k flq aT'IU^^J, 'tZ/ : ■*? Aa*^UC*AA £ A. / / - 7 nJ/rr+ t / ' K4 dtltff PATRONAGE Anatomized and Detected. O R. The Rife, Reign, NatureATendency, Ef- feds and evil Confequences of Patron agb wade t "em free, .and earneiily contending for the faith ■ red wto the fih\U % is, ought, and, through \v grace, ill J I be the earncit and ardent defirc of lochgoin, 7 John Howie. ; [ 7 3 THE INTRODUCTION. THE Parifh of Fiowick was anciently a part of the Parifh of Kilmarnock. But its length ren- dering it inconvenient for people's attending gofpel- ordiaances after the reformation, (being above fevca miles at the extremity from its own parifli church). For this and other reafons, the heritors and others procured a disjunction, and built a very handfocac country church, which bears the d3teor 1643. It is faid, that the memorable and faithful Mr jWiiliam Guthrie preached within its walls before it Jivis finilhcd. However, he was ordained their firft minifter, Nov. 7th, 1644. This church and parift* (Was at firft called New Kirk or New Kil-marnock. JBut it has now for a confiderab!e time been defigned and knowo only by the name of Finwick. Mr iGuthrie continued io the faitl:!ui difcharge of that jtruft committed unto him a ucmb^r or years; and jiodeed he was a turning arid a Jfjining light, and the (people in that corner w&e luiiiing for a /eafon to rc+ '(Ave in that light. Alter the reiteration of Charles II. when therefl Df the faithful miniilers were thruft out about the pe*r 1662, he was, by means of Glencairn, th;a .-'lor, and other gentlemen, kepr iu Finwid or lomc year? : but, on account of the people that locked unto his miniftry from the idj cent bounds, r bub to ( 8 ) Continue there no longer ; and therefore he was thrufl out and fufpeoded. At laft, he prevailed with the Curate of Calder for 5!. to undertake the dreary work, Accordingly, he came with a party of foldiers to Fia- wick, and upon the 14th of July 1665, intimated hisdepofnioQ. u The people (fays a hiftoriaa) were, Willing to have facrificed all that was dear unto them; in defence of the gofpel in adhering to him. Indeed; Mf Guthrie had fome difficulty in getting their affec- tion to him To far moderated, as to keep them from; violent proceedings againft the party who came to de* pofe him. They would a&ually have prevented the church from heing declared vacant, and were readj to have rejlfted even unto blood ft riving again/} Jin, hacj they been permitted *." However, the Curate made] little by this jaunt. For he never preached more;j but in a fhort time died in great torment of the iliac* paffioo. The church of Finwick, it appears, contl sued vacant until about 1672, that one Mr Thoma: Wayle one of the indulged, was appointed unto ir ^ He had, before the Reftoration, been minifter at Kirk i cudbright, and had fuffered many hardships after hur fo'eron engagements, 6c. The prefbytery with-, cut a vote, "did and hereby do refer timpiiciter to, theenfuing fynod of Glafgow and Air, for decifion, the whole affair relating to the fettlemeut of Mr. William Boyd, probationer, prefented to the parifh of Finwick for their minifter, &c." About this time, tf\t managers of the affairs of the pariih wrote a very spirited letter atjd fent to Mr. Boyd, to which he re- turned no anfwer. It contains about nineteen queries ; end, tho* there* at full cannot properly be heie got iqferted, yet that the reader may have fome faint views what notion the parifh had of Mr Boyd and his mini- i1fy, N l fball infer t, for a fpecimen, thefe few queries following. £>uer. i. Is this manner of proceeding of yours, when the people have no defire for you, any way a« gTeeabie to the rules lajd down in the word cf God ? $>uer. 6. Do you think that this way of being paftot in a Parifh by a patron does not rob Chriil of his pre rcgative, he being the great Lawgiver, Head anc King of his church ? Shier, i 5 Does it not become a people to be anxloufiy concerned about the choic< of a pafior, that, by the blefling of God, may be happy infirument of winning fouls to Chriil ? §hter 16. Is the reading of a preaching on a paper from pulp t any way agreeable to the apoftolic rule? %uer ro Do you fee or find in all the New Tcftament tha Chrift or his apoftles gave orders to go and read th gofpe!, but to preach it ? Lnftly, Do you think tha this procedure docs not offend fome of thefe his littl ones, and do you not obferve the. woe pronounced But to return ; The Synod of Glafgow and Ayr, April 10, 1781 took up the reference, at which compeared Mr Re bertfon of Parkhill, as Agent and Commi/Tioner fc the Patron and Prefentee ; and for the Parifh, Joh Ritchie, John Adam, and James Smith, heritor James and William Cathbcrtfon, elder?, Alexaod* Cemmel, Robert Lutilop, Robert Y/ardrcp, Ada) Mi!.<- ( >n ) 3 MilW^f .John Falton, and John Blackwood, heads dt families. Parties on both fides being heard, fome of * the Parifh Cammiffioners fpoke at feme length, and to good purpc fe, upou that freedom o£ right purchaLd unto them by the church's Head, be. April i i. the affair came to a decifion, ia which the vote was, Refer or Decide. It carried by a ma- jority, Decide. Upon which two motions were made: the firft, that the prelbytery of Irvine take Mr Boyd on trials, and proceed to his fet dement : the fecond, that as there was no concurrence of a Call, be. the Synod fhould fift all procedure in the affair. The votes being called and marked, the laft carried by a majority. The decifion as it (lands in the minutes inns thus. fi And therefore the Synod do fill ail pro- cedure in this affair of the fettlement of Fiowick, un- derflandinq thereby that the Prefcntee is laid afide, and the prefbytery of Irvine are appointed to inform right honourable Patron of finwick of this fkp cfrthe Synod, and to beg of him to prefent de novo [' The parties being called, and this fentecce intimated, the Agent for the Patron protefted and appealed to the next General Affembly for redrefs of grievances, offering to give in his reafons of appeal in due time. — . Upon which, Mr Patrick Wodrow in Kisqwj name, and in the name of all who ihould adhere to him, dil- feared from the fentence, and craved liberty to com- plain againft the fame to the next General Ajfonbly; MuTrs. David Shaw, William Dalrymple, John Cou- per, John Wilfon, H. Graham, Matthew Biggarfg James Wodrow, Wm. M'Gill, and Alexander Hut- chifon, minifters. Whereupon they took intlrumeots in, the clerk's hand, promiGng to give in their rcn! in due time. The Synod appointed MeiT.s. William Auid, Alexander Moodie and John II u (Tel to * anfwers to thele when given *• Accor- * As for the r?afon?of c : * thing worth noti:e in them is touched a little in the coofidering the objcfH- cej C " ] Accordingly the affair came before the Aflembly, M\y 30th, 1781 Both parties being heard, a mo- tion was made to rev^rfe the fentence of the Synod, aai remit the caufe to the prefbytery of Irvine to take in, and confider what udditional concurrence may be offered, and ufc thtir beft endeavours to reconcile the parifli to the Preientee, and. thereafter to proceed to the fertlement according to the rules of the church. Another motion was made, u To rcverfe the fentence of the Synod, — *nd fufhin the concurrence with the Prefentee> and appoint the prefbytery of Irvine to pro- ceed toward the fetrleraent of Mr Boyd with all con- venient {peed." — The AiTembly, without a vote, a- grc^d to reverb the Synod's fearence. The queflton was, Appoint or Remit; it being underftood that Appoiot cairied the fecond motion, and Remit the firiV It carried, Appoint. So the fecond motion was adopted, proceed to the fettlement with all con- venient fpeed, !inond ; Nifbet, Montrofe ; Williamfon, Frowall ; Forloog, Ruiher^len ; Robertfon, Kirk- canel ; ThomfoD, Ornock ; Lyon, S'rathrniglo ; Lundie, Old Hamitocks : Dalgliefh, Ferry; Puriten, Craigs, mioifters. Bailie Miller, Canongate ; Bailie Orr, Paiflcy ; bailie Button, Dunfermline; bailie Walker, elders. An abbreviate of the reafons of dif- fent here follows. " r. Be* ©nsin the followiigletter ; and For the arfwers, I could not obtain them, the only copy beiftg left in Edinburgh. C 23 3 u 1. Becaufe the fentecce of the Afiembly fbflaia- log the Call to Mr Boyd, is contrary to the eflentiai forms and eftablifhed praflice of the church. There was Dot a fingle fubfcriptjoo adhibited to the paper intituled and produced as a Call Four letters from non refiding heritors were indeed laid before the Af- fembly, two of which were never judged of by the in- ferior courts ; and though the ether might have been admitted in aid of fubferiptions to a call, they could, in no confiftency either with equity or common fcak f be fuftained as a call, or received as an evidence of a concurrence, where no call exifted. M 2. Becanfe, though there had been no obje&ioo in point of form to the call of the Prefentee, the fen- tence appointing the prefbytery of Irvine to proceed to thefettlcmcnt is in our opinion both unconftuu^o* nal and inexpedient. Itjprocceds on the concurrence of four non refidiag heritors without any regard to upwards of forty refiding heritors, to the whole el. . ders of the parifh, and to the great body of the pec- pie ; all of whom feem firmly united in oppnfing the Prefentee. To proceed immediately to the fettlcmect has a manifeft tendency to rivet theoppofition, and to render Mr Boyd completely ufclefs and unhappy as a xninifter of Finwick. " 3. Becaufe, to have remitted the ciufe to the prefbytcry of Irvine in its prefent (late, as was propol- ed, with ioftructions to receive fuch concurrence as might yet be offered, err. raigfct have produced the beft efFedte on the future comfort, rdpeft and ufe- fulnefs of Mr Boyd in the pariih of Finwick. fl 4. Becaufe the fentence is calculated to fupport and carry ou m:afures in the fettlement of roiuiftcr,, which, in our opinion, have a manifeft tendency to alienate the minds of the people of Scotland from the eftablifhed church, and to deftroy the credit and in- fluence of the eftablifhed clergy. u 5. Becaufe fentences of this kind muft, in our apprchenfion, put an end to the confidence of the people people in the fnpremcecdefiaftical court, r.nd cf con* ftquence weaken the authority and effects of its dc. The CommifTioncrs from Fimvick, John Ritchie, James Cnthb:rtfon, and Alexander Gemmil, cofcld not help thinking their caufe to be, in no fmall cegr e, injured by feveral members in this AiTembly ; but that the character of the parifh of Finwick wa>, by none more encroached upon, than by their own coun- tryman the Moderator, who charged them with fcVc- ral things ar.ent Mr Reid, (feme of which have been only meutioncd in their proper place) the falfity of which they could have there proven, had he been fo manly as to have ftated them in due time, when, with Paul, they were permitted to anfwer for thefa- felves ; but their diet of hearing being now ov^r, behoved to content themfelves for the prefent with this or the like filent folution : " O lofatuarcd clergy- man, to Ihift or exchange the chair of verity for an attorney's place, that thou mightit play the advocate againft a poor people who had nothing but their in nocence ahd fimplicity to recommend them. O be fooled churchman, to fpend thy ftiength, and ex hauft thy eloquence upon fuch a poor, naughty, fc ditious, turbulent and infignificant people as thou re- prefenteft them to be. But, had they fet up for free will, maintained the tenets of Laelius or Fauftus Sb- cinus, and reprobated the doclrme of original fin, would they not h;ivc been by far more acceptable unto thee?" At.thefirfl: prefbytery after the aflemhly, except fome leafuniug, nothing more was tranfafted wi'h rc- fpeft f It were n?ed!efs her? to ebfervcunto acy think ir^g perfon, that although tkefe icafewi are in p,eneral mun, y*>t they nrver enter into the merit of the caufe, the wsrd of God, the reformed fl^ndirds of the church, the f) bt Ch rift's pucch&fe, or ih \ Zt *>'< rt - a. . primitive and b«ft uv ( *J ) fpeft to the affair. At the next prcibytery, Aaguft 14th, the Commiffioners from the paiiffi got no hear- ing, becaufe they faid they had no right, the 2ffnr being ordered back to them from the Aflembly — • So they took Mr Boyd upon trial, in order for fet|Je. ment, Mr RufTil and other four elders difTented, and protefted againft this ; but to no purpofe. O&ober ad, ^he prefbytery again met, and heard Mr Boyd de- liver a difcourfe; the minifters all approved of it, which was the fubftance of all the was done in this matter at this prefbyter y. At the two fubfequent prefbyteries, little occurred in the affair, excepting fomc reafoning, or rather ban- ter, betwixt fome members of presbytery and Fin« wick Commiffioners ; only Mr Boyd's trials went on. Eutat the next presbytery, March 19th, they told the Commiffioners, that, according to former agree- ment, Mr Boyd (hould no more come to Finwick to preach, till he got a letter figned by fome number of the pariOi for that purpofe. But in the afternoon's federant, they took Mr Boyd on his private trials, unto which all the Commiffioners, except the pref- bytery elder from Finwick, were refu fed accefs. His trials being over and approved, they agreed, that Mr Brisbane in Dunlop (hould go to Finwick upon Sab- bath come a fortnight, in order to ferve his edift, and the time of his ordination referred to next meeting cf presbytery. • Accordingly Mr Brisbane fulfilled his appointment by ferving this (ham pretended edlfl, whereby the parifh were ordered to give in what objections they had againlt the life and do&rine of Mr Boyd to the next presbytery ; which was to be heldatlrvinevjprni the 7th of May following. A Committee being, by the appointment of a meeting of the parifn, ordered to draw up their objettiens,— ^the parifli of Finwick had no opportunity to know what Mr Boyd's life and praftice is ; and, for bis do&rine, they could not, iu ewfeieuce, go to bear ir, neither could thole who did D atfnd ( =6 ) attend, by reafon of his low voice In delivery, nnder- ilaod properly whether it was truth or error. There- fore they coadefcended upoQ the following particu- lars. ljl, That he does not enter in by the door ap- pointed by the church's Head, that is, the free choice, call and confent of his pcopte - r but rather by the will and laws of man ; and therefore we cannot look upoa him as a lawful, fent minifter of Jefus Chrift f- ^°d» fays the Lawgiver himfelf, Whofoever entereth not in by the door, but dimheth up fame other way % the fame ts a ihirj and a robhtr. And without the confent of both parties no paftoral relation can be fixed betwixt a peo- pie and a paftor. A Second objeftion ct reafon why the parifh of Fin- wick cannot accept of Mr Boyd for their minifter i*, Becaufe he reads, and does not preach the gofpel. For proof or illuftration of this, every intelligent per- fon knows, that reading the word is one thing, and preaching the gofpel is another. We have this com- miflion, to go and preach repentance and remiffion of Jhi % fometimes mentioned in the Old Teftameut, and often in the New. But ihew us one word of precept from the one end of divine revelation to the other, of a commlflion to go and read the gofpd. Several rcafons might be given in fupport of this ; as, that fuch as read are always of a low voice j and ofrimes more iiraiteued in the matter, as trufUng too oftea more to their notes than the afliih&ce and enlarge- ment of the Spirit. But what need is there of rea- foss ? It is the will and command of him who is the futn and fubftance of the gofpel Hfelf, to go and preach the gofpel, — Go ye into all the ivorld, and preach the gofpel to every creature. This alone may be a fuffi- ctent ground of plea for all his myftical members in the church militant. A Third t See this ohjeftion more follv proven in the following Jitter. ( 27 ) Third reafon Js, that, by reafoo of his weak voice and low way of fpeaking, we cannot hear what he reads or delivers, and fo can be no ways advantaged by it. For proof of this, faith comet h by hearing; bur no hearing, no faith ; for how can cne be pro- fited, while he is not able to make fenfe of one fen- tence to an end ? This can be little better than fpeak- ing in an uoknown tongae, or a founding brafs or a tinkliog cymbal. Several other objuftions might have been given, fuch as, the fettlement in the pre- fent circumftances will be inccnfifteot with the glory of God, the intereft of the gofpel, the edification of the parifh, the peace and harmany of others: As alfo, that Mr Boyd's conduft ali along has difcovercd that it is mercenary gain, the fbecc, rather than the flock that he defirt laid, t , \ Co: • ( 40 ) ieonftitution, liws and government, that Hie can adl mit of nopouiblc or fuppofable defect to be fuppli©! by the pretended wifdom and authority of men, with out the bigheft reflection and encroachment upon tb| wifdom and honour of him who is her great Head King and Lawgiver- — And as all her Ordinances, rule and policy are of divine inflitution, fo it mu-ft inevi tably and undeniably follow, that her origin is frotr heaven ; and therefore wholly exempted from th will, pleafure and authority of men to make fuch a! terations, laws and innovations in her cooftitution, a may prove molt fubfervient and conducive to their owi carnal intereft and local circumftances.^-She i$ on of the moft free and dignified focieties on earth. I; point of privilege {he "u called, — The city of the grea king : —beautiful for Jituation, the joy of the whole cart is mount Zion :- — hefhall choofe our inheritance for m the excellency of Jacob whom he loved : — walk abou Zion, and go round ; tell the towers thereof ; mark he bulwarks ; confuler her palaces i — for the Lord hat, chofen Zion, he hath dc fired her for his habitation^-* Pfalm xlviii. 2, 12. and exxxii. 13. How crimina mufl it thxn be for any fct of men, whether fecula powers, patrons, or apoftatizing church-men, to in vade or alienate any of her rights and immunities purchafed at no lefs a rate than the coftly and preci ous fhed blood of the eternal Son of God, who cam into the world, not only to ranfom and redeem he from the curfe of a broken law covenant, thedomini on of fin, and the intolerable yoke of Jewifh preicrip tions, — hut alfo to free her confeience from ever command and impofition of men, repugnant unto th laws of her fovercign Head ? And as it mnfl be rebel lion in the higheft degree ; yea, an invading of God 1 throne, for afpiring mortals to ufurp the churcH' light, and make merchandise of what is not really ii their power to take or give away ; fo, I think, th confideration of this may be an enforcing argurocn and incitement to every true confefTor in Ghrift's king don ( 41 ) (Jem, carn?ftly to contend for every branch of the :hurcb's right and their Chriftian liberty, efpecially at this critical juncture, when a fet of wicked gentry md corrupt church- men feem to have fo combined and confpired agaioft the Lords anointed and his heri- tage, that nothing will gratify their avarice and am- bition, unlefs they have the whole rights and liberties of the church engrofled into their hands, to difpofe, cut and carve thereon at pleafure. — Bur, fays the a- poftle, Let us (land f aft in the liberty -wherewith Chri/f bath made us free, and be net entangled again uith the yoke tf bondage, Gal. v. i. But i Secondly, And more particularly, I might brief- y Ibew you, that patronage is incoafiflent with fcrip- ture, without foundation there,~fubverfiveof ChrifVs kingly authority and efTeQtial qualities of his kingdom, dcftrucYive to the natural rights of mankind, — ini- mical to the practice of the church in her primitive and pureft times,— objured in our covenants, — con- trary to right reafoo, — Jeftitutc of good order, — and of woeful confequences. And, \ft, It is inconfiftent with divini infpiration, as is evident from many texts of fcripture, particularly thefe few following : — In thefe days Peter flood up in the midjlofthe difcipleSy and /aid, (The number of the names -were about an hundred aud twenty) A£rs i. 15. And they appointed (or pre/ented 9 as Beza tranllates it) two t that is, u openly and by the voice of all the whole company, 5 ' as he comments upon the word in the Uid Geneva tranflation : — with chap. vi. 2. Then the twelve called the multitude of difciples unto then, that is, the heads of the congregation of the Chriflia.s in Jcrufalem, and /aid, Wherefore, brethren, i: tut amongft you /even men of honeft report \ &c. "The pcrlons mutt be duly qualified ; the people r:rc to choofe, and the apottles to ordain. &c." a? Mr Hen- ry expounds the text, which muft hold good in choof* ing miniflers as well as deacons. Arid io ch-p. xiv. F 23, ( A* ) 23. And when they had ordained, (or as the Dutch obbiog the church of her juft rights, as the law %f the Jews could exempt their Sauhedrin aad their *)igh priefts from the awful charge of the murder of ; :he church's head, when they faid, We have a law r 'tnd by our hw he muft die. idly, Every fpecies of patronapc is fubverfive of fChrift's kingly authority, &c. I could produce a, 'number of inf.ances to demonflrate this; but (hall , 5 ' :onfine myfelf to what follows : 1. The Lord Jefus Chrift, by virtue of bis being ^IKiogand Head of his church, has the fole power of jjippointing office bearers therein: And he gave feme \ipofiles, and feme prophets, and feme evangt lifts, and ^\fvne paftors and teachers. But here the patron takes •the throne, and nominates and appoints whom he ; thinks proper for that employment and office. \ 2. His kingdom is a fpiritual and independent king.- J dom. Chrift himfeif is the fole lawgiver thereof. — The Lcrd is our judge % the Lord is our lawgiver, &c. 1 But here the patron's power is efhhlifhed by law : he has no more to do but to fay unto this r^an, Go t and he goeth, and unto another, come, and he cometh. Fa 3- The ( 44 ) 3- The authority of Chrift removes all fuperiortty and diftinftions in his kingdom : all are on a level \ and fo will be before th( tribunal of the great Judge of the quick and dead. — Submit ycur/ehes vnto cm anct^r it: the fear of Gcd. But here lordly patron* by virtue of their pretended right, aflume a com« rnanding power over both the bodies and foals a: men. 4. Patronage not only fubverts Chrift's kingly au thority, but inverts the order of things in his fpi ritual kingdom : For, antiently, the term Patror was applied to the perfon who manumitted a flave and who in confederation of the favour, required fom certain acknowledgment from the freed perfon # ; one who protected or defended the caufe of the poo er injured, again ft fuch as oppreffed them. — Now Chrift himfelf has purchafed his church's freedor with his blood. He is alfo her advocate with th Father : and fo, in both fenfes, her heavenly ?a tron. So that fhe cannot, in point of her fpiritu. privileges, admit of another in hearen or in earth. - It is true, as fhe confifts of men and Chriftians, ft eftimes Hands in need of the patronage or protcftic of civil authority, both in matters civil and religious but, in this, they have no juft power to injure her i her proper rr;ht, either as men or Chrifti^ns. Bi here our Scots patrons have inverted the order ; fc inftead of defending her in her juft rights, they ha reduced her unto a ftate of abjeft flavery aod bo dage. 4ihly % As patronage is fubverfive of ChrifVs kin ly authority, fo it is deftro&ive of the natural rigr of mankind, the privileges of a free bora people, ai the laws of every well regulated fociety. For 1. Every rational perfon, come to year? of Patronage is inimical to the pracVce of the church of Chrift in her prin itive and pureft time?. The firft ihree centuries, as is evident from fcripture and anlient hiftory, knew tittle or nothing of its ftf« cimting influence. The Dcmorhhenean, Ciceronian and Phitonian ages were onrj known by the futFrapes or hand ftretching out of the people *. But the bi- (hop?, by the increafe of their episcopal power, were veering ill towards this point, till they grafped the people's right into their own hands altogether. In that fatal courfe they continued, till at la ft «.hc Pope, as univerfal bithop, fpoiled theib :>t it by afTaming the power of univerfal patrori too •. Btt! no word Qt lay patrons til Popery cme near its Zenith about the eleventh or Twelfth century. Then the popifh clergy becoming numerous, a let of ignorant Romifli priefts, in concurrence with the Pope, by an ima- ginary plenitude of power, fold thai right of prefent* ing which they had robbed of, into the hands of gentlemen, that '. ikfmorcchi * For this fee the filffrtge; o 1 + The reader will find a a (ett^f lately piiblifiicd on church biitety, ( 48 ) chcs tor> and beftow benefices upon, them. *thtxt were kings and princes alio, that contended with the clergy on this head, who exprefly founded fheir ti- tles likwifc oq the rights of the people againft them, namely, Henry the viii. of England, who caft off the Pope's fupremacy, afluming it to hicnfelf : by virtue of which he and all the luccccding kings of England* and now of Britain, are patrons paramount. But, in general at the dawn of the reformation, this hetero- geneous mocfler patronage began to evanidi, and the chriftian people began to retrieve their antient righr. The reformed churches in Germany all maintained the people's right in lefs or more, as their own con- feffions bear X- And no fooner did the morning- bluQi of our reformation begin to appear in Scotland, then patronage began by reitraiot to retire back into its gloomy regions ; which is evident both from afts of parliament and the books of good order and difcip- pline of the church. The book of common order, or order of Geneva provides thus ; u The minifters and 11 elders at fuch times, as there wanteth a minifter, " are to aiTemble the whole congregation, exhorting u them to advife and confider, who may beft ferve in 11 the room and office : and, if there be a choice, the €< church appoints two or three upon fome certain 11 days to be examined by the minilters and elders/ 1 £jc. In the firft book of difcipline compiled after this, in head iv. it is expreily faid, fi no man fhou!d y enter into the mioiflry without a lawful vocation : 1 which t In the Beipick confeiTion the article of their belief is this, u we believe that the minifters, elders and deacout ou^ht to be called to thefe their funtfions, by Uwful elec- tion of tbe church, Sec." In the confeiEon of Helvetia and Switzerland it runs thus : " When it is God's true elec tion, ii is apprcven by tbe fuffrage of the people and Jay ing on of the hands or the nini{ters. ,, The fynod of Mid leburgh decreed anno 1581 that the election of mimiters (hould be in tbe powsr of tiie chord) and uy fuffrage! lickiy in the temple. S?c forsi 0; or> I 49 ) lf cdofiftcth in the ele&ion of the people, cxami- *' nation of the miuiitry, and admiffion by them u both. No minifter (hould be intruded upon ,c any particular kirk without their confent." la the fecond book of difcipline, chapter iii. and 12, The matter runs this : «' in the order of ele&ion it 15 €i to be efchewed, that any perfon be intruded In any 11 office of the kirk, contrary to the will of the con- " gregation to which they are appointed, or without ft the voice of the elderfhip. The liberty of elefti- V on of perfons called to the ecckfiaflick function, f< and obferved without interruption fo long as ths €f kirk was not corrupted by Antichrifi, we defire €t to be reftored and reraioed within this realm. Si *• that none be intruded on any congregation by th$ ' " prince or any inferior perfon without lawful electtt M on, and the aflent of the people over whom the il perfon is placed, as the pra&ice of the apoftolick €i and piimitive church and good order crave/' Thefe were the principles of our reformers on this head, which were afterward engrofled for their pre* fef vation in the records of the general aflembly, 1 58 1, and fworn to in the national covenant by peifons of all ranks betwixt 1580. and 1590. Indeed king James got prelacy brought in, and patronage with it reftored 1612. But no fooner did the fecond re formation take place in 1638, than the General Af- fembly did rejeft patronage in the very fame words of the 2 book of Difcipline above quoted. Again, the church received feveral favourable afts from the (late until the year 16^9, when it was ut- terly abolifhed by aft of parliament in thefe wordf : V The faid eftates being willing to promote and ad* •* vance the faid reformation forefaid, that every " thing in the houfe of God be Ordered accord^ 11 to his word and commandment", do therefore dif- 41 charge for ever hereafter all pruronage and prcfen- " tation of k'uls, whilk belonging to the king or a- •*' ny laick patron, prdbytery or any other within G " th' : I 5° ) * this kingdom as being unlawful or unwarrantable " by God's word, and contrary to the doftrines and • liberties of this kirk, and do repeal, relcind, " make void, and annul all gifts and rights granted u thereancnt and all former a£U made in parliament w or inferiour judicatory in favours of any patron or u patrons whatfoever $. And thus patronage was brought trader a total e- clipfe, fettleoaents being carried on with the good will of the people, till it was again reflor^d with prelacy by aft of parltamtnt 1661. by Charles 2, and fo continued, till at the revolution that it was t J;en from patrons and lodged in the hands of inch heritors and elders as are qualified by law, upon their paying 600 marks againft the term of Martimas next f. Here the privilege of a chriftian people behoved to be a fe- cend time bought and fold for money, a fmall equi- valent indeed for the eyes of men's undci (landings, confidences and falvation. However, matters were more moderate for a time. But, like Nebuchadnez- zars tree, though the branches were cut down, yet the root of patronage remained firm io the ground, till 1712, wheu toleration and patronage were rellor- cd unto all their antient fplendour. And though another all was made in 1719, with this provision, that prefentatlons were of no force if they were not accepted by the perfon prcfented by the patron. But what effeft had this ? Who could refufe a (lately nnnfe, a ferule glebe and one or two hundred pounds of (Upends annually ? — Mr Chalmers broke the ice, adventured upon a presentation to the church of old ^lachir *, and, in a few years after, whole flioa^s of this herd followed his example. And here \i might be juftly obferved, that, fiocc patronage had its ex- iftence in the .world, popery, prelacy, ignorance, corruption and error has always (hiked along hand in § Vide aft xxxix. AboliQiing Patronages of kirks March ( 51 ) io haad with it. u And now as the antient dtfpenf* iog power is revived, and tyranny, with its antient chains and other engines of flavery, has made its ap- pearance once more, is it not to be expefted that the fame confequeoces (hall follow ? Was it ever known, fioce the world had a being, that tyranny, civil or religious, produced any but the moft alarming effe underftanding ? or auchorife him to force others to bs edified by a prieft of his own dubbing ? Indeed thefe are qualifications that may enable him to overmatch his fellow creatures in their civil concerns, if God and nature has appointed it fo. But f in mat ters of truth and error, fin and duty, every man mud ftand upon his own legs, and bear his own burden, otherwile the apoftles words are vain, to bis on ft maf* ter be ftandeth orfilleth, the wife man) maketh a wife tr\an mid, Eccl vi 7. Got to fupprefs thefe, cr rather i 54 ; rather to oppref? the peopk in their juft rights, a de- •achmeot ot milujry mcu muft be brought to inlrail the hireling into his benefice; aod fo, inftead of a congrefs of elders aod a joyful congregation, church aod church yard are guaided and lined with red coats; and, inltcad of the aprdolick cheirotouia or ftretching out of the hand in teftimony of their williognek, guns and fere wed bayonets are poifed up to welcome the incumbent to his pafloral charge. And, alas ! bow unbecoming are all thefe, with many other irre- gularities (thai I cannot ftiy here to notice or obferve unto you) difagreeable unto the minifterial character, and much more unto a piufcfled friead and follower of the meek and Jowly J< ius, who when he was reviled^ reviled not again, end -when he fuffered, threatned not % i Pet. ii. 23. Tnus patronage natively clathes with that divine injunction, Let all things be done dt- ctntly and in order, 1 Cor. xiv. 40. v 9th l y % And laftly, patronage is attended with the inoft direful confluences. For, in general, it is not only itleif one of the errors coined by the church of Rome, but it and toleration are the very teeming (locks out of which a 1 other errors, corruption aod -profanity, like fo many lofty branches, rear up their towering heads. But more particularly in the 1 Place I obferve, it lays a foundation for an igno- rant lazy fort of miniftry ; for it is but feldom the ftady of a modern candidate for the miniftry new to be poflefled of, or to improve, thefe gifts which are calculated to edify the people ; experience has taoght them a more eafy and efie&aaJ way and method than this .• for, if a gentleman clad ia black has been Jo aufp'cious to get in to be a teacher of fome gentle- men's children, or has curried favour with fome no- bleman in the neighbourhood, thefe are fufficient qiulirlciiious to gain him a premutation to a benefice : and the patron can, by virtue of his difpenfing power, ■lake him pafi for ified man in every refpec"t. Says a very lmart and witty writer on this point : " Though ( ys ) '* Though this prcfcntce therefore be the arrantefl •• blockhead tfeat ever obtained a degree in an? of the fl four uoiverfities, he can inrtantiy dubb him the t( brighteft genius of the age, the very pink of eru- «' dirioo, and phenix of literature Though his •• prefentee may be better acquainted with Bailies u dictionary than his bible ; and as for fytiems of '* divinity, never read through the Weft-minfter con- w feffion of faith : yet a patron can pronounce him «' at once the mod flaming pattern of orthodoxy and « f piety in the church. Though, in paint of gifts u and^qualifications, a prefentee may be juft equal to 4C the talk of teaching a few fchool boys to conftrue u Horace, unfit to (peak, incapable of being heard €C beyond the third pew of a large hoafe, yet the pa- M tron by his fole pontifical imprimatur, ih*ll find 11 hiua fufficieotly qualified for undcr'-king the mod * numerous and important charge in Scotland J. M But *• 2. The granting aod accepting of prefcnratibisi/ ftrengthen the hands of wicked men in (h sg- gard tyranny over the church : and raoft corrupt principles and enormous practices among gentlemen patrons go on, nolens vilens, without check or con- troui from thefe creatures of their own appointing. Nay, it lays the accepters under the egregious infamy of perjury, while they fwear to the coafd . .th as a teft of their orthodoxy, and tike the formula, both of which are contrary to patronage, not to mention practice and do£hiae. And how can they be anfwerable to God and his people, when engaged in thefe words at their ordination ? u 6 Are not zeal for the hotwur of GoJ t love to J.'fus Chrijl. a defire of (aving fouh your great moth'? and chief inducement to enter into the fin: 51 ton zf the miniflry andriot worldly Aefigns and inter eft s "J - :. : any undue methods by ymrjetvei or cti this call f n And what a mere farce is ifcd * -n- J Vid Patrons A. B, G, pa| ( s* ) gage in the ninth and laft article • in thefe words ! u , Do you accept and clofe with this Call, &c. ?" f when fometimes there is not the face of a call. While thefe ghoflly guides enter upon their charge with a raanifeft fallhood in their mouths, how can their life and doclrine prove advantageous unto others ? " For how can a man prove either acceptable or ufeful to a congregation, unlefs he be perfuaded from the heart that he is convinced of the truth he delivers, and that an unfeigned defirc of promoting their bed ioterett if the great and governing motive with him in under- taking this office of the mioiftry amoogft them ? and if thefe were his determining reafons for devoting himfelf to their fervice, many other difadvantagc9 would be looked over, and their ears would age heroc which overturns the gofpel plan of falvation, and j leads poor ignorant people blind fold into deftruclion. my people j they that lead thee can fe thee to err, an/ defiroy the way of thy paths, — And, «' thu* the great- dt btauty of the reformation (iays one) is defaced : in ft tad t See thefe queftions at large *d t'*c folio volume of a£*» of AflVmbJy tor 17 1 1. J Candid coqein — traits* p«*g. »M I 57 ) loftead of an, orthodox, learned, laborious, lively, pious, bumble, holy, felf denied, and exemplary mi- toiftry, the palpi ts are filled, and parifhes ceffrd, with an ignorant, indolent, dead, gracelefs, errone- ous, felf- conceited, faucy fet of incumbents, who know nothing but to make any pious mioifter yet a- mongft them the butt of their mod nngenteel buf- foonery ; and Who, however well they are qualified to ring the oratorical chimes with all the mufical ca- dence of Seneca upon virtue and difinterefted benev->- I lenee, are far enough from being exemplary in the moft ordinary focial virtue/ &:. * . 4. The holy Sabbath is oftimes greatly profaned thereby ; for, not to mention the playing on drums land fifes by military men when guarding thefe in- cumbents on the firft Sabbaths of their admiffion, which has fometimes taken place^how greatly is that day abufed by people who from curiofity and worfe motives attend, even where this takes not place ? And what unfeeoily carriage and diforders have, thro occafion of this, in fome places been committed by people's gauding about for their own recreation and diverfion, to fay no more ? 5. The feals of the covenaQt are alfo, in confe- quence of patronage, oftimes by thefe incumbents proflitutcd unto lo«v and bafe ends : for inftance, if he is a man of an obliging temper, to gain the affec- tions of his parifhioners whom he has juftly offended, he will go and adminifter the feal of baptifm to their children even at their bed-fides, and perhaps without afkiog one queflion at them, even fo muchas, if they keep up the worfhip of Cod in their families, or not ? t — And for the other facrament, the Supper, before the fet number of years prefcribed by the rules of tie church elapfe, left he (hould lofe his place, he will difpenfc it to a few, perhaps fome of the moft igno- rant and fcandalous in the parifh, and even to fome H * Attempt, page 203, ( 5* ) tvho never attend him id the church from the one fa- crament to the other -.—And for vifitatioD and exa- mination,, in fome places, pec haps they muft wait for it until fome future period of their lite ; — not to men- tion fo many church cenfures that are by them bought or fold for a piece of money, in imitation of the Pope's abfolutioos and indulgences, more or lefs according to the circumftances of the delinquent. — Her priejis have violated my law, and have profaned my holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and pro- fane, &c. 6. It is an abofe of that folemn appointment erf Chrift, Ordination in the church, which is a folemn fetting apart a perfoo by prayer and impofuioo of hands unto the (acred office of the miniflry untofuch a pariflb or people. Now, it were an infult upon com- mon fenfe to fay that they can be appointed or ordain- ed to this, where there is no call or confent ; and eonfequently ho people to be ordained to. So that prayer and laying on of hands become thus eflentialiy neceffary to give a title to the benefice or temporal e- molument, as the tefl aft makes the taking the facra- uaeut in the church of England an effential and ue- ceflary qualification for all that enjoy places of power and ttuft, civil and miliary. Both of which, are a manifeft production of facred inftitutions, and folemn appointments in the church of Chrifh 7. Another evil arifing from the right of prefenta- tions to the benefice with the countenance and con- currence ot church judicatories, is this : Becaufe with the Ephefian mechanic, 7hey know that by this craft tLy have their gain ; while thefe Deraetriuses fland their ground with the patron, to whofc nod they muft prove moft obfequious, there is hardly a miibehaviour or immorality that will caft them out of their office, or deprive them of their temporal living ; which, doubtlefs, is an enfnaring temptation to men of an extended confeience/ for rendering them lazy and carekfs with refpeft to people, charge, charaftet : or timet office If oae Is a good fpeaker, and caa play well* if a better Aipends occur, then that parifh may get rid of him. Bat if one of oar raodera readers With the above qualifications, then rtiat parifh and people muft have a pert for life. And, fare, there cannot be a greater plague to a poor church or people than an unfaithful, heterodox, corrupt, profane, dead and Imy miniftry, — For from the prophets of Jerufalem is proJaneTuJs gene out unto all the earth. 8 It not only renders the mioiftry bafe, mean and contemptible before a profane world, who are read/ on every occafion to depreciate and dtf efteem the gofpel and its preachers ; but incites men unto, an! confirms them in, Atheifm, Deifm, Sccpticifm, &c. ft makes thofe, who are ready to fnatch at every thing of this kind to keep them in countenance, conclude that religion and every thing facred, or divine reve- lation itfelf, are only whim, a«mere engine or fyfteni of prieftcraft to keep its villanics in credit. The pro- ductions of fuch ftuffare daily teeming both from the prefs and men's months in thefe days wherein we live. And 9 It breaks and fcatters congregations, when tte minifterial office is thus filled with a fet of indolent, idol fhepherds. Multitudes are provoked to leave their own parifh churches, fome of whom, to the de- cay of true piety and fcandal of all religion, are destitute of principle, aud live aimoft altogether without the flared means of grace : and this not only proves a mean of increaflng ignorance and immorality, but is an incitement to fall into the moft erroneous notions of feftaries, and even Popery itfelf, the north and fouthern parts of the kingdom not excepted *• H 2 This * Inftance the Parifh of Terreagles cafe, which was at the Afftmbly laft year, wherein there are a number of Pa - pifts ; and, through the dormarcy of their laft incumbent, land the ptoipe&of no better, are faid to be ftill on the [advance and increafe,— Such are the dire r ui effects of pa- tronage J ( 0© J This evil is ftill more encouraged from the counte- nance lately givei. it by fupreme authority X • 10. I might obfervfc that it inverts, or turns up* fide down the very icfign of every true gof- pcl miDiiler, whom CUiiil c^mmiflions and fends for tbe good of his church. For their language with the apcftle is, I feck not yours, but you— Rut here the language of thefe mercenary, time-ferving hirelings virtually is, 1 feek net ycu, but yours. — Put me i«/a the prieji's office, that I may cat a piece of bread. 1 i. And, though there were no more in patro^ cage, it is imprudent and injurious to the poor, e* fpecially houfholders. For, in a numerous auditory or affembly, a large collection is always expedled for the poor. — But what can be expe&ed from fome 201, 30, 40, or 50 perfons, and two thirds perhaps of them boys and girls, a^ fornetimes '15 the cafe. And how [hall the poor be maintained, unlefs the patron and his curate the incumbent do it ? which, indeed, would be but a trivial equivalent for the c^pulfion of the gofpel. And 12. or la/ily, Let me add, that daily experience teaches us, that thebiefliog of God does not attend their mlniftry : neither can it otherwifc be : for if he fhould blefs this, or apy other human inflitution, foifted into his church, he fhould go out of his owa , appointed way. But we are oilured from his word, that he will never countenance fuch bold cocteaineri , of his laws and authority. ' Alfo it ftrengthens the hands of the wicked, and is grieving to the hearts of the godly, and fuch as are . of tender confcicnce. And nothing. flra,uge, when, for certain they know, that thefe patron* cao neiiher ftcure them againft a wrong choice and its evil con- fequencea % Witnefs the declaration, read a few years 6nce, af- ter the devaluations of xht rapids' place of worfhip, pre fcrihing a certain penalty upon all who (houid difturb >iny ; religious meeting, and though others might have the k**u$- It, yet every one nii&hr fee this refpetfed popery. ( 6i ) fequenccs, when cold death (hall arrefl their bodies in the grave f; cor be refponfible for their fouls in the great day of accounts, when the fecrets of all hearts (hail be made rosnifeft by Jefus Chrift. Andlikewife, it raifes and increafes the prejudice of many well-meaning people againft fuch, and fo can- not receive the cM vine countenance. No wonder they {hould be offended, when they fee a man chooling rather to climb, up by the window of a presentation and violence than entering by the gofpel- door ; whea they fee him go about to fecure a right or title ro the ftipend$ before they can have any proper accefs to bear, know, or have any inclination for him, thruft- ing in himfelf upon them -, while he cannot but fee that his fo doing tends to blaft his minillry, and deprive them of the choice of one whom they would own, reverence and love. For, as one well obfefves, u whatmuft they think of a man who tells a reclaiming congregation in word or deed, I'll be your miaiiler in fpite of your teeth ; Til have the charge of your fouls, whether ye will or not : and, if ye refufe ordinances and means of falvation from me, ye (hall have none ? Nay, come of your fouls whac will, though they (hould perifh in a ftate of igno- raoce and prejudice, I'll polTefs kirk, manfe and de- pends, and hold out another minifter from you. — Have they not ground to fufpefl fiuch a man of earth- ly mindedoeis, greed of filthy lucre, or, at teaft, or btiog more concerned for his own things than the- things cfjefm Chrift f* X But, after all this, I might obferve tbofe objecti- ons that are or have been muttered up in favours of patronage. But as thefe are rather numerous thro formidable, \ This wings its way to its ainvghty fenrer, The witntft of its lictiOOS, now its judge ; That drops into the dark and DOifome gi^re, Like adjfabl.eii pitcher, ofnoufe. "rave- JMJr J Will a,. ,. al teilimony, yag (miht) 54. formidable, I Hvill coofiue myfelf to fome of thefe which are moft recent at prefent. Object. It Px tfr tMge has beat a thing very antient in the church ; and even in the church of Scot- land. Here the ftrtl batrery opens againft the people's right. But, I think with (roallfuccefs. For i. However aotient, it has no foundation ia fcriptore, nor foot fteps in the apoftolick age, nor e. ven cutii thefeventh centary, according to fome hif. toiians f. Nay, the Popifh churChitfelf fpeaks very ftnntiy in its juftificution. The provincial Council at Mcntr, 1549, acknowledges the injuftice and opprel- fion that attended it : yea, that wicked Council of Trent is made to own the great prejudice the church had fufta'med by patronage. Granting it is ancient, it mult at be ft be only an ancient evil ; feeing truth and equity caunot be pleaded for it as well as anti* quity. Bnt 2. Although the chnrch of Scotland was pcftered with it in her iofoat Hate after the reformation, what 15 all this to the purpofe I For they never left off wrcftliug ngamft it in its various (hapes till they laid it in its difmal grave, (as lias been already hinted). At the Revolution, it was reprobated by the claim of right, and teftified againfl by the Cotnmi (lion of the General Aflerably ia th^ir addrefs to the parliament, 1 7 12, % and an aft 1736 of the Aflembly hfdf. — An4 whata Ihame and rode li We blot is it fur us, after the nation had been fo highly honoured of tbe Lord as to be once happily freed from this yoke (as well as Oil.eis) of bondage, a yoke 10 hich neither we nor our. father f vere bbte to hear, — to lay the foundation, and rear up this cm fed Jeiu.ho again on the ruins of our ficred rights and riril born privileges — And yet our fore- + For this con r uh Euf^b. Eecf. Hill. lib. 3. and 6. Mr Pfne's chnrch hiftorv, pace 63. &c Turretioe De Jure l« f0|. t qJdt 14 * faid reprefenttibo and uidrefi it large folio vo- r Aflirntiy for 1712. ( <53 ) forefathers had a more plaufible pica for it thaaxvhat ie Can pretend to have dow, The people theo were j it ft emerging out of grofs Popifti darknefs ;— the minifters few; — thp gcmleicen were, for the moll part, a fet of knowing men, well affetfed to religion, attended gcfpel ordinances, and were the prime pro- moters of the reformation : nod fo, with the people's confent, could be a-: proper judges oF a qualified tnU nifter as the rude Plebeians could be. But is not the quite reverfc of that the cafe now ? And, I could with as much propriety argue, that the gentry, by. their wicked and vicious lives, have io turned the fcale of the balance, that they have not only forfeited their right to chcyofe for a whole congregation, but even for themfelves as individuals. For, if a perfoa be no church-member, nor attender on gofpel.ordi- nances, how can he be a proper judge in choofiog a minifter ? And even in our reforming times, wheo there was. fome kind or fpecies of pafronage, were there any instances of prefentations lodged in the prefbytery's hands, — of letters of acceptance on the Sabbath day f - — of any blank-tailed calls fbftaiaed, — violeot fettle' meats, — efcortings of mutque^eers. — iron fubjcclicn aod fteel obedience required ? Surely no ; fcijs the great Mr Alexander Henderfon, jyhen [peaking of this period, IC No man is obtruded upon the people §i here without their t^cir c^nieut and approbation, <# or without the voice of the eJdetfhip, Wh whom i% he is to ferve in the rrhn'ihy." AH thefe thing* Confidere\l, and much nty c : ; at Icaonot ftay here toobferve, will iqalf that which is by fome called patrousgc fhea, and pitronage .now in th* prewar flate and tircumfianc&s of parifhes, to dirf/i as much (aljitinvulia) i% Kiaar frem Jemj[.i!jtm 9 Qi tbt l oj Cufb.in and the curtains of . Obj. If. The right :/ pat? en ;■ ' perty to i»hkh fatrc'm ha" i > tbtir ( * 4 > i/lates, other wife tk Scots parliament % -when taking it' from them, 1690, would not have ordered them 600 marks for it, which /urn not with/landing was never paid them. [ anfwer ; I. What right patrons have to prefcot has been al- ready in part ohlerved, viz, the fimoniacal bargain between the popifh clergy, who hid no right to fell it, and the priefl ridden anceftors of our mojern clai- mants or a compliment of it, from the king or bi- (hops. So that from the aft mentioned there can be no reafon for people to buy back that which they never fold. Nay, a right that Chrift the churche* head had paid the utmoft mite for ; and what parity is there in tfce claim of patrons ? not one Word of the divine law, but only the civil laws of the land io force in their favours : not a word of the rights of Chrilt s fpiritual kingdom: no, but the laws of men. But to come to the laws fuch as they are, it is the patron's fault the money was not paid, feeing the law provid- ed the legal execution of the aft at the patrons fuit a- gainft the parifti. But had the aft declared, that if it was uot payed againft fuch a time, the right fhould remain to the patron, doubtlefs it had been better payed. But 2. Granting them a right (which is not eafy tQ make evident) yet how can that claim be now legally revived agrainft the church, after (lie hath not only ob- tained het freedom from it by aft of parliament i6.|g; but even the above-mentioned aft 1690 became, by the aft of fecurity in the year 1707, an irrev nst pick cut another* eyes. And, tho T there ft ay be fome member or members chat would wifh, yet, to deal honeftly in the matter ; yet they are foon brow- beat, borne down and over voted. Aod grant he is caft in his trials (which, alas! is feldom now the cafe) then, with the ailiftance of his patron, a' pro' teft is takeo, aod an appeal for an inqueft of error is made ; and it muft to the aflembly, where the patron and prefentee gain their point ; the prefentee is either fiffjiled, or ordered to trials anew, which terminate in his ordination at laft. The like oft times become* the cafe in fafhioiog of prefentations and calls atfo §. And though a prefbytery or fynod fhould either evade the decifion, or pafs a fentence in favours of a parifh, (that the odium may fall upon the back of the Ge- reral Aflembly which is broader than theirs is to bear the maledictions of the people) yet they muft, at the orders of their fuperiors, proceed to the fettlement of the fame prefentee under the pains of threatned depofition. For fo obfequious are the dernier court of appeals unto the nod of the head patron in Eng- land X and his underlings in Scotland, that to rcfafe I % a pre- % Inftance, the pre r cntee at Shots, who was orce and again judged unqualified or inefficient by the prefbytery. Bat on the patron's appeal to the Aflembly, he was by them at Jaft referred to the commiflion for trials (1766), who judged him qualified and more, fo he rnuft needs be fettled. And did not the Ailembly rererfe both the fen^ tence of the prefbytery of Auchterarder and fynod of Moray ordering them to take Mr Lawfon and Mr Smith on trials 1779: but what needs more inftances of this kind ? \ Francis Hutchifon L L. D. in his confide rations on patrorage firft publifhed 1735* f*Tl that, of 950 the kirtf was in pofltfEon of the patronage of 550 churches, (which are now augmented in number by thefe gentlemen's eftatcs forfeited in the year 1745)* And of thofe remaining, '• there are not 150 parilhes in Scotland where the patron-. • u age is in any gentleman of confiderable eftair;, or natu*. u ral intereft in the parim, to whom it is of any real cor-/* '• fequence as to himfelf whether the miniiler he a ptrfon' JJ of lobriety, diligence, good abilities in his office Or not/* page 6. ( «8 ) t prefentition, or a concurrence K> fettle one of hfs or their thus dubbed prefentees, is by deed of action accounted a more onpardooable crime, than dronk- cnef«, or even uncleannefs it felf: fbr, while the perpetrators of thefe are affoiled, caieflTcd or at leaft overlooked, the other is depofed, drubbed or Cafhtered in a very odd manner; all which render; the divine law with them inferior and fubfervient to the law of patronage f . But flop here : what needs thefe folemn mimicries? has not thecandidate preientee a right by their law to the benefice prior to call or ordination trials either ; which not only fupercedes the neceflity of a call, bat iCft f That the abort is now n'oncrrarge w'rh out proof, wai pet Meffrs fi— d and B — ne on account of refuting a prefers taiion fomc time ago by an acl of the General AfTembly declared, or rendered incapable of ever receiving a prefen- tation on the north fide of Tweed ? Was not Mr Gillefpie depofed by the AfTembly 175a for a fimpJe adtcfiefufal to concur at the fettlerocnt at D— — r . — -s? ? And was *ot Mr Finlay csfhiered to an acknowledgment before the bar and by them rebuked in the A&mbly 1775 for fet- ling Mr Thomlbn to the ftipends bgt not the charge of St. Ninitos (though in equity he could do no othtrways). Compare thefe with the cafe of Mr St— t mioifter of Cr-nf who was depofed by the fyood of Perth and Stirling for notour drunkenefs 176a or 1769, but inttontly rtftored to minifterial character and digcity by the Aflembly 1770. And was not Mr Nfbet minifter at Firth and Stenoes while living in notour adultery, cloaked or overlooked by his bre- thren maugre all Meffrs. Irvine and Tyrie could do; nay,the prrfbyterv fufpended them and aflb led the delinquent, who pcrfifted m that CQqrfV, until upon a petition of his panfh he was by a fenter.ee or the circuit court at. Invernels 1766, baniihed to the plantations. And was not Mr C — -j\ minifter at Sy^> — n who wrote agaioft the people's right, &c. fo left of God amooglt o- thers of his irregularities in one of liis drunken bacchanal revels as to ge through the touo of Air about four o'clock in the morning plavmg on a tiddle with another of the fame crafr ; and tho' he was thus met amor phofed from the cha* racier of a minifter of Chrift to a town wake or miter, yet overlooked by his brethren t«li nov* he is fee co axe contempt ible to all men. ( <*9 ) oft times precludes a fairtrhil as well as a fair choice : fo that he ftaads their minifter by law, before the mt- deration of a call or ordination trials can be appointed* : Which beggars all defcriptton. — You know what handle the patrons agent made before the General Aflembly in favours of Mr Reid's qualifications from parliament 12. cap. 1 16. of James VI. 1 592, which or- daius, "that prefbyteries are bound and aftri&ed to receive and admit whomfoever qualified minifter pre- feuted by his majefty's laick patrons," acd 10/ h of Annse, i% that they be obliged to receive or admit fuch qualified perfon or perfons, as (hall be prefent- cd n But he fhould have minded that the General ^(Tembly 1696, upon better grounds, provided that none (hould feek prefentations to benefices with- cut advice to the presbytery in whefe bounds they ty on pain of being repelled as ret ambitus* Bat pray, what is it that conltitutes a qualified minifter in the eye of the law by which prcibyterian church govern- ment is eftablifhed ? Is it not the Lord's call, and the call and confent of his people, even fuch as our Lord and his apoftles doth defcribe •• faithful men, able to teach % keeping that trufi committed itnta them, rightly dividing the word of truth % by jound doc-* trine exhorting and convincing gainfayers, (hewing themfehes patterns of every good work, And grant, that they are even qualified as they would, by their law, have it, are their eyes aod un- •derftandings mine? or are they infallible, that I (hould warr^ntably put out the eyes of cay underftand- ing, and yield implicit obedience to their approbation or choice ? Surely no ; no part of the cbtirch has a divine warrant to di&ate unto the uoderftandiog or confeience* of another. Indeed the old friar of Rome arrogates this power unto himfelf ; and if any judica- tory (be their denomination what it will) will cope jvith hia upon fuch pricciples, it avails little or no- thing whether their afts be dated at Rome or Con- . .ace I 70 J ftance, Trent, Canterbury, or Edinburgh, feeing it will land them aud their cargo at the infallible Tee at laft. 3 for when relevant rea- fons or objtftioos are given in, and even fomeiimes a- gaiuft both life and doftrinc, they cannot be taken in, or fuftained when received f. Odj. IV. Although patronages were removed, the people w'juld not agree in their choice : and what /cenes tf dif order and confujton would naturally enfue, while the votes of the dregs of the people are equal to thoje of the hcnor&ti et primores pletis, or greateft heritors in the parijh. Here a midge muft be magnified into a mountain, and the falling of a leaf becomes like the roaring of the fea, upon an imaginary foppofitioo. But, i. Although it fliould feldom or never happen that every individual in a parifh fliould agree in the choice, yet it is the majority of voices that anfwers the end appuioted. — Neither has any popular diftur- bance that rm fallen out when and where the Chrif- tian people had their right of choice, had the hun- dredth part of the difagreeeble effe&s and confequences attending it, which falls out but in one or two pari- fhes of 900 ia half a century, in comparifon of what the daily invafions of patronage now produce, when al&nfr every parifh ofcoarfe comes to be grafped by its iron hand ; nay, what contention arifes amongft patrons thcrnfelves, when coping with one another : wherein it fometimes falls out, that thefe anti. patrons in oppofitioo to one another, will prelent two pre* fentees to one parifh at once, whereby procefles of de- clarations + Annnfcft other in ftancrs, Did not the people of C — b - — g u\vc in objections reltvaot againft the life and doc- tioe of the prefentee, and offer to prove them, and yet the prefhytery refufed theei, and though a fuperior judi- catory judged ihev were in the wrong to the people, yet no redrefs was obtained, the prefentee was confirmed. < 7' ) chrations, protefts, appeals, &c. are taken : fo that a thoufand good confeqnences might, if needful, be produced, that has attended this ordinance or in£U- tution, to confroot one Angle fautafticai appearance of this in the inftitutton of the council of Tient. .2. Should divifion or disturbance fall out among people at the choofing of their paftor, can that be a- fcribed to the inftitution, nature or praftice of the duty ? If, in that cafe, it would hold good in every ordinance or duty : nay, it would equally ftrike a- gainft the freedom of choice in every conftitutioa whatfoever. For when confufions fall out at the choofing of members to Parliament or Genera! Af- fembly, mud we then conclude the conftitution is o- vcrturned ?— • It muft proceed from fome other quar- ter, from fome piece ot bad management in the affair, men's humours, or the remains and emotions of cor- rupt nature. — But I rather incline to thick* that tho* thefe may be fometimes in the cafe, yet thefe divifions muft be one of the woeful fruits and confequences of our Cms and dreadful apoftafy from God, — breach of covenant, — contempt of the gofpel, — inooceat blood fhed, and unpurged and unmourned for ; — For the Jins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priefts 9 the Lord hath divided them in his anger % he will no more regard them. But 3. To come to the laft member of the objection, the moft cootemptible begging Lazirus in a parilh has a foul of equal intrinfic value at (lake, with the greateft nobleman in it ; and if he be in the exercife of reafoD, or has not forfeited that right by a vitious life and converfation, why fhould he not, as well as the nobleman, have a choice in the means of his own falvation, feeing he cannot be furety for his foul ?— ■ for none of them can redeem his brother^ nor give a ranfomfcr him. And this may of itfelf alone be fuf« ficient toequipoife every argument or otjeflion upoQ this fcore wkatfoever. Obj. ( 7V ) Obj V. It Is argued by the patron's agents, That * U the aft 1649, the right of nomination belonged to the fr/Jbytery, — by the aft 1690, it was vefied in the kirk fej/isn and heritors,— ~undcr neither of which was a call or concurrence of the people neceffary This objeftion I think will fink by its own weight, and needs very little obfervation. — For 1. If we could warrantably admit of patronage. Dame or thing, I fhoald think that, in a lawful, wclN conftitutcd and regulated church, from the counte* nance of fcripture, the Prefbyterial elderfhip behoved to have fome plaufible plea for it. But then their work is to judge of the per fan chofen, aod not to cleft. It is true, that after the year 1638, the prefbytery did nominate a certain number of qualified perfoos, out of which the patron and people were to make choice of one ; but here the perfon behoved to be announc- ed qualified by the prefbytery, prior to the eleftioo, which was no rugged kind cf patronage ; yet it was ftill a grievance to the church, as is evident from the words of the general a/Tembly to the parliament 1649, upon their abolishing of that evil. Say they, M We €< do highly commend the piety and zeal of the e- %i ftates of parliament in promoviog fo oeceflary a 11 point of reformation." And fure wc muft fnppofe that that parliament and general aflembly had as good a right, and were as proper judges of what was mod agreeable to the rights and liberties of the fubjefts of Chrift's kiogdom, as the parliament 17 t2, or the ge- neral aiTemblies 1779.-80,-81,-0^-82. For, (while the one feems to have argued from, and followed the divine rule for their guide, — the other feems better acquainted with Eraftian laws than the Afts of the apoflles ; for they mufl either manage the argument from this or the other aft of parliament, or hear what the Lord Prefident and Lord Chief Baron have to fay, or elfc make laws of their own, and then argue from- them. — But if they /peak not according to this went, it is becaujc there is no light in them. 2. Ft* J 73 ) %. For elders and heritors, it were reafonable that *hey have avote, and the firft vote in order too ; and if the majority goes into their choice, what need* more voting ? But for one or two more of theie to have a negative voice over a congregation, would be but to exchange one for a plurality, or one fpccies of patronage for another ; which power, I fuppofe, no judicious and confcientious fcffion ever yet claimed. Obj. VI. It is alfo argued by the fame gentlemen* That the law gives the prefentee, if qualified, a law ful right to the benefice^ and no other call or concur* rence is necejjary ; — the legal purpofe of moderating a call is not to obtain the conjent of the people, but to hear their objeEfions. Credat Judceus Apella> let on* circumcifed Jews believe this : for I think it will haidly be fwallowed down by intelligent Cnrirtians ; common fen fe revolts againll it. However; Prefby- terian principles are once more panneled at Antichrift'g barr, and nothing brought forth to fuppor: the libel but the iomo Annae, and the pra&ice of the Af- fembiies of the eftablilhed church in her unhappy train of decifions for fome years part. I fhall only make a fliort obfervatioQ or two upon this. And i. Grant, that the law gives a fufficient right to the benefice, what law is it that gives a right to the charge ? aod furea minifter muft make an odd figure in the church, without any people to minifter onto. K a man would caufe himfelf to be married unto a woman contrary to her will by violence, and perhaps in her abfence, would yoo not call it a rape ? And is net ike entering into the charge of a parifh, maugre all oppofition upon grounds reafonable andjuft, — a xnanifeft rape upon thefpoufeof Chrift ? — " The con- " fent and call of the flock (as one well obferves) is 11 as neceflary to cooflitute aod fix the mutual rela- •• tion as the coufent of the mioiftry, feeing the tic 41 if mutual." i. If the moderation of a call is only to hear the people's objc&ions, what end is the ferviDg of *n e- K dirt ( 74 ) cc in the wor i, a*d ftayeth Lot the confcience of the -nan of God that be did cot run aa- fent. Mr Livingflon in his tetter from Rot o his panih of Ancrum, fays, " I came tc» Arcum, — mci uaa the Lord's- call by your invitation, Downwards, mg of th* patron and incunVurt, fays, *.' It r* a liele/iion renance fuch an intruded hue. ing. or j • /bat they call, worfhip." 1 might *ifo cite, limeatidT paper permit, Beza, Bullinger, Junius, Dar "us, Zanchy, Peter Martyr, Hudfon, Manton, ! ; !ahs* my, Pearibi), field, Calderwood. Durham, Pat Jamiefon ; but none more than the famous C*iil< {pie, wfco Before the VVeftruinfter y boldly mvntaired, that the word crdaitud AS^ x*rn. i<. was truly ciiootlng in ike- original, importirg the people's fuffragc in eletfing their ownorlice bcar?TS — ee Saihc's le ( 8o ) one of thefe intruders, as well as that afiigncd tn Ffd- wick. Do nor flitter yourfelvcs, that, becaufe were only thruft ia npcgi others aod not upon you* you arc at liberty in this : no, the people have im- mortal fouls to favc equally precious in the fight of God Willi yours, and what has been their cafe form* erly feem* to be yours at prefent. And, tho' fome of thefe may feem to favour you, yet they muft all one way or another concur in the fettlcment at lad. They are all members of one collective body, and, ia fome cafes, all fowls of one feather, tho* not all alike guilty, and for the moft parr, daubers of the wall with the intemperate mortar of concurrence with this Amalekitiih generation of patrons, with whom the Lord hath declared he will have war from generation to generation. Nay, in fome fenfe, they are worfe. Thefe prefentees muft have a piece of bread : put me into thepriejVs office, that I may eat a piece vf bread : (a mean and local motive indeed). But what reward car* they expect here 'or hereafter for thrufting them in at the window of patronage ? Or how can you expect a wholefome or feafonable advice from thofe who, zxefoeii criminis, prime promoteis or pra&iiers of patronage, or reap advantage by their miniftry, who, at their infinite hazard, have rufhed into this of- fice to earn their bread, difplay their talents or grati* fy their own ambition and pride ? You know the Lord's mifiion and the call of his people make up a particular article, might I fay, the conftiiuent part, of the calling of a minifter of Chrift. And can you fay, that they have thefe ? Then hear the conclufioa from divine iufpiration. Ifent them not, nor comman- ded them ; therefore they fhati not profit this people at ail, Jiiith the Lord. 2d-y, Beware not only whom you hear, but alfo what you hear. Try the /pit its ; for many falfe teach- ers are gone out into the uorid. Arius, pelagius, So- cinus, and Armioius have thofe who teach in their fchools dally ; far v r. t tt they ca^ be C2I- viftifti f 31 J uifts Id oOe place and Arminians In adorner, other* fpend all the cadence of eloquence ia exalting fht power of the intelligent mind, free will and the farcrit of good work* : do this and do that, (fay they), und run the whole cour/e of duties , and ye Jhall un- doubtedly obtain the prize. A third fort divide the merit and means of falvatioo betwixt Ghrift and the finner, and will tell you* that divine power will co- operate with our imperfect endeavours, if we are but ferious 2nd finccre therein ; -work and better work (fay they^ and what ye want, Chriji will make up s A fourth fort of trimmers, who, aUho* they do not preach barefaced and downright errori, yet, to ac- commodate themfelves to the tafteof the moft refprc- table in the auditory, approach as near it as poiTi- bie, and thhik they come clear off the field by hints and equivocal enpreffions. Nay, to ftich a pafs arc things brought now, that if any minifter maintain faithfulnefs in doctrine ano! difcipline, he is baffled tad brow beaten by them in the very place of judg- ment. From all of which you mud keep at a diftance, if poffible. Cleave to thefe truths that are moft at- tacked in your time, that fo you may be eftablifaed ia the prefent truth. Endeavour not only ftrength of judgment, but alio foundnefs in the doctrine of the gofpel : and keep your hands as clean of every defec- tion as poflible, and you (hall find the benefit and accomplifnment of that promife, The righteous Jha't walk on his way and he that hath clean hands, pall be jlronger and ftronger. And, $dly, You have feen what treatment you have met with from thofe who fit in AaronS feat when craving the benefit of your juft rights sod privileges, accl you may have fome profpeft what you are likely yes to meet with from them : that is, inftead of having a redrefs you {hall be reproached and rediculed. But* Jet not this fear you at the duties of religion : no, you Biuft not become indifferent, but make application, unto the chief fhephcrd, who 'will, ioocer or later L rcd;< fedrefs all your grievances. In the mean time, y)ti mud walk uprightly and wifely in the way of com- manded duty ; and cleave to the truth, and the truth Jball make you free. Study not only to have ftrong heads but couragious hearts, that lo ye may be the better able to fland out a trial : for I can aflure you, if your principles be right, your caufe is good, your xnafter 39 great, and Chrift the captain of falvatioa will go before you, ivho was made perfeft through filtering. But then. ^thly % Try your motives in this affair, and fee what they are, whether they will ftand the teft. Many, bow a days, are chagrined at patronage, only becaufe it comes to crofs their inclinations, but not as it is a dishonour to Chrift and an unfupportable yoke upon the neck of his church ; a yoke that you need never expert will be got off, till the chain be traced back to its primary, original link, the fuprtmacy. If this were removed, then patronage and all its concomi- tants that like fo many dead weights are lying u- pon the church would tumble to the ground. But if you can do no more in this, you muft pray, plead and contend for the liberties of the church, and re- inonftrate, witnefs and teftify againft every fmful en* croachment made thereon; but all in a way agreeable to the meafuring line of the fancluary, platform of the word, and the plan of your known profefTed prcf- bytcriat principles. — And, for your help in this, take a retrofpett view of what was the pi^ftice of the faints recorded in fcripture, and the laudable contendings of our renowned, reforming and fuffiring anceftors in thefe lands in the late reforming and perfecuting times; particularly, keep the doftrine, principle, aid practice of your proto miaifter the renowned Guthrie (whofe memory (half flourish in the duft) in your eye. He was one amongft a thoufind. Let it be your ftu- dy and pffidfoous care to walk by the footfteps of ChrifTs IfJock in former ages and generations that •vcre approved oi bj hio*, 'A* hjs th« apoftky let us ( «3 ) us walk by the fame rule, let us mind the fame things. And, $thfy t Bear this injury, or whatever injuries you may have yet to meet with, patiently ; and do not give way to corrupt nature in refeoting them in an often* five way. They are indeed hard to bear ; but re- member that the wrath of man worketh not the righ* teoufhe/s of God. When you fee thefe men left of God to rob and fpoil the church of God of her rights and reformation principle*, end, judicatory after judicato- ry, making themfelves famous for cutting down the carved work cf the fmRuary, as fays the Pfalmift. But now they break down the carved work thereof &c. Break not out in a paflionate way againft thofe whs are but the poor inftruments of thefe diforders and confufions ; but look unto the Lord's hand in it. The Lord for our trial, and the chaftifement of our. fins, and mifimprovca mercies, may havefaid to thefe men, go and opprefs my heritage, and tread down the rights of ihi people, until they return unto me, or be cut off in mine anger. And, tho' they thruft in one of thefe men upon you, they cannot without a new fan&ion of law compel you contrary to the light of your own confciencc to hear him : and who knows but it may be better for you, at leaft fom^ of you, ere all be done, than if you had obtained your defire of the j \- dicatories of the church ? for we know, that all things work together for good to them that leve God. 6tbty, You muft mourn and not murmur over thefe evils : take with you words , and turn to the LorJ t and fay unto him, take away all iniquity r we hape finned againft thee, perfonally, in families, congrega tions, and as a church and nation : and in Order \o profit by this exercife, I cannot direct you unto a better method than the exercife of the lamenting pro- phet in name of the church: fay, Wots me for rtiyt hurt, my wound is grievous. — My heart within me is broken, becaufe of the prophets. — Many faflors have fdefiroyed my vineyard, and trodden my ftrtiiti un \ L 2 fioi 1 °4 1 foot -r-They h&ve wade it defctate, and being dcfoUte* it mourneth unto me — Thy prophets havcfecn vain and foolijh things for the, and they have not difcovered thine in quit y : for theft things I weep, and mine eye runneth down with water, becaufc the (nemy prevail- elk.— But I will bear the indignation of the lord, be- fe I have finned agalnft him, until be plead my caufe % pnd execute judgment for me, hi will bring me forth U the light, and IfJjall behold his fight eoufnefs, Jer, x. rp. and xxiii. 9. and xii. 10. jTaro. xi. 14. an^ i f 16. Micah vii. 9 ts?c. And, 7th'y f As we have now^ cf along time,- revolted and departed from the Lord, both as a church and as a nation. We have broken the bands afunder, and cafl the cords from us ; for which the Lord has given} the dearly beloved cf his foul into the hands of his ene- mies The church in thefe lands is now in bondage s fie has en her mournizLgweed : Zion fpreadeth forth her* mdi, end there is none to ccm fort her. When the great rren of the earth, the political and religious r Itrs of thefe nations, areraindipg only their world- \. eaTe, wealth, advantage, and grandeur, you mud cot ft?nd as neutral and indifferent fpc&ators : no, ?cu muft put to your liand, and, in your ftatioas, take a lift with poor, low, dejefted, and defpifoj 2ton. And, if ycu can da pore, (though we be 3 c©/cnant breaking people, yet we have a covenant- fceeping and prayer hearing God), you muft pray, . f.J pray fervently, that the time to favour her may come. Say with the pfalmilr, lift up thy feet unfa the perpetual deflation, even all the ills thine enemies have dene wickedly in the fanflwiry . Pray, that the crown may yet flourifh upon the head of our great Iminanuel ; that his large and great dominions may fee extended ; and that he may rid the neck of his church from under the yoks of her opprcfTors, whe- ther pope, prelate, patron, or haoghty chqrch men, jhat eeaa to put no higher eftimate upon precious 3ud mmoiui fju!s than their own worldly intereft sad. r>od preferment So that the wicked ©ay no m&c triumph , and the men of the earth may no more opprefs* that he may r cal our bondage as ftreams in the fouth % Sthly, Amongft the other fruits of our apoft?cy one of the fpiritual judgments, that have feized tbi9 generation, is, a fpirit of contention and divifjon, /whereby religion is rendered tech a chaoc offend- meats as has reduced its prcfeflbrs unto an immenfe number of fets, fedlaries, divifions and fubdivifiojcs (witnefics for truth not excepted), and alrnoft every one pretending to be in the right, feme Joying, h, her* is Chrifty or io> he is there. So that many well neaning people who are convinced things are wrong; in the eflablifhed church, and would be content to lift up a testimony for truth, yet know not well what party to join with, whereby they are difcouraged ;n the way of duty. — If this (hall fall out to be your cafe, you mufi: not confult flefh and blood; that ie, your own worldly eafe and advantage. If you would make a right choice, you muft proceed in a folii e'e* liberate way upon rational and fcriptural ground?. You muft not fake up a principle or fenticneat npoa truft, or be led implicitly by men or the beft of men, Dor even truft confeience alone in this ; foi it is a xnaitcr of more importance than many are a-.v of. You'll fay, what then I why, you raufi sp; BBto the Lord for light and dircflicn. Say, with Dsvid, teach me thy ivay Lord: I %iU zvctk in thy truth. Search the divine oracles, rhe only r of faith and manners, and the flandards and ref- tirnony of the reformed church of Scothtd, acd fee whofe principles are molt agreeable unto thefe, and what you find, upon an impartial enquiry, condcr cd by the fpirit of God there. Tbciafpired p found the advantages accruing from this, wh" made him fay, thy tcjtwionies are my delight, and my $Qunfc\kri. And, La/t'y, My brethren, let me, on the whole, obfHft ou once more, toocy mightily unto the Lord In this - ( *6 ) critical juncture for light and direction in thli weighty : ; and important affair. He has proJiifed to be a refuge t9 the opprejfed, and a toiver in troublous days. Id* |L deed, you may be borne down and overmatched by men in power ; and they may plead afts of parlja* meats and General AfTemblies for it. Nay, thefe low lifed hirelings may alcribe what oppofition they juftly meet with to a beiog peifecuted for righteoufnefs fake s and apply or abufe fcriptore for that purpofe. But the bufiuefs will come to a hearing aguin before aa impartial judge, when thefe as well as other injuries will be re&ifiei. Labour, then, to have your judge fcr your friend. Seek an acquaintance and union with him, aod then he will enable you to furmount aud pervade all your difficulties ; and fooaer or later will extricate and deliver you out of all your trouble. The righteous cries unto the Lord % tine! the Lord deliver* eth him out cf all his trouble. And, though you are dill to be in the ufeof all lawful means and endea- vours to obtain an agreeable Settlement in your religi- ous concerns, yet youmuft nd'her reft too much a- pon, nor be elated with your management in therri* No, commit your way unto the Lord % trujt alfo in him ; and he Jhall bring it to pafs t wait patiently for him; fret not t becaufe of the man that bringelh wicked de- vices to pa/s. Leave not, nor give over the arduous work, until he bring forth your righteoufnefs as the lights and your judgment as the noon tide of the day. And, for a final conclusion, that this may be your happy attainment, and the attainment or all in the like circumftaoce under this a To this end 1 was bu*n t and/or this caufc came I into the ivorli % to bear witnejs to the truth. K R R a T \. Page 9. line 13. for 1710. read 171*. 3. T9 I. ?. for cOQ« peancer.concurrenccp.il !.i : Cioy, P- 35- I- 5- after conr lanies r. votaries p. 6o. foot noce foi m Glasgow, *AuguJl P O $ A L S by Subscription, rge Octavo Volume. Elegant Edition of iree Hundred and Fifty-Two LETTERS. By the Eminently Pious Mr. SAMUEL RUTHERFOORJ Profefibr of Divinity at St. Andrews. To which is added, The Author's Teftimony to the covenanted work of Reformation, as it was carried on between 1638 and 1649. — And a ^° h* s Dying Wards, contain- ing feveral Advices to fome siinifters and .near re- lations. As alfo, 4 large Preface and Postscript, wrote by the Reverend Mr. M'Ward. CONDITIONS. I. The b#ok w ill be printed on a fair paper and good large Type, to confift of nearly 600 pages J J. The price to fubferibers will be Two Shillings and Sixpence Sterling to be paid at the deli yery of the book, neatly bound. III. Thofc who fubicribe for 12 copies, fliaU have om Oralis. IV. The book will be pot to the prets as loon at a competent number of fubferiptions are ob rained. The encouragers of this work are defired to fend in their Names, with the nember of Copies they want, to the Pu -« liJher, within two months after the date of this proposal. Subscriptions arc taken BaokfeJIer, the PabliQtf r vhh Propofals, in by John Bkyce, ; and Ml others inn IF m Hot*