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A
COMt'ENDIOUS HISTORY

OF THE

BRITISH CHURCHES IN
ENGLAND,
SCOTLAND, IRELAND, AND AMERICA ;
WITH AK
INTRODUCTORY SKETCH
OF THE
l&tstoi-g of t^t Wallrenses,
AND
AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE SECESSION.

BY JOHN BROWN,
LATE PROFESSOR OF DIVINITY UNDER THE ASSOCIATE SYNOD,
AND MINISl/ER OF THE SOSPEl., HADDIN&TON.

TO WHICH IS ADDED,
A LIFE OF THE AUTHOR,
BY THE REV. THOMAS BROWN.

' Walk about Zion,— tell the towers thereof, mark ye well her bulwarks, consider Iier
palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation follo%ing." Psalm xlviii. 12, 13.

VOL. II.
A NEW EDITION.

EDINBURGH :
PRINTED FOR MACLACHLAN & STEWART; AND
BALDWIN, CRADOCK & JOY, LONDON.
1823.

rtK?£3

CONTENTS or VOL. IL

A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.
CHAPTER I.
> Page
Christianity Introduced—Popery follows, and gains ground about
1100 years — Resby, Craw, Hamilton, Wishart, Mill, &c. burnt
for opposing it— and many others persecuted  ,  1

CHAPTER II.
Protestant Reformation pushed on by Knox — Promoted by the No
bility and others, opposed by the Queen Regent— Established by
the Parliament, A. D. 1 560 — Confession of Faith — First Book of
' Discipline — Reformation carried on by the IVtinisters and others
in opposition to Queen Mary — and under the Earl of Murray
further established — Morton attempts to introduce Prelatic
Church Government, but is opposed by Knox, who soon after
died — and others  Second Book of Discipline is formed  IS

CHAPTER III.
King James VI. introduces the National Covenant ; and Presby
teries formed — He once and again labours to establish Prelacy
and his own Erastian Supremacy— National Covenant renew-

iv CONTENTS. Page

ed— Presbyterian Church Government established— Assembly
Covenant with God, and earnestly promote Reformation 

CHAPTER IV.
King James favours Papists, and by captious questions— Clergy
men's Vote in Parliament— Constant Moderators— Paolied Ge
neral Assemblies— Introduction of Diocesan Bishops and Po
pish Ceremonies— And by Persecution of the Faithful about
twenty-seven years, terribly defaced the Church— King Charles
I. and Archbishop Laud, for about thirteen years more, increas
ed her misery, by supporting Arminianism and Prelacy, and
obtruding more Superstition 

45

65

CHAPTER V.
By bold and prudent Remonstrances— by solemnly renewing their
Covenant with God— by warlike Defence of themselves against
Charles I. and Mohtrose, his Lieutenant— by entering into a Co
venant with, and assisting the English— by opposing Hamilton's
Engagement — ^by adopting new Standards or Doctrine, Wor
ship, Discipline, and Government, and by many excellent Acts
of Assembly and Parliament, the Covenanters carry their Re
formation td great Perfection, between 1637 and 1651  129
CHAPTER VL -=
By the rash Admission of King Chailes II, — by public Resolutions
ofthe Commission to please him^by his unlimited Restoration^
Ke-establishment of Prelacy — Imposition of sinful Oaths and De
clarations, and Bonds — And terrible Persecution of all faithful
Adherents to their Covenants withGod— -and even byhhindulgen-
cies o( the less Faithful — and by the Labours of King James VII.
to introduce Popery, the once attained Reformation is almost
entirely ruined, between 1651 and 1688  ,  283
CHAPTER VII.
King William being enthroned, Prelacy is abolished, and Presby
tery re-established— Many, but not all, grievances redressed —
Many good Acts of Assemblies — Religion almost at a stand for
3

CONTENTS. V
Page
above twenty years— but afterwards much hurt by the Union
Settlement — By the Abjuration Oath — Toleration Act — Resto
ration of Patronage — Condemnation of the Marrow — Simson,
Glass, Campbell, Wishart, &c.'s Errors — Manifold divisions
thereby occasioned  375

AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE RISE AND
PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION.

COMPENDIOUS HISTORY

OF THE

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.

CONTAINING

AN ACCOUNT

MOST MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS SINCE THE INTRODUCTIOJI
OF CHRISTIANITY TO THE PRESENT TIME.
TOGETHER WITH
A HISTORY OF THE
aaise mti i^rofltress of t|)e ^^t^ssion.

COMPENDIOUS HISTORY

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.

CHAPTER I.
Christi(mity Introduced — Popery follows, amd gains ground
about 1100 years — -Resby, Craw, Hamilton, Wishart,
Mill, Sfc. burnt for opposing it — and many others per
secuted.
*T HO first published the gospel of Christ in North
Britain we know not: But, from our ancestors'
zealous attachment to observe their Easter upon the
1 4th day ofthe moon, we are tempted to think that
some of their first preachers had come from the
Lesser Asia, after that superstition had be.come fa
shionable there. It is said, that ajjojut A. D. 203,
Kipg Donald I. and. his queen, with several of his
nobles, embraced the Christian religion ; and that
Cratilinth, about seventy years , after, more fully
established it, and abolished heathenism. Probalily
VOL. I. B

2 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
the terrible persecution raised by Diocletian, the'
Roman emperor, about A. D. S02, obliged both
preachers and other Christians, in the south parts of
the island, to flee northward, where his power could
not reach them. — Palladius, coming frorn Rome, iri
the .5th century, to assist our preachers in their op
position to the Pelagian heresy, is said to have intro
duced diocesan prelacy, and to have sent St. Patrick
from near Glasgow to Ireland, in order to christia
nize the inhabitants, or to introduce bishops among
them. But so inconsiderable was the power of these'
primary bishops, that it was not till about six hun
dred years afterward that they had any fixed dio
ceses in Scotland. About this time, Hildebert, Se-
dulius, Columba, and other learned men, flourished
here, and were encouraged by Congall our king.
And in this, or the next century, Kintogern, Bal-
dred, Conval, Mornan, Cofmack, Hebred, Diinstan, .
Jonas, Gabrian, Gall, and Columban, were famed
preachers. The two last traveUed into France and
Switzerland, if not also into part of Italy.
About A. D. 520, the Saturnalian festivals of the
heathens, which had in other places been before
transferred to the pretended honour of Jesus Christ,
were introduced into Scotland, and still continue to
be observed in our revels of Christmas and the
new year, under pretence of honouring the birth
and circumcision of onr Saviour. In the seventh
century, Thomian, Columban, Chroman, Bathan,^
Herman, Lanstran, Stellan, Sergan, Corman, Ai-
dan, Finan, Colman, Adaman, Chilian, Wiro,
Plechelm, Samson, and Clemens, made a respect
able figure in the clerical order. But most of them
were terribly harrassed by Augustin, Wilfrid,
Boniface, and other Pontifical missionaries from
Rome, because, they refused to subject their con
sciences or country to his Papal Majesty, and op-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. O
posed the observation bf Edster on the day ap
pointed at Rome, as well as the imposition of celi
bacy on the clergy, aud of their shaving of their
heads in the form of a cross, to mark their mission
from Christ. In the eighth century, we^ find a
considerable number of learned men, of whom John
of Air, Alcuin, Clemens, and Raban, favourites of
Charles the Great of Germany and France, appear
to have been the chief; but whetber they wexe all
natives of Scotland I know not.
About A- D. 860, a Synod held at Scoon enacted.
That all clergymen should reside at their charges ;
instruct their people by their example, as well as
by their doctrine ; that they should keep no hawks
or hounds for hunting; tha.t they should neither
carry warlike weapons, nor plead any civil causes.
Constantine, the king, also enacted, That drunken
ness should be punished with death ; and that none
should take above one meal a-day, or accustom
themselves to lie on soft beds. About A. D. 904,
.King Gregflry, in a convention of states at Forfar,
is said to have exempted the clergy from all taxes,
service in war, or subjection to civil courts ; — and
to have given them power to draw tithes, enact
ecclesiastical canons, and judge of matrimonial and
testamentary causes. It was moreover enacted,
that every king, at his coronation, should swear to-
maintain all the clerical privileges. About A. D.
977, Beornel, or Bernet, a Scotch bishop, and
others, were summoned to England, to have their
heretical principlie of the lawfulness of priests' mar
riage disproved and condemned. Dunstan, bishop
of Canterbury, their principal opponent, by causing
the beams of the floor on which they sat, to be
secretly cut, that it might sink under every one
but himself, pretended that their fall, while he re
gained safe, plainly marked the decision pf heaven

4 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
in his favours. About the beginning of the eleventh
century, King Malcolm fixed the bishops to parti
cular dioceses, and erected the bishoprics of St.
Andrew's, Glasgow, Murray, Caithness, Murthlack,
and Aberdeen. Turgot was the first bishop of
St. Andrew's. In this century, Marian, Patern,
Amichad, Sigebert, and Elias, Scotch preachers,
made a respectable figure in Germany. Kings
began to be anointed at their instalment. About
A. D- 1198, King Alexander, suspecting the in
trusive ambition of Thurstan, archbishop of York,
desired Radolf of Canterbury to provide a bishop
for St. Andrew's : and notwithstanding all that
Thurstan could do to oppose it, one Eadmer was
sent. But he, refusing to profess his subjection to
the Canterburian see, was soon obliged to return
to England.
In the twelfth century, kings and others appear
ed madly intent on promoting Monkish devotion.
The abbeys of Scoon, St. Columba, Jedburgh, Kel
so, Melrose, Newbottle, Holyroodhouse, Kinloss,
Cambuskeneth, Dundrennan, Holm and Coultram,
and two convents at Newcastle, and one at Ber-
. wifck, and another at Carlisle for nuns, were bUilt,
and endowed with revenues mostly by King David,
who also erected the bishoprics of Ross, Brichen,
Dunkeld, and Dumblane, and was rewarded with
the honour of a Papal Saint. His successors
founded the abbies of Coupar, Angus, Sawtry,
Aberbrothick, Balmerino, and the convent of Max-
wel. The prior of St. Andrew's, Richard a canon,
and David a presbyter, were the most noted for
learning. The Scotch clergy, being cited to a
council at Northampton, boldly refused all -subjec
tion to the archbishop of York. Gilbert, a young
canon, was their principal disputant. The convent
of St. Andrews' election of an Englishman to that
3

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 5
see, occasioned a furious contest between Kitig
William and the -Pope, who had laid the whole
kingdom under an Interdict of all religious service,
had not Scot, the elected- bishop, by his earnest
supplications, prevented it.
In the thirteenth century, the Franciscan and
Dominican monks spread themselves into Scotland.
King Alexander II. having assisted the French
against King John of England, now an absolute
slave and deputy of the Pope, his holiness laid his
whole kingdom under an Iriterdici. When his Le
gate afterward came to declare the, nation absolved
from this dreadful curse, he so terribly oppressed
them, that they were forced -to complain of his
conduct at Rome. Another Legate quickly fol
lowed, ¦ to raise contributions for carrying - on the
hall/ war in Canaan. Having spent what he got in
debauchery, as he returned, he pretended that he
had been robbed of it. Another Legate was sent'
from Rome to • demand new contributions: but
king Alexander prohibited him, or any other,' on
any such errand, to enter his kingdom. Not long
after, Ottoboh, and afterward Rustani, were sent
to require payment of the. Pontifical dues. But
as king Alexander III. prohibited the raising of
money in his kingdom, without his special allow
ance, they dared nbt to enter the country. In this
century were founded the monasteries of Pluscardy,
Beauly, and.Archattan, the nunneries of Hadding
ton and North Berwick, the Abbey of Culross,
and another in Galloway, and the famed cross of
Peebles. Gilbert, Earl of Strath^arn, bestowed
one-third of his estate on the see of Dumblane,
and another on the abbey of Inchaffray.  -From
the death of Alexander, in A. D. 1285, to the end
of the next century, the furious contentions be
tween the Bruges and-BALiOLS for the royal dig-.

6 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
nity, and the treacherous invasions and oppressions
of the English thereby occasioned, diverted the
Scots from their mad superstition, and almost de
solated the country. Neither party regarded the
Papal mandates of peace, but as they tended to
their own interests.
In A. D. 1407, Resby, an Englishman, and in
1431, Paul Craw, a Bohemian, were burnt as he
retics, by order of Henry Wardlaw, bishop of St'.
Andrew's, who founded an university there, about
1412. Bishop Kennedy, bis successor, built the
college of St. Salvator. Patrick Graharn, who
succeeded him in 146t>, got himself declared an
archbishop, to whom all the other diocesans -were
required to be subject. * But their opposition,
and the strugglings of'Shevez for the office of
archdeacon, made him delirious. Shevez, by the
Pope's assistance, obtained the see. He and Black-
ater, who was made archbishop of Glasgow about
1480,- spent their strength in fierce contentions
about pre eminence. Meanwhile, some Waldenses.
pr Wickliffites, had taught in the counties of Kyle
and Cunningham, That no images ought io be made or
worshipped; nor relics of saints adored; that it is
not lawful to propagate the Christian religion by force;
that Christ gave ihe power of binding and loosing to
Peter, but not to ihe bishops of Rotne as his successors:
that Christ appointed no clerical consecrations ; that
the bread and wine in the Lord's supper retain their
original substance after their consecration; that no
tithes ought to be paid io ihe clergy ; that every be
liever in Christ is a priest; that the Pope is not the
successor-of Peter, unless in his Satanical hinderance
of Christ's work; ihat he deceives the people -with his
Bulb and Indulgences ; that masses are of no use
to souls in Purgatory; ihat clerical benedictions are
of no value ; that the Pope sets himself above andl

Church of Scotland. 7
dgdiiist God ; that he cannot remit the pains of Pur
gatory; that clerical excommunications are noi to be
feared', that it is never lawful for Christians io swear;
that true Christians every day feed upon^ the body of
Christ: For spreading of these opinions, perhaps
partly misrepresented by their enemies, about thirty
persons were summoned before the privy council.
Butthey answered with such confidence and strength
of reasoning, that it was thought safest to dismiss
them. While king James IV.'s brother and bastard son
were archbishops of St. Andrew's^ things went on
pretty quietly. But after tbe death of the last, a
ful-ious contention for that wealthy see, between
Douglas of Dunkeld, Forman of Murray, and Hep
burn, prior of St. Andrew's, took place. At last
Douglas yielded, and Forman obtained it, on con
dition of his paying a life-rent of 3000 crowns to
Hepburn. Meanwhile, or afterward, the learned
doctors of the university were busied in disputing.
Whether' the Lord's prayer might be addressed to
the saints ! Prfetended relics being in great repute,
a Romish pedlar, who bad a large stock of them,
opened his pack near Haddington. Among other
rarities, he presented a bell which had a rent in it,
said to have been occasioned by a false oath ; and
pretended, that such was its sacred sensibility, that
if any person with his hand on it, dared to swear
falsehood, it would rend, and the swearer's hand
cleave to it ; but, if nothing but truth was sworn,
it would not rend, or the swearer's hand stick to it.
One Fermor, a sensible man, bent upon exposing
this pretence, begged allowance tp swear with his
hand on this bell ; and holding it up to the multi-
tudCj that they might see in what condition it and
his hand were, he laid his hand upon it and so
lemnly swore. That the Pope was Antichrist, and his

S a COMPENDIOUS -HISTORY OF THE
cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests, and monks,
locusts come from hell to delude men from God, and
that they would return to hell. Lifting his hand
freely from j;he bell, he held it up to the multitude
that they might see that no change had been made
upon it ; and that, according to its owner, he h^d
sworn nothing but the truth. The pedlar slipt off
ashamed, nor did any more of his sort trouble the
nation. Meanwhile^ about A. D. 1528, Patrick Hamilton,
abbot of Ferm, having in Germany drunk in consi
derable knowledge of the truth. from Luther, Me
lancthon, Lambert, and others, he on his return,
communicated it to his friends. He was acQUsed
of maintaining. That men's sinful corruption of nature
remained after their baptism ; that no man can, by the
power of his own free .will, perform any thing spiritu
ally good ; that no man is without sin in this life; that
every true Christian may know himself to be such; that
men are not justified by good works, .but by faith only;
that good works do not make a man good, put a man
being, made goad by God's spirit, j)e?forms goQd
works ; that evil works repented of do not make a man
had ; that faith, hope, and charity, are inseparably
connected; that without the assistance of God's gra
cious influence we can do .nothing but sin: thatit is
devilish doqtrine to assert, that men's actual penance
can purchase God's pardon of their .sin ; that auri
cular confession of sin is nqt necessary to salvation ;
that there is no Purgatory ; that, the Old Testamevi
saints were in heaven before Christ's death ; that the
^ope is Antichrist, and hath no more power than any
ordinary priest. . He maintained before their court,
that the first seven of these assertions were cer
tainly true, and that he could not condemn the
seven last till he saw better reason than ever he
had done. He was therefore condemned to be

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 9
burnt. While he was in the flames, Friar Camp
bell and some others plagued him with entreaties
to recant. He solemnly summoned Campbell
speedily to answer at God's tribunal for his con
duct so contrary to his own conscience. Campbell
soon after died miserably, frantic and desperate.
Mr. Hamilton's brother, James, and his sister, Ka
tharine, were also prosecuted for heretics : but
king James secretly conveyed them out of the
way. While Boethius, principal of the college of Aber
deen, and Mair, professor of divinity, and afterward
provost ofthat of St. Andrew's, by their Latin histo
ries of their nations, encouraged others to the study
of learning, the burning of Hamilton roused multi
tudes to examine whether his principles were truth
or error, and found them supported by Scripture.
Friar Seaton taught. That the law of God is the only
rule of ¦righteousness ; tfiat no man can satisfy for his
own sin; that pardon of it is only obtained by true faith
in the merits of Christ and an unfeigned repentance ;
thatthe Scripture requiresMshops to preach the gospeL
Being persecuted by his superiors, he fled into Eng
land. Gavin Loggy and William Airth began to
perceive the truth, and in their sermons to expdse
the wickedness of the clergy. Henry Forrest of Lin
lithgow, a simple priest, who used an English New
Testament, having been decoyed by his confessor to
acknowledge, that he thought Mr. Hamilton a good
man, and his articles defensible, he was treacher
ously discovered, imprisoned, and burnt. Several
were prosecuted for heresy, but recanted. David
Straiten, who had been converted from a most fu
rious and turbulent profligate, and Norman Gour-
lay, were condemned to the flames for their denial
of purgatory, and of the Pope's jurisdiction in Scot
land. Alesse, Fife, M'Dougal, and M'Bee, com-
VOL. I C

10 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
peared not, but fled into England. After the death
of Lord Cromwel, the first three retired thence into
Saxony; and at last Fife returned to Scotland.
M'Bee retired to Denmark, and was remarkably
useful in promoting the reformation ofthat country.
In 1538, Killore, Belfrage, friars; Simson, apriest;
Forrat, a canon ; and R. Forrester, were burnt for
heretics. The bishop of Dunkeld had warned For
rat, that his preaching every Sabbath rendered him
suspected of heresy, and advised him never to
preach on the epistle or gospel of the day, but when
it was a good one ; and thanked his Maker, that
he had lived well many years, without knowing
either Old or New Testament. Russel, a grey friar,
and Kennedy, a young man of 18 years of age, sub
mitted to the flames with great piety and cheerful
ness, for the sake of the truth.
James Beaton, archbishop of St. Andrew's, dying,
bis nephew, the Cardinal, succeeded him. He im
mediately commenced a prosecution against Sir
John Borthwick, for holding, That the Pope had na
greater authority than other bishops; that his induU
genxes and remissions but deceived the people; thatcler-^
gymen might lawfully marry ; that the reformed princi
ples, worship, and government embraced in England,
were commendable; that clergymen ought not to possess
temporalities, bui kings should convert ecclesiastical re
venues io other pious uses ; that the canon law can be
of no force, because it is contrary to the law of God-,
that ike friars and monks ought to be abolished; that
ihe Pope was guilty of simony, in his selling of spiri
tual things : — as also for refusing to acknowledge
the Pope's authority, and for reading and distribut
ing copies ofthe English New Testament, and oth6r
heretical books. But to save himself from the
flames. Sir John escaped into England.
King Henry VIII. of England, having sent to

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 11
his nephew, king James V. some books ofthe Eng'-
lish Reformers for his illumination, and solicited a
friendly meeting with him at York, in order to ad
vise him to a similar reformation of religion in Scot
land, the Scotch clergy, dreading the most fatal con
sequences to themselves, warmly remonstrated to
James, how offensive such an interview with his
heretical uncle would be to his Holiness and all
good men ; and how dangerous to himself. They
promised him an yearly compliment of 50,000
crowns, and insisted that, by confiscdting the
estates of such noblemen as were guilty of heresy
and rebeillion, he might raise 100,000 more. Per
suaded by their solicitations, he declared war
against his uncle. Some terrible visions, and the
death of his two sons in onb day, were thought to
be warnings from God against proceeding in this
war.— rHe had no soonet heard of the defeat and
shameful rout of his army of 10,000, who, under
Oliver Sinclair, had marched into England, by
about four or five hundred undisciplined peasants,
than he died of grief, A. D. 1542. Not long after,
the Committee of Estates allowed the nation to
read the English Bible, till the bishops should pub
lish a better. But cardinal Beaton, having got a
testament forged for the late king, which declared
himself the principal Regent of the kingdom, for
Mary the royal infant ; and having got out of prison,
and even decoyed Hamilton, Earl of Arran into his
views, he commenced a furious persecution of the
protestant heretics, particularly in Perth. Some
were executed, others banished, and Lord Ruthven
deprived of his provostship. In Angus many were
prosecuted for reading the New Testament, which
was pretended to have been forged by Luther^
Some were executed for refusing to pray to tb^

12 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
Virgin Mary; and five, on suspicion that they had
eaten a goose on Friday.
In 1544, George Wishart, a native of MearnS,
began to preach the gospel, especially at Montrose
and Dundee. Beaton drove bim from the latter,
but not till he had warned the inhabitants, that
God would speedily punish their contempt of the
gospel, To the inexpressible vexation of the arch
bishop of Glasgow, Wishart, with great zeal, and
no inconsiderable success, retired to the west of
Scotland, "and there preached the glad tidings of
salvation. Being informed there, that on the 4th
day after he had left Dundee, the plague had bro
ken out among the inhabitants, he hastened back
to them with the offers of mercy, in the midst of
their distress. He soon afterward preached at
Haddington, and observing, that though thousands
attended a stage play, yet scarce an hundred at
tended his sermons, he denounced the vengeance
of God against the inhabitants ; which soon after
overtook them by means ofthe French and English
in the siege and defence of the place. After several
narrow escapes, he was apprehended at Ormiston
in East Lothian. Contrary to the solemn promise
of Bothwel his apprehender, he was at last delivered
up to Cardinal Beaton, carried to St. Andrew's,
and there condemned to be burnt. After he had
received the Lord's supper in his prison, together
with the captain of the castle, he cheerfully suffer
ed, foretelling the unhappy death of the Cardinal,
who, from his window, pleased himself with the
view of his torments ; — as he had formerly done
the remarkable illumination of the kingdom with
the gospel of Christ.
To the great satisfaction of the Popish clergy,
Beaton had appointed that none should pray for
the soul of the heretical Wishart, under the highest

^CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. * 13
^ains. But not long after, two Leslies, William
Kirkaldy, James Melvil, and a few others, surprised
the Cardinal in his castle, and having killed him,
showed him to the mob from that very window
from which he had glutted his cruel eyes with the
burning of Wishart. In killing him, James Melvil
solemnly protested to him, that he bore him no
private grudge, but laboured to avenge his treacher
ous and horrid murder of that man of God. The
conspirators and their friends, to the number of
about 140, defended themselves in the castle, till
they obtained a capitulation. John Roughs an Eng
lishman, was their preacher in the castle, and after
ward John Knox, a native of East Lothian, came
and assisted him. They were accused of preaching
in the castle and town, That no mortal man can be
head of the church ; that ihe Pope is Antichrist, and
not. so much as a member of Christ's mystical body ;
that every man is bound to receive the religion received
from God; that the sacraments ought to be administered
in the manner prescribed by Christ, and exemplified
by flis apostles, that the Mass is abominable idolatry^
and a blasphemous reproach of our Saviour's death;
that such bishops as do not preach are not true ones;
that ihe law of God doth not necessarily appropriate
the tithes to the clergy. But as Mair, the provost of
the university and prior of the abbey, favoured their
tenets, they escaped with an admonition. Rough
returned to England, and there, by Bonner's influ->
ence, died a martyr in 1557.
Notwithstanding their capitulation, the besieged
judging the Pontifical remission obtained for them
insufficient, refused to surrender the castle, and
were therefore anew besieged, and at last obliged
to surrender on the sole condition of having their
lives spared. In 1550, Knox and others of them,
^ho had been put into gallies or prisons, were li-

14 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
berated in consequence of the remarkable victory
of the English at Musselburgh. But no sooner
had tbe Scotch managers obtained peace from the
English, than they renewed their persecution of
the Protestants. Adam Wallace, a simple man,
being apprehended at Winton in East Lothian,
was condemned and burnt for teaching his neigh
bours, and for baptizing his own child for want of
a faithful minister ; and for denial of Purgatory ;
and for maintaining that prayers for the dead were
superstitious, the mass an idolatrous service, and
the bread and wine in the Lord's Supper not turned
into the body and blood of Christ. Notwithstand
ing their bard work in determining how the Lord's
prayer should be directed to God, and how to the
saints, tbe-clergy found time to publish a most piti
ful explication of it, and of the ten commandments,
whicb, frora its price, was ealled the Twopenny
Faith,

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 15

CHAPTER IL

Protes fa/nt Reformation pushed on by Knox — Proonoted by
ihe Nobility and others, opposed by the Queen Regent —
Established by the Parliament, A. D. 1560 — Corfeaskm
of Paith-^First book of discipline — Reformation car
ried on by ihe Ministers and others in opposition to
Queen Mary — and under ihe Earl of Murray further
established. Morton attempts to introduce Prelatic Church
Government, but is opposed by Knox, who soon after
diedn—and others. Seoond book of Discipline is formed.

Returning from England, on account of the
Marian persecution, there begun John Willock and
John Knox, along with Harlow an Englishman,
preached the gospel, and declaimed against the
abominations of Popery. The clergy quickly com
menced a process against Knox, and soori after
against the other preachers. But so many of their
friends attended them at their trial, and even in
the Regent's presence threatened to avenge the
injury done them on their prosecutors, as quite
dispirited them, and made them glad to desert the
diet. At the request of his old congregation there,
Knox retired to Geneva, and thence directed his
appeal to the nobles, gentry, and Commons of Scot
land, from the bishops, who had raised a new pro
cess against him in his absence, and burnt him in
effigy. Much about the same time he directed
his appeal to a free General Council, and to the
<iueen Regent and her subjects. 5

16 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
Dury, bishop of Galloway, and Panther of Ros^,
two principal persecutors, dying as brutes, the
burghs of Dundee, Perth, Montrose, Cupar, St.
Andrew's, Edinburgh, Stirling, and others ; — not a
few of the nobility, the duke of Chastlerault, now
Hamilton, the earls of Argyle, Glencairn, Arran,
Monteith, Rothes, Marshal, and Morton; Lord
James Stewart, afterward Earl of Murray; the
Lords Lorn, Ruthven, Lindsay, Ochiltree, Boyd,
Gray, Yester, and Sanquhar ; Sir David Lindsay,
Sir James Sandilands, and other gentry, with mul
titudes of the commons of Cunningham, Kyle,
Carrick, Angus, Murray, Lothian, Fife, and Strath-
ern, instructed by Knox and other preachers, and
by reading the Scripture and Christian conference,
began to detest the clerical tyranny, and to doubt
of the lawfulness of attending Mass, or offering
their children to Popish baptism, or of assisting
Government in their maintenance of Popish idola
try, or persecuting men for their adherence to truth;
or even of quietly permitting their fellow-subjects
to be murdered for the sake of religion. They
quickly perceived it to be their duty, to make an
open confession of their faith, and to attempt a
reformation from these evils, of which they had
secretly complained. Being convinced of their
obligation to exert themselves to their utmost for
the abolishment of idolatry, superstition, and ty
ranny, and to promote the pure administration of
gospel doctrines and worship, they resolved to exa
mine their own strength. For this purpose, while
they agreed to hold social meetings at set times for
prayer and reading of the Scriptures, till they could
be provided with preachers, and Argyle and others
took preachers into their families, — they employed
some of their most proper hands, especially in Fife
and Angus, to travel through the kingdom, and so-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 17
licit the nobility, gentlemen, and burghers, to
make an open confession of the truth, and to assist
one another in the defence of it. These agents
appear to have carried about with them forms of
an association, to be subscribed by such as inclined.
Soon after, tbey elected ruling elders among them,
to whom they prohiised subjection in the Lord.
From their frequent meetings, they began to be
called the Congregation. Laying their account
with persecution from the Popish clergy and their
supporters, several noblemen and others, in A. D.
1557, entered info" a solemn covenant to promote
the reformation of religion, and to defend each
other in so doing ; which was subscribed by the
Earls of Argyle, Glencairn, and Morton ; Lord
Lorn, John Erskine of Dun, 8§e.
Finding, by the return of their, copies of asso
ciation, which they had sent through the kingdom,
that their reforming intentions were approven by
the most of the nation, they appointed Sir James
Sandilands to present their requests to the Queen
Regent, and to insist, that public prayers, and the
administration of the sacraments, should be in their
own language; that ministers should be elected hy
their people ; that the life and doctrine of candi
dates for the boly ministry should be carefully tried,
and all ministers ignorant or scandalous, ^deposed,
and others that were fit substituted in their stead.
They represented to her, the reasonableness of their
open confession of their principles, and of their
protecting one another against the cruelty of the
Popish priests. In order to procure ' their consent
to the settlement of the crown upon the dauphin
of France, who had lately married her daughter
Mary, the heir of it, the Queen Regent pretended
to allow them their public worship in their own
language, providing that it should be performed
VOL. I. D

18 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OK THE
without any tumults,-^and that their preachei'S
should not officiate publicly in Edinburgh or
Leith i
But the Earl of Argyle, after much faithful re
sistance of the Archbishop's solicitations, having
died, witnessing to the truth, and ©ther well af-
fecteil noblemen being removed, probably by poi
son, in France, — the Popish clergy, provoked by
the above concessions', and secretly countenanced by
the Queen ilegent, resumed their courage in 1558,
and fell upon Walter Mill, an aged priest. Firmly
adhering to the truth, he was condemned to the
flames, which he endured with remarkable cheer
fulness. His speech at the stake left a very deep
impression on the minds of spectators. They also
procured a sentence of outlawry and banishment
against Paul Methven, who had preached about
Dundee and other places of Angus. But notwith^
standing all their malice, the people attended his
-sermons, and afforded him necessary support. . At
first, the Popish doctors offered a public disputation
on the points of difference. But as the Reformed
insisted that the Scriptures, not the canon law,
should be the standard of judgment, and that their
banished brethren should be allowed to assist at it,
they refused to comply with their terms-.
In consequence of Knox's published appeal from
the clerical decision against him, the Lords, and
other' principal men of the congregation, insisted,
that the laws empowering the' bishops to proceed
against heretics, should be repealed ; that nothing
should be reckoned heresy, but what was contrary
to the fundamental doctrines of God's word ; ahd
that such as we,re prosecuted for it before civil
judges,. should be allowed to except against the wit
nesses, and propose their own defences,, as well as
other criminals. Tbe Queen Regent kept their pe-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 19
tition in her pocket, pretending that it was not ex
pedient to have it read in parliament, as the cleri
cal members would oppose her designs ; and that it
would be more proper, first to procure the favour
of the convocation. The Lords yielded for the
time : but, before the parliament was dissolved,
they solemnly protested, That, since they could noi
obtain a just reformation according to the word of
God, it Ehould be lawful for them to believe and act
in mattersof religion, as theycould answer to God and
their own conscience, tillonce the Popish clergy should
prove themselves true ministers of Christ, and purge
themselves of such crimes as they were ready to
lay to their charge ; that no Protestant should in
cur any danger for non-observance of the laws and
rites of the Popish church ; that as they desired no
thing but an orderly reformation of religion, no tu
mults, occasioned by the diversity of religions, or
violent reformation of abuses, should be imputed to
them. But, by her fair promises to remember these
points, and to rectify matters to their satisfaction,
the Queen Regent prevented the marking of their
protest in the minutes of Parliament.
It was easily foreseen that all application for re
dress to the Convocation, in which the principal
corrupters of religion, and whose carnal interest
was closely connected with the corruptions com
plained of, had the sele sway, could be to no pur
pose. The Queen. Regeht having get her point,
relative to the settlement of the crown on Fran
cis, her son-in-law and countryman, settled, and
being offended with the freedom of some of the Re
formed, gave plain hints of her intention to crush
them, and to make examples of some of their chiefs,
in order to terrify the rest. Accordingly, in . next
spring 1559 she issued a proclamation, requiring all
her subjects to observe the festival of Easter, in the

20 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY 01? THE
wonted Popish manner. Such ministers as refused
compliance were summoned before her privy coun
cil at Stirling, on the 10th of May. The Refor
mers sent the earl of Glencairn and Sir Hugh Camp
bell to solicit her favour to their ministers, and to
put her in mind of her promises. But she told them
in a fury, that in despite of all their supporters^
these ministers should be banished from the king
dom, and that the promises of princes were not to
be urged upon them any further than consistent
with their own convenience. The commissioners
replied, that if she renounced ber promises to them,
they would renounce their subjection to her ; and
desired her seriously to ponder the consequences.
Finding that vast multitudes, chiefly from Angus
and Mearns, were on their way to attend the minis
ters at theil' trial, and to make an open confession
of their faith, and being advanced to Perth, had
sent John Erskine of Dun to assure her of their
peaceable approach, she, by flattery, and solemnly
declaring that the diet of council against the mi
nisters should be deserted, and nothing done to
their prejudice, engaged bim to persuade his con
stituents to stop, and disperse themselves home
ward. But no sooner had she heard of their return,
than she held the meeting of council, and outlawed
the ministers in their absence. Highly offended
with her Guisian treachery, and some other attempts
to ruin her Protestant subjects, Erskine posted to
Perth, excused his former advice relative to their
dispersion, informed them of the Regent's proce
dure against their ministers, and warned them to
prepare for the worst.
A multitude of the Reformed quickly reassem
bled at Perth ; and Knox, having just returned from
Geneva, preached a >varm discourse against the Po
pish idolatry. He had scarce finished it, when a

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 21
presumptuous priest began to celebrate high mass,
and struck a boy, who exclaimed against his unsuf-
ferable impudence. A tumult immediately ensued,
and every monument of idolatry in that church was
destroyed. The mob, assembling, fell on the mo
nasteries, destroyed all. the monuments of idolatry
they could find, and levelled the buildings almost
with the ground ; but permitted the monks to carry
off the spoil. Not one of the protestants took for
his own use £he value of a groat. . The inhiabitants
of Cupar in Fife and other places, served the mo
numents. of idolatry in much the same manner. In
formed of these things, the Regent vowed to de
stroy every inhabitant of Perth, man, woman, and
child, and to burn the town to an heap of ashes,
and sow the place with salt. • She represented the
Protestants as intending nothing but rebellion. To
refute her calumnies, the principal Reformers made
her a solemn offier of wonted obedience, providing
they could have the word of God truly preached to
them, and the sacraments rightly administered.
They certified her, that if she did not put a stop to
her cruelty, they would defend their brethren, take
arms against their enemies, and manifest their
innocence to Francis and Mary their sovereigns,
and to other Christian princes. They warned her
French troops, that if they attacked them, it should
be at their peril. They entreated the Popish Lords
to refrain their fury till their cause should be tried,
and they have opportunity to manifest the abomin
able practices of the Romish priests, and the false
ness of their religion. They warned the Protes
tants, that if any of them should take arms against
their brethren, they should be held traitors to God,
and excommunicated from their society. They
btddly declared, that, with God's assistance, they
would defend themselves and their btethren against

22 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OP THE
their enemies, though ten times their number. These
resolute declarations of the master of Lindsay, lairds
of Balvaird and Lundy, and some other barons of
Angus and Fife, made a deep impression on some
of the Regent's adherents. They began to doubt
of the lawfulness of persecuting men, who offered
all due obedience to civil authority, and required
nothing but liberty of conscience, and tb have their
religion tried by the word of God. As the prelates,
and their clericaUagents, to their utmost, suppressed
the spread of their petitions, and inflamed their fel
low subjects against them, the Reformers publish
ed a declaration, bearing. That if they persevered
in such conduct, and did not mitigate those whom
they had Inflamed, they would apprehend them,
wherever they could find them, and treat them as
open enemies to God and man ; and that they would
make no peace with them, till tbey should desist
from their public idolatry and cruel persecution of
God's children. /
Informed that multitudes were marching from
the south-west parts of the kingdom to join this re
solute body,-— and finding that lord James Stewart,
prior of St. Andrew's, the bastard brother of Queen
Mary, and the earl of Argyle, who bad married her
bastard sister, her commissioners to the congrega
tion at Perth, were convinced that their Protestant
brethren had been falsely charged with rebellious
intentionsj the Regent and d'Oselle, her French ge
neral, resolved to strike up an agreement with them
upon as hard terms as possible. But the Earl of
Glencairn, with 2500 of his friends, having, with
almost incredible expedition, marched over the moun
tains westward of Stirling, came up before it was
finished, and obliged her to grant more advantage
ous terms, viz. That none of the towns should be
challenged for destroying the monuments of idola-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND 32
try ;, that the profession and practice of the Protes
tant religion should be freely allowed through the
whole kingdom ; that no French soldiers should
come within three miles of Perth ; and that all
other matters should be left to the determination
of the Parliament. But the Reformers returning
to their own homes, the Regent was scarcely ad
mitted into Perth, when she changed the magis
trates, fined and banished many .of the inhabitants,
and left behind her a guard of Scotch soldiers in
French pay.
Before their departure from Perth, the Refor
mers had solemnly covenanted ]omi\y to promote the
reformation of religion in the nation, and to defend
one another in so doing. The Earls of Argyle and
Glencairn, Lord James Stewart, Boyd, Ochiltree, &c.
subscribed it. Argyle, and Lord James Stewart,
who had mediated in order to obtain the late treaty.
Lord Ruthven, the Earl of Monteith, and the laird
of Tullibarden, finding that it had been so shame
fully violated, deserted the Regent ; and the two
first, with their assistants, destroyed the monuments
of idolatry at St. Andrew's, Stirling, Linlithgow,
and Edinburgh, and set up the reformed worship ;
and restored it at Perth. She thought to have cut
them off at St. Andrew's : but being informed of
her design, they offered battle, to her troops at
Cupar moor. She fled to Dunbar, though her
forces were ten to one of her opponents : but being
informed that many of the Reformers had gone
home, she in vain attempted to surprise the Pro
testant lords at Edinburgh. Nevertheless, as she
had the castle, and the French troops on hei* side,
they entered into a new treaty with her, bearing,
that no Protestants should be molested for what
innovations ihey had made, till the parliament
should settle these matters, and none of their mi-.

24 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
nisters be hindered from preaching ; that the Popish
idolatry should not be restored, where it had been
suppressed ; and that no soldiers should be quar
tered in Edinburgh. The Reformers would not
admit the mass to be celebrated in that city; but
the Regent restored it at Leith and Holyrood
house. The Duke of Chatelerault having returned
to them, and his son the, Earl of Arran having
joined them, the Protestant lords again covenanted
to assist and deffend one another in the mainten
ance of their religion. But the Regent receiving
a reinforcement of French troops, resolved to force
them back to the Romish delusions. After some
missives had been exchanged, the war began. The .
Regent's troops were stationed at Leith, and those
of tbe lords' at Edinburgh. The lords declared
her suspended from her regency, on account of her
habitual disregard of the welfare of her subjects,
and her oppression Of them by French troops.
But the necessity of their affairs, and the desertion
of some of their party to her,' obliged them to re-
retreat to Stirling in no small ,perplex;ity. Here
Knox, in a sermon, sharply reproved them for
putting their trust in the Duke of Chatelerault and
his son, rather than in God, who had formerly
enabled them to perform what appeared far beyond
their ability ; and he encouraged tbem to pray and
hope that he would further interpose in their fa
vour. They applied to Queen Elizabeth of Eng
land for some assistance in men and money. A
S;um of money was sent them ; but Bothwel, a
friend of the Regent, took it by the way. About
eight .thousand English also came to their aid.
The lords having renewed their mutual covenant,
solemnly engaged to concur with them in expelling
the French, whom they besieged in Leith, with
considerable loss on both sides. The French

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 25
troops, having repulsed the allies, and slain a con
siderable number of them, piled up their naked
bodies along the side of the wall. The Regent,
from the castle of Edinburgh, beholding the horrid
spectacle, was transported with joy, and cried.
That it was the finest tapestry ever she had seen ;
and wished that all the fields between Leith and
the castle were adorned in like manner Not long
after, she died of a shameful and loathsome distem
per, lamenting the misery which she bad brought
on her subjects, by employing French troops against
them, and professiVig that she expected salvation
only through the blood of Christ. As she could
not obtain Popish funeral in Scotland, her corpse,
after about five months, was transported to France.
After a short truce, a treaty of peace was finish
ed in July 1560, between Queen Elizabeth of Eng
land and Francis and Mary of Scotland, in which
the interest of our Reformers were included; and
the articles of which were. That Francis and Mary
should never more claim the sovereignty of Eng
land or Ireland, and should erase the royaltarms of
these kingdoms from all their escutcheons and
household furniture; that the transactions ofthe pre
ceding year should be buried in oblivion, on both
sides; that both French and English forces should
return home with all convenient speed; that Francis
and Mary should make no war without the advice
of their privy council and estates of Parliament;
nor any of the Scotch nobility assemble soldiers, in
any case not allowed by the laws and customs of
the country, without consent oftheir Sovereign and
his council; that no foreigners shouldbe put into
places of power or trust ; and that a fr^ie parliament
should meet in August next, for settling the reli
gion and liberties of the kingdom.
VOL. I. E *

56 A CO.\tPENDIOtTS HISTORY OF l^tiE
After observing a solemn thanksgiving to God
for their remarkable deliverance, the Reforniers
disposed of their twelve principal preachers to the
best advantage, John Knox to Edinburgh ; Chris
topher Goodman to St. Andrew's; Adam Herriot
to Aberdeen ; Johh Row to Perth ; William Chris-^
tison to Dundee; David Ferguson to Dunfermline ;
and Paul Methven to Jedburgh; John Spotswood
was appointed superintendent of Lothian and
Merse; John Winram Of Fife; John Erskine of Dun
of Angus and Mearns; John Willock of Clydsdale
and Air, and places adjacent ; and John Carswel of
Argyleshire and the Western Isles.
The estates of Parliament assembled August
1560; but as Francis and Mary had not fulfilled
their promise, in sending up a commissioner to re
present them in it, there was some dispute whethei'
its meeting Was lawful and valid. But it was at
last resolved in the affirmative. The Protestant
nobility, gentry^ burgesses, and others, presented- a
petition, craving, That the corruptions of the Po
pish fhurch might becondemned and abolished, and
the worship of the primitive church restored ; that
the authority of the Pope should be renounced and
prohibited; and the patrimony of the church ap
plied to support ministers, teachers, and the poor.
AJl these demands were readily granted, except the
la|t ; the nobles, who had seized upon. the eCclesias-"
tical revenues for themselves, being very loth to lose
their prey. — The rninisters Were appointed to draw
up a confession of that faith^ the civil establishment
ofwhich they requested: for hitherto the Reformera
had used the Coffession of Geneva, as their ecclesias
tical standard. Being exhibited to the parliament
on the fourth day after, it was approved, without
the least alteration, and without a contrary vote,
except of Athole, Sommervil and Borthwidk, who

CHUJJCH. OF SCOTLAND. 27
»aid, They were resolved to believe as their fathers
had done. The ten Popish clergymen present, whose
interest tempted- them to oppose it, were perfectly
silent, which made the earl of Marshal insultingly
to say, that certainly it contained ihe very truth of
God. — The parliament' also abolished the Pope's
jurisdiction in this realm, rescinded all acts in fa
vours of idolatry, and appointed, that such as said
or heard mass should be imprisoned for the first
fault, banished for the second, and hanged for the
third. But whether this or a subsequent, meeting
appointed the Protestant clergy to meet in a Gene
ral Assembly, twice every year, I know not. Sir
James Sandilands, a knight of Malta, who had be
haved himself yery neutrally in the late broils, was
sent over to France with the above mentioned acts,
to get them ratified by Francis and Mary : but his
message was treated with the utmost contempt.
Nevertheless, the Reformers the less regretted the
want of their ratification, as they had so solemn a
warrant for the holding of parliament. Francis'
death prevented the execution of Mary's resent
ment, as well as the massacre of the Protestants at
Ofleans,-r-for which her Guisian uncles had got
every thing prepared. Both Papists and Protestants
immediately dispatched their commissioners to in-
vite<Mary home to her native country; and the con
tempt she suffered in France, after her husband's
death, caused her gladly to accept the iflvitation,
and hasten her return.
Meanwhile, the twelve ministers kbove mention
ed, with thirty-two ruling elders of note, met in
their first General Assembly, December 20, 1560,
and approved of the disposal of the ministers, and
presented a. form and order for the election of super
intendents, ministers, elders, and deacons. As, in
their Confession of Faith, they had scarcely touched

28 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
upon church government and discipline, and did not
fully agree vvith tbe Order of Geneva respecting
funeral sermons and set forms of prayer, they ap
pointed Messrs. Knox, Willock, Winram, Spots-
wo' d, Row, and Douglas, to draw up a Form of
church government and discipline. They finished it
in a few weeks, and presented it to the privy coun
cil about the middle of January 1561, for their ra
tification. But some of the members, perceiving
that their behaviour was ta be more strictly watch
ed, and that it inferred a recovering of the eccle
siastical revenues; which they had seized, and re
quired an application of them to piOus;iises, it could
not obtain a judicial ratification. But, instigated
by Knox, the Duke of ChatelrauU, the Earls of
Argyle, Atran, Glencairn, Marshal, Morton, and
Rothes, and the Lords James Stewart, Yester, Boyd,
Ochiltree, Herreis, and Lindsay, the masters of
Maxwell and Lindsay, George Gordon, bishop of
Galloway, Alexander Campbell, deait»6f Murray,
^nd others, barons, or burgesses, subscribed an
extrajudicial approbation of it.
This first book of discipline required the abolisb-
jnbnt of superstitious days, vows, meats, prayers,
and of idolatry and all monuments thereof. It
prescribed the mariner of administering and receiv
ing baptism and the Lord's Supper, and olher*ordi-
nances of public worship ; the form of installing
ministers, ruling elders, deacons, superintendents,
and readers of the Scripture^ in the church, and
their work ; the form of censuring scandalous perr
sons ; the order of the weekly meetings of minis
ters for the.joint exercise of their preaching gifts ;
the form of celebrating marriages and managing
burials ; and rules for towns, parishes, universities,
church revenues, and reparations of kirks. Our
Reformei^s considered their superintendents . ^s 9,

CH&RCH OF SCOTLAND. 29
mere temporary expedient for promoting the wel
fare of their infant church, widely different from
diocesan bishops. They were to be elected by all
the kirks within the, bounds of their visitation, — •
to be examined, and admitted by the ministers and
neighbouring superintendents. They were obliged
to preach thrice every week, and a? much oftener
as possible, and to visit the several congregations
in their bounds thrice a-year, and put every thing
to rights, Th^had no sole power of excommu
nication or oroKation allowed th^m ; but were
themselves subjected to the censures of the mini
sters of tbeir province or synod, and especially to
those of the General Assembly, to which they were
bound, twice every year, to give an account of their
conduct. In the book qf discipline, ten or twelve
of them were proposed : but, I suppose, through
want of necessary salaries to bear their expences,
their number never exceeded five. Public readers
of the Scriptures were necessary in that infant
state of the ehurch, in which not one of an hundred
was capable of reading them. Their work was to
read some chapters of the English Bible to the
people, especially when, as was often the case, they
had none to preach to them.
Notwithstanding the convention of estates had
no inclination to ratify the book qf discipline, they
appointed tbe Popish cloisters and monasteries to
be demolished; in consequence of which, many
costly buildings, much ecclesiastical furniture, and
even many valuable registers and libraries, were
destroyed. But the Popish bishop's, abbots, and
priors, being allowed to retain much of their wont
ed revenues, they disposed of what had been reck
oned the property of the church as civil property,
to their bastards or otherwise. After the news of
king Francis' death, the Popish clergy and mob of

30 4 COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
Edinburgh made some attempts against the pro
testant religion, to which^he care and courage of
the Reformers gave -a timely check, so as, for some
months, scarcely any durst celebrate mass, or ma
nifest themselves Papists by their manner of wor
ship. But no sooner had (Jueen Mary returned,
in August 1561, than she restored the mass in her
own abbey chapel. Highly offended, many of the
Protestants declared, that they could not be un
concerned spectators bf such grass corruption of
the worship of God, nor woulU* suffer the land
again to be defiled therewith in their presence. To
deter them, Mary issued forth a proclamation for
protecting her domestics in their idolatrous devo
tion. The Eari of Arran protested. That notwith-
standing this proclamation, it should be held as
lawful to punish her servants for saying or partak
ing of mass or other idolatrous practices, as if they
were murderers. Knox, in his sermons, and other
wise, boldly declaimed against the Protestant cour
tiers, who, contrary to their solemn oath, suffered
the idolatry ofthe mass, to be committed; and
added, that one tolerated mass was more terrible
to him than ten thousand armed forces invading
the kingdom, as it would provoke God to give them
up to ruin. To Mary's face, he boldly averred.
That the mass was an idolatrous worship ; and that
Papists betook themselves to fire and sword, be
cause tbpy could not support their cause by Scrip
ture or reason. IJe vindicated his own conduct,
and maintained, that if princes furiously oppress
and murder their subjects, they may be restrained
and imprisoned. Not long after, the town council
of Edinburgh enacted. That no obstinate Papist,
mass -priest, drunkard, fornicator, or adulterer,
should be received into their 'city. In revenge
hereof, Mary imprisoned the provost, declared th^

- CHURdH 01? SbOTLAND. SI
citjr free to all her subjects, appointed the council
to elect a new provost, and caiised her own mass
to be more publicly and pompoiisly celebrated.
The second General Assembly, meeting in De-*
cember, Lethington, one of Mary's zealous Protes
tant supporters, gaVe them some trouble relative
to the lawfulness of their convention without her
allowance, and in opposing their supplication of her
to procure them a civil ratification of their book of
discipline. The Assembly sustained thcimselves
impowered by Jesus Christ, as head of his church ;
nor, for twenty years after, had any commissioner
from the sovereign any place in iheir meetings.
In February K662, the privy council, by an act;
assigned two parties of the reriiaining revehubs of
the chiirbh to the Popish clergy, and the other third
to the Popish Queen, out of which she was to pay
stipends to the Protestant ministers, some of whom
had 100, others 200, and some 300 merks, assigned
them; Which were of the same value as ten or
twelve times as mOch at present- Knox observed
that it bpded ill to the church, when thb devil had
the two first parts of her revenues firmly secured
to him, and God had but a poor chance for the last
third. In their General Asselnbly, which met in Jurie
1562, the Reformers agreed upon an uniformity in
the administration of the sacraments, according to
the Genevan book of. common order ; and that the
life, doctrine, diligence, and faithfulness of the
superintendents, should be tried in every assembly.
They earnestly petitioned her majesty to remove
the idolatrous mass out of her family and kingdom,
and take care. That adulterers, fornicators,, blas
phemers, and open contemners of God, and his Sab
baths and sacraments, should be condignly punish
ed ; that ministers' and poor should be 'properly

32 A eOMPENDIQUS HISTORY OF THE
provided (or, and kirks duly repaired. Messrs.
Knox and Hay were appointed as occasional super
intendents to visit the counties of GaUoway, Kyle,
JCarrick, and Cunningham. In his travels, Knox
so effectually represented the danger of the Pro
testant religion from the then prevalence of the
Popish courtiers and their friends, that a great part
ofthe barons and gentry in the three last mention
ed places, entered into a fifth solemn engagement tp
promote the true Protestant religion, support their
ministers, and protect each other ; which was sub
scribed by the Earl of Glencairn, the Lords Boyd,
Cathcart, OchiJtree, and about 170 or 180 others.
At the next General Assembly, in December, Win
ram, .superintendant of Fife, was accused of slack
ness in his visitations ; and of being addicted to
worldly business, negligent of preaching, rash in
his excommunications, and rigid in his exaction of
tithes. Erskine of Angus was accused of admit
ting men to be ministers, and exhorters, or proba
tioners, without any due trial ; and Popish priests,
and other wicked or ignorant persons to be Readers;
and scandalous persons to be ruling elders ; and of
conniving at ministers not residing at their charges,
and not duly attending the weekly exercises of
prophesying or mutual improvement. Methven of,
Jedburgh was accused, deposed, and excommuni
cated for uncleanness with his servant maid. No
doubt, these blemjshes in three of the twelve re
forming ministers, did, in the awful providence of
God, much hurt their cause.
In June, 1563, the Assembly finding that the
superintendents had not been duly laborious and
faithful, or had too much work on their hands, ap
pointed Knox and' some others, whom they ac
counted most learned and faithful, to visit particu
lar districts, plant churches, promote the de^truc-
4,

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 33
tion of idolatrous monuments, suspend, depose, and
transplant ministers, as the superintendents did,
and with the same assistance from cqngrega,tions,
synods, meetings for exercise, or learned raen.
Such as found themselves injured by their minis
ters, elders, or deacons, were allowed to appeal to
the superintendents and their ^ynod, ai;id from these
to tbe General Assembly, which, for abput twenty-
two years, met once in six months They also
appointed the Earl pf Marshal, Lord Ruthven, Le
thington, and the celebrated George Buchanan, to
revise their ho^k qf discipline, in ordef to procure
a parliamentary ratification, of it. But they do no^
appear to have fulfilled thj^ir task. LjOrd Jame^
Stewart having been advanced to be Earl of Mur
ray, became much more negligent pf the establish-
roent of religion, and of punishing mass-prjests,
which occasioned a difference between him and
Knox. In * set dispute wjth the time-sei:ving
Lethington, Kpojj: and Row bpldly maintained.
That it was lawful for subjects to resist tyrannical
princes, and to yefuse her majesty the nse of her
idolatrous mass- Knox was prpsecuted before the
privy council for writing some letter^ calculated tq
convene his Protestant brethren for consultation,
when he apprehended their religion and liberties
were in danger ; but, notwithstanding all the of-
fortg of Mary and her courtiers to ruin hjim, he wa?
acquitted. A narrative of Mary's refusal to ratify the treaty
of 1560, with her consin Elijzalieth of England j
of Huntley's influence at court, and hindering
Mary's conference with Elizabeth, for fear of here
tical infection ; bis intrigues to ruin or murder the
Earl of Murray, and the retnarkahl« defeat of him
and bis rebellious associates in the battle of Cor-
ricby, l.§62 : or of the Duk? of I.<enox's return
VOL. I P

34 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
from England ; and the amours and marriage of
Henry, his son, with the Queen, notwithstanding
all that Murray and his friends could do to the
contrary ;. of Mary's flattering the Protestant lords,
in order to obtain their consent to her marriage
with Henry, and consequent contempt of them, and
refusing to grant them security for their religion ;
her advancement of Rizzio, the Italian musician,
and shameful intimacy with him; and the nobles'
slaughter of him by her husband's direction, when
she intended to make him chancellor, in order to
attaint the Earl of Murray and his party, who had
fled into England; and of Mary and Bothwel's
murder of Henry, in order to their marriage ; and
the prosecution of Mr. Craig, for publicly intimat
ing his detestation of that marriage, when he was
required tb publish the banns of it ; of the nobles'
prosecution of Bothwel, till he fled the country;
and deposition of Mary from her royal power, as a
subverter of their religion and liberties ; and impri
sonment of her in the castle of Lochleven ; and of her
escape from thence and flight into England; and
of the nobles' production of the proofs of her whore
dom with Bothwel, and being his accomplice in the
murder of Henry her husband ; and of her plots
against Elizabeth during her twenty years impri
sonment in England ; and her violent death by the
base and villanous influence of Elizabeth ; — or of
the civil war carried on for seven years with ter
rible barbarity, between her partizans and those of.
James her son, who was crowned, an infant, in
l^e7> would scarcely answer our purpose.
' Mary's intentions to extirpate the Protestant re
ligion, daily becariie more and more evident. In
1565, Hamilton, bastard brother of the Earl of
Arran, was restored to his dignity and revenues of
Archbishop of St. Andrew'si Her pretended kind-
1

^CHUttCH OF SCOTLAND. 35
ness and flatteries gained many of the Protestanfe
chiefs to her interest. The Earl of. Murray and
some others were highly offended with Knox and
his faithful brethren, for their pulpit declamations
against her Popish idolatry. In order to obtain
their consent to her marriage with Hertry, her Po
pish cousin, she fawned upon the Protestants, and
seemed almost ready to concur with their articles
for the abolishment of Popery, and for provision to
tbeir ministers, schopls, and colleges.; and for the'
punishment of horrible crimes. But she bad no
sooner gained her own purpose, than she peremp.-
torily told them. That she would never part with
her mass ; and absolutely refused to concur with
any laws against Popery or profaneness, or to al
low the ecclesiastical revenues with which her
council had intrusted her, to go for the support of
their clergy. The destruction of Rizzio, ber Italian
dariing, in her arms, by Ruthven, Morton, and
others, who abhorred his, advancement, provoked
her to pretend great kindness to Murray, her basr
tard brother and his companions, who had just re
turned from^their exile in England, in order that
she might bend all her fury against the destroyers
of her paramour. — Nevertheless, she absolutely re
fused to have James, her child, for whom the Pro
testants were so liberal pf their thanksgivings to
Gpd, baptized in their scriptural form.
Meanwhile, the General Assembly had enacted.
That no 'superintendents should depose, any mini
ster, exhoHer, or reader, without the advice of the
nearest discreet ministers, and no longer than till
the following Assembly, which might restore, or
further censure, the offenders, as they thought pros
per ; and that they should excommunicate no de
linquents, in places where there were no reformed
iPOPgregations, without the advice, of sueh as were

g6 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
nearest. T#ey appointed Messrs. Knojt and Craig
to Jraw up Rules for' the right observation of pu- 'ic
fasts. They presented to the privy council, a so
le mn Remonstitmce against the restoratioh of the
Popish aitehbishop of St. Andrew's to his ancient
and now enlarged jnrisdiction. They wrote a let
ter to the English bishops>, in fkvours of their Puri
tan brethren, that were persecuted for tkeir non
compliance with the storplicB^ cornered cap, and
other remains of Popish superstition ; and also ap
proved the latest Helvetian Confession bf Faith,
except as to the observation of holy days.
In consequence of a preceding agreement, many
noblemen and barons met in the Assembly 1^7,
between the deposition pf Mary and the coronation
of James her son; and afgreed. That the acts of
1560, for establishing of the Protestant religion,
and giving the ministers a third part of the ancient
benefices, ought to be duly executed ; aod thait, in
the ensuing parliament, they should exert them
selves to their utmost to have the Protestant reli
gion established upon a sure footing, and to have
every future king bound, by his coronation oath, to
maintain and practise it, as a condition of his sub
jects' allegiance to him ;— and to have the Miass
and other relics bf idolatry abolished, and the Pro
testant religion introduced into every part of the
realm ; and to have the horrid critnes of adultery,
^horedotti, blasphemy, and the like, duly pu
nished. After the parliament, which met that yeat, had
'confirmed the election of the Earl of Murrsty to tte
Regent for James Ms infant nephew and king, they
ratified the Confession of Faith compiled in 1560,
and declared. That all who should oppose it, or re
fuse to receive the sacraments in the Protestant
manner, ishould be held as no members of this

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 37
church. They enaeted. That all kings, princes,
arid magistrates, at thpir instalment, should swear
to maintain the true Protestant religion now esta
blished, and abolish every thing contrary to it,—
and root out all heretics and enemies to the true
worship of, God, when duly convicted : They ap
pointed the ^vrds of ecclesiastical benefices to be
paid to the reformed ministers, till the church
should obtain full possession of the tithes as her
proper patrimony ; and that, though patrons may
appeal from superintendents and provincial synods,
the General Assembly shall have the final decision
relative to all presentations, from which none may
appeal. They ordained, t^t no ecclesiastical juris-
diPtion be acknowledged within this realm, but
what is established in, and proceeds from this re
formed kirk, conoeming the preaching of God's
word, administration of sacraments, and correction
of manners : They appointed Messrs. Knox, Craig,
Erskine, and Spotswood, to mark out what pro
perly belonged to ecclesiastical jnrisdiction, and re
port to next meeting of parliament.
Next year, the 'General Assembly /appointed
Messrs. Craig, Row, Pont, Christison, Lindsay, and
Willock, to revise the Order of excommunication
drawn up by Knox, and report their judgment. I-t
was -agreed to, and printed before their Psalm book,
and plainly shews. That they reckoned their su
perintendents as merely occasional officers, that had
no sole power of any kind. They also appointed
an order of electing commissioners to their Gene?
ral Assemblies, bearing. That Superintendents and
commissioners for visitation of kirks should all have
power of voting^ them ^ that ministprs and com
missioners df shires should be chosen by synods ;
that commissioriers from burghs shoyld be chosen
by *he council and kirfc-sesSion of the place ; and

ss A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
that ministers should be chosen by,4urns. After
the erection of Presbyteries, .ministers were elected
by them. :
The murder of the Regent, Eari qf Murray, by
Hamilton of Bothwel Haugh, occasioned no small
contention about the choice pf his successor. And
the Earls of Lennox and Mar filled his place but
about two years between them. During the re
gency of Murray and Lennox, religion prospered,
ecclesiastical courts enjoyed full freedom in plant
ing of churches and censuring of Offenders, and
Qther parts of their work. In 1570, the General
Assembly established regulations of their meetings^
that : 1st, 4fter a sermqp by the Moderator, of the
last Assembly, a new Moderator should be chosen.
2d, The conduct of superintendents and commis
sioners for visitation of kirks should be tried. 3d,
Penitents and scandalous persons shall have their
cases considered. 4th, Matters referred by the
preceding Assembly, or Lords of Session, shajl be
considered. 5th, The conduct and accounts of ec
clesiastical collectors shall be examined. 6tb, Pe
titions from superintendents, and appeals from sy
nods, shall be heard. 7th, Questions proposed on
the first or second days of the meeting, shall be
considered. 8th, and lastly. Bills and complaints
shall be judged. The Assembly also enacted. That
every candidate for the ministry should, at his ad
mission, solemnly engage never to desert his office
under pain of infamy and perjury.
In 1571, the Assembly ordained. That all adul
terers, murderers, incestuous persons, and other,
more heinous offenders, should be prosecuted he.r
fore the provincial synods, whicb met twice every
year ; and that all questions should be first pro
posed to synods, and only such as were too hard
for them should be laid before every Assembly.

CHURCH OP SCOTLAND. 39
Messrs. Knox, Erskine, Winram, Pont, and Row,
having drawn up articles concerning the proper
object of ecclesiastical jurisdiction, bearing. That it
belonged to the church to judge of true and false
religion, doctrine, heresy, and every thing annexed
to the preaching of the word, and administration
of sacraments ; — to elect, examine, admit, suspend,
or depose all such as have charge of souls, or enjoy
ecclesiastical benefices; — to admonish, rebuke, and
excommunicate the' scandalous, and receive to re
pentance, and absolve the penitents; — to judge of
ecclesiastical pleas between church officers, and of
causes relative to marriage and divorce. They
approved these articles, and presented them to the
parliament for their ratification, along with a peti
tion. That ecclesiastical benefices should only be
conferred on such as the church should find quali
fied for the charge. But the Eari of Morton, who
now managed that court, and some other Lords,
abused the commissioners from the Assembly with
insolent language. Morton even obliged John
Dougfas, whom he bad just before presented to the
arbishopric of St. Andrew's, in the room of Hamil
ton, who had been hanged for a traitor, — to vote
in the parliament as a bishop, under pain of trea
son ; though the superintendent had prohibited
him to vote, under pain of excommunication. :
In preferring Douglas to the archbishopric, Mor
ton bad secured most of the revenues for himself,
and left Douglas little more than a high sounding
character, and a Chance of some Antichristian
power. The gain which Morton made by this in
famous bargain, tempted him and Mar the Regent,
a great part of whose estate consisted of church
property, to enlarge their incomes in the same
scandalous manner, by preferring tO bishoprics
such pitiful wretches as could be content with

40 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY QF THE
episcopal titles and shadows of power, arid allow
their promoters the most of the revenues claimed
by their sees. These the people called tukhan
-bishops, in allusion to calves' skins, stuffed with
straw, and placed before cows, to make them give
their milk. — An occasional meeting of ministers
and others, that used to be' members of the Gene
ral Assembly, pretended to have the power of it,
and marked their strong inclination to comply with
that of the two infamous Earls. Pont was allowed
to be a Lprd of Session, providing that be conti
nued his ministerial work- Encouraged by their
compliances. Mar and his privy council appointed
Morton the chancellor, Ruthven the treasurer,
Adam nominalbishop of Orkney, and Robert com-
mendator of Dunfermline, secretary, and four others^
to meet with their superintendents or their com-
misioners, and along with them to conclude a Form
qf church policy, and method of supporting ministers
and the royal dignity, — which raight be binding till
his Majesty should be of full age, or at least till
the Estates of Parliament should abolish it.
This convention was quickly held at Leith. But
it doth not appear that any ministers but Erskine,
Winram, Hay, Lindsay, Pont, and Craig, were pre
sent. They agreed,, That the titles of archbishops,
bishops, deans, and the forms of dioceses, should
be retained as before the Reformation; that a chap
ter of learned ministers should be annexed to every
episcopal see; that in case of a vacancy the dean
or president of this chapter should exercise the
episcopal power,; that bishops should have no more
power than the superintendents, till it should be a-
greed on ; that they should be subject to the Ge
neral Assembly in every spiritual affair ; that they
should admit none to the ministry without the ad
vice of six of their chapter:^— they agreed on the

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 41
manner of the creation of such as should be pre^
sented by the king to bishopricks ; and that every
one admitted to ecclesiastical functions or livings,
should swear an adherence to the Confession of
Faith, and an allegiance to his majesty. They
also made sorae rules concerning abbots, priors, or
commendators, That they should be men of learn
ing, and might be Lords of Session or ra^imbers of
Parliament, representing the church. They fur
ther agreed, That no minister should leave his
charge forty days in the year, without express
licence from the king or his bishop ; that Readers
might administer baptism, or celebrate marriage^
if it had been duly intimated. They also enacted
some regulations of ecclesiastical benefices, and of
the orders and offices in colleges. The most of
their agreements marked an Antichristian and^ car
nal mind. Morton took care that nothing should
be secured to the clergy, but their tithes, which he
knew not how to take from them, unless in dona
tive pensions to noblemen's servants, or by causing
tbem to dispone them in fee to their roasters.
Mar, being episcopaly inclitied, highly approved
the above reguslations. To the great grief of Knox
and others, John Douglas, who was remarkable for
nothing but compliance with the covetous humour
of Morton, was solemnly admitted archbishop of
St. Andrew's. Knox not only refused to conse
crate him, but also publicly denounced a curse up-
on the giver and the receiver of that office. In
formed of thestf proceedings, Beza of Geneva^
begged of Knox and his brethren, to beware of re
introducing the plague of prelacy, which they bad-
thrust out in their Reformation. Nevertheless,
James Boyd was made archbishop of Glasgow,
John Paton, bishop of Dunkeld, and A. Graham,
of Dumblane. Soon after, we find G. Douglas

42 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
bishop of Murray, and some others, — of Caithness,
Brechin, Isles, Galloway, 8^c.
In the end of this year, 1571, died John Knox,
our principal Reformer, in a truly humble and
Christian manner. His zeal for, and trust in his
God, made him fearless of every thing but sin.
Morton, who bated him, after his death attested,
that be never feared the face of man. The ma
jesty of his master Christ, appearing in him, made
his enemies stand in awe of him. Queen Mary,
notwithstanding all her levity and wickedness,
owned that she was more afraid of his prayers than
of ten thousand armed men. He foretold a multi
tude of unlikely events, wnich were exactly fulfill
ed, particularly, That the thick walls pf the castle
of St. Andrew's should prove as egg shells in de
fence of the conspirators against Cardinal Beaton ;
that the English would.not deliver them, but tbey
would fall into the hand of their enemies, and be
carried into a foreign country ; that notwithstand
ing manifold repulses, God would perfect tbe refor
mation of religion in Scotland ; that Queen Mary
would be compelled to hear the word of God ; that
since Henry her husband had burned the Psalm
book to please her, God should strike them both
head and tail ; and since he went to mass to please
her, God should make ber the instrument of his
destruction ; that the castle of Edinburgh should
spue Sir William Kirkaldy over its walls, and he
should be hanged for his obstinate adherence to
the wicked Queen ; and that its St. David's tower
should run down like a sand glass ; that, if Morton
did not study to promote the welfare of the church
and nation, his regency should have an ignominious
end ; that Thomas Maitland should die miserably
among strangers, and Lethington unhappily at
home, as the punishment of their treacherous op*
position to the cause of Christ.

CHURCH OP SCOTLAND. 43
Alarmed by the articles of the convention at
Jjcith, the faithful ministers, no^ithstanding all
the power and influence of Mprton, now Regent,
set themselves to oppose them. The General As
sembly, 1573, declared it impossible for any man
faithfully to fulfil the work of a minister, and of a
civil judge; and prohibited every minister, after
Pont, to accept of a place in the Court of Session.,
The Coraplaints against Pont for his neglect of vi
siting the jcounty of Murray, as he had been ap
pointed, justified their conduct. They likewise
appointed every meeting of the clergy for exercise
of their gifts to have a copy of the acts of the
assembly; and that every province should have
copies of the orders given to superintendents, that
they might observe whethpr they did faithfully
•execute them or not. After the General Assemr
blies had, for eight years, laboured in limiting the
power of the new bishops, and in censuring them
for exceeding their bounds, and for their admission
of ignorant and scandalous persons into ecclesiasti
cal offices, and'for their personal negligence and
immoralities, they, notwithstanding much opposi^
tion from Morton, and even froflfi the young king,
put them down altogether, as dregs of Popery.
And, with much deliberation, formed the second
book qf discipline, and declared. That the office of
Readers, Exhorters, and Visitors of the church,
being but temporary, should now cease. Sdme of
the corruptions complained of, in the eleventh
phapter of that book, were soon after abolished,

A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY, &C. 45

CHAPTER IIL

King James VI. introduces the National Covenant; and
Presbyteries formed — He once and again labours to esta
blish Prelacy and his own Erastian Supremacy — Na
tional Covenant renewed. — Presbyterian Church Govern
ment established — Assembly Covenant with God, and
earnestly promote Reformaiion.

Xhe French zealots and Spaniards had formed a
sacred league to extirpate the Protestant religion,
and their Popish brethren in Britain were disposed
to join them ; dispensations had been sent them
from Rome, allowing them to enter into any en
gagement, by oath or otherwise, in favour of the
Protestant religion," providing they continued firm
adherents te the Pope and his religion in their
heart. King Jaines, now about fourteen years of
age, under one of his religious fits, or prompted by
some church-men, or by his favourites, Stewart of
Aubigne, his father's cousin, now made Earl of
Lennox, and Stewart of Ochiltree, now made Earl
of Arran, who, about this time, for different ends,
professed great zeal for the Protestant religion, —
required John Craig, bis minister, to forra a cove
nant or oath, so exgressly pointed against Popery,
that no Papist, whose conscience was not utterly

46 A COMPENDIOUS HJSTORY OF THE
debauched, might be capable to swear it, Craig
drew up what hath since been ordinarily called the
national covenant, which was subscribed by James
and his privy cpuncil, the Earls of Argyle, Lennox,
Bothwel, Ruthven, and the Lords Ogil.vy, Cath-
part, Jaraes Stewart, 8^c. in the beginning of 1581
James also appeared extremely zealous for esta
blishing order in the church, and making provision
for her clergy. He proposed, that the nine hun
dred and twenty-four parishes in the kingdoin
should be reduced to six hundred, and these classed
into fifty presbyteries ; and that of these six hun
dred ministers, one hundred should have five hun
dred merks; two hundred of them, three hundred
merks; other two hundred of them, but two hun
dred merks ; and the other one hundred about one
hundred merks Scots, for their yearly stipend ; the
least Pf which being then an equivalent of eighty
bolls of oat meal, thesb salaries were not so despi
cable as we are apt to imagine, had they not been
miserably paid>
Glad to find the court in such a temper, the As
sembly quickly formed these presbyteries, and sup
plicated his majesty and council, that there might
be a Judge appointed at Edinburgh, to judge of
wrongs done to ministers, and an act of Parliament
declaring the particular grounds of the deposition
of clergymen ; and that vacant benefices should be
bestowed upon such as minister in the church, not
upon laymen. They cited the Popish abbots, com
mendators, priors, prioresses, and bishops, who still
enjoyed the ecclesiastical revenues, and were basely
dvlapitlating them to compear before next As
sembly to answer for their conduct. Upon his ma
jesty's demanding how the third estate of Parlia
ment was to be now supplied, when bishopS were
p\it doVn, they agreed. That commissioners froni

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 47
the Assembly should fill their place. But I do not
find that they intended that these commissioners
should, be clergymen. They also appointed the
Covenant, which had been lately subscribed by
James and bis council, to be subscribed by all ranks
in the kingdora, and that sudh should be censured
who refused to do so. They prohibited all private
celebration of baptism or marriage^ under pain of
deposition to ministers.
No sooner had Lennox, lately converted from
Popery, got rid of Morton his rival, than he laid
aside his religious appearances, and presented Mont-^
gomery, minister of Stirling, to the archbishoprick
of Glasgow, in the room of Boyd, and got him ad
mitted by force ; but secured for himself a great
part of the episcopal revenues. He and Adamson
of St. Andrew's, by their scandalous behaviour, and
by their fraudulent and violent opposition to re
forming measures, gave their brethren no small
trouble in their assemblies. Montgomery was ex
communicated ; but Lennox supported him. Bal-
canqUelj A. Melvin, Dury, and no doubt other
faithful ministers, thundered forth their declama
tions against the court's encroachments upon the
spiritual power of the church. Balcanquel and
Melvil were prosecuted, and Dury was banished on
that account.
In consequence of their trouble with Montgo
mery, the Assembly 1582, under pain of excommu
nication, prohibited all indirect methods of enter
ing into ecclesiastical offices ; all asking of presen
tations from magistrates or patrons ; and all at
tempts to free themselves from the jurisdiction and
discipline of the church by appeals to great raen,
or courting their favour. They declared all de
privation from ecclesiastical offices, as well as exa
mination and admission to them, to belong to the

48 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OP THE
governors of the church ; and that deprivation is
from office, as well as from the salary. They de
clared heresy. Popery, coraraon swearing, blasphe
my, perjury, adultery, incest,, fornication, man
slaughter, theft, common oppression, common
drunkenness, taking of immoderate usury, non -resi
dence at their charges, unnecessary absence from
them, or neglect of the duties thereof for forty days
in a year, without very relevant grounds, or their
holding of more benefices than one at the same
tirae, or their dilapidation of the church-rents, or
their simony, to be sufficient grounds of deposing
ministers. They remonstrated to King James,
That, by the. advice of his counsellors, he had, to
the dishonour of Christ, assumed a spiritual head
ship over the church, somewhat similar to that of
the Pope ; that ecclesiastical benefices were be
stowed upon men that were violently intruded into
the ministerial office ; that Presbyteries, Synods,
and General Assemblies were, by letters of horning,
hindered from censuring the scandalous ; that while
Dury was suspended and banished for his faithfuL
ness, Montgoraery, though scandalous and excom
municated, was entertained and required to preach ;
that the privy council had, by an act, pretended to
annul his excomraunication ; that such as abused,
hurt, or murdered ministers or others, concerned
in the prosecution of Montgomery, and other scan
dalous persons, were not punished, but favoured ;
that, contrary to his promise, Lennox bad never
reformed his family from Popery or Papists ; and
that the laws, which had been made for the main
tenance of the true religion, and for punishment of
its open enemies, were not executed ; — and insisted
for the redress of these grievances. Lennox and
Arran thought to intiraidate and prosecute the
presenters of this reraonstrance. But when they

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 49
saw how boldly A. Melvin subscribed it before their
face, they dismissed them in safety, suspecting that
they were supported by some secret influence.
While James, and Lennox, and Arran his direc
tors, continued oppressing the churdh, the nominal
bishops, fearless of censure, abandoned themselyes
to their wonted enorraities. But the nobles having
rescued Jaraes out of their hands, and taken Arran
prisoner, and charged Lennox to return home to
France, the General Asserably appointed particular
Presbyteries to prosecute the bishops of Murray,
Aberdeen, Brechin, Dunkeld, St. Andrew's, and
Dunblain, for neglecting their ministerial work,
and for their familiarity with excommunicated per
sons, wasting of the church's patrimony, and other
personal scandals. They supplicated his majesty
and estates, That the acts of Parliament, relative
to the liberties and jurisdiction of the church, be
so explained and enlarged, as that she may have
the sole power of the admission or deprivation of
ministers, trial Pf their doctrine, and stopping of,
or loosing from censure ; that Presbyteries of pas
tors and ruling elders be legally authorized, and an
adequate punishment denounced against such as
oppose their meetings ; that Synodical and General
Assemblies be authorized to iheet as often as they
find necessary for the good of the church, and have
full poWer to appoint their own time and place of
meeting ; that no league be made with the Papists
abroad, and that such as have, contrary to their
oath, apostatized to Popery, be punished v/ith ban-
jshment or otherwise, as traitors to God; that pro
per methods be taken to recover the patrimony of
the church,, and provide for her miiiisters ; that all
presentations be directed to Presbyteries ; that mi
nisters disabled for their work by age or trouble
H

so -A.. COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
•
enjoy their salaries for life. They also declared all
baptism of infants by laics to .be void and null.
For ten months, while the Lords had the direc
tion of James, ministers had full liberty to exe
cute their office ; Papists, excomraunicated and li
centious persons, either left the country, or assum
ed an appearance of Protestant religion and sober
conversation : the friendship between Scotland and
England revived. James himself, in a multitude
of forms, the convention of estates, and the Gene^
ral Assembly, had all declared the nobles, taking
him out of the hands of Lennox and Arran, his evil
counsellors, to be a lawful, honest, and good service
to him and the nation, — for which they should
never be pursued. But James's new tutors being
more intent to instruct him in the methods of vir
tue and lawful government, than to flatter his pride
and other predominant lusts, he soon wearied of
them, and made his escape from them in June 1583.
And, notwithstanding all the remonstrances of the
General Asserably, Papists were as highly favoured
by hira as ever. Archbishop Adarason, a drunken
glutton, under pretence of drinking spaw water,
repaired to England, to contrive with the managers
there the proper methods of effectually introducing
Episcopacy into Scotland. Though scarcely seven
teen years of age, James returned to his forraer
work of persecuting such as faithfully testified
against the proceedings of him and his favourites.
Dury was charged to remove from Edinburgh, arid
remain at Montrose. A. Melvin was cited before
the privy council for some speeches he was said to
have uttered at a public fast. The university of
St. Andrew's presented a soleran attestation of his
innocence, subscribed by thirty of the principal per
sons in the college and place. But James and his

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 51
courtiers disregarded every thing that was in fa
vours of such ministers as were faithful and zea
lous ; it was only pitiful and scandalous wretches
that they inclined to protect. Melvin compeared,
and after protesting that it belonged to ecclesiasti
cal courts to judge of his doctrine, he repeated and
vindicated bis words. While Jaraes and his coun
cil raged, be laid down his Hebrew Bible before
thera, and told them, that there were his instruc
tions for preaching. After adraitting his eneraies
to be witnesses, they could find nothing in his
words to make an handle of; and therefore re
solved to imprison him in the castle of Blackness,
on account of his refusing them to be proper judges
of his doctrine. But he retired into England. All
these that had been principally concerned in rescuing
James from his wicked directors, were charged to
leave the country, arid never to return to Britain
or Ireland without his express licence ; and all
their servants were prohibited to come within ten
miles of his residence.
But few of the ministers dared to raeet in the
Assembly 1584. Nor durst even these transact
any business. Faithful ministers were every where
persecuted. Spies were employed to watch their
serraons, and inform the court if they uttered any
words on which they might be prosecuted. Patrick
Galloway suffered no small trouble for denouncing
the just judgraents of God agaiust those that sub
verted the Protestant religion, and abused his raa
jesty and his authority. Davidson, Carraichael,
Polwart, and others, were obliged to flee into Eng
land. After Adamson had laboured to render our
faithful ministers as odious as possible, and con
certed how to conform the Scotch church to the
English, he returned home. A Parliament was
soon after held in May, with such secresy and dis-

52 A COMPENDIOUS HISTo'ftY OF THE
patch that it was almost ended before it was heard
of. . Adarason and Montgomery represented the
Estate of bishops in it- A lord of the articles hav
ing informed sorae ministers of Edinburgh of it,
they, in vain, attempted to get access to it. This
Parliament enacted. That his majesty had the su
preme authority in all causes ecclesiastical as well
as civil ; that all refusing to acknowledge the privy
council as judges in any raatter, or pretending that
things merely ecclesiastical did not belong to the
civil jurisdiction, or attempting to diminish the
power and privileges of bishops, that were the third
estate in Parliament, should be held and punished
as high , treason ; that all holding of assemblies,
epplesiastieal or civil, without his majesty's special
permission or appointment, or the uttering of any
false or reproachful speeches against hira or his an
cestors or ministers, from pulpits or otherwise,
should be capitally punished. When these acts
were proclaimed, Balcanquel and Pbnt protested
against them. James, having ordered the magis
trates of Edinburgh to imprison all such as dared, -
from the pulpit, to utter one word against these
acts, Balcanquel and Lawson fled into England,
and remitted a faithful warning to their. people ; to
which James obliged the town council to return a
most abusive answer. The ministers replied in a
discreet vindication of themselves. Another Par
liament that year enacted. That every minister,
reader, and master of a college, should, within forty
days subscribe the above acts of Parliament, and
solemnly engage to observe them, and to submit
themselves to bishops as their ordinaries, under
pain of losing their stipends. Craigj and too many
others complied; but most of the more faithful
ministers fled into England.

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 53
In 1585, Elizabeth having taken offence at the
slaughter of some of her subjects by the Scotch bor
derers, the fngitive Lords returned; and a pestilence
prevailing in Edinburgh and places about, they got
James into their management, and reduced Arran
to his original meanness. But they manifested more
zeal for the recovery of their own civil property,
power and dignity, than for the redress of ecclesi
astical grievances. When the Parliaraent met at
Linlithgow, the commissioners from the church pre
sented to his Majesty a remonstrance against the
Erastian acts of the preceding year, to which he gave
asoft,but not very important reply. They were thank
ful that it was not worse, and insisted that he would
confer with some of their most judicious and godly
ministers concerning the discipline of the church, in
order to have it distinctly established by the Parlia
ment. Not long after, a conference was held be
tween some of the privy cousellors and some cler-
gyftnen, who frora their allowance of power tp bi
shops and their chapters, appear to have been none
of the strictest.
In 1586, the Synod ofEife excommunicated Arch
bishop Adamson, for his wicked intrusion of hiraself
into that antichristian office, and his wicked and
contemptuous behaviour in it : But he appealed
from them to hisMajesty,Estates of Parliament, and
Privy Council; and drawing up a forra of excommu
nication against James and Andrew Melvin, and
others of the more faithful members of the Synod,
he caused his boy, attended by one or two of his jack-
men, to read it in the church ; and notwithstanding
his own excomraunication, and a preceding suspen
sion, be would preach. — In consequence of his sham
submission, corroborated by James's solicitation, the
next Asserably took off, or rather declared null, his
Synodical excommunication; against which Andrew

54 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
Melvin and Thoraas Buchanan entered their solemn
protest. From the declarations of the Synods of
Merse, Teviotdale, and Tweedale, it appears, that
the rainisterswere far enough from unanimity of sen
timent concerning the subscription of the Erastian
acts of 1584. But it is still raore plain, that, to se
cure rest for Archbishop Adarason, the privy council
appointed A. Melvin, professor of divinity at St. An
drew's, to traverse the counties of Angus, Perth, and
Mearns, for confuting and converting the trafficking
Jesuits; and Adarason to supply his place, by teach
ing two lessons bf divinity every week. But as this
change was like to have ruined the college by the de
parture of all the foreign and other students of divi
nity, king James, at the university's request, per
mitted A. Melvin to return to his work. But his
persecution of Gibsonand Cowper, manifests, that
James still hated all those that daredto testify against
his conduct frora the pulpit. He at once banished
all the ministers of Edinburgh, because tbey wotild
not pray for his raother's life, before they had pro
per evidence of the injustice of her condemnation.
He supported Montgomery and Adarason, whose con
duct was base, and their consciences always at his
nod. Pont was presented to the bishoprick of Caith
ness ; but it seems, he refused to accept of it.
Lesly, a staunch Papist, who had so zealously sup
ported Mary in England, was restored to his bi
shoprick of Ross.
In consequence of a remonstrance from the raini
sters, the Parliament, 1587, enacted. That Jesuits
and trafficking priests, hearers of mass, and apostates
to Popery, should be duly prosecuted and punished.
The preceding laws relative to the Protestant reli
gion were renewed and confirmed, by a general act.
And, from regard to the king's purse, the episcopal
revenues were annexed to the crown ; which was a

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. ' 55
stab to the heart of the prelatical interest. In 1588,
James and his Estates made another act against Je
suits, trafficking priests, hearers of mass, arid re-
volters to Popery. They also entered into a new
bond or covenant to maintain the Protestant religion,
anddefend hisMajesty's person and authority against
the holy leaguers or others, and to bring Papists and
excomraunicated persons to condign punishraent;
and, for the raore barraonious promotion of these
ends, to submit all differences araong theraselves
to the arbitration of some friends. About the same
time, the General Assembly prohibited Archbishop
Adamson to raarry the Popish earl of Huntley ; and
also observed two fasts, the one upon Thursday, and
the other on the Lord's day; — and agreed, that there
after, the first day of every General Asserably should
be eraployed in fasting and humiliation. Another so
leran fast was observed about the end of October,
on three several Sabbaths — with which tbey con
nected the administration pf the Lord's supper.
Notwithstanding the reraarkable defeat of the
pontifically blessed Spanish Armada in 1588, the
earls of Huntley,_Errol, Crawfurd, and others, raain
tained a correspondence with Philip of Spain, and
with the Duke of Parma, in order to promote a
Spanish invasion. The discovery of their treachery
procured pompous, but scarce ever executed, laws
against the Papists. Upon a supplication from the
Assembly, the Bond for religion was again ra
tified in the council. Orders were issued for about
ninety six rainisters, in the different parts ofthe na
tion, to convene the godly and well affected oi all
ranks, and adrainister to thera the national covenant,
and take their subscriptions to it, and to the late
bond for raaintenance of religion and his Majesty's
authority.- To prevent turaults by Papists, about
130 of the nobility and gentry were appointed to

56 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
attend and support them, in this work, TJie zeal
of the Presbyterian clergy for James' safety, mani
fested in this and other raatters of that criticaljunc
ture, and their keeping of his kingdora in such or
der, while he took his romantic voyage to bring
horae his new queen from Denmark, so ingratiated
them, that, taking one of his religious fits, he pre
sented himself in their General Assembly, and ex
tolled their constitution, as highly preferable to that
of any othpr church upon earth. Archbishop Adam-
son's dying recantation — his profession of his sin in
marrying Huntley in opposition to the authority of
the church, and in opposing his Presbytery, and
slanderously defending the Erastian acts of the Par
liament 1584 — and of his sorrow for the same, and
his earnest solicitation to be absolved from the ex
comraunication pronounced against hira by the Sy
nod of Fife, also encouraged the faithful part ofthe
clergy. For the confirmation of their Presbyterian go
vernment, the Assembly had required all ministers
and intrants to subscribe their second Book qf disci
pline. James, who had rendered himself odious to
many bf his subjects, by his continued favour to the
Popish lords, and by neglecting to avenge the mur
der ofthe late Earl of Murray, upon Huntley, one of
them, was become fond of their favour. At their
request, and perhaps by means of Maitland his chan
cellor, who needed to wipe off suspicions of his hav
ing a hand in that raurder, he held a conference with
sorae of the principal of them — in consequence of
which an act was made by the Parliament,- June,
1592, ratifying Presbyterian govei-nment, and appoint
ing ihe regular meeting of Assemblies, and assigning
to Synods, Presbyteries, and Sessions, their resp^ctivd
work : and annulling all forraer acts in the time bf
Popery, contrary hereto, and declaring, that the
3

OHURCH OF SCOTLAND. ^7
acts of 1584, should not hinder the chuvch to exer
cise her own intrinsic power in judging ecclesia^-
cal causes— and annulling fche act which granted
comnnissions to bishops, and appointing all presen
tations to ecclesiastical cbai<g«s to be directed to
Presbyteries---and appointing them to accept of can
didates presented by his Majesty or ofhier patrons,
if duly qualified. This Parliament further e>nacted.
That if patrons did not ti'meously present a quali
fied candidate, the right of preS^entation should di?-
vplve on the Presbytery.— And they prohibited aM
markets on the Lord's day, or erection ©f church
lands or tithes into temporal lordships.
Notwithstanding this £avpiu<raMe act, it appeiars,
from the reasons of their fa^ on two Sabbaths bf
December, that a considerable part; of the nation
continued perishing in ignorance for wantipf teadfe-
ers ; that many of all ranks, especially of the ttPbi-'
lity, were inclined to Popery and Atheism; that
Jesuits, and other Popish Priests, swarnaJed without
<:ontrol ; that felaspbemy ©f God's name, contempt
of his word, and of civil magistrates-^J'eason, mur-
<le!r, adultery^ witchcraft, and other lifce abomina
tions, mightily prevailed. The Assembly appointed
Messrs, J@hn Davidson, Rbbeit Bruce, Walter Bal-
caaqnel, David Lindsay, and four others, as a stand
ing committee, to espy the dangers of the church ;
and appointed brethren in the different parts of the
nation to 'give them pS'oper information ooneerning
Papists and iimiinoralities.
By letters intercepted in the end of this year, ft
was fcmmd, that the earls of Huntley, Errol, and Ati-
gus, and others of inferior rank, had continued their
treasonable correspondence with Philip of Spain, and
that it was -intended, that 30,O00 Spaniafnis should
invade the kingdom, either at Kirkcudbright in Gal^
loway, or at the mouth of the Clyde, westward of

58 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
Glasgow. Hereupon, Jaraes emitted a proclamation
against the guilty, and called his subjects to make a
resolute stand for the defence oftheir country ; and
he, and a considerable number of his nobles^ barons,
and others, entered into a solemn association or co
venant, to exert themselves to their utmost in de
fence of the^ Protestant religion, and in punishing
the traitors. But, notwitstanding all this parade,
Janies took care to protect his Papal friends, who
bought his life, and the Parliaraent 1593, as good
as absolved thera, under pretence that no proper
proof could be had against them. This render-.
ed them and their brethren more and more insolent.
The Synod of Fife made this a ground of' fasting;
and, to James' great vexation, delivered up unto
Saffan, Huntley, Errol, Angus, and Home, and their
principal assistants, as apostates to Popery; and
Huntley and the laird of Auchindown, as also mur
derers of the earl of Murray. The General Assem
bly, not only formed 48 particular Presbyteries, ap
pointed rules for the visitation of them, and prohi
bited ministers to publish any slander against his
Majesty, but also insisted with him to bring the ex
comraunicated lords to their trial. Chancellor
Maitland got that raatter referred to the conven
tion of Estates, in which, upon a sham submission,
sent up in writ, these traitors were absolved from
lall past treasons, providing, they be good subjects
and Protestants for the future, and pay a certain
fine. This absurd indulgence of the obstinate ene
mies ofthe religion and liberties of the nation, high
ly provoked the zealous Protestants, especially when
they observed them, regardless of the terms of their
absolution, proceeding in their wonted courses.
The Assembly 1594 confirmed the sentence of ex-
'coraraunication inflicted by the Synod of Fife, and
Insisted with James for their condign punishmeh^t ;

CHURCH OP SCOTLAND. 59
and* that proper methods should be taken to stop
the increase of Popery. He returned thera soft-
words, which, it is probable, he never intended to
regard. . Lord Horae got hiraself reconciled to the
church. The rest, to whom Bothwel, who haji for
a time terribly disturbed the nation with his vio
lences, joined himself, were declared outlaws, and
their estates forfeited. In 1595, we find little more
than the Assembly's appointment of commissioners!
to visit colleges, plant vacant churches, and try per
sons that enjoyed ecclesiastical benefices. • ,
Ghancellpr Maitland, perhaps chiefly to support
himself in opposition to Bothwel, had for some time
past favoured Xhe church. After his death, the raa
nageraent of riiatters chiefly depended on the eight
commissioners for the now super-expended royal re
venues — sorae of which were reckoned concealed
Papists. In the begijjning of 1596 James emitted.
a proclamation, requiring all his subjects to with-
• stand^the Spaniards and all their agents; but he'.
took care not to mention the Popis}i lords as any of
them. Nay, while, in his Beggared condition, he was
soliciting the General Assembly for a public con
tribution in all their congregations tp assist him
against the .Spaniards, he allowed the wives and
friends of the outlawed Papists to enjoy the whole
oftheir revenues.
The General Asserably, consisting of about 400
ministers, having met in March, applied themselves
to search out thp causes "of the Lord's controversy
with the nation, and to appoint measures for the
better preservation of their religipn and liberties.
They began with an inquiry intp the sins of the mi-
jiistry ; and, for remedies of the corruptions which
they found among thera, they appointed. That all
candidates,, at their adraission, should be carefully
tried concerning their knowledge, prudence, and

60 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
spiriftstel experience; that they should be solemnly-
initerrogated, what had mo vedi them to accept, of the
charge; tfiat none whoringyred themselves, or soli
cited^ admission to a place or charge^ shouldbe admit
ted, lyjr any^of the Presbytery, Who had solicited for
one, be aUowed to act in his election or adraission ;
that none should ask a presentation, without advice
ofthe Presbytery, in whose bounds the charge lay;
that such ministers as should not be given toprayer
and diligent study, particularly of the Scriptures—^
orj- who should not study to be spiritual and power-
fill in their ministrations, and to apply their dbc-
toine in. opposition lo the prevalent corruptions of
the place and tirae ; or, who should preach in a dry,
Scholsastic, and obscure manner; or who/ should -be
careless about promoting religion, negligent in visit-.
ing the sick, or in taking care of the poor ; or, vrno
should connive at the sins oftheir bearers, especially;
persons of high rank ; or should be slothfiil in the
administration of the sacraments,, or admit- to. them
persons ^norant, profane, or scandalous--ior upon
little or no trial— should he rebuked for the first
offence, and be^ deposed, if thereafter they conti
nue in- their evil course;— that all admitters of per
sons to sacraments for money or worldly gain, be
directly deposed' ;—;-that every minister have a ses^
sion, composed ofthe fittest persons in his.congregah
tion, to assist him in governing his charge ;— .-that
t^eir discipline, strike not only against whoredom^
murder^ and the liket, but Against cursing, profane-
swearing, profanation of Sabbath, disobedience tO'
parents, idleness^, and want of a lawful callipg^
drunkenness, want of God?s worship and good ordtei!
in families, neglectof the religious education of chil-
dlrenj, lying, slandler, baekbitiag, and breach of pro-
ihise — and- thdt all ministers that persevere in the
riegltect hereof be deposed : — -That none that fails

CHURCH OF S.COTLAND.. 61
into scandal be readihitted to fellowship in' sealing
ordinances, without. proper evidence of repentance:
That such ministers as dilapidate benefices, or de-
rait them for favour or money, pr exchange or set
tapks of them, or that transplant themselves with-
oift advice of the church, be censured: That all mi
nisters, that are light or wanton in their behaviour,
apparel, speech, or company, or that sport them
selves with dancing, cards, or dice ; or that keep
inns, take iramoderate Interest for money, bear
worldly offices in families of great men, deal in mer
chandise, forestalling of corn, or other worldly oc-
. capations, tending to discredit their office, or divert
them from their work — or that are bars, revilers,
backbiters, flatterers, breakers of proraise, braw
lers; or quarrelers— be deposed, if they do not re
form, when duly admonished: That no minister wait
upon the court, or comraence a law suit of impor
tance, without the allowance of his church : That
.such as, notwithstanding admonition, take no care
to cause their family behave in' a sober and religi
ous manner, shall be judged unfit to. govern the
phurch of God-: That such as do not study to be
every where edifying and spiritual in their conver
sation, be rebuked : And that 'none take part with
scandalious persons, who are under process by their
brethren.' — In or^er to impress these matters, more
dte^ly on their consciences, Mr. John Da.vidson of
Prestonpa'ns, after he had read and briefly explained
the 3d* and 33d chapters of Ezekiel relative to the
duty of Watchmen, laid- home their sins to them,
with- such faithfulness and powers as issued in much
deep contrition of heart, and solemn confession of
sin, renovation of their national covenant with God,
andengagementto w^kmore warily and labour more
diligently in their charges; Not a few of the clergy
being absent, the Asseinhly appointed', that there

l62 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
should be lil?e humiliation and covenanting with God
in their synodical meetings; and in Presbyteries,
for the sake of such as could not attend at Syriodsi
The covenant was also renewed in many congrega;
tions ; and where it was not, the subsequent defe^7
tion quickly appeared. *
The Asserably further represented to all ranks in
the nation their abounding" wickedness — in the de-
,cay of zeal for the cause of God — the pfevailing ig
norance and contempt of God's ordinaudes-^the npr
gleet of his worship in families, or masters turning
over the performance of it upon their cooks, or other
servants-^the neglect of spiritual converse, and pre
valence of that which is carnal and profane;prthe
countenancing of idolatry and superstition-r-the ob
servation of Popish festivals, bonfires, pilgrimages,
singing of carols at Christmas, &c. — blasphemy of
God's nanie, or cursing in comraon discourse ; pro
fanation of the Sabbath, by the labours of seed-time
and harvest,' and by journies and trysts about civil
business, or by carnal sports and recreations, danc
ing, drinking, or keepingof raarkets; — lueglect Of re
lative 'duties, and of the religious education of chil
dren and servants. — or children coramencinglaw-suits
against their parents, or giving theraselves in raar
riage without regarding their consent ;— murders,
or countenancing of murderers ; — aduHeries, forni
cations, incests, unlawful marriages and divorces,
legitimation Pf adulterous pr other bastard children,
drunkenness, gluttony, gprgeous and vain apparel,
filthy or bloody speeches ;-^sacrilegious seizing of
the church's property, to the hindrance of the spread
ofthe gospel; oppression of tenants with racked
rents, slavish services, or unseasonable' tithing'—
oppression ofthe poor by usury, forestalling of mar-;
kets, or withholding of corns from sale — strolling.
abou[t of pipers, fiddlers, songsters, sorners, sturdy
beggars, dr like unlawful callings, and all counte
nancing of them.

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 63
They represented to the courts of civil judica
ture, their gi-eat wickedness, in their .alraost uni
versal neglect of doing justice between man and
man ; their reihissions or reprieves in cases of mur
der, incest, or adultery ; the advancement of weak
and wicked men into the office of judges ; the ne
glect of punishing Papists, particularly the Popish
Lords, and their adherents, but allowing the rents
of their forfeited estates to their wives and friendsj
whci supported them ; the allowing of pretended
bishops, abbots, or priors to" vote in parliament, in
narae of the churchy buying of pleas ; delaying or
wresting of justice for th'e sake of bribes ; and suf
fering about four hundred parishes to continue
without any fixed gospel ministrations, for want of
provision to rainisters.
They no less faithfully represented to the king
hiraself, the sins of his family, that sometimes fa
mily worship* and even the reverend asking of God's
blessing upon meals,, or giving thanks for them,
were neglected; that they made no conscience of
attending the sermons on week days ; that he and
his favourites soraetiraes* conversed in time of ser
mon ; that he and his courtiers were guilty of pro
fane 'cursing and swearing; that murderers. Pa
pists, and exdomraunioated persons, were counte
nanced in his faraily, or allowed to be in his cora
pany ; that his queen and her ladies were not duly
delicate in their corapany, but indulged theraselves
in njght-wakes, balls, and sinful absenting frora the
worship of God. — They also represented to him
some, methods of redressing the more public griev
ances. — And they agreed to appoint . a committee
to attend his court, in order to promote the plant
ing of churches, and procuring of stipends ; and
that, if pktrohs did not present candidates before
sim months from the death of the former incumbent,
the Presbytery should immediately present one.

A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY, &C. 65

CHAPTER IV.

King James favours Papists, and by captious questions —
Clergymen's Vote in Parliament — Constant Moderators
— Paclted General Assemblies — Introduction qf Dioce
san Bishops and Popish Ceremonies — And by Persecu
tion qf the Faithful about twenty-seven years, terribly
defaced ilie Church — King Charles I. and Archbishop
Laud, fbr about thirteen years more, increased her
misery, by supporting Arminianism and Prelacy, and
obtruding more Superstition.

In the end of 1569, the Popish Lords, finding
their foreign quarters not to their wish, resolved to
return home, and make their peace with their coun
try, on the easiest terms. As it was suspected
that James encouraged, if he did not formally in
vite thera to return, the ministers took the alarm,
and the Assembly and their coramissioners remon
strated against their continuance in the country,
as they were notorious enemies to its religion and
liberties, — ^and against James' allowing the Popish
countess of Huntley to be present at the baptism
of his daughter Elizabeth,, and his entrusting that
princess to the care of the Popish lady of Living
ston, who was upon the point of being excommuni
cated by the church. Andrew Melvin, in his bold

66 A COMPENDIOUS HISTOR'Sf OF THE
and zealous manner, faithfully represented to him
his and his council's wickedness, in labouring to
bear down the faithful ministers of Christ, and to
assume authority in spiritual causes, and to protect
the Popish Lords. James gave them no satisfac
tion, but told thera. That he and they would never
agree, till the limits of their respective jurisdictions
should be distinctly fixed ; and particularly, till it
should be enacted, that no minister should, from
the pulpit, meddle with his and his council's pro
cedure ; — that no General Assembly should meet
without his special coraraand, nor any deed of it
be of any force, before it was ratified by hira or his
commissioner; and that no church judicatory should
meddle with any causes against which the civil
laws do strike.
Not long after, James summoned Mr. David
Black in St. Andrew's, to appear before his privy
council, to answer for sorae words, which he was
said to have uttered from the pulpit, against the
behaviour of himself, his queen and council. Black
protested, that the church was the proper judge of
his doctrine at first instance, and declined the au
thority of the council, as incompetent to be primary
judge in this matter. Solemn attestations of his
innocence of that which was laid to his charge,
from a great nuraber of his most respectable hear
ers, in the magistracy and university, were produced
before the council ; but these were altogether disre
garded, and the deposition of his enemies, however
malicious, and of others grossly ignorant, were sus
tained against: him as proof: and he was banished
to the north side of Tay, About three or four
hundred ministers signed an advice to Mr. Black,
to decline the council. None was more active in
procuring subscriptions than Spotiswood, afterward
Archbishop of St. Andrew's, who, at the sarae time,

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 67
treacherously informed James of all their proced
ure. The faithful ministers earnestly remonstrated
against his majesty and council's judging and pu
nishing their brother, Mr. Black. But all was in
vain. He was determined to humble them.
Highly offended witb the comraissioners, whom
the church had appointed to watch against her
dangers, on account of their faithful inforraation
of Presbyteries, andfor their remonstrances against
the favour shewn to the Popish Lords, or the like,
Jaraes charged every one of them to depart from
Edinburgh ; and then stretched every nerve to db-
coy those that remained into his Erastian measures.
He proraised his utmost efforts to procure better
stipends to the clergy, if they would demonstrate
their loyalty, by subscribing a Bond, which he had,
or intended to form. Fearing that some, by their
poverty, might be induced to comply, the banished
comraissioners transmitted a warning to the several
Presbyteries to be on their guard. The bond,
which James prepared for their subscription, con
tained in it a promise of allegiance, and of submit
ting their doctrine relative to things Which might
be reckoned to concern the king and his council,
to them as proper judges of it, and never to de
cline their jurisdiction as incompetent. Against
the subscription of this Bond, the ministers pled.
That it was superfluous to bind themselves to al
legiance, since they had done that sufficiently in the
national covenant, which had been lately renewed;
tbat their doing it, in the manner required in this
bond, supposed thera to have been formerly disloyal;
that this bond, proceeding from the church's ene
mies, was to be suspected as a snare; that the in*.
famy of those that subscribed a like bond, by the
instigation of Archbishop Adamson in 1584, was a
warning to forbear subscribing at present ; that

68 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
this bond restrained faithful reproof, and raeans of
repentance, and made the king head of the church as
well as of the state, and was contrary to the word
of God, and to the laws made for the liberties of
this church.
Robert Bruce, and other ministers of Edinburgh,
declined to confer with James, till he should recal
the coramissioners of the church, whom he had ba
nished from the city. Some courtiers, who hat
ed the EIGHT managers of the royal revenues, by
dealing with both parties, laboured to kindle strife
between thera and the church. To free himself of
four hundred pounds Scots of debt, one Robert
Stewart a macer, gave up to the king a list of such
burghers in Edinburgh, as were most careful for
the safety of faithful ministers ; in consequence of
which, 24 of them were charged to depart from
the city. Alarmed herewith, Messrs. Balcanquel
and Bruce represented the dangerous situation of
the church to such .as were well affected to her.
They, after mutual consultation, appointed the
Lords Lindsay and Forbes, Mr. Bruce and some
others, to represent to his majesty his duty to in
terpose his authority for the prevention of irapend
ing dangers : But he refused to regard their re
quest Some agents of the court, by raising a re
port, that he had given an unfavourable answer ;
and that the inhabitants were in arras; — and by
crying at the doors of the churches, in which
they were assembled. Save yourselves, and in the
streets. To arms, raised a considerable mob, — sorae
of which thought the king had been in danger,
and others, that their ministers had been murder
ed. Notwithstanding his sickness, the provost rose,
got out, and quelled the uproar.
Affrighted for the consequences, James sent for
tbeir petition that sarae night, and promised to

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 69
content the ministers and their supporters. They
insisted that he should remove from his council,
Seaton, Elphingston, and Hamilton, three of the
OcTAViANS formerly mentioned, whom they judged
troublers of the church, and supporters of the ex
communicated Popish lords ; and that these lords
should be banished the country till they should
offer proper satisfaction to the church and nation ;
and that the commissioners of the church should,
by a royal proclamation, be invited back to Edin
burgh, whence they had been driven. But his
fright being over, he refused their agents access
to present these requests to hira ; and at last, prb-
tending to be provoked with the late turaults, he
fled off to Linlithgow, appointed all strangers to
depart frora Edinburgh, and prohibited the judges
to hold any more courts in it. Messrs. Bruce,
Balcanquel, Balfour, and Watson, minsters of Edin
burgh, and Cranston of  , were summoned to
appear before the privj^'council at Linlithgow, and
answer as required ; and warrants were issued to
apprehend five of the principal burghers that fa
voured their courses. Expecting no justice, the
ministers fled, but the burghers compeared and
were cast into prison. The ministers and other
friends of the church were exceedingly grieved on
account of the tumult, as they perceived how it
would be improved to the reproach of the work of
God in their hands. On the Sabbath after, Mr.
Bruce publicly declared his detestation of it, and
of the neutrality of too many ministers, and of the
countenance given to the Popish lords. After their
flight, he, and Balfour, and Watson, remitted large
vindications of theraselves and brethren from all
share in the tumult.
Bent to have the Scotch church conformed to
the English, in order that his succession to Queen

70 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
Elizabeth of England might be the easier, James
had already formed a list of his intended bishops ;
but as things were not yet quite ripe for establish
ing thera in their sees, he published fifty-five ques
tions, which he required the General Assembly to
answer, viz. Whether matters relating to the ex
ternal governraent of the church might not be dis
puted ? What power the king and clergy have in
the making of ecclesiastical laws ? When it is law
ful for ministers to leave their flocks ? Whether
ministers raay apply their doctrine to such as are
not of their congregation ? Whether rainisters may,
from the pulpit, point out particular transgres
sors ? For what enormities they may publicly blame
magistrates ? Whether such public declarations
frora the pulpit against the faults of particular per
sons, ought to proceed on full certainty, or upon
mere report and suspicion ? Whether preachers may
wander from their text in declaiming against vices ?
Whether a minister may exercise jurisdiction with
out the consent ofthe greater part of his session?
Whether the session be judges of their rainister's
doctrine ? Whether ruling elders may ever mode
rate in sessions ? Whether the minister alone hath
power to choose the members of session ? Why
ruling elders and deacons are not chosen for life ?
How many Presbyteries ought to be in a county ?
And hov/ many pastors in each ? Whether only
pastors, or also all ruling elders and deacons ought
to have votes in Presbyteries ? What ought to be
handled in Presbyteries, which may not be trans
acted in sessions ? What form of process ought to
be used before sessions and, Presbyteries ? What
ought to be decided in Synods, whieh may not in
Presbyteries ? What power of judgment have gOr
¦vernors and professors of colleges in Presbyteries,
Synods, aud Assemblies ? Whether any but the sUt

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 71
preme magistrate, when he is Christian and pious,
hath lawful power to convene General Assemblies ?
Whether should the meetings of General Assem
blies be ordinary or extraordinary ? Who have
right to vote in Assemblies? Whether all men of
religion and learning in the church, or only all pas
tors, or only comraissioners ? How many raembers
are necessary to form a General Asserably ? How
many of these ought to be ministers ? And how
many not ? Who have the power pf choosing com
missioners to sit in General Assemblies ? Whether
an act of the General Assembly be valid without
the king's consent? Whether two thirds of the
votes be necessary to render an act authoritative ?
Whether inferior judicatories can judge persons
that do not reside within their bounds ? What ju
dicatory shall administer discipline to the king's
household and council ? Ought every person re
quired to attend church judicatories to have a for
mal citation assigning its own grounds ? Can an
inferior court summon persons to a superior one ?
Must private admonitions, with reasonable^ inter
vals, take place before all citations ? What interval
is necessary between different admonitions, or be
tween admonition and citation, and between cita
tion and compearance ? Of how many citations
doth the neglect infer contumacy ? Whether simple
contumacy, without a particular crirae, or a parti
cular crime without any contumacy, be a sufficient
ground of excommunication ? What different church
censures are there? What scandals may Presby
teries judge of, and what not ? May murderers,
usurers, and such as do not pay their just debts, be
excommunicated ? If so, why should not all the
thieves of the Highlands an4 borders, and mer
chants be excommunicated ? May an appeal be
made from an inferior to a superior judicatory ? Is

^2 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THB
the sentence suspended during an appeal to a
higher court ? Ought all processes to be extracted
for the behoof of parties ? Is suramary excoramu-
nication, without any citation, lawful? May any
but pastors vote in a sentence of excomraunication ?
Hath every church judicatory equal power to ex
communicate offenders ? May Papists, who were
never members of our church, be excommunicated ?
May Christian kings annul notoriously unjust ex-
comraunications ? May a whole council and uni
versity be excoramunicated ? And for what ? By
whom ? And in what raanner ? If the clergy ne
glect their duty, may Christian kings rectify their
disorders ? May fasts for general causes be appoint
ed by Christian princes ? May church courts re
quire persons to give an oath of purgation ? May
points relative to civil .rights be judged in church
courts ? These questions had answers returned to
them by order of the Synod of Fife, and by Patrick
Galloway, and by another minister of a more zea- ,
lous cast.
Soon after, James called an assembly at Perth,
and took care to have an hitherto unparalleled num
ber of north country clergymen to be raerabers of
it. After no small disputing, the majority voted
it to have the power of a General Assembly. Drop
ping a number of his above mentioned questions,
James required them to declare. That it should be
lawful for either the prince, or any pastor, to move
their doubts, and crave inforraation concerrking any
part of their government, which is not expressly
appointed in the word of God ; that no minister
should publicly meddle with affairs of state, or
with any of his Majesty*s laws and ordinances ;
but if they think them wrong, privately complain
to himself and his council ; that no minister shall
publicly point out any transgressors, except fugi-
5

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 73
tildes and excoramunicated persons, so as the hearers
may know them ; that none shall meddle with any
poirit not pertinent to his own congregation ; that
every Presbytery shall take care of these in their
bounds behaving regularly in these matters ; that
three different citations, with eight days of inter
val, shall precede every excoramnnication ; that
no Presbytery or Synod shall censure any person
who doth not reside in their bounds ; that all dita-
tions shall contain the cause and crirae for which
the person cited are to answer ; that except their
ordinary meetings of Session, Presbytery, or Synod,
ministers shall hold no convention without his ma
jesty's consent ; that in principal towns no minis
ter shall be chosen without the consent of their
particular flocks, and of his raajesty ; that some
discreet ministers shall be appointed at a proper
time to reason upon the rest of his questions ; and
that till that be done none shall touch upon them
either in pulpits or judicatories ; and that some of
the northern clergy shall be appointed tp absolve
the Earl of Huntley from his excomraunication,
providing he give them full satisfaction. The con
sciences of this pliant Assembly could not come up
to the whole of James's demands : but they did
what they could to gratify bim. They fixed as
terms of satisfaction for Huntley, that be should
renounce the Popish religion, subscribe the national
covenant, join in coraraunion with the church ; and
in the kirk of Aberdeen, profess his sorrow for his
apostacy and raurder — and that, as an evidence, of
his sincerity, be should reconcile himself to those
that had promoted his prosecution, and should pro
vide sufficient stipends for the kirks on his lands.
At the request of Angus's countess, and of Errol
himself, ministers were appointed to deal with
them, and to absolve them on the same terms as
L

14) A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF tU^
Huntley, except in that which related to the mur
der of the Earl of Murray, in which Angus and
Errol had no hand. Meanwhile, to please the faith
ful party, this Assembly supplicated James to pub
lish a declaration of his real intentions to raaintain
the true Protestant religion and discipline present
ly professed, and to banish from his kitigdbm all
obstinate Papists, Jesuits, and excommunicated per
sons, and apprehend and imprison them if they
should return ; and to relax biS outlawry against
the ihiriisters df Edinburgh alid others, and allow
Messrs. Black, Howison, and Welsh to return to
their flocks ; to deal favourably with the city of
Edinburgh, fiotwithstanding the late mob, or other,
provocations ; to promote the due punishttient of
such as had, or should assaultj hurt, or mutilate
ministers ; and to provide sufficient stipends where
they were wanting. He pretended that he was
ready to grant all their desires, except what re
lated to the outlaws and banished.
Few besides the cOmihissioners from Fife cairib
up lo the ordinary meeting of the General Assem
bly in April 1597- After confession of their sins,
they took a solemii protestation for the liberties of
the chui'ch. In May, King James's second Assem
bly met at Dundee. As he had called them toge
ther, his will Was their iule, and to please hira and
bis council was their great end. Upon information
frohi the Presbyteries of Murray, Aberdeen, and
Angus, concerning the excoinmunicated lords, these
Presbyteries were appointed further to deal with
them, arid to receive them upoh terms much the
same ds above mentioned. They added some ex-
plidations to the declarations, which had been re
quired or given at Perth. They answered the rest
of James's ensnaring questions as much to his con
tent as they could. They appointed a commission

GHUaCH OF SCOTLAND. ' f5
of their number tb confer with his majesty for pro
moting of perfect harmony with hira and his coun
cil, and tb execute the articles which had been
passed. Thus, I think,, began the Commissions of
the General Asserablies, which have often trans
acted more public work than the Asserably itself.
These commissioners now appointed, together with
James and his agents, dressed up raatters to their
pleasure ; and the Assemblies as their tools turned
their will into the forra of acts. To prevent the
faithful ministers from counteracting their designs,
the principal of therii were put out of the way.
Black and Wallace were removed from St. An
drew's. A. Melvin had been put from his rector
ship, and expelled the university, had not the ckr
mour of the people and of the foreign students
obliged them to let hihi alone. But, to prevent
his interfering with the government of the church,
Jaraes and his ecclesiastical coramissioners enacted,
That no masters or professors in universities should
vote in any church courts upon matters of discipline.
The Popish lords being restored to the fellowship
of the church, the Parliament which met in De
cember restored them to all their civil privileges
and hbnburs, , Some years before, mention had
been made of ecclesiastical coraraissioners to sit in
Parliaraent as the third estate, instead of the dig
nitaries of the Popish church ; but without any
hint whether they should be clergymen or not,
Now the ecclesiastical commission insisted, that
some ministers should have vote in Parliament in
order to secure the interests pf the church. The
abbots, priors, and Iprds of session opposed it as
derogatory to their powfer. But James got it car
ried; and the more easily, as the other estates of
Parliament thought that no Presbyterian minister
would accept the Popish title of bishop, abbot, or-

"ye A CCMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
prior, in order to enjoy such proraotion. Having
carried this point, Jaraes and his ecclesiastical com
mission appointed next General Assembly to meet
at Dundee, two raonths sooner than had been in
tended. After it had met, and agreed tp bury
some grievances, and appointed another commis
sion, and James had allowed the banished ministers
to return to their charges in Edinburgh, &c, he,
in a solemn harangue, represented to the Assembly
the necessity of some ministers voting in Parliar
ment, and protested, that he had no intention to
introduce any Popish or English bishops, but was
merely concerned for the welfare of the church.
The speeches of those ecclesiastical coramissioners
that thirsted for episcopal sees, were but an echo
to his. After much warm debate it carried, that
about^^^ one ministers should have a vote in Parr
liament as commissioners from the church, but un
der strict limitations, in order to prevent their as7
suraing any power over their brethren, Mr David
son of Preston-Pans entered a solemn protestation
against this act, but it was not allowed to be marked.
The terror of his majesty's presence kept many of
his brethren from adhering to his protest. But he
had no sooner crossed the Tay in his way horae,
than about three or fourscore subscribed it, though
it was aftervvard thought prudent to cut off their
names. This Assembly further enacted. That the
minutes of Synods be brought up to every Assem
bly in order to be examined ; that none be married
till they be thrice lawfully proclairaed ; that such
ministers as celebrate clandestine marriages be de
posed ; and that the parties satisfy the church by
public repentance ; that no images be carried abput
at burials ; that Presbyteries meet every week ;
and that a proposition of divinity be handled in
their meeting once a month ; that every minister

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 77
have a weekly examination of part of his congre
gation; that every Presbytery send up corarais
sioners to the Assembly, not above three in their
own name, and a ruling elder in narae of the barons,
and twp ruling elders frora Edinburgh, and one in
the name of every other burgh.
About the beginning of 1599, Jaraes appears to
have been seized with a fit of zeal for the Roraish
abominations. Beaton, the old Popish archbishop
pf Glasgow, was restored to his dignity, and ap
pointed ambassador to the court of France. Jaraes
transraitted an affectionate missive to his Holiness,
and requested that the bishop of Vaison, a Scotch
man, might be created a cardinal, and empowered
to act in the correspondence betwixt thera. Edward
Druraraond was instructed by Jaraes to negotiate
with the Pope and his cardinals for proraoting this
design. This affair happening afterward to be dir
vulged, secretary Elphingston, who had been made
Earl of Balmerino, topk the blarae upon himself,
and had a sham process directed against him, on
that account. But few that consider Jaraes's con
stant regard to the Popish party, and the mean
shifts with which he ordinarily attempted to cover
his base designs, wiU doubt bf his being the real
author of that letter. In his Basilicon doron, pub
lished that year, he declares. That parity among
ministers is inconsistent with raonarchy; that with
out bishops, the three estates of parliament cannot
be established ; that presbyterian zealots seek to
establish a democracy in the state ; that kings ought
to hate none more than proud Puritans, and ought
never tp suffer their chiefs in any kingdora.
To raal^e voting of ministers in Parliament gp
down the more quietly with the nation, several
conferences were held concerning it. These of
Falkland, where the caveats were considered, and

78 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
of Holyroodhouse, were the most noted. In the
last, after reading the act of Assembly at Dundee,
concerning these commissioners from the church to
vote in Parliament, and the caveats for limiting their
power, the ministers entered on the dispute, but
could neither agree upon the Lawfulness of their
voting, or the title that should be given them.
Highly provoked with the bold speeches and un
answerable reasonings of Andrew Melvin and his
friends, James threatened, that if they would not
fill up the third estate of Parliaritient with their ec
clesiastical commissioners, he would fill it up as he
pleased. His majesty still needing the assistance
of the complaisant clergy of the north, the Assehi-
bly, 1600, met at Montrose. This affair was in-
trbduced by a conference between four on each
side. Patridk Sharp, James Melvin, Patrick Simp
son, and David Barclay, on the one hand, main
tained. That the acts oi Parliament, and Asseiii-
bly, appointing rainisters tp votje in Parliaraent,
are directly contrary to the word of God,- — as all
ecclesiastical prelacy and carnal dignity arp, Luke
xxii. 25, 26. Matth. xx- 26. 1 Tira, iii. Tit. i,
1 Pet. V. 1 — 3. As it makes men, who are sepa
rated to the service of God, turn back to the world
and the offices of it. Num. iii. 44, 45, and xviii. 6.
Deut. X, 8, and xviii. 12. Acts xiii. 1,2, 3. Rora.
i. 1, As it hinders rainisters frora their proper
work, Luke ix. 59, 60. Deut, xxxiii. 8. Acts vi.
2. hinders them from preaching the word in season
and out of season, 1 Chron. ix. 33. 2 Tim. iv. 2.
John xxi. 15, 16, 17. Acts xx. 20, 28, As it re
presents the ministerial charge to be light and in
considerable, contrary tp Ezek. iii. xxxiii. Zech.
xi. 17. Acts XX. 20, 28, 31. 1 Pet. v, 2. 2 Cor.
ii. 15 — 17. Heb. xiii. 17. As it confounds offices
and jurisdictions, which God hath distinguished,
' 7

CHURCH OF SdOTLAND, 79
Num. xviiii. 4, 7. 2 Chron. xvii. xix. Matth. xxii.
21. Deut. xxii. 9 — 11. As it makes ministers to
riieddle with things riot pertaining tp their office,
1 Pet iv. 15. John xvi. 15, and xviii, 36, LuTte
xii. 13, 14. John viii, 11, As it entangles Christ's
soldiers in the affairs of this life, Nura. iv. 3. 2
Tira. ii, 4, As it hath no example in the Christian
church for alraost eight hundred years after Christ;
— as the offices of magistrates and ministers are so
different ij^ their subjects, matter, manner, and end
of administration ; — and as this church hath ex
pressly prohibited ministers to be notaries^ farmers,
innkeepers, <|e.
So strong was the reasoning, and so firm the op
position, that James, by all his authority and craft,
could not obtain that these commissioners should
be continued till death, or till some fault should
render them unworthy of their power, but merely,
that they should be chosen every year. But he
and his party gotthe act so marked in the minutes,
as to import no more, than that they should, every
year, give an account of their conduct, and lay
down tbeir commission at the feet of the Assembly.
The Caveats, formerly agreed upon in the con
ference at Falkland, Were ingrossed into this act,
and imported, That the Assembly, with advice of
Presbyteries and Synods, should nominate six outof
every district, from whom his majesty should
choose one ; That these coramissioners should ne
ver propose any thing in name of the chuich, with
out special direction from her, or such things as
tbey can answer for to her ; that, under pain of
deposition, they should never forbear to oppose
what was prejudicial to the liberty of the church;
that, under pain of infamy and excommunication,
they should give account of their ^onduct to every
Assembly, and obtain a ratification of it ; that they

^O A dOMPENDIOUS HISTOIIY OF THIS
should rest contented with whatever benefice th^
king allows themj without atterapting to hurt the
salary of any other minister; that they should
neither directly nor indirectly dilapidate their be
nefices, nor grant any disposition or lease of it,
without consent of his majesty and the General
Assembly ; that they should continue to execute
the office of pastor to their congregation in all
points, and be subject to the trial of , Presby tery
and Synod, as other brethren ; that, under pain of
deprivation, and of the nullity of every thing after
ward transacted by them, they should never claim
any power above their brethren in the exercise of
church government ; that in Presbyteries, Synods,
and General Assemblies, they should in all things
behave as other ministers ; that before their admis
sion to their commissionership, they should swear to
observe the above limitations exactly ; and that up
on their deposition frora the ministry, they should
lose their benefice and seat in parliaraent. — It was
further ordained. That they should have no vote
in General Assemblies, unless by virtue of a com
mission from their presbyteries ; and that their
ambitus or using of any means to obtain prefer
ment, should be sustained a sufficient cause of de
privation, — This Assembly appbinted a coirtmission
to finish their work, any nine of whora, with his
majesty and his agent, made a quorum or number
sufficient for acting.
Convinced that James's veracity was little to be
depended upon, Messrs. Bruce, Balcanquel, Bal
four, Watson, and Hall, rainisters of Edinburgh,
hesitated to publish his representation of 'his dan
ger and his deliverance frora a conspiracy of the
Earl of Gowry and his brother at Perth, in the
way of public thanksgiving to God. He there
fore prohibited them to preach in his dominions.

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 81
under pain of dpath. As the citizens would ac
cept of no other in their stead, he was obliged
to perrait them all to return, except Mr. Bruce,
who therefore retired to France. Nor did James
rest, till he had got Balcanquel, Balfour, and
Watson, transported, and sorae of his own crea
tures put in their place.
To prevent the faithful ministers' attendance,
or ready opposition of his measures, James caus
ed the General Assembly to raeet at Burnt
island, in May 1601, ten weeks sooner than
had been appointed. Nevertheless, Messrs,
Davidson of Prestonpan.s, and James Melvin of
Anstruther, transraitted tbeir raonitory letters,
obtesting all the merabers to be faithful to the
cause of Christ, in opposition to the raanifold
corruptions then creeping in. To deceive the
honest party, Jaraes and his coraplaisant dupes
joined them in assignation of the causes of the
decay bf religion, and of proper remedies there
of : viz. the wrath of God on account of the con
tempt of the Gospel ; the sloth of rainisters, and
their neglect to discover apostates from the Pro^
testant religion; the want of able ministers,
especially where the Popish Lords and other
nobles reside; the rash admission of candidates
into the ministerial office ; the untender conver
sation of minislOB, and their suiting of thera
selves tp the huraours of their people ; the dcr
solatioh of the churches of Edinburgh ; the ad
vancement of ill affected persons into places of
power and trust ; the education of his majesty's
children in the company of Papists, and of the
young nobility by suspected masters ; the decay
of schools ; the overlooking of the restored
-Lords' non-performance of the terms of their

82 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
reconcilement. They, however, took care 'to
make no mention of their own attempts to over
turn the reformation which had heeit attained,
and to render the church dependent on the mere
will of the civil magistrate. — Not long after,
Mr. Bruce was permitted to return home; but
it was required of him to imitate his other hesi^
tating brethren, and in different places to inti
raate frora the pulpit his belief of James' account
of the perhaps altogether pretended conspiracy.
He abhorred Such sinful and sneaking compli
ances, and so continued under the royal frowns.
The next General Assembly was appointed to
meet at St. Andrew's, in the end of July 1602:
but James, to mark his spiritual supremacy,
transferred it to Holyroodhouse, on the 10th of
November following. At the entry, .James
Melvin protested against the change of the day.
The ministers,, who had been' appointed to deal
with Huntley, Errol, Angus, Home, and Herreis,
reported their conduct : but, except that of those
who had attended Errol, it was little to the pur
pose. Notwithstanding their former negligence,
young Spotswood and the rest were appointed
t9 deal further with thera, and with the other
Popish, Lords, Maxwel and Scrapie. A nume
rous committee was appointed to visit the
church, and inquire into the^EpbduPt of minis
ters, congregations and presbyteries ; and Rules
qf visitation were prescribed. But the leading
men in it were too intent on prelatical dignities
to execute this work to any good purpose.
The Synod of Fife presented a number of
grievances ; That General Assemblies were not
regularly held according to the laws of God and
||ie land, or the neceissity of the chnrch, but th§

/¦

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 83
fliets of meeting altered without the knowledge
or consent of either presbytery or synod ; that
ministers were summoned before the privy coun
cil at first instance, to answer for their doctrine,
or manner of discipline ; that applications in
,pre.sbyterial exercises were condemned ; that the
government of the church was put into the hand
of a few comraissioners, to the injury of pres
byteries, and synods; that the doctors of uni
versities were debarred frora General Assem
blies; that the observation of the caveats, by
the church's commissioners to vote in parlia
ment, is not inquired into ; that the alteration
of the ministers at Edinburgh hath rauch hurt
the cause of religion, and encouraged its ene
mies ; that laws for church government have
been made, contrary to the judgment of almost
the half of the ministry ; that the land is defiled,
and the church hurt, by indulging the French
ambassador in the free and public use of his
idolatrous mass ; that excomraunicated Papists
are allowed to continue in the cpuntry; that
the absolved nobles give no evidence of their
professing any thing but Popery ; that pains are
taken to conceal the danger of the church from
faithful rainisters or professors ; that church dis-
iiipline is not duly executed against incest, mur
der, adultery, or the like : To this heavy com
plaint, scarce any other answer than a mere shift
was returned.
But with much more pleasure, the Assembly
considered a plan for the enlargement of their
stipends ; — and, at James's desire, allowed ofthe
celebration of marwage on the Lord's day ; and
ordered, that >all who made profession of the
Protestant faith should have their children bap-

84 A COMPENDIOUS IIlStORYOF THE
tized. Young Spotswood was accused of attend
ing raass in Franpe: but James and his com-
plifisant clergy got this matter hushed. — This
Asseinbly was far from being free. Messrs. R.
Bruce, J. Davidson, and A, Melvin, were ex-
.pressly prohibited to come near it. Such as
faithfully spoke their mind were upbraided and
mocked by the king or tiie moderator, and com
manded to be silent. Not long after, sorae fur
ther pains were taken with Mr, Bruce to raake
hira approve James's account of Gowrie's conspi
racy. But, finding that no condescension would
procure his restoration to his flock at Edinburgh,"
he would make none, and represented his rea
sons to the town council. The commission of
the Assembly declared his kirk vacant, and at
the sarae diet, approved a marriage between two
adulterers, both of whose former yoke-fellows
were still living, and absolved them from the ex
comraunication inflicted on thera by the minis
ters of the south.
When James set off for London to receive the
English crown in A. D, 1603. all the imprisoned
malefactors were liberated. But A, Melvin and
J. Davidson had their confinement continued,
and R. Bruce continued secluded from his
charge. Apprehending that James's communion
with the English church would lead him to at
tempt a reducing of the Scotch to tbe same
forras of worship and government, the synod of
Fife, in 1604, appointed some of tbeir number
to present their faithful advice to the Assembly's
commission, begging them to insist for a parlia
mentary ratifitation of all former laws made in
favours of the church, and to protest, that any
thing enacted contrary to the religion presently ,

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 85
established by either comraission, or otherwise,
should be held null and void; and to insist, that
none should vote in parliaraent, in the narae of
the church, but such as bear office in ber, and
are appointed by her ; and that "such coramis
sioners shall not, under pain of deposition, pro
pose any thing in parliaraent in the narae of thes^
church, without express direction from her ; nor
keep silence, when any thing detrimental to her
interests is proposed ; and that care be taken,
that no prejudice be done to her doctrine, wor
ship, discipline, or government, by the intended
UNION of Scotland with England.
Spotswood, now made archbishop of Glasgow,
instead of Beaton the Romish priest, Gladstones,
bishop of G-alloway, and Lindsay, bishop of Ross,
being appointed coramissioners for regulating
the terms of that union, marked an absolute
unconcern about every thing religious. But the
Earl of Morton insisted for a clause in their
commission, bearing. That the state of religion
in doctrine and discipline should be preserved
in Scotland. In vain, he also begged the com
mission of the Assembly to assist ih securing
that point, though, with difficulty enough, he
procured an act or clause, bearing, than the re
ligion presently established in Scotland shall not
be in the least prejudiced by the intended union
of the two kingdoms ; — which his opponents
took care to keep out of their records. — Mean
while, under deep apprehensions of their danger;
the presbytery of St. Andrew's and synod of
Lothian renewed their subscription of the na
tional covenant, and Spotswood, nominal arch
bishop of Glasgow, and John Law his successor,
subscribed among them.

86 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF T^E
With King James's own consent, the Assembly
at Holyroodhouse had appointed their next
meeting at Aberdeenj in July 1604. But the
ecclesiastical coraraissioners to sit in parliaraent,
fearing to give account of their conduct, pro
cured a delay. Jaraes required, that the. meet
ing should be deferred till the union of the two
kingdoms should be deliberately considered, and
a new warrant for holding it emitted., Neverthe
less, the presbytery of St. Andrew's, zealous for
the liberties of the church, appointed Messrs.
James ^ Melvin^ Williara Erskine, and William
Murray, their commissioners to attend it. Up-^
on the day appointed, they repaired to the place
pf meetirig in Aberdeen, and solemnly protested.
That the hurt that should happen to Christ's
church, by the neglect of this meeting, , should
not be imputed to them, or their constituents.
Instigated by some northern ministers, the pres
bytery of St. Andrew's, by their missives and
otherwise, procured such a number of correspon
dents from other parts of the kingdom to attend
at next synod of Fife, that Lauriston, the king's
commissioner for ecclesiastical affairs, fearing
that it would turn out a General Assembly,
procured an order from the privy council td hin
der their meeting. But finding, that they only
claimed the powers of a synod, he forbore.
Heavy coraplaints were made, that the church's
coramissioners to vote in parliament did npt ob
serve the caveats; andthat sorae who had been
norainated to bishoprics, voted without any com
mission, — The Synod agreed to petition his Ma
jesty, That General Assemblies might be regu
larly held, according to the act of parliaraent,
and the former custom of this churcii ; that Pa-
4

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 87
pists and contemners of church discipline might
foe prosecuted by the civil judges ; that he him
self would interpose for the protection of the
persecuted English Puritans, and for the redress
of such ministers as had their salaries- injured by
the last modification of stipends.
Jaraes had appointed the meeting of the Gcr
neral Assembly at Aberbeen, July, 2, 1605, un
less he should convene it sooner. The fearful
abounding of scandal. Popery, and almost every
thing horrid, made presbyteries and synods to
supplicate for the hastening of this meeting.
But Spotswood, Hall, Gladstones, and Galloway,
their commissioners to his Majesty, betrayed
them, and chiefly courted his favour and prela
tical preferments. — ^When the time of meeting
drew near, James transmitted orders not to hold
it. And to confound commissioners, some co
pies of this order represented the 2d, and others
the 5th of July, as the day forraerly appoirited.
No more than nineteen members met on the 2d
day. When Lauriston saw thera determined to
proceed regularly to business, he left them.- Mr.
John Forbes being chosen Moderator, they read
the order of the privy council requiring them to
dissolve, and to appoint no new diet of meeting :
they agreed to proceed to no further business at
present; but appointed their next meeting at
Aberdeen, upon the last Wednesday of Septem
ber next, and appointed the several presbyteries
to direct their commissioners to it. As they
were about to dismiss, Lauriston returned and
protested, That from the beginning he did not
acknowledge them a lawful Assembly. Upon
the 5th of July, Mr. John Welsh and other
^even commissioners from the south and west.

88 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THB
cairie up, and finding the meeting dissolved, pro
tested that they came up to keep it, andthat
they approved pf what had been done. R^eturn-
ing to the privy council, Lauriston affirmed.
That upon Monday the first of July, he had, by
a public proclaraation at the cross of Aberdeeh,
prohibited the meeting of Assembly in his ma
jesty's namp. But though multitudes were on
thb spot the whole day, not one could testify
that he heard this public proclamation. To
corroborate Lauriston's false affirmation, it is
said, that the clerk ante-dated the indorsement
of the charge.
The rainisters, who had kept this meeting Of
the Assembly, were immediately prosecuted be
fore the privy council. The magistrates of
Aberdeen were charged to prevent the meeting
in September ; and presbyteries and synods pro
hibited to own the validity of the late meeting.
The ecclesiastical commission readily declared it
void and null to all intents. After three months
imprisonraent in Blackness castle, — -and vindica
tion oftheir own conduct, and declining of the
privy council as incompetent judges, Messrs.
John Forbes, John Welsh, Robert Dury, Andrew
Duncan, Alexander Strachan, and John Sharp,
were condemned to perpetual banishment from
the kingdom, as guilty of high treasoil ; and had
probably been hanged, had not the terrible fer
ment of the nation intimidated James and his
council. Messrs. Charles Fairholm, John Monro,
Nathaniel Inglis, James Greig, William Forbes,
John Ross,, and Robert Youngson, after lying in
different prisons, were banished to remote parts
of the kingdom.- All ministers were prohibited
publicly to pray for, or make honourable men^
tion of their condemned brethren.

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 89
Neither the terrible pestilence, of which about
70,000 are said to have died in or about LondoUj
and not a few about Edinburgh, St. Andrew's,
&;c. nor his own and his English Parliarnent's re
markable deliverance from immediate destruc
tion by the Popish gun-powder plot, diverted
Jaraes frora his belovbd work of persecuting the
faithful ministers of Christ, and introducing the
English Episcopacy into Scotland. Upon some
new revival of Mr. Bruce's hesitation to believe
his account of Gowrie's conspiracy, he was con
fined to Inverness. A. and J. Melvin, James
Balfour, William Scot, John Carmichael, Robert
Wallace, Adam Coult, and William Watson,
were called oUt of the way to London, under
pretence of conferring with them cohcerning thb
lawfulness of the meetiiig at Aberdeen, and the
proper method of holding General Assemblies,
&c. James Melvin died in his returtt horae. Af
ter three years imprisonment, ort account of a
short Latin satire on the English worship in his
Majesty's Chapel, Andrew was permitted to re
tire to Prance, where he died.
Meaiiwhile, James having called a Parliaraent
at Perth in 1606/ which solemnly acknowledged
his supremacy in all causes, and appointed an
oath of the same import to be sworn upon the gos
pels. They also restored the estate of bishops
to all their ancient honours, rights, and revenues ;
and erected dhapters for their respective sees.
Against this deed the two Melvins, just before
they set off for London, with about forty others,
of whom Ballafltyae', Abernethy, arid Cooper,
were afterward bishops^ entered a sblbmn protes
tation, bearing. That il was contrary to the word
pf God, their national covenant, the doiSstitutions
N

90 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
of this church, and the laWs, peace, and honour
of the kingdora. Their reasons were more large
ly explained in a tract then published under the
title of The course of Conformity. An Asserably
was soon after held at Linlithgow, which con
sisted of such statesraen, and of Such clergymen
as Jaraes called up, without any regard to com
missions from their respective Presbyteries. Un
der pretence of zeal against Popery, they ap
pointed a minister in every Presby tery, who should
inforra the privy council against Papists, and who
should have a yearly salary of an hundred pounds
Scots for his pains, and also the honour of con
stantly moderating in his Presbytery, till proper
course should be taken with the Papists, and the
peace of the church settled. They supplicated
his Majesty in favours of such of the banished
ministers as should confess their faults to him.
The nominated bishops protested. That ]they in
tended to usurp lio pre-eminence over their
brethren. Sorae cautions were proposed for li-
raitation of the power of the constant moderators.
Nevertheless, the managers. Within about six
months, had the rainute so formed, as to bear,
that the constant moderators of Presbyteries
should be constant merabers of General Assem
blies, and the bishops or their vicars constant
moderators in Synods. Fully persuaded that his
innovations would meet with warra opposition,
JameSj by a proclamation, solemnly charged all
the NOMINEES to accept of their new honours,
and all Presbyteries and Synods, under p'ain of
rebellion, to accept of their constant moderators.
Nevertheless, several of the ministers nominated
to be constant moderators of Presbyteries, refus
ed that promotion. Many Presbyteries, and all

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 91
the Synods, except that of Angus, absolutely re
fused their constant moderators. Some Presby-^
teries admitted them only when compelled to it
under pain of rebellion, and upon condition that
the matter should be canvassed in a free and
lawful General Assembly, which they did not
think that of Linlithgow to be. The principal
opposers were banished, imprisoned, or otherwise
persecuted ; such ministers as needed, or hoped
for augmentation of their stipends, could not
obtain letters of prosecution for it, before the
bishops or constant moderators granted them
warrants for that purpose.
James intended to convene another Asserably
at Linlithgow for promoting his introduction of
bishops. By causing some commissioners, who
had been long before appointed to visit the Pres
byteries, and procure commissioners to it ; and
by a zealous spreading of Dr; Downham's ser
mon in favours of the English Episcopacy, he
and his agents laboured to promote their cause.
Nor were the faithful ministers inactive. They
offered public disputations in favour of their prin
ciples. They circulated proper forms of corarais
sion and instructions for those that should be de
puted to the Asserably from Presbyteries, bearing,
That they should insist in the Assembly, That
Synods and Presbyteries should have tbe power
of choosing their own raoderators established to
thera; that none charged with any particular
coraraission frora the Assembly should be mo
derator of Presbytery, Synod, or Asserably ; that
the acts against non-residence, at their charges,
negligence, and other corruptions pf rainisters,
should be duly executed ; and that none but suclj

92 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
as had pommissions from Presbyteries should-
have any vote in General Assemblies.
In July 1608, the Asserably raet. After a de
ceitful flourish of searching out the causes of the
increase of Popery, and of re-excommunicating
the Earl of Huntley, and giving order for the ex
communication of Angus, Errol, and Semple,
and of proposing methods for the delation of other
Papists, they attempted to proceed to the esta
blishment of bishops ; but finding themselves
unable to carry an act for that purpose, they con
tinued most of the former members in their com
mission, eleven of whom were nominated bishops,
and eleven of whom were declared a quorum,
having full power to act. To impose on minis
ters less isealous or judicious, commissioners were
appointed to travel between parties, in order to
find some medium in their differences, relative to
the doctrine and discipline of the church- In
May 1 6p9, a conference was held at Falkirk, for
procuring the ppnsent of opposers to the intro
duction pf Prelacy. But npthing was gained in
its several diets. Another conference was ap
pointed at Stirling, But the bishops and their
vptaries did npt attend it, as they found that
they could not carry their cause by the force of
reasoning, even after James had removed A.
Melvin, and wany of their ablest opponents, out
of the way- In,/i«Methat same year, the Par^
liament appoistpd the bishopj; to transmit once
every year a list pf all the Papists in their several
dipeeses tp the council jrr-ratified the restoaration.
of bishops to their ancient dignities, powers, and
prerogatives, alway reserving to the king bis su
premacy in all causes eceksiastical and civil ; and
made an act relative to the apparel of civil judges,

CHURCII OF SCOTLAND. 93
'prelates having vote in Parliament, and minis
ters ; leaving it to his majesty to prescribe the
particular forms of the clerical vestments.
Archbishop Spotswood having become an ex
traordinary Lord of the Session, about the be
ginning of A. D. 1610, led the way for himself
and his clerical partisans to screw theraselves
further into civil offices, Soon after he and Glad
stones, archbishop of St. Andrew's, had each of
them a royal warrant to hold High Commission
cowr^j within their respective boundaries, which
might punish persons as they pleased in a civil
or an ecclesiastical manner. Their appointed
assistants were noblemen, bishops, gentleraen,
and ministers, some of which last appear to
have been norainated merely for forra sake, as
it could not be expected that they would accept
of any such antichristian and arbitrary power.
But the archbishop, with any four that he pleased,
were declared a quorum, sufficient to transact
business. The bishops having become lords in
Parliament, Privy Council, Exchequer, and Ses
sion, possessors of extensive property and juris
diction, patrons of many benefices, moderators
in Synods, stated cpmmissioners of the General
i^ssembly, and principal members in the king's
courts of high commission, a General Assembly
was called at Glasgow in June l6lO, when no
body expected it, and just after his majesty, by
his proclamation, had required another, appoint
ed a ievi days before, not to be held. It con
sisted of 169 members, viz. constant moderators
of Synods and Presbyteries, who already had
their annual salaries of 100 pounds, and hoped
for better at his majesty's hand, together with
such coramissioners frora Presbyteries as were
1

94 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
reckoned seducible into the measures of the
court. Plenty of bribes, under the name of sub
sistence money, were distributed among them, and
others had better stipends promised them. The
northern clergy carae up frora the reraotest cor
ners, and brought with them consciences suffi
ciently coraplaisant. The Earl of Dunbar, at
tended by a troop of his majesty's life guards,
did all that he could to propiote his master's in
tentions. They conderaned the Assembly of
1605, at Aberdeen, as an unlawful and seditious
meeting. They acknowledged the power of
calling Assemblies to be an inherent right of the
crown. They enacted. That no ordination of
pastors should be confirmed unless it" was con
summated by the bishop ; that no minister should
be deprived without the consent of the bishop ;
that bishops or their vicars ^should preside in all
provincial Synods and General Assemblies, and
have the sole power of visiting the dioceses.
Under pretence of only changing the name of
Presbyteries, which they said was offensive to his
majesty, into the m^^tings ofthe ministers of their
bounds, they left bishops at liberty to choose
whom they pleased for witnesses rather than as
sistants in their acts of jurisdiction. They fur^
ther enacted. That all presentatioris should be
directed to bishops instead of Presbyteries ; that
no excomraunication or absolution should take.
place without the bishop's direction ; that rainis--
ters absenting of theraselves frora episcopal visi
tations of their dioceses should infer suspension
and deposition, if continued in ; that ^very en
trant should, at his admission to the ministry,
swear allegiance to his majesty as supreme go
vernor in the conservatioh and purgation of reli?

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 95
gion, as well as in things teraporal ; to which, it
seems, they afterward clandestinely added obe
dience to his ordinary, i. e. bishop of the bounds,
&c. ; that marriage should be celebrated upon
the Lord's day, if people desired it ; that the two
archbishops, three other bishops, and three others
appointed by them, should deal with his majes
ty for the planting of vacancies. They also
formed sorae shara directions for the bishops, and
assertpd the necessity of General Asserablies,
and their power over bishops: and finally enacted.
That no minister, under pain of deposition,
should publicly speak against their acts, or treat
of the equality or inequality of ministers, in the
church of Christ. As Messrs. Patrick Sirason
and Walter Balcanquel, and others, loudly in
veighed against the apostacy and perjury of the
bishops, Jaraes, by a proclaraation, charged all
his subjects, under the highest pains, not to ira-
pugn, but obey all the acts of the Asserably,
and to inforra the next magistrate or sorae raem
ber ofthe privy council of every thing contrary
which they knew ; and charged all judges and
magistrates imraediately to imprison all trans
gressors, ministers or others.
As James and his votaries did not expect, that
even their above packed Assembly would distin
guish the office of a bishop frora that of a pastor,
in the manner of Bancroft, and other late high
fliers in England, no mention was made in it of
the consecration of bishops. But soon after,
Spotswood of Glasgow, Larab of Brechin, and
Harailton of Galloway, posted to London for it ;
and on their return consecrated their brethren
without consulting either Presbytery or Synod.
Gladstones of St. Andrew's met with very little

96 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY 0F'*,HE
opposition in the Synod of Angus, but in tiiese
of Fife and Lothian, with much more than he
wished. When the Parliament met in 1612,
thby forraally aw?iM//erf their deed of 1592, esta
blishing Presbytery ; they ratified the acts ofthe
late Assembly of Glasgow with explications,
curtailraents, enlargements, and alterations. By
this act of Parliaraent, bishops were freed from
all trial of their life or doctrine by the General
Assembly ; they might depute whora they pleased
to be moderators in Synods ; tbey might dispose
of all benefices to which the patron did not pre
sent a qualified candidate within six months from
the coraraencement of the vacancy ; if the bishop
refused to admit his candidate, the patron might
appeal to the archbishop, and from hira to tbe
lords of Session or privy council, that they, by
letters of horning, might oblige the bishop of the
diocese to do his duty. In the oath for entrants
to the ministry, they raust sWear allegiance to
the king as supreme in all causes spiritual and
ecclesiastical as well as temporal, and swear obe
dience to their ordinary. It was not required,
that men should be forty years of age, or ten
years in the ministry, before their election to
bishopricks ; nor was the continuance of the
weekly meetings of ministers in ^tbe least men
tioned. After a little breathing, James and his agents
pushed on their designs. In 161.5, all adult
subjects were coraraanded to receive the Lord's
supper at Easter in all time coming. Spotswood
being now archbishop of St. Andrew's, and Law
of Glasgow, tbey united their high commission
courts, in order to render their sentences more
powerful and striking ; and four members, with

GHDBCH OP SCOTLAND. SJ
One archbishop, bad full power to transadt busii-
ness. None might appeal from their decisions
to either privy coundil, or lords of session. As
Popery still increased, and the Earl of Huntley
made considerable disturbance in the country,
the Assembly of Aberdeen, in 1616, made no
small empty noise how to check the' increase of
Popery, and promote the conviction or plunish-
ment of Papists, They published!* a new , Con
fession of Faith, chiefly directed, against the errors
and corruptions ef the Roraish church ; and to
exclude the national covenant, they appointed all
ofiicers in the church, and students in the col
leges to swear and subscribe it. They also ap
pointed bishops Galloway, Hall, and Adarason,
to compose a small catechism for public use, in
order to exclude those of Craig and Davidson.
Upon some sham submission, they absolved the
excommunicated Earl of Huntley. But the chief
design of their meeting was to resolve on corn-
posing a Liturgy and Book of Canons for discipline.
In sumpier 161 7^ Jame%, paying a visit to his
native country, laboured, wUh all his might, to
promote the ecclesiastical conforraity with Eng
land. In his own chapel at Holyroodhouse, he
introduced a pompous celebration of the Lord's
^yMjOper with sacred vestments, instrumental music,
and other superstitions of the English cathe
drals :— and soon after required all his bishops
and nobles that were present in Edinburgh to re
ceive it in the sarae manner. But scarce the
half of the lords would receive it kneeling.-*---
The Parliament, meeting June 1 7th, tbe Lords
ofthe Articles framed some acts for depriving the
church of the poor remains of her power; one of
which imported, That his majesty, with the ad-

98 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
vice of such bishops or ministers as he pleased to
consult, should have full power to determine all
matters relative to the external government of
the church. Informed hereof, fifty ministers
emitted a solemn protestation against it. Hall,
Struthers, and Ramsay of Edinburgh, quickly pror
fessed theit repentance. But Archibald Simson
of Dalkeith, P. Stewart of Edinburgh, and David
Calderwood fof Crailing, being far less pliable,
were deprived from their office, and confined.
CalderwOodwas troubled for not attending Synod,
notwithstanding the high commission had pro
hibited him to attend part ofthe time. He was
banished the kingdom. Nevertheless this spirit-
pd opposition made the Parliament to supersede
their act.
In 1616, James had hinted his intentions to
introduce kneeling at the Lord's table ; the sacred
observation of the festivals of Christ's birth, death,
and ascension, and of the descent of the Holy
Ghbst ; the private administration of baptism and
the Lord's Supper, together with the confirmation
of children, by laying on of the bishop's hands.
His bishops represented to him, that it woulji be
necessary to get these articles authorized hy a
General Assembly. After he and his tools had
fixed upon the members, one was indicted upOn
15 days warning, to meet at St. Andrew's in Nor
vember, 1617- But here his majesty met with
more opposition than was expected. They only
yielded to allow the communion privately to sick
persons, providing there were a proper nuraber
present, and the rainister gave the elements out
of his own hand. Highly offended with their
partial compliance, and with their delay of the
|)rincipal points, James ordered that none pf the

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 99
opponents'ox non-liquets Should have any modifica
tion of their stipends for that year. But cooling
at last, he indicted another Asseinbly at Perth
next year, which he took care to pack with such
nobles and gentlemen, as he knew would scarce
stick at any thing to please him^ while his bi
shops, with proraises of augraented , stipends^
took care to secure a proper nuraber of rainis
ters. Archbishop Spotswood, having raounted
the chair as raoderator, James's expostulatory
letter was read,— 'and seconded by the declama
tions of Spotswood, and of Youngj an Episcopa
lian doctor from England. Spotswood disdain
fully rejected every motion made by his oppo
nents ; and, without regard to either Presbytery
or Synod, nominated the committee of overtures.
To induce the Assembly to comply with. his ma
jesty's will, it was promised, that none should be
obliged to practise these ceremonies ; and that he
would never seek to introduce any more from
England. Such as offered to reason against the
cereraonies proposed were rebuked, and threat
ened,. 'Hsflrexihele^s forty -five rainisters, one no-
bleraa^, and one doctor of. a university, voted
against thera.
The Asserably had no sooner carried an act for
the above mentioned articles, than James ratifi
ed their deed by a public proclamation ; appoint-'
ed his subjects -to refrain from labour on the four
festivals specified ; and denounced the most ri
gorous punishment in person and property
against, all that should dare to disobey his man
dates. The introduction; of kneeling in receiving
the Lord's supper occasioned terrible confusion.
Messrs. William Arthury Richard Dickson, John
Murray, Robert Boyd, Robert Blair, John Ker»,
6

100 A COMPENDIOUS^HISTORY OF THE
Thomas Hog, Andrew Duncan, Henry Blj^b,
David Fairrester, Robert Bruce, John Weems,
John Scrimgeor, John Gillespie^ John Hume,
George Grier, James Porteoos, William Living
ston, John Ferguson, Archibald Simson, and
many other emineiatly holy and faithful ministers
were prosecuted before the high commission,
which deprived, fined, or iraprisoned such as re
fused compliance with the articles, or testified
against the prevalent corruptions. Robert Bruce's
principal crime was, that he and some of his brie-
thren had kept two private fasts at bis house ii^
OldMonkland, Richard Lawson, James Cathkin,
John Mein, William Rigg, and others in Edin
burgh, and in other places, where their pastors;
informed against them, were cruelly persecuted
by tbe high commission, for scrupling tolcneel
at the communion, and to observe the appointed
festivals, &c. Meanwhile, su'th was the tender
sympathy of the court party for the idolatrous
and treacherous Papists, that Anderson, a traf
ficking priest, being apprehended, was kindly
set at liberty, and honestly apparelled, and had
bis charges paid, got a compliment of ye^lOO
Sterling, and then was safely conveyed to
France. After the bishops and their agents had very
unsuccessfully laboured three years in the intro
duction of the Articles qf Perth, the Parliament
at Edinburgh, 1621, solemnly ratified them,
tbaugb not without great opposition. Fifteen
ofthe nobility, and forty-four ofthe comraission
ers frpm burghs, vofed against this deed. Not
withstanding bis majesty's charge to all tbe
malecontent clergy to remove from the dty, and
all possible care to restrain their access to Parlia*

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. lOl
ment, a number of them sent tip a warning a-
gairist the ratification of tbe Articles, and after
wards entered a solemn protestajion against it.
While the Marquis of Hamilton,, as the king's
corairtissionpr,, rose to tc^h the act with the
sceptre, tbree terrible flaHes of lightning dart-:
ed into his face, attended with claps of thunder,
which broke alraost immediately on the ParUa
ment House, and such a darkness and rain as had
not been known in the memory of man. Some
interpreted these things as marks of God's ab
horrence, and otherstas marks of his approbation
of the Parliment's deed, which enacted. That in
token of their deep humility, every partaker
should receive tbe communion on his knees ; that
the Lord's Sijpper should be administered to per
sons long sipk, or apparently dying, providing
there were three or four fellow partakers; that,
in case of necessity, baptisra should be privately
adrainistered to infants, and report raade thereof
to the congregation, next Lord's day; that after
proper inatruction by their minister, children
about eight years of age shall be solemnly con
firmed by the bishop of the diocese, with prayer
and laying on of hands ; and that the seasons of
Christ's birth, death, ascension, and effusion ofthe
Holy Ghost, be religiously commemorated by ser
mons, abstinence from labour, and the like.
When this deed was proclaimed at the Cross of
Edinburgh, Dr. Barclay fixed one copy of the
ministers' protestation on the cross, another on
the church door, and a third on the gate of
Holyroodhouse, and took .instruments with the
usual solemnities. < .
Having* now got the civil, as well as the ec-
- ^siastical lawr on his side, James, by letters to

102 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORV^F THE
the bishops, which were probably planned, if not
completely formed by themselves, and subscribed
at their desire, enjoined the most rigid execution
of it : and they took care to obey hira. For
quietly coming fron^-^ his place of confinement
to Edinburgh, about Mi affair of 20,000 merks^
value, Mr, Robert Bruce, once reckoned by Jaines
worth the half of his kingdora, was iraprisoned
in the castle, and John Welsh, whomj after 14
years exile, grievous bodily trouble had fprced
frora France, was denied allowance to die in his
native country. While Giod by most terrible
rains ruined the crop, and carried off the bridges
of Berwick and Perth, Messrs. John Murray,
John Row, David Dickson, George Dunbar,
George Johnston, and others, were deprived, ba
nished, and cbnfined by the high coraraission. It
being reported. That David Calderwood, whose
Altare Damascenum, printed in both Latin and
English, had sb galled the Episcopal party, had
died in Holland, Patrick Scot, it is said, by his
majesty's direction, published a recantation in his
name ; and to prevent his refuting it, went to
Holland tb seek him out, and murder hira if he
were still alive. '
As the sessiohs, council, and citizens of Edin
burgh, had long used to raeet on the 7'uesday he-
fore the adrainistration of the Loifd's Supper, in
order to make known and remove whatever ob
jections they had against their ministers,— "Bailie
Williarii Rigg, John Dickson, John Fleming,
James Nairn, and John Nairn, being interrogat
ed by the provost, objected, that Mr. Forbes,
afterward bishop, had taught. That there was but
little difference between the Papists and Protes
tants in the doctrine of justification ; and James

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 103
Cathkin, John Mein, and others, having desired
the administration of the communion in the for
mer manner, — William Rigg, John Dickson, a
butcher, John Hamilton, apothecary, John Mein,
and Williara Sirason, were cited before the privy
counciL Bailie Rigg was first confined to his
own house, and afterwards imprisoned at Black
ness, and fined in fifty thousand pounds»»»Scots.
William Simson and, John Dickson were con
demned to imprisonment in the comraon jail of
Edinburgh ; John Mein at Elgin; and John
H-timilton at Aberdeen, and fined , in twenty
thousand merks Scots.
Notwithstanding all that Jaraes and his
bishops could do to prevent the spread of Cal-
derwood's Altare Damascenum, which so effectur
ally deraolished the whole structure of the Eng
lish hierarchy and superstition,. — and his Cowrae
q/"Co7i/br?wt^,. with several other tracts, which
liad been .printed, in Holland, raany copies of
them were secretly , transmitted hither, and
greedily purchased and read. The death of
!> Harailton, the zealous promoter of the -^r/icZe*
of Perth in the parliament, and of James hira
self, in the beginning of A. D, 1625, gave a
transient check to the persecuting rage:. and
Robert Bruce, and no doubt several others,
were permitted to leave their respective con
finements. But in vain either church or state expected
.happiness under Charles I. who pursued the
maxims, and copied the pattern of his father.
He was scarcely proclaimed king at Edinburgh,
when his clergy notified their, intention to have
,,,the comnaunion eelebratedon the following Sab

t04 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE ^
bath, which was Easter. But the calling of
pepple and ministers to meet on the Tuesday
before, for the removal of offences and diffei'en-
ces, was oraitted. This was reckoned the more
grievous, as the Articles of Perth had occasioned
manifold prejudices and contentions among those
that had formerly lived in the -most perfect
friendship. Charles having appointed a national
fast on the 20th of July, the presbyterian mini
sters added to his reasons others of their own.
The warra opponents of the Articles of Perth
and others, being informed of his pretences to
piety and moderation, dispatched Mr. Robert
Scot of Glasgow, to present their supplication
for a redress of that grievance. Instead of
regarding it, Charles, by a letter to Spotswood,
instigated him and his fellow bishops, to proceed
in the course into which his father had put
thera. They extolled his piety to the highest,
and sb zealously obeyed his orders, that if. a
minister but conformed to Episcopacy and the
Articles of Perth, he was almost in no danger of~
being quarreled for any thing else.
Provincial synods had now little more left
them than the narae. Bishops, or their depu
ties, were their constant moderators. The con
stant moderators of presbyteries, and a few
others chosen by the bishops, or their agents,
formed into the privy conference or coihmittee
of overtures, had the whole power of raanaging
affairs. Nevertheless, as sorae still continued
zealous for the presbyterian form of government,
and for the wonted simplicity of gospel worship,
Charles issued forth a public proclamation, bear
ing, That he did not in the least intend«to alter
the government of the church presently esta-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 105
blished ; and that such as should dare to disturb
it, or suggest, that he intended to alter it iri
favours of the non- conformists, should be punish
ed. This encouraged his bishops to endeavour
the removing of all that scrupled to , conforra
frbm all places of power and trust. Charles
himself, by a letter, " required the town council
of Edinburgh to elect none for magistrates but
such as observed the articles qf Perth : and about
the sarae tirae issued forth a proclamation against
all Papists and Non-conformists. But the Pa
pists were protected and cherished, as they were
of the queen's religion, and not disliked by the
managers. Having tnodelled the Court of Ses^
sion to his pleasure, he formed his privy council
of forty-seven, that of the Exchequer of fifteen,
and the High Commission of seventeen mera
bers, which last, in the raanner of the English
one, had power to call before thera whorasoever
the/ pleased,- for transgressing the acts of par
liaraent,- or for speaking against his raajesty or
his progenitors, or their conduct, and to punish
thera with fines, iraprisonment, deprivation, ex
comraunication, &c,"
While Elizabeth his sister, and progenitPr of
our now royal family^ had above eighty thousand
of her subjects iri Boheiriia and Palatinate, and
an infinity of her allies, murdered by the Papists
in Gerraany, the zeal of Charles and his bishops
inflamed hbt only against those that appeared
most averse from returning tb Rome. Certain
of protection or an easy escape^ the Papists here
on became insolent. Charles commanded the
Lords of Council, the advocates and clerks, ttt
coramunicate kneeling, as a pattern to others.
Finding none of his own party qualified to check

106 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF tttt
the increase of Popery at Paisley, where the
Earl of Abercorn, and his raother and brother,
impudently promoted it. Law, archbishop of
Glasgow, perraitted Mr. Robert Boyd of Troch-
rig to be settled there. But he had scarcely
taken up house there, wben the Earl's brother
threw all his books into the street, as he was
preaching on the Lord's day. For this he was
cited before the council ; but as Mr. Boyd in-
treated, that he might not be imprisoned, and
as he himself professed his sorrbw for what he
had done, and his brother and the magistrates
undertook publicly to reinstate Mr. Boyd in hi§
possession, the affair was dropped." But when
Mr. Boyd, along with the magistrates, returned
to take possession, they found the doors bolted 5
nor could they break thera open, as they were
without their jurisdiction, a mob, consisting
chiefly of women, thought to have been hounded
out by the Earl's mother, so abused Mr. Boyd
with revilings and throwing of dirt, that he was
obliged to return to his own house at Trochrig
in. Carrick. About this time, several trafficking
priests were apprehended at Dundee, Dumfries,
&c. but their court-favoured brethren procured
them all an easy deliverance..
Iri July 1626, Charles held a convention of
estates chiefly for recovering into his own hand
the tithes and church lands, whieh his father had
disponed to laymen. While the possessors beg
ged him to drop his designs, the bishops and
their clerical favourites met in Edinburgh, and
dispatched the bishops of Ross and Murray, with
Whiteford and Struthers, to beseech him to curb
the insolent Papists, and to perfect his revocation
»f bis father's donations of the church's property,

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 107

»

and to promote the augmentation of ministers'
stipends. Upon their return, the conforming
and non-conforming ministers agreed to appoint
some, from their respective presbyteries, to con
sult for the welfare of the church. The archbi
shops absented, that they might have it in their
power to declare the meeting null, if things w^ere
not carried to their mind. This meeting agreed
to supplicate his majesty, to promote the fixing
of proper stipends on ministers, and the planting
of vacant congregations ; and that the sentences
might be taken off ministers, who had been pro
secuted for non- conforraity — and they be allowed
to be candidates for, or irierabers of, the General
Asserably, if Presbyteries please ; and that none
might be troubled for non-conforraity, or with
subscriptions at their admission, before such an
Assembly should be held. The Conformists chose
the bishop of Ross, and the Non-conformists Mr.
Robert Scot of Glasgow, to present their petition.
The archbishops and other diocesans were highly
offended with the most of these conclusions.
Hence Mr. Scot went not to court, while the bi
shop went; and being charged- with secret in
structions from his diocesan brethren, betray
ed the cause of the meeting- Nevertheless, the
Nori-conformists were charged with part of his
expenses. Charles appointed comraissioners to
value the tithes : but some barons procured a let
ter from hira, allowing the gentry an easy com
position for such as werp still in their hands.
The coramissioners insisted, that such tithes as
were in the bishops' hands ought also tO .come
under the revocation, that his majesty might have
a part of thera. — Meanwhile, a sudden inunda
tion of the sea) upon the parishes of Caerlaverock

108 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
and Ruthwell, in Galloway, alarmed the surviv
ing inhabitants and their neighbours, and render
ed them deeply penitent of their sins, and con-
perned for their eternal salvation.
As few of the communicants in several chur
ches, in or about Edinburgh, had kneeled at the
sacraraent at Easter the prgceding year, the ge
neral session, which met before it in 1628, beg
ged their ministers to dispense it in the ancient
manner, for the avoiding of strife and confusipn.
Some of these were for allowing every one to sit
pr kneel as he pleased. Others were for no kneel
ing, and for the communicants dividing the ele
ments ampng themselves. The Non-conformists
insisted, That they should first celebrate the sa-f
crament in the former manner, and then suppli?
cate his majesty's favour, if he were displeased.
But the Conformists got it carried, first to sup-:
plicate his permission. In their supplication,
and by Sydserf their coramissioner, they repre
sented, That few of their people now joined in
the Lord's supper, and few of those that did,
would receive it kneeling : that notwithstanding
all their pains to extinguish it, the contention
was still increasing, and had already become in
tolerable; that by meansftof it, ministers in
veighed against, and people bated, one another",
that atheists were tempted to reckon the whole
pf religion an indifferent thing, which might be
altered at men's pleasure ; that kneeling at the
communion had an appearance of symbolizing
with Papists, and encouraged them in their ido
latrous worship of the sacramental bread ; — and
hesought him to dispense with their obedience to
the act of Assembly and Parliament imposing it.
Instead of granting their request, Charles ap-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, lp9
pointed the archbishop of St. Andrew's to cite
them to his tribunal, and inflict such punishment
upon their ringleaders, as might effectually de
ter others from all such supplications for the fu
ture ; and to labour with, all his raight to estab
lish the forni of worship appointed by law. These
things prevented the dispensation of the Lord's
supper at Edinburgh for tha^ season. — Upon the
two last Sabbaths of May, and the Wednesday
betwixt thera, Charles appointed a solemn fast
to laraent the troubled state of the churches
abroad, and the sins abounding at home, and to
beseech the Lord to avert his threatened judg
ments, and succeed his Majesty's arms against
France. To these, sorae Non-conforraists added
the innovations raade upon the government and
worship of the church, and the persecution of
faithful ministers for opposing them ;' which fo
mented the difference between the two parties.
The Non-conformists more and raore gained the
affections of the people, while the Conforraists,
losing their esteera, instigated the bishops to
persecute thera — who having power on their side,
threatened to excoraraunicate all such as should
not speedily conforra. Being excluded from all
the churches of Edinburgh, Mr. Robert Bruce
preached in several of these in the neighbourhood,
whether multitudes of the citizens resorted to
hear him. Informed of this, Charles required
his privy council to confine him to his own house
in Kinnaird, and within two miles around : but
about the same time required the excommunica
tion of the Popish earls of Angus, Nithsdale,
Abercorn, and their ladies, to be dispensed with,
and no laws executed against them, till himself
should come down te Scotland,

110 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
While, about the beginning of A. D. 1629,
Dr. Forbes of Aberdeen, Wedderburn of St. An
drew's, and Maxwel and Sydserf of Edinburgh,
.occupied themselves in venting their Arminian
tenets, which now paved the way for preferment,
the privy council, alarmed by repeated complaints
of the increase and insolence of the Papists, ap
peared more than ordinarily earnest, in prosecute
ing them, particularly if they were excomrauni
cated ; and in taking care of the Protestant edu
cation of their children. Not to appear behind
thera in zeal, the conforming clergy took up a
list of about 500 gentry and others, and sent up
Max\vel tp London to learn his Majesty's plea
sure eonefirning them. But Huntley, through
the queer's irifluence, procured such an order of
soft dealing with them, as amounted to a kind
.of royal protection of thera. Meanwhile, the
Presbyterians were more and more cruelly perr
secuted, many of the inhabitants of Edinburgh,
Leith, and places adjacent, heing cited before the
privy council and High Coraraission, and arbitra
rily fined, if they did not answer to satisfaction.
Messrs. Lamb of Traquair, D. Forrest of Leith,
and George Dunbar of Air, were deposed for
their opposition to the course of defection. Ro
bert Melvil, assistant to the aged minister of
Culross, having in a sermon, before him, boldly
inveighed against the pride of Adam Ballantyrie,
bishop of Dunblane, and his conterapt of the
faithful ministers of Christ, had no doubt also
been prosecuted, if he could have been deprived
of any legal salary. The bishops regarded the
affronts which they received from the people
the less, as his Majesty highly favoured them
and the Bishop of St. Andrew's was ordered tp

QHUfiCH OF SCOTLAND. Ill
take the precedence of the Chancellor in the pri
vy council, and in places of public resort, ^^v
The pride of thebishops having rendered them
odious to a great part of the nobility, a number
of ministers, about the end of this year, trans
mitted a Representation of 28 grievances to his
majesty ; and begged. That he would interpose
his influence for the redress of them. But per
haps he never deigned to read it. About the
beginning of 1630, Struthers, a conformist mi
nister of Edinburgh, offended by the wide steps
sorae of his brethren were taking towards Eng
land and Rorae, and bearing that Maxwel, his
colleague, had brought frora London an order to
the Priraate of St. Andrew's, and his diocesan
brethren, to prepare matters for the reception of
the whole government and manner of worship
used in the English church, wrote a letter to Sir
Williara Alexander, now Earl of Airth, and the
king's secretary, in which he represented, that
K- James, by his coraraissioner, had proraised to
the Parliaraent in 1621, that no further altera
tions should be raade in the public worship; that
the introduction of other rites, especially if with
out the consent of the church, would render
the bishops still raore odious ;— would deprive
people of their best pastors, alienate their affec
tions raore and raore from one another, and in
the issue make them either Papists or Atheists.
' — Meanwhile, faithful ministers were remark
ably countenanced of God at their sacramental
and other occasions. Multitudes crow.ded to
their communions ; and being eager to hear as
much of the gospel as they could, when they had
an opportunity of it, they began to have one ser
mon upon Saturday before, and another On the

112 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
Monday after. Mr. John Livingston a prbba-
tion%r, after having run so far off, that morning,'
preached a serftion at the kirk of Shots, on Mon
day June 21, at which 500 were converted to
Christ, arid alraost every one in his large audi
ence remarkably affedted. This was an evident
answer of the prayers in which raost of the peo
ple had spent the whole of the preceding night.
Soon after, the prelates' persecution of him oblig
ed him to flee to the north of Ireland ; where^
fbr sorae years, he and Messrs. Robert Blair,-
Robert Cuningham, Jaraes Harailton, George
Dunbar, John M'Lellan, and Josias Welsh, la
boured with great success in the work of the
Lord. The like divine influence attended the
ministrations of Mr. David Dickson at Irvine
and places about, in the west of Scotland. To
bring a reproach upon this work of God, Safari
drove some into disagreeable excesses and fren
zies : but, by the care of these faithful rainisters,
his designs were, in a great measure defeated.
Being informed of an intended Convention of
States, for imposing a new tax for the supply of
hisMajesty'SjOr his hungry courtiers', nedessitiesi
and for making trial, how' farther innovation^
would relish — but pretending to redress grievan
ces, the Nonconform ministers, by the Earls of
Rothes, Cassils, and Linlithgow, arid the Lord«
Yester, Ross, Balmerino, Melvil, andLowdon^ and
some well affected gentlemen, presented a sup
plication for liberty. to administer tbe Lord's
supper, as pastors and people should find most
for edification ; and that such entrants as scru
pled, should not be obliged, before .their adrais-^
sion to the rainistry, to swear the oath of supre^
macy and canoniecil obedience. But the court and
4

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 113
bishops, by their warm opposition, prevented the
reading of it. Balmerino afterwards insisted, that
the oath, which was imposed without the autho
rity of ParUament, should be laid aside ; and that
according to law, no bishops should be allowed
to deprive or suspend any minister, without the
trial and consent of the ministers in that bounds.
But the managers also sraothered this motion in
the birth.
In 1631, the apostacy still increased. Dr. Max
well taught. That our Saviour at his death de
scended to hell, in order to deliver from it the
souls of virtuous heathens ; pretending, that this
doctrine tended much tb his glory, and to the
comfort of Christians. John Adamson of Liber-
ton taught, that the church of Rome is a true
church of Christ. Wedderburn of St. Andrew's
and Sydserf, without control, published their Ar-
rainian errors: Many ofthe conform clergy, and
especially the bishops, altogether abandoned
themselves to drinking in taverns, and sports on
Sabbath afternoons, Foster of Melrose, having
but one hut of corn in his barn yard, zealously-
manifested his Christian freedom, by causing his
servants carry it into his barn on Sabbath, Not
a few as faithfully bore witness against their abo
minations—among whom we may reckon Messrs.
John Sharp, who was banished in 1605, but on
account of his distinguished learning recalled,
and made professor of divinity in the new college
pf Edinburgh ; Robert Bruce, who now died in a
triumphant manner, holding his finger on the
last verses of Rom, viii ; Robert Boyd of Troch
rig, John Scrimgeor, Johu Chalmers, John Dick,
Williara Scptt, John Row, John Ker, Jaraes Cur
ry, Ad, Colt, David Foster, Richard and David
Q

11* A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
Dicksons, James Greig, John Ferguson, James
Inglis; William Livingston, Thomas Hog, and
Alexander Henderson, who had been converted
frora Prelacy by a note of Mr- Bruce ; Samuel
Rutherford, who, like some others, had got into
the ministry, without any sinful engagement, by
means of some of the nobility— -Robert Douglas,
George Gillespy, a preacher, and others.
Nothing of importance relative to the church,
happened in 1632. But next year, Charles, at
tended by bishop Laud and many others, came
down to Edinburgh, in order to be crowned, and
to abolish the remains of Presbytery, and perfect
the religious conformity of the two nations. Af
ter bping crowned in the most splendid and cere
monious manner, he, on next Sabbath, was gra
tified with the English mode of worship, and
with the most fulsome flattery from the pulpit,
and the most insolent railing against such as
scrupled at holy vestments, or any thing else,
which he pleased to appoint in the worship of
God. The afternoon was spent in extravagant
feasting, attended with concerts of music, sound
ing of trumpets, and the like profane, carnal pa
rade. The Parliament having met, asserted his
supremacy over the church in all causes, and his
power of prescribing proper vestments for clergy
men, the last of which it seems his father had
never executed. They ratified all former acts in
favours of the religion presently professed, that
is, as they bad dressed it up with Episcopacy and
superstition. Hence the faithful party opposed
their ratification. They ratified his revocation
of his progenitor's grants of tithes and church
lands. The faithful ministers delivered to Sir
John Hay, clerk register, under the form of prrf-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.' 115
testation, a petion for redress of grievances, crav
ing. That as the comraissioners frora the church
had transgressed the caveats, they might be sus
pended frora voting in parliaraent, till they were
heard against thera on that point; that the alte
rations in the act of Parliament 1612, from that
of the asserably 1610, raight be rectified; that
the act 1592, establishing Sessions, Presbyteries,
Synods, and General Asserablies, raight be revis
ed and ratified ; that, as was proraised when they
were introduced, none should be urged to ob
serve the articles of Perth; and. that all imposi
tion of oaths not appointed by the Assembly or
Parliaraent on Intrants, he prohibited. Sir John,
being a sworn enemy to religion, and a slave to
the bishops, was highly offended with the peti
tion, and especially with Mr. Hog's soleran man
ner of delivering it. The sarae rainisters, by Mr.
Hog, transraitted another supplication to Charles
hiraself, who lodged at Dalkeith, beseeching him
to favour their forementioned petition in the Par
liament. But he, detesting their honest designs,
got both their petitions smothered in the birth.
Instigated by the ministers, a number of the
lords, barons, and burgesses, presented to the
king and Palrliament a petition, craying. That
the novations lately introduced into the church,
should be abolished; that such as had no interest
in the happiness of the kingdom, or had been de
clared incapable of being judges; in any court,
should be debarred from seats in the Parliament.
Charles heartily abhorred their requests. Ne
vertheless, he had no sraall difficulty to carry the
ratification of his spiritual supreraacy, and of the
hierarchy, and superstition which his father had
introduced. Notwithstanding all his'solicitations

116 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE '
and threatenings, and even calling for a pen td
mark their names that served or opposed bim,
fifteen earls and lords, with forty faar commis
sioners from burghs, voted against that act. Bi
shop Burnet affirms, that it was really carried in
thb negative. ButHay, the register, who collect
ed the votes, affirming that it was carried in theaf-
firraative, the Earl of Rothes, who had opposed it
withgreat freedom and strength of reasoning,
averred the contrary. Charles, meanly interpos
ing, told Rothes, that the clerk's declaration must
stand, unless he, at the hazard of losing his head,
Would prove hira guilty of falsifying the records
of Parliament. Knowing that Charles, instigat
ed by his bishops, would rain down his vengeance
upon them, as soon as he could get an opportu
nity, the nobles prepared a representation oftheir
designs and reasons thereof. But Either their
want of unaniraity araong themselves ; or their
information of his intention to refuse to hear it ;
or his sudden departure to London, prevented
their presenting it to hira.
Having returned home, and made, Laud, his
faithful attendant, archbishop of Canterbury, he
transmitted an order to Ballantyne, bishop of
Dumblane, and dean of bis iroyal chapel at Edin
burgh, to take care to have the coraraUnion there
received on their knees, and in cups consecrated
to the king's use, on the first Sabbath of every
month, and to cause all the lords of privy coun-
cil and session, advocates, clerks, and writers to
the signet to receive it in due form, at least once
every year, as a pattern to Others ; and to report
their obedience or disobedience in this matter to
hira. Nevertheless, it is said, that no raore than
six lords of privy couricil, seven of session, two

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 11?
advocates, one writer to the signet, with the clerk
of the bills, and two young lords, conformed te
this order
While Charles had been in Scotland, he had
erected a new bishoprick at Edinburgh, and no
minated William Forbes, a minister of the city,
zealous for the reconcilement of the popish and
protestant religions, to it. After a farce of elec
tion by the chapter, he was soleranly consecrated,
in January, 1634, in the presence of the two
archbishops and five bishops ; and had the little
and greai kirks united to forra his cathedral.
Notwithstanding his monkish temper, be imrae
diately dispersed his mandates, requiring all mi
nisters in his diocese, within fourteen days, to
subscribe an engagement to full conformity, and
to administrate' the sacraments to none but those
of their own congregations, under pain of being
punished as schismatics. Most of the Presbytery
of Edinburgh subscribed the engagement, on the
sarae day that they received his mandate. Four
of thera took it to an advisement. But William
Arthur at Westkirk, and James Thomson at Col-
lington, flatly refused their subscription. Other
Presbyteries were much less complaisant. Some
expressly refused to come under any such en
gagement. The Presbytery of Greenlaw trans
mitted to him their reasons against compliance,
and warned him, that the wrath of God would
cfertainly overtake him, if he persisted in requir
ing ministers to act contrary to their conscience.
He had scarcely threatened to make the best in
Edinburgh kneel at the communion, or lose his
Episcopal gown, when a vomiting of blood put
an end to his violent measures, about two months
after his instalment. To obtain his fat benefice.

lis A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE '
Sydserf laboured to imitate him in Arminianism,
and in approaches towards Popery. But Charies,
knowing him to be much hated in Edinburgh,
transported Dr. Lindsay frora Brechin, and placed
Sydserf in his roora. .
A rude draught of the intended address of the
nobles to hislraajesty, at the conclusion of the
above raentioned Parliaraent, havirig been left in
the hands of Balraerino, oneDunrauir awriter,who
had been allowed to view his library, clandestinely
took a copy of it, which he inadvertently shewed
to Hay of Naughton, who took a copy of it, while
he slept, and transraitted it to Archbishop Spots-
wood. He, as usual, posted off with it on the Lord's
day to Loridon ; and represented to Charles,
That it amounted to lease-making agairist him
and his governraent ; and that copies of it were
industriously spread by the nobleraen concerned
in it, in order to alienate his subjects, a,nd make
ministers to refuse the vestments, and other rites
prescribed by law. At last, he and bis fellow bi-
shops procured a cdmmission for sOrae ignorant,
mercenary, or Popish creatures of the court, to
try the authors and favourers of it, as guilty of
treason, Haig, the advodate, who had drawn it,
after writing a letter to Balmerino, bearing that
he had written it without any help or direction
from him, fled off. After some raonths iraprison
ment Balriaerino was brought to his trial. Not-
wil;hstanding all that the bishops could do, seven
of the jury brought him in not guilty. TraquaiiT*
to please them, gave his casting vote against hira.
But finding, that the subjects were fully deter
mined either to liberate him, or to revenge his
death upon those that had condemned him, with-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 119
out any shadow of ground, he quickly procured
for hira a royal remission.
In 1635, death had scarcely transported the
pious Viscount of Kenmure, and five or six of the
faithful ministers of their heavenly thrones, when
Archbishop Spotswood was made chancellor of
Scotland, Ballantyne transported to Aberdeen,
and Sydserf to Galloway, and Wedderburn made
bishop of Dunblane, and Whiteford of Brechin.
Some rainisters of every presbytery were raade
Justices of peace; but few, except thorough paced
episcopalians, accepted of that office. It was in
tended to provide ministers for all the abbacies,
in order to have, as many ecclesiastical lords to
vote in Parliament. But the nobility opposed
this motion ; and Traquair persuaded Charles,
that it would be for his advantage to keep the
abbacies in his own hand. To pacify the morti
fied bishops, a royal patent was issued, empower
ing every one of them, with any .six associates
that he pleased, to judge all persons within their
diocese, in the manner of the high comraission.
Without delay they improved this power for the
destruction of their opponents. For imposing an
intrusion on his parish, Alexander Gordon of
Earlstown was cited before Sydserf and his Gal
loway commission; fined for absence, and banish
ed to Montrose. For refusing tb conform, or to con
sent to the intrusion ofa conformist on his charge,
Mr. Glendoning of Kirkcubright, aged seventy-
nine, was confined to his parish. Wm. Dalgleish,
a neighbouring minister, was confined in likp
manner. For continuing to hear Mr. Glendon
ing, the magistrates of Kirkcudbright were con
fined at .Wigton ; and his own son, being one of
them, imprisoned, because he, would not incarce-
6

120 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
rate his father. Mr. William Livingston of La
nark was prosecuted by the archbishop of Glas
gow for employing his son John to preach, who,
along with his brethren, had been lately silenced
by the bishops of Ireland : but the old man so
boldly vindicated his conduct, and laid home to
the consciences of his judges their many heinous
offences against God, that they were glad tp be
rid of hira. Walter Greig, who. had entered tb
Balmerino with Spotsvvood's own consent, and
by the call of both patron and people, was cast
out as an intruder, that wanted collation from
him. John Mein, merchant in Edinburgh, Was
again prosecuted for not observing an anniversary
fast, and attending his own parish church. The
members of the college of justice and people of
Edinburgh, were mightily urged to perfect con
formity, in all the novations introduced. Thus
the bishops carried all before them, leaving little
else for the friends of reformation, but to cry to
the Lord because of their oppressors.
In the beginning of 1636, Maxwell bishop of
Ross, who was already a lord of the privy coun
cil, a lord of the exchequer, and an extraordinary
lord of the session, thought to have got the high
treasurership, which Morton demitted- But the
nobles, offended with Spotswood's promotion to
the chancellorship, procured that office for the
Earl of Traquair, who often proved a thorn in
the side of the bishops. Traquair's procuring'
a pension of £200 Sterling for Maxwell, si
lenced him a little. But when he solicited the
dissolution of the commission for valuation of
tithes, Traquair, by gaining not only the nobles,
but even part of the bishops to the opposition,
prevented his success. Spotswopd durst not ap-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. t21
pear against Traquair, for fear he should detect
his villanies. The archbishop of Glasgow had
obtained a royal grant of the first fruits in his
diocese; but Traquair found means to pocket
them himself. He also thought to oblige the in
habitants of Glasgow to pay their ministers sti
pends, and to deprive their council of the Patro
nage of Blackfriars and the Low-kirks; but Tra
quair defeated his plan.
In 1630, Mr. Samuel Rutherford had been cit
ed before the high commission ; but a storm hin
dering Spotswood to cross the Forth, and Alex
ander Colvil, one of the Judges, befriending him,
the diet wa's deserted. Some ministers in his
presbytery, labouring to exasperate Spotswood
against him, a new prosecution of him and Mr.
Dalgleish was intended in 1634. But Lord Kirk
cudbright screened Rutherford from his persecu
tors' rage. In 163§, he was obliged by Sydserf,
to appear befpre the high commission for his non
conformity, and his preaching against the Articles
of Perth, and writing against Arminians. He de
clined their jurisdiction as unlawful and incom
petent : nor would he give any of the bishops pre
sent their lordly titles. Notwithstanding all that
Lord Lorn and others could do iri his behalf, he
was prohibited, under pain of rebellion, to exer
cise his ministry any more ih Scotland, and char
ged to confine himself in Aberdeen and its envi
rons, during his Majesty's pleasure. In that con
finement he wrote many of his letters, which have
since been so refreshing to multitudes. Mr. Da,
vid Dixon, whom the Earl of Eglinton had gol
restored to his charge, was on the point of being
deposed by the a rchhishop of Glasgow, for employ
ing Messrs. Blair, Livingston and others, whom

122 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
the episcopal persecutors had driven from Ire-J
land. By this time Laud of Canterbury was deeply
concerned to have a perfect conformity establised
between the Scottish and English churches. He
laboured to persuade the Scottish bishops to re
ceive the English liturgy. But, in their pride,
and to avoid all appearance of their dependence
on England, they insisted for a liturgy of their
own composition, but near to the English in both
matter and forra. This occasioned a dryness be
tween thera and the Canterburian primate. But
Charles, advised by Laud and his uhderling bi
shops of London and Norwich, took the matter
upon hiraself. He fixed upon the alterations
which he thought proper, and required the Scot
tish bishops to frame their service book according
to them, and particularly to retain all the Eng
lish Saints days, and add the most renowned of
Scotland to them, especially those of the royal
faraily or episcopal order, and by no means to
orait Saints George and Patrick — and to retain the
phrase, receive ye the Holy Ghost, in the Rubric,
for ordination ; — and to insert araong the lessons
ordinarily read," Wisdora of Solomon, i, ii, iii,
iv, V, vi. and Ecclesiasticus i, ii, v, viii, x,
xxv, xlix. And he further required, that in all
bishops houses, universities, and colleges, this
service book should be used twice every day.
While Maxwell, Sydserf, Wedderburn, Ballan
tyne, and other bishops were forming this liturgy,
irwas foreseen, that a book of canons would be
necessary to enforce the use of it. Charles there
fore authorized thera to corapose one, falsely pre
tending, That the substance of the acts of the

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 123
General Assemblies could not otherwise be pro
perly known, as a fixed standard of management.
Scarcely had the canons been published, when
the whole body of Presbyterians declared against
them, as obscure and corrupt in many things ;
and as irregularly imposed. They particular
ly complained, That the 1st, 12th, and ISth
canons, advanced the king's prerogative too high,
and left the church entirely at his mercy ; that
the 2d, 5th, and 15th, urged an implicit subscrip
tion to a service book or liturgy not yet finished
and published ; that the 6th rendered rainisters
in part slaves to the bishops ; that the 10th laid
the innocent and guilty parties on a level in the
case of divorce; that the 16th seemed to bind to
the bidding of prayer, prescribed in the 55th.
Against the rest they complained, that bishops
were established with absolute jurisdiction, and
Popish idolatry and superstition revived by them;
that the whole structure ef their ancient and so
often ratified church policy was abolished; sessions
and Presbyteries condemned as conventicles ; rul
ing elders and deacons rejected ; and all ecclesi
astical causes dragged to episcopal tribunals ; —
that they contained a number of Popish terms, as
sacramental confession, and absolution — appointed
all ranks to come to the Lord's Supper and all
other sacraments ; or contained ambiguous terms,
as that ministers are ordained to urge the necesr
sity of good works. 'The liturgy or book of com
mon prayer, was at last finished. It did not con
tain so many lessons from the Apocrypha as the
English ; but those which it had were appointed
to be read when the audience was like to be most
numerous. The Psalms of it were not taken from
the Vulgate, but frora the last English translation.

124 A COMPENDIOUS HISTOdlY OF THE
But, in raany things relative to altars, offering of
the eleraents in the communion, prayer for the
dead, ministers standing at the altar, and some
times turning their face from the people, and with
respect to Christ's corporeal presence in the Eu
charist, it approached nearer to the Romish mass
book than the English had done. — It was morcr
over loudly complained, that these books were
imposed without being first examined and ap
proved by any General Assembly ; and that the
canons, under pain of excommunication, prohibit
ed all questioning of the rectitude of any thing
in them:
When Charles and his .privy council issued
forth their proclamation for the observance of
these books, some insisted for a delay of the ex
ecution. But the young bishops, who had fram
ed them, and Traquair^ who, to ruin them, push
ed them forward, zealouslyinsisted for immediate
obedience to the royal mandate, and the new
laws. Notwithstanding the ministers were ur-
.ged to compliance in their diocesan Synods, ma
ny of them would not so much as purchase the
books. The bishops falsely represented to the
council, that the most judicious ministers had all
dutifully complied, and obtained an act for rais
ing letters qf horning against the reluctants, oblig
ing each of them to provide two copies of the
service book for the use of the parish, within fif
teen days after their charge, under pain of being
held rebels against his Majesty and his laws.
But this act wa's only a teraporary bugbear.
iZeal for the increase of their revenues somewhat
diverted the attention of the two archbishops.
Spotswood hoped to draw the tithes and abbey
of St. Andrew's to hiraself; and by obtaining a

CHURCH 0P SCOTLAND. 125
locality in each parish, to enrich himself, and im
poverish the family of Lennox, which had grant
ed leases of the tithes. His brother of Glasgow
expected to get £ 5000 Sterling out of the
annuities within his diocese. But, by procuring
a royal dissolution of the commission for valua
tion of tithes, and by other methods, Traquair,
to their unspeakable vexation, defeated their de
signs. They resolved on a journey to court, to
complain of his conduct, and to procure redress
to their purse. And in order to secure themselves
a favourable hearing, they laboured zealously to
prompte the use of the new liturgy befoie they
set out. They procured a letter from Charies,
and an order from his privy council, requiring his
subjects in Edirihurgh to use it as a pattern to the
rest. Spotswood then' convened the ministers,
and threatened them with immediate suspension,
if they should disobey. It seems that all of them
promised compliance, except Messrs. Andrew
' Ramsay ahd Henry RoHock ; the immediate sus
pension of whom did but so awaken the indigna
tion of the people, that they would not allow the
rest to comply, however willing they were to
do it.
Dean Annan had scarce began to read the ser
vice in St. Giles' church, when the people began
to make a noise. Bishop Lindsay hastened to the
pulpit to pacify them ; but by casting of stools
and the like at them, both bishop and dean were
in danger of their life. Almost all the sober
pepple went home, 'bitterly reflecting upon the
bisl^ops, for bringing matters to sudh a pass, by
their innovations. The magistrates and privy
counsellors, having driven from the church sucli
as aimed their blows at the bishop and dean, the

126 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
service was got perforraed with shut doors. But
Annan, and especially the bishop, was in no small
danger as they went home. Fairlie, bishop of
Argyle, arid his assistants, who atterapted to in
troduce the, liturgy into the Greyfriars chucb,
had. not much better encouragement. I do not
find that it was attempted in any other churches
of the city. Not a single person, except the raere
rabble, appears to have been concerned in these
turaults. But the bishops and their votaries, to
the great grief of the privy council, immediately
sent off an express to his Majesty, in which they
represented the citizens as the authors or actors
of all; and complained of the absence of Tra
quair, who had been detained by a heavy rain.
After the privy council had raade a thorough ex
amination, Traquair, in their name, informed
Charles, that the whole tumult was owing to the
low rabble, especially the most abject. And, in
a letter to the 1VIarq\iis of Hamilton, he laid the
blame upon the folly and precipitancy of the bi
shops. The town council of Edinburgh wrote a
letter to archbishop Laud, representing the inno
cence of their citizens, and their own readiness
to receive the liturgy ; and they offered an addi
tional stipend to such ministers as would use it ;
and promised to them and their assistants protec
tion in so doing. But as none of the conforming
clergy inclined to venture their heads on such
terms, the bishops agreed tp suspend the service
till his Majesty's pleasure concerning the late tu--
mult should be known." All sacred meetings on
¦week days were dropt in the city, which, haying
an appearance of a Bopish interdiction, inflamed
the people more and raore. ' As both ministers
and magistrates desired to promote the servicq ;

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 127
^fld the rainisters offered to read it theraselves
till decent readers could be found and instruct
ed, providing that the ministers in the suburbs
and neighbourhood, should be obliged to do
the same, and that the city should give assurance
fbr their indemnifica,tion, the privy council or
dered d bond of assurance to be drawn up, and
expeded, and appoirited the magistrates to raake
diligent search after the authors and abettors of
the late turault, and to provide readers for their
churches. But riotwithstanding all their diligence,
sufficient readers could not be had: and so the
service was delayed, to the great mortification of
Charles and his bishops.
Meanwhile, the two archbishops had done
what they could, to promote the 'service in the
country, and had charged Messrs. Alexander
Henderson of Leuchars, and David Dickson of
Irvine, and many others, under pain of being ira-
medi ately denounced rebels, to buy; each of them,
two* copies of the prayer book for the use of their
parishes. Nevertheless, not only were readers
every where hard to be found, but the reluctant
ministers, in four different petitions, begged the
privy council to grant a suspension of the bishops'
orders — in which they pointed forth the principal
errors of the Canons and Liturgy, dtid offered a
friendly dispute bn these points ; — they shewed
what bad consequences had, or might attend
the introduction of novations and imposition of
liturgies; and that the church had no security at
all, if princes might change her ancient and inno
cent forms of worship without her consent ; and
that his Majesty had bound himself to make no
alterations in this kingdora without fhe lawful
advice and consent of all concerned. Many no-
5

128 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
blemen, by their letters, and gentleraen, by per
sonal solicitation, begged the privy counsellors to
keep that yoke off the neck of ministers. The
council therefore enacted. That letters qf horning^
relative to the service book, should extend no
further than to the purchasing of it. They re
presented to his Majesty, that notwithstanding
all their endeavours to the contrary, the' increas
ing opposition to his new liturgy had baffled all
their atterapts to introduce it ; and begged that
some of their number might be called lip tp give
him full information of the critical state of the
nation, in order that proper steps might be taken
to hush the coramotions, and introduce his litur
gy. The supplicants thanked them for their mo
deration; but the bishops were highly dissatisfi
ed, as, contrary to their intention, the odiura of
the imposition, being removed from the council,
fell all on themselves.

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. ]29

CHAPTER V.

By bold' and prudent Remmistrdnces — by solemnly re
newing their Covenant with God — by warlike Defence
of themselves against Charles I. and Montrose his
Lieutenant — by entering into a Covenant with, and as
sisting the English-^by opposing HamiltmCs Engage
ment — by adopting new Standards qf Doctrine, Wor
ship, Discipline, and Government, and by many excels
lent Acts qf Assembly and Parliament, the Covenan
ters carry their Reformation to great Perfection, be
tween 1637 amd 1651.
During the throng and hard labour of the har
vest, the country was pretty quiet. But it was
scarcely finished, when, instead of a few consci
entious rainisters, no less than twenty nobleraen^
a considerable number of barons, tnostly ruling
elders, and near an hundred ministers, the pro
vosts, or eldest bailies, of Glasgow, Stirling, Ayr,
Irvine, Dumbarton, Dunfermline, Culross, Kirk
caldy, Dysart, Cupar, Lanark, Inverkeithing,
Burntisland, and Anstruther, with commissioners
from sixty-eight parishes, mostly gentlemen of
principal influence in the counties of Ayr, Fife,
Lothian, Clydsdale, Stirling, and Strathearn, raany
of whom knew not of others, till they met at the

ISO A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
door of the council house, remonstrated against
the imposition of the service book- — In Charles's
reply to his council's letter, he coraplained that
they had not executed his former directions; that
they had proposed no new expedieht, but had al
lowed an interruptiori of the service. He per
emptorily ordered them, by their presence and
influence, to cause it to be established in Edin
burgh without further delay ; and that the other
bishops should introduce it into their dioceses, as
had been done in those of Ross and Dumblane ;
and that the council should warn all the burghS
to choose none for their magistrates, for whose
conformity they could not answer. Neverthe
less sixty-eight different remonstrances against
the introduction of the service book, were present
ed to the council, representing it as contrary to
the religion presently professed, and as irregu
larly imposed, without consent of the General
Asserably, and contrary to acts of Parliament.
From all these, the Earls of Sutherland and
Wemys forraed one general remonstrance, which
was subscribed by a great number of nobles. In
tent upon executing his Majesty's directions, the
council delayed answering pf these petitions ; but
promised to acquaint the petitioners with his
pleasure, as soon as it should be signified to them.
And, by the Duke of Lennox, they transmitted
to him the general petition, and another from the
city of Glasgow, and a third from the diocese of
Dumblane, in which he alleged the service book
had been cheerfully received. They also inform
ed him of their diligence in executing his orders,
and appointed Lennox to lay befoie him a true
state of the circumstances ofthe nation. Highly
offended, that the council would not sacrifice their

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 131
own consciences, and the public peace and tran
quillity for proraoting their power and ceremo
nies, the bishops represented Sir Thoraas Hope
his Majesty's advocate, and the Earl of Traquair,
as little better than traitbrs, that secretly sup
ported the rebels in their reraonstrances.
After thanking the council for their good in
clinations to redress their grievances, the petition
ers returned home, and applied theraselves tp
search their own ways, and turn to the Lord,
by confession, prayer, and humiliation for sin —
to assist them in which work, Messrs. Henderson,
Dickson, and Ker, drew up some directions.
Their numbers mightily increased. Sir John Hay,
the new provost of Edinburgh, had hindered the
citizens from petitioning along with their bre
thren. But soon after, such raultitudes of thera
attended the town council as obliged thera to re
monstrate to the standing coraraittee of the
privy council against the service book, and to pro-
raise to have the petition transmitted to his Ma
jesty. Hay excused this petition, as originating
frora the strangers, which had lately crowded the
place; and Spotswood thought to have had It dis
cussed by the council, before any others could
corae up. But Archibald Johnston, afterwards
Lord Warriston,- by his careful inforraation of his
friends, prevented that. There was scarce a shire
southward of the Grampain hills, frora whioh
noblemen, gentleraen, burghers, ministers, and
others, did not convene to supplicate the coun
cil, or to wait for their answer to their forraer
petitions. Above two hundred parishes gave in
new supplications. The petitioners being nbw
too raany for comraon consultation, divided therii-
selves into four divisious or tables of nobility, gen-r

182 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
try, ministers, and burgesses, which began their
meetings with prayer, and formed a survey of
the new liturgy.
Informed of these things, Charles, by a so
lemn proclamation, prohibited the council to pro
ceed in judging of ecclesiastical affairs, and
.charged all the petitioners to return to their re
spective homes, under pain of being denounced
rebels. And, to punish the citizens of Edin-
hurgh for their joining with the other petitioners,
he ordered the council and court of session to
remove to Linlithgow, and thence to Dundee ;
which occasioned a remarkable interruption of
public justice in the kingdom. A tract against
the English Popish ceremonies, by Mr. George
Gillespy, was also prohibited by public proclar
ination, Spotswood craftily absented himself
from the council. But the malcontents, look
ing on him and his fellow bishops as the great
instruments of oppression, and a dead weight
upon the other lords of privy council, drew up
a formal complaint against them, in which they
charged them with the framing ofthe service book,
and sowing in it the seeds of idolatry, super
stition, and false doctrine, contrary to the religion
legally established ; and even approaching nearer
to the Popish Missal than the English had done;
¦ — and with forming the Book of Canons, in
which bishops are erapowered to tyrannize over
ministers and people at pleasure ; — by which
jneaos, they had wronged his Majesty, kindling
discord between hira andhis subjects, and between
the subjects theraselves,— and had rent the cfiurch,
and underrained her doctrine, worship, discipline,
and government; — and therefore they begged,
that they might be brought to tbeir trial, ancl

CtlURCH OF SCOTLAND, 133
duly punished ; and in the mean time, not be al
lowed to sit judges upon tbe petitioners. This
coraplaint was signed by twenty-four noblemen,
some hundreds of gentlemen, some hundreds of
ministers, and most of the burghs. Nor doth it
appear, that any but Mr, R. Bailie, afterward
principal in the college of Glasgow, did hesitate
to subscribe it, who thought some expressions of
it too severe.5 — Finding that their former suppli
cation had not been presented to his raajesty, ac
cording to promise ; and that the courts of jus
tice were removed frora their city ; and that, after
their fellow petitioners returned horae, they would
be exposed to the resentment of their provOst,
severals in Edinburgh, chiefly women, attended
the town council, and threatened them, that un
less they would concur with the other burghs in
their supplications and complaints, and would re
store Messrs. Ramsay and Rollock, their minis
ters, and Henderson a reader, they would not
suffer one of them to corae out alive. This obliged
thera to an imraediate compliance. These fe
male insurgents, in their way home, had handled
the bishop of Galloway and the provost too rough
ly, had not the nobles prevented them.
After several unsuccessful addresses to the
privy council, the numerous supplicants returned
home, having resolved to meet again upon the
15th of November. Then greater numbers than
ever attended at Linlithgow, and were joined by
the Earl of Montrose, and some other nobleraen.
Notwithstanding the counsellors could not pre-
suadethem of the lawfulnes of their conventions,
they agreed. That,, since their grievances were
not like to be soon redressed, the noblemen, with
two gentelmen from every shire, and a minister

134 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
from every presbytery, and a commissioner from
every burgh, should attend the council, and the
rest return home. They also agreed, that Ro
thes, Montrose, Lindsay, and Loudon, as depu
ties for the nobles ; the lairds of Keir, Cunning-
hamhead, ,and Oldbar, for the shires; the two
bailies of Edinburgh, and provost of Culross, for
the burghs; and Messrs, James Cunningham and
Thomas Ramsay for the ministers^ should ordi
narily attend at Edinburgh for receiving answers
of petitions, and giving in remonstrances to the
council. After settling a method of gentlemen
serving by turns, and of advertising their consti
tuents in case of need, and a solemn admonition
to, and promise of personal and family reforma
tion, most of thera returned home.
The above-mentioned deputies remonstrated to
the lords of privy council. That if they find his
Majesty not rightly informed of their grievances;
or if they obtain not redress bythe methods agreed
upon, it shall be lawful for them to assemble their
constituents; — that such bishops or rainisters as
have slandered their conduct as seditious, shall
be obliged to give satisfaction for their offence ; —
that since itwas none but the low mob that rais
ed the late tumult in Edinburgh, the council shall
intercede with his Majesty for the return of the
courts of judicature to that city; — that Messrs,
Ramsay and Rollock shall be reponed to their
charges ;^rrand that the bishops be prohibited to
urge the use of the service book, till his Majesty's
pleasure be further known. They were the more
zealous on this last point, because Wedderburn,
bishop of Brechin, had prohibited the town coun
cil of that place, to send any commissioners to
supplicate against it; and, upon their refusing tp

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 185
obey hini, had taken iristruments in the name of
God, the King, and himself, as a privy counsel
lor, and on the Sabbath following, contrary
to the advice of the Chancellor and Treasur
er, had gone to his pulpit to read the service,
armed with pistols, his servants, if not also his
wife, being prepared to second his warlike at
tempt. But he was so drubbed by sorae of the
people, in his way home, that he never repeated
his dangerous task.
Though the privy council^ to shift a proper an
swer to the people's deraands, solemnly protested
to their deputies, that they were not regularly
met, they, as constituted, dispatched two mis
sives, one to Charles', and another to the Earl of
Stirling, secretary for Scottish affairs ; in which
they represented the necessity of the restoration
ofthe ordinary courts of judicature, and their own
reasons for yielding so far to the aggrieved sub
jects. TheEarl of Roxburgh, their agent, return
ed from London, with an ample commission
from his Majesty. But it being whispered, that
he had orders to apprehend some of the principal
noblemen araong, the petitioners, the deputies
convened all their coramissioners. But, upon
Traquair's entreaty, and the council's promise to
do nothing to their prejudice, they remained at
Edinburgh. Directed by his Majesty's letter,
the council made three acts, declaring, that he
had no intention of altering the religion presently
professed, or the laws ofthe country; and appoint
ing two meetings of council every week at Dal
keith, and thereafter at Stirling, of which tbat
on the Thursday should discuss complaints and
grievances — and appointing the Court of Session
to meet in the beginning of February next, 1638.
- 4

l36 A comfendious history of itiE
for the adrainistration of civil affairs, which, itot
almost a year^ had been totally interrupted, or
run into confusion. The raalcontents plainly
perceived, that, by the religion presently estab
lished, Charles meant Prelacy and its attendant
superstitions, and by the -laws ofthe kingdom^
such as had been enacted since his father's acces
sion to the English throne ; — the council there
fore finding them highly disaffected, and that
they could not apprehend their chiefs, or, by pro
mises or presents, detach the poorer sort from
thera, tried several raethods to divide thera, or
at least to persuade thera to alter their supplica
tion in October last ; especially in that which re
spected the bishops. But instead of corapliance,
the commissioners supported their petition, evin
ced their duty to subscribe it, and proved. That
it was necessary for the honour of Christ, the
preservation of their religion and liberty, and for
the honour and advantage of King and country,
and for preventing the re-introduction of Popery,
and for keepirtg themselves free of any consent
to the innovations iraposed, or any hand in the
persecution of their faithful brethren.
Finding that the council for several days had
but laboured to divide them, or to shift their re
quests, the deputies appointed two of their num
ber to protest at each door of the council-house,
in name of all the aggrieved subjects. That they
ought to have immediate recourse with their grie
vances before his' Majesty hiraself, and to prose
cute thera, in a legal manner, before the ordina
ry judges ; that the bishops, being their oppo
site parties, ought not to sit in any judicatory
as judges of their cause, till once they shbuld
have purged theraselves of the crimes with which

church OF SCOTLAND. 137
they were ready to charge them ; that it should
be lawful for them, in religious matters, to con
form themselves to the word of God, and lauda
ble constitutions of this church, and in no wise
dangerous to refuse the canons or liturgy ira
posed without, or against, the acts of General
Asserablies, or laws of this kingdora ; that no bad
consequences, arising frora the council's refusing,
or shifting, to redress their grievances, should be
iraputed to them ; and that their supplications
proceeded from conscience, and merely tended to
the preservation of the true reformed religion,
and the liberty of the nation. Informed of this
intended protestation, the privy counsellors pro
mised the deputies a hearing of their requests
upon the 21st of December. The commissioners
therefore appointed the twelve deputies to pre
sent their supplication and complaint to the coun
cil, and to do every thing necessary for obtaining
a proper answer to them. They also agreed upon
the- observation of a general Fast, leaving it to
ministers and their sessions to fix the time and
assign the causes of it ;---and advised ministers
to shew their people the heinous nature of the
late innovations, and how contrary they were to
the national covenant, which bad been sworn
about forty years before, viz. in 1596; and kind
ly to warn universities against receiving the ser
vice book, or tolerating the teaching of any false
doctrine among thera.
The council having raet, and the bishops with
drawn — consisted only of laymen. Lord Lou
don, as agent for the other deputies, presented
two copies of their supplications, which had been
given in September and October preceding, with
a new one, in which they complained of the bi-

138 A COMPENDlOilS HISTORY OF THE
shops using the service book ; and that some mi
nisters' of Edinburgh had, in their sermons and
otherwise, reproached their lawful attempts for
redress of grievances as seditious and rebellious —
and besought their lordships to deal with his Ma
jesty, and to their utmost endeavour their redress.
He also presented a declinature of the bishops as
judges in their cause, since they had been contrivers,
introducers, and urgers of the liturgy and canons,
and authors of their other grievances. He and Mr.
Cuningham enforced their supplications with
most affecting speeches, the last of which, it is
said, drew tears from several counsellors, and
gained Lord Lorn, afterv^ards Marquis of Argyle,
to the petioners' side. The council, from con
science or from necessity, found theraselves oblig
ed to represent the whole matter to his Majesty,
and not agreeing whether to depute Roxburgh
or Traquair for that purpose, they left it to
Charles to choose whora he pleased. After be
ing iraposed upon by young Spotswood, president
of the session, and better inforraed by a letter
which Rothes had sent to the Earl of Hadding
ton, he called up Traquair, who refused to look
on, or carry along with him, an inforraation frora
the deputies ; but perraitted Lord Orbiston, jus
tice clerk, one of his attendants, to carry it. " Pre
sident Spotswood had so biassed Charles, that
Traciuair had no small difficulty. Stirling, who, by
Laud's direction, had kept back part of the infor
mation sent by the council, was at last left in the
lurch. Instigated by a letter from old Spots-
wood, the archbishop, Charles resolved to have
all the proceedings of the malcontents condem
ned, and every thing sirailar prohibited under
pain of high treason, Traquair repeatedly le-
1

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 139
monstrated against this step, as calculated to en
danger the public peace ; but he was remanded
with new instructions to the council.
After his return to Scotland, Traquair, to de
ceive the malcontent deputies, pretended. That
he had brought no instructions relative to their
affairs. But they, being informed of the truth
by their friends at London, appointed four or
five of their number to attend the council at Stir
ling. Traquair and Stirling laboured to dis
suade thera from this, or at most to send up only
TWO, whom, it seems, Traquair intended to ap
prehend and imprison in the castle. Some of the
bishops' friends talking of this, the malcontents
resolved to go to Stirling in a body. Traquair
diverted them from this, and persuaded them to
depute only a few. Finding thera deterrained to
prosecute their attempts for the preservation of
their religion and liberties, he, after informing
them that the council was to sit at Stirling to
morrow, together with Roxburgh, set out for it
a little after midnight, intending to have his Ma
jesty's instructions approved and proclaimed be-
fere any of the deputies could come up. After
having, to no purpose, waited two hours for a
quorum of the council, they, about ten o'clock,
forenoon, proclairaed his Majesty's mandates,
bearing. That he, not the bishops, was the origi
nal cause of the disputed canons and liturgy; that
he condemned all conventions of his subjects in
order to -form supplications against these pious
and innocent books, as altogether illegal and se
ditious, and prohibited all such meetings for the
future, under pain of rebellion; — that none should
approach his privy council without special allow
ance ; and that such as had, or were coming yp.

140 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
for any such purpose, should within six hours de
part from Stirling, under pain of high treason.
Inforraed by his own servant of the early depar
ture of Traquair and Roxburgh, Lord Lindsay
and the Earl of Hume posted to Stirling ; and
were ready with a public notary to protest against
the king's proclamation, as soon as it was read. —
They further remonstrated, That the seeds of
superstition and idolatry are contained in the U-
'turgy and canons, and many other novelties incon
sistent with the liberties, laws, and religion of
this kingdom ;^that they and their constituents
ought to be allowed to accuse the bishops; — that
the High Commission Court is contrary to the
fundaraental laws of the nation, and calculated
to establish the tyranny of bishops ; that they
will nbt yield to the bishops as their judges, till
they have manifested their innocence in some
competent court; and that all their raeetings and
supplications had no other end, but the preserva
tion of the purity of religion and of his Ma
jesty's honour, and the liberty of church and
state. The rest of the malcontent comraission
ers came up in the afternoon, but could not ob
tain a copy of the King's proclamation. They
refused to leave Stirling before the counsellors
promised to do nothing further in their affair ;
but were scarcely gone off when the treacherous
council met, and adraitted the bishops to judge,
and approved his Majesty's proclamation.
Next morning the deputies waited upon the
council, and so effectually represented the impro
priety and sinfulness of their conduct, as made
the Earls of Angus and Napier profess their sor
row for their rash approbation of the King's pro
clamation, and Sir Thomas Hope, his advocate.

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 141
refused to subscribe it. When the proclamation
was published at Linlithgow, the protest taken
against it at Stirling was renewed. When it was
read at Edinburgh, sixteen noblemen, with a great
number of barons, gentlemen, ministers, and bur
gesses, protested against it, and that they should
have immediate recourse to his Majesty and other
corapetent judges, for redress of their grievances ;
that the bishops should not be held their lawful
judges, till they had purged themselves of the
crimes laid to their charge ; that no deed of coun
cil made in their presence, should be prejudicial
to the supplicants ; that no danger should be in
curred for disregarding liturgy, canons, courts, acts,
or proclamations, introduced without, or contrary
to, the standing laws of church or state ; and that
no bad consequences of the council's refusing to
hear their remonstrances, and redress their griev
ances, should be imputed to them.
Convinced that Traquair and Roxburgh had
but deceived them, instead of labouring to re
move their radical grievances, the nfJcontents
assembled at Edinburgh in great nurabers, in Fe
bruary 1688, to consider raore fully of proper
raethods of redress. Moved by the nobility, as
sisted by Messrs. Alexander Henderson and Da
vid Dickson, all the tables agreed to renew their
national covenant with God, the violation of which
they judged an original source of all their calarai
ties ; and a committee was appointed to forra a
bond suited to their present circumstances. Af
ter the original bond of 1581, and a list of many
acts of Parliament, which manifested the several
points to be sworn, as commanded, or allowed by
the civil laws, they subjoined the new bond,
which alone was to be sworn and subscribed. The

142 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
Earl of .Cassilis, Mr. Bailie, and a few others, who
had been educated in high notions of his Majes
ty's prerogatives, or ofthe lawfulness of Prelacy,
had some difficulties ; but after some reasoning,
and the alteration of a few words, all present
agreed to it, except three or four clergymen from
Angus. As some scrupled, directly tb condemn
the Articles of Perth and other innovations as
unlawful iri themselves, the draught of the cove
nant bond referred all determination on that point
to the first free General Assembly, and engaged
the swearers to no more than aforbearance of them
till that should take place. By the discipline of
the church, they meant no more than the substan
tial points of it used in 1581. Such as had sworn
conformity to the novations introduced, were told,
that they might nevertheless engage to forbear
the use of them for a time, on account of their
offensiveness. Such as suspected that the bond
too much limited the maintenance of the King's
authorityj were told, that their swearing to main
tain his authority in the defence of the true reli
gion, and of the laws and liberties of the king
dom, did not exclude their maintenance of it in
other cases; that in the bond of 1581, they were
still more expressly bound to defend their reli
gion ; that they engaged to maintain the King's
authority along with their religion, and therefore
their defending of one another in the maintenance
of religion, vvas no raore than the laws of the
kingdora required of thera. Sorae other difficul
ties were started, but reraoved in a friendly raan
ner. The ministers having, on the preceding Sab
bath, represented the breach of former covenants
with God as the peculiar spring of all the cala-

CHURCH tiV SCOTLAND. 143
mities under which the nation had groaned ;
and that the renovation of such a solem dedica
tion of themselves to God, was a proper mean of
obtaining his favour and help for their deliverance,
the covenant was sworn on the first Sabbath of
March, with great solemnity, and subscribed by
many thousands, viz. all the nobility, except the
privy counsellors, and four or five more ; and by
commissioners from all the shires in Scotland, and
commissioners from all the burghs, except Aber
deen, St. Andrew's, and Crail ; and by a raulti
tude of gentlemen and ministers. Copies of it
were immediately sent to every presbytery, along
with a demonstration of the lawfulness of sub
scribing it, and directions how it should be taken
in parishes ; and as the clergy of Aberdeen and
Glasgow chiefly adhered to their scruples, some
ministers were appbinted to deal with them. Be
fore the end Of April, almost the whole adult
persons in the kingdom, except the Papists, who
were then about 600, the courtiers, who feared
his Majesty's displeasure, and some clergyraen
who had sworn the oath of conforraity, had cheer
fully concurred in the covenant : And notwith
standing the opposition of their clerical doctors,
the raost of the inhabitants of St. Andrew's and
Glasgow, also joined in it. But at Aberdeen,
the shrewd reasoning ofthe doctors, together with
the general inclination to Prelacy and supersti
tion, had no small influence. We have elsewhere
proved, from many authentic vouchers, that there
were few adult persons in Scotland, who did not
take the covenant, in one shape or other, that
year. Having thus, under uncomraon influence of the
Spirit of God, dedicated themselves to him, and

144 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
begun to reform their practice and families, the
covenanters transmitted a supplication to his Ma
jesty, representing the equity and legality of their
proceedings, and the injustice of the bishops, who
had opposed them ; and they besought the Duke
of Lennox, Marquis of Harailton, and some other
noble courtiers, to intercede with him for a gra
cious answer. The privy council also sent up
Lord Orbiston to inform him of what had hap
pened, and to beg that he would put a stop to
the novations complained of, or at least allow the
consciences of his subjects a fair hearing. Spots-
wood, deep drowned in debt, and other bishops,
who knew theraselves to be hated, by the people,
fled off to the court. Orbiston, according to bis
instructions, faithfully inforraed his Majesty, and
disposed hira to receive further inforraation, for
obtaining of which, Traquair, Roxburgh, and
Lorn, were called up to hira, The Scotch law
yers being consulted. Whether the covenanters
assembling themselves, without his Majesty's au
thority, protesting against his royal proclama
tions, and entering into covenant with God, and
with each other, were warrantable by law, gave
their opinion. That most of their conduct was
legal, and none of it against any express law. It
was even suspected, that they had walked by the
direction of Sir Thomas Hope, the King's advo
cate, in the most critical steps of it. No sooner
had the three commissioners got to London, than
the Scotch affairs were taken into serious consi
deration. The bishops, chiefly of Brechin and
Murray, foreseeing that they would be inevitably
ruined, if Charles should incline to clemency,
did all that lay in their power to exasperate him
to the most violent measures against the cove-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 14,5
nanters. The nobleraen with great zeal opposed
them. Lorn candidly laid open all that he fcneW
of the grievances of his country, and declared
his dislike of the Articles of Perth, the liturgy, and
canons, and of the conduct of the bishops ; and
that he was resolved ratlier to leave his country,
than to concur in binding these burdens upon his
feuow subjects. As Traquair insisted for peace
able methods, the bishops reproached hira with
giving the covenanters intelligence, while he, to
avenge hiraself, charged the miscarriage of his
Majesty's designs on their imprudence and vio
lence. — Fearing that the coramenceraent ofa war
in Scotland might give the English malcontents
an opportunity of obtaining their wished redress,
the English counsellors werenolessaversetbit than
the Scotch. Lennox, in a fine and warm ora,tion,
remonstrated that there was no present necessity
for a war ; nor werelhe motives of such iriipoi-i
tance as to plunge t'ne two kingdoras irito a War,
in which, be victorious who would, his Majesty
would lose a raultitude of his subjects, or the
hearts of such as survived it ; and insisted, that
either the occasion of the present ferment shbuld
be removed out of the way, or time should be aU
lowed for it gradually to wbrk off, or his Majesty
might yield to the covenanters' demands. These
and like speeches, with the news of raultitudes
entering into the covenant, made Charles prefer
peace, and raade the bishops to be looked upon as
the real eneraies of the kingdora.
About this tirae, Presbyteries, disregarding
their espiscopal superiors, began to ordain mini
sters without consulting them, arid removed theii'
constant inoderators. Rutherford' returned to
Ariworth in Galloway; Livingston, Hamilton,
V

146 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
M'Lellan, Blair, and Row, who had been driven
from Ireland, were settled in vacancies, or as as
sistants to others. The Episcopalian doctoife of
St. Andrew's published their reasons for refusing
the covenant, and Drs. Baron and Forbes of Aber
deen comraenced a paper war with the covenan
ters. But both were quickly silenced by more
nei'vous replies. The King's suspension of the
civil courts for about a year tempted some High
landers of his party to plunder and oppress their
neighbours, and some women and low rabble to
abuse some conform clergy. — Whilethecoyenant-
ing clergy did what they could to preverit or sup
press such riots, the bishops and their agents im
proved thera, to provoke his Majesty to an open
war with the whole covenanters.
Charles having resolved for a tirae to yield
something to them, he was on the point "of en
trusting that critical management to Traquair :
but the bishops, who reckofied hira their raortal
eneray, by a long and trifling accusation, divert
ed hira frora this. The Marquis of Harailton
was therefore entrusted with it. To prevent all
division of. the covenanters, among themselves,
by any concessions which his Majesty raight of
fer, the Earls of Rothes, Cassilis and Montrose,
drew up a draught of the lowest terms upon which
the religion and liberties of the nation could .be
settled in a solid raanner, viz. That the service
hook and book of canons should be discharged ; that
the High Commission Court should be for ever
dissolved ; that the arii&,es of Perth shou\di not be
urged by authority ; that nb clergyraen should
have vote in Parliament, without an exact subrals-
sion to the caveats fixed by the General As
sembly 1600; that no unlawful ar/ic^w or oaths
5

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 147
should be iraposed upon entrants to the minis
try; that proper security should be given for the
holding of yearly General Assemblies ; and that
a Parliament should be called. for the redress of
grievances. To preserve unity among themselves,
the covenanters farther agreed. That no answer
should be given to statesmen without coraraon,
consent ; that a committee should be chosen out
of each table to. prepare and manage matters; and
that some gentlemen, ministers, and burghers,
^should raeet with the nobles, that it might not
be thought they took too rauch upon them ; that
all of them should attend at Edinburgh as ap
pointed ; that, to shew their adversaries that their
principal strength did not lie in their nobility,
fewer of, these should attend than formerly; that
if any proclamation be issued contrary to the de
sign of their former supplications, it should be an
swered by a protest, containing for substance-the
eight articles above mentioned; that if his Majesty
prohibit the canons and liturgy, and lirait the
High Commission, they shall insist for the redress
of their other grievances, and none rest content
with less than the said eight articles contain ; that
the nuraber of coramissioners be doubled against
the time of Hamilton's arrival ; that the reports
of the subscription of the covenant be, called up
from every corner of the kingdom ; and that they
should observe a so\emn fast, to confess their own
sins, and implore God's favour and help at their
general meeting.
While the bishops that remained in Scotland
gave all the information they could against the
covenanters to court, Harailton having received
twenty-eight instructions frora his Majesty, part
pf which he was to conceal or avow, as circum-*

145 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
stances required, prepared for his journey to Scot
land. But, fearing that his furious countrymen
might, by their advice, counteract his peaceful at--
tempts in his absence, he refused to leave the
court, till as many of thera as could be spared,
were ordered down before him. This was ex-
tiremely disagreeable to the bishops, and to Pre-,
sident Spotswood and Sir John Hay, forraerly
mentioned, as they knew theraselves to be detest
ed at horae ; and several of them were in danger
of prosecutions for debt. No sooner had Hamil-,
ton arrived at Edinburgh, than he found, to his
great dissatisfaction, that the covenanters had
agreed, that not one of thera should wait upon
hira without the concurrence of all the rest, Charles,
on the other hand, sent sixty barrels of .powder,
and some hundred stands of arms and matches^
to be lodged in the Castle, ^o be used against
them, if his proposals should not succeed. Being
secretly landed at Fisherrow, and thence convey-t
ed to Dalkeith, this occasioned a report that
Traquair had brought thera to blow up the cover
nanters, when they should raeet to confer with
Hamilton ; and his vindication of hiraself gave
too rauch ground to suspect his Majesty's hostile
intentions. It was also reported, that Hamilton,
as he passed, had ordered the sheriffs of Northum-
herland to have their trained bands in readiness.
Nor did he appear capable of clearing hiraself.
It was also reported, that the Earls of Huntley,
Herreis, Abercorn, and Winton, intended to
march their whole forces to Edinburgh for sup
porting his Majesty's pleasure. The covenanters,
who as yet appear to have purchased no arms
from abroad, set a ti^ratch upon the castle, that it

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 149
might not be reinforced or supplied with any
thing more than necessary provisions.
The marquis of Hamilton having taken up his
lodging at Dalkeith, the privy counsellors met
with Mm there ; all of whom the ministers, served
with an earnest intreaty to subscribe their cove
nant. The covenanters, thinking it neither safe
nor convenient to attend the privy council at
Dalkeith, Hamilton, after some altercation, and
a treaty, came to Edinburgh, where about 20,000
of them, five or seven hundred of whom were mi
nisters, raet hira; together with the town council,
inhabitants, and an infinity of woraeri and chil
dren ;• and old Mr. William Livingston wel
comed him with a short address. — In vain each
party laboured to find out the secrets of the
other. At last, Hamilton told them, that his
majesty was willing to abolish the canons, liturgy,
and other grievances, providing they would give
up with their covenant. By appointraent, Mr.
Alexander Henderson drew-up reasons against
this, bearing, Tbat it would involve thera in per
jury before God ;-.— would imply an acknowledgr
ment of the unlawfulness oftheir covenanting; —
would mark the vilest ingratitude to God, who
had singularly encouraged them in it ; — would
deny his coraraandraent binding thpra to vow and
pay to hira ;-^would conderan whatever like
work had been, or might be, transacted in this
church ; that they could not give up their cove
nant without the consent of God arid every per
son concerned in it ;-^that it could not be expect
ed, that their surrender of it would influence
their opponents to concur with thera in swearing
to the same things by virtue of a new command,
^ut Tvould represent them as inconstant, as brpakr

1.50 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
ers of their oath, and deniers of their faith, while
God was'calling them to confess it. The marquis
could obtain no more, than that the body of the
covenanters should retire from Edinburgh, leav
ing sorae deputies to transact with him iri their
name. These deputies immediately drew up a
supplication, in which, after an enumeration of
their grievances, they insisted for a free General
Assembly, and a Parliament, in order speedily to
redress them, as they were daily growing worse
and worse. And, to procure an-immediate an
swer, they dispersed a paper to be advised upon,
so as it might come into the hands of the cour
tiers, bearing, That since the grievances com
plained of respected the whole kingdom, the
remedies behoved to .be equally public and exten
sive, and effectual for preventing, like grievances
in time coming ; that only a free Assembly and
Parliament are able to produce such effects ; that
the bishops could not be their judges, till they
purge themselves of the crimes laid to their
charge ; that, if the court take dilatory methods,
it would be proper to consider of some other me
thod of calling a General Assembly ; that, if the
court should violently enforce obedience to their
will, a committee should be allowed to deliberate
what might be done for tbe defence of their reli
gion, liberty, and laws. Perhaps these strong
hints disposed the marquis to receive their peti
tion with the more appearance of regard.
He offered to proclaim his majesty's. pleasure;
but the deputies, knowing that it would not be
satisfactory, assured hira, that they would he cen-
strained to protest against it ; that thereby they
might justify their own and their fathers' conduct;
that they might manifest their adherence to thei^'

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 151
former testimonies ; that they mjght preserve and
manifest their union among themselves ; and
that they might publicly thank his majesty for
the concessions which he had made. When he
saw that the deputies had erected their scaffold
for the Earl of Cassilis, Mr, William Livingston,
and two others, to protest against the proclama
tion at the cross of Edinburgh, he forbore to pub
lish it ; and, as if earnestly desirous of peace, re
quired a conference with the deputies,. They ap
pointed Rothes, Montrose, and Loudon, to con
ifer with the Earls of Traquair, Southesk, and
Lord Lorn. As the agents frora Harailton pre
tended, that in the covenant there seeraed to be
a combination for protecting delinquents against
public authority and law, in other points besides
those which concerned the religion and liberties
of the kingdom; the covenanters, in a' remon
strance, .explained this, and gave the strongest
assurances of their loyalty, and again petitioned
for a free Assembly and Parliament. Chiefly
intending to gain time, till his majesty should be
ready to attack them with the sword, Harhilton
proposed to the covenanters, that since his pre
sent instructions could not content them, he
would ride post to London, and represent their
case, in consequence of which, he hoped quickly
to return with more satisfying proposals. Igno
rant of his wicked designs, they relished his rao
tion, and besought him to agent their cause with
his majesty, and procure them a free Assembly
and Parliament ; and add§d, that if he did not
quickly return, they should be excused, if they
took it for a denial of their request ; that their
cause should be no wise hurt by proclamations,
or any thing else, before his return ; that, in the

152 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
mean time, no forts should be repaired Or forti*
fied, orlawful commerce by sea or land interrupt
ed ; that none of the bishops should repair to
court, or, if called up, should return with, or be
fore hira ; and that the liturgy and canons should
be of no force.
To deceive the covenanting coramissioners, and
make most of thera return horae, Hamilton pre
tended to set off for London ; but returned next
day, wbenhehoped there would be none to protest;
published a proclaraation, probably drawri Up by
hiraself in his Majesty's narae, in which he pro- ,
mised never to urge the observation of the liturgy
and Canons, but in a fair and legal manner; that
he intended no alteration of the religion or laws
of the kingdora ; that he would rectify the High
Commission by advice of his council ; that with
the first conveniency he would call a free Gene
ral Assembly and Parliament, for the establish
ment of the religion presently professed. The
Earl of Cassilis, Alexander Gibson, laird of Dury,
Archibald Johnson, advocate, John Ker, minister
of Prestonpans, and James Fletcher, provost of
Dundee, protested againt it. Being informed,
that the privy council was solicited to approve of
this proclamation, the covenanters delivered to
the Marquis, and every other meraber, a copy of
their reasons against the ratification of it, bear
ing, Tbat it did not disallow or abolish the litur-'
gy and canons, but confirmed the proclaraation
of February 19th, and directly avowed, that they
might be legally imposed; that it did not abolish,
but establish the High Comntiission Court ; that
it did not grant any of their requests, but con
demned their procedure as disorderly and crirai
nal ; that it gave no grouiid to hope for freedom

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 153
from the articles of Perth, but the contrary ; that
it altogether concealed the guilt of the bishops i
that it gave nb certainty of a free Assembly or
Parliaraent ; that it did not acknowledge these
things, bf which they had coraplained, as innova
tions or superstitious ; but represented them aa
raeans of confirraing religion. But before the
counsellors got these reasons, all of them but
Lorn and Southesk had subscribed the procla
mation, at their own houses, and attested it to
be sufficient to content all his Majesty's gpod sub
jects. • "':': :
The disappointed covenanters, after solemn
supplications tovGod, presented to the Marquiai
a coraplaint of the counsellors approbation of the
proclaraation, bearing. That thereby the Lords
had, without hearing them, conderaned their pror
ceedings as criminal, and part of thera as treason
able; had confirmed all the calumnies of their ad-*
versaries against thera, and justified the injuries
which they had received ; and stopt the course of
his Majesty's favour towards them, on better in
formation ; had provoked him to use his power
against thera as disobedient subjects ; had prema
turely shewed, that they would assist his Majesty
in executing his threatenings against them; — and
therefore they begged thera to rescind their act.
Moved herewith, the Lords never rested till they
got back their act and tore it to pieces. Hamil
ton then offered the covenanters a more favour
able proclamation, prohibiting the observance of
the liturgy and canons, and rescinding all acts pf
council in favours of them, and forbidding the
High Comraission to sit till it should be diply re
gulated. But as this did not satisfy the covenan
ters it was not published. They nevfjrtl^eless

154 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
promised to behave quietly till the Marquis
should go to London, and inforim his Majesty
how things stood, and return. Meanwhile Charles
carried on his preparations in England and Ire
land for a warlike invasion of his native country;
andhis doctors of Aberdeen did what theycould,
by publishing their objections and duplies, to op
pose and disgrace the covenanters' bond. But
these were so answered by Messrs. Henderson
and Dickson, that a considerable number in and
about Aberdeen, both ministers and people, sub
scribed the covenant, notwithstanding all that
the doctors and Earl of Huntley could do to re
strain thera.
In consequence of Harailton's inforraation con
cerning Scotch affairs, Charles, after declaring
his own adherence to the Confession of Faith es
tablished in 1560, erapowered hira to cause all
the raerabers of privy council to subscribe it, to
gether with a new bond for the raaintenance of
its doctrines, and of the King's authority. If they
corapiled, he raight call a General Assembly
when and where they pleased, but, it behoved
him to take care that the bishops should have
power to vote, and one of them be moderator ;
that he might declare the articles of Perth indiffer
ent, and that ministers should be admitted, as
before the late coramotions ; that he should re
strict the power of bishops as little as possible';
and might, if he found proper, publish the last
mentioned proclamation and act of council. He
had other private instructions to take care of pre
lacy and prelates.
Returning to Edinburgh, Hamilton demanded
bf the covenanters. That all those ministers that
had been suspended by Presbyteries since Janu-

CHURCk OP SCOTLAND- 155
ar^ last, without warrant of their bishop, should
be reponed in their charges ; that all their former
modei-ators of Piresbyteries be reponed in their
places ; that such ministers as have been admit
ted since that tihie leave their charges ; that peo
ple resort to their own churches ; that no mini
sters corae to the Asserably, unless they be cho
sen coramissioners; that all the lawful moderators
of Presbyteries, be comraissioners ; that no lay
person, i. e. ruling elder, should interfere in the
choice of comraissioners frora Presbyteries; that
they should either give up, or alter their cove
nant ; that they should forbear their meetings in
time coming ; that ministers should haVe their
stipends piaid, and be secured in their persons.—
The covenanters, having answered these demads
in a manner that shewed they could riot be easily
imposed on, Harailton reduced thera all to two,
naraely. That no lay elders Or rainisters of ano
ther Presbytei'y should vote in the choice of com
missioners to the Assfeinbly; andthat the Assembly
should meddle with nothing which had been es
tablished by the Parliaraent, unless in remon
strances and petitions to that supreme court. Af
ter sorae friendly dispute araong themselves, the
covenanters rejected these deraands, as snares
laid to entrap thera; and finding that the Marquis
did not shew due forwardness in calling such
a free Asserably as they Wished, they resolved to
call one themselves, and published their reasons
for so doing, viz. That General Assemblies were
necessary for the welfare of the church ; that
Christ had given his church full power to convene
and hold councils when necessary ; that by virtue
of this divine right, this church had long, with
remarkable countenance from God, held her Ge-

156 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
neral Asserablies ; that the laws of the land, and
even the corrupt Asserablies of 1606, and 1610,
allowed the necessity of General Asserablies;
that at present a General Asserably was peculir
arly necessary for the suppression of error, re
dressing pf grievances, restoring of discipline,
peace, and unity ; for the rautual edification of
ministers and people ; for confirraing such a doubt
of the truth; for protecting faithful ministers,
and censuring Popish and Arminian teachers.
They also solved the objections which raight be
made to the^ calling pf it.
Finding that the covenanters were resolved to
have an AssemtAy raore free than his instructions
perraitted hira to call, Hamilton, with no sraall
difficulty, persuaded thera to delay all steps to
ward calling one theraselves, till he should again
post to London, and solicit his Majesty's concur
rence with their views. They agreed to wait till
the 20th of September, upon condition that he
should insist with his Majesty, that the Asserably
should be free, both as to its raembers, and the
matters handled in it ; that it should be held
within a short tirae ; and that it should raeet in
a place most commodious for all concerned ; and
that all interception of their letters in England
might be prohibited.— -Meanwhile, the deputies
agreed upon rules of choosing coraraissioners tp
the Assembly to be transmitted to the several Pres
byteries, viz. That the number of commissipner^
should be regulated by the act of the Assembly at
Dundee in 1597; that their commission should
empower them to act according to the word of
God, and the confession of faith in every thing
judged ; that every kirk session should have an
elder at the Presbytery, when the commissioners
7

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. J57
should be chosen ; that ministers under scandal
be imraediately processed, in order , to prevent
their being chosen for coraraissioners; that no
moderators of Presbyteries be raerabers of Asr
sembly by virtue of their office ; that notwith
standing their late soleran fast upon the 22d and
29th of July, they should observe another on the
Sabbath imraediately before the election of com
missioners, in order to iraplore the Lord's direc
tion in this iraportant step. As not a few of the
clergy were averse frora ruling elders sitting with
thera, in Presbyteries, Syriods, or Assemblies, co
pies of a paper, proving by a great many acts of
Assembly and Parliaraent, that such officers had,
a,nd ought to be in this church, in order to pror
curereadyaccessfor thera into Presbyteries. More
over secret instructions were transmitted to the
raore trusty clergyraen, bearing. That they should
protest against the choosing of any for commis
sioners, that were under any process for scandal;
that they should take care to have the bishops
tiraely brought under process for their offensive
behaviour ; that rainisters prepare theraselves for
disputing upon such points as are like to be hand
led in the Asserably ; that three rainisters be cho
sen out of every Presbytery, where they can be
had well affected to the cause of truth ; that the
well affected consult among themselves before the
election, that their election may fall on the same
persons; that the election of such as have chosen
bishops, have sat in the High Comraission, have
countenanced the King's chapel ceremonies, or
have offered to observe the liturgy and canons, or
have beeu justices of peace, be avoided, unless
they have acknowledged the sinfulness of their
former courses ; that where well affected noble-

158 A COMPJNDiOUS HISTORY OF THE
men or gehtlemen may be commissioned as rul
ing elders in different Presbyteries, they be cho
sen in that Presbytery in which there are fewest
able riiinisters. These hints were offered not as
authoritative rules, but as advices, as riiany had
Tjut little knowledge of Presbyterian goVerfiment.
While Sessions and Prebyteries were busy pro
moting the election of proper commissiohers,
Thomas Abernethy, a jesUit, having heard at
Rome of the wonderful providences of God to
wards his native country, hastened to Witness
them, and had not been long here, when, mani
festly persuaded of the truth, he was, upon his
earnest entreaty, adraitted into their church fel
lowship. His deep marked repentance and con
version, and his zeal for the covenant^ not a little
encouraged the covenanters.
Hamilton having reached the court, informed
his Majesty, that he durst not divulge his last in
structions, lest he should have thereby exposed the
royal authority to contempt, and that he. could
think of nothing so apt to remove the present jea
lousies of the raalcontents, as an order for the re
novation of the* rea/ioTia^ coz;erao!M? of 1581, which
contained a particular renunciation of Popery,
the fears of which had occasioned the malcontents'
late covenant. Charles was heartily provoked
to find all his stratagems' so unsuccessful ; but,
not being yet ready for the open war which he
intended, he instructed the Marquis to prohibit the
liturgy and canons, the High Commission, and ob
servance' of the articles qf Perth : — tp declare tbe
admission of ministers to their office perfectly
free ; and that bishops should be Subject to the
Assembly ; and to indict an Assembly and Par
liament as he saw cause, and to require ali the

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 159
sulyects to subscribe the covenant of 1581, and
bond of 1589. Returning to Edinburgh, Hamil
ton read Ms instructions to the privy council,
but could not persuade thera to subscribe the
above- raentioned covenant and bond, till a clause
was added, bearing, that they subscribed it accor
ding to its original meaning. They declared their
satisfaction with his Majesty's concessions ; and
that all his subjects ought to rest contented with
them ; and promised to sacrifice their lives and
fortunes in executing thera, and settling the peace
of the l^ingdom. They issued a proclamation for
a General Assembly to meet at Glasgow, Novem
ber 21st, and warned. bishops and comraissioners
tp attend it ; and another for a Parliaraent at
Edinburgh, on the 15th of, May next ensuing,
and warned the nobles, bishops, barons, and com
raissioners frora burghs, to attend it. They
cpminandpd aH the subjects to subscribe his Ma
jesty's cqven(i,ni and bond, with all expedition ;tt-
and then published his Majesty's proclamation.
The covenanters did not think it sufficient for the
redress of their grjevances^-as it did not clearly
and distinctly conderan the innovatioris of which
they had coraplained ; — it allowed the bishops
their wonted power, and so called them to their
seat as judges in the Asserably and Parliaraent.
They largely exhibited their reasons against ad
mitting pf any limitation of the Assembly, as
contrary to the word of God, the large Confes
sion pf Faith, and book of discipline, their forraer
contendings, and the ends of General Assemblies,
and to the acts of the church, or of Parliament,
ratifying the liberties of that court. They refus
ed to subscribe his Majesty's covenant^ as they
did not know but tbereby he intended to invali-

160 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OP THE
date and disgrace their late bbnd; as such a sub
scription raight araount to a taking of God's narae
in vain, raultlplying oaths without necessity ; as
it raight divide thera among themselves, and so
involve them in perjury ; as it would import that
their forraer vows had been rash and destitute of
lawful authority; as it would expose thera to the
reproach of inconsistency in religion; as it would
involve thera in an approbation of the articles of
Perth, their subscription answering to his Majes
ty's coraraand ; as it raight consist with an ap
probation of the liturgy arid canons; as it import
ed an unlawful going back from truth, when
God was calling to a steady adherence to it ; as
it approved the King's proclamation, and so im
ported acquiescence in his pardon of their former
proceedings, which they reckoned their requisite
duty and glory ; and because that part of the
narrative of his Majesty's covenant was different
frora that of 1581 ; and that it contained no en
gageraent to practical reforraation ; and because
the counsellors' subscription of it had but tend
ed to widen breaches, instead of healing them.
They farther protested. That the present distrac
tions of church and state were owing to the no
vations of which they coraplained, and not to their
groundless fears, as the proclaraation pretended ;
and that all questions relative to the freedora of
the Asserably in its constitution, members, and
points to be judged, or form and order of proce
dure, should be left to the determination of the
Asserably itself; that the bishops should attend
it, not as jiidges, but raerely for trial and censure;
and that, adhering to their own late covenant
with God, they ought not to be charged to sub
scribe any other, or to procure subscriptions to

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 161
it; that the subscription of his Majesty's cove
nant by the privy council, should not be preju-
dicialto theirs. — In this long protest, the cove
nanters had their eye upon the proclamation of
Septeraber 9th, and the acts of council complexly
taken, as'tbey knew that proclamation was to be
explained by thera.
Notwithstanding this soleran protest, Hanailton
and the privy council' dispatched their commis
sioners, assisted by their missives, to procure sub
scriptions to his Majesty's covenant. By extolling
his condescension, and the necessity and expedi
ence of subscribing it, these coramissioners did
what they could. Aware of this divisive mea
sure, the covenanters sent their deputies through
the nation, with copies of their late protest and
additional advices, warning their friends to avoid
the snare, and in as large numbers as they could,
to read the protest, wherever the King's procla
mation should be read,' Where the court com
missioners got the start, chiefly in the counties
of Aberdeen and Banff, in which the Earl of
Huntley had remarkable influence, they obtain
ed not a few subscriptions. About 28,000 in all,
subscribed it, more than the half pf whom were
in these two shires. In Aberdeen, the doctors
would not subscribe it without declaring, that
they understood it as consistent with Prelacy
artd the ceremonies. The citizens subscribed it in
the sarae sense. Here the Lord and Master of
Forbes,- at the hazard of their life, read the pro
test ; but the people were generally too much
overawed by Huntley, and addicted to the court,
and its novations, to regard it. The inhabitants
of Glasgow, warmly urge^ by Hamilton himself,
and by Orbiston, lord justice clerk, were many
Y

162 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
of thera on the point of subscribing ; but, having
got some time to' think on it, their scruples in
creased, and few complied.
While the court laboured to have all the ma
gistrates of "burghs to their mind, the elections
for tiie Asserably went almost every where in fa
vours of the covenanters. Part of the Presbytery
of Glasgow, for a tirae, opposed the election of
any reling elders to repr^ent them. But the
reasonings of Lord Loudon, and of Messrs. D.
Dickson, R. Blair, and J. Bonner reraoved most
oftheir scruples. As there were no judicatories
but Presbyteries, at the time, for citing the bi
shops to take their trial.at the Assembly ; and as
the King had called them up as judges, and his
commissioner refused warrants to cite them as
pannels, the covenanters first drew up a libel
agairist thera all, in which they accused them of
their coraraon faults, transgression of the caveais
estajilished by the Asserably 1600; — behaving
themselve& in a lordly manner ; — publicly teach
ing, conniving at, or countenancing Popish and
Arminian errors. To these they subjoined char
ges of drunkenness, whoredom, playing at cards
and dice, profane swearings bribery, simony, ly
ing, dishonesty in civjl bargains, and the like, to
be applied to particulars as they deserved. Ele
ven noblemen, thirty-one barons and gentlemen,
five ministers, and six burghers and comraons, in
narae of the covenanters that were not chosen
members ofthe Assembly, were appointed .to pro
secute thera before the Presbyteries where they
resided; and to add to the generaL libel what
other particular criraes they could prove against
thera. The Presbyteries, according to the advice
pf the Tables, referred" the matter to the Assemr 7

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 163
bly, and appointed the libel, with a citation of
them to the Assembl)^ to be read frora every pul
pit within the bounds of the Presbyteries con
cerned. Many processes were also commenced
against scandalous minister's, part of which were
referred to the Asserably.
The Tables farther advised. That all the no
blemen who had subscribed their covenant, should
meet at Glasgow on the Saturday before the As
serably; that every ruling elder chosen for the
Assembly, should bring along with* him four gen
tlemen as his assistants, whom he might consult
in difficult cases ; that each bui^h should send up
from two to six of their most judicious members
for the same purpose ; that according to his Ma
jesty's proclamation, the first Lord's day of No
vember should be spent in solemn fasting in con
gregations, for the Lord's direction, before mini
sters set off; that congregations take care that
no minister be hindered from attendance, for want
of necessary charges /--that such as had been de
coyed or compelled to subscribe the King's cove
nant, declare the same in writing, or before their
sessions. To prevent a numerous attendanceof
the covenanters at the Assembly, which might at
once protect and encourage their friends, Hamil
ton and his party did what they could, prohibit
ing every person concerned to hring in any with
hira but his own family and ordinary retinue.
But the covenanters protested. That all should
have liberty to attend, who had interest as par
ties, witnesses, judges, or assessors ; and that all
might come with such retinue as the privy coun
sellors should give example of, Traquair adivs-
ed to put as many of the covenanters as possible
to ihe horn, for not paying their taxes or debts ;

164 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
sorae of thera a few days before the meeting of
the Assembly. But they encountered this' stra
tagem with such a spirited remonstrance, aS
obliged the Marquis and council to. drop it.
When the Lords of Session met at Edinburgh
on the first day of November, Hamilton required
them to subscribe his Majesty's covenant, inti
mating, tbat his declared meaning of it was con
sistent vvith all the novations introduced into the
church since 1580. But, after a debate of three
hours, only nine of them would subscribe it. The
Lords Dury, Craighall, Scotstarvet, and Inner-
teil, refused, and protested. Hamilton declared
in the privy council, that it was his Majesty's
pleasure, that Episcopacy might be limited, but
not that it should be abolished; and therefore
urged them to approve it, as a mean of deterring
the Assembly from presuming to condemn it.
But Sir Thoraas Hope, lord advocate, so vigor
ously opposed this raotion in a paper which he
sent to the council, that it-miscarried. Hamilton,
almost infuriated, charged Sir Thomas to repair
to Glasgow, and there defend Episcopacy for his
royal master, as he should answer at his peril.
But Sir Thomas declined it, as a piece of service
for which he could not answer to God and his
conscience. Upon which Hamilton prohibited
him to go to that place at all. -While the cove
nanters were spending the 4th artd some follow
ing days of Noveraber in solemn fasting and
prayer for direction in, and blessing on, the en
suing Assembly, as Charles had appointed thera,
his design of making war upon them, and forcing
them to submit to his impositions, became more
and more manifest. The English arrested the
Scotch horses that were in their country : but

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 165
this was got compromised. Their ships were
stopped and searched by his comraand, probably
in order to apprehend General Lesly in his return
frorti Sweden. The coraraand of the castle of
Edinburgh was taken from the Earl of Mar, and
given to Ruthven, a trusty royalist. Prepara
tions were made for the fortification ^ of Ber wigk,
Carlisle, &c.
. Archbishop Spotswood had advised to hold this
Assembly at Aberdeen, to which the old, and
most able and trusty covenanters could* not have
travelled in the winter season, and where the
learned doctors of both universities were to op
pose them, and the Earl of Huntley could have
suddenly raised several thousands of bloody men
to overawe or suppress them. But Providence
directed Hamilton to fix upon Glasgow, where
no doubt he hoped that himself would have no
small influence. The Assembly met on the day
appointed, Nov. 21st, 1638, and consisted of 140
ministers' from 53 Presbyteries, and 95 inillng
elders, and 2 frora the universities. Never had
our' church or Assembly, in which solid sense,
strict piety, bold and prudent zeal, and divine di
rection, so reraarkably appeared. After spend
ing part ofthe first day in solemn prayer andfast-
ing, and reading of hisMajesty'sletter appointing
the Marquis of Hamilton his Commissioner, they
proceeded to the choice oftheir Moderator. Ha
milton, Traquair, and Lewis Stewart, whp acted
as King's advocate, vehemently pled, that the
commissions of the members should be first tried,
that so it might appear who had right to vote in
the election. But Rothes and Loudon, with
Messrs. Dickson, Henderson, and Williara Li
vingston opposed them with equal zeal and supe-

166 A COMIJENDIOUS- HISTORY OF THE
rior strength pf argument. They plgd. That it
had been the constant practice first to choose the
Moderator; that such respect was due to cora-
missions, the raost of which were, doubtles, va
lid, as entitled thera to vote in the choice of a
Moderator, that so the promiscuous meeting
might be gradually formed into an Assembly
instructed with regular comraissions^; that it be
longs to the freedom of an Assembly, that com
missioners choose' their Moderator immediately
after the exhibition of tbeir commission, lest any
thing be irregularly transacted in their presence
without their consent ; that, in their supplica
tions, they had insisted, that the matter and man
ner of assembling should be judged by the As
sembly itself, which cannot be done till the Mo
derator be chosen ; and that it would be a wrong
ing of the churches, which had sent up these
comraissioners, not to suffer thera to embody
theraselves in an orderly manner.
At last, after advising with the privy counsel
lors, the Marquis permitted them to choose their
Moderator ; — but protested. That this should
not import his approbation of any commission
which he should find ground to except against ;
and that the choice of the Moderator should not
prejudge the bishops of any office or dignity be
longing to them. In opposition to this, Rothes,
in name of the commissioners, protested. That
the Marquis's protestation should no wise hurt
any lawful commission to be produced, or mar
the freedom of the Assembly, which was to be
fenced in the name of the Son of God; and that
no protest in favours of the bishops could be ad
mitted, till both they and their claims were tried
and allovired. Lord Montgomery, in name of the

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 167
prosecutors of the bishops, jirotested, that the
Marquis's protestation should not hinder the dis
cussion of their libel against them. Harailton
then pled, that a declinature which he had receiv
ed frOra the bishops, should be imraediately read.
This being refused, he insisted, that six privy
counsellors should be allowed to vote as his as
sessors, according as they had been directed in
his Majesty's letter; — which was also refused.
After bbth sides becarae weary of altercation and
protestation, they proceeded to the choice oftheir
Moderator. Mr. Bell, an old rainister of the placfe,
who had opened the Assembly as Moderator pro
temp, taking care to put none other on the leet
but such as were too infirm, beside the celebrat
ed Mr. Alexander Henderson, he was unani
mously chosen, who having anew constituted the
court with prayer, made an handsome speech for
the direction and encouragement of his brethren.
Next day the Marquis, supported by Traquair
and Lewis Stewart, again unsuccessfully insisted
for the votes of the assessors, which issued in his
new protest against the denial, and a counter-
protest by Loudon in narae of the coramissioners
to the Assembly. For refusing Hamilton's de
mand, it was pled. That the Asserably was an ec
clesiastical raeeting of ecclesiastical rulers.; that
no political preses had any vote in the ancient
councils ; that in the thirty-nine first General As
semblies of this church, there was not so much as
a King's Coraraissioner present ; that after one
was introduced, he never had raore than one vote;
that Harailton's coraraission empowered none
but hiraself; that as he represented his Majesty,
the voting of assessors along with him as his equals,
would derogatefromtheroyal dignity; thatthough.

168 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THB
assessors had a power of reasoning, it behoved to
be only after the reasoning of merabers, and in
the way of proposing doubts.
The election of a clerk coming next upon the
carpet, Hamilton insisted, that Thos. Sandilands
should officiate for his aged father James, who
had been chosen by the Assembly 1616. But
the votes carried it almost unaniraously in fa
vours of Archibald Johnston, advocate, who, for
alraost two years, had faithfully served the cove
nanters without any reward. Upon inquiry for
the registers of forraer Asserablies, Sandilands
delivered up two voluraes, which contained, at
least, part of the acts between 1590 and 1610,
together with the minutes of 1616, 1617, and
1618, signed by his father; As soon as it aji-
peared, that no other member knew where any
more could be had, Johnston, their clerk, present
ed four volumes, which contained all the acts
from 1560 to 1590, except about twenty leaves,
which had been villainously cut out by Archbishop
Adamson, together with another volume, which
contained the acts of that whole period, some
what abridged. A coraraittee was appointed to
examine these books ; and upon an exhibition of
nineteen marks of their genuineness,*the Assem
bly sustained them as authentic registers. Mr.
Williara Scot of Cupar, afterward produced
another copy of these old minutes.
Notwithstanding the Marquis's earnest strug
gle to have the bishops' declinature first received;,
the Assembly proceeded to examine controvert
ed comraissions; and rejected such as proceeded
on irregular election, or that were not rightly at
tested. The bishops' declinature of the Asserably
. was then read by Dr. Hamilton of Glassford their

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 169
procurator. In it they protested. That the meet
ing was unlawful, and all its proceedings null and
void, because most, if not all, the coramissioners
to it had been chosen before his raajesty had in
dicted it ; and that the clerical comraissioners to
it were not qualified accbrding to law, having
never subscribed the Confession of faith, in the
presence of their bishops, nor sworn the oaths of
fidelity and supreraacy ,---'-nay, had refused to sub
scribe the Confession of Faith or covenant, as re
quired by his Majesty in 'Septeraber ; and that
they had seditiously irapugned the dignities and
privileges of bishops, who were an Estate in Par
liament ; that they had their commission from
Presbyteries, which had deposed their proper, i. e.
constant moderators, and elected others in their
stead ; that they had been chosen by lay elders ;
that they had seditiously opposed the order of the
king and authority of the church, and so are dis
qualified to sit in any ecclesiastical court ; that
they allowed of lay elders voting in, the Assem
bly ; — and that most, if not all, of the merabers
bad pre-oondemned Episcopacy and the articles
of Perth, and, by their covenant, had bound
themselves to oppose them ; that by their calum
nies and libels, they had made theraselves parties
in the cause of the bishops ; that they had ex
cluded all the bishops from sitting in the Assem
bly, unless they were deputed to it by Presbyte
ries ; that they had deprived primate Spotswood
of his privilege of moderatorship, and thrust one
chosen by Presbyteries and laymen into his place.
In fine, they pretended, that it was altogether
absurd for Presbyters and rauch more for lay el
ders, to judge diocesan superiors. The Assera
bly prepared their answers to these reasons

170 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
against next sederunt, in which they manifested
the absolute falsehood of some, and the weakness
of others.
After a tedious dispute with Dr. Balcanquel,
whom the marquis hdd brought along with him
for an assistant ; and when the Assembly was
¦proceeding to vote, whether they had power to
judge the bishops, notwithstanding their decli
nature, Hamilton gave in a written declaration,
in his Majesty's name. Which seeraed to grant
not a little redress ; but really bore, that every
thing should be left to the king's will, and that
the Assembly had no proper power to judge of
any thing, nor the church any security for any
thing. To this the moderator made an hand
some reply, in which he thanked his raajesty for
what kindness he had shewed, and pointed out
what power civil magistrates have with respect
to the church and her Asserablies. As they per
ceived the Marquis intent upon breaking with,
and leaving thera, they were at great pains to ob
viate his pretended scruples with respect to their
comraission, the freedom of their election, the
conduct of the Tables, and the power of ruling
elders. They shewed hira the irapropriety of
allowing advocates to plead the cause of the bi
shops at their bar, as it was contrary to tbe na
ture of ecclesiastical courts, was not allowed in
privy council, and had been refused by the As^
serably 1576. But nothing could retain him.
After repeatedly declaring, that he would not
suffer thera to judge the bishops, he, in his own
and their narae, protested, that no act of the As
sembly should be binding on any of the subjects ;
and in hisMajesty's named issolved their meeting,
and prohibited them to proceed to any business ;

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 171
but whether under any penalty, none of my cre
dible vouchers inform- Rothes protested against
the dissolution of the Assembly ; and that they
could not dissolve it, till their work was finished,
as it had been called by his majesty, and consti
tuted according to the word of God ; as his ma
jesty's commissioner had acknowledged it a law
ful court, and sat seven days in it and exhibited
his majesty's declaration to be registered in the
minutes of it ; that the continuance of it was ne
cessary for the many reasons contained in their
former supplications for it ; that their covenant
bound them to maintain the privileges which
Christ had left to his church ; that according to
the laws of this church and kingdom, neither the
king nor his coraraissioner have power to dissolve
a General Assembly ; that the Assembly had
formerly sitten, notwithstanding contrary require-
mertts of court ; that to dissolve now, after so
much preparation and progress towards redress
of grievances, without finishing tbeir work, would
offend God, and increase their misery ; that it
was absolutely necessary to explain the meaning
ef the national covenant subscribed in 1581, and
1590 ; and therefore he protested. That the As
serably had full power to continue and discuss
the whole business for which it had convened.
Messrs. Henderson, Dickson, and others, by their
sensibleand affectionate speeches, encouraged their
brethren to adhere to their duty, and shew them
selves as faithful to Christ as the Commissioner
had done himself to his king's coraraand, Deep
ly affected hei^eby. Lord Erskine, son to the Earl
of Mar, with tears beggedthe Asserably's allow
ance to subscribe their covenant. Messrs. For
bes and M^Kail ministers, lately come from Hoi.

172 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
land, followed his example. Encouraged by this,
and conscious of their duty, the whole Assem
bly, except four or five, by a vote, proraised to
continue sitting, at all hazard, till their business
should be finished : and imraediately after, by
another vote, sustained theraselves lawful and
corapetent judges of the bishops, notwithstand
ing their declinature and protestation.
Next day, November 29th, a proclamation
subscribed by the Marquis and most of the privy
counsellors was published over the cross of Glas
gow, prohibiting all the members of the Assem
bly, under pain of high treason, to meet or judge
any thing further ; and charging them to leave
Glasgow within twenty-four hours ; and declar-,
ing, that all their acts and deeds posterior to
yesterday's dissolutions should be held null and
void; and prohibiting the subjects to regard or
obey the same. In answer to this, Archibald
Johnson, Lord Erskine and others, read the pro
testation, which Rothes had given in the day be
fore, as the mind of the court. And further pro
tested, that they and their brethren had no dis
loyal designs ; that all ecclesiastical causes of ge
neral concern ought to be discussed, and the
peace of the church fully settled, and its peace
and order re-established, before the Commission
ers depart ; that if the Marquis would leave the
church and kingdora in such disorder, it should
be lawful for thera to contirtue sitting till they
had finished their work; that this Assemhly should
be held lawful, and its deeds of equal force with
those of other free General Assemblies ; that no
bad consequences ensuing upon the hindering or
molesting ofthe freedom of this Assembly should
be imputed to thp ra, but to the bad advice of the

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 173
hishops; on account of which, they are hereby again
summoned to attend the Asserably, hear proof led,
and sentencepassed upon thera accordirtgto justice.
In fine, they protested their adherence to all their
forraer protestations, and left roora for extending
their paper or reasons, as they should find neces
sary for vindicating their procedure.
After the hurry of the proclaraation, the As
serably met, and the Moderator recommended to-
thera, as in the sight of God, to behave them
selves in the most pious, prudent, peaceable, and
orderly manner, answerable to their circura
stances. Lord Lorn, i. e. Argyle, carae back,
and being desired by the Moderator to counte
nance thera, and witness the rectitude of their
procedure, he proraised to do so, and begged
thera to proceed wisely, with the utraost defe
rence due to their Sovereign. Sorae at first
looked upon hira as a court spy and check upon
them ; but it soon appeared, that he acted from
an hearty love to Christ and his cause. About
the same tirae, the Earls of Wigton, Kinghorn,
Galloway, Mar, artd Lord Napier, privy counsel
lors, joined the covenanters, which not a little
encouraged the Asserably. To wipe off the re
proaches which had been cast upon thera, in the
bishops' declinature, Messrs. Blair, Livingston,
Hamilton, and M'Lellan, who had been driven
from Ireland, shewed that it had been merely for
their adherence to the doctrine, worship, disci
pline, and government of the church, sworn to in
the late, covenant. And Messrs. Dickson, Ru
therford, and the Laird of Earlstoun, who had
been censured by the High Commission, repre
sented, their case to the full satisfaction of the
whole Assembly. On that day, and the next,

174 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
committees were appointed to inquire into the
original sense of the national covenartt ; — -to pre
pare matters for the trial of the bishops;— to con
sider the new liturgy and canons ; — and to form
an act nullifying the Assemblies 1606—1618.
After the Moderator had largely shewed the
intrinsic power of the church, particularly in ad
ministering discipline to her scandalous members,
and Messrs. Dickson and Ramsay had shewed the
error and wickedness of the Armirtian tenets, the
Assembly proceeded to discuss some cases of scan
dal, which had been referred to them. Mr. Mit
chel being proved chargeable with Arminian er
rors, and glorying in thera ; and with procuring
an order by the bishops' means for stopping his
trial before his Presbytery ; artd with declirting
this Assembly, was deposed artd excomrauuicated.
Dr. Panther beirtg proved guilty of approaches:
towards the Popish doctrine of justification by
works, and towards the Pelagian, in denying ori
ginal sin, and of propagating Arminian errors,
was refferred to a committee, which deposed him.
Dr. Gladstones, being proved guUty of drunken
ness and Atheistical profaneness, was deposed.
When tbe trial of the bishops came on, it was
proved against them all. That tbey had tram
pled on the Caveats of the Assembly 1600 ; —
had accepted consecration to their Episcopal of
fice; and oppressed tbe church with irtriovatiorts.
Against Spotswood Archbishop, of St. Andrew's,
it was further proved, that he had been an ordi
nary profaner pf the Lord's day, playing at cards
or dice in the time of publie worship, or riding
throiugb the country the whole day; that he some-i
times sat tippling in taverns till midnight ; that he
^ad felisified the acts of the Aberdeen Assembly;

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 175
and was an avowed reproacher of our old Assem
blies and national covenant ; and it was further
Undertaken to prove hira guilty of adultery, sacri
lege, and frequent simony. Against Sydserf of
Galloway, it was proved, that he had taught Ar
minian errors ; that he had kept a crucifix in his
closet, and defended the use of it frora his own
comfortable experience ; that, at his own hand,
he had appointed two anniversary fasts in his dio
cese; that, at his Synod, he had corapelled raini
sters to receive the coraraunion upon their knees ;
that, for mere non- conformity to novations, he
had deposed and piipcured the banishment of the
most erainent ministers, and had confined or fin
ed sundry gentleraen ; that he had shewed kind
ness to excoramunicated Papists ; that he had
condemned family prayers; that he had profaned
the Lord's day, huying horses, and transacting
other secular business on it. Against Whiteford
of Brichen, it was proved, that he had been guilty
of several acts of adultery and excessive drink
ing; that he had used a crucifix in his closet;
that he had preached Arminian and Popish er
rors ; and that he was generally infaraous for se
veral other criraes. Against Lindsay of Edin
burgh, it was proved, that he had violently urged
the late innovatiorts ; that he had refused to ad
mit such to the ministry as would not first take
the order of preaching deacons ; that he used to
bow towards the altar, and wear the rochet ; that
he had domineered over Presbyteries, allowed
clandestine marriages, and countenartced corrupt
doctrines ; that he had lifed up the elements in
the Lord's supper at the consecration, and labour
ed to prove tkat Christ's manhood was omnipre
sent. He might also have been proved guilty of

176 A CO.MPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
profane cursing and swearing, and of avowed ne^
gleet of lecturing. Against Ballantyne of Aber
deen, were proved frequent acts of simony, vio
lent pressing of the liturgy and careoW»; suspend
ing of ministers for fasting on the Lord's day,
and ordering all fasts to be held on Wednesdays:
and that he had, in the Popish raanrter, consecrat
ed the chapel of theinfamousLadyof Wardhouse;
and that he had stopped processes against Pa-
piists and incestuous persons. Against Maxwel
of Ross, it was proved, that he had publicly read
the liturgy in his own house and cathedral ; that
he bowed towards the altai;; that he deposed
faithful rairtisters, artd admitted known fornica
tors to the Lord's table ; that he was a familiar
companion of Papists, and an ordinary player of
cards and dice on the Lord's day, and once upon
a communion Sabbath ; that he had often adrai
nistered Popish absolution to sick persons ; that
he had consecrated preaching deacons; that he
had robbed his vassals of above 40,000 raerks ;
that he kept superstitious fasts every Friday ;
that he ordinarily set off on his journeys on the
Lord's day; and that he had been a principal in
strument of all the trouble which had lately be
fallen the church and rtationi Agairtst Wedder-
borrt of Dumblane it was proved, that he had been
a principal compiler of the liturgy, and practiser
and urger of it, and other innovations ; that he
had been an assistant of Archbishop Laud, and a
propagator of Arrairtian errors. Agairist Lirtd-
say, archbishop of Glasgow, it was proved, that
he had urgfed rairtisters to observe the liturgy and
canons under pain of horning; that he had op
pressed his clergy with his exactions, and kept
sorae of them altogether out of their stipends ;
5 ,

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 177
that he had sold the office of commissary ; that
he had greatly oppressed his vassals ; and that
he had iraposed oaths of his own invention up
on candidates for the ministry. These eight
were deposed from all power in the church, and
summarily excGmmunicated, and delivered over
to Satan. Against Grahara of Orkney it was prov
ed, that he had tyrannically doraineered over his
clergy ; that he had openly profaned the Lord's
day by curling on the ice ; that he had dilapi
dated part of the ecclesiastical revenues to his
friends; that he overlooked adulterers and char
mers ; that he neglected preaching himself, and
withheld frora ministers a part of their stipends
for the building of his cathedral. Against Guth-
ry of Murray it was proved, that he had avow
ed conforraity to the English Popish cereraonies;
that at his daughter's marriage he had danced in
hi^ shirt ; that he had conveyed sorae woraen
barefooted to a chapel, in order to do Popish pen^
artce ; that he ordirtarily rode about on the
Lord's day, and had said, that he would borrow
a part of that frora God, and raake it up sorae
other way. , Against Fairly of Argyle, it was
proved, that he had urged wicked oaths upon
entrants to the rainistry, and the observance of
the liturgy ; that he had oppressed his vassals ;
and that he bad preached Arminian errors, and
had profaned the Lord's day. These three, to
gether with Campbell of the Isles, were deposed
frora all power arid function in the church, with
certification, that they should be excoramunicat
ed if they did not speedily martifest their repent
ance. Lindsay of Dunkeld, and Abernethy of
Caithness, though little better than, their bre
thren, having submitted theraselves to the A^-
2 a

178 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
sembly, were only deposed from their pretended
power of ruling over other rairtisters, and repre
senting the church in Parliaraent, and suspended
from the ministry, with certification, that if they
did not submit to this censure, they should be ex
comraunicated. A number of inferior clergymen
were also tried and censured for their scandalous
behaviour, part of it so gross, as to be a reproach
to huraanity itself Others were reraitted tb their
Presbyteries, or to comraittees appointed by the
Assembly, by which they were suspended or de
posed, as was reckoned most just and expedient.
In their intervals of censuring work, the As
sembly carried forward their other business. The
six Assemblies of 1606, 1608, 1610, 1616, 1617,
1618, which King James had packed and govern
ed by his own will, were deplared to have been
no courts of Christ, but null aud destitute of all
authority Upon this the Moderator observed,
that all those, that had eutered to the ministry
under bishops, were npw freed frora their oath of
conforraity ; that Presbyteries did well in casting
off the bishops' authority as early as possible ;
and that it was now their duty to stand fast in
the liberty wherewith Christ hath raade them
free. After Mr. Dickson and Lord Loudon had
largely spoken to the sarae purpose, an act was
made, declaring the oaths iraposed by the bishops
upon entrants to have been null and void froni
the beginning; that the power of Presbyteries
had been unjustly suppressed, and therefore it
was most lawful 'for thera to resurae it, and to
choose their Moderators, and censure, and admit
to the ministerial office, or a seat in the Presby
tery, according to justice. That same day, large
ti;acts which had been forraed against the liturgy

CHURCH OF SCOtLANDi 179
&hd canons, the formula of clerical brdihations, and
the High Commission were read; ahd all the four
condemned. They condemned the liturgy or book
of common prayer, because it was devised, and irt-
trodudedj aud pressed by the bishops, without arty-
direction or warrant from the church; because it
contained a Popish form of divine service, and
many Popish errors and ceremorties, the seeds of
martifold and gross superstition and idolatry, and
so repugrtant to the doctrine, discipline, and or
der of this church, and to the confession of faithji
national covenant, and acts of Assembly and Par
liaraent establishing the true religionj They cori-
derarted the '600^ of canons, as devised by the bi-^
shops without any warrant and direction from
the church, in order to establish their own tyran
nical power over the worship of God, and the
consciertces, liberties, and goods of "men, and to
overthrow the whole governraent of the church
by Assemblies, Synods, Presbyteries, arid Ses-*
sions established by her confession and constitu-
tiorts. They condemned the book of consecration
and ordination^ as intrbduced without any civil
or ecclesiastical warrant; as establishing offices in
God's house without warrant of his Word; as-re-
pugrtartt to the discipline and constitutions of this
church; as hindering faithful men from the mini
stry, or from fulfilling the duties of it. They con
deraned the High Commission, as erected without
the consertt of either church or state ; as subvprt-
Irtg the .ordirtary judicatories of the church; as
arbitrary, artd npt regulated by any laws ; as
minglirtg the civil artd ecclesiastical power, and
so as unlawful in itself, and prejudicial to the li
berties of the church, and the King's honour in
maintaining them.

180 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
The national covenant having been lately ta
ken iff three diff'erent senses, Argyle and others
intreated, that they would speediiy manifest the
original meaning of it. From many old acts of
Assembly, in favours of parity araong rainisters,
artd against Episcopacy, it was found evident,
that Prelacy was considered about 1581 and 1589,
as a branch of the Romish hierarchy abjured in
the national covenant; and therefore ought to be
removed out of the church. Though about fifty
merabers did not add the word abjured ih their
vote, yet only Mr. Bailie plainly manifested his
doubt of all kind of Prelacy being renounced in
that oath. — The Assembly also, by comparing
them with the word of God and old acts of As
sembly, found the articles of Perth to be abjured
by the covenant 1581, and 1589; and therefore
to be removed. •
In their 23d and 24th sessions, the Asserably
revived old, or framed new acts for promoting of
reformation among all ranks. They revived the
act of 1596,- relative to the corruptions of mini-i
sters, and remedies of thera. They approved the
erection of sorae Presbyteries, and erected others
in Argyleshire. They appointed that Presbyteries
be holden weekly ; and that an exercise and ad
ditions be given in, and an exegesis exhibited and
sustained at each ; that Presbyteries visit all the
congregations in their bounds oiice every year,
and exaraine how faraily worship is observed, and
take care that the youth be diligently instruct
ed ; that schools and colleges he visited, and the
orthodoxy, ability, and regularity of conversation
ofthe masters, tried ; that no minister be absent
from his congnegation above forty days irt a year,
without special liberty ; that schools be planted

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 181
in landward places, and the teachers catechise
the coraraon people ; that Presbyteries have the
whole power of admitting ministers, and choos
ing their own Moderators ; that the Lord's sup
per be raore frequently adrainistered ; that, in or-
dinary cases, rainisters be twenty-five years of age
before they be ordained ; that burghs take pro
per care to change their raarkets, which are on
Monday or Saturday, to some other day of the
week; that the Lord's day be carefully sanctified;
that there be afternoon sermons in country pa
rishes; and that Presbyteries take care to have
the old acts against going of mills, salt pans, or
fishing of salmon, on that day, duly executed: —
that obstinate frequenters of the corapany of ex
coramunicated persons be excomraunicated; that
such as speak or write against the late covenant
of this Assembly or its acts, be censured ; that all
Popish titles of abbots, priors, deans, or other ec
clesiastical dignity, be abolished ; *that none be
admitted into any office of pastor, reader, or tea
cher, contrary to the will of the congregation
to which they are appointed ; that no raarriages
be celebrated without due proclaraation of banns;
that funeral serraons be disused, as savouring of
superstition ; that the abilities and practice of
candidates for the ministry be carefully examin
ed ; that Presbyteries take care to excommuni
cate such ministers as acquiesce not in lesser cen
sures inflicted by this Assembly. — ^They also fixed
a plan of fourteen Syriods, and assigned six Pres
byteries to tbe Synod of Merse and Tiviotdale ;
six to tbat of Lothiart ; four to that of Dumfries ;
three to that of Galloway ; two to that of Ayr ;
five to that of Glasgow ; five to that of Argyle ;
five to that of Stirling ; four to that of Fife ; four

182 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
to that of Angus; seven to that of Aberdeen ; three
to that of Ross ; three to that of Caithness ; two
to that of Orkney ; six to that of Murray ; and
appointed their first meetings on particular days
of April next ; and that they should all maintain
a correspondence with their next neighbours, and
for that purpose send one or two comraissioners
to their meetings. — It is scarcely worth while
to raention the transportations requested at this
Assembly, as of Mr Dickson to Glasgow ; of .Mr.
Cant to Pitsligo; of Messrs. Sharp and Hamilton
to Paisley; of Mr. Douglas to Kirkaldy; and of
Blair and Rutherford to St. Andrew's. The two
last warraly opposed their own reraoval ; nor
would Rutherford at all accept of the professor
ship of divinity, without a congregation to which
he raight preach Christ. But, to prevent trans
portation for the future, as much as possible^
it was recbramertded to Presbyteries to settle
Messrs. Davfd Calderwood, Jaraes Guthry, and
about sixty-eight others, who, in the late times,
had been denied admission, and driven froin their
charges. Next' day the Assembly condemned all civil
power of ministers. They agreed to petition the
Parliament for a ratification of their acts. They
asserted the divine right of ruling elders. Upon
December 20th, in their last sessibn, they enact
ed, that none should print any thing relative to
the church, without a licence from their clerk :
that Presbyteries and Synods should censure such
ministers as were scartdalous, or would uot ac
knowledge this Asserably, and submit to its re
quirements. They approved the late national
covenant, and required all ministers, masters
of universities, colleges, and schools, and others.

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 1S3
w^o had not^ubscribed it, to take it speedily, as
abjuring Prekicy, the articles of Perth, artd the civil
places and power of ministers ; and prohibit the
taking of it in any other sense. They asserted
the intrinsic power of the church, and the divine,
ecclesiastical and civil warrant of the General
Assembly to raeet once every year, or oftener, as
her necessities require. They appointed their
next raeeting at Edinburgh, on the 3d Wednesday
of July next; but required Presbyteries rather to
keep the King's .diet, if he should appoint one.
They formed a supplication to his Majesty, vin
dicating their conduct, and imploring his appro
bation and concurrence. They appointed the
marvellous kindrtess of God towards thera to be
thankfully comraeraorated in their several con
gregations and Presby tpries, after their return
horae ; and that they should read the acts of As
sembly to tbeir congregations on the firt Sabbath,
and on the next observe a soleran thanksgiving to
God. After an excellent speech by the Modera
tor, in which he exhorted all present to consider,
and be thankful for the Lord's goodness to thera,
and to raanifest their gratitude to his Majesty in
earnest prayer for hira and conscientious obedi
ence to him ;" he was seconded by Messrs. Dick
son and Ramsay; — and Argyle, desired by theMo-
derator, represertted their deep obligation ' to a
careful performance of their duty toward superi-^
ors, inferiors and equals. After concluding with
prayer, the Moderator added. Now we have cast
down the walls of Jericho, let hira, who rebuilds
them, beware of the curse of Hiel the Bethelite.
On the fSth of December,aToyal PROCLAMATION
was read over'the cross of ^Edinburgh, extolling
his Majesty's condescension; vindicating the con-

184 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
duct of theMarquisof Hamilton, his coraraissioner,
and charging the covenanters with many disorder
ly and disloyal practices, in guarding the castle pf
Edinburgh, stopping importation of warlike ara
raunition to his Majesty's houses, carrying arms
with them to the Glasgow Assembly, contrary to
his prpclamation ; and citing his privy counsellors
to answer tp him and his Parliaraent for their
subscription of the late proclamation at Glas
gow, &c. In their protest, read in answer to
this, the covertanters replied. That they had done
nothing to the castle of Edinburgh, but watched
it in order to prevent their own danger; that, by
the laws of the land, and maxiras of all natiorts,
the public safety is the supreme law, and the end
of all lawful power; that, by the laws ofthe land,
all fortifications are to be kept for the Welfare of
the subjects, as well as for his Majesty's behoof;
that they had carried arms to Glasgow to defend
themselves frora the outlawed clan Gregors, who
just before had ravaged the country about — and
had but followed the example of his Majesty's
Commissioner and his attendants ; that, according
to law, counsellors, who had given bad counsel,
ought to be prosecuted before proper judges, civil
or ecclesiastical. They further shewed, that the
prohibition of obedience to the acts of Assembly,
artd assurance of protection in disobedience to
them, coritained in the proclamation, were con
trary to scripture — the practice of the priraitive
church — the civil and canon law— ^-the law of rta-
tions^ — the acts of forraer faithful asserablies —
and to the large confession of faith, and national
covenant. •
After the Assembly, the court party appeared
more and more furious. The old college of AJier-
7

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 185
deen threatened Mr. Lundy, their Commissioner,
with deprivation, because he had continued in
tfie Assembly after it was dissolved in his Ma
jesty's name. They agreed to shut their gates
against the Coraraittee, which the Assembly had
appointed to visit their university, and that no
meraber should acknowledge their power under
pain of deprivation. The Marquis of Huntley
published the King's proclaraation of Deceraber
18th, and declared his resolution to keep the
country for his Majesty's service. The town
council put their city into a posture of defence.
Before Hamilton set off for London, in the be
ginning of January 1639, sorae principal cove
nanters waited upon him, and besought him to
intercede with his Majesty in their favours ; but
he answered thera with threats of a speedy exe
cution of royal vengeance upon thera. They
nevertheless transraitted their supplication to
Charles himself, who received it with the utmost
contempt, but still disguised his warlike inten
tions, being not fully prepared to execute them.
He meant to invade them with 60,000 forces
frora England and Ireland, But the Papists and
high flying Episcopalian clergy were almost the
only willing contributors towards the charge.
Scotchmen at court were required to abjure the
late covenant and Assembly, and to swear, that
they wouid assist his Majesty against their coun
try, whenever he should require them. Under
pretence, that the Scots were arming to invade
and extirpate Prelacy from England, Charles,
on January 26th, issued forth a proclamation, re
quiring all the English nobility and gentry to at
tend his standard at York ; and appointed Hunt
ley his lieutenant general for raising of forces in
2b

186 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
Scotland, Meariwhile, the covenanters proceed-^
ed in reforraing the country from wickedness,
and in censuring the scandalous. To vindicate
themselves, they carefully dispersed a paper
through England, directed to all good Christians
there. Highly enraged at the due credit which
it obtained, the Scotch bishops instigated Charles
to emit a proclamation, declaring all the cove
nanters traitors and rebels, to be read from all the
pulpits in Englarid. The answer of the covenan
ters to it, which was also industriously dispersed
through England, rendered them more and more
pitied, and their eneraies proportionally abborredt
Being at last fully convinced of Charles's inten
tions to attack them in war, they studied to have
the lawfulness of taking up arms in their own
defence fully cleared to their Own consciences, as
well as to the world. Mr. Bailie and the Earl of
Cassilis, for a time, much doubted if it was law
ful to resist their Sovereign, in a forcible manner.
But Mr. Henderson, by appointment, drew up a
paper which solved their scruples, and vindicated
such conduct. Sorae moved, that theyshould sup
plicate assistance from the French, Swedes, or
Dutch ; but others, doubting bf the propriety bf
confederacies with Lutherans, and much more
with Papists, they resolved, by the help of God,
to stand by theraselves. Only they agreed to
supplicate the French King, the States General,
the Prince of Orange, Queen of Sweden, and
King of Denmark, to intercede with their own
Sovereign, that he would grant their requests a
fair and unbiassed hearing; which, had they done,
it would have prevented much reproach of them
in the nations around. Meanwhile, they ear
nestly prepared for their own warlike defence.

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 187
While General Lesly invited home the Scotch
officers from the Swedish army in Germany, and
procured military stores from Holland, Argyle
laboured to secure the peace of the North, and to
fix as many as he could in the covenanters' inte
rest. But Huntley, his brother-in-law, was too
much in the bishops, if not the Pope's interest,
to attend their raeeting when desired.
The danger ofthe covenanters was exceedingly
<alarraing. The Scotch mariners, travellers, and
merchants, in England and Irelartd, were every
where treated as rebels ; their goods seized, and
their persons imprisoned, unless they abjured the
late national covenant and Glasgow Assembly.
The King's army at York increased fast. The
Marquis of Huntley and Earls, of Airly and
Southesk, and the citizens of Aberdeen, began
to take arras, and threaten the covenanters in
these parts with imraediate destruction. In the
^outh, the Marquis of Douglas, Lords Nithsdale,
Herreis, and their followers, and those of the
Marquis of Hamilton, had or were taldng arms
for the same purpose. The Earls of Galloway,
Dumfries, Traquair, Roxburgh, Queensberry, and
the Viscount of Dalziel were suspected of an in
clination to join thera ; and that, by the influence
of Hamilton and others, the citizens of Glasgow
would be made to do the same. The Earl of An
trim was preparing to transpoijt hither ten or
twelve thousand of his Irish countrymen, pro
bably raost of thera cruel and murderous Papists.
Many of the Scotch McDonalds had gone to join
them, in hopes of robbing Argyle of Kintyre, as
they returned. Harailton conducted his Majes
ty's navy for the Firth of Forth, while he himself
brought n,orthward the main army by land.

188 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
Notv^ithstanding all, the covenanters levied
and trained their troops in the best way they
could. God delivered into their hand the strong
castles of Edinburgh and Dumbarton without a
single drop of blood. Nor did those of Strath
aven, Douglas, Tantallort, and Brodick cost
much more. Instigated by Montrose and Mar
shal, about seven or eight thousand, rtorthward
of the Tay, took arms, with whom Montrose
obliged the Aberdonians to surrender their city,
and obliged Huntley to swear the coveuartt, as
directed by the Asserably, and to send Corarais
sioners to concur with the other covenanted de
puties at Edinburgh, in supporting the comraon
cause. Having fortified Leith, and put the coun
try into a posture of defence, the covenartters
once and again, but without success, attenjpted
to supplicate his Majesty's friendship. — Meaur
while. Providence raarvellously interposed in their
favours. Five or six thpusand Walloons and Irish,
coming over against them, were by the Dutch Ad
miral driven back to Dunkirk, which then per
tained to England, The tyranny of Strafford,
Lieutenant of Ireland, rendered it unsafe to send
over any more than about 1 500 ragamuffins, good
for little else but theft, robbery, and murder.
Most of the English either declined serving in
the invasion, or were very unhearty in it. The
Pope required his votaries to withhold their as
sistance, unless upon condition of a secured open
liberty for their reUgion. Contrary winds de
tained Hamilton's fleet till Huntley aud his fac
tion were suppressed, and the covenanters had
got most of their warlike stores imported froni
abroad.

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 189
Hamilton, at last arriving in the Forth, trans
mitted to the town couucil of Edirtburgh, the
King's proclamatiori, declaring them all traitors,
who^did not within eight days subrait to his will ;
and disponing their estates to their superiors or
vassals, that should assist in suppressing thera —
to be published over their cross: If ready obedience
was not given, Charles had appointed hira to pro
secute thera with fire and sword. The council
begged to.be excused frora publishing this procla
mation till the Estates of Parliament, which were
to meet in a few days, should consider it. Meet
ing upon May 9th, they found, that as the pro
clamation was written and printed without the
kingdom, and not warranted by the privy coun
cil, and was of so dangerous consequence, it could
not be legally published ; that by the laws of the
land, no treason or forfeiture of life or estate^
even of the meanest subject, far less of Peers,
and the body of the nation, could be declared,
but in the Parliaraent or supreme court of jus
tice, upon due citation and legal proof; and that
as the proclaraation required a raaterial renunci
ation of their covenant, they could not obey it
without bringing a curse upon the nation. They
transmitted their resolution to the Marquis. He,
next day, wrote to the Earl of Rothes, and
after receiving a bold reply, returned answer,
that he intended to die in his Majesty's cause,
and to the utraost of his power prove an enemy
to his obstinate countrymen. He was neverthe
less more merciful than his party wished, arid la
boured to persuade Charles to a treaty of peace.
The Parliaraent raeeting on May 15th, they
agreed to prorogue it till any day his Majesty
pleased. But, before they left Edinburgh, they

190 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
appointed General Lesly their railitary Coraraan
der in Chief Meanwhile, Lord Aboyn, Huntley's
son, and other Lords appointed by Charles, had
raised a new army in the North. An invasion
from Ireland was hourly expected. The inacti
vity of Charles's army on the north border of Eng
land, and of his fleet in the Forth, was apprehend
ed to proceed from a design to gain tirae, till the
covenanters should be ohliged to disperse them
selves for want of provisions. After solemn fast
ing and prayer, Montrose, who was offended that
his late activity in the North was not rewarded
with the principal comraand, was dispatched to
attack the royalists in the North. General Lesly
marched his army toward the border of Eng
land — while the select committee fixed the pro
per methods of modelling and supplying their
troops. The accounts of their instructions, and
of Lesly's march, being conveyed to theEnglish ar
my at Birks, about three miles south frora Berwick,
threw raany of thera into a terrible consternation.
Charles was obliged to issue forth a proclamation.
That he was desirous of peace, and ready to grant
the Scots tbeir just requests. But, fearing that
information of the true state of affairs would ren
der many of his officers and forces altogether averse
to attack them, he commanded their array not to
corae within ten miles of his own ; in which, to
manifest their desire of peace, and their readi
ness to obey hira in every thing lawful, they sub
mitted. The bishops : persuaded him, that fear
had made them stop at the appointed distance^ —
and to re- publish his proclamation of April 25th,
declaring them all rebels that did not lay dPwn
their arms within eight days, and setting a price
pn the heads of their chiefs, andicharging. theif

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 191
vassals and tenants to pay them no more rents.
This was published at DunsCi The Earl of Hol
land, with 4000 men, was appointed to publish
it at Kelso : but Colouel Monro, and the Lords
Fleraing and Erskirte, with their forces, obliged
them to retire with the utraost terror and preci
pitation. Lesly advanced to Dunse Law with his
army. Contemptible enough in his crooked shape,
and of no more than the rank of a gentleman, he
behaved himself with such prudence and autho
rity, that all the nobles readily obeyed his com
mands, which he wisely issued forth in the form
of advices. His raw troops, being daily exercis
ed, made great progress in military skill. They
had sermons and public prayers, every morning
and evening,frora their beloved ministers. Scarce
ly was there a single tent, in the whole array, in
which joint prayers and praises were not twice
every day offered to God. — The frarae of their
souls was no less spiritual and elevated, than if
they had been attending a noted coraraunion.
Persuasion of the goodness of their cause, and of
God's assistance in it, made them altogether bold
and resolute for battle, if necessary.
His army being increased to 20,000, Lesly in
clined advancing nearer to the English carap,
that, if possible, he might apprehend some ofthe
principal incendiaries, who had kindled the war.
Informed of his intentions, the English laboured
in fortifying their carap ; and being inferior in
numbers and ardour, were earnestly desirous of
peace. In order to deceive the covenanters, one
Lesly, a Scotch doraestic of Charles, came to
their camp at Dunse Law, and, with solemn pro
fessions of regard to his country, falsely pretend
ed that the English forces were multiplying so
1

192, A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
fast, that they were in the Utmost danger of be
ing quickly swallowed up by thera ; and therefore
begged that they would once raore supplicate his
Majesty for a treaty of peace, in which, he said,
sevetai of theEnglish nobility would second them.
The Scotsj nothing terrified by his tidings, but
looking on him as sent by sorae of the English,
condescended to transrait another hurable suppli-
dation to Charles, along with a letter to the Lords
of his English Council. Puffed up with pride,
Charles insisted, that they should first publish
his above-mentioned declaration of April '25th,
at the head of their army. They shewed Sir Ed
ward Verrthara their reasons for refusing to do sor
but to shew theif readiness to go as far as they
could, they read it with great reverence at the
General's table. Vernhara gave such a favour
able report Of their conduct, as raade Charles
think his order had been as good as obeyed.
Hereupon theEarls of Arundel, Essex, Holland,
Salisbury and Berkshire, and Secretary Coke,
were erapowered to treat with the Earls of
Rothes, Dunfermlirte, artd Loudort, Sir William
Douglas, sheriff of Teviotdale, Mr. Heuderson,
and Archibald Johnstort. The Scots Comrais-
siorters had scarcely entered ihto Aruudel's tertt,
whert Charles hiraself came in, and upbraided
thera for accusing hira of not listenirtg to the re
quests of his loyal subjects. After beggiug his
perraissiort to speak freely, they, to his disho
nour, plainly represented their cause, and their
just defences of it. And irt the cortclusion of the
conference, Loudon, upon his knees, declared,
that they insisted for nothing raore than the free
enjoyment of their religion and liberties, accor
ding to the civil and ecclesiastical laws of their

CHU-R'CH OF SCOTLAND. If^S
kingdom. This Chtolbs professed his readiness
to gfa'ht ; b«t, i'ri'stigated by the bishops of fedss
and Aberdee¥i, &d, he St-Alked more I'aH'l^ Ott the
Monday after, artd interrogated thetti, Whethei-
he had the sole power bf itadlttifag AsS'b¥riblies ?
Whether he had a negtti'*'e Vbi'cte in thfeitt ? lattii,
Whether they might Hik; ^ftet he hi^ti cfemftia'ri'd-
ed them to dissolvfe ? ATt'et s'liggfestihgi Ihat the
decision of such questions prbpeHy bfefewg tb this
Assembly itselfj they, for thelhSbUfeS, a,lBWfe'd
Kings tP hate a poWer of trailing GbfteVal AsSeiti-
blles,and expressed their hb^fe's that hlftifeblF^oViVd
allow, that in extreme necessity thb ch'iifch Kiight
donvene of herself, and enaCt cbnfetltutlb'ns for
the preservation of reUgiOnj thb plaih k-bksbridlil^=
nesS of Which they sheWbd.
Beirtg irtformed, that thbit- ^rriiy ifltbndM tb
take their statibrt nearfet to his darilp, he abaHtltifi-
ed his queries,, and dbsired thb CbrilhiiS^ibHbrS i6
fix the particulars which thby requited a,S tbrhis
of peace. They proposed, that the sicts of thb
Glasgow Asserably should be ratified by the VAb-
liaftiertt ; that iri all tittle cbftiirig chUich afifairs
shbuld be firt ally deterffliHbd by the A§§bitibly, dtld
civil affairs by the Pariidrilerit ; that all M^ Md-
jesty's foi-ees, by sea of larid, should bb l-eckUbd ?
that all arrested persons, shJ^s, arid gttodfe, shbtild
be restored; that all eiidommuriidatbd fletSbriS
who, for tbbif oWrt private brtds, had [ifbrtlbt^d
thepublid CPrattidtiOri§, Should be remlttM toSfcoti
larid to staffer condign censute arid punishftfteflt.
Thby Subjoined their rbaSorts to each bf f hfeSb M-
maftds. After some perplexity, and taKifi^ ihi
ad^ide of his cOiiHCil, Charles fej^Hbd, ThHi
though, for riiatiy rbaisboi^, hb cOuld hbt' apptt'8t'6
the Assbfliblyof Gla%b#, yet Hfef ^^-otild fiat 6ii]f
2c

194 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
agree to take away the liturgy and canons, and
the High Commission, but also dispense with the
articles of Perth, and order, that no oath should
be required of eutrartts to the rainistry, but what
was appointed by act of Parliaraent; and that bi
shops should be censurable according to their de
merits by the General Asserably; and further
agree, that all raatters ecclesiastical should be fi
nally deterrained by the Asserably, and all civil
affairs by civil courts ; that General Asserablies
should be kept once a-year, or oftcrter, as neces
sity required ; and that, for settling the present
distractions, a free General Asserably should '>e
indicted on the 6th, and a Parliament on the
20th of August next ; that, upon their disband
ing their army, dissolving their Tables and con
venticles, and restoring his castles, forts, and ara-
munition, and restoring to his subjects their lands
and goods, which had been seized since the late
Assembly, he would withdraw all his forces, and
make restitution of every thing detained, on his
part. After some further conference, artd several pri
vate concessions by Charles, the Scotch Commis
sioners were alraost satisfied, and the articles qf
pacification, were drawn up, bearing. That the co
venanters' forces shouldbe disbanded within forty-
eight hours after the publication of his above de
claration is agreed upon ; that all his castles, forts,
and araraunition shall be delivered, as soon after
the said publication as he shall sertd his servants
to receive thera ; that thereon all bis ships shall
depart with the first fair wind, and till then shall
in no wise irtterrupt the trade or' fishing; tbat he
shall restore all persons, goods, artd ships, which
have beert detained since November last ; that

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 195
there shall be no meetings of the subjects in Scot
land, but such as are warranted by act of Parlia
ment ; that there be no further fortifications
made, and these, that are, remitted to his Ma
jesty's pleasure ; that all his good subjects have
their lands, houses, aud goods restbred to them,
which have been seized since November last. As
the articles to which his Majesty had agreed, at
the private conferertce, were not subscribed, nor
made public, the Earl of Cassilis, after the reading
of the public articles in the camp, read and pro
tested, uport a short inforraation agreed to by the
managers — That though his Majesty did uot ap
prove the Glasgow Asserably, he did rtot intend
that the acceptance of his declaration should in
fer any disapprobation of it ; and that their ac-
ceptartce of it iraported no such thing. This in
forraation was again read along with his Majes
ty's declaration at the cross of Edinburgh. While
these things were transacting at Birks, Montrose
had, with no small difficulty, levied an army in
the North, and he and Colonel Middieton had
routed Aboyne's forces, and were just going to
plunder the city of Aberdeen, when an express
concerning the pacification prevented it.
Neither party were pleased with the above
treaty. The furious royalists pretended. That
Charies bad lost a glorious opportunity of com
pletely crushing the covenartters, and had disho
noured hiraself, by allowing tlfem such equal
terms; and they loudly reproached Hamilton
and others, as advisers to it. Many ofthe cove
nanters were displeased with the obscurity of
the articles, and especially with the surrender of
the castle of Edinburgh, and the fortifications of
Leith, without proper terras. Nevertheless, they
burnt their camp, disbanded their army, and gave

196 A COMPENDIOUS I^ISTOBY OF THE
u|), t^he, <?astle of Edi'uburgh to HamilitfPri. whiO*
C9,|isjfl)i|t*^d it tp,Ri^thv;en, who had< apquired mMfihi
nii.li,taj;y honour in thQ S,wedish army. BuitiCha^lps,
P3i4 Wi SMch regard to, h^, solemn agT^ement,,
h.uAlpft^irongg^a^iispns in Bprwick; and, Carlisle,,
aij^, d^sba^d^d his Ojtih^r forces very slowly- And
he and his.fr,i€.9<JA ripen.fid matte.r& fojj a-new rup-
tjiyfo, In, ]^diflbu>:gh, Huntley apd AboyrtP* his,
^j), were sparcely Uberated from prison, wheiJt
Ahpynp and Ruthven, in, their, dj-runken revels,
pr,QXpli;ed some cpmirton ppople to chjastise- their
insplencq; thia was loudly complained, of. Grant
ai^cj Dggair, two, tools of Huntley, ravaged the
terri|;pries,of the Eaxl of Marshal and ptfeer co-
vqnaft|:,'e,r,Su in- tije Norths The covenanters pro
test against his, calling, of thO' bishops, to the
ngxt General Assembly as members;; tfepir allow-.
apcp of subsistance money tp, Lesly a^d some:
Q,tjher officers, till tjipy could- be otherwise provid
ed; t^pjrv-m^ptiiJgjtpgether, in qrdpr- tppayoffithft
(iQbt. which thfiy,,hpd,pontr^fited in: the war, ; their
enemjfis^ falsely Qh^tfgipg IJiem with forcing the
sjubgc^^igtion of their, cpy^nant, and some partS:of
it, mjsjiyijJerstflpd ; afldv their Cpmmis^ionprSf di
vulging sqmfi of hjSHriy.atPrQ.O:rtQie^ipns, provoked^
C.b,a?}PS, agaiftst thpm,, Under pretpnqp of de-
si'fs4^cc«l?iU,ltati«P with.' them,,, butt reaUy intend-
i*J^tp-^PI^r,eljpnd",:if not,,a?,sassinat6 thpmj hpcall--
e4.iil^,fft\irite^,of/th^r, principal lead.ers>to-Lon-,
dpn- . l^Hji.thPi Pjiob,, h^ing got some notice of.
hi§ 4?,tpflition.s,, pre vented, thpiri obeyinghira- This
disappointment, so, enragpd^ hira., that he-bad re
called both Asserably and Pariiamient, if HamiL
ton, had not, persuaded- hilrt otherwise,, and Tra-
q^%\X.r assured hiraj that no acti of Parliament,
wbi^b, passed without the bishops, who were the,;
thJifiJ Estate, could have force in law.

CMDR.GH OF SCOTLAND. 1@7
Hamilton having refused to be Commissioner
to the next Assemhly, Traquair was appointed,
and was instructed to declare against lay elders
having any vote in the election of Coraraissioners
from Pre&by±eTies^ or In any fundamental' point
of reBgion; to shift alL questious relative to the
last Asaembl^, or to the King's power in calling
or dissolving Assemblies ; to perrait the abolish
ment of Prelacy,, not as sinful in itself, but as ne
cessary to the peace of the Icingdom ; to allow
the swearing of the covenant, providing that Pre
lacy be not abjured in it, as contrary to the word
of God: and Protestant religion ; to. endeavour to
have those ministers who have been deposed,.
i^eedily reponed; upon their profession of repert-
tance — and that the King may have a power of
choosing fourteen ministers to vote in Parliaraent
ins;tead of the bishops:; to indict another Assera"
bly as far back: in the following year as possi
ble; tO' take heed tiiat nothing civil be treated
in the A^embly,. and' no Commissioner be sent
from; it tO! the King; nor any act made for the
corttinuance of: the tccbles ov arty like meetings.
And; at the end;, to protest. That if any thing
prejudicial to the King'ss interest should have
been granted, he should: be heard for redress in
his own time and place. From these instructions
it appearsi, that Charles merely inclined to de
ceive; the-covenainters, whora he could'not subdue;
andithat he really inclined to yield nothirtg at all
iraportartt, and letft hiraself an open door to revoke
every concession made in his name. Accordingly,
in a few days after, he wrote to Traquair; that he
would not yield to a ratification of the Glasgow
Assembly, nor to the abolishment of Prelacy, as
contrary to the covenant of 1581, and the consti?

198 A C0.MPENDI0US HISTORY OF THE
tutions of this church; nor to have the service book
and cawow,? conderaned as containing divers seeds
of Popery and superstition, or the High Commission
condemned, as without law, or destructive to ci
vil and ecclesiastical judicatories — nor the articles
of Perth as contrary to the national covenant — 'or
thatthe Assemblies 1606 — 1618, should be de
clared destitute of authority ; and that if any such
thing should be done he should protest against it.
He further instructed hira, that he would not be
bound to allow General Asserablies every year ;
and that the covenant behoved to be sworn as it
stood in 1581, without any interpretation*sub-
joined to it, unless the King approved it. Mean
while, he adraonished the bishops not to go to the
Assembly, as nothing but partiality could be ex
pected at it; and assured thera, that notwith
standing his present concessions, he was firraly
determined to have their grievances, redressed.
The General Asserably having met, August
12th, Mr. Henderson opened it with a serraon
from Acts v. 83. and exhorted the Coraraissioner
and raerabers to vie with each other in thankful
ness, zeal, raoderation, and prudence. No sooner
had Mr. Dickson, the new raoderator, finished a
like speech, than Traquair excepted against all
the coraraissions of such as had been elected by
more ruling elders than ministers, or for places
in which they had not their residence — or of el
ders elected for places in which they resided, but
had not been originally chosen to their office;- or
of such as were under horning and outlawry—
but named no body. The Asserably therefore
proceeded to their business, and with pleasure
received Grahara of Orkney, and Lindsay of
Di»nkeld's renunciation of Prelacy. To please

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 199
his Majesty, and retain what they had got, they
foriried the substance of the service book and ca
nons, the High Commission and articles of Perth,.
prelatical oj^ces, civil power of ministers, and cor
rupt Assemblies, into one act, and as it were re-
enacted them, in terms a little softened, declar-
irtg, that the liturgy, canons, and High Commis
sion should be still rejected, the articles of Perth
no more practised. Episcopal jurisdiction and ci
vil power of clergymen still held unlawful in this
church ; that the six Assemblies of Linlithgow
1606, and 1608, of Glasgow 1610, of Aberdeen
1616, of St Andrew's 1617, and of Perth 1618,
should hereafter be accounted destitute of all au
thority; — andthat, in order to prevent the like
evils in time coming. General Assemblies shall
be held once every year or oftener, if need be, in
consequence of remonstrance to his Majesty of
the necessity thereof ; and that Sessions, Presby
teries and Synods, should be constituted accor
ding to the order of this church. This act was
voted with great harraony ; and Traquair declar
ed his approbation of it, and promised that it
should be ratified in the ensuing Parliament. To
prevent the precipitant entry of novations for the
future, the Asserably enacted, that no novation
tending to disturb the peace of the church should
be proponed, till the, matter had been first com
municated to the several Sessions, Presbyteries,
and Synods— -that commissioners may come up
prepared to give a solid determination.
Contrary to Traquair's inclination, the reports
of the commission of the last Assembly relative
to their censuring of scandalous clergymen ,wei^
produced and approved. Their number amount
ed to eighteen ; but the Assembly recommended

200 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
to inferior judicatories to repone tbem and others,
who had been deposed for declining of the last
Assembly, or for reading of the service book, upon
any tolerable raanifestation of their repentance.
They next considered the large declaration pub
lished in his Majesty's name, but really composed
by Dr. Balcanquel, without Charles having any
knowledge of many of the facts, but by his mis-
representatiort. Nine rainisters, the Earls of
Rothes, Cassilis, and Loudon, the Lords Kirk
cudbright and Burleigh, and two gentlemen, were
appointed as a committee to examine it. They
pointed out eight articles dishonourable to his Ma
jesty, fAtr/eera dishonourable to this church, thirteen
dishonourable to the nation, twenty-six gross fals-
hoods, andfour most wretched misrepresentations
of their conduct. The Asserably therefore sup
plicated Charles to call in the copies of it, and
appoint the writers of it to be prosecuted for their
calumnies. But either Traquair neglected to pre
sent their petition, or Charles disregarded it,— -
They also authorised the subscription of the na
tional covenant, as explained by the Glasgow As
sembly, and besought the privy council to require
it of all the subjects with due expedition, Tra
quair subscribed it, with a declaration, which he
said merely respected him as Ring's Corarais
sioner ; and he proraised to have their act rati
fied by the Parliament. They recoraraended to
the Parliament a supplication in favours of sorae
ministers, who had been oppressed by Huntley
and other loyalists, in the Highlands and Islands.
They approved several overtures, bearing. That
a committee should be appointed to revise all the
acts of former Assemblies, that might be of ge
neral use ; that the Parliament should be intreat-
5

CHURCH ©F SCOTLAND. 201
,ed tp restrain people from going to England
for irregular marriages ; that Comraissioners to
the Asserably, from remote places, should have
their expenses furnished by the Sessions in these
Presbyteries that ^serid them ; that deposed mini
sters demit their charges under pain of excom
munication.; that the acts againsts Papist and
excomraunicated persons, arid such as frequent
their company, or encourage them, be duly exe
cuted ; that a public catechisra ahd order of fa
mily worship be drawrt up ; and that candidates
presented to kirks be carefully tried with respect
to their fitness for their charge.
As, by the irtstigatioH of Strafford, an oath ad-
knowledglng the King's supremacy in all eccle
siastical and civil cases; artd art abjuratiou of the
Scotch covenant, and all like bonds, had been im
posed upon such Scotsmen as were found in Eng.
land, and especially in Ireland, where Strafford do
mineered, many who had been thereby oppressed,
besought the Asserably to intercede in their fa
vours, and declared themselves ready to swear
the oath of allegiance, or any other declaration of
loyalty consistent "with their covenant. The As*
sembly recoraraended tbis affair to the ensuing
Parliament, It is observable, that many tender
JChriStians, who fled frona Ireland, to avoid the
above oath, escaped the massacre, while those',
who complied with it from carnal considerations,
were quickly stript of their Uves and property by
the Papists,-^ After appoirtting their nextraeeting,
Mr. Dicksort, in a soleran speech, represented the
mixture of God's mercy and justice towards them
for sorae time past ; artd that, on aocourit of his
Majesfy's education and misinformation, they
ought always to view his conduct in the most fa-
2d

202 A COMEENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
vourable light ;.^-and coraraended Hamilton anA
Traquair for the services which they had done
this church ; arid recomraendpd to ministers and
elders their respective duties in the present cir
cumstances. Soon after the risirtg of this Assem
bly, a solemn thanksgiving was observed through
the kingdom, the causes of which wer.e drawn up
by the Presbytery of Edinburgh.
When the Parliament met, August 31 st, it was
proposed to have the following articles enacted
into standing laws. That the Parliaraent con
sist only of Lords, Barons, and Burgesses ; and
that all acts erapowering Commissioners from the
kirk be rescinded ; that the acts of the late As
sembly relative to bygone evils and the. remedies
thereof be ratified; that the whole power of nam
ing the Lords for forming the articles to be con
sidered in Pariiament, be in the three estates
theraselves; that the castles of Edinburgh, Dum
barton, and Stirling, be entrusted to none, but by
the advice of Parliament ; that the large declara
tion which, in his Majesty's narae, had so exceed
ingly calumniated the covenanters, be conderan
ed ; and that the privy council be subordinated to,
and censurable by the Parliaraeut. But Traquair,
the Coraraissioner, directed by Charles, or afraid
that such deeds would enrage bim, prevented
their establishment, by proroguing the Parlia
ment nirte timps in the raonths of Septeraber and
October.-T-Finding themselves thus restrained,
they deputed theEarlsof Loudon andDunfermline
to implore Charles's allowance to proceed in their
work : and, meanwhile, a solemn fast was observ
ed for bewailirig that their enemies were like to
frustrate their great expectations ; and that op
pression and violbrtce much prevailed in the nor-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 203
thern parts of the kingdom ; that there were few-
faithful labourers in the church, and rto due care
takert of the seminaries of learning; that the case
of the truly poor was rauch overlooked, while
sturdy beggars ranged about withPut corttroul ;
artd that unthankfulness, carnal security, indo
lence in proraoting of the reformation, which they
had soleranly engaged, and rieglect of God's wor
ship in public, private br secret, much abounded.
Inforraed of the approach of Dunferralirte artd
Loudon, and, supposiug that they had no cora-
Diiission frora Traquair, Charles prohibited them
to come within a raile of his presence. By the
Queen, Strafford, and Laud's, influence, his
private concessions to the covenanters at the
treaty of Birks, were openly irapugned, and pub
licly burrtt by the hangraari. Traquair was charg
ed to prorogue the Parliaraent till the 2d of June,
1640; and to declare such as should refuse to rise,
guilty of high treason. When he esiecuted his
orders, Noveraber 14th, the Estates read a solemn
declaration against his deed, narrating What had
been done, and declaring the prorogation null
and void: but that, to carry their obediertce to the
utmost length that could consist with a good
conscience, they would discontinue their meet
ing till, by their committee, they had presented
their remonstrartces to his Majesty. Coramissiort-
ers from this committee were allowed to repair
to Charles. But Traquair, to atone for the of
fence which he had given by his concessions in
the Assembly, after several attempts tft divide
the covenanters, or to exasperate them by his ar
bitrary procedure, repaired to court,* and there
represented their conduct in the most odious
light, and suggested, that they could only be sub-

204 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
dued by force, some methods of which he point
ed out— and thus inflamed the English courtiers.
Dunfermline and Loudon, and two gentlemen,
were nevertheless sent up to his Majesty, but di
rected to beware of acknowledging the En.glish
council as their judges; — to refute the misrepre
sentations of Traquair ; to support the articles
which had been proposed to the Parliamen,t ; to
insist for a speedy recal of that court ; to remon-
Sitrate against filling the castles pf Edinburgh and
Dumbarton with foreigners, or exacting from
Scotchmen in England and Ireland arty oath in
consistent with their covenant. — They managed
their cause with great spirit — illustrated the ar
ticles mentioned, and answered a multitude of ob
jections raade by Laud and Traquair.
Aftpr Charles and his council had, for a tirae,;,
pretended a desire of agreement, that they might
carry on their warlike preparations the more un-
observably, the Scotch Commissioners were ta
ken into custody, and Loudon committed to the
Tower for a Iptterj which, they preteuded, he had •
sert t to the Frertch King, The letter referred to
had been drawn up a year before by, Moutrose,
whert Charles was marching to irtvadp Scotland^
artd had been transcribed by Loudon, and sub
scribed by them two, and the Lords Mar, Mont
gomery, Forrester, and General Lesly ; but never
made use of; nor had either date or direction.
One Goraih gettihg hold of it, delivered it to-
Traquair, and he to Charles, who hoped to turn
it to his own advantage, particularly in making
a sacrifice of Loudon, who had been a principal'
le_ader of the covenartters,. Uppnexaraination,
Loudon readily acknowledged his own hand writ
ing and subscription; but pled, that the letter was

CHURCH OP SCOTLAND. 205
written before the late pacification, when his Ma
jesty was marching to Invade his native kingdora ;
and that, in these circumstances, they thought
norte so fit to intercede with hira as his brother-in-
law, than which their letter desired no more.
Notwithstanding, Charles was determined to have
him assassinated, artd ordered Balfour, lieutenant
of the Tower, to have bis head struck off, before
nine o'clock next morning. After informing Lou
don, Balfour acquainted Hamilton with this man
date. He andBalfourhaving got access tpCharles,
so represented to him the infamous nature of
murdering a nobleman, to whom he had given a
safe conduct, and the terrible consequeuces that
might follow, that tbey got him, with, reluc
tance, to tear bis warrant. Some tirae after, up
on promise of concealing bis treatment, and en
gaging to use his utmost endeavours to dispose
his countrymen to subjection, Loudon was per
mitted to return bome.
In November 1639, Charles and his courtcil
had resolved upon a new war with the Scots.
But it was difficult to find money to bear the ex
penses of it, Strafford subscribed for L- 2'0,00O
Sterling, the Dukes pf Lennox and Richmond
for as much, if not double. Many of the Eng
lish nobility and gentry subscribed largely enough,
chie% the Papists, instigated by their Queen.
By Strafford's influence, the Irish Parliament
voted about L.2l<j000 The English clergy vot
ed an annual compliment pf L. 20,000. AU these
being insufficient, Charles was obliged to call an
English Farliament to provide, more ; but whose
stubborn commons would allow bim no mo
ney, unless in the way of securing their own re-
" ligion and liberties, which he and hig agents had
1

206 A COM^tJNDlbUS HISTORY Of? THE
ffearfully infringed. He therefore had redourse
to methods dishonest and infamous — which gave
the covenanters time to prepare for their own de
fence. Meanwhile, Charles did thera all the rais
chief that he could. Their ships were arrested'
in England and Irelarid; and these that were traf
ficking to other placbs were seized, and these in
thera barbarously imprisoned. The castle of Edin- .
burgh was repaired and reirifbrced, and the gar
rison daily killing sorae of the inhabitartts, or
spoiling their houses. The English General had
a coraraission to destroy the whole Scotch nation.
Charles published a declaration, requiring all his
subjects in England and Ireland, to take arms
against thera, and treat them as rebels. The
Irish Parliament dedlared them such. Alarmed
by these things, the covertartters sent Rothes and
Lindsay tb solicit the Marquis bf Hamilton to irt-
tercedte for thera with their Kirtg, But findirtg
no help In raan, they betook themselves to God
by fasting* and prayer. The Presbytery of Edin-^
burgh, which had been desired, by the Corarait
tee of Estates, to warn the church of her ap
proaching danger, proposed a Soleran fast on ac
count of the gross igrtorartce, superstition, sorce
ry, profanation of the Lord's narae and Sabbath,
neglect of his worship, uncleanrtess, irtteraperance,
fraud and viblence, corttrary to their covertartts — :
and on account of their perplpxing outward cir
cumstances, thereby procured : They also spread
infdrmatory reraonstrartces among their friends
in England, part ofwhich were burnt by the hang-
mert. Nevertheless they did rtot begin their war
like preparations till June next year: Nor did
they stir, till the Parliaraent had concluded oh
the war, and appointed the general officers. These

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, . 207
in the west did not begin their raarch till An
gust. When the Parliaraent met at Edinburgh, June 2,
1640, Traquair durst not attend it, as Charles's
Commissioner. But the Lords Elphingston and
Napier, Orbiston, justice clerk, and Lewis Stew
art, as King's advocate, were empowered iri his
absence to prprpgue their miPeting. But, upon
reading their commission, Eiphingstpn and Na
pier doubted of the legality of their acting with
out Traquair's order, and the other two could do
nothing but protest. The Estates therefore vot
ed themselves a legal Parliament, and chose Lord
Burleigh for their President; and enacted all the
articles proposed at their former meeting, with
some variations. They ordained that this and
all future raeetings of Parliament should consist
only of Nobleraen, Barons, and, Burgesses, re
scinding all forraer laws in favours of the voting
pf bishops or other clergyraen ; — that all future
Parliaments shall have the power of appointing
a committee for drawing up articles to be laid
before them — the members of which each Estate
shall choose from among themselves- They ra
tified the act of the last General Asserably con-
deinning bygone corruptions, and appointed the
late covenant to be subscribed by aJl ran^s under
all civil pains ; and particularly by members of
Parliament before admission to a seat, and by all
magistrates, rairtisters, and state officers, before
their admission. They declared, that the power
of jurisdiction in the church stands only in As^
semblies. Synods, Presbyteries, and Sessions; and
revived the act of 1592, establishing Presbyterian
government in all the heads of it ; and rescinded
all lavi^s in favpurs of Prelacy ; but, for fear of

208 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
giving a handle to their exasperated King, left
unnoticed sorae forraer aots of Parliament estab
lishing his ecclesiastical ' supremacy. They de
clared null and void all the censures inflicted by
the late bishops or their agents; and that Presby
teries had the power of presenting ministers in
these parishes in which the bishops had clairaed
it; arid ordained, that Presbyteries, with Consent
of the congregation, should plant these parishes
which had lain six months vacant. They prohi
bited the going of mills and salt pans, and the
fishing of salmon on the Lord's days, or the holding
pf fairs upon Mondays ; and appointed justices
of peace and kirk sessions to prevent the profa
nation of the -Sabbath by the confluence of reap
ers, or of people to hire thera in harvest. They
ratified all the former laws against Papists, ex
comraunicated persons, and such as reset thera ;
and appointed, letters of horning to be issued forth
against the bishops and other excoramunicated
persons. They approved the Asserably's suppli
cation agairtst the large declaration, artd ordered
the authors and spreaders of it to be punished as
gvMty of leasemaking and sowing division between
his Majesty and his loyal subjects. They enact
ed, that a free Parliament should be held once,
or oftener, in every three years ; that the castles
of Edinburgh, Dumbarton, and Stirling, should
be entrusted only to natives, well affected to King
and country ; that none should yote in Parlia
ment by proxy ; that norte should be nobilitat-
ed, who had not ten thousand niarks of yearly
rent in the kingdora ; that the Lords should no
more be distinguished into teraporal and spiritual;
that the privy council should be accountable to
his Majesty and Parliament, and be punishablp

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 209
for giving wrong counsel. They declared null
arid void all unlawful proclamations issued in his
Majesty's name, since the comraenceraent of the
late troubles; and that the ancient acts of Parli
araent forbidding leagues and conventions araong
the subjects, did not extend to such as were made
for the preservation of the King's life or authori
ty, or of the reUgion, laws, and liberties of the
kingdom. They appointed twelve Noblemen,
sixteen Barons, and twelve Burgesses, as a com
mittee to give directions concerning the irapend
ing war ; and appointed a tenth of all land and
house rents, artd a twentieth of all interest of mo
ney, to be raised for carrying it on ; and that
the heirs of such as should be slain in the defence
of their religion and country, should have a free
entry to what belonged to thera. ' They further
appointed all the subjects to subscribe a bond for
the raaintenance and defence of the acts of this
Barliament ; appointed general officers for their
army ; and passed a sentence of forfeiture upon
General Ruthven for refusing to deliver up the
castle of Edinburgh, and for the daily mischief
he did to the city. After nine days the Parlia
ment rose ; and their committee sent a copy of
their acts to Lord Lanark, secretary for Scotch
affairs — and suggested, that if the violences of
fered to their persons and goods without the
kingdom, were not quickly repressed, they be
hoved to provide for their own deliverance
and safety — and assigned the reasons of their
conduct. But Charles v/as so far froih being sa
tisfied, that he considered their parUaraentarypifo-
cedure as a blow at the root bf his authority.
The General Assembly met at Aberdeen, July
28, 1640; and, after enacting some 7'uleis for
2 E

210 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
the ordering of their own raeetings, they ordain
ed. That all monuraents of idolatry, particularly
in the North, should be destroyed; that the laws
against witches artd charraers should be carefully
executed ; that such as should speak against the
covenant after they had taken it, should be cen
sured ; that candidates for the rainistry, who re
fused to subscribe it, should be declared incapa
ble of teaching children, reading in kirks, preach
ing within Presbyteries, or residing in burghs,
universities, or colleges — and should be processed
as scandalous, if they continued obstinate. They
appointed a solemn fast upon the 28th of August,
on account of their distressed circumstances. As
in this northern Assembly there were many cler-
gyraert, who either did not believe Prelacy and
the Articles of Perth to be sinful in theraselves,
or were unwilling to acknowledge thera as such,
they did not attack the doctors of Aberdeen in
their adherence to these ; but found thera guilty
of Arminlartisra. Dr. Forbes was spared for, the
time, Ort accourtt of his irtgertuity ; aud Scroggs
on account of his health; butSibbald, tenaciosusly
adhering to his errors, was deposed.
An affair, relative to praying societies, gave
them much more trouble. During their want of
faithful rairtisters, raany serious people, inScOtlartd
artd Ireland, had raet together on Sabbaths, and
other occasions, for prayer and spiritual confer
ertce. Sorae, before they were drivert from Ire
land, had been a little infected with Brownism
from Englartd, and had inclirted to join the Inde
pendents in New England. These brought along
with them some of their singularities, which were
overlooked, on account of their remarkable piety,
tUl an appearance thereof happened in the charge

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 211
of Hcrtry Guthry of Stirling, afterward worthless
bishop of Dunkeld. The Laird of Lecky, a raan
reraarkable for knowledge and serious godliness,
and who had been a distinguished sufferer under
the late bishops, much encouraged fellowship
meetings for prayer and Christiart cortference.
Several of his neighbours, who could not read
themselves, or who thought his manner more edi
fying than their own, attended his faraily worship.
Sorae, who probably carae as spies, alledged, that
in prayer he used sorae expressions not duly ho
nourable to Guthry his minister. Guthry irarae
diately prosecuted Lecky before his Presbytery^
and got fellowship meetings condemned as preju
dicial to the standing office of the ministry, and
got the magistrates to extirpate them from the
place. Not satisfied with this, he laboured to
have thera utterly abolished frora the nation ; and
by collecting arid exaggerating reports of their
imprudences, he drew Mr. Henderson and Mr.
Calderwood, who had seen the Brownistical dis
orders in HoUartd, and sorae other leading cler
gymen, to his side. In the Asserably 1638, he had
attempted to foist irt a coraplairtt against these
meetings. But Messrs. J. Livingston, S. Ruther
ford, and D. Dickson, and others, unwUling that
many serious saints should "be publicly discredit
ed for the iraprudence of a few, got the affair
kept frora any public hearing ; and it was agreed,
that Guthry should preach up the duty of family
worship, upon which he said these meetings en
croached, and that the erainently pious Messrs.
Blair, Livingston, ahd M'Lellan, who befriended
such societies, should preach agaiust hight meet
ings, and the abuses complairied of. Their soft
and (phristian methods of correcting or prevent-

212 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE i
ing such abuses not pleasing Guthry, who hated
to see or hear of any others raore serious than
himself, lie continued to exclaira against these
meetings in general. To quench this flarae of con
tention, Messrs. Henderson and Borthwick upon
the one side, and Dickson and Blair upon the
other, held a soleran conference on the point. Hen
derson drew up a paper of regulations or caveats for
such raeetings, bearing, that the raerabers shouldbe
few, and such as were proper to raeet together ;
that theraeetings should not interfere with public or
faraily worship or relative duties, nor be held in
the night ; that they should be ocasional, and no
wise tending to separate the raeraber from the
rest of the congregation ; that no impertinent
questiorts or uncharitable judging of others should
be allowed in thera ; that if any members in them
had any objection against the comraon forra of
public worship, (as bowing in thb pulpit, and sirtg-
Ing the Gloria Patri) they should discreetly lay
thera before the persons concerned ; and, finally,
that all things relative to thera should be con
ducted with holiness, prudence, humility, and
charity. This gave general satisfaction. But
Guthry and his assistants, pretending that caveats
brought in bishops, pushed the matter into this
northern Assembly, ih which they expected their
friends to be strongest. Guthry poured forth
torrents pf accusation against the absent Lecky,
and the society meetings. Simson of Bathgate
seconded him ; and, in the most outrageous man
ner, upbraided Rutherford, Livingston, and
M'Lellan, as encouragers of them- Supported
by the Earl of Seaforth, and many ofthe northern
clergy, Guthry and his faction thought tp have
carried an act for the utter suppression of them.

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, ?13
But Dickson, BaUie, Rutherford, and others, so
waimly opposed them, that they could only get
it enacted. That people should observe family
worship with the merabers of the faraily alone ;
that reading of prayers is lawful, where none can
pray extempore ; that none but preachers shall
explain scripture; and that no innovation relative
to the time, matter or manner of religious wor
ship, or the number or quality of joiners in it, be
introduced' without allowance from the Assem
bly. MeanwhUe, Charles and the covenartters pre-:
pared for war of another kind, and laboured to
divert the blame of it from themselves. Charles
loudly complained, that they, by their own au
thority, had raised forces, provided large stores
of artillery; and imposed taxes; that they had
published scandalous papers, under pretence of
informing- the English; had refused materials for
the reparation pf the castle of Edinburgh ; had
committed violence upon some of the garrison,
and prepared to block them up ; had imprisorted
Lord Southesk and others for their loyalty ; had
written to the French King for assistance ; and
that the magistrates of Edinburgh had, on seve
ral occasions, refused due obedience. The cove
nanters pled. That they had done nothing but
what his Majesty's refusal^ to grant their just
and humble petitions for redress of grievances,
and the violences comraitted by persons, pretend
ing his orders, had obliged thera to; that they
had granted favours to those in the castle of Edin
burgh, notwithstanding the unprovoked injuries,
murders, and violences which they had suffered
frora thera ; that they had but protected South
esk and . his followers from the violence ofi the

214 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
mob; that the councU and citizens of Edinburgh
had done every thing in their power, as faithful
and hurable servants ; that they never intended
to ask any assistance frora the French King, far
less to subject themselves to his authority, but
merely desired tb prevent his taking offence at
them, and helping to destroy them, and designed
to supplicate his mediation in their favours, in or
der that an unnatural war might be prevented;
that they had never sent hira the letter referred
to, nor so rauch as ever directed or dated it ;
that they reckoned it a notorious breach of the
law of nations, to have their deputies, under his
Majesty's safe conduct, iraprisoned by him, and
Loudon, who had no more hand In the above
mentioned letter than others, punished, without
so much as a form of trial.
Argyle being appointed to deal with the disaf
fected chieftains and clan? of the North, invaded
the territories of the earl of Athol, apprehended
hiraself and fourteen other principal loyalists —
and obliged his vassals to pay the contributions
required bythe Parliaraent, togetherwitha£lO,000
Scots, for the support of his army, which had
beert raised on their account. He used the ter
ritories of Airly in much the same manner. But
it doth not appear that ever he allowed any
thing to be taken frora the people, but the com-
mort tax, and that which he found necessary for
the subsistence of his troops. Robert Monro,
who was dispatched against the Marquis of
Huntley, Earl of i^Lboyne, and Sir Jaraes Ogilvy
of Banff, was not so delicate. Hp, at his own
hand, imposed the covenant upon such as he
thought disaffected, and remitted about forty of
the chizens of Aberdeen and gentlemept about,

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. ¦ 215
prisoners to Edinburgh. He turned Huntley*s
palace irtto a garrisort, artd destroyed Sir James's
mansion house, and wherever he came, seized on
the effects of the royalists.
The march of the English required the cove
nartters to meet thera in a proper place. They
found no such difficulty in levying raen or raoney
as Charles did. Instigated by the preachers,
every fourth raan was ready to take arras ort a
call. Such as had raoney, cheerfuUy lent it up
on the public security of the Coraraittee of Es
tates, and others gave their silver vessels to be
coined. The woraen readily contributed their
yarn and cloth for the service of the troops, in
tents or the like.' In their march, such as could,
carried thirty or forty days' provision along with
therti. Every regiraent had a minister attending
it, of whom Messrs. Henderson, Blair, Livingston,
Bailie, Cant, and G. Gillespy were the most not
ed. In the begirtrting of August, they asserabled
at Dunse, about 25,000, and for three weeks con
tinued on the border, learning to handle their
weapons, and preparing for an entrartce irtto eter-
rtity. At their appointed tiraes for private wor
ship, nothing was to be heard but singing of
psalras, reading of Scripture, and prayer to God,
in their tents. At first the covenanters had re
solved not to enter into Englartd. But the Eng
lish rtobUity, havirtg irtforraed their late commis-
siorters at London, how averse their nation was
from the war, and encouraged them to a bold
prosecution of their righteous cause, and Lord
Sackville, and one Darley, having written letters
to some of them, in narae of a number of the Engi
lish nobility, whose subscription he forged, encour
aging them to enter England, as theymight expect

216 A COMPENDIOUS HISTOR'Sf OF THE
that the English would not only take the oppor--
tiinity to insist for a redress of thkit owri and
their grievances, but would assist them with men
and money, as soon as they entered England, and
send thpm horae liberally recorapensed for their
labour ; — and soraetirae after, having received
another letter upbraiding thera for their slack
ness to enter into that countiy, and suggesting,
that it had lost thera £10,000 Sterling, which
was prepared for thera ; and that Charles's troops
had neither money nor an inclination to resist
thera. Knowing that there was much truth in
these missivesi they resolved to march mto Eng
land ; but, to prepare their way, they dispersed
two different papers of information, — in the first
of which, they shewed. That their march into
England was necessary, in order to avoid the
maintenance of two arraies on their border, and
to secure their trade and the adrainistration of
justice at horae ; that it was raerely defensive, as
his raajesty's proraises forraerly raade to therrt
had been notoriously violated, and their corarais
sioners refused a hearing at court, till a war
against them was resolved upon ; that the Parlia
ments of England and Ireland had been conven
ed to grant subsidies for making war upon them ;
that his raajesty had already begun a war upon
thera, in seizing their ships and goods, and in the
murder of several inhabitants of Edinburgh by,
his garrison in the castle ; that they were ready
to lay down their arras as soon as they could ob
tain a sure peace ; that the Lord, by their raarch
into England, raight perhaps lead to the abolish
ment of Prelacy there, frora whence it had corae
to thera ; th&t they did not march agairtst the
kingdom of Englartd, but against Archbishop

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 217
Laud's faction of Papists, Atheists, Arminians,
and Prelatists, who misled his majesty, and were
enemies to both kirtgdoms ; artd therefore they
hope their English brethren will not refuse them
victuals for raouey ; that they did rtot come to
commit disloyalty against their sovereign, or to
enrich themselves with plunder, but to do the
kingdom what good they could, in the regular
purtishraertt of those that had troubled them ;
artd that the lortg prayed for uniformity in refor
mation might be proraoted. In the other, they
shewed what injuries bad been done thera, and
that they entered England, in order to promote
the regular punishraertt of Laud, Strafford, and
other incendiaries, and the securing of their own
religion and liberties. And they ertgage to re
turn horae, as soon as these ends shall be gained.
God rendered the day of the covenanters' so
leran fast, Aug. 28th, remarkable for a strange
mixture Of mercy and judgraent. Oh It their
troops routed about five or eight thousand Eug-
lish, that were posted at the ford of Newburn to
prevent their passage over the Tyne, with the
loss of about twelve persons, and the wounding
of a few others; which spread such a terror
araong Charles's array, that they precipitantly re
tired frora Newcastle and places about, to Dur
hara. The sickness and death which prevaUed
in the castle of Durabarton, raade the garrisort
glad to deliver it up to the covenanters. The
English garrison of Berwick carae to Dunse with
a considerable nuraber of carts, to cnny off the
Scotch artillery and araraunition ; but the earl
of Haddington coming up with thera, sent them
back laden with nothing but their own dead and
wounded. Returning to the castle of Dunglass,
2 F

218 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
his English servant, probably bribed by the garri
sort of Berwick, set fire to a raagazine of powder,
and blew up the fort, in which the earl and his
brother, ten gentlemen, and fifty-four servants,
instantly perished ; and about thirty others were
grievously wounded. The alarm given by the
noise, made the people in Fife^ and Lothian to
set up their beacons. Iraaginirtg that this was
occasioned by the king's fleet coraing up the
Forth for their relief, the garrison in the castle
of Edinburgh caroused so heartily as to consurae
most of their provisions, and were obliged next
Sabbath to surrender that fort.
After preriiitting a declaration of their peace
ful intentions, the covenartters took possession of
Newcastle, in which they found 5000 stand of
arms :— -And whUe Charles's troops fled faster be
fore thera than they were pursued, they, though
flushed with conquest, in an humble supplication,
represented to him, after what manifold suffer
ings, necessity had obliged thera to march into
Englartd, and how harralessly they had behaved
in it, and earnestly insisted that he, with advice
of his English Parliaraent, would redress their
grievances, that they might cheerfully obey him
as their native sovereign, and his throne be esta
blished araong thera. Charles bad treated this
with the utraost conterapt, if another, subscribed
by thirteen of the Ertglish rtobility, complaining
of their grievances, and insistirtg for redress, had
not been presertted to hira about four hours after ;
for which tl;>ie lords Howard and Wharton had been
iraraediately shot at the head of the array, had
not Harailton got him convineed, that it would
occasiort a gerteral mutiny, if not total revolt of
the troops. Charles proudly disdained to answer

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 219
the covenanters' petition hiraself, but being afraid
oftheir approach toward his carap, he ordered
Lanark, Harailton's brother, to require thera to
mark their particular grievances, and he would
call a parliament at York to advise an answer to
them ; and to coraraand thera to raarch no far
ther into England, if they wished for any recon-
cileraertt. The coraraittee of their army quickly
replied to Lanark, That they insisted, that the
acts of their last Parliament should be published
in his Majesty's narae, as well as of the Estates ;
that the castles and forts of the kingdora should
be used for their security ; that none of their
countryraen in England or Ireland should have
any oaths imposed upon thera inconsistent with
their covenant ; that notour incendiaries should
be brought to public justice ; that their ships
and goods should be restored with recorapense
of daraage ; that all the wrongs which have been
done to thera, be fully recorapensed ; that all pro
clamations of them, as traitors, be recalled ; that
all garrisons ort the borders, artd all other hinder
ances of free trade, be reraoved.
Last year, Montrose, who had been once a
zealous covenanter, instigated by his envy of Ge
neral Lesly's proraotiort, had shewed an inclina
tion to desert to the king ; at this time a treach
erous letter of his was discovered. But, as he
begged forgiveness of his rashness, and it was
suspected that Lords Drumraond, Boyd,Fleming,
and some others were also unfaithful, Lesly, with
some of the ministers, got the raatter raade up,
that no breach might happen in so criticala junc
ture. As the English doubly rated the provi
sions which they sold to thera, Lesly ordered the
town of Newcastle to afford his army L.200

220 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
worth of victuals a-day, Northuraberiand L.300,
and the county of Durham L.S50, for ready mo
ney, or good security. But the English collectors
soraetiraes exacted the double of what they gave
to the array, and laid the heaviest burdens on the
puritans, to provoke thera against their Presby
terian brethren. English vagabonds put on blue
bonnets, and plundered the country in name of
Scotsraen. The servants of such clergymen as
had run off from their charges, robbed them of
that which was left to their keeping, and then,
perhaps by their raaster's direction, laid the blame
on the Scots. Loud complaints of these things
were raade to Charles, who delighted to receive
thera. But the covenanters quickly raanifested
their innocence.
It scarcely appears, that Charles really intend
ed a pacification. Instead thereof, he laboured
to increase his armyj procure provisions, and fur
nish his garrisons, and required all the trained
bands northward of the river Trent to be ready
to raarch upou a day's warning. It was report
ed tliat Strafford had sent for tert thousand Irish
Papists to join thera. Lesly therefore deraanded
four or five thousand recruits frora Scotland,
which, with a band of gentleraen from Argyle
shire, immediately marched to his assistance.
But the English peers, meeting at York upon
September 24th, appointed eight earls and as ma
ny lords to treat with the Scots. The Earls of
Morton, Traquair, and Lanark, with Sir Lewis
Stewart and Henry Varte, were appoirtted their
assistartts. But the Scots would not adrait thera.
The earls of Rothes, Lowdon, and Dunferraline,
A, Henderson, and Archibald Johnston, and six
gentlemen, were commissioners from the cove-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 221
nanters. After some conferertces at Rippon, the
place of treaty was transferred to London, and a
cessation of arras was iraraediately agreed upon,
providing that the Scotch array should have
L.850 Sterling ^er day allowed thera for subsist
ence, till the treaty should be finished ; that no
fortification should be erected on either side ;
that the river Tees should be the boundaries be
tween the two armies, unless the Scots should be
obliged to appoirtt detatchments to collect the
corttributions allotted thera on the south side
of it.
After several mouths, the treaty was finished,
and the English Parliament ageed to it, August
7, 1641. It iraported. That all the acts ofthe
last ParUaraent at Edinburgh should be publish
ed, and have the same force of law as any other
acts of Parliament ; that all the forts of Scotland
should be furnished with the advice of the Es-?
tates of Parliament ; that all certsures inflicted
for taking of the national covenant should be an
nulled, and none hereafter inflicted ; that only
such Scots as settled in England, should be sub
jected to the laws of it ; that the Parliaraent
should have full power to prosecute all evil coun
sellors and delinquents ; that none, disqualified
by sentence of Parliaraent, shall be adraitted to
his majesty's service or friendship ; that all ships
and goods seized by either party be restored,
and damages be refunded ; that L.30,000 Ster
ling be paid to the Scots to indemnify their
loss in this war ; that all proclamations and
pamphlets representing thera as rebels or un
dutiful subjects, be recalled and suppressed, and
their loyalty published from all the pulpits in his
majesty's dominions, upon the day of solemn

222 A CO.MPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
thanksgiving for the peace; that the garrisons
be removed from Berwick and Carlisle ; that the
Scots desire of an uniformity in church govern
ment and worship was approved, and the Eng
lish Parliaraent wOuld proceed in that raatter, as
they found raost conducible to the glory of God
and the peace of the church and state in both na
tions ; that his raajesty, or the Prince of Wales,
shall visit Scotland as soon as possible ; that he
prefer none to offices without the recoraraenda
tion, or at least consent of the Parliament, privy
council, or college of justice ; that some Scots
men be placed about hira ; and none but such as
are of the reforraed religion, about either himself
or the Prince ; that all that hath happened in the
late troubles be buried in everlasting oblivion,
except that the Scots bishops, Traquair, Sir Ro
bert Spotswood, Sir John Hay, and Mr. Walter
Balcanquel, shall be prosecuted as incendiaries ;
that no war shall be declared against any of the
three kingdoms, but with consent of Parliament ;
and such as without such consent make war upon
their fellow subjects, shall be prosecuted as trait
ors by both nations concerned ; that the Scotch
Parliaraent, which shall raeet to ratify this trea
ty, have full power to sit till they finish their
business, unless they adjourn with their own con
sent ; and that none who corarait a crirae in one
part of his Majesty's dorainions shall be protect..
ed in another.
Meanwhile, the Asserably met at St. Andrew's,
July 20, 1641 ; but adjourned to Edirtburgh, be
cause many of the merabers behoved to attend
the approaching Parliament. In favours of Mr.
Howie, ofthe college of St, Andrew's, and others,
they enacted, that superannuated ministers should 3

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 223
enjoy their benefices for life.-^They established
some rules for the universities, and appointed
every Presbytery to raaintain a bursar at the
college; and Mr. Henderson recoraraended it to
the city of Edinburgh, and other principal burghs,
to maintain some students of distinguished abili
ties at some foreign university, as thereby thera
selves or the church might be provided to the
greater advantage. They appointed, that the ut
most care should be taken of the religious conver
sation of candidates for the rainistry ; and that
none should be allowed to preach in another
Presbytery, without testimonials from that which
had licensed him. The flame relative to fellow
ship meetings for prayer and spiritual conference
had still continued. Lecky and his friends in
sisted for preferring an accusation against Guthry,
their leading antagonist, and to have the act of
the preceding Assembly, which respected their
meetings, cancelled. Guthry and his partisans
were no less eager to support it, or, if possible,
to make it worse. The ministers of Edinburgh
were generally for a total suppression of all pri
vate raeeting for religion, except these of families.
Many of the citizens were no less zealous to pre
serve praying societies, and to have the act of the
Aberdeen Assembly either repealed or explained.
The court found themselves obliged to cancel
that act, as if it had never existed, and to substi
tute another in its roora, which imported, that
all ministers and others should labour to restrain
all impiety and all raocking at religious exercises,
or casting of odious naraes upon godly persons;
and that, on the other hand, great care should be
taken, lest under pretence of religious raeetings
and exercises, errors, scandal, schism, or any thing^

224 A COMPENDIOUS HSTORY OF THE
contrary to peace or truth, should be cherished^
or the duties of particular caUings neglected; and
appointed that Presbyteries or Synods, should
censure the transgressors of this on either hand.
By another act, they prohibited the introduction
of any novelty in doctrine, worship, or govern
ment, tiU it was first allowed by the General As
sembly. Being desired by the Parliament, they
exarairted the bond, which Montrose, and sorae
other treacherous covenartters, had subscribed,
artd of which the Parliaraertt had burnt the origi
nal — and declared it unlawful and unbinding, as
it was contrary to their former engagements to
do nothing without coramon consent, and as it
tends to promote division : but gave it as their
opinion, that such subscribers as should, under
their hand, acquiesce in this judgment, should be
no further troubled. The Lords Seaforth, Klug-
horn, artd Laird of Lowr iraraediately corapiled,
as did raost of the other subscribers afterward.
They offered their raediation for Montrose and
sorae other subscribers, who it seeras did uot sub
mit; but the Parliament refused it. — Being in
formed that the Independertts at London pre
tended that Messrs. Dickson and Cant were in
wardly of their sentiraents, the Assembly unani
mously declared their rejection of Indepert dency
as contrary to the national covenant; and appoint
ed Mr, Hendersort to irtform their Lortdon friertds
that they were all of one heart and soul against
Independency, as well as against Prelacy, — To
proraote an easy correspondence with the reform
ed churches abroad, they appointed the Scotch
minister of Campvere, in Holland, and an elder
frora his session, to be raembers of each Assem
bly. Mr. Henderson having moved the drawing

tkvRCH OP Scotland. .S25
Up of a Confession of Eaith, Catechism, Ltirectof-y
for Worship, and Form .of Church Government, in
which it might be hoped the English would agree
with thera, his motion was erabraced; and Mr.
Dickson, the moderator, and sudh assistants as
he pleased were.ehjoined to forra them. But he
resolutely declined the task as too difficult. A
coraraittee was appointed for reforraing the wild
Highlands, and the Isles, from their remaining
heathenish and Popish abominations; and a com
mission to finish sUch work as they had not got
overtaken. The Parliaraent of 1640, bad been adjourned
from time to tirae, tUl July 15, 1641, when
thirty-nine Nobleraen, forty-nine Barons, and
fifty-seven Representatives of burghs met ; but;
resolved to transact no iraportant business, till his
Majesty shouldcome down In the foUowiugmonth.
Nevertheless, they forraed overtures for regulat-
*ing their meetings. They concerted measures for
prosecuting Traquair, Sir R. Spotswood, Sir John
Hay, Walter Balcanquel, and Dr. Maxwel, late
bishop of Ross, as incendiaries ; and Montrose,
Lord Napier, Sir G. Stirling of Keir, and.Sir
Lewis Stewart of Blackball, for plottingto under
mine their fellow covenanters.. A'sciirrilbus libbt
against his country, and in defence of his. divisive
bond, drawn up by Montrose's direction, was read,
and he was required to subscribe a recantation of
it. Sudh of the above criminals, as could be ap
prehended, were iraprisoned ; and Lord Loudon's
labour to excuse them as far as he could, almost
rendered himself suspected. — It plainly appeared,
that Montrose had slandered the Marquis of Ar
gyle, as having publicly talked to Athole, and
other eight of his late prisoners, that he and bis
2 G

226 A. COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
friends had consulted lawyers and divines con
cerning the dethronemertt of his "Majesty, and had
thought of doing it at their precedingParllament,
but would do it at the next. — Montrose gave up
Stewart, commissary of Dunkeld, as his informer,
who at first acknowledged, under his hand, that he
haddone so^ But, being prosecuted, he said, that
he had invented the story out of mere malice
against Argyle ; and thaf^ by the advice of Mon
trose, Napier, Keir, and Blackball, he had trans
mitted a subscribed copy of his forged speech to
his Majesty. They also, at the Assembly's desire,
ordered all riiisrepresentations ofthe covenanters,
to, be razed frora the minutes of the privy coun
cU, .
Being at last corae up to the Parliament, along
with Prince Frederick Palatine, his nephew,
Charles, after his speech, offered to touch with
his sceptre the thirty-nine acts of the preceding
Parliament. But the sagacious members, per
ceiving that he thus intertded to mark these acts
as formerly destitute of legal authority, aud so
unhinge the late treaty, and all that was before
done in prosecution of these acts, warded off the
blow, and pled that the validity of these acts had
been already secured by the treaty, ^nd nothing
remained for bis Majesty, but to consent to their
publication. Upon the 1 8th of August, they en
acted. That all the members, before taking their
seats, should swear the national covenant aud bond
of 1638, as explained to abjure Prelacy and the
articles of Perth, together with an oath, binding
them to reason and vote, as they judged most
conducive to the glory of God and the peace of
this church and kingdom, and to defend to the
uttermost his Majesty's person, honour, and es-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 227
tate, together with the rights of Parliament and
subjects, and to preserve the uniort and peace be
tween the kirtgdoms of Scotland, England, and
Ireland ; and, by all proper methods, labour to
bring to cortdigrt punishraertt all such as had, or
should do auy thing contrary to the purity of I'e-
ligion, or the laws, liberties, or peace of the na
tion By this act, they hoped to exclude all the
malignants, who hated the covenanting interest.
But the Duke of Lennox, Marquis of Harailton,
and Earls of Morton, Roxburgh, Annandale, Kin-
noul, Lauderdale, Perth, Lanark, Galloway, and
Dumfries, after some demur, yielded to the terras,
artd so the number of Peers was increased to for-
tyrcight. Profane Carnwath alorte chose rather
to want his seat, than to swear oaths which he
had no intention to keep. Charles subscribed the
treaty of Rippon and London, and the Parliaraent
solemnly approved it by an act, which they trans-
^ mitted under* the great seal to the Parliaraent of
England. That same day, Charles and they ap
pointed the thirty-nine acts of the Parliament
last year to be published as bearing authority
frora the raoraent in which they were fraraed;
They appointed a soleran thanksgiving on the
7th of Septeraber, of which the General Assem
bly drew up the reasons. The thanks of the
Parliament were given to the coraraissioners, who
had formed the treaty ; and a corapliraentary re
ward appointed to General Lesly and Mr. Hen
derson. The malignant enemies of the pure religion
and full liberties of the kingdora, cherished by
Charles, who one day carae to Parliaraent at
tended by five hundred of them, laboured to tra^
duce the Marquises of Hamilton and Argyle.

g2S ^ COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
But the affair was got compromised ; and even
Montrose, Napier, Keir, Blackball, president
Spotswood, Hay, and Monro, who had deliver
ed to Goram the letter, which had occasioned
so much trouble aud dartger to Loudon, were li
berated upon security for their good behaviour,
and their compearance for trial, before the com
mittee of Estates in January next. Thp Parlia
ment voted 10,000 men to Prince Frederic, for
enabling him to recover his Electorate in Ger
many from the Pppish oppressors. But the
breaking put pf the Popish raassacre of the Pro
testants in Ireland prevented the execution of
this, and obliged his Majesty to post off to Lon
don, as soon as this Parliament ended. The Par
liaraent appointed a solemn fast upon 2d and
4th Sabbaths of November, of which the Com-
fti,lssion of the Assembly drew up the reasons.
Another fast was observed in the ensuing March,
but by whose appointment we know not ; nor
that any general fasi or thanksgiving was observ
ed, of which the church did not at least draw up
the reasons. They also enacted. That none
should go to England "to be married, without
proclamation of bahns, under severe penalties;
that besides fprmeriy required qualificatibns, all
patrons should subscribe the national eovenant;
that all raoniiraents of idolatry should be abolish
ed, and Presbyteries should see to have them re
moved out of churches, colleges, chapels, and
other public places ; that excommunicated per
sons, or persons who did not comraunicate at their
own parish church, at least once a-year, should
be prosecuted according to their respective ranks ;
that such as caused their mills or salt pans tO go,
or hired reapers, or sold goods on the Lord's day,
7

CHURCH OF SCOT'LANiD. 229
or otherwise profaned it, should be severely pu
nished. They disposed of the Bishop's rents
chiefly to the urtiversitieg, artd to some nobility
and gentry. Tbey made some acts for payment of
the public debt, which had been contracted in
the late war, and in favours of orphans and fa
therless children, and for the adrainistration of
justice and encourageraent of trade and raanu
factures. They approved the conduct of Argyle,
now made a Marquis by his Majesty, and other
comraissioners in the late war; appointed a com
mittee for preservation of the peace between the
two kingdoms, and appointed next meeting of
Parliament' in June 1644, unless his Majesty
pleased to call one before that tirae.
Upon Charles's return to Londort, his bishops
loudly reproached hira as undoing, in an instant,
all that hiraself and his father had, with no sraall
difficulty, established in many years. The differ
ences betweert him and his English Parliaraent
having becorae very wide, the Scotch comrais
sioners, who had gone- up to concert measures
for sendirtg their troops to Ireland, to check the
Popish murderers, who about that time massa
cred two or three hundred thousand of their Pro
testant neighbours, offered their mediation. —
Charles, highly displeased, coinraanded thera not
to interfere with hira and his English Parliaraent,
without first communicating their proposals to
hita. Having sent off 6000 forces to Ireland,
under General Monro, the breaking out of the ci
vil war in England obliged them to retain the
other 4000 intended for it, at home. By the in
flueuce of Montrose, arid other Bonders, Charles
laboured to cause the Scotch privy council to
threaten the English Parliament with their as-

230 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
sistance of him : but the covenanters, by their
counter supplications, prevented it.
When the Assembly raet at St. Andrew's,
July 27, 1642, a report that Montrpse and his
fellow Bonders intended to force them to declare,
that the national covenant favoured the raaking
of war upon the English Parliaraent, caused so
many ofthe covenanted nobles to attend, that no
such thing durst be attempted. The Assembly
appointed that the minutes of Synods should
be tried by the Asseinbly ; that transported mi
nisters should not undergo new trials ; that, in
consequence of his Majesty's concession, six can
didates for a vacant charge in the low country,
and as many as* can be had for one in the High
lands, be nominated by the Presbytery, with con
sent of the most, or best of the congregation, to
the patron, out of which he must present one.
Argyle and some other patrons offered to give up
their right of presentation, if ministers would pro
mise to insist for no augmentation of stipends ;
but they would not consent. The Asserably also
established some rules for reclairaing of Papists,
non-communidants, and profaners of the Sab
bath, and for famUy worship, catechising, &c. ;
and for delating of adulterers, wizards, and the
like, to the civil magistrate ; and for burdening
and limiting transportation of ministers ; and for
settling of schools; and for sending over ministers
to the remains of their Protestant brethren in the
north of Ireland, who had earnestly petitioned
for them ; they prohibited the taking of contrary
oaths in the purgation of adulterers, fornicators,
and the like — and all slandering of ministers, or
using of their names, in public papers, without
their consent. They appointed a committee to

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.. 231
visit the Isles of Orkney and Shetland, in order
to reform thera froih their heathenish artd Popish
corruptiorts, and to regulate the universities of St.
Andrew's and Glasgow; and made an act for the
suppression of Popery, and monuments of idola
try in the North. They erected a new Presby
tery at Biggar, and joined that of Sky to the Sy
nod of Argyle. They appointed a general con
tribution for the Protestants in Ireland. And,
as both Charles and his English Parliament had
courted their favour, they, without isiding them
selves, urged both to pi'omote a reformation of
England in public worship and church govern
ment, and supplicated the privy council to concur
with them herein, and appointed a public fast
and prayer, that the Lord might succeed their
project. Some noblemen, who had been commissioned
to beseech his Majesty, to give satisfaction to his
English Parliament, being very Ul used by him
and his party, and the letters transmitted to them
broken up, were therefore recalled. MeanwhUe,
HamUton, Montrose, and other Bonders, finding
it impossible to arm the nation in general agairist
the English Parliaihent, cohcerted with Charles
how to raise an army in the North, and seduce
General Monro and his troops to their party j
and at least make the Earl of Antrim accommo
date matters with the Irish Papists, and then
transport an army of them into England for his
assistance against his Parliament. But Montrose,
refusing to serve under Hamilton^ their reproach
es of each other manifested part of their de
sign, and the rest appeared from missives found
upon Antrira, when he was providentially appre
hended by a Scotch officer near Carrickfergus;,

232 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
and from the examination of him and his servant.
Instigated by the Popish Queen, Montrose car
ried on his wbrk in the North, and got all the
chiefs, Ogilvies, and Gordons, to subscribe an as
sociation in favours of Charles, But Lord Mai-
shal refusingto concur, and even persuading Hunt
ley to recal his subscription, gave a check to this
project, Montrose therefore courted the favour
of the covenanters, who, he hoped, would put
inore trust in hira than his new friends bad done.
But new proofs of his villany made them also to
despise hira.
' Charles's troops had almost defeated those of
the Parliament at EdgehUl, in October, and had
entirely routed thera, had not Balfour, a Scotch
officer, with his battalion at the head of the foot,
made a gallant defence, whUe Prince Rupert of
the Palatinate drove the cavalry before him. The
Scotch managers, laying their account that his
Majesty, after he had subdued his English oppo
nents, would turn his victorious arras against
thera, ordered Loudon, their chancellor, to issue
forth warrants for calling a convention of Estates,
in order to put the country into a proper posture
of defence. Notwithstanding all that Harailton
and Sir Lewis Stewart conld say, they voted them
selves a legal convention. Charles being inform^
ed of their meeting, by his missives liraited their
deliberations to the supply of their army in Ire
land, the procuring of the arrears due to thera
from the English, and the preventing of ground
less jealousies of himself, and restricted them
from doing any thing towards raising forces for
the English Parliaraent. Instigated by the Ear!
of Derby, Morton, Roxburgh, Kinnoul, Lartark,
Annandale and Carnwath, wrote to tbe Queen,.

CHURCH OP SCOTLAND. -233
that unless his Majesty detached three or foUr
thousand bf his troops to Scotland, that country
Would probably be lost to hira. The English
Parliament having intercepted this letter, remit-:
ted it to the convention. Upon which these Lords
subraitted, and promised to intbrfere no fur
ther with the English affairs, and were all excus
ed, except Carrtwath, who appeared to have ac
cused his countrymen to the King as rebels, arixl
their coraraissioners as favourers of the rtebellion
in England, in order to ruin him and his chUdren.
He fled, and was fined L. 10,000 Scots for the
public service.
The affecting serraons and edifying behaviour
of the Scotch ministers, who had attended their
coraraissioners at the making of the late treaty at
London, had rendered many of the English pu
ritans fond of the nearest union and conformity
in religious matters with the Scots. A correspon
dence for that effect had ever since "subsisted.
Their distress, since the battle of Edgehill, had
rendered a league with the Scots raost necessa
ry. After some warning, the coramissioners
from the English Parliament, attended by
Messrs. Marshal and Nye from the Westrain
ster Asserably, carae to Edinburgh in the be
ginning of August 1643, in order to solicit an
amicable and religious league. Meanwhile, the
Assembly met and received a letter from Charles,
indorsed to Sir Thomas Hope, Lord Advocate,
and those convened with him.' Notwithstanding
his Majesty's shyness to acknowledge them ah
Assembly, they boldly censured the ministers of
Auchterarder, for refusing to publish the' decla
ration emitted against the cross petition of the
Bdkders, in which they bad urg^d the privy coun-
2h

234 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
cil to publish his Majesty's reasons for raaking
war on his English Parliaraent, without publish
ing their vindication along with it. Instigated by
Archibald Johnstort, who had lately been made a
knight, they suggested to the Converttion of Es
tates, That, as the King's war with his English
Parliament was directed against the reforraation
of religion, the Protestant faith was in danger ;
that the English had helped thera in their dis
tress ; that if the serious part of the, church of
England be ruined, that of Scotland cannot ex
pect long to survive; that the intended uniforrai
ty of discipline and worship between the two
kingdora.s, would much strengthen the Protestant
interest in general; and that his Majesty's actions
had so often contradicted his proraises, that they
could not trust hira. They enacted. That pro
fessors of divinity, being ministers, might be cho
sen commissioners to the Asserably, either by the
university^or Presbytery ; that there should be uo
burials in churches where God is worshipped, aud
his sacraraertts dispensed. They appointed a rtew
supply of rainisters for the north of Ireland, and
a coraraittee to inquire into the nature and pro
per reraedies of witchcraft, for which many about
this tirae were -delated and burnt ; and that mi
nisters and magistrates should search for all books
calculated to promote separation from .pastors;
and that all sentences of supreme judicatories
should remain in force till repealed by themselves;
that no deposed clergymen should be reponed,
but by the advice of the Assembly ; and they con
firmed all former acts for the sanctification ofthe
Sabbath, and that masters should be censured,
who permitted their servants to transgress. — As
the customary repetition of the doxology and Glo-
1

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 235
ria patri, at the end bf public worship, and kneel
ing in the pulpit, had offended not a few of the
godly, Messrs. Henderson, raoderator; D. Dick
son, and D. Calderwood, were appointed to draw
up a directory' for the worship of God. Finding
it difficult to procure candidates with the Gaelic
language for the Highlands, they appointed such
^udents as could speak it, to be preferred in the
bestowing of burseries, aud in order to get the
Highlands and Isles supplied as well as the low
country, while probationers were scarce, they be
sought his Majesty to accept of a list of three
candidates for a vacancy in the low country, and
of One in the Highlands, in order to a presenta
tion. All the coraraissioners from burghs and
shires, having supplicated an abolishment of pa
tronage, it was recoraraended to Presbyteries to
devise a proper plan of settling congregations,
which might rembve all contests between patrons.
Presbyteries, and people. They prohibited all
ministers, having landed estates, to sit members
in the Parliament or Convention. They appointed
the Earl of Huntley to be adraonished for his ne
glect of family worship, his not comraunicating,
and his retaining of Popish servants. They ex-
coraraunicated Roger Lindsay for blaspheray,
and appointed John Seaton to put frora his house,
a woman with whom it was suspected' he kept a
criminal correspondence. They agreed upon a
religious arid solemn covenant with the English
Parliamentarians ; and, at the request of the
Westrainster Assembly, appointed Messrs. A.
Henderson, R, Douglas, S. Rutherford, R. Bailie^
and G. Gillespie, ministers, the Earl of Cassilis,
Lord Maitland, afterwards Earl of Lauderdale,
and Archibald Johnston, now a lord of session, by
the narae of Warriston, ruling elders, to join thera.

236 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
After the Assembly and Converttionof Estates
had approved of the solemn lecigue and covenant;
itwas transmitted to London, and with some
small alterations approved by the Assembly, airtd
both houses of Parliament. Being reraitted to
Edinburgh, tbe CommisstipDr of the General As
sembly, Oct. 1 1 th, appointed it to. be sworn and
subscribed through the whole church,, and, by
missives to Presbyteries, directed them, how to
forward the same. In consequence hereof, the
Coraraittee appointed by the Convention of Es
tates next day appointed it to be sworn and sub
scribed by all the subjects, under pain of being
held and punished as enemies to religipn and' his
majesty's honour, and peace of the kingdpms,
and t,o have their goods confiscated for the use
of the public, and not to be allowed to enjoy any
benefit, place, or office within the kingdom, and
appointed sheriffs and other magistrates, to as
sist rainisters in proraotiiig this ertgagement. As
this arid sorae other deeds pf this period iraposing
their covenants under such pen^ties, cannot be
justified, it is agreeable to find rione but Mon
trose and Monro, two railitary men, one of whom,
at least, afterward turned a murderer of his bre
thren, /orcz6/^ urging these covenartts. Every
where, the solemn, league beirtg read the one Sab
bath, it was, with marvellous unartiraity, sworn
thp next, by both raen and women, artd subscrib
ed chiefly by meu. Nor do I firtd, that the de-
cliners of it ever sulTered in the leastfor so doing.
Nov. 29, 1643, the Coraraittee of Estates and
coraraissioners frora England finished their trea
ty of friendship, bearing. That the solemn league
and covenant should be sworn and subscribed
by all ranks in, both kingdoras; that 18,000

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 231
foot, and 3,000 horse should immediately march
to. the a'ssistance of the English Parliament, with
victuals and pay for the space of forty days ; that
this army should be commanded by a Scotch ge
neral, but subject to the direction ofthe two Par
liaments, and their committees; that the whole ex-
pehces contracted by the Scots, should be repaid
to thera at the end of the war ; that their army
should receive L30,O0O Sterling per month out
of the estates of the English papists and other
malignants, and have L. 100,000 per advance;
that the Scots shall assist with their credit in
raising L.200,000 for that purpose, and for pay
ment of their troops in Ireland, which shall be
repaid them at the end of the war ; that no paci
fication shall be made with his majesty, without
the consent of both kingdoms ; that the Scotch
troops in England shall be no wise employed,
but to answer the ends of this treaty ; that the
English shall assist the Scots in any like extre
mity ; and that eight ships shall protect their
coasts and trade.
In January 1644, tbe Scots army, to the amount
of 21,500, marched into England, under the com
mand of old General Lesly, now earl of Leven,
and John Bailie lieutenant-general of the horse,
and David Lesly of the foot ; and notwithstanid-
ing the Independents giving the honour to Crom
well, who had perhaps gone off in his wounds,
had the principal hand in gaining the famous vie-
tory of Marston Moor, in which Charles lost aboittt
ten thousand of his forces, and all his baggage.
To oblige thera to return home, that Charles
raight at least recover the west of England) Mon
trose, Crawford^ Nithsdale, Aboyne^, Ogilvy, Rae,
Herreis, &c. entered into an associaiipn at Ox-

238 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
ford, to return to Scotland, and raise forces for his
majesty, Antrira undertook to send thera 10,000
Irish, under the coraraand of Alexander M'Don
ald, a Scot. ,Huntley took the field with a con
siderable body, which Argyle quickly suppressed.
In returning northward, through Westmoreland,
Montrose raised a body of forces, and set up his
majesty's standard at Dumfries. But the She
riff of Teviotdale marching a body of country
men toward them, they fled at the sight, and
Montrose himself escaped to Carlisle. The com
mission of the General Asserably laid hira under
the lesser excommunication, and ordered it to
be published frora all the pulpits in the kingdorii.
Exasperated by this, he pushed his way north
ward along with two others, and put himself at
the head of the Irish ragamuffins, who, in smal
ler numbers than was expected, had just landed
in Argyleshire, where they comraitted the most
barbarous ravages upou ministers and others,
whora they looked on as most hearty in the cove
nanting interest. He conducted them eastward
through Badenoch and Athole, where many join
ed thera, and in Perthshire, a whole regiment
-raised by lord Kilpont. Argyle, with a body of
undisciplined countrymen, thought to attack
them : but Montrose fell upon thera before they
were ready ; and, especially irt their flight, killed
many of thera. After ravaging Argyleshire, and
turning it into a kind of desert, he marched to
ward Lochaber and Glenco, in order to collect
his friends in that country. .
Meanwhile, the Scotch coramissioners to the
Westminster Assembly were but coldly received
by many ; nor till after a warm debate, were
they allowed to be members, ' But after theur ad-

CHURCH OF Scotland. ' 239
mission, rauch' deference was paid to their judg
ment ; and they had rto small hand in proraoting
of Presbyterian government. None of thera
made a more shining appearance than Gillespy
the youngest. The Gieneral Assembly, meeting
at Edinburgh, in May 1644, received letters from
the Presbytery, which attended the army in Eng-
lartd,-r-frora their coramissioners at : London, —
and from the Westrainster Asserably, — together
with petitions frora Ireland for supply of rainis
ters,— to all which they returned favourable an
swers. They declared the bond of association at
Oxford framed by.Montrose artd his fellow cove
nant breakers, perfidious, and calculated to throw
this church and kingdom into confusion ; and
empowered their coraraission to proceed against
all that entered into it to the highest eXcorarau-
nication, unless they should publicly acknowledge
their offence. They appointed.ministers to de
late to their Presbyteries, all such as manifested
dissatisfaction to. the covenanted cause. They
wrote to the churches in Holland, thanking them
for sending supplies of money to their distressed
brethren in Ireland, and informing thera of their
own critical circurastances and covenant with
God. They appointed ministers to be. more dili
gent in raising the fines annexed by law to scan
dals, and applying them to pious uses. They ap
pointed a contribution in favours of their Protes
tant brethren in Ireland, and gave order for sup
plying their armies with ministers ; and appoint
ed a solemn fast to confess their sins, lament
their miseries,, and supplicate relief from God.
The Parliament meeting, June 4th, made a
nuraberof acts for preventing the desertion of their
troops, and for levying others with proper expe-

240 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
dition ;— for declaring it treasonable to take arms
or hold out houses against the Estates ;^-for ra
tification of the late convention and committee of
Estates, and their acts, particularly these which
approved and imposed the solemn league and co
venant ; — for appointing coramissioners for pro
moting peace between hisMajesty and Parliaraent,
upon proper terras;— 'for paying to the burghs the
debts owing them for arras and araraunition; — for
approving the conduct of Argyle and Burleigh,
in suppressing the northern insurrections ;— for
preventing the profanation of the Sabbath, and of
public fasts, by captions for debt or the like;-— for
granting divorces, when shrewd tokens of adultery
are proven ; — for prohibiting fares and markets
on Mondays ; — for restraining innkeepers from
unnecessary selling of drihk'on the Lord's day; —
for prohibiting patronages belonging to particular
ministers ; for preventirtg application of vacant
stiperids to private uses- ;— for securing to mini
sters, universities, hospitals, and schools, the re
venues belonging to thera frora the estates of
forfeited malignants; — for rertewirtg the corarais-
siort for valuatiort of the tithes artd assignations of
manses and glebes to rainisters ;— for carrying on
the war against Montrose and other enemies, and
supporting of such as shall be disabled in it ; and
for corttiniiirtg the commission for conservatiort of
the peace with England, appointed by the forraer
Parliaraent, non-covenanters excepted.
When the Assembly met in January 1645,
they approved the directory for public worship
framed by the Westminster Asserably, with some
explications and limitations; as also some over
tures for the .advancement of learning in schools
and coUeges, and for the maintenance of bursars.

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 241
They authorised their coraraission to approve the
Westminster directory for church government, and
ordination of ministers, leaving roora to examine,
whether doctors have power to administer the sa
craments? and what are the respective rights of
Presbytery and people, in the calling of niinisters?
They emitted a solemn warning, calling all ranks
to a proper improveraent of God's great raercies
and alarrairtg judgraents, and appointed that all
such rainisters as did rtot read it frora their pul
pits, should be censured. They prohibited the
observation of Christmas, and other superstitious
,days, the abuses at penny weddings, and the re
porting of deposed rainisters to their forraer char
ges. They represertted to his Majesty his great
wickedness, in permitting the Irish invaders, un
der his comraission, to exercise cruelty uport, and
murder raultitudes of his best subjects ; in his
permission of Popish idolatry in his family and
kingdora ; in his authorising the book of sports,
and profanation of the Lord's day thereby encou
raged; in his neglecting to punish the notorious
scandal and profane behaviour of his court ; his
stopping of his ears against the petitions of his
faithful subjects; his compliance with Papists, and
concluding an advantageous cessation of arras with
the massacrers in Ireland; and in his following
the counsels of wicked raen, and opposing the re
forraation of his kingdora. They encouraged their
coraraissioners at Westrainster, further to pro
mote the religious uniformity between Scotland
and Englartd, artd appointed Mr, Henderson to
assist the English commissioners, in the religious
part of the treaty at Uxbridge, with his Majesty.
They appointed ministers to attend their eleven
2 I

242 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
new regiments, and others to supply their Pro
testant brethren in Irelartd.
The Parliament, meeting at Edinburgh on the
24th of the sarae month, appoihted an augmen
tation of ten or twelve thousand men to their ar
my^ intended to reduce Montrose and his fol
lowers ; and made a number of acts for defray
ing the expenses of the war ; and for putting the
country into a posture of defence, by musteriug
all raen between 16 and 60, on one day, that they
might see what arras or raen were wanting, and
might train such as appeared in the military ex
ercises. — ^Montrose took Dundee by storm, and set
it on fire in several places ; and, about the same
time, murdered multitudes in St. Andrew's and
Kirkaldy, alraost in cold blood, renderirtg two
hurtdred woraen widows in one day. Finding
that the covenanters' troops were divided into
two bodies, he first attacked the weaker under
Urie, and then the stronger under BaUie, and
routed them both. The Parliaraent being there
fore obliged to meet again in July, a raging pes
tilence kept them from Edinburgh, and drove
them frora Stirling to Perth, They appointed a
new levy of ten thousand troops to withstand
Montrose; and devised methods for paying them.
They ratified the Assembly's act, approving of
the Wesrairtster directory for public worship ; and
under penalties suited to men's different ranks,
prohibited profane swearing, drunkenness, and
mocking at religion ; and appointed deputies in
every parish to levy fines imposed for scandals,
and to punish the scandalous iu their persorts.
Finding that the covenanted forces were assem
bled at Perth, Montrose attempted to push south-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 243
ward, to favour his junctiort with a body of horse,
which he expected from his Majesty : and, to
draw off Bailie's attention, M'Donald, with his
Irish, fell upon the Carapbells, near Cupar An
gus, murdering all that he met with. But Bailie
still hanging close to him, Montrose was obliged
to return northward, once and again, to levy more
troops. At last, when the covenanters' newly
raised forces had gone horae, he raarched up to
the Bridge of Erne, in order to attack their reraain
ing array. But they, expecting reinforceraents
from Fife, would not stir from their entrench
ments. He therefore marched southward by Kin
ross ; and, then turning westward to Stirling,
burnt into a desart the parishes of Muckart and
Dollar, which pertained to Argyle. Informed of
his motions, the covenanters maiched tbe near
way to StirUng, burnt the houses of Menstry and
Airtbry, which belonged to malignants ; but did
no hurt to their tenants ; and came up with hi'ra
at Kilsyth, August 15, 1645, where he gave
them battle before their expected western assist
ants came up ; and, with very small loss ort his
side, killed most of their troops, giving, it is said,
no quarter to such as offered to surrender. Ter
rible was the havock made in the pursuit ; and
terrible the case of the nation, in consequence of
it—many thousands having lost their fathers,
brothers, or children. While the covenanting no
bles and gentry fled off to England and Ireland,
Montrose took up his head quarters at Bothwel,
and, by detachments of his troops, relieved his
friends, and raised contributions from Edinbugh
to the Western Ocean. The malignant nobleraen
flocked about hira ; and Charles sent bim a cora-
rnission, appointing hi/n Captain General, and

©44 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY, OF THE
Deputy Governor of Scotland; and erapowered
him to call a Parliaraent, and create Knights
to sit in it. By proclamations at Edinburgh, Lin
lithgow, and Glasgow, he sumraoned a Parliaraent
to raeet at Glasgow, on the 20th of October en
suing, and raade M'Donald, his murderous lieute
nant, a Knight.
Amidst their distress, envy of preferments and
carnal stupidity had fearfully prevailed araong
the covenanters; and not a few, amidst the licen
tiousness of war, had become openly profane.
The raging pestilence, and the six bloody defeats
they had received frora Montrose, together with
the alarraing sermons of their faithful rainisters,
awakened them not a little. Finding no help in
man, and that their apostate and barbarous. ene
my carried all before him, they betook themselves
to solemn fasting and prayer; and the Lord quick
ly appeared for their relief. Intending to join
him with all the forces they could collect, the
Eaiis of Horae and Roxburgh invited Montrose
to march towards the south-east of Scotland. To
favour their junctionwith him, he took up his head
quarters at PhiUpbaugh, beside Selkirk. Mean
while David Lesly and Colonel Middieton march
ing with part of the Scotch army frora England,
apprehended Home and Roxburgh; and then took
their route by Dunglass and Haddington, where
none watched their motions ; and then suddenly
turning southward, through the favour of the
night and mist, unexpectedly fell Upon Montrose's
army, from which the Gordons and M'Donalds
had lately gone horae with their plunder, and
killed or took prisoners the most of thera. The
raost malignant of the prisoners were tried and
executed as traitors and murderers. The Mar-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 245
quis of Douglas, , with other Lords and Gentle
men of the low country, raade their peace with
the Coraraittee of Estates. D. Lesly returned
with his army to England, and left Middieton,
with tbe horse, to pursue Montrose, who had got
back into Athole. M'Donald, with his Irish mur
derers, continued ravaging Argyleshire; putting
alraost every thing to fire or sword. Ardinglass
conducted about twelve hundred of the poor in
habitants to Monteith, to live upon the Malig
nants. But Inchbrake and the Athole raen fall
ing upon themr at Callender, killed not a few of
them, and forced the rest to flee towards Stirling.
Argyle carried them thence to Lennoxshire, to
live upon the lands of Lord Napier, and other ma
lignants. He then brought over a part of the
army frora Ireland, at whose landing in his coun-r
try, M'Donald and his Irishraen fled to the West
ern Isles, and thence into Ireland. Montrose,
having got northward, forraed a new association
with the Earls of Seaforth and Sunderland, Lord
Lovat, and a great many other of the principal
chiefs. But the ecclesiastical comraission hav-r
Ing published a declaration against this league ;
and the committee of Estates an indemnity to all
such as should desert it, except the Earl of Sea
forth ; and Middieton marching northward with
his troops, all the subscribers, except Seaforth,
quickly disclairaed the bond, and several of them
professed their sorrow for joining in it. Charles
having fled into the Scotch army in England, or-
deredMorttrose to lay dpwn his arms : upon which
he retired into Germany, and assisted the Eraper
or in oppressirtg and raurdering the Protestants.
Meanwhile, the Parliaraent, which met at St,
Andrew's in the end of November 1645, made a

246 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
variety of acts^ — ^for approving the conduct of
General Bailie, and the Lords Morttgpmery and
Sinclair, at the battle of KUsyth, and for levying
new taxes and forces for suppressing the raalig-
nants ;— for the relief of such as had been plun
dered by Montrose and his party, artd for puuish-
ing of the principal prisoners that bad been ta
ken at Philiphaugh. They prohibited all hold
ing of fairs on Mondays or Saturdays, and all
printing of books relative to religion, without
a licence from the Asserably or Coraraission, or of
others without a licence from his Majesty's secre
tary ;-T-and all lykewakes under pain of L.20
Scots for each fault ; and appointed Presbyteries
to have the sole power of planting vacant parish^
es, the patrons of which are excommunicated,
or have not sworn the covenant; and that schools
be erected in every parish, with a salaiy not below
100, and not above 200 merks Scots, besides usual
perquisites ; and appointed a Coraraittee of Es
tates to manage the government of the nation
during the interval of Parliament, the members
of which are allowed a salary for their work.-
When the General Assembly met at Edinburgh
in the beginning of June 1646, Charies, from the
Scots army, sent them a very humble letter, ex
pressing his grief for the divided state of his king
dom, and his earnest desire to comply with the
requests of his Parliament, and recoramending
himself and his distracted kingdom to their prayers.
By Messrs. Henderson, Blair, Douglas, James Gu
thry, and A. Cant, they presertted to him a riiost
Christiart and loyal answer, with other requests.
Theyenacted that ante-nuptial fornication should
be censured in the ordinary manner, as after acts
of justice do not atone for former faults ; that

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 247
every professor in the universities present to the
Assembly a copy of bis prelections ; that the in
terest of congregations in the calling artd admis
sion of ministers, artd what relates to it, be ma
turely cortsidered by Presbyteries artd Syrtods,
artd their proposals for preverttirtg contentiorts,
be returned; that compilers with Montrose ought
to be censured; that na students of divinity shall
preach to the people, till they be regularly licens
ed; that no ships should launch from harbour, or
loose anchor on the Lord's day — nor any children
go out of the kirtgdom without testiraouials from
their Presbytery, artd without briuging back such,
relative to their conduct when abroad. They laid
the Earl of Seaforth under the higher excommu
nication. And, awakened by the rage of sword
and pestilence, they pointed out the corruptions
of rainisters, in their private and public conduct,
and the proper reraedies thereof. They approv
ed some overtures respecting the mutual corres-
pondertce of Presbyteries, the assistance of poor
students, and the plartting of kirks and schools in
the Highlands, with candidates that understand
their language. They wrote to the Parliaraertt
of England, and to the Wesrairtster Assembly,
comraending their past endeavours, and beseech
ing their further diligence in proraoting an uni
formity in reformation between the two king
doras. They ordered their solemn thanks to be
given to Mr. David Calderwood, for the trouble
he had taken in coUedting the history of this
church ; appointed hira and his clerk to be indem
nified for their labour, and the work to be pub
lished as soon as possible. The confusions of
these tiraes prevented the publication. His
abridgment of it was published about thirty

248 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OE THE
years after, as a testiraony agairist the then do^-
miheering Episcopacy. An atterapt was raade
about thirty years ago to publish the full history;
but subscriptions failed.
. Let Us now, for a while, turn our eyes toward
Englartd. Scarcely had the Parliaraentarians, by
the victory of Marston Moor, perceived themselves
able to withstand all the forces that his Majesty
could bring against them, than they ungratefully
provoked their Scotch deliverers to a breach. To
shut thera up to rautiny, desertion, or oppression
ofthe courttry by taking free quarters, they with
held their pay, pretending that the interest would
sufficiently balance the delay of payraent. Being
thus obliged to take free quarters, these were
dishonestly over- rated. Want of subsistence oblig
ed them to want ministers, which occaslorted a
profane licentiousness In severals. Soraetiraes the
English Parliament, for weeks, or even for mortths,
neglected to answer the remonstrances of their
coraraissioners. Their expresses were soraetiraes
intercepted, and their letters opened, while the
House of Coraraons screened the offertders. In
their treaty with Charles, at Uxbridge, they
ehanged almost every thing in the propositions
made to his Majesty, which marked the power
of, or did honour to the Scots, and assuraed all
to theraselves. Notwithstanding all these provo
cations, the Scots, regardful of their solemn co
venant with God, did all that in them lay, artd
evert rertourtced part of their owrt interest, in or
der to promote the peace and welfare of England.
In May 1646, Charles, after he had empower
ed Orraond and Digby to clap up a peace with
the Irish Papists, which alraost established their
religion to them, in order that he might obtain
1

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 249
their faithful service against his Protestant sub
jects in Britain, — he fled frora Oxford whert it
was uport the poirtt of beirtg blocked up by the
parliaraertt's army ; and in company with two or
three more, rode within a few miles of London ;
then directed his course toward the sea ; and at
last resolved to throw himself Into the Scotch ar
my, which lay at Newcastle ; and continued with
them about eight months. Comraissioners from
the Coraraittee of Estates presented to him some
propositions for peace ; and these above-mention
ed, from the Assembly, laboured to remove his
prejudices against Presbytery and the covenants.
At least pretendirtg that he believed Episcopacy
to be of divine appointmertt, and that he had
bound hiraself by his coronatiort oath to support
it, he and Sir Robert Murray debated this point
in a series of letters with Mr. A, Hendersort ;
in which he pretended, that the English, in their
reforraation, had precisely followed the apostolic
appointraertt, and the universal pattern ofthe pri
mitive church ; and that where the succession of
episcopal priesthood ceaseth, there is no valid ad
ministration of the sacraments ; that rto reforma
tion. of churches is lawful, but under the direction
of royal authority; that no real defects could be
pointed out in the reformation established by
King Edward and Queen Elizabeth ; that Pres
byterian governraent was never known till Cal
vin introduced it at Geneva; that the unani-
raous consent of the Fathers is the true standard
of interpreting scripture ; and that the clause in
his coronation oath respecting religion being in
serted in favours of the church, the Parliaraent
cannot dissolve that obligation without her con
sent. In his replies, Mr, Henderson shewed,
,2k

250 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
That many serious Christians and learned di
vines, had all along complained of the imperfec
tion of the English refof mation ; that, to the
grief of other Protestant churches, it had occa
sioned no small contention and schism ; that all
subjects, being under the whole law of God, and
bound to take care for their own and posterity's
eternal salvatiori, ought to reforra themselves, if
princes be negligent or attached to prevalent cor-
.ruptiorts; that in the apostolical age, there was
no difference between bishops and presbyters ;
that not the practice bf the church some ages
after Christ, or the consent of fathers, but the
word of Gpd, is our rule in religion ; that it is
now impossible to know the universalpractice of
the primitive church, or the unartimous consertt
of the Fathers ; that, according to these Fathers,
the scriptures raust be interpreted by theraselves?
and our faith not stand in the wisdom of men,
but in the power of God ; — that when the formal
reason of an oath is removed, the obligation- of it
ceaseth ; and when the Parliament repeal laws,
the coronation oath doth not bind to oppose their
deed ; that his royal and learned father, never ad
mitted episcopacy to be appointed by Christ or
his apostles, ahd all the reforming divirtes, even
of England, had reckoned it raerely an human ap
pointment ; that the Westrainster Asserably had
proved Presbyterian governraent founded on the
scripture ; that magistrates' supreraacy over the
church in spiritual affairs cannot be justified
frora the word of God or right reason. The felt
approaches of death, probably hastened by grief,
that Charles, by his obstinate refusal to comply
with his Parliament, was like to ruin himself and
his kingdpms, obliged Mr. Henderson lo break

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 251
off his answer to Charles's fourth letter, and retire^
to his country. The Episcopalians gave out, that
he died of remorse, that he had occasioned so
much trouble to so pious a king, and published a
forged recahtation, as if made by him on his death
bed. But the General Asserably declared 'it false
and scandalous.
Old General Lesly, at the head of an hundred
of his officers, on their knees, in an hurable sup
plication, earnestly besought Charles to satisfy
bis English Parliamentj and favour the soleran
League and Covenant, Lord Loudon represented
to him his absolute necessity of complying with
their demands, if he inclined to keep the throne
for himself, or his famUy. MeanwhUe, the Inde
pendents and their friends, afraid of Charles's cora
pliance with the Parliaraent's deraands, and par
ticularly with Presbytery by the Scots influence,
got a vote carried in the Parliaraent, that there
was no further need -of their array in England.
Hereupon their pay was withheld, their quarters
were straitened by the Parliaraent's forces ; and
they had alraost nothirtg but the four uorthern
counties to support thera. Want of pay obliged
them to take free quarters, which, by the Secta
rians' means, occasioned loud cries of oppression.
They also published scurrilous defamations of
them, as cbvenant-breakers, apostates, and cora-
pliers with malignants. These and the. like
abuses made the Scotch army heartily tired of
England, and anxious to return home, as soon as
they could secure the payment of the arrears due
to them. They produced proper clairas for al
most a million Sterling :. but, when the English
offered thera £200,000 in hand, and security for
s^200,000 riiore, they, to testify their disinterest-

252 A COMPENDJOUS HISTORY OF THE
edness and love of peace, accepted it, Septeraber
2, ] 646, in place of full payraent.
About sixteen, days after this pecuniary agree
ment was fully, settled, Charles, in despite of all
that had or could be said to.persuade him, refus
ed to comply with the English Parliament's pro
positions for peace. Hereupon that Pariiament
votedj that his person should be disposed of as
they thought fit. Against this deed the Scotch
commissioners earnestly remonstrated, and insist
ed for a joint consultation with respect to the dis
posal of his majesty's person, Loudon repre
sented to the English coramissioners. That, by
the solemn league, both kingdoms were united tp
God, and to their king, and to one another ; and
that after the Scots had done so much to promote
the welfare of England, it was neither consistertt
with honour, conscience, or equity, to dispose of
his majesty's person, without consent of both
kingdoras ; and he, as in the above-raentioned
remonstrance, insisted that he raight be allowed
to reside in or near London, that so an agreeraent
between hira and his Parliaraent might be speed
ily effected ; — or at least that comraissioners
might be again sent to him to explain their pro
positions, and endeavour to remove his scruples.
Argyle, in his address to both houses of Parlia
ment, begged them to prortipte the work of refor-
matiort acqordirtg to the solemn league, and nei
ther to persecute true piety, nor to allow lawlbss
liberty ; and that they would endeavour to main-
tairt the peace of the two kirtgdoms,. artd study
to reforra, not ruin his raajesty, and to regulate,
but not destroy monarchy.
WhUe the Scots were labouriug to persuade
(^Jharles to agree with his Euglish Parliamentj

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 253
he, finding their army heartily attached to their
solemn league, soon w^earied of thera, and repeat
edly applied to. His English Parliament for their
allowance of his safe dwelling in London, or near
to it. They appointed him Holmby, irt the couu-
ty of Northarapton, for his residence, and agreed.
That as soon as he should corae thither, and the
Scots retire frora England, they would concur
with thera in endeavouring to obtain his consertt
to their propositions. These resolutions being
transraitted to Charles, and to Scotland, the Par
liament there earnestly besought hira to coraply
with the proposals, shewed hira thereasonsof so do
ing, and the danger of his refusing, as they could
not, in that case, assist him in recovering his king
dom ; and that both kingdoms would be obliged to
take sorae joint course for disposing of his persoh,
till he should give satisfaction to his Parliaraents.
WhUe he was with the Scotch army, he earnest
ly solicited them to join with the Episcopalians,
that they might be enabled to destroy their sec
tarian enemies. But, his proposals being laid be
fore the Asserably in June, they declared as
warraly against joining with the One as with the
other. And the Comraission in December, re
monstrated against his coming to Scotland, as he
would probably act up to bis forraer principles,
and endeavour to draw thera frora their solemn
league; and as.it would confirra the English in
their suspicions of underhand dealing with hira,
before he carae to their array ; and as it would
involve thera in breach of covenant, and a bloody
war with England.
When the Scotch Parliaraent raet in January
1647, they, considering that notwithsanding his
proraise to their army when he came to it, and

254 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
the many addresses nresertted to hira frora this
kingdom, he continued stifly to refuse the propo
sitions which the English Parfiamertt had made
to him ; and that he. had requested said Parlia
ment for allowance tp. reside in or near London,
and they had allowed hira to reside at Holmby
house, they consented that he repair to either of
these places, and there reraain till he should give
satisfaction to both kingdoras with respect to
their propositions of peace — ^providing that no
injury be done to his person, or change of govern
ment, frora that of the three preceding years, be
attempted, and that his posterity be no wise pre
judiced with respect to their succession to the
throne. Along with this declaration transraitted
to the English Parliaraent, they insisted, that
when his Majesty shall corae to Holraby House,
cbramittees frora both Lords and Commons shall
be appointed to deal with hira to procure his con
sent to the propositions for peace; and that Com
missioners from Scotlartd should have free access
to deal with him for the sarae purpose ; — and that
no pacification should be made without the con
sent of both kingdoms. The other acts of this
Parliaraent Avere — ^for suppressing the reraains of
Montrose's faction ; for reinstating of some who
had been forfeited for their junction with him ;
for distributing L. 5000 Sterling among the chil
dren and widows of such as had been slain in the
late war; for prosecuting excomraunicated per
sons as rebels, after forty days contumacy; for
suppression of all observance of Christmas and
other superstitious seasons, by the removal of col
liers, salters, or the like; for reparation of dama
ges suffered for conscientious adherence to the^
religion and liberties of the kingdom; for declarr

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 255
ing null and void all engagements to Montrose;^
M'Donald, or their associates ; for the lords of
privy council's taking the children or pupils of
Papists from them, and committing thera to such
as will train thera up in the Protestant religion,
and in virtuous behaviour; and for disbanding all
their troops but 7,200,
Horrible have been the outcries of Jacobites
and their friends against the Scotch army and
Parliament, as if they had sold Charles^, their
King, for L. 200,000 Steriing ; for it seems they
never got more of the milion that was owing,
and L.400,000 that was proraised thera. But it
ought to be considered, that Charles did not come
to the Scotch army but unwillingly, as his last
shift, and that without either warning or terms ;
and j;hat all the money they got, and much more,
wasdue to thera for what laborious and useful ser
vice they had perforraed for the English, ere
Charles came near thera, and was granted to
thera. entirely upon that footing, without the least
merttion ofthe King in the agreement ; that the
agreement relative to this money was concluded
before there was any treaty respecting his Majes
ty's person, whether he should go to Scotland or-
reraain in England, and five months before he
went from Newcastle to Holmby; that the affair
of the raoney was finally settled in September 2,
and the warm debates between the Scotch Com
missioners and English Parliament concerning
the disposal of Charles's person, did not take placte
before October following ; that, during his stay
in the Scotch array, he had repeatedly. petitioned
the English Parliaraent for allowance to come tb
London, or some place near to it, which is much.
the same with what the Scots yielded tp ; that

256 A C0Mi?ENDI0US HISTORY OF THE
during the months of Novemberj Deceraber, and'
January, the Parliaraent had laboured to per
suade him to a corapliartce with the propositiorts
of peace ; and a few days before he reraoved. to
Holraby house, the Scots had offered to sacrifice
their lives and fortunes in the re-establishment
of him on his throne, if he would but do so; and
that whbrt the Scotch army returned home, there
was no appearance of things taking the turn
which • they afterwards did ; that the Scots en
trusted his Majesty's person to the Parliaraent of
England, who were, by duty, by oath, and by
interest, as deeply bound to protect hira as thera
selves, and would have done it, had not Charles's
trusting .of hiraself to the Sectariail array occa-
sionec^ their fall, .and so hastened his own ruin.
No sooner had the Scots heard that the Eng
lish army, now under Sectarian martagement,
had his Majesty in their power, thart they added
the Earls of Loudon and Lanark to their forraer
Coramissioners, in order to persuade hira to a full
corapliance with the propositions of peace. In
stead hereof, Charles, finding his expectations
from the English array disappointed, especially
•by means of Lanark, atterapted to engage the
Scots Commissioners to commence a war against
the English, in order tp his restoration, Hopes
of annuities, by which he might relieve his deep
ly indebted estate, drew Loudon himself into the
snare. Returning home about the beginning of
February 1648, these Coraraissioners, chiefly Lou^
don and Lauderdale, represented to their bre
thren, that his- Majesty had been very ill used
by the English Parliament, and could put no trust
in the army; that, contrary to their covenant, the
interest of religion, and peace of the kingdom,
3

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 257
that Parliaraent had extended their deraands up
on him, and had absolutely refused to allow the
Scots to concur with thera in settling matters
with him as their coraraon Sovereign ; that, after
dissenting from their procedure, they had dealt
with Charles to confirra the solenm league, establish
Presbyterian government, and disallow the heresies
artd sects presently swarming in England; that
he is willing that the covenant be confirmed by act
of Pariiament, providing that none be constrain
ed to take it ; that he is willing that Presbyteri
an governraent be established for three years,
providing that he and his faraily be allowed thp
use of the liturgy ; that he is wiUing to concur in
an act for the suppression of sectaries and blas
phemers, and to have it secured by an act of
Pariiament ; that neither he nor his heirs shall
quarrel any for their obedience to the acts of the
last triennial Parliament of Scotland, or its com-
mittees. Meanwhile, the English Parliaraent
sertt down sorae coramissioners to cultivate har
raony with the Scotch Parliaraent, and to notify
their intentions to pay speedUy, at least part of
the L. 200,000 which they owed to their arraies,
which had served thera in England and Ireland.
During these litigations in England, the Gene
ral Assembly raet at Edinburgh in August 1647,
had established sorae directions for secret and fa
mUy worship; had prohibited persons' withdraw-
ment from public worship in their own congrega
tions ; — after a double reading of the Westmin
ster Confession of faith, and calling of all such as
doubted of any thing in it, to propose their ob
jections to a committee appointed to answer thera,
had approvedit, but explaining part of chap. xxxi.
to raean only, that, in extraordinary cases, mini-
2 L

258 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
sters and other fit persons, by virtue of their of
fice, or by a mere call of the Magistrates, picking
out particular members, as in the Westminster
Assembly, may hold Synods without any delega
tion from iheir churches; had prohibited the spread
of erroneous books, which the English sectaries
were inclined to pour into the country; had ex
tracted and approved in eight propositions the
principal heads of Gilespy's Hundred and eleven
propositions, which they had reraitted to the con
sideration of the raost faraous foreign divines, as
well as recommended to the examination of their
own rainisters and doctors of univei-sities, in or
der that they raay send up their judgment of
them to the next Assembly ; and had written a
letter to their countrymen abroad, inforraing
them of God's mercy's to them, and of their pre
sent difficulties, and begging their sympathy and
prayers ; had forraed sorae overtures for excite
ment of teachers in universities, and for baptiz
ing chUdren of beggars, &;c. ; and had appointed
some to review the metre version of the Psalms,
tran sraitted to thera by the Westnlin ster Assembly.
Next year, their Commission had an uncom
mon struggle with the state. In the beginning
of March 1648, the Parliament met, artd began
to resolve on a war with the English army, in or
der to rescue his Majesty out of their hands,'and
restore him to his throne, the Ecclesiastical Com
mission conceiving, that all his concessions which
Loudon had mentioned, were neither satisfactO'-
ry, nor much to be trusted, especially as most of
the officers intended for comraand in the project
ed engagement, were too evidently enemies to a
covenanted reformation — presented to the Par
liament a remonstrance against that undertaking.

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 259
as dangerous to both church and state. Nor
could the Parliaraent hinder their faithful publi
cation of it, and reading of it in all the churches of
Edinburgh. Not long after, the Commission be
ing inforraed that, contrary to the large treaty
with the English in 1643, it had been carried in
Parliament, to surprise and take Berwick and
Carlisle, and place garisons in them, and that Ar
gyle, and fifty-six other merabers, had protested
against it, they besought the Parliament, that
nothing might be done before the lawfulness of
the war and principal state of the question be
agreed upon ; that the breaches of the covenant
and peace of the kingdoms by the Sectarians
should be made evident, and reparations unsuc
cessfully sought, before any war be commenced ;
that if war should be found necessary, it might
be so stated, as to offend none ofthe English that
stedfastly adhere to the covenant; and carried on
without any concurrence with Papists, Prelatists,
or malignants ; that his Majesty's concessions
should, be declared unsatisfactory, and security
obtained frora him. That he, for himself, heirs,
and successors, shall agree to the acts ratifying
the soleran league, and establishing Presbyterian
government, the Directory forworship, andConfession
qf Faith in all his dorainions, and never make any
opposition to them ; and that none but such as
had been faithful to the covenanted cause should
be entrusted with the raanagement of public af-
fairs ; and that there might be no engagement
for war in favours of his Majesty, in which the
church should not have the same interest as in
the solemn league.
After some wrangling, the Parliament, instead
pf coming to any agreement with the Commis-

260 A C0.MPENDI0US HISTORY OF THE
sion, reflected highly upou them for raeddling
with civil affairs, though it is plain these in hand
deeply affected their soleran covenant with God,
and the establishment of religion in the three
kingdoms, and tended to plunge multitudes into
eternity in an act of sinrting. The principal Sy
nods in the nation, and some Presbyteries in
others, solemnly thanked the Coraraission for
their faithfulness, who, being hereby encou
raged, boldly insisted that the Parliaraent should
clear the lawfulness of the war before they pro
ceeded any further. For this purpose, the Par
liaraent published a large, but very uncandid, de
claration, In which they accused the English of
several breaches of their former treaty and solemn
league, and declared their intentions to require
the English Parliaraent to take effectual raethods
for raaking all their subjects swear the solemn
league, and for establishing fully Presbyterian go
vernment, the Directory for worship, and Confes
sion qf Faith, and causing the same to be every
where refceived ; and for supptessing Socinianism,
Arminianism, Arianism, AUabaptism, Antinomi-
anism, Familism, Brownism, Independency, and
other heresies and sdhisms, and for suppress
ing Popery, Prelacy, ahd the service book ; and
that his Majesty be allowed safely to reside in or
near Lohdbn, for the purpose of his Parlianient's
treating with him, in order to the establishraertt
of religiort artd peace ; and that all the merabers
of Parliaraent raay attend it, and applications be
made to his Majesty without any hindrance; that
the Sectarian array under General Fairfax be
disbanded, and none but such as take the cove
nant, or are well affected to religion, be hereaf
ter employed, either in the army or to command

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 261
in garrisons. They further declared. That they
did not intend to make war upon any of the Eng
lish that adhered to their covenant, but to main
tain their liberty ; that they would enter into no
association with Papists, Prelatists, or others
who refused to take the covenartt ; nor allow
any but such as were faithful to it to have any
trust, or comraand in this war ; that they would
edeavour to rescue bis Majesty frora the Secta
rians, that he might freely concur with his peo
ple in promoting the ends of the solemn league ;
that though they ¦w^ould immediately put the
kirtgdom into a posture of defence, they would
not begin a war, tUl the lawfulness of it should
be fully cleared, and reparation of injuries un
successfully sought in a peaceable manner ; and
that, in their whole conduct, they would carefully
prosecute the ends of the solemn league and cove
nant with England.
Not satisfied with this declaration, the Com
mission, April 28, remonstrated. That the breach
of covenant was not chargeable upon all the Eng
lish, but merely upon the Sectariarts, as it was rto
less upon the malignartts irt Scotland ; that such
as encouraged his Majesty to decline giving satis
faction, relative to his securing of religion, hin
dered his deliverartce ; that they could not prove
upon the English Parliaraent any such breaches
of treaty as could be sufficient grounds of a war
with thera; that it would be iuconsistent to desire
the English Parliament to hold all the refusers
of the solemn league as enemies to religion artd
#heir courttry, while no such penalty had ever
been executed against the shifters of it in Scot
land; that-they ought not to insist for his Ma
jesty's being allowed to reside in or near Lon-

262 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
don, without insisting for his giving satisfaction
to his Pariiament, concerning the security oftheir
religion and peace of the kingdom ; that there
was as much need for preventing the rise ofa Po
pish or Prelatical party in the army, as for dis
banding the Sectarians ; and that the proposed
engagement in war with the English, plainly
tended to prevent the disbanding of the Sectarian
army, — Notwithstanding this remonstrance, the
Scotch Pariiament transmitted their deraands to
theEnglish Parliament, and pubHshed their above
raentioned declaration. The Coraraission, heart
Uy grieved herewith, emitted a declaration, bear
ing; That they were ready to agree to the na
tion's engaging in a war with the English, if they
were satisfied concerning the sufficiency ofthe
grounds, and the lawfulness of the means for car
rying it on. But as things stood, they reckoned
the engagement dangerous to the reformed reli
gion, prejudicial to the true interests and liberty
of this church, favourable to the Popish, Prelatic,
and malignant party, inconsistent with thp union
ofthe kingdoms, and the satisfaction ofthe Eres-
byteriarisin England, and therefore contrary to the
word of God and our solemn covenants; and that
the managers of it pretended zeal against the
sectarians, merely for a dloak to the favour which
they intended for malignartts ; and had even late
ly pled, that Scotland was in no danger from the
sectaries. Highly offended with the faithful op
position of the Commission, the Parliament sent
letters to the several Presbyteries, complaining of
it ; — in answer to which the Coraraission publish
ed a vindication of themselves.
Several synods, presbyteries, and shires, again
petitioned the Parliament, that religion raight be
secured, and the union of the kingdoms preserv-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 263
ed, and no war comraenced without very weighty
grounds, maturely considered. The Parliament,
after they had framed an answer to these, laid it
aside, and pretended to ask the advice of the
Coraraission concerning the proper method of se
curing religion. After testifying their regard to
the Parliament, and to his Majesty's liberty and
honour, they advised that these petitions should
be granted ; that the surprising of Berwick and
Carlisle be disclaimed, and no longer continued ;
that all peaceable methods of treating with Eng
land, and supplication to his Majesty be further
tried, in order to compose differertces ; that his
concessions raentioned by Loudon be declared un
satisfactory ; that they declare against any en
gageraent for restoring hira to his house with
freedora and safety, which is alraost equivalent to
his having the exercise of his royal power, before
he gave it under his hand and seal. That he shall,
for hiraself and his successors, agree to the acts
of Pariiaraent enjoining the:solemn league and cove
nant, and fully establishing Presbyterian govern
ment, the directory for worship, and confession qf
faith, in all his dorainions, and never make oppo
sition to, or endeavour a change of any of them ;
that they should make it evident, that they have
no intention to enable his Majesty to bring the
proceedings of both nations, relative to the so
lemn league, into question, -or to abridge the
power of his Parliaments ; that they should take
proper methods to suppress such Papists, Pre
latists, or malignants, as had, or might take
arras to plunder and murder their fellow sub
jects ; that nothing be done Avhich may infringe
the uniort of the two kingdoms, or disoblige the
Presbyterian party in England ; that all putting-

264 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
of such as had been indifferent neutrals, or oppos
ers of a covenanted reformation, into places of
power artd trust, should be quickly remedied ;
that there should be uo ertgageraertt for the war
without a solerart oath, irt which the church
should have the sarae direction as in the solemn
league; that such as have been oppressed for not
corttributing to the levies for the army be refund
ed, and no such thing perraitted for the future ;
that the profaneness and insolence of soldiers be
severely punished; that nothing be enacted detri
mental to the liberty of the church, and no arbi
trary power entrusted to their officers or agents;
or an oath imposed tending to ensnare the con
sciences of the subjects.
Regardless of these advices, the Parliaraent ap
pointed an army to be imraediately raised under
the coraraand of Duke HaraUton, and the Earl of
Callender as his lieutenartt; and laid an enorraous
tax upon the nation, for defraying the expenses
of the War. Argyle, Sutherland, Cassilis, Eglin
ton, Loudon, and Lothian, with many other
Lords, Barons, and Burgesses, protes>ted against
their engagement. Colonels Ker, Strachan, Hal-
ket, and other officers, refused to serve in it; and
had their plaees filled with scandalous malig
nants. Such as refused to pay the new tax, were
terribly oppressed artd spoiled by soldiers quar
tered upon them. -The Parliament next prepar
ed a declaration to be sent irtto England, recount
ing all that they thought crirainal in the conduct
of the sectaries, and pretending that, as they had
got no satisfaction to their forraer deraands, they
had been necessarily obliged to this engagement
in war ; that they intended to preserve the re
formation of religion as established by law in
1

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 265
Scotland, and to rescue his Majesty from his
base iraprisonment, that he may with safety and
honour come to one of his houses in, or near
London, where he may treat with his Parliament,
and to restore freedom to his English Parliament,
that they, together with the Scotch, might con
clude the treaty with their Sovereign, answerably
to the petitions presented to bim by the city of
London, at Oxford and Newcastle ; and tb pro
cure the disbanding of the army under General
Fairfax — and that none but covenanters, and well
affected to religion and Presbyterian church go
vernment, might hereafter be employed in troops
Pr garrisons. Notwithstanding all these preten
ces, many notorious malignants were principal
agents iri carrying on this engagement. Hence
the more serious covenanters generally disliked,
and, as they had opportunity, opposed it.
The General Assembly, which met July 12,
1648, approved and ratified the proceedings of
the late comraission. The comnfittee of Estates,
which the late Parliament had entrusted with
the execution of their designs, demanded, what
they thought necessary fbr securing of religion ?
The Assembly replied, that they knew no possi
bility of securing religion, while this unlawful
engagement was carried on, since none of the
just desires of the late commission had been grant
ed ; that it was plainly calculated to break the
union of the two kingdoms ; that all proper
means to prevent a war nave been neglectedj and
malignants and incendiaries have been joined
with ; that it hath been carried on in the way of
polluting men's consciences by unlawfiil bands
and oaths, and of oppressing such in their per
sons and estates as had been most zealous for the
2 M

266 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
covenanted interest, — and of reraarkable en-
croachraertts on the liberty of Christ's church.
The coraraittee therefore required thera, to de
monstrate from the word of God the unlawful
ness of their engagement, and what interest the
church had in the undertaking of wars ; in an
swer to which the Assembly emitted a large de
claration, plainly illustrating both these points
frora the scripture. And, as the Parliament had
required all the subjects, under pain of being held
eneraies to their king and country, soleranly, by
their oath and subscription, to acknowledge all
their acts relative to the engagement to be law
ful, and to engage to prosecute the same as a
most proper mean of remedying former evils, and
of preserving his Majesty's authority, along with
the religion, laws, and liberties of the kingdom,
the Assembly declared. That a sinful oath, tend
ing to draw the subjects from their former prin
ciples I and covenant Avith God, and importing a
solemn approbation of acts, which they had not
yet seen, — of acts made in opposition to the
known mind of the church, and sinful in several
respects ; and they warned all concerned to for
bear swearing of it, under pain of censure ; and
they earnestly besought the committee of Estates,
to consider what guilt they would incur by im
posing such a sinful bond. They also remonstrat
ed to his majesty, that his concessions were not
satisfactory ; and that the present engageraent
in war was not a proper mean of his deliverance ;
and that by his forraer refusals to hearken to
their advice, he had occasioned the death of
many thousands of his subjects, and the fearful
increase of Popery, profanprtess, and raany other
abominations in his kingdom ; and they besought

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 267
hira deeply to repbnt of his wickedness, secret
and open, as a true raean of restoration to his
throne.  They appointed all ministers, under
pain of censure, to preach against the above en
gageraent and bond, as well as the Sectarian er
rors, and increasing profaneness. They appoint
ed, that none but elders approved by the minis
ter and session, be adraitted into the Asserably
as commissioners from burghs ; that comraission
ers report their whole procedure to the next As
sembly at their first meeting ; that no collections
for the poor be raade in the time of God's wor
ship ; that no deposed ministers be reponed with
out the consent of the Assembly, or if malignant,
to bis former congregation ; that forty Highland
boys be educated for the ministry at the public
expence, in order to plant the vacant congrega
tions in that country ; that all students, at their
entry to the college, and otheis at their admis
sion to the Lord's table, take the covenant ; that
duellers be censured in much the same manner
as fornicators. They approved the Larger and
Shorter Catechisms compiled by the Westminster
Asserably, and prohibited an erroneous cate
chisra then published. After consideration of the
prevalent sins of that time, they pointed out pro
per reraedies, civil, domestic, and ecclesiastical,
and approved several overtures relative to excom
municated persons. Papists, and their children.
They returned friendly answers to several letters
sent them from the Westrainster Asserably, and
appointed their coramissioners in it to exert
themselves to their utraost for promoting a full
and fixed uniformity in religion. And, as the
times were so critical, they appointed a large
commission of 100 ministers, and 60 elders, of

268 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
v/honi 1 3 rainisters, arid four elders were dbclar-
pd a quorum.
Notwithstanding all opposition, duke Harail
ton, Lanark his brother, and their friends, car
ried on the engagement, and invaded England,
stiU pretending regard to the covenant and Pres
byterian governraent. But so abandoned were
many of their soldiers, that they fell upon a mul
titude of sincere covenanters, when assembled at
a sacramental occasion at Machlin, and kUled
and wounded a number of them. At Carsphearn,
they fell upon another assembly employed in sa
cramental work, and devoured the elements.
About the middle of August, their engagement,
issued in the slaughter and rout of their army by
CromweU at Preston, and in imprisonment and
death to Harailton and other commanders of it ;
and not long after, in the ignominious death of
Charles, who had planned and pushed them to
it. Sir George Monro had brought his array
frora Ireland to assist thera : but, after murder
ing a nuraber of his fellow-covenanters in the
west, that opposed the engagement, Argyle, Cas-
sUs, and Lowdon, and their friends, pbliged hira
to return back. After routing the engagers,
Cromwell had directly raarched his array into
Scotland, had not Argyle and his party, who now
prevaUed in the Committee of Estates, represent
ed to him how earnestly the Assembly, and a
considerable body in the Parliament* had opposed
the Haniilionian engagement and invasion of Eng
land. — In the beginning of October, the Commis
sion of the Genpral Assembly appointed a reno
vation of the solemn league and covenant, with a
solemn acknoAvledgmertt of preceding breaches
of it, and engagement to duties, which the Com-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 26*
mittee of Estates ratified, without annexing any
penalty, and which was pretty generally complied
with through the land. Many scandalous cler
gymen were soon after deposed, and the rest, by
frequent inquires, excited to their work ; and,
for a year or two, the preaching of the gospel
was very remarkably blessed through the land.
After publishing a tract against association with
malignants, idolaters, and the like, and leaving a
dyirtg testiraony against the sarae, Mr. G. GUles-
py, moderator of the preceding Assembly, died,
greatly laraented.
The Coraraittee of Estates called a Parlia
ment, but secluded from it such as had voted for
duke Haniilton's engagement, many, if not most,
of whora professed their willingness to have no
more share of the public management. After
spending a day in solemn humiliation and fast
ing, they renewed their covenants with God and
one another, as directed by the Commission.
They repealed all the acts of the last meeting of
Parliament, and of their Committee of Estates,
Avhich authorised or promoted Harailton's en
gagement. They approved the protestation which
had been taken against it, and the opposition
made to it at Machlin moor. They, by an act
ef classes, and another for purging the army, se
cluded the promoters of it, and all malignant
and scandalous persons from all places of power
and trust, and even from the army, till they give
proper evidence of repentance. They approved
the Commission's solemn festiraonies against the
toleration of errors and sectaries in England.
They enacted. That before any future king be
adm.itted to tbe exercise of his royal power, he
shall, by oath, and under his hand and seal.

270 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
declare his allowance of, the national covenant,
and of the solemn league, and oblige himself
to prosecute the ends of the same, in his sta
tion ; and that he shall, for himself and , his
successors, agree to acts of Parliament, en
joining the solemn league and covenant, and fully
establishing Presbyterian government, the Direc
tory for worship. Confession of faith, and Cate
chisms, as approved by the General Assembly
and Pariiament, — in all his dorainions ; and that
he shall observe these in his own practice and fa
mily, and never make opposition to, or endeavour
any change of them ; and that he shall leave all
counsel and counsellors prejudicial to said religion
and covenants, and shall give satisfaction to his
Parliaraent as rtow cortstituted, iu Avhat other
thirtgs they find necessary for the civil and reli
gious welfare of the nation ; — and agree, that all
civil raatters be deterrained by the Parliaments
of this kingdom, and all church affairs by theXie-
neral Asserablies. They ratified three acts of
the Asserably and Commission, approving the
larger and shorter Catechisms, and enjoining the
renovation of the coveriant. They enacted. That
drunkenness, profane swearing, scolding, obscene
language, uttered or printed, mocking at piety,
and drinking of healths, be punished, and the
guilty, upon their fourth conviction, to be impri
soned, till they find security for their good beha
viour, under pain of L.400 to nobleraen, 400
merks to barons, 200 merks to gentlemen, heri
tors, and burgesses, L.40 to yeoraen, and L.20 to
servants ; — that such as married in a clandestine
manner should be iraprisoned three months, and
be fined, nobleraen in L.5000, barons and landed
gentlemen in 5000 merks, gentleraen and bur-

CHUUCH OF SCOTLAND. 271
gesSes in 2000 merks, and others in 500 merks,
to be paid before they should be liberated ; and
that such as, according to the act of 1645, are
nominated to lift the fines or inflict corporal pun
ishments on scandalous persons, accept that office,
and deliver up the fines to the kirk sessions for
the use of the poor, except the tenth part, which
is allotted to the officers employed in executing
that work ; — ^that going of mills and salt-pans, or
fishing of salmon, or other unnecessary labour on
the Lord's day, be punished ; that all blasphem
ers, and revilers, and obstinate deniers of God,
or of any of the persons of the Trinity, and all
worshippers of false gods, cursers and beaters of
parents, br guilty of incest, be punished with
death ; that none but such as are of a blameless
conversation, and apparently well affected to the
covenanted reformation, be admitted to, or con
tinued in any place of power, or trust, in the
state, army, or burghs ; — and that all commis
sions, patents, honours, offices, or gifts, received
from his majesty before he give satisfaction to
bis Parliament, are null and void, and the seek
ers thereof censurable. They made an act for
contributions of assessments on parishes, and for
withholding of supply from sturdy beggars, and
for relief of such poor as ai'e willing, but unable
to work, — and for relief of such as through ship
wreck, burning, devastation, or the like, are re
duced to poverty. In fine, they abolished pa
tronage as a Popish corruption, contrary to the
second Book of discipline, and to several acts of
Assembly, and prejudicial to the liberty of the
Christian people, and the free calling and entry
of ministers, — and declared. That admission by
the Presbytery, upon the call ofthe congregation.

^72 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
fehall give rainisters Sufficient right and title td
their manses, glebes, and stipends ;— meanwhile
declaring the patron's right to the tithes as be
fore ; and reconimending it to the General As
sembly to establish a proper rule of calling mini
sters, giving to Presbyteries and congregations
their respective powers in that matter.
This Parliament had scarcely begun their above
work, when they received inforraation, that the
Sectarian army in England had extruded all the
hearty friends of monarchy from their Parlia
ment at Westminster ; had brought back his Ma
jesty from the Isle of Wight, to which he had
fled from them ; and appointed an high court of
justice to try him for his life. Shocked with these
things, both church and state appointed their com
missioners at London to exert themselves to their
utmost for preventing his trial. In their remon
strance of January 6th, 1649, these commission
ers, in name of the kingdom of Scotland, repre
sented to the House of Commons, the several en
gagements the two kingdoms had lately come
under, with respect to religion and the preserva
tion of his majesty's person ; and earnestly insist
ed, That no violence should be done to him, and
nothing at all, without the consent of both king
doms. Upon the 16th of January, the Commis
sion published a testimony against the errors and
conduct of the Sectaries, and a warning to their
fellow covenanters in England, which were pre
sented to the House of Commons, on January
26. — Finding the Sectaries determined to have
his Majesty's life, the Scotch commissioners at
London, in name of their Parliament, in January,
presented to the Speaker of the House of Com
mons, a so lemn protestation against it ; and, de?-
6'

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 273
pairing of success with them, as the army had
now modelled thera, they, upon the 20th, remon
strated to general Fairfax against the putting of
his Majpsty to death, as horrid and scandalous.
He was nevertheless beheaded next day, pre
tending to die a raartyr for the laws and liberties
of bis people, of whora his stubbornness, pride,
artd treachery had produced the terrible oppres
sion, artd plurtder, artd even the death of perhaps
four hundred thousand in Britain and Ireland,
Informed of his exit, the Scotch covenanters,
infatuated with zeal for their royal family, irarae
diately proclairaed Charles, his eldest son, then
about eighteen years of age, their Kirtg, artd pro
mised to defend him according to the solemn
league and covenartt ; but declared, that he be
hoved to give satisfaction concerning religion and
the unity of the kingdoms secured by that cove
nant, before he be admitted to the exercise of his
royal power; an information of which they trans
mitted to him at the Hague, by Sir Joseph Dou
glas, along with a faithful warning from the Com
mission. And as the English House of Com
mons had excluded hira frora their crown, they
transmitted to them their proclamation of him,
along with a solemn remonstrance, in which they
represented how the English Parliament had all
along, from 1642, solemnly declared, that they in
tended no hurt to his Majesty's person, or abridg
ment of his authority — no commonwealth forra
of governraent — or toleration of heretics,_blasphe-
mers, or the like;-r— and remortstrated agairtst the
violence done to his late Majesty, and insisted on
their proclaiming his son to be their King, and
that no toleration should be given to heretics or
blasphemers. Highly offended with these free^
2 N

974 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OP THE
doras, the Sectarians, who now ruled as they
pleased, imprisoned the Commissioners frora Scot
land, But, being quickly convinced that this
was an infririgement of the law of nations, they
conveyed thera safe to their own country. Mean-.
while, the Scotch Parliament had dispatched tbe
Earl of Cassilis and George Winram, along with
Messrs. Bailie and Woodj from the church, to ob
tain proper satisfaction from Charles at the
Hague, But Montrose, and a number of Eng
lish malignartts, buoyiug, hira with hopes of an
unharapered iaccess to Irelartd, whence, by the as
sistance of Orraond and his raalignant or Popish
frifends, he might force his way to the English
and Scotch crown, without any conditioris, he
despised the covenanters' proposals.
The General Assembly meeting in July, ap
proved and ratified the deeds of the late Commis
sion, and approved the conduct of their Commis
sioners which had been sent to deal with his Ma
jesty, They prescribed censures for such as had
assisted Montrose, and served in Hamilton's enr
gagemertt; and that the principal offenders be
not re-admitted to coraraunion in sealing ordi
nances, but by the General Assembly or their
Coraraission, and others by Presbyteries. They
published a soleran warning relative to the pre
sent dangers, and the necessary duties of minir
sters and others with respect to thera ; and par
ticularly the necessity of obtairting proper secu
rity frora bis Majesty relative to religion, and
the exclusion of a,ll malignartts from places of
power and trust, before he be admitted to the ex
ercise of bis royal power. They wrote a brother-.
ly exhortation to their friends in Englartd, bewail
ing the broken state of tfieir church and king^

CHURCH OF SdOTLAND. ^7^
dom, and beseeching and encouraging thera to
cleave to their duty according to their covenant
witb God. In a letter to their young Kingj they
dbclared their detestation of the raurder of hia
father, and laraented that he hiraself had con
temned the representations presertted to hira by
the church's Commissioners -, — held an intimacy
with MontrosCj a perjured murderer of many
thousands of his best subjects, and approved his
conduct ;— ^aud had settled a peace With the Po
pish murderers in Ireland, and granted thera a
peace, and the full liberty of their idolatry and
other aborainations }— ^and besought him, as he
regarded his own and his kingdom's happiness,
to subrait to the laws of Christ, and the counsels
of truth and peace. They prohibited all joromw-
cuous dancing, as productive of scandal, iraraodes-
ty, or lasciviousness. They thanked the Parlia
ment for their abolishing of Patronage ; begged
that the tithes belonging to the church might
not only be applied for ministers stipends, but
also to bear other pious expenses in parishes; and
they appoirtted, that in electing of ministers, the
Session should be the proper electors ; but the
members of the congregation should be asked
their consertt. If the greater part of a congre
gation dissented frora the choice of the Session,
unless it was plainly causeless prejudices, the can
didate was to be laid aside. But if only a lesser
part dissented, except where the grounds were
plainly relevant and weighty, the Presbytery
should proceed to the trials and ordination, but
in such a manner as tended to bring all parties
to an harmonious agreement.
Next year, 1650, the Parliament again dis-
patched the Earls of GassUis and Lothian, Alex-

276 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
artder Brodie, artd George Wirtram, Lords of Ses
sion, with Messrs. John Sraith and Alexander ¦
Jaffray, along with Messrs. John Livingston,
Jaraes Wood, and George Hutchinson, to Breda,
to try if they could persuade their young King
to accept of the terms, upon which they bad-
agreed to adrait him to exercise his royal power.
Partly by the treachery of Lothian and Winram
of Libberton, artd partly by Charles's expecta
tions that Montrose, whom be had appointed to
invade Scotland from the North, with such fo
reigners as he could get, would procure his unli
mited adraission, he held off frora compliance
till the tirae was alraost wholly elapsed. But un
derstanding that D, Lesly had taken Montrose
prisoner, with his coraraission on hira, and scat
tered his 3000 foreign mercenaries ; and that
Cromwell's success in Ireland had rendered hira
altogether hopeless of availing himself of that
kingdom ; and finding, by Libberton's treachery,
that the Scotch Committee of Estates had order
ed their Comraissioners to break off all treaty
wjth hira,pn accouut of his empowering Montrose
to attack them by violence— ^he pretended to cora
ply with all their proposals, engaging himself to
remove from his counsels all that stood excom
municated by the kirk ; — to take the national. co
venant and solemn league and covenant, and prose
cute the ends of them ; — and to ratify artd ap
prove all acts of Parliament enjoinirtg these cove
nants, and establishing Presbyterian government;
the Directory of worship, and Confession of faith,
and Catechisms; and that all civU matters should
be determined by the present and subsequent
Parliaraents, and all ecclesiastical ones by the Ge
neral Assemblies, Notwithstanding aU this, he

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. £77
continued tiU the very last, to use theEnglish li
turgy at Breda, in opposition to all that the ec
clesiastical Commissioners could say to the con
trary. On his passage, he had shewed sorae un
willingness to take the covenartts; but his raalig
nant friends, persuaded hira to comply, Accor-
dlrtgly, at his arrival in the raouth of the Spey,
June 23, 1650, he declared his willingness to swear
them ; and Mr. Livingstort, who had with reluc
tance, and not without being decoyed into the
ship, come along with him, as he thought they
were bringing the plague of God to their country,
after a faithful serraon, adrainistered the national
covenant artd solemn league to hira, which he swore
in the following words subjoined to thera: " I
" Charles, King of Great Britain, France and Ire-
" land, do assure and declare, by my solemn oath,
*' in the presence of Almighty God, the searcher
" of hearts, ray allowance and approbation of the
" national covenant, and of the solemn league and
" covenant above written, and faithfully, oblige
" myself to prosecute the ends thereof in my sta-
" tion and calling; and that I, for myself and suc-
" cessors, shall consertt and agree to all acts of
" Parliament enjoining the national covenant, and
" solemn league and covenant, and fully establish-
" ing Presbyterial government, the directory ofwor-
" ship, the confession qf faith and catechisms, in the
" kingdora of Scotland, as they were approven by
" the General Assembly of this kirk, and Parlia-
" ment of this kingdom ; and that I shall give
" my royal assent to the acts of Parliament en-
" joining thesarae in the restof mydorainions; and
" that I shall observe them in my own practice
" and family, and shall never make opposition to
" any of these, or endeavour any change thereof."

278 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THfi
—This oath he immediately subscribed, and in
other things submitted as pleasantly as he could*
and even parted with the new Duke of Hamil'
ton and with Lauderdale, aud other favourites.
But hating every thing that looked like strict
ness in religion, and especially the faithful re
proofs, which he received frora tirae to tirae, he
was heartily wearied of his new attendants.
Charles having refused to subscribe and ^luh-
lish an acknovvledgment pf his own and his fa
ther's wickedness, and declaration of his future
resolutions, offered to hira by the Coraraittee of
Estates, ahd Coraraissiort of the General Assem
bly, many Pf the raerabers of which exceedingly
suspected hira, the Coraraission raeeting at the
Westkirk of Edinburgh, August 15, 1650, de
clared. That this kirk or kingdora did not own
or espouse auy maligrtartt party, or quarrel, or in
terest, nor Would fight, but raerely upon their
former grounds and principles, in defending the
cause of God arid the kingdora, as they had done
these twelve years past ; and that, as they dis
clairaed the sin of the King and his house, they
would not own hira or his interest, but in subor
dination to God, and so far as he disclairas his
own and father's opposition to the work of God
and to the covenartt — artd likewise all the ene
mies thereof; and that they would quickly mani
fest the same to Cromwel, who,- marching to in
vade their country, had, in papers transmitted
to them, charged them with the contrary. The
Coraraittee of Estates, that sarae day, approved
and heartUy concurred in this declaration of the
state of any war for defending his Majesty,—
Charles, though- heartily sorry, that he could not
get his malignant friends into places .of power and

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 279
trust— to engage the covenanters to withstand
CromWel, who was fast approaching, published
a raost solemn declaration at Dunferraline, Au
gust 16, blessing God for recovering him frora the
snare of his malignant counsellors; confessing and
bewailing his own artd his father's hearkening to
evil counsels, and oppositiort to the work of refor-
matiort, and to the soleran league and covenant,
as well as the idolatry of his raother, and tolera
tion of it in their faraily ; and his own encourage-
mertt and courttenancing of the Irish Papists ; —
artd declaring his deliberate, and judicious, and
candid approbation of the national covenant and
solemn league and covenant, and his firm resolution,
in the Lord's strength, to prosecute the ends
thereof in his station, really, constantly, and sirt-
cerely, all the days of his life ; artd that, in order
to this, he will have no enemips but the enemies
of the covenant, or friends but the friends of it ;
and that, as he now detested all Popery, super
stition, idolatry. Prelacy, error, heresy, schisra,
profaneness, he would, to the utmost of his power,
labour to extirpate thera frora all his dominions ;
and begging and requiring all such of his sub
jects, as had formerly opposed the covenants and
cause of God, tP lay down their enraity, and all
regard to huraan interest, as opposed to the in
terest and honour of God ; and professing that he
would only reckon these his best servants and
most loyal subjects, who served hini, and sought
to promote his interests, in subordination to the
glory of God, and the gospel and kingdora of Je
sus Christ, Mr. Patrick Gillespie obtested him,
in the rt ame of Christ, not to subscribe this de
claration, no, not for three kingdoms, if he had
the smallest hesitation in his mind Goncbrnlng

280 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
the righteousness of it. But Charles repeatedly
declared, that he was satisfied in his mind with it,
and therefore would subscribe it. Not lortg af
ter, he soleranly declared his great obligations to
the Marquis of Argyle for his faithful endeavours
to restore him to his just rights, and proraised
him his highest favour and friendship, and digni
ties which he could confer, together with pay
ment of L.40,000 of debt; and, it is said, secretly
promised to marry his daughter.
After victory had, for eight days, seemed to
incline to the side of the Scots arrriy, commanded
by David Lesly, the committee of war obliged
him to leave the hill, where he had advantage
ously posted his troops, in order to prevent Crora-
wel's escape frora Dunbar, Cromwel, with his
half dead forces, overpowered the larger array of
the Scotch covenanters, and entirely routed them,
Sept. 3. No doubt Cromwel, who had been be
fore irt such desperatelike circumstauces, raigbti-
ly rejoiced In his victory : but perhaps uot so
much as Charles did over the death and captivity
of so many of his covenartting subjects, that
seemed so bent to restrain his vicious inclirta-
tion^. After two days spent irt so'lemn fasting,
and after he bad relinquished the covenan
ters at Perth, in order to throw himself into an
array of raalignants, which he expected Middle-
ton had raised for him in the North, artd being
obliged by disappointment to return to Perth,
Charles was solemnly crowned at Scoon, January
1, 1651, and again swore the covenartts, as he
had done about six months before. And not long
after, he and his Parliaraent, in June, ratified all
his preceding treaties, transactions, engageraertts,
artd actions, and enacted them into a perpetual
4

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 281
law : artd It was expressly provided. That in all
succeeding Parliaraeuts, every raeraber, before
they entered on business, should subscribe the
covenant : and without this, the cortstitutiort of
the Parliaraertt was declared void artd null.

2 o

A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY, &C. 283

CHAPTER VI.

Bythe rash Admission ofK. CharlesH. — by public Resolu
tions qf the Commission to please him — by his unlimit
ed Restoration — Re-establihment qf Prelacy — Imposi
tion qf sinful Oaths and Declarations, and Bonds —
And terrible Persecution qf allfakthful Adherents to
their Covenants Toith God— and even by his Indulgen-
cies qf the less Faithfid — and by the Labours of K.
James VII. to introduce Popery, the once attained Re-
Jbrmation is almost entirely ruined, between 1651 and
1688.
i-HESE solemn transactions pf Charles andhis
malignant friends, were but a scene of shocking
dissiraulation- In consequence of the route at
Dunbar, and of a lesser defeat at Harailton a lit
tle after, it was pretended, that the English could
not be resisted, unless all able to bear arms should
be raised without distinction ; and Charles and
his Parliaraent at Perth, required the quorum of
the Coraraission, which had met upon a sudden
call at that place, December 14, 1650, to deter
mine what persons raight be adraitted to rise in
arms to assist the standing forces against the ar-

284 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
mies of the English sectaries, who, contrary to
the solemn league and covenant, had most unjustly
invaded, and were destroyirtg the kirtgdom ? To
this the Coraraissiort replied. That, irt this case of
so great rtecessity, they could uot be agairtst rais
ing all able to bear arras, excepting excorarauni-
cated, forfeited, or notoriously profane or flagi
tious persons ; or Avho had been long continued
and inveterate opposers ofthe covenant and cause
of God; providing always, that none should be put
into such trust and power, as may be prejudicial
to the cause of God ; and that such officers as are
of known integrity and affection to the cause, and
particularly such as have suffered in former Avars,
be preferred. In consequence of this resolution,
several of the general officers, and more than half
of the colonels employed were malignants, and
not a few of them such as had been with Mon
trose. — These proceedings were exceedingly of
fensive to many ministers and Presbyteries, par
ticularly to those of Stirling and Aberdeen, which
represented their dissatisfaction to the next meet
ing of the Comraission. For their public testi
monies against thera, Messrs. (S^uthiy and Bej;^-
net of Stirling, were called before Charles and
his committee of Estates at Perth. But they, by
repeated protestation, declined the jurisdiction
of his Majesty and his Committee as not proper
judges in matters of doctrine, which pertained to
the church- Meanwhile, the Commission, pro
voked with the opposition bf ministers and Pres
byteries to their answer, published a vindication
of it, prohibited all ministers or preachers tp
speak or AVrite against it, and ordained Presbyte
ries to censure such as opposed it ; and, to pre
vent their being members, ordained all such as

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 28.^
opposed it, to be cited as scandalous to the next
Asserably at St. Andrew's.
Highly pleased, that he had thus gent the co
venanting clergy a tearing of one another, and es
pecially trarapling the strict party, whom he
most heartily hated, under their feet, he, and the
malignants, whom he had got into the army, in
order that they and their friends raight get into
the judicatures, required the Commission to de
termine, whether, for the more effectual prosecu
tion of the public resolutions for the defence ofthe
King and kingdom, such could lawfully be mem
bers of the Committee of Estates, who were de^
barred from public trust hy the act of classes, pro
viding they have since satisfied the kirk for their
offence, and been adraitted to enter into cove
nant ? And whether it would be sinful to repeal
the act of classes ? To these the Commission re
plied. That as their solemn covenants and decla
rations mentioned as grounds, in the act qf classes,
did not particularly determine Avhat time such
persons should be excluded from places of trust,
for by-past offences, but only bind to the due pu
nishing of offenders, and to purge judicatories
and places of power and trust, and to endeavour,
according to the law of God, to have them filled
only with such as are of known affection to the
cause of God,*and of a blameless, Christian con-
versation-T-nothing hindered the Parliament to
admit such secluded persons to be members of
the Committee of Estates, and to take pff the
censures inflicted upon them by tlie act of classes,
providing they have satisfied the church for their
offences, and have renewed and taken the cove
nant, and be qualified for such places, according
to the word of God, and late acknowledgment of

286 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
sins, and engagement to duties. In consequertce
of this answer, tbe act of classes was repealed,
and multitudes of malignants and profane per
sons, upon a mock profession of repentance, were
admitted members of Parliament and Committee
of Estates, and into places of power and trust,
and soon had the Avhole raartagbmqrtt of the rta-
tion in their hands. Thus multitudes then, aud
ever since, have been adraitted to be the ministers
of God for good to the nation, in a way of tramp
ling on the law of God, and plain violation of our
solemn covenants with bim. No wonder, there
fore, that so raany of them prove a curse to us
instead of a blessing. Nor is it any wonder, tbat
the synod of Glasgow, and especially the forces
of the five south-western shires, presented such
remonstrances to the Commission and Coraraittee
pf Estates at Perth, against the rash adraission
of Charles to bis crown, without any proof of his
sincerity, and against all junction with his favou
rite malignants, the last of which Charles and his
Committee of Estates voted to be treasonable:
but, about fifteen merabers, who disUked the pa
per itself, dissented.
As the Commission, to maintain their own
ground, had enacted, that none whp opposed their
resolutions should be admitted members of their
ensuing Assembly, and had wrote circular letters
to Presbyteries for that effect, and to cite the
inore active opposers as pannels to the bar, their
own party punctually obeyed thera. In Presby
teries where they had a majority, none but friends
pf the resolutions were chosen for their Commis
sioners ; and where they were the minority, they
either protested against the choice, or withdrew
and elected one by themselves. When the As-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 287
senibly met at St Andrew's, July 18, 1G5I, a
considerable body of ministers presented a peti
tion, earnestly beseeching them, That, as the act
and letter of theComraission had hindered the free
election of Cpmmissioners, by which many of the
most eminent abilities, and constant faithfulness
and zeal, had been secluded, and as many elec
tions were questionable, on account of their not
being made in due order, or of persons qualified
according to the constitutions of this church ; and
as many Comraissioners were hindered from at
tendance by the English troops, Avho Avere mas
ters of almost all the country south and westward
of the Forth — the meeting might be adjourned
for a time, and the act and letter of the Comniis-
sion declared no bar of electing such for members
as reraain unsatisfied With the public resolutions;
and that it might be recommended to Presbyte
ries to elect rnen of approved abilities and inte
grity, against whom there could be no exception
bythe acts and constitutions of this church; and
that, in the mean time, a solemn fast be observ
ed through the whole land in order to entreat
the Lord to shew the causes of his contending;
and that by his giving light on all hands, he would
graciously heal their divisions. The prevailing
party, many of whora had been long galled with
the faithfulness and credit of the anti-resolulioners,
scorned to regard this request ; but, having con
stituted themselves, and resolved to proceed to
business, sustained the elections of such Com
missioners as they hoped would favour the resolu
tions, and of as few others as possible. Their op
ponents therefore soleranly protested, that the
meeting could not be held a freehand lawful Ge
neral Assembly of the church of Scotland — in re-

283 A COMt*ENDIOUS HISRTORY OF TIIE
gard, that the free election of Coramissioners had
been prelimited by the letter and act ofthe Cora-
mission above mentioned ; in regard many Com
missioners could not attend on account of the mo
tions of the English array in the country ; and
in regard that many of the Coraraissioners of the
preceding Assembly had betrayed their trust,
and had, in their remonstrances and papers, stir
red up the civil magistrate against their brethreri
who remained dissatisfied with their public reso
lutions ; and who, by their above raentioned act
and letter, had preliraited the freedora of the
court, were admitted merabers of it, and their rao
derator chosen to be moderator of it, notwithstand-i
ing they had been regularly and timeously,ex-
cepted against as not admittable, till their pro
ceedings should be tried and approAred by the As
sembly ; and in regard, that his Majesty, by his
letter, arid his Coraraissioner, by his speech, have
excited them to persecuting measures against
such as remain unsatisfied with the proceedings
of the late Commission, before they be tried and
approved by the Assembly itself: And they pro
tested in their own narae, and of all rainisters,
ruling elders, and others, in the church of Scot
land, that should adhere to thera. That,, as this
meeting of Asserably was not free, lawful, or valid
in its constitution, they had no power of jurisdic
tion in deterraining controversies — raaking acts —
eraitting declarations — judging protests, appeals
frora, or proceedings of inferior judicatories —
censuring persons or paper — or in issuing forth
Coraraissions : A^d particularly they protested.
That they raight not proceed to approve or jus
tify the deeds of the late Coraraission, which con
tained raany things corttrary to the trust commit-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 289
ted to it, in allowing and carrying on a conjunc
tion with malignants, and bringing them into
places of power and trust, in the army and judi
catories, contrary to the word of God, solemn
league and covenant, late acknowledgment of sins
and engagement to duties, and to the constant te
nor of former declarations, warnings, remon
strances, causes of hurailiation, supplications,
acts, and constitutions of this church ; and fur
ther protested. That all their deterrainations,
acts, ratificatiorts, declarations, sentences, cen
sures, or commissions, should be held null and
void, no way binding on the church of Scotland —
and that it should be free for themselves and all
such as adhered to them, to exercise their minis
try, and enjoy their Christian liberty according
to the word of God, and our covenants, and other
acts and constitutions of this church; and that it
shall be free for thera to choose Commissioners,
and meet in a free, lawful General Assembly,
when the Lord shall give opportunity for it.
Lord Warriston, by a letter to this Assembly, re
presented, in a multitude of constitutious of this
church between 1560 and 1650, how faithful mi
nisters had withstood the civil magistrate's judg
ing of their doctrine by themselves, and how, by
protestations, the Lord had, from time to time,
kept up a testiraony for his truths and cause ;
and he protested against the Asserably's ratifica
tion of the paper, in which the late Coraraission
had approved to the Parliaraent their confine
ment of the ministers of Stirling, for their preach
ing against the countenancing of malignants, or
of any other paper of theirs, prejudicial to the
<£;ause pf Christ, 2 P

290 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
Regardless of all opposition from their pious
opponents, the Assembly pushed forward in esta
blishing themselves, and gratifying Charles and
his malignant dissemblers. They deposed three,
and suspended one, of the ministers who had pro
tested against the validity of their constitution,
and ratified all the proceedings of the late Cora-
mission, Their opponents therefore quickly pub
lished their proofs, that this meeting was no free
lawful General Assembly of the church of Scot
land, viz. 1 , That the Commission, by their act
and letter to Presbyteries, had plainly restricted
the freedora of the election of the merabers of it,
in directing thera to choose none but such as con
curred with the public resolutions ; and had inti
mated, that dissenters from these resolutions ought
to be looked on, not as fit to be members, but as
transgressors to be cited as pannels ; had declar
ed, that, if any such should be chosen, they would
not be admitted to be judges, but obliged to an
swer at the bar as guilty offenders ; and tbat
Presbyteries, which Should choose such, should
be looked upon as disobedient contemners of the
public order of the kirk. 2. That many, who had
been excepted against, as guilty of betraying
their trust, and of a scandalous apostacy from
their sworn, reformation, and conspiring with the
enemies of our religion,^-had, contrary to the
constitutions and former practice of this church,
beert sustained members, without trying their con
duct, the facts and sinfuluess of Avhich was offer
ed to be proved ; and even been adraitted to
judge of the relevancy of the objectiortS .offered
against their being sustained judges. 3. There
was no proper freedora of debate on the princi-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 291
pal points necessary to be handled, as the Com
mission had stirred up the civil magistrate against
their brethren who disapproved their public re
solutions ; in consequence of which the ministers
of Stirling had been confined, and the Parliaraent
had ordered all such to be proceeded against as
enemies to religion and the kingdom. The Com
mission had, by their warnings and letters, stir
red up Presbyteries to censure them, or cite them
to the Assembly as scandalous transgressors, and
many of them had been cited accordingly. The
king, by bis letter, and his coraraissioner, by his
speech, had stirred up the Assembly to take such
severe methods with thera, as might deter others
from ever doing the like : — all which the Assera
bly had first connived at, and then approved.
4. Persons were not allowed to speak their mind
in this Asserably, and the letter of Lord Warris
ton, who was an elected coraraissioner, and had
been singularly faithful and active, and acquaint
ed with the constitutions of this church, was ob
stinately refused a reading. 5. On account of
the roving bands of the English, and even of the
Scotch array in the heart of the country, marty
members could not attend, and none at all from
nine or ten Presbyteries ; and, even in their re
turn home, his Majesty and his Coraraittee of Es
tates had apprehended and confined severals, be
cause they had not shewed theraselves friendly
enough to the public resolutions. 6. That the
members of the late Comraission, before any ap-
probatiort of their proceedings. Were adraitted aS
judges of a protestation, which insisted. That
these proceedings should not be ratified, because
contrary to the word of God, and their soleran
covenants and constitutions, and in jud^ng of

292 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
the Protestors, in order to censure. Nay, that
the coraraittee, which raanaged the condemnation
of the protestation, chiefly consisted of merabers
of the Coraraission. The Resolutioners, for whom
it is shocking to find not only BaiUe, but Dick
son and Douglas, zealous advocates, pubUshed a
vindication of their Asseinbly and conduct, and
conderaned the above raentioned protestation as
highly crirainal. But their reasonings were suf
ficiently refuted by their opponents.
Charles and his array being entirely routed at
Worcester by the English forces, Sept. 3, 1 65 1 ,
such as had been appointed raerabers of the Cora
raission by the Assembly 1650, and sundry of
their friends, who disliked the public resolutions,
soon after drew up a Representation of the causes
of God's wrath against the nation, and art acknow^
ledgement of the. sins ofthe ministry, the most full
and candid, perhaps, that ever was published in
the Christian church. In their Causes of God's
wrath, they mention, and iUustrate by instances
and aggravations^ and by many scripture proofs
of their sinfulness and ruinous influence, the fol
lowing, viz. Gross ignorance ; looseness and pro
fanity in opposition to all God's comraandraents ;
the despising and neglecting of Jesus Christ, and
his word and ordinances ; neglect of family reli
gion and the power of godliness, or even loathing
and bearing it down ; base love of the world, is
suing in covetousness and oppression, and even
perjuries ; abuse and prostitution Of the public
faith of the kingdora ; hypocritical, carnal, arid'
selfish prosecution of covenarttirtg, and other ne
cessary and religious duties ; deep security, ira-
penitence, pbstinacjf, and incorrigibleness under
manifold signs and tokens of the Lord's anger ;-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 293
fearful backslidings frora attained reformation
and covenartt engageraents, in faUing from once
attained singleness and honesty of heart, fervency,
zeal for God, spiritual liveliness, tenderness of
conscience, and purity of conversation ;— in some
falling off more secretly, aud others more open
ly to the malignant party, headed by Montrose,
and afterward by duke Hamilton ; — in neglect
ing, hindering, or conderarting the purging of the
judicatories and aimy in 1649, and afterward,
according to covenant engagements ; — in agree
ing to invest, and actually investing the king
with the government ofthe nation, notwithstand
ing many clear evidences of his disaffection and
enmity to the work and people of God ;-^in re
fusing manifold discoveries of guilt given in tes-
tiraonles of Synods, Presbyteries, and other re
monstrances and representations ; — -in the public
resolutions of both kirk and state, for bringing
malignants into the array aud into places of
power and trust ;' — in joining in arras with the
forces of the king, after the malignants had the
principal raanageraent of them, and Avere by them
carrying on their own ends ;— the preliraiting
and, corrupting of the General Asserably, — rati
fying forraer defections, and commencing perse
cution against the faithful opposers thereof, 
In the Acknowledgement, they point out the sins
of rainisters, before their entrance into their of-
ficCj — in their entering into it, and during their
continuance in it, — in their private and their so
cial conduct, — in their ministerial work, preach
ing of the gospel, dispensing the sacraments, vi
siting faraUies and sick, catechising, ruling and
censuring, and in respect of public matters.

294 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
Nothwithstanding Gerteral Monk had subdu
ed these parts of the nation which Cromwel
had left unconquered, and all the counties had,
on the 2d April, 1652, acknowledged the sove
reignty ofthe English, the Gerteral Assembly raet
at Edirtburgh in July, Lord Warriston, Messrs.
Andrew Cant, John Livingston, Sarauel Ruther-
foord, and thirty-two others, presented to thera
a representation, protest, and proposals signed by
sixty-seven rainisters, and ninety-five ruling elders,
probationers, and others, in which they laraent,
The great inward and open apostacy frora ortce at
tained reforraation, and that an approbation of
the public resolutions was now considered as the
principal qualification of candidates for the holy
ministry, or of screening scandalous ministers
from censure, and that notwithstanding the
changed circumstauces of the kingdora by the
prevalence of Crorawel and his sectaries, and the
complete rout and flight of King Charies, so much
use had been made of the authority of the last
year's Assembly, begun at St. Andrew's, and
thereafter reraoved to Dundee ; — and earnestly
and solemnly beseeching thera. That since marty
coraraissiorters were restrained from attendance,
and the far greater part of the commissions of
those that had come up, were coutroverted by
dissertts and protests at their election ; and, sirtce
their forraer cortduct had so much biudered re
formation, and the edification of souls,-^ — they
would not constitute theraselves into an Assem
bly, but appoint a free and friendly conversation,
in order to reraove difficulties, and fall on sorae
healirtg overtures. And they laid before them
the following Proposals for removing offences.

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 295
and restoring mutual harmony and confidence,
1. That they will give proper evidence of their
approbation of, and adherence to the national co
venant and solemn league, late acknowledgment of
sins and engagement to duties, and other laudable
acts of uncontroverted Assemblies, and act ac
cording to them in dispensing of sealing ordi
nances, censuring offenders, or absolving peni
tents. 2. That it be considered, how, after our
sad defection and fearful judgraents, we may ho
nour the Lord, obtain his favbur, and prevent like
apostacy from him. 3. That a proper method
be established for securing against error, heresy
and schism on the one hand, and against the
danger of malignancy on the other ; and that
proper marks be fixed, by which malignants may
be known and judged. 4. That proper methods
be taken, according to the rules of this church,
for purging out intruders and scandalous persons
from the ministerial office ; and that none be
hereafter adraitted, but such as have the positive
qualifications required by the word of God and
constitutions of this church. 5, That proper rules
be fixed and practised for censuring of scandals,
and debarring the ignorant and profane from the
Lord's table. 6, That care be taken, that none
be absolved frora censure, but such as give that
evidence of their repentance, which the word of
God and constitutions of this church require. 7.
That an effectual course be taken to prevent fur
ther hurt from the controverted constitutions
and procedure of the Assembly at St, Andrew's
and Dundee, and for securing the right constitu
tion of the Assemblies in time coraing.
These requests and proposals being altogether
disregarded, they presented another paper, in

296 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
Avhich they observe, how they had been contemn
ed; how an Assembly indicted bythe nuU meet
ing of Dundee, had been pretended to be the on
ly method of healing their divisions ; how these,
once hearty promoters of Prelacy, having gotten
the ascendant in judicatories, had more than ever
manifested their contempt of their covenant en
gagements, and covenanted reformation, — and
had become persecutors of such as were endea
vouring faithfully to adhere to the Lord and his
cause, according to their solemn vows : — they de
clare their adherence to their former testiraonies
against their apostacy, and protest. That the con
stitution and acts of this Assembly shall be held
mdl and void, and not binding by virtue of any
authority derived from them. 1. Because it de
rived its indiction and authority from the pretend
ed Assembly of St. Andrew's and Dundee last
year. 2. It is for the most part constituted of
the same kind of persons as it, who have begun,
supported, and carried on a course of defection,
contrary to the word of God, and the covenants
and constitutions of this church. 3. Because, by
the act of that pretended Asseriibly, last year,
which required all Presbyteries and Synods to
inflict censures upon all rairtisters, probationers,
students, and private Christians, who opposed
the public resolutions, and did not acquiesce in
their acts,-^-all opposers are rendered incapable
of election, and in consequence of it, several Sy
nods and Presbyteries, in their approbation of the
deeds of that Asserably, had made several preli-
mitations. 4. Many Presbyteries had refused to
send up coraraissioners to this meeting, as a Ge-,
neral Assembly of the church of Scotland ; and
the election of such as have come up as conimisr

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 297
sioners, is generally controverted.  Regardless
of all these thingvS, the Assembly proceeded to
business, and enacted. That scandalous ministers
or others should be duly restored to their office
and church fellowship, not without evidence of
thorough repentance ; and that none should be
licensed to preach the gospel, or ordained to be
ministers or ruling elders, or be commissioned to
Presbyteries or Synods, before they give it under
their hand, that they approve of the public reso
lutions, or at least will never make any opposi
tion to thera : — but refused to approve a decla
ration in favours of Independency and toleration
of errors, which sorae of the English had present
ed to them.  Finding the Scotch clergy ex
tremely attached to their king, Crorawel would
not allow thera to hold any more General Assera
blies ; and sometimes his officers drove them out
of their Synods. This did the less hurt, as the
resolutioners, in their courts, chiefly aimed at
supporting their own authority, and crushing
their protesting brethren.
Deprived of civil assistance from Charles and
his maligrtartt favourites, to persecute the protes
tors by firtes, imprisonment, or death, the public
resolutioners persecuted them with manifold re
proaches, as miners of their king and country, —
as favourers of the English sectaries and their
usurpations, — as renters of the church, and the
like ; artd laboured to their utmost to keep these
of their principles from any ministerial charges,
which, in divers places, occasioned a protesting
minister and a resolutioner in the same congre
gation. So terrible were their torrents of re?
proach and calumny, that even Principal Bailie^
notwithstanding all his coolness, prudence, piety,
2 Q

A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
and learning, appears, in his letters, ready to rp?
peive and spread ill-grounded calumnies, to blackr
en the characters of his most eminertt, and, a lit
tle before, dearly beloved brethren. The uncora-
monly raeek and calra Mr. Guthrie of Stirling he
represents as a kind of forward flaming fire-brand ;
the almost too peaceful Mr. Livingston as a vio
lent pusher ; the pious and learned Mr. Simson
of Airth as an arrant fool; holy Rutherfoord, and
pniting Durham and Blair as working the ruin
of the church ; great M'Ward as guUty of being
Rutherford's servant ; artd pious Artdrew Gray
and Hugh Birtrting, whose sermons the Lord
then, and since, hath so reraarakably blessed, as
|roraantic,new-fashiorted,andunsubstarttial preach
ers ; and in short, the protestors' settleraents of
ministers, carriage in judicatories, and at solemn
fasts, and sacramental occasions, which were at
tended with such marvellous powers frora on high,
as a scene of disorder, pride, and selfishness.
But the more their brethren reproached and
persecuted thera as they could, the more the Lord
countenanced their labours, and raade thera sing
as in the days pf their youth, about 1638 and
1649. Reraarkably warned of, and dreading
times of restraint, they were exceedingly diligent
in their ministrations, and these were attended
with araazing success. Multitudes of the most
serious attended their many solemn fasts and their
sacraraental occasiorts; artd so raarvellous was the
influence they felt, that they were often in a kind
of spiritual trance the whole tirae. After one sa-
praraental occasion, about sixty of the aged hear-
prs earnestly applied theraselves to learn, that
they might read the word of God. — " I have been
jfnany years" says Mr. Kirkton in his MS. Me-
4

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 299
tnoirs " in a parish, where I never heard an oath;
knd one raight have rode many miles without
hearing one. In a great part of tfie couutry, orte
could rtot have lodged irt a faraUy, where God
¦was rtot daily worshipped by readirtg, signing of
Psalras, and prayeh People were generally so
sober, that the inh-keepers coraplairted of the
ruin of their trade." The Lord also gave them
peculiar favour in the sight Pf the English inva-^
ders, who relished their unfavourable apprehen-
slorts of King Charles, and his malignants, Pre
latists, and Papists— artd repeatedly Offered theni
the goverrtmertt of the country, which they al
ways refused. And indeed none were more zea
lous against compliance with Crorawel and his sec
taries, or for continued praying for Charles, than
Lord Warriston^ Mr. Jaraes Guthry, and other
principal men araong the protestors. Even Ar
gyle fell under their frown for sorae involuntary
compliances that he had made.
The English had the whole civil governraerit
of the rtation in their hands. No newly plac
ed rainister could plead in law for his stipend
without a warrant frora sorae of' their judges^
The English Parliament even gave their judges
artd sequestrators a power to pul; out scandalous
nilnisteifs^ or teachers in universities, and prohi
bited ministers* public praying for Charles, as
their King, under pain of losing their stipend.
This both protestors artd resolutiouers refused to
comply with ; aud such was their zeal for their
wicked and treacherous Prince, that the Lord's
Supper was not dispensed for some years in Edin
burgh aud several other places, because they
scrupled to adrait the magistrates to it, who had
been obliged to crouch under the English con.^-

300 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
querors. By means of Durham, Blair, and some
Other pacificators, the protestors and resolutio
ners had several conferences in order to agree
ment in 1655; and the matter was carried up be
fore Cromwel, who had usurped the government
of Britain ; but without any effect. Wearied of
the scrupulosity of the protestors, and courted
with large offers by Sharp, afterward archbish-
shop, in name of the resolutioners, he gave both
parties an equal liberty. As he indulged the sec
taries, which abounded in his time, with liberty
to spread their principles, and to restrain the Pres
byterians frora foisting into their causes of fasting
any thing in favours of Charles or against him
self or his government, had taken the power of
appointing general fasts, and fixing the causes
thereof next to wholly into his own hands — Ru
therford and sixteen other protestors, in the coun
ties of Fife and Perth, emitted a solemn testimony
against these things, and in behalf of their cove
nanted reformation.
During the confusions which happened after
Cromwel's death in 1658, both protestors and
resolutioners appeared pretty calm, and agreed
to bury their differences. — Instigated by Messrs.
Robert Douglas, and James Sharp, Monk, who
had commanded the English forces in Scotland
for several years, undertook to restore Charles to
his throne, and, by the vilest perjury and trea
chery, got it accomplished. Charles himself was
Avearied of his miserable and pinched circumstan
ces abroad, and stuck at no dissimulation by let
ters, to persuade the natiort of his virtues and
good intentions. The nobles at home disdained
crouching to Englishraen of no rank in the world.
The subjects in general were tired of an unset-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 301
tied government. Such as thought they had serv
ed Charles, though but in pillaging their neigh
bour's houses, expected that he would richly re
ward them : his friends in general highly extolled
his excellencies. And though, in his travels, he
had solemnly professed himself a Papist, some
divines represented him as the great instrument
by which God would fulfil the promises of Anti
christ's destruction. Sharp, whora the resolution
ers chose for their agent to concert raatters with
General Monk and Charles, and to take care
that no injury might be done to their church,
notwithstandirtg his raost solerart professiorts of
sincerity, betrayed them, and concerted with
Charles how to irttroduce Episcopacy, in reward
of which Charles gave him twenty dhalders of
corn, and the archbishoprick of St. Andrew's ;
and, in the mean time, stirred them up against
the protestors, whora he represented as abhorred
by his Majesty ; so that it is hard tp say if the
Prelatic persecution made their circumstances a
whit worse than the resolutioners would have
made thera.
Convinced that the protestors would oppose
their introduction of Prelacy, Charles and Sharp
heartily agreed to ruin the principal of thera as
quickly as possible. Charles therefore gave or
ders to imprison the Marquis of Argyle, Lord
Warriston, Sir James Stewart, provost of Edin
burgh, and Sir John Chiesly, who shewed the
most bold opposition to the beheading of his fa
ther ; while he advanced to honour Sir John
Fletcher, who had, araong the first, abjured hira
self, and Middieton apd Sharp, who had shewed
not a little forwardness in taking the engagement
of fidelity to the English commonwealth, — Some-

302 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF Tli^
time after, a soleran thanksgiving for Charles's
restoration, at Edinburgh, the afternoon ofwhich
was spent in horrid drunkenness, debauchery,- and
madness — the Coraraittee of Estates appointed by
the Parliaraent irt 16.^1, all the merabers of which
had concurred with their Sovereign in taking
the national covenant and solemn league, and sorae
of thera had advised hira to make that solemn de
claration at Dunfermline, August 16, 1650, raet
on the 2d of August 1660,^-Finding that the re
solutioners would neither join with their protest
ing brethren to form a supplication to his Majes
ty, nor forra one by theraselves, Mr. James Guth
ry, and nine other ministers, and two elders,
met in a private house in Edinburgh, to form a
draught of a supplication to be laid before a larger
meeting of their brethren, particularly the synod
of Glasgow. In this draught, they represented
to his Majesty, hoAv hateful the procedure of the
late usurpers had been to thera, in offering vio
lence to the Parliaraent of England, in murder
ing his royal father, and in secluding himself
frora his government, and in their irapious en-
croachraents upon the kingdora of Jesus Christ,
&C.-:— how thankfully they acknowledged the
Lord's signal preservation of his Majesty's per
son, and in restoring hira to his throne ; — how
they did, and resolved to pour forth their fervent
supplications to God for hira ; aud hoped, that
he would protect, countenance, and encourage
them as their gracious Sovereign — what dangers
threatened religiort and the work of reformation
in these kingdoms, frora the unreraitted endea
vours of Papists, Prelatists, and raalignants on
the one hartd, artd of the sectaries ort the other ;
and therefore humbly besought his Majesty to

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 30S
I
employ his royal power for the preservation of
the reformed religion, in doctrine, worship, disci-
plirte artd governihent in the church of Scotland ;
and for the reformation of religion in England
and Ireland ; — and that all places of trust might
be filled with such as have takeu the covenant,
and are of approved irttegrity and knowrt affec
tion to the cause of God ; — artd that his Majesty
would remove the ceremonies and service book from
his church and famUy, and from other places of
his dorainiorts, and publicly signify his approba
tion of the covenantj into which he had so soleran
ly entered, and of his purpose to adhere to it — as
it was the desire of their soul, that he raight be
like David, a mau' accordirtg to God's own heart,
and to Soloraon, of an understandirtg heart to
judge the Lord's people, &c. The coraraittee,
hearing of their meeting, caused apprehend them
all, except one elder that escaped, and without
hearing them, imprisoned them in the castle of
Edinburgh, from whence the Parliament next
year liberated thera all, except Mr. Guthry. Next
day the coraraittee eraitted a proclaraation against
all unlawful meetings, without his Majesty's spe
cial authority, and agairtst all seditious petitious
artd remortstrahces, as every faithful one was now
called. By a flattering letter directed frora CharleS to
the resolutioners of the Presbytery of Edinburgh,
in which he prpmised to support their cause, and
maintain their religion as by law established ; —
by a proclaraatiort agairtst Rutherford's Lex rex,
and the causes of God's wrath, as contairting many
things injurious to his Majesty, and laying the
foundation and seeds of rebeUion, and the burn
ing of what copies tbey could find, at Edinburgh,

304 A COMPENblOUS HISTORY OP THE
by the hangman; — and by a proclamation against
remonstrants and their adherents; — and by the con
finement or imprisonraent of sorae gentleraen or
ministers, that they might have no influence up
on the elections for the ensuing Parliament, or
citing thera to it as crirainals — preparations was
made for its being wholly complaisant. Great
care was taken that none should be elected com
missioners, but such as should in all things be
subservient to the will of the court. For this
reason, it seems none else could be found fit in the
burgh of Lanark, but their piper. And care was
taken to have the elections* of those that were
otherwise disposed set aside. The most part of
the members were absolutely infamous, who wal
lowed in profaneness, whoredora, and drunkert-
ness. Ortly Loudou, Cassilis, Sutherland, Craw
ford, Borthwick, Torphichen, and a few other
old convenanters, who often dissented frora the
deeds of the rest, retained their wonted sobriety.
And indeed, drunkenness, whoredora, cursing,
and blaspheray, were now reckoned badges of
loyalty ; and piety, or even comraon gravity, a
mark of rebellion, Charles hiraself appears to
have been a profligate atheist, abandoned to pro
fane swearing, drunkenness, and whoredora, and
capable of the raost base dissimulation. Sharp,
his director and agent, was chiefly remarkable
for activity, craft, and dissiraulation. Such as
were intiraately acquainted with him reckoned
hira a downright atheist, who affected to believe
that there was neither God, heaven, nor hell ; he
used no private prayer, artd scarcely had prayer
in bis family once a-month ; he lived, who knows
how long, in whoredom with one Isabel Lindsay,
andj with his own hand, strangled the child which

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 305
she bare to hira. And there is not a little ground
to believe, that he had entered into a solemn
compact with the devU, in order to preserve his
life and carry on his designs.
The Parliament having met on the 21st of
January, 1661, after a faithful sermon from
Mr. Robert Douglas, would choose their after
preachers for themselves ; who, by their fulsome
harangues, excited thera to render his Majesty ab
solute, and to establish sorae greater authority
in the church to keep her rainisters in order.
Highly pleased with such stuff, the Parliaraent
appointed a new oath of allegiance, acknowlediog
the Kirtg's supreraacy over all persons, and in all
causes. They enacted. That no conventions,
leagues, or bonds, should be made without his
Majesty's consertt, and prohibited the renew
ing of the solemn league and covenartt, or arty
other covertartts or public oaths cortcerning the
governraertt of the church or kingdom, without
his special warrant and approbatioB; and appoirtt
ed all persons in public offices to swear the oath
of allegiance or supremacy before raentioned, and
subscribe the declaration asserting his Majesty's
prerogative ; bearing, that it was his and his suc
cessors' sole right, to choose and appoint officers
of state, privy couusellors, and lords of session; —
and to caU, hold, and dissolve all Parliaraents
and other conventions of the states ; that no acts
of Parliament are binding \vithout his special ap
probation or comraission; that the power of raak
ing peace or war doth only reside in hira, and
his heirs and successors ; that it is high treason
for any subjects to rise or continue in arras
without his authority, or to raeet for determining
any matters, civil or ecclesiastical, except in
2 R

306 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
the ordinary judgments, or to make leagues and
bonds, withont his special consent ; that the so
lemn league and covenant, and all treaties follow
ing upon it, are not obligatory upon any of the
subjects of this kingdom ; and that none could
lawfully require the reuewing of said covenant,
or any other covenant, or renew the sarae, with
out hisMajesty's special warrant and approbation:
They declared the Cortverttiort of Estates 1643,
which enjoined the solemn league and covenant,
and all the Parliaments between 1640 and 1649
inclusively, void and null in their very constitution,
artd so their deeds of no authority. They declar
ed, that the Protestant religion was settled as be
fore 1638, and the government of the church
should be secured as his Majesty found most pro
per. They appoirited the 29th of May to be kept
as a yearly thanksgiving to God ; and by the pre--
arable of this act, they laboured to bring in God
and all the subjects as approvers of -their fore-
mentioned acts, and as solemn reproachers of the
whole covenanted work of reforraation. And, in
fine, they restored Patronages, and required all
presentees to. take the above 6ath qf allegiance
and declaration. The Parliaraent confiriried their
statutes with the blood of the Marquis of Argyle,
whose estate Middletou the presidertt expected,
artd of Mr. James Guthry, and with the harrass-
mertt, imprisonment, or banishment of bis fellow
petitioners, and other prptestors;-^mostof whom
had suffered for their attachraent to his Majesty,
during Cromwel's usurpation. Had not God re
moved Rutherford by a triumphaut death, he had
also been sacrificed. Meanwhile, by the influ
ence of the resolutioners, and by the court's dis
solution pf synods, and by the general fainting

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 307
of ministers, or their divisions among theraselves,
not one judicial testiraony was lifted up against
the wickedness of the Parliaraent in Scotland.
After the rise of the Parliaraent, Charles, in
stigated by Middieton artd Sharp, and assured
that the best part of the nation earnestly wish
ed it, and that not so much as twenty bf the re
solutioners would oppose it,-^by a proclamation,
founded on his newly established supremacy, —
established Episcopalian governraent. Sharp was
made archbishop of St. Andrew's, and Fairfpjul
of Glasgow, under whom twelve others were
made bishops. None of thera had the least ap
pearance of seriousnessj except Leighlort of Dura-
blain. Meanwhile the Earl of Tweeddale was ira
prisoned for some words he had spoken in favours
of Mr. Guthry, and his not voting for his death.
The privy council eraitted a pi'oclam ation, pro.i
hibiting the election of any for magistrates or
counsellors in burghs, that were not hearty for
bishops and the king's arbitrary power. And to
prevent the priirting or spread of such scandalous
and seditious papers, as Argyle's and Guthry's
dying words, the Covenanters' Plea, &c. they pro
hibited the printing of any books or papers, with
out warrant frora the king or Parliament. They
soon after prohibited all ecclesiastical meetings
in Syrtods, Presbyteries, arid sessions, till author
ised by the archbishop and bishops. Presbyteries
were prohibited to ordain ministers ; and if
they but begged leave to represent iheir griev
ances, it Avas held seditious or treasonable. Lord
Loudon, and soon after Mr. BaUie, died of grief,
for the alteratiorts they saw madein.bpth church
and state. Messrs. Dickson, Douglas, and Wood,
too late^ became sensible of their mistake in sup-^

308 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
porting the public resolutions, while others were
fretted to see the pre-apprehensions of the pro
testors so fearfully verified, and to hear thera
selves blaraed by them for bringing matters to
this dreadful conditiort.
The Parliaraertt meeting on May 8, 1662, ad
mitted the newly consecrated bishops to their
seats with great porap and ceremony ; and then
re-established the governraent of the church by
archbishops and bishops, as founded upon his Ma
jesty's inherent supreraacy over the church ; —
declared It high treason for subjects, on any pre
tence, to enter into leagues or covenants, or take
up arras against the king or any coraraissioned
by hira ; and that the national covenant, as ex
plained in 1638, and the solemn league and cove
nant were unlawful oaths, no way binding on such
as had sworn thera ; — and repealed all acts civil
and ecclesiastical approving these covenants ;
particularly the seditious raeeting of the Assera
bly at Glasgow in 1638, and all the acts and
deeds thereof; and declared, that if any spoke,
wrote, printed, or prayed against his majesty's
supremacy over the church, or against the Epis
copalian governraent now established, he should
be incapable of any public trust. They next ap
pointed all those ministers, who had been ordain
ed since, 1649, raany of whora had suffered much
for their attachment to Charles, under Cromwel,
to get presentations from their patrons, and re
nouncing their former ordinatiort, to receive ad
mission from their bishops ; and that all minis
ters, under severe penalties, should attend their
bishop's Synod, and assist hira in all things he
required ; and that all masters of coUeges, who
did not submit to Prelacy, should be tutned out;

.CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 309
and none be allowed to preach, keep schools, or
teach children of quality, without the bishop's li
cence. Tbey further appointed all persons in
public trust, to subscribe a second declaration,
bearing. That they judged it unlawful, upon
any pretent-e, to enter into leagues or cove
nants ; or to take up arras against the king, or
those commissioned by hira ; and that all the
convocations, petitions, and protestations for be-
girtrtirtg and carrying on the late troubles, {i. e.
covenanted reformation, between 1637 and 1651)
were unlawful and seditious, and particularly
that the national covenant, as sworn and explain
ed in 1638, and the solemn league and covenant,
were; and are, in themselves unlawful oathS, and
imposed upon the subjects contrary to the funda
mental laws and liberties of the kingdora, and
no way hind any that swore them, to endeavour
any alteration ofthe present government of either
church or state. After the act of indemnity had
been so long delayed, in order to terrify people
into corapliance, it was now passed, Avith an ex
ception of about 800 persons, sorae of whom were
dead, and others vrere infants, or had never ex
isted, on whom was laid a fine, of about L. 85,000
Steriing, which Middieton hoped to get for hira
self : and besides, twelve persons were, by bal-
lotting, to be excluded frora all places of power
and trust.  They also issued a proclamation,
bearing. That all ministers, who did not observe
the anniversary thanksgiving, on the 29th of May,
should be deprived of their benefices.  To tes
tify their loyalty, the magistrates of Linlithgow,
with great parade, burnt the covenants, which
theraselves had sworn, along with Lex rex, and
the causes of God's wrath, &c.

310 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
A number of rainisters,had been suramohed
to the Parliaraent for a terror to others, that
might irtcline to adhere to their old principles.
The day after the Parliaraent rose, the privy
council raet, and appointed all parsons, vicars,
and rainisters, to attend upon their diocesan Sy
nods, the diets of which were then appointed by
the bishops and archbishops.- To enforce this
act, and put honour on the bishops, Middieton
the coraraissiorter, and Glencairn the chanceUor*
with the Earls of Morton, Linlithgow, and Cal
lender, and Lord Napier, took a tour to the west
of Scotland, where, in their different lodging
places, they wallowed in drunkenness, gluttony^
and profaneness, and at Ayr, about midnight,
drank the devil's health at the cross. In conse
quence of the archbishop's complaint, That none
of the ministers ordained since 1649 bad owned
him for bishop ; and that he and his fellow bi
shops would be raere cyphers or objects of hatred,;
unless more effectual methods 'were takert to en
force submission to them, the cobncil met at Glas
gow, October 1st : and whUe most of the raera
bers were mortally drunk, enacted, that all such
ministers as did not, beforelhe end of that month,
apply to their bishops for collation and admission,
should be deprived of their stipends for the pre
sent year, and removed from their parishes and
Presbyteries ; and never after exercise any part
'of their rainisterial office ; and that such of their
parishioners as afterwards repaired to their ser
mons, should be punished as frequenters of con
venticles. As several of the ministers had retired
from the country to Edinburgh, the councU re
quired the magistrates to oblige all the inhabi
tants every evening to give an account of all their

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. Sl 1
lodgers, under what penalties should be thought
proper. They appointed all the ministers of
Edirtburgh, who did uot comply with Prelacy,
to desist frora exercising their rainistry, and leave
the city before Martinraas rtext : artd comraenced
a process against Sir James Stewart the provost,
and bis son, for entertaining Mr. Hugh M'KaiU
and agairtst Messrs. Donald Cargil, John Brown,
and Jobn Livingston, and sixteen other rainisters,
in order to force them to coraply with the bishops,
or bartish thera frora the kirtgdom. By such
mearts, above three hurtdred rairtisters, generally
of remarkable piety, gifts, and diligence, and
most of them great sufferers for their attachraent
to Charles, during the usurpation, were driven
frora their charges, and their places filled with
mert sharaefully ignorartt, many of them a scan
dal to huraan nature in vice, and others of thera
of the most violent and persecuting tempers ; and
all of them, by the bishops and their assistartts,
forcibly intruded upon congregations : No won
der thert, that such as had auy regard to the laws
of Christ scrupled to hear thera, and resorted to
such opposers of Prelacy as were not yet cast
out, or to the faraily worship of the ejected mi
nisters, in such numbers, that the houses could
not contain them ; frora which field meetings
gradually originated.
After Middieton had established Prelacy, he
himself was ' disgraced ; and sbon after died mi
serably at Tangier, killed, according to his for
mer iraprecatiort, by tbe broken bone of that arm,
which he had held up, in swearing the covenant ;
and Lauderdale his opponent becarae prirae mi
nister in his stead. After the council had com
menced further processes against forty more mi-

312 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
nisters in Galloway, and the diocese of Dunkeld,
and given orders to Sir James Turner, a savage
coraraander of the raUitary, to suppress all pri
vate religious meetings for instruction, prayer, or
cortference, the Parliament met June 18, 1663,
and enacted. That all non-conforra rainisters
that shall presurae to exercise their office in any
manner, shall be punished as seditious persons ;
and all with-drawers from the conform incum
bents of their own parish, be punished,— every
nobleraan, gentleraan, or heritor, in the fourth
part of his yearly revenue, every yeoraan or ten
ant, in about the fourth part of his moveables
after his rent is paid; and every burgess, with the
loss of his freedom, and the fourth partof his
moveables, together with such corporal punish
ment as the council find proper : They appoint
ed all persons in public trust, to subscribe the de
claration of last year ; and that if arty elected
to be counsellors or magistrates in burghs, refus
ed to sign it, they should be for ever incapable
of being magistrates or of merchandizing. They
appointed a national Synod of bishops, &c. but
which could enact nothing that the king or his
commissioner was unwilling to confirm ; — and
which indeed never met. They ordered a levy
of 20,000 foot, and 2000 horse, to be ready to
serve his Majesty in any part of his dominions,
as he should find necessary.  Lord Warriston,
whom Charles's physician had attempted to
poison at Hamburgh, and then taken from him
sixty ounces of blood, being apprehended in
France, was, notwithstartdirtg his weakrtess of bo
dy and mind produced by the poisou artd loss of
blood, sentenced to death, and his head to be fixed
on the Netherbow port, along with Mr. Guthry's.
6

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 313
 The privy council comraenced a prosecution
against sixteen rainisters for continuing to exer
cise their office, and against William Gordon of
Earlstoun, for refusing to hear the curate of his
parish ; and emitted a proclamation. That all mi
nisters that did not duly attend the bishops'
courts, should, within twenty days, remove them
selves, families, and substance, out of their re
spective parishes, and not reside Avithin twenty
miles of the same, nor within six miles of any
cathedral church, or three miles of any royal
burgh ; — and enacted. That all persons who shall
come from Ireland without sufficient testimo
nials, and do not return within fifteen days,
shall be imprisoned, and treated as seditious ;
— and that all persons that, notwithstanding
threb admonitions given by their minister, with
draw from public worship, shall upon his attes
tation, be prosecuted according to law ; and that
all noblemen, sheriffs, ahd officers of the army,
shall assist ministers in their prosecution.^— In
consequence of this, the curates in the west and
south, after sermon, called over the roll of their
parishes, and delated whorasoever they pleased
of the absents to Sir James Turner, the profli
gate and barbarous commander of the forces in
that country ; who, together with his soldiers,
judged and punished them as they thought fit ;
and, by this means, and by raising the fines im
posed by Middleton's Parliament, plundered and
ruined the country.
By Bishop Sharp's instigation, Charles appoint
ed a High Commission court in 1664, consisting
of nine bishops, and thirty-five laymen, and of
which one bishop and four others were a quorum,
baving power to prosecute, suspend, and depose
2 3

314 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
ministers, and to fine. Imprison, Sec. them and
others, who continued In their nort-conformlty tO(
the religion established by law ; and appoirtted
the officers of the army or militia, and lords of
privy council to assist them, in apprehending and
punishing of such delinquertts. Irt cortsequeuce
whereof, persons were called before thera with-;
out inforraation, accusation, or witness ; and re
quired to answer whatever questions were pro
posed. If any offered any legal defence, he was
required to take the oath of supremacy, the refu
sal ofwhich was reckoned sufficient guilt. They,
in the manner of the Spanish inquisition, and the
privy councU, in their wonted manner, proceeded^
to ruin every serious opposer. Such non-conform
ministers, as yet reraained in their charges by the
favour of sorae of the nobility, or the like, were
driven frora thera, and soldiers were appointed to
force people who absented frora the sermons of
their intruded curates, to pay twentypence for
every tirae they should be absent. Besides seve
ral proclamations for enforcing or executing the
above raentioned acts of Parliaraent against non
conformists and preachers, or attenders upon re
ligious meetings not allowed by law, tbey emit
ted one against Brown's apologetical relation ofthe
sifferings of the faithful ministers and professors of
that period, and ordered it to be burnt in the street
of Edinburgh by the hangman ; and all that had,
copies of it to deliver them up to their sheriffs,
br be liable to a fine of L.2000 Scots : and Mr.
James Guthrie's widow and daughter were pro
secuted for having it.
In 1666, the remains of the fines imposed by
the Parliaraent of 1662, for sorae trifling corapli-
ances with the English usurpers, or the like, were
exacted Avith rigour by the King's troops, who

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 315
took free quarters till they got thera : no excuse
was accepted, unless by taking the oath of supre
macy, artd subscribing the declaration ; and such
as could neither pay their fines, nor entertain the
troops, were dragged to prison. Sir Jaraes Tur
ner and his soldiers were empowered to fine the
west country people for non-attendance on the
ministrations of their profligate curates, and even
to fine gentlemen, if their ladies or servants did
not attend ; and to quarter on tenants, if their
landlords withdrew. No widowhood or poverty
excused frora the fines. The soldiers snatched
the meat from the mouths of innocent children,
and gave it to their dogs; and when thfey had con
sumed all their provisions, they sold or burnt the
furniture. In this manner. Turner and his
troops levied alraost L.60,000 Scots, frora the
two shires of Galloway and Durafries for their
non-conformity. — Being obliged to give up the
infaraous High Commission, two regiments of
foot, and six troops of horse were raised, under
General Dalziel, a profligate savage, educated in
the military service of Russia, in order to force
the non-conforraists to hear the curates: the coun
cil eraitted a proclaraation, requiring masters to
answer for the conforraity of their servants, and
heritors for that of their tenartts, and give bond
accordingly, under pain of horning.
Sir Jaraes Turner, though it is said he scarce
ly acted up to his orders, had alraost wholly ruin
ed the south-west of Scotland, and obliged
raultitudes to leave their houses, and wander
among mosses and mountains. Four countrymen
in Galloway, being inforraed that his merciless
soldiers had apprehended a poor old man, and
were going to roast him nalied upon a red-hot

316 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
gridiron, went and begged them to let him alone:
but, instead of hearkeriing to this huraane desire,
the soldiers fell upon the men, who, getting the
better of them, disarmed them, and relieved their
friend ; and fearing that the other soldiers in the
parish Avould fail upon them, they, and seven or
eight more, surprised the party, which all laid
down their arms, except one that was killed.
The countrymen about, apprehending that Tur
ner would cruelly resent what had been done,
upon them, without loss of tirae, went to Dura-
fries and surprised him, and disarmed his troops
without hurting any of thera but one that was
wounded; — and then, at the cross, publicly drank
the King's health, and prosperity to his govern
ment. Informed hereof, the council published a
proclamation, which could not reach those con
cerned till it Avas too late, requiring thera to lay
down, their arras, and surrender theraselves to his
Majesty's Lieutenant-General, or some other of
ficers, within twenty-four hours, and prohibiting
all persons to assist, harbour, or keep any corres
pondence with these rebels, but containing no
proraise of inderanity in case of surrender. Af
ter some deliberation, that persecuted handful
formed themselves into a sraall army, and re
solved to march towards Edinburgh, in order to
give their persecuted friends an opportunity to
join them; and at Lanark, being about 1500,
they renewed their Solemn covenant with God ;
and, about the same time, drew up a manifesto
nowise disowning his Majesty's authority, but
bearing, that they had taken up arms to defend
themselves and their persecuted brethren, in their
adherence to their covenants, into which the King
himself had solemnly entered, and to protect them-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 317
selves and friends frora such cruelty and violence
as they had for sorae tirae past suffered. As Dal
ziel, with Charles's troops, marched up towards
them, they marched eastward, by Bathgate, till they
carae to CoUington, about thee miles from Edin
burgh. Greatly diminished by their fatigue, in
marching so far, in one ofthe last nights of Novem
ber, and disappointed of their expected assistance
from the Lothians, they, about nine hundred,
marched by the east end of Pentland hUls, where,
while they were quite dispirited and fatigued, and
expecting a peaceful negotiation, Dalziel, contra
ry to his promise of a cessation of arms, fell upon
thera, and killed fifty of them, and took as many
prisoners. But the couritry people in the neigh
bourhood killed and took prisoners not a few
more. Notwithstanding, Charles himself was so
ashamed of the illegal cruelties proved against
Sir Jaraes Turner, that he disinissed hira from
his service, yet the privy councU, to whora, just
before their skirmish at Pentland, the poor peo
ple had begged leave to represent their grievances
for two or three years, persecuted, murdered, im
prisoned, forfeited, or banished them that had ta
ken arras, or that gave thera any harbour or lodg
ing. And such as got an indemnity, had it, at
the expense of Avounding their conscience, by sub
scribing what they called the bond qf peace, in
which they engaged for themselves and these un
der them, to live peaceably ; that is, to bear no
testiraony against the abominations established
by law.
As the nobles were wearied of persecuting mi
nisters and people merely for not hearing of cu
rates, many of them shamefully ignorant or pro
fligate ; and as it was expected that it would di-

318 A cOmpenIjious histor'Y of the
vide and wealcenthe Presbyterian party, Charles;
moved by Tweedale, by a letter in 1669, grant
ed an indulgence to them, under certain condi
tions, which, through the opposition of the bi
shops and their clergy, had no small difficulty to
obtain the approbation of the councU. In cortse-
quence of this, about forty-three Presbyterian
ministers were indulged either In their own pa
rishes when vacant, or in sorae other parish, aS
the council judged meet. Another indulgeuce
was grartted to about eighty, in 1672, to keep
matters quiet, while Lewis of France, andCharleSj
his pensiortary, laboured to destroy the Dutch ua-
tion, which kindly sheltered their persecuted Pro
testant brethren. Sorae few of the persons, to
whora these indulgences were offered, refused to
accept thera. Some of thera that did accept,
testified against the conditions, or betook thera
selves to silly shifts to quiet their conscience, and
cover their shame ; while a considerable rtumber
boldly pled for their owu corapliance, and raged
at the field preachers, who testified against it. It
was pled in favours of it, that magistrates, for
ends known to themselves, may prohibit mini
sters to preach for a time, and afterward permit
thera to preach ; that though magistrates have
not power to silence ministers altogether, yet they
have power to prohibit the public exercise oftheir
ministry, and again, when they think fit, to grant
that liberty unto thera ; that the second book of
discipline allows magistrates to place ministers,
whenthekirk iscorrupted, and all things are Out of
order; that Kings Hezekiah and Josiah reformed
the Levites, purged the temple, and appointed
the courses of the priests and Levites ; that seve
ral of the indulged were sent to their own char-

phurch of SCOTLAND. 819
ges ; that if the indulgence be rejected, because
it proceeds from the King's supreraacy, then he
might banish all preaching out of his dominions,
by comraanding to preach by virtue of his supre
macy ; that the preaching of the gospel is so im
portant and necessary, that many things raay be
comported with, irt order to obtairt It ; that the
mere making use of his Majesty's present favour
doth not homologate the exorbitartcies under
which we have groaned ; that the rulers did not
assign the indulged ministers to particular charges
by express deputation, but only by permitting
and allowing them to exercise their ministry
there ; that, after the ruin of our liberties, we
may accept a relaxation, which is sinful on the
granter's part; that, though the magistrate's priur
pipal design in these indulgences be to establish
his own supremacy over the church, yet the ac
cepting of them cannot imply an approbation of
that design ; that, as the magistrate proposeth
this indulgprtce by comraartd, obediertce to the
coraraartd cannot iraply an engageraent to the
prescriptions annexed ; that, notwithstanding hi?
carrying his supremacy to the highest, the King
hath not assumed the power of church order pr
dispensation of word and sacraments ; that the
indulged ministers plainly owned, that the ordi
nation of Christ is the only proper foundation,
upon which the exercise of their ministry, by the
permission of this licence, doth subsist, and thp
magistrates' allowance is but merely the removal
of his forraer unjust restraints ; that acceptance
of the indulgence iraported no subjection ofthe
ministry to the arbitrary wiH of raen, but rather
an acknowledgment that our persons are in sub
jection to them.

320 church of SCOTLAND.
On the other hand it was pled, that the procla-r
mation for the indulgence plainly flowed frora the
King's supreraacy over the church, and maintairts
his council's power to depose ministers frora, and
restore thera to the exercise of their ministry, as
they find proper; and that it was granted to
some ministers to prevent others frora preaching
to arty but their own farailies : and that it was
clogged with several sinful conditiorts, as, that
they behoved to utter nothing agaisnt Prelacy, or
the King's supremacy ; that, unless they attend
the bishops synods and Presbyteries, they must
confine theraselves to the parishes In which they
preach ; that they should adrait none to sealing
ordinances, or to raarriage, who belonged to any
other established, or indulged rainister, Avithout
his allowance ; that they give no countenance tp
people of other congregatiorts coraing to hear
thera ; that they all administer the Lord's supper
on the sarae day ; that they preach only in their
own churches, under pain of being held keepers
of conventicles; that all raatters of discipline,
which formerly belonged to Presbyteries, must
stUl belong to the Bishops, Presbytery of the
bounds. Or next to it :— rthat therefore, 1. The
acceptance of the indulgence reflected dishonour
upon Jesus Christ, the only King and head of his
church, as it practically declared, that the accep
ters did not hold their ministry wholly and only
of Jesus Christ ; that they hold the exercise of
it from the magistrates either solely or in con
junction with Christ ; that thus they receive the
office or exercise of their ministry from men, who,
in this deed, neither do, nor can act in a subor
dination to Christ, as the head and fountain of
3II church power; that thus they acknowledge all

church op SCOTLAND, 321
the rules and directions prescribed by thera for
ordering of the exercise of the rainistry, to be in
sufficient ; and that not Christ alone, but raagis-
trates, have power to prescribe the qualifications
necessary for the exercise of the ministry ; that
not Christ alone, but magistrates also, have power
to prescribe how he will have such an officer set
over such a particular flock ; aud that hereby they
concur with limitations in, artd abput the dispen
sation of Christ's spiritual ordinances, not pre
scribed by hiraself, nor by any ministerial power
subordinated to hira, but in opposition to him,
both in matter and raanrter. 2. It is contrary to
Presbyterian principles ; such as, that it belong
eth to the church, and tp church ofiacers, to try
and examirte qualificatious of such as are to ex
ercise the ministerial office, and, by explaining
and applying Christ's rules, to declare whp are
fit and qualified fpr it ; that it belongs to the
church, or church judicatories, to convey mini
sterial office and power to persons qualified, and
to grant them a protestative mission, authorising
them to exercise their ministerial function ; and
to plant and transplant ministers to particular
(;harges, or loose their relation to them, as the
good of the church requireth ; that it belongs to
church judicatories to give Injurtctipns concerning
the exercise of the ministry and dispensation of
the ordinances of Christ ; that the power of cen
suring, suspending) or deposing ministers, belongs
to the church, not to a Kirtg or his council, 3. It
supports and confirms the King's Erastian supre
macy. The acceptance of it, made the subsequent
act, of alraost unlimited headship over the church,
necessary to warrant the granting of it; and that
(Ctci pf supremacy alone makes the King's indul-
2 T

322 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
gence a legal deed, and secures the indulged
from being held seditious persons in the eye of
the law. All the particulars included in the two
preceding arguraents, belong to the King's claira
ed headship over the church. The matter of the
indulgence is the very matter of the supreraacy
alloted him to settle, enact, and emit constitu
tions, acts, and orders concerning matters, meet
ings, and persons ecclesiastical, according to his
royal pleasure. The acceptance of a benefit flow
ing from an usurped power, manifestly homolo
gates that usurped power, 4. It wrongs the peo
ple concerned in them, in practically giving up
their former relation to their flock, and taking a
new charge without any call frora the people.
5. While it plainly confirras and adopts the Eras
tian principle of the dependence of the ministry
upon the magistracy, and the necessary support
of it on the magistrate's will, it tends to the re
markable hurt of the church. Magistrates thrust
ing out faithful ministers, and putting in whom
they pleased in their room, did, uuder the Arian
Emperors, and even uuder Kiug Jaraes, much
hurt to the church. Accordirtg to his method,
magistrates may quickly deprive us of faithful,
or even Protestant ministers, artd plant naugh
ty, erroneous, or Popish priests in their stead :
nay, by the indulgeuce, the most part of nort-con-
form rainisters are shut up in one corner by two's
or three's, in a parish, while the rest of the land
is givert up to the wUl of Prelatists, Papists, or
Quakers. It is intended to restrain these field
meetings at which multitudes of souls have alrea
dy found so much spiritual benefit. It tends to
introduce the subjection of all ministers to the
pouncil in ecclesiastical affairs. It encourageth

dilURCH OF SCOTLAND. 823
tithers to enter into the ministry upon base con
ditions. It abandons the discipline of the church
tothe bishopsan'd their curates. It givesUp with an
ordinatiort of a faithful successiort of faithful mi
nisters to the church; 6. It g/Ves up with all our
own and our fathers siifferirigs for our opposition
to patronage or Erastian encroachraents of King
or council on the power of Christ and his church;
and for the sole headship of Christ, or for Pres
byterian governraent. 7- It strengthens the hands
of Prelatists, as hereby rainisters iraprison thera
selves in congregations under their influence. It
tempts them to seek collation from bishops. It
..withdraws them from helping their faithful suffer
ing brethren, and leaves the curates in quiet pos
session of the most of the nation^ and secures it
to them in all time coming. It encourageth a
kind correspondence Avith curates, and dirainish-i-
eth zeal against thera. It justifies them in ac
cepting Prelacy from the same fountain of the
King's supremacy. The conditions, under which
the indulgeuce is accepted, mightily strengthens
their hands* 8, It is contrary fo our covenants;
in so far as they bind to the doctririe of Christ's
being the only head of the dhurch, and to maintain
Presbyterian government, arid the liberties and
privileges of the church of Scotland^ and abjure
Prelacy and Erastianism. 9. The accepters of
this indulgence condemn theraselvesj in so far as
they had, or have any regard to field or house meet
ings for religious worship; or have or do condemn
the King's ecclesiastical supremacy^ or the entry
of curates by the bishops ; or have refused to con
tinue with their parishes on the footing of a hew;
appointed presentation ; or have refused to joiii
with bishops and their curates in Presbyteries andi

324 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
sydods, according to Bishop Leighton's pro
posals of accommodation; or have, or do scruple
at the bishops' collation of their office upon thera.
10. It is prejudicial to field raeetings, which have
been remarkably blessed by God to the edifica
tion of multitudes. The King's letter represents
it as contrived and granted in order to suppress
them utterly. It draws off the accepters from
preaching in the fields, and if aU named by the
council had accepted, few had been left to carry
on that necessary work, to which God seems to
be loudly calling. The acceptance of it by so
many, encourageth the rulers in prosecuting their
designs against these meetings, by the most cruel
and bloody acts. It withdraws the people from
these meetings, and so rents thera asunder. It
materiaUy condemns these meetings as unlawful
and seditious, and exposeth such as scruple to
hear the indulged, to the fury oftheir adversaries.
11, The acceptance of that indulgence is exceed
ingly offensive. It grieves and discourageth such
ministers and people as scrupled at, or thought it
unlawfuL It violated the accepters' sacred bonds
bf unity; and, by withdrawing frora the brethren,
particularly such as preached or heard at field
meetings, they weakened their bands. It encou
raged the Prelates and rulers to proceed witb an
high hand, irt their apostacy and persecution It
will tempt posterity to submit to magistrates' ira-
positiort of tnirtisters, in what manner, and Under
^hat restrictions they please. It Avill grieve, and
sffcumble our Protestant brethren abroad, to un
derstand, that after all the faithful contendings
of Scotch ministers, from the reformation till
nOw,\p marty, after a short struggle, have so fear
fully cohiplled upon a small teniptatiort.

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 325
No wonder thert, that Messrs, John Burnet,
Donald CargU, and eight or ten others refused to
accept this ifldulgertce. Being unable to attend
the councU, Mr, Burnet sent his reasons of refus
al to the chancellor, bearing, that as Christ alone
was the sole head of the church, all rainisterial
office, and power of exercising it, flowed from
him ; wherea's the indulgence flowed from that
absolute supreraacy which his Majesty clairaed,
and had been affirraed to him by Parliament, as
an inherent right of the crown ; — that he could
not so rauch as interpretatively conderan field
meetings, which had been always peaceably at
tended, and been remarkably blessed by God ; —
that he reckoned there was still a pastoral rela
tion standing between hira and his former flock,
of which not fifty, out of twelve hundred exami^
nable persons, had ever yet subraitted to the cu
rate placed araong thera — so no relation could be
fixed between hira and another congregation, by
an act of a mere civil judicatory ; — that his con
finement did not merely confine his person, but
even his Pffice, and the gospel itself; and so hin
dered him from the duty he was called to for
the good ofthe church, which was nowin hazard to
be swaUowed upby Jesuits, Quakers, &c, ; and while
three parts of the kingdom were groaning under
the want of the faithfiil preaching of the gospel,
a few shires in the west Were made the comraon
jail of all the rainisters permitted to preach; that
he looked on a permission to preach without any
call from the people, authority or assistance of a
Presbytery, and without the exercise of church
discipline artd goverrtment, as very lamb, and the
restrictions annexed to it, as an heavy yoke,—
The other refusers of the indulgence drew up a
paper of much the sarae . import ; and in which

^26 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THlS
they begged the council to believe, that their
non-compliance flowed frora real .tenderness of
conscience; and that by their influence and deal
ing with his Majesty, they raight liave an unre
strained liberty to preach to their flocks, or others,
as providence called thera, in a peaceable raanner,
for the edification of the body of Christ.
Several of the corapliers with the indulgertce
formed a paper of grievances to be given In to
the councU, when they received It, as a testimo
ny against the evils iraplied in the grant of it,
bearing, that however thankfully they received
his Majesty's perraission to exercise their minis
try, yet they disliked that Erastianism, which ap
peared in the grant of it ; that, though they dis
allowed all tumultuary and seditious meetings
of subjects, yet they could not condemn the field
meetings for preaching and hearing the gospelj
as such, and were grieved that the grant of their
indulgence did so ; — that the indulgence breaks
the relation between ministers artd their forraer
flocks, and deprives the people, to Avhora they are
appointed, of any free call ; that it shuts them
up soraetiraes, by two's or three's, in a parish,
.where one raight serve, and iraposed on thera
flocks belonging to faithful brethren ; that it
•confined thera as evil doers, without any trial or
conviction of guUt, and hindered them from meet
ing in judicatories or even mutual converse, and
restrairtedthe faithful preachiugof the gospel from
a great part ofthe rtation; and exposed such as did
not coraply, to far greater sufferings than forraer
ly; that it entirely cut off frora the people all hope
of having their faithful pastors restored to thera ;
and that all their restrictions were plainly form
ed in favours of the Prelatic party, and to the

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. — " 827
disadvantage of Presbyterian ministers and peo*
pie iraplied a subjection to Erastianisra, and sorae
of thera thrust the accepters into a direct and
formal subjection to Prelacy. — After they had in
several meetings, considered this paper, they
dropt it altogether for want of harraony, with re
spect to it— They agreed, that when they ap
peared before the councU, to receive their licence,
and instructions, Mr, George Hutchinsort should,
by a speech. In their name, give some testiraony
against the Erastianisra and sinful restrictions
connected therewith. But by neglecting to speak
at the beginning, and by delivering hiraself in an
obscure equivocal raanrter, it was to little or no
purpose. Meanwhile, Mr. Alexander Blair ho
nestly told the council, that as he looked upon
hiraself as an arabassador of Christ, he could hot
receive instructions from thera, for regulating
hira in the exercise of his tainistry, and let fall
their instructions: on account of which the coun
cil ordered hira to prison.
While the outed rainisters were sadly divided
about the indulgence, great pains Avere taken to de
coy thera artd the people irtto, at least, a pajtlal
subraission to Prelacy, Dr. Burnet, afterwards
bishop of Salisbury, and other popular preachers,
were seut to the West Country, to preach in the
several kirks, in hopes that this would bring the
people to a likirtg of Episcopal preachers. But
few heard thera, except sorae of the youuger sort,
out of curiosity. Buruet says, that he and his
brethren were araazed to see poor coraraon peo
ple, even cottagers and servants, so capable to ar
gue upon church goverument, and the power of
Princes in matters of religion. This faUing,
{^eighton of Dumblain, now administator of the
4

328 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
Archbishopric of Glasgow, prOppsed an accom
modation to the Presbyterian ministers, allowing
them to retain their own principles, and to pro
test against what they thought wrong in Prela
cy, and then, like their fathers before 1638, to
concur in Presbyteries, which had constartt mo
derators. The Presbyteriart ministers, indulged
and not indulged, after several conferences, de
clined corapliance, and the raore readily, as Leigh
ton, with all his high pretences to religious peace
and piety, would not or could not assure thera,
that the bishops, who moderate, should not have
a negative over the synod's decisions.
But force was the principal mean used for
causing both rainisters and people to subrait to
what the court pleased- As Charles's first indul
gence of the Presbyterian ministers at his own
hand, by his cpuncil, had exceeded the limits of
the supremacy which bad been forraerly allowed
hira by the Parliaraent, and was contrary to the
laws establishing Prelacy, the bishops complain
ed of it, as an Ulegal trarapling on their power.—
The Parliament 1669 therefore asserted him and
his successors to have an unlimited supremacy
over the church, as an inherent right of the crown,
by which they might order and dispose of the ex
ternal gpverrtraertt of the church, and settle, en
act, and emit such constitutiorts, acts, and orders,
concerning it, and the persons eraployed in it, and
all ecclesiastical raeetings, and raatters to be pro
posed and deterrained in them, as they pleased ;
and rescinded all laws, acts, and clauses thereof,
and all customs and constitutions, civil and ec
clesiastical, which are contrary tp, and inconsist
ent with his Majesty's supreraacy as now assert
ed. This Parliament also ratified some aets of

CHURCH OP SCOTLAND. 329
the privy councU> requiring all the inhabitants of
the south-west of Scotland, under severe penal
ties, to deliver up their arras; and that if parish
ioners perraitted any hurt to be done to the vio
lent persecuting curates, they should be reputed
as having art artd part of the crirae, and be liable
for all daraages ; and forfeiting the estates ofsuch
as had been concerned in the late rising of Pent
land billsi Soon after, the council in 1670, to
please the bishops and their curates,. prohibited
the indulged rainisters to lecture or expound a
portion of Scripture before the forenoon serraon,
under pain of being forbidden the exercise oftheir
ministry, within this kingdora. The soldiers were
appointed to apprehend the rainisters, heritors,
and tenants, that presumed to attend the field
meetings for preaching of the gospel, and to cause
them appear before tfie councU, along with a list
of witnesses against them.
Mr. John Menzies, minister Of Caerlaverock,
near Dumfries, shocked with the severities used
against Presbyterians, while Papists, who abound
ed and promoted their idolatry and superstition
with great zeal, reraained unraolested, presented
a solemn testiraony against Prelacy to his Pres
bytery, and Messrs. Alexander and John Car-
michaels, Thomas Forrester and others, after
ward deserted the Prelates. But none of these
things moved the persecutors to raoderation.
The Parliaraent, 1670, enacted. That whoso
ever refusbd to be witnesses, even against their
nearest relations, with respect to breaches of the
public laws of the kingdom, and particularly their
attendartce at field preachirtgs, should be fined,
Iraprisoned, or banished ;¦ — that if any outed rai
nister not licensed by the coimcU, or tolerated by
2 u

330 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
the bishop, presurae to preach, expound the scrip-
turej or pray in any meeting, but in his own house,
and where only his own fahiily are present, he
Sfhall be imprisoned, till he find bail not to keep
Jartother cPftventicle, under the penalty of 5000
merks, or else consent to leave the kingdom^
never to return without his majesty's licence ;
and that these present at house conveatidles be
finedj^^heritors in a fburth part of their yearly
rent, tenants in L,25, ahd cottars in L.12 Scots,
'^artd that every minister or preacher at field
meetings, be punished by death and Confiscation
of goods, and these present be fined in double of
the above for house meetings ; and that every
apprehender of a field preacher should have 500
inerks Of reWard ; and the sheriffs, stewards,
and lords of regalities, all the fines below these
Of heritors for themselves ;• — that every person,
who procured baptisra for his chUd by any unli-
cfensed or uhautborized minister and not in a re
gular martrter, shall be firted, heritors in a fourth
part of their yearly rent ; every person above a
tenartt in a L.lOO Scots ; every inferior raerchant,
tenant, or considerable tradesraan, irt L.50 ; every
raeaner burgess, tradesraan, or cottar in L.20,
and every servant in half a year's fee ; and sher
iffs, stewards, and lords of regalities, to have all
fines below these of heritors, as their encourage
ment to diligence in their execution of this act ;
— that all subjects of thb reformed religion, who
do not frequent the ordinary meeting's for divine
Worship in their oWn parish churches, for every
offence, be fined, heritors in an eighth part oftheir
yearly rent ; every person above the degree of a
tenant, in L.12 Scots; every tenant or consider
able tradesman artd irtferior raerchant in L.6 ;

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 331
and all below that station in L.2 Scots..  As
an addition to these persecuting acts, the Parlia
raertt 1672, enacted. That none should be officers
of the militia but Episcopalians ; and both offi
cers and soldiers take the oath of allegiance and
declaration^ under pain of imprisonraent and ba
nishment; that none but those authorized by law,
should ordain any to the ministry ; and all ordi
nations by Presbyterian ministers since 1661, be
held void and null; that all that had not a certi
ficate from their parish minister that their chU
dren were baptized within thirty days of their
birth, should be fined, heritors in a fourth part
of their yearly rent ; merchants in L.lOO Scots ;
&;c. and that all that did not observe the anni
versary of the 29th of May, shouM be fined, or
otherwise punished.
Dreadful were the severities carried on against
the non-conformists. While the indulged minis
ters were disliked by many of the people, for
their want of due faithfulness, they were not a
little harassed by the council for their lecturing,
— baptizing of children not belonging to their pa
rishes, — giving some testimony against the apos
tacy of the times, a"d for not observing of the
anniversary thanksgiving on the 29th of May, or
the like. The refusers of the indulgence, and
all that preached at, or attended field meetings,
were still more cruelly persecuted, by "fines, im
prisonment, or banishment. Many were the ex-^
prisitant fines imposed upon gentlemen, and others,
in the shires of Dumbarton, Lanark, Ayr, GaUo
way, Dumfries, and Renfrew, for mere non-con
formity to Prelacy, and non-attendance on the
ministrations of ignorant and profligate curates.
These of eleven gentlemen in the shire of Ren-

332 A COJIPENDIOUS kiSTORY OF THE
frew, araounted to near L.S1,000 Sterling. — — r
Finding that, notwithstanding, the field meetings
raore and more increased, the council in June
1674, eraitted two proclaraations, the first of
which requires heritors to becorae bouud for their
tertants, and tenants for their families, cottars,
and servants, that they should not, under the pain
of L.25 Scots for each tenant,— L.12 for each
cottar.^and a fourth part of their year's fee for
each servant, and the half for each wife or child,
be present at any house conventicle, nor at any
field conventicle, under the penalty of the double.
If tenants refused to give bond to their heritors,
their whole property was to be forfeited for them,
and rto new leases were to be granted without
such engagciment. And all magistrates had an
unlimited power to require every person whom
they suspected, to give security for their good be
haviour in this matter. The other iraported, That
all those, that should apprehend convpcators to,
pr attertders ort conventicles, should be reward
ed with their fines or forfeited property ; and
whoever should apprehend any minister at con
venticles, should have 1000 merks, and 2000 for
Messrs. Welsh, Semple, and Arnot. — They fined
eleven gentlemen in Fife, in about L.7000 Scots,
for attending conventicles, and because one of
them had harboured Mr. Welsh ; and denounced
forty or fifty mpre, and soon after fifty raore, who
corappared npt,re&.e^j.--The field raeetings stiU in-
' creasing, and being attended with remarkable
countenance frpm God, several conform ministers
attended thera, and joined the sufferers. The
councU, finding that they cpuld not get all the
attendants prosecuted, net a few of which were
ladies and their children, they raised new regi-
3

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 333
ments of soldiers, and stationed them in a consid
erable number of garrisons in these places where
conventicles were most coraraonly held, in order
that they might deter from them or rush forth
upon the people, while they were met for public
worship ; and the country about was required to
furnish them with all things necessary. In con^
sequence hereof, some of the sufferers began to
take arms with them to their meetings, in order
to defend themselves, if attacked. They also Ist
sued forth letters of intercommuning aga'mst about
ninety or an hundred ministers, gentlemen, ladies,
and others for preaching, or hearing at conventi
cles, or npt appearing when sumraoned, to rer
nounce their principles, or fall a sacrifice to their
persecutor's rage. These letters cut thera off
frora all society in the kingdora of Scotland ; and
it was declared, that whosoever should receive,
harbour, or converse with thera by word or writ,
or supply thera with raeat, drink, clothes, or any
other necessaries of life, should be prosecuted
with rigour as guilty with thera of the same
crimes ; and all sheriffs, &c. were ordered to apr
prebend them wherever they could be found.
This year the fines levied by the Earl of Hume
in Berwickshire, amounted to near L.2 7,000 Scots,
Meanwhile, God remarkably countenanced some
sacramental occasions among the sufferers, espe
cially one in Elginshire, where the real Christ
ians were generally so filled with the consolations,
pf Christ, that they scarcely knew, whether they
were in the body or not ; and not a few were de-
lightfuUy converted to the Lord.
The council had a little before enacted, that
,pvery proprietor, on whose ground a conventicle
pr field meeting for preaching the gospel was,

334 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
held, should pay L.50 Scots of fine, and had ri
gorously prosecuted, fined, or imprisoned such
ministers or attendants on such raeetings, as they
could find, and Sad punished several of the in
dulged ministers with the want of a year's sti
pend, and of it in all time coraing, unless an order
for payraent were granted by the council,^— they,
at last, in 1677, projected the raising of 8000 sa
vage Highlanders to march into the south-west
counties of Scotland, and there, by free quarters,,
plunder, murder, or whatever way they pleased, to
force people tp hear the curates,'ahd oblige heri
tors to bind theraselves for their tenants, and te
nants for thpirfarailies and cottars, behaving them
selves answerably to the laws. The Highland
host and regular forces, to the number of 10,000,
with such a train of artillery as if they had in
tended to besiege fortified cities, marched thi
ther ; but, notwithstanding all their free quar
tering, plunder, and other oppressions, the heri
tors, and several noblemen among them, refused
to give bond for the conformity of their famiUes
or tenants ; nor could the people be got provoked
to- take arms in their own defence, which would
have given the managers an handle to murder
them, or by forfeiture deprive them of every
thing belonging to them. After some weeks, the
managers being ashamed of their horrid cruelties,
and shameless robberies, ordered the Highland
ers, all but 500, home. They carried along with
thera horses and goods to the utraost of their
power. To mention particular plunders would
be endless. From the three small districts of
Kyle, Carrick, and Cunningham, they destroyed
and carried off about the value of L.I40,000
Scots. The council pushed on the subscription

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 335
of the bond above mentioned, though generally
without the success they wished, notwithstand
ing they insisted, that such as refused, should
give lawborrows, or security for their kind beha
viour to his majesty. The refusers, and sundry
nobleraen among them, were cruelly prosecuted.
The bond and highland host being found ineffec
tual to put a stop to field meetings, or force peo
ple to hear the profligate and persecuting curates,
a Convention of Estates was called in 1678, which
imposed a cess of L.S60,000 yearly, for the space
of five years, in order to maintain a standing ar
my for the suppression of field conventicles. The
payment, of this cess, as the indulgence had done
before, to the great joy of the bishops, occasion
ed warm contentions among the Presbyterians.
Some thinking it lawful to pay it, as a tax laid
on by authority, even as Christ paid tribute to
Caesar, and advised others to do the same ; —
others thinking it unlawful, as an imposition of
tyrants, and plainly intended to promote wicked
ends; After the council had ordered sixty-seven
of the imprisoned sufferers to be transported to
Virginia, as aJ^ind of slaves, and whora provi
dence relieved at London ; and had levied more
troops, and formed a new military oath for secur
ing the soldiers' full execution of the cruel work
comraitted to them, and prosecuted many parti
cular persons, and punished them by fines, impri
sonment, or the like, a few of the sufferers, who
had forraed a resolution to kUl one Carmichael,
who had, for a considerable time, most furiously
persecuted the non-conformists in Fife, fining,
and imprisoning multitudes, and torturing ser
vants to make thera discover their raasters or
their property, and beating wives and children to

336 A Compendious histPry Of the"
make thera inform against their husbands and
parents, — uot to mention his rapes, adulteries,
and like aborainable wickedness.. After they had
in vain searched for hira, where they were in
forraed he Avas to hunt that day, and Averb just
going to separate, they were unexpectedly inforra
ed, that archbishop Sharp was at Ceres, in his way
home to St. Andrew's. They thought that God
had delivered into their hand this perjured de
stroyer of their church, arch-persecutor^ and mur
derer of multitudes of their brethren, ahd who
sought their own life ; and so reckoning them
selves in an open state of war with him, resolved
to take away his life, which they did, not with
out some difficulty, about a mile south-west froni
St. Andrew's. It is certain, he richly deserved
to die by the hands of public justice in the raost
sharaeful and miserable form. But how far, in
their circumstantiated case, it was lawful and pru
dent for these persons to take away his life, I
leave to the judgment of God, whose providence
preserved all that had an active hand in it from
the fury of their murderous persecutors, notwith-
•standing all they could do to apprehend them. It
nevertheless gave the managers, Avho represent^
ed his death as a kind of martyrdom, an handle
for proceeding in, or increasing their cruelties,
and for ensnaring raany with that question. Whe
ther the killing of him was murder or noi ?
The council having eraitted a proclaraation
prepared by Sharp, before his death, represent
ing field conventicles as tending to the ruin of
the Christian religion, the introduction of Popery
and heresy, the subversion of raonarchy, and the
contempt of all laws and government ; and ap
pointing all judges and officers of the army to pro-

church op SCOTLAND. 337
eeed agairtst all that went to them with arras, as
traitors, and to execute the laws against all other
attendants on thera.— The persecuted, whose
nurabers daily increased, therefore found, that
their safety was promoted by their attending in
large multitudes. Pushed by Robert Hamilton,
brother to the Laird of Preston, and the lady of
Earlstoun, a pious Christian, but perhaps too
rash and headstrong, a number of them agreed
upon a solemn testimony against the apostacy,
wicked laws, and cruel persecution of the mana
gers; and he, and about eighty arraed men, pub
lished it at the cross of Rutherglen, on the anni
versary thanksgiving for Charles's restoration.
May 29, 1679, and burnt a copy of the wicked
acts, against which they testified. This more and
more provoked the fury of the managers. Gra
hara of Claverhouse, afterward Viscount of Dun
dee, a most cruel and bloody monster, having an
unliraited power to kill and destroy all that he
found in arras, seized Mr. King, and about fourteen
others, who neither were in arras, nor had any
thing laid to their charge ; and driving thera
before hira, bound two by two, attacked a field-
meeting near Drumclog the day after, being Sab
bath, but was defeated with the slaughter of
twenty, if not near forty, of his soldiers, Claver
house escaping to Glasgow, alarraed the troops
that were there. HaraUton and his friends, flush
ed with their success, and perhaps too dilatory
in their pursuit, entered into Glasgow, next day,,
but after the loss of six or eight, were, by the
firing upon them from the houses, obliged to
retreat to HamUton, where they formed a sort of
camp for their own defence.
2 X

3^8,

A compendious HISTORY OF THE

The councU, by proclaraation, required all
those who had taken arras, to lay thera down,
and surrender themselves to some officer of the
army or magistrate, within the space of twenty-
four hours, but proraised no indemnity; — and re
quired all heritors and heads of families to per
mit none of their tenants, children, or servants
to join thera, under pain of being looked upon as
disaffected persons; — and farther required all the
militia in the kingdora, to join and act with the
regular forces, under severe penalties; and all he
ritors and freeholders to attend the King's host.
Finding, that those Avho had appeared in arras,
had nothing to expect but tortures and death,
their friends hastened from all places around to
defend thera, if possible, in so rauch, that the
King's troops, fearing an attack, retreated from
Glasgow to Edinburgh, and begged that assis
tance should be sent them from England, To
render him odious to the non-conformists, both
in England and Scotland, Charles, his father, ap
pointed the Duke of Monmouth to command the
array ; and the council insisted that the barba
rous Dalziel should be his lieutenant. Mean
while, the divisions which took place araong the
sufferers, who were once about four thousand,
but many of thera poorly armed, relative to the
making of the indulgence a cause of fasting, and
the owning of Charles's kingly authority, made
many leave them, and dispirited such as remain
ed, that few of them behaved with any courage,
and so were easily routed at Bothwel-Bridge,
four hundred being kUled, mostly in the pursuit,
and twelve hundred surrendered prisoners, who
were stripped alraost naked, and obliged to lie flat
on the ground for a considerable tirae ; and if any

eHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 339
but raised hiraself a little, he was shot dead in an
instant. Some of the officers proposed to burn
Glasgow, Hamilton, and all the country about
Bothwel-Bridge. But Monraouth rejected their
motion with indignation, — His compassion to the
sufferers issued in his being quickly recalled, and
Dalziel, who was as cruel as either managers or
devils could have wished hira, made General of
the forces in his stead.
Dreadful was the case of the prisoners at Edin
burgh, Many of thera were tried and executed :
others were shipped off for Virginia to be slaves,
and, after raost barbarous usage, were raostly
drowned in a storra on the coast of Orkney, the
Popish captain having obstinately refused to open
the hatches, to give thera an opportunity to es
cape, as himself and the sailors did, Struck with
horror at the cruelty, a sailor risked his life, aud,
by cutting through the deck, got about fifty of
them out alive, while sorae hundreds were thus
wilfully drowned in the hold. Not only they
who had been in arras, in the affair of Bothwel,
but such as had harboured, or assisted thera with
meat or drink, or who had not attended the King's
host, according to the proclamation, were cruelly
prosecuted, and their estates or property forfeit
ed, and given to such persecutors as his Majesty
and the council thought fit. Some that were
thought less guilty, were released upon signing a
bond, in which they acknowledged the rising at
Bothwel- Bridgerefte^Ziora, and engaged nevermore
to take up arms without, or against his Majesty,
or his authority, even in self-defence ; but they
were to have no benefit of the inderanity, if ever
they should be found in arras at any field conven
ticle. Many choosed rather to continue prisonersa

340 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
and hazard even life Itself, than subscribe such a
bond. About the same tirae, indulged rainisters
were required to subscribe a bond, in which they
engaged theraselves to live peaceablyt (i. e. give
no plain testiraony against the raanagers' aposta
cy and persecution) and to present themselves be
fore the privy coUncU, when called, and to have
sureties, who should engage themselves, their heirs,
and successors, for their so doing, under pain of
paying six thousand merks Scots, if they did not
present them to the councU, These bands, most
of the ministers thought lawful, in their present
circurastances. But others, chiefly the author of
the Banders disbanded, shews that it was sinful,
scandalous, and incOnvCrtlertt to coraply with
thera. An inderanity was published, but with so raa
ny exception's of rainisters and heritors, who were
concerned in the rebellion, or any way contribut
ed to it, or who did not come to assist the Kirtg's
host, and loaded with the condition of engaging
never to bear arms against the King or his au
thority, nor to be present at field conventicles,
that it was almost good for nothing. Meanwhile,
Claverhouse, with his dragoons, terribly oppress
ed the west country by free quarters, plunders,
tortures, and murders. Circuit courts were ap
pointed rigorously to punish all such as did not
lay hold on the indemnity ; and all, who had been
concerned in the risings of Pentlartd artd Both
wel, and the murder of the archbishop, or had any
way supplied or corresponded with them. The
proprietors of the grounds, on which: any of the
murderers of the archbishop lived, who were par
ticularly described, were commanded to appre
hend them, and present thera to the circuit: —

CaURCH OF SCOTLAND, 341
and if they fled, their wives, children, and ser
vants, were to be driven from the place. A re
ward of ten thousand merks was offered to those
who should bring in any of these murderers,
dead or alive, particularly John Balfour of Kin-
loch, and David Hackstoun of Rathillet, (who
had refused to have any hand ia the slaughter,
lest it should be said private injuries, done to
him by Sharp, had influenced him.) Great nura
bers were conderarted and executed, soraetiraes
merely because they scrupled to acknowledge the
slaughter of the archbishop to be rnurder, and the
rising at Bothwel rebellion, or would not take the
bond prescribed by the council.
Next year, 1 680, Charles and his council agreed
to appoint the soldiers to attack all those that
had been forfeited by the Parliament or criminal
court, all rainisters and heritors who had been in
the rebellion, or heritors who had contributed
any thing to it ; all rebels, who had not taken
the bond, or had been at field conventicles since
the 27th of July last ; all those who had injured
the Episcopal clergy ; all assassins, especially the
murderers of the archbishop ; and appointed the
mansion-houses, castles, or towers standing on
the forfeited estates, to be used by the forces as
garrisons, from which they might be ready to
sally forth upon the above and like persons. A
paper found upon Henry Hall, wheri he was ap
prehended at Queensferry, and a declaration pub
lished at Sanquhar, in which all allegiance to King
Charles was renounced, and especially the solemn
excommunication, and deliverance to Satan, of
King Charles, Dukes of York, Monmouth, Lau
derdale, and Rothes, Sir George M'Kenzie, the
King's advocate, and General Dalziel, on account

342 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORV OF THE
of their respective horrible crimes, by Mr, Donald
Cargil, at the Torwood, not only terribly infuri
ated the persecuting managers, but drew upon
the strict partjr loads of reproach from their in
dulged brethren. But it is certain that, in all
these cases, what was done, was upon just causes.
It is certain, the actors were in uncommon cir
cumstances, when both church and state were
really unhinged by persecution, apostacy, and ty
ranny. How far then private persons, or one mi
nister might lawfully, or even prudently, do what
pertained to the Estates ofthe nation, or a church
judicatory, is not safe for us to judge, unless we
were certain we hadanequalmeasureof the direct
ing Spirit of God, It is certain, the nations of Eng
land and Scotland, about eight years after, prac
tically approved the rejection of Charles's tyran
nical authority ; and that God, in his provideuce,
appeared to approve that excomraunication, in
the miserable ends of those that were laid under
it, as Cargil had foretold.
Meanwhile, multitudes of gentlemen were for
feited in their absence, for their supposed ac
cession to the rising at Bothwel. The soldiers
kiUed or took prisoners the outlaws wherever
they could find them; and if a person was but ob
served with a Bible or other good book in his
hand, he Avas in danger of his life. — At Air's moss,
in Kyle, Bruce, with about a hundred and twenty
dragoons, attacked about forty sufferers, and kill
ed nine, among whom was Richard Cameron, a
preacher, and his brother Michael, and took Hack
stoun of Rathillet, and others prisoners. After
much torture, Hackstoun was condemned, hang
ed with uncommon cruelty, and, before he was
dead, his heart was taken out by the hangman,

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 343
and held up, ou the point of a knife, on all the
sides of the scaffold, and then burnt; and after that,
his head fixed on the Nether Bow, with Mr. Ca
meron's and others, and one quarter of his body
fixed up at St. Andrew's, a second at Burntisland,
a third at Leith, and a fourth at Glasgow, — Be
fore now, the managers had scarcely stuck at any
thing false, unjust, base, or barbarous. Notwith
standing their marking of it in their register of
council, Rothes, Lauderdale, and Halton, his bro
ther, and Archbishop Sharp, had perjuriously de
poned against James Mitchel, that they had never
given hira a promise upon of his life, condition of
his candidly acknowledging that he discharged a
pistol at Archbishop Sharp, several years before his
death. — When they could not find witnesses, they
tortured people to force them to confess what
they pleased. They falsely marked the acknow
ledgments they raade. If they could find nothing
else, they required thera to take sorae of their un
hallowed oaths, bonds, or declarations, that either
corapliance might wound their conscience, and
divide thera frora their fellow sufferers, or their
refusal raight be a handle for fining, iraprison-
raent, banishraent, forfeiture, confiscation of
goods, or the like. Their servants in the army
acted up to their heart's content, in oppressing
the people, till the whole of Scotland, southward
ofthe river Tay, was generally rendered absolute
ly raiserable by plunder, oppression, and blood
shed, &c. But when the Duke of York, a zea
lous Papist, little better than banished frora Eng
land, carae into Scotland, in 1681, he rendered
the persecution hotter than ever. No less than
twenty irien and woraen were forraally condemn-
7

344 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
ed and executed, of which Mr, Cargil was one,
in this one year, fpr cleaving to Christ,
The Parliaraent sitting doWn on the 28th of
July, after a cold ratificatiort of all forraer laws
relative to religion, asserted, That the Kings of
this realra derive their royal power from God alone,
and succeed lineally thereto, according to their
known degrees of proximity of blood ; and tbat
none.can atterapt to alter or divert it, without in
volving the nation in perjury and rebellion, and
exposing thera to all the fatal and dreadful con
sequences of a civil war. They next offered a
new supply to the King, in order to support his
array in bearing down field cortventicles, and
doubled the fines for attending them : and
burgesses, besides their former fines, were to
lose burgesship, and be banished from the
town. This Parliament also forraed a Test for
all that should be capable of any office in church
br state, or of electing or being elected members
of Parliaraent, and frora which none but the
King's lawful sons and brothers were exempted ;
in which they solemnly swore. That they owned
and professed the true Protestant religion con
tained in the old Scotch Confession of Faith, and
believed it to be founded on the written word of
God, and that they should adhere to it in all the
days of their life, and educate their children in it,
artd rtever consent to any alteration contrary to
it; — and renounced all Popish and fanatical prin
ciples contrary to, or inconsistent with said Pro
testant religion and Confession of Faith ;— and
swore and affirraed. That Charles II. is the only
suprerae governor of this realra, and in all causes
ecclesiastical as well as civil ; — and proraised to
assist and defend all rights, jurisdictions, prero-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 345
''gatives, privUeges, pre-eminencies, and authori
ties belongirtg to hira, his heirs artd lawful suc
cessors ; — and further affirmed and swore, that
they judged it unlawful for subjects, upon any
pretence whatsoever, to enter Into covenants or
leagues, or to convocate or assemble in arty meet-
irtg, to cortsult or determirte in any matter of state,
civil or ecclesiastical, without his Majesty's com
mand, or express licence, or to take up arras against
hira, or any coraraissioned by him, and that they
should never so rise in arms, or enter into such co
venants or asserablies ; and that there lieth no ob
ligation upon them, from the national covenant, or
soleran league, or any other raanner of way whatso
ever, to endeavour any alteration in the govern
ment either of church or state, as it is now estab
lished by the laws of this kingdom ; and that they
shall, to their utmost, defend, assist, and main
tain his Majesty's jurisdiction, aforesaid, against
all deadly, and shall never decline his Majesty's
power and jurisdiction, as they shall answer to God,
This oath was a medley of Popery, Prelacy,
Erastianism, and self-contradiction. After swear
ing to the Protestant religion, the sole headship
of Christ over his church, and the duty of subjects
to repress tyranny, and defend and save the lives
of oppressed innocents from tyrants, the nation*
al covenant, that great bulwark against Popery,
is renounced, the utmost extent of the King's
absolute supremacy over both church and state
sworrt to, artd the bringing in of a Popish succes
sor — and all taking up arras in self-defence,
against the King or his officers, or doing any
thing for rendering the governraent of either
church or state more perfect, is abjured. Many
of the curates theraselves exceedingly scrupled
at it. But, by an act of council, Avhich had no
2 Y

346 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
power to explain an oath iraposed by Parliament,
especially one which the taker swore that hb
took in the literal sense of the words, declaring,
That the oath did not bind to every particular
article of the confession, but only in so far as it
contained the doctrine upon which the Protes
tant churches had settled the reformation — and
that the test did not cut off such rights as the
primitive church enjoyed for three hundred years
after Christ — and assuring, that the King never
intended to change the government ofthe church,
all of theiri, except .about eighty, swallowed it,
rather than lose their stipends, and expose them
selves to persecution. The conforra ministers
of Aberdeen drew up several queries against
it, importirtg that they knew not how to swear,
that the said confession is the true standard
of thb Protestant religion, which forbids re
sistance of raagistrateS, only while they pass
not over the bounds of their office, and declares
the bearing down of tyranny a good work, and yet
abjure all resistance of raagistrates on whatever
pietence ; or, to swear that the King is the only
supreme governor over all persons, in all causes,
when the said confession obliged them to believe,
that Jesus Christ is the only head of the church ;
or, how to believe the present established govern
ment of the church to be of divine and apostolical
authority, aud yet that the King had power to al
ter it at his pleasure ; or to swear to it, if it was
so indifferent, as that he might change it at his
pleasure ; or, how to swear to defend all the
King's privileges, and prerogatives, before they
had considered and found thera all consistent
with the principles of religion; — or, how to abjure,
as unlawful, all entering into covenants without
the King's consent, when it was certainly lawful

CHURCH OF SdOTLAND. 347
to enter into a covenartt with Christ, or with
one artother, for casting off the yoke of heathen
ism or Popery, even contrary to the comraand
bf earthly Sovereigns ; — or, to abjure, as unlaw
ful, dll meetings of subjects to consult or deter-
rriine in all raatters of state, civU or ecclesiastical,
as these comprehend all meetings for the worship
of God, or ordinary exercise of discipline ; ¦ or, to
swear, that they were under no obligations to en
deavour any alteration of the government in
church or state, unless they were certain that the
constitution was absolutely perfect, and suited
to every circurastantiated case, contrary to said
Confession of Faith. — This opposition of the cu
rates exposed them to no sraall trouble and ha
rassment, and about twenty of them were oblig
ed to quit their charges.
The Duke of Hamilton, theDuchess of Rothes,
whose husband had lately died under great hor
ror, amidst the prayers of her Presbyterian mini
sters, Hopeton, and -several other persons of rank,
also declined taking this test. The Duke of
Queensberry was allowed to take it, with an ex
plication. Thb Earl of Argylp, being, through
the hatred of the Duke of York, required to take
it again and again, a month before the time pre
scribed by law, ventured to take it with this ex
plication, as far as consistent with itself, and with
the Protestant religion and his loyalty to the King.
For this he was imraediately prosecuted, as a de
praver of the King's laws, and conderaned to death
as a traitor. But he escaped frora prison, and
fled to Holland — while not a few others, who
refused this test, were turned out from their
civil offices, and these filled with such as Yoi-k
and his party thought sufficiently disposed to op-

348 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
press and murder every true Protestant. The
Laird of Meldrum, who had extorted about
L.100,000 Scots from the shire of Teviotdale,
and who had lately got his oppressive powers
against the faithful nonconforraists enlarged, was
appointed sheriff-depute in East Lothian. And
whUe the council an^ justiciary court proceeded
in their forfeiting, iraprisoning, banishing, or mur
dering work, Claverhouse, Grierson. of Lagg, and
other officers of the army, held railitary courts
in the south and west parts of the kingdom, to
which they summoned all men and women above
sixteen years of age, and caused them to swear,
sometimes under very odd and dreadful impreca
tions, whether they had ever been at field meet
ings, or countenanced any who frequented Ihem?
and what they knew of their neighbours or others
in the parish ?
The indulged ministers having gone far in their
sirtful compliances with defection, and those that
were not indulged, forborne to preachin the fields,
but only in houses, because of the fury of the raa
nagers against field meetings, the more zealous
sufferers had norte whora they could hear, with
out scruple, after the death of Caraeron and Car
gil, they therefore resolved to unite themselves
more closelyby a general raeeting, ortce every three
months, of correspondents frora their particular
meetings, for prayer and spiritual conferertce. In
these meetings, which continued frora 1681, till
after the revolution, they agreed upon such testi
monies against defections, or supplications for re
formation, as they judged proper ; they-concert-
ed schemes for obtaining gospel ministers whom
they could hear with freedom^ and for having
Mr. James Renwick and other students, taught

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 349
and ordained in Holland, for their service ; they
larboured, by representatiorts, to vindicate thera
selves to their friends In Holland, and other
places, from the Invidious reproaches cast upon
them by the persecutors, and by the indulged,
and other lukewarra Presbyterian brethren. Ne
vertheless, it had perhaps been better they had
dealt less in some ticklish debates. One of their
first productions was their declaration published
at Lanark, January 12th, 1682, in which they, in
an answerableness to the disjointed and confused
condition of both church and state, professed to
cast off the authority of Charles Stewart, be
cause, in his first Parliament, he bad unhinged
that excellent constitution of church and state,
which their ancestors had formed and established;
be had exalted hiraself into an unliraited supre
macy in all matters, civil and ecclesiastical ; he
had adjourned and dissolved Parliaraents at his
pleasure ; he had fearfully oppressed and perse
cuted the godly for conscience' sake; he had hea
vily taxed his subjects, and dilapidated the reve
nues ofthe crown, for keeping up a brothel, rather
than a court ; and had in the late Parliament se
cured the succession of the crown to his Popish
brother, formed the test, &c. — And they burnt the
TEST and act of succession. This conduct, and es
pecially as several expressions of the declaration
were very incautious, more and raore enraged the
managers, and the council appointed this and the
declarations of Rutherglen and Sanquhar, along
with the solemn league, and covenant, to be pub
licly burnt by the hangraan, at the cross of Edin
burgh, with great solemnity. The bailie, who
delivered the covenant into the hand of the hang-
mart for this purpose, soon after had all his houses

350 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
in the Parliaraent close, which were reckoned the
most stately in Europe, burnt to ashes, by unac
countably kindled, and unquenchable flaraes;
which did scarce hurt any other.
Thenceforward to the death of Charles in 1685,
there was a constant scene of the raost horrid op
pression, raurder and assassinatipn of the saiots of
God, and of aU such as shewed them any favour.
WhUe Meldrum, . Claverhouse, Grierson, White,
and other officers of the array, and others of like
bloody dispositions, held their circuit courts,
through a great part of the souths and especially
south-west of Scotland, particularly in the shire
of Lanark, where the declaration had been pro
claimed, and had lists of such as belonged to the
societies, or who had shewed thera any favour, in
so much as permitting thera to travel through
their fields, and had not raised the hue and cry
against them, and laboured to raise the country
against them, or of such as did not constantly ait-
tend their parish churches — presented to them
by the clerks of the places, or curates of the pa
rishes — -and fined, impi-isoned, tortured, or killed
them, as they pleased. Wives were prosecuted
for holding any converse Avith, or giving any sup
ply to their outlawed husbands, or parents with
their children. Such as appeared not, were for
feited or denounced rebels and outlaws, or inter-
coramunedintheirabsence. Such as did appear, and
disproved that which had been laid to their charge,
were never a whit better, unless they took the
test, Avhich Avas appointed to be tendered to all
suspected persons as a trial of their loyalty. The
council enacted, that it should be held treasonable
for any to say, that they owned the King's au
thority according to the covenants. Nothing would

eHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 851
please them frora the prosecuted sufferers, but
an owning of it without any liraitation.
Mr. Renwick, having got ordination, came from
Holland in 1683, and preached in the fields. He
was speedily intercomrauued, and they that at
tended his serraons furiously sought for, by every
method, to their utter destruction. While the
seaports Were shut up, that they raight not es
cape out of the kingdom, they were every where
pursued by the merciless soldiers. Every neigh
bour was sworn to discover them, and bound up
from giving thera raeat, drink, or lodging. In
formers were hired to find out their lurking pla
ces, and what persons were inclined to shew them
any kindness. They were put from under the
protection of the laws of their country. No terms
were allowed them, but a renouncing of their
principles, and by horrid oaths, involving them
selves in the most dreadful perjury. The corres
pondent societies therefore published an apologe
tical declaration, in which they warned all such
as should hereafter, by their coraraands, informa
tions, apprehensions, or murders, raanifest that
they maliciously thirsted for their blood, might
lay their account, that they vvould avenge their
Conduct in proportion to the degree of it, to the
uttermost of their power. By this they hoped to
deter, at least informers and country people, from
hunting them out. But the council improved it,
as art excitement to erapower every soldier in the
kingdora to kill directly in houses or fields, every
person that declined to answer their queries to
satisfaction, cortcerhing his owning of the King's
authority — and that the killing of Bishop Sharp
was raurder, and the rising at Bothwel Bridge re-
jsellion, and concerning their renunciation of the

352 A COMPENDIOUS IIISTORY OF THE
covenants, as unlawful and unbindirtg paths ;— i
and to impose an oath of abjuration renouncing
said declaration, as if it declared war against his
Majesty, and asserted it lawful to kill all such as
serve hira, in church, state, army, or country, on
all the subjects on the south of Tay, as the foun
dation of their having a certificate or free pass to
travel unmolested ; — and certify, that if any tra
vel without such a certificate, that they have ta
ken said oath of abjuration, they shall be holden
as comrauners with the execrable rebels, wBo pub
lished the declaration, and prohibit every subject
to harbour, lodge, or eutertain any person what
soever, unless they have such certificates : — and
enact, that if any heritor, factor, or chamberlain,
do not bring all the inhabitartts on their lands, be-,
fore the privy counsellors, or other coraraissioners,
to take this oath of abjuration, they shall be hol
den as guilty of the principal criraes of rebellion
and assassination, and be punished accordingly :
and further required, that all those who had cer
tificates, as above, ^ould swear, when required,
that their certificates were genuine, and that they
were the persorts merttioned irt them ; and to of
fer a reward of five hundred raerks Scots, to any
who should discover any person who had a hand
in fraraing said apologetical declaration, or wa's
a raeraber of the said societies. — The indulged
ministers, who had carelesslybebeld the sufferings
of their more cruelly persecuted brethren, if riot
sometimes rejoiced at them, artd added to them
by their malevolertt reproaches, bad rtow a larger
share of hardship than ever before. The council,
in the end of 1684, appointed all of them to be
ejected from their charges, because they had not
duly observed their instructions, and some of them
1

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 853
had not observed the anniversary fast, in Septem
ber last, and required thera to give bond not to
exercise their ministry in Scotland ; and because
they would not comply, a, great number of them
were imprisoned.
Charles having been, it is said, poisoned by
his brother, and certainly got his mittiraus into
eternity in the Popish forra, Jamks was solemnly
proclaimed king, artd an oath of unlimited obe
diertce irtcluded in the proclaraation, February
10, 1685, But he was never so complaisant, as
to take their coronation oath. Some imprisoned
gentlemen, and a number of indulged ministers,
were released : but the persecution against field
conventicles, and such as favoured them,still raged:
many were murdered by Claverhouse, Grierson,
Douglas, and other officers and soldiers ; and not
a few in Elginshire sadly harassed by the Earls
of Errol and Kintore, and major-general Monro.
The laird of Brody was fined in 20,000 raerks,
for having a conventicle in his house, which was
given in compliraent to colonel Maxwell, a Pa
pist. The laird of Grant was fined, because his
lady, who was in a bad state of health, had not
attended her own church for sorae tirae, nor the
neighbouring church, at six or seven miles dis
tance, when her own was eighteen months vacartt.
On March 2, the new king's indemnity was pub
lished, but it excepted so many of the principal
sufferers, that it was of little value. And none
could have any benefit by it, without taking the
oaths of that period.
The Parliament having sat down, AprU 28,
1685, made a cold and short act for the security
of the Protestant religion. They owned his Ma
jesty's unlimited and absolute authority, and de-
2 z

354 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
clared, their abhorrence of every principle contra
ry to it ; and convinced that no person or collec
tive body could partake of any power and autho
rity but in dependence on him, and by comrais
sion frora him, they, for themselves and the
whole nation, offered their lives and forturtes to
defertd artd maintain hira and his heirs, and law
ful successors, iu the possessiort of their crowrt,
sovereignty, prerogatives, &c, against all mor
tals. For facUitating processes for treason, they
ratified the forraer custora of proceeding against
prisoners in twenty-four hours ; but, for the fu
ture, allowed thera to be cited in forty-eight
hours: — and appointed such as refuse to.swear
as witnesses irt cases of treasort, conventicles, or
church irregularities, to be punished, as guilty of
those criraes in which they refuse to be wituesses.
They declared it treasonable to give or take the
national covenant, as explained in 1638, or the so
lemn league and covenant, or to write in defence
of them, or to own them to be obligatory upon
themselves or others. They declared it legal,
and to be observed in all time coming, that hus
bands be fined for their wives' witbdrawraent
frora hearing the curates. They enacted, that
the not revealing of supplies given to, or demand
ed for, traitors, be held and punished as treason ;
— that all who shall preach at a house conventicle,
where five more than the faraUy are presertt, or
that shall be present as hearers at a conventicle
where any are hearing without doors, shall be
punished with death and confiscatiort of goods ;
— and that all who refuse to accept the office of
magistrates, justices of peace, constables, officers
of the railitia, or any other employraent assigned
them by the king or his councU, shall be fined

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 355
for their contempt. They appointed all Protes
tant heritors, life-renters, &c. except woraen, to
take the test before such a tirae : and erapower
ed justices of peace to proceed against church
irregularities, and to have the fines of all below
heritors,- for their encourageraeut to diligertce.
They appointed all the subjects to take the oath
of allegiance or supremacy forraerly raentiorted ;
and ratified all that the councU, the justiciary,
and their coraraissioners had done, in banishing,
iraprisoning, or fining the refusers of said oath.
They approved and confirraed the decision of the
council, raaking it treason to refuse to disown
the Societies' apologetical relation. They appoint
ed all proprietors of lands or houses to insert in
their tacks an express clause, by which the te
nant shall bind himself, that he, his family, cot
tagers, and servants, shall live peaceably, free of
all fanatical disorders, under pain of losing the
half of their moveables, each for his own fault.
They ratified the act of council for raising the
hue and cry against all outlawed persons, parti
cularly such as hefr'iend field conventicles. They*
enacted. That all masters of ships, at their launch
ing and landing, bring all their passengers before
the next raagistrate to give an account of them
selves. They made an act for securing the pre
sent council, and all committee^ judges, or offi
cers of the array, or other coraraissioners under
thera, against all pursuits or coraplaints of com
missions or omissions, in his raajesty's service.
The earl of Argyle, in order to make a diver
sion in favours of the duke of Monmouth's at
terapt upon England, having landed with about
300 raen in the west of Scotland, was quickly ap^
prehended, and all his friends either apprehend-

356 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
ed or dispersed. This gave the councU some
work to execute him and his principal assistants,
and tp transport the rest, whom they apprehend
ed, to America. But norte of these things abat
ed their rigour against field meetings, artd such
as attended on, or any way favoured thera, Cla
verhouse, Westraw, and their military judges,
murdered thera as fast, in the fields or tbeir own
houses, as ever; and often would not so much
as give them time to pray before death. Ac
cording to order, they drowned two women in Gal
loway, by tying thera to a stake within tbe sea
mark, merely for refusing to take the Abjuration.
— Prisoners were crowded together, alraost starv
ed, and driven frora one prison to another. Many
were banished to the plantations; for refusing
tbe oaths of Supremacy and Abjuration, and the
Test, some of whom survived manifold hardships,
and returned after the Revolution.  Though
the correspondent societies did not join with Ar
gyle, as they thought he and Monraouth went
upon too broad a bottora, they published a decla-
'ration, in which they disowned the royal autho
rity of James, on account of his being an excora
municated Papist, and murderous idolater ; and
declared their detestation of Popery, Sectarian
ism, and malignancy, — and their detestation of
all murderous an^ assassinating principles, and all
manner of robbing of open enemies or others, and
all unwarrantable practices, such as the killing
of the curate at Carsphearn, — which had been
falsely charged upon them.
Toward the end of this year, Jaraes began to
exerapt his favourites, Papists or others, from
taking the Test, while he required it to be im
posed Ort all others, as the Pariiamertt had order-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 357
ed. But the persecutions against the supporters
of field conventicles, and against the partizans of
Argyle, were carried on with great vigour. John
Nisbet of Hardhill, and Edward Marshall, were
publicly executed. Others were more privately
murdered, or died in prisons, and others scourged
or banished for their nort-conformity. Notwith
standing Sarah Stewart attended the curate her
self, she had her house plundered; she was driveu,
with a sucking child, leaving other three babes be
hind her, to the prison of Wigton ; . and lay there
eleven weeks, because she would not engage to
discover her husband, and never to converse with
hira. — The soldiers continued to plunder the poor
non-cortforraists in the cruellest manner. — Mean
while, raany who had been with Argyle, or fa
voured his cause, were obliged to hide themselves
in dens and caves of the earth, and others were
forced to pay prodigious corapositions" for their
fines. About eighty of them, mostly of the name
of Campbelli were indicted, and sentenced to be
executed, when apprehended.
In the three following years, 1686 — 1688, the
registers of the privy council are wanting. — And
to lull the nation asleep, for the more peaceable
introduction of Popery, Jaraes and his agents
abated their persecuting rage. But the conten
tions between the persecuted theraselves rather
increased. The most false and groundless re
proaches Were invented and spread against Mr.
RertAvick and his friends. These had not a little
alienated holy Mr. Peden frora hira ; but Mr.
Ren wick's conference with him on his death-bed,
fully removed all his prejudices, and raade hira
sorry that ever he had so credited these raisrepre-
sentations of hira. One of the ministers, who
7

358 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
came over with Argyle, provoked that Mr. Ren
wick artd his friends did not readily join that no
bleman, accused them of overturning Presbyte
rian governraertt, and setting up a popular con
fusion instead of it, — coraraitting the trial and
censure of scandals to men that were not church
officers ; — of thrusting theraselves into the magis
trate's room, as a convention of Estates, and ma
naging both civil and ecclesiastical affairs by the
same persons, and in the same Assembly; — and of
imposing unhappy restrictions on rainisters, in
the exercise oftheir ministry, and requiriug all to
be disowned who were not precisely of their
judgment with respect to debated points. Alex
ander Gordon, Johrt Dick, and Robert Cathcart,
exceedingly misrepresented and reproached Mr.
Renwick and his adherents, both in Scotland and
Holland, as, contrary to our covenants, acting
like Papists, who believe their church infallible,
— in declining to hear a rainister, be he ever so
faithful, for the least alleged personal failing ; —
like Independents, taking upon thera to depose
ministers, and differing little from thb Separat
ists ; — in sendirtg over a youth scarcely read in
the common heads of divinity, to be ordained at
Groningen in Holland, a most corrupt church ;
and setting him up, as Jeroboam did his idol
calves, instead of the faithful ministers of the
church of Scotland ; — and in judging of faults,
dispensing censures, and making ecclesiastical
laws and acts, as if they, though laics, were a
General Assembly. These odious calumnies
obliged Mr* Renwick and his friends to publish
their Liformatory Vindication, from which, as well
as from Renwick's Life, and the Minutes of iheir
general Correspondence, lately published, it is^abun-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 359
dantly manifest, that Mr. Renwick was a young
man of uncoraraort piety, solid judgraeut, and
great candour, humility, meekness, and prudence,
witb whom none of his reproachers, for ought I
know, were worthy to be compared ; that, by the
kind providence of God, andthe pious coudescen-
sion of the Dutch ministers concerrted, he got his
irtstruction and ordination in a cleanly manner ;
that neither he nor his friends ever thought
every personal faUing of a minister a cause of
deposing hira, or even so rauch as of withdraw
ing frora hira in the most broken state of the
church ; that, in their correspondertt raeetings,
they did not judge either of scandal or censure
of offenders, but of their own duty with respect
to thera, whether the scandal was such as to
warrant their witbdrawraent frora thera ; which
power the Scripture allowed thera, Rora. vi. 17.
2 Thess. iii 6, 14 ; that, though they had reject
ed the authority of the present raagistrates as ty
rants, who had no authority frora God, nor ac
cording to the good laws of the land; yet they
had no more set up themselves or meetiugs
irt their room, than those who had declined the
authority of the bishops had thrust themselves
into their episcopal office ; that they never in
tended to lay any restrictions on ministers, but
only desired. That they would declare the whole
counsel of God, and would freely preach up all
duties, and down all sins. Mr. .Renwick and
some of his friends, having afterward met with
Robert, Cathcart, attacked hira on his defamatory
information, which he had been so careful to
spread far and near : he was obliged to excuse
hiraself by saying. That he had wrote of them
mot as what they were, but what they would be.

360 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
How villanous such conduct, and how shameful for
Wodrow to give him and his Information such ho
nourable place in his history !
WhUe Mr. Renwick was thus» abused by wide
spread calumnies, and soraetiraes by protesta
tions against his preaching at places, given in by
fellow sufferers, especially apostates frora the
correspondent societies. King James laboured
with all his might to have all the pertal laws
against Popery annulled, in order that it might
be speedily established. Their Arminian princi
ples, unconcern about any thing serious, and lust
of court favour, and the promotions which they
expected from it, made most of the established
clergy ready to comply with his intentions. He
therefore suraraoned a Parliaraent to meet in
AprU 1686. Great care was taken to prepare the
merabers for corapliance with his wUl. But Whit-
ford,son to one ofthe forraer bishops, whohad long
before turned Papist, and had been concerned in
the raassacre ofthe remains of the Waldenses in
Piedmont, having,notwithstanding all thatthe Po
pish priests could do or say, died in great horror,
a few days before the. Parliament, confessing his
execrable murders, and crying out against Popery
as that bloody religion ! Sir Robert Sibbald, a
most learned antiquary and physician, haying
been lately persuaded, by the Earl of Perth, to
turn Papist, had scarcely done so, when he was
ashamed of his conduct, retired to Loudon, and
after some raonths retirement from company, and
close study, became so fully conviuced of the er
rors of Popery, that he could uot be easy, till he
had come down to Edinburgh, to raake a public
recantation in the church, a few weeks before the
Parliaraent met. These events, so circumstau-

CHURCH OF SCOTLANfij ^61
tiated, awakened many, especially ofthe laity, to
their old zeal against Popery. Notwithstanding
James's earnest letter; and all that his. agents
could deal with members, by promises or threat
enings, the Parliament refused to repeal the pe
nal laws. Some of the principal opposers were
therefore turned out of their places, which they
held urtder the Crown, and their places, especially
in the privy coUrtcil, supplied with Papists. At
the sarae time, POpish books Avere industriously
dispersed through the nation, while all printing
or selling of any thing cohtraryto his Majesty's ab
solute dispensing power, or to his Popish religion^
was carefully repressed.
Having got the council modelled- to his mind^
Jaraes coritirtued his zeal agaiust^e^rf conventicles.
if. 100 Sterling was offered to any that should
brirtg irt Mr. Renwick, either dead or alive, and
sorae of his friends were raurdered in the fields.
Some also of Argyle's assistants were conderarted
to death in' their absence. But, encouraged by
the English judges, to believe it an inherent
right of the crown to dispense with all laws,
Jaraes required the council to support and main
tain his innocent catholics, who, amidst all the un
natural rebellions raised against himself, his royal
brother, and father, had still adhered to the royal
interest, supported the crown, and died for the
peace of their persecutors, against all the penal
laws, and in the free private exercise of their re
ligion in their own houses ; and to take under
their special protection and care, his chaplains
and others, whom he had appoirtted to celebrate
the worship of God, in the Popish liianrter, in his
chapel at Holyroodhouse, and to take care to pu
nish all preachers or others, who should insinuate
that he intended to make any violent alteration
3 A

362 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
of the established religion. In February 1687,
after recoraraending it to the council to root out
the field 'conventicles, with all the severity of the
laws, and the raost rigorous prosecution by the
forces — he, by his sovereign authority and absolute
power, granted a toler a.tion to moderate Presby
terians to raeet in their private houses, and hear
such mihisters as adcepted the indulgence, and
said or did nothing seditious or treasonable, con
trary to the peace of his reign ; — and to Qua
kers, &;c. ; — and to Papists — so that they shall be
as free in all respects, as any Protestant subjects,
to exercise their religion, and enjoy all offices,
benefices, &;c. which he might think fit to bestow
upon thera : — and, by the sarae absolute power,
suspended, stopped, and disabled all laws, cus-
toras, or constitutions against any Papists, and
cassed, annulled, and discharged all oathsj by
which arty subjects were disabled frora holding
places, &c. and all laws enjoinirtg the said oaths;
artd irt place thereof, only require thera to swear
an oath, bearing, that he was rightful King,
or suprerae governor of these realms, and of
all persons therein ; and that it is unlawful,
on any pretence whatsoever, to rise in arras
against hira or any comraissioned by him ; and
that the swearers should never so rise in arras,
nor assist any that did so, nor ever resist his per
son or authority, but should, to the utmost oftheir
power, assist, defend, and maintain hira, and his
heirs and lawful successors, in the exercise pf
their absolute power and authority, against all
deadly. The council having published this pro
clamation with all soleranity, returned hira an
answer approving it, and intiraating their readi
ness to prosecute the ends of it, and thankirtg him
for his royal word for maintaining the Protestant

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 363
religion, as the best security they could have.
Duke HamUton and the Earls of Partraure and
Dundonald, having refused to subscribe this an
swer, were by-hira quickly turned outof the council.
And the couucil was required to suffer no Pres
byterian rairtister to preach without their allow-
artce, nor until they had sworn the above-men
tioned oath to maintairt his unlimited and irresist
ible power. But quickly after, he aUowed the
Presbyterian rainisters to preach during his plea
sure, and so long as they behaved agreeably to
his wUl, without taking this oath. Araidst all this
lenity, sixteen raen and five woraen were banish
ed to Araerica, because they would not own the
present authority to be accordirtg to the word of
God, nor condemn the Sanquhar declaration, nor
erigage never to hear Mr. Renwick.
Finding that his two former indulgences had
little effect, James, in July 1687, caused his coun
cil proclaira a third, in which he declared his pro
tection of the bishops, &c. in the free exercise of
;fAeir Protestant religion, and his suspending, stop
ping, and disabling, by his absolute power, all pe
nal laAvs raade against any for non-conformity to
the established religion — and aUowed all his sub
jects to meet and worship God after their own
way, in private houses, chapels, pr places hired
and built for that purpose, providing that his
counsellors or sheriffs be informed of such houses,
and of the names of the preachers; and that these
meetings be peaceably and openly held, and all
persons freely admitted to thera, and nothing
taught which raay any way tend to alienate the
subjects frora hira, or his governraent— -but cora-
mandirtg all the judges, magistrates, and officers
of the army, vigorously to prosecute all such as

A POMJPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
were guilty of preaching at, or attending^e/rf con^
pellicles. Upon this, raost of the Scotch mini
sters who had been banished, or had retirpd to
other countries, returned home ; and, at a meeting
pf Presbyterian ministers at Edinburgh, a consi
derable number agreed not only to accept the
toleration, but also to present an address of thanks
to James for it, which they not very candidly
subscribed, in narae of their brethren, as well as
their own. After this, thp Presbyterian ministers
began to hpld presbyteries and synods, as their
circumstances permitted. — Mr, Renwick and his
followers, who were as much exposed as ever,
paid no regard tp this toleration, but published a
testimony against it, and were much offeuded with
^hose Presbyterian ministers whp had complied
with, and sojemrtly thanked Jaraes, on account of it.
They looked on the granter as orte with whora
theycould rtot communicate in any such transac
tion, being by his principles bound to keep no
faith with heretics, and havirtg repeatedly shew
ed his treachery and dissimulation;; — and as an
apostate, bigotted, artd excommurticated Papist,
and, as such, under the curse of Christ, as ¦well
as Urtder the imprecatiprts of his grartdfather, whp
wished the curse of God to fall upon such bf his
posterity as should, at arty time, turn Papists.
They looked on him as no magistrate ; but, by
the laws of the land, incapable of government,
having neither given, nor being capable to give
the security required by the coronation path.
They looked on the toleratiort itself, as plairtly
proceedirtg from his usurpatipu of art absolute and
unlimited power, inconsistent with the. law of
God and liberties of raankind ; that it implied in
it a dispensation of all the penal laws against Pa^

PHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 865
pists, and its proper tendency was to introduce a
lawless loyalty, establish royal tyranny, and unite
the hearts of Protestants to Papists as safe neigh
bours. They observed, that, by raeans of it. Pa
pists were encouraged, their nurabers Increased,
and tbe executive power lodged in their hartds,
&c. They considered it as dishonourable to the
cause of Christ, to be merely tolerated under the
notion of a crirae, and thcexercise of it clogged
with unlawful restrictions of speaking nothing
against Popery, Prelacy, or absolute power of
Kings. They looked on it as extending not only
to archbishops artd bishops, but to all Quakers
and Papists, and so opening a door for all blas
phemy and idolatry .-^They looked on the accep-
tartde pf it as a scandal, which could not but of
fend the generation of the righteous. They con
sidered the addresses of thanks made on this oc
casion as a train of fulsorae and blaspheraous flat
teries, to the dishonour of God, the reproach of
his cause, the betraying of the church, the hurt
of the nation, and the exposing of the addressers
to contempt. With respect to the ministers' ad
dress above raentiorted, they observed, how con
trary it was tp Presbyterian principles to congra
tulate an antichristian usurper, for undermining
religion and overturning laws and liberties ; — to
justify the abrogation of the national covenants,
in giving thanks for a liberty, by which all the
laws confirming them, or confirmed in them, are
cassed and disabled ; — to thank their King for
openirtg a door for bringing in Popery, which, by
their soleran covenants with God, they were deep
ly engaged to extirpate. Thus, like the body of
the English dissertters, Renwick and his friends
had no freedom to accept of liberty, at the ex-

366 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
pense of the free introduction of Popery, and the
enslavingof their nation. They also soleranly assert
ed the perpetual obligation of the national covenant
and solemn league ; and the propriety of keeping
up field meetings for gospel ordinances, as a re
taining of that liberty which Christ had given,
whether magistrates will or not; — as a public
testiraony against the public dishonours done to
Christ ; as a testimony against the Popish tolera
tion, and as a public testimony for the headship
of Jesus Christ alone, in opposition to the irtjuries
done him, and for our covenants, which are declar
ed criminal by the same law which prohibits these
meetings ; — and in order to prevent the discou
rageraent of friends to a covenanted work of re
forraation, and the hardening of enemies, and en
couraging thera to banish all meetings out of the
land. ,Soon after, Mr. Renwick, who had been mar
vellously preserved, notwithstanding about fifteen
or twenty desperate searches for hira, was appre
hended in the beginning of 1688. Notwithstand
ing none had spoken before the council or justi
ciary with more boldness and freedom, yet sudh
A\'as the sense, meekness, and candour with which
he answered their questions, and spake in his own
defence, that even his persecutors were affected,
and behaved with uncommon raildness to him, who
had for several years been the distinguished butt
of their malice. He, like the Marquis of Argyle,
Messrs. Guthry, Cargil, Kid, King, and the other
martyrs, had his soul ravished with the consola
tions of Christ for some time before, and at his
death. And after it, few, except some of the
Presbyterian ministers who had been indulged
and thanked iames for his toleration, and the Pa-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 367
pists, spoke of hira without reverence or regard.
Nay, the faithful sufferers in general, at their
public worship, their society raeetings, and private
and secret exercises of religion, had generaUy
such gales of divine influence on their souls, as
balanced all their outward troubles. Even in this
world, they received their hundred fold with per
secution. So good a raaster is Christ to his faith
ful servants.
Meanwhile the Roraish priests bestirred thera
selves to their utraost, to fill the country with
catechisms and manuals qf devotion. Jaraes and
his agents laboured to cramp the liberties of the
Presbyterians as much as they could, arid to pro
secute and turn them outof their preachinghouses,
on any frivolous pretence ; and still raore eagerly
prosecuted tbe followers of Renwick. Jaraes de
clared his dissolution of all judicatories and raa
gistrates in royal burghs, and that he would raain
tain all his former proclamations ; and threaten
ed those that would not comply with his mea
sures. To debar Mary and Anne, his two Pro
testant daughters, from the succession to the
crown, a pregnancy, and at last a delivery of a
son by his queen, was publicly asserted, and so
lemn thanksgivings to God, on that account, ap
pointed. But most of the Protestants believed
the whole to be an imposture, instead of the mi
raculous effect of a vow her Majesty had made
to the Virgin Mary of Loretto. — Informed that
William Prince of Orange, the husband of his
daughter Mary, invited by many persons of rank,
intended to invade Britain, and at least procure
the subjects' security for their religion and liber
ties, he amused the English with hopes of a Par
liament, and pretended to ask the advice of the

868 - A dOMPENfJIOUS HIStdRY OF THET
bishopsi But the* privy council arid bishops of
Scotland, being entirely at his devotion, offered
him their lives and fortunes for his service, and
were desired to imprison all suspected persons.
They ordered all the heritors to get ready their
best horses and men, and to asserable them in
particular places, that they might, as need hap
pened, march to his Majesty's defence or assist
ance. In the begirtrting of November the bi
shops transmitted a letter to Jaraes, admiring
what marvellous deliverance and pjosperity he
had raet with — thanking God for giving him a
son and heir to his throne — and thanking him
self for the assurance he had given them of pro
tecting their established religion; and their deep
concern to hear of an unnatural invasion from
Holland ; and their fervent prayers, that all con
cerned in it raight be covered with shame. And^
as the Prince of Orange had sent a declaration,
representing as the grounds bf his expedition,
how the laws of the kingdora had been arbitrari
ly overturned ; how- Papists had been put into
places of power and trust, and raeans used for
a speedy introduction of Popery ; how tbe rights
and privileges of burghs had been taken from
thera by mere arbitrary power, without dny cita-'
tion, trial, or sentence ; how evil counsellors
had subjected all administration of justice to an
absolute and despotic power, and had turned out
and put in judges as the sovereign pleased ; and
what an exorbitant power had been exercised in
imposing bonds and oaths ; — in iraprisoning gen
tleraen without any alleged treason; — -in fOl'cing
many by tortures to accuse themselves ; — in im
posing arbitrary fines, frighting and harassing
raany parts of the country with intercommuriing
7

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 369
and circuit courts, making sorae incur forfeiture
of life or property for the most general and harm
less converse with their nearest relations outlaw
ed; — empoweringofficers and soldiers barbarously
to destroy, bang, shoot, artd drowrt the subjects,
without any forra of law, or any respect to age or
Bex — not giving sorae of thera time to pray to
God for mercy ; and all this for no other reason,
but because they would not satisfy them in such
questions as they proposed to them without any
warrant of law, and against the coraraort interest
of raankind, which frees all raen frora being obli
ged to discover their secret thoughts-^— besides a
great many other violences and oppressions, &c. —
The council eraitted a proclamation to prevent
the spread of it ; but it raade people the more
fond of seeing it.
Notwithstanding their deep poverty, the fol-
loAvers of Mr. Renwick, who had Mr, Linning
ordained for them in Holland, as his successor,
had, a little before, collected L,240 Sterling, and
therewith ransoraed a number of their brethren,
that had been transported to be slaves in Barba-
does. They had scarcely heard of William's land
ing in England, when they warned the western
curates, peaceably to leave their charges ; and
some who did not, were raore sharply used. They
also laid out themselves to destroy all monuments
of Popish idolatry, not only in the west, but some
of them in Edinburgh, They, but with too little
unanimity, renewed the covenants at Lesmahago,
They used what influence they could, to have
proper persons elected to be representatives in
the conventiort of Estates; artd with no great una
nimity raised a nuraber of raen to guard it, and
3b

370 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
otherwise promote the establishraent of William
on the throne. Many of them were forraed into
their regiraent under Lord Angus, which served
against Claverhouse and his malignants ; but
whUe their junction with the established forces
displeased many of their friends, they were not
Over well used by the managers of the state and
officers of the army at the battle of Gillicrart-
ky, &c. These societies prepared an address to
the Prince of Orange, in order to have their
grievances redressed ; but, by reason of their di
visions araong themselves, and sorae inciderttS'
Avhich retarded it, tUl it was too late, it was ne-'
ver presented, as neither was their petition to the
convention of Estates, They drew up a petition
to the Parliament 1690, in which they coraplain
ed that the redress of grievances had been so
long delayed ; that, though Prelacy had been
aboUshed, yet many wicked acts supporting it,
and suppressing Presbyterian governraent, were
not yet repealed, and raany of the curates con
tinued in the peaceable possession of those
churches into Avhich they had been intruded; that
many acts or forfeitures stood unrepealed ; that
many acts condemning our covenants and cove
nanted reformation as rebellion, and imposing
wicked oaths and bonds, stood yet unrepealed ;
that many, who had been active in the late per
secuting tiraes, and even murderers of their bre
thren, Avere continued, or admitted to places of
power and trust — and craved, that these griev
ances may be redressed ; and that Presbyterian
government may be restored as it was established
in 1649; that a full and free General Assembly
of Presbyterian rainisters and elders be called^.

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 371
with full power to order church affairs, cognosce
public scandals, reraove intruders frora churches,
and plant thera with faithful rainisters ; that pa
tronage, the Kirtg's supremacy over ecclesiastical
causes, and all indulgences prpceeding'^from it
and the late toleration, proceeding from abso
lute power, be condemned, as contrary to law,
and abolished ; that some proper method be devis
ed for renewing of the covenants ; and the admi
nistration hereof left to the General Assembly.
This petition was presented to the committee for
the church, but disregarded by most, and never
presented to the Parliament.
Meanwhile, another address was'drawn up]^in.
narae of many thousauds, represertting to Williara,
still Prince of Orange, how the prevailing party,
who had apostatized from their forraer reforraa
tion, had, by laws, bonds, and oaths, excluded
such as were able and faithful, from all places
of power and trust both in church and state;
had invested the King with an absolute supremacy
over both church and state, by which he might dis
pense with all laws, and issue forth what com
mands he pleased, to be obeyed without gainsay
ing ; had enacted and executed many laws, per
secuting raen by fines, iraprispnraent, death, or
the like, for their adherertce to the true religion,
and particularly for preaching and hearing the
gospel; had annulled all thereforraingPaiiiaments
between 1 638 and 1 650, and all their acts, though
part of thera had been ratified by the King ; had
terribly oppressed the nation by enormous taxes,
and by annexing to the crown (or bestowing on
favourites) the estates of such as they pleased to
punish with forfeiture ; had required persons of
all sexes, degrees, or quality, to depone against

872 A COMPENDIOUS HlSTOii^Y OF THE
deUnquents, their nearest relations; and that such
as refused to depone against theraselves, should
be holden guUfy of what was inquired at thera ;
and that masters be answerable for their tenartts,
wives, chUdren, servants, and cOttars, that they
shall not attend convertticles ; had irtderartified
all judges and officers of the array, against all
pursuits that can be raised against thera, for what
they do, or orait, in serving his Majesty — even in
wounding and kUling such as fled frora their bar
barities, &c, &c. These thirtgs they Ulustrate
frora the several acts of that period, and frora
the practices of the raanagers. And they supr
plicate, that a free Parliaraent raay be speedily
called, in which no bishop or evil counsellor raay
sit ; that the public oaths may be laid aside or
rectified ; that Prelacy may be abolished, since it
had always beert a grievance in this land, and was
contrary to the word of God and our solemn co
venants; that Presbyterian government be restor
ed, as in the reforraation period, and renewed in
1638, and continued till 1660; that such Presby
terian ministers as are yet alive be restored to
their charges, and the present curates, who are
generally intruders or scandalous, be liable to the
judgraent of the church judicatories ; that patro
nages be abolished as in 1649 ; that the subjects
be restored to their several civil rights, aud fines
and forfeitures restored, &c. Whether this large
and sensible paper was presented to Williara I
know not. But the Presbyterian ministers pre
sented a short one, irt which, after congratulat
ing his appearance for their relief, and apologizing
for their corapliance Avith the late toleration, they
beseech hira to take effectual raethods for deli
vering thera from the yoke of Prelacy, which had

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. - 873
been obtruded contrary to the will of the church,
and to the genius of the nation — and for restor
ing Presbyterial church government, and Presby
terian rainisters that were still alive, to their for
mer charges.

A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY, &C. 375

CHAPTER VIL

J^ing William being enthroned. Prelacy is abolished, and
Presbytery re-estahlished — Many, but not dll, griev
ances redressed — Many good Acts of Assemblies —
Religion almost at a stand for above twenty years-^
but afterwards much hurt by ihe Union Settlement—
Bythe Abjuration Oath — Toleration Act— i-Restoration
qf Patronage — Condemnation qf the Marrow — Sim
son, Glass, Campbell, Wishart, ^c.'s Errors — Manifold
Divisions thereby occasioned.
J- HE Convention of Estates having raet in April
1689, found that James, beihg a professed Pa
pist, had assumed the royal power, artd acted as
King, without ever taking tbe coronatiort oath
required by law; aud had irivaded the fundamert-
tal cortstltutions of this kingdom, and altered it
from a legal liraited monarchy to an absolute and
despotic poAver ; and had exercised the sarae to
the subversion of the Protestant religion, and the
violation ofthe laws and liberties of the nation;
and inverted the ends of govel'rtmertt, by which
he had forfaulted the drown — and the throne was

376 A COATPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
becorae vacant ! (Thus they practically approved
the principles bf Renwick artd his followers on
this point.) And after declaring the several prac
tices of James and his counsellors contrary to law,
and claiming their rights in opposition to the same,
they, confiding that William would perfect their
deliverance which he had begun, and maintain
for them the enjoyment of their said rights, and
preserve them frora all other attempts upon their
religion, laws, and liberties, they declared him
and Mary, his spouse, their King and Queen; and
assigned the crown to the longest liver of thera,
and to the heirs of her body ; which faUlng, to the
Princess Ann of Dertmark, and the heirs of her body ;
which failing, to the heirs of the body of said Wil
liam, King of England. And they required, that
instead of all the oaths, declaratiorts, and tests, re
quired by the preceding persecuting Parliaments,
no raore than a siraple oath of allegiance be re
quired of persorts irt places of power and trust.
They appointed the coronation oath of 1567, but
not that of 1651, to be adrainistered to the King
and Queen, at their acceptance of the crown.
They forraed articles of grievances to be redress
ed by the Parliament ; appointed a new mUitary
oath ; issued forth proclamations against Papists,
who had lately swarraed in the nation, and for
securing suspected persons — and for a public
thanksgiving to God for his merciful deliverance
of the natiort.
The Parliaraertt raeeting on June 5th, l6Z9t
without any bishops, declared their meeting of
nobleraen, barons, and burghs, to be a lawful and
free Parliaraertt, which rtone raight disown or ira-
pugri under pain of treason. They acknowledg
ed WiUiara and Mary king and queen of Scot-
3

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 877
land, and declared it high treason to disown or
irapugn the sarae ; appoirtted the new oath of al
legiance to thera, to be sworn by all in public
trust ; and rescinded all precedirtg laws and acts
of Parliaraent, in so far as they iraposed any other
oaths of allegiance, supreraacy, declarations, and
test, except the path of fidelity in adrainistering
particular offices. They abolished Prelacy as a
great and insupportable grievance to the nation,
and contrary to the inclinations of the generality
Of the people, ever since the Reforraation. — r- 
In their second session, April, 1 690, they rescirtd-
ed the act of 1669, which established the king's
unliraited supreraacy over the church ; they re
stored the ministers that were thrust from their
charges since 1660, to them. They ratified the
Westrainster Confession of Faith, engrossing it in
to their act, as the public confession of the Scotch
church, and restored Presbyterian government as
agreeable to the word of God, and raost condu
cive to the advancement of true godliness, as
it was settled in Act 114 of the Pariiament
1592 ; reviving said act, in all its heads and
clauses, except that part of it which relates to
patronage, which they afterward rescinded ; and
placed the power of electing ministers in Protes
tant heritors and ruling elders, leaving to the
congregation to give their consent or their dis
sent, supported by reasons to be judged by the
Presbytery. They lodged all the power of church
government irt the restored Presbyterian minis
ters, and rairtisters or elders admitted by them,
artd allowed thera to try artd purge out all insuf
ficient, negligent, and erroneous rainisters, and
appointed their first General Assembly tO«ieet
at Edinburgh on the third day of October next.
3c

378 A compendious HISTORY OF THE
They prohibited the vacation ofthe courts of jus
tice at Christmas. They rescinded all the law's
which required the subjects to defame or renounce
the covenants, or which required conformity to
Prelacy, or required them to take any oaths,
bonds, declarations, or tests, imposed in or after
1661, or exposed thera to any penalty for defend
ing the covenants, hearing Presbyterian ministers
in fields or houses, — or refusing said oaths and
declarations ; — and all acts enjoining the anni
versary thanksgiving for Charles's restoratiort on
the 29th of May ; and all acts enjoining civil
pains upon sentences of excoramunication ; and
all acts asserting the unliraited power of the
king ; and all acts of forfeiture on account of
non-conforraity to Prelacy and the persecuting
raeasures of these times.
After the General Asserably had sat down in
October 1690, and observed the first day of their
meeting in solemn fasting and humiliation, and
had returned an answer to his Majesty's letter,
in which they^ssure him, thatthe re-establishment
of Presbytery which they enjoyed, was not more
agreeable tothe inclinations of all his best subjects
within this kingdom, than it was acceptable to
God, — Messrs. Linning, minister, and Shields and
Boyd, preachers among the correspondent socie
ties, in the south-west, presented two papers to
the Assembly. In the larger one, after profes
sions of thanksgiving to God, That tyranny had
been repressed. Popery suppressed, and Prelacy
depressed, — the doctrine of this church asserted,
and the Confession of faith forraerly received,
approved, and established by the ParUament, —
the»worship and ordinances of Christ adminis
tered in great purity, — the governraent appoint-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 379
ed by him restored to what it was in 1592, — the
discipline so retrieved, that all ecclesiastical courts
may, Avithout restraint, assert all the authority,
and exercise all the power, with which he hath
entrusted therii, — ^Erastian usurpatious are abro
gated,^ — the church's intrinsic power redintegrat
ed, and the corruptions introduced by compli-
ances so far abdicated, that they are not In the
constitution of the church, and do not contirtue
to be the scandal and snare of the times ;  and
lamenting. That in zeal to purge out corruptions,
-:— in acknowledging all former attainments in re-^-
forraation,^ — rin renovation of our soleran cove
nants with God, — and in faithful testifying against
all corruptions of great or sraall,-7-the glory of
the church appeared much'inferior to what it
had been in forraer tiraes ; — they therefore be
seech the Asserably, that in order to a happy and
desirable coraraunion pf all the friends of a cove
nanted work of reformation, — the several steps of
defection in the preceding period be diligently in
quired into, confessed and conderaned ; particu
larly ministers laying aside the exercise of their
ministry at the command of the raagistrate, —
giving way to, not testifying against, but even
subraitting to, and encouraging others to subrait
to the ministry of the curates, who were mani
fest intruders,^— Erastians both in principle and
practice, — schismatics, who caused divisions and
offendes contrary to the received doctrine and
order of this church, — perjured coveuartt break
ers, — irt several points erroneous,— -and in several
respects scandalous; and while the hearing of and
submitting to thera was required as an evidence
of hearty corapliance with Erastianism and Pre-
j^cy, and of yielding to the rescinding of our co.*

380 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
venants, — and gave offence, hardening those that
complied with Prelacy, and weakerting the hands
and condemning the sufferings of such as opposed
it, — and amounting to a preferring of them to
the faithful ministers of the true church of Scot
land, as the case was circumstantiated. 2. The
horrid violations of our solemn covenants with
God ; and substituting in their rooms, such oaths,
bonds, and tests, as solemnly renounced them,
and obliged to contrary courses, — all which in
ferred Or iraplied a sirtful confederacy with the
wicked raanagers in proraoting a course of apos
tacy frora God, — were, in the sense of the ira-
posers, condemrtatory of, or contradictory to the
covenants, and some part of the covenanted re-;
formation, — were iraposed by the malignants
without consent of the church, and could not be
sworn in truth, judgraent and rig'hteousrtess. 3.
What injuries had been done to Christ's incom
municable headship over his church by the king's
usurped supreraacy, and what proceeded there
from ; particularly the indulgences, the plain end
of contriving and granting which was to advance
and establish the supremacy, and divide Presby
terians arabng theraselves ; and the granting of
which included an exertion of the whole power
of the supreraacy, in taking away and restoring
at pleasure the power of Christ's stewards ; and
the acceptance of which was considered by the
granter, as iraplying a submission ,to all the
sinful restrictions contained in his grant,— ^
and was a faint yielding to prevailing Eras
tianisra, and defection from former rainisterial
freedom and faithfuluess ; artd thus hardeued
Erastiart eneraies, stumbled real friends, and
offended posterity, 4. The late toleration,

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 381
and addressing for it, artd acceptance of it, which
plainly proceeded frora an usurped absolute power,
and was Intended for the Introduction of Popery
and slavery ; — was extended not only to Prelacy,
but to Popery, Quakerisra, and all idolatry, blas
phemy, and heresy, contrary to the word of God,
our confession and covenants ; — was clogged
with such liraitations as exceedingly harapered
the freedora of the ministry ; — artd was exceed
ingly scandalous, disgraceful to the Protestant
religion, as ifit were only to be suffered as an evil
thing ; confounding and grieving to our true
friends ; and occasioned disdainful insultiug of
Prelatists artd Papists over Presbyterians and cor
yenanters. 5. Gerteral want of zeal and faith?
fulness in renewing our covenants with God,
notwithstanding they have been so fearfully bro
ken and affronted. 6. Too general sUence, or
prtly ambiguous speaking against the crying sins
of the preceding period, Avhich cannot be contro
verted among Presbyterians, as imposing and
taking bonds contrary to the covenants and work
pf reformation, in order to shift persecution, or to
purchase preferments ;— manifold forms of perse
cution, and even shedding of the blood of multi
tudes for righteousness' sake, ' 7, That many who
had sworn the wicked oaths, and sundry ways
persecuted the godly, were admitted to sealing
ordinances ; and that marty, who had habitually
complied Avith prelacy, and borne office under it,
and had taken the above-raentioned oaths and
bonds, were adraittecl to be ruling elders ; and
sorae who had been trained up to be curates ad
mitted to the ministry, without any proper evi
dence of their repentance, — And though they
did not plead, That every one of these offences.

882 a COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
or every degree of any, should be proceeded
against by disciplinary censure ; yet they pled.
That as the Convention and Parliament had
found prelacy, supreraacy, and the like, contrary
to the laws of the land, the Asserably would find
these, and the fruits thereof, contrary to the laws
of Christ, and state thera as causes of a solemn
general fast ; — that proper methods be taken for
renewing our covenants in a manner accomrao-
dated to their circurastances, — none being forced
to swear or subscribe, or so much as admitted,
unless they appear to have a corapetent know
ledge and sense of the sins acknowledged, and
duties engaged to therein ; and that, in answerr
ableness to the allowance of Parliaraent, due
care be taken to purge out all curates that are
either insufficient, negligent, erroneous, or scanda
lous, as the continuance of such had done much
hurt after 1638 \ — the people are perishing in ig
norance and irreligion under their ministry, and
their continuance will exceedingly^ obstruct the
planting of the Lord's vineyard with faithful pas
tors. — This large paper was given into the com
mittee of overtures, and read by them; but,
in their report of the irapropriety of reading it,
it was carried by one vote in the Asserably, that
it should not be read there. The printed act of
Asserably says, that the coraraittee of overtures
represented, that though this paper contained
several good thirigs in it, yet it also contained
several peremptory and gross mistakes, unseason
able and irapracticable proposals, and uncharita
ble and injurious reflections, tending rather to
kindle contention than to corapose divisions.
But Mr. Linning, in his preface to Shields on
Church communion, strongly avers that these
5

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 883
words were not in the original minutes, but af
terwards fraudulently foisted in by the clerk, and
the correctors of that act for the press.
In their short paper, they do little more than
intimate. That, after laying their larger paper at
the feet of the Assembly, to be disposed of as
they shbuld judge proper, they declared their sub
jection of themselves and doctrine to the judiea-^
tories, and proraised to live in union and corarau
nion with, and subjection and due obedience to,
the authority of this church. This the Assera
bly accepted of, and redeived thera into church
fellowship with them. The societies with which
Messrs. Linning, Shields, and Boyd were con-^
nected, likewise gave into the coraraittee of over
tures a pretty large representation of their grie
vances, the substance of which was rauch the
sarae as that of their preachers. It was ordered
to be put into the hands of those that were to
draw up the Causes qf ihe general fast, that they
might make a proper use of it. Notwithstand
ing they were not satisfied, many, if not most of
these societies, especially where they had raore
godly and faithful ministers in their parishes,
joined in the establishraent, giving in testiraonies
against what they took to be wrong, to the rai
nisters or sessions, at their junction.
This Assembly ordered Presbyteries to censure
the late incurabents, or others who should not
observe the fasts and thanksgivings appointed by
the church, or should privately administer the sa
craments, celebrate clandestine marriages with
out due proclamation of banns, or be guilty of
any other irregular carriage. They appointed,
that all probationers licensed to preach, all en
trants into the ministry, and all other ministers

884 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
and elders received into a share of the chuich go^
vernment, should subscribe their approbation of
the Westrainster Confession of Faith ; that notice
be taken what Papists are in their bounds, and
howtheir childrenare educated, and pains be taken
to reclaim thera ; that all celebration of marriage
without due proclaraation of banns, on three se
veral Sabbaths, in the respective parishes, be dis
charged, and the contra verters censured ; that
kirk sessions take care to execute the acts of for
mer General Asserablies against profanation of
the Lord's day by unnecessary sailing, travel-,
ling, &c, and that application be raade to Parlia
ment for altering all the markets whicb are on
Saturdays and Mondays; they allowed two or
more Presbyteries to associate together till the
vacancies be filled; they prohibited ministers who
had charges to remove out bf the kingdom, with
out consent of their respective judicatories ; they
prohibited all private administration of baptism
and the Lord's Supper, as contrary to their end
of solemn coraraunion with the church, and as
tending to nourish the Popish notion of their be
ing absolutely necbssary raeans of salvation ; they
approved raethods of erecting schools in the High
lands, and of spreading the Gaelic Bibles, New
Testaments, Psalm books, and Catechisms, for
which some English had so liberally contributed ;
they declared null all the ceusures which the re
solutioners or protestors had passed upon one arto
ther; they, agreeably to their letter to the King,
and to their declaration by their moderator, that
they would depose no incurabents simply for their
judgment concerrtirtg the government of this
church, nor urge re-ordination upon them — ^ap
pointed their commission for the north of Tay,

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 385
to purge out all who, upon due trial, should be
found insufficient, negligent, scandalous, or errone
ous ; — to take care that none should be^adraitted
by them to mirtisterial coraraunion, or a share of
church governraertt, but such as are fouud to be
orthodox in their doctrine, of corapetent abUities,
of a pious, loyal, and peaceable conversation, and
of an edifying gift, and who may be expected to
be true and faithful to God and the governtaent,
and diligent in their ministerial work; and to pro
ceed very cautiously in receiving information and
inflicting censures on the late conformists, that
none may have grouud to complain.
No part of their work required more candour
and faithfulness than their act for a general
fast, and nowhere were they more deficient.
They indeed assign as grounds of humiliation,
that the nation had dealt treacherously with God,
and been unstedfast in his covenant ; — the inte
rests of Christ, and privileges of his church, had
been sacrificed to the lusts of men ; the King's su
premacy over the church advanced in such a way,
and to such an height, as no Christian chuich had
ever acknowledged; the government ofthe church
altered, and Prelacy, which hath been always
grievous to this nation, introduced, and many of
the then standing rainistry of Scotland had sud
denly and readily complied with it ; raany faith
ful rainisters had thereupon been cast out, and
insufficient and scandalous raen intruded on their
charges; and raany farailies ruined, because they
would not own thfera as their pastors ; ungodly,
unlawful oaths and bonds had been iraposed and
taken, and many ruined and oppressed for not
3 D

386 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
taking thera ; iniquity had been established by
law, and unrighteous statutes had been raade
and executed; artd many had been cruelly per
secuted for their conscience towards God ; there
had been too general faintirtg, ministers not givf
ing seasonable and necessary testimony against
the defections of the times ; the abomination of
the mass had been set up iu many places, and
Popish schools erected, and severals fallen into
idolatry ; — dreadful impiety, profanertess, athe-
isra, profanation of God's narae by ignorant swear
ing and breaking of oaths, neglect of God's wor
ship, profanation of the Sabbath, violence and
shedding of innocent blood, sharaeful sensuality,"
mutual divisions and heats, and reproaches araong
the friends of truth, &c. had greatly abounded.
It gave no sraall offence to raany of the most se
rious, that in these causes of fasting, the mini<
sters had shewed such aversiou to merttion their
own sins, particularly respecting the indulgences
and toleration above mentioned ; that they had
not more plainly represented all these evils as
highly aggravated, being at once corttrary to the
word of God, and to the so often repeated co
venants of the nation with him ; that the seve
ral horrid abominations of the preceding period
were not raore particularly, and much more
plainly and strikingly mentiorted.
Kirtg WUliara had beert bred up in Erastian no
tions of magistrates' power over the church, and
perhaps also in the political maxim, that no par
ticular form of church governraent 'is founded in
the word of God, but Presbytery, Prelacy, or In
dependency, becorae most agreeable to it, as they
best suit the inclinations or circurastances of na-

eHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 387
tiOns concerned. The sentinients of most of his
courtiers were much the same. Many persons
of rank were so cortcerrted about their own tem
poral deliverance, and getting back their forfeit
ed estates, that they much overlooked the spirit
ual irtterests of the church. Not a few of the
mirtisters wartted proper zeal, artd others were
loth to break with them. Wearied of their long
and dreadful persecution, which had murdered or
rendered outwardly raiserable about eighteen or
twenty thousaud irt S,cotlartd, artd sixty thousand
in England, the Presbyteriarts were generally
willing to take up with less than they wished^
rather than to provoke WiUiara and the great
ones to frown upon thera, arid disturb their quiet.
Hence the reforraation which took place between
1638 and 1650 was wUfulIy overlooked, and the
wicked acts of Charles's first Parliaraent, in so far
as they buried it, or the Parliaraents which es
tablished it, left unrescinded. The Parliaraent
laid aside a draught of an act, which Ijut debar
red such as had been active in the persecuting
work frora places of power and trust. As the
state did not rescind all the laws in favours of
Erastianism, or against our coveuants, the church
did not so plainly assert the sole headship of Christ
over his church, and her intrinsic power to raa
nage all her spiritual concerns independent of
the magistrate, nor the divine right of Presbyte
rian govemment, nor the perpetual obligation of
our solerart covertartts, as the opposltlort thereto
in the preceding period called for: nor were ei
ther church or state much inclined to put their
necks afresh under this yoke of God.

S88 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
No doubt, encouraged by his courtiers. King
Williara laboured to render the Presbyterians
and their judicatories as dependent on the civil
authority as he could. By keeping the curates
in their churches, allowing thera their stipends,
and even procuring for raany, perhaps sorae hun
dreds of thera, an easy access to the established
church, he laboured to promote his own carnal
interests. By two letters to their Comraission,
and another to the Assembly, 1692, he strongly
urged Presbyterian rainisters to proceed further
in assuraing these Episcopalian curates into a
share of the established church governraertt.
And, because the Assembly did not seem so for
ward in this raatter as he wished, the Earl of Lo
thian, his coraraissioner, dissolved their meeting
without naming any future diet. Mr. Crighton,
their raoderator, remonstrated against this disso
lution, and in their narae boldly declared. That
the office-bearers in the house of God have a spiritual
luiRmsi^power from, Jesus Christ, the on^ly head
of his church, to meet in Assemblies about the affairs
thereof, the necessity ofthe same being represented to
the magistrate; and craved, that the dissolutiou of
this Assembly without indicting a new one to a
certain day, might not be to the prejudice of our
yearly General Assemblies, granted us by the laws
of the kingdom-^and rtaraed the 2d of August
next year for the diet of their next meeting.
To this reraonstrance all the raerabers declared
their adherence. This free, faithful, and open
testimony for the sole headship qf Christ and in
trinsic power of his church, much gladdened the
hearts of the godly, who were grieved for the
neutrality and indifference about the cause Of
Christ which then prevailed. But some ministers.

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 389
addicted to the court, clandestinely apologized
for this honest dealing to his Majesty, as if it
had been improper ; nor did any of them hold
their appointed meeting of Assembly next year.
Not Ortly did King William, five or six times
in his reign, adjourn the meeting of the General
Asserably, and was too readily obeyed, but the
Parliaraertt 1693, by their 6th act, appoirtted the
new oath of allegiance, together with an assurance,
sincerely acknowledging WUliam and Mary the
only lawful and undoubted Sovereigns of this
realm by ng-A^, as well as hy possession, and faith
fully engaging to maintain their title and govern
ment against the late King Jaraes, and all his
adherents, and all others — to be takert not only
by all nobleraen, and all civil artd railitary of
ficers, but also by all ministers of the gospel,
clerks of church judicatories, precentors, and vo
ters in the election of ministers, under pain of
their being deprived of their offices and salaries,
or banished, or otherwise punished, as the privy
council should judge proper. By their 2Sd act,
for settling the quiet and peace ofthe church, after
a soleran and perpetual coufirmatiort of act 5th,
1690, ratifyirtg the Confession of Faith and Ca
techisms, Presbyterian government, in all the
heads, articles, and clauses thereof, they further
enacted. That none, who had not first taken and
subscribed the oath of allegiance, and subscribed
the assurance, and also subscribed the Confession
of Faith, as the confession of his faith, and acknow
ledged Presbyterian governraent, as now settled,
to be the only governraent of this church, and
promised to subrait thereto, and concur therewith,
and never endeavour, directly or indirectly, the
prejudice or subversion thereof—be admitted, or
1

890 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
hereafter continued, a minister or preacher with
in this church ; and that all the curates who
bad not yet been assuraed by the Presbyterian
courts, should, within thirty days, offer thera
selves for admission on the above terms ; that if
they did so, they should have their Majesties' pro
tection, unless they should, within thirty days
after their said application, be proved scandalous,
erroneous, negligent, or insufficient: And farther
ordained. That the privy coUncil, and all other
magistrates, judges, and officers of justice, give
all due assistance in rendering the sentences of
church JVidicatories effectual. By their 27th act,
1695, the Parliament again required all ministers,
Presbyterian and Episcopalian, who had not ta
ken the above-mentioned engagements to the go
vernment, to qualify themselves without delay,
under pain of deprivation frora both office and be
nefice. The Parliaraent of 1693, appointing a
monthly fast on account of the war with France,
and other grounds, had been less disliked by ma
ny, had not one publicly declared end of that war
been to cause Lewis XIV. of France make repa
ration io the holy See of Rome for whatsoever he
had acted against it, and make void ali the in
faraous proceedings of the Parliaraent of Paris
against the holy father Pope Innocent XI.
The bulk of the Presbyterian ministers did
what they could to comply with his Majesty's
pleasure. They pretended, that the oath of al
legiance and the assurance were iraposed" on them
as subjects, and not as a condition of, or quali
fication for their holding or exercising their of
fice. But the words of the act imposing thera,
and especially the exclusion of Mr. James Hogg
from sitting m the Assembly 1695, by the King's

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 391
commissioner and advocate, on account of his
want of that legal qualification, plainly manifest
ed the contrary. These ministers not only frown
ed on, reproached, artd harassed Mr. Hogg, artd
others rto less loyal thart themselves, because they
looked Ort the imposition of said oath and assu
rance as a political snare, disgracing their office^
and making thera liable, on every change of civil
government, soleranly to acknowledge the rights
of the present governors; and as an Erastian ad-
iition to the ministerial qualifications prescrib
ed by Jesus Christ. Several processes were at
once commenced against the eminently pious and
useful Mr. John Hepburn of Orr, in Galloway,
on account of his open and perhaps sometimes
imprudent testiraonies against the taking of that
oath, and other defects of the revolution church,
and his preaching and baptizing within the bounds
of some of his laxer brethren. After suspend
ing hira from the exercise of his ministry, they
stirred up the magistrates to punish him with a
long imprisonraent at Edinburgh. He at length
subraitted, and was restored to the exercise of
his office ; but, returning to his reprehended
conduct, he was deposed in 1705, as one that ob
stinately continued in erroneous opinions and
schismatical courses. In 1694, the Assembly
agreed on a formula for the reception of the cu
rates, in which, answerably to the command of
the Parliament above-mentioned, they should de
clare their belief of the Avhole doctrines contain
ed in the Confession qf Faith, and engage con
stantly to maintain them, and should acknow
ledge Presbyterian government now settled by
law, to be the only government of this church,
(N. B. not the only government prescribed by

892 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
Christ in his word) and engaged to subrait to
and concur with it, and to observe an uniformity
of public worship, as at present performed and
allowed in this church.
Meanwhile the Parliament raade sundry good
acts for confirming the laws in favours of the
Confession of Faith and Presbyterian church go
vernraertt ; and for restraining blaspheray, pro
faneness, clandestirte and irregular raarriages,
spread bf Popery, and holding of weekly markets
on Saturdays and Mondays, in towns ; — and for
settlement of schools and encourageraent of
preachers, particularly in the North, &c. ; — and
application of vacant stipends to proraote such
purposes. The Asserably fixed the proportion of
commissioners to its raeetings, viz. two rainisters
and one ruling elder, frora Presbyteries of not
above twelve ministers ; three ministers and one
elder from Presbyteries of not above eighteen rai
nisters; four ministers and two elders from Pres
byteries of not above twenty-four rainisters, and
so proportionally in larger Presbyteries; and that
none should be admitted merabers but ministers
and ruling elders. Finding that the Assembly
of 1642's burdening their allowance of transpor
tation, irt some cases — with burghs maintaining
of students of divinity at the universities, in order
to prevent the rteed of it, as much as possible, aud
that the Comraission of 1650's laraenting over
the sinfulness of frequent transportations, even,
to erainertt charges, had not effectually restrain
ed vacancies from troubling their neighbours and
judicatories with attempts to procure ministers,
probationers being scarce, from other congrega
tions, they, by act 6th, 1 694, recoraraended to
all vacant congregations, not to call any settlbd

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 393
minister frora any other congregation, till they
had first seriously, but without success, endea
voured to be supplied with a free object. And,
for preventing transportation, they afterwa d,
in their Large Overtures concerning discipline
and gover0.m'ent, declare the power of supply
ing vacancies to belong only to their own Pres
bytery, and that no minister of another Pres
bytery ought so much as occasionally to pre ich
in them, but with advice of the neighbour
ing ministers, and the harmonious consent of
the elders ; — -and that Presbyteries should la
bour by all means to prevent transportation of
ministers who are already usefully settled; as
transportation is often, a great grievance, and is
seldom to be practised. They appointed every
minister to lecture a considerable portion of scrip
ture, according to the Westminster directory for
public worship ; that candidates for preaching the
gospel be sufficiently known to be of a sober,
grave, prudent, and pious behaviour, and like to
be useful and edifying in the church, and be duly
attested in order to licence, or when removing
frora one Presbytery to another; and that no rai
nister eraploy any in his own pulpit, but with
the consent of the Presbytery ; that great cau
tion be used, both in adraitting and censuring of
curates ; that no rainister be hastily censured
for not qualifying hiraself according to the civil
law ; that, in order to restrairt the abounding pro
faneness, ministers preach plainly and faithfully
against it, judicatories impartiaUy exercise dis
cipline agairist offenders— ^proper testimonials be
required on a persort's reraoval frora one place to
another — rainisters and elders take care that the
worship of God be daily performed in families — ¦
3 E

394 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THK
none be ruling elders who do not make conscience
of this necessary duty-^none grossly ignorartt or
scandalous be admitted to the Lord's Table — r
and rainisters and sessions apply to raagistrates
for execution of the acts of Parliaraent against
profaneness. Theyfurther appointed, that preach
ers in vacant congregations, particularly in the
North, should have a proper allowauce out of the
vacant stipends ; that all intrusions of curates or
others into vacant congregations should be care
fully prevented ; that Presbyteries carefully
maintain exercises and additions, by merabers at
their raeetings— ^have frequent privy censures — >
and raaintain bursars of divinity at colleges; that
the Irish or Gaelic Psalms and Catechisms be
used where that, and not the English language,
is understood ; and that no preacher who un
derstands the Irish language be settled in the
low country.
The Assembly 1695 prescribed forms of cpmt
missions for merabers sent to their raeetings; es
tablished directions how to deal with traffickirtg
Papists artd Quakers — aud for trartsmittirtg pro
posals of new acts concerning doctrine, worship,
discipline, or governraent to Presbyteries, to be
maturely considered by them, before they be en
acted by the Asserably as binding rules. They
apppinted forty-four rainisters to go and preach
in. the North, one-half of wbich, in the present
necessity, might be transported thither, if they
got calls ; that in Presbyteries where two-thirds
pf the congregations were settled, one- fourth part
of the ministers should go north artd orte-eighth
part be transported ; that, in order to content the
deprived parishes, their next minister should be
declared intransportable, without their cpnsent,

CHURCH OP SCOTLAND. 395
unless he bad irtsupportable grievances ; — that
ministers should preach catechetical doctrine ;
that no ministers, sessions, elders. Presbyteries, or
synods, should give recommendations for charity
without their own bounds ; that ministers labour
to their utraost to restrain the spread of deisti-
cal opinions, or any other errors contrary to the
Confession of Faith ; that great care be taken
that none be licensed to preach the gospel, or or
dained to the rainistry, but ou proper trial of their
abilities, piety, and good behaviour-^ — ^particularly
of their knowledge of the Scriptures in their ori
ginal languages, if not also in the Syriac and
Chaldaic, and of the principal controversies re
specting doctrine, worship, discipline, and go
vernraent ; that synods and Presbyteries take
care to prevent the coraraission of irregularities
by vagrant rainisters; and that rainisters be. very
cautious in recoraraendmg persons to public of
fices in the church without consultirtg the Pres
byteries cortcerned.
In 1697 the Assembly appbirtted that a roll of
probationers and of students of divirtity, who do
not attend the professors that teach it, be yearly
presented to the Assembly, read before it, and
registered irt the mirtutes of it ;--that the large
overtures concerning the discipline and method qf
proceeding in ecclesiastical judicatories should be
transraitted as overtures frora private hands to
the several Presbyteries, that they may send their.
observations on thera to the Coraraission, which
is to prepare thera for the consideration of the
Assembly ; that ruling elders and deacons, who
neglect the daily worship of God irt their fami
lies, be seriously admonished or rebuked, and
be removed from tlieir office, if they continue in

396 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
that sin ; and that this act, together with that
of 1694, against profaneness, be read from the
pulpit, in every congi'egation yearly, on tbe first
Sabbath of May ; that ministers punctually ful
fil their appointments to preach in vacant con
gregations ; that no novations in doctrine, disci
pline, worship or government, be enacted by the
Assembly, till the raatter have been maturely
considered by Presbyteries; that commissioners
to the Assembly duly attend the several meet
ings of it; that ministers, sessions, and Presbyte
ries, exert theraselves for restrairting the abound
ing of swearing, cursing. Sabbath-breaking, pro
fane witbdrawraent frora and conterapt of gos
pel ordirtartces, or mocking at religion and the
exercises of it, together with forhication, adul
tery, drunkenness, tippling, deism, blasphemy,
and o.ther abominable sins — and deal with magis
trates, faithfully to execute the laws against
such vices ; and that this act be every year read
from every pulpit at Whitsunday and Martinmas.
They also laboured to supply the array with
preachers, and the North with rainisters, cate-
ehlsts, and schoolmasters ; and recoraraended to
Presbyteries to be very cautious in either cen
suring or admitting the still outstanding curates.
Finding that former appointments of ministers
to preach or be settled in the North, had exceed-
ingty failed, the Assembly 1698 forraed a nura
ber of overtures for the supply of that poor, des
titute and ignorant country, and appointed twenty
probationers to go and preach in it. They ap-,
pointed the above-mentioned large overtures to be
further considered by Presbyteries ; and after
wards framed others for the repression of pro
faneness — checking the spread of Popery, and
3

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 397
preventing marriage without proclamation of
banns for three several Sabbaths. Not a few
serious people, especially in the south and west,
still scrupling to join the established chuich, on
account of her original defects and superadded
blemishes, the commission published their season
able admonition, in which they very plainly as
serted the sole headship of Christ over his church,
her intrinsic power derived from him, and the di
vine right qf Presbyterian church government, and
laboured to shew that the church Avas in such a
state of purity that she may be safely joined
with, and could not, without sin and danger, be
deserted. The Assembly 1699 chiefly occupied them
selves in forming acts and overtures against pro
fanertess and Popery, and for the spread of Chris
tian knowledge in the North, and for that end
planting schools and ministers there, — and for
causing all ministers, probationers, and school
masters, subscribe the Confession of Faith. They
also transraitted to Presbyteries several overtures
concerning the revisal of the registers of judica
tories, — school-masters' diligence in teaching the
principles of the Protestant religion, — and con
cerning witchcraft, — obstinacy in scandal, — Pa
pists' renunciation of their delusions, — and con
cerning the making and observation of acts of
Assembly. The Assembly 1700 did little more
than form the last mentioned overtures into acts,
and make further provision of ministers for the
North. The Assembly 1701, moreover, condemn
ed an Apology for M. Antonia Bourignion, which
denied God's permission of sin, or infliction of
punishment for it, — ascribed to Christ two hu
man natures, one formed from Adam before the

398 A COJMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF TIIE
Creation of Eve, and ariother born of the Virgin
Mary ; — denied God's decrees of election and re
probation as wicked, cruel, and partial ;-i-denied
his foreknowledge of futurities ; — >and maintain
ed. That all men have a good and an evil spirit
in them before their birth ; — 'that man's will is
unlimited, and he must have some infinite quali
ty, by which he raay unite with God ;-^-that
Christ's huraan nature had sinful corruption in
it, and his Avill had in it rebellion against the will
of God ; — that men may be perfect in this life, or
purified frora sin in the next ; — that natural gene
ration takes place in heaven ;-^that there are now
no true Christians in this world, <§c. The curates
having so terribly neglected the administration
of the Lord's Supper, that in all the bishopric of
Argyle, it was dispensed but twelve times in
twenty-eight years, the Presbyterian ministers
had no sraall difficulty to render it as frequent as
they wished. This Assembly recommended tbe
more frequent administration of it, and that the
number of ministers assisting at it should be
lessened. They revived the acts of 1645 and
1649, against Lykwakes, abuses at penny-wed
dings, and promiscuous dancings. They trans
mitted to Presbyteries some overtures concern
ing scandalous persons turning Papists, in order
to escape discipline, — Protestants marrying Pa
pists, — intimations of excomraunication through
the whole Presbytery, or in case of obstinacy,
through every kirk in the natiori,^or irregular
absolution from censure by curates or others ;
and concerning the strict trial of candidates for
the ministry, — and the calling of Presbyteries to
account for their diligence in the restraining of
profaneness.

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 399
King William dying just after the Asserably
1702 had convened, they did nothing that needs
to be here recorded. Queen Anne having suc
ceeded hira, several Synods, dreading her un
friendly disposition, thooght proper to forra acts
expressly asserting Christ's sole headship over his
church, her intrinsic power, and the divine right of
Presbytery : and some ofthe more zealous minis
ters thought to have pushed an act of that kind
in the Assembly 1703. But, to prevent it, the
haughty Earl of Seafield, her commissioner, dis^-
solved their raeeting, when they had done little
raore than to form some directions for planting
of ministers in the North,- — and to draw up an
address to her majesty in favour of their Presby
terian government, and representing the extra
ordinary growth of Popery, the disorderly beha
viour of the curates, and the abounding of ira
raorality and profaneness ; — and had given some
recomraendations for supplying and preserving
the registers belonging to the Asserablies, and
their comraittees and comraissions, part ofwhich
had been destroyed by the dreadful fire in 1701 ;
and concerning the Large Overtures of 1 697. —
Many protestations frora all corners ofthe house
were offered against this dissolution of their
meeting, and for the intrinsic power of the church.
But Mr. Meldrura, the moderator, was so over
whelmed with abuse by the commissioner, and
with confusion, that he concluded with prayer,
before any thing could be regularly marked,,
Ever since, I think, the General Assemblies have
been first dissolved by the moderator in the
name of Christ, and then by the commissionef
in the name of the sovereign.

400 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
Probably to lull the Presbyterians asleep, one
act was made by Anne's Parliament, in 1702,
and another in 1703, ratifying all former laws in
favour of the Confession of Faith, and Presbyte
rian church government, particularly the act 5th,
1690. Many had fearful apprehensions of a de
sign to have Prelacy toleratedi if not established
by the Parliament 1703, but the Lord threw the
members into such heats and confusions, as issued
in declaring it treasonable to alter the govern
ment of the church. Nevertheless, a treaty of an
incorporating union with England was alraost
immediately after projected, and, notwithstand
ing much opposition, carried on and concluded.
When it was laid before the Parliament in 1706,
and the majority of merabers appeared to favour
it, both ministers and people were exceedingly
concerned, and presented addresses against it.
The Commission of the General Assembly sat
during the whole session of Parliament, and was
uncommonly numerous. They first presented an
address for an unalterable establishment of their
religion, in the present and all succeeding gene
rations, as far as human laws could go. To sa
tisfy thera, the Parliaraent enacted. That the
perpetual establishment of the doctrine, worship,
discipline, and Presbyterian government of this
church, should be held as an unalterable, funda
mental, and essential condition of the intended
¦union, if it should be concluded. Many thought
that this would be a better security for their re
ligion than any act of the Scotch Parliament
alone. But the most part of the true Presbyte
rians still continued averse to an incorporating
union, or coming under the jurisdiction of a Bri
tish Parliament, in which tfae English Prelatists

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 401
would be ten tp one of the Scots. Notwith
standirtg great oppositiort frora rtoblemen and
gentlemen, who expected temporal advantages
by promoting the union, the Comraission pre
sented a second address, in which they represent
ed the danger they would be in of oaths, tests,
and Irapositions inconsistent with their principles;
and that it was contrary to their principles and
covenants to approve ofthe civil power of bishops,
to twenty-six of whora the nation would be sub
jected in the British Parliaraent. To this they
got no answer, but a clause inserted into the act
for securing the church, bearing. That no oath,
test, or subscription, should ever be imposed within
the bounds of ihis church and kingdom, contrary to
our Presbyterian establishment; but leaving Scotch-
raert Uable to such irapositions in any other part of
the British dorainions. The Parliaraent there
after declared, that the Parliament of England
raight provide for the security of their church with
in that kingdora, as they should think expedient.
By this, they, contrary to the word of God, and
our soleran covenants with him, particularly the
soleran league, consented to the securing of Pre
lacy and the ceremonies in England, as an essen
tial and fundamental condition ofthe union. The
Commission being informed of this, notwith
standing great opposition, presented a third ad
dress, craving. That there might be no such sti
pulation or consent to the establishment of the
hierarchy and ceremonies in England, as they
would not involve themselves and the nation
in guilt. But the expectation of dS400,000
Sterling, to balance the loss of Darien to the
Spaniards, through the treachery of the English,
and the hopes of worldly advantages from the
3 F

402 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
court, or in point of trade, made most of the
Parliamenters overlook every thing religious,.'-!-
so that the perpetual establishraent of Episco
pacy and the ceremonies in England, as well as of
Presbyterian government and the simplicity of gos
pel worship attending it in Scotland, were both
fixed as fundaraental and unalterable conditions
of the union ; and each nation, by a solemn deed
of their Parliaraent, guaranteed to the other an
establishraent of religion not a little contrary to
their own.
Besides their labour in prosecuting and de
posing Mr. John M'Millan in 1703, who, besides
declairaing agairtst the defects artd bleraishes of
the Revolution church, denied the authority of
the civil raagistrates, because of their not taking
the covenants, and wanting other qualifications
required in Scripture, and by the laws between
1638 and 1650, — and of Mr. John Hepburn in
1 705, on account of his relapsing into his former
cortduct, — the prirtcipal appointmertts of the As
sembly in 1 704 are. That ministers should lecture
a considerable portion of scripture at a time ;
that none should be coraraissioners to the, Assera
blies but such as have subscribed the Confession
of Faith, and have relation to, and reside in, the
place from which they are sent ; that scandalous
persons, who turn Papists to escape censure, be
excoramunicated ; that exconiraunications be in-
tiraated in the bounds of Presbytery, Synod, or
through the whole kingdora, as raay best corre
spond with the obstinacy of the scandalous per
son ; that candidates for licence and ordination
be very strictly tried, and that Synods take care
that it be so ; that Synods call Presbyteries to
account with respect to their diligence in the

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 403
restrainirtg of profaneness, and causirtg the acts
made against it to be read frora all their pulpits
twice every year ; that Synods and Presbyteries
carefully observe, that norte be permitted to vent
any Arminian, Arian, or Sociniart errors ; that
students who understand the Irish language, be
preferred to bursaries in colleges before any
others ; that Presbyteries earnestly travel in col
lecting money frora nobleraert and others, in
order to raise a fund for the establishraent of
schools in the Highlands, and forraing libraries
there ; that proper means be concerted for print
ing a new edition of the Irish or Gaelic Bible,
and for translating the Confession of Faith and
Larger Catechism into that language, and for
rendering the Psalms and Shorter Catechism, al
ready translated, raore generally useful ; that care
be taken to repress Popery, and prevent Protes
tants marrying with Papists ; that an exact Form
qf Process he speedily and carefully drawn up, and
great pains used for recovering registers and
other papers belonging to the church ; that Pres
byteries and rainisters see to the erectiort of a
school irt every parish, and that the youth be pro
perly taught in schools as well as in colleges.
About this time, the Large Overtures were again
published in a more correct state. They con
tained directions for the right cortstitution of
church JUDICATORIES in general, and respecting
their raoderators, clerks, registers, proceedings,
behaviour of raerabers in thera, and conclusion of
their raeetings, — and more particularly for the
constitution of kirk session s,-rTelection and or
dination of elders and deacons,— -marriage,r — ad
mission of infants to baptisra, — admission to, or
debarring from the J^prd's table, — procedure with

404 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
drunkards, swearers, profaners of the Lord's day,
fornicators, adulterers, and other unclean per
sons, — privy censures : — for the constitution of
Presbyteries, — licensirtg of preachers, planting
of vacant congregations, — ordination or trans
portation of ministers, appeals artd references
from sessions, censuring of gross scandals, from
which sessions dp not absolve,-*-processes in or
der to the greater excoramunication, Presbyterial
exercises, — privy censures :- — -»for the constitu
tion and opening of Synods, — procedure of their
comraittees, — procedure in processes,-— privy cen
sure of Presbyteries, — and conclusion of their
raeetings :  -and for the constitution and open
ing of General Assemblies, — 'procedure of their
several comraittees, — procedure in their own work,
— appointment and procedure of Comraissions, —
and concluding their raeetings.  -But the indo
lence of Presbyteries, the restoration of patrona
ges, and the erabarrassraent of the Asserablies
with other business, hindered the establishraent
of many of these excellent directions from being
formed into standing rules.  ^Most of the acts
of the Asserablies . 1 705 and 1 706 were little
more than enforcements of preceding ones rela
tive to profaneness, <§e. — and for callirtg in the
assistance of magistrates to prevent abuses at
penny weddings, and for recommendirig the late
ly composed Scripture songs; for givirtg in of
Overtures and References to the Asserablies, and
the exact registering of the minutes of church
courts ; and for strict admission to the Lord's
Supper ; parochial visitations, — and rainisterial
visitation of farailies. — The raost iraportant acts
of the Assembly 1 707 are these; largely directing
how to prevent the increase of Popery, and es-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 40 5
tablishing a raost excellent Formof Process, chief
ly extracted frora the Large Overtures.
While the perjury and other evils ofthe union
settleraent raore and more confirmed Messrs.
Hepburn and M'Millan m their former courses,
the established church, iu her Assembly 1708,
established excellent rules for ministers' visita
tion of families ; they formed new acts for pre
venting the profanation of the Lord's day, and
other impieties ; they enjoined Presbyteries tp
beware pf rashly licensing or ordaining any can
didates, whose qualifications were doubtful ; they
recomraertded their forming an Overture for pre
ventirtg competition of calls, or giving a second call
to any candidate before his forraer one was final
ly discussed ; they erapowered their Coraraission
finally to examine and establish the public use
of the scripture songs, which had, for several years,
been under consideration. In 1 709 they recom
mended the utmost reverence in the public wor
ship of God, and ordered a warning to that pur
pose to be read from every pulpit ; they earnest
ly called all under their inspection to concur in
promoting the erection ofa Society for ¦ propaga
ting Christian knowledge in the Highlands and fo
reign paris of the world, and required ministers
and elders to collect what they could from their
people, as a fund for supporting this excellent
design : They recoraraended to each Presbytery
to forra a library for itself, out of the books sent
by friends frora England, and such others as they
could obtain. They, as had been repeatedly
done before, required Presbyteries carefully to
exaraine the Large Overtures, that they might
have thera speedily established as a complete di
rectory for their judicial procedure. — The Assem-
3

406 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
bly 1710 formed some new overtures for pre
venting the licensing of too many, or unqualified
preachers. They required all general fasts, ap
pointed by either church or state, for just and
necessary causes, to be duly observed. They ap
pointed all ministers in whose bounds Bourignian
errors are spreading, to preach particularly and
faithfully against them ; and all Presbyteries in
whose bounds they are vented, carefully to cause
all schoolmasters, teachers, chaplains, and gover-
rtors of youth to subscribe the Confession of Faith
as the confession of their faith ; and that no heri
tors or heads of families retain in such stations
any that refuse their subscriptiou : that Presby-;
teries transmit to the Coraraission an exact and
full account of the principal propagators of these
errors, and the professors of divinity publish a
full collection and nervous confutation of them.
They forraed directions for disposing of bursaries
in colleges to ; students, especially such as had
the Irish language. In answer to a representa
tion of the society for propagating Christian
Knowledge, they appointed all those who had not
raade the above recommended collections, to do
it without further delay, and enjoirted Syrtods to
point out to the Society what places had most
need of schools and catechists. Almost every
Asserably, for a considerable nuraber of years, is
sued recom mendatiorts for the assistartce of that
useful Society, with collections of. raoney or
otherwise. The Asserably I7II recoraraended
to Presbyteries to have the Lord's Supper so ad
ministered in their bounds, that people raight
have access to it every raonth of the year. They
earnestly enjoined Presbyteries to labour, to their
utraost, tp have the worship pf God set up, and

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 407
daily perforraed, in all the parts of it, in every
faraily in their bounds. They formed a new act
for the cautious and careful procedurp of Presby
teries in trying, licensing, and ordaining candi
dates for the rainistry ; and established a For
mula of questions and ertgageraents for thera at
licence and ordination, in which they soleranly
declare, That they believe the Scriptures of the
Old and New Testaraent to be the word of God,
artd Ortly rule of faith and raanners ; that they
sincerely own and believe the whole doctrine
contained in the Confession of Faith, and will, to
the utraost of their power, constantly raaintain
the sarae, along with the purity of worship pre
sently practised in this church, — and disown all
Popish, Arian, Socinian, Arminian, Bourignian,
and other doctrines, tenets, or opinions whatso
ever, inconsistent with, or contrary to said Con
fession of Faith; — that they believe the Presbyte
rian government and discipline of this church to
he founded on the word of God, and will maintain,
support, and defend the same all the days oftheir
life ; — that they will meekly submit themselves
to their respective judicatories, and maintain the
unity and peace of the church, and follow no di
visive course from her established doctrine, wor
ship, discipline, and government ; — that zeal for
the honour of God, love to Jesus Christ, and de
sire of saving souls, are their great motives and
chief inducements to enter into the holy minis
try, and not any worldly designs or interest ;— ^
that they have used no undue methods, either by
themselves or others, in procuring their call ; that
in the strength of Christ they will live an holy
and circumspect life, and faithfully, diligently,
and cheerfuUy discharge all the parts of the mi-

408 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
nisterial work to the edification of the body of
Christ, particularly of the people entrusted to
them. These, however little regarded by many,
still continue the ordination vows of all ministers
in the established church.  This Assprably fur
ther prohibited all students or preachers to offer
themselves to licence or ordination, unless they
carried sufficient testiraonials from their profes
sors, parishes, and Presbyteries ; and appointed
their Coraraission to acquaint ministers in foreign
parts what testimonials they may safely receive
from candidates that offer themselves to licence
or ordination with thera. As good order, as well
as the Large Overtures, required vacant congre
gations to be supplied only by their own Presby-r
tery, unless they be invited by the Presbytery in
whose bounds that vacancy lies, or at least sorae
neighbouring rainister of it ; the Large Overtures
requires the invitation of neighbouring rainisters,
and the harmonious consent of the elders of the
vacant parish.
During the preceding twenty-two years, the
Revolution chuich had continued in much the
same condition. The Lord had not a little coun
tenanced her ministrations, especially by the
raore faithful, for the instruction, conviction, con
version, and edification of souls, which had been
left by the curates in a most ignorartt or profli
gate case. The clergy had soraewhat rectified
several defects of their original erection with re
spect to the asserting of Christ's sole headship over
the church, her intrinsic power, and the divine
right of Presbyterian government. The modera
tor of the Assembly 1692, with consent of the
members, boldly remonstrated to the king% com
missioner, that the office-bearers in the house of
God have a spiritual intrinsic poiuer from Jesus

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 409
Christ the only held of his church, to meet in
AssembUes about the affairs thereof. Many pro
testations of the same kind were made in the
Asserably 1 703, when the Queen's commissioner
dissolved it. The Assemhly 1704 plainly told
her majesty, that they were now again met in a
national Asserably in the name of the Lord Je
sus Christy — and approved several Synod books,
which contained new acts asserting Christ's sole
headship over his church, her intrinsic power, and
the divine right of Presbytery. The Asserably
1 705, in their 5ih act, expressly "assert the Lord
Jesus Christ to be the alone king and head of his
church. The Asssembly 1707, in their llth act,
expressly declare. That our Lord Jesus Christ
hath instituted a government and governors ecclesi
astical in his own house, with power io meet for the
order and government thereof. At the conclusion
of each Assembly, the moderator, before the
king's commissioner, publicly declares, that as
the Asserably raet in the narae of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the only king and head of his church,
so they part in the same. — The Comraission
1698, in their Seasonable Admonition, publicly de
clare. We do believe and own, that Jesus Christ
is the ONLY HhAD and king of his church;
and that he hath instituted in his church officers
and ordinances, order and government, and not
left it to the will of men, magistrate, or church, io
alter it at their pleasure. And we believe this go
vernment is neither Prelatical nor congregational,
hut Presbyterian, which now, through the mercy
of God, is established among us ; and believe we
have a better foundation for this our government
than the inclinations of the pebple, or laws of men.
This seasonable Admonition was ratified artd ap-
3 G

410 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
proved by the Asserably 1699, act xii. By the
above mbntioned Formula of 1711, every can
didate licensed to preach, or ordained to the rai
nistry, is required soleranly and publicly to avow.
That the Presbyterian government and discipline
of this church are founded on the word of God. —
All along to 1710, the Assemblies, in their causes
of fasting or otherwise, more or less acknowledged
the binding obligation of our public covenants.
In act 5th, 1 700, they lament our continued un
faithfulness to God, notwithstanding our solemn
covenants and engagements to the contrary. In
act 9th, 1710, they say. Our sins are the more
aggravated, that they are against so solemn and
repeated vows, and engagements, and covenants
with God, which have been openly violated and
broken by persons of all ranks, and treated witb
public conterapt and indignities. To these two
acts they, for several .years after, refer in their
causes of fasting. In act 7th, 1710, they say.
The crying sins both of forraer and present tiraes
are highly aggravated by the violation of our so
lemn covenants and engageraents to the contrary.
But, by this tirae, the teraporal advantages of
our incorporating union with England began to
be raore and more overbalanced by the introduc
tion of sinful corruptions from that country. The
Sabbath began to be greatly profaned by driving
of cattle and other unnecessary labours. The so
cieties for reformation of manners gradually
dwindled away. Our nobUity and gentry, by
little and little, gave up with faraily religion, and
dropt the very forra of godliness. Spending rauch
of their tirae in England, they either contracted
a liking to the hierarchy and superstition there
used, or lived rauch in the neglect of public wor
ship ; and being there under no ministerial in-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 411
spectiori, they and their famUies followed their
own inclirtations without controul. — Public oaths
in qualifying men for civil offices, or in collecting
of taxes, were exceedingly multiplied, and much
perjury thereby increased. The abjuration oath,
which had for some years been used in England,
was extended to those in places of power and
trust in Scotland, to be taken along with the
oath of allegiance and the assurance. The epis
copalian party introduced the English ceremo
nies and service, which their fathers had refused.
And notwithstanding the Assembly 1 707 made
an act against it, and the comraission used sorae
means to prevent it, they were but the raore for
ward to set it up, or extol it, and to rail at the
gospel siraplicity ofthe established worship. Nay,
the idolatrous worship of the Papists was openly
practised and connived at. A superstitious form
of swearing, by laying the hand on and kissing the
gospel, was introduced into some of our civil
courts. Such Scotsmen as served the sovereign
in England or Ireland, were required to take the
Lord's Supper in the English manner, as a test of
their loyalty, and otherwise conform to the litur
gy and cereraonies. An observation of supersti
tious holy days was encouraged by the. vacation
of our civil courts in the end of the year, S^c.
Addresses to the House of Peers were rejected,
unless they were directed to the Lords spiritual
as well as teraporal.  Strongly attached to
their Popish pretender, raany ofthe episcopal cler
gy, of whom, in 1707, 165 still retained their
churches and stipends, began to plead for a
middle state of souls after death, and prayers for
the dead; — the Lord's Supper being a propitiatory
sacrifice for sin ;-r-the mixing of the sacramental
I

412 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
wine with water ; the necessity of absolution hy
a priest, and confession cf sins to him in order to
forgiveness of them ; the anointing with oil in
baptisra and Other cases ; — the necessity of epis
copal ordination and baptisra to salvation ; — the
bowing towards the altar,- and at the narae of Je
sus ;-> — the reception of the meaning of the scrip
tures from ihe church or clergy ; — and the rejec
tion of the Athanasian creed, concerning the Tri
nity, used in the English service, and to recora
raend Popish books contairting devotions and
prayers to the virgin Mary artd other saints.
Meanwhile, contrary to the raost solera secu
rity granted to the Presbyterian establishraent in
the treaty of union, the British Parliament, 1712,
granted the episcopalians an almost unbounded
toleration, providing their clergy took the oaths
to the government, and prayed for Queen Anne,
who was now straining every nerve to bring her
Popish supposed brother to the throne— prohibit
ing raagistrates to oblige thera to appear before
any established church judicatory, and required
thera to protect thera in their public worship, so
long as they did not turn Papists or blaspheraers,
To protect such of thera as should scruple at the
oath of abjuration, which solemnly renounced their
Popish pretender, and avowed the rightful sue-
cession of the elector of Hanover to the crown
in his stead, the Parliament, now managed by
Jacobitical influence, imposed that oath upon
every Presbyterian minister, under a very heavy
penalty, if they should continue to officiate with
out taking it. By the imposition of this oath,
ambiguous or dangerous in several of its expres
sions, and expressly said in the English act, first
imposing it to be calculated for the perpetual

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND 41S
maintenance of the church of England as by law es
tablished, and in which one had to swear to raain
tain the succession, of the British crown as li
mited by two acts of the English Parliament, one
of which expressly provided, that the successor
should be of the communion of the church of Eng-
land, and swear to maintain her as by law establish
ed, the Presbyterian clergy wOuld either, by their
general refusal, give the court a handle to over
turn their establishment, or at least be divided
and weakened, and the refusers appear as dis
loyal as any of the Jacobites; though their scru
ples were very differently founded. And, tp pro
voke the "Presbyterians the more, the Parliaraent
restored ^a^owflge* in their whole extent,, pro
viding only, that patrons took the oaths to go
vernraent, and did not profess theraselves Pa
pists. The Jacobites' doctrine of unliraited obe
diertce to Sovereigns, and theirdistinctiort of thera
by right artd by actual possession, qualified multi
tudes of them in Scotland, as well as in Eng
land, to swear the oath of abjuration, when im
posed by authority, and now plainly enough ira
posed, as a raean of enthroning their Popish pre-
, tender. These adts, so hastily passed, , exceedingly
alarmed the Scotch Presbyterians. The tolera-
iioraertervated their discipline, ahd encouraged the
Jacobites in their rudeness and insolence towards
the established religion and clergy, and operted
a door for almost every error and abomination in
the worship of God. The restoration of patronage
was calculated to fill the church with Jacobitish
or naughty clergymen by raeans of solicitations
or siraoniacal pactions, and so occasion rauch
perjury in their ordination vows, and render their

414 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
ministrations contemptible, useless, and hurtful.
The imposition of the abjuration oath on ministers,
as a condition oftheir entrance to, or exercise of
their office, rendered them mdie and more the
slaves of an Erastian court — tended to debauch
their donsciences, in taking oaths without any ne
cessity, or even without due certainty of their
lawfulness, or any plain tendency to the honour
of God, and to diminish their zeal for their co
venanted reformation and Presbyterian govern
ment, and render them approvers of the perjuri
ous settleraent of religion by the incorporating
union with England ; and threatened, as it soon
actually did, to produce the raost mournful divi
sions among ministers, or between thera and their
hearers. To prevent the passing of these acts,
the Coraraission transmitted solemn addresses to
her Majesty, pleading the laws perpetually con
firmed by the union settlement in opposition to
the intended toleration and restoration of patron
ages, which addresses the Asserably approved, artd
seconded with an address of their own. The
Coraraission also addressed her with respect to
the abjuration oath, and, in a soleran profession of
their loyalty, declared their sense of it — which
she said was acceptable to her. Hereupon the
Assembly, in another address^, begged that she
would interpose her influence for preventing the
prosecution of scrupulous refusers of it. Messrs.
Carstairs, BlackweU, and BaUie, were sent to
London to present these addresses, and to agent
their cause; but all to no purpose.
As the abjuration oath produced the most dis
agreeable divisions, the Assemblies, 1712,1713,
1714, and 1715, by express acts, recoraraended
and obtested all ministers to cultivate peqce an^

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 415
harmony, notwithstanding their different views
or practices with respect to it. The other more
remarkable acts of these Assemblies were, for
assisting and encouraging the Society for Propa
gating Christian Knowledge ; for regular adrais
sion of infants to baptism ; for raore frequent ad
ministration of the Lord's Supper ; for purging
the scandals of Soldiers ; for directing the visi
tors of synod registers; for regulating the licens
ing of preachers, and discouraging unworthy bur
sars; and for execution of former acts to prevent
the growth of Popery. TheComraission, 1713,
emitted a seasonable warning to be read from eve
ry pulpit, entreating people to beware of being
deluded by the subtile pretences of the Jacobites,
who really laboured to bring thera under the
yoke of a Popish pretender ; and the Assembly,
1714, presented an address to her Majesty, re
presenting the alarraing increase of Popery.
About this tirae the curates were becorae ex
tremely insolent and abusive, intruded thera
selves into vacant congregations, and encourag
ed their followers to raob such as were appoint
ed by their Presbyteries to preach in thera. But
most of them joining in the rebellion, 1715, they
were turned out of their kirks by the Magis
trates. After the accession of King George I. to the
throne in 1714, the Assembly 1715 transrait
ted to hira and the raerabers of Parliament, a new
representation of their grievances, relative to the
toleration and abjuration oath, patronages, and the
sacramental test imposed on Scotchmen while
serving the Sovereign in England and Ireland.
He got his Parliament, that year, to turn the as
of reduplication on the two English acts men-

416 , A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
tioned in that oath into which, and to declare
that it was not intended to oblige his sublects in
Scotland to any thjng inconsistent wiw their
legal establishraent of their religion. And as,
notwithstanding this, raany stUl scrupled at that
oath, the Parliaraent, 1 7 1 9, reraoved all raention -
oftheir English acts out ofthe form of it iraposed
upon rainisters and schoolraasters. In conse-
quertce of this, the raost of the rainisters took it,
and the few that did not, becarae disliked by their
brethren, but raore esteeraed by raany ofthe peo
ple. About the sarae time, the Parliaraent en
acted. That all presentations given by patrons to
candidates for vacant congregations should be of
no effect. Unless the presentee accepted or de-'
clared his wUlingness to accept, which It was, for
a tirae, expected few or none would. At least the
church had full poAver to prohibit candidates to
accept presentations, until they had first the call
of the congregation.
The union settleraent, and especially rainisters
taking the oath of abjuration, having given new
ground of offeuce to Messrs. John M'MUlan, late
minister of Balraaghie, John Taylor of Wara-
phray, John Hepburn of Orr, and Jaraes Gil
christ of Dunscore, as well as to Messrs. John
M'Neil and John Adarason, preachers — they
went about inveighirtg against the sarae. On this
account the Assemblies 1715, 1716, 1717, and
their inferior judicatories, prosecuted them with
no small severity. No less than about twenty-
four acts and overtures were passed agaiust these
pious, but soraetiraes iraprudeut artd raistaking
friends of our covenanted reforraation, eleven
of which respected Mr, Hepburn, and nine Mr,
M'Millan. Mr. Hepburn had been driven from

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 417
his charge, and suffered a long iraprisonment, bp- •
sides many other harassments, Mr. M'Millan
had been driven from his charge, and another
thrust into his place, Mr. Gilchrist was depos
ed and laid under a sentence of excoramunica
tion, appointed to be intimated in all the parish
churches in Scotland. Meanwhile these, and the
two following Assemblies, made acts for assistr
ance to the Society for Propagating Christian Know
ledge, and for the speedy settleraent of rairtisters
jrt the Highlands — artd against Popery and pro
faneness ; — and repeatedly enjoined Presbyteries,
without delay, seriously to consider the large
.overtures .aboVe-mentioried, irt order to their be
ing established as a complete directory for disci
pline and government; — and prohibited prelatical
curates or Presbyterian separatists, to exercise dis
cipline on any raembers of thiscburch. The Assem
bly, 1 7 1 8,issued a recommendation for providing a
fund for supporting the indigent widows and or
phans of ministers. The Assembly, 1719, enjoin
ed every minister to take care to have deacons as
well asruling elders in his congregation. They issu
ed a soleran warning against ^smuggling of goods,
and perjuries at custom-houses, in raatters of
trade, to be read in all the parishes of Scotland,
and enjoined synods. Presbyteries, and sessions,
to execute the acts of Assembly against abuses at
penny- weddings, and to apply to the magistrates
to execute the civil laws against such as are
found guilty. They also framed an overture for
regulating the settlement of vacant congrega
tions, especiaUy where the patron's delay for six
months had put the matter in the hands of the
Presbytery, iu which elders, and especially heri
tors, a majority of whora is required, are repre-
3h

418 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
sented as the proper electors, though, especially
wherethere are no elders, heads of families, and
persons of good reputation in the congregation
are to be regarded.
But the principal business of these Assemblies
respected the doctrine of the church. In 1714
-there commenced a flagrant report, that Mr John
Sirason, Professor of divinity in the college of
Glasgow, had taught Arrainiart and other gross
errors, Mr, Jaraes Webster, a most pious and
zealous minister of Edinburgh, finding by cortr
verse with hira, that there was too rauch grouud
for Ibis report, laid the raatter before the Gene
ral Assembly. They unreasonably .burdened
hira with the prosecution of Mr, Simson before
his own Presbytery of Glasgow. Notwithstand
ing all his subtUe shifts and quibblings, it was
fourtd evident, frora his answers to his libel, and
his letters to Mr. Rowan, that he had taught.
That rtothing is to be adraitted irt religion but
what is consonant to reason ;— rthat regard to our
pwn happiness in the enjoyraent of God ought
to be our chief motive in serving him, and that
our glorifying of God is subordinate to it ; — that
the heathen may know, by the light of nature,
that God bath provided a reraedy for sin, and if
they would pray sincerely for the discovery of
the way of salvation, he would grant it to thera ;
that if raen would with diligence, sinceri,ty, artd
faith, use the raeaus for obtaining saving grace,,
Gpd hath proraised to grant it to them; and that
the using of these means, in this raanner, is not
above the reach pf their natural powers ;-r-that
there was no proper covenant raade by Gpd with
Adara for hiraself and his posterity; and that he
^as rtot our federal head ; that it is inconsistent

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 419
with God's justice and goodness, to create souls
wantirtg origirtal righteousnes, and that the souls
bf infants since the Fall are created pure and
holy; — that it is probable, there are raore of mart-
kind saved than daraned ; and it is raore than
probable that baptized infants, dying in infancy,
are all saved ;^*that there is no sihrtirtg m hell
after the last judgmeut, &c. aU which errorteous
teuets were fully refuted by Messrs. M'Laren
artd FUrtt, rainisters of Edinburgh. But such
was the power of his frieuds irt the Asserably
1717, which concluded his process, that in their
9th act, they only say, that he bad given offence,
artd had vertted sorae opinions not necessary. to
be taught in divinity, and that have given raore
occasion for strife, than to the proraoting of edi
fication ; that he had used sorae expressions that
.bear, and are used by adversaries in an unsound
sense, though be disowns that unsound sense;
and for answering the objections of adversaries,
he had adopted sorae hypotheses different from
what are coraraonly used among orthodox di
vines, and are not evidently founded on Scripture,
and tend to attribute too rauch to natural rea
son and the power of corrupt nature, which un
due advanceraent of reason and nature is always
to the disparagement of revelation and effica
cious free grace ; and therefore prohibit him to
use such expressions, or to teach, preach, or other
wise vent such opinions^ propositions, or hypo-*
theses, as aforesaid.
But the Assemblies were far from being equal
ly kind to such as earnestly endeavoured a clear
illustration of the doctrines of God's free gracP
reignirtg through the righteousness of Christ.
Mr. Hamilton of Airth having published a cate-

420 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
chetiral treatise concerning the covenants of works
and grace, and the sacraments of baptism and
the Lord's Supper, in a raore evangelical strain
than sorae Avished, the Asserably, 1710, prohi
bited all ministers or merabers of this church to
print or disperse in writ any catechism, without
the allowance of the Presbytery of the bounds,
or the Comraission. The Presbytery of Auch
terarder having begun to require candidates for
licence to acknowledge it unsound to teach that
men must forsake their sins in order to come to
Christ, the Assembly, 1717, on the same day
they had dealt so gently with professor Simson,
declared their abhorrence of that proposition as
unsound and most detestable — as if raen ought on
ly to come to Christ, the alone Saviour frrtra sins,
after they have got rid of thera by repentance,
Mr. James Hogg, one of the holiest ministers in
the kingdom, haA'ing published or recommended
a celebrated and edifying tract of the Cromwel
lian age, called the Marrow qf Modern Divinity,
the Asserably 1720, fell upon it with great fury,
as if it had been replete with Antinoraian er
rors, though it is believed many of these zealots
never read it, at least had never perused it, in
connection with the 2d part of 'it, which is whol
ly taken up in raanifesting the obligation, mean
ing; and advantages of observing the law of God.
They condemned the offering of Christ as a Sa
viour to all men, or to sinners as such — and the
doctrine of believers' full deliverance frora under
the law as a broken covenant of works. They
asserted raen's holiness to be a federal or condiT
tional mean of their obtaining eternal happiness.
They conderaned these almost express declara
tions of Scripture, that beUevers are not under

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 421
the law ; that they do not commit sin ; that the
Lord sees no sin in them ; and cannot be angry
Avith them — as Antinomian paradoxes, and con-
derrined the distinction of the raoral law as a co-
venant of works, and as a binding rule of duty in
the hand qf Christ, in order to explain these ex
pressions. Messrs. James Hogg, Thomas Bos
ton, Ebenezer and Ralph Erskines, Gabriel Wil
son, and seven others remonstrated to the next
Assembly against these decisions, as injurious to
the doctrine of God's Grace ; and, in their an
swers to the Commission's twelve queries, they
illustrated these doctrines with no small clear
ness and evidence. Perhaps influenced by this,
as well as by the wide-spread detestation oftheir
acts, 1720, on that point, the Asserably 1722
re-considered the same, and made an act explain
ing and confirming them. This was less gross
and erroneous. Nevertheless the twelve repre-
senters protested against it as injurious to truth ;
but this protest was not allowed to be marked.
The moderator, by the Assembly's appointment,
rebuked them for their reflections on the Assem
bly 1720, in their representation, and admonish
ed them to beware of the like in all time coming;
against which they protested. Mr. Wilson hav
ing preached an excellent sermon before the sy
nod of Merse and Teviotdale, in r721,»in Avhich
he had freely hinted his dislike of the legal doc
trines and other corruptions then prevalent, af
ter two years harassment before tiie synod and
Commission, he was at last dismissed by the As
sembly 1 723 with an admonition.
Little more of iraportance was done in these
Asserablies, unless that about L.4200 Sterling
were collected for the persecuted Protestants of

422 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
Lithuania, and four of their students appoint
ed to be supported by bursaries while attend
ing the study of divinity at the college of Edin
burgh. Several acts were made for preventing
the increase of Popery, and, in 1722, they repre
sented to his Majesty the dartger of his govern
ment by it. Other acts were made against pro
faneness, and for assisting tbg Society for Propa
gating Christian Knowledge, and for planting pro
per rainisters and teachers in the North. They
enacted. That none shold be admitted to, or con
tinued in, the office of elders or deacons, unless
they were circuraspect in their walk, punctual
in their attendance on ordinances, and strict in
their observation ofthe Lord's day, and in regu
larly keeping up the worship of God in their fa
milies ; and that none should be sent to, or ad
mitted raerabers of the General Assembly, unless
they were attested by the Presbyteries, &c. as
thus qualified.
Many of the clergy, perhaps fond of avoiding
every appearance of good will towards the Mar
row qf Modern Divinity, seemed now more legal ,
and Baxtbrian in their doctrine than formerly, j
This induced multitudes of serious Christians,!
who had been forraerly not a little disgusted by
their swearing of the abjuration oath, to leave
thera, and hear the representers and their friends,
whora the late dispute, and their harassraent at-
. tending it, had made to search and see further into
gospel truth. These, notwithstanding their emi
nent exemplification and earrtest urgiug of gos
pel holiness, were exceedingly traduced by the
prevaUing party, as new schemers, and Antinomi
an encouragers of a licentious life. They had
probably been more abundantly reproached and
7

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 423
harassed, had not the managers got their hands
full of other busiuess. Mr. Hepburn, above-
mentioned, dying, his friends in Angus-shire al
most persuadedMr. Francis Archibald, ministerof
Guthry, into their sentiraents By this and sorae
concurrent circumstances, raore than ordinary
noise concerrtirtg the national covenant artd solemn
league happened irt that couutry.. Roused here
by, Mr. Johrt Glass, a young popular preacher in
it, set hiraself to rail at these covenants, as un-
warrarttable uuder the New Testaraeut, and not
obligatory, and even against sorae articles ofthe
Cor^ession of Faith. He further taught, that
national churches are unwarraritable uuder the
New Testaraeut ; that the kirtgdom of Israel was
of an ecclesiastical nature, and its offiders church
officers ; that then church and state were the
sarae ; and both entirely typical ; that the Old
Testament church was an earthly kingdora ;
that all church covenartts that brirtg her in
to any connexion with the state, are legal and
earthly, and means of introducing profane per
sons into her. By his address he decoyed Mr.
Archibald into his notions, to which they soon
added others, as that Confessions of Faith ought
not to be subscribed ; that only congregational
churches are warranted urtder the Gospel ; that
illiterate meo are fit for preaching the Gospel ;
that Christian congregations have power to or
dain their own teachers ; that all raerabers have
a share in governirtg the church ; that Christian
magistrates have no raore power about religious
matters than other men, and ought not to em
ploy their power for advancing religion, or for
restraining or punishirtg heretics, or for giving
more encouragement to good Christians, than to

424 A COMPENDIOUS.-HISTORY OF THE
other good subjects. Notwithstanding all raeans
for reclairaing thera, <they obstinately went about
preaching their principles in fields and streets, or
printing pamphlets in, favours of them. They
were therefore .suspended in 17-^8, and because
they contemned this censure, they were, about
two years after, deposed. But notwithstanding
their laying out themselves to their utmost, to
erect independent churches of a new form, in
e\rery corner where they could find any encou-
rage.rtient, the Asserably 1 739 reponed thera to
their office, though not to their charges. — On the
other hand,-it began to be loudly reported, that
professor Sirasort had-not only continued to dis
regard the prohibition of the Assembly 1717,
and teach his above-mentioned errors — but also
had taught, that Jesus Christ is not necessarily ex
istent; — that the persons in the Godhead are not the
very same in substance ; — that necessary existence, -
supreme Deity, and heing ihe only true God, may ,
be taken in a. sense importing the personal property
of the Father, and so not belonging to the Son or'
Holy Ghost. Both libels were fully proven^
against him; but the first was left undiscussed.
In consequence of his declaring his mind on the
latter points in orthodox language, and after
much quibbling ,and tergiversation, professing
his sorrow for some of the offensive expressions
proved against hira, the Asseinbly 1 728, suspend
ed him from all exercise of any ecclesiastical
power or function till another Assembly should
think fit to restore him. And the Assembly
1729 further declared, that, it was not fit that
he should be any further eritrusted with the
training up of students for the holy ministry.
This slight censure of an Arminian, and an Ari-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 425
an blasphemer, exceedingly grieved and offend
ed multitudes of the more serious.
Scarcely was this prosecution of Professor
Simson finished, when Mr, Campbell, professor of
church history in the college of St. Andrew's,
begart, from the press, to ridicule close walking
with God, and acknowledging him in all our
ways, as enthusiasm, and to aver, that in the in
terval between Christ's death and resurrection,
his disciples looked on him as a cheat and im
postor ; — that self-love is the chief motive and
standard of all virtuous and religious actions ; —
that the existence of God, and the imraortality of
the soul canrtot be known by the light of nature;
that notwithstandirtg the laws of rtature are a
certairt and sufficient rule to direct rational rainds
to happiness, and the observation of thera is the
great raean of our real aud lastirtg felicity. For
these he was processed before the judicatories ;
but, by his artful colouriugs of his tertets, and
pretences to adhere to the Confession of Faith,
as Professor Sirason had always done, he not
only escaped certsiire, but drew the Asserably,
1786, which fiuished his process, into an appro
bation of his doctrine concerning self love.
Dr. William Wishart, late principal of the col
lege pf Edinburgh, was soon after fouud to have
taught frora the press. That raen are not alto
gether, if at all, vitiated with original sin ; that
the light of nature may, in some instartces, be
sufficient to lead mankind to complete happiness ;
that freedom of inquiry Should never be restrain
ed by any Formula of doctrine, or Confession of
faith; that the rainds of cliildrert should not be
biassed to the principles of a party, by learning
catechisms by heart ; that civil raagistrates have
3 I

426 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
no power to punish heresies of any kind, but their
jurisdiction reacheth only to those crimes that
are committed against the state ; and that all
mert ought to have full liberty to speak aud write
as they please, provided their serttimertts do not
endanger the welfare of civil society. — His pro
cess came before the Asserably 1738; but his
artful colouring of his errors, and his profession
of adherence to the Confession of Faith, brought
him off, without any censure ; in consequence of
which, he soon after, from the press, recomraertd
ed Dr, Whichcot's sermons to the students of di
vinity to form upon, — -without the sraallest warn
ing against the Arminian and Socirtian errors
therein contained, viz. That as to moral duties,
we have thaJuU concuri'ence of all heathen authors
ihat are any whit reformed ; (according to which,
dependance on Christ, walking with God, or wor
shipping him in three persons, in and through
Christ as mediator, and the like, are not raoral
duties,)-— -that the great differences between men in
the several ages qf the world, have not heen about
any necessary truth or any thing plainly declared
in scripture, (according to which, the doctrine of
three distinct persons in the God-bead, — the true
and suprerae God-head of Christ,— the necessity^!
reality, and vicarious nature of his satisfaction
for our sins, — free justification by his iraputed
righteousness,— regeneration and sanctification
by the almighty influence of his spirit ; and of
original sin imputed or inherent, — men's natu
ral inabUity to wUl or perform that which is natu-
rally good, &c.— are all excluded from being ne
cessary truths, or clearly revealed in the scrip-
ture,)_^.^that no perfection of Gad's nature in
clines him to punish sin, but to be reconcileable to
m thai repent ;~tha.t that repentance, which is in

CMUftCH OF SdOTLAND. 427
the power of every man, is the term orf condition of
the new covenant, renders men objects of the divine
compassion, and removes the necessity ofdivinepun-
ishment ; — that to be accepted in and through Christ,
or justified through his righteousness, is to be assur
ed, that God through the perfection of his own na.'
ture, is reconcileable ta sinners, and is absolutely re-
solvedand engaged to pardon theirsinin and through
Christ, to all who repent and believe ; that religion
is just a moving according to reason; that if men
use their natural powers aright hy consideration,
they may spiritually understand the scriptures, and
make room for, and render the infiuence of God's
grace effectual, and find him their superlative de
light, ^c. (Ic
While the errors that were creeping into the
church, were so tenderiy handled, and the spread--
ers of them dismissed' frora ^the bar of General
Asserablies on the. easiest terras, they, who set
theraselves against the growing defections, were
not a little oppressed. For about a do^en of
years after patronages had been restored by the
Parliament; no candidates bad courage to im
prove a presentation for their own intrusion on
reclairaing congregations. At first, one or two
probationers began to accept presentations : but
the outcry against thera was so great, that they
soon retracted and passed from them. But Mr.
Charabers, Principal of the college of Aberdeen,
having accepted a presentation to Old Machir,
probationers artd others , took courage, and fol
lowed his example ; aud though they, at first,
qualified their acceptances, with having the peo
ple's consent, yet they would not retra(^, after
the people, had shewed their aversion. About
1729 and i730, intrusion of ministers upon tbe

428 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
footing of presentations was becorae pretty com
mon, and were warmly supported by the" Assem
blies, and especially by their commissions. This
rendered the attempts of some Presbyteries and
Synods to restrain them ineffectual. The king,
having the patronage of very raany parishes in
his hand, such ministers as expected favours from
the court, proraoted the intrusions with all their
raight ; and, in judicatories, and printed para-
phlets, denied and railed agamst the right of the
Christian people to elect their own pastors;
while Messrs. Currie, Hill, and others,- laboured
to establish that right.
Finding that they were like to be rauch troubled
with reraonstrances, dissertts, and protestations,
in Asserablies, Comraissions, and inferior judica
tories, the Asserably, 1730, refused to recoi-d
themj and to prevent any standing testiraonies
against their refusing to assert the truth, in di
rect opposition to professor Simson's errors and
blasphemies, and their violent procedure in the
intrusion of ministers, they enacted, that no rea
sons of dissent or protest should be recorded in
their minutes. Several remonstrances and peti
tions were given in to the Synods of Merse and
Lothian, as well as to the Assetobly 1731, but
no way regarded. A remonstrartce by forty-two
ministers and three elders, and another by about
1600 Christian people, raany of them ruling el
ders,, were presented to the Assembly 1 732, in
which they represented the many abounding de
fections, which grieved their spirit, as well as dis
honoured God, and tended to the ruin of his
church, and begged, that the Asserably would
address his raajesty and Parliament, for rescind
ing their acts imposing the sacramental test on

CHURCH OF Scotland: 429
the members of this church ; — establishing the
toleration, — restoring patronages, and for laying
aside the new form of swearing in the gospels,
- — and for allowing the addresses of this church,
though not directed to the spiritual Lords ; that
the Asserably would exert theraselves to put a
stop to the intrusion of ministers on reclaiming
congregations; would restrain commissions from
countenancing it, even where neither the Pres
bytery nor congregation, in the least, concur in
the call, trial, or ordination, of the candidate ;
that no appeals from Synods be judged by the
coraraission, unless the members of that sede
runt be supernumerary to these of the Synod,
in ministers, as well as elders ; that, if any of
the actings of the commission be contrary to the
constitutiorts and known principles of this churcbi
they shall be reversed, and themselves censured ;
that instead of judicatories being condemned any
more for testifying their displeasure at ca!ndi-
. dates's offensive acceptance of presentations, none
may be licensed or ordained, that favour that
course ; that the seventh act of Assembly 1 730,
prohibiting the recording of reasons of< dissent
may be repealed ; that, according to the injunc
tion of some former Assemblies, an act may be
made to restrain the legal and heathertish- man
ner of preaching lately introduced by sorae young
rairtisters artd preachers; — artd that a solerart war-
nirtg be eraitted by the Assertibly against Pro
fessor Sirason's errors, and others, which are
spread through the land, in order to prevent the
infection of thera. But neither of these reraon
strances were allowed so rauch as a hearing. But,
in consequence of an overture of the preceding
Assembly, not a little worse than that of J 719,

430 . A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
and contrary to the instructibns of most part of
Presbyteries that sent anj, they enacted, that
Protestant heritors, of any denorainatiort or char
acter, and elders, should be the only electors of gos
pel ministers This act was reckorted by raulti
tudes an overturning of Christ's spiritual king
dora, artd a robbirtg of his people of their spirit
ual rights, irt his narae and under pretence of
his authority. But the next asserably prohibit
ed the Presbytery of Dunferraline, and by conse
quence all others, to administer sealing ordi
nances to any, whose consciertce bihdered them
to submit to the rainistrations of an intruder vio
lently iraposed upon thera.
Several rainisters, in sermons before synods or
Presbyteries; as Avell as others, testified against
this act of 1732, respecting the election of mi
nisters. Among others, Mr. Ebenezer Erskine,
whose evangelical, clear, and raajestic .raanrter
Of preaching, raade hira highly respected by the
people, but disliked by many of his brethrert, in
his sermon, before the synod of Perth, in Octo
ber, 1732, testified against that act, and patro
nage, and sorae other prevalent coiTuptions, Af
ter three days' warra disputation, the synod ap
pointed hira to be rebuked at their bar for the
matter and manner of the quarreled parts of his
serraon. Twelve rainisters and two elders dis
sented. He appealed to the next Assembly, but
instead of receiving any redi-ess or protection,
he was ordered to receive a rebuke. Persuaded
that the truths of God, which he had maintained
in his serraon, were hereby injured, he protested
that, without violatinghis cortsciehce, he could not
subrait to tbe Asserably's sentertce — and that he
should be at liberty to give like testimonies

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 431
against the act, 1732, or other defections, on
any proper occasion. Messrs, Williara Wilson of
Perth, Alexander Moncrief of Aberrtethy, and
James Fisher of Kiriclaven, for exoneration of
their own consciertces, also protested agairtst the
serttence. Without allowing . these* four raini
sters to atterapt any defence of their conduct,
the Assembly appointed their Comraission, in
August next, to proceed against thera, by sus-
spertsion or higher censure, if they did not re
tract their protest, and profess their sorrow for
taking it. When the Comraission raet, 'these
ministers were,. with great difficiilty, allowed to
represent their minds, and adhering to their pro
test, they w^ere all suspended from the exercise
of their ministry. The Coraraission, in Novem
ber, finding them still irapenitertt, did,, by their
moderator's casting vote, loose thera frora their
relation to their congregations. They protested
for the validity of their office and continued rela
tion to their congregations, and declared a Se
cession, not frora the constitution of the church
of Scotland, but frora the prevailing party, in her
judicatories, ay and until they should returu to
their duty — ^because, 1. They were breaklug down
her Presbyterian constitution of church govern
ment — In trampling on and making decisions
contrary to the order prescribed by her barrier
laws, enacted In her purest times, for securing due.
deliberation irt forrairtg startdirtg laws artd gene
ral rules — in exerdsing a lordly power over the
consclencles of Christ's people, empowerirtg heri
tors artd elders to impose ort them whatever spi
ritual guides artd pastors they pleased — in pro
moting violent irttrusiorts of ministers on rCr
claiming congregations ; — in censoring and eject--
6

432 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
ing ministers merely fbr their protesting against
a sinful act of Asserably ;  -in allowing the
Commissions to usurp the power of Presby
teries in the settlement of pastors, if 'they re
fused to carry on violent intrusions — and in
threatening the highest censures to such as ad
rainistered the seals of God's covenant to those
whose consciertce hirtdered them from submit
ting to the ministry bf intruders. 2. They were
pursuing raethods evidently tending to cor
rupt the doctrines contained in their owrt Co?i-
fession of Faith — in so easily dismissing the pro
cess against Professor Simson, and refusing judi
cially to assert the truth in opposition to his er
rors artd blasphemies — in caressing Mr. Camp-
bel while he -spreads his erroneous tenets — artd
in perraittlrtg br ertcbur'agiug preachers to ertter-
talrt their hearers with dry harangues of alraost
,mere heathen raorality instead of the gospel of
Christ. 3. They were iraposing on rairtisters
sinful terms of comrauniort, artd breach of ordi
nation vows, in requiring them to forbear proper
and zealous opposition of the .prevalent course
of apostacy frora the doctrine, worship, govern
ment and discipline, of this church. 4. They
continued obstinate in their evil courses, uot-
withstandirtg all ordirtary means used to reclaim
thbra. Deeply affected with this rent, the honest par
ty in the church, exerted themselvs, to their nit-
most, in the choice of proper merabers for the
next Assembly, In order to have the leading
grievances redressed, and the breach healed. The
Asserably 1734, not without great opposition,
laboured to give an effectual check to thepieva-
lertt course of defection. They renewed and

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 433
strengthened the old acts of Assembly 1639,
1641, 1695,1697, 1700, and 1705, which had
been made to be barriers and fences of our con
stitution against innovations. They rescinded
the 7th act of Assembly 1630, which hindered
members to testify against wrong deeds of judi
catories, by recording their reasons of dissent,
because it was not made according to these har
rier acts. And, upon the sarae account, they re
pealed the Sth act of Asserably 1 732, above-men
tioned, because it gave too rauch countenartce to
violent settlements, and too much power to dis
affected heritors, and was unfavourable to the
liberties of the Christian people. They reversed
a violent settleraent of Auchterrauchty, raade by
the coramission against the will of the congre
gation and Presbytery, and thus declared the
deeds of the coraraission reversible. They had
probably cast out sOrae other intruders, if com
plaints had been regularly tabled before them.
They laid commissions under some ucav regula
tions, and prohibited thera to execute any settle
ments, when the Presbytery or Synod of the
bounds declined it. They empowered the Synod
of Perth and Stirling to restore the four ejected
ministers to their charges, without requiring any
acknowledgments from them, — which was soon
after done. They, by an act, declared, that due
and regular ministerial freedora was still left en
tire, notwithstanding the acts of 1733 against
them. They appointed a committee to forra an
overture for the right preaching of the gospel,
and for restraining the new-fashioned, legal, and
heathenish harangues. They enjoined their com
mission to appoint a national fast, which had
been for many years neglected, that all ranks
3 K

434 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
might mourn for the prevaUing defections of the
church and land, which they quickly did, but
many of the court party neglected to observe it.
They also empowered their comraission to ad-
dress the king and Parliaraent for relief from
patronages, which they did, but in vain. The
Asserably 1735, appointed the Synod of Fife to
grant seaUng ordinances to the people of Kinross,
as they shall find most for edification— artd let
ters were sent to some Presbyteries, allowing
thpra to treat others who had been oppressed by
violent settleraents, in the same manner. The
Assembly 1736, by an act, declared it the prin
ciples of this church. That no minister should be
intruded into any parish contrary to ihe will of
the congregation. By their 7th act, they enjoiu
ministers and preachers to warn their hearers
against any thing that tends to Atheism, Deism,
Arianism, Socinianism, Arminianism, Bburig-
nianism. Popery, Superstition, Antinomianism, — -
and to insist in their sermons on man's lost es
tate by nature, the necessity of supernatural
grace, and of faith in the imputed righteous-.
ness of Christ, — and chiefly labour to lead sin
ners from the covenant of works to that of grace
for life and salvation, and from sin and self to
Christ as a surety and saviour ; — and in pressing'
holiness, to shew thera their inability for and
aversion to every thing spiritually good, and that
union with Chriist is the true and only source of
all grace and holiness — and that raen's best per
formances and attainraents are but loss and dung
jn point of justification before God. And
they enjoin professors of divinity to irtstrurt their
students in preaching the gospel according to
this act ; and require Presbyteries, at their pri-

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 435
vy censures, to inquire concerning the observa
tion of it. But the countenance given by these
two last Asserablies to sorae violent intrusions,
or to Professor Campbell's errors, raade their
good acts little regarded ; and raade the four
.seceding rainisters lose all inclinations or
hopes of returning to the fellowship of the
church. MeanwhUe, one captain Porteous, a most aban
doned profligate, had been condemned to death for
several murders, but had been reprieved for a tirae,
by the. interest of some great raen. Provoked here
by, the raob, conducted by some skilful leaders,
banged him at Edinburgh in Septeraber, i736.
Enraged by their bold conduct, and perhaps,
groundlessly apprehensive that some ofthe more
strict ministers, who detested the reprieving of
such a notorious murderer, had encouraged the
mob, the king and Parliament, having fraraed an
act for the discovery of his murderers, appointed
all the ministers of Scotland to read it in the
tirae of God s public worship in their churches,
every first Sabbath in the raonth, for a whole
year, beginning in August, 1 7.^7, under this pe
nalty, for the first day's neglect, That ihey shall
he declared incapable of sitting or voting 'm any
church judicatory. Many ministers, looking on
several things in the act as inconsistent with
justice and equity ; and that it was not proper
for Christ's arabassadors of the gospel of peacp,
to becorae heralds or executors ofthe sanguinary
laAvs of men ; that the reading of such a civil act
frora the pulpit, on the Lord's day, in the tirae
of divine service, was a profanation of his Sab
bath and worship ; and that they could not ac
quiesce in the penalty annexed to the first ne-

436 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF THE
gleet, without practically owning the civil ma
gistrate head qfthe chUrch, having power to fix
the Qualifications and conditions of ministers' ex
ercise of their office in governing the church of
God, which they reckoned, at once contrary tP
the established doctrine of this church, and to
their own solemn engageraents to raaintain it.
Many others, especially such as had, or wished
for, court favour, raade a shift to come over those
scruples, and read at least part of the act, the
whole or part of the time. These different views
and practices produced some alienation between
the parties for a time ; but, after a few years,
they harmoniously agreed to bury it in oblivion.
The Seceding rainisters' publication of their
second Testimony, in which they had represented
the backslidings of church and state frora their
covenanted doctrine, worship, discipline, and go
vernraent, and laudable acts and constitutions
for supporting it, more plainly than most of the
established clergy wished, — and their supplying
of people with serraon, who could not submit to
intruders, or scrupled to hear the readers of the
act cortcerning captain Porteous, — having highly
displeased the ecclesiastical managers, — ^the As
serably 1 738 therefore appointed their coramis
sion to libel and cite thera to the next Assera
bly. When they, now increased to the number
of eight, appeared at the bar, they were inforraed
by the Asserably 1739, that they were ready to
drop all that was contairtcd in their libel and
every thing bygone, and receive thera with open
arms, providing they would, for the future, for
bear all separating courses, and join in the com
munion of the church. But, instead of such cotti-
pliance, these ministers solemnly declined the

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 487
Asserably and other estabUshed judicatories, as
not right constitute courts of Christ in their pre
sent condition, because instead of purging out,
they received and supported, intruders and other
scandalous persons, as raerabers ; because they
had generally, for many years past, been active
in carrying on a course of defection, tolerating
the erroneous, countenancing error, and enact
ing laws, by Avhich the liberties of Christ's mini
sters and people were suppressed ; and because,
by their reading of the Parliament's act concern
ing captain Porteous, they had submitted them
selves to the civil magistrate, as head ofthe
church, instead of Christ. This declinature so gall
ed the managers and others of the prevailing
party, that, without finding them guilty of either
error in doctrine, or scandal in practice, the As
sembly 1740 deposed thera frora all exercise of
their rainisterial office in this chuich.
Since that period things have been nothing
bettered, but rather grown worse. While prac
tical godliness in persons and farailies hath sadly
decayed, and error and irapiety of alraost every
kind have prevailed, and become fashionable,
^settlements of ministers have proceeded on the
footing of Patronage. But long custora hath ren
dered these, and all their soul-ruining consequeu
ces, less affecting, even to many of the godly.
Errors, and even scandalous practices, unless ex
tremely gross, ordinarily pass uncensured. Viola
tions of these coraraands, which imraediately res
pect God himself, are by many reckoned very
venial, or no transgressions. Little more than
gross acts of raurder, or approaches to it ; gross
and notorious uncleanness, and especiaUy di
rect theft and robbery, is practically held as either

438 A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF TliE
censurable by the church, or punishable by thb
state. The Seceders have now about two hun
dred ministers settled in Britain and Ireland,
besides others in America, But their falling
from their first love, indulgence of conformity to
the world, and their angry divisions about things
which many, of, themselves do not fully under
stand, have exceedingly marred their usefulness
in maintaining Christ's injured truths, and win
ning souls to his service. The Reformed Pres
bytery was formed about 1743, by Mr. John
M'Millan above-mentioned, and Thoraas Nairrr,
who left the Secession. In many things they re
semble the Seceders, but differ from them, in ira-"
pugning the present civil government. Their
splitting into parties, on a debate concerning the
extent qf Christ's death, weakened these old dis
senters, as they call themselves, and retarded
their increase. The Presbytery of- Relief origi
nated from Mr. Thoraas Gillespy, whora the Ge
neral Asserably in 1751 deposed, becausb he
would not, contrary to his conscience, assist in a
violent intrusion, — and some other ministers of
the church of Scotland, who, at their own hand,
left their established charges, and took up with
such people as invited them in other places.
Their scheme of admitting persons of different
denominations to sealing ordinances, and giving
their people an answerable allowance in hearing
and joining in sealing ordinances, is exceedingly
suited to the taste ofthe age.-;  But divisions
and other incidents have not a little retarded
their expected increase. Besides all these, there
are, I think, betvveen twenty and thirty thousand
Papists, who, notwithstanding all the laudable

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 439
dUigence of the Society for propagating Christian
Knowledge in that country, do chiefly swarm in
the north. How many Epi.-copaUan minsters or
people there be in Scotland at present, I do not
certainly know.

END OF THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND,

ADVERTISEMENT,

The Historical Account of ihe Rise and Pror
gress of ihe Secession, by the Rev. John Brown of
Haddington, is so intimately connected with the
History of the Church of Scotland, ihat it has heen
thought proper to annex it io the present volume. —
And the Publishers fi/itter themselves that it will he
considered, by the Public, as a valuable addition
to his History of the Scottish Church : the work of
" a man who," says one of his biographers, " though
"firm in his adherence io what he judged to he truth,
^' and strenuous in its defence, Was at the same time
" the friend qf forbearance both in principle and
" practice."

AN
HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
OF THE
RISE AND PROGRESS
OF THE
SECESSION. MR. JOHN BROWN,
LATE MINISTER OT THE GOSPEL AT HADBINGTOS.

HISTORICAL ACCOUNT

RISE AND PROGRESS

OF THE

SECESSION.

XHE connection of the Secession with forraer
events, renders necessary a rehearsal of a variety
of facts, prior to the.date of it. — Our reforraers
hot only published, but procured the establish
ment of the doctrines of Christ, maintained by
Calvin, in their Confession of Faith : they abb
introduced his scriptural plan of Presbyterian
church-government ; according to which, every
minister has equal power, and according to which
the ecclesiastical courts of Sessions, Presbyteries,
and Synods, are held of divine authority ; and
subordinated the former to the latter.
The great lines of this plan they marked out,
in their first book of discipline : a more clear and
distinct delineation thereof they gave in their se-

4 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
cond; which every minister among them was
required to subscribe. An express parliatQentary
ratification of this form of church-government,
they, after no sraall struggling, at last obtained
in 1592. In direct contradiction, however, to
their second book of discipline, patronage was
confirraed, ahd sundry other evUs not fully abo
lished. Quickly after, partly by fraud, partly by force.
King Jaraes gradually pulled down the Presby
terian forra of church-government, and set up the
Episcopalian in its stead. He assumed a spiritual
headship over all persons and causes in the church.
This the parliament required many of the sub
jects to acknowledge by oath. The simple and
scriptural form of worship, introduced by our re
forraers, he began to exchange for the supersti
tious one of the English, By his influence, a ge
neral asserably at Perth, chiefly composed of his
owrt creatures, admitted the five subsequent arti
cles, viz, kneeling at the Loid's Supper ; private ad
ministration of it to siok persons ; private admi
nistration of baiptism to distressed infants ; con
firmation of children by the laying on of the hands
ofthe Bishop ; and the annual celebration of five
holidays, coramemorating the nativity, death,.re-
surrection, and ascension of Christ, and the mira^
culous descent ofthe Holy Ghost, These, from
the place where tbey were enacted, are ordina
rily termed. The Articles qf Perth.
James had not finished his intended model
ling of our church, when death cut him off. His
son Charles I. with the assistance of Archbishop
Laud, bestirred himself, to render her altogether
English, or rather a little more Romish. Fired
with indignationat the tyrannical imposition of

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION, 5
half-popish canons, and liturgy, many of all ranks
in Scotland took the alarra. With the raost bold,
thoqgh patient struggling, they at last obtained
the royal indiction of a free asserably and par
liament. The assembly meeting first in 1638,
had plenty of rubbish to remove : — The national
covenant, sworn a little before, referred a vast
deal of raatter to their consideration. The six
packed meetings of the general assembly, which
assisted King James to deforra the church, they
annulled. The liturgy, the book of canons, and
of ordination ; the unlawful oaths of entrants to
the curacy; the office of Bishops; the High Cora-
mission-court ; and civil offices of kirkmen, they
condemned. The most active ringleaders in the
former apostacy, they censured. All the Bishops
were cited to their bar; and, notwithstanding of
whatever themselves, or the King's commissioner
could do, in their behalf, nine of them were ex
communicated, three of them deposed from all
office in the church, two of them deposed from
their Episcopal function, and suspended from the
ministry. The assembly, moreover, restored kirk-
sessions and synods, provincial and national,
agreeable to the order prescribed in the second
book of discipline ; and revived or enacted a num
ber of excellent rules for maintaining the order
and purity of the church. They not only con
tinued their raeeting after the King's coramis
sioner pretended to dissolve it, but expressly af
firraed their divine, ecclesiastical, and civil au
thority, to hold general assemblies, whenever it
is necessary. They nevertheless avowed that the
King, though a bigot for Prelacy, had power to
<;all and convene such courts; an'd in case he caU
ed one next year, they agreed to desert the diet.

6 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
which themselves had fixed, and observe that
which his Majesty should appoint.
This faithful assembly of Glasgow, King
Charles proclairaed to be, after his Comraission-
er's dissolutiou thereof, art unlawful and sedi
tious meeting; nor did any of the reforming
parliaments ever acknowledge its authority.
The substance of its principal acts the assembly
1 639 threw together itito a new act, and soften
ed some of the expressions. This the parliament
1640 explicitly ratified. They also revived the
fore-mentioned act of 1592, in all the ppints and
articles thereof; and expressly declared, that the
sole and only power and jurisdiction within this
kirk, stands in her sessions, Presbyteries, synods,
and general assemblies. With one consent both
church and state went forward, promoting re
formation, and suppressing Popery, Prelacy, and
profaneness ; and prompted their neighbours in
England and Ireland to follow their exaraple.
The Westrainster Confession of Faith and Cate-
chisras, with their Directory for Worship, were
ratified by both church and state. The West
rainster Form of Church-government was expressly
received by the church ; but never ratified by our
state. For eleven years of this re forrairtg period,' pa
tronage retained its legal force ; nay, by sorae
acts, both church and state, directly or indirect
ly, approved it. Care was, however, taken, that
no minister should be obtruded upon the Chris
tian people against their will. In 1 649, the par-
lian\ent entirely abolished it as a Popish custom,
and an oppressive grievance to the people of God.
In consequence hereof, the asserably that year
framed a Directory for the election of rainisters ;

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 7
tyhich, it is presumed, ascribes to the session
raore power than is allowed thera, by the ora
cles of Christ.
Nothing so rauch distinguished our ancestors,
as their public covenartting with God. Divinely
assured, that, in the days of Moses, Joshua, Asa,
Joash, Josiah, and Nehemiah, the Hebrews had^
with his approbation, thus dedicated themselves
and their seed to the Lord: Convinced that pub
lic covenanting is no where, in the sacred page,
represented as a ceremonial service, and so raust
be equally lawful under the New dispensation as
under the Old : Convinced that it was expressly
proraised to take place under the Gospel* ; and,
with apostolic approbation, was probably prac
tised in the Macedonian church f : Convincedj
that if subjects, on proper occasions, may enter
ihto a solemn association and bond, to promote
the service, honour, and safety of their Sove
reign, the professed subjects of Jesus Christ,
may, in a social raanner, devote themselves to
proraote his interest and honour: Convinced,
that if a nuraber of purchasers at once may take
but a charter for their property, wherein they
constitute themselves and their heirs the vassals
of a Prince, Duke or Lord; there can be nothing
unreasonable if a number of men take hold ofthe
everlasting covenant, and God in it, for their
God, and the God of their seed ; and hereon de-.
vote theraselves and posterity to be his honour
able vassals and servants: Convinced, that if one
man may soleranly devote himself to his Maker,
hundreds^ nay, thousands, raay do so together ;
Convinced, that if one, or more, may in baptism
• Isa. xix. 18, 21. t 2 Cor. viii. 5.

8 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
surrender his, seed to the Lord, a whole nation
may surrender their posterity to him ; — therefore
they did so in their public covenants.  Alway
supposing such vows good in their matter, plain
in their form, seasonable in their juncture, and
taken iu truth, judgment, and righteousness, our
ancestors were convinced, the three first precepts..
of the moral law approved thereof. The first
'^requires us to avouch the Lord to be our God ; —
why may not a nuraber do this together ? The
second enjoins our receiving, observing, and keep
ing, pure and entire, the ordinances of God's
worship; — why may we not vow to be faithful to
this. trust, and to cleave to the Lord? Especially,
when the third requires us to swear by his name,
and vow io the mighty God of Jacob.
Our ancestors knew, that the seasons pf pub
lic covenanting, specified in Scripture, were af
ter signal deliverances ; amidst threatenings of
sore trials and heavy judgraents ; or when ear
nestly endeavouring to withstand, or reforra from
signal corruptions. They thought the occasions
whereon they practised it, tallied therewith.
When the Popish powers abroad were forraing
their league, to extirpate the Protestant cause,
and its adherents; was it unseasonable for King
James, and his councU, prompted by the church,
to set on foot the national covenant, or for the
church to require the subscription thereof? — •
When King Charles, Achbishop Laud, and their
creatures, combined to bury tbe pure worship
of God, the Presbyterian form of church govern
ment, and the civil Uberties of the nation, was ifc
unseasonable for the tables ofthe nobles to set on
foot the renovation of the national covenant ;\

Rise and progress of the secession. 9
and stir up their brethren, to swear to maintain
these valuable points ?
Wi'th respect to the matter of their covenants,
our fathers were ready to defy their adversaries,
to show thera any thing renounced, that was not
prohibited by the divine law ; or any thing es
poused, that, was not therein required. In 1580
and 1581, Popery in general, and irt raany par
ticular heads, was abjured ; and the Protestant
religion, in doctrirte, worship, discipline, and
government, then professed, was sworn to. In
1590 an engageraertt to defend the King's person'
and authority was subjoined. In 1596 they con
fessed their various gins, and engaged to walk
more circuraspectly for the future. In' 1638 ths
- maintenance of the true Protestant religion, and
of the civil authority of King Charles, then a
Prelatic persecutor ; aii opposition to Laud's ca.
nons and liturgy ; aud a forbearance of some no
vations already introduced, till tried and allowed
in a free general assembly : together with the
leading of holy and exemplary lives ; and the as
sistance and defence of one another, in fulfiUing
these vows — were sworn tb and engaged. Epis
copal government, the five articles of Perth, and
the civil places and power of kirkraen (whose
lawfulness was left undetermined in the cove
nant 1638, irt order that Episcopals, as "^11
as others, might take it) beirtg cortdemrted by the
assembly that year, the covenant was afterward
subscribedj as importing a renunciatiort of these
novations. •
In the solemn league, most of the Scots, and
multitudes in Englartd and Ireland, swore, in
their places and callings, to endeavour the pre
servation pf religion in Scotland, and the refor-

10 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
mation of it in England and Ireland, according
to the word of God, and the example of the best
reformed churches ; and so proraote an unifor
mity of religion in all the three kingdoras, that
they and their children raight live together in
faith and love, and the Lord delight to dwell
araong thera. . ¦
_ They engaged, in their respective stations, to
endeavour the abolishing of Popery, Prelacy,
superstition, heresy, schisra, profaneness, or what
ever else is contrary to sound doctrine and the
power of Godliness, They swore to promote the
peace of the nation ; to support the authority of
the King, and the privileges of the parliaraent ;
and to proraote union araong theraselves in pro
secuting these laudable ends. — In 1648 the Scgts,
purged of many rotten-hearted professors, by the
English defeat of Duke Harailton's engageraerttj
urtdertaken in favour of King Charles I. made
an extensive acknowledgment of their breaches
ofthe soleran league : Error, heresy, schisra. In
dependency, Anabaptism, Antinomianisra, Fami-
lisra, Libertinisra, Scepticisra, and Erastianisra,
then rarapartt in Britain, were abjured ; the
maintenance of King Charles, still a strict Epis-
copaliart, his authority, aud of the liberties of both
church and state, was engaged to. What thing
unlawful is here espoused ? What thing lawful is
here renounced ? What is here sworn to, that is
not implied in the ordinatiort vows of every mir
nister of the established church ? What that is
not iraplied in every candid adherence to the
Westrainster Confession of Faith ? What that is
hotimpliedineveryproperbaptismalengagement? Whatever rigour they used, in imposing these
covenants; whatever allowance they gave any to

llISE AND PROGRESS oF TliE SECESSION; 11
swear. thera, who did not understand, thera, ot
who did not appear inclined to perforra his vowSj
must never be justified. It is certain they were
less culpable on these heads than many suppose;
Notwithstandirtg of the compulsory laws, I scarce
find an instance of any forced to take the cove
nants, except by Montrose and Monro, who were
military meo, and both of them at last noted
enemies to the genuine covenanters. It is cer
tain multitudes took these covenants with cheer
fulness, knowledge, and candour ; and that sur
prising evidence of sobriety, and serious godli*
ness, appeared araong thera ; prayerless and pro
fane persons, or faraUies, were held as a detesr
table nuisance. Their very armies reserabled a
congregation of saints. Multitudes suffered to
the death, for adhering to these vows, and died
rejoicing in God their Saviour. Whora God thus
honoured, let not us dare to calumniate as fools^
and lavish of their lives.
The ratification of these covenants by the state,
on sorae of the covenanting occasions, no doubt
inferred a civil security of the religion therein
espoused, even as the ratification of the Cortfes-
sion of Faith, and other subordinate standards,
inferred a civil .security to the Protestant reli
gion therein exhibited- But as the latter raakes
not the Protestant religipn a mere state religions
neither did the fprmer render the covenants
merely state covenants. In the national, the co
venartters expressly declare, that therein they
join theraselves to the true protestant church, as
lively members of the same in Christ their Head,
Times without number, they represent their
engagements as covenants with God, which ne
cessarily Infers their reckoning them reUgious,

12 ' AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
not state covenants, which cannot be made witb
God, without supposing a renovation of the Jew
ish Theocracy, in which God sustained the cha
racter of principal Magistrate. In 1596, and
1638, the most noted occasions of covenanting,
they were not so much as influenced by the
sraallest injunction frora the state. In 1643
and 1648 the other two raost reraarkable Sea
sons thereof, the ecclesiastical authority had the
lead, and the civil did little else than add its
sanction to what appointraents the church had
made. And in every period, rainisters, not states-
mert, were the ordinary administrators of these
oaths. '"'-. ^
In this covenanting wPrk, they never intend-
eel a mere acknowledgment of the obligation of fhe
divine law, with respect to the duties contained
in their covenant; but a morestrict bindingofthem-
selves to these necessary duties, hy a new and super
added obligation. An obligation not increasing
the original obligation ofthe divine law to these
duties, but one entirely distinct frOra; and su
peradded thereto. In this view have all na
tions bf raankind, in all ages, made use of secon
dary obligations, of promises, bonds, vows, pro
missory oaths, as means of more deeply irapress-
Ing the original martdates Of the law of nature or
revelatiPrt, bythe cortstitiitipn of a new, solemn,
and distinct obligation, which cannot be violat
ed, without superadding the new and distinct
criraes of irtfidelity, treachery, and perjury, to
that of rebellion against, and disobedience to,
the original requireraent of the raoral law. The
obligation of the divine law tP perforra the du
ties contained in the covenants was the sarae
thousands of years ere they were thought of, and

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THK SECESSION. 13
would have been the sarae? suppose they had ne
ver been thought of, and is entirely divine. The
law of God warrants tiie constitution of the ob
ligation of lawful covenants to duty; and when
it is constituted requires the fulfil raeJit thereof;
and enforces the sarae with a divine sanctiort of
rewards, in case of fulfilment, and of punishment,
in case of breach. But this obligation, and which
alone is the obligation of the covenant, hath no ex
istence before the first covenanting act, and is
constituted by iti The divine obligation of the
moral law. extends equallyto all men. The ob
ligation of covenants being constitute'd by a hu
man act, in obedience to the law of God, extends
only to such as either iraraediately or raediately
engage in those covenants*, and relates only to
this imperfect state.
That the obligation of the national covenant
and solemn league is perpetual, binding the
whole natiort, in this and succeeding ages, is evi
dent. 1. The things covenartted are duties required
irt the law of God; and so it cannot but.be for
the honour of God, and the good of the nation,
and every person therein, they be perpetually ob
served. 2. These covenants were public deeds of our
fathers, who had power to dedicate us to the
Lord, in that, manner, as well as in baptism. —
And from God's anciertt 'grartt of the nation to
his Son, Psal. li. 8. Isa. xiii. 4. &c. they had
strong encouragement to do so. The covenant
ing work in Scotlartd was so often repeated, and
on some occasions, particularly in 1638, so uni-
* See Synod's Catechism on third Command.

14 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
versal, that it is sclirce probable thore is a
Scotch family on the Continent, which is not de
scended frora sorae covenartter *.
'S, These covenants were public deeds of the
represejitatives of both church and state, acqui
esced in by the subjects, and so as binding as
the covenant of Israel with the Gibeonites, which
was only sworn by the Princes of the congrega
tion,. Josh, ix, an.d yet continued bindirtg on the
whole nation four hundred years afterward,
2 Sara. xxi. . . ¦
4. These covenartts were public deeds of the
body of tlie adult members in both church and
state, and often repeated and ratified by the su
preme authority of both, and so binding upon the
'Whole church and nation, and their posterity af
ter them, Deut, v, 2, 3. and xxix, 1 — 15f»
Even the public curse imprecated by the Jews,
met at the pa'ssover, Math, xxvii. 25. hath afr
fected their, whole nation and their posterity.
Without supposing that public covenants of pa
rents, and of, representatives of church or state.
Or of the greater part of a society, were bind
ing on their descendants, the body represented
the whole society, and such as accede thereto,.
there could be no dependence on public covenants
" See Rapin, vol. ii. fol. 303. Hume's Hist, on ann. 1638, , p. «f. 257,
Neal's Hist. Puritans, -vol. ii. p. m. 259. 260 261. Dickson, Henderson,
and Cant's Answers to, and Replies of, Doctors of Aberdeen, p 4, 40, 44 77.
97. Spang's Historia Motuum, p 60. Brown's Apologetical Belation, p. 48.
Hind let Loose, p. 77, S14-T-520. Livingston's Life, p. S2. Bislop
Guthrie's Memoirs, p. 35. Stevenson's Hist. vol. ii. p 291 — 297, 311, 445.
Willison's Testim. p. 7. Wilson's Defence, p. 240 — 343. Cruickshank's
Hist. vol. i. p. 33. , •
-f- Por proof of the perpetual ofeligation of these covenants, see Traior-
eus's Covenanters' Plea, Croft's Fa-steniBg of Peter's fetters, Hind let' Loose,
p. 514—520. Brown's Apologetical Relation, p. 327 to-414. See alsa
Brown's Letter on tlie perpetual obligation of the Scotch Covenants, Walker's
Serraons, both lately pubUslied.

BISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 15
and treaties in, or between societies. Whenever
the iraraediate covenanters, or often a few of
thera, died or lost their power, the obligation of
the treaties would be voided, and so all things
kept in confusiou.
Twelve years of reformatiort were scarce elaps*
ed, when all the above advances therein began to
be plucked up by the roots. To support King
Charles II. against Cromwell, but contrary to
soleran ertgageraents, wicked raalignants were
received into places of power and trust. By this,
both church and state were thrown into fearful'
disorders. Those of the general assembly, who
countenanced tliis prorarscuous admission, were
called Resolutioners : these who warmly opposed
it, were designed .the Protesters. The nation
was overspread, and torn asunder by the warm
est animosity, and the mutual censures betwixt
them. Cromwell having routed their King, and
forced him to flee the country, restricted both
parties. When Charles II. was restored lo his kingdora,
anno 1 660, he, and raost of his subjects, profane
ly trarapled on their solemn vows. Zealously,
and at no small expense, had the covenanters
supported his interest, and proraoted his restora
tion : Destruction and ruin were their only re
ward. Their covertanted reforraation, frora 1 637
to 1650, was declared null aud void; and rauch
of it rebellious and treasonable. Their cove
nants were -declared unlawful, and not binding
on the swearers; raany of the subjects were
obliged soleranly to renounce them as such ; by
order of authority they were publicly burnt; and
it was declared treasonable to give or take thenii
Episcopacy was restored and 'advanced. The

16 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
King was declared suprerae head of the church
in all causes, to whora the ordering of her whole
external governraent did solely belong, as an in
herent right of 'his crown. By oaths, declara
tions, or tests, the subjects were required to jus
tify these odious crimes. Such as faithfully op
posed, were fined, iraprisoned, tortured, banish
ed, or murdered, under, and without colour of
law. At the very beginning, about twO-thirds
of the ministry corapiled with the court. Not a
few others, too cowardly, deserted their judica
tures and flocks : many accepted of an indul
gence to preach, flowing from Charles's supre
macy, and harapered with sinful restrictions, as,
that they should not meddle with the Sovb-
reigrt's spiritual headship ; should not marry, or
adrait to the seals of the covenartt, arty who re
sided in the congregations of curates, unless at
tested by thero; should either attend the Pre
latic courts, or confine themselves to their own
parish, &c. They afterward thanked the Duke
of York fbr his toleration, clearly founded ort
his claim to absolute power, aud calculated to
introduce the whole •delusion, idolatry, and ty-
rartrty of Antichrist.
In 1688, when Jaraes and his agents were just
going to wreath the yoke of Popery and slavery
about our necks, God ejected hira from his throne,
and crushed his desigrts. Tbe parliaraertt which
met thereafter, abolished prelacy, the King's su
premacy in ecclesiastical aff'airs, the Yule va-
cance, together with the persecuting acts of the
preceding period. Its wicked oaths and declara
tions, they discharged; and, in room thereof, ap
pointed a simple oath of allegiance, and a* solemn
declaration of fidelity to our SovereignKing Wil-
6'

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 17
liara. Theyrevived and confirmed all former laws,
insofar as against Popery, and for the raaintenance
of the truerefornied Protestant religion. They rati
fied the Westminster Confession of Faith, and en
grossed it into their act. They ratified and confirm
ed Presbyterian church government and discipline,
as agreeable to the word qf God, and most conducive
to the advancement of trite piety and godliness, and
the establishing of peace and tranquillity within this
realm. They revived the 114th act of the par
liament 1592, in so far aS it established the same;
and rescinded all acts and laws in so far as con
trary to said Protestant religion, and Presbyte
rian government and discipline. The govern
raent of the church they lodged in the hands of
such ministers as had been ejected for opposing
Prelacy. They abolished patronage ; but lodg
ed the election of ministers in the hand of heri
tors and elders, with the consent of the congre
gation. They made a variety of exceUent acts
against profaneness and blasphemy. Queen
Anne's first parliament further ratified the triie
Protestant religion, together with the worship,
discipline, and governraent of this church ; and
declared the unalterable continuance thereof an
essential and fundamental condition of the union,
ih all time coming.
In 1690, the General Assembly spent the first
day of their raeeting in soleran fasting, and la
menting over the sins ofthe land. The forraer
asserablies concerned in the above-raentioned
public resolutions, were given up to oblivion.
Whatever censures the resolutioners or protesters
had passed upon one another, were declared null
and void. In the act for a national fast, a mul
titude of the abominations of the persecuting pe-

18 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT Of THE'
riod were condemned and lamented. The par-r
liament's settlement of religion was acquiesced
in without any complaint. In the acts of this,
and other subsequent assemblies, we find a va
riety of occasional hints, implying an acknow
ledgment of the authority of the general assem
blies frpm 1638 to 1650. TiU after 1710, espe
cially in acts fur fasting, we find frequent hints
of the binding obligation of our covenants. In
the Commission's Seasonable Admonition, ratified
by the assembly 1699, and in sorae acts of fol
lowing assemblies*, w^e have as full an assertion
of Christ's sole headship over his church ; of her
intrinsic power ; and of the divine right of Pres
byterian governraent, as can be met with in the
records of this church. In 1706 the Corarais
sion reraonstrated against subjecting the nation,
in any degree, to the authority of the English
Bishops, as spiritual lords in the British parlia
ment ; and against making the confirraation of
Prelacy in England an essential condition of the
union. In 1711, the Coraraission, and in 171^,
the Asserably, warraly remonstrated against the
British parliament, their granting a toleration
to all sects, except Papists and blaspheraers ; and
against their restoring of patrpnage.
King WUliam and his managers were far enough
frora being hearty friends to a covenanted refor
mation, or willing to allow of the ejection of loy
al Episcopalian clergy, whose lives were tolera
ble. For fear of provoking him and his agents
to oppose or subvert the establishraent of Pres
byterian governraent and discipUne, the princi
pal promoters of the revolution minced matters,
* Admon. p. 5. Ass. 1705. act 7. 16. Ass, 1707. act 11. Ass.
1711. act 10.

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THfi SECESSION. 19
as far as their consciences would permit. Hence
a number of well-disposed persons in the revolu
tion church, thought the procedure of both par
liaraent and asserably defective. Considering the
horrid wickedness ofthe persecuting period, they
were displeased that the threefold representation
of grievances, especially that by Mr. Shields and
his brethren, presented to the assembly l690,
was refused to be read or considered ; that the
wicked oaths, acts, indulgencies, and persecution,
and other evils of that period, were not more ful
ly and plainly condemned, and the testimonies of
the martyrs against them clearly approven.
Considering the indignity done to the work of
reformation between 1638 and 1650, they were
persuaded it ought not to have been so much
overlooked, or left under any slur, but soleranly
and plainly approven. Considering what daring
indignity had of late been done thereto, they
thought the sole headship Of Christ over his
church, together with her intrinsic power, and
the divine right of Presbytery, should have been
more clearly, and still more solemnly, asserted,
in acts made for that very purpose. They were
grieved that our covenants were not more so
lemnly and particularly approven, and their ob
ligation upon posterity more fully asserted and
evinced ; and that no steps were taken towards
the renovation thereof. They were off'ended that
noted persecutors possessed civil places of power
and trust, and were so easily admitted to sealing
ordinances, and even to the office of elders in the
church : — off'ended that the Bishops' early flight
to England, and the favour of some great men,
screened thera frora church-censure ; and that
many curates were admitted by the church into

20 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
ministerial feUowship, without any express re
nunciation of abjured Prelacy, or profession ofspr.r
row for their corapliance with it. They were of
fended that the raeetings of the General Assem
bly were so tamely dissolved, or prorogued, at
the will of King William, or Queen Anne.
It is easy to see that such persons would hearti
ly detest the parliament's consenting to the con
firmation of Prelacy in England, as an essential
condition of the union ; and reckon it contrary
to Scripture, and a plain burial of the solemn
league, wherein we are engaged to endeavour the
reformation of England from Prelacy : — would
be grieved with the introductiort frora England,
of the abjuration-oath, as a qualification for ci
vil offices ; of custom-house-oaths ; of unnecessa
ry repetition of oaths ; of superstitious swear
ing by touching and kissing the GospeL ; and
of Scotsmen's receiving the Lord's Supper in
the English manner, as a qualification for civil
offices, while serving the Sovereign in England ;
and with the parliament's restoration of patro
nage, and the superstitious Yule vacance of our
civil courts ; and with their granting an almost
unliraited toleration. But it was the iraposition of
the abjuration oath, especially upon the minis
try, which then occasioned the raost mournful
offence and division in the church. Every true
Presbyterian heartUy abhorred Popery, and de
tested the Pretender for its sake : but knowing
that God had expressly prohibited the taking of
his narae in vain, and that he will not hold hira
guiltless that taketh his name in vain, Exod.
XX. 7.— -that forwardness in swearing oaths is
marked as part of a wicked raan's character,
Eccl. ix, 2, and great caution therein as part of

RISE AVT) PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION, 21
the character of a Saint, Gen, xxiv, 2 — 9. Know
ing that every oath ought to be for confirraation,
to raake an end of strife, Heb. vi, 16. and so
ought, as far as the terras can adrait, to be ta
ken in the sense of the imposer ; — that it ought
to be sworn in truth, and irt judgment, and irt
righteousness, Jer. iv. 2, artd with a single eye to
the glory bf God, 1 Cor, x. 31. Knowing that
we in this land can take no oath contrary to our
public covenants, the national and splemn league,
wherein we abjure Ppppry, Prelacy, superstitious
ceremonies, Erastianism, schism, &c. without in
volving ourselves in the most fearful perjury ;—
many truly loyal, judicious, and godly ministers
and Christians scrupled at taking it, or even at
joining in church-fellowship with these mini
sters who took it. Besides other objections.
1. They thought that oath unnecessary, and
so a taking of the name of the Lord their God
IN VAIN ; — as every thing lawful therein contain
ed, is just the raoraent before sworn in the alle
giance, and soleranly engaged to in the assur
ance. It moreover appeared to them, that this
oath was of no use to exclude treacherous Jaco
bites frora places of power or trust, or to secure
the Protestant succession in the faraily of Hano
ver. — The iraposition of it both in 1 702 and 1711
being chiefly owing to Jacobitical influence ; and
none raake less scruple to take it than most of
the Jacobites.
2. Notwithstanding the jura);)ts being ohUged
to profess, upon oath, that every word in it has
a plain and common sense, in which they swear
they ta^e it, without any secret reservation what
soever, they foundin it several expressions which
they deemed unsafe ; as to svi^ear the sovereign

22 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
to be LAWFUL and rightful king of all tbe do
minions and countries belonging to Great Bri
tain ; as they hardly knew what countries Bri
tain claimed ; or the lawfulness of her claim to
sorae of them ; nay, suspected her claim to sorae
of them to be merely founded on treachery and
violence :-. — to swear they would to the utmost
of their power defend the sovereign against all
attempts which should be made against his dig
nity, which they were certain, in the original
forra of the oath, included his spiritual headship
over the church, as Well as his civil supremacy ;
and in most part of his dominions certainly re
tains the same signification ; nor hath it ever
been declared, that it hath not that signification
when the oath is sworn in Scotland : — and to
swear they would do their best endeavours to
disclose all treasons, i. e. whatever was declar
ed treason by the Scotch, English, and British
laws ; when they had scarce access to examine
all these laws, and were scarce satisfied that every
thing they declared treasonable was really so.
3. As the parliament of England, in their ori
ginal imposition of this oath, had expressly de
clared, that one end thereof was the perpetual
maintenance qf the church qf England, as by law
established, i. e. as corrupted with Popish Prela
cy and ceremonies. — And in this oath the jurant
swears, that he will to the uterraost of his power
maintain the liraitation and succession of the
British crown as it is, or which stands limited
by an English act, which expressly requires the
Sovereign to be qfthe communion qf the church of
England, and to swear io maintain her as by law
established; — they thought the oath engaged
them indirectly to support Prelacy and the cere-

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. '23
monies in England, and to endeavour to shut up
the King to swear a sinful oath, and practise un
lawful church-fellowship as a condition of enjoy
ing his royal powers and privileges. — This they
looked upon as contrary to Scripture, 1 Thess.
V. 22. Eph. V. II. Col, U. 20,21. Luke xxii.
24 — 27. and expressly contrary to our covenants,
whereby Prelacy and ceremonies, whether in
Scotland or England, are abjured as sinful, and
to be extirpated. Many even thought that a
swearing to raaintain the succession of the crown
against all others, to the heirs qf the body of So
phia, upon the siraple conditiort of their being
Protestants, was unlawful, as being contrary to
sorae fundaraental laws of the kingdom ; and as
it might, in a variety of supposable cases, in
volve the adherent to this oath, in unreason
able conduct.
4. When they judged the swearing of this
oath an unnecessary taking of God's name in
vain ; when they looked on the above and other
expressions of it as obscure or unsafe; when they
looked on it, as including an engageraent to the
indirect and mediate maintenance of Prelacy,
and the ceremonies in England ; and when they
moreover knew, that, contrary to manifold laws
of God, Lev. xix. 14. Deut. xxvii. 18. Rom. xiv.
13 — 22, andxv. i — 3, 1 Cor.x.28.31 — 33. and viu.
9 — 13. Rora xvi. 17, IS. Matth. xvUi, 6, 7. they
would, in taking it, lay sturabUng-blocks in the
way of others; encourage or harden sorae in tak
ing it rashly and ignorantly in the too comraon
manner ; or, in taking it frequently, perhaps se
veral times in one day or week, to qualify them
for ditferent offices in the state ; or give occasion
to contention, schism, evU-speaking, and rautual

24 AN HISTORICAL ACCObl^T OF THE
reviling, in the societies wherewith they were
connected — they could not allow themselves, for
fear of any human penalty, to take it hearti'l-?
and WILLINGLY, as every jurant has to swear he
doth.— To these reasons, a variety of answers
were published ; but destitute bf that candbur
or clearness necessary to satisfy a duly tender
ahd well-informed conscience, in the awful and
solemn point of an oath.
AVhile the affair of the abjuratiOh-bath conti
nued rending the church, Mr. John Sirason, pro
fessor of divinity at Glasgow, in his defences to
the asserably, against Mr. Jaraes Webster, raain
tained, that Heathens have an iraplicit discovery
of rederaption through Christ : that if they, or
otherSj with such raoral seriousuess, as they are
by nature capable of, use the raeans of happi
ness they have, they shall certainly obtain sav
ing grace and endless felicity : that all infants
have their souls formed as plire and holy as
Adam's was, and dying in nonage, shall probably
be saved : that no proper covenant of works was
made with Adam, as the representative of his
posterity : that our own happiness ought to be
our chief end in the service of God: that there is
no immediate precourse of God attending, and
influencing the acts of his reasonable creatures :
and that there will be no sinning in hell after the
last judgraent.-^- After tedious altercations, at
various raeetings, the asserably 1717 found these
positions no more but opinions not necessary to be
taught in divinity; opinions not evidently founded
in Scripture, and sotne of them tending to attribute
ioo much io the power ofcmrupt nature : and they
discharged him, or any other under their inspec
tion, to propagate them.

RrSE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 25
That very day, however, they condemned, as
most unsound and detestable, this proposition,
That it is unsound to teach. We must forsake our
sin in order to come io Christ, and to instating us in
covenant with God. This was thought a plain
affirming, that we ought to forsake our sin,
saving ourselves from the love, power, and prac
tice thereof, before we come to Christ, as the
only Saviour; or have any interest in his new-
covenant blessings. To give a check to this, and
other legal errors, then too rampant, a noted Eng
lish treatise, entitled, The Marrow of Modern
Divinity, was republished, with a recommenda
tory preface by Mr. Jaraes Hog, one of the ho
liest rainisters in the kingdom. For about eighty
years this treatise had raaintained a considera
ble chaiacter with the serious : now, the Assem
bly 1720, many of whose raerabers, it was shrewd
ly suspected, had never much, if at all, perused
it, condemned a great number of passages there
in, and charged ministers to warn their people
against reading it. In this hasty attack, they
too plainly condemned the offering of Christ as
a Saviour to all men, or to men as sinners ; and
the maintaining, that believers are fully deliver
ed from the commanding and condemning power
of the law as a covenant of works. They too
plainly asserted our holiness to be a federal, or
conditional.' means of our obtaining everlasting
happiness ; and that slavish fear of ertdless rai
sery, and legal hope of future blessedness, ought
to influence the saints in their study of gospel-
holiness. — These almost entirely scriptural ex-
prbssions, that believers are not undeY fhe lau),
and do not commit sin ; ihat the Lord sees no sin
in them, and cannot be angry with ihem ; they de-
d

26 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
clared Arttirtoraian paradoxes. The distinction
of the raoral law into the forras of a covenant,
and of a rule of duty in the hand of Christ, used
in order to explain these expresions, they utterly
conderaned. Messrs. Thoraas Boston, Ebenezer
and Ralph Erskines, with nine others, reraon
strated against this decision ; and in their an
swers to the Commission's twelve queries, with
no small evidence elucidated the truth. The As*
sembly 1722 resuraed the affair, rebuked the
twelve representers for some expressions in their
represerttatiort, artd made an act explaining and
eortfirraing the act of 1 720 relative thereto. This,
though nnt so gross as the forraer, the represent
ing brethren protestbd against, as injurious to
truth; but the Asserably refused to raark their
protest. Not a few rainisters, in order to avoid
the raost distant appearance of favouring the
Marrow, seeraing to becorae raore legal in their
doctirne than forraeriy, great nurabers of serious
Christians crowded after the representers and
their friends. These, notwithstartdirtg of their
distinguished holiness of practice, and zealous
recoraraendirtg of it to their hearers, were ex
ceedingly traduced, as new scheraers, and Anti
noraian encouragers of a licentious life.
Probably their reproach and trouble had been
more extensive, bad rtOt a flagrant report spread
abroad, that Mr. John Sirason not only con-
teraned the Assembly's prohibition, and taught
his fore mentioned errors ; but had taught, that
Jesus Christ is not necessarUy existent: that the
persons in the Godhead are not the very same in
substance: that necessary existence, supreme Deity,
and being the only true Gqd, raay be taken in a
sense iraportlng the personal property of the Fa-

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 27
ther, and so not belonging to the Son and Holy
Ghost. — The teacliing of these Arian tenets was
suflSciently proved against him. But to the As
sembly he presented declarations in orthodox
language ; and after much quibbling, professed
his sorrow for some of the offensive expressions
that were proved against him. When the pro
cess had continued more than two years, the As
sembly 1 728 suspended hira frora the exercise of
all ecclesiastical function, till another assembly
should think fit to take off the sentence. The
Asserably i729 further declared, that it was not
proper to entrust hira any more with the train
ing up of young men for the holy rainistry. The
libel relative to his continuing to teach his for».
mer errors, was fully proved, but left undis
cussed. Many were offended, that his blasphe
my and error were so slightly censured^
Not long after, Mr. Campbell, Professor of
church history in the university of St. Andrew's,
in his printed tracts, ridiculed close walking with
God, and consulting hira in all our ways, as en
thusiasm. He averred, that, in the interval be
tween Christ's death and resurrection, his disci
ples looked upon hira as a downright impostor.
He maintained that self-love is the chief motive,
and standard of all actions, religious or virtu
ous. He asserted, that the existence of God, and
the iraraortality of the soul, cannot be known by
the light of nature : and that the laws of nature
are a certain and sufficient rule to direct ration
al minds to happiness; and. our observation there
of the great means pf our real and lasting feli
city. — These he so varnished over, in his de
fences, that he never was censured on account
ef thera. This added to the former offence.

28 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
The raal-adrainistratiort of church-governmertt
was now become notorious and glaring. For
about thirteen years after Queen Anne had re
stored patronage, none accepted the presenta
tion unless he had the call or consent of the
Christian people. The British parliaraent in
1719 expressly declared, that unless the candi
date accepted, the presentation was null. How
easily then might the church have restrained
her candidates from accepting ! But it was, aud
is more and more otherwise. During Mr, Sim
son's last process, the violent intrusion of pre
sentees upon reclairaing congregations began.
To cut off standing testimonies against their
own sinful conduct, the Assembly 1730, by an
express act, discharged marking the reasons of
any protest or dissent in their minutes. Nay,
in this and some subsequent Assemblies, it be
carae fashionable to refuse to record the dissents
or protests theraselves. Against this, and other
growing defections, about forty rainisters, and
sixteen hundred people, presented a warra re
monstrance to the Assembly 1732, and begged a
judicial assertion of truth, in opposition to Mr,
Simsdn's errors. These representations the As
serably refused to hear: and, contrary to instruc-.
tion frora the far greater part of presbyteries
which sent anyj they enacted, that Protestant
heritors, whether prelatic Jacobites or not, and
elders, should be the sole electors of gospel-rai-
nisters. This act was reckoned an overturning
of Christ's spiritual kingdora, in his own narae ;
and a robbing his people of their spiritual privi
lege, under pretence of his authority. Next As
sembly, undeV pain of the highest censure, pro
hibited the Presbytery of DumferUne, and by

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION, 29
consequence every other, to allow sealing ordi
nances to such whose conscience could not sub
mit to the ministry of a presentee, violently ob
truded upon thera. According to this, many be
hoved either to trample on their conscience, and
the Christian law, or to be held as Heathen men
and publicans.
Meanwhile Mr. Ebenezer Erskine, in a serraon
before the Synod at Perth, October 1732, de
cried patrortage, and the Asserably's above-raen
tioned act, relative to the election of ministers,
and some other prevalent courses of defection.
After three days of warm disputation, the sy
nod ordered him to be rebuked at their bar, for
the matter and manner of his serraon. Twelve
ministers and two elders dissented. Himself ap
pealed to the ensuing general Assembly. But,
instead of redress, that supreme judicature ap
pointed him to receive a rebuke at their bar.
Conceiving the truths of God affirmed in his ser
mon were hereby injured, he protested, that
without violating his conscience he could not
subrait ; and that he should be at liberty to give
a like testiraony on every proper occasion. For
their own exoneration, Messrs. William WUson,
Alexander Moncrief, and James Fisher, adhered
to his protest. Without allowing these four bre
thren to atterapt a defence of their conduct, the
Asserably appointed their Coraraission to proceed
againt thera, in August rtext, by suspension, or
higher censure, if they did not retract their pro
test, and profess their sorrow for taking it. In
August, being hardly permitted to declare their
mind, and stUl adhering to their protest, they
were suspended from the exercise oftheir office.
In November, the Commission stUl finding thera

80 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
impenitent, did, by their raoderator's casting
vote, loose their rainisterial relation to their re
spective congregations. These four brethren
protested, that their office, and their relation to
their congregations, should be held as valid as
if no such sentence had been passed; artd they
declared a secession, not frora the constitution of
the church of Scotland, but from the prevailing
party in her judicatures.
That they raight regularly adhere to their
principles, and afford relief to such as were op
pressed with intrusions, they quickly after, with
prayer and fasting, constituted themselves into
an ecclesiastic court, which they termed, the As
sociate Presbytery. Their rainutes bear, that
Messrs, WUson and Moncrief, soon after, fraraed
their first testimony to^ the doctrine, worship,
discipline, and governraent of the church of Scot
land; and that this was judicially approven 1 7^4,
in their raeetings at Colfargy and Dunfermline.
Herein they exhibit their reasons of secession,
and which readers ought carefully toobserve, viz,
1 , That the prevailing party, in the establish
ed judicatures, were breaking down ihe Presbyte
rian constitution of church-government, by their
trarapling upon, and raaking decisions irt an or
der quite contrary to that prescribed in the 6am.
er acts of this church, in her purest tiraes, euacted
to secure due deliberation, in the appoirttraent
of standirtg laws, artd gerteral rules; by their ex-
ercisirtg a lordly power over the consciences of
Christians, erapowering heritors artd elders to
irapose on them their spiritual guides ; by their
promoting the violent intrusion of presentees up
on reclaiming congregations; by their censuring
and ejecting ministers, merely for protesting

rise and PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 31
against a sinful act of the General Assembly ; by
their allowing the Commission to take into their
own hand the Presbytery's power in settling a
pastor, if the expeding a violent intrusion was
byr the Presbytery refused ; and by their threat
ening the highest censure to these who admini
stered sealing ordinances to such as could not,
in consciertce, submit to the ministry of intruders.
2. That said prevaUing party were pursuing
such methods as had an evident tendency io corrupt
ihe doctrines of truth, contained in their own Con
fession of Faith; in their so easily dismissing the
process relative to Professor Sirason, and refus
ing judicially to assert the truth in opposition to
his errors ; in their caressing Professor Camp
bell, while he spread his erroneous tenets; and
finaUy, in their perraitting or encouraging preach
ers to entertain their hearers with dry harangues,
of alraost mere Heathen raorality, instead of the
gospel of Christ.
3. That they were imposing upon ministers sih*
ful terms qf communion, even the breach of their
ordination-vows, in forbearing a proper opposi
tion to the prevalent course of apOstacy from the
doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of
this chuich.
4. That they were continuing in those evil ways,
notwithstanding of the use of ordinary means to re
claim them. And which last they took, as bring
ing the matter to a crisis, leaving no probable
view of redress, but in a way of separation. — In
this testimony, the seceding brethren, as on
many other occasions, declared their zealous adhe
rence to their ordination vows, and to every sub
ordinate standard espoused in their mother-
church. They Ukewise avowed their intention

32 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
to maintain church-fellowship^ with all these of
her rainisters, or raembers, who faithfully oppos
ed', and groaned under the prevalent course of
defection, as opportunity shbuld permit.
In 1 734 the Asserably was very different from
some of the preceding. The better part had vi-'
gorously bestirred theraselves in the choice of
the members. Sundry corrupt and tyrannical
courses received an observable check. The Sy-
aod of Perth was appointed to repone the seced
ing brethren to their respective charges : but as
this appointment represented the reposition as
effected without conderaning the act of the pre
ceding Asserably, or the conduct of their Cora-
mission, these brethren accounted it as an act of
favour, rather than of justice ; artd so deeraed
the truths, which suffered along with thera, not
duly vindicated. Hence they forebore return
ing to the established judicatures upon such a
foundation. They published the reasons of their
conduct, and the terms upon which they were
willing to accede to the judicatures. About two
years and a halfj however, they kept their raeet
ings of Presbytery, for alraost nothing but prayer
and conference ; waiting, and wishing, for an
opportunity of an untainted return.
But observing the established judicatures fast
relapsing into, or proceeding forward in, their
forraer defection ; — observing that Professor
Carapbell's sentiraent of self-love being the great
standard and motive of all actions, religious and
moral, as varnished over by him, was incpnsider-
ately approven by the Assembly 1736; and ob
serving that the excellent acts of that Assembly
against intrusions, or for orthodox preachiTtg, were
generally disregarded ; — they began to supply
1

RISE AND PROGRESS OP THE SECESSION. 33
with sermon such oppressed Christians as peti
tioned for it; and Mr. WUson was appointed to
educate students for the work of the rainistry,
in connection with thera MeanwhUe Messrs.
Ralph Erskine and Thoraas Mair, rainisters, ac
ceded to the Associate Presbytery, declaring that
they joined thera not as different frora, but as a
part ofthe church of Scotland, witnessing against
the corruptions of the prevailing party in her
establised judicatures ; that they intended no
witbdrawraent from such godly brethren in the
ministry, as were groaning under, and wrest
ling against the then prevailing course of back
sliding ; and that they resolved to return to the
above-mentioned judicatures, whenever these re
turned to their duty. — This form of secession the
Associate Presbytery cheerfully acquiesced in ;
and declared to be in effect the same with their
own. About the sarae time, the Associate Presby
tery published a second testijmonV to the doc
trine, worship, government, and discipline ofthe
church of Scotland. It was not designed to state
the grounds of secession ;^^for the defections of
the prelatic persecutors, and of the civil govern
ment, from neither of which they raade their se
cession, were therein rehearsed and conderaned;
— but was designed and calculated to represent
the grounds of the Lord's controversy with the
generation ; calculated to give a judicial appro
bation of forraer steps of reforraation, and to con-
derart the steps of apostacy therefrom ; and to
conderan the prevalent errors of the time, and
expressly assert the truth, in direct pppositip^
thereto.

34 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
In this testimony, they marked out and con*
demned the leading defections of both church and
state, from 1650, when the apostacy remarkably
began, to 1 736 They expressly conderaned the
errors of Professors Sirason artd Campbell ; and
shewed their contrariety to the word of God,
and thb standards of this church. They solemnly
asserted, that the Old and New Testaraents are
not merely a sufficient, and the principal, but the
ONLY RULE to dlrcct US, how to glorlfy G«d, and
enjoy hira : that Jesus Christ is the suprerae, the
only true God ; the sarae in substance and dig
nity with his eternal Father: that God frora all
eternity decreed all things according tothe coun
sel of his own will ; and elected a certain num
ber of mankind to everlasting life, of his raere
good pleasure, without any regard to their fu
ture good works, as the condition or ground of
his choice : that God entered into a covenartt of
life, uport cortdition of perfect obedience, with
Adara, as the representative of all his natural
seed : that by Adam's breach of that covenartt,
in eating the forbidden fruit, all raen are con
ceived and born in sin ; are by nature children of
disobedience and wrath ; and can do nothing spi
ritually good : that though there be no necessary
cortrtection between the natural seriousness of
unregenerate raen, and their obtaining of saving
grace ; yet it is their duty carefully to attend the
ordinances of the gospel, as the raeans whereby
God conveys his converting Spirit and influence;
that the light of nature is not sufficient to guide
fallen men to any true or lasting happiness :
that Christ assumed our nature ; is vei-y God,
and very man, in two distinct natures, and one
person for ever : that he, as surety, undertook

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 35
for all the elect, and them only, and gave to
the law and justice of God whatever obedience
and satisfaction they could require of us : that
his surety-righteousness, imputed to us, is the
only foundation of our forgiveness of sin, ac
ceptance into favour with God, and title to
eternal life, and not any thing Wrought in, or
dorte by us : that waut of conformity to God's
law, in heart or life, is truly and properly sin ;
and that sirtning artd sufferirtg will be the raisery
of the damrted in hell through all eternity: that
all believers in Christ are fully deUvered frora the
moral law as a covenant of works, so as to be
thereby neither justified nor conderaned: but are
for ever under it, as a binding rule of obedience,
given by Jehovah the Creator and Redeeraer of
man : that God needs nothing frora, nor can be
profited by, any creature; and therefore rewards
their good actions raerely of his own free-will
and gracious bounty : that not self-interest or
pleasure, but the holy law of God, is the suprerae
and sole standard of all actions, religious or mo
ral : that not self-love, but a view of the glorious
excellertcies of God, as revealed irt Christ, artd a
kindly regard to his authority, are the leading
motives of our love and obedience to hira : that
no believer can ever totally or finally fall away
frora his state of grace ; nor did Christ's disci
ples, while he was in the grave, account hira a
downright irapostor : that Jesus Christ alone is
the King and head of his church ; to whom, alone
it belongs to give unto her, laws, ordinartces, and
officers ; and to whora alone her officers are sub
ject in their spiritual rainistrations : that Christ
hath in his word prescribed a particular form of
government for his church, distinct from, and

36 AN HISTORICAL "ACCOUNT OF THE
not subordinate to, the civil magistrate; thatthe
form of governraertt appointed by him to conti
nue in his New-Testaraent church till his second
coming, is the Presbyterian, according to which
there is no Office above that of a pastor ; and
congregational sessions, consisting of a rainister
or rainisters, elders and deacons, which are sub
ordinated to Presbyteries, or classes, and these
to Synods; and he hath appointed no other form
either Independent, Episcopalian, or Erastian :
that Christ hath entrusted this government, not
to aU church-merabers,but to office-bearers, whose
power is entirely subordinated to the laws de
clared in his word : that these officers have power
and warrant frora Christ, to bold General As
serablies, and other ecclesiastical courts, as often
as is necessary for the good of the church : that
Christ's kingdora, being of a spiritual nature, the
ministers, and other officers thereof, ought to be
set over congregations, by the call and consent
ofsuch therein, as are adraitted to fuU corarau
nion in all her sealing ordinances, no person's
vote being preferred upon any secular account.
Along with this assertory declaration of truth,
they condemned and declared their detestation
of the contrary errors. They professed their
hearty adherence to the Westminster Confession
of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms, Di
rectory for Worship, and Forra of Church-Go
vernment. They declared their adherence to the
National Covenartt, as explairted to abjure Pre
lacy, the civil places and power of kirkraen, and
the Articles of Perth; ahd to the Solerart League
and Covenant of the three kingdoras ; and tp
every act of Asserably, or other testiraony, in so
far as calculated to proraote or maintain their

rise and progress op THE SECESSION. ^
fathers* covenartted work of reformatiort. Artd,
finally, they, in their judicative capacity, declar
ed their adherence to the representations present
ed by them to the Comraission of 1733; to their
first testimony; and to their reasons of not acced
ing to the judicatures of the established church :
and so made those papers as really parts of this
testimorty, as If they had been wholly engrossed
therein. This testimony, as Mr. WUson, its principal
drawer and defendant, observes, was never in
tended for a new standard, but for a public ad
herence to such as had been long acknowledged
by the nation. The extent of it, especially when
considered as comprehending the three pamph
lets just rtow raentiorted, raade it very unfit to
be adopted as an ecclesiastica] standard. Per
sons, however, who acceded to, or joined with
the seceding brethren, coraraonly professed their
approbation thereof, so far as they understood it;
but it raust not be imagined they were required
to believe the real certainty of every narrative of
fact therein contained. To have demanded a
religious adherence to narrations of fact, depend
ing entirely on the testimony of fallible histori
ans, would have been antichristian tyranny.
Knowing the hundreds and thousands of mis
takes observed in the most noted histories ;
knowing the ignorartce and fallibility of mankind;
the seceding ministers abhprred the thought of
having their followers' faith to stand in the wis
dom or authority of men ; and not wholly in the
wisdora, power, and veracity of God. Mr. Wil
son openly averred, that Mr. Currie's charging
this testimorty with twenty-four historical mis-

38 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
takes, no way affected its proper substance ; but
wasa mere wrangling about circurastances; and
that the plain raeaning of people's approving of it
at their accession, was their signifying iheir con
junction wifh ihe Associate Presbytery, in ihe same
confession of ihe truths of God held forth from his
word, in our received standards. Now, it is no
tour, that not the word of God, Tiut acts of Par
liaraent, or Assembly, or like fallible vouchers,
support the historical narrations therein con
tained. Though plenty of objections were mustered
up against this testiraony ; some reckoning it
sinfully defective, and others reckoning it as much
redundant ; yet the prevailing party of the mini
stry in the nation, proceeding on in their defec
tion, and a raultitude of thera giving new offence,
by reading frora their pulpit, on the Lord's day,
an act of Parliament for discovering the murder
ers of Captain Porteous, in which that civU court
had claimed a spiritual headship over the church,
constituting themselves judges of ministers' qua
lifications to sit in her courts, and threatening ec
clesiastical censure, if their civil authority was
not obeyed ; two ministers, and a multitude of
elders and private Christians, joined the seced
ing brethren The reading of Porteous's paper
from the pulpit, in the tirae of divine service,
they reckoned a very criminal profanation of the
Christian Sabbath ; and a subjection of the read
ers to the Parliament as their spiritual head.
The offended people warmly petitioned the As
sociate Presbytery to afford them sermon, and
hold fasts with them, that they raight mourn
over the apostacy and wickedness of the times.

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION, 39
Their requests were granted, but not without
much deliberation.
These people were far from accounting their
leaving of their ministers unreasonable or ground
less. They knew God had comraanded his peo
ple to corae out of a corrupt church, that they
might not be partakers in her plagues*; that he
had commanded thera to withdraw from brethren
walking disorderlyf ; that he had charged them
to mark such, as by their evil courses caused of
fences, and to avoid themj ; had charged them
to beware of the legal leaven or doctrine of the
Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod ||, In vain
you told them that Jesus Christ, and his pro
phets and apostles, maintained coraraunion with
the Jewish church : they knew the qualifications
of New Testaraent rainisters did not turn upon
natural descent and ceremonial purity, so much
as under the Old ; but upon things spiritual and
moral. They knew men did rtot now cut off
themselves frora all public ordinances, by with
drawing from a particular national church, -as
they did when there was but one tabernacle or
temple, wherein God caused his own narae to
dwell. They defied you to prove, that Jesus,
and his prophets or apostles, countenanced the
corrupt party in their tirae : they granted that
he, just befo're his death, required his disciple.
to regard the civil rulers who satin Moses' seat:
but they challenged you to prove, he required
thera to hear the ecclesiastical bfficers who sat
in Aaron's : they challenged you to prove, that
Nicodemus, and Joseph of Arimathea, sat in the
• Rev.'xviii. 4. f 2 Thes. iii, 6.. $ Eom. xyi- 17.
y Mark viii. IS.

40 AN HII?rORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
Jewish Sanhedrim, after it cortdertined the Lord
of glory ; or, though they had coutinued in this
civil court, with very wicked companions, to
prove from thence, our duty to contirtue in a
particular church, or with a particular part there
of, obstinate in their wickedness and apiostacy.
In vain you told them, God, in the apostolic age,
enjoined no separation from the churches of Co
rinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Pergaraos, and Thya-
tira, notwithstandirtg of the various corruptions
therein : for they believed no particular church
w^as to be separated from, till she appeared ob
stinate irt apostacy ; and they defied you ta
prove that any of these churches contirtued ob
stinately deaf to the apostolic admonitions giveii
them. In vairt you. told them, that their witb
drawraent was a breakirtg up of the coraraunion
of saints, and an interpretative condemnation of
Christ for holding coraraunion with any who did
not withdraw along with thera : they knew God
had charged thera to withdraw even from bre
thren who walked disorderly : they challenged
you to shew, how one, who was bound by the
word of God, and soleran covenartt with hira, to
maintain the doctrine contained in the Confes
sion of Faith, and Presbyterian government,
could, without any disorder or degree of scan
dal, countenance or bid God speed a minister
who was obstinately overthrowing said doctrine
or government : they knew God had charged
thera to buy the truth, and not sell it; no, not
though it were to obtain fellowship with good
men: they knew not how inward grace, which
lies in'thp hidden man of the heart, could be the
term of visible church coraraunion, especially to
such as capnot search tbe heart, and try the reins
7

RISE AND PROGRESS 0*' THE S'E^ESSIPN. 41
«f their neighbour: they challenged you to prove
that there is no, real saint in the Popish church,
from which, notwitiistanding, Gpd expressly re
quires us to withdraw ; or to prove that Luther
and Calvin's obpdieijce to tliat command, amount
ed to a breaking up the cbramunioh of the saints,
and was an interpretative condemning of Christ,
merely because sorae saint, whora he loves to the
end, and waters every raoment, sinfully disobey
ed his soleran raandate, and did not corae along
with thera. "Do we," said they, ''conderan Christ
for retaining his saints always in his everlasting
arras, if we refuse to sit down with thera at a
coraraunion table, that moraent they commit
adultery, as David; idolatry, as Solomon; or, with
curses and oaths, deny their Master, as Peter ?"
They knew the grounds of separation from ^
church, ought always to be solid' and weighty;
such as heresy in doctrine, idqla^tjry in worship,
tyranny in government, violent intrusion of pas
tors, scandalous lives of the ministry, or sinful
terms of coraraunion : thpy thought tliey had se
veral of these in their gasp. Knowing what vows
their ministers came under at their ordination,
they reckoned them gu.ilty of perjury and sCan-,
dal, if they were notorious breakers thereof. If
their pastor entertained thera with legal and Ar
minian harangues, ittJtead ofthe gospel of Christ,,
they thought it full time to flee from thp poispn,
and go vvhere they might have food for their
souls. . If, through his unfaithfulness, they, at
the Lord's table, were in danger of having the
elements to receive frora an elder knowrt tO be a
profarte swearer or drunkard, and to give to a fel-i
low-coraraunicartt, as well known to be a grossly
ignorant, or almost a prayerless person, tbey
/

42 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
thought their condition very unhappy. If he har-
bitually accomraodated the censures and other
ordinances of the church, to the humours of his
hearers, especially the great, they, suspected the
man-pleaser could not be a servant of Christ. If
he was extreraely slothful and careless, or raore
given to his farm or carnal employment, they
suspected Christ had not sent him, as he had not
given him a spirit for, and love to his work. If
their pastor had a better personal character than
some others, but prostituted this gift of God, to
support such as were naughty, by assisting at
their coraraunions, or conniving at their sinful
procedure in judicatures, they reckoned this a
plain bidding of thera Gbd speed, and so account
ed him a noted partaker in their evil deeds : A lit
tle leaven,, said they, leaveneth the whole lump.
Nothing they more objected to than the vio
lent intrusion of a pastor, by the power and in
fluence of a patron. They knew the sacred ora
cles assign the choice of church-officers to adult
church-merabers, free of scandal. The hundred
and twenty disciples at Jerusalera, chose can
didates for the apostleship*. The multitude
of the Christian people chose their deacons, and
the apostles Ordained them-j-. In all the churches
elders, or presby teirs^ were ordained hy ihe election
or suffrages of the professefef believers^. Christ
charges his people to try the spirits^ ; a sure proof
they have sorae capacity for it : but to what pur
pose should they try thera, if they have not
power to choose the fit, and refuse the improper,
but raust accept whoever is iraposed. upon them ?
Christ's kingdom hiraself declared with his dying
* Acts i. lS-_26, f Acts vi. 1—6. t Chap. xiv. 23. Gr.
§ 1 John iv. 1.

rise AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 43
breath, iy not of this world, John xviii. 36. ; how
then is it possible for civil property to constitute
one a raeraber, far less a ruler thereof? How
cart civil property, however cortsiderable, ertable
the patrort to discerrt better than theraselves,
what minister's talents are best suited, aud raost
edifylrtg to the souls of such as are taught qfGod?
Will his civil property qualify hira to answer to
God for all these souls, over whora he imposes a
pastor ? Can civil property exalt a man In spiri
tual things above God's poor ones, who are rich
in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which he hath
proraised to them that love hira ? Is God a re
specter of persons? If he condemn the preference
of a rich mart to a poor, irt respect of a seat ih
our worshipping asserablies*, is it possible that he,
for the sake of civil greatness, wUl give any man
power to dispose of the souls of his people, into
the hand of such spiritual physicians, guides, and
governors, as the- man pleaseth ? If one may
choose his natural physician, is it reasonable to
deny hira the choice of orte for his soul ? In a vo
luntary society, such as the church, how can one
have the relation of a rairtister to a congrega
tion thereof, fixed, without, or contrary to their
consertt ? How can we believe hira a raessenger
of Christ ? How can we pray for, or irt faith hear
hira as such, for whora Providence would never
open a regular eutrartce, but he was obliged to
be thrust in by the window, as a fhief and a rob
ber ? In vain you told thera of the great raan's
superior learning ; they had read in their Bible,
that the mysteries of the kingdom are often hid
from the wise and prudent of this world, and re-
* James ii. 1—13.

44 AN HISTORICAL ACCOtJNt OF THE
vealed unto babes ; and that not tftdny wise nlen Uf-
ter the fiesh, not many noble are called: In V'ahl
you told thera, that a great part of the fcOhgre-
gation were the patron's tenahts or sbrvartts J
their Bible informed them, that in Christ there U
^either male nor female, bond nor JreC; but ChriH
is all and in all. In vain you told them, the rich
paid most, or all bf the stipend ; they khew lhe
contrary ; that heritors purchase the lands with
the burden of the stipend thereon, and so obtain
thera at the less price : their Bible informed
thera, it Was a sorceHer's, not a Christian prirt-
ciple, that the spiritnal gifts of God, or privileges
of his church, can be purchased with money. Irt
vain you told thera, that the residence of the
great was raore fixed than of the poor cottager ;
they shewed you instances of the poor reraaln-
irtg in the sarae parish frora generation to gene
ration, whUe the rich had often changed their
property: they pointed out the poor raan, who
more attended the gospel, and raore prayed for
success to it, and was more a comfort to his faith
ful mihister, in one year, than sundry great raen
and patrons in- twenty. To as little pilrpose you
told them that the civil law compelled to settle
tbe presentee, be the opposition what it would ;
they knew the contrary ; ahd moreover their Bi
ble had taught thera, that we oUght to obey God
father than men.
Fdr what siraony, sacrilege, perjury, and cruel
wasting of the church, said they, doth patrortage
o^eh a dopr? To please a friend, to gratify or Re
ward a chaplain, the presentee is corapliraented
with the sacred function : the souls of raen are
sold ov^er to his care, and the devoted revenues
secured to his purse : and what hinders him tb

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 45
return some obsequious compliance, or carnal ac
knowledgraent, for the presentatiort he receives ?
IJow readily are the honour of Christ, and the
salvation of raen, thus betrayed into the hand of
their open adversaries? A notorious infidel, a
blaspheraer, a profaner of the Sabbath, an athe
istical neglecter of the worship of God in his
closet and family, an unclean whoremonger, an
habitual drunkard ; in fine, one who has not, so
much religion as, with Satan, to believe and trem
ble, if he is a patron, chooses arabassadors for
Christ, and pastors to the souls of his people.
Will this raan corarait the presentatiort for the
ministry to faithful, or not rather to errone
ous, complaisant, and naughty men ?
By patrortage, how readily may orte be admit-)
ted to the sacred office, who, at his ordirtatiort,
will solemnly declare and vow before God, an
gels, and men, that he believes the whole doc
trine contained in the Westminister Confes
sion of Faith to be founded on the word of
God ; and that he will maintairt and defend it
in opposition to all Popish, Arian, Arminian,
and other errors : and yet, in contradiction to
his sworn confession, will that raoraent believe,
and will afterward habitually or frequently preach
to his people, Arrainian and other errors : — in
contradiction to his sworn confession, will in
dulge his hearers in the neglect of Sabbath-sanc-
tificatiort, artd of the daily, secret, and private
worship of God :— in contradiction to his sworn
confession, will habitually baptize the chUdren
of such whose gross ignorance unfits thera to
profess their faith, and whose notour wicked
ness demonstrates, they intend no obedience to
Christ ; — and wiU admit, perhaps, without any

46 AN historical ACCOUNT OF THE
trial, to the Christian feast, persons who know
not the very first principles of the oracles of God;
or who are openly wicked, swearers, drunkards,
whoremongers, &c. ?
How readily may one be admitted, who, at his
ordination, will solemnly avow that he believes
the Presbyterian government and discipline to be
founded on, and agreeable to the word of God ;
and engage that, to the utraost of his power, he
will raaintain and defend it all the days of his
life; whUe, in contradiction thereto, he that very
moraent improves a Popish presentation, as the
whole or chief part of his call tO that office, and
irttends to encourage others in doirtg the like : —
in contradiction to his vow, is constantly dispos
ed to ridicule our covenant-engagemertts, to
mairttain said goverrtmertt artd discipline; and
our martyrs who suffered in adherertce thereto ;
and, as oft as occasion permits, will assist in
breaking down various points of Presbyterian
governraertt ; will pervert the disciplirte, over-
lookirtg or protecting those guilty of error and
scandal, and censuring the conscientious adhe
rents to truth ; or at least without protesting
against, or inward grief for thera, will witness at
tacks on the doctrine, worship, discipline, or go
vernment of Christ ?
By patronage, how readUy jnay one be adrait
ted to the rainistry, who, at his ordination, will
solemnly affirra, that zeal for the glory of God,
love to Jesus Christ, and desire of the salvation
of raen, rtot arty worldly interest or view, are his
chief raotives to undertake that office ; and that
be hath used no undue ineans, by hiraself or
others, to procure his call ; while it is notourly
known he, by himself or friend, solicited, at least

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 4.7
accepted, a Popish presentation, to procure, or
rather instead of, a call ; and whose future un
concern for his flock, attended with a sharp look
out for his stipend, will plainly raanifest, that
not zeal for the glory of God, love to Christ, or
desire of raen's salvation, but worldly views and
interest, were his chief raotives to undertake that
work ?
Hereby one is readUy admitted to the sacred
functiort, who, irt his ordirtatiort-vows, will so
leranly engage to rule well his own faraily ; to
live a holy and circuraspect Ufe ; and faithfuUy,
diligently, and cheerfully to discharge all the
parts of his ministerial work ; who, in corttradic-
tion to these vows, will frequently indulge hira
self in such loose and carnal behaviour as no way
becomes a follower and raessenger of Christ ;
will too often neglect the mornirtg artd evening
sacrifice of secret or family worship ; will almost
wholly neglect the religious instruction of his chil
dren or servanjis ; will witness his hearers pro
fanely swear, or prostitute the Sabbath, without
administering a shadow of reproof to thera; will
flatter raen, especially if great, in a sinful course,
and encourage them to hope that their good
works wUl recoraraend thera to the favour of
God ;— who will, in Jesus' name, attest elders
to the General Assembly, as persons of a sober
and Christian practice, strict observers of the
Sabbath, punctual attenders upon public ordi
nances, regular maintainers of the daily worship
of God in their families, when he knows for cer
tain the truth of the very reverse ; will cheer
fully, and without trial, admit vile persons to
partake of the sacraraental food of the chUdren
of Christ ; will spend his precious, his devoted

4S AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THIS
hours in idle chat, or in overseeing fam^s, or per
using roraances and plays ; and by neglecting tq
visit his people, even when sick and dying ; by
neglecting to catechise them, especially such as
are of age, or high rank ; and by his preaching
about an hour on Sabbath, for the most of the
year, and the like ; will plainly shew the mini
sterial work to be, not his pleasure, but his task,
which, for the sake of his benefice, he must un
dergo. In fine, said they, by patronage one raay be
admitted for a Presbyterian minister, who, if
searched out, raay be found an alraost Papist or
Heathen ; for, does he not speraingly believe the
lawfulness of Jesuitic equivocation, or the vali
dity of Popish dispensations to sin, who, in the
above raanrter, solemrtly vows, and constantly
practises the very reverse ? If he contemn, if he
jest at part of the sacred page; if his serraons
andpractice raark hira determined to know every
thing rather than Jesus Christ, and him crucified;
has he not practically denied the Christian faith,
and become worse than art infidel? If he harangue
upon the dignity of our corrupt nature, upon
our ability to do works spiritually good, and
their influence to recomraend us to our Maker's
indulgence and favour, passing in silence thb
imputation of a Saviour's perfect righteousness,
and the free and all-powerful operation of his
Spirit; is not this the sum of the abjured Popish,
Pelagian heresy ? Is not the denial, or passing
in silence the appropriating work of saving faith,
much of the sarae import with holding the gene
ral and doubtsorae faith of the Pope? If he as
sist irt deposing a brother for conscientious re
fusal of an appointraent, not warranted in the
7

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION, 49
word of God; is he not guilty 'of abjured Popish
tyranny against Christian liberty ? If he, even
without trial, admit the grossly ignorant, and
notoriously wicked, to the seals of the new cove
nant, infers not that his Popish belief that the
very act of receivirtg'the sacraments is profitable,
be the manner of doing it what will ? Doth not
even the private administration of baptism flow
from, and tend to confirm, the Popish tenet, of
that ordinance being absolutely necessary to sal
vation ? If a minister entertain his people with
flighty language, which they do not understand,
is that rauch different from the Roman service
in an unknown tongue ? If, instead of the heart-
searching and affecting truths of God, he amuse
thera with antic gestures, and foppish elocution,
wherein are these preferable to Romish beads?
Is not his withholding frora them proper instruc
tion, and carelessly suffering them to continue in
gross ignorance, a practical holding of his Holi-
ness's maxira, that ignorance is the mother of devo
tion ? If he disraiss frora public censure, without
appearance of sorrow for the offence ; or, if he
accept or allow the acceptance of raoney, instead
of public satisfaction for scandal, gives he not in
to the abjured Popish penance? If he pursue for,
if he cheerfuUy accept his benefice, while he doth
as little for it as possible, is not this an iralta
tlon of the Romish lazy monks ?
To such purpose reasoned the people who left
their pastors artd joined the secession. Too raany
of the above-raentioned possible fruits of patro
nage they thought plainly marked in the con
duct of several of the intruded* Where no vio
lent intrusion took place, itwas not always the
worst minister who lost the greatest number of
S

50 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
his people to the seceders. The general preva
lence of gross ignorance, and loose living, in a
congregation, often proved art effectual bulwark
against the progress of the secession. But where
a dUigent pastor had trained up his people in the
knowledge bf their standards; if he died, or
sturabled into sorae leading defection, there was
oft a crowding towards it. Not a few, at the
first, represented their grievances to their pas
tor, before they left hira. These generally ob
tained but small satisfaction ; and some of them
were excommunicated for their pains ; so the
course carae to be frequently disused*.
Many who left their established pastors,
thought they were bound to train up their chil
dren in the way wherein they should go, that
when old, they raight not depart frora it. They
thought theraselves obliged to train up their chil
dren witnesses for God, as well as theraselves.
They durst not hazard their childrens' souls with
a naughty, legal, or lazy pastor ; or who had no
token of a raission frora Christ ; or who prosti
tuted his good character, by assisting the naughty
on sacraraental occasions, &c. any more than their
own. They knew not how what was poisonous,
hurtful, or inexpedient to the aged, could be
nourishing, harmless, and- fit for the young.
Their cause they accounted the cause of God ;
and trembled at the thought of having a hand
• A late author proposes, the hurt done to the wealth of the nation, by
the Secession, in the payment of stipends to so many seceding ministers, as
a powerful reason for endeavouring to crush the Secession : but let him
know, tliat if seceders act in character, they can easily save as much time
and expense, from the service of Satan, in the articles of pride, drunken
ness, &c. as will fully answer what is required for their peculiar circum
stances in religious affairs ; and, it is believed, that author meets with as few
seceders either bankrapts or beggars, as he does of his own party.

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION, 51
in its dropping, and being buried in their house.
The scripture had inforraed them that children
left to themselves bring their parents to sharae^
They observed that few seceders' chUdren whom,
while under age, their parents had not trained
up in their own way, coraforted and honoured
these parents with much appearance of serious
godUness : and therefore they caused their little
ones attend the seceding preachers as well as
theraselves. Nurabers of thera even carried their seceding
views into the affair of their raarriage. In obe
dience to our valuable laws, civil and ecclesias
tical, they so generally detested clandestine raar
riages, that for raany years an instance of it was
scarce found araong thera, Clandestirte mar
riage they looked on as sinful in a variety of
respects. 1. Sinful, as contrary to the very law of na
ture, which suggests, that an entrance into the
nuptial state should be public, in order to pre"-
vent future solicitations of persons concerned, to
uncleanness, or marriage with another. Hence
it is the coraraon law or custom of every nation
under heaven, except where the sexes live in the
manner of beasts, to have marriage publicly in
timated or celebrated. Thus even nature itself
teaches us, 1 Cor, xi, 14.
2. Sinful, as it is a rebellion against the pru
dent regulations appointed, repeatedly appoint
ed, in this and other Christian kingdoms and
churches, in the purest of times. In these clartdes-
tirte marriage hath been, not by a few weak in
dividuals, but by the collective wisdom of both
church and state, prohibited under severe cen
sures and penalties, as a scandalous and criminal
7

52 an HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
nuisartce to both. Their lawful statutes God
himself adopts, and coraraands us to obey for
conscience sake, and under pain of damnation,
Rom. xin, 1 — 5, 1 Pet. U, 13. Heb, xiU, 7, 17.
3. Sinful, as contrary to the raanner of raar
riages approven in Scripture. Both in the Old artd
New Testament, betkothing is represented as
antecedent to marriage, Exod. xxi. 8. and xxii. 16.
Lev. xix. 20. Deut, xx. 7> and xxii. 23, 27, 28. and
xxvin. 30. Matt. i. 1 8. i he raarriages of Jacob,
Gen. xxix. 22. Sampson, Judg. xiv. 1 — 8. at Cana
of Galilee, John ii. 1— (1. were public. The allu
sion to marriage, Psal. xlv. 9 — 15, Christ's pa
rables of the chUdren of the bride-chamber ; mar
riage of the King's son ; artd of the ten virgins,
Matt, ix. 15, and xxii. i>— 13, and xxv. 1 — !3.
do all suppose the urtiversal custora of public
marriage. 4. Sinful, as it includes a rash and indelibe
rate rushing into a most iraportant state of life,
deeply connected with the glory of God, the or
der of his church, and the teraporal, spiritual,
and eteraal happirtess or raisery of the persons
concerrted, and their seed; — contrary to all these
Scriptures which require discretion, deliberation,
and circuraspection and wisdora in our conduct,
Psal cxii, 5. Eccl. v. 2, Isa, xxviii, 16. Prov. xix.
2, Eph V. 15,
5, Sinful, as it deprives parents of their due
honour and authority, and robs thera of their
most precious property on earth— -their children.
When God created Adam and Eve, he, as their
parent, formally joined them in marriage. Gen.
ii, 18— --25, Nothing is raore plainly command
ed of God, than that parents should have a prin
cipal hartd in disposing of their children in raar-

rise and PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 53
riage, Exod. xxxiv, 16. Deut. yU. 3. 1 Cor. vii,
38, How rebellious then, agairtst hira, raust it
be, for children to dispose of theraselves, with
out consulting their parents ! How base ingrati
tude thus to requite parents, who have with rauch
labour,' care, and expense, brought thera up !
How dishonest to dispose of that property of
tiieir parents, which is dearer to thera thart ei
ther mortey or goods, without their consent; and
that, too often, to the spiritual, if not teraporal
artd eternal ruin of theraselves and their seed !
How contrary this to God's coraraand of honour
ing, obeying, and dealing honestly with parents!
Exod. XX. 12. Eph. vi, 1, 2. Prov, xxviii. 24,
6, Sinful, as therein a soleran oath is pro
faned, being used in an ordinance of Satan, an
irregular method of marriage, and given to one
who is ordinarily no raore thart a profligate va-
gabortd, who basely takes upou hiraself to adrai
nister the same without any authority from ei
ther church or state. How directly contrary this
to that awful comraand, thou shalt not take the
name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord
will not hold him guiltless ihat taketh his name in
vain ! Exod. xx. 7.
7. Sinful, as it is a raanifest fellowship with
the urtfruitful works of darkness. It is plainly an
institution of the prince of darkness, calculated
to cover autecedent fornication, or to introduce
persons into a state and life of adultery with such
as stand raarried to sorae others; and, by raeans of
it, I have known one raan raarried to three or four
wives, all alive at once. It is a Satanical inven
tion for the speedy gratification of burning fleshly
lust, and for catching a claira to some external
property, in a manner indirect and dishonest.

.54 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
Suppose some should have none of those base
ends in view, yet herein they put on the sharae
ful badge, and render themselves so like the
others, that the world cannot distinguish between
them ; and so they justify, encourage, and hard
en thera in their sin; — in much the same man
ner as one would encourage and harden people
in whoredom, should he, while his own house is
at hand, wittingly take his lodging and victuals
in a public stew, suppose he should never so much
as touch one of the harlots within. In this light,
how contrary are such marriages to I Thess. v.
22. Abstain from all appearance of evil: Eph. v.
11. Have no fellowship luiih ihe unfruitful works of
darkness, but rather reprove them ? And how
plainly a consenting with thieves, and partaking
wiih vile adulterers? Psal 1. 18.
8, And hence sinful, as it imprints a very-
public and lasting blot upon our Christian cha
racter, which is very precious, and, as well as our
body and soul, is in baptism devoted to God.
How contrary to Scripture, Prov, xxii. 1 . Eccl.
vii, 1, do devote that character, which ought to
be an ornament to Cbrist and the Gospel, Tit.
ii, 10. to be a chariot for Satan, in which he may
ride triumphant against Christ and his church,
and insult the order and decency prescribed in
his word !
9. Sinful, as in the case of Christians it gives
a most public offence to the church, and occa
sions a reproach and blasphemy of the name of
God araong the profane, contrary to 1 Cor. x.
31, 32. Rom. U. 24, Matt, xviii. 7.
10, Sinful, as directly contrary to the express
laws of Christ, of marrying only in the Lord, that
is, in the way of consulting the Lord for direc-

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 55
tion; with such only as appear to fear the Lord,
and in a way calculated to bring the blessing of
the Lord upon their family — and of doing all
things decently and in order — and to the use of edi
fying, 1 Cor. vii. 30. and xiv. 26, 40.
11. Sinful, as it implies a contempt of the
awful warnings which God, in his word and pro
vidence, bath given against such raarriages ; and
as, without a thorough repentance, it is calculat
ed to bring the judgraents of God upon the per
sons guilty, and their posterity after them. The
only clear instances ofsuch marriage, and in which
the consent of parents was contemned, recorded
in Scripture, are three ; and all foUowed with
the terrible vengeance of God, The professing
descendants of Seth saw the irreligious daugh
ters of Cain, that they were fair, and gratified
their inclinations with an immediate marriage.
What foUowed? An universal brood of grace
less profligates for their children, and then an
overwhelming flood to drown both parents and
chUdren, Gen, vi. J — 8.  Another instance is
that of Esau. What followed ? Grief to his pa
rents, and an exclusion of himself and his poste
rity from the church of God, till their remem
brance ceased from araong men, (-ien. xxvi. 34), 35.
and xxxvi. Mal. i. 2, 3.  A third instance is
that of Judah, who, at his own hand, in a ramb
ling visit, married a Canaanitish maid. What
followed ? Most shocking scenes of wickedness
and misery in his family. Gen. xxxviii  On
many such accounts did Seceders consider clan
destine marriages as highly criminal. Many of
thera wedded only such as were of, or favour
ably disposed to, their own way. This, other
circumstances suitable, they thought niost agree-

56 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
able to the divine coraraand, of being equally yok
ed, and of marryirtg rtorte apt to seduce them
frora the way of the Lord. This course they
thought raost expedieut to proraote religious in
timacy between husband and wife ; — to proraote
harraomy in their faraily-prayers; — and to secure
the careful education of their children in the
ways of truth.
The secession had not long contirtued, when
the connexion between the rainisters artd people
became considerably strict. To have a minister
without the established church, and a people
within it, they could not coraprehend. While they
had freedom to continue within, they reckoned
it schisraatic to own and support a minister with
out. To have cortuected themselves with a se
ceding rainister, by giving him a civil bond for
his stipend, they thought corttrary to the rtature
of Christ's kingdom, which is not of this world,
and too near a-kin to a giving, and art ertcourage-
mertt of hira to take, the oversight of the flock
for filthy lucre. A proraise or vow at their ac
cession, never to hear any but seceding raini
sters, was, that I know of, never required. The
influeuce of conscience, real' or professed, was
their bond of connexiort. By this the people left
hearirtg raarty irt fhe establishraent, because they
thought thera not apparently raessertgers of Christ.
They left hearing of others, because of their
cortrtexiort with the forraer; or, because they did
not see how hearing of thera, could either tend
to awaken to reforraation any in the church, or
to confirra any in the secession, which they took
to be the way of the Lord. AU the nation be
ing under solemn vows to promote the covenant
ed work of reformation, such as were contem-

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION, 57
ners, of it, or careless about it, were by them
thought not altogether free of scandal on that
head. To admit to sealing ordinances, such
whose most noted scandals they could have no
influence to censure, or purge, was thought to
involve in considerable perplexity. For seced
ing ministers to have judged of their fitness for
the seals of God's covenant, who never commit
ted themselves to their care, but continued pleas
ed with their established pastors, might have ap
peared very assuming ; and in some cases have
occasioned disputes in their own congregation.
From such views the seceding ministers were
much on the reserve, with respect to the admis
sion of these who were not of their body, nor
disposed towards an accession thereto. It was
suspected such a reserve Was too hastUy indulg
ed in the breach of fellowship with Messrs, John
Kid, Jaraes Wardlaw, and other worthy raini
sters, or people ofthat stamp, who reraained be
hind them in the established church. This some
of the seceders repented of, when they had not
these, nor their equals, in the church, to hold
communion with. It cannot, however, be deni
ed, that some of these worthy rainisters, by con
necting theraselves at sacramental, or other oc
casions, with intruders, or their abettors, gave
too much provocation.
The plain, and as was reckoned, harsh dealing
of the second testimony, with the crowding of
the people after the seceding ministers, mightUy
provoked the managers in the established church.
The eight brethren were libelled and cited to the
Assembly 1 739, When they compeared, the As
sembly intimated their readiness to drop the li
bel, and every thing bygone, and to receive them
h

58 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
with Open arms into full ministerial and Christian
coraraunion with them. This offer the seced-
ing ministers refused to accept; and conceiv-
ing that the court chiefly consisted of intrud
ers, and others active in the growing defec
tion, they boldly declined her authority, as a
not right constituted judicature of Jesus Christ.
Provoked anew with this daring attack, the ma
nagers resolved to resent it with vigour. With
out finding thera erroneous in doctrine, or scan
dalous in practice, the next Asserably, 1 740, de
posed thera frora the rainisterial office, as to the
exercise of it in this church. The Asserably's
restoration, to the office of the ministry, Mr, John
Glass, an impenitent and furious independent,
who had plainly broken his ordination- vows, and
contirtued declaimiug against Presbyterian go
vernraent, reproaching our national covenanting,
and setting up as many sectarian congregations
as lay in his power, attended their prosecution
against the seceding rainisters, A notour evi-
dence,they were zealous for theraselves, not for
the truth.
These brethren had never given evidence that
their secession was made for the sake of filthy
lucre. They did not, before they took that step,
in the raanrter of sorae since, secure theraselves
in larger stipends: — And now being deposed, they
clave to their flocks, though, in sundry of thera,
the hope of subsistence was for the present pretty
inconsiderable. The civil magistrate quickly turn
ed them out of their kirks, and clairas to their
benefice. Their prosecution occasioned the in
crease of their followers. As their nurabers in
creased, so did their trials. Sorae royal fasts be
ing indicted, on account ofthe Spanish war, some

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 59
of their people, in a particular corner of the
country, where the anti-goverrtraertt opirtiorts
cortsiderably prevailed, solicited thera to deter
mine judicially, whether it was lawful for seced
ers to continue observing fasts and thanksgiv
ings, even on grounds artd causes specified by
themselves, upou the days nominated by the
King for such exercises. To this petitiou rto
artswer was given, till a pro re nata or interim
meeting of Presbytery, appointed for consider
ing a different affair, and while fourteen of
twenty-two merabers were absent*, Messrs. Tho
mas Nairn, Alexander Moncrief, and Thomas
Mair, irregularly dragged irt that question. When
it was carried, I think by four votes against
THREE, that in regard they conceived the estab
lished church-judicatures had surrendered their
power of appointing fasts and thartksgivmgs Irt
to the hand of the Sovereign ; and that the So
vereign had taken that power into his own hands,
it would be a sinful connivirtg at his Majesty's
exercising a spiritual headship over the church,
for seceders to observe public fasts or thanks
givings on the diets named by him, evert ort causes
or grounds of their own framing.
Three of the four who voted this decision, af
terwards altered their opinion. And the deep
* The members present at this Presbytery, as marked in the original mi
nute, now before me, besides Mr. Thomson, Moderator, were Messrs.
Alexander Moncrief, Thomas Nairn, Thomas Mair, William Hutton,
Ebenezer and Ralph Erskines, ministers, and Mr. James Wardlaw, from
Dunfermline, ruling-elder : The first four of whom voted for that act, as
far as it disallows Seceders observing fasts by their own authority, on days
appointed by the supreme civil magistrate, and the three last voted,against it.
This meeting was held at Dunfermline, January 8, 1741. Many of the
members went home the first week, as is evident from the number of abseats.
Messrs. VVilliam Wilson was at Perth ; Mr. James Fisher was at Kmclea-
ven ; Mr. James Mair was at Linton, and Mr. Smiton was at Silmaursj
and the whole elders were ^absent, except Mr. James Wardlaw. — The meet.
ing was ^ro re nata, and therefore the appointment of the fast illegal.

60 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
silence concerning this affair, in the covenant
acknowledgraent of sins which they, some time
after, drew up, plainly shews that the above-
mentioned decision was far from being generaUy
approven by the ministers. Numbers of the peo
ple, however, in different corners, once giving
into a prejudice in favours of it, it was but in few
places found for edification to observe public
fasting or thanksgiving on the diets nominated
by the King. The seceding rainisters indeed
failed not to recoraraend private fasting on such
occasions ; and to admonish their people to be
ware of offending others with any public labour.
So that, excepting a few of the forward and less
judicious, as little open offence was ever given to
the government, on this head, by the seceders as
by them who professed to be the most zealous ob
servers of the royal fasts.
Frora a nuraber of favourable reports concern
ing the English raethodists, not a few of the se
ceders had judged thera laborious reformers, and
prayed for their success. By letters, Mr. Ralph
Erskine corresponded with Mr. John Wesley,
one, if not their principal leader. Inforraed hy
a private hand of his unsoundness, informed by
Mr. Whitefield, that he and his brother blas
phemed the doctrine of election, and scarce preached
one principle agreeable to the gospel of Jesus Christ;
and finding that Mr. Wesley declined giving hira
any satisfaction, with respect to his orthodoxy,
he entirely^ dropped his correspondence with
hira. Nor indeed were the seceders sorry there
at, when they afterwards observed how Mr, Wes
ley copied after the Popish orders, in sending
forth, or superintending a number of lay-preach
ers, labouring in different nations ; — and had, in

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 61
lAie Popish manner, instituted a confession of
heart- secrets, in the societies under his care, cal
culated to render them dissemblers, or tb render
hira and his underlings so much master of their
secrets, as should make it dangerous for them to
desert his cause:— when they heard of his raoney-
rated tickets for differeut degrees of saintship ;
when they observed what fulsorae pride, what
want of candour, what pretence to working of
miracles ; what estiraation of Popish or Popish-
like superstition, what vain and false character
izing of his followers, as a body of perfect, or
alraost perfect men ; what extolling of Servetus,
a most shocking blasphemer of the blessed Tri
nity, as a holy and wise man, appears in his pub
lic performances : when they observed how he
taught, and recommended his preachers to teach
in his societies. That orthodoxy, or soundness of
opinion, is a slender part of religion, if any part
at all : That God gives every raan, in his natural
state, a power to accept of an offered salvation :
That every raan, in his baptisra, has a principle of
grace infused into hira, which cannot be lost
but by a long course of sinning : That the fulfil
ling of the broken law, in its precept and penalty,
by Christ, was not necessary to purchase our sal
vation : That not Christ's satisfaction to law and
justice, but faith and repentance, are the terras
of salvation to fallen raen: That raen have reason
to coraplain, if Christ died not for all, and if all
be not rendered able to receive hira : That if God
pass by nine-tenths of raankind, if he deny any
soul what is necessary to his present good, or fi
nal acceptance ; if he hate any we are bound to
love, he cannot be infirtitely good, nay, is worse
than we are : That if God from eternity chosp

62 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
some to everlasting life, and purposed to leave
others tb perish in their sin, he is an almighty ty
rant, anH mope false, cruel, and unjust, than the
DEVIL :^ That God's purpose of election cortsists
in his choosing, obedient believers, accordingto
the foreknowledge of their good works; and our
obediertce to Christ is the cause of his becoraing
the author of eternal salvation to us: That no
man is particularly elected till the day of his con
version to God: That it Is better to be a Turk, a
Deist, an Atheist, than to believe God has only
chosen some men to everlasting life, and not
others, or to believe that Christ did not die equally
for all raen : That to say the covenant of grace
was made with Christ, and its conditiort exacted
from, artd fulfilled by hira, iu our stead, is false,
artd the very centre of Antinomianism : That the
phrase imputed righteousness has done iraraense
hurt, and terapts men to work all uncleanness
with greediness ; the nice metaphysical doctrine
of Christ's imputed righteousness leads men to
licentiousness ; the doctrine of the saints having
a sinless obedience in Christ their Head, whUe
they are notorious, that is, manifestly sinners in
themselves, is calculated to please and encourage
the vilest rakes : That not the imputed righteous
ness of Christ, but our faith, is our justifying
righteousness before God : That our keeping of
the comraandraents is undoubtedly the way to
eternal life ; that we are to obey the law in or
der to our final acceptance with God ; our holi
ness, as well as the blood of Christ, will give us
boldrtess irt the day of judgmeut, artd will be the
ground of our being then pronounced righteous:
Tbat our salvation is by works as a condition ;
that we are rewarded of God according to our
works, for the sake of our works, and according

HISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 63
to the merit of our works: That Heathens, who
never heard of Christ, are accepted of God, for
their fearing God, and working righteousness,
according to the light they have : That there is
no such thing as a state of justification, or sanc
tification, but men are every moraent accepted
of God or not, accbrding to their temper or work:
That our justification is iucomplete at first, and
is perfected by degrees ; that to be justified is
the sarae thing as to be born of God : That a
man may be justified, and yet not have the Spi
rit, norChrist dweUing in him: That we cannot
possess justification or peace with God, without
knowing that w^e do so : That we cannot be Chris
tian beUevers, except we be free from sin : That
the best of men do rtot complain of disorder in
their affections ; nor that, when they would do
good, evil is present with thera : That whUe our
heart is perfect in piety or love, we may, in our
life, be compassed about with sinful iufirmlties :
That the doctrine ofthe unfaUing perseverance of
the saints is deadly poison : that the souls of be
lievers, at their death, do not iraraediately pass
into the heavenly glory, but to a middle state
called Paradise : That church or state may im
pose indifferertt cereraonies in God's worship,
and exclude Christians from church-comraunion,
merely because their conscience canrtot coraply
therewith. On these, and many other accouuts,
the seceders have not a favourable opinion of
Mr. Wesley, nor of the preachers he superin
tends, as it Is feared they too much resemble
their leader.
Frora Mr. George Whitefield's own missives to
Mr. Erskine, and other reports, sundry, if not all
of the seceding rainisters, conceived no sraall re*
5

64 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
gard for him. But finding, by converse with him'it
that he decried every particular forra of church*
government, as a mere human device; finding, in
his serraons and journals, a number of hints^
which they deemed not agreeable to the word of
God ; and exceedingly offended with his printed
account of God's dealing with his soul, wherein
they thought he had shown a strange fondness
to run the parallel between himself and Jesus
Christ; had represented Popish, and sorae other
bad books, as the darling directors of his spiri
tual exercise ; had founded his call to the raini
stry upon early stirring of his affections, idle tales,
drearas, or impressions ; had represented absti
nence from flesh in Lent, living on coarse food,
wearing of woollen gloves, a patched gown, and
dirty shoes, as great promoters of ihe spiritual life;
had averred, that in his unconverted state, he
had endeavoured to do all to the glory of God ;
was built up in the knowledge and fear of God ;
received abundant grace, in receiving the Lord's
Supper; and increased in favour with God and
man ; had represented his conversion as if begun
in an uncomraon drought and clararainess in his
throat, and which, by means of his casting hira
self down on the bed, and, in iraitation of Jesus
Christ, crying out, / thirst, was removed, and
succeeded with a ravishing joy, and rejoicing ia
God his Saviour, by which his conversion was fi
nished ; and pretended to have been guided by
the Spirit, and by watching and reading. the
Scripture on his knees, in the minutest circum
stance, as plainly as the Jews, by consulting the
Urim and Thunimim, &c. : These, and the like
things, together with his letter and extract, where
in he insisted for joining Christians of all deno-

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 63
rainatiorts. Papists or Protestants, Quakers, Ari
ans, Arminians, &c. if not also jews and Hea
thens, into one religious society, without niiind-
Irtg their different sentiments ; provoked the se
ceders to turn their regard into dislike, and warm
Opposition, In 1742 a Surprisirtg comraotioij, in the souls
and bodies of men, happened in vaiious places of
the nation, as they attended upon sermons. This
many extolled as a wonderful work of the Spirit
of God. The seceders allowed that the lives of
many were reformed by it for the present ; and
that truly divine and converting influence might
attend the gospel truths preached on these occa
sions : yet, because of the bodily convulsions,
the disorderly noise, the iraaginary views of
Christ as raan, the dislike to a covenanted work
of reforraation, and the proud boasting, which
they thought attended it, they accounted it raostly
deliisive. Amidst the warra contention on so
critical a topic, it is possible both parties run in
to extreraes, and becarae sturabling-blocks one
to another. But multitudes of the subjects of
this famed influence returning to their wonted
course^ the seceders were thereby not a little con
firmed in their own sentiraents thereof.
Meanwhile they had another trial frora araong
theraselves. It was their earnest prayer to God,
that he would raake our Sovereign, King George,
and every subordinate magistrate, hearty friends
to, and promoters of a covenanted work of refor
mation. They were, however, firraly persuaded,
that difference in religion did not inake void,
or in the least annul their just power and autho
rity. They zealously testified agairtst such in
the land, wh<l denied their civil .authority in

66 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
things lawful. Such were often publicly debar
red from receiving the Lord's Supper with thera-
In the late rebellion, raany of thera voluntarily
bore arras against the pretender; not orte of them
appeared on his side. Numbers of tbem suffer
ed considerable hardships, rather than do any
thing tending to the support of his army or cause.
Mr. Thomas Nairn, however, one of their mini
sters, presumed to assert, that none but a cove
nanted Presbyterian could be the lawful Sovereign
of this realra. Quickly his brethren prosecuted
hira with vigour, and expelled him from their
society. They judicially refuted bis sentiments,
and published a large declaration, wherein they
shewed, frora the word of God, our subordinate
standards, and covenants, that the whole nation
ought, for conscience sake, to obey the present
civil government, in all things lawful. Nor, in
respect of obedience to our laudable civil laws,
are they, or their people, afraid to risk a compa
rison with any party in the kingdom.
After about seven years advisement, the se
ceding ministers agreed on a bond for public co
venanting with God ; and in the end of 1 743
themselves began to swear and subscr'ibe it. Next
year their act of Presby tery, relative thereto, to
gether with a judicial vindication of gospel-truth
frora the injuries done it, by the General Assembly
1720 and 1722, was published by tbem. Tbeir
covenant-bond had been abundantly short, and
mostly plain, had it not reduplicated upon a long
confession of sins, of which it is probable few ^
their people could filly know the import and cer
tainty. It must hot be iraagined the seceding
brethren inserted, into this confession, such a
raultitude of hiatorical hints, that people might

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THB SECESSION.. 67
swear to the truth, the fact thereof. To have
sworn many of these historical articles in truth,
righteousness, and judgment, was absolutely im
possible: they had no vouchers for them but the
fallible testimony of men. Besides, toswear the
certainty of facts in an oath directed to God as
the party, appears a blaspheraous attempt to
certify the Omnisciertt, and teach the Almighty
knowledge. It was necessary, however, that
people should have a considerable knowledge of,
and certainty for what they solemnly confessed
to God, lest their confessing work should partly
amount to a hypocritical slander. The presby
tery's act, constituting the swearing of this cove
nant the term of ministerial and Christian com
munion with thera, was not a Uttle condemned.
It was by many thought quite unreasonable, that
a person zealously attached to divine truth, nay,
to our subordinate standards and covenants,''and
of an eminently holy practice, should be exclud
ed from church-fellowship with thera, raerely be
cause he could not understand the meaning or
certainty of every thing in this bond and ac
knowledgment of sins ; or would not confess
or swear to God what he understood not. Not
a few of the seceding ministers were afterwards
sensible of the sinfulness of this act : nor do I
know that ever the most zealous for covenant
ing, did, with respect to the admission of their
people to sealing ordirtances, act up to the tenor
of it.
To punish the Seceders's pride of their success;
their want of due tenderness to, and concern for
those who remained behind them in the esta
blished church ; their slightly laying to heart
f h« sins of the land^ which they professed to wxh

68 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
ness against ; and their sad neglect to do more
than others, in a holy and exeraplary practice,
the Lord gave them up to a most unchristian
contention and breach among themselves. In
1 745 their rainisters were so increased as to con
stitute three presbyteries under one synod. Their
synodical work commenced with an inquiry into
the lawfulness of some oaths, not imposed by
Parliament, but used in the land. They were
of opinion that the mason-oath implied in it an
ignorant, childish, and superstitious profanation
of the narae of God, and therefore harraoniously
agreed to take pains to prevent any of their peo
ple having afterward any hand in the swearing
thereof. With respect to the oath iraposed in sorae
burghs, there was the warraest contention in
their synod. The great point of debate was,
whether it was lawful for a seceder to swear
that clause, I profess and allow with my heart, ihe
true religion presently professed wiihin ihis realm,
and authorised by ihe laws thereof; I shall abide at,
and defend the same io my lifers end, renouncing the
Roman religion calledPapistry. Messrs. Ebenezer
and Ralph Erskines, James Fisher, and others,
contended, that since it was ihe true, the divine
religion, professed and authorised in Scotland,
ITSELF, and not the huraan and faulty manner of
professing and settling it, that was sworn — the
words of the oath not being, xs presently profess
ed and authorised, but words of a very difierent im
port: that since, in their secession, they had ne
ver pretended to set up a new religion, but to
cleave closely to that, which they had before
professed: That since, in their various testirao
nies, they had solemly approven the doctrine..

RISB AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION, 69
worship, discipline, and government of the
church of Scotland ; had solemnly declared their
adherence to the standards avowed by the
established church, and no other ; had so often
declared their adherence to the ordination vows,
which they bad taken in the established church,
whereby they were sworn to that very religion,
doctrine, worship, discipline, and government,
professed and authorised in the realm : That
since, though they had stated a quarrel with
the raanner in which the true religion is prcr
sently professed and settled, and had testi
fied against the corruptions of both church and
state, yet they had been so far from stating a
quarrel with the true religion itself, professed and
authorised in the realm, that they had but twp
years before, in their declaration of principles
against Mr, Nairn, judicially declared the relir
gion presently authorised to be their own, sor
leranly thanking God, that our religion has
such security by the present civil government,
as no nation on earth enjoys ihe like; therefore they
pled, that the sy^nod could not, without the most
glaring self-contradiction, prohibit the swearing
of the above clause, as, in itself, sinful for a se
ceder. — Messrs. Alexander Moncrief, Thomas
Mair, Adara Gib, and others, no less warmly
contertded, that this oath being administrated
by these of the established church, and ought tp
be understood in the sense of the raagistrates,
for whose security it is given ; and the true re
ligion mentioned in it to be understood as re
duplicating upon every act of Parliament or
Assembly inconsistent with the law of God ; and
as including all the corruptions of both church
and state : and so natively inferred, that the

70 AN HISTORIPAL ACCOUNT OF THE
swearing of the disputed clause imported a so
lemn renunciation and dropping of the whole of
their testimony. They contended, that the words
true feligion, presently 'professed and authorised,
in a time of reformation, would reduplicate only
upon good acts of Parliament and Assembly ;
but in a time of deformation, reduplicated upon
all the bad.
After no small disputing, the defenders of the
clause, and now called Burghers, for the sake of
peace, offered to condescend to an act discharg
ing seceders to swear this clause of the oath, ag
inexpedient fur them in the present circumstan
ces, viz. of strife and contention about its raean
ing. This proposal the antiburghers rejected,
Nothing would please thera but an act declaring
the present swearing of it sinful for seceders,
and inconsistent with their testiraony and cove
nant-bond. In a meeting of Synod, April 9,
1 746, they carried a (i^ecmore to their mind. A num
ber ofthe burgher rainisters and elders protested
against it ; and soon after gave in their reasons,
iraporting, that it vvas sinful in itself, contrary to
Christian forbearance, tending to rent the church,
enacted contrary tothe order prescribed inthe bar
rier acts, and carried by a catch, when raany raera
bers were absent. Contrary to order, the Anti-
burghers neglected to have their answers to these
reasons ready against next meeting of Synod ;
and some of them having, in the meanwhile, pub
licly debarred from the Lord's Table such as
maintained the lawfulness of the burgess-oath,
a questibn was introduced, whether the above der
cision, condemnatory of the present swearing of
the religious clause of sorae biirgess-oaths, should

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 71
be a terra of ministerial and Christian corarau
nion with thera? Conceiving that there is a wide
difference betvveen enacting a deed of Synod,
and raaking that deed a term of church-commu
nion, the seven burgher rainisters who had pro
tested against the former decision, considered this
as a new question, and so clairaed a vote therein.
After too much unchristian altercation, at two
different meetings of Synod, and notwithstand
ing of a dissent and protestation of the Antibur-
ghers to the contrary, it was voted and carried,
that the decision condemnatory of a present
swearing of the religious clause of some burgher-
oaths should NOT he a term qf ministerial and Chris
tian communion with ihem, at least till ihe affcbir
should be maturely considered in presbyteries and
sessions, and tlieir opinion (not decisive judgraentjl
returned; and further means of unanimity, by
prayer and conference, essayed. No sooner was
this sentence carried, than Mr. Thoraas Mair
protested, that hereby the Burghers had forfeit
ed all their synodical power and authority ; and
that the whole power of the Synod devolved up
on himself and his party, and such as clave to
them : all of whom he, though not moderator,
called to meet to-morrow ui Mr. Gib's house, in
a synodical capacity; and then, with twenty-two
more, without either moderator or clerk, with
drew from thirty-two of their brethren, consti
tuted in the name of Christ, with their modera
tor and clerk among them, viz. Mr. James Mair,
moderator ; with Messrs. E. R. H. and J. Ers
kines, J. Fisher, J. Macara, D. Smiton, I, Paton,
A. Black, D. Horn, D. Telfer, W. Hutton, J.
Smith, J. Johnston, A, Thomson, ministers ; T.
Ford, R, Lees, A, Douglass, W. Manderston, J.

12 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT Ot THE
Moubray, J, Beu^o; R. Wishart, G, Coventry*;
D. Millar, R, Paterson, J. Marshall, S. Harper;
J. Reder, J. Calendar, W. Millar, J. MUlar, el
ders. All these are marked in the minutes as
present* ; nor is there the smallest probabUity
that any of them would go off, when such an ira
portant question was the subject of debate.
Next day the burghers met synodically, a.c-
cording to adjournment, in the ordinary place.
Upon the foundation of Mr. Mair's declaration,
the antiburghers constituted theraselves, into a
Synod in Mr. Gib's house. Here they sustained
theraselves judges of their own answers to the
burgher's reasons of protest above-raentioned ;
and of their own dissents and protests. They
deterrained that the burgher ministers had for
feited all power belonging to their office; arid
that no seceding Presbytery or Session, except
constituted in subordination to their present
raeeting, could be a lawful court of Christ. This
act was the basis of their after meetings of Ses
sions and Presbyteries. Hence the Antiburgh
ers on south of Forth deserted their appoint
ed diet at Stow, and constituted their Pres
bytery elsewhere. These on the north absolutely
refused their burgher brethren a seat in their
court ; nay, even these of thera, who had not
voted in what they accounted the crirainal deci
sion. In the west they had no Presbytery, till somb
ministers withdrew from the Burghers. None
of them would sit in Session v/ith such elders as
refused to approve the constitution of Synod in
• The original minutes, which are a far better authority than Mr. Gib,
affirm, that Mr. Henry Erskine was chosen to assist Mr. Hutton as cleik;
it the first sederunt of fliat meeting of synod.
3

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 7S
Mr, Gib's house, and were for holding any church-
fellowship with the Burgher miuisters. They
soon after began to seclude from the sacraments,
such of their people as opposed the division, and
were determined to bear both sides, as opportu
nity should permit. These being thus driven
away, went over to the Burghers.
Had the body of the Seceders refused to side
theraselves, and obstinately continued hearing
the rainisters on both sides, it raight have con
tributed to a speedy harraony as to the raost.
But it was otherwise ; and raournful was the
sturabling, and the alienation of heart that took
place : raultitudes were perplexed how to side
theraselves ; and no doubt raany did it entirely
by guess : the raost ignorant of the dispute were
generally the fiercest bigots. To reraedy these
unhappy disorders, the Burgher ministers twice
begged of their brethren an extra-judicial meet
ing for prayer and conference, in order to regain
harmony in the cause of truth. UnwUling to
convince their brethren of the crimes they had
laid to their charge, or conscious of the want of
sufficient arguraents for that purpose, or from
sorae other raotive, the Antiburghers returned no
other answer, but that they could not, in con-
sistertce with their testiraony, comply with any
such proposal ; aud that their brethrert's ortly
method of peace was to appear penitent panrtels
at their bar. To this they were, with aU expe-
ditiort, libelled and cited. None of them appear
ed except Mr. WUUam Hutton, He did it, not
to artswer his libel, but to raake a bold attack
upon the constitution of their Synod, as schis
matical, and contrary to Presbyterian parity ; —
as founded on the overthrow of the oflice of el-

74 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
ders, and the unnatural raurder of their bre
thren's sacred office, &c. A speedy excorarauni-
patlort Was his reward, and the raost noted reply
he ever received to his speech. This constitu
tion of synods the rest of the Burgher brethren
judicially declared null and void, contrary to scrip
ture and reason. Meanwhile the Antiburghers,
to support their cause, prosecuted their Burgher
brethren with deposition and excoraraunication,
till they had delivered thera over into the hand
of Satan, and cast thera out ef the church, as
Heathen raen and publicans. After eraploying
theraselves, about two years, in this censuring
work, they were obliged to acknowledge. That
theraselves had all along been lying under the
scandal of partaking with the Burghers in sundry
of their censured crimes : from this, scandal they,
at a meeting of synod, pul-ged one another, by
judicial rebukes and adraoiiitions. How scanda
lous persons were fit to censure others, or to
purge one another, was, at least by the Burghers,
not well understood. By no sraall prayer and
fasting, the Antiburghers iraplored the blessing
of Heaven upon their excommunications. But
God appeared to refuse binding in heaven, what
they bad bound on earth. The censures seera
ed to have no other effect, than to constitute the
objects, a kind of bugbears, to the Antiburgher
people. Whatever abhorrence they endured from
their brethren, the Burgher ministers, as helped
of God, held their judicatures, and exercised their
ministry as before; The Messrs, Erskines, and
others, lived as holily, preached as edifyingly,
and died full as comfortably, as their excommu-
nicators. Nor did it escape unobserved, that
Mr. Thoraas Mair, who founded the excommu-

RISE AND PROGKETSS^ OF THE SECESSION. 75
nicatlng court, was, not many years after, oblig
ed by bis consciertce, publicly to declare, he had
beert verily guilty concerning his Burgher bre
thren's blood ; and was himself ejected by his
Antiburgher brethren, as an erroneous person,
for .maintaining that Christ, In some sense, died
for all mankirtd.
Nothing since transacted on either side, is
much worthy of our notice. Permit rae only to
essay an Irapartial accouut of the present agree
ment and difference of the two parties. The con
gregations belonging to both are about two hun
dred, or more : in some of these are thousands
of meinbers ; but the greater part fall rauch be
low that account. Which party have the great
est nuraber of followers, I know not ; but their
teachers of philosophy and divinity, at their rup
ture, happening to be on the Antiburger side, al
most all the then students went along with theii:
masters; and to this day, that party has the great
est nuraber of rainisters, though even here the
Burghers seem to gain ground. Since 1747,
both have had their respective Synods, Presby
teries, and Sessions : both have supplied the raal
contents, in their opponents' congregations, with
sermon : both constarttly avow their adherertce
to the Scriptures, as the only rule of faith aud
practice: both avow their adherence to the West
rainster Confession of Faith, Catechisms Larget
and Shorter, and to the Directory for Worship
and form of Presbyterian church-government
therbtb subjoined, and to the National Covenartt
of Scotland, and Solemn Leagu^ of the three
kingdoms. And they believe few decry Con
fessions of Faith for subordinate standards, but
in order to vent some erroneous drpara. With

76 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
both, I hope, the gospel is preached in purity,
and endeavours used to commit the ministry only
to serious and faithful men. With both, mini-"
sters deliver three public discourses on Sabbath,
through the raost, and not a few through the
whole of the year. With both, I hope, rainisters
endeavour publicly to catechize, and privately to
visit their congregations, at least once a year,
without respect of persons. With both, the pri
vate administration of -baptism is detested, and
shunned as an abjured relic of Popery, With
both, ministers dispense the Lord's Supper
oncej and sundry of them twice, a year. 
Neither party allow themselves in admitting to
the sacraments, such as have no visible appear
ance of saintship, nor without examination into
both their knowledge and character : — and gross
ignorance of the Christian faith ; neglect of se
cret and family worship ; cursing or swearing in
ordinary conversation, or even in passion ; play
ing at cards or dice ; idleness, or unnecessary la-
hour or travel on the Lord's day ; apparent ha
tred of others, or notour ueglect of relative du
ties to thera, or squabbling with thera; drunkert-
ness; promiscuous dancing; obscene language,
or other apparent approaches to uncleanness;
clandestine raarriage*, fornication, dishonesty,
srauggling, lying, reviling, and the like, are,
with both, accounted scandals, sufficient to ex
clude one frora the sacraraents, till he, in a pro
per raanner, profess his sorrow for his offence,
and resolution to guard against the like for the
future. Their discipline is rauch the sarae with
what was once universally practised in the church
of Scotland, but now almost generally disused.
# See above, p. 50— SS

RISB AND PROSRESS OF THE SECESSION. 77
Hence 'sundry of the less conscientious Seceders,
falling into scandal, return to the established
church, that they raay altogether avoids or only
receive a very slight censure.
Frora a view of their agreement in so many
points, impartial beholders can hardly fail to
thinls|that, would both parties, with due earnest
ness, search out tbeir own evils, and be affected
therewith ; would they seriously consider what
hurt their division, and vain jangling have done,
and are like to do to the honour of Christ, the
life of religion, and the souls of men, and how
they will answer at his tribunal for their concern
and hand theiein ; would they soberly consider
what Christ has done and doth to promote peace,
and what he requires them to do ; would both
entirely lay aside their pride and prejudice, and
often meet for mutual prayer, and Christian con
ference, especially on what they agree in, they
would certainly, ere it was long, consign their
censuring, division, and dry, or alraost unintel
ligible disputes, to everlasting oblivion ; and re
turn, as brethren, to join together, in the fear and
service of God.
But, through mistake and prejudice, their dif
ferences at present, seem, at least to themselves,
not inconsiderable. The Antiburghers still con
tinue upon their quarrelled constitutiou of Sy
nod in Mr, Gib's house, wherein about two-fifths
of the Synod met by theraselves, and assuraed
tbe whole power of it : they continue approving
and praying for a blessing on the excomraunica
tion, and other censure, which they, while con-
fessedlyunder scandal theraselves, passed ontheir
brethren, who never once acknowledged the au
thority of their separate courts. They contend
7

78 AN historical account OF the
that thb constitution of the revolution-church
was Erastian, founded on the wUl bf the civil
magistrate and inclinations of the people, and
therefore can never lawfully be joined with.
They contend that their own religionis different
from that professed in the established church,
and authorized by the laws of this realm ; but,
though repeatedly called, have hot hitherto mar
ked out one divine truth professed by thera, which
is not contained in the publicly acknowledged
standards of religion "in the natiort. They pro
fess a very high verteration for their second tes
timony, as ifit were bne, if not a principal, stand
ard ; and tbey reckort it no sraall crirae to find
fault, even with an historical expression thereof ;
but they renbuuce their ordirtatioh-vows, the first
testiraorty, artd the represerttatiorts expressly ad
hered to irt it, in so far as these approve the con
stitution of the revolution-church, and the reli
gion presently professed therein. At licence, and
at ordinatiorti, their candidates soleranly avow
their approbation of the Associate Presbytery's
declaration of principles against Mr. Nairn, (in
p. 50. of which they thank God that the seced
ers' own religion has such security by the present
civil government, as no nation on earth enjoy the
like ;J and also declare, that they believe it sin
ful, incortsistertt with their testiraorty, and bond,
for any seceder to swear tb the true religion pre
sently professed and authorised in the realm. At
least an indirect acknowledgraertt of the sinful
ness of seceders' swearing the above-mentioned
religiousclause of some burg§ss-oaths is necessary,
in order to a person's admission to sealing ordi
nances with thera. They require a direct, or indi
rect approbation of their conduct, in separating

hise and progress of the secession. 79
from, deposing, and excoramunicatirtg their bre
thrert, for believirtg artd affirraing, that the true rer
ligion presently professed and authorised in Scot
land, was the sarae with that of the seceders, and
so safely sworn to by them ; or, for insisting that
such as were of that mind should not be exclud
ed from the ministry, or seals of God's covenant.
Public cQvenan ting they reckon a very distinguish
ed point of religion, and with great zeal instigate
their people thereto; and represertt the burghers
as very wicked for rtot doing the sarae : it is
shrewdly alleged, however, that these covenant
ers are generally far frora being sufficiently in
structed and tried at their adraission, and that
very many of them understand very little of their
covenant-bond, or acknowledgraent of sins ; and
so are nothing bettered in practice, but only be
corae more reraarkable in their conceit of their
own covenanting, and a firm attachment to their
party. The Burghers having been the raajority at the
instant of the rupture, and keeping possession of
the place and power of the Synod, contirtue still
upon that footing: their brethrens' witbdrawraent
and constitution in Mr. Gib's house, they still
account most unreasonable and absurd. Their
above-mentioned deposition and delivery of them
to Satan, with their fasting and prayer for the
divine ratification thereof, they account a most
fearful profanatiort of the narae and ordinance of
Christ. But they never atterapted to censure
their brethren, as they saw ho warrant from
Scripture to do so, while it was morally certain
it vvOhld "Ot ^^^^ *° general edification. Had
they any glimraering hope of success, they would
even again supplicate their meeting with them.

80 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THB
for prayer and conference, in order to promote
the beaUng of the torn body of Christ. How
ever far they allow the glory of the covenartting
period between 1638 and 1650, to exceed that
after 1689, tbeybelieve the constitution ofthe re
volution-church tft.have been, not terastian, but
scriptural, and therefore lawfully, joined with.
And they intend lo unite with the established
judicatures, whenever they observe thera ear
nestly reforming frora the various and growing
defections, introduced since the revolution. The
covenants, and good acts of church or state, se
curing and establishirtg our standards, and what
is contained therein, they reckon no articles of
tbe true religion, professed and settled, but only
huraan appearances, in favours thereof: and in
this view they maintain the religion professed in
the revolution church, to have been the very
same With thatjirofessed betwixt 1638 and 1650,
though the human manner of professing and set
tling it, by sinful and fallible men, was in some
respects different; Since their standards of re
ligion in doctrine, worship, discipline, and go
vernment, are the very same with these publicly
espoused in the established church, tbey gene
rally think their religion is also the same with
that of their brethren in the church ; but they
esteem their own manner of profession and adher
rence to it, to be rabre strict, and so think they
ought to have the countenance of the civil rulers,
rather than such who, contrary to solemn vows,
practically tread the established standards under
their feet. Their second testimony they reckon
no standard, but a judicial declaration in favours
of the public standards of the nation, and the
truths theiein contained. In its historical part.

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 81
they grant a few iU-guarded expressions, and mis
takes as to fact : its assertory part they profess
to cleave to without reserve.
Persuaded that Christians, equally candid and
single in their airas, and equally zealous for the
truth and honour of God, may have different
views of the disputed clause in the burgess-oath,
or of other human, nay, many divine expressions,
they abhor raaking either the approbation or
conderartation of that clause a direct or indirect
term of church-fellowship with them : him that is
weak, or different frora ihem in his faith, about this
point, they cheerfully adrait even to the rainistry;
butnot to doubtfuldisputations. Public covenartting,
when seasonable, done by persons only who have
knowledge and understanding, and in truth, judg
ment, and righteousness, they heartily approve.
The continued obligation of their ancestors' o-
venartts they boldly raaintain. At ordinations, and
other occasions, they soleranly declare their adhe
rence thereto. But, finding frora Scripture, that it
is not a standing, but occasional duty of religion,
never, as appears, proraoted by godly David nor So
loraon, during the eighty years "of their reign; nor
recommended as a then present duty by Christ
or bis apostles, during the more than forty years
of their ministratiorts ; krtowirtg that it is better
not to vow, than to do it ignorantly, or without
paying of vows, by a distinguished holy conver-
satiort ; fearing the present broken and divided
state of the godly, and of so reraarkable restraint
of spiritual influeuces, may not be altogether pro
per for it ; Finding, that besides some few in
advertent expressions, the confessiort of sins pub
Ushed in 1744, andrtow used by their Autibur-
gher brethren, is such as they could scarce hope

82 AN HISTORiqALACCOUNT, &C,.
to make the twentieth part of their hearers nn
derstand ; and exceedingly stumbled at the
manner in which this work is managed by theii!
brethren, they have hitherto been afraid to
proceed therein.

S3

l^RIEF CHARACTER, OR VIEW OF SECEDERS,

DRAWN FROM

The principal Decisions qf their Supreme Judicatures.

J.T is 'necessarily incumbent upoil all those who profess to
follow the Lord Jesus Christ, in an evil day,
1, Firmly to believe, earnestly maintain, and openly, in
their profession and practice, bear witness for tbe truths of
God revealed in his word ; particularly such, of them as are in
danger of beiiig murdered by opposition, poisoned by mix
tures of error, or buried in careless oblivion, Prov, xxiii, 23.
Psal, Ixxviii. 3—8. Deut, iv, 9, and vi. 6 — 9. Isa. xxvi. 2. and
xxxviii. 19. and lix. 13, 14, 15, Phil, iii, 16. and i, 27. 2 Thess.
ii. 15. 1 Tim. vi. 20. 2 Tim. 1, 13. and ii. 2. and iv. 7, Heb,
ii, 1, 2 John 4, 3 John S, 4, Jude 3. Rev, ii. 13, 25, and iii.
3, 10. 2 Pet, i. 12,
2. Thankfully to commemorate, and dutifUlly improve,.
the singular favours which God hath bestowed upoh their
church or nation ; particularly, those by which he hath put
or kept them ih the possession of his oracles, ordinances, and
eternal salvation, Psal, Ixxviii, 1-;— 8, and cv,- cvii, cxlv. and
cvi. 1—5, 13, Isa. Ixiii. 7. Deut. Xxvi. 1 — 9. 1 Chrota. ivi.
3, Mournfully to search out, confess; bewail, avoid, and
practically testify against those steps of apostacy from once at
tained reforination, by which the truths of God have been in
jured, or his singular favours abused. Lev. xxvi, 40. 2 Chron.
XXX. 22. E&ek. ix. 4, 6. and xVi. xx. xxii. xxiii, 2 Kings xvii;
7  23.sPsal. Ixxviii. cvi. Isa. i. ii, v. xxviii. lix. Jer, ii — xviii;
with Exod, XX. ^. Matth. xxiii. 35. Eph. v. 7, 11. 1 Tim. v. 22.
Answerably hereto, they profess an hearty adherence to the
Old and New Testament, as the only divine and infallible rlile
of faith andpractice, 2 Tim. iii. 14—17. Rev. xxii. 18, I9.
and to the Westminster Confession of Faith, Catechisms, and
Form of Presbyterian church-government, as founded on the

84 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
word of God, 2 Tim. i. 13. and to the National Covenant of
Scotland, and the Solemn League of Scotland, England, and
Ireland, as religtQus vows, whereby they are solemnly engaged
to the belief arid practice of whatever is authorised by the
word of God, and is therefrom deduced into said Confession'
of Faith, Catechisms, Directory for worship, and Form of
church-government, Psal, Ixxviii. 10. and cxix. 106. Prov. xx.
25. Deut, xxix. 1 — 25. and xxxi. 20. Jer. 1. 5 — Q. 5
A.S they consider themselves bound to contend earnestly for
the faith once deUvered to the saints ; to keep the word of
Christ's patience, and be established in the present truth, Jude
3. Rev. iii. 10. 2 Pet. i. l^.-Eph. iv. 14. Prov. xxiii. 23. they,
in opposition to the errors presently rampant in the land, par
ticularly maintain.
1. That Jesus Christ is the supreme and only true God, of
the same substance and dignity with his eternal Father, Rom^
ix. 5, Tit.ii. 13. John x. 30. Pfiil. ii. 6.
2. That God, from all eternity, decreed whatsoever comes
to pass. Acts XV. 18. Eph. i. 11.
3. That God, of his mere good pleasure, without any re
gard to their future piety, as the moving cause, from all eter
nity elected a certain, but the smallest, number of mankind,
to everlasting life. Eph, i, 3—^6, Matth, xx. l6. Luke xii. 32,
4. That God entered into a covenant with Adam, asthe re
presentative of all his natural posterity ; in which he promised
him and them life temporal, spiritual, and eternal, upon con
dition of his perfect obedience ; and denounced the contrary
death, in case ofthe smallest disobedience. Gal, iii. 12. Matth.
xix. 17. Gal. iv. 24. Hos, vi, -7. _ "
5, That through his breach of that covenant, in his eating of
the forbidden fruit, all men are conceived and born in sin,
able to do nothing spiritually good, but are children of disobe.
dience and wrath, Rqm, v, 12-^20, and viii, 3, 7, 8, Eph, ii,
1, 2,-3, 8.
6, That no light of nature, but the scripture alone, is suf
ficient to conduct fallen men to true and everlasting happiness, ,
Acts xiv. 15, 16. and xvii. 3.0. Prov. xxix. 18. Eph. ii. 12.
2 John 9. Col. i. 26, 27, 1 Cor. i. 20—24.
7- That- in order to redeem men from an everlasting state
of sin and misery, and bring them to everlasting salvation,
Christ, the only begotten Son of God, asstimed our nature,
and for ever continues to be true God and true man, in two
distinct natures, and one person, Heb. ii. 8 — 16. Rom. viii. 3.
Mi, 6—11. Isa. vii. 14. and ix. 6. Rom. ix. 5, andi, 3, 4.

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 85
8. That he, as our surety,/in the covenant of grace, frora all
eternity, undertook for all the elect, and them only, and in the
fulness of time performed to the broken law, and offended justice
of God, whatever obedience and satisfaction could have been
required of us, Jer. xxx. 21. Psal. xl. 6 — 8. Isa. liii. and xiii.
21. Rom. V. 15^—21. and viii. 3, 4. 2 Cor. v. 21. Gal. iv. 4,
5. and iii. 1$. Heb, x. 10 — 14. 1 Pet. ii. 24. and iii. 18.
9. That his surety-righteousness, imputed -to us by God,
and not any thing wrought'in, or done by us, is the founda
tion of "our pardon of sin, acceptance with God, and title to
eternal life, Rom. v. 1.5 — 21. Phil. iii. Q. Isa, Ixiv. 6. and xlv.
24, 25. and Ixi. 10. and liii. 5, 11. and liv. 17. Jer, xxiii. 6,
Dan, ix. 24.
10. That though God hath not fixed any necessary and in
fallible connection between the natural endeavours of unrege
nerate men, and his bestowing of saving grace upon them, yet
it is their indispensable duty, carefully to attend the ordinan
ces of the gospel, as means appointed of God, for the effectual
conveyance of his Spirit and grace, Psal. xxxiv. 11. Prov. viii,
34, Acts viii, 32. Isa, Iv, 3, Matth, vii, 13, 14. Luke
xiii. 24.
11. That though Jesus Christ laid down his life for the elect
only, yet, in the gospel, he, and his complete righteousness,
and everlasting salvation, are freely offered to all sinful men
who hear it, so as each may warrantably receive him, his
righteousness and salvation, to himself in particular, Prov. i.
22, 23, 24. and viii. 4. and ix. 4. 5. Isa. Iv. 1 — 7. and xlvi.
12, 13. and xlv. 22. John vi. 37. Matth. xi. 28. Rev. xxii. 17.
12. That in consequence hereof, there is, in the very na
ture of faith, a real appropriation of Christ, his righteousness
and salvation,' as in the gospel freely given of God to one'jS
self in particular, John xx. 28. Jer. xxiii. 6. Isa. xlv. 24, 25.
Zech. xiii. 9. Acts xv. ,11. Gal, ii. l6, 20. 1 Cor. i. 30.
2 Cor. V, 21,
13. That all believers, through their union to Christ, as the
Lord their righteousness, who fulfilled the moral law as a co
venant for them, are fully and irrevocably delivered from the
law, in that covenant form, so as they can neither be justified
or condemned, on account of their own works ; yet they are
for ever under that law as a binding rule of life, established by
Jehovah- their Creator and Redeemer, Rom. vi. and vii. 4.
Gal. ii. 19. and iii. 13. andiv. 4, 5, 1 Cor, ix. 21. Luke i. 74,
75, Tit.ii. 11, 13, 13.

Sis AlJ HISTORICAL ACCOUNT Ot THfe
14. That there can be no trufe turning from sin, before
coming to, and uniting with Christ ; nor ought we to atteihpt
it, in order to pave our way, or to recommend biirselves to hiin ;
but as utterly ignorant, guilty, polluted, weak, and enslaved
in ourselves, we ought to receive him as made of God to us
Wisdom,' righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, that he
may save and turn us from our sins, John xv. 5. Rom, viiii
,7, 8. Matth. i. 21, and xviii, 1 1. Rom. xi. 26. Acts v. 31. Jer.
xxxi. 18, 19, 20.
15. That the gospel, properly taken, is no new laW, requir
ing of men faith, repentance, and sincere obedience, as the
pi-oper conditions of their salvation ; but is God's infinitely
gracious declaration, in which he manifests, gives, and offers to
us, as sinful men, Christ, his righteousness and salvation, free
ly, without money, and without price, Luke ii. 10, 11. Isa.
xiii. 1— 7-. and Ixi. 1, 2, 3, and Iv, 1—7, 1 Tim. i. 15. Rev.
xxii. 17. John vii. 37, 38.
16. That gospd-holiness is at once, a distinguished priviw
lege, a principal part of salvation, and an indispensable duty,
and necessary preparation for celestial happiness j but is not
a proper condition of our title to, or possession of it, 1 Thessj
V, 23, 1 Cor. i. 30. I Pet. i. 15, 16. Heb. xii. 14. 1 Cor. xv.
58. Phil. iii. Q. Tit, iii. 5—8. Rom. xi. 6J and v. 21. and
vi. 23.
17. That believers being perfectly freed from the law, as a
covenant of works, no slavish fears of falling into hell by their
daily sins, or hopes of procuring heaven by their good workSi'
ought to influence their obedience, but they ought always to
act as united to Christ, and interested in his everlasting righte
ousness and salvation, Rom. v. 15 — ^21. with chap. vi. and vii.
4. Tit. ii. ] 1 — 14. Psal. cxvi. l6. and cxix. 32. 1 John iv. 19,
18. That God needs nothing from, nor can be profited by,
any creatur^ ; and so can only reward their good works of his
own free will and bounty, Job xxii. 2, 3. and xxxv. f. Luke
xvii. 10.
19. That rtot self-love, interest, or pleasure, but the law of
God is the sole standard by which the goodness of actions, re
ligious and moral, is to be estimated and adjusted ; and not
self-love, but proper views of the excellencies of God as our
God in Christ, and a regard to his authority, ought to be the
leading motives of our obedience to him, Matth. xvi, 24, Deut.
xii. 3?. Exod, xx. 2^17- Tit.ii. 11—14.
20. That believers can never either totally or finally fall
from their state of grace, or hold Jesus Christ for a downright
1

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. §7
impostor, Jer. xxxii. 39, 40. Job xvii. 9. Prov. iv. 18. 1 Pet.
i. 5. John iv. 14. and vi. 40, 54. and x. 28, 29. and xiv. I9.
21. That Jesus Christ- ai,one is the King and head of
his church, having power to appoint her laws, ordinances, and
offices ; and to whom only her ofiicers are subject in all their.
spiritual ministrations, Psal. ii. 7- Isa. ix. 6, 7. Ezek. .xxiv,
23, Matth. xvi. 18, I9, and xxiii. 8 — 10. and xxviii. 18 — 20.
Heb. xiii. 17. 1 Pet. v. 2—4.
22. That Christ, in the New Testament, hath prescribed a
particular form of church-government, distinct from, and inde
pendent on the civil magistracy ; which is the Presbyterian,
and no other — to continue unalterable, till the end of the world,
John xviii, 36, Matth. xvi, 18, I9. and xviii. 15 — 20. andxx.
25 — 27. and xxvi. 26 — 29. and xxviii. 18, I9. 20, John xx.
21, 22, 23. Acts i — ^xx. Rom. xii. 4—^. 1 Cor. iii — xiv. 2 Cor.
ii. 1 — 8. Epistles to Timothy and Titus almost throughout,
&c. &c. V
23. That Christ hath not entrusted the power of church-go-
vernment to magistrates, lordly bishops, or to believers in ge
neral ; but to spiritual ofiicers, pastors, elders, and deacons,
appointed by himself — who have full power and warrant from
him to hold spiritual courts in his name — Sessions,. Presbyte
ries, and Synods, when necessary— but whose whole manage
ment must be regulated by his laws prescribed in his word,
1 Cor. xii. 28. Ep|i. iv. 11—14. 1 Thess. v. 12. 1 Tim. v. 17-
Acts vi. 1 — 9. Matth. xviii. 15-r-20. and xvi. I9. 1 Tim.iv.
14. Acts XV. Hpb. xiii. 17- 1 Cor. iv. 1, 2. &c. &c.
24. That Christ's kingdom being of a spiritual nature, her
officers ought to be elected to their office by persons in full com
munion with her in all her sealing ordinances ; no person's
vote being preferred on any secular account, i John iv. 1. Acts
i. 15---26. and vi. 1—6. and xiv. 23.
The Sepeders also profess, thankfully to commemorate, and
dutifully improve the singular favours of God, which he hath
bestowed upon this church and land, and by which he hath
put or kept us in possession of his oracles, ordinances, or other
spiritual blessings ; such as,
1. That notwithstanding our fathers' savage' ignorance and
barbarity, and their great distance from Jerusalem, the gospel
of peace and salvation was, perhaps, within about forty years
gfter our Redeemer's ascension, early introduced into our island,
in fulfilment of his many precious promises, concerning the
^nds ofthe earth, and isles ofthe sea.

88 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
2. That notwithstanding all the united force and fraud of
the Popish cler.gy, and of the courts of Scotland and France,
the Protestant Reformation was, with great regularity, intro
duced into our country; and by manifoldffaithful wrestlings,
against the rage of Papists, treachery of professed Protestants,
and poverty and distress of ministers, carried on to farther de
gree of purity than in any other Protestant church. .
3. That, as during the darkness and bondage of Popery, he
had stili given power to some in our land to witness for him,
clothed in sackcloth ; so, under the fearful apostacies, profane
ness, and persecutions, between 1600 and 1637, and between
1660 and 1688, he had preserved for himself a number of
faithful witnesses for his injured truths ; afforded them singu
lar measures of his Spirit and presence, and honoured them to
wini many souls to Christ.
4. That when Archbishop Laud, and our profligate Bishops,
assisted by King Charles I. and his courtiers, had reduced our
chuj-ch and nation to the brink of Popery and slavery, tbe
Lord wrought such a deliverance and reformation in 1638, as
astonished every serious beholder, and confounded his ene-
inies; and by the struggles and prayers of the then faithful
managers, laid the foundation of these civil and religious pri
vileges which we now enjoy.-
5. That at the revolution in 1688, when our watchmen in
both church and state were remarkably asleep, he redeemed us
out of the. very jaws of Popery and slavery^ if not also ofa
bloody massacre ; and that by means of our fyrant'.s own son-
in-law, assisted by a train of almost miraculous providences,
he re-established our religion and liberties, though not altoge
ther in the former glorious manner.
6. That when Queen Anne and her courtiers had ripened
their scheme for introducing a Popish pretender to the over
throw of our religion and liberties, the Lord, by her season
able death — by the defeat of the rebels in 1715, as well as in
1 745-— and by the establishment of the family of Hanovei- on
the British throne — hath preserved for us the enjoyment of
our religion and liberties.
7. That when Arminian, Arian, and other errors, attended
by outrageous ecdesiastieal tyranny, threatened the ruin of re
ligion in our land, the Lord gave us a little reviving in our
bondage, in the rise ofthe Secession 1733 ; by means ofwhich,
however sinfully mismanaged, by both ministers and people,
the doctrines ofthe gospel have been not a little made known,
and probably tbe corrupt party in the church somewhat re
strained from their error or wickedness.

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECESSION. 89
8, That on several occasions, the Ltjrd enabled our ances.
tors solemnly to infeft themselves and \heir posterity in the
grant which he had made to his Son, Christ, of the Isles, and
utmost ends ofthe earth for his possession, and on several oc
casions to dedicate themselves and their seed to his honour
able service; and countenanced them in so doing, not only in
external smiles of providence, but by such remarkable out-
pounng of his Spirit, for the conviction, conversion, and re
formation of men, as hath not been known in any period of
the Christian church, since the apostolic age.
Reckoning themselves commanded of God, to mourn over
their own iniquities, and the iniquities of their fathers and
neighbours, they, in consequence of the above adherence, re
nounce every thing contrary thereto, whether in principle or
practice, and profess to lament over the prevalency thereof, as
a ground of the Lord's controversy with this church and na
tion. The errors they, according to their knowledge, condemnj
are principally the Socinian," Arian, Arminian, Popish, Pre
latic, and Sectarian.— Among the practical baclcslidings from
the once attained-to, and covenanted work of reformation, which
have happened in the preceding and present age, as abuses of
the above-mentioned, or like singular favours of God, they
enumerate, 1. The re-admission of wicked malignants to places of civil
power and trust, in order to assist King Charies II, against
Cromwell and his party,
2, Cromwell's toleration of manifold errors and heresies.
3. The restoration of King Charles to his power in 1660,
without requiring any security for his governing the nation ac
cording to the good laws thereof.
4. The Parliament's disannulling all the laws which had been
made between 1638 and 1650, in favours of a covenanted work
of reformation, or the good order of the nation.
5. Their establishing the King's supremacy, or spiritual head
ship over the church.
6. Their declaring of the national covenant, as explained to
abjure Prelacy, and the Articles of Perth, and the solemn
league, to be unlawful oaths, ahd not binding on the swearers
and subscribers thereof. Their requiring the subjects solemnly
to renounce them, and making it treasonable to give, take,
SPEAK, or vyniTE, in defence of them — together with the pub
lic burning of these solemn covenants with God, at Linlithgow
and Edinburgh,

m

90 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OP THB
7- The restoration of Prelacy, after it had been found con-*
trary to the woi'd of God, and repeatedly abjured in solem co-,
venants : — Ministers and others', neglect to give proper testi
mony against the introduction thereof; and too general com
pliance therewith; and the terrible persecution of such as
faithfully opposed it.
8. The obliging of the subjects, by manifold oaths and de
clarations, to approve the various impieties of that persecut
ing period.
9. King Charles H.'s indulgences of Presbyterian ministers
to exercise their office, which flowed from his blasphemous
claim to ecclesiastical supremacy, and were clogged with seve
ral sinful restrictions ; and King James Vll.'s unlimited tole
ration, founded in his claim to absolute power, and plainly in
tended for the introduction of Popery, and Presbyterian mi
nisters' thankful acceptance of the same.
10. That the revolution Parliament did not revive the legal
securities given to a covenanted reformation between 1638 and
1650, but even left some bad laws at least not plainly re
scinded. 11. That they did not duly resent the heaven-daring inju
ries which had been done to the national covenant and solemn
league, nor abolished Prelacy, as contrary to the word of God,
and these covenants. i
12. That in the union settlement 1707, the Pariiaraent, in
manifest contradiction to the covenants, and the belief of the
divine right of Presbytery, not only consented to, but actually
confirmed, the perpetual establishraent of Prelacy, and the ce-
emonies in England.
13. That the British Parliament restored patronage, and
the superstitious Yule vacance ; established a toleration of Pre
lacy, and every other form of religion in Scotland,- only Po
pery and blasphemy excepted ; and have repealed the penal
statutes against witchcraft.
1 4. That they imposed the abjuration oath upon ministers
and others ; and in an Erastian manner, required the Scotch
ministers to read from their pulpit, on the Lord's day, in the
time of divine worship, a civil proclamation relative to Cap
tain Porteous, under pain of seclusion from sitting in Presby
tery. 15. That the Presbyterian clergy, at the Revolution, did not
more plainlymourn over, and testify against the horrid branches
of apostacy in the preceding persecuting period-; and did not
more readily and solemnly assert the sole headship of Chnst

RISB AND PROGRESS OP THE SECBSSION. «1
over his church, the divine right of Presbyterian government,
and the intrinsic power of the church, which had been so dar
ingly denied and renounced in the preceding period. Nay, did
themselves too readily dissolve or prorogue their General As
semblies, in obedience to the Erastian requirements of King
William and Queen Anne.
16. That instead of being duly censUred, many who had
plainly perjured themselves in their compliance with Prelacy,
and in taking the impious oaths and bonds, and even in per
secuting the Lord's people, were admitted to church-fellowship,
naj', to the office of elders or ministers, without proper tokens
of repentance.
1 7. That the bulk of the ministry, to the no small offence
of the godly, and renting ofthe church, complied with the
Erastian and sinful orders of the Pariiament, relative to the
abjuiation oath, 'and proclamation concerning Captain Porte
ous. 18.. That in their rage against the Marrotv of Modern Di..
vinity, the Assembly condemned a variety of precious gos
pel-truths ; but have slightly censured, and more frequently
screened fiom censure, such as have been pannelled at their bar
for Arian, Arminian, or other errors ; and have refused to as
sert the truth, in expres.s opposition thereto.
19- Their violent and habitual promoting of patronage, and
intrusion of ministers, ordinarily very unfit for the office ; and
persecuting of such as faithfully oppose it*.
These things, together with the so frequent repetition of
oaths, relative to allegiance and trade ; receiving of the Lord's
Supper in the English manner, as a test of loyalty ; swearing,
by touching and kissing the gospels ; repeated rebellion of a
malignant party against our lawful Sovereigns of the family of
Hanover, in favours of a Popish pretender ; abounding igno
rance of the Christian doctrines ; neglect of God's worship iu
public, private, or secret ; profane cursing and swearing in
common discourse ; open violation of the Sabbath ; notorious
neglect of relative duties; admission of insufficient and wicked
persons to offices in church and state, or to the seals of God's
coveriant; drunkenness and bribery, deceit and profane swear
ing in the election of magistrates, or even of ministers ; abound
ing murder, uncleanness, luxury, theft} smuggling, stage-plays ;
• See these truths, mercies, and steps of apostacy, more fully represent
ed in the re-exhibition of the Seceders' testimonies, particularly tlie second
testimony; and in that most excellent act concerning the doctrine of grace,
&e. and seTeral church-historjei,

92 AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT, &;C,
games at cards and dice ; lying, reviling, backbiting, and
covetousness, they profess to detest and mourn over, as causes
of the Lord's wrath still standing against the generation. But
it is not to be imagined, that every one hath an equal Iclear
view of all these evils, particularly such as relate to former
times ; nor that every one hath the same view of the sinful
ness of each of these facts.

93

BRIEF EXPLANATION

Tht Terms used in the preceding Pages.

i\.THEiST. One who denies the being of God.
Arian, One who denies the equahty of the Son to the Fa
ther in the Godhead ; so called, from one Arius, who in the
fourth century, disturbed the church by his heretical opinions
on the subject of the Trinity ..i— The Arians are of two kinds.
Both admit the pre-existence of Christ; but the proper
Arians make him only a super-angelic being, the first and
highest of creatures ; whereas the Semi-Arians allow to him
some of the perfections of Deity, and make him a kind of in
ferior God,
Arminian. One who maintains the opinion of Jacobus
Arminius, a Dutch divine. The leading principles of this
sect, are known by the name of the Five Arminian Points.^
They maintain, 1 Conditional election ; 2, Universal rederap-:
tion ; 3, Free-will, or man's natural power to convert him
self; 4, The resistibility of divine grace ; 5. The possibility
of falling totally and finally from a state of grace, '
Antinomian, One who denies the obligation ofthe moral
law on believers in Christ, and affirms that good works are un
necessary. The term is often improperly given to those who
are advocates for the freedom and sovereignty of divine grace,
although they maintain the necessity of good works,
Anabaptist. One who maintains that children ought not
to be baptized ; and that those who have had baptism admi
nistered in infancy, ought to be re-baptized.
Antichrist. Literally, one who^ opposes Christ, a term
used in the New Testament, and, by divines, generally ap
pUed to the Pope, and to that power which, as the head of
the Romish church, he has usurped over the consciences of
men.

04 A BRIEF EPLANA/riON OF THB
Blasphemy, A general term, expressive of any indig
nity offered unto God himself by the tongues of men ; as
when things are said of him unworthy of his greatness, incon
sistent with his holiness, reproachful to his character, or which
manifest a contempt of his perfections, word, or works.
Deist. One who professes to believe the existence 'and
unity of the Deity ; but who denies that he has ever given
apy written reyelation of his will, and who refuses that the
Scriptures 'are the word of God.
Erastian, One' who adopts the sentiments of Erastus, a
German lawyer ; asserting, that church-government and dis
cipline are entirely to be regulated by the will of the civil ma
gistrate. Episcopalian. One who maintains that there ought to be
in the church an order of officers superior to teaching elders,
styled Bishops, in whom the government of the church i«
vested. Enthusiast. One who depends on private internal reve
lations, without regarding the written word ; or, in general,.
who is guided by an over-heated imagination in matters of
religion, without regard to Scripture, or common sense.
Familist. One who is of that religious description known
formerly by the style of the Family of Love; a species of Ana-
baptists, who made the whole of religion to lie in inward feel
ings of divine love.
Heathen. A general name for those nations which are
ignorant of divine revelation, and live in superstition and ido
latry. Infiuel. Any one who believes not in Jesus Christ, as
the Son of, God, and the Saviour of the world ; nor in the
Scriptures, as divinely inspired.
Independent. One who accounts every particular con-
gregation an entire and independent church ; and refuses that
the church ought to be governed either, on the one hand, by
Bishops, or, on the other hand, by assemblies of ministers,
known by the name of Presbyteries, Synods, &c.
Jew. One of the seed of Israel, who imagines that the
Messiah has not yet appeared, and continues to worship God
according to the law of Moses.
Jesuit. A member of the Society of Jesus : a Popish or
der, instituted with a view to oppose the Reformation ; and
whose principles are subversive of civil government, and cout
fidence between man and man. The Jesuits, long troublesome
to Protestants, becanie at last intolerable to Roman Catholics
j;hem5elves, and sojne time since werp destroyed,,

TERMS USED IN THB PRECEDING PAGES, 95
JuftANT, One who has sworn an oath.
Libertine. One of loose principles in religion, and of
loose practice. '
Monk. One of the Popish religion, who bas professed to
renounce the world, has vowed celibacy, lives in a monastery
subject to certain rules, is principally employed in offices of de
votion, and is esteemed singularly pious.
Prelate. A Bishop; so styled, because he is preferred
in honour and power above his brethren in the office of the-
ministry. Papist. A Roman Catholic ; so styled, because he ac
knowledges the authority of the Pope.
Pelagian. One who follows the opinions of Pelagius,' a
heretic of the^fifth century, who, among other things, denied
original sin, and the necessity of the Spirit's operation in the
soul in order to conversion.
Protestant. One who professes the reforraed religion ;
so styled, because the first reformers proto/ed against the churcii
of Rome.
Patronage. The method of introducing candidates for
the ministry into charges in the church, by the presentation of
a lay patron, without regarding the choice of the people.
Quakers. A religious sect, who despise the written word,
and the instituted ordinances of religion, and depend on in
ternal revelations, and the motions of what they style the
Spirit within them ; styled Quakers, because, at their first ap
pearance, when the spirit moved them, they fell into tremb
lings, and shakings, and convulsive agitations.
Socinian. , One who espouses the opinions of Socinus, a
heretic who appeared soon after the Reformation. Socinians
deny that Christ existed before his incarnation, allow him to
be only a mere man, reject his atonement, and consider him
since his ascension as a made God.
Sectarian. One who adheres to a particular sect or de
scription of Christians, different from that established by civit
authority. The term is commonly used iii a bad sense, as in
cluding the idea of separating from the established religion
without sufficient reason.
Sceptic. One who doubts of every thing, and believes
nothing. Schism. Unlawful separation from a church ; or want of
love and affection, while continuing ip it,
3

96 A BRIEF EXLANATION, &e.
Turk, An individual of an eastern nation, which has
erected a great empire, called the Turkish empire, the capital'
of which is Constantinople, The term is frequently used to
mean a Mahometan, because that nation are believers in Ma<
hornet as the prophet of God.

FINIS.

Printed by Balfour * Cta7*F,
Edinburgh, 1819.

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