Religion 24 The Sufferings of the Presbyterians no ways promoted by the Episcopal Clergy 25 The Ministers of State â—…nder K. Charles's Government sufficiently Vindicated from our Author's aspersions of Câ—…uelty 26 A short Narratiâ—… of the Proceedings of the Council against sonâ—… Ministers turned out in 1662. 27 Chap. II. THE Presbyterians have justified the Murder of the Archbishop of Sâ—… Andrews in the face â—…f Authority upon several occasions Pag. 29 Mitchel's Execution justified 30 The making the Inclinations of the People the Standart of the Church-Government is of very fatal consequence to the iâ—…terest of Religion Ibid. Tâ—… Presbyterians having made more Insurrections in the Kingdom in beâ—…alf of their Church-Government than tâ—…e Eiscopal Church have thought fiâ—… to do is no argument that Presbytery is more popular in Scotland than Episcopacy 32 This last Convention having abolished Episcopacy and established Presbytery is no good argument that the Presbyterians â—…ave the majority of the Nation on their side 33 The Methods used by the Episcopal â—…lergy for reclaiming the Dissâ—…nters shâ—…wn to be very effectual since at the time of K. James's Indulgence there were fâ—…w or no Presbyterians but what joyned in Communion with the Episcopal Church 3â—… The Prâ—…terian Practice in vilifying our Saviour's Prayer altogether in excusable Pag. 35 The malicious Characters this Author gives of the English and Scots Gentry as well as Glergy 36 The â—…etling or abrogating matters of Religion in complianâ—…e with the humours of the Populace stands directly in opposition to the propagating of the Christian Religion 37 The disingenâ—…ity of this Author and his Party in calling the English Common-Prayer-Book Popery 39 The lawfulness of observing Anniversary Days of Humanâ—… Institution asserted Ibid. The Murder of K. Charles â—…he First justly chargeable upon the Presbyterians in both Kingdoms and not upon the Nation in general 42 The behâ—…viour of the Scots Presbyterians ' towards K. Charles the Second upon his advancement to the Throne 46 That the English Convocation acted upon far better Grounds in refusing an Union with the 〈◊〉 than the Scots Assembly in rejecting the Addresses of those few Episcopal Clergy who addressed them proved by several Reasons 47 It is from the Civil Magistrate the Church derives all her Temporal Priviledges bâ—…t â—…e is in no wâ—…ys the Fountain of Spiritual Power 50 〈◊〉 account of the King's Supremacy in Scotland as it is there Established by tâ—… Laws of the Kingdom 52 The Church has the sole Power in Matters purely Spiritual but the Clergy are equally subject to the Civil Authority and liable to the same Punishments with the Laity 53 The Papists and Presbyterians extend the Church's Authority beyond its true Bounds in claiming an Exemption to the Clergy from Secular Punishmeâ—…ts till they be first condemned by the Church 54 The Church of England guilty of no breach of Promise in refâ—…sing an Union with the Dissenters upon the Terms proposed 56 The Presbyteriaâ—… Miâ—…isters â—…ave often assumed to thâ—…selves a Power of making Peace and War Ibid. The Presbyterians not without some ground stigmatized with the Reproachful Term of New Gospellers 57 Chap. III IT is not strange to see Persons after they have murdered robbed or any way injured their Adversaries to endeavour likewise to blacken them iâ—… their â—…me and Reputation the better to palliate their own wicked Actions against them Pag. 58 The Innocency of our Clergy sufficiently Vindicated from this 〈◊〉 Aspersions since in this present Persecution against them by the Presbyterians they cannot instance in four of their Number against whom they could find thâ—… lâ—…ast prâ—…tence to deprive them for Immoralities Pag. 59 Many of our Clâ—…rgy sufficiently Vindicated from this Libeller's accusations by the Author of an Appendix to a late Treatise Entituled An Apology for the Clergy of Scotland 60 Dr. Canaries fully Vindicated from the Calumnies brought against him by this Accuser and the Accuser's malice and disingenuity fully detected Ib. An account of Dean Hamilton's Process and his being absolved tâ—…from by the Privy-Council and the Criminal-Court 62 Our Author 's great mistake concerning Mr. Boyd 63 A full Relation of the Process concerning Mr. Hugh Blair aâ—…d of the indirect ways and means usâ—…d by the Presbyterian Party to stain his Reputation Ibid. The Story of Mr. â—…hisholm truly râ—…lated and he cleâ—…red from this Calumny 68 This Affair of Mr. Chisholm's a singular Instaâ—…e of the Villanous Arts and Practices of the Presbyâ—…erians to bring Contempt on the Episcopal Clergy 71 Mr. Waugh a Presbyterian Minister vindicated from the aspersions of this Liâ—…eller Ibid. Another Mistâ—…ke of our Author's concerning Mr. Gregory's being Minister at Torboulton 72 The notorious Falshood of the Râ—…lation about Mr. Pearson Ibid. A Vindication of Mr. Lawson Minister at Yrongray 72 A Testimony of Archbishop Cairncross in favour of Mr. Lawson 75 Another Testimony in his favour by the Presbytery of Dumâ—…reis 76 Archbishop Paterson his Letter Vindicating himself from the Aspâ—…rsions of this Libeller 〈◊〉 77 78 A Vindication of Archbishop Caiâ—…oss 83 Declaration of Mr. Richard Scot and Mr. Henry Knox. 85 Tâ—… Conclusion 87 SOME REMARKS Upon the ANSVVER TO THE Scots Presbyterian Eloquence In Vindication of the Clergy of Scotland from the Calumnies thrown upon them by the Author of that Pamphlet WHEN I â—…irst Read the Answer to the Scots Presbyterian Eloquence I conâ—…ess I was perfectly amazed to think that any sort of Men could be so Wicked as to shake off all ties of Humanity and Religion and Write in this Scurrilous and most unchristian manner This is such a mâ—…thod of Answering Books as I believe was never yet heard of The very Heathens and Infidels would blush at such Practices and what an Age must this needs be in which our Lot is cast that Christians who profess to own that Pure and Holy Religion should openly and avowedly Act such thing as the most Barbarous Nations would bâ—… ashamed to commit To Raâ—…e â—…ogether a parcel ofWicked and Prophane Stories and to charge them upon Men most of whom are known to be of an untainted Fame and Reputatlon and this without so much as one Witness to avouch for the Credit of what he says this is such a piece of Impudence and Villany as is not easily to be parallel'd Does our Author think that his bare Authority in aslerting these Lies and Aspersions without any other proof is sufficient to blemish the Reputation of any Man of Worth and Credit Or can he possibly imagine that any Men of Sense and Reason are so easily imposed upon as to believe these Calumnies to be true unless he had been more particular in the circumstances of time and place when most of these matters of Fact are said to be done and had produced the Testimony of some Famous and unexceptionable Witnesses to evince the Truth of what he says In the very beginning of his Pamphlet he declares himself an inveterate Enemy to the Church of England and
Assembly could have no such Pretence against those few Episcopal Clergy that â—…esired to be United to them in a share of the Government They were willing I suppose to own the same common Principles of Unity with the Presbyterians in reference to the Discipline of the Church that is to be governed by the major part of all their Assemblies and to submit always to what is carried by a Plurality of Voices in their Meetings though sometimes they themselves when they see it for their Interest destroy this Principle of Unity so fundamentally neceâ—…ary to all Democratical Societies and allow the lesser Number to preponderate the greater as in the Case which happened in the Synod of St. Andrews an 1591 about settling a Minister at Leuchars And this methinks is enough to shew that the Church of England had far more reasonable Grounds to oppose the Comprehension with the Dissenters than the Scots Presbyterians had to reject the desire of the Episcopal Addressers But this Author will needs have the Disadvantage appear wholly on the Church of England's â—…ide and therefore we must consider a little the Reasons he brings for his Assertion His first Reason is Because the King is really the Fountain of all their Church Power as â—…aving the making of the Bishops and does still remain Head of thâ—…ir Church whereas he hath actually renounced Name and Thing in Scotland where the whole Ecolesiastical Jurisdiction is by Law settled in the Church The King is indeed owned by the Church of England to be in his own Dominions Supream over all Persons and in all Causes Civil and Ecclesiastical but that he is the Fountain of all their Church Power is what I believe the most Erastian Principled among them never dreamed Their 37th Article asserts the contrary in as plain words as can be desired where it is said ' ' That they give not to their Princes the Ministring either of God's Word or of the Sacraments but that only Prerogative which they see to have been always given to all godly Princes in holy Scriptures by God himself that is That they should rule all Estates and Degrees committed to their Charge by God whether they be Ecclesiastical or Temporal and restrain with the Civil Sword the stubborn and evil Doers From whence 't is plain that the Church of England in her Articles allows the Civil Magistrate no Power or Jurisdiction in Matters purely Spiritual he cannot Administer the Sacraments nor Consecrate either Bishops or Priests neither can he inflict any Spiritual Censures upon obstinate Offenders The Civil Power may for strengthening the Hands of the Church and making her Discipline the more dreaded and regarded inforce her Spiritual Censures with Secular Punishments but can lay no claim to the Power of the Keys as his own Right It is from him the Church derives that Power of having Civil Penalties inflicted on such as contemn and despise thâ—… Ecclesiastical Censures as in the case of Excommunication which renders the Party excommunicated obnoxious to Temporal Imprisonment and incapacitates him from carrying on any Suit or Action in the Civil Courts The Church cannot by her own Authority use the Civil Sword to punish the stubborn and evil Doers and therefore in so far as the Civil Magistrate extends the Churches Jurisdiction to some Secular Matters and impowers her to inflict Civil Penalties for the better preserving of her Ecclesiastical Discipline the Clergy must own the King to be the Fountain from whence they derive this Power But as for their Spiritual Authority and Jurisdiction which only can be called properly the Church Power they derive it from a higher Original from God himself who is the true â—…ead of our Church and it cannot be conveyed to us by the Hands of any Lay-Person God has instituted a distinct Order of Men in our Church whom he has authorized to transmit this Spiritual Power down through all the Ages of Posterity that there might still be a constant Succession of Pastors and Governors in the Church to administer his Worâ—… and Sacraments to his People And it is from this Sacred Order of the Divine Appointment that our Clergy derive their Spiritual Power it is from their hands they receive Holy Orders and a Power of Ministring in Holy Things and none but they alone can Divest them of this Authority Our Author's Expression of the King 's having the making of the Bishops is somewhat ambiguous If he means that the King is allowed by the Church of England a Power to Consecrate and Separate the Bishops for their Sacred Function it is such a notorious Falshood as needs no Confutation the practice of the Church to the contrary being so visible But if his meaning is That the King has Power to Nominate any Clergy-man to a vacant Bishoprick it is no more than what they themselves allow to the Laity in their popular Elections And if the Laity in these Elections may be allowed to Nominate their own Pastor and Spiritual Guide I see no reason why the Church should be blamed for allowing the King to Nominate and Recommend to them a Person â—…itly Qualiâ—…ied for the Sacred Office of a Bishop especially since 't is to his Bounty they owe all the Temporal Priviledges and Honours which are annexed to the Episcopal Sees The same Power in the external ordering of Spiritual Matters with which the â—…ing is Invested by the Constitutions of this Church and Nation does likewise belong to him by the Laws of Scotland â—…e has the Power of Nominating the Bishops and 't is by his Authority the Clergy of that Kingdom are allowed to meddle in Secular Matters and to inâ—…lict any Civil Penalties upon such as dâ—…spise their Spiritual 〈◊〉 What this Author alledges about the Resâ—…inding of the whole Supremacy in Scâ—…tland by Act of Parliament since this Revolution is a gross mistake as may easily appear fâ—…om this short Narrative thereos By the 129th Act Parl. 8. â—… Jamâ—…s VI. the King 's Royal Prerogative of Supremacy over all Estates as well Spiritual as Temporal is acknowledged and ratiâ—…ied and it iâ—… dâ—…clared That none shall dâ—…cline the â—…ing's Power in 〈◊〉 Premisses under the pain of Treason Thereafter by the â—… Aâ—… 2. Parl. K Charlâ—…s II. there is an Expâ—…ication of this Act and Prerogative whereby it is declared That whatever Constitution the King sâ—…all make concerning the ordâ—…ing and disposing of the external Government of the Church shall be obeyed as Law This last Act was thought to give â—…he King too much Power since he might thereby have aboliâ—…hed the Government of the Church by his own immediate Authority and so there was some pretext for Rescinding this last Act and it is Rescindâ—…d by the first Act of the second Session of Parliament of â—… Wâ—…lliam but the â—…irst Act is not Rescinded and there was an 〈◊〉 Order to the Commissioner not to consent to any Act in prejâ—…dice theâ—…eof So that the King then by virtue
of the first Act continues to have a Supremacy over all Esâ—…ates Ecclesiastical as well Civil and over all Peâ—…sons and Causes thereto relating and thâ—… Clergy of Sâ—…otland arâ—… as much bound to own this Supremacy as those of 〈◊〉 â—…ere I cannot but observe how visibly the Disloyalty and 〈◊〉 of this Paâ—…ty to all Civil Government does appear Thâ—…y endeavour under pretence of lodging all Ecclesiastical 〈◊〉 in tâ—… Church to divest the King of that Power in the externâ—…l ordâ—…ing of Church Matters which does duly belong to him as being the supreme Governor within his oâ—…n Dominions and yet they aâ—…e so sar from settling the whole Ecclesiasâ—…ical Jurisdiction in tâ—…e hands of Spiritual Persons as they pretend that they have not so much as one Judicatory but what does consist of at least 〈◊〉 as many Laicks as those who pretend to be Ecclesiasticks They 〈◊〉 not allow the King so much Power as to Convocate the Clergy soâ—… the 〈◊〉 of Matters about Religion when he thinks fit or to â—…ommand them faithfully to discharge their Duties and Functions which he may lawfully do by virtue of his Civil Power over their Persons as his Subjects and yet they allow the Lay-Elders in their General Assemblies to share with them in the Authority of inâ—…licting Spiritual Censures which properly belongs to none but Spiritual Persons and their indulging the Laity this Power in spiritual matters is more than what they can well account â—…or according to the first Institution of thâ—… Ministry In their General Assemblies there is no Minister dâ—…prived of hiâ—… function no Sentence of â—…xcommunication passed no â—…eretick condemned nor any thing of moment transacted but what thâ—…ir Lay-Elders share in as much as their Teachers and yet is the King should 〈◊〉 any such Power in their Meetiâ—…gs they would be apt to â—…ly in his Face as an Oppressor and Persecutor of the Cause of God but methinks they might at least indulge him the 〈◊〉 of being one of their Ruling Elders That the Church has Power of calling her Assemblies and exercising â—…er Discipline in some extraordinary Cases even contrary to the Command of the Civil Magistrate is what we do not deny as this Author is pleasâ—…d to alledge The Apostles and Primitive Christians did in a direct opposition to the Roman Emperours and Jewish Sanhedrim frequently meet together to perform the Religious Exercises of Devotion and determine such Controversies as then happened to arise among their Bâ—…ethren and this they did without thinking that they encroached in the least upon the just Rights of the lawful Powers then in being And what was lawful for them to do is still lawful for the prâ—…sent Châ—…rch in the same Circumstances for the Magistrates being now Christian can Intitle him to no grâ—…ter Power in Church 〈◊〉 by Virtue of his Civil Authority than what did bâ—…ong to the Heathen Magistrates The Church may indeed upon prudent Moâ—…ives indulge the Christian Magiâ—…trate a greater Power of 〈◊〉 in Ecclesiastical matters than whâ—…t had been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or â—…afe to intrust the Heathen Emperours wiâ—…h but this Power which the Church Grants to the Magistrate does no ways belong to him by 〈◊〉 of â—…is Civil Authority it is only Indulged â—…im by the Church in prospect of his Temporal Protection and thereâ—…ore 〈◊〉 he instead of a Nursing Faâ—…her to her shall turn an oppressing 〈◊〉 or when the Church shall see it any way necessary sor the well being and safety of Religion she may recal it again at her pleasure But as we allow the Church to have the sole Power and Authority in matters purely Spiritual so we deny that any such 〈◊〉 Jurisdiction belongs to her as to exâ—…mpt the Bodies of the Clâ—…gy from Subjection to the Civil Powers They owe their Sovereign the same Duty and Obedience with the rest of his Subjects are as much under the Jurisdiction of his Civil Courts as liable to the Temporal punishments which he inflicts as the persons of the Laiâ—…y sor otherwise the Civil Magistrate could have no security for hiâ—… Government We do not allow the Clergy to be Judges of every thing done by themselves in the first instance which is the height of the Popish Usurpation and Supremacy and makes Church-men no Subjects And herein it is that we differ from the Presbyterians in asserting the Jurisdiction of the Church they together with the Papists carry it to such a height as to claim an exemption for the Clergy of their not being answerable to the Civil Courts of the Nation but only cognizable by themselves they deny the secular Magistrate any Power to punish the persons of the Clergy for Rebellion and Treason preached openly from their Pulpits or any other Crime till they once be Convicted of the Crime and Condemned therefore by a sentence of an Ecclesiastick Judicatory That this is or at least was always wont to be the constant Principle of the Presbyterian Party is so Notorious that I admire this Author should ever attempt to conceal it Was it not their proceeding to practice upon these principles which gave the first Rise to that Act of Parliament in K. James VI's Reign ratifying the King's Supremacy For one Mr. And. Melvil a Presbyterian Minister having declaimed â—…requently against the King for which being called before the Council he boldly declined the King and Council as Judges in prima instantia of what is Preach'd in the Pulpit even tho' it were High Treason and so he fled into England Whereupon the Nation Assembled in Parliament in the year 1584 in a just Resentment of thâ—…se Seditious Doctrines and Practices did pass the abovementioned Act of Supremacy and it was by Vertue of that very Act that Mr Ja. Guthrie a Presbyterian Minister was anno 1661 hanged for declining the King's Authority The Presbyterian Ministers declaimed against and reproached this Act of Parliament and in opposition thereto one of their Number Mr. Dav. Black having Railed against K. James and Queen Elizabeth from the Pulpit as Enemies to God being called before the King's Council he not â—…nly declined the King's Power of judging him until he was first Condemned by his Brethren but United most of the Ministers of Sâ—…tland most tumultuously in his Defence and some of them who were then residing at Edinburgh stirred up the multitude to such a Rage and Fury upon this occasion that they presently leapâ—… to Arms and came to the Street in great Numbers crying The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon it shall either be theirs or ours And taking their March streight to the Session-House where the King and his Counsellors were then met would in all probability have forced the Doors which upon the Noise of the Tumult were shut and done no small mischief were it not that by the Providence of God a Loyal party drawn together by the Deacon Conveener of the Trades kept them back for a while till their Fury cooled a little and in
impowered by the State to Inflict censures upon obstinate Sinners These were the Terms proposed to them by the Civil Government for carrying on this Union and this they think they might have lawâ—…ully done without owning so much as the validity of their Ministry and I am sure much more without being obliged either to approve of or to enquire into their Lives and Conversations since in matters of Religion the bad â—…ives of Christians is never a sufficient Ground for separating from their Communion if it be in all other Respects lawful The design of the first part of this Pamphlet is to shew That the Episcopal Party bear an inveteraâ—…e Mâ—…lice against the Presbyterians and thereâ—…ore their Testimony ought not to be of any Authority in these Accusations whiâ—…h they bring against them But our Author if his Spirit of Revenge had not been too predominant might have saved himself all this trouble since the Episcopal Party do not oâ—…er to urge any thing against thâ—…m upon their own bare Authority but what they can evidently prove from Authentick Recoâ—…ds and from the Aâ—…testations of Men of â—…nspotted Fame and Credit who were Eye-Witnesses to mâ—…ny of the Villanies and Injuries done to our 〈◊〉 And this I am certain they have already done beyond thâ—… possibility of a Conâ—…utation in the Case â—…f â—…he Afflicâ—…ed Clergy â—…nd somâ—… other Discourses which they have Published relating to their latâ—… Barbarous Persecution Late I ought not to call it since it Rages almost as much now as ever It 's truâ—… the Clergy are not so much exposed to the Rage and â—…ury of the Rabble as they were by whose instigation is very well knowâ—… not very long ago But their Miseries are far fâ—…m bâ—…ing at an end they stiâ—…l remâ—…in in Exile from their Churches and Houses are exposed to all thâ—… Miseries of Poverty and Want have not the least 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 wherâ—…by they may gain Bread to 〈◊〉 their crying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Misâ—…rie do daily increase upon them and whiâ—…h is most discouraging they have no prospect of Deliverance â—… pray â—…od may enable thâ—…m pâ—…tiently to undergo this Fiery Tryâ—…l to withstand all the Temptations of Interest and Worldâ—…y Poâ—…iticks and to remain firm and stedfast in asserting those Prinâ—…iples of our Reâ—…igion for which they at presenâ—… suffer that so having no other aim before their Eyes but to keep a Conscience void of Offence both towards God and Man thâ—…y mâ—…y have a well grounded hopâ—… of Receiving at laâ—… as a Reward of their Sufferings that Eternal Crown of Glory which Christ hath purchased to all those that suffer for well doing But let us pursue our Authors Thread of Discourse and see what the Grounds are whereon he Accuses the Episcopal Party with inveterate Malice against the Presbyterians And the first instance we meet with of this kind is That they were the First Aggressors and impugned the Governmâ—…nt of the Church of Scotland by Presbytery which was the first it had after the Reformation It is not a little surprizing to see what pains the Presbyterians take to delude the ignorant people into a belief That our sirst Reformers Condemned and Exploded the Ancient Government of the Church and that it was no less Odious to them than the Romish Superstitions When there is nothing more plain â—…rom History than that at the beginning of the Reformation there was not the least Controversie about the Church Government and the Bishops who did not oppose the Reformation were lest in full possession not only of all their Temporal Dignities but likewise of their Spiritual Authority and Jurisdiction Sucâ—… of the Bishops as persisted in the Romish Errors and Corruptiâ—…ns were not allowed to Exercise their Spiritual Authority over the Clergy but some of the Reformed Communion under the Name of Superintendants were placed over their Dioceses and invested with the whole Episcopal Jurisdiction and Authority over the Clergy of these Provinces who were obliged as appears from the Acts of our National Synods to pay to their Superintendents all the Canonical Obedience that is due to other Bishops And by a Commission of the Assembly met at Leith in January 1572 the Government of the Church was declared to be in the Arch-bishops and Bishops and their Elections to be made by the Dean and Chapter which Declaration was ratified by Act of Parliament the sâ—…me year and likewise by a General Assembly held at Perth in â—…gust thereafter Till the year 1575 about fifteen years after the â—…gal settlement of our Reformation there was not the least disturbance in the Kingdom about the Government of the Church that Mr. And. Mâ—…lvil returning ifrom Gâ—…eva where he had been bred up with the Presbyterian Parity began to raise Commotions in the Church by attempting to have the Geneva Model Established in 〈◊〉 But a fuâ—…ler Account of the Government of our Church after the Reformation you may see in a Treatise Published by Arch-bishop Spoâ—…swood upon this Subject and Entituled Refutatio Libelli de Regimine Ecclâ—…siae Scoâ—…icanae and likewise in a late Discourse where the same Argument is at Large considered and in which it is undeniably proved from the Records of Parliament that Episcopacy was not only the first Government Established in our Church immediately upon the Reformation but whaâ—… is more that although the Episcopal Authority was frequently Weakned and Interrupted by the popular Insurrections of the Presbyterian Party yet it was never by Law Abolished in that Kingdom till the unhappy Civil Wars broke out under the Reign of King Charles I. In the year 1592 when they pretend their great Idol of Parity was Erected there was indeed a greater Jurisdiction and Authority allowed by Act of Parliament to Presbyteries and Synods than what was Granted them before which the King was forced to yield to to put a stop to the many Seditions and Commotions raised by Melvil and his Accomplices But yet notwithstanding this the Bishops did still continue to exist by Law and in all Parliaments they did Sit and Vote as the first of the three Estates as appears from the Records of these Parliaments And in the year 1596. Lâ—…slie Bishop 〈◊〉 Ross dying at Brussels Mr. David Lindsay was presented by the King to the Bishoprick the very next year which is a plain demonstration that at that time Episcopacy was look'd upon as existent by Law all which is made out very plainly and evidently in this Apology But our Author will by no means allow thâ—… Superintendency Established in the Church by our first Reformers to be a Species of Prelacy And his Reasons are first That those Superintendents had the very same Form of Ordination with other Ministerâ—… Before I proceed to consider the force of this Objection it will be needful to premise something concerning the occasion of this Institution At the beginning of the Reformation it was not thought safe that the Popish Bishops who still adhered to their
his Church as a Society and invested it with peculiar Priviledges belonging thereto he must be allowed to have settled and established a distinct Order of Persons for the governing it and for admitting Members to a right to all those Priviledges which he has appropriated to the Members of the Society And if he has separated a certain Order of Persons for this Office and impowered them and them alone to seal his Covenants in his Name it must needs be Sacriledge in the highest degree for any to usurp that Office without a due and legal Call from those whom God has appointed to conveigh his Authority And God can never be obliged by the acts of those Persons whom he never authorized to represent him no more than a King can be said to be under any obligation to ratiâ—…ie the acts of any one that usurps his Authority and falsly pretends to be his Ambassador So that to alter the Government of the Church from what it was at first constituted by our Saviour is nothing less than to underminâ—… the whole ground of our Salvation since we can have no Title to the Benefits of the Gospel but as we are Members of Christ's Church here on Earth and we cannot pretend to be Members unless we bâ—… admitted into the Society by those Persons whom God has delegated to that Office and intrusted with that Power But notwithstanding the impertinence and weakness of this Argument in Vindication of the Church-Government yet since our Author insults so mightily upon it I shall comply with him so fâ—…r as to consider the grounds of his Assertion only I would caution the Reader never to lay stress on such kind of Arguments as are altogether incompetent and of no force to prove the Truth of any Principle of Religion For there is no Doctrine which is in it self false that can be justified by never so general a reception of it and therefore it can be no Argument of the lawfulness of any form of Church Government that it is the most agreeable to the Inclinations of the People All his Evidences to prove that Presbytery is more popular in Scotland than Episcopacy amount to no more than this that the Presbyterians have made more Insurrections in behalf of their Government than the Episcopal Church ever thought fit to do And that this is not sufficient evidence enough to prove their point will easily appear from hence The Principles of our Presbyterians with respect to Monarchy are of a very large extent they make the Supreme Power of the Nation accountable to his Subjects and allow he may be resisted and Dethroned for his Male-Administration So that if the Sovereign shall at any time think sit to mâ—…ke such Alterations either in Church or State as do not exactly quadrate with the Wild Humours and Fancies of that Party then they instantly betake themselves to Arms and resolve to involve the Nation into Blood and Confusion rather than fail of having their unaccountable Humours gratified But the Episcopal Church of that Kingdom have greater restraints upon them they own in Consormity to the Laws of the Reaâ—… and to the Laws of God in his â—…irst Institution of Government that the Supreme Power is irresistable and cannot for any Male Administration be Dethroned by his Subjects that if he be guilty of any Illegal or Unjustifiable Actions in his Government he is accountable to none for them but to God alone And therefore although the Sovereign should chance to â—…stablish such Constitutions either in Church or State as are contrary both to the Laws of God and the particular Laws of the Realm yet by reason of their strict Obligations to absolute submission they are not at Liberty to Rise in Arms and assert their Rights that are thus encroached upon They may indeed veâ—…y lawfully refuse their actual concurrence and compliance with these sinful Constitutions but to resist or Dethrone their Sovereign upon that Account is what they are not able to Justifie either by the Laws of God or the Laws of the Nation This is and has been the constant Principle and Doctrine of our Church and if any of its Members have Acted contrary thereto they have in so far deserted the Principles of their Church and slighted their Sacred Vows and Obligations and therefore ought in Conscience speedily to return to their Duty The Reason why the Episcopal Church Act more submissively to the Lawful Powers than the Presbyterians is not that there lie stricter Obligations to Obedience upon the one Party than the other no they are both subject to the same Laws are obliged to own the same Prince and are under the same Obligations and Ties of Conscience to submit and adhere to him But the difference lies here that the Episcopal Church make some Conscience of performing their Duty and of Walking answerably â—…o their Vows and Obligations and resolve in Conformity to their â—…imitive Ancestors rather to suffer Peâ—…secution than be guilty of Rebellion On the contrary the Presbyterians sacrificâ—… aâ—…l Duties to the Interest of their Party and where that is concerned make light of all Obligations So that whoever considers the different Principles of both these Parties will never conclude from hence that Presbytery is more popular in Scotland than Episcopacy meerly because there have been more popular Insurrections for it than for the other since the Presbyterians think it lawful to Rebel upon that account and the Episcopal Church look upon it as altogether unjustiâ—…iable to resist the lawful Powers upon any account even of Religion it self As for what our Author urges concerning the great Party that appeared for the Presbyterian Government in this last Convention which Abolished Episcopacy and Established Presbytery I shall plainly make it appear that this can be no Argument that they have the Majority of the Nation on their side At the time when this Convention was called in Scotland the Affairs of our Nation were in such a distracted condition as made the Event altogether uncertain and upon this account many of the Episcopal Gentlemen who were wont formerly to be Members of Parliament thought it safer to keep out of publick business and therefore refused to be Elected by those Shires and Burroughs whom they used always to represent in Parliament Nay some of them were so averse from being Elected themselves that they would not so much as be present to Vote at the Election of othâ—…rs thinking it to be a direct breach of their Ties and Oaths to the Government and particularly that of the Test to meet or consult about the Aâ—…airs of the Nation without the consent of the King So that at many of the Elections one third part of the Members concerned therein refused to be present and the Episcopal Gentlemen declining to be Elected there was no opposition made to any that would stand and this was certainly the Reason why more Presbyterian Members â—…rept into this Convention than ever durst appear in the like