A vindication of the Judicial Act and testimony : containing a detection of the Erastianism of the settlement of religion at the Revolution; in some remarks upon a pamphlet entitled, Fancy no faith

<9

VINDICATION

OF THE

Judicial Ad: and Teftimony,

C O Ljj TAINING

A Detection o!i the Erajlianifm of the
Settlement of Religion at the Revo-
lution :

In fome Remarks upon a Pamphlet, in-
titled, Fancy no Faith*

By WILLIAM CAMPBELL Minifter of the Go*
/pel to 'the Affociate Congregation in the Eaft of
Fyfe.

. 1

2 Chron. xxix. 12, 15*. Then the Levitcs arofe—
and they gathered their Brethren, and janBified
themfelves, and came, according to the Commandment
of the King, by the Words of the Lord, to clean' a
the Houfe of the Lord,

EDINBURGH,

Printed for, and fold by John Henderfon Merchant
in Abernethy ; by James Young Bookbinder near
to Marys Chapel, Edinburgh, James Cuthbert
Merchant m Cow par in Fyfc, and David Bind
Merchant in Perth, MDCCXLVII-I.

( iil )

PREFACE

T O T H E

READER,

Particularly to thofe of my
own Congregation.

THE following Obferves have lien by me
about nine Months, I not having had the
renioteft Intention, at firft, of expofing
them to the Publick, until of late, in
regard I expected an Eflay upon the Subject-Mat-
ter contained in them, which is now publifhed, and
recommended by a Reverend Member of the Aflb-
date Presbytery ofGla/gow ; but when I found that
this Eflay, altho' plain and full upon the Subject,
not fpreading amongft you, I began to think of al-
lowing the Publication of the following Notes as
they are, if poffibly, thro' the Divine Blefling, they
may be of any Ufe in the prefent Controverfy.

As an Inquiry into the Settlement and State of
Religion, at and fince the Revolution, can only
be made by looking into the Act of Parliament,
June 7. 1 69Q. and after Acts refpecting Religion,

made/

( iv )

made fincc that Time ; an4 as few People have Ac-
ceTs unto Acts of Parliament ; fo, unlefs fome Ef-
fays of this Kind be publilhed, the Generality of
People, mud remain in the Dark as to that Settle-
ment of Religion then made, and are in Danger of
being farther bewildered and turned afide from the
Lord's Caufe and Teftimony, by thofe abfurd Af-
fertions publifhed in the Pamphlet here animadvert-
ed upon, and by thofe who have turned afide from
the Teftimony, and are indefatigable in feducing
their Brethren, by propagating this Author's new
Scheme.

The Acts of Afiemblies and Parliaments paffed
in the fecond reforming Period, which I have quot-
ed in this Effay, are to be found in the Collection
of Confeflions printed annis 1725 and 1739. where
they may be feen by fuch as have that Collection
in their Hands. The Acts of Parliament paifed
fince the Revolution, and here quoted, I took from a
Copy publilhed by Authority, where they may be
feen by fuch as have Accefs unto them.

I have condefcended only upon a few Inftances
of the Eraftian Encroachments of the State upon
the Church at and fmce the Revolution. Had I in-
filled upon other Evidences thereof, fuch as the Act
impofing the Oath of Abjuration upon Minifters,
the Act anent Captain John Pcrteous, &c this Ef-
fay would have exceeded the Bounds of my inten-
ded Brevity.

It may perhaps be thought ftrange why I have
prefixed fuch a Title, viz. A Vindication of the ju-
dicial Aft and Te\\imony, to this Effay, while it is
only that particular Article of it that relates to the
Settlement of Religion at the Revolution, that is
exprefiy. vindicated : To which it may be noticed,

that

( v )

that the Scheme now fet on Foot by our Author,
and his. Brethren and Followers, doth at once over-
throw the whole Teftimony : For the Parliamenta-
ry Settlement of Religion at the Revolution, as it
left the fecond Period of Reformation buried under
the AcT: Refciflbry, and was founded upon the Rub-
bifh of the publick Refolutions, Indulgences, To-
leration, and Burial of our Covenants •, and as the
Church did fettle upon that Foundation, without
remonftrating againft its Defects, or by adopting
the Teftimony maintained by the Lord's Witneffes
during the Time of grievous Apoftafy and Backflid-
ing, or by purging the Houfe of God ; fb a Tefti-
mony for this Eraflia?i Settlement muft inevitably
give up with and overthrow the rTrft Period of
the judicial Act and Teftimony, viz. betwixt the
i<5ji and i<588. Again, as the condemned Claufc
in the Burgefs-Oath doth homologate the prefent
Profeffion authorifed by the Laws of this Realm,
and thus muft neceffarily contradict and overthrow
the fecond Period of it, viz. from the Revolution
to the Year 17 12. as alfo the third (in fa far as it
is laid againft the Laws oppofite unto the Tefti-
mony now in Force) viz. from anno 17 12. to the
prefent Time ; in regard thefc E\ils mentioned in
thefe Parts of the Teftimony, viz. the Toleration,
Reftoration of Patronages, and the woful Effects
that have followed thereupon, <dc. are Parts of the
prefent eftablifhed Profeffion of Religion, by the
publick (landing Laws now in Force, to which (land-
ing Laws that Glaufe doth plainly refer, while
therein the Swearer folemnly engages to the pre-
fent Profeffion authorifed by the Laws of this Re-
alm, without excepting any, either in general or
particular : And as our Author very juftly obferves,

( vi )

in his Pamphlet intitled The Lawfulnefs of the reli-
gious Claufe, 6c. Page 13. ' Where, fays he, fhall
1 the publick Profeffion of Religion in a Land be
« evidenced, or by what Criterion or Document
« can it be proven better, than by the publick ftand-

• ing Laws of that Land, defcribing what the true

* Religion is which they profefs ? ' So, according
to his Argument, the Union, Toleration, Patro-
nages, <bc. are Branches of the Religion prefently
profefled and authorifed in this Land, they being
authorifed by prefent publick (landing Laws.
"Wherefore thofe who are taking up a Teftimony
for that Claufe, and confequently for the Revoluti-
on-Settlement, alfo fworn unto in that Claufe, are,
in fo doing, overthrowing, overturning and op-
pofing the Whole of the Teftimony ; and there-
fore we judge the Title prefixed fuitable unto this

Effay.

Before doling this Preface, we (hall notice two
Things artfully ufed by our Author, and others
who are turned afide from the Teftimony, to fe-
duce People from their prefent Profeffion of Ad-
herence thereunto. 1. Say they, They are a
new and Synod-feparating Brethren, a new Confti-
tution. But we ask our Brethren, how they make
out this Charge? Were the Synod finding out Mi-
itakes in the Teftimony, appointing Committees
to revife, correct, or amend it ; if they were taking
Minifters at their Ordination under Engagements
unto it, Miftakes excepted, (which any Man might
do as to any Creed or Confeffion in any Chriftian
Church, Rome not excepted) were they condemning
any Article or Articles of the Teftimony, or in the
ConfefTion of Sins prefixed to the Bond ; were they
impugning any Act or A&s palled by the Affociate

Presby-

( vii )

Presbytery or Synod fmce their firft Aflbciafion,
and laying afide the Profecution of the Act of
Presbytery anent renewing our folemn national Co-
venants among their People j there would be fome,
yea, too much Ground for this Charge : But nei-
ther any one, or all of thefe, the Synod either is
or can be charged with. What then comes out to
be the Foundation of fuch a heavy Charge i Why,
nothing at all but their Removal, upon the pth of
jfpril 17 47 . from the new Church at Brifloiv, to
Mr. Gib's Houfe the next Morning. If this be the
Ground of the Charge, then, by a Parity of Rea-
fon, Mofes and thofe who fought the Lord, in the
Day when lfrael fell into Idolatry, were a new-
Congregation, a new Camp, a new Constitution,
and the Separatifk. How abfurd, and contrary to
Scripture, would this Reafoning be \ Why, when
Mofes removed, he carried the Tabernacle with
him, and pitched it without the Camp, afar off
from the Camp, Exod. xxxiii. 7. In like Manner
(when our feparating Brethren puftied their fecond
Refolution, and of about 50 Members only 9 Mi-
nifters and 1 1 Elders did vote it againft a Pr6teftati-
on entred and adhered unto by 23 Members) did
the Synod remove, and carried the Teflimony
without the Camp, and are adhering to every
Branch of it, and efTay to proceed in witnefling and
covenanting Work : And it is Matter of Praife,
that, fince that Time, feveral Minifters, Elders,
Probationers and People, who are feeking the Lord
in a Way of adhering unto his Teflimony, are
come out unto it. It is not therefore .tit is Place,
or the other Place, that will make a new Synod,
for wherever IfraeVs Teflimony is, thither mufl the
Trifos go; and there is the true Church, there are

thf

( viii )
the lawful Courts o/Chrift, and Thrones of the Houfe of
David.

2. The Procedure of the Synod in the regular
Exercife of Difcipline, is alio greatly improven to
lead away People from the Teftimony. To which
we fhall ihortly obferve, that the Synod have put
a Libel into the Hands of each of their feparating
Brethren, with a lawful Summons to compear and
anfwer thereto, and have found the feveral Articles
of the Libel relevant and proven, upon which, to-
gether with their Contumacy, the Synod have
proceeded. What in the Synod's Conduct is
blameable in this Matter I Is this contrary to
Chrift's Commiflion , and ^Presbyterian Principles ?
Our Brethren, and others, ufcd pretty much Free-
dom in fpeaking againft the Synod on this Head,
as they were hating their Brethren, guilty of Blood,
and the like ; but they might forbear Heart-Judg-
ing, and leave that to the Searcher of Hearts.
Any who were WitnefTes to the Synod's Behaviour
in that Procedure, might have charitably fuppofed
that it was with Grief of Heart that they had fuch
lawful Work put into their Hand. But how could
the Synod poffibly fhun it, while the Command of
the King of Zlon is fo exprefs and peremptory,
Matth. xviii. 17. to cenfure offending Brethren ?
Is not the Offence of our Brethren very high, while
they are not only neglecting ro hear the Church,
but are oppofing and overthrowing the Teftimo-
ny of the Church ; fubverting the People by their
printed Pamphlets ; are contrary unto all Presby-
terian Order, making Inroads into Congregations,
occupying Houfes erected for the publick Wor-
iliip of God in a witnefling Wavr, without Law ei-
ther EccleCaftick or Civil I. Moreover, how could

the

r

( h )

the Synod anfwer Petitions from thofe in onr Bre-
threns Congregations, who are adhering unto the
Teftimony, feveral of which did ly before them a-
bove Haifa Year, without proceeding to Cenfure ?
Hitherto the Synod has obferved Presbyterian Or-
der, and have not made irregular Intrufions, as
they are doing. See likeways our Confeffion of
Faith upon this Head, Chap. 30. §3. Alfo the
General Aflembly 1640. in the Aft, Augufl 1. Sef.
5 . ordains, that fuch as have fubferibed the Co-
venant, and fpeak againft the fame, if he be a
Minifter, (hall be deprived, and if he continue fo,
being deprived, fhall be excommunicated. Finally,
if we confult the Portion of Scripture above quot-
ed, we fhall find a Command given to draw the
Sword againft thofe Brethren in the Camp of lfracl%
who had turned afide unto Idolatry, and a Blefling
annexed unto the Duty, Exod. xxxii. 27, 28, 29,
and we find Levi accordingly pronounced bleffed,
Dcut. xxxiii. 8, 9, 10, 11. and his impartial Zeal
for the Lord recorded unto his Honour; and if
thofe who fought the Lord were, in that Cafe, com-
manded to confecrate themfelves, every Man upon
his Son, and upon his Brother, by drawing a ma-
terial Sword ; then, in this Cafe, ccclefiaftical Courts
are warranted to confecrate themfelves upon their
Brethren, by drawing the ecclefiaftical Sword
of Church -Cenfures, for thefe excellent Ends menti-
oned in that Part of our Confeffion above quoted ;
and fince our Brethren are difplaying a Banner a-
gainft the Lord's Caufeand Teftimony, the War,
on the Side of thofe who are adhering thereunto*
is a juft War, and, in that Cafe, curfed is he that
doth the Work of the Lord deceitfully, and curfed

>( * )

be he that kcepeth back his Sword from Blood, Jer.
xiviii. 10.

It is expected and defired, that you will imparti-
ally and without Prejudice confider the Matter con-
tained in this Eflay, laying afide an over Regard to
Men, and a Difregard to the Author : Seek after
*Truth: which will (till hold its Feet, and ceafe yc
from Man ; and if this Mite (hall be blefled of the
Lord, to the Vindication of his Teftimonyf efta-
blifhing any who are effaying to cleave unto it, and
the Recovery of any that are turned afick, he will
have his Defire, who is your Servant in the Gofpcl
of Chrift Jefus,

W.C

A VIN-

c » )
A

VINDICATION

o F T H E

Judicial Act and Teftimony,
($V.

AS the Lord, who has promifed to Tion%
That the City /hall be builded upon her own
Heap, and the Palace fliall remain after the
Manner thereof, Jer. xxx. 18. and faith
to Jerufalem, Thou /halt be built ; and to the Temple,
Thy Foundation /hall be laid, Ifa. xliv. 28 has been
gracioufly pleafcd to erect his Houfe in this Lsnd,
and done great Things for it in former Times ; and
as we, with our Fathers, have been guilty of great
Evils againft him, fo likeways has he done great
Things for it in our own Time. "When the Lord
raifed up his Work in this Land, at our firft Re-
formation from Popery, his Houfe was erected up-
on her own Heap, viz. Chrift the Foundation, as
revealed in his holy Word, and the Building was
advanced to a confiderable Height : But as the Pro-
grefs of the Work was for a long Time interrupt-
ed after that Period, fo the Lord did again fea-
fonably appear, and did carry on the Building a
farther Length in our fecond Reformation-Period,
betwixt the Years 1638 and itfjo. Neverthelefs

wc

C i# >

we foon forgot his mighty Works, and waited not
for his Counfel, but did provoke him by our turn-
ing back, diftrufting him, and putting Confidence
in an Arm of Flefh, fo that he did caft this Church
into a Furnace of 28 Years hot Perfecution ; dur-
ing which Time he wonderfully interpofed, in
preferving a Teftimony for his Work in the Hands
of a few, many of whom he honoured to feal it

. with their Blood. In this Night of Darknefs, as
the Building of the Houfe of God was- pulled
down, fo the curfed Jericho of Prelacy was reared
up by the then Eraflian Powers ; notwithstanding the
Lord was gracioufly pleafed to turn back our Cap-
tivity in the End of the Year 1688. in a wonderful
and furprifing Manner, which Deliverance was fad-
ly mifimproven, while the Land did not then return
to the Lord by a full and free Confeffion of their
Sins, and particular Steps of Defection and Apofta-
fy from him, nor the facrilegious Ufurpation of the
Crown-Rights of Chrift, nor the Burning and Bu-
rying of our Covenants, and ihedding the Blood of
the Martyrs of Jcfus ; nor did they then renew our
folemn Engagements to the moil High ; neither dki
they purge the Lord's Houfe, and begin to build it
upon its own Heap, where the Work had ceafcd
near 40 Years before that Time ; but they built up-
on a Heap of Rubbilh of Indulgences, Toleration,
and Burial of the Work of God. Hence the Su-
perftruclure comes out fimilar to the Foundation ;
and Defection, Apoftafy, and a farther" Burying of
attained to Reformation, have made a progreifivc
Motion ever ilnce that Time.

Notwithfranding the Lord has, even in thefe
Years of Apoftafy, appeared for his own Work and

Intereft, and is in fame Meafure laying the Phn of

his

( 13 )

his Hoiife in this Land ; particularly, when a Flood
of A V mini an, Pelagian and Neenomian Errors was
running in this Church, the Lord did appear for the
Doctrine of his Houfe, about the Year 1720. in
Oppofition to thefe Errors. And, when Church-
Tyranny was making great Advances, and many
Errors were fpreading without Controul among us,
he called a few Minifters out from the eftabliihed
Church, and put a judicial Teftimony in their
Hands, containing a Libel againft, and an Indict-
ment of this Land, of High-Treafon againft Zion's
King : As alfo a Teftimony for the haill Plan of
his Houfe, viz. the Doctrine, "Worfhip, Difcipline
and Government thereof, as it had been reared up
on its own Heap in the two former Periods of
Reformation. Among other Articles of Scotland's
Indictment, contained in the Libel, this is one,

* That the Eftates of the Nation, when met in a free
1 Parliament after the Revolution, overleapt and

* paffed by the Reformation-Period betwixt the
4 Years 1638 and idjo. leaving it lying buried un»

* der an Act Refciffory, viz. 15* Aft, Pari j. K.

* Chark II. anno, 1661. ' and albeit fome in the
eftabliflied Church did take the Field againft the
faid Teftimony, yet have none of them to litis Day
ever been able to impugn any one Article thereof,
nor have in the leaft infinuated that this Article,
juft now mentioned, is a Miftake.

The Lord, who is the FoundeF and Builder of
Zion, and leads his People in Ways they have not
known, after he had carried foreward his witnef-
fing Servants, and ibme of his People, the Length
of renewing our folemn Engagements unto him,
was pleafed to call his witnefling Courts to inquire
into and condemn a religious CJaufe in fome Bur-

gefs-

gels-Oaths, as it is ufedand applied in this Period,
wherein there is an engaging to the prefent national
Profeffion and Settlement of Religion. As fome of
the Members of the witnefling Synod fhewed much
Uneafinefs and DhTatisfa&ion with an Inquiry into
this Matter ; fo, when the Sentence came out, they
very keenly oppofed the fame, and carried on their
Oppofition in fuch a Way, as at length ifiued in
an awful Rupture ; fo far as can be remembred, dur-
ing the Time of the Synod's Reafoning on this Af-
fair, tho/e who oppofed the Condemnation of the
faid Glaufe never brought it forth as an Argument
for their Oppofition, that the State, at the Revolu-
tion, revived the fecond Reformation-Period, and
all the Acts made in Favours of Religion, and did
refcind the faid Aft Refciflbry, and other bad Arts
made againft it in the perfecuting Period ; the
Breach of the Synod was over before fome of us
heard fuch a Thing talked of.

It is very melancholy, and an odd Affair, that
many profeffed Witnefles in the Seceflion, who
have joined in fwearing the Bond for renewing our
folemn Covenants, and thus have folemnly adopted
theTeftimony , are now denying that Article of Scot'
land\ Indictment contained in the 101 Page of the
Acknowledgment of Sins, and afTerting that the
Parliament at the Revolution revived all the Acts
and Laws made in favours of Religion in the fecond
reforming Period, and refcinded all the wicked
Laws made againft the fame.

The Author of a late Pamphlet, intitled Fancy no
Faith, has invented this groundlefs Conceit ; and
alfo he thinks fit to arraign the AfTociate Synod,
as if they had changed their Baptifm, changed their
Religion, and embraced a new Religion, leading

them

( »* )

them to (6 many Pieces of the Roman Religion,
called Papiftry. Thefe are indeed heavy Charges,
and yet no Shadow of Proof is brought forth to fup-
port them.

I am very far from laying fuch heavy and aw-
ful Accufations to the Charge of this reverend Au-
thor, or any of his Brethren that are embarked with
him in the fame Caufe, only we may eflay , under di-
Tine Afliftance,

\mo. To evince that this Reverend Author has
changed his Principles and Profeflion, as to this
particular Part of the Acknowledgment of Sins.

ido. To vindicate this Article of the Confeflion.

$tio. To (hew that the Revolution -Settlement of
Religion, which our Author has now undertaken
to defend, if tried by the Touch Stone of the
"Word, and compared with the fecond Reformation-
Period, betwixt 1638 and 1650. which we adopt,
was an Eraftian Settlement, and contrary unto the
Order of the Head of the Church.

4to. To deduce a few Corollaries from the
.Whole.

S E C T. I.

Shewing that our Author has changed his Principles
and Profefion^ as to that particular Part of the Te-
flimony and Acknowledgment of Sins that re/pecls the
Settlement of Religion at the Revolution.

The Proof of this is laid in a late Pamphlet, in-
titled, Vindication of the Proceedings <f the Ajfociale
Synod ; and therefore we fhall only touch a little at it
here, and thaf by producing three Evidences there-
of from the Author's Practice and Writings. And,

17770,

C i* >

imo. Our Author did, upon the 28th Day of
December 1743. j°",n w*ta n^s Brethren, the Mini-
flers, Members of the then AfTociate Presbytery,
now the Affociate Synod, folemnly confefling and
acknowledging, that it is one of the Sins of the Land,
and one of the (landing Grounds of God's Contro-
verfy with it, ' That, when the States of the Na-
' tion were met in a free Parliament, in the Year
« 1690. our Presbyterial Church-Government was
« fettled according to its civil Eftablifhment anno
« 1592. and all the Steps of Reformation attained
c to in that covenanting Period, betwixt 1638 and

* 165-0. were neglcfted and pafled by; yea, all

* that was done againft a covenanted Work of Re-

* formation, in the firft Seflion of Pari, of K. Cb.
1 II. after his Rcftoration, is left untouched ; parti-

* cularly the infamous Act RefchTory, whereby all

* the Afls and Deeds of the forefaid covenanting

* Period were declared null and void, is never

* repealed.' This our Author did then profefs,
and confefs as one of the {landing Grounds of God's
Controverfy with this Land, what the Affociate Sy-
nod, upon too folid Grounds, do dill profefs and
maintain. Such was his Profeflion and Gonfeflion
anno 1743. But what is it as to this Point anno 1747 ?
"We have it in the 21 (I Page of his above mention-
ed Pamphlet, viz. ■ That the true Religion, as pro-

* felTed in the fecond Reformation-Period, from

* 1638 to 1649. in Oppofition to the Indignities

* done to it in the prececding Reigns, was profef-
c fed by the Revolution-Parliament, which does ei-

* ther more generally, or more formally and ex-
' prefly refcind all the wicked Laws that were made
4 againft any Part of the true Religion that was
' profefTed in that Period, as well as the former.'

This

( i? )
This our Author's Profeflion anno 1747. is changed
from what it was anno 1743.

ido. Another Inftance of this fhall be taken from
a Pamphlet dated at Dumfermling, January 26.
1743. and publiflied that fame Year, intitled, Fraud
end Fal/hood difcovtred : Compared with an Aft pf
the Aflbciate Presbytery for a Faft 1742. In Page
29. of faid Pamphlet, fays our Author, ■ I can,
' without Shame, before him, (viz. the Searcher of

* Hearts) and the World too, open my very Heart
€ in this Matter, and reconcile thefe Things where-
€ in Mr. JVebfter endeavour* to expofe me to the

* World, as quite inconfiftent with myfelf : I can

* compare my Letter to Mr. Wejley anno 1739. with
' that Aft of the AfTociate Presbytery anent a Faft

* anno 1742. wherein I heartily joined; and yet

* have the Teftimony of my Con/cience before God,

* that I afted uprightly, and without Gnilc in both/
Here our Author exprefles himfelf in very folemn
and ftrong Terms, as to his hearty acquiefcing in
this Aft, which I have juft now lying before me,
and it contains the following Sentences. ■ The

* Presbytery confidering that this Generation

€ are ferving themfelves Heirs to the Sins of their
1 Forefathers, in abjuring and burning our Gove-
« nants, and leaving them buried under an Aft Re-

* fcilfory to this Day ; in the Heaven- daring Ufur-

* pation of the Headfbip and Sovereignty of Chrift,
' in and over his Church, acknowledged and homo-

* logated by the Indulgences, Toleration, and ma-

* ny finful Bonds and Oaths in the perfecuting Pe-
1 riod : — The finful Overleaping of the attained

* to Reformation between the Years 1638 & 1650.
4 in the Revolution-Settlement.' Here, in this Aft
of the Presbvtery, is a plain Acknowledgment of

C

( 18 )

it as one of the Caufes of Humiliation before the
Lord, that the Work of God carried on in the fe-
cond Reformation -Period, lies buried under an Aft
Refciffory ; and that the Parliament, at the Revolu-
tion, left it laying under this Grave-Stone. In this
Acknowledgment our Author declares, both before
God and the World too, that he heartily joined
anno 1742. and that he continued in the fame Mind
until the Year 1743. ls clear from what is above.
"We have likeways a more early Evidence of this
being his Mind, viz. in his Paper of Grievances
given in to the Commiffion of Affembly Augujl 1736.
wherein he craved, that the Gommilfioh would con*
defcend upon the following Caufes of Humiliation,

* That, when the Lord granted a merciful Deliver
4 ranee at the Revolution^ Presbyterian Government

* was ratified by Parliament, only according to its
c Eftabliihment anno i5"£2. That the Steps of Re-

* formation attained to in that covenanting Period,

* from 1638. to 165*0. were overlooked and paf-
f fed by : That the AcT: Refciffory was left un-

* touched in that Settlement, and the Covenants,

* National and folemn League, were left buried
1 under it ' But, in the Year 1747. he declares a
quite different Thing to the World, in his faid late
Pamphlet, as above quoted : As alfo, Page 25. fays
he, • For fo it is, that all the bad Acts in general

* that were againft any Part of the true Religion,

* are refcinded by the Revolution-Parliament 1690.
1 intitled, Aft ratifying the Confefion of Faith, and
€ fettling Presbyterian Church -Government.* To
which there is a fuitable Reply given, in the fore*
faid Pamplet, viz. Vindication of the Preceedings,
Sec. Pages 20 and 21. and thus it appears, from our
Author's own Writings, that, in this Point of the

Teitimony,

( h )

Teftimony, he has changed his Profeffion anno 1 747,
from what it was annis 1736, 1742 and 1743.

%tio. If we look into what our Author has pu-
blilhed to the World fomewhat more lately, we
ihall find another Evidence of what we are now il-
luftrating, from a Print compofed by our Author,
intitled, The Lawful nefs of feme Burgefs -Oaths avert-
ed. Says our Author, Page 5*2. fpeaking of the Re-
volution-Parliament, * But their looking back, with-

* out regarding any farther Steps of Reformation
c and legal Securities given to this Church in that

* covenanting Period, {viz. between 1 638 and 1 65*0.)

* and, inftead of that, overpaying and burying it,

* is the finful Omiflion we teitify againit ; for, if the

* Parliament had thus not overlooked that Period,

* then, in aboli filing Prelacy, they would have more

* exprefly confidered it as contrary to the Word

* of God, and abjured by our Covenants and Pref-

* byterian Church-Government, as what the Land
c was bound and obliged to mantain by the mod fo-
1 lemn Covenants.' Thus our Author, in that
Pamphlet, which was publifhcd only fome Months
before his other Pamphlet Fancy no Faith, and the
Truth is here very well afferted by him, of which
perhaps more anon. But this will by no Means a-
gree with what he alTerts in the 21 and 25 Pages
of Fancy no Faith, as above quoted, and upon which
he builds mod of his Reafoning therein. Thus
our Author has changed his Profeffion in this Point
1747. from what it was a few Mouths before, and
fo is guilty of Self Contradictions : But how he
comes to publiih thefe to the World, without offer-
ing the lead Apology for them, and alfo how he

* comes to charge others, who are eflaying, thn/

Grace,

( 20 )

Grace, to cleave to the Lord's Caufe and Teftimo >
ny, as it is among the Hands of a witnefling Body,
and that in every Branch of it as contained in the
Acknowledgment of Sins and Engagement to Du-
ties, with changing their Religion, embracing a new
Religion, renouncing their Baptifm, and the like, is
really amazing and aftonifhing.

SECT. II.

Vindicating that Part of tie Te/limony and Confe/fwn of
Sins, which relates to the Settlement of Religion
at the Revolution, and /hewing that it is a certain
Fa£lt and a /landing Ground ofGod9s Controverfy
•with this Land, that our Parliament at that Time
left our fecond reforming Period lying buried un-
der the Aft Refei/fory, and fo did not e/lablijh that
Reformation in Profe/fion and Principle, nor re-
vive all Laws and A els in favours of it.

As a fufficient Anfwer is given to the contrary
Affertion laid by our Author, in the Vindication of
the Proceedings of the Synod; fo it were needkfs to
illuftrate this Point any farther, or take any more
Notice of our Author's imaginary Affertion, were
it not that great Names go very far, and have great
Influence on many in this Day of the Lord's hiding,
to turn them away from his Caufe and Teftimony,
*We (hall therefore, as enabled, proceed to the Ilr
luftration of this fad Truth, viz. That our Parlia-
ment, at the Revolution, overleapt and left the
fecond Reformation-Period, betwixt 1638 & 1650.
lying buried under the AS: RefcilTory, and did not
revive any one Aft or Law ma4e in favours there-

of

( 21 )

of paflcd in that Period. And this will appear,
if we confider,

i mo. That the Aft Refciflbry not only did de-
clare null and void all the Afts and Proceedings of
our Parliaments in the forefaid Period of Reforma-
tion, but alfo thefe Parliaments themfelves, viz. that
were kept annis, 1640, 1641, 1644, 1645*, ifytf,
1647 and 1648. and as our Author does not pre-
tend that there is any Aft of Parliament, at or
fince the Revolution, particularly and exprefly rc-
fcinding the Aft Refciflbry, nor the 6 & 9 Afts of
K. Ch. II. Pari. 1. which did annul the Conventi-
on of Eftates kept in the Years 1643 and 1649.
So there is no fuch Aft among all the printed Afts
in K. Will. & Q. Mary's Reign. And while thefe
reforming Parliaments, and Committees authorifed
by them, ftand annulled and condemned, it is ab-
furd to imagine that any of their Afts can be re-
vived, unlefs they were enafted de novo, in regard
thefe reforming Parliaments have no Being in Law,
and by nc* Means can they be confidercd as reviv-
ed by any general Claufe whatfoever in the Afts
of Parliament 1690. Moreover, it will be found
to be a Faft, that not any one of the Laws and
Afts paficd in that Period, are quoted in our civil
Courts to this very Day : Yet, farther, in the Col-
lection of Afts of Parliament printed by Autho*
rity, there i> no Aft of Parliament to be found a-
mong them from the firft Parliament of K. Ch. I,
which met at Edinburgh, June 28. 1633. until the
firft Parliament of K. Ch. II. after his Restoration,
which met at Edinburgh, January 1661. which is
an inconteilible Evidence thefe Afts have no Be-
ing in Law.

( 22 )

2*. What we arc illuftrating will farther ap-
pear, if we confider the general Claufe in the Act
1690. reviving Laws in favours of Religion, which,
with a Sentence or two preceeding it, runs thus,
' By an Article of the Claim of Right it is declar-
i ed, that Prelacy, and the Superiority of any Of-
; * vftce in the Church above a Presbyter, is, and hath
♦-been a great and infupportable Grievance and
■ Trouble to this Nation, and contrary to the In-
4 clinations of the Generality of the People ever

* fince the Reformation, (they having reformed

* from Popery by Presbyters) and therefore ought

* to be abolifhed ; likeas, by an Act of the laft

* Seffion of this Parliament, Prelacy is abolifhed :
1 Therefore their Majefties, with Advice and Con-
1 fent of the faid three Eftates, do hereby revive,

* ratify and perpetually confirm, all Laws, Statutes
1 and Acts of Parliament made againft Popery and
' Papifts:' While the Parliament is here in their
Act giving their Reafons why Prelacy ought to be
abolifhed, and declaring it to be fo by a former Act,
it feems very ftrange that they add, therefore their

Majefties Revive — all Laws made againft

Popery and Papifts. What can be the Reafon they
did not fay all Laws made againft Prelacy and Pre-
lates, feeing it was not Popery, but Prelacy they
were abolishing ? We fhall not pretend to tell for
what Keafon the Parliament did thus proceed, on-
ly we may rationally guefs, that herein they acted
very cautioufly, left, if they had faid Laws made
againft Prelacy and Prelates, they ihould have
feemed to have revived any of the Laws paiTed in
the Time of the fecond Reformation-Period, par-
ticularly Act of Parliament, June 11. 1640. where-
in Biihops, Archbilhops, and all other Prelates,

the

C 23 )

the civil Places and Power of Kirkmen, as their
Voicing and Riding in Parliament, are exprefly
condemned , for, in Faft, there were no Laws made
againft Prelacy or Prelates exprefly in the Time
of the firft Reformation, but againft Popery and
Papifts, as is plain from the Afts of Parliament
palled at that Time, and may be obferved by look-
ing into the Quoting of the Acts of Parliament fub-
joined to the national Covenant, as it was renew-
ed'anuo 1638. hence it appears evident, as with
a Sunr.Beam, that the Parliament 1690. were only
renewing the nrft Reformation -Period, and over-
leaping the fecond ; while all the Laws made in
the firft anent Religion, were againft Popery and
Papifts, but none of them exprefly againft Pre-
lacy and Prelates.

3 //a. This Point will farther appear evident, if
we take a View of (bme Acts of Parliament pafled
in that Period of Reformation from Prelacy, and
compare them with the Aft of Settlement of Reli-
gion at the Revolution.

1 mo. The firft of thefe that we (hall mention, is
the 6 Aft, 1 Pari, of K. Ch. I. intitled, A a Re-
fajfory, at Edinburgh, June 11. 1640. That this
Aft is not revived by the Parliament itfpo. is e-
vident from what is already noticed, and will far-
ther appear, if we confider,

( 1 mo.) That, in this Aft, there is an explicite and
formal Revival and Ratification of the Aft of Par-
liament 15*92. viz. 1640. the Parliament ' declares,

* that the fole and only Power and Jurifdiftion
■ within this Kirk, ftands in the Kirk of God, as it

* is now reformed, and in General, Provincial,

* Presbyterial Aifemblies, with the Seflions of the

* Kirk, cftabliihcd by Aft of Parliament in Junz

( *4 )
1 1J92. Cap. 1 14. which Aft the faid Eftate's now

* conveened revive and renew in the whole

* Heads, Points and Articles thereof/ The Par-
liament at the Revolution, in their Aft, June 7.
1690. thus proceed, ■ As alfo they do fcftablifh,

* ratify and confirm the Presbyterian Church-Go-
« vernment and Difcipline, that is to fay, the Go-
« vernment of the Church by Kirk-Seffions, Prcf-
« byteries, Provincial Synods, and General Aflem-
« blies, ratified and eftablifhed ' by the 114 Atf9
« Ja. VI. Pari. 12. anno 1592. initled, Ratificati-
c on of the Liberty of the true Kirk, &c. — reviving,

* renewing, and confirming the forefaid Aft of Par-

* liament in the whole Heads thereof, except, faef

By comparing thefe Claufes in thefe different
Afts together, it is abundantly evident, that the
Parliament 1690. did not look on this Aft 1640. as
a (landing Aft ; if they had, Why di-d they ratify
what it ratified, without making the leaft Menti-
on thereof? It may here be objefted, that the Par-
liament implicitely refer to this Aft, while they
add, ' and thereafter received by the general Gon-

* fent of this Nation, to be the only Government

* of ChrifiVs Church within this Kingdom ; - but
this is not the Stile nor Language of the Parlia-
ment 1640. their Words in their Aft, run thus,
■ The fole and only Power and Jurifdiftion, within
g this Kirk, ftands in the Kirk of God> as it; is now

* reformed \ and what they ftatute and ordain in
this Aft, is only a Corroboration , and fecuring of
what the Affcmblies of this Kirk had found and e-
nafted, as is evident from the Preamble of this
their Aft ; but there is not the leail Hint through-
out the whole Aft t 690. referring to what the Af-
ftrablies of this Kirk had done, neither can it be

faid

( *s )

faid they pay any Regard to this Aft of Parliament,
while their Words are quite difcrepant from theirs;
but they proceed to ratify this A 61 15*92. esifit
had never been ratified by any Parliament former-
ly ; whence it appears evident, that this Aft 1640.
was not revived by the Revolution-Parliament ; and
alfo, from what was juft now obferved, vixi That
they revived only Laws made againft Popery and
Papifts, while this Aft 1640. is exprefly againft
Prelacy and Prelates.

2 do." It will farther appear, that the Revolution-
Parliament did not revive this Act 1640. if we con-
fider, that, in their faid Aft 1 690. they particular-
ly cafs and annul feveral Afts pafled in K. Ja.
VFs Time, that are particularly caiTed and annul-
led in this Aft 1 640. for, fay they, in their faid
Aft, (viz. Aft 1690.) ' Refcinding, annulling, and
« making void theAfts of Parliament following, viz.

• Aft anent Rcftitution ofBifhops, Ja. VI. Pari.
1 18. Cap. 2. Aft ratifying theAfts of the Af-
1 fembly, 1610. Ja. VI. Pari. 21. Cap. 1. Aft
4 anent the Eleftion of Bifhops and Archbifliops,
■ Ja. VI. Pari. 22. Cap. 1. intitled, Ratification of

• the five Articles of the General Afifemhly at Perth,

• Ja. VI. Pari. 23. Cap. i.' Thefe four Afts of K.
James's Parliaments are, with fomc others, exprefly
and particularly refcinded by this Aft 1640. as
may be feen by. looking into it. Now, if the Par-
liament 1690. had looked upon this Aft as reviv-
ed and ratified by the above general Claufe in the
Preamble of their Aft, why did they annul an3
make void what it makes null and void, without
making the leaft Mention of it ? Had they defigned
the Revival and Ratification of this Aft. doubtlefs
they would have done wi*h it, as they did with the

D Aft

;( 2* )

Aft if 92. wz. they would have mentioned it expli-
citely : From whence it is as clear as Day-Light,
that the Parliament 1690. left the Aft 1640. lying
buried under the Act Refciffory ; and confequent-
ly this Aft, made in Favours of Religion, was not
revived by the Revolution-Parliament. From what
we have juft now advanced, we may obferve how
fophiftically our Author reafons, and impofes upon
his Reader, in the 21ft Page of his faid Pamphlet,
viz. Fancy no Faith \ where he tells us, ■ That the
' Indiftion of the General Aflembly of the Kirk,

* by virtue of the King's Ro^al Prerogative, J a*

* VI. Pari. 2 1 . Cap. 1 . is exprefly reminded by

* the Revolution- Parliament, Seffl 2. Cap. 5:.' If
he had dealt fairly, he would have told us, that
that Aft encroaching upon the intrinfick Power of
the Church, was exprefly refcinded by the Par-
liament in their forefaid Aft 1640. which, as
is ihewn, lies buried under the Aft Refciflbry.
From this Inftance given by our Author, and other
Things which might be noticed from the Aft 1 690.
it is evident that the Revolution-Parliament did
only cull out fuch bad Afts as were directly againft
the Settlement of Religion they were then making;
yet ftill leaving this Aft, and other Afts of that
reforming. Period, wherein the Aft juft now menti-
oned by our Author, is refcinded and buried, as
faid is.

2do. A fecond Aft made in Favours of Religion
in our fecond Reformation -Period, which may be
noticed, is the 39 Aft of K. Charl. I. Edinburgh \
March 9. 1649. intitled, Aft cholijhlng the Patro-
nages of Kirks. This reforming Parliament, in this
their Aft, do entirely abohih Patronages, and that
for weighty Reafons s fuch asJ( that it had been an

Evil

( 27 )

Evil under which the Lord's People had long
groaned ; that it hath no Warrant in God's
Word, contrary to the fecond Book of Dif-
cipline, and unto fevcral Afts of General Aflem-
blies, reckoned among the Abufes that were then
defired to be reformed ; that it was prejudicial to
the Liberty of the People, and unto the free Call
and Entry of the Minifters unto their Charge. But
what does the Affembly 1 690. as to the reviving of
this Aft ? Why, nothing at all ; for in their Aft
reviving the Aft 1592. they fay, ' Reviving, re-
viewing, and confirming the forefaid Aft of Par-
« liament in the whole Heads thereof, except that
« Part of it relating to Patronages, which is hereaf-
* ter to be taken into Consideration.' The Truth
is, Patronages were not abolifhed by the Parliament
1592. all they did in that Matter was, that, as Pre-
fentations had been formerly direfted unto Biihops,
and other Judges in ecclefiaftical Matters, by that
Aft they are appointed to be direfted unto Presby-
teries ; but in this Aft 1649. they were intirely a-
bolifhed ; notwithstanding the Parliament 1690.
in their Aft of Settlement, fpeak of Patronages as
a Thing that had never been meddled with by the
State fince the Year 15*92. Thus they intirely dif-
regard what theEftates did in this Aft 1649. anent
Patronages, but leave the Affair to be confidered af-
terwards. Accordingly we find them afterwards
confidering it : And how do they confider it ? Not
at all as the Parliament did in this their Aft 1649.
but, fay they, in their Aft, July 19. 1690. ■ Con-
« fidering that the Power of prefenting Minifters to
« vacant Congregations hath been greatly abufed,
« and is inconvenient to be continued in this Re-

t aim,- >do therefore, with Advice and Confent

• of

( 28 )

€ of the Eftates of Parliament, hereby difcharge,

* cafs, annul, and make void the forefaid Power

* heretofore ufed by any Patron, of prefenting Mi-
' nifters to any Kirk now vacant. . Do ftatute

* and declare, that, in cafe of the Vacancy ofa-

* ny particular Church, or for fupplying the fame
4 with a Minifter, the Heritors of the faid Paroch,

* (being Proteftants) and the Elders, are to name

* and propofe the Man to the whole Congregation,

* to be either approven or difapproven by them,
4 and, if they difapprove, that the Difapprovers

* give in their Reafons, to the Effect the x^ffair

* may be cognofced upon by the Presbytery of the

* Bounds.' Here we fee plainly, not only a not
ratifying and reviving this good Aft 1649. made in
favours of Religion, but a burying a confiderable
Branch of our attained to Reformation itfelf. Why,
here is in this Act a fpoiling the People of their
Right of chufing their own Minifters ; all that is left
to them, is either to approve of the Choice made
to them by Proteftant Heritors, and by Elders,
(and even Heritors, tho' Proteftants, are, by an
after Act patted May 23. 1693. debarred from
voting in the Call of a Minifter, until they mould
fwear the Oath of Allegiance, and fubfcribe the
fame, together with the Oath of AfTurance) and
the Difapprovers are obliged to give in their Rea-
fons for Co di/ing, which were to be cognofced up-
on by the Presbytery. Again, here is an owning
of the Patron's Right, only the Parliament fay, it
has been greatly abufed , and they ordain every
Paroch to compenfate the Patron for his /aid Right,
by paying him the Sum of 600 Merks, each Heri-
tor, including the Patron, according to his valued
Rent. Thus, fo far was the. Parliament from rer

viving

( 29 )

viving this Aft 1649. made in favours of our Re-
formation, that the) buried a confiderable Branch
of our Keformation itfelf, ratified and confirmed in

this Aft.

3th. We may notice a third Act of Parliament
made in favours of Religion during that Period, viz.
the 16 Ac*t of K. Ch. I. at Edinburgh, February 7,
1649. intitled, Att anent the Catechifms, Confeffion
of Faith, and Ratification thereof ; the Parliament in
this Aft do receive both the larger and fhorter Cate-
chifms, and the Confeffion of Faith, and alio rati-
fy three Afts of AlTembly approving the faid Ca-
techifms and Confeffion ; but the Parliament 1690.
in their Aft of Settlement, fpeak nothing at all a-
nent the Catechifms, and fo were not received and
adopted by them as any Part of our Standards of
Doftrine ; and as for our Confeffion of Faith, it was
read in their Prefence, voted and approven of a-
new, as if it had never been voted and approven of
formerly.; they take no Manner of Notice of its
having been received by the AlTembly of this
Church anno 1647. nor ratified by the State 1649.
and tho' it may be pretended, that the Parliament
1690. received the Confeffion as approven by
the Church, becaufe in this their Aft they fay,
4 Voted and approven by them as the publick and
1 avowed Confeffion of this Church ; * yet this is
nothing to the Purpofe, while it is plain that the
Parliament doth here fpeak of the Church, not as
eftablifhed in our fecond Reformation-Period, but
as eftabliibed by them in this their Aft of Settle-
ment ; and this appears plain from the fubfe-
quent Part of this Aft ; particularly, when they arc
appointing the flrft Meeting of the Aifembly, they
fay, 4 Their Majefties do hereby appoint the firft

Meeting

( 30 )

■ Meeting of the General Aflembly of this Church,

* as above eftabliihed, to be at Edinburgh ;' and
downward in the faid Aft, fay they, * Their Ma-
« jellies declare that the Presbyterian Mi-

* nifters -ihall have Right to the Benefices and

■ Stipends, according to their Entry in the Year
« i63p. and in Time coming, ay and while the
« Church, as now eftablillicd, take farther Courfe
1 therewith.' From what is faid it is evident, that
this Aft receiving the Gatechifms and Confeffion,
was not at all revived by the Parliament 1690. and
alfo that the Gatechifms, larger and fliorter, are
no Part of the publick, approven, and received
Standards of the Revolution -Church.

4ft?. We have a fourth Aft of Parliament pafled'
in this Period, intirled, Aft approving and e/iab/i/hing
the Direftory for publick Worjhip, dated at Edinburgh ,
Feb, 6. 1645*. concerning which Direftory there is
not the leaft Hint in the Aft of Settlement at the
Revolution, nor in any Aft of Parliament iince.
"Whence we conclude, that this Aft of Parliament
1 645*. is not revived, nor the Direftory, approven
and eftabliflied by it, made any Part of the efta-
bliihed Profeflion of the Revolution-Church.

5 to. We find two Afts of Parliament ratifying,
approving and enjoining the Covenants ; and in-
deed it is very ftrange for any to pretend that they
were revived at the Revolution. The firft of thefe
Afts, is the 5-th Aft oiCh.l. dated at Edinburgh,
June 11. 1 640. intitled, Aft anent the Ratification
of the Covenants, &c. in which Aft the Parliament
ordains the national Covenant, or Confeffion of
Faith, to be fubferibed by all his Majefty's Sub-
jefts, of what Rank and Quality foever ; and alfb
ordains the AiTembly's Supplication, Aft of Aifem-

bly

( 3* )
bly, Aft of Council, and the ConfefTion itfelf, td
be inferted and regiftrated in the Afts and Books of
Parliament.

The other is the fifth Aft of K. Cb. I. intitled,
Att anent the Ratification of the Calling of the Con-
vent ion, Ratification of the League and Covenant, &c.
dated at Edinburgh, July 15. 1644. in which Aft
the folemn League and Covenant is ratified, appro-
ven, and confirmed ; as alfo the Afts of the Kirk
and State authorifing the fame League and Cove-
nant ; which Covenant, with the Afts authorifing
the fame, and Treaties thereanent, are ordained to
be inferted in the Books and Afts of Parliament.
Thus we have here two feveral Afts enjoining the
Covenants, the one the National Covenant, as it was
renewed anno 1638. the other the folemn League
and Covenant, which was fworn anno 1 643. But did
the Revolution -Parliament revive thefe A els }. By
no Means. The Covenants were left neglefted -, not
one either in Church or State, according to the
above Afts of Parliament, was required to fwear
them; yea, inftead thereof, a farther Grave- Stone
was laid thereon, while a general Oath of Allegi-
ance was framed at that Time by the Eflates of the
Kingdom of Scotland, and by the Parliament en-
joined inftead of all other Oaths that might be re-
quired by Law, declaring all other Oaths to be
abrogated. Whence it is plain that this Allegiance
was put in Room of our Covenants, and they de-
clared to be abrogated, while our folemn Cove-
nants were as fully and amply authorifed by the
forefaid Afts, as any Oaths were or could have
been. Thus our Afts enjoining our Covenants, are
not only not revived by the Revolution- Parliament,
but thefe Afts, and alfo the Covenants authorifed

by

C 3* )
by them, arc neglefted and buried by the Parlia-
ment 1690. Yea, inftead of reviving this Aft ap-
proving of the folemn League, the fame Time that
Presbytery was eftablilhed in Scot/and, Prelacy was
eftablifhed in England by the very fame King, and
touched by the fame Sceptre ; which is direftly
oppofite to the folemn League, wherein Prelacy is
exprefly abjured, and the Reformation of England
and Ireland fwurn to be endeavoured after.

6to\ The laft Aft of Parliament we mail take No-
tice of, palTed in our fecond Reformation -Period a-
nent Religion, is an Aft, intitled, Aft anent fecuring
the Covenant, Religion, and Peace of the Kingdom, paf-
fed at Edinburgh, February 7 . 1649. wherein, after
noticing the fundamental Conftitution of the King-
dom anent the Coronation*Oath, l The Parliament
« doth enaft, ordain, and declare, that, before the
« King's Majefty, who now is, or any of his Sue-

■ ceffors, mail be admitted to the Exercife of his
« Royal Power, he lhall, by and attour the forefaid

■ Oath, (viz. the Scots Coronation-Oath) aifure

* and declare, by his folemn Oath, under his Hand

* and Seal, his Allowance of the National Cove-

* nant, and of the folemn League and Covenant,

* and Obligation to profecute the Ends thereof in

* his Station and Calling, and that he fhall for
« himfelf — confent and agree to Afts of Parliament

* enjoining the folemn League and Covenant, and
€ fully eftablifhing Presbyterian Church -Govern-
1 ment, the Direftory for Worfhip, Confeflion of

* Faith, and Catechifnis, as they are approven by
« the General Aflemblies of this Kirk, and Parlia-

* ment of this Kingdom, in all his Majefty's Domi-

* nions.* According to this Aft, we find, that,
when K. Ch. II. was admitted to the Exercife of

his

( 33 )

his Government, January i. 165-1. at Scoon, he not
only fwore the Scots Coronation-Oath, but alfo the
Oath enjoined in this Act, which Is as follows. * I
« — do aflure and declare, by my folemn Oath,
' and in the Prefence of Almighty God, the Sear-

* cher of Hearts, my Allowance and Approbation

* of the National Covenant, and of the folemn

* League and Covenant above written, arid faith -

* fully oblige myfelf to profecute the Ends thereof

* in my Station and Calling, and that I: for my-

* felf, (hall agree and confent to all Acts of Par*

* liament enjoining the National Covenant, and
4 the folemn League and Covenant, and fully c-
c ftablilhing Presbyterian -Government, the Direc-

* tory for Worfhip, Confeffion of Faith, and Ga-

* techifms in the Kingdom of Scotland \ as they are

* approven by the General AfTembly of the Kirk
4 and Parliament of this Kingdom, and that I fhall

* give my Royal Affent to Acts and Ordinances of

* Parliament pafled, or to be paffed, enjoining the
4 fame in my other Dominions ; and that I fhall

* obferve thefe in my own Practice and Family,
4 and fhall never make Oppofition to any of thefe,
' or endeavour any Change thereof.' After this
Manner was K. Gh. II. admitted to the Exercife
of his Royal Authority ; but no fuqh Thing was
attempted to be done at the Revolution ; this Act
of Parliament enjoining a-new the Scots Corona-
tion-Oath, and alfo this fecond Coronation-Oath,
both taken by K. Ch. II. were let ly buried by
the Parliament at the Revolution. Certain it is K.
Will* and Q Mary neither did, nor were required
to fwear the fecond Coronation -Oath, nor is it a-
ny Thing to the Purpofe to tell us that they fwore
the Scots Coronation -Oath at their Admiffion to the

E Crown :

< 34 )
Crown : For, (i.) this Coronation-Oath was en-
joined by Aft of Parliament 15 67. and fo was a
Piece of the firft Reformation. (2.) This Oath might
be taken in a Confiftency with oppofing both the
National Covenant and folemn League, while there
is no Mention of either of thefe Covenants therein ;
tieither indeed could be, becaufe the folemn League
was not fworn till the Year 1643. and as for the
National Covenant, it was not fubferibed by K. Ja..
VI. for 13 Years after the Coronation -Oath was
framed and enafted ; and K. Ch. I. did fwear the
Scots Coronation-Oath upon the 18th of June 1633.
even when Epifcopacy was eftablifhed, and he him-
felf at that Time, and for four Years thereafter, was
endeavouring to impofe the Popifli Ceremonies,
and the five Articles of Perth, upon this Church ;
and therefore, alrho* the States of the Nation did
require our Sovereign to fwear the Sects Coronati-
on-Oath at the Revolution, yet it will not' from
hence follow, that they revived the fecond Refor-
mation-Period, and all Laws and Afts in favours
of the fame. On the contrary, their omitting to
put this Coronation -Oath fecuring the Covenants
unto them, is an Evidence they left the Covenants
buried, and alfb, among others, this Aft enjoining
the fame. Thus it appears, that not one of the
Reformation- Laws aforefaid, were either more ge-
nerally, or more exprefly revived by the Revolu-
tion-Parliament •, and what we have faid of thefe
mentioned, may be jnftly faid of all other Afts and
Laws palfed in that Period. Our Author's After-
tion therefore is groundlefs, imaginary, and vain.

With reference to the general Claufe Refciflb-
ry in the jth Aft of Parliament 1690. our Author
deduces a groundlefs Conclufion, Page 25 th of his

foresaid

( 3* )
forefaid Pamphlet, viz. * For fo it is, that all the

• bad Acts in general, that were made againft any

• Part of the true Religion, were refcinded by the

• Revolution-Parliament 1690. ' The general
Claufe, as there quoted by our Author, runs thus,
after the refcindmg oi particular Acts, • with all

• other Acls, Laws, Statutes, Ordinances and Pro-

• clamations, and that in fo far allenarly as the faid

• Acts, and others generally and particularly above

• mentioned, are contrary or prejudicial to, incon-
' fiftent with, or derogatory from the Proteftant

• Religion, and Presbyterian Government now

• eftabliihed.' Concerning which Inference and
Claufe,

(1.) Obferve, that our Author ufeth Sophiftry
upon the Words True Religion, which are varioufly
accepted, and in Reality are taken in as many diffe-
rent Senfes as there are different Religions profeffed
in the Chrillian Church. For Inftance, we have
the Phrafe true Religion in that abominable Oath
called the Teft, where the Swearer folemnly de-
clares in thefe Words, * I own, and fincerely profefs
4 the true Proteftant Religion.' Likeways the firft
Aft of K. Ch. II 3 ParL 1681. intitled, Att ra-
tifying ail former Laws for the Security of the Prote-
ftant Religion, hath in it thefe Words, 4 Our So-

• vereign — Lord ratifies — all— Laws, Acls and
1 Statutes — for fettling and fecuring the Liberties

• and Freedom of the true Kirk of God, and the

• Proteftant Religion.' At which Time it is
well known Prelacy was eftabliflied by Law, and
profeffed in the Land, and Periecution going on
at a high Rate ; and yet have they uied the Phra-
fes of the true Kirk of God, and the Proteftant Re-
ligion. Likeways the Parliament, in their Aft of

Settle-

( 3<* )

Settlement 1690. make UCe of this Phrafe, True
Proteftant Religion ; while it is as clear as Day-
Light, from what has been already advanced, that
tbeir Meaning of this Phrafe, True Proteftant Re-
ligion, is vaftly different from the Meaning put up-
on it by the Parliament in the fecond Refor-
mation-Period ; for the Parliament 1690. by the
True Proteftant Religion, underftand the IVeft-
minfter Confeffion of Faith, which is but a Part
of the true Religion eftablifhed in the fecond re-
forming Period. But our -Reformers, in that Peri-
od, by the true Religion, underftood the Doctrine,
"VVorlhip, Difcipline and Government of Chrift's
Houfe, as is evident from the firft Article of the
folemn League and Covenant •, which true Religion,
not only is fummarily contained in our excellent
Confeffion of Faith, but alfo in our Catechifms
larger and fhorter, Directory for Worfhip, Form of
Church-Government, iecond Book of Difcipline,
reforming Acts of Affembly in that and the former
Period, and our Covenants, National and folemn
League. This was the Religion of the fecond re-
forming Period, all which lies buried under the Aft
RefcifTory, and is left there by the Revolution-
Parliament, except the Confeffion of Faith, called
by them the true Proteftant Religion, and Presby-
terian Church-Government, and that only as it was
eftablifhed by the Parliament anno 159 2.

(2.) Obferve, that, even this general Claufe, as
it ftands in the Act 1690. is reftricted unto Acts,
Laws, 6c. in fo far alienor ly as the faid Acts, ge-
nerally and particularly refcinded, are contrary or
prejudicial to the Religion fettled by them in this
Act. And, as we have formerly proven that the Re-
volution Parliament only took up the firft Reforma-
tion-

I

( 37 )
tion-Period exclufive of the National Covenant,
and Books of Dilcipline, leaving the fecond buried
and neglected, therefore this Refciflbry Claufe
reicinds Laws only as they itruck againlt the Re-
volution-Settlement, as the Clauie itfcli bears, or
(which is the fame Thing) againft the Settlement
15*9 2. upon which it is founded.

(3.) Obferve, that, had this gerieral Claufe re-
funded the Act Rcfeiffory, paffed i6di. then it
had likeways refcinded all other Laws of the fame
Kind ; but, as an Evidence to the contrary of this,
we find the fame Parliament 1690. a lew Days af-
ter, viz. July 19. the lame Year, in their 27 and
28 Acts, do refcind above forty other Acts of Par-
liament paffed in the Reigns of K. Ch. II. and his
Brother after him. And had the Parliament rec-
koned that all thefe Laws, refcinded in theie two
Acts, had been annulled by this general Claufe in
the 5* th Act, then would they have been acting the
fame Thing over again, which is fo childim and
trifling, that it would be uncivil to impute the fame
to fo anguft a Court.

4. Obferve, in the 28 Aft, July 19. 1690. fays
the Parliament, ■ Several Acts of Parliament have
■ been made, {viz. in the late Reigns of K. Ch. II.
1 and K. Ja. VII.) which are now either ufelefs or
« found to be hurtful j • in which Act they refcind
a great many bad Laws paffed in the faid Reigns,
which, fay they, are either ufelefs or hurtful ; and
as the Parliament does not diftinguilri between ufe-
lefs Laws and hurtful Laws here refcinded, fo we
are left to guefs what of them might be reckoned
ufelefs ; and as fome of thefe Acts have their
Titles narrated, others have only numerical ones,
we may be allowed to fuppofe/that thefe,-whofc

Numbers

( ?s )

Numbers are only marked in Figures, may be a-
mong thofe which they reckoned ufelefs, among
which is the 5 A3 of K. J a. VII. which is againit
the Covenants ; and indeed this Aft is really ufe-
lefs, in regard* the Covenants themfelves are out of
Date, in the Eye of the Law, ever fince they were
refcinded by K. Ch. 2 Par/, and left lying there
by the Revolution-Parliament.

From all which it appears evident, that what is
faid in the Teftimony, and in the Acknowledg-
ment of Sins prefixed to the Bond, relative to the
Revolution-Settlement of Religion, remains ftill to
be a fad Truth, and a {landing Ground of God's
Controverfy with thefe Lands, viz. That, when
the Eftates of the Nation were met in a free Parlia-
ment, arm 1690. all the Steps of Reformation at-
tained to in that covenanting Period, betwixt the
Years 163 8 and 165*0. were neglected and pafTed
by, 6r. And that this was the Mind of our Author,
with the AfTociate Presbytery, in their Act anent
Mr. Nairn, patted September 1743. was judicially
evident, by his voting Approve, wherein the Pref-
bytery affirms, Page 50. ' The Kingdom of Scot-
land at that Time, ( viz. at the Revolution ) in
fettling their Government, and in offering the
Crown to K. Will, and Q. Mary, not only over-
looked the whole civil Reformation attained to
betwixt the Years 1638 and i6fo but left the
wicked Laws, revoking and razing the fame, un-
touched and in Force.* And. again, Page jr.
fay they, * Upon the whole it appears, that, under
the prefent Conftitution, a mighty Bar is thruft in
the Way of our covenanted Reformation, both
in Church and State ; yea, a Grave-Stone is laid
and eftablifhed upon the fame.' And more fol-
x lows

( 39 )

lows to the fame Purpofe in that Page. And more-
over, in Page 52. adds the Presbytery, ■ At the
« Revolution Prelacy was not abolifhed as con-
a trary to the Word of God, and abjured by our
« Covenants : The Settlement of Presbytery was
« according to the former Settlement anno 1592.

* and all rhe legal Securities given to this Church
1 1638 to 165:0. were overlooked ; nor was any
€ Regard had to the folemn Oaths and Covenants

* which we then came under. The wicked Laws,

* anno 1661. condemning and razing our covenanted

* Reformation, were left untouched ; a general

* Oath of Allegiance was impofed, plainly exclud-

* ing the Oath our Covenants, and contrary to the
' reformed Practice anno 1649. Such were retain-

* ed in Places of publick Truft and military Office,
1 as were Enemies to our Reformation, and had been
' deeply involved in the horrid Defection, Perfecu-

* tion and Bloodfhed of the former Period ; the

* Power and Privileges of the Church were en-

* croached upon by diffblving the Affembly 1692.
1 and adjourning the feme from Time to Time,

* till 1694. And indeed, by the Aft 1592. accord-
c ing to which Presbytery was fettled at the Revo-
1 lution, the Affembly is deprived of Power, where

* the King or his Commiflioner are prefent, to no-
« minate and appoint Time and Place for their
c next Meeting.'

SECT. III.

Shewing that the Settlement of Religion made by tht
Parliament at the Revolution, if tried hy the Touch -
Stone of the Word, and compared with the Order ef
the Settlement of Religion in the fecond Reformatio
on- Period, betwixt 1638 and idjo. was an Erafti-

an

( 40 )

an Settlement, and contrary unto the Order of the
Head of the Church.

For illuftrating this Point, we (hall (i) a little
confider our Principles with reference to the Go-
vernment and Management of the Church, from
the Word of God, our Confeffion of Faith, and
the Practice of our Reformers in our fecond Refor-
mation-Period. (2) Take a View of the Settle-
ment of Religion at the Revolution, and compare it
therewith as we go along. To proceed then to the
firfl: of thefe, let us,

\mo. Confider our Principles as to the Govern-
ment and Management of the Church from the fa-
cred Oracles : And, if we confult both the Old
and the New Teftament, we lliall find, that the
Management of Affairs in the Church pertains to
fuch as are called of God to bear Office therein, and
not to the civil Magiftrate. Accordingly we find,
under the Old -Teftament, that the Levites were
appointed to keep the Charge of the Lord about
the Tabernacle, and all the Appurtenances thereof;
as we read, Numb. Chap. i. ^o, 5*1. But thou fhalt
appoint the Levites over the Tabernacle of Teftimo?iyy
and over all the Veffels thereof, and over all the Things
that belong to it ; They fhall bear the Tabernacle, and
all the Veffels thereof, they fhall minifler unto it, and
(hall encamp round about the Tabernacle. And when
the Tabernacle fetteth foreword, the Levites fhall
take it down: And when the Tabernacle is to be
pitched, the Levites fhall fet it up : And the Stranger
that cometh nigh fhall be put to Death. As alfo, Ch.
iii. Verfet 1, 8, 25, 26. 1 Chron. xv. 2. Then
David faid, None ought to carry the Ark of. Cod
but the Levites. Thus we have the Lord giving

Command-

( 4* )

Commandment unto Mo/is concerning the Taber-
nacle, and the Levitts are to be folely employed a-
bout it, and all Things pertaining unto it : And
we have an awful Certification given, that if any
Stranger fhould meddle with it, or come nigh to it,
he fhould be put to Death. Accordingly we find,
that when David did not obferve the Command
here given, when he brought up the Ark of God
out of the Houfe of Abinadab, this awful Certifica-
tion was' verified upon Uzzah immediately by God
himfelf, l Chron. xiii. 9 and 10 Verfes. Da-
vid on this Occafion did not obferve the Command-
ment of the Lord, in caufing the Lcvites to bear the
Ark upon their Shoulders by the Staves on the
Sides thereof, as Exod. xxxvii. 5. but carried it, as
the Philiftines did, upon a new Cart. After the
Lord had fmitten Uzzah, David was afraid of God,
as in Verfe 12. and from this awful Inftance he
learned his Duty better. Hence we find him, Chap.
xv. 12. giving Charge to the Levites, faying,
Santtify your/elves, both ye and your Brethren, that
you may bring up the Ark of the Lord God c/"Ifrael un-
to the Place that I have prepared for it. For becaufe
ye did it not at the fir ft, the Lord our God made a Breach
upon us, for that we fought him not after the due Or-
der. Verfe 15". The Children of the Levites brought
Up the Ark of God upon their Shoulders, with the Staves
thereon, as Mofes commanded according to the Word of
the Lord. Thus David, tho' a Man according to
God's own Heart, and a Prophet of the Lord,
when he came to fee his Miftake, and to learn,
the Law of the Lord better, he would not put an
Hand to the Ark, but commanded thofe to do it to
whom it did appertain.

F In

< 4* )

In the New-Teftament, we find Chrift giving the
Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven to Peter, and
with him to other Officers in this Houfe, Matth.
xvi. T5>. / will give unto thee the Keys of the King-
dom of Heaven, and wbatfoever thou /halt hind on Earth,
fhall be hound in Heaven : And whatfoever thou Jh alt
toofe on Earth, fhall be loofed in Heaven. Thus we
have the Keys here given to Church-Officers, and
the Keys are indivifible ; to whom he gave the
Keys of Doctrine, to them alfo gave he the Keys
of Government and Difcipline, which is plainly im-
plied in binding and loofing ; and hence we find,
that after his Refurrection, when he was about to
erect his Gofpel-Church, he continued forty Days
with the Apoftles whom he had chofen, fpeaking
and giving Commandment to them concerning his
Gofpel Kingdom, Afts i. 2, 3.

Moreover, we find alfo ^Scripture-Example to
guide us in this Particular : The approven Practice
of reforming Hezekiah ftands on Record for Imi-
tation herein. After Deformation for fome Time
had taken Place in Judah, Hezekiah fet fore ward
in Reformation, in which Work he proceeds by
calling the Officers of the Houfe of God to proceed
in that Work, as we read, 2 Chrcn. xxix. 4, 5*. And
he brought in the Priefls and the Levites, and gathered
them together in the ea(t Street, andfaid unto them, Hear
me, ye Levites, Sanclify now your J elves, andfanttify the
Houfe of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry forth
the Filthinefs out of the holy Place. Verfe 1 1 . My
Sons, be not now negligent : For the Lord hath cho/en
you to fland before him to ferve him, and that you Jhculd
miniflenunto him, and burn Incenfe. Thus this reform-
ing King did not himfelf fet about the purging and
reforming the Houfe of God, but called the Levites

there-

( 43 )
thereunto, as being their proper Work and Bufi-
nefs#; to which GalJ and Command the Levites yield-
ed a ready and chearful Obedience, as we fee in
the Sequel of that Chapter.

2do. We have it lai-l down as a Principle in our
Confeflion of Faith, Chap. 23. Sc£f. 3. » The ci-

* vil Magiftrate may not aflume to himfelf the Ad-
« miniftration of the Word and Sacraments, or the
< Power of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven ;

* yet he hath Authority, and it is his Duty to take
4 Order that Unity and Peace be preferved in the
« Church, that the Truth of God be kept pure and
« entire, that all Blafphemies be fuppreffed, all A-
c bufes in Worfhip and Difcipline be prevented

* or reformed, and all the Ordinances of God du-

* ly fettled, adminiftred and obferved ; for the

* better effecting whereof he hatli Power to call
f Synods, to be prefent at them.' From this Quo-
tation of our Confeflion, we may notice what
Power the M-agiftrate hath about the Church*
both negatively and pofitively. (1) Negatively,
he hath not a Power in facred Things, viz. the
Power of difpenfingthe Word and Sacraments, nor
the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. (2) Pofitive-
ly, he hath a Power about facred Things ; he is to be
nurfing Father to the Church, to life that Power
given him of God in her Defence; neverthelefs he
is not to ufe this Power of himfelf, but that he may-
employ it for the Good of the Church ; he is to call
her Judicatories that they may go about their
Work, at which he may be prefent, and fo his pro-
per Work is to ratify, by civil Sanction, what they
determine and conclude.

3//^ If we look into our fecond reforming Pe-
riod, we fliall find our reforming Parliaments pro.

ceeding

C 44 )

cceding in this beautiful fcriptural Order in Re-
formation, the Church always going foremoft, and
the State ratifying, by "civil Sanction, what the
Church did. Thus wefind the Church, anno 1638.
proceeded in Reformation, after the Manner of the
Levites in the Days of Hezekiah, 2 Chron. xxix\

4 18. They purged the Houfe of God, by de-

pofing and excommunicating moft of the Prelates,
condemning the Service-Book, Book of Canons,
Book of Ordination, the High-Commiflion, the
corrupt AfTemblies, and the civil Places and Power
of Kirkmen •, they condemned Epifcopacy, and
found it to be abjured in our National Covenant ;
in like Manner, they fet up the Tabernacle that
had been for many Years taken down, by approv-
ing the Regifters of former lawful AfTemblies, fettl-
ing the Presbyterian Order of the Houfe of God,
appointing the Renovation of the National Cove-
nant, in a Way fuited to the Circumftances of
their own Time, and they addrefs his Majefty the
King to ratify all by his civil Sanction, which the
State accordingly did in their Aft, June 1 1. 1640.
intitled, Aft anent the Ratification of Aft s of the Af
fembfy ; in which Act of Parliament the Aft of Af-
fembly, pafTed Auguft 17. 1639. is verbatim record-
ed, and contains in it the Subftance of what the
preceeding AfTembly had done in purging the Houfe
of God. And as the AfTembly 1639. did ratify and
approve of the Proceedings of the foregoing Aflem-
bly 1638. To the Parliament, in ratifying of the
Proceedings of the AfTembly 1639. did hereby ra-
tify and approve of the Reformation carried on by
the AfTembly 1638. and that in a Way. agreeable
to our Principles laid down in the Word of God
and Confeflion* of Faith, as above hinted ; for, fay

1 they,

0 4* )

they, in another Aft of the fame Date, < The E-
€ Hates of Parliament, conhdering that the Office of
* Buhops and all other Prelates, and the civil Places
' and Power of Kirk men, are condemned by the Af-
c fcmblies of tbis,Kirk* they revive the Aft is 92.
ratifying the Liberty of the Kirk, in a Way more
fully avouching the intrinfick Power of the Church
than that Aft did. The) annul the Afts of Parlia-
ment ratifying the corrupt Affemblies that met at
Glafgow and Perth 1610 and 1618. Thus the
Parliament kept its due i;lace and Station, in rati-
fying that Reformation which was carried on by
the Church. In like Manner, when the Reforma-
tion took Footing in England, and Uniformity in
"Worfhip and catechifing were aimed at in both
Kingdoms, the Parliament of England calied an
Aifembly of Divines, and CommiiTioncrs were Jent
from the Church of Scotland to deliberate upon that
grave and weighty Affair, according to Scripture,
Dent, xxxiii. 8, 10. And of Lc\\ he faidy Let thy

Thummim and thy Urim he with thy Holy One .

They foall teach Jacob thy Judgments, and Ifrael thy
Law. Mai. ii 7. For the Priefts Lips jhould keep
Knowledge, and they jhould feek the Law at his Month.
' And after the fVid Affembly had compofed a Con-
feffion of Faith, larger and fhorter Catechifms, and
a Directory for the publick Worlhip of God.
all which were received by the Affembly of this
Church, and ratified by the States, ftill in the fame
beautiful Order, viz. as the Affembly by their
Aft, Auguft 27. 1 647. received and approved of the
Confeffion of Faith.' And as by their Aft, July 2.
1648. Self. 10. they received and approved of the
the larger Catechifm ; and as they received and
approved of the fhorter Catechifm, by their Aft

July

C 4* )

July 28. the fame Year, all as a Part of the then
intended Uniformity : So the Eftates of Parliament,
by their Aft, February 7. 1649. did ratify and ap-
prove the faid Gonfeflion and Catechifms, and the
above three Afts of AfTembly receiving the fame.
Farther, as the AfTembly, by their Aft, February 3.
1 645:. did receive, approve, and eftablifh the Di-
rectory for publick Worfhip ; fo the Parliament,
by their Aft paffed the 6th Day of the fame Month,
did ratify and approve the faid Directory, and Aft
of AfTembly receiving the fame. Again, as the
General Aflcmbly did, by their Aft, duguft 17.
% 643 . approve of the folemn League and Covenant ;
fo the Eftates of Parliament, by their Aft paffed
the very fame Day, did approve and receive the
fame. Finally, As the GommifTion of the General
AfTembly did, by their Aft, OBober 1 1. 1643. or"
dain the receiving, fwearing and fubferibing of the
folemn League and Covenant ; fo the Commiflio-
ners of the Convention of Eftates did, by their Aft
the very next Day, unanimoufly receive, embrace
and ordain the folemn fwearing and fubferibing
thereof by all his Majefty's Subjects. Thus there
was a beautiful Order obferved in all that Period,
the Church fetting up the Lord's Tabernacle, and
the State coming after them in a Way ofufing
their Power and Authority in Defence of the faid
beautiful Reformation ; and if we obferve the Mo-
tives laid down by the State in their reforming
Afts, we ihall find that they were not influenced
from carnal and political Ends, but the Glory of
God, and the folemn Obligations they were under
to him : Thus, in their forementioned Aft abolifh-
ing Patronages, fay they, ' The Eftates of Parlia-
• ment, being fenfible of the great Obligation that

lies

( 47 )

c lies upon them by the National Covenant, and by
■ the folemn League and Covenant, and by many
' Deliverances from God, and by the late folemn
' Engagement unto Duties, to preferve the Doc-

* trine —and to advance the Work of Refbr-

1 mation to the utmoft of their Power -, and

1 considering that Patronages is an Evil and

4 Bondage, under which the Lord's People and

• Minifters of this Land have long groaned, and

• that it hath no Warrant in God's Word — and
' that the fame is contrary to the fecond Book of

* Difcipline— and unto feveral Ac~ts.of General Af-
' femblies — And the faid Eftates being willing
1 and defirous to promove and advance the Re-

* formation forefaid, that every Thing of the Houfe
c of God may be ordered according to his Will

• and Command, Do therefore, fee' Thus the Par-
liament proceeded upon fcriptural Grounds, and
from the Senfe they Jiad of the Obligations they
were under from the Lord's Goodnefs and Mercy
to this Land, and their folemn Vows unto him, to
purfue and endeavour after Reformation. Thus,
in this Time of Reformation, Church -Judicatories,
according to their Office and Duty, did proceed in
fetting up the Tabernacle, that had been about 40
Years taken down, and our civil Rulers were as
nurfing Fathers unto the Church, not ufurping a
Power over her in facred Things, but exercifing
their Power about her, lor ftrengthning, fupporting,
ai)d defending her from outward Enemies ; and \o
bringing their Honour and Glory to Chrift. Then
it was that the Church of Scotland looked forth as
the Morning, fair as the Moon, clear as the Sun, and
terrible as an Army with Banners.

Having

< 48 >.

Having thus given a fhort Hint of our Principles
anent the Government and Management of the
Church from the Word of God, our Confeflion of
Faith; and the Practice of Church and State in the
fecond Reformation Period, we proceed, in the

zd Place, to take a View of the Conduct of our
Parliament wi/fi reference to the Settlement of
Religion at the Revolution, and we (hall find it
to be the quite Reverfe, and that both in the Set-
tlement then made, and alio in their after Manage-
ment and Adminiftration 'thereanent ; which will
appear evident, if we confider the following Parti-
culars.

imo. That the State, at the Revolution, inftead
of following the beautiful fcriptural Order obferved
by David and Hezekiah of old, and alfo by our
reforming Parliaments in the fecond Refoimation-
Period, viz. in fetting the Church always foremoft
in the Work of the Lord, and they coming after
in their Turn, and ratifying by civil Sanction what
the Church did, inverted this Order, by preferr-
ing to the Church, and fo cannot be cleared from
Eraftianifm in their Procedure. For altho* the
Revolution took Place anno 1688. yet no General
Aifembly was allowed to meet until two Years
thereafter, viz. Oftoler i<5. 1690. and, about four
Months and fome Days before that Time, viz.
June 7. that Year, did take upon them to fettle Re-
ligion, as they fay, and Presbyterian Church- Go-
vernment, as is narrated in their AR, viz. ' Our

■ Sovereign Lord and Lady — and three Eftates of

■ Parliament, conceiving it to be their bound Du-
1 ty— in the nrft Place, to fettle and fecure therein

• the true Proteftant Religion, according to the

♦ Truth of God's Word, as, it Hath of long Time

been

( 4P )

* been profelTcd within this Land. — Likeas, by

* thefe Prefents, ratify and eftablifh the Confeflion

* of Faith, now read in their Prefcnce, and voted

* and approven by them as the publick and a-

* vowed Confeffion of this Church. ' Here obfervc*
(i.) That the Religion they fettle* is not the true
reformed Presbyterian Religion, which is oppoilte
to Prelacy ; but the true Proteftant Religion, which
is oppofite unto Popery. (2.) They read, voted
and approved the Confeffion, without regarding a-
ny Aft, either of the AfTeniblics of this Church re-
ceiving and approving the faid Confeflion, or of
former Parliaments ratifying the fame ; and as they
fhewed no particular Regard unto what either the
Church or State had done in the fecond reform-
ing Period ancnt this Confeflion ; fo they as little
regarded the Officers of the Houfe of God that
were in Being at the Time, while they thus took
upon them to fettle Religion fo long before they
allowed them to meet in a General Aflembly.
Thus, as the Reverend Mr. Wilfon exprelfeth it in
his Defence, Pages 265-, 266. « The faid Parlia-
« ment (viz. 1690.) did indeed leave the Afts of

* Parliament 1649. and the other Acls of that Peri-
€ od, buried under the Act Refciflbry ; and therefore

* they made an Aft of their own with refpeft to

* our Confeflion of Faith.' Thus they afted con-
trary to the fcriptural Order obferved by the State
in the fecond reforming Period, and did hereby en-
croach upon the intrinfick Power of the Church 3
They had a Power to fettle the civil Matters of ,
the Kingdom ; they had alfo Power to call the
Aflembly of the Church to meet; but a Power to
read, vote and approve of a Confeflion of Faith,
land put it into the Hands of the Church and Nati-

G tion,

( So )

t'ion, in this Manner, of themfelves, and at the firft
Inftance, without regarding the Church in her Af-
femblics, either paft or future, was certainly Erafli*
an, and what does not at the firft Inftance apper-
tain unto them, which may be proved by thefe
Scriptures, Numb. i. 5*1. When the Tabernacle fettetb
foreward, the Lcvites jhall take it downy and when the
Tabernacle is to be pitched, the Lev ites Jhall fet it up.
And fo we fee, 2 Chron. xix. II. Amariah the
chief Prieft was fet over the People in all Matters
of the Lord. And, fays Zechariah to Ezra the
Prieft, when fpeaking of Reformation- Work, This
Ma tier belongeth unto theey Ezra x. 4.

(2.) Again, the Parliament, in this Aft, do fettle
Presbyterian Church-Government ; for, fay they,
c As alfo the Government of Ghrift's Church with*

* in this Nation, agreeable to the Word of God,

* and moft conducive to the Advancement of true

* Piety and Godlinefs, and the eftablifhing of

* Peace and Tranquillity in this Realm.' Where-
upon it may be obferved, (1) As they fubverted
the Order of the Houfe of God in the Matter of
Doctrine, fo do they here alfo in the Matter of
Government, which Mr. JVilfon judicioufty obferves
in his Defence, Page 270. ' Hereby the due Or-

* der of the Houfe of God was inverted, in regard

* the Settlement of the Government of the Church,

* belongs, in the firft Inftance, unto a Judicatory of
« Chrift met together in the Name of the Lord Je-
' fus ; and that which is incumbent upon the civil
■ Powers in this Cafe, is only to give the civil
? Sanction unto the fame.' But, patting this as to
what they here enacted anent Government, it may
be obferved, (2.) That they make the Government
of the Church a different Thing from, and no

Part

( Si )
Part of the true Religion, as appears both from
the Title of their Aft, and likeways from the Aft
itfelf : For, after they have fpoke of fettling Reli-
gion in the firft Place, they make a Tranfition
to the Settlement of the Government, with the
Phrafe, as alfo, which is direftly contrary to the
Stile ufed in our fccond reforming Period, as was
noticed above. (3.) Obferve, What Government
do they eftablifh ? Why, it is the Government of
Chrift's Church in this Nation •, not the Govern-
ment of Chrift's Church laid down in the Word,
and agreed upon by the Aflemblies of the Church
of Scotland in her Books of Difcipline, and other
Standards, fworn to in our Covenants, and ratified
by the Parliaments of this Kingdom. Nothing
like this is in their Aft, but the Government of
Chrift's Church within this Nation. Why, the fame
King that was fettling Presbytery in Scotland, was
bound to fupport Prelacy in England at the fame
Time ; and fo the Government of Chrift's
Church in Scotland was Presbytery, while, at the
fame Time, the Government of Chrift's Church
in England, then was, and to this Day (in the O-
pinion of our Statefmen) continues to be Prelacy.
(4.) Obferve, that the Parliament here call this
their Settlement agreeable to the Word of God.
We need not thank them for this Compliment they
give to Presbytery, while they are far from faying
it is the only Government founded on the Word
of God, exclufive of all other Forms of Govern-
ment. The Truth is, our Statefmen look on
Church-Government as an ambulatory Thing, and
to be fettled and modelled according as they think
fit. Hence, at the Revolution, both Prelacy, which
was fettled in England, and Presbytery, fettled in

Scot*

( S* )

Scotland, were judged agreeable to the Word of
God. Our reforming Parliament 1640. cxprefs
themfelves in a Strain quite different from this, in
their forecited Aft RefcifTory, June if; € The E-
1 ftates of Parliament declare, That the fole and
< only Power and Jurifdi&ion, within this Kirk,

* ftands in the Kirk of God as it is now reformed,

* and in General, Provincial and Presbyterial Af-
1 femblies and Seffions of the Kirk.'

(3.) Farther, the Parliament, in their AcT:, abolift
Prelacy, but upon what Grounds we may fee in
the Aft itfelf, wherein they fay, ' And that, by an
4 Article of the Claim of Right, it is declared

* that Prelacy, and the Superiority of any Office

* in the Church above Presbyters, is, and hath been

* a great and unfupportable Grievance and Trou-

* ble to this Nation, and contrary to the Inclinati-
4 ons of the Generality of the People ever fince the

* Reformation, (they having reformed from Popery
1 by Presbyters) and therefore ought to be abolifh-
4 ed : Likeas, by an Acl: of the laft Seffion of Par-
t liament, Prelacy is abolifhed.' Here we have
fomething done by the Parliament that is indeed
good, yer ftill is in an Eraftian Manner ; for, (1.)
They take no Notice of Prelacy being abolifhed,
neither by the Church 1 638. nor by the State
1640. (2.) They proceed upon Political Grounds,
as, 1. Becaufe it was contrary to the Claim of
Right. 2. Becaufe a great and unfupportable
Grievance to this Nation. 3. Becaufe contrary
to the Inclinations of the Generality of the People,
And why fo ? But becaufe they were reformed by
Presbyters. Not one Word of its* being contrary
to the Word of God, abjured by our Covenants,
and abo)ifned both by Church and State in our fer

cond

( S3 )

cond reforming Period. No Regard is hid to any
of thefe Things in this Settlement; the whole of it,
as it was from political Motives, fo to political
Ends and Views- The plain Cafe was, the Peo-
ple of Scotland generally did abhor Prelacy, and
they had now got a long Trial of it ; the Eftablifh-
ment and Support whereof had occafioned much
Difquiet and Trouble to the Nation > and as the
Parliament fays, for the Peace and Tranquillity of
this Nation they did abolim it ; and becaufe Pref-
bytery Is raoft agreeable to the Inclinations of the
People' of Scotland, they fettle Presbytery there,
while, at the fame Time, becaufe Prelacy was moft
agreeable to the Inclinations of the People of Eng-
land, Prelacy, for Peace Sake, remains eftablifhed
there. And becaufe Scotland was reformed from
Popery by Presbyters, the- Parliament fettle Pref-
bytery there. And, by Parity of Reafon, becaufe
England was reformed from Popery by Bilhops, a-
bout the Year 15*30. Prelacy Hands fettled there.
4. The Erajhantfm of this Settlement appears
likeways from the Act of Parliament 1592. upon
which they did found it, in regard, in that Aft of
Parliament, the Headftiip of Chrift, and intrinfick
Power of the Church is invaded, as the Aft itfelf
bears.' ' And fiklike, ratifies and appreives the Ge-

* neral AfTemblics appointed be the faid Kirk ; and

* declares that it fall be lauchful to the Kirk and
' Minifters, every Zeir at the leaft, and oftner pro re
« natay as Occafion and Neceffity fall require,

* to hald and keep General Affemblies, providing
1 that the King's Majefty, or his CommhTioners, with
1 them, to be appointed be his Hienefce, be prefent
' at ilk General Aifembly, before the diffolving

* thereof nominate and appoint Time and Place

quhen

( 54 )
4 quhen and quhair the nixt Gencrd Aflcmbly fall
■ be halden.' Here, in this Aft, we have the Aflem-
bly deprived of Power to nominate and appoint
Time and Place for their next Meeting, where the
King and his Commiffioners are prefent. Thus, as
the Parliament took upon them, at the Revolution,
to model the Church, fo they incroached upon her
fpiritual Freedom and Liberty, and fo invaded the
Crown-Rights of Chrift, who is King in Zion and
fits on the Throne of his Holinefs.

If it fhall be objected, that the Parliament 1640.
was as much Eraftian&s the Parliament 1 690. in re-
gard they alfo ratified the Aft 1592.

To this we anfwer, ■ That, altho' K. Charles I.
indeed was oppofing the Reformation a little before
that Time, and his Commiflioner attempted to dif-
folve the Aflcmbly i6^8.yetdid that Aflembly give
a practical Teftimony to the intrinfick Power of the
Church, by their refuting to be diflblved by him :
So the Parliament, in their Aft, June 1 1 . \ 640. in-
titled, Ratification of the Acis of Ajfembly, exprefly
ratify and confirm the Aft of Aflembly pafled An-
gufl 17. 163?. which Aft of Aflembly did confirm
the Proceedings of iflcmbly 1 638. Thus the Aft
of Parliament 1640. did more particularly and ex-
plicitly ratify and approve the intrinfick Power of
the Church, than either the Parliament t5"92. or
1690. And farther, this Aft acknowledges the
fcriptural Claim of Presbyterian Church-Govern-
ment, which neither of the two forefaid Afts of
Parliament do. Moreover, the Parliament 1640.
condemns Prelacy, and the Superiority of Bifliops
and Archbifhops, and all other Prelates, the civil
Places and Power of Kirkmen, their Voicing and
Riding in Parliament, as unlawful in themfelves,

having

£ ft J >

having no Warrant in the Word of God, and re-
pugnant to our Covenants, concerning which both
thefe Atts are filent.

ido. If we take a View of the after Management
of the State, in confequence of the forefaid Settle-
ment, as it was Erajlian, fo was the Adminiftration
thereof. Upon which the following Inflances
may be noticed.

imo. King JVUliam and his Parliament did bind
down Epifcopal Incumbents upon Parilhes, pro-
hibiting ChvTrch-Judicatories from exercifing
Church -Difcipline upon the Impenitent, and en-
joining the AfTembly to admit fuch without any E-
vidence of Sorrow for their Apoftafy, upon their
fwearing the Oath of Allegiance, and fubferibing
the Formula t, which did plainly homologate the
Revolution -Settlement. For Proof of this we ap-
peal to King William's Letters, directed to General
AiTemblies amis 1690 and 1691. and is alfo evi-
dent from after Acts of Parliament, particularly aa
Aft paflfed May 28. 1693. enjoining all in Places
of Power and Truft, civil, ecclefiaftical and mili-
tary, to fwear the Oath of Allegiance, and lubferibe

it

\ T j4. B. do fmcerely own and declare the above Confeflion of
Faith, appro ven by former General Aitemblies of this Church,
and ratified bv Law in the Year 1690. to be the Confeflion of
my Faith, and that I own the Doctrine therein contained to be
the true Doctrine, which I will conftantly adhere to; as likeways
that I own and acknowledge Presbyterian Church- Government
of this Church, now fettled by Law, by Kirk-SefCons, Presbyte-
ries, Provincial Synods and General Aflcmblies, to be the only Go-
vernment of this Church, ru.'d that I will fubmit thereto, concur
therewith, and never endeavour, directly or indirectly, the Pre-
judice or Subverfibn thereof; and that I (hall obferve Uniformi-
ty of Worfhip, and of the Adminiftration of all publick Ordinan-
ces within this Church,, as the fame arc at prefent pcrfora&i and
a lit wed.

( s* )

it together with the Oath of AfTurance. Likeways
an Aft, pafled June 12. the fame Year, declaring
and ordaining, « That no Perfon be admitted, or

* continued for hereafter, to be Minifter orPreach-

* er within this Church, unlefs that he, having firft

* taken and fubferibed the Oath of Allegiance,

* and fubferibed the Oath of Affurance, in Manner

* appointed, — -certifying fuch as fhall not qualify

* themfelves, and apply to the Aflembly, or other

* Judicatories, within the Space of 30 Days after
4 the Meeting of the firft Affembly, in Manner afore-
' faid, that they may be depofed by the Sentence

* of the faid Aflembly, and other Judicatories, tarn

* ab officio quam a bencfich.' The Eraftianifm in
thefe is fo glaring, that it were neediefs to Uluftrate
the fame, only we may here obferve the Parlia-
ment prefcribing new miniiterial Qualifications, in-
ftead of their being bound to fwcar Allegiance to
Zion's King, as in the fecond reforming Period ;
and the Parliament farther prefcribing and laying
down new Rules of Difcipline, againft thofe that
refufe to come under thefe new Qualifications. But,
moreover, we have this Erajlianifm yet fere wed
higher by the Parliament in an after Aft, pafled
July 16. 1695*. m which Aft, after appointing
another Day for Minifters who had not qualified
themfelves, by taking thefe Oaths according to Law,
to qualify themfelves by fo doing, they fay, ■ With

■ Certification, that fuch of the faid Minifters as

■ fhall not come in betwixt and the faid Day, arc

* hereby, and by the Force of this prefent Aft,
« ipfo fatto deprived ©f their refpeftive Kirks and

* Stipends, and the fame declared vacant without
4 any farther Sentence.' Which is yet a Step higher,

even

( 57 )
even the wrefting the Keys out of the Hands of
Church-Judicatories altogether.

zdo. Another Evidence of the Eraflianifm of the
State, at and fince the Revolution, is the King's
calling, adjourning and diffolving AfTemblies mere-
ly by his own Authority. Thus, as the Parlia-
ment, by their jth Aft 1690. did appoint the firft
Meeting of the General Aflembly to be upon the
1 6th of October thereafter; fo the faid Affembly
1690. being dhTolved, the next was appointed to
be held at Edinburgh, November 1 . 1 69 1 . but was
adjourned by the King's Proclamations, from Time
*to Time, until March 1 694. Which Encroachments
upon the Church's intrinfick Power natively refult
and flow from the parliamentary Settlement, made
in their Aft, June 7. 1690.

%tio. A farther Evidence hereof is the Conduct
of the Parliament anent the Settlement of vacant
Congregations, by their Aft, July 19. 1690. touch*-
ed at above ; wherein they made a manifeft En-
croachment upon our formerly attained to Refor-
mation, in as much as the People are hereby fpoil-
ed of the Privilege of calling their own Paftors,
which Privilege is committed by the Parliament in-
to the Hands of Proteflant Heritors and Elders, up-
on the Heritors of each'Parifh purchafing it from
the Patron by the Sum of 600 Merks ; and this
Right we find after reftored back again to the Pa-
trons, anno 17 1 2.

4/2. The laft Piece of Eraflian Adminiflration we
fhall mention, is, the civil Magiftrate, by himfelf,
without confulting the Church, his appointing Di-
ets and Caufes of publick Thankfgiving and Fail-
ing merely by his own Authority. Several In-
fiances of this might be given, fince the Revolution,
H from.

( J8 )

from the Afts of Parliament ; particularly, we find
an Aft for a publickThankfgiving appointed by the
States, April 16, 1689. Alfo an Aft of Parliament,
May 2. 1693. appointing a monthly Faft to be kept
upon the third Thurfday of the faid Month of May,
and the third Thurfday of every Month thereafter,
until Intimation of Forbearance be made by the
Lords of their Majefties Privy-Council. Which
Eraftian Encroachment continues to be exercifed un-
to this Day, infomuch that the prefent eftablifhed
Church obferve no national Fafts or Thankfgiv-
ing, but what are appointed by our Sovereign and
his Privy-Council. Thefe are but a few Inftances
of the Ufurpations of the intrinfick Power of the
Church, affumed by the State at and fince the Re-
. volution ; feveral more might have been added, but
we lhall forbear, and conclude this Head with a
Caution or two.

imo. We heartily own that the Revolution itfelf
was a very feafonable, fignal, and merciful Delive-
rance, wrought by God for thefe Lands, and that
K. William was made the happy Inftrument there-
of : While therefore we are bound to teftify our
thankful Acknowledgment unto the Lord for this
Deliverance, we are at the fame Time bound to
teftify againft the bad Improvement that all Ranks
made of this feafonable Mercy.

2do. We alfo grant, that many good Things were
done at the Revolution, viz. abolifhing of Prelacy,
fettling of Presbytery, refcinding the Aft of Parlia-
ment anent Fines and Forfeitures., But what is all
this to the Purpofe, while, in doing thefe Thing?,
they left buried the fecond Reformation-Period, and
made Encroachments upon the Headfliip of Chrift,

and

( 59 )

and the intrinfick Power of the Church, as we have
(hewn .?

pio. It muft likeways.be owned, That, upon
the Back of this Deliverance, the Lord did remark-
able countenance his Ordinances, to the Converfi-
on and Edification of many Souls, and a Seed was
born in Scotland to ferve him. Thus he dealt with
us as with Ifrael of old, while we, like Ifrael, have
been guilty of the like Ingratitude to him, Pfato
cvi. 7, 8. Our Fathers under flood not thy Wonder* in
Egypt, they remembred not : he Multitude of thy Mer-
cies ; but provoked him at the Sea, even at the Red
Sea. Never thelefsy he faved them for his Name's Sake.
Thus, as the State did provoke the Lord, at that
Occafion, by their intermeddling in the Affairs of
his Houfe, and laying a new Foundation upon the
Grave of the fecond Reformation : So the Church
did likeways provoke him -in fitting down upon that
Foundation, without eflaying the purging of the
Houfe, and fetting up the Tabernacle according
to the Manner thereof; yet did the Lord faye us
with a Nevertheless ; and it is a very dreadful Mif-
improvement of God's fovereign Goodnefs, hereby
to extenuate our Sin, and to hold it faft, becaufe
he dealt with us according to his Name's Sake, and
not o,s our Iniquities deferved. We ought rather
to improve his Goodnefs, for our Humiliation and
Aggravation of our Sin, as the Church does in the
Text quoted, when (he is returning to her Duty. But
we (hall conclude by a Sentence from a Letter writ-
ten by Mr. John Dickfon late Minifter at Ruthergleny
who died anno 1700. Speaking of the Revolution,
fays he, ■ We have been lately try (led with a won-
derful Deliverance from the Slavery of a Heaven-
1 daring Enemy; but not one Line of Reforma -

1 tisUi

* tion is pencilled upon the Deliverance : It is
4 like a Sleep-Drink, carting into a Lethargy ; yet

* God is good to Ifracl in the Deliverance, but the

* Ifliie of it is, every one feeking their own Things,
' but none feeking the Things of Jefus Ghrift.'

SECT. IV.

Of the Dedu&ion of a few Corollaries from what is

above.

COROLLARY I.

It will follow, that the Profeflion of Religion in
the Revolution Church is different from the Pro-
feflion of Religion adopted by Seceders in the Te-
ftimony, and in the Bond for renewing our Cove-
nants, and that both as to the Matter and Manner
of its Settlement.

i mo. As to the Matter. The Profeflion of the
Revolution-Church contains only a Profeflion of
our JVeflminfler Confeflion and Presbyterian Church-
Government, as agreeable to the Word of God,
and the Inclinations of the People, without one
Word in their Act of Settlement, or any Aft after
it, either of the Catechifms, Directory, or Cove-
nants ; for all the Profeflion of Religion that was
put in the Hands of the Church at the Revolution,
was the 33 Chapters of the Confeflion of Faith :
And altho' they fettled Presbyterian Church-Go-
vernment, yet, according to them, it is no Part of
the true Religion, as is fhewn above.

But the Profeflion of Religion adopted by Sece-
ders contains a Profeflion, not only of our Con-
feflion of Faith, as received and approven by the

General

( 61 )

General Aflembly 1647. and Presbyterian Church-
Government as founded on the Word of God,
and the only Government of Chrift's Houfe, but al-
foofour Catechifms, larger and fhorter, Directory
for publick Worlhip, the Covenants National and
folemn League ; and, in a Word, all the Refor-
mation attained unto in the fecond, as well as in the
firft Period thereof.

Confequently the ProfefTion of Religion adopted
by Seceders is materially diftintt from that of the
Revolution-Church.

Again, the Profeflion of the Revolution-Church
gave the Power of calling Minifters to Proteftant
Heritors, qualified according to Law by taking
the Oaths of Allegiance and AiTurance, and to El-
ders ; which Power was to be purchafed by thefe
Heritors from the Patron, and is again returned to
him fince the Year 17 12. -

But the Profeflion of Religion adopted by Sec£*
ders gives the Power of calling Minifters unto the
Chriftian People, Members of the Church, declar-
ing that it is a Right purchafed to them by Chrift,
and fo a fpiritual Privilege, which can neither be
bought nor fold with Money.

Therefore thefe Profeflions are different the one
from the other.

ido. As to the Manner. The Profeflion of Reli-
gion in the Revolution-Church is the Weflminfler
Confeflion of Faith, not as received and approved by
the Aflembly of this Church anno \ 647. and ratified
by the State anno 1 649. but as read, voted and ap-
proven by the Parliament 1 690. in the forefaid Way
and Manner ; and the Government fettled by them
was Presbyterian Church-Government and Difci-
pline, and that not as the only Government founded

in

( 62 )

in the Word of God, received and approven in our
Books of Difcipline, and A&s of AfTemblies of this
Church, fworn to in our Covenants, and ratified
by our Parliament in the fecond reforming 'Period,
but as founded on the Inclinations of the People.

But the Profeffion of Religion adopted by Sece-
ders is the Doctrine, Worfhip, Difcipline and
Government received and approven by the Affem-
blics of this Church in her reforming Periods, as
founded upon the Word of God, fworn to in our
Covenants, ratified and eftablilhed 1)y our reform-
ing Parliaments.

Wherefore the Profeffion of Religion in the Re-
volution-Church is different from that profeffed by
Seceders as to the Manner of its Settlement alfo.
And, as the former is an Er aft tan one, being fet-
tled by the civil Powers at the firft Inftance, ib the
latter is a fcrjptural one, founded upon the Word
of God, received and approven by Courts can-
Ititute in his Name, to whom he has given the Keys
of the Kingdom of Heaven. Thus, it is a fad Truth
that the Reverend Mr. Ebenezer Erjkine fays in his
Sermon on IfaiabxxW. 24. Page 40. ' The Glory

• of that Church is at a low Pais, which hangs up-
■ on the Nail of legal Securities by Kings and Par-
' liaments, inftcad of the Nail which God has
« faftned in a fine Place : This, alas ! is the Cafe

* with the Church of Scotland at this Day.' More-
over,

The Profeffion of the Revolution is a Profeffion
that buries our Covenants, both National and fo-
lemn League.

But the Profeffion of Seceders adopts and re-
vives both.

Con-

( *1 )

Confequently thefe Profeflions are quite different.
Hence the Reafoning of fome, at this Day, is very
abfurd, while they pretend that they never feceded
from the Profeflion of the eftabliflied Church, but
from her Practice ; for it is fhewn above, that not
only is her Practice wrong, but the very Deed of
Settlement of Religion, by the Revolution-Parlia-
ment, is wrong alfo ; and, by the {landing Laws of
the Land eftablifliing that Profeilion, the Church is
tied down to practife accordingly.

COROLLARY II.

It likeways follows, from what is above, that the
Church of Scotland, fince the Revolution, has never
been built upon her own Heap, nor has the Pa-
lace remained after the Manner thereof.

TheHeap, or Foundation, on which the Gofpel-
Church (lands, is Jefus Chrift, as revealed in the
Word, Eph. ii. 20. and thus the Church oi r Scot-
land was erected in Times of our Reformation. But,
at and fince the Revolution, lhe was and is built
upon the Claim of Right, the Inclinations of the
People, Acts of Parliament burying our fecond Re-
formation-Period, in laying a Bar in the Way of
any free and particular Confeffion of the Perjury,
Apoftafy, Bloodihed, and Heaven-daring Iniquity
that prevailed in the perfecuting Reigns, and alfo
in the Way of renewing our National Covenant-
Engagements to the Moil High. Neither dorh the
Palace remain after the Manner thereof : For, as
we have (hewn, it appertains to the Office -Rearers
of the Houfe of Chrift, and Courts conftitutc in his
Name, to fet up the Tabernacle, and to keep the
Charge of the Lord : But this was not the Cafe

with

C H )

with theRevolut'ion-Church, while the civil Powers,^
at their own Hand, took it upon them to fettle Reli-
gion, and (as they fay) alfo Presbyterian-Govern-
ment, without cohfulting the Judicatories of the
Church ; and thus, as they fct up the Tabernacle
by their own Authority, and to ferve their own po-
litical Interefts, fo they left the former Manner of
its Ereftion in this Land lying buried under the
Aft Refciflbry, and alfo laid new Grave-Stones
upon the fame.

COROLLARY III.

As it is plain, from what we have faid above,
that no Branches of the Reformation, attained to in
the fecond Period thereof, were adopted by the
Revolution-Parliament, except the Weftminfler Con-
feflion and Fresbyterian Church-Government ; fo
it is as plain, that even thefe were not adopted by
them as Parts of that Reformation, nor as ratified
by the reforming Parliaments of that Period.

For the Parliament 1649. did ratify and efta-
blifli the faid Confeflion, as it had been received and
approven by the General Aflembly, Augufi 27.
1647. in which Aft the Aflembly explain them-
felves, declaring, * That the not mentioning, in
1 faid Confeflion, the feveral Sorts of ecclefi-

* aftical Officers, and Aflemblies, fhall be no Pre-
' judice to the Truth of Chrift in thefe Particulars,

* to be fully expreft in the Directory for Govern-

* ment.* And likeways declare their Senfe and
Meaning of fome Parts of the fecond Article of the
31 Chapter, in Tegard the Parliament not only
ratify this Confeflion, but alfo this Aft of Aflem-
bly receiving and approving of it : But the Par-
liament

( 6s )

liament 1690. as they make no Reference unto
this Aft of Parliament, fo they as little regarded
the Limitation and Explanation wherewith the
Aflembly did receive and approve it, but did read,
vote, and approve it as it lay in itfelf. Again, as
to Church-Government, the Parliament 1640. did,
in their Afts, ratify and eftablifh it, as the fole and
only Jurifdiftion (landing in the Kirk of God as
then reformed, and that allQueftions about Religion
and Matters ecclefiaftical mould be determined by
AfTemblies of the Kirk ; but the Parliament idpo.
did fettle Church-Government upon the Footing
of the Aft 15:92. and the Inclinations of the Peo-
ple. Thus, even thefe two Pieces of Reformati-
on, adopted by the State at the Revolution, were
not received by them as Parts of the Reformation
attained to in the fecond Period thereof : An Evi-
dence of this fhall be taken from Faith no Fancy 9
.Page 35*3 . by the fame Author. Says he, ■ I was
« an Ear- Witnefs, at the General Affembly of this

* cftablifhed Church, to the Speech of a certain
« Member thereof, wherein, relating to our cove-
« nanted Reformation, he afferted openly, that
« they were not now ftanding upon that Foundation. It
« grieved me much, ( adds he ) that he was not
■ contradicted : Whence I concluded, that it was

• taken for granted by that Court, that they were
€ indeed quite off from that Foundation. '

COROLLARY IV.

In like Manner it follows, from what has been

advanced, that fuch as are contending for the Law-

fulnefs of a religious Claufe in ibme Burgefs-Oaths

condemned by the Syhod, or are fiding with thofe

I that

t ( a )

that do fo, are taking a very awful Courfe; they
are taking up a Teftimony againft God, againft
themfelves, and for the Apoftafy of the Generati-
on.

(i.) They are taking up a Teftimony againft
God : For, when he firft fent a few witnefling
Minifters out from the eftablifhed Church, he, as
we faid, put a Libel in their Hands, containing a
large In di ftment againft this Land ; and, among o-
ther Articles, the Conduct of the State at the Re-
volution, in their retrograde Motion back to the Year
15-92. as the Bafis of their Settlement, leaving all
the attained to Reformation, between the Years
1638 and 165-0. buried under the A£l Refciffory ;
and alfo the Church is indicted for fitting down
upon this Foundation. And the faid Minifters
were fent by the Lord through different Corners of
Scotland, on Days of Farting and Humiliation, and
did publickly lay home this and other Articles of
that Indictment unto Multitudes aflembled on thefe
Occafions ; a«d alfo did publiih the fame to the
Generation in the Year 1736. But thefe Minifters
and People, who are turning afide, are now faying
that this Article is a Miftake ; that no fuch Thing
is chargeable upon this Land ; and that the Revo-
lution-Parliament revived all the fecond Reformati-
on-Period, and refcinded all the bad Laws made a-
gainft the fame. (2.) They are taking up a Tefti-
mony againft themfelves, and againft their Profefli-
on. while, by their Acccffion to a Teftimony, they
profeffed that this Article is one of the ftanding
Grounds of the Lord's Controverfy againft" the
Land : They are taking up a Teftimony againft
their publick Prayers, while formerly they joined
on Days of publick Falling upon this Ground, and

ajfb

c «r )

alfo in publick Prayers on other ordinary Occasi-
ons, and their private Prayers in their Societies:
They are taking up a Tcftimony againft their fo-
lemn Vows, which all the Land is materially un-
der, and which many Seceders, both Minifters and
People, are formally under, while this Article (lands
in the Confeflion of Sins prefixed to the Bond.
(3.) Thty are taking up a Teftimony for the De-
fections and Corruptions of the Times, while they
are taking up a Teftimony for the Eraftian, and
fecond Reformation burying Settlement of the
Revolution-Church ; a Settlement that homolo-
gates the Burial of our Covenants, and a Tefti-
mony handed down at the Expence of Blood
to their Poftcrity. Such a Teftimony are they
taking up for the prefent Profeflion and Settlement
of Religion, as was never yet taken up by any Mi*
nifter or Member in the eftabliihed Chi v-Ji. It was
never heard, till of late, that any publifhed to the
World, that the State, at the Revolution, did re-
vive the fecond reforming Period, and annulled all
Laws and Acts made againft it in the perfecuting
Time. Such a Story is quite new ; and, while it is
alfo quite vain, groundlefs and abfurd, the Courfe
fuch are prefently left to take muft be very aw-
ful and dreadful, and juftly deferves to be animad*
▼erted upon by the Cenfures of the Church.

But we fliall conclude this Eifay, with obferving,
that it needs not be thought very ftrange that
fuch of our People as are following thefe Minifters,
who are taking up a Teftimony for the Revolution-
Settlement of Religion, in Oppofition to the Te-
ftimony adopted by Seceders, are taking fuch Cour*
fes as they are prefently following. Some Time
ago they made Application to the AfTociate Judi-
catories,

.( 68 )
catories, for the Settlement of Minifters among
them, who, upon their Call and Trial by the Pref-
bytery, were accordingly fettled among them,
and now, at their own Hand, are mofl irregularly
deferting their Minifters who are eflaying to oleavc
to the Teftimony they are folemnly engaged to
maintain, both at their Ordination, and in their
joining in the Bond for renewing our Covenants,
and are forfaking the Ordinances difpenfcd by them,
and are making Application to the feparating Bre-
thren, and obtaining Supply from them, in a Way
diretftly opposite to and fubverfive of the Order,
and Government of the Houfe of Chrift. However,
we have a Commiffion from the Lord to cry aloud
and fpare not ; fo we muft tell them, as we are
commanded of the Lord by the Prophet Ifaiah%
Chap. xxx. 8, p, 10 & iith Verfes, Now go,
write it before them in a "Table, and note it in a Book,
that it may be for the Time to come for ever and ever :
That this is a rebellious People, lying Children, Chil-
dren that will not hear the Law of the Lord : Which
fay 10 the Seers, See not ; and to the Prophets, Pro-
fhefy not unto us right Things, /peak unto us fmooth
Things, prophefy Deceits : Get you out cf the IVayf
turn afide out of the Path, caufe the Holy One e/"Ifrael
to ceafe from before us. And it is to be feared the
following Threatning lhall fake Effect if the Lord
in Mercy prevent nor, Verfe 12. Wherefore thus
faith the Holy One of Ifrael, Becaufe ye defpife this
Word, and truft in Oppreffien and Perverfenefs, and
J] ay thereon : Therefore this Iniquity fh all be to you as
a Breach ready to fall, fwelling out in a high Wall,
whefe Breaking comet h fuddenly at an Jn/iant. Verfe
J 4. And he /hall break It as the Breaking nf the
Potter's Ve/Fd, that is broken in Pieces, he /hall not

fpare ;

( *9 )

fp are ; fo that there Jhall not be found in the Bur fling
of it, a Sherd to take Fire from the Hearth, or t*
take Water withal out of the Pit, And as it is the
Duty of fuch as arc eflaying to cleave to the Lord's
Teftimony, to be deeply humbled before the Lord
for their own Sins, and the Sins of others, which
have provoked the Lord thus to divide a witneiling
Body in his Anger, and to lift up a Prayer for fuch
as have awfully turned out of the Way ; fo they
are called to the Exercife of waiting upon the
Lord, in a Way of his Judgments, encouraging
themfelves, • and hoping in his faithful Word of
Promife, which we have on Record, Jer. xxx.
I 8. Thus faith the Lord, Behold I will bring again
the Captivity of Jacob'* Tents, and have Mercy on
his Dwelling Places : And the City Jhall be buildei
upon her own Heap, and the Palace jhall remain after
the Manner thereof Verfe ip. And out of them
/hall proceed Thank/giving, and the Voice 9f them that
make merry : And I will multiply them, and they Jhall
not be few ; I will alfo glorify them, and they Jhall
not be fmalL

FINIS.

BOOKS fold bj John Hcndetfon in Abcr-
ikchy.

Bibles of all Sorts.
Watfon's Body of Divinity.
"Welfoh's Sermons, &c.
Bofton's Fourfold State.

•on the Covenant.

Crook of the Lot.
Marrow of Modern Divinity, with Bofton's Notes*
Rutherfoord's Letters.
"Wcl wood's Glimpfe of Glory.
Confeffions of Faith, with Scriptures at large.
Durham on the Revelation.

-on Conference.

■ on the Commands.

MoncriePs Duty of national Covenanting explained*

Glory of Immanuel.

. — Call to the rifing Generation.

Mr. Ralph Erskine Faith no Fancy.

Gofpel- Sonnets.
-Gathering to Shiloh.

— Harmony of the divine Attributes.
—Gradual Conqucft.
—Little Remnant.
-~King held in the Galleries,

Brown's Life of Faith.

Swan's Song.

The AiTociate Presbytery's Aft and Teftimony.

Doftrine of Grace.

Aft for renewing the Covenant.

Afts and Proceedings of the Alfociate Synod.
Mr. John Hunter's Sermons.
Mr. William Wilfon's Sermons.