The Re-Exhibition of the Testimony. BVtf5'474 ^ L I B R ^V T^ Y (ir iiii; ' ;T heologicalSeminary. PRINCETON. N. J. Case --V-0' ^^dfil li Book THE RE-EXHIBITION OF THE TESTIMONY: O R, A Connected View of thofe Principles, upon which a Secession from the Judicatories of the Church of Scotland was ftated, by fevcral Miniflers of the Gofpel, in 1 7 3 3 ; and, fince that time, maintained by the Associate Synod. CONTAINING, I. A Testimony to the Dodtrine, Worfhip, Government, and Difci- pliae of the Church of Scotland ; or, Reasons, ire. &c. IF. Act, Declaratiok, and Tes- timony of theAflbciatePrefbytery; to which is now added, an Appen- dix. III. The Libel which was put into the hands of the Seceding Miniftcrs by the General Affembly, with their Answers. JV. Acts and Proceedings of the Aflbciate Prefbytery, containing their Declinature. V. The Act of AffemWy 17 3 p, con- demning the JvDiciAL Act and Declinature; with Observa- tions thereon by the Aflbciate Prefbytery. VI. Reasons by Meflrs. Erskine, Wilson, Moncrieff, and Fisher, why they have not Ac- ceded to the Judicatories of the eftabliflicd Church. VII. Act of the Aflbciate Synod met at Stirling, OA. 1747. declaring the Nullity of the pretended Synod, that firit met in Mr. Gib's houfe, April loth. VIII. Act of the Aflbciate Synod met at Stirling, containing a Narra- tive of the rife, prtgrefs, and grounds of their Secession. WITH A PREFACE, to this new Edition of thefe Papers. Published by Order of the Associate Synod. GLASGOW: Printed by W i l l i a m Smith. Sold by W. Smith, Bookfeller, in Glafgow W. Anderson, Bookfeller, in Stirling, M D C C L X X I X. and \ ^ *" ':r^ % ^ r^' ' ^ *^ THE Editors of the following Testimonies, &c» with the corredions and additions now made to them, are pofieffed of the fole right of printing, pubhfhing, and vending them : If any, therefore, Ihall prefume to print thefe papers, or any part of them, without their confent, they will fubjed themfelves to a profecution. 4«=c ^ — ^.^ ^C!!i§^ .i.^ M > -^ [ 3 1 Edinburgh, 3d Sept. 177S. THE Synod met; and, being conftitutewith prayer, -refumed the affair of publiihing the Testimonies, &c, -Appointed Meffrs. John Smith, John Belfrage, William Arnot, and Robert Campbell, as a Committee to revife the Preface and Appendix, which had been laid before the Synod, together with the Judicial TeJli?nony, as now corrected ; with power to publifli faid Papers,^ with all convenient fpeed. Appointed them to meet at Dunfermline, on Monday the 28th current, for faid purpofe ; with a power to adjourn themfelves as they find neceffary, 'till they have finifhed their work. ExtraSled by John Brown, Syn. Cls. Dunfermline, 28th Sept. 1778. THE Committee appointed at laft meeting of Sy- nod, to revife the Preface and Appendix, together with the corredions made by the Synod, upon the fecond Teftimony, met in the Seflion - houfe here. Sederunt, Meffrs. John Smith, William Arnot, and llobert Campbell. — Made choice of Mr. Smith to be their Moderator, who conftituted the meeting with prayer, and Mr. Campbell to be their Clerk. Piead the minute of Synod, appointing this Committee. Read over the Preface and Appendix, and offered forae ob- fervations on each. — Appointed their next meeting to be j^t Stirling, on Monday the 2d of November next. A 2 4 [ 4 ] Stirling, sd Nov. 1778. THE Committee met. — Sederunt, Meff. John Smith, John Balfrage, and Robert Campbell — Read over the Preface and Appendix, with the corredions of the Ju- dicial Teftimony, paragraph by paragraph ; corrected the language in fome places, unanimoufly approved the whole, and appointed their Clerk to write out a fair copy for the prcfs, that thefe papers may be publiflied with all convenient fpeed, agreeable to the order of Synod. E^traded by Robert Campbell, Com. CI s. ll^ ( V ) THE c o N T E N ^ ;i;;; s. 7" H E Preface to this Edition of the Tejiimontes ^ Page 9 ' The First Testimony to the dcSirine, ivor/hip, government, and difctpline of the church of Scotland, 1 7 Introduction, containing a fjort narrative of the proceedings cfthe feveral judicatories againfl the four protefiing miniflers, 19 Sect. I. Some hijiorical obfervations on the flate of the church of Scotland, both in her reforming and declining periods, 3 3 Sect. II. Reafons, by the protefiing miniflers, for their fecefflon from the prevailing party in the eflablijhed church, 40 Sect. III. Reafons, by the protefiing mimjiers, for the validity of their pafloral relation to their refpeSlive congregations, 7 1 Sect. IV. Reafons, by the protefiing miniflers, for their exercifing the keys of government and difcipline, according to their pro- ieflation entered before the Commijfion, 75 The Act, Declaration, and Testimony, /or the dc£irine, •wor/hip, difcipline, and government of the church of Scotland, 79 The IntroduSiion, containing the reafom for publifhing the Judicial Tejlimony, 8 1 The Preamble to the Teflimony, Bj I. The Approbatory part of the Teflimony, 88, — 93 II. The Condemnatory part of the Teflimony, 93, — 142 Public evils enumerated from the year 1650, to the Re- volution in 1688, 93 Public evils mentioned, -which took place from the Revo- lution to the acceffion of George I. in i 714, 100 Public evils condef ended en, from the acceffion of George I. till the publication of the Judicial Tejlimony, in the year 1736, 109 ji general view of matters, ibid. Profeffor Simfon's errors mentioned and refuted, 1 1 o Profeffor Campbell's errors confdered, and the Affemblfs condu6l ivith him reviewed, 1 1 8 A rude attack upon the fcripture do6irine of our Shorter Catechifm^ I 3 3 vl CONTENTS. The General AJpmhJy^s negligence •with regnrd to err or y and erroneous teachers ^ Page 135 Seme other public evils enumerated Jince the accejjlon of George I. to the year 1736, 137 II f. The AJJhrtory part of the Tefttmony, I 42, — 148 Concerning doSlrinCy in Jixtsen particulars, 143 Concerning worflnp, government, and difciplinCy in eight particulars, 148 The Conclufi'tn of the Judicial Te/limony, \ 52 J^ concerning the admijfon of the Rev. Meffrs. Ralph Erfkine and Thomas Mair^ 1 54 /Jr. Mair's declaration of Seceffion from the judicatories of the church of Scotland, '54) — i 64 Mr. Erfkine^s adherence to the above declaration, 1 64 The Prefhyterfs approbation and reception of the above two Brethren, 1 66 /ivfVivjiw to the Judicial Tefiimony ; in which the ASf and Tefii- mony is extended to feme public tranfaSlions which have hap- pened in this church and nation, fince that Teflimony was firj} publifhed ; and the offertory articles pointed dire6lly in oppofition to other defeSlions in both, I 67 J'i(rodu£iion, obviating an afperfion throivn cut againfl the Sece- tiers, and evincing that the grounds of Seceffton are flill on the encreafe, 167, 168 The greatefi part of miniflers of this church, finfully complied with a requifition of the Britifh parliament, i 68 The General AJfcmblies flill per fever e in difmiffmg the erroneous without an adequate cenfure, ibid. Inflanced in the cafe of Mr, John Glafs, ibid. Dr. William mjhart, 169 Dr. Wi'.liam Leechman, ibid. Mr. James Meek, ibid. Iiitrufon of minifiersj even of worthlefs charaHers, flill finful- ly pcrfcvered in, I 7 I < The regular exercife of government and difcipline, according t9 the word of Cod, and af}s and conflitutions of this church, grown info dcfuetude, I 7 2 Many minifiers, who profefi friendfhip to the principles of the con/litutiofj, acquiefce in the in:f} rigorous and oppreffiv: ad- vwiijiratlons^ 173 CONTENTS. vii 7he Conclujion of the Appendix, Page i 7 4 Thefe Ttftimonies are Jlanding evidences againjl the unjujli- fiahle condu£l of the Antiburghers, 174 — againf} Erajlian, Prelatic, and Popifh infringements of the Redeemer's prerogative, 175 againf} the unprecedented extretnes of the Anti-govern^ ment party, ^ 7 5» I 7 ^ againfi Epifcopacy, Independency^ and Sedarian prin- ciples, 177 — — — again/} thofe -who call themfelves the Prejhytery of Relief, ibid. * again/} the Antichriflian fyf}em adopted by Papi/}s, i 80 An explication of the Popi/h abfurdities, abjured in our national covenant, 181 , — 184 again/} Athei/}s, Dei/}s, Socinians, Arians, and Arminians, n ; and th.it m^ny of them fnffcrcd imprifonmcnt, baniflimcnt, and death ; in the important ftruggle v/hich they maintaincil a^iiulf. the encroachments of ambitious and enterprizing PREFACE. xiii ccclefiaflics, patronized by the powers of the world, can- • not be denied by any who have, even a moderate ac- quaintance with the hiitory of this church. But when the partizans of this new fyftem of church polity increafed in numbers, and acquired additional (Irength, by every new acceflion ttb the party, they publiflied with lefs refervc their defigns with regard to the conflitution of this church, and in proportion to the fuccefs which attended their former attempts, they purfued their pernicious plan with unwea- ried ardor, and repeated their alfaults with n\ore boldnefs and intrepidity. And as the prefent century hath produced a vail increafe of numbers to this party v/ithin the bofom of a national church, who have attacked the infpired fyftem of gofpel truth, with a degree of virulence and au- dacity, almofl unknown in former times, the four Mi- UisTERS who formed the Jj/ociation, having, along with many hundreds of private Chriftians, frequently employ- ed petitions and remonftrances without efFecl, found them- felves obliged by the command of God, and their ordina- tion vows, to withdraw from the prevailing party in the church ; and in a way fuited to their fituation at that time, to publifh a ftanding testimoi^y to the docfri??e, ivorjhip, government, and difcipline of the Church of Scotland, as thefe are contained at large in the word of God, and exhibited to all her members in her adopted Standards ; and all this in oppofition to a growing defection from thefe principles, either in fentiment or conducl. In a repubhcation of thefe papers, it is proper to fuggeft, what the judicious reader will foon obferve, that the fins and hackjlidings of this church and nation, are reprefent- cd in a two-fold point of view. In ihtjirji Tejlimony they are adduced as Grounds of Secession from the prefent judicatories of the eftabliflied church, in full confiftency with the moft fteady attachment to all her avowed princi- ples and conftitution. To attack the conduct of Seceders upon any other ground than this, is to beg the queftionj and to confute them, upon thefe principles, hath never been attempted by their moft inveterate enemies. The attempt is as ridiculous as it would be impracticable ^. * To fay that Seceders, who have diffented from t'le juJic.itotres of ihc efla* bliilied church, are either SiBrivUs or Sth'tjrr.atks, is the moft ^alpahle nerv<:fT xiv PREFACE. In i\\z fecond Tejiimrmy^ thefc prevailing fins are confidcrcd as jufl: grounds of the divine difpleafure with this nation, and as the ordinary forerunners of public calamities f. In both Tc/limonies, the truths of God, which were at that time, and are (till oppofed, are not only plainly and pe- remptorily ailcrted, and the contrary errors pofitively con- demned ; but the too general national deviation from thofe truths, is particularly pointed out, as a mean to diredl Se- ceders and others, to give glory to God, in confefling ibeir own, and the iniquities of their fathers ; and to avoid a fafhionable imitation, and culpable approbation of their fins, in the prcfcnt age : and to fliow them, that while they profefs to contend earneflly for the faith, which was once delivered to the faints, they ought iincerely to mourn for all the abominations that are done in the midjl of Zion. It muft, however, be evident to an impartial reader, whofe mind is not warped by prejudice, or under the in- fluence of fadlion, that the mod important branch of the tcQimony is that in which the truths of God are folcmnly afferted, and the contrary errors exprefly condemned. It is properly in refpe£l to this, that Secedcrs declare their fion of language ; and the more inexcufable that it has been often pra<5Ufed by men poffeffed of the fliongefl intelledkual powers, whofe liberality of fcntiment, in every other inftance, is altogether unqueftionable. When Meflrs. Erjkine, hloncritff, Wilfon, and Fijber, in confequcnce of thofe rigorous meafures that were then, and have, fince that time, been purfued witli inflexible ptrfeverance, were aiflually caft out from the judicatories of the church, they di*i not form them- ff Ives into a diflindl Srff, with a dcfign to fct forth new opinions ; but took up their ground upon the known principles of this church, in agrccabienefs to the word of God; and therefore cannot be called SeBarles, till a new meaning fhall be affixed to that word, very difFercnt from the idea which is at prefent convey -d by it. Thty never pretended to creel any new ecclefiaftical conftitutlon of their own ; but ilcclared, in tlie mofl public manner, their warmed attachment to the conftituiion of the nitional church, upon the principles of the Reformation; from wiiich conftitution tliey never did, and it is hoped their followers never "will, make any Seccflion : and therefore they rejeA, with a generous contempt, the charge of fcki/m, and think they are well able to prove, tliat it recoils upon thofe who bring it againft them. .If the reader flull be pleafcd to perufc Mr Wij- fon's excellent Defence of the Kefcrmalion principles of the church of Scotland, with the Continuation, he will find the fentiintiits of Seceilers exprelTcd with no left plainncfs than ptrfpicuity. The learned and pious author of that Trcatife, fixes the condutSl of Secedcrs, nnd the nature of their Seceflion from the judicatories of the enablifbcd church, upon fuch grounds as offer defiance to the united efforts »if their adverfaries, who have never atfiinpted, and will never be able to over- throw them, by any fpccies of fair argumentation. — Rut fuch is the influence of prejudice in the minds of fomc, tli.it icUc rant takes the place of argument, and a bold alTcition is Aibflitu'ed in the room of rhtion;il cvidcnrc. t Ste Mr. Wilfon's Ciiitinuaiion ol his Defence of the KcfonnatioB principl:! of Uic chuich of Sck'tlaod, p. 15, \6. PREFACE. XV united confeffion of the truth, as diftirKaiy reprefentcd from the holy fcrlptures, in our adopted flandards oi doc- trine^ worjljip, government, and difcipline, in oppofition to the repeated departures from this fyftem, with which the great body of the nation is chargeable before God. Ac- cordingly this Testimony is not a new llandard of church- communion, as fome with a malevolent effrontery have been pleafed to call it ; far lefs is it to be confidered as of equal importance wich the public authorlfed ftandards of this church : but it is a plain declaration of their genuine fenfe and meaning, and a proper application of that fenfe and meaning to our conduct in the prefent age, in oppo- fition to former or prefent defections ^. It were to be wifhed indeed, that all who profefs to bear teftimony to the truth as it is in Jefus, had uni- form and unexceptionable views of the divine favours vouchfafed to this church, in the beginning and progrefs * "In theAift and Teftimony of the AffociatePrc/bytery, our received ftandards of doBrinc, ivorfiip, government, and difcipline, are particularly applied and laid againft the errors that have fprung up in this church, and agaiuft fuch corruptions and defections as have taken place therein, by which our fubordinatc ftandards have been either obfcured or perverted as to their genuine fenfe and meaning, and by which alfo palpable deviations have been made from them. Hence, in the alfcrt'jry part of the Act and Teflimony, the truths aflerted are viewed as agree- able to the word of God, the fupreme ftandard, and alfo as agreeable to our fubor- dinatc ftandards. Again, iu the condemnatory part of the Adc and Teftimony, the errors, corruptions, or defedlions condemned, are viewed as contrary to the word of God, and our fubordinate ftandards, received and adopted by this church in her reforming times : Therefore, the Act and Teftimony of the AlTociate Pref- bytery is not a new ftandard of church-communion, far lefs is it to be equalled with our received ftandards ; but it is an application and declaration of their ge- nuine fenfe and meaning, in oppofition to the errors, defections, and corrupti- ons that have prevailed both in former and prefent times. " The Preftiytery require of all fuch as accede to them, or who come under their Prefbytcrial Infpe£tion, that they fignify their approbation of their judicial Act and Teftimony; and the plain obvious meaning of this is, that they fignify or declare their conjundtion with the Preft)ytery in the fame confeftlon that they make of the truths of God, held forth from the word of God in our received ftandards of doiSrine, worfhip, difcipline, and government : And, in this refpect, the Preftiytery, and fuch as make acceffion to them, do ftate themfelves a con- fefting body; and the confeffion that they make is of the truths of God, in op- pofition unto deviations from the fame ; they make no ether confeffion but what has been made by this church, in her reforming and covenanting times ; they Biake no other confeffion but what the whole church and land are obliged by the word and oath of God to make, and which this national church, as fhe goes under the n:.me of the cftablifhed church, doth refufc to make. The Confeffion then that is made by the Aflbciate Prefbytery, and fuch as are in conjunction with them, upon the footing of the judicial Act and Teftimony, is a confeffion of the truths of our Lord Jcfus, againft feveral deviations and defections from tlie fame, either in principle or praiftice, which the majority of this vifiblc church ftjud chargeable wi;h." See Mr. Wi t son's Coniinuation, p. 14$, 14^. xvi PREFACE. of her reformation from Popery, as alfo of her general abufe of fuch diftinguifhcd privileges from age to age, that with one mind and mouth they might glorify God, by a grateful acknowledgement of the one, and a penitential confeifion of the other ; but as this is fcarcely to be ex- peded in a militant church, and efpecially in thefe peri- lous iimes, it becomes thofe concerned chiefly to know and profefs what is of the utmoft importance, the certainty of which rells upon the infallible record of God himfelf, and not on the fallible narratives of men, which in themfelves can never be a fufScient ground of our faith. To be ig- norant, or miftaken, with regard to the real exiftence of fo.me paH: tranfaclions in the church or (late, tranfmitted to us upon human authorities, fome of wl^ich are contra- dided by others of the fams clafs, and others of them co- vered with a cloud of uncertainty, which to us at this diflance of time, is almoft impenetrable, can never be fo criminal, as our ignorance or miilakes with refped to the truths of God revealed in his word, efpecially if fuch ig- norance, or miftakes, proceed from groundlefs prejudices, or unreafonable indolence. It mull therefore be obvious to every fober and unbiaf- fed Chriflian, that an attempt, as in this edition of the fecond Tejlimony^ to elucidate fome hiflorical references, or even to omit others, which do not appear to be fuf- ficiently vouched, cannot, with any degree of candour and juftice, amount to a dropping oi any part of the Tejlimony^ AS it is a Teflifnony to the truths of God revealed in his word, notwithltanding the unprovoked abufe which fome have endeavoured to throw upon fuch an attempt, with a manifeft defign to fupport the credit of a tottering fabric. To all fuch it will be fuificient to obferve here, once for all, what one of the original compilers of the Tefthnony boldly avers, that unlefs the principles adopted by that 1 ef^imony are proven to be contrary to the word ot God, and the received llandards of this church, any critical ex- ception to the hillorical narrations contained in it, docs not, in the lead, afle<^t that confcHion of the truths of God, which is made by the wliole body of Seceders, but n rather a wrangling about circumllanccs ^. • Sec Mr. Winery's Conliptuiioa of bis Defence, p. 150, 151. '^'^^'^'^•^'^■^^'^^^^■^^'^'^^^^^^^^^^^^ TESTIMONY T O T H E DOCTRINE, WORSHIP, GOVERNMENT, and D I S C I P L I N E of the CHURCH OF SCOTLAKD: O R, REASONS ByMr.EBENEzERERsKiNEjMiniller at Stirling, Mr. William Wilson, Minifter at Perth, Mr.ALEx.MoNcRiEFFjMiiiifteratAbernethy, and Mr. James FiSHERj MinifteratKincIaven, for their Protestation entred before the Comnciiflion of the General Afiembly, Novem- ber 1733, upon the Intimation of a Sentence of the faid Commiirion, loofmg their Relation to their refpe(5live Parifhes, cv. JuDE 3. Contend earneftly for the faith which was once delivered unto the faints. Rev. ii. 4, 5. Neverthelefs, I have fomewhat againfl thee, becaufe thou halt left thy firft love. Rentemher therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the f.rft works ; or elie I will come unto thee quickly, and v.ill remove thy candkftl'.k out of his place, except thou repont. ( 19- ) t A TESTIMONY T O T H E Doctrine, Worship, GoverniMent, and Discipline of the Church of Scotland, 6"^. INTRODUCTION. Containing a flyjrt Narrative of the 'Proceedings of the fever al Judicatories againfi the four protejiing Minifiers, fir^ H E ComrniOlnn of the General AfTembly having, at their J I meeting November laft, paffed a fentence againft rvlr.Ebenezer ^ Erflcine, minifter ofthe gofpel atSlirling, Mr. Wiiiiam Wilfori, minifter at Penh, Mr. Alexander MoncriefF, miniller at Abernethy, and Mr. James Fifher, minifter at Kinclaven, lofing their pajlorul relations to iheir refpeB'ive parifoes, and declaring them no longer viini/iers of this church ; It is thought needful, that, before the grounds and reafons of the Proteliation, which they entred, upon the intimating of the faiJ fentence unto them, are laid open, the reader fhoujj know how they came to be feverally concerned in this procefs. Therefore the following fhort Narrative of the condudl of the judica- tories towards them, as alfo of the feveral fteps that tliey found them- felves obliged to take, is offered hy w^y oi LitroJurti'jn, that the reader may have a more difUnct view of this affair, Mr. Erfkine, minifter at Stirling, did, in a fermon preached at Perth, Odober 1732. at the opening of the provincial Synod there, with fome freedom and piainnefs of fpeech, exprefs himfelf againft fome of the fins and prevailing evils of the prefcnt time; particularly a;i-ainft the Act of Aifembly, 1732. anent the fettling of vacant churches; and the proceedings cf our churcb-judicatories, in the fettls- insnt of miniflerf over reclaiming and difj'enting congregati-jfis : but C 2 2 o The First Testimony. Introd. the freedom and f.iithfulnefs he ufed, was fo difagreeable to fome miniQers who heard him, that, at the fecond diet of the Synod, they reprefentcd. That there were many things deliTered by Mr. Erflciue in hisXefinori which gave oflfence ; and at the fame time others de- clared, that they were not offended at any thing they heard fpoken, and that ihey heard nothing but found and feafonable doflrine deli- vered. Though the brethren who heard the fermon appeared to be of different fentiments at the firft tabling of this affair, yet the matter was fo far pufhed, as a Committee was appointed to have the parti- culars which were faid to have given offence, under their confidcra- \tion, and to lay them before the Synod at their next diet. The Committee having laid before the Synod, the expreflions in Mr. Erfkine's ferm.on, alledged to be offenfive, he was allowed a fight of them In their clerk's hands ; and even this fmall favour he could not "obtain, without a vote of the Synod : and, having prepared fome anfwers, he read the fame in open Synod, and delivered them ♦ to the clerk. The expreflions alledged to be emitted by Mr. Erfkine, together with his anfwers thereto, are to be found in The true State of the Procefsy publiihed fome time ago, which contains likcwife a jiill ac- count of the whole of the Synod's proceedings, from an extract under the hands of the clerk : and we refer the reader unto it, for his more particular information in the whole of this affair. After three days were fpent in nvarm reafonings upon the fermon, the Synod did, by a plurality ofT^.v voices, find Mr. Erfkine cenfurahle for the expreflions contained in the procefs, and which it was alledged were emitted by him in his fermon, at the opening of the faid Synod. Tivelve minifters, and t'vjo ruling elders dijfented from, and protejled againf}, this fentence. Mr. Fifher, minifter at Kinclaven, fon-in-Iaw to Mr. Erflvinc, be- ing excluded from judging and voting in this affair, becaufe of his near relation to the faid Mr. Erlkinc, judged it his duty to give foine iejl'ijiiony agalnfl; a fentence which he apprehended to be very unwar- rantable : and, having no other way left him for his own juft exone- ■ ration, did protejl againft the forefaid fentence, not only as prejudicial to Mr. Erfkine, but as injurious to the truths of God's word ; and appealed to the enfuing General Affembly. Mr. Erikine did likewlfe proteft againft the faid fentence, and appealed to the next Affembly. The Synod having found the exprefr.r.s, alledged to be emitted by Mr. Erfkine, cenfurab/e, came next to confidcr what the cenfure Ihould be : and then, by another vote, they rcfolvcd to rebuke Mr. Erfkine at their bar, and to adrvor.iJJj him to heh.iv: orderly for the future. But Mr. Erflcine, having appealed froTj their fentencp, finding him cenfurable, came not again to the Synod at this meeting. When the Synod met at Stirling, April thereafter, Mr. Erfkine was called ; and when the modciv>f or was about to eipcute the fentence of rebuke and admonition, paffed .it the l;i(l meeting of the Synod, he declared that be adhered to his appeal ; and, in % paper v. bich he ^he First Testimony. 21 read, reprefented, that he was not convinced of any juft ground ht had given for a rebuke and admonition. Thus this affair came before the laft General Affembly ; and when the Aflembly cntrcd upon it, none of the dijentsrs from the fcntcncc of the Synod of Perth and Stirling were prefent, but Mr. Wilfon and Mr, Moncrieff, who pled at the AfTcmbly-bar, that they might be heard upon the reafons of their diffent from the fentence of their own Synod ; this they judged to be their right and privilege : but the Aflembly thought fit to refufe them a hearing in the caufe. Mr. Fifher did likewife give in his appeal in due time to the Com- mittee of bills, who refufed to tranfmit the iame to the Affembly. Thus all thefc three brethren were precluded frorn laying open their reafons againft the condemnatory fentence, at the time when it was very pro- per and neceflary for them to have done it ; as alfo from giving a tef- timony in open Aflembly, againft what they judged to be a moft un- warrantable fentence : and therefore, they looked upon the ftep which they afterwards took, to be the more needful for their juft exoneration, and that both as they were minijlers of the church of Sc^tlajid^ and members of the Synod of Perth and Stirling. The evtract of the whole procefs was read before the Afl!embly, and parties were heard at the bar ; and then, after fome reafoning among themfelves, the Allembly affirmed the fentence of the Synod of Perth and Stirling, with this addition, That though the Synod took no notice of the anfwcrs Mr, Erfkine had given to their charge, but had confined themfelves to the cxprefllons as they had found them to have been emitted by Mr. Erfkine ; the Aflembly thought fit to condemn his anfwers likewife. Their ad and feiitence againft him is in the following terms : At Edinburgh, May ijib, 7733. The General AJemlly havings at a former diet, ccnjidered an appeal tntred hy Mr. Ebenezer Erfliir.e, minifler at Siirli7:g, frc7Ji a ferJence of the Synod /5/" Perth and Stirling, ''^herein the faid Synod had found ground to cenfiire him, and appointed him to he rebuked, on account of feveral indecent exprefi'jns uttered by hifn in a Sermon preached before the faid Synod in Oiflober lajl, tending to difquiet the peace of this churchy and impugning feveral acls of Aifembly, and proceedings of the church-judicatcries ; and had appointed him to be admonif?ed to behave orderly for the future. — The Affembly found thefe expreffions vented hy Mr. ErfKine, and contained in the minutes of the forefaid Synod's pro- ceedings, "jjith the anfnvers thereto made by him^ to he ofenfive, and to tend to difjurb the peace and good order of the church : therefore, they approved the proceedings of the Synod, and appointed him to be re- buked and admonifhed by the moderator at their oivn bar, in order to teriuinaie the procefs ; rvhich ivas done accordingly. When the above fentence was intimate to Mr. Erflcine, he declared he could not fabm-t to a rebuke and admonition, in regard he was neither confclous to himlelf, nor judicially convided, of tranlgreffing 2 2 ^he First Testimony. Introd. the bounds of his minlfterial calling, or of uttering any thing in his fennon contrary to the word of God, or the approvcn ftandards of this church ; and then gave in the following figncd protellation : Although 1 havt a vsry great and dutiful regard to the judicatories tf this churchy to ivhom 1 oiun my fuhjefiion in the Lord ; yet, in re- fl>eSI the Affetnhly have found me ceiifurable, and have tendred a rebuke end admonition to me^ for things I conceive agreeable unto, and founded iif>on the vjord of God, and our a[>proven flandards ; I find my felf oblig- ed to protell againjl the forefaid cenfure, as importing, that I have in my do^rine, at the opening of the Syn'jd of Perth, Ofioher lajl, departed from the 'word of God, and the forefaid flandards ; and that I fhall he at liberty to preach the fame truths of God, and to teflify againjl the fame, or like defeElions of this church, upon all proper occafons. And I do hereby adhere unto the tejlimoniet I have formerly emitted againjl the .7(7 r.f /IJfemhly 1 7 3 2, 'whether in the protefl entred againjl it in open AJemhly, or yet in my fynodical fermon ; craving this viy protefl and de- clar.it:on to be ir.fcrt in the records of AJfetnhly, and that I he alloii^cd extraQs thereof. May i/th, 1733. Eeenezer Erskine. The t-vo diffeniirg minifcn from the fentence of the Synod of Perth and Stirling, judged it ihoir duty likewife to declare themfclves againfl the above dccifion of the AfTeinbly: their reafons fordoing fo, are contained at large in the Rcprefctitation they gave in to the Com- miffion of the General Aflembly that met in Auguft thereafter, where they fay, Jf this caufe had been Mr. Erjklne's perfonal caufe, nve Jkculd have been Jilent, and never opened our mouths againfl the de- ciftori of the General AJfemhly ; but ive Judged it a caufe 'wherein all the viiiiiflers and members of this church are very nearly concerned, the decijion of the General Afembly in this cafe, being, as nve thought, ia plain direClcry to all the inferior Judicatories cf this church honv to behave, if any minifcr fiould, upon proper occafons, lament from the pulpit the fmfulnefs of that Ati of AJemhly, (viz. the A^ 1732.) and of other uniuarraniahle proceedings of this church in the fettlcmerJ cfminiflers ; then, and in this cafe, they muf be brought to the bar of their rcfpeHive Prejbyteries, and there ihey viujl be rebuked anJ admo- nifhcd. For this, and other wcijihty reafons contained in their f 'id Reprefniation, they figned nn adherence to Mr. ErfK-inc's protcftalion in the following terms; We urderfuhjcribing jninijl.ers, dt/eniers from the fentence of the Syri'.d of Perth and Stirling, do hereby adhere to the abive Prztcfation und l^eclarntion, containing a I cj}ir:cKy againjl the Afl of Afembly 1732, and aprting our privilege and duty to fejlify publicly againjl the Jume, vr lii .' "' ''•■'•'■nt, vpon all pruper occajions. William WiLroN. Alexander MoNCRiiir. Mr. I'.dier, n.ini.leratKir.cl.ivcr, did, on the very fame grtn.hd>, with his other two hrcthrtn, fi-n lir. Joiluv.iuj adhtrencf ; The First Testimony. sj /, Mr. Jaines Fiflier, tn'inljler at Kinclaven,, appillant againji th; fentence of the Synod of Perth in this quejlion^ although the Committee of Bills did not think ft to tranfmit my reafons of appeal, fnd myfelf obliged to adhere unto the frefaid protefation and declaration. Ja M c s Fisher. Ahtv thtshovt protefation, with tht adherence thereto, was given in, the brethren withdrew; and the AiTembly, having i^ken the lame under their confideratlon, ordered the four protcfting brethren to be cited to their next diet, and appointed a Committee to confider the paper they gave in, and their conduct in this affair, and to bring in, by an overture, what might be fit for the AfTembly to do upon the whole. The four brethren, having received a fummons by the Alfembly's officer, about eleven of the clock the fame night, to compear before the General AfTembly, at their meeting ten of the clock next day: and, having accordingly appeared before the Aflembly, a Committee was appointed (without any queftion put unto them) to retire immediatiy, and to endeavour to perAiade them to withdraw their pwper and pro- teft ; and they, having waited on the Affembly's Committee, laid before them fome of their reafons why they could not withdraw their protcllation. The Committee returned and made report. That the fur brethren continued fully rsfolved to adhere to their paper and protef. But none of the reafonsxhty oiFered unto the Committee were reported to the General Allsmbly ; and, immediately upon the above report made by the Committee, the brethren were or Jered to remove, and wait the Aficmbly's judgment. When the fur brethren were removed, the Committee appointed at the preceding diet of the Allembiy, offered their overture upon the whole affair ;. which being read and confidered, the AiTemblr, by a very great majority, enacted and appointed as follows : The General ^fembly ordains. That the four brethren afore faid, ap- pear before the Coinmijjlan in Augtif next, and then fyoixi their forroiu for their conduct aiid mifoekaviour, in offering to protef , and in giving in to this Affeaibly the paper by than fubfct ibed ; and that they then re- tract the fame. And, in cafe they do not appear before the faid Coni- viifion in Auguf, and then fhonu their ftrronu. and retraii, as faid is ;■ the Commiflon is hereby inipoiuered and appointed to fujpend the faid brethren, or fuch of the?n as fall not obey, from tha exercife of their minijjry. And farther, in cafe the faid brethren foall be Jufpended by the faid Copivi:Jficn,,and that they f:all atl contrary'to the faid fentence of fufptnfon ; the Cotfnuijjion is hereby iniponuered arid appointed, at their vieeting in Novernber, or any fubfquent meeting, to proceed to a higher cenjiire againf the faid fur brethren, or fuch of them as .f;ail continue to offend by iranfgreffing this a£i. And the General Afciftbly di appoint the feveral Prcfnteries, ofivhich the brethren are tnein'-'ers, /* report to the Coninnfion in Augziff, and fubfquent meetings cfii, their c'.nduft and behaviour 'with rejpeft to this c^Cr. 24 The First Testimony. Introd. When this fevcrc fcntcnce was paflcd, without ever hearing them »n open Aflembly, upon the relevancy of the crime, alledged againft them to infer fuch a high ccnfure, they refolved, upon the Intimatioa of it, to read the following (hort paper as their joint fpeech ; and, when they began to read it, the Aflembly's officer was called to take them to the door, which obliged them to lay it down upon the table with an inftrumcnt : It is as follows ; In ngard the venerable AJfemhly have come to a pofttive fentence luithout hearing our defences, and have appointed the Ctmmijfwn t9 execute their fentence in Auguji^ in cafe nve do not retra{i luhat ive have done, Ti.'i? cannot but complain of this uncommon procedure, and declare^ that lue are not at liberty to take this affair to an avifandum. The four protejling brethren, being cited by the above fentence to the meeting of the Commiflion in Auguft thereafter, compeared ac- cordingly ; and having prepared their written defences, according to their diirerent filuations before the Aflembly, as appellants from, ov pr'Acfers againit, the fentence of the Synod of Perth and Stirling, they defigned to give them in by way of reprefentation unto the Com- miffion ; but the Commiffion, upon their appearance at the bar, en- tred upon a refolve, neither to receive nor read any conjunifl paper that might be ofFered by the proterting brethren ; but that they fhould be obliged to give an anfwer feparately, and viva voce, if they were now willing, in obedience to the laft Aflcmbly, to retraft their pro- teftation, and to declare their forrow for their condutejt:ng againji a decijion whereby injury was done to fome truths of God, ''j>kich they ntjere obliged to own and confefs ; and whereby they luere brought urfder ne''JJ and unwarrantable terjus of viiniferial com- munion, inconftjle-nt with the word of Cod, and their ordination vows and engagements ; as their reprefentition more fully bears. To thii protcfation Mr. Erflcine and Mr, Filher adhered. There were petitions and reprefentations given in to the CommiiHoa from the Prelbyteries of Stirling, Dumblain, and Ellon ; as alfo from the Magiitrates and Town-Councils, and from the Kirk-feffions of the Burghs of Perth and Stirling, craving a delay of the executioa' ot the Affembly's fcntence againft the protejling brethren : but, by a vote of the Commifllon, thefe feverai petitions were refufed a hearing, becaufe, as it was alledgcd, the perfons offering them were not pro- per parties in the prefent queftion ; and, although a confiJerable num'ier in the Commiilion we're for a delay, yet the majority judged the Icntencc of the ASimhXj ^fr^s peremptory , and therefore, bebcved to be obeyed. And when the vote was ftated, Sufpend the fur pro- tefiKg brethren from the exercife of their minijhrial funaion, and all the parts thereof or delay this afair ? it carried, fifpend. From this D 2 6 The First Testimony. Introd. fentence, fome minlfters and elders, members of the Commiffion, dif- ftnted. The ientence oi fufpeKjion being intimate to the/iar brethren^ they g:ive in the M\ov:\n^ prote/fatiefi : We hereby adhere to the protcflatiom taken by us before this Courtf J^r ourf elves t and in name of all the ininijiersy elders ^ and mernhers of the church of Scotland, and of all and every one in our refpeiiive congregations, adhering to us : bearing. That this fentence is in itfelf null and v/id ; and, that it f fall he laivful and ivarrantable for us t9 exercift our miniftry as hitherto ivc have d-jne, and as if no fuch cenfure had been infixed : and that, if, in confequence of this fentence, any viinifler or probationer fJ^all e\ercife any part of our pafloral nvork, the fame fhall be held and repute as a violent intrufon upon our viini- fierial labours. And ive do hershy protefl for extracts of the papers given in by us, and of the luhole of the Comviijfions procedure againfi us ; and hereupon nxie take injlruvients. Ebenezer Erskine. William Wilson. Alex. MoxcRiEFF. James Fishes. Likewife fome el-:crs from the fevera! congre'jjations concerned in the f;iid tniniUers reclaimed againft the above fentence; and, by their feveral proteftations, declared their adherence to their ?niniflers, not- ivithfandirig of the fentence rf fufpcnfion infixed upon them. The:r proujl.^tioiii are to be lound in The true State of the Proccfs, publilhed lome time ago. The four brethren:, beinc^ cited to the meeting of the Commifllon in November, compeared accordincjly ; and, when they were firlt called to the CommiiTion's bar, they oixered to read the following proteflation ; hut, being interrupted, it was laid down noon the table with an iuftrumcnt. Edinburgh, November 14th 1735. IVe do hereby protefl. That our prefent appearance before the Com- miffion flyall not he cor.firuBed a falling from the declarations ive emitted, and th^ proteftations entred, both be/ore and after the executing of the fentence of fnfpenfton aqain/} us, by the Co7nmijfon at their meeting in Augufl lafl : To ni^hich proteflations and reprefentations, given in by us to the faid CommiJft$n, tue Jlill adhere ; and hereupon take infiru- inents. Ebenezer Erskine. William Wilson. Alex. MoNCRiEFr. James Fisher. The CommTllon did at their firll diet, Ncvem'-icr \i\\\\, appoint a Comn'>ittee to commune with the brethren, in order (as was laid) to remove their milUkes: they met .w.Ith the CommiU'je betwixt the fnre- j'.non and afternoon's meeting of the Commilllon, who dealt with thfm to retraci their protoltation ; but no fatisfyin:; argurncnts being offertd them more as by former CnmuMttees of this kind, they con- tinued llill to adhere to their protolhuion. And the Committee re- ported at the al'tcracon's mcctirg of the Comroiillon, tb.it they haJ I'he F I R S T T E S T 1 M O N Y. 27 conferred with the four brethren, but without fuccefs ; and the faid brethren being called, were interrogate about their obedience to the fentence of the Commiflion in Augufl: lalt, fufpending them from the cxercife of their miniftry ; ind every cue of the7?i plainly owned. That, as they hzd prctejfed, both before and after the fliid fentence oi fuf- ferijion was execute upon them, That it Jhould be held and repute null and void, for the reafons contained in their feveral reprefiniations. ; {0 they had exercifed all the parts of their luinijieriul office, as if they had been under no fuch cenfure. Addreffes, reprefentaiionsy and letters from feveral Synods and fome Prefbyteries, relative to the Commiffion's proceedings in the affair before them, were read ; the Synods of Dumfries, Murray, Rofs, Angus and Merns, Perth and Stirling, craved the Commiffioa might delay proceeding to a higher cenfure; the Synods oi Galloway, and Fife, and the Prefbytery of Dornock, addrefl'ed the Commiflion for lenity, tenderncfs, and forbearance, towards the fufpended mini- fters ; and the Prefbytery of Aberdeen re; efented unco the Com- miflion, That they judged the fentence of ffpenfion, iiifii^ed upon tit forefaid minifers, •■joas too high, and that it ivas a f retching of church- authority. Likewife, many members of the Commiflion did reafon tor a delay, and pled, That the aft and fentence of the lafl Airembly did not oblige them to proceed to a higher cenfure at this meeting of the Commiflion : and therefore, the quejiion was put. Proceed tJuntediately to infii6l a higher cenfure upon the four fufpended viiniflers., or delay the fame till March ? And, the votes being numbered, they were found equal on both fides j whereupon, Mr. John Goldic the nncderator did caf the halanct, hy giving his judgment to proceed i'rn- mediately to a higher cenfure. From this fentence of the Commiflion, feveral minifters and elders, members of the Commiflion, dijfented ; and the follonving Declaration and Proteftation v.'as lodged with an inflrument in the clerk's hands, by the ;///«//?f;-j- fubfcribing the fame, and who were not mem!;ers of the Commiflion. Declaration and Protestation of fome fuijiiflers upon the affair tf Mr. Ebenezer Erfkine, <^c. given in to the Cotnviiffion of the General Ajfetiihly 7net at Edinburgh the it^th day cf November , 1733' ' We underfubfcribing miniflers, members ot the church of Scot- « land, having formerly looked upon the affair relating to Mr. Ebe- ' nezer Erlkine and his adherents, that has been in dependance be- ' fore the AITcmbly and Commiflion, as a matter of vail confequencc * and concern to all the minifters and members of this church : ' thougii we had no occafion regularly to flgn the fame papers with ' thcfe brethren, yet not only did fome of us, as well as others pre- ' fent at the lait General Alfembly, openly and judicially adhere to ' the Protcflaiion and Declaration given in by them, as containing a « teflimony againft the aft of Affembly 1732, anent planting vacant « churches, and as aflerting onr privilege and duty to leflify publicly < againft the fame, or like defeftions, on all proper occaflons; but al.'b « at the laft Commiflion, met in Auguftj offered our veibal adbeience D 2 ■S 'The First Testimony. Introd. as feveral others did, unto the proteftation, thefc brethren cntrcd again ft the fentence of the Commiflion, fufpcnding theni from the exerciie of their miniflry : whereby we intended to tellify our con- currsncc with, and adherence unto, the feveral Rcprcfentations given iu by them to the Commiffion under form of inftrument. Although we yet defire, lb far as we can with a fafe confcicncc, to maintain communion with this church, and in a way of com- munion- to plead with our mother ; yet the condu«51 of the laft Ge- neral AfTemblyand Commiffion, and what has followcd'thereupon, does more and more open the melancholy fcene, and gives us fpe- cia! occafion to reflecfl with grief upon the deep dofcftion into which this church has fallen, and is likely further to fall, if the Lord in his Jovereign mercy prevent not. And in particular, we cannot hut think upon it, as both a lad evidence of the Lord's having in a great meafiire departed from this church, and a caufe of his fur- ther departing from and contending againft her, that her fupremc judicatory, and the Commiffion thereof, have been left, firft to threaten us and feveral of our brethren with high and fcvcre cen- fures of this church, for our eflaying, according to our meafure, to hear teltimony for the Lord, his truths and interefts, and our refufmg to fubmit to what appears from the Lord's word, and our received ftaiidards founded thereon, to be unlawful impofitions upon cur confcicijces ; and then atflually to lay four of our brethren under a fentence of fufpenfion from the exercife of their miniftry, and con:.inue to lay both them and us open to furtlier cenfurc, yea, us in particular to the highell cenfures of the church, (which evidently imports no lefs than the greater excommunication) for nothing ellie than the above-named grounds. And further, that they have not only gone into a courfe of oppreffing the Lord's heritage, by vio- lently thrufting in men upon congregations, without the confent and contrary to the declared will of the people ; but alio do ma- terially excommunicate a great number of fober, ferious, and reli- gious pco})le through the land, who either v.ill not tamely take the yoke upon them, by fubmitting to the miniftry of thcfe obtrud- ed on them ; or whofe confcicnces are i'o much offended with the violent meafurcs taken by judicatories, that they cannc;t reap bene- fit by the mioiftry of thole who have a direfl hand, or join in fuch courfcs ; and therefore do withdraw from their minidry. * Upon all which accounts, and many others ih.it might be men- tioned, as we wo.uld defue to keep our garments clean, and not to be involved in the guilt of thefe and the lihe dclcclions, and to be foimd upon the Lonl's fide, and cleaving to his way in a declining lime, and afting in a i'uit.ihlencfs to our general as well as particu- lir commiffion of feeiling ClirilVs limbs ; we find ourfelves obliged in this manner to declare our adherence, likcas we hereby do ad- here to the Rcprefeutations given in by Mcffi Ebene/.cr Erll^ine, William Wilfon, Alexander Montricfl, and James Fdhcr to laft C(>r.,miffion. and the Protejlations then taken by them, as they cojiiiiin a tcflimory againft the iniquous fentence paft agaiaft ihcm, The F I -R S T T E S T I M N Y. 29 • and againft the finful reftridions laid upon them and other mini- ' fters, from declaring fully the counfel of God upon proper occafions. « And we do further proteft, That it ihall be lawful and warrantable^ ♦ for us to hold minifterial communion with thefc our brethren, not- * withftanding any fentence or cenfure againft them upon this proccfs, « as looking upon thefe cenfures to be without warrant from, yea, * contrary to the rule of the Lord's word, and fo done, clav: crrante, * and null and void in themfelves. As alfo we proteft, That it (hall • be warrantable for us, in the exercife of our minifterial office, to ' ufe our beft endeavours, in all lawful ways, for the relief of the op- < prelfed flock of Chrift in this land, and their partaking of church- ' privileges to their edification and comfort : and that, whatever • bad efFe(5ls may follow upon the unwarrantable meafures at prefent ' taken by judicatories, we fliall not be chargeable with them. Upon * all which we take inftruments.' Ralph Erskine. Thomas Mair. At the next diet cf the CommifTion, November 15th, it was moved. That it fhould be marked in the minutes. That it carried only by the moderator'' s cajlitig vote, to proceed to a higher cenfure againjl the four ftfpended 7fnnijlers : but this motion was vigoroufly oppofed by the xooderator himfelf, and feme others ; which gave occafion to another proteft by fomc members of the Cnmmift'ion. At: the meeting of the Commiilion in the afternoon, it was moved. That a Committee fhould be appointed once more to commune with the protefting bretliren, before the CommifTion fhould proceed to fur- ther cenfure againft them; and a Committee being named accordingly, they inftantly retired, and met with the brethren about fix of the clock, and reafoned with them till about ten at night. Ti^jo different propofals were made by the reverend Committee ; but, fome objec- tions beiHg made againft the firft of them, it was not infiftcd upon : the other propofal, which the brethren took under their confideration, is as follows ; Jf the next General Affemhly foall declare, that it ivas not meant by the An cf the lafl /jfernhly to deny, or take anvay the privilege and duty of minijlers to tefiify agaiiift defeBiins ; then nve foall he at liberty, and ivilling to ivithdraiu cur protefl againf} the faid aft of Afembly .- and particularly, lue referve to ourfelves the liberty of tefiify ing againft the ail of Af'evihly 1732, on all proper occaftons. when the above propofal was made unto the fonr brethren, as it was ne'w unto triem, they offered to retire for a fhort time, and to return an anfwer unto it ; but the Committee defred them to tske it for that night under their confideration, and faid, They would ob- tain it of the CommiiTion to delay the aft^air till the next day. The brethren, in compliance with the Committee's defire, agreed to tiike it for that night under their confideration, with this exprefs declara- tion. That the reafon of their doing fo, was, becaufe it was late, and becaufe they did not at that time fully undcrftand the import of it. And the next morning they made anfwer in "ivrit to th.e Com- mittee's, propofal, the tensr whereof follows : 3© T'he First Testimony. Introd. As to thf propofal made by the Committee to us, that 'we Jloould nx-ith- dranu our protejiation, in cafe a fuhfequcnt AJfembly Jhould declare, that it 'was not 7Heanti by the a£l and fentence of the laj} rljj'embly in ]\lr. Erjkine's affair, to deny, or take anvay the privilege and duty of viifiijlers to tejlify againfl defeOions. After ferious and mature deli- beration, ive have no Ireedom to go in to the faid propofal, and that lecaufe the obvious fetife and meaning of the faid afl avd fentence ap- pears to us to lay a tefiraint on rninijlerial freedom and faith fulnefs, in tcftifying again]} the ail of AJfeinbly 1732, and the like defeflions in this church, upon proper occafons . And as this ivas the ground of our pro- teflation, fo any declaration that a fuhfequent Affcmbly can make, can- not remove the ground upon 'which 'we protefted againjl that decifion ; in regard that any aCl and dedaration of the follo'u.ung AjJ'embly, though agreeable to the •word of God, can never take aivay the ground of pro- tffir.i^ againji a ivrong decijion of a preceediKg Affembly. The above propofal has been reprelented as a very great condefcen- flcn made to ihe four brethren, but their anf'wer declared plainly the reafon \vhy they could not fall in with the lame. The protefing bre- thren, in their Review of the Narrative-', publifhed by a Conunittee of ihe Commiffion, obferve, ' That tht forcfaid propofal was fo far from * being any condefcenfion uato them, that it (lill infifts upon the re- * trailing of vht'w Protefation ; and this they cculd by no means « yield unto, becaufe the Act ( f Afl'embly proteUed againft, in the ' plain obvious fenfe and meaning of the words in which it is framed, • gave evident grounds for their faid Proteltation: and a Declaration ' of an cnfuing General Allembly, though it were more particular * than the Committee's propofal bears, would be fo far from clearing « their way to retract their prottftation, that it would be a material • approving and juftifying of the fame.' Likewife they obferve, in the forefaid paper, ' That to depart in the leafl from a teflimony that ' they had given, is very dangerous ; efpeclally at this time, when the » current of defection and bac!> Aiding is fo violent and flrong.' At the next diet of the CoramitTion, November 16th, the Com- mittee reported, Th;it they had met with thzfour brethren, and that ihey have declared their rcfolution, to continue of the fame mind as formerly, and declined to go in to any propofal offered unto their « nfidcraiion by the Conimiitec. This report being made, the Com- jniihon came to \.\\l\t final fenio.ct agaihfl \.\\tfour protelling minillers, :md it ftands in tlicir minutes yi the follov/ing terms ; ' The CommilTion caufcd lo l;e read the :iiX of the late General • A(rcn)b!y, a'.fo the fcntcncc of ihc CommlQlon in Augull lall, lilcc- ♦ wife the rcfulve part in this meeting of tl:e Cuuimillion upon Wcd- « ncfday lad, relative to the faid lour minifters; a-.id :.ftcrfull reafi>n- • ing, and mature deliberation, and railing in the brciluxn to join * in prayer ftjr light and djrciJtion \i\ ihis ulVairj the ConimiQlon agreed * upon the following Ihue of the cpicllion : • Loofc the relation ol the • faid f.iur mi;iillers 10 ihcir l.vcr.il cljirgcs, and declare lliem no * longer n.iniilersof this chuich, and prnhibite all miniflcrs of this • chiir.h I', employ them iaany minid^ri.*! fuiictioa ; or depcfc them l^he First Testimony. 31 « Jtmpliciter ?' And the vote being put, loo/e or dfpo/e P It carried * ioofe, by a great plurality •• And therefore, the Commiffion of • the General Allembly did, and hereby do, Ioofe the relation of • Mr. Ebenezer Erfkine, minifter at Stirling, Mr. William Wilfon, * minifter at Perth, Mr. Alexander Moncricff, minifter at Abernethy, • and Mr. James Fllher, minifter at Kinclaven, to their faid refpeflive « charges; and do declare them no longer miniftcrs of this church ; • and do hereby prohibite all miniilers of this church to employ them, ♦ or any of them, in any minifterial function. And the Commiffioa ' do declare the churches of the faid Mr. Erfkine, Mr. Wilfon, • Mr. MoncriefF, and Mr. Filher, vacant from and after the date of ♦ this fentence ; and appoints that letters from the moderator, and • extrads of this fentence, be fent to the feveral prefbyteries within * whofc bounds the faid miniftcrs have had their charges, appointing ' them, as they are hereby appointed, to caufe intimate this fentence ' in the forefaid feveral churches, now declared vacant, any time * betwixt and the firft of January next ; and alfo, that notice of this ' fentence be fent, by letters from the moderator of this Commiffion, ' to the magiftrates of Perth and Stirling, to the Sbeiiii-principal cf * Perth, and Baillie of the regality of Abernethy.' Upon the paffing of the above fentence, the ioWo-vjing P rot eJlatioK was given in by Mr. Gabriel Wilfon, minifter at Maxton, with the adherence unto it. Edinburgh, November i6th, 1735. ' I, Mr. Gabriel "Wiifon, minifter at Maxton, do hereby, in mine • own name, and in name of all thofe that fhall adhere to me, pro- * teft againft this fentence of the Commiflion in the cafe of the four ♦ brethren ; and that it may be lawful for me to complain of the faid • fentence, and of the feveral zQ% oi AfTembiy that have occaftoned * the fame, to any fubfequent Afl'emhly of the Church of Scotland : * a? alfo, that it may be lawful for me, in a becoming manner, on « ail proper occafions, to bear tcftimony againft the lame, with all * other defections and feverities of this church in her fentences. * And finally, That I may in the mean time, as in providence I fhall • find opportunity, hold minifterial communion witli my faid dear « brethren, as if no fuch fentence had been paft againft them. Upon • aW which, I take inftruments in the clerk's hands. Gabxiel Wilson. The above PrGteft is adhered to by us, Ralph Erskine, minifter at Dunfermline. Thomas Mair, minifter at Orweil. John Maclarine, minifter in Edinburgh. John Cukrie, minifter at Kinglaflie. James Wardlaw, minifter at Dunfermlme, Thomas Nairn, minifter at Abbotihail. * N. 3. Tt earned \*y 3 grf^t ^hrnUiy, in regard a gr-at many members of the Crvmmifno'i had not freedoni to fote either Incfe or dc^ife ; as is evijeat from the luoderitcr's cafting the balance in the former vote. 32 The First Testimony. In trod. When the four brethren were called in, and the fcntence of the Cominiflion was intimate unto them by the moderator, they read the follovving ProieJiat:o7i ; and, after reading it, they gave it in to the clerk, with an inlhument taken thereupon by every one of them. Edinburgh, November i6th 1733. * We do hereby adhere to the Proteftation formerly entred before this Court, both at their lad meeting in Augurt, and when we appeared firft before this meeting. And further, we do proteft in our own name, and in name of all and every one in our refpedive congregations adhering to us. That, notwithll.inding of this fen- tence pad againftus, our paftoral relation fhall be held and repute firm and valid. And lilcewife, we do proteft, That, notwithftand- ing of our being caft out from minifterial communion with the efta- bliihed church of Scotland, we ftlll hold communion with all and every one who dcfire, with us to adhere, to the principles of the true Prefbylerian, covenanted church of Scotland, in her doiftrine, worfhip, government, and difcipiine ; and particularly, with every one who are groaning under the evils, and who are aficdced with the grievances we have been complaining of; who are, in their fe- veral fpheres, wreftling againlt the fame. But, in regard t\\t pre- vailing party in this eftablilhed church, who have now caft us out from minifterial communion with them, are carrying on a courfe of defe(ftion from our reformed and covenanted principles ; and particularly, are fuppreffing minifterial freedom and faithfulnefs in teftifying againft the prefent backflidings of the church, and inflict- ing cenfures upon minifters for witneiliog, by proteftatlons and o- therwife, againft the lame : therefore we do, for thefe and many other weighty reafons, to be laid open in due time, proteft, That we are obliged to make -a. f^ce^ion from them, and that we can have- no minifterial communion with them, till they fee their fins and miftakcs, and amend them. And, in like m. be knoivn ; yet, have we not 7iiii'iglcd ourfelves with the enemies of a covenanted Reformation, and learned of theju their Ivor ks P It was alledged, that the land was then no way ripe to return by folemn national covenanting unto the Lord ; and, that it was not a proper time and feafon to be too particular in mentioning our public national fins, and in condemning the grofs defelies. Hut, to all the above-mentioned evils we mud add, that ruin threatens the church of Scotland, from tlu olu;,/ of due cution atul The First Testimony. 39 tendernefs in the licenciating of young vteriy as probltioncrs for the holy miniftry ; as alfo from the corrupt and undue entries of many into the miniftry, particularly by the acceptance of prefentattons : this courfe has a vifible tendency to increafe, in all corners of the land, a minijiry utterly unacceptable, and fo not fit to edify and rule the flock ofGodt and to ftrengthen the hands of our enemies, who aiay defign to model the church according to their own mind : and this ruin is wholly from ourfelvest the blame of it muft be laid at our own door ; efpecially when it is confidered, tha.t the parliament, ia the year 1719, inferted a claufe into the patronage-aft, which might have been improven for good to the church of Scotland : for, as it was declared by the faid aft, That a prefentation nuas not valid, unlefs accepted ; fo it was then thought, that none who owned themfelves Prefbyterian, would follow this courfe ; and confequently it was judged, that the fettlement of parilhes would have run in a more agreeable channel than formerly : and for fome time the acceptance of a prefentation was not fo much as heard of amongft us, tWlfomey whofe ftation and charafter laid them under the Itrongeft obligations to aflertand maintain the liberties, and the juft rights and privileges of the church of Scotland, did finfully 2J\d Jhamefully lead the nxiay for a conditional acceptance of prefentations. And, when this was not checked in the bud, it foon became fafhionable for intrants into the miniftry to follow this courfe ; and herein they were fupported by the decifions of the Commiffion of the General AfTembly in their fa- vours, appointing their fettlement in parifhes, when mojl part both of elders and people lusre reclaiming. Yea, fettlements have been i;ppointed in a very arbitrary manner over dijfenting congregations t even when there was no prefentation in the cafe ; and, when the Prefoyteries concerned could not proceed to fuch violent fettlements. Committees of the Commiffion were named, and invefted with a prefbyterial ponver, to try and ordain men to the office of the holy miniftry : and, if Prefbyteries refufed to inroll them after they were ordained, or if minifters d!\['^tw{^*\ fealing ordinances to the people of thefa congregations, who cannot fubmit to the miniftry of fuch as are intruded upon them, in both thefe cafes the higheji cenfures of the church are threatned to be infliftcd. And, that our ruin may be more eifcflually carried on, the General /Jf'inbly did by their u^ I 732. anent tht fettlement of vacant churches, lay iiyoke upon the neck of the church and people of God, heavier, in fome reip«(n;, than that of the /^/roTiii^'^-act itfelf; but, fince this will bear a part in the following Scfiion, we lliall not infill upon it here. By reafon of "the above-mentioned proceedings of our church-judi- catories, the cry of violence and oppreffion is ftill louder and louder from all corners of the land : and, as if all thefe evils were not e- nough, xl minifers froju the pulpit regret them, if they expofe the finfulnefs of them, and the danrer that they threaten our Prefbyteriaa conftitution, they maft be brought to the bar of church-judicatories, and there be rebuked and admonifjed : though the danger is evidently feen, yet the nuatckmen upon, our Jerufdleni's ivaih inufl b? Jilent ; 40 The First Testimony. Se£t. II. they muft hold their peace, and not give the alarm to the city of God. This is the cnfe of Mr. Erfkine, who was appointed by the laji AfTembly to be rebuked and admonijhed at their bar, for teflify- ing, in \i\% fermon at the opening of the Synod of Perth, againjl the forefaid aCi of AJfeinhly as finful, and againjl the unvjarrantable pro- cetd'tngs of our church-judicatories in the fettlemer.t ofminijiers ; and x.\\\% fentence of the AfTembly, ^ave occafion for the Protejlation men- tioned in the preceding Introduction, and which was refented by the Animbly, in the manner that is there narrated. We fhall only add, that fuch is the ftate and condition at prcfent of what is reclvoned the eftabllfiied church of Scotland, that there is no outward appearance of any change and alteration in her circum- ftances to the better ; elpecially when it is confidered, that the judi- catories, particularly the General Alfemblies and their Commiffions, are filled with fuch as have been either intruded into congregations themfelves, or who are the avowed and declared fupporters and abettors o^ violent intrufions : and, what can be expected from fuch who arc thruft in upon congregations, but that they will, to the utmoll of their power, promote x!i\.z fume co'itfe, and bear donan whatever oppoQtion is made by doflrinal or judicial tejiimonies againft the fame ? This is a fhort hint at the prefent deplorable fituation of the church of Scotland, once famous amongil the churches for purity, comely for order and unity, and beautiful through fome meafure of the di- vine prefence in her judicatories and afTemblies for worfhip : but her beauty is in a great meafure departed from her ; fhe is lofing her pu- rity, and deftroying her own comely order and unity ; fo that, in many refpciSs, Ickabod may be faid to be written upon her. And, this will further appear from the grounds o{ owt prefent fece^ton from tl\e prevailing parly in the efablifkcd church, who are carrying on, with a high hand, a courfe of defection from our Reformation and covenanted principles j and thefe we are to lay open in the following Scdtion. SECT. IT. Reasons by the Protejling Mhuften for their SECc.s^\o}ifrc/r/i the prevailing Party in the ejlablijhed Church. TIT E Commifllon of ihe General Aflcmbly, hy X-h^t fcntcnce that they have palfed againft us, declare us to be nc longer minijiers of this church ; and vhey pn^hibite all ihe viinifers of this church to em- ploy us in any viinifterial funfliin. This fcntence of the Commillloil carries not in it any one ground for fuch a fmgular and uncovnnon cenfure ; but, as it Hands in connection with the aSf and fcntence of the lall General AlTembly againft us, it is bccaufe we protef'ed for otn:led from the cxcrcifc of our iiiiuifuy, bccaufe we could not rt,trull ths faid prolejfatiji:, and dt- The First Testimony. 41 dare our grief and forronxj f^r the favie ; yet, notwithftanding of this, we continue to exercife our miDiflry, as we have already narrated in the preceding Introduclion : theiefore the CommilTion did proceed to the :CtQ>sQ. fcntence againll us ; and, when it was intimated unto us, we did prof cjl, that, Notv^lthjiaTiding of our being caj} 'yut from mini- ferial comtnunion ivith the efablijhed church of ScotUnuly ive Jiill hold communion ivith all and every one, 'who deftrs ivith ui to adhere to the principles of the true Vrefbyterian covenanted church of Scotland^ in her dotlrine, nxiorfjipt government , and difcipline ; and particularly nuith every one, 'voho are groaning under the evils, ar.d affeded 'vjitk the grievances ive have hee7i complaining of and ivho are i?i their feve- ral fpheres lurefling againjl the fame. Bui, in regard, the prevailing party in this efahlifjed church, luho have noiu cajl us out from mini- ferial communion '\xith thej?i, are carrying on a courfe of defec'tioa from our refonned and covenanted principles, and particularly, are fiipprelUng minifteriai freedom and iaithfidnefs in tejtifying agaiiif the prefent hackfidings of this church, and infiiifting cenfures upon mi- niflers for nvitnefing by Protcfation, and oiher''jc:fe , ,agairif the fame : therefore ijue do, for thefe, and inany other 'lueighty reafons to be laid open in due time, proteft, 'That nv; arc obliged to make a feceflion/7c)OT them ; and that ou? can have no miniflerial comynunion ivith them, till they fee their fins and mifakes, and a?nend them. We own, ihzt fecejjion from minifterial communion with fuch as bear the charadler and office of rninifters of the gofpel, ought to proceed upon 'weighty and importar:t grounds ; yet, as it cannot be refufed, that a-fecefion from miniilerial communion with fuch, has been found, in fome cafes, both necefary ?LnA juftifable, fo we hope it will be evident to fuch as confider the matter without partiality and prejudice, X\\.2Xo\xx prefent fecefion is hoth. 'w ar ran tab I e-iind necefary : our Proteftation doth limit and circumfcribe the fame, and it plainly chara<5terizeth them from whom it is made. Onv fscefion is not from the church of Scotland ; we own her doctrine, contained in her Con- fejfion of. Faith •> we adhere to \\tv covenanted Pre jhyterian church- government, difcipline, and 'worfoip : neither is our fece(fi07i from thefe who are cleaving unto our covenanted principles, and who are affeded with the grievances we complain of, and are in their feveral fpheres v/reftling agalnft the fame ; but it is from a party who have got the managemeJit in their hands, and who have got the ?najority on>»heir luie in the fidicatories, particularly in our AiTemblies and Commiflions, and who are carrying on a courfe of defeat jo7i from our retormed and covenanted principles, and are fupprejjlng juiniferial freedom ?.nd fait hfulnefs in tellifying againft their prefeut backllidiags, by infixing cenfures upon minillers for witneffing, by Proteftation and otherwife, againft the fame. And, that we may more fully and plainly declare onrfelves upon this head, and fatisfy fuch as are unprejudiced, about the neceffity and warrantablenefs of our prsfent condud ; we do afBrm, That the prevailing party in the judicatories of the church e/Scotland, parti- cularly in our AJenihlia' and Cominiffions^ ars breaking down our F 4 2 The First Testimony. Se£l. II. leant 'iful Prejbyterian corjiittition ; — and purfuing fuch meafures as actually corrupt, or have the vioji direct tendency to corrupt, the d'jBrir.: c'jr.tair.ed in our excellent ConfciTion of Faith ; — and that they are impofing new terms of niinifteria! co'.nmunion, hy rejlraining vii- nljierial freedom and faithfulnefs, in tejiifying againjl thefe finful and church-ruining ccurfss ; and all this contrary to the folemn engage- ments they have come under at their ordination to the holy minijiry .- — and likenvife, thefe corrupt courfes are car: ied on with a high-hand, yiotnxiithji andir.g that the ordinary means have been ufed to teclaiiii them, and to Jlop the current of their defeHion ; — .';// at length matters are come to fuch a height, that :cluded from keeping up a fiandi}jg tefimony againfl their deffiion and backjliding, in a ivay of viiniferial communion 'with them, ^'ind thcreTore, it is 7iot only neceilary for us, but prefent duty, to make a fecetHon fro?n the fuid prevailing p^irty, //'// they fee the fins they are guilty of, and the rnif takes that they are under, and reform and amend the fame. The charge that we have now laid asjainft the prevailing party la the 'judicatories of the eftabliihed c'mich of Scotland, we own, is very heavy ; and, as wc are heartily forry that we Ihoald have i'o much ground for it, fo we can iky, that we fmcerely wilh matters were otherwife. It is not very pieafant unto us that we are oblio;ed to lay open the finful and unwarrantable fteps of fuch, who profefs to be of the fame Prefbyterian denoniinatiou with ourfelves, and to own the fame ConfclTion of Faith with us : but fmce the meafures that are followed at prefent are fo oppofite unto our profefl'cd and declared principles, and fmce the party from whom we have made a fecejjion are going on in the faid meafures without relenting, and fmce the whole of their unjuftifiable condud towards us appears to be a loud and clear call in providence unto us ; therefore, for thefe reafons, we judge it our duty to exoner ourfelves afcer this manner before the v.tirld, and to bear tcftimony bulore the prefent, as well as for the fike <:>{ fucceeding generations, againlt a courfe of uefecftionand backfliding from our Covenanted Reformation. We fiiall now proceed \o prQve\.\\t {cvcr.il parts of the above charge; and all thatweuelire is, that every thing may b^ "weighed impArthiUy in tlie balances of the fan^uary, and tliat both they and we may be irlod and judged according to the word of God, and our Rclormation and covenanted principles agreeable thereto, laying ;:fiJe prejudice that blinds the miud, and a partial regard to any fcU of men whai- Ibcver. I. T\\z firfl thing that wc have charged again ft the prefent prevail- iti^ party in our judicaLorics, particularly in our General Alfemblies and Comniiffions, is, That they are breaking don:mbly 1697, do, for preventing nwj fuddefi alleration or innovatioK, or other prejudice to the church, in either dodirine or vvniihip, difcipline or governn-^ent, appoint, cn;'.ft, and declare, ' That, before any General Airenibiy of this ♦ church (hall pafs any Acts which are to be binding rules and con- ' ftitutions to the church, the fame be firft propofed as overtures to * the Allcmbly ; and, being by them pafled as fuch, be remitted to * the confideration of the fcveral Prefbyteries of this church, and ' their opinion and confent reported by their Commiffioners to ♦ next General Aflembly, who may pafs the fame into acts, if the « the more 2:eneral opinion of the church, thus had, agree there- ' unto.' The church of Scotland had been taught, from fad experience, that even General Affemblies, upon fome occafions, might be c^njil- tute of fuch members who might bring in dangerous innovations upon her ; and therefore, this fence and guard is wifely contrived upon our dodrine, worfhip, government, and difcipline, that overtures^ as to any adts that are to be binding rules to the church, fhouid be approved by all at home, and that they fliould be paft into ads, o7ily if the more general opinion of the diffufive church of Scotland agree thereunto : but the prevailing party in this eftablifhed church have broken dovjn this ntctS'^vy fence and guard upon the jufl: rights and privileges of this church, and the members thereof. VVe might upoa this head mention the cafe of Mr. Simpfon profeffer at Glafgow, who wasconvided before our Aliemblies of grofs blafphemies ^gainft iht great God our 'Saviour. The procefs wss tranfmitted by the Af- fembly 1728, to the feveral Prefbyteries, for their judgment upon the cerfure which he deferved ;.and v/hen the viajority of Prefbyteries by far did give their judgment, that he fhouid be depofcd from tlie office of the holy miniltry, yet' the Aflembjy 1729, thought fit to rejl in a fufpenfion. We know it is alledged, That, in this cafe, there ■was no binding rule and ccnllitution made ; but we are fure this was a matter of the greatefl moment and importance to the whole church of Scotland, a matter wherein not the maintenance of the doftrinc contained in our ConfefTion of Faith only, but the honour of him who is God oner all, blejfed for ever, was nearly concerned : and befides, to tranfmit the procefs to Prefbyteries for their jiidg77ient upon the cenfure, and yet not to regard them, appears to be as much incon- fiftent with itfelf, as it was a plain counier.ifting the judgment of the diffufive church of Scotland. But, not to infift further upon this at: prefent, we offer the t'wo follom.H)ig infances of binding rules and con- ifitutions unto this church, that deferve a particular confideration : th&frf is the a^ ofjfembly 1732, concerning the fettlcment of va- cant congregations. This was fo far from being approved by all at bomct or from being agreeable to the vior: general opinion of the F 2 44 ^-^J^ First Testimony. Sc£t. II. church, that tlie moft part of Prefbytcries did declare thcmfelves a- gainll it in the terms in which it now ftands; yet it was pafTed into a j}i>ncHug and hijiJihg ruhy contrary to the above a<5ls of AfTembly, regulating the manner of paffing a>5l;s of general concern to the church. As for the matter of the fiiid aft, we fliall ccnfider it under another lead. The other ivjiance we give, is the Adt of Aifcmbly 1730, tlifcharging the recordhig of rcafons ofdijjent, againfl: the detcrmina- lioiis of church-judicatoiies. . This ad was pa/Ted without ever tranf- niitting the fume to the feveral Prefbyterles ; and the ad now men- tioned is of greater importance and of more danc:crous confequesce than many apprehend, in regard, it deprives all the minifters and elders of this church at once, of the liberty of entring their diffent, with the rcafons thereof, into the church's records, and that upon tjie mofl urgent occafions. This is a privilege belonged unto them by Sifts of former Ailembiies, and by immemorial cullom and pradice: and it is moft jull and reai'onahle, ufeful and neceffary in many re- fpedis, that ^///.v-v/.r, with their rcafons, Ihould Hand recorded, as tejli- inonh's againft fuch decerujinations as appear unwarrantable, and of a dangerous tendency ; otherwife our poflerity, that may fee the re- cords of our church-judicatories, can form no juft judgment concern- ing the oppofition that is made to fmful and unwarrantable decifions. And we may reafonably judge, that there was no tranfmiflion of the laid ad as an overture to the refpedive Prefbyteries, becaufe the pre- valiin^ party did eufdy fee that it would meet with a vigorous vppofitiotiy nnd that the wcijorily of Prefbyteries would not readily agree unto ' it : this was evident from the reprefentatlons againll it from many Prefbytcries, and the ir.uruftions that were given in for the repeal of it to fubfequcnt General Afiemblies. And we mufl a!fo add. That the pafTing of this ad fo fummarly apd irregularly, at a time wherein the prefent fad and threatning afped of alfairs in this church, ren- dered the maintenance and exercife of the jufl: rights and privileges cf the members thereof more neceflary than at any time Hnce our laie happy Revolution, cannot niifs to have a very bad appearance ; and we cannot otherwife conflrud of it, than as done :preJJions, tending to difquiet the peace of this Church, and impugning fe'jeral uili cf af fernbly and proceedings of the church-judicatories. And when this is compared with the expreffions of his fermon, condemned by the Synod of Perth, and afterwards by the AfTembly, and his anfwcrs thereun- to, which were likewife condemned in grofs by the Allcmbly, it ise- vident the r.frcat quarrel w;;s, his tejlifying freely from the pulpit a- gainjl the ait of AJj'emhly 1732, and the vi-Ajit fettlcvauts of vtiKiJiers in all comers of the land : Tiiis the AfemhlyrtcVontd zn indecent freedom, that could not be borne ; and therefore they appointed him to be rebuked and admoniihed at their bar. The forcfaid fmtence of rebuke and admonition, appearing evidently to us to l.iy vellndnt up- on thnt freedom and fiiihfulnefs /// trfiifying agninft puhlick fins and defeiiio'is, which is reiy 164S, intituled, An afi fr ctnfuring wiuijlers for their ftetice, and not fpiaking to the cornipQons of the ;;/.v.'j,' UUlo whiih they arc alfo The F I R S T T £ S T I M O N Y. 49 bound, hy th.eir ordination vows and engagements; we therefore judged it our duty, upon intimation of the above act of Aifeinbly, to proteft for our jttji right and privilege, to tejiify, upon all pioper occafions, againjl the acl of Affenihly i 732, or the like defe6lions : and this is reckoned to be fuch a heinous crime, that, without once hearing U5 upon the caufe, we were fummarily fentenced by the AfTerably, to he fufpsndsd hovn all the parts of our m;niiteri.il ofiice by the Commillion, at their meeting in Augull, if we did not retm^l our proteftation, and declare our forrow for the fame. But, what is our crime ? and wherein have we oifended ? Is it the matter of o\ir protejiatio?2 that is found fault with ? Yet, fince the forelaid act of AfTembly, and the above-mentioned proceedings of the judicaiio- ries of this church, with others which we fliall yet name, are both linful and unwarraiitable; then our proteftation, as to the matter of it, is both lawful and warrantable : buf-, if it is becaufe we offered our teftir/iony, under the /ir?/; ofaprotejlatiin, that the Afkmblyhavc proceeded againft us with fuch uncommon rigour, then we affirm, that, when there was a recorded ceKfure, for that which we are perfuaded was neceffary 2L'cAfeafonahleduiy, there was no ether way for giving an equivalent tejlir/iony for injured truth, and againft an unwarrant- able reftraint upon minifterial freedom, but by entring our prctefta- ticn ; this is the only habile way for having a tefimoKy recorded, that thereby our juft rights and privileges may be aiferted, the honour of truth may be preferved, and a teftimony for the fame may be le- gally tranfmitted to fucceeding generations. — Where is then our crime? The AfTembly condemn us to \>z fufpended, and appoint a higher cenfure to be inflidted, in cafe we did not obey the fentence of fufpenfion. If we had difowned any article in our Cvnfejion of Faith, if we had impugned any of our known and received principle*, the AfTembly might have very juftly cenfured us ; but this is not fo much as alledged in the fentences paft againft us. Are we guilty of defpifmg the juft authority and power of the judicatorieb of the church? Nay, omv proteftation ackno-iXilcdges the fame; and we havs declared, in our feveral Reprefentations given ia to the Commiffion, that it was Tiprotejiation for our exoneration, or our attefisd declarati- on and tefiirnony a gain f the ^tvrong excrcife of ecclejlafical po'jjer and authority. If ever church-authority vras iJ:rewed up to an uncommon height, if ever church-cenfures were inflicted in anarbitrary manner, it is in this cafe. Our Forjn cf Procefs, as we have already oferved, ordains, 'That nothing beadniitted by any judicatory, as a ground ♦ of procefs for cenfure, but v/hat hath been declared cenfurabie by the ' word of God, or fome act or univerfal cultom of this national ♦ church agreeable thereto.' We afk the prefent managers, is a /ri-- tejiation for exoneration againft an act or fentence of a General Af- fembly, cenfurable by the word of God, or any act of this naiionai church? If they fay it is, let thera produce that pafTage of the word of God, or let them point out unto us an act of any of our General Aflcmblies declaring fo much ; or, if lliey fay it is by uni- verfal cuftom, we are ready to inftruct the contrary, and that pro- teftations have been entred ag-.iinft acts and fentences of our Geiierai G 50 The First Testimony. Se£l. II. Aflemblics by fome eminent minifters of this church, and yet we do not find th:it they were cenfured for doing fo. Yea, our firft Affem- blies, after the Revolution, had fuch a regard to the protellations en- tred againft the AlTemblies, after the year 1649, that they allowed none of the a»5ts and proceedings of thefe AfTemblies to be entred into the printed records of this church : and the General Alfembly 1690, do by their thirteenth acl declare, ' all fentences pad againft any < miniRc-rs hinc inde, by any church-judicatory, upon the account of « the late diflerences among prefbyterians (that is, for the proteftati- ons entred againft the then AfTemblies and their proceedings) ' from * the year 1650, till the reintroduftion of Prelacy, to beof themfelves ' void and null to all effeds and intents.' And indeed no reformed church, before now, has made it a term of co7nmunion with them, that none of their members fhould ever proteft againft any of their proceedings; nor could any man, witha fafe confcience, bememberof any court whatfoever, unlefs the privilege of (Itffenting and protejling^ in fome cafes, were allowed him ; becaufe thefe are the only means in i. judicatory whereby a man can exoner his own confcience, and do juftice to iTUth, when it is injured, and doth not import a contempt of authority lanvfully exercifed, but only a pleading and contending for the free exercife of the laws and privileges of the fociety : and therefore, it is matter of regret, that the prevailing party in the eftahliihed church fliould attempt to fecure their authority by fuch an unlawful mean, to accomplilh which, they have proceeded againft us with fuch rigour, as cannot be paralleled in any church that re- nounceth the title oi infallibility. idly^ Oar Prefbyterian Conftitutlon, is likewIfey'/^/'t'ifr/f^by the uti- ivarrantable and arbitrary proceedings of tie Covunij/ion of our General /jjj'cmhlies for fojue years by-pafi ; and, herein they are ftipported and countenanced h^ the prevailing party in tlie feveral y^jj'eviblies of this church. The truth of this may be evident to all who ferioufly con- fider the proceedings of the Commiflion of late, and how they have, in a moft arbitrary and abflute manner, decided caufes referred to them, in oppolition to the rule of the njnord, and the principles and conjiitiition of the church of Scotland ; as is manifeft in the cafes of Baltron, fluiton, Weft-kirk, Kinrofs, and many others : and it is very d.m'^trous and pernicious to the intcreft and kingdom of Chrift in this land, that it is pled, upon all occalions, that their fentences-, however nnjujl, are yet irreverjible ; which mAkesthcivill and plea- fure of that court, the rule anil meafure of right and ivrong, and of almoft the whole public aft'airs of this church, feeing our Anemblics now-a-days, determine few caufes themfelves, and ihcfc frequently of the fmalleft moment, but reler moll of their alFairs to the Com- ininion. And this plea for the irreverfihlcncfs of their fentences ap- pears the more unjiUiifiable, when it is conlidercd, that no plaufilWe rei.fon can be advanced, why a delegate court, fuch as the Commiflion is, and which has no m;\n\\cv o{ foundation in the nuord, unlel'scon- fidercd as a Committee of the former Aiianbly, Ihould be accountablL- to the follotuinq for their coriJiu^, and yet their decifions ftiould not be mcrfttlc by ilicnj, even though ihcy are found by "Jie AiTerably T'he First Testimony. 51 to be fnch as are not agreeable to the rules of this church : yea, that this is moft unreafonable, is plain from the nature of the thing, and from older and latter afls of Aflembly regulating the powers of the Commiffion, And lilcewife, the faid court, that they may the more eJfFeflually invade and bury the liberties of all concerned in caufes referred to them, have aflumed to thenifelves a power of eretfling fub-com7niJ/ioriSf contrary to the common maxim, delegatus non potejl delegari ; and have inverted them with powers they had not com- mitted to therafelves by the Allembly their covJJituents, and which it is not in the power even of the AiTembly to give them, to wit, to in- vade the rights of Prelbyteries, who are radical judicatories ; to take trial of the gifts of young men, and to fettle them contrary unto the declared mind both of the Prefbyteries in which, and of the Pariflies over which, they are fettled, without v^'aiting the judgment of the enfuing Affembly, and having their authority interpofed thereunto, though protejlations for liberty to complain to the Affembly had been entred in due time and form. The above conduct of the Commiffion, appears to us to ftrike at the very root of our Prefjyterian conflitution, and to be a piece of tyranny equal to any thing exercifed by the Diocejian Prelates when they were in power and authority in the land. It is a Prefjyterian principle, founded upon the word of God, that the authoritative mifion of men unto the v/ork and office of the hsly miniftry, by the trial of their gifts and qualifications, and the letting of them apart to that facred office, by prayer and impofition of hands, belongs unto a ccnfitute Prefcytery. It is alfo a received principle amongft us, that the power of fuperior courts over a Prefbytery is not a privative, but a cumulative power and authority ; that is, neither Synods, nor AfTemblies, nor their Commiffions, can deprive Prefbyteries of thefe inherent rights and privileges- that belong unto them, or of that power and authority that they have received from the Lord Jefus, the only Head and King of the church, bat that they ought to pro- teCt and fupp-jrt them in the exercife of the fame : but the prcfent wanagement of the Commiffions of our feveral General Affembiies, in appointing Committees, with 2. ponxier of trial and ordination, is a taking of that poiver out of the hands of Prefbyteries, which properly belongs unto them ; and at the fame time an erefling of a court, with a power of miffion unto the work and office of the m.iniftry, that has no manner of foundation in the word of God. If it is faid. That this is done becaufe Prefbyteries are difohedient to the fentences of the Commiffion, who are their fuperiors : the plain matter is, it is done becaufe Prefbyteries cannot comply with thz finful ^nd. unnxiarrantable orders of the Commiffion ; iuch as the m^ck moderation of calls, as every reafonable man mud judge the fentence of the Commiffion in Auguft laft to have been, appointing the Prefbytery of Auchterarder to moderate in a call for the prefentee to the pariili of Muckhart, exclufive of any other ; it is done, becaufe they cannot, in a confiitency with Prefbyterian principles, proceed to the fettlemexit of minifters upon the foot oi prefentations and other wife, when the congregations concerned are dijjeming and reclaiming. — For thefe, and the like G 2 51 The First Testimony. Sc6>. II. reafotiF, the Czv:7nip',n takes the fettlement of pariflies out of the l^aiuij of Prejhteries, and lodges the power of trial and ordination in a committee of their own naming, and frequently many of them are net v:embers of the Commiflion, but all of them are fele^l and ^)icki men, who they know very well will yield ready obedience to the orders of the prevailing party. M;iy we not, upon the whole, afk o\xv ptefent 7nanagers, What dif- ference there is \izt\^-\y.X.fourtcer. Dioccfian Prelates, their taking the power of trial and ordination out of the hands of all the Prefbytcries in Scotland, and a Commiffion of the Geneial Alfembly, whereof thirty cm makes a quorum, their diveding all the Prelbyteries of Scotland of this inherent right and privilege, when their finful and nn warrantable orders are not obeyed ? For our part, we know none, except tliat \.\i.z fortner exercife this lordly dominion over the heri- tage of God, in a plain confiftency with their declared principks ; vhen the latter do it under a Prcjhterian inafk, but in a dirtfl; in- cor.fiftency with their piofeffed and known principles. — Hence it is, that the fljck of Chrill are wounded and grieved, fcattercd and liiokea through the land ; the wicked are hardened, and this church is become the derifion of her enemies. We muft here likewife obferve, That thefe arbitrary and unwar- rantable proceedings of the Commiffion, by which the liberties of particular congregations, and the rights of Prefbyteries, are invaded and borne down thefe fcveral years bypaft, have \)ttv\ fiipportedhy the yljTevihlies of this church, in fo far as they have refolutcly refufed all applications to reverfe any one of the moft iniquitous of their fen- tcnces : fo that all corners of this church have been left to groan xiader the load of their oppreffion, with no other alleviation but that the AlTcmblies of the church difeipproved, in fonie cafes, of the Com- n.ilTion's conduct ; that is, they owned that the complaining congre- gilions and Prefbyteries were wronged and opprtflcd by that court, but would do nothing to relieve them from futh a grievous calamity. Now, that we may conclude what we inteniied for the proof oi thefif branch of the gefieral charge againft the prevailing patty in the ellablilhed church: Since it is fo, that ihty jlvq. breakif:g doit:!: the fences and guards againft innovations in our doclrine and worfhip, covernment aj:d difcipline ; and feeing they e>erelfe a Itgi/l.uive p'-.'wer and authority over the houfe of God, in oppcliticn to the !av s and ordinances of the L(.rd and Mailer of the houfe, ;ind bind their Miiqiiitous decrees upon the confcienccs ol the fljiMrcn of the lioulf, hy in{]i(51ing the hlghcfi ccnfures upon ih(.m, il th.y do no i'ultnut to their unjult and aibitrary fcntences ; and fincc prclatick dutnnrcn auu tyranny has crept in, and is canicd on uu'Iei" the niafK of Pref- l>yicrian church-goverament ; mull not every fobcr and unprejudiced pcrlinn j'idp:c, that they arc fuhvtrting cur beautiful Prcfyterian confiitution? And, though the keys of government and difvipline ne committed unto the office-bearers of the chiirch, by Chiiil lier g!o- x\ov\h lie. id, fyr the edification of his lK)dy, Tor t!ic prcfi-rvaiion of the inllitutions of Chrift in their purity, for the maintenance ot that itlc.ty nxh.ifVJilh CLrifl has iKitde his ptiple fee, th::t thy v.ay net T^he First Testimony. 53 he ifitattgled luith afiy yoke of bondage, for the purging of the houfe of God of unfound minifters and members, for the removal of of- fences, whereby the flock of Chiill may be hint or JJut/ibled, for the reftniining the open enemies of Chrill and his kingdom, for the catching of foxes that fpoil his tender vines, and for feparating be- tween the holy and profane, that the valuable privileges of God's children may not be cafi unto dogs : Though, we fay, the keys of government and difcipline are given to the ininiilers and elders of the church, for ihefe and the like great and excellent ends ; yet, are they not perverted by our prefcnt -luanagers to quite oppodte ends and ufes ? Is not the door caft open, tjy an ecclefiaftic:;! or- dinance and conftitution, to a corrupt miniilry to enier into the church of Chrill; ? Is not the heritage of God opprelTed by a conti- nued feries and trail of unprecedented intrufions upon them ? Is not the edge of difcipline turned againft thefe (both minifters and people) that teftify a regard to the laws, ordinances, and inftitutions of the head of the church ? Are not fuch as are in principle declared ene- mies to our covenanted reformation, and in pradtice profane and fcandalous, if they bear the name of Protejiant, received into the bofora of the church, and intrufled with one of her moft facred and valuable rights and privileges ? And therefore, though we have the form of Kirk-feffions, Prelbyteries, Synods, and Alfemblies ; yet, what is xhefrm of government, but like thzfort?: of godlinefs , when the life and power of it is gone ? It is no more than as the (hadow with- out the fubftance, or as the body without the fpirit, or as a carcafe without life ; and that it (hould be fo in the church of Scotland, once fo famous among the churches, ah ! that it fliould be told in Gath, or heard in the flreets of AJkelon. II. We proceed now to the feconi branch of general charge that we have laid againfl: the prevailing party in the judicatories of the church, viz. ' That they are purfuing fuch meafures as do acluall/ * corrupt, or have the moft direct tendency, to corrupt the doitrine * contained In our excellent Cotfejfton of Faith."" Although this church hath been famous in former times for puri- ty of dodtrine, and for witneffing againft every thing that had a ten- dency to obfcure or pervert the funpiicity of the gofpel, and fo an- fwered the charader of being th.& pillar and ground of truth; yet we cannot but notice it with regret, that flie has now fallen in a great meafure from h.tr frrner zeal that way. Although many of the pre- cious -^lw^ fundamental truths of our holy religion, which touch the eternal falvation of fouls, have been attacked, and pernicious foul- ruining errors of hue vented, both in our neighbourhood and within tur oiv'i hofo7n ; yet this church's zeal hath not moved her, accord- ing to duty, to difplay a banner for truth, that it 7night be given to them that fear him : yea, grofs errors and erroneous perlons are countenanced and encouraged, in fo far as no fuitable teftimony is given againfl; them. But the truth of whit is laid in our general charge will more fully appear, if the folioNving particular ini^ances are ferio;jlly coafidcred. 54 I'hg First Testimony. Seft. II. I. When the Arian herefy was fome years ago, like the noifom ffjllhnce, running through England and Ireland, and our orthodox brethren there were contending in the high places of the field, for the independency 2Lndfupreme deity of the SonofGody our glorious Redeemer; it might have been expedled, that this church fhould have cc/vte up, at that time, to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord againfl the mighty, by lifting up the flandard of a faithful tejiirnony, for the honour of Chrift, the encouragenient of our brethren, and for pre- venting the contagion of that herefy, its entering into our own bor- ders : but, though this was moved, yet nothing fuitable to fach a call in proTidcncc was done ; and therefore, God, in a way of righ- teous judgment, fuflFered that blafphemous herefy to enter fo far in- to our borders, as to poifon one of the principal feminaries for the holy minillry in this church 3 as is evident from the procefs againft Profeflbr Sim son, who was brought before the bar of our Aflemblies in the years 1727, 6r. And when it was found clearly proven, < That, in teaching his (Indents, he had denied the neceffary exift- « ence of our Lord Jefus Chrijl ; and that he had affirmed. That « his necefTary exiftence is a thing we know not ; and that the term, ' necejfary exiftence, was impertinent, and not to be ufed when talk- * ing of the Trinity ; and that the three perfons of the adorable « Trinity are not to be faid to be numerically one in fubftance and « eflence; and that the terms, necejfary exiftence, fuprevie deity, and ' the title of the only true God, may be taken, and are by forae au- « thors taken, in a fenfe that includes the perfonal property of the * Father, and fo not belonging to the Son :' We fay, when thefe articles, whereby he had attempted to iepofethe Son of God from his true and fupr erne deity, were found clearly proven; and, to exprefs it in the words of the Rev. Mr. Bofton, now deceaft, (when offering his protefl: againll the AHembly's determination in that matter) ' The * Son of God was, as it were, appearing at the bar of that A/Tembly, * craving juftice againft one who had derogate fromhis effential glory, * and blafphcmed his name, at which every knee Ihould bow;' yet the concern of this church for thefe foundation-truths of our holy Chri{lianreligion,weutnohigherthanai*re«/fo/7of the^/;3/^i^«'W(rr from teaching and preaching, and all exercife olany ecclefiallical power and function, leaving the door open to another Afi'embly to re- lax him from the faid fentence. As the Affembly 1729, did reft in the above fentence of fufpcnfion, contrary to tlie declared mind of the mod of the Prefbyteries in this National Ciiurch, {o the ccnfure in- fliclcd was nowifc adequate to the groilnefs of the errors that hnd been proven againft the faid Mr. Simfon; yea, fuch countenance is given him, as that he continues flill to bear the charader of a mi- nifti-T of the efl.iblilhed church ; and he is poiitriicd of his benefice, to the great prejudice of the church, which is thereby precluded the benefit of an orthodox prolcifor in his place, for training up men for the miaiflry, in the found principles of our holy religion. 2. Whereas the faid profcObr Sintfon was procclFcd before the Ju- dicatories of this church, ii» the years 1715, and 1716, for fc vera I g:ofs and daiigcrous errors ; the General Aifcnibly, in the year 1717, The First Testimony. 55 did find, * That he had vented fotae opinions, not neceflary to be • taught in divinity ; and that had given more occafion to ftrife than • to the promoting of edification ; and that he had ufed fome ex- • preffions that bear, and are ufed by adverfaries in a bad and un- ' found fenfe ; and that he had adopted fome hypothefes different « from what are commonly ufed among orthodox divines, that are « not evidently founded on fcripture, and tend to attribute too much ' to natural reafon and the power of corrupt nature ; which undue < advancement of reafon and nature,' fays the AfTembly, < is always ' « to the difparagement of Revelation and efficacious free grace.' And, for thofe reafons, the Affembly did prohihite and dlfcharge Mr. Sim/on to ufe fuch exprejfions^ or to teackf preachy or othervjife vent fuch epinionsy propojitions, or hypothefes. And when he was brought under procefs for the above damnable herefies, mentioned in the former head, the General Affembly did in the year 1726, by their a(5l for the preferving the purity of doctrine, appoint the Pref- bytery of Glafgow, with a Committee they had named for their help and affiftance, to enquire how the faid Mr. Simfon had obeyed the injundions of the General Affembly 17 17, as to the points which they had then prohibited him to teach ; and the faid Prefbytery having found ground for a procefs againfl; him, for contrax^eening the ACi of Affembly 17 1 7, the fame was carried on by a Committee appointed by the Affembly 1727, who found by the depofitions of witneffes, that Mr. Simfon had taught his ftudents, * That the heathen, by ' the light of nature, including tradition, may know that God is * reconcilable to finners ; and that they may know there is a remedy * for fm provided, which may be called an implicit or olfcure reve- * lation of the gofpel ; and that it is probable, that none are excluded * from the benefit of tJie remedy for fin, provided by God, and pub- ' lllhed twice to the world, except thefe who by their aCiiial fin ex- * elude themfejves, and flight or rejedt either the clearer light of the ' gofpel revealed to the church, or that obfcure difcovery and offer * of grace made to all without the church ; and that, if the heathen^ * in the ufe of the means they have, would feek the knowledge of ' the way of reconciliation, God would difcover it to them.' — As alfo, that he taught, ' That there are means appointed of God for ' obtaining faving grace ; which means, when diligently ufed, with ' ferioufnels, llncerity, and faith of being heard, God hath promifed * to blefs with fiiccefs ; and that the going about thefe means, in the * forefaid miinner, is not above the reach of our natural abilities and « powers ;' — and that he ufed thefe v/ords, * Raiio efi principiztm dr * fundamentiim theologia, which bear, and are ufed by adverfaries in < an unfound fenfe, though he difowned the unfound fenfe of them:' — and likewife, that he taught, ' I'hat there vi'as no proper covenant ' made with Adam ; and that Adam was not a federal head to his ' pollerity ; and that it is inconfiftent with the jiifiice and goodnefs * ot God, to create a foul without original righceoufnefs, or difpo- « fitions to good ; and that the fouls of infants, fuice the fall, as ' they came from the hands of their Creator, are as purs and holy ' as the fouls of infants v.-oulJ ii;;ve been created, fuppofing man ^6 'The First Testimony. Sc£b. II. • hAdi not fet Hen : and thai: they are as pure and holy as Adam's « was created, except as to thefe qualifications and habits which he ' received as bnng created in an adult ftate ; and that it is more ♦ than probable, that all baptized infants, dying in infancy, are • faved ; and that it is manifeft, that, if God Ihould deny his grace • to all or any of the children of infidels, he would deal more feverely « with them than he did with the fallen angels.' — And likewife, that lie taught, ' That, were it not for the profpeifl of happinefs, he * could not, and therefore would not ferve God ; and that there * will be no finning in hell after the laft judgment.' The Afkrably's Committee, having found it proven, thatMr. Sim- fon had taught the above pemiciouf errors, laid the whole of their proceeding before the Aifembly 1728; but neither did that AfTembly, nor the frAlo-xir:g, who concluded the procefs againll him, take arv notice cf thefe grofs errors : and though there is juft ground to fear, that many have imbibed them, to the endangering of the purity of the dodrine of this church ; yet no regard is had to thefe things, but all is pafTed over by our Alfemblies ever lince, with a profound ftlcvce ; and this omiffion we judge to be the more culpable, in re- gard he h.id taug;Ut the above errors in c'jntraveiition of the y^Ci cf ylljewhly 1717. The common maxim, J^«/ tacet confcutire vidctur^ was very much pled in the Affembly 1732, to bring in thefe Prefby- tcries, who had fent up no opinion with refpe(fl to the overture anent planting vacant congt egatinns, as confcnters to it; and this was made ufe of as a handle for voting it into a ftanding ad : but we are much miftaken, if it be not far more applicable to the cafe in lund, confidering the trufl committed by the Lord to the judicatories of his church, with refpe*51 unto damnable errors openly vented and found proven before them, efpecially by Zl profefj'or of divirAty. q. Although our General Aflcmblics have been frequently ni?- dreffed, by reprefentati'^ns and infiruBiom from m.-.ny Synods and Prefbyterieb, reprefenting the ncceflity of an affcrtory A^, affirming ar.d c-j^ning the truths injured and oppofed by the above-mentioned dangerous errors vented by Islr. Simfon ; as alfo, that a folevin t be emitted, difcovering the evil and dangerous ten- dency of them: yet the prevailing party in our judicatories /;<7f(f given a deaf ear to all thcle reprefentations, and difregard all fuch feafonable and neceffary inflruJtions ; and we cannot but look upon this condutfl as molt injurious to the great and precious truths of Cod, that have been attacked in fuch a bold and daring manner. Truth has for many years bypaft been lying ns'onr.ded and Heeding in our Jheets, craving that jullicc may be done her, particularly by the church-reprefentative, which is in a peculiar manner the pillar and ground of truth, 1 Tim. iii. i j. and to whnm it belongs, in a fpccial manner, to publifli and declare, to uphold and defend, all the truths of God delivered in liis word, againll open and avowed enemies, or fecret undcrminers of the fame : yea, as it is a debt that one genera- tion owes unto another, to tranfiiiii the truths of God in their purity to polt'jrity ; fo thefe truths that arc oppofed and ajaulted ought to be delivered off our hands to tiic riling generation, with fotne more I'bs First Testimony. 57 peculiar iud fclenin tejlimcny unto them. And therefore, we cannoi: but Jook upon the above omilliou of our General AfTemhlies to be an injury done to truth, to be contrary to our fol;;mn covenant-ca- gagemcnts, to be injuftice done to our pollericy, and to have no Imtll tendency towards the h.trdning of fuch as may be tainted with the above errors, as alfo towards the Ipreading of this corrupt Icavea amongft others. 4. h.fche7?i2 oi erroneous prifieiplfs has likewifc; been vented o? l-iti by Mr. Archibald Campbell, profcllbr of church-hirtory in St. An- drews, in fome late prints emitted by him, having a roanifcll ten- dency to fuhvert revealed rdigion^ and to expofe practical ferious godlinefs, under the notion oi enthufiafin., as in l\\s difcourfe proving that the apoftles were not enthufiafts, and tlie preface thereto prefix*: ; as alfo to didyziiCQ felf-love as the leading principle in all our adtions whatfoever, as in his enquiry into the original of vioral virtue : and he has the ajfurance to affirm, in his Latin difcourfe before the Uni- verfity of St. Andrews, That « the being of God, and th: immortality • of the foul, cannot be known by the light of nature, without the • aid and alliftance of tradition,' contrary unto iht exprefs doctrine delivered in the i Sefl. of the i Chap, of our Confeffion of Faith, and Pfal. xix. 1,2, 3. The heavens declare his glory, and the Jinna- ment JJ^eixieth his handy-ivorky &c. ; yea, The invifible things cf him from the creation of the 'world, are clearly feen, being imderjlood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and God-bead.^ Rom. i. 20. And though thefe, and other errors, vented by the faid Mr. Campbell, are open and notour fi om the books publifted by him, and have b;;ea fufficietitly expoftd by feveral private hands ; yet, laftead of commenc- ing any procefs againlt the author, \\.t is carreifed and countenanced in our AHemblies, as being a fit man for the purpofe of our ruling Jide, who are carrying on the prefent courfe of defedion. 5. We reckon alfo, that a. wound ivas given, by the fentence of Aflembly 1733, ^^ feveral precious truths, emitted by Mr. Erlliine in his Jy nodical fermon, and in his written anfwers given In to tha Synod, which the AlTembly, hy tht forefaid a6}, thought fit likewif^ to condemn, as though they were ofenjive, and tended to difiurb the peace and good order of this church ; though they be founded upon ths word of God, and agreeable to our appr-oveu ftandards, as was cleared in one of the Reprefe?ztations given in to the Goaimiulon ia Augnfl: laft : by which it appears to us, that thefe perilous times are now come in oar land, wherein men cannot endure foiuid dofrrine, but turn away their ears from the truth, and lock upon fuch as ent- mies to the eftablilhed church, who declare the truth, and bear teili;nony to it from the pulpic, when ic is wounded and failing ia our ftreets. 6. Although this church owns the Weftminfter ConfefTion of Faith, and all intrants into the miniftry be obliged to fuhfcribe'xX. as the confeffion of their faith ; yet, how little of that fcheiue and order of dodtrine is taught at this day ? particularly, by many preachers and minijiers that have lately entred into the church, while there is as little oiCkriJi to be found in moft of thsir JifcourfeSj as ia Pia^o'a H 58 *The First Testimony. Seel. II. or Seneca's moraJs ; and, if he be at all preached, lie is preached as the pattern, not oi gofpsl-kolinefs, but oi ahJtraCitd viorality ; at beft, as xhs. author oi -a. tieiv g':fpel-liiiv, enjoining faiih, repentance, and rievv obedience, as the conditicns of a new covenant, and of a Tinner's julUfication before God. People are generally prefl'ed to the practice of duty, as if their abilities for obedience at the creation were not entirely loft by the fall of Adam. Though man be naturally married to the lanx) as a Cjvenant, and be feeking life and righteoufnefs upon the footing of his own obedience ; yet, how little care is taken to preach the Iwvj in its fpirituality, e-xteiit, and feveritjy condemning every man to death and the curfe, that cont'wues not in all things ivriticn in the b'jok of the laiv to Jo them, in order to difcover the de- pravation of nature, and the utter impotency of fallen man to pleafe Cod by his obedience ? How little digging into the curfed root of original Jiti, imputed and inherent, or laying open the deceitfulnefs and defperdte wickednefs of the heart, that fo finuers may be brought off from the covenant of works, unto him 'who is the alone foundation that God hath laid in Zi'^n, and who is become the end of the lanvfor righteoufnefs unto every one that believes P And, though they profefs to own and acknowledge the inviolable and perpetual obligation of the righteous and holy law ofCod upon the regenerate, as well as the unregenerate, which we believe and hold as a moft firm and certain truth ; yet, how little are the duties of obedience to it preached in a gofpel-iaay ? How little are they inforced from gofpel-motives, or pred for gofpel ends and purpofes ? How little is the necellity of a vital union with Chrift difcovered, in order to our yielding ac- ceptable obedience to the law r How little of free jullification, by the imputed righteoulnefs of Chrift, is tauglit, or of the gofpel-myltery of fan<5lIfication, as infeparably conncded with jullilication, and m2int;iincd and carried on by a life of faith on the Sofi of God, ivh^ is made of God unto us, not only righteoupufs, but fan^if cation ? — Thefc, and the like fupernatural mylteries, are in a great meafure exploded and difcarded by our modify haranguers, and a dry, faplefs, and lifelefs defcanting upon the moral virtues introduced into the room thereof: by which means, they who have their fen fes exercifd to difcern good and evil, are fet a wandring for the bread of their fouls, where they can have it ; and others, vi-ho have their cars tickled with an empty found of words, left to perifh for lack of the knowledge of the gofpel, and of the way of lalvation by Chrift ia a covenant of grace. Now, to Unit up this head, we muft obfervc, That an overture agriinll this dangerous innovation, both in the method and ftrain of preaching, was referred by two feveral General Afl'cniblies, Anttis 1776, 1727, to the refpc(5live fc;//v//^/&«j, to be confidered and pre- pared by them in order to be turned into r.n afl : yet nothing fwus done ; it w.is drcpt, through the inllucnce of tlie ruling party ; and by this means the.'i: evils arc on ti>.e growing hand, and thcrclorc are Jufly chargeable on the manogtnunt ol \.\\t: pnvaili'ig party, who arc carrying on the prefcnt courfc of dekftion. 1 ton) all llic ^bovc infauca^ it is evident, lliat the prfcnt pre- The F I R S T T E S T I M O N Y. $9 vailing party in the judicatories of this church, are purfuing fuch meafures as do aflually corrupt, or have the inojl direB tendency to corrupt^ the doGrine contained in our excellent ConfeJJion of Faith ; in regard, that no full and free teftimony has been given for the truths of God, and againft the dangerous errors that are vented and pro- pagated unto the prejudice and fubverfion of the fame : and in regard, that no adequate cenfure has been inflifted upon erroneous and cor- rupt teachers ; yea, fuch are held and kept in minifterial communion, and have no fmall regard fhown them in our fupreme judicatories : and feeing the church of Scotland is in fuch circumftances at prefent, through the influence and management of the prevailing party ; there is too much ground to fear, that in a little time, if God do not: prevent, this eftahlijloed church (hall only be orthodox, in the faine fenfe thtit the church of England is fo, by fubfcribing the 39 Articles, which are truly Calvinifi in the do.ftrinal parts, while yet Anninian doilrine is every where taught by her clergy : upon which account, we judge this generation, and our poor pofterity, in the utmoft dan- ger of lofing the gofpel in its power and purity, through the preva- lency of a corrupt and unfound viinifry. If a man have any little acquaintance with what they call the belle-letter, or gentlemany learning ; if he have the art of making his compliments and addrefs to zperfon of quality ; if he can accept of a prefentation from a Patron, and be a // tool to carry on the meafures of the ruling party of the church, that is the man that fliall find encouragement in our AlTemblies and Commiffions, though he know not how to fpeak a 'u:ord in fea- fon to a nveary foul. No regard is had to a man's acquaintance with. experimental religion, and the power of godlinefs upon his own foul, according to the ads of the church in former times : but, on the contrary, if there be a man who has an air of piety and religion, however well polifhed by the Lord for edifying the body ofChrift^ and for overthrowing the ivorks of the devil, for nxihich purpofe the Son ofGodniias manifejied ; iht prevailing party have an evil eye ofjealoufy upon that man, as a perfon of dangerous and divifive principles : and, if a clear gofpel-call to fuch a man offer from the body oi a Chriftian people, he muft \t& fet afide, and ihe hue and cry raifed againft him, as though an enemy 'were coming into our borders. — By thefe, and the like methods of management, it looks as if a faithful miniftry, in a few years, iliall hz gradually nvormed out of Scotland, and our porte- rity left without the knowledge of the gofpel, and a covenanted work oi Reformation buried in perpetual oblivion. III. We proceed nov/ to the third branch of the general charge againft \.\ii prevailing party in the judicatories of this church, viz. <■ That finful and unwarrantable terms of minifterial communion are « impofed, by reftraining minifterial freedom and faithfulnefs, in « teftifying againft the prefent courfe of defedion and backfliding ; * and that in this, as 'well as in the former things charged againfl * them, they counteract the folemn engagements they came under at « their ordination to the miniftry.' The truth of this will be evident, if It is confidcred, that the lafi H 2 6o The First Testimony. Se£\. II. AfTcmbly have made it a • term of minifterial communion, thatmini- * fters fli-.ill not, from the pulpit, teftify againft the A(5l of Aflembly * 1 73^) <^i' any other proceedings of the judicatories of this church ; « in as much :is they did approve of, and rati/) the fsntence of the « Synod of Perth and Stirling, finding Mr. Erjkine cenfurable for ' tellifying agair.fi the faid adl, and other defedions of this church, * in his Sermon at the opening of the faid Synod in October I7;2 ; ' and did rebuke ^nd admonij}? him accordingly at the bar of the faid ' /•ffei'tblyj' From which it evidently appears, that it was they tt^^- ■rnert of that j^Jfenibly, That ' no miniflcr of our communion ought to * teftify, from the pulpit, againft the A& of Aflembly 1732, or any ' other fmfu! and unwarrantable proceedmgs of the judicatories of * this church,* nnlefs he refolves to become obnoxious to cenfure. It cannot be juftly alledged, that it was merely for the indecent ex- prefTing of things, which might be otherwife lawfully faid, that the rebuke was tendered ; in regard the Aflembly approved the proceedings of the Synod of Perth and Stirling, finding Mr. Erfkinc cenfurable for kveral indecent e>:prejlcns uttered by him, in a fermon preached before the faid Synod, tending to difquiet the peace of this church, and impugning fever a I a^s of j4ffcmlily and proceedings of the church- jzidicatorits, as the faid Aflembly reprefent the matter in their a(l ^nA fentence pafied againft him. By which it is plain, that the thing ■which was reckoned indecent in Mr. Erfkine, was his impugning, from the pulpit, the a'Hs of .'IJfembly and the proceedings of church-judica- tories : this was ihc great quarrel the Synod had againft him ; and the Aflembly do, upon this very ground, approve of the Synod's proceedings, as their aft and fentence bears : therefore it was for faying fuch and fuch things, that the cenfure was adminiftred, and not merely for the nvay and manner of emitting them. — From whence it Rill follows, as w.^s faic]. That « the laft Aflembly have eftablifhed ' it is a term of minifterial communion, that no minifter fhall, upon * any occafion, teftify from the pulpit againft any Acl of Aflembly, * be it never fo finful ; or againft any of the proceedings of the ju- * d'cp.iories, be they never fo unwarrantable.' Th:s limiting oi ifiinifterial freedom is unreafonable in its cwn na- ture, and inconfiftent w'Mhfaithfulnrfs in the exercife of the miniftry. Thiere is nothing more plain, than that pvery minifter is bound to (leciarc the ivholc counfel cf Cod : As he is to teach the ohfervavce of ell things contained in the ivcrd ; fo, he is io f}cn\j Jfrael their tranf grefion, and the h'>ufe of Jacob their fin : and, if th^- fm be commit- ted by the officers of the church, it is fo much the more dangerous to the whole body, and therefore ought to be teftified againft; becaufe that, when the leaders of the people do ciufe theni to err, they that are led of thevi are defiroycd, Ifa. ix. 16. And this is fo n)uch tht more rcafonablc, when the judicatories of .1 church, by their practices and ftatutes, are making vifible encroachments upon the privileges of the members thereof, becaufe the public regretting of thifc unwar- rantable prafticcs and laws, has a native tcrdency to excite all that arc lerious and godly, to the exercife of fervent prayer and fupplici' tion to the Lord, who has the hearts of all mcu in his hand-s, ih.it The First Testimony. 6\ he would, in his own time and way, bring about their relief from thefe grievances under which they groan. And this lamenting of, and tedifying againft the defections of this church, has been the pra(flice of the prophets under the old, and of our Lord himfelf and his aportles under the newTcftament, Mat.v, vi, vii. and chap, xxiii. 13. to the end of the chapter; and Stephen and Peter, •nhen before the Jewifli Sanhedrim, Adts vii. 51, 52, 55. chap. iv. 10, 11.; fee alfo chap. x. 11. and chap. ii. 23. Nor indeed can a minifter he faithful to his truft, if he can be Tifilent fpe£lator of the ihreatned ruin of the church of which he is a member ; for it is the duty of every faithful 'a:atchvtan to give warning of approaching hazard, upon his peril, Ezek. iii. 17, 18. And this was fo far from being thought culpable hy this churchy that her fortner AJfeinhlits have ftridlly injoined every minijler, in an agreeablenefs to this charge from the Lord, to reprove the fms, and to prefs the duties of the times, as they would not cxpofe themfelves to the cenfures of the churdi, even the length of fufpenfion and depofition, Affembly 1647. feffion 19. and A«ft of AfTembly 1648. feflion 26. intituled, A61 for eenfuring minijlers for their filence^ and not fpeaking of the corruptions cf the times. — From which it ftiU more evidently appears, that the injoining of filence, as to public defe<5lious, is a nena term of minifte- rial communion in this church. And we mull alfo add, That we reckon this Jilence, injoined us, and other minifters, inconjtflent rvith our ordination vonus and engage' vientsy by which we are bound to affert, maintain, and defend the do(ftrine, worfhip, Prefbyterian government, and difcipline of this church : For, how can we be faithful to our ordination vows and engagements, and yet h&ftlent fpe£lators of the deep wound that is given to our Prefbyterian conftitution, not only by the aQ of AfTem- bly 1732, but by all the other above-mentioned proceedings of the judicatories of this church ? Shall we be witnelTes to the raeafures that are taken, and which have a dired tendency to corrupt the dodrine of this church, and yet be refrained from lamentirig the fame, upon proper occafions, from the pulpit ? Shall we tamely yield to a cenfure, fhutting our mouths, when the heritage of God is oppreffed, and the cry of violence is going up to heaven from the feveral corners of this church and land; and efpecially when repre- fentations and inllruclions to our General AlTemblies are nowife re- garded ? If we fuffer ourfelves to be bound up from regretting, on proper occafions, the unwarrantable and fmful proceedings of this declining church. How can we anfwer for it to our hord and Mafer, to our own confciences, to fucceeding generations , and to the flock over which we are fet as watchmen ? — And, to conclude this head. As all the minifters of this church, when they are ordained to their office, do folemnly promife and engage, and fubfcribe it with their hands, * That they ftiall, to the utmoft of their power, in their fta- ' tion, aflert, maintain, and defend the doclrine contained in our * Conf'jfion of Fait hf and our Prefbyterian church government and » difcipline ; and that they fhall never endeavour, direclly or in- « directly, the prejudice or fubverfion of the fame :' Can the />r«^a//- 6l T;6^ F I R S T T E S T I M O N Y. Scft. 11. iag party have the aflurance to affirm ; or, if they (hould affirm it, will any that are not blinded with prejudice, or under a powerful biafs, believe that the above particular injlances, which we have con- delcended upon to make good the charge laid againft them, have neither a direCl nor tndireB tendency to the prejudice and fuhverjion of the doBrine contained in our Confefion of Faith, or of our Prff- hyterian church government and difcipline? IV. The fourth thitzg contained in o\xv general charge is, • That ' thefe corrupt courfes are carried on with a high hand, notwith- ♦ ftanding that the ordinary means have been ufed to reclaim them, * and to itop the current of the prefent defedion.* It is what cannot be refufed, that, for many years by-paft, the above-mentioned arbitrary ftcps, that are fo plainly levelled againft our Prelbyterian conftitution, have been complained of by reprefen- tations and inJlruSiions from Synods and Prefbyteries, to our feveral General Aflemblies; and alfo the threatening figns that we are un- der of corruption in dodrine, and of innovations both in the method and ftrain of preaching, have been freely reprefented ; There has been a loud cry from Prefbyteries and Synods, in different corners of this church and land, that jujlice might he done to injured truth ; but, how are thefe reprefentations and inftrudtions treated ? They are once read in a Committee of inJlruSiions, but no more regarded. And, when Prefbyteries did inflrucl their Commiffioners to the two or three laft preceding AfTerablies, That, if the Committee fhould not tranfmit their ?nournful complaints to the General Alfembly, they fhould, as they would be anfwerable to their conftituents, bring them in to optn Affemhly ; yet, when this is done, they are borne doivn by fuperior numbers : They are told. The j^fembly's time is ever ; or, that the AfTembly has no time to enter upon the confide- ration of thefe things. — The laft Afemhly found time to intrude vii' hijlers into the parijhes of Stoiv and Kingoldrum, and to ^lizis fever e and unjufi fentences againft fome ininiflers in the Prefiytery of Dun- fermline, and tht four protejiing Brethren ; but had no time to con- iider the 'wt\^\ity grievances thnt the flock of Chrift are groning un- der : we mull fay it with regret, They found time to opprcj's them more and more, but not to help or relieve them. As reprefentations and inllrudlions have been frequently fent from Synods and Prelby- teries, concerning the above lamentable courfe ; fo a Reprcfentation and Petition, figned by s.hov& forty miniftcrs and fome elders y (with whom we did concur) was given in to the A/Vemhly 1732, concern- ing moft of the above-mentioned grievances ; but the /^ffembly's Committee cf bills refufed t-j tranfmit the fame : anJ, when wc offered cur Rcprefenlalion at the Jjfetnhly's bar, we were refuj'ed a hearing ; which obliged us to enter our Prctefta lion, as minilters and uiembers of this church, for our juft rights and privileges fo manifertly en- croHciied upon. Reprefentations and iiilliuclions to our fcvcral Af- fcniblics, are the means that the prevailing party own fliould be ufed ; but, how long have they been tried without fuccefs f To fay wc fhould ufe ihem, and yet iu the mean time to difregard and defpife The First Testimony. 63 them, is a mocking of the minifters and members of this church with a witnefs. — When thefe, and the like means have been fo Jong tried by Synods, Prefbyteries, and fome particular minifters and members of this church, but to no purpofe ; and when the Lord has been dealing with us, to reclaim us, both by threatned judgments, and alfo by a feries and train of merciful providences ; our condition feems to be the fame with that of fmning and backfliding Ifrael, of whom the Lord complains, Hof. vii. i. When J ixjould have healed Ifrael^ then the iniquity of Ephraim ivas difcovered, and the 'wickednefs of Samaria, V. The laft thing contained in our general charge is, ' That ' matters are come to fuch a pafs in this church, that we are excluded • from keeping up a proper teftimony againft the defedtions and back- « flidings of the prevailing party, in a way of minifterial communion • with them.' When petitions, reprefentations, and inftru(5lions to our feveral General Aflemblies are not regarded, ought we not doElrinally to difcover the evils that prevail amongft us, and lament over them in our feveral congregations before the Lord ? Ought we not judicially to protefi againft the fmful meaiures that are taken, not only for our own exoneration, but that a legal tejliviony againft fin and defedion, and for the truths of God, may be tranfmitted to pofterity ? And that both thefe are warrantable, we have already fhown. But the prevailing party in our church-judicatories, as they do not regard our reprefentations and petitions, lb they will not allow us to give either a do£irinal or a judicial iejiimojiy againft their defeftions and back- flidings : if we teftify in a doHrinal way againft the fame, then, ac- cording to the a£l and fentence of the lajl JJfef?ibly, we muft be brought to the bar of church-judicatories, and there be rebuked and adtnonijhed : and if we protejl againft fuch a cenfure, fo nearly afFecling the free and faithful exercife of our miniftry, or if we protefi for our juft right and privilege to teftify againft the defedions of this church, upon all proper occafions, then, according to the pjrefaid acl and fentence, we muft be fufpended from the exercife of our miniftry : If we cannot yield obedience to a fentence of fufpenfion inflided in an arbitrary way and manner, becaufe of our teftimony in the public caufe of God, then we maft be cafi out of the church ; we muft be declared no minifiers of the eftahlifhed church. — From all which it is plain, that the pre- vailing party will not allow us to maintain a proper teftimony, in a way of minifterial communion with them, againft their prefent fteps of defedion and backillding ; and therefore, it is not only nxiarrant-- able for us, but we are laid under a tiecejity, to lift up a teftimony, in a way o^fecejjion from them, againft the prefent current of defection, whereby our conftltution Is fubverteJ, our doctrine is corrupted, and the heritage and flock of Chrift are wounded, fcattered, and broken ; ihat-ct-j may not partake imih the?H in their fins, and may do, what in us lies, to tranfmit unto fucceeding generations thefe valuable truths that have besa handed dowa to us by the coatenJiugs aud ^4 T'/v First Testimony. Se£l. II. wreftiings of a great cloud of witneflcs in Scotlaad fincc the dawning of Rtiorination-liglit amongft us. Bur, becaufe our prefent fituation in providence, with reference to this church, confuiered abftradly from the word, cannot be the rule of our duty ; therefore we turn our eyes to the unerring rule tfths ivorj ofC'^d, looking toward the great /•/^/; Priejl of our pn,. Jfiffiovy who hath the Urim and Thummim, alt the trcafurcs ofiuif- dr)vi and kno'wledge in his brealt, that he may inftrutfl and teach us in the way that we fliould go : and we think, and arc perfuaded that his voice to us from the word, is that, Rom. xvi. 7. No-w, I befeech you, brethren, tnark them 'which caufe divifions and cffencet^ contrary to the dodrine ivhich ye have learned, and avoid them : where the Apoftle, under the condu«5l of the Spirit, charaderizes the dif- turbers of Chriftian fociety,' thefe th^t cau/e divifr^ns and offences^ contrary unto the doflrine that we havt learned. — We in this church have learned from our fore-fathers, in a cohfiftency with the word of God, that the Lord Jesus is the L'jrd, King, and Lanv-giver unto his church and people ; and that the office-hearers of his houfe have no lordly fjiver and authority over the Hock and heritage of God ; that the right of clewing minijlers belongs unto the people over whom they arc to have charge ; and that by all means it is to be avoided, that any minijler Jhould be thrujl in upon a Chrijiian con- gregalion : — We have learned, that, in the kingdo7n ofChrift, there IS no diiTerence between the man ivith the gold ring in gay clothing, and the 7?tan'with the vile raif/ient and attire ; that bond and free, mailer and fsrvant, are one in Chrijl : — We have learned, that it is unlawful to confer the rights and privileges of true church-members upon them who are ypen enemies to a covenanted work of Reforma- tion : — We have learned, that it is an iniquity \.o Jlrcngthen or fet up the right-hands of thenxiicked, or give them power or occafion to op- prefs the Lord's people, either in their civil or facred privileges: — We have learned, that minilters ought to be free and faithful, in giving warning againft prevailing corruptions, either in the pradice ot judicatories, miniders, or private Chriftians ; and that, infteaJ of being cenfured, they ought to be encouraged in fo doing : — We have Lamed, that a banner Ihould be difplayed for truth, againfl: the rifmg and prevailing errors of the time ; that the ccrfurcs of the church, fuch as rebukes, admonitions, fufpcnfioqs, and the like, Ihould be inHiJted upon tvil duers or erroneous teachers, and not upon thole who tell the truth, and arc founi in doflrine and -morals : — We have learned, X.\\a\. prottjling againll dcfi-'ctions in an Aifcmbly or church, is lawful and warrantabi?. Thefe and the like doiflrincs we have learned in this church : they that caufe divifions and offences arc thefe, who either in principle or praflice counterafl or deny them, and who cannot eiuiure them; hut who, by the m.ijority of their nniT.bers, having get the key of difciplinc in their hands, ftudy with all their might 10 fmolher and bury ih-^ie, and the like doiftrinss, by rcbukci, admonitions, fufpenfions, and higher cenfurcs. Jn which event the duty poinud out to us, by the lulpiicd apolUo, is twululd : ^he First Testimony. 6'y firft to f7!ark them ; the word fignifies to 'ilj^rve theni\ as a watch- man let upon a hi^h tower, in order to dcfcry the enemy that come? in to iovade and cfillurb the city of God : ' He is diligently to mark ' all comers, and to give notice accordingly for the fafety of the City;' as the contimiators of Pool upon the pla.:e exprefs it : and this is what we judge to be our rimy, as v.e are watchmen fet upon thf walls of the city of GnJ. — The Iccond duty incumbent upon us, by the direction of the Holy Ghod, is, to av^^id them ; or, as it reads in the margin, turn afiJe from them. The fum is, acccrJing to expoiltors, that fjund Chrijliam Jhould turn anxjay from tksm, and Jhun their foclely, that they may be aJJjarned : and this we judge war- rants us, in on? fecejfion from miniilerial communion with them, which is the only way we have now left us to avoid them. The fame duty we find alfo laid upon us by an txprefs amrnand^ and thst with :lfxrrial covnnuniar., by making every man liable to cenfure, who adventures to preach aj^ainlt their j)r?- fent dcfevflionsj — lleing they hive cafi ou' thoulands troni communioii with the church, in her fe.iling ordinances, who cannot join with //;- trudsd hirilitigs ; — and feeing thcle who are inlrnJed into the mini- llry, and w!io are very a(nive in carrying on the prefent dere«nion<;, though in the mem time they have no lawful call to aifl as minifterj of this church, m.ike fuch a conjiJcrable part of her judicatories ; — knd feeing, to crown all, the Alfcmblies of this church are become fo arbitrary in their proceedings of late, as to have no regard to in- Hruolions, petitions, and reprcfcntations againit a courfc of dcfci5tion, but e contra do eonmcnce proccHes, do rebuke, admonini, fufpcnd, and threaten higher ceiifurci upon miuilicik vf\\o preach and proiejl The First Testimony. C-j againft the above defe(5lions ; and fince mimjlers are net orilj fuf- pendid, but caji out from minifterial communion by the prevail'mg party in the eft;iblifhed church, merely for proiejiing for their juj} rights and privileges , to tejiify againji thefe and the like defeclions ; and becaufe they refufe to retraH their faid protej^aiions, or fuhmit to a mere authoritative fufpenfion for their tejlifnofiy in a caufe oi pub- lic concern. We do then upon the whole conceive, that although wc have hitherto continued contending and wreftling, in a way of church-communion, with our brethren, yet now, finding that there is no ftop put to the backflidiiig meafures, and that the current of defeftion runs with fuch an impetuous torrent, and that we are ex- cluded from keeping up a teftimony againft their many finfuJ and tinwarrantabie proceedings, in a way of church-communion with them; therefore, we judge it our duty to make a Secessios/V^?// viinijierial communion 'vjith the prefent prevailing party in the efta- bliJlTed church, till they are fenfihle of their above-tneniioiwd f.ns and mijiakes, and reform and amend the fame. But, notwithftanding of this our prefent SeceJJion from the pre- vailing party in the judicatories of this church, yet we hereby declare, as our Protefation bears, That we are willing to ' hold communion * with all fuch as defire with us to adhere unto the principles of the * true Prefbyterian covenanted church of Scotland, in her doftrine, ' difcipline, worfhip, and government ; and particularly with every * one who are groaning under thefe evils, and affefted with thefe ' grievances that w^e have been complaining of, and who are, in ' their feveral fpheres, vrreftling againft the fame ;' and we hope that there is a goodly number^of fuch in the feveral corners of this church. We make no doubt, but the odious charge of fchifnt will be laid againft us, efpecially by fuch as are carrying on this lamentable courfe of defedion. This prefent breach began firft on their fide., and not upon ours ; in fo far as the Synod of Perth and Stirling, condemned feveral truths emitted by Mr. Erfkine in his fynodlcal fermon, and appointed him to be rebuked at their bar for the faithful difcharge of his duty; and the late General Afl'embly appointed us every one to hz fufpended, and that becaufe we protejied for our juft right and privilege to teftify, on all proper occafions, againft the fins and dejedions of this church ; and, in cafe we Ihould not obey the fentence of fufpenfion, a cenfure of a higher nature was appointed to be Infi'fted upon us: and the Commiffion having, at their meeting in Auguft laft, execute the faid fentence oi fufpenfion, as we did proteft both before and after the execution of the fame, that it fhould be held and repute null and void ; and that it fhould be « lawful for us * to exercife our miniftry as formerly we have done, and as if no fuch * cenfure had been paft ; in regard we were not convided of any * thing, in do(flrlne or praflice, contrary to the received principles * of this church, or our ordination vows and engagements ;' fo we did accordingly fxifr^-y/t- ourminiftry notwithftanding of the faid fen- tence, and could not fubmit to a fentence by 7>iere church-authority ; and, becaufe of our teftinaony in the public caufe of God, difcharg- T 2 ^8 The First Testimony. Scft. 11. ing us to cxercife that mmiRry which we haVe received from the Lord : And therefore the Commillion nf the General AfTembly did, at tlieir meeting in November lalt, declare us to he t:c longer Diinijlers cf the cjlahliJloeA church. — Thus we have continued contending and Y.Tsft'.ing ;ig.niiil the prefent defecations and backflidings, in a way of cburch'coir.munion, till the prevailing party have tkrtijl us out from aoiong them ; therefore the charge oi fchtfm cannot be jultly laid at oar door. But, befiJes, when the nature of fchifrn is particularly confidercd, we hope it will be evident unto all who are i<^)prejudiced, that we cannot be jufl I y charged with the fame. — Schifm is a caullefs fepara- tion from a church, well conRitute, found in dodttin?, pure in wor- ihip, impartial in difcipline, and a> cling to the fame. T'ke F I R S T T E S T I M O K Y. 6^ g. We believe \Tith our hearts, nnd confefs with our mouths. That our Lord Jefus Chrift, :is he is the alone Head and King of liis church, fo he hath appointed -a particular form of governvteni therein, to continue to the end of the world unalterable : and we do receive and embrace Prejlyterian church-govcrv.mer.t , by Kirk-feffions, Synods, Prelbyteries, and Affemblies, as that form of government which we judge to be agreeable to, and founded upon the word of God, as defcribed in our h-joks of difcipline, and the propofitions concern- ing church-government, received and approven by the .Affbmbly i 645, leffion 16. And we hereby condemn all Seftai ian errors whalfoever, contrary unto, or inconfiltent with, the forefaid government, inlti- tuted and appointed by the Lord Jefus in his houfe. 4. We believe, That the vifihle church, which is alio catholic and iiniverfal, under the gofpel, conllfts of all thefe through the •world, \.hdi\. profefi the true religion, and of their children ; and is the kingdom of our Lord Jefus Chrift, and houfe and family of God, unto which Chrift hath given the miniftry, oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gathering and perfecting the faints in this life to the end of the world. 5. After that the Lord was gracioully pleafeJ, by the Spirit of his mouth, and the brightnefs of his coming, in a goJpel-difpenfa- tion, to fcatter the clouds of Antichriftian darknefs that had cover- ed this w^hole land ; our fathers did, according to fcripture- warrant and example, hy foleTnn covenant, bind and engage both themfelves and their pofterity, to cleave and adhere unto the dodtrine, worihip, difcipline, and government of the Lord's houfe ; and to join with their profefllon of the gofpel, fuch a life and converfatpon as becom- eth Chriftians ; whereby this ivhclc riatlon was devoted to the Lord. We therefore believe and confefs the perpetual Obligation of the 7iaiional covenant, frequently fworn by all ranks of perfons in Scotland ; as alfo the perpetual Obligation o{ x\\z fAemn league and covenant, fworn in the year 164;, for maintaining and carrying on a work of Reformation in the three nations, and renewed after- Ti-ards in Scotland in the year 164S, with a folemn acknowledgment of fins and breaches of the fald covenant, and a folemn engagement to the duties contained therein : which oaths and covenants, we be- lieve to be inviolable in their obligation upon this and all fucceedlng generations. 6. We believe. That Chrift hath appointed church-officers under him, diftinft from \.ht civil jnagijirate ; and that to thefe ofhcers, the Keys of the kingdom ol heaven are coinmitted ; the key oi doc- trine, for opening the myfteries of the gofpel, and wonderful things of his laix}; the key oi difcipline zxiA government, for the prefervati- on o( the beauty, order, and purity of his church, and for purging out of her, errors in principle, or fcandals in praiflice, whereby flje is in danger of being corrupted. 7. As thefe miniRers and officers in the kingdom of Chrift are in their teaching Iwunded unto the doilrine of the word, or faith deli- vered to the faints ; fo in their government of the church they art limited to that fyuem ef laws, and that form and mould of govern- 70 The First Testimony. Se£l. II. ment he hath delivered, which are every way complete, without al- tering the land-marks of his kingdom, or impofing upon his church the commandments of men, which is an inv.iding of his prerogative as the alone King and Laivgiver of Zion : And therefore we believe, that the decrees and determinations of all councils, made up of fal- lible men, are no further to be received or fubmitted to by the church, than in fo far as they are confonant unto the word of God. 8. We believe. That, when the plurality of officers in any parti- cular church under the new Teftament, do make defeflion from the purity of dodrine, worfhlp, or government, attained to; to the pre- fervation and maintenance of which, they and the whole land are bound by the oath of God : and when, notwithftanding of thefe oaths y they do praftically combine to overthrow the do<5lrine, worfliip, go- vernment, and difcipline of the houfe of God, by countenancing and fupporting of error, or erroneous teachers, by fubverting the confti- tution, by depriving the true members of the church of their rights, and conferring them upon the open enemies of a work of Reforma- tion, whom they take into their bofom, to the fadning of the hearts of the godly, and to the ftrengthning of the hands of evil doers ; and when, notwithftanding of remonltrances, teftimonies, and pro- tellations, they not only go on obftinately in their arbitrary methods, but proceed to inflidt the cenfures of the church upon thefe who, in any of the forefaid ways, teftify againft their meafures : Then, and in that cafe, we believe it lawful for the lesser part of church- officers, who are holding the head, and keeping the foundation of government, to manage the Keys of the kingdom of heaven, in an agrceublcnefs to the la^vos of Chrijl, and for tht: benefit of his myjti- cal body i and, in fo doing, they have more ground to look for the promifed prefence of Chrift with them, though their number be fraall, than the majority, who are proceeding as above, Mat. xxviii. 19, 20. 9. We Ijeiieve, That it appertains unto every feveral congregation to eh^ their own minifters and officers ; and that altogether it is to be -avoided, that any man be violently intruded or thrult in upon any congregation; and that this liberty Ihould with all care be leferved to every feveral congregation, to have their minifters fettled among them with thtir own call and confcnt : And confequeutly, that the A^^t J732j reftriding the power of the eledion of minifters to heritors and elders, v.-ithout confent of the people, and giving an equal power of elefiion to non-refiding heritors, ;ind even to ihofe that are not of our communion, is a dangerous innovation upon the rights ol the church, and the principles of the Reformation, which, fmce that happy period, this church hath been all along contending for; and thai the faid ad is contrary unto the word ol God, which gives the right ofeltcling officers to Chriftian congregations, without difference between rich and poor. ]0. We believe. That it is the duty of f.iitlifiil minifters, when defeclions prevail in a church, and when iniquity is cftablilhcd by law, to f.'ive faithful nuarr/ing ag.iinft the prevailing evils ol the time: And whin ccnfured for i:, tlinuj:h at the bar of an Aflemldy, it is ihiir duty to p>otef for the taulc of liulh, lli.a il may not fall in the The First Testimony. 71 Rrects ; and, when fufpended, or otherwife cenfured, that it is their duty to continue in the exercife of their miniftry, neceffity being laid upon them by their dedication to that office, and the command of God, to preach the gofpe!, and fo to obey God rather than man ; efpecially when it is confidered, that fubmiflion to arbitrary authority, in a cafe wherein the public caufe is concerned, is a plain giving-up with their teftimony. Having now declared our adherence to the dod:rine, worfiiip, government, and difcipline of the church of Scotland ; and having laid open the grounds and reafons of our Seceffion from the prefent prevailing party in the judicatories of this church : as we defire to hz humbled before the Lord, for the manifold abounding fins, and the great degeneracy of the age wherein we live j and particularly for all the evils above-mentioned, for which a righteous and koly God may juftly forfake and ca(l off this church and land ; efpecially when it is confidered to what a great hight our contempt of the gofpel of Chrift, andofChrift himfelf,;, the great fubftance of the gofpsl, h come, together with our impenitency under all our heinous fins and abominations : fo we likewife warn all and every one, and particu- larly the people of our refpsfli'je congregations, ferioufly to confider thefe things, to be humbled for them, and to turn to the Lord with weeping and fupplication, that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from us, and that he may be gracioufly pleafed to re- turn unto us, and may heal our backflidings and breaches, xhat ghry may yet dixit II in our land : yea, under our abounding fins, and the manifold evidences of the Lord's anger, his voice unto us feems to be. Gather yourfehes together, yea, gather together, nation not dejired : before the decree bring forth, before the day pafs as the chaff, befre the fisrce anger of the Lord C07ne upon you, before the day of the Lord''s anger come upon you. Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, 'whick have lurought his jndgvient ; feek righleoufnefi, feck meeknefs : if may bey ye Jball be hid in the day of the Lord^s anger, Zeph, ii. i, 2, 3. SECT. IIT. Reafons by the protejling Minijlers for the Validity of their Pafloral Relation to their refpe^i-ce Congregations, TH E Commiffion of the General A/Tembly, by their a^ and fentence pad againil us, Loofe our pafloral relation to our re- fpeEiive parijhes, and declare our churches vacant from and after the date of their fentence. And our Proteftation, entred at the intimat- ing of the above fentence unto us, bears, That, notwithftanding of this fentence pafl againft us, our pafloral relation fiall be held and repute, finn and valid ; and in our faid Proteftation, we declare our adherence to the Proteftation formerly entred before this court at their meeting in Aug-jil : and, becaufe that Proteftation contains fome weighty reafons for the njHity of any fentence affecting our miniibri«ii oG:c, or the eicrclTe of it amongll the perple of our re- 72 The First Testimony. Seft. HI. fpcdtlvc charges ; we lli.ill inlert it here, though it is already publillied in our feveral Rsprcfintations given in at th.it time to the CoiTimiffion; and it is as follows : ' And i'uriiier, We ure obliged to proteO, likeas by thefe prefents we do protell tor ourfclves, and in name of all the minifters and vionhers of this church adhering to us ; as alfo in the name of ail and every one in O'^- rcfp^Siive congrcgati:/Tu who fhall adhere unto us, againft any cenfiire that may be inflicted upon us, affeifling our minillerral oHice, or the exercife thereof, as null and void in itl'elf; and that it ihall be law,ful and warrantable for us to exercife our miniltry as hitherto we have done, and as if no fach cenfurc had been inflidlcd upon us ; in regard, we are not convidled of depart- ing from any of the received principles of this church, or of coun- teracllng our ordination vows and engagements ; but, on the con- trary, are fentenced to ccnfure by the 1 ite General AfTembly, for protefling againft a decifion, whereby injury is done to fome truths of God N-^ihich we aie obliged to own and confefs, and whereby we are brought under thefe new and unwarrantable terms of minifterial communion above-inentioned, which we look upon as incpnfiftent with the word of God, and our ordination voa-s and engagements; as alfo, for all the above reafons and caufcs, why we cannot re- tract our paper given in to the laie General Alfembly. — And fur- ther, wc do protel}, That, if in confequcnce of any cenfure ;nHi>fted upon us, whether of fufpenfion, or of a higher nature, any minirter or probationer Hiall exercife any part of our miniilerial work in our refpe6live congregations, the fame fliall be held and repute as an intrufion upon our miniil;erlal labours. — As alfo, we proteft, That if any other miniiler Ihall be fettled in our congre- gations, that the fame ihall be held and repute as an intrufion upon our pafloral charges ; and thr.t the people of our refpetflive con- gregations fhall not be obliged to own, acknowledge, or fubmit unto fuch as their lawful paftors ; feeing we were ordained to take the overfight of them with their own call and confcnt, and v.-ith confent of the Preibytery into which we \vere received, and have not been convicted of receding from our ordination vows and en- • gagements.' In confequence of the aliovc Proteflatlon, we have* continued to crcqrcife our miniftry amongll the people of our rcfpedlive charges ; and wc judge it our duty fu to do, becaufe, as our faid Proteft.ition bears, we were ordained to take the overlight of them with their owv call and cotipiity and with the confent of the Preibytery into which we were received, and hiiv: not hren conviitvii of dip.xrting frcrn any eT the received principles of this church, or of C'unteraiiing our ordin-t- tioH vows and engagements. Th;u we were ordained to take the over- fight of our rcfpeitive congregations with their own call and confent, and with the confent of our iVvcral Prefbyterics, is what cannot be controverted: and we affirm, that our pilloral relation cannot be loofcd by any of the judicatories of the church, unlcfs by tranfport- ation to another congregation, but this is not our cafe ; or by fome legal cudcncc ordocumeuitbaiwe have departed iu Uottriuc or pruc- The FiRST Testimony. 73 tice from the received principles ot this church, or that we hive covin- teradted our ordination vows and enga;::;ements; but none of ihefe taks place here : And therefore onr paRoral rel ition to our refpeflive pa- rifhes nnufl; fubfift, :ind be dill held and repuie iiroi and valid, as will appear fiom the following particul;irs : I. There is no documentor evidence bro'vq;ht againft us, that we have departed either in doclrine or praifl^ice from the received princi- ples of this church ; this was never laid to our charge : For the truth of what we affirm, we appeal to the procefs itfelf, and to ihzfjutence that was palfed againft us, where no fuch thing is laid to our charge ; befides, we have with great folemnity declared, in onr fe- veral Reprefentations given in to the Commiffion, our adherence to all the principles of the church of Scotland, a« they are laid down in our Confejfion of Faith, our DireHory for p, and in the FotJ.t ol church-government t received and approven by this church. What principle then of the church have we departed from ? Let orr managers fliow it, if they can. Their f'rntence, as it ftands conaetfled •with the act that the lait General AlTemhlv palfed againft us, is founded upon our proteftaiion againft a decifion of that Affembly, and on our refufal to retradt the fame, together with our non-fub- mlffion to a fentence of fufpenfion palled and execute againft us : But we afk our managers, Is it a principle of this church, that in no cafe the miniRers and members thereof may proteft againft an aft of fentence of a General AfTen^bly I We are fure, this is fo far from being a principle of the church of Scotland, that it is contrary to our Reformation and Proteftanc principles; this is to fet up an ab- folute power and auth;jrity in the fupreme judicatory of the church, to which all ought to. fubmit without gainfayiag or counterafting, which is the very thing the Pope of Rome pleads for, unto the cn- flaving of the confciences of men, by requiring a blind fubjeftion and obedience to his dilates, without examining the fame according to the word of God : Yea, fuch a principle as this would open the flood-gates of defeclion from cur Reformation-principles, and would effectually wreft cut of cur hands a proper mean for exoneration of our own confciences, and for tranfmitting to pofterity a teftimony for truth, and againft the fins and defeclions of a backfliding church. 2. We are not convliie.l of counteracting our ordination vows and engagements ; neither is this fo much as alledged in the fentence palfed againft us : Yea, our condudt for which we are condemned i^ moit agreeable to the engagements we came under when we were ordained to the office of the miniftry ; in regard we have promifed and engaged, never to endeavour, direftly nor indirectly, the preju- dice or fuaverfion of our Preftjyterian church-sfcwernment and dif- cipline ; asid that, to the utmoft of our power, we fh?.ll, in our feve- ral ftations afiert, maintain, and defend the fame. And when it was evident to us, that by the act of Affembly 1732, and by the prefent proceedings of church-judicatories in the violent fettlement of congregations, a deep wound h given unto our Prefb) terian con- K 74 7"/f First Testimony. Scft. III. dilution, and that by the decifion of the laft Aflembly the mouths vl minitiers are fnut {rem teftifying againft thefe or the like evils, as we have already made evident ; we could not but reckon that we were obliged, by our ordination vows and engagements, to proteft for o'lrjuft privilege and duty to teftify agaiuft the ad of Aflembly I732> or the like detection?, upon all proper occafions. ;. It is the command of the Head and King of the church unto us in his own word, that we fhould taie heed unto ourfilves, and tf 17H the flock over 'which the Holy Ghoji hath made us overfesrs, to feed the church of Cod nuhich he hath purchafed luith his oivn blood, Adls XX. 28. I Pet. v. 2. And that we Jhould take heed to the minifiry ivhich ive have received in the Lord, to fulfil it. Col. iv, 17. This is what we hav*i folemnly promifed and engaged unto, when we were let over our refpective congregations : And lince we are not convitft- ed of any thing in doflrine or pra»5lice, contrary to the received principles of this church, or our ordination vows and engagements, we cannot but look upon this fmgular and uncommon cenfure, loof- inyj our relation to our particular congregations, as a cenfure that has no foundation in the M'ord of God, or in the conftltutions of the church of Scotland agreeable thereto : and therefore, in this cafe, we muft judge it our duty to obey God rather than man ; and to regard the command of God in his word, more than the z&. or fentence of any fynod or council whatfoever ; and to endeavour, according to the meafure of the grace of God given unto us, to fulfil our miniftry amonglt the people comiiiiited to our charge. 4. From the above particulars it is evident, that if any minifter or probationer ihall exercife any part of our miniflierial work, in our re- ipedive congregations, or if any other minifter Ihall be fettled in oar faid congregations, the fame Ihall be held and repute an intrufion up- on our mini)terial labours and paftoral charges ; as alfo, that the peo- ple of our feveral congregations (hall not be obliged to own, acknow- ledge, or fubmii unto fuch as their lawful paftors J yea, iftheyfubniit to theminillry of any who, in confequence of the fentence palTcdagaiiill us, exercife any part of our miniiterial work, they countcra(ft whit they have folemnly promlled and engaged, in regard that the calis they have given unto us bear a folcmn promife and engagement, ' To ' give due rcfpctfl to our perfons, as minifters of Chrilt, and obedieni e « and fubmiilion to our miniftry in the Lord; and to do what they caa < toftrengllien our hands, and encourage us in this great work, as « bccotnes a dutiiul people to their lawful puftors.' If it is alledged. That the peojile ought to fubmit to the public iudc^mcnt of the church ; We anfwer. They ought not to give a blind and implicit obedience to any church whatfoever, and that they ought to examine the fentcnces of all Synods and Councils by the nuord of God. The Hcreaus uic conunended, Afts xvif. n, for examining the do<51rinc ol the great apolUc Paul by the word ; and his authority as a:) apollle was fupcrior to that of ;iny fallible fynoil or council. JLct the word of CcJ, and the principles ol this church agreeable thereto, be judge betwixt the prevailing party and us: \Vc appeal to their own fcntcucc pafL'U agala.l us, \vh;rci.i nothing The F I R S T T E S T I M O N' Y. 75 is laid to onr charge contrary to the nuord of God, or the received principles of the church of Scotland; and it is allowed 'oy all cafuiRs, that, if the true paftors of the church are by mere human auihonty caft out, and others intruded in their (lead, that it is the duty of the people to own their relation to their true pallors, and torefnfe lub- jedlion to fuch as are thruft in upon them in their room. — To con- clude this head, can we from fcripture, or from the conftitutioa and principles of this church, or can we be anfwerable to our ordination vows and engagements, if we fhould, in obedience to the arbitrary will and command of men, flee from our flocks, and leave them to be difperfed, fcattered, and broken ? Will it be a fufficient apology for us to fay. That the AfTembly, or their Commiflion, have difcharged us to exercife our miniftry amongll them, when the chief Shepherd of the fheep has commanded us to take heed to the flock over ivhich we are ?fiade overfeers, and to feed them ? Or, will it be difalvo tor us in this cafe, that our fubjection ftrengthens and fupports church' authority, when that authority, not only in this particular, but in many other inftances, is abufed at this day to the prejudice and op- prefljon of the heritage of God, being exercifed in a way oppofite to the word of God, and fubverfive of our conflitution ? Therefore we judge it our duty to eiercife our miniftry amongft the people of our refpective congregations, notwithftanding of the above fentence pafled againft us, as formerly we have done : And, for the reafons that we have now given, we cannot but look upon the faid fentence, loofing our paftoral relation to our feveral parifhes, as ««//and void in itfelf ; and confequently, that our paftoral relation to our feveral parifhes does fubfill, and mufl: beheld and repute firm and valid, as if no fuch fentence had been paft. Likewife we are bold to warn all and every one in our refpedlive congregations againfl any that may exercife any part of our minifterial work among them, in confequence of the forefaid fentence, as intruders upon our paftoral work and charge, whom they ought neither to own nor acknowledge, and to whofe miniftry, as lawful pallors over them, they ought not to fubmit. SECT. IV. Reafom by the protejiing Minijien for their exercifing the Keys of Government and Discipline, accordhi'i to their Protejiation entred before the Comnujfori. WHEN the Commiflion of the General Aflerably did intimate their fentence unto us, loofing our paftoral relation, ibc. we did proteft, * That it fhould be lawful and warrantable for us to * exercife the /if)\f of ^(;(f7r;'w/?, difciplinc, znd goverTimsnt, according;' * to ihz ixjord oi God, ovlT Confefion of Faith, and the principles and ' conftitutions of the covenanted church of Scotland.' As this is the laft head of our proteftation, fo we fnail briefly cfl'er fonie few rea- fons for fupporting the fame. K 2 >]() The First Testimony. Sc4ninj; uijd.T the weight of violence .uid opnrcflion by the intrufion The First TEStiMONY. 77 of minifters upon them, and crying for help and relief from the pre- fent judicatories of the church, but finding none, makes it the more neceflary for us now, when we are caft out by the prevailing party from minifterial communion with them, to aflbciate ourfelves toge- ther for the exercife of government and difciplinc, that fo we may be in fome capacity of affording help and relief to the diftrefTed and opprefled heritage of God through the land, according to the word of God, and the rules and conftitutions of the church of Scotland. Thus we have laid open the Reasons of our Proiejiation, entred before the Commiffion of the General AfTembly November laft, ar.d have made a free and plain declaration of our principles ; being con- Ihaiaed in this day of trouble and treading d'j'um, and of darknefs and perplexity from the Lord God cf Hojls in our valley ofvifion, according to the meafure of light and ftrength which we have received of the Lord, to bear tellimony for the reformed doBrine and Declaration and Teftimony FOR The DOCTRINE, WORSHIP, DISCIP- LINE, and GOVERNMENT of the CHURCH OF SCOTLART): AGREEABLE TO The Word of God, the Confeflion of Faith, the National Covenant of Scotland, and the> Solemn League and Covenant of the Three Nations: AND AGAINST Several Steps of Defection from the fame, both in former and prefent Times. B Y Some Ministers affociate together for the Exerclfe of Church Government and Difcipline in a Presbyte- RiAL Capacity. with An Introduction, containing the Grounds of their AlVociating into a Preibytery, and the Reasons of their emitting this Aft and Teftimony. To which is alfo fubjoincd, The Accession of the Rev. Mr. Ralph Erskine, and the Rev, Mr, Tk'owas Mair, to the laid Prefbytery and the prefent Teftimony. [ 8i ] THE INTRODUCTION. TH E CommiiTion of the General Aflembly that met at Edin- burgh, November 1733, having, by their acl and fentence-, declared Mr. Ehenezer Erfkine, minifter at Stirling, Mr. William Wilfon, miniiler at Perth, Mr. Alexander MoncriefF, minifter at Abernethy, and Mr. James Fiiher, minifter at Kinclaven, to he «» longtr jjiinijlers of this church, &c. Upon the intimation of the a- bove fentence, the forefaid minifters gave in a Protejlation, bearing a SeceJJion from the judicatories of the church, and that it fhould bs lawful and warrantable for them to exercife the keys of doctrine, difcipline, and government, according to the word of God, Con- fellion of Faith, and the principles and conftltutions of the covenanted church of Scotland. As the Rtafons of their Seceffion w^ere publiftied fome time there- after, in a paper intituled, A Tejlhnony to the doilrinc, 'v^orJJnp, gO' vernment, and difcipline of the church of Scotland \ \ io, in confe- quence of the lafi part of their above Protefiation, after mature and ferious deliberation, they came to a refolution to confiitute themfelves into a Prefbyterial Mcetitigy for the exercife of church government and difcipline, as the Lord fliould clear up their way : and that for the following weighty reafons. 1. The keys of govertiment and difcipline are given to minifters, and belong to the paftoral office, ' as well as the key of doQrine ; with this difference, that the key of doftrine may be exercifed by e- very fmgle paftor alone ; whereas the key of government and dif- cipline, muft be exercifed. by paftors, two or threa in collegia. And ■when they confidered \.\\l\:four tniniflers, ht'ingthniji out all at once from minifterial communion with the prefent judicatories, were a com- petent number for alTociating together for the exercife of government and difcipline, they judged it a fpecial and very: particular call in provi- d-jnce, to aftbciate themfelves Prefbyterially, that they might be in a condition and capacity to exercife all the parts of their paftoral office, according to the power and authority given them by the Lord Jefus, Mattb. xvi. 19. Chap, xviii. 18. John xx. 23.; and his exprefs com- mand to /?<■ur to lift up a judicial teflimony for Scotland's covenanted Reformation, and ayainft the prefent dcclin- ings and backdidlngs from the f^imt.-. And fince the judicatories were carrying on a courfe of backflidinc;, they thought it the more incum- bent on them, though their number was fmall, and their hands weak, to improve the opportunity providence had given ihcm, by ufing their endeavours in a judicial way, to bear witncfs for the truths of God, againlt a (Irong current of defection «nd backlliding from the Jame. — For thefe, and other weighty reafons, they did, hy fohmti prayer, CONSTITUTE themfelves into a Prrjbyierial Meeting, fometime after they were call out from the judicatories of the church. The af'.ciate viinifcrs agreed, that they would not be fuddeti in proceeding to any a«5ls of jurifdiction, but refolvcd, before any fuch procedure, to wait if the judicatories i>f the church would return to the Rcformation-ftandards ; and therefore, they held their meet- ings mainly for afking couufei of the Lord, and for mutual advice in their prefent fituation, and for llrengthcning bf one another's hands in the way and work of the Lord. When t!ie General Affcmbly met at Edinburgh, May 1734. the majority of the members appeared to be oppolite to the meafures taken by Ibiii^ former AfTcoiblies and their Connnfllous. Among INTRODUCTION. 8j other things enav5led by that Anembly, they impowered the Synod of Perth and Stirling, under certain limitations, mentioned in their aft, to rejiorc the /our minifters to their refpeftive minifterial charges: they likewife paft an aft concerning minijlerial freedom. And when, fome time afterwards, the Synod of Perth and Stirling, clothed with this delegated power from the faid AfTembiy, had taken off the fentences pronounced by the Commiffion of the General AfTembiy 1733, againfl: the forefaid four brethren, it was the judgment of many, both minifters and private Chriftians, that they fliould have inftantly acceded unto the judicatories of the church. The forefaid rninijiert having frequently met to confidjr what was their duty in the prefent junfture, ih.t quejiion before them was. If the grounds of their fsccfjionivere removed by ixhat the^lfevibly 1734 had done ? Or, if they were fo far removed, that without counter- ailing the teflimony, which by a particular and fpecial providence was put into their hands, they might return to the judicatories of the church ? And having deliberately and ferioufly coniidered the fore- faid queftion, as the weight and importance of the matter did require; and particularly having confidered the conduft of the Afiembly 1734, with refpeft to the ad zndfentence of the preceding Afiembly, palled againft themfelves, whereby minijlerial freedom, in tefiifying doclri- nally againft the defeftions and backflidings of this church was con- demned, and the liberty o{ protejiuig, for exoneration againft a fmful fentenceand decifionof a General Afiembly, afFefting the public caufa and intereft of Chrift, was nurejled out of the hands of the minifters and members of this church ; they found, that the faid Aft of Al- fembly 1733, ftands to this Atl^ unrepealed ; and that the Synod of Perth and Stirling, were exprefly bound up from judging in the legality ov formality oi \.\it former proceedings of the church-judica- tories in relation to this affair, and from ceufuring any of their pro- ceedings againft the four protefting minifters, though in their cafe church-power was fcrewed up to a moft exorbitant height. — Like- wife they found, that the Aft of the faid Afl'embly 1734, concerning piinijlerial freedo7n, was fofar from afl"erting that freedom and liberty, which belongs to the minifters of the gofpel, and which in the pre- fent cafe was contended for, that their teflimotiy in this point, w;^s by the faid Aft materially condc?nned, in fo far as the Aft declares, That due and regular minijierial freedom nvas not i'mpaired nor re- frained by the preceding /IfJ'emhly's decifionj-n the procefs againfl thf forefaid 7niniflers : and therefore, the a(fi and fentence of the ^i- fembly 1734, alledged to be paft in their favours, together with the Aft of the faid Afiembly anent viiniflerial fretdom, inftead oi remov- ing the grounds upon which they found themfelves obliged to declare a leceflion from the judicatories, did, upon the matter, condemn the teftimony which they judged their duty to give againft the proceed- ings of the Afi'embly 1732. — All that was done by the forefaid i\i- fembly 1734, in the cafe of the protefting: minifters, v/as, that the Synod of Perth and Stirling was impowered, upon fome political ccnfiderations, to reftore the faid minifters to their refpeftive charges ; when yet their allsdgsd guilt and crime, in protefing ag;ainft the L 2 84 INTRODUCTIONS decifion of the Aflembly i7^?, is K\\\ fuppofed, and they (land con- denmed for the fame. — Likewife they found, that the Acl concerning the Prefbytery of Dunfermline, whereby unwarrantable terms of ininiltsrial and Chriftian communion are impofed upon the minillers ;ind members of this church, J}ands Jlill in force : as alfo, that no judicial tejiimony was lifted up againft the grofs errors overfpreading the whole land. -Therefore, tor thefe, and the like reafons, which are laid open more fully in z print publifhed immediately before the nesting of the AiTembly 1735 *, iht aJJ'.ciate ininijiers had not free- dom to re-enter into the judicatories of the church, by the door whicJi was at that time opened unto them. Bur, in regard the forefaid Affembly 17^4, did put fome ftop to the unwarrantable proceedings of former Afl'smblies and their Commiffions, they judged it their duty to continue their meetings at that time as formerly, without proceeding to any ads of government and difcipline. When the General Aflembly met at Edinburgh 17;? 5, that edge and concern, which appeared to be in the preceding AfTembly, was fomewhat cooled and blunted: for though it was prefTed by inftruc- tions from feveral Prefbyteries xXxaX. xht acceptance 'f prefentations might be duly tejiified againji, yet this, and other motions toward Preformation, were upon political conCiderations laid afide ; and though both this and the former AfTembly appointed their refpcclive CommilTions to appoint a national fajl ; yet, in thefe acis for national f.iiting, there was x\o particular emaneraticn of the evils and defections of the day and time wherein we live : this, together with fome other fleps taken by the forefaid Affembly, and which are more fully nar- rated in the following A£i and Teftini'.ny, were a lamentable evi- dence, that a fmcere and thorough Reformation was neither aimed TiOr intended. When the General Aflembly met, Anno 1736, they went flill fur- ther backward from any thing like true Refonuation-work. — They i^ppointed the Prefbytery of Stirling to proceed to the feltlcmcnt of a prefentee to the parifh of Denny, though the elders and far greater part of the people of that perilh vjtTt^diJfenting and reclaiming. — Likewife they appointed the Synod and Prefbytery of Dumfi -^s, to inrol the intruder into the parilli of Traquair, as a member of thefe judicatories. — And further, inlb^ad of condemning the many grofs and dangerous errors, vented by Mr. Archibald Campbell, profelfor of chnrch-hillory at St. Andrews, whicli have a minifell tendency to fubvert all religion, natural and revealed, they difmllfed him "Nvithoiit any cenfure whatfoever ; and, (as will appear in the follow- ing Aft and Tertimony) they have likewife adopted his pernicious principle concerning fclf-lovc, wlicreby, inftcad of removing the j'orvttr^ a fl^iy and llrong ground oi feccjlon is added. The Viinijlcrs ajjociate in Prejhytery, having thus waited for a con- fiJerabic time, to fee if the judicatories of the church would lilt up • T!m< P.iprT U intlilcfl, Re:ifon« by Mc/Trs. E'lcn. EifVinc, Viiron, Mon- rti, (T, 4i-.d Fiihcr, why tlicy Iiavc not acceded 10 the judiciiorits of thr fl ' ;ii>i'.l tliuuU. I^N T R O D U C T I O K. 85 a particular teftimony againft the evils of the prefent, and the fins of former times ; but beholding, with regret, the conduift of fome former General A fTemblies, thar, inilead of going forward in Pvcfor- mation-work, they had gone vifibly backward in many inllauces : Therefore, after mature and ferious deliberation, they judged it their duty to emit a judicial declaration or tejihnony for the doflrine, worfhip, government, and difcipline of the church of Scotland, and againft former and prefent defetflions from the fame ; and that for the following reafons. 1. The iniquities and lackjlidings of former times have never beea particularly acknowledged nor condemned, by the judicatories of this church, fince the Revolution ; neither have the valuable pieces of Reformation, once attained unto by this church and land, nor the contendings and wreftlings of the former fufFering period againft de- feifllons from the fame, been judicially juftified and approven ; tho' the former are juft grounds of the Lord's controverfy againft the land, and the latter the privilege and the honour of this church. 2. Tho' the backflidings and defeflions of this church are many, and a flood of error and profanenefs at prefent overflows the land ; yet, a banner is not judicially difplayed for truth, and againft the prevailing evils oi tht prfent time : And therefore, 3. A judicial teftimony appears to be necefi'ary at this time, for the glory of God, for the information and conviflion of the prefeni generation, for the Information of pcferity, and that truth may be iranfmltted to them with afuitable teftimony thereunto : For It jnult be owned, that this Is a debt which one generation owes to another, to ufe their endeavours to tranfmit the truths of God in their purity unto them ; and, when truth is oppofed and controverted, it ought to be delivered off our hands to the following generation, with a more folemn and peculiar teftimony unto it. 4. The Lord having, in his adorable providence, permitted the judicatories of the church to caft out from communion with them fur minifiers, at a time when the current of defedion was ftrong ; and they having at the fame time made a Secejfion from them, upon the grounds contained in their protejlation given in to the Commif- fion in November 1733, and more fully laid open in their tcjiimony afterwards publllhed ; and thefe reafons and grounds of their Seceffi- on not being to this day removed ; they judge, that now when they have entred into a Prefbyterial Affbciation, for the reafons above condefcended upon, that the fame adorable providence calls them to lift up the ftandard of a judicial teftimony for the truths of God, and againft a courfe of backfliding from the fame : And to this they find themfelves more efpecially and more particularly called, v/hen they confidcr that a teftimony of this kind has been fo long wanting, and fo much defired by many that fear the Lord through the land ; and tho' Ic has been fo neceilary, as has been already obfer.-ed, yet there is now no hope of obtaining it from the prefent judicatories of the church. 5. They were tlie more excited to emit this declaration and tefti- mony, -th.ii they mig!it mike ia o[Tiii coaf^lhon of iheir priuci^-leo, U INTRODUCTION. that the world might fee what they own and acknowledge, and up- on what foundation they defire, through the grace of the Lord Jefus, to ftand. 6. They reckoned themfelves ftill the more obliged unto this duty, both from the fpecial and particular engagements they came under at their ordination, to fulfil that miniftry which they received from the Lord, whereby they are bound to teach the ohfervance of all things nuhatfoever the Lord Chrift has commanded them, and that not only do£irinally, h\iX. judicially, as the Lord gives opportunity : and likewife from the obligation which they, as well as the whole land, are under by folemn oath to the moll High God, ' That we ' fliall fincerely, really, and conftantly, through the grace of God, * endeavour, in our feveral places and callings, theprefervationof the * reformed religion in the church of Scotland, in dodrine, worfliip, * difcipline, and government ; — and, that we fhall not give our- ' felves to a deteftable indifferency or neutrality in this caufe ; but * fhall, all the. days of our lives, zealoufly and conftantly continue * therein.' .^ The forefaid minifters, being met in Prefbytery, appointed fome of their number to prepare the draught of an y}£i and Tejiimony, af- ferting the dodrine, worfhip, government, and difcipline of the church of Scotland ; and condemning feveral fteps of defedion from the fame, both in former and prefent times : And the faid draught having been prepared and laid before the Prefbytery, it was, in fe- veral meetings, ferioufly and deliberately confidered, reafoned upon, and amended ; and, as thus amended and corredled, it was, at a meeting of Prefbytery at Perth, December 3d 1736, unanimoufly approven, enabled, and, for the above and like weighty r^^/j///, or- dered to be publiftied : the tenor whereof follows. [ 87 ] A T Declaration and TestimonYj FOR The Do6trine, Worfliip, Government, and Difcipline of the church of Scotland, agreeable to the word of God, the Confeffion of Faith, the National Covenant of Scotland, and the folemn League and Covenant of the three Nations ; and against feveral fteps of de- fection from the fame, both in former and prefent times : By fome Minifters aflbciate together for the exercife of Church-government and difcipline, in a, Prefbyterial Capacity. AT Perth, the third day of December, one thoufand feven hun- dred and thirty-fix years. Which day. and place the Prefbyterjr being met, and taking into their ferious confideration the low flate of religion at this day ; the manifold defections and backflidings of all ranks, both in former and prefent times, from the truths of God, and the precious ordinances and inftitutions of Jefus Chrlft, delivered as a valuable traft unto his church and people in this na- tion ; and to the maintenance and prefervation of which, the whole land ftands indifpenfibly bound and obliged, by the moft folemn covenant-engagements ; and efpecially, confidering the prefent growth and fpreading of dangerous and pernicious errors, and the many injuries that are done to the government and difcipline of the houle of God amongft us ; together with the abounding fm, wick- ednefs, and profanenefs of the prefent generation, and the deep fe- curity and general ftupidity that prevails under our national fins and fpiritual judgments ; by all v/hich God is highly diflionoured and provoked, his fanftuary profaned, the kingdom of his Son un- dermined, and the whole land involved in the dreadful guilt of a- poltafy from the Lord : — Wherefore this Prefh^tsry find themfelves bound in duty, to call in their niitc of a tejliviony to the many great appearances of the Lord for this church and land, and to the doc- trine, woriliip, government, and difviplias of the Lurd's houfe there- 83 T^ke Judicial Testimony. in, agreeable to the Holy Scriptures, our Confeffion of Faith and Catechtfms, the Natiocal Covenant of Scotland, and the Solemn League and Covenant of the three Nations : as alfo againfl: the in- juries and infolent indignities done unto, and the encroachments, violations, and breaches made upon the fame. To this thsy reckon they are warranted, from the pracflice and example of the church and people of God, recorded in Scripture, v.'ho very often commemorate tlie remarkable appearances made for them, the fignal deliverance they have met with, together with their own deep ingratitude and heinous provocations, both of an older and later date ; and alfo from the practice and example of this church in former times : And likwife they judge a tejlimony of this kind necelFary, for the information of the prefent generation, who have generally loft the knowledge, both of what God hath done for Scotland, and of the grounds and caufes of his righteous quarrel and controverfy againft us ; neceflary, for the conviftion and humi- liation of all ranks of perfons ; necefiary, to preferve and maintain the truths of GoJ, and an ufeful mean to tranfmit them to follow- ing generations in their purity. Therefore, for all the above, and many other weighty reafons and confidtralions, the Almijters ajfociated, being met in Presbytery , did, and hereby do, in the firjl place, with thankful hearts, nc- knowledge and bear record unto, the wonderful power, grace, and goodnefs of God, in vifiting this hind very early with the light of the glorious gofpel, whereby ^/>^w/ ihefe ulterviojl ends of the earth f-cjcre fongs heard, even glory to Jcfus Chrifl the righteous ; and thus the promifes and prophecies given of old were remarkably accom- plilhed, namely, That the heathen fhould be given unto Chrill for his inheritance, and the uttennojl parts cfthe earth for h\s poffejpon ; that the i/Ies Jhou/d nvait /Ir his Iww ; and that h^ ihould be the c^rt- fidcnce of the ends of the earth, and cfthevi that are afar of upon the fea, — Yea, when this and other nations were involved in Popifti darknefs, God left not himfelf without a witnefs in this land ; our ancient records, bear, that in the darkell timet of Popery, the Lord h-.id fome witnedes for himfelf among us, agaiuil the errors and ido- latry of Rome. And when the Lord, by a bright and clear fiin-niine of the gofpel, in feveral parts of Europe, difcovered that viyfery of iniquity. Baby- ion the great, the viclhcr of harlots, and ah-^minations of the earth; he ■was alfo graciouUy ple.ifed, with an high hand, and outftretched arm, to ranfom this land Irom the bondage of popilh tyranny, idolatry, mid fuperlliiion, and again to blcfs it with the light and liberty of the gofpel. So llrong was the hand of the Lord upon a few polifli- ed fliafts, chofen and furnilhcd by himfelf, that In a iliort time, in th; midft of the flamL-s of iicry pcrfccution, and aguinft the rage and fury of devils and men, this great work was fo far advanced and cf- fci'luatcd, that, in the year i j6o, the Pope's authority was aboliihcd in Scotland, and thc/r/? Confejjion of Faith (dirc^td mainly againfl the errors and abomiuatioub of the church of Home, the great point upon which the tcdimoiiy of the Lord's wiiuellca was then Raud) i ^he Judicial Testimony. 89 was ratified and approven by the Parliament ; and, in a few years thereafter, moll copfrregations were planted with the miniftry of the gnfpel, and did yield fiibje(5lion unto the ordinance: of Chrift : The government and difcipline of the church was eftabliihed according to the word of God, in a due fubordinatina of Congregational Ehierfhips, Prefbyteries, and Synods, unto General Airem!>lies : The frji biok of difcipl'tne, which contains many excellent Refcr;nation-principles, written with a fiinplicity and plainnefs peculiar to reforming times ; together with fome other things that were, in the judgment of the compilers of that book, adapted to the then ftate and circumftance? of the church, was approven by many of the privy counfellors of Scotland, in the year ij6l. The Gener:il AiTembly, Jnno I'^bi, refufed to admit one Mr. Alexander Gordon, to be fuperintendent of Galloway, till he fliould fubfcribe the Time*. And the Generaf Afiembly, j4nno 1638, in their adl condemning the Jivs artichs of Perth, refer feveral times unto it; from whence i: is plain, that \z was received an«l approven by this church at our Reformation. Afterwards x\\t fecond book of difcipline, wherein the form of go- vernment and dil'cipline in the houfe God is more diftinclly laid down, was approven and regiftrate by the General Afiembly, Anrio Ij8r, and appointed to be fubfcribed by all the miniilers of this church, Anno 1590: and all the pieces of the Reformation then at- tained unto, were ratified and approven by the parliament, Anno 1592; excepting that patronage, which was exprefly condemned ia the fecond book of difcipline, was approven by the faid aifl of parli- ament. — In grateful acknowledgment of which rare and fmgular mercies, and for their own mutual ftrength and fupport againll the common enemy, the national covenant, having been firft fubfcribed by the king and his houfhold, in the year 1580, was fubfcribed by perfons of all ranks, Anno 1681 ; and again by all ranks of perfons ia the year IJ90. This covenant, relating to the reformed religinn then profeffed in Scotland, and more particularly expreffed in the Large Confeffion of Faith, was fworn with much chearfulnefs and gladnefs of heart ; the greater part of the nation rejoiced at the oath of God : And, by this folemn oath and covenant, this kingdom made a national fiirrender of themfeJves to the Lord, and bound and obliged both themfelves and their pofterity to cleave to the truths of God, and to the obfervation of his laws, ordinances, and inlii- tutions. But the above-mentioned Reformation, and the glory of th-'s church, was much defaced, when king James VL defirous to gratify the />rf/a//V^/ /'^r/y in England, did, contrary to his molt folemn profeffions, declarations, and engagements, by the advice and affill- aoce ot fome covetous time-ferving churchmen, firft introduce a lordly prel.icy into this church, and afterwards corrupted the v.orftiip, by impofmg the Popifli ceremonies of the church of England, under the authority of u pretended General Afiembly that aist a'. Pen-h, Anno * Cilt'.crwood's Hlflorv, n. 3?, M t)o "The Judicial Testimony. 1618.; and Ji is foil king Charles I. endeavoured to carry on the fame defign, by impofing a fervice-book, and a book of popifh and pnelatick canons : which courfe of defeflion continued for many years without interruption. — Yet, during this period of grievous lliining and backfliding, there were feveral eminent men wlio wit- iicfl'ed againft the fame ; alfo the word of the gofpel was counte- nanced in feveral corners of the land with more than ordinary power ;aid fuccefs, particularly in feveral places in the weft of Scotland, j^iino 1625, and at the Kirk of Shots in the year 1630. And, after all, the Lord was gracioufiy pleafed to turn back the captivity of this church when it was lealf expeded ; even when Pre- lacy appeared to be fenced with all the ftrength of civil authority> and a great body of the miniftry couchiiig in conformity under the burden of it : Yet he did, in a mod furprifing and wonderful man- ner, cut afuiider the cords of thefe plowcrs who ploughed upon ths back of this church, and revived his work through the land, by a- nimating at firlt a few of his fervants and people, iij the year 1637, to teftify more openly and boldly againll the current of the defcdi- on and apoftafy of that time ; and he was pleafed to give fuch re- markable countenance to their proceedings, that in the month of February 1638, notwithftanding of many threats and ftrong oppo- fition of adverfaries, they renewed the national covenant : and the power of God was prefent with them, 'in fuch an eminent manner, that within a few months thereafter, almoft the whole land did chearfully and joyfully come under the oath of God. Here there was no force nor compulfion from the civil powers ; all this was done voluntarily and chearfully, in the face of great oppolition Irom a threatening and enraged court. Likcwife, in the latter end of the forefaid year, a free and lawful General Ail'embly met at Glafgow, which depofcd all the prelates from their pretended epifcopal fun(5lion, and from the privilege of luting and voting in parliament, council, or convention, in name of the kirk; fufpcnded two of them from the cxercife oi the millcri- al office ; depofed all the others from the oflice itielf, and excom- municated eight of them ; recognized and approved the national covenant; and prelacy, with the five articles of Perth, were found and declared to be abjured by it ; and feveral other laudable iids and conlliiutions were made for purging the houfe of God, aiid the ad- vancement of Reformation ; as the ads of that Allcmbly more fully bear. And though the determinations of this Aflcmbly were much oppofcd by a popifli and prelalick party, yet, through the good hand of the Lord upon his fervants and people, the Reformation then begun and carried on, was ratified and confirmed by the fecond parliament of king Charles L Anno 1640 : the lalt ftdiou of which parliament was countenanced by the king'^ prefencc, A)ino\i>6,\. And from this time till the year 1650, the building of the houfe of God, in manifold inllanccs, advanced profperouily and fuccefsfully : though it mull be acknowledged, that the enforcing of religious duties with civil penalties ; and, in too many inllanccs, blentling the affairs oi church and Ilate witJx one auoiher, is totally iucouliikut with the "The JudicialTestimony. 9^ fpiritual nature of Chrlft's kingdom. — During which perioc!, the following things deferve particuh^rly to be remembered. I. The Lord gave tejlimony and nxiitnefs-to his.oiu« ivork, by a remarkable down-pouring of his Spirit from on high, on the judica-. tories and afTemblies of his people for worlhip : the word of the gofpel was powerful and fuccelsful ; the pleafure of the Lord did profper thro' the land : and a feed was fown, which the fury and rage of twenty-eight years hot perfecution afterwards could not extirpate. II. The remarkable countenance which the Lord gave to the re- forming and covenanting church of Scotland at this time, was fol- lowed with a confiderable reformation among their proteftant bre- thren in Englandj as alfo among a vaft number of them in Ireland. The coufequence was, that a great body of the former, and many thoufands of the latter, united with her in a folemn league and co- venant, for promoting and advancing a joint-reformation in the three kingdoms. — This covenant, however reproached and reviled, was for the matter of it, juft and warrantable ; for the ends, necef- fary and commendable ; and for the time feafonable. — The feafon when this covenant was entred into, was the dangerous ftate of the church and kingdom of Scotland ; the diftrefled ftate of the church and kingdom of England ; and the deplorable ftate of the church and kingdom of Ireland. — The matter of this covenant was all the precious things that are involved in pure religion and true liberty ; namely, the prefervation of the reformed religion in Scot- land, in dodrine, worlhip, government, and difcipline : and the reformation of religion according to the word of God in England and Ireland. In this covenant every one bound themfelves to per- fonal reformation ; and, in feveral places, ftations, and callings, to ejideavour national reformation : duties obligatory upon every on« antecedently to this oath and covenant. — The end of this folemn co- venant was, that they and their pofterity after them might, as bre- thren, live in faith and love ; that the Lord might be one, and his name one, through the three kingdoms. And, as an eminent di- vine * exprefted himfelf before the Houfe of Commons in England, when they were about to fwear the faid covenant: — ' This <;^//;, * faith he, is fuch, in the matter and confequences of it, as I can « truly fay it is w^orthy of us ; yea, of all thefe kingdoms, yea, ot a!I « the kingdoms in the world: for it is a fwearing fealty and allegi- * ance unto Chrift the King of kings ; and a giving up of all thefe « kingdoms, which are his inheritance, to be fubdued more unto his « throne, and ruled more by his fceptre, upon v/hofe Ihoulders the « government is laid.' — This oath and covenant was appointed to be fworn by perfons of all ranks in England and Ireland ; and was en- tred into by the whole body of this land. And, when it was ap- proven by the General AlTembly of this church, Jnno 1643. they exprefs themfelves in this manner ; — « That they all with one voice * approve of the lame ; with thefe feelings of joy which they did find * in {o great a meafure, at the renewing of the National Coveiiant of < this kirk and kingdom.' • Mr. Ptiilip Nve. M a ' 9 2 l^he Judicial Testimony. in. In profecution of the above covenanted uniformity, a Con- ftfTion of Faith \v:is agreed upon by the AfTembly of divines at Weft- minfter, with Comniiffioners from the church of Scotland ; likewif: the Larger and Shorter Catechifms, the Propofitions concerning cliurch-government, and the ordination of minifters, and the Direc- tory for worflilp, all agreed upon by the forefaid Affembly at Weft- minAer, were leceived and approvcn by this church in the manner expre/Ted in the ftvei-;)! ads of Alfemhly relative unto them: to all xvhich the General Allembly of this church reckoned this land bound and oblicjcd by the Solemn League and Coveu;mc; as their faid afts raore fully bear. IV. When the much-defired and covenanted u7iiform'iiy had pro- ceeded thus fa'-, many in this land involved thea.felves in the breach »)f covenant, by the war with England, commonly called, the Duke^s e'tga^ewent, which was teftitied againft, and condemned by the Ge- reral AlTcmblies of this church : and the finfulnefs thereof was af- terwards acknowledged by all ranks of perfons, when the foleinn J.eague and Covenant was renewed in Scotland, Antio 1648 ; with a folemn acknowledgment of fins and breaches thereof, and engage- ment to the duties therein contained. In the faid engagement to the duties of the covenant, they bind and oblige themfelves \.o pre- ferve the purity cf religion againft all error, hercfy, and fcbifm ; and to JJricty avd endeavour the carrying on the ivork of uniformity : Where- by the above-mentioned uniformity in one CoiifcfTion of Faith, one Form of Church-government and Diredlory for worfhip, is folemn ly approvcn and fworn unto. And, by the forefaid renovation of the folemn League and Covenant, this land declared they looked upon this oath as nationally binding upon them, whatever the behaviour ot thei'r neighbours in England or Ircl.ind might be. And as the G.ncral AiTembly, in their brotherly exhortation to their brethren in England, Auguft 6th 1649, exprefs themfelves, « Although, {aj * they, there were none in the one kingdom who did adhere to the * Covenant, yet thereby were not the other kingdoms, nor any * perfon in either of them, abfolved from the bond thereof; fmce * in it we have not only fworn by the Lord, but alfo covenanted « with him. It is not the failing of one or more that can abfolvc * others from their duty or tie to him. Befides, the duties therein * contained being iu themfelves lawful, and the grounds of our tie * thereunto moral ; though others do forget their duty, yet doth not * their dcfeftion free us from that obligation which lies upon us by * the covenant in our places and ftations. And the covenant being * intended and entered into by thcfe kingdoms, as one of the beft * means of ftcdf.irtnefs, for guarding Hgainft declining times, it were * ftrangc to fay that the backfliding of any lliould abddve others Irom * the ti.: thereof; efpecially feeing our engagement therein, is not * only natior:al, hut per Jo nal ; every one with uplifted hands fwcar- * ing for himfclf, as is evident by the tenor of ihc covenant.' V. During this perioil, the e/Iales of the natif.n alio gave their lielp:n;.,-hand to the work of Kefonnatinn ; not only liy the legal c- ftabiilh-neut given unto it in th;; fcrcfai.I year i6.}0 ; but alfo, by I l!'he Judicial Testimony. 95 approving the folemji league and covenant. Anno 1644, and by many laudable Afls of Parliament pafled, Anno 1649 : particularly by the ad aboli/hing patronages ; a grievance and yoke under which this church had groaned ever fince the Reformation from Popery : and by their aCl for keeping the judicatories and places of trujl free of corruption ; and by the aB ofclajfes; and by the ai^i for purging the army of perfons difafFeded to the caufe and work of Reformation. — Alfo by another aft palfed in thef oi-efaid year 1 649> they ordained and declared, » That before the King's Majefty who now is, or any of his fucceffors, « (hall be admitted to the exercife of his royal power; he fhall afTure * and declare, by his folemn oath under his hand and feal, his al- < lowance of the national covenant, and of the folemn league and < covenant, and his obligation to profecute the ends thereof, in his * ftation and calling; and that he (hall, for himfelf and his fuc- « cefTors, confent and agree to the Ails of Parliament enjoining the * folemn league and covenant, and fully eftablifhing Prefbyterian ' government, the Directory of worfhip, Confeffion of Faith and « Catechifms, as they are approven by the General AfTembly of this * kirk, and Parliament of this kingdom, in all his Majefty 's domi- * nions ; and that he fhall obferve thefe in his pradice and family ; * and that he (hall never make oppofition to any of thefe, or endca- * vour any change thereof.' The above particulars are fome inftances of the power and good- nefs of the mofl: high God, manifefted in the beginning and progref* of the work of Reformation in this land, which //;;'/ Prefbytery judge it their duty to record and bear witnefs unto : for, as the arm of the Lord was glorioufly revealed in recovering this church and nation from Antichriftian darknefs, and bringing all ranks of perfons within the bond of a national oath and covenant to be the Lord's ; fo, when by a furprifing and wonderful appearance of divine providence, this church was delivered from the brink of ruin, in the year 1638, the judicatories of the church pulled down and carried of the rubbifii of defecftion ; they began where former Reformation had ftopt, and went forward in building and beautifying the houfe of God. But, fince the church, while militant, is in an imperfed ftate, it is not hereby intended to affirm, that, under the above-mentioned period, there was nothing defective or wanting as to the beauty and order of the houfe of God, or that there was nothing culpable in the adminiftration ; all that is defigned by the above particular de- du(5iion is, to declare, that this church endeavoured, and mercifully attained, a confiderable pitch of Reformation, during the forefaid period : towards this their feveral contendings and wreftlings, their folemn vows and engagements, their declarations and teftinaonies, all pointed. IT would have been the happJnefs and glory of this church, if flie had held faft what, by the good hand of God upon her, aad by u leries and train of remarkable providences, both of mercy and judg- ment, file had attained unto. But how foon did h^r gold bccoine dUn? how ouickly was her ?n-fl fne gold clanged ? Ah I how was her 94 '^^^ Judicial Testimony. clory eclipfed, and her beauty fuddenly departed from her ? A plorious building was pulled down ; a Reformation, ratified, con- firmed, and eftablidied in the ftrongeil terms by law, and fenced by ttie moil foleran oaths and covenants, fworn with uplifted hands, by our king, by our noblemen, barons, minifters, burgeffes, and commons of all forts, was, not on\j fullied but overturned ; and that by thefe very hands that had been lifted up to heaven for the pre- fervation and maintenance of the fame. Hath a nation changed their gods, 'which yet are no gods ? but, Scotland hath changed her glory for that which doth not profit ! May it not be faid, Be ajlonijjjed^ ye heavens, at this ; be horribly afraid : for tny people have com- mitted ttvo evils, they have forfaken vie the fountain of living 'waters, and have he-wen out to themfelv:s cijlerns, broken cijlerns that can hold no 'water ? — Can there be a parallel given in any church or land, of that fcene that opened of backfliding and defeftion, of perjury andapoftacy, or of that opprefllon and cruelty, afterwards exercifed upon fuch as adhered unto the caufe and covenant of their God, after fo many and fo great appearances of the Lord in a way of mercy amon has been already obfcrvcd, all inch meetings, petitions, and rcmonilrances of public grievances were difchargcd as feditious. I'liis llruck luch a terror on the moft part, iliat no joint remon- 7'he JudicialTestimony. 9I ftrance or teftimony was offered. And when fome Provincial Synods in the year 1661, when the Parliament had begun to raze the work oF Reformation, were confidering what was proper for them to do in this jundture ; they were dilToIved, in the King's name, by fuch noblemen or gentlen^en as the Commillioner to the Parliament had appointed to obferve their proceedings. All of them immediately obeyed ; fome of them difmllled even without prayer. The Synod cf Galloway protelted againft their diffblution ; but yet they rofc immediately. The Synod of Glafgow, at their ordinary meeting in April, adjourned ihsmfclves till May, then to confider of a fup- plication to the Parliament for the fecurity of religion : but, when they were about to conveen, they were difcharged in a proclamation from the crofs by order from the King's Commiffioner : to which they gave obedience. /\nd likewife, when in the beginning of the year 1662, all Synodical and Preftyterial meetings, until authorifed. by the Bifhops, were difcharged ; Prefbyteries, as well as Synods, were immediately deferted. — Such fainting in the caufe of God, in this day of apoftafy and backfliding, was a fign and evidence of the Lord's indignation and wrath ; and wasf:4r from that courage and refolution that foraetimes appeared among the minillers of this church, who witnefTed againft the like incroachments upon the liberties and privileges of the houfe of God, inface of the greatefl oppofition. In like manner, in obedience to the aft of Council at Glafgov.', the moft part of thefe that conformed not to prelacy, left their flocks ; whereby they became a prey to the grievous luohes that were after- ward thruft in upon them : yea, the greateft part by far, through the whole land, gave obedience to the above-mentioned adt of Par- liament, requiring them to attend upon worlhip performed hy the Bijhop's uridsrlings, or fuch as conformed to prelacy ; in teftimony of their acknowledgment of, and hearty compliance with his Ma- jefty's government, ecclefiaftick and civil : by which means all ranks of perfons, from the higheft to the loweft, were involved in the a- poftafy and defection, and guilty of the grofleft treachery in the caufe and covenant of the Lord. And, for all the above-mentioned and the like fins, awful judgments are threatened in the word of God, Lev. xxvi. 16, 17, 25. Deut. xxix. 25, 24, 25. Pfal. Ixxviii, 9, ic. If.i. xxiv. 5, 6. Jer. xi, 9, 10, 11. Hof. viii. t. Rev. ii. 5. Vi. When the minifters, who, by the proceedings of Parliaraeat and Council, Anno 1662, were caft out of their churches, had re- covered from the confternation and damp, which fuch a fudden con- vulfion in church and ftate had brought upon them, they began to be perfuaded, that it was their duty, notwithftanding of their ty- rannical ejection, to preach the gofpel of Chrift. And the people being more and move alienated from the bijloop's creatures, or curates, as they were called, (many of them, being not only ignorant and profane, but all of them being guilty of perjury and defection, in re- ceiving a comraiffion immediately from, and afting in fubordinaticn unto, and by a power derived from the abjured Prelates, contrary to the word of God and our Reformation-principles, confirmed by M 3 92 The Judicial Testimony. folemn oaths and covenants ;) and being alfo fcnfible of the obliga- tion ftill lyintj upon them to own their ejeded miniftcrs as faithful iLivants ofChrift, and of their duty to receive the ordinances of Chrift as dif(>cnfed by them : therefore, not a few of the faid mini- iicrs, confidering the prefent urgent neceifity of the people, and tlieir chearfiil readinefs and willingnefs to hear the word of God, faw themfelves called of the Lord to preach the gofpel, wherever providence ordered their abode. They began at firfl to preach In private houfes : this inraged the Prelates, who ceafed not to ftir up the rulers to all extravRgancies of cruelty, for fuppreffing thele peaceable and harmlefs Allemblies for the woriliip of God. Hence the Parliament declared all fuch meetings, or conventicles, as they were called, to be feditious and criminal ; and difcharged them under the feverefl: penalties. — After this, houfes were forced when people were aflembled for hearing the word of God : many were h.ded to prifon, and the laws execute viih rigour againll them. Thefe feverities conftrained them at lad to keep their meetings in the fe/Js ; whereupon the rage and fin-y of the rulers, inftigate by the apoftate Prelates, did break forth, into a more extenfive and boundlefs flame : feveral afls of Parliament and Council were emitted, and all ways of cruelly imaginable taken, to fupprefs meetings in houfes and in the fieldsj field-meetings being difcharged under pain of death to the miniftef, and grievous penalties Vcpon fuch as did attend ihem. Kcnce enfued a train of the greateft barbarities, wherewith thcfe two perfecuting reigns were indelibly fhiined, as the elletfl of tyrannical acfts, and the more tyrannical exe- cution of them. — But, notwithOanding of chefe feverities, the more the Lord's people were affliifl-jd, the more thty grew : when the gof- pel was difpenfed at the peril of their lives from the fword in the vililernefs, the Lord give rcmarkahle countenance to his own ordinances, which were blelf-d to the converilon and confirmation of many. VII. When the rulers, at this time, faw that they could not, by r/l! the above afls of cruelty, exdrfiate the allcmblies of the Lord's P'.'ople for worlhip, according to his own inftitution, and which were the only monuments of his covenanted intereft in the land ; but the more they laboured to fnpprcfs them, the more frequent they grew : then the cunning and crafty device of an indulgence to fome of the outed miniflers is fallen upon ; whereby many, other- "wife eminent lights, were enfnared and taken. — This indulgence v^^m fiift granted by the AV/;^, in his letter to the Privy-Council, dated, June 7th, 1669. whcreliy he a\ithorifeth them to appoint fo many 4^1 the rAiled viinijlcn, who had lived pcuceahly and orderly, to return t(; preach and exercile the fun«5lions of the minidry in the pariJh- cli wches where they formerly fervcd, providing they be vacant ; aiul that Patrons, fhould prefent to other churches fuch others of tlmm as the Coimcil Ihall approve. The minillers allowed by this letter to cvcrcife their miniflry, were appointed to keep Prcfbytcrics and Synods, namely, fuch as depended upon, and were authorifed by the Bilhops j and, in cafe they did not, ihey were to be confined T7j5l of the I ft feflion of parliament, /fnno 1661, all perfons in public truft were obliged to fwear the oath oi allegiance, or vdt\\e.r fiipremacy : where- by they were required to declare, That the king is the only fupreme governor over all perfons and in all caufes ; and that they fhould pro- . mote and fupport his forefaid jurifdihion, againft all deadly. — To- gether with this oath, an inflrujnent affertory of the royal preroga- tive is appointed to be figned ; whereby the fiibfcribers confented to X^^zY^xwgb abfoluie po'wer, and owned the unlawfulnefs of rejifing him upon any pretext whatfoever : and fo not only gave up their civil liberties, but materially renounced the whole work of reforma- tion, as it was begun at omv fecejjion from Popery, and as it was car- ried on m the year 1638 ; though all was approven by King and Par- liament ; and, which is more, was fignally owned of God. The privy-council, or any having authority from them, were impowered to impole the fald oath and aftertory aft upon any v/hom they pleaf- cd : hence., in a ftiort time, thefe oaths reached the moft part of the fubjefts, and became trying badges of loyalty. If a perfon was fifted bctore the counci', or other courts, if heiwore the allegiance and ftgn- 9 6 The Judicial Testimony. c J the aflertory ad, he was difmiffed ; but, if he refufed, there was no mercy for him. y\gain, by the jth aft of the 2d feffion of that fame parliament, /Inno 1662, in order to put the grave-ftone upon the covenanted reformation, a declaration is appointed to be figned by all perfons in public trull; wherein they were required to affinn and dfclare, * Th.it it is unlawful, lipon any pretext whatfoever, to enter into * leagues and covenants, or to take up arms againft the king, or thele * commiffioned by him : That all the convocations, petitions, and * proceftations, that were ufed in the beginnin'/, and for carrying * on the late troubles,' (/. e. all that was done for carrying on the work of reformation from the year 1638) ' were unlawful and fe- * ditious ; and that the national covenant, as explained in the year * 1638, and x!t\.t foltnni league and covenant, were /';/ ihetnplvcs iin- * laivfiit oatks ; and that there lieth no obligation upon any of the * fubjeds, from the faid oaths, to endeavour any change or altera- * tion in the government, either in church or ftate, from the pre- « fent eftabliihment by the laws of the kingdom.' This declaration became one of the great fias and fnarcs of this time : perjury is no\T made a chief qualification, and necefiary condition of all that were to be admitted to places and offices in church and ftate. Likewife, by an aft of parliament, Anno 1670, againft people's fcparating from the public worfhip in their own parilhes, /. e. from the ^t\]xixtdiConfor}niJ}s to Prelacy; heritors and life-renters, if they obflinateiy withdraw from their parifh-churches, for a certain fpace of time, muft be fifted before the council, and. required to fign a h-ind, obliging themfelves, that they Ihall not, upon any pretext whatfoever, rife In arms againft the King, or any commiffioned by him; and that they (hall not affift or countenance any who Ihall rife in arms : and the refufers of this bond are appointed to be fecured or banidied, and their lingle or life-rent efcheat to belong to the King. This was a fnare uuto many, and a ground of fuffering unto others. Befides thefe oaths impofed by authority of parliament, many 0- ther enfnaring oaths and bonds were alfo enforced by the privy-coun- cil ; fuch as the hondofpeacey appointed to be fubfcribcd, /Jnno 1667 : and the bond f'jr reguLirity, as it was called, (appointed by ad of council, Auguft 2d 1677, to be fubfcribcd by ail heritors, ^c.) whereby they bind and oblige themfelves, and ail under their autho- rity, that they fliall not withdraw from the. public divine worihip in their refpedive parilh churches ; that they Ihall not have their children baptifcd, nor be married, but by fuch minilters as are law- fully authoriled ; and that they lli'ill not be prefent at conventicles, either in houfcs or in fields : and all this under heavy and fcvcrc pcualiie?. But that oaih, called the trji, deferves particular coufuleration : It was a fif-conlra.iiil.ry oath; and had not a parallel among all the oaths ever impofed in any Proteftant country. It was framed l)y rfhc piriiamcnt, ylugujl 31ft 168 i. At firft, only pcrf^ns in public rvti'l wcii ooli^ed to take it ; but wftcrwurds it bcciuic t general njl \ ^he Judicial Testimony. 97 of loyalty, and was impofed upon all ranks oFperfons; and made a handle, even of perfecuting unto death, great numbers, fome of whom were of very confiderahle rank and quality : and multitudes, who could not comply with it, were grievoufly opprefTed. In the firji part of this oath, the Protedint religion, contained in thcjirj} ConfeJJion of Faith, is profefled ; and all principles and dodrines con- trary to, and inconfiftent with the fame, are renounced : and yet, ia direft contradiction thereto, theKing'sy/^/T^-zv/.TC)', in the utmoft extent, is again and again a/Terted ; together with the unlawfalnefs of fub- jc<5ls, their refifting the fovereign upon any pretext whatfoever : the obligation of the Covenants, National and Solemn League, is dif- owned, and the government of the church, then eftablifhed by law, is approven. — Thus the reprefentatives of the nation, and together with them, many of all ranks of perfons through the land, make themfelves more and more vile by the blackeft perjury, the groffeft apoftafy and defedlon from the Lord, that a people or nation could be guilty of. IX. The wickednefs of this period did rife higher, even to the greateft tyranny and cruelty exerciied upon all fuch as endeavoured to keep their garments clean in this fmning and defiling day. The above-mentioned ads of parliament, with the oaths and bonds im- pofed by the parliament and privy council, laid a foundation for near twenty-eight years grievous perfcutioi: : A fimple non-compli- ance with the prelatick government then ellablifhed ; declining to attend ordinances difpenfed by the bifliop's underlings ; being pre- fent at conventicles in houfes or fields ; refufmg the oath of fupre- macy, or the other oaths and bonds that were impofed ; owning the obligation of our folemn covenants, and the Lawfulnefs of defenfive arms, or of refifting a tyrannical fovereign ; — were reckoned crhnes of the hlgheft nature, and fubjected multitudes of all ranks unto un- parallelled feverity. During this period, the '•Mitncfis for Scotland's covenanted refor- mation endured cruel mockings and fcourgings ; they nuatidred about in dcfsrts and In mountains, in caves and dens cf the sarth, dejiitute, affiiiled, torinenied. Multitudes were banilhed their native country ; Others fufFered long imprKonmsnt, fpoiling of goods, and grievous tortures, that had not a parallel in any Proteftant country ; many refified zvtTi unto blood, Jiriving againji Jin: the moft public cities of the nation were defiled with innocent blood ; fuch as Edinburgh, Glafgow, and other cities : yea, to fuch an height did cruelty and tyranny arrive, that many were killed in the open fields without any- legal procefs. The mercilefs foldiers were both their judges and executioners. This torrent of blood was opened in the martyrdom of the noble marquis of Argyle, May 27th, and of the ivorthy Mr. James Guthrie, five days therealter, in the year 1661, when the parliament was razing Scotland's covenanted reformation, and planting the tree of prelacy and arbitrary ponuer. This curfed tree behoved to be foaked with the noble blood of an excellent P,^/r/V/, -ijlaunch Prefsytcrian, a vigorous ajfsrter of Scotland's liberties, and with the good of aa O o 8 T'he Judicial Testimony. eminent and fiiithful minifter of Jefus Chrlft : and much bitter and bloody iVuit did this trte of prelacy bear, in the lufferings unto death of many excellent perfcns of all ranks, till the beginning of the me- morable year i68S, when the torrent ftopt in the death of Mr James Renwick. The principal articles of his indidment, and for which he fufFered, were his affirming, That the duke of York, then King Jf-mes VII. was not rightful nor lawful king of thel'e realms; and that becaufe he was a PapiJ}, had never fworn the coronation-oath, and was overthrowing the fundaviental Ijiuj of the kingdom ; alfo his affirming and defending the lawfulnefs of dcfnjivc artns, both for our civil and religious liberties. Thefc principles were efpoufed by this church ever fince our reformation from Popery, and were jultified by all the three nations at the Revolution. — Thus, in our Ihrts is found the hlood of the faints who fuffered du-ing this difmal period ; and, if the ordinary courfe of divine procedure is ubferved, all ranks in Scotland have reafon to fear, that a land, defiled ivith perjury and blood, m\\\i ht puriif?ed by Ih^od ; efpecially when thti'e heinous abominatio-ns have never been duly nor fcrioufly confiuered nor mourned over, Lev. xxvi. 25. 2 Kings xxiv. 5, 4. X. When apoftafy and defeiflion had come to fuch a prodigious height, as is already mentioned, the whole Protejlant bitereji in the three nations was brought into the greateft danger, by the ac- ceffion of the duke of York unto the throne, after the death of his brother, Charles II. Anno 1685. He openly profefled and declared himielf a Papiji ; and the reprefentatives of the nation, without re- quiring the coronation-oath, being met in parliament, make a de- claration and offer of duly unto this Popijh Prince, wherein they own his abfolntc powgr and authority, and promife him obedience, without refcrvc. Tn conlequsnce whereof, though the parliament', thnt met the'following year, rcfufed to refcind x.\\t penal fatutes a- gainft Fapifts, yet this Popifj Prince did moft tyraunic.illy abrogate and pull down thefc hedges of the reformation, by virtue ot his u- furped fnpremacy and ablblute poC^'cr ; firll in his letter to the privy- council, dated Aiigull 21ft 16S6. wherein, by his power piramount 10 the law, he declares his refolution to proted his Catholic SuljeBs, and allows them the free exercife of their religion in their houfes ; and ^.ppoints the royal chapel at Holyroodhoufc to be fitted up for Popifh worihip : whereupon the land was immediately filled with fwarms oi Popijb Pricjls, and a Popifl) School is ereded at Holyroodhoule for corrupting the youth. And then, by his Proclamation, February l2lh 1687, he docs, by his prerogative-royal, fovercigu authorit\ . and abfoluic power, fufpeud all penal laxvs againji Papijls ; whereli nlfo there is a liberty granted to tlicfc whom he calls moderate Prij byicrians : but it is under fath fevcrc rcUridious, and fo vianifjii. in coimetfliou with the toleration ol Popery (for which indeed it w ;k chiefly defigneti) that none of the Prcfliyterians took the benefit of it. When fcvtrals began to be alarmed at fuch an open and violcr.: attack upon the reformation, wherein fuch large favours were grant- ed to the Papifls } not only as to the exercife of their religion, hut alfo capacitating lucm to enjoy places of power and irud, thai this The Judicial Testimony. 99 toltrat'ton was too bare-faced for Prelbyterians to fall in with : there- fore, that the main clefign of introducing Popery might bie the better coloured, and the reformation more effj^ually (though Icfs fcnjlhly) unhinged, there comes down -a fecond forvi of a toleration^ in a Pro- clamation, dated June 28th that fame year, conceived indeed in more general terms, but of the Hime nature and import with the former: Therein it is declared, that the Arckbifbops and Bijloops, and all fubjeds of the Proteftant religion, are to be defended in the free ex- ercife of their Proteftant religion, as by law eftablilhed ; and like- wife, by virtue of the prerogative and abfolute power, all prnal and fanguinary laws, made againft any for non-conformity to the reli- gion eftablilhed by law, or the exercife of their refpe^Tiive religions, rites, and ceremonies, are ftopt, fufpended, and difabled ; and a liberty is granted to all the fubjeits to meet and ferve God in their own way and manner, in private houfes, chaples, or places, hired or built for the purpofe ; providing nothing be preached or taught that may any ways tend to alienate the hearts of the people fiom the government : and field-77ieetings are ftill difcharged . under the fevereft penalties. It is evident, from the abrogating of x.\-iQ penal Jiatutcs in this, as well as in the former Proclamation, that this boiindlefs toleration was calculated chiefly in favours of the Papijis, as well as tht former, although they be not exprefly named in it ; and yet all the Prejhy- lerian rninijiers in the kingdom (excepting a very few) not only ac- cepted the benefit of it, but alfo a confiderable body of them, met at Edinburgh, did fend an addrefs of thanks {or the faid toleration, dated July 21ft 1687, and fublcribed in their own name, and in the name of the reft of the brethren of their perfuafion ; wherein they offer their humble and hearty thanks to that popifti Prince, and blefs the great God, nuho put it in his heart to grant them the faid liberty, which they call a gracious and furprijing favour : withal promifing (in obedience to the above Proclamation) an entire loyalty in their doctrine and practice, confonant to their known principles, contain- ed in the ConfefTion of Faith) and alfo befeeching, that ihefenuho pro' mote any dijloyal principles or praBices (as they difoivn them) ?nay be looked upon as none of theirs, 'vohatever nayne they may ajjume to them- felves. ' The above houndlifs and illimited toleration was, no doubt, con- trary to the principles of the church of Scotland, contained in her ConfefTion of Faith and Larger Catechifm. The defign of the grant- er, and the tendency of the liberty granted, was the introduction of Popery and flavery; its conveyance was from the King's abfolute poiver, which all were required to obey without referve ; fufpending and dilabling all the penal ftatutes againft Papifts, whereby all the legal bulwarks of the Proteftant religion againft Popery were undermined and overthrown : Likewifc the particular provifo above-mentioned, • That nothing fhould be preached or taught, v%'hich might any ' way tend to alienate the hearts of the people from him, or his • government j' i.e. in plain terms, chat no doclrinal teftimony 2 loo I'he Judicial Testimony. fhoulJ be emitted againfl: a popifh Prince, and his arbitrary govern- ment, overturning ihe very foundations of our civil as well as reli- gious liberiie<;, was a moft fmful and unwarrantable ; and, in the preient jundure, a moft dangerous reftridion and limitation upon juiaiiters in the exercife of their miniftry. — From all which it is plain, that the acceptance of this toleration, conveyed after the above-man- iier, with fuch an addrefs of thanks for it, and without any public joint tejlimony againft the evils contained in it, (except that which was offered by Mr. Renwick, and the few that adhered to him,) was not only Humbling to mnny, but became one of our public national The above-mentioned particulars are fome injlanca of the begin- ning, progrcfs, and height of the backfliding and deftHion of all ranks ot pLrl'ons, between the years 1650, and 168S, from a jjlorious Rt formation, torinerly attained unto ; whereby a reformed land, a Jand of light, and under the molt folemn engagements to the Lord, became a li^nd of perjury and blood, and \\3.s filled 'usith fin agairfi the holy One if IfracL Wherefore, The miniflers affociate together, being met in Prejhytery, judge it their duty to tejlij}- and bear witnefs againft all thefe heinous fins and abmonations : and they did, and hereby do, condemn all the feveral Jins, backjlidings, andjlcps of defe^ion from our covenanted Reforma- tion above-mentioned, for the particular reafons and grounds above eondej'cended upon ; and all other afls and deeds, in fo far as conneBed *u::th, and fupporting^ the above Jleps of defeSlion, as contrary to the nvord of Gcdy and inccnffent ivith the covenanted principles of this church funded thereon. And they hereby declare, that they ivete and are juji caufes of the Lord's righteous quarrel and controvcrfy ibith our princes, our nobles, barons, burgeffes, 7niniJ}ers, and commons of all forts in the land ; and that, for the above heinous fins and provoca- tions, all ranks of perfons have reafon to viourn before the Lord, lejl hy their continued and groiuifig iwpenitency and ohduraiion, a righteous and holy God be provoked to come out of his holy habitation, and vifit the iniquities of our fathers upon us in this generation, ivho are many rmass ferving ourftlves heirs uvto their fins and backjlidings ; as will appear from the inftances a(ter\^rds to be given. Ti H s church and land having groaned under the yoke of arbitrary government, and a hjt pcrfecution for the fpace ot about 28 years ; the Lord w.is gracioufly plcafed to break the yoke from off our necks, hy a glorious and fwprifng appearance for us at the Revolution, in the latter end of the year 168S, whereof the Prince of Orange was the happy inftrumenl, who was afterwards proclaimed h'ing, to the joy and falisfa///5ts and deeds at that jundure. It is not here intended to detratfl from that regard that is due to the memory of thefe worthy minifters, and others, who came out of the fur:iace of a hot perfccution, and did bear a part in our fird General Ail'erablies after the Revolution : yet it is ncccifiry, both foi- the fake of the prefent as well ;^s fncceeding ge- nerations, to mention lomc con^dgrable omij/ltnsi of which minillcrs and many others have complained", and which cannot be otherwife looked upon, than as /landing grounds and caufcs of the hordes dif pte.'jure and controversy nvilh us, and as one of the fprings of the inaiiy evils which have fince that time befallen this church and land. It was the laudable praAice in Reforming times, to condemn the mod glaring llcps of dcfcc\ion, an«l iluly to cenfure fuch as were gii:!iy of public buckfliJing. Accordiui^ly, by the Alftfinbly that met, /Inno 163S, all the Prelates btin;^ ringleaders in the apolUfy, The Judicial Testimony. 103 were depofed, from their pretended epifcopal funflion, and from the privilege of fitting and voting in Parliament, Council, or Con- vention, in name of the kirk, two of them were fufpended from the exercife of the miniderial office ; all the others were depofed from the office itfelf, and eight of them were excommunicated. — Alfo, in the faid Reforming period, they returned to the Lord, by a parti- cular acknowledgement and confeffion of the fms of the miniftry, and of the whole laad, and by renewing their folennn covenant- engagements. — But the General Aflembly that met in the year 1690, did not make fuch a plain and particular acknowledgment of the heinous backflidiugs of the preceding perfecuting period, as might have been expedled ; but on the contrary, when many lamentable fteps of defeflion and apo(tafy were complained of in a large paper offered to the forefaid Alfembly 1690, by Mr. Alexander Shields, and other two minifters, the faid AfTembly was fo far from attempt- ing the redrefs of thefe grievances, that they approve the report of X.h.ti'C Com7tiittee of overtures, calling feveral of them *, Unfeajd}iable and impra^icable prcpojals, uncharitable ajid injurious refle£lionsy tending rather to kindle contentions, than to conipofe divijions. And though many inlqituous and blafphemous fl;atutes were made, in the tivo perfecuting reigns, for dethroning the glorious Redeemer, and pulling the cr&iun luhich he floould alone iiiear from his royai head ; yet the AfTembly 1690, did not, by any formal and exprefs a>5l, aflfert the divine right of Prefbytery, and the Intrlnfick power of the church, v.'hlch are two fpecial branches of his glorious head- fliip in and over the fame : and that power and authority given by [ the Lord Jefns to the office-bearers of his houfe, to hold their meet- ings in Ills n:im,e, was not fledfaflly adhered unto, in regard, that I though the King's Co7n7nifioncr di\^o\\tdi the AfTembly 1692, and I though their meetings were adjourned from time to time by the [ King's proclamation, till the year 1694 ; yet there Is no fuch y?*?^^^- ing teftimony againft fuch fmfnl encroachments upon the rights and liberties of Chrift's fpirltual kingdom as the cafe required. And neither the forefald Alfciubly 1690, nor any of the AfTemblles of the church lince that time, did by any one formal act or flatute, explicitly and judicially condemn the facrllegious ufurpatlon of his royal dignity, by that blafphemous fuprejnacy, arrogated during that bloody period ; nor afferted him to be, what he really is, Th: alone fupreme head and king ever his church, as his free and indepen' dtnt kingdom. It is true indeed, that the AfTembly 1690, in their act appointing a national f.ijl, own. That the fuprcmacy ni^as ad- vanced, (viz. in the preceding reigns,) in fuch a nuay, and t'j fuch a height, as never any Chrifiian church acknowledged. Yet, they do^ Eot ahfolutely condemn that ufurped fupremacy, nor exprefly afTert the heaJfliip and fovereignty of Chrift, //; opp'jftion to the hold and daring invafion made upon It, in thelatc times of lamentable defec- tion and grievous perfecution. FurLher, they did not exprefly approve the covenanted Reforma- * .-17 jth, AJ^itihh, i6i,o. I Of The Judicial Testimony. tion of this church, attained unto from the year 1638, to i6jo ; nor did they juftify the wreftlings, tellimonies, and fufferings of the Lcrd's remnant in the late perfecuting times, for the fame; nor has the ohligaticn of our covenants, national and foleinn Icagusy and their binding force upon pofterity, ever been exprefly aflerted by any particular ad of AlFembly fince the Revolution ; nor has the f.jlemn league and covenant been exprefly named in any of the grounds of national fafting fince that time ; though both thefe might have been expefted, conlidering how rhefe covenants were fo openly violate, and ignominioufly burnt, in the former period. Alio the above-mentioned finful and conloience-hardening oaths, bonds, and declarations, whereby Chrift vas facrilegioufly robbed of his royal ci'own and dignity, his fervants opprclFeJ, by fome of which, the nation gave up with their valuable civil liberties as well as their religious privileges, and by every one of which the land was involved in the dreadful fin and guilt of perjury ; yet thefe bonds and oaths were never exprefly and particularly condemned and mourned over : neither has the fnbverf.on of our covenanted Refor- mation, by thefe Parliainentory deeds, which laid a foundation for the tyranny and bloodflied which followed thereupon, been parlicu- Jarly acknowledged in any of our afls appointing national fafts fince the Revolution. Neither have fuch as made defeEiion been duly cerfured : but, on the contrary, the Index of the unprinted atfts of Aflembly 1690, bears a public declaration by the moderator, ' That the Aflcmbly * would depofe no incumbents fimply for their judgment anent the ' government of the church ;' that is, they declare, that the perfi- dious Prelates and their underlings, were not to be depofed for their treacherous defection from the covenanted principles c( this church : p.nd, in a confillency with this declaration, the Afiemhiy 1694 *, enjoin their Commiffion, (as fevcral xMrcmblies afterwards did,) * To receive into minifierial communion fuch of the late conform * minillcrs, as, having qualified themfelves according to law, fliall * fubfcribe the formula," which was then framed for them : whereby they were not bound to acknowledge, that Prelbyterian government is founded on the word of God; but only, 'That the church- * government, as now fettled by law, is the only government of * this church.' Nor are ciders required to fign any other forviula to this day. Upon the figning of the above formula, a grent many prelatical miniitcrs and elders were admitted into the bofv)m of the church, and had accefs to fit in judicatories, without requiring any evidence of their repentance, or forrow for their heinous and fcandalous d-:- fecTion : as will be evident from the C'r,nmi;jions addvi'fs to Q^ieen Anne, recorded Aft loth, AlL-mbly 171:, vhcrcin they have thefe words ; » We cannot but lay before your Majelly this pregn nit in- * (f.mce'of our moderation, th. it fince our late happy e!lni)li;hinent ' tiicre have bceu taken in, and coniiuticd, hundreds of did'cniipg, • At5l mil, 5. C. I The Judicial Testimony. 105" ' (/. e. epiTcopal) m'niil?rs upon the e.ri-jrt tenn^.* — Wncn thoe tilings are duly confukrcd, and f.nuer rcfbriiiin-g periods and thii com;-)ared, what a v,iit difTcrcnce is there between the home of God ill Scotland, in its former luitre and glory, and the fabric and build- ing, as it was reared up by church and Uate at the Revolution ! — The above practice, both of church and ftate, is contrary x.o fcripture jiaUdin and e\an!ple ; and the praSIice of reforming times recorded there, -2 Chron. xxxiv. 29. to the clofe. Ezra ix and x chapters. Neb. ix and x chapters. Pfal. Ixxviii. and Pi'al. cvi. througlicur. III. Though the above omiffi'.ns were frequently rcgrctcd, by nii- nilters and others ; yet it was liill alledged, that the land was no way ripi; to return, by folemn national covenanting/, to iheXord ; and that it was nx>t ■\ pr->per thne and feaion to be too particu- lar in mentioning public national fins, and in condemnitig the grois defe(5linns and heino;is backflidings of the former period. Thu?, v.hen the pnfsnt feafon and opportunity of nccsjfary duty was neglected, it came to hs altogether l',Jl ; particularly, when, h-^ i\\t treaty of utiioTiy we were brought under the more immediate influence ot our neighbours in Eugland, whofe principles, as to church government and difcipline, and in feveral points that concern the worlhip of GoJ, differ widely from ours. O^T covcnant-tmion with England, J.nno l6.j;, wm.s reckoned the honour and glory of the thre/, "we were incorporate with them upon terms cppojite unto, and ikcoi:- f'Jient with our covenant-union ; in regard, the maintenance and prefervaiion of the do(5trine, worfliip, government, and difcipline of the church of England, is made 2i fundamental and eilential part of the union of the t^MO kingdoms. The Commiffion of the General Airembly, that were met at that: time, being informed, that, in the aci of ratification oi ih?: articles of the tr.dty of union, which the Parliament of Scotland were about: to pafs, it was declared, that the Parliament of England might pro- vide for the fecurily of the church of England, as they f?ould think expedient, to take place within the hounds of the kingdom of Eng- land : therefore, the faid ComrailHon, in their Reprefentation and Petition, of the i6th of January 1707, given in to the Parliament, reni'jnjiratc againll the forefaid claufe in the act of ratification ; not: only as putting a blank in the hands of the Parliament of England, to enaft what they iliould think fit for fecuring the hierarchy and ceremonies of their church ; but alfo as a confnt on the part of Scot- land, that it be an article and fundamental of the union, and as it is contained in the ratification, implying a manifcft homologation of ' the faid hierarchy and cerefuonies : therefore they crave, ' That there * may be no fuch llipulation or confent ibr the cilablilhment of the * hierarchy and ceremonies, as they would not involve themfelves * and the nation in guilt, and as they would confult the peace and ' quiet ot this nation, both in churrh and Uate.' But as the enfuin^ io6 The Judicial Testimony. General AlTembly, only approvec^ of the proceedings of this Com- miilion in common form, without any exprefs approbation of their conduifc in this particular, though matters of lefs moment have fome- times been particularly noticed ;"fo the Parliament of Scotland nowife regarded the forefiid Reprefentation and Petition, having in their acl oi ratification given their confent, That the Diaintenanc: of the hierarchy and ceremonies in England, JJooidd be a fundamental and eJJ'er.tial article of the union. And though it was then alledged, that the faid union was the beft mean to fecure cur religion and liberties, againit the attempts of a PcfrJJi Pretender and his adherents ; yet, as it was upon terms contrnry to our covenant-union, fo we hereby declared our confi- dence in an ar?n offtcfj, and not in the living God, who had fo often and fl) worrderfully favcd us from our enemies. — And, upon all thefs grounds and reafons, the forefaid union may be juftly looked upon as contrary to, and condemned by ihc'wordofCod, Jer. ii. 16, 17, 18, 36, 57. Ezek. xvii. 15. Ifa. xxx. i, 2, 3. chap. xxxl. i, 2, 3. Whereupon the faid union is become one o( our public national Jins : and from this time, inftead of making progrefs in Reformation-work, we have been declining and backfliding every day ; and have fallen under the weight of fuch grievances as (hake the foundation of our Pre/byierian church-government and difcipline. For, IV, Among the more immediate bitter and finful fruits of the foreiaid incor/^crating union, the whole nation was made to groan under the weight of unnecefl'ary, fuperfluous, and finful oaths ; and, mdecd, becaufe of fvearing, to this very day, the land fnourneth. How oft are the fame oaths repeated, even upon one and the fame day, to qualify men to act in different capacities ? How often are dealers in candles and leather obliged to fwear ? How do many of the trading part of the nation involve themfelves in perjury by the ordinary cufo?n-houfe oaths at the entry of fjjips ? And how much guilt do tjiey bring upon themfelves, and the whole land, by running of goods, and fuch like fraudulent pradices ; which are frequently att:eadcd with a very grofs profanation of the Lord's day .' How is the name of God profaned; and the jull fenfe and imprefllnn of the importance, weight, and folemnity of an oath, and alfo the dread- ful guilt and danger there is of raih and falfe fwearing, worn off the fpirits of many, by a frequent and unnecelfary repetition of oaths ? Likcwife, a fupcrftitious form of fis ; in fo far as the united conftitvtion, directly oppo- iite to our covenani-nniort, is thereby hoinnlogatc and fworn unto. Vf. In the foref.iid year 17.12,' the right i\\ prefintation to vacant congre_p^atif',ns, chti'.Ticd hy Patrons, was again reflnred , unto them. Againft thi; the church of Scotb-md has always ttftified, as fubver- five of the right of elcBicft belonging to Chriftian congregations by the wo'd ot God, as in the f;cond hook of Dif ipline, chap. xii. ; ' The liberty of the election of pcrfons c.dlcd to the ecclefiafiical * fi)jii5tions, and obferved without interruption, i"o long as the Kiik ' was not coi'rupted by Anticbrift, we defire to be rcftored and rc- * rained within this realm: fo that none be intruded upon any con- * grega^ion, cither by the Prince, or any irderioi- perfon, without * lawful election, and the afTent of the people over whom the per- * fon is placed ; as the practice of the apoltolical and primitive Kirk ' and good order crave.' As the a;5t of Parli.i-nent reRoring the right of prefentation to Patrons, v.-as a heavy llroke upon this church ; lo the countenance that has been given unto this Antichrijlian nfurpation, by \\\z pre- fint judicatories of the church, in the fettlement nf minifters upon prefcntatioTis from Patrons, over reclaiming and di'Jcntin^ congrega- tions, is one of X.h.er. This fuperiHtiovis practice was con- demned by the acfls and conftitutions of this church ; and declared by the General Anemi>ly that n)et at Glafgow, Anno 1638, to be abjured by the national covenant. Thefe are fome itiRances of the gradual dsclirftnns of tliis church and land from Reformatioii-purify, that did take place between that remarkable and wonderful appearance of divine providence in the year i63S, and the accejfion of our \?iX.t fovereign^L'xw^ George to. the throne. — Therefore, this Prejhyt-ery judge it their, duty to condann, llkeas they herehy do condemn, all the forelaid fteps of defeftion, for the feveral grounds and reafons above condefcended upon, as con- trary to the word of God and our folemn coven-mt-cnj^agements : And they hereby declare, that they are national fins x and every ouc of thvTm may be juftly reckoned among the grounds and cauies ol th: LorJ's inrlignation and controverfy with us, for which all ranks of p^rfoas h.ive rsrafon to be- deeply humbled bclort the Lord. The Judicial Testimony. i 09 Though, inftcad of making progrcfb in Reformation-'work, many valuable pieces of" Reformation, once attained unto by this church and land, were not only neglected, but upon the matter given up at the Re-joiuthn; and though, inilcau of holding fad v. hat was then attained unto, the church of Scotland did lol'e ground, and ■w;hs involved in new fteps of declining and backliiding ; and, at the fame time, though a malignant and difatFi;(fted party were unweari- ed in their plots and projects to delhoy any good work the Lord had v.TOUght for us by the Revolution : Yet the Lord, v. hofe r.aine is gracious and merciful, long-fuffiring, and Jlonu to anger, dealt not with us according to the defert of our tins ; but, under many frown- ing and wrath-like difpenfations of providence, ninejubered mercy., 2.i\A faved us from >}ur enemies, and put them ts fhame that hated its. Therefore, among the many remarkable appearances of God for his church and people in this land, this Prefbytery judge it their duty to commemorate and record v;\xSx thankfulnefs, the deliverance from thrcJtned rain that was brought about by the right-hand of the Lord, in the years I 714 and 17 I 5: when, in the latter end of Q£e€n Anne's reign, thick and dark clouds covered us ; and when it was evident that deftgns were not only formed, but very far ad^^anccd, for plac- ing a Popiffj Pretender upon the throne of theie realms ; which, if they h.id taken place, would have brought the three nations back into the fame mikrable circumlUnces in which they were immediate- ly before the Revolution. But the Lord was gracioufly pleafed to • fcatter,the clouds, and to dif-ippomt thefe projects, hy the feafonable accejjion of our late fovereign king George to the throne. This was like ariother Revolution ; brought about by his immediate hand, who cuts off the fpirit of princes, and appears terrible to the kings cf the earth. — No fooner vras this deliverance given us, than an unnatural rebellion, broke forth in our bowels : the interefts of a Popifb Preten- der v/ere openly efpoufed ; and a banner was difplayed againft the Revohition-intereji, onv fvcreign king George, and \iheProiefant Suc- cefion in his Royal Family ; and that by a fet of men in this land, for whofe fake the toleration above-mentioned was granted, and who were always declared enemies to Scotland's co-jenanted refortnation. But the Lord was gracioufly pleafed to break their meafures ;*to pour fliame and contempt upon our enemies ; and to turn nijars into peace, in all cur borders. When the hand of the Lord was fo remarkably feen in workincj manifold deliverances for us, it might have been expeded that fome- * thing (hould have been done for carrying on Reformation-work : What could have been done mzrs for . his vineyard in Scotland, than •what he has done ? and yet, 'when he looked that 'voef:)Ould haze brought forth graps, ive have brought frth isjild grapes. — Since this Jaft delive- rance, we have not only fallen afleep, as if we had no enemy to fear ; b^.it, as if we had been delivered to add iniquity to our former tref- paiTes : — Corruption in principle and practice is come to a greater height, in feveral inftances, in this prefcnt age, than in any period fince our Reformation from Popery : — damnable and pernicious prin- ciples are propagated, which have a tendency to raze tha grounds 1 1 o I'he Judicial Testimony. and foundations of oar ChriRian faith. — Ar'tan blafphemies, and Ar- minian errors have been vented in one of our mod confiderable Semi- naries of leiirning ; where the youth are trained up for the holy mi- niftry: — fcrious godlinefs, and the fupernatural work of the Spirit of God upon the Ibuls of men, in their effedual calling, have been treated, even from the prefs, and otherwife, in a very ludicrous man- ner : and yet the ftandard of a faithful teftimony, againft the pre- vailing errors of the time, has not been lifted up by the judicatories of the church. — A form of godlinefs, a fhadow of religion, takes place of the power and life thereof through the land. — The Keys of government and difcipline, (comrinitted to the office-bearers of the church, by her glorious Head, for the edification of his body, and preferving his inllitutions in their purity ; for purging the houfe of God of unfound minillers and members ; for removing of the offences whereby the flock of Chrift may be hurt or ftumbled ; and for the maintenance of the liberties wherewith Chrift hath made his people free,) have been perverted to quite oppofite ends. — The power of religion is daily decaying among us ; and the very form of it is de- ipiled by many, and by others it is refted upon. But, as it is neceflary to give fome particular inftances of the progrefs and height of the prefent defecflion and backfliding ; fo this Prefbytery judge it their duty to condefcend upon the fol- lowing. I. Afckeme of pernicious and dangerous principles has been vented by Mr. John Simfon, profelTor of divinity in the univerfity of Glaf- gow ; as is evident from the feveral procejfes that have been carried on againft him. !_/?, When he was procefled before the judicatories of this church, in the years 17 14, 17 15, and i7i6. the following dangerous errors are owned and defended by him, in his attpwcrs to the lihcl given in to the Prcfbytery of Glafgow againft him, by the Rev. Mr. James Webfter, hue minifter of the gofpel at Edinburgh. 1. That ♦ by the light of nature, and the works of creation and <- providence, including tradition, God has given an obfcure objec- * live revelation to all men, of his being reconcileable to finners ; * and that the heathen may know that there is a remedy for fin pro- « vided, which may be called an implicit and obfcure revelation of » the gofpel ; and that it is probable, none are excluded from the • benefit of the remedy for fin provided by God, and publifhed twice ♦ to the whole world, except thcfe who, by their afitial fin exclude * thcmfclves, and fliahtand rej-^cl; the clearer light of the gofpel re- « vealed to the church, or that obfcure difcovery, and offer of grace ' made to all without the church * : and that, if the heathen would • in fincerity and truth, and in the ililigciit ufc of means that pro- « vidence Inys to their hand, fcck from God the knowledge of the ' w;»y of reconciliation, ncceffary for their acceptable ferving of him, • and being favcd by him, he would difcover it to themf.' — Likc- • Anfwcrs to Mr. Webftcr's libt!, p. 77, 7?, 79, I'S- t ^ '2< 8<'- The Judicial Testimony. . in wife he affirms, • That there are means appointed of God for ob- « taining faving grace ; which means, when diligently ufed with • fcrioufnefs, fmcerity, and faith of being heard, God has promifed < to blefs with fuccefs j and the going about thefe means in the fore- • faid manner, is not above the reach of our natural ability and • power *,' All thefe propofuions are dire>5ll7 contrary to the dotftrine held forth from the word of God in our Confeffion of Faith : particularly, chap. i. §. 1.; where, according to the fcriptures cited, we are taught, That, • although the light of nature, and the works of crea- ' tion and providence, do fo far manifeft the goodnefs, wifdom, and • power of God, as to leave man inexcufablc ; yet they are not fuf- • ficient to give that knowledge of God, and of his Aviil, which is ' nece/Iary unto falvation.' Whereas, by the above propofitions, Mr. Sirafon affirms, that the end and defign of natural religion is, not only to leave men inexcufable, but that thereby an ohfcure oflfer of grace is given them, and an implicit revelation of the gofpel made unto them ; and that the benefit of the remedy provided for fin, extends to all without the church, who do not flight and rejedl, this obfcure difcovery and offer of grace : and therefore, this ohfcure revelation and offer of grace is fuch, as lays a foundation for the heathen, in the diligent ufe of the means which providence lays to their hands, their feeking in fmcerity and truth the knowledge of the way of reconciliation : whereby forae kind of fufficiency is given to natural religion ; yea, fuch a fufficiency, as lays a foundation and ground for hope and confidence towards God, for obtaining, fome way or other, reconciliation to him, and confequently eternal falva- tion ; contrary to Eph. ii. 12. where the whole heathen world are declared to be ii:ithout God and wjithsut hope. And, whatever ad- vantages the heathen maybe fuppofed to have by tradition, yet the apoflle teftifies, that the -world by ivifdo?n kno'w not God : and they were fo far from feeking after the knowledge of the way of reconci- liation, that when it was publifhed unto them by the gofpel, they rejected the fanvs as foollilinefs, and not agreeable to their carnal reafonings, i Cor. i. 21, 25. Ifa. Jxv. i. with Rom. x. 20. Befides, by the above propofitions, mens natural powers and abi- lities, whether they be within or without the church, are exalted to the difiionour of God, to the difparagement of his fovereign and efficacious grace ; and in direct contrariety to that miferable ftate and condition into which all mankind are brought by their apoftafy fron^ God in the/r/? Adam ; being dead in trejpajfes and fins, under the power of fpiritual darknefs, and not only enemies to God, but by nature enmity againft him ; as is held forth from tlie fcriptures ia our Confeffion of Faith, chap. ix. §. 3. ' Man, by his fall into a ftate * of fin, hath wholly loft all ability of will to any fpiritual good ' accompanying falvation ; fo as a natural man, being altogether ' averfc fro.o that good, and dead in fin, is not able by his owa • ftr^ngth to convert himfclf, or to prepare himfclf thereto-' ♦ AnTwcrs to Mr. Webner's libel, P. n*. I 1 1 The Judicial Testimony. The above propofuions, concerning man's powers and abilities in a natural ftate. are more dangerous, whtn it is confidered, that Mr. Simlbn rejects the ordinary anfiver given by our orihodix divines to a Pelagian objeiftion, viz. l hat it is iinjujl in Cod to cofimatjj nvhat nve have m po'uier to perform. All refrmed divines make anfwer, that we had lufficient power and ability in Adam, but have lolt it by our fall ; and though we have loft power to ohey^ yet Cod has a juft right to command. This anhver Mr. Simfon rejeds, as no way lufKcient; and iubllitutes what is contained in the above iMopofitions in the room of it, An/huers, p. 210. <3C.'. whereby, inlleid of re- moving the objection, (to the dillionour of God, and harJning of ihcfc gro/'s pcrverters of the truth, ;fnJ to the fu'-vcrting and pni- ioning of thole with whom he was intruded to train up for the holy ininilby,) he gives up the caufc of truth to the Pelagians and Ar- miuians. 2- The faid Mr. Simfon mainiaius and defends, « That there was • no proper covenant made with Adam for himfelf, and his pofte- • rily*: — That Adam was not a foederal head to his pollcrity f ; — < and that if Adam was made a foederal head, it mult be by divine • command, which is not found in the Pil>le \, The above pro- pofitions are contrary to the dotftrine held forth from tl»e word of God, in our Confeffion, chap. vi. §. 5. chap. vii. §. 1. : and the anl'iver to the quefir.n in the Larger and Shorter Catechlfais ; Did all mankind fall in Adnm^s firjl iranfgreiffjn ;' The above grofs and erroneous propofuions, are the foundation and gro'jnd of a chain of principles connec'led with thetn ; whereby the reformed iloctriue contained in our Confclllnn of Faith, is under- mined and overturned : for, by the denial of the fardaral reprfcnta- tiont the proper ir.-iputation of Adam's tirit fin falls to the ground. And thoui^h the profejfor pretends to maintain the imputation of Adam's firlt fin, fronrj the laiiLtion of the law, yet his reaionincr a- mounts to no more than that his pollerity arc puniJJyed for the fame. When'Adam's Afdcral re|)refcntali()n of his jioflerity is difowned, his ft I Jl Jin can no more be called theirs, than the fuis of their im- mediate parents. That this proper imputation of Adam's Hrft fin is denied by him, will further appear from the following grofs and dangerous propolitions which he maintains and defends. For, 5. He afHrms, • That it is inconfillent with the jullice and j^ood- « nefsofGod, to create a foul without original righlcoufntfs, or « any difpofition to good |] ; — and that the fouls of infants fince the « fall, as they come from the hands of their Creator, are as puic « and holy, as the fouls of infants would have been created, iiip- • pofing m.T-n had not fallen ; — and that they are created as pure « and holy as Adam's was, except as to thcfc qualifications and « habits v.'hieh he received, as being created in an adult Hate §.' Thefc propolitions arc diicvfUy contrary to the d0(Strinc held forth from the word oi God in our Confeluon, chap. vi. §. 2, ;, 4. And the anfver to the qucjlion in the Larger and Shorter Catcchlfnij ; • AiifwcM, P. \Cf>, ^ 1'. 174. ) r. \-)C. n P, Hi. ^ p. nr. I The Judicial Testimony. i i ^ Wherein conftfts the Jinftilnef of that ejlate loherehito man fell ? And the anfwer to the quellion in the Larger Catechifn ; Ho^ is original Jin conveyed from our firfl parents to their pofterity ? 4. Mr. Simfon alfo affirms and detends, ' That it is probable,* « that of the whole race of mankind, moe are electeJ and fived, < than reprobated and damned *.' — He owns, that of the adult, oc thefe come to years, it is phiin from fcripture, that the rnoji part are neither eleHcd nor faved .- but, that he may account for the number of the elsdt and faved, he afierts, * That it is more than probabfe ' that baptized infants, dying in infancy, are all faved f ; and ^h.it ' it is manifefl:, if God fhould deny his faving grace ro hU, or any « of the children of infidels, he would deal more feverely with thein * than h^ did with the fallen angels |. By the above propofitions, Mr. Simfon judges it probable, that all infants,^ '^X'ng in infancy, are included in the decree of election ; which is very agreeable to the Arminian fcht;me, which tcacheth, that the decree of elciflion, is influenced from forefeen conditions and qualifications in the creature : but contrary to the docflrine held forth from the word of God in our Confeffion, chap. iii. §. 5. * Thofe * of mankind that are predeftinated unto life, God, before the foun- * dation of the world wis laid, according to his eternal and immut- * able purpofe, and the-fecret counfel and good pleafure of his will, * hath chofcn in Chrifl. unto everlalling glory, out of his mere grace * and love ; without any forefight of faith or good works, or per- * feverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, * as conditions or caufes moving him thereto, and all to the praife * of his glorious grace ;' and coufequently without any regard unto their infant ojr adult llate. It is plain from the fcriptures, that God hath chofen fome of mankind to eternal life, out of his mere good pleafure alUnarly ; Rom. ix. 11. F'jr the children being not yet horn., neither having done any good or evil, that the purpofe of God according to tledion might fl and, not ofixiorks^ hut of him that calleth : £ Ver. 13.J jiis it is 'written, Jacob have I loved, and Efati have I hated. Befides, by the above propofitions, he maintains the certainty of the falvation of all infants, v^hen he challengeth his Maker with exercifing greater feverity towards them, in cafe he fliould deny his faving grace to any of them, than is eisrcifed tov/ards the fallen angels : efpecially when this is compared with his other prppoflilon^ noticed above, ' That none are excluded from the benefit of tlis * remedy for fin provided, but thefe who, by their aftual fins, ' exclude themfelves.' — All thefe propofitions have an evident ten- dency to lead men to low thoughts of the evil and dei\rtoi' of ig in a/ fin imputed and inherent. Moreover, if the above dodtrine is true, then there is no ground to fear the damnation of any upon the ac- count of original fin, though it is the bitter fountain and fpring of all our actual tranfgreffions, and makes us childrenof wrath by nature; according to the doctrine held forth, from the word of God, in out- • Aufwcrs, p. IOC). f JVid. p. III. i TiU. p. 113. 1 1 4 The Judicial Testimony. Confcilinn, chap. vi. §. 6. * Every fin, both original and aAual, « being h tranfgrefflon of the riglitcous law of God, and contrary * thereto, doth in its own n.iture bring guilt upon the finner ; '« whereby he is bound over to the wrath of God, and curfe of the * 1 i\v, and fo miJe fuhje<5l to death, with all iniferies, fpiritual, « temporal, and eternal.' 5. Mr. Simfon likewife impugns the immediate previous divine concow/e with all the actions ol the rcafonable creature ; and in place thereof affirms, ' That God may determine infallibly all the « aiStions of reafonable creatures, that are not above their natural * powtrs, and are not contrary to their natural inclinations and dif- « [H^ficinn's, by placing them in fuch circumflances, by which they * h ivo a certain feries and train of motives laid before them, by * V. ;iich they may infallibly, yet freely, prodnce fuch a feries of * a^Hio;is. as he has decreed : and this, f.iys he, may be fufficient * for afcertiining all ihe events of fuiftil a(5^ions, and of the ordinary « natural and civil actions of men *.' — It is true, ihe providence of God is a great depth ; Hs^ix'ays are ur.fearchahle, and his judgvterits paji fiiidiKg out. The terras that have been ufed by reformed divines, in explaining the doctrine of providence, fome of iheTn are not in onr CoiHeflion ; b'cing nowife adapted to vulgar capacities ; yet the hnmediate divine concourfe with all the adions of the reafonablc crea- tur- has been afHrmed and maintained by reformed divines in op- poiliion to Jefuits and Arminians ; and is necefTary for maintaining and .iirenin^ the abfolure dominion of God over the free a*5lions of rcafonble creatures, and their immediate dependence upon him in motion and ai5lion, as well as in their being, and prcfervation in the fame : whereas the way whereby Mr. Simfon explains the divine providence about all the actions of reafon'^.i^le oreaiiires, leaves the creature independent in motion and adion upon the adorable i^r$ator. Though fome of the ordinary terms, that arc ufed by divines upon this fubjcft, are not in our Confcflion of Faith ; yet the dodriue of \^\tt immediate previous divine concourfe v\\\\ all the a»51ions of the rcaft>'iable creature, as it is explained by our reformed divines, is plainly hrl I forth therein from the word of God, chap. v. §. if. ; « Th'; almighty power, unfearchable wifdom, and infinite goodnefs * oi God, 1() far manifell themftlvcs in his providi'UvC, that it cx- * tcndeth iifclf even to the ^w\}i. fall, and all other lins of angels and « nun : and that r.ot by a bare pcrmiflion ; but fuch as hath joined ' with it a trolt wife and powerful bounding, and otherni'ij'e ordering « and governing of iliem in a manifold difpenlation to his own holy * ends : yet fo as the finfulncfs procccdcth only froni the creature., « and not frrm God, who, being moll holy am! righteous, neither * is, nor can be the author or approver of fin.' — And the anlwer to the queliion in the Larger and Shorter Catechifm, IVhat are God's ivoflrs of providence ? 6. Mr. Simfon likewife aflirms and maintains, ' That a regard to • /.itfx tn, p. 1:4. T'hc Judicial Testimony. ^'S" * our own happinefs, and the profpeift of our eternal felicity and * bleflednefs in the enjoyment of God in heaven, oU'j;ht to he our ' chief motive in ferving the Lord upon earth *.' — He alfo affirms, in anfwer to the fii ft qneftion of the Catechifm, ' That our glonfy- ' ing God, being the means, is fubordinate to our enj'iyment of * him for ever, which is our ultimate end f.' — And, ' That, were * it not for the profped of happinefs we could not, and therefore « would not ferve God :j:.' As Mr. Simfon perverts the doiRiine held forth from the fcriptures, cited upon the anfwer to the fird queftion of our Larger and Shorter Citechifm, fo as the Committee of the General Affembly 1727, very juftly obferve (State of the Pro- cefs, p. 277.) • What is fet forth in the above article, is contr.iry to * the inltincl of that new nature the Lord endueth all his people ' with in regeneration, which makes them, by the further Influence * of grace, defire to ferve God for himfelf and his fupereminent ex- * celiencies, and not merely or chiefly for the proipedl ot their own « happinefs; whence it is their greatell: burden that they cannot * more ferve him for himfelf. And confidering how much all men * are bound to make the glory of God their chief end, though yet * they are called herewith to purfue happinefs ; and likewife, that * it is through a prevailing refpefl: to God's honour and glory, and * not a mt^re or chief refped to our own happinefs, that the difrer- * ence between nature and grace is to be cleared to the doubtful * Chriftian. Therefore, it is no fmall difhonour to God, to * teach what is fet down in the above articles; and that the contrary * was neceflary to be taught.' 7. Mr. Simfon alio maintains, and defends it as his opinion, * That « there will be no finning in heil after the laft judgment ||.' Thig abfurd opinion, is contrary to the dodrine held forth in our Con- fefllon and Catechifms ; where, according to the fcriptures, we are taught, ' That fin is any want of conformity unto, or tranfgreffion « of, the law of God.' And fince it is certain, that the natures of the damned in hell were never renewed, they can have no manner of conformity to the law of God : and, from their corrupt and unre- newed natures, muft necellarily flow the higheft enmity and rage a- gainft the jullice and holinefs of God in punithing of them ; which, isexprelTed in fcripture hy gnajh ing of the teeth, Matth. viii. 12. 2dly, By another /TOf^ againlt the faid Mr. Simfon, begun be- fore the Prefbytery of Glafgow, /Inno 1726, and carried on before the judicatories, till the Aliembly 1729, when it was concluded ; the fiid Mr. Simfon was found guilty of many other grofs and dan- ' ^erous errors ; in regard, it was found clearly proven, < That, in * teachinjij his Jludents, he had denied the necefi'ary exiftence of our * Lord J-fus Chriil ;' — and that he had affirmed, « That his neccilary ' exiltence is a thing we know not ; and, that the term Tiecefary ex- « ijierice was impertinent, and not to.be ufed v.hen talking of the « Trinity ; and that the three perfons of the adorable Trinity, are ' not to be laid to be nuvierically one in fuLllance, or efFence ; and • Anjyitri, p. ii^)^ ij;. | jUd. p. 140. + toU, p 149. }| ii:V. p. J35, 0^2 i 1 6 T'he Judicial Testimony. * that the terms, necejfary exijlefice^ fupretiie deity,, and the title of « the only true God, may he taken, and are by fome authors taken, « in H fenfe that includes the perfonal property of the Father, and * fo not belonging to the Son.' — By a!) which prop'Jitions, the fu- preme Deity of the Lord Jcfus Ckrifty the fecond perfon of the ador- able Trinity ; as alfo the (uprenie Deity of the Holy GhoJ}, our Com- forter and S;Tn(5lifie»-, is blafphemoufly impugned and denied by the faii Mr. Simfon ; in dire(5t oppofition to the fcriptures of truth, and the do(ftrine held forth from them in our Confeffion of Faith, chap. ii. §. I, 3. chap. viii. §. 2. Anfwer to the quefHon in the Larger and Shorter Catechifm?, How many persons are there in the Godhead? And Larger Catechifm, Queft. n. It delerves alio to be obferved, that 'fome hypoihefes adopted by Tilr. SiiTiibn, and which tend to attribute too much to natural reafon, are the very fpring of the above dangerous errors vented and taught by him. In his fecond letter- to Mr. Rowan, he adopts the following r^'jciniun proportions, ' That reafon, as it is taken for evident propo- * fitions, difcovered by the light of nature, is the principle or foun- * dation of theology; and that nothing is to be admitted in religion, * but what is agreealile to reafon, and determined by reafon to be fo.' Althnugh Mr. Simfon pretends to difown ihefe propojitions as they are mamtained and explained by the Socinians ; yet it is obvious from the plain meaning of the words, that the above propofitions, adopted by him, exalt reafon above divine revelation ; contrary to the doctrine held forth in our Confeffion of Faith, chap. j. §. 10. * The fupreme Judge, by which all controverfies of religion are to * be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of anticnt * writers, do(5lrines of men, and private fpirlls are to be examined, * and in whofe fcntence we are to reft, can be no other but the * holy Spirit fpeaking in the fcripture.' And contrary to the anfwer to the fecond qnellion in the Larger and Shorter Catechifm. — Mr. Simfon having once fct reafon in the chair, and exalted it to be judge in principles of faith, it is no wonder that he rejeds (he teftimony of God in his ov.'n word, concerning the covefiar.t-head/Jiip and rc- prejentation of the firjl /Idatn, and the many facred truths that are crnnefted with that important article ; and that he has maintained the other errors charged againit him in \\\t firjl procefi. — From the fame fourcc and fpring alfo, he was at length led to impugn and deny the fupreme Deity and necejfary exiftence of him whofe narite is. Wonderful, Ciju^leller, the mighty God, the ever l.i fling Father, the Prince of peace, Ifa. ix. 6. This Prcfbytcry confidering, that the parity of dodrine, main- tained in this church, is very much endangered by the above grofs snd pernicious errors ; and that many may be in hazard of being tainted with them in a day wherein atheifm and infiilelity do fo much abound : Therefore they did, and hereby do, upon t}:e nveighty grounds and reafons ahove-narrated. Condemn, as contrary to the "V-'ord of Cod, our Confcfion of Faith and Gated f us, the fveral propcftious above-mentioned, maintained and defended by Mr. Simpfon, viz, * RatiOf ut fuihiliir pi\t pT'pofitiovihus neutraliter icvelatis, eji prin- The Judicial Testimony. 117 cspium feu fundamentum theologix ; and that nothing is to be ad- mitted in religion, but what is agreeable to rcalon, and deterrriin- cd by reafon to be f o : That: by the light of nature, and works of creation and providence, including tradition, God hath given an obfcure objedive revelation to all men, of his being reconcilable to fmners ; and that the heathen may know there is a remedy for fia provided, which may be called an implicit or obfcure revelation of the gofpel : — That it is probable none are excluded from the benefit of the remedy for fin, provided by God, and publilhed twice to the world ; except thefe who, by their aftual fins, exclude themfelves, and flight or rejcdl either the clear light of the gofpel, revealed to the church, or that obfcure difcovery and offer of grace made to all without the church: — That if the heathen, in the ufe of the means they have, would feek the knowledge of the way of reconciliation, God would difcover it to them : — That there are means appointed of God for obtaining fiiving grace; which means, when diligently ufed with ferioufnefs, fincerity, and faith of being heard, God hath promifed to blefs wich fuccefs ; and the going a- bout thefe means, in the forefaid manner, is not above the reach of our natural ability and power : — That there was not a proper covenant made with Adam for himfelf and his pofterity : — That Adam was not a foederal head to his pofterity; and that, if Adam was made a fcederal head, it muft; be by a divine command, \vhich is not found in the Bible : — That it is inconfiftent with the juftice and goodnefs of God, to ci'eate a foul without original righteouf- nefs or difpofitions to good : — That the fouls of infants fince the fall, as they came from the hands of their Creator, are as pure and holy, as the fouls of infants would have been created, fuppo-4 fing man had not fallen ; and that they are created as pure and holy as Adam's was created, except as to thofe qualifications and habits, which he received, as being created in an adult ftate : — That it is more than probible, that all bnptized infants, dying in infancy, are faved ; and that it is manifeil, if God fhould deny his grace to all, or any of the children of infidels, he would deal more feverely with them than he did with the fallen angels : — That there is no immediate previous divine concourfe with all the aod or evil ; that the purpofe of Cod, according to the eleflion might Jiand, not of works, but of him that calleth. And whatever we do, we mult Itill reckon ourfelves unprofitable fer- vants. The above propofitinns, are likewife contrary to our ConfefTion of Faith and Catechifms ; Con. chap. vi. §. 7. wherein it is allertcd from tlie word of God, ' That works done by unregcnerate men, » although for the matter of them, they may he things which God • commands, and of good ufe both to thcmfclves and others ; yet, ' becaufe they proceed not from an heart purified by laith, nor arc • done to a right end, the glory of God, they are therefore finful, ' and cannot plc.ife God, or make a man meet to receive gr.Mce from • God.' • And to Larg. Cat. (^eft. 190, 196. and Led". Cat. Queft. iGi, 107. and Larg. and Lclf. Cat. Qiieft. ifl ; wherein it is faid, • That man's chief and higholt end is to ferve God, and fully • to enjoy him for ever :' And to Lt/]'. Cat. Quell. 47. whcie, the • not worlliipping and glorifying the true God, as God,^ is the great Jin forbidden in the firll commandment : and to Larg. Cat. Qjcft. 10;. where, • Self-love, felf-fcckihg, and all other inordinate • aud iiiiniodcr.ite felting ol our wind, will, or all.cliouw upon other *rhs Judicial Testimony. nx « things, and taking them off from God, in whole or in part,' are affirmed, from the fcripturcs ihore cited, to he among the fins for- bidden in the firO: commandment. Mr. Campbell alio affirms, ' That felf-intcreft or pleafure is the * only ftandard by which we can judt^e of the virtue, {J. e. the value * or goodnefs,^ of any adlion whatfoever a : — That virtue and utility « are two words (Ignifying the fame thing b : — That the intrinfick * goodnefs or redtitude ol moral virtue, lies dire>5lly in the fitnefs of ' it to the fclf-love and happinefs of mankind ; ami that actions are « virtuous only as they promote fejf-interefl: r : — And that moral * goodnefs, as well as natural, lies in advantage and pleafure J :— * And that we like and approve all the moral cjuaiiiies that are cal- « led virtuous, for no other reafon, but for their being good to us ; « /. e. for the pleafure they give us, or for their gratifying our felf- « love e : — And that the goodnefs of any adion, from which it is * denominate moral virtue, immediately lies in the conformity it has * to our felf-love ; while it concurs and co-operates with this prin- * ciple in approving our being happy, and to fecure and promote * our well- being/".' Thefe Propoficions do dire(flly contradict the holy Scriptures; in which it is exprefly declared, That the laiv of Cod is the adequate and only Jlandard hy ivhich the goodnefs of anions is to be tried, and not our 6'wn fclfintereft and pleafure. Ifa. viii. 20. 2 Pet. i. 19. Pfal. cxix. 9. Deut. iv. 2. Rev. xxii. iS. Pfal. cxix. 4, 5, Prov. xxx. 6. Exod. XX. 2, — 17. Deut. V. 29. Luke i. 6. Gal. iii. 10. i Sara. xv. 22. Joha xiv. 15, 21. chap, XV. 14. i John iii. 4. — And, in regard the fioli- nefs of God is manifefted in his law, and his fovereign autliority is interpofed therein ; th.t goodnefs of bur actions doth immediately ly in their cotfrmity to the holy laiv of God, and in their being done by ' faith in Chrltl, and from a refpect to the authority of God the Law- giver. And there is nothing more contradivftory to the whole word ot God, than to aflert, that ihs good?: ef cf our love to God, and his Son Jefui Chrift, or of any adl of obedience and devotion, lies di- reiflly in its fitnefs to promote our perfonal intereft, Pfal. xlvii. 8. Heb. X. 7. Rom. ii. 12, 13, 14. Heb. x. 98. chap. '•' 6. Gal. ii. 20- John XV. 4, 5. — And the above Propofitions do likewifc -"^nt adi. * P- 453* c p. zci, 389. <^ P- 3J4, 355' « P- SJ7, 3sa. /p-^'Sia*®' fP'i37. M^' 4:9,430, 43-- R 12 2 The Judicial Testimony. Thefe Propofitions ars contrary to the holjr Scriptures ; in which it is aflerted, That God kivifelf, in the wife purpofc and counfcl of his own will, laid doivn the 'whole plan of the nature and relation of things, which he freely brings forth in his works of creation, provi- dence, and redemption. And though the precepts of the moral law arc eternal and immutable ; in regard the holinels and perfec- tion of God's nature is fuch, that it cannot be his will that his crea- tures fliould do otlierwifc : yet the Scriptures alfo affert, That God is our Laiugiver, and affirm his abfolute fovereignty and authority over us; and confequently, that nothing can be a law to us but by ^// cna^ing ; and that what he ena(5ts muft be a law to us, whether it be a moral precept, or a thing in its own nature indifferent : As is evident from the pofitive precept given to Adam at his creation, and from oih&Y pojltive commands, both under the old and new Te- llaments ; which, although they were all wife and good, yec who can iay that God was neceffarily obliged, by his own nature, to ena<5t ihem, and th.it he could not poffibly have done otherwifc ? It is therefore grofly erroneous to fet up the nature and relation of things as a lansj abcme God himfelf anU to maintain that moral good and evil flows from the efieiitlal properties and nature of things, and not from the holinefs of God's nature allenarly, together with his fove- reign authority and will manifelled in his law ; as is evident from the fpJIowiug fcriptures, Eph. i. 5, 11. Rom. ix. 15, — 24. Rev. iv. 1 1. — The above Propofitions are alfo contrary to the dodrine held forth from the word of God, Confelf. ch. viii. §. 1. chap. xix. §. 5. Larg. Cat. Queft. 12. From the word of God and our Confeflion of Faith we are alfo taught, X.\vJit creatures can tnerit no good from God: and that he is not obliged to reward their fervices; and that aJl the rewarjb he has promifcd to any of ihem are free and unmerited ; and thai they can have no fruition of Ciod as their bleirtdnefs and reward, but by fome voluntary condifcenfion on his part, which he has been plcafej to exprcfs by way of covenant : As alfo, that he, whofc name i.-. Jk- HOVAH, hath all life, glory, blclfedncfs, and goodnefs, /;; a7iJ of himftlf ; and fdnds not in need of any of his creatures, nor lierivcs any •:;I-'r> from them. ThereloiC it is grolly erroneous in Mr. Canjjt- Niil to aflirm as above, ' Thit God cannot but reward the viiiuous ' from lelf-love.' Yea, it is blafphemy in him to alhrm, • I'hit our • happincfs is advantageous to God's nature j and that God's inic- <■ reus Hrc not altogether independent on us.' Luke xvii. 10. and lii. "2. Eph. ii. 5, 8. Rom. vi. 23. Job xxii. 2, 3. and xxxv. 7, y. Ati^iS xvii. 24, 25. Confcir. ch. !i. §. i, 2. ch. vii. \. \. Larg. Cat. v>M>;it. ';. 30. and from (>'cll. 67. to 75. inclujite. The General AlFcmbly 1736, having had Mr. Campbell's wr>tlngs UnJer their confiJcralion, in which he has vented the ^Ijove Propo- fitions, it is to be obfcrved with regret, 'That ihcy find, \viiii « rcfpt(fl to the third article conctriiing felf-love, he had declared ' he meant no mors.-, but iii.it :/«'• delight iu the glory an J houoar *rhe Judicial Testimony. I25 • of God is *he chief motive of all virtuous and religious aflions : • and are of opinion, that the examining and ftacing of the matter, ' as h:is be^n done by the Committee for purity of dodrine, is fuf- • ficient for cautioning againft the errors, that fome at firft fuppofed • Mr. Campbell was guilty of ; and do appoint, that the matter • reft here.' From all which, compared with the report of the Com- mittee, taken into the preamble of the act, it is very mnnifeft, that the Aflcmbly have adopted this propofition of Mr. Campbell's, as in their opinion found and orthodox, viz. That our delight in the glory and honour of God is the chief motive of all virtuous and religious mflions. And that they have taken it up in the fame fcnfe aud meaning of the terras, in which Mr. Campbell, who delivered it, appears to have underftood it, from his explications then under con- fideration, is as certain, as it is plain from the adt itfelf, that the defign of the Alfcmbly and Committee, (in hearing and confidering this declaration of Mr. Campbell's, and the other explications he oflFercd,) was. To do fomething that luas fuffi.cient ft cautioning againfl the errors, that fome at firfi fuppofed he -was guilty of But the a.hove propofition, coufidered in a relation to his fcheme of principles, and his explications then under confideration, is ma- nifeftly grofs and erroneous ; and is very agreeable to the fcheme of felfifh love he has laid down in his Enquiry : as appears from his further explications and his remarks on the report of the Committee ; which, together with this fnort declaration of his fentiments, were laid before the Aflembly, as his defences in the charge laid againft him. He concludes his defences upon this head in K\s further Expli- eations f , as f^IJows ; ' I hope the reverend Committee will judge, * that rry opinion about the fupreme motive, is in no degree an ei- * clufion of the glory of God from being our chief end ; and that ' true phiiofophy juftifies my profeffing, as I have done in my (firft) ' explications, that the glory of God, or God in his glorious per- * fcftions and excellencies, is our chief and our ultimate end; and our ' prevailing defire after happinefs in this glory of God, or in God an * infinite good, the great fountain of all life and of all perfection, * IS the fupreme motive thr.t excites us, and that animates our vigo- * reus endeavour?, to attain to him.' And in his Remarks on the Committee's report, page 47. he afierts, • That the Agent's felf-love, * or a man's own happinefs, is the motive whereby he is excited to * the purfuit of fudh fort of (good or virtuous) iclions.' The matter ftands briefly thus: — The A/Tembly hzvt (tjfcilzied Mr. Campbell from the charge of error that fome at firft fuppofed he was guilty of; in refpecl, that, as to the 3d article conc^rnrng felf-lsve, he had declared he meant no more, but "hat our delight . in the glory and honour of God, '■Mas the chief motive of all virtuous and religious aHions. But, if the terms ot this propofition are con- fidered, and compared with his defences as above, it will be manifeft, that by iht honour ^T\A glory ofGoJ, Mr. Campbell .ioesnot undcr- ftand the declarative glory of God ; but God in his gloriius e-^ctl' t Turllxr Exfl p. 78, 75. R 2 12 4 Tke Judicial Testimony." lencifs and perfefliom ; or God an infinitf good : and, by our dellglit in (he glory and honour of God, he underftands our prevailing de- Jire after happinefs in this glory otGod, or in God an infinite good. And, when he affirms, that our delight in the honour and glory of God, is the chief motive to all virtuous a(flions, he underllands, that the j4gcnfs felf-lovc^ or a man's own happ'ncfs in this glory of (idd, or in God an infinite good, is the chief uiotive whereby he is evcited to the purAiit of religious and virtuous aflions; which is the fime thing\\'\\\i \.\\t error that fomc at firff fuppo fed he ivas guilty of viz. That f:;lf-love is the chief 7notive to all fiich aOionr. This might be further iUuitrate from what Jie fays, pajre 70. and 7S. of his further F.-xpUcat:o7u ; and p. 46. and 48. of his Remarks. But the cafe is fo phiin of itfelf, and from what has been obferved, that nothing is neceffary to be added ; except to lament, that God has left this church fo far as to adopt this error : and that he fo far deferted fome worthy men, as not to notice it, and teftify againft it, in a way of protejlation for the honour of truth. It ihali only be further obferved on this head, that no other meaning can be impofed on the propofition contained in Mr. Campbell's declaration, than what is above-reprefcnted ; bccaufe, as he has not as yet renounced one propofition in all his writings, but defends every one of them, fo it is manifeft that he pleads, that, in eyeing God as our laft end, we muft confuler him, merely as our chief good, or the being who can fully fatisfy our felf-love, and gratify all our defires and appetites. And he makes God's benefits to us, or his promoting our happinefs, the only ground and reafon of our loving and worfhipping him. And he plainly affcrts, That ' feeing God aifts for his lelf-interefl, * we cannot adt from a higher principle than our felf-intere(K' Yea, he confid>:ntly affirms, * That his expreffions on this fubjecl do not * go higher than his fentiments ; and that his fentiments do not go * beyond the nature of things *.' A like injury has been done to truth by the Committee's judging, * Th It the expreffions objected againft, are only too high on the fide * of felf-Iove, which amounts to no more than that he had cxprefl'ed * the truth in equivocal and fufpicious terms ; particularly, his af- * ferting felf-love to he the lole principle, ftandai-d, and motive of * all religious anions.' And the Allcmbly's being of the opinion, * That the Committee's thus ftating the matter, is a fufficient caution * againft error,' has thereby reduced his fentiments (concerning felf- love's being the fole principle, ftandard, and niotive of all viituous and religious, aftions,) to nothing elfe, but to tto high exprejions on the fide of felf-love. And error being in the nature of the thing, a falfe prepvfition, or cxprelfion ; and an high exprefton, in common language, being nothing clfc but a truth fct in a firiyno light ; hereby the important truth'; of God, that relate to the principle, Uandard, and motive of our adion?, arc left wcitndcd and bleeding in our ftrccts. 2dlyt Mr. Campbell, in his difourft, proving that the Apojllewere • Sec Erp'iry, p. 4x5, loi, lOi, 4P4, 389, 4^1. K'f. p. 5I. I The Judicial Testimony. 125* no Enthujiajis, has done manifell indignity to the work of the holy- Spirit upon the fouls of men in their re^^eneration and convcrfion ; in regard he affirms, ' That many in the world look upon thefe ma- « nifeilaiions, whjch ihey think tliey have of the nature and excel- * lencies of God, as fupernaturally communicated to their minds ; * and take thefe inw'ard ravifliments they feel upon fuch pretended * revelations, to be all divine joys poured in upon them by the im- * mediate hand of God himfelf : and, that it is evident, beyond all ' reafonablc difpute, that all fuch events may pofllbly have come * about in a natural courfc and feries of things,' (he makes no ex- ception of any, but fuch as are of the miraculous and extraordinary- kind,) < without any more immediate interpofing of the divinity, * than there is when a man opens his eyes and beholds the fun in its ' glory at noon-day *.' He affirms, ' That an extrarvagant conceit ' of being peculiarly bleft with fuch flipernatural communications * from heaven, makes up the very life and foul of Enthufiafm f.' He defcribes the Enthufiaft to be one, ' who, in the coucfe of his * devotion, keeps not within the compafs of reafon J.' Whereby he makes ^«;/^fl« reafsn^ in its prefent fituation, owv only guide incur devotion. He alfo reprefents the Enthufiaft to be one, • who, in * the courfe of his devotion, without attending to the didates of * reafon, imagines himfelf to be under the immediate influences of * heaven ; and therefore concludes, that thefe things which ruu * ftrongly in his mind, are immediately impreft upon him by the di- * vine Spirit ||.' And, in a ludicrous manner, reprefents it as a part of the charicler of the Enthufiafts, < That they confult the ' throne oi grace, lay their matters before the Lord, and implore « his light and diredion.' Thefe and the like, fays he, ♦ are tcrmt * of art much ufed by them §.' But the holy fcriptures exprefly afTert, the ahfolute necgffity of a fupcrnatural luork of the holy Spirit, for the renovation of our natures ; and for manifelting unto us, in ■& faving jnanner, the glorious excel- lencies of God in the perfon of Jefus Chrift. This work of the Spirit is common to all that are effectually called ; and they are every one peculiarly blefled with it. sCor. iv. 6. and v. 1 7- Eph. i. jy, 18, 19. Pf.il. cxix. 18. 2 Cor. iii. 5. i Cor. ii. 14. Ezek. xxxvi. 26. Rom. viii. 7. Acts xxvi. iS. Eph. iv. 18. Luke vi. 43. — Alfo the ivill of God re- vealed in his word, and not our own depraved reafon, is that rule, within the compafs of which we are to keep in our devotion : Heh. xi. I, 6. Ifa. viii. 20. 2 Pet. i. 19. i Sam. xv. 21, 22, 23. Rom. xii. 2. — Likewife the fcriptures affirm, That an aSlual influence of the holy Spirit, is heceffary to enable us to ivalk ivith God in all the duties of holy obedience ; and to imprefs the truths of God upon our minds : Rom. viii. 9, 14, 26, 27. Phil. ii. 13. 2 Cor. iii. 5. John xvi. 7, 8, 9> 1 4* J'^'"'' ^''' 5- — And that it is our duty, iNot to lean to our o'wn undcrfandingy or reafon ; hut to confult the throne of grace^ and to lay all our jnatters before the Lord, and implore his light and direElion : Frov. Iii. 5, 6. James i. 5. Pfalm xxxvii. 23. Heb. iv. 14, 13-, 16. ♦DIfc, p. j<5. tl'-«o. !»• ^ r. 3. ir. 4- 5 JiiV. 12^ ^the Judicial Testimony. Aivd in every thing, hy prayer and fupplication we ought to make tar requcj}s knoni^n unto God, Phil. iv. 6. it is alio the received doctrine laid down in our Confeflion of Faith and Catechifms, That a « fupernatural work of the holy Spirit, is « abfolutel)' necefTary for enlightening our minds fpiritually and • favingly to uuderftand the things of God,' Conf. lo. § i. Larg. Cat. Queft. 67. And though * nothing is at any time to be added • to the fcriptures, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or • traditions of men ; yet the inward illumination of the Spirit of • God i^ necefl'ary for the faving undentanding of fuch things as arc *■ revealed in the word.' Conf. chap. i. §. 6. Alfo, it is the do(5lrine of our Confeffion, agreeable to the word of God, ' That the light ' of nature is not fufficient to give that knowledge of God and of • fcfs will, which is neceffary unto falvation ; which maketh the word • of God moft necelTiry, being given by infpiration of God, to be • thr. only rule of faith and life.' And therefore, our corrupt and depraved reafon, is not the rule and ftandard of our devotion ; Conf. chap. 1. §. I, 2. chap. xvi. §. i. Larg. Cat. Queft. 5. Lefl". Cat. Queft. 2. And that • good works only are fuch as God hath com- • manded in his holy word ;' and which proceed from a heart puri- fied by faith, and • are done in a right manner, according to the • word ; and to a right end, the glory of God :' and • that our • works (or duties of obedience,) as they are good, proceed from the • holy Spirit ;' that ' our ability to do them is not at all of our- felves, < but wholly from the Spirit of Chrift ; and that' we * may • be enabled thereunto, befides the graces that we have already re- • ceircJ, there is required an aeforc his refurrcflion, * kn'/'V! not his divinity; and that they expefled nothing from the ' Me 'ft ah but a nvorldly kingdom, or a temporal deliverance; and that, * in the interval betwixt his death and refurrc«5tion, they looked upon * him at a cheat and ivipojlor :' Whereby the dodrine of the perfeve- rance of the laints is fubtilly undermined; and the arguments drawn for the deity of the Son of God, from the declarations and confeffi- ons made by his difciplcs in the days of his humiliation, are wholly enervate. And the Presbvtkr v did, and hereby do, declfire, that al! the above propofitions, tenets, and principles, maintained and dcfendad by Mr. Campbell, are contrary, as faid is, to the •word ofC'oJ, and our C' rftfjton of Faith and Catechifm ; and that they are grofs, dangerous .^ and pernicious errors. And, in regard, that the late General A/Ttmbly Iiavc neither ca'.- fnred the broacher and venter of the above dangerous errors, nor iondetnmd any one of them ; but have dfmijj'ed the procefs agairfl him, by declaring, ' T hit the ex miining and Hatiu'j; of the matter, ,« ^s was done by the Committee lor ptuity of doi'lrinc, is fufficient « lor cau.ionii'.^ a^^'inlt the triors, that foiuc at tirll luppofcd *rhe Judicial Testimony. 133 ' Mr. Campbell was guilty of;' •without giving any fornnHl jndgmcnr, or fentencc upon the laid Committee's report. And, in regard, the Committee in their faid report, and the Affenihly in their aCl and lenience^ declare, that they are fatisfed. Air. Campbell has a foutjcl meaning in the feveral propofirions they had under their confidera- tion ; and particularly, i\\.\l they are fat isjied wvih. the explication he gave of the article concerning felf-love; namely, That he meaned nn mors, but that our delight in the ghiy and honour of God, ivas the chief motive of all virtuous and religious anions. And this propojition, row adopted by the Jffemhly, being the very farne with Mr. Campbell's above conde?fif!sd principle, that felflove is the prcatefi caufe, or the fi''ft fP^^"S '-^f ^^^ our feveral motions and anions, 'which ivay foever they are dire^ed : Therefore, //'// Presbytery did, and hereby do, declare, for the grounds and reafons above condefcended upon, That the forefaid propofition, adopted by the Afj^smbly, is a grofs and dangerous error, — And this Prefbytery likewife conjidering, that it is the duty of the judicatories of the church to proceed in a regular courfe of procefs, and in the due exercife of difcipline, againft er- roneous and heretical feducers, according to the rule and diredion given by the apoltle, yln heretick after the firfi and fecond ad7n0r.it ion rejeSl : and, in regard, the Affemblies of this church have never p'jt a libel into the faid Mr. Campbell's handi, in order to reclaim him from the grofs and dangerous errors he has fallen into ; or for rejeSling and cafting him out, if found ohfiinately adhering to his daneerous-principles and tenets : Therefore they did, and hereby do, declare, that the whole conduft of the laft Ailembly, in difmiffing this affair, in manner above-narrated, is a deep wound given to truth, and a lamentable Rep of defedion ; and may be juftly reckoned a- mongfl the figns, grounds, and caufes of the Lord's indignation againft this whole church and land. III. The fcripture dodtrine of this, and ail the reformed churches, is fubtilly undermined, and wickedly fubverted, in a Print lately publKhed, under the title of 'The Afjeinbly's Shorter Catechifm revifed, and rendered fitter for general tfe : In regard, the Bez'ifer, by the feveral omillions, alterations, and additions, he has thought fit to make in the AJfemhly^s Catechifn, not only (hakes the pillars of our Reformation from Popery ; with refpeCt to the fcriptures, as the only rule of faith and practice, and the doclrines concerning juftification, the facrament of our Lord's fupper, and the juft defert of every fm : but alfo boldly ftrilces at the whole fcheme of divine revelation con- tained in the iaid Catechifm ; by cafting the fame into fuch a fhape and mould, as is very agreeable to the Deifiical, Arian, Socinian, and Arviinian fchemes. Hence the doSlrines taught in the Afembly's Catechifm, concerning the holy fcriptures being the only rule of faith and practice ; concerning the holy Trinity, and the decrees of God ; concerning the covenants of works and grace ; together with origi- nal fin, and its efFe«5ts upon mankind ; and the evil nature and de- fert of all fin, as contr.-iry to the authority and holinefs of God : alio the doctrines eoncerning the peribn of Ciirift, his two diftlncl 134 77;ftrine, and confequently not only the fouls of the prefent, but alfo of the rifing generation, are all fo deeply interefted and concerned j) may be reckoned one of the miji grievous and 'weighty grounds and caufes of the hordes indig- nation and lurath againf this nuhole church and land. — As for inllance, when reports were fpread at firll concerning Mr. John Simfon, his teaching and venting error ; the late reverend and worthy Mr. James Webber, having taken notice of the fame in the Prefbytery and Synod whereof he was a member, and they refuling to give their concurrence therein, he tabled the affair before the General AfTembly 1714, defiring them to take trial thereof as their proper province : but the faid AfTembly were fo far from aflilling him in this matter, that they appointed the faid Mr. James Wcbrter, or any who will join with him in charging Mr. John Simfon, profeflbr of divinity at Glafgow with error, to table their complaint before the Prefbytery where he lives : allowing any perfon or perfons, who are willing, to give Mr. Webfter affillance in point of form ; but declar- ing, that, if they engage with him in that caufe, they fhall be ac- counted libellers *. Accordingly, Mr. Webfter having libelled Mr. Simfon before the Prefbytery of Glafgow, and the faid Mr. Simfon having given in his fubfcribed anfwers and defences ; wherein are contained the above- -mentioned dangerous and erroneous propofitions : the procefs was brought before the Aflembly 1715, who appointed a Committee to take trial of the cafe ; continuing the load and weight of the profe- cution upon Mr. Webfter, as the party purfuing and accufing. — la like manner, the Aflembly 17 16, continued the procefs in the fame channel, till it was concluded by the Aifembly 1717.: who, inftead of condemning particularly the grofs and dangerous errors owned by Mr. Simfon, and infliding due cenfure upon him ; did not fo much as rebuke him for venting the fame ; although they were fo far convinced of the truth of the libel againft him, that by their z&. they find, * That he had vented fome opinions, not neceifary to be « taught in divinity, and that had given more occafion to ftrile than • to the promoting of edification ; and that he had ufed fome ex- ' preffions that bear, and are ufed by adverfaries, in an unfound * fenfe ; and that he had adopted fome hypothefes, different from ♦ what are commonly ufed among orthodox, divines, that are not * evidently founded on fcriptui-e, and tend to attribute too much ♦ to natural reafon and the power of corrupt nature ; which undue ' advancement of reafon and nature is always to the difparagemenc • Sec J«.yi:;if of unpriuted Aifis of Aflcnibly, 1714. T 3 6 'The Judicial Testimony. • of revelation and efficacious free grace : therefore, they prohibit • and diicharge the faid Mr. Simfon to ufe fuch expreffions ; or to • teach, preach, or otherwife vent fuch opinions, propofitions, or ' hypothefes, as aforefaid.' This extenfive lenity, or rather finful remifnefs and fl>4cknefs, in not inflicting due cenfure upon one who had given fuch evident dif- coveries of his corrupt and erroneous piinciples, and whom it was unfafe to trull any more with the education of youth for the holy minillry, encouraged him to go on in venting and teaching his per- nicious errors ; till at length, in a way of righteous judgment from the Lord on this finful and lukewarm church, he is fo far left of God, as to attack and impugn the fupreme Deity of the great God our Saviour. — And thougii it was found clearly proven, by the fe- veral .AfTemblies, who had this procefs under their confidcraiion, that he had vented and taught the above-mentioned propofitions; whereby he attempted to ilivefi the Son of God of his true and fupreme Deity, and thereby blafphemeJ that Name ivhich is above every name : yet the concern of this church, for x\\\% foundatiyn-truth, did rife no higher than a hare fufpenfion of the hlafphetner from teaching and preaching, and the exercife of any ecclefiaftical power or funtftion ; leaving the door open to another Affembly to relax him from the faid fentence. In like manner, during the dependence of the forefaid procefj, the Committee of Afiembly found it clearly proven, that he had contraveened the injunftion of Affembly 17 17, in venting the dan- gerous errors which they hud difcharged him to teach: yet the Af- iembly 1729, concluded the procefs againd him, without taking any notice of thefe grofs errors. — And thou?v/^«/d"c/ has been appointed, when alraoft the whole parifh was dijj'enting and reclai7inng ; contrary to the word of God, and the laudibls ads and conftitutions of this church founded thereon : yea, fettlements have been appointed in a very arbitrary manner over diflenting congregations, even when there was no prefentation in the cafe, And, when Prefbyteries concerned have retufed to proceed to fuch violent fettlements. Committees have been appointed by the Commiffiou; and inverted with a prefbyterial power to try and ordain men to the holy miniftry. And likewile, raatiy congregations through the land, arc ftill Sfroaning under ths 1 3 3 The Judicial T e s ti m o >j y. weight of fuch arbitrary and violent intrufions ; and neither the ht- trudsd^ nor fuch as have h id an aftive hand in the intrufion, give any evidence to thij day of their repentance and forrou- for the vio- lence they have done to the flock and heritage of God, who are thereby fcattcrcd and broken. 3. The conduB of the Genera! AlTemblies of the chnrch has not been equal and ttnpartial in matters of dodrine : as for inilance, in the cafe of Mr. John Simfon. The proceiTes carried on againft hini, were kept feveral years in dependence before the judicatories : and particularly the laft proccfs which concerned his impugning they«- prentc Dsily of ibt Srn ofCJoJ, was Iranfmitled to the feveral Prefby- teries of this church, by the Ad-.Mnblv 1728 ; that their judgn;icnt might be reported to the enfuing AiVemhly, about the cenfure that was due to the faid Mr. Simfon, though the evidence was fo clear, that the difcipHne of the church fliould have been fuvimarily cxerciftd upon him. Kuc the General Aifembly 1720, ccnlcmtisd a bundle ot propofitions, containing iv.'portar.t tnattirs of doOr'usc ; when thi affair had been under the conruleratinn only of fxo ditFerent meetings of that Affcmbly, and a Committee of the whole houfe. This \(:vy fudderi f.cp of the laid Afl'cmbly, occafioned a Reprc- feniation to be given in to the Aifembly 172 1, by feveral minifters of this church ; bearing, that it appeared to them, that many gof- pel-truths were woimded by the forefaid C'jndewnalory afl and fen- tence : and the Aifembly 1722, faw themfelvcs obliged to ly 1720 ; whereby, what they tkevfclves owutd to be a precious truth, is in expr>.fs terms condemned, 4. Several arhitrary aili and decifium have been framed and paflcd by the Genera! AfFtfinblics of this church ; whereby the government of the houic of (ioi! his been uaJcrir.'McJ, and the diliciplinc finlu'ly ^•crveiLcd ; i'lich as thcu.'/ ofJJ^mbly 173:, coa;;craiog iLe plauiug T'he JudicialTestimony. 139 of vacant churches ; which lodges the decifive power of elecling minitlers in a conjuncfl meeting of elders and heritors, no other qua- lification being required of the faid heritors, but their being Prote- ftants, however much difafFecled to the government both in church and ftate. — Again, the Aflembljr 1733, lel.uked and aJmonilhed Mr. Erfkine at their bar, for impugning feveral act of AiTtmblies, and proceedings of church-judicatories, in his fermon, at the open- ing of the Synod of Perth and Stirling; that is, forteftifying againft the ad of AlTcmbly 1732, and other violent proceedings of judica- tories at that time. And when he, with oxhcr three ininiflers. Pro- tested againd the faid fentence, ior their own jull and neceflary exoneration ; high ccnfures were threatened, and a<5lually inflicted upon them, becaufe they had not freedom to retraft their protefta- tion, and profefs their forrow for the fame, as required by the faid AfTembly : whereby tivo Jinftil a^id un-xarrantahls terms of minifterial communion were impofed. — F/r/7, ' That no minilter of this church ' fhould teflify from the pulpit againft a«fts of AiT'embly and proceed- ' ings of church-judicatories, even though they were fuch as had a * direft tendency to undermine our conllilution.' — Secondly.) ' That * no minifter, or member of this church, fliould Protest for their * own exoneration agiinft adls, fentences, or decifions of the fupreme * judicatory, even though they fhould nearly affedt the public caufe * of God, and retrain minifterial freedom and faithfulnefs, (as was ' the prefentcafe) in teftifying, againft the fms and defections of a * backfliding church.' Further, the faid Affembly, by anothef aci, difcharging the mi- nifters of the Prefbytery of Dunfermline, under pain ot the higheft cenfure, to admit any of the parilh of Kinrofs to fealing ordinances, without the permiffion of the prefent incumhent, who was intruded upon them, impofed another Jhiful ier??! of minifterial communion upon the minifters of this church ; whereby they are boiirid up from difpenftng fealing ordinances , under pain cf the kighefl cerfure, to fuch of the Lord'j people, as have not freedom to fubmit to the ininiftry of intruders : and thereby, likewife impofed a new and unwarrantable term of Chri/lian com?nuniony when all fuch as cannot own intruders to be their lawful paftors, are actually excovmiunicated from fealing ordinances ; v.-hich is a plain homo'ogating of a piece of tyr:mny, which was exercifed in the former fcrfjcuting period ; this being one of the grounds of peoples v%-ithdrawing from prelatick incmnhcntSy that they were intruded upon them without their ca'l orcoment. 5. Though the Affembly 1734, did repeal \.\\i act of Affembly 1732, ar-.-nt the fettlement of minifters j yet the faid act was not condemn- ed 'd% contrary. to the word of God, ^nd the tonftitutionb of this chr.rch, contained in her books of difcipline, and adts of former Af- femblles; particularly, act of Affembly at Glalgow 16^8, difcharg- ing any perfon to be intruded in any office of the kirk, contrary to the n'vill of the congregation to nvhich they are appointed. And though fome ftop was put by the forefaid Aff-mbly, to the violent meafures and proceedings of ferae former Aliemblies and their Conirailiions : T 2 l^O The JUD I CI AL T E STIMONY. yet X\it An of Ajfevihly \']-^l^ [rejl raining mlnijlerial freedom and faithfulnef, and ^enfuiing the minifters and members of this church, for protejling for their own exoneration againft fuch decifions of the General Affembly, as are prejudicial to the caufe and interelt of Chrift in this land,) fands to this day unrepealed ; as alfo the a6l of the fame Aflembly, with reference to the Prefbytery of Dunfermline, excommunicating boib minifters and members of this church, in cafe they do not either concur with, or fubmit to the minillry of intruders. Nor is it any apology for a finful a^l or decifion, whereby a church is involved in the guilt of tranfgrefling tlie ordinances and inflitu- tions of the Lord, that there is a connivance at the contrary prac- tice. 6. All the above-mentioned fleps of defedion and apoftafy are followed with many evident figns and caufes of the Lord's departure : fuch as abounding profanity, impiety, and the vilefl; immoralities of all forts, wherewith the land is greatly polluted : the profane diver- fions of the fage, together with night aJJ'emblies and halls, thefe finful occafions of wantonnefs and prodigality, are encouraged and countenanced in the moft confiderable cities of the nation. — Likewife an idolatrous piSlure of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, was well received in fome remarkable places of the land : and though Popilh errors and delufions abound more and more, and the abominable idolatry of the mafs, is openly frequented in many corners of this land ; yet no proper nor eiFedliial remedies are applied againft this growing evil by either church or ftate. — And of late xXxt penal fatutes againft isjitches have been repealed, contrary to the exprefs letter of the law of God, Exod. xxii. i8. Thou Jkalt not fuffer a ivitch to live, Deut. xviii. lo. ii, 12. There fuall not he found among you any one that niaketh his fon or his daughter to pafs through the fire t or that ufeth divination^ or an observer of tiniest or an inchanter, or a charmer^ or a con falter luith familiar fpirits, or a nuizard, or a necromancer. Tor all that do thefe aie an abomination to the Lord : And becaufe ef thcfe abominations i the Lord thy God doth drive the7n out from before thee.- Alfo, the common impreftlons of God are in a great meafure worn off the fpirits of men ; the power of religion is daily decaying through the land : the very form of it is dcfpifed by many, and relied upon by others; which is occafioncd by the general contempt of the gof- pel, and neglctJting the great falvation brought near therein to fm- ners of all forts : upon which account the Lord is provoked to with- draw, in a great meafure, from his own ordinmces, and to reftrain the gracious influences of his holy Spirit ; whereby multitudes, under the means of grace, are lying fcattercd like dry hones about the grave's mouth : a fad evidence of the departure of a fpirit of prayer ; and of mourning ior our own fins, and the ahorninations that are done in the midjl of us : efpecially when it is conlidered, that a dreadful fj)irit of fcciirity, dcadiiefs, and indifFcrency prevails among all ranks of pcrfons ; notwiilift.inding of the many evident fymptoms of the Lord's anger and difplcafurc gone torth againft us. —Our nobility and barons, v.'ho iuve fomciiincs appeared with an The Judicial Testimony. 141 heroic zeal and refolution for maintaining and advancing a work of reformation, have generally hurji the hordes bonds afunder^ and have caji his cords from them ; infomuch, that the very form offamily- vorfhip is either defpifcd or neglected by the molt part of them. — Our Burgejes auJ Commons^ who have made a zealous profeffion of the truths of the gofpel, for the mod part kno'w not the nvay of the Lord, nor the judgments of their Cod. — The Mi?iijlers in the houfe of God, who have fometimes fet the tru?/jpet to their mouth, and f^oivn to the houfe of Jacob their fin and their tranfgreffion, are under a more than ordinary reftr.iint of the Spirit of God ; and he that fpeaks againft the evils of this degenerate day, viakes hivfelf a prey. — Every one of us in many, if not in all the above particular inftances, are fome way or other deeply involved in the provocation : the fun is gone down upon us ; IVe do not behold cur ftgns ; and there is not a pr'jphet, nor any that know the tijne hew long. It may be mentioned with regret, that, in the two fcveral acfls for national fajiing, appointed by the late Commidions, there is no par- ticular fearching into the grounds and caufes of the Lord's indigna- tion and controverfy againft this church and land, in former and- prefent times : There is no mention made of the ruining adls and conftilutions above-named ; nor of the fmful filence of judicatories, in omitting a faithful teftimony againft the growing and fpreading errors of the times ; nor of the injuries done to the heritage and flock of God, by the violent intruiions that have been made upon them, which have raifed a cry of violence and oppreffion from all corners of the land. A cry is gone up to heaven, even to his ears who hath faid, For the oppreffion of the poor, for the fighing of the 7ieedy, no'xu •will I arife : 1 'will fet him in fafety frojyi him that piiffeth nt him. When the 11ns of the prefent times are not particularly mourned over, it cannot be expedted that there will be any faithful inquiry into, or acknowledgment of, the defeiSlions and backfiidings i->{ former periods ; for which we have juft ground to apprehend, that the Lord may purfue a quarrel and controverfy ag^nnit Jin/ u I, gofpel' defpifing, ^iXxdi covenant-breaking ^col\AVidi : Yea, inftead of acknow- ledging the fins and defedions of the prefent times, thefe who have had an adlive hand in them, continue to juftify their abominations ; and, by the uhole of their condud and behaviour, declare, that they only want an opportunity to re-acl the fame fcene of oppreln- on and tyranny, and to complete what they had begun, and in a great meafure carried on, even the ruin of any remains of a cove- nanted reformation among us : Yea, fuch of the miniftry as are weighted and grieved with the above and the like backfiidings and declinings, have not courage and refolution to appear in the prefent judicatories, which the providences and circumllances of the day and time call for. Hence, notwithftanding of the ftop that was put to former violent proceedings by the AfTenjbly 1734 T yet, inftead of carrying on refor- mation, a vifible fainting and declining feems to take place in the prefent judicatories of the church ; of which mimy inftances mi^ht be given : fr.ch as their proceeding no further than the fentencc of I .^ 2 The Judicial Testimony. the lefer excommunication againfi one Mr. Nimmo, ftudent in divi- nity, who, (in March 1735, in 3 public difcourfe in the Divinity- hall of Edinburgh,) made an infolent and blafphemous attack upon the whole of divine revelation ; v.hen no lefs cenfure than that of the hiohrr cyiconiniun'ication, fuoimarily pronouncsd.could have beenjuftly reckoned a ihflicient teftimony ngiiinft fuch bold and daring wicked- nefs, which, in all its circumftances, had never its parallel in this land. — Likewife the Affemhlr that met forefaid year, appointed a call to be moderate for the Prefentee to the parilli of Carridden, ex- clufive of any other. And the Synod of Perth and Stirling, upon the remit of the affair made by the fame Aflembly unto them, con- cerning the inrrAntent of the intruder into the parifli of Muckhart ; inllead ot cenfnring him for his fcandalous intrufion, have taken him ifito their bofom, and given him the right-hard of fellowlhip, hy iri- rdling kim as one of tkdr nuviher ; though he was never inrolled by the Prefbytery, who have the more immediate infpeclion of that parilh ; and, though they reclaimed againft the inrolment, and fe- verals of them diiTcnted from that deed of the Synod. And though the AlTcmbly 1736, in their 14th A(5t declare, « That • it is, and has been fince the Reformation, the principle of this • church ; that no minifter fliall be intruded into any parilh, con- • trary to the will of the congregation :' Yet, in contradi(5tion there- unto, they thcmfelves appointed the Prefbytery of Stirling to pro- ceed to the fettlement of a Prefentee to the parilh of Denny, though the whole elders and the body of the people are dilfentins and re- cbiiming. — And likewife they appointed the Synod and Prefbytery of Dumfries to inroll the intruder into the parifh of l>aqu;iir, ' as ' a member of the refpecftive judicatories, to fupport him in his mi- • niltry, and to endeavour to bring the people of that parilh to fub- • mit.co ii.' Thefe are lad evidences, that, inftead of being duly afiC(fted with our backfliding and defc(5lion, vit figh and go backivard ; •)''.A, we refufc to return. The above-mentioned particulars, are fome infiances oi the gra- <1nal declinings and backjlldingj of this church and land, (belldes the f)o{trinal errors already condemned,) moft of which have taken place betwixt tlie late unnatural rebellion and this prefcnt time i and which this Prefl^ytcry judge it their duly to tcdify againrt : Thcrefrry and f:r all tb: reafons and grounds ah'jve particularly c-judefcended upon^ I key did, nnd hereby do. Condemn, as contrary to the nuord of God, (ivd the covenanted pi inciples of this church, all and every one of the jlcps of defection above-narrated ; and they did, and hereby do, declare^ thut they arc arnongfi the canfcs and grounds of the Lord's righteous t^.iarrcl and controverfy rwith this nvhoU' church and land, for ivhich all ranks of perfons have reafon t'i humble thevifelvjs before a righte'jus and holy Cod. BUT, in regard. It is neccfTiry for the maintenance and vindication ofiruih, not only 10 ondcmn the p.ut'cular lleps of declining and backfill. ing which a church ;md land have been guiliy of; but alio 10 publilh, declare, and ajfert the truths which are crnirovcrtcd, cp- The Judicial Testimony. 145 pofed, or afTauIted, whether they concern the dodrine, worfhip, government, or dilcipiine of the houfc of God ; and particuhirly, confidering the bold attempts that have been made upon the whole doElr'tne of this church, contained in the holy fcriptures and her Confefllon of Faith founded thereupon, by the forefaid Mr. Simfon and Mr. Campbell; and by the forefaid Prh.t, intituled. The /IJevihly's Catechifin revifcd : therefore, the minifters aiTociate in Prefbytery, do judge it a duty neceflarily incumbent on them, in the Jituation wherein adorable providence has placed them as a judicatory, and as noiu Vict in Prefbytery ^ and conjlitute in the name and authority of the Lord Jefus Chrift, the alone head of his church ; judicially to achnoivledge, declare, and ajert the doctrine, worlliip, srnvern- meat, and difcipline of this church, in cpbofition to the feverul fteps of defection and deviation therefrom. T. Likea?;, the Prefoytery did, and hereby do, acknonvfedge, declare, and afert. That the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence, without the aid of tradition or revelation, fhew that there is God ; who haih lordfhip and fovereignty over aU : — As ylfo, that thereby his v.'ifJom, power, and goodoefs are (o far ma- nifcfted, that all men are left inexcufuble ; according to the doctrine held forth from the word of God in our Confefllon of Faith, chap. i. ^. I. chap. xxi. §, I. — And they hereby reje^ and conde??in all con- trary principles and tenets, that are maiatn refifed, or other erroneous treatifes of that kind. IX. Further, they acknowledge, declare, and a[j'ertj That the eternal Son of God, who was made vianifcjl in the flejh, did in our nature, as ths fecond Adam, the public head and reprefcntative of cled finners, and the undertaking Surety for them, yield a perfetfl obedience to the law as a covenant of works, in the room and ftead of eled finners ; and that, in their room and itead alone, he bore the whole of that punifhment threatned in the law, and incurred by the breach of it: and that, in his fufferings unto death, he fubftitue liimfelf in the room of finners, and endured that curfe, bore that wrath, and died that deiith, which is tlis Vvfages and iuft defsrt %i 14(5 'The Judicial Testimony. every fin, arii-l which the (inner himfelf fhould have undergone; and ihat ihe fufferings of the Son of God in our nature, were a true, proper, and expiatory facrifice ; and a proper, real, and complete faiisfjiftion unto the julUce of God for fin ; according to Confefllon, chap. viii. §. i, 4, 5. and chip. xi. §. 3. ; Larg. Cat. Queft. 71- and the kriptiues cited. — And they hereby rejeCi and condenni all oppo- fite principles held forth in the forefaid Catechifv/, and all other Ar- luiniin and Baxterian tenets, contrary to, or inconfiltent herewith. X. Alfo, they declare, acknowledge, and ajjcrt. That the obe- dience of Chrill in his life, and fufferings unto death, (commonly called his afl'ive and pafive obedience,) is that pcrfeft and complete righteoufnefs, on the account of which alone a Tinner is juRilieJ in the light of God ; and that it is upon the account of this righteouf- nefs imputed, that fin is pardoned, and the perfons of any are ac- cepted as righteous in the fight of God; and that this righteouf-- nefs imputed, is the only foundation and ground of a finner's right and title unto eternal life : And altkough the grace of fnith be the inrtrument whereby we receive and apply Chrill and his righteouf- nefs; yet neither faith, gofpel-repentance, nor our lincere obedience, either all of ihem together, or any of them feparitely, are our ju- ftifying righteoufnefs in the fight of God, or the ground of our ac- ceptance, or of our right and title unto eternal life ; according 10 Confellion, chap. xi. §. i. Larg. Cat. Quefl. 7:?. and the fcriptures . cited. — And they hereby reje6i and coniUum all oppofite principles contained in the forefaid Catechifm ; and all other Popiili, Armini- an, or Baxterian tenets, contrary to, or inconfiltent herewith. •XI. Alio, they acknowledge, declare, and affert. That any want of conformity to the righteous and holy law of God, is a /In, as well as all aiftual and voluniary tranfgrellTons of the law; Confeflion^ ehap. vi. §. 4, 6. Larg. Cat. Qnelt. 2.\. Short. Cat. Queft. 14. And that every fin doth, in its own n.iture, dcfcrvc the wrath and curJe of God, both in this life and that which i^ to come; according tii Confefllon, chap. xv. \. 4. and Larg. Cat. (^efl. ij3. And con- fequently, that the original corruption and depravation of iMir na- ture is a damnable fin; Confcflion, chap, vi. §. 6.; anil that finning and fuJfering will be the mifcry of the damned in hell throygh eter- nity. — And they hereby r.\;.-fl and coudcinn all contrary principles, contained cither in the forefaid Catcchilm, or maintained and de- fended by Mr. Simfon; and all other contrary Pelagian and Armi- nian tenets whatfoevcr. XII. Likcwife, they acknowledge, declare, and <7^^r/, That the fupreiiic and only (landard, meafurc, and rule of all virtuous and religious atflions, is the righteous and holy will and law ot God; and not our own fell-intercll and picafure : according to the dotflriiie held forth troin the word, Confclhon, ch. i. §. 2. Larg. Cat, Quclh ;. Sliorr. C]at. Quert. 2. — And they do hereby rejcH and condemn all contrary principles and tenets maintained by Mr Campbell, and otheis. XIII. Alfo, they hereby acknowledge, declare, and a[}crt, Th it although all that believe in Jefiis arc delivered from the moral law as a covcuant of works, fo as thereby they arc ncahcr julUficd nor T'he Judicial Testimony. 147 condemned ; yet they are under perpetual and indiirdvable obliga- tions to conform themfelves to the moral law as a rule of their obe- dience, not only becaufe of bleifings and benefits which they have received, but from the authority of God, as he is Jehovah, the great Lawgiver; whofe perfections are infinitely glorious and excel- ient, and whofe dominion is over all : according to Confeffion, chap. xix. §. 5, 6. — And they hereby rejeSl and condevin ail cont;rary prin- ciples held forth fn the forefaid Catechifm; and all other Antinomi- an principles and tenets inconfiftent herewich. XIV. Furthef, they acknowledge, declare, and ^^tr/. That God hath all life, glory, goodnefs, and bleffednefs in and of himfelf, and is alone in and unto himfelf All-fufficient ; not Itanding in need of creatures which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifeOing his own glory, in, by, unto, and upon them: And that he hath mod fovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whaifoever himfelf pleafeth : And that any rewards that he has promifed to any of his creatures arc free and voluntary ; and that, in all their obedience, worlhip, and fervice, they can neither profit him, nor be any way advantageous unto him ; according to the doflrine held forth from the word of God, Confeffion, chap. ii. §. 2. chap. 7. §. \. — And they hereby rejel} and condeirm all contrary principles and tenets maintained b)"- Mr. Campbell and others. XV. In like manner, they hereby acknowledge, declare, and af- fert, That the principle and leading motive and fpring of true love to God, or of acceptable obedience and fervice unto him, is not our ov^'n felf-irjterefl , or our own happinefs and felicity, though the fame is by divine condefcenilon infeparably connedted therewith ; but that the leading motive of all true love to God, is the fupereminent and glorious perfedlions and excellencies of his nature, as they Ihinc forth and are manifefted in the perfon of him who is Immanuel, God •with us : and that all .who truly love God, do love him chiefly for himfelf: As alfo, that all acceptable obedience and fervice untti him is primarily and chiefly influenced from a regard unto the authority of God in Chrift expreffed in his holy law, and proceeds from a principle of faith in our Lord Jefus Chrift: And that the principal and chief end of all fuch obedience is, that God may be honoured and glorified in our bodies and fplrits v/hich are his ; and confe- quently, all that obedience and fervice to God, that is principally influenced, and primarily fprinp,s from onis felf-i?2terej}, advantage, or applaufe, or from fear of punifhment, or the hope of a reward, IS legal, 7}!ercenaryy zxid. fervile ; and moves in no higher fphere, than what men in a natural ftate, may attain unto ; accordmg to the doflrine held forth from the fcriptures, Conf. chap. xvi. \. 2, 7. Larg. and Short. Cat. Queft. i. — And they hereby rejcf} and con- demn all contrary errors maintained by Mr. Simfon and Mr. Camp- bell, as having a diredt tendency to make all our ads of obedience and worlliip, fervile and mercenary ; and fo to deftroy an I overturn the fpecific dilFerence that is between common and fiving grace ; or between the obedience of the temporary and the obedience of ths U 2 14? ^he Judicial Testimo-ny. found believer'; and to eftablifh only a ^r^j^/r/a/ difFerence between common grace in the one, 'and faving grace in the other, which is a j^rofs error of Mr. B-ixter, and of the Arminians, and others. XVI. In like manner, they acknowledge, declare, and "affhrt. That all Tuch as have faving faith, believe in the Lord Jefus, as ikiL. Ckrijl, the Son of God : and that the apoflles and difciples of our' JLord, in the days of his humiliation, did acknowledge, believe in, and worfliip their Lord and Marter, as the true promifed Meffiah, the Son of the living God, the only begotten of the Father ; and ex- pected from him fpiritual and eternal life and falvation : and that all ^vho truly believe in the Lord Jcfus, can neither totally nor finally fall away from a ftate of grace ; and that the faith of the apolUes wnd difciples of our Lord did not fail in the interval of time between his death and refurreclion : and therefore whatever clouds and doubts they were under, they were never io far left as to conclude, that their Lord and Mafler was a donjjnright deceiver and impojior ; ac- cording to Confeffion, chap. viii. §. i. ch. xiv. §. 2. ch. xvii. §.1,3. Larg. Cat. Qneft. 72. Short. Cat. Queft. 86.; and fcriptures cited. — And they hereby reje£l and condemn all contrary principles and tenets maintained by Mr. Campbell, or contained in the forefaid Ca- iechijm revifed ; and all other principles and tenets inconfiftent here- with. THE Presbytery likewife taking to their ferlous confideration. That the teitimony of the church of Chrift in this land has, ever fince oar Reformation from Popery, been ftatcd in a fpecial manner for the prerogative royal of the Prince of the kings of the earth, as Ki'ig, Head, and Lord over his own houie ; and for the government, ■^vo^^}lip, and difcipline, which he has appointed and iuftitutcd in the fame ■, though, in this perilous time, wherein their lot is caft, the dofirix.e is alfo undermined and fiibvertcd ; which (as has been ob- ferveJ) was not the trial of this church in former periods: There- fore they judge it their duty to bear teftimony for the Sovereignty and JJeadfnip of the Lord Jefus over his own houfe ; and to declare their adherence to the contcndings, wreftlings, and teftimonies of this church, and her feveral members, both Minifers and ProfJJorj, for the fame. T. Likcas, the Minijlen ajfociate for the exercife of church go- vernment and difcipline, in a Prcfhytcrial Capacity, being now viet in PreJ}))tery, did, and hereby do acknowledge, declare, and affcrty That the Lord JcAis Chrilt, our great Immanuel, and he alone, is Kin^ over '/.ion the hill cf his holinefs ; and that he is the only Head, J^ord, and Lawgiver over his own hoiilc : and that to him alone it appertains, to give oflkers, laws, and ordinances to the cluirch, wliich is his fpiritual, free, and independent kingdom ; — and that the oflice- bcircrs in the houfc of God, in all their fcvcral fpiritual and ecclefi- aTicil fundinns anil adniiuiflrati(»ns; as alfo all the comt* and judica- to r.'s 'ipi^oiuted by the Lord Jcfii'. in the church, his fpiritual kingdom, ^\\: Jub'jtdi»iitc to him alone in their ccclcfiaftical admiuiftraiion? ; — The Judicial Testimony. 149 and that the office-bearers of the church have power, warrant, and authority from the Lord Jefus, to hold General AiFcmblics, as well as other fubordinate ecclefialtical judicatories, tor the exercife of church- government and dil'cipline, either at Jiated times, or occafionally^ as the circumrtance or neceflity of the church requires ; — and to dif- folve themfelves, and appoint the time of their next meeting, ac- cording to the word of God, (Pfal. ii. throughout. Ifalah ix. 6, 7. Matth. xvi. 19. chap, xxviii. 18, 19, 20. Eph. i. 20, — 25.) and the laudible ads and conftitutions of this church, (particularly, A(ft SefT. 26. Aifem. 1638. and Act Aifsra. 1647. approving the ConfeJJlon ti/Faithy Self. 23.:) it being always free to the civil magiitraie to call Synods, and Aflemblies of minifters and elders, for coufuking and advifing with them, in matters of religion, upon any neceffary occafion, according to the forefaid a(f1:s. — And they hereby rejscl and condemn, the following Erajlian principles and tenets : 1. That the civil mngillrate is fupreme over all perfons, and in all caufes, ecclefiaftical as well as civil. 2. That the office-bearers of the church, in their fpiritual .and ccclefialtical funiflions and adminlftrations, are fubordinate unto the civil tnagiftrate. 3. That the external government of the church is precarieusy or depends upon the will and pleafure of the civil magillratc. 4. That the ordering and difpofmg of the external governm.ent and policy of the church, doth properly belong to the civil magi- ftrate, by virtue of his prerogative and fupremacy in caufes eccle- fiaftick : and that the civil magiftrate may emit fuch confiitutions, H^is, and orders, concerning the adminiltration of the external go- vernment of the church, and concerning all ecclefiaftical meetings and matters to be propofed and determined therein, as he in his ■wifdom fhall think fit ; as was enadted by parliament, and praftifed in the late perfecuting times. — All which, and the like principles and tenets, have a dired tendency to confound the ecclefiaftick and civil jurifdidtions ; and have been witnelFed againft by the faithful minifters and members of this church, as dilhonouring to the Son of God, and divefting him of his prerogative royal, as King over the church, his ov^nfree, fpiritual, and independent kingdom. II. Likewife, they acknowledge, declare, and ajjsrt. That the Lord Jefus, the alone King and Head of his church, hath appointed a particular form of government to cake place therein, diftiuifl: from the civil government, and not fubordinate to the civil magiftrate ; which form of government is to continue to the end of the world un- alterable: and thatPreftjyterial church government, without any/zz/'if- riority of office above a teaching Preft^yter, in the due fubordination of judicatories ;asofKirk-feffions to Preft)yteries, of Preftjyteries to Provin- cial Synods, and of Provincial Synods to General AfTemblies, is that only form of government laid down and appointed by the Lord Chrift in his word ; which form of government has been received and owned by this church, as the only government of divine inftitution and ap- pointment ; as is evident from her public. acts and conltiiutions, par- ticularly from ihtfeconJ Bos,k cf Difciplir.e^ and the propfltions co'i- 150 ^he Judicial Testimony. terning church-goverr.ment , with the fcripture proofs and arguments annexed, as the faid propofitions were received and approven by the Aficm. 1645:. SefT. 16. — And they hereby rejeH and condtvin the following principles and tenets, whether Eraltian, Prelatick, or Sedaiian. 1. That the Lord Jefus hath not appointed in his word any parti- cular form of government in his church, under the New Tellamcnt ; a principle highly refleding upon the head of the church, as if he bad not been as faithful in his oivn houfs as a Sonf as Mofes nuas as efervant. 2. That the Diocejtan biJJyop, or prelate, is an office fuperior to a teaching prefbyter ; which principle ftands condemned by feveral ads and conftitutions of this church, as contrary to the word of God, and as a grofs ufurpation in the houfe of God, and which brought forth Antichrist, that man of fin. 3. That a particular congregational church is not fubordinate, nor accountable unto any fuperior judicatory ; which principle and tenet is alfo condemned by the laudible afls and conftitutions of this church, as contrary to the word ot God, and as having a na- tive and direft tendency to introduce a licentious laxnefs in principle, and an univerfal diforderin pradice, in the houfe of God. III. Alfo, they acknowledge, declare, and ajfert, that unto the $ffice-hearers of the church, and to them alone, the keys of the king- dom of heaven are committed : particularly, the key of doHrine for expounding and preaching the word, and determining controverfies of faith according to the fcriptures ; — the key ifgovertiment and dif- eipUne, for preferving the beauty and purity of the church, and for inflidling of church ccnfures upon the erroneous, the fcandalous, and obftinale, that fhe may he preferved, or purged from fuch errors in principle, or fuch fcandals in pradice, whereby flie may be in danger of being corrupted ; — as alfo the key of ordination and tiiijfr^n, tor the ordaining and fending forth of church-officers, for fpiritual fer- vice and miniftration in the houfe of God ; according to Mat. xvi. 19. John XX. 23. Maith. xviii, 18. A*5ls xv. and xvi. 4. Matth. xxviii. 19, 20. Mark xvi. 15. 2 Tim. ii. 2.; the book of difcipline, propo- fitions concerning church-government, and ordination of miniftcrs ; and other laudible ads and conllituiions of this church. And concerning that po'u.'er and authority, which belongs to the cffice-bcarers of the church, in their judicative capacity, tliey further declare and ajfert. That the fame is only a Jicwardly and minijierial authority, fubordinate unto the authority and laws of the Head of the church, declared and publilhed in his own word ; and, to exprefs it in the words oi our Conleffion, chap. xxxi. §. 3. * It belongeth to Synods and Councils, miniftcrially to determine * controverfies of faith, and cafes of confcicnce; to fet down rules * and dircdinns for better ordering of the public wortliip of God, ' and government of his church ; to receive complaints in cafes of * inal-aJminiflratlon, and authoritatively to dctci mine the lame; « which decrees and determination^, if confonani to the word ot * God, a:cio be received with levercucc and fubmillion, not only The Judicial Testimony. 151 ♦ for their ae;reement with the word, but alfo for the power whereby • they are made, as being an ordinance ot" God appointed thereunto * in his word.' And they hereby rejefi and cotidetnn the following SeBarian prin- ciples ; that the keys of government and difcipline are given, by the Head of the church, to the whole community of the faithful ; and that ecciefiaftical Synods and Councils have only a mere onfultative power and authority : Which principles they condemn, as contrary to the word of God, the laudible acts and conititutions of this church, founded thereupon ; and as having a native tendency to introduce anarchy and confuflion into the houfe of Gcd. IV. Likewife, they acknowledge, declare, and ajfert. That rnitti- J}ers, and other office-bearers in the church, ought to be fet over congregations, by the call and eonfent of the majority o^ fuch in thefe congregations, who are admitted to full c9?nniunion "w'xih the church in all htv fealing ordinances ; and that there fhould be no preference of voices in this matter, upon the account of any fecular confidcra- tion : according to Afts i. i6. to the clofe of the chapter. Ads vf. 2, — 6. chap. xiv. 23. John x. 4, 5, i John iv. i. James ii. i, — 6. with many other fcriptures ; and according to our Books ofDifciplinSt and /lifs of Ajfeyiihly, agreeable thereto. — And they rejed and con- demn, all contrary principles, tenets, and practices, whereby the fcripture rule and pattern, in this important matter, is denied and rejected ; and minifters are irapofed upon difTenting and reclaiming congregations. V. In like manner, they do hereby own and ajfcrt. The perpetual thitgation of the national covenant of Scotland, frequently fubfcribed by perfons of all ranks in this kingdom ; and particularly, as approven of and explained by the General AfTembly 1638, and fworo by all ranks of perfons, /^nno i6'2,(), and ratified by act of Parliament 1640. — As alfo, they own and afert, the perpetual obligation of the fo- lemn league and covenant, for maintaining and carrying on a work of Reformation in the thret Kingdoms ; taken and fubfcribed by all ranks in Scotland and England, Ann^j 1643 ; ratified by acl of Par- liament of Scotland, /jnno \6i\i\. : and particularly, as renewed in Scotland, with- an acknowledgement of fins, and engagements to duties by ail ranks, /Inno 1648. Concerning which oaths and covenants, they declare and ajj'ert, that, as to the matter of them, they were laiuful, being plainly contained in the word of God ; and, as to their endsy they were laudible and neceffary : and therefore, they did, and hereby do, declare, iht'w adherence to the fame. VI. I^ikewife, they hereby receive, acknowledge, and approve all the feveral pieces of Reformation attained unto by this church in her feveral reform'ng periods ; particularly, the Confefion of Faith^ compiled by \\\z Ajjsmbly cf Divines, who met at Weftminller, with Covimiijioners from the church of Scotland : which Confeffion, they receive and own as the confeffion cf their faith, as the fame was re- ceived and approven by a6l of AlTemijly 1647, Self. 23. — As alfo they receive and own, the whole doflrine contained in the Larger and Shorter CatechiiVns, conjplled by the forefaid Alfembly at Weft- 152 T'he Judicial Testimony. ininfter; and spproven hy atfls of Aflemblr 1648, Seilions 10, and 19. as a part ot uniformity, in catechifing, for the three kingdoms ; and ratified by act of Parliament, February 7th, 1649. — As alfo the Form of churcb-govcrnnient , and ordination of minijlers ; as the f;^me was received and approven by h<^ of Aflembly 1645, SefF. 16.; — and the DireUory for public luorjhip, as the fame (lands approven by Aflemhly 1645, Scfl'. 10. ; — together with all the /IHs of /iljhnhhy from 16518, to i6jo, and fince that time, in fo far as they were adapted to advance and carry on a covenanted Reformation, agree- able to the word of God, and the received principles and conllitu- tions of this chnrch. VII. Like wife, they hereby declare their adherence to the feveral regular and fcriptural Teftimcnies^ Declarations, and Warnings e- mittcd in behalf of the covenanted Reformation of this church, from the year iA;o, to the year 168S.: particularly, to the contendings and wredlingb during that period, whereby a great cloud of-witTiefjes rcfijled evfn unto blood : in teitifying for the fupremacy and headiliip of the Lord Jefus over his own honfe, and other branches of our covenanted Reformation, in oppofition to abjured Prelacy, and that bla(phemous fnpremacy, ufurped by the civil powers over the houfc of God, under the forefaid period. — And they h.trz\ij condemn 2\\ ecclefiallical cenfures whatlbever, paffed or inflitfled upon any, whe- ther minifters, elders, or others, from the year 1650, to this time; for their adherence unto, or witneiruig for, any branch of our co- venanted Reformation. VIII. Alfo, they hereby declare their adherence to the feveral Tejlivionies, whether given in by reprefentaiions and petitions to the feveral General AfTemblies, or otherwife emitted and publiflied, fmce the year 1688, againft the {^^t\-A\ firful omiffions of the judica- tories of this church above-mentioned ; or the feveral fteps of declin- ing and backfliding in this prefcnt age, from a covenanted Reforma- tion once attained unto ; in fo f tr allenarly as thcfe were culcul.ited to maintain the doctrine, worlliip, liifcipline, and government of the chnrch of Scotland, fouiided on the word of God : — and parti- cularly, to the feveral Reprcf:ntations olFcrcd by the tiiinijlirs of this Prefhytery, to the CommilHon of the General AlTem'jIy, that met at Edinburgh, Angud 17:??.; and to the Pw/'t-r that was alterwards emitted by them, intitled, A Tcjliniony to the Doflrine, JVorJhipt Government, and Difciplinc of the Church of Scotland* ; as alfo, to the Reafns, publillied by them, JVhy they have not acceded to the Judicatories of the cjlablijhed Church. Thus this Pre snYTERV hare endeavoured todifcharge thcmfelves of what they npprthcnd to be their duty in their prejent fttuation. And their dedt^n in the whole is, to hear teflivnny to the truths of Cod, oppo((?d or ad^nltcd in the prcfent age ; and againll the defec- tions and backllidings, whcilur in the prefcnt or lormer times, lor tjie glory of God, and the honour ot his truth ; and (if the Lord • Swf titit Tcftliuyny printed above, p. i3, — 78. The Judicial Testimony. 153 may be gracioufly pleafed to blefs this mean) to excite the prefsrfit generation \.o Jearch and try their ivays, and to turn again to the Lord, irom whom we have every one deeply revolted : — As alio, to bear teftimony to Scotland's covenanted Reformation, for the fake of the generations to come ; that they may confidcr the palaces of Z. ion, and mark her bulivarks, and may know what the Lord has done for Scot- land ; that they may fet their hope in God ; and may neither forget his luorksy nor be as ths'ir fathers, ^fiubborn and rebellious generation, thaty^r not their heart aright, and whok fpir it ivas not fedfafl 'with God. And they ohteji and intreat all ranks of perfons whatfoever, into Tvhofe hands this their Act, Declaratii)?*, and Testimony may come; that laying afide all carnal "axidi politic intendments, every thing may be weighed in the balance of the fanCiuary : and that, ia the fear of that great and dreadful name, The Lord our God, they may confider both their onvn, and the iniquities of our fathers, and may return unto the Lord, by faith in the Lord Jefus Chrifl:, and a particular acknowledgement of lin, and unfeigned and thorough Reformation : and in returning to the Lord, we miy hope and ex- peft, that He who hath torn us, nvill heal us ; and that. He nvho hath fmiiten, 'will hind us up. — But, if we go on obftinately in our tref- pafles, we have jull ground to fear, that, as we are at prefsnt pining aivay in our fins, and confumed under our manifold y^^/W/K.'?/ ftrokes and judgments ; fo a righteous and holy God may be provoked to come out of his place, and punifh the inhabitants of this land for their iniquities : and that he may fend a fuord, or feme defolating calamity and judgment, to avenge the quarrel of his covenant. May the Lord himfelf return : May he look donnn from heaven, and behold, and viftt this vine ; the vineyard ivhich his oivji right-hand hath planted, the branch ivhichhe hath, made frong for himfelf : it is burnt luith fire, it is cut donvn ; they perifh at the rebuke of h-is coun- tenance. May his hand he uJ>on the man of his right-hand, upon the Son (f man 'whom he hath viads jirong for himfelf ; fo fnall nve not go back f ram him : May he quicken us, and "we •will call upon his name. Turn us again, Lord God of Hofs ; caufethyfacetofoins, and ixie fhall be faved. ' Exti-aifled by J A xM E S FISHER, Ch, Pres, 1 54 The Judicial Testimony. A G.T concerning the A D M 1 S S I O N of the Rev. Mr. Ralph Erskine and Mr. Thomas Mair, as Members of Prefbytery. AT »he Kirk of Orwel, the cicrhtcenth day of February, one thoufand feven hundred and thirty-feven years. Which day an«.i place, the miniilcrs ^in.i elders a(iociate togrther, bein^j met in Prefbyttry, there was prclented i;iito. them, by the Rev. Mr.Tbomas Mair, minilter at Orwel, a Paper figned by them, and intitled, Dsclaration of Sscefion frow the (irtfcnt Judicatories of the Church of Scotland, occ. And, at prefentiiig the iaid Paper, he reprefented un'tO the Preflj.ytery, that it was a true and juft douhU of his DccU' ration and Proteftation, given in to the Prefbytery of Dunfermline, at their meeting on the fifteenth current ; and he craved, that the fane might be read and confidered by this Prefbytery ; whereupon they agreed to read the fame- : The tenor whereof follows ; DECLARATION of Secession from the prcfcnt Judicatories of the Church oi Scotland , by "Mr. Thomas Mair. Minifter at Orwel ^ given in to the Reverend the Prefbvtery of DunfcrmUnc^ met at Dunfermline the fixtcenth d^y of February, 1737 Years. WH E N I joined in the Rcprefcntation and TeQiwony therein, given in to the Commillion in Auguft laft, by Mr. Ralph Erlkme ; though I had a general view of i'everal other things among us as jalt ground of humiliation, and what ought to be leltified a- gainft, which there was not then opportunity to digeft into order: yet I had not then any formed intention of carrying the matier fur- ther than was done at that time ; or at moll than a tabling of foinc RcpreferJation and Tefiffiony, of the fame nature, before our Pref- bytery and Synod ; partly for my own exoneration, and partly as a mean proper to be ufed in a way of communion with the judicatories of the church, for exciting to what I think is the neceil'ary duty of this church at this day. Neither had I any thought of ftating all the pailicubrs contained in that Refyrefentalion, as groundi of 5fts, and how far the prelent judicatories of this church have receded from the Laii: and Tefiimor.y ; and what I am called to upon the whole. And, ly?, The Reccfions of the church from the X,«ii> and Tejiiuionyy are what appear very great and difmal ; whether we take a view of the paticular minifters, preachers, and members in the diffufed church; or the church as reprefented in her judicatories, in their own aflings, and the manifell acceffion to the guilt of the particular members thereof. X. The Lflou and Tejiimony requires, That the Lord^s people, the 7nuUitude of his difciples, have liberty to chufe their own overfeers, Aols i. 23. vi. 3. xiv. 2g. But many minillers in the church are not only privately, but even publicly, and in open court, denying and impugning this ; and charging the perfect rule with an utter want of any rule or (latute as to this important matter, except the general rules of edification and order, which they manifeftly abufe and mifapply to their own purpofes ; contrary to the evident defiga of thefe golden rules, which make exceedingly againft their principle and pradlice in this matter. And, as they are from time to time openly declaring their mind on this head, without receiving any check or cenfure for the fame ; lb the judicatories of the church are, in their praflice, going the fame way ; yea, afting in contradiftion to the rule, by thrufting in men into the paltoral charge among even reclaiming congregations, who not only are willing to chufe an un- exceptionable perfoD, but have actually made choice of one according to rule. — And though the ad of Afiembly 1732, anent fettlements, be repealed, or laid afide : yet, as there is no acknowledgment in the repeal of the iniquity of that at:l, as contrary to the word of God ; fo the aft continues to take place in practice, even as that method of fettling congregations, was much praclifed before that law was framed ; yea, both before and fmce the repeal of that iniquitous ad:, many fettlements have been made in congregations, even worfe than the laid aft requires : by all which, many are now fettled in congre- galions, wanting one fpecial branch ot a lawful calling to the mini- llry. And we cannot omit here obferving, that the church of Scotland is, in this point, more corrupt than the church of Rome va^, even in the 7fh century ; at leaft when, though come to a great height otherwiie in fuperlHtion and idolatry, they had not as yet given up with that principle of Chriftianity, that the choice of the people was neceflary in the election of a pallor f ; and that, where t Pctrie's Hiflory, p. 63, 65. X 2 1^6 The Judicial Testimony. this was wanting, the clecflion was null. Yea, as fomc obferve, it was the iith century before this right was taken from the people ; and they were then robbed of it by Pope John the 17th, (or, as others, the igii),) a necromancer. And however long and frequent ufe, together with the faid prevalency and • generality of the defetflion, may have much exlinguifhed the impredion of the weight of this niattct- from the mind^ of many : yet, as I cannot but look upon it as moft nearly concerning the very foundations of a Chriftian church ; fo it is very evident, that both the primitive and reforming church hid this matter very deeply at heart, as a principle which ought by all means to bs maintained. The objedion and evafion fome here make ufe of, is weak and frivolous, VIZ. ' That by the people, to whom the right belonged, * may be nnderftood the heritors and elders, or the like, as repre- ' fenting the people ; and that the robbery committed by the Popilh * church, was their reflricling the choice to their clergy.' For, as is obferved by Calvin, after that the clergy had robbed the people of tlieir richt of chufing their pallors, the princes affumed (and thus far took from the clergy) the right ofprefenting to congregations, as reckoning they had as good right and warrant for this as the clergy. But according to the original conftitution *, it was the Picks., the Multitude, the ALL, over whom the pallor was to have charge, that were to chufe, or give confent to his being fet over them. And, as a further evidence of this, in the following fe<5lion ■we find the ptople exprefly diltiuguifhed Irom heritors, or ihefe in honour, and from elders and clergy ; where, for the greater order in the eic(5lion, and preventing tumuli and abufe, the different part each ot thefefhould a<5l^, is exprefly alllgned. Teneatur hotioratoruin tejliniunium, fti'^fcriptio clericoruin ordlnis confenfus ac Plebis, alitcr fieri nulla ratio Jniit . So, 2. The La-jo and Tejlii/iony requires. That judicatories be confli- tute of fuch as are laivfully ordained office-bearers in the church ; as is plain from the very nature of church-judicatories, and the proklTed end of their meeting. Thofe who profefs to meet in the name of Chrill, for managing the affairs of his houfe, mult be cloathed with his authority J No man iaketh this honour unto himfelf, hut he that is called of God, Hcb. v. 4. And fo even the great high Prie/l of our profji'lion, Jcfus Chrift, came not without a commilTion from the Father : Yet now, there is fcarce any of our judicatories, but what have fewer or moc that are obtruded upon congregations, without :i lawful calling, ami may thercJore be too jiilUy laid to have run ' unjent : and therefore, have no jiid prctenliDn to authority from the Lord to manage the affaiii of his houlc, or judge iu his Name. ;?. The Lhiu and Tcfiimony requires. That judicatories be careful and faithful to have fuch pureed out as either by their do(51rinc or converfation adl \ot x.\\z d,flru(lion of fouls ^ and \\\it perverting of the g'fpel\. Put though there are multiplied heavy complaints llirough • Ci.'". Iiifl lib. iv. c. iv. i}. f I, 11. I CmI. i 7,T, p. v. 11. Rev. ii. 14, i *■. The Judicial Testimony. 157 the land, agalnfl; many who bear ihc name of miniflers, both as to their ck>»ftrine, their corrupting the finiphcity of the gofpel, and giving poifoTi inftead of food to fouls'; and as to their vain, carnal, and unbecoming converfation, whereby they make the facrifice of the Lord to be abhorred : Yet, fo far is there from a fuitablc zeal and concern fhown for profecuting the ends of difcipline, in fearching out and ceufuring fuch, that, in the management of judicatories, there are fuch methods taken for covering them from ctnfufe, as gives too fad evidence there is nothing of dne faithf "Inefs this way to be expefl:- ed; as appears evident from the management of both firft and fecond procefles 4gainft profeiTor Simfon, and in the conduct with reference to proLifor Campbell, who was difmiffed without the leaft cenfure ; yea, without fo much as any narrow enquiry into his Scheme, either by the Alfembly, the Coramiffion, or their Committee. For, what- ever length the fub-committec brought that enquiry, yet the Com- mittee, who put that work upon them, would not fo much as exa- mine or judge of their report, fo as either to adopt or reject it ; but wrapt all up in a few genetals, to put an end to the procefs, in fuch manner as might fcreen from cenfure the broacher of that very dan- gerous fchenie. Yea, fuch was the iifue it was brought to, as while the Committee and Alfembly endeavoured to cover profefT^r Campbell from the Imputation of error, and from cenfure for the fame, they ihemfelves are entangled in the fnare of his pernicious errors, while they make the ground of their afToilzing him from the charge of er- ror to be his alTerting, ' That our delight in the glory of God is the • origin, chief fpring, fole ftandard, 6f. of all virtuous and religi- • ous adtions : And fo, that felf-interell, or pleafure and delight, is ' ftill the highelt and chief motive to obedience ; only that this de- ' light fhould terminate on, or extend to the glory of God :' Bv which profelTor Campbell means (as he ellewhere explains himfeif) ' our enjoyment of an infinitely glorious God, v.ho alone can fully • fatisfy our defires, or gratify our felf-love.' Thefe are inllances of the condudt of judicatories as to Jo^riKe. And the charge feems no lefs verified agaiaft their condudl with re- ference to ProceJJ'es anent the converfation of miniRers, if we take a view of the iffue againft Mr. Greenlees at Ceres, and that againft Mr. Young at Leflie ; (not to infill on the management with refe- rence to the feveral candidates for the miniitry, who accepted pre- fentations, and had accufations led againft their moral character; and, in the judgment of many, fo far at leaft inftructed, as rendered a delay of their fettlement, in order to further enquiry, nectfiary for edification.) When fuch inftances oi error -And fcandal'Jtu behaviour have been wrapt up in the manner wherein particularly thefe four fpecified were; what ground have any to hope for redrefs in other cafes ? Or, what conclufion can they drav/ from the procedure in thefe, but that it is in vain to table any complaint of that kind ? Seeing all that will be gained, will be much trouble and charge to the purfucr, without any redrefs of the grievance complained of. * 4. The Law and Tejttiiiony requires the Lord's people \o fie e from Jlrangers and hirelings ^ and not hear them, becaufs they are thieves 153 The Judicial Testimony. and rohherj ; to beware of fjlfe prophets, who are known by their fniit:>; and declares, that they who run utifent, lliall not proft the peopl: : Yet our judicatories will have people to hear fuch, or to be deprived of ordinances altogether; Adl Aflena. 1733, anent the Pref- byters of Dunfermline. 5. Minifters, and fo judicatories, are called to be at pains lo gather the flock ofChriJi; and there is a 'woe pronounced againft the fhep- herJs that fcatter the flock, and gather thern not : But judicatories are now at much pains to fcatter the flock, and deprive them of their fpiritual food, by their ads, intrufions, isc. 6. Judicatories are called to lay out themfclves for reforming "what is amifs, and that by returning to the law and teftiniony ; But now the pra(^ice of judicatories feems too plainly to fpeak out a ftated defign (at leaft of thofe who are the fpecial fprings of the manage- ment) to have a covenanted work of reformation altogether over- thrown, and the church modelled in a conformity with England, if not worfe. And, though a good aly who were adive and /calous for that ad anent dodrine, and for the reviving of our old rules anent fettlements : Yet ii is to be la- mented, that the event has too much nf a parallel with that ot king Charles's pri)clamation againit profanity, which ulhcre*' in a very dclu^je thereof ; and the exception made iu the laic lolcraiioa of. The Judicial Testimony. 159 Popery, and thofe who deny any of the perfons of the Godhead ; both which evils do in a fpecial manner prevail in the land, without effc(ftu?.l check. 7. While the Lord requires the Rewards of his houfe to be faith- ful, and parlicnlarly not to fpare to JJ?e'w unto the houfe of Jacob their tranfgrefions ; he furely calls judicatories to enrourage and ftrengthen the hands of fuch as are thus faithful in the (.lifcharge of their work. But the judicatories of the churcl* have not only difcountenanced and cenlured faithfuinefs this way ; but have even tbrtifi out four oi their fdllonu-labourers from their communion upon account thereof. 8. They who bear the office and charadler of builders in Zion, are called to build upon the foundatUms of the apofiles and prophets, Jefus Chrifi being the chief corner-Jione. But the judicatories of the church, and office-bearers therein, are (mav we not fay) at lead in a great meafure ^cwif off from thefe foundations : Many of them in their doilrine, as appears from their materially adopting Mr. Camp- bell's fcheme, intirely waving Mr. Simfon's fcheme, in his firft libel, and nightly cenfuring his Arian errors. And as to government, they are too palpably building on the foundations of worldly policy (fome of them even openly denying that there is any rule in fcriptufe di- refling how to fettle congregations, or in oppofition to patronage;) and fome of them building upon Latitudinarian principles (giving iiberty to every man to worfliip God in their own way, or according to their own fentiments :) and thus building on principles oppofite to the dodlrines taught by the apoftles and prophets, which are the foundations of the building, whereof Jefus Chritt is the chief corner- ftone. 9. The La'w and Teftimony requires minifters and judicatories to commit the gofpel, that is intrufted unto them, unto faithful vhm, ivho f}?all he 'able to teach others, 2 Tim. ii. 2. But is it not for a la- mentation, that while thofe who have moll evidence of their having obtained grace to be faithful, are difcouraged and difcountenanced, fuch are taken by the hand, and appointed office-bearers in the chuch, not a few of v.hom give little evidence, either by their dodtrine or converfation, that they are, or will be faithful ? 2dly, I come next to enquire, Whether I can warrantably, with fatety, and without manifold hazard, continue in communion with the judicatories of the church ; or, if the Lord be calling to a prefent withdrawing and coming out from them ? And, , I. It feems evidently unfafe and dangerous to continue in commu- nion with the judicatories of this church, if we confider the manifold proofs fhe has given of her hating to be reformed. This may appear partly from what is above-faid ; and we may further obfervc, that the Lord has been ufing a great variety of means with us for a long time, not only by a plentiful difpenfation of his word and ordinances ; but alfo by manifold difpenfations of adorable providence, both adverfe and profperous : And, when he has, in more than ordinary remark- able ways, been o^ late years threatning us with fword, or famine, or peftilence, or all the three, and punilliing us by ma'ny temporal and rpiritual judgments ; yet» ia midll cl" ail, nut osly arc aii ranks fiu- 1 60 T'he Judicial T e s t 1 it o n y. ning ftill more and more; not only are many accounting thefe the beil ilays, and the generality finking more and more deep in carnal fecurity; yea, even the wife as well as foolifh virgins flambcring and fleeping, and cannot be awaked by all tb.e alarms we have hitJierto met with: But even the judicatories of the church, after all endea- vours ufed for their excitement to reformation, do not only negledl to fall in with thefe means, but flight, contemn, and treat with difdain, fuch endeavours ufed ; and this after long continuance of light, and fuiieft means of conviction. And when, notwithftanding of exceed- ing great backflidings, and the Lord's remarkably lifting up his hand, againlt the church ; yet the judicatories cannot be brought to a free and unhampered acknowledgment of the caufes of the Lord's contro- verfy ; yea, is fometimes even denying the need of folemn fafling and humiliation, as was the cafe at 1 all commiffions. Have we not reafon to apprehend, that the Lord i- about to plead with us, be- canfe we fay we have not finued ? and that he is about to take away the hedge of his vineyard, and fuffer it to be trodden down? and that continuing in the judicatories in fuch a cafe, (efpecially when opportunity may be had of effaying, in a judicative capacity, that work and duty which they will by no means comply with) will in- Yolvc in the guilt of that neglec't and refufal, and (o expofe to the judgments threatned for the fame ? 2. When the judicatories of a church arc fo far infatuated, as to ihruCt oul from church-communion and fociety, both faithful watch- men, bccaufe of their faithfulnefs ; and the purer part of her mem- bers, who cannot go along with the cpurfes of defeiflion, but defire to keep their garments clean ; and when the judicatories continue thus to treat multitudes of the Lord's people, who, according to the rules of the church, Hand debarred from church-communion for their non-fubmiffion to intruders, circ. As this may be compared to the cafe of a city or nation thrufling out their chariots and horfemeu from among them, even at a time when the enemy is not only en- tered their borders, but is wading the country, which is the prefcnt cafe ; and as this fudden ruin and deftruclion is loudly threatened, fo I reckon it both duty and intercjl for me to adhere to, and imbartc . with, thofe who are in this manner thrull out ; efpecially when they are elfaying, under the condutfl and influence of the Spirit of the Lord, to lift up a ftandard for the Lord's caufe and truth, and a- vainft the enemy that is come in like a flood. So, 2. 1 think it appears evident, that as the true church, the taber- nacle of David, is built on the foundations o\ the apoltlei and pro- phets, Jcfus Chrin'being the chief corncr-llone; fo, at this day, the tabernncle is, by a chain of extraordinary providences, removed with- out the camp : There is now a coiillltule church thrull oijt from the fociety of the judicttorics of this church for their faithfulnefs; and thefe who arc thrull ouf, are building upon the true foundations of the churcli of Chrilt, while the judicatories of ihi.i church are many •ways overthrowing thefe foundations, Ijoth as to ibvTrinc and govern- ment, and building^ upon the fouiulalions of human re.ifon an»i carnal pol'cy. And th-.rcforc it is my duly, as I would dcfi;c to Lc "The Judicial Testimony. i6i approver! of the great builder of Zion, to hear hand to thofe, who are by grace aiming at building on the true foundation. 4. If the flock of Chrift are called to flee from, and not he^r flnm- gers, hirelings, and fuch as are wolves, theives, and robbers -, then I cannot fee either duty or fufety \n joining with thefe, efpecially ia fuch a near and clofe union, as that of one fleered fociety, met in tha name of the Lord, for the manigement of the affairs of his houfe; or the.confirtency of doing fo, with minifteriai faithfulnefs in warn- ing people to flee from fuch : And as little is it confident with the very end of fuch meetings, which, if at all valuable, is to take joint counfel and meafures in the management of the affairs of the church, to the glory of God and the good of fouls. To pretend to do this with declared enemies of our coven meed reformation, and who are imbracing every opportunity of pulling down the carved work of God, feems exceeding inconful:ent, and contrary to reafon and reli- gion. Sure it would be a mod incongruous and unnatural part, foi* a company of Ihepherds to refolve to affociate with a herd of foxes and wolves ; to confult for the welfare of the flock, and fo to adhere to thefe rtrange counfellors, as nothing of any moment fh ill be dons without their knowledge and confent. But that this is and muft be the cafe of the judicatories of this church. In their prefent fituatioa and conftitution, is mod evident : And therefore it is high time for any who deflre the good of the flock, to ivithdra'w from fuch a mixture. 5. The dufy of maintaining the peace and unity of the church, the body of Chrift, requires this withdrawing from the prefent ju- dicatories of this church, as they are conftitute and managed : For, (i.) Chrift is the centre of union, from whom the judicatories have a long time been making deep defciflion : and as there can be no fpiritual union, hut by meeting in the head ; fo fure it is vain to pretend unioji, or the maintaining of true unity, in a wwy oi dc(>jrt~ ing from the head. True it is, there may be differences in lefTer matters, when yet, as to the main, there is a centring in the head : But that this is not the cafe now, is plain, feeing the very founda- tions of both the dovftrlne and government of the church of Chrilt are overturned, both in word and pracftice, by the prefent judicato- ries, and fuch as are by them kept in communion with this church; as appears from what is above. So, (2.) What peace, concord, or unity in a fociety, efpecially a facred one, where the principles of the conftituent members of it are oppofite to, and deJiruHive of one another, and that in matters of the greateft moment to the very- being of a flicrad fociety? which is the prefent cafe with the judioa- tories of this church : And therefore it is my duty, efpeciaiiy when I fee a fociety of the Lord's fervants pointing toward the centre of union, to withdraw from the prefent judicatories, and adhere unto them in promoting the ends of a gofpel-miniftry. 6. Tlie judicatories of this church have been domg what in thena lay to pull the croivn off fr:im Chriji's head, and refuHng to give him the glory due to his name j to give him the glory of his fuprenic Y 1 62 The JuDiciy\L Testimony. ytcry.roIl. And this being intimated to ihem, they took their feats accordingly. Ex traded by JAMES FISHER, Ch. Pres. ( 167 ) «J-*--^*#-t*-J»«-*-*-*-*S;«t-*-*-#-*-*-*-#4-*^ APPENDIX: In which the Judicial Act and Testimony is extended to fome Public Transactions which have happened in this Church and Nation, fince that Teftimony was firfl Publiflied ; and the Affertory Articles pointed directly in oppofkion to other Defections in both. T is almofl: Impofllble to determine what degree of influence a popular prejudice, or a violent attachment to a favourite in- tereft, will acquire in the minds of particular perfons. Neither is it to be fappofed, in this degenerate ftate of human nature, that the mod public affcrtion of the truth, in oppofition to the mod palpable deviations from it, will make a deep impreGion on the minds of thofe who arc funk in an invincible ignorance ; or are guided in their reafoning by obftinate bigotry *. On the other hand, thofe who are difpofed to pronounce upon indifjiutable fafts, with candour and impartiality ; and who know any thing, either of the ftate of religion in Scotland, or of thofe meafures which have been openly avowed, and invariably purfued by the judicatories of the eftablifhed church, fince the period in which the two preceding Tejiimonies were publiflied to the world, will admit, upon the principles of our ecclefiaftic conftltuticn, that the Grounds of iS^^-^^^z; from thefe * It hath been held ns fadiionahic language with fome to fay, that the Seceffion is bigotry, and Scccders arc bigots. If, by bigotry is meant an adherence, to the principles of the Church of Scotland, as thefe are exhibited in her excellent Aandards of dotSlrlnc, worfliip, government, and difcipline, in agreeablcncfs to the word of God, the Stcalcfs frankly acknowledge that they are bigots s and if this has in it any thing criminal, they are condemned in good company, and may be kept in countenance by the wliole body of Riftrmers, Confejfors, and Martyrs in this, and other Nations, who held the fame principles, which they adopt. But if bigotry is underQood to mean blind zeal, prtjiidice, or an unreafonable attach- i>-ent to abfurd opinions, it is long fince they publiflacd a Te/fimony contiinin* the piinciples which tliey wifli to maintain ; and they fubmit to the judgment of an impartiiil world, the candour and ingenuity of thofe who are pleafed to brand them with the name of higtts. To dttcrminc this p^int is to give a fair anfwer to a plain queftion, Whether or not the rigorous profecution of an finftriptural and ohprejfivc plan of church polity, in oppofition to repeated remonfirances againft it; and ii^fj.'ite of all iliofe fatal confeqi-.nces with wliich it hath been followed, im- plies as much, or mort bigotry to a party and partictilur opinions, as a confcicntious adhrrenc: to the principles of that fame church which are founded on the lUird of God, and reprefented accordingly in her rtcdveiJian-Jsnls ? i68 r/5^ APPENDIX /^ Judicatories, are vaftiy more Ilrong and extenfive now, than they are reprefenred to be in thefe Teftimonies, at the time when that Secefion commenced. The truth of this, it is prefumed, will appear from the following fhort Narrative of undeniable fadl?, which it is thought no lefs feafonable, than neceffary at prefent, to fubjoin as an Appendix to the preceding Telliraonies ; and as a public evi- dence before the world, that the AJociale Synod are under Jlrongtr obligations tlian ever, to adhere ftedfaftly to the Spirit, and uni- formly to profecute the dejign of thefe Tellimonies. I. In tlie year 1737, and 175S, the greateft part of the minijle'-f of this church, finfully complied with a requilltion of the Britilh Parliament, enjoining them to read. from the pulpit, once every month, for the fpace of one year, after fome part of divine fervice on the Lord's day, an y/J? for apprehending the murderers of Cap- tain John Porteous ; and that under the penalties of exclufion from their feat in church judicatories, and deprivation of ftipend, in cafe of failure. While the Parliament of Great Britain ufurped an un- lawful fupremacy over the church of God in Scotland, by impofmg, as in this ASi, their civil 7?/andate, as a piece of paftoral fervice to be performed on the Lord's day ; the Minijiers who read that A^^ agreeable to the order of Parliament, did, ia fo far, pra(5lically and publicly deny the royal prerogative of the Son of God, who alone is King and Head of his church ; and who alone hath power to enadt laws for the government of this his Spiritu:il Kingdom, which is entirely diftinift from, and independant of the kingdoms of this world : Or, what is little lefs dilhonourable, they admitted the civil rulers of this nation, to a degree of power and authority over the church, which belongs unalienably to the glorified Mediator be- tween God and man. II. The General AlTemblies of this church have perfcvered in dif- miffing from the bar, without an adequate cenfure, fuch of their members as were impeached of palpable and grofs frrsr/ ; as is evi- dent from the following inftances, among others which might be mentioned. I. Mr. John Glass, at that time minilter of the gofpcl at Teal- I'ng, was brought under a procefs, fird before thePrelbytery to which he belonged, and afterwards before the Provincial Synod of Angus and Mearns, for teaching and publicly all'erting ; ' That the kingdom • of Ifrael was of an ecclclialtical nnture : That both the church ' and commonwealth of liVael were merely typical : That our co- • venants, national and foleiim league, were an unwarrantable con- • founding and blending of church and ftate with one another : ' That NO Confessions of Faith, or Creeds, ought to be • USED as tells of orthodoxy in the church: That the civil magi- ' Urate hath no more power, in ecclcfidlical affairs, than the meancft ' private Chriflian : And that Jeliis Chrill hath appointed n(»^urir- • di(fiion in his church, fupcrior to that of a particular congregation *. • Sec Ol.ifOi woi!*^, p\i!)lin;cJ in * voluiuci it EUiiiburgb, 1751. Vol.1, pa^c 149,-154. the J U D I C I A L . T E S T I M N Y. 1 69 2. Dr. William Wishart, late PrIncip.Tl of the Univerfity of Edinburgh, was brought, by procefs, before the General AfTeinbiy 1738, for afllrtini^ and publifliiiis; in his printed difcourfe ; ' That * men are not altogether, if at all, vitiated by original fin ♦ : That * the light of nature may, in fome inllances, be fufficicnt to lead « mankind to complete happinefs f : That freedom of enquiry fhould * not he reftrained by any formula of doflrine, or Conp essions ' of Faith \ : That the minds of children fhould not be biafl'ed to * the principles of a party, by learning, or getting Catechifms by * heart (| : That the civil magitfrate hath no power to punifh hercfies * of any kind ; but that his jurifdiction reacheth to thofe crimes only * which are committed againfl: the ftate : And, that all men ought * to have a liberty to fpeak and write as they pleafe, provided their * fentiraents do not endanger the welfare of civil fociety §.' 3. Dr. William Leechman, Profeffor of Divinity, and at pre- fent Principal of the Univerfity of Glasgow, was, -by procef;, brought before the General Affembiy 1744, for a/Terting, in a printed Sermon -j- ; ' That God, merely as Creator, Is the proper objecTt * of prayer; That an affured truil in the goodnefs and mercy of God, * AS Creator, is the principal means of acceptance in prayer : * That heathens, who never had a divine revelation of the mind and « will of God, were, and ftill are, capable of offering unto God * acceptable prayer ; and that they were heard, accepted, and faved: * and that man's natural abilities are fufficient for the accept- * able performance of prayer, v/ithout any regard to the Inter- * CESSION of Christ, or the influences of the Holy Spirit.' 4. Mr. James Meek, minifter at CambuOang, was, at the inftance of fome of the elders, and others, members of that congregation, brought under a procefs, before the Preltytery of Hamilton, in 1774, {which procefs came before the General Affembiy 1775,) for teach- ing and preaching, publicly ; ' That fincerity is the ground of our acceptance with God :' And when fpeaking of Chrifl's agony ia the garden, ' That we know not what was the caufe of this bloody fweat, if it was not what he vpas to fuffer from his difciples, one of whom was to betray him, another to deny him, and the rell to forfake him ; or, what he was to meet with from the hands of his enemies : That all have a right to come to the Lord's table, however enormous their crimes have been, if they resolve to do better : That linners can make some compenfation to God, for their former enormities ; and, that they have the merits of Chrift to co-operate with their sincere endeavours : And, that when faith goes above or beyond reafon, it is credulity.' In the firft of ehefe inftances above-mentioned, refpecling the cafe of Mr. Glafs, it is well known, that inftead of retradting his perrii- * Sec Dr. Wifliart's difcourfes, printed at London in one volume nma. Anno IT SI- page 13. f P^gc i6o, i(Ji. \ Page idi, iiiS, ii 7. !) Page irx. § Page 117. + See Dr. Leechinan's fermon on prayer. The lated imprelllon of it, Is in the firft volume ot" the Salch Preacher. 170 r/^-f APPENDIX /^ cious fentirnents, he adhered to all of them with an uncommon de- gree of confidence, if not obftinacy ; dilfeminating them in every corner of the nation, where his influence could reach ; fetting forth an example in his own conduift, which his difclples have very faithfully imitated, by treating a confcientious adherence to the Reformation principles oS. the church of Scotland, with an unjuftifiable decree of ridicule and levity *. The Commiffion of the General AfTembly, it is true, did, in 1730, depofc this noted fe(5tary, from the office of the miniftry; but it is as true, that the AfTembly 1739, reponed him, in his office, as a miniller of Chrift ; after which he became the father of a. fcB formed upon his own principles. In the fccond and third inftances here condefcended upon, two of the molt eminent feminaries of learning in this nation, were vi- fibly contaminated with herefy ; and the minds of youth, and more efpecially thofe who were rifmt^ to the office of the miniftry, were, in the molt imminent danger of being imbued with thefe pernicious principles which were held by their teachers : Yet the General Af- fembly, inftead of inflicting an adequate cenfure on the offenders, which might deter others from adopting fiich dangerous fentirnents, or givi;.g their fiiffrage in fupport of injured truth, difniiifed the procefs againil; thofe gentlemen, upon their making feme general profcfTicn of their orthodoxy, and adherence to the Confellion of Faith, received in this church ; while, in the mean time, they never made any formal rc%'r^/?c7//<:;// of their fentirnents, refpcffing the articles upon which they were libelled. In the lali inltance, refpctfling the very extraordinary cafe of Mr. Meek, it will not be denied, that the Prefbytery of Hamilton refufed to receive the charge*of error exhibited againft him ; that the Synod of Glafgow and Ayr, reverfed a part of the fentence of the Prefby- tcry of Hamilton, relative to that alFair ; at the fame time fignifying their difapprobation of the Prelbytery's conducft in almr,;} the whole of that procefs : and that when the Prefo) tery of Hamihou carried the canfe, by an appeal, to the General /iiicn)bly, the whole pro- eels was there di.millcd; Mr. Meek was fufhiined as miniiter of Cam- buflang ; and not even the smallest notice ?"Aken of his erro- neous Doctrine f . • Sec a Preface, prcfixecl to thclaft cdlilon of Mr. Glafs'? T-ft'nnciiy sf the Kinj ff ^ljriy fct afidc the wlmle procedure, polte- * rior to the firft*ot Scpttniber lafl, liaJ therein by the Frclbyttry of Hamilton, ' nnd the Synod of Glafjjow and Ayr; waving the cons: deration of * THE COSOUCT OF TH K Tr KSBY TKK Y OK HAMILTON, R F.S P EC T 1 N G TH Z * OniFcTlONS OFKERED BY THE P A R I S H O N h R S O F CA.M B i; S LA N G ; but * fuflain Mx. James Mtclc as miniftrr of CambudAnj^.* For X more full account of thi* aflatr, the reader may, if he plcafe, look into tiNarratlie of the C'Astoi the Taiilli of Cambuding, priuud at (jlaf^w, 177 j. the Judicial Testimony. 171 Very different from this was the conduft of the General AfTembljr towards thofe minifters, who were endued with integrity and forti- tude, to oppofe the prevailing defedions of their times. — When the Seceding Minillers publifhed a Judicial TeftitJions for the injured truths of God, and endeavoured to fhow to the men of that genera- tion their own and the iniquities of their fathers, as a mean to bring them to repentance and reformation ; and wlisn, with much labour, they difpenfed divine ordinances to thofe of their feilow-chriftians, who could not in confcience fubmit to the miniftry of intruders, and their violent partifans ; — they were, in 1740, depofed from the office of the miniltry ; and, by a moft arbitrary ftretch of ecclefiaftic power, were thruji out from their kirks, as if they had been the moft infamous criminals. — Nor was this the only inftance in which the Aflembly carried rigorous and oppreffive meafures into full exe- cution. When Mr. Thomas Gillefpie of Carnock, by refuung to allifl at the admiffion of an intruder to the parifli of Innerkeithing, ftsadily refolved to obey God, rather than men, preferring the rights of confcience to an eccleliaftical mandate ; he too was depofed from the facred office of the miniftry; and fome of his brethren, members of the fame Prefbytery, who entertained fentiments fimilar to his, were, for feveral years, deprived of their feat in the judicatories of the church. III. The intrufion of minifters, by a prefentatjon from the Patron, where there is not even the fnad-jnv of a concurrence on the part of the congregation, is now become fo common, that the greater part of the people, fo long accuftomed to that opprejjiveyokt, and to the Arminian or Socir.ian dodrines, which very frequently attend it ; together with the imuioral conduft of many of the clergy, have loft all fenfe of their Chriftian privileges, and of the effential quali- fications of a pajior according to God's oavn heart. This again hath made way for a tame and abjed fubmiffion to any Prefentee, even of the moft luorthlefs character; who, if he can but obtain the ap- pointment of the Patron, it will be in vain for the reclaiming con- gregation to plead either the divine right of the people, to elecl their own paftors, or his natural or moral incapacity, in bar of his ordi- nation, as the judicatories of the church, it would feem, are deter- mined to proceed in fpite of the moft relevant and fcriptural objedli- ons. The truth of this hath been fully demonftrated in the late fettlement of Dunbar, Shotts, Eagleftiam, Cambuflang, St. Ninian's, the Kettle, and many other pariihes in Scotland. The effeds of thefe meafures have already been feverely felt ; and far from fpend- ing their whole force in the prefer.t age, they are likely to prove ex- tremely fatal to generations yet unborn. — The facred revenues of the church are grofly mifapplied ; and the important charge of many thoufands of precious fouls is committed to fuch as have no proper call to the holy office of the miniftry, either from Jesus Christ, or his people ; who, inftead of preaching and inftruding their hearers in the knowledge of the doftrines of Chrift, which dodrines they fo- lemnly engaged to maintain, in their ordination vows, have the ef- frontry to publilh and prooagate the contrary errors : inftead of bc- Z 2 172 T7:e A V P E ^ D 1 X to in^ ifijlant in fiafon and out of feafon^ in the faithful difcharge of the paltoial duties, they allot that precious lime to the ftudy and prac- tice of agriculture, or other unimportant mercenary purfuits, which ought lo be devoted to the fervice of God in the lan«5luary. On the other hand, it is to be regretted, that thofe of a more a- miable character, vho feem to h;Hve a real defire for the f:-ilvation of fouls ; and whom, it is hoped, God hath aflualiy called to be his amballadors to a tinful world, by a guilty compli.aice with the tem- per of the times ; and by proftituting the gifts and grace which God hath given them, while they wimcfs the ordination of intruders, and affift with them in the adminillration of the Lord's fuppcr, fhould make themfeives partakers ivitb them in tkeir evil dteds : and, ii'ilead of reclaiming them from the error of their ways, become the undeilgned means of hardening; them in their detejiablf projiigacy. And, alas ! that the conduct of thofe who have come out Irom a- vnong them, and are feparated, Ihould ever, upon any ocfafion, rather provoke them to more ungcdlinefs, than bring them to Jhani:, and an ackno^xlcdgnient cf the truth ! IV. The regular exercife oi government and difcipline, according to the word of God, and the ilanding aSls and conjlitutions of this church, is grown into almoft univerfal dilTuetude ; which hath drawn after it a long train of alarming evils. — The laws ot God and the church are very feldom executed upon the crime of adultery, and many other prevailing immoralities ; cfpecially if the perpetrators of thefe crimes, are perfons of rank and diftinclion in fociety. An in- dul^^ence, or abfolution is, in many places of the nation, bought With money. — The feals of God's covenant are bafely proftituted, when thofe who are grojly ignorant, as well as the fcandalous and profane, are permitted to prefent their children at bapiifm, without any proper enquiry into their knowledge and moral chara*5ler ; or whether they ever make confcience of performing thofe duties to which they bind and oblige themfeives, by folemn promifc, upon that occ.ifion : us aifo, when :i prot/tifcuous admifiion to the Lord's table is allowed, and tokens didributed indifcriiiiinately to people of the ivorjl of charaders, provided they will only take the trouble to nik them, or even to fend for them by the hands of their common Servants. Nay, they are fomctimcs fent even unalked, by the hands of the kirk-officer; and many perfons of the ntoiljagitious tharaiflers are admitted to partake of that holy ordinance, provided they are not, at that time, under a /ro^^// for immoralities; while, at the fame time, no enquiry is made into their character or condudt in life, vvheiher either the one or the other be Aich as becomcth the gofpel. — For the Lvne rcafon it frequently happens, that gentlemen obtain a feat in the General AJjcmbly, whofe pra^lic* either in their family, t'r their focial inlercouriie with mankind, is of a very different nature Irom iha: which is rcquifite by the word of God, and the flandiitg iaws of this churcb, for qualifying an elder to fit, reafon, and vote, •n the highell ccclefialiic judicatory of this nation * . • Bv the ftnndiny law* ind conftitutions of this cliurrh, it is cni(£lrct, thut in tlie cunuiiiirioas 0/ ctdcti to the Gcocial AifLUibly, it i* to be duly actLiltd^ tlut thg Judicial Testimony. 173 V. It cannot admit of a doubt, that many of the minijlcrs in the cftabliOied church, who profefs to be firm friends to the cfiential principles of the conftitution, and upon every occafion rank with the tninoriiy, who oppoie the public mcafures of the prevailing party, have tamely acquiefce prove, (and, it is bclicvLd, they never will) ill. It ihdfe eminent miniftcrs of Jcfus Chrill, upon whom thiy inflitflcd fuch un- dtdrvtd ccnfure, were guilty of any imworiil ^i\:tiit-c, which, accordinjj to the word of God, could make thtra pioPtr dijctls of fuch a ccufiiic. — I'.iflion and pre- judice may coin moral evils, and retail them 10 the world with all the ht^t of an extravaM.uit zeal ; but if the .Spirit of God, fpcakinj; in the fcripiurr, does not put hii rtamp upon them, rrpribotc j'llvtr jb.dl v\cn call f/\7W, hcca'fc the Lird hctb rejiilcJ ihem. Never, perhaps, did a mote ftuiikfs coniiovctfy, than that about the Judicial Testimony. 175 The power which is lodged in ruling elders, equal to that of mi- nifters, when fitting in church-judicatories, which is fo fully afler- tained in the Prefbyterian form of church-government, and plainly avowed in the foregoing fheets, is likewife a llanding Tejiimony againft the AntihurgkerSf their extravagant pretenfions to the whole power of the AfTociate Synod, while they were oniy a protcjiing minority., who had withdrawn in the uttnoji diforder*. For the fame reafon, their abfurd decifion. That ruling Elders are not proper JUDGES IN MATTERS OF FAITH, OR CASES OF CONSCIENCE, IS moft juflly condemned ; and every attempt to vindicate that ab- furdity, is, in fo far, a departing from the Testimony. The aflertory article, in X.\\.t fecond Tejiimony, relative to our great Redeemer's sole and absolute fovereignty over the church, ex- clufive of all the powers on earth, is a ftunding witnefs againft every Erajlian, Prelatic, or Popish infringement of his royal pre- rogative f . The repeated adherence of the four miaifters, who compoffd and firTl publifhed thefe teftimonies, to their ordination vows, as minifters of the Revolution church ; their open profeffion of fuhjeclion to the civil powers that then were ; their repeated declaration of their ad- herence to our covenants, national and f'Aemn league, in which al- legiance to a Prelatic Prince is folemnly /u-sr;?; their fubfcribin? to the dodrine of our Confeffion of Faith, which, under the article the burgefs-oath,' take pflace among any fociety of profefled frienJs to Jefus Chrift, under the New-Teflament church. But, as the nature and lendency of feme late adts of the Britifli and Irifli parliaments, feem to place th s unhappy controverly in a more iraporiant point of view, than that in which it was formerly feen by the contending parties on either fide : it may not be improper to propofe the fol- lowing ^cr'uit to the impartial world ; and a proper anfwer tn thefe will fliow whether the extraordinary cenfure ioflicied upon thofe who thought, and (Kit ihinlc it lawful to fwear that oath, were well or ill founded, r. When our an- ceflori infcrted the controverted ciaufe into the burgefs-oath of fome of the prin- cipal burghs of Scotland, were they perfuaded, that the Protejl^n: religion and Popery were fo perfevflly inconfident with each other, that the growiug increafe of the latter, w ;ul J undoubtedly iffue in extirpation of the former ? *. Did they reckon it ahfolutely nicejfary, not oniy for their own fafety, but that of their po- fterity, that no man fliovild be admitted a burgefs, or put into places of power and authority in the burgh, who was a Papijl, or fecretiy iuciined to that cruel and intollerant religion ? 3. White they adled under thefe views, was it ahfurd, or improper, to require a folemn proof that their fellow-burgefies and mnoillrates were to be their real friend?, and not their implacable enemies ? r-. Can it in any refpeifl defeive the name of perfecutlon, if they required this public ted, con- fidciing what they had fufTered from the hands of Pcpijls ia the preceding period, the remembrance of whicli was frefli in the minds of many ? 5. Conlldering the tftnptr of the prefent times, is it as expedient no-j/, to fwear to the controverted claufc in the burgefs-oath, as it w,;-, thin; or, is it more fo ? 6. Confidering the prefent dnnj:r ariling from the attempts to obtain a toleration to Fupijls in Scot- \n\], is it any how like profelfcd witnelTr. frr the truths of God, to make the fweumg of the burgefs-oath a term oi churcb-jcll'rj.'fol^, and ground of the highejl cenfjre ? * See an A61 of the Associ .\te Syn'od at Stirlir.g, 1747. dcclatinj the Nul- Li rv of the preUnJeJ Synod, that met at Mr. Gib's houfc This Ad is iufettefil towards the end of this CoUetSion. f See this article ^bovc, p. 149, i jo. 176 no'-iVeri that uo'jj arcy notwithUanding their profeifed principles to the contrary *. f Sec tlic ConfclTion of Failh, ch:ip. ixiii. 5- 4- witli tlic fcriptures quoted. • There i* not, perhaps, a moral duty incumbcat on Chrifli-ins, living under the dil'pcnr.uion of ilic gofpcl, upon which the h',li Spirit, fpcaking in the N'cw Teftamcnt, is more direct and explicit, thin that oi fuhjeHion to the civil ma^iflr.itf . 3cc Rom. xiii. i, — a. Titus iii. i. i I'ct. ii. i j, — 18. To elude the force of thcic fcriptures, which, with .ill th- weight of divine .luthority, Qrike at the very vitals of the aiiti^overnment fyftem, on tins article; and, if pofiWc, to make tlieni f»y what the iafpircd writers never thou..i!it, and far Icfs prav^ifed, the liformed Pref- hyttri, (whofe TcJ'imony the reader is defired to eonfult,) have /»rrttrc(/ them in \ Tcry cxuaordinary manner, with a view to reconcile tticni with their own profefl'ed ptin( iplcs. For a ccnfiffcnt view of tliofc fcriptures above-mentioned, the reader is de 'red to look into A!r. Bofton's txctl'ent fermon on fchifm ; the AffMiale Prrf- lytcri'i anfvvcfs to Mr. Nairn's rcifons of diflent; Mr. John Tliomfon, minintr at Kirkiniilloih, his Prahylenan Covenanter i)i^v\.K\ tv> in his political principle; with his Prabjtcrian Covenanter DF.FENPtn in his political priiiciples, and the Impostor convicted. That ihc Martyrs acknowledi;ed king Chirks his civil fiiprtniacy, and never took ni) arms in fclf-delencc, till nielhods were ufid z-^*? J u D r c I A L T e: s T I M N Y. 177 The fevcral articjes in the Judicial Tejlinnny, afTertorj' of the infti- ttuion ota particular form i^i church-gover?nent under the NevvTef- tament, and of the divine Right of Prelbytery, are a laltino: Teftiinony ag?iinfl: Epifcopacy, Independency, and every fpecies of SeOar'ntn principJcs. They ftrike with equal force a^rainft thofe who caW thcmfclves the Prefbytery of Relief, whofe principles and meafurcs have a vifiblc tendency to lead off profcffing Chriftians, in this nation, from any ftedfall attachment to 'the Preformation principles of the church of Scotland. — This fcheme (lands upon the ruins of the grand diftln- guifliing principles of the Reformation; in a? much as a!l the abettors of it are animated by a fpirit of uncommon oppofition to the nature and defign of our covenants, the national and folemn league ; the moral obligation of which, they abfohitely deny, and treat with the utmoft contempt f . Many of their minilters, contrary to the land- ing laws of the church, deferting their charge in the eftablilhmenC, or elfewhere, without the confent, or intervention of eccleHaltic authority, are chargeable with a moft glaring fchifm, while they pretend to be ftiil within the bofom of the eftabfdhed church, and adually hold communion with her; and yet have erected ecclefiaftical judicatories diltintfl from, and independent of her.' It does not, to this day, appear to the world, that they abandoned their former charge, on account of thofe defe^ions, which prevail in the church, and which obliged others, in former times, to withdraw from her communion ; fince, it would feem they never offered a iejlimony againft any one of them, before the judicatories to whicfi they were then in fubjeclion, even when fome of them might have done fo at the bar of the General Alfenibly *. They have evidently perverted to inforcc their acknowledgement of his fupremacy, as head of the church, Is confcfled Iiy Meflrs. Fairlic and Thorburn, as quoted by Mr. Thomfon, in the fccond of the tradts above-mentioned, page 67, and 63. But it will be faid, the antigovtrnment people do not pay cefs, and other taxes. Perhaps they do not, in their own perfons : but if they fee another to do it for them, it makes no great odds. Is not this a fpecies of vile juggling ? If compliance with our prefer t civil government, in auy refpecft, be fo Onful, it would certainly be more confiftent, and more like thofe who a6t from confcience, to refufe that compliance, both direcfkly and indiredlly in every article: but if any belonging to the antlgovern- ment focieties, and in full communion with them, fliall employ another, for fee or reward, annually to pay /or them the land-tax, or other afleflmenrs laid on the fubjedt, by the Britifh Parliament, does not this rather look like tampering with confcience, than aiSing agreeably to the dictates of it ? j- It is no more thanjuftice to fay, that thofe of the J?f/(V/ communion do not (land fingle in thefe fentiments. A vafb number, if not the greateft part of pro- feffing Chriftians in Scotland, as well as the minifters within the eftablil'hment. and even fome of thefc laft who with to be thought hearty friends to the confti- tution, are remaikable for treating thefe folemn covenants with as much obloquy and contemj-t, as ever were thrown upon them by any of their brethren of the f.clnf. — Such a revolution in fentiments, and fuch a change of conduct, hat!' a century produced in a nation, the eftablilhed religion of which is ftiU that of Prefbytery ! • If any miniuer in the church of Scotland fhall, at his own hand, forfakc his charge, his condudt is deemed extremely ccnfurahk : as will appear from the fyll'jwiug pailig^s in itiz Boih of Difclflle. Book 1. chap, iii, Cf admi£hnif Aa 178 T/^^ APPEN DIX /^ the doclrine <)f our ConfeQlon of Faith, relative to the Communion CF Saints : and their ter7h's of communion are indeed verj'^ different liom tho.c oi the Church ot Scotland in her belf times ; and are fo ge:»cral and undetermined, thiit they will admit Protellants oi ezery oenominution *. They lecm to be under too little concern to keep minifters, par. II.* The minifter publicly admitted, may neither leave the flock at ' his plealurc, to which he hath promilcd his fidelity and labours ; neither ytt ' may the flotic, «rf. &c. But once bting lolcmnly admitted, wc car not approve * that they Ihuuld change at their own pleafurc' Book II. Chap. iv. par. 4. * They that ar ants calltt be God, and dewlic clectit be man, ct'tir that they ' have anci acccpiit the thar«e ot the mineflrie, may not Icivc their f'uniStions : * Thr dcftrtours Ibuld he admonilhit ; and, in cafe of ohftinacie, finalhc cxcom- * niunicatc.' Par. 5 ' Na pattor may Icivc his flock, without licence of the pro- * vinciall 01 r.ationall Afl'cmblie ; tjuliilk, gifl'he do, cftir admonition not obeyit, ' let the ceniuics of the kirk ftrykc upon him.' The reader m.iy alfo look into Calderwoud's liiQory, near the end, in .-fj.v/o 1564, and 1583. where the roiiclu- fiun ot a flrong Aa anent tbi.s atVair, is expreiitd in thclc words : • And i. any be ' found to remove himfelf (from his llock) without the confent forcfaid, the Af- * fcnihly ord..incd, th.it he be ilepofcd from his funcStiim and calling of the mini- * firy.' Now, it will not be tcUifcd, that many miniftcrs in the Prclbytery of Relief, fuch as, Meflrs. Baine, Crudcn, Montcith, B ifton, &c. defcrted their refpccrtivt charge in Scotland and Ea;;I.^.Dd ; and one of them (Mr. Crudcn) hath of late dclerted even his Relief congregation in Scotland, and gone into England, in the fame difordcily manner, witiiont giving any teflimony againft thofc evils which prevail in th-it communion, which they abandoned ; and therefore, their departure out of ir, did not, it 'vould appear, proceed from any fcruplc of con- fcituce. Mr. Baine had tlic molt fair opjjortunity that ever was otFtrcd to any man, of givlpg his TcQimouy iii :hc- face of the Cienen! AlVcmbly ; but faid not a word on that rubjecl. Did Mr. Bjine's Reparation from the eftabliflied church proceed frtun principle, or from lomcthing ilfc ? If it couJd have been forfccn, that Dr. Woiherlpoon would have fo foon emigrated to America, would Mr. Baine have difcrtcd liis thaigc at I'aifley ? • See t!)c Confifiion ot Faith, chip. xxv:. The miniftcrs of the Relief t.ike up their ground upon this chapter ; and particularly upon the fecond lecftion of it, in ofFering fuch extcnftve tcrn\s of communion : but it may not be improper to put tliem in rtmembcrancc, that our Confcllion fpeaks mt here of dwrch-com iiu- i:\on, as Ibme ot them have openly declared to tlieir people ; but oi ChrijU.rn cavi- 7r:uiri», in minifbing with our ("ulift.uu-e, by C' rnmunHutin^ of it to fu|>ply the nc- ceflitics of the laints, or, in doing other ofl'icrs of kimlncrs ; as is fully evident from the fcriptures quoted by the venerable AlTcmbly at W'tfbuinQer, in fupport of that article. That their terms ot c •mmunion are very ditTcrcnt from thofc of the church of Scotland, expreffed in her ftanding .(^i^.t, agree-ably to the word of God, will fidly appear from the following cxtradl of their minutes, cxprelFivt of their procedure as to this allair ' The mceiing being of dilTcrent opinions, * put a vote ; Hold communion with thafc of the F.txfcopal, or Ii:depcr.d:nt pcrfua- * fion occafionally, upon fuiipofaion .ilways, that they are by profcllion viftile * faints, or not ? And the roll btin^ called, and votes marked, it carried. Hold ' coirimuni'in. And therefore, the meeting find it agreeable to the principles of ' THE rRESEYTERY oiRelikk.' — ' F;dinhutgh, Juue I ft, i774. We (the Sy- * nod of Relief,) h.ive been mlfl.iken, and niiiVeprelcnted exceedingly, cither by * the weak, or .he dcligniiig ; who fiavc though!, ?s if in that judgment of ours, ' ((juoted nbovc in the tirft extract Irom their minutes) wc had not been of the * fame mind, with what is exprcllcd in the x.lih chapter of the W'cftminftcr Con- * feflion of I-aith, lnTlionk fiifl and fnond, where our opinion of that important * point, (nainily, of roniu>iinion with <>tneis in fc.Tling ordinances.) is lully fet ' forth ; and the dot'trine contained therein, is accoitlingly adopted by ms. Nor, * have wc been lets injurtd by any, uJui have aII((!o<-(l, :n if by ihit judgment, * wc had opened a door to ftllowlhlp ^i(1» the unlyund i .\ the liist^riAus the Judicial Testimony. 179 pure and intire all the ordinances of Chrift, according to his exprefs command : and while tliey ieparate x.\\t privihges from \.\\z difcipllns of the church, not duly confidering, that the latter is the guardian of the former, they attempt to put al'under what God hath joined together, to the open encouragement of immorality, by aegleding the exercife of fonie of the moll elfcntial branches cf church yivf/-«- vient and difcipli/te \. * of the Chrirtian faith, or the immoral; or even with Epifcopalian;, in their ' hierarchy, and unfcriptural ceremonies ; or with Independents, ia their peculiar ' notions of church-government. While, at the fame time, \te fcruple not to ' irtirm, heciufe we believe there are of both thefe denominations, who, from ' the mod fatisfying marks, appear to be received by Chrift; and therefore, ^VE * DARE NOT DENY THEM : — Thoiijjh, when they join in con.munion with us, * wc do not conform to them, but they to us.' In the firft of the above extradts, the way in which the minute is exprcfTed is pretty finguhr ; for the Synod of Relief does not find thefe terms of communion whii-h they have adopted, to be agreeable either to the u-ord of God, or to the received ftandardi and principles of the church of Scotland ; hat agreeable to the principles of the Sysod oe Kelizf. In this, it muft be owned, they arc very candid. It is upon thefe grounds that they admit to church-cQ,mmunion people of every dlfFerent opinion, wiili refpect to church-government, nocwlthftauding what is afferted in the ftcond txtr.Adl ; and even thofe who daily attend the rainiftry of intruders, and regularly join with fuch in fealing ordinances. And thus inflead of giving proper relief to the op- prelTed, agreeable to the profefled dcfign of their eredion into a Prclbytery, or Synod, they become inflrumental in hardening them in their finful compliance with the defections of thefe times; in regard they cannot pretend to exercife upon them any of the difcipiine of the church, on fuppofitioii that they fliall be guilty of other fcandalous offences, becaufe they are not properly under their infpedlion. f The popular plea advanced, in fupport of fuch vague and extenfive terms of communion, is, that ail the children of God iiave an undoubted right to the children's bread ; and that it is not lawful to keep it from them. But, will the mi- niflers in the Prefbytery, or Synod of Relief, plead an exclufive privilege to difcern who are the children of God, and who arc not .' May they not often be in a mftakc as to this matter ? Hath the church any other ground upon which fhe can proceed in judging of real faintfliip, and in granting admifllon to the Lord's table, but a competency of knowledge, a profcfiion of faith in Chrift, and the purity of external deportment ? Miy not a perf jH have a right to the Lord's table, in the fight of God, and yet be inadmilfable by the church, on account of fomc particular circumftances in their cafe ? And if flie rejects them, on that account, will this amount to a denial of their fiintfl-kip, of which, by the way, none is judge, or can be judge, but God iiimfelf ? Is not an error in the lead, with regard to the doBrinc, or disc iplin e of the chnrcii of Chrift, as really x fcandal in the fight of God, as za immoral praSice ; and therefore fufBcient to exclud-: from fealing ordinances, in a church formed upon that plan of difcipiine ■which Jefus Chrift hath delivered to her in the holy fi.riptures .' If the apoftle authoritatively fays to the church of ThefTalonica, and to all other churches, a Their, iii. 6. Now -we command yo:i, bretSreth IN THE Name of our Lord Jefus Cbrifl, that ye Vf- \thdkAw yourfclves from every brother that walketh disor- derly, and not after the tradiffon -which he received cf us, whether it be by denying that form of government and ^ifcipl.ne, which Chrift by his apoftles hath appointed in his church ; or, if he a:.-!:i, MARK VKLL, and behold ivith thine eyes, nnd hear -with thine ears, all THAT I s A V unto thee, c.nrcrnin^ all the ordinances of the hoitfe of the Lo'd, and all the la-u'S thereof; and lujri veil the kuteki^G in of the houje, and every going roRTH rf the Sanffiiary. Now, if any thing might rcafonably bethought indif- IKRENT about the furm and order of the houfe of God, here delineated in vilion upon the mind of tiie prophet, the comings in and the goings out of it ; the terms upon which the worfliippcrs miy enter it, and the principles upon which they may go out from it, mig' t be thefc circumjlantitil and indiferent ihiugs. Far from jt. It is given in c!ur,.e to the prophet, and to the wluile lioufe of IfracI, to MARK. WELL, and I bff rve tUligently thc fafliion of the houfc of God, in all THE FORMS thereof, and all th e ordinances, and All the law. thereof; to fet their mind to the fcrious fludy and careful observance of them, not as if ihcv were things of indifference about which thty might, or might not agree, and yet hold tonnnuficn with one another, hut as things of tlie grcatefl im- po stance. It will be fjid. perhaps that the whole of this pjfljge in Ezekicl J>ith an immediate rcfyt.Ci to the Jewifli difpcnfition ; and therefore is not a proof directly in point to the prelent argomcnt. If any will be Ic palTage, as well as the context, is a prophetic icprefcntation of the gofpel church, it will be to very little purpofe to icafon with them upon any point of revealed truth. But is the folemn charge which Jcfvis Chrift, the alone King and Head of the church, left with his difciplcs, a little before his departure lo the 1 athcf, liable to any fuch critical exception ? Go, faid Jefus to the dif- ciplcs, Matth. jxviii. i^ 10. and ttaih all nations to oJferve all things V H atsoe V ER I h,;ve coniinjnJcd you. Did the King of Zion appoint no particu- lar form ot government nrdifciplinc inthcchurcl^ which ii his fpirltual kingdom, to be obfcrved unalterably to ihr end of the wo'd ; or did he leave it as a thing AM nu la ro:i y, to bt accommodated to the temper of the times, whieh piofcffing ChriP.ians in future ages, might prac^ifc in what forni ihcy pic.ifc, or ncgletfl it in J great mcafiirc ahogrtlicr, as a thing i n n i kkek r.NT, or c j R c VMS r a nti al, provided this lliould fuit either t! cir indinations ot iiiierrfts ? If the blcflcd Jefus hath appointed, (as he (rr/ ;:/.!y hath) a' particular inrm of g'>Teinmenl »iu\ dif- fjc'if-r, 10 be obfirvtd in his thitrch, can we fuppnfe, if we t!iink and re^fon like Citttlt:a::s, llui he tuok uo uoticc of it iu hit tulhuclioni to hit apoAlcs, or thit the J U D I C I A L T E S T I M N Y. 1 8 I to our folemn Covenants, fo frequently exprefled, in which Popeb y is in very particular terms abjured*, efpecially in the National Cs- venant 15S1, in which a multitude of Popifh abominations are di- ftintftly mentioned, and publicly abjured, are Handing 7>/?/>«!7;;/Vj- a- gainft the whole of that Antichriftiun fyilem adopted and maintain- ed by Papists. — The condemnation of thofe tokrations granted to Papijls by Oliver Cromwell and Queen Anne, and efpecially of that granted by James II. very plainly points iis edge againfc all and e- very attempt to give countenance or fupport to \.h.?^t grand apoftacy of the Chrillian church, the intereft of which is totally incompat- able with that of the pure and undefiled religion of the blelTed Jefus, ' and tends no lefs to the fubverficn of civil fociety f . he left them at full liberty to reckon it a matter of indifference, and to teach us to -think of it in the fame manner. Certainly not. Teach them to ohferve all THINGS WHATSOEVER I bave Commanded Yov , is the exprefs commiflion ; and thofc who, under the character of minifters of Chrift, teach men otherwife, by calling fome things ejfential, and others indifferent, with lefpedt to the form and order of the houfc of the Lord our God and Redeemer, do, in fo far aA in direci oppol'ition to his exprefs orders. • See a Warning againft Popery, lately publiflied in name, and by appoint- ment of ihe Associate Synod. See alfo a fmall Traifl intitled, T/>^ Oracles »/Chr;st, and the AiONiii ATiONS of Antichriji compared; where the docSrines of Popery are diftindtly pointed out, in their direi£t oppolition to the whole cur- rent of holy fcripture. f In our National Covenant, fworn in the year 1581, we particularly abjure the • ufurped authority of that Rornan Antichrift upon the fcriptures,' by which he pretends to give them authority, fix their meaning, add to, or take from them, difpenfc with their obhgation, forbid or allow the reading of them, as he pleafeth ; — • upon the kirk,' pretending to he her infallible Spoule and Lord, having power to appoint whatever offices, officers, laws, ordinances, and ceremonies of worfliip, or even ohjedts of adoration, he thinks fit ; — upon ' the civil tnagijirates,' claim- ing a power to admit them to their authority, depofe them from it, or require them to. adl implicitly as his tools, in enforcing his decrees or cenfures, with war, burning, or other like puniflimcnts ; — and ' upon the confciencesoffnen,'' requiring them implicitly to regard his authority, believe his dicftates, obey his commands, and fubmit to his cenfures, whether tliey be according to the word of God or not: • — all his tyrannous Uws made upon indifferent things again/} our Chrifian liberty,' forbiddiding to eat flefli on Fridays, or in Lent, — to labour on days allowed by God for our civil employments, — to marry perfons that are allowed by the fcripture, ib-c. : — ' his erroneous doRrine againft the Jtiffciency of the -written ' -word, the perfeBion of the law,' pretending, that the Old and New Teftamems are in themfelves but an imperfe<5t, obfcure, unfenfed, and unbinding rule of faith and manners ; and therefore mufl: have apocryphal books, traditions of fa- thers, and decrees of popes and councils, added to them; and mufl have their meaning fixed, and their authority to bind the confcience, given them by the Romifli church ; — againft ' the office of Chriji and his bhjfed evangel,' pretending, that faints can merit eternal gloiy for themfelves, or even for others ; that faints departed, and angels are advocates with the Father, fubordinated to and along with Chrift ; that popes, and their underling priefts fliarc in his pricfihood, while they blafphemoufly pretend to offer him up as an atoning facrifice in the mafs ; — and in his projihetic and royal hcadfliip over the church, hy authorizing dodlrines, and enaifling laws to bind men's coniciences ; inflitiiting feafons and ordinances of worfliip; fetting up images inRead of the gofpel, to manifeft him to men ; fabftitutiug the works of men in the place of his jiifiifying righteoufnefs, and their natural abilities indcad of his Spirit and grace, oflcred in, and communicat- ed l)y the gofpel : — ' his Urrupt ilodr ne coy.cerni-ig original fr.,' pretending, tliat an inward pionencfs to tvil though", words, or itc^ions, is no parr of ir,- lad tlut 1 82 Ty^.- A P P E N D I X /5 In fine, while the first afTertory article in the preceding T'i^/w*. 7tyt bears witnefs for the lanv oi nature, in oppofition to the intatu. ated /i'/^(f//?/V^/ writers of the prefent age, the second maintains it is perfcdtly waflicd away and aboliflicd in baptifin ; — concerning * our natural ' abilities, and rebellion to Gofs law,' pretending, that even in our regenerate ftate, we can Co far keep God's law, as to merit faving grace for ourfelvcs ; — roncern- ing'- our jujlificationby faith aicine,' pretending, that in jnflification, our finfulnefs is ahojillied, that it is four>dcd on our inherent holiucfs and good works, and that we are not juftified through faith receiving the righteoufnefs of Chrifl offered in the gofpel, and divinely imputed to our pcrfons ; — concerning ' our imperfeB * fatiBification, and obedience to tie law,' pretending, that believers may in this life be as perfc(Sb, or more perfe(fl in holinefs, than the law requires; — concerning ' the nature, number, and ufe of the holy facraments,' pretending, that thcfc of the New Teftament do not feal the promifes of God, and benefits therein conferred to us, but effedlually work real grace in us ; and that btfuic baptifm and the Lord's fupper, there are other five, viz, marriage, ordination, confirmation, pe- nance, and citrrme unction, which are his haftardfacramenti, none of them hav- ing any divine appointment as fcals of God's covenant; and the lafl three, as ufcd by Papifts, no warrant at all in the fcripture ; — and of which, they fay, baptifm, confirmation, and ordination, imprint an indelible holinefs or office on every receiver : — ' Xi'ith all his riles and reremcnies,' fnch as, marking the baptized ptrfon with the fign of the crofs on his forehead md bread, exorcifing the devil out of him, blowing thrice in his face, putting adjured fait in his mouth, anoint- ing his noftriis with fpittle, and his breafl: and fhoulder-blades with oil, and the crown of his head with chrifm, or facred odoriferous ointmenr, putting a lighted candle into his hand, and a white robe on him, i c. all of which are praAifed by the papifts at baptifm ; — the pricft approaching, kifling, and perfuming of the altar, fingiug the In troite, lifting up the wafer and cup, wafliing his fin- gers, praying with his arms flretched out in tlie form of a crofs, and many other antic ceremonies, which they ufe ir. the Lord's fupper ; — and all thefe being * without the -Jionl of God,' the fole ftandard of religious worlliip, muft be finful, profane, or dcvilifli : — his ^ falfe doBrine ad led to the minijlration of the facraments' as tliat of themfelves, or by virtue of the intention of the adminiftratcr, they are cfFcdlual to abolifli fin, or confer grace : — * his cruel judgment agaiiij} infants de- ' parting tvithoul thcfacrament; his aifdute ncceffifi of baptifm, 'pretending, that fuch as die without it, muft certainly be excluded from heaven: — ' his hlafphcmous opi- ' nicn of traitfuhjljntiation, cr real prefeme of Chrift's body and blood in the elements,' of the Lord's fupper, * and receiving rf the fame Ay the -wicked, or bodies of men,' pre- tending, that by the officiating pricft, his mntteiing of Chrifl's words, ' This is ' my bcdy, this is my bled,' over the bread .-nd wine that he is confcerating for the Euchaiift, they are really changed into the very fubflantial body and blood of Chrifl, and are eaten and drunk in a corporal manner, as other food, by all the communicants, however wicked : — ' his oifpenftttions vith folemn oaths, perjuries;* allowing men, for money, fei vices, or the pretended advantage of the church, to fwear o^ths, or enter into cni^igf nicnts, wliich they intern) not to perform; — or to violate their lawful oaths of alkgiAnce, tre:\ty, marriag'', vows, or other engagements, which they have contradVctI ; — and ' vith degrees of marriage for- bidden in the v'ord of God,' allowing un let, neiccs, nephews, aunts, or even bro- thers and fiflcrs, by affmity or bl'ioH, to mtrty onr anotlu r : — ' hit ftirhy ngiiinjl innocent divorced,' holding them ?.i'ilty of adultery if they marry, while the crimi- nal party is in. life: — • his devilijh mufs : bis hlafplemous prir'ih*id, his profnre facri- * fee for the fins of the dend and the quick,' pr< ten'tin", by the hand of the offi acting pricD, with a multitude of antic and dcviliih crremoniis, to nfTer up ChrifV in the confecratevi wafers and wine of his fupper, ns an atoning faciifire to the Father, ior the fins of fuch as arc in p\irgatory, or Oill alive on the earth : — ' his canonic jniic.n of men,' ccrcmonioufly cnn.illng them in the lift "f faints, fit to be worfljip- pcd and fcrvcd, as fubori'in.ifc pods; — ' ciHtr.g upon ,:ngcls »r fiinti depirtel;' {N. B. Some of thclc lall were nioiifters of wickcdncf*,) praying to them for /y&^ J U D I C I A L T E S T 1 M N Y. I 83 the divine authority of the holy fcriptures, againft the fhamelers erouil of Dftifying power of the great dodlrines of faivation ; that, being e- ftablilhcd in the present truth, iir 7nay no more he as children tcjfecl to and fro, 'with every wind of doSirine ? How nece/fary is an ioly and intelligent zeal for God, that we may declare his lellimo- tics, ivhich ive have heard and knoiun ; and cur fathers have told us. tents, not only from cccleGaftical cenfures, hut from all obligations to divine punilliments, in time or eternity : — ' perejrinalioiu,' in which pcrfons travel to vifit lome church, im^ge, tomb, or the like, pretended to belong to Chrift or his (aints, in order to procure pardon of their fins, avert impen:ling calamities, or obtain lingular favours ; — ' Jlations,' weekly fafts on Wcdnefdays and Fridays, Or little chapels to pray in, for obtaining indulgence in, or pardon of fin ; alio inging of anthems before the images of Chrifl and his mother; — ' holy vatcr,' confccrated for fprinkling perfons or things, to fanclify them for public worfliip, or to protedl them from latanical influence; — ' baplizing cf tells,' wafliing, anoint- ing, and naming them after fomc faint, with manifold ceremonies, bencdiiflions, and prayers, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, — to render their found truly comfortable and edifying to Chrifban fouls, and terrible and con- founding to devils ; — ' conjuring of fpirits,' ceremonioully charging them to come out of pofTeflcd perfous or places; or to anfwer qucftions put to them : — ' ciojpug,' marking with the fij?,n of the crofs, — ' faining,' fprinkling with holy water, or re- peating charm-like prayers over perfons or things ; — iindintinf them with confe- cratcd oil or chrifm ; — ' conjuring God's good creatures,' cercmonioufly charging ftorms, difeafes, and other troubles to depart, as if pioduced by the devil ; — * hallo-wing of God's good creatures,' confecrating perfons or things, water, oil, fait, ointment, altars, priefl's garments, utenfils for worlbip, &c. to render them holy and efTcdlual mcaus of annoying the devil and his angents, — ' -with the ftiperftiti- ais opinion joined therewith,' that, being thus famSlified, they defcrvc a religious veneration : — ' his -worldly monarchy,' in which the pope ai^s at a civil prince, and claims an unlimited power over all the kin^dom^ of the world; particularly of profelTed Chriftians : — ' his -wicked hierarchy,' in which he, as heading the fubordi- nate orders of cardinals, archbifliops, l)iniops,«>f. pretends to govern the fpiritual concerns of the church, as the vicjrof Chrift : — ' his three J'olemn vcru'S,' of ptrpttual celibacy, voluntary povirty, and implicit obedience to clerical fuperiors ; — ' -with ' nil his JihiTel lings,' monks or friars of many dilFercnt orders, who have their heads fliaven in dilVercnt forms, to mark their diftinguiflied hollnefs: — ' his etro~ ' r.cous and hloody decrees made,' in the council held ' at Trent,' lictwcen A. I>. I $4$ and is<53' ; in which moft of the abominations of ro[)cry, craftily varnifli- ed over, were publicly asid folemnly cnabliflienount power and authority, to condemn this church, and the judicatories thereof, for their proceedings ; and to call many groundlefs and calumnious reflc<5lions upon her and them. — That further, not confining yourfelves to your own congregations and particular charges, you difpenfe ordinances to perfons of other con- gregations, without the knowledge or confent of the minifters to which they belong : and have taken upon you, in fome of thefe congrcgaiions, to ordainelders, to appoint and keep fafts indifferent corners of the country ; and, by thefe pradices, your proper mini- fterial work in your own pariflics, is in a great meafure negleded. — Moreover, that your fchifm may not die with yourfelves, you have prefuraedi to take fome perfons under probationary trials ; and have a(5tujl!y licenfed one or more to preach the gofpel. — More particu- larly, you, the faid Me/Ters. Ebenezer Erfkine, William Wilfon, Alexander Moncrieff, and James Fiflier, have from and fince the month of June, one thoufand feven hundred and thirty-four years, been guilty of a total and conflant withdrawing fom the attendance upon and iubmifllon to the judicatories of the church ; and have been abfcnt from the meetings of the refpeftive Prefbyteries, within thefe bounds you have your fixed parochial charges, and that without offering any relevant excufe therefore : and you, the faid Mclfrs. Thomas Mair and Ralph Erlkine, have, from the fixteenth of February, one thoufand feven hundred and thirty-fcven ; you, the iiid Mr. Thomas Nairn, from the twenty-fecond of September that year; and you, the faid Mr. James Thomfon have, from the twen- tieth day of June Lift, one thoufand feven hundred and iliirty-eight, the refpeflivc dates of your giving in to your fcveral Prelbytcries rcfpective, tormal feccfllons from this church, withdrawn, and been abfent from the Prefbyfery's meetings, and fcnt no excufe for fuch your condud. — And you, the haill defenders above-named, or fome other of you, did, at a meeting of your pretended Prefbytery, held at .Abcrnethy. upon the twelfth day of May, one thoufand feven hundred and thirty-eight; or one or other of the dnys cf that month, or of the months of June, or July that year, licenfe one Mr. John HuNTfeR, to preach the gofpel, as a probationer for the miniltry ; and thereafter, upon the thirteenth day of December hift, one thou- fand fcvcn iiuadicd and ihiriyc'ght ; or upon one or other of the sA C ovY of the Lib EL. 191 days of the faid month, you did, at a pretended meeting held ac Stirling, appoint and direft the iaid Mr. John Hunter, to preach at, and within the parifh of Larbert, and other places, in feveral corners of the country. — Further, you, or I'ome or other of you, did, upon the twentieth day of May laft, one thoufaad kvQa hundred and thirty- eight, or upon one or other of the days of that month, or of the months of June, July, or Augnfl that year, in a pretended judicial manner, take under your cognizance the cafe of Archibald Ed- mund, againfl. whom the fentence of the Icffer excommunication had been paft by the Prelhytery of Dumblain ; and you found, that the faid Prefbytery had adted unwarrantably ; and you declared the faid Archibald free from the fcandal for which he had been cenfured, as above, by the faid Prefbytery; and appointed the faid Mr. Ebcnczer Erflcine to baptize the faid Archibald's child. At leaft, you the faid Mr. Ebenezer Erfkine did, in the church of Stirling, upon the tenth day of Auguft laft, or one or other of the days of that month, baptize the faid child ; and, at the fame time, declared your war- rant for f© doing to be as above. — — SIKLIKE, you, or fome one or other of you, in a pretended judicial way, at a meeting, on cc- cafion of a faft held by you on the twenty-eight day of September, one thoufand feven hundred and thirty-feven, in the parilh of Bal- fron, did abfolve from fcandal Thomas Buchanan, in the parifh of Kippen, and Florence Graham, in the parifli of Drymen. — LIKE AS, you, or fome of you, did, at a meeting of your fkid pre- tended Prefbytery, held at Perth, upon the twentieth day of 0<5tober lall, one thoufand feven hundred and thirty-eight, or one or other of the days of the faid month, take upon you to excommunicate one David Lesly, baxter in Pleafance, in the Parifh of the Wefl-kirk near Edinburgh. — MOREOVER, you, the above-mentioned defenders, or one or other of you, did, upon the twenty-fecond day of March laft, or upon one or other of the days of the faid month, conveen, with great numbers of your followers, at Braid's-Craigs, within the faid parifli of the Weft-kirk of Edinburgh, and then and there you did preach and baptize feveral children, without proper certificates from the minifters of the faid pai-ifh, or the authority of the Prefbytery of the bounds. — As aifo, you did, upon the firft, feventh, and eight days of March inftant, or upon one or other of the days of the faid month, preach and baptize children, as aforefaid, in the parifh of Stitchill, Morbottle, and Chant I-kirk. — Further, you, or fome one or other of you, did, at a meeting held in the pariih of Linton in Tvveedale, upon the tenth day of March, one thoufand feven hundred and thirty-eight, or one or other of the days of that month, or upon one or other of the days of March, April, or May that year, pretend to ordain, as elders, a certain number of perlons belonging to other pariihes than your own: and by thefe, and many other enormities, you have carried on and perfifted in your fchifinvi- tical courfes ; and your oflFence is aggravated, as to all or fome of you, from your obilinate refufing to confer wich the minifters of your refpeftive Prefbyteries, who, in obedience to an ad of the late Affembly, defu-ed conferences with you, in order to reclaim you.-— 192 sA Co? 'V of the Libel. Laftly, you the faid Mr. Ebenezer Erficlne, upon the tweoty-fixth vlay of February laft, or one or other of the days of that month, protefted againft five elders, members of the feflion of Stirling, as elders of men's making, not of G O D's, and intruded upon the congregation by an Eraftian and tyrannical ecclefiaftic fentence, and fummoned them by name and firname, their aiders and abettors, from the pulpit of the church of Stirling, to appear before the judg- ment-feat of Chrill, on the day determined in God's fecret decree, to anfwer for their prefuming to officiate as elders ; and this not- withftanding, that the faid five elders had been duly admitted into that office ; and, by fentence of the laft AlTembly, were declared to be intitled to the full exercife of their office, for which they had been for fome time interrupted, by certain Irregular proceedings of you the faid Mr. Ebenezer Erfkine, and of other elders of that feflion concurring with you. A N D WHEREAS, by ad of the late General AUembly, dated the feventeenth day of May laft, one thou- fand feven hundred and thirty-eight, the Commiffion of the faid i'^fiembly is authorifed and appointed to take fuch reports of repre- fenraiions, as were made to the Affembly concerning the conduft of you the faid minifters, or as fliould be made to the Commiffion con- cerning your conduft, fubfequent to that AlTembly, under their con- fideration ; and if the faid Commiffion fhould fee caufc, to take all proper fteps and methods for duly fifting you, the feparating brethren therein named, before the next Alfembly, to anfwer for your irregular conduil, and all the parts thereof; and alfo to do what they Ihould think proper to prepare and ripen the cafe for the decifion of that AlTembly.— AND WHEREAS the Commiffion, at their meeting in November laft, having confidered the faid reprcfeniations, and your conduct before and fince the laft Aftembly, DID RESOLVE and APPOINT, that a LIBEL fiiould be drawn up and put into your hands, and that you be fummoned to compear, at the br;r of the next AiFembly, to anfwer for your irregular conduft ; and all the parts thereof : THEREFORE, the Commiffion of the General Aftembly, in purfuance of the fald\ afl of Alfembly, and of the re- folutlon and appointment of the Commiflion, at their meeting in November laft, and of the general powers committed to them by th; Aftembly, DID, and hereby DO, grant warrant to, and appoint their officers in that part, conjunflly and feverally, to pafs and law- fully fuminon the faid MelTrs. Ebenezer Erfkine, William Wilfon, Alexander MoncricfF, James Fidier, Thomas Mair, Ralph Erfkine, Thomas Nairn, and James Thomfon, minifters, perfonally, or at their dwelllng-houfcs, to compear before the next General Affcmbly at Edinburgh, the tenth day of May next, one ihoufand feven hun- dred and thirty-nine years, within the Affembly-houfe there, in the hour of caule, with continuation of days, to anfwer for the fcvera! ' particulars abovc-ratntioncd, and to hearand fee the famcfuflicientif verified and proven; and being fo proven, to hear and Ice the f.iij AfTembiy give ihcir judgment, and p.ifs fentence in the faid matter, as ihcy Hull find joftT WITH CERTIFICATION, if the yl Co fY of the Libel. 193 faid defenders fail to compear, that tlie General AfTemb'/ m:iy pro- ceed as if they had been prefcnt, or cenfure them for fuch their con- tumacy and contempt. AND LIKEWISE, the Commiffion grants warrant to the officers forefaid, to fummon all perfons con- tained in a lift fubfcribed by the clerk to the Commiffi(m, to compear the time and place above-mentioned ; with continuation of days, to bear true and faithful witneffing, in fo far as they know, or fliiil be enquired at them in the faid matter ; with certification as effeirs. —This, by warrant and appointment of the faid Commiffioa of the General Aflembly of the church of Scotland, dated the fifteenth day of March, one thoufand feven hundred and thirty-nine years, isglvea at Edinburgh, and fubfcribed by WILL. GRANT, C/s. Eccl. Scot. ANswERsto the foregoing Libel. A Copy of the above Libel was put into the hands of every one of the Seceding Miniilers, by appointment of the Commiffion of the late General A/iembly, that met at Edinburgh, March 1739. It is not here intended to trouble the world with every yz^y? and par- ticular remark that might be made upon the faid Libel ; but only to offer a few general obfervations upon the fame, for the vindication cf the conduct of the feceding minifters, and to lliew the injiijlice of the charge tliat is laid againll them by the prefent judicatures of this national church. In the preamble to the LibeJ, it is narrated, That every preacher and minifter of this church at his admiffion, • folemnly engages and « promifes to fubmit to our Prefbyterian church-government ; and ' firmly and conftantly to adhere to the fame : and that they fn.iil * never endeavour, diredly, or indire<5Hy, the prejudice or fubverfion * thereof; and that they Iliall follow no divifive courfe from the pre- * fenteftabllOimentof this church: and likewife, that the obfervance * of thefe rules and engagenients is abfolutely necefTary to the pre- ' fervation of the government and order in the church, and to pre- « vent the ruin and fubverfion thereof, <2c' — From the above and the other particulars narrated in the preamble, a general charge is fubluraed againft the feceding minifters, of being guiity of the crimes rf f-hifin, divifion, and feparation from the church ; and of walking contrary to the above folemn engagements. The leceding n:!inifters muft, v/ith regret, obferve. That the pre- fent judicatures of this national church are counteracting the above' fole-.nn engagements and promifes, by an habitual ad oi tyratmy in the adminillratipn ; fome particular inllances whereof the AiTociate Cc 1 94 Remarks cT ihc Libel. Preftjytery linve given In their Act and Declinature, read in the prefcnce of the late General Airembiy ; and therefore the charge may be juftly laid againll thein, of purfui.ig fuch meafures as have a i/imentable tendency to the ruin and fubverfion of our Prefbyteri- an government and order, whereby they are guilty of fchifm, divi- fion, and feparation, by thtir departure from our covenanted order and unity, ;ind exerciilng a lordly dominion, contrary to the word of God and laudable adls and conftitutions of this church, both over miniders and other cluirch-members. It may be here jullly enquired, how the libellers of the fcctdlng miailUrs come to pafs over, in their preamble, the fJemn engage- ments that each miniRer comes under, firmly and clofly to adhere to the do(flrine contained in our ConfelTjon of Faith ; as alfo their en- gagements, that they fhall, to the utmoll of their power, in their (lation, ajjert, viaintain, and defend the fnid do(5lrine. — The prefent judicatures cannot but be confciouo to themfelves of the hsinous vio- lation of the ai)ovc awful proraife and engrigemcnt, by their difraif- ing the erroneous from their bir, either without any cenfurc at all, or with fuch cenfure as was no way adequate unto the fcandal and offence that ihcy had given : yea, though ihey have had many grofs and pernicious errors under their judicial co^ni/.ancc, yet they have obllinrttely refufed to ^[ffrt and v!aintai?i the doctrines contain- ed in our Contsffion of Faith, in oppofiilon unto the m:my danger- ous errors fubverting the fame, which they have brought to their bar. The preamble charges the feceding minifters as guilty of fuch offences as are contrary to the koly fcripiures., and particularly to thofe texts that require love and ckarity, peace and unity, &c ; as alfo of offences contrary to the C'-nfe^Jion of Faith and Caiechifms : but here the accnfers of the feceding minifters wrapt up their charge in general. The feceding minillers are libelled as walking contrary to the foriptures, Conleffion of Faith, (jr^. ; but not one particular text of fcripturc is condcfcended upon ; neither is there inj one ar- ticle of our Confcffion and Citechifms ment;o;;cd, nor any particu- lar aft of Aflenibly named. — In t\&rj ivell-regulatc court, where the procedure is legal, and not arbitrary, the A/tu is particularly and exprcfly mentioned, to which the crmies libelled are fuppoicd or al- ledged to be contrary j and the faid crimes arc duly corap.ired with the law, and if they are not contrary to the fame, the libel is found to be irr-levant : but the above general charge, laid by the judica- tures of the chinch agviinft the feceding mir.illcrs, is of a piece with their former arljitrary procedure againft the prote!Ung minifters, Jnno 1755: they cliarge them with afting contrary unto our ftan- dards, both fupren;e and fubordinatc; yet thv^y have not pointed out one particular text of Icripturc, or any one of their laudable adts and cnniiitutions, unto which their pratflice is contrary. — It is true, they alledge, that they nrc guilty rf fuch offences as are contrary unto thefe p-ilfages of fcripturc which rcc]ui!c love and charity, peace and unity, to be promoted and cultivated in the church; but all the paflagcs of fcripturc v^hich require love, peace, aad unity, they alfo Remarks Oft the L.m£L, 1 9 j require that truth fiioiiIJ he the foundation of peace, and the bond of uaity aijd harmony: Zcch. viil. 19. Love tke truth and peace. The unity that we ouii;ht to purfue after, is the unity of the Spirit, Eph. iv. 3. ; and the f-Ioly Spirit is the Spirit of truth. — That Jove and charity which the fcripture requires, is very coiififtent with a faithfuJ witnefling aguinll X.\\zfir]s of a backfliding people ; yea, a free and faithful wituetUng againft the llnfu! opinions and praflices of our brethren, is uifeparable from, or efTential to the very nature of the law of Jove; Lev. xix. 17. Thou fijalt not hate thy brother in thine heart ; thou Jhalt in any "ways rebuke ihy neighbour^ and not fujfer Jin upon him ; or, according to the marginal reading, that thou BEAR not Jin for him. — And it is plain, from the whole tenor of the Jibel, that the pradlices of the brethren, which are alledged to be contrary to love and charity, are only fuch pradices as are necefTa- rily involved in a free and faithful teftiraony againft the prefent courfe of defeiftlon ; which is fo far from being x.h.t\r Jin, that it is manlfelt- ly their duty ; unlefs the law of love and charity is fuppofed to o- blige them to forbear a proper Teflimony againlt a courfe of defection from the Lord : but a fuppofilion of this kind is a manifcli contra- diction to the whole tenor of the holy fcriptures. After the above general charge, a great many particular inftances are adduced to fupport the fame, and thefe are laid as fpecial arti- cles of libel againft the feceding minifters ; fuch as. imo, ' That the faid minitfers have feceded from this church ' without any juftifiable grounds, circ ; as alio, that they perfift in • their unwarrantable feceffion, notwithftandiag their folemn en- ♦ gagements to the contrary at their ordination and admiffion, and ' the clemency fhewed to fome of them in the year 1734; and the ' tendernefs to all of them fmce that time.' The feceding minifters have always owned, that they have made z. fecefijH from the prefent judicatures of this national church ; but they refufe that ever they have leceded from the communion of the church of Scotland : and they have pnblifhed to the world the rea- fom and grounds of their faid feceffion, particularly in their firft Te- ftimony, emitted Anno 1734 * ; which contains their reafons at large for their proteftation entered before the Commiffion of the General Aflembly, November 1733. when four of the feceding minifters were thrufi out from the judicatures by the faid Commiffion, and there- upon declared their feceffion from them. — They have likcwife, ia the faid paper, made it evident, that thdv fclemn engagejnents 2X their ordination, ftedfaftly to adhere to the doctrine, worfliip, go- vernment, and difcipline of the church of Scotland ; and that they Ihail never do any thing, directly or indireftly, to the prejudice or fubverfion of the fame, indifpenfibly oblige them to depart from com- viunion with the prefent judicatures, who are carrying on .vith a high hand, a courfe of dcfOion from our covenanted doftrine, go- * See this Teftimony printed above, p. 19.; and ths reafons and grounds al- luded to, p. 4.0, — 71. C c 2 X 9 6 R E M A R K S fl« />5! in- nocent, furely his anger jhall turn from vie ; behold I 'will plead ivith thee, hecanfe thou fayeji, I have notjinned, Jer. xviii. iS. Then /aid they. Come and let us devife devices againji Jeremiah, f-.r the laivJJ^all not perijh from the priejl, nor counfcl from the 'wife, nor the 'word from the prophet ; come and let us finite him I'jith the tongue, and let us not giz's h:ed to any of his 'words. It is further alledged, < That the • receding minifters, in their Aft and Teuimony do, with the air ' of a parament power and authority, condemn this church, and < the judicatures thereof, for their proceedings.' If the libellers mean, that a few may not judicially condemn the proceedings of a numerous body, which are to the prejudice of truth; then, accord- ing to them, numbers muft always bear the fway ; and if truth is voted out of doors, by numbers, then it mull be deferted without a judicial teftimony for it. At this rate the Teftimony of the reform- ed, againft the church of Rome, muft be condemned, becaufe the Romilh clergy had numbers on their fide ; and Luther and Calvin, and our other reformers, according to this rcafoning, alTumed to themfelves a paramount power over the church, and the judicatures thereof: but the feceding minifters may boldly afSrm, according to the judgment of all our reformed divines, that when the word of the Lord is againft a church, and the proceedings of the judicatures thereof, any one minifter may teftify doflrinally againft the fame ; and if one minifter may teftify doctrinally, then a few minifters affo- ciate together, have a warrant and authority from the word of God, to emit a Judicial Teftimony againft fuch proceedings. The fourth article of libel confuts of feveral branches. The flrft branch of the faid article is, ' That thoy do not coxiHne themfelves * to their ov.-n particular charges, butdiibenle ordinances to pcrfons 1 9 3 Remarks on the Libel. * of other congregations, without the knowledge or confent of the » minirters to wliich they belong •/ and the libel afterwards con- defccnds upon their preaching and baptizing children without the bounds of their own congregations, and without the confent of the minifters, or authority of the Prelbytery in the bounds. As lor the above article of charge againft. them, the feceding miniilers would reckon it much more eafy work and labour for them to keep themfelves within the bounds of their own congregations ; but fince the judicatures of the church are breaking down our con- ftituiion, and fcattering and oppreffing the Lord's heritage thro' the land, as the faid miniflers have made evident in the papers emitted by them, and particularly, in the A(5t and Dcclin;tture read before the l.tft AtTembly ; therefore, the Aifociatc Preibytery are obliged, and judge it their duty, in fuch a fituation of the church, to fend fome of their number to preach and baptize in different corners of the land, upon application made unto them by many of the Lord's aggrieved heritage, who have feccded from the judicatures, and who have declared their accelllon to the faid Prelbytery : and as they difpenfe the facrament of baptifm to none without fufficient tellimony concerning their walk and converfation, and previous examination of their knowledge, fo they cannot fee any ground for a libel upon this head, unlefs it muft be made an article of libel a- gainft them, that they difpenfe fealing ordinauces to fuch who vo- luntarily, and from confcience of their duty, depart from comraunioa with the judicatures, who are carrying on a courfe of defetflion, and who accede to a Judicial Teftimony unto the covenanted doc- trine, worfhipj difcipline, and government of the church of Scot- land. The fecond branch of this article of libel is, ' That the feceding • minillcrs have taken upon them to ordain elders in fome congrc- ^ gationa.' And this the A/Tociate Preibytery judge it their duty to do, that our Prefbyterian order and governr.ieiit may be maintained and kept up among!! fuch as have fubjeiflcd themfelves to the faid Prtfbytery ; and they judge it likewife neceilary, in order to the difpenfing of fealing ordinances amongft them with more iiifcty. according to the laudiblc rules of this church, that ciders may be ordained among them, who may watch over the Wrilk and conver- fation of profelfors, and who may be capable to inform the Prefby- lery, or any of the minifters thereot, concerning the walk and be- haviour of the forefaids. The third branch of the above article is, * That the AnTociale ' Prelbytery keep falls in different corners of the country.' As this is a day wherein the Lord c^lls to fafting, mourning, and girding with fackdoath ; fo it is to be rcgrcted, that the prefent judicatures are fo very negligent in tl.Is duty ; and whrn they appoint days of fafting and humiliation, they refufe particularly to acknowledge their {>wn fins, and the fins of loimer times : and tlicrcf(>re the Allociate Prtfbytery judge it their duty to appoint days of f.ifling and humi- liation in fucli places of the l.md, and aaumgit fuch as apply to ihem Jor that cfTedf, and who proftls their wittingncfs to humble them- Rem ARKS (3« /^^ L I B E L. l(i^ felves under the rriiiny awful figns, grounds, and caufes of the Lord's quarrel and controverfy againft us. As for what is alledged, that the receding minillers, by their above praftices, do in a great mea- fure negleft their proper minillerial work in their own parifhes, it is a bare-faced calumny : they may be fatisfied to have their diligence compared in their minifterial work in their own parifhes with that of their keeneft accufers ; and they may likewife confidently affirm. That notwithftandins; of their Prefbyteriai AfTociation, and the duties which it does oblige them unto, they are as little diverted from their proper minifterial work in their refpeflive charges, as when they were in connexion with the judicatures, and approven by them for their diligence. The fifth article of libel is, concerning • their taking fome perfons ' under probationary trials, and their adtually licenfing one or more ' to preach the gofpel.' Th; particular intlance afterwards con- defcended upon in the libel, is their licenfing Mr. John Hunter to preach the gofpel. It is what the feceding miniilers acknowledge and own, that they have licenfed the faid Mr. John Hunter to preach the gofpel, after he had paffed through the ordinary trials, and was approven in them: and they judge it their duty, not only to licenfe, but alfo to ordain men to the work of the holy miniftry, whenever providence (hall open a door for it, particularly among the fcattered and broken he- ritage of God, who are groaning under the weight of intruded hire- lings, and can find no help and relief from the prefent judicatures : and as their relief is one of the main ends of their prefbyteriai afTo- ciaiion ; fo, feeing that they are a Prefbytery conftitute in the name of the Lord Jefus, they doubt nothing of his warrant to commit the golpel truft to faithful men, and to fend forth labourers into his opprelled and wafted vineyard. The fixth article of libel coincides with the firft, only they date the departure of the firft four minifters from the judicatures, from the month of June 1754. ; but, if they had narrated matter of fad:, they ought to have dated their withdrawing from the judicatories from November 1733. when the Commifiion, in purfuance of the ai5l of Alfembly that year, thruft the faid minifters out from communiou with all the faid judicatures ; and that is what the libellers do very well know was the cafe. The fevenlh article of libel Is, concerning the licenfing of Mr. Joha Hunter, which has been confidered already. The eight article of libel is, ' That the feceding minifters did, * as a Pielbytery, take under their cognizance the cafe of Mr. Archi- « bald Edmund, and declared him free of the cenfure of the leflcr ' excommunication laid upon him by the Prelbytery of Dumblain.' The faid Archibald having, for the help of his memory, drawn up a paper as fubjcSt of private communing w^ith his minifter, relat- ing to the public defeilions, and any concern he judged his minifter had therein, with a declared defign, mentioned in the faid paper, to pave the way for his continuing to join his miniftry with the greater freedom and edification ; at the fame time fubnutting to his 2 0O Rem a r k s on the Libel. miniiler's Inflruiflion, in cafe he was in the wrong. But the n:ila!fter, infteau oF endeavouring to inftrnlts, I Remarks en the Libel. , 201 and at the fame time (hewed an infolent contempt of the Prefbytery ; and therefore they judged it their doty to teftify againft his extra- vagant principles and contumacious practice, by laying him under the fentence of the lellir excommunication ; and by recommending it to thofe that are under their infpet^ion to withdraw from him, as a brother that walks diforderly : and it may be furprifuig, that judi- catures, who raike fuch liberal profeffions of loyalty to the civil government, Ihould make it an article of libel againll the Seceding Minifters, viz. their inflidting the above cenfure upon one who had' not only vented, but with the greateft contumacy maintained and aflerted principles everfive of civil government, refuftng and defpifmg the proper means of information and inftrudllon, that he might be reclaimed from the error of his way. After fome other articles of libel which have been already upon the matter confidered, the laft; article of libel is laid againft Mr. E4J6NEZER Erskine, minlfter of the gofpel at Stirling, for proteft- ing from the pulpit of the church of Stirling, againft five elders there ; which proteftation is narrated by the libellers after their own way : but, that the unprejudiced world may be fatisfied, it is thought proper to give the following fhort Narrative of the cafe. The two minifters of Stirling, particularly the late Reverend Mr. Alexander Hamihon, having oppofed the intrufion of Mr. James Mackie upon the parifh of St. Ninians, who was obtruded upon that: people by a riding committee, the faid Mr. Mackie did his utmoft, in a way of refentment, to difturb the peace and quiet of the mini- fters and congregation of Stirling; for which end he infmuated him- felf upon five of the members of Sefiion, who had formerly lived in as much unity with their minifters as any of the reft, and who had concurred with them in witnefting againft the proceedings of the ju- dicatures, as is to befeen in the ftateof the procefs againft Mr. ITrfkine. However, a little after Mr. Mackie was intruded upon St. Ninians, they began to v.ithdraw from diets of feffion for prayer, privy cen- fure, and ordinary bufmefs, except when they came to ferve a turn ; for which condu<5l they vj^tq gravely and judicicuj!y rebuked by the ■worthy Mr. Alexander fiamilton, a little before the adminiftration of the facrament of the Lord's fupper in Stirling, April 1737. Inftead of receiving the rebuke kindly, and as precious oil, they behaved as if that worthy man had broken their heads ; for, imme- diately after it, they deferted the Seflion, without giving any reafoa for their fo doings and though fent for again and again to attend the Seftion, and the duties of their office, efpecially upon the occafioa of the facrament of the Lord's fupper in the place, they obftinateljr refufed, turning their back, not only upon their minifters and fellow- elders, but alfo upon the ordinances of God ; all of them, except one, leaving the town and going to neighbouring congregations, that day the facrament was celebrated in the place, to the great " offence and fcandal of religion. The two minifters of Stirling, Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Erfkine, in order to prevent the profanation of tlie table of the Lord, entered D d 2 02 R E M A R K S (9/i /^i? L I B EL. upon a refoliitlon to examine privately all that fhould be admhteii, and to appoint diets for that effect ; and at the fame time agreed to read tht public warning which follows. Advertisement 'with refpeH: to intended Connnunicants, agreed upon hy the rninijiers of the place. Stirling, Feb. 3d, 1737. \mo. That none apply for the benefit of that ordinance who have not a tolerable acquaintance with the principles of our holy religion, with their loft ftate in the firft Adam, and breach of the covenant of ■works, and the way of recovery by a fecond Adam, and the covenant of rich and free grace, and through faith in him ; and who are un- acquainted with the nature, ufe, and ends of the facraments of the New Tellament, particularly that of the Lord's fupper now in view. idri. That none apply for the benefit of that ordinance, who are enemies to the covenanted do<5trine, worihip, difcipline, and govern- ment of the church of Chrift in this iand ; and who are not refolved, through grace, to cleave to the Lord with full purpofe of heart, in faith, love, and gofpel-obedicnce thereunto. 3//-<^-2^<^"4s''^ ( 209 ) Acts and Proceedings^ ^c. At Edinburgh, May 19th, 1739. "T T "▼ HIGH day and place, the minifters and elders a/Tocfate V^/ together, in a Prelbyterial Capacity, being met, there was ' * laid before them the draught of an Ac x, finding and declar- ingy That the prefent judicatories of this national church are not /aiv- ful nor right conjlitute courts of Chrijl ; and declining all authority y po'wer, and jurifdiilion that the [aid judicatories may claim to them- felves over this Prejhytery, or any of the members thereof ; or over any that are under their infpe^lion. The faid draught having been under the ccnfideration of the Pref- bytery, at fome former meetings, \cas at lafl meeting referred unto a Committee of their number to be tranfcribed in Jtiundo, with fuch amendments as were agreed upon by the Prefbytery. The faid Com- mittee laid the forefaid draught before them, tranfcribed and amend- ed as appointed : whereupon the Prefbytery proceeded to read over the faid draught, finding and declaring as above, which was ac- cordingly done ; and, after fome confiderable time fpent in prayer, and ferious deliberation thereupon, the queftion was put. Approve of the fame, or not ? Rolls being called, and votes marked, it car- ried unanimoufly, ylpprove : wherefore the Prefbytery did, and here- by do approve of the forefaid draught of an Act, finding and declar- !ag, That the prefent judicatories of this national church are not lansj/ul nor right cotifitute courts ofChrif ; and declining all authority, pointer ^ and jurifdidion that the faid judicatories tnay claim to themj'clves over this Prefbytery, or any of the members thereof, or over any that ars under their infpedion ; and they declare and cnad accordingly ; the tcuor whereof follows. [ 210 ] The Declinature. ACT of the Associate Presbytery; finding and declaring, that the Present Judicatures of this National Church, are not lawful nor right conftitute Courts of Christ ; and declining all authority, poiver^ and jurifdiciiott that the faid Judicatures t?t/jy claim to thetnfelves, over the Jaid Prejb)tery, or any ■>/ the viemhers thereof, or 'jver any that arc under their infpeCiion ; and particularly declining the auth'jrity of a (>eneral AJembly, now 7net atEdi^bur^h, the tenth day of May y one thoufand feisn hundred and thirty- nine years. At Edinburgh, May i6th, I7;9. TH E which day and place, the minillers and elders, afToci.ue together, in h Prcfbytcrial Oipacity, being met in the Prcf- hytery; and feriouily conlkltring, That Piovincial and National ^Synods, as well as claffical rr:.;l)yteries, when duly coallitute, and regularly proceeding, accortling to the laws laia dov n in the word hy the Lord Jefus Chrift, the only King, Judge, and Lawgiver xmto hi^ church and people, arc fi.ccial and eii'edual meani, through the divine U'Llhog, lor edifying tiie body ot Chriit ; tor prcferviag his inftitucions in their beauty and purity ; tor aHertiug and vindicatii!'» the truths of Ciirilt, when oppuled and lubverted, by cunning fe- duccrs ; for maintaining the iu!^ rigiics and privileges wherewith Chrift has made his people free ; for purging the houfe of God of fuch as are erroneous in principle, or immoral in their praftice ; and for removing ofi'enccs whereby the flock of Chrifl may be wounded, Icattered, and broken : and confcxiuently, for main'., lining and pre- fcrvinc niiiiv, peace, and truth, in the church of Cln id, to the ho- nour and glory of tiie Redeemer ; for the pcrfciling f his faints, f^- the sdifymg of his body ; till they all come in the unity of the faith, and -.f the knoivledge of the Son of God, unto a pcrfecl man, and t'j the meafure of the Jlature of the fulnefs of Chrijl ; and that they may not be tojjed t*} and fry, and carried abaut nvith every ivind of d-Alrine, hy the jlight of tnen, and cunning craftinefs ivhtrehy they ly in m-'ait to deceive : But fpeaking the truth in love, may gronv up into him in all things, 'which is the H'.-ad, even Chrijl, Eph. iv. 1 1, — i 6. As a!fo, the Pretbytery confidering, that though the Ibrct'aid judicatures are an ordinance of Chrill, Tor the above and like valuable ends and ]>urpol'cs ; yet it cannot be retulcd, that there have been ecclefiallical courts, under the dclignation oi Synods, both provincial and national, fo corrupt in their conflitution, and lb irrci^ular iy their procedure, that the keys of government and dil'cipline, committed by the cjo- tiuus Head of the church lo llic ollicc-bcarcrs of h.^ houfe, for the The DECLINATURE. 211 above-mentioned ends and purpofcs, have been peivifrfed to quite contrary ends and ules: infomucb, that error has been countenanced and encouraged ; a hix and corrupt minilh-y have been fupported ; and fuch as endeavoured to he faithful have been born down and cenfured ; the heritage of God have been fcaltered and broken ; laws and ordinances have been enafled, contrary to the laws and inllitu- tions of the Lord Jefus Chrift, as will appear from the hiflory of the Chriftian church in her different periods, and from the lamentable inftances of this kind on record in the hiftory of our own church, in her feveral backflidin? and declining times. — LikewUe, the Prefty- tery, taking under their ferious confideration the (late and fituation of the prefent judicatures of this national church, have found, upon the weighty grounds and reafons afterwards fpecified, 7'hat the faid judicatures, are not la'v.ful nor right conjiitute courts of Jefus Chr'tji ; and therefore they are bound and obliged, in duty, to tedifyand de- clare fo xnnch judicially ; and alfo to decline all autliority and jurif- didion which any of the prefent judicatures of this national church may claim to themfclves over this Prefbytery,'or any of the members thereof, as to their minifterial- office, condudt, or charadler : and particularly, to decline the forefaid judicatures, as incompetent Judges in any queftion that may relate, eitjier to the feceffion of any of the members of this Prefbytery from them, or to the Judicial Ah andTeJliviony, lately emitted by this Prefbytery ; as alfo, they judge themfelves bound in duty to refufe and decline all authority, power, and jurifdiftion, which the faid judicatures may claim to themfelves over any of the members of this church, who have declared their adherence to this Prefbytery, and to the ASi and Teftimony emitted by them, and who have fubjefted themfelves to their prefbyterial overfight and infpeftion. It is with regret, that this Prefbytery find themfelves obliged in duty to take this ftep. It would be matter of great fatisfadion unto them, that they had not thefe grounds and reafons, which are of fuch weight and importance with them, as to oblige them to teftify and declare in the above manner : and they reckon themfelves efpe- cially called at this time, to declare themfelves ra(>re fully and plainly, with refped to the prefent judicatures, than they have hitherto lione; in regard, the feveral minifters cf this Prefbytery are cited to com- pear before this General Aflembly, to anfwer unto a Libel framed againft them, by the Commiffion of the late General AfTembly, in confequence of an Act of the faid Affembly : And therefore, they reckon themfelves bound of neceflity (as matters are prcfeully fituate) to take this ftep ; and they judge, that they could not Ao otherwife, in a confiftency with the principles of the reformed and covenanted church of Scotland, and with their duty to the giorious Head of the church ; as alfo with the duty that they owe to the fouls of them committed to their charge, and to the Lord's heritage and flock through the land. Neither could they do othcrv/ife, in a conHftency ■with the engagements they came feveraliy under, when ordained to the ofHce of the holy miniftry, viz. ' That they fhould lledfallly E e 2 212 The declinature. « adhers to the do(f>rlne, worfhip, government, and difcipllne of « the church of Scotlan-l ; and that they fhould, to the iitmoft of ' their power, in their ftation, aflert, maintain, and defend the faid * dof^rine, worftiip, government, and difcipline ; and alfo, that ' they fhould never do any thing, either diredly or indiredlly. to • the prejudice or fubverfion of the fame.' — All which do oblige , them to teftify ?nd declare, That the prefent judicarures of this na- tional church, are not lawful nor right conftitute courts of Chrift ; and confequently, that they cannot warrantahly claim to themfelves any power or authority over the members of this Prefbytery, or their foref.^.id adherents. And they humbly and earneftly intreat all mi- iiiRers, elders, and others, who defire to be found faithful unto the Lord in this day of perplexity and treading down, ferioufly to con- fider the following grounds and reafons of their prefent /l^, Decla- ration, and Declinature, and to weigh them, without any partial Lias, in the b:^!ances of the fanc^tuary. 1, When ecclefiiftical judicatures not only receive into their num- ber, butrefufe to purge out from among them, and continue to fup- port intruders, and fuch as are notourly known to be guilty of fuch fcandal'jus pradices as make them obnoxious to the cenfures of the church ; and who therefore, have no warrant from the Lord and Head of the church to fit in his courts, they cannot be reckoned laivful nor riglt ccnjliiute courts of Chrift : But the prefent judica- tures of this national church, not only receive into their number ; but refufe to purge out from amon^ them, and continue to fupport intruders, and fuch as are notourly known to be guilty of fuch fcan- dalous praiftices as make them obnoxious to the cenfures of the church, and who therefore have no warrant from the Head of the church to fit in his courts ; therefore, the prefent judicatures are not lawful nor right conftitute courts of Chrift. It will not be-refufed, that the Head of the church has clearly pointed out unto us, in his word, who they are that ought to feedy rule, and govern his flock. They muft be fuch as he has called, Heb. V, 4. ; and fucfi as he has fent, Rom. x. i y. — If, in a civil court, where the judges are of the king's nomination, any Jliould prefume to fit down upon the bench without the king's warrant, or a cora- rniftion from him j if this is known to the fubjefts, their allegiance to their fovcreign binds and obliges them to dfcliue the court, and to hold and repute all their afls and dt'fds as null and void. And this is not only the cafe at prefcnf, with refpcd to the judicatures of this national church, when fuch as have not the King of Zion's warrant and commiftion to fit in the courts of bis houfc are confti- tuent members of ecclefiaftical judicatures-; but aifw the faid judica- tures fupport and encourage fuch, and rcfufc to purge thfm out from among them. — It is notour, that in all corners of the land, men are intruded into the paftoral olljce, and impofed upon the he- ritage and flock of God, in reg;ird feitlements have been carried on thefemauy years bypaft, by mere church authority, over ilidenting and rcclai.T:)ii)gco:i2regaiions j and Ibch as have been ihruU into the The declinature. 213 office of the miniftry, are received into judicatures, and the right- hand of felloviniip is given unto them. Whatever Ihain pretences may be mnde, and whatever fig-leaf covers naay be twifted together, to jullify or palliate this violence that is done to the (heep oi' the Lord's p.iflure ; yet this PrePoyterv judge, that they are warranted by the Lord's word to affirm, Th^c iuch as are impofed by mere church authority, upon the footing of prefentations, or othervvife, upon diifenting and reclaiming congre- gations, who are willing to chufe and call gofpel-minifters, have no authority or warrant from Chrirt, the chief Shepherd of the iheep, to feed the flock ; and that they are rather grievous wolves, who have entered in, to the tearing, renting, wounding, ajid fcaiterin^: of the flock of Chrift; and confequently, that they have no warrant from the king of Zion to fit in the courts cf his kingdom : and that fuch courts who receive and fuftain fuch men as conltitucnt members, notwithftanding of remonllrances, and other means ufed by fuch as' were aggrieved, to have them purged out, are not right conftituted courts of Chrill ; and therefore his {ubjefts have his warrant to re- fufe and decline their authority and jurifdiftion. As the prefent ju- dicatures of this national church are filled with many fuch confiitu- ent members ; fo it is notourly known, that through all corners of the land, notwithftanding of manifold petitions, complaints, and remonftrances, the prefent judicatures continue to fupport fuch in- truders, and refufe to purge them ont from among thsm. Likewife, the prefent judicatures cf this church arc confti'.ute of a great many members, who have given ground of oiFence to the church and people of God, hy t\it\T fcandalous prafiicet, in promot- ing and carrying on a courfe of defecftion from our received and co- venanted principles ; and who, by thefe their fcandalous practice?, have rendered themlelves obnoxious and liable to the cenfures of the church, and againft whom the fpiritual fword ought to be drawn, if the difcipline of the church were faithfully and impartially exer- cifed. It is evident from the word of God, that fuch fhepherds, ^\iofcaiter the JJyeep of the Lord's pajlure, are under fcandal, and obnoxious to the cenfure of the houfe of God ; for, a ivo is pronounc- ed againll them, Jer. xxiii. i, 2. Likewife, the (hepherds that rule the flock with /jrci? and cruelty, the Spirit of God pronounceth aa awful fentence againft them, Ezek. xxxiv. i, — 10. JVo to the /J?epl;erd{ ef Ifrael : /Jjould not the Jhepherds feed the flocks ? — But nvith force and •with cruelty have ye ruled them. — Thus fa: th the Lord God, Behold I /»;;/ again]} the Jhepherds, and I 'vcill require viy flock at their hand, and caufe them to ceafe from feeding the flock. Alfo, fuch as walk diforderly, and not after the tradition 'which ^we have received from the apoftles ofChrif, are declared to be under fcandal, and liable feo church cenfure, 2 ThelT. iii. 6, 14, 15. ki lik^manner, according to the laudable a>!ts and conftitutions oFthis church ; particularly a<5l of Afiembiy 1638, ancnt corruptions in the minifry ; and act of Aftembly 16^6, ftfi. 10. and A$i. of Af- fcmbly 1643, felTi. 26. if minifters are liknr.. and apply not their doffrines to the corruptions of the tiniCs ; if fii-y a:e tlitterers and 214 The DECLINATURE. diflemblcrs of public fins ; if they are filent and ambiguous in the public raufc, they are to be cenfured according to the degree of thefe icandalous faults ; and, continuing in them, they are to be depofed. — And this is the lamentable ftate of the prcfent judicatures of this national church at this day; they arc conftitutc of many fuch mem- bers as are not onXy ftlent in the public caufe of God ; but, dijfemhlers of public fins : they are confiture of fuch members who fcatter and drive a'vay the flock of Chrift, and rule them with force and cruelty ; and who depart from the traditions delivered un'o us by the apoftles of Chrift in the holy fcripiures ; and yet they are not afhamed of, but juftify their fcandalous pradiees. — As for inftance, the judicatures at prefent are conftitute of fuch members, who have an adive hand in exercifing a lordly and magijlerial power and authority over the flock of Chrift; and who have been adivc in /w/"5/?';;^ minifters, not only on di/Tenting and reclaiming congregations, but even where the Pref- bytery of the bounds have likewife been dijfenting and reclaiming : and who have alfo invaded the power of Prefbytery, in taking into their own hands the ordination of men to the holy miniftry, under the fh idow of a power and warrant from the Commiflions of fcveral A/Tcmblies. — Likewife, the judicatures are conftitute of fuch mem- bers, as have been atflive in etiaHing lanvs and Jlatutes, contrary to the laws and ftatutes of the Lord and Mafter of the houfe : fuch as the a(5t of Afferably 1732, anent the eleftion of miniftcrs to vacant congregations; and the acls of AfTembly 1735, againft the protefting miniftcrs, and the miniftcrs of the Preft)ytery of Dunfermline. And though the aifl of AfTembly 1732 is repealed ; yet the fcandal that the contrivers, farmers, and enacflers of it were guilty of, is unpurg- ed to this very day, in regard the faid aft was repealed, only be- caufe it was contrary to fome ordinary forms in palling afls of Af- lembly : But the difhonour done by the faid ad to the head of the church, and the injury done thereby to his members, has never been acknowledged and mourned over ; but, on the contrary, vacant congregations ftill continue to be planted according to ihe faid ad. — Alfo, the judicatures are conftitute of'fuch members as have been adive, either xnfcreening the erro'iecuf from a juft and adequate ccn- i'lTt, or in difmifftng them without any cenfure at all ; and they are not repenting of thefc and the like their finful deeds : nay, rather in the whole tenor of their condud and pradice, they plead they are innocent, and juftify thcmfelvcs in a courfe of defedion and backlliding from the Lord. ^Therefovc, thefc are the men who hzvcfcaficred and broken the heritage of God at this day, and who have ruled them with /err- and cruelty, and thefe arc the men that nvalk difprderlyy contrary to the traditions which we have received ; and v.-ho have cauf>;d divijior.s contrary to the dodrlne which we have learned, whom wc are caileci to tnark and avoid : Yea, thefc are the men, who, according \r> the above cited paffages ofrhe v^rd of God, and the above l.iudal)lc ads rmd conftitutions of this church, ou7ht to be depofed from the hrly ininiftry. Whcr.-forc, feeing the prefent jud-caturcs of this national church have not only received into ihcir number, but rcfufcd to purge out The declinature. 215 from among them, and continue te fupport and countenance intru- ders, and fuch as are notourly known to be guilty of the above fcan- diilous pradices, which make them juftly liable to the cenfures of the church, and confequently have no warrant from the Lord and Mafter of the houfe to fit in his courts ; this Prelbytery cannot hold the faid judicatures, who are conftitute of fuch members, as laiufut zndi ^'gf't conftitute courts of Chriji ; and therefore are obliged, in duty, to refufe and decline any authority, power, or jurifdicf^ion, that they may claim to therafelves over the members of this Prefbycery, or fuch as adhere to the faid Prelbytery : as alfo, to hold all the acfls, fen- tences, and deeds, that may be done or paffed by the prefent judi- catures againft the forefaids, to be null and void in themfelves. II. If the conduifb of the judicatures of this national church, for many years by-pafl, is duly conlidered ; how they have been a(5tive in carrying on a courl'e ot defedtion and backfliding from the Lord, hy tolerating the erroneous, hy fuppor ting and countenancing error; and by enailing la-ns and conjiitutions, contrary to the laws of the king of ZIon : whereby rainifterial freedom is fuppreffed, and new and unwarrantable termi of minifterial and ChrilHan communion arc impofed, and whereby the heritage of God is opprelled and broken, they cannot be held and repute as free and lawful courts of Chrift. It is evident from the word of God, that the power and authority committed by the glorious Head of the church, unto her feveral ju- dicatures, is a power for edification, and not for dejlruftiony 2 Cor. X. 8. xiii. 10. The judicatures of the church can do nothing againji the truthy h\it/br the truth, 2 Cor. xiii. S. ; that is, for the vmdica- tion, fupport, and defence of the truth. The church-reprefentativc is in a fpecial manner the pillar and ground of truth. She is obliged to publilh and declare, to uphold and maintain the truth, in a diredt oppolition to fuch errors as are at any time vented to the prejudice and fubverfion of the fame. The judicatures of the church ought to point out fin and duty; they ought to rid marches between truth, and error: if they do not difcharge their duty, when errors are broached and vented, they are chargeable with the prejudice done to truth, and with the growth and fpreading of error ; they are treacherous unto their Lord and Mafter, unfaithful to the flock and heritage of God, and unto fucceeding gene- rations. — But the prefent judicatures of this national church are to- lerating the erroneous^ 2.vA fupport ing and countenancing error; as will appear from their conducT:, both tovvards Mr. Simfon and Mr. Campbell; as alfo, from their conduct of late towards Mr. Wilhart. It is well known, that a fcheme of pernicious and dangerous principles was vented by Mr. Simfon; as is evident from his anfwers to the firil I'je), in the Hrft procefs that was commenced ag;iinft him : vet the grofs and dangerous errors which he maintains and cTefends, in hii faid -anfwers, have never to this day been condemned ; neither has the truth been juilicially publifhed and aflcrted in oppofition to the faid erroi-s, even though the Committee of Aifcmbly, JJnno 172S, found it cle.iily proven, that he con'.ii.a.'.! to icach th; famsdangs- 2i6 The declinature. ' rous errors. And when, as a jult judgment upon this lukewarm church, from a righteous and hoJy God, he was afterwards fo far Jtfr, as to impugn and deny the necejfary exiftence of the SoncfGod^ and the numerical onsnefs of the three adorable perfons of the Godhead : and when this was found clearly proven againlt him, by the Gene- ral AlFembly of this church; yet, not only was he difmiflld with a flight cei^^ure, but the judicatures have never to this very day aflert- ed the aeity of the Son of God, in oppofition to the terms in which this important article of faith was fubverted by the faid Mr. Simfon *. — Likewife, tnough feveral dangerous errors, contairicd in fome books publifiied by Mr. Campbell, profeflbr of church-hiftory at St. Andrews, were taken under confideratIo;i by a Committee appoint- ed for that effcd ; and though the faid Mr. Campbell did maintain and defend his pernicious and dangerous prinfiples before the faid Committee; yet the General Aflembly lygi*), thought fit to ajfoilize him from the charge of error ; and to difmifs him without ariy cen- fire paifed againft him, though his dangerous fcheme of principles has a manlfeft tendency to fubverc and overthrow natural and re- vealed religion ; as is made evident in the Judicial Ail and Tejli- viony, publilhed by this Preihytery, to which they refer f. — As alfo, the lait General AfTembly, when feveral grofs propofitions were brought to their bar, which had been excerpted by the Prt-fbytery of Edinburgh, out of two fermons that Dr. Wilhart had preached; yet that AJfcmbly refufed to examine, whether the faid propofitior.s were contrary to our Confepon of Faith or not : but, inflead of this, they acquit the Dodfor, upon a declaration that he njade before them of his adherence unto the feveral articles of our Confejfion 'jf Faithy to which it was alledged the faid propoftions were contrary |. ~ By their above conduct, the prefeut judicatures of this church have involved themlelves in the heinous guilt and fm cf toliratin<^ the erroneous in minilttrial and Chriltian communion, and of /«/>- portir.y and couv.teuaKcif.g the many grofi and dangerous cirois venteJ by them. , Likewife, arbitrary lanvs and confitutiont have been enafied, vhereby minifterial ireedom is fupprclfed, and new and unwarrant- able terms of minifterial and Chrillian communion are impa'cd : Such vas llie act cf Alfemi)ly 1733, anent the minillers of the Prcfbyrrry of Dunfermline ; whereby cimrch members are debarred from foal- ing ordinances, if they receive them not at the hands of intruders; and minil'lers, by the fame ad, arc threatened with the highcU ceii- fures of the church, in cafe ihcy difpenfe lealing ordinances to any, in fuch congregations where intruders arc fettled, without w.irrai;t from the faid inirudtJ incumbents. — As alfo, in the ai5f and fculeuic p-ilfcd againfl the proLd\ing breiJiren by the faid Alicmbly, both a dodrinal andjudici.il 7cliiutony, .gainll the above-mentioned arul % « • Ste an fnurticration of Mr. Simfon's error, mentioned above, p. 54, 55, ;.• , antl mmc lully iu the Judicial Tcliunoay, p. 110, — 1 1 li. f Sec tiiflc cfindcl'ccndfd on above, p. $7. and more ful'y, p 118, — i>i- { ;cc ihi .^ppcnJii 1^ .1,- JuJi'iil Tt-flsmyriy, p. ify. The declinature. 217 iiks defeftions of this church, was condemned. And the prefenc judicatures of this church arc fo far from returning; to their duty, that thtf violence done to the heritage of God, through all the cor- ners of the land, is ftiil carried on ; as is evident from the conJucl of the judicatures thefe feveral years bypalh It Ihai! only be further obferved upon this head, Thit the fuprrmc judicatures of this church have carried on a cnurfe of defeftion frcin the Lord, ia oppofition to injiriulions from many Preltyteries and Synods : as alfo, notwithftanding of pstitions and rtprsfaitations cjiven in to feveral General A^Temblies from Provincial Synods; and from a confidcraWe number of minifters, elders, and Chrillians thro' the Jand. — As the above means, of petitions and rsprefentations to the General Aflembly of this church, were tried before a fecefllon from the prefent judicatures was declared and llated ; fo the neglecl and contempt that the General Afitmhly did caft upon the faid pe- titions and reprefcntaiions, was an evidence that they hated to be reformed. Wherefore, fince the judicatures of this natioml church, have been, thefe many years bypaft, aclive in carrying on a courfe of de- fedioa and backiliding from the Lord, by tolerating the erroneous; by refufing to condemn errors that have been taught and vented ; and to aflert the truth, in oppofition to the terms in which the faid errors have been vented; as alfo by enacting laws and conftitutions, contrary to the lavi-s of the King of Zion, whereby miniilerial freedom is fuppreffed, and new and unwarrantable tern)s of miniilerial and Chriltian communion are impofed, and whereby the heritage of God is oppre/Ted and broken : And fince the judicatures of this church, inlicad of acknowledging and mourning over the above and like de- fe(5tions and backflidings, juftify the fteps they have taken ; yea, libel and cite the feveral members of this Prelhytery to their bar for cen- fure, for no ether reafon, if their libel is duly confidered, but be- caufe the Lid miniflers endeavour to teftify, in their fphere and fta- tion, that their above-mentioned deeds are evil ; and all this, not- withftanding that the ordinary means have been ufed to reclaim them : Therefore this Prefbytery judge they are well warranted from the law and teftimony to declare. That the prefent judicatures of this national church are not laixjful nor right conjlitute courts of Chriji ; and therefore to decline all authority, power, and jurifdicti- on, that the faid judicatures may claim to themfelvcs over any of the members of this Prefbytery, or over any that have declared their adherence to their judicial Adt and Teairaony, HL Though the office-bearers of the houfe of God, in all their fpiritual fundions and adminiftrations, ought to walk only by the laws and llatutes of the Lord Jefus Chrift ; and though their eccle- fiaillcal courts are held in his name, who is Kin"; in Zion, and are fubordlnate to him alone : yet the prefent judicatures of this clmrch have fubordiniite themfelves unto the civil ponuers, in their ecclefia- Ilical meetings functions, and adrainidrations ; and thepefore this Pr-efDytery chtiuo: own therj :is free and lawful courts of CUiiil. 2i8 Th- DECLIN x\TURE. It is very much to be regreted, that the rights of the Redeemer's crown have never been a/Terted by the judicatures of this church, in oppofition to the manifold indignities done him, and the finful en- croachments made upon his fpiritual kingdom, by parliamentary ads and deeds ; and by unlawful oaths, bonds, and teds, during the late times of tyranny and perfecution : and we have reafon to ac- knowledge, that, as a ju.l punilliment of this our lin, the late acft of parliament anent Capt. John Porteous, appointed to be read from the pulpits of Scotland the firft Lord's day of every month, for the fpace of a year, is become a fad fnarc both to minifters and judica- tures. The mod part of the minillers of Scotland have read this ad, in one fhape or another ; and they have thereby fubjected them- felves, in the exercife of their fpiritual fundion, to the civil powers ; in regard they have, in obedience to their authority, delivered the doctrines and commandments of men, in (lead of the lively oracles of God, to the church afTembied together for the public worfliip and fcrvice of God ; whereby the Sabbath of the Lord has lx:en profan- ed, a wicked generation have been hardened, the facred office of the miniftry has been expofed, and the Lord's people (fumbled and wounded. — Likevvife, by their obedience to the toreiaid afl, they have direoHy confented to the parliament's taking the key of difci- pline into their own hands ; in regard, that by one of the penalties annexed to the faid aft, it is declared. That fuch as do not read the fame, ihail be incispable of fitting and voting in any ecclefiaftic:!l court : whereby the parliament take upon them to fufpend minifters of the gofpel from the exercife of a confidcrable part a:id branch of their minifterial work. As this is a great encroachment upon the kingdom of Chiil]:, and a finful ufurpation of his authority, who is the alone fnpreme Head, Lord, and Lawgiver to the church, his own Ipiritual kingdom ; fo tlie readers of this act have, in fo far o- penly and exprefly given vp wiih his alone hcadlhip and fuprcmaty over the Time. And though all the judicatures of this church, fu- j)remc and fubordinate, have ni-.t fincc the palliiig and reading of the faid ai5t ; yet the readers of it are not ccnfured ; neither is there any judicial Teltimony emitted by the faid judicatures againll the dllhonour that is done to the king of Zion, and the encroachment that is made on his fpiritual kingdom by this late -Jid of parliament. And, indeed, it cannot be expci.fed, that the prefent judicatures Hiould do othcrwife, when the molt part of the raiuilters in Scotland are involved in this grievous fm and fcandal. And in regard that it is fo, and that no judicial Tefllmony is c- jnitted by the prefent judicatures agaiult th<: forefaid :ii\ of j)arlia- nient, and the reading thereof; therefore this Prcfbytery cannot but look upon the whole body of this national church to be involved in the fm ; and that the judicatiucb thereof do now praL^tically declare, that they hold their meetings infubordinatioa to the civil powtrs, and i.ot to the king of Zion alone ; and that they have virtually and ma- terially given up with the alone headiliij) and fupremacy of the Lord j'.-lUi over' the church, his parchajcj kiu^dom : Therefore they can- The declinature. 219 not ovjn the prefent judicatures as free and lawful courts of the King of Zion. Upon the whole, in regard the prefent judicntures of this national church are conftitute of fuch members as have no right nor 'warrant from the Head of the church to fit in his courts, nor to rule and govern his flock; yea, conftitute of fuch members whozT^ fcattering the flock of Clirift, and ruling over them -wxih force and cruelty ; by vrhich, and the like pradices, they have given great fcandal and offence to the church of God : As alfo, in regard the f 'id judicatures are, and have been, for many years bypaft, in a judicative capacity, carrying on a courfe of defe^ion from our Reformation-principles, by proteding the erroneous, fupporling and countenancing error, im- poftng fmful and unlawful terms both of minifterial and Chriftian communion, and otherwife : and further, in regard the faid jndica- turcs have virtually and pradically given up with their holding of the King of Zion, in fo far as they have neither cenfured the readers of the late a(5l of piirliament anent Capt. John Porteous, nor given any judicial Teftiraony againft the indignities done to the Redeemer's crown by the faid aft. Therefore, and for all the above reafons, this Prefoytery judge it their duty to declare ; likeas hereby they Jin d and declare. That the prefent judicatures of this national church are not Iwvjful nor right conftitute courts of Chrift ; and therefore they did, and hereby do decline all authority, power, and jurifdlftion, which any of the faiJ judicatures may claim to themfelves over this Prefbytery, or any of the members thereof, as to their minifterial ofiice, conduft, or cha- racter ; or over any who have fubjefted themfelves to their Prefbyte- rial overfight or infpeftion. And particularly, for the grounds and reafons above-mentioned, they did, and her.eby do decline any power, authority, or jurifdiiftion, that this General AfTembly, now met at Edinburgh, ma)' affume to themfelves, of proceeding in a way of cenfure againft all or any of the members of this Prefbytery, for their fecefTion from the prefent judicatures, their Prefbyterial AfTociation, or the matters contained in the Judicial Aft and Teftimony, emitted by them, or any other matters whatfoever, relative to the faid feceflion, and the faid Teftimonyj and that in regard the prefent judicatures cannot be competent judges, in a Teflimony for the reformed and co- venanted principles of the church of Scotland, from which they have fo deeply fwerved, by fo many lamentable fteps of defeclion from the fame. — And further, for the above grounds and reafons, this Preftjytery did, and hereby do declare, That any act, fentence, or deed, that may be done, or pafled againft all, or any one of them, by any of the prefent judicatures, whereby their minifterial office, oi: the exercife thereof, or their paftoral office to their reipc«5tive congre- gations, may be aflFedled or prejudged, fhall be held and repute as null and void in itfelf ; and that it fliall be lawful and warrantable for them, notwithftanding of any fuch aft, fentence, or deed, to ex- ercile their rainiftry, in as full and ample a manner, as hitherto they have done ; and as if no fuch aft, fentence, or deed had been doi;e F f z 220 The declinature. or paft agiiinft them. — In like manner, they did, and hereby do de- clare, That notwithlianding of any a<5l, fentence, or deed, done or paft, to the pre'iudice of their pajtoral relation to their fevcral con- gregations, that the people of their refpedtive congregations fhall be held bound and obliged, according to the folemn engagements they came under, when the feveral brethren of this Prefbytery vere or- dained to the holy miniftry among them, ftill to own and acknow- ledge them, as their lawful and lent pafiors. — As alfo, That they Ihall be hound and oblige'! to hold and account any, whether mini- J}ers ov probationers, who, in conlequcnce of any ad, fentence, or deed, done or paft againft any of the members of this Prefbytery, ihall exercife any part of the minifterial work, in their refpeis defpifed truths ; and for the fake of the weary, broken, and fcattered heri- tage of God through the land ; as alfo, that they may be in r» capa- city to tranfmit a faithful teltiniony to fucceecii.ig generations, to tome out from the prefent judicatures, and from all inintf^erhtl co7H- viunion with them, as they would not be partakers in their lins, in regard, they are conflituce, as faid is, of fuch corrupt and fcanda- Jous members ; and arc, in their judicative capacity, carrying on a courfe of defedtion and backfliding. — And, for the other reafons and grounds above-mentioned, they alfo do, in the fame manner, intreat and befeech their faid worthy and dear brethren, that they would make ufe of the keys of government and difcipline committed unto them by the Head of the church, for the ends and purpofes for which they are given them ; that they would put to their hand to lift up the ftandard of a Judicial Teftimony for the born-down truths of God, and for purging and planting the houfe of God in Scotland, according to the word of God, and our Reformation- principles agreeable thereto, and after the example of our worthy progenitors in the year 163S ; believing that the fet time for favour- ing Zion, even the time that the Lord hath fet, will come. As for this PrePiytery, whatever the conduA of the judicatures towards them may be ; and however they may be born down, re- proached, and defpifed, they are perfuaded the caufe is the Lord's: and however weak and unworthy they are whom he hath fingled out in his adorable providence to put hand to a teftimony for him ; and whatever he may fee meet to do with them, they defire to reft in faith and hope, that the Lord v.'ili build up his Jerufalem, in Scotland, and gather his difperfed Ifrael into one. Eztradled by me, \Sigricd,'\ "William Hutton, Cls. THE Preftjytery proceeded to confidcr after what ?;.'i?7.'«i?r their above act fhould be given in to the General Affembly, now met at Edinburgh : and being informed, that the faid Alierabiy had this day determined to proceed upon a Lilcl formed agalnft the minifters of this Prefbytery ; and that, in order to this, the faid minifters fhould be called to their bar ; therefore, the Prefoytery unanimoufiy refolved, that when the minifters of this Prefoytery ihould be called in before the Affembly, they would go in before them as a covfiitut-; Prefoytery, and that their Moderator fliould read their above Aft in prefence of the faid A^ffembly ; and in cafe their Moderator was hin- dered to read the faid Ac'l, or ftopt in time of readin{ tedifying in the above manner, the pjceting of Picfbytery was concluded with thankfgiving and prayer. Extracted by , Wjll»a>: L'uttox, Clr. Prcs. ( "3 ) 'it' "ite" ',;*:' ifti' 'i*i" "i?i' Vi' 'i«ii' t»i' 'tfi 'i*i" 'ys' 'i'i' 'i'i' 'i'i,' 'ay' ft? ''itfiTif-i <•-« it' 'i&i' 'at' Vi Vi' ^' 'i^i' ACT of the General Aflembly of the Church of Scotland, concerning the MiniQcrs who Seceded from the faid Church. At Edinburgh, ths Nintesnth of May, One thotifand fsven hundred and thirty-nine Tears. TH E General Aflembly of thse church of Scotland, having confidercd the Libel drawn up by the ConimilTion of the lafl; Aflembly, and executed, in purfuance of an act of the Aflenably, againft Meflrs, Ebenezer Erskine, at Stirlingj William Wilson, at Perth; Alexander Moncrieff, at Abernetby; James Fisker, at Kinclaven ; Ralph Erskine, at Dunfermline ; Thomas Mair, at Orwei, Thomas Nairn, at Abbotfhail ; and James Thomson, at Burntilland, minil'ters : together with the appearance of the faid defenders before this Aflembly ; and that after the moderator, in name of the Aflembly, had fignified to them, ' That though they ' were called here to anfwer to a libel, the Afl^embly were very loth ' to be obliged to proceed upon it ; and that, if the faid defenders • would now Ihew a difpofition to return to the duty and obedience • they owe to the church, the Aflembly was ready to forgive all that « was part, and to receive them v.-ith open arms.' The faid de- fenders, inftead of accepting, or being thanicful for fuch lenity, produced, and offered to read as their anfwer, a Paper, intided, ASl of the Ajfociate Prsfbytery, finding, and declaring, that the prefcnt judicatures of this national church art; not lawful 7ior right conjiitute courts ofChrift; and declining all authority, ponuer, and jurifdiCiion, that the faid judicatures may claitn to tksmfelves over the faid Prejby- lery, or any of the meuihsrs thereof, or over any that are under their infpeSlion ; and particularly, declining the authority of a General Afemhly noiv met at Edinburgh, the \Qik of May 1 7 39. Upon which the Alfembly caufed the laid libel to be read ; and then permitted the faid defenders, by the laid Mr. Thomas Mair, who fpoke as the mouth of them ali, to read the laid paper, and thereafter to give in the fame ; to which all the defenders declared their adherence : whereupon they were ordered to withdraw, after being directed by the moderator to attend when they fhould be again called upon by the Aflembly ; and they having been this day again called, and noc compearing, the General AlTembly found, and hereby find the faid libel, rclevent to infer depofttion : and do find the fame alfo proven, in its moil material articl;.s, by the faid paper produced by them as aforefaid ; and particularly finds it, by the faid paper, proved,, ihjc the faid defenders, have feceued and leparated from this church, ani liave takeu upon them to affaciate themfclves into a Prcibytery j and. 224 . ACT ^/^ Assembly 1739, as fiich, have framed and publifhed, and do adhere to the pretended yY<7, Djtcluration, and 'Teftiniony, libelled : wherein they endeavour to a{Iio;n the grounds of their unrcafonable and irregular condud, and take upon them to condemn this church, and the judicatures liiereof, for their proceedings ; and to caft many groundlefs and ca- lumnious reflexions upon her and them. — And further, find, that the faid defenders, by the paper given in to this Affemhly have had the unparellcled boldnefs to appear before the highell judicatures of this church, to which they have vowed obedience ; and, inftead of anfwering for themfclves as panals, or defenders at the bar, pretended to appear as a feparate, independent, and conllitutc judicature, and to read and pronounce an acl of theirs, condemning this church, and the judicatures thereof, upon feveral groundlefs pretences, and to decline the authority of the lame ; and that they have further, in prefence of the AlTembly, by the faid paper, taken upon them to Ipeak in moll injurious, return ; — they hare altogether broken the yoke and hurjl the bonds : Wherefore a Hon out cf the forejls Jljall jlay tbcvi, and a nuolf of the evenings JJoall fpoil them ; a leopard fnall •watch over their cities ; every one that g'.eth out thence Jloall be torn in pieces ; hccaufe their tranfgrtjfions are 7uany, and their backjlidings are in- crcalcd. And confidcring what a deep hand all of us have in the provocation, have we not reafon to fear left the Lord be faying, both by his word and providence at this day, as it is, verfe 9. Shall I not vijit for thefe things F faith the Lord : andO?ail not viy foul be avsnged on fuch a nation as this ? REASONS B Y Mr. Ebenezer Erskine, Minifter at Stirling ; Mr. William Wilson, Minifter at Perth ; Mr. Alex. MoNCRiEFF, Minifter at Abernethy ; and Mr. James Fisher, Minifter at Kinclaven, WHY THEY HAVE NOT ACCEDED to the Judicatories O F T H E Established Church. Publifhed by the forefaid Ministers. THE CommiiTion of the General Aflcmbly, which met in November 1733, by their AQ. loofed the Seceding Miriijlers pajloral Relation to their refpeBive Parijhes ; and declared them to be no longer minijiers in this church. Upon intimation of this fentence to them, they entered a Pro- TfiSTATioN, bearing a Slcession from the Judicatories of this Church ; and declaring, that it fhould be lawful and warrantable for them to exercife both the keys of Dodrine and Difctpline, in an agreeablenefs to the word of God, and the received ftandards of the Church of Scotland. — The majority of the Members of the Affembly 1734, feemed to be of oppofite fentiments from fome preceding Affemblies and Commiffions, and to purfue other meafures : And accordingly empowered the Synod of Perth and Stir- ling, under certain limitations, to reftore the four minifters to their refpedivc mini/ierial charges ; and alfo paft an Aft concerning minijlerial freedom. This induced fome then to think, that the protefting minifters fliould have prefently acceded to the eflabliflied church. — The four alfociated Brethren, after mature and ferious deliberation upon the condud of the Affembly 1734, did not then think, that the Grounds of their Secession were removed, by any thing that either the AiTembly, or the Synod of Perth and Stirling, had done ; and therefore afligned the following Reasons, why they could not then acted to the Judicatories of :he national Church : Nor has the Judicatories, at any period ever fmce, taken fuch (Icps towards a Reformation of the evils juQly complained of, as could induce them to return into the bofom of the church ; but daily increafing the former warrantable Grounds of Seceflion, by a con- tinued courfe of defedion and backfliding. As thefe Reafons are now but in the hands of a few, and in a great meafurc unknown to the prcient generation, it was judged proper here to infert them entire ; though the proper place for doing fo, fell to be after the firjl Ttfli/tiony, had the Printer been timeoufly accjuainted with the dclign of re-printing them. ( «3i ) REASONS by the Protcfting Minifters, why they have not Acceded to the Judicatories of the ejiablijhed Church. 1"^ HE late General Aflembly having by their A<51:, May 14th, 1734. empowered the Synod of Perth and Stirling, under fuch limitations as are mentioned in the faid Aft, to rejiore Mr. Ebenezer Erskine, minifter at Stirling; Mr. William Wilson, minifter at Perth ; Mr. Alexander Moncrieff, mini- fter at Abernethy, and Mr. James Fisher, minifter at Kinclaven ; to their refpedtive minifterial charges : And the Synod, which met at Stirling, July 2d, clothed with this delegated power, having, in confequence of the Aftembly's Aft, taken off the fentences pro- nounced by the Commiffion of the General Aflembly 1753, ag^inft the forefaid four brethren ; it has therefore been the opinion of fe- verals, both Minifters and private Chriftians, That the faid four Brethren fhould have inftantly acceded to the judicatories of the eftabliftied church; in regard, it is judged, that the Grounds of their Seceflion were removed by the conduft of the laft Affembly ; and that a door was opened for their return to the jadicatories, by the Aft cf the Synod of Perth and Stirling in their favours : And, Once they have not taken the benefit of the faid Aft, there is no doubt but their conduft has been cenfured by many of their friends, as well as by thefe who have more keenly appeared againft them. In order therefore to fatisfy fuch who have the fame caufe and intereft with themfelves at heart, and to remove the exceptions of others, who are either more eafily impofed upon, by reafon of their ignorance of the prefent fttuation of affairs, or who through preju- dice may entertain harfh and unfavourable thoughts of their conduft, they thought it their duty to make public, at this junfture, the Rea- fons why they have not as yet had freedom to re-enter the judica- tories of the eftablilhed church, at the door which is opened by the Aft of the laft Aflembly, and the proceedings of the Synod of Perth and Stirling thereupon. That we may more diftinftiy aad clearly lay open our prefent cafe, we are laid under a neceffity of enquiring into the procedure of the laft Aflembly, who are fuppofed to have made fome confider- able fteps towrards a Reformation of the evils formerly complained of, and for removing of the grounds upon which our Secefion from the judicatories was laid : And as that Aflembly was compofed of a body of reverend and honourable members, many of them of a con- fiderable ftanding in the miniftry, and whom we regard as faithful labourers in the Lord's vineyard j fo it was matter of joy and refreth- ment, not only to us, but to many others through the land,* that a ftop was put to the unwarrantable and vio'ent proceedings of fome former Afr>;iuaUes and their CommitTions ; and )f the difficulties that 232 Reasons for not Acceding Jy in the way of our acceffion to the judicatories of the church are not removed, we do not impute it to the intentions and inclinations of many of the worthy members of the lad Aflcmbiy, but to the oppofition they met with from fome who had an adive hand in carry- ing on, or concurring with, the former courfe of defedion. But in I regard, it is not the ititcntions and inclinations of men that Avill be the evidences of the reformation of a church, but their public deeds and records, thefe being the only authentic documents that can be tranfmitted to pofterity of her fidelity and loyalty to the Lord Chrift, her only Head and Lawgiver, particularly in a day of trouble, back- fliding and treading down ; therefore, it is with regret, that we mult obferve the clofs connexion that there is betwixt the afts of the Jail AlTembly, and fome acts and proceedinj;? of the Aifembly 1733, and their CommilFion, upon which our SeceJJion was principally laid, and which appear to us to be deftruiftive of the rights and privileges of the members of this church, and to refleft dilhonour upon her glorious Head and King. We do not hereby intend to weaken the liands of our Brethren, wlio are endeavouring a Reformation, but to lay open before them the difficulties that yet remain with us, or the reafons of our declining hitherto to join in minilterial commu- nion with the judicatories of the eftablifhed church : and this we fliall do, after we have briefly narrated the manner how we came into that fituation wherein adorable providence has placed us. It is beyond all JIfpute, that Mr. Erfkine was ceufured firft by the Synod, and then by the General Afl'embly, for impugning fome aifts of Aflembly and proceedings of church-judicatories, in his fcrraon at the opening of the Synod of Perth and Stirling, as the act and fentence of the Airambly 1733, in that matter exprefly bears: and we have likewife made it evident, in fome former Prints which we have emitted, that the cenfure pad againit Mr. Erfkine was founded on his tellifying againft the aift of AHembly i 732, and the violent intruilons that were made upon Chrilfian congregations by the church-judicatories at that time ; and therefore, we judged it our duty to enter a Proteftation againft that decifion of the Aliombly 1733, as a manifeft reflraint of our minillerial freedom and faithfui- nefs, and plainly inhibiting, not only Mr. Erlkin?, but alfo all other minifters of this church, to tedify againit the arbitrary proceedings of church-judicatories, and tlie growing dcfedions of the day. This Protcdation w;is fo highly refcnted by that i^d'embly, that they or- dered their Commidion 10 fufpend, and to proceed to higher cenfure ajraind us, in cafe we lliould not profefs our furrow for off"cring the f-iid protcllHtinn to the AUcmbly, and retraft the fame ; which fentences were rigidly execute by the Comminion, who firlt fufpend- cd, and then loofed our relation to our rcfpe<5tive parilhes, and de- clared us no longer miniders of this church, i^pon which account, the patrons very feldom made ufe of their right, till their accepted prefentations got a favourable reception from the judica- tories of the church, the prevailing party finding no other method fo fuccefsful for getting men of loofe principles into the miniftry, vho would therefore at any rate be attached to their intereft. So that there was nothing to be feared from the civil magiftrate, who was not impofmg the act of patronage upon us, but allowed it to ly dormant even after it was received, till the prevailing party at that time 'wreathed it about the neck of this church, fome by accept- ing prefentations themfelves, and all of them by encouraging thefe that did fo. — From all which it is obvious, that the AlTembly 1734, might have fafely declared their principles upon this matter, even aliliough they refolved to addrefs the legiflative anent it ; and this beginning of a Reformation zthome, would have given a furer ground to expecl countenance to it from abroad. A third inftance of lordly and magifterial power exercifed over the flock of God, which we complain of, is the acl: of Aflembly 1733, concerning the Prefljytery of Dunfermline, whereby the minifters of that Prefljytery are difcharged, under pain of the highejl cenfure, to difpenfe fealing ordinances to any in the parifli of Kinrofs, without confent or permifllon of the prefent intruded incumbent. Now, from the tenor of this Act it is plain, that it contaIn3- flreets, without any fuitable Ticlli- mony unto it. We proceed now to confidcr the IV. Ground of our SecelTJon from the prevailing party at that lime, which was, « That they rejhi^ined minifterial Ireedom and « faithfulncfs, in teftifying againft the defedions and backflidings of • the times.' The reflraint which the Aflcmbly 1733, did put upon minifterial freedom and faithfulncfs in teftifying againft the evils and corruptions r)f our day, with the proceedings of the Coinmilhon thereupon, wa* that which gave the firft rife to our prclcnt Seccflion, bccaufe wc were thereby precluded Irom keeping up a proper Ttftimony a- • ainft the church-ruining courfes of the then prevailing party in a way ol minillerial communion with them. There are but two ways whereby a miniller can leftify againft the dcfci-Tions of a church ; either by giving faithful 'warning of them from the pulpit, or by proleflinii againft them in a judicattiry as he has acccfs, that thereby hi may iranfmit to pollerity a Tcllimony to the truths of Chrift a- • rainft the corruptions or defedions that may prevail in a church. Now, we were excluded fiom keeping up a Handing Tcftimony in cither of ihefc two methods ; When Mr. Ei^vine upon a very pro- per occallon tcflifcd from the pulpit agaiiill the ad of .'iiicUibly 1 7 1 :, to the Established Church. 241 and the violent proceedings of the church-judicatories at that time, he was fur tiiis cenfured by the AiFembly : And when we protijied againll that cenfure, beciufe we judged it a minifeft rejiraint upon our freedom and faithfulnefs as minifters, we were prefently threat- ned with fufpcnjion and higher cenfures, unlefs we retr^idl the fame ; altliough proceiling againlt a Protedant Council or AfTembly was no new thing, as we have fhown in fome former Prints. Now, eccle- fiallical tyr-inuy did appear to us to rife to a very great height, whan firji the very foundation of our church-conllicution was under- mined, and then, cenfures inflicted upon thefe who gave warning againlt the fame, which had a manifeft tendency to betray, hy filcKt treachery, the City of God into the hands of our enemies, and bring on inevitable ruin and deftrudion upon this church, before ever ihe fhould have tirhe to provide for her fafety. That this is a warrant- able Ground of Secefllon, the very nature of the thing bears : For, how can a man join in communion with a church, which obliges him x.oJilence in the pulpit, and to acquiefce in the judgment of the fupreme judicatory, however prejudicial to the eftablillied dodlrine, government, and difcipline of that church, without being allowed to give any Jianding Teftiviony againft it ? And becaufe this re- Jtraint of minijierial freedom is the firft and more immediate point upon which our Seceilion turned, therefore we will be obliged to enquire the more narrowly what the AlTembly 1734, have done to- wards the re'Hoval of the fame 3 in regard, it has been aflerted, That they have at leall tnaterially xiiz\x\ concerning the four Brethren. (2.) We lliall take a more particular view of the aft of AlTembly 1734 itfelf, appointing the Synod of Perth and Stirling, under the limitations therein fpe- cified, to rejlore the four brethren to minifterial communion with this church, together with the a6l and fentence of the Synod in con- fequcnce thereof. (3.) We Ihall confider the Aft of AlTembly 1734, concerning minijierial freedom, which is faid to be explicatory of the aft and fentence 1733. ^^ think ourfelves the more bound to make a particular enquiry into thefe tilings, both for a difcovery of the prefent (ituation of affairs in this church, and alfo to reprefen: unto our reverend Brethren the neceffity there is of repealing the- ads complained of, both for the fake of the public cauf, and for their own fafety in the faithful difcharge of their minillry. We begin then with the Firji of thefe, to enquire if the AlTembly I73.;j have cither for- mally ox materially repealed the aiSt and fentence of the Alfembly 1733, concerniag thu ^^ur Brctfiren, fo ih.it it cannot for ih: future milit^i-e I i 242 Reasons for not Acceding a^ainfl them, or any other minirtcr of this church in the faithful dilcharge ci his duty. That the above aft and fentence of the Afiembly I735» was for- *i}:ally o\' e-icprefiy vt^fsXtA by the AiicmMy 1754» none will readily ailert : Yet, confidering that this aft: aud fentence of Afl'.'inbly 17^3, con'iplpiiiied of, had an evident tendency to hury the reformation- principle of private judgment^ in examining all church-decifions by the rule of the word ; confidering that they thereby endeavoured to render quite ineffeflual the duty and liberty of minirters, as faith- ful watchmen, to give nuarnivg of approaching danger to the city of God, by appointing fufpenfion and higher cenfurts to pafs upon in many of them for witnelling for the injured intereft of Chrift, and againft them, and thereby excluding thefe minillcrs from any further accefs to contend, in a way of communion, againft the defeftions tiiat prevailed among them : We fay, fines the above aft and fen- tence of the Afl'embly 1733, did fo manifellly lift up an authority lutrely huviayi above, and in oppofition to, the authority of th: King of Zion, wjiereby it bears fuch aa o;)sn and explicit affront of the c;lorions Head of the chiirch, it certainly deferved to have been as explicitly condemned by ihe x^flembly 1734. But we add further. That this hr/id ikruft aimed by the faid Aft I 733' ^g^'fift the crown and dignity of the King of Zion, the only Lawgiver to his church, is not fo much as jnaler'uilly condemned, or any way invalidated by the aft of AlTembly 1734, concerning the four Brethren, fo as that it cannot afterwards affeft them, or any other minifterin this church, who Ihall teltify againft the dcfefiions f)f the times. But, liefore we enter upon this, it will be ueccir.iry 10 infert the Aft itfclf, the tenor whereof follows. At Edinburgh, May i/ih, 1734. « r I ^ H F. General AtVembly coiifidcring the great Inirt and pre- < JL judice that hath at all times arif;.n, ; their legality or formality. For, though it might be alledgcd, that a fynod cannot regularly judge of, approve, or cundenin an ad of II 2 244 Reasons y2)r r,ot Acceding Aflcmbly, fuch as the adl 1733 certainly is ; yet no reafonable ob- je<5tion can he made, why the Aflembly 1754, could not have judg- ed of the leg:ility and f'ormaliry of the aft of the former Aflembly, and of the piocecdings of the judicatories thereupon ; and then in That cafe there would 'have been a clear ground for the fynod to have judged and declared, Th^t the aft 17;;, and the proceedings of the judicatories in confequence of it, had been found illegal and jjif'jrmal by the Afi'embly 173^. But, fince the fynod is h'Aind upt by the Aifembly I7;4, from judging the faid proceedings of the ju- dicatories to be either illegal or informal, it is certain that the Af- fembly have thereby declared. That, notv^ithftanding of what they have enafted with refpeft to that affair, the proceedings of the chnrch-judiratories thereancnt, may ftill in themfelvesbc both legal and formal : For it cannot be well underllood, if we fliould fnppofe that the AiFemhly 1734, Ihould have any way affeTtcd the legality of thefc fentences by their own aft, and yet have difcharged the fynod, their own delegates in this matter, to tell the world that they havs done fo ; cfpecialiy w'hen this was an afFair committed in a Ipccial manner to their management. %. The fynod are ordered to proceed in the cafe of the four brethren, as they (hall find mo^ jnjlifiable and expedient for preferv- ing the authority ot this church : Now, it is certain that the autho- rity of this church was no further concerned in this matter, but as it is fuppofed to be nveakened by the four brethren their refufing to pay a due regard to the aft 1733, and the proceedings of the church judicatories thereupon, which is the main thing in the prefent que- fiion ; and they contend, that no rrfpeci ought to be paid to eccle- fi;4flical authority, when lifted up in oppofition to the unerring rule cf t he- ^'ord, as it wary evidently done by the AfTcmbly 1733. But hovever, fince the Aff^mbly 1734, have fo flriftly recommended it to the fynod, that they take care to pre/erve the authority of the church, with refpeft to the aft 1753, and the proceedings of the judicatories thereupon, it is plain that they have not annulled and made void thefe proceedings. 4. The AlTembly 1734, exprefly declare, That the ground and reafon they proceeded upon, in impowering the fynod of Perth, as above, was the confideration of the lamentable confequences that have followed, and may yet follow upon ihe frparation (as they are pieafcd to term it) of the four brethren : From which it is obvious. That, for any thing the Affembly 1734. have aftcd in this matter, the aft of Aifembly 1733. may be a rule in a way of precedent, for profecuting the members of the church before her judicatories, unlefs the judicatories may rcafonably apprehend, that the fame lamentable confe(|uences may again follow upon the faid profccution, /. e. unlefs there lliall be four brethren reputed yc-c/V criv/i/iis, who may happen at the fame time, and by the fame judicatories, to he fufpcnded, and dcclavcd f>o more viinijiers of this church ; and v.-ho may, iipon grounds they think jnll, make a SeceJJion from the prevailing corrui)t jiirty of the edalilillied church, and upon that fooling conftitute tlicmfclves into a Prcfjyle'-y, for llic relief o.'" the njiprclicd heritage z^* /^i? Est ABLisH E D Church. 245* of God through the land, as well as for the regular exercife of dlf- cipiine in their own congregations, and who fhall proceed as above, at fuch a time and feafon, when there is as much zeal remaining for our conllitutioii among ruling elders and the people of God in the land, as makes it probable that a I'ecefllon of that kind may be of fome ufe to Aipport a conllitution otherwife keenly run down and almofl fubverted : We fay, it is plain that it was upon the confide- ration of the (fuppofed) lamentable confequences that followed, or might follow upon the fentences of the judicatories, that the Aflem- bly 1734- iinpowered the fynod in the manner they did, and noc upon the confideration of i\\t fnifulnefs and itijujlice of the ads and fentences pad by them. From which it certainly follows, that the ads and fentences themfelves are not condemned, but muft, in the nature of the thing be conftrudted to be legal, forjnal, and valid ftill, and oi fiifficient force and authority, when imitated as laix:fiil prece- dents by other judicatories, to lay open all the minifters of this church to be profecuted, if they fhall ufe their minifterial freedom, as the four brethren have done, in teRlfying againft the defetftions of this church ; whereby a wide door is as yet open to the corrupt party, who are flill abundantly numerous in this church, to intimi- date others into ■\finful ftlence in the public caufe, and to give them an opportunity to hury a covenanted work of reformation, and to fupprefs efFedually all who teftify for it. So that, upon the whole, it plainly aopears, That the above ad of the AlTembly I7;4, has not repcalecPnor annulled the ad of AfTembly 1735, concerning the four brethren ; and therefore it remains an a6l and rule of this church ftill, fo far as an a^ in a particular cafe is a rule in a way of prece- dent in cafes of the like nature. In a word, How can it be reafon- ably aliedged, that the fmfulnefs of the ad 1733 is removed, when it is not fo much as once acknov;ledged, to the glory of God, that there is one wrong thing in it ? And how can it be faid to be in any fhape repealed, when the Airembly 1734, exprefly declare that they will not fo much as enter upon the confideration of if, and alfo dif- charge the fynod to judge it either informal or illegal ? It is true, the All'embly 1734. have impowered the fynod, under fuch and fuch reftridions, to unite the four brethren to communion with this church, and to their refpedive charges ; and the fynod have accord- ingly reftored them in terms of the Aflembly's ad : But then it mud be obferved, that, according to this ad of the Affembly 1734, the brethren are to be united to the communion of the church, without any judgment pafied by the Alfembly themfelves, or the fynod their delegates, as to the legality and formality of the ads and fentences paft againft them. Now, iince the fentences of any judicatory, ef- pecially the fupreme, are to be efteemed legal ^nd f'.rmal, till they are revievjetl by a court that has power and authority for that effed ; it follows, that the brethren, when refiored to the communion ot this church, muft be in a very ftrange and unhesrd-of fituation, namely, They are dc faEio, or fome way or other, minifters of this church, and at the fame time de jure they are net minifters of this church, nor have any relation to their minifterial charges, be- 2^6 Reasons yi»r not Acceding caufe the aifts and fentences paft againft them are boih legal and formaly and muft remain fo till another AfTembly (who are the only proper judges in this affair) ftiall think fit to reverfe and annul them. We proceed now, II. To make fome further obferves upon the a(5t of Aflembly 1734, concerning the four brethren, and the aft and feutence of the fynod of Perth and Stirling, which is founded thereon ; and it is not our defign hereby to refled upon the Aflerably 1734, but to fhew the ne- ceffity of reviewing the ads of AfTcmbly 1733, both concerning fome minifters in the Prefbytery of Dunfermline, and alfo concerning the four brethren, fince there is as yet no (landing Teflimony againft the dijljonour we apprehend is done to the only Lord and Lawgiver of the church by ihefe afts. If then the act of Aflembly 1734, con- cerning the four brethren be narrowly viewed, the following Cofi' clufions will appear to be abundantly obvious : 1. The ad of Aflembly 1734, as it is laid, plainly afTerts, ' That there is an unanimity in fentiments among the members of ' this church, upon 7Jiaterial and fundamental points, which more * nearly concern the promoting the intereft of our bleffed Lord and ♦ Saviour.' This gives a very favourable, but at the fame time not fuch a fair view to pofterity, of the prefent fituation of affairs in this church : For, upon the reading of thefe words, one would be ready to imagine, that the differences that were at this time among the members of the church, were only about trijling^nd fmaller matters, and confequently the authors of them juftly to be reputed fchifmalics ; whereas it is well known, that the fubjed, not only of our prefent Tejiimony, but alfo of many petitions and rcprefentations from feveral Synod's and Prefbyteries (quite difregarded by former Ademblies) was — againfl; opprefing the heritage of God, by obtruding hirelings upon it, and then excommunicating fuch from Tea ling or- dinances, as had not freedom to fubmit to the miniftry of thefe in- truders : — againd luk^ivarmncfs in the caufe of tnith, and defefl of zeal for the glory and honour of the Son of God, boldly attacked by a hlafphemer : — againft itivndi/yy the rights of radical judicatories, by appointing Committees to lord it over Prefbyteries and the people of God through the land ; — and laftly, againft ojTuining a legifativt poiver over the hcufe of God, by ciiading laws that did not bear the leaft ftamp of the authority of the great Lord and Lawgiver of the houfe, and lifting up their hum;in dccifions fo far above the exami- nation of the word, that whoever lliouKi v/itnefs againft them, was prefently to become obnoxious to their cenfures ; whereby there was a manifeft reftraint laid upon minifterial freedom and faithfulnefs in in teftifying againft the dcfcdions of ihe times. — Now, thefe are the points which are the fuhjcd ol" our prefent dilfercnces ; and we lcav« it to the impartial world to jiidj^e, whether they :irc not material, and fuch points as aft'^d the very founJjd-^n of our church-govern- ment and cnnilitiitlon, and conicqiiently very nearly concern the intercd: of our blelTcd Lord and S.ivioiir. 2. Since the act of Aifcmhly fuppofes that there is an unanimity to the Established Church. 247 in fentences among the members of this church, upon material and fundamental points which more nearly concern the eftablifhing the peace of the church, then ic plainly follows. That the dhijiom and an'tvioftties (which, the ad fays, have crept in and taken place among the members thereof) mull certainly be owing to the four brethren, and fome other minilters who have given open and public Teftimony againft the defe, and tending inoit • forcditication for the future ; and alfo cor.fid-jring the applications * that have been made, and Petitions and Addre^Tes to this Synod ♦ from Towns and Parilhcs concerned, in behalf of lliefe IJrcihren ; • and remcmbrins^ how warmly the ElJer<; in manv PavilliCb of this /£? /^^ Est ABLisHED Ckurc H. 249 Province did addrefs their refpeiflive Prcfbyteries in their favours, before the lad A/Tcmhly; and, after lont^ and ferious deliberation, and reafoning upon the whole cafe of the laid four Brethren, as it now ftands ; they are of opinion, that reftoring and uniting theno to minilterial communion with this church, to their refpciflive charges, and to the judicatories to which they belong, and the free exercife of their miniflerial funition therein, by a folemn aft and judicial deed of the General Affembly of this church, whole power and authority, as to this matter, is by the fore-mentioned aft delegated to this Synod, will very much tend to reftore the peace, and preferve the juft auttcOrity of this church, in the exercife of ail its righteous privileges and minifterial funftions, and to promote the edification of the members of the body of Chrifl; : Therefore this Synod, by virtue of the forefaid delegate power and authority, and in Name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, did, and hereby do, with one voice and confent, take off the fentences pro- nounced by the Commiflion of the General Aflembly 1733, againd the forefaid four Brethren, Matters Ebenezer Erikine, William Wilfon, Alexander MoncriefF, and James Fiflier, declaring the fame of no force or effeft for the future ; unite and reftore them to minifterial communion with this church, to their feveral charges, and to the exercife of all parts of the minifterial funftion therein, as J'ully and freely as there never had been aft, fentence, obftaclc, or impediment whatfoever in the way thereof in time part ; all which are hereby declared fopite, and fet afide for the future : And the Synod do recommend to thefe four reverend Brethren, to carry towards the Lord's fervants their Brethren, minifters of this church, and their refpeftive flocks and charges, as minifters of Chrift and his gofpei ought to do, in all time coming; and they do in the like manner, recommend it to the refpeftive Prefby- teries of Perth, Stirling, and Dunkeld, to receive them as mem- bers of their refpeftive Prefbyteries, and behave towards them as minifters of Chrift in this church ; and do enjoin, not only the minifters of the fard Prefbyteries, but alfo of all other Prefbyteries in their bounds, and the faid four Brethren, fo to demean them- felves toward each other, as may anfwer the obligations they came under by their ordination-vows in the Lord : And the Synod take this opportunity to warn all the people in this Province to beware of every thing that may have a tendency to obftruft the good ends of this Aft, and what the late General AlTembly had fo much ac heart, viz. the peace and union of this church, by doing what may encourage divifion, or weaken the hands of the Lord's fer- vants fet over them : And further, the Synod appoint the names of the faid four brethren to be immediately Inrolled in the rolls of this Synod, and that Mr. Hamilton read this Aft from the pulpit of Stirling, Mr. Black from the pulpit of Perth, Mr. Meek from the pulpit cf Abernethy, and Mr. Gow from the pulpit of Kin- claven, on fdme Lord's day betwixt and the firft of Augnft ; and the faid Synod recommend it to Mr. Hamilton to acquaint Mr. Erflciue, Kk 250 Reasons y^r not Acceding ' Mr. M'Intofli to acquaint Mr. Wilfon, Mr. Pilmar to acquaint ' Mr. MoncrielF, and Mr. Gow to acquaint Mr. Fifher, of this aft * and lentence with their firft conyenience. And finally, they ap- ' point this Act to be infcrt in all the Prefbytery-books within this ' Province ; and they live it to every miniller to nominate the fame * to their congregations as they fee caufe. Extraded, 6r.' Now, fince the above Aft is fuppnfed to conclude the affair con- cerning the four Brethren, we crave leave, with ail due deference to our reverend Brethren who met at. that time, to remark, That as their Aft is framed upon the model of the above Aft of AlTembly 1734, as indeed it could not well overwife be ; fo they lay the four Brethren under a greater reftraint, than the Aflembly 1734, their conftituents by their Aft obliged them to, when they recommend it to the four Brethren, * To carry towards the Lord's fervants their * Brethren, minifters of this church, and their refpeftive flocks and * charges,^ as minifters of Chrift and his gofpel ought to do, in all * lime coming :' /. e. That they refrain from adminiftrating fealing ordinances to any of the Lord's people, who even happen to refide in congregations who have h.jd hirelings obtruded upon them. For, although the words of the Aft be general, refpefting all fuch as arc reputed minifters of this church ; yet, fince our Teftimony is mainly levelled againft the corrupt party in the judicatories of the church who are carrying on a courfe of defcftion, and particularly againft fufh as have intruded themfeives upon diffl-nting and reclaiming congregations, feverals whereof arc within the bounds of this Synod; therefore ibis fpecial recommendation given to the four Brethren, muft have an afpeft chiefly to thofe : Other wife it was to no purpofe, to recommend it fo particularly to them to carry in a brotherly manner towards the Lord's faithful and fent fervants, when they have fo publicly declared, that they have not made a Seccffion from them, but arc willing to maintain minifttri;'.! comnurnion with them. And that this is the true meaning, will nppear further, from the folcmn warning that they give i:nto al! the people in this Province, even to the people of Muckhart, or. • To beware of every i.jing * that miy encourage divifion from, or weaken the hands of the * Lord's fervants fet over thcni ;' that is. That they fubmit to the miniftry even of fuch intruders, and take fealing ordinances from their hands. So that the Synod have proceeded a ftcp further than the Alfcmbly 173.) have done; and if this Aft of theirs fhali come to be infcrtcd among the records of the Alfembly 17 ij, it will be interpreted as corroborative of the aft of Aflembly 17;", concerning fomc minifters in the Prefbytcry of Dunlfjrmline, which virtually ex- communicates all the Lord's people through the land, who cannot fubmit to the miniftry cf iulruJcrs. — "\\'c do not lay tint ouivrevcrend Brethren, who were the framcrs of this ;ift, had any furh dcfigu ; but it is plain, that the ;ift is \o luid, as that the corrupt party, if ever they have opportunity, mav m.tkc a handle of it to ccnfure thofe who adminiftcr fealing ordinances to the Lord's opprcH'cd ^:coplc in this churcli. /(? /i(r E S T A B L I S H E D C PI U R C H. 25 F III. We proceed now to confider the AS. of AfTembly 1734, con- cerning minilterial freedom, which is faid to be explicatory of the aft and fentence 1733. '^^^ tenor of this Aft, is as follows : At Edinburgh, May 14th, 1734. ' T^ H E General AfTembly of the Church of Scotland, con- * X fidering, That forne are under apprehenfions, that by the * Aftof Aflembiy 1733, anent Mr. Eiilcine, <&c. miniflers of this * church, are laid under greater reftraints as to minifterial freedom, * than they were by the rules of this church before the faid Aft was ' paft ; therefore they do, for the fatisfaftion of all, hereby declare, ' That due and regular minifterial freedom is ftill left entire to all ' miniflers ; and that the fame rvas fiot, nor Ihall be held or under- ' ftood to be anywife impaired or reftrained by the late AfTembly's ' decifion in that particular procefs.' What the Aflembiy means by due and regular niinijlerial freedom^ they have not told us ; but if wc compare this, and the other aft of the fame date, with the aft and fentence of AfTembly 1733, ^^^ will eafily find, that the freedom uled by Mr. Erfkine in the pulpit of Perth, in tellifying againfl the aft of AfTembly 1732, and the violent proceedings of the church-judicatories at that time; and the freedom which the four Brethren ufed in protelling for the faithful exercife of their miniftry, and againft all rcftraints upon the fame, was not due and regular minifterial freedom. This is far from a firained confequence, the words of the Aft itfelf exprefly bear fo much ; for it fays, That due and regular minifterial freedom ^vjas not anywife impaired or reftrained by the decifion of the AfTembly 1733, in this particular procefs. Now, upon the firfl reading of the faid aft and fentence 1733, thefe two fafts v.'ill be obvious; /"/r/?, That Mr. Erikine was rebuked at the bar of that AiTembly, for teftifying againft fomeafts of AfTembly and proceedings of church- judicatories ; and then, that the CommifTion was appointed to fuf- pend and inflift higher cenfures upon all the four Brethren, for protelling agaiaft the above decifion of the AfTembly, unlets they Ihould retraft the fame. From whence it is plain, that the faith- fulnefs which Mr. Erfkine ufed in preaching againll the defeftions of the times, was de faCio impaired ; for he was'rebuked : And it • is as plain, that the liberty we all four ufed, in protelling againfl a bad decifion of an Aflembiy, was alfo reftrained ; for the fentences •which were afterwards infiifted by the CommilTion, were presently threatned by the AfTembly; there being no other reafon condefc^-nded upon for thefe fcvere cenfures, but fimply our offering to poteft againft the Alfembly. And therefore, fince, according to the words of this Aft, due and regular minifterial freedom was not reftritined by the fentence of AfTembly 1733, it plainly follows, that the above- mentioned freedom which we have ufed, is not due and regular mi- tcrial freedom ; for it was manifeftly reftrained, as we Jiave juft K k 2 252 Reasons for not Acceding now made appear : So that this a5l of AfTembjy, or proceedings of church- judicatories, and providing they do not proteft againft an Affembly, even though they fhould proceed to inflidl cenfures on their Brethren lor fuch a teftimony. This is the amount of what feme call the e-xplicalory Act ; and however others may think there is fomething i'ati&fying in it, yet it cannot (as it is framed) give f;itisfa(5tion to the four Brethren, or any who are of the fame fentiments with them, anent the duty of minilters, from the word of God, their ordination- vows, and onr covenants national and folemn league, to o/po/e •with zeal and refolution, all itwovaiions and exorbitant heights oi church- fonuer which tend 10 fahvert and overturn our valuable church-con- llitution. From what we have faid concerning thefe two aftsof Aflembly 1734, it evidently appears, that there is a manifeit conne(flion between them and the aft and fentence of the Affembiy 1733, concerning the four Erethren : and if the a6l of the Synod of Perth and Stirling fhould happen to be infert among the records of Aflembly 1735, then there will be the afls of three feveral AlTemblies running, all retraining the freedom and liberty of minifters in leftifying againft afts of Aflem- bly however iniquitous, and the proceedings of church-judicatories, however arbitrary and tyrannical ; and aUo condemning their right to proteft againft an Aflembly upon any occafion whatfoever, even when inflidting their cenfures for no other reafcn butteftifying againft their defedlions. — From all which it appears, how necefl'ary it is, that the church, by a judicial deed, give a ftatnling tejlimony againft the manifeft incroachment made upon miniltcrial freedom by the Aifcmbly 1733, and nowife difapproven by the Aflembly 1734; in regard, that nothing Icfs than an exf^licit and fnruial repeal of an iniquitous ftatute is necefl'ary for the reparation of the diflionour done to the. glorious Head of the church by enacting of it. Thus we have confidered the Grounds of our Sccejficn from that party in the church, who appeared to us to have a very adive hand in piirfuing fuch nieafures as muft, in the ilfue, h ive landed in the fubverfion and ruin of the whole of our covenanted Reformation ; as alfo what the laft General Aflembly have done ior removing the Grounds upon which our Seceflion w.is laid. And, from what is above reprefented, every one m.;ri/c'^ the taking it, (among whom were MeiFrs. Ebenezer and Ralph Erfkines, Fifher, and others,) contended, that in regard it was the true, the divine religion itself, profc/led and authorifed in Scotland, that was Iworn to in the oath, and not the faulty manner of profefllng and fettling IT ; and confequently lawful and confiftent for Seceders to Iwear the oalh ; becaufc, though they had ftated a quarrel with the inanner, in which the true religion is prefently profcfFed and fettled, and had teflified againd the corruptions in both church and ftate ; vet they were fo far from Hating any quarrel with the true reli- ^io7i iffelf, profefled and authorifed in the realm, that they had but lately declared judicially, « The religion prefently authorifed to be * their 6at«, folemnly thanking God, that our Religion has fuch ' Security hy the present civil governtnent, as no nation on earth * enjoys the like.'' * The CoNDEMNERS of the claufe, "^s Jtnful, no lefs warmly con- tended. That this oath being adniinillratcd by thefc of the ellablilh- cd church, ought to be underllood in the fcnfe of the magiftrates, for whofe fecurity it is given ; and the true religion mentioned- ia it to be underflood, as reduplicating upon every \\&. of parlia- ment or nfTcmbly inconfilfent with the law of God ; and as including all the corrupiions of both church and fiate : and fo natively infer- red. That the fwearing if the difputcd claufe, imported a folemn renunciation and dropping of the whole of their Tellimony. — They contended, that the words true religion, prefently profjfcd and au- thorifed, in a time of reformation, would reduplic ite only upon good y\at/> been, and now //, profefled by Seceders in their y^tfl and Tejlhnony ; and that tht prefent profeffi- on ot religion ought not to be confounded with the ancietit fsttlcmetit thereof: for, no deviation or defedtion, either in principle or prac- tice, in profefjing the true religion, could be couched in the bofom of that religious claufe, feeing it only refpecfled the true religion it- self, formerly ratified on its ancient bafis. — And further, it was affirmed, That our Teftimony was never lifted up againft the true religion profejfed and authorifed by the laws of the land, or againft the Revolution fettlement thereof, but againft their ojuijjions ; and therefere gave it the epithets of happy and glorious Revolution, and our beautiful, valuable, and excellent Preft)yterian conftitution : nor againft the profejfton of religioJi, or th.Q found praClice of the prefent judicatories ; but againft their defections and corruptions, and abufe of x.\\z\v profejj'ed principles, by a courfe of backfiding. After no fmall warm difputing, the Defenders of the claufe as lawful, for the fake of peace, offered to condefcend to an act dif- charging Seceders to fwear this claufe of the oath, as inexpedient for them in the prefent circumftances, viz. of ftrife and contention. This pacific propof^l the Antiburghers entirely reje6ted. Nothing would pleafe them, but an ad, declaring the prefent fwearing of it, by Seceders, to be finful, and inconfiftent with their teftimony and covenant-bond. — In a meeting of fynod, April 9th 1746, they car- ried a decifton to their mind. A number of the Burgher minifters and elders protefted againft it ; and foon after gave in their reafons, importing, that it was finful in itfelf, contrary to Chriftian forbear- ance, tending to rent the church, ena(fted contrary to the_ order pre- fcribed in the barrier afts, and carried by a catch when many mem- bers were abfent. — The Antiburghers, contrary to order, neglefted to have their anfwers to thefe reafons ready againft next meeting of iynod ; and fome of them, in the mean time, publicly debarred irom the Lord's table, fuch as maintained the lawfulnefs of the burgefs-oath. Though th.t finful nefs of the religious claufe was condemned by a fmall majority of a thin meeting, at the conclufion of the Synod in April 1746. ; yet the full Synod which met in April 1747. propofed, * Whether the decifion concerning the religious claufe in fome bur- ' gcfs oaths, in April 1746. fliould now or afterwards, be made a ' term ot minilterial and Chriftian communion, ay and until the mak- * ing the fame to be fo, fli:ill be referred, by way of overture, unto * Prefljyteries and Kirk-feffions, in order to their giving their opinion « thereunent, ?3(^. or not .'' This vote being carried in the //^^^rv/'/z'^, 32 againft 22, the party conJeinning tlie religions claufe as finful, iinmediaceiy withdrew theaiCelves Irom the fynod, hnvfully cnnflitutc, leaving beiiind them the moderator and clerk ; and next day conftitlite 262 INTRODUCTION. themfelves upon a new foiiodation, fuddenly calling themfelves the Syn'jd, and the only Synod ; and ena^ed, * That all Prefbyleries, * Kirk-fefiioiis, and Communities in the Airociatiou, were fubjeft to ?j.them; and that all Courts, whether Prelbytcries or Scffioas, that ' were not lubordinatc to th;m, were unlanvful Courts ; and that all * Minifters and Elders, who were not fubje^ to them, had loji the * kfys of the kingdom of heaven :'' and thus miitviiWy fuf pending and exauBorating all Minifters and Elders from their facred offices, who could not yield fubjedion to their authority. But this was not all ; they were even fiirther moft unjuftly accuf- ed : and accordingly, in what they called their ASJs and Proceed- ings, they foumi and declared, in the abfcnce oif their Brethren, ' That they had dropt and turned their backs on the nuhols of the * Lord's caufe, and renounced and abjured the lu/^s/*? 'y/"/^f /ir^/;«o«)' ; * and that all courts, that were not fubordinate to them, were un- ' Iwwful courts ; and that all minifters and elders have fallen from * all right and title to any prefent aftual exercife of the keys of the ' kingdom of heaven, committed by the Lord Jefus, to the office- * beard's of his houfe ; and confcquently, are not to be acknow- * ledged, as viiniflcrs cfCkrifl, by any that are cleaviug to the Lord's ' caufc and teftitnony.' — All this, not only in the abfcnce of their Brethren, but before they were libelled, or fo much as called before ibem. It was this fingularly-extravagant, irregular, and unprecedented conduft of the feparating Brethren, and the direful confequences that foon attended ir, which gave rife to the follov/ing Act, unhinging the Foundation of their rte-iu and unwarrantable confiitution, and Jcilaring the Nullity of all ihz'w pretended ]\\(i\cvA\ procedure. This unhappy rupture was, however, followed with a train of the moft mournful eiTecls. — Profefl'ors, who ufed to take fweet coun- ftl together in going to the houfe of God, were much ftumbled and divided in their fentiments ; and the greateft alienation of heart and alTcftion look place. The moft intimate familiarity among friends was interrupted. The endearing friendfhip and mutual cordiality which had long fubfillcd in families, between hufbands and wives, parents and children, was, in many inftances, broken by it. Mini- fters of the glorious gofpel were divided; congregations were torn to pieces ; the hearts of the godly were grieved ; the generation hardened ; and the mouths of the irreligious and profane opened. The AHociate Synod conduiflcd themfelves with a degree of mo- deration that did them much honour. They once and again folicit- cd their feparating brethren to an extra-judicial meeting, ior prayer and conference, in order to -.K'juft their unhappy dilTerences, and regain harmony in the caufc of truth : but this neceftary duty and Jc.ifonabic propofal was never complied with. — They never proceed- ed to inHid liny cenfure upon their feparating Brethren, for their ir- regular conduct ; judging it would anfwcr no valuable end, nor tend to general edification. As the feparating Brethren did not f.uisfy themfelves with fimply withdrawing from the regular conRituicJ court, of which they were I 1^ T R O D U C T I O N. 263 members, and throwing out fuch a number of ihe mofl cruel invec- tives, that an over-heated imagination lould invent ; but even pro- ceeded, in procefs of time, to the mod extravagant heights, in no- ftituting tJie cenfures of the church, by pretending to depole and ex- communicate their Brethren with the highell cenfures : So, any 'vho incline to be more fully informed, with relation to this unhappy con- troverfy, may confult the different Tracls which have beea wrote on the fubjed. * Scarce did ever a fpirit of calumny and reproach more prf^vail than upon this occafion : if we confult their Adts and Proceedmgs, and other performances, we will find, that apoJ}at:s and backjVuerf from the hordes ivays ; fallen Jlars ; departers from, betrayers and huriers of the luhole tefiimony of the day ; oppofers of the caiife of Chrifi; left their Bibles behind thern; begun to go hack to Egypt, with fuch like appellations, were the ufuai epithets given to their Brethren at this time : and for no other reafon, but becaufe they affirmed the lawfulnefs of fwearing the religious claufe of the burgefs oath, which binds to maintain that divine thing and precious treaftire, the true Religion, prefently profeHed and authorifed by the laws of the land, and which our (landing laws term the true religion, God's true religion, Chrifi^s true religion, God's eternal truth, contained in the 'word of God, expreffed in fuch and fuch Confejfions ofFaithy and fwora alfo to in our National Covenant. Upon the whole ; this was, however, a very fruitlefs difpute, did much injury to the interefts of real religion, by alienating the affedions of profefTors from one another ; and could, by no means, fupport the huge fabric the Antiburgher party reared upon it : a parallel to which, in all its circumftances, cannot be found in all the annals and records of the church. • Sec a Review of a Pamphlet, intitlcd, A fctious inquiry into the Burgefs oaths, of Edinburgh, Perth, and Glafgow, *— The Lawfulnefs of the religious claufe of fome Burgefs oaths alTcrted. — The true State of the Queftion, upon which a breach followed in the Afibciate Synod, at Edinburgh, Thurfday April 9th, 1747. — A Narrative of the feparation of the majority of the Members of the Affociatc Prcfbytery of Dunfermline, at Perth, iVIay jth 1747. — Fancy no Faith; or, a ftafonabie admonition and warning to Seccders, againft the finful conftltu- tion of fome Brethren into a pretended judicatory, with remarks on their Acts and Proceedings, &c. — The New Conftitution of the pretended Synod which firlt met in Mr. Gib's houfe, April 10th 1747, Unmaflced. — Anfwers to'the Six Queries, propofed on a Lord's day before the Affociatc congregation of Mearn;, by Mr. Andrew Thomfon, as unanfwerablc. — Obfervatlons upon the condutft oi the fe- pirating Brethren, in two parts; with Fancy ftili no Faith. — The third Proof of Fancy no Faith. In three parts ; with the Animadverfions attainted, being the fourth proof of Fancy no Faith. — The religious Claufe of the Burgefs oath vindi- cated ; and the Conftitution of fome Brethren, and their ccnfurts ccnlidered. — All impartial Survey cf the Controverfy rcfpcvting the Burgef; oilh, and thi condoci of ihc feparating Brethren. ( '6; ) ACT OF THE Associate Synod, Met at Stirling^ Oclohcr 29th, 1747. Declaring the Nullity of the Fretended Synods that firfl met in Mr. Gib's houfe ia Br'tflo, April loth, 1747. THE Synod taking into their ferious confideration, the flrange, fififul, and divifivf pradice of a number of their brethren, who feparated themfelvcs from this Aflbciate Synod ; and particularJy, their erecting themfelvcs into a feparate judicatory, and afl'uming the name and power of the Aflbciate Synod ; pretend- ing, upon a groundlefs quarrel with the Synod, for carrying two votes contrary to their mind, that therefore the fynodical authority devolved upon them, and thereupon changing their former holding; and, contrary to the order of the houfc of God, and the rule of his word, in a rafh, precipitant manner, fubjeding themfelves, and taking upon them to fubjedl all the members of the Aflociation to a ne'w, univarrajited, d^xvd. unprecedented Cotijiitution : Therefore the Synod, after prayer, conference, and deliberate reafoning upon this fubjedl, found it their necefl^ary duty, after the example of that fa- mous General Aifembly 1638, in their Aift, Sefl". 12. December 4. condemning; the fix pretended Aflemblies there mentioned, and adding the reafons of annulling them, in like manner, to condemn and annul the forefaid pretended Synods for the Reafons following : I. The Nullity thereof appears from this, that it was not law- fully indUisd by the moderator as the mouth of the Synod, but by a private brother, without liberty fought or given, or any motion made to know the mind of the Synod thereanent. The inditing of a new Synod, by Mr. Thomas Mair, was a w^n hahente potejiatem ; that is, by one who had no power, he being exautflorated, and another moderator named by himfelf, and form.ally ele^Tted by the Synod, and alfo a clerk. Any other member of Synod had as much power to call or indict a new, or another Synod as he. II. Becaufe that pretended Synod was indicted to meet on Afudden, even within a few hours ; 'that is, at ten o'clock, next day, in Mr. M m iC(j Act o/'/Z'^ Associate Sykod, 1747. Gib's houfe. One of the rerifons, given by that famous Aflembly 1638, for the nullity of the prerendcd AfTembly holdcn at Linlith- gow 1606, was ' from the indiclion of it, thnt it was indided the • third of December, to be kept the tenth of December ; and fo « there was no time given to the PreHsyteries for the election of • Commiflloners,' 6"^. — It is alfo given as one of the reafons for the nullity of the pretended AfTembly at Aberdeen 1616, that ' the In- ' diclion of that pretended AfTembly was but twenty days befere the « holding of it ; fo that the Prefbyteries and Burghs could not be * prepared for fending their Commiflloners.' — The fame is like wife given as the firft reafoft of their annulling the pretended Affembly holden at Perth 1618, that ' the Aflembly was indicted but t^-xenty ' days before the holding of it ; and all parties rcquifite received * not advertifement.' — How much more does this reafon prove the nullity of the pretended Synod, that firll met in Mr. Gib's houle ? feeing it v/as indi«5ted but a few hours before the holding of it ; inlo- much, that all parties requifite could not pofllbly receive adveriiie- ment ; that is, neither Prefbyteries, as to their abfent members, nor Kirk-fefTions could be adverdfed before hand, of any fuch Synod or conftitution thereof, in order to fee whether they could choole members for it : which, if it had been done, agreeably to the above reafons given by that reformjng Allcmbly, it is more than probabl: no fuch Synod had ever been conRituted. III. Becaufe the Synod was already Lfwfully conflituted, befor.? thefe brethren withdrew ; and neither the moderator nor clerk ot Synod, regularly chofcn, by the vote of the Synod, were prelent in that forefaid meeting. The Synod was befbrc-hand lawfully met and conflituted, by opening with a fcrmon preached before tiie fynod ; by prayer of the moderator of the former meeting of fynod ; by the choice of a new moderator, Mr. James \j.iir, and ot a new clerk, pro tempore, Mr. William Hutton ; by reading the minutes of lad federunt at Stirling, and aflually proceeding upon buliuel's, reafbning and voting : All this was done before the brethren with- drew and conflituted a-part from the fynod, who continued flill fitting, with their moderator and clerk. And, the moderator and clerk having thus continued with the fynod, after thcfe brethren had withdrawn tiiemfeives openly before their lace, and conflituted behind their back, there could therefore be no formal eleiflion of their new moderator or new clerk : the want of which formality, was one of the reafons given by the AlTembly 163S, of the nutlity of the pretended AfTembly holdcn at i^crth 1618. IV. Becaufe ciders are cloiRed by their feveral felfions, as Com- miflioners to the Synod ; but thcfc brethren fcparatcd thcmfelves from the fynod, and conflituted, without the confcntot the felhons whom they reprelcntcd ; and thcrelorc could not repreleni them in a pretended conflitution of fynod, which the church knew nothing of wh'.-nthey were clcdlcd and commiflion.itcd. The elders, with whom titcy coniii'uied, had no power from their conHiluents, or the fclfious that tlcdtcd tiicm, to become mcni- Act i?/"/^.? Associate Synod, 1747. 267 hers of another court, feparated from the former, than delegated members of a Prefbyterian fynod have power from their conftituents, to turn themfelves into members of a Popifli or Prelatick one. Mi- nifters and elders, met in fynod, have no abfolute or iliimited power, no lordly or magifterial power to make new courts and new laws to the church, but a minifterial and ftewardly power to attend the courts already conrtituted in the church, and to execute tJie laws already made to the church, by the King and Lawgiver of Zion. All their a(5ts and proceedings mull run in a direifl line of fubordination to the word of God, olherwife they are, ippj failo, null and void. — But our feparating brethren have taken upon them, in a lordly and magifterial way, to conftitute a fynod, unto which there was no de- legation by the church difFufive ; and not only fo, but to ufurp a legijlative authority, both over their brethren, miniftcrs and elders, and over the whole church of the alfociation, by making laws, aad inftituting new terms of communion, for which they can produce no warrant or foundation in the word of God, and whhout the knowledge and confent of their comlituents. They had a commif- fion indeed, to meet in the ordinary fynod, and to adminifter the laws of Zion's King, in conjun or more grofs, was vented or maintained by their brethren, by which it might be ren- dered unfafe for them to keep communion with them. And, feeing there wat; nothing of the forefaid evils, or the like, in the cafe, it was therefore mod undutiful, univarrantahle, and dangerous to fe- purate : and \.\\e\r fcparnting, in luch circumlfanccs, from witncfling mini.^ersand others, who are bearing, and willing to bear teftimony fo.- Chrift, is therefore no othei- than a fchifm. On the other hand, their fejiaraling from their brethren of this Afluciiitc Synod is unlawful, becaufe thib /epiration was made, by Act of the Associate Synod, 1747. 269 them, fortius rcafon, among others. That they could not get their brethren to Inhmit unto, not only a Jieni) ttrvi of coimnuriioti^ but lervis wliich they, though willing to know truth and duty to ibllow them, and fin and error to refufe them, could not fee to be reafon- able and agreeable to our principles. And, fuch being the cafe, it is plain the language of thefe brethrens conduct is, That they would have others ad merely on their authoriLy or pleafure, and blindly to follow them. IX. Becaufe, at that meeting at which our brethren withdrew, April 9th, the Synod was as lanvfuHy confiitutecl as in any former meetings; particularly as lawfully as it was April 8th. Now, both fides agree, that the former meetings were lawful, and the feparat- ing brethren themfelves owned the meeting, April Sth, to be lawful : for, (i.) Not one of them all obje(5led, or fpoke a word againft it as unlanxifully conjlituted. (2.) They all fat iiill, as members of the court, till the meeting was clofed with prayer, without the leaft in- finuation of its being urjaivful. (3.) They propofed an oppofite fide of a vote, urged it ; and all or moft of them willingly voted on that fide. (4.) After they were difappointed, by the other fide of the vote carrying againft them, ftill they pretended no unlanufulnefs in the meeting, or conjlitution thereof; but one of them entered a dijjent, againft the vote that carried, to which only other I'ujo adher- ed. (5.) On Thurfday forenoon, April 9th, the three that dijjent- ed from the vote carried the preceeding night, declared their adhe- rence to their faid dijfent ; and others of them joined with them; and all of them adled in a court as laivftilly conjliiuted. (6.) At the fame federunt, Mr. Gib entered 2. proieJiatio?i, in the face of the court as laiv/ully conftituted ; and all the minifters on their fide, who were prefent, adhered to It. (7.) They joined in the concluding that federunt with prayer ; agreeing, equally with the reft, to adjourn, till night, for the fynod's bufinefs. (8.) The fynod meeting at night, April 9th, our brethren met with us as a laivfully cor.jiitiit- ed court : and the fynod never heard of the pretended unduenefs, or unlawfulnefs of the court, till they had fitlen fome time. — And it is not only probable, but there is moral evidence for it, that the law- fulnefs of the court had never been called in quellion, if our brethren had not feen, by the preceding night's bufinefs, that they had not numbers to carry things to their mind. So that the firft mention of the fynod's being unlaiofully conjiituted, was made by Mr. Mon- criefF ; and his account of it is very obfcure, and feems felf-incon- fiftent, as worded in his protefl : He therein fpeaks of its being un- lawful IN THIS Step. By this Jiep he either means the conduft of the fynod, both in the firft vote, the preceeding night, and in the fecond vyte, which was a-paffing that day ; or only, the condufb anent the fecond vote. But, whatever way, the charge is unreafon- abie. If he means it of both, he and his brethren are inconfiftent with themfelves, as is clear from what is above narrated. If it be of the fecond vote that he means it, the meeting of fynod cannot be unlawful. For, (i.) Nothing was done anent iht fecond vole, but what was agreeable to the firf}. But, in the frff, the court was i^o Act of the Associate Synod, 1747. lanvful : and confequentlj', in X.\\q fecond. (2.) The matter of the tivo votts is not different, but the fame ; and it was as one deed, performed ia its parts. The fecond vote isjuft xhtjirji vote fulfilled or executed. (3.) He does not ihew at what time the fynod chang- ed, and became of la'wfuly unlanvful in its conjiitution. (4.) He does not fignify, whether it is his opinion, that any one, or every un- lawful a(ft or deed of a court, laivfully conjiituted, doth render that court unlawful in its conf/itutio7i, io that it ceafeth to be a lawful court ; and whether a court may be lawful in its conjiitution, while paffing an unlawful afl, and remain laivful. (5.) He feems not duly to diliinguifli betwixt the conftilution of a court, and the ads and proceedings thereof ; but to blend and confound them: whereas a court, intirely lawjul and right in its conftitution, may pafs adls very unlawful, and yet the court remain lawful, and its conftituti- on not touched. — By all which it is evident, that the brethrensy^-- paratina from this yj //?;/, as they did, and cor.Jlituting a-part, is groundlsfs and unfcriplaral in itplf, and inconfiftent with themfelves. X. Another reafon of the nullity of the ii!\^ pretended fynod, is, their conjiitution' s being founded upon many grievous calumnies and heavy charges, laid againft the fynod, without the leaft lliadow of proof: fuch as, p. 11. of their AHs, < That they were not afkiug * unJerftanding to difcern judgment, and that there was no judg- * meut in their goings, but that the Lord was provoked to leave * them unto counfels of their own.' That they were ' awfully left * of Cod, to behave ia open contradifkion to the name and nature ' of a court of Chrift.' Page 5. That they had < materially dropt ' the 'Vihole tejiimony among their hands, allowing of, at leaft, for ' a time, a material ahjnration thereof.' Page 4. That they ' fet ' the names and pleafure of men, in the room of truth and duty* Page 15. That they * did run into an a-jjful inconfiltency, of giving * judicial allonvance, in the mean lime, for a praflice, which is, at ' the fame time, judicially found to be a profanation of the Lord's * name, and a material abjuration of his whole caufs and tejliniony * among the hands of the Aiiotiate Synod.' Page 20. That they were guilty of ' afluming to themfelves an arbitrary power of their ' own, which ca.nnot poj/ihly be derived frouj Chrift, feeing it is em- ' ployed againft Chrift, the alone King and Head of his church ; ' and for burying his truth, cau.'e, and intereft.' Page 21. That they wcie chargeable wiih fubverting, and ' obllinately fubvcrting ' of that order which Clirift, as the God of or Jcr, hath comraand- * ed to be obferved in his houfe.' When thefe and the like railif!^ expredlons, uttered in fuch ftrong and folemn words, that amount to a taking the natue of the Lord our God in vuin^ are fo ralhly applied and reproachfully imputed to the Synod ; as it becomes not any, far Icfs fuch a court of Chrift as wc arc, to retaliate, by rendering railii;g tor railing ; fo we could wiih, that, feeing out of the abundance of the heart the mouth fpeakcth, the brethren would confider, that fuch words tend 10 dif- covtT what fpii it they are of, and th.it the Spirit of God plainly de- clares, that where ihcrc is fuch bilicr cr.vying, and Jlrife, and lyin^ Act of the Associate Synod, 1747. 271 againjl the truth, James ill. 15. This moifdom defcendeth not from a- I'jve. And how evidently null and void ii a contlitution ereded up- on fuch a lonndaiion \ XI. Another reafon of the nullity of the faid pretended fynod is, That it confirted of ^nevihers who, upon their diforderly fep.rating from th.^ fynod, and conftituting apart from it, fuftained themfelves not only Judges, hwtfole judges and condemnsrs of the t'wo votes., a- gainft which they read their proteftations. While they unjuftly complained oi xhc protejiers againll the decifuti^ April 1746. as par- ties in a queftion which was not the decifion itfelf; yet, here they fuftain themfelves yc/Zt" 7 wa^d"/ of the faid fwo vjtes, though by their proteftations againft them, they made themfelves diredly and imme- diately /'(jr/zV/. And this they did, without regularly giving in, or recording their reafons of proiejl^ and waiting the Synod^s anfiuersy in defence of the lawfulnefs and expediency of the faid tvjo votes : all of them, though ^^r//Vj, prafiijers, or proiwjiers, yet fuftained themfelves to ht fole judges, in the matter of their own protejlations ; being not only /T-y/^i"/-/, but feparately by themfelves, approvers o£ their own proteftations. — Likewife, they fuftain ihtvsxitWts fole j udges and approvers of their own anfivers to the proteji taken againft the decifion., 1746 ; yea, and fole judges and condemners of their brethren's re*lbns of proteft. And hence ilfued their harmo7iious concluding of their affairs, who were all jujlifiers of their own deed. Thus it may- be faid, hoin'y^ firji in their oiu« cafe, thty feenied juj}, Prov. xviii. 17.; and, as it is faid, Luke xvl. 15. they were they th'itjujiified the^nfelves before men. But fuch pracftice appears to be fo diforderly, and fuch abomination in the fight of God, who is the God of order, that, on this ground, the Synod find X.\iZ.\. pretended i?ieeting and conjiitution to be void and null. XII. There is juft the fiime reafon for nullifying this pretended fynod, and xht five aCls they mention in the title of their book, that the forefaid famous JJembly give, for nullifying the (orefdid pretend- ed /Ifen/blyf and the articles that w'ere concluded there, commonly called. The five articles of Perth. For, in that Aft oS. AJfemhly 1 638, Dec. 4. Seit. 12. Reafon 9th, for annulling the pretended affembly holden atPerth, 1618. it is faid, that, ' In all lawful alTemblies the ' grounds of proceeding were, and ufed to be, the word of God, * the Confeffion of Faith, and Ads of former General AfTemblies. ' But, in this pretended affembly, the ground of their proceeding in • voicing, was, the king's commandment only : for fo the queftion ' was ftated, iVhether the'five articles, in refpeci of his Majefifs com- « niandnient, fjould pafs in a^, ffr not ? as the records of that pre- « tended alfembly bear.' ^^t\\ fo, in all lawful fynods, the grounds of proceeding were, and ufed to be, ihcJVord of God, \.h.t Confefion of Faith, and /Ids of former General AfTemblies, efpecially the reforming Aflemblles of this national church. But, in this pre- tended fynod, the ground of their new conftitution is a declaration and protsjiation, read by Mr. Thomas Mair, containing fome pofitive dogmatical ajj'ertions, without the leaft proof, warrant, or founda- tion, eit|ier from the Word of God, the Confejfun of faith, or A[is of 272 Act of the Associate Synod, 1747. former Geueral AJfemhlies. And, hence, in their aSl aflerting their conftitution, p. 6. it is obrervable, how they fit down upon this new foundation, and ered themfelves into a nc%v pretended fynod, not ac- cording to any one precept of the word of God, nor according to any one article of the ConfefTion of Faith, nor yet according to any one a<5l of tormer Synods or General AfTemblies; but, as they them- felves exprefs it, ' According to the fort/aid declaration and protejla- * tion,'' taken by Mr. Thomas Mair. And, in the fame page it is faid, That, ' in confequence of the forefaid declaration and protejlati- * on, the 7neeting nvas conjlituted as ahovc.' Thus the deed, in con- fequence of which, and the rule, according to which, this neii} con- Jiituiion did and does fubfift, is only that declaration and proteftati- cn of a /t/v.?/^ brother. Which being /'r«'/"--/t'd', afterwards, hy ivay of overture among them, ' the queftion was put, Approve of the fai J. * overture^ or not? And it carried unanimoufly, approve.'' Where- upon, they ' find, according to the forefaid declaration and protef- * tation, that the lawful authority and power of the Aflbciate Synod, « is lawfully and fully, devolved upon them, and lies among their * hands ;' and, ♦ That they are the only lanxful and rightly conjii- * tuted AlTociate Synod :' as the printed records of that pretended fynod bear, p. 6. of their Aifls and Proceedings. Thereafter, page 7. in what they call their Ps.!X, further ajetting the conftitution and rights of the Afociate Synod, they pretend to find a great many things, the like whereof were never found by any pro- tcftant churches, nor, for what we know, by any court of Chrift that ever profejj'ed to meet in his name ; and all, as it is there faid, * In conftquencc ofivhat has been found at loji federunt ;* and, con- fequently, according to the forefaid declaration and proteftatisn. Whence it needs not be thought ftrange, that it is not fo much as pretended that the grounds of their confitution and procedure, are either the word of God, the ConfclTion of Faith, or Ads of former General Aflemblies. For, as the proteflatton forefaid was againft tiuo votes of fynod, carried contrary to thefe brethrcns mind, which they are pleafed to call tivo rcfolutions ; fo, it is evident, the grounds of that {s)Tc{Md protejlaiion, npon which tJiey found thoir pretended conftitution, and alfo the confitution founded thereupon, are direift- ly contrary to each of thefe. Firji, As to the grounds of the faid prot.-fation, they confift cf- pecially of /^r.-tr /"t^//^ charges againit the lynod, for carrying the tnu'j forefaid votes ; namely, I. That, by tranfmitting the queftion before them, they ful^jetfled the * decifion of fynod, upon a controverfy of faith and cafeof con- * fcicnce, unto the fj;//:////?//!/;; of inferior judicatories, particularly « kij'k-fcirions.* P«ige 4. of their AHs and Proceedings. Which, as it is a f'alfe charge, feeing it was not the decifion, but the qucjlicn concerning the decilion, its being a tervi of communion or r.'jt, that was ptopofcd to be tranfmitted : fo, though it had been \\\^ decifion iifcif, yc-c the tranfmifliiui of it, in the form of an overture, having been fmfully neglciHed before the decifion, this made it nccelfary duly, even afltr that rajh dccilioD, to iranfinil it to inftri'.r judi^a' Act (j/"//;;? Associate Synod, 1747. ^7^ I'Aiti, lliat in cafe foiiil arguments, from fcripturc and reafon, ;l* gainll it, fhouki have been oiFered to the fynod by the church diffw- five, that forefiid decifion might have been reverfed ; which would never have been a (hame, but an honour to the fynod, to humble ihemfelves, by owning that they are not infallible : this being no more than v e have owned in our Confeftjon of Faith, * That all • fynods and councils fmce the apoflles time, whether general oi* ' particular, may err, and many have erred*' Befides, though we allowed no /f/zt?/ judgment to /«/2'r/.o/- judica- tories in this point, yet what the brethren here alledge, fuppofes as \{'kirkfejfioHs were nox. judges in queftions relating to terms of com- munion, nor were to be reckoned courts of c:.>fcience ; which is to fpoil them of tht'w friptural right, and radical power : for, as no quertion can come before a feflion, but what, fome luay or other^ belongs to a controverfy of faith, and cafe of confcience; it is fcarcs conceivable how thefe brethren could have, in this affair, fo far con- traditfted the ivord of God, and the approven ciijiom of this church, in her pureft times of Reformation, and even the former pruiJice and determination of the Aficiate Synod, who referred the whole affair of the Mafn oalh to kirkfjjlyns, to do in it as they faw caufe. Moreover, the forcfild declaralion and proiefation afTerts, that the 7.uinifters, in that meeting of Synod when the breach took place, • are the proper judges in a controverfy of faith and cafe of con- • fcience ;* and that it is they * who could be judges in the prefent • controverfy.* (See alio page 17. of their Ads and Proceedings.) Which, as \i Jymbolizes with Papilts and Prelatifls, and is a manifelt lording it over their brethren the elders^ and a taking that power from them, which the word of God gives them, Ads xv. 7.— They determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other ofthem,f70uld go up to Jerufilem to the apojiles and elders about this quejlion. Ver. 6. And the apojiles and ciders came together for to confder oj" this juatter^ Ver. 22. Then pleafd it the apojiles and elders, nuith the ivhole church., to fend chofen tnen of their ovhich they founded x.\\t\v pretended coT\W\\.w\l\on, are evidently con- trary to the nx^ord of God, the C'^nfJ/ion of Faith, and all /JSls of General AJJeniblies relative to any fuch moral evils. Thefe //;ri.v things aI)ove-mentioned, are the grounds upon which flandsths forcfitid Declaration and Proleftation ; and in which it is declared, that the nicinbers of Synod, therein diftinguilhed from the reft of the members of it, ' ought — to take up and cxercife the au- < thority and power of the Alluciate Synod, lawfully and fully de- < volved upon them as above ; and, for this end, to meet to-morrow < at ten of the clock forenoon, in Mr. Gib's houfe, that they may * regularly enter upon, and proceed in the bulinefs of the lynod.' from which words it is proven, out of their own mouth, that the |"ynod they pretend to conftiiutc, is a qnite other Synod than that which met, April 7th, in Brillo kirk, and from which they fcparateJ themfelves ; and that it is a meeting of fome members of fynod, (ifuniiui' to themfelves, and prrfuming^ as they word it, to take up^ (tn.l :\crcifti the authority and power of the /tfociatc Synod. By which ^hey own there is another Allocialc Synod, which they have robhed of their power and authority, by a mere alledging that it is fully and lunvfully devolved upon them : Thus declaring la'u.ful, what God ^zcy' Containing a NARRATIVE of the Rise, Pro- gress, and Grounds of their Secession. ALTHOUGH the Rise, Progress, and Grounds of Se- cession have been formally laid open in the following Papers, publilhed feme years ago ; namely, in the True State of the Procefsi &c. — the Review of the Narrative, &c. — in the Reprefentations o/"Mr. Ebenezer Erskine, circ. — and, in ihefrf Teflirnony, intitled, A Tef.imo7iy for the Doclrine, V/orfjip, &c.; — the two former being adhered to in the latter ; and thefe again adhered to in the AH, Declaration, ^Vid. Teftiviony, p. 151, in thefe words, 'They, \yiz. the Aflbciate Prefbytery,] « hereby declare their adherence — to the * feveral Reprefentations offered by the minlfters of this Prefbytery, * to the Commiffion of the General Ailembly, that met at Edinburgh, ' Augull 1733 ■» ^""^ ^'^ ^^^ Paper th*t \v:is afterwards emitted by ' them, intitled, A Tejiif/iony to the Doctrine, Worjhip, Govermnent, ' and Difcipline of the Church of Scotland \ i" — yet, in regard, thefe Papers arc now among the hands of very few, and that the mod part feem to have, in a great meafure, loft fight of the Caufe and Teftimony, which the /ifFociate Minifters have been, through grace, minting to contend for, againft the backQidings and corruptions of the day : And, in regard, the rifuig generation are in danger of being ignorant of the v.'orks which the Lord's right hand has done for us, Judg. ii. 7, — 10. Pfal. Ixxviii. i, — 9. it is therefore propofed to give a Hiort account of the Rife, Progrefs, and Grounds of the SeceJfioK, which may alfo contribute, in fome degree, to clear the Affociate Synod from the falfe afperfions thrown upon them, by their fchifmatical and feparating Brethren on the one liand, and by the f See this Teflimony printed above, p. 19,-78. 286 ^Narrative of the Rise and corrupt judicatories on the other, who are, with a high hand, carry. ing on H courfe of defedion, and will not be reclaimed, notwith- ft.tnding of many loud calls to turn again to the Lord their God. This church having been in danger of being leavened by a fcheme of Ariati, Socinian, and Armin'tan dodrines, taught in one of her femlnaiies ot learning by profeflbr Simfon | and of a corrupt, erro- neous, and cime-ferving miniftry, for whom a wide door had been opened, by feveral violent fettlements on reclaiming congregations, from and after the year i726i and by an acfl of Affembly, jnno i']-^2, concerning the fettlement of vacant churches : at the fame time, a ftanding Teftimony, by way of proteftation, againft thefe and other courles, which would have been a habile mean of tranfmitting truth to the generations following, being imprasflicable ; in regard, the 7 th Act of Alleinbly, 1750, had difcharged the recording of rcafons of diflents againft the determination of church-judicatories. Mr. Ebenezer Er/kine, minifter of the gofpcl at Stirling, one of the members of this court, thought it his duty, in a fermon at the open- ing of the Synod of Perth and Stirling, at Perth, Oftober 1732, to teility plainly and freely againft fome of the prevailing evils and fms of the prefent times, and particularly againft the forefaid a<5l ot Ailembly 1732, and the proceedings of church-judicatories in the fettlement of minifters over reclaiming and dllfenting congregations, which fo galled and tormented fome of the minifters then prefent, that they vufhed and obtained of the Synod the appointment of a Committee to confider the particulars vented in the fermon, which were faid to have given offence, and which they were to lay before the Synod next diet. Mr. Erfkine, who, with fome difficulty ob- tained a fight of the quarrelled expreffions in the clerk's hand, gave in anfwers to them to the Synod ; and both are to be found in the True State cfthe Procefs, p. 15, 6t. The Synod, after ipending three days on this affair, did find Mr. Erfkine cenfurahlc for the faid expreffions alledged to have been emitted by him in his fermon betore them : From which I'entencc feveral minifters and elders difRnted, and againft which they pro- tefted, and gave in their reafons of proteft, which the Synod in com- pliance witii the 7th af> of AlTembly, 1750, would not record. Mr. Erfkine and Mr. Fiftier protefted, and appealed to the next General AfTembly. The Synod by another voie rcfolved to rchukc Mr. Erlkine at their bar, and to adrnonifh him to behave orderly for the future, although he had not in the Ic.ilt departed from the ftandards of this church, as the Synod thcmfclvcs were obliged materially to acknow- ledge ; for, Mr. Fergul^in at Killin, having accufed Mr. Erlkine, in the courfe of reafoning, of departing from the (tandards of this church, and Mr. Erikine having pruieftcd, That Mr. Fergufon fhould be obliged by the Synod to make good his charge, the Synod difmift'ed that affair, upon Mr. Fer^juion his explaining himfelf. This fcntcncc of Synod, appointing Mr. Erfkine to be rebuked and admonilhed, Mr. Erlkine could not. in conkiencc fubmit to, as it would be a departure from the Tcftiiiiony he had formerly given j Progress 5/ //j^ S ECESsioN. 287 and therefore the matter came before the AlFembly in May, 1733. who refufed to hear Meflrs. Wiifon and MoncriefF, diffenters irom the Synod's fentencc on their reafonsof diffent; and whole Committee of bills refufed to tranfmit Mr. Fifher's appeal : And the Affembly, upon hearing parties at the bar, after ibme reafonin;^, pafTed an Aft, on the 15th of May, 1733} approving of the proceedings of the Sy- nod, and appointed him to be rebuked and adtnontjhed by the mode- rator at their own bar *. When this fentence was Intimate to Mr. Erskine, he declared, that he could not fubmit to a rebuke and admonition^ in regard, he was neither confcious to himfelf, nor judicially convifted of tranf- grefling the bounds of his minifterial calling, or of uttering any thing, in his fermon, contrary to the word of God, or the approven ftandards of this church ; and then gave in a figned Proteftation, dated May 14th, 1733. f Mr. William Wilson, minifter at Perth ; Mr. ALEXANDEjt MoNCRiEFF, minifter at Abernethy ; and Mr. James Fi sher, mi- nifter at Kinclaven, adhere to the Proteftation and Declaration ; upon which, and their refufing to retraft the fame, the Affembiy ordained, ' That the four Brethren forefaid, appear before the « Commiffion in Auguft next J:.' As this fcvere fentence was paft, without hearing the four Bre- thren, in open Afiembly, upon the relevancy of the crime alledged againft them to infer fuch a high cenfure, they, not being allowed to reacj it, laid down upon the table, with an inftrument, the fol- low'ivt^ fhort paper, as their joint fpeech. < In regard, the venerable Alferably have come to a pofitive fen- * tence, without hearing our defences, and have appointed the * Commiffion to execute their fentence in Auguft, in cafe we do not * retraft what we have done, we cannot but complain of this un- ' common procedure, and declare, that we are not at liberty to take « this affair to an avifandum.' The four Brethren appeared before the Commiffion in Auguft 1733, in virtue of the citation given thera by the fentence of the AfTembly ; and Mr. Erfkine read ihtReprcfirttalion figned by him and Mr. Fifher, containing the Reafons, why they could not retraft their Proteftation againft the decifion of the AiTembly : As alfo, a plain confeffion of their principles, with a Proteftation of the Nullity of any cenfure that {hould be inflifted on them, for the forefaid condudl. — Mr. Wilfon and Mr. Moncrietl, gave in a Reprefentation of the fame import ; but it was refufed a reading. They were however allowed to deliver themfclves, viva voce, which they did ; declaring that they could not retraft their Proteftation, nor profefs their forrow for the fame, for feveral reafons then oftered, and others contained in their Reprefentation, to which they adhered; and proteftcd, that • See the Adl Itfelf, infcrted above, p. 41. f See the Protcttition printed above, |». ii. I Sec the Afl'cmbly's injunction printed above, p. zj. 288 ^ ]>i AKHAT IV E of the Rise and any ctJifure, that fliould be inflirefentations, the Brethren declare their belief, that Chrift is the alone King and Head of his church, by his Father's ordination and appointment: — That all ecclefiallical authority is lodged in, and derived from him : — That all ordinances, cenfures, rebukes, admoniticns, fufpenfions, depofitions, or relaxations from thefe cenfures, are to be difpenfed in his name : — That his Kingdom is not of this world, but of a fpiritual nature, extending to the foul and confcience : — That all the laws, ordinances, and officers of his appointment are defigned for the good and edification of his fubjeJls, as well as the whole plan of redemption ; and that whatever laws may p^fs in ecclefiaftical courts they muft needs quadrate with this general defign, otherwife they are to be reje(5led : — That it is the pe- culiar glory and privilege of his church, beyond all other focleties in the world, to have received a complete fyftem of laws from him, by which file is to be governed, to which nothing is at any time to be added, and from which nothing is to be taken away; that therefore ecclefiaftical judicatories had need to be well verfant in the ftatutes of his kingdom, and in their determinations to walk according to this rule : — That the majority in a church-fociety, agreeable to the above principles, are not always to give laws to the Iclfer number ; for, if pluralities, in all cafes, were to bear the fway, a Reformation in the church had never been brought about ; and the contrary principle would infallibly lead us into palVive obedience and non- refillciice; a doctrine inconfiftent with onr Confcfion cf Faith, chap. xx. §. 2. renounced by all found Protellants ; and, if it had prevailed, would have been an e{fe»5tual bar in the way of our lute hafipy Revo- lution, and the cltablilhment of the Protcftant fucceHion in the illuft- rious family of Hanover : — That the legillative power in all Ibcieties, and particularly in the church, is not to be extended beyond the fundamental laws, upon which the fociety is crci'fed : — That the church, being built upon the founrci,>it:i!:om, by Mijri. EtcnczJ^ Lrjkiiif, J.ima Fifmr, H'iHiain ft'itfon, and AliXJi.di. r Moiicntff. P R G R E S S 6/ //;^ S E C E S S I O N. 289 members, which are clearly laid down in the fcriptures ; the H0I7 Spirit fpealcing in the fcriptures, being the fupreine judge, by which all controverfies in religion are to be determined, and all decrees ot councils are to be ex-iniined, and in whofe fentence we are to reft : that church power is not lordly and magiftratical, but lowly and minifterial ; not ablblute and boundlefs, but limited and circum- fcribed ; and that therefore the oflBcers of his houfe are not to beat their fellow-fervants at pleafure, nor lord it over God's heritage, in an imperious manner, by fabjedling them to the commandments ot men : that church-decrees bind 'jrAy in fo far as they agree with the perfect and unerring law of Chrift, and are calculate for the good of his church ; for otherwife they degenerate unto tyranny, and u- furpation upon his royal prerogative ; and to yield an implicit taich and blind obedience to them, is to give up with liberty of confcience, and reafon alfo. — That all the determinations of church-judicatures, which are made up of men, who know but in part, are fallible, and liable to error, as fad experience has oftentimes verified ; and there- fore it is the indifpenfible duty of every church-member, by the judgment of difcretion, to examine thefe determinations, whether they be agreeable, or difagreeable to the unerring rule : — That whea church-authority is perverted from its original defign, and exercifed to the hurt of truth, the violating the rights and liberties of Chrift's kingdom, and the oppreffing, and bearing down of thofe whom it ought 10 protecft, it is the indifpenfible duty of all fuch as would be found fiithful, to mourn over fuch evili before the Lord, and con- tend earneftly for the faith once delivered to the faints ; and even to refift unto blood, ftriving againft fin : that this is more efpecialiy the duty of witchmen fet upon the walls of Jerufalem, who ought not to hold their peace, but cry aloud and net [pare, and lift up their v'jice like a trumpet ; and the rather that it has been the ylory of this church, ever fince the reformation, to contend for the royal prerogatives of Chrift's kingdom, in oppofition to the incroachments made thereupon ; and particularly, in the late perfecuting period : — That as this valuable truft, which is the word of Chrift's patience, was tranfmitted to us in purity, at the expence of much blood, it could not but be aflFeifting to them, to fee thefe valuable privileges, in a great meafure, given up, by the judicatures of this church, v/hofe main care and concern it ought to be, to fupport and defend them ; and that even when they enjoyed peace and tranquillity from the ftate. —And as this was the prefent cafe, they could do no lefs, in duty to God, and their confciences, than to enter a protsft againft fuch encroachments, this being one fpecial mean, whereby the Lord's worthies in this land have maintained his caufe, and tranf- mitted his truths to us in purity ; as they make appear from a pnper given in by the Lord Warrifton to the Affembly 1651, after the public refolutions. The faid brethren then juftify their conduct, in proteftlng agalnft the forefaid ad of the General Affembly concerning Mr. Erfkine ; iu regard fuch a protcftation is fometimes a m.'an of conviclion upoa 290 ^ N A R R A T 1 V R ^/ //v R 1 S E a'ul the confcicnces of fuch, who, in their a^l-;, have anyway incroach- cd upon the truth ; — as an example of faithfulriefs and zeal to others, both in the prefent and fucceeding generations ; — as ihey would o- therwife be guilty of a confederacy indefedion and apofticy from, and ;i confpiracy againfl the Lord ; — as they would otherwife materially approve of the A{f of Ajjemlly 1752, concerning the planting of va- cant churches, and the other a^lina:s of church-iudicaiures, which Mr. Erfkine bore tclliniony againlt in his fynodic.d fcrmon, as con- trary unto the word of God, and our approven (tandards ; — as the f.iid deciilon relative to the faid brethren, was a fixing a new term of iTiinifterial communion aTnnngfl all the miniilers of this church, reftridting them tint they ilionl J not open their mouths in public againft any particular aft of Allembly, however linful in its nature, and prejudicial to the doJlrine, worlhip, and governm-ent thereof, and a laying a plain inhibition upon them, that they Ihould not teftify againlt any of the proceedings of church-judicatures, however unlawful and unwarrantable, which would natively lead them to a blind and implicit obedience, one of the grand engines by which an- tichrilt doth iHIl inaintain his feat, and plainly contrary to our re- lormation-priiiciples: — as otherwife their conduft would be manifcflly contrary to thfjir ordinttion vows and engagements ; wherein they engaged never 10 endeavour, direiftly or indirectly, the prejudice or fubverlion of Prefbyterian church-government and difcipline ; and that, to the utmolt of their power, in their Ration, they ihould af- fert, maintain, and defend the fame : — as, by the faid aft, a door •was further opened for the entry of a corrupt minillry into the chuich: — as by the faid aft an abfolute irrefragable power and autho- rity was fet up in the fupreine jidicatory, to which all ought to iubmit, without gainfaying or counterafting, the very reverfe of tbe principles contended for by all the reformed churches, lince the dawn- ing of reformation-light : — as by the faid aft, which appointed Mr. Erfkine to be cenfured both for his expreflions in Iiis I'crmon remark- ed on by the Synod, and hi^ anlwers to llic SynoJ't. re:narks, fcveral valuable and precious truths were condemned j fuch as, 'I'hat it is tbe duty of every faithful minifter, when difpcniing the puie truths of God, to exhort his hearers to make applicailou of what is faid to ihenifelves ; and that miniilers themfelves, when hearers of the ■Word of God, ^rc not beyond fuch an exhortation : that carual no- tions of the kingdom of Chrift, which is not of this v/orld, ly at the bottom of many of the evils and corruptions of the day : that the call of a miniilcr ought not to be by heritors as fuch, in regard that r,o fuch title"; or diflinftions of men arc known in the kingdom of Chrill ; the only heritors there, being iluy who are rich in faiili, and heirs of the kingdom; thcfe arc lliey who arc precious in the fight of the Lord and I.onourablc : that in difpcnfin^ the pt ivilcgcs ot Chrift's kingdom, wc ougiit to jnit honour and value upon men, not upon the account of thtir worldly heritages, but as they are va- luable in ttic fight of God, and as his image is to be found upon iheni : that the cleftlon of ininiflcrs ought not to be by heritors as fuch, far kTv Lhcfe no', of our conuijuiiion, nor by ai.y othrr fct ol men, but by Progress I?/"//' I? Secession. 291 the church : that one has good reafon to refiife, that iiny minifter has God's call^ who has only a call from heritors, reilitente et CjH- tradictnte ecclefta : that there is a twofold call neceflary for a man's meddling as a builder io the church of God ; there is the call of God, and of his church : God's call confiRs in his qualifying a man for the work, and his Infpiring liim with an holy zeal, and defire to employ thefe qualifications for the glory of God, and the good of liis church ; the call of the church lies in the free call and eleclion of the Chrirtian people. The promife, of conduct and counfel in the choice oi men that are to build the church, is not made to patrons, heritors, or anv particular fet of men, but to the church, tiie body of Chrift. They do llkewife juftify their faid proteftation from the word of God, I Sara. viii. 9. Jer. xi. 7.; from the practice of the reformed churches ; and particularly from the pradics of our worthy anceftors in this land ; and declare, that one great motive, which led them to take that flep was, that in the year 1732, they had come to the bar of the AfTembly with others of their brethren, with a reprep7ita- tio7i and petition, when the aft anent the fettlemcnt of churches was in the Ihape of an overture, againil turning it into a ftanding aci ; and relative to many other grievances, which they had too jufl ground to complain of: fome of which it was in the power of the church to apply effedlual remedies unto, and to do mare for the redrefs of o- thers than they feemed to be difpofed or inclined unto; but, as that Alfembly paid no regard to the faid reprefentation and petition, they judged it their duty to declare, with the foiemnity of a protellation, for tiieir juft right and privilege to teftify publicly againfl: that acl, or the like defeflions, upon all proper occafions. They do alfo, in the laid reprefentations confefs and own, before the Coramiffion, the whole principles of our holy religion, as they are contained in our Wejlniitijl^r Confefflon of Faith ; — and adhere to their fubfcriptions thereunto, as the Confeffion of their Faith : and particularly afiert the three perfons of the glorious Trinity to be one fubftance, in number, equal in power and glory ; and that Jefus Chrill is the fupreme, felf-exiftcnt, and independent God, equal and co-efTential with the Father, in oppofition to the Arian herefies taught by profelTor Simfon ; and that he is the alone Head, King, and Law- giver of his church, in oppofition to ail who ha%'e invaded his royal prerogative: they confefs themfeives to be of Prefbyterian principles ; and that they believe Prefbytcry to be the only government of divine inftitution: they embrace the wv.rfhip and difcipline pradlifed in the ehurch of Scotland, according to the word of God, Diretflory for worfliip, and acts of our approven General Aflemblies fince the Re- formation ; and profefs the binding obligation of cur covenants; ;:nd that the breach of them is none of the Isaft of the caufes of the Lord's controverfy v.ith this church and land at this day: and fignii'y their defire to abhor and ihun all divinve principies, or prafliccs, contrary to the forefaid doctrine, worlhip, and government *. * The principles of the Seceding Minlfters on tlicfc, and other points, may bs fecn more fully laid open above, p- 63, — 71. and no, — 133, and 14;, — 151. P p 2 292 ^ Narrative of the Rise and Though feveral petitions and reprefentations from the Prefbyteries of Stirling, Dumblane, and Ellon ; and from the mn.^'^iftrates, town- councils, and Kirk-feffions of Perth and Stirling, were likewife pre- sented to the Commiflion, craving a delay of the Aflembly's fcntence, they were refufed a hearing. But the Commiffion did vote \.ofuf- pencl the four brethreri : and they being called in, this was intimate to them : and accordingly the moderator, npt in the name and au- thority of Christ, the alone King and Head of the church ; but in the name and authority of the ^JJembly and Comviifiov, did fufpend, fine die, the faid four brethren ; whereupon they gave in a figned proteftation f . The four brethren, being cited to the meeting of the Commiflion in November following, compeared, and offered to read a figned proteftation ; but being interrupted, it was laid down upon the table, under form of an inftrument ; the tenor whereof follows. « Edinburgh, November 14th, I73;;. We do hereby proteft, that * our prefent appearance before the Commiflion {hall not be con- • llruded a falling from the declarations we emitted, and the pro- * teftations entered, both before and after the executing of the fen- • tence of fufpenfion againft us, by the CommiflHon, at their meeting * in Augu(t laft, to which proteltations and reprefentations, given • in by us to the faid Commiffion, we Hill adhere, and hereupon ' take inftrumehts.' Addrefles, reprefentations, and letters from feveral Synods and Prefbyteries, relative to the Commifllon's proceedings in the affair before them, were read : the Synods of Dumfries, Murray, Rofs, Angus and Mearns, Perth and Stirling, craved the Commiflion might not proceed to higher cenfure : the Synod of Galloway, Fife, and the Prefbytery of Dornoch, craved lenity, tendernefs, and forbear- ance towards the fufpended minifters : and the Prefbytery of Aber- deen reprcfented, that they judged the fcntence of fufpenfion was too high, and a ftretching of cliurch-authorlty. But the Commif- fion without paying any regard to thefe, pafled a vote to proceed immediately to a liigher cenfure, by the calling vote of Mr. John Goldie, their moderator. Mr. Ralph Erflcine, and Mr. Thomas Mair, gave in a declaration ^x\<\ proteftation, fetting forth the importance of this affair, and the vail confcquence and concern thereof to all the miniflers and mem- bers of tliis church : that they bad, with fome other brethren, o- pcnly and judicially adhered to the protellation and declaration, given in to the lafl. Aflcmhly, as containing a teftimony againft the a» condemning the religions clu'ife of fome Burgefs Oaths, was carried without ai.y regard to this fo neccflary a guard and fence, though it was earaellly inireated, f See tlicfc Rfafons printed al)Ovr, p. 119, — 157. • Though the AlTociatc Synod infcrtcd thofc Kc.iJ'ons, from the Firft Te ftimony, into the body of their Ati, and of fatal tendency towards the Revo- lution intereji in Scotland.' P. 39. ♦ The i^nk and impreffion we had of our ordination vo-yjs and engagsments^ moved us to take the ftep that is now fo much condemned. We have engaged and promifed never to endeavour, directly or indiredtly, the prejudice or fubverfiou of Pre(byterian church government and difcipline; and to the uttermoft of our power, in our Ration, wefhall aflert, main- tain, and defend the fame : and when we evidently faw that the ad of Aiferably 1732, gives a deep w'ound unto our Prejlyterian covjiitutiin, and that it opens a door for the entry of a corrupt mi- niftry into the church, — we reckoned that we acted not according to our folemn engagements, and that we did not according to our* power, in our ftations, aflert, maintain, and defend our Prefbyte- rian church government and difcipline, if we had not protefted for our juft privilege and duty to teftify againll the above-named or like defections, upon all proper occafions.' P> 43- ' What trefpafs have we committed againft any article of our Co)?fefion of Faith ? Or, wherein have we tranfgrelTed againft any of the received prin- ciples, or the approven rules of this church, that our mother's fons are fo very angry with us, as to threaten to caft us out of the Lord's vineyard V P. 48. ' We are convinced — of the fmfulnefs of that: aft, (ofAffembly 1732,) and of its dangerous tendency towards the church of Scotland ; — and, we would be unfaithful unto our minifterial truft, — the charge and commifilon we have received from our Mafter, and alfo walk contrary to our ordinatiott engage- ments, if we did not, upon, fome proper occafions, teftify againft the fame.' P. 5^. ' We muft — beg leave humbly to declare, ,that according to Reformation and Prelbyterian principles, and accord- ing to the fenfe we have of \^\.i foleinn engiigements we came under at our ordination to the ininiftry, we cannot fubmit to fuch terms of minifterial communion.' P. 58. • Far lefs can we be deprived of our miniftry, for walking according to the inftitutions laid down by our Lord and M^ft:r iu liis word, and for '.ur Jlrift adherence Oil 298 ^ K A R R A T 1 V E o/* /j6venant-engagements. And we have not been convided of any ' thing in our dodrine or pra(Elice contrary.' They (the four brethren) * were never convided of any thing in dctftrine or practice contrary * to <5ar approven ftandards, or th:ir ordination t'oou/and engagement s^ Buf this evidently appears likewife from the Seceffion itfelf, and the Reafons thereof laid down in tht fir/i Tejlimony, p. 40, — 70 ; * particularly where it is declared, in order to clear our Seceffion from any ambiguity, that * our Seceffion is not from the church of Scot - * land : We own her doflrine contained in her Ccnfefwn of Faith : ' We adliere to her covenanted Prefbyterian church-government, * difcipline, and worfhip : Neither is our Seceffion from thefe who ' a.re cleaving unto our covenanted principles, and who are affected ' with the grievances we complain of, and are in their feveral fpheres * wreftling againft the fame ; but it is from a party who — are carry- * ing on a courfe of defeftion from our reformed and covenanted ' principles, 6"f. — And all contrary to the folemn engagements they ' have come under at their ordination to the holy miniltry.' P. 42. ' It is not very pleafant unto us, that we are obliged to lay open the ' finful and unwarrantable fteps of fuch who profefs to be of the ' fame Prefbyterian denomination lijilh ourflves, and to own the ' fame Confefion of Faith 'with us. Ibid. ' The firfi thing th^t v.'e ' have charged againft the prefent prevailing party in our judicato- ' ries, particularly in our General Aflemliiies and Comm'ffions, is, * that they are breaking down our beautiful Prefbyterian confitution.'' And among other Ads which thefe judicatures were difregarding, and which are faid to belong to this beautiful Prefbyterian conftitu- tion, are cited, Afl of Affembly, Auguft jolh, 1639 ; rene'wed 1695. And another A(ft, 1697, all to the fame purpofe, "againft novations.' P. 46. • This church has, by the forcfaid A&. of AfTembiy, (the Aft * 1732. concerning the planting of vacant churches,) taken into her * bofom thofe that are openly d if aff e^ ed nwlo cur Preflyterian con- ' flitution.^ P. 48. * They declare cherafelves bound by their ordi- ' nation vows and engagements to the A<5t of AfTembiy, 1648, intitled, • The pages here cited, are agreeable to the pages of the Tcflimony in this Collc(ftion. goo \A Narrative of the Rise and ' An A^ fcr cenfuritig of rninijlers for their filence, and not f peaking * to the corruptions cf the tunes.'' P. 52. ' Muft not every fober and * unprejudiced perfon judge that they, (the prevailing party in the * prefent judicatures,) are fubvcrting cur beautiful Prejbyterian con- * Jiiiution.^ P. 61. ' We reckon this filence enjoined us and other * minilters, inconfiftent with our ordination voivs and engagements, * by which we are bound to afl'ert, maintain, and defend the doftrine, * worlhip, Prefbyterian government, and difcipline of this church : * For, hew can we be faithful to our ordination voivs and en<^agcn/ents, * and yet be filent fpedtators of the deep wound that is ^ivcn to our * Prejbyterian covjlitution, not only by the Aft of Aifembly 1732, * but by all the other above-mentioned procedintjs of the judicatures * ot this church,' Ihid. • All the minifters of this church when — * ordained — do foleranly promife and engage, and fubfcribe it with * their hands, that they fliall, to the utmoft of their power, in their * ftation, alfert, maintain, and defend the doflrine contained in our * Confefjion cf Faith, and our Prefbyterian church-government and « difcipline ; and that they fhall never endeavour, diredlyor indiredly, * the prejudice or fubverfion of the fame. Can the prevailing party « have the affurance to affirm, or will any — believe, that the above * particular inftances — have peithera direifl: nor indirect tendency to * the prejudice and fubverfion of the doftrine contained in our Con- * feffjn of Faitht or of our Prefbyterian church-government and « dilcipfine ?' P. 63. • The prevailing party in our church judica- * tories, will not allow us to maintain a proper teftimony in a way * of minifterial communion with them againfl tlieii- prefent fleps of « deletion and backfiidingj and therefore — we are laid under a ne- * ceflity to lift up a Teftimony, in a w-ay c\^ Seccfion from them a- * gainft the prefent current of defediou, whereby our onjjitution is * fubverted, our do5ts of this church, with a defign to fhow, that the fyftem of ecclefiailical po- Jity, which was at that time adopted, and of which they fo loudly complained, was in diredl oppoHtion to each of thefe ; and there- fore incompatible with the interelt of the church. The condufl of the Judicatories fince that time, and the prefent ftate of religion in Scotland, will fhow whether or not the Seceding Minifters were in the right, when they afferted, that the leading party in the church were purfuing fuch meafures as diredly tended to corrupt the doc- trine of our excellent Confeffion of Faith, and to prevent the exer- cife of government and difcipline, which, in all ages, have been found to be a neceffary guard againft the infidious attacks oi here~ tics 2.nA feducers. The candid reader of the preceding papers, who refufeth to fubftitule prejudice in the place of his reafon, will now be able to judge, whether or not the greater part of thofe evils, which were apprehended by the Seceding Miniders about forty years ago, have adlually befallen this church, and operated with tlie Pxiofl powerful influence on the temper of many of her miailters, the ge- nius of many of her dodlrines, and the principles upon which fhe hath proceeded in her fupreme decifions. — Thefe principles are bal known by their moral influence. R r 2 go8 Conclusions *Dedu€ible II. That the grounds upon 'which the SeceJJionJfands, are fueh as the lu^/rd of God luill admit to he relevant, in any Jimilar cafty and n'/i'.'ife repugnant to the confatution of this national church. The reigning fafliion of the times may di(5tate, and prejudice may pro- nounc; fenieace upon the condudt of individuals, placed in particu* lar circumftanLCS, calling g-jod evil, and evil good i but if the oracles of iiit.iilibility Hre allowed to be the tell of truth in any cafe, it muft, •with particular propriety, be in thit of r-ligious fentiments. It is not, therefore, v/!iat the Seceders thsmfelves have faid for the vali- ditv of the grounds of their Secefilon, nor what thofe of an opinion verydifferent from theirs, have advanced on thisfubje(n, that ought to be admitted as decifive evidence on either fide; but the precife queftion is. What faith the Spirit of God unto the churches ? The alFertions of any man, or fociety of men, are to be received as true, only in fo far as they are fupported by the fupreme Judge of all con- troverfies, — the Spirit of God fpeaking in the fcriptures. How far the Seceflion ftands upon thofe grounds, that are fupported by holy l-ripture ; and v/hether the doHrines, government, and difci' fline of the church of Chrift, under the New Teftament, are main- tained with greater purity, ftriftnefs, and impartiality, in th': efta- blifhed church, th^in in the Seceflion, the unprejudiced world hath long been at liberty to judge. The Seceders will chearfully fubmit to trial before this tribunal; and are no ways afraid of the confe- quences. III. That no NEW Principles, or Terms -j/" Communion, dif- ferent from thofe of the church of Scotland, njjere ever adopted by the Seceding Minijlers ; and therefore it is as ungenerous, as it is unjufi, to call the Secc(Uon a Schism in this church, or the Seceders Secta- ries. If tiie Seceders U id advanced any ticw doflrines, or adopted principles uukno'-vn in this church, it had been eafy for their oppo- nents to have adduced this as the odenfible reafon, fcT proceeding agaiiifi: them with the higlielt cenfurcs. This, however, was never alledgcd to be any bianch of their fnppofcd crime. They were cenfured, becaufe hey rehifed fuljmifllon to an eccleliaflical autho- rity, witli which, they were well perfuadcd, the church of Chrift was never invefteJ ; and becaufe they held facred the obligation of their ordination vows, which folemniy bound them fo a ftedfaft ad- herence to the principles and conllitution of this church, in oppofi- tion to whaifoever haih a tendency to dcftroy either the one or the other. AifluateJ by a fcnfe of the fupreme authority of Jefus Chrili, the otxly King an.l Lawgiver of his church, they du!ft i;ot refnfe to lei'S" agaiiiil tli.- encr^ achments that were made upon his royal pre- rogative, when laws were enadcd in his church to which he had never given his afTcnt; and were calculuod not to promote the edi- fic^^tion ot hisdilriplcs but to accnmplilh the dcftruiflion of that 1> (Icm of government and difcipline which he hath delivered to them in Iris word. When the Seceding Minillcrs were, by an arbi- trary extrt'on of this alRimed ccclcfirtllical authority, aftually caft out oi" tlie citabUfhed church, for no other reafon but becaufe they from the foregoing Tracts.! 309 would not countcraft their ordination vows, and fubmit to thofe rcftraints which were then laid upon minifterial liberty and freedom, they found themfeives obliged, by thefe very vows, to declare their Seceflion from the prevailing party ; but they, at the fame time, de- clared their ftedfafl; adherence to the principles received by this church, as founded on the word of God, and exhibited in the Con- feffion of Faith, Catechifms larger and fliorter. Form of Prefbyte- rial church government, and Diredory for worftiip. Under the in- fluence of thefe principles they declared their Seceflion ; and agree- able to thefe, they have hitherto been helped of God, in fome mea- (ure, amidft numerous weaknefl'es and infirmicles, to difpenfe the or- dinances of Chrift, to all thofe under their infpedtion, who pnifefs to contend earnejily for the faith which ivas or.ce delivered to the faints : and they will chearfully hold church-fellowfhip with all thofe who profefs a cordial attachment, and whofc praiftice is correfpondent to that fyftem of dodlrine, worfh'p, government, and difcipline, which is revealed to the church by Jefus Chrlft in his word; an open a- vowal of which, and adherence to it, was declared in the moft fo- Ismn manner, in the National Covenant and Solemn League. Thefe are their terms of communion; and they are apt to think they are the very fame with thofe held by the church of Scotland, in every period of the Reformation : and what is of unfpeakable greater moment, they think they are perfeclly agreeable to the word of God, and revealed will of Jefus Chrift, who commands us, that luhereto ive have already attained, we are to nvalk by the fame rule, and mind the fame thing; and they believe it will be always true, ihat^j many as 'walk according to this rule, peace fhall be on them, and mercy, and upon the Ifrael of God. — It will not, they apprehend, be an eafy taflc to fhow from the holy fcriptures, the impropriety, or abfurdity of excluding from their communion, in fealing ordinances, all thofe who are either o ■'.n enemies, or fecretly diflaffeded to that fyftera of revealed truth, juft now mentioned ; and will not fubmit to thofe minillrations, that are agreeable to, and confident with it. — And they are further of opinion, and think they are able to prove it, that their terms of communion are as extenfive as the word of God wjll admit. Their Seceflion, therefore, is not a Schifm\x\.x\it. church; for they never feceded from the principles and conftitution profefled and e(lHbli(hed at the Reformation and Revolution; but, upon every occafion, declare their fledfaft adherence to thefe, in oppofition tf> the prevailing party who have receded from them. Indeed, if the minor part of a church, adhering to her received and eftablifhed principles, according to the word of God, in oppofition to the major part, who are uniformly deviating from thefe principles, can with any truth or propriety of language, be called Schifinatics, the Se- ceders undoubtedly deferve that name : but it is prefumed, from the very nature of things, and according to every rule of fair reafon- ing, that the Imputation of fchifm will never be fixed on thofe who are endeavouring to cleave to the received principles of the church; but on thofe wha relinquifli them in almofl; every inftance. 310 Conclusions 'Deducihle It is as little true, that the Seceders are SeHarics^ till the efta- blifhed meaning of words is overthrown. They hold no ngiv opini- ons with regard to doflrine, worlhip, difcipline, and government, different from thofe adopted by the church of Scotland in her excel- lent ftandards, which they believe to be agreeable to the word of God. They never thought, however, that the church of Scotland is con- fined within the walls of twelve hundred, or even twelve thoufand houfes legally endowed; and thiit all who do not worlhip God, and receive the feals of the covenant within thofe walls, are without the pale of the national church. They diftinguifh between the received principles, and the avowed praflicc of a church. Thc;,y are clearly of opinion, that whoever they be that profefs and endeavour to maintain the received principles of the church of Scotland, in regard to do(ftrine, worfhip, government, and difcipline, — thefe are a branch of that church, be their name before the world what it will. Although they do not enjoy the benefit of the prefent eftablifhmcnt, they deteft and abhor every fpecics of rebellion againft their lawful Sovereign, under whatever mafk it may appear. They will yield to none of their fellow-fubjefls in loyalty and attachment to his prefent Majcfty, and the Protectant intereft : and they will bear with Chrl- ftian patience, the undeferved names of Schifmatics and SeSiaries, which are fometimes unjuftly bellowed upon them, in the face of a General AlTembly; while, at the fame, they hold fuch language to be as illiberal, as it is uncaudid. IV. That if the grounds of Seceffion nuere "relevant in the year 1733, as appears from tii preceding TraBs, they are confiderahly EXTENDED fince that period ; and therefore there is no renfon to re- cede from thernt hut every reafon in the ivor/d, to 7?iaintaiii the prefent Secejfton upon thefe grounds 'which are fill enlatjing. They mud have very little acquamtance with the prefent Hate of the ellabliflied church in Scotland, who do not know that flie hath undergone a very vifible change within thefe forty or fifty years part. Thofe who were faithful fervants of Jefus Chrift, in the work of the golpel, are, in many places, fucceded by men whofe charafter and religious fentimcnts are extremely different from thofe of their prcdeccllors. Doiftrines that are no lefs derogatory to the honour, glory, and Godhead of the Son of God, than dangerous to the fouls of men, arc openly preached and printed, in fome places ; the cxercife of difcipline is, by many, either omitted, or accommodated to the temper of the times; the opprcffive and unfcriptur.d law of patro- nage is executed with an inllexible rigour, in fpitc of repeated rc- monflrances from reclaiming congregations ; the feals of the cove- nant are prollituted by a promifcuous admillion of thofe who are, by the revealed will of Clirilt, totally unqualified to receive them, and are therefore inadmiflible by his miiiillcrs ; a difrcgard, il not a contempt of Rridtnefs in a profellion nr priiiflice of religion, is become almoU univcrfal. — Thefe arc mclancholly truths, the knowledge of which is within the rcacli rf the meunefl individual; and upon lup- poliiioii that the Sccelhon was groundlcfs, at liie peiiod iu which it from the foregoing Tracts. 311. comfltvnced, they afFord the mofl; undeniable grounds for it in the prefent age. And notwithftanding ihe current language of the times, it is not eafy to conceive, how the purity and peace of con- fcience are confiftent with fubmiffion to thofe ecclefiaftical decifions ■which, in their very nature, deprive it of an opportunity to difchargc its duty by an open and faithful teftimony againft them. It is lub- mitted to the impartial world, if there be another method by which- the confcience properly informed, and regulated by the divine law, can exoner itfelf fo fully and confidently, in bearing teftlmony a- gainft the above and other evils, as in a (late of SeceJJion from the prefent judicatories of this church. If thefe lad have refufed mem- bers the liberty of giving a faithful teftimony for the truths of God, it is the unqueftionable duty of all, who wifli to be faithful to God and pofterity, to come out from them : and it may not be improper for them, in the mean time, ferioufly to confider, whether their con- tinuance in thefe judicatories is not, in fome meafure, at the expence oi truth, 2inA ■^. good confcience. V. That if Scceders are candid in their profefion of religion, they are under the firongej} obligations to hold fast that profejfioii 'without 'wavering. The unftedfadl conduft of many who belong to the Se- ceflion, is a plain contradidion cF their profeffion. Having joined themfelves to that body, it is to be hoped, in charity, that they have acted from a fenfe of duty, being perfuaded that the declarative glory of Chrift, and their own edification, will be more advanced in that communion, than in any other. If they have not afted under the influence of thefe motives, their condudl in joinin^: the Seceffion is irrational and abfurd : but being once firmly perfuaded of the propriety of their choice, all unlledfaftnefs in that profeffion of reli- gion, which they have embraced, is no lefs irrational and improoer. If there is nothing amifs in the eftablifhed church, why have they forfaken her communion ? If the grounds of Seceffion are valid, as their very profeffion fiippofeth, what can they plead in defence of their conduft while they join in ordinances difpenfed in the efta- bliftied church i" Pliability of fentiment, and a dudile conducft, are not the moft likely means to promote Reformation. If we take our eftimate of thefe from the fuccefs with which they have been attended in the eftabifhed church, we fliall be apt to conclude that they are better calculated to harden the prevailing party, than reclaim them from their prefent praftice. Stedfaltnefs in their profeffion, and unanimity of fentlment among Seceders, with gofpel hniinels ihining in their converfation, would be the mofl; unanfwerable defence of their principles. This, by the divine bleffing, might perhaps be a mean of bringing the judicatories of this church to a cool and im- partial review of thofe rigorous and opprefjivs adminifrationsy which have driven fuch a number of profeffed Chriftians from the bofom of the eftablilhed church, and divided Prefbyterians into fo many dif- ferent denomiaations. This again might pave the v/ay for the Re- formation of the church of Scotland, in fuch a manner as would in- tirely remove the prsfent Grounds of Seceinon from her judicarurl^s. 312 Conclusions 'Deducthle, &c. when Seceders would with joy return into the arms of their mother, accounting it one of the molt fmgular felicities of their time, to fee her lookitig forth as the inorning, fair as the vioont char as the fun^ and terrible as an army luith banners. May the Lord hafteu it ia his time, by accomplifhing, in all its extent, that precious declara- tion of his grace and love, Ifa. xliv. 3, 4, 5. For I nut 1 1 pour miater "Upon him that is thirjiy, and floods upon the dry ground : I 'will pour my Spirit upon thy feedy and tny blejfing upon thine off-fpring : /Ind they floall fpring up as among the grafs, as 'willoivs by the ivater-courfes. One fhall fay, I am the hordes ; and another fhall call hwiftlf by the name of Jacob ; and another floall fubfcribe •with his hand unto the Lordy and fur name himfelf by the name of Ifracl. FINIS. ERRATA et CORRIGENDA. Page 60. line 31. for is, read as. — page 91. 1. 18. after »«, add their. — p. 94. I. II. I. pretend. I. i*. t. judge. 1. laft, r. bkod. — p. iii. 1. la. r. men. p. 114. I. laft. r. apojlks. p. i3x. 1. 33. r. kne-w. p. 139. 1. 6. r. aBs. p. 154. 1. S- r. him. p. 160. 1. 13. r. are. p. 179. 1. 38. f. a per j on, r. perfons. p. 194. 1. 3I. r. generats. p. 197, 1. 30. r. paramount, p. 105. 1. x6. r. iegitimum. p. 130. I. 13. after and, add inclinable. 1. 16. r. have. p. 13$. 1. xS. r. declared^, p. 137. 1. 17. and 35. r. legijlature. p. 141. 1. laft, after on, add the. p. 143. 1. 36. r. confJerutior.s. p. i,so. 1. 5. r. leave, p. 153. I. 33. r. fathers, p. tCC. 1. a. from the foot, after no, i^i. more. p. a<58. 1. 17. r. than that. \ V. }f m ^^^''' I ^-. t*