'AN W

E S S A YJ

To Prove

The Perpetual Obligation

OF THE

National Covenant Church ofsCQTLANVi

IN A Letter from a Low of the Covenanted Work ^ of Reformation, to his Correfpondent.

Containing an Account i. Of the Rife and ProgrcJs of the National Cove- nant, with the fundry Shapes and Modes wherein it hath appeared in this Church. 2, The Views that the Perfons concerned had or might

have had in the Rife and Progrefs of it. •3. Arguments to prove its Perpetual Obligation.

4. Answers to the Objections againft its Perpetual. Obligation.

5. The Use and Improvement which in thisprefenc Juncture fhouldhe made of this Controversy*

To6ec e: . i

A POSTSCRIPT,

Containing REMARKS on Three Scandalous Letters, fubverfive pf all True Religion in the Church, and Loy- alty in rhe Nation, by an Anonymous Author, induftriouflv handed about, under the Name of An- swers to Queries rut by the Reverend Mr. Adams9 to the Reverend fylr. (?— — j Minifter at T — n.

2 Chron.xxiii. 16. And Vehoiada made a Covenant between him, and between all the People , and between the Kiftg$ that they fhould be the LORD's People. _

Printed in the Year MDCCXXVIL

Courteous Reader*

IE S T the Printer fhould ^j have made the Price of this ESSAY too high, I have forborn to mark on the Margin the Authorities on which I have narrated Matters of Fad: : But I affaire you they go on the Cre- dit of Buchanan, Knox, Colder- "woody Spotifwcod, Puffendorfy and fundry others: As alio the Adls of Parliament, and Gene- ral AfTemblies of this Church.

im 1

tin?* tirtM'M&&&$ ##^p 9

A N

~ S S A Y,

T O

'Prove the perpetual Obligation of the National Covenant of the Church (^Scotland, &c. in a Letter from^ &c.

SlTy

WITHOUT further Apology, that you may have my Thoughts on this Subject, which I intend mainly for my own Exoneration, prefum- ing you underftand the Cafe better than my Felf 5 I fhall confider

I. The Rife and Progrefs of the Natio- nal Covenant, i&ilb the fundry Shapes and A 2 Modes,

4 $he Rife and Trogrefs

Modes] wherein it hath appeared in this Church.

II. The Views that the Perfons concerned therein had, or might have had, in the Rife and Progrefs of it

III. / /hall offer fome Arguments to prove its perpetual Obligation.

IV. Endeavour to anfwer the fever al Oh* jeelions made againji it, and its perpetual Obligation.

Laftly, Shew, what life and Improvement, ioth you, my felf, and all others, who love the Proteftant reform'd Religion, ought, in this Junclure, to make of it for promoting Godlinefs.

fir ft, As to its Rife^ and Progrefs, with the fundry Shapes and . Modes, wherein it hath appeared in this Church, I remark, in general, That God, in his favourable Providence, having, toward the End of the fir ft Century, that is, about the Year 89- after the Birth of Chrift, when Domitian the RomatiEmyexor, that cruel Perfecutor, exercis'd his Power againft the Chriftians in the Empire, caufed many Gofpel Prea- chers and other Chriftians flee from under his Jurifdi&ion to the Weftern Britijh Ifles, efpecially, thefe belonging toScotland ; they got Shelter there, and thence propagated the Gofpel into the Continent, fo as, at length,

in

of the National Covenant, &c f^f-

in the Reign of Donald I. King of Scots, about the Year, 20 3. The King himfelf and many of all Ranks received the Chrifti- an Faith 5 and fo Chriftianity became the National Religion, and continued in its Purity through a Succeifion of many .Ages under a Presbyterian Government. But at length, as it befel the reft of the Chur- ches in Europe •, fo it happen'd to that of Scotland : By Degrees it degenerate into Prelacy and Popifh Superftition ; tho* by the Favour of Providence, an honeft Te- ftimony was kept up, from Time to Time, againft that Defe&ion by fundry Perfons of eminent Piety and Learning, as, James Resby, the Ltfflcls, Paul Craw, &c. who feal'd the Trfith with their Blood.

Thereafter, in the Year 1527, the Lord ftirred up Mr. Patrick Hamilton, Mr. George Wijeheart, Mr. Walter Mill, and others, in the Reign of King James V. who, with fin* gular Courage and Zeal, preached and pro- fefs'd the reform'd Religion, having been finftruded by 'the Writings of Luther, Oe~ i colampadius, &c. eminent Preachers in Ger~ many. About that Time alfo, the Refor- mation began in Switzerland, Geneva^ France and England, by eminent Preach- ers and others, as Zuinglhts, Cafoin, Cran- mer, &c.

A 3 Thus

<1 fflhz Rife and Twgnfs •

' Tlvs {food the Cafe with the leformU in codand, toward the Era ofrhe Reign of Kir.g James V. anno i~?9, who caufea forhe cf them to be burnt, others ha aim- ed, and ethers imprifoned •, and, by me' In- ftigation of the Biilnps and Prieits, put a Lift of a great many more of them into the Hands of lames Hamilton, a Baftard of the E. of ArranSj and conftitute him Judge for profecuting them.

In the Year 154?, the King, through Diioontent at the Defeat of the Army he fem to invade England, died, and left Mary his only lawf il Child, an Infant, to fucceed him ^ who, by the Artifices of the Queen Mother, $£c. was afterward' car- ried to France ', and married to the Dau- fh?n.

Btftton, Archbifhop of St. Asdrews, and Cardinal, forg'd a "Will, as by the King, naming therein himfelf and three others e Regents, during the Queen's Mino- rity. But the States of the Kingdom find- ing out the Deceit, chofe James Earl of Arran, who, being a weak and unliable Man, was, by the Intrigues of the Popfb ;ons, fbon rurnM out of that Dignity, and the Qneeri Dowager vuX. in his Room *y as will appear by and by. The Cardinal carried on the Perfections againft the

Reformed,

ef the National Covenant, &c. 7 Reformed, particularly, MxWifebeart, and other Preachers. It pleas'd God however, in a very convenient Seafon, to fend Mr. Knox, Mr. IVillock, and other eminent Prea- chers, who fpreadthe light of the Gofpelin feveral Countries and Cities of this Land : And, fo foon as they began to be favour'd by many Perfons of all Ranks in the Caufe of Chriit and the Reformation, the Re- formed began to enter into Covenant with God, for promoting Religion, and AfTocia- tions among themfelves, for their mutual Defence therein. And the

Firft Inftance of it was at Edinburgh the Occafion of it was this. The Cardi- nal, of his own Inclinations, and by the Inftigation of the Queen Dowager, and other Papifts, went on, under the Autho- rity of the Earl of Arran Regent, to per- fecute the Proteftants, particularly, he con- demn'd Mr. George Wifebeart, and caufed him be burnt at St. Andrews, This ftirred up fundry Proteftants, fome of whom had perfbnal Grudges at the Cardinal, to kill him in his Caftle at St. Andrews •, which they, and others who came to them after^ ward, held out, till fome Troops by the Queen Dowager's Procurement, came from France to befiege it ; whereupon it was fur- render'd on Articles, which occasioned A 4 John

8 The Rife and Trcgrefs John Knox's being put, and kept, in the French Gallies a confiderable Time after. But, an Englifh Army, a little afterward, coming to Scotland \ the Queen Dowager, the Regent, and their Party, with the French Soldiers, retired to Stirling -, but, after fome Time, made Head again. However, at length, a Peace being concluded between England and France, the Englifh withdrew, and the Queen Dowager made away for Paris. Some Time after fhe return'd, and, by Commiffion from the Queen and the Dauphin her Husband, was made Regent in the Room of the Earl otArran, who there- upon was created Duke of chattleherault, with a Penfion •, and fo the Queen Regent, with her Popifh Counfellors, proceeded further to perfecute the Reform'd, and fet up Popifh Superftition in all Places of the Kingdom. On which the Proteftants refolv'd to go on in the begun Reformation, and commit themfelves and that Work to God. And in Order thereto, they did, on the third Day of December, 1 5 5 7, at Edinburgh y folemnly enter into Covenant with God, and Aflbciation with one another, as hath b en faicft It was fubfcribed by the Earls of Argile, Glencairn, Archibald Lord Lorn^ Ermine of Dun, 8cc. The Tenor whereof, follows. We perceiving, how Satan in his

Mem-

^£7

of the National Covenant, &c. J>

Members, the Antichrijis of

cur Time, cruelly do raze, n The National

r . . ' , J t i Covenant Jty?

je eking to overthrow and de- form d at Edin- ftroy the Go/pel of Chr'ift and ** Anno his Congregation, ought, ac- cording to our hounden Duty, to ftrive in our Matter's Caufe even unto the Death, leing certain of the Viclory in him : The which our Duty being well confiderd, we do promije before the Majefiy of God and his Congregation, That we, ( by his Grace ) fhall, with all Diligence continually apply our whole Power, Subjiance, and our very Lives to maintain, fet forward, and ejiablifh the moft blejfed Word of God, and his Con- gregation : And fhall labour according to our Pmer, to have faithful Minifters, truly and purely to minifter Chr'ift" s Gofpel and Sacra- ments to his People : We fhall maintain them, nourifh them, and defend them, the Congregation of Chriff, and every Member | thereof, according to our whole Powers, and waging of our Lives, againfi Satan, and all wicked Power, that doth intend Tyranny or Trouble againfi the forefaid Congregation; Unto the which holy Word and Congregation, we do join us ; and fo do forfakc and re- nounce the Congregation, with all the Super- ft it ions, Abominations and Idolatries thereof. And moreover, fhall declare our f elves mani-

fifi

10 *Ihe Rife and Trogrefs

feft Enemies thereto, by this our faithful Pro- mife, before God, teftifed to this Congregation^ by our Subfcription at thefe Vrefents.

About that Time, the Congregation, as the Proteftants were then called, not only entertain'd what found Preachers they could get, and wrote to Mr. Knox to come hither, and to Calvin to forward him, but alfo made many other publiclc Steps for Reformation, appointing the Scriptures to be read, and Prayers in defolate Congre- gations •, and the Town of Dundee, I think, was honour'd before any other, to have in it ere&ed the Face of a publiclc reform'd Church, where John Willock, John Knox and other eminent Minifters often preach'd and adminiftred the Sacraments-, which provok'd the Regent to caufe fummon all the Preachers to appear before her at Stirling on the 10th. of May, 15:59. And, when the Congregation could not prevail with her to diicharge the Summons, they refblv'd to keep the Diet with their Prea- chers -, and accordingly the Proteftants of Angus and Merns, the People of Dundee, the Earl of Glencaim, with the Proteftants of the Weft, &r. met at Perth for that- End, whither came alfo John Willock ; John Knox was in the Town before. The Con- gregation form'd a Camp a little weftward

of

w

of the National Covenant, ($r. it of St. Johnftoun, and the Queen Regent's Army had march'd as far as Auchterarderv On which an Agreement, confifting of fundry Articles, was made 5 one of which wis, %i-at the Congregation fhould leave St. Johnftoun patent to the Regent and all the 'Lieges $ and that, at her Departure, (he fhould

, leave no French Soldiers in it. It was fur- ther agreed, That none (loould he molefied9 for their being of the reformed Religion. The Congregation fubmitted on fet Pur-

1 pofe to flop the Mouths of fuch as alledg- ed they deiign'd to rebel, and make off the Authority of the King and Queen, tho* they generally reckon d, the Regent would not ftick to the Articles. Wherefore, be- fore their Departure, on the laft Day of

! May, Anno 1559. They

Renewed the former Covenant with fbme Alterations in Terms durable to 'the Cir-

j cumftances they were then in: 'Tis fub- fcribed by Argyle, James Stuart, Robert Lord Boyd, Ochiltree, 8cc. The Tenor where- of follows, The Congregations of the Weft Country, with the Congregations of Fife, Perth, Dundee, Angus, 3£SS+? Merns and Montrofe, being con- vTond Time & veend in the Town of Perth, in m - 1JSZ* the Name of Jefus Chrift, for fating forth his Glory, under flan ding nothing mors Necef-

fary

+■

it The Rife and Trogrefs

fary for the fame, than to keep a conftant Amity ) Unity and Fellowfhip together, accord* ing as they are commanded by God, are con- federate and become bounden and obliged in the Pre fence of God, to concur and ajfifi to- gether in doing all 1 kings required of God in his Scripture ; that may be to his Glory ^ and at their whole Powers to deftroy and put away all Things that doth Difhonour to his Name, fo that God may be truly and purely vjorfhipped. And, in Cafe that any Trouble be intended againlt the faid Congregation, or any Part or Member thereof, the whole Con- gregation (hall concur, affift and conveen to- gether, to the Defence of the fame Congrega- tion, or Perfon troubled-, and (hall not f pare Labours, Goods, Subftance, Bodies and Lives^ to maintain the Liberty of the whole Congre- gation, and every Member thereof, againji whatfoever Perfon [hall intend the faid trou- ble for Caufe of Religion, or any other Caufe depending thereupon, or lay to their Charge un- der Pretence thereof, alt ho3 it happen to be co- loured with any other outward Caufe. In Wh- ite ffing and 'Tefiimony of the which, the whole Congregation aforefaid have ordained and ap* pointed the Noblemen and Perjons tofubfaibe thefe Prefents.

The Queen, the Duke ofCbattleberault, and Monfieur dVfelle with his French Men

enter'd

cf the National Covenant, t&c. t j enter'd the Town, and, in difcharging their Vollies againft the Fore-ftair of Patrick Mur- ray, where many People looked out, they kill'd his Son of 10 or 1 2 Years of Age - the Father was a zealous Proteftant, and a very godly Man ; and the Queen Regent being inform'd, faid it was a Pity it fell not on the Father. She violate all the Ar- ticles, which drew oft from her Side ma- ny Proteftant Noblemen and Gentlemen, who afterward join'd heartily with their Brethren in carrying on the Reformation. The Lord Ruthven, the Earl of Rothes, with their Followers the train'd Bands of Dun- dee and St. Andrews, and many others, met on Coupar-muir, and by the Advice of Mr. James Haliburton Provoft in Dundee, en- camped on an advantageous Plat of Ground. The Regent,the Duke,and Monfieur iOJellc "with their Troops, lay at FaulUand fome Time, and thence marched towards St. An* drevus, in Queft of fuch of the Congregation as they reckoned were there / But finding them ready at Coupar-Muir, fhe made witn them an Accomodation for eight Days, and promis'd ftie fhould appoint Commif Goners in that Time to treat with them of a ta- iling Peace. But fhe failing in this, the Congregation agreed, that the Brethren of Fife, Angus, Merns, and Strathern fhould

meet

*4 ^he Rife and Trogrefs meet at St. John/ton, to reftore the Prote- ftant Inhabitants to their Houfes there, and expel the French left by the Regent, contrary to Agreement, in that Town. They accordingly met, and with them the Earl of Mont eith, the Laird of Glenorch, and fun- dry others, and execute what they intend- ed. The Common People of their Party, contrary to the Inclination and Orders of their Leaders, delinked the Abbay of Scoon.

The Regent and her French Men went on to ftrengthen their Intereft, and perfe- cute the Congregation. The Congregation conveen'd about Edinburgh, to afiift Leith againft the French ; but that Town, by the Treachery of fome in it, fubmitted to Monfieur dtOfelk. The Lord Erskine, Captain of the Caftle of Edinburgh, de- clared for the Regent and French-, which obljg'd the Congregation, on Articles not very advantageous to them, to retire to Stirling, where they for the third Time

The c tr.ant Renew'd their Covenant and kia&Atht third Affectation, with fome Altera-

Timeac Stirling, ■ fam fuite^ f0 their thdl Cir-

cumftances. It bears Date at Stirling the ift Day of Auguft, 15:5:9. It luppofes, That they had mainly in View the carrying on the Reformation 3 but be-

caufe

of the National Covenant, &c. if caufe a great many underhand Dealings were us'd'by the Queen, her Husband, and the French Councils in France, and the Queen Regent with hers, to divide the Congregation among themfelves, the fore- faid Bond was agreed to and fubferibed as hath been faid.

Thereafter, the Congregation under- standing, That the Queen Regent never meant to keep to Articles, nor fuffer the Reformation to go on, they found Means to addrefs Queen- Elizabeth of 'England and her Council for their Support They were encourag'd to this in Regard England had carry d on the Reformation to a confidera- fcle Length 5 and becaufe it was their L> tereft to hinder the French from getting too much Footing in Scotland, feeing the Wars between England and France were carrying on elfewhere. And that the French deWd to fupprefs all that flood for the Liberty of this Nation, was evident, from the Hazard the Earl 0f An an, the Dulce of Chat- tleherault s Son, had been in in France, and the Impnfonment of a Brother of his un- der Age. The Earl efcap'd from France came Home, and informed his Father - On this he joyn'd the Congregation, and the Lord James contmu d to adhere to them notwithstanding the many Artifices us'd by

the

lS The Rife and Trogrefs the Regent to divide them ; fometimes orl Pretence,That the Duke, and, other Times, the Lord James, defign'd to ufurp the Au- thority, and difpoffefs the King, Queen, and Regent •, from which Imputation they both clear'd themfelves by Letters to all the three, and to the Lieges, by open Pro- clamation.

^ The Regent however carry'd on her De- figns againft the Reformation as fhe could, and every Day brought French Soldiers in- to the Nation, efpecially into the Town of heith. This brought the Congregation often together, who, at length, at Edin* Burgh the 21ft of Ocleber, fet down Arti- cles againft her Government ; on which, in Name of the King and Queen, they fufpend- ed her from the Adminiftration, caus'd the fame to be intimate by found of Trumpet at the Crofs of Edinburgh -, and wrote her felf a Miffive to that Purpofe. The Day following they fummon'd Leitb to furren- der ; fhe retir'd to the Caftle of Edinburgh, and fo the War went on ; but the Succels, for the moft Part, was on the French Side. Remarkable is the Behaviour of Captain Alexander Haliburton, Brother to the Pro- Voft of Dundee, who with his Followers made a noble Stand againft the French,

while

of tie National Covenant, &c. i* while purfuing, and he and many of his Men loft their lives in f he Adion. . The Congrc/ n, after this, departed from Edinfotr6 0 Stirling, where Mr: Knox preach'd to \ hem a very encouraging Sermon. The Regent fent Advertifement to France of thefe Adventures, defiring the Duke of Guife to come hither,1 and take the Honour of the Conqueft. On which he fent the Marquifs d'Elbeaf and Martiques, with new Troops from thence, and promi- fed, that himfelf fhould follow ; which he indeed intended, but was driven back to Diep, and all their Tranfports, with eigh- teen Companies of Foot loft-, the Ship wherein himfelf afnd the other Principals were, was, however, fav'd, and he acknow- ledge, That GOD fought for Scotland.

In the mean Time, the F) -ench Garrifon continuing in Leith, fent many Parties over to Fife, who burnt, flew, and moft barba- roufly us'd the Inhabitants. The Congre- gation defended themfelves and their Friends, as well as they could,- and op- pos'd the French marching along the Co ft of Fife, with a Delign to deftroy St. An* jkcws and Dundee. One T hing fell out du- ring thefe Adventures, 'hat is very remar- kable : The Congregation order'd Andrew Sands, a Man of Religion and Courage, B from

1 8 The Rife and Trogrefs from the Harbour of Dundee with two Ships to Leith-Road, where Martiques and his Company had arriv'd in two Ships, out of which the Principals had gone to Leith, and carried their Trunks and Papers with them before Sands came up : But when he and his came up with the French Ships at Anchor, he boarded them both, and, in Sight of the French in Leith and Fife, car* ried them away for Dundee Harbour. A* bout that Time Advertifement was given to Monfieur cTOfelle, who commanded the French in Fife, that two Ships defcry'd at Sea, were Englijh, come to affift the Con- gregation, and that greater Numbers fol- Fow'd ; on which he, and his Troops under his Command, retreated by Stirling to Leith. And, after fundry Turns of Provi- dence, and Intrigues of State between the Queen of England and the Congregation, on the 2d of April, 1560, an Englijh Ar- my enter'd Scotland, march'd toward Leith, and at length fat down before it, and began the Siege. „! r : The Congregation being

Tht Covenant ■. ,, -^. ,° , ,., t>

rene^'d the gather d at Edinburgh, did, on SSL£gi2 the 27th of April that Year, renew their former Covenants and Afjociations to the fame Purpofe as for- merly. But becaufe the Tenor is very

long,

of the National Covenant, &c. 19 long, and to be feen in Knox's Hiftory, Page 24.6, and 247. under the Title o£ *fhc laji Band at Leith, I forbear to record it here.

• In the mean Time the Siege went on,and there were fundry Skirmifhes between the Befieg'd and the Befiegers, in which fome- times the one, fometimes the other had the Advantage 5 all the Proteftants in the King- dom favoured the Engl't/h, and all the Pa* pifts and Malignants the Regent and the French 5 and both fpoke and a&ed accord- ingly. The Regent had retired to the Ca- ftle of Edinburgh, where, before the War ended, Ihe died 5 and the Lord Erskine, the

' Captain, declared for the Congregation and the Englifh.

At Length Monfieur Rondam and the

' Bifhop of Valance came to Scotland with Commiffion from the Queen ,and the King, who had then facceeded to the Crown of France ^ and Sir William Cecil and Dr. Whitton from the Queen of England^ who, together with the Congregation, concluded a Peace, a main Article whereof was, That a Convention of the Eftates of this Kingdom (houldmeet at Edinburgh on the 20. July next thereafter 5 which did accordingly meet, and John Knox preach'd before them with great Succefs, a Preaching upon fome Texts B 2 of

no The Rife aiidTrogrefs

of the Prophet Haggai. The Reform'd having fupplicate the Parliament to pro- mote and eftablifh the Reformation, they were ordered to draw up in fundry Heads, what they believ'd and would have profef- fed, which they accordingly did ^ and it was read again and again, and, with- out any Objection, approven ; the Bifhops faid nothing to the contrary *, Athol, So- mervel and Borthwick faid, they would be- lieve as their Fathers believ'd. That Com- pofure confifteth of Twenty five Articles or Heads, and is commonly call'd the Con- fejjion of Faith. About that Time the firft Book of Difcipline was compos'd by Knox and others, and approven and fubfcrib'd fcy a great many of all Ranks in the Tol- fcooth of Edinburgh,, on the 27. of January, Anno 1560, tho'fome of a licentious Tem- per, and others, out of Covetoufhefs, who poffefs'dthe Church-Lands, refus'dit, tho' they had hitherto concurred in. all the Steps of the Reformation.

The King and Queen refufed to ratify the Peace made at Leith, and the Proceed- ings of the laft Parliament ^ and, on the contrary, fent an Ambaflador hither to the privy Council, who, by .the late Peace at Leith, had the Adminiftration, demand- ing, Wat the League with England fhould

bo

of the National Covenant, &c. 21 le broken, the ancient League with France renewed, and the Bi/hops and ether Church* men rejior'd to their ancient Places. The Council delayed an Anfwer, till the Par- liament fhould meet in May following. In the mean Time, the Papifts made all the Head they could, under the Earl of Huntley and others, let up the Mafs where they could, and thought to have difap- pointed the Meeting of the Parliament, but were difap pointed themfelves : For the

1 Proteftants conveen'd at Edinburgh, the 7th. of May, 1 5 6 1, and in the 'Tolbooth, the chief of them fign'd a Supplication to the Council, and others conveen'd with them, againft Popery, and for Reformation : Which got a good Anfwer, and the French

I Ambaflador was difmifled with a Nega- tive, in very ftrong Terms, to every De«* mand of his.

The French King dying in the Interim, and leaving the Scots Queen a Widow, without IfTue, the Reformation went on, and me, at laft, arriv'd in Scotland, on the 19th of Auguft, 156 1. Sundry French of Quality, and others, came in her Compa- ny. She had Mafs faid in the Chapel of Holy-Rood-Honfe t which the Body of the People would have oppofed, but the Pro- teftant Lords, of too much Complaifance, protected it.

B 3 The

iz The Rife and Progrefs

The Queen, with her evil Counfellors, did all (he could to embarafs the Refor- mation, and encourage Profanity. Which, at length, drew, by the Advice of Mr. Knox and others, the Congregations of the IVtft to meet At Air the 4th of September, 1562. and renew the Covenant for Re- ' TbC covenant formation. It was fubferib'd

feneved ;he - . - _ -,7

Fit Time by the Earl of dlencairn^

■«Air. Anno Lord Boyd^ Ochiltree, and ma- ny others. No Intreaties of the Preachers nor Pro- teftant Nobility could prevail with the Queen to fupprefs Idolatry, and attend the Preaching of the Gofpel. She made a Progrefs to the North, and after fundry Adventures, particularly a Battle fought againft the Earl of Huntley, who had ma- ny of his Friends and Men kill'd, fbme taken Prifoners, and himfelf died of Grief $ The Court return'd to Edinburgh, where they fpent their Time in Banquetting, t)runkennefs and Mafquerading, &c. The Queens Behaviour to fundry Perfons was the common Talk, particularly, to Monfieur Chattelet, whom fhe choos'd fre- quently in dancing the Purpofe; and, whom (he aftenvar&'f&tts (£■*!>& <execuiwj without allowing him to fpeak a Woi;d, it

v feems,

5V%

of the National Covenant, &c. 2j leems, on Purpofe, to remove the Scan- dal. The Minifters preach'd continually againft the Diforders of the Court, which incens'd her againft them.

The Queen was, at length, married to the Lord Darnly, Son to the Duke of Le- nox, whom fhe, a little before, created Duke of Rot hf ay, Qfr And, upon the Mar- riage, caus'd him be proclaim'd King 5 which incenfed the Nation to have a King fet over them without their Confent. He was a Man of a light Temper, and fpent his Time in Hunting, gfr. without fide- ing, at firft, either with the Proteftants or Papifts, but was afterward, by the Queen's Artifices, brought to Popery -, and fo continued, till he became fufpicious of criminal Intrigues between the Queen and David Rizie, an Italian Fidler, whom fhe raifed to be her Secretary for Foreign AC* fairs. His Jealoufie prompted him to join to himfelf the Earl of Morton, Lord Ruth- ven. Lord Lindfay, and others, who took the faid David from the Queen's Elbow, < and caus'd flay him in a low Gallery in !the Abbay. From that Time, the Queen defpifed the King, order'd his Name to be kept out of all publick Wr^ts 5 and, at laft,

f&l . ' ilheRife and -Trogrefs

- .In the mean Time, me was brought to *Bed ofa Son, afterward King James Yh /Upon her Recovery, fhe began fbon to in- trigue with the Earl of: Botbwel, who moft dhjurioufly forc'd his lawful Wife to take •out a Divorce againft him, that he might marry the Queen.! She continuing ftill to -perfecute Religion and opprefs the Lieges, ihe States, at length imprifon'd her in Loch-Leven Cattle, caus'd her refign the Government in Favours of her Son, then a Child about two Years of Age \ i and nomi- nate the Lord .James, fometime before created Earl of Murray, to be Regent, du- ring the King's Minority. He was her Ba- llard Brother, much given to true Religi- on, of a fweet .Temper, great Vivacity, of a quick Apprehenfion, very fhccefsful in Enterprizes, valiant in Battle, prudent in Counlels : God had honour'd him to be the chief Inftrument of the Reformation, he was generally belov'd by good Men. The Queen efcaped from Loch-Leven-, her Party took Arms, but were fupprefs'd, and fhe fled to England.

King James- VI, hardly two Years of Age, was placed on the Throne, July 25:. Anno 1 J 67. The States of the Kingdom ap- proved the Reiignation, and own'd the Earl of Murray Regent, and put the young

King

of the. National Covenant, &c. 15 King in' the Hands of the Earl of Mary Captain of Stirling Caftle. So the Govern- ment proceeded, notwithftanding all that the Queen's Party could do in the con- trary.

- By this Time God had wonderfully blef- fed the Gofpel in Scotland, and multiplied the Preachers thereof, who, by common Confent, were diftributed, as feem'd moft to Edification, John Knox to Edinburgh, Chriftopher Goodman 'to St. Andrews, Adam Herwt to Aberdeen, Mr. John Rue to St. Johnftoun, Paul Math-wen to Jedburgh, Wil- liam Chryt'ifon to Dundee, David Fergufon to Dumfermline, Mr. David Lin d fay to Leith, and others to other Places. Befides thefe, fundry other Minifters, then call'd Superintendents', were appointed to travel up' and down the Countries, to promote the Reformation, and report their Dili- gence, from Time to Time, to the gene- ral Affemblies of the Church.

In the Year 1567, The Confeffion of Faith, above-mentioned, was ratified in the firll Pari, of King James VI. In which alfo, fundry other Acts were made againft Popery, and in Favours of the Reforma- tion •, which, on that Footing;, fubfifted, and went on, from Time to Time, during the Government, -firft of the Earl of Mur- ray,

2,6 *¥he Rife and*Progrefs ray, then by the Duke of Lenox, thereafter by the Earl of Mar, and laftly, by the Earl of Morton, all fucceifively Regents, during the King's Minority. Tis true, the Tulchan Bifbops were fometimes pre£ fed on the Church, That hungry Cour- tiers might, by their Means, poffefs ma* ny of the Church's Rents : But the ge- neral AiTemblies met often, and adted free- ly, obliging all fuch Bifhops to have the Charge of particular Flocks, and be no more in the Church than any other Mi* nifters.

Anno 1578. The King took the Govern- ment upon himfelf, and, after The cove- many Struggles between the

mnt rer.ew'd ~ J p^z . .

th-6th,-an4 lincere Protellors and the Mi- i$S!*flfr nifters on the one Part, and wo, 1638^ the malignant Popifh Party on the other 5 an Abbreviate of the forefaid Confeffion was made and agreed to, under the Name of the Natio- nal Covenant 5 the fame for Subftance with the former ones, but larger, and adapted to the Circumftances the Church was then in. In the Year, 1580, it was fubfcrib'd by the Minifters and many others, and by the King and his Houlhold that Year 5 there- after by Perfons of all Ranks, in the Year 1581, "by Ordinance of the Lords of the

Secret

of the National Covenant, &c. 27 Secret Council, and Ads of the General Aflembly. Subfcrib'd by all Sorts of Per- fons in the Year 1590, by a new Ordi- nance of Council, at the Defire of the Ge- neral AfTembly, with a general Bond for maintaining of the true Religion, and the King's Perfon. And fubfcribed in the Year, 1638, by the Noblemen, Barons, Gentlemen, BurgefTes, Minifters and Com- mons then underfubfcribing, to main* tain the {aid true Religion, Sec. And a- gain fubferib'd, Anno, 1659, by Ordinance of Council and Adt of the General Aflem- bly.

At length, in the Year, 1592, the Pref- byterian Government was, in its full Ex- tent, ratified in the firft of the 12 Pari. of King James VI. And fo continued for fundry Years, till a Popifh Party about the King, and the Hopes, he had conceiv'd, .of fucceeding to the Crown of England, when Queen Elizabeth mould die, indue'd him to obtrude upon the Nation the Eftate of Bifhops, and force them on the Church, as far as he could $ and fo the Defection went on, all the reft of his Reign, and feveral Years of that of his Son Charles I, who, by the Inftigation of the Scots and Englifh Bifhops, efpecially, of Archbifhop Laud7 that Firebrand, who put Britain

and

s8 Tl?e Rife and *Progrefs

and Ireland into the outmoft Confufion of Perjury, Bloodfhed and Rapine, caus'd compile a Commoner ay er Book, and a Book of Canons for Scotland •, which, to- gether with the Rites of the Church of England, were, by the Authority of the privy Council, -^efs'd upon the Nation.

But in the Year 1637. when the Prela- tick Clergy began to officiate in Edinburgh after thefe fuperftitious Modes, the People oppos'd it in a tumultuary Way, and the Nobility, Gentry, Minifters and others, that from Time to Time had been defpis'd and opprefs'd by the Bilhops, took that Opportunity^ meet and advife with one another at Edinburgh. The Refult of which was, that they fwore and fubfcrib'd the Na- tional Covenant and Bond, for Maintenance of the true Religion themfelves, and wrote their Miifives to all Parts of the Kingdom to do the like •, referring to the Determi- nation of the next General AfTembly, whe- ther the Government of the King by Bi- fhops, and the five Articles of Perth, were underftood to be abjur'd by it.

The King and privy Council, obferving their Authority was like to be weaken'd by thefe Meafures, Enacted, That all the Na- tion (hould fwear and fubfcnbe the very fame National Covenant in terminis, and under-

ftand

y7j

of the National Covenant, fyc. 29

fiand it, fo as Prelacy and the five Articles of Perth 'Were not abjur'd by it : This was prefs'd on many with great Rigour and Force. . The Neceffity of the King's Affairs oblig'd him, againft his Inclinations, to inditi a General Aflembly of the Church to meet at Glafgow in the following Year 1638, which accordingly met, where the Marquefs of Hamilton was Commiffioner for him, who, oblerving the Way they were like to ad, diflblved them and withdrew : They however continued to fit, j declar'd that Prelacy and the five Articles of Perth were abjur'd by the Covenant and Bond thereto annexed, and appointed the famen of new to be fworn and fubfcrib'd ^ which was accordingly done in the Year 1639. This was the Rife and Progrefs of the National

1 Covenant, and the feveral Shapes and Modes in which it hath appeared, whence the Reader may fee they were all along de-

\ fenfive.

That Affembly depos'd all the Bilhops, excommunicate fome of them, and fettled the Order of the Provincial Aflemblies, and

* of the Presbyteries, much as we now have them.

< The Aflembly at Edinburgh 1639, Se£ fion 23. Supplicate the Earl otTraquair his

j Ma jelly's CommjiTioner, and the fecret

Council,

\6 The Rife and Prcgrefs Council, to enjoin, that the Confeffion and Covenant fliould be fubfcrib'd by the Sub- jects of all Ranks and Qualities $ which was granted by Adt of Secret Council, Augujt 30. that Year: "Which, together with the Commiffioner's Declarations thereanent were made to that AfTembly, who alfo inter- pofed their own Authority to that Purpofe. 'Tis reinarkable, that in the clofe of that Supplication, the AfTembly prefs it from the Example of their PredecefTors, Anno 1589. This they alfo enjoin'd iii the AfTembly Auguft 8. 1643.

The King's Affairs, by the Influence of evil Counfellors, fpecially the Englifh Bi- fliops, of whom Laud was the Head, and the excommunicate Scots Bifhops, who had retired to London, were more and more embarafs'd •, which coft him his Life, and rais'd Oliver Cromwel the Ufurper ; and the Anarchy in the State, and Difbrder in^ the Church, continued long. In the meantime, on the News of the Father's Death, the Scots proclaimed his Son Charles II. King, who having agreed to their Proportions, was folemnly crown'd at Scoon, and fwore Publickly, and fubfcrib'd the National Co- venant and Solemn League and Covenant, making the greateft ProfeiTions of his fin- cere Purpofes to adhere thereto, and pro- mote

of the National Covenant, '&c. 3 1 Tnote the Defign of them in all his Domi- nions: But, being fundry Times beaten by Cromwel and his Officers, he was intirely routed at IV ore eft er, Anno 165 1, whence he retired to France \ and Cromwel's Ufurpa- tion went on. In the mean time, the Scots Royalifts manag'd after their rude barba- rous Way : But the Presbyterian Ministers continued to Pray for the King's Reftora- tion, and the grave and foher People of all Ranks did what they could to promote it, except that the Earl of Argyle, the Lord Wariftoun and others, gave fomeCompliance with the Ufurper Cromwel, who had liv'd a compleat Example of* Prudence in Coun« fel, Valour in the Field, Hypocrifle in the Church, and Wickednefs in his Ufur- pation, died, and left his Son Richard, a Man exceedingly weak, to Succeed in the Government. Wherefore his Military Of. ficers began to intrigue for bringing Home * the King : But General Monk, then in Scot- j land, by the Afliftance of that Nation, loon I got the Afcendant of them all 5 and fb the King was reftored and enter'd London May 29. 1660.

By the firft Aft pafTed in the 2. Sefllon

of his firfl: Parliament, held by the Earl of

■ Middleton his Commiflioner, and begun

upon 8. of May Anno 1662, Prelacy in its

full

-$f 7/se Rife 'and 'Progrefs full Extent was reftored, upon. the Foot- ing of his Majefty's Royal Prerogative b- ver all Perfons and Caufes Ecclefiaftical and Civil, inftead of Presbytry, which, the Year before, in the firft Sefiion, had been abrogate.

In the fecond Act of that 2d Seflion of Parliament, Act for Prefervation of his Majefty's Perfbn, &c. It was declared, a- mong other Things, That the National Co- "vmant^ as it was fworn and explained 'Anno 1638, and thereafter, was an unlawful Oath. And, by the fifth Act of that Setfion of Parliament, all in publick Truft were obliged to fubfcribe a Declaration againft it, as, by the AfTembly at Glafgow 1628, It was explained to abjure Prelacy, and the five Articles of 'Perth.

After this, the ^ Defection went on in Scotland, and the moft horrid Barbarities of Bloodfhed, Oppreffion and Rapine, by the Inftigation of Prelates and corrupt Church- men, were exercis'd by the civil Govern-? ment on Preachers and People of all Ranks, that adhered to that Covenant ; which fr^ni the Year 15*5:7, until that Time had been current, with but a few Interruptions, a- mong all Perfons that regarded Religion and common Honefty.

Mhafl

of the National Covenant, &r. 33 I fhall not here Remark all that I might on the Parties that renewed that Covenant . afterwards, and fuffered for their doing fo $ their Adions on the Matter were juft, but, whether the Timing and Manner and Way in which they manag'd them was Prudent, I will not determine ^ but am fure, that the •fconeft Teftimony they gave, from Time to Time, for Presbytery, and the Obliga- tion of the National Covenant , has, by the BlerTmg of God, been the Means of prefer- ving the Doctrine, Difcipline and Govern- ment of this National Church, as we now, by the Favour God, enjoy thefe $ and I would not, for any Thing, entertain uncha- ritableThoughts of the many precious Chri- ftians, both Minifters and others, who have loft their Liberties, Fortunes or Lives in the Defence of it, in the late Times of Prelacy and arbitrary Power, and I am fure too, he muft have an odd Confcience, a bitter Spirit, and a ftrange Brow for a Bargain, that hath read the Hiftory of thefe Times, and yet would think or fpeak dis- gracefully of thofe precious Worthies, who, both on the Score of the Matter, and For- mality of the National Covenant, fuffered in their Lives, Eftates or Liberties from and after the Reftoration of King Charles II. ■until. November 1688, when the glorious C Liberty

54 *Fhe Rife and Trogrefs Liberty of this National Church began to dawn by the Noble Adventures of the Prince of Orange, afterward our King, a Perfon of the greateft Vivacity, and in all other Refpe&s, of the brighteft Cha- racter, of any Prince that livd on Earth in his Time j efpecially, if it be confi- der'd, that, under his aufpicions Govern- anent, the honourable Eftates of this Na- tion, did, with his hearty Confent, in his and his Royal Conforms firji Parliament> Sejf. 2. Aft 18. refcind Forfaultures and Fines, to the Number of four hundred and upwards, of them therein mention'd -, be- iide a general Claufe in the Act, including all others, who, in the Commencement forefaid, fuffer'd for Non-Conformity with the wicked Courfes of thefe Times. That Catalogue hath in it Perfons of all Ranks in the Nation; Noblemen, Gentlemen, Burgefles, Minifters of the Gofpel, and Commons of all Sorts $ many of whom, and others, not therein namd, had loft their Lives, or been baniftYd by Iniquity eftablifh'd by Law ; and 'tis remarkable, that their Majefties and Eftates did, by that Acl, rehabilitate, redintegrate and reftore fo many of the faid Perfons, as were then living, and the Memory of them, who were dead, and their Suocet

fore

of the National Covenant, &c.f%f Tors and Pofterity to their Goods, Fame, and worldly Honour, ©r. and fhall, any of us hint at dilgracing their Memory > The Scaffolds and Fields, in fundry Towns and Countries of the Nation, fmok'd with the Blood of thofe Innocents *, and fliall we, contrary to all the Rules of Charity to the Principles of the bleffed Revolution, and to the Foundation of our prefent Standing, fey, they did but throw away their Lives*

Secondly, I come to confidei the Views, that thePerfons principally concern'd had, or might have had in the firfl: framing and Xubfeguent renewings of this National Co- venant, from Time to Time, on which I fliall be very {hort

When I read the Form and Mode, in which it appear'd, Anno 1557, confider the Perfons fubfcribing, and the Hazard they were in, on the Account of their Profeffion and Actings, I cannot get my felfforc'dtohave an uncharitable Thought ,of them, but muft believe, excepting here the common Infirmities of the Lord's People, they had in View the Honour of God, and the Good of their own Souls, and of the Souls of others : For after the Congregation had, a little before that Time, written for Mr. Knox to come from C 2 Geneva

^6 The Rife and Trogrefs

Geneva to this Land, and to Mr. Calvin to forward him, as hath been faid : When he was as far in Way as Diep, having re- ceiv'd Letters from his Friends, to flop, In Regard, they apprehended the Congre- gation to be fainting in their Purpofe, he from thence wrote the Congregation a long Letter of the Date, October, 27th. Anno 1557, which indue d them, then in the utmoft Hazard of Wrath from the Popifh Government, influene'd and encouraged by the Court of France, to fwear and fub- fcribe the Form recorded, Page 4.

I might make the fame Reflections, upon the Main, on all the fubfequent Re- newings of it, Annis, at Perth 1559, At Air that Year -, at Edinburgh -1560, at Air 1562, at Edin. and thro* the whole Kingdom 1580, 1581, 1590^ 1658, 1659, and at the Coronation of King Charles II. at Scoon. I will not deny, but that, in fundry of thofe Periods, carnal Men and Hypocrites inight have defignd the increafing their worldly Intereft out of the Church's Rents; others, Refentrnents of the Covetoufhefs and Pride of the Popifh and Prelatick Clergy, and their own religious Pride and Vanity : But I am fure, the Contexture of this National Covenant in all its Shapes, and particularly, as it ftands, and is bound

up

off be National Covenant, (jc. ^gv up with our Confeffwn of Faith., and as it, with the general Bond for Maintenance of the true Religion and the King's Perfon -and Government annexed to it, and fworn and fubfcruVd Anno 1638, 1659, is, with- out all Exception, in the Form really good ; .and it were the moft uncharitable Thing imaginable to diilike it on the Score of fome pernicious Defigns, fome Perfons might have had, in going into it.

"fis true, That the Views of King Charles II, and the Malignants of his Party, could not but appear to the think- ing Men of that Generation, to have been Hyp°crify iR Religion, and a State In- trigue to promote his Affairs : But the extraordinary Affection that the Stots Na- tion, innate to them, had, at that Time, to Loyalty to their Princes, made them over- look that, on Hopes, they had Power e- nough firffc to fettle him on the Throne, and then to keep him to his Engagements ^ tho' in this, the wife Providence of God thought fit to difappoint them.

Thirdly, I come to offer fome Arguments for the Perpetual Obligation of the Natio- nal Covenant upon the Pofterities of thofe, who firft form'd it, and of thofe who- afterward, from Time to Time, renew- ed it. And to this Purpofe, I propofe to be confider'd, 1. 'That the Matter of it C 3 is

3 8 -Arguments for the Terpet. Obligation is perpetually binding. 2. tfhat, according to the fever al Shapes and Modes, in which it .has appear' d, it is fo too.

1. That the Matter of the National Co- venant of the Church of Scotland is per- petually binding, will not be denied by any Presbyterian ; it engages to Reformat lion from Popery, Prelacy, Superftition, and every Thing that's contrary to found Doctrine and the Power of Godlinefs $ and engages to found Dodtrine, Faith, Religion, Difcipline, right Ufe of the holy Sacra- ments, and Reformation of Life according to the Scriptures.

I fliall not here confider the Queftion $ if Prelacy, fuch as it was in Scotland, Anno 166 1, and afterwards, was abjur'd by it, before the Year 1638, tho', for my Part, I am fully perfwaded of it, and I think, all honeft Presbyterians are fo too <, fcut that not lying in my Way here fo di- rectly, I come,

In the 2d. Place, to fhew, That the Na- tional Covenant, according to the ieveral Shapes, and Modes, in which it hath ap- peared, is perpetually binding. For, if any Engagements whatfoever can be flip- po's'd binding on Pofierity, National Cove* trams mull be fuch, where the Matter is Xeiormation, adhering to God's Inftituti-

of the National Covenant, &c. ^g$

©ns, and keeping his Commandments, as the Matter of this is, altho' a Claufe re- specting Pofterity be not contain'd in them 5 yea, it is fo too fometimes even fe the Cafe of indifferent Things. And, to make all this out, we need only to reflect on fome Paffages of Scripture, where we will find I. That publick Promifes, fuch as that of the Nobles of the Jews, anent remitting Ufury, Hebe. ?. 12, 13. which, if it had been broken by their Pofterity, they had been involv'd in the Curfe, tho' its contain'd no Claufe ^ exprefly refpedling them. 2. Publick Adjurations, where the Community, either exprefly or tacitely confents thereto and the View of them, are perpetual, and the Matter either indiffe- rent, or objectively binding, oblige Pofte- rity ^ as in the Cafe of JofhuaFs adjuring the People, not to build Jericho, Jo(b. 6. 26. And accordingly, the Breach of it brought the Curfe upon Hid the Betb elite. 1. Kings, 16. 34. 3. Publick Vows do bind Pofterity, fo did Jacob's, Gen. 28. SI. and his did own it, Hof. 12. 4. He bad Power over the Angel, and prevail' '</—*- He found him in Bethel, and there he fpake with us. 4. Publick Oaths do oblige the Pofterity of thofe who enter into them, in the Cafe above-ftated ^ Jofepb exacted an C 4 Oath

40 The Terpetual Obligation Oath of the Children oHfrael, That they fhould bury his Bones in Canaan, Gen. ?o. 2?. And, long after all that Genera- tion was dead, their Pofterity thought themfelves bound, and acted accordingly, Exod. 13. 19. Jefh. 24. 32. 5. National Covenants with Men, where the Oath of God is interpofed, are binding on Pofte- rity •, Saul and his bloody Houfe, with the whole Nation of Ifrae% after many Ages, were plagu'd for his breaking JofhuaFs Co- venant with the Gibeonites, altho' he and the Elders -of lfrael were brought into it by the Guile of that People. 6. National Co- venants with. God, before Men, about Things objectively obliging, are perpetu- al, and binding upon Pofterity, efpecially, if they are of an hereditary Nature, the Subject permanent, and the End good, as was always in the Cafe of this National Co- venant ♦, and hence, fuch Covenants ai£ cal- led perpetual, Jer. 5:0. $. 'They (Ball ask the Way to Zion, — A Come, and lei us join our /elves to the. Lord in a Perpetual Covenant, that (hall not be forgotten. Tis plain, That the folemn National Covenant, the Lord enter'd into with the People oitfracl, Deut. 29. renewed afterward by Jofljiiah, Heze-- kiah, Jehojadah, Jofiah, Ezra and Nehe- ■mi ah, were binding on Pofterity, tho'

Claufes,

$99

of the National Covenant, &c 41 Claufes exprefly refpecling them were not infert -, and the People were often plagu'd of God for their Breaches of it.

'Tis true, the feveral Forms of the Na- ■tionai Covenant of this Church had not any Claufes in them exprefly refpecling Pofte- rity, until the general Bond for the Main- tenance of the triie Religion was form'd ^ .yet it cannot be denied, That, all along, •before that Time, the Subfcribers meant, it fhould refpedl Pofteritjr, even as thefc Scripture Covenants I have already men- tion'd. This in our Nation hath been of- ten folemnly ratified by Authority of Church and State, and made the Founda- tion of the People's Compact with the King in the Coronation Oath of Scotland 5 And as it was fubfcrilM, Anno 1638, it has Claufes expreiiing its Perpetuity.

Fourthly ', I fhall endeavour to Anfwer .the feveral Objections againft the National Covenant, and its perpetual Obligation. ^

1. 'Tis objected. That in the Preamble, the Expreflioiis, We all, and every one of us prote/t, after due Examination of our Con- fciences — and therefore we believe with our .Hearts, conffs with our Mouths. And in the clofe of the Bond annexed thereto, We, from the Knowledge and Ccnfcience of our Duty to God — and other Expremons, are

fo

42 Objections againjl it) audits

fo very folemn and ferious, as necefl#rily fuppole every one of the Subfcribers to have been in a State of Grace, and truly religious : Whereas it was very well known, That too many of them were Hy- pocrites, and others perverfly wicked. To this it is

dnfwer'd, That the Covenant itfelf, and the Bond annex'd to it, being very ferious and folemn, fuch a ferious and folemn Preamble is very agreeable to its Nature and Pefign \ and 'tis to be lamented, That all the Subfcribers came not up to the fame ; yet that's no relevant Objection : For the Preamble expreffes rather what the Sub- fcribers ought to be, than what really they were, or might reafonably be fuppos'd all to be. Mojes never imasin'd, That all that great Company he took into Covenant with God, Dent. 29. 10. and downward, were true Converts \ and yet Chap. 7. ver. 6. he fays to them, Thou art a holy People unto the Lord thy God, Sec. And Chap. 28. vet. 9. it may be too on that very Day he took them into Covenant, he fays, The Lord (hall eftabli/Jj thee an holy People unto himfelf. Further, 'tis well known, That fuch as have a competent Meafure of Knowledge, and a juftifiable Profeilion of Religion before Men, are,

according

&3

perpetual Obligation, avjwer'd. 4 j

according to Scripture, and the Rules of this Church, admitted folemnly to renew their perfbnal Covenant with God at the Lord's Table, tho' alas they are but the fmalleft Number of that Sort that are re- ally in a State of Grace.

2. Tis objected, That the Church of Scot- land 'having foraetimes made confenting to the Covenant a Condition of Church Communion, ftraitned the Door motfe than ever God intended, or is ufual in any other Proteftant Church. To which it is

Anfwer'd, That there is nothing con- tain^ in the National Covenant, abftradting from the Government of the Church by Bifhops, and the five Articles of Perth, but what all the reform'd Churches in Eu- rope believe and profefs •, and I hope no Presbyterian will grudge, on Account of thefe excepted Refpecls, efpecially when he confiders, That the Prelatifts in Scot- land have, for moft Part, been always looking Southward to Rome 5 particularly now, when their Darling the Pretender is there, Befide, all the Proteftant Chur- ches have, on the Matter, enter'd into the like Covenants \ which, in the like Cir- cumftances of their firft entring into them, they reckon'd perpetually Binding. The Proteftants in Germany enter'd into a

League

44 Objections againft it , and its

League and Covenant at Smalcald, Anno 1530, and renew'd it at that Place Anno 1535 •, the Bohemians at Prague j the Swift, Proteftant Cantons at fundry Places and Times ^ the United Proteftants, headed firft hy the Lord of Brederode, and afterward hy Lewis Earl of Naffau, at fundry Times and Places, in the Beginning of their Re- formation, came into folemn Covenant and Affociation to promote Religion, and main- tain their Liberty againft the King of Spain, and the bloody Inquifition. Frede* rick L King of Denmark, for himfelf, and his People, made a League with the Prote- ftant Princes of Germany, for carrying on the Reformation of Religion }* and fo did Henry VIII. of England with the fame Princes. Charles Gu ft avus Duke of Sun der- mania, and the Swedes, enter'd into a League and Covenant againft Popery ^ and becaufe Sigifmund then King of Poland, who ought to have fucceeded to the Crown, was for Popery, and againft the Reformation, he and his Son were both put by the Succeffion, and the faid Charles put in his Room. Moreover, what elfe are the XXXIX Articles of the Church of England, and Confent requir'd to them, than a National Covenant upon the Mat- ter : And I prefume, That any Man ipeak-

ing

perpetual Obligation, anfwerd. 45* Ing overtly, or writing againft the Tranfc ■adtions above-mention'd, or againft the Confeflions of the feveral other Proteftant Churches, which alfo have fomething of the Nature of National Covenants in them, tho' they contain not exprefly an Aflbcia- tion for mutual Defence,' is competent enough in thefe Churches to hinder from Church Communion in fealing Ordinances among them \ and I think any Man would "fee wonder'd at, that Would reafon againft the perpetual Obligation of them, in the Circumftances in which they were enter'd into.

3. 'Tis ohjeeledy That the Covenant was fore'd upon the People by. the Church, un- der Pain of Cenfure *, and, at the Re- tjuenY of the Church, by the State, under Civil Penalties-, as appears from the Sup. plication of the General Aflembly Anno . 1 559, to n^s Majefty's High Commiflioner, f§c. from the Ad of the Lords of Coun- cil in their Anfwer to that Supplication, an A& of that fame Aflembly, and alfo from another A£fc of the Aflembly 1645.

Anf. The Supplication objected fhews, •That at that Time the Malignants about the King imprefs'd him with a Jealoufy, That the Church intended to fhake off his Authority 5 wherefore* to exprefs their

Abhor-

4 6 Objections againft it? and its Abhorrence of that groundlefs Imputation; they at that Time were warm, I confefs, in preffing the Covenant : But I hope no reafonable Man will, from that one fan- j>os'd wrong Step conclude, againft the Warrantablenefs of the Covenant it felf, or againft its perpetual Obligation : And f pre* fume, if the wifeft Presbyterian now in Scotland had liv'd at that Time, he had thought it Very proper to give into thofe Meaftires, efpecially feeing the Preferva- txon of the King's Perfon and Authority, in the Defence of the true Religion, is one confiderable Article fworn to-, and fo it Was then, as formerly, wholly Defenfive. Befide, the AfTembly 1649, Seff. 19. and elfewhere, appoints fuch Exa&nefs in re?- ceiving the Engagers, &c. and inftrudting them, and others, That they fubfcribe witfr Judgment and in Right eoufnefs, that 'tis a Wonder any mould Quarrel it.

4. 'Tis objefted, That the National Cove- nant is declar'd illegal by A& of Parlia- ment, Cba. II. Par. 1. Se/f. 2. Aft 2. and Aft 5. of that Seifion, appointing the De- claration againft it thereto fubjoin'd, to be fubfcrib'd by all Perfons in publick Truft. Item, Cha. II. Par. impofing the Teft, @r. which to this Day were never repeal'd : Concluding thence, That the owning the

Obligation

£

91

perpetual Obligation, avfwer'd. 47 Obligation of it, is, according to thefe AQs9 treafonable and rebellious. To which it is

Anfwer'd, That, even by thefe Tyranni- cal Adts and Declaration mention d, the National Covenant is not fimply treafonable tor rebellious -, but as it was fworn and ex- plain'd Anno 1633, i.e. as it abjures the .Government of the Church by Bifhops, the Civil Power of Church-Men, and the five Articles of Perth, in which Refpects thefe Ads are refcinded generally. Aft 3. Par. 1. King William and Queen Mary, Seff. I. and Aft 5. Par. 1. ratifying The Confeffion of Faith, and fettling Presbyteri- an Church-Government ; and particularly Par. King William and Queen Mary, Seff. 2. ,Aft. 27. entituled, Aft rejeinding the Laws for Conformity.

5. 'Tis objefted, That in the National Co* tenant, and the general Bond, the Subfcri- iers are folemnly fworn to maintain the King's Perfbn and Authority, the Liberties x)f our Country, Miniftration of Juftice, and Punifhment of Iniquity 5 and in the folemn League, Art. 9. the Rights and Pri- vileges of the Parliament, and the Liber- ties of the Kingdom, which, more than the thoufand Part of the Church and Na- tion of Scotland neither do, nor can be fup- jjos'd to understand, and fo cannot fwear

ia

48 Objections again /? it, 'and its

in Truth, Righteoufnefs and Judgment: Befides, they are ingag'd to do all with their beft Counfel, their Bodies, Means, and their whole Power, againft all Sorts of Perfons whatfoever *, which would feem to engage, by an Oath, all the Subfcribers to be Soldiers in the Caufe of the Covenant \ and Judges, and Executioners, with Re- fpect to Malignants. To this is

Anfwered, (i.) That an Oath binding limply to Particulars of mere Fa& doth, no Doubt, require that it-be in Truths Righ- teoufnefs and Judgment, that the Taker both know the Things (worn to, and be per- fwaded that they are true ; and righteous •, •as, if a Man ihould fwear to maintain the Life, Honour and Eftate of his Friend or Superior, in fuch and fuch particular Points, ■againft the Ihvaiion and Oppreffion of o- thers. (2.) On the other Hand, if an Oath rdo bind to a certain Duty, either general- ly exprefs'd and qualifi a with Righteouf- nefs, and agreeable to the* Station and Ca- pacity of the Taker, the very Notion of the Duty fo qualified is fufficient to fit the Perfoii to bind his Soul by fuch an Oath. Suppofe I mould engage my felf by Oath to perform all Righteoufnefs, as a Judge, between Man and Man, it fufficiently qua- lifies me to come under fuch an Engage- ment,

>?7

'perpetual Obligation, anfwefd. 49 iment, if I underftand the general Notion of Righteoufnefs, tho5 I cannot polfibly know for the Time, every Thing that may be included therein. (3.) Oaths of a mix'd Nature, fuch as the Abjuration now in Ufe, that I may fwear in Truth, Righteoufnefs and Judgment : 'Tis neceffary, indeed, I know on what Grounds his Majefty is King de jure ^ but when, by my Oath I aflert he has Right to all his other Dominions to him belonging, 'tis not neceffary, before I be concern'd to ad, that I underftand the Ground of his Right to every particu- lar Place, he, as King of thefe Nations,' claims a Right to. In like Manner, when I fwear to maintain the King's Authority, the Privileges of the Parliament, the Liber- ties of the People, the Difcipline and Go- vernment of the Church ^ 'tis ftill under- ftood, to be in the Defence of the Gofpel, and according to Juftice (as the faid Cove- nant qualifies the Oath) tho' I do not clear- ly underftand the Particulars : I have fwoni that his Majefty hath not only a Right to the Crown of thefe Realms, but alfo to all his other Dominions to him belonging ^ and, when my Oath is qualified with Righteouf- nefs, I think I have fworn in Truth and Judgment, altho' I know not exactly what his Right is to Madrafpatan in Coromanddy D Bombay

50 Objections 'againft it? 'and its Bombay on the Weft Coaft of Cambaia, and Twelve other Places on the Coaft otCoro- mandel, Nine in the Gulph of Bengal, Five in the Mogul's Entire, Eight in A- rabia F<elix, Three in Perfect, Eighteen in the Ifland of Sumatra, on the Maly Coaft, in Si am, China, and fundry other Places in Afea, befides Seventeen in Africa, and Twenty four large Countries or Iflands in America. Is a Man in my Station oblig'd by my Oath, particularly and clearly to underftand the King's Right to Jamaica, Barb a does, Antegoa, St Ckriftopher's, New* England, Penfelvania, See. Further, the Oath of the National Covenant, and Bond annex'd thereto, is qualify'd with, Accord- ing to our Vocation ~, and in the Preamble, all Ranks of Men in the Nation, fpecifical- ly defign'd, plainly declare, That the Co- venant Engagements, are refpe£tive to the feveral Places and Relations : A Privy Counfellor, a Member of Parliament, an Officer in the Army -, yea, a fingle Centi- nel, a Minifter in the Church-, yea, a Husband-Man, with Induftry, tilling his Ground, and threfhing his Corns, $§c. by which he is enabled to pay the Taxes, can as well, according to his Vocation, anfvver the Ends of the Covenant, as any of the forme* Sorts in their Stations^ tho' I deny

not

bo-f

perpetual Obligation, anfwerd. $y not, That they and he too would he bound to fxght for it, in cafe of extream Neceility.

6. 'Tis objected , That, many Perfons very ignorant, not only of the King's Au- thority, as above •, but alfo of tlie Difci- pline of the Church, were folemnly fworn into the Covenant. To which it is

Anfwered, That all that great Company,' Man, "Wife, Bairn, bought and hir'd Ser- vant, that, in Dent. 29. 10. enter'd into Covenant with the Lord, - underftood as little of the Merits of that Caufe, as the Scots Covenanters did of theirs. 'Tis to no Purpofe to deny Confequence from the \ Old Teftament- Antecedents in this Cafe 5 : or to alledge, there's no Inftance of Nati- 1 cnal Covenants in the New Teftament. For (1.) The Reafon of the People's coming in- \ to Covenant with God, viz. the Receipt of I remarkable Favours from him, great De- ifedHon from their firft Love to him, and ! their firft Works, preffing univerfal Cala* ^mities, imminent Judgments, and the like, j is the lame, under both Teftaments. (2.) I doubt not but that Paffage, Jerem. 70. $. ^They /hall ask the Way to Zion with their J Faces thitherward, faying, Come, let us jo'm I cur /elves to the Lord in a perpetual. Cove- nant which frail not be forgotten, is, at once, D 2 a Pro-

y 2 Objections againjl it, audits $ Prophecy of the Return of the .Je-wifb Captivity from Babylon • and of Ezra and NehemiaWs National Covenants h and alfo, of the like National Covenants under the Difpenfation of the Gofpel : And I could even think, That in it the Spirit of G O D had a Refped to poor Scotland, and this .Covenant. (3.) Even under the New Te- ilament, there are Inftances of what, by ..Analogy, may be call'd National Cove* ^ants. Acls 16. 33, 34. the Jaylor and all his, which was a Sort of little Nation, fceliev'd, made a Profeffion of the Gofpel, and were baptiz'd 5 and, if the Magiftrates -of Philippi had done the like, the Covenant had been farther, fubjectively, extended 5 and, yet further, if thefe having the Ad- miniftration, and all Ranks in the King- dom of Macedon : For my own Part, I can fee no Odds from the Nature of the Thing. The Corinthians, 2 Cor. 8. 5. gave themfelves firft unto the Lord, and then to Paul and his Companions, Minifters of the Gofpel, by the Will of God 5 which very ftiortly expreffes the two principal Heads largely declar'd in the National Covenant, viz. Subjedion to God, and, under him, to a Gofpel-Miniftry and Ordinances, in Re- fped to the Concerns of Salvation, (4-.) Seeing the Al Wife GOD thought not fit,

within

^perpetual Ohligation-) anfwer'd. ? 5

within the Commencement of the New Teftament-Hiftory, generally to convert any one Nation in the "World to the Chri- ftian Religion, 'tis unwarrantable to infer, That a Nation, when generally in Profef- iion it fubmits to the Gofpel, may not en- ter into Covenant for the Defence of it.

7. If it be objefted, That now the Go- vernment of the Church is fettled by Law, an excellent Conjeffion of Faith receiv'd in the Church, and enacted by Authority of Parliament, and Formula's declaring, in ample Form, our Adherence to the Do- ctrine, Worfhip, Difcipline and Church- Government by Presbytery ^ the Obliga-* tion of the Covenant, as to the Formality of it, is determin'd, and the above Secu- rities come in its Room.

It is anfwered. The faid Confeffion and Formula's do not exprefly contain an Obli- gation on the Subfcribers, to ftand by one another in the Defence of the Gofpel, as the National Covenant and Bond there- to annex'd do •, it is very proper all Ranks be imprefs'd with its perpetual Obligation, especially in that Refpedt, feeing, tho' the Enemies of Chrift's Gofpel have not all the Power they were wont to have, they have yet abundance of ill Will • and how foon a jufl: and jealous GOD may, for our Sins, D 3 put

£4 *Fhe Improvement.

pirt Power in their Hands, we cannot tell • J>ut iince the gracious Authority we live under, has not thought fit hicherto to en- join the fubfcribing the Covenant, and jet have remov d all Laws that flood againft it, we ought, at leaft, freely and openly to acknowledge its Obligation on us and our Pofterity. And it may be the AiToci- ation enter'd into with the Prince of Orange at Exeter, ought rather to have fceen continued from Time to Time (muta- tis mnt a nd 'is) than declar'd determined by A£t of Parliament, efpecially feeing they were oblig'd to enter into a new One, on the Occaiion- of the Plot by Pendergrafs, Char nock ^ and others.

Laftly, I come, to mate a very fhort Ap- plication of the Premiffes. And they are of Ufe to humble all Ranks, under a Senfe of our miferable Defection and Apoftafy from the Covenant of our GOD, who, notwithftanding it feems, remembers the Kindnefs of our Youth, and the Love of cur Efpcujals, Jer. 2. 2. May the Confi- deration of his infinite Gocdnefs lead us to Repentance :' May the LORD pour out,, on all Ranks, a 'Spirit of Grace and Sup- plication, that may engage to own the Obligation of his Covenant in fuch Man- ner,

*Tbe Improvement. <;$

her, as may be for his Honour, the Com- fort of his People, a clear Teftimony a- gainft our former and prefent Defe&ion . and of Ufe to convey favoury Impreilions of C H R I S T's early Love to this poor fin- ful Land, and for the Prefervation of the Proteftant Succeffion.

I hope it will give Offence to none that I, according to the feveral Acknowledg- ments and Acts of the General Ailemblies of this Church, take Notice of fundry E- normities in the Lives and Callings even of Minifters, and alfo of others 5 and ac- cordingly fuggeft proper Remedies.

Firfi as to Minifters. "We have much fruitlefs Converfation in all Companies ; the "Want of Gravity in our Carriage and Apparel 5 and more Acquaintance with other Books than with thofe of the facred Scriptures 5 a corrupt "Way of entering in- to the Miniftry by Means of Letters of Recommendation to Heritors, and others ^ Silence in publick Caufe, and not labouring I to cure the Difaffecvtion and Apoftafy of the I People •, "Want of Zeal and Love for the Conversion of Souls, not being weighted with the Want of Succefs in reclaiming Sinners ^ felf-feeking in Preaching, affe- cting rather a dry Clink of Rhetorical Dif- courie, than the folic!, convincing, metho- D 4 dical

yi .•»♦/>*»'

5'<? 27^ Improvement.

dical Way of Preaching, which the LORD

us'd fo fignally to blefs in this Land.

Secondly -, With Refpeft to the People, Their Want of Confcience in fetting and keeping up the Worfhip of God in their Families, their negle&ingFamily-Catechi- iing and Difcipline, their giving Way to themfelves and thofe under their Care to tipple, be drunk, profane the Lord's Day, and mock at Sin, and jeft the Difcipline of the Church, particularly againft that brutal and horrid Sin of Fornication, &c.

As Remedies to thefe Evils, I prefume, in all Humility, to fuggeft, That, in pri- vate Trials for Licence to Probationers, Presbyteries would be very ferious, as far as poifible, to be fatisfied, That the Par- ty is well acquainted with an experimen- tal Work of Grace in his Converfion y efpecially, That fuch of the Presbytry, as fuggeft, that a young Man be taken on Trials, be able, with all the Affurance that the Nature of the Thing can admit, to fpeak to that Purpofe : That Minifters be- ware of encouraging Settlements by Re- commendation to difaffedred Heritors, till firft the Body of the People, efpecially, the beft affected of them, fignify their Satisfa- ction with his Piety and other niinifterial Qualifications ; That Minifters take fpe- <, rial

■Tbe Improvement. 57

ml Care to have their Converfation in Hea- ven, and that Godly Conference be had a- rnong them at their Meetings, even at their ordinary Refrefhments : That they be more diligent in Catechifmg, vifiting. Families and the fick $ and generally, That, in Converfation with their People, their Difcourfe be to edifying.

As to the People, I humbly fuggeft, That every one of a Family apart beftow fome Moments in fecret Prayer, Morning and Evening; That, in Family-Religion, the Duties be fhort and ferious, but that no Part, neither Praife, Reading nor Praye* fee omitted 5 That on the Lord's Day, Fa- milies and Perfons be very ferious in their TVorfhip, and beftow more Time than or- dinarily 5 particularly, that they be in Fa- mily and fecret Prayer very importunate, for God's Prefence and Blefling in and upon the publick Ordinances. Here, I would fuggeft three Things, in which, I hope, fe- rious Chriftians will find Comfort : t. That Families may, now and then, as Occafion cafts up, have Family-Fafts 5 2. That eve- ry well-meaning Ghriftian, immediately after publick divine Worlhip/go to God in fecret, and cry for a Bleifing on it. 3. That, when any Member of a Family goes from Home, fuppofe it were to a Market, he be

frtry

alone

$S 7 he Improvement.

alone with God in fecret for his Protect on : And, when he returns, he be likewife, before he eats or drinks, fome Minutes with God in fecret.

And generally, becaufe Admiffion to the Hord's Table, and coming to it, is the great Criterion of Religion, fpecial Care would be had on the one Hand, to avoid a promifcuous Admiffion and going to it, left the Lord be thereby provok'd to abhore that fblemn Part of his Worfhip \ and, on the other Hand, that the People, in this unconftant Time, do not fpurn at that fa- cred Ordinance.

I profefs, 'tis not Arrogance, has led me into the above Cenfure of any of the re- verend Miniftry of this National Church, but the Hopes I conceiv'd, that laying the PremiSes before the People, into whole Hands this Effay may come, might engage them the better to bear with the Duty of Minifters in their Calling and Office 5 and, if it mail have, in fomeMeafure, its denYd Effect, I'll be encourag'd to offer more on that Subject, with Refpect unto the People, as the Lord mail give Opportunity.

I am fo far from thinking, that preffing the People publickly, by Oath, Subfcrip- tion, or otherwife, to own the Obligation of the National Covenant of this Church,

would

The Improvement. $9

would have a good Effect, that I believe the doing it, in this Jun&ure, would be attended with man)?" obvious Inconvenien- cies : But I am humbly of Opinion, 1. That the Church, in her feveral Judicatures, Ihould acknowledge the famen, as Occafion cafts up. 2. That Minifters mould, in their Preaching and Catechifing, let the People into the Hiftory of this Church in the feveral Periods thereof, and the WrenV lings of our Reformers and Sufferers for a covenanted Work of Reformation, which God hath hitherto honoured to be the Means of our prefent {landing and work- ing in the Lord's Vineyard. 3. That Mi- nifters and ferious People mould pray warmly, ' That the Lord may pour out 4 from on high, his Spirit, to fit, and qua- c lify this National Church, to make a fo-

* lemn Acknowledgment of publick Sins c and Breaches of the Covenant, and a ib-

* lemn Engagement to all the Duties con-

* tain'd therein, more efpecially thefe, that c relate to the Dangers of thefe Times -, and

* that all, who fear the Lord, may, with c Patience and Hope, wait for fuch a Sea-

I * fon, is the Prayer of,

Sir,

Toms, Sec.

POST-

to

POSTSCRIPT.

Advertifement,

WHEN three anon)nnous Letter^ tending to the Subversion of all true Religion and Order in the Church, and Loyalty in the State, and which are, in Writ, induftrioufly lent about, fell into my Hands, after I had refolv'd on publish- ing the preceeding EfTay, I was once mind- ed to engrofs them here, which, I almoft thought, might be a fufficient Confutation of them : But, on Reflection, I ghefs'd, it might be better to make the following Re- marks on them, as an Antidote to the more incautious Reader, into whofe Hands they may be induftrioufly put.

Remarks on the fir ft Letter to tie Reverend

Mr. Adams Minifter of the Go/pel at K d,

containing an Anfwer to the Queries proposed

by him to the Reverend Mr. G s Minifter

of the Gofpel at T n, concerning the Nati- onal Covenant, &c.

The firft Paragraph contains the mod diigracefl.il Reflections on our Forefathers, as if their promifing to continue, during Life, in the Obedience of the Doctrine and Difcipliae of this Church, under the Pains

con-

6//

POSTSCRIPT. 6x

contain'd in the Laws, and of the fearful Judgment of G O D at the Great Day, did import, That they were of Opinion Reli- gion, i.e. (as he explains it in the Pro- grefs of his Letters) the true Grace of GOD, was to be produc'd by human Pe- nalties, That they made the Authority of Man the Ground of Faith, &c. and then concludes, That either they made the leaft Variation from the Doclrine and Difci- pline of that Time infer the divine Judg- ment, and thence alledges, that was an aflerting their own Infallibility, and (ve- ry ironically ) palling a modeft Sentence on every Man and Church, who. in the lean: differ'd from them h or elfe, That they were to accompany the Church in all the poffible Changes it might undergo in Do- ctrine and Discipline. On which I

remark, i. That the fcurrilous Author, ei-

! ther of Ignorance or Defign, takes no No- .

tice, that the Compilers and Subfcribera

of the National Covenant exprefly declare,

that the Doctrine, then own d, ( and ftill

continuing in this Church ) is that reveaFd

to the World by the preaching of the blef-

fed Evangel. 2. That he groundlefly in-

iinuates, that the Doctrine of this National

■ Church and Covenant was peculiar to our

! Reformers -7 tho' they plainly fay, it was

receivd

&i Kemarh on the frji Letter. receiv'd by many and f undry notable Kirks and Realms. 3. That they were ib far from paffing a Sentence of Divine Judg- ment againft others, who, in fome Points of Difcipline, difFer'd from them, that the General AfTembly, Anno 15 66, wrote in another Strain to their Brethren the Bi- fhops of England, on the Occafion men- tion'd in their Letter. 4. That they are, by that Covenant, no farther bound to ac- company the Church, than the Church fol- low Chrift in the blelfed Evangel. ?. I am fure, it never came into their Minds, That faving Grace was to be produc'd by legal Penalties, ( efpecially, feeing they exprefly abjure the Popifli Opus operatum ) ibut that, under the Penalties contain'd in the Laws of the Land, they fhould conti- nue in the outward ProfefTion and Practice of the Doctrine and Difcipline of the Church ; which, at that Time, was necef- lary as a Teft to know their Friends and Enemies, and fo very proper for their own Defence.

In the 2d Paragraph he falls on the So- lemn League, which he fays, as appears to liim from the \ft and 4th Articles of it, was defign'd in Effecl to put the Faith of the three Nations and their religious Practice under the Command of the Clergy and Army — ,

and

THemarfa on the firfl Letter. G$ find makes a Mock of the exprefs Defign of it, viz. That the three Nations might dwell together in Unity -, as if it were ridiculous to expert the Lord's Dwelling among a People, the rather, that they agree in the Truth and Uniformity of Religion, exprefc lty contrary to fundry Paftages of Scripture. I will not trace him with Refpect to the Solemn League, it being none of my pre lent Bufinefs-, I mull only remark 5 i. That he is miftaken in denying, That the Inqui- iition and nerfecuting Spirit of Popery is abjur'd in it : For that's exprefly abjur'd in the National Covenant, and that again is expreflly adopted by the Solemn League, Ar. i. 2. That whoever lhall read that League and the National Covenant of this Church, and compare them with the Situation of Affairs in thefe Times, will, at fir ft Sight, fee, the whole was neceffary in the De- fence of the Gofpel, and the King's Safe* I ty and juft Greatnefs, efpecially, in the Time of King James VI. when a Popifh 'and malignant Party were continually forming Intrigues againft both *, firft with the Queen Mother, and then with the King of Spain : Our Anceftors then acting fuchaPart as Jebojadab, 2 Kings 11. 4, @r. 3. That his Senfe of our Lord's Words, My Kingdom is not of this World, is very

odd,

#4 Remarks on the fir ft Letter. odd, and his Saying, That Religion always abates in Proportion, as human Authority prevails. What thinks he of the noble Pro- mifes, That Kings fhould be nurfing Father s^ and their Queens nurfing Mothers to ths Church ? What, was it worfe with the Church under the aufpicious Government of Hezekiah, Joftah, &c. than under the wicked Princes, that went before, or fuo ceeded them?

Then the Author goes on to anfwer the Queries put by the Reverend Mr. A — /, who, I doubt not, has fully and convincing- ly replied : But, feeing that the Letters containing thefe Queries with the Author's Anfwer s are in my Hand, I humbly offer a few Thoughts on thefe Anfwers.

And, as to the ift Query, He cleverly miftakes the Meaning of it, as if the Church, as a Society, had an intrinfick Power, abftracledly from the Word of God, to prescribe and impofe their own Terms of Communion, even by Contract and Covenant ; whereas the Querift all along Intends it in the exprefs'd Senfe of the National Covenant 5 namely, That it was enter'd into according to the bleffed Evan- gel : And I am fure, whatever Divifions arife in the World, by Accident from the Chriftiah Religion, the reveal'd Intend- ment

'Remarks on the fiji Letter. 6$ ment of it is, That all its ProfefTors fliould keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace.

His Anfwer to the 2d and 3d Queries, is the moft infipid Stuff I ever faw ; 'tis well known, the Prince of Peace faid, Mark 9. 50. Have Salt in your [elves, and have Peace one with another -, That Paul enjoin'd the Ephefians Chap. 4. v. 3. to keep the Unity cfthe Spirit, Sec. and that he required the Corinthians Chap. 16. v, 17 to mark them which caufe Divifwns, See. which any wife Man will reckon equivalent to enjoining them a Covenant •, and that they, by their Profeffion, reftipulate, I think, will be as little queftioned. I'm as little of a perfe- cting Spirit as the Author h but am fure, that Chriftian Exhortations to Meeknefs and Forbearance, yea, Church Cenfures, are very confiftent with being in Covenant with God and one another -, and even in fome Cafes, .as the Execution of a Murderer as 3 Sacrifice to the Juftice of the Law, the Good of his Soul may be intended by the Deftrudtion of his Body.

His Anfwers to the ^th, $tft, 6th, -jth and %tb Queries are childifh : I only remark, that the very Nature of confenting to a Form of Doctrine, as was among the Primi- tive Chriftians with Refpeft to the Apoftles E Creed,

66 Remarh on the fir ft Letter. Creed, the Kicem Faith, and the Creed of Atbanafius, came up to the Import of a Co- venant with Gpd, and among themfelves 5 efpeeially feeing, all Chriftians, particu- larly Preachers, were bound to carry with them, where ever they went, Letters of Communion^ hearing their Confent to the Orthodox Faith •, which Remark, I think will be very grating to the Author, who all along breathes after an odd Sort of Liberty, which he knows is very acceptable to moft Men, that on that Footing, he may build his Reputation, becaufe it feems he cannot fee how to do it any other "Way.

In his Anfwer to the gtb and 10th Que- ries, he jumbles a great many different Purpofes to confufe the State of the Cafe, which I think is clear'd above ^ and it feems he will not believe it juft for a Man in the Caufe of Religion to ac~fc defenfively,till they are leading him forth to Execution. If the King of Britain had not acted otherwife de- fenfively thefe two Years bygone, thefe Na- tions had been given up to Popery and Sla- very. As to the Inftance of the Difciples defiring Fire to come down from Heaven againft the Samaritans, 'tis not to the Pur- pofe : For, as a new Method of Religion was but in Emlryo at that Time j fo our Jword never intended it fliould be propaga- ted

(yfy

Remarks on thefiffl Letter. 67 fed by Civil Penalties, and yet that hinders not, but that the Profeffors of it may be brought under a Tell or Trial -, and often God has fixed Marks of his Difpleafure up- on Hypocrites, as in the Cafe of Ananias and Sapphira.

His Anfwer to 11 12 and 13th Queries are not to the Purpofe ; That Prophefie 'Rev. 17, 16, was not only defigned to re- frefh the then perfecuted Church 5 but it alfo infinuates that the Adtors were to per- form that Work with Honour and Approba- tion, which never was, nor could be in the Cafe of our Lord's Murderers.

His Anfwers to the 14th, 15th, and 16th Queries are not worth noticing.

His Anfwer to the 17th Query is very

fenfelefs. The Church of Scotland has been

hitherto freer of Divifions than any other

Proteftant Church in Europe •, and if Per-

fons of Libertine Principles-,like the Author,

were duly and timely marked, there would

■fee lefs Divifion and more Edification 5 and

I think, 'tis in a great Part owing to the

Confcience of the perpetual Obligation of

the National Covenant, that our Divifions

are fo few. I am fure alfo, that the moft

ferious and religions Part of the Nation

think that they ,by their Forefathers,took the

Covenant in the Year 1580, (i. e.) 6$

E 2 Years

£8 Remarks on the fr ft Letter. Years fooner than he imagines, and I'm of the Mind they took it in the Year 1557, that is 170 Years fince.

His Anfwer to the 18th Query is a long Libertine Cant, not deferving a Reply, and, againft the Wickednefs and Folly of which, we have had in Scotland a ftancling glori- ous Teftimony fince the happy Revolution •> when our Princes have poflefTed their juft Authority and Greatnefs, the Church her juft Rights, and the People true Chriftian Liberty*, and were the Obligation of the Covenant better known, and more confci- entioufly regarded,$there would be a propor- tionable Increafe of true Religion and Pie- ty. His Story abopt King Charles II. is in- fipid ^ for, 'tis plain, that fuch a venerable Body, as the Affembly of this National Church, could never be in fuch Danger of giving up the Liberties of the People to the Appetite of a Tyrant, as Fourteen Bifhops are.

I cannot fpend Time in Reply to his An- fwer to the 1 9th Query. On that to the 20 I remark, ill, That 'tis very like he's a Presbyterian Minifter, and I am forry at it. 2. That on the Matter he is an Apoftate* and glories in it. 3. That he's the moft uncharitable "Wretch I have Occafion to confider of, for what be fays-amounts to this,

that

Remarh on thefirjl Letter. 69 7% at no honeft Man was ever a Covenanter-, and if the Church (hould again make it a farm of Communion, they would underftand them- f elves to be Knaves, andfuffer none, but fucb as they defigtfd Jhould be Knaves, to come into Church Communion with them.

He is fo choak'd with the 2 2d and 23d Queries, and fome Regard to his Reputati- on, that he can't breathe as ordinarily, nor fpeak fo intelligibly to me as I can make any Reply 5 only he does well to neglect the Glory of the Sufferers for Religion, for if he mould fufFer for his, his Memory would be very unfavoury: Befide, being out of Breath, he has forgot that the gloria ous Stand made by our worthy Anceftors, was on the Footing of their Covenant with God, and Affbciation among themfelves for that very Purpofe.

When jrou mall read the Author's Anfwer

to the 24th Query, you will fee it wants no

Reply-, the Author is very unconcerned a-

| bout giving Offence, and very uncharitable

to a vaft Number of Minifters and People

i in Scotland-, but when he brings them all to

; Mr. F- — -A- cTs Temper, it feems he'll

be in a better Humour.

1 On his Anfwer to the 2?th and 26th Qae-

ries, I remark it is all Banter, and what

; Way rejecting the Covenants on which our

E 3 An-

Irt}

7 o Remarks on the fecond Letter. Anceftors proceeded, and were fo fignally bleffed cf God, is the Way to defend the war- rantablenefs of the Reformation, is what I cannot conceive, nor I think any other Mortal except himfelf-, and as little what good his Reveries againft the National Co- venant can intend. To make Divifion and raife a Flame, which is the natural Tenden- cy of his Letters, is what he will not own ; he cannot hinder me from thinking that he acts a Part much like Erofiratus when he "burnt the Temple of Diana at Ephefus. Whoever the Author is I know not, and

who is meant by Mr. G- s that dar'd not

anfwcr the Queries it matters not ^ for, to the Grief of the godly, both Minifters and People, fcandalous Principles are fpread in thefe fcurrilons Letters handed about, and I wifh the Lord may put a Stop to them.

Remarks on a fecond Letter to the Reve* rend Mr. Adams.

The Author complains, That in the Na- tional Covenant, ( he fhould have faid the general Bond annex'd to it) that there is Reference made to feveral Acts of Parlia- ment ; -which evidences, that it contains an Obligation to vSq Force and Perfecution a-

gainft all its Oppofers In Reply to

which

Remarh'o?} tie fecond Letter. 7 r which, I would have it remarked, (i.) That in the whole Tradt of that Affair, one that faithfully obferves the Tenor of the Covenant and general Bond thereto annex'd, the reftlefs Temper of the Enemies of the Reformation, as appears from the Hiftory of thefe Times, will eafily fee, that the en- tire Management was no more then defen- Jive of the Reformation than attain'd 5 tho' it feems the Author has a ftrange Notion of a juft and neceffary Defence, which he will never allow to be warrantable at a conveni- ent Diftance,nor till it be quite ufelefs. (2) He falls into a Burlefque in Writing Trea* fon againft the Legiflature, grieving the Spirits of the Godly, reproaching the Claim of Right, difgracing the greateft Defence of the Nation againft Popery and Arbitrary Power in the Bufinefs of the Coronation Oath, like thefe filthy Dreamers that defpife Dominion, and /peak evil of Dignities, Jud. 8. It would fwell this Poftfcript to follow the feveral Turnings and Windings of this fcurrilous Letter in the Procefs of it, parti- cularly with Refpect to the Government of King 'Charles I. and the Courfes of that Time. 5Tis very plain, that by afpiring after an abfolute defpotick Government in the State, by the Influence of bad Coun- fels, by his IJnconcernednefs for the Irifh E \ Maflacre,

♦

7 2 Remarks on the fecond Letter. Maflacre, in which, within the Commence- ment of a few Days, upwards of 200000 Proteftants were kill'd in cold Blood, his breaking in upon the Conftitution of the EngUfh Government, by the Inftigation of the Earl of Stafford, Archbifhop Laud, &c. altering the Situation of the Communion Tables, licenfing Sports on the Lord's Day, levying Ship-Money, gjjk he gave an uni- verial Difguft to the Subjects of both Nati- ons : And yet after all, the Presbyterians every where excufed him, laid the Blame on his evil Counfellors, did all within the Reach of their Power ( confiftent with the Prefervation of their Religion ) to protect his Sacred Perfon while in Danger by Cromml and the Englilh Sectaries, regrated Bis Deaths and exerted themfelves to the ntmoft for the Reftauration of his Son. 3Twas impoffible in thefe Times, now is, and I think, will be to the End of the World, for any Government to preferve external Order, and keep different Seels from devour- ing cne another, without giving the Afcen- tlant to one, and fo conftituting a National Religion by Authority, whatever Indul- gence may be given to others. Tis fo in the united Provinces, fb often objected to us for Liberty in Religion ^ and it is ridi- culous to fay our prefent gracious Sove-

0 23 Remarks on thefecond Letter. 7 5 reign, and our other Princes fince the Revo- lution, extended their Office only to Civil Concerns ^ for they have always beftowed their Royal Favour, particularly for the Maintenance of the eftablifhed Church. His Ridicule about Jofhua and the Congregati- on of Ifrael, their going in and out at the Word of Eleazar the Prien% Davids making the Tefti monies of the Lord his Counfel- lors, ®r. and his {peaking of believing in the General AfTembly \ are really fo infi- pid, as to anfwer them, would declare a Man a greater Fool than the Author. The Sentiments of the Church of Scotland about interpreting Scripture, and believing the Truths therein contain'd on the Authority of God, are fo well known, that no Reply needs be given to what's faid in the 3d Pa- ragraph •, Where did ever an Aflembly of the Church of Scotland pretend to a Magi- fterial and Infallible interpreting of Scrip- ture }

The Replyer agrees with the 4th Para- graph in omnibus, but reclaims again ft his Application in the 5th : For 'tis plain from the Acts of the General AfTemblies and the Hiftories ofthefe Times, That the Church, in her folemn Acknowledgements of Sins and Breaches of Covenant, and Injunctions for reclaiming Papifts, Apoftates, Malig-

fl'ants

74 'Remarks on the fecond Letter. nants and Incendiaries, us'd all Gofpel Me- thods •, nor were any delivered over to Sa- tan and then into the Hands of the Civil Magiftrate, but fuch as by traiterous Pra- dtices, and open Rebellion, attempted to o- verthrow the Conftitution *, and the prohi- biting of and fearching for erroneous Books, and fuch as tended further to inflame the Nation, was as much Duty as this or any other Government's fearching for inlifting Soldiers, and importing Arms for the Pre- tender.

Not to follow the Author's Reveries in the 6th Section, 'tis well known that our Reformers, and the Presbyterian Church always afterward, took fpecial Care to have the Scriptures ( which was denied to their Anceftors in Popery ) read and ex- plained to the People, which, on the Tefti- mony almoft of every Man, except this lingular Author, made People of all Ranks grow in Knowledge in the Matters of Reli- gion to a "Wonder, elpecially when Order was, by the Authority of the Church, ex- actly obferved. I acknowledge that a Man's profeffing Religion only on the Authority of Men, is little better than having no Religion at all 5 but Mens complying with the wholefome Injunctions of a Church and Laws of a Nation, for Confcience Sake i , to

'Remarks on the fecond Letter. 75 to attend the Preaching of the Gofpel, DI- ets of Catechifing and Religious Conference, may be, and often is bleffed of God, to* make Men truly Religious, which procures a juft Refpec~t on Gofpel Principles from the Chriftian People to Gofpel Minifters, who never affect a Dominion over their Faith.

The 7 Par. is the moft prodigious affront- ing of Reafon, Scripture and common Senfe that ever was written 5 and if I may be per- mitted to make a Conjecture of the Author's Defign, I think, Providence has permitted that he mould appear a pure Original, for his Like never caft up in the World hi- therto : What are the reveal'd Defigns of Providence in permitting Herefies and Divifions, to make the Truth be the bet- ter underftood ? I had always before under- ftood the Defign to have been, That they 'which are approved may le made mam f eft. I. Cor. 11. 19. cfbat Wo belonged to the Man hy whom the Offence cometh. Math. 18. 7. gjjif. and that the Apoftles Rule, Rom. 16. 17. had been of perpetual Authority. Now Ihejeech you, Brethren, mark them which caufe Divifions and Offences, contrary to the Doclrine which ye have learned 5 and avoid them. What was the proper Effect of Uni- formity in the bleffed Days of David, He*

zekiai%

76 'Remarks on the fecond Letter, zekiab, Jofiah, and other good Kings of lfrael, Ignorance ? The Ignorance of the Clergy and People of Spain and Italy, &c. more then in fundry Provinces in Germany , flows not from the Uniformity of the one, or Divifions of the other, but from the wrong Principles and Ignorance of the Sa- cred Scriptures in the former : For I verily think, on the Principles taught the Spani- ards and Italians, they know better when to tell their Beads and fay their Ave Maria's, than moft of our People do how to perform Family and Secret "Worfhip 5 and the Ig- norance of the People of England Row' A. not from the preciie Uniformity, but from cor- rupt Principles and other obvious Caufes : And I apprehend, that the delivering over this Church, on the Principles of the Natio- nal Covenant, into the Hands of fome infal- lible Junto and univerfal Superintendant, and the frightful Confequences mentioned in that Paragraph, had been the laft Thing in the World to be fear'd.

What appears to be a Mercy to him ( in the 8th Paragraph) namely all the Mi- fery we fuffer'd after the Reftauration,was, I'm fure, a Grief to many precious Souls, whole Sufferings on the Footing of a cove- nanted Work of Reformation, is the formal Reafon why he and I poflefi fuch Worldly

Ac-

ozj

%emarh on the fecond Letter. 77

Accommodations for the Sake of the Gofpel, and an open Door to preach it. I'm fure I am better fatisfy'd in the prefent mild Ad- miniftration than he, and never open'd my Mouth in the loaft, to difgrace the Confti- tution as he on every other Turn does in thefe Letters, and yet cannot with him glory in the prefent # Toleration fb much abus'd by Perfbns difaffe&ed to the Go- vernment 5 and for my Part, they are not above the Number of 3 or 4 in the Mini- ilry, I have Ground to fufpe<9:, that give in- to his unbounded Principles of Liberty^ and I believe his uncharitable Sufpicion of gloomy Spirits among us, whp pradtife Per* fecution in Theory, is very ill founded.

Unlefs I fhould have betrayed the Truth; I could not have wav d calling the Author Names, but have eafily forborn Jeft 5 for as my Spirit is weighted with the Matter^ fo I have no Faculty that Way. I hope the Reader will fee I have gone into the Merits of the Caufe, and prov'd that the National Covenant, in the fundry Shapes wherein it hath appeared in this Church, is very confiftent with the Gofpel, with the Principles of the Reformation, very ef- fectively contributing to the Safety of the State, diametrically oppofite to the licen- tious Power and Bride of Church-Men 5 and

that

7 8 'Remarks on the fecond Letter'. that the People by believing the fame^ believe not Contradi&ions. And here I take the Opportunity to refer the Reader,, and particularly the Author of thefe Letters, to a Story of the National Covenant of this Church, of greater Antiquity than every one imagines, noted by Archbifhop Spotijwood in the Year 500, to this Purpofe. i King f Congallus, after a little while fickning, c fent Columla ( a Church Man ) into Ire- c land to bring home Aidanus the right c Heir of the Kingdom ^ but e'er he return- c; ed, the King was dead, and Kinnatellus c pofTefTed of the Crown, and the good c Man debating much with himfelf, deter- c mined at laft to bring home the faid Ai- c danus, whom Kinnatellus received kindly, 1 after whofe Death Aidanus was crowned 5 c and Columla performing the Ceremonies, e exhorted the King to the Love of Juftice, c the Nobles to the Obfervance of Peace, c and them all to Conftancy in the Chrifti- c an Profeffion^ with which all the AfTembly 4 comply'd by folemn Oath. And to con- clude, I heartily pray, that by the Bleffing of God on this and other Means, the Au- thor may become as zealous a Covenanter as my felf.

Sr9

Tours, &c.

N. B.

6 Of

Remarks on thefecond Letter. 79

N. B. I have the Acts of the Aflembly

from 1638, to 1649 inclufive, and yet am

of Opinion, you the Author are quite mi-

fhken in your Matters.

Remarks on a third Letter to the Re- verend Mr* Adams,

The Letter is exceedingly injurious to the fovereignty of God, all revealed Reli- gion, and the Intendment of the Aaronical Priefthood and Inftitutions, which defign'd to prefigure the Mefliah his Incarnation, Pafiion, &c. and the fpirituality of the Got pel Church, when it fays, that was incor- porated with the Civil Conftitution of the Jew'tfb Nation, and made a Condition of their poffeffing the Land : For in Genefis 17.

1. 15. Abrahams Right and that of his

Poiterity to that Land was fully fettled on his and their being c'ircumcifed, and walking before God and being perfect -, and after his Pofterity had the Moral Law promulgate to them from Mount Sinai, moft of their Judicial Laws and Ecclefiaftical ones too fettled on the Principles of Abrahams Co- venant with God. About two Years after their coming out of Egypt, when- their Right was confummate, they were order- ed to go up and take Polfeffiqu of the Land5

and

8o Remarks on the third Letter. and yet for their not adhering to God's Co- venant, were forced for the Space of 38 Years, to wander through a vaft Wilder- nefsontheEaft Side of the River Jordan., when a great many of their Judicial and Ceremonial Conftitutions,tho' fam'd on the Principles of Abraham's Covenant, took Rife from their Crimes and Scandals ^ fo that to fay the Right to that Land was fuf- pended on the entire Body of their Laws, as Handing in the Pentateuch, is wrong, and of dangerous Confequence •, for had they been meek and fubmiifive, their Yoke had not been made lb heavy, I acknowledge that God made excellent Ufe of the Laws occafioned by their Sins, as Reprefentati- ons of good things to come; but for the Letter to fay, that the Ceremonial Law was only a Political Religion,is very unaccount- able : Tis true it was defign'd to keep the Seed oilfrael unmix'd with other Nations, that the Genealogy of the Meffiah might be without Exception ^ but we know, that the Ifraelitilh Servants bought with their Mo- ney, and Strangers that joyned them were fubje&ed to it, either as Profelytes of the Gate or of the Covenant, that there might he an Uniformity in the Church. And the Diftinction the Author makes between that Political Religion, as he calls it, and ano^

ther

031

Remarks on the third Letter. Si

ther Religion will not anfwer hisPurpofe : For all that know any Thing of Religi- on underftand, that outward Obfervance of its Rites, and true Grace, are quite different Things, the laft of which never did, nor can come under the Cog- nizance of Mortals, fo as to inflict Pu- nifhments or beftow Rewards -y yet that can't hinder enjoying Confoftnity to an unqueftionable Frame of Religion in the external Obfervances of it.

To infer from all that he had faid, That the Nature of the Je-vjifb Covenants was fuch as he reprefents, That Jofwb's Re* formation intended no more than a Com- pliance with the political Interefts and Conftitutions of that Nation, is at once a horrid Impiety againftGod, and a bru- tal Ignorance of the Situation of the Jew- i(h Affairs at that Time. The long Con- tention between the Kings of Egypt and Babylon^ which then was at the higheft, fhould have led Jofiah and his Council, had they proceeded on Principles of Policy, to quite other Meafures than fo o- penly and avowedly to deftroy rhe Reli- gion both thefe Nations were fond of$ efpecially feeing his Country lay between their Empires, and the Jews almoft al- ways obliged to join with the one or F the

82 Remarks on the third Letter. the other : No, that righteous and religious Prince intended by his Reformation, and renewing the Covenant with Ijrael's God, to obey the divine Command, that in that Way, God might beftow Grace on his People, and that he might maintain the Church and Nation againft Pharaoh Ncchoy who then was carrying on his Wars againft the King of Babylon, with whom Jofiah was Confederate.

The Reflections the Letter makes on 2 Chron. 34. 31, 32, 33. are extremely fenfe- lefs : For, 'tis plain the Intendment of that Covenant and Reformation was a Compli- ance with the Law of the Lord, and in that Way to expect the divine Grace and Fa- vour ^ and that People ferving God all theJDays of Jofiah, intends no more than the" outward Serving of God in the Rites of Religion. But I hope, in that Way, there was more Ground to expecl the di- vine Grace, to make Men truly Religi- ous, than in the licentious and idolatrous Reign of Manafleh.

The Story of King Afas Covenant, in- troduced on the Back of the other, and the Inferences drawn therefrom, I could not read without a Blufh, and am afhamed to take up Time on it \ only I muft re- mark (1.) That all Mortals hitherto, except

&33

Remarks on the third Letter 3 3 abfolute Atheifts, who deny the Being of God, have agreed to that general Law, That every Man ought to be puniflied that will not ibek him $ and that they fhould feelc him with all their Hearts : And if itfhould he abfolutely certain, that a Man profef- ling to do it, does but mock when he pre- tends to worfhip, I am fure that, by all the Laws agamft Atheifm, he ought to be punifhed : But, thefe Cenfures and Penal- ties being concerned in Things only that appear, the Searching of the Heart muft be left to God : And, if the Author fhall own the Scriptures according to their genu- ine Senfe exprefTed in the Confeihon of Faith, (which, I prefume, he has again and again fubfcribed) and live regularly in his Station, I fhall alwa}rs fay, he feelcs the Lord God of Ifrad with all his Heart and Soul ^ and if, notwithstanding, he fhall be really a Hypocrite,I fhall leave it to God to punifh him, and my Hand fhall not be upon him. (2.) I remark, that the Peo- ple were required to be truly religious, i. e. to have Grace, and exercife it, and they undertook it : But the Penalty threatned . refpedted no more than their external Be- * haviour, which might declare the quite Contrary of their Profeifion and Engage- ments. (3J I wonder what Thoughts the F 2 Au-

$4 Remarks on the third Letter. Author has of Engagements taken by Spon- fors at the Baptifm of Infants. Are not thefe really Covenants? Are they not Engagements to feek the Lord God of their Fathers with all their Hearts ? And yet all the Penalties, fo far as Men are con- cernd, refpect their external Behaviour. The Reflection the Author makes here, is but a Snare to catch the Ignorant : For, whatever be the real State of a Man, with Refpect to Grace, no Penalties were ever intended againft any that liv'd regularly according to God's Word, either in the tfraetuifb Church or the' Chriftian ^ and that no more was there premifed to the If- ratites, and actually given them, than ex- ternal Reft, is falfe : For an Increafe of Grace and future Glory was promifed to the godly among them y and in that Way Grace was promifed to others that honeft- ly fought it. Tis a "Wonder the Author's virulent Pen let thefe "Words drop from it, That that Covenant only hound them to be hearty in the external Service of God ; for, if a Man be hearty in the external Service of God, I rauft think he is truly religious.

HntkiaWs Covenant is alfb brought in,and the Defign of it (to turn away the Wrath of God from that Nation; explained into no

more

02?

Remarks on the third Letter. ?S

tnore than to have aRelationtothe external Jt^ilh Law, and the averting of a temporal Punifhment, and that the Former, his and JLzra's Covenants, were no more than Ci- vil Adts of Indemnity for former Breach- es of the facred Laws of the great God : When IreadZk/tf. 27. n6.Gal. 3. 10. and other fuch Scriptures, and compare them with the Words in the Letters, I'm fhock'd to the laft Degree. What! were all the Crimes, Enormities and atrocious Wick- ednefs of the People of Ijrarf and Judah, during the Reigns of their Idolatrous Kings, no more than a Breaking in on the Civil Conftitution, and their iolemn renewing Covenant in the Periods refer'd to, no more than their accepting an Indemnity from their religious Princes.

The Author having laid down and made fure, as he thinks, his Principles, which I'm fure are the moft pernicious that ever were, goes on to infer, That nothing of the Jrjuijh Reformations, and their renewing their Covenants with God, may be lawfully imitated by Chriftians,

with Refpecl to their Religion. On

which, I remark (1.) That whatever God's fecret Purpofe, which doth not concern us, was, I'm fure he never made any De- clarations againft other Nations coming

in-

86 Remarks on the third Letter. into that Religion ^ tut, on the Contrary,' that all who would fubmit to the Confti- tutions of it, fhould be welcome. As to the Laws againft marrying with other Na- tions, thefe had a peculiar View y and Nehe- miaFs forbidding his ill-defignmg Neigh- bours to affift him in his Buildings, doth not alter the Cafe neither. (2.) It hath been hitherto, according to Scripture, a current Principle, That religious Magi- ftrates are peepers of both the Tables of the Law 5 and tho' Chrift's Kingdom be not of this World, u e. tho' his Difpen- fations of Grace, and his Rewards and Punifhments, mainly refpeft the other World *, yet that hinders not, but that Magiftrates, efpecially if they are Chrifti- an, may be Minifters for Good, Rom. 13. 1 9. Is it an Ad of Violence in a Civil Magiftrate to command, even upon Pen- alties, ' that his Subjects read God's Word, pray to him. That in all their Wa}<s they acknowledge him^ that they attend whol- fome Inftruftion, &c. > Was it an Act of Violence in Abraham, even before the If- rariitijl) Oeconomy was -fully fettled, to command his Children and Servants to know the Way of the Lord ? Was it an Aft of Violence in Artaxerxes, tho' not embody 'd in that Church, to order Ezra

Remarks Oh the third Letter. 87 7. 29. tfhat wl at ever was commanded ly the God of ' Heavt 77, (hould he done di- ligently for the Houfe of the God of Hea- ven. (9.) When the covenanted Refor- mation was in greateft Credit in Britain and Ireland, there were comfortable Tra- ces of Religion that increafed, till Oliver Cromwell's Ufurpation began in the State, and a boundlefs Liberty, like that the Author pleads for, broke in upon the Church •, which at laft made "Way for Ty- ranny and Prelacy, which, we all know, irought Ignorance along with it. (4.) Tho' It is not warrantable to banifh, burn, or hang a Man for want of Grace $ yet, it is very lawful to punifh him for Athelfmy Socinianifm, prophaning the Lord's-Day, Drunkennefs, ©r. according to the De- merits of his Crimes. (5.) It is ftrange the Author cants over and over, That the Jews had temporal Promifes annexed to their Obedience, fuch as the PofTeifion of

the Land of Canaan. Do not all honefl

Chriftians know, that under that Shadow Heaven was intended. (6.) I acknowledge, that the Believers among the Jews never dream'd, that Grace could be communi- cate by external Laws and Penalties : But, I believe, that thro' Faith, they expedted Grace and Glory in the Way of Conformi- ty

88 Remarks on the third Letter, ty to the reveal'd Conftitutions of Religion among them : And,I'm fure,a wife Scots Co- venanter had never other Sort of Thoughts. (7.) The Religion of the Je-vos, as to the Grace and Spirituality of it, was juft the fame with the Chriftian, only, we have more Spirit and fewer Ordinances -5 which juftly gives the Names of Carnal to theirs, and Spiritual to ours, hut does not alter the Nature of the Thing 5 and fo does not hinder Chriftians from Covenanting with God on the fame Grounds.

The Defign of the National Covenant in Scotland was never to eftablifh a Na- tional Religion i but to eftablifh the Religi- on of Jefus Chrift in the Nation •, and as foon as they were capable, they propagate that Reformation as far as they could, wrote to all the reformed Churches a- broad, defiring the neareft Union with them-, and I believe, were it in their Power, they would by Gofpel-methods, fpread the fame into all the Nations and Corners of the Earth ^ fo far are they from fencing themfelves from Communion with other Nations in their Religion. His Bur- lefque on the Reformation, and the Inftru- ments of it, follows indeed from his per- nicious Principles, but thefe being naught, the other wants no Remarks only

'tis

03J

Remarks on the third Letter. 85

'tis a Wander to fee any Man write anent Religion, and fo far out of his Wits, as ftill to forget the Word of God, the Foun- dation of it ^ thence ■' it is, he can fee no Odds between the Reformation made by our Anceftors and Popery.-

That the National Covenant Is popular among well-meaning Chrifhians I acknow- ledge, and that it was neceffary for begin- ning and carrying on the Reformation, is, from what hath been above-faid, very plain, notwithftanding all his Confide- rations on the the Contrary.

On the Firft of which, I remark (1.) That the Reformation did actually confift with a Covenanting thereabout. (2.) All other Mortals, except the Author, can eafily fee, That our Anceftors engaging to God to reform, and to affift one another therein, are very confiftent with all the Rules of Religion and Prudence.

On his Second Confideration, I remark,1 That our Fore-fathers never intended, tha€ the formal Ground of their Profeifion, or of the Power of the Church, fhould be hu- mane Laws, but the Authority of God reveal'd in the Scriptures -, and why may not human Laws require Men to keep the Lord's-Day* read the Scriptures, abftain from Adultery, &c'- as well as Jofiab com- G ' mand*

£o Remarks an the third Letter. manded his People to feek the Lord God of their Fathers, obferve the Law of Mo~ fes, Sec.

Tis ftrange,That in his^/WConfidera- tion, he fhould fay, If Men in Power have a Right to eftablifh Religion by National Co- venants and Laws, there will be an End vf all Reformation, Sec. For, if Men in Tower ihall eftabliiTi Religion by the Laws, or Covenants agreeable to the Word of God, (which he neglects all along in his Let- ter) what fliould hinder fuch Reformation to go on ? It feems he is little acquainted with the Hiftory of the Reformation of this Church, when he fays, That every Step taken in it condemns it /elf '-, and charges our Reformers with the Guilt of Re- bellion. Our noble Anceftors, in that "Work, obferv'd a greater Submiffion than the French, Dutch, Germans, Swedes, Hel- vetians, Silefians, Bohemians, Hungarians ; 8cc. did in theirs : But, it feems, it is no great Matter to him, with one Dafh of his Pen, to condemn almoft all the Reform- ed Churches in Europe.

In his fourth Confideration, he has a ftrange Notion, as if it were unwarrant- able for Men to enquire after Truth, or praclife any Duty conform to it, unlefs it fhould firft arife from Rulers -, which

has

Remarks on the third Letter. 91

has not been the Way of Providence in any Nation of Europe, except England and. Denmark : And if the envious Author will not allow the Lawfulnefs of our Reformers Covenanating for Reformation, yet he may at leaft allow it, for preferving the Re- formation attain'd. Which in the Fifth Confideration he feems to grant under the Name of a Covenant, provided it iirport no more than a Civil Aflbciation ; and he is miftaken about the Covenants or Bonds enter'd into by our Reformers before the Year 15:60, for theyconfift in a folemn Tow to God to promote the Reformation of Religion, as well as a Com-promife to ftand by one another in doing it.

All that I remark on the confus'd Poft- fcript of that Letter is, That factious and four fpirited Men, and Parties, like the Author and his Accomplices, having cart up in the feveral Ages and Periods of the Church, made it necefTary for her, from Time to Time, to form many and very particular ConfeiTions of Faith -, and con- Tenting to them by Oath or Subfcription, reaches * one great Defign of Church-cove- nanting : And if an Obligation by Oath or Subfcription, to ftand by one another in Maintenance of the prefent Confeilion of the Church of Scotland, and the Frc-

teftant

$1 Remarks on the third Letter. reliant Succeffion, in the Defence of the Evangel, and a iincere Refolve to follow Holinefs , might be peaceably obtain'd, it would be all I plead for ^ and that, I'm fare, the Author is heartily againft. This is what all honeft Men earnestly pray for, and many hope the Lord will fooner or later grant fuch a Time of Refrelhing from his Prefence.

And to conclude,the Principles laid down in thefe Letters, at once condemn all the Wars that have hitherto been in the wide "VYoiidjin Defence of the Orthodox Faith o the Proteltant Religion in Europe, fince the Welled Reformation from Popery, as wel as Covenants and Aflbciations therefore I wonder what Conceptions he muft have of ConfLiutms Wars againft Lwimns, &c of the Proteftant Princes of Germany a- ft Chcuies V. of Queen Elizabeth who afnfted all her Neighbours in Defence o the Proteftant Religion, the Wars- of Gu- ftamus Adolphus, Sec. For, I'm perfwaded it is but a Trifle with him, to condemn his poor Country-men in the fundry Ste'ps ihey have talc-en, at and fince the 'Rcformaton •, and particularly, in bring- ing about the glorious Revolution in the -Year i6S3, and contributing what they- I ever fince, to maintain the Wars ill for the Defence of it. FINIS.