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The True Copy of t he^_ 7 ^ e 
 
 Declaration and Teftimony 
 
 Published at 
 
 MOVNT.HE KICK, 
 
 Near Cravufurd-J ohn, 
 Upon the feventh Day of May, 1741. 
 
 Isaiah i. 26. And J will reftore thy fudges as at tf» 
 firfl, and thy Counfellors as at the "Beginning: Jf 
 terward thou fialt be called, the City of Right eouf- 
 tic ft > the faithful City. ',_.;. , .. j 
 
 Jude 3. Contend earncftly for the Faith once delivered 
 to the Saints. 
 
 Buchan. Psalm, xlviii. 12, 13. 
 Ite, & Sionem ambulate, moenia 
 
 Spechte, turrcs arduas m . 
 
 Numerate, foflam & aggerem intuemini, 
 
 Moldque celfas xdium. 
 Narrate natis, pofterorum ut audiant 
 
 Et obftupeicant iecula. 
 
 Regis" ad cxemplum totus componitur orbis. 
 
 Printed in the Year Mdccxli. 
 
m 
 
 THE 
 
 PUBLISHER 
 
 T O T H E 
 
 Chriftian READER. 
 
 AS all Believer s, fofoon as they become fuch i 
 -** by the Seed of Faith and other faying 
 Graces being wrought in their Souls, enter into, 
 and engage in a fpiritnal Warfare againji tloe 
 Tlefh, the Motions and AffeEfions of Sin and a 
 Body of Death, that fill dwell in them; They 
 having now received ( as it were ) Prefs or In- 
 lifting-mon'/y/mw Jesus Christ, the Cap- 
 tain of their Salvation, in whom thy are now 
 come to truft, and under whofe Banner they are 
 now come to fight ; fo alfo they are bound unto, 
 and engaged in a Warfare without, againji this pre- 
 fent evil World, and Sin abounding therein, by 
 all proper Means and Ways, in the Station and 
 Relation wherein they jiand, oppo[ing, tcflifying, 
 and bearing Witnefs agdinft the Sins and Evils 
 of the Day wherein they live, and the Genera- 
 tion among whom they dwell \ befides the Temp- 
 tations and Tribulations arijiug therefrom^ which 
 A x 
 
 _ 
 
C iO 
 
 they have alfi to grapple with: yet [me of the 
 Iok£ "People iJebem helped both in this 
 and other Lauds, that none o thefe T nngs 
 moved them, neither counted they their Lives 
 dear unto themfelves, that they might nnifh 
 their Courfe with Joy and Approbation And 
 as thefe two Ways of Grace and leal expreffing 
 ihemfelvcs againft Sin both within and without, 
 TJurningjor and tefiifymg againji ,t arelove- 
 v in their Lives, fo in the Reward of Meny 
 they are not divided. Nor is this Duty ojmourn- 
 ■JfbrM andTeWyingagamfi *»**%£ 
 inherent a Thing, as many take it to be thatei- 
 thlrthe Taucity%r Smaluefs of the Number fo 
 ZJ or the Want ofSuccefs therein, the com- 
 mon Obvious made againjl it, will exem or 
 ex nfe from the Duty, as evidently appears in the 
 Stfof Lot, who was alone in that Duty, and 
 ffsllfi W read of none that he had, «gjr 
 that of Self-exoneration, and faving himielt 
 from that untoward Generation ; and yet he ts 
 IZddin the New Teftament, and that with 
 Probation That in feeing and hearing, he 
 Si ht righteous Soul Iron! Day to Day with 
 S unlawlal Deeds as ^^thathewa, 
 vexed with the filthy Gonverfation of the U ic- 
 ked Upon which it fnrely follows, &* %*& 
 no indifferent SpeBator, or unconcerned Behold- 
 e Y\ ZtwasaLe in his Duty thereanent, as 
 Bellas paffive in what he furred by their fil- 
 tty Conv&uon; as alfo Unas Manafius con- 
 
( v ) . 
 tra totum orbem. Now as to the Expediency 
 and NeceJJity of the following Declaration and 
 Teftimony at this Time, it is to be confidered, 
 That this Tarty haying lone held their Teace 
 this Way, waiting for the Apilame and Concur- 
 rence of others , who ought to have joined in this • 
 Duty ; and having dealt with the Aflbciate PreP 
 bytery both by li ordand Writ, that they would 
 lend an Helping-hand to the carrying on of 
 that Tart of the Teftimony of the Church 
 of Scotland, orient Reformation in the Civil 
 Magistrate, a Truth fo long kept in Captivi- 
 ty and Bondage in this Land ;. and they fhi ft- 
 ing and refufing it, and not at all averting and 
 affirming it in any of their public k Tapers, as a 
 Thing at prefent to be contended for, and the 
 Want of it witnejjed agaiufi, obliged thof'e con- 
 cerned in this Teftimony to declare their Adhe- 
 rence thereto, left their Silence any longer, fiould 
 become a fint'ul Silence, and might be, not with- 
 out Caufe, interpreted a Relinquishing of their 
 former Ground and Teftimony; and feeing that 
 neither they nor others would do any 'Thing there- 
 in, they found it their Duty to do what they 
 could, thd in a weak and frnall Meafure. Like- 
 wife the many Evils abounding now and fince the 
 lajt Declaration of this Sort publifhed, called for 
 a Teftim jny and Witnefi- bearing againji them, 
 and that in Cm'mncTion with the Truths therein 
 ajferted. Likewife, the Tapers* publifljed by o- 
 thers, not e^pr effing the Mind and. Judgment of 
 
 * this 
 
( vi ) 
 
 this Tarty fully, as to the Sin and Duty of this 
 Day, called them to exfrefs their Thoughts there- 
 in themjelves ; fitch as the Act and Teirimony 
 oft he Aflbciate Presbytery, which differs, in feve- 
 ral Things ancnt the late Martyrs, as well as that 
 ancnt the Civil Magistrate, from the Mind and 
 Sentiments of thofe herein concerned. And that 
 Tapter, calkda Declaration of the true T res by- 
 terians within the Kingdom of Scotland, dated 
 December iSth. 1740. and jaid to be publifbed 
 that fame Day at the Market Crofs oj Linlith- 
 gow 7 , in which thefe concerned here had neiihet 
 Hand nor Cenfent, nor (0 much as the Knowledge 
 of, till it was fold throng h the Country and pu- 
 blic k to all; and therefore it was without Ground^ 
 aUedged by fome, to be the Deed oj this Commu- 
 nity, who, jor many Reafons ( particularly it bet- 
 ing done in a "jam and uncharitable Strain ) 
 do hereby difclahn the Jame: 'The Difference be- 
 twixt it, and our Sentiments contained in the 
 following Taper, beinz obvious to the Reader, it 
 is needlefs to give the Reafons -further, why it is 
 not here efpoufed and owned : Only, it mjde it 
 the more needjul that this Community Jbculd 
 [■peak for themjelves what they take to be Truth 
 and Duty in this Day ; and thefe Things confide r- 
 ed and laid together, the Expediency and NeceffJ- 
 ty hereof appears, and that no Icjs could be done, 
 thd under many Dijadvantages and Discourage- 
 ments. Alfo jome others, writing and printing 
 Takers in and about Edinburgh, in a. moft uu- 
 
 chrifiian 
 
C vii ) 
 YhriJUan Manner, which wt likewife difiwk, 
 hereby dejircs the World to impute no fitch 
 Extremes to "as, but to give Credit only to what 
 we exprefiy declare and own in this and our for- 
 ?ner Declarations and Teftimonys. 
 
 AND it having keen the "Practice cf the 
 Lord'j- Teople in this Land, ever (luce the Re- 
 formation j rem Popery, to len.ihen and draw 
 out their Teftimony and Witnefs-bearing, in 
 Proportion to and Cppofiiion againft the Sin, 
 Back/tiding and Defection tf the Time wherein 
 they lived, when they could neither get it flop nor 
 hindred; The folUwing of whefe Footfteps there- 
 in, is (till judged an incumbent Duty by this 
 Remnant. 
 
 IT is needful here alfo,to advertise the Reader, 
 that altho tbe Difference with the Aflbciate Pref- 
 bytery be only wentiond as to that anent the Ci- 
 vil Magiftrate, their Terms of Communion, and 
 Conduct anent the two late Erairian hafts ; yet 
 there are feveral other Things in their Conduct, 
 not mentioned, at cut which it is demurrd; as the 
 contented Biiildingof considerable Meeting Honjes 
 ana their Superlative Loyalty in Trayingjor, 
 theprefent Pofleflors of Power, not very much 
 differing from the Terms thereof impofed upon, 
 I by this Erafuan Church : 
 sUbcitthe Indulged and Tolerated Miniflers and 
 Teople went in to thefe Meafures, under the In- 
 dulgence and Toleration, let, both then and 
 fine, it was judged afinful Compliance by the 
 
 : cr- 
 
( viii ) 
 
 ftiffcring Tarty; and the then Toffeffiorswere, at 
 leaf} by Trofejffion and Oath Prelatick, and eca- 
 ftian, (except the Duke of Tor k, who was poftfh) 
 and in Communion of the Church of England, 
 as the prejent are. And the Difference jiands 
 m that 0/ bloody Perfecution, which is not now 
 as then , (because of Compliance) yet , Jli 11 the 
 Bearing-down anJ Discountenancing the Cove- 
 nanted Caute continues, and the taking all Encou- 
 ragement from it, and fuch as own it. Alfo the 
 Adapting of the very Can fes prejeribed by the Go- 
 vernment in the laft Fall together with their own, 
 has its own Difficulty, when the Day and Man- 
 ner of Appointment were refined. 
 
 IT remains to fay fomething for prevent- 
 ing fome Objections; It being now a Time 
 that fcarce any Thing can he (aid or done, thd 
 flam, and with a good Defgn. % but Objections 
 are made againfi it, and MifconjirutTtons pit up- 
 en it, by fiich who favour and relijh it not, hav- 
 ing imbib'd Prejudices to the Contrary. Then as 
 to that Artkle in the Confeflion of Faith, That 
 Difference in Religion, or Infidelity, doth not 
 make void the Magiftrate's juft and legal Au- 
 thority, sSc from which fome think, at leafl 
 fay, afl Scruple and Difficulty evanijheth anent 
 the Civil Magiftrate, and any Limitations there- 
 in. But fuch would do well to confider, that 
 the Aflembly are there ((calling of Magiilracy i 
 abfirattly confidered, withott RejpecJ had, cr\ 
 Accommodation to a reformed Land ana People, 
 
 mor 
 
more than any other. And that in Oppofitionto 
 Anabaptifts and other SetXzvksthen abounding in 
 Germany, and {oim in England, who hadjtrange 
 Notions about the Civil Magiflrate ; fome alledg- 
 ing their Chriflian Liberty, freed them from all 
 Civil Magift rates ; and others, that Dominion 
 was founded in Grice,reauifing in the Civil Ma- 
 giflrate, fofitive Signs of real Grace, as a Qua- 
 lification, even as the Independents do, in Order 
 to Church Communion ; But in the ConfeJJion, 
 they intended no Retraction of !&hat they had both 
 faid, and [worn in the Solemn League not long 
 before, concerning the Civil Magiflrate, and 
 Allegiance to him, in this Land in farticiilar ; 
 which af pears plainly by the After-Conduct 
 of the Church of Scotland with Cha. II. at 
 Sco'oil i And if there had been any fnch Thing 
 as a Retraction intended in the ConfeJJion 
 without all Doubt, an Ajfembly of fnch eminent 
 and godly Divines, would not only have been Plain 
 aid full therein, but alfo confejjid their Sin in 
 the Vow and Oath they had made with (o %reat 
 Solemnity ; yet the leajl Vtftiqe or Hint thereof 
 doth not appear. Andalthd, Perfecutofs in the 
 late bloody Reigns, did twit and vex the Mar- 
 tyrs and other Sufferers, with fnch Qucfiions 
 and Objections ort that Matter, yet 'tis fir an^e 
 and unaccountable that any of a Presbyterian 
 Deno?nination, Minifters or People, Zhou Id in* 
 fift thereupon, for juch a Turpofe ; feeing it w^is 
 a Lejfini that was fir fl taught by the late Perfe- 
 cjjtors, and as would appear, is not yet out of 
 
( x ) I 
 
 Fofbim with many, and fome of whom better 
 Things were expelled. However, before now, 
 good Things and well Defignd, have been made 
 a Siunibling-fione of, when Hearts and Views 
 ■ another Toint in the Compajf ; But ajju- 
 '■;■ the Obligation oj 'the Covenants cannot con- 
 j'lth what is too often objected by fome, upon 
 i-bove-faid Article ojthe Conieffion of Faith. 
 THE Reader is alfo to know, that in the 
 ces of Scrip a re cited out of the New Tefta- 
 X, and the Arguments and Reafonings there- 
 ; there is no Comparifon ftated or intended 
 t the frefent (Government, and the then 
 nd Heathen Roman Emperors. But on- 
 cweofthe frefent Minifiers and others 
 mes, when they are pinched and fraitned 
 : a 'locations in the Civil Magiftrate, and 
 tbM Prelacy in fnch is no tolerable j£ualifi- 
 i, frequently advance the f orated Tlace 
 nfeffion, and cite the fe T laces from the 
 Teft/ment jor Support thereof, in fitch a 
 7/7^ they mean the then Heathen Em- 
 which at once puts an end to ^//Qualifi- 
 Limkations or Reflations what foe- 
 he Civil Magiftrate ; bee an fe there can 
 y be worfe than many of them were y 
 ,/? certainly Jbe a badlVay of Reafoning 
 in the Face of the Trdfiice of all Na- 
 nd by Conference, of the very Light of 
 ■ ; It being the Tr alike of the mof, if 
 all Nations, a Suitablenefs betwixt the 
 .e and his Subjects, and particularly ] in the 
 
 Re- 
 
C » ) 
 
 Religion they profefs. It was therefore needfu 
 to give fome Anfwer thereto, and to endeavoi r 
 
 to /hew, that there is no Juch Thing as Obedience 
 and Subjection commanded there to every Occu- 
 pant, or who ever foould have providentially 
 the Afcendant. And Mr. Buchanan, who was* 
 110 mean Divine as appears by his Paraphrafe 
 on the Book of Pialms, is of this Mind in his d;ie 
 Priviledges of the Scots Government, which the 
 Reader may confidt. 
 
 BUT to detain the Reade?%o longer ; Ov.r 
 Saviour was afuffering Saviour /;/ this World-, 
 and they who have felt the Tower of Religion 
 upon their Souls, will not qittte a fuffering Reli- 
 gion, knowing that through many Tribulations 
 they muft enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, 
 and all that will live Godly muft fuffer Perfec- 
 tion in this World one Way or other: They who 
 will not have a fuffering Religion, for ordinary, 
 lofe the true Religion, which leads to the King- 
 dom of Heaven: let when Men have done all 
 they can to Jhun the Crofs and Sneering, they 
 muft either take a juffering Religion, or let it go, 
 because of the Crop; as many do at all Timis. 
 And ah I what /infill Compliance and flounniug 
 of the Crofs and Suffering has been in this Land, 
 jince the Revolution, both with Miniflers and 
 Peoph? But fee how the Lord has met Men 
 in fmh Ways; The "Power of 'F * reaching is much 
 away, the Life and Exercife of Religion 
 decayed; and as Men would have Religion: 
 out fuffering, fo they have got it without th it 
 13 z com- 
 
( xii ) .' 
 
 Comfort, Life, and Tower which the Lorbj 
 People have often found with\ and in it ; and they 
 may fee tf worldly Comforts, Jo much run upon,w iff 
 ballance the Lofs of the other, or be of that Sqf* 
 t fort tn the Day ^/Straits, -that the An fiver and 
 Witnefs of a good Confcience would have been : 
 It is alfo cert ant, that the Kirks Crofs external- 
 ly has often come from Crown'd Heads and cor- 
 rupt Courts. And that it is rare that the 
 Church and People of God, when faithful in 
 their Duty, have the Triendjhip of this IVorld^ 
 and the favour of Princes, of long continuance ; 
 as af fears -plainly in the Times both under the 
 Old and New Tefl anient, and in the Biftory of 
 the Times fine?*, let notwithflanding of the ma-. 
 ny and often Difcouragements that IVay, and the 
 hard and difficult Recovery of thofe who have 
 gone out of the LordV Way\ For all People will 
 walk, every one in the Name of his God, much 
 wore have the Teefle of the Living and True 
 God Cmfe to fay, and continue to do fo, And u e 
 will walk in the Name of the Lord our GOD 
 for ever and ever, Mic, iv. 5-. Even in the Way 
 Name and Strength of the Lord our GOD; 
 which was ferion/Jy preyed and exhorted unto m 
 a Sermon preached' upon tbefe Words, by our 
 Reverend Mimfter, before the Publication of this 
 Declaration and TefUmony. 
 
 ©UCLA-* 
 
*5 ) 
 
 PECLARATIONand TESTIMONY 
 of the Witnejjing Remnant- of the true 'Presby- 
 terian Church of Chrift \n Scotland, united to- 
 gether in a General Correjpondence ; In Oppo- 
 sition to 'Popery, Trelacy, Erajlianifm, Sec- 
 tarianijm, Lutherantfm and the continued in 
 Time-jervwg Courjes, fince the late Revolu- 
 tion. 
 
 E a fmall Remnant much wafted 
 and difcouraged by a long dark 
 Day, and fore trying Time; yet 
 having heard with our Ears, and 
 our fathers have told us, what 
 wondrous (Forks the Lord did in their Day ; 
 and being perfwaded in our Conferences, by the 
 Word and Spirit of God, that the Work of Re- 
 formation carried on in this Land from the Year 
 1638 to 1 649, was of God and agreeable to his 
 Word, and accompanied with the Converfioa 
 and Joy of many Souls, and with a fignal and 
 plentiful Down-pouring of the Spirit of God j 
 and that the Perlecutcd Party, for their Adher- 
 ing thereto in the Time of the late Perfecution, 
 were the Lord's Witnefles, and his handful of 
 Com, cho' tofled on the Mountains, yet made 
 to pake with -profperous Fruit, like Trees in Le- 
 banon, the Grace of our Lord Jeftis Chriit be- 
 ing exceeding abundant towards them with 
 
 Fattb 
 
( 14 ) 
 
 Faith and Love, whereby they were enabled 
 to out-brave Men and out-lace Death, with the 
 undaunted Courage and holy Boldnefs of the pri- 
 mitive Martyrs, having fomething like the Joys 
 of Heaven meeting and tryfting with them, m 
 Prifbns and on Scaffolds, not counting their 
 Lives dear unto them, (o as they might finijh their 
 Days and Tejiimony with Joy, whereby it was 
 evident ( and fometimes to the Convi&ion of 
 their bloody Enemies and Adverfaries ) that they 
 were ow T ned of God, and the Tefiimony they 
 bore, approved of Him : 1 ho' few have own- 
 ed that Caufe fince, and they who have, in 
 fome (mail weak Meafurc, have met with much 
 Difcouragement and Oppofition from all Ranks 
 of this Generation, and even of thefe of whom 
 better Things might have been expe&ed : We 
 (ay, being perfwaded of thefe things, we judge it 
 prefent Duty to publifh this our prefent TejiimGtiy 
 to the Truths of God, and againft the Errors and 
 Corruptions of the Day, without Feud or Favour 
 to the Perfons therein concerned. And herein, 
 we may lay our Account with the Contempt and 
 Scorn of ibme, the Malice and Reproach of o- 
 thers, the Difdain and Huffing of the moil; and 
 this not only from open and profefl Adversaries 
 to thefe Reformation and Covenant-Principles, 
 but alio from thefe who, loving their Eafe, 
 couch under every Burden, Iflachar like, and Suc- 
 cumb to every Imposition and Yoke, and cry 
 put againft any, or every Thing, that may dii : 
 turb or endanger their Eafe : Or at the leaft we 
 
 . may 
 
( is ) 
 
 may expect to be branded with unfcafonable Su- 
 "ferfluity, or Arrogance, in arrogating that to 
 our felves, to be the only true Wttneffes and 
 Remnant i or Superfluity, in that we have /hew- 
 ed lb much to the World already, and only love 
 to make new Appearances. Yet notwithftand- 
 ingof thefe obvious, and many other Difcourage- 
 ments, we think it our Duty, as to witnels ior 
 thefe old and bonejt Truths, ib to undeceive the 
 World, as if our long Silence this Way, might 
 be repute a Relinquilhing our former Principles, 
 or a Deferring that noble Caufe. 
 
 In the firft Place, and according to our form- 
 er Teftimonys, We declare and own our Belief 
 of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Tes- 
 tament, to be the very Word of God, the only 
 Infallible Rule of Truth and Life, in which we 
 hope, and according to which we defire and 
 endeavour to live, alcho* with much Weaknefs 
 and many Infirmities, which we defire humbly 
 toconlefsand lament, and to bewail our many 
 ihort-comings in all our Dutys and Performan- 
 ces, and our not ' walking fuitably toperibnal and 
 national Engagments, either in Heart or Life, 
 and not duely affected either with pur own or 
 the Lands Sins. Aiiq we declare our Adherence 
 to the Covenants National and Solemn League, 
 at which our Fathers rejoiced, and counted it 
 their great Mercy to be brought into a Cove- 
 nant Relation with God in a national Capacity: 
 And to the Confejfion of Faith, Catechisms larger 
 and.fborter, Sum of living Knowledge, Direc- 
 tory 
 
 i 
 
( i6 ) 
 
 tory for Worfhip, Church Government and Or- 
 dination of Minillers, and the whole attained- 
 to Work of Reformation, and to the Teftimo-* 
 nys of the faithful Witnefles and Martyrs to and 
 for the lame, before the Revolution in the Year 
 1688. As thole Teftimonys in thefe Times 
 were ftated, fealed and fummed up in the Infer-* 
 matory Vindication, as adapted to the Circum- 
 ftances of that Time before the laid Revolution: 
 Alfo we declare our Adherence to our former 
 Teftimonys and Declarations fince the Revo- 
 lution, as that in the Year, 1692, 1695-, 
 1703, and 1707, together with our publick and. 
 Solemn Covenanting with God at Auchenfangh 
 with Confeffion of Sins and Engagment to -ju* 
 ties, fuitable to the then prefent Day, A mo 
 1 7 1 2,, and likewiie to the Declaration Anno^ 
 1718. 
 
 Next, we declare and teftifie againftall prac- 
 tical Atheijis arid Deijis now very much abound- 
 ing in the Land, who call not upon God, nor 
 believe his Word, but (et their Mouths againjl the 
 Heavens in their blajphemousTalk, in .their Re- 
 dzculzngznd Reviling the Practice of Godlmefs 
 and Exercife of Religion, calling it Enthufiafm, 
 w r hofe Judgment, we are lure, lingereth not, 
 and their Damnation blnnibereth not, except 
 Repentance prevent it. And Pity it is that fuch 
 a vile Set of Meniliould get fuch a law lets Liber- 
 ty to Ipeak and write as they do,and not called to 
 Account and puniftied as they deferve, by thefe 
 who pretend to have Pou er i and by their Office 
 
 arc 
 
are bound to do (b, and who, one Day, will be 
 called to Reckoning for the fame. 
 
 Likewise, we declare m&teftify againft; a 
 * Jacobite Tarty in the Land, whether thefe of a 
 Tofijb or Epifcopal Profeflion and Denominate 
 on ; for we look upon fiich as the Remnant 
 of the Canaanites whom the Lord left in the 
 Land; T hole of aTopfh Principle at the Refor- 
 mation from Topery, and thefe of an Epfcofal 
 at the Reformation from ^Prelacy to prove and try 
 his Ifrael'm this Land. And accordingly we find 
 that they have often been Thorns in the Sides , 
 and Tricks in the Eyes of the Lords Teople 
 in this Land, always waking for their Halt- 
 ing, and an Opportunity againft them; fofar 
 are we from having any View or Hope that 
 Way ; notwithftanding of the malicious and in- 
 vidious Imputations, of this fort, caft upon the 
 Lord's Saints and Servants before and at the Re- 
 volution^ and upon us fince, by thefe who were 
 at Eafe in Zioti, bruiking all the Advantages that 
 Compliance could give them. 
 
 Next, ( notwithftanding of the Obje<5tion 
 made and uied againft that Article and PafTage 
 in the Confeflion of Faith anent Difference in 
 Religion Infidelity, f$c. which we think is con- 
 fiftent with the Confejjion and Covenants, being 
 mean'd of a Land not reformed, where foine 
 that profefs the true Religion may have their 
 Lot and Rcfidence for a Time ) We declare and 
 tejffy againft the Way and Manner of the hi- 
 vejtiture of the Civil Magiftrates,' whether Su- 
 C fretnc 
 
. ( 18 ) 
 freme or Subordinate, into their feveral Offices; 
 ever fince thefe Lands publickly and avowedly 
 apoftatized from GOD, and cad off the Work 
 of Reformation, there being no Regard had 
 therein, either to Scriptural S^kaUficatioks or 
 Covenant Obligations : Andfo far from that, their 
 AdmiJJion is on Terms fubverfive of them, parti- 
 cularly the Coronation Oath cf England, whereby 
 the Sovereign Prince of thefe Lands is bound and 
 obliged to defend, and to be in Perfon and Family, 
 of the Communion of the fuperftitious Church of 
 England, as at prefent by Law eftablifhed; as 
 if there had never been any further Reformati- 
 on, either there or here in this Land; which 
 wicked Courle, long continued in, if we may 
 allude to the Time under the Old Teftament, we 
 look upon it as a Walking in the Way ^Jerobo- 
 am, who made Israel to fin, and at Length the 
 Ten Tribes were carried Captive with a defb- 
 lating Stroke, and have ceafed to be a Nation 
 to this Day. And hereby we declare and bear 
 Teftimony againft fuch Settlements as being re- 
 pugnant to the Divine Rale, in a Land once na- 
 tionally reformed and embracing the true Doc- 
 trine ; and lb the Law of G O D to be the Rule 
 to Rulers and Ruled ; thele Qualifications being 
 contained in the bleflcd and unerring Rule of 
 the Holy Scripture : And accordingly, in blef- 
 fed and reforming Times, thir Lands had the 
 Happinefs to have Scripture Salifications for 
 thefe ; and thefe Lands bound by [acred Oaths to 
 the Molt High, for promoting and preierving 
 
 the 
 
C 19 ) 
 the received Do&rine and Laws, and the Truths 
 of God ; and thefe folemn Ties made the Quali- 
 fications of fupreme or fubordinate Civil Judges, 
 and the Limitation of true Chrijiian Loyalty and 
 Obedience, in 'Preservation and Defence of the true 
 Reformed Covenanted Religion ; as is evident 
 by feveral A&s of "Parliament, cited in our 
 former Teftimonys ; and to recede from thefe 
 is a Departing from, or Denying the Goodnels 
 of God in granting a Reformation according to 
 his Word, and an involving our (elves in the 
 Guilt of a moft grofs National Perjury, in break- 
 ing our folemn Oaths to the Mod High, 
 and to one another. And in Confequence of a 
 Covenant-Burying or Betraying Settlement, we 
 declare againft the unjuft Ads and iniqimis 
 Lavas proceeding from the fame, whereby the 
 Caufe of Christ and Work of Reformation is 
 born down, and the Church enilavcd. And at 
 this Time, to go no further Back than the [in- 
 fill Union, ( againft which we gave open Tefti- 
 mony Anno 1707. which we hereby homologate 
 and adhere to.) The Oath of Abjuration in all 
 its various Shapes, in which the Wit of Man 
 cannot free the Minifters and others of the 
 Church of Scotland, from fwearing Sitisfa&ion 
 and Acquiefcence in a Sovereign of the Com- 
 munion of the Church of England, and the 
 Continuance thereof, if they but come under 
 the large Acceptation of the Word Protepint. 
 Likcvuie the Toleration- Act, whereby : P>. 
 is allowed all Liberty 111 Scotland, exccpl 
 
 lc£il 
 
C 10 ) 
 
 Legal Maintainance, altho' abjured both in Scot- 
 land, England aod Ireland. ,So likewife, we 
 teftify and declare againfl: the burdenfbme 
 Taxes and Impofitions on the Land, ( as being 
 much the natural Confequences of the Union, 
 and our Conjunction with qthers in learning of 
 their evil Ways ) with the unwarrantable and 
 finful Citations before their pretended Courts, 
 and heavy Profecutions for the lame, together 
 with many Soul-enfnaring Oaths and unwar- 
 rantable Modes thereof, and multiplying the 
 fame to the Prophanation of the Name of God, 
 endangering Souls either by rafli or finful {Wear- 
 ing, or lofing the Senfe of an Oath. Stopping 
 the free Ufe and Exercife of lawful Traffique, 
 or warrantable Trading, by Impofitions on 
 Candle, Leather, ®c\ and all for the Support 
 of an Unhallowed Eftablifhment, together with 
 their iniquous Servants and Officers for thefe 
 Exactions, regarding neither Confcience of Du- 
 ty to God, nor the Good of Mankind; by de- 
 manding or obliging People to fwear ior four or 
 five Years back, or lay themfelves open to their 
 Fury. And this attended with the Inoreafe of 
 Errors and Enormities, and the daily Growth 
 of Immoralities, fuch as, Swearing, Sabbath- 
 breaking, either by neglecting the Duties of the 
 Day, or ufing a finful Liberty in Difcourfing 
 and Fading unneeeflarly, vain and worldly 
 fpeakmg, Entertainments and Vifits, Idleneis, 
 pnneceiiary Diversions and Works on the Holy 
 Sabbath, Offirejfions, Deceits, Lies, Murders, 
 
 Un* 
 
 
r n ) 
 
 Uncleannefs^ Gamings, Revellings^ Comedies y 
 and frequent Ballings, which are greater Nur- 
 feries of Pride and Idlenefs than of Virtue and 
 Piety. All which we defire to teftify againfl. 
 And likewife the Tatronage-Aci, making the 
 Minifter the 'Patrons "Property \ and giving- 
 him full Power to nominate and prefent, there- 
 by robbing the People of their free Vote, Con- 
 fent or Relation to their Minifter, unlets the Pa- 
 tron's Choice pleaie them ; the Evils whereof 
 are convincingly ihevv^d and needlefs here to 
 infert. The Headjbh of Christ, and the Pri- 
 vileges of his Houfe Erajiianly encroached on : 
 To name a few of many of thefe Sins ; The 
 Act znent infamous Torteons, whereby Ch r i st s 
 Headftip was wounded and (truck at, his San- 
 d:uary and Sabbath profaned; Minifters com- 
 manded, in the very Time of Publick Worihip, 
 to be Court -He raulds. Likewife the repeated and 
 continued Remitting or Repriving of Criminals \ 
 and that after they arejuftly and legally condemn- 
 ed. Alfo the Repealing the penal Statutes againfl 
 Witches, conrrair to the exprefs Letter of the 
 Law of God, Exod. xxii. 18. Dent, xviii. 10, 1 1, 
 i 2. All ti hich, and many more, we might menti- 
 on, are fallen upon thefe poor Lands for Breach 
 of Covenant and Revolt from God. As alfo, 
 Inferior Magiftrates in this Land, not entering 
 into their Oihce on Covenant Terms, and io 
 not protecting the Ends thereof in their Admi- 
 niltration, do, at leaft interpretathelv, approve 
 the prefcnt Constitution, and corroborate the 
 
 fame; 
 
C n ) 
 
 fame, and whatever natively flows from the 
 lame; and hereby we have been, in Confcience 
 of Duty, obliged to witnefi againft thefe fupe- 
 rior or interior Magiftrates, becaufe (landing on 
 fuch a Footing, and not qualified according to 
 Scripture-Styalifications and Covenant-Engage- 
 ments; and alfo by their Engagements to this 
 Eftablifliment. And tho' we do own that Do- 
 minion is not founded in Grace, but in the I jaw 
 of Nature, zwk is eflential to all Mankind, to Hea- 
 thens as well as Chriftians ; our Controverly 
 with and Teltimony againft Rulers eftablilhed in 
 thefe Lands is, their not entering by and ob- 
 ferving the Coronation-Oath as contained in our 
 National-Covenant, which all are obliged to 
 fwear, ere they receive the Inftruments of Go- 
 vernment in thefe Nations ; and their not ruling 
 thefe Nations as reformed from Topery, 'Pre- 
 lacy, ®c\ according to our Covenanted Refor- 
 mation: So we judge, that if Perfons, being 
 once invefted with Tower and Authority ac- 
 cording to the Word of God, and the laudable 
 Gonftitution and Fundamental Laws of the 
 Kingdom, and according to our National and 
 Solemn Engagements ; yet tho' afterward, they 
 be found to differ in fomc Things in their Sen- 
 timents, that do not deftroy the Foundation; 
 we, in this Cafe, would not be raih, and pre- 
 sently judge it fiifficient Ground to decline his 
 or their Authority, if they ruled and adied ac- 
 cording to our Covenanted eitabliihcd L#^.r of 
 Kirk and Hate. And we cannot lee how we 
 
 can 
 
 
C *3 ) 
 
 can maintain our Oath to God and own thefe 
 \\ ho eftablifh and maintain a Government diame- 
 trically oppofite to what thefe Lands are folemn- 
 ly engaged by Oath againft: For we think, 
 Magiftrates in a Reformed Land ought at leaft. 
 to be of Orthodox Principles and a Christian 
 Convention, and to defend all fuch, and fup- 
 preis the contrary. 
 
 Likewise we teflify and declare againft the 
 many and continued in Time-ferving Courfes cf 
 the prefent Miniftcrs in their Obedience and 
 Subjection to the many unjuft and unlawful 
 Impofitions upon this Church and Nation be- 
 fore, but efpecially fince the late unhallowed 
 Union ; luch as their tamely Yielding and Sub- 
 mitting to every Succeflbr to the Crown impof- 
 ed or ordered by a Britijh Parliament^ wherein 
 the Bifliops o£ England are conftituent Members ; 
 and that without either their Complaining of 
 iucha Conftitution as a Grivance, or at all mov- 
 ing for the Recovery of a Work of Reformation 
 fo Jong buried and neglefted; which mull ei- 
 ther proceed from the want of that Heart and 
 Love to it, or they think the Time to build the 
 Houfe of the Lord is not yet come^ when it has 
 been (o Jong broken down in its Laws and Or- 
 dinances. Next, their fwcaring to the laid 
 Government in the Perfbn of every Succeflbr, 
 and that in fiich an Oath as the Oath of Abjura- 
 tion ; the Evils whereof, and Inconfiltencies 
 with Presbyterian Principles, have been evir 
 dently proven and acknowledged by fbme of 
 
 them 
 
( M ) 
 
 themfelves; yet this Church has riever found 
 it a Sin for which the Land mourns ; but on 
 the Contrary, they who have taken it, do en- 
 deavour to get all Intrants into the Mimflry to 
 fwear it alio, lead they fhould be holden in 
 Diiefteem ior their taking of it. Alio the *Fa~ 
 tronage- Acl, which tho' complained of as a 
 Gnvance, and iome faint Endeavours made for 
 Redrefs, yet no Ad: made againftit by the pre- 
 sent Church, but £1111 iubmitted to, and ac- 
 knowledged in the settlement of Minifters, to 
 the great Oppreflion of the People in their Spi- 
 ritual Rights and ^Privileges, the unipeakable 
 Hindrance of the Gofpel in its Succefs, the 
 Bearing-down of the Godly, Hardeningand Em- 
 bold ning the Wicked ; yet as if the Command of 
 Superiors would make that lawful which is fin- 
 ful, or free the Obeyers from Guilt, it is ftill 
 moil unacoitntably perfifted in, agamft which 
 we teftifie and declare. As alio agamft: the pre- 
 fent Minifters in their promifcuous Admitting 
 Perfons to the holy Sacraments, their Encou- 
 raging and Countenancing thefe of a more lax 
 Trimifle and 'Practice, and Difcouraging fueh 
 who endeavour to have a better Tajie of Prin- 
 ciple and a more tender Practice, and whofhew 
 a better Inclination and Defire after a Covenant- 
 ed Work of Reformation, and found Presbyte- 
 rian Principles agreeable thereto; and upon this 
 do fhew their Diflike agamft many of the finiul 
 Courfes and Defections ot ; the Time ; and when 
 complaining of or remonferating the lame, or 
 
 oflcr- 
 
( *s .) 
 
 offering and prefenting Grivavces, are difcou- 
 raged and difccuntenanced, yea, rendered obnoxi- 
 ous thereby to their Frowns, fhuttmg Accefs for 
 Redrefs of Grivances, pulhirtg with Side an^f 
 Shoulder, fuch who do rhe fame; yea, bring- 
 ing under their Cenfure thefe who teftifie 
 againfl: fuch Ccurfes of Defection, which is plain 
 in die the Cafe of the Seceeding Miniflers and 
 Teofle. Likewifethe flupid and finful Obedi- 
 ence to the A<5t anent Terteus, we look upon 
 it as a lailing Shame upon the Miniflers of 6c ot- 
 land) fcarce to be parailefd even in the Time 
 ofTrelacy, or in this Land, fince the Reforma- 
 tion from To^ery ; which we defire to mourn 
 for as one of the grofs Abominations of the Land) 
 neither teftified againfl, nor acknowledged by 
 this Church; tho' many of the Miniflers were 
 convinced of the Sin, and did not obey. And 
 the Appointing of Diets and Caufes of Fading 
 by the Civil Magiflrate, we account Erafii- 
 anifm, and not Competent to the Civil Ma- 
 giflrate, as fuch ; Which Things above laid 
 are Sins both in the Powers commanding, 
 and in the Minifters and I eople obeying. It 
 being always a fure Rule, we ought to obey 
 God rather than Man ; and for no Man oe 
 Power to break the Commandments of God. 
 
 W£ likewife tejiify againlt the Errors and 
 Corruptions in the Church, (not comrriaj} 
 by the Civil Magiflrate fb far as we know/) 
 as firft, That ever the Divinity and [ypyem* 
 6 W- head of our LORD jtsus Chrut was 
 D & 
 
( ^ ) 
 
 allowed to come in Doubt or Debate in any 
 Judicatory in this Land, where His Name was 
 once well known, and great in our Zion ; and 
 when fuch a Thing was moved, that there was 
 (b much Favour and Lenity fliown to any Man, 
 who durft, by his falfe and fooltfh Notions, oc- 
 cafion any Queftion to the Difhonour of His 
 Glorious Name. The Management and Con- 
 dud of this Church, with the deceaft Mr. Simp- 
 fon, in that Affair, certainly fpoke out the Want 
 of that Zeal, that fbmetimes fhined in this 
 Church and Land, for the Truths and Glory 
 of God. So likewife their Condud concern- 
 ing Mr. Campbell^ who has vented a Scheme 
 of mod pernicious and dangerous Principles, in 
 his printed Books and Pamphlets, to the wound- 
 ing of the Vitals of our Chnftian Religion, and 
 to the Overthrow of real Virtue, more becom- 
 ing a Heathen Philofbpher than one profeffing 
 Chriftianity. Alfo the Moral Harrangues of 
 many of the young Preachers, as if they were 
 Teachers of Morality from Heathen Authors, 
 rather than Preachers of the Gofpel of Christ 
 from the Scripture : And their Ltghtnefs and 
 Unconcernednefs, not at all (uitable lor a Mini- 
 fter of the Gofpel, who ought to reprove and 
 rebuke^ with all Authonly, theie Evils in others. 
 And many of them have dangerous Hints to- 
 wards the Dodnne of Free-will, knd the Abili- 
 ty of the Creature to do Good of itfelf: By 
 which it appears that they are little acquainted 
 with their own Hearts, and have fmall Under- 
 fond 
 
( V ) 
 
 {landing of a lapfed State, and the Power of 
 Sin ; Yet there is no Inftance of this Church's 
 Zeal againft fuch. We alio teftify againft the 
 great Negledt of the Do&rine ot Mortification, 
 and taking up the Crofs and following Jesus 
 Christ, and being denyed to the World, and 
 all Things in it, yea, to natural Life itielf; 
 which we may fay, without Breach of Charity* 
 is a Doffrine little either preached or pra&ifed 
 by many in this Church: On which Doctrine 
 our Reformers copiouily infilled, and inculcat- 
 ed with great Serioufhefs, as a great Duty and 
 Evidence of Sincerity, and a Heart engaged to 
 God, being looted from all other Things, hav- 
 ing tajled that God is good, and that they who 
 truft in him are blefi, tho' very deflitute ot all 
 worldly Comforts; even as our Lord hath 
 fhewcd us in many Places of the New Tefta- 
 ment. And having mentioned our Reformers, 
 we cannot but take Notice of Mr. Currie and 
 his late Performances, wherein, for what Rea- 
 fbn he knows beft himfelf, he has ventured to fay 
 that, of eminent Reforming judicatories, and 
 Men fignally honoured of GOD, to carry on 
 his Work in this Land, which no Tresbyterian, 
 or ferious Profeflbr of Religion had (aid before 
 him : Tho' many after him have followed his 
 Steps, in traducing our Reformers and that re- 
 forming 'Period. 60 that it feens, it will not 
 fatisty him to turn to the Side o. thele who are 
 carrying on Defection in tins Land; but he 
 mult alio fpeak with the iireath and in the Stile 
 
C z8 ) 
 of the old Malignants. But when he has faid 
 ill that he pleafes, and made himielf 2. great 
 Tranfgrefjor thereby, and when filent in the 
 Duit, his Memory being of an ill Savour, by 
 Reafon of his Terforwancesfhz Remembrance of 
 the Judicatories of that Reforming 'Period ( as 
 he in Scorn feems to call them) will be very fa- 
 Voury to the Godly, and will be accounted, as 
 they reaily were, eminent Reformers, whether 
 he will or not. Mean Time, one Thing ap- 
 pears by his performances, that the prefenc 
 Conftitution cannot be defended, without con- 
 demning the bed Times, and Men that have- 
 been in the Land; which Mr. Carrie feems to 
 be fenfible of, and therefore endeavours to make 
 the Ark fall before his Dagon; but at laft Dah 
 gon will not be able to (land before the Ark* 
 As to the falfc and contemptuous Reflexions he 
 makes on us, this being not a fit Place to an- 
 swer him, we only tell him, if he be. a good 
 Drains, he will find it an Aggravation in the 
 Crime, to perfecute thefe whom the Lord has 
 fmhtcu before with Affiiffwn, and to offend the 
 Generation of the Righteous ; and fb we leave 
 him on the Side he has turned to, but cannot 
 bid him GOD ffeed, in the Caufe he has put 
 his Hand to ; . and that with the Approbation 
 , o\ this Church, as would appear by their Dili- 
 gence in vending and recommending his Pamph- 
 lets. 
 
 Like w is f, we teftify againft thefe, whether 
 Minifters cr People, who have cafe off ali Form 
 
 of 
 
( *9 ) 
 
 of ^Presbyterian Church Government Name and 
 Thing, and turned into Independency, denying 
 National Churches and Covenants as not agree- 
 able to the Word of God : In which we are 
 fare, they grievoufly miftake; and that 
 there is another Way of getting the Cor- 
 ruptions of this Church reformed, than by fal- 
 ling into Independent Principles and Traffices^ 
 as our Fore-iathers found, who, by. the Blefling 
 of God, and his good Hand upon them, got the 
 Reformation of this Land and Church, lb far 
 carried on, and that in a National Capacity, be- 
 ing moft effectual for putting in Execution the 
 Laws, Cenfure and Discipline of a Church right- 
 ly conftitute. And altho thefe Men may be 
 pious and godly, yet Error is to be teltified a- 
 gainfl, even in the mod Pious and Godly. The 
 Apoftle Paul^ withftood and contended againft the 
 Apoftle Peter to his Face, becaufe he was to be 
 blamed, &c. As the worthy and famous Mr. 
 Rutherford faid, That (ornetimes Saints had 
 Saints to zvituefs agamjl, which is no defirable 
 Work. But Truth isto be cleaved to, andcon- 
 tended for, altho' we have both Saints and Sin- 
 ners againft us. We are forry for the Occqiion 
 of Stumbling and Hardning given, by thisijieir 
 Revolt from Presbyterian 'Principles, r \ 
 Ring-leaders of the Corruptions and Deq 
 of this Day : And that they both feer 
 mutual Stumbling-Blocks to each other. 
 how much the true Lovers of /.ion are thereby 
 difcouraged and diiheartned, that they who not 
 
 long 
 
( v . > 
 
 long ago, were complaining of, and contend* 
 ing againftNational Defections pre now come to 
 caft orf, and deny National Churches and Cove* 
 nants, the Breaches whereof they have fbme- 
 times heavily lamented. We heartily wiih they 
 would ferioufly confider their Ways, and that 
 their Eyes may be opened to fee how dangerous 
 it is, after Vows to make Enquiry \ and cafi off 
 that which is fo well grounded in Scripture, 
 owned of G«d in this Land, by many fignal 
 Mercies and Bleffings accompanying it, folemn- 
 lyfirorn to again and again, iealedbythe Blood 
 of fo many Martyrs, and adhered to by the 
 Lord's People with great Conftancy, Faithfulncfs 
 and Cheertulnefs. 
 
 W e are likewife (brry, that we are obliged 
 in Dutytoteftifie againft: the Alt and Tejtmony 
 of the Officiate Tresbyterie, as mainly, if not 
 only levelled againft the Corruptions of the pre- 
 fent Church Judicatories ; and not equally againft 
 the Corruptions both of Church and State, as 
 former faithful Teftimonys of the Lord's People 
 in this Land ufed to be, in which, Reformation 
 both of Church and State was jointly carried on, 
 and fclemnly engaged to in the Covenants, that 
 both fhould be the Lord's, and for Him : And 
 the Allegiance and Concurrence of the People, 
 exprefly limited on thefe Conditions, The De- 
 fence oj the true Religion in the Sovereign, and 
 the Carrying on the bleJJedWork oj Reformation 
 among themf elves, being the very Terms where- 
 in they were bound to the King and one 
 
 to 
 
to another. We fay, we are forry, that they, 
 who of all this Church, fince the Revolution^ 
 have made thegreateft appearances agamft the 
 Corruptions thereof, and, who in a Judicative 
 Capacity had affirmed and aflerted many valuable. 
 Truths, which this Church has long nede&ed, 
 or rather buried, fuch as, Our Lord's tlead-Jhip or 
 ver his Church, The divine Right of ! resby- 
 trie, The perpetual Obligation oi the Covenants, 
 &c. And had taken their Hazard of what they 
 might differ for fuch a Testimony ', and lending 
 an Helping-hand to many opprefied Congrega- 
 tions in this Land, from the Judicatories of this 
 Church, by Procefies, and what might follow 
 thereupon. And yet to neglect, pafs over and 
 not take up this, as one of the principle Heads 
 of the Tefiimony of the Church of Scotland a- 
 nent the Civil Magiftrate, his being qualified 
 according to the Word of God, and the Cove- 
 nants ( which they do acknowledge) in Order to 
 to his being rightful and lawful King of thefe 
 Realms. This we were much lurpriled at, and 
 difcouraged thereby; and therefore find our 
 felves obliged in Duty to tejiifie agamft the fame 
 and that lor thefe Reaions : 
 
 i. We find the Word of God fpeaks Wo to 
 them that decree unrighteous Decrees^ as Well as 
 to them that obey and walk willingly after the 
 fame ; and therefore we think Magiftrates mak- 
 ing bad Laws, are to be witneffed againft, as 
 well as Minifters or People who obey and fol- 
 low the fame. 
 
 z W £ 
 
( ^ ) 
 
 i. We find the Kings of Ifrael, who werG 
 all wicked from the Revolt from the Houfe of 
 David, largely tey?//Wagainft, and their Doom 
 read by the Prophets, in the Books of Kings 
 and Chronicles, and of the ^Prophets larger and 
 leller ; together with all the wicked Kings of 
 Judah find that in the whole Tenor of their Lives 
 and Reign ; which we think was far from own- 
 ing of them : And not only fb, but the unjuft 
 Ad:s and Deeds of good Kings, fuch as, David, 
 Solomon, A/a, Jehofaphat and Hezekiah, are 
 declared and teftified again it by the Prophets. 
 We therefore know no Reafon why Kings ; who 
 go on in the Negledt o£ and Oppofition to the 
 Caufe of Goo, are not yet alio to be teftified 
 againfl. Nor do we think it is for nought, 
 that the Sprit of God is fojparticular in giving 
 an Account of all the Kings of Ifrael and Ju- 
 dah, what Ways they walked in, and whether 
 they were good or bad, but that the Duty and 
 Carriage of the People towards fuch, is thereby 
 pointed out, what it ought to be under fuch 
 and fuch Rulers, as well as a Beacon let up to 
 give Warning what will befall all luch in the 
 End, who walk in wicked Ways; notwithstand- 
 ing of their worldly Greatneis and Grandeur, 
 
 3. We find, that theie wicked Kings of If~ 
 rtiel were not only threatned with Wrath, and 
 teftified againft, as abovefaid, but alio difownecj 
 of God, Hofea 8. 4. They have jet up Kings, 
 but not 6y me, they have wade Trinces, and I 
 knew it not. We therefor: think, ail liich 
 
 fhould 
 
( 3! ) 
 
 fliould be difowned by the Lord's People, left 
 they get the fame Rebuke, as Ifrael did, wbea 
 their Captivity was near approaching upon 
 them ; tho' they had long continued in that 
 (infill Way of making Kings, and had left both 
 Sight and Senfe of their Sin therein, even when 
 the Prophets were teftifying againft them : Yet 
 whatever may be among Men, Length of Time 
 will make no Trefiription in the Matter of Sin 
 before God; but it itill lieth upon the Guilty 
 and Impenitent's Account, were it never lb 
 long, till God come and reckon with them a- 
 bout it. For tho' they flood and prolpered long 
 in that Defedion, yet the Guilt remained, and 
 is laid to their Charge now when they were 
 nigh going into Captivity. 
 
 4. Becaufe we find, the Word of God gives 
 an exprefs and particular Rule and Direction 
 anent the Ele&ion and Duty of Kings, Exod. 
 xviii. 2i. and Dent. xvii. 14, to the End, which 
 we look upon as a Moral ^Precept, and therefore 
 binding upon Chrijiians under the New 1 efta- 
 ment, as well as upon Ifrael under the Old. And 
 we have no doubt, but the Breach of this Z)i- 
 vineGo?nmand, as well as the reft of the Com- 
 mands, helped to the filling up oi the Cup of 
 their Iniquity, becaufe of which their Deflati- 
 on came. And therefore, when this (acred 
 Rule is not obferved, we think the Breach there- 
 of ought to be tejiijied againft; and thefe who 
 will not be reclaimed ought to be difovuned. 
 
 5.B1 c aus e we find in the New Tettament when 
 
 the then Civil Magiitrate was Heathen, and not 
 
 £ With- 
 
C 34 ) 
 Within the Church, and therefore the Church 
 the lefs concerned with the Qualifications of 
 'fuch, they being without, and whom GOD 
 would judge ; yet the Apoitle 'iharply reproves 
 the Corinthians for Brother going to Law with 
 Brother, and that before Unbelievers or Infidels, 
 that being an Aggravation of the Fault, to go 
 before fuch Judges; which implies that the A- 
 poitle did not own the Heathen Magiftrate as 
 lawful tor Chriftians to own, and come before. 
 We therefore think, the Primitive Chriflians 
 bore Tejtimony and witnefled againft Heathen 
 Magiftrates, altho' without the Church ; and 
 that more is required anent Chriflian Magi- 
 ftrates, who by Profeilion are within the Church, 
 if they walk not aniwerably thereunto. 
 
 to the Arguments uled by fome, from 
 theft Words in Matth. xxii. 21. Render to Ce- 
 jar the Things that are Cefars; We refer them 
 tc ! r. Shields in his Hind-let-loofe, Page 299, 
 . anent the Meaning thereof. As for fuch 
 ,lio plead for Obedience, Subje&ion, and own- 
 ing 01 all Kings, without Regard to Qualifica- 
 fci ->\s, from Rom. xiii. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5-, 6, 7. and 
 1 Ptt. ii. 13, 14, iy. alledging that the Apo- 
 l:!es fpeak there of the then Heathen Magi- 
 ares, Nero not excepted ; we refer them to 
 t. Gee on the Place ; and jay, fird, Then our 
 . formers miftook the Apoftle's Meaning, 
 1 they indited and contended fo much for 
 mation in the Civil Magiftrate, and fuffer- 
 c\t Opposition on that fame Account. And 
 teWifc ail other Nations who have exprefi 
 
 Laws 
 
. C**.> ' \ 
 
 Laws to have their Sovereigns and other Magi- 
 ftratesof the fame Religion with themielves, and 
 on no other Terms will allow any to rule over 
 them. 
 
 2. Either in the above Texts the Obedience 
 and Subjection that is due to lazvftd'MagtJt rates , 
 is commanded ; or that Subjection only, which 
 is given to Conquerors, having no R.glu but 
 that which is Providential, and the Length of 
 their Sword. If the former, then it was not 
 mean'd oiNero, or of any of the Heathen bloody 
 Roman Emperors, who could have no Right but 
 that of Conquerors, being moftly let up by the 
 Army. If the latter is mean'd, then thefe Texts 
 are not the Rule of Obedience to lawful Magi- 
 ftrates, who rule in the Fear of God, and accord- 
 ing to his Word. 
 
 3. We find, in the above cited Places of 
 Scripture, the Office, Duty and End of the Ci- 
 vil Magiftrate, as particularly defcnbed, as the 
 Obedience and Subjection commanded to fiich ; 
 and therefore we think, the one is founded upon 
 and tied to the other. And we humbly judge 
 it is not mean'd of the Heathen Emperors, who 
 were moftly, not a Terror to Evil-doers, but to 
 thofe that did well : Whatever may be laid, of 
 fome of the Deputies, who were converted to 
 the Chriftian Religion, and became true Chi da- 
 ans, notwithstanding that they held then Com- 
 mifiion from fuch as were Conquerors ; even as 
 Daniel and the three Children did from iV 
 haduezzar ; and afterwards Danhlitom Dai 
 
 .;. Seeing the Office, Duty and End or the 
 
 Civil 
 
( 3* ) 
 
 Civil Magiftrate is foexprefly joined to the Obe- 
 dience and Subjection there commanded; wc 
 ivifli that the one were as much pled for 
 the other; there being the fame Ground for] 
 both, even the IVerd of GO D. And when 
 it is wanting* that it may be witnefled againfti 
 fQT what GOD hath joined together, let no Mam 
 put aftmder. Likewife we find, Rev. xvii. iM 
 fpeaking of Kings who give their Tower anal 
 Strength to the Beafi, Thefejkall make JVar wit\ 
 the Lamb, and the Lamb /hall overcome them y \ 
 for He is LORD of Lords, and KING! 
 oj Kings, and they that are with Hm are called^, 
 #nd chofen, and faithful: Where we think it isj. 
 very plain, that they w r ho are with Christ,! 
 are not on the fame Side with thefe Kings that 
 oppofe his Intereft and Kingdom ; And by Pro-} 
 portion, Kings who oppofe or hinder his Work! 
 and Intereft are to be witnefled againft. 
 
 Moreover, we find our Reforming Tore A 
 fathers carying on the Reformation of the Civil I 
 Magiftrate with that of the Church. Mr. Knoxi 
 would not confent that Queen Mary iliould be} 
 allowed the Liberty of a private Mais for herielf 
 and Family $ tho' ihe was brought up in the To- 
 p'tfb Religion. They brought James VI. to. 
 engage, by Covenanting with God, to defend J 
 maintain, and continue in that Work of Refor4 
 mat ion. They lifted Arms againft Charjles| 
 I. for Oppofing and and oppreffing that Work.] 
 Thty declare againft Cromwel's Ufnrpationjh 
 Toleration and Sectaries ; and never acknow-*] 
 ledged him as a lawtul Magiftrate, but refifted! 
 
 hi m^ 
 
C 37 ') 
 him as long as they were able, till the Strength 
 of the Army was cut ofFat Dambar ; and then 
 they only fubmitted to him as a Conqueror. 
 They would treat and engage with Char. 
 II. on no other Terms but thefe of the Cove? 
 nants, and Scots Coronation-Oath: And the 
 fame is engaged unto by the People in the li- 
 mited Allegiance, there prom ded to the King 
 in thefe Words, In the Defence of the true Reli- 
 gion. All which we think, was as lawful for 
 our Forefathers to do, as for Jehojadahto bring 
 JoafJj into Covenant with God, when he was 
 but a Child of 7 Years old, which- he ihamefui- 
 ly broke, even as the above named did in this 
 Land who gave juft fuch a Reward to Our Re- 
 formers as joajh gave to Jebojadatis Son. And 
 whatever Men of corrupt Minds may, or do lay 
 againft theie Inflances and Endeavours of Re- 
 formation as to the Civil Magiftrate ; we look 
 upon the fame as lawful and Good, and know no 
 Fault therem except thefe of humane Infirmity, 
 and the giving of to much Credit to perfidious 
 Men, ifiiireud Signs and Tokens of their Hy- 
 pocrifie and Deceit did then appear. 
 
 W f might alio here, give Inflances of the 
 fad Effefts ol the want ot Reformation in the 
 Civil Magiftrate, and not Contending for the 
 lame in other Lands. We fee the proteflant 
 Intereft iunk,if not altogether extirpate in France 
 and Spain; and very low in Germany, even 
 where there are tome inferior Princes and Pro- 
 vinces chat a^e not Fopifh. And in Hott 
 Swedfand, and LHnmark^ where they are TW- 
 
 teft 1 
 
C 38 ) 
 
 tejlant ; yet what Prophanation of the holy 
 Sabbath and other Iniquitys are there tolerate, 
 and do pals unpunifhed ? All which maybe faid to 
 proceed Irom that fad Source, the want of Refor- 
 mation in the Civil Magiflrate, and that both 
 in Principle and Practice. And to return to thir 
 Lands of Britain and Ireland, and the IJles-Men 
 therein, to whom our Lord fpoke, in ifaiatis 
 Days, Lijien O JJles! And of whom he ipoke, 
 The IJlesfball wait for me. Where Reforma- 
 tion of the Civil Magiflrate was once ferioufly 
 endeavoured, contended tor, and in a great Mea- 
 fure attained to : But fince it was laid afide, and 
 no Concern had for it, we may fee how much 
 Religion is decayed, and Iniquity almoft every 
 where opening its Mouth unaihamed; And what 
 doth Reformation from Popery in the Civil Ma- 
 giflrate avail, if Impiety h religion and Immora- 
 lity prevail at Court, in their Family, and thro' 
 the Land unpunifhed, like an overflowing Flood ? 
 So, that if it long continue, the Return of 
 Paganifm and Unchurching is to be feared. Upon 
 all which, we befpeak the AJfociate Presbytery 
 in the Words of Mordecais fecond Meflage to 
 Ejiher, with fmall Variation, Not to think that 
 they /hall efcape without Rebuke, for ij they al- 
 together hold their 'Peace, at this Time ( in this 
 Matter ) then jhall there Enlargement and De- 
 liverance arije from another Place: And who 
 htoweth whether they are rai(ed up jor fuch a 
 Time as this > And to eipoufe an entire Tefli- 
 picny both againft Church and State; and not 
 that only againft theCorrvptions of the prclent 
 
 Church 
 
( 39 ) 
 
 Church Judicatories. And we beteech and in- 
 treat ihemfcrioufly to confider this Matter, and 
 no longer to look away from, and as it were 
 with Diflike to this Part of the TefLmony of 
 the Church of Scotland, which was carried on' 
 in this Land, together with the fame Truths 
 they affert in their Ad and Teftimony, by the 
 Lords worthy Servants whom we beleive they 
 have a Regard to. 
 
 A N d we likewife defire to exprefs our Grief 
 that the AJfbc'nte Tresbytery have made Sub- 
 jection and Loyalty, to the prefent T?oJfeJfors of 
 Civil ¥&wsr 9 a necejjary Term of Communion 
 with them. So that none of thefe, who for- 
 merly did endeavour to witnefs againfl: the Evils 
 of the State in Conjunction with the Backflid- 
 ings of the Church, fhall be admitted to Preach 
 the Gofpel, or taken under their Minijhrtal 
 InffetTion : As was done i/i the Cafe of Mr. 
 Andrew Clark {on, who behoved to make an o- 
 pen Renunciation of his former Principles, on 
 that Point, before they would licenfe him: And 
 refuted the Acccjjion of his Brethren, the fame 
 Day, becaufe containing an Adherence to for- 
 mer maintained and iworn-to "Principles. And 
 the cold and difcouraging Reception they gave to 
 others, as well as their o>vn People, when apply- 
 ing to them on that Head. Alfo, we were forry 
 and much grieved at the AJJbciate Treflrsterys 
 going in to the Obfervation of that Eraftian 
 Fait appointed by the prefent Powers, Jan. 
 9th. 1740. and that by an KA of their own 
 Presbytery, appointing the laid Day to be obferv- 
 
 e4 
 
C 40 ) 
 
 ed by all the People under their Charge. And alrho" we wtr$ 
 glad' to fee an Act of their Presbytery, acknowledging the Sin 
 thereof, and appointing another Day than what was appointed 
 by the prefer.t Powers of that Sort, for tins prefent Year 1741. yet 
 confidering the Way fome of them took in observing the Day of 
 their own Appointment, by not reading their own Caufes t and cb- 
 fervingthat, and the Government's Day likewife ; we are afraid, 
 they arc not yet determined in that Point: Whereas a full, free 
 and faithful Witneffing on this head, might have been expected 
 from thefe whofe profetfed principle it is, to own the Headfiip and 
 Sovereignty of our Lord J^us Christ over his Church, as his 
 free a* d independent iCing^m : The Neglect of which had a 
 Tendency to harden this poor Em^ian Church, in her giving up 
 with Christ's Headjhip, and their Submiffion to the Efsfiidii 
 Power; as aifo to deaden the Zeal, and grieve the Hearts of many 
 of the Godly through the Land. ~^+ 
 
 To conclude, we declare our Efteem of, and Love to all the 
 Godly in thefe Lands, who have the Root of the Matter in them, 
 and Love cur LO RD JESUS CHRIST in Sincerity, 
 who are (rudying Godline's, and have (ad Hearts for the 
 Tokens of God's Dijpleafure, and the Sins and Abominations 
 procuring the fame ; notwithftaindng of their not being of the 
 lime Sentiments and Mind with Us, as to feme Part of our Tefii- 
 Kr.ony and Practice thereanent : And to all fuch a> feci a paining 
 Want, and longing in their Souls for the Lord's Return to 
 the Hearts and Souls of his People, in his manifefted Prefence, 
 with Light and Life, as in Times pajl, when he had his Dwelling 
 in this Zicn-hill: And who, thro' the Temptations of Wealth or 
 Want in the World, and Difcouragements of a long evil Time, 
 have Hidden back and fallen from their Stedfaftnefs ; yet 
 r,e Pkafure therein , but would be glad in their Hearts to fee the 
 pay dawn, and the Shadows flee away, of the long Deflations and 
 K;g/.-c that has been long upon the Land. And ..we intreat all 
 fuch in Britain and Ireland, to be ftirred up to 'feck the Lord, 
 who hides his Face at this Day frmi the Hcufe 0/ Jacob, to return to 
 Covenanted Principles and Practice, and to look for him, be* 
 lieving that his Word will not fail: The Vifion wli^not '.tarry \ 
 They that have waited for GOD, and fought atid ferved him, )hali he 
 glad and rejoice ;?: him. 2he Red of the Wicked, tho' it niay-tight 
 " Qiallnot always ly en the Lot of the Righteous, lejl the R igh?k*f$[kt forth 
 tl.eir Hands to Iniquity. Judgment fhall return to RightefafrejiSfend all 
 that are right in Heart fballfeliew it. It Jhall be wtll with tm Rigk- 
 tco;>s in the End, an Hi with the Wicked. 
 
 Let God arile, and let his Enemies 
 be fcattcred. 
 
k