Weeks after that time. This is Attefted by Charles Maxwell, John Hudlejion, Thomas Hudle- fion, William Waftings, fVilliamWalliday, JohnMaxwel, John- OJburn, John IVaugh, John Hudlefion, Thomas Mitchelfon* John? *Pagan t John Grant, John Smith, William Waugh t W.D. James M'gte. HislaftinftanceKof Mi. Skinner 2X Daly, They frighted his Daughter , aged about io, into a leaver , returning after f; or6dayes, they turned her out of her Bed, pretending to fearch for Arms , fo that (he died raving. This isrnoftfalfe: There camefndeed, fome Perfons to Mr.Sl/fl^r'sHoufe, knocked at the door, which was opened to rhem by rhefe within : Mr. Skinner ask'd them, what they were come for? Was it to Fright him and his Family? They anfwered, they came only to Search for Arms: And that they would do no harm to him,nor to his Family : He told: them, he had no Arms: And he commanded his Daughter, Ka. thar me Skinner, to fet Meat before rhem: After they had eatery they went away without doing prejudice to any in the Family ; After five or fix day es, they returned, and forbade Mr. Skinner to Preach any moreatthe Churchof Daly: Mt.Skinners Daughter, Kathanne,was then Sick : One of them looked into the Bed where ihelay, andfaid, who lieth here: A woman who attended the Sick Perfon, anfwered, it is Mr Skinners Daughter, who is Sick. Upon which they allremoved, without fayirt^ or doing any more All this is Auefted upon Oath , before the JBarron Court of tetter X. JKCOUmOtirxrvrjwmion, OCC 5 j Ktlbochen, held at Halhtl, June$o. 1690. The Witnefles were* Janet Dalrymple, the Wife ot ]amesMdckneben % *ylnnahber~ crorabey, the Wife oi Andrew Keilfon: Gtlbert Mackennie Ser- vant to Mr Skinner. § 11. The Author,, as lifted up in his own conceit, with fuch full proof of his point, (as he fancieth ) by thefc Stories that he hath told (rho' moft difingenuoufly and lalfly,) doth now page 1 8 Ha- rangue upon the Difordeis That they contrived and raifed at Glafgow, and at Edinburgh ; Citations in Name of the Rab/e y to remtrvefrom Churches and Manfes : hnd ihmketh it enough t$ btspurpofe, to tell the Terfon that hewriteth to, that the fe were their common Methods, And that by fuch means, majborttime, more then ioo were thru ft from their Churches and ^Dwellings \ and all this can be Attefted with the greatefl Evidence. It is not «afie to Anfwer fuch loofe Declamations : It is often obferved, that 1ome Mens con fident Expreffions tun higheft, when Truth and Reafon is with them at the lowed : Yet fome obferves I fhall make on this paflage, which may make himafhamedof his Con- fidence. I. That they railed, and much more that they contriv- ed, Tumults, is an Impudent Calumny; For the Tumult at Gla/gow, it was raifed by his own Party, who were the Aggref- fbrs, and the Presbyterians did nothing but in their own Deiencc. But of it I (hall here add no more, but refer rhc confideration ot it till we come to Anfwer The Cafe of the AfflittedClergy, &c Where our Author doth more particularly give Account of it. 2. For the Tumults at Edinburgh, we know of none, but what was made by the Students at theColledge there,in burning rhe Pope in Effigie, and defacing thePopifliChappel at the Abbey of Ho/yrooJhw/e.Fcw ofthefe Aftors were Prcsbyrerians,tho' they were all Protectants ; moftof them were Epifcopally inclined, and bred under Matters who were of that Proteflion ; and that any Presbyterians who then, or fince, had Authority in the State, or Church, did aflift in contrivance or management of this matter, we do utterly deny. 3 .If their were Citations in the name ot the Rable (which wc know not and with he had attempted to prove \tj It was done by the Rable whofe Aftions wc difclaim, and who were not ol our Com- F x munion, j & \^4 Second Vindication. &c. munion" 4. What he faith , that thefe were the Presbyterians Common methods, is as falfe as any thing he hath yetfaid; or as any thing that can be fpoken ; and if it be enough that he telleth his friend fo, he hath found an eafie way of perfwading to the belief of whatever he pleafeth. How many were put out by the Rable we know not, but this wo know, that mod of them who went out, were put out by their own Confciences: tor they deferred theic charges without either fentence, threatning, or compulfion. 5-, That all this can be attefted, we deny ; and bid him defiance, u* bring halt the evidence for it that he vainly talkcth oi . § ix. He doth now Avirh all [helittle Rhetorical Artifices he isMa- fter ofjabour to make thefe things Credible to his Reader ; By tak- irngaway what might be any ground of doubt about them. Where- fore, heundertakethtofhew. That application was made to Md* giftrates, andnoKedre/s ■; That they were not pure Kable wh& a fled thefe things: That thefe Aflors were ea/Uy cmtroulabJe by ^Authority : That Nobles , Gentry, Mixifters, had a Hand in: thefe things ; that they who fuffered thefe things were men who de* ferved better Treatment. Let us now attend to his proof, ol all thefe, He faith page 19. That applications were made to Teers, who were Trrivy Qoun fellers, not gone to London: But is notr pleafed to tell us who they were; that the Truth might be enquir- ed into: Neither do we know that any Peer, to whom they made. Addrefs , was furnifhed either with Authority", or Strength* fufficient to reprefs fuch Dforders, in that Interregnum , and, time of Confufion : Every Peer hath not Authority over the whole. Nation. That thefe Peers were Privy Counfellors is falfe: For there were none fuch at that rime in the Nation, The Council hav- ingdiflolved themfelves, and another not as yet being conftituted v He next tells us oi'Their Jendingprivate Kccowitsto London ; but without fuccejs-.btcaufe their £^w^j(chePresbyterians)A^ many. wayes defamed them, and called 'at their Letters Lyes, andForgc* pies Hcteisnoncaufaprocaufa* Th^truereafon why they' then had no relief was: None at London had the Power to do what they defigned,more then they had who were at Home That the Presby- terians did mifreprefem them is falfe : Let us fee what was charged Qfli Lertet %\ isfccountoftheTer/ecution, &c. '57 on any of them, but what can be made appear. And if our party would have attempted fueh a thing, they had many of their own Party who were ready to believe what they wrote, and to im- prove it to their own advantage. Thar any matters of Fad (Rabies orTumulg) that were afted then in Scotland, were induftrioufly concealed, or denied at London, by the Presbyterians: He doth affirm with as little Truth, as Honefty: Fain would he retort on us thefe Lying Methods that he and his Complices have followed : Rut we are beyond fuch Reproaches in the Confcicnce of all that know us, and do not hate us, §, 1 $, Hebeginncth/>tf£, 20, to give account of the Prince of Oranges 'Declaration , f or keeping the peace, and how it was mil- regarded by the Presbyterians, and he telleth us of Dr, Scets Mef- fageandlnftrufl tons from the deputies of '(even Presbyteries (where it ispleafantto fee what pains he is at to Apologize to the Church of England for that odious namey> and how the good party ( lo he calleth us lronice) contradicted all the accounts that they gave ef things. (If the.Doftors Hiftoiy of things was of the fame (train with what this Author giveth us, I hope the Reader will not wonder that he met with contradiction J On this application the Princes 'Declaration came out, tho' not fo full as the Dr, would have had it. That he procured the Declaration, the Author Dreameth: the necefliey of the thing required it, That two contending parties fliould be retrained from mutual Injuries, in an Interregnum, and time of confufion, w r as very fu cable to that great Princes wifdom, and juftice. As alfo that Dr, Scot and his party got not all their will , was but realon The Presbyterians difobedience to the Princes de- claration heproveth hy three inftances, The 1 . Is, the Tumult at Glasgow : The true account of which I have alteady referred to an- other pace. Thex \*,Mr,VitlleofTra ; lflat',abonttorepofft?fshis Vulpit>wo4 affaultedby 'Vomenwho tore b:sCaat and Shirt offhim, and had done fo with his breeches, but that he pleaded with them from their Made fly : I have often faid that we can no way cs be ac- countablefor what was done b} the Rable:They were none of our?, and little lefs unfriendly taus then to his party .which is particularly attefted concerning them who did foufc Mr, Little of iin.il or %ra$ljtot 3 8 kA Second Vindication, &c. Trailflat, His 3 Inftance.Hequoteth fomc Men and Women,calling the Prim es Declaration a Sham % and that they knew his Highneffes Refoluttons. It he had pleaied to tell us who (aid fo, we could have enquired into the truth of what he alledgeth, and have judged by the quality of the Pet Tons, what weight is to be laid on their words: If we ihould be at the pains to print all that the (cum of his party faith , we might write volumes of matter, that would make them black enough, but withal it might make us ridiculous to the world : But that this Author fhould lay fuch (trefs on the Talk of Women, whom nobody knoweth who they were, as thence to Fancy that they now have a difcovery of the intrigue oi Presbyterians, is no great Argument ot his deep Judgment. He next telleth of an In- trigue m the Princes Declaration (lot even his Highnefs, nor novf when he is our Soveraign, cannot efcape the lalh of thefemens Tongues and pens) in commanding all to lay down Arms, favethe Gan/ons, and the Town Company of Edinburgh. It feems it grievs this man that K. James's, forces muft be disbanded, for I fuppofc he will not quarrel with difarming any of the Presbyterians. But furely here was no intrigue, but a plain defign, that the two driving parties fhould not fall on each other in a war commenced by Au- thority; butthatw^hichpiquethhimis, that by this means the Col- ledge cfjulfice were forced to lay down their Arms, which he will have to be taken up by the Authority of the Magiflrates ofKdxn- burgh,#»^ mdefence of ' theMinifierstf 'thatCityfnwhomhGtWedg. eth that tloe people wererefolvedtofall. In anfwer to all this, I fliall not derogate from the praifes of that Honourable Society of Law- yers.and men about the Law,which he is plcafed to give them. But, i.ItwasnottheColledgeofJufhce, butfomeofthem, whotook Arms,fomeol the chief of them gave no countenance to that Aft ion. %. It is known that the members of that Society as then conftituted were greatly oppofite to the Revolution in the Civil ftate that then was in fieri, and therefore the disbanding of them feemed to be ne- ceflary for the peaceable conclufionof that matter, 3.Whetherthc Arming of the Colledge of JufticewasbyAuthoriryoftheMagt- ftrats of Edinburgh, Iftiall not determine : But the Magiflrates as then Conftituted were all oppofite to the Prince of Orange; and there- Letter z. Account of the Verfecution, &c. 39 therefore it was no wonder that any force raifed by them flhould be by him disbanded. 4. That there was a defignro fall on the Mi. nifters of Edinburgh, or that rhe Colledge of Juftice armed in their defence, is affirmed on no ground, and without any truth. It was rather en the fame defign on which the VifcountofDaw^had gathered Forces into the Town (of which above J and it waster oppofing of them, andnotaiTaulting the Minillersof Edinburgh, that the weftern Rable, fas he is pleafed to call them) came to Edinburgh, viz. To defend the Convention cfEflates, againlt the force that might have hindred their fitting and Acting. That the Colledge ofjuftice were quarrelled ftho'yetno puniihmenr, nor other effeft followed on it) for their rakirg Aims without Law was no wonder: That the Weflern Rable ( ashecalleththem^J were not quarrelled, is as little wonder : For the one was a party ef men that fhould have known the Law bee ter then the other : rhe one did continue in Arms till they were forced to disband. Which the other did not. (. 14 Our Authors next eflay, p %$, is (according to his ftrain and temper) to nuWifiethG Convention of Eflateszs being unduely confiituted and con/equent tally that all that they did is of no force, Which is atone Blow to dethrone their prefentMajefties, and to unfetle the prcfent Eftablifhmenr. To what other purpofe can his remaiks rend, of the abjence of Jo many of the Ncbtlity, the (crufles of the befi and moft judicious of the Gevtrte oj the Nation had about it, how thin the meetings cf the (mailer Burghs in manyfhit es were at the Elefiion, How \nduffriom the Presbyterians were to get all Elefted of their own gang, what methods were taken toimpoje on thefimpkr Member s, what partiality was ufed about contravt 1 1- ed Elections. 1 have feenatime when talking at this rate, and by fo doirg ftriking at the root of the Government,, would have colt ©nea feveic Reprimand, thcnisaPaper refutation; but we have the advantage by thispaflage that the clamours againft Presbyfe- rianshave the (aire Authors, andgrounds, with ihefeagainlt the Government of the State, which 1 hope will make them to he orhirwife undcrflcod, then if they had taken the Presbyterian Ghorch alone ior their party.AftertemcHiflciicalrcmaiks on the Con 4® A Second Vindication. «c. Convention ( which 1 infift not on ) he faith that the liable which hadthrufl out tbe^Ainiflers were thanked by the Convent ion t tho y not under that reduplication, Tho'this isnoeffortofhisfpireagainft theChurch.but againft the State,yct I cannot but obfervehis Malice in it , for we deny that they were the men that put out the Minifters : & the thanks they had was for their zeal in defending the Conventi - 00 from thatoppofitcrable, I mean the 2000 men that the Vifcount of Dundie and others had gathered together at Edinburgh, to have furprifed the Convention, as was above fliewed. When the hazard was over, they were with the thanks of the three Eftates,difmifled to return to their fevetal homes, and this was all the pay that they got, or were willing to receive, for their fervice. ButhctelUthus that this was done when the Bijhops, many of the Nobility and not a jew of the Barrons, had defer ted the Houfe; Thefe big words have no more truth in them, but that all theBifhcps, andfomc others of the Convention, who were Enemies to King William, went away, and would not aflent to his being called to the Throne ; thefe were the Clergies friends, being of the fame Inclinations with themfelves. §. 15-, He now, pag, x^quarrellcth with the A£? of the Con* vention April, 1 3, 1689, '* which &U w ere required toprayfor KingW\\\\zm, and Queen Marry, /inj to read that Proclamation in their Churches \and that th e Kefufers fhould be deprived oft heir Churches and Benefices: And that they who obeyed fhould be pre- texted. From this he taketh occafion to digtefs very extravagant- ly, by recapitulating the proofs he had mentioned, that/ her able were Atted by great mem Which I have anfwered: and by telling us fomeftories that he iiad heard fmay befromlomeof his twat- iing Goffops ,J what the Vifcount of Stairs did, and what the Earle of Crawf oidjaid, which he bringeth no fhadow of Evidence lor ; and therefore is to be flighted. For what he alledgeth of the Earl ef Crawfords writting Letters to the Kableto go on, even after April. 1 3 . And of the Duke of Hamiltouns producing one of thefe letters in Council Arif This is a falfe Representation, and injurious to that Noble Earl ; who did more for Suppreffing the Dis- orders of the Rable than otJhers did, or could do; and who afted with Letter 2,. Account of theVerfecution, &c. 41 with Juftice and Moderation towards the Party , whofevvayes he did not approve. The Truth of this Story is, The Minifter of Logie was put out of his Church , he had made Complaint to the Council, who had his Cafe under confideration in order to do him Juftice ; mean while, Lieutenant Collonel Kamfay went from S/7r- lin% to Logie with a Party to RepolTefs the Minifter by force of Arms, and that without any Warrant from Authority. The Earl hearing of this, and meeting occafionally with lieutenant Col- \ont\ Bucban, told him how Irregular it was for Kamfay to inter- pofe in a matter that was depending before the Council, and that nothing could cxcufe it, but that Ram/ay was a Stranger, and un- derstood not our Law , which doth not permit the Military Powec to meddle in matters of controverfy between Parties, except when they were imployed by Authority to aflift in the Execution of the 1-aw This Bucban wrote loKawfay^ndBucbans Letter was produ- ced before the Conncil, where the Earl defended what he had (aid. That his Lo: wrote to the ^able,or to any pcrfon elfe,in this matter, is falfe. The man had little to write when he blotteth Paper with what he aicribed to Sir John Monro of Foulis , if all the Sarcafms thrown out againft either Party fliould be Printed, we would do little elfe but make fuch Collections. It isoneof this Authors doughty Arguments to prove rhe fufferingsof the Clergy: Such amaijeared anEpifcopal Minifter as he parted by ontheStrcet Ergo, the Suffering of the Clergy from the Presbyterians are work than the French Dragooning. Heobjefreth, that not one Presbyterian Miniffer hath been beard to covdem the 7J //orders ojtbe Kab/efrom the Pulpit. Anf I he falfhood of this I can teftify excerta (cientia, Often we have condemned Peoples going out of their Line, and Profecuring good ends by unwarrantable means, and commended Moderation, £c. And prevailed with them that are our Hearers: Tho* they whom he mainly chargcth, willtake little noticeof what we (ay. What he faith, that the Rab/mi> has been approved in l be 'Pulpits of Edinburgh, is more then I know, or can believe; unlefsif any be (which I know not) one or two imprudentMen,cafually imployed in thefe Pulpits, hath done fo, as I know they hav« Ipoken fometimes to the offence of their G Bre- 41 iyi Second } Vindication, &c. Brethren: For what was fpoken in the High Church of Edin- burgh, Which he, according to his wonrcdrefpeft to rhtfeftablifh- cdLavv faith, Is de Jure, the Bifhops Cathedral. butDefatfo, a Presbyterian Meeting houfe -. Thar fuchfhakings 'were the fhak- ings of God, and without them the Church ufed not to be Jet led. I hope no intelligent Perfon will reckon thefe words an Approba. tionofthcRable: Nor will think that they imporr any more, than, that the Lord is pleafed often to bring lovely Order out of Confufi- on, which in it felf is very undeftrable : as he fendeth Divifions, and maketh a good ufe of them, (o doth he with Rabling. Next he com- plaineth , that no Proclamation hath been iflued out againft them ; butbecaufe he cannot but know the contrary, therefore he charg- eth the State, that they have not put their Proclamation in the Form and Words that pleafe him. This I obferve only to put a note on this Authors feeking occafions of complaint, and hisSawcinefs, if not fansfied. But he telleth us, on the con- tary, oi'Two orThreeCameronian Regiments ( whereas we ne- ver'heardofany fuchfave one, and of that the Officers and many of the Souldiers weremen of Sober and foundPrinciples,but the Re- giment had the fare to be fo called) who were Quartered in Perth- Shire and in Angus, where flaould they be quartered but in thefe fhires where many of the Inhabitants wereEnemies to theStare and daily renuning to the Highland Army, )That they were fent toper . fecute the Clergy, ismoflfalfe: Orthat that they dtdfnoleff them, more then is ordinary for Souldiers to do to them who are not of their way. A nd but very few inftances , and in very few of thefe Souldiers, can be given. He defigneth to ridicule them ( butex- pofeiji his own Folly, Malice, and filly Credulity) byaftory that he hath heard of their refufing obed ence to their Officers in ex- ercifing, if they ufe often the fame fVords, becaufe they are again fi fet Forms. Such a filly Forgery I fh >uld not have Noted ( it be- ing known no Regiment is better Difciplincd , nor hath done better Service) it it were not to give the Reader occafion to ob* ferve the Spirit of our Adverfaries, wholay hold on every Tatlc they hear, to Reproach us, when they can find no better Argu* ments to difprove out way, letter x. Account of the Verfecution, &c. 43 fc 16 He further raileth at rhe Proclama'ion, \pr)l 1 3. faying, 7 bat by J all the Deeds of the Rable arejufttfied % and perm:J]ion % charged all } Inferior judicatories within the Kingdom to give De- creets for the Stipend 1689. to thefeCMinifttrs who were out of Voffejjion on April 1 3 refervingthe determination of that Cafe to - the Parliament. Who but our Author,could thence infer,that they approved okhe fummar way of putting out thofe Minifters, no- thing doth thence follow, but that. the Parliament might judge of the conveniency of reponing them. Gn this occafion he dilatetfe* on the Mtfery of thofe Suffering Minifters, and putteth the que- ftion, CananyWftory /hew aTrefident for their Cafe'i H r as, ever Chri(iianMimflers/o treated tn a Cbrifiian Kingdom ? To • thefehis queitions, I anfwer Affirmative,^, The Presbyterian* Mi. letter % he count of the Terfecutton, &c 4^ MinifYers anno i66z. were worfe treated, when uplvards of 300 ef them were put our, and no allowance given them atalh And yet worfe, when afterward it was enaclcd that none of them fhould live within fix Miles of his former Paiifh, nor within fix Milesof a Corporation : fo that it was hard lor not a few of them to find a ha- bitation, where they Lawfully might be in the Nation;. Butallof them were driven, with their poor Families, from their Habita- tions, from among their Friends and Acquaintances, who might Ihew them meicy in their diftrefs, to feek ilielter among Strangers: And this was done in the beginning of Winter, when it was hard to remove a Family. But comparing their fufferings , that they make fueh outcry about, with ours, which we bare patiently ; we may obferve, that fome are io tender of their Worldly Accommo- dations, andeale: that they will complain more of the fcratch of 4 a Pin, than others will do of a deep Wound by a Sword, §. 17* We have, page 30. An evidence hew refolute this Gen- tleman is to be unfatisfied with whatever is, or fliall be done, either by the State, or by the Church, astheyarenoweftablifhed ; For when the Aft of the Eftates difchargeth any Injury to be offered to any Minifter now in Poflcflion or hb Church; he quarrelleth at this Reftri&ion, and putteth a A/. B to it. They fobavingf hem/elves c as becometh, under the fre/ent Government Did ever any Govern- ment allow proteclion to any on o' her terrr.s: Yea, it is not ufual, under any Government, to give a Pafs to any to travel on the road without Let, orMoleftation, without this exprefsreftiichon. But w hat tolloweth is oneof the higheft efforts of Malice, blinding the mind, and depraving the apprehenfion of things. Which is, that* giving them protection on tlmrgood behaviours to enjoynthe Rable tcfallon themtfthty fhould not read the. Troclamatton > andpray for King William and Queen Mary. And the man hath the brow to fey That no manwitbjutdoingVwlencetohUownfenfe.couIdpHt a better cchflruflwn upon it % but I pei fv\ ad* my felf , that unby ailed men will judge, that no man without doing. Violence both to his Reafon and Conference, can put fuch afcnle on it as our Author doth . For the Council did what in them lay to hinder all difoiders of thcKable. TheState, more theathc Church or Mniflers, the ' "pk K'ng;. 4^ i^tSecond Vindication, &c* King, the Council, and Parliament, are ftill Adverfariesthatthfg Hero will cope with. The Council required the Minifters of Edin*. burgh to read, and obey the Proclamation on April. 14. being the Lords day, after the forenoones Sermon-. Which required praying for King William and Queen Mary, by name : and all the Miniffers be /out h Tay to do thejame on A pi il 2 1 -.and the fe be North Tay to do it on April a 8 -.where as it was enable don the 1 3 about twelve aclock, and came te the hands of the Minifters at Edinburgh/tf/£0» Satur- day, or on Sabbath morning : Some {as he was told ) and we know many things were told him which were not true ) not till they were in the Tulpit . This he thtnketh abfurd.becaufe the Bijbops in Eng- land would not enjoyn their Clergy to read Proclamations Fide im- p\ic\ta>and becatt/e the Parliament ^England gave theClergy there feveral Months toconfider the likeCafe. He mightknow that tho the Enghjh Bifhopsbeadmired,foradvanrage,by him and hisParty,yel their pradice need not be a Standard to the Scotch Council. And that the Parliament of England thought they had rea- ibn for what they did : And the Council of Scotland thought the fame of what they did: The cafe, tho' of moment was plain enough, neither was it a Surprize to any of thofemen, for the thing was long in Deliberation , and known to be fo, Before it was enafted: Few in the Nation, if any there were, who were not then at a point, Whither they would own King William, or adhere to King James. Except fuch as were re- folvedtoxlo either, as it might more ferve their Ends. Whatisfaid of the Peoples going out of the New Church when the Clerk read the Proclamation after theBlefling; is not to be wondered at, for after the Bleffing People ufe not to itay.And it is like it was defign'd to be read to the Walls, by uttering the BJefling before reading of it. The Minifters example in not reading it himfelf, it is like, did in- fluence fuch as ufed to heare men of hisftamp. And of fuch was that Congregation then made up. §. 1 8. We now enter upon the execution that was done by this Pro- clamation, which this Epiftlcdoth lay heavie load on the Council for.Far lefs reproaching of the Juftice of theNation would have coft a man his Neck in the former Reign, The firlj inftance he bringeth is Letter 2." Account of the Terfecution, Sic. 47- h of ^Dofior Strachan, lat-e TrofeJSour of Divinity in the Colkdge of Edinburgh, who when accufed for not Reading and T raying as enioyned , pleaded , that in the Claim of Wight it was found, that none can be King, or Queen, ^/Scotland, til/they take the Corona- tion Oath: And that /f. James had forfeited his right to the Crown by kiting as King without it. That the State had only named Wil. liam, and M*ry\but neither the Crown was yet offered to thzm, nor they accepted it, nor had they taken the Coronation Oath, and he withothers were deprived, who ufed the fame defence, and added* that they wete willing to pray for King William and Queen Mary. as foonas they had accepted, and had taken the Oath. An anfwer to this might more be expected from fomeStatefnan, whoknoweth the reafon that the Council were determined by in this matter. It isknown that the exercife of the Government had been long before tendered to the Prince, and that his Highnefs had accepted and cx- ercifedit That the Eftatesiat by his Authority, that the Nations Reprefentative had then owned him as their King, and therefore it w T as a contempt of the Authority of the Nation for any man to refufe to own him, when called to do fo. Further, it is a material miftake of the words of the Claim of Right : Which doth not fay, None can be King or Queen, but that none can Exercife the Regal Vower, till they have taken the Coronation Oath. It is certain, that on the death of a King, his Rightful Succeflor is King; and may be Grayed for as fuch; and fuch Praying may be injoyned, even before taking of the Oa-.h: The famsmay be (aid of One chofen, and proclaimed by the Supreme Authority of the Nation : which is the Cafe now in hand ThatthefeMenpromifedto Pray forK W///w.w for afterward , istalfe, and the Committee depriv- ed none who were willing fo to engage- The petulant liberty that he takcth to difparage the Council that was nominated by the King after he had accepted of the Government, I remark, but infill not on. He now, in the end pt pag, 31 RerurnethtotheRablc, his mifrcprclentation of things in General I flay not on, heisfecure he cannot be refuted but by denying the truth of them : but his par- ticular accounts of thefe things, 1 ihall examine. The firft In- flance that he givcthis,^/.A/r.McMath MmitfcrofLsim&c : On & m 48 KSecondVindication, &c Whom on night as he was goin% from Edinburgh fohh own Houfe, 4 Fellows fell'- pierced him with Bi4ktnt and hult , fo that he had tenor twelve wounds in his' Belly } filled his mouth, Uttthey had alrnojl Chocked, him with Horfe-'Vun^ ; and left him in that fad condition. If one fhoul d confider the incredibility ot this Story it might favethelabourot a Refutation, orcvincingthe falfhoodof it. He hath not told us who thefe four fellows were, nor whither they were Presbyterians, or not 5 mud all the Robberies and A (la- minations that are committed on the high way, by unknown Per- fons, be charged on the Presbyterians: Such Inftnuations will better evince the Spiteful humour oi our Adversaries, then the dif- orderlinefs of men of our way. Next, is it probable, tl ataman fhould have icorn wounds in the Belly with Auls or Bodkins, and none of them peirce the Teritoneum, which would readily prove mortal: And yerMr, McMath neither was fick, nor died, nor was anylndifpofitionvifibleon him next day, but what was the effeft of his being Drunk overnight, which allthat knew him do Affirm was very cuftomary to him. I wifh our Author had told us who ever faw thefe Wounds, or the Scars of them. It is attefted by his Neighbours as followeth: IVe under fubferibers , declare, that we came 0] fur f of e to fee Mr , McMath's pretended wounds : The gate being fhut, we went to the HoufeofMr, Robert Trotter, hisVrecentor, who going to him, returned with this an fwer y that he freed the whole c Purijk> and knew not who they were that injur ~ ed him. \yft Lafweed December 6, 1690 James Currie, Adam Alexander, Gawin Hunter, James Simfon. 1 declare that I faw Mr* John McMath, betwixt fix and {even a Clock in the Morntng, following that night wherein he fretendeihthat injury was done to him, at his own gate . as he ufed to be, witne/s my Subfcriptim at Lafweed, 'December, 6.1690. Andrew F inlaw fon. For this hndrew FinlawfoHi was challenged by Mr. McMath: which he alfo teftifyeth under his hand. Alfo James Sim/on declareth under his hand, that he faw Mr, McMath on the ftrcet, x or 3 dayes after he was faid to he wounded : and that People going on the Road from Edinburgh told him that they faw Mr, McMath Drunk rhat night, as he came from Edinburgh, Like wife we have it under the hand letter ^ Account of the Terfecuttw, &c 4^ hand of ]ohn loung Merchand in Ftjherraw. that at the time when it was (aid that Mr. McMath was wounded, he went to fee him { being his Cufin J and fa w no appearance of ficknefs or wounds, and that when he went out of Mr, Mc Machs Houfe, Mr .Rkbard Hyfip, fhewed him the place where Mr, McMath fell, and got his Face dawbedwirh dirt: and that when Mr, Younghid, Thathe had heard that Mr, McMath had this done tohimbyfome per- fons, Mr, Hyftop (his Neighbour and Friend) faid, theie was nofuoh thing. It is alfo to be obferved that notafewperfonswho tame to fee him in his wounds, were not admitted, befidesali this, w§ have proofs w r ellatte(kd, to evince the horrid immorali- tiesof Mr McMath fuch as, Lafcivious carriage to watdsfeveral Women, Drunkennefs, ImEIzelling the Collections for the poor, Taking another mans Horfe and Sadie from his fervanr, by the way, and giving out afterward that he found the Horfe, which he reftored, but keptthefadle^dayes, denying it, till it was like to come to a publick hearing, and then reftored it, I hope the Reader by this rime, can fee what weight is to be laid ontheHiftories brought by this Author: and what tort of men they are whofe quarrel hesfpoufeth : Though we are far from approving irrcgu? larities and injuries., w hither done againfl good or bad Men. §. 19. Someother henameth, who were Rabled, but giveth no particular account of what was done to them ; fuch as Mr, Bur- gejs at Temple, Mr, Mckenzie ztKirklifton, Mr. Wamdtoumt Kirknezqtoun, Mr, Nimmo at Colllngtoun , Mr, TXmaidfon at 'Dumbarton , (fome of whom we lliall afcerward meet with,,/ S>f . And whole Presbytery in Galloway. I hope a particular anfuer is not expected to rhefe. And for the General AfTertion, the Re adet mud be ftrangcly byafled, if before he have thus far proceeded, he doth not under ftand this Authors Dialecl; that is, if he hath Dot learned todistelieveeveiy thingthathe affirmeth, unlefbitbe fufiiciently vouched : Thatistheleaftpunifhmem due to one, who hathfootten, and fo foully, ptevarrcated in his Afiertions. where- lore we may juftly reject all thefe as Forgeries ; astwoofthem I can fufficiently difprove. Mr, CMckenzte was never Rabled, on- ly ar the time he was atK/> klijlon very few of the People Leard him: H and 5 - 3 A Second Vindication. &c. and for MtJJamiltonu he never was Minifter ztKirknewtoun-.tf the- People have at any time refufed to heire him, when he was to preach rranfiently there, this is no Rabling: He is a man for whom we have due refpeft, and he is now received into Minifterial Communion by the Presbyterians. The reft I know nothing of r but three Inftaices he giveth us more diftinftly , which oblig- ed! us to a more diliincl and particular Anfwer. The i is, Mr. Mcgil of Kilsyth , tho he had obeyed the Trorfama- tion , The Rable hindred him to enter the Church , my Lord Ktlfyth's faftor raifed a force to defend him-, in the flrife, one of the Rable was Kitted: The Faff or went to Edinburgh, and told the Committee of Eftates what had happened: The LordKoffh beingPrefesofthe Committee, thinking the Per/on Killed to be one of the other fide ; (aid, ti would be hard to get that tJMurther pu- nt fhed: Rut at lafl under (landing, that it was one of the Rable, changed his Mote, and aggravated the Bufwefs. The next Jay the- liable fel/ upon Mr, Mcgil'sH^y?, deftroyed his fumtture, Rocks, and Papers, plunged his Wat and Periwig in the Churn, among M?lk, emptied out his Meale, and a Chamber Box among it. So that he fufferedhfs lo the value of \ $a,pound Sterling, andtothis day hath got neither Reparation nor Prote6lion. The truthofthis ftory is fome SoulJiet s had hindredMr,M^//toPreach,they being gone, he on the Lords day, intended to reaffame his Pulpit: fome of the inferior People gathered together.and refufed to let him enter;, but ufed no other Violence :. My Lord Ktlfyth's Faclor caufed beat a Drum, and gathered a great many Men in Arms, and affaulted the People chat were i n and about the Church door, and killed one of them : This matter wastryed before the Lords of the luftitiary t who found both parties guilty of a Riot, but the Factor to be more guilty, as having with Arms fallen upon them who had no Arms, and killed one ofthem:Hs was fined,and declared incapable of any pubhcklmployment. For the Stories about my Lord Rojs, and the Peopbs fo abufing Mr, Mcgils Houfe and Goods, we muft re- ceive them on the Credit of this Author, (id t efl) Look on them as his own Invention: or that fome Body had told him : For lean nnd no gtound to believe one word of what, inthefe,heaffirmeth. His tetter ^ i Account of the Terfecution, &c. j t His other fwo Tales, ofMr,Crvzig, and Mr, Buchannan, I find jio ground ro believe. But on the c ntrary that they ( a: leaft Mr. Craig) was put from their charge? by a femence ofrhe Presbyte- tery, and that for grofs Scandals, andobffinatc refufingtofubmir to the difcipline of the Church; as can be made appear by theit procefTes yet on record The account thathe^veth of thefe two Minifters (being alfo Heretors, who have Vote in Fkftionof Members of Parliament) their appearing for King William ; by Voting for fuch as Voted him into the Throne : Jhis,l fay,is a foul Mifreprefentarion ; for rhefe two M'nftersf efpecially Mr. Craig) entered a Proreltation, at the Meeting for Election, that whoever fhould be chofen, lhould fall from their Commiffion. if they tranf- grefied the limits fet to them by the Eleclors : And that they fhould do nothing in prejudice of King ]ames t nor Prelacy, nor the Telt. It is true they Voted for the Laird of Houfton, who in the Con- vention, Voted for King William, and for Presbytery : But it is known, that thefe two perfons have often laid, that the Laird of Houff on is a perjured perfon, for they had his Engagement to YotciorEpifcopacy. And when there was a vacancy by the deachof oneof their CommifTioners, at a fecond Election, thefe two Gentlemen Voted for a known Jacobite , who had a little be- fore, been aftually in Arms againft K. IVilliam, but now was freed by the Indemnity. It isalfoknown,thatfince it was enacted that the Oath of Allegiance to the prefent King and Queen ihould be impofed on all Electors, neither of thefe two Mtnifters have ap- peared. /, io. Our Author catcheth hold on all the occafions he cafi find (whether offered, or not^ ro reproach us: Wherefore he taxethour Addrefs to the Parliament, given in, in July 1690. which hetakethto/w?;* had its rife from the Councils delay to deprive nou complying Ministers, being very unpha/ant to 'Presbyterian Vteachers, Thisisaftrangemiftake (to call it no worfc for in that Addrefs there is not one word of complaint of fuch delay: Nor of Petitioning that the Council would deprive any of thefe Men. But on this Addrefs hegirethusthebeft Specimen he can, Gi his Ctiticals kill j with what fuccefs let us confidcr, Hepafleth H 1 the $ 2, xyiSecondVindication: &c: the Preface of it with his mocking at our owning theTrinceof Orange for the Inftrument of our gr eat Deliverance, and as our K'mg: This weare not afhamed of: Let him and his Complices gnafli their Teeth at it. He faith, (VeMifcalthe Btfkops, which isfalfe- We gave them no Names of reproach, but Narrate the Hurt that they have done in this Church; which we are able to make appear. Thefirftthfngrhathereproveth in the Petitcrie port of the Addrefeis, Our defire that this poor Opprejfed Church may be freed from fuch Opprejfourr and OppreJJions\ And what harm is in this; donor they complain of Oppreflion; which yet it may (and I hope (hall) be made appear, that their Sufferings were not once to be compared to ours. We prefs no mansCon- fciencesastheydid, nor force them to compliance, by Prifons, Finings, Banifhment. and yet greater Severities. He next Nar- rateth our defire ot Set ling the Church in the Hands of Vresbyte- rians^ his Note is, this is nothing like Prelacy. Why doth he wonder at that: Had it been a wife obfervation, for (hewing the abfurdiry of their Attempts, for Setling Prelacy ; This is nothing like Presbytery. But yer a greater Abfurdity he obferveth in our Addrcfs, viz That we Pericion That theChurch eRabltfhedmay be allowed to purge out inefficient \ negligent, J candalous, ander* roneous Mmijiers, His Itrong Argument againft this is in a Pa- lenthefis: And what hpo file (faith he) if ye give them a^ re sby* terianjury, /ball not come within thecewpafs of one of thefe four*. Such ignorant Malice is not tobeanfwered, butdefpifed. We, cfteemallthe Apoftles (except his Predeceflbr Judas lfcariotji. as much as he or his party can do : And we know.that nor only the Apotlles, but fome who have complyed with Epifcopacy, may, and have, efcaped all thefe four, even by a Presbyterian Judica- ture. But lam weary d fuch trifling He afterwards falleth more heavily on thefe four Qualifications ot Minifters, inp44. where we fhall attend him, being obligedto follow this hisiater- supted method. §. 2,1 He now, page 36* Re entreth the Lifts with the Coun- cil „ as the great Perfecuters ot the Clergy. He complaineth of ?ke undue xtaufmitcing of the Proclamations to the Minifterswrrar were Letters. Recount of the Terfecution, Sec. 5-3 were to give Obedience to it; alledging. That there came but fix Copies of it to Fife. His Voucher for this is, he is credibly told if. But we have already found that he hath been told a great many Lies, and that credibly enough too, for a Man of his large Credu- lity; which is as receptive, when ill is fpoken of Presbyterians, as that of any Papifts, with refpeft to the Legends, li thefe Pro. clamarions were not fo difperfed as was fir, ic was not to be won- dered at : For many of the Servants of the late Government were ftillin place, with whom the Njinifters concerned might have corrcfpondcnce : That they might not fee fuch Papers in time. But this can bed be anfwered when we come to particulars. Then he narrates the Councils proceeding in the Indiftments, and Inter- rogatories, putting all in the moft odious and ridiculous drefs that hecandevife; which yet he cara fix no blame upon-. Onlyhis un- civil Reflection on the Earl of Craw/ord, is like the fpinc of this Author. Thar Noble Earl is Matter of fo much Senfe and Reafbn,as that he could nor ask whether they mentioned inTrayer theMrname of the Km^ and Queen. Tho' I know fuch an Kxpreflion might have inadvertently dropt from a perfon no wayes contemptible, as that which is a wcrdofcourfe. That they were Cenfurcd for negleft- ^ing thus to Pray ; what wonder is it; feing the Law exprcily re- quired it. And is it to be thought Orange, that the Law lhould require this, when it was notour how difafTefted mod of thefe men were,and how openly they owned King James's Intereft. Was it ever heard of that any Government allowed Perfons to hold pub- lick places v\ ho wculd not own the Government under which they livcd?The formcrGovernment took the Lives of fuch as fhewed the Teaft fcruplein this matter, fo iar was it from allowing publick places, or Benefices to any (uch. Next he complaineth that they were put out for not Reading and Praying aser^oyned, If either the Proclamation wasjent to them, or it came to their Hand, or if they had knowledge of it: And here we haveanlnftancc of Mr. Guild MinfUr ^rNorthberwick, who had 'Prayed but not Head, a^d^ctcl!cthuscf half a dozen more fuch In fiances, bucwemuit nor know them, Icaft we examine ihem. What to think of his bidden lnftanccs, I know not; but Mr. Gnt/dwas not deprived (imply t©r not Reading at the timeappoin'cd; but becaufe he de- clared 5*4 -L/a jecona v inaicanon, occ. clared before the Council i ha- he was not free to R ead it afterward : Thisis AtreOed by the Records of the Council, He bnngctb Inftances of them who had Read and frayed, but not on the pe* cifeday, who were deprived, Mr. Hav Mint ft er at Kwncucher, (our Author or rhe Printer miftaketh the Name of the place) Mr* Hunter at Sterling, Mr. Younger Mony vair-d, Mr, Aird at Torry- burn This is firange prevarication, Mr, Hay was deprived for not Reading and Praying, and for Praying for the late King James, and for Rewefting upon the Eftatcs : witnefs ihe Records of Coun- cil ; which fay that all this was fully proved, Mr. Toung coniefTcd beforerhe Council, he did not Prayin the Terms of the Procla- mation, till the Sabbath after he was cited to appear before i he Council. Mr. \^4ird was deprived for Praying for King ]anses as our Natural Prince, and Praying that God would fend back, with a Hook in his Jaws, that Tyrant that had come to Invade thefs Lands; meaning King William, all this proved, (and that of Mr. Toung) and Recorded in the Books of Council. For Mr, H&«- ttr\ find nothing of him in the Records, but the Reader will eafi- Jy judge, by what is already faid, how far our Authors Aflertion is robe believed in fuch a matter. That it was not asked them whether they would obey (or time to come, is not firange : in Civil Courts amendment ufeth not to atrone Crimes committed. There- fore his ttoryof'tbe Magifirates of Perth dcfiring of my L, Craw- ford f^r^/rA//»//?^rf«/g/^ be reponed, is wholly Impertinent: Befidethe Authors raoft uncivil Treatmen of that noble Earl, fay* ivg he turned Wuffie , which is far from both rhe Natural Temper, and Civil deportment towards all,that his Lordfhip is Commended for, by all who know him, and do not hate him; as this man icem- ethto doe, by taking all occafions ( and feeking them) to quar- rel with his Lo*s actings. What he after impureth to my Lord that he faidtoaMinifterit was enough to deprive hiw> that he prayed for the King as is dire&cd, i, Twr,x, i,x« Was no Derogation (if it was expreft as is Alledged ) from the Authority of that Scrip* ture. for when the Apoftlerequireth us to pray for Kings, and the Law requires us to pray for this King, and not foe his Competi- tor : The one of thefe do not hinder the other, for %ubordinata non Letter 2 i Account of the Verfecntioft* ~& c. ^ $> pugnant\ nor doth it derogate from the fufficiency of Scripture as our Rule, to fay, thatiome more may be required, in lome exi- gents, to particularize what the Scripture cloth in general hold forth. Even the zeal of the Noble Lord thatheispleafedtofet asrheBurt oi his Malice, this Author reproacheth; when it ap- peared either for the fervice of his Prince, or for purging the Church of fuchaswere a reproach to her; while he dothexpole my Lords care to get the Council to meet at its appointed times. But I give too much to his Inpertinencics by thus noticing them. § n. He will now, pag. 38 Return to his thread (which he had broken ofFro reach the Earle of Crawford) andheblameth the Council for z\\omngtheTeopletoCitethe Miniflersvjho had not read and prayed, before the Council What harm wasinthis: may not any of the Kings Subje&s make complaint of breaking ot~ his Law. This is not to be compared with what his party did, when in power, who made Souldiers Judges and executioners of fome of the Laws againftNonconformilb; yea, committed the power of Life and Death to many of them. Hetelleth,f/ta/ immoralities were libelled, thd the Council Judged nothing but not reading and 'Praying, yettheLybels were kept inrerentis. An/. The Coun- cil Afted Rationally , and with Moderation in this. They could not reject Libels which they had called for by their Proclamations ; and if any thing was in them that was not e/usfori,thcy palled thac without notice Is it not ordinary ro all Courts to pafs Sentence on one Subftantial part of a Libd, fufficicntly proved, tho' other parts of it be neither relevant, nor proved. What he furmifeth of Church Judicatories fuftaining thefe Libels as fufficiently proved already, is refuted by the Event; no fuchtlrng hath been done. And it might have been ftlenced by the known ptinciple and way of Presbyterians, who are againftfuch Illegal Aftings: But we mud bs made black by his evil furmifings, when he can find no other way to do it. Every thin^ Afted by the Government is evil in this Gemlcmans Eyes : wherefore a third Proclamation fallcth under his Lalh, vv hereby Heretors in a Tari(h£tho' not living in it.) She- riffs, mid their Deputies, Magiftratescf Burghs, members of 'taiUament, in their refpefli\e bounds t wight Cite Minilhrs hud 56 A Second Vindication, &c. had not Read and Trayed What Harm in ail this: maynotfuch caH for Jufticc againft Offenders: The Council were ftill Judges whither any offence were committed or not. Bur now that he is in * quarrelling (train, evenrhe Nations humbling rbemfelves before God for fin , and rafting and "Praying to implore his Mercy, itirrethrhe ChollercfrhiscJWaw^ His 1 , Imputaricmoitis, It was defignedfor achoakmghlcrjel. Who made him the Judge of hearts and defigns. It wasdefigned for humbling the Na- tion/ and Imploring Mercies from the God of Heaven: And that it was not defigned as a Tryal of mens Compliance, is evident from this: That he cannot Inftance in any Per- fon that ever fufiered for not Obferving it. But our be- ing thus reproached, is but what better then we have before met with from fuch as he is, Pfal. 69. 10. W/v« I weft and chained my Soul with Faffingjbis was to my ref roach. Next lie blameth this Fa ft, That it was on the Sabbath day : We deny not but that another day of the W 7 eek is better for Fafting : But we know no Law of God that is broken by Fafting that day /whatever he,or any other think in the contrary. Whcnhefhallpleafeto bring his ftrowg reafons for his Opinion, they fhall,I hope, be confidcrcd. The reafon why that day was pitched upon was,it was Hervefl, and a very bad and dangerous Seafon, and it was not fit to take people off their Work on a Week Jay, when the lofs of a day might have hazarded their Corn: And People would have been under temptati- on to neglect the SoIemnDuties of the day.Fnrther,he chargeth the Proclamation for the Faft, with bad Grammar , and a goodffock cfbionfenje, and for Vnmini/Irhg and Vnchriftmng t/x whole Regular Clergy. This is the Title that the Epifcopal Mmiftersufe to Dignify themfel ves with, (tho' now they walk not by the Rule of rhe Law, as formerly they did deviate from that of the Scrip- ture^ and them who owned them. If he had plealed to tell us what Words or Expreffions, in rhe Proclamation, are thus faulty, we fhould have treated him as a Difputant, but feeing he thought not that fir, we muft entertain his difcourfe, as Hezekidb commanded the Jews to do, by that of his Patron Rab/hakeh, fuch Language is not be anfvvcred. We find nothing in that Paptc but Letter i. Account of the V erf edition, &c. 5? but what is good Grammar, and good Senfe. Ir maybe fom c parts of ir contain Inch fpritual matter, and in which the inward Exercilesof theSoularefo concerned, as a man who is alien from the Life o\God, doth notundcrftand, and therefore ma) countic tionfence.I li^ofe he w ill reckon this to be cant : But it is not mine, but the Apoftles, hph, 4 18. That it complameth of the with holding of the Spirit tn the workof Lonverfum, is n t meant o{ Epifcopal times only^ho' then it was obfervable : But he, and men of histemner, ufe not to trouble themWves wnrhfuch thoughts, and therefore they think Orange that others do. IhactwolVlirtf- fters of Edinburgh were deprived ior it , that is only for not keep- ing the Fail, isabfolurely talfe Theltory oftheLairdof Brodie, aft ing as Accufer arid alio as Judge , is like the reft of his Forgeries, or Hear fayes $ zy This Epidler now telleth us. ^ 41. That he hath done with his Wtftory, what he next falieth upon is a recapitulation of U'hathehadfaid , andderermining uhadhall be for the future. viz. That none of the epifcopal Clergy/hall be f pared, but ail who entered by Prejentation from a Matron or Collation from a tiifbop mufl be turned out. This his prediction, he Eftabliih th on feveril Grounds, fuch as they are : One is,a namelcfs CounfeUer J aid to his Cufing a Mmifler, ( whoalfo muft not be named ) that he wisgtad that their Mini tie/ had not complied, ior the We/olutwn was that none of the Epifcopal Clergy Jhould be jpared. The ftrength of this Argu- ment lyethonthis, that none can find out the truth or Falihood of the Antecedent : viz Whither fuch a thing was faid or not Yet I am fureitiseafietodeny the confequence: lor ail Counfellersarcnot Infallible, nor know the mind oi all the reft, w here never any con- cJufion about the matter was made at the Board, as in this cafe is certain. His other Argument is, Jome Argyle MmiHers were put out for not Reading and V ray ing, and on ajter comply ance, they have the offer of other Churches, but mufi not Re enter to their f or - tnsr charge. Anf There wjS reafon enough tor this, from the Credit of the Councils Authority ; which ihould have been Bailed by puring th. lc men into the fame L harges ; the fentence being that they ihould Pieach no more in thefe places; which wasihunned I by 5»g k Second Vindication, &c, byaddmittingthemtoother places: Ffpecially confideringthat it was not the C ouncil, but rhe Church that was to adrnirr them. A }d. ground is, He is told the State/men are clear for this rc/dntioni An ufuall Argument with this learned Author , on which he ufeth ro build very weighue conclusions: But other wife men think it fitter for Fools,and Children, He hath yet a +th Ground. Dr. Ro- bert (on, andhlr. Makom,Mini(lers of Edmbutgh>bave made great compiydnces, and ' fent to the Presbyterian Clubs , that they wight be admitted to fa in their Presbyteries; and yet this could not be granted. Anf 1. It is an impudent falfliood to affirm that either ot thefe two Minifters fent fuch aMeflage or made application to any Presbyterian judicatory : For their C/*Af- we have none for Drink- ing ; and any who cafually meet tor conference , have no Power to receive, or anfwer, fuch addrefles: Neither was it ever heard among us, that either of them fpoke, or fent, about that matter, either to any one Minifter, or to more than one metr together, x. Sup- pose that they or any other in their circumftances, had made fuch complyances, and fuch application; We have declared that we will receive none to Rule rhe Church with us, but fuch as are qua* lifted for the Miniftry, have been diligent in that woik (\i they have: been before irnployed in ir) are free of Scandal and Errour,and who willfubmitto, concur with, and be faithful to the Presbyterian* Church Government : Wherefore he mud not wonder it we reject fome Comply ers, for we know that theworft of men are often readied to comply with what they hate, and have violently op- pofed. But for men fo qualified as is above expreft, who (hall make application to us, Our AfTembly hath declared that we will rejeft none of them. And we have afted accordingly in receiving moft of fuch as have apply ed. For the two Perfons that hementioneth, one of them is now removed by Death, and was never molefted by us: The other is depofed, for declining the Authority oi the Commiflion of the General Aflembly, when he was cited to anfwer to what Immoralities he was chargeiwith. §. 14 His next undertaking is, to Vindicate the Scots Epis- copal Clergy from tie account hath been given of their Livesand Abilities. TwaAccufers oi thefe Breethren he takethto I'ask,f >43- ZbA Letter i. Account of theVerfecution, Sec. ^ * be Frince of Orange ( he faith ) in his Declaration declared them Generally Scandalous, and Ignorant. This is to belye that lllu^riojs Prince, who is now our Gracious Soveraign: when he is thus Treated, what may others expeft. The demerite of which Crime I leave to the Law to determine. Thac Declaration f/>eak« eth of many, not of all, nor the Generality The other fort of accuf rs he maketh the gond party ( it is his Jroni cal, and Sacraftik Defignation of the Presbyterians') It any of us have Printed ot publilhed falfe ftoriesofthem ( Odde Jlories, which he chargeth us with, may be true ftories ) let us know them, andthe Author of them, and what isaflerted (hall either be proved, 01 our fault in io faying acknowledged. We never charged them all as fuch : we know there are fober and learned men among them. We know al* fothat fuch general Aflertions, and indefinite accufationsofmen cannot be proved : Andit is unfair dealing on allhands : Neither do we deny that there may be found among us, fomeunconfidc- ratepetfons, men or women, who hare been too General in their fafh difcourfes to this purpofe: butwhocananfwerfor all that is faid by every individual,with whom they live in Communion:! am furche, nor his parry, cannot: nay, nor can they make good what is Commonly in prinr, and by their chief men, ufually charged apon us, as if we were all Ignorant. Nor can this Aut hor make fcood what we have met with, and what he after faith of us, neither •can he prove the General, and indefinite AiTorcions har heufeth concerning the learningand piety of his Party, lamunwillingto enter into fuch a debate, where fo little can be proved, ordifproved: The/ in matters of principle, the more General the conlufions be they are the morefcientifick; yet it is quite contrary in matters of Fart, fuch as this is. But we muft follow asheleadeth. I (hall obfervefomc few things in his Difcourfe in the praifcot his party. Hefaitri,£4£f,'4]. Since the Reformation, the Church of Scotland was never Generally /o well provided with Paflors.af at the begin* mn^ of the prefent perfecutnn Tn is he corifcfleth cannot be de- monftrared; which is truer then moftofwhathewritethbcfide; but nrher men will as confidently, and with more truth, Affiinv, that ihc was far bettet furn;fhed at the beginning of anothei Pcrfe- 1 x cution ASecond Vindication. &c. i66r,and \66z. Neither Ailertion canbeprovcd Without going throw all (he individuals, and confidering, and making Fai» h concerning all their qualities, which is a work not to be undertaken. Wherefore we muft leave it to the i'entenceof him to whom bofh parries mu where were Brittifh Divines, and therefore might. be called Brittifh Divinity: We own it as Sctipture Divinity, theD;vini*y Gfthe ancients, and the Divuwy thac right Realon dothCounre- aance Letter z. Account of the Terfecution, &c. ° l nance, above any thing that is contrary to ft For the Common place rr.en ( \\ Ik m he fo dc fpifei h ) we value them as Men eminent- ly Leartvd, and u ave noryerfe; n the Works of any of his Patty, wherein the f or m of Sound iFordsKt m >re clearly and fully held forth, nor nr re Learnedly Defended againtt the AfTauls of all forts of Advcrfanes Yet we never made ihem our Standard, nor did confine our Studies to them. Let us know what Bocks ( that are of value) they' read, which we neglect. What parts ol learning ( that are truelyfuch^ they can pretend to, which be not found among us. f the Reader I hope will not milconftruft this confidence in boa fiing-Ax is from the fame provocations and ne- ccfTity, that moved the Apoftle in the like cafe: Neither do 1 fpeafc thus of my felfiburof the many wonhy men who own the way that I proiefs ) It is a moft injurious Infinuation, as if we did not alfo take Scripture for our Rule(no men contend more for it then we do: and if his partfc did fo indeed, as they pretend, and in all the con- troverfies of Divinity, as they do in fome, we (hould have fewer de- bares with them) and that we do not make ufe of right reafon, and of the writings of the Ancients, as helps to undcrftand the rule, isfalfe. We both profefs and pra&ife this: Tho' at the tame time, we do not pretend iocefs of Glafgow, by Bifloop Ligh* ton and IDoclor Burnetii yet they could. find none but one to be T>epo/ed, and that not without fome fufpicionoflnjufiice. Anf. What Truth is in what is here aflerted, I know not: This Authors wordgoeth not far with them who have read his Book: Or how impartial the Judges, and others were who had the Manage- ment of that Affair , wc know not, But all who have lived in that Country, even they who are no Presbyterians, do know, that much moreguiltinefs was to be found. Negligence is the third thing that he undcrtaketh to clear the Clergy from : Which Ik doth by faying, There are mTlaralitics.nor Non re/idencics in Scot- land, and they generally 1'reach twice every Lords day, Anf. *naynotaMini(ter be counted Negligent who doth notvifucFa- & ' milics 66 L/4 Second Vindication, &C. miliesin the Parifb, nor the Sick, or otherwifc diftrefTed; or who doth not Catechize the People? So we reckon in Scotland, whatever they do in England; to fatisfy whom alone this Book is Calculated. He is as flight in clearing the Clergy from Errour, viz. Becaufe they could figne the 3 9 krticles of the Church ef England. So can many do who every day Preach againft the Doctrine con- tained m thefe Articles : We know that Socmians, Krminians, and fome Tapifis fign, and Swear, AJfent and Con/ent, for a Lively- hood, who yet are unfound in the Faith. He confefJeth* There are many among them who are not inclined to be every day talking to the People, of Gods 'Decreet , andab/blute Reprobation, and ? uni- fication by Faith alone, inthe Presbyterian Sen/e, and think their Hearers may be more ed^/yed by other Doctrines which henam- eth. An/. If he mean no more then what he exprefleth, hisDif- courfe is Impertinent, for whoever blamed any as Erroneous be^ ciufe they infifted not alwayes on fuch Subjects : We do but rarely^ yetfomerimes, inftructtheFeople, about the Decrees of Electi- on and Reprobation.* Imitating the Apoftle in both. But if he mean (ashemuftif he fpeaktothe purpofe^ that the absolute Decrees of Election and Reprobation ; both prateritum, as an aft of Sovereignty, and Vrtdamnatum as an act of Juftice, are not to be held forth, or taught to the People, we abhor this as unfounct Doctrine, and look on him as a pitiful Advocate tor the Ortho- doxy of the Clergy: Yeaheisunjuft to them, fori know not a few of them who ferved under Bifhops in Scotland, are far from thefe Krmmian Tenets, tho' many of them incline that way. For Jufttjicat ion by Faith alone ^vvhat he mcaneth by the Presbyte- rian fenfe of it I know not) we hold nothing is our Righteoufnefs but the Satisfaction, and Merits of Chrift, and that neither Faith, nor Works can ftand in that (lead to usy and that his Righteouf- nefs is made ours, not by Works, but by Faith Tho'wclay, rhar this Faith can never be without the Works of Holinefs If he; deny Juftification by Faith alone in this fcnle, we judge him Erro- neous, and as many of his Clergy hkewile as are of the fame Sen- timent: But I am tar from thinking that all the Clergy are of his Opinion, in this* tetter 1,.' Account of the Per/ecut ion, &c. 67 § x7Hi$nextflafhis to free the Clergy from Verfecution : "Which he manageth with a confidence , inaflettingfafhoods, and denying known truths, beyond any degree that any fort of men ( except Jefuits ) rwe arrived at. He is bold to affirm the Per- /ecutwns under Presbyterie informer times, and now, to be beyond what was under HLpifcopacie. Let him tell us who hath been im- prifoned, fined, to the impoverifhingof fuch as were Rich, ba- nifhedfornot Preaching againft the light of their Confciences,or for hearing the Word Preached. Who hath been piftoled by the high way, and while about their Lawful imploymen"s,f or refufing to declare their Opinion in matters controverted; and yet this was frequent under Epifcopacy : And it was not for rifing in Arms alone (tho' chat was from the force of neceflity caufed by Perfecuti^ny that men fuftered: So that it is the higheft of affronrednefs , to ask, dare any men fa\ that Presbyterians Jnffered any thin% for conjeiencejake thefe 17 years. That the Clerqie did as ht tie to* ward the execution of thefe Laws as they could, and did no more but inform what the Law obliged them to, is mosl falfe. The Bifcops concurred in making thefe perfecting Laws : And many ( not all) of the Inferior Clergy did officioufly , and malicioufly, inftigate Magiftrats, and Souldiers , and did affiift them in the Per- fection. The inftance of Sir John Riddel of Riddef s carriage towards Mr. Chi/holm, is falfe: Sr. John neither faid any fuch thing to Mr. Qhijno/m, nor had ground to make fuch acknow- ledgment of favour received from Mr. Chijbolm: Which 1 have good ground to a verr. Tag jo. He maketh a ridiculous Recapi* tulation of his former defences for the Clergie, and aksethfome impertinent Queftions, which could be anfwered if they could be undcrftood. andpag. jt. He is at his predictions again That the Church will not be Jo well planted, nor the Go/pel fowell Preached: That the Hate (hall not be in peace, nor our King [it fecurley (which King he meaneth, we are left to guefs) on His Throne, nor have bis due-, That the Church of EngLand /hall not want a thorn in her Side, that there /hall never be peace, nor uni- on, while there T>agon ( P? esbytenej (landeth in the Temple, and *Utbis heforetellcthoa no lefs hazard then his being deceived by K % ex- 6% A Second Vindication, &c. experience , andmiftakingof ' his me af art 5 : Whatfecurity theRea* der hath by rhefc pledges, he may jndue-, He concludeth his Letter rhatfe hath omitted \a hundred things proper to have been inferred: And I conclude my Obfervations upon his Lerrer, affirm- ing, that Ire hath inferred feveral hundreds of things which might have been fpared, without derogatting from the Honefty and Ve- racity of the Letter. Third Letter. THis Letter is from the fame hand with the former ; for he be- - ginneth with fupplying the things that he faid were omitred andjiiight have been inferred, in the former Letter. 1 . Several Mini- fters who were Injurioufly dealt with by the Council. Hisfirftin- ftanceis Mr Tit cairn of Logit\ who was deprived-, tho' he had { etgbt or ten years been di fabled from the Vulpit through age and in ■ firmity, and hath been oblidged to maintain an L-Sfffiftattt- Anflc was reasonable that he mould be put out of Capacity to keep at man in that Charge who did defy the Government; for the man whom he imployed, Mr. David Balfour- refufedto Read or Pray. Another inftance is Mr. ]onkine , at Abernethie, who came* that day. tho' he appeared not at the hour appointed. Of this man ; I find nothing in the Records of 'Council , and therefore Judge that the Epiftler doth rniftake in this-. But if it were true, th~e Coun- cil, cannot be blamed, feing their Citations areto a peremptorie time, whichoughtto be obferved: It could not be expected that l they fhould wait his time , which they were uncertain of. Mr. Falconar at Dyck in Murray , is his next inftance. Who readnot the Proclamation on the day appointed \-becaufe the Vi [count of Dundie, with his forces, wert-his hearers that day Anf He continued in his difobedience, even tho' prorecTed by Macky's For- ces', in che vicinicie : And \Dundie was removed , and Icing he hadfolongbeendifobedient, The Council thought it not fit to try his Obedience any turner, For Mr. Moncrief at Heriot ,'his next Inftance ) hs doth not fay that he Vvas c'eprivCd by rhe Coun- v eel, butlhi church is planted by # TresbytfrtinMiniJier ; may be tetter 3. Recount of 'theTer/ecm *ion \ &c. 69 itis by the former Iicumbent; who hath right to it by chelate Aft of Parliament. If the Author had given a more diftincl account ot the cafe, he might have expected a more pofttive Anfwcr. He tellerh us likewife of turning Mini Hers out oft heir Woufes, as Mr. Galbraith at Jedburgh, Mr. Millar at Mufleburgh, and many others Anfw. When they are for Difobedience to the Law, turned out ot their Churches, it is but reafon that they fhould be re- moved from the Houfes that fhould be occupied by them who fuc- ceed them: Thefe Houfes belonging properly totheMiniftersof the Pariihes. Neither was this donefuddenly : They had fuffi- cient time allowed to provide other Habitations, and to remove. For the many others, I judge if he had ground to alledge that many others were fo turned out, he would not have iparedtotellusof them: Tho' ithad been but upon report, orhis beingtoldfo\ But this he loveth, to make as fair an appearance, as he can, with what he has a mind to charge us with, with, or without ground for it, is much at one with him. He affirmeth alfo that the KM- ing work is begun again tnthe Weft\ and that they will not /uffer them who were thru flout a year agoe t to live m that Count rey. If fee could, we think he would have given Inftances of this: We hear nothing of it from other hands, and therefore judge his Imagina- tion tinctured with ill will againft us, hath thus reprefented things to him. What followeih is abfurd above meafure. He telleth us ofadefun ( and thic on his ufjal ground oi AfTurance, hewas told it) tobnmfh all that hvein Drumiries, and in Glasgow; tjiis defign no man knovveth of buthimfelf: And now his Book hath been out more then a year, and yet no fuch thing put in Execution: Which I hope will help the Reader, how to judge of this mans Veracity. $, x, His Invention is very fertile of Arguments againft Presby- tery: One oi them pa^e, 5-3 , is, the Magi ffrates ^Edinburgh, being Presbyterians, called for the Vtenctls of (ome of the Churches from the Church frea finer, who had the keeping of them, and the Lords of Stffion (uspended their proceeding againft hnn. What is tochecaufj : did never Epifcopal Ma^iftrates nnlhke in one itc 4 ;,orii th*} dia will chisruineEpifcopacy, But there arc fcvcml Mif- 7 o C/4 'Second Vindication. Sec: Mifreprefentations in this Narrative, as that the Church Trea- fureris cho/enby the SeJ/ions : He is ohofen by the M lttgirates; »nd therefore rhey might call him to an account of what was en 1 rutted to him. Next, it is falfe that r he Magi fir ates are no more con- cerned in them than in a private Mans Furniture; Forfomeof them were bought out of the publick Stock; and tho' others of them were Dedicated by private perfonsy yet it was to a publick ufe, and therefore are under the Magiftrates Care as the other BW** of the Church, Again, that Sir John Hall cenfulted the Ear I of Crawford in this matter; What moved him to affirm! But he is relolved that that Noble Lord (hall bear the blame of all thathethinkethtobeevil. But why do limiratehrm in blotting Paper withfuch fluff? Whenhehathnomoretofay^hemuft, ad pompam, conclude the Hi (lory of the Troubles of the Clergy I which exceed the French ^Dragooning, on which he hitherto hath infifted) with telling of Innumerable things that he hath to fay; but we are no wifer for this, while not one of them is told us. In- flead of thefe lie accufeth u s of "Printing and Publifoing Pamphlets tf* London (not known here) full of lying kfperfions againfl the Clergy : And addeth that Lying hath ever been one of our chief Ar- ttficesfer carrying m of our Turpo/es. What thefe Pamphlets fliould be I know not:I never heard of any fuch either here, or while at London, fince the late Revolution. But his imputing Habitual Lying to Presbyterians, is an Allegation fo impudent and falfe, that we challenge him. and all his Party J^to give the leaft evidence for what he faith. I (hall not, I need not recriminate, the way of his party is fo well known among us, even in that particular : I need go no further fotinfUnce than this his Book, out of which I haveob- fetved fo many grofs untruths already , and it is like, may meet with mote. One Presbyterian lie, he is pleafed to infift upon p. 5-5- Con- cerning the Excommunication of A. B. Spotefwood of St. Andrews. 1638 It is like he thought the Falfhood of this ftory could not, after fo long time be traced: But the Reader may know, that the flander is built on no better ground than this, He had it from Ter- pens of great Integrity (but none ftiall know who they are,lea(t feme Body ask them about it J and they had itf row an earfVitnefs^ (0 letter 3. t^ccountof tht Terfecution, &c. 71 fo that a (lory at Second hand, from namelefs Perfons, inuft be enough to defame Presbyterians. But / can on better grounds difprove his Hiftory as a Forgery : viz. From the Afts oftheAf. fembly at Glasgow, where the fentence of Excommunication againft that c/fr\ B. Is fet down, as it was pronounced by the Moderator; and not one word otany of the crimes that he men- tioneth, nor any other, faveufurpation over the Church, and de- clining the Authority of the AfTembly : And he with others, are charged with refufing to underly the tryal of Scandals lybellcd againft them. Lcr any newjudge whither he or Presbyterians be more chargeable with telling Lies. The contradifting of the Ac- counts of his party fent to Londcn of the Ter/ecution of the Weflern C/er^yA have above Vindicatedythe Malicious aggravations of this whit h he letteth his pen loofe unto, I do nor notice, further, than to obferve that very temper in himfelf which he would tain charge others with. Whajc followeth about the falfe news that have been fprcad , cculd not be obferved with fuch concern by any Per- fon, but one of his Temper; while fpitepromoteth him to fay, all the evil that can be devifed againft Ptesbyreiians: wasthcreevcra time when all the news in Coffie Houfcs, and elfc where, were true, Can he make it appear that the news that fly about arc In- vented by the Presbyterians? Yea it is more then probable, that many ofthem were the Inventions of his own Party, tomakethe Intelligence that fee med to make for us, ridiculou >, and Incredible. Wharhcfurthc adduh, of our forging of Lies, ifrumed upon him and his Complices, would have a mere certain and compleat verifi . cation : Mutato nemtne de re. If the Author of this letter be the Perfon whomlgucfs, I could convince the Reader of his moftab- fbrd and habitual lying: known to moft in the Nation, even to a Prcvei b. Tlufe Presbyterian L\ es he attempteth further to prove byaftran&e Argument: viz That the Qeuncil deprived the be ft % and (pared theworftif the Clergy. And a large Commcnr on rhishegivethus, as his conjecture of the defign of it. Thislaft wemayjuftly r egleel, as that which no rcafon, bur purely his de- fign to defame the Council, could fugeft to him Thctormer (if true,) hath a plain rcafon for it: The Council confidered no Mi- ni. 7^ *i oviona v mwiaiivn, etc. niftcrial qualifications infuch as came fvfore them; only v\ hither they Read and Prayed: And it may be fome of the bed might fcruple this, and fome of the worft mighr comply with it; yet I know (hat fome very Immoral men were put out by the Council r And it is /ike ( if we alio may make conjecture ) that they thought this the more creditable way o( being turned our, then to bede- pofed for Scandal, which they might jultly expect from Church Judicatories. §. 3. That which in the next place ('page ,57.) heis pleafedto propofe, av, rhc fubjed of the debate, is the Inclination of the People That expreffion being put in the Claim of Right, as one of the grounds of putting away Prelacy becaufe^ Inclinations of the People were a gam si it. On this head hefcreweth his wit to its out- molt extent, to difprcve this. And I (hall premife to what I have to anfwer to what he faith: That Presbyterians wifhed, and endea- voured that that Phrafe might not have been ufed as it was; not that we call in queftion the truth of it: But becaufewe know People to be changable and often moft Inclinable to what is bad; And we think the Government of the Church is Chrifts appoint- ment, asinGeneral, fo in the particular Species of it: And there- fore ought to have been fetled on a more fume Bafis yet it fatis- fiethus that the States mentioning that foundation of it, did not de« rogate from what is more Divinel, and unalterable. He excufeth hisnotfpeaking on this Subject inhis former Letter, beczufche was not willing to fall foul on the State. I f it had been indeed fej hismodeitiewereto be commended, but it is fo far from that, that the flrain of his Letter ( as was before Obferved ) was moft petulantly to expofe the actings of the State , both in the Conven- tion, and in the Council: Butitieemeth this pretended modeftie is now to be laid afide, and he will fall as foul on them as his Power, Parts, and Malice can reach. 1 . Then, he telleth us, this is an Inconfequential Argument. Epi/copacymusl beabolifhed.and Presbytery eftablifbed , becaufe the generality of the Teople are for the lajl and againfl the fir ft. And this his Repartee he manageth with a great deal of infolent fcorn of the Eftates ( whom he calleth the Scots haiks) who do thus argue, c while the hnglijb Ttivmes (as .Letter 3 . Account of the Yerjecution, sec. 73 ( as if no other Divines but the Church of England had managed that point' againft the Papifts) thought umverfality no t^frgu. tnent for the Church of Kome. All this Difcouifc ( except the vio- lent and infolent iryie, which deferveth an anfwer of another na- ture) may receive an eafte anfwer. In that Honourable Conven- tion ( and in the Parliament alfo, who with His Majcflie, who gave His Royal Aflent to the Ad eftablifhfng Presbytery, uhere die fame confideration is ufed ) there were (ome who lookt on both Governments as iawfull , andfome of thefe thought Presbyterie to come nearer to the Word of God, tho' notabfolutely , and unal- terably enjoyned there: others thought it to be Chnftslnfhrution, and Epifcopacy to be a corruption of, and finful deviation from w hat our Lord had appointed. The firft iort might well make ufe of the Inclinations of the People, as that which might determine them in a cafe, either otherwife equal, or inclining to the fame fide With the defires of the Nation. This is mod fooliflily compared With being determined in the controverfies between us and the Pa- pifts, (where we can (hew Scripture Arguments againft their way) by the Inclinations, or univerfaliry of the People on that fide. It is one thing to determine a Controverfy in Divinity , in which all do acknowledge Truth and Errour, by the Sentiments of the multitude, and another, to fatisfy the People o\ a nation in a matter which they are zealoufly for, as that which is commanded of God, and to the contrary ot which their Consciences cannot fubmit: While they who are thus to latisfy them fee nothing in that way contrary to the Law of God. The other fort might rationally make ufe of this confideration, as that which might flrengthen them in doing that which otherwife they know to be their duty. $ 4. His next effort againO this determination of the States, can- not be better cxpofed, and the man Characterized by it, than by . giving it in his own words,* which are. Why then, tot eh you ma word, Sir, ( if I may fay it without givingthe Lye to the Conven- tion J There isnotafaUerpropofitioninthelVorld, than that the Inclinations of the generality tj the people of Scotland are again ft Epi/copacy, or that they look upon it as a great and tnfuppdrtable Grievance to the Nation. I hope the Reader now hath a Specimen L of 74. t^ Second Vindication. &c ofthis Gentlemans Temper, and of that of them whofecaufeho undert^kcth; and will be confirmed in what I have formerly ob* ferved,i>/,£ That the Friends of the prefent Government of the Church, and of that of the State are the i^e; a very few except* ed. Of this iubjeft I have faid enough in rny former Vindication ; in anfwer ro the i oth. (gueflion. Wherefore 1 fhall here only con* fiderthat which goeth tor his proofs, of wharhe doth here fo bold- ly, andfoindecenlyafTert: Heaffirmeththat^///^/?«^, Wite* rate > Vulgar, not the third wan; oftheje of the better Ghta/ity and Education, not the thirteenth, man is Presbyterian. Here I obferve a few things; hemifbkeththequeftion, for many groan* ed under the Oppreflions and Ufurpanons of the Bifhops, and their Clergy, who had no fixed Principle on either fide, in the Con- troverfy about Church Government; and that either becaufe of their Ignorance, or beeaufe of their Indifferency about tuch matters. 2r. 1 here *re many thoufands in Scotland, who belong to neither Member of his Divifion, they are not of them whom he calleth of the better Quality ; but among the loweltof the People, foi worldly Advantages, and neither are they Rude nor Illiterate; But rho' they want Philofophy andfuch humane Learning, they are knowing and ferious Chrrftrans, and can give a Scriptural and Rational account of what they hold in the matters that belong to their Faith, and their Duty 3. It is moft irrational, inaCon* troverfy of this kind, whence debate is about the number of them who are on this, and of them who are on that fide, ina Religious Controverfy, To confider them who are Neutrals, and on neither fide ; asare all they who are unconcerned about Religion, both in the greater and in the lefier Truths of ft ; and we know that many ten Thoufands are of this Stamp, and are for whatever fideis up- per moft. Befide, there are nor a few who are of opinion, thai Church Government, as to the Species of it, is indifferent; Thefe ^tho* they may be perfons Religious and Learned) are on neither fide;, and not to be brought into the reckoning. 4. There arc : not not a few whofe Light and Confcience doth no wayes incline them to Epifcopacy, who yet are zealous for it, and againft Pref- bytery, becaufe under the one they are not Cenfored for their Im* moralities/. Letter 5 ." Account of the Terfecution, &c. 7 ^ moralities, as under the other. One would think that Epifcopa- cy hath little Credit by fuch Bigots for it, and that Rulers have little caufe to confidcr the Inclinations of fuch, when they would fettle that Government in the Church that may mod conduce to the Nations Peace, and well-being. 5-. There are many who (eem robe zealous for Epifcopacy, who are wuhall, implacable Enemies to the King and the Civil Government of the Nation, as iris now Setled by Law ; anditisunreafonable to think that fuch a Government c uld be Settled in the Church as liketh them, and might give them advantage to overturn the State: When no other Obligation lycth on them to Settle it. Now let all thefc be caft out of the reckoning, and I affirm that they who are inclined to Epifcopacy (thoMome there be) are not one of a thoufand in Scotland §. 5-. I now come toconfider his Arguments for what he hath fo boldly aflerted : His talk of putting the matter to tlie To'e, I negleft as an impracticable fancy. Then he telleth, How little 'Phanaticifm hath prevailed be north Tay. Anf. 1. It is not Vhanaticifm^ but Presbytery that we plead for ; that is, not for wild infcriptural Fancies ; but for Sober Scriptural and Rational Prin- ciples, which we are ready to make appear to be fuch in defyancc of what he can Objeft againft them. z. If there be many in the Northern parts, who are not for Presbytery, there are as few who arc for the prefent Settlement ot the State. 3 We affirm, andean make it appear, not only that there are many in the North who ap- peared zealous for Presbytery, as was evident by the Members of Parliament who came from thefe parts; very few of them were €>therwife inclined , and they made a great Figure in the Parlia- menr, for feeling both the State and the Church: But alio there are very many Minifters in the North ( and People that own them) whotho' they ferved under Epifcopacy, are willing to joy n with the Presbyterians, and whom the Presbyterians are ready to re- ceive, when occafion fhall be given : and thofe of the beft qualifi- ed that are among them. That there were lofew Meetinq^houfes intheNorth (tho'yet they far exceeded the number mentioned b % j him) was caufed by the opposition fomc great men made to JL z it, 7 6 1^4 Second Vindication. Sea it, and not through want of inclination in the People to it. He fa\ eth, even be fouth Tay , the third man was not concerned in thf Schifme. Anf We know no Schifmebut what wasmadeby his Party. Bur that theplurality did nor fuffer under the horrid per- fection raifed by the Bilhops, doth not prove, that they were not inclined to Presbytery: But either that many Presbyterians had freedom to hear Fpifcopal Minifters, or that all were not re- foluteenough to fuffer for their Principle; fo that this is no rational way of judging of the Peoples inclinations. His next Argument is, that Vhanaticifm( thus he is pleafed to ufe reproaches inftead* of Arguments; tho' it -prevail moH in Towns, yetintnanyTownr the Tlurality are a^atnft Presbytery : And he bringeth inftances* in Perth &c. iyinf: iff. That Presbyeerianifm, orferious Re- ligion other, prevailerh mod in Towns in Scotland, is no welt grounded Oblervation : The contrary is often feen, and it is no wonder if u e confid^r \\ hat fort of Magiftrates and Minifters have beenfetup in Towns under the late Reigns, when Magiftrates \vere forced in on the People; and they chufed Minifters of their own Stamp. Religion is more ordinary among our Gentry and Commonality in the Country, then in many oi oar Corporations, tho' (through the Mccy of God^ it is not wanting in them: For the inftances that heg'veth ol Towns inclined to Epifcopacy, Perth is known to be almoft generally addicted to King Japies; and gave proof of it when they had occafion, by the Highland Ar- my being in their Vicinity. What he faith of tonperzn&ot St. Andrews, both are certainly falfe Tho' we deny not but that the late conftitution of the Univerfity, in the latter, had much alienated many from the beft things. Sterlings little bettertherl Perth; tho* not wholly fo bad: Brunt iflandis not of that Temper that he afcribcrh to it. Mufleburgh hath many Presbyterians, tho' may be, fome more be for the way that alloweth them more Liber- ty for their Lufts . Ttumfermling hath very Sober Minifters who Conformed, which made many cleave to them; Dy/ert hath a Meeting houfe well frequented ; of IVeetns he is in a great Miftake, the whole Parifh goeth to hear the Presbyterian Minifter,aftcr the exampjeof the Noble and Religious Coumefs and her Family; letter i\ Recount of the Verfecution, &c. 77 k is (o alfo with Leitb.Kel/b^nd Jedburgh have many ]acobites\ytt the former did unanimoufly call an eminent Presbyterian Minifter, tho' they did not obtain him , and the latter did the like, and after miffing one, they called another, whom they no .v enjoy. Nothing can be further from Truth then what he faith of Edinburgh : For tho' one Church there tvhile it was poflcfled by an Epifcopal Minis fter, was as throng as fomeoi the Presbyterian Meetings; yet the other rwo were far from being fo; and one of them was ihameful- ly unfrequenr, while the Meeting houfe in that Parifh was Crowd. ed; and the daily Collection in the Meeting- houfe was five or fix times greater then that in the Church: Neither is it to be wonder- ed at, that info populous a City, and where the worftas well as the beft, of all places in the Nation do re fort, one Church fhould be throng with i etfons of that way. That the greater number of Citizens of Glafgow of the beft Quality are of Epifcopal Trin- ciples, is foralfe as nothing can be more fo, and yet this he is told. From all this we may infer, what horrid Lyes fome do cither In- vent, or are willing tQ receive, and propogate, when they may ferve their Defign. §. 6. He will have us believe in the next place, that the Peoples Inclinations toward Vresbyteryu diminifhedf >■ on what it Wdfayearor twoaqoe, by a third fart, and that People now ob- serve their principles and pra&ices, are inconfiHent with the com- won rules of Nature andofLhridmnity. This h a bold Aficrtion, and a heavy charge : Or which, full, clear, and unconttolable proofs might be expected : Inftead of u hich we have only thefe two. Theoneis, that an Ingenuous Gentleman told hm y atfecondhand iittnanothei Cent 'It man of good qua uty, and good abilities, that he had heard the Vresbyttnan V) taihit j yTcbfave he will never own them as Minifters,Ifu| pole becaufe they want Epifcopal Ordinati- on) andhectnfureththcm/Zwr benever heard one Crttwtfm with the explication ff aTcxtjioraGtat ton out of a Father ^oetfir Phi- lofophtr\or ot Lwil or C.hurchHiflory.Knd but little fen/e: Knd 'mock- v gly cad>: t hall their Preaching, pure Scripture, and clean QofpcL hn(. i. If the inartificial A:gument,of theTcllimony oi Ingenuous Gentlemen, and Gentlemen of quality and ability , m ight carry the caufc. 78 t_A Second Vindication, &c. caufe, efpedally when the report pafleth through fo many hands, or heads, who may practife upon wha r is talked.ro improve it; and if we could abandon Confcience, and fay what ever might cofitt lbute to our defij/n, right or wrong, we could tell as many tales, and more of them with truth, of the manner of Preaching on their fide, but weafFeft not fuch Recriminations: I wifh both they and we might Preach more edify ingly then we do. For his 17?. Gent!eman,being Ingenious, he might invent orhieghtenwhatisfaid; andtheother feemcth to have been a prophane mocker; as many are who are Perfons of quality, and abilities : But it is evident to any who know the Presbyterians; andean fpeak truth of them, that they preach good fenfe, and ufeful Doctrine, x. That our Sermons are not befpangled with Latine and Greek Sentences, out of Fathers and Hiltory ( for Poets, and Philofophers, we think that, however their fayings might be krgumentaad Hominem,agxn{[ Heathens. The Gofpel, and the Salvation of men are little concerned in their Sentiments J It is not becaufe we cannot, but becaufe we think it not fit, to ufe fuch means to convince the Conferences of finners. We know the Gofpelrevealed in the Scripture is the power of God to Salvation. But that either writings 0/ Fathers, orHiftory, de- fervc that Character we are not convinced : We read thefe, and tafe their help in our ftudies. And if any thing occur re \n them that hathfome peculiar Emphajis or ufefulnefs, we ufe that in Sermons; But the ufe of them we neither affect, nor make our day ly practice. 3. HisGentleman of quality is either a ftranger to our preaching, or (ome what that is wor(r, if he fay, that we ufe no criticifmes in ex- plaining the Text: the? we think fome others exceed in feeking after them where theydonotoccurre, and are more curious than edify- ing in the ufe of them. 4. To mock at preaching Pure Scripture and Clean Go/pel, is able to gtve fuch a Character of this Author,and ot his two Gentlemen; as I am not willing to name: Had he heard the Apoftle Paul, who determined to know nothing among the People, but Cbriii and him Crucified, The fame Sarcafm had been thrown at his head. Another Argument to prove his point is, a j St ate [man who had a hand in the late revolution, did affirm that he\ thought the Bpifcopal party the greater , and the ktterpart of the ] i-etrcr 3 . isocount of the *rer[ccution y dec. 7 7 9 'Nation. Anf 1. We are notoblidged to believe this on the bare affirmation of a Perion who hath written fo many fahhhoods, in to few fheets : And we cannot enquire into the truth of what he fayethunlcfs he had told the Scatfemans name, which he harh more prudently, rhen Honeftly concealed, x. It is not unlikely that there might be Statesmen, oneormore, who might have a hand in the late Revolution, without any regard to Religion; who being difappointed in their defigns, might change their thoughts about theconftitution ot State, and (hew fpite enough againft the 'Church: However, it is but the Opinion of one man 5 whofePer- (on and the Credibility of what he fayeth, and his capacity to judge, we are ignorant of. §. 7. He frameth and anfwereth an Objection : Why then was this Article put in the Claim of Right, concerning the inclinations of the People: This he impucerh 10 \\\z bad conjl it ut ion of the Con- vent ten. through the negligence of the Epif copal party , and the vigilance of the Presbyterians : To the Members ( man) of them J deferring the Convention ; and fuch like. All which was anfwered before. I cannot fhun to take notice, that he defigneth his party, The Loyal and Epifcopalparty: No man will doubt but he meaneth Loyalty to King James % which confirmech what I have often faid, that the prcfent conftitutionof the State, and that of the Church muft ftand or fall together. He concludeth his Letter with the greao ellandmoft compiehenfive lie that is in it all: Viz>. That there is nothing but truth m it. Ot which I hope the Reader is, by this ti'-ne, capable tojudge. To hisletter he addeth two poftfenpts. In the fir it of them hetdiethusthaiTheVrcsbyterianscaflmafjyrcfeflions en the Church of England. But names but one of them, That Clergy have de jetted their fijpner principles ofPajjive Obedience and Ron-re fiftance. I wifhthe Enghlhcaft no more grounditfs Re- flections on us : Truly it feemeih fo to us, And tho' fctme have en- deavoured to clear ihcm in this; lam one of thefe uhoaienoc cleared by any thing they have faid on that head ; however, tho' we talk ot thefe things, we leave our Brethren of England to (land or tall to their own Matter, and do not meddle in then Affairs; as we think they fhould not concern thcmfelves with ours. He faith, It 8 o A Second Vindkation . hi. It is our Common talk, that K. William, loveth Epifcopacy as illin England, as in Scot land '; We cannot anfwcr lor all chat is talked ; but wife men among u, do not meddle with judging the hearts of other men, far lei's of Kings, which are deep. The Art of Council, "December, x 4 1689. Which he fetteth down a length, can anfwer for it felf : And giveth good rcafon for what it appoint- ed. His fecond poftfcripurontaineth a ftory which he feemeth to be very fond of: he could not ret it pafs, after he hid finifhed his Sheet. It is, That a 'Presbyterian Minifltr in Edinburgh, confeh JedtoaGentleman, that wtthinhalf ayear iaft pasl, the Tresby- tertan f arty had loH 40000: And that they wet e not inclined that Patronages Jhould be taken away, in thatSeJfionofFarhament, leafi by Popular E/effions all Miniflers fboitld be chofen either Cameronians , or Epifcopal. Anfw. This alfo we have on his fingle Teftimony : And his concealing the Ministers and Gertfle- mans names, is nor, Iprefume, outoftendernefstoanyofus.but that we might not enquire into it. I converfe with all the Minifters of Edinburgh, and I never heard any thing of that kind from any, of them. But and if on man hath had fuch a Melancholy appre- henfion; his miftake is not probative. For hindering the taking away of Patronages at that time, it was fo far from that, that tha Presbyterians laid out themfel ves to the outmoft to get it done, and obtained it, and I never met with one man among them who was againft its being then done. What he faith, that there is as little Religion in the Weftern (hires or Scotland as in any part of Ghri- ftendom, is lo notorioufly falfe, as I did not think the vvor ft oi Scots men had been capable of this Aflertion, Except chem who know not what Religion is, or who hate any thing thac hath the appearance oi it. Fourth tetter 4. lAcftmtoftheTerlecuttm, dec zx Fourth Letter. IN this Letter, I find a Repetition of many things faid in the for- mer Letters, and already refuted, which 1 ihall pais over in fi- lence It »s not Infcriour to any of the reft in abominable Lies,and Reproaches : Such as, That no Hi fiory can parallel the Tragical 'Di (afters the Clergy hath met with: That their fudges plainly and opeily avow, that they donot intend their Obedience, but their mine, The moft bitter Invectives can be invented fill up his few pages: Such as, 7 'hat the'Vrotejtant Religion is now no more than every mans fantaftick humour, fiew CModels of Governments, and a Liberty to pull down the things that are mo/} x^incitnt, andmofl Sacred. Thefe things are not to be refuted, more than the-words of a mad man, or of one raveing in a Feaver. He faith. Some were deprived meetly for not reading the Trocla- nation for the Fa ft: Which is an abominable fafbood; Tho'fucli difobedience to the State deferved a check. It is as falfc, that any fuch Reflexion as he mentioneth, was caft on the Epif- copal Clergy, by the Narrative of the Proclamation, as any who readethitmavfee. And the Nonfcnfe imputed to it, ismoftfalfly, and moft wickedly afierted; and yet with cunning malice : For he doth not tel! us what it was. In a word this Letter holdeth all ingeneral; and fo is unexaminabte ( except one pafiage.of which enone) and is full of virulent Reproaches, andib void of any thing that is Argumentative, that it is impoflibte for any mantoanfwer it; except his Talent for Railing, and his Confcienceto fay whac he will, trueorfalfe, be equal to that ofthisGentlemans, Where- fore 1 fliall pais it with a few Remarks.l mght refute all that he faith as it deferveth to be trcatedby writing on theMargine of every page Lies and Calumnies. He relleth us page 6 j. T hat theTresbyterian IParty are not con fider able : A nd will prove it by dareing the Weft Countty people to reduce the Highlanders. He may know what one Regiment of them did toward it at IDunkell: And many wifh that they were Authorized to attempt it. He talketh idlely when he N fpeaV 8* kA Second Vindication. &c. fpeoketh oiThe Supremacy of the Kirk: They never pretended to jny Power but what God hath given them, to Govern their own Members, in things that belong to the Soul, and by means that reach the Conscience, not the Bodies, or Purfes of Men His further railing on this Head ? pafs, finding nothing that hath fo much asthefhadow of Truth, or Argument. He calumniateth uswhenhetaith, that we have hy red Sciiblersto defame them: The Pamphlet he fpeaketh of, called *Fla m Dealing, I never faw, nor heard of before; and therefore can fay nothing of it, His defence of the Clergies Morality, I have above- anfoered, iri» the former Letrer That the Council received Libels againfl them, containing Immoralities; is no blame, They muft hear the Com- plaints of all the Leigcs: That they did not try them, is as little blame, for their work was only to judge whether they Keadand Prayed, as was erjoyned them. Heinthemidftof this Difcourfe, teMsthus of the Persecution of the Clergy as unparalleled: Bur oneinftance muft be fufficienc to vouch for this. full mouthed Ca- Kimny. It is of Air: Mowbray Mimfter of Srrathbrock , Tho'he cornplyedtothefuU, yet he was Railed, htsGowuTorn, his Life Threatned, his Daughter Beaten, hisWife frieghtnedtoT)eath r and his Church door /hut againftlnm, by my Lord Cardorfs. The ialfhoodanddifingenuity of this Story is manifeft to all who know our Affairs; for feveral things are here tyed together, what were acled at different times , and had very differencing Circumftances. My Lord Cardrofs had been out ct Scotland for many years ; be- ing pcrfecuied for his Confcience: Nor had his Lordfhip been in the Parifh of Strathbrok till feveral Months after the time when Mr. Mowbray was put out by the Rable : But Mf Mowbray be- ing one of thefn who were excluded from re-entring their Churches, having been outed before April 13. 1689 Yetin/f« guft, or September ■ 16-89;. did re-enter his Church: Whereupon my Lord, being both Patron, and Heretorof the Parifh, fentto him, defuing him to forbear, feing he had no Legal Title, And his re-entrycoujdgtrehimno Title. When he would not be pre- vailed wirrf; my Lord caufed fhut the Doors, defiring Mr~ tMowbray to apply to them who had Power in that matter, whick letter 3 Account of the Terfecutlon, &c. 8 jp whieh he never did; burfigned aDimiflbn; and after that lived peaceably vviih the Presbyterian Minifter, who wasfetled in that place For what is faid of the Agings of the liable a^ainfl him, ic wasbefore my Lord cime to that place, and deferveth noCtedt; confideringwhatdifingenuityappearethin the general Narra r ion. He faith, 1 hat all that was aft ed again ft Mr. Mowbray, was only becaufebt had Epifcopal Ordination. This is falfe, for he was Ordained by a Presbytery, when there was noBifhopin Scotland; For he was Minifter at Strathbrok in the year \ 8, or 5-9 His Defence of the Clergies Learning I have examined in rhefor- mer Letter. Only a new Topick I cannot let pafs : They are fa- voured by the C$ Hedge of ]ufiice : /fndthe/e are all Learned men. Knf. Nwfequitur. His Calumnies about the Education of young MenfortheMiniftry among Presbyterians, are not worthy to be noticed; they are fo manifeftly falfe. He telleth a ridiculous Story, of one of tbem which I never heard of, not have ground to believe: But the Truth of it cannot be examined, becaufe we know neither thePerfon, nor any Circuraftancestoguideus in enquiry about it. I conclude my Remarks on the i/?.of the Pamphlets. with an Appeal to the Judicious and UnbyafTed Reader , u hethec the noife they make about their Perfecutions be proportioned to what they have fuffered? Whether the Presbyterians in general be chargeable with what hath been done againft any of them? Whether fuch aftrainof Writing do tend to Union, and Peacein the Church ? Whether they fhew a Chriltian Spirit in dealing r hus with others, when they take it fo ill, when they imagine [hem- Jelves to be injured in Word or Deed ? M x THE 84 T H E CASE OF THE AFFLICTED CLERGY. I Now proceed to examine another of the Pamphlets, by which: thefe of theEpifcopal Clergy ,who hate, and maJigne the Presby^ terians, do load them with reproaches, and aggravate their own fuf- ferings, beyond all the bounds of Modefty and Truth: Its Title is. The cafe of the pre fent afflifled Clergy inScotlandtruelrrepre* Jented. Thus weare Treated by men ofareftlefs temper, wha are imbittercd in their Spirits* by what inconveniency they are fal- len into, from the eafe and Dominion over their Brethren, that* they lately had. One Book after another we are Laflnd with: It they would fpeak truth, and exercife Reafon* rather their exprefe Rage and Eury, wewouldbear it; and clear our felves in the Con- fciences ol all impartial men. But we mud be content to take things as they are, and defend the truth, and our felves, from thefe aflaults that they think fn to make, of whatever -fort they be. Be- fore I come to the Book itfelf, I (hall a little confider the Preface- He commendeth the Moderation, and Integrity of the Author, and indeed it was needful: For none living could gather either of thefe two good qualities from this Pamphlet, He telleth us of the defign of that Book, To procure pity from the moft Charitable Church 7he Cafe of the A jfli fled Clergy, &c. 8j Church of England; A begging defign aslmarkedontheothet Pamphlet. 1 hat men ma) confider the fatal Conferences of Ta- pal Supremacy in a Vrote/iant Kirk. If he would have his words underftood, orbelievcd , hefhouldfhewus whereinfucha Supremacy is rxercfed: But Railing doth beftin general Terms. Insalfo, That the Church of England fhould bethink themfelves how to quench the F/am?s f lead it deftroy themfelves. Thus they fow difcord among Brer hrern and animare England to concern themfelves in the Aff airs of our Church, when we do not meddle ia their matters. He will have all Scots Presbyterians to be Terje- cuters, and chargeth them with thinking that they do God good /er- vice when they Kill Bijbops* Which Fatts, that he aimeth at.the Generality of ^Presbyterians did abhor, as much ashecando. This is an early teft of the Moderation and Integrity that we are to expeel from this Piece. He further proveth our 'Perfection , by citeingfomepaflagesoutof & Burnet. Whom being a Parry, we arenottoadmitasawitnefs againftus. Yet we acknowledge in his Citations, the truth offome rigour that was ufed in thefc times of Broils and Contentions*, which Presbyterians do not Generally allow. If we would recriminate, we could leflcn thefe exccfTes almoft to nothing, by natrateing the Barbarity ufed in Scotland by his party againfl us : But I rather wifti that both mayftudieSo- briety and Moderation, then defend, or practice over again what ha h been amife. 1 commend what followeth : His attempting to narrow the differences that are between Presbyterians and Epif- copal men in Scotland. In Doctrine we are profefledlyone, but really there is a party among them who differ from us, efpedal- ly about th« Armiman points: In worlhip, the difference is very (mall: Only ( contrary to his defign J he widenerhir, when he falfly faith, thatlomein time of Prayer uncover their heads but by halves. Was ever this approved by Presbyterians : What he im* puteth to us of iulfome cxprcflions and vain Repetitions, is aCa- lumnic ; it there bt fome on our fide, there are more on fiis, who through igporancc, or unferioufnefs may be charged with this. lc 86 A Second P r indication, &c. It is alfo faHe, that at Baptifm, we bind the Tar ties to the Jolenm League and Covenant : May be fome might do ir in a time whf n we had no Government, but it is thought fie among us to make the word o\ God the ftandard of what wc believe, and bind our felvcs to praftife. $. i. He efi^yeth to make a parallel alfo betwixt our, and their Discipline; but in that he is not (o happy. Fortho'wc deny not that they have fomethin£ that looketh like Parochial Difcipline; And alfo the nam"* of Presbyteries ; yet they have but a ftndow of both: For not only all that power that any of their pretended Judica- tories exercife,is derived from the Bifhop ; But the exercife of it de pendcth on him, and he can fuperiedeit when he pleafeth : Which if any of them fhould deny, I can prove by two Inftances In one Pref- bytery: viz. That of Chirnfide. One for habitual Drunkenncfs on the Sabbath day, being cited before the Seffion, and fordii- obedienceto them, being cited before the Presbytery, while they Were managing the procefs, a prohibition was procured from the Bifhop of Edinburgh, which fitted the procefs, and the man Drank on, in defyanceofboth Presbytery and Sefiion. Anothet accufed for living with a Woman as his Wife, to whom he was ne- ver Married, and being procefled by the fame fteps as the former; by a prohibition from the fame Bifhop the Presbytery defifted ; and the parries continued in their former courfe of Life: And yet this Prefacer hath the forehead to fay,that their difcipline is the fame with that of Geneva; and I believe his party will give him little thanks for the condefcenfions he hath here made,as wc diflike rhera becaufe not true,nor ingenuous But we know the defignof fuch pre- tended moderation; it is to load the Presbyterians with the guilt of caufelefsSchifme,asappearethinthelequalof his Difcourfe: But when they debate with us about the difference betwixt a Presbyter andBifhop, they fpeak in another (train. ItisaUofalfe, thxtthey have Elders who are no Miriifiers, thefe among them who are more ingenuous will not allow therri that name ; much lefs do they give them the Power of Ruling Elders , of own in them the fame An- TheCafeoftheLrfffliftedCler^ &c. g ? Authoritative, and decifive Power as the Minifters hath : I know no other defign in keeping up SeiTions, and Presby tries in Scotland, but that the People, who have fince the Reformation beenufed to Presbyterian Government, and can comply willingly to no other Church way, may be deceived with the fhadow of ir, when the thing is cunningly taken away. Hefaycth thatinSy- nods all things are carried by plurality of Votes It is fo indeed when the Bifhop pleafeth ; but dare they vote any thing, cr can any thing be carried by their Aurhoritie, without his Lordihips confeni? I think none of them will affirm this. He confeflcth the Bifhop hath the power of Ordination •» him ; tho' he ufeth to take the con- fe'nt of the Brethren of the Presbyte-y along with him (that this is alwa)csto be done he affirmeth; but lamfurcitisnotthePrin-* cipleot Epifcopal men) alhhisconfidered, let any judge, whether be fpeaketh truth when he fayeth * that the Bifhop is but a conftanc Moderator. A Moderator hath no Pow/er more then the lead of the Meeting hath; only heordereth the Meeting, that allmay not fpeak at once: Propofeth Matters to them , pronounceth, as their Mouth, what is the Mind of the Meeting: But nothing is determined by his Authority ; nor are the Judicatories of the Church his Council , as Epifcopal AlTemblies are to the Biihop. We do then maintain, that there is fuch a difference between them and us, as may juftify our not owning of the Bifhops Authority, nor the Authority of the Meetings that is derived from it , and dc- pendethonit. We never ufed fuch an Argument Lojuftity Rebel- lions : It was not the ex>2rcifing Epifcopal Power that caufed what hefocalleth ; but their forcing the Confciences of men, and Bar- barous peilecurions, whereby People were put to the outmoft ex- tremities- It the Confciences of his Party could plead nor guilty, oftheMutthersand Butcheries that have happened, as well as the Sober Presbyterians can, whohadnointereft in them, but to Lament them , and rhe occasions of them , it were well for them. If Barbarities be committed now agpinftthem, we defendthern not, oorarc they chargeableon the Piesbyterians -, butonfomc few 88 *yf Second Vindication, &c. few whom their pcrfecution hath enraged. He tetlerh us of mo« Hiftoriesof the Clergies Sufferings, to come out. Our woikisto Examine thefe that now he is pk afcd to offer. If he prove by his Collection of paflages , all that in his preface he propofeth to m-kc out by them, we fhall fuccumb in the Debate ; But I am fure fomc of them can not be proved, other things cannot infer the confe- quents that he drawerh from them: Bur I will not anticipate, What remains of his preface is a renewing of his begging Addrefs to (he Church of England: What they get that way we do not en- vy : We wifli indeed the ruine of Epiicopacy ( tho' we will take no unwarrantable courfe to effed even that) but notofEpifcopalmen. §. 3 The Dock it fell isodly methodized. We have two leaves called the firft Colle&ion 6l Papers. Next a letter , under the title ot the whole Book : then the firft CbHeft ion of Papers be- gun again : And foto the %d. id. and ^th. Collections : But we mud follow whither he thinketh fit to lead. I mud here referc the Reader to what Ihave laid in Anfwer to the firft Book, and the zd. Letter. Seft. 6. Where it is made appear that rhe-Presbyterians are not accountable for the diforders that are faid to have been aft- ed ; Thb' all the Stories that are told were true. But becaufe in this Pamphlet we have atteftations added to the narratives that are brought, which is not done in the other, fomewhatmuftbeob. fervcd concerning that. Which is, that moftly they are teffe me- *pf°> tn * Complainant is the witnefs, which is not fair. And often one of thefe Minifters witnefs for another, and he doth him the likekindnefs, for requital: Which derogateth much from the Cre- dibility ot fuch Teftimonics. Further, all of his Wicnefles are the fworn Enemies of Presbyterians, and in a Combination to defame them: And we have from the Pamphlets now under confuterati- on a tafte of the veracity of the men whom we have to do with. If liis Witneflesmake no more Confcienceoffpeaking truth, then the Author, or Authors of thefe Pamphletsdo; few thinking men will be moved with what they fay. Icome now to confider his particular fiories. He beginneth with the Miniftcr of Cum- mck s The Cafe of the Ajflifted Clergy, Sec. 8 $ wock, with whom he joyneththeMinifter of Auchinkck : Whom ninety Armed Men forced into the Church yard: dijeharged them to Preach, and tore their Gowns : And declared, that this they did, not a6 btatefmen, nor as Churchmen ; but by Violence, and in a Military way of Reformat ton . A«/. It is Arretted under the Hands of George Logan of Logan , William Crawfurd of Dalegles , John Campbel of, Hor/ecleugh , George Campbel of Glaisknack % John Beg of Dornal, )abn Mttchel of IVhetflonbum ; all of the two Parishes mentioned: That they who did this were not of either of thefe Parishes, nor was it known who they were: Only that they were Cameronians ,who had fufJered feverely ; and were now gathered together on occafion of an Alarum that then was in the Countrey : Nor had any in thefe Parifhes any Acceflion to that pra&ice. And it is to be obferved, that many of thefe Minifters entered by a Military Force, as they were fo put out : Particularly the Minifter of Auchmleckhzd his Edi<5> ferved with three Troops of Dragoons: And that People nev^r fubmitred to ihcfeMensMiniftty, but by the force that was putonthemrby Armed Men: And they fuflered \;ery hard things; and yet the People of thefe Parifhes bore it patiently. Inthebuftnefsof Mack- i/»hcgroflybelycththem: They ufed no violence to the Mini- fters Wiie; only gravely reproved her for Curfing and Swearing, which the ufed. HepafTetb/vzg^. to the Presbytery of IDum- burtoun, where i/?. he telleth us , What Mr. Walter Stirling, Maw/far <*rBadcrnock, met with by a company of X)i [Tenters. This is a grofs Lye: Thefe 5- Armed Men who affaulted his Houfe (having done the like to a Gentlcmans Hcufe, and a Country mans Houfe, the fame night, keking Arms, or Plunder) were no Diflenters, of any fort or way, but Debauched Men , horrid Swearers, andCurfers, who were of broken defperare Fortunes; their Names are John Mcmillan, I atnek Mctarged, George Tomoch, Archibald fergufov, Archibald Shinning. This one paflage duelyconfio'ered, might difcrcdit aH that is aflerted in his book, andexpefe the Author asa malitiousCalumnator, de- fining to fix all the Thefts, Robberies, and other Villanies, that arc committed in the Country, not only onfomc Presbyterian or N other ; 90 c/4 Second Vindication. &r. other ; but on the whole party. Ir is alfo witncfled that Mr. JA>* tings Vaiiih gave him all the help and Succour they could in this his trouble, This Mr. Stirling was afterwards deprived by the State, for not Reading nor Praying, after which time he behoved to remove from the Church, and Dwelling houfe, but to this day liveth peaceably in the Parfh. Yea Mr. Stirling himfelf difowned that account of his Cafe which is in the Pamphlet, as what he had no hand in. For the two following Mt.Ttuncan of Kilpatrick Eafter, and the Minifter that was to Preach at Boiall r In theNar- ration of what concerneth Kilpatrickeafler, there is a grofs Lye ; None touched Mr. ^Duncan, nor did any perfonal hurt to him t which is affirmed by them who know that Mattel ; And maybe confirmed by confidering, that that Parties Zeal led them no far- ther than to rid themfelves. of thefe Minifters who had been fuch a burden to them. For that Man who was to Preach zxBoialh, the Truth of the Story is, A great many came with a Burial , to the Church-yard ;^among them, not above fix or feven had Arms, who did alwayes bear Arms .* None of them made any Opposition ; Only they fent to the Minifter of theParifhtodefirehimtogive them ths Keyes of the Church ; feeing he himfelf could not Preach; He promifed todo it, if the Heretors 'mould demand them-, which feveral of chem did; andoffcred to fuffer him to flay in the Houfe forty dayes, if he would give up the Keyes : He contrary to his promife, refufed to give them up ; but went away that day, and carried away his Furniture, except fome Lumber which the People after took out of the Houfe jn prefence of his Brother,and Man-fer- vant ; with- out doing the Ieaft hurt to them, § 4. Let us now confider the Letter which beginneth page 1/?. excluding what hath gone before. He beginneth with taking no- tice, that Epifcopacywas abolifhed by the Parliament , en ac- count of tts being contrary to the inclinations of the People, and Jo may be re (bred by another Parliament. 6ut he fhould have con- fidered, wat what ever motive the Eflates went on, it is declaied againft in the Claim of Right, as a Grievance ; and therefore can- not be reftored without overturning the Foundation of our prefent Civil Setlement. That Presbytery was never Set led by Law, ex- cept The Cafe of the Afflicted Clergy, Sec 91 cept in times of trouble and danger to the State, by the practices of that ?arty\\ have fufficiently ref Jted in my for mey Vindication on^ueft z p n Heraketh notice of a three fold turning out of Minifies, By the Rable, by the Convention of Eflates , andby the Council; Forthefirft, he truly faith chat it was no wonder, be- ing in the Interval of Government (if he had added that it was done by a People rendered mad, by the Opprcflions of thefe Men who fuffered from them, he had done well) but he tbinketh ftrange that it was not redreffed, when the Go- vernment was Set led: This is anfwered in anfwer to account of Pcrfecutions, &c. Next, he giveth us account , of the dif affeftion of the Weftern Shires t$ Epifcopacy, of their complyance when Terfecution grew hot : Which we deny to have been fo uni- verfalashe would have it : Tho' I deny not that many put fome force on their Light ; Alfo, their complyances fo far as to heat thefe Men, when they could hear noneelfe, is no Obligation on them to cleave to them as their Minifters: Efpecially when op- portunity was put in their Hands to hear others. Wherefore it is no Imputation, nor blame , x that when a Liberty was given foe Meeting houles, they made ufe of that opportunity. Neither arc their Addreftes to be blamed , wherein they acknowledge the goodnefsof God; and thank men, for that Liberty which, tho' their due, had been detained from them. Tho' his Wile men told them that the Liberty was granted to bring in Popery ; Yet as Wife men a$ they, thought, that the beft way to keep it out was to make ufe of the Liberty, fotfetting people in the right way; and to beware of countenancing, approving of, or concurring in, any thing that might promote Popery : Such as, owning the T)i/pen- fing Power (which he mod injurioufly imputeth to ihem) and con- curring for raking away the PenalLaws againH Popery, But of thefe things I have fufficiently difcourfed in my former Vindicati. en > as alfo of what followed), that rhcre were tew Meeting Houfefi atfirft: l&utthatthisisaktnd of Demon ff ratio* of the Inclina- tions of the People toward Epifcopacy, 1 fee not : Nor undcrftand vrhatkindof Demonftrationitis,unIefsitbeaParologyfm: Next he giveth account of Two forts ol 'Presbyterians, viz. Hill-men N x (as 9*, u4 Second Vindication. &c. (as he calleth them^ and others: And doth untruly, and net without Malice againft the Sober Presbyterians, aflert, that the" former aded more confequentially to Presbyterian principles: The contrary of which is evident in this, (as in many more things, that might be mentioned) that two or three Preachers feparated from all the reft of the Church, and refufed fubjettion to their Meetings. § 5*. Inwharloltoweth, this Author dealeth more ingenuoufly than the former that I dealt with: For he imputed theRabling Work to the Presbyterians in General ; this Man layeth it only on i\\^Cameronians\ but even them he foully mif reprefenterh ; while he fpeaketh cf their Eating and'Dnnkmgplentifully at the expenfe of them whom they gabled-. All the Reports that we have of thenv give account of their not laying their hands on the Pfey&s itis> laid of the Jews after /fowl's Perfection, Eflh. 9 .15-, 16. But what is here aliened falfly in general, weftiall have afcermore particularly: Where it fhallbe Examined, In his Hi fl.orical ac- count of things that followeth, page, 6th I have nothing; to ob- serve, but that he prevaricareh in alledging the Prince of Orange's Declaration, Feb, 6. 1689. Which only faith that every one fhall enjoy the Opinion and forms of worfhip, with the Jame free* dom, andin the fame manner as they enjoyed it in Oftober la ft :. But faith nothing of reftoring any thing which they loft as heal- ledgeth, but leaveth that to be done by regular and legal Methods. That which followeth, is an account oi the tumult at Glafgozv, upon the Epifcopal Minifters Reafluming the Pulpit , after the Princes Declaration, that none fhould difturb one another in mat- ters oi Religion : This is more fully fet downinhisx^Colledion of Papers, p, 50 viz, That the Magiflrats and Mini Hers Affem- bled r andrejolved; that the Minis! er fhould Preach Feb. 17 Ax wasu/ual'. In order to this, they % by the chief Magiflrate then inTown, requtr ed the Captain of the Guard to lay down hrms, as the declaration enpyned ; He refufed : /ifter this, the People that ufedtomeetin the Hills, and they of the Meettng-houfes, whif- pered together about their Bloody T>efigns againft the Mini ft er and his People \ One the Sunday they hindered the ringing offorneof the The Cafe of the hjflitted Clergy, &c. 9 3 the Bells \ They public kly threatnedthe 'People as they went to Church \ they purfued aMimfter, who e [taped, by going into a Houfe: The Magi ({rats going to Church found vt Surrounded by a Rable, whom they deftred to go home in peace-, but they Railed nt the Mdgiflrats, and a/faulted them with Staves and Bat tons ; gave a blow to } ohn Bell one of the late Baillies j the Ma^flrats ordered theTowns fervant sand Officers to beat off the Kable.and fo went into the Churchy in time of Sermon the pretended Cap- tain of the Guard came into the Church, crying aloud that the Town was in Armes : Toward the end, the Rable, conduced by the hairdofCirfland, fired into it : A Boy was wounded in the Face ; they brake open the Door s y fear ched for t he Parfon and found him* They refu/eto go borne when the MagiFtrats required them-. They took the ^eopie cut of*, hutch by fours and fives , and expofed them to the fury of the Rable : Many were Wounded, and Rudely treat- ed: And not a few Perfons offome note. This narrative ( which I have abridged but not aire f ed) is figned by ]ames Gib (on Bailie ]ohnGi/hagte, Patrick Bel/. Foranfwertoallthisy it is in the'i/? place to be confidered , that litle Faith is to be given to bis Aflerti- ons; and that on two accounts; one is, the lying Stories that that he had told of the People of Glafgow, page, 39. 40. As* that onThurfdayJanuarieij 1689. TheMinifter did noteoterinto the Church. Alfo what is faid about Mr. Alexander Geor^eis falfe. They did no more but fearch for the Key s of the Church Door and tore his Gown : Which we do not approve. They had been pro- voked by his Railing in a Sermon againft our Reformers Luther, Calvinjfciox &c Not only fo.but abundance of Lies are inter fper- fed in the narrativeof the tumult at the high Church, Febr. 17. As that apernicious Rout fw roiinded the Church : It was only a few Women flood in the Church Door That the CMagiflrats went to the Church with the Mini Her is falfe: For only Ba;llieG/£- (on was there: That ehefe Women or any clfc , Aflaultedthe Minifter, or Peoplc,is falie ; for his party were the firft Aggreflbrs It is alfo talle that 600 of the beff quality inT own entered the Church without Arms : For there were not in all above ioj; and tot 40 el fucli quality ; and they (or many of 1 them j were armed with- 94 h Second Vindication, &c. with Piftols, Swords, Clubs with Nails in the ends of them, f£c It is f alfe, that the Ministers party fufferedfuch things as hejatth. For mod, and they of the beft quality, who were there, do ac- knowledge that no ftfch thing was done to them, but that the Pres- byterians conveyed them home in fafery. Likewifewhat is laid of their refpeft to the Prince of Oranges Declaration, is a lying pretence; for it is well known, they have never fliewed any refpeft to him, nor to his Government, but the contrary is apparent in their whole conduct. Ic is alfo to be considered that the Witnefles brought to atteft the Story, are not competent,' JohnGtb/onwsiS a party, and made a Bailie by the Arch Bifhop, and all knew the Prelates Inclinations towards the prefent Civil Government. $obn Gilhagie islookton by all as Fooltfh and Rafh Man, who little confidereth what he doth: Tatrick %eU % and his Brother, were, foon after, feafed for Treafonablepraclifes; were long in Prifon, and are now under Bail. The truth in opposition to his lying Story is this: The Epifcopal Minifters in the Town being thruft ffom their Churches by the Rable, before the Government was fetled, the Provoft, Walter Gib/on, ( who had been chofen by the Arch Bifhop) made a paction with the Presbyterians, (for pre- venting Confufion) That the Keyes of all the Churches fhould be depofited in the hands of two men till the Convention of Eftates fliould determine in the mattery in fteadoi this, he bcingabfent ( may be of purpofe ) his Brother bailie Gib/on, hired a com- pany of Ruffians, armed as is above expreft; who with one Mini- ster ( afimple man, whom they prevailed with) went to the Church, and found 40 Women in the Door, fell on them and ladly wounded 3 % of them, in a mod Barbarous manner. The noife of rhis raifedfome of the Hill men, who were in Town, who beat Drums, and got to Arms, this occafioned the (battering of the Meeting Houfes (who were quietly hearing the word) fome of the Sober Presbyterians dealt with the Hill men, and en- deavoured an Accomodation : Oily lome of the Friends of the Women who had beer* wounded, could nor be reftrained from Violence : But what they did was nothing like what the Women hadfuffcred: TheA&ors in this Tragedy who beat and wound- JheCafeofthe KffhftedQkr 9 ^ &£. 9* wounded the Women, Were John Gibfon Bailie, John Bell, Commi far Robert/on, George Robert fm, and his two Sons, John Robert Jon, John IV at, . Inglis, "Patrick Bell, James Marfbel, John Coats, Johnfilfhill, John Tater/on, Horn, John Aitkin, Alexander Kit kin, James Lies's twoSons James Kobertfon, The names of the Women who were' wounded, and many of them hardly cured, are Mrs. Maxwel, Mary Fleckfield, Marion Ewin, Agnes Rodger, Agnes Allan, Elizabeth Linmng, Janet Lou- doun, Margaret T>algliefb, Bejfie Jack/on, Janet Cafiellaw, Janet Fleeming, Janet Robert fon, Margaret Inglis, Marion Finlaw, Janet Kid, Janet Brand, Chrittian Lang, Janet IVoed, Mrs, Mill, Janet Howie, Magaret Lin, Catherine Lin, lfabel Tdter- fen, Janet Toung. Margaret Anderfon, Margaret Corfe, BeJ/ie Fleeming, Griff el Brown, beff/e Mar (he I, Janet Shearer, Marga- ret Steven : Some of them are not recovered to this day, now after I wo years: They all have fuffered patiently, and wak for a hear- ing of rheir Caufe,by a competent Judge,as was promifed them all, this was fufficiently attefted before John Leckie then Bailie* §. 6. Inp, 7.and&.Ofthe Narrative,hetellethus,/^ inflead of calling thefe Will men to an account for their diforders, tbefe very wen coming Armed to Edinburgh . had the thanks of the Woufe given them for their good fervice, and are Hill apart of the (landing f or ces of that Kingdom : This he infirteth farther upon irnhe^/O Collection oi pafiages, f, 90.91- Where he fctteth down the Aft of the Convention. Where he alfo Aflerts that they Ailed contrary to the Laws of Religion, Humanity, and of Nations, the haws of This Kingdom, and theTrinces Declaration, in driving cut the Clergy. being in number about 8000. Overawed and Threatnedthe Electors of Members for the Convention, rufhedin a tumultuary and ho sltle manner into Edinburgh, &c. And this . be f ore they were under the Ear le 0/ Lcveris command ; Hence he is bold to condemn the Aft oi the Eftates approving of them. Herel obferve a few things ( referring the Reader to the Anfwer 10 Account of Perfection, &c. Letter, i.§, 8.) 1. It cannot be .made appear, that that Body of men Afted whatheimputethto theRablc, yea it is evidently folfe, for he faith thty were 8000. and m 9$ \s4 Second Vindication, &c. in military order: The Rable were fcattered Companies, feme* rimes nor above i o, or n, or 40. or too. And that under no fixed command; it there were fome among them who came to Edin- burgh who alio were the Rable, is not to be wondered at, for it isof- tenfotn Armies that are inhoftile oppoficion one toanother, %. That they were in Arms againft Law, is falfe: For they werecai- ledby the Authority of the States, as their Guard, whenrheir Enemies had gathered a Formidable party is to Edinburgh. 3. That they hindered the Eleftion of Members, for the Convention, is alfo falfe.* Himfelf and Complices, in their accounts otthefe Elections, afTign caufes of fuch Members being cbolen, incon- fiftent with this Force ; viz. The negligence of their Paity . But Opportet mendacem efe bene memorem, 4 J ho' they were together before the Earl of Leveti got the Command, yet not bcfoie they were called together by the Eftates. $ That they affronted either the Bifhops, or the Nobility, is more then can be made out: Or that I have heard from any good hand. 6. I hatthefemenare part of the (landing forces of the Kingdom ( tho' there were no abfurdi* ty if it were fo^) yet is falfe. They were totally disbanded, a Re- giment was indeed raifed in that Countrey, a long time after; And new Officers were fet over them : And if any of the fame men were lifted Souldiers, itwas accidental: Butit is well known,that that Regiment hath done morefervice to the Amg and Countrey, than others havedbne. whatfolloweth, pag. 18. Deferveth but a little Animadverfion ; He faith the Clergy fuffered Patiently with- out publick complaint. This and the other Pamphlets are wit. nefTes to the contrary : Could men complain more publickly, more unjuftly, or more Pathetically, and malcioufly, th*n they do. He faith alfo, that fome of them fuffered the lo/s of C hildren ; which is above mads appear to be falfe, in the only inftance that was brought. That they fuffered without any Authority is not de. nied; becaufe then there was no Authority in the Nation: Itwas in a ft ate of Anarchy. For the right that he faith they have. to thetr hpafl Stipends ; we fhall not grudge that they get what was le- gally due to them. But if the Authority of the Nation (in the Convention, or Parliament^ have determined otherwife, I know nor The Cafe of the hjpttted l?lergy % eco 97 Tidt where tlieir Legal right can be founded, but this I leave to Lawyers to confi Jer, §. 7. The fulfome and flattering exprejjions in the V res by - tertan-Addrefs to King James for then Liberty , their approving vf the difpenfing Tower > which he taxethpag.9. Are his own ima- ginations, other Men can fee no fuch thing inthataddrefs. That they never Preached again ft the dif order soft 'lie Rab/e t is falfe- tho* we thought not fie to make that our conftant Theme. And it but few did it.it was becaufe they who were the aftors in that fcene* little regarded the Preaching of the Sober Presbyterians: And they fhould have loft their lweet Words ThcfepraoWes of the Rable were publickly fpoken againft by Minifters both before they wereacled, tor preventing them, and after, for reproving them, and preventing the like. That the Presbyterians poflefTed their places when called to them, it was their Right: both by their (landing Relation to their People, from whom they had been thruft away in Annoi 66z. And alfo by theAfl of Parliament giving all Minifters then put our,regrefs to their charges: And indeed they w 7 ho had been by the Bifhops put into their places were Intruders, and if any enteted to other pljjpes, on the the Call of the People, td which they had not fuch former Relation ; there was no blame; becaufe there being no probable regrefs for the formerlncumbents, itwasnotreafonablethatthe People fhould continue deftitute of theGofpel, Befidethat there was never a Relation ci Paftor and People between them and thefe Flocks, they never having confented to fuch a Relation. For what he faith of the l\:%ht of Pa- irons, I think there were but few Minifters Fixed beioreir was Le- gally made void: And if they were, we think that Right was only founded on the Law; but was contrary to Chrifts Inftitution: And it was known to be about expiring, and therefore ic was not contrary to a good Confcience,to accept of a Call to a People^ with- out the Patron. It is true, in that Cafe they could have no Right totheStipend; But the Confent of Minifter and People, the Au- thority of a competent Church Judicatory being interpofed, could well fix a Relation between Minifter and People, without the Pa- (troji, He doth next fall heavily on the Convention of Ettates O ffot j8 \y4 Second Vindication. &c. f forthefe men hide thenottheirTreafonable Speeches againft the prefent Government of the State), Thattf is no wonder that man$ thought that the De/ign of fomewho were zealous for tbeKevoluti- on, was more to deftroy the Epifcopal Clergy , then to fettle the Na- tion, orfreferve our Religion, Liberties and "Properties. This F leave to them to Anfvver who have power to correct £uch pern- lancy : He further lafheth the Convention and the Council, ior their A&s with refpeft to the Minifters caft out in the ffreflern Shires. Neither (hall I meddle with him on this Head: He hath not yet done with our Rulers : But blameth them for the Trocla- mation for Traytng for King William and Queen Mary , And punilhing Men for not obeying it fo fuddenly. This I have anfwer- ed on Letter z. Se6h 17. All that follcweth, to page 14 is already anfwered in the forecited place : Only he hath a new Argu- ment in Defence of them who did not Read or Pray, vi& That The Proclamation wasnotfent to them from the Bifhops. As if the Eftates could not imploy what Officers they pleafed to Autho* rize, forfignifying their mind to the Minifters. fag. 14I Even the King fhall not efcapehis Cenfiire; becaufe, While he extend- ed Clemency to Criminals, he did not Jo to the Clergy-. Who were neither willing to obey his Commands nor Pray for himy norfo much as own him tortheir King. And it is indeed an Aft of Clemency which few Kings ever (hewed, to allow fuch to be in publick Churches, andtohavethecondu&of the Confciences of hisSubjefts: I am fure this is not the way to have the people Prin- cipled with Loyalty; tho* that was the main theam that thefe men infilled on in the former reigns. What followeth is hisob- fcrveonadebarein Parliament, about impofingthe Oath of Alle- giance, and why it was not impofed on the Clergy : He faith, It was out ofrefpeCl to the Presbyterian Preachers, leaft they fhould fcruple it : They being unwilling to come under Allegiance to King William till fir $ he had fetled their Church Government'. Andhexhinksfome will not take it till the Covenant be renewed. Here is bold judging, and centering the fecret thoughts and pur pofes of the Eftates : As alfo mod calumnious Imputations on the Presbyterians,- did ever any of. them refufe the Oath of Allegi ance* f The Cafe of the hjftitted Clergy, &c. 99 ance? Have not many of them (even as many as were required on any occafion) chearfully taken it? And that tho' the Covenant be not renewed Did ever any of them move (uch a (cruple about it ? Yeaitismanifeft, that it is not their Principle fo to bargain with their Kings about Allegiance: For they were ready to fwear it (and did when called)to Kings who unfetled their Church Government ; and who ena&ed the abjuring of the Covenant. What followeth P*g'if*i6 About Minifters being deprived for not Reading and Praying, is anfwered, in Letter z. Seft. 17. He odioufly com- pareth the States dealing with the Clergy, with that of the French with the Proteffants there, who faved their Life and fortune if they change their Keligion ; but combers here are turned out by the Viable. Anf If he can (hew that this is done here by Authority, asinFrtf»f*thePeifecutionis afted ; or that the Proreftanrs in Fraw^fuffered in a time of Anarchy, by a People that had been fo barbaroufly injured and enraged by them : Then ftiould he fpeak to the pu rpofe y otherwife his parallel doth no wayes hold. They had made themfelves juftly loathfome, and a burden to the People, who took their opportunity to be rid of them, without fuch Bar- barous ufage of them as they from them had fuffered. And the Eftates thought it not iittoimpofe that burden again, on a People whohadbeen focruih'dbyit; what is there here that hathany affinity with the Cafe of the Sufferings in France ? § 8. Hepretcndethpagei6andi7 to remove a Mif informa- tion, given to them of England-. That the Clergy were not de- prived by the Council for net Keadtng and V raying , unlefs they were immoral tn their Converfation: And from this he laboureth to vindicate them. Much of which is anfwered above: Qnlythe Reader may know, that this was never alleadged, nor given as the reafonot their deprivation by any of us: what ever might poflihly be talked in England, by them who knew little of our Affairs. The Council did not confider their Immorality, nor freedom from it ; but only their obedience or dilobedicnce to the Law. His ftory about Bifhop Lighton, will not Vindicate the Wcftern Clergy from grofs and multiplyed Immoralities:But that is not now the thing un- der our confideration. That Scandals were reprefcnied at Court, as O x the loo h Second Vindication, &c. thegtound of their deprivation by the Council, isas injurious and" talfe, as any thine; that can be faid. The plurality of Epifcopah Miniffers fibove the Tresbyterians, he feemeth to brag of : But is it any wonder, when twenty eight years agoe many had complyed with Epifcopacy, and all that did nor, were driven away,, and in that fong time many of them were removed by death. Was it not fo at rhe Reformation from Popery ? How far did the number of Po- piih Prielts exceed that of Proteftant Minifters ? But whar he hence inferreth, hath no weight* Viz. that many of the EpifcopalMi* flitters muli be removed leafl they jhould overvotetht other s\ For a more Rational and fure courfe was taken to obviate it : viz. That theGovernment fhould be fettled only in the hand of Presbyterians; and fuch as they fhall receive ; which he, or his fellow Genforer of the State, had above complained of; and we have Vindicated. He concluded:) this Narrative with a warning to the Church o( England of the Enmity of Presbyterians againflthem, and their hazar4 from us. And indeed the ftrain of thefe Pamphlets is moitly a complaint agajnft the King and Parliament, and all the Authority of this Nation, and an appeal to the Church of England' for deliverance from this yoake : And I hope our Rulers will confi- -> der them accordingly. §, 9. We now come to confiderthe Authors feveral CollecftU ons of Papers; in which he hath been it a great deal of pains, but: to little, or bad purpofe: As I hope by Examination of th|m fhall appear. His fir ft Collection is of accounts that he hath had from his Complices, a Company of Men avowed and malicious Enemies of all Presbyterians , concerning their Sufferings from them; and ail thisatteftedby themfelves, as I above obferved. He begmneth with the Story of Mr. Bell of Kilmarnock which I: have above anfweredon Letter fecond. Nexthecomethtothfc ¥resbvtene of Hamtitoun: Whereitfeemshe finderh three: Mr. JohnDalgle/h of Lvendal , Mr ]ames Crtchtouu of Oilebridge* Mr. \yingus Mackintojh , at Stenhoufe, whole Gowns were torn* and they difefrarged to Preach : Atr eftcd by Dr. Robert icot, Mr George Leflie, and Mr. John T)enni[iom. To all which I give no other Anfwer but what hath been faid on the like cccafion, That the The Cafe of the hfflitted Clergy, &c rot the Presbyterians are not to aniwer for fuch praftifes, which were done by iuch as jober Presbyterians do not own , nor are owned by them, butrather hated and oppofed : As alfo that fo many lying Storiesof this kind have been told by him, that it is not worth the while to enquire inro the truth of thefe. , Men ufe to flight what isaflertedbya common Lyar. We have next a general account ef the MiniHers of the Tresbyterie of Irwin : that all their Houfes have been a (faulted, their Gowns Torn, and they difchargedto Preach : Man y of their Wives and C hildren turned [out ofTJoors, like to flarve by Hunger and told, in the Winter: Some forced to Jlie and Lurk, thatjbey cannot meet to make known their Grievan- ces: Only three or four gives the fe accounts from their own know- ledge, and certain Information. Signed Charles Litlejohn Mini- fier of Larg : Alexander Laing Mimffer at Stewartoun. Ona may eafily Anfwer all this without particular information: Con- fidering the veracity that is to be found in this Pamphlet:i;/;5 Here is nothing but Generals, and that by report: Pcrfonal knowledge is pretended but for little of what is Ailerted And we have caufe to think, that thefe were none of them who are of our Communion who Afted thefe thin^s.Thcn follows the Sufferings of the Trcsby. teryof Ghfgow in 1 he Verfons ofCMr. Rufleltf/ Govan, tJMr. Tunnic at Carthcart . which two Stories are anfwered and found to be forgeries, on Letter 2. Mr Blair at Ru herglen, Mr Gil- bert Mufhec at Cumemald, Mr. David Mill at Cumernald: which we may rationally judge to be of thefame Stamp: Neither, have we time to fearch into all the groundless Tales that he think? eth fit either to invenv or to take up from them that devife them. But that which he Ldv)urerhrtfctt of by the Circumfbncesof ir, is, thar Jannuary. 17 1689, Pliable, mof/ly Women came with a defiant a drag the Alim/ter out of the 'Pulpit-, he beingwarned* and forbearing, and t eturmvg from the Church, was A (faulted, his Gown and other Cloaths I om. Thefame day Mr. Alexander George had h\s Doors broken, and he being uf>on his Sick-bed, they had dr aged htm out of his Bed, if theTrovosl with ten men not come to his Relief. Next Sabbath January 20. tbet e was no Sttmomn she City \ on the zz they fent a threat nivg Lett: bidi I c$ isfSecond Vindication. &c: biding all Mini Hers to Tr each on the biqhefl ] peril > this is attefted by Alexander George : John Sage,*Aamrid Rogue, do ye ddmomlh us 9 Jo they heat him with their Swords, and faid they would/pare him jor that Might, and Sentence \ and execute him next Morning, fo , they conveened many 0} ' t/ieTari/b,cau fed tear his Gown,di/charged him to breach : And on the day that hefhould have read the Pro- clamation , they hindredhim by force from entering the Church,)et was he after deprived by the Council for not Reading and Praying, Anf In this Narrative, are many Lies: which isatteftedby Mr. William Ruffel, Mtnifterat Stobo: As that his Wife and Children lell fick by fear: None of them werefick that year. That he lodged in the Fields ; tor he never lodged a night in the Fields, only one night two young men came tohis houfe, he was not within, but in a Neighbours houfe hard by. His Wife faid to them that he was in Edinburgh, he withdrew a lutle and returned as foon as they were gone, and faid that he would not have fled ii he had thought they were fo few, but have Piftoled them both; it isalfofalfe that any came out of the Preachers houfe on him as he Rode; but ttefetwoyoung men being provocked with his fpcaking of piltol- P ing too L/? decona Vindication, occ. ingthem, came out of another Houfe, and called to fpeak witti him ; He flcd„ the Preachers man came out to fee what the Fray was, one of the young Men followed him on Horfeback, did no harm to him, but reafoned the Cafe with him : He alledging that alltheHoneftmeninthe Parifh owned him: They brought ten- or twelve whom he Named as fuch, who yet difowned him. It is moft falfe that he was hindered to read the Proclamation ; he did read a part of it: It is true fome moved to hinder him from Preach- ing, but the Presbyterian Minifter reftrained them. It is a grefs untruth,that he was willing to Read and Pray, and yet deprived for it ; For hefaid before the Councel that he had not Prayed for King: William and Queen Mary. That his Gown was torn, is alfo a grofs Lye. § i x . The Story of Mr. Little (which next followeth) is above anfwered, in Anfwer to {.Account of Perfection Letter z. Sefit. i j. Next we have account of the Sufferings of Mr. Archibald Fergu- fonMiniflerat'Kukpatrick, whom the Ruble, Men and Women, Kffaultedin his Houfe •: When he calmly asked the reafon, they knocked him on the Head with aPifio/ t fo that he fell: His Wife daily expetting the fains of Childbirth, they knocked down with the Butt end of a Musket z. He received many meruit (s Blowcs, and was fore ly brut fed-. Wmfelf they dragged into a fuddle; the Women cut and tore off bis Clout bs ;. even to the unco- vering of his Nakednefs ; beat him on the S bins with aSZlub, com- manded him to be gone, and forced him m his Wounds to leave his Houfe, Family, and Church. Before I examine the matter of this Story, I take notice of the bitter Sarcafms, and cruel Mockingsa- gainftallthe Presbyterians, with which it is interperfed; as if this Fact were to be charged on the Party : Who yet do abhor iuch practices as much as any Men can do. He faith thefe Barbarities were committed by the pretended Godly Tresbyterians: That they have feparated themf elves from the Society of the Catholick Churchy becaufe they do aot obkwe JSa/ler with the fame iuper- ftition as fome others do. Headdeth, that the Womens Daggers were prepared for a through Reformation: And many fuch bic- ker Reflections he throwethout againft us all; fromthfcirregula* nties TheCa/eoftbe AfftiffedC/ergy, &c? toy litres of a wild Party, whom perfecution from his Party had made mad, and in whom we are no further concerned than to Lament their Principles and Praftcies. A further Anftver was delayed when this was written, expeftinglnformation fromfuchas know the Circumftances of this Story : But that Account not being as yet come to Hand, when this fheet is printing off (by whofe fault I know not. ) I can only fay, that the many Lying Sfories that are in this Book, may derogate from the Credibility of this : If it be true, we abhor the Faft, and wifti that the A&ors may be brought to condign Punifhment for fuch Inhumanity. § 13. In his third Collection ot Papers (which concerneth them who complyed, and yet differed ) he beginneth with CMr. William Hamiltoun, who fir ft at Irwin, fl&*« 0/Kirknewtoun. was put from his Houfe and Church, by the Rattle, and very hard- lyu/edi Anf. That thefe things Afted againft him were not the deed of the Presbyterians , nor approved by the Church, is evi- dent from rhns, that Mr. Hamiltounis'm good cfteem among the Presbyterians, and is now received as one oi themfelves, intoa fhare of the Government withrhem: Wherefore i< tuch things were done againft him, it was not by the Sober Presbyterians, but by a fort of Men who are not of our Communion, and who have iliewed diflike againft us alio. For the Txuth of what he alledg- eth to have been done. I can meet with none who can affirm what our Author faith; and therefore have caufe to fufpeftitasof the fame ftrain with othets of his Affirmations. He telleth us next howMr.SarauelNimmo was hindered toPreach by fome of the Earl of ArgyleV Regiment. If this were true, it was the Deed of fome Cameronians, not approved by the Presbyterians. And I hope hindring a man ro Preach (tho' we allow not that it be done in a diforderly way) doth not amount to fo horrid a Perfecution as he cryeth outoi. His next complaint concerneth Mr. Selkirk at Glerrholm in Twcddale, who Read and Prayed, was threatned by fome of the meaneft of the People, to remove from bis Dwelling, obtained from them a fortnight for that end fome put a?wthcr hock on the Church door to keep him out : Of this he had no Red? e/s. This we are far from allowing; but ftill here is nothing like the P x j French 1 08 as4 Second Vindication . Sec: French ^Dragooning. He faith that he complained and had no Re- drefs:But\ve neither know whom to blame,nor how to make enquj. ry about the Truthoi it.fceingheisnotpleafedtoletusknow who did thus denyjuft.ee to him- It is fufficiently arretted that this was done by Strangers v that they took two of Mr. Selkirk* t lders into the Houfe with them, who might witnefs that they ufed no violence, and that he and they parted peaceably: And that after- ward he dtrnitttd his Charge-* and the Presbytery gave him a Tefrimoivial: Mr Barge fs- (he doth not tell where he was Mi- niftei) »s»:he next fubjeft of Complaint: His Church was poffeffed by the Rakle, fentby Mr. Walker "Preacher in the Meettng-houfe ; by the connivance of Mr. Mowat, who is Old and Infirm: The Heretors were offended thatMt. Walker invadedMx. Mowats right TfoRab/ehwdred Mr. Burges to Preach ; and w/jenhe objected King Williams Authority, they (poke of it with contempt,. An/. Mr Mowat, and the Parifh had called Mr. Walker to his help ;- The people hearing of the Aft for reftoring the old Minifters (not confidering that it was only Voted , but had not the Royal Aflent, which it after had) met in the Church ; Mr. Walker diU fwadedthem: Yet was forced to Preach to them there: There was no Tumult: the whole Parifh was met : Mr. Burges's Beddel opened the Church door to them. It is falfe, that any of the people did contemn King William's Authority: There were in- deed three young Men, who fome dayes after, dilcharged Mr. Surges- to Preach: But this was not approved hy the re ft: nor was ever any violence offered to him: What the Paper faith of Arms, andbeatinga Drum, isfalfe: The Parifti had been at a Rendez- vous; whence they came to a Burial, bOtthat they made ufe of Arms or Drum, at or near Mr. Bnrges's Houfe, is altogether falfe. The Sufferings or Mr. David Spence followeth, That He was dtf* charged ] to Preach in January 1689. by Strangers, yet continuing: till April, hewasforcetbly hindered to Preach and to Re ad the Proclamation, on the day appointed for it , tho' heibas willing to do it 1 On complaint, he had 'protection, from the Committee of E* ftates ; yet in September he. was deprived for not Reading, hnf In the Records of Council 1 find: him deprived for that he con* feted The Cafe of the AffliRed Clergy, &c 1 bj felled he had neither Read nor Prayed; But not awordofih e Plea he ufed for his Omiflion : So that this is to be look'd on as a grofs prevarication, and malicious defignto defame the Govern- ment; FortheRable hindering him ro Preach before he was de- prived; We do not approve it, nor was it done by any of our Communion. Whatisfaid of fome Miniftersin the Presbytery of Straurawer, we fhall meet with it in a Pamphlet that peculiar. ly infirteth on their Sufferings; wherefore I now pats over ir, Mr. Francis Scot efs What application he hath made for Redrefs, and who hath been faulty in denying it to him; we cannot enquire, forour Author is not particular - r but thought it fafeft to Reproach the Presbyterians in general Terms. All that remains in this third Colle/tionof Papers is fome Letters fent to London to my Lord ElphingJioncQtnplaningoftheinjuftUedoneto Mr.Paul Gelly;!////*. Her of A irrh : In that he was deprived by the Council on the Tesli- mony of two Perjured Perfons, whereas he had given all Obedience and be hath a good Teslimony from moH of the Parifh . A nf. T h ey chat tellif y for him arc of his own Party : They did not teftify any thing before the Council in his Vindication: The Witncfles a- gainft him were neither accufed before any Courr, nor convicted of any thing that fhould derogate from the Credibility of the/r Tcftimony: They teflified not only that he did not Read and Pray, but that he Prayed for the Reftoration ot Km* James, and exhorted the people to Pray fo in private : And h\d,'fhat he ext eda Reformation, but they had got a wicked Tyranny, andVn* godly Rulers: And that 'People were not fee ure of Life and For- ttine\ all this is attejtedby the Records of the Council. § 14 In his 4/A and laft Collection of Papers, he hath the Proclamations, Aftsor Convention and Council, Addrcflcs, ££fr. That he thmketh may befpatter the Presbyterians: Thefc Papers neednoneof my Apology iorthem. Wherefore I fhall only take notice fio L/f Second Vindication, &c. notice of his little Remarks on them, whereby he doth mod petu- lantly reproach the Government, as well as the Presbyterians. Some Qbfervations he maketh on the Proclamation of the Eftates for praying for King William and Queen Mary, which are above Anfvvered: One Inow take notice of: Which is, That the Fref- bytenan Treacher s were not que tt toned fur neglecting to Re ad the Proclamation^ and to Tray according to it ; tho others were. Anf. I know not that any of them were guilty of this neglect: And if any were, there was no Information againft them; and therefore no punilhment could follow. He next dtaleth with the addrefles of the Presbyterians to King James iot the Liberty granted them by him ; and taketh notice, that they were Ready to comply with * Vopifh Prince, and did not keep the'trpomifeof T>uty and Allegi* ance to him. I take no notice of his profain mocking, in the (train of whathefayeth: But to the thing, I Anfwer, They no farther comply ed with a Popifli Prince, than to live peaceably under him, -andtoufe theGofpel priviledge that they had been violently de- prived of, which was now reftored to them ; and had not his Par- ty their Liberty alfofecured to them, by the fame King? Yea they concurred to fet him up , and to advance his Supremacy and Arbitrary Power, by which he was put in Capacity to deftroy our Religion, which we never did: For promifes of Duty and Allegi- ance; wekcepedthemfolongas he was King, but when the Na- tion laid him afide, and chufed another , theobligacionofour Al- legiance was changed,and we be flowed it where the Nation had placed ir: Asalfo did the Church of England their great Patrons. But this man , and his Complices , declare their dif-like of our King, and Civil Government, on all occafions, as much as they do againft out Church way. His next effort againft the Conven- tion, and Government, is from a Letter written by theVifcount of Dundie, whom he calleth The Great ( which is on the Matter an owning of that Rebellion that he was the Head of) theLetter andtbis Authors remark on it, tend to condemn the Convention of Eftates of injuftice. This matter I have above touched. It is falfe that he was living tn Peace, and that he was in hazard of hit Life by the Rable. He had gathered a formidable Party to de- ftroy The Cafe of the hjflttted Uergy, &c. i r r [hoy the Convention of£ftates, and they gathered a force for their fecurity; And on this, he and others went away in Arms, and ga- thered a party in the Highlands. But on tbefe things I infift nor, my bufinefs beirig mainly ro vindicate the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, in her Principles and Aftings. The Aft of Council De- cember, 2*4* 1689. Ihave Vindicated on Letter, x. He is pleafed [ and reckonerh it modefty fo to do) to call it a great fir etch of Juliice\ Some mens necks have been made to ftretch for a lefs Crime, then thus to reproach the Government. He faith, page* 85- that the M'mifters outed by the Kablearecafloutofthe Pro- tection of the State. That is no further true, than that they werr notreponed; Thereafonsofvrhich aregiven on Letter, x. ltisma- liciouily reprefented, thattheKable, and all their Enemies, were invited to be witneftes again// them who yet were in place. For all were invited, but none were admitted, but luch as were unex- ceptionable wirnefles, Boni et legale s homines. Would he have none but his own party tobcwineflesagainft them who defpifed the Governmenr. He would fain fay fomething againft the Prince oiOrange\ Declaration, page, 90. But can find nothing; but that the liable grew Ftrong by it, and they who had taken Arms ( who were indeed King James Party ) were forced to L Disband: This is that which grievethhim. What tolloweth of the Conventions thanks to them that had Guarded them againft TDundies Plot, and his obfcrves on it, is difcufled above on Letter, 1 He obferveth no- ting on the Proclamation iortheFaft, Aug X4. 1689,' Butthat ne calleth it a Canting Proclamation. A word of contempt that hcfe men ufe for any thing rhat looketh like ferious Religion And hat Mi&amfay, and Docter Gar dine were deprived for not Kead- ngit\ Which isfalfe: For it was tor Praying for King James, as he account which he himfelf giveth doth make manifeft. All that he biervethon theProclaimation ordering to whom thcBifhopsRents hould be payed (they being now laid afide) is, That Alexander Hj- niltountf/ Kinkel, w/jo was imployed as receiver for St Andrews. vas at Both vvel- Bridge, and by the Clemency of the then Govern? tent had his life /pared, If all this were true what doth it make gainft the Presbyterians. He is known to be a Faithful man, and why Hi A Second Vindication, Ac- why might not the Government imployhim feeing the former Go- vernment had fpared him : But in truth, it was no- fo much the Cle- mency of the former Government, as no Crime could be proved againft him, that faved his Life His lalt paper for itfeemerh that he is now at a Clofe, and can fay no more ) is a draught of an All for the Effablifbment of the Government of the Church, given in to the Parliament by the Kings ( ' :ommifJioner \ which, he faith, that the 'Presbyterians would not admit of, becaufe itreflramedthem from meddlmg in State .-fairs. \^/mf. Many other Ads, as well as this , were given in, being drawn by private Hands, tp be confi- dered by the Parliaments, and were rejected, or amended. That the "arliament rejected any of them, it was becaufe they fa w them, or fomewhat in them, to be inconvenient ; but that he will fix on the particular caufe, and lay this on the Presbyterians, isfaucie Boldnefs ; Not only meddling with the defignsofthe Legiflators, which is not fie for a private Perfon, tut with the fecret thoughts of Men, which is fit for no Creature. §. 15- The Conclufion of his Book, confiding of 5" or 6. pages. 1 fhall not much be concerned with; he there, more than before ( which was needlefs ) venterh his fpleen againft the prefent Go- vernment of the State : And that in very undecent terms. He dealeth inmoft of it, with the Obfervator, whom I leave to plead his own caufe. Though I have above Aflerted, and Vindicated the Truth of moft things for which he challengeth the Obfervator. His note about the Earle oiCrafurds Letter, is a groundlefs Cavil. His Lordfhip, doth not own that the Council took probation of Crimes of another Nature, befide not Reading and Praying; but on the Contrary, faid, that rho' they who framed the Lybels againft the Epifcopal Minifters did Ignorantly, in their Lybels, accufethem, either tor their Opinion about Church Government, or Immoralities in their Converfation ; yet, no regard was had to thefe, nor any queftion made about them. He next taketh to task a Book intituled A brief and true account of thefufferingsofthe Qburch of Scotland from the Epifcefalians fmce the year, 1660. which he faith, u written by a true paced Presbyterian : And im- pucethalltheAflertions, andfeverity of Stile in that Book, to the Pref- i m \+aje of tve njpiciea \~tergy, etc. 1 1 3 Presbyterians. This is an unfair, and Injurious, and ialfe imputation: Presbyterians difown both the Stile, and many Principles vented in that Book, it was written by a Camero* nian, while that Party flood atadiftancefromthe fober Pre(- byterians , and from the Generality of them who bear that Name, as much as from the Prelatifts. Though on the other hand, we know that there are many undenyable truths in it, as to the matter of Fact concerning thefe fuffeiings; which I wifh he, or any of his Party, would undertake to difprove. But it is ftrange that this Gentleman fhould quarrel the ftile of that Book, feing it is exactly conform to his own, in the bitternefs and ill Nature that appeareth in it: Only things are not thereto foully mifreprefented as in his Paper. The Queries with which he fhutteth up this his Work , we are the lefs concerned in, becaufe moft of them are built upon rhe Principles of that Book, which we do not own : And others of them, on fome Actings of this Church in a time when both contending parties run a little too high in the heat of debate: Of which I have ipoken what is fufficient in my Former Vindication. Only a few things, not met with in that Paper, 1 now take notice of That the Presbyterians have rijen twice in Arms in King WilliamV time, Is an Impudent and falfe A/lertion : For the firlt time that he mentionerh, it was aRable of Cameronians, not in a Body, but here and there, to throw out fome of the Clergy who hadfevercly opprefled them : Of which I have told my Sentiment above. The other, A formidable number m a HoHile manner, making an AcTdrtfs to the Council, telling them, That they would not lay down their Arms till the Council had difcharged all judicatories t§ pronounce any Sentence in Favour of Epijcopal CMtwflers. This was never heard of before: And certainly this Gentle- man hath either Dreamed it,or Invented it. page 107. Ha hath amafledaheap ofgrofs Lyes, viz 'J hey have Voted King William out of the Supremacy : That they have V/urped 1 14 Ls4 Second Vindication. &c. * ittothemfelves, having without Jns leave Qonveentd at Ed- inburgh, and Voted t hem fe Ives into a free General kjfembly. That they daily draw up 'Infl'rutticfnsfor regulating the Par- liament : I kat they Meet and ^fdjourn at their pleafure. Forthefirftofthefe, it was not the Minifters, but the Parlia- ment fto which the King gave his Royal Aflent ) which Vot* ed away the Supremacy : And that, not any Supremacy that is due to any man on Earth; but fuch a one as the fcope had ufurped over the Church of God ; and which fome of out Kings had aflumed, and under the former Government had been fcrued up to that height that the King might overturn our Religion at his pleafure. And it is highly to the Commenda- tion of our Gracious King, that he was pleafed to give to God that which was his, and to reierve only to himfelf, what was Cafars. For the fecond, the Presbyterians ufurpe no Supre* macy, no Legiflative, nor Coercive Power:: They pretend 1 tonomorebutaMinifterialPower, in declaring the Laws of Chrift, by his Authority, and in executing the Cenfures which he hath appointed for the breakers of thefe Laws*. Thirdly, It is moft falfe that they conveened in the General Afiembly without his leave, They had an exprefs Aft of Parliament for it, neither did the Aflembly Meet or Adjourn, without the Kings Commiffioner at any time; other Judicatories are by Law allowed to Meet and Adjourn, as they think fit; and therefore theitfo doing is not without the Kings leave. We think it no fmall mercy to have the Magiftrates Countenance to our Meetings ; Tho' we think to deny any Intrinfick Power in the Church, to meet about, the Affairsof Religion, were to condemn the Apoftles, and to allow Rulers, if theyfliould be either open or fecret Enemies to the Truth, a Power to ruine all, at their pleafure. Fourthly, That they either daily , or at all, drawuplnftru&ions for Regulating the Parliament, is an Aflertion fo Falle, and Malicious , as none but a man of this Authors temper could be capable of ; Nor can I ima- gine J he Cafe of the hjflt&ed Clergy, &c. U? ^ne from whence he could take rife for fuch a Fancy. He hath another foul Untruth: That the Covenant is againVoted the Standard of all pure Religion. 1 deftre to know of him where, when, or by whom, this was done: For they that live in Scot- land know nothing of ir. His talk of fome holding that King Charles fell from theCrown becaufe he brake the Covenant, and King James had no Right becaufe he took itfiot ; Might perhaps be the Principle of fome of the wildeft of the Hill-men, but never were the Opinions of found Presbyterians. His third Query, dcfervethfittle Anfwer. We are far from thinking King William an Idolater ; tho' we diflike the Englifh Service ; And our Principles are known, that we owe Loyalty, and ftave payed it, even to an Idolatrous, (that if a PopiftV King. The fourth Q«?rytendeth to engage the Rulers to bear down the Presbyterians in the North of Ireland -, that Popery might prevail there; agaiiifl which they have been thegreateft Bul- wark of that Nation. His fifth Query qtiarrellerh the Diflen- ters in England for Praying for their Brethren in Scotland-. How tcafonably this is blamed, let the Reader judge. I never heard that they Prayed for Scotland, as their Mother Church. In his Sixth Q«*ry, hefhamelefly blameth Presbyterians for be- ing againft rolleration ^this I have anfwered in my former Vindication) whereas his own Party are as rigid that way as any, except Papifts, orthefein Japan. For hislaftQ«^ry, Which concerneth the Moderation of Presbyterians ; it is our defign and endeavour to grow in this, and in other Graces; and not to confine our felves to our own attainments, or to what others had attained who went before us: Andtofetno bounds to it but what the Scripture fetteth. I hope all this con- fidered, the defign of his Queries is loft; whichistoreprefent the Presbyterians as not Loyal, nor firm to King William. Many wife Men think that he hath few in this Nation, befide them, who are cordially for his Intereft. Qi AN V - xiy A N ANSWER To a Pamphlet, Intituled - T dilate Letter concerning the Sufferings of the EpiftopalCler*. gy m Scotland, printed 1 69 1, THe Party finding fome acceptance with their eafie Be- lievers, of their former Lying and reproachful Prints^ thought fit to add this, as a further knock ot the Hammer, to drive the Nail to the head .- That it might now be beyond de- bate with them who will give them Credit without trying the Truth or Ingenuity of what is reported;, that the Presby- terians are a Cruel Party, and have oppr«ffed the Clergy. And indeed this piece is behind none of the reft in effronted and bold Lies : And to fay this , might be a juft Refutation of the whole Book : Tho' no more were faid. It they who know our Affairs can but Read the Book with impartial Eyes, and if Strangers will give equal Credit to the one Patty as to the o- thcr: Yet leaft theylhould fay, that there is no anfwerto it ; I fhall with much brevity take notice of fuch paflagss in it as are moft material, faoe^. There is a anotable Lye, !>/£;. He will have it thought that There were no more Nonconformifls in the Tresbytery of Srranrawer , but two women and one Mi- nifttr (whom yet he doth not own for fuch, but faith he was Jo reputed) this is an Untruth fo broad- faced, as may dif- parage! the veracity of the Author, and make all bis Aflerti- •ns us L/2 decona vtnaicanon % ccc. ons be disbelieved. For many, if not moft, of the Inhahi* rants of the Parifhes in that Presbytery, were Fined, Impri- soned, and Rained, lot rhrir Nonconformity: l Drag*ons were kept there, asaneceffary means to force the people to -comply with the£pifcopal way. An Account can be (tawed of above i ooo J Sterling leavied off the Parifh of Glenluce , for nonconformity;. And fcarce a Family in Stranrawerotwy note,but wereFinedjanalmprifonedjtill they payed their Fines. Hewhoafcei^iiich an impudent and fcroad Lie, will believe any thing that this Author writech , on the Authority of his Teftimony, >aay alio believe that there hath been noperfecu* tionof late years in France. And i\ any of the diftrefied People did at laft comply t it doth not more follow, that they were Epifcopal, than it can beconcluded , that all the French Proteftants are Papifts who were forced to be prefent at Mafs : That there was mTresbyterian Treacher in the fe parts except A/r.Bell; isnotftrange; feing by the furieofthe Perfecu- tcrs none might be feen: That A* had freedom* in his mind t9 hear the Incumbents that then were , and that when the Li- berty was %iven , hefet up a Cftteeling- hou/e : Is a praft ifc not to be blamed: the People generallie either could not hear , or did it renitenteconfeuntia-. Anditwasbutreafonable that a Minifter who before could not edify them, fhoulddoitwhena* liberty was granted for fo doing. §, %. It is alfo a grofs and malicious Lie, p f $. That Willi am Torbran/Wtalreland/^r^ Murther that he had committed on a Child of Mr. Hutchifon*s. Mr- Wutchifone never charge ed Mr. Torbran with the Murther of his Child: but William Tor bran was forced to flee to Ireland to efcape the fevere per- fection that he endured from theSouldiers . at the inftigation of the Minifter of the Parifh, fuchabold Calumnie might be of dangerous Confequence, if Lex talionis were put in due Exe- cution, p. $,6. He telleth a long Story, about Building a Meeting boufe and calling another to k MiniSer (nStr on- rawer jQnfwertoalate Letter. &e. n^ rawer >hen Mr, Bell, about which I have no Information ; nei- ther is it material or to ourpurpofe But what he faith of Latrd? and Ladies by Threatnings compelling theirTennents^vid by ether mdireEl means prevailing with others, to concur for main- tainingthat Meeting-.\$ a ihamelefs Lie. It's well known, that the ^People ot that Countrey did forwardly, andchearfullygo along in that defign: And Generally rhe meaner fort fhewed ^s much Zeal that way as rhey of better falfhion did. If he had mentioned who thefe Gentlemen were who made gain by the Collection for maintaining the Hottfe: Or who the two were who beat their Tennents fir ft to take the Teft, and after to leave -the Church and go to the Meeting: The truth, orfalfhood, of thefe Aflertions might have been inquired into : But fince it hath not plealed him fo to do, 1 hope it will be no Breach ot Charity to look on them as flanderous Forgeriesjike unto many paffages in his Book already noted, or to be noted It is not enough for this Gentleman to reproach the Presbyterians, but page. 7. He mod malicioufly belj eth his Nation, as if there were neither Law nor Juftice in Scotland, nor any remedy for fuch as are opprefled: While he faith, Thar they deal no other wife with their Farmers than with Slaves ;rhat if the TennentTt're Rich, the Laird muH be Tutor to the Children I kne w not what this Author hath obfjrved, but other Scots men arc unacquainted with thefe things-. And if there be oppreflbn ( as alas there is too much every where J I am fure his own party have a large lhareof it among them. What he fo Tragically Paintcth out, of Preachers and People going through Parifhes, where there were no Meeting Y\f ufes ; Amountcth to no more but this, that the Mmiftcrs , v\cie fo charitable to People who could not maintain a Miniftcr for rhemfelves, as to go to them, and help them, by appointing their Meetings w here fuch deftitute People might attend them. ^. 3. He tclleth a \or\g$ioxy,page jOitheTresbyterians Arm- ing thtmfclves, ani inventing falfe Reports to give countenance for lid k>4 Second Vindication. &c. f or their fo doing-.andthat the defan of it was, to mine theClergyi This allegation is above anfwered, being brought in alfo in fome of the former Letters: And hirnfelf oppofeth it.in acknowledging that mod of the Clergy were turned out before this Arming of the Ccuntrey . Neither are the Papifts in that Countrey io tew as he alledgeth : Efpecially confidering them as ftrengthned by all that owned King ytfw^/sInterelVtho' nominal Protef- tants. There was bojfcji neceffity for Protectants providing Arms and it was allowed 4>y Authority, after the Prince of Orange Landed. That one Troop carried all the TapiFts to Goa£ I know not; butlamfure, before the Prince and hislntereft became formidable (which was the time when the People pro- vided Arms ) and while the Episcopalians were not difcouraged from appearing for the Papifts, many Troops would not have done it. The Persecution that he fpeakethofwas, by his own Confeflion moftly ( if he had faid only it had been nothing amifsy Afledby theCameronians: Which leaveth it on them not on us, to anfwer forit. page. 8, That all the Mimfters of that Tresbytery, except one who was abfent, obcsedtheTro- tUmationfor Reading mdTraying : Is a bold AlTcrtion. For it is faid byguefs : Fori, they had few, or none, to hear them, befide their own Families: Who then can witnefs that they obeyed the Proclamation, or before? whom did they perform this Solemn Aftion? x. It was witnefled before the Synod of Wigtoun, \ylpril. 18. 1690. That- Mr. Qameron Minifter at/»^did, the fameday pray for King James, and thejoung Prince: And thar he read not the Proclamation till after the the Blefiing, when the Congregation was a Diflolving. The Narrative, page,$,g. OithzTwoCcmmiffioners treattngwitb Patrick Paterfon, tomakehimTroveff tf he would put out the Minifter, ismoftfalfe: Mt.Taterfon, who is now Proved of that Town ^1691) denyeth that anyoftheCommifiioners did ever infinuare any fuch terms of his being Proveft: And shefe two CommiflionersareknowntobePerfonsoithatinte- %njwer to ahte Letter, &c! tti Maxwel ( who had been in Irelandfoms time ) when he returned home, Mr* Ramfay alfo and ethers, could mt get their Stipend. 7 eat he Sheriff incour aged all thefe to whom they owed any thing to fue them. Whereas he refufed to hear them when they fued for their by pas! Stipends : By which means they were Starved out of the Country. Anf. It was little wonder that they had no Stipend payed them, when they did not ferve the Cures : Nor that the Sheriff did not Favour them in their fuing for thefe Sti- pends; for the Council had by a Proclamation appointed that no Decreets fliould pafs, about thefe Stipends till the Par- liament ( which foon after was to fit ) Ihould determine in that extraordinary cafe. That the Sheriffdid excite any to fue thefe Minifters, is faid without any (hew of proof : Nor can the Af- fertion of a Perfon who hath written fo many Lies in a few pages induce any rationalPcrfon to believe it. page, 19,10. Heoffer- eth to prove a U that he hath (aid, and more, that he might al- ledge: Which we challenge him to do, as ha w T ould not bear ihe Infamy of that Lying and Slandering that he mod unjuftly chargeth the Presbyterians with, page, 20. He clafleth the perfecutted Clergy, into four Ranks : The 3 former I have taken notice of, in anfwet to the two Pamphlets above an- fwered. Of the 4/A, which is, fuch as were put out by the Judi- catories of the Church ( which this mocker calleth theH&lyin- quifition of the Presbyterian Treacher s ) he giveth not one In- itance. I deny not but fome (and they were but very few) were either depofed, orfufpended, by fome Presbyteries, forinfufc ficient caufes : And it is no wonder that fome Minifters who were not well experienced in the practical part of Church Go- vernment, might commit fome mistakes; But this can no wayes be charged on the Presbyterians, not only becaule they were but very few who did fo ; but efpccially becaufe the Church of Scotland tookfpecial care,both to prevent tliisprac- R 1 tic© Ii4 \yiSecond Vindication. &c: tice and to redrefs the grievances of fuch as made complains after they had been thus Lefed. For in 1689, a general Meeting did enjoy ne aM the Presbyteries to be careful that none of the fate Contormifts be cenfured except for Inefficiency, Scandal,. £rrour,^r fupine Negligence in the Minifterial Work; nor unleis thefe were fufficiently proved againft them;, and that if there fhould be any doubt, either about the relevancy of what fhould be lybelled againft any of them* or about the clear- nefs of the proof of what any ot them fhould be charged with, in that cafe, they fhould notproceedtoafenWrce, butrefec the matter to the General Aflembly, which was to meet. This was what could be done by way of precaution; And for relief of fuch as pretended to begrieved, whereas fuch as were Cenfured by Presbyteries (moft of them lmean, forfome were fo guilty in their own Eyes, andtotheconvi&ion of all that knew them; that they acquiefced in their Sentence) did appeal to the General Aflembly, the Aflembly (not having time to doit) did appoint a Commiffion of the graveft, and moft experienced, of their number, confifting of^Minifters and %o Ruling Elders, to examine t^efe proceffes, and to take off fuch Sentences as they fhould find unduely pafled againft anyPerfon. The Commiffion hath examined fome of thefe complaints, and are going on with the the reft ; and have Actu- ally taken off the Sentences of fome: Such as Mr, Sptswood oiAbotfrule: Mr, Lyon of Kinghorn : And Mr, Bowisoit^Zb- botfhaU-. Wherefore we are not afraid of the Printed account that he faith is coming out, ^we have as yet heard no more of it) of fuch as were cenfured by the Church; But are willing that the World (heuld know the whole truth of that matter. §. 6. He telleth us, page, xi. What Mr. Douglas Mini- fter at Skirling* fuffered: In which we are little concerned; For himfelf faith char ic was rhe Camevoniaos that gave him this trouble: only 1 take notice of his falfe and malicious furmifing: That they lay in wait to Murder him : A nd of his wicked In* finua^ An/wer to a late Letter, &c.< nj jinaution of Murders and Slaughters committed by that WeL iifh Crew. Al! the Nation know that the work of that zealous party was to deprive thcfe Mfnifters who had been their cruel Perkcutors from their Churches^ and that none of them were ever Murdered by them. Let him bring Inftances, andthefull proof that he promifeth, for what he mod impudently cb- trudeth on Peoples Credulity, and he fliall have an Anfwer. Not only the men whom he accufeth may be thus Vindicat- ed in general, but the whole of the Story about Mr. Dowglas is a Forgery : I can ihew (attefted by efce Subscriptions of eighteen Credible perfons of the Parifli of Sirkling with the with the Baillie of the Town) atrue account of Mv.*Dowglas's Cafe, which he and his Party may be alhamed of: It is to this effeft: Never any of the DiiTentcrs molefted him , or gave him the leaft caufe of fear : All that could befoconftrufted, even by the mod melancholly Fancy, was; two Men, as they went by his door, fteptin, and asked his Wife, iffliehad any Monuments of Idolatry, and fo went away. Never any of his Parifli did either do, or threaten any hurt to him. The true caufe of his flying into England was, he had run into fo muchDebtashewasnotfafeintheNatioji from Captions, he had lived Intemperately, and Riotoufiy :■ his Bible was laid in pledge for Ale ; which iyeth yet unredeemed. His other Books were pledged [nBt^gar for Banquetting;hisWifes Bible pledged lozCMxtten; which fhe redeemed before fhe removed: His Houfliold Goods arc under many Arreftments. When he went {iornShrlw%Me borrowed a Cloak from a Neighboured in the way to Edinburgblch the Cloak in pledge for a Quart of Ale : his Parifh i^tho' Diflcnters^di J often relieve his Wife in her Neceflity, and what fhe got that way, (he fpent in Drinking with Souldicrs and others. Let the Reader now judge whe- ther that be a Petfcution like the Yrencb Dragooning. Out- Authors complaint that no Redrefs was given by the State, tc them who complained^ above aniwered, particularly the letter tx6 \J1 Second Vindication , &c. alledge d by him, to have been written by a great Perfon to ths Pariihof Bo(ie, which Letter was produced in the Council by tl^Duke of Wamiltoun, this, I fay, is cleared Sett. 15. CM the anfwer to Account oftheprefent Sufferings. What follow- eth p. 13'. is a Vindication of the Epifcopal Clergy from pro- voking the P re^Hyterians, or having any hand in their Perfe- ction in the lareReigns: Where one m ay obferve the man to be ptrfriliafrontis : Andthat nothing, tho' never fo certainly, and mawfeftly ialfe, can clmak his Confcience. He faith, The Clergy can defy them to give one inflance where any Dijfen* terfuffered death, or was any way injured , by the In for matt* on or Infligation of any Minifter in Scotland. The conrrary ofthisisnottour to all who have lived inScot/andtbck years laft by pad; that all do admire the Impudence of this Adertion: Nothing was more common, than for the Clergy to be Inciters to, and Abetters ot the Persecution: By Informing the Soul' diers (who were commonly the Executors of the Law againft Diflenters) and going along with them, and affiftjng them in deftroyingofthefepoor Sufferers: If inftances of this be re- quired, many may be given : ForaTaftetakethefefew, Mr. Ram fay Minifter at Torboltoun, Mr. EdmiftoHMi- mRera&Gargonnock'Mr.John Row Minifter at ; Pur- fued their Parifhes , each of them j allcdging their Houfes were Robbed: The firft,got three thoufand Merks, the fecond, fix thoufand Merks, the third, three thoufand Merks from the Parifhes, Kefpetiive; tho' it was after found, that High- landers had Robbed the fecond; and they were Hanged for it: And that the third had not in his Houfe the value of one thou- fand Merks: And no Evidence could be brought that any in thefe Parifhes were Acceflory to thefeA&s. To thtfe I add a fourth; Mr. Mackenzie, Minifter at Boyd, above mentioned, went to the Garrifon of the Caftle of Dmnbartoun, and got Souldiers to go with him, and apprehend Robert Nairn in Napier pun (the Souldiers affirmed that he procured their be- ing An/wertoalate'Letter, &c. xiy ingftnt:) Thi* he did feveral times; fo that the very day that the poor man died, they behooved to remove him to another Houfe; where he died, and Mr. Mackenzie would not fuffer him to be buried in the Church-yard, and caufed caft out his Family y fo that his Wife and ten Children were forced eo Lodge feveral Weeks without doors in Froft and Snow. What he faith page 24. doth not derogate from what I have afTerted, viz. He affiemeth, that They were neither Judges tier Tar ties , nor Witnefses, nor Accufers v It is true they did not ordinarily appear fo publickly againft them before Civil Courts : Yet did they more privately affift in Military Execution againft them; and that moft freqitently : And gave Intelligence tojufticesofc' Peace, and others who had Power to Moleft them, Nothing can be more falfe than to fay, That When they were command- ed by Authority to give in the Names of Diff enters they gene- rality declined it, till they were forced to it. For every one knoweth, that there were but few who fliuned it: Moftof them did forwardly obey this Injunction. Tho' I confefs there werefome whom no Laws, nor Threats of Men, could pie- vail with to do a thing fo unbecoming the Character of a Mi- nifteroftheGofpel; but thefe were very few. He doihalfo aver, That no T>iff enter fuffered purely for T)if?enting; but only tncafe of open Kehellton, or in the Cafe of Murther. /Is for Killing the hrchhifhop of St. Andrews,. This alfo is a no- totiousand fhameful falihood. Did not all the Presbyterian Minifters fuffer Deprivation of their Churches and Benefices (which he and his Party make fuchi outcry about when it is come to the turn of fomeofthemfelvcs) purely for Diflenting? Did they not fuffer Banifhmenr, fome of them into Foraign Lands, orhers from their Dwellings, that they might nnc he within fix Miles of their Parifhcs, or a Cathedra! . So as hard- ly they could find a place in the Nation where they could ic- fide, without hazard from the Laws? Were not multitude!! Eincd, to the ruine of their Families, for not hearing their \ parilh xxS A SecondVin&cation, fkC parifli MinifterS, or for Conventicles; and what is thfetaE pureDiflenting? I hope it is neither open Rebellion, norMur- ther. Was not the Highland Hofi (a Crew of Savage Robbers) fent into the Weftern Counties ; white the people were living in Peace: Who almoft laid the Country dcfolate, and left noSufte- nance for Man nor Beaft. Were not many Piflollcd, or Hanged, or Drowned,.asthey were found on the Highway ,or about thei* Work, in their Houfes, or in the Fields : For no other Caufe but they would not tell what were their Thoughts ot thelnfur* region at Botbwel- Bridge; or of the Archbifhops Murchers while they could not be Accufed for neither: Or for not dif. owning the Sanquhar Declaration (when* may be,they knew notwhatitwasy or for not difowning the Covenant: And canfuch people be charged either with open Rebellion, or Murther? What Jury could find them Guilty of thefe Crimes? Among multitudes of Inftances of this kind that can be brought (for it can be made appear that above Seventy were thus Murdered in Cold Blood, and without any Legal Trial} I fliall mention bur three for a Specimen. Some Gentlemen (whofe Names, out of refpeftto them, I forbear to mention) took two Women, Margaret Laughland and Margaret W/A (on, the one of 60, the other ot xo years; andxaufed them betyedtoa Stake, within the Seamark, at IVigtoun, end left them there till the Tyde over flowed them, and drowned them: And this was done without any Legal Tryal 1685-. An Officer of the Army caufed fhoot to death Thomas Richard of 70 year at Cumnock, in Ky/le, without any Tryal i68f. The fame year, in May % Graham of Claverhou/e /'who after was Vifcountoi Dundie, whom our Author callerhTfe Great J took John Brown of Triefthitt. in the Parifli of Moor* kirk, being at his W T ork, in his own Houfe, and Shot him dead, inprefence of his Wife, and that without anylhadow of Trial. Anfwer to a late Letter. &c. 129 ^7.Hetakethoccafion/^ 13,14. To mention feveral per * ions who were Murdered: As if all this had been done by Presbyterians: As the Archbifhopof St. Andrews and others. But malice it felf cannot charge thefe Crimes on that party; fomeot which they generally lamented, becaufcdoneby men who took that name to themfelves: Tho' others of them were committed by perions unknc wn,as the murther of Mr. Tear fin at Car sf aim : None in the thefc parts, can to this day, tell who were the aftors in that Tragedy. Some of them by fuch as were in a declared (late of War againft the King, and all his ad- herents, whofe Principles and praftices we never approved; and who were Enemies to the Sober Presbyterians as well as ro them whom they called Carats: Somealfo of thefe Mur- ders were committed on private pique, and for revenge of per- fonal injuries done, or alledged to have been done. If it be true which he aiTerteth, pageif. Thatfomeof thePresbyte- rians, fince this late Revolution, have proved ungrate to fuch of i he Clergy, as had done them KindnefTes, wben they were in Trouble, we are far from approving fuch practices : Nei- ther dewc deny that fomeperfons are to be found amongftus, who are not fo good as they ihould be. But that either the thing is true in the general, or that the inftance that he bringeth is a Truth, we have little caufe to believe on his Aflertion. Not do I think it worth the while to enquire into it. He faith, He can confidently affirm, and is able to prove \ That the Epifcopal Clergy, all the time ^Ifuppofehemeaneth while Epifcopacy flayed in Sect land) were the only perfionspcrficutcd, cither in their Names, Goods, orTerfons. And all this becaufefomc whoby their Severities were driven into Defperation commit- ted fomeAfts of Violence on iome of them But if he would prove this Aflertion 1 for his being confident to affirm it, it is but fuitable to the whole drain of his Book, and tho* ftrange, is not rarej He mud make it appear, that during the late Rejgns, .never any Presbyterian was called Phanatick, Rebel, S S-.di- no 1,4 Second Vindication, &c. Seditious (even while they lived peaceably) that never any Ninifter was charged with Preaching Rebellion and Sedition,- who yet either fpoke nothing of the Differences of the Times ; or taught Loyalty and Obedience in all things Lawful, even to fuch Rulers as were of different Principles from us. He muft alfo demonftrate ,. that no Presbyterians were Fined to the Ruine of their Families* for peaceable Hearing the Word, in aHoufeorintheFields: Alfo he muft fhew mat no Presby- terians were Irnprifoned, Baniflied, oc carried Captive, and Sold as Slaves, for not Hearing Epifeopal Minifters, or for Hearing Presby tetians; none of whichhe can prove: Butwe can make the contrary of all three evident ; and fhould be at thepainsto do it. but that the whole Nation are WitnelTesta the Truth of all thefe. §8, He cometh page sd.toa purpofe (bywtiatcourfehe draweth it into his method, I know not) wherein there is fome place for Argument: But I muft the more eafilv diipatch it, becaufe I have debated that point, in my former Vindication ; in Anfwer to The 10 Quefitons It is, he pretendeth to take off the force of a Confutation that was in the Narrative of the Aft of Parliament , whereby the Government of the Church was lately Settled in the Hands of Presby terians, viz. That the Reformat ion of this Church from Popery was manage tdbyTresbytcrSi Tathis he feemeth to Anfwer two things. t. He denieth the Confequence. Reply* I know not that ever any did make this the Consequent; Ergo, The Govern* mentof this Church fhould be Presbyterian; for he may know that Presbyterians fix the Government of the Church onafurer, and immutable bottom, viz. Divine Inftitution: And do hold that whoever were the Reformers, the Church might to be governed by the Presbyters Afting in a Parity. Wherefore all his Talk under this Head, is wide fromthepur- pofe. The true Defign of mentioning Presbyters to have been out Reformers is, to fhew that the Government ©f this Church The Cafe of the Afflifted Clergy, &c ij i Church hath been Presbyterian , even from the Infancy of Proteftantifm among us: They being Presbyters whofetled the Proreftant Church,aad managed the Affairs of ir, fromthe beginning, and ever till unfaithfuland felf feeking Men, altera traft of time, got that way forceably luppreft , and Church Domination fet up , for fome years. His enlargement on this his Anlwer is ftuffed.with Reproaches againft the Refor- mation, and againft the Presbyterians: I (hall not rake into that Dung hill, for it fmelleth rankly of a Temper not much inclined to the Reformation, and of an imbittered Mind. His Citation out of Ba/iltcon'Doron , I have clearly anfwered in the Paper before cited. His aJledging that The Presbyte- riansengageParents, when their Children are Baptized, to bnng them up conform to the Covenant, Is a grofs Fallhood y itisnotenjoyned, nor by one of many Hundreds pra&ifed, to mention the Covenant on fuch occanons. He fpeakech of Rules % and Prayers to purge England of Prelacy and Super- fiitwn, aiufedalfoat Baptifm, which I never was Witnefs to, nor heard that it was done by any in our Nation; But this man pleafeth himfelf with what ever he can devife, to expofe the Pcesbyterians. He cometh, in the end of page 17 To another Anfwer to that which he fanciethrobe our Argument for Presbytery, viz, To deny the Antecedent of it; or that Scotland was Reformed by Fresbyters. Here the Gentleman igiveth us a Specimen of his Argumentative skill, which will not make any man admire the Learning of his Party, which they fo much brag of, while their Champions do manage an Argu- ment fo Sillily. Heasketh. fVhoOrdained thefe Presbyters? Whether Bifbops or not ? Anf. It is an Impertinent Quefti- § 4. Turrit, part 3. he. 18 quefi\xi$ % But our prefent debate needeth not that wc fhould pufh this Opinion fo far as thefe Learned Authors do* Heaskecb, If they were not Ordained byftifbops, where are the Miracles that they have wrought to prove their MtJJion. I flial! not here aHedge /"as feme have done, without being ever Anfweredbyanyof his Party ^ that there were not wanting among our Reformers extraordinary Appearances of God with them, convincing the World of their being fent of him. Ifliallfirft take notice of theconclufionof this Argument (if « have any force) which will be," that our Reformation wag unwarrantable, as being carried on, A mn Habentibuspotefla* tern. And it is pleafant to obferve , that this Author can branglethe Presbyterian Intereft, by no other Arguments* than fuch as will, wirh equal force, fhake our Reformation from Popery. 2. That Miracles are neccflary tofhewarnans Miffion, which is not communicated to him in the ordinary way, inrefpeftof the Modes, and Circumftances, none do main- tain but Papifts, and inch as in too many things Symbolize withthenv John Baptift, and (everal of the Prophets, wrought no Miracles, and yet had an extraordinary miffion. Icison- ly to be expe&ed that they fhould work Miracles, who pretend to be* extraordinary fent , to preach anew Doftrine, or bring in a new Office into the Church which is not warranted in the Scripture. Next he will prove, that if they were ordained by Bifbops, it cannot be called a pure Presbyterian Reformation : Hisrsalonfor this is ftrange, to dropitom the pen of appen- ded Jed Prote^anr. For (faith he) Ifuppofe, which ffltte deny, obliged to /reach the GoJ£e/, as the Bijbcp who cm- f&red orders on them, bound them thereunto. Whether will bold Ignorance carry one? Can \u nedeny thishis AiTrtion ? do not all, except Pjpifis, andafewPapizingPrelatilts, deny it? It this were fa, muft v\e not condemn Luther, 2nd all the Reformer^ who preached the Gofpel others lie th.3n the Popifh Bifliops, who conferred orders on them, injoy.ned. The infe- rence that he fubjoyneth, is none of ours: We think our felves exempted from Epifcopal Jurisdiction^ and obliged to aboliilr that order; not becaufe the Gofpel was at fir ft preached by Piesbyters-, but becaufe that ordex hath no Foundation in the Word. §. 9 A Goodly Argument he -hath, page, a8. That Scot- land was not reformed by Presbyters*, viz. Some hi/hops re- formed; as Dr. Gordon ^Galhnvay, and Adam 1'ijL Pof Orkney, he bringeth no proof for the former ; but for the latter, he was Excommunicated for GWarrymg the Queen to the Earl € Second Vindication, Sec. He faith, that where there had been Topijh Bifhops, there Tr$* teftant Bijb$ps were appointed in their places, under the name of Superintendents. Here is a double miftake : One that the Su- perintendents were Bifhops: Another that they were put into the places, and Revenues of the Popifh Bilhops. The fallhood of both which, I have fliewed in my Former Vindication, «upon Gfoery i. page, 10. That the Reve- nues of the Popifti Bifhops were fettled on the Super* intendents, is an Aflertionthat proveth, either that this Author is a Stranger toour^Hiftory, orthatheregardethnot the truth or falfhhood of what he Affirmeth, What foHoweth,/^,i9 Of the fate bringinfgin of Presbytery into the Reformed Church of Scotland, I have fully difproved in the place lad cited page 3 . After the moft fpiteful Venome fpued out, that could lodge in a humane Breaft, againft the Presbyterians (which it is fit to defpife rather than Anfwer ) lie concludeth his Letter, with an Aflertion no lefs falfe then the reft of his Allegations are: viz. That his Party futfer neither for Breach of Divine, nor humane Laws; but only for Epifcopacy. Ifanyhonefty remain with him, it would oblige him to give fomeinftance or proof, that the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, ( for he afcribeth their fufferings to their opposition to the Fanaticks of the Kitk^ did ever trouble any of them, either for their Opinion about Church Government, or meerly for their complyance with E- pifcopacy, when it had the Law on its fide ; on the contrary, we can (hew, to the convi&ion of all unbyafled men, that fuch as iiavei'uffered by the State, did fuffer for their Breach ofthe Law of the Nation, in net owning the King and Queen, as the Law required: And chatiuch as were Cenfured by the Church (ex- cept two or three whofeSentences were taken offbySuperior Ju- dicatories of die Church^ fuffered for the Breach of Divine iLaws,i>i;s. For grofs immoralities: Onclnftancelfliallgive £xreprefenti; out of the Presbytery of Stranrawer^ abouc which his whole Letter is Coovexfant: Mx*\kam(ay 9 lateMt- aiftet niltcr at stranrawer, was oy tne aynoa or rrtgtwn, put from hi* place, on thefe Grounds; Frequent Drunkenncfs on the Jabbath day : proved by the Oaths of BaillieVaufe, and xjfnirew M'iennel : Beating his Wife on the Sabbath , before he went to Preach: Sworn by Andrew Mckennel, and Robert Gordon, the faid Robert Gordon's Wife deponed, tfiat (he faw, at that time, Mrs. Ramfay Bleeding;. Frequent Swearing : proved by the Oathfrof Trovefi Row, BaillieVaufe, and Robert Gordon : I fliould not thus have expofed men who once bare the eharafter of Minifters; but the impudent accuiations of this Scribler, and theobiigation that lyeth on Perfons and Churches 10 neceflary felf defence, do con ft rain me. AN «J7 ANIMADVERSIONS On a Pamphlet, called, A Memos ul for Bis HtghnefstbeVrince of Orange, m Relation to the xylfairs of Scotland. H A Wng proceeded thus far in contributeing my poor mite , for Vmdicateingthe PresbyterianChurch o{Scotlatid&nd meet- ing wi'M this Print, of thefame drain with thefe others above an- swered; that is, fullof bitter and unreafonablcinveftives, againft Prcsbjterial Government; I could not fhun making fomeObfer- vations on :r, whereby Truth and Innocence may be vindicated, a- gainft Lies and Railing. The defi^n of this Print is manifeft to be, to difpofe His Majefty to prefiSrve Epifcopacy in Scotland^ and to hinder the Setling of Presbytery : And it is a real and efleftual refutation, that our Wife and Gracious King hath not found fucli weight of reafonin it, as to be moved by it, but hath aded quite contrary to the malitious Infinuationsof this Author. This Paper is nothing fliort of the reft ; for moftgrofs Falfhoods, in matters ©fFaft, and mod injurious Mif-reprefentations of our Way and Principles. It is faid to be done by twoperfons of Quality. On* Wit might, by a little labour, have brought forth a more perfeft Birth. What is the Quality of the Author, or Authors, for world- ly Dignity, I enquire not, but his, or their Moral Qualities may, by the Book, be feen, to be none of the beft , We have i ft a par- eel of Falfcand Malicious Hiftory, as ever was written in fo few Lines. Next fome Counfels to his Highnefs. 3 . He rcfuteth a Paper that he falfly calleth an Addrtfsfrom the Tresbyterians to the Prince of 'Orange; And then concluded^ as he began, with Lies and Railing, T *.*; 1 3 $ t-/^ Second Vindication. &c. §, x. The firft paflage in his Hiftorical Account is a fout miitake (tocallitnoworfe)7;/;s, Thar the rife of our hntmofities % and why they are Warmer "here 7&>«»rErrgland, is, England was Reformed by the Royal Authority;' and therefore their Church was futedto the Monarchy : But Scotland was Reformed by Yorce andViolertce, and/omeofthe Reformers^ coming from Geneva, /^Switzerland, inffiredmany of their Converts with an Averfi. m to Monarchy, A man who taketh Liberty to flander at this rate of Impudence, deferveth rather chaftifement, then an Anfvver. For. i. With, what Brow can he fay that our Reformers were averfe from Monarchy ; or that the Anrimonarchical Principle did ever get much footing m Scotland, as we know it did in Eng- land; tor all their being Reformed by Royal Authority. Did ever Scotland fet up a Commonwealth , as England once did ? It is known what they Adventured and Suffered for the Moharchy, when England zbjuied it. And what yeilding there was in Scot- land to the Anrimonarchical way, was by Force from England: And it is known to all who lived in thofedayes, that the Presby* terians did cleave more firmly to their Banifhed King, and Prayed for him with more Conftapcy and Refolution, then that Party did who after appeared for Epifcopacy. %. That Scotland was Re- formed by Force and Violence, isfalfe, It was by the States of the Nation, and at laft confirmed by King and Parliament, The chief difference, as to the Original of the two Reformations, lay in this ;; That in England, the King (whether from Light, orlmereft I do norjudge) begun a half Reformation: And Royal Authority en- ligruned the minds of the people (I fpeaknotof all.fcutof the Mul- titude) but in Scotland, Light from the wosd of God did move, firft the people, then the great Ones, and they prevailed with the King at laft, zealoufly to own the Truth of God: Yea, and to defend it in print. 3. That the Government of the Church of England was fuited to the Monarchy (that is as Ifuppofe he mean- cfh, framed by a iiitablcnefs to the Monarchy, as the Standard ©fit) is not its commendation : For that is to make it ahumarre Contrivance, or worldly Policie , brought into the Church cf Chrift, over which he is the Head; and which is to be governed by iySmmadverfions on the Cnewortal. 139 by his Laws: Whereas the Government of the Church of Scot* land was contrived by the Word of God, as the Standardof ic> yet was it as much fuited to the Monarchy as that of I ngland could be: That is, it gave, and giveth to the King, all that Power in the State that our Laws gave him : And all that Authority over theChurcluhatisduetoanyman on Earth. The Abetters of it Preach and Praftice as much Obedience and Subjeft ion to/frngs, as others do. and can vie in Loyalty, with their Accufers, as fliali after be obkrved 4 Idonot junderftandhowourprefenD Ani- mofities,aboutChurch Government fhould depend on the one way being fuited to the Monarchy, and the other nor, feing this Au- thor fas well as his oppofues really are J doth highly pretend, to be not only for the Monarchy, but for the prefent Monarchy K. IVilltam. But either he hath a latent Meaning, which hath much Truth in it, or he hath hit on the Truth by guefs, as Cajaphas did,ws. That our Animofities about Church Government arifo mainly from the different Inclinations that are in the two Parties toward die Monarchy, as noweftablifhed in the Perfonsof ourGra- ciousKing William and Queen Mary, The ftrain, both of their Writings and Adings, makeit evident that with him the Intereft of King James, and that of Prelacy are linked together -.And their Zeal for the one filleth them with Spite and Animofity againft what i^oppofite to the other. And whofoconfidereththeitrain of this Pamphlet, will findthatthe zeal that this Scribler prctendethto jprKing William, isexprefled ulually under the general Notion pf the Monarchy; which may be undcrftood of either of two Monarchies. What he faith, that, Buckannan, and others, wrote Books that were condemned for Treafon, is no Argument: For that which by one Party is condemned for Treafon , by another tatty, when they have.got the Afcendent, hath been abfolved, as not guilty of that Crime. 1 hat the Puritans vexed Ktn^ 'ames VI. is no further true than that they could not yeild to the endea- vours of fome evil Counfellers about him, for overturning the Setled Government of the Church 5 and encroaching on its Rights. Itistrue, HeatlaJlgotEpifcopacyfstledbytlxhelpcffome, both iu State md Church, Who wer« either none of the bctt Proteftants, T x ot 140 x^A Second Vindication. &c. or had their worldly Defigns in promoting that way: ButftfHoof Author owncih fen the matter) that the Word of God was not confulted in this weighty Concernment of the Church : But only his fancied fntablenefs to the Monarchy , and Conformity to Eng* land The account he giveth of putting downEpifcopacy after watds, and fetting up of Presbytery, is neither like a Cluiftian, nor like a Hiftortan: It is perteft railing: While, hecallethrA*A/i?^b,thai had a hand in it, Ambitious and Various, the Gentrie Prieft ridden, and blind Zealots, The Preachers, Enthufiafiicks. The vrarre that he mentioneth, is by all poftcrity to be lamented, but men as able to difcern as he, have laid the blame of rt on Epifcopal Tyranny and ufurpation, and their making many fteps toward Popifh Doft- tine, as well as dikipline. He next giveth aecount of the Solemn League and Covenant entered into without the Royal Authority r ialltng Parliaments, &c* Thefe things were done by the Body of the Nation, met in the mod orderly reprelentativfe that the time and cafe could permit t And I deny not, but that they were extra- ordinary Aftings, not toconfidcr now the Morality of them. Bur let this Gentleman freely tell us, whither his Epifcopal party be capable of Courles parallel to thefe which he fo expoieth: The Presbyterians under theconduft of the Pr mores Regni, arofe againft their King, in defence of their Religion and Laws; did not the Prelatick party the fame, and on the fame account. They were indeed all for Loyalty and Non. refinance, while the Roy at Authority fupported their greatnefs.and power over their Brethren, bnt when fevenof their Bifhops were touched, it proved another, cafe, like that in Ployden, if we be guilty in this, they are nor the, men who fhould caft theJirfiStoneatus* For Barbarities com*. mitted by the Presbyterians in thefe times, I know of none^ but what are the neceflary consequents of a Warre. But this man andhis Affociats* have no other Dialeft, whetehv to cxprefs their diflike of the Aftings of the oppofite party. Heaceufuh them with a Bloody mouih, of what hath been a thoufend times refuted as a horrid Lie, that the >cots 'Presbyterians didferjidwufly give up then King to the Eugifb, who Murdered him ; Hevvas HicKing of die Englifb, as well as theirs, and they could not withold him from Anitnvdverfionstnthe Memorial \\t from them: And gave him into their hands, onasgoodfccurity.as could be, for his fafery ; and if others dealt perfidioufly with him they are not to be blamed for it He hath a hint, as if Epifcopacy bad been fettled by Ki»j{ Charles thefecondbecanfejhe Presbyte- rians refufed all conditions of peace andpardon-.hndfet the Monar- chies fake The former of thefe is a great untruth ;they never re- futed peace nor pardon ; but would gladly have imbraced both : Only they could not buy them at the rate of perjury -.Tho they never rdufed to difown any Principles that were indeed Rebellious. Their Preaching up Rebellion in their Conventicles, isialfe: They both Preached and praftifed Loyalty; only after many grievous and infupportable hardfhips, iuffered for their Confcience, lomefew of them were prevailed upon by that Temptation, to ventlome Principles that the more Sober and Intelligent were not fatisficd with. Thztpunijbing them who were taken in Rebellion is ali the feventy complained of \ Is a Notorious Falftiood; as all the Na- tion know, and I have above difproved it. §. 3. From thefe fou ell laid foundations, he proceedeth p. y. to give his Highnefe tome advices; if they may not, more properly be called directions. . Thei/?. That the Prince being come to fup* part our Laws, is in Honour bound to J up port Epifcopacy, wfneb ts confirmed by fj parliaments. This is Saucic enough: As if his Majefty had Afted againft his Honour now that Fpijfcopacy iz not Supported. That Fpifc^racy is condfiimed by fo many Parlia- ments, Imueh drubt: But am nor acleafure tocaft uptheac- eount Butil this Argument be good, Presbytery fliouldbefup. ported, as being confirmed by many Parliament.' ; and new by this Current » arliament: Lie fides its Authority from Scripture, u hicb he doth not pretend re lor Prelacy. His id. Inference from his Hiftorical Narrative ( or rather railing acculation) is, rhat Epifcopacy is it icff at y for foppor toft he Government'. And that they tppofi hcots i rc/bytery, only as it hath in it matiy horrid € krincples. Both the It aic denied, and cannot be proved, unlefs wc take malicious tailing ior pic of his 34J. Th&twhat the late Rulers did was'done by Law. And that thefe Laws were made fyr frejcivingtbcVrotefiant Religion, Monarchic Hum a ne So- 1 4 % ' \A Second Vindication, &c. ciety, and Self Tie fence. It is an eafie tiring to make Sanguinary Laws,and then Murder and Deftroy Mankind according to thefe Laws : But I have flicwed in my former Vindication, in anfwer to, Query 5- That they exceeded the boun is,even of their ownLaws-.In the Horrid Murthers that werejticold Blood, committed by Soul- diers, with allowance, on Perfons living in peace But that thefe Laws were madeon fuch neceflarie grounds as he affirmeth, is an AlTertion beyond what] Jefuitical impudence it felf, hath as yet ar* rived at: But Mhall not wonder, if he ftiould aflert, that the world could not fubfift, except Laws be madeforexterpatingoutof it, all who own the Christian Religion. Cannot the ProteOant Re- ligion, Monarchic &c Be faie unlefs People be forced to wound their Confciences by hearing men who had invaded the Pulpits of their Faithful Pallors? Unlefs Families be ruined who livein peace, and pray for their Rulers, who hear a Sermon rnaChamberardnot in the Church? He affirmeth alfo, under this head, that we value our Church Government more then the Troteffant Religion, A moftfalfe Imputation: But4ie proveth it, by three notable Lies : One is , That we compled with the T apt (is, upon getting an Indul- gence We neither fought it, nor approved the Papifts being In- dulged, nor did wejoyn with them in anything: We indeed had our meetings at the fame time when they had theirs, and fo had the Epifcopal men. The other is, the Church of England, and their Vartie, hazarded all rather then comply, I gladly would know* wherein did we comply, and they did not. T hey had the excrcife of their Religion under the lame Government with us, A $d. is, IVe magnifie the difpenfing power, which they oppofed t All this I have touched before. This AlTertion is talfe and injurious: We never approved it, we made ufe of the Liberty granted, becaufeic wasourdue: But never approved ofthe power that the Givet of it did acclaim. How they oppofed, it may bejudged by conftdering whither the Contrivers and Promoters of thefe courfes, who were about the King, were Presbyterians 01 Prelatifts. §. 4. The 4th thing (he is now falling from his inferences and Counfels to the King, to proofs of his Accufations agamft the Pres- by tetiansjthat their 'Principles prove what\he would fay ; (And theic Pan. rfnvmvdverfions on the Memorial. 1 4 ; Principles he pro veth in that he is informed that many of them own, that Subje&s may force their Kin% todoju(lice\ that jhey are hit judges, and may dethrone him \ that they approve cf former Re- bellions that the Monarch being forfeited, Kin^s have no more Tower then the Veople will give them. I obferve 1 /? That all the Grounds that he hath for thefe Accufations, is, He hath heard it, but from whom, or what caufe his Informers had tofayfo, wcmu'ft notknow. Ifthisbeafufficient Groundro movea Princeagainft his People (.as this man defi^neth) let any Judge, x That he, and they who have whifpered this tohim, do not impute thefe to che Presbyterian? , as the Principles ot the Party ; but to many of them: And no bodie knoweth how many. It may be there are, or have been, fome who call themfelves Presbyterians, who hold thefe, or as bad things : But the Presbyterians did never ap- prove of all that had gone from among them. 3. What he faith about forfeiting of the Monarchie (tho'I do not meddle with things fo far above me) hath obtained with the Church oi Eng- land, as well as Scotland. And his quarrelling at this, hath a fur- ther tendency againft the prcfent Eftablilhment , than may be he is willing that every one fhould obicrve. His $th effort againfl us is, He taketh notice of "Peoples, threatning Ministers f he addeth a\fo, Magistrates which I never heard of before) and thru/t- ing them from their places. This was the practice of the Rable, in fbme places, lhave in anfwer to the above mentioned Pamphlets, fufficiently vindicated the Presbyterians, both from abetting , and from approving of thefe praclifes : And therefore they ought not to be charged with them. In the 6th place he would perfwade the Prince, that our numbers are not fo great as theirs , this I hare above Difcourfed, but I lhall a little confider his proofs, one is, 17 parliaments , under 4 Km^s , have condemned Tresbytrev. Aflf. If that prove, thatrhey were the greateft number, the like Argu- ment will prove, that we are more numerous now: For the Par- liament hath very unanimoufly condemned their way. Next he he will prove it, becaufc they were alwayes ea(ily overcome in their Rebellions. Sure it was not fo \t\ KingCharJes the i/?,timc: And inKingUjarles the id. time it was not the Presbyterians, but a few 144 l/4 Second Vindication, fee. cwof them, that appeared. He faith that the reafon whythtf appear more numerous here ( at London, 1689 ) is thgy are all here: That is manifeftly fatfe: neither all 'he NoMliry. nof the Tenth man of the Gentrie, befide the Vulgar, who arc rhe great- eft number, were then at London. Hisjudging of their defigns of being there.is his groundlefs Fancy; fuggefted by his hatredand ill will. His party (forfoodO ar fo modefi, that they trujled to the Laws, thewterefloftheMonarch'te, and his Htghnejfesjull fenfe of things : But others thought thar :hey truftedmoreto King James's Imereft. and were more moved by their averfion from his Highnefs : Let the Reader judge whither of the tw T o conjectures harh 1 he more probable Foundation. He allcadgeth, that the Tres- byterians have ratjed tumuls to fright Honeflmen. This is denied his parry railed {or endeavoured it at hfl) more fearful Tumultst And hence he would move the Prince, to fend down Forces, under well Principled Officers. That is Jacobites : But the Prince was wifer then to Liften to fuch Counfel, /. j. He next would reprefent us as Verjons who would fubmit to no Laws inconfiffent with Presbytery ; on the account of the T>u vineright of Presbytery and our obligation to it by Oaths : Where- as his Party are readier to comply with any thing that his Highnefs and a Parliament fhali think fit ; for the good } oj the Kingdom, and fopleadeth for a hearing before his Highnefs, or any to be n.imed by Htm. This laft we fhall never decline. On the former part oi this Paragraph, ImakeafewRematks. 1* If he mean that we can- not fo fubmit to Laws inconfiftent with Presbytery, as to give aftive Obedience to thcm,or that we fliould do what is inconfiftent with it; he maketh a right conjecture: But it importeth no more then this, that we Aft by a Principle, and are not fo Unconlcien- ciousastodo what is contrary to our Sentiments; if other men glory cither in their having no Principle, in the matter ot Church Government, or that they can yeild over the Belly of Confid- ence, to promote their Intereft, or to gain the favour of Men; we chink fuch Glorying is not good. But if he mean that we cannot fo fubmit to Laws contrary to Presbytery, as to live quierly under chem: To fuffsr patiently by them, when we cannot obey them: Aritmadverfions on the Memorial, &c. 14 j It is a manifeft flander : For we gave fufficient proof of thar.under the late Reigns: And if any were unquiet under their fufferings, the reft, who were the iar greateft parr, are not to be blamed, z. Our Author, and his Party, have very generous Confciences, which it feemeth are influenced by no other Law but the King and } arliaments Opinion, that fuch a thing is for the good of the Mo- narchie and the Kingdom: Men of fuch Principles can eafilyfave their Intereft, what ever fide be uppermoft, 3. Seingthey pretend to folupple Confciences, I fain would know why they do not com- ply with Presbytery ; feing now the King and Parliament have owned, and enafled it, as that which is for the good of the Mo- narchic, and the Kingdom. Here is a plain declatation, that rhofe men can have no plea for a Tolleration to be granted them, or any Exemption from the Government nowhy Law cftabliftied; for their Confciences cannot be ftraitned in this matter: And therefore there can be no Imaginable reafon for a Tolleration ; But either Humout, or a defign to carry on an Intereft contrary to the prefent Eftablifhment : which I hope our Rulers will confider. 4/y He argueth with his Highnefs, from The aver/ion that England musl have to unite with Scotland, if Presbytery befetup there. To this Ianfwer two things, ift. If the intereft otReli". gion have more weight with us then that of the ftate (asfurelyic will when that piomife is fulfilled, that the Mountain of the Lor % ds houfefhallbeftt on the top of the- Mountains J this reafon will be ol no force: It is better that England and Scotland be two different Nations, yet living as Sifters, in concord; than that the Initia- tions of Chrift fhould be thwarted, that they be made one. idly. It may be thought fttangc, that England fhould refufe to units with Scotland in their Civil concernment, becaufe Scotland cannot yield to them in that which concemeth God,and their Confciences: may not two Nations trade together, and be Governed by the fame Laws, and yet bear with one another as to their Church wayes? Dutheeniorceththis hisArgumenr, by two confederations ; one is, Eptfcopacy is acknowledged to be the beft bulwark again ft Po- pery. Iknow this is the Fancyof fome, whoarc B got ted to that way. but on what ground, or who acknowledged this,*(bcfidc \j ihcm- 146 xyi Second Vindication. &c. themfelves, I know not. The other is, Sot land is Sworn, by the Covenant, to extirpate Epifcopacy in England, hnfw The Co- venant obligerh to no fuchrhing, unlefs England call chem to their Affiftance. The Covenant fetteth Limits to mens Aflings, by their Station: If Scotland ihould meddle with Englands Church Go- vernment without their call, they fliould Aft beyond their Station. §. 6. He next, p, 8. giveth a Teftimony to the Moderation of fome Presbyterians ( which fome ol his party will not own, and the ftraine in the whole of his difcourfe feemeth to contradicft ) He is willing that theyjhould have an Indulgence, but that they havtpre* fared an addr e/s for the extinction of Prelacy .* This we own: But his Inference is ftrange, viz. Therefore they can be Jubjett tone haw, and the Covenant tbo* I/legal and Irreligious, muft be their Rule. This is ftrange Logick, from the Mouth of a Champion of that party which pretendeth to have monopolized learningto it (elf. If Prelacy be exterpated by a Law, and Presbytery be by Lavr cftablifhed ( as through the mercy of God now it is ) cannot Pres^ by terians be t ubjeft to that Law ? And I have already fliewed, how we can be fubjeft even to other Laws. It is alfo an unaccountable Inference, that the Covenant < which he mod wickedly reproach- eth^ tnu(l be the Kule, if Presbytery be fettJed: He may know that Presbyterians have no other Rule in their Church Adminiftra- tions, than the Scripture. And it anything in the Covenant can be madeappear contrary to that,they arereadytodifownit. For what he faith of our Addrefs, it fhall be after considered. The laft thing that he reprefenteth to the Prince is, That the difference betwixt thellpifcopalmen in Scotland, and the Presbyterians, tsbutftnall. They having neither Liturgy nr Ceremonies, more than the Prts* byterians have, We are not for widening the difference ; but would bring it to as narrow a compafs as may be, Yet we muft not tell untruths ( as this Author doth ) to deceive them who know notour Affairs; by rcprefenting Agreement, where really it is not. For the difference betwixt us and them is irreconcilable, without the yielding of one Party, while they are for the Juris- diction of one jyiini(Ur over the reft,and we ate lor a Parky among then xytnitnadverfions ontheKfMetnoriaL &c 147 them. He faith, Their Bifhops are in the place of our Moderators; whom we havefometimes confeffedmay be conflant. hnf. This we cannot yeild: Our Moderator hath no Jurisdiction, yea no vote: unlefs where there is an equality. The Bifhop hath a negative Vote-, for our Moderator being conflant, it is;contrary to our praftice, yea our Opinion is, that whatever Lawfulnefs be in it, it is fo high- ly inexpedient, that we can never yieldto it. He faith, thePres- byters have a free vote m the Bifhops Eleflton. Nothing can be more falfe. Is not the Bifhop named by the King? And was it ever allowed, that the Perfon whom the King had named fhould be paf- fed by,and another chofen ? where is then the freedom of vote ? He fcith, the Bijhops Govern on/y by Presbyteries and Synods: The contrary is known to every one: The Bifhop taketh their Counfel when he pleafeth,notelfe.The grounds for complaint and Separa- tion from them f fuchas we made) I have above difcourlcd. §, 7. He bringeth as a Foundation of moft of his difcourfe againftus, a Paper thathe calleth the Presbyttrianf addrefs from Scotland to the Prince oj Orange. On moft paflages of it he hath fome quibling obferves, more like a BoufTon than a Difputanc If the paper were ours, I fhould not think his repartics worthy of an anfwer: They are fo purely, cither triffling or railing: but the beftofitis, hehathpickt up a paper, to which either he, or fome Bodyelfe, hath given chat Title : But it is none of ours, nor was it agreed to by the Presbyterians, or prefented to his Highnefs. We did indeed prcfent an Adddrefs, ifhe hath any thing to fay againft that, we fTull confider t he ftrcngth of what he fliall fay: But for this paper, kisnotonly not our Addrefs, but hardly can two papers, aiming at the fame thing, and on the fame fubjeft, have lefs agreement in matter, or words, then it hath with our Addrefs. What he faith rofix this paper onus,/, ij.lsaheapof lies: viz. That/ his addrefs was agreed to and fubferibed in ourpuLlickmeet- in% at EdinburghiThat hearing that the Prince hadCommunicat edwith the Church of England,^? demurred (ending of it. Not one word of all this is true :Thefe men have taught their tongues, and their pens too, to fpeake and write Lies. Whence this Paper came J cannot conjefture/ unlefs it was drawn by fome memberofthe U x meet- 148 x^A Second Vindication &c: meeting, andprefcntedtothem, but not approven : For I know, that fevcral Draughts were privately made, and out of them was that taken which was fent, and which we own. Upon thisconfi- dcration,! mill wholly pafs over all that he faith on that pretended Addrefs, and fuffer him to fight with his own fhaddow. Another mod impudent untruth he afleitethalfo, p, 2*3- that at London eur Commijjioners dc fired fome Ter/onsof Quality to fubferibe oar Addrefs, and would not allow them to read it, till they (hould Sa- credly promi/e to fubferibe : md this, he faith , feme ofthefe Terfons themfelves told him- We were fo far from that, that we never re- fufeda reading of it to any who defiredit. Yea we gave it to be read by feveral Perfons of quality of whofefubferibingk we had no hope §.8. He next giveth the Presbyterians a few good Words: He wo n ldnot be Cruel to them., but pity them as deluded. He fhall have a meeting from us, inboththefe, He would allow them In- dulgence , but yet he requireth, That they Jbould let other Tra- tcttan ts live too : That theyfbould yeild to fuch Accommodation as the Learned Prote/tants abroad are not again ft: That theyfloould it' tabhorre the Communion and practices of the other Keformed Churches : That they think themfelves not bound to per ft cute thofe of 'the Church if Engl and. Wecaneafily yeild to all ihzkpoflu- tata, fanoSenfu. For the \ft. We not only let other Proteftants- live; but the People we admitt to our Communion in all Ordi- nances; theMinifters we fuffer to Preach and enjoy their livings Where there are noperfonal Scandals to hinder it. Yea, fuch of theMiniltersas will fecurethe Church Government, we admit ro manage it with us, and to all Mimfterial Communion. For the fecond, we know there are Learned Proteftants abioad who areiorrollerationto ^Arminians y Socinians, and what not: We cannot be for fuch Accommodation: but we differ not from the Ge^ nerality of the Churches, and learned Men abroad, in this Mat- ter. For the third , We do not abhorre the Communion ot any of the Churches abroad, in their Adminiftrating the Ordinances of, Chrift : But we know thatfome Reformed Churches have practi- ses that we cannot approve ; and in thefe practices we can have no Com- ^Ammaaver(iQns onthetjMenivrm. &c. ia* Communion with them. For the 4/6, we look on our felves un- demo tie (nor Capacity neither J to perfecure thofe of ths Church of England-. Nor do we peifecurt any of them : We leave them to (land or fall to their own Mafter.He now page. 1 6. cometh ve y magifterially, to require fecurity from us, that we will not, by our Sentences, counter all the c Decrees oj the Supreme Civil Ju- dicatories ; and that we difclaim that abfolute Supremacy , or Tapacy, that the Kirk hath alwayes claimed over Kings andCi* vil Powers, An/ Tl o' we owe nofuchfubjeftion to this Au- thor, as to give him Security in this : Yet when ever our Rulers (hall demand it oi us, we are willing to give all Security : And we difown any power to counteract the Decrees of our Rulers : And all Supremacy or Papacy over Kings, further then, that the Church, and every Miniller in Her, hatha Minifterial power to declare the Laws of Chrift f not to make new ones of their.owny and that all men,High and Low, ought to fubmit to thcfe Laws, and obey them : And who ever will not obey them, fall under the Dif • plealure of our great Lord and Matter : Yet that we do not with drawSubjection.nor due refpcft,nor obedience in all rhingsT.uwh'T, from thefe Rulers who do break the Laws of Chrift : According r o ouzConfeffion of Fatth,Cap 13 Sect ^.FortheinftanceNgivcihof a lad difference that fell n berween the King and the Church .It was in a time when thePcople.and theirReprcfcnratives did alfo contend with the King: And '.hat in a Bloodic War: And things run to an undue height, on all I amis. The Presbyterians maintain no fuch Principle as he aliedgch. Infalibility of the General /Jffemb- ly % as he faith p 29 Nor oi a Supremacy over Kings Charity will Bury what is part (buefpite and malice endcavcurcth to dig it out of its Grave, and prefenr it in the mod odious drefsy/ and every onefhould, for rime to come, Labour to ferve God in the Station that he hath fct him in '7 'he outrages again/1 bisP arty, that he charg- ethus with, cannot be made our, except what was done by the Rable, in an Interregnum ; and the Actors were none of our Communion. If he had mentioned in particular, the Lybelba- gamfl the Government , which he blameth in General; wc could have enquired into them, and told our thought sof them. But I may syo \~A Second Vindication] &c may adventure to fay, that nothing ever came out from among u$; that contained either fo heavy, or fo unjuft complaints againffc the Government in the late Reigns, nor did fo tend torazethe very Foundations of that (ettlcment , as the multiplyed Ly bels of his Party do by the Government which nowis. What remains is fo pure Railing, thatitadmittethof no other anfwer , but to brand' the whole ot it with this motto, that it is voydof truth and H*- nejlie. And to his hopes that he exptefeth of the Worlds judging; and the Princes Afting; we oppofe our confidence of the contrary of both ;and our Experience of the Latter to the f mmorral Praife of the vvifdomand goodnefs of oui Gracious Monarch, whole hears: God hath inclined to favour our righteons Caufe. A N: E XAMINATION Of the Hrforical delation of 'the late General A fembly, holdetiat Edinburgh, from Oftober, i6tb. ^November iyth. 1:690- SEveral wife merr who have Read this Pamphlet, think that rh« mod fit refutation of it were (as I faid of another fuch piece ) at > write on the margine f every page , Lies andCalumntes . It is- manifeftly fo unanfwerable to its title , that no man can have a true Idea of that Yenerable Aflembly, by Reading this Pamphlet. The Author coatefleth/^^ was not eyeorearWttne/s to what faff- ed, and all that he hath is at fecond Hand: Andthatasit feemeth from fuch as neither under flood what they pretend to give account of, norhadtheHoneftietomake a true and fair Relation of what was obvious toevery mans Obfervation. For, tho' he calleth them difcreet and intelligent Tsrfbns , yet, not only the horrid lies with which, by their report, he abufeth the World, doWitnefsthe con* An Examinatkn of the Hi/lory of the Kffembly. 15-1 contrarie; but we do more then guefs who they were, and know them robe very unintelligent in Church affairs , whatever knowledge they may have in other things: And that they are Per* Ions highly enraged againft Presbyterians, becaufe they imagine that fome of them had a hand in their being deprived of lucrative places. Even the keeping of the door of the Houfe where the Af- lembly fat, hemif reprefenteth. It was not t$ keep out Corfor- tnifts% buttokeepoutothcrsaswellasthem, that their might be room for the Members of the Aflembly; And for all the care that could beufed, there was a very gveat Croud conftantly in the Houfe. That ever any were thrufl out of the Houfe becauje they were Con- formifts, is more then 1 know : Neither did lever hear fuch 3 Cry, as he mentionerh; tho'Iwas dayly there: Tho'Iconiefs it was notveryfittofufferthemtobeprefent, who it might be rationally thought, came to mock, or to pick up what they might improve toourdifadvantage. There were in the Aflembly, very often, fome Perfons known to be Epifcopal, who becaufe of theirquali- ty, anddifcretion, were not only allowed to beprefent; bur had all refpeft given them that could be expe&ed . And fome of them, of Eminent ability to judge of things, obfervingthereafoningsof the Members, andaftingsol the Aflembly, faid, iftheTrejby- terians went on at that rate % t/xy would gain all Scotland to fa- vour them. And I am fure,that this was faid by fuch as are incom- parably beyond his difcreet Terfons , in every thing that is com- mendable. It is an aflertfonliketo thefeof his gang, which he hathpag. 1. That the Presbyterians exalt the Authority of their AffcmbUes above that of King or Parliament. This is a broad Lie. What he faith ro fupo*t it.tf/ /Itls of Affemblies againft Mis of Par- Itafnent.} have anfwered in my former Vindication. He next accuf- eth us, that we defired an Aflembly after the Parliament hadfetl- ed our Government: That is, we are to blame, that we would think of ordering the Affairs of the Houfe of God, feing the Par- liament had allowed usfotodo. Is the Church of England to blame, becaufedthey Defired a Convocation to whieh he mak- ■eth our Aflembly parallel. We defired ro meet for other ends than fctling the Presbyterian Government: We know it was fctlcdby Cfarift i jir x^A Second Vindication. &c. Chrifl: long before, as his intuition , and that now it had the Civil Sanation by King and Parliament, for its fetlement. §. x. Our Hiftorian hath quickly forgot his work : forinftead of telling us what the Aflembly did , hegiveth us account of what the Parliament Arted: Andp x,$. He fevercly Lafhcth the Par- liament, tor Setlin^ the Government of the Church in the hands of the?resbytenavs alor.e, and fuch as they fbould admit This conduct lhave elfe where vindicated as molt rational : Andfurdy this was fo necefliry, that either Epifcopacy mud be continued, or this mult be done: Now the Convention had voted fiptfeopacy to be a grievance to the Nation , and in the Claim of Right made it a Fundamenral Arricle in the Government, that it fliould beabo- lilhed: and the Presbyterians being the fmaller number (many of them being removed by Death.through the courfe of about3o years, and the hardfhips they endured through Epifcopalfune; and few; coming in their places, being hindred by a fevere Perfection) it had been very incongruous, and inconfiftent with the (tanking of the Government which they defigned, to eftablifti that the plu- rality of them who fliould Govern the Presbyterian Church, fliould be Epifcopal. Yet it was allowed by the itate, and deter- mined by the Church, that as many of the Epifcopal men as were qualified to be Minifters, and w T ould fubmittto, concurrwith, and act nothing againft Presbyrerial Government, fliould be re- ceived into a (hare of the Government : And fuch as had Minifte- rial qualifications fliould enjoy their places and benefices, tho' they fliould not fo far own Presbytery as hath been mentioned. What is then the injury that he complaineth of, done to the Epif- copal Clergy? None of them are deprived of their places, yea _ none excluded from Minifterial Communion, but of their own choice; that they will not fubmit to terms fo rcafonable, and necef- {ary.They would have thought us , fin the former Reigns; very un- reafonable, if we had been (uffered to enjoy our Churches and Sti- pends, ifwe were notDrunkards or Sweaters Sfoand y et complain- ed of hard ufage; or ifwe fliould have demanded a fhare in Go- verning the Epifcopal Church, and yet would not fubmitt to the l3ifhop. He faith, the Tublick fatth (for even that muft abide his An examination of the YHflory of the Sffembly. r y 3 bis fevere cmfure ) prcmifedthem protection, upon their Submif- wiffiontotheCivtiGovernment. An(. Can he fay, That they ate notptorectedin all their Civil Rights; But it wag never promif- cd, that who ever would fubmit to the Civil Government ihould be put in Capacity ro over turn the Church. To enjoy a place in the Mmiftry i« no Civil Righr, The Stipend is a Civil thing : but a mam Right to it depends upon his being in the offi ce > and hav- ing the Charge of fuch a People : But it was never dreamed that a man ihould be protected to continue a Miniftcr, tho' he be Igno- rant, .scandalous, Erroneous, or fupinely Negligent. He (ac- cording r oche Modefty of his Party, and their refpecT: to Autho- rity J faich, 7 fair "Petition (viz which was given in to the Parlia- ment that thev might have a fliare in the Church Government) was dtfdawfullyrejefted, and t he A6i continued as it was. Anfi Their Petition was indeed rcjeded, on the grounds that I have mentioned; but without any ihew of difdain, and with as much refpe^ttothem as was due. §,3. He cometh now. page 3. to reafon the Cafe againft the King and Parliament, becaufc of their fetling the Government of the Church in the Hands of Presbyterians. What is Argumen- tative in hisDifcourfeHhallconfidcr: Neglecting the railing that heintermixeth Yvithir, fuch as, ATresbyterianTyranny isejtab- lifhcd, That they, the Presbyterians , Lord it over their Bre- thren, more then ever the Btfbops did, or pretended to do: His Reaions, io far as I can pick them out of hisloofe Difcourfc; are i/7, Infteadof \^Bifloopsnow 60 are fet up: by which he in- tendeth, aslfuppofe, that the Government of the Church was now lctled info few Hands as 60. An/. The falihood of this is tnanifefl : The General Allembly confifted of 1 1 6 Minifters, and 47 Ruling Elders: and they were but Delegates from the fcveral Presbyteries , in which there were ordinarily a greater number that fent them, than they that were fent. Now the Government was not (by the Ad of Parliament) fetled in theperfonsofMini- ftersonly,' but of Ruling Elders alio : Many cf whom are Noble- men, arid Gentlemen oi good Abilities : Neither can it belaid, that ti;ey were fet up as Biihops ; or afted with their Lordly X domination I £4 A Second Vindication. See. domination, a * will appear from anfweringhis following Objecti* ons. He next faith, 'Presbyters were Jufyett to them 'who were no more but Vresbytersv Which hath no precedent in the Catho- lic k Church \ An/. It is true, itisnotprecedentedintheCatholick Church, that one, or more Presbyters, (hould befubjeel to one who is no more but a Presbyter: Which is notour Conftitution, norpra&ice: But it hath often been, that P/esbyters in their fingle Capacity, were fubject to them who were no more but Pref- byters, acting joy ntly, in a Church Judicatory,* and this is all that is now done; The Presbyterian Church doth not fubjecT: the Epifcopal Church to them : Nor doth one Presbyter among us judge one Presbyter among them; But the Presbyterian Church combined, judgeth every {ingle Presbyter in this National Church . And whenhefhall demonltrate the Abfurdicy of that, wefhallyeildto his Argument, Again, he argueth thus, They who could not be denyed to be la wful Mimslers were exchdedfrom any foare in the Di/ciphne and Government of the C hurch ; which is contrary to Tresbyterian principles. Knf. The Presbyterians never held a Principle, founiveiialaswhat hehinteth, about the Priviledgeoi Lawful Minifters to govern the Church ; They ne- ver held that aPopifhMinifterlhouldbeaRuIerinthe Proteftant Church: And they deny not fuch to be lawful Minifters: They maintain, that tho' it belong to all Minifters generally, to have a fliare in the Government ot t he Church ; yet their might be fome Cafes in which proprafentiEcclefia Statu) they may be reftrained from that priviledge: Tho' they are not to be reftrained perpetu. ally, nor in the fetled Stare of the Church. The Presbyterian Church had long been born down, and almoft exhaufted; they ar^now, through the Mercy of God, reftored ; they find a great many Minifters in Charges , who may be ufeiul in Preaching the Gofpel, but difpofed to overrurn the Government of the Church, if it fhould be put in their Hands: Is it not rational, that they ihould fuffer thefe to pleach , for the Church needeth their help : And yetnotfuffer them to rule the Church, leaft they overturn her Settlement: They refufc none of them who will fecute the Go- vernment, and are otherwife qualified for the Mim&ty. Again, jintLxaminationoj- tne titstonof wci^LiemtHy. i^ tho* we own them as lawful Minifters; yet we cannot own them as Minifters of rhe Presbyterian Church; They have a right to govern the Epifcopal Church, to which they had betaken them- Iclves, and lefr the Presbyterian Church (tho' their Bifhops, even in iit did not allow them thar priviledge) yet that they have a right to rule the Presbyterian Church we deny. They and we agree in Doclrine , and rherefore we may teach the Church together : But we difa^ree in Government, and therefore we cannot Rule toge- ther He fayeth, that Presbyterians hold, that it is unlawful for 4 Mwtjicr to part with his Right of Governing. A nf. But the Church may deny him the Exercife of that priviledge, if flie find him inhabite for the Exercifeol it.He pleadeth ztfojhat we blatfied . Bijkops that they took this Tower generally tothemfelves. Anf n Wedidfo, becaufe they excluded the reft; not on account of any fpecial inhability, but as having no right to fuch a Power.w hich we maintain to be in all Presbyters alike. I i any fay, thatMinifte- rial Power is quid indivi/um , and the Exercife of teaching cannot be allowed, where that of Ruling Power is reftraincd. 1 anfwer, this is true with refpecl: to the ordinary and fetled State of the Church; but (udi an extraordinary cafe of neceflity as this may warrantfuchareftraintfor atime. But if this Argument hath any iorce, it.proveth that neither Preaching nor Ruling fhould be al- lowed : anditcommendeth the moderation of the Presbyterian Church, which will allow them to ferve the Lord as they cati r when rhey cannot do it as they (houldl /, 4Hepropo(eth ( tho' not candidly ) but doth not anfwer, our Reafons for rhis conduct. One is, we could not otherwife make our Government fure. And is it not reafonablc that that Go- vernment which Chrift hath feded in his Cbuich.'as wc think^and which the Authority of the Nation hath fettled, lhould not be rendredunfafe, by putting it in the hands of the avowed Enemies thereof; when wc could exclude them on fuch rational grounds as have been mentioned. Another Argument he maintaineth as ours, the Epifcopal men defer ved to be thus treated, for their apo- flafi, Knf I'know not who ever brought this Argument: We go not to the rigour of all cht cenfure, that that wrong ftep defer ved : X i we I $6 it>4 r Second Vindication* &c. we would rather confider what the prefenc date of the Church, and the promoting of Truth, and Holinefs, and Unity, dothrequire; than v\ hat men deferve. We are for moderation maugrealtahe re- proaches tint he, and fuch as he caft upon us: Tho' at the fame time, we think that the Rigoor of Church Difcipline might put more force in this Argument than he is aware of. He Inferreth from what he haddifcourfed,thatPri'j'6y/m^«j;ya^z£;/>/iG^//»^ Man : becaufe they hold their Government to befo of Ttivine Right, that they can make no compofition with men about it ; : but when it makethfor the inter c(i, they can make efential alterations. Anf. We hold Paritie to be of Divine right,and cannot yeild to Imparicie : But this Parity is not taken away fashealledgethj by excluding rhem who have rendred themfelves inhabile; more than it is taken away by fufpending a Minifter for any immorality, or Negli- gence in his work. Neither is there here any edential alteration ira the Government, more than there is in that cafe. Here is no Jug- ling, but fair and plain dealing. Whathetalkethof 9ooMinifters excluded, is a miftake. We exclude none of them, but fuch as perfift in their Principles, and Inclinations, to overturn the Go- vernment. Neither is there Inccnfiflenry f zs he would make us believe) between making Ruling Tower efantial to a Mini* Jler, and fufpending the exercife of it for a time. We hold, tha t ra- rionality is eflential to a man, tho fome Scriblers be now and then Delirous. §. 5*. From this digredion, he returneth tohisHiftory,/>, 4. And giveth an account of the meeting of the Minifters and Elders, antecedent to the General Aflembly, indicted by the King and Parliament, to be held October, 16, 1690. In which nar- rative, he doth in feveral things, mifinform his Readers, andre- prefent things to the difadvanrage of truth, and of the Presbyte- rians It is a miff eprefentation, That the dtt of Parliament Com- muted the Care and Management of the Government to the fe few fnrviving Presbyterian Mmiflers who had not complied with E- pifcopacy, For it was tothem> and rhe Elders, andiuch Minifters and Elders as they had received, or lhould receive. Another mif- take is, thai the Meeting thatpreceeded the fore mentionedjK/kmb* A' An Examination of the Hi (ion of the hffembly. i^ 7 lywdf called, to lay down Methods howa General Affembly fiould it called, and constituted, becaufe one could not be had, according to their minds, after the old manner, and jiandm^rules of Gene* rali^ffemblies. Anf This Meeting was not called for that end, 'nor did aft any thing to that purpcfe, nor needed they do fo; For the Aft of Parliament had excluded all the Epifcopal Minifters from fitting in the General Aflembly, unlefs they were takeninby the Presbyterians. All that they did, that could, any way con- cern the conftitution of the Affjmbly, was, that Presbyteries fhould fend three, or four of their number to the AfTembly, where they had fent but two, when there were more Minifters in each Presbytery: which could noway alter the conftitution of the Af- fenbly. Hs gtvetha falfe account of the Aft ol Parliament, by which Presbyterian Government wasieded; when he faith, that by it none had a /bare of the Government, butfuch Ministers as had been removed by the rest or at ion ofEpifcopacy. For both Ruling El- ders are expreily mentioned,and fuchMini iters as the Presbyterians had received, or fhould receive. Hence followeth another miffoke; viz 'That they were overfeen when they admitted others into the Government, and were by that mean r overvoted. None were ad- mitted butfuch as the Aft: of Parliament reached; nor was there any overvoting in the Caie \ for both they who had been turned out by the Bifhnps, and they who wergalter taken in, did Generally agree in the fame votes. He would revive the old forgotten, and Fatal Divifion, that rent and ruined this Church, about the Pro- testation and Remonstrance-. But, through the Mercy of God, it is not fo much as mentioned among us. That fomc or the Remon- itrators, who had been, under that woful Schifm in the Church, depofed by the oppofirc Party, fat among us, is true; and we know no reafon why itlhouldnotbcfo; for their ientences were taken of£ long before: And what was moved, and done in that meeting was % that the revockingof thefeScntences fhould be now confirmed by this Meeting, asbeingot moreextenfive Authority thanthefc which had recalled them That any eft hem who fat they e % were depofed for Scandalous andgrofs Crimes : Or for any thing but their Opinion in that controverted point, and their praftifc according to it 1 5" 8 A Second ^indication, &c. it; is more then wc know, and unlets he can make it appear, he ought to be reputed a Slanderer ; if he or any elfe ftull prove ir, we ftiall acknowledge our Errour, at leaft our Ignorance, and fhali re&ify what wc have done amifs. What he faith of Mr. Yttcairm prof e fling againft their fitting there \\s a grofs miftake : That Reve- rend Brother was difhtisfied with the way ofwordmgthe Determi- nation of the Meeting in that affair.which fome propofcd;and was a tittle Hot about it; but he wasfoonfatisfled: Neither did he enter any Proteftation ; tho' he fpoke of it : Nor did he objefl againft the recalling of their Sentences. In all this our Author giveth his Readers a mod falfe and unfair Idea of out Affairs. §. 6. Which he doth yet more in what followeth, hetellethus of a debate betwixt the old and the young CMen, which of the two fkould Rule. A controverfie that never wasfomuch asnamedin any of our meetings, nor for what I know in private Dikourfe. No- thing can be more falfe than the dory that he telleth ; for inftance in this matter, of a Content between Mr. Rule and A/r, Webfter : No fuch words were ever fpoken : And if they had, there had been no truth in them.For what he talketh (in his Marginal note of) their Contribution of the Sifters: Savoureth more offpite then Wit.Some of the Nonconformifts lived on their own Eftates, others by theft Induftrie in Lawful Callings, yet diligently preaching the Gofpd, others by the Charity of good Women, and good Mentoo; asour Lord and his Apoftlesdid; And his own Party are now brought to that Mortification, that Ifuppofe i\\q -Contributions of the Sifters arenotdefpifedbythem. He quarelleth with the Name of the General Meeting that preceded the Aflembly, as being none of the Names of the Church Judicatories known fince the Reformation. What ifwefhould fay, it was an extraordinary Meeting , fuch as that extraordinary Cafe of the Church did allow: And yet it want- ed not Authority neither from God, it being made up of the Offi- cers that Chrift hath appointed to Role his Church : Nor from Man, wc having then a Liberty granted for the exetcife of our Mi- niftry, in all the parts of it. We may alfo defend it to be a Gene- ral AfTembly of this Presbyterian Church; which differed in no- thing from that which followed, but that the one had the counte- nance An Examination of the Hiftory of the AJfembly 1^9 nance of the King and Parliament ; this other only that of the King directly, and ot the Parliament indire&ly : The Parliament hav- ing allowed the King a power of granting Indulgence toDiflenters from theEftablifhedway, as was noted on Letter z. Seel. 16. In his account of the Work done by this Meeting, he doth grofly pre- varicate, While he faith, They pre/cribed Rules for trying Epifco- palMinifters. They did indeed fuppofe that Presbyteries have an Intrinfick power of judging the Lite and Doctrine of all theMi- nifters within their bounds, and of excluding the unfit, and receiv- ing them that are qualified; but confideringthe prefent paucity ot Presbyterian Mimfters (which yet was not fuch as he would have us believe^ They vvereib iar from direcftir g them to try thefe Men; that they did wifely caution them, and fome way reltrainthem.in this Tryal^Jor their appointment was, that if, in trying thefe Men, the Presbyteries fhould meet with any Lybcl the H elevancy of which was doubtful, or if the fufficiency of the proof were not clear; in fuch Cafes they fhould not proceed to a Sentence, but refer the Cafe to the General Aflembly ; which was foon after to fir. What could they do more to prevent Injury to thefe Men: With- out denying that !Power of Pre^byreries which is their due? He inftancethinfomc Presbyteries where were very few Minifters; we deny it not; but that was but in fome few places, andatfirft: There are more now, even in thefe places, and in othecparts of the Country there were even then, a competent number in Presby- teries, and in fome places few or none wanring; As in all the Prcf- byteries of the Synod ot GlajgGw. That there were fo few, is nor be uendercdat; Thewhoic Nation being butfoiherday undci: Epifcopacy: The Youth having been generally fo bred; and the Presbyterians being almoft worn out by alongtraff of time, and heavy Perfecution. There were fewer Protcftant Minifters in the beginning of the Reformation frcm Popery, and yet it was not thought fit that either the Church fhould be without all Govern- ment, or that it fhould be put into the hands of Popifh^ricfts while they continued fuch. He is alfo difpleafed vrith appointing greater presbyteries to fend more Minifiers; as being an un- equalK^refemationoltheUmch, Others will think that this was moft 1 56 A Second Vindication, &c. mod equal : For the General Affembly is the Reprefentative ol the Presbyteries immediatelv (tho'morc remotely they reprefent the whole Church) And therefore where Presbyteries aie unequal, their Reprefentation fhould be fo too.- But by this means fome farts of the Nation were not at allreprefented Knf It could not beotherwife, where there were no Presbyterian Minifters; rhac place of the Church could not be reprefcnted by Epifcopalians ; for they neither had by Law, nor could claim in Reafon, alhare of the Presbyterian GovernmentiNeither can this Argument dero- gate from the Authority of the General AfTembly over the whole Church; morethen the vacancy of a Pariflican warrant them to plead exemption from the power of the Presbytery, becairfethey have not a Miniftertoreprefenttheminit. §. 7 The next fault that he findeth is, The Meeting appointed a FaH on the Lords day ; and faith, That it was the cuflom oj the old Presbyterians to appoint all their Fads on the "Lords day. This laftisnotorioufly falle, The reafon why that Faft was on the Lords day, it was the time of Harveft, when it could notbeob- fervedon a week day, without high Inconveniency : Neither do we think Fafting inconfiftentwith the Nature oftheLords day, Religious Joy, and Religious Sorrow do very well agree. His ftory about the \jcenjing the Trtati(e of Ruling Elders andTkacons, is a grofs Galumnie: And hath feveral Lyes in it. i. The licencing of that Book was not the deed of the Meeting: But of theClerk, without their appointment or knowledge: And he al(o alledged, that the Printer added the words which imported a monopoly of it. As foon as the Book came out, the Meeting were highly of- fended with the Clerk for this Prefumption: Not only becaufehe had done it in their name, without thsir appointment ;but becaufe (as wasfaid publickly in the meeting, NemimContradtcentt) It be- longed to the State to licenfe Books, and to monopolize the Print- ing of them. For this the Clerk was feverely rebuked, and hardly efcaped being depofed. x. That the privy Council checktthis.or called in the Books, isfalfe: For their Lordfhips underftood that it was not the deed of the Meeting; and that the Meeting took care to get the Licenfe taken from the Copies, asfoonas they un- der- An examination of the Hifiory of the wfjfemb/y. i C i elerftood it. Here then we have an Evidence, how gladly the Au- thor would pick quarrels with us, and make us odious; tho'atthe rate of telling lying Stories, which every one can contradid. He nowbeginneth/>tf^?7- To give an Account of the Aftings of the SPresbyceriesagainft the Prdatick Incumbents, between the Ge- neral Meeting and the General AfTembly, which fat in Otlober 1690. Heblameththem, that7 'hey were more careful to Empty Churches, than to fill them. This is not true, They endeavoured both to purge out the Scandalous, and fuch as were like to do more Hurt then Good; and to plant the Churches with qualified perfons ; and fomething was done both wayes: Tho' w r e con- f efs, planting Work went more flowly on than was wifhed » part- ly becau/eof the paucity of qualified Men; but mainly through the oppofuion that fome men of this Authors temper made,^7/x f$ moduxo difcourage people from Calling Minifters: And to perplex that Affair, when ever it was attempted. It is falfe, That none were Jent to the Weft, where there was mofi need: /tnd that they rather feated tbemfelves m Lothian , as being a better Country. There is neither Tiuth nor Candor in this aflertion: Even Gal- ioway(which therefore was mod deftitute becaufe the Incumbents had generally either been driven away, or deferred) isnowtolle- rably fupplied ; tho' not fo well as it fhould be, or as I hope in a little more time it may be. He giveth a falfe.and malicious Caufe, of the ejecting of Minifters, in the end of p 8. viz. They were confeious of their own Inabilities, and t bought it not their Inter eft to toller ate fuch as accufiomedtbeTeople to Senje and folid : Difccurfes. No o- theranfweris here fir, but to tell the Reader, That nothing but a fancy, tinftured with Malice and Prejudice.can make one fo com- pare them who were caftour, with them who were pur in. His Stories ofvvhat this Man or t'othcrfaid, when, 14. He giveth account of the catriage oftheEpilcopal Clergy towards the Presbyterians, whodealt with them as is above mentioned: But becaufe he maketh no remarks on it, neither (hall I. But v\hat followeth I mud notpafs: It is a malicious reproach of Presbyterians as men of little Sen/tor Learning Tho' he hath the impudence to affert this, whenever itfhallbetryed, he will be found unable to ftand before their Ar guments. And I am fure he hath given no proof of either Senfe or Learning, in his Book; but many Dcmonitrati- ns of Spite and Railing. He faith they have lofi (heir Interest m the Na- tion, 1 66 A Second Vindication, &c tton y are deferted: That men are ajbamed of them, are Thread- edas the plague of Mankind-, What may be expe^ed from a Tongue y?tf 00 fire of \\ell1 They ate noi folookton by any, but fuch as he is 5 whofe kindrefpe^tstoany man, were indeed a re- proach to him: Or by a debauched cre\v,whom his faftion indulg- ed in their Immoralities; to which Presbyterial Difctpline is a terrour. He faith p if Thar the mofi bigetted and hot- beaded wer echo fen fort he \J2emb!y\ And inftanceth in two learned men who were not chofen. But it was evident to all Beholders, who werecapahl r ojudge, and even to the conviction of forre of his own Party, who had not abandoned all Reafon, and good Nature /'as this man hath done^ That the Aflcmbly was made up of many Grave, Learned, and Sober men: And their Actings will prove it in defpight of his reproaches and obloquie againft them. The two whom he mentioned! are learned and worthy men; But all could not be chofen: Andlknowfome very ficPerfons, out of an ex- cels of Modefty, fhunnedir, and got others chofen. That it was concluded that Mr George Gampbel fhouldbefhufiedeut of the Affembly : Is an Aflertion Demonftrativeof a Brazen Forehead, in the Aflerter: By whom was this concluded? Yea, or w'llhed: For my part, I know them not : Nor never heard of any luch mo- tion His going fo near to be chofen Moderator (whicluhis Pamphlet taketh notice of) fheweth, how acceptable he was to mod of the Minifters : But there is a fort of men who fhould have good 'Memories y which our Author here wanted. His bafe Reflexions on fome others, that were chofen, do (hew his own Character: viz. Irreconcilable fpite againft all that bear the name of Presby- terians. We could tell of hundreds of his party, foroneofours, guilty of grofs immoralities; Andeveniomewhowereinhighefl: places in their Church; of whofe repentance we have not heard much. But that we lhould not have mentioned, if it had not been in defence of thelntereft that hefetreth himfelftodifparage. No* thing can efcape the Lafhol this Authors virulent pen: /> 16 He mod unmannerly taketh upon him to difcourfe of the Kings Choice of a Commijfioner, to reprefent hti KoyalTerfon in the hffembly : And to tell who was the fittest ?erfo»> Where he taketh occafion to hnhxamtnatwnoftbe tiistorydfthe AJfembly. 167 to Calumniate the Earl of Qrawfoord; by telling, feveral grofs lies about his Lordfhrp : As thai he rejoiced m the expefiatwn of being Commiffioner : And (hewed a grudge at the dif appointment. Such malapart abufingof any man, by judging his inward thoughts ( for I am fure nothing of that kind ever appeared in his Lordffiips words or behaviour,but much to the contrary jbut €fpecially,to deal fo by fo noble a Peer of theNarion,and who is fo defervedly honour- ed by all good men; this I fay, defervertf a more fevere Reprimand, then my pen can give:His Lordfhip did what in him lay to fhun that difficult Poft:As alio the Nobla Lord on whom it was caft, was fat from defigning it. That the Earle fat in the Ajsembly houfe be- fore he was a Member, doth not prove what is intended by it: For fo did many others, both Noblemen, and of infericur quality: Some out of Satisfaction they had to fee the Church again fetlcd on her ancient foundations; others out of Curiofity. That his Lodfhip did offiaoujly meddle in all the concerns of the Affemblies % before he was a member-^ as remote from truth z$fca(l is \ion\IVelf, The contrary appearedin his Lordfhipsoftenrefufing to give advice when the Moderator defired it. That letters were written to pro- cure a CommifTion to my Lord, is likew ife falfe. It was voluntarily fenttohim, Fromthetownof St. Andrews: He being Lord Pro* veft of that Corporation. We have a further falfe Imputation upon that Noble fcatle. 1 hat at theVifitation of the Vmverjityat St. Andrews, he u fed the Mafiers Rcr/^/6/y patticulat ly refujedto Juffer Mr, We cms, hi firm through a%e % to lean on the fief of & Stair. Anf. That Noble Earle dealt no other wife wirhfuchas appeared before theCommiflion, then did become his Chara fieri His Lordlhip and the reft of the CommiflioQ, fat there by Authori- ty of King and Parliament : And therefore difrcipeel to them could not but reflet on the Authority which they reprefented: When Mr IVeems Complained thai he could not Hand, he was allowed fo remove that he might rcfrefh himfelf. §. 11. He cometh now atlaft; p. 17. to his purpofe, to give accompt ©f the Aflcmbly : And beginneth with the Sermons that were Preached at the opening of it. He quarreliech that they e were two Sermons: Saying, the 'Presbyterian* can never have' their 1 6 s W second Vindication . &c. their fill of Tre aching Bur the Reader may know that it harh' been Cuftomary in the Church of Scotland ( and none bu. fuch mockers will reproach them lor it J tomakeihe firft Day of the Affembly a Day of Farting and Prayer ; and two Sermons v\ ere no fupcrfluify in that cafe.The Sermons he alfo findeih fauh wi h: Mr, Cuningham's Sermon, that it was borrowed from Mr Oliver Bowlis, being a Sermon that he I reached, Anno. 1643. The reverend and worthy Mr. Cumtiglwx, being now at his reft, can- not anfwer for himfelf; nor tell us what to fay for him in this par- ticular: But this I can fay in general (and willbebd evedby all thatknewhim, and are capable to judge) that few Minifies of theGofpeldidou'ftriphimin Minifterial qualifications: Andhc needed be beholding to no man for a Sermon The other Sermon by Mr. 'Patrick Symfon, he (ay eth, was courfe Ties by terian fluff. But as wife men as he, thought it a Solid Pertinent, and Ufeful Dif- courfe,to be preferred to hundreds of thejingling,Py-bald Orations that many of his Party do fpend the fhort Glafs with. Whar/«- premacy, or Authority , he afcribed to the AfTembly, our Author would fain tell us, but fheweth, by his expreflions, that either his ignorant informers did not undetttand what was fp< ken , or he did not comprehend what they told him. What was faid on that head, I do not remember; but we afctibe noabfolute Power to the General AfTembly.' That there Power is immediatly from Chrift; thatis, thatnomangivethit,weown: Hefalleth(p.i8) On the the chufing of the Moderator. Where he cakethoccafi- on to fpitt all his Venom againft the four Minifters who were put ontheLift, out of which the Moderator was to bechofen: All this I might pais over; formybufwefs is nor to vindicate perfons but things: And all who have read thus far in his Bock, will be convinced that his Tongue is noflander ; and the credit of thofe Bre- thren is luch as he will not be able to Ruine, by his Lies and Re- proaches. Wherefore Ifhall touch this partof hisSatyrebut iightly. Mr, QampbeU he faith nothing againft and indeed his praife is in the Churches: And our Author had met with him be- fore,/*, iy And had told only ci him,That to pleafe his brethren fe had keentnorefevere againfi the Epjcopal Clergy then was his An Examhlatien of the Hiftory of the Kffembly. 169 his Wont. Nothing can be more falfe: He is no Man-pleafer, and he alwayes had a true zeal agatnft that way, and againfi the im- moralities of (ome of them ,* A nd now iheweth no more of zeal than is confident with Wifdome and Moderation. Mr Rule cometh next on the Stage, Ut is calledT)oClor Rule, becauje bedidpraftife Medicine and took the degree of Do&orinitlikewiie, when he had no other way to maintain his Family ; yet never giving over the work of ths Miniftery; but Preaching frequently, He was once Independent: That is abfoiutely falfe. Ar Aberdeen, he wirhftood the temptation, when he had great Offers to take the the Charge of an Independent Congregation: And in Northum- berland (where he had his firft Charge^ He differed no fmall lofs becaufe he would not fall in with that way. His want of Latine, and f peaking falfe Latine, is falfe. He is ready, as he hath done, to give proof to the contrary, and to compete with this Pretender, when he will: For His Trayers in Latine\ they are longer, or fhorter, as the occafion requireth ; but never fo fhort as he alledg- cth ; neither doth he ufe to Pray very long in pubhck.even in Eng* lifh. For the Ignorance di [covered m the things he hath written. I wifh this Sciolift would make it appear by a folid Refutation: The paflage that hebringethlor inftance, he is ready to defend, with all the probability the fubjeft matter is capable of.. Andif it were a miftake, It is no proof of Ignorance,to have a different Noti- on about a pafTage in anAuthor.from them who follow,as they lead, who have gone before them. If this Momus will mike his Ccnfure on the True Reprefentation of Tresbyterian Government, it is like, Mr. Rule y ot fome for him ; will give him a fair Anfwer. But leaft all this be notenough todifparage him, and his Miniftry, Heo/teip venteth him/elf bitterly againft the Epifcopal Party : Others think quite contrary, few Presbyterians do more feldom men- tion them, and an Argumentative way, rather then bitternefs, is his drain. It it can be made appear that he hath done otherwifc, none fhall blame him more than 1 fball do. The many particulars heisaccufedof,- have obliged me to fay more in his Vindication than I intended. In the next placehegivetha Character of Mr. Meldrum. He fpendeth a great many words about hm : But Z the 17° i^4 Second Vindication, &c. the whole matter is in fhoxt t Tbat once he complyed with Epifcopa*, cy % took the Oath of Canonical Obedience ( which our Author is told, Thathedenyeth) That going out for the Tefl , he left the Epi/copal Party ; Because when theTeff was taken away, he was not permitted to return to his Miniflry at Aberdeen. The worth and integrity of this Man is known to all in Scotland : and acknow- ledged by all, except them who prize no man but for being like themfelves. That he complyed once, was a token of humane infirmity: That he hath now left that way, is commendable; tho'itftirtheChollerof this Scribler. His fourth Man is Mr. Kennedy ; whowaschofen Moderator, he is called Mr. Kennedy by his own Party, and if any familiarly call him Father Kennedy \ hi^ Age may bear fuch a Defignation ; but they who call him Bit- ter* Beard> do miftake his temper. That he was with the Army tf^Newcaftle, or received 6000 Merks, is moft falfe : He was never in England till 1690. when he was fent, with others to London, with a i Addrefsto the King. TheCaufes of his Depo- fition 1660 are foully mif reprefented:. Itwasonly for his Opi- nion in the marters that then divided the Church. That his De- pofition was never taken off till the Penult day of the AfTembly, is not the leaft of the Lies that this Paper is loaden with; It,witho- ihers, was taken offYeveral years before, and this was ratified by, the General Meeting fome Months before the Aflembly; and all that had been done in rhis matter was confirmed by the Aflembly* a day before it was diflblved. § ix. The Moderator being chofen: He telleth of a Compe- tition for the Clerk/hip : It may be, fome of thefe perfons, that henameih, might be mentioned in private Difcourfes; but never any fuch competition appeared before ths Aflembly; And moft of them were fo far from either petition or competition t that they rather declined it when it was mentioned to them by their Friends. Heaccufeththe Aflembly^ inefficient toreprefentthe Church of Scotland, asthatofTicntwavtorepre/entthe LathclukLhurchz But he cannot deny that it rcprefenred the Presbyterian Church ; and was all that could be had of a Presbyterian AflemMy • And we deny nor that the Council of Trent reptefemed thcPopiih,. tho* tho' not the Catholick Chriftian Church, as was pretended. And indeed there were fome from all parts of the Nation, even from the Northern Counties of Rojs, Murray, Aberdeen That there wanted from one or two Counties, maketh nothing againftthe Authority of the Aflembly: For their areplacesinthe Highlands from which feldom or never their have been CommilTioners at any Church AlTembly. Wbat^r/f ruled in this djfembly, hederer- rnincth, with the lame malice that hath hitherto appeared in his Book ; and mocketh at the Prayers that we/ e put up for another Spirit By this, and fuch like pallages, itappeareth what Spirit Sicierh this Scribler. It is falfe^ That the Tresbyterians in Scot- land have alwayes conte (led with their Kings about the P ewer of calling AJJemblies. Their Kings never denied 'their Ihtrinltck Power in this, Except when they were influenced by a Prclarical, Eraftian crew about them : But on the contrary have fetled ic by their Laws, as the Churches priviledge: As in the Ad ifyz. which is ratified by an A& of this current Parliament > neither did they deny to the King a Power oi calling Aflemblies, nor have ever refufed to meet when called by him : We think it mod defer- able when the King and the Church agree about this ; and it mov- eth this mans fpirc, that Affairs were fo managed in this AiTembly. The ridiculous exprcfllcn in Prayer that he imputcth to Mv.Cun* ningham, calling*/ a pleafant parage, is a meer Forgery : That Reverend, and Wife man, under Rood well what he laid. He is not afhamed to tell Liesinthefaceof the Sun, and to impofe up- on our Sercfes; when he not only denyeth The Kings Letter and the Ajjetubltes anfwer to it, to bepublijhed (both which are ex- rant in the printed Aftsot the General AfTembh J buthcfalfefieth the Kings Letter moft palpably, in making the King fay, That he fetled the Government, becaufe it was agreeable to the Inclina- tions of the 'People. Whereas it is, That Government which was judged to be fo. And that He would have them do nothing that •wight difpkafi their Neighbour Church: Whereas the Letter faith, That Moderation umpetted from them by their Neighbour Churches. He maketh no Churches their Standard; far lefs the Churchof England ^ who His Majefty well knew, were difla- Z x tisficd 171 A Second Vindication, &c. tisfic d with the very Beeing of that Aflembly,and with all t hat rhey could Aft, in managing of Presbyterian Government He doth alfomif rcprefent the AfTembhes Anfwer to his Majefties Letter; as affirming, That their Government was not only agreeable to the Inclinations of the people, but moft agreeable to the word of God i Whatever be our Opinion in that f which we neicher deny nor conceal^ itisnotfoexprefTed: The words are, I¥e areperfwad* ed that it is not more agreeable to the Inclinations and 'Confaenti- omperfwafions, of all within this Kingdom, IV ho are beft offer- ed to your CMaje flies Terf on and Government ; Than it is accept table to God. He talketh next of an t^/Jfl defigned, but never concluded, for averting t he T) wine Right of Vresbyt trial Govern- ment: And that it was the Legal Government ef this Church t I think indeed that all the Aflembly did concur in this Sentiment^ butfomethoughtitfittoexprefsitbyan Aft, and others thought it not expedient at this time; and it is like had regard to his Mat jellies fatisfaftion, to whom it might have been uneafie, in his pre- fent Circumftances. Wha: harm wastherein all this : Praceptapo. fitiva non obligant adfemper. He faith, It is clear from our Hifto* riesy That Presbytery was never fetied but tn times of Rebellion : /indthat this is declared in a late T)ifcourfe ; But if he had pleafed to read what is written on both fides , he might have (een the con- trary cleared in a late Vindication, in Anfwer to that Difcourfe. What a Member faid in Parliament, That Presbytery was the on< ly (or the be(i) Security again ft the Encroachments of Kings ; Was much difrelifhcd by all that heard it, and fulpefted to proceed from no good will to Presbyterian Government ; nor are Presbyterians obliged to anfwer for it: The AfTembly did indeed promi/e Mode- rations their Anfwer to the Kings Letter : and nothing to the con- trary was feen among them: And we know His Majefty dothex- peft it from them i Whatever malign Infinuations this Man ufe to the contrary. §, 13. He cometh to give account of jhe Sermons Preached in timeofthe Aflembly, efpecially before my Lord Commiflioner. And he is fo ridiculous, as to take notice of the leaft word that ef- caped any in the Affembly : By which he fheweth both his malice. and An Examination of the Hi/lory of the hffembly 173 and how litle it hath ro work upon; whenhemuftpickupluch things to fill up his pages, as that one moved, that fome might be imployed to preach iH the Churches of Conformi/fs in Edinburgh; Which was not feconded by any in the AfTembly. His General, account of Mr. CMeldrums fermon cannot be anfwered : It was iacisfying to Inrelligent,and Serious, UnbyafTed Hearers : tho' may be, nor to propjaane Mockers. What one Hamiltoun faid, of want Of the Gofpel for 38 Tears ; I never before heard of; andlookon it as invented by our Author, or fome of his Informers The reft of the Sermons ( except thefe of Mr. Car flairs, and Mr. IVylie vvhofepraifes as eminent Preachers of the Gofpel, their Brcthen do not envy) heTreateth with that Bitrernefs, Malice, andCoa- tempt, that is futeable to the Hiftorical Talent of many of his Party. If he had mentioned any evidences of fuchfaultirefs in thefe Ser- mons, they fliould have been confidered: Bur his Railing Declar mations are to be delpifed. If the Debauchery of his Party did not more tempt Teople to count ah l Religion aSham, than the Preach- ing cf Presbyterians doth, it were well. His better taunting of the Prayers of the Servants of God ( which is his work. p. 3 5 ) Is nei- ther like to bring Credit to Religion, norto hiscaufe : Was it ever heard of before , among "Chnftians, that when fo weighty af- fairs were in hand, fpf.ndingtimein Prayer was fit to be ridiculed : If this be to be vile, wc will be yet more vile: And will contemn .what may be the fenriment about it, offuchashementioneth. lam fure they whom hethus ridiculed?', minded nothing but to feck help of God to manage his work right; and the Lord was j.T:afed to help them to pray, and a return of their Prayers wasnot wanting. Anunfavoury cxpr<(Iion he mentioned?, to have been ufedinPiajcr ( p 36.) Which I do not remember to ha\c heard; but it isnotunuiuahor thisHiftorian to Coy n, where he wanteth wherewith to reproach us. He blamed? 1 be flow proceed nigs cf • the hffembly : And if more hafie haJ been macc.he would certainly called it Ralhnefs, and Precipitation: For he hath a mind to find Fault. He talked? of differences among us which were fmoothcred. Was ever fo many men mett, uhcre there was noditierentappre- la^nfions of either the matters, 01 the way of managing them, or the word- 174 A Second Vindication, &c- wording of things? and was it not prudence to compromife What might tend to a difference? but let his malice prompt his Critical Skill to its utmoft Capacity, I hope he cannot (hew that we did not agree in what was matterial, or that we could not bear with one another in what was of left moment. Our receiving them who had broken the unity or rhe Church, and were called Cameronians* he endeavoureth to turn to our reproach. It is true they gave in a Paper that we were not pleafed with , to fatisfie their own miftak- ing Confciences, and to quiet the People whom they had led afide: We were far from approving that Paper, but did exprefly condemn ir: And accepted them on another which they gave in,which contain- ed nothing buc their Submiflion to the Church, and their promife of endeavouring to preferve the Unity of it. Who can blame this? and is it not theexercife of that Moderation which becometh the Gofpel? But that they were told, that they had dont us good fer- vice, or that any infinuation was made of approving of their for- mer way, is among thereftofhisfalfeReprefentations which his Book is fluffed with. For what end hetaketh notice of the com- petition .about Mr. Scmple, I know not: For here is no matter of reproach : Onely he mifreprefenteth the debate about allowing fome Minifters to go to Northumberland, at the defire of the People there: much more was faid for it, then hemencioneth; and whatwas of more weight: And what he doth notice is falfely narrated: There was no mention made of planting the Gofpel tq England: He whom our Author imputeth this to, never thought that they of the Church of England had not the Gofpel : Nor was it faid that between Berwick and Newcaftle they wanted the word cfGod; but, that the Presbyterians wanted the Ordinances of the Gofpel; not being allowed to enjoy them with the Church, unlefs they would comply with humane Ceremonies in the worfhipof God; which they could not do withagbodConfcience. What was faid, of the Pratt tee of Piety m thofeparts, I do not remem- ber, I know there are not a few in that place of the Co«ntrey, who may be in the judgment of Charity, thought to fear the Lord: and there ard alio many, yea, a far greater number, of whom the Affertionhementionethistruc. The truth is, this Author hath in- An Examination of the Emory of the Afembfy. *7 $ inured himfelf to the fouleft Lies and Calumnies, that he carr hardly fpeake or write Truth, A further inftance of this is, p. 3 9' That when before voteingit was defired 'that the Moderator might pray ( not for drowning the Noife of the A ffembly, but iordirefti- on from the Lord in a cale that was doubrf ul, and of moment to the Church) Mr. Kirtoan fhould have (aid, What needs all this fool Traying: Mr Kirtoun ufeth not to fpeak of Prayer with fuch con* tempt, and if he had fo faid,it had not paftln the AlTernbly without z check , and indeed he is in this belied. § 14 Theaccompthe giveth of Mr. Campbels tranfporta- tionfrom Drumfries, to be Minifter at Edingburgh , and Tro- feffor of Tyivimtytu the Colledge there, needeth litle Animadver- fion, fave that by giving fo lame an accompt of the Debate about the inward call, he would reprefenr us as having little know- ledge in thefe things : The inward call was nor laid to con (1 ft in the things he mentioneth; bur, in being qualified by a fufficiency of gifts for the Work, and in the inclination oftbeMinaioferve God m that Work; both which a? e from the Lord: It was laid, chat the Church was judge of the former: And that when cne had thefe qualifications, and alfo the outward call from the Church; it he pretended averfion, or want of the other part of the inward call; viz, Inclination; He muft give fome Keafon f St thataverfion: FoithcLord ufeth nor to wo.k Inclinations, or Averfionsinmen, which are without Keafon: And of thefe Rea- fons the Church is alio judge: Fcr the spirit of the 'Prophets is Sub/eft to the Prophets. It will now appear that either the Author, or his Informers, did not underttand what was fpoken on this Sub- ject. Orrhatthey did prevaricaicinrcprefentingit. About the Earl oi Crawford's Receiving a CommiJJion from the Town of St. Andrews to repr ejent them as Ruling klder in the hffembly ; I have faid enough above to flop his Mouth, and torefell what heherfc fayeth; onlyheaJdcth that /oy migfM be ft en in my Lords Coun- tenance when he 'received it : Which none could perceive; except iuchascan fancy any thing that their ill will fuggciktluo them. F01 my Lords Set king time of Deliberation till Lambas-, as Mr. Campbel had ; ii was not intended as what he lought with expccla* cion i j 6 kA Second Vindication, &c. tion; but as an expreflion of his wifh; and of his diflike oral- lowing fo much time to Mr. Campbel , to the e>reat detriment of the Colledge: At which others alio were diflarisfiedy tho* they quietly acquiefced in the determination ot the Aflem- bly For the Petition from Dundie , It was not faid, They had not the Gofpel : For they had one Minifter. What is recorded ofthatpaflageis, that the Presbyterian Congregation in T>undie made Application to the Aflembly , complaining that they wanted twoMinifters, anddefuing that the Aflembly would take care to fupply thofe Vacancies. But that the Moderator , oranyelfe, laid, x\\zt there was no true Minifier in Angus, is a falfhood, like moft of his other aflertions : For none of us deny the Epifco- palMinifterstobetruly Minifters; tho' we think a Bifhop alone fhould not ordain Iris alfofalfe , that any fuch expreflion was ufed by the Aflembly, as, offering the Gofpel to theTeople of An- gus: The words are, that they Jhould goto Angus, and travel in the work of the Gofpel, in Vacant Churches, aud where they fhould be called. This is far from (uppofing that the Gofpel was not in that County; or that there were no Miniflers there. It is ofthefameftamp, that he maketh the Moderator tell two young Msn, who had been Preaching in ^Angus, and had ill reception tnerey Tha| as they had offered the Gofpel to that People inwamc cfthe General Meeting, fot/jey fhould now offer it in the name of the hffembly. We offer the Gofpel to all whom we Preach to, in the Name of Chrift, and not in the Name of Men. Another imputation of the fame kind is, that the Moderator faid , we will plant Miniflers in Dundie whither the Town Council will or not. I do not remember that fuch words were Spoken, or Words to that left: But if they were, what the 'Moderator faith, isnotalwayes the Mind of the Aflembly: But only when a thing is propofed, and aflemed to, either by vote, or by filence- Hctelleth us, p> 34. Of Mr. William Spence, who conformed, but jell off from the Bifljops, becaufe denyed an Augmentation of Stipend: He Jpread Papers agamfl them , they depofed, and excommunicated htm. This man was fent by the hJZembly, to preach in Angus. Knf. That Mr WiUiam Spence Jell off irom the Epifcopal Party on An examination of the History of ttoe uvyenwiy. 177 alkeith 9 as a Parry was removed, altho' Mr. Heriot in his printed Paper hath the Im- pudence to;deny that they were removed. That it was thought grievous to Presbyteries to que [lion thejufiice and Legality of their Proceedings: IsaJfofalfe: For then no Appeal could be received from them, nor any Procefs re examined by a Superior Judicatory ; which yet that was done.The Affair 'of Peebles /'that he next men, tioneth) isfofar Itombcinga proof of their tmwillingnefs to can- vafsthe Afltngs of a Presbytery; that it is an evidence to the con- trary : feing they did take that bufinefs into confideration, and not having time rodifcufsir, did refer it to the Commiffion; who did fo determine m it, as both parties did quietly fubmit. It is true, when it was brought into the Affembly, lome moved that it might be firfl rypened in the Committee, which was readily complyed with. Neither was there any conte/f about it between my Lord Commiffioner, and the AJffembly: As he falfly infinuateth. The printed Information that he mentioneth had a printed Anfwer by Mr. Vetch : They were both confidered by the Aflembly . There were a great many Heretors, on. both fides ; it is true none $ which* An Examination of the Hi Hon of the i^flembly. 179 who were of the Duke of Queensbury\ Quality ybut his Grace had not his Refidence in the Pai ifh.The paffage in Mr. Vetch's Anfwec from which he thinketh he hath fo much advantage, miiketh no- thing for his Defign. For it wasnotfaid, That a Call from the great eft part of t to Tat i(h\ could not be had to a Tresbyterian Minijler; But that a Call from all could not be had (tho' even fo it was too general an Afiertion, for many Parifhes there are in Scot/and, where Presbyterians are called without a diflentient Vote) and doth it hence follow, that the people are not generally for Presbytery ; becaufe in many Parifhes (yea if it were in all Parifhes) there are fomc of another mind ; or becaufe in fome Parifhes, mod are againft it : I do not intend to dip in that Affair : Nor to confider the Merits of that Caufe: but do teter the Reader to the Papers that are printed on both fides ; only I affirm that the General Aflembly, nor their Commiflion, cannotbeblamedinthis matter ; feing both Parties acquiefced in their Sentence. Mr. M^rWsrcfolution f againft Obtruding bimje If on a Teeplea- gain ft their will) is confonant to the Sentiments of his Brethren, and yet the Nation may enjoy Presbyterian Miniflers: For there are many more places willing to receive them, then there are men to occupy fuch places. If there was a Laick (as he lpeakethj wh$ either Leftured 'to the Neighbourhood, or laid, That the Teopleof God may fin, but the wicked muft not fin : We difown both his Ufur- pation, and his Doftrine. But the Truth of the matter of Fa6t we muft take from him on Truft ; tho' it is like he hath either in- vented it, or it hath been told him, by no body knoweth who. § 16. That the hffembly was fo puzled, as he faith, about the Appeals of the Epijcopal Clergy, Is falfe ; And the Comparifori that he ufcth is Odious, and Malicious: They were no other way ftraitned about them, but that they wanted time to examine them all: And on that account alon* referred them to the Commiflion: Some of them, he confefleth, they ventured upon-. And thefe he quarrelleth with. And 1 Ft. hegiveth account of the Cafe of Mr* Mitchelmd Mr Lesk. But not with that Candor that becometh. Hemif-reprefenteththe Aft of Parliament that gave nfe to this debate. It was not to rept fiefs fuch as were put out lor not comply- Aa 1 ing 1 8 a lyi f Second Vindication. &c: ing with Epifcopacy alone; but fuch as were put out in, or fmc* i(S6 1. for Non conformity, or not complying with the courfes of the Times. All that the Aftembly had to judge was, whether Mr. Mitchel was legal Minifter at Turrijf'm 1661. And they found that clearly proved, whence it followed, that Mr Mitchel by the Aft of Parliament , had right now to return to his place, which had been poflefledby Mr. Lesk : It was proved that Mr. Mitchel was legally fetled in Turrijf-. That hewasunjuftly De* pofed by the Presbytery about 165 5. That this Sentence was taken off by the Synod of Aberdeen, m which the Presbytery of. Turriff \%; and that in July 166 1 . he was Depofed by the Synod of Aberdeen, for Non complyance with the Courfes ot that time. Whence they concluded, that he was KightfulMinifterof Turrijf, and the Aft of Parliament allowing; fuch as were put out in i66u Did allow him to return to Turriff. It is falfe, that the Rea/ons of the Sentence were refufed to be given him. (Mr. Lesk) for he demanded aaextraft of the Procefs, and Sentence, arid the Clerk was appointed to give it. He complaineth that The Afl of Par- liament gave accefs to the Tresbyterianswho had been potfejfed of places, t ho* 'the Epifcopal men had comply ed with the Civil Government'. And was it rational that they fhould poflefs the the Rights of other Men, becaufe they comply with the time ? Was not the fame done in England 1660IU Mr. Kirtoun had ufed his Privilege, in emptying his Church for a fitter petfon than it was pofTefTed by, it was not againft Law : Mertoun was his Charge, till he was transported to Edinburgh : But the Truth is Mr.K/r- toun wen: not to Mertoun, till the Epifcopal Minifter had left it, as knowing he had no legal Right: And when Mr. Kirtoun went thither, and got Right to the Stipend of a year and an half: He, gave the years Stipend to the Epifcopal Minifter, who had left the place ; and the half year to the poor. Mr. Sleeric's Cafe cometh next, which is nor truly narrated : It is hlitthat he was deprived of his Church, for he was never orderly fetled in it : Neither in the E- pifcopat, nor the Presby teiian way : It is alfo falfe , That he was difchirged the exercife of his Minr/fry :: h He may Preach where- cver-he hath an orderlyCall ; Only (19 is dilcharged to exercife it at An Examination of the Hifiory of the hflembly. 1 8 1 at Fawkirk : And in the bounds of the Presbytery ot Lithgow* mlefs he bs allowed by the Presbytery: And indeed it is not allowed that any man fhould Preach within the bounds of any Presbytery, without their allowance : Mr. Sleerie acknowledged his Fault in continuing to Preach there, having no orderly Call, nor being permitted by the Presbytery y and declared (before the Sen- tence) his willingnefs to forbear Preaching there: And theAf- fembly, upon his defire, reprefented his want to my Lord Com- miffioner, and the Earl of Crawford ^ and they promifed to deal iorfome Relief to him, from the Council Foi asking him about the T)oxology , and whether be repented of his Conformity. I do not remember it, I am fure it was not appointed by the Af- fembly to be done. The following procefs againft Mr. For- fyth, our Author approveth, as the only juflifiable Ad of the AJfembly. It is well they pleafe him in one thing at leaft. Mr. 'John Mckenzies cafe he narrateth very unfairly 5 hard- ly any came to hear him: And he had no due Title to that charge, becaufe his Edift ( which even by the Epifcopal way, fhould have been fetved at KirkhftounJ was ferved at St. Andrews: So that the Feople of Kirkliflounhzd no occafion ei- ther to objeft againft binv, or to confent to his being their Mini- fter: Andhefeldom preaching to that Congregation, the Pres- bytery removed him frormhat Church; but did not take away his Miniftrie; he appealed to the AiTembly, butdidnotprofecutethe appeal: Wherefore the Aflembly could not fhun confirming the fentence of the Presbytery. What is faid to have been fpoken about the matter, by this and other Perfons, 1 am not concerned to enquire, nordolknow, or believe, to be true, what he confi- dently fetteth dou n. A s to what he faith of Mr. Heriot. I have above tolJ why he was referred to the Synod : About Mr, Wood. he doth not tell the truth, he was neither referred ro the Presbytery nor Synod; but to the Commiflion of the Aflembly ; who hav^ taken his Cafe into Conflderacion. §.17. His inveftive witt ftoopcth vary low, having litle to work upon ; when he takerh notice, that among the Mtnifiers who were to be called from abroad, ^shavrng^clatmitothiiChnrcb, one 1 8 1 A Second Vindication, &c one was mentioned who was Dead, another who was prifoner in Dunkirk: As if every member or the AfTembly were obliged to know the Hiftory of every private Perfon. That the 'fresby* terians let It^ht of Learning and Knowledge, and do often run it down : And that Xealfor the %ood Caufe is tbe chief Qualification, andinfleadof thefe ; is an Aflertionfo Notoriously falfe, that no- thing but M Alice could prompt him tok- Our Intrants to the Mi- niftrie are able to vie Learning with the Epifcopal Candidates, and are far before them. That Brewers and Illiterate Trade [men are fet up to be Mimfters, is falfe, and Slanderous ; I deny not but fome who in the late Perfecution were forced to follow other Imploy- ments, for a livelyhood, have now refumed their former Studies : but they are not admitted, without giving good proof of a Com- petency, at lead, of knowlege in the Scriptures, and in the Contro- verfies in Divinity. And the lame fate hath befallen his own Party that he reproacheth us with: Someof themnowfollow other im- ployments: particularly fome are rurncd Brewers ; as Mr. Norman Mckenzie late Minifter at Midcalder, and Mr. George Henry late Minifter at Qorflerfine , have fet up a Brewery in the Suburbs of Edinburgh-, whfchl mention not to reproach th«m (fork is com- mendable to follow a Lawful Calling rather then to be Idle, or to be chargeable to others) but to flop the mouth of this Reviler. Thelnftancehegivethof Mr./fy//WinhisTryals, that hedenyed the Major of iviEnthymemthdX he defired the terms ot the Minor of a HypothetickSyllogifme to be explained, which was Sed verut* prim-. That the Presbytery faid, that he wanted Learning, yet he had Grace;and upon that admitted him : Every word of this is falfe. Every Minifter in that Presbytery is ready to witnefs the contrary: And I have what 1 Affirm under the hand of one of them who was prefent at all his Try als ; whofe underftanding and veracity nona who knoweth him will queftion; Mr. Ku/sel hath the Tefti- ipony that he hath a meafure of Learning which is no wifedef- picable; That he hath a very good gift ot Preaching^and Praying. His complaint p, 48 . Of the Vefolatton of the Colledges ; and the infufficieney of thefe who are placed in them, is furely not f rom knowledge, but from Malice, and a refolution to reproach, it is a Foolift An examination of the Htftory of the A(fembly. I £3 Foolifh conteft, who are the more Learned : till it can be put to the Tfyal. Not only the efteem of knowing andimpartial men" (neither of which properties ihis Author hath given proof of in his Book)and the Judtcia of Learning that any have given, muft carry- it: To both which, men of our fide can appeal, whenthey are compared with their PredecefTors ; whither in knowledge of Books \ in any fart of good and ufeful Learning, orinCapablenefs todU reft the fludies of the youth-. Yea inGrammar and knowledge of any of the learned Languages: Tho* I think neither party hath much caufe to brag of their Abilities: Except in comparifon.lt is a bafe Ca- lumnie, to call the Tresbyterian Spirit, Narrow, and an Enemy to Knowledge; much more is it fo, to AfTert, th^^t count it impiety to call commonly received Trinciples in to que fi ion: Or that w 7 e reckon a free and Rational inquirie into the Reafons of them to be Dangerous. It is the bent of our ftudies to fearch the Scripture, and to confult found Reafon, both that we may know what is Truth, and how it appeareth to befo. It is an Ignorant miftake, rofay, thatwe count the Carte/tans and other Sy {terns of new Thilofophy, to.be grofs and Damnable Here fie. There arc among us who haveoppofed many of this Pamphlet; that is, a h&p of Lyes and Railing, We will defpikit Mr, Clerks Sermon, that he fpeaketh of, Ih.'venoc Read: Heisable to anfwer for himfelf": His fpeaking with con- cemptof Mr. Gizy'sSermons, flieweth hisfktll in the things that concern the Aftmgsof Grace in the Soul. Ye know of whom it is laid, libit they cannot difcern the things of the Spirit of God. §. 1 8 He h id thus far digreflcd , wanting matter to fill up his JHiftor^. Hcnowreturneth to the Aflemblyp 51, a Debate isevilfurmifing: And in thishejudg. cth of others by the temper of his own mind. §1 20. Hclooketh on all the Fa Jis appointed byTresbyterianr as defigned to enjnare the Epif copal Men; and faith, that they Failed for Strife and Debate. Their Witnefs is on high, who knowcth that otjier Motives engaged them to Faft and Pray: fi- ver* fuch things as are of common concernment to all who have true Zeal fo* Religion. But rhis Gentleman , and others of his Stamp , did not ufe to keep Solemn Faftsfor the concernments of rheGofpcl: Onh fome times they had Fafts with the refpeftto theWeacher; or whemhere waslike tobeabadHarveft ; whiclv we condemn not: But think there are greater things that fhould moveusto fuchDJties. It fee ms he knoweth no other ground of Farting, but either averting of fome outward Judgment; or fome politick defign. He mainly challengeth the Faft appointed by the Aflembly, becaufe in the caufes of it, mention is made ot Fpifcopacy; the fetting up of which is complained of; onac- compt that it was always qr'wvous to this Nation, and that it was done wit hour the Churches confent , dndcontrarieto Atts of Nati- onal frjfewblies: as alfo , that a great decay of Tietywas vifibls tinder it. This is alt that was fatd of Epifcopacy in thefe caules of the Faft. This Faft, he faith, Epifcopal Men could not obferve, without looking on Epifcopacy as unlawful, as the caufeofrmch Impiety ; a r defett ion from God and his truth : Nor without \blam- ingtheCbttrchofEnghnd, and other froteflant Cburefcs; yea the An examination of the Hiffory of the Affembly. 1 g 9 the Catholick Qhurchesfrom the hpodks to CalvinV time. Anf, ift. What ever be our Sentiments about Epifcopacy, nothing is here exprefled that needeth to (tumble them who think it a law Full Go- vernment inche Church; and there'a r e fomcoT that Principle, who will fay as much as is here (aid. Nothing is here faid of it s un- Ja ,\ fulnefs, nothing of its influence or) I mpiety : But only of its ob- ferved unfutablnefs to this Nation, and of ungodlinds having been defafio its concomitant, 2 If any did, confci€ntioufly,fcruplethe ObfervationoftheFaft, on the grounds mentioned, Iaikwho j of them have been puniihed by the State, orCenfured by the Church, for this omiflion : the Church thought fit to lay Peoples dutie before them, yetufeing all lenity toward them who cannot fee their duty. It was quire otherwife in former times, when his party had the Rule. 3 The ferting up of Epifcopacy w ? as more finful in this Nation, than it could be elfewhere, becaufeof the Oath of God that the Nation is under againftit: Not in later times only ; but in the time a Kin? James the 6th, who caufed the the whole Nation fwear the Shorter Confejjion of F at th called alio ihsNaticnalQovenant ; Where it is Abjured. 4. All this (hew- eth, thatwedonotmedle wrth rhe Churchof Evgla?uL, in this matter; But keep within our own Bounds : And therefore ihc hath no caufe to be offended with us, more than we have to blame her, forfettingup Epifcopacy 5 His big woidsot other Trote- flant Churches, ar&theQatkclickCkurchtoCaWmstime, are the Dialed of his Party : Whofc confidence of Aflertion, and ftrength of Argument, in this matter, bear no proportion: Which we are ready to try with him, when he pleaferh. The Councils aft for Obfervation of this Faftjic doth alfo mod caufelcfly,and petulantly ridicule : What is more congruous than when the lear of God doth notpeifwadcmcn to their Duty, That a civil Court ihould deal with them by a civil Pcnalry ? The conteft about the Printer to the \(/>:mb!y he cannot let pafs; rho' he can get no advantage there againil the Presbyterians: But that t hey mufl have -iPvmter difttntifrom the Kttt;s Printer. It hath alwaycs been the Cullom; and our kings never difallowcd it. We are far horn contending withthe Kng about it, nor do we plead a Divine Right iorir. The Dc- 1 90 k Second Vindication, &c. Debate between the two Printers before the Council we are not concerned in. Only I obferve his Mal'ciou* Lye, That the Earl c) f Crawford maintained , that the Ktngfhouldyeild to the si f- fembly. His Lordfhip is far from fo owning the Church, as to deny to the King anyrefpeft thai is due. §. xi. After Apology for the length^ he fliould have rather ex- cufed theDiihoneftyandrhelmpertinency J of this Epiftle; He ventureth yet upon two or three things. The ift. is, the Aflemblies appointing an anfwer to be made to thefe Pamphlets of the oppo- site Party ( which this Paper containeth ) where he is much mif- informed: Mr. Cfritldtum was neverenjoyned this task: Mr, Titcame had it laid on him, but atter many Months, it was not done: And fo they laid it onanother; Not on him with the Af- firtanceoforhers; as this Authorfaith. ThatMr. Meldrum)uHi- fiedthe Rable in a Sermon, is fo far from his temper and Inclina- tion, that none will Affirm it, butfuthaoneas thisHiftorian. He faith, wc will never prove any material Circumstance, in matter of Fafl t tobefalfe; I affirm and have made it appear that few, if any of them are true. His next particular is the mod Notorious falfhood that can be exprefled by Tongue or Pen. viz, That the taking of the Sentence ofT)epofition again ft /ome Miniffers, efpeci- ally Kemonflrators, was propofed, but laidafide, in the General meeting, and now done tn the end of the t^/Sembly. It was done in a meeting of the Brethren of the Synod of Lothian (for them within that bounds) and in the General Meeting, forrhem, and all others In Scotland : A nd w hat the Aflembly did was a Ratifica- tion of what had already been effectually done*. What he alledged Mr Gilbert Rule, tohavefaid, in the Aflembly, on this head, is a wide miftake ; he only pleaded, that the Aft ihould not be fo Ge- neral, as to comprehend all who were cenlured in the times of thefe differences, becaufefome might, at that time, be cenfured for uncontroverted Scandals /^tho^ he did not pretend to give In- itances of any who were fo Cenfured ) but that the Aft fhould only reach them who were cenfured on account of the Differences, Wine inde. That this revocation oftheje (entences was n&t propofed in any of their avowed meetings, till the general Meetings 5 is not Orange An Examination of the Hiflon of the wfflemb/y. 1 9 1 flrartge, for indeed they had no av woed meetings before : Tho' we thinfjuheir meetings might be avowed before God ; but not fo be- fore h s party, who were their cruel Perfecutors. It was done, as is above exprefied, and confirmed by the General Meeting: and Exabundanti, Ratified by the Aflembly. Whence it is evi- dent that no derogation could be inferred thence, either from the, Miniftrie of any who fat in the Aflembly, or on the Aflembly it felf, as he malevolently fuggefteth. His laft particular is about the two Commiflioners, whom the Aflembly fent to the King; Where he hath fome Malign Reflections, both on them who were not fenr, and on them who were fent That any did Jealous Mr. Corf/airs, is a bale Calumny. His Integrity and Skill in the conduct or fuch Affairs, is known, and valued by all his Brethren who know him. It is as foul a Calumny that they who were fent were gratified by it\ or had dtfigns of their own : nothing but Malice cculd fugged fuch a thought; For u 7 hat could they expect: Or what could they ob* tain by it? Had they Ambition ( one* of them being paft 60) to ridepoft to Londtm.va the beginning of December, they could ex- pect: no higher Port in the Church than they now are in. He will Characterize themalfo : One of them he had before expofed as iar as his Malice and Wit could invent: The other he can find no- thing againlt; and therefore hi^fpite prompteth him to reproach his reverend and worthy Father; whofe praifeisintheGofpel, whofe Name is precious in the Church; and is above the fnatling of fuch aCurre : Nor one word of what he faith in that matter is true: And the contrary is declared by fome of the Courticrsxhat at- tended the K.ng when he wenttovifitMr .Blair, when he was- fick, and on his Bed. When his Majefty came in to the Room, they who were prefent told, that tho' they had been long about Court, they never heard a more Handfome Complement, then Mr. Blair gave unto the Kin.*; no* nvore becoming a Divine A Chair was fet at the Bed fide, fcrthcKing, in which his Majefly fat down ; after he had ralkrd a little with Mr. Blair, his Majefly drew the Chair nearer while he fat on it; But that fuch words were fpoken by Mr. B/air, as is allcdged, ismoft falfc. Tihould not have flayed lb much en this, but that the Reader may lake notice 1 9 i A Second Vindication . etc. notice, what a Spirit of Ly ing hath poflefled this Pamphleteer ; and what ill will he bears to the Living and to 'he Dead, who have born the name of Presbyterians. He is now at laft come to the Difluloti- on o( this AfTembly : Where he would have it thought, that rhe Af- fcmbly did defi^n 10 call another without the Kings Commiffio.- ier, who was fitting among them: Which was never thought nor defign- ed. As his Book is full of Lies and Slanders; fo his Epilogue is an abridgement of them all;doth amafs them in one;whjlehe laith,/to no material ialfhoodcan be charged upon him-.Thc Reader will eafi- ly judge o{ chip Aflec tion by what hath been faid ; of his Ingenuity alfo, and of tils hating to tell a L>e. I leave what hath been faid on both fides to the candid Judgment of the Impartial Reader, and to hib Judgment who is aGod of Truth.and hateth the Lying Lips: and do joy n with him in his concluding Prayer(as I could do with little that he hath hitherto faid J That the Lord would pour out his hpirit on us ( and on the other prfrty too ) That fiut Land may have peace, that the divi/ions of our C lurch may be he died and our Confufions may be wholly removed and order , and Government may con tinue among us. ■ / N I S. »95 POSTSCRIPT AFter thcfe Sheets were Printed, fome Informations were Tent me, which could not be inferred in their proper places, and therefore are here- fubjoyned Concerning Mr fergu/onol Kt/pa* trick (who is mentioned, Cafe of ajfltfled CiergyMc Sett i%.) Is no fanner true.then that j Men and 6 Women came to his houfc (being provoked by his continuing to Preach and Pray for King James after he had been difcharged fo to do by the People^ and when herefufedtocomcouctothem, they beat him on the Head, and on - he Legs, and tore his Cloaths : But the Blows were fuch, as one chat was his Friend did teftify, that he was more feared than hurt by them : for his Wife, it is ialfe that they beat her: On- ly one ot them held her while they fo dealt with her Husband as above faid. Whence it is evident, that tho 9 their practices art noway to be defended, yettheyartgroflybelyedby this Pam- plerer. I have alio further i nilances of the Clergies acceflicn to the Per- fections ohhc Presbyterians under rhc late Reigns (which is fo impudently denyed Late Letter, hz Seft 6. J As that Mr. Graham Minifter at Lcchmabane, Mr. Brown Minifter ztDryfddie, and Mr. Ihompfon Minifter at Kfplegirth, ufed to (land by Graham of Claverhon/e (alter Vifcount ol 'Dundee) while on the Bench to judge the persecuted Presbyterians for noncomplyance with the courfes of that time; andWhifperinhisEar, the effect of which was obferved ro begreateft Severity againft fuch as they were mod difplcafed with on that account. AJfo, Mr. Andrew Hamiltoun, when a poor Man, with his numerous Family, having fled from kib Dwelling, tooklhcltir in another poor Mans Houfein Mid/e- Cc hi i 94 POSTSCRIPT. by, caufedhimbe eaft out thence, fo that he was forced to lodge bv a D) ke-fide with his Family ,while two of his Children were Tick ofthcSmall-pox.Likevx ife Mr VallaticeMmifexzx. J ohnfloun , hav- ing periecuted Robert T)tinwoody, fo as he was forced to flee to England^ when he returned, would not fuffer him to live in the Parifh, uplefs he would go to Church: So he fled to hppleyrth, where Mr Thompfon would not let him ftay, unlefs he would hear him Preach>and the Mans Wife being ready to bring forth her Child, .the poor Man, againft his Light, was forced to hear: This is at- tefted under the Maps own Hand. One who had time, and would be at pains, to colled fuch Inftances* might find thoufands : But this is defigned to he done by it felf. ' In Vindicating the Minifters whom he reproacheth in the Wiflo- ry of theGeneral kfiembly $dzhgv\zd Brevity;efpeciaHy norfinding that what was laid, to their Charge was of much moment ; and that Malice w 7 as obvious and obfervable to every unbyafled Read- er, in all that he faith or them : Only the things that he faith againft Mr. CMeldrurn % are of more weight ^ but that Reverend Brother bdng at agreat diftance, 1 had not opportunity ta be informed pi the Trutliof matter of Faft- Bur he having Heard he was Re- proached, fent me the following Vindication ; which I gfre you in his own Words, whicharelufficienttoihevvwhata Lying Spirit doth poflefe the Men wittfvdibitf Weh4vetodo. M KJ O X 'W Reverend andDear Brother. SOme Months are paft, fincelheard of a Pamphlet publifhed ondefignto expofeourlate General Aflimbly to contempt, for which end, Iamtold, theAuthor of ir doth impudently mif- reprefent the Actings thereof, and injunoufly reflect on diverfe of of the Members of it, among the reft, they fay hebedaubethme, I have diligently fought lor a fight of ir, but hitherto could not obtain it, necprece, necpretio. It (eemeth thefe Men refolve { thcugb you told them of it before) to hold on their way, of Spreading thefe reflective Pamphlets in England , keeping them as fecret as they can here in Scotland, where the f alfhood of the matters of faft, are known, and they might foon have their ftamc and lying difcovered, But they know that bold calumniat- ing, efpecially where there is no Conrradi ft ion; nor knowledge of the conrrary will make fome blot cleave to a mans Fame I wasgladto hearyou intended, to give a juft reproof tothc Author of that Pamphlet, and an anfwer to the calumnies con- rainedin ir. And aFremd having ( when he could not obtain for mc the ufe of the Book/' tranferibed ,and fent to me f jme part of ir, relatingrome, Ijudg'ditduty tooflertoyou, my Animadvcrfi- ons thereon, which, if it come not too late, you may caufepub- Iifh: this Id© not fo much for myown Vindication, as for the Truth and Churches fake, which he endeavoureth to wrong andWound through my Jides Iprofefsldoe freely forgive him any perfonal injury done to me, and in fome conformity to my Saviour Luk. z$ 34. Vray ¥am ther forgive htm for he btoweth not what he doth. Yet 1 ihinkl can notbebiamedif iaObediencctotheApQftoiicalprtfccpt.r/V. 1.13. Cc % / 190 jt u a i j l R 1 r 1 . J rebuke htm Jbarffy, feing he isfoguiltyof the firftpartofth* Chara&er given to the Cretians there ver/e. \% For 1 do ingena- oufly declare that Narrative concerning me is full of Lies , and where he toucbeth at Truth, he fodifguifethit, that it appeared* a quite other thing than it was. I find no leis then 1 a. orir. Lies in a few lines, forheAflerts 1. that I with Mr. Mesnzies did at St ^Andrews upon a Conic* rence with the Bifhop of that Sea , fubcribe the Oath of Canonical Obedience, %. That the Bifhop of St. Andrews did by a Letter under his hand, aflure the Bifhop of Aberdeen of this, y That Mr. AfcWrflwhimfelf was the beater of it. 4. That Dr. Keith did make Intimation of our forefaid Subfcriptions in the Old Church of New Aberdeen, 5. That we our feives were prelent, 6. That I fofardefertedthePrinciplesof the Covenant and Scotifli Presby- terians, that I did Swear and Subscribed the Declaration when I was admitted Reftor of the MarefchalCoWt&gQ of Aberdeen 7. That I ftruck in with the Presbyterians out o( picque, becaufe 1 was not permitted to return to the Exereife of my Minifiryin . ber deen, 8.ThatIbrokeoffairCorrefpondeney, with thole oi the E- pifcopal party, erenmymoft intimate acquaintance, 9. Thatt vented myfelf , as bitterly, and feverely againftthem, as any Presbyterian whatfomever, 10. That picque, hvereft andPo* pularity, were my Temptation, n That at firftl pretended, I would only attempt to reclaim the deluded People or the IVeH^ from their Errours and Fx mcaJ Obedience. W§ talfe which this Author faith {and may ics and I did only hefuate atfittt, upen the Oath of Canonical Obedience, for we never had any hefftation , or doubt upon it, but were clear and po- fiave in ou' Judgment againft it, and expreft it as we hadocca- fioa. It's ttue we did at the firft offer Submiffion, andtojoynin Presbyteries and Synods, thinking this was but the fame, which worthy men had done before they eare 163 8, Notdifcerning. as others who fuffered did, the difference betwixt the State of things r^ntto, 1661. And before the year, 1^38. Tho' this flop in -thcexerciteof my Miniftery, was 14. da)es before the Biihops Synod, >et at that Synod when he did pafs Sentence ol Depofuion, againft Learned and Pious Mx.Mcinzi* /, ior *9* " POSTSCRIPT. for not Subfcribing the Oath of Canonical Obedience*, tho' he offer- ed Submiffion : The Biihop was pleafecf tojoy n me in the Sentence tho" neither prefent nor cited to be prefent. Whether Bifhop Miu chel did Vindicate this hislllegal and Unjuft procedure by that love- ly Proverb our Author mentioneth, Fides fit penes Author-tin. But I was nothing moved with this Sentence. Sometime after this, I retired to the Countrey i8 Miles beyond Aberdeen, yet in the beginning of "December, there cometh to me a Summonds before the fecret Council, as was faid by the procure- ment of the Bifhop of Aberdeen, alledging he could not appear on the Streets of that City for fear oi the People.Irritated, as was alledged by their Paftors, whom they had loft. At that time were cited alfo, the famous and worthy, old Mr, Cant, and his Son Mr. Alexander, and Mr. CMeinztes. The good old mari got a Teftificat that he^was not able to Travel. The reft of us went South with noJefs hazard than our Lrvesjt being a grievous Storms and Temped! Mr, Alexander Cant falling unwell compeared not. When Mr. Meinzies and I compeared the Earle of Mtdktotm then Lord Commiffioner and the Earl of Qlencarne Lord Chancel- lor and others of the Council finding that there was nothing to lay Co our charge, and hearing from us, that we were willing to joy n in Presbyreries and Synods, did by At\ of fecret Council recommend us to the Bifhop of St, Andrews, tote reftored to our places. When this was prefented to the Bifhop of St, Andrews he readily promifed to obey it, but never fpoketous one word of the Oath of Canonical Obedience. Yea I would ask any judicious Perfon, if it was probable that ( knowing our peremptory declared Rcfolutions againft it) either the Bifhop of St, Andrews would have infilled to require, or we conferred to Subfcribe that Oath, when we had an Act of Council in our Favours, and at that fame time they had published aTreatife,entituled zTleafirSubtniffiontothepre* fent Government, wherein they made offer of diverfe Gonceflions to them who would fubmit. But the Bifhop of St. Andrews, be- ing then ready to go from Edinburgh to St ^Andrews, defiredus in our return for Aberdeen, to call for his Letter, which he pro- mifed mifed fhould be ready for us. But neither when we came to St. A«- ^^•jdidhefpeakGCOusofSuWcribingtheOachofCanonicalobe- dience, nor did we fubfcribe any Paper to him, nor flay with turn one quarter of an hour, it being late and heftudyinghis Chriftmals Sermon, and we to go over the Ferry. Nor did his Let- ter to the Bifhop of Aberdeen bear any thing of our Subfcribing that Oath, neither would I have been the bearer offomanifeft an un- truth. Yea when in his Letter he had written, that we were willing to own the Government, I refufed to receive it, unlefs he added this Qualification [ fofar as tojeyn inTresbyteries andS) &;ds)to which he agreed, when we would take it on no other terms. Neither did Bilhcp CMttchel after our Return, infift any more on our Subfcribing the Oath olCanonical Obedience ; but haveing called together fomeMinifters, there was a paper drawn out of the words of the above mentioned Letter, which Paper indeed we did Subfctibe, and I hear fome of. that Party, whether Out of Curiofity or ill will at me, have fcarched for it among Bifliop Mttchels Papers. But I value not wha* ufc they make of it. That Pa^er fhc.Pifhop ordered Doctor Keith to read publickly in Aberdeen* Thinking hereby toleflenour efteem among the People, butthac defign failed, none of us were prefent at the reading of it. But the next Lords day when 1 appeared firft to Preach, I told publickly (Mr. 7-7\ Then Bifhop of R.?/f, being prelcnt) that I conceived pha>t I h^d yielded to nothing,, butu hat Lfirft offered. But feing this Author is not only injurious to me, but ro learned andPiousMr.Afc/;;s/£\r-, wholeirurrcry isptecioustom$,befideall shat 1 have laid for his Honour, 1 add that not only the Tell but the Subfcrjbing.q/_ tjjis Paper, was grievous to that good man beforq hisdeath, and although 1 was thenat South.I had it alterward, from awourjy Pcrfon and Friend ofhis who had it from himfelf. And I fan, fay q\. my felf, I did lament becaufe of it ieveral years before that, and altho' this Author defign me no favour, ) et as fometimes U'e are more obliged to our Enemies, than to our friends, fo here begivcth me oppprumity to tell the World, that I tepem for the {Jjibfciibiiij of .Jiiu Paper Altho,l never jubiciibcd the Oath of Can* ttoo P O S T S C R I T T. Canonical Obedience. But being then young and paying too much deference and refpeft to a friend who drew it ; I did thekfs fen- oufly confider either the Words or matrer of it. Iconfcfs I afterwards was in Freindfliip with R (hop Scougal who was a Learned and moderat Man ,1 did alfo fit «n 'resbyteries and Synods, thinking my felr free to joyn In tfi f Duties to which I was Authorized by my office, akho' then had been no Bilhop in the World, nor do I think that by this I pa>ed formal Canonical Obedience, fo that the aflerting of this, may be reputed a 1 3 th of fhis Authors lies. Yet it heoranyelfe can ihew me wherein I have comply cd contrary to my Principles or to the juft offence of others, which I have not confeflld already, 1 am ready to acknow- ledg it was my fault, bur this 1 can fay, the Bifliops themfelves did not judge me a favourer ol Prelacy , and my Intirnats knew me to be Presbyterian in my Principles, and I did never wittingly deiert thefe Principles. For its a mamieft untruth which this Author aflerts that ifwore and fubferibed the Declaration when I was ad* fnitted Reftor, in the Marefcball Colledge in Aberdeen. I neither Cook it then, nor at any other time, anent which 1 appeal to all re- cords. Not indeed was it required of me, nor did the A ft mention Reftors. It was nottheleaft Caufeof my refuting the Teft, that I was obliged thereby to declare, that there lay no Obligation on me, to endeavour any Alteration in the Government of the Church. For 1 profefsf did judge it Duty in my Station, and according to my Power, dfi endeavour to promote the Alteration, and the remo- val ot Prelacy And do not deny, I did Blefs God, and Call the People oi isibe* deen to Blcfs Him for the removal ot it, and ^ray that it may never return. But that ever I ufed Bitter- nefs or Severity agaimt any of that Party , this Author can* net prove; And aH who know me, do know thefe are thirgs which I abhor, andmydefire is to promote Meeknefs and Cha- rity among Men. Thefe alfo, who were of the Prdatica! way. and Intimately acquaint with Me , know the fallhood of whit he iays of my POfrT S C R IT T. xor breaking off all Correfpondence with them in any thing which CrviliryandFriendfliipoblidgethMeunto. Yea, lam confident not only rhey, but all of that way, whoknow 7 Me, will allow M« this Teftimony that whenever they defired , yea, on all occafions According to my Power, I wasready to dothem Aftsof Kindnefs. And when I was laft in Aberdeen, the prefent Incumbents of that place and I did Friendly Vifit one another. Its true one of them being occasionally in a Neighbours Houle came to me as I Lighted from my Horie, and defired Me to Preach for him the next Lords- day (but neither he nor any elfedid'it afterwards:) And /hope he willnotfay, but /gave him a Civil, and as / conceive an Anfvvec which might havefatisfied him. Asforwhar this Author faith, That it was Picq.uc which mov- ed to Me firike in with the Presbyterians, becaufe /was not per- mitted to rerurn to the Exerctfeof my Miniftry at Aberdeen. This is a prefumptuousafcending Gods Throne, to judge my Heart, and Motives. As alfo what he faith afterward. That Ttque , In- terest andVopularity, were my Temptation : / can comfortably fay, Hethatknoweth all Things, knoweth this is falfe. It was Confcience, andnorfuch bale Motives that moved Me: And I think I may obtain Tefiimony from thefe who know me both in the North and We ft, that they have other Thoughts of me than that I am led by fuchbafe Motives. Its true the Town cf t_/jber- deen y to whole kindnels 1 alwayes was, and am on all occafions, much obliged, when they conceived any hopes of obtaining my fregrefsto them w thout any Obligation or Oath, did move tor it Bur neither this Author, nor any elfe can prove that /did dtfire. it, or made any Application to the Bifhops for it. How far fomeof the Biih ps complyed with a great pcrfon of the Pc- pifhperfwafion, toobihudthatdefign fxho it was known that ttf was difference ot Religion that engaged him againft {z J the Town of /£fer«/ff* know in pair, and Heave it to the Bishops own Confcicnces to judge. For Iingenuoufiy profefs I never had :uiy Pk que at them on that account, nor was it Picquc but Con- science whichttored mc \ to joyn with the Presby tenant, tor I be- Dd. rng to* T ST S C R ITT. ingfuch in my judgment, and about a year after the time, hefpeaks of, by an unexpected Providence; receivingan Unanimous Call, Irom a Noble Perfon (whoalfo was Patron of the Patifh) and other Heretors and Body of the people of the Parifli of Kilwtnmg % an united Parifh, which for divers years had been Vacant; / did by the Approbation of the Presbytery of Irwin, come and La- bour among them, in the work of theGofpel. Yetthere ismore than one faifhood infinuare by this Author , In that which he faith in the beginning of this Paragraph, concerning Me, thatever fince King James's Indulgence 1 did PreachinaMeeting-houfe, for it was a year after that Liberty was given, that I entered here, and and for thefe two years without the Reluftancy of any, have Preached in the Church, It is truein theyear 1688. the Con- gregation Aflembled in another Houfe than the Church, the Law not allowing us the fame, tho' all that time it was empty, except that Mr Bell, being after my coming here prefented by the Bifhop, came and Preached to his own Servant and two or three more /who were folJicited to hear him) at two feveral times in the Fore- noon, and went offin the Afternoon ; and having for that obtained half ayears Stipend, was prefented to another Church, where he had little better Reception. It is alfo falfe which he faith, in the end of this paragraph, that atfirft, I pretended, that I would only attempt to reclaim the de- luded People of the Weft, from their Erours and Lxrravagancies. Perhaps he defigneth by this, to breed in the People adiflike of me. But I hope they will not believe him. And it is mod falfe that ever I expreft my felf lo concerning the People of the Weft, or my de- fign in going among them. My defign was to Preach theGofpel of Chrilt, and to advance Truth andHolinefs, and Peace and Love among Men. I acknowledge, It a Minifter find any Errouts, or Extravagancies among a People, his endeavour fhould be to re* claim them, but I Blefs God this Author cannot juftly charge this Congregation, with thefe things. As for what hefaith, was foretold by a Perfon ol Quality, and great worth. I neither know of whom hemeaaeth, nor yet the pre- TOSTSCRITT. zoy prediction, and perhaps this is of the fame kind, with the reft of our Authors Affc rric ns. Sure I am, drverfe Perfons oi Quality and tforth, to whom I did fhew my C all, did approve my Acceptance of it,tho' in their Affection, they retraced my going from the North. In fine, tbo r this Author had faid that it could not be denied that I carried my felf well, and gained the good Opinion of all, while! kept my place ziKberdeen. And inftaneethmeas ajudiciou Per- fon, tho' under Temptation Yet he isfodifcreetintheend, as to repreferir, both this People and Me as enfnaredin extravagant Foolleries, but 1 forgive him. It is a fmall thing for me to be judged of Men, better than I have been rated as Fools. But in love to his Soul I commend to his Meditation, Matth, 5, zz. And Revel* zz 15*. lam really weary in infiftingfo long on things relating to my Perfon, I do acknowledge the World would be at no great lofs tho' I were buried in the Duft, and my name in Oblivion, andwereic not for my refpeft to thepublicklntereft, which this Authorenu deavoureth to hurt,by thus expofing me, I (houlc not have troubled my felf, and the Reader with this Vindicarion,being hopeful tbac His defaming oi me cannot hinder my acceptance, nor the fuccefs of my Labours, where I am known. I hear, there are iome other things, in that Pamphlet, which relate to me. but my friend gave me no tranfcript of them, nor have I feen the Book, and I am told they are of no great Moment,and but By blows to me, while he is reflecting; on other Perfons.and things, and perhaps you may fuiEciently Vindicate them without my help. I am told he acknowledgeth I Preached a Sermon for Modera- tion, but added fuch Cautions as made all ineffectual. To which I ihallonly fay, I know none that deny, bunhere is need ot Caution, Icaft men under the Name of Moderation degenerate to Luke- warmenefs, and excluding of zeal, bat I know no Caution 1 gave which had not a Scripture warrant. And if this Author had heard it, I think he hath good will enough to reprefent it, could he catch at any lhadow of ground for it. ip^ TOSTSCRITT. I am alio told, ha refle&s on mc anent a Paper faid to be given in to the General Afiembly % wherein it fhould been faid iheGofpel bad not been Preached in Aberdeen thefe 50 Years, but not having feen the Book, nor any Tranfcript of that matter I can give no diftinft anfwer. But as its related to me, it feemtth of a Piece with the reft of his Affertions :only tofatisfy any fober Peifon,who may be {tumbled at fuch an expreflion, I do publickly profefs, I am fo far from thinking fo,or approvi ng any who fhould think or fpeake it, that I Aflert, and Declare, I have in that time often heard, to my great comfort and Edification, the Gofpel both plainly and power- fully preached at Aberdeen. But I fear I have weatied you, and (hall on4y add thatlfliall not ceafe to pray the Lord would preferve you long to do him fer : vice in his Church and (hall continue, Kilwinning 7eur Brother, %7™ 9 T. KndServanP, In the Lord, Q. M. FINIS. BOOKS to be Sold by George Mofman at his Chop in the Parlia- ment-Clofe. THe Decifions of the Lords of Council and Scflion obfervcd b y the Vifcounc of Stair s. part id Fol The Decifions of the Lords of Council and Seflion obfervedby Sir Alexander Gib fonoi\yurte. Fol: TheHittoryotche Church ot Scotland from the beginning; of the Reformation to the end of die Reign of King James ihc VI. by Mr. 'David C alder wood Fol: The Afls of the General AiTembly if 90. Fol: TbeA&softhe General Aflembly irom the year 1658. to the year 1 690. Inclufive in 8m TheOrder and Government of the Church of Scotland Mi.Gibert Kuls Rep efentation of Presbyterian Government. a, Vindication of the Church of Scotland being an Anfwer to ten QuelHons. —-"A Sermoo Preached before the Parliament. Eflayes of Anatomy in which the Conftruftions of the Organs and their Mechanical Operations are clearly explained according to the new Hypothefes. A Collection of Difcourfes againftthe Errors and Corruptions ot the Church of Kome by fome Divines of the Church of England The Tribe of Levi* Poeme. Mr. Guthreys Tray el of a Saving Intere ft in Chrift, Mr. Tatrick Sym/ons fpiritual Songs and Holy Poems. A Farther Vindication of the Church of Scotland. X I /-/ 7/4 h u