w ~H t o/C. / 1 / ( Crpt'O til** f/ S<+^* 1'" Otcit im I Citl* V- Asvocxc <*£*<}<* */*/&<■ &*Uf£*&t*~ Xy/yisO &L '7 by (t«Uv <2/y*>*f oil** £ +/6** e*e*ff ***** C INTRODUCTION. vll Compofure for confidering what they were doing. At length, when the Vote feemed to be juft coming on, a Proteft was taken as follows. " Mr. Gib craved, that, in order to the faid Quef- " tion's having a diftine*t Senfe, fo as a Judgment of Synod by " a Vote thereupon may be a certain Sound of the Trumpet, " that before putting faid Queftion, it be fo laid, as to diftin- " guifh, whether or not a Negative upon the fame mull: extend " unto a determining the late Judgment of Synod not to be a " Term of Communion, notwithstanding whatever Courfe of " Difference from and Oppofition to faid Judgment, in Time ccm- " ing : But as this, after much infilling, could not be obtain- " ed, through Oppofition thereto by the Brethren who were " puihing for a Vote upon the faid Queftion ;— he therefore " protefted againft putting faid Queftion othermife than as above " infilled for, in regard the doing fo behoved to be manifeftly u irregular and unr e a finable ; and thereupon he took Inftru- " ments : " To which Proteft MelT. Clark/in and Archbald^ Minifters, with Adam Wilfon, Ruling Elder, adhered. After this there was a joint Demand by Members from all Corners of the Houfe, that the Quftion mould be put, Proceed to putting the above Queflion, or, Delay the fame till next Synod P Whereupon immediately five of the Brethren and nine Elders protefted againft putting this Queftion ; and the Vote being ftated, and a Brother being employed to pray for Light and Direction in the Matter, thttfe Brethren withdrew abruptly before Prayer ; and the Vote being put, it eafily carried Delay. Then the Brethren returned : Whereupon the fame five with eleven Elders dijfented from, and proteQed againft the Delay, while there were new fifty Mem- bers prefent. And MelT. Ebcnezer Erjkine and David Horn 9 Minifters, w ith James Bcugo * and John Caddel f, Ruling El rtprc sidh/trpfi tr\ t\ie> fnfm*r "Prnt/aff irriinlr tnt* Smtenr* • Ac +\\* ders, adhered to the former Proteft againft the Sentence ; As the y Synod afterwards delayed calling for the Reafons and Anfwers till next Meeting ; appointing the former Committee to prepare An* Jwers likewife to what additional Reafons fhould be given in.- — And thus, after the Synod had been driven on till about three of the Clock in the Morning, as Men plunged in Mire and Wa- ter, little capable of confidering what was in Hand, did begin, in the above Vote of a Delay, again to get up their Heads, breathe, and look about. After the faid Meeting of Synod, the Brethrens ado againft the Sentence was much increafed. Notes were uttered in Pulpits, about removing Land-marks, about Satan's Squeebs thrown in, and other- v Iii 1 NTRO DUCTIO N. otherwife; which were commonly underftcod to be all Tevttti againfr. the Synod, in the prefer: t Cor.troverfy. Some Brethren or' the other Side, who had been filent for a Time, in publick, upof the Affair, and understanding how People were coftie to b< entertained as above, did then eflay in publick to vindicate tlit Synod's Conduct. And this gave very great Offence, as appear 6y ftrange Remarks publifhed upon Notes of fome of their Ser mons ; to which a Reply was alfo publifhed, chiefly in fhewing the Warrantablenefs of the Sentence. After thefe Remarks, there came out from other two of the Protefters, a Review of a Pam- phlet that had been publiihed by a private Hand^ upon the Sub'- jecl: of the Burgefs-Oath. But the Remarks and Review will fpeai fbr themfeives, as to the Principles and Spirit in which they are Titrate ; as it muft be remembred, concerning the Review, that the private Author therein immediately dealt with, is confidered as bringing forth the Arguments that have been ufed by Me iff Synod, upon the Affair : Wherefore the extraordinary arid Rifttendfi wherewith he is there treated, mull be confidered • as aimed agalrm the Synod: Likewife Copies of the Realbns <3f Proteit were let out, through different and diftant Corners of the Country, among Elders and others. Thu; uatters went on, till the Meeting of Synod in April Iaf: ; ftf which Preparation had been made by the forefaid Conduct, and to which about thirty Elders were got up, double the Num- ber of what had ever been up at any Meeting of Synod before the Sentence was palled. And then indeed the Chad was come to great Darknefs and Blacknefs ; that none could for a Time con- tfeive, how it might break or be difpelled. At opening the Affair, arid after fome Reafoning about it, the Brethren came to lay their Queftion m a new Shape, about tranfmitting the Affair to Pref- tyteries and Kirk-SeJJions, on the Footing of what were called Barrier-acts. It is laid afterwards, p. 120. that it had been ftre- itooufly and importunately urged to forbear any Sentence, until the faid Barrier-acJs Jhould be obferved. But indeed it cannot be re- membred, that even fuch A&s were mentioned, or that ever there was any urging that way, before the Sentence. It is indeed re- inembred, that a Rev. Father, at the fir ft Meeting of Synod Where the Affair was entered on, fuggefted a Propofai of tranf. mitti fig the lame in an Overture to the Presbyteries; upon which it was obferved, that a Synod was no more a delegate Coiir : ; a Presbytery ; and more o( \\\\s Affair is not known to have 1 heard of However, their Queftion, a. , came to be ftrongly infifted on : And when a Vote was comiag to pafs up- on thepreviotts Queftion, whether theirs, or. that about .proceed- INTRODUCTION. Ik ing to the Reafons and Anfwers, fhould be put ? (after there had been objecting to no Purpofe againft their Cap acity of voting in fuch a Queftion, being dire^ly Parties), as a Preparative in the Cafe, one of the Brethren advertifed all prefent, that the Confequence of proceeding to the Reafons and Anfwct$ t behoved to be tile haying them brought to the Bar. and excommunicate ©r dtpofed. But the Progrefs of the Affair at that Time, fha'U be referred td the Accounts given afterwards. The Procedure in the Affair of the two Refohtions was evident- ly fo diforderly, and inconfiftent with the Conflitution of the Court , as obliged to the Step which was taken on Thurfday's Night. But much more did it oblige thereto, when taken into Connection w ith the Matter in hand. The Sentence of Synod, which was left profeiTedly and formally ftanding, doth find upon the Matter, and it will be found afterwards furhciently made out, That a prefent fwearing the religious Claufe of fome Burgefs oaths, is openly contradictory unts, and a material Abjuration of the whole of the Teftimony in the Secefllon. And however covertly the fecond Refolution be worded and laid, it will not readily be de- nied, that the Deilgn in propofing the Tranfmijfwn from Barrier- atls, was to have the Sentence got razed altogether in the IfTue. Aad it cannot be denied, that the Refolution materially reverfed the Sentence, fo as it fhould not in the mean time be reckoned fuarrellable for Seceders further to fwear BurgeCs-oaths with the religious Claufe, or for Minifters and Seffions to proceed in Cove- nanting, in direct Oppofition unto the Sentence. And feeing the Matter flood as above, as there behoved to be fomething done in oppofition to fuch awful Wsrk, fo nothing could have been regularly done in the IJfue, but what was done; becaufe the Refelution could not be reckoned really the Deed of a Court fo as to be piotefted againft with fitting Jlill, fuppofing that could have been an adequate Teftimony other wife ; feeing, qs neither Moderator nor Clerk were actually officiating in the Mat- ter, none but twenty (among near fixty Members prefent) voted In it, feven of whom were Parties, and thus there were only thirteen Me;:, (according to the Style of the Reafons, Page i 1 5-.) 1 but three cf 'them Minifters, real Voters, while twenty three c previoufly Protefiers againft the Vote altogether, both as to Matter and Manner of it : And when this was the Cafe, as the. Step taken was neceffariiy fhv.t up to, fo it could not, in the Na- ture of it, haVre been any longer delayed. z it c:.nnot but be molt incor.fijlent, to blame the ir.ft the Refolution, without blaming alio the y are wbplly ?, that they K INTRODUCTION. they muft flcind aa \ fall together. And as to the Impeachment that the Synod has been boldly laid under, of Covenant-breaking by the Procedure ufed againit the prevailing Party at that Time; it is evidently molt unaccountable, to coaftruct of our Covenants as binding to Unify, otherwife than along with Truth, and the Teftimony of Jefus : And Unity in tppofition to that Teflimony, is Co far from being zftrengthning one anothers Hands, that it is a moll: evident weakning of them as to the Lord's Work, and a fuffering Sin to ly upon one another, contrary to all the mutual Faithfulnais that our Covenant-engagements bind to. It was once defigned here to have taken fome particular No- tice of that particular Cppofition to, and impugning of our received Teflimony, in fome late Prints and otherwife, which is now breaking openly forth upon the Side ©f the Defence of the Burgels-oath in its religious Claufe, and of the Refactions ; very agreeably unto the Nature of that Catife : But thefe Things [hall be now iuper- feded. And likewife fundry Remarks, which were in View, a- bout the fad Verification that is now to be found on the other Side, of fome Charges that were mod groundlefly laid againft the Synod, as to the Method of \\\e\r Pipcedure, lhali be dropt. * The Synod, after the Acls averting their. Conflitution and Rights, appointed a Jy nodical Fafl, which was pubiickly obfer- ved oiiTuefavy the 14th, in conjunction with the Body of the Aflbciate Congregation at Edinburgh. On IVednefday Forenoon the 15th, after the Att condemning the fir fl Refolution, the Synod went immediately out to the Church, entred on the Recfons and Anfuers, fpent that Day upGn them till very late ; as alio. the next Day, all but a Sederunt at Night ; and thus came to approve of the Ar/wers, i hen corrected and amended, as taking ojf the pretended Force of the Reafns. Likewife en IVednefday the 15th, " At the Afternoon's Sederunt, after reading the Mi- " nutes of the Friday before, and the Sederunt of the Forenoon " of that Day, Mr. John Cleland of the Aflbciate Presbytery li of Gtafgoiv, who came not up till that Week, being prefent, " and having heard the whole read, declared his Satisfaction ?' therewith, craving hereupon to be added unto the Roll of that " Meeting •, which was done accordingly." After the Acts on Thur/dayh Night condemning tie fecond Re- Jolution, and concerning the Miniflers and Elders frejently in a Way of feparating from the Aflbciate Synod; on the Friday, a Faft was appointed to be obferved on the 27th of May, Millions were appointed for London and Ireland, the three young Men who had been on Trials before the Aflbciate Presbytery of Ghif ZoiV; were remitted t,o that of Edinburgh ; and an Extract of the INTRODUCTION. 5d Synod's A&s at this Time was appointed to be lent to the Pre£ byteries and Scflions, for being ingroffed in their Minutes, at the full Sederunt after coming to Hand ; and fome Pieces of private Bufinefs were confidered. Likpwife the two Queflions following were unanimoufly added to the Formula of Queftions to be put to young Men before Licence, and Minifters before Ordination, viz. Qneft. i . " Are you fatisfied with, and do you purpofe to adr u here unto and maintain the Principles about the prefent Ci- " vil Government which are declared and maintained in the Af- " fociate Presbytery's Anjwers to Mr. Nairn, with the Defence * thereunto fubjoined i n Queft. 2. " Do you acknowledge and promife Subjection to u this Presbytery, in Subordination to the AiTociate Synod, as M prefently constitute in a Way of teftifying againft the finful " Management of the prevailing Party in the Synod, at fome of " the firft Diets of their Meeting at Edinburgh \ in April 1747, " or other Presbyteries in that Subordination, as you fhall be " regularly called ; and do you approve of, and purpofe to ad- " here unto and maintain ihe faid Teftimony, in your Station and " Capacity •, and do you approve of, and purpofe to adhere un- " to and maintain, according to your Station and Capacity, the * Sentence of Synod, in April 1746, concerning the religious " Claufe of fome Burgefs-Oaths, and that in Opposition to all " Tenets or Practices to the contrary ? " Moreover, the Synod appointed, that their ASis at this Time fliould be publijked, agreed that the Reafons and Anfivers fhould be printed along with them ; and they recommended to one of their Number to overfee the Printing, as alfo to give an Intro- duftion and Appendix, with what Notes or Additions other wife he fhould fee proper, — -agreeably to the Tenor of the Synod's Acts and Proceedings. Thus that Meeting of Synod was harmonioujly concluded. Since which Time, the Rev. MelT. David Smyton. at Kilmaurs, John Erjkine at Leflev, and Ifaac Paton at Temple- Patrick in Ireland, have heartily coucurred with, and efpoufed their ,\&s and Proceedings, in Subordination unto them ERRATA. TTf 4ge 13. Jfttf 19. read Burgefs-Oaths. /; i^. /. 22. r. JL Art. />. 28. /. 26. after any add oi. p. 43. /. 10. r» Compliment. /. 52. //J /£. 55*. /. 3. r. Commiflioners. />. 60. /. 38./. Law- yers r. Layers. /. 99. /. 37. r. 1638. />. 101, /. 9. r. neeef- farily. /. 106. /. 24. r. legal. /. 40. r. Mens. />. 107. /. 29. r. formerly ./>. 108. /. 8. r. be. /. 10, r* by. />. Hi. /. 1. r. imdei-mined. p. 1 18. /. 22. r. 1650. w MS /AV» /,v\ /y»\ /a-A /*M /AV\ , /^S />*> /A\\ /*wt\ //KV / A\\ Ytt\ v\fin this Meeting, who arc the proper Judges in a Con- " trpverfy of Faith and Cafe of Corifciencc, and who could be u Judges in the prelent Convroverfy, have been all along at this -ting contending for the proper Bufiuefs and Duty of the ** Synod, in Qppefition to the contrary Torrent : Therefore I -, Milliter of the Gojpcl at OrweU do hereby DE • * CLARE and PROTEST, That the \awjvl Authority and ver of the Ajjociaie Synod is DEVOLVED upon, and muft v LIE in a conlfitute Meeting of the foreiaid Mtmkers\ Mi* ers and Elders, together with any other Members Who lhall " cleave unto thrm, in a \\ T i\ of confefling what finfui Steps f and Compliances they have fallen into upon this Occafion : As •' likewife I DECLARE and PROTEST, That' the foiefaid " Members ought, in Duty to die Lord and his Heritage, to 6 ASf ajjirting the Confiitution, ■ &c. " take up and ever cife the Authority and Power of the Aflbcnu " Synod, lawfully and fully devolved upon them as above, " and for this End, to meet To-morrow at ten of the Clock " Forenoon, in Mr. Gib\ Houfe, that they may regularly en- *• ter upon and proceed in the Bufinefs of the Synod : And whereas the Miniflers and Elders here prefent, are con* veened in Confequcnce of the forefaid DECLARATION and PROTESTATION, the Meeting was conftitutc as above. It was then propofed by Way of Overture, " That the Synod " mould, according to the forefaid Declaration and Prvteftatiori, " fr.i the lawful Authority and Power of the Aflociate. Synod, to " be lawfully and fully devolved upon them, and tying among ** their Hands; and thcmfelves the only lawful and rightly con* " flltute Afhciate Synod with the (aid Authority and Power ; and M obliged, in Duty to the Lord and his Heritage, to exercife the " fame, for lupporting and carrying on the Teftimony which " the Lord has put into the Hands of the Aflociate Synod, in Op- " pbfition to the material dropping, and attorning of, at leift for a ' " Time, a material Abjuration of this whole Teftimony, by the • Reflations forefaid, and the Method of carrying the fame. " Whereupon, the faid Overture being read onc^ and again ; and after ferious Deliberation, and Prayer by a Brother for Light and Direction in this Matter, the Queftion was put, Approve of the faid Overture, or not P And it carried unanimously Approve ? Wherefore the Synod approve of this Overture ; as they D i d and hereby do find, according to the forefaid Declara- tion and Protestation, That the lawful Authority and Power of the Aflociate Synod, is lawfully and fully devolv- f. d upon taem, and lies among their Hands -, That they are the O^'LY LAWFUL AND RIGHTLY CONSTITUTE ^ jociate Sjsnoi, with the laid Authority and Power ; and, That they are obliged, in Duty to the Lord and, his Heritage, to exer- cise the fame, far fupporting and carrying on the Teftimony which the Lord has put into the Hands of the Aflociate Synod, in Oppo- Jit ior> 'to the materia 1 dropping, and allowing of, at leaft for a Tune, a material AbjurationoT that whole Teftimony, by the Resolutions forefaid, and the Method of carrying the fame. Extracted by Adam Gib, Syn. Cls. f. t. 4h Ail further averting the Conflitution, &c 7 ,/ Edinburgh, the Tenth Day of April, one TkdufarJ fcven Hun- ' dred and forty fro en Tears. ACT, further asserting the Confiitution end Rights of the Aflbciate Synod. T T was propofed, by Way of Overture, " In confcquence of jL " what has been found at laft Sederunt, for the Synod to " find, That none of the Minifters and Elders, prefently in a Way ? of Separating from the Aflbciate Synod, through turning afidc r. from the lawful Confiitution thereof, and from the Teflimony u among their Hands, ought or can return unto a Seat in this Sy- * nod, but in the Way of confeffing the linful Steps and Compli- a ances which they have feverally fallen into, about the two Re- " foiutlens formerly mentioned, and the Method of carrying the ■ fame : And to find, That none of the Aflbciate Presbyteries, " can be lawful in their Confiitution or Proceedings, but in a " Way of Subordination to this Synod : And to find, That none " of the Aflbciate SefLons can be lawful in their Confutation or K Proceedings, but in a Way of Subordination to this Synod ; or " at leaft, in a Way of waiting, until the State of the prefent " Caufe and Controverfy (hall be got laid particularly open un- u to them : And to find, That only thefe Elders of the refpec- " tive Aflbciate Congregations, who fnall be difpoftd as above, " together with a Minifter in Subordination to this Synod, can 1 " make up the lawful and rightly conftitute Seflions in thefe " Congregations : And, feeing the Majority of Minifters in the 11 Aflbciate Presbytery of Glajgow have been active in carrying " on the forefaid Refolutions, to find, That the faid Aflbciate • f Presbytery of Glafgow cannot be lawful in their Conftitutioa or " Proceedings, nor be lawfully acknowledged as fuch, by any " who are cleaving to the Lord's Caufe and Teftimony, untU R the faid Presbytery fhall return unto that Caufe and Teitimony, • " in Subordination to this Synod : And to find, That none of " the Miiaifters and Elders forefaid, ought or can return unto a ,c Seat in either of the other two Aflbciate Presbyteries, nor to " moderate or fit in any Aflbciate Seflions, but in the Way of " confeffing the fmful Steps and Compliances which they have 4< feverally fallen into, about the two Refolutions forefaid, and * the Method of carrying the fame : And to find, That none " of the Probationers in the Seceffior}, ought or can lawfully r< preach the Gofpel as Probationers, but in Subordination to " this Synod; nor take Appointments for that End, but form " Pxe> S Att further offer ting the &nffituthn, kc. ° Presbyteries in due Subordination thereunto: And to£ ;j / 44 That the young Men prefently on Trials before the Aii a • • " Presbytery of Glafgow, for Licence to preach the Gofpel as ° Probationers, ought to be remitted unto one or both of the o- «• ther two Afiociate Presbyteries, for this Purpofe : And as the " fbrefaid Minifters and Elders are hereby invited and befeeched* •' in brotherly Love, to return unto their Duty ; fo to find, " That this Synod ought, in due Time, and as the Lord Ihail w clear their Way, to coniider upon calling them unto an Ac* u count for their Conduit forefaid, according to the Order an4 " Difcipline of the Lord's Houfe ; providing they (hall not rcturr* " to this Synod, in the Way of ConfelKng the finful Steps an4 41 Compliances which they have ieverally fallen into, as above. " Whereupon, the above Overture beng read over, and then the; feveral Articles thereof being, one by one, read and ferioufly deliberated upon, and then the whole being again read over ; af- ter Prayer by a Brother for Light and Direction in this Matter, the Queftion was put, Approve offaid Overture^ or not ? And it carried unanimoally Approve : Wherefore the Synod approve • of this Overture-, as accordingly they d i D and herebvp o IiND, That none of the Mirtifters and Elders, prefently in a Way offeparct'ulgftorci the Afjhcicie Synod, through turning afide. from the lawful Conjlitution thereof, znd from the feflimony among their Hands, ought or cm return unto a Seat in this Synod, but in the Way of confefnng the finful Steps and Compliances which they have (everally fallen into, about the/200 Refolutions formerly mentioned, and the Method of carrying the fame : And they F 1 N D, That none of the Affhciate Presbyteries can be lawful in their Conftitution or Proceedings, but in a Way of Subordinati- on to this Synod : And they find, That none of the Affoci- ate Seffions can be lawful in their Conftitution or Proceedings, but in a Way of Subordination to this Synod ; or at lead, in a Way of waiting, until the State of the prefent Caule and Contro- verfy (hall be got laid particularly open unto them : And they find, That only thefe Elders of the reipective AiTbciate Congre- gations, who (hall be difpofed as abrJe, together with a MiniiUr in Subordination to this Synod, can make up the lawful and rightly conftitute Sefpons in thefe Congregations : And, feeing the Majority of Mimfters in the AiTociate Presbytery of Glafgow have been a&ive in carrying on the forefaid Refolutions, they F 1 x d. That the faid Aflociatef Presbytery of Glafgow cannot be lawful in their Conftitution or Proceedings, nor be lawfully ac- knowledged as fuch, by any who are cleaving to the Lord's Caufe and Tcflimony, until the laid Presbytery lhall return unto that . Caiife A&furthtr aj/crttng the Gbnftitution, &c. 9 uleand Teftimony, in Subordination to this Synod : Artd they F 1 N D,Thal noneof the Minifters and Elders forefaid ought orcan return unto a Seat in either of the other two Aflbciate Presbyteries, nor to moderate ox fit in any Aflbciate Selfions, but in the Way of confelTing the (infill Steps and Compliances which they have jcverally fallen into, about the two Refolutions forefaid, and the Method of carrying the fame : And they find, That none of the Probationers in theSeceffion ought or can lawfully preach the Gofpelas Probationers, but in Subordination to this Synod ; nor take Appointments for that End, but from Presbyteries in due Subordination thereunto : And they find, That the young Men prefently onTrials before the Aflbciate Presbytery ofdajgow, for Licence to preach the Gofpel as Probationers, ought to be re* mitted unto one or both of the other two Aflbciate Presbyteries, for this Purpofe : And as the forefaid Minifters and Elders arc iiercby invited and befeeched, in brotherly Love, to return unto their Dut^ ; fo the Synod find, That thy ought, in due Time, and as the Lord (hall clear their Way, to confider upon calling them unto an Account for their Conduct forefaid, according to the Order and Diicipline of the Lord's Houfe; providing they (hall not return to this Synod, in the Way of confefling the fin - ful Steps and Compliances which they have feverally fallen in- to, as above. Extratted by Adam Gib, Syn. Cls. p. t At Edinburgh, the fifteenth Day of April, One thotifand feven hundred and forty feven Years. ACT condemning the Refolution made in Synod, on Wednefday laflWecL BECAUSE, oh Wednefday lad Week, a Refolution was made irt Synod, that, ihftead of proceeding to call for the Rea* fons of Prot eft agzmii their Sentence in April 1746, about a re- ligious Claufe of fome Burgfes-Oaths, with the Anfiveh to' theft ^.eafons, for being read and confidered,- — they would proceed- unto a Vote upon the following Queftion, viz. Whether the De- Cifion anent the religious Claufe in fome Burgefs-Odths, pdjfe'dby tins, Syno din April 1746, /hall now or afterwards be made a Term of % Minifierial and Chriflian Communion^ ay mid until the making cf 3 m I© Acl condemning the firfl Refolution. the fame to be fe, jhall be referred by Way of Overture unto Prcsby t cries and Kirk-Seffions, in order to their giving their Judgment thereanent ; that Jo there may, in the mean Time, be a friendly dealing among the Members of this Synod with one another, in a Way of Conference and Prayer, in order to their coming, through the Lord's Pity, to fee Eye to Eye in the Matter of the faid religious Claufe j or not ? Therefore though this Synod have, upon the Mat- ter, condemned that Step already ; yet, for the Vindication of Duty, and the Conviction of ail concerned, they judge it necefTary to defcend unto a formal and more particular Condemnation thereof, as a Step very finful md dangerous, in a Way mod unreafonabls and diforderly. For, \fl, It is manifeft, that the Synod could not, according to any due and lawful Order, proceed unto any new Decifion about their Sentence in April 1746, efpecially in Prejudice thereunto, with- out firll calling for and confidering theforefaid Reafons and An£ tvers : Beer, ule other wife it could not regularly appear, whether that Sentence deferred Alteration or Amendment ; and whether •the Opposition made unto it, with the Reflections call upon it, by the Protefters againil it, in the forefaid Queftion, were rea~ finable or not. idly, It is efpecially incumbent upon a Court of ChriiT, to fearchfor, and much more to admit of all proper and necelTary Light, upon the Subjecl of a Queftion to be determined : But the Sentence in April 1746, about the religious Claufe of fome Burgefe-Oaths, is the Subjecl of the forefaid Queftion; To far, that the Queftion was for a material reverjbig of faid Sentence: \ And this Subjecl: could not be brought/i7//-/y on the Field for any fuch Queftion, fo as to have proper and necelTary Light about Truth and Error, Sin and Duty, in the Matter, without calling for and confidering the forefaid Reafons and Anfwers. Where- fore, by carrying the above Refolution, notwithstanding of much Opposition thereunto, the Synod did reffe,fupprefs, and exclude proper and necefTary Light upon the Subject about which they v -cooing to decide. And thus manifeft Jnjury was done to Truth, by refufingto let it have a fair 'hearing; -and by laying a Foundation for having it condemned in the Dark, without the Benefit of its own Light for preventing fuch Condemnation. More- over, this Rejcclion of the Means of Light was contrary to Scrip- ture- precepts, of judging righteous judgment \ fearchhig cficr Knowledge, and walking in the Light ; contrary to a Dependence on Scnpture-promiies, of Light and Leading • as alfo, contrary to the Example of Scripture-prayer, for the Lord's fending forth his Light and Truth. More particularly by the above Procedure, the Acl condemning the fir (I Refolution. 1 1 MQ Oppofers of the Synod's Sentence forefaid, were refufing to come to the Light, that their Deeds might be ma e manifeft. And in all this it fadly appears, that the prevailing Party was not eskinv Un.ierflanding to difcern Judgment, and that there was no Judgment in 4 heir Goings, but that the Lord was provoked to leave them unto Counfids of their own. $d/y, What is above is farther evident, in confidcring, that four of the Minifters then prefent bad not become Members of -Synod, till after the Sentence in April 1746 ; and that few, if any, of the Elders then pr.Jent, had ever been prefent at any ju- dicial Examination of the Matter. Thus, not one half of the Members then prefent, had ever been regularly acquainted with the Caufe, fo as to be capable of Voting in the forclaid "QueftJon, # -tU/7/; Un.lerflanding ; and fome Elders were openly com- plaining, that they were precluded from nectary Acquaintance "^herewith. And mch Procedure, in thefe Circumltrmces, was the more unreafbnable, as it is notorious, that tl*e Reafons of Protefl againft the Sentence, had been let go through feveral Corner^ of the Country, among Elders and others, beforc-hand, whereby People had been imprefled with a Variety of itrange Prejudices a- ga i nil the Sentence ; and which made it peculiarly needful that no Step mould be taken about the Sentence, previous to that of calling lor and confidenng the Reafons and Anfwers, that both 'Sides of the Gaufe might be fairly opened to all concerned. But when, notwi.thitanding of all this, the forclaid Refolution was pufhed and carried, it fadly appeared, that many Members * were wanting to have the Caufe buried at any Rate ; 10 as they rufhedon headlong and blindly in the Matter; without difc-ovc- ring any (ingle Regard to Truth and Duty, though upon a Caufe nearly atfecliag the whole of the Teftimony among our Hands. And in all this it is evident, that the prevailing Party was aw- fully left of God, to behave in open Contradiction to the Name and Tsatureof a Court of Chrifl:. \tbly y The Matter is yet worfe, in confidcring that as the forefaid Relolution was carried by Twenty nine, again ft Twenty two ; (6, of - thefc Twenty niue, eight were neceiTarily Parties, as Protefkrs againil the Sentence; who therefore could not, according to any Rule or . Reafon, have a Vote in the Affair ; and without whofe Vote it would have carried to the other Side : But a Vote therein they would needs have, fo as could not be got prevented : And feeing it carried by their Vote, the Refolution was then highly dforderly. Wherefore, on all the above Grounds, the Synod did and hereby do condemn the Resolution above mentioned, -icp very fnfaf mi dangerous, in * Way meft unreasonable B z *U 12 A& condemning the fir ft Refolutiop. . and diforderly ; And they determine, that, in Qppofition tha>. unto, the Reaibns of Proteft, with the Anfwers to the fame, eught to have been called ior, read, and confidered ; and that it is the Duty of the Synod now te do jo. Extracted by Apam Gib, Sm. Cls. p. t. N. B. The Synod did next call for \ heard read, and judged upon, the Reafons of Proteft again]} their Sentence in April 1 746, with the Anfwers to ihefe Reafiits : But it is thouglrt expedient here, before proceeding unto thefe, that the two following -Acts be in- troduced. ■ ' ■■ 1 ... -1. 1 1 . ■■ — At Edinburgh, the Sixteenth Day of April, One Thoufand J even Hundred and forty f even Years. .ACT condemning the Rofolution made in Synod, on Thurfday lal Week. BEcaufe, on Thurfdsy lad Week, a Refolution was made in Synod, That the Decijion anent the Religious Ciaufe in feme Bur gefs -Oaths, pa (fed by ibis Synod in April 1746, (hall not now or afterwards be made a Term of 'Mimjlerial and Chrijlian Commttn'ton, ay and until the making of the fame to be fo, Jhall be referred by way of Overture unto Preshteriej and Kirk-SfJ/ions, m in order to their giving their Judgment there anent ; that fo the - ?nay, in the mean Time, be a Friendly dealing among the Mem- bers of this Synoi'a with one another, in aJVay of Conference and Prayer, in order ts their coming, through the Lord's Pity, to fee Bye to Eye in the Matter of the f aid Religious Ciaufe f There- fore, though this Synod have, upon the Matter, condemned that Step already ; yet, feeing an heavy Stroke and deep Wound is thereby given unto the whole of the Lord's Cauie and Tcftimo- ny among a witnei'f;ng Body, this Synod judge it neceifary, for the Vindication of that Cauie and Teftimony, and for trie con- viction of all concerned, to defcend unto a formal and more parti- cular Condemnation thcreofasa very (inful and dangerous Step:Bcing a which, though it left the forefaid Sentence of Synod in Jpril 1746 formally fl a ruling, was yet a material Reverting of the lame ; fo that, \wth awful Inconfdiency, it enacled and enjoined an Al- lowance, at ieaft for feme Time, of a Practice which has been and Itill is found to be a Profanation of the Lord's Name ; and Aft contending the feconj Re&lutlon. 13 a material Abjuration of his whole Caufe and Teftimony among the Hands of the Aflbciate Synod ; whereby that whole Cauie and Teftimony was materially dropt : And being a Step which introduced a finful and dangerous Innovation, manifciUy fubver- five of Presbyterian Principles, and Order in the Houfc of God : And being a Step which was carried in a Method fo unfair, un- reasonable, and diforderly, as openly contradicted the Duty, per- verted the Buhnefs, overturned the whole Order, and unhinged the Ccmflitution of the Court: And therefore, being a Step ex- ceedingly diihonourablc to Zion's King. Lord and Lawgiver, and deftru&ive ofb*»s whole Gaufe and Teftimony among a Witnef- iing Body. For, 1 //, Though that Refolution left the forefaid Sentence of Synod in April 1740 formally /landing, yet it was a material R ever fin? of the fame, as is manifeft inconiidering what follows. The Protefters againft the Sentence, by whom this Refolution was prqpofed, pu/hed and carried, do, in their Reajvis of Protelh jniiit for zReycrfino of the' Sentence ; and that the Judgment cf Synod about the Re.igious Claufe of fome Burgcfs-Oath is, ac- cording to the Sentence, ma 'e a Term of Minifterial and Christi- an Communion: But, as they have never iniifted for an explicit pr formal Reverfing of the Sentence ; (6 they propofed the fore- said Refolution for reverting it materially, by unmaking what they reckon the Sentence makes. Accordingly, as they plead in their ReafonsofProteft, that, in the Sentence, a new Term of Com* ' munion is Jet up by the Synod, and that an excluding of fome • People from Communion docs inevitably follow from the Sen- tence; fo the Resolution carried by them mull be for reverfing what they reckon is done by the Sentence, and inevitably follows from it ; and muft therefore be for making the Sentence mareri- ;:./. Agam, it is well known, that, when they introduced the Queftion for this Refolution, they did not refufc, but ac- knowledge, that the Import thereof was to make the Sentence. void as to any Eft'eSl, tho' left Handing in the Minutes. More* over it is as well known, that the Refolution was fpecially laid, as it evidently ft amis, in an immediate Opposition to the Cop- tlufion in the Sentence, about thole who are, or might have Oc- casion to become eagn^cd in Burgefs-Oaths, with the Religious Claufe ; and the reverfing of this Conclulion doth reduce the Sea- >ence unto a vain Shadow. Accordingly, the Resolution was ar- gued for by all who pufhed it, and is manifeft ly laid, in imme- Oppoiirion, at leaft for a Time, unto the alleging of any V a rreement 'Jiilcnt with and contradictory to a fwearing the Bond for renewing our Covenants , fo far, That, as the laid Oath of the Covenant avouches the whole Caufc and Teflimony of Chrifl in" a witnciling Way ; 10 the other Oath doth materially abjure that whole Caufe and TcfHmony, as it (lands in a Way of open ritnetBrtg againft the manffaid Defections and Corruptions in the prefent national Profeffion and Settlement of Religion Where- fore, by the iorefaid Refill ion, there is a judicial Allowance, at leaft for a Time, of materially abjuring hat Caufe and Tef'imony of Chrlit, and of profaning his Name by fwearing Oaths that are int 11 fiffent and contra li tio ry . Bur further, the State in which Matters were left in the AlToci- ate Synod, by that Refolution, feems without any Paralel ; and of fuch a dieadful Nature, as may sfftonifh the prefent and after Generations. For, on the one Hand, the Sentence in April 1746, was/ Manner propofed and infilled upon the following Qucilioii, • Whether theDeci/ion anent the religious Clau/e in fine Burgefs* Oaths, pa/fed by this Synod in April 1746, /halt now or afterwards be wade a Term of Miniflerial and Chriflian Communion, ay and til the making of the fame to be fo, /hall h referred by Way of Overture unto Presbyteries and Kirk-Se/jions, inoi'der to their gh- Judgment thereanent; 1 7; it Jo there may, in the mean Time, if a friendly dealing among the Members of this Synod with one another, in a Way of Conference and Prayer, in Order to their coming, through the Lord's Pity, to fee Eye to Eye in the Matter ef the fa/ J religious Clau/e; or not P And who pufned for an immediate palling of a Vote upon their Queftion ; to an excluding the proper and im- mediate Bufinefs of the Synod about the foreferid Sentence, in cal- ling f©r, confidering and judging upon the Reafbns of Proteft a- . gainfl it, with the An/wers to thefe Reafons ; and to an excluding all private Caufes (except one which, with Difficulty, was got taken in) tho' Parties were attending, fome of them from remote Places of the Kingdom, and others from Ireland : And who ftill pufned their Queltion ; tho' the native and proper Queflion, for any that were againlt the Warrantablenefs of the Synod's Sentence, was, Reverfe the Sentence, or not? And though their Queftion, as laid, could not be put, according to Presbyterian Principles : And who proceeded ftill in their d\f orderly Courfe, by rejecting the Declarations made, that it was net the View of 20 A which is the alone Ru j e of the Procedure of Courts conftitute in his Name, but in o- pen Contra ditlion to the fame ; and that by their obftinate fubvert* ing of that Order which Chrift, as the God of Order, hath commanded tobeobferyedin his Houfe, which is the Church tf the living God;- — They are highly censurabl e, — and have thenar felves, by this Mal-adminiftration, fallen from all Right and Title to any prefent actual Exercife of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, committed by the Lord Jelus to the Office-bearers of his Houfe,- — <— ay and until they be fenfible of the Sinfulnefs of their above Conduct, acknowledge the fame to the Glory of God, and return unto their Duty to him. Ext railed by Adam Gi?, Syn. Cls. p. /, ^ N S V £ JL S *3 Answers by the Ajfociate Sinod, ; T O Ke.asoksc/Dissent from, ^Protest againft, the S e n- xencs of I hid Synod, at Edinburgh, April 9. 1746. con-' kerith'g a rel'tgkus Clavfe in feme Burgefs-Oaths ; hy the Reve- rend Matters, Ralph Erskine at Dunfermline, James Fiiher ct Glafgow^ William Hutton at Stow, Henry Erskine, at Falkirk, and John M'Cara at Bruntshields, Minijlers of the Go/pel; with James Wardlaw at Dunfermline, and William Robertfcn at Edinburgh, ruling Elders. AMong the fad and fearching Providences of our Day, it is Matter of peculiar Concern and Grief, that the late Sen- tence of Synod about a religions Claufe in fome Burgefs-Oaths, (hould have been controverted by a Dlftent and Prciejl ; and that the Controverfy ihould not only endure hitherto, but become fo mated as in the Reafins of Diilcnt and Proteft, iirice offerred and {till infifted on. This Matter, in all Circumftances confider- ed, being fome what aitonifhing and awful; there was fome Rea- fon to hope, that it might have been got fufficicntly expofed and remeded, without any Neceflity of entring the Lifts as at present-: But fuch is become the Hour of Darknefs and Temptation, in Rfcfpect of ftrange Aliftakes, MiJ cohfl.11:: ions and Prejudices u-. pen this Head -, that, under all Endeavours hitherto for healing the Breach, it widncth apace ; and produceth bitter Fruits a- the w itneffmg Body, in difcour aging fome and diftracling Others, while the Goings of not a few are here wer thrown. Thus, latter lias already turned oat unto a fad Effect and a kddet ct, with regard unto the Maintenance and Management of the Lord's Work among our Hands : And after all, it is no jefs obvious than mournftl, that further Debate thereupon, inftead of promifing a Restoration of Harmony with our Reverend Brethien, threaten the contrary : However, the Synod find themfclves ' for the Benefit of the Lord's Work and People, as alfo for their own Vindication, to proceed in making formal An* unto what our Brethren have offered, under the Title of Itafcm of Difetit and Proteft, as above. The Brethren give an hijlorical Preamble to their Reofons, :h requireth a particular Review : Being as follows. REA- 5^ Preamble to the Reafons. « T> E A SONS of Dissent, by Mr. Ralph Ershne Mini- * JtX hcx^tpHtfermlipt, Mr. James Fijbcr Minificr it Glafi " gow, Mr. William Hutton Minifter at Stow, Mr. /frtfry Erskine « Minifter at Falkirk, Mr. JoA« M'Cara Minifter it Bruntshieldt % « JWw Wardlaw at Dunfermline, and William Robert jon at £d//i- " Ja/gA, Elders •, in their own Name, and in the Name of all " that fhall adhere to them; from the Sentence of the Reverend * Minillers, and One £lder, with the Moderator ; the above 8 Two Brethren infilled, That the Confideration of the Burgefs-* f Oath, fliould be tranfmitted as an Overture to the Synod ; the f other Two Minillers oppofed the Motion ; and it carried by the " Elders Vote, Tranfnit ; whereupon the Two other Minillers di{- " fented : So thai thefe Two Brethren took the Advantage of the " Abfence of other Membeis, to bring upon the Field a Queflion " altogether new, contrary to the declared Judgment of the Ma- " jority of the Presbytery, at former Meetings f. *• In this Shape the Matter came before the firft Meeting of the " AiTociate Synod, at Stirling, in the Month of March 1745- ; " as an Overture, tranfmitted from the Presbytery of Dunferm- 4t line in the above Manner : And tho* many in the Synod judged, ." that the tranfmitting of an Overture anent the Synod's *ak- D "ing *f Thcugh it did not ly in the Synod's Way, to examine the Charges here begun with, again]} Two Brethren, and the Aflbciate .Presbytery of Dunfermline, whereto they belong'. Tet it .may be bbjerved here, that the very Thing mentioned about thefe two Brethren, was a good Reafon for having the Affair taken un er judicial Conftderation : Likewife, the Charity which think etk no Evil, might have inclined tofuppofe^ that thefe Brethren di not proceed lightly in the Matter ; and that they proceed 1 fo, upon ih§ Queflion occurring, through conceiving that their doing otherwifo '%mld have hen much rather a practical Decifidit thereof ': Fir- i6 'Preamble h the Reafi ■ " fog the Burgefs-Oath under their Confix : i, ihtte " and Manner in which the faid Overture was fcrsnfniitted as a- "' bove, was radi and precipitant, efpecially at the two Brethren " who dkl drive on th ; s Matter had themfelves given a practical * Decifion about it bclore ; yet, for the Sake of Peace, the 'Synod " agreed, That the Burgefs-Onth ihould be among the Lilt of tx feveral other Overtures, that were referred to a pro re nata 4i Synod m'jMay, at Edinburgh, the faid Year/' " The Brethren, who firlr. brought this Debate mpen the Field, ie would not give Way to the Confederation of any other Over" " ture, of whatever Importance, till the Queftion anent theBur- " gels-Oath fhould be firft difcuilcd : Accordingly, after rea- " foning upon this Matter, at feveral Sederur.ts, for the Space of " two Weeks, the Affair was, by Vote, delayed till next ordinary i( Meeting of Synod, at Stirling, September the faid Year. Af- * ter long Reafoning at fome Sederunt s of the faid Meeting, it " was again by Vote, delayed at that Time till a Meeting which " w ? as p'opofed in bitnc effeftum, to meet at Stirling, in I\ u her the faid Year : And altho' there were two Weeks fpent in ** reafoning at this Time, yet, when the Queftion was put, it was " ftill delayed till tlie ordinary Meeting of Synod at Ed\ 14 .in Afril iaft. By ail which frequent Delays, after fo many " Jong and tedious Reafonings, it evidently appears, how a - * the Majority of the Synod were to determine a Point never " formerly in Debate, lb far as we know, in the Chrtrdhof Sect- " land. During the firft Week of the Synod's Meeting at Edhi- *' burgh in April laft, the Brethren who appeared for condemn- '" ing the Burgeis-Oath, fpake as tf they were for going into Ccfttk " healing Overture, wherein wc. might all agree. This was fo " acceptable to us,- that wc cheerfully confenfed to flay another "** Week, tho' under no fmall NeCcffity to gerhomfc; in Ex- - " peculation that an amicable Period might be put lo this Affair, which ther, it is eafy to kn§w, who are to be blamed, that the g'A not forward to the Confifahatibn a/* - what thefe Brethren demur- fed vMn y Jo as to determine, whether or not they were in the wrong : And moreover, it will be found afterwards, ft. the Miniilers were then under a new NeCefTity iftg the Jfftir vf the Burgefs-Gatb, upon adverting to it . \ all she Presbyteries had got this Affair pointed out to them, by the hft Meeting of the Aflbeiate Presbytery before the Disjunction, as efs pro-perfcr being introdititd by tbem y U thrt fcrft Htt ij '4ftht Aflbeiate Synodr PredvUe to the Iteajpuf* 27 ; wlnic o j u 4p e charitably of our Brethren,, appeared s to jstobc a Fire-baii thrown in by the great Enemy, ; :md dividing us : But, to our great SurpriJe, whsn the Synod met the fecond Week, and feveral Members who were prefent before had not returned, through Expectation of the Continuance of the healing Difpofition, which -appear- wing the former Week, in not a few of thefe who were en the Qppoikc Side to us ; all Overtures of Peace were rejected, and a prefent Decif.on ftrenuoufly infixed upon, and at length carried, by a fmall Majority ^ when not fb much as one Half of the con itituent Members of Synod were prefent. Where- upon we wire conft rained, from the Duty we owe to the Gieat God, to ourfelves, and to the prefent and after Generations, to the following Difjhit and P rote ft. ' In regard we havi ibuted what we could to prefcrve Feacc arid Harmony in this Synod, by propoling feveral Overtures, as "Means t« nt the fatal Conference's of a Rupture among Otirieivej the People under our Inspection; particularly, That the ..hs y ziz. Here I protciL p€. rd'wg to the orin iid Intent of the I t njefvts, m tight be adapted to the prefent Tcfiimony\ efpe- ■ *g'ft r *tf* °f burroughs are the original F; . . tors of the faid Oath; like wife, a mutual forbearance l the prefent Qneflion, a s Wtch, never Matter of Ti rch of Scotland, and cunto ive never had attained, was earneiliy urged; alfo it was propofed, That for the Sake of Peace, and to hreve who are to t :jjes y ; take the Burgefs-0 ath vSitl . ■ faufe 9 t '.hers of the ■: to fee more clearly Eye to L. latter: All which Overtures were rejeckv n ab- . latipn of the Oath, as finjful, infcfted ugrn, :.;:i a final! Majority of Thirteen to Nine, the one Half of the condiment Members of the Synod not being prefent, when Decifion of fuch an important Quell ion was paifed : There- -\z did Mr. fcatph Er/kfne. Mmifter at D.:fr;n!ine, ■ Milliter at Glal^ow, Mr. William Hutton lifter wtSto-j, Mr. Henry Erfkine, Minifter at Fa!kirk y Mr. JbCara Minifter at Brunt/Fields ; James tPardlaw in Dun- and William Robertpn in £..' Elders ; did and ' hereby do diffent front the above Deciiicir of this Re verendSy- • r*od, as contrary to tfaeWord of God, o c of Truth, 2 8 Preamble to the Rtafotif. 4 the Practice of the Church of Chriir in her purcfl: Times; HI * that Brotherly Love. Regard and Forbearance, that the Mem- * brrs of Judicatories, and ail Chriilians, ought to maintain to- * wards one another ; contrary to our Covenants, National and ' Solemn League-, to our late Bond renewing the faid Co ve- * nartts, and to the Acl of the AiTbciate Presbytery appointing ' the feme ; this beiag a new Term of Communion, notw ith- ' Handing that the Terms of Ministerial and ChrifUan Commu- f nion were (rated in the faid Act ; and likewife being a lording * it over the Confciences of God's Heritage, both Miniflers ' and People, and a laying Burdens upon them which they are * not able to bear : And we Protejl, That the -Synod, or Mem* * bers thereof, who have joined in paiTmgthis Act, (hall be charge-, * abic with ail the difmal Co>.fcquenc$6 which have or may * follow upon the bringing of this Queilion upon the Field, * and the pufhing of it unto fach a tyrannical Decifion : An4 * further we Protej!, That we (hail be no Ways limited or re- . * drained in our Practice, by this Decifion of Synod, from pro- * ceeding to renew the Fend in our respective Congregations, ? in Agrecablencfs to the Terms of MmiJierial and Chriil ian Cem- ' rhunion formerly nated ; and this our Dijfent snd Proteji v$ * give in, in our own Name, and in the Name of all that fhalj .-ere unto us ; and thereupon we take Initruments, craving irauts, and Liberty to give in further Fecjhns of Diflent to * the Moderator and Clerk, if the awful Providences of the Day * fhall permit, againft the fird of July in this prelent Year. M It is with the deepert Concern, that we have been obliged t<$ " enter a Dlillnt againft the Conduct of our Brethren, vhom,al- " tlio* they be but a mull Number in Comparison of the whole " Synod if fully met, yet the Vote having carried by a Majority " of that Sederunt* we (hall, out of that due Refpcci we owe t* " to our Presbyterian Principles, call the Ailociate Synod, and " own the Sentence to be a Deed of the faid Synod : And oar " Concern is the greater, that this is the firft Time that ever " any of us cntred a Diilent and Protefr,-fince we were Members f< of any our Ailbciate Judicatories, and never ex peeled that Mat- would be driven t« fuchan Height, as to oblige us to fuch "a Solemn Step, which we were always averie to, without the * outmoit Ntceflity : But now, Since there is no other R^; u hit us, in a Point therein our Coniciences are fo much iirait- " ned, we offer the following Reafons^ which are of Weigh: w hfc u us tc fepport ocr Conduct. JIEYIEW ** Review of the Preamble. WE (hall not fuppofe that our Brethren have erred wilfully \n the above Narration, or have therein iefignedly mifrepreien- |cd the Rife and Pipgreis of the Debate about the Burgefs-Oath : But the Report there made of that Cafe, is To very unfair, unfa- bh and injurious ; d iffering from Reality, not only in 1 , ne Particulars, but likewife in the/nsin Scope thereof; that it is hard to conceive how there could mifs to be at Bottom, an uncom- Meafiire of Forgetful nefs and PrepofieiTian. Tho' there fhould be no fecret Thriift in-- the Thing, at the Ailociate Presbytery of Dunfermline, it is, at lead, improperly faid, that the Debate anent the- Burgefs-Oath took its iirii Rile //-;(uhat is now) the AiToeiate Presbytery ofi Diufermlhe ; whet* the Rife mentioned, was only within the Bounds of (what is now) that Prerbyiery, What our Brethren give out as the Firft Rife of the prefent . Debate about the Burgefs-Oath, was, in general, a Thing extra- ../, or among feme particular Perfons ; bur, in condeicrnd- mg upon the Firft of fie h Kind of Rife, they lhould have gone further ba$ than the Conduct of Two Brethren, A mo 1744 ; as the Debate took, fome Rife of this Kind, feme Years before that Time *'. What they had properly ado here, was to mention the tfrit Rife of this, as a judicial' Debate ; but that Rife of the Thins they quite overlook : And it is as fellows. When the AfTociate Presbytery was met at Edinburgh, i* Gclofar 1 744, a Brother who came not up till after the Sentence *f Disjunction, offered unto the Presbyt.ry a Paper of Scruples about that Sentence ; one of which was, " That, altho' the ? Presbytery had determined both the Adjuration and Allegiance u to be finful, yet they had not as ye* confuted the Burgejs-Oath, * tthich he apprehended might be found by the Presbytery to be tti ; if they thought proper to take the fame under Conii- ? deration " : And the Anfwers then made to that Paper (which. were approved by all the Brethren now prated ing ; vea, the Fir It p them was ope of the two that prepared the Draught ofthefe Arfvers) it was replied, among other Things, to the foresaid Scruple * This had he en the Cafe, particularly amn* fome tray in? Soci- eties in Edinburgh. °* * J * jo Review of the Preamble. Scruple about the Burgefs-Oath ; that, " As all the ' " have better Accefs to confider upon that Matter in their rr> "ffetfive Presbyteries, for having their Opinions thercanciv " nined. to the Firfc Meeting of Synod ; fo the Synod could not " but be in a bcteoc Capacity for o a Consideration M thereof, in the Manner propofed, than the Presbytery in their " prefent Situation ". This indeed is tile very 'frfl Rift of th* Debate, that our Brethren had any Concern v And a Rife it is, upon which, at the very firft, they cone, as much as any, without the leaft Dei-iurr, in pointing out the Af- fair, of the Burgefs-Oath, in the above Manner, as JJuGnefi pro- per for being iqtrc Presbyteries, unto the Aleeting oi Synod : All which epniidci find the Maiter repreientsd as in trie Breawltie to the Rcafon$ ©f DiiTent and Prct, Moreover, the Account given of the Intrer-uclionand Manago went of this Affi jnjt \ For, the C follow*. Alowg wkh fun- "dry Overtures laid before t tee io: Ovei rn the Ailociate Presbytery of Dun there was prefented a Trani- m'uTion of an Over airs alout the Affair of the B. with a Dillent by two Brethren of Tranfmiflon, Reasons of D .aibns; all which were real At the feme ": Committee a gerta at Overt Edinburgh, for the Synod to o< bavpur th$ Removal of any pubfek & and in the Way of due Progreft ifl Cfrvcna what is above, f That the find general Ovciture, had'a ipecial View to the . Affair of the Bur Aifair having been un- der fome Confideration in their Presbytery, the Overture, with a View thereto, had been lau \ llippofmg that the Matter would be introduced Wo ihai Meeting of Synod exprejy from ejj .iy, this general Over- fire was afterwards fallen firfOfn, by the Brethren of that Presby- tery then prefer.: ; \,\ Lit, as to the ipecial Dcfign thereof; tranim\ted upsn the Matter; by the Committee's traci- mitring to the Synod what was before them, on the lame Head, from the Ailociate Presbytery of D$nfermti*e* Hereupon, the Committee foon concluded, that- now, the Synod's doing fome- .thing about the AlTalr of the Bm tt, was tretrl with the Aifair of Piogrefs in Coi » J •as neccfia- Review ajfthe Prsar.bk. ft to c!e*r the Way for that Brogrefe : And therefore, whatever tiities or Grounds of Demur appeared about the Formality #f the forefakl Trahfm'iifion, ail did eafily agree xo wave De- ration and Difputc upon that Point, as being of fniall Moment to the Overture itfelf ; which accordingly they did as safily and itnanimonfy, without a Vote, tranfmit unto the Synod in the Front of fundry other Overtures which they tranfmitted on that Occafion. t In this Shape did th« Matter come before the Synod, in March 1745-: And then indeed, fime of the Brethren now protefiing (Two of whom only had belonged to the Cqmmitteefctr Overtures) did take Occafion to figaify their Dillatisfaclion with the Method of the TranfmhTion from Dunfermline Presbytery, and with the Conduct of Two Brethrca relative to this Affair at a late Sacra- mental Occafion : But, without any Dijpute about the Overture, and without a Vtfe, the Synod \fh received the fame, as .it flood in the firft Room among thefe other Overtures • alorig with which it was, without any Debate or Vote, unanimeujly refer-' . red to z pro ft .ting of Synod, at Edinburgh in May the faid Year. And this being the real State of the Cafe, it is far from being duty related by our Brethren, in the fecond Paragraph of tlveir Preamble. But the Narration which they make of the after Propre/s of this Matter, is f till more unfair, and very unaccountable. As, imot Thsyteli, That" the Brethren (viz. the two Brethren) * who rirft brought this Debate upon the Field, wou!<3 not give l{ Way to the Confideration of any other Overture, of what- u ver Importance, till the Queftion about the Burgefs-Oath flaould " be firft difcufled •," and they immediately give this out whh an . xordiugly, as the Spring of the Reafoning upon the Matter, when the Synod met in May 1 74 5-. Now, befide what is here repet- ed About the Rife of the Debate, which has been conridercd al- ready ; and without inhftmg upon the Face of Abfurdlty and Lc Kefs there is in this Story, as to th<2 *ery undecent Reflection \ hieh it calls upon the Synod, through the Sided of 7w Br&thren / it is further remarkable, that the Matter of Fact is here altogether #:.v sealed or mifre preferred. For, I. As it noway holds, that thofe two Brethren were fingular, i» the Management of this Affair before the Synod: It as little" holds, (tho' plainly iarinuated by our Brethren) that an Entrance upon the Affair, at that Meeting of Synod, was with any Struggle or Difpute. On the contrary, tho' it was never agreed to, yea sever propofed (as will appea'uaftcfwards) that n-s ether Overture fhould g 2 Review cfthe Preamble; the Should be confidered before this about the Kurgefs-Oath ; yet hi- therto, the Synod were reafily unanimous in concluding that, as Matters Hood, their doing fomething about this Affair was near- ly ccnnecled with the Affair of Frogrefs in Covenanting-work, and neceffary to clear the Way for that Progrefs : Wherefore, they \vere as readily unanimous about proceeding expediticu/ly un- to the Bufinefs. It is true indeed that, from the firft IntroducYi- ©n of the Matter into the Synod, our Brethren did fignify Uneafi- nefs and DifTatisfa<5ti©n, about what Necejfity appeared of taking the fame under Confideration ; fo as to blame and reflect upono- thcrs for it, that Things were come to this Pafs : But it is very well known, that it was not till after the firfl Meeting of Synod, and till Reafoningon the Affair had been proceeded in at fome' Length during their ficSnJ Meeting, that they began to quarrel any Preference given to this Overture before others. And, tho' they did, then and afterwards, come the Length of fpurning a- gainll any further Confideration of the Matter ; yea of arguing, tfcat the Synod fhould not have meddled with it, and that they • ought to drop it as a Thing they had no Bdfinefs with : Yet, when this could not be obtained, they did /till, from Time to Time, acquiefce and concur in further Reafofclng thereupon* 2. The Cafe, more particularly, /lands thus. When the Synod met at Edinburgh, in May 1745-5 having fpent the jirjl Day ®f their Meeting in a puhrick'Fafi: ; on the fecond Day thereof, the Committee for Overtures appointed at their former Meeting, was continued, with the Addition of Six other Minilters, Three of whom are now protefting : And the laid Committee got general Orders to ripen for the Synod the Matters to come before them. Accordingly this Committe, having under Confideration, at two Sederunts, the Overture about the Burgefs-Oath-, and having Copies of different Burgefs-Oath s before them; they had a good deal of Reafoning upon the Subject. : Wherein there wefe Ob- jections made by one Side, zgz'mtt. fundry Claufes of fhcfe Oaths ; and, by the other Side, Anfvvers were offered thereunto : After which, the Committee did unanimoujly, without a Vote, overture Unto the Synod, on the third Day of their Meeting, that they fhould take the Affair under Confideration at a private Sederunt ; and this the Synod did unanimoujly, w : thout Difpute or Vote, agree to have done the Day following. Wherefore on that fourth Day of their Meeting, they entered without any Demur upon this Affair; beginning with ihe ftrjf, viz. the religious Chute of fome Burgefs- Oaths, particularly in Edinburgh ; which was reafoned upoa tiie* and at fome hhex-federurttt . Review of the Preamble. 3 3 Moreover, by the forefaid Words and what immediately follows* it is plainly given out, as if the Synod had not got any other Over- ture fo much as taken under Confederation, at their Meeting in May 1745- ; yea, nor at their After-meet in *s, till thataboutthe lurgeft- Oath wasdiiculled ; tho'the Di {bullion •fthefrftClaufetliereof wai •n Han^, after their Meetings in September and November 1 745:, till 1 Day lave one oftheir Meeting in April 1746: And the mani- feft Scope of thk Story is to bring other Members of Synod under the Odium of an inconiicerate and blind Zeal, upon the Overture about thcBurgefs-Oath. But, on the contrary, the Minutes of the Meeting in May 1 745", do teftify, that before this Overture was cntred upon, (and indeed without the leaft Oppofition by the Two Brethren or any elfe ) three other Overtures were difcuffed, and a fourth proceeded in as far as the Nature of it could then allow : And as other Pieces of Bufinefs were then handled, both before entring on that Affair, and i:i the Intervals of Rcafoning thereupon ; fo, after the Conclufion of the Reafbning for that Time, another Overture was diicuffed, and two more proceeded in as far as the Nature thereof could then allow : And in like Manner the Minutes teftify, that during the After- meetings when that Affair was in Dependence, the Synod proceeded in the Confideration of other Overtures, beflde cxped- ing Variety of other Bufinefs/ ido, Our Brethren having further obferved,That there was long Reafoning about this Affair, at forae Sederunt s of the Meeting in September 1745-, (which Reafoning was naoilly at one Sederunt, and ali upon the Queition, Whether the Synod mould continue to lit next iViek and proceed rn the Affair, or delay till zpro re nata Meeting in November ? Which lait carried by Vote ;) and having obferved likewife, the Time fpent in reafoning on this Subject, at the laid Meeting in Novembei', after which the Matter was ftill delayed till the .Meeting at Edinburgh, in April 1746 : From all this they deduce a general Inference, in the Words following; By all which frequent Delays, after, fo many long and tedious '. Reafbnings, it evidently appears how averfe the Majority of M the S\nod were to determine a Point never formerfy in De- bate, lb far as we know, in the Church o£ Scotland." Now, the laid Majority of Synod (excepting our Brethren) are fenfibly injured, by ailedging that their Averfnefs, fo long, from a Deter- mination, did turn upon -the Reafon here told, which wiH afici- occur to be examined : And, by the above Inference, Matters are greatly mifreprefented. For, It is very veil kno\sn, that in each Meeting of Synod when) &js Affair was in Dependence, the Majority by muck, of thefc 34 Review of the Preamble. who interfeered with any Declaration of their Judgment, did al •ways do fo, to the very fame Purpofe with what is laid in tha Sen' tence of Synod now protefted againit : And the true Reafon o' the Delays, from Time to Time, was this* Some of the Brethren now protefting, did frill fo flrenuoufly eppofe any fuch Determi- nation, arguing the Inevitabltnefs of a Rupture upon Suppositi- on thereof; that fome of the other Members did, for a Time, conceive that the Confequences of a Deafen might be vmfe than thefe of fome further Delay : And therefore, from Fear of a Breach, Defoe of Harmony, and Tendernefs to thefe Brethren, the Majority went into fever al Delays : But as one Member, of the other Sie'e from our Brethren, did infill much for fome of thefe Delays ; he at the fame Time declared, that if fome further Reafonings mould be without the de fired EfecJ, he would be ob- liged to vote for a Decifon according to his Light. Moreover, the Minutes of Synod do oftner than once mention the Fet Breach, as the Reafon of delaying : Bat it is certain, that there appeared not then any Reafon to fear a Breach in Synod upon • this Head, with refpe£t to me than have fmce protcfred : AnA it is as certain, that nothing but their Ofpofition procured fuch long and tedious Reafm\ng\ on the Subject, and prevented the Sy- nod's coming to fuch a De:ifion thereupon, as they have mow made, even in their frft Meeting when the Affair was entred on, viz. at Edinburgh, in May 1745". ^tio. The Management of this Bufinefs, in the Meetiag of Sy- nod at Edinburgh, in April 1746, when they came to a Sentence thereupon, is, by our Brethrens Account, peculiarly clouded and mfreprefented. They Ipeak as if fome of their Brethren had, on the firfl IVeek of the Meeting, deceived them with the Appearance of an heal- ing Difpofition, and a Propofal of going in to fome healing Over- ture, for putting an amicable Period to the. Affair ; and had thus enticed them tc (Jay another Week, under no finaJa Neceffity of going home :' Wnercas, on the ficond Week, they were g iurpriled in finding no Continuance of the former healing Difpo- fition-, the View whereof ( they alledge) had prevented fevcral Members whs were prefent on xhefirft Week, from returni the ftamd : But that, all Overtures of Peace being rejeel prefent Decifion was ftrenuoufly infilled upon.-- This is the Shape in which our Brethren reprefent the Matter ; Whereas, t . The Synod being met at Edinburgh, in April 1 7 46 ; and having returned to the Confitieration of the Afifair of th« Bargefs- Oath, in the Afternoon's Sederunt, in the fecond Day of their Meeting : Th*V did V agree not to rcfume former Rea- toning Xevtev) if the PreOmHe 35" fbning about the religious Claufe ; but to confider upon feme 0- es for bringing that Debate unto an IiTue. All were of th* Mind that there had already been enough of the former Retfon- ing : And fome Members being much apprehenfive, that the Continuance of our Brethrens Oppofition, was rnoftfy, if not wholly, owing to Mijipkes of v, hat was infilled for ; fuch Mi (lakes as it .will afterwards appear were then really entertained, and are fli I I ad- here I to by them : It was therefore fuggefted, that the proper- ty of removing thele Millakes, for coming to an amicable IfTue in this Point of Debate, would be to proceed next unto an examining what Overtures might be pronofed on both Sides, for latirig the fame. And thus, indeed, as fome did iigmfy a Perfiiaiion that their Brethren on the ether Side, did greatly mif- swfiruci them ; fo, they cxprelTed much Hope, that, by the Method of Overtures as above, an Harmony might be attained : • But ncre of ihe Brethren who had formerly declar- er Judgment as in the Sentence of Synod now palled, did give the feaft Occafion of fuppofihg that they had altered the fame • or that they could be iatisried with the Synod's doing any left, in a Decifion of the Matter, than what they have now dene. Wherefore, foms Overtures, as above, having been propofed and reafoned upos, at that Sederunt, without coming to an" IiTue ; farther Procedure this way was then deferred : But there was an Unanimous Agreement for proceeding, on the fecond Week, to fome Decijion that might prevent a renewing of the Debate, for retard- ing other Bufinefs, at next Meeting. Yea, fo fenfible did our Brethren then appear, of the Necejity of fome fuch Deci/ion; that, after much rcafoning about fome Overtures, on the fir/l Week, without Effect, they did not propofc any fuch Thing as a fimple Delay till next ordinary Meeting. Upon the whole, it is mahifefr, that all Members, on the fir;} Week, had as fair Advertifement as could then take Place, of what might follow on the fecond Week. ; And it will afterwards appear, that inltead of the alledged Decay, at this Time, of a former healing Difpoiition ; there was only a mournful Difeppsintinent •f that Healing which had been propofed, and was rationally to be expecbd, from that Overture which the Synod turned unto a Sen- tence. But, 2. Concerning the Overtures of Peace that were propofed ; pr Brethren fpeak as if there had been none but from their Side, iho* the Cafe was otherways : Again, they fpeak as if thefe pro- y them had met with nothing but RejecTwn ; tho' each of g6 Review of the Preamble. them was firfl: reafoned upon, till found unreefinaUe : And 0*13 of the Overtures from their Side, is concealed. More particularly, (1.) One of their Overtures was for explaining the religious Cla'ufe of fome Burgefs-Oaths, "According to the original and *L' obvious Meaning and Intent of the Word?; thernfcUj come to t to Eye in the ". But thi'i Overture, as propojM, and then infifted on, for gaining the Enjf. For, it neway extended 1 "engaged in fuch Bur- ed to imply the Synod's Allowance *f thefe Oaths ; tho' yet they had not over- therenf; and tho our Brethren knew thai other Claufti had been quarrel led, when the &urj?e(s-Oath wa$-generally converted upen, by the ures, at the Meeting in May \ 7 4 > : More- over, our > grant, thai thefe who ftoul ) follow the Advice of the Overture, fheuW not, in the mean Time % be admitted into the Bond far renewing the Co- vena could fuch an Overture, if gone into, have ailabie, tor p. eferving Peace and preventing dijfi* ' ? But, a further Overt art propofed im&ritjrom ovirBre- thr? which is now peiTed in Silence ; viz. An Overture of.' "dtufe for thefe Burgcfs-Oaths ; and that Se- e tfercd, Ihould infill for having the Oath Irate to them with this new Glnuje ; or, otherwife, fhotald =ther. It is needieis to make particular Remarks upon this peculiar Sort of Overture : But there is Reafon for ebl • ; g, rhat, if it meant any Thing, it generally meant >J have declared by their Sentence, about (wearing t ; Kdigious C'aufe of fome Burgefe-Oaths, viz. That the ip;fWj not right : And it ferved to ihew that they had yield- e, h to the Op when the fame, with fome at Appearance. Moreover, (7.) Our Brethren ou«ht to rwmember, that what is now the e y was tor (erne Time infifted upon, by thefe of the other Side, as an beating Overture. .And it was really an mg Overture, an Overture of Peace: For, as will appear •' for removing deep Miflakes which laboured under ; to that if they had yielded t% the of theft IViiftakcs thereby, more Peace and Har- mony might hava eniued than was any otherwife probable: And further, as tbey hau oftner than once discovered. Revira) of the Preamble . 3 S that their Oppofition to a Deciiion on thc'firji Cfcufi, was much for preventing an Examination of feme following •, io, an Article for Peace, on this Point, was laid in the Conchifim of that. Overture and Sentence; as thereby the Brethren T/ho had figniiied material Difficulties upon other Claufes, did yet agree not to infill: for an immediate Procedure, in the prefent Circumftanees, unto any Confideration thereof. 4/0, Our Brethcren produce a Charge againft the Sentence of Synod, from the Thianefs of -that Met ting in which, and the Sma(kefs of that Majority by which it was carried: Fcftr l.hcy complain, that it was " carried by a foiall Majority of Thirteen ** t© Nir.e-y not (b much as one Half of the conftituent Mem- * bers of the Synod being prefent, when the Deciiion of fi l " important Queftion was palled ". Upon this Head, fan dry Things are to be obferved, for letting the Master in a due Li^l it. , And in general, it is wclf enough known, that, from the liar Situation of the AJJhciate Preibytery for feme Years before the Disjunction, and of the Synod fmce, there ' havs ufed to be Jpecial Deficiencies, as tp the Attendance of Minijlen upon their ieveral Meetings : But that, mbrc tdpecuddy, the Attendance of Elders was always wery uncertain and precarious ; confidering the great Diflances, with the Engagements of Bufincfs at Home, ef- pccially in fuch Seafons of the Year as that when the Sentence palled, befide other common Occurrences; lb that ordinarily few Elders came up, and fewer attended both Weeks, when the Meet* ing continued more than one. Wherefore, as our Brethren - very well knew, if theie judicatories had ufed to fill Procedure, upon the Abfence of fame of the Minifters,' or moft of die Elders; the Lord's Werk among their Hands behoved, even in Matters ©f g7eate(l Importance or Urgency, to have been fadry, yea, (infill* ly negletiei. And more particularly, 1. As to the Meeting of Synod in April 1746, the prefent Cafe Hands thus. Of Twenty eight teiriifiers then belonging to the Synod, Twenty three ddi attend on the Firfl Week ; being as many as ever attended any Meeting of Synod before that Time : Andthtra were prefent Fourteen Elders ; being more by feverais than had ever come up at the Examination of the Affair, before that Time. But, on the Second Week, only Twenty of the Minifters returned ; tho' fometimes as few, fomctimes fewer, had attended or returned at Meetings formerly: And there re- turned only Five Elders, with a Sixth who had not come op -be- fore. Moreover, confidering that Eiders who never came up from SefEons, to be received by the Synodas commiifionsd for this Pur- poib 3p Review of the Preamble. pofe, were not proptrlyGofiftilueni Members thctcoffo that theCort- ftituent Members were properly to be reckoned as above, viz. la Number Forty three \ it is therefore unfairly (aid by our Brethren, that not fo much as one Half of the Constituent Members were 'then p relent; when of 'the Forty three, Twenty fix were preien*. But after all, according to what has been obferved already, they had no Reafon, during the former Dependence of the Affair, to l -ct that a fuller Meeting could have been of more Advantage, comparatively, to their Side of the Cauie, but the very Re- verfe. 2. As the Dependence of this Matter before the Synod, behoved to be well enough known, all along, by all concerned ; lb, itcan be in- itrudted from the Minutes, that, from the Firit Entrance upon the fame, the feveral Delays were made, with a View of coming tw a De- cifion at every next Meeting: Wherefore, the Synod are noway anfwerable for it, that more Members did not attend on the Firft * Week of the Meeting in April 1 746. Again it appear? from uhat has been laid already, that all who attended on theFirflWtck of faid Meeting, had due Information of what was to be in Hand on the Second Week, yea that fome Dccifon was in View ; and none of them had any Ground given to conclude that the Matter might be delayed further , orthat/:/r£ a Decifion might not fall out as actually came to pafs : Wherefore the Synod are as little a-n- fwerable that more Members returned not, on this Second Week of tlie Meeting; nor was it reafonable, from the Pollurc of Af- fairs and Presbyterian Principles, to delay urgent Bufinefs upon that Score. Moreover, as to the Import am: e of the Queftion, which our Brctheen give out for a Reafon againft Procedure to a Dfci/hn, in the forefaid Circumftances ; this very Importance, confidering the Nature of the Thing in itfelf,and the Connection thereof with Covenanting-work, was the very Eesfon why th« Synod could not longer delay a Decihon : And it will appear af- terwards, that this, as a Reafon for proceeding, did juftiy prepon- derate all Reaions which could be then adduced for a further Delay. 3. The Nc'fe v,hich our Brethren now make, againfr Proce- dure to Decifion, from the Thinnefs of the Meeting on the Second Week, will appear mofi unaccountable, upon confidering what fol- iows. When the Affair was refumed, at the fecond Sederunt of this Meeting on the fecond Week, they did not then reflect anyway upon the Thinnefs of the Meeting, fo as to propofe any Delay of further Procedure from that Consideration : But, after fome Time then fpent upon it, there wss a general Agree- ment, without a Vote, to refume further Conference upon the Subject, at the Forenoon's Sederunt, next Day. Moreover, r.hea 4© Review of tie Preamlh. *rhen tlaat Sederunt came, after long Reafoning without Effeft, they did not yet infift for a Delay of further Procedure : But, on the contrary, the Minute of laid Sederunt runs in thefe Terms ; ■ RefumM Conference upon the Affair of the firft Claufe ef n ibme Burgefs-Oaths, particularly of the feveral Overtures pro- n pofed for bringing that Matter to an llTue , and after long " Reaibning upon the laid Overtures, the Synod agreed to come, V at next Sederunt, to a State of a Qujeftion, for terminating the " Debate "' : And tho* this Minfte, importing fuch a general Agreement w ithout a Vote, was read before them at that Sede- runt - y and again at the Afternoon's Sederunt in wkich the Dccifi- on was made ; yet none of them didever alrcdge,as if they bad feeen injure! thereby. Yea, it was not till after fome Reafoning at the Sederunt when the Decifion was made, and till the Matter was coming to a Vote, that our Brethren began to infill for a De- lay till next ordinary Meeting : And as for the Thinnefs of the Meeting, they did not begin to plead upon it, tiil next Day after the Sentence, when they gave in their written Dijjent and Pro- tei\ : Neither indeed could they, in a OjufTlency with them- fehes, have pled the Thinnefs of the Meeting, during the Rea- • foning before the Sentence; feeing this would have been as'ftreng an Argument againft iifuing in fomc of their own Overtures wrvch they urged moi*, as againft the Sentence which was paned. From ail which it appears, that their Quarrel with the Thirrmf of laid Metting, is quite out of Time, and quite unreafona- hie. Again. 4. As to the Sentence having been carried by a fmall Majority of thirteen to Nine ; it is to be remarked, that our Brethren had mo Rcafon, from the Nature of the Vote, to conceive that even &il thefe Nine were on their Side, as to the Cauie itfelf. They had, ail along, taken very cautious Care not to have their Side 01 the Controveriy put to the Rilquc of a Vote : So that when, once and again, at former Meetings, a Vote on the Merits of the Caufe had been infilled for, they never put their Side of the Con- troverfy into a Side of the Qjiejiion for a Vote ; but their Side of the Queffion was always for a Jimple Delay till next ordinary Meeting ; whereby they ftUl made themCtl ves fur e of all who ap- prehended any Expediency of Ibme further Delay, whether other- wiie on their Side or not. Accordingly, when that Overture which the Synod have turned into a Sentence, was juil coming to a Vote ; they did not offer to propose for their Side of the Ques- tion, any of tho/e Overtures which they had earneilly urged dur- ing the Reafoning ; but they came then at lafl to propofe for Ihek ude of the Qjicititfn, a fimpie Delay till next ordmary Meeting : Review of the Premise. 41 • ' t : Nor was it any Wonder, when the Vote came to ; , State, that two, not otherwife on their Side, voted a De- lay ; and tl;at Three were filent in the Vote; while Thirteen, under much Heavinefs of Spirit, found theraielves obliged, from I numerations that will occur by and by, to vote the Decificn, -1 in Oppofition to a fim pie Delay. Wherefore, abftracting from Brother of the laid Two that voted a Delay ; who profefTedl ties only, about the Decifion when made; while he more fh onglj profefled Difficulties on the o. her Hand, abpHttbe •gefi-Oath : But feeing the other of thefe Two, with the Three : had been filent in the Vote, did, by their Silence acqiuefce in the ! itence when palled ; and feeing, the Moderators Acquiefcence in it was well known; it. is then manifeft, that the Divifi#»n o^ Members prefent, upon the Sentence itfeif, was by no Means rpf Thirteen to Nine, bi of Eighteen to Seven ; and, as to the Minifters, of Fourteen to Five. yto, In the Preamble and afterwards, there are fundry Acctt- fations laid againft-Brethren of Synod, as guilty of undue IVarmth, nng, driving, and more thaw ordinary Keenefs of Spirit in this air : And there is Neceflky of fome Reply on this Head, for vindicating both the Synod and their Sentence. It is true, that none of the Brethren acenfed will pretend to be Proof zgumft. undue IVarrath of Spirit, when violently, and in their Vievr very tinreafonaUy oppofed ; efpecially wpen an Affair, which required no fmall Meafiire of, what the Scripture calls, a f ■ '--ding earnefllyfir tiie Faith once delivered unto the Saints. Thh Lir, at the firft Opening of it, did appear. to fome in fach a Li^ht, that befides the Bar thrown into the ' Way of due Pro- grcis in Covenanting-wcrk, by the Debate and Difference there- upon ; they reckoned the Debate maintained by our Brethren to be detrimental or prejudicial unto the Teflimony already lifted up and avouched by this Synod ; as conceiving that a due and Confident Adherence to the laid TciHmony, was materially impunged thereby : And they expreffed great Fears, from the Beginning ©f the Controvcrfy, that a protracting the Debate, by Delays of a Dccilion in fucha Queition, while the Generality of the Synod clear about .the Point, might prove an Occafion and Mean of further bewildering to our Brethren : On which Accounts, they had ' didented from ibme Delays thereof. Moreover, as our Bre- thren Oppofition did indeed gradually increafe, it required a good deal of Patience to bear with their Method of lighting againft a Dccifion ; by fpurning againft Conjideraticn of the Affair, by ft range Refinement '/and Ak } jir -actions about the Claufe in Contro- 5 vsrfy, by extraneous Difiourfes and Support ions about for nier 'Times, 4 2 Review of the Preamble. and by tragical Declamations about a Breach .—But further, the particular Cafe, as to any ftrenuous infilling for a Decifion in •April Jail, wis really this : The Members of Synod did theecomc more generally than ever before, to conclude that a further Belay behoved, in all Probability, to be of worfe Confequence than a pre- fect Decifion, as to any apparent Hazard of a Breach thereby with our Brethren : In regard particularly, that fome ©f them, conform to what is laid in their Preteft, had then fignified their Inclinations about Procedure in Covenanting-work, in fuch a Man- ner, as gave juft Ground to fear that, before another Meeting of Synod, different yea contrary Methods ©f Procedure in that Work, might be on Foot among the People : And the Synod found themfelves obliged to make a Decifion at that Time ; as a necef- fary Step toward preventing fuch an awful Pofture of Affairs, and necefjary for their own Exoneration in the Matter, whGthtr it ftould prove fuccefsful or not. THe Narration of the Preamble ia now difcufTed : And it appears upon the whole, That the Character which was given thereof in the Entry, is too juft ; fo that our Bretheren have thereby done no Service to their own Side, bHt given a very ill- kodding Introduction to their Reafons. The Synod have no Plea- fiire in expofing their Brethren upon that Narrative ; but would with Pleafure liften to all apologies for the fame : And if the Hurt done thereby were cf zperfonal and private Nature, they fhould willingly have fuffered all with Silence : However, fee- ing the Hurt is done unto the Reputation of the Court, and of their ConduCl ; they were obliged to make the foregoing Review, f#r the Honour of him whofe the Court is, and for the Credit of his Work, as among their Hands in the prefent Coatroveriy. More- over, it is too well known, tkat our Brethren have feen meet to let Jundry Copies of their whole Papery abroad among the People, in different and diftant Corners ; and that the Prejudices abroad againft the Synod's Sentence, are much owing to Mifreprefentati- ons of the Method of their Procedure, as laid in the laid Paper, and induftrioufty fpread ©therwifc : Wherefore, there was more than ordinary need for examining that Narrative, and for doing fo at good length. The heavy Charge wherewith the Synod and their Sentence are loaded in the F 'rot eft, and the Liberty which our Brethren do thereby claim, will appear in their proper Light when the Reef cm are confidered, Concerning Review of the Preamble. 43 Concerning other Things of the Preamble, what follows may- be remarked. That as our Brethren did not always appear to take the prefent Affair for one of Satan 's Fire-balls ; fb, they will be found baa fad Mi flake, when fatisfied with viewing it in fuch a Light : Likcwife, it will appear in due Time, that they are injurious to thefe of the other Side, ia what they mean by their ExpreiTions 0$ condemning the Burgef -Oath, and an ai/olute Condemnation thereof: Again, it is evident from what has beea faid, that the Synod and their Sentence are noway be- holden to them, for the Complement which is made in the laft Paragraph of their Preamble : Further, they have no Reafon to fuppofe, that Peace and Harmony were lefs defireable, or the Apprehenfion of a Breach lefs burdenfome to other Brethren than to them ; tho' heavy Trials this Way muft be fubmitted to, for the Sake of Truth and Duty : And finally, it wilj appear, when the Reafons mall be difcufled, whether our Brethren have contributed what they morally could, to preferve Peace and Har- mony in the Synod ; whether they were really under that folenm Conftraint and utmofl Necefity which they pretend, to entsr their Dijfent and Protefl ; and whether, the Weight of their Reafons, doth indeed bear any due Proportion to the Deepnefs of Concern and Straitnednefs of Confcience upon that Head, which they pro- fefs. BUt to proceed : Before engaging with the Reafons fever ally, it is needful, for opening the Subject and preventing fome Re- petitions afterwards, to examine three Grounds of Prejudice againfl the Synod's Sentence, wherewith fundry of the Reafons are tinctured; and which, tho' noway affecting the Merits of the Caufe, are fpe- cially built upon by our Brethren. Thefe are, firfl, that the Sen- tence is in a Point altogether new, which was never formerly debat- ed, queflioned, or Matter $f Teflimony, in the Church of Scotland; and whereunto ive never had attained : Secondly, the Sentence is reprefented, as if it were injurious to the Memory and Reputation of our reforming and covenanting Forefathers, in contradicting their Practice of admitting Burgefles as well as others to fwear the Covenants : And, in the third Place, it is reprefented, more particularly, as injurious to the Memory ana* Reputation of honef l Burgejjes in that Period. Now it may be eafily perceived, tkat a Charge againfl liie Synsd. upon all or any of tli&fe Grounds, can- F 2 ' ii*t 44 Preamble to the An fivers. hot belong but unto an unfair ', unfound Way of reafening. Fut further. lino. As to the/r/? of thefe, *>/#. that the Sentence of Synod is in a Point quite new, winch was never formerly debated, queftton* ed, or Mutter ofTefiimory, in the Church of Scotland; and where- unto we never had attained : This is a String upon which our Brethren itrikc high in their Preamble, again and again ; and which they re fume in moe than one of their Reafins, as ii-it were 01 mighty Confequence to the Cafe in Hand. Whereas, i . To defame the Synod's Sentence on that Account, is an aw* fui Step ; as being of a* native Tendency to difcredit the Laws of Chrift and the gradual Method of his Church hitherto, Weffflng for Progrejs or Advancement in his Work ; un could be proven, that fuch are the Attainments of the Chit! , as make it neediefs and unwarrantable to prefs ft] ward, if fame concerned refufe to go along. 2. The gradual Nature of Attainments in the Church, as to the Order oi Seafcns, neither fiover nor latter, v\ * ievc- ■ra! Degrees thereof are brought about; this is a Thing which the Synod cannot, yea no Creature can be accountable for •, being what the 'Lord hath eminently rcierved unto his own Wifiom and Sovereignty : ' But, when Duiy,Occajhnmd Capacity, all concur, for making anv new Advancement in the Church ; howabfurd mult it be to Jlnit doing fb, even through Oppojition, becaufe it was net c :r, or was never attained before ? Again, the Lord makes e Thing beautiful in his Time : . There is g^cat Beauty in his ore ing of fpecifU SeaJUs forfpecial Steps : And when he b] Light, unto any farther Step in his Work; as thfe is Proof of his i i the Church; an of Praife.% f\ . vidence, how much Grcmnd there is fti\\ {ox humble -//with the Ap< . Not as though 1 'hi ed, either were i 3. The Synod have, on this Occailon be deration and D.ciiion of tkc prefen't Afjair'v fo as they never 1 and never was the Caje formerly, in a refoi riling Period oi the t hatch oi Scotland. Such Brethren as were taking Thought upon the Subject, a little before it was darted in the ting of the 'Prcsbjiery, can ahfwer for therhfelvee ; whether or not it really lioids as they profefs, that they were very occajional'y and u peiledy led and obliged to cio lb. Ho ever, it is very cert; . L h.. )d were noway feeking 'after die Thing, till it was prov.vicn-i.dly brought in their Way ; few Members were \ advert- Mg to fuch a Tiling aS the £urgeii-6ath # before the Muution of it Pre~?rb ! c to the Anf\ 45- j of the Al'Ibciate Presbyter- :~ wer had t;- Burgefs-Oath, at leaft with a religious Qcuje, till after rain, it is ascertain, that a little before even f the Debate which our Brethren notice in their Matters were come to be fo fit a ate, as to lay under a N - dfentining this Point, upon the/:/;// adverting to it ; Jach a A>- as had not formerly taken Place, iir.ee the Rife of the S< lion : So that, :. mple Propofal of the Tiling in S thc common Talk about it then begun, the S 1 take the film* into Coniiderati- . :)r, Matter* in tl niilration of a tS; and this did evidently lay all ihs ■ : f Capacity, under a -le-j) a:: \% of examining 1 concerned with : b Synod, many Mertrf the religious Ciaufe -: t with and a temH Covenants. this it is plain, that the Synod have, to a Confiscation of tit : prefent Affair; fo ns they .;A it is as plain, that in (hut ffo Cafe f \ming Peri- ; ; as will appear from the .- covenanting Ch.. :?, to ed is a little. 1 Lord had, ' mtAjP ?r, in the hte reforming Period which our Tho' it il: ::cd the Cafe of a j&# Hurgeffis ; ycfcj id Difference thereupon in Synod, it i ho whole witnejfing Jh rjy a Trial of their $ .;! Stability^ '_h they have been of a - Ting. But this is a general, a momenraous life and , in that reforming Period ; even fu l is not the Cafe ) that a fwearing the Btfrgefi* Oaths had been condemnafele h as no:v : Bccaufe it would have been competent to not limply to bear tvitnefs, through Oppoji- lg, in a Way of cleaving to the Teflimony aaiong 4 6 Preamble to the Anfwers. among their Hands, which yet is all that can be done in §ur Cir* tumjlances ; but it would have been properly competent unto theril, and very eafy in their Ci re um dances, to amend and reform the Thing itfelf, up#n adverting to it. 4. After all the Synod do entirely refiife, that what they have come to by the Sentence now protefted againft, is anyway new as to the Matter of the Thing, or further than as to the Manner thereof; in fo far as they have not thereby adopted any new Principle, any new Matter of Teftimony : But they maintain u- pon juft Grounds, as will afterwards appear, that what they have done, is only a new and necejfary Step as to the Meaner of Tcfti- Bionr ; or amounts to no more than the making a new Stand for Matters of Principle and Teftimony, which have bconfirmerfy at- tained and avouched by them; ev«n the whole of that Teftimo- ny, as it lies in a Secejfion Way. id\ The Sentence of Synod is rcprefentcd, as if it were inju- rious to the Memory and Reputation of our reforming and Cove- nanting Forefathers ; in contradicting their Practice of admitting Burgeffes as well as others to {wear the Covenants. This is the manifeft Scope and Amount of what our Brethren do oftner than •nee harp upon, in their Reaions, about our Reformers : And however well fuch Way of Reafbning may be calculate for gather- ing an Odium upon the Synod ; yet, it has no real Tendency to invalidate their Sentence. For, 1 . Even fuppofing that a Swearing the Religious Claufe of fome Burgefs-Oaths, had been condemnable in a reforming Period before, as much as now \ it is yet to be obferved, That, (1.) As our Brethren acknowledge, this Point was never then Matter of Teftimony, yea never in Debate Or euejlioned : Where- fore, however different the Synod's Procedure may feem from that cf our Reformers ; it cannot be coniradiaory, or contrary there- unto : Becaufe, for making up the Contradiction or Contrariety, it were needful to prove, that our Reformers had exprefly taken up a Teftimony, about the Lawfdncfs of Swearing the forcfaid Claufe j yea, about its being confident enough with Covenanting- Work, for zfmaller Party covenanting, in a Time of National Defeclkn, to (wear it ; as the Sentence of Synod is about an Lfr tenfifieney of that Matter. Moreover it is very certain, that an Evil ftill the fame in itfelfc doth yet come under vaftly different Confideraticns, according as k is brought into Controverfy or not ; and at different Times, when Light thereupon comes in Providence to be lpecialJy broke up, or not. A common Maxim, that ell is good till challenged, doth hold comparatively in fuch a Cafe. Our Lord Jesus Preamble to the Anjwers. 47 • (aid of the Jews, in this comparative Refpeir, If I\had not come end fpoken unto them, they had not had Sin ; but now they have no Chk'efsr their Sin. Ti the fame Purpofe, the Apeftle fpeaks of God's Winking at Times of Ignorance : And even in fuch a mo- mentuous Matter, as that of turning from Antichrift to Chrift, the Call to do fo, with Reference to the breaking up of Light at the Reformation, is backed with this notable Argument, Rev. xiv. 7. . For the Hour of his Judgment is come ; importing, that the Judg- ment of God which AntiehriiHan Errors might formerly draw down, were as nothings Com pari fon of what a Perfeverance there- in, when Light was broke up, would expofe to. It is therefore mejl unaccountable to ftate a Comparifon betwixt our Cafe, and that of our Reformers, upon the prefent Affair : Seeing the Point was nev er in Debate or Que/Hon among them; which fays, that they never refufed or demurred to take it under Conflderation ; that they never Ihtfted or neglefted Light upon the Head ; a»4 that they never refifled or overlooked any Jpecial Providence /hut- ting them up to a DifcufTion thereof. (2.) An Outcry againft the Synod, on the prefent AfTiir, as if they were any way blackning our Reformers, or a reforming Period, is not only of a bad Appearance, but of a dangerous Ten- dency : For, it will ftrike againft all new Progrefs and Advance- ment of the Church, in the Lord's Work ; becaufe it could (till be pled, that there had been famous Churches, famous Reformers, before, who had not taken fuch Steps ; but had been overfeen, defective, or otherwife minded, thereupon. Again, is it any undue Reflection, upon the beft in this World, to fay that they know but in Part, and are not \ already perfect ? Is it any Injury to our Covenanting Reformers, to fay, that tho' they wreftled forward in the Lord's Work, according to their Meafure, and the Providences* of their Day ; yet they attained • not unto fome Steps which the Providences of cur Day do more Jpecially (hut up unto f Did our Brethren ever argue at this Rate, when fome Points of Teftimony were efpoufed by tire Af- lbciate Presbytery, which had never been explicitely attained to before, as in the AB about the Doclrine of Grace ? Moreover, our -reforming Anceftors never pretended, that there would be no need of going farther than they had done ; but behoved to have reckoned themfelves wronged, by ufing the Weight of their Names for fuch a Purpofe : And an improving what Attainments they have made in tfae Lord's Work, inftead of difcr 'editing them, tends to preferve the Memory and advance the Credit of their Mcafore ©f Iftftrianaeatallity, that Way. 2, What! 4S Preamble to the Anfr.tr <. 2. What has been faid, is ifoffieient for the Syne / ~ tion upon the preient Article ; «ven iuppcfiiig that a S.. the Religious Claufe of ibme Burgefs-Oath, had been com ::r a Reforming Period before, as much as now. But then this no v» ay holds : For, (i.) There are iundry Points of religious Teftunoxiy ath •now, tint were not attained in the Time of our fir ft Reformation, when according to our Brethren, the religious Ciaufe was fram- ed ; nnr yet were feme of them attained under the l#ft reforming d : Now, it appears from the Ptziefratisnmzdc Aim* 16:8. noticed in the An fivers to Mr. Nairn, Par-e 37, that our Reform- ers in the hft :Peried, were exprffi) of the Mind, that Shearing to Religion, without comprehe: TeftimoftjHZtXmed, could- not be warrantable : So- that, in this re< , the fame religious Oath, cc in their Days, behoved to be (2.) The national Profefnon and Settlement of Religion («. a {wearing the religious Clanfe in fome Burgefs-Oaihs, doth in- evitably homologate, as will be manifc Is) are very differently in Point of Purity, from our Brethren will notrefufe: And what is the Meaning oi but that thefe Things which the religious Clauie doth fer unto now, are z'ery different from thefe which it referred unto then ? Yea that, in *his rcijpecl, fuch a fu earing of thei\ Cliufe, as now, is a Thing which ha ; in their ] and that, in fo far, the Synod's Senter;; , nor with any Thing they ever did or hac . (3.) It is with a ipeclai Reference to i, that the Synod have been led into the Examination and Deciiion of the Queflion, about the religious Ciaufe of fome B urge fs -Oaths : ]So a, it noways holds, that ez'er, fmce the Reformation before this Time, the conftiiute ( / fig, was different, yea in Sccejfion, from the an ft it ui e Church v\ hereunto the national Pro- and Settlement of Religion did immediately and formerly be- long: And fo, for Members of a ccnilitute Church covenanting, in a State of Scceilion from the ccnilkiue Church w hereunto the national ProfeiEon and Settlement of Religion do thus belong ; fjr thefe to join with Members of thai Church, in any general /wearing to Religion, under that national Prefefffon and Settlement ; This we fay is an Affair quite new, that never had any Parallel in former Covenanting-times. Upon the whole then, it is manifeft, that Comparifons in the prcfent Cafe, with the Practices of our reforming and covenant- ing Fare-fathers, are quite off the Quejiisr. ; and that any Charge 200*1 Preamble to the Jafuers. 49 about walkin \ contrary to them, ordiicrsditing their Memory and Reputation, is entirely groundlefs. < \tio, The Sentence of Synod is reprcfentsd, more particularly, as injurious to the Memory and Reputation of honed: Burgeffes in that Period. This is likevvife a grand Point with our Brethren, in the preferit Controveify, as appears from fundry of their Rea- fons; but there is nothing in it, unto the Purpofe; Becaufe, I .' Even fnppofmg that the Engagement of thefe Burgeifes in the religious Claufe of the Oath, had been the fame Way fituate, as is the Cafe now with feceding BurgelTes; yet, fome of the Things that have been fiid upon a like Suppojition under the lag Head, may be eafily accomodated for defcerning, that to argue againfl: the Sentence, or draw an Odium .upon the Sjnod, from this Quarter, is a Step very uHrtafinablim its Nature and dan- gerous in its Tendency. But the Cafe then, is noway parallel td the Cafe now, cbnfidering what has beeft obferved : That there- are fome Points of religious Tcftimony attained kow t that ought to be carried along in every Aft of fwca'ring generally to Religion, which were not attained then : That the national ProfeiTion and Settlement of Religion, which are hoYnologated by fwearing the forefaid Claufe, are very different npiti, in Point of Purity, from what they were then i And that the honeft, or reforming and covenanting BurgetTes then, were ofthat Cwenanting-Church-Body^ thereunto the national Profejjion and Settlement of Religion did immediately and formally belong ; a Body unto whom it was Competent, and who were elTaying, with veiy deiireable Succejs y to get that ProfefTion and Settlement of Religion further reformed i It is plain therefore, That the Cafe now is noway parallel to the Cafe then j fo that there is no Comparablenefs betwixt them, ia the prefent Controverfy. Moreover, 2. Our Brethren may indeed be left to deal among Traditi- ons, about what was the Time when the religious Ciaufe was firlt added unto fome Burgefs-Oaths ; and whether it was retained without Interruption or Omillion, where once added : But it Cannot be palTed, that they mould give out this religious Claufe, as if it had been a noted Affair in Covenanting-times. There h high Talk afterwards, about the faid Ciaufe having been compil- ed and laid by our Reformers, with manifejl Scope and declared Intention, as a March-flcne and Fence againfl: Popery, a Land-mark of the Reformation : AJfo, there is arguing againfl the Synod's Sentence, from the Mind and Praclice of all our Covenanters wider the raft Reformation-Period, in admitting Burgeffes as well as others to fwear the Covenants; and if this mean any 'thing to the Point, it means that the reforming Church of Heat- Q SO Preamlle to the Anfvcers. land were frill well apprifed of, and preferved Refp«ct for that Mcrch-JIone, Fence and Land-mark ; \o that BurgelTes themfelves could not but be particularly adverting and purpofely adhering to the Thing. Thus, according to our Brethren, the religious Claufe behoved to be then much accounted of greatly reckoned upon, and commonly adverted to : But whence do they gather all this ? Where is their Authority for it ? Certainly nothing this Way hath yet appeared among us ; and therefore all rnuft be taken as gratis did urn, or fpoke at Random. But, as to the fetting up ef this March-ftone, at our firfk Re- formation ; was not all the Affair done merely by the Magiflrates of Burghs, as our Brethren acknowledge ? And was it not done, only in a very few Burghs, as we cannot hear tell but of a very few where this Claufe is to be found in the Oath ? Moreover, when the laft Reformation Period came about, what if this Affair was lying in the dark ; as it hath been for fome Years with us? What if the reforming Church of Scotland was then noway ad- verting to the Thing ? And what if the Burroughs were gene- rally as little adverting to it, from its taking Place only with a very few of them ? But there is more than Conjecture here ; it is certain, That fome Way or other the religious Claufe of fome Burgefs Oaths vas generally unheeded at that Time. For, 3 . The reforming Church and the Burroughs of Scotland, a- fcout and under the Time of the A?// Reformation, did exprejly concur in a Teftimony again/I what is exprejly laid in the religi- ous Claufe of fome Burgefs-Oaths. Toward Evidence of this, it is to be remarked ; That, in the Tear 1633, and m a Parliament holden by K. Ch. I. an Acl ^was made of the Tenor following, viz. " Our Sovereign Lord, " with Advice and Confent of the Eflates, ratifies and approves So, and as it was then profeffed within this Kingdom. In their Protesta- tion againft doing fo, they fay : " It is moft manifeft, that his " Majeity's Mind, Intention and Commandment, is no other but; " that the Confeffion be fwom, for the Maintenance of Religion, " as it is prefently profeffed, and thus as it includeth and " containeth withia the Compafs thereof, the forefaid Nova:. 1 " and Epiftopacy ; which unc«r that Name, were alfo ratified, \:\ '* the iirft Parliament holden by his Mnjefty," viz. Anno 163; : « And a little after, they add," We mart affirm the Religion " in the Tear 1580 and at this Time, to b« altogether one an4 " ihe fame; and thus mult acknowledge that there is no Nov j- " tion of Religion." From what is abov5, *it is manifeft, that fome Burroughs as well as others, Anno 1633, and with the Concurrence of the Co- vtnaniers, Murgefcs as well as others, Am T " 58 ; did coadt 6 2 JM* 5 2 Preamble to the Anfwers. arj. A3 of "Parliament, even an Aft for the Liberty and Freedom. of the true Kirk of God and true Religion, becauie it bare a Rc- ierence to tl)e p^efent Profejfion of the true Religion, and fo bo- mologated the prejent Corruptions about Religion. How then is it poffibJe, That thefe who condemned an Ati of Parliament, for rc- fering to the prefent Profciljon of the true Religion that toolc Place before the Reformation, Anno 1638, could have juflified or allowed any Oath, in referring as much to that prefent Profef- fion, had they adverted thereto \ And as to Bur gaffes that con- curred in the? Reformation t ^tnm 1638, and who had been pre*. vioujly engaged in Burgefles-Oaths with this religious Claufe \ how is it polTible, that thcie BurgciTes thcmfelves, could have then miffed to quarrel that previous Engagment in fuch Burgefs- Oaths ? It is impofTibls to account for this, by any Thing die, than that the fa id religious Claufe was fome-way not fpecialiy lookt into, f Wherefore, our Brethren had no Reafon to talk at fuch a Rate as they do, about Covenanters and QurgeJJes in that Period. It f That the religious Claufe of feme Burgefs -Oaths, ivas not then fpecially lookt into by the Friends of Reformation, might very readily come to pafs :— r — -Confidering that the Administration of the Oath was noway on a religious, but merely on a civil Occafi- en : Confidering alfo, what might have been much the Cafe then as now; that the Oath is feldom realy adminifhated, and feldom with any particular So'emnity : Confidering likewife, that of thefe few Burghs, molt, if not all the Burgejfes, who concurred in the Re- formation, Anno 163S, might have had their Tickets lying fir feme Years among old Papers, never lookt into fince firft get, $r at leafl for a good Time back : Confidering further, that as can be in- fir lifted, even toward the C'.ofe of this Reformation-period, People could not fo generally read Print as now, far lefs could they fo gene- rally read Writ ; -yea, it is evident, from fubferibed Copies if the Covenant-Jlile extant, that feme CommiiTionersy;-ow Burroughs, belonging to the four Tables at the Renovation of the Covenant, Anno \6i$, could not {ubCcr.rt but by a Notar , and that the Cafe ivas the fame aftenvards, with fome Members of Town-Ceuncil, *$m in Edinburgh ; wLerefere it is obvious to fuppofe, that many of the Burgefes, arJ perhaps the honefler Part moitly, could not read their Tickets, and conld not be adverting particularly to a Claufe of the Oath written therein :~ z —Confdering moreover, that white the Matter was not fpecially horj/i to the Church, thofe Burgh* an I Bufgsflcs wnted proper Means of Advert ifement, In- formation Seifon firfi: » It is Time now, fix engaging witn the REASONS federally. id sis fallows. REASON L THeLawfulnesoftheBurgefs-Oath,isa Point never fomueh asonce called in Quciiion, in the ClnirchofSor/jv./, and therefore the Synod ought to have been more cautious in cU- eidin* a Queftion of this Nature. Our worthy deceaicd Brother Mr. Wifon in his Defence, Page 64. jii&ioirfly-6bi&W,^ That, "here is a Difference betwixt different Sentiments among the Members of a Church, uptn fome particular Points, that have ever been a Part or Brand of Teftiwmy in that Church, or bat mere never adapted in any of her puhlick Acts and Con- Ht 'tit ions \ and ftch Principles and Practices maintained P*J klfifed, which are in tlwnfelves a Departure or Backjliding , frt \matlon and Light, abrat any Thing that might haze hen quarr ■tiled in it .-—And 'after all, the Brethren have produced n* preperj Evidence, that there was no Interruption or Qmmiiiion, as to th* Uje a}" this Glaitje in that Period. The only Inllancc ret produced, as h any Notice taken or Aceoufii made of this Clr.ife in that Period, is from King Charles's lar^e Declaration, printed in London, Anno 1639, Page 41 ; which wrds a Petition again ft the Service-Book, leering as follows ;-- We, Men, Women, Children and Servants, Indwellers within the Burgh of Edinburgh, being urged with this Book of Ser- vice, and having coniidered the lame, we lind many Things therein ib far different from that Form of God's publick Worship, univerfally received and profefled within this Kingdom ; And we Surgeffes, being at our Entry and Admifion deeply fworn for the Maintenance thereof that now makes our Hearts to tremble, and our weak Consciences will not fuffer us to embrace and practhe this urged Service. Concerning the above Paffdge, thefe two Things will be m&iifef} any intelligent and impartial Reader ; viz. That it noway fir ikes againU what has been obferved about the general Inadverten- cy in the fire f aid Period, unto the Affair of the religious Chu/e ; aid that it is not of uny Coniequence in the prefenl Cmtroverfy. It noway Jirikes againll what has been obferved, about the gene- ral Inadvertency, in the fore faid Period, unto the Affair of the re- ligious Ciaufe : For, the Petition gives m Ground for conceivings fiat the faid Ciaufe was adverted /; by any moc of the Petitioners , 5'4 Reafott fir ft. " from fome Part $r Branch of what has been receive J and adJepte as a Point of ConfeJJion and Teflimony in a Churth. ■ Th Que/Hon (fays he) before us, is concerning fuch Principles an Practices, as may be juftly reckoned a Departure from what ha been Matter of Confeffion and Teflimony in this particular Ne tional Church, " Whereby our Reverend Brother, tho' dead, ye •s fpeaketh his Mind, as to the Matter in Hand, viz. Tkat inPrin w ciples and Practices never controverted in this or any otherChurch c< fo far as wc know, the Synod ought to have been execedin; ** temder anJ cautious in paffing a Decifion, efpecially when then " were fucli different Sentiments about it among our felves,and ar * apparent Rupture threatned to enfue. W« than the Drawer or Drawers thereof; as the Petition bears, Wc Children having confidercd this Book of Service : And further a very curfory View, or faint Remembrance of the Claufe, was fuf- ficient for all the Ufe made thereof in that Petition ; as will appear by and by* Again, it is not of any Confequence /';/ the prefent Controverfy. For no Body refufes that the fore faid religious Clauje contains a Tejll mo ny again]} Popery , and could not but fir ike againll a Service-Book which had fuch. an open Face of Popery, that, as is obferved in a- nother Petiiion offered at the fame Time, the Romifh Mafs is, in th* more fubftantial Points, made up therein. Further, it is not here controverted that the faid religious Claufe flrikes again]} every Thing, in the Matter $f religious Profs jfion, which is not authorifed by Law, but illegal : And the Service- Book,// complained of in the a- hove Petition, as a Thing which hath neither been agitated nor received, either by general Affembly or Parliament. Moreover, it is a manifeft andgre/s Impofitioa upon the JVor!d % t9 alledge, as if BurgcflTes, at that Time, appeared anyway by the above Petition, to conjider ihemf&lves as fwom by their Burgefs- Oath, to maintain the Purity cf Worjhip received and profeffed in this Church, in Oppofition to any Laws at tkat Time, authorifmg, Innovations : For in that Petition, they contended from their Bur-, gefs-Oath, only again]} the 9er vice-Book, which was awthorifed by no Law, nor had ever been received and profeffed in this Church. And it will be obvious to any Body, at one Heading of the whole Pe- tition, that the fa Perfons were not then ceme the length of t edify- ing and contending again]} the Corruptions which were already taking Place, under that Period of DefcEliou, in the Profeffion and Settlement of Religion, or the received Form of God's publick Worihip. But when they foon after came fenvard unto this Tefti- rnon« Anfwer to Reafonfecond. 55 " We find that in covenanting Times, Burgeflcs are among the 81 Denomination of thefc who are admitted to fvvear the Covenants, ♦and no iefs than 48 Burghs were prcfentby their Commiflioner 4 in the Atfembly at Glafgow 1638, as appears from Def Page '248, and when, after the Reftoration, Matters, with reference to [ the Profeffion and Settlement of Religion, were quite altered from •what they were before ; yet we find none of our Sufferers i* any * of their Teftimonies making the jeaft Exception againlt this, ©r 14 any other CJaufe of the Burgefs-Oath, nor were any of them ' that were cntred BurgelTes during that perfecuting Period, look- 1 ed upon to have hereby receded in the leaft from any Branch ;< of their Teitimony, and we may freely fay, that they were as •tender of Oaths as any in this Period, as appears by their refu- 4 ling many other Oaths at that Time, and fuifering t© Death oa * that Account. " ANSWER to REASON I. UPon this firft pretended Reafon, it is obfervable ; That, \mo. The Synod are under no Apprehenfion, but that iheir Decifion will be found cautious enough, as to the Nature of it : And as to the Leizure taken in coming forward unto it ; the Caution they have ufed, conlldering all Circumltances, particu- larly the Connection of the Matter with their former Tcftimony, may feem to have been rather to9 much. Moreover, if there was NecelTity of taking up and deciding the Queftion, as the Synod have done , ( and that there was lb, will be farther raanifeil: in due Time ; ) of what Significancy is it to object, That the Point had never fi much as once been called in Queltion in the Church •f Scotland; efpecially coniidering that, as hath been fhewn al- ready, the prefent Print of Controverfy had never a Being, and the prejent Queflion about it conld net therefore have had a Being, m any reforming Period of this Church before ? 2 do Sup- mony, it could not have entred into their Minds, that their Bur- gefs-Oath obliged them thereunto, but the Contrary ; As it hath already been made appear, and will further be fo afterwards, that our Covenanters, BurgelTes and others, behoved necejfarily, accor- ding to their declared Principles, to confider and condemn the Burgefs-Oath,//; its Religious Claufe, as homologating or approv- ing of thefe Corruptions, by the Words prefent-ly pvoicfed, during the Time when Matters were not come the length of National Re- formation, hid they bten led to look Ipccially into the Jill J I i ,j6* Abfwtr to Re a/on firjt. ide. Suppofing the Quotation here made from our worthy d eeafed Brother, Mr. Wiifon, were as the Proteffors give out ; it i noway to their Advantage but the contrary : Becaufc their Sent: ments and Practices in the prefent Affair, (which it is wifhed the may not he left farther to maintain and juftify), art, in tbemfelve. * Departure or Back fit ding, from fame Part or Branch of what ha keen received and adopted, as a Point ofConfeJ/ion and Te/Hmony ' this particular Church, as will appear afterwards ; and, in thi Cafe* the Difference of Sentiments among ourfelves, »r Hazarc of a Rupture, couki not have warranted the Synod to forbear < Decifion.- But after all; the forefaid Quotation is lo laid, as t( conceal entirely the true Defign thereof; and the Conclufion rnadi from iti as the Author's Mind, is foreign to his Scope, withou any Foundation in his lYords, and injurious to his Memory. Far Mr. JVtlfon is there ftating the Qweitien concerning Sesefjion frorr the prefent Judicatories ; and, where a Gap is left ift the Citation, he fays " The feceding Brethren are far fro'm dating their Sccefli- M oa upon every Difference of Sentiments : " Mow, what Con- nection is there, betwixt thefe two ; that certain Things are n<5t Ground of Sec effion from a Church, and thit fitch Things ought not to be examined and adjuftcd, as at prefent, in the Church ? It is ■the former of the fe Cafes that Mr. JVtlfin fpeaks up«n ; b\it what Shatlow is there of his fpeaking with Relatioa to fuch a Cafe as the prefent ? rfis Words indeed bear no Shew of Favour to the Side wfcich they are here drawn unto : But they arc produced at Random ; and the pretended Conclufiou therefrom, tho' made with an Air of AiTurance, doth ijjue meanly, in a Thruft agaiarft the Sy^ nod, inflead of their Sentence, as if they had proceeded without due' Tendemefs and Caution. pio. From what was fa id formerly,- k is evident, that there is no Reatbn to make an Up-caft, in the prefent Controverfy, about the Cafe of Burgejfes or Burghs, in covenanting Times : And tho' there were, it is vain to mention for ty eight of thefe Burghs,- m. this Head ; feeing we have not yet heard tell of fo many as eight Burghs, that have tke religions Glaufe, now controverted; m their Oath. iftOi Altho' our Sufferers, under the late Period of Perfection, hiAjuflified, or knowingly allowed of a fwearing the faid religious - Claufe even in fuch Circumftances as then ; yet, that could no? belong to the f fit eft ant Rule for diftinguifhmg betwixt Sin and' Duty, or directing Confcience, i:i the Matter : Wherefore, aii Upbraiding the Synod with their Tendcrnefs about Oaths other- wife, an bs neither an ingenuous Shift on this Subject, nor & dif ae't Jnfxer to Pea/on Tirft* $j &eetW*y of treating their Memory. But moreover, what is objected. here, turns out to be very afhnijhing and loofe. It is very affoni/hin^, to fiad our Brethren, (or their Words, at \ leaft), of Opinion, that our iate Sufferers might -warrant ably and i fonfiflently enough fwcar the fore&id religious Claufe, when (as is own'd)s Matters -with Reference to the ProfeJ/ion an J Settlement !i bf Religion, werf quite 'altered from what they were before. The ; caring this Chafe, if ft be not exempted from the common Na± ture of Oaths and Language, 'doth homskgate a prefent national Frofefion and Settlement of Religion, by an expiefs Mention of ami Reference unto the fame •, and it exprelly takes up that prefent Profdfion, in thefe Words, 2 profefs : Might fuch a Claufe there fore be warrant ably enough fworn in that Period ? And might our late Sufferers do ib, conjjleni'y enough with their furfering unto Death, rather than Comply with that prefent ProfeiTion and Settle, rnent I Or might, they well enough fwear fuch a Claufe, in a way of meaning what was pafl, and not prefent f Thefe Tilings are indeed beyond Comprehenfioh : And, at this Kate, there need- ed be vto more ad$ about Oaths, but in leaving them ta all the ' Freedoms of Deceit and Fancy. Aga.n, it is very loojly objected, that we find none of cur Suffer" '*rs r in any of their 7 ejh monies, making the leajl Exception againft this, or any other Claufe, of the Bnrgefs-Oath. For the Truth is, our Sufferers were moiliy off the Way of any particular Acquaint- ance with the Affairs of Burghs : Is T or do \se find that any of them were adverting to this Affair ; more than honeit Burgefles and Covenanters had been formerly, tsith Reierenceto the Period of Defection preceeding the Tear 1638. Arid as none can be properly laid to recede from a Branch of Teftimony, Lut when they arc confeious of their doing fo ; or, at leait, of the Thing by ivh'ch they do ib : It is not conceivable, how the other Sufferers could have miffed to reckon that fufftring Burgefles were receding from their Teftimony, by a known and jufiificd Engag- ment in fuch Oaths ; if thefe other Sufferers had been adverting to the Thing : As it was fhown, that Honed Burgefles and Covenanters formerly, could not haveyS allowed ofzxiyfuch En- ' gagement, even in Reference to the lad named Period of De- fection, which was far from being {o black as the Perjecutifin- Period. Concerning other Things IcvjJy objected here, it may fiimce to remark ; That i.\e have but fmall Account of fiffer Burgeffes, especially fu&rlhg unto Death, in the (aid Period % And our Bretheren may try, if they can reconcile with Hijlory and comm$n Reafn, the Tiuih of what they take for graite H &ut 53 Eeafon Second that my were (yea or could he) amcng the then Suffer ers^tzi ye* entriv.g, or commencing Burgeffes, at the jane 'time, in attj Place where we hive found the Religious Ciaufe intheBurge& Oath. REASON n, " 2.TT is evident, that the firft Ciaufe of the Burgee-Oath natt « x eondemned by the Synod, was compiled and laid as a March* " Stone or Fence againft Popery ; as appears both from the StiJe of " the faid Cl uie, which is agreeable to the current Stile, " Mode of exprefling the ProfeiTLch and Settlement of Religion '" in reforming Times, particularly in our eld Cenfefflen and m k the Nations! Covenant ; ai*d likewiie ft cm the exprefs Renaun* " ciation of the Roman Religion called Pdpijiry % in the Ciaufe it* " fclf. This being the Cafe, it was the Bufinefs of the Synod, * who have in their Teftimony adopted the whole Work of ** Reformation. attained unto, and transmitted unto us by our * Forefathers, rather to have vindicated than condemned this *' Ciaufe of the Oath as finful. There is an exprefs Prohibition, • * Prev. xxii. 28. Remove not the ancient Lsnd-rt.ark, 'which thy ** Fathers have jet, which is repeted Chip, xxiii. io. Remove not A the old Landmark. Now, if it be finful to remove the Land- r< marks of Earthly Inheritances, it cannot but be a more aggra- * vared Sin to remove the Land-marks of Reformation in Oppo- * fition to the Man of Sin and Son of Perdition. To remove the * Rubbifh (if there was any) was indeed the proper Work of the " Synod, by declaring the End and life of this Religions " Ciaufe, as a March-itone laidagiinit the Mother of Harlots and * Abominations entring into the Burghs of this Kingdom, which * was propofed by forne of us (wherein we all agree) as the Bu- u Enefi of the Synod, rather then to remove the March hfeff. * c If anv perverted it unto a wrong Ufe t for patronizing the De- * feclions of our Day ; it was their Province to declare and " warn, that in So doing, whether Admin iftrator or Taker of the ** Oath, they thereby pervert the. Defign thereof, contrary to the * manifeft Scope and declared Intention of the firft Compilers and rt Impofers thereof, and the Mind of all our Covenanters, who 41 admitted Burgefies as well as others to fwear the Covenants ; *' according to the Example and Practice of-«ur Lord, Mafth. " v arid v'i. Chapters, who vindicates the Law, but refutes the a corrupt Glofles put upon it ; but to declare what was evident- * ly fct up by our Reformers, as 2 Fence againft Popery, to be 1 now finfd, :s, in our Opinion, a removing of oae of their Marelv "Stones Anfiuer t$ Ftafin fectnA* 5*9 "Stones, which no Sett of WitnefTes before ever attempted* n Tbis will farther appear in the Sequel . But, ANSWER to REASON II. OU R Brethren do now advance with high P ret enfant \ tut noway to the Purpofe. While, \mo, They bring out the Religious Claufe of fome Burgefs- Oaths, in fo great a Form, as we cannot find to have ever ente- red into the View of any before ;- and as fcems not to have beea in their run View, when coadefcending upon the Original Fram- es and Adminijhators thereof, ia the Preamble to their Reafons. We are told, that it was compile! and laid or Jet up, as a March-Stone or Fence, yea a Landmark of Reformation, z&xn!k Popery, or againft the Mother of Harlots and Abominations en- tering into the Burghs of this Kingdom : And, at the fame Time, The Thing is given out t# have been done by our Re- formers ; as far back as our Reformation from Popery. All this is very confidently fet faith, as being evident i And yet all the Evidence pretended, is from the Stile and Words of -the Claufe ; which can fignify no more than, in general, that it mcty have been framed fimevhere, in a civil Way, tinder our £rft Reforma- tion, in Opposition to Popery. The Truth is, from what has been faid formerly, the Hi (To- ry of the Religious Claufe in fome Burgef>-Oaths doth mofl proba* tly amount unto this; that the Magiftrates ofoifrm Burghs. fbmetime about our firft Reformation, and from Honefty o|" Heart, may have taken it in to their Burgefs-Oath, but without confulting either Church or State thereupon,: And, tho' the Thing might have been pretty well known at iirll, and noway quarrelled, confidering that the Claufe did run in Agrecabknefs Co the then Teltimony for Religion and Reformation ; yet, that (bon after, it began to efcape particular Notice, and has done fo Wore and more, becomiag generally unheeded, till of late. However, it is manifeft, that this Ctaufe had never any other Or higher Original, than from the Magi (hates of Burghs, either as to the Framing of Adminiftration thereof : Confidering that jthere is not to be found, any Conftitution about it, c£a different w higher Authority ; as alio, that it takes Place in fo few .Barohs ; and that, even among thefe, the Stile of it is not [uniform. Our Brethren indeed could not be brought, fey any \Reafoningt to aekaowkdge thefaid Original of this Clause : But H 2 thev 60 A f fiver to ReafinfeccrJ. they came, at Length, of their own Jfec&r/f, not onfy to ackncrw-\ ledge it, but tof'ea^upan it • as in their written Dlfftnt and Proteft, prefixed to their Rtqfbns : Tho ; it fee ii range that they fr.oo d have thus taken up, as an Argument en if. or Side, what only makes again}} 1 1: $ \Yell then, concerning the faid Claufe its having teen ftt y.p. by 9ur Reformers as a March-Stone, Fence or Land- M ark- oi Re<* foimati^n, againlr. Popery; our Brethren may be enquired at, bow this Story can be made to tell and hang together ? Could our Reformers iuppofe, that any Lqfld-Mkrk of Refor- mation againft Popery, might ly in the fjsriicutaf end f . ( Constitution of Burghs ; or otherwife than u> the ger.raf '?nA ck Conltitutions oMhe hand\ And could they mils to i that the Courfe taken in Reforming-Times, by the fuprerne Au- thority of the Church and Nation, for keeping Popery o>.t of the-. Chunr .:;;- in general, was* the proper Cquffe for ke< it out cf Burghs in particular? Again, if the faid Clr.ufc was jfet up by our Reformers, as aMareh-tlone or Fei ipft thq . Mother of Harlots and Abominations entrmg in* : this Kingdom-, how then comes it about, that the fan ver lair, except in a very few cfthefe Burghry as our Br have not found it yet tying* except in a very few of them . : It would le vain to pre! end here, that ;t might have bcenwr* more generally ufed ; tut that, in moil Places, it may have been got razed out face: For, as no Record has 1 been found, ( Thing; fo, there is no Probability iris conjecturing that this have Been the Cafe : -Becanie, from our tirft Reform was never a Time of any Attempts in the State, to i a a March-ftone or Ytvxcf/nffy cgLihit Popery ; nil tdwan Ciofe of the late Ferfecut ion-Period : And our Records hi Attempts/^, will not admit of a Conjecture, that have had the fore/hid EfieCt ; nor could all Accounts thereof "have pcrifhed fofcsn, li it had been fb. Moreover", ai our prvth'ren acknowledge in their Prearnfclc, Magiftrates of Burghs *re the original T^ Adyiinijba- t$;s oj i i :-(Jath > \h\ i the ioitfaid Religious C. . > thus ihey icknowitge thefe Msgil* rates for the original. Ccm- f l.s, Latejfrs and Uffefters of that March-Stcnc or Fc . . 'Popery: But how can this corf ft v.uh telling,' that it *as 1o c ir.pikd, la:u and iet op, by our Reformers f For cer- tainly the "leim, but 'Reformers, wasnevei heretofore underilocd ct the Mvgijlrate* ot a/Hu Bnrgbi, acting in tl.eif Magiitiatical or civil Capacity ; tho' ii be only as adrtng in thii Ci: icit< , that *hey roul-4 framt and adminiflrate fuch an Oath. And kiriher, I Arfver to Reafon fecorj, 6 j •|t£the Claufe under Confidcration, *as fst up %J our Reformer ■/, z% : . . FcncAn vsnai iihejenrpteaded, not on- <2 dnfiaer to Reafon fond.. ly in the Manner of Exprefm~ but alfo in the whole Matter and Merits of the Caufe, as may be sadly perceived. Bat it (hall be obferved here, that however undent the reli* gious Claufc itfelfmiy be ; yet what the Synod have condemned, viz. a /wearing of it by Seseders y as it somes necejfarily to be ufei and 'applied in this Period, is a Thing which had no Being ia the Time of our Reibrmers, when the faid Claufe is fuppoied to have been fet ap, more than the Year 1746 had a Being ia their Time : And the faid fwearing of it, is a Thing which had no parallel in their Time ; more than their Time, as to the Pro- feffion and Settlement of Religion, with tfce State and Circam- fiances of the Tcttiraony for Religion and Reforuaation 3 was pa- rallel to our Time Wherefore, what the Synod have condem- ned, is a Thing which had neither a Being nor Parallel in their Time : Ani thus, the heavy Charge here laid fo confidently a- gainft the Synod, muft coenijb like a Dream. Moreover, even fuppofing that Claufe of fonrte Burgefs-Oaths, had been a proper enough March-flute againft Popery : Yet, fee- ing fundry other March-flexes have been fet up by this Time, in Opposition to a Variety of other Errors and Evils befide Papery j mult the Synod then be reckoned Removers of that March -fl one r (imply beoauie they condemn a general Act of fwearing to Religion, that overlooks and negletts all the other March- flones ? If any Pro- prietor of a temporal State had got a March-ftone let up againft an encroaching Neighbour on one Side ; and if his SucceiTors, upon Controvcrfies arifing with encroaching Neighbours on ether Sides, mould get March-Hones fit there like,* ife ; fo as, at length, the Eftate mould come to have March-ftones fet round about : ' After this, would it be my Detriment or DiJ credit to. the firft or old March-ftone, for a fucceeding Proprietor to refje and condemn any general Definition of his Eftate, by that March-ftonc, with- out comprehending the other March-Stones, as neceflary for giv* ing a general and jufl Definition of his Property and Claim f Y ea, could iuch a Pertbn be acting agreeably to Law and Reafon ; or with a due Regard to that fame old March-done, the original Defign and Ufc whereof comes to be fortified and improven, by the other March-ftones afterwards annexed unto it ; if he fhould make out any one general Deed about the Extent of his Eftate, merely with a Regard to that old March-flone ; or w ithcutany^/F/r/^r Definition of his Property and Claim, than tkcreh) ? All this is plain enough ; and an Application to the Point i* Hand is eafy : Wherefore, the Synod are fo far from having done fuch a Thing by their Sentence, as no Sett ofWituejjes be- fore ever attempted j that they have only dome what no Sett of Jrtfwer to-Reafon fectnd. 63 Witneflcs mM* confidently enough with that Chira&er, hint forlorn to do, in the like Circumftances ; and what is a proper 'imitation of the former Witneflcf of Chrift. * \tio t Our Brethren adventure to determine and teach, what the 'tynod fhuld tave done as their proper Work in this Affair, in- ftead of the Sentence that they have now pafled. They are here improving upon an Overture narrated in their fr&wible, which has been eonfidercd a little at that Place: Anil it is really difmal, to have ado with fuch manifcft Abfurditie*, Upon fo grave and plain a Bufinefs. Tke faid Overture was for explaining the Claufe, " Accord- " ing to the original arid obvious Mtaning and Intent of the ^ Words thcmfelves, in fuch a Senfe as might be adapted to the " prcfent Testimony;" And the Reafon given for doing {o s was, that " Magiftrates of Burroughs are the original Framers and * Adminiftrators of the Burgefs-Oath " with that Claufe. How this could be indeed a Reafon/#r the Overture, and not againfl it, is above Gomprehenfion : Seeing (befide what has been faid on this Point before,) it would be pnfanly deceitful, by being plainly inconfiftent with the Nature of this Oath, as it is an Oath, that the fame fhouid be taken in any Senfe y or with any ExpHca- tUn, but what is, at leaft, openly adapted by the Magiftrates of Bur- roughs ; becaufe to them, or for their AfTurance and Satisfaction, it is immediately taken : And likewife m Explication of an Oath, ho~verer made or adopted, can be allowed of, without ma- nifeft Abfurdity and Sin, except it be agreeable to the plain and tommon, ®r necejfary Senfe of the Words : B at, the plain and common Senfe of the Words in that Part of the Oath, as it comes neceflarily to be ufed and applied in this Period, cannot poiTibly be adapted to the prefent Teftimony among SeceJers, by any Explication that thefe Magiftrates could either make or adopt ; becaufe the faid Part of the Oath, tho' it takes up 2 general Tef- timony for Religion, doth yet take up no more extenfive Teftimo- ny, than for the Prtteflant, in Oppofition to the Popifh Religion ; and becaufe, in the fortfaid plain and common Senfe of the 1 Words, it neceflarily h§mohgates the prefent national Profejfion and Settlement of Religion, which the Teftimony among Scceders doth as necejfarily find Fault -with ; and becaufe thefe Magiftrates have not in their Power, to rectify that Settlement and Frofefkon, in any of the Things for which it is fo found Fault with. Where- fore, as on the one Hand, feceding BurgeJJes cannot, confiftently with the Nature, Ule and End of an Oath, ftvear the religious Claufe in any Senfe, but according to the Will of the Magiftrates I for whole Satisfaction it is fworn; fa on the other Hand, thefe Magiftrates, tf 4 Anjfwcr to Reafon feconS. Jlagiftrates, Deeaufe (among other Reafohs) fh£y ar« but Ma^li irates of Burroughs, cannot confidently adminiftrate the fam* in any Strfe adapted to the pre -ent TefHmony among Seceden any more than they can bring up the national Pnfeff'.on and SettU ment of Religion to a Level with* or make them & lapted ^unL the J aid TetYimony. After all, it is very akfurd 'to propofethat the SyhbJ fhbuld inftead of their Sentence, have explained that Clauie in forij Bnrgefs-Oaths ; as if it were confiflent with the Nature o? ii Oath, that any fhould determine the Meaning thereof, but theft {o Tubofe jfffuranct and Srttiffamoh it is properly taken ; and as i the Meaning whh which thefe Magiftrates do and muff adminifirate the fame, were not vflamfcd enough* from the obvious Meaning and Intent of the Words, co-inciding with the prefent State o Matters, and with the open Profdhon which the Magiitrates make And the above Propofal will appear the more abfiird ; it it b< £onfidered, that the Clauie needetli no Explication, as to tli< Terms thereof : Confidering alfo that it cannot arfinii of any Ex- plication as to the 'fmffort thereof; but in a Way of explaining the prefent national Profs fan and Settlement of Religion, ah ie&ffdrily hemohgaied thereby : And this Explication will bejuf a Vindication of the Synod's Sentence. But, when our Brethren are come to improve upon their forefak Overture, there is tome nlfiv Face put upon the Thing. The) talk myttcriouUy about remwing the Rv.tbijh from the religiou.' Claufe : And yet they put an ifio it ; fo as not to grant that there is really any fuch Rubbiih, or a ay wrong life of the Claufe if our Day. Well, how was the fuppofed Rubbijb to be removed.. It was (according to them) by vindicating the Ciaufc; by did* ring the iuppofed Ufe and En !. thereof x yea, by declaring am •warnings both as to Admmih ahf and Taker, againft perverting the Defign thereof* contrary to the manifejl Scope and declared In tent ion of the fir;} Compilers and Impofers therezf Now, if ail this have any diflinil and coherent Scnfe, it rhul fay, that the Synod fhcuid have made a Declaration and Warn titgi for having the Claufe of the Oath adminiftrated and {'worn according to the Meaning, Ufe and Application which it had ii t he 'fj/ne cf our Reformation from Popery ; / or, as they fpeak, ac fording to 'the original Mewing and Intent cfihe Words themfelves .which they reckon obvious. But fuppofing that only fece ding Takers of the Oath, bu likewjfe all other Takers, and even the Adminiflr at ors thercol iliould have been difpofcd to pay all imaginable Regard to fuch: DecIariiti6u"_Ra3 Warning; yet hew could this Scheme corfh ac jitffiuer to Reafin fecond. 6 J ' and be complied with ? For, tho' it was agreeable enough to fwear generally unto Religion, only in fpecial Oppofition p Popery, at a Time when the Teftimoay on the Field for Reli- gion was fo Hated ; yet, how could this anfwer now, when a further Teftimony is fpecially on the Field i Moreover, would our Brethren have the Synod to teach, that an Oath of a Current Nature, exprefly referring to prefent Things, z prefent P rofvlfioa and Settlement ; ought to be taken as meant of pafl Things, or with a Refpect unto pafl Things, or in a Way of ahflra fling from the prefent Things that are contrary to thefe pafl Things t And have our Brethren forgot what they taught about an Oath, in the Ahfwers to Mr. Nairn, Page 29, viz, " Tho' we fiiQuld pro- " nounce the fame Form and Words, yet -we behoved neceflarily " to underftand it of the prefent Time, Perfons, and Things ; " otherwife it could not be z prefent Gaihl" This is Doctrine ' that we were all unanimous about once : And were the Synod to teach People the contrary now, they would indeed Con- tradict the whole Defgn, life and End of Oaths, and runar^/ Ride of being found Students unto Perjury ; according to what is ground lefly inlinuated againft them in the next Reafen* However, our Brethren do fome Way explain themfelves here. For, they talk of prefent Magiftrates in Burghs a3 Admi* niflrators of this Chafe in the Oath ; and of Magiftrates at the Reformation as the fir ft Compilers and lmpofers thereof, according to whofe manifefl Scope and declared Intention, or original Mean- ing, the Claufe is to be taken : And thus, as indeed thfy have tiled to argue, they do not own the. prefent Magiftrates to be on a Leave! with thefe former Magiftrates, in reflect of the Oath ; but that the former are flill to be confidered as the lmpofers of the re- ligious. Claufe, and the latter as Adminiftrators thereof; fo that only the Scope and Intention of thefe former Magiftrates, in fra- ming and impofing it, is new to be regarded in taking it ; and thus they make the prefent Magiftrates to be no more here, thai* Executors of the Will of the Dead. This is indeed a new Kind of Scheme, contrary to what has been commonly received hitherto, viz. That the 'whole Power of Magiftrates dothnatively devolve upon their SucceiTcrs ; fo that prefent Magiftrates mufl be; in refpect of the former Ones, as abjolute Msfiers ' and Lupojers of the Oath, as ever thefe former Ones were. But further, in this and what elle is faid upon the Head, our Brethren feem to forget that the Matter in Jiand is of *n Oalb} a folemn Oath. For, all the fpecial Uje and End of an Oath, as fcch, can be nothing elfe than to put an End to Strife, or to give I Afurants mo sinj-wzr iv neajon jecona* j4furattee zni Satisfotf ion to the lmpoj'ers thereof: Wherefore, People cannot fwear this Oath now, forgiving A flu ranee and Satisfaction to the Old, the dead Magiftrates ; or otherwife, than to give prefent AfTurance and Satisfaction to the prefent, the living Magiftrates, about the prefent religious Profoffion and Purpofe of the Swearer. This Oath then, asall Oaths, muft, in the (wear- ing thereof, be confidered [imply and merely as a prefent Thing, for that prefent Ufeznd End \ as indeed the other Claufes there- of, wherewith the firft or religious Claufe doth coalefee, cannot poflilly be interpreted with any Reference Xopaft Thiags : And thus, the Oath rr.uft be underftood and fworn now, in the very Ji.me Way as if the Frame of it had never had a Being under any former Magiftrates ; becaufe it is of no Confideration here, how ancient the Franc of it be-, feeing the Thing confidered under the Formality of an Oath, for prefent Affur&nce and Satisfaction to frc/ent Magiftrates, is a Thing that never had or could have a Be- ing under any former Magiftrates ? Well then, muft not the pre[ent Magiftrates of Burghs, be reckoned as much the Impofers of the Oath, for Satisfaction to them, afe ever any former Magiftrates were, for Satisfaction to them? ' And if it be taken now at all, muft not the Swearers take it, ac- cording to the known and confident Scope or Intention of thefe pre- font Magiftrates, without any proper Dependence upon the Scope and Intention of former ones; becaufe this would contradict the prefent U[e and End thereof, which is noway to give AfTurance and Satisfaction to pajl, but to prefent Magiftrates ? All thefe Things are plain and une'iiputable, according to the "Nature of Oaths, and the Senfe of all Ages about them. More- over, according to the obvious Meaning and Intent of the Words in the Religious Claafe, they arc of a current Nature, neceffari- ly referring to prefont Things, in the prefent Stare of Matters, as to the ProiefTion and Settlement of the true Religion : Therefore, the pre ilnt Magifl rates of Burghs cannot confillently, nor ought to admin ill rate the fame, if they do fo at all, but with a Scope and j&tet/tion, o( having Security from the Shearer, about his Satisfaction with t Bat prefent State tf Matt en \ notwithfianding the Defections and Corruptions therein which we complain of, as injurious io that true Religion. Wherefore our Brethren had no Reaibn to talk of Adminiflrator or Taker of the Oath now, as if they would pervert the proper Defign thereof, by any fuch Scope and Invention : Seeing, an Ufe of it, as Matters now fiarid, without, this Scope and Intention, would be a grofs and dreadful perverting of the Oath. But Anfwer ts Reafon fecond. 6f But further, as our Brethren, in their Propofal for vindicating the Religious Cl»ufe, do make a Reference to our Lord's Exam~ pie and Practice of vindicating the Last), in t^e 5-th and 6th Chapters of Matthew ; this is indeed but an ah fur A Affair, ac- cording to what has been faki alieady : But moreover, the Ccm-T pariibn is by no means decent : And thus the Religious Ckuie mu(l be fome ftrange Thing ; not of the Nature of any other Oaths y but of the Nature of G o d's Word ; fo far as to need no more for accommodating it to all Times and Cir cum fiances, but limply a refuting corrupt GloJJes put upon k. In a Word, nothing as Matters (land, can be proper Work for the Synod, about any Oaths of Civil Society, but to teftify a- gainft what is amiis therein, and to deal with their People about Sin and Duty thereupon ; which is jutt the Import and Amount of their Sentence about the Religious Claufe now protefted a- gaJHll : And they behoved either to pais this Sentence ; or t# let their People go on in the Affair, as it Hands And finally upon this Reafon ; as our Breihrcns Argumen therein turns out, hitherto, but unto a poor Appearance ; they had much need, according to their Promife, to nuko it further appear in the Sequel. REASON III. " 3- T^ ^ s » * n our Opinion, mod dangerous, to make Oaths re- M X duplicate upon all the finful Laws and Conftitutions " that are in being, in any Period ; when there is no iiich Redu- " plication fpecified in the faid Oaths. The Synod makes the " Lawfulnefs or Unlawfulnefs of the firft Claufe of fome Burgcfs- " Oaths, to turn intirly upon certain Circumftances, with re- * fpedt to the ProfefTion and Settlement of Religion : And ai- « though they affirm that Matters at prefent are in iuch Circunv " ftances, with reference to the Profeffion and Settlement of Re- « iigion, as make the Swearing of the Burgefs-Oath, with the " faid Religious Claufe, finful and unlawful ; yet they thereby " feem to fuppofe, that the Time has been, when Matters, witl% " Reference to the Profeftion and Settlement of Religion, were " fuch, that the fwearing the Burgefs-Oath with the faid Reli- " gious Claufe, was lawful end warrantable. H The Circumftances with refpect onto the prefent Profef- " fion and Settlement of Religion, are, in the declared Judg- 1 reduplicate or not upon this or the other Law, according as •■ their different Inclinations or Interefts lead them. But Mr. * Zachariah Croft : to fee, that there is ho Pcfibihty of uvderftanding the ■•■s in a found Scnfe, and making thevj to agree among them* * felves-, left they be found Students unto Perjury. Theje Ambl- es and Contradictions mutt be real and in the very Words urfelves, and not in the Fancy or Imagination of ' fuch as, in * Prejudice do decline ike Oath ; nor in the -Intention of him that areth, not willing to be bound ; For, if the Wtrds he clear plain, in their proper Signincation, the Appreherrfnn of He : ' Confederates, or the twe drift and Scope of the Oath, the Oath " obligelh, and r.iufl be carefully obferved ; as Doclor Sander fon,. " Grotius, and many others, in this Cafe do teach. (^.") The " Synod, by making the Religious Claufe in fome Burgeis-Oaths " reduplicate upon all the bad Acts and Conftitutions prefently " Li Being, by the iame Parity of Reafon, make our National • " Covenant, as renewed in the Tears 1638 and 1639, to redu- " plicate upon ail the Acts of Parliament that are fpcci lied at the " End of the laid Covenant: Whereas the AlTociate Presby- " tery, in their Act againit Mr. Nairn, have expreily declared •' Page ;.:, That iheie Acfes were no Part of the Preamble far li lefs any Part §f the ^0 at hi tfelf 1 A N,S W E R toREASON III. N this Reafon, a thrsefolJ Argument is taken up againft the Synod and their Sentence, for charging the Burgefs-Oath, in its Religious Claufe, with a finfd lie-duplication. That Re- duplication which our Brethren, (in fome locfe and jarring Ex- preffons.) uo blame t/e charging it with, \< upon all the evil Co::- fiitutions, Laws and A&s of Parliament, that are prefently in be- ing, relative to the prefent Profefion and fettlement of RcligmY And it is very :ru>r, that the Synod confuiers it as having a Re- it ion, which prefently homologates all thefe. However^ they and their Sentence are here much mifla ken and wronged : ' litters are reprcfentcd, as if a conceived Replication, and, particularly this Reduplication, were all the Ground of the ncc ; yea, as if they made the Unlawfulncfs of Swearing 1 iiaufe, to turn entirey upon this Reduplication. Where-* 7 # Anfwer to R ea fon Third. The Synod have considered the finful Redupliaation in the fWearing of laid Claufe, as prefently extending a great deal far- tlier, than civil Conftitutions, Laws and A els of Parliament ; even unto <*//the Defection- and Corruptions, ecclefiaflical as well as civil, in the prefent national Profeilion aad Settlement of Re- ligion. Again, they never made their Sentence to turn entirely, upon what Reduplication they conceive the Oath has in its faid Claufe ; for, befides this, they reckon it chargeable with a finful Deficiency of Reduplication, as it is not calculate for comprehend- ing the diilerent Branches of the Tefiimony for Religion and Reformation, that have been attained fince our Reformation froiji Popery, in Oppofitioa to the prefent general Defection ; and likewile, befide all the general View of the Matter, they confider that Swearing as peculiarly finful among SeceJers, from their Z^- cn':ar Circnmftances. Moreover, the Synod never oiFered to make the Unlawfulnefs of fwearing that Claufe, to turn entirely, either upon what finful Reduplication our Brethren fpeak of, or upon all the finful Reduplication which the Synod means, or . upon the finful Deficiency of Reduplication which they mean, or upon the peculiar Circnmftances of Seceders in fwearing the Claufe ; or upon all %f tktfe : For, it is not the Uniawfulneis of' laid f caring, in gewal and abfoluttly, but the Unlawfuinefe thereof, ttfifir as, the Sentence meddles with it, that they make to turn upon the above Hinges: And fo, the general Siippojition kcre charged upon their Sentence is very groundlefs. For explaining this Point a little, it is to be coniidered ; that, tho' in the fir/} Paragraph of the Reafon, compared with the Be- ginning of the ficonJ, the Judgment of the Synod, as fuch, and the ] udgment of Brethren in die Synod, about th« forefaid Un- lawfulnefs, are fpok n of as Things co-extenjive ; or, as If the Sy- n;>i had laid their Sentc-nce, for comprehending all the Grounds of that Unlawfulaefs, which any Brethren of Synod had mentioned ; yet the true Cafe is otherwife : For, fomft of thefe Brethren had mentioned fur fact) Grounds, which tha Sentence doth not me idle with, or extend unto. The firfl v.a., that they conceived it' wrong, to have a religious jplauie and Tcttim my, being of an evangelical Nature and Ufc, limited unto any Burge&rOath : And they conceived it wrong, to have Rich a Claufe, of a general Nature, laid and continued in, any Burge/s-O^h; becaafe, in their Opinion, either that general Claufe could not ftill be lawfully fworn, by having it ftill accom- modated to nev* t of Testimony in the Profelfion of Reli- gion after the Reformation from Popery ; or, if it were fo accom- modated, this would make the Terms tf civil and religious Comr Anfwer to Reafon Third. 7 1 rmunionof equal Strielne/s.-—The fccond was, more particularly, that they conceived it wrong, to have Magiflrates of Burroughs acknowledged, in their impofing by thcmfelves, zny Juch Claufe : eonfidering the Marches that take Place betwixt fpiritual and chil Jurisdiction, according to 2 Chron, xix. 1 1 . And behold. Anuria h the chief Priejl is over you in all Matters of the Lord, and Zebadiah the Son of IJhmael, the Ruhr of the Houfe of Judah, for ell the > Kings Matters'; al/o the Levites [hall be Officers before you ; deal wuragioufly, and the Lord fh all be with the Good : 'And eonfidering that it is not competent for thefc Magiftrates, to in/pecJ and cognofce upon the moral and religious Qualifications, that are nectflary in Perfons, for warranting the Adminiftration of fuch an Oath unt© :them ; efpecially as the Laws of the civil Society do not warrant a limiting Bur gets- Privileges*, unto Perfons of the moral and reli- gious Qualifications, that arc ncceffary in being admitted to a folemn religious Oath. — The third W2S, that, according to ordinary Fame, there are ordinarily many accidental Abufes, in the Way oftfdmini- ft rating and dealing with Burgefs-Oaths, having that folemn £laufe. And the fourth of thefe Grounds, was taken from the Connecti- on betwixt the religious Claufe, and the Claufe of Penalty which doth now take Place in fome of thefe Burgefs-Oaths ; whereby the Swearer engages to pay a certain Piece of Money unto the Town's common Good, fuae aft as he (hall break any Part of this his Oath : For they conceived, that this .Claufe of Penalty, contain- ed a Suppofit ion and Penalty, dreadfully inconfiflent with the Nature of Swearing, efpecially unto Religion ; as alio they conceived, that by the faid Claufe, the Swearer did virtually become free of the Town, for Perjury in the Matter of the Oath, even about Reli- gion, at a Rate of Money. Thefc are Things that had great Weight with Brethren in Sy- nod : But the Syntdhaivz abjlratied therefrom in their Sentence ; having given no Judgment, whether or not the Un lawful nefs of fwearing the forefaid Claufe, might be extended farther than they have done. And there was Reafon for their proceeding after this Method r Becaufe the third of thefe forefaid Grounds was not regularly be- fore them ; nor had they got regularly forward to the Confidera r i- on of that Claufe which foe fourth turns upon: And, as to the other two, they did properly belong to the general Qucftion, whether the religious Claufe ought to have Place in a Burgefs-Oath, which is a Thing that the Synod have not Capacity for getting recliiied ; and bclidcs, thefe other two Grounds are in Matters of Principle, which the Synod had not found judicially determined before,. 72 JPfptotr to Feafon Third. before, in thefe particular Circumftances. Wherefore, confide ing the Oppoiition they met with, in coming forward to any Sii tence on the Affair ; they could not fee it meet, to have then felves retarded from what was eminently the prefent Work, ar. have more Oppofition thereto occasioned, by extending their Sei tence at that Time, any farther than to anfwer the peculiar an urgent Cafe, -'of directing particularly the People under their Irifpk tion unto prefent Duty, about the fwcaring of that Claufe, as comes neceffarily to be ufed and applied in this Period. And thu the Synod have, by their Sentence, meddled with no Matter ( Principle that was not judicially determined before ; but hav meddled entirely with a Matter of Practice among their Peopf relative to the Teftimony already efpouied and maintained amon them-, determining a Cafe of Confidence, in a Matter of Prattle among their People, concern m-g Principles already received, a» the hie application thereof. Thefe Things being premifed, the Synod goes on to confide the Arguments or Objections here managed by their Brethren, 01 a Point which is given out, as above, for the whole of the Contro verfy, die? it be only a Part thereof. And, imo. In the lafl Article of this Reafon it is alleged, that th> "Synod, when charging the Burgefs-Oath in its religious Claufe with reduplicating upon bad Acts of Parliament about Religion i'ea:ion, is itrangely aici ibe^» to its I ltrcd into their Mind, » A&SyJitch as of Toleration avdPatrc fre a Petri if the And our Brethren fatly at fjch a Netion, as what could never have mtred into the Mind of any unfit now. However, the i lifting that needs l&hewondred at here, is, how it could ft ver cntred into the Mind of any, that the Synod had ft. . when they never gave real Occcfion to aay fo much ai ' mmg that they had it. TheSvncdhas net gi\v K - * far 7 4 Anwfer to Reafin Third. far with common Rsafon, as to fuppofe that amy of thcfe bad Aclf arc a Part of the faid true Religion : Neverthelefs, they think 1.0 Shame to be of the Mind, that thofe bad A&s are homologated, in homologating generally the prefent national Profeflion and Set foment of the faid true Religion. But, in a pretended Oppofition to the Synod'* Mind, it is told of our worthy Fore-fat he's, that, " Whatever bad Laws " were in Being at that Time, they knew very well that thefe " were no Part of the true Religion contained in o«r approven c< Standards, and of publick Authority in the Land, but alto* " gether d "liferent therefrom and oppofitc thereto:" And this nice Obfervation is brought in, as an Exped'eit which covenant- ing BurgeiTes Wand ufed, yea all they needed, to clear them- felves from any Charge of a finf id Reduplication, in fwearing the religious Claufe of a Burgefs-Oath. It is true indeed, that theft Burgeffes could be liable to no fitch Charge, by fwearing the Claufe in that reforming Period ; but 'tis as true, that as they peeled not, fo they would have condemned any Ufe of the ibore Expedient, for clearing themfelves. Becaufe this Expedi- ent (abftracting from the Vanity thereof) being of a general Na- ture, could not be any better pled upon, for the faid Purpofe, tinder a Time of Reformation, than under a Time of Defection : So that they ::)uld not have faived their Confciences about fwear- ing the religious Claufe, by fuch an Expedient, under the Time of Reformation, without being of Opinion that the fwearing of faid Claufe could have no finiul Reduplication upon bad Ach at any Time, of Defection more than of Reformation ; but fuch am Opinion would have been contrary to their declared Principles. It is indeed very manifdt, that, upon this Ground oibad Afts feeing no Part of the true Religion, our Brethren are of Opinion, that the Burgefs-Oath, in its religious Claufe, can have no finful Reduplication upon bad Acts, at any 'Time, of Defection more than of Reformation ; and it is as manifeft, that they charge our Covenanters witk being of the fame Opinion upon the fame Ground. But it is itill as manifeft, that thefe Covenanters were of an oppofite Opinion, with reipeel to a Time of Defection : So that if it had come in their Way, to advert particularly unto the Burgefs-Oath in this religious Claufe ; and if any fhould have told them, that the fwearing of faid Claufe, in a Time of Defec- tion, did not reduplicate upon, fo as to homologate bad Afts about the true Religion, becaufe thefe bad Adrs were no Part of the true Religion -, they would have reckoned this but an infignifi- cani Quibble, contrary to that Go{$t\-fimplicity which they were enabled to profefs *:-:J practife, In the Matters of God. What Anfiuer to Reafon Third. 7 J What puts this beyond Conn over fy, is, that, as was fh \ vn before, with refpett to the Time of Defection immediately pre- ceeding the Tear 1638 ; oar Covenanters then, Burgejfes 2nd o- thers, had no Demur in reckoning, that, under thafaid Time of DefeSiion, the fimple Mention of thefe W»;\h, patently profejfed, even in an Act of Parlia ment about the true Kirk sfGoD and true Religion, behoved to make the Act re luplkate upon, (o u to mmologate the bad Laws that were in Being about Religion, whereby Innovations had been made to the Prejudice of tk&trut Religion, in the Profejfion thereof : And wbile they reckoned thus, cren about fuch an Act of Parliament ; it were molt abfurd tofuppofe that they could have been othenvife minded about any filemn. Oath, under a Time of Defection", bearing as much the *feryjam Reduplication, in the very fame E\pre'Tion. It is then as clear as a Sun-Beam, that our Covenanters in that Period, if they had been providentially led to any particular Notice of the forcfaii Claufe in a Burgefs-Oath, behoved to have condemned a {wearing thereof, as chargable -with a finful Reduplication, in a Period of Defection. And accordingly, when they renewed the national Covenant in the Tear 1638, before Matters were come the Length einathnai Reformation in the ProfefGon and Eftabliihment of the true Reli- gion ; they did fwear to the true Religion by the now Bond,, in a Way oi'direEi Contradiction to what a (wearing the religious Claufe of fome BurgefsrOath3 would have been : For, in the very firft Sentence of that Bond, they found Fault with the fro* Jeut Eftablifhment and Profeflion of the true Religion, as having Corruptions and Novations in them ; fo that they fwore to the- true Religion in a Way of looking backward, with an exprefs Re ference to the Ejlablijhment and Profeffnn thereof, which had take* Place under the former Period $f Reformation. But, far the better Illuuration of what is above, it will fee ne- ceflary to deal more exprefly with the Argument that is couched in the firfl Article of this Reafon : Aqd it comes out thus.-— The Synod doth charge the Burgefs-Oath in its religi- ous Claufe, with a Reduplication, that makes Burgefies who fwear it, 19 homologate the evil Laws and Ccnflitutions about Religon, now in Being : ^ But there were evil Laws and Conftituttoi:s akout' Re- ligion, taking Place likev/ife in the late Covcnar.t'wtimcs ; ■ Therefore the Synod doth, by Parity of Reafon, make Bargcflci m thefi Times, te homologate the evil Lavs and Gonjlitutions about K * Reli^io*, 7^" sfrjbcr to Renfon Third. • Religion, thenm Being ; Co that the (wearing of faid Chufe, be- hoved mt to confifl with Covenanting* wqrkV/j^;/, as well as This is indoed the plain Shape of that Argument whi Brethren are here infilling upon : A go a Talk not very creditable, to rake up and aggr evil Conftiturions about Religion, as bout the Clofe of the late Reformation-period ; that thus m ; ght appear fome Parallel 'betwixt that Period and this, concer- ning a Reduplication upon and Homologation of e\ il Laws and Constitutions, in {'wearing the I However, let it b* fuppo had besn a Thing adverts former ConGdcration be abftraclcd from, s «- was not then as - tint Church whereto, the natioha tent of Religion do puperlybelc it will certainly over- throw the whole . - - c: 'c thele / - Claufeoffi • fa as : tibout Religion , but i itig-ttmes, i Law: Reconciliation of thele two Proportions, is very oafy. For, Now is a Period of Dcfe:lhn y as Settlement of Religion ; but then was a Period of Rt . as to both bf thei \ this Defection is come a great and on the Advance - } but t l cn, that Reformation w as come a great Length, and on the Advance : Yea, as ?;;. DefeBion is refolute and r in Church and State ; ii . the Reformation was refolute and progrejftve in Church ancf State. And accordingly, thede very two evil Conititutions that our Brethren rake up, as in Being at the Renovation of the Co- venants, >, were got reformed' that fame Tear, in a appears from the Aft abolifting Patronages, from Acl ijt/j and \6th of the fecond SeffionofParJiaaaent is prefixed 'to oar Cdnfelfion of Faith, \.\zoihs:- i: recorded after the Anfwers to Mr. Nairn, Page j- S ; - the Acl and Teilimony, Page 17. Well then, wherever an Oath does general!) homologate a pre- ferit T it mult, in the Nature to what l .;xces. Therefore, a ■Jons Ciauic of ibine Burgefe-Oaths Indus Pe~ riot Anfasr to Reafen Third. 77 riod, when it general!}' homologates the prcfent national Profcf- fion and Settlement of Religion, it mult homologate them, em* jfidered juft according to what they really are ; that is, in a State ;, which man lie ft !y includes an fl of ;;/, in refilling to let it go : And it is moil evi- dent, that a general He i of fitch a Profelfion and Settle- of Religion, muft homologate, not only Thing? that are c?, but the very Defeclion thereof; when homologa thefe Things, as confiJercd in a manifefl Tendency and Progrefi toward further Defection. But, on the other Hand, a fWearir* the religious Claufe offome Burgefs-Oaths, in the forefaid re- ■ Period, feehoved to homologate the 1 then national Pro- fefhon and Settlement of Religion, c©nfidere*d juil according 19 what they really were, that is, in a State of great Reformation, which manifeftly included an holding j left of growing Reform* ticn, in refilling to let it go : And it is moil evident, that a rtion of fuch a Pr a Settlement of Reli- conld net homologate any ( xhcfe Things; homologating the lame, as coniidercd in a inantfeQ fenden^ Progrefi toward further PerfetTion. If a Word, the ing of laid Claufe m ti the ; national Profelfion and Settlement of Religion, muft ne- cciTariiy c 'anient unto what is 1 e from this Profefuon and Settlement, viz. a progrejfive Defect ion: But the fwcaringof u\i Claufe in //>#/ Period, when it generally homologatechhe /.&*# nati- onal Profelfion and Settlement of Religion, behoved nccedarily id : ; unto whrt was infep arable from that Profelfion and Settle- . inent, viz. a frogrejfhe Reformation'-* and this was utterly incon- with homologating any particular Evils thereof, that might kc found needing Reformation. Moreover, in that Time of Reformation, none were bound or warranted ( becaufe in a Time of Reformation ) to be contending ■feparately by a publick formal Teftimony, againft any- Evils then unreformed ; for this is a Duty peculiar to a Time of Defection : Wherefore, a general homologating by publick formal Oath, the national ProfeiTion and Settlement of Religion 'at that Time, could net include any finful Silence abo*t them, and io could not feomoiogate any Imperfections thereof. But now, the Lord's Peo- ple are v. arrantccTand bound, (becaufe in a Time of Defection ), to (scTcon tend ing feparatly by a publick formal Tefiimony, againft manifold Evils about the frefeht national Profelfion and Settle- ment ot Religion : Wherefore % general homologating, by publick formal Gat It, the faid PraieiKon and Settlement of Religion, mu/l include 7 8 Anfwer U Rea/in Third. include a finful Silence about them, and Co mull homologate the manifold Evils thereof. Thefc Things are plain, as to the raft Odds hetwixt fwearing the religious Claufe of fome Burgefs-Oaths, in a Time of Refor- mation and in a Time of Defection. And agreeably to fuch Princi- ples, the Aflbciate Presbytery ( in the Defence fabjoined to their Anfwers to Mr. Nairn), when their immediate Work was only to vindicate Scripture-Doctrine, about Subjection to the prefent Civil Government; they did juftly declare (ts in Page 4c, 46.) that it was unwarrantable for them on that Occafion, to be fi'ent about, or drop a conjunft Confederation of the National Apoiiafy, and the Corruption of our Rulers, as what might have tended to harden a wicked Generation, and to bewilder a witnefling Rem- nant : Whereas it would have been unaccountable for them to declare any fuel) Thing, on a like Occafion, in a Time of gene- ral Reformation. It ihould therefore fcem nothing abfuri or flrange, efpecially a- moag Seceders, to fay, That the fame Aft of homologating gene- rally a prefent National Profeilion and Settlement of Religion, im fwearing the religious Claufe of a Burgefs-Oath, which could ho- mologate no Evils about that Profeflion and Settlement, in the late Time of Reformation ; mull yet homologate all fublick Evils a- bout them, in this Time of general Defection : And our Cove- nanters, Anm 1638, were manifeftly of fuch a Mind; when, be- oaule the general Deft St ion was (till continuing, they did fwear to the true Religion, with a Reference, not to the prefent but to the faft Profefion and Eflablijhment thereof, in the preceeding Period of Reformation, as hath been obferved before. From what has been faid, now and formerly, relative t* the Matter contained in the fir ft Article of this third Reafon ; it ap- pears, that the repeted Attacks upon this Synod, in the prefent Controverfy, from the Quarter of Covenanters, Burgcfies or others, in any reforming Period before, could ferve no good Purpefe, but in giving Occaiion for illustrating and confirming the Synod's Sen- tence. But thv firft and third Articles of the Rcafon being now difcuf- (ed, it remain^ to confider that, 3//0. All that our Brethren declaim, particularly in the fec$nd Article of this Reaibn, about the Synod's making the Burgcfs Oath, in its religious Claufe, to reduplicate fo and io, is entirely vain, as labouring who-e!y under a manifeft Mi/take : For, the Synod never offered to make it reduplicate upon any Thing, but what it reduplicates upon, whether they will #r not. This has ap- peared ia fouie Meaiuie already, that all the Reduflicfithn there Anfivtr to Reafbn Third, 7* f which they plead for, is really and manifeftly in it, is the verY Vords themfelves : Wherefore the heavy Charges here laid a" rain/1 the Synod, by Citations and ©therwife, do proceed merely \ ipon an imaginary Ground. Our Brethren adventure indeed to ex- >ofe the Synod, upon a monftruous Fancy, as if they reckon«d all !vil Acls and Conftitutions about ReligioD, to be a Part of the true Religion prefently profeft, fo as to charge a fv\ earing the religious ■•'j Claufe with a finful Reduplication upon thefe evil Atts and Confli- ct ;utions, becaufe it reduplicates upon that true Religion : But the •) Synod's Charge of the laid Reduplication proceeds quite otherwi/e y 4 irifing necelTarily from the plain and common Senfe of the Words, i For, in that Claufe, the true Religion is not reduplicated upon, :i Dr fworn t© generally and indefinitly, but under the Form of a pre- r ent National Profefion and Settlement. Again, this Settlement belongs not immediately and indefinitely to the true Religion in h y elf, but in the fa id Profefion thereof; as the true Relgion can- not, in it/elf, but in the Profefion thereof, derive Authority from human Laws. Moreover, in Swearing that Claufe, there is a fo* lemn Acknowledging and Avouching before God, ihzprefei&Being of the forefaid National Profef Ron and SettlemenvWrfotf/ any Re- gard unto a Teffimony again It the Defections and Corruption* thereof: Yea the Swearer, in thefe Words, I profefs, takes up> efpoufes, and declares his Acquiefcence in the faid National Pro- feflion and Settlement ; engaging to abide thereat and defend the fame to his Life's End, without Regard to any Teftimony a- gainft the Defections and Corruptions thereof, that we teftify a- gainft. Further, the Oath, thus homologating or approving that Profeffion and Settlement, mull homologate or approve the fame, jul|- confidered as they are, in the prefent complex Circum/fanc-es thereof, under all the forefaid Defections and Corruptions, as Mat- ters prefently ftand ; while none of the publick Defections and Cor- ruptions that we teftify againft, can be morally fepar able from the National Profeffion and Settlement of Religion, in this Time of general and growing Defection. And finally, the forefaid Oath of the religious Chafe, is a general Deed about Religion, offering to give a general and faithful Account of a Man's Profefion and Pur- pofe that Way. Thus k is then, that a Swearing the religious Claufe at prefent, is charged with a finful Reduplication, homologating or approving the prejent National Profeffion and Settlement ©f Religi- on, under all the Defections and Corruptions thereof which we tef- tify againft, and in diametrical Oppofition to the whole of that Tef- timony among our Hands. All this ariies from the plain and com- mon Senfe of the Words, in Swearing to Religion with a Reference f© the prefent National Profefion and Settlement thereof at this Time 80 ttfmer to Reafon Third. Time of Defection. And our Covenanters were {o tenacious in this Way of Thinking, that in the Tear 163 8, they not only fvvorc tp Religion in the new Bond, with a Reference to the p aft inilead pi the prefent Profeffion: But, when they were required by the King to fwear the National Covenant ; becaufe his Proclamation for Swearing it, did bear a Reference to the prefent Profefilon oi Religion, they protefted that a Sweating to Religion this Way, would be a Swearing to it, as It Indudeth ( fay they ) and contaim etk within the Compafs thereof, the Novations and Epifcopacy ,- ac- cording as was noticed before. Bui to proceed, It is at leaft very inconfiderate, to make ufe of a PafTage from Mr. Crofton, for comparing the Synod's Sentence with the Courfc of fome Malignant s of old, as thefe became Students unto Per jury, by making void* the Oatfc of the fbJ-emn League, in cc for fanciful and imaginary Ambiguities and Contractions : While yet, on the contrary, the Synod is here impJoyedin ci . with a Scheme, which tends to make void a Swearing the 3 ohs Claufe of fome Burgefs-Oaths, by vindicating the fame in a Way that eludes the true Drift and Scope thereof, with real Am- biguities and Contradictions. As to the other Citations produced by our Brethren here, a- _ jainft the Syjiod ; thefe do ftrike merely, ma igly a- gainft themjelvcs ; becaufe their own Words in this Place, ought to be corrected and inverted 'as follows* " As there is a Reduplication exprcfled In the Religious Claufe " of fome Burgefs-Oaths, upon the State of Religion in the pre- *feul National Profeffion and Settlement thereof; inevitably " legating the fa id Profeffion and Settlement, under all the De- " fectons and Corruptions of the fame, that \\c teftify againft : '* So the denying fuch a Reduplication, tends to deilroy the Na- ture of all Oaths ; and to make them fo ambiguous, as that " they can be no certain Evidences of Truth, in ho *' Terms they be exprelTed • And according hereunto, it is not " pofliblc to frame any Oath, but it mud be . -, yea, " the Bond of the Covenant iifelf, which we have folemnly " fworn ; becaufe there may be fome that will ufe various " Glojjes and Interpretations, for eluding the. Reduplication thereof * againjl the Evils of the Time, as their .'different Inclinations' or * Intend j may lead them "j REASON Reafen Fourth. 1 1 REASON IV. | r 1 ^HE Synod, in their Sentence, plainly contradict thera- I felves ; for they affirm, that Matters at prefent arc in iuch Circumftances, with reference to the Profeflion and Set- tlement of Religion, as makes the fwearing of the Burgefs-Oath « with the faid Religious Claufe, tobefinful ; whereby at the fame " Time they impliciteiy affirm, That the Time has been when « Matters, with reference to the ProfefTion and Settlement of Re- ligion, werefuch, that the fwearing the Burgefs-Oath with the faid Religious Claufe, was lawful and warrantable. Now, « fmce it is a certain Fact, that there was no Period fince^the " Reformation, but there were bad Acts and Confutations, with " refpect unto the Profeflion and Settlement of fome Parts of Re- " ligion ; it plainly follows that, according to them, this rirft " Ciauie could no more be fvvorn 'in any former Period, than in " this ; in regard it was as finful to homologate any bad Laws, Side ; though it is well known, that nothing prevented a : Decifion at each of thefe Meetings, but a Dif- pofition in the Majority to yeild, merely on their Account, to feme further Delay. Again, it is a ftrange Alfertion, concerning the Brethren who were for the Decifion in April 1 746, That there tvas ntt one pre/hit at the Decifion who had alfefi Ifad ti their $\de ; when the carrying of the Decifion then, was manifeftly ow- foa to the mfl Part 1 of theic Brethren having • . : am Reafen Seventh. S7 from the former Difpoirtion of yeilding to further Delay, and that for the good Reafon which was given already upon the Preamble. As to the Reflection thrown out in the Clofe of this Reafon, it is too low and unjober to defer ve any particular Remark. REASON VII. 1 r 1 ^ H E Synod, by their determining the whole firft Claufe I X m f° me Burgefs-Oatks to be iinful, without Exception I of any Part thereof, do thereby find, that the renouncing of the " Romiih Religion called Papiftry, does not agree unto the prefent f State and Circurrifiances of the Teftimony for Religion and Re- " formation, which this Synod, with thefe under their Infpeclion, I are maintaining, and particularly, that it does not confiir. with *' entring into the Bond for renewing our folemn Covenants,. " As the Synod, neither in the Narrative of the Acl, nor in •* the Act itfclf, make any Exception of the above Words, but " have them cxpreily repcted in their Act, as what they con- u demn ; the Confequence is inevitable. " We are far from charging our Brethren with the lead Incli- " nation to difcourage a Teltimony againft Popery, having fo ex- ' laid for the Removal thereof. But our Brethren, it feems, will not give up with it ; and will have it, Reafon or none, that the Sentence of Synod limply condemns the religious Claufe of ibme Burgefs- Oaths. A Thrced of this Notion has been running through the foregoing Regions, is fcakea up again iers, and continues thro' the S8 Riafon Eighth, ninth Reafon;; where a condemning the Claufe, and a condemning the Swearing thereof by Scceders, as it comes neceflarily to be u fed and applied in this Period, are ftili taken for the fame Thing, though they be Things very widely different : And fo, the whofc Foundation of the dreadful .. r tion in this Reafon, is purely imaginary. The Claufo is repeted in. the Sentence, not as a Clauft condemned, but as a Claufe the prefent Swearing whereof is con.' demncd, as is manifeft unto any who incline to underftand it. It is really an odd Affair, to accufe the Synod of condemning a Tejlimoiiy againft Popery ; becaufe they will not allow of their Peo- ple, in Swearing to Religion, by an Oath which takes up no fur- ther Tcftimony than againft Popery ; while, at the fame Time, it approves oi the prefent Aatisnzl Prefejfion and Settlement of Re- ligion, under all the Defettims and Corruptions thereof which we teftify againft, engaging to abide at and defend the fame. But when our Brethren proceed at this Rate, they might as well have accufed the Covenanters, Anno 1 638, of condemning a Teflimony a~ gainff Popery ; becaufe they teftified againft it as fwful, to fwear the National Covenant then, at the King's Defirc, without having it accommodated to the Circumftances of the Time, and the Ad- vance's which had been made in Reformation, particularly by Swearing the neiu Bond. REASON VIII. " \X/"E hive Reafon to fear, that an Opinion anent the Al* " > V legiancc to our prefent Sovereign, contrary to the " Teftimony and Principles which we profefs to hold, maintained " by fome Brethren who pulhed this Queftion to a Dccifton, gave " Rife te and influenced the Sentence of the Synod againit which ,; we have aiftcnted." " The AiTocinte Presbytery, in none of their A&s, have ever " found a iimpic Allegiance unlawful, abftra&ing from the Act " ititpofing the fame. This is a Queftion that the AfTociate Prcs* " bytery before, nor the Synod fince, have never determined. * And altho\ in the Mstter'of the Burgefc-Oath, the Synod have u only condemned the firft Claufe thereof, without meddling with u the Allegiance; yet as \\-\e Allegiance. in that Oath, was the « firft Thing quarrelled therein,' by the Brethren who pufned this u Matter tn the Presbytery of Dunfermline, m their fir ft Meeting * after our Disjunction into dhTerent Presbyteries ; fo we are in- u formed that, fince the lift Meeting of Synod, it has been the " Object of their publick Testimonies ; which is another practical 4 Deciiioo, in a Queftion not yet determined by the Synod ; but determined :cr to Reafc S;> ! by our Anceftors ; who, belides the Allegiance ill u our Coven. ; n the Burgefs-Oath, fwore the Civil Alle- giance to the then Sovereign, although he was of a different Re- ligion from them. D-sybn end Render fit, Anfwers to Replies Page 5-7. We all, h oar Oath of Allegiance, by his Majefrfs dedge, That we owe • vere very impertinent to expre/s . ui of our Sufferers di red, '* * Chr:jtian y ivoiddficruple to take ::e : Apologet. Reht. upon the Head of the Oath of Supremacy. " ANSWER to R E A SON VIII. THis Rcafonis of a Piece with the loft, as to the Appearance of an />... #*« The Matter here lugged in, is fo foreign to the Point in Han to require no particular Confi- ition. But it may be . general, that this Synod have tppofe or fear, that they have reced- ed from any of the Principles about the prefent Civil Govern- ment, which are laid down in the Defence fubjoined to the An- fivers to Mr.~ Nairn; nor that they have adopted any new Prin- ciples upon that Head. .over, as it is plainly a Charge of H'floydlty that is here infmuated againft the Synod, for their Seni rough the'Sides of Brethren ; ib, the Accufiers had need to confider what Manner ef Spirit they are of, in this Matter. For it is imoofllbleto make oui any Connection betwixt the Sentence and D:fi:yahy, further than betwixt the Sscefjion and Dijloyalty ; in regard the Sentence amounts to no more than a neccfiary Stand for the Principles and Teftirnany if the SecefliOn, in Opposition to a Swearing which ge- ts the lame : And that there is the >f the whole Seceffion-Teftjmony, with Loy to ; . Civil Government, is fufficfently manifefl: in the •forefaid Defence; as this Synod, and ail the Members thereof, do here rake Ocealion of declaring their Adherence to the Principles .1, without receding from any of them, or adopting lie thereunto : And If our Brethren have Principles about Civil Government, fines that ; they have no Reafon to fufpeft any Difference betwixt ; . upon that Head. Eur, pi this Reafon, it ikaii only be further oWei j $o Rcnfon Ninth. Such Procedufe of our Brethren, on the prefeat Affair, is in Iced awful; and may ferve to give fome Guefs, what Sort of a CdujM they are now left to take up. R E A S O N IX. " y ^He Sinfulness of this A 61 and Sentence of Synod, apj J " to us to be fo glaring and manifeft, that we could M but difleat from, and proteft againft the fame, not only for the' " above, but alio for feveral other Rcafons, that were mentioned 44 as fupporting our Didcnt when we entrcd it. " into. This A& and Sentence of the Synod, is contrary to " t.hat Brotherly Love, Regard and Forbearance, that the Mem- " bers of Judicatures, and all Chriftans, ought, according to the Aford of God, to exerclfe one towards another. " It mull: be owned by all, that the Obfervation of the Jevbifh " Ceremonies was once lawful ; and with as little Reafon can it M be denied, that the Claufe condemned by the Synod was like- Lie once lawful. After Chrift rofe from the Dead, there was " iuilicicnt objective Evidence unto all, that as theSubflance was " Come, there was no Ufe for the Shadow ; and that the Obfer- .uionofthc Old Teftament Typical-Ceremonies, wa; virtuai- y and upon the Matter, a faying, that Chrill the Subftanccwas ,: ot yet come in the Fleih. This was the Intention of the " Work, whatever Intention of the Worker. That the " Apoftics themfelves underftood this to be the Cafe, is clear " irom the Strain of the whole of the Epift'e to the Hebrews. 4,1 But, yet, becaufe the Obfeivancc of thefe Ceremonies was once e Day, which 'vy*e are p tokold: Tho' it were i " t# Reafon Ninth. 9 * ted, that this behoved to be the Intention or Terr he Work whatever was the Intention of the Work- : ftiil it would follow, from the above approven Example Apoltlesand Saints, in Scripture, that, as the laid Clauie was once lawful, and the fwcaring of it is but newly quarrelled >\ cr formerly Matter of Debate, that therefore the i ought to have en joined a mutual Forbearance, between that reckon the preient i wearing thereof to be a finfu] Re- ceding from our Teilimony, and others who, on the contrary, do look upon the Condemnation of the Clauie and the Pro- " hibitiug of the fwcaring thereof, to be rather a Falling from for - " mer good Attainments, notwithstanding of their differing from " one another as to their Sentiments and Practices in this Mat- " ter ; that the Synod, we fay, ought rather to have enjoin- " ed this mutual Forbearance, than to have condemned and p'ro- " hibitedthe prefent fwearingof laid Claufe.- And it will be the ''more evident, that we ought to carry our Forbearance toward mother thus fir, in Imitation of the Scripture-Example need ; if 'tis confidcred, that the Apoftles and Elders, in the * ; Council at Jerufalrri, went further : Not only did they for- " bear thefe whp obferved the Ceremonial Law, but bscaufe the ) obferved and were zealous thereof, were not able to "forbear the Gentiles, in their entirely omitting the Obiervation '* of that Law; therefore they went the length of enjoimng, for '*' a Time, the Obfervance of that Part of the Ceremonial Law, 4; by the Gentiles, that related to the abftaining from Things fa- " crificed to Idols, from Things flrangled, and from Blood ; that " io Offence might not be given to the Jews, and the Unity of " the Spirit might be kept in the Bond of Peace. " And whereas thefe on the other Side may pofTibly al ledge, <£ that there can be no warrantable Forbearance in a Matter iiiv ii*;d let ea. &!/:er bet- t* ter than i 4C We have diileot:.' inj proto-led againfl: the above - : Sentence of the Synod, as contrary unto the Word of ( -' an:! we may now add, toti :h God <{ obferves in his Difpeniations towards the Church, while hete.be- ." low. 'Tis beyond Doubt, that, as we all know but in Part, in prefent Siaie; So v,e have our different Meafures of Light, ' £ every one according to the Mcafure of the Gift ci "Chrift beftow- : cd - Reafon ISirAh. 9$ cd on us : But for the Synod to have pafiTed a Sentence, fo '* circumitanced as already narrated, which ntceiTarily obliges them, according to the Rules of Difcipiine, to ceniure their Brethren and Fellow-Chriftians, ihould their Light continue to t it now is, that they cannot fee with the Synod the :cfs of the Clauie condemned ; mull infer a manifelt :ion upon the Difpenfation of that wife Lord, and a -• it over their Brethren ; whole Light in this Matter, i he Law of Charity, In Lcwlinefs of Mind % let each efls'em o- tetter than themfilves, Phil. ii. 3. Eph, ir. i, 2. f* and the Law, Lean not unto thine cum Under Handing, ke not tin thine own Ejes, Prov. iii. 5, 7. obliged them to " think was as fingle as their Own. '■:, The- laid Act and Sentence of the Synod, is contrary " unto our Standards of Truth. " The Synod, by their above Deed, have attempted to force- u their own Light, in a Qu eft ion that was never on the Field bc- , upon the Confciences of others, as the Rule that tin " determine them. That they attempt this, is evident ; because •• as has been fhown above, the faljing in with the Judgment of the " Synod, anent the above-mentioned religious Claufe, is accord- " ing to the Act, made a Term of Minillerial and Chriftian Com- ".munion-, which is contrary to ; - CenftfEon of Faith, *' Chap. 20. $. 2. where it is declared that God alone is Lzrd cf "the Confciencc ; Which Proposition is there proven from James 11 iv. 12. There is one Law- is aide to fhve and to de- o J " flroy ; it ho art thou that judgefl another ? And from Rom. xv. " 4. Who art ihm that judge/} another Man's Servant ? To his own ler he flan Jet h or falleth : Tea be/hail be hoi den up, for God " is able to make him ftand. Alfo it is contrary to Chap. 31. §. " 4. Synods or Councils are not to be made the Rule of Faith Practice, but to be ufed as a Help in both. li We may likevvife add, That 'tis contrary to Chap. 22. ( Where, when 'tis faid, cannot oblige to fin ; 'tis ad , I Ut in any Thing \en, it binds to Perfv- ;'j it to be violated, although made to Here ticks ■:■ " Infidels: For, by the laid . thefe who have fuorr, <: the Claufe con r Pain of being debar " red from Clr renounce whet they ha\e irs from the That is Sin and Duty, en the Matter of fblemn Oaths ? This is indeed a very new Way of arguing : And the Doctrine of Love and Regard to Men is carried a new Length indeed, when it is pled, That, on this Account, a Judicatory 'ffiorAd forbear to fay that a Thing is fihfh/ 9 2iid a Profanation of the Lord's Name, when they fee it plainly to be ib, The Synod deficc to efteem their Brethren, to honour them, and to deal tenderly with them; but certainly they may be excufed from tampering with their own ConfcieRces for the Sake, of any, in forbearing to fay that a Thing hfinful when it manifeftly is fo, tho' their Brethren do not reckon fo. And indeed, our Brethren had little Reafon to complain of Non-forbearance, when, on their Account merely, a Sentence, was forborn at fundry Meetings of Synod. 3. The Text, PbiL iii. 15, 16, is fad \y perverted, in apply- ing it to the prefent Cafe; as if it taught* That a Judicatory mould not tell their Mind, if fome be otkerwife minded. More- over, it is juft according to the Scope of this Text, that the Synod have been proceeding ; when the Meaning of their Sentence is ge- nerally no more,tha» a calling their People to walk by the Rmc of what they have already attained, in Oppofition to a Swearing which contratHclsznd condemns thefe Attainments. 4. It is a furprifmg Affair, to give out as if the Words of the Covenant, Anno 1633, had been framed for admitting of thefe Ivh'o m a: ??t a ined the Lawfulnefs of Epifcop wJedgment about the preieat Civil Government, as to the ;> givea to our Religion ; they reckoned it confftent enough ig a TejUmvy againft Defections anil s mihe fore&id Prtfefi&t and Settlement of Religion : hvid h mo'A he as c :h the fbrefaid Acknowledgment,, to detls •• bid* i that Tejilmcny. 1 Additional Anfib&r to Reajon Ninth. 1*3 Upon the whole, our Brethren have never, all along, touch- i upon the proper Queflion in Controverfy ; vis: Whether /wearing the religious Oaufe in feme Eurgefs -Oaths, by Se- ders, as it comes nccefarily to be ufed and appkedhi this Period, difagrecablc to the prefinf State and Gr cum fiances ef the 7ef mony among Secsders, for Religion ami Reformation ; end incon- tent, particularly, with entring into the Bond for renewing our-. Voenants : Wherefore, their whole Conduct, in this Affair, manifestly UNREASONABLE. ADDITIONAL ANSWER to REASON IJL T Though the y^/7^'Ji?ralreadyiTiac?e / bytheS)Tiodunrotheff//f^ Ret/on of Proteft, be fo far fufficient,afterwhat was faiu 1 be- ore, That nothing further is needful for expofing the Unrea finable- jefs thereof to any confidence and unprejudiced View: Yet, becanle nanyare dlfpofcd to take other Views of the Matter ; and becauie the Speeches here uttered arc, with Reipccl unto fech, of an evi- dent Tendency to impoje upon iome, to harden others, am! to promote the prefent Degeneracy* by throwing up a thisk flfift u- pon Presbyterian Principles, and the Work of bearing Witnels for G w r i s T ; it feems therefore expedient, that feme further Anfv.er thereunto be now added. The Brethren begin this Reafen with an high Reffeclien npoit the Aft and Sentence of Synod, a* appearing to them at glaring and manifefl Sinfulness ; particularly from forne Rcalons which tliey mentioned as luppoiting their Diilent when they entred it, and which they come here to enlarge npon : But thefc Rcalbns. even as now enlarged upon, arc fo far from warranting the above Charge of glaring and mamfefi Sinfhlisefs, that thcmfelves ure- dejlitute ef all Foundation ; as ' will appear upon a brief Review thereof; And, , i me. The Act and Sentence of the Synod h charged, as ecth trary to that brotherly Love, Regard and Forbearance, tkz; the Members of Judicatories, emd all Ckriftians, cnght,Z€srd : v7 to the Word of God, to exercife oxe towards xizthsr. Among the Articles of Reafcn that were memiorird by th- bre- thren, for funporting their Diu*e»t when they entree! k, {2- 1 be feen by turning back to Page 27, at the Foot, and Page 2§ f at the Head) The Firft was, that the Sentence k contrary :. Word cf Cod; and the Fourth was, That it i* Brotherly-Jjyve, Regard and Forbearance thai the Members +f Ju- dicatories, and ill Chrifiicm ought to rzohta'n towards crea-olhrz Butas, inftead of attempting a particular aad Cparste Proof cf that m au|| the 1 . 104 Additional Anfwer to Reafon Ninth, that Firft and main Article, it comes here to be flipped in un* the Fourth, which, when now begun with as above, has this Glau: incorporated with it, according to the Word of God ;— fo, in Brethrens Enlargement upon the prefent Article, an Ufe is mad^l • of fome Texts of Scripture, about Brotherly Love, Regard and, Forbearance ; and accordingly, as appears from the Beginning e£l the laft Paragraph of that Enlargement, this is given out fory Proof of the Sentence being contrary to the Word of God. The, Charge then of its being contrary to the Word of God, doth here- link into that, of its being contrary to the Brotherly Love, Regard and Forbearance, which ought to be exercifed, according to the Word of God : And yet there is nothing here produced froRi Scripture, upon the Kesd of Forbearance, that hath any real Applicablenefs to the Cafe in Hand ; as appears from the former Aniwer, and may be further evident in a little. Again, the Brethrens whole Argument here, about Forbearance, depends immediately upon tiiis Point, that the Sentence was palled again/1 their Inclination ; fb that if the paffing of it had proved agreeable their Inclination, there had been no Room for the Charge as here laid, of its be* tug contrary to the Word of God : And it may at lead be (aid, That fo wide a Charge of being contrary to the Word of 'God, had need to be fuppotted here by a . more decent Reafon, than that of being contrary to the Inclinati- on of Men ; when the Qucttion in Debate has not any Face of being about a Thing of itfelf indifferent. But, for evidencing the pretended Contrariety of the Sentence unto that brotherly Love, Regard and Forbearance, which ought to be mutually exercifed ; an Argument is managed, from that Forbearance which was once ufed about an Observation of the^ ceremonial Law. Kow, the Nature, Circumitances and End of^ what Allowance was made for the Jewijk Converts unto Chrif- rfanity, in the Matter of ceremonial Obfervations, during about forty Tears after our Lord's Rcfurre#ion, together with the My- ftery of divine Sovereignty in that Allowance, is a Subject where* •f a particular Examination needs not to beelTayed here. However, as the Queftion then was about the Work of abo- JiPning a genera! Syftem of divine Ordinance*, which had endured through many Ages, a Thing that -never had or can have any Partial in the World ; and as the Lord did, in an extraordinary direct and carry on the gradual Procedure of that extracrdi- iianWork: It may appear, even at firft View, very extras an d uiibt % to manage an Argument now from that Calc the general and moral Affair, of maVmg Allowance far [lfcieucss or prejudiced Minds, in Things of themfclves inherent. ** exceprm weak Con. Additional Anfwer to Reafon Ninth. 105* It is indeed certain That the legal Ceremonies were Things of themfelves indifferent : And it being as certain, That an Oath, cfpecially a religious Oath, is of a quite other Nature ; beings of itfelf, either morally Good or Evil, Sin or Duty, a fpecial "Glorification or a fpecial Profanation of the Lord's Name : It is jtherefore far from being a due or decent Comparifon which ii here made, betwixt Forbearance about the Obfervation of thefe \legal Ceremonies, and about the fwearing of a Burg efs -Oath in its religious Claufe. Neither can it any Way fcrve for juftify- ing this "Comparifon, to tell that, as the Obfervation of the Jew- ifh Ceremonies was once lawful ; fo, with as little Reafon can it he denied, that the Claufe condemned by the Synod was likewife once lawful : For, according to what has been noticed before, the Thing condemned by the Synod is not generally the religious Claufe of fome Burgefs-Oaths, but, particularly, fuch a fwearing thereof as at prefent among Seceders, which is juftly refufed to have been ever lawful : And tho' that O bier vation of the Jew- ijh Ceremonies which took Place in the Days of the Apoilles, was materially the fame which had taken Place before ; yet the ■frefent fwearing of the forefaid Claufe is, by no Means, materi- ally the fame which took Place in former Periods, particularly of Reformation ; for, the very Maker of the Oath in that Claufe, differs as much now from what it was then, as the national Pro- feilion and Settlement of Religion in thefe Times of general Re* formation, did differ from what is the national ProfelTion and Settlement thereof in this Time of 'general Defection. But moreover, in what is now brought forth, about the Ob- fervation of legal Ceremonies and about mutual Forbearance, fome grange Doclrir.es are contained. In difcoarfmg upon the mutual Forbearance which was ex 4 ercife\i among the Converts to Chrijlianity, about the Obfervance of legal Ceremonies, the Brethren do indeed grant an Exception, that fuch Forbearance was not exercifed in the Cafe ofminglir.g the Obfervance of thefe Ceremonies with the Right eoufief ofChriJt in the Matter of Juflification before God : And no more is need- ful, than an Improvement of this Exception, for overthrowing the whole of their prefent Argument about Forbearance ; becaufe the ceremonial Obfcrvances in the Chriftian Church were then not fnfuU unlefs in the forefaid Cafe, about which mutual For- bearance was not exercifed ; but the whole of their prefent Ar- gument for mutual Forbearance is rtated upon this Principle, that thefe ceremonial Oblervances about which the faid Forebear- ance was then exercifed, were then finful Obfervances : And it would have been as reafonable and decent, to &rgue that fu c h • » F --. ! I ft 6 Additions! Anfwer to Reafon Ninth. Forbearance was then exercifed, eve'n in the Cafe of mingft) thefe Observances with the Right eouffieft ofChrift, as to argue th t, it was exercifed in the Cafe of denying Chrift and his Righteoujh* aho^ether ; which the Brethren really do, when they argue as fhefe ceremonial Obfervanccs about which this Forbearance w t exercifed, had even plainly enough denied that Chrijl was yt eeme in the Flefh. Itij evident, That the Obfervation of legal Ceremonies, amon the Jewijh Converts to Chriftianity, about which the Apoftle and Saints in Scripture exercifed a mutual Forbearance, is taugl. by the Brethren, to have been an unlawful or fmful Obfervation For, they fpeak of it as having been once lawful, which infinu ates that it was then become finful ; yea, while they fpeak of i as having been once unqueftionably lawful, they alfo fpeak of i as being then become unqueftionably finful ; for they tell, that th< Sin thereof which they mention, was a Thing whereof there ivdi fufficient objective Evidence unto all: And accordingly the) plead, that the Cafe of Forbearance about the Obfervation 01 thefe Ceremonies, was paralel to the Cafe of Forbearance about fwearingthe religious Claufe of fome Burgefs-Oaths \ even upo* Suppofnion of its being granted, that the faidTwearing is, with fufficient objettivc Evidence unto all, a Thing finful, yea as hav- fhg a Matter finful made the Subjeft of tke Oath. Again, it is as evident, that the forefaid Obfervation of lega Ceremonies is taught by them to have been very finfuL They tell, that it was virtually, and upon the Matter, a faying, that Chrifi^ the Subftance was not yet come in the Flejh ; that this was the In- tention of the Work, whatever was the Intention of the Worker; that the Apoflles them] elves their having under ft ood this to be the* Cafe, is clear ; yea, that there was fufficient objefiive Evidence here- of unto all. Something isdeed might have been fpared from the Widnefi of the Ex predion, fufficient tbjefiive Evidence unto all : Becaufe God doth nothing in vain, or more than he accounts fufficient ; but he had not brought out all his Evidence unto all, about abolifhing of thefe legal Ceremonies, till the Temple of Jerufalem was entirely demolifhed, after which no mutual For- bearance was exercifed about that Obfervation. However, if there was fufficient objeBhe Evidence of die Thing nnto all, the* it was even plain enough: And, as it may well be fuppofed that we all agree in rejecting the Popifij Doctrine, as if Man's Actions were fpecified by their Intentions ; therefore, if the Intention of the Wvk, in thefe Ceremonial Obfervances, was (tho* not formally, yet") -virtually, and upon the Matter, and even plainly enough, z fa) teg that Chrift the Subftance was not yet tome in the flejh \ it rnaft Additional Anfwer to Reafon Ninth. 107 uft follow, that the* Perfons obferving thefe Ceremonies were My and plainly enough chargeable with denying that Chrift was j come in tbe Flejb . Now it is alledged, that, until the Temple at Jerufalem was itirely demolifhed, viz. about the Space of Forty Tears, the A- jftles and Saints in Scripture? exercifeal a mutual Forbearancecon- ;rning the faidObfervation of legal Ceremonies, whereby the Ob- rvers were plainly enough denying Chrift to be yet come in the hjk : That is, they exercifed this Forebearance for lb lung a 'ime, even about a publick Practice, whereby Perfons, under le aggravating Mafk of a Profeflion of Chriit, were plainly e- >ugh denying that Jcfus is the Chrifl, denying the Lord that ught them, and counting the Bleod eftheCtvenant an unholy Thing. ca more, as it is fuppofed, that there was formal Covenanting a- long thefc Perfons ; fo it is alledged, rhat the mutual Forbear- ice was exercifed, even in the Cale of their neceflarily engaging^ y the fole/nn Oath of the Covenant, that they would continue in. le above dreadful Practice: And the Forbearance which is ledged to have been exercifed by the Apoftles as well as others 3on that Head, was a forbearing asy Condemnation of fuch a raclice, and any marring of Communion thereby. All this inevitably belongs unto the proper and genuine Senfe what is now taught concerning the mutual Forbearance which as exercifed about the Obfervation of Jpivifh Ceremonies ; and 'longs thereto without any greater Stretch, than is proper and fuaj in explaining any Text 'of Scripture : And all the Reaicn ledged, why the Apoftles and Saints went fuch an ajloni/hing ength in their Forbearance, is, That the Thing was but newly tar relied, and never formeiy Matter of Debate^ as having been \ce Hnqueftienably lawful ; tho' indeed it was unqueftionably ne- rr lawful, to deny that drift was yet come in the Flefh, after ice he actually was come. It is needlefs to enlarge upon the dreadful Nature and Confe- rence of fuch Doctrine i Only, if what is thus alledged, of the hnifhing Length to which the Apoftles and Saints carried their utual Forbearance, mould lx>ld, and hold as a Precedent ; this ouW give more Advantage to the Friends" of Catholic k Commu- on, and to the Adverfaries of SECESSION, than probably they rer yet dreamed of. put then, it is altogether refufed, that the Obfervation of legal nies about w hich the Apoftles and Saints in Scripture ex- ciitd a mutual Forbearance, was any Way frnful. The Per- >n> who were allowed of for a'Tirre in obferving theie Cere- itniss, had by ad Means any Intention of fay in g thereby xJtaxChnft Q 2 was Tos Additional Anfwer to Keafon Ninth* , was not yet cme in the Fleflj : And confidering that the O' gation and Force of the Ceremonial L*vj, as to its fixing fuch a; Intention upon the Work itfelf, was then ceafed and void; it i therefore very unreafonable to alledge, as if, in this Cafe, th Work could have any fuch Intention when the Worker had not In moral Actions indeed, which are meafured by the eternal an invariable Rule of the Moral Law, the finful Intention of th ABion (till remains, whatever he intended by the Agent : Bu it is abfurd to pretend, that any Intention could cleave to a cert\ inonial Action, which was not fixed upon it either be. the cert monial Agent or by the cerimonial Law : Wherefore it is alto geiher refuted, that that Obfervation of Jewijh Ceremonies abou which the mutual Forbearance was then exercifed, was eithe i virtually, or, upon the Matter, by the Intention of the Work mor< than of the Worker ", a Saying that Chrifl the Subflance was not ye, come in theFle/h. And it is evident that the faid Obfervation wa: then noways finful: For, as the Apoftles themfelvesyo/W^in trul Practice, whenOccafion required ; lb the Apoitle Paul, by th<| Spirit of God, commends his doing ib, as in i Cor. x. 20. "What further (hall be offered here, on this Head, (hall be in the Words of two eminent Divines. Mr. Henry \ in his Com- mentary on Ac~ls xxi. 24. fays, " The ceremonial Law - — was " not become unlawful as yet, to thofe that had been bred up in " the Obfervation of it, but were far from expecting Juitificati- " on by it ; it was dead but not buried, dead but not yet deadly " And Dr. Owen, in his Preface to his Commentary on the Kpiftle to the Hebrews, lays, concerning the Obfervation of Mofaical Kites ; " Some, from a pure Reverence of their original In- " ilitutions, either being not fully iniiructed in their Liberty, or " by Reafon of Prejudices not readily admitting the Confequen' *' ces of that Truth wherein they were inftructed, abode in their €i Obfervation, without fee king for Right eoufnefs or Salvation by *' them : — The fe the Apoftles bore with in all Meeknefs ; yea, ? and uiing the Liberty given them of the Lord, to avoid offend- " ingofthem,yW/7^ with them in their Practice, as Occalion did " require : Nor was Mofaical Worfhip utterly to ceaie, fo as " to have no Acceptance with God, until the final Ruin of that * Church foretold by our Saviour." But another Piece of ftrangc Doctrine is now taught by the Brethren; viz. That the Synod at Jerufalem, Acts x v. wentthe Length ef enjoying, for a Time, fome Observance of ' the ceremonial Law by the Gentiles : That is, (according to their. above Doc- trine about fuch Observance,) the G entiles f for the Sake of Har- mony with fome *Jews> were enjoined to practiie, for a Time, feme ii Additional Anfwer to Reafon Ninth. lof 'ome plain Denial of Chrift !-— However, the (aid Aflertion about i:hc Synod at Jerufalem, is impugned and overthrown by Calvinc lagainit the Papifls, in his Inftituiions, Lit. iv. Chap. x. Art. 21. And as he there proves, from a plain Contradiction of the Context in teaching otherwife, the Decree of that Synod, about ab flaming from Meats offered to Idols, and from Blood, and from Ihings ftrangled, was an enjoining, not any Observance of the ceremonial Law, but an Obfervence of the moral Law, ir^abftain- ing from giving Offence to weak Brethren, about fome Things of themfelres indifferent. Thus it appears, That, as the Brethrens prefent Argument, from the mutual Forbearance which wasfometime exercifed about the Obfervation of Jewijh Ceremonies, is very unreafcnable and i unbecoming ; fo, in what they bring forth about that Cafe, for giving it a Face of Applicablenefs to the Cafe in Hand, fome ftrange Doctrines are contained : And tho' they be not fappofei to adopt nakedly that plain and proper Senfe of their Argument ; yet here is an Evidence, how readily one falls into a Mire 9 through violent Oppofitian to a Matter of plain Truth and Duty. But, for further Evidence of the ftrange Doctrines now ad- vanced, the mutual Forbearance - which is urged in the prefent Cafe mull: be particularly conGdered. It is pled, That there ought to be a mutual Forbearance about the Cafe of fwearing the religious Claufe of fome Bnrgefs-Oaths, even upon Suppofition of its being granted, That the faid Swearing would be doing a Thing is, virtually and upon the Matter, a finful receding from ANT FART of the Tefiimpny of the Day, which we are prof effing to hold ; yea, a doing fo mthfufficieut objective Evidence unto all, that is, a doing fo plainly enough : And they expreily teach the Warrant- ablenefs offuch Forbearance in a Matter finful, even when it is the Subject of a folemn Oath. Now, what is the Forbearance pled for, in fuch a Cafe ? It is even a forbearing to condemn and declare again/} a prefent Swearing the forefaid religi- ous Claufe, tho' granted to be a plain enough Backfiiding from *» ny Part of the Teftimony of the Day, and to have a Matter/"*- fid made, plainly enough, the Subject of the Oath ; it is even % forbearing to warn Profeilbrs againft fuch Backfiiding, and fuch Profanation of the Lard's Name ; and a forbearing to take any Order, that Perfohs already concerned in fuch a finful 0~atb be not* admitted into the Bond of the Covenant, in a Way of jujlifying and adhering to that other finful and contradictory Oath. - ■.*■ Again, wherefore ihould fuch Forbearance be exercifed ? It is even becaufe, under a Pretence of Ntvelty in the Thing, ftmehaye different Sentiments from the Synod, sjwk«wtf fee with He Sj:iod % no Additional Anfwer to Keafon Ninth. in this Matter : And there mud be fiach Forbearance, becauie of thele different Sentiments and Sight, even fuppoflng the Matter to be oifufficient objective Evidence unts all, that is, plain enough for any who are not uncommonly blind or prejudiced \ a plain c- noHgh Backfiiding and Profanation of the Lord's Name. Such is the Doctrine of mutual Forbearance now advanced. In- ftead«fadue Forbearance with Perfons, in the Manner of re- claiming them from the Evil, where themfelves allow it to be practicable; there is now urged a Forbearance with the Evrl itfelf, yea the dreadful Evil oi a (infill 0*th, even fuppofing it to be evidently enough finful in the Way of Backfiiding or Apoflafy, Co as i^ihoirkl ft ill be la ly unmedaled-with^ unheeded, and tolerated, urider a Pretence of Novelty in the Matter, becaufe of different Sentiments : And, if fuch a Scheme of Forbearance were followed ojat, what terrible Laodicean and Latiiudindrian Deeps, it muft natively-rand in, may be obvious enough to every one's Meditation. According to the -Brethren* Reafoning, if it have any cenfiftent Senie, Matters of Truth and Duty mult be Jul jecied to tfee Will and Piealure of Men ; fo as, if Brethren and Fellow-Chriltians (hall .agreeing harmonize about making any new Stand for Truth and Duty, it is well, that Staad may then be made ; but if fome fhali have different Sentiments, tho' in a Point of the greateft 'Weight, and oifuffeient objective Evidence unto all, yet all mult be huddled into a Grave of Charity, a«nd mutual Forbearance, according to the fad Application, which is made of the Texts, Phil. ii. i, %. Eph.lv. i, 2. Prov. iii. 5, 7. If a Judicatory fhali adventure to give any other Kinc of Juilice to fuch a Point of Truth or Duty, this will be a lording it over their Brethren, and a msnifeft Reflection upon the D'fpeifation of God toward the Church while here below, in his be! tow ing diffi r ures if Light upon the Members thereof ; as if different Meafures of Light in the Church, did require us to be hdifjerent and mute about Matters upon which there is a Difference. A&A as itis objected agaiaft the Synod's Sentence, That it neceffunly obliges them, to the Rules of Discipline, tocen/ure their Brethren and heliow-Chrijlians, if continuing of different Sentiments; therefore it muft be a bad Sentence, were it tor no more than that it cannot confift with a Lctiiud':narian Scheqie, but will allow the Truth ansl Ordinances of Chriftto retain their proper Ccntroul over Men. Thus, the important Do£rrne about holding that Faft which we have, abo . rnefllj for the Faith once delivered to the Saint Si Sin to lie upon our Brother, and about bumble Suhjc&ion to the Means of Light and the Ordinances of Chriji Additional Anfwer to Reafsn Ninth. Ill Ghrifl, muft come to be fadly undermiaded by a new Scheme of Forbearance. Many obvious Enlargements upon the- awful lmp$rt of the a- bovo Doctrines, (hall be forborn here : Only, it cannot be a pod Caufe which needs fuch Do&rine for the Defence thereof : And it is exceedingly mournful, that fuch Schemes fhould be breaking, forth in the Seccffwi. It h not with us as in Months fafl ; when Doctrines come to be brought forth, that have fuch a manifeft Tendency to throw up a thick Mift upoa Presbyterian Principles, and the Work of ' witneffuig for Chrift. idly, After the Freedom that has been ufed with Scrpture- 1 Precept and Example, it needs not be furprifing to find that our fubordinate Standards and Covenants come to fuffer no lefs Vio- lence, under the Attempt of (hewing the Sentence to be contrary thereunto. And as, in the foregoing Article, the great Plea is for a licenchus mutual Forbearance ; io, the fame Thing is pur- fued ia the following Articles, under an Out-cry about a Term of Communion, a Pain and Penalty. As to the Charge, that falling in with the Judgment of the Sy- - nod is made a Term of Communion, all that Gouid have been rea- lonably faid, amounts to this,— -That it may be fuppofed, the Synod will reckon themfelves obliged to ufc due Pains with all eenceined, for their Satisfaction with and Obfervance of the Du- ty declared, without tolerating a eountumacious Tranfgreflioii thereof. And indeed, considering the real Nature of the Cafe, That the prefent fwearing of the religious Claufe, doth material- ly and plainly amount unto zfolemn Abjuration of the whole Se- ceflion-Teftimony which is avouched in the Bond of the Cove- nant ; if the Synods Sentence about that fwearing were to be blamed for any Thing, it (hould be for being laid too modeftly and foftly, in Condefcention to fome Brethren : And it Kiuft look flrange to every intelligent and impartial View, that fuch a Koife mould be made againft the Synod, for taking Order that thefe under their Infpedion be not allowed and tolerated, to AVOUCH and ABJURE promijeuoufy, the whole Tefli- mony among their Hands. As to the Charge, that the fignifying a Satisfaction with the Judgment of the Synod is required under no lefs Fain and Penalty than of being fecluded from the Privilege of entring into the Bond ; xhe Terms, Pain and Penalty are very unbecoming here, when all the Matter is, That the Synod cannot aliow of entring into tlie Bond, but afier the due Order, eipecially in a Cafe fo very important. Moreover, i. It 1 1 2 Additional Anfwers to Reafon Ninth. \. It is ufcaecountable that the Synod fhould be charged here, with attempting to force their own Light upon the Conferences of Bthers, contrarf to ConfefT. Chap. xx. §.2* Jam. iv. 12* Rom. xiv. 4. and ConfefT. Chap. xxxi. §. 4. As if they were claiming Lord/hip over any Man's Confidence, when only determining minifterially again ft a Practice which plainly can- not be continued with a good Confcience : And as if they were offering to make themfelves the Rule of Faith or Practice ] when the Reafon given for the Direction in their Aft, is not that themfelves have Light about it ,as if this might fatisfy others; but it comes to this, That a prefent Swearing the 'religious Claufe effome Burgefs-Oaths is inconfiitent with the Teftimony among Seceders, particularly with an Entring into the Bond ; which Reafon will ftand valid, true and plain, after all the Endeavours of railing Duft about it. 2. They charge the Sentence with being contrary to Confejf. Chap. xxii. §. 4. becaufe they reckon it appears from the Te>* nor of their Reafons, That what is fworn to in the Claufe is not fmful ; the* yet there be not one Word in all their Reafons, fo much as offering to make appear, That the prefent national Pro- fefjion and Settlement of Religion, fworn to therein, are npt ///>- fuL We are indeed told, .That the Thing fworn to is given as the Bnly Criterion of the true Church, ConfefT. Chap. xxv. §. 2. de- scribing the vifible Church from all ihefe thatprofefs the true Re- ligion : And this fame* Point will be found amplified with an high Tone, in the. third of the following Reafons. But, befide what is replied there, it may be obferved here, That the above Remark muft be taken, either as a Fling upon the Sound off Words, or as introducing a dangerous, latitudinarian Text, viz. That every Profeffion of the true Religion, which is made inland "makes belong, unto the vifible Church,mzy (as in fbme Burgefs- Oaths) be Jidly apprcven of fworn to, and ejpoufed for a joint profeffion ; and ; if ib, then there ought to be no Seceffion from a- vv particular Church, however defective and corrupt her Profsf- fion be, as long as it may hull be owned for a Profeffion that makes her belong unto the general Body of the vifible Chriflian Church ; which may come to cut off all Seceffion, except from the Chureh of Rme. "« N.B. Tarn over* immediacy to Page 138 ; as, through a Miftake about what this additional Anfwer might extend unto, the re- maining Pan \ three/ 'comes to be transferred to that Place. R E A. S O N H3 ixsLwx ^i^xSs ^x.b& box jg|^gg prehGnJ it will try the united *' Strength of our above BnHHra bow and crook that which *' was found ftraight in lh&$$jf^of our Reformation. But it yet ;htens my Admiration at the Aflurance of thefe Brethren, laitfiey, in their Sentence, net only condemn the faid firft M Ciaafe Reafcn Firfl. He Claufe of the Oath as finful •, but have the Boldncfs t<> 'impofe their Judgment, materially if not formally, as a Term of Communion upon the whole Church of the Aflbciation, within the three Kingdoms ; fo as to declare all that differ from their Judgment incapable of entring into the Bond of the Covenant, and confequently incapable of holding Communion with us in any of the fealing Ordinances of the new Teftament ; which makes indeed a very ftrange Cataftrophe and Overturn, from what took Place in the Days of our Refor- mation : In the Days of our Reformation, none could be ad- mitted in thefe Burrows, either to their Civil Privileges, or to their Church Communion, without fwearing theBurgefs-Oath: But now, according to the Decifion of the thirteen Brethren, no Man can be admitted to Church Communion with us, if he has fworn it, or hereafter fwear it, unlefs he acknowledge his : Sin in fo doing. I fear that this turning of Things upfide ' down, (hall in the Event be as the Potters Clay.— -Suppofe, the ' whole AiJbciate Synod had been as one Man in the Condem- 4 nation forefaid, yet it would make any indifferent and impar- \ tial Perfon fufpecl they had loft their Road, when they did c not, according to the Command of the great Shepherd, go ' forth by the Foot-ftepsofhis Flock ; but, on tke contrary, faw 'them taking a quite oppofite Road : But much more Ground ! would he have for fuch a Jealoufy, when he faw but thirteen ' Men of the Aflbciate Synod, by a clandeftine Reference ki and as clandeftine a Determination, carrying a Matter, in a I" tbin Meeting by a {crimp Majority of four Votes, not only a- N gainft the Mind of their Brethren, but againft the whole Flock If of Chrift that have travelled the Road to Glory before us. If r thefe Brethren ailed ge they arc following the Flock in this I" Road, they are hereby cknllenged to fhew the Print of their W Feet ; any one of the Lord's Witnefles, Martyrs, ConfeiTors, rder to bring the fame, by the divine Direction, to fome IfTue. rhis was agreed to by the Synod after feme Reafoning on the irjl Week, at a fuller Meeting than they ever had upon it before ; md if the Synod was not fo full on the fecond Week,*t palling the Sentence, it was the Fault of Members who went off without ^eave alked and given, and therefore is not to ke impmted to he Synod, nor to the Members who, according to their Duty, ittended that Meeting : And it can be made evident, that 0? Twenty eight Miniiters belonging to the Synod; there were Twenty hree prefent the firft Week ; and that the Difference betwixt the dumber of Miniiters prefent thzfirft and Jecond Weeks was but hree: And it is evident, That the Prefence of all the eoniti- uent Members of a Synod is not to be expected ; as likewiie it s certain, that this Meeting «f Synod was duly called and con- titute, and had therefore full Powers to determine is what came mder their Cenfideration. From all which it appears, That our Reverend Brother Mr. Erfkine's Charge againft the Synod, for bu/bing the Affair, as he terms it, and for high Prefumption ani Self -Confidence, is deftituteof any Foundation. Several Things are further alledged by Mr. Erskinc, upon this lis firft. Reafon, on which a few Obfervations may be made, knd particularly, no Argument has been produced to prove that VIr. Knox compiled the Burgefs-Oathinits religious Claufe ; andi ihe Suppofition which the Swearer makes in that Oath, of often Perjuring himfelf in breaking his Oath, obliging himfelf to pay a Piece of Money fo often as he breaks ; makes it more than pro- vable that the faid Claufe was never laid by that great Man as it now ftands. Again, Mr. Erskhic pretends, That this Claufe ©f 'lie Burgcfs-Oath bears the Approbation of Church and State at Ihe Renovation of our national Covenant ; while Burgejfes, as ivell as others were admitted to fwear and fubferibe the {kme ; md that it had the Approbation of the three Nations, while Bur- jejfes were admitted to fwear the Solemn League : But all that sur Brother has advanced, or caa be faid upon this Head, a- nounts to no more than this, That our Reformers, in no Period a* this Church, took the Burgefs-Oath under Con ft deration in any tf their Courts ; i% far, at leaft, as to pais any Sentence about its 1 1 8 Anfwer to Reafon Fir ft. its Lawfulnefs or Unlawfulness ; and it can never follow from this, ] that they determined it to be lawful : And tho' we have no j Ground to doubt, but that thefe who took the Mafen-Oath were admitted, as well as BurgefTes, to fwear the national Covenant* and Solemn League ; it does not follow, That our Reformers de- termined the Lewfulnefs of the Mafm-Oath, but that they nev^ i made any judicial Determination whether it was lawful or not. JJefidss, thefe Arguments of Mr. Erskine's will never prove, That thefe who have fworn the Bond {ox renewing our Covenants, in. which we fw«ar to contend and tejlify againft the defective and corrupt Profeffion of Religion in the efrabliihed Church, can, in a Confiflency with this Oath of the Bond, fwear that Claufe in the Burgefs-Oath ; in which they fwear, That they profefi y and allow with their Heart, the true Religion prefently profeffedm this Realm," and authbrifed by the Laws thereof, and that they mail abide at this Prfifeffwi to their Life's End ; that is, To fwear an Approba- tion 5/" the Profclfion of Religion in the eftablifhed Church, and yet (Wear a Te/fiwony again]} it. Our Reformers never had a Question of fuch a Nature about this Claufe to eonilder ; becaufo the Circumftances of tbsir Times differed (b much from surs ; and feeing tlv3 Reformation that was reitored and made Advan- ces in the Period betwixt the Tews 1638 and 1550, is buried m the preient national Proton and Settlement of Religion : So that thefe Arguments of Mr. Erxkine\ cannot poilibly con- clude. As to the Treatment our Brother gives the Synod, in calling them frequently by the Name of thirteen Brethren ; and the in* rate Heat that runs thro' the whole of his Paper ; it is not needfary to lay anyThing, but in recommending to him to think , more coolly of bis Conduct; and to take it as a Hint to himfelf, that he hzslefl his Way, when he is become ib unlike himfelf \ in this ConJuet and Behaviour. Mr. Ertkint&ys, The Divine Law is invariable : But how- ever, the Circumflances of the Church are not invariable ; and we all know the Unfeffion of Religion is very variable. As to the Reflections eur B|pther makes, about impofing a new Term of Communion ; the A el and Sentence of the Synod dips 110 further hi that Matter than to warn their People againft fuch Swearing ; and to prescribe as neceflary for thole who have inadvertently fworn that Claufe, to fee, and in fome fuitable Manner exprefs a Conviction of their Miftake through Inadvertency in {wearing the ume, before they be admitted to fwear the Bond for re- newing ° 1ir Covenants, which contains an open Teltimony a- £ainit the Burgcfs-Oath in this Claufe : And tte Synod was un^ de? Reafcn Second. I If cr an abfolute NecefTity t® ufe this Caution ; that People might lot, rafhly and by Ignorance er Miftake, bind their Confciences }j two Oaths contradictory to one another. As for many ftrong Cxpreflions of Mr. Erskine's; it is better to pafs by them, than Ting out Reflections upon our Brother, feeing the Caufe kfelf oes notfuifer by the itrongeft Words that bear no Argument in hem* REASON II. 1 A ^ ^ IC a ^ 0V€ Sentence of Synod cafts a Slur upon the * ± \ whole Witnefles of the Reformation, as guilty of 1 fwearing contradictory Oaths and Covenants ; f© this Decifion \ was gone into, with a manifeft Neglect and Contempt of the ' Barrier- Acts of the Reformation, made by our wife and wor- * thy Forefathers, on Purpofe to prevent Debates and Divifions 1 about Novations or new Things that might readily ftart up in f the Church. In the Year 1639, The general AfTembly enacts " and ordains, That no Novation, which may dijlurb the Peace of " the Church, and make Dhijion, be fuddenly enafted and proponed; " hut Jo as the Motion he firjl communicated to the fever at Synods^ " Presbyteries and Kirks, (or Kirk-Sejions ), that the Matter " may be approved by ail at Home, and Commijfioners may come well " prepared, unanimoujly to conclude a folid Determination upon theft w Points in the General Ajfembly. " The Defign of this Act, (as is declared in the Preamble,) " is, That the intended Reformation, being recovered, may be " preferved and eftablifhed. And fo zealous were «ur worthy " Reformers in that Period, as to this Matter, That this Act is " expreily rent wed, Auguft 6th, 1 641, with this exprefs Addition, " That Tranfgreffors of this Act be cenfured by Presbyteries and " Synods. " As thefe Barrier AcJs were wifely laid, for preferving the J Reformation attained to, and for preventing Rents a*d Divifi- " ons ; fo it is highly probable, had the Synod walked according " to this Rule as to the Matter in PIand,all the Difputes, Divifi- u ens and Oifences that have enfued fince this Arrair came upon K the Carpet, had been happily prevented. But tho' this was M urged by us, yet ourBrethrca difcovored iuch an extraordinary " Keennefs of Spirit, that no Motion of this Nature could be ;< at all liftened unto ; until at Length, without Regard to Barrier " Acts or the Peace of the Church, at a eer tain Juncture when 1 fehey found they had a Majority of Members oa their Side, they M carry ISO Anfwer to Reafon Second. m carry their Point, as was faid, by a po»r Majority of M Four. " But I'm jealous that our Brethren have made more haftd *' than good Speed, in fo doing ; for what if it (hall be found,] * That the Neglect and Contempt of thefe Barrier Ads, is not onlyj *' an Incroachment upon the Right and Privilege of the diffufed.i " Church, plainly pointed at in tJieforefaid Barrier Acts, but alfo w a Breach of the Oath of the Covenant which they and we have " fivorn with uplifted Hands to the Majefty on High. " None will deny, but that they and we are fworn to maintain* m an£ preferve the covenanted Reformation of Scotland ; and iffo, " we're certainly bound to take all Methods, and to ufe all Means «* for its Prefcrvation, and to avoid every Thing that may be de« 44 trimentel or prejudicial thereunto. Now, if the forefaid Bar- '•• rier Acts are of no Ufe, and have no Subfervicnay toward u the Prefer vat ion and Eftablrihment of the Reformation, and pre* '*' venting Divifions ; either they were in a milerable Miltake-in ** making fuch Barrier Acts, or eliethe Synod in a miferabk Mif- fl take (I mesn the thirteen Members above who made the Majo- " rity) in adventuring to overtop thefe Acts in their Decifion, ' 'icty of fwearing a Claufe in fome Burgefs- Oaths, with the Bond for renewing our Covenants * 1 : z %er to Reqfon Second. Our Reverend Brother fpeaks in ftrong Terms about the Afo ►39 and 1 64 1, concerning Novations, calling them frequently Barrier- Acts : But it has been already anfwered, That them A els refpecled Overtures to be tranfmitted to Presbyteries, oj is, relating to Difciptine, Order 'and Govermnmen^ and not to Queftions about Detinue, Truthznd £/ts/-, and Cafe «f Confcicncc, about what is £7/7, or prefent £>///>'. The fi. Synod that met at Jtfufalem, determined the Queftion they mei Upon, under the Cotoducl of the divine Spirit ; and no fych Pre pofal was made as that of tranfmitting the Affair to all the Pre] bytefies and Kiderlhips under their Infpeclion, to advife upon it] deliberately among themfelves, before the Synod mould confide! it. The General AiTembly of this Church, when they took be fore them the Confeffion cf Faith compofed by the Afll-mbly oi Divines at Weftminft&r, debated and determined thereupon, a: they were guided by the divine Spirit, when conftitute in thi Isame of Chriil ; without remitting anyone Article thereof, to be firft handled and conlidercd by Presbyteries and Kirk-Seffi- But had they taken this Courfe, they had receded from the Ward is their Rule in that Matter ; they had opened a Door to SeCxdrianifm, and endiefs Confulion ; and, in that Cafe, we have Ground to think the faid Confeifion of Faith had not been adop- ted by the Church qftSdotland, to this Day. Moreover, the Synod has in the prefent Affair, walked agree- 1 ably to our C: Faith ; which contains That/7 behnge\ to Synods mn'tftertnlly to determine Controverts of Faith, and Ca ; cs ofCoificnce. Having thus obferved the true Meaning of thefe Afts about "Novations ; there is no Need of faying any Thing farther, as to \vhatC011fequences Mr. Erskine comes to deduce, from liismiftakingfi thdir true Senfe and Meaning, and from his Mifapplication of them. It is to be rcgreted, That our Reverend Brother fliould dif- cover his Temper fo far, as in laying, That at a certain J unBurc* when they found they had a Majority of Members on their Side, they carry their Point by a poor Majority of Four : For as the Queftion was ftated betwixt Deci/ion and De-ays, and as fundry Member? interfered not then in the Re^foning ; it was known to no Body, v.- hen the Queftion was put, how it would carry : And that the Matter had been fully heard and conhdered ; that ( therc were c v Grounds for proceeding to a Dc'cifion ; and that the then Meeting of the Synod for further confidering, and for deciding the in fene Shape or other, under the divine Conducl, v.a> agreed upon and appointed by univerfal Gonfent ; ha? all been ReafonT: 11^ lown above : So that the Reflations now thrown out arc wholly round lefs.. REASON III. pis. r f ^HE ElTencc or Subftance of what is fwom in the A " condemned Clauie of the Burgefs-Oath, is, That the Swearer profefes that he allows with his Heart the true Religion prefently profefed within this Realm, Sec. { know not if thefe thirteen Brethren who carried the condem- natory Sentence againit this Clauie of the Oath as finful, did duly confider before their Sentence, that both they and we have, by fclemn Covenant, adopted thefe very Words, (ab- ftraCting frtm the Word prefently), as the true and faithful De- fcription of the vifibie Church of Chrift, the Family of God our! of which there is no Salvation, Sec Conf. of Faith, Chap, 25-. Seel. 2d, and Larger Cat. in Anfwer to that Queftion, What is the vifibie Church P The Anfwer is, That it is a Soci- ety made up of all fuch as in all Ages, and Places cf the V/orld y do profefs the true Religion, and of their Children. Now, if thefe Words be lawful in our approver covenanted Standard?, I would gladly know what makes the fame Words* finful, when adopted or transferred into the Burgefs-Oath -, for the whole of the firft Clauie anent Religion is condemned, with- out Exception, as finful. " I know it is faid by fome, that the Oath is finful, becaiiji thefe Words, profefs the true Religion, are too vague and in- I definite, and do not afford a diftindl: enough Idea of what the ; true Religion is. But, if they be fo in the Burgefs-Oath, \ mud be lb likewife in the Confeffion of Faith, and Catechifrc ; • there being nothing added to thefe Words in our Staadaf ; limit them, in the Defcription given of the vifibie Chiirc : Chrift. Every Man who has fwom the Covenant or B : . has fwornand laid, before God and the World, ; my Heart, that the vifibie Church of Chrift in ; any other Place of the World), confifts of ail th ■ the true Religion, and their Children."] 1 \ with us ail who have entred into the Bond, it is o» 1 to tell us they are too indefinite. " Others tell us, That the Snakejies in the \ ; profeffed, ere. as if this Word or Clauie, -were an Home 1 tion of the prefent State of Religion in the cliahiilhed Chi ' under the Countenance of Civ:. *"4 Reafen Third. € f whole Defections we have lifted up a Teftimony, and frorti J whom we have rrtede a Secefllon ; and therefore this Claufe does not a^ree unto, or confift with, an entring into the Bond for renewing; our folemn Covenants. ti " Unto all which it is anfwered, (F/r/?,) when, at the re* o, were neglecl^d and pad by; yea, in " the faid Settlement of Presbytery, all that was done againlt 10 1 and ic.2, com- P^rsd. Now, Anfaxr to Reafon Third. 127 Now, it is impoffible that any Mao can refufe, with any Shew of Reafon, that the Prtfejfion of Religion fworn to in the Burgefs- Odtb is no other but the Profeffion of Religion according to the civil Eflablilhment thereof in the 7>Jf 1690, and as it prefently (lands ; becaufe that, and no other, is the Profeflion of Religion within this Realm prefently authorifed by the Laws thereof, And it would be a mpdfinful Ipipofetion upon confeiencious Burgefles, to draw them into fuch a Snare, as to fwear that- they profefs, and allow with their Heart, the true Religion prefently profejfed within this Realm, and authorifed by the Laws thereof; and yet at the fame Time to fwear that they will contend and ieftify agaiuft the prefent Prafejfton of Religidn, which is made according to, and confequent upon the forefaid Sectleracnt of Church and State ; wherein particularly, the late covenanting Period, the divine Right of Presbytery and the intrinfick Power of the Church, are receded from and buried. As to what Mr. Erskine all edges, that our Rulers could oblige the Judicatories, by the Laws that are in Being, to reform the Defections and Corruptions of die Church which are teftified a- gainft by thofe of the Seceilion ; it is anfvvered, for Inftance, That it is very certain there are no Lows in Being that could oblige the Judicatories to reform from their Defeftion, in fitting down upon the Revolution-Settlement, without remonflrating againil what W23 defective in the fame ; by which Defection, the covenanting Pe- riod, the divine Right of Presbytery, and the intrinfick Power of the Church, are given up and buried : And this fad Defec- tion is manifeitiy teftitied againft by thefe of the Seceffion, in the Acl and Teftimony : Xer will Mr. Er shine, by any Endeavours, be ever able to make it confiftent, for the Seceders to fwear an Ap- probation of this Profejjion and Settlement, in the B«rgefs-Oath ; and to fwear a Tef!:n:o/y againft the fame, in the Bon^l for renew- ing cur Covenants. And though there may be bad Things as i Tilings in ionic of the heft Acts of Parliament, and we may take the Benefit of what h g*od in thefe Aels ; yet this v*. Ill never prove that we ought to be guilty.of lb bad 2. Thing, as :■: a general lion offycb Acts as have been rnenti- j fwear tm the one of which is inconffent fvith the other. And as, though thefe Words, profejj the true Religion, be a Part a.f the Definition of the vifible Church in the ConfefTion of Faith ; vet, feeing the true Religion is not there ctrcumicribed, by being the true Religion prejentty prof fed in ibis Realm, end prefently au~ \horifedby the Ls: \ there cannot be fo much as the Sha- dow of an Argument in //on of Mr, Erskine'* : So alth** ia8 Reafon Fourth. altho' thefc very Words which define the vifible Church by the J Profcjfion of the true Religion, are Words which the Law autho- rifeth in the Ratification of our IVeftminfter Confellion of Faith -, yet it will not from this follow, that it is warrantable for Seceders to fwear the religious Claufe of a Burgefs-Oath : Becaufe it is certain, that while the Law keeps by the forefaid Words of the Confeffion, as to the vifible Church in general ; it is evident from the Law itfelf, that no better can be underftood by the Law, as to the ProfefTion of the true Religion, than Jucb a ProfefTion there- of as is confident, particularly, with burying the late covenanting Period, the divine Right of Presbytery, and the intrinfick Power •f the Church. REASON IV. >' TJp firft to laft, there appeared fb much Paflion -and Partiality, fb much of a lying in wait to catch Advantage for * carrying their Point, in thofe Brethren (at lead fome of them) u who carried the above Decifion, as convinces me, that there * was more of Party-Intereft in the whole Matter, than any " Thing of true Zeal, which is always accompanied with Meek- * nefs of Wifdom and mutual Forbearance. If there was not " fbmething of this in the Cafe in Hand, how earn© it about, that ** the two Brethren who had palled an ultroneous Sentence a- ** gainft the Burgefs-Oath at Ceres, pufhed a Reference of that " Afrair to the Synod, in a Meeting of four Minifters and one H Elder, when they knew that their Presbytery, at two full Meet* " ings before, had refufed to refer it to tke Synod ? And yet, " even then they carried the Reference only by the Vote of one " Elder, who lived upon the Spot, at Abemethy ; the other two * Minifters prefent dilTenting from the Reference. What can. " fuch Management be called by impartial Obfervers, but a mere " Party-catch ? Much after the fame Manner was the Decifioa " carried at Edinburgh, April laft Year. When the Synod were " together in a Body the firft Week, thofe 'Brethren were very * fmooth, and feemed inclined to liften unto Overtures of Peace t *■ But on the fecond Week, when fome Members were not re- " turned from their Charges, which. they went to fupply on Sab- " bath, and by that Means they had a' Majority; no Overtures *' for Peace or Unanimity at all were propofed, or, when proper- u fed by thofe who a ; e now DiiTenters, could be liltened to by " them ; but a prefent Decifion was pufhed with the greateft Vi- * olence ; as is more fully cleared in the Narrativq of the Rea- * fort* Reafin Fourth. . 1 2? £ fbng of piflent and Proteftation of the above leveh* Memceis fit. This was the common Method of the corrupt Party c< in the Judicatures of the Eft a Mi foment, from which wc have '< feceded, to (leal a March upon thofe who were called the ho- « neft Side. Wo's me that I have feen the fame fraudulent ice followed in the AiTociate Synod, efpccially after fo- ' 1 Covenanting, " How melancholy is it, to fee one of the lirii four, who tate- /Itriefled and contended againft the Judicatures of the efta- " blifhcd Church, and made a Seceflion from them, deftroying ** again what he then built, and contradicting the Teftimonies " he did then bear againft the Judicatures in Conjunction witfi >ther three Breth] : and they at that Time witneiTed againft the Judicatures, " for ihterpojmg the Authority of the Church in Things not evident - the Word of 'Goo \ and their excluding all from their €l Judicatures who had not Freedom to comply with their arbitrary ires ; whereby they trode in the Steps of the publiclc " Rcfolutioners againft the Protefters. See IVJr. Ebenezer Er- e's and Mr. F!]ber 4 s Reprefentation given in to the Com-' " mi-Tion, Auguft 8< 1733, the printed Copy, Page 15. " He and we at that Time jointly complained and teftified " againft the Judicatures, for adventuring to determine a Poin£ " which, fo far as we knew, was not at that T&rie determined " by this Church in any of her Acts of Aflctnbly, namely, Thai ,e Miniflers are not, upon feme proper Occafms, to declare from « the Pillpit thd Evil and Sinfdnefs of a particular A3 of ' Afem- fat. See Mr. V/illiam WilfrC% and Mr. Alexander Mon- 'T y s Reprefentation to the Commiffion of Aflembly, Augujl " 8th 1 73 3, printed Copy, page 36. He and we at that Time " reckoned it efTential to the Validity of a Law, That the Mind '•* of the diffufed Church fiiould be had, and that CorSm'ifBoVfcrs " from Presbyteries, &c. fhouldact in a Cohfiftency v/ith the <: Judgment of their Coriftitutcnts; That ail Overtures which are m'ed to be pafled into Laws, be iirft tranfmitted unto PreP- " bytcries for their Opinion thereupon , That if CcmmilTi oners u from Presbyteries can de jure act, independent of their Con- " (titiients, a particular Aflembly may overturn duV Fresbyten- " an Confutation, ere. We cannot imagine, that ?*Ien, by bc- u ing Members of AflemWies, have ipfo faclo a Privilege to it over God's Heritage, or to act in an abfoftfte and " trary Manner. See more to this Purpofe, page iB and 5*6 of . Wilfon'szhA Mr. Moucrieffs Reprefentation. How u Brother/or others, will be capable to reconcile h?s : ija Riafjti Fourth. " againft the judicatures then, with his and their Proceedings " now, when they have the Helm of a Majority on their Side, u he and they arebeft able to tell. For my Part, I cannot pre- 11 tend to reconcile them. " Was it unwarrantable for the Judicatures of the Church in " theit Days, when we were Pannels before them, to interpofe u the Authority of the Church in Things not evidently found- u ed on the Word of God ; and yet lawful now to condemn the u firft Clatffe of fome Burgefs-Oaths, as finful, .without adducing " one Text of Scripture, or one Article of our approven Stand* " ards, to which it is repugnant? " Was it unwarrantable for the Judicatures to exclude all who " had not Freedom to comply with fuch arbitrary Meafures ? " And yet is it lawful now to caft out all from the Duty of Co- " venanting, and confequently /rom Church-Communion, who " cannot fee the Sinfulnefs of the condemned Claufe of the Bur- % gefi-Oath ? — " Was it unlawful at that Time for the Judicatures to deter- " mine irt a Matter never before determined in any Acts ©f AC- " fembly ? And yet can it be lawful now to determine the faid c< Claufe of the Burgefs-Oath finful, when that Matter was not on- fe ly never determined to be finful, but, on the contrary, fuftained * to be lawful through all the reforming Periods, as was cleared I €C in the firft Reafon ? u Was it unlawful for the Judicatures to break through the but ■reprove them. , that the faid Brother, with o- thers, reckon. ntiai to the Validity of a Law, that the Mind of the ditfufed Church mould be had"; and he cit- Purpofe, Page 10 and 56 of Mr. IVir/on's and Mr. M Repv.efentation \ but he mould have faid Page 1 B of Mr. Erjki Reprefentation, and Page 56 Q{%/Lt.Wi(/on and Mr. Moncrieff 9 * Reprefentation ought not to have been added, feeing m Juch Thing is to be found in the faid Page : But upon all this, the. Synod refers to what has been faid above, in Anfwer to Mr. Erjjdne's Object ion concerning what he calls the Barrier- Act s> jvhich plainly coincides with what he advances here. As to his Complaint, lhat Texts of Scripture were not adduced in con- demning the prefent (wearing of the forefaid Claufe; the Synod have laid their Sentence in fuch Terms, as may Point out to all the Equity of their Judgment about the Inconfidency of fweari religious Claufe of a Burgeis-Oath, wherein particularly the volution-Settlement and Profelfion of Religion are approx v.ith fwearing the- Band for renewing our Covenants, wherein that ■Settlement and Profeflion of Religion are tejlified again}} : And if the Synod had. come to cite Texts for condemning the Prac- tice of fwearing fuch comradicivy Oaths, they might have trail- feibed and im proven the whole moral Layj y yea the whole i tfkie of the Bible. It was not therefore for. want of the Cai of Reaftm fifth. 133 rf Scripture to fnpport the Sentence, that the Synod did not cit* ^ny particular Texts ; but becaufe, as may be feen from in- tpecYmg the Ails of Affembly, it is not ordinary for Judicatories to take into their Sentences a Scheme of the Scripture Grounds thereof, and to enumerate the Texts of Scripture by which they are fupported, where it may well be fuppoftd that they are founded upon the general Strain of Truth and Doftrine contained in the Holy Scriptures. And now, Mr. Erjkine's Paradoxes, fome of which he reperes once and again, are eafily refilled, as may be to the Satisfaction of ihofe wko are intelligent and unprejudiced in the Matter. REASON V. u *\ ^^* Horn, having conildered and approven the above m JLVA Reafons contained in this Paper, he, in Conjunction "with Mr. Erskine, adds what follows. 4i In Regard that we humbly conceive, That this Acl of the " Synod is contrary both to the Unity enjoined by the Apoftle, a Rom. xv. 5-, 6. and alfo to the Comfort of the Church of H God, and the ultimate End of what ought to be defigned by " every .Member thereof, namely, the declarative Glory of God; " as appears Com the above quoted Text of Scripture, where u the Apoftle prays for the Unity of the Members of the Church: \ the Cod cf Patience and Con Co! at ion, fays he, grant you td " be like minded one tenvard another, according to Cbrifi Jefus- " that ye may with one Mind and one Mouth glorify God. The f following Things feem plainly to appear from this Petition of " the Apoftle for the Unity of the myilical Body : In which " Petition he not only defer ibes that Unity he pravs for, one " Mind and ere Mouth, but a lib ihews how much God would "be glorified by fuch an Union ; and in which he adcreifes • " God for it, under thefe two very remarkable Titles, The God ef ~" Patience and Conflation : Thereby, I fay, he plainly intimates " the 'following Things, ifl, How great Need there is of the " Exercife of Patience, in maintaining Unity in the Church of " God ; and that their Unity greatly depends upon the Exercife " of Patience one towards another! N And this he begs the God '* of Patience to give them. And, to endear this Grace of Pa- " tience to them, idly, Rejoins with it another Title of God, " viz.. r Conflation i wherein he points them to that " abuncfant Comfort that would refill t to themfelvcs from fuch " a blefled Unity, continued in, and maintained by the mutual " Exercife of Patience and Forbearance one towards an u And I r And this he enforces from the Pattern and Example of Chrift 3 M and teila them, That God would be eminently glorified there- €< by. ,But this A& of the Synod, as it is a determining of the ? Point ef the Sintulnefs of that which many of our Brethren can- 4C not fee to beiinful, and as it cats off a waiting for them till ■' they come to fee the fame ; nay is a determining of a Quefti- f* on which is entirely new, and anent which, though we differ sc " from our Brethren, yet they cannot accufe us of refiling from f any attained-to Point of Reformation ; nay a QuefHon that " was never decided by any Judicature : This Ac~t, we fay, being H the determining of fuch a Queftion, and tke declaring the famer " fmful, mult therefore be plainly oppofite to this Text of Scrip- 1/ " ture ; as alio to what the Apoftle prays for, i Cor. i. i:. " Now, I befeech you, Brethren, by the Name of our Lord Jefwsyf " Chrifl, that ye all [peak the fame Thing, and that there be ■ : " bivifions among you, but that ye be perfectly joined together in " the fame Mind, and in the fame Judgment. The Duty, as here V 11 enjoined, is exclufive of its Oppofite, Schifms and Rents. But c u the Act of Synod manifeflly makes a Schifm ; (for it is plain, \ t " that the greater Part are divided as to their Sentiments even li with Reference to that firit Claufe of the Burgefs-Oath, anxfllj *< alfo with Reference to the Synod's Act concerning that firft '( •* Claufe ; ) and therefore is contrary to this Text ; which inv « plies Harmony and Agreement of Judgment, Hearts, an I " Language, that they all /peak the fame Thing ; and wherein this «' is enjoined by the ftrongeft Motives and Arguments. Now,] i « to conclude, fince it is plain, That this Act of the Synod is a « dividing Miniflers and People in their Judgments, difttL-bin ; " and diihacting the Minds both of Minifters and the Lor.: . « pe@ole, and profiting none ; it fcems evidently not 10 be an- " fwering the Ends of the Edification of the Body of Chiift, and " of the declarative Glory of God, and to the Comfort of none J «« of the Lord's People ; but to the Grief of the Heaitsofnota f* few of the Lord's People ; while, by our Contefts and Jang- «' lin^s, many of them have been made to fay, Oh ! that I had « WinsfHh a Dove, thai I right fee far hence, and be at reft ; or, « Wos m that I ftjourn inMcicch, &c. And fince this Acl feems 44 to \y C diametrically oppofite to the above quoted Texts of << Scripture, as alfo to Philip, ii. 2. w : e cannot but look upon * it as tin fa 1; and therefore cannot but crave the Refunding " thereof. Stirling, 16th 7 EBENEZER ERSKINE Jjnu?sj> * Dtn / 747- \ DAV, HORN. ANS- ANSWER to R E A S O N V. ^T T IE come now to Mr. Er shiners laft Realon of Protcftation^ V V in which, (as likcwife the foregoing) he is joined by- Mr. Horn. It is in general that they conceive this Act of the Sy* nod is contrary to the Unity enjoined by the Apoitle, Rom. xv. 5", 6. And the Anfwer iseafy,That this Unity enjoined by the A- poftle is an Unity according to Ghrift J ejus ; an Unity to the Slory of God, that we may with one Mind and one Mouth glorify God. But it can by no Means be an Unity accordiug to Chrift JV- fus, to be united in allowing, That thofe who profefs his Name k} r ttftlfyixg again ft the prefent national Profeflion and Settlement »i Religion, in which particularly the late covenanting Period is buried, and wkojwcar to this their Teftimony in the Bond for renewing our Covenants, fhould alfo homologate and approve of the faid Profcilion and Settlement of Religion, in fwearing the religi- ous Claufe of fome Burgefs-Oaths. And it is molt evident, that we cannot with one Mouth glorify God, in the Way offwear- ing a Teftimony againft the laid Profeflion and Settlement con- junctly with ©ur Brethren Seceders in the Bond forrenewing our [Covenants, and likewife of fwearing or allowing to fwear an Ap- probation of the (aid ProfelTion and Settlement, in the religious I Claufe of fome Burgefs-Oaths, conjunctly with the Members of the eftabliihed Church, from which we are in a State of SecciTion ; feeing this would be fo far from g lor if) ing God, that it would be nn evident diftxnouring of God by contradiclory Oaths, and a Breach of the third Commandment in the very Letter thereof/ ty taking the Name cf the Lord cur God in vain. And thus, our Brethivns reafoning from the above and other Texts of Scripture, relating to the Unity ot the Church, is nothing to the Purpofe in- Hand ; feeing the Union that ought to be in the Church is an ho- ly Union, the Unity of the Spirit, and an Union in the Truth as it is in Chrift, who is the Centre of this Union of the Members of the Church one with another. And, if the Ad oftheSynocf (eems, in the Opinion of our Brethren, to be oppofite to the above and other Texts f)f Scripture quoted by them \ this is wholly ow- ing, not to any Incon fntency of the Act with thefe Texts of Scripture, with which and every other Text of Scripture it doth uniformly agree ; but it is entirely owing to the Brethrens mif applying thefe Texts of Scripture, and perverting them to Pur- pofes mo ft alien from theScope thereof, or from the holy Ends and Jurpefes of the Spirit of God in dictating them. AaJ I . — i^^iaiii, x uai uiis> -ici Jba ucicrmimi, the Point of the Sinfulness of fwearing tKis Claufe of fame Bul. gels-Oaths,; when many of our Brethren cannot fee it to be fin iul ; that it cuts orfa waiting for them till they come to fee thi Smlulneis oi it • that it is a determining of a Queftion whid is entirely new, and that they cannot, in their differing!), from others in this Affair, be accufed of refiling from any attai; ed-to Point ot Reformation. But it is anfwered, That' it is hop : thefe Brethren may, by the due bYe ofMeansM* (hort Tin come to fee a Thing fo plain and obvious,, as the Matter un Connderation ; namely, that it is highly inipnfiflent, and thereto finfut, That Men mould i Wear an Approbation of, an.! Satisfy i With the prefent national Profeflion and Settlement of Rcligipn •to? Oath, and alfo a Drfapprogation of, and Ditfatisf action withJ ; the lame in another Oath. Again, the Brethren were long wait- II €d for, even from the Meeting of the Synod in March 1745% till 1 their .Meeting in April 1746 ; wfen, after long and tedious R fonings upon the Affair, and that in different Meetings f Synod pro re tiata, they found it then neceffary, for differ. weighty Reafons, to come to fome final Conclufion as to the M ter that had "been lb Jong under their Conization. And feeing, according to our Confefnon of Faith, it belongs to Synods termtne in Controverfies of Faith and Cafes of Confcience ; it thuft of Confequence be their Duty, to give their publlck Jucl^J ment as to what of this Sort comes before them, whether it be^ entirely hew, or not : But if the Argument ot entire!) new had a- ny Weight in it, it would prove of Courfe, that there ought not to be any new Acts of Synod or Aflembly, fo as their BuGnefs here would be no other than to revive old Acls and Decifions ; and whoever adopts fuch an Opinion, this Principle of his mull cer- tainly be entirely new. And however thofe who maintain the Cohuftency of {wearing the religious Claufe in fome B Oaths among Seceders, may pretend otherways ; yet, whe Cafe is duly Cbnfidered, it will be found, That they are • from the TefKmony which we .have eipoufed and avou And it is evident, that they turn afide from the plain and ne ry Duty incumbent upon them, of to the Lord's People, and removing Shirfibtin^-wocks out of ii ; they pretend a Necedity for p:f:psn;ng and delaying the Queftion, concerning the Conjifiency or Inconfiftency of fwearing the religi ous Claufe in fome Burgefs-Oaths, with eritring into the Bon for renewing our Covenants : Tho' the Seafonablenefs of the Di ty of renewing our Covenants had been determined fome Yecr ago ; and this Qeuition ; has, in the Courfe of Providence, cart C 11 as Lit Bar In tfee Way, which ought therefore of NecefFity to have >een removed, as the Lord fhould direct, the Synod when the Mat- er came before them. The Brethren pretend. That this Acl of the Synpd manifeftly nakas a Schifm ; Becau/e, fay they, the greater Part are divided }S to their Sentiments with Reft! eme to that fir ft Claufe of the %urgefs-Oath, and alfo with Reference to the Synod's Acl concerni- ng thefirft Claufe. But it has not appeared as yet, and we hope lever ihali, tkat the greater Part either of the Mi ni ft ers or P#c~ )lc arc divided as to their Sentiments, in Oppofition to the Deci- lon of this Affair : And if feme of the People are divided this. Way, they have the protefting Brethren to thank for it, who lave endeavoured to darken Things mod plain in themfelve^. >y their groundlefs Cavilings againft the Sentence of the Syuud, vhich is founded upon the moft evident Grounds, from the holy Scriptures and our received Principles. But the Brethren are. greatly miftakep, when they load the Aft of the Synod with th* Schifm \ feeing they are the Perfons themfelves who have been md are contributing their Endeavours, to a violent and ground* .efs Rent iri the Church of Chrift. Now, to conclude, linee it is plain, That this Ad! of the Synod f-ias determined a Cafe of Confcience, which did caft op in tl>e Courfe of Providence, as a Bar in the Way of the neceiTary and feafonable Duty of renewing our Covrnahts ; and feeing the fa id Act is evidently moft necclTary and reafonable, and is founded opon the moft juft and warrantable Grounds; the two Brethren • Protefters, as well as others, ought to' receive this Decree of the Syml with Reverence and Submifllon, not only for its Agreement with the Word of God, hut alfo for the Power whereby it is made, is being an Ordinance of God appointed thereunto in his Word ; as ig ixpreiTed in our ConfeiTion of Faith, Chap. 31. Art. 3. And :heir Practice is moft unwarrantable, in diftarblng and diitracl- kig the Minds of the Lord's People, by writing and drawing up :\ic\\ ground! cjs Accufations againft the Synod, and allowing Copies. )f them to be fpread in fome Cities and moft populous Places of 'he Kingdom ; which cannot tend to anfwer the Ends of the E-- lification of the Body of Chrift, and of promoting the declarative- jloryofGod. The forgoing Reafons, with the Synod's Anfwers thereto 'which are exclujive of the Notes and additional Anfwer), from ?age 23 d , arc extruded by Adah Gib, Syn, Cls. p. t S D A M. B. What fellows \ on this end the next two Pages, is to be x taken in immediate Connection with Page 1 1 2, as completing the additional Anfvver 10 Reafbn Ninth. 3. The Argument about Forbearance, from the Practice of the Church in the Days of the Apofties, has been considered al- ready. And with Reference to the Practice of our own Church Anm 1638, it is amazing to find alleged, yea and pled from as a commendable Thing, That the Covenant was pitrpofely framed for admitting thole who jujlified y or maintained the Lawfulnefs of, E- pifcopaty and the five Articles of Perth : For this is exprefly con* trary to the exprejs Letter of the Coven mt; as, in the v try fir (I Sentence thereof, there is a folemn Engagement to forbear the Practice and Approbation of thefe Things, in reserving the pub- lick Determination of them to free Alfembiies then in View, — according to what has been noticed before, and is explained in Mr. Witfon's Defence, Page 239; nor are the Words cited of Matters Dickfon and Henderfon difagreeable hereto, when once, the Brethrens Parent hefis toward the Cloie thereof, is taken out. But it is no Wonder that the Brethren tnake fuch an ado agamfV the Sentenee of Synod, as to the Order thereby taken with fome ■Burgejfes, about admitting them into the,Band of the Covenant ; when, they come thus to recommend an Union in Covenanting with flout Epifeopalians. The Brethren proceed next to bring the Synod under mod ground lefs Impeachments, of Covenant -breaking, and of arbitrary and dogmatical Cmiduft beyond the juft Power of Ecciefiaftical Judicatories : But, as fundry Reflections thrown out under thefe Articles have been obviated already -, fo, thefe Articles them- selves ivill be found expofed, the one in the IntroduBion and the other in the Appendix. This Paper of Reafbns is concluded with a pretended Strain of Lamfrttatiw, which yet is a grofs InveeJjvje again!!: the Synod, a- bo\it the Method of Procedure in the prd^nt Affair. Some foul Mifi'-eprefentatiws here laid, as to plain "Matters of Fact, have been cleared in the Rev>nu of the Preamble : But there is yet further Appearance here of a ftrong Humour for getting the Sy- nod's Conduit blackned, and the pretended Iniquity thereof ag- gravated The Cavil is renewed, of m%re than ordinary Keemiefs of Spi- rit in carrying on this Matter; the Point in Controverfy is repre- lented as oi (mail Confequence, tho' a folemn Oath about the Caufe •f Chrifl: ; the Debate is quarrelled for the Neumeft thereof, tho' indeed the Matter properly jn Debate, had no Being in any other *C*ureh or any former Period : ^And thefe Things are roundly illedged as giving Reafott to fear that the Sentence is wholly of the VBev-l. Again, for fupporting the injurious Charge of more then ordl- , nary Keenriefs in the Matter, fundry Things are mentioned as ['having been upon the Anvil; and then it is added, All thefe end qther important Affairs of far greater Concern, could not be ad- %niited to enter into the Consideration of the Synod, as appears from ] their frequent P rot efts again Q the Synod's Sentences delaying tt!e t Matter, However, the prefent Affair was certainly of the great- eft Concern, when immediately concerning the whole Teftimony among oar Hands. And tho* there were two Diffents, there was never but one Proteft againft delaying the Affair : But thefe Di£ fents and Proteft were never any Way againft taking other Mat- ters into Confideration, as this was done at each Meeting without any Oppolition ; nor was ever a Delay moved or gone into, for the Sake of getting other Matters coefidered, but merely becaufe of the Brethrens Oppofition in this Matter. Farther, by other important Affairs, they muft certainly mean other Overtures be- fore tke Synod, befide thefe which they now mention : And hour the Syned is wronged on this Head, may be feen by turning back to Page 33. In the next Place, that the Overtures now mea« troned were not admitted fo much as to enter into the Confide- ration of the Synod, is fo far from holding, that Committees were appointed to prepare Draughts of Queftions for privy Cenfures, and of Rules for parochial Vifi tat ions ; and the expeding of this Work was twice recommended to thefe Cemmitteeg ; and fome of the Brethren now Protcfters were on each of thefe Committees, but never moved one Step, t about a Meeting of thefe Commit- tees, or a preparing any Thing for the Synod on frhofe Subjects : And as to the Overture from the Aflbciate Presbytery of Claf gow, about Profeflbr Leech?nan*s Sermon, it freely entred into the Confideration of the .Synod, fo as to be received into their Mi- nutes at their fir ft Meeting ; but no further Propefal about it was afterwards made, far lefs oppofed. Moreover, when it is told, that the other Things now men- tioned were then upon the Anvil, but nor admitted to enter into the Confideration of the Synod ; this plainly iignrfies that Mem- bers were £b far left in the Cafe, as to make no Account of theie weighty Affairs, but to oppofe the Confideration thereof, v. hen tabled before them : Whereas, thefe Affairs relative to the late ' Antichriflian Rebellion, were eever then introduced, or fought to be iatroducsd into the Minutes ; but they' were the Subject of deliberate Conference in Synod, and as much yfes done in them as was then practicable, or could confix with the Difference of Sen- S 2 fimc:;t; timents betwixt the Brethren now protecting and other Members, upon thefe Subjects : And as to an Explication of the lefeer Cn- techifm, tho it had been fornetimes occasionally hinted at in Con- ference, yet it was never formally moved in Synod, till their Meeting at Stirling in September laft Year, when a Courfe was taken accordingly. After all, if fuch criminal Steps were taken, how can the Brethren excufe themfelves, for having gi- ven no Tejiimony againft them, by Diflent or Profcelt, at the i Time? But further, they tell that the Sentence was carried, over tire Belly of their ftrongeft Entreaties for a Delay till a' full Meeting ; Whereas, at the Meeting where it was carried, they had neither prong nor weak Entreaty, nor one Word about a Delay, till it was jult coming to a Vote; nor was there even then fo much as one Word about delaying till a full Meeting, but of delaying becaufe none of the other Overtures which they had propofed as a Me- dium for preventing a Rupture could be gone in with ; as their Motion at that Time, in the Minutes, exprefly bears, arid as is explained before, Pages 39, 40 The Brethren do next tell, what it is they all along wanted, . to have the Affair, even the Confederation thereof, delay ed y -/ we jbaiild come to fee Eye to Eye therein t And this is very agreeable to the foregoing Doctrine of Forbearance, tho' not to Pr.c-sbyterian Principles ; as it imports that Unanimity is prefer- able to Equity, even about maintaining the Testimony' efpoufed ; a«d that the Minority in a Judicature fhould ftill prevail over the Majority, even after much Deliberation and Delay, and in a Caie where Confcience is deeply affected. As to the difmal Effects and Confequences wherewith the Sen- tence is loaded, it can have no proper Tendency to produce them, but the contrary*; and therefore they mull all be chargeable m- pon the Oppofition which is made thereto. ; As to the Expostulation in the Clofe of the Paper, it may be remembred, that brotherly Love and Charity did oblige to pajs y and do as much oblige to fupport the Sentence ; for giving a Check unto, and reclaiming from, the dangerous Courfe of the Op- poiltion made thereto. " Finally, That Defire of Peace and Unity which the Brethren profefs, doth neceffarily require the Sentence to be removed out of ; he Way, fo as not to make the fmalleft Grain of Allowance for thefe whole Confciences are as much ftraitned on the one Side, as theirs can be on the ether ; But, if their After-Infiitings for! the reverfing of the Sentence, had been in zfur, open and ex- plicate Way, Matters had not come to fttch a jnelancholy Pafs, as abut where thev now ft and. APPENDIX C 14* 1 APPENDIX Containing ^^V/Illustration of the AJfciate Synod's Sentence, concerning the religious Claufe of fome Burgef-Jatbs. TH« Reafens of Proteft, againft the Sentence of the AfTc^ ciate Synod concerning the religious Claufe of fome urgels-Oaths, are fo evidently made up of Things quite foreign o the true State of the Qucftion, with grievous Mifapplications, p-ofs Miftakes, unjuft Reprefentations and injurious Reflections ; hat there would be need of fome Apology for the Length of khefe Anfwers which have been made unto them ; were it not Jiat, as the Matter now (lands, Pretences come to be much pre- r umed on, and the Truth embarked in the prefent Contro- yerfy comes, with too many, to be in Hazard of fuffcring, evea 3y the Sound of Words and the Weight of Subfcriptions \ In the foregoing Anfwers, not only are the Reafons over- grown, but the Sentence thereby oppofed is illujlrated : How- ever, it may not be amifs that, for the further llluflration there- if, fome Things be now refumed and briefly enlarged upon. Toward the Ciofe of the ninth Reafbn, the Synod is charged with very arbitrary and dogmatical Conducl, in paiTing fuch a Sen- :ence, when yet at the fame Time they have nit Jhown how this re- ligious Claufe comes neceffarily in this Period to be ufed and applied, nor in what RefpeEvs it is inconfijlent with entring into the Bond for renewing our folemn Covenants, nor have in the leaf} fhown, from the Lai* and Teftimony or approven Standards agreeable there- to, how the Confcience is bound to what they are requiring : And hereupon the Synod is accuiid of tranfgrelTing the Extent of the Power of Ecclefiafltcal Judicatories according to our old Confejf Art. 20, in its fuilaining Ecclefiaftical Jurisdiction yo/tfr as the Council proveth the Determination and Commandment that it gheth by the plain Word of God, and rejecting the fame "in Con- (litutions repugning to the Word of God. However, it is evident that the Brethren had no Shadow of Reafon for charging the Synod with fuch arbitrary and dogmati- cal Conduct, toward them ; for much Patience was ufed with them, fundry Delays were gone into merely on thetr Ac- count, many and long Reafomngs w r ere hail merely for their Sawsfa&iqn ; a&d thus, before the Sentence paflcd, the Matter 1 42 t Illuftration *f thereof wts explained to them, as alfo, ifs full Agrec- ttefi upto and Foundation in the Word ofG D and our ap- n Standards, according as the Nature of the Thing could e and admit of, was manifefted to them, fo as might] have been more than fufficient. Again, as to others who fhoaldi ^ : to he concerned therewith, tho ? 'the Synod did not take m : neoftheie Roaibnings and Proofs into the Body of their e ice, it was to be taken for granted in common Courfe* that ' : n >ers were to ufe due Palm for removing the Dirhculties of] any, about Acauiefcencc in and Obedience unfco the fame : And ] further, the Synod were to have due Occafnn for explaining and \ 1 'tiing their Sentence, in dealing with the Protejlathns a-| gamft it. But even abftrt&jng from thefe Things, the forefaid Quarrel] wi h the Synod's Conduct is very unreafonable ; confidering that: the Things heli for h in the Sentence are, of themfelves, molt fan and obvious. Every Perfon who allows himfelf to think €r a \e faid ProfdFion and Settlement] Come to* be changed; fo that it mutt come neceffarify, in /^//Pe- riod, to be uled about and applied into what is now the prefent National ProfeiHon and Settlement of Religion, among the Hands I of the eitabliahed Church, taking up Religion under that Form and no othorwife. This is a Matter fo very clear from the Words j of the Claufs itlelf, that there can be no Difficulty about it, but from unnatural Diiiinftions and Refinements, wftere the Mind is fome how byajfei unto the Study or Entertainment of them : And if the Claufe comes nccwfTarily, in this Period, to be ufed and applied as above; then ail the other Parts of the Act and Sentence mud inevitably follow, in a moft native and obviouf Courie. Thus, there can be no Darknefs about the Synod's AcT, but from the Tendency which the Opposition made unto it has, to iarken a Matter of itielf very plain and eafy, by getting Peoples Minds engaged in a Puddle of Things foreign to the Purpofe, fo as to divert them from any nc*r and naked View of the Ca»fe. And, confidering the Plainnsfs of the Matter, with the palpable Dependence thereof upon our received Principles; as it is /heme- fid that there mould have been fuch Reafoning and ado, firft for preventing and then for overturning the Act ; fo, the more Need there ihali be of haxmgjr.ucb faid, for fatisfying Seceders about it, I the Synod's Sentence. 143 t } the more of a Blot of Dege eracy muft they bring upon their _Vkmories. As to the Ufc now made of a Citation from Art. 20 of our tJd Corf ef on, about the Extent of the Power of Ecclefiaftieal Ju~ IcOtdries ; it is too vifible, from the Connection of the Argu- ment in the ninth Reaibn, that, under the Colour of quarreling Vith an imaginary Stretch of Power, there is an Encroachment Ipon Presbyterian Principles, concerning the juft Power an4 Zonftilution of Ecclefiaftieal Judicatories, as they ft and in Oppo- sition to Anarchy and Independent}. Moreover, as the Brethren have yet laboured in vain, to (how that the Sentence is any way repugnant to the Word of God ; fo, it came out from the Synod, mznifeMy feunded in and proven by the plain Word of GO D, as much as any Aft about any Gath cowld pofEbly be. For adverting hereunto, thefe Things are to be rcmemfered. The Atf begins with a Proportion, and proceeds in two Conch '/Ions therefrom. The Propcfition is, That " a Swearing the religious Claufe of fome Burgefs-Oaths, by any under the La- fpecYion of the Synod, as the laid Claufe comes neceiTarily in " tli is Period to be uied and applied, doss not agree unto the; prefent State and Circumftances of the Teftimony for Religion and Reformation, which the Synod, with thofe under their In- fpecYion are maintaining ; particularly, it does not agree unto, nor confifl with an entring into the Bond for renewing our h- lemn Covenants. " Now, let it be for once fuppofed, that the above Prop&fition is true; then it immediately and inevitably fol- lows, That the Synod have given out the two Condufws made therefrom, duly proven by the plain Word §fGOD. For, t'hey « have duly proven, that the prefent Teftimony among Secedcrs, is agreeable to, founded ha, and neceffarily arifes from, the plain \Vord of God; as alfo, that this is the Cafe with the Bond for renewing our Covenants : Wherefore, they have thus proven thefrft Conclufion, that it mull: be a finful Thing, t/nfafe to the Conference, for Seceders to fwear difagreeably to that Teftimony, and inconfijlently with that Bond ; and thus alfo have they proven the fecond Conclufion, that it muft be indifpenfible Duty to take Order for die Remedy of fuch an Evil, at the Ad mi/lion of triple concerned into the Bond, as is prefcribed in the Act ; And fo, all this is given out duly proven from Scripture, in the Proof of our received Principles, which is to be taken for granted. The whole remaining Difficulty and Quarrel, then, muft be about the forefaid Pripofition : But there is one Thing, concern- ing it, which the Synod give out duly previen from Scripture, k\ our ConfeJJIan of Faith, Chap. xxii. Art. 4. viz. An Oath is to 144 IHuJlratkn ef to be taken in the plain and common Senfe of the Words y without i qicvocahon or mental Refervation. And after this, what is the hi the faid Propofetion, or in the .vhole Ad, that remains to proven ? Nothing indeed but this Point, c/z.'That a Swearir the religious Claufe, as it comes neceflariJy in this Period to tifed and applied, hath a Senfe and Meaning which is difagreeab to the ibrefaid Teflimony, and inconfijleut with the forefaid Bend Now, the Queftion here is wholly about the prefent Senfe of th Claufe, about what is the plain and common Senfe of the Words t \ it comes necefTarily to be now ufed and applied ; and fb, it i a Queftion wholly about a Matter of Fail, whether fuch a Bur- gefs^ at fuch a Time, did fwcar^ difagreeably to the Teftimony and inconfidently with the Bond. But fuch a Point, about the. Meaning of our Words, and about a Matter cfFacl happening among us, is, in the Nature of the Thifcg, abfolutely incapable of Scripture-Proof. It'certainly never entred into any Body's Mind, to feck Scrip- Pur '^-Proof, That the Oath of Abjuration homologates the united Conftituuon •, and as litttle did it enter into any Body's Mind, at the Alterably Anno 1638, to feek Script ure-Vioo{, that the Na- tional Covenant, when it was firft fworn, abjured Prelacy as well as Popery : For it would evidently be moit abfurd to fuppofe that fuch Points, about what is the Meaning and Matter ofFacl In any Oath of human Compofure, are to be any otherwife de- termined than by the Judgment arid Under/landing of Men •, while the only Ufe of Scripture in fuch a Cafe, is to clear up the Lavj- fulnefs or Unlawfuluefs of the Thing, after once h is lb determi- ned what the Thing is. \ It is therefore very plain and obvious, that the Synod have gi* Ven out their Act, manifeflly proven by the plain Word of G D t In every Point, except as to what is the prefent Senfe and Mean- ing of the Words of the Oath in the religious Claufe, which is fuch a Point as is utterly incapable of fuch Proof in any Oath ? Wherefore, they have given out their Act, manifeftly thus pro- ven, as much as any Adt about any Oath can polfibry be. Again, as all the Quarrel with the Matter of the Act muft. now Come to turn upon this Queftion, How the faid Claufe comes ne~ ce'fanly in this Period to be ufed and applied? Or, What is pre- fent ly the plain and commn S&nfe of the Oath in that Claufe? The Synod might indeed be well excufed from fweJfing tli^ir Act with a Diicullion and Explication of this Point •, in regard it may well be reckoned obvious enough to every Perfon who gives himielf Leave to think fbbcrly upon the Claufe, that the fame •omes necefari'y in //;/j Period to be ufed about and applied unti Kcti^iony the Syntd's Sentence. ?4? eligioh, flftder tfic prefent National PrrfhJJhn and Settlement lereof, as among the Hands of the e/fablifted Church, fwearing >. Religion under that Firm, with Approbation thereof, and no o- i«vife ; which is moil plainly dlf agreeable to the prefent Tefti* any among Seeders, and inconftftent with enuring into the Bomb But thi*.%*ftiofl, about the prefent Senfe and Meaning of the lath ia its religioni Claufe, mail be fomewhat farther enlarged pon here ; not as if it were of 'nft&dark or dubious, but for Isaring up the Mift which has been fo unaccountably raifed up- n this very plain Subject : Aad fo the prefent EiTay i^ for ifcdicatiag the plain c \ Senfe of the Words, which the refent Lmpfer of 'the Oath not only may but muft have, if he %tt . •t abfurdiy and ignirantly ia the Adrniniitratioa thereof, Where- ore, First, A present /wearing the religious Claufe of feme Bur* efs-Oaths, doth necejfarily contain a general and full Approbation f the prefent National Profeffion and Eftabliihment of Re> among the Hand: of the eftablijhed Church. It being immediately plain, that the Profeffion cf Religion nentioncd in the Claufe is the National Profeffion, or the Pro- eflion which is made by, and is among the Hands of, the NatU mat ox eftablijhed Church t and it being immediately plain, that :he Authsrifmg or Eftabliihment mentioned in the Claufe, is the W ft abli foment which is given to, and is among the Hands of, the {aid eftablijhed Church, in her Profeffion ': That a prefent fwear- ng the forefaid Claufe, .doth neceffarily contain a general and ill Approbation of this Profeffion and Eftablifhment, is moft e- fident from the following obvious Conftder athns * 1. The Oath is adminiftrated by Members of the eftablifhed Church, and generally unto Members of that Church, who are declared Approvers of the faid Profeffion and Eftablifhment, in Oppofltion to the whole prefent Teftimony againft the Pefec"ti- ons and Corruptions thereof: Wherefore a concurring with them, as is exprefly done by that Oath* in their Ackmwle J gn;ent ©f the faid .Profeffion and Eftabliihment, muft be a concurring- with them in their Approbation of thefe. 2. The Oath in the religious Claufe, muft necefTV figned, for giving Confirmation or AiTurance to the h thereof, about the Swearer's cleaving to the true Religion : But li(S cannot thereby give them cry AiTurance about this, fu than he gives them AiTurance about what is his ProfeTion of the ti ue Religion •, kecaufc it is only by what ProfeJBon he makes cf T 1 46 Bluflrathn of it, that his cleaving unto it can be particularly meafured anil known. Now, as there is no Profejfion fet before him in tho Claufe, but the prefent National Prcfefion under the civil Ejla- bli foment ; therefore his [wearing the Claufe cannot poflibly give any Aifurance what is bis Profejfion, unlefs he thereby approves the fiid Profeffion and Eftablifhment, fo that othcrwife his Oath muft be 'in vain. 3. The true Religion is not fworn to in the Claufe, abjlratlly j as indeed it eould not be, without great Abfurdity and Sim fee- caufe by the Words true Religion, ab/lracJly taken, there could be no Certainty, whether the Perfon means Proteflancy, Popery, Judaifm, Mahomet ctnifm, or Paganifm. But as the trie Religion is defined in the Claufe, by the prefent National Profejfion and EftabUjhment thereof; and as it tomes there to be fworn to with that Definition, or under that Form, it would therefore be a Piece ©f glaring Abjiirdity and Deceit, to pretend that the Thing defin- ed is there fworn to, without approving the Definition there ufed, and the Rules by which it is there defined, viz. the forefaid Pro- fejfion and Efiablijhment ; for this would plainly be to fwear with- out approving the Oath. 4. The Claufe openly imports this Ajferticn, That the true Religion is prefently profejfed in this Realm, and 'authorifed by the Laws thereof: So that the Swearer does therein mention, acknow- ledge, and bear witnefs unto the prefent National Profeflion and Eftablifhment of Religion, without the leaft Hint of finding any Fault with them : But what an abfurd and dreadful Affair w ; ouId it be to pretend, that fuch a mentioning, acknowledging, and bear- ing witnefs unto thefe Things, folemnly before God, doth not import an Approbation of them f c. It is immediately plain, that the Thing eppr$ven of is the Thing authorijed Now, it is not the true Religion, imme- diately or in itfelf which is to be underftood as the Thing autho- rifed ; becaule the true Religion, immediately or /';; itfelf can fo little derive or receive any Authority from human Laws, that a- ny Conception of its doing fo would be evidently blefphemous. But it is the true Religion, mediately or in the prefent National Profejfion thereof, which muft be underftood as the Thing autho- rijed ; wherefore it is immediately the faid Profejfion which is authorifed : And fo, the Thing which muft be underftood as immediately apprcven of, is the prefent National Profeffion ; and an Approbation of this, muft neceiiariiy include an Approbation ' of the Eftab'ijbtr.ent which it puts up with. 6. In bearing the Claule, a Perfon exprefly gives AtTuranc«, ^ M only about his Principles of Religion b»t alfg about his Pro- fejfion the Synod's Sentence. 1 47 Yfeffion of Religion, while he fays, I profess: And as to -what the Profeflinn is which he takes up in thefe Words, it can be i nothing elfe but the prefent National Profeffion : For it would be a mod awful Juggling, to pretend that he means one Sort of Pro* I felfiom, by the W®rds / profefs, and another Sort of it, by th« Words profeffed in this Realm ; while he utters all theie Words in one Sentence, without tke leaft Hint of any different Mean- ing thereby. Wherefore, the Swearer expre/ly takes up the pre- fent National Profeffion, confidered under the prefent Eflablijh- ment, for his Profeffion, without any Limitation or Exception j and fa he cannot but thereby approve of them. 7. The Oath, in its religious Glaufe, is openly of a general Nature, a general Deed a«bout Religion, .offering a general and faithful Account of a Man's whole Profeflion about Religion •, fa that it leaves no Room for afcribing to him any Thing lefs, any Thing more, any Thing clfe of Profeffion, than according to that which is comprehended and exhibited in the Oath, viz, the pre- fent National Profeffion confidered under the prefent Eftablif!;- ment ; and when the Oath leaves Room for nothing different or contrary in the Matter, it cannot but approve of thefe. Thus it is moft evident, that the Oath mutt necefTarily ap- prove, not Cmply the true Religion which is prefently profefled in this Realm, and authorifed by the Laws thereof, butlikewiie, yea fir ft and immediately, that very Profeffion and Eflablilhmcnt* Moreover, the faid Approbation is as evidently general and full ; feeing the Oath is of a general, unexcepting Nature ; and feeing the faid Profeflion confiJered uader the faid Eftabliftment, is there'mfworn to, adopted and allowed with tke Heart, for being abo le at and defended to Life's End : This being an Appr&bati- en fo full, that evidently the Oath can mean nothing, if it mean not a J wearing Enmity and Oppofition, during Life, to the whole prefent Tertimony among Seceiers, againft the Defections aad Corruptions of the forefaid Profeffioa and Eltabliihment. And fo, Secondly, The forefaid Approbation «f the prefent Nati- onal Profeilion and Eftablifhrnent of Religion is necefTarily an Approbation of them in their prefent complex State. The Oath is fo elTentially of a current Nature, jlill taking in its very Meaning from the prefent State of Religion in the fore- faid ProfefHon and Eitabliiliment, fo as to be fucceffively ahered^ • ju(t accord mg to the fjcccflive Alteration of thefe Things • that the forefaid Approbation of them mult ncceiTarify be m eying them (li'dzs they prefently are; without any Regard to what they $nee were, but a««ording as may be [till found in what tl^ey pre- T 2 148 Blufl ration of fently are : And the Oath is of fuch a general and unexceptin^ feature, as mult approve of thefe Things in their prefent amplesi State. Now, the faid National Profeffion being that which is made bj the national or eitablifhed Church, her prefent Profefllon, in the complex State thereof, rnuft be underftood as comprehending 1 kaving incorporated with it, all thefe Defections dnd Corruption b fee is charged with in the prefent Teftimony amoag Seders ; fo that the forefaid Approbation of her Profotfion rnuft] be an Approbation of all thefe ; according to what has bem evi- denced before, Pages 76, 77, 78, and 79. It weuld be very alfurd a&d erroneous, to diftinguHh be: : her Profejfun and Practice ; with a Pretence that the faid Defec- tions and Corruptions belong only to her Pncfice, fo as not to 1 be approved in approving her Profeficn : For, as the Profeflioa fignified in the Oath, by the Words prefently profejfed* and which is here trea.ed of as approven thereby, is crtreclly her fubjecJive Profeffion, or that which file actually makes ; the forefeid Appro- bation of this ProfefTion, whether the Word be taken in a narrow y Senfe, rnuft evidently be an approving of all thefe Defee- :d Corruptions. Though the YV orcfr were to be taken in its jiarriw Senfe, as meaning only her doctrinal ProfefTion ; yet all ! heinous Evils which fhe is charged with in Matters of Go/pel- doBrine, are Evils which openly lie in this Profellion ; and as to the other Defections aad Corruptions in the prevalent Courfe of her p-jbljck Management, thefe are Evils which openly cleuve unfa this ProfefRon, depriving it of the Soul and Efficacy, the Sa- vour and Ornament, which it ought to have from a fuitable rfe of publick Management, fo as to mske it openly a dead and rotten PiofeiTion, as in Tit. 1. 16. Wherefore ft ill, the ge- neral and mil Approbation of her Proftffion mult evidently ap- prove of all thefe Defections and Corruptions, beeaufe it openly juRifiej her Profeffion from the Charge of being thereby vitiated, and rendered an undue Profeifion. -But further, if the Word be takes, as it ought to be, in its targe and ordinary benfe, iiL- ::ng both Words and lVcrh t as to the publick Language and . her Profeffion cauft comprehend all theie Defecti- ons and C \ or they make up ih&'prevalent'Courje of hoc itf, having a pub lick Language a?id Efe ft ; to the E. -^ his Caufe; fo that they »a-il be ^refejfion. ' And like wife, it k by the due Prcfe ie is the Pillar and Ground of the Truth, 1 fir*. anifefting, fapporting, aad maintaining the Truih : iftd Co;;irpt;on? ; as th . :;cur :a the Synods Sent cute. 14P iarh\ln%, overthrowing, and burying the Truth, as to the Doe- ines^nd Ordinances of Chriit, Ault therefore be Ebils of her ■ ejfion. Moreover, what is it we mud under fbmd, in genera!, by the ctuai Profefjlon of a Church, if we weuld mean agreeably to icripture or Reafon ? It is ju(t tke publish Declaration, Exhibit ion, and Reprefentatkn which fhe makes to the Worid of the Truths, Doctrines, and Ordinances of Chrift, in the whole pre- ralent Gourfe of her publiok Management ; or, in other Words, t k die publick Tejlimony which fhe maintains for Chriit and his Uaufe, in Oppofition to the Errors and Abominetidfcs of the Time :. But tke forefaid Defections and Corruptions do ail eon- Mr in marring and corrupting what Declaration, Exhibition an4 Heprefentation the eibblilhed Church makes, or what Teftime- «y (he maintains, that Way ; wherefore they mud all be Evils fher Profejfiw. Again, it is by the Management of the Church, n her judicative Capacity, that the Authority end Government ef Zion's King is reprefented and manifejled among Men, according to Pfal. exxii. 5". Jer. iii. 17. But the forefaid Defections and Corruptions are all chargeable upon the Management of the efta- blifhed Church in her judicative Capacity ; wherefore they are all chargeable upon the Profejfon which ihe makes of th« Authority and Government of Zions King, and fo mud all be Evils of bar Prof ejfion. In the next Place, the publick Standards that have been received in a Church, are her ProfeiHon only objectively \ ox the Matter profefled ; but as to the Profeffie'n fubjefrroely, or the prefent eftual Prof ejfion of the eftablifhed Church, which is the Thing now treated of, what mud it figaify in general f It muft fignify juit what prefent a&ual Maintenance of thefe Standards fke is making in her publick Capacity and Couu;fe of Management ; fo tkat thefe ancient Standards can wo way be reckoned a Tefi of ber prefent actual Pr&fejfion, any farther than fhe is thus atluahy maintaining and fipporting them : But the forefaid Defections and Corruptions do all coacur, as an open Courfe o{ fubverting and bacljli ding from thefe Standard-s; wherefore they muft all be Evils of her Profejfion : And thus, our ancient publick Standards are by no Means a proper Te$ and Bond of the actual Profepm of the eflabliihed Church in her prefent Situation, which is the general Groand of the prefent Sec ejfion from her, -as is large- ly manifefted by Mr. Witfon, in his Defence, Chap, ii. hsA further, an ©pen maintaining and avowing of attained-io Reforma- tion, mud cdPtainly belong to the Profejfhn of a Church : But the forsfald Defections aad Corruptions do all coacur to make up sn open Geurfc, ia-tfie eftabli&cd Ghwrch, ef hekfidi/ig fiom or- 4 1 5*0 IttuflratUn of and iurytner Reformation once attained to ; wherefore they m*ft all be f.vils of her Proftfflon. Thus it is plain, that the prefent Prtfeffion of the National** Church m -.he complex State thereof, mud be tindcrftood as torn- prebepding or having incorporated with it, all thefe Defections aniV Corruptions which (he k charged with in the prefent Teftiraon\ a-J mong Sdce-ierfj fo that the general and full Approbation of /banp Pr:fe : f:n mutt be aw Approbation of all tbe/e. ::n, the prefent National Eftablifbment of Religion In thd 0$/npjeK Slate thereof, mull be unuerftood as comprehending i on m tMp ///fg or hair' ving incorporate! with it, *// M materially, when belonging to the then National Profeflion and ftabliihment which the Claufe did reduplicate upon. But, n the other Hand, the Oath, in prefently fwearing the religious Jaufe, hath a very [infill Reduplication upon the p*'c(ent Natio* al Profe'Tion and Eftablijhment of Religion, containing a general nd full Homologation or Approbation of them, in their prefent mplex State : So that all the publick Evils, Defections and Corruptions of Church and State which are testified againft in the Wceffton, (feeing they all belong to the faid Proieflion and Efta- iifhment, and (though not to the true Religion, yet) to the In* ury which the true Religion futTers, under that Profeiljon and E- :ablifhment), are openly homologated, or juftified and appror ten of by that Oath. And thus, the faid Oath ftands in full and direel Oppofition un- to as to be materially zjolemn Objuration of the whole pre- ent Teftimony in the Scteffion, as it is difplayed againft thefe wblick EvHs and Abominations of the Time ; yea, even as it lands difplayed, in a Way of SecelTion, againft the practical Im- moralities and Vices of the Age : Becaufe if, according to the Path of the religious Claiafe, the eftablilhed Church be maintain- ing a due Profefion, or a due Teftimony (or Cfcrifl: and his Cauie ; pen, as there ought not to be any Teftimony againft her, there pught to be no Seceftion from her, nor any Teftimony maintained ia a Way of Seeefjion. And accordingly, the faid Oath is as much \nconfiftent with the Bond for renewing our Covenants, as an open material abjuring of the Seceffion-Teftimony is incon/iftent with a formal avouching thereof. Wherefore what is after ted in the Syrted'* *js ' MuPt'dtidnef- Synod's Sentence, about the Nature of a prefent fwearing the \ ligious Ckufe, is very fain and &rtain. J*ut moreover, in Agreeabienefs to what ha« been fliow» ready, a prefent fwearing of that Claufe muft be a fwearing ck{\ and ccnflaxt Communion with the eflablijhed Church. For, 'feck it is a fwearing fully in her Favour againfl the SeteJfion f it mi fee a fwearing fully in Behalf ef that Communion : , As, in tin next Place, the eftablifhed Church and her prefent atlual ' Prof e fix are, in the Nature of the Thing, wholly inferrable ; and there fore the fwearing, that one profeffes, and jk >all abide at and defe. to his Life's End, this her Profeffion, or Religion considered this her Profeffion, muft* be a fwearing that he profefles, an (hall abide at and defci*4 the fame, with her, in the forefaid Con munion. And this might be further initrucled, by fundry Argn ments taken from a Conjun&ion in the Oath with the Members < the eftablifhed Church. Nor can it be of any Moment here, ebjee\ That Seceders are iv ell known, at their fwearing the Oai not to be of the Communion of the eftablifhed Church, or - f rovers «f her publick Cafe and Courfe ; for this can never alter the plain Nature -of the Oath, and it can only mean, that they are thea known to be op inly diffembling and contradicting their own Profeffion. And thus, aceord'mg to all that has been now faid, fhe Synod's fentenoe, in the feveral Parts thereof, concerning the religious Claufe of fome Burgefs-Oaths, is evidently molt jufl and neccjfery. And tho' the precife Subject of the Sentence, viz. a prefent Swearing the religious Claufe of fome Burgefs-Oaths, by Seceders, as the faid Claufe comes necejjkri/y in this Period to be life d and ap J flied, is a Thing whieh had not properly a Parallel in any for- mer Periods -/yet, fey all Parity of Re af on, the Synod's Gondttft about that Matter is in the old Paths, where is the good Way, fo fhat they have walked in a Way cafl up, and gone forth by the Footfleps of the Flack. That this eminently holds, with refpect to the Example of the Church of Scotland in her iaft reforming Period, hath been difcovered already, Pages 5-0, gi f 52, 75, 78, So. And it as eminently holds with refpecl to Scripture Example and Rule, in Hof iv, 15*. Though thou Ifrael play the harlot, yet let not Judab offend; and eome n§t ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth-aven, nor swear, The LORD livetij. As to Ifrael and Judah, they we*e of Hftinti ecclefiaftical Ca- pacities, or two Churches, in refpecl of publick formal Commu- »ion : And, as that of Ifrael was the Church of the Mojo ij^ the Kingdom «f the ten Tribes -, fo that ©f Judak was the * the Synod's Sentence. 15-3 Church of die Minority », in the Kingdom ef the other two Tribes. ^gain, thefe two Churches were generally of one Religion, in- ufaiuch as it was materially the true Religion which took Place n both. Further, the Church of the Majority in Ifrael was xceeding corrupt ; as indeed the Root of their publick Corrup- ion did ly in their being of any diilinct Church-date from Judah* onfidering the peculiar Situation of the vifible Church under the Mofaick OEconomy : So that their national ProfsJJion and Efta- tli ijhment of Religion were exceedingly corrupt, in a Way of A- ^oflafyfrom and Oppofition unto the juft Order, Purity, and Main- enance of divine Worfhip and Inftitutions which had been once ittained to and avouched ; and thus, the true Religion did fuf- fer very awful Injury, under their national Profejfion and Efta- flijhment thereof: B\it the Church of the Majority in Judah were in a State / of religious Secefton from them, inafmuch as hey were flill adhering to the Temple at Jerufalem, according to the juft Order and Purity of divine Worfhip and Inftitutions here. And thefe Things are fo plain, from the Current of Scripture, that they need not here be further infifted upon. Now, in the foregoing Text, Judah is called to ftand fait in that State of religious Seceilion, fb as not to fymbolife with them in their corrupt Cafe and Courfe; Particularly the Call is, not to fymbolife with them in religious /wearing, Nor /wear, The Lord live th. This Oath, The Lord liveth, was, in other Cir- cumstances, commanded, as in Jer. iv. 2. And as that Oath was of a general Nature, it behoved, in due Circumftances, to be a general Avouchment of the living God, comprehending an jivoushment of and Engagement unto all that Worfhip and thefe Inftitutions by which he was manifefled, and in the Obfervance whereof he was to be acknowledged, as the living Cod, in Oppo- fition to the dead Idols of the Nations : And fo it behoved to be an Oath homoUgating the publick Profejfion and Eflablijhment of the Religion of the living Cod. But this Oath is here forbidden in Conjunction with thofe of the corrupt Church of Ifrael at Cilgal and Bethaven. And it is forbidden, as an Oath which behoved, in theje Circumftan- ces, to have a Falfenefs in it, according to Jer. v. 3 . Tho' they fay, The Lord liveth, furely they fwear falfely. Even the very Oath would have a Falfenefs in it, as the Text exprefly denotes. And it is impolTible to conceive how the Oath itfelf could, in thefe Circumftances, have a Falfenefs in it, any other Way than as, in thefe Circumftances, it was an Oath generally homo- logating the corrupt Profejfion and Eflablijhment of Religion in jjr*$l } particularly witi jeipect to theSejyiw wfcdeh was offer- 15*4 Conclufion. ed him at Bethaven and Dan, and the Manner of his Worfhij at Gigal and Beerjhebq. And that this was really the Cafe, ap pears from the Paraphrafe given of the Oath in the forefaid Cir* cumftances, Aims viii. 14. They— J wear by the Sin of Samaria, and fay, Thy God, Dan, liveth, and the Manner of Beerfheba ¥■ liveth. Now, if the faid general Oath about Religion was thus con*\f Article I of arvl forbidden, merely -from the Gircumftances o£ {Wearing it in the forefaid Conjunct ien with thofe of the corrupt! f Church of Ifrael 3 it is ftill more evident, that the general Oathjlu about Religion, in the religious Claufe of (bme Burgefs-oaths, ought in like manner to be conftrufttd o/and forbidden, as thi Synod have done ; becaufe, over and above the pxefent fimii Circumstances of fwearing it, it exprejly takes up the natiom Profefwn and EJlablijhmenl^i Religion, in their prefent complex State. CONCLUSION. It may not be improper to conclude this Appendix with fome further Remarks upon the eighth and tenth Reafons > in Paget 88, $9, ico, 101, and 102. As the Synod's Sentence cannot be got any Hit of by fait -Keaibning ; fo, of all the Artifices which have been ufed againft It, the one mod barefaced, and which contains the bar eft Fetch> is that of attacking upon the Head of the Allegiance to our pr«« lent Sovereign, in the forefaid Reafons : For this can ftand in no particular Connection with the Affair of the Sentence, and can have no better Tendency here, than to get Amends of the Synoi. But how unreafonably they are loaded with the Infinu- ations upon that Head, has been declared in their Anfwers to thefe Reafons. However, a few Things fhall be added, for difcovering how the Synod are there injured, and the Reader impofed upon. It is moft injurious to bring out the general Charge againft any in the Synod, of an Opinion anent the Allegiance te our prefent Sovereign, contrary to the Teftimony and Principles which tve pro* fefs to hold ; when all the Reafon alledged of this Charge is* that as to what is commonly called the Allegiance, and is de- clared againft in our proferfed Teftimony and Principles, they are not fo myfterious as to fee how it becomes right enough, mere- ly by being kid in a Burgefs-oath. And the Brethren have more Reafon to take with the Charge of an Opinion in this Matter csn* *rmy to the Tsftimony and Principles wbkh we profeft to hold : For, Conclufton. l£j ■, That the A/foci ate Presbytery in none of their Atls hcive ever \nd (what is here called) a funple Allegiance unlawful, air offing from the Aff impofing the fame, , — is lb far from boldi at, befide their reafoning againft it from the Aff impofing Tie, the Strength of their Reafoning did lean to the Nature of the ith itfe If, compared with the Burial of our Covenant -allegiance - the Aff re/ci/fory, as is explained by Mr. IVilfn, from the fords of the Teflimony, in his Defence, Pages 319, 320. It is alfo mod injurious, to argue againft the Synod, That ? King's defending and fecuring the true Religion, cannot be fup- fed to be a juft Limitation of our Oath of Allegiance to him, Jo as make it unlawful to /wear Allegiance, unlejs he be employed in ? Defence thereof; For there was no Reafon to fuppofe, that er fuch an Opinion entred into the Mind of any in the Sy* A : And as an Oath of Allegiance, upon due Occalion and ecefllty, cannot, in the Opinion of any body, require any bet- r Limitation than Subjeffion and Obedience doth ; fuch a li- ning of Subjection and Obedience to the Sovereign by his re- uous Qualifications, is directly contrary to the declared Prin- ples of all in the Synod, as they openly adhere to what they ive declared on that Head, in the Anfwers to Mr. Nairn. But ther than not have the Synod difcredited on this Head, it mult done as by an Argument in the tenth Reafon, amounting to As grofsAbfurdity, That it would infer great Ingratitude^ to make ! unlawful to /wear Allegiance to the King, unless he be employed in le Defence of the true Religion , when he is appearing remarkably r the Defence of it. But, again, the Reader comes here to be much impofed up- ^. The plain Cafe of our Csvenant- allegiance is darkned by an iconfiftent and dangerous Maze of Reafoning : For that Cafe ibviouily amounts to this, That our Reformers did thereby year, that as their main Aim was to act in the Prefervation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms, Co ney were refolved to preferve and defend the King's Per/on and Authority, as far as the Gaufe of his P erf on and Authority could onfiil with and be fubordinate to that main Aim : And there- are it was properly an Allegiance, according to our received View rf" it, in the Teflimony and Confejfion of Sins ; and our Reformers hereby defigned a limited or circumfcribed Oath of Allegiance o the King ; and it was a complete Allegiance, fo as (though aot exprelTing, according to the Citation in the Clofe of Reafon ■ fight h, yet) comprehending all thofe Duties to the King which |u*y Allegiance ought to do : And thus an Argument can be town from our Covenant-allegiance, againit all Alkgmnce y which U 2 ftajjdg i$6 Ctntlufion. ftands in the fame Limitation. And as to the Argument of out f Covenanters fwearing another Allegiance, it fhould have been 1* proven, both that they did fo after fwearing the Covenant-aile- 1' giance, and that this would not have been fuperfluous Swearings! Wherefore the new Sty/enow ufed, the new Dtftinclion now made, J and the new Doclrine now advanced, upon this Head, muft fall I to the Ground ; as contrary to our received Principles on that I Subject, in theTefthnony , Page 39. and in the Confeftion ofSins v \ Page 10 1.. And indeed, it muft look ftrange among Seceders; to have a DiftinJHon coined as at prefent, betwixt an Ajjurancei and an Allegiance ; All the proper Tendency whereof is to impofe on the Mind, and to countenance a vain Repetition of Oaths ; while an AfTurance and an Allegiance cannot really^ and | in the Nature of the Thing, be different. Moreover, as to what is here called the fimple Allegiance^ (which, in our received Style, is called a general Oath of Al-1 legiance), we are told, that our Anceftors have determined in the Matter; and accordingly a Citation is pretended to be brought in thefe Words, No honeft Minifler orChriftian would fcruple to take a Jimplc Allegiance : And for this we are referred, but in general,' to the Apologetical Relation, upon the Head of the Oath ofSu< fremacy ; whereas it fhould be called, upon the Head of the Oath of Allegiance, in its civil and eeclefiaftical Supremacy : But, after turning over upwards of 140 Pages of fmall Print, in the Place referred to, the Words are found thus : There is m Minifler or Chriftian whs would fcruple at the taking of the pure Oath of Allegiance. Now, what is there called the pure Oath $f Allegiance, (in oppofition to the Mixture of eeclefiaftical 'Su- premacy in the Oath of Allegiance that was framed at the R< iteration), is the Allegiance that our Anceftors had ado wit before the Refloration, which is repeted in the tenth Section that Book ; an Oath which has the Subjett thereof particularly defined and circv.mfcribed, being an Oath upwards o( twenty Times as large as the prefent general Allegiance. Wherefore the Prac tice of our Anceftors in the Matter of that Oath, or the fore* faid Quotation about it, cannot pofTibly be a Determination a- bout the prefent Cafe, further than this in general, That an Oath of Allegiance is lawful. And who difputes this ? Who difputes, that the Principles of Subjection and Obedience which a Man mzyjhy, he may alfo fwear, upon due Occaflon and Ne- ceffity ? But the Lawfulnefs of this or that particular Oath of Allegiance, in refpeel of how it is worded, qualified, and cir Gumftantinte, is a quite other Subject. As to which it (hall on- v iy be.obfcrvtd here, That, in the tenth Paragraph of the tenth Section ■nee framed at «* *f*^J^tl!U it is bid. «-~aU Part of it, becaufe of the c ^'^ hii m oath muft be taken f Divines and Cafuifts do g£™' , F or for who fe Sake . in his Senfe and Meaning -n ^£ tende ' reth it . and ^ • < and Safety it is f a f ei Vr h T Mee n al j, to enquire what Senfe » fore it is not only /^M £ ^menToo put upo» »•" And " the A *'*± tf&'toL up 5 another cJion from the eighth P^ r *?i and Giw/tf«/' o«ght to be did, * « W h.ch much 7«* rw/ran . y efpecially in a « becomes M/wJfcr* *° l0 °* weu w ""* * * « Time when Snares abound. ^ f i If I S. advertisement: rHAT William Gray is to print a New Edition of Je/i*hus'& Hiftory from the beft Edition extant, with Maps, and ewife Sennet's Memorial of Britain's Deliverances •, any who line to have a Copy, or Copies thereof, mult fubfcribe for m in Time, for he is to print no more than what are fubfcrib- for. Propofals for each of them are to be had at his Printing- houfe ; aad at feveral SookftUers Shops in Town and Coun- try.