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tAITHTVL WITNESS- BEARING iXEMPllFIEl):
COLLECTION.
CONTAINING,
!. An Ufeful CASE of CONSCIENCE, concerning Affoci*
ation with Idolaters, Infidels, Heretics, Malignants, &c.
By Mr. HUGH BINNING.
II. A Solemn TESTIMONY against TOLERATION,
and the prevailing Errors, Herefies, &c. by the Commit-
fioners of the General Aflembly, and by fundry Minifters
in the Provinces of Perth and Fife. f *
III. The HISTORY of t^e INDULGENCE.
By Mr. JOHN BROWN, fometime Minifter of the Gofpel
at Wamphray.
To which is prefixed, a
PREFACE.
Concerning Aflbciation, Toleration, and what is now called
LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE.
Ifa. viii. 1 2. Say ye not^A confederacy , to all them to whom ibis
people fl: all fay ^ A confederacy^ &c.
feal. v. j 2 I ivou/d they vjere even cut rff -which trouble you.
Eph. i. 22 .—"And gave Sim to be Bead over ail things to the
church.
KILMARNOCK:
PRINTED AND SOLD BY J. WILSON, BOOKSELLER-
M.fiCC. JtXXZllL
PREFACE
To the READER.
Judicious and impartial Reader,
TRUE and undefiled religion, confiding in an inward
and fpiritual knowledge, and firm belief of divine truth,
faith in, love to, and union with a God in Chrift, manifefted
and fet forth in a regular fervice of worfhip, and acknow-
ledgement in obedience to him, is (next to fhe objeft of
worfhip itfelf ) one of the moft inestimable bleflings and pri-
vileges that we finite creatures can pofiibly be poflefled of,
or enjoy. But as the profeffors of religion, by the fall,
are become mutable creatures, and fubjedted thereby unto
an erring confcience, (not to mention falfe religions, or the
Worshipping of falfe deities) the ordinances, do£trine, wor-
fhip, difcipline, and government of the Chriftian church has
been by them perverted, corrupted, adulterated, and metar
morphofed into many and various forms and modes *, which
occafioned Chrift's faithful witnefTes, in all the periodical
ages of the church, to contend for its purity, in oppofition
to every one of thefe, in as far as they were difibnant to the
ftaminal laws of Chrift's houfe, or platform laid down in the
book of divine revelation, of which the following Collection
is a part and fpecimen.
For the compilers of thefe pieces ; their chara&ers and
works are, I fuppofe, too well eftablifhed, to ftand in need
of any thing recommendatory here. Their works praife them
in the gates ; and their mjemory r I hope, fhall yet blofTom in
the duft, and both fhall be favoury to fome, while reforma-
tion principles are regarded in Scotland. As to this part of
their contendings, tho' the paucity of the copies, at prefent,
were a fufficient apology for their republication * ; yet it has
a 2 been
* For the firft and lad of thefe pieces, it appears there have ne-
ver been another than the firft Holland edition. Of the Solemn
Teftimony, ire, I fuppofe there has never been an edition fince
the 1649, wnen lt,was publifhed. For the Teftimony of the mi-
nifters of Perth and Fife, it was reprinted 1729 ; but the follow-
ing copy is printed from the firft, at leaft the edition publifh
ed 1660.
i? The P R E F A C E.
been fuggefted by fome friends, that in fetting forth the ne~
ceflity and utility of fuch a fubjeft, in a way of application
to our prefent circumftances, fomething more was expedient.
And in this, although we might take the import, or general
acceptation of the words, AJjociaUon— Toleration — and Indiih
gnice^ to be of a piece, being near one fignification, viz, A
joining with, a permitting of, and conniving with thefe, or
that which is not by the divine law allowable •, yet I (hail juft
diftinguifh thefe three by their capital names, and then no-
tice fome contrary objections made in favour of Toleration,
and what is now called Liberty of Confcience. And,
I. Association with Idolaters, . 560.
The PREFAC fit vii
could, by no mean or method, get his beloved popery efta-
blifhed, he granted a toleration for all (the faithful followers
of the Lamb, his great eye-fore, only excepted •,) the confe-
quences of which, from the hiftories of thefe times, may be
obvious to all. Soon after the revolution, when King Wil-
liam could not effeft a repeal of the Teft A£t, he obtained a
kind of toleration for Englim diflenters, quakers, anabap-
tilts, &c. but with fuch claufes and reftriftions, that it was
of little benefit to prefbyterians. Perhaps his ends were not
fo bad, yet it laid the foundation for that toleration granted
1 7 12, to epifcopals in Scotland, and, w r ith them, almoil: all
manner of error, herefy and profanity whatsoever $ which
now increafes to fuch a degree that he that runs may read it.
Becaufe Ephraim hath made many altars to fin ; altars JJj all be
to him to Jin. In the laft century, a ftated uniform profef-
fion of religion was thought an indifpenfible duty by all ; and
tho* our forefathers were fometimes divided in their opinions
in religion, yet, for the mod part, they valued themfelves
upon a fteady and tenacious adherence to their refpeftive
fyftems : But any religion, or no religion, feems to be the
eharafteriftic of this age or generation. The deiftical legions
have fet their engines to work to make them loole, by ren-
dering every doftrinal point, which cannot be deduced or
fupported by reafon, doubtful ; in which they have fo far
fucceeded, that the prefbyterian form of church government
came firft to be controverted; then all teds of orthodoxy
comes to be rejected and arraigned for folly, illiberal fenti-
ments, bigotry, he* a motley communion and liberty of con-
fcience, or rather a liberty to licentioufnefs, is introduced,
which has not a little been fomented by the chimes of no-
velty, and confirmed by the appearance of the Methodift and
Moravian tribes ; fo that there is almoft not one old con-
demned herefy, fince the commencement of Chriftianity,
but what, in one drefs or other, now appears upon the ftage ;
yea, popery itfelf now makes wide ftrides and long fteps in-
to thefe nations, which, no doubt has a loud call for publifh-
ing a teftimony againft fuch tolerations *.
III. In-
* That this is no fhot at random, or groundless charge, are
not the following heretical notions now held and nv intaiued a-
mongfl others ? That divine revelation is ho certain rule for man's
Jife and actions, with Blount** — That the Old Teftument is not
necef*
Tiii The PREFACE.
III. Indulgence-— The fin of both granting and accept*
}ng of which, being fully held forth and illuftrated in the
Hiftory itfelf, and Mr. M'Ward's Preface to it, I have only
to obfervej that it is confpicuous from hiftory, that the In-
dulgence, firft and laft, was calculated to divide the prefby-
terians, and to exterminate the gofpel faithfully preached in
the fields. And further, that although feverals of thefe who
accepted of it, we (hall fuppofe, were good men, and pre-
tended ftill to aflert Chrift's Headfhip in and over the church ;
yet they were fo far left of God, as to receive their miffion
to preach in fuch or fuch places, from king and council, un-
der fuch limitations and reftriclions as bound them up from
a faithful and free difcharge of that truft committed to their
charge j
neceflary now for falvatiori, with Marcion — That fevetal places,
yea books, in fcripture is not divine infpiration, with Morgan —
That Chrift is not God eflential with the Father, with Alius—
That he was not born of the fubftance ofthe virgin, but only the
perfonal Word, wiih Valentine — That he had a pre-exiftent hu-
man foul before his incarnation, with Euth— s — That he is to be
preferred before the Father, with Zinzenderf — That Chrift died
For all raerf, with Arminius — That we are to believe nothing but
what we can by reafon comprehend, with Socinius- That the
heathen may be faved by the light of nature, with Tindal-~That
man has yet a free will, and that there is no original fin, with
Pelagius—- That infants ought not to be Baptized, and adults re-
baptized, with Hut and Storkins — That the fourth commandment
is not morally binding', with Coec n — 1 hat all kinds of reli-
gion ought to be tolerated, with Beft — That the fupreme magi-
ftrate is head of all caufes and perfons, civil and ecckfiaftic, with
Eraftus — That he hath nothing to do with religion, with Dona-
tus and Glafs That no man ought to be punifhed for his opi-
nions or herefy, with Lullius — That every man (hall be faved by
the religion he profefleth, if fincere, with Rhetorius- — That we
have no warrant for any certain profeflion or form of church go-
vernment, with Quintinus and W — f — y — Nor warrant for co-
venanting, with Sagarellius and G s — That Chriftians ought
not to defend their religious privileges with arms, with Tertul —
That laymen may preach, &c. with B-^-o~n — That it is incon-
fiftent with the goodnefs of God to punifh his own creatures e-
ternally, with C— f — d That there (hall be an univerfal refur-*
re&ion of every creature, with R o —That there (hall be n#
refurrecYion at all, with Cerdon— That hell torments are not ex-
ternal, but for a long time, with Orig. — That there are neither
heaven opr fat]], with Sadocj Al»anciis arjd Albjmes*
the PREFA C fi. ft
€har^e ; and It was obfervable, that from that time tney ex-
changed Chrifl their Head for a man, and one of the vilcft
of men ; that they became lax and remifs, both in point of
doctrine and difcipline ; and that their preaching had nofuc-
cefs upon the hearts of the hearers, as it had upon thofe who
heard the gofpel faithfully preached in the fields.-- And, to
bring the cafe home, how many minifters are there now in
the church of Scotland, who receive their million by prefent-
ation from king or patron, to fuch or fuch a place, before
whofe pulpits, perhaps, you may attend a life-time, before
you hear Chriit's Headfliip and crown rights aliened, which
is worfe than the indulged.— And for a free and faithful doc-
trinal teilimony concerning the fins and duties of the times,
it is in many places quite gone ; and church discipline is fo
curtailed, that it rather looks like popifh absolutions and in-
dulgences, than the cerifure of the church of Chrift — And
are there not many now-a-days, who aflert Chrift's Head-
fhip plainly, and yet virtually doth that which homologates
and ftrengthens JEraftiah power ? Nay, it is to be lamented,
that fome whom, in charity, we mult fuppofe wifh well to
a covenanted work of reformation, yet, to increafe and main-
tain a party, are become too lax and remifs, both in the ad-
miflion of intrants to their profeflion, and perfons to fealing
ordinances, not to fpeak of church cenfure ; and what is the
confequence of all this ? The wonted life and power of the
gofpel is comparatively no mbre ; and for a teftimony bear-
ing, though the mod part mind only their own cafe and
worldly intereft, yet there are a variety of cafes. For while
fome are waving with every breeze of modifh do&rine, others
are clafhing againft one another, under the turbulent winds
of error and divifion.- -A third fort are fo attached to what
they call the religion of their fathers, that they will not ad-
mit of a demonftration of argument clear as funfhine, in fa-
vour of the truth. A fourth kind will, at firft hand, tell you,
" They are now tod old ; it is not worth their while now to
change their pfofeflion," dfc So that truth mud, on all thefe
accounts, ffand aloof on the other fide, with a very fmali re-
finue. And what can be the caufes of all this, with a daily
decay of practical religion, but with thofe indulged many
of whom were old public refolutioners) our apoitacy from
God and a covenanted work of reformation ? Haft thou not
procured this unto thyfllf, in that thou haft forfaken the Lord
thy God } -whin he led thee by the way ? To notice all the con-
h trary
x The PREFACE,
trary objections that has been or is muftered up in favours
of toleration and liberty of confcience (the moil of whom are
more plaufible than folid) were beyond my defign, and what
the limits of a preface will admit of*, I (hall therefore only
touch at a few of thofe who are commonly and conftantly
urged and ufed in the prefent time *.
Object. I. No authority can bind without the authority of
confcience ; therefore every man has a right to profefs every re-
ligion or mode of worfbip, the light of his own confcience directs
him unto. To this I might anfwer,
i. That could we fuppofe confcience to be the fupreme
rule, ruling, and not the rule, ruled, to man's aftions in
a lapfed ftate, this might hold good. But confcience, or
the refle£ting powers of the mind, is no lawgiver, but a wit-
hefs, or judge, as God's deputy in the foul, (as fome divines
term it,) it enquires into the meaning of God's word, the
fupreme and infallible rule \ it compares qualities, principles,
and practices therewith ; and, if well informed and faithful^
it direfts, approves, accufes, or condemns accordingly. Man
has a right to judge only of what the word of God reveals
to him, and under the pain of fin and rebellion praftife it.
If they f peak not according to this word } it is becaufe there is no
light in them,
2. If confcience were the only rule, it behoved not only
to take the lead before the Mod High, but alfo to be ,perfe&,
which is exprefsly contrary to God's word \ there it is called,
an erring confcience— -& hardened confcience— feared as with a
hot iron— an evil confcience. Says the apoftle, to the defiled
and unbelieving^ nothing is pure, but even his confcience is
defiled Here is the depravity of man's confcience.
3. If this were the lawgiver, then there could be no per-
fection for righteoufnefs fakey and confequently no martyrs,
none being more zealous th^n fome vigilant persecutors.
Says the King of fufferers to his followers, The days will come,
that whofoever killeth you, will think he doth God good fervice.
This was exemplified in the life of Paul, and others that have
not obtained the like caft of mercy, / verily thought (fays he)
that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jefus of
Nazareth. I perfecuted them to ft range cities^ &c. Here was
a zealous, but an erring confcience \ and was this a rule in
truth and duty. 4. In
* See a great number of obje&ions fully anfwered in a pamphlet,
intitled, Abfurdity and perfidy of all authoritative Toleration.
The PREFACE. xi
4. In this cafe, the moll damnable opinion ever broached,
would be brought on an equal footing with the moft fublime
t*uth revealed in God's word. For inftance, none are more
vigilant and diligent than a Turk or Mufielman, who wor-
fliips a vile impoftor ; none more zealous than an unbelieving
Jew; none more bigotted and fupexftitious than a papift,
who worships God under the fimilitude of (locks and (tones-,
none more argunoenting than our deiftical gentlemen ; and
none more full of reasoning than the catechumens of Arius,
Felagius, Socinius, and Arminius. And mull all thefe have
a liberty, in a reformed Chriltian land, to vend and diffemin-
ate their opinions, feeing they all will plead confeience for it?
Nay, it would account for murders, thefts, ijc. feeing it is
fometimes as difficult to convince the one of a miftake as the
other. But men are culpable and puniihable, not for what
confeience, as God's deputy in the foul, declares or directs to,
but what they would not have done, had they had a proper
{enfe of fin and duty. Prove all things, and hold thai which
is good.
Obje&. II. To mole [I men for their religious opinions , is pert
/edition, and the very fpirit of popery. To this I (hail only
reply,
1 . That in a proper fenfe, no perfon can poffibly be per-
secuted but for righteoufnefs fake. Wherever we have the
word perfecution, in our tranflation, applied to the wicked,
it is commonly, in the original or Dutch tranflation, piirfiie :
So that none can be perfecuted but the profeffbrs of the re-
ligion of Jefus. Thofe that profefs the contrary notions in
religion, may be puniflied, but properly cannot be perfecuted.
Befides, there is what is called a tongue-perfecution ; Come, let
us finite him with the tQiigue y faid the people to the prophet ;
and why may the cenfures of the church on fuch, be on that
account called perfecution ? And if not, may not the ftate
ufe their authority, feeing both are God's mlniiters, tending
to one good, God's glory, the falvation, peace, fafety, and
welfare of mankind, though different and diftinft in their
perfons and offices.
2. Our reformers, and their fucceffbrs, all along maintain-
ed the duty of defending their civil and religious privileges,
but never propagated that religion by fword, fire and faggot,
as papifts have done. And notwithftanding of civil penalties,
they never ufed violent meafures in forcing men to a pro-
fefiipn without a proper conviftion of the tnjth j or were
b a they
xi! The PREFACE.
they rigorous in puniihing heretics, although they had both
fcripture, and the practices of the beft reformed dates, for ft
precept and precedent for it *. Says the fore-named gallant
reformer, on this point and period, u Men are no otherwife
" forced, or drawn into the covenant than other necefiary
u duties ; nay, it ought not to be called a forcing or com-
€i pelling ; are men forced to fpare their neighbour's life,
" becaufe murders aire committed ?— Thefe that refufe the
" the covenant, reproach it, or rail againft it, ought to be
" looked on as enemies to it, and dealt with accordingly.
" Yet if any man were known to take the covenant againft
*• his will, he were not to be received f," &c Arid, for
confeience, did they ever trouble any for it, if it came no
further? Says the prefbytery of Edinburgh, iri their Tell f-
tnony againft Toleration 1659, " We know this truth o£
" God (meaning their te(timony) will be reckoned as a per-
€i fecuting men for >:heir confeience, &c. but as we difclaim
< c troubling men for the fimple light of their confeience, if
u it break not forth in doctrine and practice ; fo the fcrip-
i( ture h&s taught us, that perfecuting is only a putting a
u man to fuffer for righteoufnefs fake, and not the reftrain*
f< ing of damnable errors," <&c.
Objeft. III. No man ought' to he mole/led on account of his
opinions in religion^ if he dfiurbs not the ft ate ^ or is danger oils
to civil fociety. This objection being made by fome of the
Englifh feclaries laft century, and better anfweTed by the fore-
named learned Mr. Gillefpie, than what I can pretend to do,
I (hall only, with him, fhortly obferve,
That by this way of reafoning, the profeffion of religion is
only made a tool fubfervient to civil and political intereft,
and religion itfelf is thereby made only an appendage to the
ftate ; but even, keep them upon the edge of their own ar-
»«•-■- ■■•,••■ '-•« guments,
* For precept, fee Deut. xiii $. xviii. 20 2 in matters of religion, is
downright Erajlianifm. I anfwer, Not fo faft, till we enquire
what kind of power. And,
i. Nc-
* To iUuftrate truth by facts, I could inftance a man wlie
openly and avowedly denied the being of a God, and blafphemed
£he fecond perfon of the Trinity, at one of the public toll-bars of
the nation ; and tho* a man of public bufinefs, I fuppofe no man
could impeach him, either of moleftation to the ftate or partiali.
ty in his civil dealings. — I could mention another, who blafphem-
cd the incarnation of Chrift, put the minifters of the place to a
defiance, to prove that there were either God, devil ; angel, or fpi-
rit ; and yet none was more obliging to his neighbours, and civil
in his dealings betwixt man and man. (ate. The flrft of thefe was
excommunicated by the church, and died about a year ago, under
a mifery of torment. And being afked of a future ftate, he faid,
Of that he was not fure, but he wifhed to bw out of the prefent
tormenting condition, and thus expired. T
t Mifc. giieft.
m The PREFACE.
i . Negatively, he is not to have the power of the keys of
do&rine and difcipline in the church, as Eraftus would have
had it ; nor is he to be acknowledged the fupreme head of
all caufes and perfons, civil and ecclefiaftic, (which is much
the fame) with the Eraftian conftitution of England. But,
2. And pofitively, we muft allow the lawful and rightly
constitute magiftrate a cumulative, imperative power, to
command and Strengthen church officers in their duty, but
not an ele£tive or privative power to detract any thing from
the church's authority. He ought to be a keeper of both ta-
bles of the law ; Cujios et vindex iitrhifqiie tabula ; intruded
with the concerns of God's glory, as well as the intereft of
men ; and fo muft have a fpecial and particular care and re-
gard to this precious depofita, in all his public management.
That is, he mould profefs, fupport, and defend the true re-
ligion, in the church of Chrift, and its profeflbrs in the ex*
ercife thereof; and to fupprefs the propagation or propaga-
tors of idolatry, blafphemy, error, or damnable herefy, and
not eltablifh or tolerate them. I do not fay, that he is ab-
folutely to judge of thefe, as a magiftrate, but I fay, with
Mr. Rutherford, " That he is to try doctrine, difcipline, and
" the decrees of the church, as a Chriftian ; and, at their de-
" termination, punifh the contraveners, as a magiftrate, (by
" virtue of his power and authority,) for he is the minifter
&c.
The
€i doty to take order, that unity and peace be preferved in the
" church ; that the truth of God be kept pure and entire ; that
si all blafphemies and hereftes be (upprejjfed," ire
Larger Cat. quefl. 109.—" The fins forbidden is the fecond
€i commandment, are all devifing, counfclling, commending, ap-
" proving, tolerating a falfe religion."
Mr. Knox-- " It is evident that the office of the king, or fii-
* preme magiftrate, muft have refpect to the moral law, and to
* the converfation of both tables thereof."
Mr. Alex. Henderfon,^— " Princes are vicegerents to God and
u to his Son Jefus Chrift, as he is God in his univerfid kingdom
u of providence ; and this watching of princes and magistrates is
(( objectively ecclefiaflical ; but, forma litur civilts, it is about
u matters of religion in a civil manner. The faithful fupport
u and prefervation of religion is a part of theif ( ffice. For they
u are not only keepers of the firft, but of the fecond table of the
u law ; and to them appertained the vindication and defence of
" religion, againfl contempt, corruption, and abufe, &c." Ser-
mon before the Houfe of Lord 164;.
Mr. Durham— •" Sure we are, in the Old Teflament, magi-
li ftrates were included in the command of reftraining and pu«
< f nifhing fuch as did entice to falfe worfhip. In the New'Tef-
a tament we find no repeal "of the fame. Both civil and church
€i authority fhould be exercifed for the reftraining fuch evil work-
u ers, and punifhingof them for hurting of the church of Chrift,
" and di/honouring of his name." ExpoiV on Rev. ii. 20.
Mr. Rutherford— u The king hath a chief hand in church af-
H fairs, when he is norfing father; and beareth the regal fword
" to defend both tables of the law." &c. Lex Rex, />. 141.
Mr. D. Dickfon— •*' The fupreme magiftrate is*, cuflos utrt*
€i ufque tabula, a keeper of both tables of the law. If he may
« punifh evil-doers, who offend againfl the fecond table, and force
" and compell them to obedience ; much more may he punifh i-
" dolaters andblafphemers, who offend againfl the firft table," &c.
Truth's Victory, &c. chap, xxiii.
Prefbytery of Edinburgh—" We find alfo that the magi-
" ftrate's power, under the New Teflament, is given for the pu-
ff nifhnient of evil-doers, Rom. xiii. 3, 4. Now, fedu&ion (to
" error) is an evil deed," &c. Teftim. againfl Toleration, 1658.
Informatory Vindication— " We allow the magiftrate a power
« over
The PREFACE. xvii
. The puerility of this obje&ion may very eafily be discover-
ed ; for, I. We never find, in fcripture or hiftory, that any
of the faints of God pleaded for liberty on this footing ; as
for our faithful fufferers, they could have'had it, if they could
have accepted of it on the fame finful terms with others.
They found that every thing tolerated comes under the no-
tion of a crime ; and they judged their principles were found-
ed upon the word of God, and the practice of the beft re-
formed churches, and therefore, flood in no need of a tolera-
tion of this kind,
2. It is true, it is a privilege to the profeffors of the true
religion, to have the free exercife thereof, in a land where a
falfe religion is eftablimed ; but it is as great a lofs to thefe,
in a land where the true religion is eftabliihed, when falfe
religion, or damnable herefies are tolerated. For inftance,
the emperor of Germany has lately granted his proteftant
fubjects the exercife of their religion, for which they have
reafon to blefs God ; but, properly, this is no more than their
own juft right, and fo no toleration, as was the cafe with
the church of the Jews under Cyrus. Again, the king of
Prufiia, and dates of Britain and Ireland, have granted the like
liberty to papifts, ire. in England and Ireland ; this is a to-
leration, and is what no king or ft are upon earth has a right
to grant. And, for our prefent liberty, it does not proceed
from any love in them to the true religion of Jefus Chrift, or
a covenanted work of reformation, (eife what means all this
c noife
" over the outward things of the church. We own he may and
u ought to preferve both tables of the law, and punifh, by cor-
u poral and temporal puniihment, whether church officers or
<{ members, as openly difhonour God by grofs offences, either a-
" gainft the firfl or lecond table, &c." />. 31, prior edition.
Mr, Rcnwick~ a It is the right duty of magiilrates to ufe an
" imperative, coercive, and cumulative power about church mat*
" ters, in commanding minifters to do their miniftetial duties,
m ; presented to them by their only Head and Mafler Chrift, in re-
" draining idolatry, fuperftition, error, and profanenefs/* &c.
Teftimony agaiRft Toleration, p. 47. lad edition.
To thefe, with a number more, that I cannot properly here in-
fert, I might add, the authority of the minifters in the province of
London, and country palantine in Lancafter, in their Teftimonies
againft Toleration, emitted March 1647, were it needful ; bat I
flatter myfelf that the above may fuffice at prefent to prove the
aflertion.
xyiii The PREFACE.
noife about popery ?) but for their political ends, and they are
io far reftrained.-—That we may be as good as we pleafe, at
the fame time we may live as bad as we will ; and for what-
ever liberty we have to ferve God in his own appointed way,
we have him primarily to thank for it, as for all his other
mercies.
Objedl. VI. We are for no toleration bat a fcriptural cne y
or fuch as the fcriptures do allow y forbearing one another in
love, &c. I anfwer, This can be no toleration at all. For
my part, I could never find toleration, pofitive or negative,
name or thing, in fcripture ; what is morally good being a
commanded duty, needs no toleration, nay, cannot be tole-
rated (as has been obferved already •,) what is fin, or morally
evil, none on earth can lawfully grant an immunity unto;
and betwixt thefe there can be no medium, in point of truth
and duty, make what diftin&ions we will.— For inftance,
Chriftian forbearance (that is, a bearing or fympathizing with
one another's infirmities and weaknefs, not wickednefs) be-
ing what is enjoined in fcripture, can never come under the
notion of a toleration. Again, whatsoever is contrary to the
diviife law, be it never fo little, (if we may call any thing fin-
ful litfle) we cannot forbear, permit, or tolerate in another,
without furTering fin upon cur brother* Hear what the Lord
fays, of what we may now underftand by what is called a
negative toleration, Ye fhall not do after the things that ye do
here this day. Every man whatfoever is right in his evjn eyes *.
But, after all, fome will fay* What would you have us to do
with heretics^ paptfls y &c. muft they be killed) &c. Why, I
anfwer, whatever the word of God allows. As to the merit
of the crime, let them have it, and nothing more nor nothing
lefs. There are more ways of punifhment than to atone
with the life— And to fay, we muft tolerate papifts here,
that proteftants may have the fame liberty in popifli countries,
is to fay, we ought to do evil that good may come of it : But
am I io fin (fays the apoftle) that grace may abound ? God
forbid. The Lord will ftili provide chambers of fafety for his
own. Let us then, with that Ifraelitifh general (tho' none
of thebeft of men) refolve to play the men for our people) and
the cities of our God) and let the Lord do what feemeth him good.
Upon the whole, in the following fheets, there is a faith-
ful teftimony againft joining with God's malignant enemies,
and for our covenanted uniformity, againft all error, here*
* Deut. xii. 8.
The PREFACE. xii
fy, 6r. by the church in a collective body, and as individuals,
with the ftate's return, approving of the fame. But, alas !
unto what a low pafs are things now, in the fame church and
(late, brought unto, when there is properly but one member
in each, to withftand the introdu&ion of popery into thefe
nations f ? And, for our covenants, they are not only denied
and contemned, but even the gofpel covenant is, by fome, on
their account ridiculed alio. Ah, infatuated Britons ! Ahj
degenerated Sccrs ! Men, who fhall bewail your defection,
treachery and apoftacy. They, like men, have tranfgrejfed the
covenant : there have they dealt ireachercnjly againft me.—lVe
unto them! for they have fed from me, &c.
From the titles thefe pieces bear, no doubt, they will prove
no way acceptable to not a few of the free-thinkers in this
infidious generation ; but it is ftill one of the effe&s of a full,
free, and faithful teftimony from Chrift's contending witnef-
fes, to torment them that dwell upon the earth. Let us then,
not only publifh and perufe thefe and their other contendings,
but alfo emulate the noble confeffbrs, and follow their ex-
ample. Let us never flatter purfelves that a part, yea, half a
teftimony will be accepted or taken off our hand, by the faith*
ful and true Witnefs* No, we muft not leave one hoof of the
truth behind us. If we will not do this, the Lord will find
himfelf witnefles : He never has been, nor will be at a lofs,
fo to fpeak, to find himfelf inftruments to carry on his work,
and promote his intereft and declarative glory in the world.
He had them before we were born, and will have them after
we are buried.— -And, if ever a time or feafon required tefti-
mony bearing, it muft be now, when in thefe Britannic ides,
once among the mod prieft-ridden of Antichrift's dominions,
yet happily recovered from under that crueL yoke of bondage.
Popery now, like a dying monfter, is making its laft efforts,
by the miniftry of thefe locufls and lying frogs, falfe pro-
phets, 6r. forming military affbeiations amongft the kings of
the earth, for its increafe, prefervation, and admiration. And
tho* we have reafon to truft in God, that he (hall never fully
re-conquer thefe covenanted lands •, yet we had much need,
in fuch a lethargic ftate of affairs, of ftrong and ftimulat-
ing
t Isftance Mr. Gillies, in the Gen. A(T 1778, whofe motion
againft popery, had but 24 votes againft 113 ; and L. G. Gor-
don, in the pari. 1780, without one member \xi. either Houfe t#
fupport him*
xx The P R E F A C E.
ing application to every mean to re animate fortitude, reform-
ation, courage and zeal, and to, promote a quicker circulation
of true piety and witnefiing graces ; and more, when the Lord
not only threatens to lift up his hand brandifhing the fword of
war, but alfo in his providential difpenfation of the laft feafon,
feems to lay on his hand in breaking the ftafF of bread ; fo
that, in many places of the land, poverty comes as one that
travelleth, and -want as an armed man.
And, to conclude, awful indeed are the figns of thefe con-
fufed, deluded and demented times : But God lives and reigns .
May the Lord arife and plead his own canfe, and let his ene-
mies be fcattered : Let them that hate him, jlee before him ;
and gracioufly return again and claim his own ancient gift of
pofieffioaof thefe ifies of the fea, Britain and Ireland, in a
full revival of an uniform covenanted work of reformation
purity, to the utter extirpation of every error and herefy that
now ftands in oppofition thereunto. — And as there is but one
God, one Saviour, one faith, one baptifm, one heaven, and
the word of reconciliation is one, may all his profefRng peo*
pie become as one /tick in his hand. — And if the following
Collection (hall, through a divine bleffing, in the hand of
the Spirit, prove any thing helpful, for any of the faid pur-
pofes, in this divided age, when fo many jarring voices ob-
tain and prevail, when "the four winds feem to Jl rive upon the
great fea of the moral world, the end would be in fome mea-
sure obtained. — For (feat men may fear the Lord from thevjefl y
and his glory from the rifing of tl>e fan ; and when the enemy
threatens to come in like a flood, may the Spirit of the Lord
lift up aflandard againfl him, is the defire and earneft prayer
of one, who defires to be found amongft the favourers of the
dujl of Zion.
LOCH COIN, JOHN HOWIE.
Jan. i$tb, 1783. J
A N
USEFUL CASE
O F
CONSCIENCE,
Concerning AfTociations and Confederacies
with Idolaters, Infidels, Heretics, Malig-
nants, or any other known Enemies of
Truth and Godhnefs*
Learnedly difcujfed and accurately refolved.
By Mr. H U G H BINNING,
Sometime Profeffbr of Phiiofophy in the Univerfity of Glafgoffy
arid afterwards Minifter of the Gofpel at Govan.
KILMARNOCK:
PRINTED BY J WILSON, BOOKSELLER.
a*. »cc. lxxxiix.
AN USEFUL
CASE of CONSCIENCE, Sec.
That the prefent Public Refolutions and
Proceedings, do import a Conjunction
with the Malignant Party in the King-
dom, and of the Sin, Danger and Scan-
dal of that Way.
Sect. i. That there is a malignant party fill in the kingdom.
IN the entry to this bufinefs, the importunity of not a few
makes it needful to fpeak fomewhat to a queftion which
unto this time hath been unqueftioned, as beyond all excep-
tion \ that is, Whether there be yet in Scotland a malignant
party ? Or, Whether there be at this time any party who may
end ought y in reafon and Chrijlian prudence , to be reputed and
looked upon as malignant* and difaffetled to the covenanted
caufe of God? It feems the more needful to fpeak fomewhat
of this, i. Becaufe fome minifters are become flack and fi-
lent in this point, as if now there were no need of watch-
fulnefs and waxning againft any fuch party. 2. Becaufe the
expreflions of many people of the land run that way,
that there are now no malignants in Scotland, and that it is
but a few factious minifters that will ftill keep up thefe
names, that they may more eafily, with others of their own
ftamp, weaken and divide the kingdom, for carrying on of
their own ends. 3. Becaufe the inclinations and refolutions
of the public judicatories, in reference to molt of the party
who carried that name, doth clearly import that they do
think they are no more to be looked upon as malignants, as
appears from feveral of their papers ; efpecially the letter
written for fatisfaftion to the prefbytery of Stirling. And
therefore this muft be laid down as the foundation of what
follows : That there is Jlill in the land, iKt only a few perfons,
but a party confider able for number, povjer and policy, who are
malignant and difaffetled to the covenant and caufe of God.
A % Wc
4, CASE of CONSCIENCE.
We would join heartily in the defire of many, that thefe
and other fuch like odious names of different parties and
fa&ions were taken away ; but we cannot join in the rea-
fons of this defire which are ordinarily given. We wifh the
name malignant were obfolete and antiquate, if fo be the
thing itfelf, which is fuch a root of bittemefs, were extir-
pated out of the church ; yea, though the thing itfelf re*
mained, if men would hate it for itfelf, and account it more
odious and hateful than the name imports, we would be
glad it were no more heard of. Becaufe we find this preju-
dice by all fuch appropriated names, that people generally
look upon that which goes under that name as the only fin :
and as if there was not that root of bitternefs, in all which
it grows out of, in any ; and fo conceive themfelves good
Chriflians if they fall not under that hateful appellation of
malignants. But feeing this bitter fruit of enmity againfl
godlinefs and the godly, comes to more ripenefs and matu-
rity in many of this generation than in others, who yet arc
unconverted : And feeing it hath been the cuftom of the
church of God in all generations, to difcriminate many more
ungodly and known haters of godlinefs and his people from
the common fort of natural people, and to comprehend
them under the names, of wicked, of malignant, of enemies f
as may appear in the Old Teftament, efpecially in the Pfalms.
And more efpecially in our days, that name hath been ap-
propriated to fuch who have declared themfelves in their
words or a£Hon$ to be haters of godlinefs and the power
thereof, and his people, or have arifen to the height of ac-
tual oppofition againlt thefe ; we cannot be blamed for ufing
fuch a name ft ill, for diftin&ion's fake. We proceed to fomc
jeafons.
(i.) The conftant and continued proceedings of the Ge-
neral Aflembly and their commiflioners for many years paft
unto this day.
There is not almoft any of their warnings, declarations
or remonftrances, which doth not affert this, and warn a-
gainft it ; and that not only before the king's home-coming
and taking of the covenant, but alfo fince that time, as is
evident by the Declaration emitted by the commiffion in
July laft ; the Declaration of the Aflembly itfelf, a little af-
ter -, by the Declaration emitted at Stirling fince the defeat
at Dunbar; the Caufes of the Fad upon that defeat ; the
Remonftrance to the king at Perth after his efcape 5 toge-
ther
CASE of CONSCIENCE. j
ther with the Remonftrance given in by them to the parlia-
ment ; all which do clearly hold forth this truth.
(2.) Take Chrift's rule, By their fruits yejball know them.
There is a great party in the land that adhere to malignant
principles ; bring forth malignant fruits ; and tread malig-
nant paths, as may appear in thefe inftances. (i.) A great
many of thefe who have been formerly engaged in fuch
courfes, and under church cenfures, did lately conjoin to-
gether and rife in arms, and drew away the king from the
public councils of the kingdom, and refufed to lay down
arms till they got conditions agreeable to their minds; which
courfe of theirs was juftly declared by the commiflion tfr
carry upon it the ftamp of malignancy in an eminent way.
(2.) The feeking to promote and eftablifh an arbitrary power
in the perfon of the king, as it hath been ftill the endeavour
of the malignant party, fo it hath been always taken by the
kirk of Scotland as one of their chara&ers, and that there
is a party now in Scotland, who ftill hold that principle
and drive this defign of arbitrary power is evident. Firft,
becaufe thefe fame men, who were lately in arms, did not
only take up arms upon the king's fimple warrant, and with-
out the knowledge, and contrary to the mind of the com-
mittee of eftates ; but alfo received the aft of indemnity^
and laid down arms, in obedience to the king's majefty,
without fo much as mentioning or acknowledging the com-
mittee of eftates, as it is to be feen in a paper fubferibed by
them, and in the remonftrance of the commiflion of the Ge*
neral Aflembly, dated at Perth, Nov. 29. 1650. the words
whereof ire thefe. Tour lordjhips fhould likewife confider f
'whether it doth not encroach upon the prefent conftitution of
government of this kingdom, and will not involve your lord-
fhips in the guilt of thefe mens fin , if youfhall accept of their
laying down of arms, merely upon the profefjion of obedience to
the king's command, vjithout any expreffion of their refpeSt
and obedience to the committee of eftates , or any acknowledge-
ment of their fin and offence : which we hope you will look upon as
a mofl unnaiur aland wife afonable rending of the kingdom, in the
time of this heavy oppofition by a common enemy, and expofing
the kingdom to all mifery and ruin. 2. It may be remember-
ed that in the firft model of the agreement which was made
at Breda, that ciaufe which doth concern the determining
of civil matters in the interval of parliament, by fuch as are
authorized by parliament for that effeft, and the king's ma-
>efty
6 CASE of CONSCIENCE.
jefty hearkening to their advice was wholly left out. And
any who are acquainted with expreflions and inclinations
of fundry great ones in the land, are not ignorant of their
diflike of a committee of eftates, and their defire to have the
adminiftration of matters, in the interval of parliament,
wholly devolved upon the king's council. And the fame
fpirit that would draw bufmefs from the committee to a ca-
binet council, would at laft draw them from the parliament
itfelf ; becaufe that is alfo, if not more, crofling to private
interefts and defigns than a committee of eftates. 3 Inftance.
There is a party in the land who as in their hearts they do
envy, and in their tongues do traduce men that have been
ftedfaft and faithful in the covenant and caufe of God •, fo
do they endeavour to the utmoft of their power, to bring
them into difgrace and contempt, and to get them removed
from power and truft ; and, upon the other fide, ftudy with
no lefs diligence to get places of power and truft, in the
army and el fe where, filled with fuch as either have been
open enemies or fecret underminers. 4 Inftance. Are there
not many who oppofe the kingdom of Jefus Chrift and work
of reformation ? not only by holding up that old calumny
of maliguants, concerning the feditious and factious humour
of miniiters, and their ftr-etGhing of themfdves beyond their
line, and by mocking all faithful and free, preaching of thq
word, and by bearing down the power of godlinefs, deriding
and hating all the lovers and followers thereof, by being im-
patient of the difcipline and cenfiues of the church ; but alfo
looking upon the government of the church with an evil £ye,
and ftrongly inclining, fome of them, that church govern-'
ment be put in the hands of a few prelates, moil of them
that it may be wholly devolved upon the civil government.
§th Inftance. There is ftill a party in the land that endea-
vour to have the ftate of the queftion altered, and to have
religion left out of the fame ; that it being ftate.d upon civil
intereft, they may take to themfelves a greater latitude in
their way of carrying on bufmefs. This was holden forth
to be the defign of the malignant party in the ye^.r 1648, as
appears in the Declaration of the Commiffion that year in
March : and there was a neceffary and feafonable warning
given againft it by the CommifGon in their Declaration, of
the date July 1650.
(3.) Befides thofe who are excommunicated, there are yet
in the land a confiderable number of pcrfons of chief note,
who
CASE of CONSCIENCE. 7
who do ftill lie under cenfures of the church \ fome becaufe
of their acGeffion to the late unlawful engagement \ others
becaufe of their acceffion to the late courfe of rebellion, a-
bout the time of the king's efcape from Perth •, befides many
others of lefs note.
(4.) We fuppofe that it is moft certain and unquestiona-
ble, that there was lately a malignant party and fa&ion in
the land, very numerous and powerful. How many men
of blood, murderers of their brethren, as unnatural and bar-
barous as the Irifh they once joined with againft their coun-
try ? How many have watched all opportunities for trou-
bling the peace of the kingdom, and rejoiced in the day of
its calamity ? How many were the oppreffbrs of thefe who
called on the Lord's name in the time of the engagement ?
What multitudes of profane and ungodly mockers of all
godlinefs, and haters and perfecutors of the godly, fwarm-
ing every where ? If this be truth, as it is indeed, we may
fay, Who hath heard fuch a thing ? Who hath feen fuch a
thing ? Shall a nation be born at once ? And have they fo
foon learned to do well, who have been fo long accuftomed
to do evil ? When did this catholic conversion fall out? and
by what means ? Hath the aft of indemnity and pardon fuch
influence, to juftify thefe men from all their butcheries and
barbarous cruelties ? The adding of three thoufand to the
church in one day, was miraculous in the days of miracles.
But behold a greater miracle than that, in the days when
miracles are ceafed ! many thoufands added to the church
of the friends of the caufe of God in one day, and that not
by preaching, which is the power of God unto falvation 5
not by fpiritual weapons, which are mighty through God :
but by the carnal weapon of an act of indemnity, and the
example of one man, the king's conjunction in the caufe,
which at the beft hath not fuch evidence of reality as to
convince any, and change their mind. Sad experience, and
the conftant teftimony of the church of Scotland proves,
that malignancy is a weed that hath deeper and ftrong-
er roots than to be plucked up fo eafily ; and that though
there be fome, yet there is but few in t£ie land who have
been once engaged in that way, that have really and indeed
abandoned and come off the fame.
The point (hall more appear by taking off objections that
are made to the contrary. It is objected, 1. That thefe who
were formerly efteeme4 maHgnants, did oppofe the work of
Goi
* CASE of CONSCIENCE.
God b^caufe they could not be perfuaded in confcience,
that the covenant and caufe were contrived and carried on
in a warrantable way, thofe who were moft inftrumental id
it, feeming to them not only to a£t without authority, but
againft authority. But fo it is, that the king hath now
joined in the covenant and added his authority to it, and
therefore it needs not be feared that thefe men will any
more oppofe it ; nay it may be expected, they will no left
zealouily promote the ends thereof than they did formerly
oppofe the fame.
Anfw. This argument fuppofeth fome things that are
falfe, fome things at be ft doubtful, and fome things danger*,
©us. It fuppofeth two falfities. i. That it was a ground
and principle of conference and refpeft to the king's autho-
rity that made thefe men to oppofe the covenant and work
of reformation. If it was the confeience and conviction of
the unwarrantablenefs of it for the want of authority, that
ftirred them up to oppofe the covenant and caufe ; then why
did they fubferibe it and join in the defence of the fame a-
gainft the king ? a. It fuppofeth that the only ground, why
they did oppofe and undermine the fame, was, becaufe the
king was of a contrary mind, and refufed to join in the co-
venant, and ratify the fame by his authority, which alfo4s
falfe : for there were feveral other grounds and caufes of fo
doing befides this We fhall name a few, leaving the reft
to a further fcrutiny. I. The natural enmity that is in the
hearts of all men againft the Lord and his anointed, his
work and people, and the power of godlinefs, which doth
effeftually work in the children of difobedience. 2. An
enmity againft the power of parliament and laws. 3. An
enmity againft the union of the kingdoms. 4. An enmity
againft the power of prefbyteries, and the difcipline of the
church. To which are oppofed, a fmful defire of breaking
the bonds, and cafting away the cords of the Lord and his
anointed \ a defire to eftablifh an arbitrary power and un-
limited monarchy \ a defire to eftablifh a lordly prelatical
power in the perfons of a few, or to have the government
of the church wlvolly dependent on the civil power ; a defire
to diflblve the union of the kingdoms, that they may be
thereby weakened and lefs able to refill malignant defigns
againft religion and liberties ; a defire to live loofely with-
out bands in regard of perfonal reformation.
g. It fuppofeth fomethittg that is at bell doubtful, toit>it %
That
CASE of CONSCIENCE. 9
That the king hath really joined unto the caufe of God,
there being fmall evidences of it, and many preemptions to
the contrary. Efpecially, 1. His bringing home with him
into the kingdom a number of eminent, wicked and known
malignants. His countenancing of, and familiar converfing
with fuch in this nation fince his coming, and correfpond-
ence with others of them abroad. His deferting of the
public councils of the kingdom, to join to a party of bloody
and wicked men; raifed in arms with his knowledge and by
his warrant. 2. His not being convinced of any guilt in
his father, becaufe of his oppofition to the caufe arrd cove-
nant, notwithstanding of all the blood of the Lord's people
fhed by him in that oppofition. For verifying whereof, we
appeal to the knowledge of fome noblemen and minifters
who have occafion to know his mind, and to be ferious with
him in this thing.
3. It fuppofeth fomething that is of very dangerous con-
sequence. 1. That thefe mens zeal to the caufe or againft
it, doth ebb and flow according to the king's being againft
it or for it. Since they follow the caufe, not for itfeff but
for the king, will they not defert it when the king forfakes
it ? Can they be accounted real friends of the caufe who are.
known to favour it only ad nutum principis ? As the come-
dian ait, aiOy negaty nego. Is it not all one to follow the
caufe for the king and for a man's own intereft and advan-
tage ? both are alike extrinfic and adventitious to the caufe*
both are alike changeable. Eccebulus under Conftantius
was a precife Chriftian \ under Julian a perfecuting apoftate;
and then again under the next Chriftian emperor became a
Chriftian : And it is like if he had outlived that emperor
till a Heathen fucceeded, he fhould have paganized the fecond'
time. 2. That very principle that is pretended to unite
them to the caufe is in itfelf moil dangerous, both to the
privileges of parliament and liberties of the people, and to
our religion befide. Their principle of oppofition was*
" They conceived the way followed could not be warranta-
ble without the king's confent and warrant, That people
might not vindicate their own jufl rights and liberties, and
their religion, without the king's concurrence, or againft
him." Now then, the principle of their conjunction to the
caufe muft be this, " Becaufe it is now clothed with autho-
rity which it had not before, and which now makes it war-
i antable." This principle therefore includes in the bofoni
r S of
ro CASE of CONSCIENCE.
of it, the eftablifhing of unlimited and abfolute power in
kings ; the unlawfulnefs of defenfive wars againft tyranny
and oppreflion ; the king's negative voice; and the depen-
dent power of parliaments upon his pleafure : All which are
principles deftruftive of the caufe and our liberties^ and the
very characters of our enemies from the beginning. Thus
they have changed their way but not their principles, and
are now the more dangerous that they may not be looked
upon as enemies, but as friends. Seeing it is manifeft, that
it is not the love of the caufe that conftrains them, and they
know it was not that principle that perfuaded the king, but
mere neceffity, contrary to his own inclination, may we not
certainly expect, that according to their principles they will
labour to fet at freedom the king, whom they conceive im-
prisoned and captivated by the power of neceffity within the
limits and bounds of a regulated monarchy, andfo loofe him
from all thefe chains of involuntary treaties and agreements,
and rigid laws and parliaments, that he may then act in
freedom and honour according to his own inclination and
theirs both j and then farewell religion and liberties.
Objeft 2. The moft part of thefe who were formerly ma-
lignant, have now repented of that fin, and make profeffion
bf their resolution to adhere to the covenant and caufe of
God, and to beftow their lives and ellates in defence there-
of : Therefore they are not now to be efteemed malignants.
Anfiv. We would Willi from our hearts that we had no
anfwer to this argument, then ihould we yield the point in
handj and yield it cheerfully, that there is no malignant
party now in Scotland. But, alas ! that we have fo much
evidence convincing our confciences and perfuading them to
deny what is objected. We acknowledge fome have indeed
repented, and fuch we defire to embrace and receive with
all tendernefs and love, as godly Chriftians, worthy to be en-
trufted : But yet tht moft part of them do ftill bring forth
the fame malignant fruits. Their ungodly and wicked prac-
tices teftify to their face that they have nothing to do to take
his covenant in their mouth, feeing they hate to be reformed.
The late rifing in arms, contrary to their folemn and parti-
cular engagements \ their bearing down and reproaching the
godly, and fuch as are of known integrity ; their ftudying to
fill places of truft with men formerly enemies or undermin*
ers ; their continuing in their profane and loofe walking.
All thefe are more convincing evidences of their retain-
ing
CASE of CONSCIENCE. xi
ing their old principles than any extorted confeflions or pro*
feflions ; for fi nifter refpe£ts and ends, can be no probable
figns of their repentance and change.
We defire thefe things to be remembered, i. That the
engagement was carried on, not by open and profeffed ene-
mies, but fuch as had made public profeflion of their repent-
ance, and were thereupon admitted to truft. 2. That upon
confideration of the hypocrify and inftability of thefe men
appearing in that and other particulars, the kirk and king-
dom of Scotland did take upon themfelves ilrait bonds and
engagements to exclude fuch from truit, until fuch time as
they had given real evidences of the reality of their repent-
ance, and of abandoning their former principles and ways ;
of which this kirk. was to judge impartially as inHSod's fight.
3. That it hath been confefied and preached by many godly
minifters, and was given in by fundry in the time of the
fearch of the Lord's controverfy againfl the land, in Novem-
ber lad at Perth, and hath been bemoaned and regretted by
many of the people who feared God ; that there is a great
deal of fin and guilt lying on the kirk of Scotland, for the
fudden receiving of fcandalous perfons, efpecialiy malig-
nants, to the public profeflion of repentance before there
was in them any real evidence of their forsaking their for-
mer principles and ways.
Objeft. 3. None are now to be efteemed malignants, in
reference to employment and truft, but fuch as fl and judi-
cially debarred by kirk and ftate to be fo : for certainly, men
are not to lie under the burden of fo great a reproach, upon
the private whifperings and common reports of others ; o-
therwife, honed men may be wronged, and there (hall be no
end of confufion, or terminating this controverfy, there
being no certain rule to walk by in it.
Anfw. We acknowledge that furmifings, whifperings and
reports of others are not fu.fficient, but that a rule is needful.
All the queftion will be, what is that rule I. And though the
judicial debarring of judicatories be not all, but it mud be
ruled by another rule, yet are we willing to take it for fo
much : for even that will prove there is yet a malignant
party in Scotland, becaufe many are (landing under church
cenfures. Thefe involved in the late rebellion, are {landing
under a fentence of the commiflion, declaring them to
be following their old malignant defigns, few of them
are yet admitted to profeflion of repentance. We defire
it
12 CASE of CONSCIENCE.
it may be considered, that the rule holden forth by the
kirk of Scotland 1648, for admitting of perfons to truft,
is of larger extent than judicial fentence or cenfure. To
•wit. That they be fuch againft whom there is no juft caufe
of exception or jealoufy. 2. Albeit a judicial trial or cen-
fure be indeed neceflary, for inflicting punifhment or cen-
fure upon men ; yet it is not neceffary for avoiding aflbcia-
tion with them 3 or debarring them from truft. 3. If none
were to be accounted malignants, but they who are judicial-
ly declared to be fuch, what needed the kirk of Scotland
have frequently taken fo much pains, to give characters to
know them by, there being fo clear and compendious away
befide ? Hath there not been always in the land fecret un-
derminers as well as open enemies ? And hath not faithful
rnen avoided the one as well as the other ? 4. The General
Affembly, 1648, declared the taking in of thefe who follow-
ed James Graham to be an aflbciation with malignants, tho'
inoit part of them were th§n releafed from church cenfures.
Se£t. 2. That the prefent public refolutionSy exprefljed in the
Commiffiorfs Anfwer to the Parliament's SHiery, and the
Aft of the Levy, do not exclude that party*
IN the next place, upon fuppofal and proof, that there is a
malignant party and faction ftill in the land, it is needful
to examine, whether the exceptions contained in the Anfwe'r
of the Commiflion to the Parliament's Query, and inferted
into the Aft of Levy, be fo comprehenfive as to include all
that p'arty. The exceptions be four. 1. Such as are ex-
communicated* i. Stick as are forfaulted. 3. Such as are
fiotorioufly prof ane'or flagitious. And* 4. Such as have been
from the beginning, and continue fill y or at this time are, ob-
Jlinate enemies and oppofcrs of the covenant and caufe of God.
That thefe are riot comprehenfive of the whole malignant
party in the land, appears. '"
Firft, The rules of the General Aflembly framed for the
exclufion of all fuch, as ought not to be employed in our
armies, are far more fcom'prehenfivd. The rule is' for em-
ploying of fuch only as are of a Chriftian'and blimelefs coii-
verfaticn, which is turned over by their commiilioners into
a negative, All that are not noto riot fly profane or flagitious.
Another is, for entrufting only thefe ivhd have been of known
integrity and conjl ant friends to the caufe of God from the be-
ginning ;
CASE of CONSCIENCE, 13
ginning ; which is alfo turned over into a negative ; All that
have not been conjlant enemies. All fuch, by the Anfwer,
are capable of fome truft a'nd employment. The rules a-
greed upon by the aflembly, and ratified by aft of parlia-
ment, anno 1649, ariC * renewed upon occafion of this inva-
sion, was, That no. officer nor foldier that followed James
Graham, Ihould be permitted in the army ; nor any officer
that was on the engagement, except fuch as upon real evi-
dence of repentance, were particularly recommended by the
church ; nor any common foldier, but upon fufficient tefti-
mony of his repentance. Now, fmce it is proved that the molt
part of all fuch continues ftill malignants, and retain their old
principles ; and that the bulk and body of the people are cal-
led forth by the public refolution, without fuch exceptions
as were conceived before necefiary, for the exclufion of that
party ; it follows clearly, that the malignant party is not ex-
cepted in the prefent refolutions.
2. Few of thefe who were in the late rebellion, and de-
clared, not many days fince, to be following a moil malig-
nant defign and courfe, are contained under thefe excep-
tionss becaufe very few of them are excommunicated or for-
faulted : and though more of them be indeed flagitious and
profane ; yet very few of them will fall under the compafs
of the exception, notoriously flagitious. Many wicked things
will be faid to concur fo make up a profane man ; fome a£ls
will not ferve \ a habit mull be demonftrated'; and though
that were (hewed, yet there muft be alfo a notoriety of it,
which imports a man to" be famous for loofnefs and profani-
ty ; and there are none almoft, if any, in the land, who have
been profefled enemies from the beginning, and continue fo
to this day. James Graham was not fuch. It is the mat-
ter of our fad complaint, that whilft many are enemies,
they make profeffion and femblance of friendlhip. 3. Thefe
exceptions do not comprehend any who are under cenfure
for malignancy or profanity, except fuch as are under the
iVntencc of excommunication 5 and that even fuch may not
be excluded, left the rule be tranfgrefled, by admitting and
employing Excommunicated perfons. 'Tis withal refolved,
that thefe perfons (hall be relaxed from that fentence, that
fo they may be immediately in the fame capacity of employ-
ment with others, whatever formerly hath been their op-
pofition ox defe£tion. Some exceptions muft be made, for
honefty and credit's fake ; But the neareft and rcadieft way
is
14 CASE of CONSCIENCE.
is taken to make them ineffe£tual. 4. Thefe exceptions do
not only not reach thefe who were upon the unlawful en-
gagement, and have not as yet given fufficient proof of their
abandoning their malignant principles and courfes \ but
come not the length of comprehending thefe men of blood
who followed James Graham, and in the mod barbarous
and cruel way, died the blood of their own brethren and
God's people \ becaufe the mod part of thefe are not excom*
municated nor forfaulted ; nor not or ioujly flagitious and pro-
fane ; nor fuch as have from the beginning been, and fill arc
enemies. If any will fay, that fuch are comprehended un-
der thefe exceptions, V$hy did the Commiflion exprefs th$
exceptions in fuch terms, as to mens common apprehension
do not include many ? efpecially feeing there are known
rules, particular and didintt, without ambiguity ; and fee*
ing there is fuch a propenfiqi^ in rulers to employ all with-
out difference, which would undoubtedly take advantage of
any thing that feemed to look that way.
It is likewife manifcft, that the fecond part of the anfwer,
relating to the capacity of acting, is loaded with the fame
inconvenience. I. There is no pofitive determination of
the qualifications of perfons to be intruded, as in former
times it was agreed on by the ^ijembly and their Commif-
fioners : but that is now referred to the difcretion of the
parliament ; together with fuch diminutive terms, as gives
them great latitude to go upon. Before, no trufl was given
to fuch perfons •, now, it is allowed they (hall have feme
truft : and how much is not determined, noc what degree
of it is prejudicial to the caufe j which it appears, the par-
liament's proceedings in nomination of officers, unquedion-
ed by the Commiflion, is a good commentary to expound
that they may have any truft, except to be general officers.
2. Our former edabliftied rule was, that no perfo.ns ftiould
be entruded, but fuch as are of known integrity, and have
been conjiant friends of the caufe. But how far is this di«
jniniflied ? They who are fuch, only recommended to be e-,
fpecially taken notice of. Lefs could not be faid by any ;
more ought to have been faid by the CommiHion. And
though no fuch notice be taken of fuch by the parliament :
but on the contrary, thofe who have been mod faithful, and
fuffered in the late defeat at Hamilton, they are ufed as e-
nemies, worfe than malignants ia former times •, yet there
is
CASE of CONSCIENCE. i S
is no teftimony given againft fuch things. Quantum mutatus
ab Wo coetu qui quondam fuit !
Before we enter upon the chief queftion, we offer thefe
manifeft and known truths to confideration.
i. The occafion of contriving and fubfcribing firft the
national covenant, and then the folemn league and covenant,
was, the defigns and practices of the popiih, prelatical and
malignant party, againft religion and the work of reforma-
tion in thefe kingdoms, d. Since the contriving and fub-
fcribing of the fame, it hath been the continual endeavour
of that party, fometimes by undermining, and fometimes by
open oppofition, to undo the fame, and to bear down all
thofe that clave honeftly thereto, and faithfully profecute
all the ends thereof. 3. That there hath been thefe many
years paft, and dill is, fuch a party, in all the three king-
doms, confidei-able for number, power and policy. 4. Th?.t
that party, hath always profecuted their defign, under a co-
lour of zeal and refpect. to the king's authority and intereft.
5. That that party hath always been the authors and abet-
tors of much bloodfhed, many miferies and fad calamities
to thefe nations. 6. That the people of God in thefe king-
doms, have taken upon themfelves a moft folemn and facred
bond of an oath and covenant to difcover them, and bring
. them to condign punifhmcnt. 7. That it hath been one of
the predominant fins of Scotland ui\der the bond of the co-
venant, to comply with them. 8. That, indignation and
wrath from the Lord, hath been following that party and
their defigns thefe years paft. 9. That compliances with
them hath always been curfed to us of God. 10. That few
of that party do really abandon and forfake their corrupt
principles and way, and join cordially in the caufe and co-
venant. 1 1. That many of them do, after the profeffion of
their repentance for their oppofition to the caufe and cove-
nant of God, relapfe frequently into the fame fin. 12. That
(udden receiving of many of them to fellowfhip and truft,
and too great credulity in believing their profeflions, hath
often coft this land very dear. 13. That upon confideration
of the deep treachery and hypocrify of thefe men, and the
fad confequences following uponfudden receiving of them,
without evidence of a change, after long and renewed expe-
rience, this land renewed their obligations more ftridlly in
the folemn engagement. 14. That there hath been a de-
fign driven thefe two years paft, to get that party again in
power
i6 CASE of CONSCIENCE,
power and truft. 15. That this defign hath been teflified
againft by the public refolutions of the judicatories unto this
time. 16. That as it hath been driven at very cunningly
and actively, by many inftruments and arguments of feveral
forts.; fo hath it gained ground piece and piece, until at
length many of them are brought into the court, and to the
army and judicatories in the country: And now, by the
public refolutions, they are generally to be employed »and
entrufled Thus the defign is aceomplifhed. But* 17. Thefe
men do not fatisfy themfelves with fome degree of power ;
but endeavour to engrofs the whole power of the kingdom
into their own hands, and fludy to bring into contempt, and
cull out thefe, who have been and do continue conftant in
the caufe of God. 18. That having power into their hands,
they muft att according to their own principles, and for e-
ftablifhing their own ends. And laftly, That thefe princi-
ples and ends, are deftruftive to the covenant and work of
reformation.
Seft. 3. That the employing of and ajfociating with the ma-
lignant party , according as is contained in the public refa-
ctions, is finful and unlawful.
IF there be in the land a malignant party of power and
policy, and the exceptions contained in the Aft of Le-
vy dcth comprehend but few of that party ; then there need
be no more difficulty to prove, that the prefent public refo-
lutions and proceedings, do import an affociation and con-
junction with a malignant party, than to gather a conclufion
from clear premifes. But that fuch a conjunction is in it-
felf finful and unlawful, and beildes, a violation of our fo-
lemn oaths and engagements ; a backfliding from our prin-
ciples and profeflions, and a walking contrary to the whole
tenor and current of our former refolutions and practices,
is now to be made manifeft.
Firft, We reafon from that conftant, ftanding and perpe-
tual rule, which the Lord gives concerning the modelling
and carriage of the armies of his people in all their wars.
Deut. xxiii. 9. When the heft goes forth againft their enemies ,
then keep thee from every wicked thing. And after, If there
be among you y any man that is unclean^ by reafon of unclean-
nefs that chanceth him in the night, then jhall he go abroad
out of the camp ; he Jhall not come within the camp. .(If for
ceremonial
CASE of CONSCIENCE. 17
ceremonial unckannefs he was to be excluded, much more
for moral, as our divines reafon from the Old Teftament m
the point of excommunication ; and if for uncleannefs not
voluntary, much more for voluntary wickednefs.) The rea-
fon of all is given ver. 14. For the Lord thy God walks in the
midjl of the camp) to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies
before thee : Therefore Jhall thy camp be holy, that he fee no
unclean thing in thee and turn away from thee. Even as they
would expect a bleffing of the Lord, fo ought they to keep
their camp holy, as he is holy : He gives not fuch a ftrict:
rule for the competency of number, as for the qualifications
of the perfons, as being the principal thing. Therefore the
prefent conjunction with fo many ungodly and wicked men*
that have formerly declared themfelves enemies to God and
his people, and to this day give no evidence to the contrary*
is finful and unlawful.
2. The Lord hath frequently in fcripture declared his dif-
like and hatred of fuch aflbciations and conjunctions. The
fcriptures cited in the General Afl^mbly's declaration in the
year 1648, againft the engagement, are fufficient proof of
this, We (hall take the argument as it is formed by the
commiflioners of that aflembly, in their anfwer to the ob-
fervatioris of the committee of eftates upon the afiembly'S
declaration, p. 7. M Every engagement in war, that is pre-
" tended to be for religion, and hath in it a confederacy
" and aflbciation with wicked men, enemies of true religion
" is finful and unlawful. But the prefent engagement in
" war, as it is held forth in the public refolutions, is pre-
" tended to be for religion, and yet hath in it a confederacy
a and conjunction with wicked men, and enemies of true
" religion." Ergo, The fecond propofition is evident from
the two firft fections.
The firft propofition is proved from thofe fcriptures fore-
mentioned. God forbad conjunctions and confederacies with
the enemies of his caufe and people; not only theCanaanites,
Exod. xxxiv. 12, 15. Deut. vii. 2. and other heathens, fuch was
Afa his covenant with Benhadad, 2 Chron. xvi. to ver. 19.
Ahaz his confederacy with the king of Affyria, 2 Kings xvi.
7, 10. 2 Chron. xviii. 16. but alfo with wicked men of the
feed of Abraham, as Jehofhaphat's with Ahab, 2 Chron,
xviii. 3. And Ahab king of Ifrael faid unto Jehojbaphat king
$f Judah^ Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-Gilead ? And he
drfpivered kini) I Km «s theu art, and my people as thy people,
£ $nd
i8 CASE or CONSCIENCE.
and we will be with thee in the War, compared with chap.
xix. 2. And Jehu the fin of Hanani the Jeer ; went out to meet
hint) and/aid to king Jehojhapkat, Shouldjl thou help the un-
godly, and love them that hate the Lord ? therefore is wrath
Upon thee from before the Lord. And with Ahaziah 2 Chron.
xx. 35. And after this did Jeho/haphat king of Jadah join
himfelf with Ahaziah king of Ifrael, who did very wickedly."
Which being reproved for, he would not again join with
Ahaziah, 1 Kings xxii. 49. Then faid Ahaziah the fon of
Ahab unto Jehofbaphet, Let my fervants go with thyfervants
in the fhips : But Jchofhaphet would not . And then Ama-
ziah's afibciation with 100,000 of Ifrael, 2 Chron. xxv. 7,
8, 9, 10. But there came a man of God to him, faying, O king,
let not the army of Ifrael go with thee ; for the Lord is
net with Ifrael, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim.
' But if thou wilt go, do it, be ftrong for the battle : Gel
fhall make thee fall before the enemy : for God hath power to,
help and to cafi down. And Amaziah faid to the man
ef God, But what fhall we do for the hundred talents which I
have given to the army of Ifrael? And the man of God an*
Jwered, The Lord is able to give thee much more than this.
Then Amaziah feparated them, to wit, the army that was to
come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again : Wherefore
l iheir anger was greatly kindled againjl Judah, and they re-
turned home in great anger* The fin and danger of fuch af-
Fociations may further appear from Ifa. viii. 12, 13. w Say ye
u not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people fhall
■ c fay, A confederacy ; neither fear ye their fear, nor be a-
" fraid. San&ify the Lord of hofts himfelf, and let him
%i be your fear, and let him be your dread. Jer ii. 18.
" And now, what haft thcu to do in the way of Afiyri;!,
" to drink the waters of the river ? Pfal. cvi. 35. But were
cr mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.
u Kofea v. 13. When Ephraim faw his ficknefs, and Judah
<( faw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Affyrian, and
f * fent to king Jareb : Tet could he not heal you, nor cure
u you of your wound. And chap, vii 8, n. Ephraim, he
<{ hath mixed himfelf among the people : Ephraim is a
" cake not turned. Ephraim alfo is like a filly dove with*
" out heart : they call to Egypt ; they go to AfTyria. 2 Cor.
tl vi. 14, 15 Be ye not unequally yoked together with un*
tK believers ; for what fellowfhip hath righteoufnefs with
'* unrighteoufnefs ? and what communion hath light with
" darknefs ?
CASE of CONSCIENCE. i*
" darknefs ? And what concord hath Chrift with Belial ?
" or what part hath he that believeth with an inrfidel ?"
And if we ihould efteem God's enemies our enemies, and
hate them with perfect hatred, how can we then join with
them as friends ? Pfal. exxxix. 21.
The committee of eftates at that time endeavoured to
elude the ftrength of thefe fcriptures, and vindicate their
engagement from the falling within the compafs of them.
But the commiffion of the affembly that year took the mafk
off their evafions. Would to God we had no other party
to deal with now. It was the evil and complaint of that
time, that church and ftate were divided. But what an evil
time are we now fallen into, that the union of thofe in this
point, is the complaint of many of the godly ? The com-
miffion, in their letter to Stirling prefbytery, fets up the
committee's anfwer in a new drefs, and holds it out for fa-
tisfa£Hon to our confeiences. All that is anfwered may be
reduced to three or four heads.
1. There is made a great difference between an invafive
and defenfive war, as if in the one, choice of inftruments
ought to be fought : but in the cafe of juft and neceflary
defence, all fubje&s may be employed.
To which we anfwer, 1 . That the fcriptures cited con-
clude molt exprefly againft conjunctions of that kind in de-
fenfive wars. Such was Afa's covenant, fuch was Ahaz
his confederacy. Were not the reproofs of the prophets di-
rected particularly againft the peoples feeking of help from
Egypt and Anuria, in the cafe of % their own juft and necef-
fary defence? Jer. ii. 18. Hofea v. 13. and vii. 8, 11. Ifa.
viii. 12, 13. 2 Chron. xvi. to ver. 10. 2. The law and rule
given Deut. xxiii. is general, regulating all their wars whe-
ther defenfive or offenfive - 9 and it is ftrange that any fhould
imagine fuch a difference where the law makes none ; nay,
when the ground of the law is moral and general, equally
refpefting all wars. Is there any ground of confeience,
why wicked perfons may not be kept in the camp when we
invade others, and yet thefe may be employed and entruft-
ed when we defend ourfelves ? If there be any reaion to
prefer the one to the other in this point, we conceive de-
fenfive war (hould have the preference : Becaufe when the
Lord brings upon us unjuft invafion, he is ordinarily pur-
fuing a controverfy againft us: and therefore we ought to
be molt tender and circumfpeft, that there be no unclean
C 2 thing
2 s CASE o* CONSCIENCE.
thing in the camp, and put away every wicked thing from
us, even the appearance of evil ; left we add oil to the flame
of his indignation, and he feeing fuch an unclean thing in
us, turn yet further from us. Except we fay, that we need
not take care to have God in the camp with us, when we
are upon juft and neceflary defence, feeing our caufe is fo
good. 3. There is more hazard and danger to our religion
and liberties, to have a wicked malignant army at home
among us, t}ian abroad in another nation. While they are
here, they have the power of the fword, and can command
all ; but there might be fome hope and endeavour for vin-
dicating our own liberties and religion while they are a-
broad, as it fell out in th& time of the engagement.
; 2. It is anfwered, that there is a difference between this
cafe and the engagement, becaufe there was then no neceflity
of choofing fuch inftruments, a competency of power might
be had ; but now it is not fo, and therefore the fcriptures
mentioned -do not militate againft the prefent cafe. Anfw.
I. The fcriptures cited will obviate this. What made If-
rael and Judah run to Egypt or Aflyria for help, but their
weaknefs and neceffity ? Their wound was incurable, and
their bruife grievous, as Jeremiah often laments, and parti-
cularly chap. yiii. 20, 21, 22. and x. 19, but if ye forfake
"him he will forfake you. If any will reftrict this to idolatry,
he hath no ground from fcripture for fuch a limitation ;
but being engaged in the bufinefs, he wrefts the fcriptures
to his own deftruction. Sure we are, there are many pal-
pable forfakings of God, and Gbd's forfaking of men, befide
idolatry and falfp worfhip. 5. That which is faid, That
God did not command Amaziah to difmifs any of his own fub-
jeEls Either it makes not much to the prefent bufinefs, or
elfe it ftrikes againft the
z6 CASE of CONSCIENCE.
the foundation that being removed, all the building muft fall
to the ground. But we have in the firfl article evinced that,
which had been fcandalous to have proved, if it had not been
queilioned. If it were indeed true, that no malignants are
allowed to be employed, what needed the commiffion in their
letter to Stirling prefbytery take fo much pains from fcrip-
ture and reafon to juftify the prefent refolutions, when the
clearing of that one point had cleared all? As for the declaration
of the AfTerobly, anno 1648, It is anfwered, that none are to
be employed, that continue nctourly in the courfes of malig-
nancy , which was dene that year. Whereas the malignant
party that was then aflbciated with, would have engaged to
be faithful to all the ends of the covenant, many of them
were fucTi as had been in covenant, and made {hew of their
repentance for their defection from it : and fo there is no
difference in this particular.
2. The solemn acknowledgement of public fins is fo clear
and peremptory in this, that it makes me tremble to think
on it. Pag. 6. u Should we again break his commandments
" and covenant, by joining any more in affinity with the
%i people of thefe abominations, and take-in our bofom thefe
i€ ferpents, which have formerly flung us almoft to death?
M This, as it would argue much folly and madnefs, fo, no
w doubt, it would provoke the Lord to confume us till there
" be no remnant of efcaping." Let the 6th article alfo be
confidered. Join to this the declaration of the commiiTion,
upon report ci this enemy's invading, p. 6. where it is de-
clared, that malignants fhall not be aflbciated with, nay, not
countenanced and permitted to be in our armies. The Ge-
neral Aflembly after this, upon the enemy's entry into Scot-
land, gives ferious warning to the rulers, to take heed of
fnaresfrom that party : and that the rather, becaufe men ordi-
narily are fo taken with the fenfe of danger, as not to look
back to that which is belling them, &c. How often have wc
fentenced ourfelves unto wrath and confumption if we fhall
fall into this fin again ? All thefe and the like, are endeavoured
to be taken off, by faying that our engagements in this point,
"were conceived in a way of profecution of the caufe \ but to
be no impediment of: the juft and neceiTary defence, which wc
are bound to bynature's law, which nohuman law can infringe^
But we reply, 1. It is ftrange, our profecution of the caufc
thefe years pail, fhould be contradiflinguifhed from the de-
fence of it and the kingdom. It was conceived that our war in
England
CASE of CONSCIENCE. 37
England was defenfivS not invafive, that it was neccffitated
for the defence even of our kingdom, but it feems it is now
queftioned ; but palling what was afted abroad, certainly all
our wars at home were merely -defenfive, both againft unjuft
invafion and feditious infurreftions. Now our folemn en-
gagements were conceived, in relation to our aftings at home
efpecially, and modelling our armies for the defence of our
liberties and religion. We know well enough that a juft in-
vafive war is a rare accident in the world, and that the flock
of Jefus Chrift is, for the mod part, obnoxious to the vio-
lence of others, as fheep among wolves : but are not often
called to prey upon others. 2. To call our folemn engage-
ments and declarations, grounded upon our oaths and the
word of God, human laws and conftitufions, that muft cede
to Nature's law, it is indeed ingenuous dealing : becaufe to
juftify the prefent proceedings, there can be no more expe-
dient way, than to condemn bypaft refolutions for the pe-
remptorinefs of them, and to make them grounded on politic
confidera.tions, which are alterable : But it imports a great
change of principles. We conceive that all human laws that
are not for the matter grounded on the word of God, that
oblige not confcience but in the cafe of fcandal, and in re-
gard of the general end, are alterable and changeable, when-
ever they come in oppofition to the law of nature, felf-de-
fence, and the law of God written in his word. And there-
fore that aft. of parliament, mentioned /by the fcommiflion, dif-
charging all fubjefts not to rife without the king's command,
which was made ufe of againft bur firft taking arms, was no
ways binding on the fubjefts to rife in the defence of their
religion and liberties when in hazard. And we wonder that
that law (hould be compared to our folemn engagements,
which are grounded upon oaths and God's word, as touching
the very matter and fubftance of them,, as if our engagements
did no more bind us now, in cafe of defence, than that law
did bind us then. Royalifts might be excufed for prefer-
ring the king's will to God's ; but we cannot be pardoned for
equalling them : And efpecially while we conCder that that
fore-mentioned aft undoubtedly hath been intended for the
eftabliftiing of an arbitrary and abfolute power in the king's
hand, that the fubjefts may not have liberty to fave them-
felves, except the king will. Where God hath given us li-
berty by the law of nature, or his word, no king can juftly
tie us j, and when God binds and obliges us by any of tKefe,
P 2 no
28 CASE of CONSCIENCE.
no king or parliament can loofe or untie us. 3. The de-
claration of the Commiffion and Afiembly upon this invafionj
renews the fame bond of our former engagements ; yea, and
fpeaks exprefly, in the cafe of fewnefs and fcarcenefs of in-
ftruments, againft the unbelief of people that are ready in
danger to choofe any help. Therefore that which is faid in
anfwer, that at that time there was a choice of inftruments
which now is not, it may indeed conderrm and £alfify the de
clarations at that time, in the fuppofition of the paucity of
inftruments, and in the application of that doctrine and di
vine truth to that tirrje, but it doth not fpeak any thin^ a-
gainft the application of that truth therein contained in our
time ; it being more manifeft, that we have greater neceflity
and lefs choice of inftruments, and fo in greater hazard of
unbelief, and overlooking what is behind us.
3. It is of all considerations the moft confounding, to re-
fleft upon our former humiliations and fafts. How often
hath it been confefled to God, as the predominant public fin
of Scotland, countenancing and employing the malignant par-
ty ? But when we call particularly to mind the firft folemn
fail after the defeat at Dunbar, aftoniihment takes hold on
us, to think, that it is now defended as a duty, which, but
fome months ago, was folemnly confefled as a fin, the not
purging of the army, the obftructing of that work, and great
inclinations to keep in and fetch in fuch pcrfons, and the re-
pining at, and crying out againft all that was done in the
contrary, was then reckoned as the great caufe of God's
wrath, and his fad ftroke upon us. What diftraction may
this breed in the hearts of the people of the land, to hear the
fame thing complained of as a great fin to-day, and com-
mended as a necefiary duty to-morrow ? Is not all the land
prefently called to mourn for the king's fins, of which this is
one, the defigning a conjunftion with the malignant party,
and giving them warrant to rife in arms for the defence of
the kingdom ? Noav, how {hall they be able to reconcile thefe
in their own minds, at the fame time to mourn for that as a
fin in the king, which they hear commended as the duty of the
parliament ? To faft to-day for that as the king's fiii, which
they mull go about to-morrow as their own duty ? Tell it not
in Gathy publifh it not in Ajkelon> left the daughters of the Phi-
lijlines rejoice. Heathens may rife in judgment againft this
generation. Semper idem velle atque idem nolle hac demum
y \ ' ' ' fapientic
CASE of CONSCIENCE. * 9
fapientia eft. If any wife man be ubique b femper fibi par
& iderriy what ought a godly man to be ?
Afth Reafon. That which is an uncertain mean of preferva-
tion of the kingdom, and a more certain mean of deftru&ion
of religion, is utterly unlawful. But the employing and en-
trusting of all men promifcuoufly, according as is holden out
in the public refolutions, is, at beft, an uncertain mean of
the prefervation of the kingdom, and is a more certain mean
of the deftruftion of religion. Ergo, It is utterly unlawful.
The firft propofition cannot be denied. When any lefs good
comes in oppofition with a greater* good, the lefler good in
that refpeft becomes evil. We may not endanger certainly
a greater good, for the probable and uncertain attainment of u
the leiTer. The fecond propofition I know will be denied,
as it was denied in the time of the engagement by the com-
mittee of eftates. They faid, the danger of religion was not
infallible, that it might eventually fall out fo, but not by any
cafuality. And thus it is pleaded now, That the danger of
religion is not inevitable ; that the danger of the kingdom is
certain : and fo thefe being laid in the balance together, wc
ought, to efiphew a certain danger of the kingdom's deftrup-
tion, rather hazard on a probable danger of religion.
But we (hall clear this and confirm the reafon. i. The
danger of the ^ingdom is indeed great ; but it is not fo cer-
tain and inevitable in cafe of not employing the malignant par-
ty ; becaufe there may be fome competency of power befide.
Now the delivery and prefervation of the kingdom from this
danger, by conjunction with that party, is rather improbable;
becaufe we have fentenced ourfelves to deftrucfHon, if ever
we {hould do fuch a thing again. We are (landing under a
curfe, whereto we have bound over ourfelves ; and befide,
God is in a fpecial manner purfuing that generation, and
hath raifed up this enemy for their deftrucSlion ; fo that we
may with greater probability expeft to partake of their plagues,
and to fall under our own curfe, than to be delivered, or be
inftruments of deliverance to the kingdom. Or, at the beft,
it is uncertain : for what is more uncertain than the event
of war ? The battle in this fenfe may be faid peculiarly to
belong to the Lord. Now on the other hand, the danger of
religion is certain and inevitable, though not fimply in itfelf,
and abfolutely, (becaufe the Lord doth in heaven and earth
what he pleafes), yet with a moral certainty and infallibility,
which is often as great as phyfical certainty. Suppofe thefe
rnen,
3 e CASE of CONSCIENCE.
men, having the power of the fword, prevail, will they not
employ it according to their principles, and for attaining
their own ends, which both are deftru&ive to religion ? What
is more certain than that men aft and fpeak from the abun-
dance of the heart, when there is no outward reftraint ? It
{hould be a great wonder if they who are fo accuftomed to do
evil, (hould ceafe to do evil, when they have power and con-
venience to do it Power and greatnefs hath corrupted ma-
ny good men, fhall it convert them? Can men expedl other
fruits from a tree than the nature of it yields? Will one feekfigs
on thorns, or grapes on thiftles? 2. We do not fee what defence
it can be, for the prefent, to the kingdom, at leaft the godly and
well affected in the kingdom, who will be as much troubled in
their perfons and eftates by that party, as by the common ene-
my. It is known what threatenings the country is filled with,
which vents that inveterate malice and hatred to all the w*ell
affefled in the kingdom, which they have kept within their
breaft of a long time : and now they find opportunity of outing
it. It is asclearas day light, that themoftpart of all the fecluded
perfons look upon thefe that oppofed them in the engagement,
and (hut them out of places of truft, and capacity of employ-
ment, as enemies, and as great enemies as the fe&aries. And that
we may know what to expe£t when they have full power 41
their hands, they have already fo lift up their, head, that no
godly man can promife himfelf fecurity in many places ; and
efpecially the faithful gentlemen and people of the Weft,
who have given more proof of their faithfulnefs to the caufe
and kingdom againft the common enemy, than any others in
the land ; yet are daily fufFering violence from thefe prefer-
vators of the kingdom, while they are fufferers under the feet
of the enemy. When they have no common enemy, whom,
I befeech you, will they prey upon, feeing they do it already
while they have an enemy ?
But it is replied, That none of the leaft fufpicion are al-
lowed to be in fuch truft and power, as may be prejudicial
to religion ; and that an oath is to be taken of all, which is
to be conceived as particular, binding and ftri£t as poflible.
Anfw. 1 . What a manifeft receding is it from former prin-
ciples, that it is now conceived, that all places of truft, ex-
cepting fome few of eminent note, may be filled with feclud-
ed and debarred perfons, without the prejudice of religion ?
It is certain that moft part of officers, nominated by the parlia-
ment and {hires, are not onlyfuch,of whom there isjuft ground
of
CASE of CONSCIENCE. 31
ef fufpicion, but fuch as have been enemies by a&ual oppo-
fition to the caufe of God, or known underminers thereof.
Can ic be faid in good earneft, that none, of whom is any
fufpicion, (hall have fuch truft as may be prejudicial ? Sure
we are, there are many juft grounds of fufpicion and jea*
Ioufy of general perfons, who have chief truft in our armies:
and this the public judicatories are not ignorant of. 2. Oaths
and covenants are but like green cords about Samfon to bind
thefe men. Wotild we have them yet once again perjured;
then may we tender an oath to them. Put power in their hand,
and then make them fwear to employ it well. Tis as ridi-
culous as to give a madman a fword, and then perfuade him
to hurt none with it. There is no more capitulation with
fuch perfons, retaining their old principles, than with thefloods
or winds. Thefe whom that facred bond of covenant hath
not tied, what oath can bind ? Except you can change their
nature, do not fwear them to good behaviour. Can a leopard
change his fpots ?
$th Reafon. That which gives great offence and fcandal,
and lays a ftumbling-block in the way, both of the people of
the land and our enemies, efpecially in the way of the god-
ly -j that is unlawful. But the prefent affociation and con-
junction with all perfons in the kingdom (excepting a few,
if any) is fcandalous and offenfive to the whole land, to the
godly efpecially, and alfo to the enemy : therefore it is un-
lawful. The major is beyond all exception, if we confider
how peremptory Chrift and his apoftles are in the point of
offence which yet few Chriftians do confider. We ought
not only to beware of the offence of the godly, but even of
wicked men, even of our blafpheming enemies. Give no of-
fence neither to the Jew nor G entile ^ nor to the church of God.
Chrift would not offend and fcandalize his malicious enemies.*
The minor is proved. 1. There is great offence given to the
godly in the kingdom by the public refolutions, concerning
that conjunftion with the malignant party, under the name
and notion of fubje£ts. 1. Becaufe it is known that the mod
part of them are tender in that point, what fellowfhip they
aft with : and this hath been remonftrate unto the commil-
fion and committee of eftates, from feveral fynods. Now
the prefent refolution layeth that ftumbling-block in their
way, that they cannot aft in the defence of the kingdom :
becaufe there is no way left them, for the performing of that
duty, but that which they in their conferences are not fatis-
fled
3 2 CASE of CONSCIENCE.
fied with. It is a fad neceffity and fnare that is put upon
them, that they cannot perform their bound duty, which
they are moft defirous of, without fin, becaufe of the way that
is taken. 2. Is it not matter of offence and (tumbling to
them, to be neceffitated by law to that which was their af-
fliction ? The mixture that was in our armies was their
grief* and their comfort was that the judicatories were mint*
ing at their duty to purge them : but now there v is no hope
of attaining that ; all doors are {hut up by the public refolu-
tions. 3. It undoubtedly will weaken their hands, and make
their hearts faint ; fo that they cannot pray with affection
and in faith, for a bleffing upon fuch an army, the predomi-
nant and leading part whereof have been efteemed, and are
really enemies to God and his people. 4. Is it not a great
offence that any thing mould proceed from the public judi-
catories, that (hall lay a neceffity upon many godly in the
land, to fuffer, becaufe they cannot in conscience go along
with it ? Next it fcapdalizeth the whole land. What may
they think within themfelves, to fee fuch difTonancy and dis-
agreement between prefent and former refolutions and -prac-
tices ? What may they judge of the inconftancy and levity
of the commiffion ? and be induced to give no refpect and
reverence to them in their refolutions. Is it not, at leaft, a
very great appearance of evil to join with that party, that we
did declare and repute, but fome few weeks fiiice, to be wick-
ed enemies of religion and the kingdom ? and look hence-
forth on them as friends without fo much as any acknow-
ledgement of their fin had from them? Shall not they be ia-
duced to put no difference between the precious and the vile?
not to difcern between him that fears God and him that
fears him not, when the public refolutions put no difference?
Then, how will it confirm all the malignant party in their
wickednefs ? May they not think our folemn vows and en-
gagements, our rigid refolutions and proceedings were but all
contrived and adted of policy ; and that intereft and advan-
tage, and not conference, principled them ? Have they not
an occafion given them to perfecute all the godly, and vent
their long harboured malice againft thefe who have been moft
zealous for reformation and purging of the land ? Nay, they
are put in the capacity that they have defired, for a£ting all
their refolutions, and accompliming their defigns. And laft
of all, the prefent proceedings will not only encourage and
animate the common enemy, but confirm them in all the im-
putations
CASE os CONSCIENCE. 33
putatlons and calumnies they have loaded our church with.
May they not have ground to think, that we are but driving
on a politic defign and does not fingly aim at God's glory ?
That it is not grounds of confcience afts us, but fome'world-
ly intereft, when they look upon the inconftancy and change-
ablenefs of our way and courfe, which is fo accommodated
to occafions and times ? Can they think us men of confcience,
that will join with all thefe men of blood, before we will fo
much as fpeak with them ? It is replied, that the fcandal is
taken, and not given ; which mult not be ftood upon, in the
cafe of a neceflary duty. But, i. We cleared, that there is
no neceffity of that conjunction ; therefore the fcandal is
given, feeing it is known beforehand that it will be taken.
2. There are many grounds of offence given by the preient
refolutions, as appears by what is faid. If it were no more,
it is a great appearance of evil ; it is verv inductive of man J
evils ;. a mod fit occafion of all that is Ipoken j and befides,
it is in itfelf finful ; contrary to God's, and our oaths.
6th Reafon. That which makes glad all the wicked and
enemies of God in the land, and fad many, if not mod part,
cf the godly, hath much appearance and evidence, if not cer-
tainty, of evil, is unlawful. ^But the public refolutions and
proceedings are'Tuch. Ergo — Or thus: That which makes
glad all the wicked, and heightens the hope9 and expecta-
tions of the malignant party, and makes fad none almoft but
the godly, and difcourages their fpirits ; that, proceeding from
the public judicatories, cannot be right and lawful : But fo
it is, that that which proceeds from the public judicatories*
makes glad an the hearts of the wicked, and makes fad none*
almoft, but the godly \ heightens the hopes of the malignantsi
and makes them fay, their day is coming, Lc we have feen it :
and difcourages the godly, and makes them almoft fay, Owr
hope is cut of, our glory is departed., -Ergo, It cannot be right*
at leaft it hath a great and convincing appearance of evil.
This argument may be thought more popular, than either
philofophical or fcriptural : But fuch an argument the Ge-
neral Aflembly, 1648, made ufe of againft the engagement*
It is no ways imaginable, how the wicked and ungodly in the
land, would fo infult and rejoice in this day, if they faw not
fome legible characters upon it, which were agreeable to their
Own^principles and ends. The cttildren of God are, for the
moft part, Led by the Spirit of Gcd, and taught the way they
Jbould choofe, John xvi. 13. Pfal. xxv. 12. So that readily
E toy
34 CASE of CONSCIENCE.
they do not fkunner at courfes approven of God : But the
children of the world being, at beft, led by their o*vn carnal
minds and fenfes, and, for the moil part, afted by a fpirit of
difobedience and enmity againft God, they ufe not to rejoice
at things that do not fuit with their carnal hearts, and are not
engraven with the character of that which is imprinted in
their fpirits. We fee now that the wicked walk on every fide ',
when the vilejl men are exalted. And when the wicked rife^
the righteous is hidden ; and when they bear rule y the people
rn&urneth : but when righteous men are in authority -, the people
do rejoice : and when the righteous rejc*:ceth y there is great
glory, Pfal. xii. 8. Prov. xxviii. 12. and xxix. 2.
7th Reafon. That which is the accomplifhment and per-
fecting of the malignant defign, that hath been driven on thefe
years paft, efpecially fmce the unlawful engagement, it can-*
not be a courfe approven of God : But the prefent courfe is
the accomplifhment of that defign. Ergo, That there hath
been a defign, for a long time, driven and endeavoured, both
at home and abroad, with much policy and induftry, by ma-
ny turnings and windings, and by arguments of feveral kinds,
as the exigence of the times did furnifh : and that the defign
was, to have all fuch perfons in truft and power again, who
had been fecluded, that fo they might compafs their own
ends, hath not been denied hitherto ; and we are perfuaded
no man that fears God, and obferves the times, is ignorant
of it. Let the public papers of the treaty at Breda, and the
public papers of this kingdom and church at home, be con-
sulted ; they bear witnefs for us. Was not the foundation
of it laid in Holland? Many of thetn in both nations, brought
home with the king contrary to public refolutions, and by
the prevailing influence of fome in the flate, kept in the king-
dom, contrary to public refolutions ? Was not the work of
purging judicatories and armies obftructed ; the godly dif-
countenanccd and difcouraged ; great endeavours ufed to
raife the malignants in the South and in England ; and, fince
the defeat, to raife all without exception in the North,
but when that could not be obtained, by the withftanding
of honed men in the ftate ? The levies appointed, which
would have been a confiderable force for the defence of the
kingdom, was rendered wholly ineffectual ; partly by taking
money for men; partly by raifing the malignant party, and
then pretending to go againft them : They were pacified by
&n ad of indemnity, the fruit and refult of all which is, this
prefeiH
CASE of CONSCIENCE. 3$
prefent conjunftion with them, and putting the power of
judicatories and armies in their hand. Thus the defign b
compleated.
Zth Reafon. That which will increafe the Lord's indigna*
tion and controverfy againft the land, yet leven times more,
that is very unlawful and unfeafonable : But fo it is, that
confederacy and aflbciation with the people of thefe abomin-
ations, will increafe the Lord's indignation and controverfy
feven times more. Ergo, The afTumption wa$ aa manifest
and uncontroverted as the proportion, a few months ago,
but it is begun now to be queftioned by fome, qui quod fciunt
ne fciunt > quia Jap iunt. But we fhall evince it. i. We are
{landing under fuch a fentence, which we deliberately and
fincerely pad upon ourfelves, in the days of our vows to God,
that if we did ever any more join with the people of thefe
abominations, the Lord would confume us till there was nd
remnant. And this was not done in rafhnefsbut in fobriety,
and with a fcripture prefident, Ezra ix. 12, 13*. 2. Our ex-
perience hath made this clear to us. We never did mingle
ourfelves among them, but the Lord did purfue us with in-
dignation, ami damped that fin, as in vive characters, upon
our judgment. God hath fet upon that rock, that we have
fo oft fplit upon, a remarkable beacon. Therefore we do not
only in our folemn engagements, bind ourfelves over to a
curfe, in cafe of relapfing, but paiTes the. fentence of great
madnefs and folly on ourfelves. Pifcaior iclufapit. Experi-
ence makes fools wife, but it cannot cure madnefs. Did not
that mixture provoke God at Dunbar ? PixiA is this the way
to appeafe him, to revolt more and more ? 3. Conjunction
and confederacy with that party, doth neceffarily infer a com-
munion in blellings and plagues •, we mult caft in our lot
with them, and have all onepurfe. Now it hath been con-
feiTed and declared by this church, that God hath a notable
controverfy with that party, that this enemy is in an eminent
way to bear them down and crufh them. Therefore if we
join with them, we mull refolve to partake of their plagues,
and have that controverfy pleaded againft us alfo.
It is anfwered, That indignation need not be feared fimply
on this account, becaufe the means are lawful and neceffary $
elfe, if this have any force, it will conclude, that we (hould
lie down and do nothing, becaufe God's indignation is upon
the whole land.
But we reply, 1 . Though it be true, that this enemy is the
E 2 ' rod
3 though in that
cafe mifapplied. Now then, if they made confcience of
choofing. means of their own defence, a confederacy with fo-
reigners ; may not the fame ground lead us to a diftance with
our own countrymen, as unqualified, who have nothing to
commend them but that they are of the fame nation, which
is nothing in point of confcience. 3. The practice of other
nations, that are not tender in many greater points, cannot
be very convincing : efpecially, when we confider that the
Lord hath made light to arife, in this particular, more bright
than in former times, God hath taken occafion of illuftrat-
ing and commending many truths unto us in this generation,
from the darknefs of error, and of making flraight many
rules, from the crookednefs of mens practice and walking.
is not the Lord now performing the promife of purging out
the rebels from among us and them that tranfgrefs ? God
hath winked at former times of ignorance, but now, the
Lord having cleared his mind fo to us, how great madnefs
were it toforfake our own mercy , and defpife the counfel of God
againft our own fouls ? As for that inftance of our reformers,
there could not have been any thing brought more prejudicial
to that caufe, and more advantageous for us. After they
were twige beaten by the French in Leith, and their forces
fcattered, and the leaders and chief men of the congregation
forced to retirs to Stirling ; John Knox, preaching upon the
eightieth pfalm, and fearching the caufes of God's wrath a-
gainft them, he condefcends upon this as the chief caufe,
That they had received into their councils and forces, fuch
men as had formerly oppofed the congregation ; and fays, God
never bleft them firjes the Duke had come an\ong them,, See
' ' " Kho*
38 CASE of CONSCIENCE.
Knox* Cbron. 2. It cannot be fhewed that ever they took in a
party and fa&ion of fuch men,but only fome fewperfons ; which,
though it was not altogether juftifiable, yet more excufable.
But now the public refolutions hold forth a conjunction with
all the bloody murderers in the kingdom (excepting very few),
and thefe without profeffion of repentance in many, and
without evidence of the reality of it almoft in any. 3 Thefe
perfons were not fuch as had or^ce joined with the congre-
gation, and relapfed and become enemies to it : but they
turned to the proteftant religion from popery : But ours is a
different cafe.
2. It is argued from fcripture. Three fcripture inftances
are brought to juftify the prefent proceedings. The firft in-
stance is from the practice of God's people in the book of
Judges, who, when for ^defeft ion from religion they were
brought under oppreflion, yet when any governor was raifed
by God for their defence, they gathered and came all out
promifcuoufly, notwithftanding a great part of them had been
in the defeftion ; yet it is not found that th,eir governors arc
reproved for this, but rather fad curfes on them that came
not out to the work, Judges v. 15, 16, 17, 23. The fecond
inftance is from the ftory of the kings/ very like the firft ;
when, after defeftion, gracious reforming kings arofe, and
had to do againft foreign invafion, we find them not debar-
ring any fubje&s, but calling them out promifcuoufly : Nei-
ther is this laid to their charge, that they called out fuch and
fuch fubjedts, though we may perceive by the ftory of the
prophets, that the greater part of the body of the people
were wicked, let us have one purfe. My fen, walk
not thou in the way with them ; refrain thy foot from their
path. For their feet run to evil, and make haft to fhed bloody &c.
Here are the pra&ices and defigns of wicked men cxprefled
in their own nature : but certainly they would colour them
ever with fair pretences ; their purpofe is to undo men, efpe-
cially godly men that clafled and purged them. Yea, it is the
profeffion of many, and they fcarce lie privily, or have fo
much wifdom as to conceal their defigns till their fit oppor-
tunity : but before the power be confirmed in their hand,
they breathe out cruelty againft all the innocent in the land,
and promife themfelves great gain by it, and are already di-
viding their eftates among them, faying, we fhall find all pre-
cious fubjiance, ver. 13. But, my fon, if thou fear God,
though they entice thee with fpecious arguments of nature,
and neceffityy and country privileges, yet content not. Ven-
ture not thy ftock in one vefiel with them : call not in thy
lot among them. Walk not in the way vjith them : refrain
thy foot from their path : for they are not come to the height
of iniquity, they are running on to it : And if thou join, thou
wiit call thyfelf in a mifefable fnare ; for either thou muft
go on with them to their defigned and profefled evils, or be
expofed to their cruelty.
Chap. ii. from ver. is. to the end. When viifdonv enter eth
into
CASE of CONSCIENCE. 4 $
into thine heart y and knowledge is pleafant to thy foul, difcre-
tionfhall preferve thee, under/landing /halt keep thee. To de-
liver thee frcm the way of the evil man, from the man that
fpeaketh froward things. Who leave the paths of uprightnefs 9
to 'walk in the ways, of darknefs, &c. If thou take the word
of God for a lamp to thy feet, and it enter into thy foul, and
be received in love and affection, it will certainly keep thee
from the evil man's way, who have already left the righteous
parhs to walk in the ways of darknefs, who rejoice in nothing
lb miich as in the forrows and miferies of the godly, and de-
light in one another's wickednefs. And it will keep thee
chafte tp thy hufband Chrift Jefus, and preferve thee from
committing fornications with Egypt as Aholah and Aholibah,
and joining fo nearly with the degenerated feed of Abraham,
who are but as flrangers : for come near their houfe and
paths, and they will lead thee to deftruction with them, or
make thee a more miferable life; But thefe that go to therri
return not again quickly ; they are like fallen ftars, mall they
ever be fet in the firmament again ? It is fafeft to walk with
good and righteous men : for God's bleffing and promife is oil
them. His curfe and threatening is on the wicked : there-
fore thou may fear wrath on that account, if thou join with
them.
Chap. iv. ver. 14, to 20. Enter not into the path of the wick-
ed, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pafs not by it$
turn from it, and pafs away. For theyjleep not except they have
done mif chief : and their Jleep is taken away except they caufe.
fome to fall. For they eat the bread of wickednefs, and drink the
wine of violence. But the path of the jujl is as the Jbining
light, that fhineth more and more unto the perfetl day. The.
way of the wicked is as darknefs : and they know not at what
they fumble. It was faid, chap. iii. 23. that the man who
keeps wifdom and the fear of Cod in his heart, fboitld walk in the
way and not fumble. That fafety hath eafe in it here, their;
fteps are not ftraitened, as when a man walks in fteep and
hazardous places, which cannot choofe but it will be, if a
man enter into the path of wicked men, he muft either go
along in their way with them, and then it is broad indeed 5
or, if he think to keep a good confeience in it, he will be
pinched and ftraitened : therefore it is moll free for the
mind and confeience to avoid and pafs by that way : for they
Jleepmt, &c. they will never be fatisfied till they have done
1 mifchief, they will live upon the rvuns of the poor country.
Q And
jo CASE of CONSCIENCE.
And how wilt thou join in that ? Or how can then efchew
it if thou walk with them ? If it were no more, 'tis a fuf-
pe£ted by-path, that thou never travelled into. O pafs by
it •, or, if thou be entered, turn out of it. If thou wilt enter
upon the apprehenfion of fome light and duty in it,, know
that it is but evening, fun is fetting, and thou wilt be be-
aighted ere it be long : and thou (halt (tumble then and not
know whereupon, even on that thou fees now and thinks to
efchew and pafs by. Then from ver'. 25, to the end. Keep
thy heart 'with all diligence : for cut of it are the iffues of life ,
&c. Except thou keep thy heart and whole man, thou c'an»-
not efcape falling into fome temptation : O keep thy heart
diligently on the knowledge and love of the truth. Take
heed to thy words. LooTc not a-fquint but direftly to that
which is good. Give not a fquint look to any unlawful
courfe, for the neceflity or utility it may be teems to attend
it. But look ftraight on, and ponder well thy way thou
walks in, that thou run to no extremity either to one party
or other ; That thou walk in the middle way between pro-
fanity and error, thou held thefe ways hitherto for extremes.
Ponder, I befeech thee then, before thou walk in any of them;
fee whether they be really come to thee, or thou to them.
Mark who is changed.
Chap, v* 8, to the 15* Remove thy way far from her : and
(bme not near the door of her houfe. Left thou give thine ho-
nour unto others } and thy years unto the cruel. Left jl ranger*
he filled with thy wealth, and thy labours be in the houfe of a
Granger. And thou mourn at lajl, when thy flefh and. thy ;
are conftimed ; and fay, How have I hated inji l ruction ', and my
heart defpifed reproof? And have not obeyed the voice of my
teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that infirutled me, &c.
If thou would be fafe from fnares, remove from the way and
houfe of the ftrange woman. Thou mud fall in Aholah and
Aholibah's whoredoms, Ezek. xxiii. except thou come not
near them. If thou keep not from that aiTembly and con-
gregation, thou fhall be almofl in all evil. If thou join with
them, thou cannot but partake of their fins and plagues ; and
fo thou (halt fay after, when thou cannot well mend it, I was
near gone, my Jleps almofl gone, and all the affembly of his
people (hall witnefs to it.
Chap. vi. 16, 17, 18, 24, 25. Thefe fix things doth the Lord
hate, yea feven are an abomination unto him. A proud look,
a lying tongue, and hands that fbtd innocent blood. An heart
that
CASE of CONSCIENCE. y
t devifeth luicked imaginations , feet that be fwift in running
to mifcbief To keep thee from the Jlrange woman, from the
fiattery of the tongue of a Jlrange woman. Lujl not after
her beauty in thine heart ; neither let her take thee with her
eye-lids. Describes both our enemies, the malignant party
and the feclarian. Pride, violence, cruelty, lying, is the very
character of the one. Flattery, beauty of pretended religion*
falfe witnefling and charging ot the Lord's people, and feed-
ing to fow difcord among thcfe that were one in heart and
work, is the character of the other. Now, keep thee from
both thefe abominations : and do not think, it is in thy pow-
er not to be infected with the contagion of their fellowship.
Can a man ta in his bofom and his clothes not be burnt P
Can one go on hot coals and not burn his feet ? So whoever af-
fociates and goes in friendly to either of them fjal! not be-in-
no sent, ver. 27, 28, 29.
Chap. vii. 14, &c. / 'have peacer offerings with me, this day
hav: I paid riiy vows. They pretend religion on both fides.
And our church fays, The malignants have fatisfied them,
and repented, even like the peace-offerings and vows of the
.whore. 5he began with her devotion, that fhe might with
more liberty fin more, and have that pretence to cover it ;
and by means of her offerings, me got a feafl. of .the flefh.
Even as they by profefliqn of repentance are admitted to trull;
and by offering for the like fin, a new fin is covered, and vows. fm
undertaken never to be kept. Therefore take heed of thefe
fnares: For fhe hath cajl down many ftrong, ver. 26. Many a
tall cedar hath fallen by that fellowfhip. It is the way to
hell, i^/\ 27. See chap. viii. 13,
Chap. x. Shews us the very different eftafce of the godly
and wicked, both in regard of light and knowledge concern-
ing duty, and of bleflings promifed. Ver. 6, 9, n, 20, 23*
Blejfings are upon the head of the jujl : but violence covereth
the mouth, of the wicked. He that w.alkcth uprightly, walketh.
Jurcly : but he that perverteth his ways, /hall be known. The
mouth of a righteous man is a well of life : but violence ccver-
eth the mouth of the wicked. The tongue of the juji is as choice
fiver : the heart of the wicked is Utile worth. It is as a/port
to a fool to do mif chief ':. but a man of under/landing hath wif-
dim, &c. ver. 24^ 25, 28, 31, 32. Which (hews us, that if
the Lord's mind be revealed to any concerning the prefent
courfes, it mud be to his poor people that wait on him, and
not to all the wicked and ungodly in the land, who almoft
G 2 onlg
jp CASE of CONSCIENCE-
only are fatisfied and clear in the courfe, who yet before were
never fatisfied. And befide, though the Lord be chaftifing
his people, yet o*e may join with them without fear of wrath
and indignation on that account, and with hope of partaking
of their bleflings, when he cannot and dare not join with a
wicked party purfued with wrath and indignation in the fame
difpenfation. Which may be more clear from chap. xi. 3,
5, 8 The integrity of the upright /ball guide them : hut the
ferverfenefs of tranfgrejfors Jhall dejiroy them. The right eouf-
itefs of the perfetl fhall diretl his way : but the wicked fball
fall by his own wickednefs. The righteous is delivered out of
trouble and the wicked comet h in his flead. And ver. 10, 11.
(hews the different condition of people under wicked rulers
and godly. ' All the wicked now rejoice ; none fhouts but
them, they think' their day is come: the godly generally
hang their head and are discountenanced. Even as Pfal. xii.
The 21, and 31 ver. fhews that when godly men are chaftifed
and punifhed in the earth for their fins, much more wicked,
efpecially when the godly were chaftifed for partaking with
them, according to 1 Pet. iv. 17, 18. Ifa. x. 12. and xlix. 12.
Chap. xii. 13: They are fnared by the tranfgreffion of their
lips ; their ordinary common fpeeches they drop out with,
declare them and make their ctuife more hateful than other
pretences it is covered \rith would permit. Yea, they fpeak
like the piercings of a fword againft the godly, ver. 11. If
our ftate and church had a lip of truth/ they would fpeak al-
ways the fame thing, they would not carry in their talk and
writings, as now every common underftanding perceives.
We may find their writings made up of contradictions: For
a lying tcngite is but for a moment , ver. 19. It is but for a
moment indeed before the judicatory, and then out of doors
It contradi&s itfelf/as in the mock repentances. But forrow
and anguifh will come to thefe, who before they would fpeak
of terms of peace with one enemy, would affociate in war
with another. ; But to the counfellors of peace is joy, ver. 20.
^he prefcnt courfe contradi£ts this.' Ver. 26. The righteous
is more excellent than his neighbour : but the way of the wick"
ed feduceth him. They think thefe malignants better than
the weft country forces; they would condefcend to any terms
to get their helpj though it were to ranverfe the Act of
Oafies, to give them indemnity ; yea, not fo much as to con-
demn their way : but they will not fo much as clear the ftate
fi th,e quarrel, or choofe a better general for all their help.
Their
CASE of CONSCIENCE. 53
T/fcir^uay feems good in their own eyes, ver. 15. But it were
wifdom to hearken to the counfcl of the godly.
Chap. xiii. 10. Only by pride cometh contention: but with
the well advifed is wifdom. There is nothing keepeth up our
contention and wars but pride : no party will condefcend to
another. We will not fay we have done wrong in bringing
in the king ; they will not fay they have done wrong in in-
vading : But it were wifdom to fall lower and quit thofe in-
terefts. Ver. 16. Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge :
but a fool Uyeth open his folly. A wife man would count be-
fore the war, if he can accomplifh it : and if he cannot, then
he would fend meflengers of peace, and cede in all things he
may without fm. If it be but more honour and wealth to
our king, fhould we deftroy the kingdom to purchafe that ?
Our rafh and abrupt proceedings (hews our folly. Ver. 20.
He that walketh with wife menjhall be wife : But a companion
of fools f}j all be dejlroyed. A man will be, muft be affimilated
to his company, and then partake of their judgment or blef-
fings.
Chap. xiv. He that is accuftomed to fpeak truth in private,
will in his common fpeech be a faithful witnefs in public :
but a man accuftomed to lying, diflembling, fwearing in pri-
vate, will not (tick to forfwear himfelf, to make profeflions
and vows contrary to his mind in public, ver. 5. (which is
alfo chap. xii. 17. and vi. 19.) Such men feek wifdom and
make a (hew of religion, but find it not ; whereas it is eafy
to godly men to find it, to find repentance and falvation, v. 6.
Go away from foolifh men and break off fociety with ungod-
ly men ; be not privy to their counfels ; ufe them not as fpe-
cial friends, when thou perceives that ail means are ufed in
vain to reclaim them from their damnable way and principles,
ver. 7. The knowledge a godly man hath, it ferves to di-
rect his way, and is given of God for it : But all the wit and
(kill of fuch wicked men is deceit ; they themfelves are be-
guiled by it in opinion and pradtice, and hope. And they
• •Alfo beguile others, ver. 8. Sin makes fools agree : But a-
mong the righteous, that which is good makes agreement
(in the old tranflation) ver. 9. It is only evil will unite all
the wicked in the land as one man : for 'tis afport to them to
do mifchief chap. x. 23. Albeit our way feem right in our
eyes, yet becaufe it is a backfliding way, and departing from
unqueftionably right rules, the end will be deaths and we will
be filled with our own devices. O it (hall be bitter in the belly
of
f
;* CASE of CONSCIENCE.
of all godly .men when they have eaten it^ ver. X2, i/\. and
chap. i. 31. The fimple b.elieveih every word; giveth credit
to every vain word that is fpoken : But a prudent man look-
^th well to mens goings 5 ponder^ and examines whether
their profeflions and practices agree; what weight is in their
words, by the infpe&ion of their deeds, and of their ordina-
ry fpeaking ; and does not account a coined word before *i
judicatory fufScient to tefiify repentance : and as he gives
not prefent credit to their prpfeffions, who have fo often
proven treacherous ; fo he himfelf fears at every appearance
of evil, and keeps himfelf from it ; v/hereas foolifh fouls rage
and are confident; think any thing lawful if they can have
any pretence for it, or ufe of it, ver. 15, io\ Then, what
a great difference is between wicked #nd godly men, both in
their lot, when God is correcting both ? And in their dif-
pofition, wiftlom that refts in the one's heart, is manifested ;
wrckednefs in the other's heart appears alfo. In the midft
of Tuch men there is no other thing, ver. 32, 33.
Chap. xv. 8. The facrijice of the 'wicked is an abomination- to
the Lord; but the prayer of the upright is his delight y exprefies
how provoking a thing the outward prpfeffions and facrifices of
wicked men, continuing in their wickednefs, what an abomin-
ation that commonly called public repentance, or ecclefiaftic^l
holinefs is, when men are vifibly unholy and ungodly in their
converfation : And therefore he pleaded always with that peo-
ple, that his foul abhorred their external ceremonies, ffftaufejf
the uncleannefs of their bands. He .pleaded that he never
commanded them, though indeed he did command them ;
yet thufe were aberrations and departings from the exprefs
rule and command, to accept or be pleafed with thefe Sacri-
fices and ceremonies, when there was no evidence of real re-
pentance. To this purpofe are chap. xxi. 4, .27. Ifa- i. ir.
and lxvi. 3. Jer. vi. 20. and viL 22. Amos v. 22. All which
fhew that it is but a mocking of the Lord, and perverting of
his law,. and profaning of his ordinances, to accept the pro-
feflion of repentance in thofe who walk contrary thereto,
and to count them ecclefiaftically holy enough, who fay > they
repent; though a thoufand aftions witnefs the contrary. Of
-fuch the Lord fays, What, haft thou to do to take my covenant
in thy mouthy feeing thou hates to be reformed ? i?fal.l. 16, 17.
They have no right to it, they fliould not be admitted to it :
for it is a taking the Lord's name in vain. The 16 verfe tells
us, that it had been better to poffcfc our own l^nd m quiet-
nefs,
CASE or CONSCIENCE. y 5
tte'fs, than to venture what we have for the uncertain con-
cfueft of England, and reftitution of the king, parallel with
Eccl. iv. 8.
Chap. xvi. 7. When a man's ivdys pleafe the Lord y he maketh
even his enemies to be at peace with him. Can our ftates way
then pleafe the Lord, feeing they cannot find the way of
£eace ? They will not walk in it ; and feeing they make the
^odly in the land to fall out with them, and none to be at
peace but the wicked, who may thereby get opportunity to
crufh the godly. Ver. 17. The highway bf the upright is tb
depart from evil. This is the highway only to depart from
evil, not carnal policies, nor advantages. He thinks the ftep-
ping afide to any of thefe is not the highway. Can then
Aien change their way, and go crofs to it, and keep the righ*
way in both ? No, the godly have this way and keep it,
Chap. xvii. 11. An evil man feeketh only rebellion ; therefore d
erne I mejfenger Jhall befent againjl him- Evil men feek only
rebellion, and delights in no other thing : But the King of
kings (hall fend a cruel meflenger ; he arms men with wrath
and power againft them. Ver. 13 fpeaketh fadly to the En-
glifli and to our ftate, that rewarded the weft country evil for
good. Ver. 14, 19. tells us how we fhould advife before we
begin a war, and leave no mean of compofmg difference and
ftrife uneffayed. We did more in it than the Englifh, but
not all we might have done Ver. 15. with chap, xviii. 5.
is a dreadful fentence againft the public judicatories, that
all their refolutions, papers, and practices, jtfftify the wicked
and ungodly as honeft faithful men, and condemn all ap-
proven faithful men, that cannot go along in fuch courfes,
or were earned to have them repent, as both malignants and
feftaries. Do they not pronounce all malignants friends,
and abfolve them from the fentences and clafles they ftand
under ? An3 do they not put the godly in their place ? They
relax the punifhment of the one, and imputes tranfgreflion
to the other ; and fo brings them under a law. See Exod.
xxiii 7. Prov. xxiv. 24- Ifa. v. 23. and the 26 verfe of this
chapter. It is not good to punifli godly men, who have
given conftant proof of their integrity, for abftaining' from
fuch a courfe, at leaft having fo much appearance of evil,
that many diftinftions will never make the multitude to believe
that We are walking according to former principles, becaufe
their fenfe obferves the quite contrary practices, &c.
Chap. Sffift 2. ji j col hath no delight in undemanding, hut
that
5 6 CASE of CONSCIENCE.
that his heart may difcover it/elf. Shews, that if the prefent
caufe and courfe were of God, and tended fo much to his glory^
fools or wicked men would have no fuch delight in it : for
they delight in nothing but what is agreeable to their hu-
mour, to difcover themfelves, 6f< Ver. 3. gives the true
reafon, why our public judicatories and armies are fo bafe .
and contemptible ; why contempt and (hame is poured on
them ; becaufe, when the wicked comes > then alfo comes con-
tempt, and with the vile man, reproach, ver. 13. He that an*
fwcreth a caufe before he hear it, it is folly and f hame unto him.
Many pafs peremptory fentence upon the honefl party in the
weft, before they hear all parties, and be thoroughly inform-
ed, and this is a folly and fname to them. They hear thfc
ftate and church and what they can fay for their way; and
indeed they feem juft, becaufe they are fir ft in with their
caufe, and they will hot hear another ; but he that comes af-
ter will make inquiry, and difcover thofe fallacies. Ver. 34.
There is a friend that fticketh cloffr that a brother. A godly
neighbour, not fo near in natural bonds to us, that is a furer
friend than many brethren in the flefti. Thefe bonds of
country and kindred, fnould all cede to God's intereft. See
chap. xvii. 17.
Chap. xix. 22. A marts defire is his kindnefs : and a poor
man is better than a liar. The godly, that cannot concur in
the public caufe being difabled through an invincible impedi-
ment of fin lying in the way and means made ufe of, are
better friends, and have more real good will to the eftablifh-
ment and peace of the land, than any ungodly man, let him
be never fo forward in the prefent courfe. Ver. 10. Plea-
fure and its attendants are not comely for a wicked man, i. e.
foolifh man ; much lefs for zfervant, i. e. men enthralled in
their lufts, to rule over princes, i e. godly men, highly pri-
vileged by God- All things that are good do ill become
them; but worft of all to have power and fuperiority over
good men, ver. 25. joined with chap xxi. 11. Ring-leaders
of wickednefs, refra&ory and incorrigible perfons fhpuld
have been made examples to others, and this would have
prevented much mifchief. The fcripture gives ground for
putting difference between the fcorner and fimple, feducers
and feduced.
Chap. xx. 6- xxi 2. and xvi. 2. Mofl men will proclaim
every one his own goodnefs ; bat a faithful man who can find?
It is no great wonder that malignants fay they repent ; and
the
CASE of CONSCIENCE. 57
the ftate and church fay they keep the fame principles': for who
will fay any evil of himfelf ? Ver 8. Magiftrates fhould fcatter
away evil men with their countenance, by denying it to them,
and looking down on them : How then do our rulers gather
them ? Ver. 3. (hews that war and ftrife fhould not be kept
up but in extreme neceflity : fools will be meddling. Ver. 1 1.
(hews that the beft way of judging of men is by their doings
and fruits, not {trained words and confeflions. But thefe
who, upon a bare profeflion, pronounce a notour malignant
a frieud, having no proof of their integrity, and will not have
any judged fiich, but fuch as judicially are debarred ; yet they,
contrary to all the teftimbny of Works and fruits, judge and
condemn honeft men as traitors, though not judicially con-
victed. Certainly divers fneafures are an abomination to the
Lordy as in ver. 10. Then ver. 15. facrilege is defcribed, and
covered perjury, which is a fnare to the foul that commits it,.
to devour that 'which is holy, i. e. Employeth to common ufe
thefe things God hath fet apart, and commanded to be kept
holy, as otfr profaning of repentance and abfolution by catt-
ing fuch pearls to fwine, and for our own advantage making
a cloke of them to bring in wicked men, contrary to the very
nature and inftitution of the ordinance. Alfo our proftituting
of our covenant and caufe, moft holy things, to maintain un-
holy or common interefts. Our committing his holy things
to them that will devour them. And after vows to make in-
quiry, to difpute now, that we did not bind ourfelves in the
cafe of neceffity, not to employ wicked men ; when as the
ground is perpetual and holds in all cafes. It mews either
temerity in fwearing, or impiety in enquiring afterward and
changing. See Deut. xxiii. 21. Then ver. 26. A wife king
fcattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel ever them. O
that our magiftrates were fo wife ! Is the aft of levy a (bat-
tering of the wicked ? Is the aft of indemnity a bringing the
wheel over them ? Pfal. ci. 8. I will early dcjlroy, &e.
In chap. xxi. 10. The foul of the wicked defireih evil, his
neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes. The wicked's princi-
ples carry no where but to evil, and to do evil to good men,
ver. 8. His way and life is full of horrible and tragical
chances : But a good man's work is eafy and pleafant; direfts
to a good and peaceable end, Ifa. xxvi. 7. In vtr: 12. A righ-
teous man fhould have his wit about him, to confider ungod-
ly houfes and families, and perfons that God hath vifible
<;or,tr overflies with, that he may not communicate with them
H r in
jS CASE of CONSCIENCE.
in their judgments, ver. i<5. It is a fad wandering out of the
way, when a man leaves the congregation of the living to
abide among the dead. Dead in fins and appointed to death.
It is a great judgment as well as fin. Ver. 27, with the 4.
and places before cited, (hew how abominable the external
profeflions and pretences of wicked men are, when contra-
dicted by their practice ; efpecially if they do it but out of a
wicked mind, when they intend to effect fome mifchicf, un-
der the colour of repentance and being reconciled to the
church. As Abfalom's vow at Hebron •, as Balaam and Ba-
lak, and the Pharifees, who under pretence of long prayers
devoured widows houfes ; as Jezebel's faft •, and as the peo-
ple, Ifa. lviii. 4. who fafted for ftrife and debate, and to ftrike
with the fift of wickednefs. All men know fhat the church
is the ladder to ftep up upon to ga to preferment, and re-
pentance the door to enter to places of truft.
Chap. xxii. 3. A prudent man forefeet h the evil and hideth
himfelf but the Jimple pafs on and are punifhed. He is a wife man
that knows the judgment of the Lord, as the ftork and fvval-
low the time of their coming, that in the consideration of
fins and threatenings, and comparing things fpiritual with
fpiritual, apprehendeth judgment coming on fuch a courfe
and fuch a party, and hides himfelf, goes afide, retires to a
covert, by avoiding thefe evils, and the leaft fellowfhip with
them that bring it on, and efchewing fuch a fociety as hath
the cloud hanging directly above their head : but fimple idiots
and blind worldlings go on head-long^ and dread nothing,
and are punifhed, ver. 5. Moft grievous plagues and punifli-
ments, and all manner of unhappinefs encumbereth their
wicked life : Therefore he that would keep himfelf pure and
dean, 1 John v. 18. and fave his own foul, (hall be far from
them ; (hall keep himfelf far from fuch people. He prays
with Job, Let their crunfel be far from me. Job xxi. 16, 17.
Becaufe their good is not in their hand, their candle is oft put
out 9 &c. And refolves with Jacob, My foul Jhall not enter
Into their fecret, to have fuch intimacy with them, as join
counfels with them, Gen. xlix. 6. And vor. 10, 11. Caft out
of thy company, family, jurifdiction, the fcorner that con-
temns the godly men, and mocks inftruction : for fuch men
are infectious, and able to corrupt all they converfe with :
But caft him out, and contention (hall go out with him. It
is fuch only that m^rs the union of the godly, that ftirs up
ftrife, and foments divifions. Thou (halt have more peace,
and
CASE of CONSCIENCE. 59
and be more free from fin and fhame. But, found-hearted
upright men., who deal faithfully, not to pleafe but to profit,
you (liould ehoofe thefe to entruft and rely upon ; thefe
fhould be the friends of kings. Ver. 14 As a harlot's al-
lurements are like pits to catch men, fo the allurements of
wicked ungodly men, their power, policy, <6c. and their fair
fpeeches and flatteries, are a deep ditch to catch men into this
fpiritual whoredom and fornication fpoken of Ezek. xxiii.
And he whom God is provoked with, by former wickednefs,
falls into it, Eccl vii. 26. Ver. 24, 25. Make not friendjhip
with ail angry man : and with a furious man thou /ball not
go, &c And is not affociation in arms with fuch, as friends
againft ar* enemy, a making frisn^fhip with them we are
fworn to hold as enemies ? If we may not converfe with a
furious pafiionate man, how then with men of blood, enrag-
ed, whofe inveterate malice hath now occafion to vent againft
all the godly ? For thou wilt learn his ways, as we have al-
ways feen it by experience, and thou wilt get a fnare to thy
foul : If thou go not in his ways you cannot agree, you will
fall but and quarrel, and that is a fnare to thee. Ver. 28.
Remove not the ancient land-mark which thy fathers have fet.
If it be fo dreadful and accurfed to remove our neighbour's
marks and bounds, O how much more to change and alter
God's land-mark ; his privileges, oaths 'and covenants, did take away the unlawful oaths of intrants to
the miniftry, caft out the fervice-book, book of canons, book
of ordination, and the high commiflion 5 did depofe and ex-
communicate the prelates, did declare prelacy to have been
abjured by the Ccnfeflion of Faith 158©, and to be removed
out of this kirk, and Five Articles of Perth to have been ab-
jured and removed by the fame Confeffion, and did reftore
kirk-feflions, prefbyteries, provincial and national aflemblies
unto their full integrity in their members, privileges, liber-
ties,
CROHWELL's f OLERATION. 97
ties, powers, and jurifdiftions, as they are conftituted by the
book of policy, regiftrated in the books of the aflembiy 150c,
and ordained to be fubfcribed 1590, 1591, and make fundry
other laudable a£ls and conftitutions, tending to the purging
of the church, and advancement and fettlement of the work
of reformation. And though this aflembiy, and the deter-
mlnatioris thereof, were afterwards much oppofed by the
popifh, prelatical, and malignant party ; yet did the Lord fa
countenance his fervants and people in this land, and his
work in their hands, that the reformation was fully eftabiifh-
ed, and at laft ratified arid confirmed both by king and par-
liament, in the year 1641. Then was there a fweet com-
bination of truth and peace in the land, and the Lord did in
a good meafure pour his Spirit from on high, by which the
wildernefs was turned into fruitful fields, and the fruitful
field into a fore ft ; in contemplation of which wonderful
mercies and blefiings of God, that they might teftify their
thankfulnefs for the fame, and fecure them fo far as did ie
in them unto their pofterity, and lend a helpirig hahd unto
their brethren in England, who then were 'wreftling in the
fire againft the unjuft violence and cruelty of the popifh, pre-
litical, and malignant party ; who by their evil counfeis, had
ftirred up the king, firft to forfake, and afterwards to make
war againft the parliament then looking at reformation : This
church and nation did, in the year 1643, upon the parliament
of England's calling for their heip againft the common enemy,
propound unto them, that there might be a folemn covenant
entered into by all the three nations, of 5cotland,England, and
Ireland, which being agreed upon, Was accordingly profecut-
ed and carried on in all the three nations*
Therefore, as we do from our fouls blefs the Lord, who
did put fuch a thing into the hearts of his people, to engage
themfelves in a covenant to his holy arid blefled Majefty, and
one to another in fubordination to him, in order to thefe
things that concern truth, and holinefs, and righfeoufnefs 5
fo we do hold ourfelves bound to teftify our cordial approba-
tion of, and real adherence unto that memorable and never
to be forgotten folemn league and covenant of England, Scon
land, and Ireland ; being perfuaded in our minds, and con-
vinced in our confeiences, that it is a duty for people and
nations, who profefs the name of the Lord, to enter in cove-
nant with him ; this being indeed the firft and great com-
jnandmeut of the law, that we (hould have no other gods be-
^8 TESTIMONY against
fore him, and that we fhould avouch the Lord to be our God,
and to walk in his ways, and to keep his ftatutes, and his
commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken to hi^
voice, Exod. xx. 2, 3. Deut. xxvi. 16, 17, 18, 19. and that
whereof we have many memorable and praife-worthy prece-
dents in the book of God, efpecially when a people were cal-
led to repent and turn unto God after public backfliding and
defe&ion, or were feeking a right way for eftablifhing of
themfelves in the midft of fnares, or of engaging of the Lord
to help them in (traits, and flrengthen them unto great and
eminent undertakings, or to exprefs their thankfulnefs for
great and wonderful mercies and deliverances, Deut xxix. i,
2. 2Chron. xv. 12, 13, 14, 15. and xxix. 10. and xxxiv. 31,
32. Neh. ix. 39. and x. 29, And being no lefs perfuaded in
our minds, and convinced in our confciences, that our folemn
league and covenant, in the year 1643, * s f° r ^ e niatter juft
and warrantable, for the ends neceflary and commendable, for
the time feafonable, and for the parties honourable ; the mat-
ter and ends are all thefe precious things that are involved in
pum religion, true liberty, and a well grounded uniformity
in the former, and union and peace in the latter j or (to fpeak
it in the words of a reverend divine) this oath is fuch, and
in the matter and confequence of it of fuch concernment, as
we can truly fay, it is worthy of us; yea, of all thefe king-
doms, yea, of all the kingdoms of the world ; for it is fwear-
ing fealty and allegiance unto Chrift the King of kings, and
a giving up of all thefe kingdoms, which are his inheritance,
to be fubdued more to his throne, and ruled more by hi6
fceptre, upon whofe {houlders the government is laid, and in
the exercife of whofe government and peace there (hall be no
end. The parties are the true God, the living God, the e-
verlafting King, glorious in holinefs, fearful in praifes, and
doing wonders ; and the three -kingdoms of England, Scot-
land and Ireland ; who though as all the nations, in compari-
fon of him, are but as the drop of a bucket, and vanity, and
lefs than vanity and nothing ; yet fuch as through his grace
were amongft the firft fruits of the Gentiles, and are for the
knowledge and acknowledgement of Jefus Chrift, in name
and farrte, parallel unto if not beyond any kingdoms of the
world. The feafon was the deplorable eftate of the church
and kingdom of Ireland ; the diftrefTed eftate of the church
and kingdom of England; and the dangerous eftate of the
church and kingdom of Scotland, that we may t*uly fay,
(with
CROMWELL'S TOLERATION. 99
(with iht reverend divine already mentioned) fuch an oath,
for matter, perfons and other circumftances, the like hath
not been in any age or oath we read of in iacred or human
ftories, yet fuificiently warranted in both. This folemn league
and covenant, as it was a&ually fworn, and taken by the
whole body of Scotland, from the higheft to the loweit, fo
alfo by the honourable houfes of the parliament of England,
the aflembly of divines, the renowned city of London, and
multitudes, not only of the people, but of perfons of eminent
rank and quality throughout that nation, and the nation of
Ireland, and all this by the authority and perfuafion of the
powers civil and ecclefialMc ; who can have forgotten how
deliberately it was reiblved ? how unanimoufly it was con-
cluded ? how joyfully it was received and entertained ? The
refpe£tive authorities of church and date in Scotland, did ali
with one voice approve and embrace the fame, as the mod
powerful mean, by the bleffing of God, for fettling and pre-
serving the true proteftant religion with perfedt peace in thefe
nations, and propagating the fame to other nations ; and af-
ter taking of the fame themfelves, did ordain it alfo to be
with public humiliation, and all religious folemnitics, receiv-
ed, fworn and fubfcribed by all minifters and profeflbrs with-
in this kirk, and fubject6 within this kingdom - 7 which was
accordingly done by the whole body of the land, and in many
perfons and congregations attended with the feelings of that
joy, and comfortable influences of the Spirit of God in the
enlargements and meltings of hearts, which they did find in
fo great meafure upon the renovation of the national cove-
nant, in the year 1638. And this folemn oath of God being
already taken by .the honourable houfes of the parliament o£
England, by the renowned city of London, and by the reve-
rend aflembly of divines, the lords and commons in parliament,
upon the account of its being thought a fit and excellent
means to acquire the favour of Almighty God towards the
three kingdoms, of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and like-
wife to unite them, and by uniting, to ftrengthen and fortify
them againft the common enemy, and the true reformed re-
ligion, peace and profperity of thefe kingdoms ; did order
and ordain, That the fame covenant be folemnly taken
throughout the kingdom of England, and dominion of Wales,
and-did condefcend upon directions and inftruttions for the
better and more orderly taking thereof by all the officers and
foldieri, by the cguntieg and committees, by the univerfities,
N a by
im TESTIMONY against
by the minifters and parifhes then under the power of tfie par-
liament : And asf errors, and herefies, and blafphemies that have been broach*-
td, and have broken out in thefe nations in our days ; whe>
ther fuch as deny and oppugn the divine authority of the holy
fcriptures, or the facred Trinity of perfons, Father, Son, and
Holy Ghoft, in the bleffed unity of effence and being, one
infinite, eternal and almighty God ; the Deity of the Son of
God; the Deity of the Holy Ghoft; God's holy and eternal
decrees of ele&ion and reprobation; the creation of the world$
the being of good and evil angels ; original fin ; the immor-
tality of the foul ; the refurrection of the body ; th$ day of
judgment ; eternal life and death j the two natures of Jefus
Chrift, and the union thereof in one perfon •, the real merit
and (atisfying virtue of his death and paffion to take away fin
and wrath, and redeeming of fouls from the guilt and bon-
dage thereof, and thefe only who are given to him of the
Father, and not all and every individual man ; or the impo*
tency and deadnefs of man's will to all fpiritual and fuper-
natural good ; or the true nature of faith ; or j unification by
the free grace of God through the imputed righteoufnefs of
Chrift taken hold of by faith ; or the ufe of the moral law to
believers ; the inbeing of fin and of a body of death in be-
lievers ; or their confeffing and acknowledging of fin, and
praying unto God for pardon thereof ; ox their heing chaf-
tifed
i© 4 TESTIMONY against
tifed of God for their fins \ or the ordinances of Chrift a>
fuperfluous and not neceflary to a faint \ or the morality of
the Lord's day ; or the baptizing of infants born within the
church ; or the lawfulnefs of oaths ; or degrees prohibited in
marriage, Lev. xviii. the government of the hbufe of God
by prefbyteries and fynods ; and whatfoever is contrary to
the law and to the teftimony, under whatfoever names or
forms ; whether Atheifm, Antifcripturifm, Arianifm, Seep-
ticifm, Socinianifin, Popery, Pelagianifm, Familifirij Armi-
nianifm, Antinomianifm, Libertiniim, Anabaptifrti, Eraftian-
ifm, Prelacy, Separatifm, Independency •, and whatfoever elfe
that is condemned by the word of God, that hath been pub*
lifted in thefe nations thefe years part, or is on foot therein
at this day, the particulars whereof being fo many and va-
rious, would be tedious and irkfome to enumerate : Yea, as
we do difclaim and teflify againft all of thefe, fo we judge
that many of thefe are for their groflhefs to be abhorred, and
do wifli that they could for ever be buried in immortal obli-
vion, never to be mentioned nor heard of any more in the
churches of God \ but when they are vented, and many of
them countenanced and encouraged, unto the provoking of
the God of truth in a high meafure \ to the affronting and
treading under-foot his precious truth and ordinances-, to
the fubverring and deftroying of many fouls ; to the re-
proach of the churches of Chrift at home, and fcandaliz-
ing of thefe that are abroad ; to the grief of the godly, and
infulting and mocking of the profanes to the amazement of
friends, and joy and rejoicing of adverftries, who can hold
his peace ? Nay, we are afraid that God will, in fome emin-
ent way, declare his wrath from heaven againft thefe lands,
becaufe of that curfed monftrous brood of errors^ herefies v
and blafphemies that hath been hatched and bred up therein
thefe years paft, and alas, with too little contradiftion; would
to God not too much connivance and countenance from thefe
who might have done much for crufhing that cockatrice in
the (hell.
3. As we do profefs cur diflatisfa&ion that the civil powers
fliould take upon them by themfelves, ordinarily to prefcribc
public humiliation and thankfgiving, with the caufes and
diets thereof, to all the minifters and members of this church,
as being contrary to the well warranted privileges and con-
ftant practice of the church itfelf, and in its own nature in-
troductory to greater encroachments, and puning into the
hand*
CROMWELI/s TOLERATION. 105
ha,rids of the cfrvil power, the modelling of the public wor-»
(hip of God, and things mod properly ecclefiaftic ; fo we de-
fire with that fobriety that becomes Chriftians, and that faith-
fulnefs and zeal that becomes the minifters of the gofpel, td
bear witnefs againft thefe injuries that are done to the true
reformed proteftant religion, profefled in this church, and
held forth in our Confeffion of Faith and Catechifms, and
Direftories for worfhip and government, by that late petition
of advice offered by the late parliament at Weftminfter to his
late Highnefs, and confented unto by him in the article con-
cerning religitfn, and now homologated by the eftablifhrr.ent
made of that government in the perfon of his fon according
thereto. 1. Becaufe that article, though it do provide that
the true proteftant religion, as it is contained in the holy
fcriptures of the Old and New Teftament, be held forth and
afFerted for the public profeffion of thefe nations ; yet by pre-
fcinding from all o#r former Confeflions of Faith, and at-
tainments in the work of reformation, and by providing thati
a Confeffion of Faith yet to be agreed upon by his Highnefg
and the parliament, according to the rule and warrant of the
fcriptures, be afierted, held forth and recommended to the
people of thefe nations, it doth wave and caft loofe all thefe
former attainments and Confeffions of Faith from being the
tejfera of our public profefFion, and import a very great re-
flexion upon the religion which, fince the reformation front
popery, hath been profefled amongft us, and giveth no fnvall
fcarrdal to the churches of God at home and abroad, and no
fmall advantage to papifts and other adverfaries, by minifter-
ing unto tftem but too juft occafion to think and fay, that
after a hundred years profeffing of the proteftant religion, we
have it and the Confeffion of our Faith thereanent yet to feekjj
and to be determined upon ; yea, it leaveth it doubtful, what
is or may be underftood by the proteftant religion mentioned
in the article; whether that called Calvinifm, .or Lutheran-
ifm, or Arminianifm, or any other that layeth claim to the
name of the proteftant, or fome complex of all or more of
thefe, or the things wherein all of them do agree, laying afide
the things wherein they differ. 2. Becaufe the determina-
tions concerning religion made in that article, though reach-
ing to Scotland, no lefs than to England and Ireland, wer*
enafted and eftablifhed in a law, not onjy without the previ-
ous determination of a fynod or aflembly of this church, but
alfo without fo jwuch as advice taken or ecnfttltaiion had with
€> anj
iq6 TESTIMONY against
any of her fynods and aflemblies ; yea, whilft fome of her
niinifters were earneftly defiring and prefling the contrary,
and that any civil power fhould at the firft inftant, efpecial-
ly in a churdi conftituted, whofe eftablifhed doffcrine, wor-
(hip, difcipline, and government, they are bound not only by
the common tie of the magiftrate's duty, but alfo by the par-
ticular oath of God, to preferve inviolable, take upon them
of, and by themfelves, to determine things of fo intimate and
important concernment to religion ; yea, take upon them to
caft loofe their former good and praife-worthy fettlements,
and to determine the public confeflion of that church and na-
tion, (as is hinted in that petition of advice) we conceive to
be contrary to the word of God* which hath put into the
hands of the officers of his own hoiife (and not into the hands
of the powers of the world) the keys of his own houfe, whe-*
ther the key of knowledge, or doftrine, that confifts in ex-
pounding and preaching of the word, a*fd determining con-
troverfies of faith, according to the rule of the fcriptures, or
the key of order and decency, by which circumftances of or-
der and worfhip in the houfe of God are determined, accord-
ing to the general rules of the word, concerning order and
decency, or the key of difcipline for exercifing of church cen*
fures upon the fcandalous and obftinate, or the key of or-
daining and fending forth of church officers, for fpiritual fer-
tices and miniftrations in the houfe of God, Matth. xvi. 19.
John xx. 23. Mai. ii. 7. Deut. xvii. 9, 10, 11. Lev. x. 10.
Ezek. xxii. 26. and xxxiii. 23, 14, Rev. ii 2, 14, 15. Arts-
xv. 6, tic. and xvi. 4. John xviii. 36. 2 Chron. xxvi. 16, 6r.
and to be contrary to the Confeffion of the Faith and con-
ftant tenor of the do&rine of this church, and former good
and laudable laws of the land, as will appear from the large
Confeffion of Faith in the head of councils, (to which alfo
agreeth the confeffion of Faith, firft agreed upon by the aflem-
bly of divines at Weftminfter, anno 1646, in the head of
fynods and councils, and in the head concerning the ci-
vil magiftrate) and the remonflrances and declarations of the
general aflemblies of this church, particularly from the de-
claration of the general aflembly, againft the unlawful en-
gagement in war againft England, anno 1648, and from fe-
veral atts of parliament, particularly from the firft aft of the
twelfth parliament of King James, held at Edinburgh, June
c. 1 C92. yea, to be contrary tathe Confeffions of Faith and
tedy of the d$£trine of the proteftant churches, which do
generally
1
CROMWELL'S TOLERATION. i*f
generally and harmonioufly teach an ecclefiaftic power in the
officers of the houfe of God, diftin<5t from, and independent
upon the civil powers, to which belongeth the exercife and
ufe of the keys of the kingdom of Chrift : and therefore for
the civil power to affume it, is to tranfgrefs the bounds, and
to remove the land-marks which are fet by God, againft
which the faithful men of God, who Kved in this church in
the days of our fathers, did wknefs in the midft of difficul-
ties and dangers. 3. We hold ourfely.es bound to witnefs a-
gainft that article, becaufe of the toleration of many errors
and herefies, and things that are contrary to found do&rine
and the power of godlinefs that is therein framed and efta-
blifhed in a law, viz. Of all thefe that are confident with
profefling faith in God the Father, and in Jefus Chrift his
eternal Son, the true God, and in the holy Spirit, God co-
equal with the Father and the Son, one God bleffed for ever,
and with acknowledging the holy fcriptures of the Old and
New Teftament to be the revealed will and word of God f
whilft the maintainers thereof abufe not this liberty to th$>
civil injury of others, or the difturbance of the public peace ;
fo that this liberty be not extended to popery or prelacy, or
to. the countenancing fuch who publifh horrible blafphemies,
pr pra&ife, or hold forth licentipufnefs or profanenefs under
the profeffion of Chrift, and therefore not only unto Armi-
nianifm, Antinomianifm, Anabaptifm, Eraftianifm, Separate
ifm, 3, 14. Pfal. ci. 1. 1 Tim. ii. 3, 12. John x. ii.
Tit. iii. 10, 11. Rev. ii. 6 % 14, 15, 16, 20. Deut. xiii. 6, ir f
#r. Jofh. xxii. 11. 1 Kings xviii. 40. 2 Chron. xv. 16, 17.
1 Kiags xii. 26. 2 Kings xvii. 18. Ezek. xxiii. 45, 49. Amqg v.
13. Zech. xiii. 3. Therefore have the commiffipners of the*ge-
neral aflembly of this church witneffed plainly and fully againft
tjbis toleration, whilft it was but yst in the bud, anno 1649.
O 2 And
*e* TESTIMONY against
And the reverend aflembly of divines at Weftminfter, as they
have in the Larger Catechifm, in the expofition of the fecond
commandment, reckoned the tolerating of faHe religions a-
mongft therms forbidden therein; fo in the Confeffion of
Faith, they do afiert it to be the duty of the magiftrate to
fake order that the truth of God be kept ?pure and entire ;
that all blafphemies and herefies be fupprefled ; all corrup-
tions and abtifes in worfhip and difcipline prevented or re*
formed ; and all the ordinances of God duly fettled, admini-
stered and obferved : and it is a covering will be found not
of the Lord's' Spirit, to fay, that thefe commandments and
precedents, and th'reatenings from the word of God, do not
concern the magiftrate in the days of the gofpel, not only be-
taufe the ends'and reafons thereof, viz. The glory of God,
and the prefervation of the image of God, which con-
fifts in holineCs and righteoufnefs amongft the children of
men, are moral and perpetual ; but alfo becaufe as the Lord
fcath prophefied and promifed of the Chriftian magiftrate in
the days of the gofpel, that he {hall not defile the phace of the
•Cord's* throne, and the place of the foles of his feet where
he will dwell in the midft of his people, in their fetcing up
of their threftiolds by his threftiolds, and their pofts by his
pofts, Ezek. xliii 7, 8. aad that they {hall thruft through the
falfe prophets, Zech. xiiil 3. So hath the Lord Jefus Chrift
himfelf, who is the King of kings and Lord of lords, ftiown
them an example, by making a fcourge of cords, and driving
buyers and fellers out of the temple, which was the only a<3
of corripulfive and external power that we read of him, to
have exercifcd in all his life, that he might therein give an
example of that zeal for the houfe of God, which ought to
pofiefs all thefe againft the profaners of his temple, and pol-
luters of his church, to whom God hath given a coaftive
power over the outward man : And the apoftle Paul, Rom.
xiii. in laying down the magiftrate's duty, hath inftru&ed us,
that he beareth the fword to be a terror to evil works ; we
niean, fuch as appearing in the outward man, do mar the
glory of God and the good of men, and are fubjeft to cog-
nizance and trial by men, of which fort are many errors, and
herefies, and blafphemies, 2 Phil. 2. 2 John 10. 2 Tim. iii.
13. Tit. iii. 10. Rom. xvi. 17. And is it not prophefisd in
the book of the Revelation, That the kingdoms of the world
Jball become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Chrift ; and
that the ten horns Jball hate the ivhore, and make her defolate
4W
CROMWELL's TOLERATION. I»g
and naked> and fl:all cat herJte/Jj and burn her ivithjire y Resr.
xi. 15. and xvii. 16. Yea, is not the prefent powers, their
taking upon them to reftrain popery and prelacy, an undeni-
able acknowledgement that the civil magiftrate hath power gi-
ven of God fo to do ? and if in thefe things, why not in o-
ther things that are no lefs prejudicial to the glory of God,
and fpiritual good of men ? 2. Becaufe fuch a toleration is
utterly repugnant unto, and inconfiftent with the indifpenfi-
ble oath of God in the folemn league and covenant, profeffed
to be made in the prefence of Almighty God the fearcher of
all hearts, with a true intent to perform the fame, as we fhall
anfwer at that great day, whsn the fecrets of all hearts fhall
be difclofed. Is this toleration the performing of thefe vow?
of God upon us ? Or is it not the way to call loofe the re-
formed religion in Scotland ; to hinder reformation in Eng-
land ; to mar uniformity in one Confeflion of Faith, Direc-
tory of Worfhip, Catechifm, and form of church government?
And (hall we hereby extirpate fuperftition, herefy, fchifm,
profanenefs, and whatsoever {hall be found contrary to found
doctrine and to the power of godlinefs ? Or is it not the way to
nurfe them upon our breafts, and dandle them upoh our knees ?
Is this to free our fouls from the guilt of other mens fins ?
Or is it not to fuffer fin upon them, yea, to partake with
them therein, and fo partake of their plagues ? Is this to
make the Lord one and his name one in the three kingdoms?
Or is it not rather to multiply our gods according to the
number of our cities ? 3. Becaufe this toleration, by the
countenance which it hath had in this nation thefe feven
years paft, hath already produced many fad and finful effects,
fuch as the growth and increafe of popery ; the fpreading of
Libertinifm, Quakerifm, Anabaptifm, and the profaning of
the Lord's day,' and defpifing of the ordinances and public
aflemblies of the Lord's people •, the contempt and calling
loofe of church difcipline ; the caixfelefs and unjuft revolt of
men of a malignant fpirit from their own lawful paftors and
church officers, and fundry fuch like, that are deftruclive un-
to piety and godlinefs, and to unity and order. And if God
(hall not be gracioufly pleafed, by a wonderful work of power
And mercy to prevent it, what can be expected, when it is
now framed into a law, and all laws to the contrary repealed
and taken away, but that it (hould prove the inlet to all fort
of error, and diftraftion and confufion ? Who knows not how
fertile the fpirit of man js ©f vain imaginations, and how
pro'ne
no TESTIMONY against
prone to change the truth of God into a lie, that hardly cam
all thefe bounds that are fet unto it, and thefe bands that are
put upon it by the Lord, when improven by men to the ut-
molt diligence and care kept from debording into error and
loofenefs, (hall it not then overflow all its banks when it may
do it without contradiction •, yea, in many things expeCt coun-
tenance and protection therein ? Our hearts tremble to think
how the glory of God (hail be trodden under-foot ; how the
precious truths of the gofpel fiiall be corrupted and pervert-
ed \ how the ordinances of Chrift (hall be contemned and fet
at nought ; how his government (halL be overthrown ; his
officers had in contempt ; his worfhip polluted \ his day pro-
faned ; how peoples minds (hall be troubled, and fouls fub-
verted ; how the power of gqcilinefs (hall be eaten up with
vain janglings ; how the whole work of reformation (hall not
only be retarded and obffruCted, but in a great meafure (if
not utterly) rendered v<5ki; how, inftead of reformation w«
fhall have deformation ; inftead of the power of godlinefs,
vain jangling \ inftead of love, bitter heart-burnings and jea-
loufies ; inftead of union, fchrfm and divifion ; inftead of
peace^ contention and ftrife \ ipfte^d of order and govern*
ment, anarchy and confufion ; yea, wh^t elf^can be the fruits
that fuch an evil tree can bring forth, or the ftreams that can
iffue from fo bitter and impure a fountain, but th^t at laft our
candleftick fliould be removed, and our fun fet in a fad night
of obfcure darknefs ? It is above all contradiction, that as the
fee of Rome, thefe hundred years paft, hath always had an
eye upon Britain, for reducing the churches of Chrift there-
in unto their former fubjeCtion unto the man of fin, fo hath
not her hopes been more heightened hy any thing, than by
this toleration ; becaufe thereby advantage is miniftered for
fending forth her emifTaries, for crying down a ipiniftry and
ordinances, and perverting of the precious truths of God, and
inftiinng into peoples minds the feeds of the popiih doCtrine,
which maketh many wife men fear that thefe nations ihall
again, at lait, be carried back again into Rome, and be fwalr
lowed in popifh fuperftition and idolatry.
Next, as we do profefs the farrow of our hearts, fp we do
teftify the abhorrence of our fouls, againft ail the injuries and
affronts that have been or are offered and done to the na-
tional covenant of Scotland, and to the folemn league and
covenant of England, Scotland, and Ireland, It is too much
fin upon thefe nations (whereof we acknowledge ourfelves to
have
CROMWELL's TOLERATION. in
have a large (hare) that they have not attended the dufies to
which they are refpeclively engaged therein, with that fin-
cerity, reality and conrtancy that befeems fo facred and fo-
lemn vows made unto God, but have, through the power of
an unfound and luke-warm heart, and an unftable fpirit,
come (hort exceedingly therein ; yea, have fallen in many
breaches of all the articles thereof. But what a dreadful a-
ftonifhing thing is it, the like whereof we believe hath fcarce
been heard amongft the heathen, that thefc folemn vows and
covenants (which for the folemnity, hath had but few paral-
]els among the nations) fhould not only be fcorned and de-
rided by open adverfarids, but vilified, reproached, oppofed
and trodden under-foot by many who have therein opened
their mouths unto God, and fubferibed and fealed them with
their hands ; yea, fought to be buried in oblivion, that the
riame thereof as to the obligation of them, may be no more
mentioned nor remembered. We cannot remember nor re-
peat but with much indignation and abhorrency of fpirit,
how fome have railed upon* and reviled it, to that neight of
impudence and impiety, as to call it Nehuftane, the brazen
ferpent that (hould be broken to pieces, and ground to pow-
der, left men faH down to worfhip it, and to compare the
preffing of it to the papiits holding up the idolatrous eucharift
in the eyes of the people, that they may fall down arid worfhip
it \ and how others of no better fpirit have been bold to call
it a device of the devil, a curfed covenant hatched in hell:
And which doth more afflift us, as being a more public fin
upon thefc nations, ndt only is there no law nor declaration,
fince the year 1651, declaring the (landing obligation there-
of, and former laws and declarations relating thereunto to be
ftill in force, but the very formal tie and obligation thereof
is forgotten and laid afide } and all laws, ftatutes and ordin-
ances, and claufes in any law, ftatute and ordinance, relating
to the tie and eftablifhment thereof, repealed, fo far as they
are contrary to the liberty and toleration in things religious,
held forth in the^etition of advice. Oh that we were fenfible
of the difhonour that is done to God in thefe things, and of
the dreadful guilt that thefe nations are involved into thereby,
and of the great wrath that is like to come thereupon becaufc
of the fame. If covenant breaking be a moll hainous and
dangerous offence complained of, condemned, threatened,
and fevcrely plagued of God, Pfal. lxxviii. 34, 35, 36, 37.
jtTi xi. xo. aEingsxvii. 15. kev^xxvi, 25. Deut. xxjx. 20,
21*
ua TESTIMONY against
21, 22, 23, 24. Jer. xxii. 8, 9. Ezek. xvii. 1$. Amos 1. 9.
Jofh. vii. 1 1, 12. 2 Sam. xxi. r, 2. If it be true which was
delivered from the word of the Lord by a jeverend divine,
in his exhortation made to the honourable houfe of commons,
and reverend divines of the afiembly at London^ before he
read the covenant, that a truce-breaker is reckoned up amongft
the vileft of Chriftians, 2 Tim. iii. 3. So a covenant-breaker
is lifted amongft the word of heathens* Rom. i. 31. And
which from the fame word pf truth was delivered by another
reverend divine, at the taking of the covenant, by the honour-
able committee of eftates, and reverend commiffioners of the
general aflembly in Scotland, That Cod would Jbake out every
man from his houfe, and from his labour, that performed not the
words of this promife, Neh .v. 13. If (we fay) thefe be the true
fayings of God, as no doubt they are, becaufe delivered by
the God of truth, in the fcriptures of truth, have we not rea-
fon upon the hearing thereof, to be afraid, that great is the
wrath of the Lord that is kindled againft the inhabitants cyf
thefe nations, becaufe of forfaking and defpifing of his cove-
nant ; and upon that account, not only to mourn and humble
ourfelves in private, but alfo to give public warning thereof
unto others, that (if the Lord fo will) we may perfuade tbent
alfo to humble themfelves, and repent ; or if they will not
hearken and hear, that we may deliver our own fouls, by
bearing witnefs to God and his truth, and by not hating our
brother in our heart, but in any wife rebuking our neighbour,
and not fuffering fin upon him, Lev. xix. 17.
In the laft place,- we do alfo, as minifters of the gofpel,
teftify our diilike, that the civil powers, who now bear rule
over this nation, fhould engrofs into their treafury, the legal
fettled maintenance of all the Vacant churches into the land,
and put the difpofing thereof into the hands of a civil judi-
catory, without whofe intervening approbation and warrant
(notwithftanding of their being called by the congregation,
and approven awd admitted by the prefbytery) none (hall be
authorized or admitted to any fuch vacant li\ting or benefice,
as is due to the miniftry in Scotland, and that they do not
allow them this approbation and warrant, until firft they do
declare under their hands, their purpofe and refolution to live
peaceably under the prefent government. 1. Becaufe this
way is contrary unto the word of God. fThe divine right of
the maintenance of minifters is a truth that is clearly tafcght
tn the fcriptures^ both of the Old and New Teftament, Numb.
xviii.
CROMWELL'S TOLERATION. n 3
*vlii. 8, 9. Deut. xiv 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 2Q. Ezek*
xlv. r, 2, 3, 4, 5, dj 7. Matth. x. 10. Luke x. 7. 1 Cor. ix«
4>5> 6> 1j 8, 9, io, 11, 12, 13, 14. Gal. vi. 6. 1 Tim. v. 17*
And the fcriptufes alfo teach, that as It is the magiftnfte'a
duty to fee fufficient provifioh made for the miniftry, and (if
need be) to fupply their want out of their own treafury, Ifa;
xlix. 23. and Jx. 10. I Chron. xxix. ij 2, 3, 4 2 Chron xxxi,
2, 3, 4, &c. Neh. xiii 10, it, 12^ 13. Gen. xivii. 22. So alfo
that is a great fin before the Lord for them, or any oiher, to
take away or devour, or intervert holy things that are now
already fettled and devoted unto the maintenance of the gof-
pel, and of the worfhip of God, Lev. xxvii 10, 32, 33. Deut.
xxvi. 12, 13, 14, 15. Prov. xx. 25. 2 Kings xvi. T7. 2 Chron.
xxv, 24. Joel iii. 4, 5. Mai. iii; 8, 9. A£ls xix. 37. Rom ii.
2 2. Add to thefe things, that the church of Scotland hath a
proper patrimony and rents of her own, competent for the
entertaining of her minifters, founded for moil part upon the
tithes and allocations out of the fame, and upon particular
donations and mortifications of private and pvtbiic benefao.
tors. 2* That there is nd footftep in the word of God of
the civil magiftrate his approbation of a minifter in the houfe
of God, as necefiary, before he have right unto, or power to
intromit with his maintenance, or of the civil magiftrate hi3
being warranted to put a bar upon the legal maintenance of
the minifters of the gofpel, that is due unto them by virtue
of their office, or to ijeftrairt it, until firft they have given
bonds for their peaceable deportment under his government;
but that upon the contrary, the word of the Lord doth clear*
ly teach, that minifters maintenance is due by virtue of their
office, and without any fuch interventmg approbation from
the civil magiftrate, or any fuch bonds required of them, or
given by them 2 The Holy Ghoft, Lev. vii. 35, 36. calleth the
maintenance of the priefts, the portion of their anointing, in
the day when he prefented them to minifter unto the Lord
in the prieft's office, which the Lord commanded to be given
them of the children of Ifrael, in the day when he anointed
them, by a ftatute for ever, throughout their generations >
Which is repeated again, Numb, xviii. 18. Their maintenance
is in many texts of fcripture, called their inheritance, which
th«y were as freely to enjoy, as the people did enjoy their in-
heritances. The light of nature taught a heathen king to allow
heathen priefts fomewhat more in the freedom of their en-
joyments, than to the reft of his fubje&s* Gen. xlvii. 22. and
P th«
ii4 TESTIMONY against
. the part of Levi's covenant of minifters, having accefs to their
maintenance freely by virtue of their office, is of force under
the gofpel, as well as under the law, as we may fee from the
xlvth chapter of the prophecy of Ezekiel : It is there appoint-
ed that an holy portion of the land be afligned for the priefts^
the minifters of the fanfiuary, and given unto them imme-
diately by the affignment and commandment of God, with-
out fuch interventing approbation of any civil authority, or
any fuch promifes required of them, or made by them, as
previous unto their right thereunto. And the fame thing
is alfo clearly consequent from thefe texts in the New Tefta-
ment which we have cited already, that do prove the main-
tenance of minifters under the gofpel, to be due unto them,
jure divinOy and by virtue of their office. - 3. This way of af-
fuming and difpofing of the maintenance of the minifters of
the gofpel, is contrary unto the liberties, and privileges, and
conftitutions of this church, founded upon the word of God,
and confirmed by a conftant current of many wholefome laws
and acts of parliament, made in favours of the church. 17? Book
of Discipline, head fifth and Sixth, si Book of Discipline, chap.
ix, x, xii. Aft of the General Afiembly at Edinburgh, Dec. 25*
1566. Articles touching reformation condefcended upon in the
Aflembly at Edinburgh, July 21. 1567. Aft of theAffembly at
Edinburgh, April 24. 1576. Aft of Parliament at Edinburgh,
Oft. 24. 15S1 Aft of Parliament at Edinburgh, Jan. 1. 1592.
As alfo, the 6th, >]th y and Sth Ads of King Charles lid's Par-
liament at Edinburgh, June 1 1. 1640 with many other acts of
the general aflemblies of this church, and acts of parliament
of this nation, as will eafily appear to any that Avail pcrufe
the regifters of kirk and ftate 4. Becaufe it doth clearly
tend unto the bringing of the church and the minifters there-
of in bondage unto the lufts and will of men, by taking from
them liberty of difcharging their confciences in declaring all
the counfel of God, and reproving of the fins of all men freely,
and without refpeft of perfons. Thus being bound in the
fpirit, we have been conitrained in this cold and declining
time (wherein few are valiant for the truth, or do faithfully
and zealouflv plead for the Lord and his interefts, and many
do confpire for niaking void of his law, though, blefled be his
Majefty, he wants not a cloud of honourable witnefles in thefe
nations, who have gone before us in thefe things, the meafure
of whole teftimony we do defire in fome things to fill up, ac-
cording to the light and itrength which we have received
of
CROMWELL'S TOLERATION 115
C)f the Lord,) to ftand up for his precious truth, and to testi-
fy before God, angels and men, our owning and approving
of the do£trine, worfhip and government of the church of
Scotland, and of the national covenant, and of the folemn
league and covenant of the three nations, and of fo much of
the work of uniformity in religion, as is attained in one Con-
feflion of Faith, Directory of Worfhip, form of church go-
vernment, and catechifmg ; and to profefs and avouch our ad-
herence unto all thefe, as having their foundations laid in the
bleffed word of truth, and as being agreeable to that rule that
bringeth peace in walking according thereto ; and to difclaim
and difavow all things that are contrary and deflruftive there-
unto, efpecially the manifold errors and herefies of thefe
times, and the vaft toleration thereof now eftablifhed in a law,
and that grofs Eraftianifm whereby the keys of the kingdom
of heaven are in many things, by exotic powers, extorted out
of the hands of Jefus Chrift, and the officers of his houfe, and
the liberties of his houfe wronged, and his fervants brought
into bondage, in all which we have (fo far as we have obtain-
ed mercy to know our own hearts) confidence to take God
to record upon our fouls, that we have not defired nor dtfign-
ed to provoke any, nor to appear fingular ; but in the fimpli-
City of our hearts, to difcharge our confeiences to our flocks,
and to this whole church and nation, and to all that are inters
efted and concerned in thefe things, and to the churches and
faints abroad, as many as hear hereof, and to our pofterity
when we are gone. And therefore we have only to add, firft,
That it is the earneft defire of our fouls, and our ferious ex-
hortation and warning to thefe of our flocks, and to all the
Lord's people in the land, that they would labour to have the
word of God richly dwelling in them, that they may be able
to try the fpirits, and to difcern of things that differ ; to know
what is truth, and what is error, and what is right, and what
is wrong ; and that they would fludy to be rooted in the
faith and in the love of Jefus Chrift, and of his precious truth
and ordinances, retaining an honourable eftimation thereof
in their hearts, and exprefling their fincere affe&ion and re-
fpeft thereunto in all their ways, and that they would ftudy
to keep frefh upon their fouls, the remembrance of all the
goodnefs of the Lord, and of all the great works that he hath
done for us, and for our fathers of old ; and of our folemn
vows and covenants made with God in the fight of angels
apd men a and uever to fuffer fuch forgetfulnefs and profanity
P 2 to
n6 TESTIMONY against
to poflefs them, as to think themfelves loofed from the true
and genuine tie thereof ; but to keep themfelves under the
bond of the fame, and fincerely, really and conftantly, to erir
deavour the performance of the duties to which they are
thereby obliged, and that they may not be offended nor ftum-
hle at Jefus Chrift and his work, nor faint, nor caft away
their confidence, becaufe of backflidings, and revoltings, and
divifions, and herefies ; or becaufe of disappointments, and
reproaches, and contradictions, and oppositions, and oppref-
lions, and persecutions, for thefe things muft be, that they
Which are approven may be made manifeft, but that they be
ftrong in the Lord, and in the power of his mjght, porTeffing
their fouls in patience^ and waiting for his falvation, know-
ing, that he that endureth to the end, (hall be faved ; and in
the mean while, comforting themfelves in this, that God hatk
not rait off the care of his church and people in this land.
It is a mercy mod' worthy of our obfervafion, that errors and
fcerefies, notwithstanding all trie advantages they have had
thefe fe v en years paft in Scotland, have taken hold but of
few prcfefibrs, formerly noted for the knowledge and love of
the truth; and that the preaching of the gofpel, notwith-
ftanding all the difacl vantages ithafhbeen attended wit^ thefe
years, yet hath been bleffed of God in feveral places of the
land, to the bringing in and building up of fouls.; an evidence
that the Lord is yet amongft us, and a promifing branch of
hope that he will revive his work, and bring forth his rem-
nant, and continue to dwell (n our lane}. And we are alfo
bold in our God, to warn the higher powers, into whofe
band the Lord hath, in the depths of his righteous judgments,
given this nation, that they would not Took upon this our
teflimony, as proceeding from any evil fpirit, or carnal or
politic defign, but from the fincere and innocent impreflions
of our duty made upon our hearts by Jefus Chrift whp
though he is the Prince of peace, yet did the zeal of the
Lord's houfe eat him up, and make him witnefs againft the
corrupters of his truth, and polluters of his worfhip, and pro-
faners of his temple, and all unrighteoufnefs of men) nor de-
fpife the words of fobernefs and truth, which though, pro-
ceeding but from a very few poor weak mftruments, yet we
are fure, have their foundations in the fcriptures of truth,
and are, as to the matter confirmed •, we hope, with the heart
approbation of many of the thoufands of the Ifrael of God in
this land, but that laying afide the balances of outward dif-
! penfation?,
CROMWELL'S TOLERATION. uj
penfations, and politiaprinciples and intendments, they would
weigh things in the balance of the Lord's fan&uary, and in
the fear of the great and dreadful name of the Lord, fearch
and try their way in order to this nation -> efpecially in or-
der to the houfe of God, which doth in a great meafure lie
wafte ; yea, would to God were not laid wafte and made de-
folate, and the hedges thereof broken down, whilft men run
to build and fence their own houfe with the fpoils and ruins
of the houfe of God : The wrath of God is revealed from
heaven againft all ungodlinefs and unrighteouinefs of men.
Jerufalem hath been a cup of trembling and a burdenfome
ftone io many people, and hath cut them in pieces,' who
have burdened themfelves therewith, Zech. xii, 2, 3. and the
vengeance of the Lord's temple hath broken in pieces many
of the powers of the earth, Jer. 1. 15, 28. And whoever
have endeavoured to raife themfelves upon the ruins of his
houfe, have been buried under the rubbifli thereof-, yea,
where fervices hath been otherwife commanded and profper^
ed of the Lord : Yet when men for rooting of themfelves
have remitted their zeal for the houfe of God, and counten-
anced the worfhipping of calves and idol gods, their former
fervices have been imputed unto them for iniquity, and the
Lord hath threatened to avenge them upon them and their
houfe, 2 Kings x. 29, 32- Hofea i. 4. And therefore it con-
cerns the higher powers that now are, under the peril of the
dreadful difpleafure of the Lord of hods, who is zealous for v
his holy temple, and for his people, timeoufly and ferioufly
to confider of thefe things, and whether their a£Hngs, in or-
der to this nation and church in thofe things that concern
righteoufnefs and religion, be agreeable to the rule of equity,
and to the bond of the brotherly covenant; or if the royal
law in thefe matters be not violated, and the folemn covenant
broken and laid afide, and forgotten, and the hedges of the
Lord's vine broken down, fo that all they which do pafs by
the way do pluck her, and the boar out of the wood doth
wafte it, and the wild beaft out of the field doth devourit.
Return, we befeech thee, God of bqfts : look down from heaven,
and behold and viftt this vine : and the vineyard which thy
right hand hath planted : and the branch that thou madeflflrong
for thy/elf It is bfirnt with fire y it is cut down, they perifb
at the rebuke of thy countenance. Let thy hand be upon the
man of thy right hand: upon the fon of man whom thou madeji
Jfrong for th]filf % So mil ngt W go back from tbte • quicken
us,
tig TESTIMONY against
vs, and vje will call upon thy name. Turn us again, Lord
God of hojls : caufe thy face tojhine, and we Jhall be faved. *
Odlobcr 1658. Subscribed by us,
Mr- Samuel Rutherford, profeflbr of divinity at St. An-
drews, and minifter of the gofpel there,
Mr. James Wedderburn, minifter of the gofpel at Moonfie.
._ John Crook/hanky minifter at Regortoun.
-—>- James Guthrie, minifter of the gofpel at Stirling.
— — Alexander Moncrief, minifter at Scoony.
— — John Murray, minifter at Methven.
— — Robert Campbell, minifter at Mullein.
♦— - Francis Peirfon $ minilter at Kirl^michael.
A LET-
( "9 )
A LE TTE R from fever al Minijlers homologating theformtr
TEST I MO NT.
REVEREND and dear brethren, being informed that you
are upon thoughts of caufmg print the Teftimony, given
by you in behalf of the doftrine, worfhip, difcipline, and go-
vernment of the kirk of Scotland, and of the national covenant,
andfolemn league and covenant, and the work of uniformity in
religion, and againft the errors, herefies, and blafphemies of
the times, and the toleration thereof, <&c. And taking to
our ferious confideration the manifold dangers that da threat-
en religion, and the work of God in thefe nations, efpecially
in this church, with the continuance and incteafe thereof
day by day : We could not but encourage you therein ; and
for the exoneration of our own fouls, join with you as joint
witnefles in thofe matters. We could have wifhed, and we
know, fo alfo could ye, that there had been a new draught
fitted in every thing, to the prefent ftate and condition of the
time, and to the workings of the fpirit ofdelufion therein:
and in a fpecial way taking notice of that unhappy petition
lately fubfcribed and promoted by fome few of our country-
men, in behalf of that vaft toleration that is now on foot in
thefe nations ; a petition that we are the more bound to wit-
nefs againft, becaufe it is commonly reported, and we believe,
not without ground, to be fubfcribed by Mr. Thomas Ireland,
who did once profefs himfelf to be of our number, whofe
mifcarriage in that particular, as we defire to be humbled
before God for it, fo we judge it our duty, and we know al-
fo, fo do ye, to bear witnefs againft it before the world ; but
knowing that it would take a long time before a new draught
of a tcftimony could be condefcended upon, by thefe that live
at fuch a diftance, efpecially in the winter feafon ; we thought
it better to encourage you to publifh this, and to take hold of
the prefent opportunity of fignifying our content thereunto,
than to delay, being altogether uncertain what the prefent
confufions might bring forth. That we did not at the firft
fubfcribing join therein, was not upon any diffatisfaftion up-
on the matter which it contains, we being abundantly clear
in that from the beginning, but fome of us were cut off from
the occafion, by phyfical impediments, and others knowing
that there was at that time fome endeavour* and expectation of
ao
( ** )
an addrefs to be made by feveral fynods, to the civil powers,
for remedying of the evils which you thea thought fit to wit-
nefs againft, in fuch a way, they judged it more expedierit
for the time, to delay the giving of any fuch teftimony, until
thefe addrefles (hould prove ineffectual : and there being now
no accfcfs thereunto, vtfe are very free to .homologate your
Teftimony, and do hereby declare our confent and adherence
to the fame, defiring that it may be conftrued of the world*
and accepted of God, not only as yours 3 but as ours and yours
jointly : So commending you to the grace of God, we con-
tinue
Your very affe&ionate brethren
Nov. 23. 1659. in our Lord Jefus Chrift,
Mr. Thomas Litndie, minifter at Ratray,
. — James Symfon y minifter at Airth.
.— George Murray, minifter at Fouls.
„... Robert Rule, minifter at Stirling.
- — Thomas tLogg, minifter at Lerber*
*~ - Thomas Glafs, minifter at Dunkell.
**— James Stracban, minifter at Dunkell*
* — Gilbert Menzies, minifter at Fortengel;
— ~ Patrick Campbell, minifter at Killin.
For their reverend brethren Mr. Samuel
Rutherford, principal of the divinity
college in St. Andrews, Mr. James Gu-
thrie, minifter at Stirling, and the reft
of the brethren fubfcribing the Tcfti*
mony*
>-
THE
HI STORY
OF THE
INDULGENCE.
SHEWING
Its RISE, CONVEYANCE, PROGRESS, and
ACCEPTANCE.
TOGETHER WITH A
DEMONSTRATION of the UNLAWFULNESS
THEREOF, AND AN ANSWER TO CONTRARY
OBJECTIONS.
ALSO
A VINDICATION ©f such as SCRUPLE to HEAR the
INDULGED.
By a PRESBYTERIAN.
KILMARNOCK:
PRINTED BY J. WILSON, BOOKSELLER.
M.DCC. J.XXXUI.
T T H E f
CHRISTIAN READER,
Particularly the fuiTering Minifters and Pro-
feflbrs in the Church of Scotland.
Reverend, much honoured) and dearly beloved,
I HOPE I need not tell ymi. (whom I look upon and addre.fs
myfelf unto, as taught of God, not only in the main, but in
many things that relate to our prefent calamitous cafe and con-
dition) that the knowledge of the times, and what the Ifrael of
God ought to do, fhould be your ornament and cognizance, dif-
tinguifhing you from others, who are brutifh in their knowledge :
Neither need I tell you, how impoflible it is to know, what the
prefent day and hour makes indifpenfible duty, without a juft re-
flexion on what is paft ; for the emergencies of the prefent day
can never be improved to the advantage of preventing the mor-
row's mifery, without this ; whereas hereby the prefent day may
be made the better for yefterday's error. Now, that you and
I may be helped to a profitable reflexion upon what is paft, and
improve it to its* juft advantage, the Lord hath been pleafed,,in
this common and unconcerned fupor of many, to put it upon the
heart of a fervant of his, to whom he hath given dexterity of
hand for the undertaking, to give you and me the, following hif-
tory, and account of one particular emergent in the fad hiftory
of our time, which hath been followed with the mod difmal and
dire effects of any thing that hath befallen our poor church, and
the precious remnant therein., fince the holy Lord was pleafed to
give us up into the hand of fuch as have, with violence and rage,
overturned that blefl'ed and beautiful fabric, reared up and erected
amongft us by him, who dwelt in, and made our fouls glad in his
houfe, while we walked with him, and he dwelt among us*
If this Hiftory and account be carped at and cried our againft
by fome, that muft be borne with ; for our diftempers (alas)
and diftra&ions are arifen to that heat and height, as he who re-
huketh in the gate is hated, and he who fpeaketh uprightly is ab-
horred. And yet a faithful and wife fervant, teeing how his Lord
is wronged, and for what the land is made to mourn, and the
church in hazard to be utterly ruined, may not la* his hand up-
on his mouth, and, to prevent the opening of the mouths of o-
thers againft him, give up himfelf to a ftupid filence. But what-
ever fome may judge or fay of what is here find, and fet before
us, wifdom will be juflified of her children and 1 am fure the ac-
count given will be refrefhfui and acceptable to many, who Jove
the
Epiftle to the Cbrijlian Reader. txxiii
the truth, and lament thefe our receflions and dedinings from our
firft love' and ways. Oh it* I mi^ht mix myfelf amongft the
mourners, and thole whofe fouls are melted asd poured out ia
them, in this heart-rending reflexion !
I mall at prefent forbear to go fo far backward as to fet before
jour eye (which may make you and me^o mourning to our grave,
and ought to be remembered by us for that very end) what was
our carriage, or rather, what were our mifcarriages, in the day,
when the enemy, with difplayed banner and open-faced violence,
did raze and overturn all. Oh, if he would raife up fome to re-
prefent us now unto ourfelves, according to what we really were
in that day ; that fo we, for our part, might go mourning to the
grave, and the fucceeding generations might thereby take warn-
ing, and beware to tread our path, or trace our fteps, left, as we
have done, they ihould (tumble, fall and be broken.
Leaving therefore this fad fubjecl, I* come to make a blunt and
abrupt inquiry how did we behave? What was our pofture and
practice after we had fo (tuptdly ftood by, till we faw the whole
Work overturned, without offering to inrerpofe effectually to pre-
vent its ruin, or fall with it I And now, when we ourfelves wer<
thruft from the public exercife of our miniltry, are we found la-
menting after the Lord i Are we found lying in the duft, loath-
ing ourfelves in the remembrance of the fad and Toul- afflicting
ruin, which fell under our hand ? Is there now a correfponding how
to excite one another unto the firft love, and to the firft works
of the church of Scotland ? doth the forrow of every ..man's foul
look out at his eye, while he beholds the defolation or* the fanc-
tuary, the mountain of Zion laid waftc, and the foxes walking
upon it, and conflders how he hath not only outlived the depart-
ing of the glory, but muft, if he fee, and lay to heart what hath
been in his hand, carry his own tormentor about with him, as hav-
ing by his conniving, or a cowardife unworthy of the Tpirit of
ambafladors for Chrift, contributed to the advancement of the
enemy's defperate defign ? Do we" now meet, and fet days apart
alone and together, on this very defign, to mourn, to pour out
our hearts before him, to weep upon him, importuning him, and
praying with all manner of prayer and ibppiication for light, for
life, for zeal, for courage ; th^t as being ftrengthened with all
might, according to his glorious power, we might be in cafe to
(land and withftand, in fo evil a day, and having done all to ftand ?
Did we, as knowing from what was paft, and as not ignorant of
his devices, plead with our Lord, that we might not be left nor
led into temptation ; but that we might be upheld in our integrity,
and helped upon all hazards to witnefs our foul abhorrence at the
ways of thefe turners afide, and overturners of the work of God ?
Did we, as faithful ambafladors of Chrift, fixedly loyal to our
Q, a exalted:
&XiV Epiflle to the Chrlflian Reader.
exalted Prince ; or as true lovers of the foul intereft of thofe, \?ho
by their way had SvitnefTed there was no fear of God before rheir
eyes, yea, that they had forgotten, or delete the apprehenfion of
that eternal God who is above them ; and lb in the madnefs of
their apoftacy, without aJJ enquiry or care, whither that way did
lead them, or where it would land them, run as enraged upon the
bpffes of the buckler of God Almighty i Did we, Ifay, deal plain*
ly with the men of thefe abominations, thefe prodigious wicked-
nefles, thefe hateful and heaven-daring practices ? Did we befeech,
obteft, exhort, yea, and with an ambaflador-becoming boldnefs
charge them,,in the name of the living God, to return, as they would
not be turned into hell, for thefe their treacherous turnings away
from him, and tranfeendently wicked turnings a gain ft him ? Nay,
alas! whatever were the fecret mournings, the forrowings, the
grievings of fome, which, I hope, are on record in heaven ; yet,
the firft thing that is heard of in others, after an interval of fhame-
ful and finful filence, is a fearlefs making and meddling with the
ftated enemies of the work of God, even while breathing out a
keennefs of cruelty againft the more zealous faithful minifters ancj
profeflbrs, and this fearlefs meddling (ere mourning over former
anfaithfq!nefles and mifcarriages had gone before ; ere brethren,
equally concerned in the cafe, and on whom the care of the church
did equally lie, yea, and of fome of them I may fay, were no lefs earen
up with the zeal of his houfe, than the -confulters were consult-
ed) produced this that fatal Indulgence; and, to ufe the Vindi-
cator's phrafe, (which he in ufing, upon the occafion and account
he makes ufe of it, to deteftation abufed) hinc ilia lachrym*.
' Alas ! what elfe but a further defection could be expected, as
the ilTue and refult of thefe meddlings, betwixt, (on the one part)
not only the chief inftruments of all thefe incumbent calamities,
but men fet upon this mifchief, how to deftroy by dividing, and
ruin by their methods, beyond hope of an efcape or recovery, the
|)oor remnant, and root out the remembrance of that people and
party, whom in their thoughts, defires and defigns, they had de-
voted to deftrucTion. * And (on the other part) whatever the men
had formerly been, or ftill were ; yet I muft fay it (and let none
miftake me fo far, as if 1 intended hereby to reproach or reflect ;
far be it from my foul ; for while LanT conftraiiud to mention it,
I defire to let my ink drop out of my pen here, with a wrung and
\Vound heart ; and to write as knowing what I now fay muft meet
me at the tribunal ; nay, I woqld forbear to fay it, if I did not
believe it fhould meet me there, if I fmothered what I am now
about to fay, in a truth-prejudging filenee) men in as ill cafe to
have made or meddled in the concerns of Chrift and his church,
vriih the men with whom they had then to do, in their circum-
ftenccs, as ever any godly men in our church were. I defire not
. to
Eptftle to the Chrijlian Reader. cxxv
to be put to the unpleafant ncceflity of dilating this further ; nor,
if neceffit; bt laid upon me, (fince it is the pure intereft of truth
I defit e to aim at, without refpeft of perfbns) fhall I decline it,
though for that I fhould be yet more vile.
Now, as foregoing untendernefs and declining had paved the
way, and prepared us for this new ftep of further defection ; fo
this wretched Indulgence hath had the mod deplorable and dif-
mal effe&s; and if the Lord do not gracioufl) deliver his fervants
and church from what it tends to and threatens, it is like to be
and prove more fatal to the poor languishing remnant, than any
ftep of defection, to which ever any godly men were left, in the
church of Scotland The hiftory of its effects and of the bitter
fruits it hath produced (whick will make it the juft hatred of
poflerity as well as it is the grief, forrow and lamentation ©f
many ferious fouls in the generation) is not at prefent my bufmefs ;
all I have to hint at this time, in reference to it, fhall be fhortly
this. That^ however I do not offer to make an addition of ar-
guments (for that were fuperfluous, confidering what the author
of the following difcourfe hath fo nervoufly adduced) yet let me
addrefs myfelf without offence ; not as an acute difputant, but a*,
a poor blunt, plain, open-hearted wellwifher to the work and me-
tered: of Chrift, to my indulged brethren (not a few of whom are
dear to my foul ; and, I hope, though they fhould both defpife
me and defpitefully ufe me, fhall be fo) in a few plain queftions.
Now then the Indulgence is embraced, and thanks to the givers
are rendered by the takers. I afk therefore, Firft, If they could,
after this their acceptance and giving of thanks to the council,
have withdrawn from that appearance, and lifted themfelves be-
fore Chrift Jefus, the King of his church, and with a fweet fereni-
ty of foul have had confidence to offer their thanks to him, for
being helped to witnefs a good conf^flion againft the wickednefs
of this iuvafion, made by the overturners of his work, upon his
royal prerogative, who built the houfe, andmuft bear the glory,;
for it was either then or never, that it was to have been done t
Sjcond/v, Let me afk, are they fo very clear and confident in the
cafe, as they can, not only in dealing with men, hold up their face
and affirm, without hinck or hefitation, that this is their rejoic-
ing even the teftimony of their confcience; that in fimplicity and
godly fmcerity, not with flefhly wifdom, but by the grace of God,
they have had their converfation before all men, and more abun-
dantly towards thefe backfiring rulers, before whom they ap-
peared, now declared enemies to the work of God, and invaders
of his throne and prerogative: But are they alfo content to be
carried before the tribunal of Chrift, with this acceptance from
thofe, who have exautorat their Lord and Mafter, in their hand ;
and to have the quality of their love to the coming of his king-
dom,
cxxvi Epiflls to the Chriflian Reader.
dom, and their loyalty to Chrift Jefus, now oppofcd and put from
the exercife of his royal government by the party indulging, ia
this very Indulgence, tried by fuch a tefl ? It were fit, fure, to
think on this, and lay it to heart ; for each receiver may lay his
account with it, that foon or fyne he fhali be pur to it. Thirdly,
Let me afk (though I put it out of doubt, they do, and far be it
from me to trunk other wife) whether they believe that Chrift,
who purchafed his church, and bought his crown with his precious
blood, lives alfo to make interceffion, and to plead his own pur-
chafe, and procure, by virtue of the price he paid, the execution
of the written vengeance upon all, who will ftrive with him for
ftate and fupremacy in ordering the affairs of his houfe, the church
of the living God; or who will, in their defperate daring and
rage, revolt and exautoiat him by their law (which \% a legal and
explicit hurfting of his bonds, cafting away his cords from them,
and, in contempt of, and contradiction to the Chrift of God y a
formal taking of his houfe in pofleffion) as our rulers have done*
to the outdoing, in this affront to Jefas Chrift, all that ever went
before them ; or as if they were refolved never to be outdone by
any who mould come after them, in a coping with tfie Mediator,,
and a downright denial of him to be K'mg (for now they have put
Caefar in his place) fure, the indulged brethren neither can nor
will deny this ? Then they muft give me leave to aifert and fub-
fume (what hath been as oft upon, my foul,, as I thought upow
their rarriage at that appearance) yea, if they fpeak confecjuently
*o the fuppofed conceffion, they muft agree with me in it ; that
with the fame objective affurance, I believe the right that Chrilt
hath bought, to be Cole and fupreme, in regulating all the affairs
of liis own houfe, to have none to fhare with him in the autocra-
toric, architectonic and magifterial power of making laws, to o-
blige the confcience of his fubjects, nor to be in cafe to give a mi-
nifterial power befides himfelf : And as I believe the firmaefs of
the ftipulation betwixt Jehovah and his Anointed, to fecure unto
him his throne, and take vengeance on all his adverfaries ; and as
I believe he lives to make interceffion, fo I muft believe alfo that,
at that very inftant, when the indulgedftood before the council, and
by their mouth made fuch a harangne,the Mediator, who is letdown
at the right handofGod,wasinterceeding and pleading by hisblood,
by his wounds and paffion, for the execution of the purchifed and
promifed vengeance upon fuch, who by the complex of this very
deed, in a defiance to the everlafting decree, whereby his throne
is eftablifhed, declared they had taken unto themfelves his houfe
in pofleffion. Ah ! my dear brethren, can the thoughts of fuch a
difcord and discrepancy betwixt his interceffion in heaven, and
your haranguing on earth, enter into your foul (and I give you
the defiance to enter into the ferious thoughts of the matter, and
hold
Epiflle to the Chrtflian Reader. exxvii
hold them out) or be reflected upon without terror, trembling,
confufion of face, (hame and aftoniihment.
Now, my reverend and very dear brethren, may T not, upon this
occafion, make bold to fall before you as proflrate, and with the
tear in mine eye, (for I have confidence to fay it, 1 fcarce fee my
paper, while by my pen I make this addrefs unto you) humbly
and earneftly beg of you, requeft, befeech and obteft you for your
blefled and glorious Mailer's fake, who is now crucified again a-
mongft us, from vvhofe head the crown is taken ; for his church's
fake, whereof he hath made you minifters, and fo magnified you
amongft men, in fending you into the world, under the character
of his ambafTadors ; for your poor broken hearted and bleeding
brethren's fake, as ever you would be amongft the reftorers of
our breaches ; as ever you would again be as fome of you were in
times paft, as the chariots and horfemen of Ifrael ; as ever you
would wifh to be brought again to keep his courts, and to judge his
houfe ; and, when that work is over, to have a place amongft them
that (land by ; as you would not be the occafion of the rupture
and utter ruin of the fmall remnant (for God and all gooil and
underftanding men will refound this diftracting and remnant-de-
flroying divifion, that is amongft us, upon this Indulgence) ; as
you tender the good of the pofterity, and would give an unqueftion-
able evidence how intend ly you defire that Jefus Chrift may reign
and rule without a competitor, when you are gone ; as you love
to live at peace with God, and enjoy, as feeding paftors and faith-
ful witneiles to your Lord, a fweet ferenity of foul ? Nay, as ever
you expect to go off the ftage in good terms with God, and' have/
your Mafter's welcome, of well done, good and faithful fervants,
and be enrolled, when you are gone, amongft the confefiors of his
name, and holders faft of the word of his teftimony, and fuch as
had obtained mercy to be valiant for the truth : Let me, I fay,
upon all thefe, and many other accounts, make bold to befeech
you, without more debate, without more delay to deliver your-
felves ; to deliver the church ; to deliver your wounded, weeping
and overwhelmed brethren; and to deliver the pofterity from the
fnare of that caufe-deftroying, church-ruining, remnant-dividing
Indulgence. Do not fay, I would wheedle and fool you into an
irrational implicitnefs, or bogle you into a relinqvnfhing of whafc
yoii have embraced, with a parcel of words, wherein is nothing
to convince you of the evil of what you have done. Read but the
following hiftory ; and if, as in his fight, without prejudice or
mind-occaecating paflion you perufe it, I am not without hope,
but you will fuffer yourfelves to be overcome (which will be one
of the greateft victories you have ever obtained,) into a compli-
ance with the humble and earned befeechings, not of your poor
brother only, but of many, who are prcfenting you to God, and
dare
cxxviii Eplfllt to the Chriflian Reader.
dare feek nothing for you till this be obtained. Do not offend
at this laft word ; for, if it were my lad, I muft confefs unto you,
I have never had confidence to feek any thing for you, fince you
embraced that Indulgence, fave this ; and I know, you have, fince
that day, been much out of the prayers of many ferious perfons,
to whom you were, and yet are, dear, which hath been none of
your advantage ; yea, whatever ufe you may make of it, yet fide-
lity to you put me to ufe this freedom, that I have not only found
rnyfelf in fetters, but I have obferved more fervent, judicious and
gracious perfons, to whom it was a cafe of conscience ; yea, who
had no confidence to prefent you to God, as a part of that fuffer-
ing remnant, for whom they eflayed to pour out their hearts be-
fore him, whereat \ou will ceafe to wonder, when you confide!*
that to them, the Indulgence was a defection. But if the follow-
ing hiftory prevail not with you, yet let the hiftory that God
hath written agaiRft that acceptance do ; lead he impofe the ne-
ceffity upon fome to tranferibe it. and fet it before your eye, for
your further conviction, and a caution to pofterity. But to clofe
this, give me leave, dear brethren, to fay this one word more ;
that often, under my finking foul-anguifh and forrow, becaufe of
this Indulgence, and its woful effects, I have with an anticipate
complacency effayed to allay the fharpnefs of my forrow, and to
flatter rnyfelf into a chearfulneis in the pleafant expectation and
hope, that amongft the indulged themfelves, amongft fo many
godly men, there was more than a may be of hope, that the Lord
would pitch upon fome of thefe, and make ufe of them, to difco-
ver, with more conviction and advantage, the evil of this Indul-
gence, than any elfe is in cafe to do ; Bleffed fhall that man or
thefe men be ! And O that I may not be difappointed in this ex-
pectation .!
I know the following hiftory will fall under thefevere cenfures
of many, and not a few will be ready to cry out againft it, (who
fhall never be able to anfwer its reafon, but by clamour) as un-
feafonable ; I grant indeed, that it is the great qualification of
writing and fpeaking, that it be feafonable; and it is alfo the
great commendation of hearers and readers, that they have that
wifdom of heart as to difcern both time and judgment ; for as a
word in feafon and fitly fpoken is like apples of gold in pictures
of filver ; fo it is a rare thing, efpecially in a declining time, to
be in cafe to judge what is truly fucb, and, as having efcaped the
miftakes arifing from preconceived prejudices, to approve that
which is more excellent ; but whatever prejudice may prompt fome
to fay ; yet what is faid by this wife reprover will be found and
entertained as an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold
unto an obedient ear. And for my confidence in commending it,
as a word in feafon unto the reader, I render thefe reafons* Firfl,
If
Epiflle to the Chrifltan Reader. obci*
If men confider the hainoufnefs of guilt, which the author hath
clearly demonftrated to be wrapped upin ; and infeparably connected
with this Indulgence, they will rather fay, Alas he hath been too
long in coining, to make a difcovery of its iniquity ; than com-
plain as if he had come too foon. Secondly* If men take it up in
its true nature and tendency, and confider impartially the quality
of its defection, according as it is here held forth, if they fpeak
their foul, they muit fay, That a (landing teftimony againft this
evil is of more value and worth, than all of us are, when fold out
of the ground. Thirdly It will not fall under the cenfure of un-
feafonablenefs by any, except fuch as do either downright plead
for the Indulgence and defend it, or elie connive at it, as an all'
quid nihil, riot to be regarded , and it is to me, and, I hope, will
be fo to many, in regard of fuch, that the one may be cured of
their confidence and the other of their indifferency and deteflable
neutrality, a word in fcalon. Fourthly, Let this filence the cla-
mours about its unfeafonablenefs, and fatisfy, yea plead the in-
difpenfible neceffity of it, at this time, "I hat the indulged bre-
thren have of late been more hot and high, than formerly, even
to the threatening of men into a filence at its defection, by boafting
us with a vindication of the lawfulncfs of their acceptance j and
therefore, as to them, it ought to be juflly reckoned feafonable.
Fifthly. Becaufe fomewhat hath been of late done even by the
non-indulged, not only to the lengthening of tiie hands of the in-
dulged, and giving them new confidence in their courfe, in obliquo,
by covering all, and carrying towards them, as if they had done
nothing amifs, but upon the matter (for it is beyond my (hallow?
capacity otherwife to interpret or underftand the deed) by a di-
rect homologating of that Indulgence ; for now filence, as to all
fpeaking againft this evil, is made the very door and porch thro*
which all the Intrants to the miniftry mud pafs. I hope, they
will not alledge that this is miiinformation, for now we have it .
under their own hand ; ana the breach of this engagement is
brought and laid down as a ground, upon which a young man is
challenged: And therefore 'tis now fimply neceiTary, yea, more
than high time to difcover and dete& the blacknefs of its defec-
tion, when the church is thus brought in bondage by it. Sixthly,
The fevere infulting over fome of the poor remnant, who cannot
forbear to witnefs their abhorrence at it, and dare not dilTemble their
hatred of it, conflrained the author to give the world this account,
to convince them, how little reafon the one party hath to infult thus
over their poor brethren, and how little caufe the other have to
be afhamed of witneffing their diflike. Seventhly, Becaufe it hath
been often and dill is objected to us, that we have made a hideous
hue and cry after it, as a thief, but neither would nor could ren-
der a reafon, or prove it to be a coming in, not by the right door,
CMS EplflU to the Chrlflian. Reader.
but a climbing up another way : And therefore, the intereft: of
truth condrained the author to give them and the world fuch a
plain and public account of the realons of his juft fatisfa&ion, as
may abide ad futuram ret memoriam. And Laj\ly y Becaufe there
is a ?nay be of hope, that as fome ^f lead of thefe godly men in-
dulged may be hereby taken ofF and all of them made more fo-
ber, and lefs violent ; fo it is much more to be hoped, that the
non-indulged will henceforth more ferioufly confider what way
to deliver the church from this evil, their brethren out of the
fnare, and how to keep themfelves free from the tranfgreffion of
giving this evil any interpretative countenance ; (for if God put
it upon their heart to apply it, the plaifter is in their hand, viz. A
jud difcountenancing of this as a defecTion.) And withal, that
they will henceforth appear more friendly towards the real lovers
of them and the caufe ; and holders fad of their integrity, and lefs
fevere againft fuch, who ought to be countenanced, eherifhed, and
encouraged for their uprightnefs in hating the fupremacy, as the
fpring, and all the dreams that flow from that corrupt and curfed
fountain : and hereby {hall they have better accefs, when real af-
fection and tendernefs upon thefe accounts is witnrfled, to curb
or cure thefe excefles, which are not infeparable from, yea, inci-
dent to the zeal of the bed of faints out of heaven : for it is there
that our fire will want fmoke Dear brethren, I (hall detain you
no longer from perufing this Hidory. And that you may in
calmnefs and without prejudice confider what is faid ; and that
the Lord God himfelf may, as in all things, fo in this thing alfo,
give you light, is for you the foul defire of
Your poor afflicted brother,
and wellwifher,
H£
THE
HISTORY
O F T H E
I N D U L G E N C E.
AFTER the unexpected alteration (which proved indeed
a convulsion, falling out fo fuddenly) that came upon
the church, after the king's reftoration \ when, befide many
other fad paflages, (and too many here to be commemorated}
the memory of which may make tears trickle down from our
eyes, fo msny of the able, painful, faithful and fuccefsful la-
bourers in the vineyard of the Lord were, by an aft of coun-
cil, # at Glafgow anno 1662, put from their work, and by vio-
lence thruft out of the vineyard where the Lord had fet them
to labour ; even to the number of three hundred and above.
Nor was it enough to the rulers to banifh all thofe, by an act,
from their own parifhes - y but, to make this banifhment yet
more grievous, and the life of thofe faithful fervants of Chrift
yet more bitter and lefs vital, they thereafter did command
them to remove from their own parifhes twenty miles ; fix.
miles from a cathedral church ; and three miles from a bo-
rough.- After (I fay) this furprifing and aftonifhing blow,
tending fo directly to the overthrow of the Lord's miniftry,
in that church, and the introduction afterward of abjured pre-
lacy, whereby the church became fuddenly filled with a fwarm
of locufts ; and the many acts made to enforce a compliance
among the people with this defection, and actual conformity
thereunto, and that fo violently and vigoroufly, as even fimplc
withdrawing was made feditious and criminal, and feverely
puniflied : the eie&ed miniflers began to think with them-
selves, that this tyrannical ejection did not, nor could not,
unminifter them, or make them no more minifters of Chrift,
fo as they might not preach the gofpel, wherever they were,
a3 ambafladors of Chrift ; but, on the contrary, they faw that
they lay under the wrath and difpleafure of God, if they
fliould not preach Chrift ; and that a neceffity was laid upon
them, yea, and wo was unto them, if they preached not the
gofpel - 9 according to that, 1 Cor. i*. 16. and they obferved
R z like wife
i 3 2 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
like wife, that the neceffity was now great, yea greater than
ever, upon many accounts : And on the other hand, the peo-
ple being more and more alienated from the fwarm of cur-
ates, as being not only prodigioufly profane, and lafcivious,
vain and ignorant, (enough to demonftrate that they were
never the authorized meflengers of Chrift) but alfo highly
guilty of perjury and defection, in their compliance with, re-
ceiving their commiffion immediately from, afting in fubor-
dination to, and by a power derived from the abjured pre-
lates, contrary to the word of God, the primitive pattern and
our own reformation, confirmed by oaths, folemn vows and
covenants ; and being fenfible of an obligation {till lying up-
on them to own the outed minifters, as the faithful fervants
of Chrift, and therefore under a neceffity to hear them, and
to receive the ordinances of Chrift, as difpenfed by them:
both the one and the other faw themfejves called to fome o-
ther exercife, both to teftifv their adherence to their former
$vowed profeffion, their abhorrence of the abjured re-intro-
duced prelacy, and their willingnefs to keep Chrift, in his
pure ordinances, in the land.
Wherefore not a few of the more ferious minifters bethink-
ing themfelves, and confidering the many obligations lying
upon them to preach, and to be inftant in feafon and out of
ieafon, and confidering the urgent neceffity, and withal the
chearful readinefs and willingnefs of the people to hear, faw
themfelves called of God to preach, as minifters of the gof-
pel, wherever Providence ordered their abode, and thereupon,
as occafion offered, preached unto all fuch as were willing to
hear ; but at firft (that they might as little difpleafe the rulers
as poffible) only in private houfes, and that for the moll part,
(if not altogether) at fuch times, when there was no public
worfhip in the public meeting places. A fuperplus of caution.
But fuch was the rage of the new inftalled prelates, and
fuch was their indignation at, and enmity againft thofe out-
ed minifters, and chiefly at and againft the work they were
about, as knowing that if Chrift were kept in the land, and
a memory only of him was referved, they could enjoy no
quiet in their ufurpations *, that they ceafed not to ftir up the
rulers to all extravagancies of cruelty, for fuppreffing of the
innocent, peaceable and harmlefs aflemblings. Hence came
fevere prohibitions, difcharging allfuch meetings under ex-
orbitant penalties, both upon the matters of the houfes, where
-thefe affemblies were found, and upon the minifter found
there
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 133
there exercifing, and upon all and every one prefent without
exception. Hence were houfes forced and fearched, and
many haled to prifons and feveral neceflitate to efcape at win-
dows with the hazard of their lives •, officers and fpies fent un-
to, and fet in feveral fufpected places, to feize and fall upofi
fuch as they found at fuch meetings, or but fufpected to have
been there. Whence it came to pafs that many, both men
and women, young and old, have been dragged to prifons,
and there clofe kept, as if they had been the worft of male-,
factors, befides feveral other outragious and illegal acts of
violence and oppreffion committed againft them, contrary to
all law, equity and confcience.
The faithful minifters and people, defiring ft ill to follow
the Lord, in the duty of the day, and finding fo many and fo
great difficulties, in their aflembling in houfes, where they
were fo eafily attrapped, and could with fo great hazard meet,
and with difficulty efcape the hands of thefe burrioes, were
conftrained at laft to keep their meetings in the fields, tho*
without all Ihelter from cold, wind, fnow, and rain : Where-
upon the rage and fury of the rulers, inftigated by the pre-
lates, did break forth into more exceffive and boundlefs flames.
Whence came fevere acts of council and parliament againft
the fame ; and all ways of cruelty imaginable taken to fup-
prefs thefe houfe and field meetings ; field meetings being dif-
charged under the pain of death unto the minifters and con-
vocators, and other grievous penalties unto fuch as did meet :
Which courfe of feverity and rigour hath continued unto
this day : but to mention the feveral fteps, methods, means,
cpnfequences and effects of this tragedy, would make too long
a digreffion.
It is fufficient for us to notice, that the fuppreffing of thefe
meetings hath been the butt, at which a great part (if not the
far greateft) of the acts and actings of the rulers have been
levelled, ever fince they began to appear ; and the only occa-
fion of fo many acts of cruelty, and of enormity in point of
juftice and legality ; they being the only eye-fore of thefe
enemies of Chrift and his intereft, and that which they had
been hitherto, both with cruelty and craft, feeking to deftroy,
by tyrannical acts and laws, and by more tyrannical and il-
legal executions; as if thefe aflemblers had been no more
lawful fubjects, but open traitors, and the worft of rebels.
Hence came the filling of prifons with fuch as were appre-
hfwded i the fending of fuch minifters as were taken into the
134 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
Bafs ; the fetting of a great fum of money upon the heads of
fome •, liberty granted to foldiers to wound and kill, in feek-
ing to apprehend minifters, and to apprehend and trouble any
perfon they found on the highways * the felling of honeft peo-
ple, as flaves, unto the French captains, and unto perforis going
to America; the baniihing of the wives and children of the
outed minifters, that were come to Edinburgh for fhelter,
commanding them to diflodge within the ihort day prefixed,,
under the pain of being forcibly ihut up, or dragged out *, the
appointment of a majpr in Edinburgh, with command over
the town guards, and a good falary for this very end, to ap-
prehend, at all times, all fuch minifters or people, as he could
find aflembling together •, the outlawing of fevcral minifters,
and many hundreds of prcfeflbrs, difcharging all fupply, were
it but of bread or water, or of a night's lodging, to be given
unto them, and what not.
In the midft of all this fury, and after the quaihing by blood,
illegal and moft falfely patcht-up forfaltures of feveral eftates,
efcheating and confiscating of goods, of that trouble, ann*
1666, occafioned through the barbarous executions of illegal
commands, againlt fimple non-compJiers with the courfe of
prelacy, the king (at whole mitigation, or in compliance with
whofe defire and requeft, I know not ; but that it was not of
God, nor of Chrift, nor of the Spirit, that I know) effayeth
other means, and taketh other meaiures; (but all tending un-
to the fame deftruftive end defigned, viz. The fupprefling
and baniihing out of the land all thefe memorials of the Lord's
covenanted intereft, ; ^nd of his prefence in the land, the af-
femblies, I mean, of his fervant&y to ferve and worfhip him,
according to the pure order of the gofpel, after the example
of Chrift and his apofties, and thofe primitive Chriftians,
which willingly followed and heard them) when by cruelty
the rulers faw they were not able to attain their end, but the
more they laboured that way, to fupprefs thefe meetings, the
greater and more frequent they grew, the crafty device of an
Indulgence to fome certain felect perfons of the whole outed
minifters is fallen upon ; which if it had been more general
or univerfal than it was, had in all probability, proven an ef-
fectual mean for attaining of that which they were fo earneft-
ly labouring for, viz. The extinction of the whole remnant.
Being now to difcourfe of this Indulgence, as it is called,
we fball begin where it began to appear j that is at the king's
letter
HISTORY o> the INDULGENCE. 135
letter to the council hercanent, dated at Whitehall June *\th
1669, which was as followetlu
CHARLES REX,
« TJ IGH T truftee by which they were to direct their courfe, and their
rule and ground of a£ting. (2.) It is obvious alfo, that that
power, which they are authorized to exercife, is a power to
appoint fuch and fuch perfons, as they think meet, and fhall
approve of, to go to fuch and fuch places. It was not then
n command given, or power granted to recal the aft of Glaf-
gow, whereby the minifters were banifhed from the4r charges ;
but a power to meddle with pure church matters, and that
immediately ; that is, to judge and cognofce of the qualifica-
tions of minifters, and fo to approve or not approve of them ;
and a power of initialling fuch as they approved of, in fuch
places as they {hall think meet, and none elfe. Thefe things
are plain. And it is manifeft, that there is herein a plain,
clear, palpabte and grofs incroachment on the liberties of the
r# S Z church,
J4* HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
church, and on the power granted to her of the Lord Chrifl
Jefus, as no man will deny, who is not a ftranger to the word
of ^od, to the principles of prefbyterian government, and to
all the a£ts and actings of our church from the very firft re-
formation from popery. Wherefore, feeing it is known, that
in this cafe, qui facet confentire videiur, he who is filent, is
conftrued to confent : And it hath been always accounted in
our church (and fo is alfo by the word of God) a finful compli-
ance with a wicked courfe, not to give faithful, free and
timeous teftimony againft the fame ; it is undeniable, that
thefe indulged perfons, accepting this Indulgence, conveyed
through fuch a channel, and flowing from fuch a fountain,
as is already fhpwn, have not only fainted, as to their duty,
but are interpr^tatively aflenters unto this ufurpation.
3.' The qualification of thofe who are to be reftored to the
miniftry, is here alio to be remarked, in thole words, So ma-
ny of the outed mini/lers, as have (N. B.) lived peaceably and
orderly y in the places -where they have refded- I (hall be fair
from faying, that minifters mould not live peaceably and or-
derly ; but we ought to confider, what is accounted, living
peaceaWy and orderly, by fuch as propofe this qualification:
And that fure, to fpeak it in the fmootheft of terms, is a ne-
gative compliance with all their tyranny; oppreflion of churck
and country ; bloodfhed; overturning of the work of God;
fcftablifhirig iniquity by law ; perjury, apoftacy ; re-eftabliih-
ing of perjured prelates, and abjured prelacy; intruding of
hirelings; perfecution of conscientious people, for not ac-
knowledging of thefe hirelings as lawful minifters of the gof-
pel, &c. That is to fay, have been very quiet arid filent, as to
the bearing of faithful witnefs unto the caufe of God, and
the work of reformation, according to our folemn oaths and
covenants ; and have been loath to tranfgrefs any of their
iniquitous laws ; and careful to walk arid carry fo, in all their
deportment, -as not to difpleafe them in the leaft. Now I
would think that this very thing mould have been enough to
have feared tender confeientious perfons from accepting this
Indulgence. What fon of the church of Scotland could have
accepted of a favour, mthe boforri of which lay this reproach?
Who could have accepted of this Indulgence, and not withal
openly have thereby declared, that "he- was one of thofe peace-
able livers, for whom it was defigned, and upon whom in
fpecial, as fuch, it was to be conferred ? And however this
f eaceablfcnefs and orderlinefs was accounted a good qualifica-
tion
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. t 4 i
tion by the rulers, and a fatisfaftory mark unto them of the
fitnefs'of thefe perfons, for receiving of their favours, and a
fufficient ground of fecurity unto them, that thefe perfons
would not itand in the way of their further deftru&ive pro-
grefs, nor mar them in their further pernicious defigns : It
feemeth ftrange to me, that confeientious fons of the church
pf Scotland, (hould have fuffered themfelves to be looked up-
on, with fuch a fpecial eye of favour by thofe enemies, and
to be diftinguifhed from others by fuch a chara£ter, as in our
good times, and according to the wholefome canons of our
church, would have expofed them unto the higheft of church
cenfures. Had they not then a fair occafion here, yea, and
a loud call, to vindicate themfelves from this afperfion, how-
beit efteemed, judged and declared the prime and indulgence-
procuring qualification by the rulers ; and to have borne wit*
nefs unto the truth of God, if their defire to the offered fa*
voar, and love to that efteem with the rulers, had not been
too exceilive and prevalent ?
But there is another thing befide remarkable here, viz*
That here we fee the magiftrate aflumeth to himfelf power te
prefcribe, to determine and to judge of the neceffary qualifica-
tions of minifters, or of their qualifications fine quibus non.
And moreover, that the accepters of the Indulgence after this
manner, did, upon the matter, and interpretatively, give their
aflent to, and approbation of thefe two things. Firft, That
the magiftrate, as fuch, hath power to prefcribe, to fpecify
and to declare what are indeed, and what he will have to be
looked on, as the only qualifications necefiarily requifite in
minifters. And next, That the qualifications, by him here
fpecified and expreffed, are the only qualifications necefiarily
requifite in minifters: And confequently, that the apoftles
and primitive minifters, who neither could nor would have
lived fo peaceably in reference to the heathen emperors, and
their wicked decrees, when no more repugnant to the intereft
of Chrift and of the gofpel, than the decrees and executions
of our rulers have been, were not rightly qualified for the
miniftry. Add to thefe, that hereby they acknowledged them-
felves to be duly qualified after this manner, that is, to have
been and yet to be fuch (and that defervedly, after the court
conftruftion) as have lived peaceably and orderly, in the places
where they have refided.
4. There is another remark in the letter obvious, where it
is f aid, That fuch of ttefs mimjien (i. e, who are indulged)
?£.••" at
i 4 i HISTORY o* the INDULGENCE.
as fall take collation from the bijljop of the diocefe, and keep
$rejbyteries and fynods, Jhall be warranted to lift tip their JH*
ptnds, as other minifltrs of the kingdom. But fuch as are not,
or /ball not be collated, fiall have no vj arrant to meddle with
the local Jlipend ; but only to pojfefs the manfe and glebe, and
jhall have fuch a yearly maintenance as the council (hall think
Jit to appoint out of the vacant flip ends. Though this, at the
firft view, may not feem very material, yet it will have its
own weight, when we confider thefe things following, (i.)
That the law of God alloweth fuch as ferve at the altar, to live
by the altar \ and that the very ox, that treadeth out the corn,
fhould not be muzzled -, and that the labourer fhould have his
Jiire ; and we fee i Cor. ix. Gal. vi. 6. I Tim. v 17, 18. And
that all equity and reafon requireth, that the benefice fhould
follow the office, as an acceflbry and confequent thereunto.
(2.) That minifter's ftipends are a part of the church rents
and emoluments ; and are as proper and due unto the mini-
fters of the gofpel, who ferve in the place, as the rents of
any man's heritage is to him who enjbyeth it ; thefe being
irrevocably given away and dedicated to the church, and the
faid donation confirmed and ratified by law. (3.) Our fe-
cond Book of Discipline, approven in all points by the gene-
ral afiembly, prefcribed other colle&ors of thefe (Upends, or
of the church rents, than fuch as the king or council fhould
name, and that in conformity to the word of God and primi-
tive pattern ; as we fee chap. ix. where, fpeaking of the patri-
mony of the kirk, and the diftribution thereof; and after they
have told what they mean by the patrimony of the kirk, they
have thefe words, " To take any of this patrimony by un-
lawful means, and convert it to the peculiar and profane ufe
of any perfon, we hold it a deteftable facrilege before God."
And then they add, " That the goods ecelefiaftic ought to
be colle&ed and diftributed by the deacons, as the word of
God appoints, that they who bear office in the kirk be pro-
vided for, without care or folicitude ." (4.) That there is an
introduction here made to that, which may ever hereafter
prove noxious and hurtful to the church ; even way made to
the bringing of the minifters of the gofpel under perfect
ftavery unto the date ; for hereby we fee they muft be ob-
noxious to them, and depend upon them, not only for the
quota of their ftipend, but alfo for the actual and yearly pay*
itient thereof; for yearly muft there an addrefs be made un-
to the council, or to the exchequer, by every minifter for his
ftipend}
HISTORT or the INDULGENCE. t 4 j
iHpead ; though this be altered now, yet there wa$ no ap-
pearance of it, at their accepting of the Indulgence, and fe*
veral years after. Though this may feem but a matter of
fmall moment, yet we think faithful minifters mould have
been tender of the leaft thing, which might but occafion, or
ufher in bondage and flavery to that poor church, which hath
had a wreftling life, what for one thing, what for another,
from the very beginning : And fagacious perfons might eaiily
have forefeen whither fuch a courfe as this did tend. And
hereafter the (late fhould lay down fuch a courfe as that, in
all time coming, all the ftipends through the land fhould be
uplifted by general collectors, thereto appointed by them, and
given out by thefe again, to fuch as, and in what quantity
the ftate (hall think fit, and fo make the minifters become
their (laves, and to depend upon them, as if they were their
domeftic fervants and hirelings, (the inconvenience of which
upon many accounts cannot but be obvious to any confeder-
ate and judicious perfon) whom had we to blame as firft
breaking the ice in this matter ? And was there not here
ground enough to have refufed this favour (as it is account-
ed) thus conveyed ; and to have declared, they would choofe
rather to preach gratis, than any way contribute unto the lay-
ing of fuch a yoke upon the neck of the church of Scotland*
Further, fee we not here, that fuch a fnare was vifible be-
fore their eyes, that either they fhould accept of collation from
the prelates, and fo acknowledge their dependance likewife
on them, and confirm thefe perjured invaders, and comply
with abjured prelacy j or other wife become the council's pen-
sioners, which did tend to a manifeft proftituting of the cre-
dit of the miniftry, and to the obftrufting of minifterial free-
dom and faithfulnefs, in declaring the mind of God, as be-
cometh the ambafladors of Chnft ?
5. The next think to be remarked, is the injunftions here
laid upon the indulged, which are expreiTed in the letter at
fome length. Which injunctions either are lawful, or un-
lawful. If they be lawful, then, (1.) They muft obey them
without any hefitation. (2.) Then they rauft acknowledge
the conformable clergy, as they are called, to be lawful mini-
fters of the gofpel. (3.) And that it is lawful to keep the
prelate's courts and meetings j and thus condemn themfelves
for not doing fo formerly* (4.) Then the people are alfo o-
Wiged in conscience to own and acknowledge thefe hirelings,
'*% lawful minifters of the gofpel, whom they are called of
God
r 4 4 HISTORY of THfe INDULGENCE.
God to hear and obey. But if they account thefe injun&ion's
unlawful, how could they, by their filence, and accepting of
the Indulgence upon thefe terms, tacitly approve of the fame?
To fay, that they did not pofitively approve thereof, is not
enough : yea, their not difapproving thereof openly, plainly,
publicly and avowedly, being fo ftated as they were, and cir-
cumftances confidered, cannot but be accounted an interpre-
tative approbation, by all godly, fober and rational perfons.
Nor will it avail here, to fay, that thefe inftruftions were not
propofed condition-ways : for the council, that are both the
beft interpreters of this letter, and of their own deed, in con-
fequence of and in compliance with the fame, tell us, in their
aft, Aug. loth 1677, tnat t ^ e Indulgence was accepted upon
Condition of keeping and obferving of thefe inftru&ions, in
thefe words : " For as much as the lords of his majefty's pri-
vy councel, did confine .feveral outed minifters to particular
parifhes, with allowance to preach and exercife the other
funftions of the miniftry within the fame ; and did (TV. B.)
deliver unto them certain inftru&ions to be kept and obfer-
ved, upon which they accepted the Indulgence granted to
them." And again, after whatfoever' manner thefe injunc-
tions were propofed, yet it is certain, as we fee, they were
intended fo. And if thefe minifters had exprefsly told the
council, that they would obferve none of thefe injunftions,
becaufe they judged the fame unlawful, and themfelves o-
bliged in confeience to declare the fame ; {hall any think, that
the council would have granted them this Indulgence ? Had
not that been a direct crofting of the defign and purpofe of
the king and court ? How fhould then the people have been
amufed into a flupid quiefcence, and afs-like couching under
the burden, and blown up with an irrational and groundlefs
expectation of fome defirable change ?
It cannot, moreover, here fatisfy, to fay, that they under-
took nothing, but refolved to do, as they found clearnefs ;
and when they were not clear to obey, to fubjedt themfelves
to the penalty, For the council (as we fee) offering the In-
dulgence upon condition of obferving the injunctions, when
they accepted of the benefit offered on thofe terms, they could
net but alfo embrace the terms, upon which the benefit was
offered ; and their accepting of the benefit was a plain de-
claration of their acquiefcing in and fatisfar predecefTbrs* and of fome, at leaft, of thefe fame per-
fons anno 1648, and fome years preceding ?
It will not be a fufficient covering for this nakednefs to
fay, they heard nothing of that while they received the In*
dulgence : For it is not unlike, but they faw or heard of the
king's letter ; and the report of fuch an exprefiion therein
ihould have made them diligent to have got a fight of it, if it
was not offered unto them : and their mouth did clearly, in his
difcourfe before them as we fhall hear) intimate, that they
were no ftrangers thereunto. And fuppofe they had known
nothing of this, yet they could not be ignorant, that this was
included in their qualifications. And if they fhould reject
all this, as importing no confent on their part ; let their prac-
tice, fince the accepting of the Indulgence, fay, whether or
not they have regarded that, as the main and only condition.
However I think here was ground enough for them to have
(erupted at the embracing of this fuppofed favour.
7. The
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. r 4 7
7. The next thing here to be noticed in the letter, is the
power and command which the king giveth to the council, to
filence thofe minifters for a longer or fhorter time, if they
difobey thefe forefaid injun&ions j and if a complaint be ve-r
rified the fecond time, to filence them for a longer time, or
to turn them out (that is, in plain language, to depofe them
fimpliciter y efpecially if they utter any feditious fpeeches.
He muft be very blind, who feeth not what height of Erafti-
anifm is here : Did ever any of the reformed churches fay,
that a magiftrate, as fuch, could fufpend and depofe minifters
from their office ? Did ever King James afiume this power
unto himfelf ? See if his declaration, penned with his own
hand, figned and delivered to the commiflioners of the church
of Scotland, at Linlithgow, Dec. ^th 1585, faith fo much,
plough at this time he had got his fupremacy in church mat-
ters fcrewed up to the higheft peg he thought attainable ? Did
ever any of our Confeffions of Faith, Books of Discipline, or
a£ts and canons of our church, give the power of the keys,
the power of infii&ing church cenfures upon minifters, un-
to the civil magiftrate ? Did ever our divines (for I except the
€ourt chaplains, and parafttes, whom I account none of ours)
write or fay fuch a thing ? Read what Calderwood hath faid,
in his Altar. Damafc. p. 23, 24. and what worthy Mr. Ru-
therford hath faid, in his Due Right of Prefbyteries, />. 427.
and forward ; and read that elaborate tra&ate of Mr. Gillef-
pie's Aaron's Rod Bloffoming, and fee if there be any fuch
thing hinted there ? See if the CXI Propofitions, or the Pro*
pofitions for Government, mention any fuch thing ? Now, if
thefe indulged be not Eraftian in their principles (as I hope-
they are not ) I cannot fee but they are Eraftian in their prac-
tices i For they, knowing that fuch a power was aflumed by
the king, and now given and granted by the king unto the
council, whereby they were authorized to put tfie fame in
practice, and fo to exercife pure and intrinfic" church power,
that is, infiitl pure church cenfures, fufpend and depofe mini-
fters : That is, (i.) Not only not to fuffer them to preach and
adminifter facraments, in his kingdom and dominions* (which
yet worthy Mr. Rutherford will not grant, in his Due Right,
Aci £.430. upon thefe accounts, 1 . Becaufe the king, as king,
hath not dominion of places, as facred and religious ; for his
power in church matters is only cumulative, not privative ;
fo as he cannot take away an houfe, dedicated to God's Ser-
vice, no more than he can take away maintenance allotted by
public authority upoa hofpitals, Schools, paftors and do&ors.
r T a % The
i 4 8 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
1. The apoftles might preach in the temple, though civil au-
thority forbade them. 3. And all know, that he cannot hin-
der the exercife of the miniftry in any other kingdom.). It is
not this only, I fay, but fimply not to preach and adminifter
the facrameuts. '(!•) It is not only to discharge the exercife
of the miniftry (which yet Mr. Rutherford, xibi fupra^ p. 431.
with Calderwood,take to be a degree of fufpenfion, which is an
£cclefiaftical degree to the cenfure of excommunication; and
therefore the king may as well excommunicate, and remit and
retain fins, as he can iufpend :) but it is to take away the very
power of order, given inftrumentally by the church •, if, with
papifts and formalifts, they affert not an indelible character.
And (3.) It is the taking away of what he never gave ; for he
never ordained, nor could ordain, a paftor by any law of God;
that is, ecclefiaftically defign, appoint, fet apart, and confti-
tute a qualified perfon to the miniftry, by prayer and laying
dn of hands; for this was always done by church officers, A£ls
xiii. 3. and xiv. 23. 1 Tim. iv. 14. and v. 22. 2 Tim. ii. 2. Tit.
i. 5, 6, 7,8, 9.
Doth it not hence appear, that this was a manifeft ufurp-
ation of the power and privilege of the church ? Arid what
can the filence of fuch as were indulged, as to this, when they
accepted of the Indulgence, from fuch as were, in the very
giving thereof, openly and avowedly declaring this their u*
furpation and incroachment, fay before the world, but that
they acquiefced thereunto? This matter was not hid under
ground : It was plain enough to all, who would not put out
their own eyes, that the king was affuming to himfelf church
power, and was robbing the church of her privileges ; and to
make way for the full accomplifhment thereof, did here com-
mand and authorize his council to appoint fuch and fuch mi-
nifters, fo and fo qualified, to fuch-and fuch places, as they
thought good, with this manifeft certificate, that they mull
expert no cKurch cenfures to be inflicted on them, for any
Crime or mifdemeanour they fhall be charged with, and be
found guilty of, but by the civil magiftrates immediately ; not
caufatively, that is, caufing church judicatories doit, but do-
ing it immediately themfeives. ' Who then can juftify them
and their pra&ice, in accepting, fo thankfully as they did,
that Indulgence, without the leaft word of a teftimony againft
all thefe open and manifeft incroachments ; and that at fuch
time, when the defign of tyrannizing over the church, in an
traftian way, was fo palpable, and might be feen and known
of all, who would tut open their eyes ?
gut
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 149
. But there is. another thing, which here occurreth : We fee
here that thefe indulged perfons, are (landing immediately
under the cenfure of the civil magiftrate, not only for tranf-
grefling of the orders and inftruttions given ; but alfo (as mult
neceffarily follow) for any other failing and tranfgreflion, not
fpecified ; as for example, for fornication, fahbath-breaking,
and pther fins and fcandals, deferving depofition or fufpenfion:
For, put the cafe, that fome of them (which yet I have no
caufe to fear) mould commit any fuch fcandal, as did de-
ferve, or was ufually puniflied by fufpenfion or depofition,.
who (hall inflift this cenfure upon them but the council i
There is no church judicatory having power over them for
that effeft ; and they are not under the prelates ; and we can-
not think that they may commit fuch crimes, and continue in
the miniftry ; nor may we fuppofe that they will fufpend or
depofe themfelves.
8. Moreover we muft remark here, that the council is to
take nQtice of their fpeeches in pulpit, who are indulged,
and to punifli them ; yea, to turn them out immediately, if
they be found to have uttered any feditious difcourfe : By
which we fee, that the council is made the immediate formal
judge of minifters doctrine, for under the pretext of feditious
do&rine, they may judge and condemn the mod innocent
and orthodox truths. No anti-eraftian divine will grant this
unto the civil magiftrate. And though it be true, that the
civil magiftrate can only and properly judge of wh^t is truly
feditious, and can only civilly punifti for fuch crimes : Yet
our divines never granted, that the magiftrate might in prima
injlantia examine, and judge of minifters doctrine, when al-
ledged to be feditious or treafonable : Nor did our church, in
her pure times ever yield to. this. Our church hiftory tells
us, that Mr. Andrew Melvin, that faithful and zealous fer-
vant of Chrift, would not anfwer before the king and the
council, for his alledged treafonable difcourfe in fermon, un-
til he had firft given in a plain and formal proteftation -, and
the like was done by worthy Mr. David Black upon the like
occafion, arid the proteftation was approven and figned by a
good part of the church of Scotland 1596. And we know
alfo upon what ground it was, that that famous late martyr for
the liberties of the church, Mr. Jame& Guthrie, was queftion-
ed, and put to fairer : Now where was there any thing fpo-
ken by the indulged, to bear witnefs to their adhering to the
church of Scotland, in this point of truth ? What was faid,
tiiat might declare their difient from this ptece of encroach-
ment?
rjo HISTORY or the INDULGENCE.
ment ? Was not their filenee here, and accepting of the In-
dulgence, in the manner as it was accepted, without any pu-
blic teftimony for the church of Scotland and her liberties,
a declaration, that they were willing that all their do&rine
ihould be immediately, and in prima infant i a, judged and
examined by the council ; and confequently, that our prede-
ceffors in offering proteftations, in this cafe, were to be con*
demned, and that Mr. Guthrie died as a fool ?
9. We remark a fnare laid in the letter to catch more : for
it is appointed, thzt fuch of the outedmimjiers, who have hved
peaceably and orderly (here is a discrimination made, no lefs
fcandalous to the commended, than dangerous to the reft)
and are not reentered or prefenied, as aforefkid, fhall have al-
lowed to them four hundred marks Scots yearly, &c. — And that
fuch as will give ajjurance to live fo for the future, be allowed
the faid yearly maintenance. Seeing it is not unknown what
is properly here underflood, by living peaceably and orderly^
any may fee what a fnare is laid here to catch others. But
fome will fay, what is that to the indulged ? I think it fpeak*
eth very much to them ; for had they not accepted of this
Indulgence, that temptation had been removed from the door
of others, who now, feeing them without any fcruple accept-
ing of the Indulgence offered, and granted unto them infpecial,
only upon the account, and in confideration of their being
peaceable and orderly livers, are emboldened to take that gra*
cious gift, and accept of that princely benevolence, upon the
fame account, and gape for a greater morfel, viz. A vacancy.
And will not others, who are not faft rooted, be ready to en-
gage and give in fecurity, that they may alfo tafte of the
king's gratuity \ and fo fell their conscience and fidelity, at
6s good a price as they can. And if it fall out otherwise (as
I wi(h and hope it (hall) that none lhall accept of thofe baits,
under which the hook is fo confpicuous ; yet no thanks to
the indulged, who have fo fairly broken the ice for them.
I know a fcandal may be given, when not taken , and fuch as
give the fcandal, are guilty before God of defiroymg thofe for
whom Chrift died, Rom. xiv. 15. And that word of our Sa-
viour, Matth. xviii. 6- Luke xvii. 1, 2. Mark ix. 42. is very
dreadful, But ivhofojhall offend one of thefe little ones, which
believe in mb> it were better for him y that a m,ilflone were hang**
ed about his neck y and that he were drowned m the depth of the
fea. I know they will fay, they are far from this hazard,
having done nothing but what is duty, and neceffary duty.
But though I grant it an indUpenublc duty for minilters to
* preach
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 151
preach the gofpel, and to be inftant in feafon and out of fea*
fon : yet they might have preached without the Indulgence*
as others did, and yet do; and the accepting of the Indul-
gence was not the only neceffary opening of a door to preach-
ing. Nor is it of fimple preaching that L am here fpeaking;
and they fhall never be able to make it appear, that it is ane*
ceffary duty to do as they have done, confuiering what is al-
ready faid, and what fhall yet further be faid.
10. There is another particular in the letter worthy of a
remark, and we fhall but here name it; and that is, That the
council is to allow patrons to prefent to vacant churches fitch
minijlers as they Jhall approve of. Whence it is clear, that
without this content of the patron, which is his real or vir*
tual prefentation, the minifters approven of by the council
cannot have accefs unto thefe vacant churches: Therefore
their accepting of the Indulgence unto vacant places, after
this manner, is an approving and an eftablifhing of the power
of patrons ; whereby they did condemn all fuch minifters,
and poffibly fome of themfelves, who formerly had fuffered
ejection, according to the aft of Glafgow, becaufe they had
no clearnefs to accept of this prefentation, even though the
patron would willingly have granted it, and did of his own
accord offer it. Did they not hereby alfo condemn that laud-
able piece of our reformation anno 1649, wn ^n thefe prefent-
ations were abolifhed, and the people reflored to their liberty
of electing their own minifters ?
1 1. We may alfo take notice, that all this contrivance 13
not in order to reduce our church in whole, or in part, to her
former prefbyterian ftate and luftre, or to weaken, or in the
leaft deface, the re-eftablifhed prelacy, but rather to confirm
the fame ; for in the letter we fee thefe indulged are to be
enjoined, in the kings name, and by his authority , to keep pre f-
byteries andfynods ; that is, the prelates meetings, fo called ;
for there was no other. As alfo encouragement was given
unto them to take the prelates collation. So that this con-
trivance, as it was to gratify a few, fo it was to corroborate
the abjured prelates, in their pofleffion of what they had ob*
tained, as their quid mihi dabitis. And further, they were
difcharged to exercife any minifterial fun&ion towards any
of the neighbour parifhes, where there were curates ferving*
Now all thefe injunctions being manifeftly Cnful and unlaw-
ful, might have fufficiently cautioned them againft the re-
ceiving of a favour, fo ftrangely clogged with finful condi-
tions; or at leaft, prompted them to. have remonftrated free-
x 5 2 HISTORY of the INDULGENCES
ly and faithfully all thefe evils, and plainly declared their fix-
ed averfenefs from ever fubmitting unto thefe injunctions.
12. The laft particular, which I (hall remark here, is the
refult of all this ; or that rather which is the end mainly driven
at, howbeit couched in words not fo manifeftly expreflive of
a mainly defigned end. The words are in the laft part of the
letter. And feeing we have by thefe orders, taken away alt
pretence jor conventicles, and provided for the want of fuch as
are and will be peaceable ; if any fhall be found hereafter to
preach without authority , or keep conventicles, our exprefs plea-
Jure is, that you proceed with allfeverity againjl the preachers
and hearers, as f editions perfons, and contemners of out autho-
rity. In the by, we may here take notice, that according
to the import and meaning of this letter, no minifter muft
preach either in or out of conventicles, without a borrowed
authority from the magiftrate, otherwife they are to be look-
ed upon 3$ feditious perfons, and as contemners of authority :
So that this licence or indulgence was a real clothing of the
indulged and licenced (in the fenfe of the court,) with autho-
rity to preach ; as if all they had from Chrift, conveyed to
them by the miniftry of church officers, according to this
appointment, had been null, and altogether infignificant.
Which one thing, in my apprehenfion, had been enough to
have fcarred any, that minded to ftand unto their prefbyteri-
an, gofpel and anti-eraftian principles, from accepting of li-
cences of this nature, fo deftruftive to the very being of an
ecclefiaftical miniftry, and to its dependence on and emanation
from Chnft Jefus, the only Head and King of his church, and
fole Fountain of all power and authority, -communicated or
communicable to his fervants and officers, as fuch -, and fo
repugnant unto the methods and midfes of conveyance, infti-
tuted aitd ordained by Chrift, and pra&ifed in the primitive
chiy&K.
But the other thing, here chiefly to be noticed, is, that as
we fee this device of the Indulgence was hatched and con-
trived of purpofe, to bear down thefe conventicles, and to give
amore colourable (hew of juftice in perfecuting the zealous con-
venticlers. It is true, the perfons indulged were not of thofe
chiefly, who kept conventicles, efpeciaily in the fields ; for if
fo, they had not been fuch as lived peaceably and orderly :
And fo the conventicle-preachers were not much diminifhed
in their number hereby ; yet it was fuppofed, that none
of thofe, who lived under the indulged's miniftry, would
much trouble thcmfelves to go te conventicles, and field meet-
ings
HISTORY of TkE INDULGENCE. 153
ings* wherein, in a very great part, their fuppofition failed
not. But now, with what conscience Avail we fuppofe thii
Indulgence could be accepted, feeing thereby every one might
fee a further bar and reftraint put upon thofe worthies, who
jeoparded their lives in the high places of the fields in preach?
ing of the gofpel, and were owned and countenanced of God
to admiration, in the rich, yea, wonderfully rich blefling of
God upon their labours and miniftry, difpenfed by the fole
authority of Jefus Chriit : yea, and th6fe of them who were
prefent before the council, Aug. 3 d 1672, might have feen
more cruelty breathed out, by fevere orders again (l thofe who
ftill followed the Lord, in houfes, in vallies, and in moun-
tains, though contrary to the law : For that very fame day 2
proclamation was ilTued out, commanding all heritors time-
oufly to declare any, who within their bounds fliall take up-
on them to preach in fuch unwarranted meetings (as they
were called) ana 1 make their names known to (heriffs, fte-
wards, lords, and bailiffs of the regalities, or their deputes,
and all others in public truft, within whofe juriidicflion they
'may be apprehended; and authorizing thefe flieriffs, for when
they were before the council, (as we (hall hear afterward)
they by their mouth exprefled their fenfe fufficiently of that
letter, and took the favour of the indulgence with all humi-
lity and thankfulnefs, as his majefty's royal favour and cle-
mency. Our forefathers ufed not to carry fo, when court
favours were prefied and urged upon them, but fearched the
ground and rife of thefe, and confidered their tendency and
confequences ; knowing, that favours, granted by (landing
and dated enemies, could not be for advantage, but for hurt.
The fpirit of zeal and faithfulnefs would teach us another
more moral, plain and Chriftian deportment : But though the
indulged fhould be fuch metaphyfical abftra&ers, contrary to
that fpirit of wifdom and ingenuity, that fhould lead all
Chriftians ; yet the council dealt more plainly and roundly
(as we (hall fee) and told at all occafions, and in all their afts
and refolutions, that what they did was in purfuance of his
majefty's commands and royal pleafure, fignified in his letter.
Finally, This abftra&ion, though it were yielded to them,
will not avail ; for though the king's letter had never been
feen or heard of, there was enough done by the council and
its committee, (of which they could not be ignorant) to have
refolved them, if they had not been prepoflefled : It was the
Committee of the council that elected them, that judged them
qualified for the exercife of the miniftry in fuch and fuch
places ; it was the council that did appoint, authorize and
empower them to exercife their miniftry ; it was the council
that did depofe and repofe, plant and tranfplant, give injunc-
tions, reftri&ions, and limitations, and punifh for non-obedi-
ence, all which will be further cleared in what followeth.
Having premifed thefe few remarks upon the king's letter,
as neceflary to the clearing of our way, becaufe that was the
ground of all; and having, in the by, discovered feveral things,
to (hew the finfulnefs of this Indulgence, we (hall now pro-
ceed to mention more particularly what was the progrefs of
this bufinefs, and how this wicked defign took effeft.
The council appointeth a committee to cognofce upon the
matter, fignified in the king's letter, and to condefcend upon
the Qijnifters, judged fit and qualified for fuch a favour, ac-
U 2 cording;
j$6 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
cording to the mind of the king, fignified and plainly expref-
fed in his letter; and upon the parifhes, towhich they were
to be ordered to go and exercife their miniftry : Whereupon
the council enafteth as followeth.
^ Edinburgh, 27. July 1669.
P r T 1 HE lords of his majefty's privie councel, in purfuance
X. of his majefties commands, fignified in his letter of
the 7. of June laft, do appoint the perfons following to
preach, and exercife the other functions of the miniftrie, at
the vacant kirks underwritten, viz. Mr. Ralph Rodger, late
minifter at Glafgow, to preach at the kirk of Kilwinning : Mr.
George Hutchefon, late minifter in Edinburgh, at the kirk of
Irwing, Mr. William Violant, late minifter at Ferrie at Cam-
bumetham : Mr. Robert Miller, late minifter of Ochiltree, at
the fame kirk : Mr. John Park, late minifter at Stranrawer,
at the fame kirk : Mr. William Maitland, late minifter at
Whitehorn, at the kirk of Beeth : Mr. John Oliphant, late
minifter at Stanhoufe, at the fame kirk : Mr. John Bell, late
minifter at Ardrofline, at the fame kirk : Mr John Cant,
late minifter at Kels, at the fame kirk : and Mr. John
Mc-Michen, late minifter at Dairy, at the fame kirk."
Here we fee ten were appointed to the places refpeftively
condefcended upon by the council ; and fome were appoint-
ed to preach at the churches, out of which they had been e-
jetted; but this was only an accidental thing, and merely be-
caufe thefe churches were at that time vacant, as appeareth
by Mr. John Park's difappointment, becaufe the prelate pre-
vented his coming to the kirk defigned, which had been for-
merly his own, by thrufting in a curate, notwithftanding of
his pleading the benefit of the aft of indemnity, in his own
defence, againft what was objected again ft him *, and thereby
acknowledged himfelf to have been a traitor in all his former
aftings, and that all the work of reformation was but. rebel-
lion : And there is no ' difference betwixt the appointment
made to them, who returned to the places, where formerly
they had preached, and that appointment, which was made
to others to go to other churches. The council doth not fo
much, as verbally fignify, the fentence of banifhment from
their own parithes by the aft of council at Glafgow, awn
1662, to be now annulled, as to. them, whereby they had li-
berty to return to their own charges, and follow their work ;
buj: fimply enjoineth and appointeth them to go to fuch a
pjace,
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. i;y
place, and there to exercife their miniftry, as (imply and
plainly, as if they had never been there before : .So that the
appointment is one and the fame, as made by the council, in
purfuance of the king's letter ; and all the difference, that was
in their feveral orders and warrants, which they received
from the council, was in regard of the patrons, and of no-
thing elfe •, as may be fcen by the following tenors of thefe arts.
bweth the tenor of the Acts of Indulgence, given to the fe-
vered minijlers to preach, conform to his majejlfs letter ff
the 7th of June 1669.
f * fHT^HE lords of his majefty's privie councel, in purfuance
1 of his majefty's commands, fignified the 7 of June
laft, do appoint Mr. Ralph Roger, late minifter at Glafgow,
to preach and exercife the other functions of the miniftriej at
the kirk of Kilwinning."
And thus did all the reft of this kind run. The other runs thus.
cc TT^Orfameekle as the kirk of is vacant, the lords
X/ of his majefty's privie councel, in perfuance of his
majefty's command, fignified by his letter the 7. of June in-
ftant; and in regarde of the confent of the patron, do ap-
point late minifter at to teach and exercife
{he other functions of the miniftrie at the faid kirk of *■
Whereby we fee that thefe orders make no difference be-
twixt fuch as were appointed to their own former churches,
and others who were appointed to other places, fo that as to
this, all of them received a new commiflion, warrant and
power to exercife their miniftry, in the places defigned, as if
they had never had any relation unto thefe places before.
Further, it is obfervable here, that thefe orders and acts of
the council have the fame ufe, force and power, that thq
btfhop's collation hath, as to the exercife of the miniftry ; and
that the ordinance of the prefbyteries ufed to have in_ the Yihi
cafea : and therefore this is all the minifterial proteftative
million, which they have unto the adtual exercife of their
miniftry in thefe places. Thus we fee the civil magiftrate
nrrogateth to himfelf that which is purely ecclefiaftic, viz.
The placing -and difplacing, the planting and tranfplanting of
minifters; and giving them a minifterial proteftative million,
which only belongeth unto church judicatories. So that thefe
indulged perfons may with as much right be called the coun-
cil's or king's curates, as others are called the bifhop's cu-
rates, whom the prelates, collate, plage and difplace, plant & I
tranfpUnr,
158 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE,
tranfplant, as they pleafe. And we fee no great regard had
unto the judicatories of the church, and to their power, more
in the one cafe than in the other ; and poffibly the prelate's
tranfportings are done with fome more feeming regard unto
the power of church judicatories, fuch as they own under
them: but in this deed of the council, there is not fo much
a (hew of any deference unto any church judicatory whatfo*
ever ; nor is there any thing like it. It is obvious then, how
clear and manifeft the encroachment on the power of the
church is, that is here made. And becaufe magistrates hare
no fuch power from the Lord jefus, and are not fo much as
nominally church officers, (as prelates in fo far are, at lealt)
nor can aft any other way, as magiftra^es, than with a co-
a£tive civil power, and not minifterially under Jefus Chrift 5
it is manifeft, that the indulged, having this authority unto
the prefent exercife of their miniftry in fuch and fuch places,
only from the civil magiftrate afting as fuch, have not power
and authority from Chrift ; for Chrift conveyeth no power
and authority in and by the civil magiftrate, but by his own
way, by minifters of his own appointment, who aft under
him minifterially. And whether or not, they have not, in
fubmitting to his way of conveyance of power, and autho-
rity to exercife their miniftry hie & nune, upon the matter
renounced the former way, by which power and authority
was minifterially conveyed unto them ; as w r e ufe to fpeak of
fuch of the prelate's underlings, who have received collation
from him, and power to exercife their miniftry in fuch and
fuch places, where they are now placed, though formerly
they were ordained and fixed by lawful church judicatories,
I leave to others to judge.
But becaufe it may be faid, that in thefe foregoing acts
there is no mention made of the injunctions fpoken of, in
his majefty's letter, to be given to all the indulged minifters ;
hear what was concluded and enacted J)y the council on that
fame day.
* Edinburgh, July 27. 1669.
oth the office, and the power of its exercife; for what church
judicatories do herein, they do minifterially under Chrift,
and Chrift by them conveyeth the office to fuch and fuch a
perfon, and with the office a power to exercife it, according
to the rules of the gofpel ; and notwithftanding of this, thefe
officers may and mult fay, that they receive their miniftry on-
ly from Chrift Jefus. But this cannot be faid, if the magi-
ftrate be fubftitute in the place of church officers, either in
reference to the office itfelf, or in reference to its free exer-
cife ; becaufe no magiftrate, as fuch, (as is faid) afteth with
a minifterial power, under Chrift, in a right line of fubordi-
nation : And therefore when they kept out the word, only,
they did plainly declare, that they held the miniftry partly of
the magiftrate. If it be faid, t^iat they would hereby only
have refefved to the magiftrate power to grant the peaceable
public exercife of the miniftry, I would anfwer, that though
they had meaned thus, yet they might fafely and fliould have
faid, that they received their miniftry only from Chrift ; for I
cannot be faid to receive my miniftry from every one, who
can hinder my peaceable public exercife thereof, otherwife I
muft be faid to receive it, in part, from Satan and his inftru-
ments, who can hinder my peaceable public exercife thereof.
So that, ufe what devices men can to cover this matter, a
manifeft betraying of the caufe will break through, and a re-
ceding from received and fworn principles will be vifible.
io. They faid they had full r prefer ipt [ions from Jefus Qhrifi r
to regulate them in their miniftry/ Who then can juftify
them, in receiving other prefcriptions from the magiftrate,
and fuch as Chrift never made mention of in his law; yea,
fome whereof do direftly militate againft ChriftVs prefcriptions?
Doth not their receiving of thefe inftruftions or prefcriptions,
which were contained in his majefty's letter, lay,' that the
prefcriptions of Chrift were not full ? But again, feeing they
had not freedom to fay, that they received their miniftry from
Chrift alone, how cculd they fay, that they had their full pre-
fcriptions from Chrift ? unlefs they meant, that they had them,
not from Chrift alone ? And then they muft fay, that they
fcact them partly from fome other, and that other muft either
be
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 165
be the magi Urate, or church officers : not church officers ; for
neither had they any call to fpeak of that here ; nor doth
church officers hold forth any prefcriptions but Chrift/s, and
that in the name of Chrift- If that other be the magiftrate,
then it mud either be meant, collaterally, or fubordinately to
Chrift. Not fubordinately, for they are not appointed of
Chrift for that end ; nor do they, as magiftrates, aft mini-
fterially, hut magifterially ; not collaterally, for then they
fhould have thefe prefcriptions equally from the magiftrates
as from Chrift , and that the magiftrate fhould be equal and
king of the church with Chrift, which is blafphemy.
More might be here noted, but what is faid is enough to
our purpofe at prefent •, and what was faid above needeth not
to be here repeated.
But now we muft proceed : Thefe fore-mentioned were not
all who were that year indulged , for the fame fuppofed favour
was granted to others fhortly thereafter, as appeareth by thefe
extracts out of the regifter.
Edinburgh, Aug. 3. 1669.
€€ r I "'HE perfons under-written were licenced to preach at
JL the kirks after-fpecified, viz. Mr. John Scot, late
at Oxnam, at the fame kirk; Mr. William Hamiltoun, late
at Glasford, at the kirk of Evandale ; Mr. Robert Mitchel, late
at Lufs, at the fame kirk ; Mr. John Gemmil, late at Symm-
ingtown, at the fame kirk ; Mr, Robert Duncanfon, late at
Lochanfide, at Kildochrennan; Mr. Andrew Cameron, late at
Kilfinnan, now at Lochead inKintyre."
Edinburgh, 2. Sept. 1669.
a For as much as the kirk of Pencaitland is now vacant,
by deceafe of Mr. Alexander Vernor, late minifter thereat ;
and there being fome queftions and legal pnrfuits before the
judge ordinare, concerning the right of patronage of this
kirk : Until the deciding whereof the kirk will be vacant, if
remeed be not provided : Therefore the lords of his majefty's
privie councel, in purfuance of his majefty's pleafure, exprefT-
ed in his letter of the 7. of June laft, have thought fit at this
time a,nd for this vacancie allennerly, to appoint Mr. Robert
Douglas, late minifter at Edinburgh, to preach and exercife
the fun&ion of the miniftrie, at the faid kirk of Pencaitland.
And it is hereby declared, that thir prefents (hall be without
prejudice of the right of patronage, according as the fame
(hall be found and declared by the judge ordinarie."
Edinburgh, Sept. 2. 1669*
" The perfons under-written were licenfed to preach at
the
166 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
the kirks" after-fpecified, viz. Mr. Matthew Ramfay, late at
Kiipatrick, to preach at Paitley ; Mr. Alexander Hamiltoun,
late minifter at Dalmenie, at the fame kirk; Mr. Andrew
Dalrymple, late minifter at Affleck, at Dalganie \ Mr. James
Fletcher, late minifter at Neuthcome, at the fame kirk •, Mr.
Andrew Mc-Claine, late minifter at Craigneis, at Kilchat-
tan; Mr. Donald -Morifon, late at Kilmaglais, at Ardnamur-
chant."
Edinburgh, Sept. laft 1669.
" The perfons following were ordained to preach at the
kirks after-fpecified, viz. Mr. John Stirling, at" - Hounam ;
Mr. Robert Mowat at Harriot •, Mr. James Hamiltoun at
Eglefhame ; Mr. Robert Hunter at Downing ; Mr. Joha
Forrefter at Tilliallan with Mr. Andrew Reid, infirme,"
Edinburgh^ Dec. 9. 1669.
" Mr. Alexander Blair at Galftown ; Mr. John Primrofe
at -Queensferry ; Mr. David Brown at Craigie; Mr John
Craufurd at Ltmingtoun with Mr. John Hamiltoun aged and
infirme ; Mr. James Vetch at Machline."
Edinburgh, Dec 1 6. 1669.
H Mr. John Bardie, at Paifley with Mr. Matthew Ramfey.
infirme."
Thus we fee there were this year, 1669, five and thirty in
all licenced and indulged, and ordainechto preach, in the fe-
veral places fpecified, upon the council's ordqr, in purfuance
-of the king's royal pleafure. And in the following year, we
will find the fame order given unto and obeyed by others.
But ere we proceed, it will not be amifs, that we take no-
tice of the firft aft of parliament, held this year, Nov. 16.
1669 and consequently, before the laft fix were licenced.
The aft is, An Ati ajferting his Majeftys fupremacy over all
perfons, and in all caafes ecclcjiajhcal. Whereby what was
done by the council, in purfuance of his majefty's pleafure,
fignified by his letter, in the matter of granting thefe indul-
gences, is upon the matter confirmed and ratified by parlia-
ment, when his majefty's fupremacy is fo ampliated and ex-
p^ined, as may comprehend within its verge all thafeccle-
fiaftic power that was exerced, or ordained to be exerced,
in the granting of the Indulgence, with its antecedents, con-
comitants and confequences ; and a fure way is laid for car-
rying on the fame dengn of the Indulgence, in all time com-
ing. The aft 4£ as followed
Nov*
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. ^6^
Nov. 1 6. 1669.
* r I ^HE eftates of parliament having ferioufly confidered,
\r how neceffary it is, for the good and peace of the
clmrch and ftate, that his majefty's power and authority, in
relation to matters and perfons ecclefiaftical, be more clearly
aflcrted by an aft of parliament : Have -therefore thought fit it
be enacfted, ailerted and declared : Likeas his majefly with
advict and confent of his eftates of parliament, doth hereby
enact, afiert and declare, that his majefty hath the fupreme
authority and fupremacy over all perfons, and in all caufes
ecclefiaftical, within this his kingdom : and that by virtue
thereof, the ordering and difpofal of the external government
and policy of the church, doth properly belong to his ma-
jefty and his fucceffbrs, as an inherent right to the crown.
And that his majefty and his fucceflbrs may fettle, ena<5t and
emit fuch constitutions, acts and orders, concerning the ad-
miniftration of the external government of the church, and
the perfons employed in the fame ; and concerning ail eccle-
fiaftical meetings, and matters to be propofed and determin-
ed therein, as they in their royal wifdom {hall think fit :
which a£ts, orders and conftitutions, being recorded in the
books of council and duely publifhed, are to be obferved and
obeyed by all his majefty's fubjects; any law, act or cuftom
to the contrary notwithstanding. Likeas his majefty, with
advice and confent forefaid, doth refcind and annul laws, acts
and claufes thereof, and all cuftomes and conftitutions, civil
or eccleuaftic, which are contrary to, or inconfiftent with his
majefty's fupremacy, as it is hereby aflerted. And declares
the fame void and null, in all time coming."
Concerning the irreligioufnefs, antichnftianifm and exor-
. bitancy of this explicatory, and ^as to fome things) ampliato-
ry act and afTertion of the king's fupremacy in church affairs,
much, yea very much might be faid ; but our prefent bufinefs.
calleth us to fpeak of it, only in reference to the Indulgence;
that we may fee with what friendly afpeft this fupremacy
looketh towards the Indulgence, and with what veneration
the Indulgence re'Vefteth the fupremacy, to the end it may
appear how the Indulgence hath contributed to the eftabliiri-
-ment of this fupra-papal fupremacy ; and how the accepters
thereof ftand chargeable with a- virtual and material appro-
bation of, and confent to the dreadful ufurpation committed
by this fupremacy.
In order to which, we would know, that this a£t of fupre-»
rnacy, made anno i66g, was not made upon the account that
ths
i6S HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
the fupremacy in church affairs had never been before fcrew-
ed up to a fufficicnt height, in their apprehenfions ', for up-
on the matter, little that is material is here afferted to be-
long unto this ecclefiaftical fupremacy, which hath not been
before partly in more general, partly in more fpecial and par-
ticular terms> plainly enough afcribed unto this majefty, or
prefumed as belonging to his majefty. In the i \th aft, pari.
i. anno 1661. where the oath is framed, he is to be acknow-
ledged, Only fupreme governor over allperfons, and in all caufes f
and that his power and jurifdiclwn mufl not be declined : So
that under all perfons, and all caufcs, church officers, in their
mod proper and intrinfical ecclefiaftic affairs and admini-
ftrations, are comprehended -, and if his majefty (hall take up-
on him to judge doftrine, matters of worfhipj and what is
molt effentially ecclefiaftic, he muft not be declined as an in*
competent judge. We find alfo, Aft 4. Serf. 2. Pari, \,anno
1661, (which is again renewed Aft 1. anno 1663.) that his
majefty, with advice and confent of his eftates, appointeth
church cenfures to be inflifted for church tranfgreffions, as
plainly and formally as ever a general afiembly, or fynod did,
in tfrefe words : "That whatfoever minifter fhall, without a
lawful excufe, to be admitted by his ordinary, abfent himfetf
from the vfitation of the diocefs—or who fhall not, according
to his duty, conctirre therein ; or who fhall not give their ajfif*
tance, in all the atls of church difcipline, as they foal I be re-
quired thereto by the arch biff; op, or bifhop of the diocefs, every
fuch minifler (N. B.) fo offending fhall, for the jirjl fault, be
fufpended from his office and benefice, until the next diocefian
meeting ; and if he amend not, fhall be deprived. But, which
is more remarkable, in the firft aft of that fecond feflion,
anno 1662, for the restitution and re-eftablifhment of prelates,
we have feveral things, tending to clear liow high the fupre-
macy was then exalted : The very aft beginrieth thus, For as
much a 1 the ordering and difpofal of the external government
and policy of the church doth properly belong unto his majejly,
as an inherent right of the crown, by virtue of his royal prero-
gative and fupremacy in caufes ecclefajlical. This is the fame,
that is by way of ftatute afferted in the late aft 1669. In the
time aft it is further faid, That whatever (this, fure, is large
and very comprehenfive) fhall be determined by his majejly
with the advice of the archbijhops and bifbops, and fuch of the
clergy, as fhall be nominated by his majejly, in the external go-
vernment and policy of the church (the fame conffiing with the
Jlanding laws of the kingdom) fhall be valide and effecluaL
And
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 169
And which is more, in the fame a recommended by king and parliament
unto the privy council, after this manner. " And in purfu-
ance of his maj royaj resolution herein, his maj. with ad-
vice forefaid, doth recommend to the lords of his maj. pri-
vy council, to take fpeedy and effectual courfe, that thefe
acts receive ready and due obedience from all Jiis maj fub-
jefts ; and for that end, that they call before them all fuch
minifters, who having entered in or fince the year 1649, and
have not as yet obtained prefentations and collations as afore-
faid, yet dared to preach in contempt of the law ; and to pu-
nifh them as feditious perfons, and contemners of the royal
authority. As alfo that they be careful, that fuch minifters*
who keep not the diocefian meetings, and concur not with
the bifhops, in the afts of church difcipline, being for the
fame fufpended or deprived, as faid is, be accordingly after
deprivation, removed from their benefices, glebes and manfes.
And if any of them (hall notwithftanding offer to retain the
pofleffion of their benefices or manfes, that they take prefent
courfe to fee them difpofieft. And if they {hall thereafter prefum^t
to exercife their miniftry, that they be punilhed as feditious
perfons, and fuch as contemn the authority of church and
ftate M Now, notwithftanding of this exprefs reference aud
fevere recommendation, we know, that in the matter of the
Indulgence, they were fo far from punifhing fuch, as had
not obtained prefentations and collations, and yet had con-
tinued tp preach and exercife their miniftry ; that in perfect
contradiction to this injunction of king and parliament, and
other fore-mentioned afts, they licenced/warranted and im-
powered fome*fuch, as by aft of parliament were to be pu-
nilhed as feditious perfons, and contemners of authority of
church and ftate, to preach publicly, and to exercife all other
parts of their miniftry, and that upon the fole warrant of the
king's letter, which cannot in law warrant and impower them
to contravene exprefs laws, and afts of parliament ; and not
only to difobey the injunctions of parliament, but in plain
terms to counteract and counterwork the eftabliftied and ra-
tified laws, and fo to render them null and of no effeft.
Whence we fee, that there was a neceffity for the parlia-
ment, an. 1669, to do fomething, that might fecure the lives
and honours of the members of council, in point of law, in
granting of that indulgence, which was fo exprefsly againft
law, and which the two arch-prelates, members of council,
Y z would
172 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
would never give their afient unto, as knowing how it in-
trenched upon the power granted to them, and the other pre-
lates, confirmed by law; and fo was a manifeft refcinding of
thefe acts and laws. And though this might have been done
by a plain and fimple aft, approving and ratifying what the
council had done, in compliance with his majefty's royal plea-
fure, and authorizing them in time coming, to purfue the
ends of the fame letter further, with a non objlante of all afts,
formerly made in favour^ of prelates and prelacy: Yet it is
probable they made choice of this way of explaining, by a
formal and full fta'tute and aft of parliament, the fupremacy,
in thefe plain, full and ample terms, wherein we now have
it ; that thereby they might not only fecure the council, but
alfo make the king's fole letter to the council, in all time
Coming, a valid ground in law, whereupon the council might
proceed, and enaft and execute, What the king pleafed in
matters ecclefiaftic, how intririfically and purely fuch foever;
without fo much, as owning the corrupt ecclefiaftic medium
or channel of prelacy : And withal it might have been thought
that fuch an aft, fo neceflary for the legal prefervation of
the indulgers, and confequently of the indulged, in the en-
joyment of the Indulgence, would go fweetly down with all
the indulged, and fuch as gaped for the like favour, howbeit
i . framed, as that it was not very pleafant, at the'firft tail-
ing : For it cannot be rationally fuppofed, that fuch as are*
pleafed with their w r arm dwellings, will caft out with the walls
and roof of the dwelling, without which they would enjoy no
more warmnefs than if they were lodging befide the heath in
the wildernefs : And who could think, that any indulged mart
could be diffatisfied with that, which was all and only their
legal fecurity, and without which, they were liable to be pu-
nched as feditious perfons, and as contemners of authority,
even for preaching by virtue of the Indulgence, according to
laws (landing in force unrepealed ?
Whence alfo we fee^ what a fair way was made unto this
aft of fupremacy, by the Indulgence •, and how the Indulgence
is fo-far beholden unto this aft, that it cannot ftand without
it, nor the perfons indulged be preferved from the lafh of the'
law, notwithstanding of all that was done by the council :
.And thus thefe two are as twins, which mull die and live toge-
ther ; for take away the aft of fupremacy, and the Indulgence
is but a dead illegal thing. We may alfo fee, what to judge
of this illegal and illegitimate birth, that cannot breathe or
Yvxt 9 where law reigneth, without tfoc fwaddling-cloth^s of
fuch
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 173
fuch a fupremacy, nor can ftand but as upheld by fuch ah
antichriftian pillar.
We may alfo fee here, that the very embracing of the In-
dulgence was, upon the matter, a recognition of this power
in the king, to do in and by his privy council, in church mat-
ters, what he pleafed, even though contrary to antecedent
afts of parliament ; and that fuch as are fo fatisfied with the
effect, viz The Indulgence, cannot but comply with the
caufe, viz. The fupremacy, as afferted in this act \ as the man
that hath a complacency in drinking of the ftreamS, cannot
be difpleafed with, but delight in the fountain from whence
they proceed. If any of thefe brethren had received the fame
Indulgence from the prelates immediately, had they not there-
by complied with the prelates, homologated their power, and
plainly afTented and fubmitted thereunto ? Yea, had they not
in this aflentcd alfo mediately unto the fupremacy, feeing all
the prelate's power did flow from the fupremacy ? And fhall
they not now much more be looked on, as homologating the
fupremacy, and as afienting thereto, when they receive the
Indulgence, that immediately floweth therefrom, and mud
be vindicated and defended folely by the afTerting thereof?
How is it imaginable that I can receive a favour, and not ho-
mologate, affent to, and acquiefce in that power that gave it,
when the afferting of that power, is the only mean to keep
jpae in legal pofiefTion of the favour received ?
But now, for further confirmation of what is faid, let us
take a view of the acl: of fupremacy itfelf, and there fee a
ground laid of fufficient warrant for the council, in what they
did, in granting the Indulgence ; and alfo be able to read the
Indulgence itfelf out of the fupremacy, as here afferted ; and
for this end, it will be fufHcient for us, to take notice only
of the laft words thereof, where it is faid, u And that his ma-
jefty and his fucceffbrs may fettle, enacT and emit fuch con-
ftitutions, acts and orders, concerning the administration of
the external government of the church, and the perfons em-
ployed in the fame, and concerning all ecclefiaftical meetings
and matters, to be propofed and determined therein, as they
in their royal wifdom (hall think fit : which a£ts, orders and
conftitutions, being recorded in the books of council, and
duly publiffied, are to be obferved and obeyed by all his maj.
fubje&s " Before this time, as we heard, all a£is, orders
conftitutions, concerning church affairs, church meetings, and
church adminiftrations, were to be put in execution by the
prelates, irnpowered by the fupremacy unto this end : and.
what
i 7 4 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
what was lately done in the matter of the Indulgence, was
done by the council, and not by the prelates, and therefore
contrary to law : whereupon, that this deed may be valid in
law, it is here aiTerted, that the king, by virtue of his fupre-
macy, may emit what orders and conftitutions, he, in his roy-
al wifdom, thinketh fit, and after what manner he pleafeth;
and fo, if he will, may order and difpofe of all church admi-
niftrations, ecclefiaftic perfons, church meetings and matters,
by himfelf immediately, or by his council ; yea, or by his
lackeys - 7 fo that if the laws, conftitutions, adls and orders,
concerning thefe matters, meetings, perfons and adminiftra-
tions, be fignified to the council, by letter, or any other way,
and be recorded in their books, and duly pjiblifhed, (which
they mud do whenfoever required) they muft be obeyed and
obferved by all fubje&s : Now this power being aflerted to
belong to his majefty as an inherent right of the crown, no
deed of gift, formerly granted to the prelates, could weaken
or diminifh it ; and therefore nothing done of late by the
council, in granting of the Indulgence, according to his ma-
jefty's will and pleafure, fignified by his letter June 7. 1669,
can prove prejudicial unto the faid privy council, they doing
nothing but what was confonant unto the king's fupremacy,
here more clearly aflerted, and not granted of new, fave in the
form of a formal ftatute and law aflerting the fame. Yet not-
withftanding, for the more fecurity, (fox abundance of law breaks
no law) it is added in the aft, (as we fee) Any law, aft or cuftom
to the contrary notivithftanding. And moreover, they rejeind
and annul all lav) s 1 atls and claufes thereof ] and all cujloms and
conftitutions, civil or eccleftaftic, which are contrary to and in*
confijlent with his majefty' s fupremacy, as it is hereby ajferted ;
and declare the fame void and null in all time coming ; accord-
ing to the ufual courfe and manner.
As to the other particular, we may fee the native feature
and lineament? of the Indulgence, in the face of the fupre-
macy, fo manifeftly, that none who fee the one needs ques-
tion the intimate relation that is betwixt them. We fee it
now aflerted, as belonging to his majefty's fupremacy, in
church affairs, that he may fettle, enaft and emit what arts,
conftitutions and orders, he thinketh good, whether concern-
ing church adminiftrations, church meetings, church matters,
or church officers ; and that there needeth no more to make
thefe laws to be obeyed and obferved by all the fubje&s, but
the recording of them in the books of the council, and duly
publilhing of them. Now, as we faw above, in the king's
letter,
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 175
letter, concerning this Indulgence, there are conftitutions,
acts and orders emitted and fettled concerning church admi-
ni$rations, (hewing what fhall not be preached under the
pain of cenfure ; whofe children may be baptized, whofe not;
who may be admitted to hear the word, and who not. Con-
cerning church perfons, who mall be accounted qualified for
preaching, who not ; who fliall be accounted fit for the charge
of fuch a flock, and who for the charge of another; fuch and
fuch minifters are ordained to go to fuch or fuch congrega-
tions, not by virtue of a call of the people, but merely by vir-
tue of the council's defignation. Concerning church meetr
ings,they are appointed to keep diocefian vifitations, or fynods,
and to refort to prelates exercifes, though the prelates look
not on them as fuitable company. So it is ordained, whom
they are to marry and whom not. In a word, let any but
compare the king's letter with this part of the act of fupre-
macy, and he fhall be forced to fay, that the letter is nothing
but the fupremacy exemplified and put in practice.
Hence it is manifeft, that no man can fubmit to, and ac-
cept of the Indulgence, but he mud eo ipfo fubmit to and ac-
cept of fuch conftitutions, acts and orders, as did conftitute,
qualify, and limit the fame \ for the effect includeth the
caufes constituent and difcriminating. And again, no man
Can fubmit to and accept of conftitutions, acts and orders,
flowing from a power, but they mull eo ipfo recognofce that
power to be properly refiding in the perfon, giving forth thefe*
acts and orders ; or grant, that he is veiled with that power:
and feeing it is plain from the act of fupremacy itfelf, that
fuch conftitutions, acts and orders, fo given in church mat-
ters, and about church perfons, as thefe were, whereby the
Indulgence was midwif'd into the world, do flow from th<
fupremacy 5 it is alio manifeft, that no man can accept of the
Indulgence, as fo and fo conveyed, as it. wad, but they muft
withal virtually, implicitly, and interpretatively at leaft (tho*
yet really and confequentially) acquiefce, and fubmit unto,
and acknowledge the fupremacy, in fo far as concerneth the
matter of the Indulgence, and the a£ts, orders and conftitu-
tions, therein comprehended.
I am, in all this, far from thinking, that thefe indulged bre-
thren did formally and exprefsly own, .acknowledge, acquiefce
in, or approve of the ecclefiaftic fupremacy, in and by their
accepting the Indulgence ; or that they had any fuch inten-
tion therein, as to make way for, approve of, or to confirm
the faid fupremacy. N$ ; I am only (hewing what is the na-
tive
i 7 <$ HISTORY of the INDULGENCE,
tivc confequence thereof, and inevitably followeth thereupon j
and what confequentially they may and ought to charge them-
felves with, and others, not without ground, account them
interpretatively guilty of; and what a confcience, when right-
ly awakened and illuminated, will challenge them for; and
the poflerity will think they have failed in, and many nowa-
days are (tumbled by, or induced to (tumble upon the occa-
fion of; not to mention the defign of the contrivers, which
yet, when known and difcovered, may occafion, yea, and
caufe a fad and wakening reflection ; nor yet to mention what
afterward, upon feveral occafions was difcovered, of which
more afterwards, and which might have been fufficient to
have made fome bethink themfelves, and fearch more narrow-
ly what they had done, and give glory to God by turning out
of fuch dangerous, and fo many ways fcandalous and offen-
five paths.
Having thus briefly fpoken of the fupremacy, as relating
to and friendly correfponding with the Indulgence, its native
daughter, we now proceed in our hiftory, and (hall (how,
who were indulged even after this a£t of fupremacy was thus
made and publifhed : And of thefe we have found already
five or fix licenced, that fame year, within a month or there-
by after the parliament ^which gave us fuch a full and large
explication of the fupremacy) fat down. But we proceed to
the following years.
Edinburgh^ 27. 1670.
" Mr. Alexander Wedderburn at Kilmarnock."
Edinburgh^ March 3. 1670.
€l Mr. John Lauder at Dalzel ; Mr. George Ramfey at
Kilmars ; Mr. John Spadie at Dreghorne ; Mr. Thomas Black
at Newtyle \ Mr. Andrew Mc-claine at Killaro and Kilquha-
nan ; Mr. Andrew Duncanfon at Kilchattan in Lorm"
Thus we have this year feven more ; in all forty-three.
Towards the beginning of the next year, there is a procla-
mation of the privy council, reinforcing the punctual obser-
vation of the fore-mentioned injunctions, delivered unto the
indulged, after this form.
Edinburgh. Jan. 26. 1671.
" For as much as the lords of his maj. privy council, in pur-
fance of his*maj. royal pleafure, fignified to them by his letter
of June 7. 1669, did by their aft of the 27. of July 1669, or-
dain all fuch outed minifters. as mould be allowed to exercife
the miniftry, to keep kirk-feflions, and keep prelbyteries and
fynods, as was done by all minifter*, before the year 1638.
An4
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 177
And did declare, that fuch of them, as fhould be allowed to
exercife the miniftry, and (liquid not obey in keeping of pref-
byteries, fhould be confined within the bounds of the parifhes,
where they preach, aye and while they give aflurance to keep
prefbyteries. And the^faid lords being informed, that hi-
therto obedience hath not been given to the forefaid act of
council: Do therefore command and require all and every
one of thefe minifters, allowed to preach. bv order of council*
to keep prefbyteries in time coming. And do hereby con-
fine all thefe, who (hall not give obedience in keeping pref-
byteries within the bounds of the refpective parifhes, where
they preach. And ordain extracts of this art to be fent to
every one of the faid rriinifters, that none of them pretend
ignorance. "
How or what way this injunction was obferved, I am not
much concerned to enquire. Only the reader would know,
that the prefbyteries now, and before the year 1638, were
not the fame ; fo that however honeft minifters did obferve
thofe, yet no honeft man could, with a good confcienee, keep
thefe meetings now"; becaufe before the year 1638, prefby-
teries had never been difcharged, or removed : Howbeit ma-
ny complied with the prelates then, and frequented thefe
meetings, yet good men kept their pofieffions ; only the fy-
nods then were fo far changed into epifcopal vifitations, that
feveral honeft men had not peace and freedom in going to
them. But in our days, prefbyterian government was pluck-
ed up by the roots, and wholly caft away ; and there was no
prefbytery or fynod, but what was purely epifcopal, depend*
ing upon him, and recognofcing his power. Whence we
fee, that by this injunction, a compliance with prelacy was
defigned. And I fuppofe, fuch of thofe indulged minifters,
as had not freedom in confcienee to yield obedience unto
this command, thought that by compliance herewith they
fhould have homologated the prelate's power* and abjured
prelacy, notwithftanding that they were obliged by the com-
mand of Gcd, to hold fuch meetings for the exercife of dis-
cipline, according to the pattern of the New Teftament, if
fuch circumftances had not made it finful in them ; why then
might they not alfo have judged it unlawful for them to have
accepted of the Indulgence, as homologating the magiftrate's
ufurped fupremacy, and abjured Eraftianifrri, notwithftanding
of their obligation to preach the gofpel ? Why did not the
obligation to obferve prefbyterial aflemblies, for the exercife
ef difcipline, make them willing to fteo over the inconveni-
Z encs
178 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
ence of prelacy, without acknowledging of which they could
not keep thefe meetings hie & nunc ; as they fuppofed their
obligation to preach the gofpel did warrant them to ftep over
the inconvenience of Eraftianifm, without acknowledging of
which they could as little preach hie & nunc; efpecially feeing
if they obferved not thefe prefbyteries and fynods, they could
obierve none : But though they preached not in thefe places
defigned by the indulgers, they could have preached elfewhere,
with as much glory to Chrift, good to fouls, edification of
the whole body, and peace in their own minds, if not more.
I fee not, how they, who fcrupled not at preaching, though,
as circumftantiated, attended with abjured Eraftianifm, could
rationally fcruple the exercife of prefbyterian difcipline, tho\
as circumftantiated, attended with abjured prelacy Yea, I
think there was lefs ground for fcrupling of this discipline,
than for fcrupling that of preaching *, becaufe, as I faid, they
could have preached without the Eraftian Indulgence, and
that to much more advantage, as experience hath proved in
others; but they could not have exerced difcipline^ fuch I
mean as ufed to be exerced in prefbyteries and fynods, with-
out J:he prelate's courts.
We have now feen the progrefs of this device of the In-
dulgence, contrived mainly to fupprefs and keep down the
meetings of the Lord's people in houfes, and in the fields*
which were the eye-fore of the rulers, and which they were
feeking to deftroy by all means ; as appeareth by that griev-
ous aft of parliament made againft them, Aug. 13. 1670, with
the aft againft baptifms, Aug. 17. 1670, and that made Aug.
20. 1670, againft withdrawing from public meetings, all tend-
ing to this end. But notwithstanding of all thofe Midianitifh
wiles, and cruel afts, fuch was the prefence of the Lord in
the aflemblings of his people, and fo powerful was the opera-
tion of his Spirit with the labours of a few, who laid out
themfelves to4iold up the ftandard of Chrift^ though contrary
to the law of men ; that the number of converts increased
and multiplied daily* to the praife of the glory of God's free
grace, and to the encouragement of the few hands, that wref-
tled through all human difcouragement. Therefore our
rulers caft about again, and fall upon another device, which
they fuppofed would prove eiTeftual for deftroying the work
of the Lord •, which was this. Befides the minifters indulg-
ed, as faid is, there was a great company of non-conform
minifters, not yet indulged, who they fuppofed either did, or
might thereafter hold conventicles (as they are called) •, and
therefore
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 179
dierefore to remead or prevent this in time coming, they ap-
point and ordain them to fuch and fuch places, where in-
dulged minifters were fettled, there to be confined, granting
them liberty to preach, and exercife there miniftry there, ac-
cording as the indulged men would allow and employ them ;
or of new-indulging them by pairs, and appoint ; ng to places %
thinking by this means to incapacitate fo many minifters
from holding of conventicles or private meetings there, o*
elfewhere : All which will be clear by the a£ls of council
which fallow.
Halyritdhoitfc, Sept. 3. 1672.
M r I THE lord commhTioner his grace, and the lords of his
1 majefty's privy council, confidering the diforders
whiclfhave lately been by the frequent and numerous con-
venticles ; and being willing to remead fo great an evil, in
the gentled manner that could be thought on; and his majefty's
imHEoner being fufEciently inftrudted herein, They do
order and appoint the minifters after -named, outed fince the
year 1661, to repair to the parifties following, and to re-
main therein confined, permitting and allowing them to
preach and exercife the other parts of their minifterial func-
tion, in the psjrifties to which they are, ox (hall be confined
by this prefent aft, and commifiion after-fpecified, viz.
In the diocefs of Glafgow.
In. Eglefliam parifh, with Mr James Hamiltoun, Mr Do-
nald Cargil. Palfley, with Mr John Bairdy, Me
rifties*
x82 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
rifhes. The faids whole ftipends, receiving in the future
divifion proportionally, according to the number of perfons
formerly aild now allowed to preach therein. And where
there was no perfon formerly indulged, the third part of the
ftipend of the year 1672, is to be paid to thefe confined and
allowed by this prefent aft, in the refpeftive parifhes fore-
faid And in cafe any of the minifters forefaid fhail not
ferve, as they are allowed by this aft or commiiTion forefaid,
their proportion of the faid ftipends are to be holden as vacant,
and to be employed,conform to an aft to be made in thisfeflion.
of parliament* anent the difpofal of the vacant ftipends. And
ordains letters to be direfted, at the inftauce of the feveral
minifters forefaid, ferving as faid is, againft thefe liable for
payment of their proportions of the faids ftipends. And the
lord commifiioner's grace, and lords of his majefty's privy-
council, considering the extent of the Indulgence given by
this aft, and that if the fame mould be any further enlarged,
the regular minifters might be difcouraged, and the orderly
and peaceably difpofed people of this kingdom difquieted ;
do declare, that hereafter they are not to extend the faid In-
dulgence, in favours of any other people, or to any oth^r pa-
rifhes, than to thofe mentioned in this aft ; nor to allow out-
ed minifters to preach in any kirks, not herein expreffed, and
wherein there are not already minifters allowed to preach bjr
this aft."
Thus we fee this Indulgence very far extended, and as far
as the council meant to extend the fame, m all time com-
ing \ but you will fay, we hear of no orders, inftruftions and
prefcriptions, given unto them, whereby they were to be re-
gulated in the exercife of their miniftry, as others formerly
allowed and licenced were. Therefore, in order to this, there
is an aft of council, of the date of the forefaid Indulgence, to
this effeft.
W and by former afts of council, divers minifterf
outed fiiace the year 1661, have been and are warranted and
licenced, to preach at certain kirks, therein fpecified ; and it
being neceflary for the better keeping of good order, that the
rules following be obferved by thefe minifters indulged, by
an aft of the date of thir prefer) ts, and thefe indulged by for-
,mer afts of council. Therefore the lord, commiflioner's
grace, and the lords of his majeity's privy council dp enjoin the
punftual
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 183
fun&uzl and due observance thereof to the faid minifters,
as they will be anfwerable.
1. M That they prefume not to marry or baptize, except
fuch as belong to the parifh, to which they are confined, or
to the neighbouring parifhes vacant, or wanting minifters for
the time.
2. " That all minifters indulged in one and the fame diocefs,
telebrate the communion upon one and the fame Lord's day,
and that they admit none to their communion? belonging to
other parifties, without teftificates from the minifters thereof.
3.. " That they preach only in thefe kirks, and not in the
church-yards, nor in any place elfe -, under the pain to be re-
pute and punifhed as keepers of conventicles.
4. " That they remain within, and depart not forth of the
parifh, to which they are confined, without licenfe from the
bifhop of the diocefs only.
5. " That in the exercife of difcipline, all filch cafes, as
were formerly referable to prefbyteries, continue ftill in the
fame manner ; and where there is no prefbyterial meeting,
that thefe cafes be referred to the prefbytery of the next
bounds.
6. " That the ordinary dues, payable to burfers, clerks of
prefbyteries and fynods, be paid by the faid minifters as for-
merly.
" And that the faid minifters may have competent time
for tranfporting of their families, and difpofing upon their
goods, the faid lords fufpends their confinement for the fpace
of three months, to the efFedt* in the mean time they may
go about their affairs, providing that during the time of the
faid fufpenfion, they do keep and obferve the reft of the or-
ders and inftruftions forefaid, and other afts made anent
outed minifters." #
There was another a£l of council made this fame day, con*
cerning all the reft of the outed minifters, not as yet by name
indulged and licenced, and concerning fome newly ordained*
as followeth.
Halyroodhoiife, Sept. 3. 1672;
u r 1 ^HE lord commiilioner's grace and the lords of his
I majefty's privy council, confidcring that by the act
of the date of thir prefents and former a£ls of council, cer-
tain minifters outed fince the year 1661, are confined iri
manner therein contained ; and that there are remaining di-
vers of that number not difpofed on by the faid aft, it ought
alfo to be provided, that thefe niay not give fcandal to any,
by
i8 4 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE,
by withdrawing themfelves from the public worfhip, in the
kirks of thefe parishes, where they refide, nor enfnare others
to do the like by their practice and example ; do therefore
give order and warrant to fheriffs, bailies of regalities, bailies
of bailieries, and their refpeftive deputes, and magiftrates
within burghs, to call and convene before them all outed mi-
nifters fince the ye?r i66j, and not difpofed on as faid is,
and who are not under a fentence or cenfure of flate, refid-
ing in the refpeefbive jurifdiction or bounds, or who fhall in
any time thereafter refide therein, to require them to hear
the word preached, and communicate in the kirk of thofe
parifhes, where they dwell or repair to ; or dwell in fome o-
ther parifhes, where they will be ordinary hearers and com-
municate; and to declare their refolution herein; and con-
defcend upon the parifhes, where they intend to have their
refidence, and hear the word and communicate : with power
to the faid fheriffs and other magiftrates forefaid to feize up-
on and imprifon their perfons, within the fpace of a month
after they fhould be fo required. And in cafe any of the
faid minifters fh all refide in the parifh, where there are mi-
nifters indulged by the council, they are hereby warranted
and allowed to preach in the kirks of thofe parifhes, where
they refide, upon the invitation of the minifter therein con*
fined and allowed, and not elfe.
" And whereas feme within the kingdom, without any
lawful authority or ordination, take upon them the calling of
the miniftry, preach and do other a&s, peculiar to thofe of
that function ; and confidering that fuch prefumption arid
intrufion upon the facred office, tend to the difordering and
difquieting of the church and kingdom, therefore the lord
commiffioner's grace, and the lords forefaid of his majefty'-s
privy council do enjoin the faid fheriffs and other magiftrates
forefaid, within the refpeftive bounds, to make fearch for*
and feize upon and imprifon fuch, upon trial that they have ex-
ercifed the office of a minifter; to acquaint the council of their
names and place of their imprifonment, that fuch courfe may
be taken with them as they fhall think fit. And further, the
faid fheriffs are ordained and commanded to enquire how
the minifters, confined and allowed to preach in their feveral
jurifdiftions, do obey the rules prefcribed to them, and con-
tained in another aft of council, of the date of thir prefents,
and whereof extracts are to be fent to the feveral magiftrates
forefaid, who are hereby appointed to report to the council
thereanent, every fix months, and betwixt and the firft of
June
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 185
June next their diligence in the execution of the order, con-
tained in the aft, certifying them, that if they (hall be negli-
gent or remifs in the execution of the orders, given to them
herein, or failing to give in the faid account, they (hall be
proceeded againft and cenfured according to their demerits. "
By this aft we fee what courfe was laid down to have all
the outed minifters cantonized, and brought under reftraint,
that fo the word might alfo be under bonds, and reftrifted
to thefe bounds, to which they had been pleafed to extend
the Indulgence. We fee alfo, how the council looked upon
fuch, as had been ordained, but not by prelates, and how
they w-ere to be perfecutedby their order. We fee alfo hovir
the miniftry of thofe, who were thus to confine themfelves
in places, where indulged meh were, is reftrifted by their
prefcriptions, in its exercife.
But by the preceding Aft of Indulgence, we faw a num-
ber of minifters indulged, who were to repair to the feveral
places fpecified 5 and to this end every one of them were
to receive their own particular aft or fummohs, to this effeft.
Hdlyroodhoufe, Sept. 3 1672.
** T I ^HE lord commiitioner's grace and the lords of his
1 majefty's privy council, confidering the diforders
which have lately been, by frequent and numerous conven-
ticles, and being willing to remedy fo great an evil in the
gentled manner could be thought on; and his majefty's com-
miffioner being fufficiently inltrufted herein, they do hereby
order and appoint — - to the psrifh kirk of — ; and
to remain therein confined, permitting and allowing him to
preach, and exercife the other parts of the minifterial func-
tion in the faid parifh, with formerly indulged."
But where no minifter had been- formerly indulged, this
laft claufe was left out. As alfo there was fent along with
this aft to every one of them an extraft of the council's in-
ftruftions, of the date thereof.
Here we fee the former injunctions renewed, and preffed on
ail, formerly and now of late indulged \ and moreover we find
fomenew injunctions fupperadded^z'z. concerning the time of
their celebrating of the Lord's fupper, of purpofe to hinder
the greater good and edification of the people, who ufed to
go to other churches, than their own, to partake of that com-
forting and ftrengthening ordinance •, whereby alfo an infup-
portable yoke was put upon their necks, to celebrate the fa-
crament at times (as to fome in particular poflibly) moft un-
A 3 feafonablty.
lie HISTORY or THft INDULGENCE.
feafonable, when neither they nor their people were in cafe,
and when the feafon of the year might prove an impediment
in landwart kirks, though none to towns. And further,- they
are enjoined not to preach without the walls of the kirk, nay,
not fo much as in their houfe ; fuch hatred and indignation
had thefe rulers, at all houfe and field meetings, that they
would not fuffer even their own licenfed and warranted mi-
nifters to do any thing, that might carry the lead appearance
of any fuch thing. So they are ordered to acknowledge their
fubjefiion unto the prelate's court?, by referring cafes, ufual-
ly referable to prefbyteries, unto them ; as alfo to teftify their
acknowledgement of the prelate's courts, by paying their pro-
portion of the falary, now alledged to be due to the clerks of
thefe courts Any may fee what fnares were laid here ; and
what obedience 'was given hereunto by thefe minifters, who
accepted of the benefit of this Indulgence, I know not. It
is fufficient for me to note here, that thefe injunctions flow
from an ufurped power, and are not proper magiftratical a£ls,
circa facra, but intrinfically church conftitutions (at leaft fe-
veral of them), and therefore the accepting of thefe, which
were a piece of the complex bufinefs of the Indulgence, as
tendered and granted by the rulers, bewrayed their falling off,
in fo far, from former principles, owned and fworn unto.
And befide, this addition of new inftruftions did fhow, that
the council looked upon them as their curates, and as ob-
noxious to their orders in church matters, ami what concern-
eth the manner and way of their exercing of the minifterial
fun&ion, as the other curates are unto the prelates, or as e-
ver any minifter was obnoxious to the canons and conftitu-
tions of general or provincial aflemblies, in our bed times.
And let me enquire of thefe accepters, how they think fuch
an aft as this, had it been done, while the church was in pof-
feflion of her power, would have been looked upon ? and how
tmr general aflembly would have looked upon fuch minifters
as fhould have fubmitted unto the like then, as they have done
now ? I fuppofe ihey will think, that if they had done fo,
they would have met with no lefs than depofition. And then
let them confider, if that can be a commendable duty now,
which would then have been fuch a trartfgreffion. And let
them fay whether or not, fuch do them great wrong, who,
adhering to their former principles, muft needs look on them,
as ipfo jure depofed.
It deferves to be noted here, that a libel was formed againfl:
one Mr William Weir, at this time indulged* and permitted
to
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 187
to preach in Weil Caider, and he was looked upon by the
council, as one that molt bafely {lighted their favour and in-
dulgence, and was feverely to be punifhed, becaufe he thought
it not Sufficient to enter unto that charge, merely upon the
act of the council \ but to fatisfy himfelf the more, as to his
ground of entry, did receive a call from fome of the heritors
and pc >ptej and becaufe in his firft preaching to that people
he ceclared his adherence to the folemn league and covenant,
and that he did not acknowledge the power either of king or
biihop, in matters belonging to the church of Chrift j and in
his next fermon faid, that neither king nor council were the
treafurers of the gofpel, or of the miniftry of it. And be-
caufe the following day, he preached againft the fupremacy
in matters ecclefiaitical, and againft prelacy ; and becaufe he
had in preaching declared, that the civil magiftrate had no
power to appoint a day to be kept holy and obferved in holy
worth ip. By which we fee, that the council taketh upon them
to make a man his miniiL-r, though they plainly (hew, that
he was never owned as a minifter by the church judicatories.
Further we fee, that the council's aft, thus ordering thefe
indulged minifters to the refpe£tive kirks, was all the call
they had, or that they would acknowledge fhould be had, or
required ; and therefore the indulged have no call, but the
call of the council as their ground. Fuvther we hence fee
that the council's aim and end (among^ others) was to have
the fupremacy eftablifhed, and prelacy ; fo that the very
fpeaking againft thefe, by fuch as were indulged, was fuffici-
ent to be the matter of a libel, and was looked on as criminal:
What interpretation can then be given of the iilence of o-
thers, thus indulged, as to thefe great points, let fober men
judge -, and whether or not, the council did fuppofe, that by
this Indulgence, they had obtained fo many coyduks, as did
willingly fubmit thereunto.
I know feveral minifters, mentioned in riiis aft, had not
freedom to accept of this fuppofed favour of the Indulgence,
and were therefore cited before the council : Among thefe,
faithful and worthy Mr John Burnet, minifter at Kilbride,
near Glafgow, was one, who thought it his duty to give an
open and plain account of his reafons to the council, why he
could not fubmit to. that Indulgence, and for this end, drew
up his reafons in write, dir^fting it to the council : But be-
ing prevented by ficknefs, and thereafter by death, did not
get it prefented, yet fent it to the chancellor, and left it, as his
teftixpony againil th^t evil, not changing what might have
A a x bc«
188 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
been changed in the manner of its addrefs, becaufe of fick-
nefs and other inconveniences. I (hall here fet it down as
he left it j not only becaufe it was hiif teftimony to the truth
(and teftimonies fhould be carefully kept, and committed to
pofterity ;) but alfo becaufe his reafons are weighty, and may
help us. to fee more of the inicjuity of this Indulgence. His
faper was as followeth
The draught of this Paper vj as framed pit rpofely to the S. Coun-
cil, as will appear in the very entry thereof which mould I
could not change, becaufe $f the want of healthy and other
inconveniencies,
%i TT> EING called before his majefty's privy council to give
Jj > an account of the reafons, why I have not accepted
of this'prefent Indulgence, granted by his moft excellent ma-
jefty to feveral prefbyterian minifters in Scotland, I defire hum-
bly and in the fear of God (who ftancleth in the congregation
of the mighty, and judgeth among the gods) to give this true,
fober and ingenuous relation of fuch things, as did and do
invincibly bind me, why I cannot accept of this late complex
Indulgence, framed in three' diftinct acts of council, of the
date Sept. 3^ and ph, 1672. To which I fliall premit thefe
things briefly.
1. " That it is well known to all the protectant reformed
churches abroad, concerning the conftitution and government
of this ancient church of Scotland for many years, and par-
ticularly in the year 1660. That it was framed according to
the word of God ; confirmed by many laudable and ancient
laws of the kingdom-, and folemnly fworn to by all ranks
within the fame. u ~"
2. * It is alfo found by lamentable experience, that fince
that time this ancient and apoftolic government is wholly o-
verturned in its very fpecies and kind, and that by the intro-
duction of lordly prelacy, which is tyrannically exercifed ;
tvhereby the church was fuddenly deprived of her lawfully
called paftors, and their rooms filled by ftrang^rs, violently
thruft in upon the people, many of whom hate proven fcan-
dalous and infufHcient. ~
3. The fad effect* of thefe things are confpicuoufly appa-
rent upon the face of this church this day, fuch as involving
the land in great backfliding and defection •, the abounding
ignorance and atheifm ; the overflowing fpate of fenfaality
and profanenefs like to Sodom j the increafe of popery and er-
ror
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 189
ror through the land, even to the height of antichriftian Pa-
ganifm, and Quakerifm ; the fharp fullering and fmartings
of many of his majefty's loyal fubjetts through the land,
merely becaufe they cannot conform to the prefent prelatical
frame ; and finally the increafe of animofities, diffent;ons, di-
vifions, jealoufies, and differences among the fubjefts.
4. " Whatever power found and orthodox divines do ac-
knowledge the magiftrate to have, and may have exercifed iti
a troubled and extraordinary ftate of the church ; yet it is
not at all yielded by them, that the magiftrate may, in any ways,
alter its warrantably eftablifhed government, and fo turn that
fame troubled and perplexed ftate and frame of the church,
made fuch by himfelf, merely to be the fubjeft of his magi-
fterial, authoritative care and operation.
5. c< That I be not miftaken, as denying to his majefty his
juft power in ecclefiaftic matters, I do humbly and with
great alacrity acknowledge, that the civil magiftrate hath a
power circa facra, which power is objeftively ecclefiaftic ; fo
as he by his royal authority may enjoin that whatfoeveris
commanded by the God of heaven, may be diligently done
for the houfe of the God of heaven ; which power alfo is by
God's appointment only cumulative and auxiliary to the
church, not privative, nor deftruftive, and is to be exerced
always in a civil manner.
€i As to the reafons of my not-acceptance of the prefent
offer, and not repairing to the* place defigned by the council,
they are,
1. " That our Lord Jefus Chrift, Mediator, the King and
Lawgiver of his own church, hath committed all minifterial
authority, for government of his houfe, to his own church
officers, as the firft proper fubjefl: and receptacle thereof
John xx. 21. As my Father fent me, fo fend I you. Matth.
xxviii 18, 19, 20. All power is given to me in heaven and
earth ; go ye and preach the gofpel. 2 Cor- x. 8. Our authority
which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for de-
Jlruftion, &c. But fo it is, that the a£t explanatory of his
majefty's fupremacy in the church, (whereupon the Aft of
Indulgence is grounded) doth not only claim the power to
belong of right to his majefty and fucceflbrs, as an inherent
privilege of the crown, but doth actually alfo invert and clothe
him with the formal exercife thereof in his own perfon, and
that he may derive the fame, and convey it to others, as in
his royal wifdom he (hall think fit : For his majefty is pleaf-
ed to defign and make application of minifters to congrega-
tion^
t 9 9 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE,
tions, and that, without the previous call of the people, and
power of the prefbytery (which would fuppofe the civil ma-
giftrate to have authority to judge of the fuitablenefs of mini-
It ers parts and gifts to labour amongft fuch and fuch a people) ;
as alfo to frame and prefcribe ecclefiaflic rules, relating to the
exercife of the minifterial office, as alfo appointing a corn-
Biiflion to plant and tranfplant miniflers, as they fhall think
fit ; notwithftanding that it hath been unanfwerably evinced,
that prefbyterian government is founded on the word of God,
and confirmed otherwife abundantly.
2. " Although 1 do freely difallow and condemn all tumultu-
ary and feditious meetings (among which it is fad and grievous,
that the peaceable meetings of the Lord's people for worfhip,
and hearing the word foundly preached, fliould be reckoned,)
yet I am fo convinced in my heart of the Lord's bleffing at-
tending the preaching of the gofpel (though not in a public
parifh church) as that I judge the narrative of the firft act to
go near to involve my acceptance of this Indulgence, being
an interpretative condemning of the faid meetings.
3 u There is a {landing relation betwixt me and another
flock, over which I was fet by the appointment of Jefus Chrift
in his word, which tie can never really be diflblved by any o-
ther power than that which at firft did make it up, and gave it
a being : And after that I had ten years (during the Englifh
ufurpation) wreftled in oppofition to Quakers and Indepen-
dents, in the place where the firft breach had been made
upon the church of Scotland, I was without any ecclefiaflic
fentence thruft from the public exeicife of my miniitry in
that place, where there will be 1200 examinable perfons,
whereof there were never 50 perfons, yet to this day, who
have fubjefted themfdves to him, who is called the regular
incumbent ; and that even when I was living 30 miles diftant
from the place. Now what a door is hereby (by my being
kept from my charge) opened to error, atheifm and profane-
nefs, may be eafily conjectured by thofe who hear of the de-
plorable cafe of that people ? and what a grief muft it be to
them, to have their own lawful paftor fliut up in a corner,
whereby we are both put out of a capacity to receive any
more fpiritual comfort flowing from that relation, which i$
yet in force betwixt us ? or how is it to be imagined that any
new fupervenient relation can refult betwixt another flock
and me, by virtue of an aft only of a mere civil judicatory ?
BehVe, that the people, in whom I have prefent intereft, are
utterly rendered hopelefs, by a claufe Lu the cud °i the firft
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE, i»i
aft, viz. That the Indulgence is not hereafter to be extended in
favours of any other congregation than thefe mentioned in the
aft, whereof they in that parifh are none.
4 " That I will not offer to debate the magiflrate's fen-
tence of confinement, let be his power to do the fame ; yet I
fhall foberly fay, there are fo many things attending the pre-
fent application thereof to my perfon, that it cannot be ex-
pected I (hould give that obedience hereto, which might infer
my own confent or approbation. For, i. Though this con-
finement be called a gentle remedy of the great evils of the
church, in the narrative of the firlt act, yet it is found to be
a very (harp punifhment, as it is circumftantiate. 2. All pu-
nifhments, inflicted by magiftrates on fubjects, ought to re-
late to fome caufe or crime, and cannot be done arbitrarily,
without opprefhon, which truth i* ingraven on the light of
nature; for Feftus, a heathen man, Acts xxv. 27. could fay,
It feemeth to me unreafonable to fend a prifoner and not
withal to fignify the crime laid againft him ^ yet am I fen-
tenced and fent in fetters to a congregation, without fo much
as being charged with any crime, and all the world are left
to collect the reafon of this cenfure. 3. If my confinement
relate not to any crime, it muft needs relate to a defign,
which defign is obvious to common fenfe, viz. That I mould
preach and exercife the office of my miniftry, wholly at the
appointment and difpofal of the civil magiftrata ; and a fen-
tence of confinement is lefs obvious to debate and difpute by
the fubjects, and will more eafily go down with any fimple
man, than an exprefs command to preach, grounded on his
majefty's royal prerogative and fupremacy, and cannot readi-
ly be refufed by any, unlefs a man make himfelf to be con-
ftrucled a fqueamifh wild fanatic, and expof« himfelf to great
fufferings 5 fo this confinement, which hath both his majefty's
prerogative and fupremacy in ecclefiaftic matters in it, comes
to me in room, and that directly, of the peoples call, and
prefbytery's authority, and other ecclefiaftic appointment.
Now this defign, however clofely covered, I dare not in con-
fcience, yea, I cannot (with the prefervation of my judgment
and principles) concur with, or be confentient thereto. 4,
By the confinement I am put to an open fhame before the;
world, and particularly in that place where I am permitted
to preach the gofpel : For what weight can my preaching or
miniltcrial acts of difcipline and government have, while I
myfelf am handled and dealt with as a malefactor and tranf-
greffor, a, rebel or traitor to my prince and aation ? Or how
caa
102 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
can I preach the word of the Lord freely and boldly againft
the fins of the times (as againft profanenefs, error, injuftice
and oppreffion) as minifters ought impartially to do, while I
am kept under a perpetual check of the fword of the magi-
ftrate at my throat ? This to me is not preaching, but an
over-awed difcourfe : Moreover, I become a prey for any ma-
licious prejudicate hearer, who (hall happen to accufe and
inform againft me. Can I be anfwerable to God who fent
me, to render up niyfelf willingly to be a fervant of men ?
Were not this to cut out my own tongue with my own hands?
5. This confinement is not fimply or mainly of my perfon,
(which fentence, if it were fo, I fhould moft willingly under-
go) but it is of the office itfelf (the imprifonment of which
ought to be fadder to me, thaii any perfonal fuftering what-
foever) while, 1. It is not of me alone, but of all the prefby-
terian minifters in Scotland, a very few only excepted 2.
While the propagation of the gofpel by the perfonal reftraint
of us all is manifeftly obftructed. 3. We are cut off from the
difcharge of many neceffary duties, which we owe to the na-
tion and church ; and efpecially at fuch a time, while {he is in
hazard to be fwallowed up with a fwarm of Jefuits, Quakers,
and other damnable fubvertera of the truth ; and (which is
yet more) while three parts of the kingdom are groaning un-
der the want of the word, faithfully preached, and fome few
{hires only here in the weft are made, as it were, the common
goal of all the minifters, that are permitted to preach. 4.
By this confinement, I lofe an eflential part of my miniftry,
which is the exercife of jurifdi&ion and church government ;
which yet Mr. Baxter (a very favourable non-conformift) af-
ferts to be as eiTential to the office of a minifter, as preach-
ing of the word \ the ftafF being as needful to the (hepherd,
as either the pig or the horn is ; fo fays the fcripture of
preaching elders, A<5ts xx. 28. The Holy Ghoft hath made
you overfeers or bifhops, no lefs than teachers ; a principal
part of which government is ordination of minifters, for pre-
servation of a fucceflion of faithful men in the church; where-
of by the a£l of confinement (as alfo is exprefsly provided by
the laft claufe of the laft aft) we are intentionally deprived
for ever, while it is in force : In lofing of which one branch
of our government, we undo our own caufe with our own
hands. I remember the firft thing the ambitious Roman
fclergy invaded and ufurped, was the jurifdiftion and autho-
rity of prefbyters, turning the minifters of Jefus Chrift into
the prelate's journeymen, making curates of them, only for
preaching
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 193
Reaching and intimating the bifhop's mandates. And what
elfe do I in this cafe, but make the miriiftry of the gofpel in
my perfon immediately dependent, in the exercife of it, upon
the arbitrament of the civil magiftrate.
5. " As for the permiffion and allowance I have to preach,
when confined: This permiffion feemeth very fair, while I
look on it abftraftly, without relation to the reft of the par-
ticular circumftances of the aft; for this would look like
opening the door in part, which the magiftrate himfelf had
fhut 5 but while I take it complexly with what elfe is joined
with it, it doth prefently carry another face, like fome pic-
tures or medals that have two or three different afpefts to
the eyes of the beholder: For permiffion to preach in any
Vacant church within the kingdom is fo very great a favour,
as for which I would defire to blefs God, and thank his ma-
jelty mod heartily : But take it without the previous call of
the people, the authoritv and affiftance of a prefbytery, as it
may be had ; and take it without the exercife of discipline
and government, but what is congregational, and fo it is
lame. Again, take it with the confinement, and other clogs
and caveats contained in the 2d aft \ or take it with the bur-
den of being obliged to follow all matters (formerly referable
to prefbyteries and fynods) before thefe prefbyteries and fy-
nods, which are now conftitute by bifhops and their delegates;
and fo it is nothing but that fame accommodation, which we"
formerly had in our offer from the bifhop, and did refufe :
And take it yet with the robbing of our own congregations,
and with the depriving of three parts of four of the whole
reft of the land, and then I have it to confider, whether this
my permiffion to preach be not the putting of my neck under
a heavier yoke, than it could be under before.
6. " The laft reafon (for brevity) is from the affinity with
and dependence this Aft of his majefty's royal Indulgence:
hath upon the late explanatory aft of his majefty's fupremacy,'
(which I defire with forrow of heart to look upon, as the
greateft encroachment can be made upon the crown and au-
thority of Jefus Chrift, who is only King and Lawgiver of his
church upon earth) as will be evident by comparing the
two afts together ; for the aft of his majefty's fupremacy (be
fides the narrative) contains two principal parts, viz. (1.)
The affertory of his majefty's fupremacy, which is the main
theme propofed to be explained, in thefe words : The ejlates
of parliament do hereby enaEl, ajfert and declare, that his ma-
jejly hath the fupr erne authority and futrsmacy over all perfons,
H b and
194 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
and in all caufes ecclefmjlic within this kingdom. (2.) The ex-
planatory part follows, in fo many moit comprehenfive and
extenfive branches and articles, thus: That by virtue thereof
the ordering and difro/al of the external government of the
church doth properly belong to his majejly and his fuccejfors, as
an inherent right of the crown, and that his majejly and fuc-
cejfors max fettle, enacl and emit fitch conflitutions, atls and
orders, ccrcerning the adminifiration of the external govern-
ment of the church, and the perfons employed in the fame, and
concerning all ecclefiaflical meetings and matters, to be pre,
and determined therein, as they in their royal tuifdom Jhali think
ft.
" Again, the Act of his majefty's royal Indulgence, which
is the exercife and a£tual application of his fupremacy in
matters ecclefiaftic, may be taken up in thefe particulars com-
prehensively. ([.) The nomination and election of fuch and
fuch minifters, to fuch and fuch refpective places. (2.) A
power to plant and tranfplant, put out and put in minifters
to the church. (3.) The framing and prescribing rules and
inftru£tions, for limiting minifters in the exercife of the rni-
nifterial office. (4.) The ordaining inferior magiftrates, as
flieriffs, juftices, a copy of thefe inftructidns. When
the day appointed hereunto Cometh, they all compear (what
was their deliberations and refolutions, in the interim, and
what was the carriage of the reft, that day, we will have a
lit occafion to fpeak hereafter) the copy of the inftruclions is
given to each of them, Handing coram at the bar; feveral had
received them before they were prefented to Mr Blair ; but
wh^a they are given to him, he, being moved with zeal, and
remembering whofe ambaflador he was, told the council plain-
ly, that he could receive no inftructions from them, to regu-
late him in the exercife of his miniftry, otherwife he mould
not be Chrift's ambaflador, but theirs ; and herewith letteth
their inftrucUons drop out of his hand, knowing of no other
falvo, or manner of teftifying for the truth, in the cafe. The
fcouncil, feeing what a direct, oppofition this was unto them
in their defigns, in a rage fent him with a macer unto pri-
fon ; which made a great noife in the city, the more ferious,
though forrowful at his fufferings, yet rejoicing that he had
witneffed a^ood confeflion, and fo had perpetuated the tefti-
fnony of the church of Scotland her patience. This could
not but carry fome fad reflection with it on the reft, who had
received, and come away with thefe inftru&ions in their
hand }
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. *«3
ha*d ; wherefore fome judicious and ferious minifters in the
rown, being filled with fhame and forrow both at what paft,
endeavoured to call the reft together, that they might own
Mr Blair's teftimony, vindicate themfelves, and prevent the
contempt, under which otherwife they would lie; but tho*
they did meet, yet nothing of this kind could be granted ;
fome would not move one ftep forward ; and the reft, out of
a pretence of love to union, though in evil, would not leave
them •, but they all, notwithstanding of all their love to union,
left Mr Blair alone, who yet was not alone; his Mailer's
prefence making up the want of his brethren's fellowfhip : at
this meeting, I heard there was a motion made, that fome
(hould be appointed to write about the magiftrate's power in
church matters; as if they, forfooth, could have found out
new principles, to have juftified their own proceedings, fo
point-blank contrary to all the aftings of the church of Scot-
land, and of the faithful in it, from the beginning ; and if the
perfon that drew their vindication (of which afterward) was
appointed hereunto, I (hould have expected nothing but a
piece of Vedqlian pedantry : But it was good, that this mo-
tion was alfo laid afide. However faithful and honeft Mr
' Blair muft moreover fuffer by their tongues ; for they were
not afhamed to fay, that all his fuffering was for his rude and
unfuitable carriage before the council, though all that knew
him, knew him: to have as much of a gentleman, and of good-
breeding, as any of them : But the truth was (as a faithful
perfon, to whom he himfelf fpoke it, did report) he had that
day bowed the knee to the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift,
and with much earnednefs begged counfel and courage, in or-
der to a fuicable carriage, at that appearance, and finding his
heart enlarged, did not leave praying that morning, until he
had obtained fome affurance, he mould be aflifted ; and there-
fore came before the council, with Micaiah's rudenefs (if fo
it muft be called,) as having got a fight of his Royal Mafter,
and durft do, or receive nothing, that might countenance an
encroachment upon his prerogative royal. It was alio known,
^hat fome of thofe, who in their previous meeting voted for
Mr Blair being their mouth before the council, faid now,
they were glad he was not, for then he had marred all their
bufinefs : And in a vindication of the reft, emitted by fome
of their number, he is alfo (as we (hall hear) lamed, and that
with the ifttrado of hinc ilia lachrymce^ as if he had done more
hurt by this teftimony, than his own, and the lives of many
tyere worth. While worthy Mr Blair is (as we have feen) in
Cc2 prifaBi
SC4 HISTORY os the INDULGENCE,
prifon, he falleth very fick, and friends and phyficians Wr-
ing his difeafe fliould prove mortal, he with much difficulty
obtained the liberty mentioned, until he was taken home to
glory. It is worthy of our noticing, that during the time
both of this imprifonment and confinement as the fufferings
of Chrift abounded in him, fo his confolations alfo abounded
by Jefus Chrift, for all who converfed with him returned
comforted by feeing and (haring of his confolations ; and par-
ticularly when drawing nigh to his end, how was his foul
made to rejoice, in reflecting on his being honoured and help-
ed to give that teftimony ? And with what horror and indig-
nation would he exprefs himfelf, upon fuppofition he had
done lefs than he did •, yea, all his grief and regret was, that
foe had not done more. At length, when the time of the
liberty granted to abide in his chamber, was almoft expired,
his glorious Matter, who would want him no longer, nor fuf-
fer hirri to want the confeflbr's reward, fent and refcued
him from the rage of perfecutors, and from the reproaches
of his deferring brethren, and took him home to his Matter's
joy ; and the found of, Well done, good and faithful fervant,
filling his ears, made him fhut his eyes finging, and give up
the ghoft in aflurance of being embraced, and of having accefs
to embrace.
From all this, thefe things are obfervable, i. That God,
by the fpeaking fignifications he gave of his complacency in
the freedom and fidelity of his fervant, wrote a fufficknt re-
futation of all that was faid by fome, to difgrace both him and
bis caufe. 2. That here is a new witnefs from heaven againft
thefe invafions. 3. As alfo againft the Indulgence, and the tak-
ing thefe inftru&ions. Befide, 4. The encouragement given
to all to abide faithful, in avowing Chrift's prerogatives, ami
the privileges of his church and kingdom, eventhough aban-
doned of all, who fhould bear them company, or go before
them.
Ere we return to take further notice of what paft, when
the fore-mentioned indulged minifters compeared before the
council, we (hall, for a clofe out of the regifters, mention
thefe following acts.
Edinburgh^ 6. Feb. 1673.
* A NENT a petition, prefentedby Mr Robert Hunter,
now minifter at Burrowftounefs, that conform to
an adt of council, the petitioner did ferve the cure at the kirk
of Duning for the 1671 and 1672 years, and after Martin-
jpzs laft did tranfport himfelf to the kirk of Burrowftounefs,
conform
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. » 5
conform to the council's order. And therefore humbly fup-
phcating, that the ftipend of the faid parifh of Duning for
the faid two years might be appointed to be paid to him.
The lords of his majefty's privy council, having heard and
confidered the faid petition, do ordain the faid ftipend of the
faid parifh, for the faid two years, to be paid to the fupplu
cant ; and that letters of horning be dire&ed for that efTed."
In the year 1676, there came forth an open proclamation,
dated March 1.
" r 1 ^HE lords of his majefty's privy council confidering
I that by their aft of the 3. Sept. 1672, they did or-
der and appoint divers outed minifters, to repair to the feve-
ral parifhes therein fpecified *, and to remain therein confined,
permitting and allowing them to preach and exercife the o-
ther parts of the minifterial function in thofe parifhes, and
did require and enjoin thefe minifters, or any other minifters
indulged by former acfts of council, to keep and obferve the
inftruttions following, as they would be anfwerable.
u That they fhould not prefume to marry or baptize any,
except fuch as belonged to the parifh, to which they were
confined, or to the neighbouring pariflies vacant or wanting
minifters for the time.
H That all minifters indulged, in one and the fame dio-
cefs, fhould celebrate the communion upon one and the fame
Lord's day, and that they fhould admit none to their commu-
nions belonging to other parifhes, without certificates from
the minifters thereof.
" That they fhould preach only in thefe kirks, and not in
the church-yards, nor in any place elfe, under the pain to be
repute and punifhed as keepers of conventicles.
" That they fhould remain within, and not depart forth of
the parifhes to which they are confined, without licence from
the bifhop of the diocefs only.
" And whereas it is informed, that the faid outed mini-
fters, indulged as aforefaid, (at leaft many of them) have vio-
lated and contravened the forefaid orders and inftruflions
(upon which terms they were permitted and indulged to
preach and exercife the other funftions of the miniftry)
whereby many diforders are occafioned. The faid lords do
therefore, of new again, require and command all thefe in-
dulged minifters to keep and obferve the forefaid orders and
inftru&ions, in time coming, and fpecially for keeping with-
in the bounds of their parodies, and celebrating the commu-
nion
W es> (whereof he can give no particular account) they
gave this anfwer ; that thefe affs, relating to that matter,
were never intimated unto them. Upon which they were told
by my lord chancellor they Jhculd get them ; and fo all were
commanded to appear again the following Tuefday. As to this,
we may fee, that the council did fuppofe thofe afts to have
been made known unto them : And that, fo far as the coun-
cil did know, all the reft, fave thefe four, had obferved the
injunctions, otherwife they had been challenged upon the
violation of them, as well as thefe four. As to this anfwer,
given by thefe four, I fuppofe the reft will willingly acknow-
ledge, that it was not fufficient ; and that another anfwer
had been both more pertinent, and lefs introduftive of new
troubles ; for probably, if this anfwer had not been given,
they had not got fuch a return from my L. Chancellor. Had
they ingenuoufly faid, that their commiilion bare them to
baptize, as well as preach ; and that they might not be an-
fwerable to their Mafter, to refufe to baptize any children
within the covenant, brought unto them for that end, much
trouble and temptation had been, in all appearance, prevent-
ed. And though I will not condemn all legal defences •, yet
I muft fay, that Chriftian prudence might foon have taught
them to have waved this defence, not only becaufe it was ob-
vious enough what would follow ; but mainly becaufe it con*
tained a tacit acknowledgement, that they would not have
done what they did, if the a£t had been inlimated to them ;
and that in time coming they would willingly obey the fame;
and confequently, that the injunctions were juft and righte-
ous, tod fuch as neither they, nor any other Khould difobey,
whether
ai 4 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
whether becaufe of the matter, or becaufe of the power en-
joining them : But more of this purpofe afterwards.
He gives us next an account of what they did in the in-
terval, and how they did meet almoft every day, to confult
what they (hould do, at their next appearance, in cafe thefe
ads (called, faith he, rules) fhould be intimate unto them :
And how a paper was produced by fome, appointed there-
unto, which was only relative to thefe inftruftions or rules,
with a touch of the reafons of their not obferving of the i^ih
of May, to which (fa\th he) afterward was prefixed a pretty
large introduction, concerning* ChriftV power, in and over
his church ; and aflerting the magiftrate's juft right about
ecclefiaftic affairs, as amply aa any thing Mr Hutchefon fpoke;
and denying him no more, when it was finifhed, than he de-
nied unto him. Concerning this paper, I cap fay nothing,
having never feen it 5 only I find it contained (as himfelf tells
U6, in the following words) this claufe : That we cguIJ. not re-
ceive from the magifirate any inflrutlions s to regulate us in tht
exercife of our miniftry : And I find by his own relation, that
three or four days they debated upon this claufe, which f .e
calleth, Unqualified: And that many of the brethren were
againft it, *^.s an ajfertion, which being fo generally and indif-
tinBly exprejfrd, would not hold, water , nor be found agreeable
with the word of God y or conceffions even of our orthodox anii-
eraflian divines, csrncerning the magi/Irate 3 s jujl right.
As to this aflertion, which, as he faith, was not fatisfying
to fome y though I do not know, what particularly was
objected againft it by fome 5 yet I may take liberty to
fay, that it appeareth not to me contrary either to the word
of God, or to the concefliorrs of orthodox anti-craftian
divines, if it be umlerftood, either as rehtive to the cafe then
in hand fas it behoved to be, if pertinently adduced,) or ac-
cording to the true and native import of the words, wherein
it is expreffed : and that becaufe,
j. Nothing occurreth to me, in fcripture, whence it can
with any {hew of probability be inferred, that this arTertion
is not conformant to fcripture, except what is recorded of Da-
vid's giving initructions to the Levites, porters and fingers,
and marfhaH'mg them in th/eir feveral orders and work. But
fure I am, all anti-eraftian divines look upon that practice, as
no precedent to Chriltian magiftrates now, as is well known :
And their ground is clear and irrefragable; for David did
^ r hat was dont herein, not as king, by any proper magiftra-
ftcal power, as is clear from what he faid himfelf, when he
was
HISTORY op the INDULGENCE. ai 5
vras delivering all thefe orders and inftru&ions, mentioned
1 Chron. xxiii xxiv, xxv, and xxvi. over unto Solomon, chap,
xxviii. o, ic, ii, 12, 13. he tells him, ver. 19 That the Lord
fk iJe him underjland all this, in writing by his hand upon
km: And accordingly We find Solomon doing nothing in
Ihrs matter bv his own proper magiftratical power, 2 Chron.
viii. 14 but according to the order of David his father And
moreover, when King Hezekiah is about this work, reform-
ing what was amifs, he doth nothing of this kind, jure regio y
by his magiftratical power; but according to the commandment
of David, and of Gad the king's fcer ; and Nathan the prophet ,
1 Chron. xxix. 25. and it is added * for it was the command-
ment of the Lord) by his prophets. In like manner Kfng Jo-
fiah, when he is ordering church affairs, and reforming a-
feufes, afTumed nothing to himfelf of this nature, as king, but
appointed all to be according to the writing of David \ king of
Ifraely and according to ther*writing oj Solomon his Jon, 2 Chron*
xxxv 4.
2. Nor can I call to mind what that conceffion is of our
anti-eraftian divines, that can feem to controul this. (t.) It
cannot be that conceffion, That magiftrates may and fhould
put minifters to their duty, in following the rules and injunc*
tions, prefcribed by Chrift, viz. in their political way, and
by their political penalties : For hence it will no way follow,
that minifters receive inftru&ions from magiftrates, to regu-
lar them in the exercife of their miniftry ; more than it can
be laid, that magiftrates receive their instructions, for regu*
la: lg them in the exercife of their civil function, from mi-
nifters ; becaufe minifters, in their minifterial way, put ma-
giftrates to their duty, in following the rules prefcribed by
God in his word. (2.) Nor can it be that conceffion, Thaf
magiftrates may, by their political and civil fanftion, con-
firm and enforce civilly canons and rules, minifterially clear-
ed and concluded by church judicatories : For that is but to
prefs the rules of God's word to be obferved, and is no pre-
ferring of injunctions ; but an enjoining civilly the obferva-
tion of inji n&iofiF, impofed and propofed minifterially by
ehurch judicatories. (3.) Nor can it be that conceffion, That
the magiftrate is cuflos utriufque tabula*, for the reafons al-
ready given -, the minifter alfo may be faid, to be cuflos
Utriufque tabula, in his way and manner ; and yet none
will hence infer, that he may give inftruciions onto magi*
ftrates, to regulate them in the exercife of their office,
(4O Nor can it be that conceffion, That the magiftrate \%
m
ti6 - HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
an cverfeer of things without ,• for thefe external things arc
properly and formally political things, belonging to the civil
government of the outward man ; among which the function
of the miniftry, as fuch, cannot be reckoned ; this being pure-
ly ecclefiaftic, and properly belonging to the fpiritual king-
dom of Chrift. (5.) Nor can it be that conceifion, That the
magiftrate may limit and confine die perfon of a minifter,
whereby, per accident , there is a confinement laid upon the
further extenfion of the exercife of his miniftry: for every
body feeth, that this is properly a confinement of the perfon,
and but confequently of the exercife of the miniftry ; and no
man will fay, that is orthodox, that the magiftrate hath the
fame power over the office of the miniftry, that he hath over
the perfon of the minifter.
3. Some fuch thing may, I grant, be gathered, with fome
probability, from that aflertion of Vedelius, viz. That magi T
ftrates have an infpetlion of the office of minifters, as- he urgeth
it. But he is no anti-eraftian, but an Eraftian divine : And
I fuppofe no fuch thing will follow from this aflertion, or
the like, as qualified or explained by our orthodox divines,
who have written againft Vedelius, fuch as Apollonius, Tri-
glandius and Revius : Befide what Walxus and Voetius have
fpoken hereunto.
v 4. I conceive that aflertion was very orthodox and fafe ;
for thefe reafons, (i.) This power of giving inftruftions, for
regulating the exercife of the miniftry, would infer or pre-
fuppofe, that the office of the miniftry and its exercife, are
fubordinate to the magiftrate in line a reel a : For inftru&ionsj
and orders or rules coming from a fuperior (for from fuch
they muft come, and not from an inferior, nor yet from a
co-ordinate power) to an inferior, fay, that the fuperior hath
power to grant a commiflion to that inferior, be it court or
perfon, to act in that function and fphere -, and a power to
limit, reftricl, enlarge or qualify the exercife of that function,
as he feeth good : But none of our orthodox anti-eraftian di-
vines grant a fubordination, but afiert a collaterally. (2.)
No orthodox anti-eraftian divine will fay, that minifters, as
fuch, are fo fubordinate unto the fupreme magiftrate, as o-
ther inferior magiftrates are. But if the fupreme magiftrate
might give inftruftions to minifters, and prefcribe rules to
regulate them in the exercife of their miniftry •, what differ;
ence (hall there be, as to this, betwixt minifters, as fuch, and
inferior magiftrates ? Can the fupreme magiftrate do more,
as to the regulating of the magiftratical function, in inferior
magiftrates,
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 21J
magiftrates, than limit them, reftricl: them, qualify them by
fuch and fuch inftruftions ? and what lefs (hall now hereby
be granted to him, in reference to minifters, as fuch ?
5. But now if we fpeak of injunctions and inftru&ions, iri
particular^ the matter will be yet more clear, that that after-*
tion was truth, and nothing but truth : For either the in-
ftru&ions are concerning fuch things as are at all times ne-
ceflary to the right exercife of the rniniftry ; or concerning
alterable circumftances, which only hie 6* nunc can be called
neceflary: If the former be faid, it muft be granted, that
thefe are fet down to us in the word \ for all neceflaries are
there contained ; and if fo, the magiftrate either enjoineth
thefe minifterially, as holding forth the mind of God ; but
this cannot be faid, for then were he no magiftrate, in that,
but a church officer and a minifter : or magiftratically and
autocratorically, as a civil magiftrate. And then this muft
either be, in ccclcfta reformata 6' bene injtituta, that is, in a
well reformed and inftituted church 5 or in ecclefia reforman-
da 6* confufa ; that is, in a church wholly confufed and need-
ing reformation : In the former cafe, orthodox anti-eraftian
divines will fay, there ought to be an antecedaneous judge-
ment of the church, or of minifters, who are the only autho-
ritative and authorized minifterial interpreters of the word :
And then the magiftrate doth not give the inftruclions, but
by his civil fandlion politically enforceth the observation of!
God's inftrucT:ions, authoritatively and minifterially held
forth by the authorized minifterial interpreters. The latter
cafe is not our cafe, unlefs by this conceflion we would grant
power and liberty to any magiftrate, to overturn the beft re-
formed church that is, to the end he may order all things iri
it, as he pleafeth ; which was never underftood by the ufers
of this diftinftion. If the inftru£tions refpecT: only the al-
terable perijiatica : Either Chrift hath given power to his
church, in thefe cafes, to judge, according to the general
rules of the word, or not. No reformed orthodox anti-eraf-
tian divine will fay ndt 9 and if the former be faid (as it mud
be faid) then quo jure ? Ey what law can the church be
robbed of this power ? and by what right can the judgment
of this matter be committed, in prima injlantia, at the very
flrft, unto the magiftrate \ or rather wholly and folely,
unto him ? For thus the minifters are altogether excluded
when it is faid, that the magiftrate can give inftruclions iri
thefe matters : For the granting of this power unto the ma-
giftrate, will neceffarily bring the examination and judgment
fit 'of
J 8 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
of minifters, as to the acts of the exercife of their funcViOri,
unto the civil court, either wholly, or in the firft place at
leaft, contrary to the orthodox anti-eraftian doctrine.
I think then, that all, who minded honeft and plain deal-
i lg, in this day of trial, and of witnefiing to the truth ; and
t) that truth, that fo nearly concerned Chrift, as King and
Head of the church, {hould have confented unto this afler-
tion, and. in plain terms have told the council* That they were
to receive no injtrutlions from the magijirate, to regulate them
in the exercife of their mimjlry. He tells us next, that fome
fuppofed this quejlion was determined) in the concefjions^ that
ivere in the introductory part of the paper^ wherein the magi-
ftratfs power objetlively ecckfiafical is afjerted But if all
thofe conceflions, fet down in the introductory part of the
paper, iflued in the clearing of the magiftrate's power to be
objectively ecclefiaftical, they expreffed nothing to weaken
the fore- mentioned claufe : For, who will fay, that becaufe
the magiftrate's power is objectively ecclefiaftical, therefore
he can give inftrtictions to regulate minifters-in the exercife
of their miniftry ? It were as good a confequence to fay, The
magiftrate is keeper of both the tables of the law. Ergo y he
may fet down inftruftions, limitations and rules, fhewing
when the law of God (hall oblige as the law of God, and
when not. .And to fay, becaufe he hath the fcriptures for
the object: of his care, therefore he may fet down rules how
this or that prophecy, this or that doctrinal book, or hiftory
(hould be underftood and interpreted. So to fay, becaufe
his care reacheth to doctrine, and he: muft countenance the
preaching of truth, and difcountenance the preaching of er-
ror, erge he may appoint minifters what to preach, and what
not \ and command them to preach of the feven deadly fins,
and not of predeftination, as the king faid in his letter to the
archbifhop of York. And becaufe his power* objectively
reacheth to the worfhip of God ; therefore he may do as Je-
roboam did. So becaufe difcipline and government are alfo
the object of his care, therefore he may give rules and in-
structions, how the church (hall be governed ; that is to fay,
whether by a pope, or by prelates, or by the people, or by
himfelf and his under-magiftrates. Yea, and from this pow-
er objectively ecclefiaftical, it may as well be inferred, that
he may regulate controverfies and other debates, handled in
church aflemblies, and prefer ibe what arguments pro and
what arguments contra fhall be ufed, what fins fhall be fa
5-nd fo eenfured, igc. Yea, in a word, we may as well infer
fror*
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 21 $
from this objectively ecclefiafticar power, all that is fum-
marily contained in the explicatory aft of fupremacy ; as that
he may give inftruftions, to regulate minifters in the exercifc
of their miniftry.
How did this debate iflue ? He faith, in end, fome made a
motion, which, with common confent, fo far as could be
difcerned, was embraced : And what was this ? That the af-
fenipn fliould he thus qualified, That we would not receive from
the magiftraie inJiruElionS) formally and intrinfic ally ecclefiajli-
cal 9 to regulate ui> &c. Which, in my judgment, was eitherno-
thing to the purpofe \ or (which is worfe) was a betrayirrg of
the caufe : For either this was underftood, in reference to
thefe rules, which the council p.refcribed in their aft, Sept.
3. 1672, or not. If noty what was it to the purpofe then in
hand ? If it was underftood with this reference, then either
hereby they mean-t to juftify and defend their refufing to ac-
cept of thefe inftruftions, or to juftify their accepting of
them, but not of others. If the former be faid, then, (1.)
Why was MrJBlair fo much condemned, who did but refufe
the accepting of thefe, that had been exprefled in the aft,
and were then exhibited ? (2.) Why was it not plainly af-
firmed, that they would not receive thefe that the- council
tendered unto them ? (3.) Why was there fo much debate
in private, about a general thejis % when the clear aflertion of
the hjpothefiS) would have falved both credit and confeience ?
If the aflertion was thus qualified, to juftify their accepting
of thefe rules, then fure, the caufe was betrayed : And if they
were clear to accept of thefe rules, what neceflity was there
for this general blind? If they intended it for a teftimony,
was that a fit feafon for a teftimony, when they were refolved
to yield to all, that was at that time defired, without hinck
or fcruple ? Further, I fuppofe it will be found, that fome of
thefe inftruftions were indeed formally and intrinfically ec-
clefiaftical. And if thefe were excepted*, they fliould have
been particularly mentioned, that all might have been clear*
for in teftirnonies we cannot be plain and clear enough. If
they were not clear to embrace thefe inftruftions; why did
they not unanimoufly agree to tell this in plain terms ? And
if reafons of their refufal had been demanded, ingenuity and
plain dealing had furniftied them with reafons fuflicient,
taken both from the matter of the rules, the manner of en-
joining them, and from the fad confequences of obeying them,
befide feveral other circumftances, not to be defpifed.
When. all agreed unto the aflertion thus qualified, and fo
Ee z to
*2* HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
to the whole paper that was drawn up, he tells us, there fell
out another quettion, whether that paper fhould be made ufc
of as a directory, when they fhould be called to fpeak before
the council, or if it fhould be fubfcribed by all, and fo given
in as their anfwer, and fenfe of thefe matters ? This was, no
doubt, a weighty debate, and fuch as might have occafioned
their breach among themfelves : But when the Lord is away,
what light or counfel can remain ? Well, what came of this
queftion ? The generality (he faith) were indeed for the fub-
fcribing of it. Which I confefs I would not have been for ;
nor yet for ufing of it as a dire&ory ; for reafons already
given. But now the generality being for the fubfcribing of
It, what became of it ? Was it fubfcribed indeed ? No, faith
he j and thus the minor part prevailed. But he faith, there
were reafons^ moving hereunto j and I fhall be glad to hear
thefe. The firft is, One, who was then withdrawn about fome
tieceffary affairs had declared before, upon reafons ponderous to
him, that he was not free in his mind to fubferibe any fuch pa-
per, at that time. It feemeth ftrange to me, that the un-
clearnefs of one fhould have proven fuch an effe&ual mean
to flop the reft, in that whereabout they had no fcruple ; e-
fpecially when that one did not fhew what his ponderous
reafons were. I humbly judge, the zeal of God would have
determined them another way. But there was good caufe
for this ; For, faith he, they judged it not fafe, but prejudicial
io the caufe, and to unity to break bulk, and acl in a divided
ivay> when all were ready to concur in the matter, though they
differed in the form and manner :' And how inconvenient was
it, faith he, that differences about the manner fhould be feen in
fublic, when they were one upon the matter ? But what pre-
judice had come to the caufe, if a teftimqny had been given in
to the council, unto which all had aflented, though it had
wanted the fubfeription of one, who was necefTarily abfent,
when it was fubfcribed ? Yea, though it had wanted the fub-
feription of one, who was unwilling to fubferibe ? In fo do-
ing they did not break bulk ; but that one, if ever he had
been within the hold, had made the breach by abandoning
his brethren. Unity and harmony is good, I grant, but I
know not, why every man fhould have a negative voice, in
all fuch matters ; and why nothing fhould be done by a com-
pany or fociety, if but one man dilTent ? I know no divine
rule for this ; nor will Chriftian prudence teach it : and I am
fure, it is one to a hundred, if ever any thing be done of mo-
ir.entj pr- hazard, by a company, on thefe terms. And I
much
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 221
much doubt, if, when one only perfon, yea, or two are re-
fractory, all the reft of that fociety fhould think themfelves
exonered in confcience to forbear a duty, clearly called for.
The form and manner here was (I judge) a material thing;
and who . were not clear, as to it, could not be very clear as
to the matter.
There was another reafon of this forbearance. Had they
(faith he 2 ) been free to fubfenbe papers, at that time, yet
they could not look on that paper, as it was hajlily and crudely
patched up, as befetmingfo many minijlers of the gofpel, to give
in to the Jiate as their mature and formed thoughts. In theji
I grant, it is good, that no man fhould fubferibe a paper, with
which he is not fatisfied ; and \ think, it is exception rele-J
vant enough againft the fubferibing of a paper, called or look-
ing like a teftimony, when it is not plain nor full enough,
even though what is faid be otherwife not reproachable. But
as to this paper, I think this reafon of his very ftrange, when
he told us before, that the generality was for fubferibing of it,
as it was rude, hafty and raw. Whence came this change ?
Second thoughts, it feemeth, have taken place. But in fo-
bernefs, I cannot but think ftrange, that fo many able minis-
ters of the gofpel could not, after fo many days debate, give
their formed and mature thoughts of a bufinefs, in which
every minifter of the gofpel, and fervant of Chrift was oblig-
ed to be ready always to giv^, upon lefs than a few hours
warning, yea, at the firft demand, an account of his faith ;
especially in this controverfy, wherein all were called to be
mod clear ; and they efpecially, who could not but know,
that their filence, as to bearing teftimony to the truth, at
their firft receiving the Indulgence, had given fuch offence :
for my part, though I cannot judge of the paper, having ne-
ver feen it, and though I fee not, how all he faith of it can
prove it raw and indigefted, confidering the account he gave
of it before : Yet becaufe of^that one claufe, he tells me was
in it» and univerfally aflented unto, I am as glad it was not
fubferibed and given in, as he was ; and upon that account
do judge, it was unfit to be aftanding thing (as he fpeaketh)
for friends and foes, at home and abroad, to defcant upon. On-
ly I wonder how this confideration could prevail with them,
rather to commit the expreffing of the matter unto their
chofen mouth ; feeing words fpoken are more liable to mif-
conftruftions, and mifreprefentations, and other miftake9,
than words fet down in write ; and it was one to an hundre^J
if that one brother^ their mouth ; (hould fo happily, in a fet
difcourfe,
Z2i HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
difcourfe, hit upon the very expreflions, that were only ac-
commodated to declare all their minds; or if that brother
could have exprefled the matter in mor$ lively, mafculine,
digefted and figniricant expreflions, why might he not have
been at fo much pains, as to have fet thefe down in write,
and then the paper, being no more raw and indigeited, plight
have been fubfcribed and given in ? But the plain truth is,
litera fcripta manet : iVnd it was to be feared, that a written
paper would have provoked the council more than a tranfient
and volant expreilion, in a running difcourfe, buried under
mn heap of words, and fo not fully underftood, could have
done. Finally, I would tell him, that an honeft, welt-mean-
ing, and plain teftimony, though not fet off with the paint
of words and exprellions, having all their amiable cadencies
and flowers of rhetoric, would go far with honeft well-mean-
ing friends, both at home and abroad, and have been very
acceptable; yea, and more .convincing unto enemies, whether
at home or abroad, whofe angry defcaruing upon it would
have been a further confirmation of ite honelty and validity.
There is yet a third reafon given, which is fomething long.
li There being (faith he) iuch a clafhing among minifters and
people, fome being for an utter refufal of any benefit of the
late liberty \ and others being free to make ufe of it, having
given a teftimony in their ftation \ and that paper relating
only to thefe inftruftions, and not to the whole caufe, they
could not but forefee, that the giving in of that paper would
have been iooked upon as a teftimony \ and therefore being
fc defective, relating only to thefe instructions, and not
fpeaking to other cafes, it would raife greater debates, and
heighten differences; and this they were confirmed in, when
a brother, coming in among them, told them exprefsly, their
teftimony (as it was called) was defective, and would do more
hurt than good, except it were fuller : yea, certified we were
upon good grounds, that if that paper had been given in,
more tongues and pens would have been awaked, and fet on
work againft it, than now are againtt the forbearing of it.
In which cafe, albeit I could heartily have, wiihed a full, free,
general, unanimous teftimony were given in ; yet I cannot*
fee, how their prudence can be blamed for forbearing that,
which would certainly have miniftered fuel to the fire, which,
is like (if mercy prevent it not) to confume this poor churchy
and may perhaps burn their fingers, who are fo eager, to
kindle and blow at it." Not to infift here on enquiring who
were thofe, whg were free M> make ufe of that, (which h*
calleth
HISTORY o* the INDULGENCE. ai3
Galleth liberty) having given a teftimony ? and what was that
teftimony, and when and in what ftation, was it given by
fuch, as were free to make ufe of it ? Nor on fhowing how
improvable it was, that fuch as could not agree on a papery
reiating only to thefe instructions, could agree to a more full
paper: I would only fay, (i.) Matters being fo, as he here
f&itH, could they not alfo forefee, that the words, uttered by
Ifcheir mouth, following this directory, would be alfo looked
upon as a teftimony ; and that that teftimony, relating only
to the inftructions, would have been judged defective ; and
fo occafion new differences ? (2.) If the paper was defective
(as very like it was) why was it not helped ? Why was the
• matter made worfe, by giving in no paper at all, but com*
mi t ting the matter to the uncertain expreflions of one of
their number ? Could this more prevent the trouble of tongues
and pens both? (3.) If he commend their prudence for not
miniftering fuel to the fire, he cannot approve them, for call-
ing in oil ; for certainly the courfe which they took, did con-
tribute more to the burning fire, than that courfe could have
done, which they did forbear. (4.) Wo to them, that firfk
kindled that fire, which is like to confume that poor church ;
and to them alfo who adminifter fuel thereunto ; but let fome
labour, as they will, to free themfelves of this, it (hall, I fear*
lie at their doors.
But now, when all thoughts of fubferibing that paper were
laid afide, what courfe was taken ? It was refolved (faith he)
that one jhould be month to the reft, to /peak their fenfe of thefe
impoJitionSy in cafe they were to be intimate tb them : And that
this one was Mr. H. and that he was to hold him to the matter
agreed on in the paper. Though I could rather have been
Satisfied, that a full and faithful paper, fubferibed by all, had
been given in, than that this courfe had been taken ; yet, to
wave reports of fome circumftances, that then went abroad,
I think it wasrequifite, that they had particularly condefcend-
«d upon the fit feafon, when their mouth have uttered their
mind ; and I cannot be of this author's mind, who thinketh
that he was r-ot bound to fpeak in that affair, until he was
called upon by the council - 9 which might have been, for any
thing I know, after all and every one of them had been put to
fpeak ;heir own mind, in particular, or fay nothing, which
the council could not but take for a compliance. Yet he giv-
cth this reafon, That the time not being determined by his bre-
thren, he was to be ruled by prudence^ which dictated his own
being tailed vptn (whenftever it fright be) U ke Cod's oppor-
tunity
324 . HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
tunityy feafon and call to /peak what be, had to fay : The thing
alfo itfclfy and the ufual pratlice in like cafes faith it was the
mofljit time to fpeak to the caufe, when all had been gone thro',
and then when he had fpoken his light in the matter, the bre-
thren (as he willed them to do> when they named him) might
nddj diminijhy or alter as they thought Jit. This is a wonder-
ful thing, that one fhould be appointed to fpeak the fenfe of
the reft of certain impofitions, or injunctions, in cafe they
were intimate ; and yet that prudence fhould not teach him
to fpeak, when the intimation was firft made : Was not his
ipeech to be in reference to thefe impofitions ? Was not his
fpeech to be (at leaft) a virtual proteftation, apology or in-
finuation of reafons, why they could not in ccnfcience ac-
cept of thefe impofitions ? or an explication and declaration
of the fenfe in which they were clear to accept of them ?
And if fo, doth not nature and common fenfe teach,* that
the only feafon for this had been, when the firft offer of thefe
injunctions was made; and that it was a manifeft lofing of
the opportunity, to delay, till after the inftru&ions had been
tendered, and accepted by feveral of the brethren ? did not
the accepting of the paper, containing thefe inftruCtions,
virtually (at leaft) if not formally fay, that they fubmitted
thereunto, and were fatisfied therewith ? And then, what
could their giving of a fenfe afterward import ? Neither the
thing itfelf (as every one knoweth) nor any (let be the ufual)
practice, in fuch like caufes, faith, that it was the fitteft time
to fpeak, when all had been gone through Had he been
only to fpeak his own judgment in the matter, he might
have forborne, until the offer had come to his own door ; but
being appointed mouth to the reft, and to fpeak the fenfe of
all the reft, when thefe impofitions were offered, his delaying
until fome, yea, till many, had received the impofitions and
rules in write, was really a crufhing of what teftimony was
intended by his fpeaking in their names : And what could
the council judge otherwife, than that the mouth, that fpoke,
was not their public mouth, having been fo long filent ; but
his own, fpeaking only when it came to his own turn ? And
if what that mouth fpoke had been diffatisfying to the coun-
cil, and contradictory to their fenfe and meaning, might they
not have judged the filence of fuch as went before, and had
received the injunctions, a plain homologating with their
rneajriing and intention ? and that their mouth's fpeaking had
discovered them not to be all of one mind ?
This is concerning what pafied among thefe brethren, in
private,
HISTORY o* the INDULGENCE. *2 5
private, before they compeared, according to the order of the
council. We would know> what was their deportment when
they compeared : And our informer tells us, that when they
compeared, the fentence of the council for not preaching
May 29. was read unto them. After which we are told, that
Mr H. addreffing his fpeech to my L, Chancellor, did de*
clare, That his brethren ami he did very chearjully fubmit to any
cutward prejudice they might juftain, in following their light, yet
humbly defiring that the true Jiate in their cafe might be re-
membered by their krdjhips : And that they were brought un-
der that fentence, not upon account of any dijloyalty to authori-
ty, but upon afcruple of confeience, concerning that particular
way of exprcjfing it. Of which I (hall not now fpeak (hav-
ing fpoken to this matter before) and it doth not concern
our prefent bufinefs : only it is obvious, that more, yea, much
more, might and mould have been faid.
It is more to our prefent purpofe, to notice what was fur-
ther faid. Withal (faith he) not knowing whether thefe in-
ftruclions were to be prefented, but rather to obviate them,
Mr. H. added another defre> That their lordjhips would be
f leafed not to burden them with impofitions j in the matter of
their miniflry, wherein they were the jervants of Chrifl, and
they being men, who demeaned themfclves as became loyal fub-
jetls. Here is my former remark confirmed ; for prudence
taught, we fee, this their mouth, to fpeak fomething to the
matter, even though as yet the impofitions were not prefent-
ed, and offered to them. Moreover, this defire doth import,
either that he and the reft were ungear to fubmit unto impo-
fitions, in the matter of their min : ftry\ becaufe of their being
the fervants of Chrift ; or that, ti ou^h they looked on thefe
impofitions as burdens, and fo wiihed to be free of the yoke ;
yet being impofed they would fubmit unto them, as to an
outward prejudice, which they behoved to fuftain ; as he
fpoke before in reference to the fentence read againft them.
If this latter was his meaning, it is paft doubt, that the caufe
was betrayed, and his mouth flopped from giving that de-
claration or teftimony, in all their names, which he was or-
dered by them to give. If the former was his meaning, as
I am apt to think ; why were the brethren fo offended with
what Mr. Blair faid hereafter ? (as we (hall hear they were)
was it becaufe Mr. Blair's words were too plain and diitindt ?
Sure, Chriftianity will tell us, that teflimonies cannot be
plain enough.
Upon this he tells us, they were (as they thought) difmiffed.
$* f But
2*5 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
But the L. Chancellor forthwith called them again, as they were
turning their faces towards the door, and told them, That ft€ r
big fome of their number had [aid ', thefe papers \viz. the pa-
pers containing the inftruftions) -were hot given them, the
clerk was to give every one of them a copy, which accordingly
he went about to do. May not every body now think ftrai
that prudence did not now teach their mouth, to exprefs
what he had to utter in their names, when all of them were
thus fpoken to in common, and particular mention was m^de
of that paper of inflrucHons, which before, when no mention
was made thereof, he laboured to obviate and prevent the
giving of?
^ When their faces are now agaiia turned towards the coun-
cil, the clerk went about to deliver each the paper of inft ruc-
tions, and we are told that they had been delivered to the one
half or more of the brethren, even to all cited out of Clydef-
dale, Renfrew, and fome of Kyle, before they came to Mr.
Blair, And our informer tells us, he believe th there were
few or none of thefe behind, that rcfolved to fpeak any thing
till Mr. H- who was not called upon yet, fh.ud begin,
(as they had agreed upon, Mr. Blair consenting thereto, as
well as the reft I if Mr. Blair's fpeaking had not drawn fome
of them, who had been fpoken to before, and others, as they
were called thereto thereafter, to fpeak fomewhat : But all
flood ftill in one body, waiting till it (hould come to Mr H.
who was to be their common mouth, to fpeak their mind,
and they to homologate, add, or alter, as they fhould think
fit. This is our informer's relation of the bufinefs, and I
fhall not queftion the truth thereof, but come and fee what
he faith of Mr. Blair and his difcourfe, which (as would feem)
broke the intended method and order.
As for his jeverend brother Mr. Blair's fpeaking, he faith,
As I hope- in charity, his motive was zeal andforwardnefs ; fo
I wifb heart ly it had been forborn till its feajon ; /or hinc
illse lachrym^e *, and the rather I wijh he had not Jirjlfded the
jGeld ; becaufe that lax affertien (of which bejore ) of receiving
no injlruclions from the magi/Irate, &c. (albeit it had been li-
tnitted and qualified by common confent •>) Tet he 1 know not how
repeated it to the Chancellor, in terminis, telling, that he would
not receive injlruclions from them for regulating him, in the
exercife of his minifiry ; and added this rea/on, That ij he d dfo
he fhould not be ChrijPs ambajfaior, but theirs. To 'which I
(hall only defire to fay, that I am of the mind, that a^ true
aeal and confeience of duty moved Mr. Blair, to fay what
' hi
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 44$
he faid ; fo the fame fhould have moved all of them, to hav*
laid the like, or more. And I cannot but think ftrange, t at
this informer thinketh it was not feafonable for Mr. Blair to
(peak, when the trial came to his own door; and that not-
withstanding their common mouth had been fo long filent,
and neglected his opportunity ; Our informer told ns lately*
that it was feafonable for Mr. H to fpeak when it came o
his turn : and was it not as feafonable fox Mr. Blair t peak,
when it came to his turn ? As for his casing Mr, Blair's affer-
"tion lax, I ihall pafs it, having fufficiently fbown above, bow
confonant it was to truth, and how groundlcfs all the exctp*
tions were, that were taken at it, fo far as I could conjec-
ture y and I with he had hinted (at leaft ) fome one ground or
other, whereupon he judged it lax. And what difference, I
pray, was tfyere upon the matter, betwixt Mr. H 's request-
ing, that they might not be burdened with impofitions in the
matter of their minijirj* >nd Mr. Blair's faying, that he would
not receive infiruclions from them % for regulating him in the
exercife of his miniftry. Mi\ H.'s expreflions wanted the !i*
mitation, that they had all agreed upon, viz, formally and in-
trinftcally ec'clefiajticaly as well as Mr. Blair's \ and no man
will fav, that the word, impofitions % do more i^nport instruc-
tions formally and intrinfically ecciefiaftical, than the word,
injirutlions : Nor is there any fuch difference betwixt thefe
words, in the exercife of the miniftry > which were Mi*- Blair'fc
words ; and thefe words, in the matter of the miniftry + which
were Mr. H's words, as to make the one difcourfe lax, and
the other accurate. Nay, I am ready to fay, that Mr*
Blair's affertion was both more congruous to the truth and
to good fenfe, than the words of the other. And finally,
This informer is not well fatisfied with the reafon which Mr.
Blair added j and yet the fame was infinuated in Mr, H.'s dif-
courfe, in thefe words, wherein they were the ferv ants ofChrift;
for thefe words did either contain a reafon, why their lord-
(hips ihouid not burden them with impofitions; or they found-
ed forth nothing but nonfente ; as every understanding reader
will fee.
Yet this reafon is made the ground of a great outcry \ for
be addeth, Which, reafon, if it do not as Jlrongly militate againjl
- miniflers receivings of injlrutlions and rules (for the prefcrip*
tions in that paper go by thefe names) from church judicatories +
as well as from the civil, and firike equally at the diatatlic
power of bothy I leave you to judge : And then to make all
&rot)g, the matte* is caft into a fyllogifcn. but with this mif-
128 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
hap, that it is made up of four terms, contrary to the law of
fyllogifms. But this is but trivial. It is more to the pur-
Eofe to fay, that this fame abfurdity will follow upon what
Ir. H fpoke, (unlefs he pleafeth rather to let it pafs under
the notion of nonfenfe) and therefore whatever way he fhall
think to falve Mr. H.'s credit, we (hall by the fame way falve
Mr. Blair. Though this might fatisfy ; yet I fhall tell him,
that it is far worfe for him, by his difcourfe here, to grant
unto the civil magiftrate a diataftic power, in matters eccle-
fiaftical, in fuch an unlimited and unqualified manner, as he
doth, when he talks of the diataRk power of both : for this is
a manifeft homologating the fupremacy, as lately explained
by the parliament. But for vindication of Mr. Blair, he would
know, that he was fpeaking only of inftruftions coming from
magiftrates, afting by their magiftratical and architectonic
power, and not of all inftruftions coming from any whatfo-
cver beude Chrift ; and his reafon was againft the receiving
of inftruftions from magiftrates, as fuch, to regulate him in
the exercife of his miniftry ; and did not militate againft re-
ceiving of inftruftions from church judicatories. For clear-
ing of this, and for his inftruftion, I fhall tell him, Jirft,
What inftruftions minifters or church judicatories give, they
give them by a minifterial power, explaining, applying and
authoritatively declaring, what are the impofitions, rules, and
inftruftions of Chrift ; fo that they are but as heralds and
mefiengers, proclaiming and declaring, with a minifterial au-
thority, the mind of Chrift : and therefore the receiving of
fuch is but the receiving of the inftruftions of Chrift, fent and
delivered by him, as fole Head and King of his church, and aft
Only asjin that relation : But on the other hand, as magiftrates,
as fuch, are not minifters of Chrift; fo neither do they aft, in
giving out laws and inftruftions, as ChritVs heralds and mi-
nifters, minifterially explaining and applying the rules and
inftruftions of Chrift ; nor do they prefs thefe inftruftions,
as Chrift's inftruftions, nor in his name and authority ; but
as in all other things, fo here, they aft with an autocratori-
cal and architeftonic power: So that, when they give in-
ftruftions to minifters, to regulate them in the exercife of
their miniftry, they do it by their magiftratical and architec-
tonic power, by which they do all other magiftratical afts.
Hence is it, that fuch as receive inftruftions, to regulate them
in the exercife of their miniftry, from magiftrates, do ac-
knowledge this magifteria! and architeftonic power in church*
matters, to be competent to the magiftrate, as fuch ; and them-
felves
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 229
felves to be formal ambaffadors and fervants of the magi-
Urate : for, who receive inftructions from one, acting magi-
fterially and architectonically, in church matters, do own
themfelves as his fervants : which cr.nnot be faid of fuch as
receive inftructions from churchv judicatories, which act
but minifterially •, and thereby formaCy declare, that the
architectonic and autocratorical power, over church matters,
, agreeth only to Chrift, whofe fervants they declare themfelves
to be, in that very act of holding forth thefe inftructions, as
the inftructions of Chrift, and that in his name. This is one
main difference. Hence, fecondly, minifters receiving in-
ftructions, for regulating them in the exercife of their mi-
niftry, from magiftrates, acting like themfelves, magifterially
and architectonically, do (if not formally, yet at leaft) vir-
tually deny Chrift to be the only Head and Lawgiver of his
•hurch, acting and ruling with a fupreme power: for this
architectonic and fupreme power in the church, is compe*
tent to Chrift only ; and he hath fubftituted none as his vicar-
general, neither prince, prelate, pope, nor other ; as were eafy
to evince, if needful : And fo there ifl but one architectonic
fupreme magifterial power in the church ; and if this be aN
tribufed to the magistrate, Chrift is put from his right : And
fo fuch minifters, as by receiving inftructions from magi-
ftrates, to regulate them in the exercife of their miniftry, do
attribute this power to the magiftrate, mult of ncceffity take
and have their commiffion from magistrates, and become their
ambaffadors, and not Chriil's \ becaufe by this deed, as they
fpoil Chrift of his prerogative and crown, attributing that
unto magiftrates which is proper to him; fo they acknow-
ledge their dependence on, and fubordination to magiftrates,
and not upon and to Chrift. But nothing of this kind can fol-
low upon receiving of inftructions from church judicatories,
acting as Chrift's fervants ; and, in the very way and manner
of their acting, declaring Chrift to be the ible Head and fu-
preme Governor of his church: For, as the church judica-
tories act but minifterially, fo the receiver of inftructions
from rhem, can own no other power in them ; becaufe they
receive thefe inftructions from them, as authorized of Chrift,
with power minifterially to declare his mind and will. And
this is a fecond difference, which leadeth me to a tbird y which
is this : Chrift hath never appointed magiftrates, as fuch, to
act under him, after fuch a manner, in the regulation of his
church and mediatory kingdom, as he hath appointed minifters
and church judicatories. Now, to receive iaftruftkms from an
fcfurper.
jj» HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
ufurper, is to acknowledge the power of the ufurper, and a
dependence upon him, as his fervant : And therefore, as a
King, will not own that man as his ambaffador, who taketh
his inftructions from an ufurper : So nor can that man form*
ally look upon himfelf as the king's ambaffador •, but as the
ambaffador of that ufurper. But when one takerh inftruc-
tions from the council, a£Hng in fubordination to the king,
and clearing his mind by virtue of his commiffion, impower-
ing them thereunto, he is truly the king's ambaffador, though
the council did immediately give him his inftruftion : So a
minifter, receiving his inftruftions immediately from church
judicatories, is neverthelefs the ambaffador of Chrift ; for the
church judicatory afteth in fubordination to Chrift, and only
cleareth up his mind, by virtue of his commiffion, impower-
ing ftiem thereunto. Thus I have manifefted the invalidity
of this informer's argument, and withal fhown that Mr Blair
had good ground to fay what he faid< and to rejedt thefe in-
ftrudtions, upon that very ground, that if he had accepted of
them, he fhould have acknowledged himfelf not Chriil's, but
their ambaffador ; and withal have fhown, that the indulged
minifters, in receiving thefe inftruftions, have declared them-
felves not to be the fervants and ambaffadors of Chrift, but
of the magiftrates ; and therefore can be owned as no other.
Our informer tells us, in the next place, That there were
fome fpeeches, betwixt my L Chancellor and Mr- Blair, and
that Mr Blair did not deny that the council might confine him,
when the chancellor, aiked that at him. And this being one of
the rules our informer fuppofeth, that hereby he overturned his
own univerfal negative Wherein he is no lefs miftaken, than
he was in his laft reafoning ; for though it be true, that the
council did confine them to thefe places, (which, among o-
ther things, as then circumftantiate, might have moved them
to have refufed that Indulgence, they being thereby, declared
no more free fubjefls, and unworthy of the common privi-
lege of all free fubje&s , and fo aftually under the fcandal of
difloyal and cenfured perfons, which, as it was a reproach to
the miniftry ; fo it could not but expofe them to contempt,
and make their office vile, in the eyes of the world, and
their pains fruitlefs, when their miniftry was made contempti-
ble : and if their was fome further defign in this obvious, it
was fo much the more worthy of their conuderation) ye it
is as ttue, that this confinement was properly and dire£h of
their perfons, and cannot, in any propriety of fpeech, be cal*
led a regulating of them in the ««rcifc ol the miniftry. The
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. * 231
frnnifter's body and the miniftry is not one ard the fame
thing It is true, by confining of the miniiler to fuch a par-
ticular place, the exercife of the miniftry is confequently con-
fined : But hence it will no more follow, that the magiftrate
may give injunctions, to regulate minifters in the exercife of
their miniftry, becaufe, when he condemneth him to death*
ard accordingly caufeth the fentence to be execute, or keep-
eth him in clofe and perpetual prifon, he doth confequential-
ly put him from the exercife of his miniftry. Yet he cannot
but know, that this confequence is nought; and that a phy*
lical reftraint and a moral reftraint or iimkation differ much.
When Mr. Blair, upon this honeft teftimony and declara-
tion, was committed to a macer to be carried to prifon, the
informer tells us, That the brethren, being furprized -with his
freaking unexpectedly , (befide* the common agreement ) and
with the afjertion that dropped from him, and affecled with the
Apprehenjion of the ifjue, began to be much afflitled in their
Jpirits, But why were they not alio furprifed with Mr. H.'s
fpeaking unexpectedly, befides the common agreement ? for
the common agreement was not, that he fhould fay any thing
in reference to the inftruftions, before the council had made
am motion thereabout And why were they not alfo furprifed
with the affertion that dropped from him, feeing, as is fhown,
it was the fame upon the matter, with what Mr. Blair faid,
ttnlefs we think he meant it in a mod corrupt fenfe?
After this he telL us, that upon Blair's commitment to the
macer, one minifter told my L, Chancellor, that he believed
divers mimjlers of that company were, upon the matter, of Mr.
Blair's judgment, whereof him [elf v;as one : And another de-
clared, that one of thefe rules did bring miniflers into direct
fubjetlien to prelacy 9 contrary to their principles. Whereby I
fe-, that the conften.ation and affliction of fpirit, was not fo
U ivcrftl, as he did juft now hint: and that all were not of
a c -atrary judgment to Mr. Blair, and that the agreement to
the fore-mentioned limitted claufe, was not fo unanimous
and cordial, as he would have made us believe : But pafling
thefe fmaller matters, let us hear what followed.
H~ addeth, Mr. ff. alfo, though his time was not come to
fpeak, yet flepped in with them, to fee what he could do to re-
move m'Jlakes. Whereby I fee, that even he was at length
forced to tranfgref* the rules of prudence, and to anticipate
even God's opportunity, feafon and call (as this informer fup-
pofeth,' and to crofs the ufual practice in all fuch like cafes,
that is, to fpeak before his own turn came. I fuppofc, if"
Mr.
a 3 * HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
Mr. H. had fpoken what he was obliged to fpeak, in God's
true feafon and opportunity, that is, when the firft motion
was made of delivering to them thefe rules % he had prevent-
ed much of this miftakc, and alfo Mr Blair's fuftering. What
were thefe miftakes, that Mr. H. ftepped now in, before the
time, to remove ? Were they betwixt his brethren ? or be-
twixt the council and fuch of his brethren as fpoke ? And
what were thefe miftakes ? Whatever and betwixt whomfo-
ever they were, if he ftepped in to remove them, that which
he faid muft be looked upon, as having a tendency to the re*
moving of thefe miftakes ; and therefore we muft fuppofe,
that his difcourfe tended either to rectify Mr. Blair, and fuch
as were of his ji^lgnient, or to rectify the council, that had
committed him to the macer. If the former, then in his
judgment, Mr. Blair and the reft, were not to be owned and
approved in what they faid, being in a miftake : If the latter,
hi^ difcourfe fhould have tended to have vindicated Mr. Blair,
and to have lhown the iniquity of what the council had done:
But it may be, it was of a mixed nature, tending partly to ap-
prove, and partly to condemn both.
Let us hear what it was he faid. Our informer tells us,
He fpoke according to the tenor of the paper agreed upon, to
this purpofe, Be humbly defend their hrdfhips not to mi/under"
J}a?id his brother y Mr. Blair ; for as for rules intrinftcally ec±
clef.afiical (the other term formally was forgotten, through oc-
cafion of the prefent jumble, as our informer fuppofeth,)/i?r
regulating minifiers in the exercife of their miniflry ; he hoped
their hrdfhips intended not to make and impofe any fuch upon
them> who were the ferv ants of Ch rift, in thefe matters. But
for the magifi rates power objeclively ecclefiaftical, whereby they
might judge of matters of religion, in or^der to their own a?f f
whether they would approve or dif countenance fuch a way, he
knew no reformed divine, that did deny it unto them. And
judging that was his brother's (/. e. Mr. Blair's) fenfe, in
what he fpoke, did again defire, he might not be miftaken*
Now if we look on thefe words, as they are here fet down,
we muft take them either as an apology for, or as a defence of
Mr. Blair, or as explicatory of his affertion \ and what way
foever we take them, I cannot but obferve their ufefulnefs :
For when he fpeaks of rules intrinfically (let us add formally 9
though that was then omitted) ecclefiaftical, t receive thefe inftruftions, as being rules intrinfi-
cally ecclefiaftical, regulating them, who were the fervants
of Chrift, in thefe matters. If the latter be faid, then was
not only Mr. Blair's both pfaftiee and difcourfe condemned ;
but the w r hole caufe was bafcly betrayed ; becaufe under the
pretext of the magiftrate's power objectively ecclefiaftical,
that which is as intrinfically and formally ecclefiaftical, as
many other, at leaft, are, was granted to the magiftrate.
Will the magiftrate's power to aft as a man, and not as a
brute, in his magiftratical work, about an ecclefiaftical ob-
jeft j that is, his power fo judge by the judgment of difcre-
tion,
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE, 23$
tlcn, which is common to all the members of the church,
yea, to all men, as men ; which papifts deny unto magi-
ftrates, allowing them only to fee with the church's eyes,
but proteftants grant unto them ; Will, I fay, this power
warrant him to give inftruftiors, and^fet down rules* for
regulating the exercife of the miniftry ? Yea, or will his au-
thoritative judgment, in matters of religion ; that is, his fen-
tence of approving or not approving ; of tolerating, or not
tolerating in his dominions j of countenancing or not coun-?
tenanting by his civil laws, fuch a way or profeffion of reli-
gion, warrant him alfo to fet rules to the very exercife of
the miaiftrv ? By what argument (hall this confequence be
proved,* feeing, (1.) In the one cafe, he judgeth of religion,
only in order to his own a£t ; but when he prefcribeth in-
ftrucftions, rules and orders, he judgeth of religion, or of that
part of religion, xoncerning which the inftru&ions are, in
order to itfelf, and the intrinfic manner of its adminiftration.
(2.) In the one, his judgment is purely political and civil,
in the other cafe it is really ecclefiaftical. (3 ) In th£ one
cafe, his judgment is objecftivery only to be called or account-
ed ecclefiaftical', but in the other, it is formally and elicitely
ecclefiaftical. (4.) In the one cafe, he a condemn heretics,, debar
fronj
HISTORY op the INDULGENCE. 23$,
from the facraments, and admit them thereto by their fen A '
tence \ judge of church members, or determine who fhould
be admitted, as fuch, and who not : In a word, do all which
church judicatories do ; this diflin&ion will make all go
down ^4.) By parity of reafon, if thefe brethren were be-
fore a church judicatory, meddling with all civil affairs, de-
termining civil pleas, giving out civil injunctions, laws and
**ile% ire they might and ought as willingly fubmit, and falvc
a'- with this diltmcKon, faying, We cannot receive civil law^
fro n y^u, Hut as for ecctefiaftical figniiications of your plea-
fure, u'ider hazard of church cenfures, we cam fay nothing
to tha*- : And thus they would fweetly comply with all the
inalions made upon, and ulurpations of the civil power,
whereof the pope's conclave, and other popifh and prelaticat
•ourts, are juftiy accounted guilty, without fcruple.
Mow, at length, it came to Mr. H/s turn, who, as our
informer faith, received not thefe inftruclions publicly, as
having feen them before : Let us hear what he faid. He
tells us, that he re fumed vjhat he had faid formerly, concerning
m formal ecclefia 'ical jfowir, which could not be allowed to the
magiftrate ; and a fimver objectively ecclefiaftical* which was
tlldwed to him : Intimating withal, that the brethren would
either obferve> or not obferve their directions, according as they
judged of them, in their confeiences, upon their peril. On
what was here nefiimed, I have given my obfervations before,
and (hall only add, that this formal ecclefiaflic power mud
point forth a power in itfelf fuch, and therefore fo called \
and not fo denominated merely becaufe it is exerted by
church-men, as the two brethren fore-m?ntioned hinted in
their anfwer and diftin&ion; otherwife his diftinclion fhould
have run thus, betwixt a power fubjeclively ecclefiaflic, and
objectively ecclefiaflic at. But this would confound all caufes
and all power ; and would bring all civil caufes objectively
under the power of the church •, and all church caufes ob-
jectively under the power of the magiftrate: Yea, and make"
all things and actions, done by the civil magiftrate, though
•therwife but objectively eeclefiaftical, to be formally civil ;
and on the other hand, make all actions, done by church-
men, though otherwife but objectively civil, to be formally
ccclefiaftic. As to the latter parr of this fpecch, I judge the
fa ne might have been faid, had he been before the church
judicatory, receiving the fame, or the like inftruc~tinns. And
was this all ? Was there no more requifite in this cafe ? Is
h all one thing, at whofc hands minifters receive directions,
rules*-
sbp HISTORY of the INDULGENCE,
rules, reftriftions and injunctions, or the like, to regulate
them in the exercife of their miniftry, whether at the hands
of the pope, of a prelate, of the magiftrate, or of a church
judicatory, providing they be fuch as may be obferved, or
otherwife to take their hazard ? I fuppofe our forefathers
would have faid fomething elfe : And, I trow, civil magi-
Urates, if called before the prelates courts, to receive injunc-
tions or rules, to regulate them in the exercife of. their of-
fice, would fay fome other thing, than that they would ob-
ferve, or not obferve thefe directions, according as they judg-
ed of them in their confciences, upon their peril. And if
they would have flood to their rights, as is to be fuppofed,
the greater fault it is for minifters, to quit the rights of the
church fo eafily, wherein the glory of their Mafter doth fo
much confifti Yea, moreover, this fuperadded infinuation
makes me fufpect the fore-mentioned diftinction the more :
For had that dinftinction been honeftly p£opofed and in-
tended, this fuperadded claufe had been utterly needlefs.
Upon this (as we are told by our informer) followed my
L. Chancellor's anfwer, which was this, That the king gave
them thefe infirutlions by his council, and if they did not ob-
ferve them y the council would punifh them. By which we fee,
that thefe inftructions were given by an autocratoric power,
by the magiftrate, as fuch ; and confequently being in church
matters, intrinfically and formally fuch, by an ufurped pow-
er. We fee next, that the commanding of the obfervation
of thefe inftructions, cometh from the magiftrate in prima
inflantia, and fo not civil fanctions, and confirmations of in-
i 'unctions, minifterially propofed by church officers, upon
>oth which grounds, I conceive Mr. H. had a fair occafion
to have vindicated both the prerogatives of Chrift, the fole
Head of the church, and the privileges of the church, be-
ftowed on her by Chrift, her King and Lord : Yet we find,
that all the reply which he made, was this, That for the mat-
ter of civil punifbments, they had never denied the magiflrate y s
right in them : and that he took notice from that anfwer, that
their lordflnps acted in a civil way, only competent to them, in
their dealing with minifters, which they could not decline, hop-
ing their lordfhips defgned not to flretch their power beyond
their civil line. Which reply, in my judgment, was neither
pertinent nor fulficient : Not pertinent, becaufe the quef-
tion was never moved, concerning magiftrates executing ci-
vil punifhments, but concerning their power of impofing in-
junctions and rules, to regulate minifters in the exercife of
their
e
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 241
their miniftry, which the L. Chancellor owned and avouch-
ed in his anfwer, little regarding Mr. H.'s difrinftion, be*
twixt a formally ecclejiaflic power, and a power objectively ec*
clefiafticaL Not fufficient \ becaufe the main bufinefs waa
unhandfomely waved. Nav, moreover, this reply was an
yielding of the whole caufe, and a granting that rnagiftrates
might meddle with any church power, and enjoin what they
pleafed, providing they punimed only civilly fuch as tranf-
reffed. Hence they might ordain a minifter, and command
irri to preach to fuch a people^ that would rlbt call him, and
depofe another, and difcharge him to preach any more, as a
minifter, or adminifter facraments, under a civil penalty.
So under a civil penaky they might prefcribe the matter of
preachings, decide controverfies of faith, and appeals ill
church matters, foe. Yea, in a word, meddle with the mod
intrinfic and formal church matters. Finally, I do not fee
what ground my L. Chancellor gave, yea, or occafion to
make this reply ; for though his lordfliip faid, the council
-would punifhy yet he faid not, the council would punifh ci-
villy only : No, his expreffion might comprehend ecclefiafti-
cal puniihments alfo, conform to the power granted to them
by the king's letter.
After a great deal of difcourfe, fpent upori perfonal re*
flections and vindications, with which the caufe is not much
concerned, and therefore the lefs to be noticed by me, our
informer cometh in end to vindicate Mr H's fpeech, which,
as it would appear, had given no fmall offence, and he tells
lis, that in it we may perceive, an ajjertion of an ecclefiajlical
power to make rales for regulating mini/lers 3 which -was not
yielded to the magi/Irate ,• with a conceffion of his power cbj c-
tively ecclefiajlical : And a declaration oj their receiving papers
bf them under that notion, did not oblige them to obferve thefe
directions ; but they were to atl therein upon their peril We
heard indeed of rules intrinfically ^and afterward) formally ec~
ilefiajlical) for regulating minifters in the exercife of their
miniftry, which he hoped their lordlhips did not intend to
make or impofe upon them, who were the fervants of Chrift*
But we heard of no aflumption, that fuch were the rules con-
tained in the paper* tendered unto them : nor of a conclu-
sion, that therefore they could not, they nl%ht not in con-
science accept of them. We heard of a conceiTion alfo of the
magiftrate's power objectively ecclefiaitical : But we could
not underftand, to what purpofe it was adduced, uniefs for
H h juitifying
242 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
juftifying of the magiftrates, in giving thofe injumftions, and
themfelves in receiving of them. Nay, I perceive here, our
informer aflerteth that which I was but fufpe&ing formerly,
and durft not pofitively affirm, viz. That they looked upon
thefe inftrucftions, as flowing from the magiftrate's power ob-
jectively ecclefiaftical : For nothing elfe can be imported in
thefe words, And a declaration of their receiving paper s> tin-
der that notion. Now, what can this notion be, under which
they received thefe papers, but the magiftrate's power objec-
tively ecclefiaftical ? And what may hence be gathered, we
fhall hear anon We heard lately, that Mr. H. did intimate,
that the brethren would either obferve, or not obferve their
direftions, according as they judged of them in their con-
fidences, irppn their peril : But that he declared that the re-
ceiving of thefe papers did not oblige them to obferve thefe
directions, I did not hear till now. However, fince this in-
former faith, that this was Mr. H/s declaration, I profefs, ft
feemeth ftrange to me, that he fhould have fpoken fo \ for
the public and judicial receiving, even at the bar, of fuch
inftru£tions, was a folemn declaration of their prefent pur-
pofe and willingnefs to obey thefe injunctions, there being
Jlo exception made againft any of them in particular ; nor no
defire expreffed of a liberty to be granted, to confider and
examine them. And fure, if they had fufpected the irrele-
vancy or unlawfulnefs of any of them upon the matter, in-
genuity and confeierice would have faid, that fo much fhould
have been exprefs'd ; and that the paper, (if fo be they would
not refufe to accept of it) fhould have been accepted, with
that claufe of exception ; or rather rejected, until they were
aflured, it contain d nothing but what was lawful upon the
matter: For to accept a paper, containing inftructions, and
to fay withal, they would obey, or not obey them, as they
thought good, on their peril, was neither to act with inge*
nuity, becoming Chriitians, nor with zeal, becoming mini-
sters ; nor with that refpect, due to magiftrates from them,
both as Chriftians and as miniilers \ nor with that care and
circumfpection requifite for avoiding fcandal, and efpecially
at fuch a time, when the eyes of many were upon them,
both of friends and of foes. And if any fay, that that de-
claration Was a fufficient proteftation, 1 crave leave to add,
that it was a proteftation annulled by their deed, protejiatie
tontraria fatlo^ How much better then had it been, to have
iorboia that deed, which had in it, at leaft, an appearance of
cvilf
>
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 243
evil ; and to have dealt faithfully with the council, and told,
that they could not obey thefe inftructions ; and therefore
behold to be excufed from receiving of them. But I con-
fefs, when that great matter was fo lightly pafled over, I
mean, the power making and impofing thefe inftructions, it
i$ to me little wonder that this was fwallowed down alfo.
Our informer tells us next, that in all this dtfeourfe of Mr.
H's he cannot fee fuch heterodoxy and novelty , as to give occa-
/ion to any tc fay, That he gave to them all, that the godly divines
give unto the mojl gQdly and reforming magiflrates on earth - or
that minijlers receiving of thefe papers , on thefe terms, Jhould
warrant honefi people to think that they gave up the right of
the church, with their own hand, to the civil magiflrate , or
that any minijlers fhould highly refent their treachery. But to
anfwer, Though this informer cannot fee fuch heterodoxy, or
novelty, as to give occafion to pafs that cenfure on Mr. R.'s
difcourfe ; yet it may be, others (hall fee ground for that,
and for more too. And I (hall willingly grant, that what
agreeth to magiftrates, as fuch, agreeth to all magiftrates,
good and bad : Yet it may be maintained, that more may
be allowed in fuch magiftrateSj as are really minding reform-
ation, the glory of God, the good of the church and all her
rights and privileges, than in fuch as are open enemies there-
unto, and are feeking by all means to deftroy the church, to
rob her of her rights, privileges, and power, and to enrich
themfelves with the fpoils of Chrift's crown. And there-
fore, when minifters have to do with fuch open and avowed
enemies, they are called to more ftrick watchfulnefs and
care, left they do or fay any thing, which may confirm fuch
in their ufurpations, and encourage them to encroach more.
And whether this care was ufed at this time, I leave to all,
who are acquainted with what paffed about that time, and
with what daily is obfervable, to judge. For my part, if
Mr. H. did grant to the magiftrate, by virtue of his power
objectively ecclefiaftical, a right or power to make and im-
pofe rules and injunctions, to regulate minifters in the ex-
ercife of their miniftry, as our informer lately himfelf hint-
ed, I think, he hath not only given to them all, that the god-
ly divines give to the moll godly and reforming kings, but
much more ; except it be that which was given to extraor-
dinary and immediately infpir-ehen judge.
From the foregoing difcourfe, and particularly from that
cited out of the C&I Propofitions, our informer, now a dif-
puter, inferreth, That he hopeth no man in reafon can alledge
Mr. H.'s receding from the principles of this churchy in the
matter. But for my part, though I will not judge of the
thoughts or intentions of Mr. H or any other of his bre-
thren; yet confidering the work itfelf, a* this informer hath
reprefentcd
24* HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
reprefentcd it unto me, in its circumftances, I cannot but fay,
that in the thing, and as to the intentio operis> there was a
receding not only from the principles of the churoh of Scot-
land, but alfo from the zeal of our former worthies, who ven-
tured all to tranfmit the truth, pure from Eraftianifm and
Caefario-papal invafions and encroachments j and from the
(trick obligations, lying on us all, to ftand to the truth, and
to the defence of the power and privileges of the church,
againft the ufurpation and encroachments of the magiftrates,
feeking always to enhance all church power into their own
hands ; not out of love to promote the glory of God, and the
real good of fouls ; but out of a defire to have the miniftry,
and the outward adminiftrations of grace enflaved unto their
wills. Is it not certain, out of what ground this Indulgence
did grow ; and how the aft of fupremacy (which no confei-
cntious minifter or Chriftian can own or acknowledge,) as
it was occafioned and necefUtated by the Indulgence *, fo it
became the charter thereof, and gave legal life and being un-
to all that followed ? And was it not as certain, that a de-
Ggn to procure a requiem to themfelves, in all their ufurpa-
tions, and intolerable invafions of church power, and over-
turning of the whole work of God ; and withal to make way
for the further enflaving of the church, and of all church
power to their lufts, did midwife this baftard child into the
world ^ And could it be uncertain to rational obferving per-
fons, what was the defign of king and council, in giving
thefe inftru&ions, firft and laft ? Yea, was not the whole
bufinefs fo carried on from firft to laft, as half an eye might
have difcovered a wicked defign therein ? And was not the
explicatory a£t of the fupremacy a more than fufficient proof
of an Eraftian fpirit, that led and afted them, in fome things,
beyond what the antichriftian fpirit could for fhame prompt
the pope to arrogate to himfelf? And when from thefe
things, and many others fuch like, yea, from the whole pro-
cedure of king, parliament and council, in their actings,
fince this laft revolution began, it is more than fufficiently
clear, what they did and do intend ; will any fay, it was not
their duty, while fo providentially called to witnefs to the
truth, to give a more plain, full, minifterial and Chriftian
teftimony, to the truth which our predeceflbrs maintained
with fo much hazard, expence of blood, lofs of liberty, tof-
fings, imprisonments, confinements, condemnation to death
gad banifhments, &c and which we were fo fotemnly fworn
tQ
BISTORT of the INDULGENCE. 347
U ftand to ? And will any ingenuous Chriftian fay, that, all
tircumftances being confidered, the teftimony given was
fuch as became men (landing in the fields for the truth of
Chrift, and engaged in point of confeience and Chriftian va-
lour, honour and credit, to cover the ground they flood on
with their dead bodies, rather than cede to fuch a manifeft
encroaching and invading enemy? Will any, who readeth
the carriage of our valiant and renowned worthies, in oppof-
ing the encroachments of King James, (who yet never did,
nor for fhame could arrogate to himfelf fuch a tranfeendent-
ly fuperlative fupremacy over church matters, as now by a£t
of parliament is declared to be an inherent right of the
crown) think, that they would have fatisfied themfelves with
fuch a general, impertinent, confufed, indiftinft and defec-
tive teftimony to fuch a glorious truth ? Will any, who con-
Udereth the zeal, that ordinarily afted our faithful progeni-
tors, from the beginning to this late cataftrophe, and of our
valiant worthies, who valued this truth of Chrift's kingfhip
above their lives, think that there was not here a palpable
ceding from that fpirit and zeal, which moved them to poft-
pone all things, to this chief matter ? And can any fay, that
this way of vindicating truth, wherein fo much pufillanimity,
difingenuity v carnal confutations occafioning mifconceptions
and blindnefs, appeared, did keep correfpondence with our
frequently reiterated vows and engagements ? Was it pertin-
ent or feafonable, or could it be fatisfying to propofe, in fuch
an exigent, a mere cothurnus ; I mean, that general aflertion
of the magiftrate's objexftively ecclefiaftical power, no kfs
ambiguous till fitly explained, than impertinent to the cafe
then in hand ? Nay, let this very informer tell me, if he think
not, that more plain, clear and full expreflions might have
been fallen upon, if plain and home dealing had been intend-
ed ? This I fuppofe may ferve for an examination of that
matter, as this informer hath declared it unto us.
Reafsns ag&injl the Indulgence.
THOUGH, by what is faid. it may be fufficiently feen f
how finful that Indulgence was upon the accepters
part (with which we have only here to do) as it was con-
veyed and circumftantiated \ and occafionally we have here
and there difcovered feveral particular evils, wrapped up in
it, befide it finful rife and dcftru&ive tendency : All that now
lemaineth
a 4 8 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE,
remaineth to be done, is to draw the feveral evils, compre-
hended in this complex bufinefs, to their own proper heads,
that the reader may fee at one view, what was formerly fcat-
tered up and down the foregoing relation : And, confidering
what is faid, it will not be neceflary to infill on particulars j
to touch them in a word will be fufficient.
I. Now injurious it is to Chrift as Head of the church.
WE (hall begin with this head of argument, and fliow
in how many particulars, injury was done, by the
Indulgence, as accepted, unto our Lord Jefus Chrift, the on-
ly Head and King of his church And,
i. In that hereby they declared, they did not hold their
miniftry wholly and folely of Jefus Chrift : Sure Chrift alone,
as Head and King of the church his fpiritual kingdom, did
inftitute this office of the miniftry, and did impower men
unto the exercife thereof, as the fcriptures do prove . and mi-
nifters depend folely upon him therein, if they renounce not
their own place and (landing. But we faw above, how
the indulged did plainly and pofitively refufe to fay, that
they held their miniftry of Jefus Chrijl alone : See what is
remarked on Mr. H.'s fpeech, when the firft ten were in-
dulged, where ex projejfo the word alone was left out ; and
what is faid in anfwer to the informer, who was diffatisfied
with Mr. Blair, whereby an injury of a very high nature was
done unto our Lord Jefus, who alone afcended up on high,
and led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men ; even, gave
feme apoftles, and fame prophet j, and fome evangelifts, andfome
paftors and teachers^ Eph. iv. 8, 1 1 . It was God alone, that
fet fome in the churchy firft apoftles> fecondarily prophets, third-
ly teacher s y ajter that miracles, &c t Cor. xii. 28. So that
as the office of apoitles, prophets, evangelifts, <&c. were only
from Chrift •, fo was the office of pallors or teachers. Hence
they are faid to be made overfeers by the Holy Ghoft, A£s
xx. 28. Whoever therefore will not confefs, that minifters
hold their miniftry alone of Chrift, do derogate hugely from
his glory, and rob him of his prerogative -, and fet thefe o-
thers (whoever they be) of whom they hold their miniftry,
in part, or in conjunction with Chrift, down upon Chr ill's
throne, and make Chrift no fole King and Head of his king-
dom ; and confequently no fole Prophet or Prieft and Media-
tor. And what an affiont this is unto our Lord, let any
judge.
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 249
judge. And if (as we know) the clay-kings of the earth will
think themfelves -fufficiently dethroned, and unpardonably
injured, if any fubjecl be made partaker with them of their
petty fovereignty, in whole, or in part •, let any confider,
how Chrift {hall take this injury done to him by his own pro-
fefled fervants. But fome will poffibly fay, though this was
their fault and great efcape ; yet it was but perfonal, and ac-
cidental, as to the Indulgence ; and fo cannot affect the fame,
or make it an encroachment upon Chrift, of fuch an high
nature. I anfwer \ This being fpoken at thatoccafion when
the king and council were acknowledged thankfully for the
granting of the Indulgence, cannot but have a reference un-
to the Indulgence itfelf ; and fuppofing (as all reafon will al-
low us to do) that what was faid, was fpoken with under-
(landing, it mult be granted, that they had their eye upon
the Indulgence granted ; and fo their difcourfe was to this
purpofe in effect. We declare, that we hold not our mini-
ftry of Chrilt alone, but of Chrift and of the magiftrate \
and therefore do accept of this Indulgence without fcruple.
Whence alfo it is manifeft, that they looked upon the In*
dulgence, as a confequcnt of their holding of the miniftry
partly of the magiftrate. And whether the magiftrate did
intend the granting of the Indulgence, as a declaration of
their accounting minifters to hold their miniftry partly of
them or not, yet the accepting of the Indulgence thus, was
a plain declaration, on the accepters part, that they held their
miniftry partly of the magiftrate, and not folely of Chrift ;
and confequently that they owned not Chrift as fole Head of
the kirk. Further, this difcourfe of theirs, fo worded pur-
pofely and deliberately, faith, that if they had not believed
that they held their miniftry not of Chrift alone, but of o-
thers-alfo, they could not have accepted of the Indulgence.
If any fhould yet fay, lhat though this might be faid of the
Indulgence, according as it was underftood by the ac-
cepters, yet it will not follow, that the Indulgence itfelf is
chargeable with this. I anfwer*, Yet hereby it is granted,
that the accepters are chargeable with high-treafon againft
the King of kings, our Lord Jefus Chrift : And as for the
Indulgence itfelf, we may fafely conftrue of it, according to
the fenfe both of the granters and of the receivers : And by
what followeth, its nature will be more fully difcovered. If
it be faid, that the molt that can be inferred from that ex-
preftion of the accepters, at that time, is, that as to the ex-
I i ercife
&50 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
crrife (which is diftinft from the office of the miniftry itfelf)
they did depend on others than Chrift. I anfwer, No men-
tion was made of the exercife, but of the miniftry ii.felf. And
even as to this, 'there was no (mail injury done to Jefus Chrift;
and this leads me to a fecond thing here remarkable.
2. By this Indulgence, the prerogative of Chrift, as fole
Head of his church, is further encroached upon, in that the
indulged do hold their miniftry, as to its exercife, not of
Chrift alone, but of the magiftrates, either folely, or in con-
junction with Chrift. And that this is a wrong to Chrift, is
manifeft, in that it faith, the office, and the power to exerce
the office are not from Chrift alone. The office can import
nothing but a bare name, if it import not power to exerce
the office, or do the work peculiar unto fuch an office : And
if Chrift be faid to give the office, but others muft give the
power, authority, andyz/j or right, to exercife the office, he
(hall be made a mere titular King. But he told us fome o-
ther thing, when he faid, Matth. xxviii. 18, 19. All power is
given unto me, in heaven and in earth ; go ye therefore and
teach all nations, baptizing them, &c. And when he faid,
John xx. 21, 23.—-^ my Father hath jent me, even Jo fend I
yon. — who/e joever fins ye remit, they are remitted unto them,
&c. See Mark xvi. 15. Co ye into all the world and preach
the gofpel The office was in order to the exercife : And
when he gave the office, he gave the power to exercife the
fame. When Paul was made a minifter, he wasfent to open
eyes, Afts xxvi. 16, 11. The miniftry,* fure, is a talent, and v
whoever gets it muft trade with it, or expert a fad fentence. If
it be faid, that this will take away the power of church ju-
dicatories, who ministerially, under Chrift, both conveyeth
the office and the power to exerciie the fame. For anfwer,
I deny that any fuch thing will follow ; and to clear this, I
(hail ftiew a third injury done to Chrift by this Indulgence.
3 If it ihould be faid, that by the accepting of this Indul-
gence, from the magiftrate, they no more prejudge Chrift of
his right both to give the office and power to exerce the fame,
than when they take the fame as conveyed to them by church
officers. I anfwer, that the difference is great, and the en-
croachment made on Chrift's prerogative by the Indulgence
clearly affented to •, in that another way of conveyance of the
iruniftry, and of the power to exercife the fame, is here clot
ed with, than Chrift, the only King, hath appointed. Chrift
hath instituted church officers fur this end, to convey the
office
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 251
office and power, which he hath appointed unto particular
perfons. The Holy Ghoft faid unto prophets and teachers*
that were at Antioch* feparate me Barnabas and Saul, for the
work whereunto I have called them* A£Ls xiii. 1, 2 Paul and
Barnabas ordained elders in every church, Adls xiy, 23.
Titus was ordered to ordain elders in every church. Tit i 5.
Timothy was to commit the things, he had heard of I\ ul,
to faithful men, who (hall be able to teach others, 2 Tim. ii.
2. The gift was given with the laying on of the hands of the
prefbytery, 1 Tjm. iv. 14. But here the office, or the exer-
cife thereof, is conveyed by the hands of m lgiftrates, whom
Chrift never did commit that matter unto And thus ano-
ther, yea, a quite oppofite, medium is embraced and follow r
ed, than what Chrift thought good to make choice of, to
his great difhonour and disparagement ; as if he had not
been wife enough to appoint the bed means \ nor had not
authority enough folely to appoint the means and ways, he
thought fit.
4. The wrong done to Chrift, by the accepting of this In-
dulgence, will be hence manifeft (which will alfo clear up
the difference betwixt what is conveyed from ChrifV, "by his
own minifters, and what is conveyed by magistrates.) That
the office or exercife of the miniftry; is received from them,
who in this deed do not; neither can a«ft in a minifleriai
fubordinaticn to Chrift, as fole Head and Fountain of all
church power ; fo that their intervening betwixt Chrift, and
thole, who receive the office or its. exercife, as a medium of
conveyance, faith, that Chrift is not fole Head of the church,
and Fountain cf church power. The ground of this is, be*
caufe magiftrates, as fuch, do not aft in a direft line of fu-
bordination to Chrift, as. Mediator, as church officers do :
And further, what they do as magiftrates, they do not (in
reference to their fubje&s) with a minifteriai authority, as
church officers do ; but with a magisterial, imperial, coadlive,
autocratorical and archite plainly refting. upon the
intimation of his own will : For here the magiftrate was not
treating and expecting our formal confent or fecurity for per-
formance of what was required; but did ftmply appoint and
command^ as they would be anfwerable. So that the embracer
df 'the providential favour giveth no complex confent unto the
prefcriptions. I anfwer, The favour offered was no favour
indeed, as circumftantiated ; nor could there be a Ample ufe
making of that fuppofed favour, which was fo attended with
impofed conditions, inftruftions and limitations, without at
leaft a virtual acknowledgement of a right and power in the
magiftrate, to make and impoie fuch conditions, &c. for how-
beit the council propofe the matter by way of command, as
thinking it below them to a£t otherwife ; yet both the na-
ture of the thing, and the concomitant a&s, made of purpofe
to reftrift, limit and qualify the favour propofed, and t« in-
ftruft and oblige the receiver, fay, that the accepting of the
firft,
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 255
lirft, is with an engagement to perform the fecond, both be-
ing but one complex thing. Nay, the council (as we law
above) in their afts and proclamations do exprefsly hold forth
the favour to be granted and accepted condition- ways : and
Mr. Blair, for 1 enouncing of the conditions, was deprived of
the favour Who accepieth a favour offered with its bur-
dens, in accepting the one accepteth both, and taketh the
favour cum onore, and this cannot be otherwife underftood,
howbeif the council did not wait for their exprefs confent
unto the conditions, for their receiving of the favour fo of-
fered was fufficient thereunto \ as when a father granteth
fuch or fuch a piece of land to his fon, but withal layeth this
burden on that favour, that . he muft pay fo much debt: if
the fon accept of the land fo clogged, he cannot but take on
the debt, though he gave no exprefs confent thereunto before
II. How contrary it is unto prejkyterian principles*
WE (hall in the next place (how how injurious the ac-
cepting of this indulgence was unto our prefbyterian
principles, and what wrong was hereby done unto the church*
as to her privileges, and that power which Chrift hath grant-
ed unto her.
* 1. It belongeth to the church, and to church officers, to
try and examine the gifts and qualifications of fuch as are to
be exercifed in the miniftry, and to declare miniftcrially, by
expl; ind applying of Chrift's rules and laws, who are
lit and qualified for the work of the miniftry, and who not :
But heie the magiftrate declareth what that is, which he
looketh upon as a due qualification, and judgeth who are fo
qualified, as to be fit for the miniftry ; and that without the
lead deference imaginable unto any church judicatory what-
fomever. If it be faid, that they indulged nqne but fuch as
were minifters already, and fo were fuppofed to be fufficient-
ly qualified for that work ? I anfwer, the church officers, or
the p cibytery, are not only to judge of qualifications, in re-
ference to the miniftry in general, but alfo in reference t<5
the miniftry, in this or that particular place, where he is to
be fixed ; arid no church judicatory had this judgment, in the
matter of the Indulgence, but the council only. And as
thty indulged them, fo they might have indulged others,
who had not been placed minifters before, as we fee they
did Mr. Weir, whom thev did not account a miniitsr before.
U
z$6 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
If it be faid, that the qualifications which were here confider*
ed, to wit, peaceable and orderly ', belong properly to the judg-
ment: of the civil magiftrate, who, as he maketh civil laws,
fo can judge who obferveth or tranfgreileth the lame I an-
fwer, Not to mention here the magiftrate's true ienfe of that
peaceable and orderly living. I fay, though the magiftrate
be the proper judge of this peaceable and orderly deport-
ment, in order to civil punifhment, or exemption therefrom \
yet church judicatories are the only competent judges there-
of, in reference to the exercife of the miniftry : And it wa3
in reference to this exercife of the miniftry, that thefe qua*
lifications were here taken notice of.
. 2 It belongeth to the church, or church judicatories, to
convey minifterially the office and power Unto perfons quali-
fied, and to grant a proteftative million, whereby they become
authorized to exerce the minifterial function ; as was feen a-
bove. But in the Indulgence^ all this was done by the ma-
giftrate immediately ; the council fent the indulged to fuch
and fuch places, as they thought fit, and they only clothed
them with authority for that effect ; or did all, that-prefby-
teries do or ought to do, in the like cafes. See what was above
upon the a£h of Indulgence granted July 27. 1669. />. 159.
3. It is a part of the power and privilege of church officers
and church judicatories, to loofe minifters relation unto a
place, and to plant and tranfplant, to place minifters in par-
ticular charges, and to tranfport them to others, as the good
of the church requireth. And this we know was conftantly
praftifed by our prefbyteries, fynods and general aflemblies.
But here in the Indulgence, all this was praftifed by the
council, without once confulting any church judicatory what-
fomever. They planted and tranfplanted according to their
own pleafure, as we faw above, in feveral inftances, fending
feverals from one church to another, and many from their
own churches unto others. See further our 2d remark on
the king's letter. It will not here be faid, I fuppofe, that by
the fentence of banifhment, their relation to their former
Charges was annulled : And though it were faid and granted
too (which yet cannot be), though it would follow that fuch
were not properly tranfplanted, yet our argument would re-
main ftrong ; for there were others, whom the council had in-
dulged to fuch and fuch places, and thereafter tranfportedto 0-
ther places, as they thought fit. And befide, as to all of them,
iuvas the council's deed alone, which did conftitute them mi-
nifters
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. I57
witters of fuch and futh piace^, and fo made up that fetation :
And if they ihould chink that they are not formally minifters
of fuch places ; they could not then fay, that they were fet as
overfeers over thefe places by the Holy Ghoft, as poflibly they
will \ and they mould alfo think themfelves free of the bur-
den of that charge, and of the fouls of the people, as not be-
ing committed to their charge \ and the people are not o-
bliged to own them as their minifters ; arid then they are
called to coiifider, with what confcierice they can take the
ftipend and benefice, only allowed by the law of God to fuch
as take on the cure of fouls. And befide, whatever they
think, yet the coucr did ciefign and formally intend their fix-
ed relation unto thefe places, as proper paftors thereof, for
the patrons were thereunto to be confulted, and their con-
fent to be obtained, whicfy according to the eftablifhed law,
is the way of admitting formally fuch and fuch perfons, to
be minifters of fuch places \ the other formality of the bi-
(hop's cellation being difpenfed with, as to its neceflity, and
only enjoined under a penalty, or they encouraged to leek it,
by a further favour, as to their ftipend \ and however, it wa9
ordered, that intimation fhouid be made to the biiliops and
archbiihops, when any perfon was indulged within their
diocefs
4. It is apart 3f the power granted unto church judicatories^
to make canons, and prefcribe rules, and to give injunctions,,
concerning the exercife of the miniftry, the adminiftration of
the ordinances of Chrift, and the like ; and this is that dia-
thetic power, acknowledged by all the OTthodox to belong
to the church judicatories ; and we might confirm it here, i£
it were necefTary. But in this Indulgence, we fee the ma-
giftrate affuming to himfelf this power of making proper
church canons, giving rules to regulate minifters in the ex-
ercife of their miniftry, and impoling fuch like injunctions,
as ufed to be prefer ib^d by the judicatories of the church in
former times. Of thefe injunctions, we have had oftentimes
occafion to fpeak before, and need not repeat here what hath
been faid ; nor need we infift on that again, which is com-
monly faid, viz. That their accepting of the Indulgence hath
no necefTiry connexion with their approving of this power,
to make fuch canons, and to rmpofe fuch injun&ions. For,
as we have fhown, this cannot be evited, and this one thing
will abundantly evince it, biz. if they had received this fame
or the like Indulgence, at the hands of the prelates, (and this
& k ha A
U8 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
had been likewife more confonant to the eftablifhed late afl?,
before the aft of fupremacy was made) and if the prelates
had clogged the fame fuppofed favour with the fame or the
like injunctions; had not their accepting of the Indulgence,
accompanied with thefe injunctions, been a granting of that
power unto the prelates, to make fuch canons, and to give
out fuch injunctions and reftrifti^ns ? And if it had been fo,
as to the prelates, why not here alfo, as to the council ?
5. Upon the fame account, we find by this Indulgence,
that the council hath aflumed power of exercifing real church
cenfures, fuch as fufpenfion from the exercife of their mi-
ttiftry, and total depofition, or turning cut, as they call it.
See our \ft and *]th remarks on the king's letter. This nmft
be a great invafioji on the power of the church ; and bv the
Indulgence, this power, granted by the king to the council,
is confirmed both in the king and in the council : And who
is not convinced how fad this is, when every one might fee
what invafions daily were made upor. the power of the church
by the civil magistrate; and therefore all were clearly called
aloud to cry- againft this, and to ftand and withftand, and
do nothing that might contribute to fortify them in their
ufurpations, or to occafion their further encroachment,
which might have been forborn without fin. And fure I
am, if thefe brethren had forborn to accept of the Indulgence,
as feveral others did refufe it, the occafion of this and many
other invafions had not been given, and church power had
not been fo formally ufurped, as it hath been ; nor the mar
giftrates fo fixed in the poffeffion thereof, as they are by fuch
cedings.
III. What affinity it hath with the fupremacy.
OUR third head of argument againft this Indulgence, is
taken from its relation to, affinity with, dependence
upon, and confirmation by that woful aft of fupremacy, mnde
bv our pari. 1669. And fure, all, who are tender of the
concerns of ChriiYs crown, and of the privileges of his church,
will have an utter deteftation of and abhorrence at any courfe
which floweth from, 13 continued and confirmed by, and
cannot ftand without that aft, which with one da(h doth de-
throne our Lord, and fpoil him of his royal prerogative, and
his church of all her privileges. What occafion or rife the
Indulgence gave unto the aft of fupremacy, and what a found-
ation
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 259
atlon it laid for more of that kind, and what a near affinity
and likenefs is betwixt them, we*have (hown above, and need
only recapitulate things here.
1. Had this Indulgence been utterly refufed, we had never
yet feen that aft of fupremacy ; for the council having grant-
ed the Indulgence upon the king's letter, contrary to many
acts of parliament, knew no other way to falve themfelves,
but by framing this aft, which both fecured them for times
bypalt, and again ft all hazard alfo, in going on in the fame
courfe, as they had begun, for the future. The grant of the
Indulgence was never lawful, nor the granters fecured by
law, until this act was made. How fliall we then judge well
of the Indulgence, that gave the neceffary rife unto that pro-
digious aft ?
2. The Indulgence itfelf would be ftill an illegitimate
brood, notwithstanding of all that king and council both did,
were it not for the aft of fupremacy ; for by the aft of fu-
premacy, that is now made a legal deed, which otherwife
was direftly againft law, what (hall we then think' of the In-
dulgence, that mult be legitimate by fuch an act: ? And what
a poffefiion that mult be, that hath fuch an aft for its ground^
right and chatter, let fober men judge.
3. The indulged wpuld, notwithstanding of all that is
done by both king and council, be ftill feditious perfons, in
the account of the law, and lie under hazard of the fame,
were it not for this aft, which alone fecureth them from the
lafti of all laws, made for that end. This aft is their only
right and ground of fecurity^ whereby they can plead them-
felves free from all that could be brought -againft them by
foregoing laws. iSo that among other things, wherein the
indulged do now differ from all the non-conforming minifters,
this is one, that the indulged are under the protection of the
fupremacy, and lie in fafety under the wings thereof ; while-
as others have it not ftretched over their heads, and fo do not
enjoy that chilling warmth, that is to be had thereunder.
4. This is further confirmed by all the particulars, men-
tioned under the two foregoing heads ; for they all belong to
this fupremacy, and are parts of the fame ; and the fuprema-
cy is but one comprehenfive, complicated and compounded
aft of ufurpation of the crown of Chrift, as Head and King
of his church, and of the power and privileges belonging to
the church, and to the officers of the houfe of God.
$. We faw before the fame afTerted by worthy Mr. John
Kk % Burnet;
f6o HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
Burnet, in his teftimony againft the Indulgence, whofe argu*
ment is worth confideration, and I fhall here repeat it: To
fettle, ena£t, emit conftitutions, a£ts and orders, concerning
matters, meetings and perionseccleGaft'cal, according to roy-
al pleafure, is the very fubftance and definition of his majef-
ty's fupremacy, as it is explained by his eft ate s of parliament.
But the act of his majefty's royal Indulgence is only to fettle,
ena£t, and emit fuch conftitutions, acts and orders, concern-
ing matters, meetings, and perfons ecclefiaftical, according
to royal pleafure. Therefore the a£t of his majefty's In-
dulgence, is the fubftance and definition of his majefty's fu-
jpremacy, 6*c.
6. Seeing, by what is faid, it is apparent, that not only
is the ufurped fupremacy put in exercife, and confirmed in
the hands of the ufurper, by the Indulgence; but alfo the
formal afierting of the extravagant fupremacy, by a plain
ftatute and act of parliament, explaining and confirming the
fame, is looked upon as neceffarj to fupport the Indulgence,
f and to keep it in legal being : It cannot be well denied, that
fuch, as have accepted the Indulgence, have homologated this
fupremacy, and contributed, by virtue of that acceptance, all
their power to the fixing of this ufurpation ; for more was
not required of them for this end ; and if they had refufed
the Indulgence, this ftatutory eftablifhment of the fupremacy
had never been accounted neceffary ; nor pofiibly once thought
upon.
7. As he who accepteth a benefit from a perfon, which
that perfon cannot beftow but by an ufurped power, and
doth formally flow from that ufurped power, doth homolo-
gate by his acceptance that ufurped power ; fo the accepters
of the Indulgence, from the king and council, which they
could not give but by the ufurped fupremacy, and vhich
formally and kindly floweth therefrom, cannot but, in fo do-
ing, homologate that ufurped fupremacy*
8. If this Indulgence had been granted by the prelate of
the diocefs, would not the acceptance thereof have homolo-
gated prelates ufurpation, and been an acknowledgment
thereof? Why then fhall not the accepting of this Indulg-
ence, when granted by the king and his council, be a ho-
mologating of their ufurpation ? Efpecially feeing the ufurped
power of the prelate is but a branch of the fupremacy, and
floweth therefrom, prelates, as fuch, having no church pow-
er with ua, but what is granted by the king by virtue of the
fupremacy,
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 261
fupremacy, by the ftatute law of the land. Wherefore if the
accepting of the Indulgence at the hands of the prelates,
would have homologated the ufurpation, that yet flowed from
the fupremacy, and consequently the fupremacy itfelf, tho f
at a ftep further off; how is it imaginable, that the accept-
ing of the Indulgence from the king and council immediate-
ly, fhall not be a homologating of the fupremacy, which is
the immediate root and ground thereof?
9- Such as accepted of the prelate's collation, whether to
new places, or to the fame places where they had been, be-
fore the reftoration of prelacy, will, I fuppofe, be looked up-
on as homologating, in that aft, the prelates power, and
confequently the fupremacy, from whence that power flow-
eth to the prelate : And what difference is there, I pray, be-
twixt the prelate's collation (which pofhbly was freer of con-
comitant mftruclions, rules and directions, how to regulate
them in the exercife of the miniftry, than was the Indulg-
ence) and the council's collation, as to the fountain, the king's
fupremacy, from whence both do flow ? By virtue of power
defcending from the head to the left arm, the prelates, is the
epifcopal collation granted, and by virtue of power defcend-
ing from the fame head to the right arm the- council, is the
council's collation granted.
10. Who homologate a fupreme authority in the king over
all perfons, and all caufes ecclefiaftic, by virtue whereof he
may fettle, enacl: and emit fuch conftitutions, a£ts and orders,
concerning the perfons employed in the external government
of the church, and concerning meetings and matters eccle-
fiaftic, as he in his royal wifdom ihall think fit, they homo-
logate the fupremacy : This is certain ; for this is the fupre-
macy, as appeareth by the act explicatory : But fo it is, that
the accepters of the Indulgence do homologate this fupreme
authority in the king. Which I thus prove. Such eccle-
fiaftic perfons, as are willingly difpofed of by the fupreme
authority in the king over all perfons, and caufes ecclefiaftic,
and go to what places, he by his council appointeth, for the
exercife of their miniftry and of church government, and
withal receive orders, a£ts and conftitutions concerning ec-
clefiaftic perfons, to regulate them in the exercife of their
miniftry and government, made by him in church affairs, ac-
cording to his royal wifdom, by virtue of his fupreme autho-
rity ; thefe do homologate the fupremacy. But fo it is that
thg accepters of the Indulgence have done this. There-
fore,
Xtf 2 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
fore, 6c. the minor is uncontrovertible and certain, from thfc
council's difpofing' of them, and ordering of them to fuch
kirks, as they pleafed, and their yielding thereunto, and ac-
cepting of inftructions, orders, acts and conflitutions, m> '*
by virtue of the fuprematy, to regulate them in the exereife
of their miniitry: all which hath been cleared above. The
major is manifeft from this, that to be willingly diipofed of
by a power, is to homologate it ; and to receive initruftions,
orders, acts and confdtutions from a power, is to homologate
it \ by homologating a power, I underftand an acknowledg-
ment of fuch a power in fuch a perfon, by a fuitable and an-
fwerable compliance therewith, and yielding to it, or acting
under it : And this may be materially, as well as formally
done, implicitly as well as explicitly, bv the intention of the
deed, as well as by the intention of the doer : As he who
obeyeth an ufurper, and acteth under him, in fome place of
trult, and receiveth inftruclions from him, for to regula e
him, doth homologate that ufurped powev, oy his very deed,
though he fliouid hate the ufurper _and the ufurpation both,
and really wifh he were thruft from his ufurpation altoge-
ther, and would poffibly concur thereunto himfeif.
It cannot weaken this argument to fay, that the indulged
perfons never did nor will own the fupremacy, but plainly
difown it : For though I am ready to believe this to be true,
yet the argument holdeth ; for I fpeak not of a pofitive, ex-
plicit, formal intentional and exprefs homologating ; but of
a virtual, implicit, material homologating, and fuch as is in-
cluded in the deed, and work itfelf, abftractmg from the in>
tention of the worker, which is but extrinfic and accidental,
as to this : And that the accepting of the -Indulgence is a
homologating, and a virtual acknowledging of the fupremacy,
is clear from what is faid, though the indulged fhoul^ intend
no fuch thing.
IV,
Hqw it is injurious unto the pewer of the people.
A Fourth ground of our difiatisfattion with the Indulg-
ence, is the wrong that is hereby done unto the peo-
ple, as to their power and privilege of free election of their
paftor. In the accepting of the Indulgence, there was the
accepting of a charge of a particUiar flock, without the pre-
vious due call, free election, and confent of the people : this
fcgldeth, as to fuch of the indulged as were lent to other
churches
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 2<5 3
el urches than their own,) The mere appointment, order
and designation of the civil magiftrate, was all the ground of
this relation, and was the only thing that made them paftors
to fuch a people, together with the confent of the patroi:.
This was a way of entry unto a paftoral charge, that our
principles cannot afibrt with, wanting either precept or pre*
cedent in the pure primitive times. . Our divines have abun-
dantly ihown the neceflity of the previous call of the people,
unto a mintfteVs admiflion to a charge. See Mr. Gillefpie in
his Mi i eel. zhiefnons, queft. 2. Nor need I hold forth the
iniquity of entering by patrons, whereof our pari. 1649,
was fully fenfible, when the church was reftored to her pri-
vilege, conform to our firft Eook of Difcipline, chap. i\\
Concerning minijlers^ and their lawful eleclion : and the fecoryl
Book, chap, xii It will be here faid poffibly, that they ob-
tained the full and unanimous confent of the people. But I
anfwer, (1.) I doubt if this was either univerfally fought or
obtained. (2.) Where it was had, it was but a mere blind,
and, to me, a mere proftituting of that appointment and or-
der of CLrift rather than any confeientious obfervation there-
of. For (3 ) this call of the people ought to be a free elec-
tion and choice, but here was no free ele&ion left unto
them •, but whether they did confent or not, the perfon de-
figned by the council was to be fet over them (4.) The
free ele&ion of the people fhould go before the performs de-
foliation to that charge, and become the foundation of his
relation to that flock 5 but here it was pofterior unto the
council's defignation, and was a mere precarious thing, com-
ing in ex po/ijatlo. (5.) This call and election of the people
was not in the leaft prefuppofed,, as any way requifite, either
in the king's letter, or council's nomination and election.
(6.) Nor did thev make any mention hereof, when before the
council •, nor make any exception againft the council's order or
eolation, until this was had. (7.) Nor did they teftify their
difTatisfaclion with, or proteft againft, the unlawful ufurped
intereft of the patron, and his neceflarily pre-requifite con-
fent. (8 ) Did fuch as wanted this unanimous call or con-
fent of the people, give back the council's warrant, as weak
and inefficient ?
2. I would afk, whether they look upon themfelves as the
fixed paftors of thofe particular flocks and churches, or not ?
If they own themfelves for fixed paftors, what is become of
their relation to their former charges ? They cannot be paf-
tors
i it is better holding out,
than thrulting out.
2. Our own hiitory fheweth us, how noxious it was to
our church, when K. James obtained but fo much, as to have
an eminent and active hand, or a negative voice, directly or
indirectly, in the planting of all the eminent places of the
land, efpecially of Edinburgh ; though he never had the con-
fidence to feek a liberty to do it brevi manu ; but did it by
collufion with the commiiTion of the kirk, which was made
to his mind : How quickly had he overturned all, if he had
aflumed the power to have tranfplanted minifters, as he
pleafed; and if minifters had complied with him therein,
and upon his fole cajl, or act of council, had left their own
charges, and gone to places whither he fent them ? And
what would thefe worthies, who oppoied all his defigns, in
maintenance of the eftahliShed order of the church, and of
her power and privileges, if alive, now fay, to fee fo many
minifters, under fo many obligations to maintain the liberties
of the church, willingly obeying the council's call and a£t ?
3. If according to this method, and the way now laid
down, and put in practice, our magistrates, in all time com-
ing, fliould follow this courfe, and put away what ministers
Li z tfcsy
2*3 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
they pleafed from one place, and thruft others in where
and when they pleafed ; and in all this fhouJd meet with no-
thing but fvveet fubmiuion ; how long fhould our church en-
joy purity ? And how long fhould the gofpel be preached in
power, in any eminent place iiRthe land ? How long fhould
gofpel freedom be kept up, and the gofpel flourifh ? And if
all this fhould be, whom have we to thank therefore, but the
indulged ? Womld not they have all doing, as they have done?
Are not they a fad preparative ? May not their example prove
noxious to the following generations ? And whither fhall we
then caufe our fhame to go ?
4. According to this example, the magiftrate might quick-
ly banifh all purity out of the kingdom, and turn all the land
over into popery, by fending all the orthodox minifters to
the Highlands, or to fome one fmall and inconfiderabie cor-
ner of the land (according as in the late aft of Indulgence fo
many fcores were cantonized in one or two diocefes) and
fuffering papifts to preach where they pleafed, or fixing pop-
ifh priefts in every parifh. And if fuch a thing were intend-
ed, hath not the Indulgence broken the ice thereunto ?
5. Nay, we fee that in the very Indulgence, fome fuch
clefign is carried on ; for by it, the far greateft part of the
non-conform minifters were cantonized and fhut up in twos
or threes together, in one corner of the country, and all the
reft of the land was given over to the will of prelates, papifts,
or Quakers :. And if all the minifters named, had followed
the example of others, what had become, ere this day, of
the greateft part of the land ? Wa,s then this Indulgence the
thing, which the general good of the church and kingdom
called for ? Were the indulged put in beft capacity by the In-
dulgence, to ferve their generation, according to the neceflity
of the day ? Was this the only duty of the day ? or did the
Lord call for nothing elfe ? Well is it, that we have fuch a
proof of the contrary, this day, legible upon the face of that
land ; and that the very prifons can declare fome other thing.
6. It being beyond all doubt now, that the affemblies of
the Lord's people in houfes, or fields, to partake of pure or-
dinances, with full freedom of confeience, hath been fignally
owned and bleffed of the Lord ; and hath proven a mean to
fpread the knowledge of God beyond any thing that appear-
ed, in our beft times, whereby the Lord preached from hea-
ven to all, who would hear and underftand it, that this way
of preaching, even this way, was that wherein the foul of
God
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. z6 9
God took pleafure, and to which he called all, who would
be co-workers with him, this day, to help forward the in-
terefl. of his crown and kingdom Now, when in defpight
of this fignal appearance of God, and out of enmity to the
good done in thefe meetings, ways of cruelty are fallen up-
on, to fupprefs utterly all thefe rendezvoufes of the Lord's
militia ; and thefe coming fhort of effectuating the thing,
Midianitifh wiles are fallen upon, of which this of the In-
dulgence was the chief, of purpofe to keep the country free
of thefe folemn occadon? of the Lord's appearances ; can it be
thought to be the duty of the day, and that which the Lord
is calling to, to contribute our concurrence unto thefe ftra-
tagems c*f Satan, and welcome an Indulgence, devifed of pur-
pofe to deltroy the work of God ? I leave the thoughts of this
to themfelves, when they are thinking of appearing before
their Judge.
7. I mall not infift on that yoke of bondage, in the matter
of ftipends, which was hereby begun to be wreathed about
the necks of minifters, to the inexpreffible hurt and prejudice
of the church. See what was remarked in the qtb place on
the king's letter.
8. It will be more to our purpofe, as in itfelf it is of great-
er moment, to confider how hereby a path-way was made,
to make all the minifters of the land, in all time coming,
wholly fubjecT: unto the council, even in all matters eccle-
fiaftic, whether concerning doftrine, difcipline, or manners ;
for hereby they became wholly fubjeft unto the council, as
being accountable only to them ; and were fo wholly at their
devotion, that they were to flay in the places where they
jwere fet, only during their pleafure ; and fo might be coup-
ed from kirk to kirk (as fome of them were) no other ways
than the prelate's curates are, at the pleafure of the prelate :
Thus was the ice broken to the bringing of the miniiiry un-
der perpetual flavery ; and what fliould then become of the
glorious liberty of our church ?
9. Nay, as we faw above attefted by open printed procla-
mations of the council, there was, in this Indulgence, a hafe
and finful compacting for the fame, which, to me, is the
bafeft of fimony. A conditional accepting of the fuppofed
favour, and, as it were, a formal bargaining for it, by taking
the liberty to preach and perform the work of the miniftry,
on finful conditions, even fuch conditions, as contained a
giving up of the caufe to the fupremacy, and the Eraftian de-
27o HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
Ggn, as hath been mown above. And what a preparative
this was, let any judge. I know, the indulged themfelves
will fay, they are free of all compacting ; and I (hall not ac-
cufe them further than I know, or have ground : Yet this is
certain, that the king's letter mentioned fuch and fuch in-
ftruftions to be given to all the indulged •, and it is alfo cer-
tain, that this letter was not altogether unknown to them.
And when the inftruftions (which the council, in plain ex-
preftions, calleth, terms on which they granted the Indulg-
ence, and the fame was accepted) were tendered unto, and
put in the hands of each of thefe in particular, who were
called before the council anno 1673, I heard not of their ex-
preffing their difTatisfaction with thefe terms, fo as to quit
the benefit, or, as we fay, to call the bargain thereupon ; and
if all the minifter§, that {hall ever hereafter be admitted to
preach the gofpel, in Scotland, muft follow this exampie, and
give but an implicit confent unto thefe, or the like terms,
impofed by the council, where (hall then our gofpel liberty
be ? And what (hall then become of the liberty of our church?
And how (hall the minifters then be called the fervants of
Chrift, and not the fervants of men
10. By the very fubjecting to the council's inftrucrions,
to regulate them in the exercife of their miniftry, they be-
come thereby as formally fubject unto them, in matters ec-
clefiaftic, as any inferior civil officers, fuch as fheriffs, juftices
of peace, bailies, &c. who yet, it may be, (hall as little obferve
all their inftructions, as the indulged have obferved theirs,
this fubje&ing of the miniftry, in its exercife, unto the magi-
ftrate, is a manifeft enflaving of the fame, to the unfpeakable
prejudice of the gofpel, and hurt of the church.
11. What prejudice it is to the church, to want the free
and full exercife of difcipline, and that in the lawful courts
of Chrift, needeth not here to be told : And yet, in this In-
dulgence, there was an accepting of the exercife of the mi-
niftry, without the full exercife of difcipline, fave what was
to be had in a finful way, by compliance with prelacy ; and
fo a tacit (at lead) confent given unto this want. It will not
be of advantage here to fay, that the field preachers or non-
indulged minifters, have no difcipline, and yet preach : For
all their preaching is fub cruce^ not having fo much as free-
dom to exerce any part of their miniftry, and fo are allowed
of God to do all they can, when they cannot do all they
would : and befide, it is alledged without ground \ for which
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 371
no lefs fignal countenance, they exercife fome acts of discip-
line, fuch as receiving of penitents, then they preach, and in
both are countenanced as his ambaffadors. But the indulged
are under the lee-fheet of the fupremacy, having full peace,
countenance and protection, as much as in our beft times and
when our church was moft flourifhing ; and yet difpenfe calm-
ly with the want of church difcipline, in prefbyteries and fy-
nods ; c*nd how fome of heir ieflions guide, and are consti-
tute, is none of our glory.
12. Nor needeth it be told, what prejudice will inevitably
follow upon the want of ordination, whereby a fucceflion of
the miniftry is kept up, and the word committed to faithful
men. according to ChrinVs appointment, who may ferve the
Lord in the work of the gofpel, in their generation: How
quickly, upon the want of this, a faithful miniftry fhall of
necefihy ceafe, every one may fee : and yet the indulged have
accepted of the exercife of their miniftry, on fuch terms, or
in fuch a way, as doth utterly incapacitate them for going
about the neceiTary work of ordination. Their tranfgreffing
their bounds, and violating the injunctions upon their peril
(if fo be they do fo, that they may ordain fome) in order to
the keeping up of this ordinance, is in fo far commendable 1
but is not fuffkient to expiate the guilt of accepting the In-
dulgence, which was thus clogged ; as their whole relinquish-
ing of the Indulgence, and betaking themfelves to the fields,
with the reft of their brethren, would prove a commendable
after-wit ; but would not fay, that there was no evil in their
accepting of the Indulgence, but the contrary rather.
VII. How hereby our caufe and ground of fujfe ring is -wronged*
'HE Lord's good hand of providence having fo ordered
it, that once a confiderable company were willing to
endure hardlhip, want and tribulation, for the truth's fake
(and therefore choofed fuffering rather than fin) ; which,
howbeit it was upon fome accounts fad and afRKting \ yet up-
on the account, that the caufe of Chrift was owned, the work
of reformation not condemned, but accounted ftill the work
of the Lord, was no fmall matter of joy; though it might
have been expected, that few or none of all the minifters,
that had feen the great works of the Lord, fhould have fo
relinquished the intereft of Chrift, and embraced what once
Ihey had abjured; yet we ought to blefs the Lord, that fo
many
a 7 2 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE,
many abode fteadfaft in the day of temptation. But how
joyful fo ever it was to fee fuch a goodly company, adhering
to their principles, and fully following the Lord ; it cannot
but be as fad and afflicting, upon the other hand, to fee this
goodly bulk wretchedly broken, and to fee men ftepping off,
and that fuch men, ?.nd fo many fuch, and that after fuch a
way, as cannot but be accounted a falling off from formerly
received principles, and from the c;mfe and ground of our
fufferings. Now that the embracers of this Indulgence are
juftly chargeable herewith, may appear from thefe particulars.
i. It was apart of the reformation, which, through the
fpecial goodnefs of God, our church at length, after long
wreftiing, attained to, that the people mould be reftored to
their right and privilege of calling, and making a free choice
of their own pallors, according to the example of the pure
and primitive church : And it was becaufe they would not
renounce this way of entry, that fo many minifters werd
thrufl out from their congregations, by the act of council at
Glafgow. But in the Indulgence, there was an entering in*
to the paftoral charge of a people, upon the act and call
or order of council, without this free and full election of
the people. The nominal call, that was precarioufly had
thereafter, as to fome, was but a mock call, and no founda-
tion of their relation unto thefe places, as hath been feen.
And how the council's act and order was exclufive thereof is
manifeft, and confirmed by the inftance of Mr. Weir's pro-
cefs. Sure, as the election here was null, there being none
to choofe upon, and the call prelimited, becaufe the council's
order did not fet fuch an indulged man over th^m, whether
they would or not \ fo the making a fhew of feeking or of
getting a call from the people, after the ground of the re-
lation was already laid, was the expofing of that order of
ChrifVs to ludibry'.
2. Multitudes of the non-conform minifters were ejected,
and caft out of their places and congregations, becaufe they
would not acknowledge the power and intereft of patrons,
nor accept of their prefentations unto flocks ; but in this In-
dulgence, as we faw above, the intereft of patrons is referved
entire : Though they mould fay, that they fought no pre-
fentations from patrons, nor had they any active hand there-
in, it will not much avail : For even feveral of the ejected
minifters might have been free of ejection, if they could in
conference have yielded to fo much, and acquiefced in this,
that
HISTORY ot the INDULGENCE. 273
that the. patron fhould have Signified to the bi(hop his pre^
fenting of fuch a perfon, and that without his exprefs con*
Sent, or formal acceptance thereof: Yea how many had the
prefentation willingly and chearfully offered unto them un-
defined ?
3. It is the chief coner-ftone of our reformation, and the
/^lndamental point, whereupon all the wreftlings, and Suffer-
ings of our church from the beginning have been Stated, viz.
That Chrift is the alone Head of the church: But by the
Indulgence another head is acknowledged beficte him *, when
thereby it was declared, that the indulged held not their mi-
niftry of Chrift alone : as we faw above on the firft head, and
firft particular thereof.
4. So by the red of the particulars* mentioned under that
head, we fee how many ways there was, in this Indulgence*
a defection from former principles, and a falling off from our
grounds, all which we need not here repeat
5. We fall from our principles, and from the caufe, upon
which our fufferings are Stated ; when we cede and yield to
adversaries* feeking to overthrow the pillars and grounds of
prefbyterian government ; and in how many particulars pref-
byterian principles are, by this Indulgence, receded from* we
have feen above, in the 2d head.
6. It hath been the lot of the church of Scotland, from
the very beginning, to be put to wreftle againft the powers
of the earth, encroaching upon the prerogatives of Jefus
Chrift, and the privileges of his church \ and in contending
for the fame, againft all fuch ufurpation, did the faithfulnefs
and ftedfaftnefs of our worthy and renowned predtceffors
appear and fhine forth; and upon the account, of their faith-
ful adhering to the truth, and bearing witnefs againft all u-
furpations, made upon the rights of the church, and on the
jurisdiction of Chrift, fole King of Zion •, and for declining
judicatories, acting by ufurped authority, were they all along
put to fuffer in their freedom, perfons, goods, and
that I need do no more here, than (how, wherein the accept-
ing of this Indulgence was againft our covenants ; and this
is to me manifeft from thefe particulars.
i. It is a chief part of that religion, and head of that doc-
trine, that we are obliged by all our covenants and vows to
defend, viz. That Chrift is fole King and Head of his church,
which is his houfe and kingdom j and confequently, we are
obliged to do nothing, that may wrong his right, and en-
trench upon his royal prerogatives. But what wrongs the
accepting of this Indulgence carrieth along with it, againft
the royal prerogatives of Chrift, as fole Head and King of
fiis church, we have feen above, under the firft head, and we
need not here repeat them.
2. We are obliged by our covenants to defend and own
prefbyterian government, as is granted by all : but in how
many particulars this Indulgence crofleth the principles of
prefbyterian government, we have feen above, under the fe-
cond head ; and as to all thefe particulars our covenants are
violated.
3. How we are engaged by our covenant againft pre-
lacy, the fecond article of the Solemn League andCovenant
can tell us; and how many ways the accepting of this In-
dulgence, did contribute exprefsly or virtually, unto the
ftrengthening of prelacy, we faw above, under the foregoing
eight head : And it is paft all queftion, that thefe particulars
there mentioned are utterly inconfiftent with an endeavour
to extirpate prelacy.
4. We cannot be ignorant, that in the folemn acknowledg-
ment of fins, and engagement to duties, we vowed and fwore
to
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 279
to ftudy and endeavour to preferve religion in purity, againft
error, he and particularly againft Eraftianifm, in thefe words,
Becaufe many have of late laboured to fupplant the liberties of
the kirky tuefhall maintain and defend the kirk of Scotland in
all her liberties and privileges, againjl -who fhall oppofe and
-undermine the fame, or encroach thereupon, under any pretext
•whatfomever. And certain it is, that Eraftianifm was never fo
regnant in Scotland, as it is, and hath been, fince this cata-
ftrophe began, and that the liberties and privileges of the
church are not only now oppofed, encroached upon, and un-
dermined, but overturned and quite taken away. Now, how
became it all, who minded faithfulnefs and ftedfaftnefs in
their covenant, to ftand faft in this particular, and be tender
©f all the privileges of the church, and to guard againft eve-
ry thing, which might contribute in the leaft, or be juftly
interpreted to contribute unto this invafion, or prove a con-
fent thereunto ? But on the other hand, in how many parti-
culars, the accepters of the Indulgence ftand guilty here,
hath been {hown above, and may be feen under the third and
firft heads.
5. We are exprefsly bound by our covenants, not to fuf-
fer ourfeives direftly, or indirectly, by whatfoever combin*
ation, perfuafion, fuggeftion, allurement, or terror, to be
divided or withdrawn from our blefled union and con-
junction, whether to make defe£tion to the contrary party*
or to give ourfeives to a deteftable indifferency or neutrality,
But, now, as to this Indulgence, what a divifive motion it
was, is notour enough ; and it was, by the confeffion of fome
of the chief of the indulgers themfelves, faid to be intended
for that end \ and befide this, the thing itfelf fpeaketh out
this with a loud voice. How manifeft and great a breach is
hereby made among the fuffering remnant, is beyond all de-
nial ; and how great, confequently, and manifeft the breach
©f covenant is, upon this account, is, alas ! too obvious and
plain.
X. How hereby they condemn themfelves*
THIS confideration may alfo furnifh us with another
head of argument againft this Indulgence, that the ac-*
cepters thereof have thereby, in feveral particulars, condemn-
ed themfelves, as to their former principles and practices :
And this confideration may be looked upon, as an argumen-
turn
*8o HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
turn ad ho?ni?ium 9 as it is called : An argument, that may mi«
litate againfh them. Now this felf-contradi&ion of theirs
appeareth in thefe particulars.
i I fhall fuppofe, that feveral of them at leaft (for I love
to judge the beft) were no enemies to field and houfe meet-
ings, howbeit condemned by the law; and that poffibly fome
of them did preach fometimes at fuch meetings ? though the
qualification, required in the king's letter, and prefumed by
the council to be in them, to wit, of living peaceably and hewed it, and for confeience
fake. Confcience y I fay, not thine own ; but of the others*
And accordingly have refufed that Indulgence, feeing there
wanted not who told them of the evil, they conceived to lie
therein.
3. They gave ground of offence unto the godly profeffors
df the land, who looked upon that courfe (as they do to this
day) as homologating the fupremacy and as ftrengthening
the Eraftian invafion, and fo gave ground to them to think*
that they had departed from their principles, and to be griev-
ed thereupon ; the confideration of which ihould have pre-
vailed with them, to have refufed this pretended favour, ac-
cording to the dire&ion of Paul, Rom. xiv. 15, 16 But if
thy brother be grieved with thy nieat, now walkefi thou not
charitably Deflroy not him with thy meat for whom Chrift
died. Let not then your good be evil ' fpeken of
4 It was a great ground of offence unto the whole fuffer-
ing church of Scotland, in them thus to withdraw from their
brethren, and leave them in the furnace, contrary to their
former engagements \ not to mention the other particulars?
wherein we found their facredt bonds herebv violated, which
neceffarily became a ground of great offence unto all ; nor
to mention thefe particulars, whereby we manifefted above,
that the accepting of this Indulgence was injurious unto
Chrift's Headfhip, unto the privileges of the church, and to
the principles of prefbyterian government, and others ; from
all which it is undeniably clear, that a palpable ground o£
(tumbling was laid before, and offence given unto all the ho-
ned party*
5. Great offence and matter of grief was hereby given un-
to the few, that continued at their mailer's work, in preach-
ing in houfes, or in fields, as occafion offered; for, hereby
their hands Ttfere weakened, the number of the bearers of
© 9 tmrderi
* 9 * HISTORY of tHft INDULGENCE.
burden waxing fmaller, even while the work was growing
upon their hand ; and they were made, out of a prepofterous
tendernefs unto them, who had thus ftepped off, to forbear
preaching in fuch places, where thefe were indulged unto,
though formerly they ufed to meet with fome encouragement
/in thofe places.
6. Hereby was offence given unto the prelates, and to
their under curates, when they were hereby confirmed in
their ufurpation and defeftion : That action is indeed fcan-
dalous, that edifieth not, (as the apoftle's word is, i Cor. viii.
10.) or emboldeneth, or confirmeth anv in an evil courfe ;
the particulars hereof were mentioned above under that head.
7. There was hereby a (tone of (tumbling laid before the
rulers, for they were hereby encouraged to proceed in their
encroachments upon ChrinYs prerogatives, and on the privi-
leges of the church, when they faw their contrivances for
that end fo fweetly complied with, and heard nothing of a
plain, direct, appofite and intelligible teftimony given againft
them, and their proceedings.
8. There is a ftone of {tumbling hereby laid before the
pofterity, in all time corning; for if the rulers (hall follow
this courfe, and fuffer no minifter to be fettled any where
but as they pleafe, and lhall plant and tranfplant as they
pleafe, without any regard had either unto the free call of
the people, or the trial or examination and minifterial mif-
fion of church judicatories, and prefcribe unto them what
rules and inftruttions they think good 5 what (hall the pos-
terity do ? Will not intrants, in that cafe, willingly fubmit,
and ;hink themfelves obliged to do fo, having fuch a prepar-
ative before them ?
9. Wiil not this be an afflicting and (tumbling confidera-
tion to any, that (hall read the hiftory of our church ; when
they (hall there fee, with what courage, faithfulnefs, and he-
roic refolution, the faithful and zealous minifters of Chrift,
maintained by petitions, declarations, proteftations, declina-
tures, and fufferings of all forts, the power and privileges of
the church, againit all encroachments and invafions, made
thereupon by king and court # , and now (hall fee fuch a com-
pany of minifters, upon fuch fmall temptations, at leaft, as
to hazard complying with and fubmitting to more grievous
ufurpations, that ever King James did attempt ? We no
where read, that ever King James, notwithftanding of all the
fupremacy, in church affairs, and over church perfons and
officers*
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE- * 9 i
officers, that was afiumed by him, and attribute by parliament
to him, did exert fuch a fupremacy over church officers, or
minifters. as to plant them, and tranfplant them brevi manu %
as he pleafed. And is it not an heart-breaking thing to think,
that now, when this ufurpation hath tranfcended all imagin-
able bounds, there fhould not only be no oppofition made
thereunto ; -but even a peaceable compliance with, and quiet
fiibmiffion unto the fame, now in its exaltation ?
10. What a {tumbling thing is this unto all the reformed
churches, when they (hall hear, that fo many Scottim mini*
fters, who refufed to comply with prelacy, have yet fubmit-
ted to fuch an exercife of Eraftianifm, as is no where elfe to
be found, thrqugh the whole Chriftian world, for any thing
I know ? Where (hall we find the magistrate, at his own
hand immediately, planting and tranfplanting minifters, as
he will, fixing and limiting them, according to his mind?
Nay, I doubt-, if even in the Palatinate, where this wofui
weed of Eraftianifm did firft grow, fuch an exercife thereof
is to be found : or if it be, what a fliameful thing is it, that
the like mould be found in the church of Scotland, which
the Lord hath honoured from the very beginning, to be tried
and exercifed, upon the point of Chrift's kingly power, and
Keadfliip over his church, beyond all other reformed churches?
GbjtEiiQns anfwered.
HAVING thus fhown how finful the accepting of this
Indulgence was, upon many accounts, it remained^
that we remove out of the way what we conceive can be faid
in the defence thereof; to the end, we may give all fatisfac-
tion poflible.
Obj. i. May not the magiftrate, for ends known to him-
felf, difcharge minifters to preach, for a time, and thereafter
permit them to preach ? And feeing the bufinefs of the In-
dulgence was but of this nature, why might it not be ac»
quiefced unto? Anfvj. (i.) That the Indulgence was fome
far other thing, is manifeft from what is faid : And befide
other particulars, fully fpoken to above, this one may mani-
feft the difparity •, That it is one thing to permit minifters to
exerce their office without moleftation \ and it is a far other
thing to appoint and order them, to take upon them fuch or
fuch particular charges 5 and to plant and tranfplant them,
at their pleafure, and fubjeft their miniftry in its exercife un.
O02 ta
2Q2 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
to themfelves, by giving injun&ions, rules and prefcriptions*
to regulate them in the fame (2.) We heard above, how-
Mr. Calderwood and Mr. Rutherford did account even that
difcharge a degree of fufpenfion, which is a church cenfure,
and confequehtly is to be inflifted only by thofe, who have
the power of the keys. (3.) Worthy and learned Trochreg,
in his commentary on the epiftle to the Ephefians, chap. vi.
ver. 20. p (mi hi) 1122. proveth folidly, that this power of
difchargihg minifters the exercife of their fun&ion, doth nei-
ther agree to Heathen magiftrates, nor yet unto Chriftian ma-
giftraites, who, by their Chriftianity, have received no new
power or right over Chrift's feryants and meflengers -, nor
ixiay difcharge therri from delivering their meflage ; nor de-
pofe them, w4aom they could not ordain \ nor ftop their mouth,
tvhofe mouth they could not open ; nor filence them, whom
they could not fend forth to preach. (4.) When the magi-
ftrate filenceth, it mull either be for a civil, or for an eccle-
iiaftic crime: If for a civil crime, he can only do this confe-
quently and indire&ly ? as Solomon removed Abiather from
the priefthood, by banilhing and confining him to Anathoth.
But then (as Mr. Rutherford, in his Due Right, &c. p 434.
faith well) he no more removeth a minifter from his mini-
ftry, than a mafter falKioner, a failor, a plower, a foldier, a
father, or a hulband, from their work and refpeftive employ-
ments, when he caufeth imprifon, hang or behead them for
fome crime ; nor doth he at all remove him from the mini-
ftry dire£Hy, neither can he do it ; for that is a church cen-
fure, and the keys are not committed unto him. Nor can
he do it for any eccleftaftic tranfgreffion, wherein he is no
competent judge : Nay, nor can he indire&ly and confequen-
tially, in this cafe, remove any minifter from the exercife of
his miniftry, where the church is fettled in her power, ex-
cept only caufatively, by commanding the church judicatories
to do their work firft ; that is, firft to judge •, fcr in prima
inftantia, he may not do it : or corroberatively> by backing
the fentence of the "church judicatory with his civil fan&ion
and authority.
Obj. 2* Though the magiftrate hath not power to filence
altogether, yet he hath power to difcharge the public exer-
cife of their miniftry ; and again, when he thinketh fit, to
grant that liberty unto them. Anfw. (i.) Though this were
granted, it will not help, in the cafe of the Indulgence, where-
in' was feme far other thing, than a mere grant of freedom
for
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE- 293
for the public exercife of the miniftry, as is feen above. (2.)
Illud tantum pojjlnrus, quod jure pojfumus : We can be faid to
have power to do that only, which we have right to do.
Now, I would enquire, how it can be proved, that the magi*
ftrate hath power granted of God, to difcharge the meffen-
gers of Chrift the free and public exercife of their miniftry,
directly, formally and immediately? (3.) The practice of
the apoftles tells us, that fuch commands are not lawful, nor
to be obeyed ; for they preached publicly, where occafion of-
fered, notwithftanding pf the prohibition of the magiftrate.
(4.) The magiftrate's lawful power reacheth private places,
as well as public places ; as D. Voetius maintaineth againft
the Arminians : If he may hinder an heretic from preaching
herefy publicly ; fo may he hinder him from doing it from
houfe to houfe. And therefore, by the fame argument that
he may hinder public preaching, he may hinder the whole
exercife of the miniftry.
Obj. 3. OurfecondBookof Difcipline, chap. x. granteth, that
magiftrates may place minifters, when the kirk is corrupted,
and all things are out of order: And fo it is now with us. Anf.
Yet it is added in that fame place, [That where the miniftry of
the kirk is once lawfully conftitute, and they that are placed
do their office faithfully, all godly princes and magiftrates
ought to hear and obey their voice, and reverence the Ma-
jefty of the Son of God, fpeaking in them.] And though
our divines grant, that when the church is not conftituted,
or is wholly corrupted, godly magiftrates, after the example
of fome godly kings of Judah, and divers godly emperors and
Jdngs alfo, in the light of the~New Teftament (as the words
run in the place cited, in the fecond Book of Difcipline) may
do much more, than at other times : Yet I fuppofe, none,
for ftiame, can make ufe of fuch a conceffion now ; feeing
our church was a conftituted and well ordered church, and
had all her rights and privileges ratified and confirmed by
law ; and all the magiftrates of the land, from the higheft to
the loweft, were under folemn vows and covenants, to main-
lain her conftitution and order : And what could be more
defired, in order to the fettling of a church ? Whence then
the confufion* that now is, we all know. And when the
magiftrates with their own hand overturn all, (hall this ob-
jection be made ufe of, to countenance their after prac-
tices ? That were indeed to teach magiftrates a way, how
to ufurp and take to themfelves all church power, viz. Let
them
294 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE/
them once, by iniquity and tyranny, break the glorious or-
der of the church, and bring all into confufion ; and then
forfooth they may warrantably aflume to themfelves and ex-
crcife all church power, according to their mind.
Obj. 4. Hezekiah did apply his regal power to the reform*
ation of the Levites, and to the purging of the temple, a
Chron. xxir. 5. and did alfo appoint the courfes of the priefts
and Levites, every man, according to his fervice, 2 Chron.
xxxi. So likewife did Jofiah, 2 Chron. xxxv. 4nfiv. Neither of
thefe kings did deftroy the order and beauty of the church,
but reformed what their prede^cflbrs had corrupted. Nei-
ther of thefe did take away the juft and legal power of the
priefts, (as our rulers have taken away prefbyteries and their
power) that they might exerce it' themfelves, as our rulers
do immediately what prefbyteries {hould do, in the matter of
the Indulgence. Neither of thefe kings gave new r inftruc-
tions, out of their own heads, unto the priefts and Levites,
that they might thereby formally fubje£l the exercife of the
ecclefiaftic power unto themfelves; as our rulers have done.
But befide what hath been aid to this before, I (hall only
fubjoin the anfwer of worthy Mr. G. Gillefpie, in his Aaron's
Rod Blojjbming, p » 38, 139 [Hezekiah ^fa^th he) in exhort-
ing the Levites to fan&ify themfelves, and to cleanfe the
temple, doth require no other thing, than the law of God
did require, Numb. viii. 6, Ti, 15. and xyiii. 32. which He-
zekiah pointeth at, 2 Chron. xxix. 1 1. And why (hould not
the magiftrate command minifters to do the duties of their
calling, according to the word of God? As for his appoint-
ing of the courfes of the priefts and Levites, he did nothing
therein but what the Lord had commanded by his prophets,
2 Chron. xxix. 25. The like I anfwer concerning King Jo-
fiah ; for it is recorded that what he did, was according to the
writing of David and Solomon, 2 Chron. xxxv. 4. and accord-
ing to the commandment of David and Afaph, and Neman and
Jeduthun, the kings Jeer, ver. 15. as it is "written in the book
&f Mofes, ver. 12 ] Thus he ; and thus withal we fee, how
impertinent this is to the prefent purpofe.
Obj. 5. But what can be faid of fuch of the indulged, as
were fent to their own charges ? Several of the arguments
adduced cannot ftrike againft them. Anfiu. Though fomc
of the arguments wiil not militate againft them directly, yet
the mod part will. And further, let thefe things be confi-
deredj (<.} That it was a mere accidental thing that they
* w were
HISTORY op the INDULGENCE- i 9S
vere fent to their own charges, viz. Becaufe at that time
thev were vacant ; and fo, had they not been vacant, thefc
minifters had been appointed and ordered either to go elfe-
where, or not indulged at all. (2.) They were not barely
permitted to go to rheir own charges, by reicindmg the a then it would either be granted
with a confinement to thefe bounds, or without it: If the
former were faid, then the defign would be obvious, to flop
the xree courfe of the gofpel, and to prejudge other places
of the land of the benefit thereof; (for though all the outed
minifters, now in life, were reftored to their former charges*
many places would remain void of faithful paftors.) Now
this fhould be guarded againft, and the more carefully at this
time, when by reafon of the prevailing courfe of apoftafy,
fo great a part of the land hath been drowned in ignorance,
and led away with a prejudice againft the work of God : For
every minifter of the church of Scotland is bound before God,
to do what in him lieth to remedy this evil. If any fhould
fay, what can be more required of a minifter, at any time,
than to be faithful in his particular ftation ; feeing he hath
no overfight over the whole church, and he is not to carry
as an apoftle. I anfwer, Every minifter hatha prior relation
to the church univerfal, and a near relation to the particular
national church, whereof he is a member ; and this relation
is antecedent to his relation to a particular flock, in order of
nature.
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 2$»
nature. And as in a church well ordered and conftituted,
the edification of the whole requireth, that each minifter be
particularly fixed, in the ordinary exercife of his miniftry, to
a particular charge, with a capacity to officiate elfewhere, as
providence calleth : But in a time of general corruption, the
edification of the whole body requireth, that minifters (when
few) be not reftricted or limited to particular places, to the
manifeft and inevitable prejudice of the whole, or of the ma-
jor part of the church. Seeing then Providence hath now
loofed thefe minifters from the attual exercife of their mi-
niftry, in their refpe<5tive parifties ; I think they are called to
confider, how and on what terms they become fixed again 9
efpecially to fee that their fixing be not to the undeniable
prejudice of the church national, and be not a virtual deny-
ing of their relation to the fame. Further, by this confine^
ment they mould be out of all capacity to meet together for,
the exercife of difcipline in prefbyteries and fynods, conform
to our principles; as alfo to ordain a. fucceeding miniftry, .
and to provide for other vacant places, which this time cai-
leth for ; as alfo they (hould be out of a capacity to help c-
thers at communions, according to our laudable cuftom, and
to preach to fuch as are under foul murderers, and traitors ta
Chrift and his intereft in this day of defection. (4.) If it be
without this confinement, then it will either be with fome
one or other of the prescriptions, rules, inftru&ions, and
conditions, with which the prefent Indulgence. is clogged, or
not : If it be, then the fame reafons that militate againft the
prefent Indulgence, upon that account, will equally militate
againft this. (5.) If it (hould be free of all thefe entangle-
ments and grounds of fcrupling I leave it to Chriftian pru-
dence to confider, whether, as, matters "how. (land, the Lord
be not rather calling them to preach his name on the moun-
tains, feeing this way hath been fo fignally blefiTed of the
Lord, and is daily more countenanced of him, than their la*-
bouring in their refpeftive' particular charges ufually hath
been ; and feeing it is undeniable, that the adveffaries are
not as yet really repenting of their, oppofition to the work
of God *, and therefore, that any fuch permiflion (if granted)
could not be fuppofed to flow from any love to the ptofperous
progrefs of the gofpel ; but rather from the contrary, as is
clear in the Indulgence already granted ; and to flow from a,
gurpofe to entangle and enfnare, yea, and endanger both.
3oo HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
foul and body ; if not from a ^urpofe, or defign to deftroy all
at once.
Obj. 8. The benefit of freedom and liberty of preaching
the gofpel, is fo great, and the duty is fo lawful and necef-
fary, and of fo great import to fouls, that many things may
be warrantably comported with, in order to the obtaining of
it. Anfw. I willingly grant the lawfulnefs and neceflity of
this important duty of preaching the gofpel : But I fee not
the ftrength of this argument ; for the gofpel was never in
bonds, except by our timoroufnefs and finful relinquifhing of
duty, becaufe of a fuppofed lion in the way. The gofpel might
{till have T>een preached, with no greater inconvenience,
than it was by tfye apoftles and others in the primitive times,
and poflibly with much more fuccefs, than it hath been done
by the Indulgence. hr\A every one may fee, that the Indul-
gence was granted by fuch, as did not defign the gofpel's ad-
vancement, but the imprifoning of the fame rather with the
preachers thereof, both by confining the peirfons indulged,
and by hindering, fo far as they could, the remarkable pro-
grefs of the gofpel, in the blefled aflemblies, in fields and
houfes. This objection then can have no force, feeing the
gofpel was and might ftill have been preached, without this
Indulgence, though it is true> with lefs eafe, peace, and
cjuietnefs to the preachers and hearers ; yet, I am fure, with
fiiore inward quietnefs of mind, and acceptance with God,
and with more ground of hope of a rich bleffing to follow
their pains, as experience hath proven : Unlefs it be faid,
that the gofpel (hould not have been preached, without free-
dom and liberty granted by the magiftrate ; and if this be
faid, not only (hall all thofe, who have preached at conven*
tides (as they are called) be condemned ; but even Chrift
himfelf and his apoftles, who preached to few aflemblies, but
fuch as might have been called conventicles, (hall be con*
demned alio.
Obj. 9. The outed minifters having hitherto groaned under
edidts, which they no otherways acknowledged, than by a
fubmiffion purely paffive, the prefent licenfe, abftrafted from
its ofFenfive circiimftances, is fuch a relaxation, that if only
limited to its rigid meafures by cafual impofilbility, it would
not be rejected. Wherefore unlefs it be proven, that the
life making of this favour doth homologate with thefe exor-
bitancies, the reft is nothing material. Anfiv. The outed
rninifters groaning under, and no otherways acknowledging
than
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 351
than by fubmiflion purely paflive, fuch edicts, as refpected
their perfons and eftates firftly, and principally, can fay no*
thing for an active fubmiflion unto fuch edicts, as more ncwr*
ly relate to their office and function •, or for acknowledg-
ment of fuch edicts, as are made and emitted by fuch, as act
from a principle of ufurpation, and in order to the (length-
ening of themfelves in the fame •, feeing the difference is vaft
betwixt an active and a paflive fubmiflion ; and an acknow-
ledgment herein, by an active fubmiflion, contributeth to the
iniquous ends, propofed by the fupremacy, which is fuffici-
ently confirmed by the magiftrate's projecting, in this offer
made and accepted, his further eftablifhment in the ufurpa-
tion. (2.) Hence we fee, that this licenfe, (as it is called) if
not abftracted from its ofFenfive circumftances, will be grant-
ed to be fuch a relaxation, that though limited to its rigid
meafures, even by a cafual inrpoflibility, could hardly be ac-
cepted : And though, in our imaginations, we may abftract
actions from their ofFenfive circumftances ; yet in point of
practice of moral actions, fuch abftractions cannot be made
as will falve confcience ; feeing it is confefled, that the mo-
lality of actions doth much depend upon circumftances. (3.)
Though a licenfe fo abftracted, and limited to its rigid mea-
fures by a cafual impoflibility, may be accepted ; yet a licenfe,
which cannot be abftracted from all its ofFenfive circum-
ftances, ought to be rejected. And though a relaxation,
made rigid by cafual impoflibility, may be accepted ; yet that
will fay^nothing in our cafe, where no cafual impoflibility, but
a moral tranfgreflion, cometh in confideration. A cafual im-
poflibility is fuch a reftraint, as may quiet the confcience, if
fo be it be not caufed or occafioned by our fin ; but fuch
hath no place here. (4.) How the accepting of the Indul-
gence doth homologate with thefe exorbitancies, hath been
feen above.
Obj. 10. The rulers did not aflign the minifters to parti-
cular charges by exprefs deputation, but only appointed them
to repair to the parifhes defigned, permitting and allowing
them there to preach and exerce the other functions of the
miniftry. Anfw. We faw above, that by the Indulgence,
there was an exprefs deputation, and a particular aflignment,
and a plain warrant and licenfe granted. Hereby it would
feem that none of thefe indulged do look upon themfelves,
as proper paftors of thofe places, and fo can take no paftoral
charge of them : And if fo f they cannot be offended, if the
people
3 « HISTORY of the INDULGENCE,
people own them not as pallors, but go and hear others, ac-
cording to conveniency, and look uppn them, as fuch, as are
allowed to preach by the magiftrate, without moieftation ;
but not as having any paftoral charge over them ; and yet
forfooth they mull enjoy the maintenance of a lawful paftor:
which things cannot well hang together.
Obj* 1 1. Though to yield to the magiftrate, only appoint-
ing as in the aft, would be a finful compliance, in a fettled
enjoyment of our liberty ; yet after the ruining overthrow,
given to all the church's liberties, the acceptance of fome-
thing, in effect a relaxation, however finful upon the granter's
part; yet on our part not burdened with finful conditions, can-
not be condemned; for the real oppofition of things and deter-
mination of events fet the periods, according to which, that,
which in the beginning of an evil courfe, may be duty, in its
prevailing and eltablifhment, through change of circumftan-
ces, whereon its morality depends, may be impertinent.
Anfw* (i.) Though I yield, that a change of events may, m
fome cafes, call us to the ufe of other means, more effectual,
as matters then ftand, for gaining our point, or for keeping
our rights : Yet to aflert in general, that the determination
of events fetteth the periods to moral duties, feemeth to me
dangerous, efpecially in our cafe, wherein the conteft is not
for our own rights, privileges, or advantages ; but for the
prerogatives of our Matter's crown, and the juft privileges of
our mother, the church, wherein we have no liberty to come
and go, as in our own particulars. (2.) It is then confefled,
that the rulers, by this Indulgence, have made an encroach-
ment upon the libertres of the church ; and that to yield un-
to this appointment had been a finful compliance formerly,
when the church w?is in pofleflion of her liberties, even tho'
the appointment had not been fo burdened with finful coa-
ditions, as now : Hence we alfo fee, that even this ufurpa-
tion is inconfiftent with the church's liberty, and that it is
no maintenance of this to yield to the ufurpation. (3.) Then
it muft be faid, that all our former engagements, to main-
tain the prerogatives of Chrift's crown, and the privileges of
the church, are now fo far annulled, by the overthrow given
to both by the rulers, that we may freely comply with them
in that, which formerly had been a betraying of all : This, I
confefs, would open a door to a large compliance. When a
ruining overthrow was given to our civil rights and govern-
ment, by an invading enemy, the very acceptance of what in
effeft
HISTORY o* the INDULGENCE. 303
fcrfeft might have been accounted a relaxation, was by men
accounted a treafonable compliance, and accordingly punifh-
ed at the king's return *, and (hall we carry thus in fublunary
things, which are both alterable in themfelves, and under
mens power; and yet be lefs zealous and more indifferent,
in the matters of Chrift, which as Christians we are obliged
toown ; and by the fupervenient obligation of vows, oaths and
covenants engaged to maintain, as well againft Eraftianifts, as
againft papifts, prelates and malignants ? (4.) This aflertion
will condemn the zeal of our forefathers, as not being ac-
cording to knowledge, nor morally good, according to the
change of circumftances, and periods, fet by the determina-
tion of events. Yea, if this be a fixed rule, that fuch a
change of circumftances will make it impertinent, yea, and
Cnful for us to refufe to do that, which, while matters were
entire, had been a finful compliance , how much more will
it make it impertinent and unlawful for us to endeavour a
change ? For if it alloweth a compliance, which in fo far
confirmeth the ufurper in his unjuft pofleffion, after the ruin-
ing overthrow given, it will certainly not allow of any op-
pofition. (5.) I grant, when a robber hath fpoiled us, we
may lawfully take part again, rather than lofe all ; or when
an invader over-runneth the land, and fpoileth us of all our
former privileges, we may receive fome again, though when
matters were entire, it had been a compliance to have done
fo : But that will not anfwer our cafe •, becaufe we have more
power over our own particulars, than over ChriiTs matters :
we may in fome cafes voluntarily give all our own away ; but
we cannot do fo, in the matters of Chrift, and of his church :
And therefore, what at any time would be a finful compli-
ance, or an unlawful giving away of Chrift's, and the church's
lights, cannot be lawful, even after the enemy hath over-
thrown all. (6.) I grant likewife, that after an univerfal
overthrow of the privileges of the church, we may lawfully
accept of little, when more cannot be had ; yet that little
muft be fuch, as was not unlawful, at any time, to be ac-
cepted of ; and we muft accept of it, in another manner,
than Could ever have been accounted a finful compliance,
(7.) Though what is faid in the obje&ion might have fome
weight, when that thing can be had no other way, than fuch,
as would formerly have been accounted a compliance •, yet it
can have no weight, in the cafe of the Indulgence ; becaufe
liberty to preach (which is here called a relaxation) may be
had
3 04 HISTORY cf the INDULGENCE.
had without this appointment of the rulers, and that withnd
lefs countenance and approbation of God : So that in the ac-
cepting of the Indulgence, there is a needlefs compliance
with the ufurper, and an unneceffary confirming of him in
his wicked ufurpations.
Obj. 12. That, which in the cafe of {landing liberty, would
be an infufferable impofition, and its refufal, duty, may, as it
is from God, in the cafe of loft liberty, be looked upon, as a
little reviving in our bondage, and embraced with a finlefs
fubmiffion ; and he, who thus humbly and fincerely layeth
hold on it, may be very afTured of the Lord's approbation
therein. Anfvj When a people have been following their
duty, in defence of their lands and liberty, and are in pro-
vidence broken by an enemy 5 their pofterity, or even they
themfelves, may willingly fubmit to, and lay hold on that,
which formerly had been an infufferable impofition, and
might have been juftly refufed ; but then they muft have had
no finful hand, in the lofing of their liberty, otherwife it fhall
be but a continued compliance ; and we muft fuppofe, that
they are now out of cafe to own and contend for their liber-
ty. Which holdeth not, as to the Indulgence ; for as there
was a finful ceding at the firft, in not refitting unto blood,
ftriving againft thefe ufurpers, by proteftations, declarations
and other means called for, in the like cafe, whereby this ac-
ceptance hecometh but a continued compliance, on the mat-
ter, in the fame perfons : So the manifold obligations we arc
under, bind unto a conftant and perpetual contending for the
prerogatives of our Prince, aiid the privileges of his church,
againft all the enemies thereof: And no cafe of loft liberty
will warrant us, to fubmit, or accept of that, which formerly
we were bound to have refufed, and to have looked upon as
an infufferable impofition. What may be faid of the pofte*
rity, born and brought up tffrder that lofs of liberty, cannot
advantage us in this generation, who when we can do no
more, are obliged to tranfmit the controverfy of Zion, and
the caufe, as inforo contfadi5iorio y to the pofterity ; that they
may fee the caufe, though not prevalent, yet not quite fold
and given up ; and fo may ferve themfelves heirs to our con-
tendings for the intefeft of our Lord. And for this caufe,
ought we to be tenacious of thefe rights, and do nothing that
may ftrengthen our adverfaries, andjweaken our caufe : and
this, I fuppofe, would yield more peace, than the accepting
of that, which is called a little reviving, but indeed is a weak-
ening
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 3®$
ening both of the caufe, and of our party. It is laudable
conftancy, in this cafe, not to yield or grant one hoof: But
what pufillanimity, yea, and treachery will it be, by ceding
and accepting of fuch fuppofed revivings, to put ourfelves and
our poiterity out of all cafe to recover our liberty, and to bury
with our own hands the very memory of the f ood old caufe^
for which our predeccffbrs, and we fometime, have contend-
ed with zeal and earneftnefs ; efpecially when we may have
the fame thing, which is called a reviving in our bondage, an-
other way* with approbation of God, with lefs fcandal to o-
thers, with more advantage to the caufe, and lefs advantage
to the enemy, though with more trouble and lefs quiet to
ourfelves ?
Olij. 13. Though the magistrate's principal defign, in this
matter, be the eftablifhment of his own fupremacy : Yet the!
accepting of this favour cannot be fo much as an interpreta-
tive yielding thereunto, as may be clear by this fuppofition*
that the magistrate, without any change of principle'or de-
fign, had ordered all minifters to their own churches. Anfiv.
\\.) This being confefiedly the magiftrate's principal defign,
in granting this fuppofed favour, our acceptance cannot but
be accounted by him a real contributing of all, that is re-
quired of us, thereunto ; and as it was circumftantiate, could
not but be, on our part, even becaufe of what the magiftrate
did rationally account to be unto him, a virtual acknowledg-
ment, and a real confirmation thereof (2.) If the fending
of the *ninifters to their own congregations, had been by a
civil annulling of the former fentence of banifhment, as it
could not have flowed from the fupremacy 5 fo neither could
it have contributed unto his ufurpation : But if the fending
of them to their own charges had been every way, after the
manner of this Indulgence, it would not have altered the cafe
to me ; for as I faid above, his re-entry to his former charge^
after this manner, would have been a virtual annulling of the
ground of his former call, and intereft in that place, and o-
Ver that people, and not a returning with full freedom and
liberty.
Obj. 14. The magiftrate propoftng this Indulgence by way
©f command, not attending my pleafure, my obedience to the
command cannot imply an engagement to the prefcriptionfc
annexed ; nor doth the magiftrate difcover the leafl intention*
to oblige me thereunto by confent \ nor is in this matter
treating with us, expecting our formal content for his fecu*
3o6 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
rity ; and therefore I may accept the favour, without the pre -
fcriptions, there being no formal compact here. Anfio. (i.)
Thougli the Indulgence be propounded by way of command,
the council thinking it below them to a£t otherwife \ yet
both the nature of the thing, and the concomitant a£ts, made
of purpofe, to limit, reftrift and qualify the thing propofed,
and to inftruft: and oblige the receiver, faith, that the accept-
ing of the firft doth virtually engage to the fecond, botfy
making up one complex grant, or one Indulgence fo quali-
fied, limited and cautioned. (2.) Though the council did
not call for any formal and exprefs engagement from them,
unto the performance of thefe injunctions ; yet their car-
riage towards Mr. Blair, upon his pofitive renouncing of*thefe
injunctions, lheweth, that they meant thefe injunctions for
conditions \ and this alfo they exprefsly declared in their af-
ter proclamations and edifts, as we faw above. (3.) Who
accepteth a favour, offered with its burdens, muft accept it
Cum snore, howbeit the offerer, being a fuperior, doth not ex-
prefsly require an explicite cbnfent, but refteth fatisfied
with his own intimation : As when a father granteth to on&,
of his children fuch a portion of land, and withal intimateth,
that it is his will and pleafure, that he take on him the bur-
den of fo much debt ; tho' the fon be not required to exprefs
his confent to the conditions; .yet his accepting of the benefit
thus burdened, obligeth him to take on the debt : So here, be-
caufe Mr. Blair did difown the conditions, though his for-
mal confent was not required, he was denuded of the bene-
fit ; and therefore the reft took the benefit with its burden *
and could not, while accepting the favour, account them-
selves free of the conditions, or not obliged to perform them,
feeing in accepting the one, they accepted the other, both
making up one complex bufmefs. Wherefore, though this In*
diligence be given by magiftrates, wfco love to a£t imperiouf-
ly, and by way of edift ; yet it being granted as a favour, the
accepting of it, both as to the thing itfelf, and as to the fenfe
and meaning of the granters, includeth a virtual engagement
to the obfervation of the rules and conditions annexed.
Obj. 15. Although the magiftrate had exprefsly prefaced
his fupremacy unto the grant of this licenfe ; yet a protefttf-
tiou on the accepter's part againlt the fame, would fufficient-
Jy have purged their ufe making of the favour, of all finful
concurrence. Anfw. (1.) Though this were granted, (which
yet cannot be) yet it cannot avail the accepters, who made .
ao-praieftation. (2.) Though no mention was made of the
fupremacy \
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 307
fupremacy ; yet the accepting was fo foul, upon many other
accounts, that no proteftation againft the fupremacy, if men-
tioned, could have falved the matter, as we faw above ; and
their after acceptance would but contradict their proteftation.
QJ>j. 16. Though the magiftrate hath carried his fuprema-
cy above the higheft, yet he never judged the power of order
worth the affuming; fo that the allowing to preach mention-
ed in the aft, joined to permitting^ and directed to none but
to minifters, antecedently ordained, cannot be a juft ground
of fcruple. If the magiftrate had Amply appointed every o-
ther minifter to his own church, allowing him there to
preach, to have offended at the word al/ovjing, would have
been an exceffive nicenefs. Anfw. Though the magiftrate ne-
ver judged the power of order (ftriftly fo caLled; wonh the
affuming; yet it may be thought, 'hat he judged that power
worth the affuming, whereby the .thority of the miniftry,
$nd the exercife thereof, (hould be looked upon as flowing,
and as derived from him : And minifters were, I think, cal-
led to be careful and circumfpeft, left by doing and accept-
ing of any thing, they might interpretatively and virtually
acknowledge and content to this power. (2.) Though this
alkwance was granted to fuch, as had been ordained mini-
fters before, yet the fame, flowing from the fupremacy, and
being more than a mere permiJJion> could not but import theii*
deriving of a power to exercife the funftion, in fuch a place,
from him ; and fo prove a moft juft and weighty ground of
fcruple. (3.) Nor will the fuppofitionof hisfending every mini-
fter to his church, wholly take away the fcruple; for his fimple
annulling of the prior aft at Glafgow, would have been fuf?
ficient for that end ; but when, inftead of this, he not only
did fay, he permitted them to preach again to their former
Socks ; but alfo that he allowed them, and that after he had
invaded the throne of Chrift, and affumed to himfelf the
fountain of all church power ; fo that both as to the exercife
of the miniftry, and as to the ^xercife of it in fuch a place,
they fhould depend on him, I think there (hould have fome
ground of fcruple remained : For might it not be thought,
that by their ready acceptance, without a previous, full, faith-
ful, plain and public declaration and proteftation, they had
now derived their power from another head, than formerly,
and ftood row upon fome other new ground ? And in this
cafe, I (hould think, that offending at the word, allowing^
yrere the kindly work of a tender conscience, zealous for the
Qj{ * g lor y
3 68 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
glory and interefts of Chrrft, and careful of the credit of the
miniftry ; and no exceflive nicenefs.
Ob] 17. The minifters indulged do above all things own
their Mafter's ordinarion, as the only proper foundation,
whereupon the exercife of their miniftry, by the perinJflion
of this licenfe, doth fubfift. All the regard they have to the
magiftrate's allowance, is, that they look upon it, as the re-
moval, de fafiO) of his unjuft restraints, hitherto inv ; ncible.
And neither by form of acceptance, nor by engagement, do
they in any fort acknowledge any of the magiftrate's wrongs ;
but are ready by a plain declaration to purge themfeives, e-
ten of the fufpicion of a fimple a'cquiefcence. Anfw. ( j.) I
{hall willingly yield, that the pe^fons concerned do own their
brdination ; yet we muit diftinguifh the intention of the work,
and the intention of the worker ; though they may "have no in-
tention of invalidating their prior ordination, yet their ac-
cepting of the Indulgence may virtually include this ; and fo
their practice may contradict their principles. (2.) Their
Mafter's million is only their proper, fure and folid founda-
tion^whereupon the exercife of their miniftry fhould fubfift ;
but is it not manifeft, that the accepting of the Indulgence
doth virtually 'fay, that as to the miniftry they depend upon
the allowance Of men; yea, of thofe, who affume to them-
feives a headfbip over the church, and a fountain-power, from
which this exercife muft natively flow, and be derived. (3.)
Thefe reftraints of preaching the gofpel were not invincible
phyfically, nor morally; neither were any fuch reftraints, as
fuch, formally removed, nor a pure permiffion granted. But
the Indulgence contained an authoritative enjoining and war-
ranting, as alfo a qualifying, reftritting, and regulating the
exercife of the miniftry ; and all this in profecution and con-
firmation of an ufurped fuprerhacy ; and this was'a far other
thins, than a removal ■ de facia of a former reftraint. Now
their fubjecEtion unto this encroachment, teftificd by their ac-
cepting of the Indulgence, fo conveyed, is much more, than
the acceptance of the benefit of a bare permiffion : And all
know, that they might have exercifed their miniftry,' with-
out this Indulgence, to the glory of God, the edification of
the body, the confirmation ef the principles of truth, con-
cerning the miniftry, the defeating of the corrupt Eraftian
defig^s of the injurioufly encroaching magiftrates, and to the
offence and fcandal of no perfon. (4.) Though they do not
ixprefsly and in terminis acknowledge any of thefe wrongs ;
yet,
HISTORY of TftE INDULGENCE. 3 c 9
yet, by their accepting of the Indulgence, fo conveyed, as is
hid, they may virtually and upon the matter acknowledge
this : and their plain declaration to purge themfelves, will be
but a contradiftiou to, and a condemnation of their own
deed, becaufe the impofer can only put a fenfe and glofs up-
on his own injunctions ; and the granter of a warrant and
favour, on the fame ; and in his fenfe it is, at lead virtually,
accepted by all, who accept of it, if plain dealing be owned •,
and I fuppofe ministers, while dealing with the council,
fhould not walk upon fallacies, or mental referves, or on what
is equivalent.
Obj. 1 8. The accepting of the Indulgence did import no
fubjecling of the miniftry to mens arbitrary difpofal, but on-
ly a fubje&ing of the perfons, or rather an acknowledgment,
that .the perfons are already in fubje&ion, which by our long
filence and fufferings is too apparent : But if we have hither-
to thus contentedly acknowledged this, to the reftraint of our
miniitry, {hall we now be fo unhappy, as to wrangle about
it, in prejudice of a relaxation ? Anfw. (r.) The a£t of In-
dulgence did not only mention miniiters repairing to fuch or
fuch places ; but fpoke likewife of the exereifex>f their mini-
ftry, which it allowed them, and for which prefcribed feveral
rules and injunctions, limiting and regulating them, in the
fame ; and though this did comprehend a fubjeftion of their
perfons alio ; yet it is by virtue of a prior fubjeftion of their
nainiftry. as being made liable to punifhment for not obferving
the rules and injunctions prefcribed. (2) Thefe fufferings in-
deed declared a fubjeclion of their perfons; but their filejice
fljall be found (I fear) to have done more ; and their former
fin can be no ground to juftify their prefent practice, in ac-
cepting of this Indulgence, which initead of being a relaxa-
tion, is a further wreathing of the yoke about our necks.
A'vindicatiQn cf fuch as fcruple to hear and ewn the indulged.
COnfidering what is faid above, both in the relation, and
in the reafons againft the accepting of the Indulgence,
whereby the manifold iniquity thereof is manifefted, it .might
feem wholly unneceffary and fuperfluous to vindicate fuch,
as, beginning to difcover the evil thereof, do fcruple to look
upon thofe, who are fet over them by the council, as their
miniflers, fet over them by the Holy Ghoft ; feeing it may
ratjier feem ftrange, that any, who adhere to our former
principles,
3 i* HISTORY op thb INDULGENCE,
principles, are of another judgment; and that confcientiom
perfons did not from the beginning withdraw from them :
Yet for fatisfa&ion to all (fo far as is poflible) the grounds
of our vindication of fuch fhall be propofed, in a few queftions.
Only it would be premitted, in what fenfe we take the
queftion; And therefore, (i.) I do not make this the ques-
tion, Whether or not thefe indulged minifters, are true mi-
nifters of the gofpel, or ought, in any cafe> to be acknow-
ledged, and looked upon as fuch ; for in order to our vindi-
cation of fuch, who withdraw from them, it is not neceflary
to aflert this \ for in order to the vindication of fuch as with-
draw from the prelates curates, as we do not, fo we ufe not
to fay, That they are not minifters, knowing that by faying
this, we are engaged confequently to fay, that all the chil-
dren, whom they have baptized, are yet unbaptized ; and
that all their minifterial arts are null. Nor (2 ) fhall I make
this the qucftion, Is it not fimply unlawful to hear them ?
For in order to vindicate the withdrawers from the curates,
we need not aflert this, knowing that much more is requir-
ed to make an a&ion fimply finful, than to make it inexpe-
dient, or unlawful; and if it were granted, that the hearing
or owning of the indulged, as matters now (land, were un-
lawful, or inexpedient, the withdrawers would be fufficient-
ly vindicated. Nor (3.) do I propofe this qucftion, Whether
or not, they may lawfully be heard, at any time, or in any
circumftances ; as for example, if there were no other to be
heard in all Scotland ? For I judge, if no other were to be
heard in all Scotland, except the prelates curates, many would
not fcruple to hear fuch of them, as were not openly flagiti-
ous and profane, or notorioufly ignorant ; who, as matters
now ftand, do, and that with approbation. (4.) I do not
think, that fuch as are againft this withdrawing, will fay,
that it is neceflary, that thefe indulged be heard and coun-
tenanced, at all times and occafions ; and that never, or in
no cafe, fuch as are under them, may go and hear others,
feeing this was slv/ays allowed and permitted in our beft times.
But 1 fhall fimply propofe the queftion thus: Whether
may not people lawfully, as tlie cafe now ftandeth, withdraw
from thofe indulged, whom the council hath fet over them
by the Indulgence \ or are they to own them, and fubmit
unto them, as over them in the Lord, and as fet over them,
to be their paftore and overfeers, by the Holy Ghoft •, even
when there are others, againft whom fuch exceptions cannot
be
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 3 n
be made, as againft them> and whom the Lord doth own and
countenance in a remarkable and wonderful manner, to be
heard ? Or, whether are fuch to be condemned, or approven
and vindicated, who look upon themfelves, as called of God
to bear witnefs againft all the finful ufurpations, manifeft in
the Indulgence, and the many evils, in the accepting of it,
and in the now afting by virtue thereof, by withdrawing
from fuch, that they may hear and countenance others, who
preach upon Chrift's call, and not according to man's order.,
but contrary thereto ?
This being the queftion, one might think it ftnnge, that
there ftiould be any neceflity to vindicate fuch, as now with-
draw, confidering what is faid above : Yet in order hereunto,
I (hall but, in a few words, propofe thefe following queftions,
to the confideration of any, who are of another judgment in
this matter. As,
i. Seeing by what is faid under our firft head of arguments,
it is manifeft, that the indulged, in and by the accepting of
the Indulgence, have wronged our Lord Jefus Chrift, who is
only Head of the church, and King in Zion ; and that in nine
feveral particulars : (every one of which might be made ufe
of, as a feveral argument, to our prefent purpofe.) How can
any blame fuch, as, out of tendernefs to the royal preroga-
tives of Jefus Chrift, fcruple to own and hear them as for-
merly ?
2 Seeing by the accepting of this Indulgence, the indulg-
ed have receded from our prefbyterian principles, and wrong-
ed the intereft and privileges of the church, which Chrift,
her only King, hath granted to her ; and that in five feveral
particulars (out of which particular arguments might be
framed feverally) as is clear by what is faid under our 2d
head of arguments. How unreafonable is it to condemn
fuch as, out of a tender care to adhere to their prefbyterian
principles, dare not own and hear fuch as formerly ?
3. Seeing in ten particulars, mentioned under our -$d head
of arguments, it is made manifeft, that the indulged, by accept-
ing of the Indulgence, have, upon the matter, homologated the
wicked fupremacy in church affairs, whereby our Lord is vir-
tually dethroned, and his church utterly robbed of her fpiri*
tual power and privileges : How can we condemn fuch, who,
in deteftation of that fupremacy, and ufurped power, with-
draw from them ?
4. Seeing by our principles, the free ele&uro and call of
the
3 cz HISTORt of the INDULGENCE.
the people, giveth ground to the relation that a paftor hath
to a flock, as his charge, and is the way how the Holy Ghoft
fetteth men over flocks in ordinary : How can thefe be oblig-
ed to own fuch for their paftors, whom they never called,
nor had freedom freely to ele£t and call ? And this is the
cafe of not a few, yea in reality the cafe of all, who had o-
thers, than fuch, as had been their paftors before, fet over
them ; for as for that image of a call, we have faid Enough
above, and particularly under our /\th head of arguments,, to
(hew that it was of no force, and imported rather a proftitut-
ing of that ordinance and inftitution to be fubfervient to the
corrupt defigns of men, than favoured of true tendernefs un-
to the ordinance of Chrift, which mould Jiave led the way,
in an orderly fettlement, and not have been trailed at the
heels of the council's order, with which in all common fenfe,
it was incompatible, except by way of acknowledging and
homologating the council's ufurpation.
5. Seeing as is clear from the feven particulars, mention-
ed under our $th head of arguments, the indulged, in their
accepting of the Indulgence, have fortified and eftablifhed
Eraftianifm, and Eraftian tenets \ how mall we condemn fuch
as withdraw from them, and rather hear and own fuch as
adhere by their practice to former principles ?
6. When we confider the twelve particulars mentioned
under our 6th head of arguments, (feveral of which might be
here made ufe of, as dillincl arguments, if we defigned not
brevity) whereby it was made manifefty how the indulged,"
in accepting of the Indulgence, have a£ted to the great pre-
judice of the church ; how can we imagine, that fuch are to
be condemned, who withdraw from them, and countenance
fuch, as are feeking and promoting its good, in the way^
countenanced and approven of God ?
7. If we impartially confider the twelve particulars^ men-
tioned under our "jth head of arguments, (feveral of which
alfo might be adduced here, as diltinft arguments) whereby
it appeared, how thefe indulged, in their accepting of the
Indulgence, have wronged our eaufe, and departed from the
grounds, upon which our church is fuffering ; we will fee
caufe of approving fuch, as withdraw from them, as matters
now ftand.
8. Seeing by what is faid, it is manifeft, that the entry
of the indulged unto their prefent places and ftations, is not
Consonant, but repugnant to our former do&rine, principles
and
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 313
and pra&ices, owned fince the reformation, and confirmed
by our oaths, vows, covenants and folemn engagements ; be-
fides the teftimonies given thereunto by the fufferings of our
predeceiTors, and by our own fufferings •, can we blame and
condemn fuch, who dare not own them, as lawfully entered
into thefe places ?
9. Seeing the indulged have, by the accepting of the In-
dulgence, and affcing by virtue thereof, in fo far, departed
from former principles and practices ; and a difference ought
to be put betwixt them and other minifters, who, through
grace, have hitherto been preferved from ftepping afide*
whether to prelacy, or to Eraftianifm, in their pra&ices 3
who can condemn fuch as withdraw from the one, and adhere
to the other ?
10. Is there not a great difference betwixt the ground*
whereupon the indulged do prefently exercife their miniftry*
and the ground whereupon formerly, before they embraced
the Indulgence, they did, and others to this day do, exercife
it ? Or (hall we fay, that it is all one^ whether minifters have
the minifterial proteftative fruffioh unto fuch or fuch places^
over which they are fet, from prefbyteries, authorized there-
unto by Chrift, which fometimes they had ; or have it from
the magiftrate, noways thereunto authorized by Chrift, as
now they have it only ? And if there be a difference, hovlr
can any condemn thofe who cannot now own them as they
did formerly ?
11. Seeing the difference betwixt thefe two ways men-
tioned, is great, and feeing they cannot be compounded iri
one, nor lawfully rhade fubordinate, the one to the other, is
it not undeniable, that thefe indulged* betaking themfelves
now to the magiftfate's miffion, as they have done, have up-
on the matter, renounced their former million, which thef~
)iad from prefbyteries, afting minifterially under Chrift?
And if fo, can people be condemned who do not, nor cannbt^
own and countenance them, as formerly they did ?
12. It being apparent from what is faid above, on feveral oc^
cafions, that, as the indulged did deliberately (hun to fay, that
they had their miniftry only of Chrift, fo they do now aft and
exerce the fame, as receiving it not alone from Chrift, by the
minifterial conveyance of the power and authority to exerce
it, which Chrift hath ordained ; but either as receiving it
from the magiftrate alone, (and if fo, they cannot be looked
upon sis Chrift's femnts, but as the nwgiftrate's fcrvants ;)
Rt «
3 i4 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE,
or from Chrift and the magiftrate, as collateral heads and
fountains of church power •, (but thus to fpeak were blaf-
phemy;) or from the magiftrate, as dire&ly fubordinate
to Chrift; (which is the ground of all Arminian Era-
ftiaaifm.) How can men be accounted tranfgreffors, who
in confcience cannot own them, as formerly they did, when
they acfted and exercifed their miniftry, as receiving it alons
, from Chrift, by the minifterial conveyance of the power and
authority thereto, through the hands of his fervants thereun*
to appointed ?
13. Is there no difference to be put betwixt fuch as exer-
cife the miniftry in fubordination unto, and in a dependence
upon the council, as being their curates, and as accountable
to them ; and others, who, as they are fubordinate unto, fo
they own their dependence only upon Chrift, in the way he
hath prefcribed, receiving inftruftions only from him, in his
appointed way, to regulate them in the exercife of their mi-
niftry, and hold themfelves accountable only to him, in that
way ? And feeing it is manifeft, that there is a very great
difference, who can condemn fuch as withdraw from the in-
dulged, who have their inftru&ions, to regulate them in the
exercife of the miniftry, from the council, (as was manifefted
above) as accountable only to them, and to fuch as they are
direftly fubordinate unto ; that is, the king \ and not from
Chrift Jefus, as only Head of the kirk ?
14. Seeing by receiving the Indulgence, with their inftruc-
tions, tb
head of arguments, it is manifeft, that the accepters of this
Indulgence have thereby contributed to the ftrengthening of
the hands of prelates and prelacy, which all are obliged, by
their covenants, to endeavour,- in their places and ftations, to
extirpate ; how can fuch be condemned, who withdraw from
them, while ftanding thus in a contributing pofture ?
10. As upon the one hand, the difowning of the curates
is a difowning of the prelates and their power ; and a coun-
tenancing of them by hearing them, and fubmitting to their
miniftry is accounted by all (as indeed it is) a countenancing
of prelacy ; is not alfo, upon the other hand, an owning of
the indulged, and a fubmitting to them and their miniftry, a
fubmitting to the fupremacy \ feeing (as is above cleared and
confirmed) the curates (at leaft fuch as were ordained mini-
fters before the re-eftablifhment of prelacy, and have fubmit-
R r 2 tqd.
3 \6 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
ted thereto) do no more depend upon prelacy, as to the prefent
exercife of their miniftry, than the indulged do depend upon
the fupremacy, or on the rulers* acting by virtue of the fu-
premacy ?
20. Seeing the aft of Glafgow, bapifhing tyunifters from
their own charges, cannot diflblve the relation, that was be-
twixt the miniiters and their flocks j how caft fuch as ftand
ftill related unto their former paftors, (which is the cafe of
fome) accept of others, fet over them by the council, and not
^yithal fiomologate the council's deed, and declare the former
relation utterly diflblved ?
21. Seeing the indulged, in accepting of the Indulgence,
have in feveral particulars viohted our covenant obligations
(as was (hown in the gth head of arguments,) can any be
blamed for withdrawing from thofe, who have fo entered, in
this day, when God is about to plead with the land, for a
broken covenant ?
2?. If all be obliged to refift and withftand Eraftianifm,
by the foler^n engagement to duties ; what lefs can be ex-
pe&ed of common people, in their private ftations, in order
to an anfwerable walking unto this engagement, than a with*
drawing from fuch as are fet over them by a power purely
Eraftian ? And can fuch be thought to mind their engage*
inent in this particular, who willingly comply with the Eraf-
tian command and injun&ion, and accept of fuch as are fet
over them by an Eraftian order ?
23. Seeing the indulged, in accepting of the Indulgence,
have receded from our principles, and wronged our caufe(as
is undeniable by the twelve particulars, mentioned under our
*]th head of arguments,) can they be juftly condemned, who
now withdraw from them ?
24. Seeing by accepting of the Indulgence, the indulged
have highly prejudged the good of our church (as is manifeft
from the twelve particulars, mentioned under our 6th head
of arguments,) how can fuch be condemned, who rcfufe to
countenance them, while thus ftated in and by the Indulgence^
25. Seeing, as was cleared above, the Indulgence was de-
▼ifed of purpofe to annul all field and houfe meetings ; and
feeing it cannot be denied, that thefe field and houfe meet-
ings, being fo eminently countenanced of the Lord, are alfo
to be countenanced of men ; can any fay, that they^ over
whom the indulged are fet by the council, are not obliged t%
withdraw from them \ and not withal fay, that they are not
obliged
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 317
obliged to wait upon thefe blefied meetings, though thereby
the minifter and other people, fhould be much difcouraged ?
And would not this be a manifeft homologating and concur-
ring with the council, in carrying on of this wicked defign ?
And how can fuch be condemned, who withdraw from them,
who have, in accepting of the Indulgence, acted fo prejudi-
cially unto thefe blefied meetings, as is evidenced in our 1 itb
head of arguments ?
26. Seeing it is undeniable, and daily experience doth
confirm it, that an admirably rich bleffing attendeth the la-
bours of fuch, as preach contrary to man's law, upon Cbcift'*
fole warrant and. allowance ; what cruelty to fouls were it to
fay, that they, who have none to preach to them, but fuch as
the council (none of the beft difcerners of minifterial gifts,
nor endowed with power from Chrift for that end, to try the
qualifications of minifters) hath fet over them, muft not with-
draw from thefe, to feek their food, where God is giving it
largely, and is thereby encouraging and inviting all .to some?
We would, doubtlefs, think this hard dealing, were we, as to
our temporal food, to be kept at a fet fober diet, wherein we
found little nourifhment, and reftrained from going to fat-
tening and (lengthening feafts. If it be faid, that it is the
peoples fault, that they grow not more under the preaching
of fuch as are fet over them, I need not contradict it, for
ftrengthening of my argument; but only fay, if the bleffing
be withheld at home, though juftly, becaufe of fin, let the
people go where they may find the bleffing of God's free
grace, notwithftanding of their provocations, as others have
found it : Let them go, I fay, where free grace may prevent
them. Nay, I think the indulged themfelves, upon this very
account, if they defire (as I would hope they do) the fpiritual
edification of the people, fhould befeech and obteft all their
people, to go unto thefe richly blefied conventicles; and de-
fire thefe conventiclers to come and choofe the moft convenient
place, in all their bounds, for a field meeting, that their peo-
ple might. partake of the good thereof ; and this courfe (if it
had been taken) would have, I think, endeared them more
unto all that feared God ; and had (no doubt) prevented much
pf this animofity that is, as I apprehend, betwixt them and
the field preachers ; for it would have defeated the defign of
the council, and have contributed to the carrying on of the
work of the Lord.
27. Seeing all perfons ftand obliged by their covenants, to
maintain
3 i8 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
maintain the prerogatives of Chrift's crown, the rights of the
church, and prefbyterial government j how can they, who
would make confcience of the faid covenants, own fuch as
are fet over them, not according to the principles of prefby-
terian government, nor in compliance with the prerogatives
of Chriil, nor fo as the rights of the church are fo much as
pretended to be obferved, but in a way rather repugnant un-
to all thefe, as hath been manifefted above ?
28. Seeing many of thefe indulged have a relation to their
own flocks, from which they were thruft by violence ; and
it will not be faid, that what the rulers did, in that matter,
did utterly annul their relation - } How can they be related as
paftors to thefe congregations, over which they are fet by the
council ? We do not acknowledge or juftify pluralities. And
if they have not the relation of paftors unto thefe new charges,
people are not bound to carry, as their flock ; and fo may
lawfully withdraw, and hear others, as well as them.
29. Seeing it is manifeft from what is faid, that the in-
dulged, by accepting of the Indulgence, have, upon the mat-
ter, condemned all the wreftlings of the church of Scotland,
from the very beginning of our reformation, againft the E-
raftian ufurpations and encroachments of king and court, in
the days of King James, who yet, in the height of his ufurp-
ations, and arrogate fupremacy, never did what the council
did, in the matter of the Indulgence ; he never took upon
him, to planf ana transplant minifters by himfelf, or by his
council immediately and only ; yea, and have condemned all
their fufferings to bonds, banifhment and blood, for the pri-
vileges of the church, and the crown rights of Chrift, the
only King in Zion ; how can people be prefled or urged to
look on fuch, as their lawfully fettled minifters, and be con-
demned for withdrawing ? Muft not the compliers with them
in this, be guilty of the fame fin of fpitting in the facesof all
our ancient witne:Ies ; and faying, their fufferings were for
trifles ? Do not they, who do more, than ever thefe were
tempted to do, and that without the lead hefitation, fay, that
tbefe fullered as fools ?
30. Seeing the entry of the indulged by the council's or-
der is fuqh, as hath not a parallel in all the Chriftian world,
for any thing I know ; for, no where (hall we find minifters
planted in particular charges, and tranfplanted from one to
another, immediately by the magiftrate : Yea, I doubt, if mi-
nifters were thus placed^ in the Palatinate, (now laid wafte
and
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 319
and defolate, in the righteous judgment of God,) where the
hemlock of Eraftianifm firft grew up ; can any blame the re-
formed profeffbrs of the church of Scotland, where that weed
hath been cad over the hedge, with a folemn vow and cove-
nant, never to own it again, in refenting this manner of en-
try, by withdrawing from thofe, that are iet over them, in
fuch a lingular and fhameful manner ?
3 1 . Do we not make ufe of this argument againft the pre-
lates, that they are chofen, named and deputed folely by the
king, notwithstanding of. that mock election, made by the
chapter of the fee, which muft fall upon the perfon, nomin-
ated by the king, or be null ? But where is the ftrength of it
now, when we admit of lefler bifhops, immediately nominat-
ed, deputed, and impowered by the council, notwithstanding
of that mock call by the people, and election of the fame fin-
gular perfon, which was faid fomewhere to be had ?
32. How can any blame fuch, as withdraw from thofe,
who, by entering in at the door of the Indulgence, have made
way for the wreathing of a yoke upon the necks of the mi-
niftry of Scotland, in all time coming, to the utter fubver-
fion of all minifterial liberty, and of the freedom and privi-
lege of the church : For, if hereafter no man {hall be fettled
in a church but by the king and his council immediately, and
every miniRer fhall be wholly at the difpofal of the king and
council, to be planted, or tranfplanted, as they pleafe, where
were we ? And where fhould our church liberties then be ?
And whom had we to thank for breaking the ice ?
33. If the parliament, that carried on the engagement,
an. \6\% 3 had thruft out a number of the miniflers, and there-
after their committee had planted them elfewhere, up and
down the land, as they pleafed ; I would aik fuch as were
miniflers, in thofe days, and were againft the engagement,
or were members of the affembly 1649, now ^ uc ^ miniflers,
as willingly would have obeyed the orders of the committee
of eftates, and gone thither, where they were ordered to re-
main, had been looked upon, when the engagement to duties
was drawn up ? And whether or not leffer faults in mini-
flers, were not punifhed with fimple depofition ? If then fuch
a fault as this, had been fo abominable then, fhall it be fo
lovely now, that none may difcountenance or withdraw from
fuch perfons. as have Carried fo, at this time ?
34. Is it not ftrange, that people fhall not have liberty to
withdraw from thofe, who by their way of entry, and carri-
age
3*© HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
alge before the council, have given' fuch open and matnifeft
fcandal unto the church of God, and unto ftrangers, unto
foes and friends, at home and abroad, to the rulers, to the
prelates and their curates, to good and bad ; yea, unto all the
churches of Christ ; arid have laid fuch a (tumbling- block be-
fore all the pofterity ; as is manifefted above^ in the izth head
of arguments ?
35. Whdn poor people, who have been hitherto in the
dark, as to the evils of tnis Indulgence, both as to its ground,
rife, conveyance, tendency, and defigned end, begin now to
get their eyes opened, and to fee its connexion with, de-
pendence upon, and confirmation of the fearful ufurpation
of the fupremacy ; what a grief of heart is it to hear perfons'
pleading againft their withdrawing from fuch, when they fee
where they are, and how they cannot countenance fuch, and
be free of all acceflion to the finful ftrengthening and con-
firming of the encroachments already made, and to the en-
couraging unto a further progrefs unto the fame evil ?
36. When there is fuch a combination for upholding of
this evil of the Indulgence, and feveral (as is reported) band-
ing or covenanting together, to keep the Indulgence in cre-
dit, or at leaft, not to fpeak againft it ; how can fuch, as are
convinced of the dreadful evil thereof, not think themfelves
called of God, to do their beft againft it ? And how can any
be urged to hear and countenance them, who are indulged,
when the controverfy is thus ftated and profecuted, without
heing alfo urged to approve of the Indulgence, contrary to
their light ?
37. Seeing the indulged, by their accepting of this Indul-
gence, did fall from their former zeal and ftedfaftnefs, in
choofing fuffering rather than fin, and have, upon the matter,
condemned what formerly they approved of, and have ap-
proved that, which formerly they condemned, as we faw
above, in the fix particulars, mentioned and explained in our
joth head of arguments, how can thofe be now condemned,
who cannot own them as they did formerly ?
38. Do we not fay, that countenancing arid hearing of the
Curates is a homologating and a virtual approving of their fin-
ful way of entry ? And (hall not now, the countenancing and
hearing of the curates, be a homologating and a virtual ap-
proving of their finful way of entry ? How then can fuch be
condemned, who, out of a defire to be kept free of this fin,
dare not countenance or hear them as formerly ?
39- *
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 3 ai
39« I would gladly know one argument that can be made
ufe of to condemn now, as matters (land, withdrawing from
and refufing to hear the indulged, that either hath not been,
or may not yet be, with equal force, made ufe of, to prove it
unlawful to withdraw from, and to refufe to hear the efta-
blifhed curates? And feeing now none dare condemn fuch
as withdraw from the curates; why (hall thefe be condemn-
ed who withdraw from the indulged ?
40. When the queftion is now fo dated, by and among
the people, as that countenancing and hearing of the indulged,
is looked upon, as an approving of the Indulgence itfelf, the
people not knowing the ufe and practice of metaphyfical di-
ftinftions ; how can fuch be urged to hear and countenance
them, who, by fo doing, muft look upon themfelves, as ap-
proving what otherwife they condemn, contrary to Rom,
xiv. 22, 23 ?
Many more arguments may be gathered out of th« feveral
particulars, we mentioned above, under the feveral heads of
arguments \ but we (hall fatisfy ourfelves with thefe, at pre-
fent, leaving the underftanding reader to make his own ufe
of the reft, that are not made ufe of here.
For further fatisfaftion, in this matter, to fuch as would
have formal arguments, I fhall only fay, That by what argu-
ments, principally, we vindicate the people's withdrawing
from the curates, by the fame, mutatis mutandis, by chang-
ing or adding fuch words, as muft be changed or added, we
(hall be able to vindicate the people's withdrawing from
the indulged. I faw lately a Vindication of the perfecuted
minijier and prof ejfors in Scotland, written by a faithful mini-
fter of Chrift, now in glory ; and found that the chief of
thefe arguments, whereof he made ufe, to vindicate the peo-
ple's withdrawing from the curates were applicable to the
queftion now under debate, concerning the hearing or with-
drawing from the indulged, as I fhall make appear by thefe
inftances
His firft argument, p. 75. was this. They who have no
juft authority, nor right to officiate fixedly, in this church,
as the proper paftors of it, ought not to be received, but
withdrawn from. But the prelates and their adherents the
curates (add, for our cafe, the indulged) have no juft autho-
rity or right to officiate in this church, as her proper paftors.
Therefore they ought not to be received, but withdrawn from.
All the debate is about the minor % which he thus maketh good.
S f They
3 i* HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
They who have entered into, and do officiate fixedly in this
church, without her authority and confent, have no juft au-
thority or right fo to do. But the prelates and their curates
(add, the indulged) have entered into this church, ami do of-
ficiate thetein, without her authority and confent. There-
fore they have no juft authority. The firft propofitton (faith
he, and we with him) is clear; and we fuppofe, will not be
gainfaid by our antagonifts ; feeing the power of million, of
calling and of fending of ordinary fixed paftors, is only in the
church, and not in any other> as all divines do affert. The fe-
cond is evident from matters of fact; for there was no church
judicatory called, or convocated, for bringing of prelates in-
to the church ; (add, nor for fettling of the indulged ever their
refpetlive charges J all was done immediately by the king and
acts of parliament (add, aEls of the council) without the
church. A practice wanting a precedent in this, and (for
any thing we know) in all other churches.
He propofeth an objection in behalf of the curates, p. 78.
which I know the indulged will ufe for themfelves, viz. They
have entered by the church. And his anfwer will ferve us,
which is this. This we deny. The contrary is clear, from
conftant practice ; for the curates (add, the indulged) came
in upon congregations, only by the bifliop and patron (add,
in our cafe, only by the council and patron) who are not the
church, nor have any power from her, for what they do, in
this : All their right and power is founded upon, and deriv-
ed from the fupremacy, and acts of parliament, and not from
the church; in which the bifhop (add, the council) acts as
the king's delegate and fubftitute, only impowered thereto by
his law (add, letter) ; fo that the curates (add, the indulged)
having and deriving all their power from the prelates (add,
the council) cannot have the fame from the church ; none
gives what he hath not. But, 2. The prelates (add^ the coun-
cil) not being the lawful governing church, any that enter
congregations by them, cannot be faid to enter by the church,
tilead the reft there.
His fecond argument is propofed, p. 79, 80. thus. Thofe
that receive and derive their church power from, and are fu-
bordinate, in its exercife; to another head than Chrift Jefus,
fhould not be received and fubjectecl to, as the minifters of
Chrift, in his church. But the prelates and their curates
(add, the indulged) do receive and derive their chinch power
from, and are fubordinate, in its excrcife, to another head
than
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 323
than Chrift Jefus. Therefore they ought not to be receiv-
ed, £tc. The firft proportion will not be denied : He prov-
eth the fecond thus. Thofe officers in the church, profefling
themfelves fuch, that derive their church power from, and
are fubordinate, in its exercife, to. a power truly archite&onic
and fuprerae in the church, befide Chrift, do derive their
power from, and are fubordinate, in its exercife, to another
head than Chrift Jefus. But fo it is, that prelates and their
curates (add, the indulged) do derive their church power from,
and are fubordinate, in its exercife, to a power truly architec-
tonic and fupreme in the church, befide Chrift. Therefore, &c.
The major is evident ; for whoever hath a fupreme architec-
tonic powe/ in and over the church, muft be a head to the
fame, and the fountain of all church power. The minor is
clear from the aft of rejlitution (add, the act explicatory of the
fupremacy.J
*' His third argument, p. 8. is long : I fhall cut it fhort thus,
ithat it may ferve our cafe. If churches required by law (or
aft of council) to fubmit to prelates, and to their curates (or,
to the indulged) thus thruft in upon, them, had their own
pallors, fet over them, conform to God*£ word •, then it is no
finful feparation, for churches, in adhering to their minifters,
not to receive, or fubmit to the prelates and their curates (or,
to the indulged.) But the former is tru£. Therefore, 6r,
The truth of the major is founded on this, that the obliga-
tion betwixt paftor and people ftandeth, notwithftanding of
the magistrate's a£t- And the minor is true, (I fuppofe) as
fome churches, over which the indulged were placed by the
council.
His fourth argument, p. 90. will f^rve us ; it is thus. The
way of the curates (indulged) entering into congregations,,
puts a bar on our fubjeftion to them, that we dare not to
own them, for the lawful paftors of the church \ for as their
entry is without the church, and the way that Chrift hath
fettled in his houfe for that end ; fo they have came in on
congregations, in ways, which we judge^corrupt, and with-
out all warrant from the word of God, and the practice of
the primitive times. In the fearch of fcripture and pure an-
tiquity, we find, that ordination (adtd, and proteftative mil-
lion) by minifters, the election and call of the peopte, was
the way, by which minifters entered into congregations, and
not the inftitution and collation of the bifhop (add, nor the
warrant and allowance of the magi/fratej nor the prefenta-
S f 2 tioa
324 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE,
tion of patrons. He addeth, i. This way of their entry by
the bifliop's inftitutjon and collation (add, the counciFs war-
rant and order) doth fuppone that their ordination (add, po-
tejlative mijjion) doth not fufficiently impower them to the
exercife of the miniftry, (add, in that particular charge) with-
out a further licenfe, which is contrary to the end of ordina-
tion, and the nature of the minifterial power, that by virtue
of its ends, and the command of Chrift, doth bind the per*
fon, inverted therewith, to its exercife^ he. 2- The patron's
prefentation, as it takes away the people's right of eleftion,
fo it fuppones ordination to give no right to the maintenance,
or at leaft fufpends it, &c.
His fifth argument is, p. 91. thus frarped, and may fervc
us, as to fome. Many congregations, into which the curates
(add, the indulged) are entered, are under a (landing obliga-
tion to their former paftors ; not only on the account of the
paftoral relation betwixt them, but for the engagements they
came under to fuch, in their call and reception of them;
which is not diflblved by any thing we have yet feen : Sure
we are, the magiftrate cannot do it,
yet, confidering that in all that letter (to my remembrance)
he doth not fpeak of their going to the field meetings (which
I fuppofe none, that knew him, will think that he was an e-
nemy unto,) I am apt to think, that the apprehenfion he had
of the ceafing of the field meetings, at leaft, in that part of
the country (in which, I doubt there had been any, or many,
at leaft, before his writing of that letter) did move him, to
advife them fometimes to hear that indulged perfon, as judg-
ing that better, than that they (hould hear none, or none but
that wretch, who was obtruded upon them ; and as fuppo£-
ing he would not pervert them by his do&rine, but would
give free and faithful teftimonies unto the truth, and againft
all public corruptions. Further, I fuppofe, it is well enough
known, that at the firft, not a few minifters were in the dark,
as to the queftion of hearing of the curates, and upon one
ground or other, did not perceive, that people were called of
God to withdraw from the obtruded hirelings, and fo durft not
pofitively advife thereunto ; who now, I hope, will be as loath
to advife people to forfrke other occafions, and go hear the cu-
rates.
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE. 327
fates. And what wonder if the matter was fo, as to the in«
dulged, feven or eight years ago ?
Obj. 3. But, till of late, that fome few inconfiderate per-
fons,took this in their heads, to preach againft the Indulgence,
and to cry oiit againft the unlawfulhefs of hearing A of the In-
dulged, as if that had been the only thing neceflary ; for
which many even of the non -indulged are offended with them,
there was not fo much as a mutter heard, but people heard
the indulged without fcruple, and were edified by their mini*
{try. Anfw. The curates might alledge the fame, as well as
the indulged •, but, as it would not help them, fo I fup~
pofe, it cannot well help the indulged. Whether thefe per-
sons be confiderate or inconfiderate, I am not fit to judge;
to their own Mafter they (land, or fall ; only I wi(h, that fuch
who call them inconfiderate, would examine their grounds,
and remember that, judge not left ye be judgei r &c. If this
be founded upon fome expreflions of theirs (whether true or
falfe, I know not) I wifh that the expreflions of others gave
not ground for the fame judgment. I know, not a few are
offended with them ; but considering what is faid above, con-
cerning the finfulnefs of the Indulgence, he. I dare not be
offended with them ; (and I would fain hope, that fecond
thoughts of the matter (hall work a change on thefe brethren)
but rntift rather blefs the Lord on their behalf, and judge
them worthy of praife, who, over the belly of fo many dif-
couragements, did fet the trumpet to their mouth, to fhew
Scotland, and the miniftry, and people thereof, that great fin:
and this, I know, is confident with their infilling upon the
one thing neceffary ; which I hope alfo their practice declar-
eth, and the fruits df their laboiir proclaim. But as to the long
filence that hath been, I (hall fay little ; yet it is known, that
at the very beginning, people were calling the indulged the
council's curates \ and how it came, that this fpark did not
break forth into a general flame, I fhall not enquire ; -acqui-
efcing in this, that the Ldrd had a further difcovcry to make :
For, had the firftten, who were indulged, been thus dis-
countenanced we had feen no more accepting of that fuppofed
favour •, yea, the firft accepters had Quickly fhaken that oner-
ous favour off their {houlders. It may be alfo, that fome
fupprefled their judgment, concerning the not hearing of
thefe indulged, or did not countenance any fuch motion,
when made, either out of a prepofterous affeftion and ten-
dernefs to the brethren, whom they honoured and much e-
fteemed,
328 HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
fteemed, and that defervedly, for their eminent endowments,
and fometimes ufefulnefs unto the church j or out of a ten-
der ca*e of keeping up of union, and guarding againft all
motions apparently tending to troublefome diftra&ions and
divifions, or upon fome other account, bed known to them-
felves. Neither is it unlike, that many were really in the
dark, as to the thing : But however, light is light, whoever
they be that bring it to us ; and as God may employ whom
he will, to thid end ; fo, how inconfiderable foever the in-
ftruments be, who are employed, and whether they come
iooner or later, the light, when it is come, {hould be wel-
comed, becaufe of him, that fent it ; yea, and embraced with
thankfulnefs, and with humble fubmiflion.
Obj. 4. All or mod of the non-indulged, faithful, and zeal-
ous minifters in the land are for hearing of the indulged;
and only a few^ and thefe of the younger fort, with the ig-
norant people, are againft it. Anjw. Though I would hope,
few (hould lay any weight on this obje&ion : and it were e-
noiigh to defixc fuch, who did lay any weight thereon, to
confider John vii. 47, 48, 49. with Mr. Hutchefon's notes
thereupon, fpecially the 7th and 9M. Yet I fhall only fay,
that an impartial obferver will find, that for the moft part,
in all the fteps of our trial, fince this laft overthrow came,
God hath made ufe of the nothings to break the ice to others.
Holy is our Sovereign, who doth what he will. This might
be made out by inftances; but, I fuppofe, the matter is fo
manifeft, that I need not infift thereupon, the matter about
hearing of the curates, being a fufficient evidence of what I
have faid.
' Obj. 5. Non when wc are in hazard to be over-run with
popery, is it fesifonable, that fuch queftions fhould be ftarred,
to break the remnant in pieces ; and thereby to make all a
prey for the man of fin ? Were it not better that we were all
united as one 3 to withftand that inundation ? Anfw. I grant,
the appreherifions of the man of fin's ftretching out his wings,
and filling the breadth of Emmanuel's land, feemeth to me
not altogether groundlefs ; yea, it is much to be feared, that
by popery and blood, the Lord (hall avenge the quarrel of
his covenant, and the contempt of his gofpel : And therefore
I judge, it were our duty this day, to be preparing ourfelves
to meet the Lord, thus coming to be avenged on a genera-
tion of his wrath, with ropes about our necks, giving him
the glory of his righteoufnefs, and acknowledging ourfelves
the
HISTORY of the INDULGENCE, 329
the bafeft of Gnners ; that fo we may be in cafe to fay, in the
day when the fmall remnant of the glory, that is yet to be
fctn on the mountains, mail depart out of fight, Blefjed be the
glory of the Lord jrom his place. Our union, while the ao
curfed thing is among us, will be but a confpiracy, and will
really weaken us before the Lord. If we be not tender of
ChriiVs Headfhip, and of what depends thereupon, and of the
lead pin of his tabernacle, pitched amGng us \ how can we
expeft his help, when we are to run with the horfemen ? Will
they not have inoft peace in that day, who have been jealous
for the Lord of hofts, and for his crown interefts ? And who
knoweth, but they (hall find a fhelter and a protection, in the
day, when the overflowing fcourge {hall come, who are now
following the Lord, and his glory^ through mountains and
valleys ; and are, upon that account, fufFering tofhngs, hard-
fhips and harrafiings ? How little fecurity, I pray, fhall the
wings of the fupremacy b? able to give in that day ? Our union
in duty, and upon the old grounds of our received and fworn
principles and maxims, would prove our ftrength ; but if this
(hall not be had, as then every one may certainly conclude,
that there is a dreadful ftroke at the doors, and that this di-
vifion, upon fuch an account, is a certain forerunner of a
dark and difmal difpenfation ; fo, it will be every man's du-
ty, who would have peace, in the day of God's contending
againft a generation of backfliders and revolvers, to be mour»~
ing for the abominations of the land, and for this of the In*
dulgence, among the reft, and to be adhering to the Lord,
and unto our principles, w r hich the Lord hath owned and
countenanced, though he fhould, in a manner, be left alone.
Will not, I pray, many of thefe, who have complied with
prelacy, and with the courfes that have been carried on, pro-
fefs an abhorrence at popery ? And is this ground fufficient
for us to think of uniting with them, notwithstanding of all
they have done, that we may be the more fortified to with«
ftand that torrent ? Alas ! this our ftrength will prove our
weaknefs Let us remember that, Ifa. viii. 11, 12, 13, 14.
For the Lord [pake thus to me, with ajlrong hand, and inftrutl-
ed me, that Jjbould not walk in the way of this people, faying^
Say not a confederacy to all them, to whom this people fiall fay ,
A confederacy : Neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanc-
tify the Lord of hojls himfelf*, and let him be your fear, and let
him be your dread- And he floall be for a f ancillary, &c. It
were more fuitable for us to be conudering that word, Amos
33* HISTORY of the INDULGENCE.
iv. 12, 13. Therefore, thus will I do unto thee ; and be can fe t
will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, l/rael : for
k, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and
declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morn-
ing darknefs, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth i
The Lord, the God of hojls is his name. And in order to a
Ghriftian compliance therewith, to be feparating ourfelves
from every finful courfe, mourning for our former mifcarn-
ages, and utterly forfaking fuch ways, whereby we have pro-
voked the Lord to wrath. I fhall clofe with that, Zeph. ii.
1, z , 3. Gather your [elves together, yea, gather together,
nation not defired. Before the decree bring forth, before the
day pafs, as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come
upon you, before the day of the Lord's anger come upon you.
Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought
his judgment, feek right eoufnefs, feek meeknefs ; it may be, ye
fhall be hid, in the day of the Lord's anger. And let us all
prayj Thy kingdom come, and thy will be done. Ame-u.
Among the perfons indulged, Mr. Anthony Shaw indulg-
ed to Loudon or Newmilns, and Mr. Anthony Murray in-
dulged to Carmichal are omitted ; and poffibly fome other^
through want of full information, or through the negleft of
tranferibers.
F I N I
SUBSCRIBERS NAMES.
Given in by John Glen, Port-
Glafgow.
PpRT-GLASGOW.
JAMES Ramfav, merchant
George M'Gie faith
William Brown, gardener
Alexander Gardiner, weaver
William Ho»m, fhoemaker
Juha Al-Giigor. labourer
John Carrick, brewer
Alexander Holm, ditto
William Yqung. wright
John Young, ditto
James Glen, taylor
David Auld, mafon
William Alhirdie t weaver
Alexander BarnhiJl
James Ronald, fhoemaker
Humphry Davie, ditto
William Wallace, ditto
John Willifon, merchant
John Beith, flefher
James Erfkine, dyer
James Paton, cooper
Archibald v£Jlen, mill- wright.
John Law, carpenter
Finlay Keith, ditto
William Baird, ditto
GREENOCK,
JOHN Fleming, fmith
Peter Morris, wright
Andrew Simfon, ditto
Robert M Farlane, ditto
Robert Lillie, ditto
Andrew Main, weaver
John Vitken, ditto
William Cochran, fmith
Alexander Brown, dyer
Thomas Safely, clockmaker
Andrew Duncan, hatter
William Brown, wright, fenior
Robert Walker, ditto
William Ruffe J, mafon
John Campbell, wright
Mary Threlkeld
James Wacfon, fhoemaker
William Zuill, ditto
Thomas Edmifton, inafon
John Brown, wright
James Morifon, ditto
James Munn, ditto
John Miller, gardener
William fmith, taylor
john Bannatyne, foreman, fhoe*
factory
James Thomas, tobacconift
David Fife, weaver
Hugh Lang, dyer
W illiam Hauna, filverfmith
GOUROCK and INNERKIP.
JOHN Banks, miner
William Telford, ditto
Archibald Colquhoun, flax* dreffef
Robert Finnic, ditto
CARDROSS.
WALTER Glen, miller
Daniel Mackay, clerk at Cork-
dale
James Hamilton, linen-printer
Matthew B "Hi. ditto
Charles Murray, ditto
Jamet Stewart, ditto
Robert Nairn, di to
John Craig dirto
John M'Wafter. weaver
Robert Houton, farmer
John Barr, ferrier
John M*'Kiin, wearer
Robert Davie, ditto
James Scott, dyer
Walter Lindfay, workman
John M %/ Gurdy, dyer
Robert Mackay, linen printer
John Hall, ditto
John Kinloch '
B O N H I L L.
JAMES M'Alatter, wright
332 SUBSCRI
Walter Craig printer
Thomas Maltman, ditto
James Strathem, bleacher
Daniel M'Gngor, fhoemaKer
Daniel M'Rehany, workman
William M'Alafter, carter
Duncan M'VVattie, fhoemaker
William Gardiner, ditto
Thomas Whitehili
Robert Walker, dyer
Robert Miller, fervant, Tillie-
noun
Walter Lindfay, flioemaker
John Merchant, ditto
Duncan MNaughtari
Thomas M'Kim
John M Leod, printer
Margaret Craig
James Craig
Alexander Lindfay
William Ewing, cooper
William M'Kinlay, wright
John Hardie, taylor
JDavid Connell
Walter M'Farlane
i^tnes Lindfay, labourer
D U M B A R TON.
ALEXANDER Brown, wright
Robert Lang, ditto
James Walker, fhoemaker
John Lindfay, ditto
Robert Lang, farmer
Andrew Water fon
Walter Paterfon
STIRLING.
WILLIAM Brown, merchant
Robert Harvie, carpet-manufac-
turer
James Gourlie
William Paterfon, bookfeller,
12 copies in meets.
Thomas Gilchrift, merchant
John Henderfon, weaver
John Wingate, ditto
James Bennet, taylor
BERS NAMES. -
St. NINIANS.
ROBERT Buchanan
John Cowan, farmer
James Watfon, weaver
John Watfon, ditto
GLASGOW.
ROBERT Williamfon, rtay-
m aker
Mungo M'Intyre, flioemaker
John Clarkfon, wright
William Alton, ftockingmaker
William M'Farlane, cooper
Robert Paterfon, wright, Calto#
William Reid, weaver
James Taylor ditto
James Hamilton, ditto
John Willifon ditto
Jofcph Weir, ditto
Jo ui Mackay labourer
Hugh Young, merchant
Janet Glen
Robert Ralfton, Badhill
John Birinie, fchoolmaftcr, Kil-
ington
PAISLEY.
ROBERT Brown, (locking,
maker
Matthew Lithgow, dittp
Anthony Rejd, weaver
Alexander young ditto
Thorny s Wylie, ditto
William Scott, ditto
William McClelland, ditto
fames Murdoch, ditto
John Smith* ditto
John M'Gill, ditto
James M'Clymont, dittp
Gilbert M'Cready ditto
John vJachan, ditto
James Young, ditto
James, Campbell, ditto
JVtatthew Brown, ditto
Alexander Campbell, ditto
Hugh Glasford, ditto
Robert Duiilop, ditto
SUBSCRIBERS NAMES.
B E I T H.
HENRY Wiifon, wright
John Tenam, mafon
John Mafe dino
Rooert Donald, Smith
James Aitkeq* wright
Andrew Willifon, ditto
John Hutchifon. warper
Margaret Lindfay
James Brown ftocking-ntaker
Jufeph Graham, weaver
David Wallace, ditto
James Malife, ditto
John Walker, ftrcking-maktr
John Rentoul, wright «
John Richmond, fmith
KILBARCHAN.
HENRY Duncan, weaver
William Provan, ditto
James Gavin, ditto
Robert Davie, ditto
Alexander Stewart, ditto
James Laird, ditto
Elizabeth M { Arthur
Robert Young, weaver
Archibald Caldwell, farmer
William Anderfon in Knows
James Allifon, labourer
LOCHWINIOCH,
JOHN Orrof Midh^ufe
Andrew CarndufF, fmith
John Crawford, weaver
James Wilfon ditto
John Holm ditto
John C rawford, ditto
James Gaven, ditto
John Graham, ditto)
James Glen, ditto
John Kirkwood, flax-dreffer
Robert Houlton, weaver
William Storie, ditto
John Cochran, ditto
KILWINNING.
JAMES Surrat, fhoemaker
Hugh Conn, weaver
Robert Jamiefon, ditto
333'
James Craig, faddler
Robert Boyd, weaver
John Barry, ditto
William JohnfUn, ditto
William Barr, ditto
Thomas Peuck, ditto
John Allan, ditto
Thomas Satfon, ditto
Robert Fleming ditto
Robert Houfton, ditto
John Miller, fhoemaker
Archibald Baxter, ditto
John Steven Ton, ditto
David Biggar, flax-drefTer
james Mitchell, tobacconift
John Dobie, weaver
James Patifon, ditto
Andrew Dollar, ditto
John Dow, wright
James Orr, weaver
William Fulton, ditto
Robert Kirkwood, ditto
Andrew Kirkwood, ditto
James Kirkwood, ditto
James Guy, ditto
Samuel Montgomery, portioner
Netlofs
John Reid, fmith in Haghead
Alex. Barr, portioner, Netlofs
William Kirkwood, baker
D A L R Y.
ROBERT Brown, farmer
Andrew Greg, wright
Alexander Bowman, ditto^
David Hervey, cooper
David Stirrat, mafon
Daniel Campbell, ditto
John Wylie
Alexander Barclay
James Muir, weaver
Robert Allan, ditto
Thomas Paton, ditto
334
SUBSCRIBERS NAMES,
Robert Carfwell, ditto
Robert Hervey, mafon
J#hn Crawford farmer
John Boyd
Robert Fulton, dyke-builder
BTyre Kerr, portioner of Au«
chingree
William- Archibald, farmer
WEST KILBRIDE.
JOHN Fleck, farmer
John Muir, portioner of Dru-
millin
William Miller
Robert Steel, merchant
James Duncan, tanner
Archibald Malcolm, failor
Robert Scott, .miller
John Thomfon, farmer
James Wilfon, fhoemaker;
Jairues Davidfou
William Biggart, weaver
Robert Stirrat, fchooimafler
John Miller, merchant ta)ior
James Calbreath in Crofbie
Thomas Robifon, farmer
Samuel Campbell, taylor
Alexander Brown, ditto
William Paterfon, weaver
Robert Paterfon, ditto
Robert Brown, ditto
Daniel Telfer, ditto
Robert Turner, ditto
james Weir
William, Dykes, taylor
john Davie
Alexander Campbell, weaver
john King, ditto
james Currie, junior, ditto
William Currie, ditto
Archibald Clark
john Drummond
Thomas More
Gavin Currie
William Browii
David Cowan
james Brown
Different Parifhes
Alexander Crofs, weaver, OLd
Monkland
Thomas Barr, taylor, Bothwel
john Park, dyke-builder, Kil-
macolm
RoDertM-. Naught, wn&ht, Largs , T r r . lk . .
tratn ~ r> xs • i s John Logan, mafon, kubimie
William Barr, weaver, Fairley J,, Mr ^£ » , • & „
J William Dobbie, weaver, Bor-
' SALT CO A TS.
GEORGE Young, farmer
Daniel M Gahe, weaver
john MMillian, ditto
james Grier, ditto
HAMILTON.
REVERE* D Mr James Pun-
ton, minifter of the gofpel
Gavin B.uet, wright
james Ruet. ditto
john Naifmith, ftocking-muker
David Warnock, fhoeroaker
Margaret Weir
james Horn, ftocking-maker
Robert Hinfhaw mafon
james Brown, fhoemaker
Andrew Smith, flocking -maimer
Thomas Aiton, weaver
rowftoimefs
Alex. VVyUe, merchant, Perth
john Ewing, workman, Inchinan
Hugh Gardiner, fmith, ditto
William M'Grigor, ferrier, Er-
ikine
john Gibfon, Neilfton
Thomas Nairn, Dunlop
Robert Forfyth, Kiikorel
john Lambie, Kilmarnock
james Linton, merchaLt, Edin-
burgh
William Morifon, weaver* Alloa
Henry Reid, weaver, Clack-
manan
john Adie, Denny
David Hackney, Coldflream,
12 copies
SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. .335
Given in by james Laing in Kil- David Wylie, farmer
ma; nock. David Law, ditto
KILMARNOCK. K < L M A il E S Pirifli.
REVEREND Mr. John R u fclJpHN Smith, in Graffmilnfide
minirter of the gofpei Matthew Brown
james Thomfon Matthew Cameron
james M Lean J chu Une > Gatehead
james Dickie F I N W I C K Parifli.
Robert Thomfon, carpet-weaver JOHN White, farmer
Robert Wilfon, weaver Alexander Gemmil
Revd. Mr. Robert jcffry, mini- Alexander Graham
fter of the gofpel John Earr, miller, Gardrum-raill
John Smith Robert Smith, Grafs- Yards
Andrew jamifon SYMLNGTOUN Parifli.
William Boyd, weight ROBERT Hay, qnarrier
james Freebairn. nlaifterer Andrew 2reakenridge,flioemaker
Robert Borland, fhxdrefler David Niel, weaver
Revd Mr. Wil. Steven, minifter William Bone, ditto
of the gofpel Crooked-Holm Different Parifhes.
james Steven dyer HUGH Paton,farmer,Dundonald
Robert Crawford, farmer, Mmr- James Blair there
houfl.w _ Matthew Morton,farmer,GaIfton
Geo. Dickie, miller in M.ltoun Mr . John wnf fcboo!ma(ter
ofGrongar Tarbolton
£ u- t'- - mer La " gknds James Stevenfon, farmer in Un-
William rmnie. merchant derwood, Craigy
john Petrie, ihoeinaker ^
Allan Wilkiefon ditto Given in by Andrew Reid, chap-
Robert Wallace in Moffide man.
William Frazer, gardener, Craw- ROBERT Rodger, farmer,
fordland Whitecrajg
Thomas Wright, Sunnyfide Davi a Stirrat, farmer, Hallhill
William Wyhe, mafon Tho . Greg, farmer, Meiklemire
john Bi/hop, farmer Robert Connal, fmich in Liffnock
Thomas Rankin, dyer Galfton parim
john Adam, fhoemaker Charles White of Woodfide, Kil-
Archibald Millar, ditto winning parifli
William Mack ditto Alexander White of Woodfide
R I CCARTOUN Parilh. james Cunningham, farmer,
JOHN Lambie, farmer Lawthorn, Irvine pari/h
Robert Young, ditto David Dickie. portionerinHorfe-
john Goidie, ditto hill, Finwick parilh
Thomas Craig, fhoemaker George Millar, fhoemaker, Kil-
Hugh Baird, fmith in Laputta marnock
Andrew Hoat, wright james Axthur, farmer, Auchen-
Francis BunteD; Nourilhbank fail, Kiibarshan parifli
$ 3 6 SUBSCRIBERS NAMES.
Robert Blair, Lawfield, Kilallan Mat r hew Fowlds, mafon, Grafs*
parifh Yards
Robert Campbell, Littlemiln, james Wallace, Stonney-path
Old Kilpatrick parifh jameS' Wallace, mafon in Her-
Matthew Blair, Newtown, Erf- fhaw-miin
kine parifh John Anderfon, fmith in Finwick
James Brown, junior, Finwick John Gemmil, weaver there
James M : Lellan, parifh of Laid, Tho, Gemmil, fhoemaker there
kingdom of Ireland john Tannahill, wright there
John Stevenfon, of Whitelaw, Andrew Fulton, fhoemaker there
Stewartown parifh Robert Tannahill, farmer, Ait-
jean Stewart, fervant there kenhead
Robert Thomfon, Stewartown james Young in Kilwinning
Tho. Walker, farmer in Cowflop Andrew Fleming in Croft-foot,
Anne Currie, fervant there Kilwinning parifh
ja. Lindfay, farmer in, Bredelan William Cameron, farmer in Ta-
Thomas Lindfay in Clunch, Fin- pitfawld, Stewartown parifh
wick parifh Robert Bail lie of Thirdpart,
Hugh Steel, farmer in Clunch Dairy parifh
Peter M'Kenzie, fhoemaker, Kil- John Leed there
marnock John Niven, Cubfide
Robert Speir, farmer, Temple- _. . . , n
ton, Dnndonald parifh Gl ™ in b ? A } m ^ r c C ™™£~
john Cunningham, Floack, ham > mafon > Glafgow.
Mearns parish james Anderfon, fmith, Glafgow
William Finlay, mafon, Kilbirnie John Donald, ffnith there
Robert Montgomery, fhoemaker John M'Rae, fmith there
thet-e james M'Nair, mafon there
Robert Knox there John Ramfay, wright there
john Fife, cooper there Daniel Litbgow, mafon there
William Shedckn, weaver there John Millar, mafon there
John Barclay, ditto there John Rutherford, taylor there
William Orr, farmer there John Clark, junior, taylor there
john Allan, wright there John Smith, fmith there
james Peebles, ditto there James Duncan, fmith there
james Orr, weaver there Patrick Main, fmith there
john Montgomery, ditto there John Yool, mafon there
john Shedden, ditto there James Henderfon, mafon there
Patrick Montgomery there Robert Young mafon, Anderftoun
David Bone, farmer, Kilwinning James Brown, fmith, Glafgow
ja. Valance, wright, Kilmarnock James Robb, fmith there
john Millar, taylor there Robert Smith, wright there
Andrew Brown, farmer, Norifh- John Turnbull, flocking maker
bank, Riccartoun parifh Robert Cuthbertfon, ditto there
William Mitchell of Daruhilling, james Smith, gun-maker,GorbaIs
parifh of Finwick John Smith, flater, Glafgow
Steven Wallace, mafe* ihere William Teifer, mafon there
SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 337
a. Cunningham, merch. Glafgow John Gow of Blarowr, Drnmmond
Adam Fergufon, weaver, Camlachie jolm M'Kechnie, Drumbeg, ditto
James Whitelaw, wright, Glafgow Robert Gardiner in Bolal, ditto
John Morifon, wright there janet M'Kechnie, ditto
Wil. Somervail, mafon in Johnfton William Smith, weaver, Strathblane
Pvobert Somerv iil mafon, Glafgow Archd. M'Clay, farmer, Kilearn pa.
John Warnoch, mafon, Andtifloun Wil. Buchanan, wcaver^Bodohan/Io
John Leechman, fmith, Glafgow John Forrefter,farmer,St.Niniansp.
james Anderfon, wright there Given in by jo. Dobie, Camfnethen.
john Paton wright there james Thomfon in Carluke
john Renton, plafterer there Wil. Lindfay, mafon, Cambufnethen
AndrewKinman, journeyman fmith J0 hn Bell, ditto ditto
William Baird, mafon there Robert Robifon, wright ditto
james Reid, plafterer there William Wallace, gardener ditto
john Munfie, wright there Andrew Nifbet, wright, Shots par.
john WatfoD, baker, GorbaJs, Thomas Nifbet, ditto ditto
Robert Barr, weaver, Glafgow Alex. Lang, wright, Middle-houfe
john Reekie, taylor, Calion. Giyen j n b j^ Anderfon Ste .
John Brown, mafon there warfown.
james Gibfon, wright there J0HN Bro ^ weaver
Matthew Cleland, mafon there H Harper dItto
john Smith, mafon there Andrew Fowlds, cooper,
WiUiam MeiKle, baker there Robm Forreft maf ^^^ .
jo Patrick, farmer, WondeKilfyth wi]132m StcVfflf Commoncraiz
William Muir , mafon, Glafgow D . Cunningham portioner,Revenflie
S?r a8 Crawford, plafterer there Ro ^ R weaver,Lamroughton
Wi ham Murray, plaflerer there £ han ^^ Gildr ^ oir 6
William Harvie, fhoemaker there John Wallace Greenfide, Dreghorn
Matthew Morifoii, ma on there Davk] fi Coldhamc *
Wil. Young (Indent of divinity there H ughCalderwood,junior,Blackbvrc
Robert King ja.Calderwood, weaver, Auchemiber
Thomas Stodart John Smhh? fanner , Lamroughton
john Barr wiL Graham> wr ; ht Kilmarnock
james Caderheaa . °
john Paterfon Given in b ? J ames Dun I°P, taylor,
Mofes M'Lay Stewartown.
Alexander M'Lay ^ 0HN Dunlop, wright
james Hardie Jolin Dunlo P^ fhoemaker
john Finlay, mafon Ga ^/ el Sted > weav< *
William Silfon, wright F'H 1 * 1 " Br ™ n > j abourer
_,. . v . ... Daniel Kennedy, farmer
Given in by Mary Campbell. John p icken ho fi er
JO. Gardiner, wright,Kilraaronock john Fowler, wright
Alex. M'Alafter, imith tfTere jobn Ackman, ditto
Archd. M'Clay ,fjarmer,Finich there james Hawthorn, taylor
john M*Keoun, Milton, Buchanan John Dunlop, baker
William Leckie, Mains of ditto William M Cieland, plafterxr
V %
338 SUBSCRIBERS NAMES.
Archibald Dunlop, fhoemaker John Jamiefon, clockmaker there
William Howie, innkeeper John Thomfon, fervant there
james Picken, butcher Williani Law there
John Williamfon there
Given in by jo. Shaw, Stewartowm George Park there
William Anderfon, weaver J ohn Hamilton. Rodinhead there
Robert Smith, ditto J** mes Young there
John Gibfon, ditto J ohn Johnfton, fmnh there
William Vallange, ditto Robert Smith, Barnyard there
Robert Sim, ditto J ames Nation, Ridgehead there
Js>. Ca/kie, portion. Lit. Robertland Andrew Thomfon, Hamilton panfli
James Logan, miller, Cormill-mill J ohn Patrick there
David Ramfay, fhoemaker . t
Alexander Fergufon, ditto GIvcn in b y Tho ° Burns > *inwi<*.
James Calderwood, ditto JOHN Burns, portioner, Finwick
John Wyliie, taylor David Calderwood, Genford there
And. Picken, Jan. portioner, Nether W ii. Cuthbertfon, Burnfoot there
Robertland Pvobert Dunlopin Burnhoufe there
Tohn Bicket, portioner, Kirkford Alexander Dunlop there
Andrew Picken, ditto Robertland j onn Gemmil, junior there
Andrew Picken, fenior, ditto William Hodge there
Ja. Picken, portioner, Little Corfliill Robert Legat in townhead there
William Brown, carrier James Love in Moorend there
james Wyliie, hofier David Muir, Dalmufternoch there
James Miller in Greenwalls there
Given in by John Stevenfon, rnerch. j ames Murchland in Genhili there
tT\. ■ Wyliie, portioner, Robertland Hugh Muir there
John Stevenfon, ditto Whitlaw James Orr in Tannacrief there
Humphry Barbour, ditto there John Muir, Borland, Kilmarnock p.
John Fergufon, ditto Fulwood James Brown in Blackwood ditto
J. Stevenfon, carrier, Hill of Dunlop William Kent in Bankend ditto
Geo Carmichael, Neilfton parifh David Miiir, junior, Tannahill do.
James Kay in Shaw, Ochiltree pa. Ann Stewart in NeWToodhill do.
Jo. Lymburner, Bogend, Tarbolton 4ndrew Smith ditto
Alex. Crane, gardener, Stewartown William Steei in Reeding ditto
John Stevenfon, 3 copies. Daniel Thomfon in North Craigdo.
David Walker ditto
Given in by John Wilfon, Kilbride. Matthew Templeton* Kilmares
J*. Pollock, portioner, KiHn-idep. Davkl Dickie in Carmelwood ditto
Archibald Park, mafon there Thomas Miller in Mauchhne par.
John Watt, weaver there Alex * Wyliie, merchant, Perth
Robert Symfon, gardener there
John Napier, miller there G "'™ In b y William Craig. ^
james Allifon, fchoolmafler there Revd. Mr. David Somervile, mi-
William AUifon. qnarrier there nifter of the gofpej, Strathaven
Andrei Smith, labourer there Thomas Muirhead in Dalziel
SUBSCRIBE
Hugh Smith, Kilbride
Robert Young, ditto
James Steel, ditto
James Craig, ditto
Betty Wilfoti, ditto
Janet Pumphrah, ditto
Andrew Craig, ditto
William Granger, ditto
James Craig, Loggoch
William Hamilton, Meadow-houfe
Wil. Wilfon, fchoolmafter, Paifley
KILMARNOCK.
ROBERT Baird, manufa&urer
Gilbert M'Clure, plafterer
William Aitken, cooper
David Currie
Robert Perry, manufacturer
John Anderfon, merchant
Archibald Finnie, ditto
James Steven, fiudent of divinity
Alexander Jamie, wright
David Murdoch, ditto
George Wallace, ditto
Robert Telford, barber
Walter Graham, 2 copies
William Woodburn, wright
William Breakenridge
John Crofbie, wheel-wright
Robert Creel man
John Adamfon
James Ruflel, baker
Charles Creelman, weaver
William Cuthbertfon, ditto
John Mitroy, fhoemaker
Samuel Dalziel, ditto
Thomas Paton, farmer in Rows
William Smith
William Muir, glover
John Paton, ditto
Allan Thomfon, ditto
John Crooks, ditto
Hugh Cutbertfon, weaver
John Ritchie, dyer
Andrew Martin, ditto
William Culbertfon, mafon
RS NAMES. 335
William Campbell, we^er
Robert Paton, glover
Robert Muir, ditto
George Jamie, fhoemaker
Andrew Hutcbefon, ditto
Robert Tinnoch, ditto
Robert Fiilton, ditto
Thomas Pjckeri, weaver
Jean Andrew
George M'Nair, dyer
Charles Stewart
Thomas Howie, Little Burnhoufes
John Brooks, fchoolmafter
James Drummond, weaver
Thomas Boyd of Keprikhill
Thomas Aiton in Woodhead
James Craig in Muirhoufe
John Lambie there
Allan Speits, Mains of Grougar
John Fleming there
John Hill in Silverwood
Tho. Conell, faith in Towthorn
William Aiton, innkeeper
Alexander Torrance, Ralfton Hill
James Murdoch, weaver
Matthew Moodie, bookbinder
K I LM ARES.
WILLIAM Templeton, Pathfoot
Andrew Dalziel
William Muir, weaver
Matthew Brown
John Steel, farmer in Shaw
Robert Smith, farmer in Weneland
Jo.Cameronjking'sJetter-man^Shaw
David Wilfon, fchoolmafter
STEWARTOWN.
MATTHEW Barr, merchant
Nathaniel Crawford, filk-weaver
John Brown, farmer in Bufton
FI N WICK.
JOHN Fulton, fhoemaker
John Blackwood, ditto
William Bunten, weaver
340 SUBSCRIBERS
James Howie, Drumtee
John Young, farmer, RowaJlan
N-AMES.
BATHGATE.
AUCHENLECK.
ROBERT Murdoch, merchant
James Wyllie, fmith
John Milligan, mafon
John Gibb
George E)ucath
David Lennox, coal grieve
Robert Steel
James Murdoch, mafon
James M'Goven, Dernlaw
Thomas McMillan, ditto
George Lanibie, ditto
John Scott, cart-wright
Cha. Richmond, carter to L. Dumf.
Andrew Borland, ditto
Alexander Peden, wright
James Terapkton in Harpland
Jean Gibb
Betty McMillan *
William Dalrymple, weaver
Henry Dalrymple,officer to L.Dtini.
James Murdoch, weaver
John Murdoch, ditto
William Glendinan, fhoemaker
James Livingfton, ditto
JVlungo Crawford, ta)lor
James Peden, farmer
David King, dirto
Henry Dalrymple, ditto
Mungo Reid, day labourer
David Aird, ditto
QuintenDunn, ditto
Hugh Hair, ditto
SORN.
WILLIAM Curel
William Brown
James Kirkland, weaver
Andrew Reid, fhoeniakcr
John Youri£, taylor
€eorge Anderfon
Reverend Mr. John Jamiefon,
minifter of the gofpel
Alex. Laurie in Drumcrofs
Robert Gilmour in Cockfmuir
John Boag, flioemaker
John Crawford, ditto
George Ranken, wright
Robert Ramfay, taylor, 4 copies
James Gardiner, ditto
William Petrie, weaver
Different Parifhes.
Alex. Giifen^ Dundonald
Thomas G iff en there
Thomas Henry, farmer, Symington
Edward Stewart, weaver, Craigie
Alexander Thomfon there
Matthew Wilfon, weaver there
John Sim Ton, weaver, Riccartoun
James Murray in pardon, Ochiltree
Robert Souttr, mafon, Cumnock
Thomas Borland, cooper in Dervel
Andrew Houfton in Altoun
William Young, ftacking-maker,
Irvine
John Parker,farmer,Broomlands ; do
John Dulziel there
T
James Scott
Hugh CaMow
John Anderfon
Hugh Anderfon
James Hunter
Mrs. Duncan
James Hamilton
Margaret Hart
Logan Hodge
William Campbell
William Borland
David Niel
Mungo Knox
John Gemmil •
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