fcW^i J5Y y ^ U \ k&w*v By Mr. Alexander Shiels, Mioifier of the Gofpel in St. Andrews. Pfal. xciv. 20. Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowfbip , with thee y which frameth rhifchief by a Law ? Prov. xxviii. 15. Asaroring lion, and a ranging bear $ fo is a wicked ruler over the £§£mBh& v Hof viii. 4. They have fet ufiKhqp °%h m* • they have made princes, and I 'knew tf?9H Revel, xii. 11. And they overcame kir/mBm blood of $e Lamb j and by the word of their teymnony ] and they loved not their lives unto the death. " . Ju ~— - \Edinburgh*, Reprinted by R.DrummonI and Company, and fold by William Gray Bookbinder in the Grafs- market* ant} fever*! others, #v, MDCCXLIV. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from Princeton Theological Seminary Library http://archive.org/details/informatoryvindiOOrenw AN INFORMATOPvY VINDICATION » OF A > Poor, wafted, mifreprefented Remnant of the fuffering, Anti-popilh, Anti-prela- tick, Anti-eraftian, Anti-iecforian, true Presbyterian Church of Christ in. Scotland. United together in a general Cor refpondence. By way of Reply to various Accufations, in Let- ters, Informations and Conferences given forth agjainft them. Written ac chc Leadkills in the Year 1687, conjunctly* by Mr. James Renwick and Mr. Alexander Shi ells Author of the Hind letloofe. EDINBURGH: Preprinted by R. Drummond and Compiny, for Wih Ham Gray, and fold by him at his Houfe beyond Heriot's Work Bridge in the Gr.ifi^narket. 1 744. ^nr r A Vindication of the United • Societies of fbme Presbyterians in Scot- land, who contend againft the Defe- ctions of the Time* The INTRODUCTION. Containing a brief Deduction of the Series and Tracl offome fignal Steps of our CJiurcVs Defeclion y which j from Time to Time> fome have witnejfed againjl* NOnc that ever heard of the Church of Scot- land^ can be altogether ignorant, how, when the Lord was gracioufly pleafed to> confer upop^th is Land, the ineftimable Be- nefit of the pure and clearlhining Light of the Gofpel, and to advance the Reformation, therein begun, to a very high degree, from mere Heathemfm y even to the Extir- pation of Fopery, Prelacy and Eflrajlianifm (which our Church hath had chiefly to wreftle againtf) and the Ab- juration of all Heretical and Sectarian Errors, whether in Doctrine, "tyorfhip, Difcipline or Government) thac then ail Ranks of the Land were brought into holy and Iblemn Covenants with God, the Church did enjoy her Power and Privileges : then, when our Minifters were clothed with Righteoufhefs and Salvation, their Faith- fulnefs to God, and Zealagajfift^n, and ail Lukewarm- nc^s in the Lord's Caufe, werefo much feen apd.fhown, that Minifters, for their not applying their Doftrine a-. gainft the Corruptions of the Times, were tc be cen-% fured ; and if obftinate, were to be depofed, according to that Acl of the General Affembly y Aug* 3. 1648. Sejf. 2(5. And like wife, Compilers with the-publick Enemies of his Church and Kingdom, were, according; to the degree of their Offence, to bs nbuhd and cenfured, bysthfit Acl of the Ge- A 2 neral ( 4 ) neral Ajfemhly y June 17. 1646. Seff. 14. In thofe Days jt the Work of the Lord profpered, his Golpcl flourifhed, c and Iniquity was made to iiopher mouth : our Church < was glorious to ,all Beholders, and terrible to her Ene- i mies, as an Army with Banners : The Lord delighted in us> & and our Land was married unto him: Salvation ivasy ( written upon our Walls, and Vraife upon our Gates. But! \ alas / we did quickly turn away from following thel ( Lord, forgetting what great and eminent Privileges hel hath beftowed upon us ; how he had fubdued our Ene-I mics under us, and made them to yield ; and profpered iis in what we did put our hands unto : we did> alas / loon fall from ourfirft Love, the Edge of our Zeal became blunted, and our Eyes were darkned that we could not fee: And fo we have gone further aftray, from one de- gree to another, until we have brought ourfelves intofuch a Mifery of Difiblution and Defolation, Divifion and Confuilon, Reproach and Contempt, that our Cafe now is as deplorable and dcfpicable," as ever it was formerly admired and envied. Wherefore, to make it the more clearly appear, whence it is, that now our manifold Breaches are fo wide, Ali- enation of Spirits fo heightned, various and contrary In- formations lo flying abroad, and we redacted to fucK a Paucity: we fhall here premife a brief Dedu&ioa in fhorty of the Series and Tract of fome fignal Steps of our Church's Defection; fhewing alfb, notwithftanding thereof, how the Lord hath continued and conveyed down the Teftimony to the Reformation; although to us it is matter of Grief and Sorrow, to difcover our Mo- ther's Nakednefs, which is alfo our own Shame. But the clearing of the Teftimony, and the Vindication of Truth doth neceflitate us thereunto. W 7 hile our Church was enjoying her Privileges, an J was terrible to her Adverfaries, a great parr, both of the Church and State, fell upon -puhlick Refolutions, whereby known Malignants, and Men difafFecled to the Work and People of God were admitted to Places of Power and Truft, both in Judicatories and Armies, which notwithstanding was faithfully protefied and contended againft by feveral Minifters and ProfcfTors of all Ranks at (J ) , at that time: As alfb the Toleration of SeB dries in Ctim? OtffsTime, and even his Ufurpation was witnefled a- gainft by fome. But as it was our Sin, hrft and la ft, to meddie with Charles II. while he gave ail alongft fuch clear Evidences of his being an Enemy to the Caufe of God ; fo we found the bitter Effe&s of ir, in that, when he was reftored again, he did quickly forget all his Oaths and Vows to the Moft High (wherein he had been, as fome did clearly fee by many Difcoveries a mocking and diffembling Hypocrite) and did, at one Blow, cut off the Neck of our noble Conftitution of Church and State, and re-introduce abjured Prelacy , which many MiniRers did embrace', while others left their Charges at his Com- mand, even without fo much as a joint and Formal Prote- ction, entered againft chat Heaven daring act of Ty- ranny, except that fome were found witneffing againft ic in their lingular Capacities for themfelves. And when Congregations w 7 ere fo deftitute of Faithful Paftors, the moft part, both of Minifters and ProfelTors, did Countenance Prelacy > in 'hearing of Hireling Intruders. Yea, a* if no Testimony had been required in this Point, very few continued Preaching the Gofpel as they had Opportunity. Howbeit, as the Lord always had, and yriM have fome Witneffes, againft fuch hainous Indignities \ So he did Stir up a Company, both of Minifters and ProfelTors, who did appear at Pentland> in the Tear l666 y And there did hear Teflimony to the Covenanted Work of Reformation, to the fiedding of their Blood hoth in Fields and Scaffolds ; but were concurred with, and counte- nanced by few, in Refpeft of rhofe who were obliged, Alfb, afrer rba* Breach was made upon the LORD'S Camps, the mjft part of Minfters became SinfuUy Si- forbeanag to Encourage, Warn, and teach People, by the Preached Gofpel. But fome, notwithstanding of the then ominous and badly prefacing Face of Affairs, fetting the Trumpet to their Mouth, ventured to give z certain Sound, and to go forth Hero-like, to Difplay the Banner of Chrift's Eleffed Gofpel; who, for their fo doing;, were cenfured by the^r Brethren, in a Meeting at 'Bdinhutgh. Then Enemies, feeing that by their Cruel- ty they sould not prevail ; as, at the overturning of the ft Work Work of Reformation, they had brought upon the Stage 3 that Monfter of a Chrift-degrading and dethroning Au4 ■premacy> and by Law eftablifb'd ic upon the Ufurpcr] (which aifo paffed without a joint and publick TeiU- xnony) fo they began now to exert that Uiurped Power,! and to work by enfnaring and deftroying Policy. And) Icnowing that nothing would more fortify it, than MiJ nifters their Homologating and acknowledging it, there-ll fore they offered that firft Indulgence, a Court contriv-J cd Licence, bounded with ib many Reftri&ions and! Jnftru&ions, flowing forth from that Idol of Jealoufie,! the forefaid Supremacy; of fet purpofe, to divide Zion'H Builders, according to the MdtchiaveUian Principle, di-\ vide and then Command': Which many embraced; like! unto the filly Tvojans y beguiled by another deceitful I Sinon, to bring the Wooden Horfe through their own ; walls, already broken down with their own hands, to their own Deftrudion: Many others gaped after it who could not enjoy it : And many pleaded for the coun- tenancing of it when embraced. And as it had few who oppofed h at firft, fo thefc that afterwards contended againft it as a Defedion, how were they fufpeded, re- proached, and contradicted 1 And fbme of them in fun-^ dry Presbyteries Cenfured and Rebuked ? As namely Mr. Cameron, at SundozuaU, in the Paroch of Dun/core, irt Kith/dak) and in Edinburgh ; and others elfe where. Yet notwithstanding of the lukewarmnefs and indifFerency of many, the Lord ftirred up a handful to publifh the Teftimony at Rutherglen; May 29 , 1679, bearing wit- »efs againft the Sacrilegious Supremacy, the Declaration Condemning our Covenants, the aft for keeping the 29th. of May as an Holy Annwerfary day of Thankfgiv- ing for the upfetting of the Tyrant, and againft other Nefarious Ads of Parliament, and all prejudices done to the Intereft of Chrift in the Land. And for Con- firmation of their Teftimon)^ they did burn the fore- faid Ads, according as the Adverftry had burnt our Holy Covenants, and did extinguifh the Boncfires up- on the fame Anniverfary day, Neverthelefs, when the Lord's People did appear at Bothzvetf the fame year to recover the Churches due Privileges, and Peoples Li- berties, many Minifters and ProfeiTors did plead for taki*g .< 1 ■) takitig in the Tyrants Intereft into the Declaration of that Army, thereby mif-ftating the Quarrel, to the Of- fence of many ; and oppofed the interring of the In- dulgence among the fteps of our Defection. Like wife the Lord making us then to fall before our Enemits, for our fins, and becaufe we refufed to return, feveral Minifters accepted of the Adverfaries Indemnity , in terms that inferred a condemning of themiclves, though no Tra nigreflion was committed. And when the Tri- umphing Enemies were cre&ing Trophies of Vidlory* after Bothwel dcfcnt y ( Setting up the Heads of the JLe^ nown'd Martyrs, Mr. Kid, and Mn King, to witnefs, not only for Religion and Liberty, againft the Deftroy- ersofboth, but alfo againft the unfaithfulnefs of their Brethren in the Miniftry,) and infulting over the Cap- tives of the LORD's People, and impofing an Enfnar- ing Bond of Peace, which did imply a plain betraying of the Caufe, and condemning of all that had been done for promoting the Work of Reformation ; many Mi- nifters were filent, and refufed to j>ive their Advice ; and lime were not afhamed to perfwade theie Prifbners to put forth their hand to that Inicjuity ; Many alfo voted, in that Co called AfTembly$ for embracing the laft Indulgence with the Cautionary Bond, (which was no bet- ter, if not worfe, than the former) at leaft approved of, and contented unto that Deed : Yea, many, from that time, did forbear Preaching in the open Fields, but kept w'ithin houles, or near to houfes, in Homolo- gating of the Tyrants Orders, or at leaft that the Rigour of the Law might not be execute againft thtm, while they went to near the Borders of Obedience. But this did not continue long, for the Enemies foon deprived them of this pretended Liberty. Howbeit, the Lord had always fbme, both of Minifters and ProfefTors, to bear Teftimony againft thefe publick Sins and heinous Defec- tions ; and even in the midft of this general Yielding to the forefaid Indulgence, there were fundry Minifier* who did not give a formal Confent to the Emhracement of it : though 'tis true, as thev were few who diKcntcd therefrom, fo they were far fewer who refolutely oppo- fed the fame. Yea, when Mr. Richard Cameron came fi 2 froip ( S ) from Holland, before his going to the publick Wort, hs went to fome Minifters, defiring their Concurrence with him, in keeping up the Teftirnony in the Fields, accor- ding to the former manner which was followed before Bothzvel, by many Minifters, wherein they were much countenanced of the Lord ; but after his waiting fome time upon the fame, was denied thereof. However, he went forth, in great Hazard, and againft much Oppofi- tion, as a valiant and heroick Contender for all the Pre- rogatives of his Matter, wherein he was fignally owned of the Lord ; and continued fo, until he fealed that noble and neceffary Teftirnony with his Blood, fhed in the open Fields. Alfo, how few were not difpleafed with him ? and any elfe concurring in upholding the Standard of the Gofpel, in that faithful manner, fo much called for, efpecially at that Time; that it might be a Witnefs and Teftirnony, both againft the Adverfa- rics Encroachings, and alfb againft thefhameful and fin- ful Yieldings of themoft part of Minifters and ProfeJfTors thereunto. Further, when the Declaration was publifti- cd at Sanquhar, June 22. 1680. many of the Minifters did condemn it, and few, concurring with the Publifb- crs and Confenters, did appear publickly for it, even oecaufe of its difowning and difclaiming the Tyrant's Intereft: Many accounting fuch as died upon that head, to have laid down their Lives upon inefficient Grounds, which notwithftanding from that Time downward, the Lord hath honoured many Martyrs to ieal with their Blood, greatly countenancing them therein. This Te- ftirnony did more and more fide us, and fet us alone ; for, from thenceforth, feverals, who had not formerly fo openly oppofed, began to exprefs themfelves againft that Handful, and Action. However, the Teftirnony being thus ftated againft the acknowledging of, and complying with the Tyrannv then raging, and any wav ftrength- nfngthe Hands of the perfecting Party ; it pleafed the holy and wife God, for our further Trial, and his own Glory, to deprive us of thefe Worthies, who had fo fta- ted it, and did fo valiantly vindicate it, and at their Death did ftoutly feal it with their Blood at Ayrs Mofs \ many there being murdered, aad others martyred after- wards; ( 9 ) wards ; particularly Mr. Hackfton, who, as he had the Honour of being Protomartyr againft Tyranny, and of 2. moft pofitive declining his Murderers Pretence unto Authority ; fo had the Grace and Glory of the Lord's Affiftance and Acceptance in his Sufferings, as iignal, at the barbarous Severity of his Butchers was every way Angular. After which Time,none of our Minifters did concur with us in that part of our Teftimony, (except famous and faithful Mr. Donald Cargil) which made our Cafe very deplorable, and yet by the moft part little regarded or pitied, for any Evidences that we experienced of their Sympathy. Efpecially after the Death of the never to fee forgotten Martyr Mr. Donald Cargil, fad was the cafe of the Land for fome fpace of Time ; For now the abo- minable and damnable Errors of John Gib had been difc covered, who, firft pretending to outftrip others in a hoc and vigorous Zeal againft all the then current Corruptions of the Time, did draw fome poor well-meaning People, (tumbled efpecially at Minifters Defections, into a Con- fortfhip with himfelf, in his delirious Delufions, though not all of them alike to the full length of his Sorceries and Blafphemics ; neither did his Followers increafe to fuch a Number as was then feared and reported, being within Thirty, and moft part Women ; nor yet could have accefs to propagate his Herefy in the Weftem Shires, where moft of our Friends had their Refidence, (though they and we both have been moft inicjuiouily reproach- ed herewith) being difcoverod bv many, particularly by Mr. Cargily whofe Miniftry he rejeftcd : Yet his forefaid Followers did go a great way with him, (as they have with Rcmorfe refented flnce in their Confeflions, being through Mercy reclaimed, partly by Mr. CargiVs wri- ting to them, and partly by their own Difcoveries of him) and did not forfake him, till afrer all his exe- crable curfing of the Minifters, and others not of his Way. Being incarcerate, he put forth a blafphemous Paper, not only condemning all the Work of Reformation* but alfo the Englifh Bible, in the Form as it is new extant, as a human Invention, and containing many other Abo- minations ; in all which he pleaftd the Duke ofTork, and received C w ) received extraordinary Favours from him. And there- after being freely let go, he proceeded to that Height of Profanity and Contempt ot God, that he burnt the Bible and belched forth many other Blafphemies, which would he ofrenlive to Chriftian Ears to rehearle. Again, in fome Procefs of Time, James Rujfel did difcovcr fome unwarrantable Excefles, preffing indifferent Things as the moft neceflary Duties, as about naming the Days of the Week, and Months of the Tear, &c. ) and otherwife impofing upon Mens Conferences ; whereupon he and we parted : After which he branded and afperfed us ■with falfe Charges, as if we had turned afide to grofs De- fections, and palliated and plaiftered the Corruption f of our Time, conforting in this with fome few, and even with fome who had given little fatisfying Refentment of their former Extravagancies with Gib, being by them applauded and Jlrengthened in his forefaid Excejfes. In the mean while, there was no publick Teftimony by Preaching kept up, by rcafon of that fad Sleep of dark aad deep Silence into •which Minifters had fallen, which occafioncd very la- mentable Confufions ; fb that one could not underftand the Language of another, the Face of Affairs being fb obfeured, and matters looking fb hopelefs and helplefs like. Yet it pleafed the Lord, by a poor contemptible Handful, to convey down the Teftimony, by publishing another Declaration at Lanerk, January 12. 1682. con- firming the Preceeding at Sanquhar, in its difbwning the Intereft of the Tyrant, and bearing Teftimony a- gainft the immediately foregoing pretended Parliament, where James Duke of Tork did prefide as CommifTioner ; and in particular againft the abominable Teft, framed by them.But as the former was much condemned,fo alfbthis, even becaufc of its coming from us, and confirming San- cfuhar Declaration, as faid is. from thenceforth many did more plainly and pofltively oppofc us,' as if we had turned afide to fome erroneous and unhappy Courfe, And thus they proceeded to inform againft us, both at Home and Abroad, as fuch, without trying whether or pot we maintained fuch things as were laid to our charge, and taking pains to admonifh us, as became Watchmen, cfpccially when they apprehended People to be drawn afide ( II ) afide with Errors : For furely it was never yet heard* that an erring People (if we had been as they inform'cl againft us) were reclaimed by fuch Means as they ufed. However, the Lord {who is not wanting to provide Means for the firengthening and encouraging of his People') even then, when we were few in Number, without the Concur- rence of Parlors, and fcattered abroad, not well knowing the Minds of one another, nor who concurred with us through the Land, in theforefaid part of our Teftimony, did make fbme instrumental (immediately before the Publication of Lanerk Declaration) to gather us together in a general Correfpondence, which we have hitherto, by the Lord's Providence, kept up, both through the Shires: feverally, and all the Shires conjunctly, where fuch as owned our Teftimony did refide ; whereby we attained to better underftanding of one another, and were put in capacity to contribute more to our mutual Advantage. Whence it came topaft, that being thus jointly and har- monioufly knit together, we began, after the Publica- tion of the forefaid Declaration at Lanerk, in the next general Meeting or Correfpondence, to deliberate about fome Method, whereby our broken and low Cafe might be re- prefented and made known to Sir angers, (not that we might carry on a Fadion or Separation from the Sccttifo true Presbyterian Churchy as we were mifreprefented, but) that we might declare our Adherence to the Principles thereof. Hereupon it was refolved and thought fir, That fome of our Number fhould be particularly lent both jo the other Covenanted and Foreign Churches, to. make known our bro- ken and low Cafe to them, to wipe off Reproaches that were caft upon us, to reprefent the Juftnefs of cur Caufe, and that we might fee what Help thereby might be marie; unto us. After which, by the fpecial Providence of God, a Door heing opened for the Inftrudiion of fome Students at a College in the Netherlands, we feat thither fome young Men unto their Studies, not to become a Reproach to the Scottifb Church, (as fome fay) but to be inftrucled in Theology, that fo they might be in letter Capacity to keep up the Teftimony of our Lord fefus Chrifty according tp our Covenanted Reformation. Whereupon in fome procefs ©P'time, we received back Mr. fames Rentvick, an or- dained ( IS ) dained Minifler, whofc Labours God hath blefTed with fruit and Increafe, to the praife of Grace. Hereof ter ? while we continued to keep up our general Meetings and Correfpondencies, and alfb endeavoured to contribute what Aid we could in our places and ftations, to uphold | the Banner of the Gofpel, the Perfecuters Fury did rage 1 againft us in a very great meafure; in putting out cruel Afts and Laws, for all Subjecls to apprehend, or caufe apprehend us > I wherever we might be found, andraife the Hue and Cry af* I ter us : Alfb, inhibiting all to refet us, or correspond any planner of way with us, under the hazard and pain of be- ing liable to the fame vigour of their Laws that we our/elves were. Whereupon many of us being taken and killed, and very many banifhed, and fent to be fold as Slaves, while we could not efcape falling Into their hands in great Numbers, partly by their yigilancy and diligence, and partly through the information and intelligence that they got from many in the Country where we wander- ed ; we were then neceffitate to put forth another Decla- ration, November 1 684. which was affixed upon fbme Market-crofles, and feveral Parifh Church Doors, to de- ter and fear the Country from giving Intelligence of us, and alfo explain the latter Part of the forefaid Declara- tion at Sanquhar, concerning the declaring of War'againfi the Tyrant and his Accomplices, and to wipe off that mofi odious andfalfe Calumny , of being of the Judgment to kill all who were not of our own Opinion. Which Declaration* though many cried out againft it, yet was not condemn- ed by fo many as the former : And though it was the occafion of a greater Trial to the people of the Land than any formerly, becauie the Enemies preffed an Oath for abjuring the fame, fo violently and generally, and with fuch a fair and lying Face, that many yielded to it, fome Minifters taking it, and others pleading for it, (but as the Lord had many in the Land bearing Teftimony a- gainft the forefaid Abjuration, fome of them even unto death; of divers who had complied with it, exprefled afterward great forrow and remorfe for that Deed) yet the forefaid Declaration was fo far effectual, as to deter many from their former Diligence in informing againft Sis, afid-alfb to draw Qut fome to joio with us, and own the ( i3 ) the Work more publickly in their Places and Stations., than before this they had done. But in the mean time, when they were per fecuting us fo hotly ,their Soldiers and fome Gentlemen killing us wherever we could be founds without either Trial or Sentence, before any of their fo called Judica- tories ', and when they were holding their Courts con- cerning the abjuring of that fame Peclaration, the Lord did remove, by Death, that Tyrant Charles the Second ! Whereupon inftanrly followed the proclaiming of James Duke of Tork, a profefled and known Papift, an avowed Enemy to God and Godlinefs, by a Party of his own Creatures, as King of Great Britain, France and Ireland', and afterwards his convocating a Parliament in Scotland, to autliorifc and confirm the forefaid Proclamation, and to eftabliih him in his Ufurpation and Tyranny. There- fore we thought, that fuch a Deed could not pafs without fome Witnefs and Teftimony againft the fame by us, un- lefs we had forgotten the Method of our worthy , jealous , and re folate Reformer s, and cur folemn Bonds and C$venants to the Lord> and alfo his great Kindnefs fiown unto us, in preferring a Remnant of us in this hot fiery Furnace. Hence we publifhed another Declaration ac Sanquhar, May 28. 1685. Teftifying againfi the forefaid Proclamation, and pro- tefiing 'againfi the then pretended Parliament, convocate by him to efiablifb his Tyranny, and carry on his other Defigns, and alfo bearing Witnefs ' and Tefiimony againfi all kind cf Papiftr/, in general and particular Heads, as is fully expreffed in our National Covenant, againfi its entring into this Land again {which he and his Compli- ces were clearly feen to be driving at before, at that time, and much more fmce) and againfi any thing which might wiake way for the fame, &c. Which Declaration, as it was not fb much condemned by others, as any of our former, fo Enemies were fo far retrained by God, and diverted by other Means, of prefent occurring Exigen- cies, that it never as yet became any Trial to the Land, This was done in the mean time of the Earl of Arg\U his Expedition, with, which we were much preffed to concur; and fcverals imbodied with us, were drawn away with the Importunity of fome Minifters, and o~ then of that Aflbciation; yet we could nor join with them 3 C 14 ) diem, nor efpoufe their Declaration as the State of ourr Quarrel, becaufe it was not concerted according to the ancient Plea of the Scottip Covenanters, in Defence of * our Reformation, exprejly, according to our Covenants, ■ National and Solemn League, of which they made no mention in their Declaration, nor of Presbytcrial Go-| vernment, which was of purpofe, left the Sectarians! fhould be irritate, and becauic it opened a Door for a Confederacy with Sectarians and Malignants, of which Malignants they had fbme among them guilty of (hed- ding our Blood at Airs Mofs. After the Defeat of this Expedition, in Anfwer to the Defire of fome Minifters, who came over with the forefaid Earl -(at leaftit was re- ported to us they deilred fuch a thing) we had a Confe- rence with' them %uly 22, 1685, in which, inftcad of al- laying Differences, the Proposals that were made for U- nion did heighten our Breaches, both with them and a- mong ourfelves, as did appear by the Confecjuence : For herein, though they offered Accommodation, yet, in Conference, to bring it about, they maintained, ancl did not difown that which bred Alienation, to wit, 4 previous Information they had fent to Strangers, accuflng us of heavy thing* ', that we had not only caji off all Magi- strates ', but had confiitute among ourfelves all Kinds of Ma* gifirates, and were for cutting off all as open Enemies, who did not acknowledge our imaginary Government, that our Societies were only an erroneous FaBhn, and have no Power of calling Pajlors, &c. Which Information, fo full of Calumnies, though they did extenuate, alledging that Copy of it which we produced was forged; yet they confe/Ted fbme fuch Information was written, and went on to profecute in effecl: the fame Crimination, and f^idy they excerpted all out of our publick Papers, and further challenged us for falily accufing them in our Proteiration againit the Scottifi Congregation at Rotterdam, where thev with others were promifcuoufly charged with fun- dry things in the grofs, which they were not guilty of. We confeiTed it was an Overfight, conjunctly to accumu- late thefe Charges without Diftinclion ; but taking them Separately, we offered to make out every thing there charged, upon the Names inferted. Furthermore, in „ inveigh- ( *5 ) inveighing againft Mr. Renwick's Ordination, they ac~ cufed the Church of Holland of Eraftianifm, and of chrec Sprinkling in Ba^tifm, which they called Popifh, and fome other Corruptions. To which he only replied, That he had received his Ordination from the Presbytery of Groningen, and they being Foreigners, and not chargeable either with our Defections, or any declining from the Tejli- mony of their own Church, but advancing and groaning un- der fome Corruptions from which they were never^ reformed, would come under another Qonfideratiou than the Mtnificrs of our own Church, defending a Courfe of Defection, Hovv- beit, as he protefted in the Face of their Presbytery, when he received Ordination, againft all things that he knew among them difTonantto the Reformation of the Church of Scotland, fo he told his purpofe to inform that Venerable Presbytery, how they were reprefented /# Scot- land ; and if they could not clear themfelves, at leafi of fome of the gr off eft of thefe things, he would be willing to acknow- ledge, before fuch as were competent, that he had of ended in meddling with them. The Accommodation they of- fered was upon Terms which we thought deftructive to our Teftimony, to lay alide all Debate, and \tt Bygones pafs, and go on in thepublick Work, which we did net think was the way to heal our fore : But we offered, if Differences and Exceptions could be removed in a right and honeft way, we would be moft willing to join with them ; which Exceptions were given in, in thefe Parti- culars following, viz. Their leaving the Country, and de- ferring thepublick Work, when it was fo neceffary to concur in the Teflimony, in a Time offo great a Famine of the Go- fpel ', and not only not concurring in the Teflimony, but con- demning it in Sanquhar aW Lanerk Declarations, even as to the matter of them ', and not condemning the pay hi nr of the Locality impofed for maintaining Soldiers avainfl the Work and People of God', their countenancing the Compilers of the Time, while in the Land) and, when abroad, joining with the Scots Congregation at Rotterdam, and hearing the In- dulged preach there ', their informing again fl us, and afper- fing uiwith Jlanders, fitch as thefe in the foremeneioned In- formation \ and their concurring in the Earl of Argyle'j Af- foe\ation t again fl which we had fo many things u objeft, as ( 16 ) &s above hinted* Which Exceptions (though among thcl^- leaft we have againft many other Minifters, with whomlw we have no Clcarnefs to join in our now CircilnftancesJ^ yet) we thought fufficient to demur upon, when, afterli; many fruitlefsj anglings, we could receive no Satisfaction If about them, nor a publick Teftimony fatisfyingly fta« ted, wherein we might both agree and concur ; albeit we made an Overture in the End, that they and we ihould endeavour it in this Sovt,Th at they fever ally by them- f elves pould draw up all the Sins of the Time, and we by ourfelves, thatfo, when compared together, it might befeen where we differed, and how far we could unite. But tho* they feemed to be as much for it as we at firft, yet in the End when it was offered, they rejected it. So the Conference broke up; and thereafter we were more un- tenderly dealt with by them, and alfo deferted by feve- ral joined with us in Fellowfjiip, who from that Time began to leave off coming to our General Meetings, and to keep feparate Ways, without refpeel: to our former contented to Agreement; and alfo did hear, receive, and ipread fome falfe Repofts given forth againft us, without premonifhing us about the fame, and drew many off from our Societies by fuch means. With fome of which we had a Conference, January 28. l6$6, who faid, They had a verbal Commiffton from fome S$cieties in Carrick, &*c. the Effect whereof (whatever was the Intent of their coming)tended to a further breach, though we were no£ confeious to ourfelves of any untender Dealing with them. For, firft, we did endeavour to remove all fup- pofed Grounds, upon which .they might (tumble into A- lienation from us, by clearing our Minds about all thefe things the Minifters laid to our Charge. Then feveral Questions of Weight about our prefent Differences were proponed ro the Meeting, to wit, about a Letter of Accu- fation fpread agairft us, which they did not positively difclaim, about the Earl of Argyle'j Declaration (which they would own or difown, according as it w.is diverfly interpreted) about the Exceptions given in againft the Mini* fiers (which they alledged were not valid.) And finally, we asked the forefaid Perfons, Whether or not they were clem to join with us } in general and particular Fellowpips, WW ( *7 ) flow when they had heard us /peak our Minds fo freely ? This they refufed to anfwer, putting the Queftion back, whether or not we would join with them 1 And gene- rally, in all the Queftions, they declined Freedom and Plainnefs, and feemed averfe from fatisfying us, and to be rather for contending, than a free Communing for Union. Chiefly they fUckled about a general Conclu- ilon, previoufly agreed to, and refolved upon among us> That nothing relative to the Publick, and concerning the whole, fbould he done, without the Confent, or at leajl the Knowledge of the whole. Which Conclusion, though for- merly they agreed to, yet now they called an Impofi- tion ; alledging, that thereby they might not hear a faith- ful Minifter, when Occafiop offered ; though we told them, we did not take that Conclulion in an abfolute Senfe, butexponcd it, as it is after qualified, with the feveral Cautions, mentioned Head I. Se&. 3. In fine, for the Refult of this Conference, When we were urged as above, (whether we would join with them as former- ly ?) by way of Retortion to our Propofal of the fame to them, we told them, we could not anfwer them in name of our Societies, having no Direction from them for that Effect ; and that for our own part, we would not refufe accidental or occafional Communion with them, as Brethren and Chriftians; but in the prefenc Circumfrances, we could not be clear to concur w T ith them as formerly, in carrying on the publick W T ork, un- til our Exceptions were removed ; which were, Their breaking that Conclufion of Brotherhood formerly con- defcended to, in their calling Minifrers, asainft whom we had Exceptions unremoved, without acquainting us therewith, in their drawing together in Arms without our Knowledge, and contrary to what was concluded by themfelves with our Friends ; and their fiding with o- therPerfons in Points of Difagreement aeainlr us; where- upon they broke away abruptly. And their Carriage fince hath been very difengaging, by their labouring ma- ny Ways to reprefent us unto the World as odious, m their Informations given in to Minifrers asainft us. But now we rauft bear many Obloquies from them an,"! o- thers, waiting in dependence on the Lord's Vindication, who ) i8 ) tvho will hring forth our Righteoufnefs [(or frarher th Righteoufnefs of his own Caufe, by us maintained) a the Lighi y and our Judgment as the Noon-day , in his o pme. But fhunning to be prolix, and ftudying all Bre * vity potfible, we fhali here dedft from fuch a fad an< lamentable Relation, wherein we have but touched fom of the many Steps of our Defection, and our poor an< infignificant Contendings againft the fame. 7he Declaration of the prejent State of our Tejiimony. TH £ former Deduction we have premifed, that the State of our prefeht Controveriies may be the more fully and clearly reprefented, and that what Follows may be the better underftood ; having difcovered how our Defections and Breaches began, and how they have multiplied and increafed, and how notwithstanding the Lord hath never wanted a Company of living Wit- neffes to bear Teftimony againft the fame, But feeing as it hath been the Lot of the more faithful in all Ages of the Church, fo in our Day, thefe whom the Lord hath honoured arid helped to witnefs for him, againft the crooked Ways of the Generation, have had it for their Trial to be much fufpe&ed, reproached, contra- dicted, cenfured and oppofbd by many of lukewarm* backdrawing and indifferent Tempers; and we have not wanted our Share; by reaion of the dreadful Imputations of Perfecuters, and the Mifrepreferitations of pretended Friends, whereby 'many of Zion*s Wellwifhers have heen nonplused, what to think of us and of our Caufe: Therefore, for the Glory of God, the Vindication of Truth, the Satisfaction of puzzled Conferences, clearing of Differences, wiping ofFR.eproachcs, removing of Mi- ftakes upon our part, reclaiming fuch, as through Igno- rance, Mifinformation, or mifconceiving Apprehensions, have heretofore miftaken, at leaft have become jealous of our Principles and Practices ; for convincing of thefe - (if ( »9 ) (if the Lord will) who moftly oppofe us; for maintain* 1 ing, according to our Power and Places, the covenanted Work of Reformation, and that the young Generation may not be tumbled (who are greatly in hazard there- of, by the Turnings aiide that have been to the right and left hand.) And finally, that all the Chriftian re- formed World, who will impartially weigh Matters in the Ballance of the Sanctuary, without AfFe&ion or Pre- judice, may fee with their own Eyes, and attain unto a better Underftanding concerning us ; upon thefc and the like grave and important Conhderations, we, for our- felves, and all who adhere unto us, in the ftated Tefti- mony againft Popery, Prelacy, Eraftianijm, SeBarianifm^ Schifm or Defection, find ourfelves obliged to give an Ac- count of our Principles to the World, and then proceed to offer a brief Reply to the material Accufations which are given forth againft us in Letters, Informations and Conferences. We (hall now therefore, in the firft place, give a fhort Declaration of our Testimony, (hewing firft what we maintain, and pofitively own, as the Matter of it. And fecondlyi what we difbwn, as prejudicial thereunto, and inconfiftenr therewith. As to the Firft, We fincerely, unanimoufly, and con- fiantly teftify and declare our hearty embracing of, and Adherence unto the written Word of God, contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Teftament, as the only Rule of Faith and Manners, and whatfoever is founded thereupon : fuch as the Confeffion of Faith, our Catechifms Larger and Shorter^ our Covenants, National and Solemn League, the Acknowledgment of Sins, and Engagement to Duties, the Caufes of God's Wrath, the ordinary and perpetual Officers of the Church by Chrift's own Appointment', fuch as Pajlors, Doctors, Elders and Deacons, and the Form of Church-go- nernment, which is commonly called Presbyter iah either in Congregational, Presbyterial, or Synodical Affemblies, whe- ther Provincial, National or Oecumenical ; together with all the Acl s and Proceedings of our General Ajfemblies (efpeci- ally from the Year 1658 to 1 649 inclufive) yea, and e- very Piece of the attained unto Reformation of the Church of Scotland, In like manner, we teftify and declare out cordial Adj. hennci ( 20 ) loetence unto all the faithful Contending* , that lave been owned andprofecute by Minifiers or Profeffors, for Promoval and Defence of Reformation in former Times: as thefe, A- gain ft thepublick Refolutions, Cromwcl'i Vfurpation, the vaft Toleration ofHereJles and Seels in his Time : as alfo, To all the faithful Contendings of Minijiers and Profeffors (Ince the unhappy Refioration of Charles II. (whentheWork of Re- formation was overturned) unto this very Day , whether a- gainft the facrilegious Ufurpation and Tyranny of the Ma- lignant Party, or againif the Compliances, Defections and Vnfaithfulnefs of Minifiers and Profeffors, More particu- larly, unto all faithful Protefiations, Tefttmonies and De* clarations, that have been given in thefe latter Times for the Work of Reformation, and againft all Ufurpations of and Encroachments upon the Prerogatives ofChrifi*s Crown and Privileges of his Houfe, and any thing clfe, of what* foever Sort, prejudicial to the Reformation : And exprefly we declare our Adherence unco the Declarations published at Rutherglen, Sanquhar, ( firft and Iaft) and at Lanerky together with the Apologeticai Declaration affixed upon Ibme Market-croffes, and feveral Parifh Church-doors, for the Matter, Sub fiance and Scope of them, as accommo- dated to the Times wherein they were exhibited, ac- cording as we explain them afterward. Head, 2. Finally, we Teftify and Declare, our Cor- dial owning and approving of the Faithful and Free Preaching of the Golpel in the open fields, as well as in Houfes, both before and fince Bothwel ; and* of the Duty of defending the Gofpei and ourfeives by Arms, and the Lawfulnefs of De fen five War againft the Ufuvpers of our Ecclejiaftical and Civil Liberties ; and confequently, all theft appearances in a Martial manner againft the pub- lick Enemies of this Church and Kingdom at Pentland, Drumclog, Bothiwell, and Airs Mofs. And alfb our Ad- herence unto the Teftimonies given by Martyrdom on Fields, Scaffolds and Seas, or other ways by Banijbmenty Imprisonment, Stigmatizings, Tortures, or Suffering any otherways, for their Adherence unto the Reformation, and Non-complyance with the God provoking Couvfes of the time, and for not owning the Authority, or rathei* Tyranny of Ufurpers, in place of Magiftracy qualified according to the word of God* As ( 21 ) As to the Second, We fincerely, Unanimouily, and Conftantly Teftify and Declare, our rejecting of what- fbever is contradictory or contrary unto the Written W r ord of God, or not founded thereupon, either expref- ly or by direct near or neceflary confequencc : Arid more particularly, in like manner, we Teitify and De- clare our Rejecting and Difovvning of Popery , Quakerifm^ Libertinifrriy Antinomiamfrriy Socinianifm \ and ail othar Herepes under whatfocver De/ignation, together, with the Blafphemies, Hereftcs, and wild Extravagancies o£ John Gib : Ail Errours upon the right hand) fuch as Anabaptifni) Independency , Millenianifm \ and all other Seels and Schifms y together with the Divifive courfes followed by any others, efpecially in our day, and the Ufurping of any upon the Minifterial Function noc duely called thereunto, as upon this ground (befide o- ther reafons we have excepted againft Mr. John Flint: And all Errors upon the left hand) as Prelacy and Erafti- anifni) (againft which our Church hath had much wre- filing and contending) together with all kinds of Idol- atry) Super ftition and ProphanenefS) and whatfoever elfe is found contrary to found Doclrine and the power of Godli- mfs. - Moreover, considering what Hainous and God-pro- voking (ins have been committed in this Land againft: God, in contempt of, and with prejudice to his Caufe and Covenants, Since we began to turn away from him, we fhall briefly enumerate fome of thefe, Declaring our Deteftation and Abhorrence of the fame. Therefore, in the firft place, we declare our Teftimony againft all Compliances with the Iniquities of this time Eftablifbed by Law, in obedience to their curfed Commandments ', di- rectly or indire&ly. All countenancing of and comply ing with Prelacy ; Supremacy, or Tyranny) or any Usur- pation on Church or State, made by this Malignant E- riemy. All hearing of Curates or Indulged) or paying cither of them Stipends, exacted by iniquious Law fit- ting them up : All anfwering to the Courts of Per- ftcutors ; Taking any of their Oarhs, as the Decla- ration, renouncing the Covenants, the Oaths of Supremacy and Atfegiance, the Teft, the Onh of Abjuratkn, The C Oath ( 22 ") Oath Concerning things to be enquired after, and all others of the like nature ; particularly, the late new contriv- ed Oath of AUegiance y fubftitute in the place of ail the former, and comprehending in its bofome, the Extract of all their iniquiries, requiring the acknowledgment and maintainance of the moft open, faced, and declar- ed abfoiute Tyranny of rhe Duke of Tork, in his in* vading the Sovereignty of the moft High; and all his fubftrvient Popifh and Athcftical deflgns, which is contained in the late Proclamation or the abominable Toleration : Likeways all fubferibing any of their Bonds, impofed to fetter and defile the Confidence, as the Bond of Peace, Bond of Regulation ; the Bond of Ccmpearance 3 and all others partaking of Affinity with thefe ; as alio the paying any of their wicked Impofitions forbear- ing down the Gofpel, and work of Reformation, as Mi- litia-Mcney, Cefs, Locality, Fines, or Stipends, or any thing that may ftrengthen the hands of fuch evil Doers. And in UJce manner, we declare our Teftimony againft all the fteps of Defection, declining from or contradic- tory unto the Covenanted Reformation of the Church of Scotland; and therefore we difbwn, afc inconfiftent with our Anccftors Teftimony, that promifcuous AiTo- ciation in the late Expedition 1685, and all Aflbciations and Confederacies whatfeever with Sectaries and Ma- lignants, and any other thing that opens a Door for their Introduction and Toleration, or whereby the ftate of the Quarrel is not propofed according to the ancient flea, againft both right and left hand Oppofites. But more particularly, bccaule our Principles are moft lufpeSed upon the Ordinances of Magiftracy and the Miniftry ; therefore we (hall plainly unbofom our Hearts about thefe alfb. We profefs then concerning Magiftra- cy, (to obviate the Sufpicion of any unfriend linefs to- wards that Ordinance, and difloyalry to rightful Magi- ftrates) and declare our Minds in thefe Aflertions. I. As we diftinguifh between Magiftracy, or the Office (in the abftract) and the perfons invefted with the Office, ib oi Magiftracy m itfclf confidcrcd, we lay, That as it is not fubjeftivcly founded upon Grace, fb it is a holy and divine Injtiiution, for the good of human Society, the encou- ragement ( £? ) tagement of Virtue and Piety, and curbing of Vice and tin- piety, competent unio, and honourable amongfi both Chrifli** arts and Heathens. 2. As for fuch Magiftrates as being rightly and lawfully conftitute over us, do acl as the Mi- nifiers of God, in a dire ft Line of Subordination to God } in the defence of our Covenanted Reformation, and the Subjetts Liberties; we declare, whenfeevcr we can obtain and enjoy fuch Rulers, *we will own, embrace, obey, and de- fend them to the outmofi of our Power, and prove encoura* ging, fubjeft, and obedient to them in our Places and Stati* ens. 3. In things Civil, though we do not fay that eve- ry tyrannical Act or Action doth make a Tyrant, yec we hold, thac habitual, obftinate, and declared Oppo- iitionto, and overturning of Religion, Laws and Liber- ties, and making void all Contracts with Subjecls, or when he ufurps a Power without any Compaft, or giving any Security for Religion and Liberties', or when he is fuch, a j the Laws of the Lund do make incapable ef Government . Thcfe do fuffkiently invalidate his Right and Relation of Magiftracy ; and warrant Subjects, efpecially in Co- venanted Lands, to revolt from under, and difown Alle~ giance unto fuch a Power. In fuch a Cafe, when the Body of a Land, collectively confidered, or the more faithful and better part of that Land, in the time of na- tional and univerfal Apofiafy, and complete and habitual Tyranny, adhering cloflv to the fundamental Con flit utions and laudahle Practices of that Covenanted Land, (when the fundamental Laws of that Kingdom are directly over- turned, and the efTential Conditions of the mutual Com- pacts are broken, and fuch as cleave clofly to the Refor- mation and Liberties of the Kingdom are accounted Re- bels, and profecutcd as fuch) may reject and refufe the Magi fir atical Relation , between the Tyrant and them : yet before the Erection of formal Magiftracy, they may not lawfully arrogate to themfelves that Authority which the Tyrant hath forfeited, or claim to themfelves the Authority of Judges ; though radically, they have the Authority of the Law, bv their natural Right and fun- damental Power, which God allows, and is Nature's At- tendant; and the municipal Privilege of thefe Subjects £ but thev cannot aft judicially, in edther Civil or Crimi- Ca oai ( *4 ) aai Courts, only in the interim, they may lawfully do that which may mojl conduce to the fecuring of themfelvesy Religion and Liberty. 4. In, Church Affairs, wc allow the Magiftrate a Power over the outward Things of the Church, viz. what belongs to the Bodies of Church Officers and Members, but not over the inward Things ot the Church, fuch as Do&rine, Worfbip, Difcipline, and Govern- ment. We own he may, and ought to preferve both Tables of the Law, and punifh by corporal and temporal Tunifiment, whether Church Officers or Members, as o- penly dishonour God by grofs Offences, cither againft the firft or fecond Table ; but this he may not do every way, but afcer his own manner; not intrinsically, but extrinjically \ not under the consideration ot a Scandaly but of a Crime. Wc grant he may order fuch things as are for the well-being and iubfiftance of the Church, and for that end may convocate Synods in fbme Cafes of the Church, pro re nata, befide their ordinary Meetings (ac- cording as that part of Art. 2. chap. 3 1, of our ConfeJJion of Faith, is fully and ciearly explained by the Adt of the XJencral AfTembly of the Church of Scotlandy conveened at Edinburgh, Augufi 27. 1647. Sejf. 23. approving the iorefaid Confeflion of Faith) and may be prefent there in external Order ; but not prejide in their Synodical De- bates and Refolutions: He may add his Civil SanBion to Synodical Refults, but we deny him any Power torefirain Church Officers indlfpenjlng of Chrijl's Ordinances, or forbid them to do what Cfarift hath given them in Commandment. We own, That as he ought to take care of the Mainte- nance of the Miniftry, Schools, and Poor, fo imperatively fee may command Church Officers to do their Duties ; yet Wc deny him an eliative Power, either to do himfelf what is incumbent to Church Officres, or to depute others to adminifler Ordinances in his Name, or by any Minijlerial Tower received from him. Finally, We allow him a cu- mulative Power, whereby in his own way he aflifteth, itrengthneth, and ratifyeth what Church Officers do by virtue of their Office ; but we deny unto him a privative Power, which detraQeth any way from the Church's Authority ; for he is a Nurfing- father, and not a Step- faihero In fum, wc grant this to be the full Extent of the ( 25 ) the Magistrates Supremacy in the Church Affairs, to order fjjhatfoevtr is commanded by the God of Heaven y that k be diligently done for the Houfe of the God of Heaven. And what further he may ufurp, we difown and deteft. Butconfidering the God-contemning and Heaven-da- ring Wickednefs, Usurpation, and Tyranny, ofthepre- fent and latter pretended Rulers over this Land, and what grievous Affronts, bold and open Defiances, they have .given to the moil High God, and what unparal- leilcd Abufes they have done to the Ordinance of Magi- ftracy : Therefore, We difown, deleft, and abhor the Cor- ruption, PerverJIon, and Everjlon of that Ordinance in this Land* And in theftrft Place, for the late Tyrant ', As we do abhor the Memory of his EreHion y and unhappy Reftoration, after, by many Evidences, he was known to be an Enemy to God and the Country ; his nefarious Wickednefs, in ejecting the Ministers of Chrift from their Charges, and introducing abjured Prelacy ; his at- trocious Arrogance, in refunding all Ads of Parliament for the Works of Reformation ; his unparallelled Perfidy and Perjury, in making void, and burning the Covenants ; his Heaven-daring Ufurpation, in arrogating to himfelf that blafphemcus andChr'ifl-dethroning Supremacy \ his au- dacious and treacherous exercing of that ufurped Power, * in giving Indulgences to outed Minifters, to divide and c destroy the Church ; his arbitrarian and manifest Ty- c ranny over the Confciencej of poor People, prefling € them to conformity with the Time's Abominations, * contrary both to Religion and Reafbn, and impofing < upon them Confcience-debauching Oaths. His abfolutc c Domination over the whole Land, in levying Militia, * and other Forces, Hcrfe and Foot, for carrying on his € wicked Defigns, of advancing himfelf to an arbitrary c Power, and bearing down the Work of Reformation, 1 and enflaving the People ; particularly, in fending aa < Hoft of lavage and barbarous Highlanders, feveral * Times, upon a poor innocent People, to waftc and de- * ftroy them ; and imponng wicked Taxations for the f Maintenance ofthele Forces, profe fled ly required for ' fupprefiing Religion and Liberty, and preferving and * orometing his Abfolutenefs over ail Matters and Per- *fori£ ( *6 ) • * fbns, Sacred and Civil. His Cruelty over the Bodies * of Chriftians, in chafing, catching, and killing upon * the Fields, many, without Sentence paft upon them, c or Time previously to deliberate upon Death ; yea, c and without taking notice of any Thing to be laid a- * gainft them, according to the worft of their own Laws ; c drowning Women, (bmeof them very young, and fbme * of exceeding old Age; imprifbning, laying in Irons, * exquifite Torturings by Boots, Thummikins, and Fire- € matches ; cutting Pieces out of the Ears; baniihing and € felling as Slaves Old and Young ; Men and Women, in * great Numbers, bloodily butchering upon Scaffolds ; c hanging fome of all Sexes and Ages; heading, mang- * ling, difmembring alive, quartering dead Bodies ; op- * prefling many others in their Eftatcs, forfeiting their * Poffeffions, robbing, pillaging their Goods ; catting * Men, Women, and Children out of their Habitations; * interdicting any to refit them, under the Pains of be- * ing treated after the fame manner,* And all this for their Adherence unto the Covenanted Work of Reforma- tion ; while, in the mean time, many Murderers, Aduk eerers, and Inceftuous Perfons, Sodomites, Witches, and other Malefactors, were pardoned, or palt without Pu- liifhment So, for the continued and habitual Traft of thefe, and many other A&s of Tyranny, we have dis- owned, and yet adhere to our Revolt from under the Yoke of Tyranny of Charles the Second, and declare,that his whole Government was a complete and habitual Ty- trawiy, and no more Magijtracy than Robbery is a right- ful Poffcflion. And in like manner, in the next PI^cc, We difbwn the Usurpation of James DukeofTork y fuc- eeeding and infifling in the fame Footftcps of Tyranny, Treachery, and Cruelty ; with the fame domineering over Men and Worn ens Confidences, and Cruelty to«? wards their Bodies and Eftates, and Oppreffion over the land; arrogating to himfelf an abfolute Power, more declaredly than any other formerly ; and labouring to bring thefe Lands again in Subje&fon to the Yoke of Antichrift, being a profefTed Papift; and therefore, whatever Right he may pretend by Lineal Succeflion, S&iFagc of iniquous La ws> and packed Parliaments, he hath ( 2 7 ) hath no legal or lawful Right to the Crown : Efpecial- ly, feeing many Afts of ancient Parliaments declare Pa* pifts altogether incapable of bearing any Rule, or any o- ther whomfbever, except they be Maintainers ot the true Proteftant Religion, according to the National Co- venant, as it is ftatute by 8th AcJ y Pari. I. Repeated in the 99th Aft, Pari 7. ratified in the 2$dAtt y Pari. 1 1, and 144^ A&, Pari. 12. of King James VI. and 4th A& of King Charles I. And here we ftand as to the Point of Magijlracy. Concerning the Minifiry, to obviate the Sufpicion of any Averiation from the holy Ordinance of the Miniftry, and of denying Obedience in the Lord to true and faith- ful Paftors, We in like manner declare, 1. As we di- ftinguifh between the Miniftry and Minifters, as bctweea the Office and the Perfons inverted therewith ; fb, as for the Miniftry itfelf, we own the Lawfulnefs and Neceffi- ty thereof, againft Quakers, and all its other Oppofers ; and hold it our Dury (as we would not be rebellious a- gainft Chrift) to own, obey, and encourage in the Lord, all true and faithful Paftors, and highly to honour them in Love for their Works fake. 2. We look upon it as unlawful, for any Man, never fo well qualified other- wife, to take upon him the Work of the Miniftry, with- out Licence, or a lawful Call and Ordination, by la 3'- ing on of the Hands of the Presbytery, or any competent Number of thefe to whom Chrift hath committed the Power of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. 5. We hold, That Power of Church Government and DifcU pline, together with the Exercifc of the Minifterial Fun- ction, by Divine Appointment, is neither committedj nor doth appertain to Pope, Prelate, Magiftrate, or Mul- titude of Believers, Presbytcriated or Unpresbyteriatcd ; hut only unto the Minifters and Officers^ which Chrift hath appointed over his own Church, (which is his Mediatory Kingdom) as the Subject and Receptacle of Church Power ; and fay, That Believers are the End of Church Power, and the Objeft thereof, or the Party to be governed ; but not the Subject, or Governors, or in any meafure endued with that Power of tforafelves, ei- ther formally or radically. 4, We hold, That Schifm, or C 28 ) pr difbwnlng and reje&mgof, orgroundlefs and unwar- rantable fcparating from true and faithful Minifters, to be a very heinous, hateful, and hurtful Sin; yet this doth not hinder, but that it may be Duty, in a broken State of the Church, to withdraw from Minifters charge- able with Defection : For, feeing this Church hath at- tained to fuch a high Degree of Reformation, and fee- ing, by fblemn Covenants to the Almighty, we have bound ourfelires to maintain and defend the fame ; fee- ing by reafon of the Enemies Subtilty and Cruelty, and the fainting, falling, and failing of Minifters, fo many dreadful Defections have been introduced, embraced, and countenanced ; feeing, in thefe Times of diftempe- sring ConfuOons, w r e arc now deprived of the Remedy of fettled judicatories, whercunto we might recur for rec- tifying of Diforders ; and feeing we are bound to witnefs againft thefe complying and backfliding Courfes, where- by the Wrath of God is fb much kindled againft the Land : Therefore, we hold it as our Duty, that when a Backfliding or Defeclion is embraced, avowed, or ob- stinately defended, in fuch Things us have been reform- ed, cither exprefly or ecjuivalently,efpecially being wit- neiled againft do&rinally, and further confirmed by o- kher Tcftimonies, We judge it lawful, reafonable, and neceffary, in a declining, backfliding, and troubled State of the Church, to leave that part of the Chureh which hath made fuch Defection, whether Minifters or Profef- fbrs, as to a joint Concurrence in carrying on the publick Work, (according as it is given in Command to Jeremiah xv, 9, Let them return unto thee y but return not thou unto them) and to adhere unto the other Part of the Church, Minifters and ProfefTors, whether more or fewer, who are ftandingftcdfaftly to the Defence of the Reformation, ivitnefting againft others who have turned afide and de- clined therefrom; until the Defections of the backfliding Party be confeffed, mourned over, and forfaken. This is no Separation from the Church of Scotland^ but only a departing and going forth from her Sins, Backfli- fdiogs, and Defections, as we are commanded by the Lord, Bu£ confideringj how ^his Courfc of Defection and ( 29 ) Pwevolting; from the Lord hath cither beer/ carried on, complied with, countenanced, or covered, by the molt jpart of the Minifters of the Church of Scotland ; where- by the Prerogatives of Chrift have been furrendered, and the Ufurper eftablifhed in the peaceable Pofleffion of His Royai Throne, the Privileges and Liberties of his King- dom (the Purchafe of his Blood, tranfmitced to us thro* the many valiant Witneifings of our worthy Anceftors) abandoned and yielded to the moft declaredly ftatedE- nemy to Chrift, that ever was engaged in opposition ro him i and whereby the holy Ordinance of the Miniftry is fo much wronged, corrupted and perverted ; and fuch Indignities and Affronts given unto Chrift, the Giver and Granter of rheirCommiffion ; and Minifters them- felves made contemptible before the People. We declare our Teftimony againft all Compliances, Defections, Back- flidings, Turnings-a fide, and Prejudices done to the Work of God, by the Minifters of the Church of Scot* land. Howbeit, as we acknowledge to the Lord's Praile, that there have been faithful Minifters in this Church from time to time, who have valiantly, zealoufly, and faithfully wreftled, contended, and wkneiled againft, not only the heinous Indignities done to their Princely Mafter, by the open and avowed Enemy ; but alfb the Wrongs done ro his Caufe and Kingdom, by the Com- pliances, Defections, and Lukewarmnefs of other Mini- fters. So we mention not thefe things to reflect upon the holy Office, or from any Prejudices at their Perfbns ; nei- ther to juftify ourfelves, but to fhow our Refpect unto, and Eftcem of the holy Ordinance, to clear Truth, and to vindicate the Caufe. Therefore we muft tcftify againft thefe great Defecti- ons of many Minifters, viz. In the firft Place, againft that Concurrence given by many Minifters to the Treaty of Breda, for bringing home the King, after many Dif- coveries of his Treachery and Inclinations to Tyranny, notwithstanding of many feafonable and neceffary Warn- ings of the General AfTembly, to be very and the fainting ( 3° ) fainting of others, in forbearing to give faithful Warning of (or great and dangerous a Sin, when fbme for their Freedom\}[ and Faith fulnefs were fufpended from their Miniftry; a-| gainft their Compliances with Cromwel , againft not ftand- ing for the Intrinftck Privileges of the Churchy in proteft- ing agamft that Heaven-daring Ufurpation 7 of diffipating and diflolving all the Church AfTemblies, and free Courts of Chrift : Their finful and general fuccumbing, and yield* ing the Charge and Overljght of their peculiar Flocks, at the Command of Man, as if they had not received their Commiflion from Chrift, and that inftead of faith- ful witnefling againft the fatal overturning of the Work of God, and Introduction of abjured Anti-Chriftian Prela- cy> the mod part did forthwith embrace it, many others countenanced it by hearing thefc intruded Hirelings ? Their exhibiting no publick plain Tefiimofiyy againft the nefarious Wickednefs committed in that Day when cur Solemn League and Covenant was broken, and de- clared null r , by contrary impofed Declarations y and Confer- ence enfnaring Oaths* Their Unfaithfulnefs and Difc loyalty to the Prince of the Kings of the Earthy in not giving Teftimony againft the Supremacy , in the Day when it was by Law eftablifhed upon the Ufurper of Chrifi'i Royal Dignities. Their general laying afide the Exercife of their Office* after the Work of Reformation was overturned, whereby poor People wanted Warning of the Sins and Snares of the Time* Their embracing of the In- dulgence, their gaping after that pretended -Privilege, who could not enjoy the fame; and others dealing un- faithfully, in cot witnefling plainly againft the Grant- crs and Receivers thereof, fome pleading for it as no DefeBiony and others pleading for Union with thefe who had embraced Jt : and the Meeting of flmdry Mini- vers in feveral Presbyteries, for rebuking and cenfuring the more faithful Servants of Chrift, for difcovering the Sinfulnefs of that DefeB ion ; and their laying Bonds on others not to preach againft the fame. Likewife, when the Lord ftirred up fome Minifters to go forth, and preach the Gofpel freely in the Fields , and was fcen to countenance thefe Meetings, that fbme abode (till in their Habita- tions, and did not concur with their more valiant and faithful ( 3* ) faithful Brethren, to difplay the Banner of the Gofpel in that publick Manner: and others who not only layby from the Exercife of their Miniftry, but alfo countenan- ced Prelacy in hearing of Curates y and the Indulgence y in preaching with and hearing thefe who accepted it; their being embraced both by Minifters and People, without any Acknowledgment of fuch Offences. Moreover, when forne were forced to appear in Arms for Defence of Religion, Laws and Liberties, that they had fo little Concurrence of Minifters, to counteoance and encourage to thefe Expeditions : as alfo the great Hurt that fome Minifters (together with others) did at the Appearance at Botfawely putting in the late Tyrant's Interclt in the Declaration of that Army, (as alfo was done at Pentland) and their oppofmg the mentioning the Indulgence among the publick Sins, andlikewife of a Day of Humiliation, left it fliould have been numbered as one of the Caufes of God's Conrrovcrfy with the Land : The Meeting of many Minifters after 'Bothwel, calling themfclves an Af- fembly, and voting for the Acceptation of the Indemnity y and the Indulgence or new Liberty (together with the Peoples cautionary Bond) for fuch Minifters as would live peaceably to preach in thefe Bounds, that the Enemies reftricled them unto : and when an enfharing Bond of Peace was impofed upon the Prifoners taken at Bothwel\ their being iiient, or not giving their Advice : and others perfwading thefe Captives to put forth their Hand to that Abomination: and the great Unfaithfulnefs of the moft Part, in not giving faithful Warning to People, of the Hazard of many other enfnaring Bonds and Oaths, impofed for debauching of Peoples Conferences : Their not taking part with the more faithful Minifters of Chrift, in -preaching the Gofpel in the Fields y when they were moftly called to that Duty, in time of abounding Snares from the right and left Hand\ and reproaching and condemning others, who did jeopard and lofc their Lives, for their Faithfulnefs in the Work of the Miniftry, and denying Allegiance to thele unrighteous Rulers : Seme leaving of the Land, when they were moftly called to ftay in it, to dilchargethe Duty of faithful Watchmen: and their long continued Silence, ia not giving the Peo- ple ( 3S ) fie faithful Warnjisg of the Snares and Abominations 08 I the Time, when Enemies were moft cruelly preffing for Compliance, and paffing through with Circuit- courts oj ? \ unparallelled Inqutfitions : Their complying with Ene- mies, in bonding with their Courts (fbme to that Length, as to come under Obligations to forbear the Exercife of their Miniftry.) And finally, the concurring and join- ing of fome with fuch Confederacies and AJfociations, as did open a Door for the Introduction both of Malignant: txsd Se&arieSy contrary to our Covenant-engagements. But as we defire to mourn, that thefe things fhould be men- tioned, and that we are neceffitate to make fuch a fad and unpleafant Rehearfal, fo alfo we defire, that what particular Steps of Defection may be there more indefi- nitely propofed, as to the Minifters; may be underftood only of thefe to whom they are duly applicable. But that our Teftimony, as managed by us, may be the better underftood, and Exceptions brougkt againft us on that account more eafily pre-occupfed, before we proceed to the Heads of our Vindication^ we defire that thefe few things may be Chriftianly eonftruftcd, by way of Caution and Conceffion, I. We do indeed own and adhere unto all thefe Parts of our Teflimony, eflcntial and integral^ former and lat- ter, of greater and JefTer Confluence; but we do not preft every Part or Pendicle, Claufe or Confluence of every one of our latter Declarations, as the Bond of our Communion, as is more fully explained afterward, Head 2. And in the inefficient Grounds of withdrawing^ laid down Head 5. Buc if fo be our Brethren will own and avouch, in ProfefTion and Practice, every Part of our co- venanted Reformatio^ and join with us in the Matter of all our Declarations and Teftimonies againft Popery> Pre- lacy y Supremacy^ SeBarianifm, and all the above men- tioned Compliances and DefecJions> we will not require that they come all the fame Length in the Manner and Form, II. As the Caufe of God, to wit y the covenanted Re- formation, is to be diftinguifhed from the Pcrfons who do efpoufe, or formerly have owned that Quarrel ; fb it Is the Caufe we defire to contend for, and not the Jo- flifica- C 33 ) ftification of Pcrfons, in things extraneous to the Caufe j therefore, whatever perfonal Infirmities, or Scandals of any Sort, have appeared among thefc who profefs to own the fame Caufe with us, when not vindicated by the whole, ought not to refled upon the Caufe, nor to be imputed to all its honeft Lovers ; fe we dcllre (which is juft and equal) that the fcandalous Tranfgreffcrs or E#- travagancies that any among us have fallen into, to the Detriment of the publick Caufe , either by their latitudi- narian Laxnefs, falling into Defection, or over-much Rigidity and Striftnefs, running beyond the Bounds of Mediocrity and Truth, may not be made ufc of as aa Occaiion of an ill Report, either upon the Caufe or the Owners thereof, III. If in any thing (abftradt. from our faithful ano! well-bottomed Contendings) we have in the Manner of managing Affairs, in reference to the publick Caufe, through Ignorance or Imprudence jointly mifcarried, having goo,d Defigns, and the thing not attended with Obftinacy; ourWeaknefs and Infufficiency in the abound* ing Confufions of thefe preceeding Times, our faithful Guides and Men of Qnderitanding, by Death and o- therwife, being removed, fliould be compaffionately looked upon, and tenderly handled : yc^ y in very Deed, we fear, that this fhall be found to ly heavy upon thefe, who forbearing to witnefs and contend publickly for the Lord, hadforfaken us, while endeavouring to follow Buty. However, fofoon as any Error or Miitake did or doth appear amongft us, or any of us, prefently by Degrees we endeavoured, and do endeavour, both feverally, and together in Societies particular and general, the Amend- ment and forfaking thereof. And albeit pojfliblv our Method in rectifying fome Diforders, while the Matter at firft was propofed to Consideration, fometimes was not defireable, yet it was, and is our Work, by piece and piece to attain unto a moreexaS Manner. IV. Whatever may have been our Mif carriages, this is our fincere and profeffed Befign, Vurpofe and Refolution y to lay out ourfelves to the utmoft of our Power, accord- ing to our Places and Stations, for promoting and pro- pagating the Work of Ke formation } clofely adhering to our worthy ( 34 ) Worthy Reformers, and thofe who have conftantly walked in their Footfteps, ftedfaftly wrcftling againft the Cor- ruptions and Innovations of the Times, continuing fucccf* lively the Tefilmony for the Reformation : and that our Study is, to keep ourfelves unpolluted with the abound* ing Abominations of this our Day, and to hold fa jl the Truths of God, not lofing them among our own Hands, but conveying them down to the fucceeding Generation j equally guarding ourfelves againft right or left Hand Ex- tremes. Cur Vindication -from many Calumnies caft upon us by fome Brethren that have left us, reprefented in fever al Heads. NOW, having with all Brevity poffible declared the Matter of our Tcftimony, what we poiitive- ly own and difbwn, we (hail proceed thence to remove Miftakes, obviate unjuft Exceptions againft us, and to clear ourfelves of calumnious Charges ', though we muft not think it ftrange, that we have been (through their Ignorance of Matters of Fa ft) miftakeo by fome, and alio ot our being reproached by very many. For wc find in Scripture-records of former Ages, of our owrt and other Churches, that the faithful have been branded with ftrange Afpcrfions, and odious Calumnies, Satan always labouring to put odious Names upon real Du- ties, and to bury the Truths of God under the bafe A- ^hes of vile Reproaches: yet, as the Lord hath in for- mer Times, by his Appearances, blown away the fame; fo wc deiire to believe, that he will yet do the like, and vindicate his Truths from Error, Miftake and Contempt. But, to come totheprefent Purpofe, being reprefenred by fome, os having erecled amongft us a formal authorita- tive Community, and Erafiian Repuhlick, taking unto us the Government both of Church and State ', attributing unto the Veople the Vower of Church- government ; impofing finful And unjuji RefiriBions upon Minifiers and Vrofeffors ', and unwarrantably dividing and feparating from them ', and corzfequentty overturning the very Foundation of Presbyterian Government) and the covenanted Reformation : we fhall ipeak C 35 ) fpeak to fuocfry Heads, which may make the cootrary appear, and free us of fuch a heavy Imputation, and dc* clare us to be endeavouring only the promoving of that, which we are faid to have overturned. HEAD I. Concerning our General Meetings* WE are faid, by fbme, to handle in thefe general Meetings and Correfpondencies, Matters both of Church and State, and that judicially, ard by the fame Verfons andAffembly : Therefore we defire, that thefe things following may be confidered, for clearing the Nature of the Meetings, and wiping away Reproaches, and removing Miftakcs about the fame. I. We look upon ourfelves, as by conftant and Ha- bitual Tyranny, reduced to our native and radical Li- berty in this matter ; and defiring Faithfully to adhere unto the Fundamental Laws and Laudable Confiitut'tons cfour Church and Covenanted Nation, with the reft of the uurer and better part : And therefore, though we can- not and do not a flume to ourfelves a power of Magiftracyi yet after we had confidered what would be befr, and contribute moft to thefecuring of ourfelves and Religion, we Judged it Lawful, Expedient, and NecefTary, to join together into one meeting, all the particular Societies who were of one Judgment and practice, in Reference to the matter of our Stated Tejlimony, by Formal Confenr, for mutual help and Correfpondence. IT. This Union being founded on Common confent % confonant to Scripture and Reafon ; for this end, the promovat of Reformation and prefervation of ourfelves: The general Conclusion we obferve and lay down, in order to the managing Affairs for the beft, by De- liberation amongft us, thus united, is that Nothing re* lative to the Vublick, and which concerns the whole, be done by any of us, without harmonious Confent, fought after> and rationaUy waited for, fujficsent dsliberation a- lout ( 5« ) hcut the left means and manner. But feeiflg this Con* dufion harh been much fpoken againft by fome, and condemned as an Impofiuon ; we fhall here explain the fame, by adding fome few conceflbry Caveats, (i) That forefaid Conclulion is not to be taken in an Abfolute Senfe, as a Reftri&ion (imply neceflary for all times, ail Places, ajl Perfbns, all Cales, and Things (2) Though the Cohcluiiofi imports, chat even in ne- ceffafy duties which concern the whole, a Part ought not go on therein ■> without proponing the fame to the reft : For that which conccrneth the whole, ought to to be handled by the whole. Yet, if thefe fball fin- fully deny their Concurrence, that Part may lawfully, without the Breach of the Conclusion, do it for them- selves. (3) As for Points doubtful and controverted, this Conclulion is necelfary to be bbferved, as an Or- derly and Rational Method, for advifing and Delibe- rating about the prefent Controverfie ; and fo we look upon it as an hedge agaihft Precipitancy and raflinefs, helpful for the Prefervation of Union, excluding of Confufion, curbing of petulant Spirits, and right man- aging of Affairs. Thus, when according to this Con- clufion a right Method is followed, we chufc. that which is agreeable to the Law and to the Teftimony; III. Thefe Meetings, as they are neither Civil nor EcclcfiafKcdl Judicatories, fo they arc of the fame Na- ture with particular Chrirriari Societies, in the time of this Extream Perfecution, gathered together iri their general Correspondence, bymutual Advice and commori Content, endeavouring jointly to know }he Sins and Du- ties of the day, that fo we may be Helpful and Encour- aging to one another, in Concluding what is neceflary for our Prefervation, and the Propagation of our Teftimo- ny , according to the word of God, the Law of Nature, the Fundamental Conftitutions and Laudable practices of our Ancient Covenanted Church and Nation, acting joint- ly and Harmonioufly, by way of Confolatioo, Deli- beration and Admonitory Determinatidn. IV. Thefe Determinations and Refolutions, conde- fcended upon after that manner, though they be no for- mal Statutes of either Civil or Ecclefiaftick Judicato* ries ( 37 ) rlcs, yet they are understood to be of a binding Force upon all them Confenters, partly by reafon of the na- ture of the thing, and partly by virtue of their confent ; but no ways obtruded as extending over the whole Kingdom, becaufe coming from us : Though we think there lyeth upon them alfo a Moral Obligation to per- form fuch ncce/Tary Duties. V. All thefc^things, as they are handled or con- fidered among ourfelvcs in our general Correfponriencies^ are ncc abfolutely relolved upon, antecedently to the knowledge of the Societies feveral and apm, buc confeciuently ; that is, for the Prefervation of Union, and (hunning Separation and Divifion, we abfoiutely re- folve nothing in the forefaid Meetings, but that for which we have the advice and confenr of our Brethren; and when it is reported unto the Meeting, what any of the Societies agrees upon and ^dvifes unto, if the matter concern the whole (especially if it be of any dangerous Confequence to be mifmanaged) nothing is done therein peremptory, until the reft of the Socie- ties get time to confider the thing alfb ; otherways haVdly can Errors ana Diviilons be prevented. This we bold to be, our dut\\ and have been -endeavouring the fame, nor intentionally keeping any thing from any Societies, that ever was handled at any of our Cor- .refpondencies : Albeit the unconcernednefs of fome, ana the Neglect of ethers, who were particularly fent to o^ir scleral meetings, hath prejudged their Societies of what 'was allowed ihera ; which we wifh in time coming may be amended. VI. If lb be any thing for the Prefect Occasion fhoulvf be refolvcd upon in the ^ common Correffondence^ for which they had no Delegations, and which might be ly able to debates before the Societies feverally and a- part, fhould know and confider it, it is not to be reckoned the Deed and Fad of the Societies, but of tnefe perfons then prefent, fpeakinc* meerly in their ©wn names, not jn the name of their Brethren, from whom they have no direction for fuch a thing : Nei- ther are the Societies bound to (land unto it, if they fee it either unlawful ol f; Neither is their D noc ( 58 ) Hot ftanding unto it, any way to be interpreted a drawing hack from harmonious agreement, feeing their confent wa not previoufly required, the matter never being imparted to them before the determined Refolwtion. Yea, in very Deed, the Breach of Harmony would ly rather at then door, who bad fo rcfblved upon any thing, cither un- lawful or inexpedient, without previous Advice and Confent However, when any thing, is conditionally refolved upon in the Correfpondence ; and then imparted tol the Societies feveraliy, by their giving their confent thereto, it becometh their proper Fad and Deed alio. VII. Laflly, When things incident and controverted among ourfelves, cannot be inftantly compofed and a- greed upon, neither in Societies nor the general Corre- spondence : Then, according to Reafon and Religion^ every one is to take fufficient time to inform themftlves a and deliberate about the thing, before we proceed to any Determination ; that fo things may not be carried on rafhly, and hand over head, but a right way followed, and no Sudden nor unwarrantable Divijion occafioied. Hence it may be evident, how in thefe Meetings we have not gone out of our Stations, by concluding Mat- ters judicially, as Judges, either Civil or Ecclefiaftickj or by Erajlian Vrablices confounded Church and State together, but a&ed therein as was competent and incum- bent t j Us. H E A D II. Concerning our Declarations. SEeing the unjuft imputations of A&ingas Judges either Civil or Ecclefiaftick, or as an Erafiian re- publick, and other fad Accufuions, are unfriendly drawn from our Declarations, particularly the firft De- claration publifhed at Sanquhar, and the following pu- blished at Lanerk. Therefore to remove fuch a Charge, concerning both theft Declarations, we in general plain- ly declare, that wc never did, neither do look upon- jhefc C 39 ) theft as Authoritative actions, and as fuch extended o* ver and binding the whole Land (chougli they were all morally obliged to do what we did, and more than we were able to do, and to own what we have done thereby, becaufe of the Duty of the thing) bur as De- clarations publifhed in the Name of thefe who adhere unto, and confent with us, in the matter of the Testi- mony. But to fpeak more particularly, firft. As to the fir ft Declaration publifhed at Sanquhar, we fhall notice three things in it, Firfl, the Deflgnation, by which the Publifhen and confenters are termed, to wit The Reprefentatives of the true Prefbyterian Church and Covenanted Nation of Scotland. Secondly, The princi- pal part of the Declaration, to wit y The dif owning of and revolting from under Charles II. Thirdly , The ex- tenfive Declaration of War againft that Tyrant anJ Ufurper. As to the Firft, to wit, the Deflgnation] we declare That by it we underftand only thefe who in the time of Tyranny and Apoflafy, cleave moft clofly to the Funda- mental Laws of the Kingdom, and to the parts and de- grees of the Reformation already attained in this JR.*- formed and Covenanted Land, or the Remmnr that is lefc bearing witnefs unto the fame; not thefe who ordinarily are underftood by this word, to wit, Perfons formally invefted with Authority and Delegation from thefe whom they reprefent ; but only a poor people appearing moft publickly for purfuing the Ends of our Covenants, fbmc way Reprefenting the Body that fhould have done it, in that they did it in their flead, though they could not have their Concurrence. Therefore as we utterly difclaim, as an unfuund and Erafiian Principle and Pra- Bice, that the fame party, perfons, and AfTembly for- mally invefted with Authority, fhould rake upon them to perform ABions, Civil and Ecclefiafiick, reprefenting both Church and Sate ; fo we declare, that neither the Authors nor we ever intended or praclifed any fuch thing. Hence, it may be evidenr, that we ufe not the word Reprefentative, according to its oidinary and ftrift Acceptation, but more improperly, as it denotes the more .faithfull and better part of the Church and Kingdom, D 2, reprefent- ( 40 ) r eprefenting others who fhould deferve the fame Sig- nature, who, in the Time of Compleat Tyranny and Na- tional ApoJiafy y are for themfelves, and iuch as do ad- here unco them, endeavouring clofly to adhere unto the Degrees of Reformation) in the heft Times of that Church and State, adting jointly according to the Word of God> the Church's CcnJlitutionS) and Fundamental Laws of the Land; by Virtue of .mat Natural Plight which is competent to Subje&s, and rvjen meerly private, in time of Ncceffity, in Reference to Things lawful) laud- able and neceff&ry : Seeing, in fuch a Cafe, the Perfe- curing Party have by Right Forfaulted their Right; and the Backfliding Party fled from their Teflimony : Therefore the more Faithful and better Part may do for themfelves in that Junfture. £ Secondly y As for the principal and moft material Part of the Teif imcny, to wit) The Difowning of Charles the Second; we diBinguifb between a judicial and authorita- tive Depofing) and a private y lawful) and neceffary Dif- owning) and rcfufing any more to Own him in a Magi- firatical Relation over us, for ourfelves, and all who ad- here unto and confent with us in our Declaration againft him, as Head of the Malignant s. The former we alto- gether deny-to be done by us, the latter we have done, and own it as our Duty ; and that becaufe of thefe Rea- fons ex pre/Ted in the Declaration, and hinted above, p. 20, 21. chiefly for this in the Complex, (which com- prehends all) < That he had inverted all the Ends of the * Government, and everted and perverted Religion, c Laws, and Liberties, which he was obliged to main- c tain, both by his Office and Trufi, and by the fuper- c added Tie and Obligation of facred and folemn Oaths ( and Covenants. By breaking which, he had ruined * and razed the very Foundations, upon which both his c Right to govern, and the peoples Allegiance were * founded, and thereby he had lodfed the People from c all Obligation to own his Authority.' For the Ar- ticles and Conditions agreed upon, and mutually cove- nanted unto betwixt a People, and the Perfon or Perfons w horn they intruft: to rule over them for their Good, are the only fundamental Laws^ whereupon the Rulers Rigli I 41 ) ■Right to govern ■, and the Peoples Obligation to obey, are founded, and which continues and regulates the Relation of each to other, in their refpe&ive Spheres and Duties; and no Laws, divine or human, does oblige one Parry to the Performance of a mutual Condition to the other, while the other does not mutually obierve nor perform his to them. And becaufe he had ufurped and exerccd that facrilegious Supremacy. Thirdly, As for the War there declared in ExprelTions to this purpofe, i We declare a War againft fueh a Ty- i rant and Ufurper, and ail the Men of his Pra&ices, as c Enemies to our Lord Jefus Chrii\ his Caufe, and Co- * venantSj and a gain ft all fuch as have any way ftrength- x ned him; fided with, or acknowledged h*im in his U- c furpacion, Civil and Eccleiiaiiickjor (hall acknowledge * any orher in rhe like Uiurparion and Tyranny. ' For underftandina whereof, and our Minds concerning the fame, we offer thefe few Things to be confidered. I, We have ingenuoufly inferred the Words, as they mod frequently occur in the mod common Copies, ca- pable of the worft Senfe rhar ufually is put upon them ; though we have found fome far otherwife, and more fa- vourably worded, and which probabi/ feem more like the Authors genuine Expreffions and Meaning : And we cannot conceal how we have obferved the only Altera- tion in the Copies of that Paper to be in that exrenfive Declararion ofWar ; which gives us fome Ground ro Jea- loufe, that fome Jnduftry had not been wanting to mif- reprefent them. II. We will not offer to put a determinate Senfe upon the Author's Words, who we are confident had an ho- neft Intention, though their Expreffions (if thefe be their Expreffions) cannot bear an ordinary Senfe without Ex- ceptions ; only w T e arc free to fignify in what Senfe we allow them. We diftinguifh therefore between a decla- ring of a Hoftile War Utid Martial ItifurteBioriy and decla- ring a War of Contradiction and Oppojition by TeJ}imcni a s> &c. As for the former, we look upon that only to be declared againft the T\rant y and iuch as fhould rife with him in Arms, muftering themfelves under his Banner, difplayed agaioft the Caufe and People of Gcd> for deftrov- in? C 4* ) ingtfce Covenanted Work of .Reformation, and extirpating all the Owners thereof: But as lor the latter, we cannot but think, that is declared againit all fuch as any way fhengthen, fide with, or acknowledge the faid Tyrant, or any other in the like Tyranny and Ufurpation, Civil or Ecclefiaflick ; not that we would martially oppofc and rile up againft ail fuch, but that by our Profeffion, Prac- tice, and Teftimony, we would contradict and oppofc them, and their Profcliion and Practice, as to that Thing. III. We pofitivclydi{pwn,as horrid Murder, thekilling 4>f any, becaufe of a different Perfuafion and Opinion from us I albeit fome have invidioufly cait this odious Calumny Aipon us, from this extenlive Declaration of War : For a- gainlt the latter Sort, to wit, fuch as acknowledge the U- furper, or any way fide and firengthen him, and do not xife in a holtile manner under his Banner, no killing is intended at all. But, IV. We maintain it as both righteous and rational, ia Defence of our Lives, Liberties and Religion, after aa orderly and Chriftian Manner, to endeavour by all Weans lawful and poffible, to defend ourfelvcs, refcue ourBiethren, and prevent their Murder, in a martial Oppotition againft wicked Perfccuters, who are daily fceking to deftroy them and us, and imbrue their Hands in our Blood, according to the true Import of the Apolo- getical Declaration, whereby this at Sanquhar is confirmed and explained. Secondly, As to the Declaration publifhed at Lanerk, from what has been already faid, our Minds of it may fee plainly undcrftood ; howbeit, to remove Miftakcs, we offer thefc things particularly to be confidcrcd, I. We look not upon it as a judicial or authoritative A- tlicn, but as a Declaration of a poor opprejfed Community* rieceffitated to that manner of contending for their covenanted privileges, confirming and approving the Prececding ac $anquhar, and as a Teftimony againft the preceeding packed and prelimited Parliament convocate by Charley J I. wherein che Duke of Tork did pre fide as his Commit- ihmv 9 and againil all their iniquous Ails and Law% ( 45 ) particularly that abominable TV/?, and everything done by them at that Time againft the Caufe of God. II. But conlidering fomc Expreffions in the forefaid Declaration to be very exceptionable, fuch as, the attri- buting to the Publifhcrs of the Sanquhar Declaration the Tide of a Convention of Efiates, and in other Expreffions ftcming to appropriate Authority to its own Authors; therefore we do hereby acknowledge, that fuch Names and Stiles are not applicable to us, and therefore inexpe- diently and unadvifcdly inferted in our Declaration* ; £9 we pafs from the Defence of the fame, refolvmg to %ife Names and Titles in all Time hereafter, that maybe duly and truly applied to us, in the Circumftances wherein we may Hand. III. Notwithstanding of this; we adhere unto the Te- ftimony then and there given, as not improper for, or inconfiftent with Perfbns in our Capacity to give it, tho" we wanted the Concurrence of great ones. For wc chink indeed great Men, when faithful, are great Helps, And fit Inflruments under God, for promoving the com- mon Caufe , but their ilmple Abfence doth not altogether incapacitate or invalidate the faithful Endeavours of a. Remnant> adhering to the Reformation, and keeping their Integrity, to maintain and promote the fame, in fuch Circumftances as we in this Land are in : For this is our radical Right, and not the Donative of Princes, or De- pendent of Greatnefs. At the further!, great Men are for the Well-being, not limply neceflary for the Being of Ar- mies, Commonwealths or Societies : we mean thofe who are.ftrictly called the jirft or Sobles of the Kingdom by Birth, and not ennobled by Qualifications and Endow- ments. Indeed where Excellency of Virtue and Nobili- ty of Blood meet together, the Perfons are much to be preferred ; but fimple Birth gives little Right. IV. When we defire of others a formal and explicite Confent unto thefe publick Declarations, we only defire cheir Confent and Agreement, not with every incident Expreffion and Word (as thefe forefaid Stiles) but with the intentional Scope, and the things themfelves materi- ally and fubftantially considered , and that chiefly, be- caufe antecedently to our Attion, thefe things which are ( 44 ) ihe Matter of tie Tefiimony are bound Upon all, botfcjDW vinely by the Worci oi God, and Eccleiiafiicaiiy by* our ChuYch-confiitutionS) and by the fuperadded and fubjeH;rue Bond of our holy Covenants ; that fb, in the Vrofecution of the Lord's Caufe> we maybe of one Mind and Pra&ice : For, except we be joined in one thing, as to the Heads of cur ft l ated Teflimony (especially in this confufed and di- iturbed State of Affairs) we cannot itrengthen, but rather weaken one anothers Hands. H AD in. Concerning the firjl Joint and written Call given to the \ Minifiers. THere is another Brand put upon us, of impofing finful and unlawful Kefiriclions and Impojitions upon Minifiers I the Occaflon whereof is taken from the firfi Call given to the Minifiers : therefore we defirc thefe things to be confidered concerning it . I. That Call when it was concluded, was not condc- icen Jed unto by all of us, fome frill oppofing the fame. II. When better confidered a little afterwards, it was found fcveral Ways dififatis factory, and in fome things unfound ; whereupon it was immediately retracted, even hy the next General Meeting, and never more owned by us; but ail the Copies (fo far as was poflibie) deiired to be called in again; which was pubiickly and fre- quently told, when we had our Conference with fome Minifiers about feveral things in Controverfy. Hence there can be no Ground of objecting it unto us now. But as to Impositions and unjuft Conditions, Reflrz- Bions and Qualifications ^ which we are fa id to impofe upon Minifiers and ProfeiTors: for removing of that hea- vy Imputation, and fatisfying of doubting and well- meaning Perfons, as it was pubiickly told in the Face of the Meeting, January 28th l6$6, (together with fe- veral other things, preceeding and following in this Vindication, in the Conference with fome Perfons who argnow gone out from us ; So now we ingenuouily po- ( 45 ) fefs and declare, That we require nothing, either of Mini- tiers or Profeffors, but that which, antecedently to cur humble Defire, is bound, over both upon them and us, in our Plaees and Stations Divinely, by the Authority of God's Word, and Ecclejiafticallyj by the fubordmate Authority of our Church- ' donfitutions. Therefore, what we require Confenc and 'Agreement unto, lee it be fir ft brought unto the Word of Cud, which is the only Rule of Faith and Manners, and compared with the laudable Degrees of Preformation already attained unro, according to our Covenants and Clutch- Confutations founded upon the Jame Word; and if it be nut agreeable thereunto, exprefled therein, or neceffarily con fequen rial therefrom, let it be rejected : but if confo- nant thereunto, let no Man call it our iinful Impcficion or Reftriftion. HE A D IV. Concerning that heavy, though falfe Charge, of cafiing off the Minijlry, and Schifmatical Separation from the Mini- - ficrs of the Church of Scotland. IN the next place, being afperfed with Schifm, and unwarrantable Separation from the Minifters of the Church of Scotland: yea, with that odious and heavy Charge of cafling off the Miniflry thereof: therefore, tho* the Theme be molt unpleafant, and Matter of Sorrow to us, to fpeak on fuch a lamentable Subjecl, and nei- ther our Defire nor Credit to difcover our Mother's Nakednef, ; yet we are neceffitated, for Vindication of Truth, and taking oft fuch a Calumny, to touch a little this fad and intricate Head : In Profecution whereof, ac- cording to our weak and mean Capacities, we fhail fpeak a little to thefe few things : Firfr, We pall make mention of fome Dijlinclions, which in fome meafute way conduce to the clearing of the Cafe, and mere eafy foU vinboth more jefined and more grofs, together with Schifm and Defection : fo we deny, and altogether difown a Se- paration from Communion with this Church, in her Doctrine, Worfhip, Difcipline and Government, as fhe Was in her beft and nureft Days: For we only oppofe the Tranfgreffions and Defections of this Church, and en- deavour to feparate from thefe; while we chute to ftand frill, and not go alongft with others in declining and offinfive Courfes, but to follow the Footfteps of fuch faithful ( 4J T faithful Miniftcrs and ProfefTors, as have gone before us, witneffing in their Places and Stations, againft both Tyranny and Apoftafy, until Defections be condemned and Offences removed. As to the Second^ viz. What we judge insufficient ia point of withdrawing from Minifters and Members, of this covenanted Church. I. Infirmities or Weaknefs, whether natural, fpiritual, or moral, are not fufficient to found a withdrawing, e- ven from Minifters of this covenanted Church : Natural Weaknefs is the Infirmity of Parts, Knowledge, Cou- rage, and the like; which Infirmities are difadvantage- ous to them that labour under them, but in fuch Things (if there be not altogether an Ineptitude to teach, or Ig- norance incapacitating them for the Difcharge of their Duty) We ought to bear the Infirmities of the weak, Rom. xv. I. under which Rule, MiniftersaHo muft be compre- hended *, fpiritual Weaknefs is the Weaknefs of Grace, Faith, Love, Zeal, Patience, and the like ; as when we perceive fome Evidences of Misbelief, Coldnefs, Se- curity, Impatience, or fome rifings of Patfion, and the like, we muft not caft at one another for fuch Things, hut with all Lowlinefs and Meeknefs, with long Suffering* forbear one another in Love-, Eph. iv. 2. Efpecially when fuch Things arc mourned over and wreftled againlh Moral Infirmities and Failings^ are fuch Evils as Men fall into through the Strefs of Temptation, in Time of Perfec- tion, Satan s Suggeflions, &c. Being either Sins of Ig- norance, or perfonal Lfcapes not allowed, or fuch as the Perfon hath been hurried into by a furprifing Tempta- tion out of Fear, which otherwife he dufft not, nor would he have done, if he had been himfelf: For tho*, We ought to reprove one another for thefe Things, and not furfer them to ly upon our Brother \ yet we muft not dis- join from one another upon that Account, but refiore fuch an one in the Spirit of Meeknefs, when overtaken in a Fault, confidering our f elves left we alfo be tempted. Gal, vi. I. Such being but fainting Fits lamented over, and not perflfted in nor allowed. Confecpentlv we under- hand not hereby fcandahus Omiffions and Commiffions^ done deliberately, and with a high Hand, or palpable and < 5° > fcnd gfofs Abominations ; feeing fuck Things, comffig within the Compafs of Church Cenfure> ought to come under another Confideracion, and the Perfbns for thele Tranfgrcffions difcountenanced, ay and while the Scan- dal given be removed by confcifing and forfaking. II. Difference in Judgment is not fufficienc ro found a VJiih ^drawing, if it be either in Things indifferent in their own Nature, which may be done, or not done, after this Manner, ot after another, without any Breach of a divine Precept : Such things, 'tis true, may be made in" expedient, and may become Matter of Humbling to a weak Brother, therefore in thefc we mull be fully per- fuaded in our own Minds, and a lib obferve the Rules of Charity carefully, not to offend any of Chrifl's little ones : All things indeed are pure, but it is Evil for any to do them with Offence, It is good not to do any Thing, tvhere~ hy our Brother fiumbleth, or is offended, or made weak, Rom. xiv. So, 21 Or if it be in Things that are not Material, or not the Word of Patience, and Matter of Te- flimony ; for in fuch Things, thefe who are frronger, and more knowing, ought to receive the weak, but not to doubtful Difputations, Rom. xiv. I. Nor that which follows upon the former, to wit, every Difference in Pra- ctice, according to rhc Judgment and Light of Confer- ence, in Things that are not diforderly : For though we could not allow fuch a Thing in ourfelves, yet it ought not to hinder our joining, but whereto we have alrea- dy attained, we ought to walk by the fame Rule, and mind the fame Thing, hoping if in any Thing any be o- therwife minded, God (ball reveal even this unto them+ Phil. lii. 15, 16. It is evident, we mean not here fuch Things as are Parts of the Tr frimony, wherein of Ne- cefficy there muft be £bme Onenefs in Judgment and Practice. III. We conceive that Ignorance of Matter of TaB? when nothing clfe can be charged, ought not to hinder jotnine ; that is, if our Brethren either know not what we hold as* our Teftimony, or have been mifin r ormed concerning Principles or Practices: In that Cafe, we hold it our Duty to ufe all Diligence to inform fuch as have had no Occafion to know the Matter of the pre- lent ( 5* ) fent Tcftlmoay, and with all due Patience to wale upo# them. IV. Such circumfiantial and controverfial Points, which were never ecclejlaflically reform td by our Church in her beft and pureft Times, nor doHrinally condemned, and wknefled againft by any of the faithful Minifters of Je- fus Chrift, according to the Word of God, fince by Yy- ranny and Apofiafy our Church began to decline from her wonted Zeal and Purity, will not hinder our joining with them. V. Nor any fuch Points of Controverfy of leffer Moment, which may be incident among Chriitians, overturning no Part of the Churches Teftimony againft Popery, Pre- lacy, Eraftianifm, Seftarianifm, together with Defe&ion, Schifm, and Error- VI. Even real Scandals, not attended with Obftinacy, but confeffed, mourned over, and forfaken, are not fuf- ficient in Point of withdrawing. As to the Third, We fhall plainly lay down thefe Grounds which we look upon zsfufftcient for withdraw- ing (efpccially in the Cafe of fuch Differences, and fo circumftantiated) from Minifters to whom they are ap- plicable, who are obliged by holy Covenants, and as Mi- oifters of the fame organical Church, to own and main- tain the fame Word of Teftimony with us : Which Grounds of withdrawing from Minifters, whether nominal or real ; we fhall deduce from that Fountain which we de- fire to make the conftant unerring Rule of our Pradtice, che holy Scriptures of Truth, wherein we find fuch Precepts, Admonitions, Reproofs, Threatntngs, and Exam- ples, as without any ftrained Confecjuence, muft deter- mine us to a refolved withdrawing from all thefe follow- ing, whom we do not, nor cannot join with in the Ex- ercife of their Miniftry, in the Cat fo circumftantiated, and for Confirmation, fhall back the fame with the ap- proven fubordinate Rule of the A&s and Conflitutions of our general AfTemblies, as they .occur. Permitting only in the Entry two Generals, that we be not miftaken, firfi, Our Scope here, is to give Account upon what Grounds we are conftrained, as the Cafe now ftands in this broken State of the Church, to withdraw from,Dif- coun- ( 52 ) countenance, and maintain a negative, pajjive' Separation^ from thefe whom we love id the Lord, and acknowledge to be Miniiters of this Church, with whom we fome- times had fweet Fellowship, while they were faithful in theic Mafters work, and with whom again we would defire to have communion in Ordinances, if thefe oui; j'utt. exceptions were removed: But we (hall mention others alfo, that our mind in this Head may be fully known. 2. We defire to be underftood to walk a~hd build our grounds upon thefe folid principles m Theji, which we think will not readily be rejected in the general. (l) We can join with none but fuch as we muft acknow- ledge' (as they defire to be accounted) Mimflers ofChrift y fet over by the Holy Ghoft, and Faithful Stewards of the Myjleries of Gud, and that then and there, when anii where we join with them, I Cor. iv. I, 2. (2) We can join with none but fuch as we mull own Church Com-. murtion with, in ail the Ordinances adminiftrated by them, both as to matter and manner, and right of admini- {trationjthen and there: So that if a Minifter either want a Right to ad id in ill rate, or be wrong as to the matter or the manner of difpenfing any of the Ordinances of* Chrift, not according to his Inftitution, we can have communion with him in none. For in our joiningwifh them in Ordinances, we muft own and take on that Tejfera, and Sign of our Incorporation with them in their fellowfiip : For, when we partake of the bread, obnoxious to their punifhments. And therefore, where we know Perfbns guilty of fuch things, as we find they are branded with, who arc under a recorded fentence of dreadful punifhmenr, both ^againft them and their partakers, we think it is as fum- cient a ground and neceiTary to withdraw from them, as if we had an exprefs command for it; for then, we dare not be partakers with them-, nor have fellow jbip with thefe unfruitful works, that we muft reprove, and thac we find, that the Lord reproves and condemns, Eph. v. 7, II. Left in partaking of their (ins> we receive of their plagues^ Rev. xviii. 4. (5) We can join with none, whofe fin we may be interpreted to homologate, either in their entry to, or dtfeharge of their Office, or which might be fo looked upon as a Teft of our fubmiffion to them, or badge of our compliance with them, or figti of our approbation of their jin^ diredHy or indirectly. For in our joining in worfhip or Church communion, we muft advert to what it may be interpreted either in Law, or in our own and others Confciences : For to that we muft alfo have fpecial refpeft, left we offend and ftumblc others, as well as our own Confciences; fome things jnuft beforborn, not only for our own unclearnef% buc out of refpeel to the Confcience of others ; Confcience, we fay, not our own but of others', for why is our liberty judg~ ed of another mans Confcience > I Cor. x xviii. 29. (6) We can join' with none, from whom a Church duly con- ftitute, invefted with the orderly Power of Chrift, and capacity to exerce and improve it, would enjoin us to withdraw. For, though we do not take upon us a Pres- byterial or Synodical Church power, to inflift Juridi- cal Church cenfures upon them that deferve them : yet we think this in our capacity and difcretive Judgment, is incumbent upon us, to wit, according a* we know they would manifcftlv incur the fentence of Excommu?ii* cation \ Depofitiwy Deprivation, Sufpenficn or Rebuke , ac- cording to the degree $ of their Offence^ afser rcjecled E ad- ( 54 ) admonitions: We may by our Difcountenance, teftifie our diflike of their ways, not infliding this as a cen fure, but llgnifying hereby our fenfe of the moral o- bligation, and equity of thefc cenfures when Legally infli&ed. For though none have the power of the Keyes y but Church Officers ; yet people have a difcretive powtr over their own pratHce, anticipating that power when it cannot be in CbrifVs Method exerted : Which Hypo- thefts being premitted, the Grounds we lay down for withdrawing from Ministers are thefe, I. We find, Thefe are not to be acknowledged as Chrift's AmbaiTadors, by hearing or receiving Ordin- ances from them, who either, never had a Call to Preachy or never were cloathed with Chrifl's Comrniffion, in his orderly appointed way*, but took it up, either by vfurpati on beyond their Sphere, or pretend an inefficient Miffion, which they cannot clearly infrrud, or have it only from them who have none themfelves to give. For we dare hear none that run unfent, for howfhall they preach except they he fent ? Rom. x. 15. We dare hear none, with whom the Lord hath not pvomifed his Countenance and Concurrence, but hath threatned they fi all not profit us, yer. xxiii.2i^ 22. We dare hear none of the Thieves and Robbers that enter not by the door, but climb pip fome other way \ but we are ambitious to have, and keep the mark of ChwfFs peep, and followers that will not follow Grangers, John x. 15. And upon this Ground, we withdraw from all Vopifl) Priefts, that have their Million from An- tichrift: From all PreUtkk Curates, that have theirs from the EpiJ "copal Hierarchy \ which is alio Anticbriflian: And alfb from gifred Brethren who preach at their own hands 5 or have their Miffion from the people. II. We Judge thefe are not to be owned or counte- nanced in their Adnnniflraiion of Ordinances^ who either have fubjeded their Miniflry to the difpofal of firange lords, by laying it alide in obedience to their Mandates, or taking a new poteftative miffion from them: Or if they pretend to keep their old one, which they had from Chrift in his Legal and appointed way, yet they have confented to take a new holding from and upon a new artchiteclonkk ufurped power> ar,d Keadfhip ia the ex- ercife « 55 ) erciie of it, ay accepting a new Grant, Licence, and Warrand from the Ulurpers of their Matter's Crown, We dare not homologate fuch an affront to the preroga- tive Royal of our only Kingly Lawgiver, who fent them to negotiate a Treaty of peace with us, in giving them the Rcfpect of his Ambafladors, after they have fo foully broken then; instructions, and become fervants of men, and fubjeclts even in Miniftcrial Functions to an- other Head than Chrift. We dare have no more medling with fuch CLangelings in things that they and we dare nor come and go upon, Prov. xxiv. 21. We dare noc partake with fuch Prophets, as fo evidence themfelves to be light and treacherous Perfons, who have fo palpably betrayed their Truit (and fo great a Truit as that) that Was committed to them; nor with fuch Prietts, as have polluted tie Santtuary, and done Violence to the Law of thejr princely Matter ; left the juft Lord (who is in the midft of us, and will refent this unparallelled Indignity) bring forth his Judgment, and make us partake with them, as being fo accefTory if we foown them, Zeph. iii. 4, 5. We cannot countenance them who fo corrupt- ed the Covenant of Levi, by mifregarding the Honour of him who called them to be his Meflengers, by depart- ing out of the way, and cauiing many to ftumble ac the Law; for which Caufe they arc in holy Juftice de- ftrvedly made contemptible and bafe before all the Peo- ple, according as thev have net kept his ways, and have been partial in the Law, Ma!, ii. 7, 8, 9. We cannot join in Worfhip with thefe, who cither teach for Do- ctrines the Commandments of Men, Figments of Mens Traditions, or teach true Doctrine by the Command- ments of Men, fufperuiing their Function, and depend- ing in the Exercife of it, upon Mens Authority ; for both are vain, and both are Plants which fball be root- ed up : And, in Reference to both, we reckon ourfelves under that Command, Let them nlone, blind Guides^ Marrh. xv. 9, 13, J4. And, upon this Ground, in this broken and declining State of the Church, not enly do we withdraw from thefe old Presbyters, now turned Curates, who conformed xo Prelacy ; not only from fuch Mini Sees, who fubraicted to their Depofition by the Ez Aft < 56 ) r AB of GlafgoW) and never avouched pubtfcMy their mU uifterial Exercifc fincc, though privately they would preach now and then; not only from thole Minifters^ who have contented to the giving of a Bond not to ex- crcife their Miniftry for longer or fhorrer Time, as ma- ny of the indulged have done ; but, upon this complex Ground, we withdraw from all the indulged Minifters, who have embraced any of the Chrift dishonouring, and Church deftroying Indulgences , obtruded upon this re- formed Church to divide and deftroy, rend and ruin the Remnant thereof by an infulting Enemy, who had bro- ken down our covenanted Wort of Reformation, ufurp- and contradictory to our prefent Teftimony, founded thereupon, and agreeable thereunto. Hence^not only muft we withdraw from thefe Minifters, that maintain Errors fundamental, overturning the Do- firine of Salvation ; but^ in this broken and declining State of the Church, from all thefe alfb that oppugn and withftand our common Confefllon of all Orthodox Truths received by the Church of Scotland, or maintain Errors condemned thereby, or condemn Truths main- tained thereby: And now in the Cafe ci/cumftantiatedL, from all that contradict, oppofe, or overturn the Matter of the Church of Scotland's Teftimony, amd do defers ( 51 ) deny or pervert the Word of Chrifi 9 s Patience given her oo\v to contend for. For, as to the firft Sort, we are commanded, if any {eek to turn us away from the Lord our God, to put away that Evil, and noc to confenc and hearken to any that will entice us to Error or I- dolatry, Deut* xiiL 5. 7. And in perilous Times, efpecially when Impoftors do abound, we are com- manded to turn away from fuch, how fpecious foever their Forms be, I Tjm. iiL 5, &c. And a Man that that is an Heretick (bewhohewili) after the firfi andfe- c on d Admonition t we mufi reject at all times. Tit. iii. 10. So alfo we mufi, without Refpecl: or Exception, obferve thefe general Rules, concerning Teachers of Errors or Contra diclers of Truth ; We mufi ceafe to hear the Inflru- Bion that caufeth to err from the Words of Knowledge, what- ever thefe Words be, efpecially if they be Words of Chrift's Patience, Prov, xix. 27. We mufi withdraw from thefe Leaders, that will caufe us to err^ by leading Into Snares, or perverting the right Ways of the Lord, or caufe us decline any way to the Right-hand or ro the left from any of his Truths: For we are afraid of the Threading to be defiroyed, even though the Error be not fundamental, Ifa.ix. 16*. We mufi mark ilyem who con- tradift the Doclrine which we have learned ( whatever ic be) from the Law artdthe Teflimonj/, and avoid them,R.om. xvi. 1 7. If any Man teach otherwife, andconfeni not to the wholefome Words, even the Words of our Lord Jefus Chrifi y and to the Doclrine which is according to Godlinefs, efpe- cially that Point of Doclrine which is depofitated ro us to contend and fufFcr for. We mu(t look upon him as a proud perverfe Difputer, (if he refufe Information) and mufi withdraw eurfelves from fuch, I Tim vi. 3, 5. if there come any, and bring; not this Doctrine, though he were veverfo found in other things, yet if he bring Doclrine contradictory to thi>, that Chrift hath given us the Worcf of his Patience, w* mufi not receive him, nor bid him God fpeed in that Work of his, preaching or pra&ifing aeainft any of the Truths we have received, 2 Joh. x, 11. Now, upon this very comprehensive Ground/ we withdraw/ not only from grofs Hereticks and Sectarians, and Ma- lignant PrelatifU, and fuch as run into wild Extrava- gaacics ( 55 ) gancles upon the Right-hand, paffing over the Bounds of holy Truth, and doing Injury to the covenanted WerkbfRe* formation^ leading People out of the Way, and rending the Bowels of the Church. Bot, in this broken and declining State, even from many I Presbyterian Miniflers, who have overturned a great Part of our Churches Teftimony ; which, as ic is now both itated and owned by us, is of greateit Importance, concerning no lefs than the great Prerogatives of God, the fu- freme Lord and King of all the World, in his Kingdom of Power, ufurped and encroached upon by Tyranny, brought in and ejlablifted in/lead of his Ordinance of Magistracy', and alio the Royal Prerogatives of ChriR our Lord and Mediator, in his Kingdom of Grace, invaded by the blafphemous Supremacy, overturning all the Church's Li-* berti^s, than which nothing greater can concern us to contend for, either as we are Men, or as we are ChrU ftians, and which have been flgnally fealed by the Blood of many Martyrs, who in laying down their Lives for this Teftimony, have been Angularly countenanced of the Lord: yet, we fay, by many of our Miniflers. this in a great meafurc hath been deferted and perverted, by their condemning the Martyrs that died for it, as well as us, who have defired to witnefs for it, by their ho- mologating the Supremacy ; by their owning and ap- proving, or preaching and perfwading it to be Duty to own and approve the pretended Authority (really Ty- ranny) of Charles II. and fames VII. difowned in the Declarations publifhed at Sanquhar, firft and Lift, and at Lanerk. ; which Declarations have been condemned, even materially and fubitantially, in fo far as they difown the pretended Authority of thefe Tyrants. Howbeit, feeing that we have publickly difbwned that fo called Autho- rity, for ourfelves, and all who will, adhere unto us in that Deed ; and feeing it is a Part of our ftated Tefti- mony, and unto us confirmed by fufBcient Reafons, to be both lawful and neceilary, we cannot reverfc it, nor con- cur with others who overturn it, becaufe where there is a Difference in the ftated Teftimony, the publick Work cannot be jointly carried on. IV. We judge we have fufRcient Ground to withdraw from C 59 ) from Minlftcrs, guilty of grofs Compliances with the publick Enemies of this covenanted and reformed Church and Nation, who have broken the Covenant, deitroyed the Reformation, and are frill by all Means feeking the Extirpation of all the Owners of the Caufe of God. Com- pliances with luch have a great Charge, and are liable to a grievous Sentence ; and if we fhould countenance in our Communion Perfons fo chargeable, we fhould incur a heavy Cenfure from the Lord. For this Abiathar was thruft from the Prieflhood, becaufe he complied with Adoni- jah the Ufurpe^ I King?, i. 7. compared with I Kings> ii. 27. 'Tis Time now we were feared from ail Com- pliances, after we have felt the fmart of them from fad Experience. And Jbould we again break his Command* ments, and pin in Affinity with the People of thefe Abomi- nations, would he not be angry with us until he had con- fumed us, fo that there fould be no Remnant nor efcapingy Ezra ix. 14. We dare not partake with them, for fear of inveigling ourfelves in their Snares, and involving our- felves in their Guile and Judgment ; for by their Ex- ample, if not by their Doclrine, they may caufe us to err, and engage us to all the countenancing they require of us of their practical Errors, which we dare not do, but mull frand aloof, and witnefs our Deteftation of them, and neither direclly nor mdire&iy, formally nor interpretatively approve their Sin: but, on the contrary, we muft homologate the Equity of their Cenfure ap- pointed by the Lord, and which would be inflicled by the Church, if conftitute in Order and Power. For when ifrael goes a whoring from God by open and avowed Defedion, we dare not join in their Wine-offerings, for they are not pleafing unto the Lord, and their Sacrifices are as the Bread of Mourners, and all that eat thereof pall be polluted, Hof. ix. 1, 4. We muft have a care not to be unequally yoked with fuch Unrighteoufnefs ', but as we would be the Temple of God, and have him to dwell amongft us, we muft come out from among them, and he feparate, and touch no unclean thing, and then he will re- ceive us, 2 Cor. vi. 14, 17. He is now loudly calling to us, Depart ye, Depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing. They fhould be clean that bear the Veffels ■■<-.*'■) »fthe Lord, Ifa. lii. II. The Lord we hope hath ifi- ftrucled us better, That we (Jjould not walk in the Way ef this People , nor fay a Confederacy to them, to whom this People fay a Confederacy, nor fe*r their Fear, hut fanftify the Lord, and wait upon him in an abftra&cd Way of following Duty, though we fhould be accounted for Signs and Wonders in Ifrael y and branded with Singula- rity, Ifa. via. II, 12, 18. And, upon this Ground, in this broken and declining State of the Church, we with- draw from many Miniftersof the Church of Scotland; both thefe that were indulged and not indulged, for their manifold Compliances : fuch as the Compliances of many Minifters, in countenancing of abjured, Diocefan y Brafiian Prelacy, by hearing of Curates : and the Com- pliance of others, in compearing before the tyrannical Courts of Inquiikion againft the People of God ; in fub- fcribing and fwearing of Oaths : and in fubferibing of Bonds impofed by the Enemies, for debauching of Peo- ples Confciences, and deftroying the Reformation, con- trary unto, and inconfiftent with the Oaths of our holy Covenants, and contrary unto the A£t of the General Affembly, June 28th, 16$, Seff. 18. againft all new Oaths and Bonds in the common Caufe, without Con- fent of the Church ; and in paying of Impoiitions, Ta- xations and Exactions, impofed and required by the E- nemies of this Church and Kingdom, whereby they be- come helping Caufes to them in their Wickedncfs, wak- ing their Bows to abide in Strength, and Jirengthening the Hands of thefe Evil- doers. The like whereof is declared an horrible thing, Jer. xxiii. 14. and alfb is contrary to the A& of the General Affembly 1646, Seff. 14. whereby Terfons in any Ecclefiaflical Office, guilty of the equivalent Degrees of Compliance, are decerned to be fufpended from their Office, until all the Exercife thereof, and fuch Time as the Quality of the offence, and Condition of the Offender fballbe found to deferve ; and the Compliance of others any other manner of way, really fcandalous, duly cen- fureable, and decerned either cxprefly or ecjuivalently by our Church- Conftftutions, and Acls of our General Aflemblies, to deferve Depofition. y. Wc judg ' * fujfisicafi Ground to withdraw* ( tfl ) not only from thefe who area&ively and actually guiL ty of the forefaid Compliances, and involved in grofs Steps of Dcfedtion : but alfo from fuch Miniiters who take the Defence and Patrociny of thefe Courfcs, and pal- liate and plailier them, and ftrengthen the Hands, and harden the Hearts of thefe that are engaged in them, fb> that none doth turn from fuch wicked things : which was that horrible thing the Lordfaw in the Prophets of Jerufalern,. for which he threatens fad things, and for which he commands not to hearken to them, jer. xxiii. 14, 16. We dare not join with either Builders or Dau- bers of fuch a Work, as is carried on to the Difhonour of Chriff, and ruining of Reformation, nor by our Coun- tenance and Concurrence ftrengrhen either Builders or Daubers, left if a* lvi. 12. There is a terrible Threatning againft fuch unfaith- ful Minifters, fer. xiv. 14, 16. Where the Lord declares, Jit did not fend them to preach that way, and that he would confume them, and the People to whom they prophesied [hall be cajb out in the Streets , &c. Therefore we dare not ad- mit rhem to prophefie to us. Likewife, the Lord takesto himfelf the Punifhment of fuch who keep not his ways, and are partial in the Law, in making them bafe and contemptible before all the People, Mai. ii. 9. This is a great part of zions Mifery, when her Prophets fee vain andfoolifi things for her y and do not difcover her Inicmity^ Lam.ii. 14. And upon this Ground we hold ourlelves obliged, in this broken and declining State ofthe Church, to withdraw from many Minifters of the Church of Scot- land, who have been unfaithful in forbearing to preach againft the Sins ofthe Times, and palpable Steps of our Defection, and In fhunning to declare the whole Council of God, concerning the neceftary Duties of our Day, con- trary to what a Minifter's CommilTion bears, and con- trary to the Aft of our General Affembly, Auguft 5. 1 648. Sejf. 26\ where Minifters fb continuing in fuch Negli- gence, after Admonition and due Trial of the Offence, are declared to be cenfurable with Depofition, for being Pleafers of Men rather than Servants of Chrift, for giving themfeives to a deteftable Neutrality, and IndifFerency in ( «3 ) in the Caufe of God, and for defrauding the Souls of the People : Such Miniilers are thefe who have been filene of the abounding Sins and Snares of rhe Time, forbid- den in the hcripturcs, condemned by the Acls of our General Ajfembly, and engaged againft by our Covenants; who forgetting" the holy Bonds of our Covenants, have deiifted from purfuing the Ends thereof : who have not maintained the received Principles of the Church of Scot- land, nor followed approven and laudable Pra&ices in Minifterial Duties; who have .refufed and denied their Concurrence with the more Faithful, in afferting this Church's Teftimony ; who, inftead of aliening the an- cient and honeft Plea of the Scottip Covenanters, againit both Se claries and Malignant* , in Defence or the Refor- mation and Presbytevial Government , according to our Co- venants, National and Solemn League, have taken the Pa- trociny of, and concurred with finful Affociations, .where- by the State of the Lord's Caufe is altered and pervert- ed, and a Door opened to the Introduction of Sectaries and Malignant J, which cur worthy Reformers many ways o^pofed, as may be feen in their Proceed »ngs 9 Letters and Warnings, and particularly in the Declaration of the General I Jjfwilyt July laft, 164S. Sejf. 21. Con- cerning the Danger of Religion, Qfc, We find already what Hurt we have incurred, by favouring and inbring- ing of Malignants ; and if we fhall continue to do fo, or begin in End to introduce Sectaries, what may we ex- pecl: but utter Confumption from the Koly One ? We look upon the Bonds of our Covenants to be fo morally obliging, that the folving of conditional Ties (fuch as the Relation between Magiftrate and People) will not be a fufficient Salvo for laying them afide. Though we may explain and add unto rhem, yet by no means do We judge it lawful to (rate our Quarrel in AiTociatioos, and bv open Declaration upon another Baps. VII We judge we have fufficient Ground to with- draw 7 from Miniflers guilty of lying bv from thepublick Work of preaching the Gofpel, and defertine their Mini- fierial Duty, when the Peoples urgent Neceffity, and preffing Call doth make it indifpenfible, when people are deititute of publick and faithful Warning, in the time when ( *4 ) when Snares are jnoft abounding, yea, when the poof Flock is in greateft Hazard to be turned afide. For as this is a dreadful Sin, and we are afraid to partake in it, and a fad Wo is denounced againft thefe that arc guilty thereof, I Cor. ix. 16. And is exprefly contrary to that clear Command, to preach the Word, and be in- ft ant in feafon and out offeafon, 2 Tim. iv. 2. So it is a- jmong the Characters of the Hirelings and Strangers, whofe Voice Chrift's Sheep will not hear, if, when they fee the Wolf comings they leave the Sheep and flee away* iohn x. 5,12. Yea, we find Paul refusing to take John lark with him, becaufe he had departed from them, and went not with them to the tyork y Adts xv. 37, 38. This is not according to the Apofttes practice, who did not behave thcmfelves fo difbrderly ; for this is to be recko- ned and carried towards as a very grofs Difordcr, when a Minifter is fo far out of order, that he will not work the Work of the Lord; from fuch we are commanded to withdraw, 2 Theff. iii. 6, 7, 11, 14. This is far from keeping this Command, without Spot unrebukeable, until the appearing ofepir Lord Jefus Chrifiy I Tim. vi. 1 3, 1 4. Therefore it is a Diforder that we cannot, countenance. And upon this Giound, in this broken and declining State of the Church, we withdraw from many Minifters of the Church of Scotland, who in this Pay of Defblation and Famine of the Word, when it was precious, and there was no open Vifion, did tender their own Eafe and Intereft more than ChrifTs, and lurked and lay by from the neccfTary Work of preaching the Gofpel in the Land, when no phyfical Impediment did neceffitate them there- unto, and poor people were in greateft want of it, and? in greateft Hazard to be turned ailde, by the Cruelty and Subtilty of Enemies, and the overrunning Extrava- gancies of others ; contrary to Scripture, and contrary to the Tenor of the Advice of the Brethren, deputed for penning the Enormities and Corruptions oftheMiniftry, allowed by the Church Affembly conveened at "Edinburgh^ 1 596, to wit, That Minifters not refident with their Flocks be depofed ; and according to the A6b of the General Affembly, other wife the Burden to be laid on the Presbyteries^ and the forcfaid Mipiftcrs to be cenfu- ( 65 ) fed therefore ; or who left the Land and the Flock com- mitted to their Charges, efpecially when people were deititutc of publick and faithful Warning, in the time of abounding Snares from the right and left Hand, which is alfo contrary to Scripture, and the forefaid Tenor of the Advice ot the Brethren. But we do not here fpeak of Minifters leaving this Land and Church, with confenc of the Church, and when there was little or no Need of their remaining in it, or when they had a furficientCall to another place, and could either be as ufeful or more ufeful there. Neither do we intend this againft fuch, as may at a time leave this Land in the cafe of extreme Ha- zard, through fainting Fear, forrowing for their Weak- nefs, and longing to be reftor'd again, and heartily ap- plauding and approving the Faithfulnefs and Valiantnefs of other Minifters, unto whom the Lord may give a Spi- rit more fitted for dangerous and difficult D^ys. VIII. We judge fchifmatical and pragmatical Dividers of the Church, and Wideners of the Breaches thereof, al- ready .broken and divided ; and who fow Difcords a- mong Brethren, and promote their Contentions by invi- dious Reproaches, or otherwife, are to be withdrawn from. Such turbulent Schifmaticks were Korah and his Company, who affe&ed a Prehcmineney above their Brethren, and to eredt and exalt themfclves on their Ru- ines, and arrogated to be as high in Refpect and F.Meeru as Mofes and Aaron, and degraded from their Dignity, by reproaching them, as taking too much upon them, and lifting up themfelves above the Congregation of the Lord, thereby thinking to divide between them and the people ; for which Caufe, the Lord commands all to fe- parate themfelves from that Congregation, left they be confumed with them, Numb. xvi. 12, meaning the Con- gregation of Korah, Dathan, QPc. Ver. 24. We are ex- prefly commanded to note fuch Schifmaticks, and mark fuchCaufers of Divifions and Offences, which they effe- ftuate both by their Practice and by their Words, cry- ing up their own partv, and informing againft the more pure and faithful Remnant, Rom. xvi. 17, 18. Such an one was Diotrephes, prating againft the Apo files and the Brethren with malicious Words, and receiving them not, but cafiitsg C ^ ) cxfting them out', which the Apoft I e threatens he who have afpired to a predomining Pre-eminency, and ad- vanced rhemfetves upon the Ruines of the Church oiScot^ land \ neither only from the Indulged, who have made themfelves guilty of a formed Schifm in and from the Church of Scotland ; but alio from Non-indulged Presbyte* vian Minifiers, who have widened the Breach, and caft Oil into our Flames, by their taking fo many Ways co crufh a poor wa/ted Remnant, reproaching, mifreprefent- ing, mi/informing, both by Word and Writ, at Home and Abroad, againft zealous and faithful Contenders and Sufferers forChrifV; either by condemning them for real Duties, and putting the Name of odious Tranfgreffions thereupon, or imputing heavy Charges and falfe Accu- fati^ns unto them, and that without previous and prere- cjuiiite Admonition, and trial of the Verity of thefc Things difowned by them, and whereof they could clear and vindicate themfelves. Howbeic weTpeak not this from an Invective, or to relent Injuries done to us ; for we look more to what of this kind hath been done a- gainft the valiant and faithful WitnelTes of Chrifr, who have gone before us, and fealed his Truths with their Blood , and efpecialiy unto what prejudice the Caufe of Chrift hath fufiained thereby, and how Truth is like to be buried under the wile Afhes of Lies and Contempt, than any thing can be faid or done againft us. IX. We Judge Scandalous Diforders and Mifcarriages> in either the Minifteriai or Perfpnal walk, Carriage, or Converfatlon ofMinifters, are a Sufficient ground to with- draw from them. Such were the Profane Scandals of the Sons of Eli, "which made Men abhore the offering of the Lord, I Sam. ii. l 7. From fuch Brethren efpecialiy (from which rule Minifiers cannot be exempted, for if they be not fir ft our Brethren, they can never be our Minifters) .we are exprefly commanded to withdraw our Company; if rhey be Fornicators, or Covetous, or Idolaters, or Ratters, w BrmkardS} or Extortioners', to which wc may add. Thieves? C *7 ) Sieves, Cheats, Liars, Curfers, and Swearers, or Profane* Including all the like Scandalous Disorders, l Cor. v. il, Upon which ground, in this broken and declining ftate of the Church, we do and may withdraw frcm any Minifters of the Church of Scotland, to whom any of the forefaid Scandals are Really Applicable, for we can have no Fellowpip with fuch unfruitful works of Darknefs, Bph. v. II. Neither dare we be Partakers with them, verfe, 7. Howbeic let none look upon this as a Reflection upon Minifters, who are not guilty of fuch a Charge : For we intend not the Application hereof to any, who are free of fuch Scandalous Diforders. Further, what we look upon as Sufficient in point of withdrawing from Minifters of a Reformed Covenanted Church, in a broken and declining ^tate, wc judge the Equivalent, fo far as they may be applicable, fufficient for grounding a withdrawing from ProfeiTors of the fame Church, in the fame broken and declining ftate, as to that peculiar Church Communion in Selected Chrijlian Fellowfoips, and general Correfpondencies, for a joint car- rying on of the Publick work and Teftimony. But now when we are fhewing what we Judge to be grounds fufficient of withdrawing from Minifters of this Covenanted and Reformed Church, in this her broken and declining ftate, to the end that our minds may be more fully known, and to obviate any unjuft fufpicion of (land- ing at a diftance from Minifters upon inefficient or flender grounds ; we fhall here, in the Fourth Place, de- clare what wc Judge, according to the Written Word of God and our Church Conftitutions, to be required in Minifters, whom wc will Countenance and embrace as our own. Therefore our judgement is, that all or any Minifters, whom we are to countenance or embrace, mnft be cloath- ,ed with Chrift's Commiftion in his orderly and appoint- ed way, and have a fufneiene Call to adminiftrate his Ordinances. So it is needful in the Firft Place, We muft be clear as to their Entry and Miflion to the Mioiftry : For how pall they preach except they he fent ? Which being clear, in the next place, they mufl be free of fcandal, as to their Minijlmal or Perfonal walk, and of ablamelefs life and ( 68 ) \*nd Contierfdtidn, according as Paul defcribes it, ,i Tml iii. 2, 3, 4. ( For fuch as have not this qualification bring 1 he Ordinance of Chrift and the facrcd office of a Minifter into contempt, as the fcandals of the Sons of E/i made men to abhore the Sacrifice of the Lord, and fuch can have no weight with the people, and cannot expect the prefence of God with them) They mud alfo be free of palpable and manifeft Defection; For fo hath the Lord taught us, exprejly, declaring that the Priefts the Le- vites thai fiould come near htm, to mini ft er unto him y to fiand before him, fiould be the fons of Zadok that kept this charge oftheSanttuary^ when the children of ifrael went afiray from him, Ezek. xi.v 15 Yea, we do plainly pro- fef>, that we will not fepar«ue from any, but heartily hear and cordially countenan e all, that are free of thefe things that we mention as grounds fufficient ol withdrawing. But if they be guilty of any fteps of fcandalous defecti- on through this declining time, we think it ncceffary, before we can join with them, that they duly refent, confefs, and forfikethe fame. Albeit, we do in no ways affume to ourfelves the power of cenfure or Ecclefiaftick rebuke; yet we think theperfons guilty of thefe fins, for which a publick and Ecclefiaftick rebuke is due, ought in fome publick way or other to refent the fame, for the honour of God, and the fatisfaflion of the confeiences of the offended ; and we hope that no Minifter, .either free of thefe things or fenfible of the guilt of them, will think this an impofition. For further clearing of what we underftand by this, fee Diftinclion 8. Further we defire and expect of thefe Minincrs that we can have clearnefs to join with, that they muft difcharge what they have> in CommiiTion from Chrift faithfully : So Paul charges Timothy before God and the Lord fefus Chrift, who fiould Judge the quick and the Dead at his appear ing^ and his King- dom , to Preach the Word, to be inftant in feafon and out of feafon, to reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long fuffering and Do&rine, and to make full proof of his Miniftry, 2 Tim. iv. 1, 2, 5. And alfo gives him charge in the ftfrht of Cod, that he fiould keep the Commandment without fpot un~ rebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jefus Chrift, I Tim* vi. 13, 14. And exhorts him to keep that good thing thai ( *9 ) 'that wastommhted unto him, 2 Tim. i. 14. Likeways the Apoftle exhorts Titus, to /peak the things which become found DoBrine, in all things pewing him f el fa pattern of good Works , in Do&rine, fbewing uncormptnefs, gravity, Jincerity^ found fpeech that cannot be condemned, Titus ii. 1, 7, 8. Therefore they muit take up the right ftate of the Lord's Caufe againft both right and left hand oppofites, an J maintain the prefenc Te(timony,and condemn and preach down the prcfent Defections, and propagate the receiv- ed Principles ©f the Church of Scotland, according to the Word of God, the Conflitutions of our Church, and the Oath of holy Covenants : Otherways they do but defert and pervert the Word of Chrift's Patience, and are men of corrupt minds, perverfe difputers, I Tim vi. 5. Now we are confident, that none but iuch as are blinded with prejudice, will for this fay, that we prefcribc rules to Mmifters ; for there is nothing here required, but that which is bound upon them by the divine Authority of God in the Scriptures, and the Eccle- fiaftick Authority of our Church in the A&s of our General Aflemblics. And therefore, however we be reproached, as that we have caft off all the Mini- fiers of the Church of Scotland, and will hear none of them. We indeed profefs withdrawing from fuch of them, as practically contraveen thele Rules, and to whom the forementioned Grounds of withdrawing are appli- cable; yet here we declare, that if any Minifler will come forth, or wherever we can find any Minifler fa qualified, that is, clothed with ChriiVs Commiflioa, Righteoufnefs and Salvation, free of Scandals, minifterial and perfonal, free of Errors, Defections and Compliances, and difchareing their Commiflion faithfully ; or if any will come forth, and clear himfelf of thefe foremen- tioned Exceptions, or remove them by a declared Con- feifion, and forfaking of their Offences, which have tumbled the godly in the Land; we will call them, hear them, own, countenance and embrace them, obey and fubmit ourfelvcs to them in the Lord, ?^d defend and maintain them to the uttermoft of our Power. And we defire that this may be taken as a ferious and fblemrt invitation from us, to all faithful Miniften, tender of F their ( 76 y their Matter's Honour, and zealous for his Kingdom^ Propagation, to come forth, and take part in the Day^s Work and Teftimony, and take Trial of our Earneftnefs herein. In the fifth. and laft place, We (hall propofe fome things by way of Caution, for the better underftanding of the forefaid Grounds, which we look upon to be fuf* ficient, in point of withdrawing, as is foid, I. We do not look upon all thefe Minifters that we withdraw from, upon moe or fewer of the forefaid Grounds, to be no Minifters, yta, or no more Minifters ef the Church of Scotland y or that their paftoral A&s are invalidate or .null ; but only that we cannot lawfully em- brace them as our Minifters, and concur with them in the publick Work, as they are now circumftantiated. II. We do not look upon all thefe Minifters that we , withdraw from, to be equally guilty of Defections or offenfive Courfes ; howbeit we have not only one, but moe of the forefaid Grounds, for withdrawing from the moft Part that we refufe to concur with, though any one of them, if rightly confidered and applied, dot! carry a Sufficiency, ia point of withdrawing in thefi Circumftances. III. We have not fixed iuch a ftated withdrawing from all the Minifters forementioned, upon the forefaio Grounds, as that we will never concur with them an} more, even though they fhould confefs and forfake theii ©fFenfive Courfes, and give due Satisfaction to the Con* Sciences of the offended; but only a conditional withj drawing, that is, as wt chufe ho Jland ftill in this Cafe itnd refufe to concur ^ until offenfive and bachfliding Courfes be turned from> according as it isprefcribed to Jeremy chap. xv. 1$. So whenever the Caufes ofDiftance fhail ©erightly removed, Offences and Defections acknew iedged and forfaken, we fhall with all Readinefs con cur : yea, nve would account it a Bay of our yoy and Hop in ifrael) if the Lord would give us Occafion to evidence the fame. Wherefore, we reckon it not fb much the giving the Offence, as defending of and continuing in it 2 that doth warrant our withdrawing. IVf We acknowledge, as Minifters have been untea- ( n ) *?er of People, and have not done that which their Of- fice called chem unto, in pitying the ignorant, and tak- in pains upon them, by preaching, rebuking, exhorting ana admouifhing, but rather have condemned and mii- reprefented People, in their faithful and zealous Endea- vours, before trying what they were owning and aiming at; fo People have not been innocent and blamelefs, and free of Unrendernefs towards Miniflers, in being rather imbittered againfi their Perfons, when they turned ajide t$ Befcttionsy than mourning over their Faults. V. As we judge it the Height of Arrogancy, and Eft- croachment upon the facred Office, for People to judge Miniflers, or prefcribe Rules unto them ; fo we look upon it as competent, and granted unto People by the Lord, to h£ve a Judgment of their own Duty, how to carry towards Mlrrifters, and not to' take Matters upon Truft from them, but to prove all things before they ■chute, and to hold fad what they find agreeable to the Law and to the Teftimony, fearching the Scriptures whether rhefe things be fo or not, for which the noble Bsrcans are commended. And it is given in Command, I John, \v. I. Sot to believe every Spirit, but try them whether they are of GcJ ; which is not written only to Church guide?, though Church-guido are to try afrec their own Way judicially, and People in a private Way competent unto them: We look upon this as a Privilege, which the People (if they would not pfqftitute their true Chriftian Liberty) are bound to defend: and 'that not only extended to Miniftcrs Doctrinc,.bat alfo to- their Practices and Profeffions (to know with fome Satisfa- ction to the Confidence, what they have been) which through this vaft Trad of Defection have been ft dif- ferent, while they have not clearly fided themfelves, in making a Difference between the precious «nd the vile, nor given People ditfinelly to underftand what they are aiming at, and where they refolve to fland. F z MEAD ( 72 ) HEAD V. I Concerning our delegating and commifponating fame to re~ prefent our Cafe to foreign reformed Churches ; and our fending fome young Men to the Study of Theology in the, Netherlands, THIS Head hath two Parts to be confidered. As to the Firfly Wc are branded with that heinous Arrogation, of taking the Power of Church-government into our Hands (which we have abundantly refuted al- ready) and are laid to have fent Delegation in that Ca- pacity to the Churches of Holland^ Helvetia and Geneva : Therefore, to wipe away this Calumny, we offer thefc things following to Con fi deration. L Our Defi^n in thcfe Delegations was, to declare, our Adherence to all the fworn and received Principles of the Church of Scotland^ our .Wreftlings againft the Current of the Time's Defections, tnd our Detcftation of the Blafphemies, Execrations, Errors and Extrava- gancies of John Gih y wherewith we had been moft foul- ly and unjnftly branded; and alfo to reprefent unto fo- reign reformed Churches, our fad, broken and low Caft, to the end they might commiferate and help us, by their Prayers and otherwife : and that we might alfb know, in what State Affairs are amongft them, which things might conduce both to their and our Advantage, putting them and us, according to our Places and Power, to en- deavour the ftrengtheningof ourfelves, and of the Inte- rcft of Chrift, againft the Plots, Underminings, and Cruelties of the Adverfary. IL We profefs and declare, that it was for; no bad Defign, whether to carry on a Schifin, or to difcover the Nakednefs of our Mother; but to give them to un- derftand, to what a low, lamentable, and broken State, the ibmetimes famous Church of Scotland was now re- dacted, being made, by the Violence of prevailing Ene- mies, a ruinous Heap, and that yet there was a Rera- nrnt of her Children, taking plcafure in the Stones and •Duft of her Rubbifh, to the end, that when we could get ( 75 ) get few at Home, we might provoke fome abroad to fympathize with us. III. We did not fend fuch a Delegation, or give fiich a Commiffion, as a thing determined by, or iiTuing from ministerial or magiftraticai Authority, nor yet as from the whole Church ot Scotland,, of which more ful- ly fee in the Explication of our Mind, concerning the Title of the Proteftation againft the Scottifb Congregation at Rotterdam, Head 6. But, IV. As a poor, opprefled and diftrefTed Remnant of this Church, imbodied together in a general Correfpon- dence, and endeavouring to ftand by the Principles of this true Presbyterian Church, in Doclrine, Worfhip, Difcipline and Government, and as a poor wafted Hand- ful, whom God hath hitherto preferved in the midft of the Fires from utter Confumption : wherefore, we arc the more bound to profefs and confefs his Name, not- withitandiog all Opposition. But further, underltanding that we are excepted againft, becaufcofa Letter directed to the Churches of Helvetia and Geneva, giving a fhort Account of our deplorable Cafe, particularly, becaufe of fome Words in that fore- faid Epiftle, which are as follow: But the Ingre- dient which is mofi bitter in our Cup is this, Iead a Principle, to refirift our calling and hearing of Winifters to that one only ; but, as we £*id above, arc willing and longing, to receive and embrace all faithful Minifters, free of the grofs Defections of the* Time, or that will come cleanly off from them, as, is abundantly! evinced by our prefent Practice, in calling and hearing of fuch, be/kie the forefaid one, though we do refufc to call and hear others in this broken Time, againff whom we have juit Exceptions, until Differences be removed, in the mean while a&ing abilra&ly, not as a new ereclect Church, but as a poor broken Remnant of the old true Pre s Ky t e r i a n C h'u r c h of ScotlanJ. II. Though we befalily accufed of feparating from others, becaufe they own it as their Duty to hear and call faithful Miniftcrs ; yec wc declare that we own *? ( 75 ) as our Duty^ recall and hear Minifters, with fuch Qua- lifications as they themfelves fpeak of, viz* Who have cwnedy do ozvn y and adhere unto the true received Principles of the Church #/Scotlaad, founded upon the written Word of God, and whatfoever Declarations or TeJlimo/;ies y former §r lattery particular or more general^ are agreeable there- unto. And we profefs, that we own it as our Duty, to call and hear all N4ini(fers, againii whom we have noc juft, fblid and valid Exceptions. Yea, III. We profefs and declare, that we will call and hear fuch Minifters, as now wehavejuft Exceptions again (f, whenfoever the right Removal thereof fhatl Satisfy our Confidences, by their condemning their Defections, te- ftifying before God and the World their Refenunent of the fame, and taking up the right State of the Quarrel. Yet we mult (till fxick at this,that we will notcali or hear any Minifteis, againft whom wehavejuft, fbiid and va- lid Exceptions, until the fame be rightly removed in manner fore/aid. As to the fecond Part, viz the fending fome young Men tothe Study of Theology, and to receive Or dinar tion in thz Netherlands ', we frnli, I. fhew fome things that concurred as Motives, Caules and Occasions thereof. And, 2. infert fomething about the Ordination of one of xhem. As to the Flrft* we fhall mention thefe following, which concurred among others, as moving Caufes of that Re- solution I. At that Time, being left alone, and th^fe of the Minifters with whom wc did moll agree being various Ways removed from us, and feeing fo many oppofed our Telnmony, which we thought our felves very in- sufficient to maintain or promote ; therefore that we might have fome more capacitated to do it, and that we might be preferved irom Errors, We judged it ex- pedient, to fend fome voung Men abroad to thefc Col- leges, that they mi^ht be found ly principled ip the Cbriftian Faith, feeing our Colleges were £at it fhculd in any ether Senfe be aMricled to our So- cieties, as if they only were to be reckoned Believers, (for that is as large as Conversion or EfTcdtual Calling) Cl as if they only were to be reckoned Sufferers for Chrift, C So ) Girift, or that he hath no other Martyrs but from a- - inongft them ; nor, in a Word, do we reckon them the only Members of the Vifible Church of Chrift in Scotland: Bu^ we would have them to be looked upon,# j a poor difbref- fed and contending Remnant, ofthefufferingandwitnejjingy Awti-Popifb, Anti-Prelatick> Anti-Erafiian y Anti~Setlarian y True Presbyterian Cbuvch of Chrift in Scotia ud, which hath' been labouring to cleave clofe to the Parts and Degrees ofofo attained Reformation^ and cordially concurring in their Pla- ces and Stations with fuch of the Minifiers and Profejfors, as have gone before them y and with them y mere refolutely wd faithfully witneffmg both againji Tyranny and Apo- IV. We defire that the Charges in the fecond Article, wherein fome Minifters Names are expreffed, be undcr- irood feparately and diftributively, not collectively and copulatively; every one of thefe Minifters not being guil- ty in his own Pcrlon of all and every one of thefe Char- ges, But as we acknowledge, That as it was an Over- light to exprefs thefe Charges fo indefinitely, and to caft them and the Names of the Perfons all in a Heap to- gether, without ma'king particular Application ; fo we arc not convicted of any Falfhood in thefe, as we defire them to be underfiood. For there is nothing there faid that is not applicable to fomeof the Perfons named; ycz y we may fafely fay, that the forefatd Information againft us, fpoken of in Mr. W* B. his Letter mentioning fome Minifters Names, did give Occafion of inferring of Names in this Proteftation, efpecially of thefe Minifters who were given up in the fa id Letter, as the principal Authors of the forefaid Information. V. We do not mean by the Word Treacheroujly in the fecond Article, a Defign to betray ; neither does the Word itfelf always import fo much, but only a practical betraying of Truft, whether it be defigned or not. Nor do we mean, that the Epithets given to the afTociating Parties, viz* Godlefs> &c. are applied to all and every one of that Company (for we do not doubt of the God^ linefs of many of them) but only to fome of them : nor yet thefe Words in the Conclufion, concerning the fore- faid Congregation, viz* That no Pendicle of Chrift* s Crown was C Si ) *VdS ajfcrted by ihem> are fo extenfively and univerfally underitood by us, as that no Pendicle at all of ChrifTs Crown was ajfertedby them, but only that our Contro- verfies with lome of the complying Party of our Church, concerning Chrift's Prerogatives a s King, and what be- longs to his Crown, was not afferted by them, we mean the necefTary Teftimony againft the Supremacy, Tyran- ny, and Compliances with the fame. However, wc profefs, as we are not to juftify any Expreffion what- fbever in that forefaid Proteftation, which is too exten- fively propofed; or favours of real Bitrernefs, fo we are not to condemn the Scope thereof, albeit we acknowledge fcveral unfuitable Expreifion5 in it. VI. Confidering that the Caufcs inferted, materially confidered, and rightly applyed, are both true and fuf- ficient for a Proteftation : We defire that it may be look- ed upon as a (landing Teftimony (together with what contendings have formerly been by fome faithful Scottifb Sufferers in that Land) for the Vindication of Truth, and againft the fad wrongs and abufes in* that Congregation, ay and while the Caufes inferted arc mantained, and the offence and fcandal given not removed. Yea, in very deed, a deep fenfe in the mean time of the fins witnef ed againft by the forefaid Proteftation, would make all therein involved more favourably, and charitably to con- ftru&of the Action, HEAD. VII. Concerning the Charge of making Canons, in which are Ex- prejfed the Qualifications of the Members of General Meet- ivgs and Societies , and trying of Scandalous Perfons. THe Societies being tikeways mi (re pre fen ted, in that they arefaidtomakeOww/, exprcffing qualificati- ons of the Members of their Meetings particular and more general, and accordingly take to them f elves the Trial of Scandalous Perfons : Therefore, to (hew the Ground- lefnefs ( 32 ) fcfncfs offtich an Imputation, we fhall fpeak a little both to tjne one and to the other. Firfty As to the alledged making of Canons, the AI ledgance is founded upon a Qjjcition ufualiy proponed to the Members of our General Meetings, which is this^ Are yen free of joining with the unfaithful Ji lent and comply ing Mnnfters of the Time? Which being fo much dift plealing to many, and much carped at, and alfo the oc- caiion of the forefaid charge being taken from : Wc fhali therefore propone fome things concerning the charge in Gereial, imputing to us the making of thefe fo cal- led Canons, and impofing fuch Qualifications on the Members of our meeting^ and then touching the fore- mentioned Interrogation in particular. Firfi, We think it an odious Calumny invidioufly cad Upon Ui by our Traducers, that we have taken upon us to make Canons: Neither dowc underhand what they mean bv making Canons: Fpr(i) Jf by Canons he un- dcrltood fuch conititutions or nels, as flow from Politick or Ecclefiaflick Authority, that the Societies did or do a£ fume to themfelves, the making q{ fuch, we altogether deny. (2) It they underfland by them Impofitiom or iinful Refiii^ion^, thefe not the Communion of Saints Jo and with others in many other degrees , whether tr.ej be S.nrjes or For- eigners, under diverfe considerations : For we dijitngmfo ie- twixt a joining, which we may call CatholicK or Univerfal among Chriflians, considered as fuch, and an Ecclejiajhcal joining among Members of one particular Organic al Churchy confidered as Members of that Church : As tor the firit, we Subdivide it alfo into its degrees ; for we may join with fomt as Chriflians, holding the fame Fundamentals, £ph. iv. $. 6. Acts ii. 5> 9- cemprehending all that are found in Re* ligion, excluding all Herecicks : We may join with 0* thers confidered more firiclly, and upon firicter Conditions', as Protectants, providing they hold nothing contrary to any of the Reformed Churches Tefiimonies, but efvecially if they be Faithful in their own .particular Tejiimotiy, though the Word of theirs be not the fame with ours ; We may join with 0* thers upon yet flrifter Conditions as our Covenanted Bre- thren, fuch as the Members of the Churches ofEnjland and Ireland joined together with us in the fame League and Co- venant, providing they own it, and profecute the ends of iv y and maintain the word of their Teflimony, according to it y and their attained Reformation, albeit they have not the fame word of Teflimony every way with us : A> for the Second, We own a Communion upon firicler conditions and with firicler Qualifications, amongfi the Members of one Church and formed Society, under Subjection to the fxme Reformed Doctrine, Worfsip and Government, as for li.fi ance^ this Covenanted Church of Scotfend ; Whtch Ecclefia- frical Communion (particularly in reference to ur own Church) is to be confidered diverfe ways, and accordingly Is capable of diverfe decrees; for either the Church tnufl be confidered as Conflitute in pood Order, hatting Judicatories for redreffing abufes, in which Cafe we think it were an Vfurpation,for private Societies to affume the Regulation either vf joining or feparatiw, without recourfn to the Judicatories* c Or it muft Sic considered as afcendinp, a growing up f gradually unto Preformation^ in which cafe many i things alfo may be born with, efpecially by perfons c in a private capacity, and not made a matter of fepara- 4 tionj ( ?4) * tion ; becaufe never reformed. Or Iaftly, (which comes € more home to our cafe) it may be confidered as declin- * ing and falling back from fome degrees of Reformati- * on attained unto, and as it is broken down by com- € pleat -and Habitual Tyranny and Epidemical Apojlafy ; in c which cafe our ftri&ejl degrees of Communion, in fe- 1 letled FellowfiipJ) at leait, mult be qualified with ftrift- c eft conditions, confidering the prefent State of Affairs c in this, broken ftatc of the Church : For in thefe wc c muff necefTarily endeavour after Onenefsand Agreement: c as., to the word of our Teftimony, among the Confti- c tuent Members of thefe Societies, with whom wc con- € cur in a joint carrying on the publick work. For we c defire not to forget how the quarrel of our Zealous c and Ancient Covenanters was ftated, againft' Papifts> € Malignant s and Sectaries, Defection and Schifm ; And c againft finful Union as one extream, and finful Sepa- * ration as another ; and all that join with us in our * felecfed Communion, we would have concerning the * fame quarrel. Thirdly, more particularly, as Concerning that Que- ftion, called by them Canon, which among others is propofed to the Members of our General Meetings, con- cerning their joining or not joining with the fllenr, un- faithful, and complying Miniftcrs of the time, we (halt add thefe few things. I. The occafion of the propon- ing this Interrogation amongft us was and is, becaufe fince our Perfecution began to increafe, Minifters ge- nerally had fallen into fuch fad and lamentable defecti- ons, asvJs fhe wed above : Therefore we would inform ourielves, by that Queftion to the members of our Meet- ings, whether they had their countenance as formerly, or not. However, 2. By that Queftion, we underftand too Minifters, but thefe only to whom all (or at leaft fbme) of the forefaid adjeftive Epithets arc applicable; that is, either.thefe who had complyed with the E- nemy, or were become filent in lying by from the pu- blick work, or not difcovering the palpable fins of the time, or were in fuch a meafure unfaithful, as would be decerned cenfurable by our Church conftitutions. Secondly, As to the other thing objefted againft our .Societies, to wit, the taking to our/elves the Trial of Scan- dalous ( 85 ) iahus perfons : We profcfs and declare, that all the Trial of Scandals or fcandalous perfons which we judge Lawful, expedient, and competent to private perfons^ notwithstanding of the greateft neceffity, is merely po- pular and private, for information about the eafe or practice of the perfons, in order to the regulating our Consciences in our duty and carriage towards them, that fo, according to the judgment of difcretioh, w'e may be fully perfwaded in our minds, as to what is righc or wrong, falfe or true, and may not remain (dagger- ing or doubting in our duty and deportment towards them , not Judicial and Authoritative : For we by no means Judge it lawful to commit unto the people the power of Discipline, no more than it is lawful for them to preach and adminiftrate the Sacraments. Yea, fo far are we from that Seclarian Principle, that under no con- fideration whatfoever, we Judge it warrantable to aC- ftrt, that radically and originally the power of Church Government is feated in the people, and from them de- rived unto the Paftors and Elders, as it is in Civil Go- vernment, which cometh from God the fupream Lord and King of all the world, and is radically feated in the people, aud from them derived unto and conferred Upon their Magiftrates and Civil Governours, whereas Ecclefiaftick Government cometh from Chrift the Medi- ator, and King of his Church, and by him immediately conferred upon the Rulers and Officers of his Houfe$ with whom he hathpromifed his prcfence unto the end of the world. BUT to conclude, we defife a few things of our Brethren, unto whofc hands this fhall come. J* That none may look upon u*, from what we have profefTed and declared in this our Vindication, as having new fentiments about thefe Heads. For we did never hold or maintain Opinions, as to thefe particu- lars, contrar to what we have here exprefTc i ; fo that this is not a change, but an explication of our minds : And if any well meaning perfon and zealoufly inclin- ed amongftus, hath, through ignorance cr miftake,ur* tered themfclvcs cthcrways than wc have here explicate G ed ; ( 86 ) ed, we arc not to maintain the fame. a-. We defire that no advantage may be taken againft us, from words or exprefiions in this paper through our wcaknefs, but that the fcope and ddign of the whole may be weighed and confidered ; and fo that one part of it may not be di- vided from another, but that all the parts of it may be together coniidered, and impartially pondered without afre&ation or prejudice. 3. Seeing the Caufe of God hath fufFered great hurt, by perfons their too much credulity in believing ill and falfe reports, and fpreading the fame as real certainties, without ever trying or fearching in- to the Truth or Falfhood thereof: And feeing that thereby our Divifions and Diftradtions have been great- ly multiplied, therefore we defire (which we are alfa willing to grant unto others) that none hereafter may give ear and credit to bear reports of our Accufcrs and Traducers, without due trying and fearching into the truth thereof (at leaft if not for our fakes, yet that they would forbear for the Gofpel's) feeing that from henceforth they may be convinced of our being fo much wronged by fuch fad mifreprefentations. 4 We delire that. in time coming, any who fhall hear or fuppofe fuch opinions or Practices, as are unfbund and hurtful to be maintained and followed by us, may deal fo Friend- ly and Chriftianly with us, as to admonifh us thereof, it} order to convince and Convict us of the fame, before they publickly vent fuch things, or inform againft us. 5. That nothing in this Paper, which may feem more free- ly cxpreiTed, may be conilruclcd as flowing from pre- judice at any Perfon or Perfbns whatfomever, or from a glorying in our Mother's Nakcdnefs, which is alfo our •own, or from an Humour to debate: For we defire here- in, fingly and limply to have a Ref|c£f to the Glory of €od y the Vindication of his Truths, and (if the Lord will) the Advantage both of the Givers and Receivers of Mif- # reports apainft us. In the mean time , and p.niently to fuffer for the fame Caufe, even to refitting unto Blood, in their fredfaft adhering unto their fworn Duties and Principles, (wreftling as Men and as Christians, as well for their Natural an.i Civil Rights and Liberties againft Ufurpation and Tyranny, as for their Covenanted Reli- gion againft Popery, Prelacy, and facrilegious Supremacy \ and alfo againft the Apojlafy, Compliance, and deteftable Neutrality of others) which Worthies following the Footfleps of the faithful Cloud of WitnefTes that have gone before them, have pourtrayed a noble and. re- nowned Example of Virtue, Faithfulnefs and Courage to the prefent Age, and hive fealed and tranfmitted an honcft and honourable Teflimony to Pofteriry ; fo we hope the fome Teflimony fhall be continued to the Re- formation, amongft Men of our Principles and Profcliion, at length until he fhall make the B!ood, which hath been fhed felling the fame^ appear above Ground to be the Seed of the Church, and caufc his P ople to reap the Fruit of this prefent fiery Furnace, according to his Word, promiJin%> That all Things pall fivork together for good to them that love him, and emitted and executed, publifhed and profecuted by them, againft our Covenanted Reformation. And for Confirmation of this our Teftimony, we do here this Day, being the Twenty ninth of May 1679, publickly and moft juftly burn the forefaid Adls at this Crofs of Rutherglen, being the chief Burgh of the Nether-Ward of CHdefdale ; as they perfi- dioufly and blafphemoufly have burnt our holy Cove- Bants, through feveral Cities of thefe Covenanted King- doms. We hope none will take Exceptions at our not fubfcribing this our Teftimony, being fb folemnly given : for we are ready to do it, if neceflary, and^to enlarge ir with all our faithful fuffcring Brethren in the Land. The Declaration and Teftimony of the true Presbyterian, Anti-Prelarick, Ami-Eraftian, perfecuted Party in Scot- land, -puhlijbed at Sanquhar, June 22. 16S0. I T is not amongft the fmalleft of the Lord's Mercies to this poor Land, that there hath always been fome, who ( 9=> ) who have given their Teftimony againft every Gourfe of Defection we were guilty of ; which is a Token for Good, thac he doth not intend to cafi us off altogether ; but chat he w*U leave a Remnant in whom he will be gracious, if they, through his Grace, keep themfelves clean, and walk in his Ways and Methods, as they have been walked in and owned by PredcceiTors of truly wor- thy Memory, in their carrying on of our Noble Work of Reformation, in the fcveral Steps thereof, both from Po- pery and Prelacy, and likewife from Eraitian Suprema- cy, fo much ufurped by him, who, it is true, (fo far as we know) is defcended from the Race of our Kings ; yet he hath fo far deboarded from what he ought to have been, by his Perjury, and ufurping in Church Matters, and Tyranny in Matters Civil,as is known b-y the whole Land ; that we have juft Reafon to account it amongft the Lord's great Controvtriics againft us, that wc have not difowned him, and the Men of his Practices, whe- ther inferior Magiftrates, or any other, as Enemies to our Lord jefus his Crown, and the true Proreftanr and Pref- byterian Jnterelt in tbele ^Lands, our Lord's efpoufed Bride and Church. Therefore, although wc be for Go- vernment and Governor, fuch as the Word of God, and our Covenants allows ; yet we for ourfelves, and all chat ' will adhere to us, the Reprefeniatives of the true Prejbyte- yian Churchy and Covenanted Nation 0/ Scotland, confider- ing the great Hazard of lying under Sin any longer, Do, by rhir prefents, difbwn Charles Steuart, who hath been reigning rhefe Years Bygone (or rather we may f^y Ty- rannizing) on the Throne of Britain, as having any Right, Title, or Intereft to, or in the faid Crown of Scotland, or Government ; as forfeited feveral Years iince, by his Perjury, and Breach of Covenant with God and his Church, and Ufurpation of his Crown and Royal Prerogative, and many other Breaches in Matter Ecclefi- aftick, and by his Tyranny and Breaches in the very Rules of Government, in Matters Civil. For which Rea- sons, we declare, That feverai Years fince he fhould have been denuded of being King, Ruler, or Magiftrate, or having any Power, or' to be obeyed ^s fuch. As alfb^ |Vf, under the Banner of our Lord JefusChrifr, the Cap- tain ( 9i ) tain of Salvation, do declare a War with fuch a Tyrant and Ufurper, and all the Men of thefe Practices, as Ene- mies to our Lotd Jefus Chriit, and his Caufe and Cove- nant. And againfi all fuch as have any way firengtl ned "him, Jlded with, or acknowledged him y in his Vfurpaiion Civil and Ecclefiafiick : Tea, and againfi all fuch as pall any ways firengthen, fide with, or acknowledge Urn > or ayiy ether in the like Ufurpation and Tyranny ; far more again It fuch, as would betray or deliver up our free reformed Church into the Bondage of Antichnli, the Pope of Rome. By this we homologate our Teftimony at Rutherglen, the 2$th of May, 1 6 79, and all the faithful Teftimonies of tlefe that have gone before us, as alfo of tBifi who have /offered of late. Alfo, we do dif claim thai Declaration *puhUfbed at Hamilton > the l$th Day of June, 1679. chiefly 2 becaufc it takes in the King's Inter eft y which we are feveral Tears fi-nce ho fed from /, as alfo, becaufe- of the pre/aid Reafc ?s y and others, that We may after this (if the Lord w/U) fublifh. As alfo, we dif own and refent the Precept ion of the Duke of York, a profeffed Papilr y as repugnant to our Principles and Vows to the mofi High God, and as that which is the greats though (alas!) the ]u ft Reproach of onr Church. We alfo y by wis, proteft a^ainft his fucceed/ng to the Crown, as aga???ft whatever hath been done, or any : are effaying to do, in this land given to the Lord, in Prejudice to our Work of Prefor- mation. And to conclude, we hope after this, none will blame us, cr offend at our rewarding ofthefe that are agai] ft us, as they have done to us, as the Lord gives the Opportuni- ty. This is not to exclude any who hafh declined, if they be willing to give Satisfaciion y according to the Degree of Offence. The Act and Apologetick Declaration of the true Presbyteri- *ns of the Church of Scotland, publiped at Lanerk, Ja- nuary 12. 16S2. ALthough we ought to take in rood part, whatever- God in his infinite Wifdom hath, for the Punifh- mencof our Sins, carved out unto us, and eye and ac- knowledge him alone in it; and though we always . ought ( *2 ) might to "acknowledge Government and Governor?, a! ordained by him, in fbfar as they rule and govern ac- cording to the Rules fet down by him in his Word, and conftitutive Laws of the Nation, and ought to caft the Mantle of Love on the lefTer Errors of Governors, and give the beft Countenance to their Adminiftration, that the Nature of their A&ions will bear: yec when ail thefe Laws, both of God and the Kingdom, conditional and conftitutive of the Government, are called and an- nulled, by pretended Laws, and the higheft of Ufurpa- tion, and an inexplicable Prerogative in Matters Ecclefi- aftick,and arbitrary Government in Matters Civil, is ar- rogate, when a Banner of Impiety, Prophanenefs and Athe^ ifm is avowedly difplayed againft the Heavens; a Door opened to Abominations of all Sorts and Sizcs,and the Re- medy thereof (till denied by him, who fhould be as a Sun and a Shield to the People ; when the Parliaments, who ought to be the Grand Truftees of the Kingdom, to whom it belongs in fuch a Cafe to fecure the Civil and Spiritual Interefts, are fo prelimited by Law, as that no true Son of the State or Church hath Liberty to fit and vote there; fo that the Parliaments, and all Places of publick Truft, and Offices of the Kingdom, from the higheft to the loweft, are made up of none but thefc who are corrupted, overawed, overruled and bribed : What fhall the People do in fuch anExtremiry ? Should they give their Reafbn as Men,their Conferences as Chri- ftians, and refign their Liberties, Fortunes, Religion, and cheir All, to the inexorable Obftinacy, incureable Wil- fulnefs, and Malice of thefc, Who, in fpite of God and Man (and notwithstanding of their many Oaths and Vows both to God and his People) are refolved to make rheir own Will the abfblute and fbvereign Rule of their Actions, and their ftrained Indigencies the Meafure of the Subjects Hope and Happinefs ? Shall the End of Go- vernment be loft, through Weaknefs, Wickcdnefs, and Tyranny of Governors ? Muft the People, by an im- jplicite Submiffion, and deplorable Stupidity, deftroy themfclvcs, and betray their Pofterity, and become Ob- jects of Reproach to the prefent Generation, and Pi t y ?nd Contempt to the future ? Have they not, in fuch a p Extrem ( 9S ) Extremity, good Ground to make ufe of that natural and radical Power they have, to fhake off thac Yoke, which neither we nor our Fore-fathers were able to bear? Which accordingly the Lord honoured us (in a general and unprelimited Meeting of the Efiates and Shires of Scotland) to do', A Convention of unprelimited Members, a Convention of Men, 8 ) maintaining the Caufe and inrercfr of Chrift againfi hit enemie> 3 in the defence of our Covenanted Reformati- on : By fhedding our blood a&ually, either by Authori- tative Commanding, fuch as bloody Counfellors (bloody, wefkf, iniinuaring clearly by this and the other Ad- jective Epithets* an open Dirt in6iion betwixt the- cruel and blood thrifty, and the more iober and moderate) Efpeciafly that (fo called) judiciary, General of For- ces, Adjutants, Captains, Lieurenents, and all in Civil, - and" Military power, who make it their work to em- brue their hands in our blood, or by obeying fuch Com- mands, fuch as bloody Militia men, mkticfous Troop- cis, Soldiers, and Dragoons', Mikeways fuch Gentlemen and Commons, who through wick-ednefs and lU-wil!,' ride and run with the foiefaid perfbns to lav Search for us ; or who deliver up any 6i us into thejr hands to tlje fp:iling of our blood; by inncing morally, or fhrring up Enemies to the taking away of our Lives, fuch as ddinnedly and purpofedly advife, counfel, and encourage them to proceed againfi us to our utter Extirpation ; by informing againft us wickedly, wittingly, and wil- lingly, fuch as viperous and malicious Bifhops and Cu- rares, and all fuch fort of Intelligencers ; wno lay out them (elves to the EfTuiion of «ur Blood, together with ail fuch, as in obedience to the Enemies their Commands, at the fight of us, raife the Hue and -Cry after us ; Yea, and apainft all fuch, as compearing before the Adversa- ries, their Courts upon their demand, delate u> & any who befriend us, to their and our cxtream hazird and fufTer- ing/. We fay, all and every one of fuch fhal! be reput- ed by us Enemies to God and the Covenanted work of Preformation, and punifhed as fuch according to our po- wer and the degree of their offence ; chiefly if thev (bill continue after the publication of this our Declaration, ob- flinatelyand habitually, with malice to proceed againfi us, any of the forefaid ways ; not at all exeeming from pre fen t punifhmenr, fuch as formerly have been chief ringleaders and obftinate offender 5 : ', and withal leaving room for Civil and Rjeclefiaftjek fa*ftfaciibri before Law- ful- and fettled Tudicatories,_for the offence cf fuch per- fons as our power at this time cannot reach, or the de- gree t $9 ) gree of their puriifhment according to their offences rf hard for us to be determined. Finally, we do hereby declare that we abhore, condemn, and difebarge any pcr- fonal attempts, upon any pretext whatfomever, without previous deliberation, common or competent confent, without certain probation by fufEcient Witneffes, the guilty perfons Confeflion, or the notournefs of the deeds themfeves. Inhibiting alfo and discharging any of our EmiiTaries whorofoever, to itretch forth their hands be- yond the certainly known degrees of any of the forefaid perfons their offences. Now let not any think (our God affifting us) we will be 10 flack handed in time coming, to put matters in execution, as heretofore we have been, feeing we are bound faithfully and valiantly to maintain our Cove- nants and the Caufe of Chrift : Therefore let all thefe forefaid perfons be admonifhed of their hazard. And particularly all ye Intelligencers, who by your volun- tary Informations endeavour to render us up to the E- nemies hands, that our blood may be fhed , for by fuch courfes ye both indanger your immortal Souls, if Re- pentance prevent nor, feeing God will make Inguiflrion for fhedding the precious blood of his Saints, whatever be the thoughts of men, and alio your bodies, feeing ye render your felvcs actually and malicioufly guilty of our blood, w ; hofe innocency the Lord knoweth : However, w'e are forry at our very hearts, that any of you fhould chufe fuch courfes, either with bloody Doeg to fhed our blood, or with the flattering Ziphites to in- form perfecuters where we are to be found : So we fay again, we defire you to take warning of the hazard that ye incur, by following fuch courfes , for the Un- lets Neceflity of Self preservation, accompanied with holy Zeal for Chrift's Reigning in our Land, and fup- preffing of profanity, will move us not to let you pafs unpuuifhed. Call to your Remembrance, all that is in perrii is not loft, and all that is delayed is not for- given. Therefore, expeft to be dccAt with as ye deal with us, (6 far as our power can reach ; not becaufe we are atled by a finful Spirit of Revenge for private an dperfonal Injuries; but mainly becaufe, by our fill, Re- C i» ) iLeformation firfFers Damage, yea, the Power of Godli* He is, through infnaring flatteries, and terrible threat- fling, will thereby be brought to a very low ebb, the consciences of many more dreadfully furrendrcd, and pro- fanity more eftablifhcd and propagated. And as upon the one hand we have here declared our purpofes anent malicious injurers of us, fo upon the o- thcr hand, we do hereby beftech and obteft all you who wifh well to Zion, to fhew your good will towards us, by afling. with us, and in, your Places aud Stations according to your ability, counfelling, encouraging and ftrengthening our hands, for this great work of holding up the Srandard of our Lord Jefus Chnft. Think not that in any ways you are called to ly by neutral and indifferent, cfpccially in fuch a Day; for we arc a Peo- ple, by holy Covenants dedicated unto the Lord, in our Perfons, Lives, Liberties, and Fortunes * for defending and promoving this glorious work of Reformation ; not- withstanding all oppofition that is or may be made thereunto, yea and fworn againft all Neuterality and In- differency in the Lord's matters : And moreover we are fully perfwaded, That the Lord, who now hideth his face from the Houfe ofjacoby willfuddenly appear, and bring light out of darkneft, and perfect ftrength out of weak- nefs, and caufc Judgment return again to Rightcouf- nefs. Thus having declared our deliberate* lawful and neceffary purpofes, concerning this matter, in order to the Publication of the fame, we do hereby ftatute and crdain that upon the eighr d^iy of Novemher Copies of thfs our Declaration be affixed upon a fufEcient and competent Number of the Publick Market CrofTes of the Tefpe&ive Burghs, and of the Patent Doors of the re- fpc&ive Kirks within this Kingdom, Given at upon the 28th oBober 1684. Let king Jefus Re:gn y and all his Enemies be Jcattered. the Vroteftatiori) and Apohgetick Declaration of the Con" tending and Suffering Remnant , of the true Presbyter^ ans of the Church of Scotland. Jgainfi C ioi > Againft the Proclaiming James Luke of York, King «f Scotland, England, France, and Ireland : The law- fulnefs of the prefent Pretended Parliament, and the apparent In-let of Popery y &c. publifbed at Sanquhar, IT hath pleafcd the Holy and Wife God, to exercife the Church of Scotland, now of a long time, with wrcftling and warfaring, under the yoke of cruel Oppref Tors, who have made it their whole work to extirpate the :rue Worfhip and Wor/hippers of God out oftne Land, they making it highly Criminal to own Chrift as fole Supream over his own Houfe, to mention any Adhe- rence to Scotland* s Reformation and Covenants, and to take the written word of God to be the only rule of Faith and manners, decerning any to forefault right to Efratc, Life, and Liberty, who are of Presbyterian Principles^ who will not make a full furrender of Conference unto them> to be carried about as they pleafe, complying with all Contradictions and Contradictory Impositions which their Diabolick Spirits may invent, who are clearly fecn to be void of all Religion, Reafon, andHumanity ; fo that they proceed againft all Recufants with the Height of Barba- rity and Hetfifi Cruelty, refufing to hear them profefs Sub- jection to Rulers only in the Lord, and according to his Word, yea cutting them off in the Fields, without gi- ving them any Time to deliberate upon Death ; yea y often times without fo much as to commit their Spirits unto the Lord ; but butcher oujly flaying them y without taking Notice what they are, or what (according to their own Law) is to he led againft them. Moreover, thefe Arbitrarians have fo raged, that they have now brought the Land to that, ( O / poor miferable and lamentable Slavery) that the frecft Subjeft, and belt Gentleman in the Kingdom, is by their Acls, Laws and Proceedings holden obliged to give an Oath about Things to be askd t before any finglc Soldier or Dragoon meeting them upon the Way. Lo, all this and much more we have met with, as juft upon the Lord's part, though moft unjuft upon Mans, for our manifold Sins and Iniquities ; and in a fpecial Manner, for our aot purging our Judicatories and Armies, when the Power was in our Hands, of Men difaffefted to the Caufc ( IG2 } and Intereft of Chrift ; for our bringing in known Ma- lignants to Places of Power and Tr.uft among us ; and for inordinate Affeclion unto, and lulling after the deceaft Tyrant, Charles the Second, and advancing him to the Regai Throne, even wiiile known by many palpable T)i£- coveriei (as to be feen in the Caufes of God's Wrath with the Church of Scotland) to retain his Heart Enmi* ty at the Covenanted Work of Reformation ; which Sins wedefire to confefs and mourn for, before God, Angels ana Men: As alfo, our Sin in-not timeous reje&ing the fo re fa i d Charles, when he brake Covenant, and all Parts of his Coronation Oath. Howbeit, fearing the lying under fuch a Sin a try longer, when we were brought to a very fmall Remnant, we did, by open Declarations, difclaim his pretended Authority, upon many important Grounds and Reafons, as is to be feen elfcwhcre, parti- cularly in our Declaration publifbed at Lanerky January ~ 12. 1682 Years. All which Declarations we do hereby ratify and approve. So now, the Lord in his Goodnefs and Wifdom hav- ing removed the forefaid Charles from his Tyranny by Death; and a few wicked and unprincipled Men of this Kingdom having, by open Proclamation, proclaimed James Duke o?Tork, though a profefled Papift and ex- communicate Perfon, and not yet received into the Church again, to be King of Scotland, England, France and Ireland ', We, the contending and furTei ing Remnant of the true Presbyterians of the Church of Scotland, cal- ling to mind the many Bonds and Obligations that ly up- on us from the Lord, and being defirous to be found faithful in this Day of Tentation, to avoid Acceffion to the Guilt in which many have involved themfelves, to exoner our Confciences, as in his Sight, to teftify our Refentment of the Deed, and to make it appear unto the World that we are free thereof, whether by Concurrence or Connivance ; Do here deliberately, jointly and unani- moufly, -protefi againft the forefaid 'Proclamation of James Duke of York, to be King, as f aid is, in regard, that it is the choofing a Murderer to be a Governor, who hath Jbed the Blood of the Saints of GOD ; in regard that it is the Height jrf Confederacy with an Idolater, which is jorVidden by the Law ( i°3 ) Law of GOD', in regard that it is contrary to the Declara- tion of the General AJfembty of the Church of Scotland, of the Date 27th July 1649 Tears \ in regard that it is con- trary to many wkolefome and laudable AHs of Parliament : As Ac! 8th, Parliament iff, repeated in the 99th Ad, Parliament 7th, ratified in the 23d Ad, Parliament I Ith, 114th Ad, Parliament I2th of King James VI. where Papifls are decerned to be punified by manifold Civil and Ec- clejiafiick Pains, as Adverfaries to GCD*s true Religion ; yea, they are ordained to be punified as common Enemies to all Chrijlian Government', Ail 8th, Parliament i6th,King James VI. And in regard that it is inconflftent with the Safety of the Faith, Confcience and Chrijlian Liberty of a Chrijlian People, to choofe a Subject of 'Antichrijl io be their {ef-peaallyfupreme) Magijlrate. And (b it is, that we un- derhand that Part of the 4th . Se&ion, Chapter 23d of our Confejfion of Faith, and in a general and abltrad Senfe, where it is faid (in oppofition to Sectarians, who afTerr, that fuch are not lawful Kings, who cither know noc Chrift, or believe not in him) That Infidelity or Difference in Religion doth not make void the Magistrate's juft Statutes, Afts> Confti- tutienu ( 105 ) tutions, Canons Civil or Municipal, with all other Ordinances and praBick Penalties whatfoevtr, made in Prejudice of the true Religion and Profejfors thereof, or of the true Church- Difcipline, and JurifdiBion or Freedom thereof and every other thing contrary to found DoBrine and the Power of God* linefs, abjured moft explicitely by our National Covenant^ abrogated, annulled, and refcinded by our ABs of Parlia- ment, as A& 3d, Aft 3iit, Pari, lit; A& 23d, Pari, iuh j A& iJ4th, Pari. 12th; Aft 5th, Pari. 20th, King James VI. We fay, we doprotefl again (i all Kind of Pope- ry whatfoever,againfi fuch its entering again into this handy andagainft everything that doth, or may direBly or indireBly make way for the fame, dij claiming like wife all SeBaria- nifm, Malignancy, and any Confederacy therewith. Moreover, taking to our ferious Confiderarion, the low, deplorable and obfeured State of the Churches of England and Ireland, and that we are all bound in one Covenant and Solemn League together, wc (in the Bowels of Chriff) do in like manner hereby admonifh you our Brethren in thefeour Neighbour and Covenanted Lands, that ye remember how far ye have fadly failed in purfu- ing the Ends of our Covenants ^s we ourfelves alfo have done, which we defire to confefs, imploring God's For- givenefs to you and us both) how ye have fuffered your Lord's Enemies to rob you of all your Privileges and pleafant Things; how ye have given up yourftlvesto be (educed by complying, lukewarm and Court flattering Brethren ; and how ye have parted by, lightly looking upon our bleeding Wounds, denying us Help, though we have been like to give up the Ghoft; and what great Acceffion ye have to the giving Popery fuch an open Door to enter upon our Land again. Remember thefe Things, and confider what the Lord is now calling for at our Hand ; break off your finful Ways by Repentance, and abandon all Lukewarmnefs and Indifferency in the. Lord's Matters, give up with your own things; be tender of God's declarative Glory, which is lying at the Stake ; Quite your felves like Chriftians and Men ; and frretch your Hands to the helping, ftrengthening, encouraging, and comforting a poor wafted, wronged, wounded, re* proached, defpifed, and bleeding Remnant; (with whom you ( io6 ) ^ are in Covenant) ferting our felves againft all the Injuries and Affronts, done to our bleiTed Lord jefus Cbnft, againft the Man. of Sin, the Kingdom of Anti- chrift) and all the Limbs and Parts thereof. And here, with all Sincerity of Mind, and Unfeignedncfs of Rcfo- lution, we promife to ad unto you the Parts of cove- nanted Brethren in the Lord,to the outmoft of our Pow- er Like wile, we do hereby in like Manner, call unto you, all Proteftant Reformed Churches, Kingdoms, and Commonwealths, that ye would cake to your ferious Confidetation the low and dangerous State of the Gofpcl Intercft, and advert to the Growth and Increafe of P#- pery in all Places, beftirring yourfelves timeoufly againft ic, left ye be too late, and lofs what much Blood and Contending may not recover again ; confidering the di- (treffed Cafe whereinto we are brought, as a Share of the true Proteftant Intereft; and refreshing us with your Help : c And withal, as ye tender the Advantage * of Chrift'sCaufe, which to own is the Chriftians Glory ; < that ye engage not yourfelves- in any Quarrel, or with- c any Perfbn whatfomever, till you know that the Quar- 1 rel be rightly ftated, and that the Perfons, in the Judg- c ment of Charity, are feeking the Advancement of the c Kingdom of Chtift, left that ye join yourfelves to thefe € who may lead you back to Bgypt y and 16 you provoke * the Lord to deftroy you in the Wildemefs. - * Finally, We being mifreprefented to many, by the c wicked Malice of our avowed Enemies, and the finful * Prejudice of others, who, mifinterpreting our late De- € claration affixed at feveral Parifh Church Doors, (which £ we do hereby ratify and approve) perverting the true 6 and obvious Senfe thereof, and through blind Malice * and Prejudice miftaking our Signs therein, (clfe their * Conferences give their Tongue the Lie) hold us forth as € Perfons of murdering and afTaflinating Principles: All c which Principles and Practices, we do hereby declare ( before God, Angels and Men, that we abhore, renounce, * and deteft ; as alfo, ail manner of robbing of any, whe- € ther open Enemies, or others, which we are moft falfly € afperfed with, either in their Gold, their Silver, or c cheirGear, any Houfiiold-ftuff., Their Money perifh 1 with ( 107 ) * with thetnfelves ; the Lord knows that our Eyes are * not after thefe Things. And, in like manner, we do c hereby difclaim all unwarrantable PraSices committed * by any few perfons reputed to be of us, whereby the c Lord hath been offended, his Caufc wronged, and we * all made to endure the Scourge of Tongues ; for which Things we have defired to make Conference of Mourn- c ing before the Lord, both in p#blick and private. As 1 the unwarrantable Manner of killing that Curate cf * Carfphaim, (though he was a Man of Death, both by c the Law of God and Man, and the Facl not materially c Murder) it being gone about contrary to our Declara- 4 tion, without Deliberation, common or competent Con- * fent, (the Concluflon and Deed being known only to * three or four Perfons) in a rafh, and not in a Chriftian * manner. And alfb, other Offences being committed at < the Time ; which Mifcarriages have proven a Mean to * (top and retard lawful, laudable, and warrantable Pro- ceedings, both as to Matter and Manner.' But let not guilty perfons think themfelves indemnified. ]^wbeir, we recjuire and hope, that all whofcever in Vis our Land, our Neighbour or Foreign Lands, which have not a wilful Prejudice at the Caufe and Way of God, will not give Ear unto Reports, which flated Enemies, or prejudg'd pretended Friends give of us, that they will not impute the Mifcarriages of one or more Perfons, to u* or all of us ; who defire that nothing may be looked on Y^reafter, as our Deed, which wanteth common Con- fent or Approbation, and that they will not receive a wrong Imprcffion of us and our Proceedings : For we call the Living God, the Searcher of Hearts, to. witnefs* that this only is our iinc^re Defire, and unfeigned Refo- lution, to continue in the Profeffion and Obedience oc.i^ true Religion of Jefus Chrifr, according to his Word, our Covenants, National and Solemn League, to defend the fime, and to refift all contrary Errors, Corruptions, and Innovnions, according to our Vocation, and the outm/ of the K wer that God d Now, ve hope none Ikho have not made a fu/ render of Con feience, a^^^not bent to welcn' ■f*ry into the Land, ujp.rfcaded ac what / ■% £ "8 > 6ere done : For, in the Lord's Sight, we durft do no lefsr, whatever Occafion ofPeriecution our Gobi's Enemies may cake from the fame : for we could not Tee at the Time any other Way to difcharge our Duty before the Lord, to exoncr our Conferences, *and to free ourfelves of the Connivance' at Popery, which we pray the Lord may flop, and not lay the Guilt of its Increafe to the Charge of us aod our Pofterity. Therefore we appoint and ordain. That incontinently ye our EmifTaries, pifs upon the Twenty eighth Day of May y 1685 Years, unto the Market Crofs of Sanquhar, and there, by open Proclamation, make Intimation of - - 9 this our Declaration, leaving Copies of the famen amVd f f upon the forfaid Market Croft, and other patent Places of the forefaid Burgh. 1 Given at upon the 28th Day of May, 1685 Let ' . King fESVS Reign, and all his Enemies is "pattered. <- F I N I S.